The Abundance

Chapters

Nothing Stays the Same
The Deep Breath
The Plunge
Taunts
The First Strike
How We Are Seen
Rapid Eye Movement
Voices From the Past
Kindness
Tea Time
Bedfellows
Winniepeg
Tomorrow
The Gilded Cage
The Battle of Winniepeg Part 1
The Battle of Winniepeg Part 2
The Battle of Winniepeg Part 3
The Fire Rises
Your Place in the World
On the Run
Talks
Prep Time
Allies
The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 1
The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 2
The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 3
The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 4
The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 5
Blood
Honesty
Bridging the Divide
Origins of the Species
Open Your Eyes
Check... Check
Reunions
An Unexpected Tea Party
Down Down Down
Pinkie Suit
The Doozy
The End of the Dream
Heartless
The Punchline
Purpose
The Final Charge
The Battle for Equestria Part 1
The Battle for Equestria Part 2
The Battle for Equestria Part 3
The Battle for Equestria Part 5
All Good Things...
The battle for Equestria Part 4
Death of a Dream

Nothing Stays the Same

"And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend; legend became myth."

-Galadriel, The Lord of the Rings

Many, Many Years Ago...

‘Discord is strong… his magic is more advanced than yours.’ Honesty’s words rang through Celestia’s head as she twisted away from a blast Discord sent at her. He sensed Celestia’s panic build and let out a sigh. ‘But… he is not all powerful. There is a chance.’

‘You have to continue on; you owe it to your subjects to give all you can, even your life,’ Generosity said nobly, her non-corporal form hovering around solar princess. ‘The greatest gift you can give them is their freedom.’

‘Totally!’ Loyalty proclaimed. If he had a chest he would have been puffing it out like a peacock. ‘He might be stronger but that won’t stop you! Everyone is counting on you! You can’t let them down!’

‘Discord is a meanie pants even if he doesn’t wear pants. The cotton candy is kinda funny, though...’ Laughter giggled. Celestia rolled her eyes and the abstract quickly added, ‘But hurting ponies isn’t funny at all, so we should stop him!’

‘That’s right,’ Kindness said; her voice gentle but firm, urging the princess to hold strong. ‘You can do it Celestia… we can do it. We can’t let Discord win… we can’t let him hurt any other pony. That is what matters… making sure no pony is ever hurt again.’

Celestia twisted towards Luna, who was doing all she could avoid the swarm of monkey bees (one of Discord’s stranger creations). All those words flowed through her head, urging her on… but that did her little good. Because even though she had their encouragement, that did little to protect her from the deadly spells and chaos magic that was lashing out all around her, trying to take her body and soul. She could see it in Luna’s eyes and knew the same look was shining from her own: fear.

They knew they couldn’t win.

‘Yes you can,’ a new voice whispered.

Celestia and Luna both felt a sixth presence join with the other five. They had used the ancient magics of their mother to call upon the five elements that best represented harmony, in hopes that the peaceful magic would be able to counter Discord’s magic. Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity and Laughter… the five things that represented friendship and love and togetherness… all things Discord was against (save laughter but even then his type of laughter did not match theirs… his was the laughter of one against another and theirs was laughter shared by all).

But this… they had not expected this 6th element to appear.

Celestia could feel the other elements shifting with unease as the 6th joined them. Though she could not hear actual words, she knew they were communicating with this final abstract, trying to discern why he had come. In fact, if she didn’t know any better, she’d think they were actually bickering with each other!

‘We are,’ the new element whispered. ‘They don’t like baby brother coming in to help… especially when I am not invited.’

‘Brother?’ Celestia thought back. Abstracts had families?

A bolt of chaos magic nearly burned her mane off.

‘We can discuss it later. You’ll need my power along with theirs to defeat Discord. I am here to help… all believe in you Celestia. Luna stands by your side because she knows the two of you can do this. Your subjects and this country watch the skies and there is not a single one that doesn’t believe in you. You have lost family to Discord and they have fallen knowing you will succeed. Take my power and together we will defeat him. Now is the time to rise…and now is the time to fight!’

It was these words, more than all others, that compelled Celestia to fight back. But even as she began to weave the spell that would merge the power of the elements, a final question rose in her mind. ‘What are you?’

‘Faith,’ the final element stated. ‘I am Faith.’

~MC~MC~MC~

Discord would fall. That much is known. It is taught to all foals and is celebrated throughout Equestria. The Princesses, along with the Elements of Harmony, had defeated him and turned the beast to stone. All praised the princesses and help the elements in their hearts: Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, Laughter…

…and the final one.

The lost one.

For Celestia was the only one to know his name; even Luna never learned of the final element that had come to their aid, for he had not been called but arrived on his own, in the hour of need. The solar princess held the power of his name and, in a moment she would look upon as one of her greatest mistakes… would find herself doubting that any but herself could wield the powers of the elements. It was an understandable mistake, one none could fault her for… and yet the ramifications would haunt Equestria for years to come.

The 6th Elements name was hidden… and as time went on even Celestia… even his fellow abstracts… forgot his name. So too did the element himself; his purpose taken and his identity ripped away. Lost and abandoned, he found another like himself: Luna, the Princess of the Night. Together in the darkness they would lean upon each other. It would be the 6th element that would encourage her to rise up and show Celestia that there was an equal to her power. He did this in hopes that Celestia would reveal his name to herself and to Luna… and he would regain his self-worth.

But he was betrayed.

Luna became Nightmare Moon and the final element found himself facing down his friend, forced to take away his protection from her and leave her at the mercy of Celestia. He fled in horror and as the years went by he slowly began to fade. But where he should have died… something amazing happened. Obsession drove him and the final element found a new role for him to play. As for his name, he chose the emotion that had started it all.

He became Doubt.

His brothers and sisters watched as the twisted abstract tampered with the lives of many ponies but were powerless to stop him. He remembered him not as their brother but as merely another abstract and thus their words and pleas meant nothing to him. And thus it was that they became enemies, turned upon one another.

Then… Doubt was reborn. Twilight Sparkle, who fell into the darkest pits of despair, rose up with the help of friendship and love. And it was her, the wielder of Doubt’s power, who rediscovered his name. And so it was that Faith rose once more, returned to his prior role, while the unicorn that had held his power became an alicorn.

Faith had returned.

But it was already too late.

~MC~MC~MC~

Twilight was practically skipping down the road. The smile she wore was so big that Pinkie would have become green with envy at the sight of it. Of course, Pinkie wouldn't be able to stay made for long, as Twilight planned to wrap her friend up in a tight hug and not let go the moment she saw her. Unless, of course, she was already hugging Applejack or Rarity or Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy...

The lavender alicorn's wings fluttered a bit, adding a bit of lift to her skips. In fact, it would be better to say that she was trying to keep her hooves on the ground; she felt like leaping about and crying out in glee. She was a foal on Hearth's Warming Day spying a mountain of presents next to the Hearth Shrine, filled with energy and joy.

The two months had done her wonders. When she had left Ponyville she had been so unsure of herself and her place in the world. After her brother's almost wedding and the changeling attack Twilight had fallen into despair. Those negative feelings had led her to embrace that darkness within her and led her down a dark path.... and to Doubt, the fallen 6th Element of Harmony. The abstract had guided her and given her power to embrace her wild side and, truth be told, she had loved it.

Then had come her elevation and Doubt taking physical form. Twilight had been free from her friends influence and with the power her and Doubt held, the two had been ready to take on the world.

Except her friends, her wonderful friends, had come to her and reaffirmed their connection to her. Things hadn't instantly healed themselves but at least they had managed to clear the air.

Things had been caught up in a whirlwind after that. Doubt, his spirit already dying, began to rapidly fade. The revelation of his true name had returned him to his original form, as that of Faith. The spell to save him had reduced much of Twilight's alicorn strength; making her look much like her old unicorn self, save with wings.

It was around that time that Twilight decided she needed a holiday. So much had happened in 3 days and she hadn't been able to catch her breath. Her friends and family had supported the decision and Twilight, along with Spike and Faith, had journeyed across the sea. They had found a small island and spent weeks in isolation. Each had used the time to learn new things about themselves and find a peace that all needed.

But now she was back and Twilight felt so excited to see everyone again.

"Twilight, could you stop bouncing up and down? I'm going to get sea sick," Spike complained.

"But we aren't on the sea, Spike." Twilight did, however, shift into a trot. "Do you think they'll have a party waiting for us?"

"I hope so... I mean, the seastone on that island were nice but I could really go for one of Pinkie's cupcakes."

"I want an apple... a fresh, juicy apple." Twilight murmured in delight at the thought of one of Sweet Apple Acre's wonderful apples.

"Twilight?"

"Yeah Spike?"

"It's good to be home."

"Yeah... it really is."

The two lapsed into silence. They had been walked for two days, having left the ship at Bridle Bay and deciding they wanted to enjoy the sights and smells of the mother country, rather than teleport. Twilight, though now powerful beyond measure, had found that with the ability to be anywhere the desire to do things the simple way had grown strong in her heart. Where once she would have used magic to carry things she now did it the old fashion way... it just seemed right. To use her strength and magic on frivolous tasks was... an insult to the black and white magic that now swirled within her.

"What the heck?" Spike said, clamoring up Twilight's head and pointing at a strange structure that blocked the road. "What is that?"

"It's a toll booth!" Twilight said in surprise. "What the heck is a toll booth doing on this road?" They were traveling down the main path to Ponyville; to have a toll booth here was unheard of.

To see several large pegasi with unnaturally brilliant coats manning it left the two with wide eyes.

To see the guards viciously assaulting a pony who lay curled up in a ball had Twilight seeing red.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" Twilight bellowed, using her magic to project her voice. The guards turned, their slanty eyes shining darkly as they took in the small alicorn. "Why are you assaulting this pony? Have you forgotten your duty? Princess Celestia will have your armor-"

"Where the hay have you been?" one of the dark pegasi snapped. "You been sleeping under a rock?"

"I have been traveling," Twilight said coldly. "Now... tell me why I shouldn't report you at once to the Princess."

Several guards snickered and their apparently leader made his way towards her. "The princesses have been relieved of their duties. The Queens rule now and they don't take kindly to filth like this one."

"The queens?" Spike questioned. "Are you crazy?"

"You watch your mouth!" one guard snapped. "We don't take kindly to rudeness here in Equestria. If you want to go against Harmony I suggest you turn and flee back across the ocean."

"Yeah... how about a big fat no?" Twilight flared out her wings. "Tell me... do you know who I am?"

"A rude, mouthy little pegasus with a fake horn plastered on her head."

Twilight smiled as white and black magic began to swirl around her. "Close and yet so far. I am Twilight Sparkle, former student of Princess Celestia." Her mane began to billow, elongating as it became pure energy. Within it many shooting stars raced along as the flow grew darker. "And, as of 2 months ago, the Alicorn of the Stars." Twilight's magic flared out. "But not just any stars... shooting stars." Twilight lowered her head and smirked. "As in wishing stars. You know… the magical ones."

The guards twitched, suddenly finding themselves rooted in place.

"Having trouble? Maybe that's because I wished you'd all freeze in place and not move until I am a good 30 minutes away." Twilight moved among the statuesque pegasi, her magic slowly withdrawing back within her. She approached the moaning pony that guards had been striking. "Don't worry, they won't-"

Twilight's world suddenly shifted and all she could see was the trembling unicorn stallion that lay before her, his white coat matted with blood. His eyes were nearly sealed shut and his ribs jutted out at awkward angles against his sides. And yet... the poor creature still managed a smile as he gazed upon her, blood streaming from the sockets where teeth had once been rooted.

"Twiley..."

"Shiny..." Twilight whispered, before falling to the ground, tears in her eyes. "Shiny... by the Creator, what happened to you?"

"What happened was he got what he deserved for betraying the Queens and trying to sow disharmony!" one of the guards called out.

Twilight's eyebrow twitched and she slowly turned her head, black magic rolling off of her in waves even as her white magic wrapped around her brother, soothing his pain like a mother hen would comfort her chick. "And you call beating him to near death harmonious?"

"He deserves what he gets and more!" another guard snapped, struggling to move. "To go against the Elements of Harmony is to be against Equestria. The Elements ARE Equestria and all traitors are to be eliminated. Harmony must be preserved!"

"Funny," Twilight said. She never raised her voice and that was more chilling than any scream. That was the terrifying part… the quiet pitch of her voice. "I happen to be the final Element of Harmony... the Element of Faith." Twilight began to rise in the air, her right eye turning pure white while the left darkened to the deepest of obsidian. “Does that mean my word is law?”

"Twiley... don't," Shining Armor croaked out.

"Are you kidding?" Spike exclaimed, speaking up for the first time since stumbling about the thugs. "They were beating you to a pulp!"

"They... they can't control themselves... the Queens are using magic..."

Twilight nodded to herself. "Good thing I'm very magical." Dark tendrils lashed out and the pegasi guards let out screams as Twilight's magic struck them. The alicorn flinched slightly, her face screwing up in concentration before the guards fell, their colors dulling slightly to more natural tones. "All power... but whoever cast the spell lacks finesse." She focused and the guards disappeared in a flash of white light.

"Did you vaporize them?" Spike asked.

"Of course not!" Twilight said aghast. "I merely sent them to the island we were on so they could recover."

"... so you most likely vaporized them."

"Shut up," Twilight said, making another silent wish and healing Shining Armor. The unicorn slowly stood up, startled at how good he felt after the hours of agony. "Shiny... we need to talk."

The Deep Breath

“It is the deep breath before the plunge”

-Gandalf, The Return of the King

"Stop moving so much," Twilight snapped in annoyance, her hoof glowing a soft white as she gently ran it along her brother’s brow. The magic seeped from her foreleg like syrup, flowing along the white stallion's face and filling his veins with vitality. "Shining, I swear you are acting like a foal! No, worse than a foal… a foal might actually listen to me.”

“Thanks Twilight,” Shining said.

“No need to be sarcastic.”

“I wasn’t being sarcastic… thanks Twilight.”

Even after she had used her magic to heal him Twilight had found her brother dangerously underweight. She'd been ready to teleport them someplace safe when Shining had knocked her horn with his hoof, shaking his head furiously as she and Spike stared at him.

"I'll explain when we are hidden...” he’d told them, “but you can't risk teleporting, not unless it is getting us farther away and even then I wouldn't risk it."

He'd refused to go on in further detail and Twilight had huffed before lifting him onto her back and galloping towards an inn she had spotted a few miles back.

Now they were safely secured in a room, Shining taking the bed while Spike kept watch out the window. While the starry alicorn knew that the guards that had beaten her brother were gone she wasn’t foolish enough to believe that there wouldn’t be more coming. Twilight had set herself up as a nurse and was trying to get her brother healed, despite his warnings about magic.

"Twilight... Twilight you need to forget about me. Now that you are here the mission is all that matters."

"Shining, I don't know what this so-called mission is but it is not more important than you. Not to me, anyway.”

“I thought you hated me,” Shining said softly.

Twilight shook her head. “I’ve grown up a lot, Shining. Discovered new things and… well, it doesn’t matter at the moment but I’m not angry anymore. I will be if you keep shifting though, so be good and just lie there, ok?"

The stallion closed his eyes, his body tense as Twilight worked her magic. "This isn't the right course."

"It is the one I have chosen, big brother, and I am the one with the strength and endurance here." She smirked slightly, pressing him down against the bed. "Even without the whole alicorn thing I don't think you have the strength to make me do anything I don't want."

"You do remember your siblings, right?" Spike said, gagging slightly at the sight of Twilight practically straddling her brother.

Twilight and Shining rolled their eyes. "Hush up, Spike," the two both said.

"Yeah yeah..." Spike grumped, turning back to the window.

"Shining, what the hay happened?" Twilight asked as she began working on restoring some of his muscle mass. "Did Discord escape or something?"

"No... I wish it were Discord. We stood a chance again him." Shining settled again the bed, letting his little sister work her magic. “I wonder what would happen if he was here… some of us even discussed letting him out, to fight fire with fire… but I was worried that he’d be amplified like the rest and then we’d be in trouble.”

"Shining…. what happened?"

"You aren't going to like it."

"I do not like it right now, so you might as well make it worse," Twilight stated with a huff.

"Alright." Shining yawned; the stress of the day was getting to him. "It all started... maybe a week after you left? It's hard to remember... feels longer than that and yet shorter... you know what I mean?" He took several deep breaths and Twilight could see her brother's heart beating rapidly in his chest. "It wasn't like a bang or anything... I think that's why we weren't prepared. If it had happened suddenly, without warning, we could have managed. But it was more insidious. It was like the changeling attack; it was subtle and silent and the master stroke didn't fall until it was too late. None of us had time to react and we all paid the price."

"Shining... what happened?" Twilight urged.

"Your friends... they were going about their lives like normal. After you left, I mean. We all kinda took it hard but they were the best of the group. They just kept reminding us that you needed to leave to get your head on straight and that you’d come back and they looked forward to it. It was hard to doubt them when all five of them were looking at us with their wide eyes and cheerful smiles.

“ The princesses and I got letters from them and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They would talk about what they learned about friendship and what they were doing… occasionally they would talk about missing you.” Shining, despite himself, smiled. “They also talked about other friends that they had suffered falling outs with and how they wanted to make it right. I think you had more of an affect on them then you realized with your whole vacation, Twiley.

“One day Fluttershy wrote and asked if they could come and look at the Elements of Harmony. She was real sweet about it, saying if we were busy they could wait but... but your friends had decided to look into the Elements, after what happened with Doubt. Celestia agreed, of course; I think she was trying to make things right after the way you two parted and she was hoping for some brownie points." Shining chuckled when he saw his sister's scowl. "Yeah, sounds funny to me too but that was my impression."

Shining reached over, grasping a glass of water between his hooves and taking a long drought. Droplets ran down his chin and onto his chest but he showed no sign of noticing or caring. Now that he had begun his tale it was like a runaway wagon and there was no way to stop it till it came crashing down.

"I first realized something was wrong when they appeared in court. They looked... different. It's hard to describe... there was a maturity about them. I know they are fully grown mares but still... it was like they had truly become adults. An innocence was gone from them, liked they’d lived a lifetime. They were still polite and kind but something was off. I wish I had pressed them more but... but I guess there isn't much I can do about that now, right?

"Princess Celestia greeted them warmly enough and I was barely paying attention. The whole court was there and we all assumed it would be a quick meeting and then Celestia would begin with the normal activities of the day. Except Applejack cleared her throat and told the princess that the five of them had been thinking about things. Bad things. Mistakes and wrongs and things that had been done that hurt Equestria. She spoke about Nightmare Moon and Discord and the changelings and Doubt and some things that I don't even get but it seemed to leave Celestia shaken...

~49 Days Ago...~

Celestia stared at the farmer, trying to maintain the veneer of nobility and grace. "My little ponies... why do you bring up such things?"

Applejack’s face was as hard as a plow’s blade and her gaze could have cut through stone. When she spoke it was with all the brutality of a war club smashing into a face. "Because we realize that all of them can be laid at your hooves, Princess, and the hooves of your sister. The two of you have caused so much pain and suffering these last 1000 years and the five of us believe that such faults must be corrected, swiftly and with precision."

Celestia shook her head. "Applejack, all ponies have faults, even you. I am not different than any of you... and I have paid the price for them."

"You are wrong, Princess," Rainbow Dash said, moving to stand beside Applejack. The others joined the two, the same look of resolve on their faces. "You are nothing like us..."

There was a great crash as if a bolt of thunder had cracked through the air above their heads. The light was blinding and ponies cried out in shock, shielding their eyes against the brilliant glow that invaded their line of sight. None were immune to its effects, not even the princesses. Celestia and Luna, controls of the sun and moon, fell back against the intensity of the light.

And as swiftly as it had come it ended... and in the fading illumination it became clear that the five friends had been affected as well... but not as any would have suspected.

Where once had stood five average size mares there were now grand alicorns, each radiating with power and dignity. All that saw them found they could only stare for a moment, for the beauty of the five was so awe-inspiring that they could not bear it. And as they looked away they looked upon themselves and were ashamed of their ugliness and fell to their bellies and wept.

"Please... there is no need for tears," Fluttershy said softly, her long pink hair billowing out like great curtains caught in a breeze. "This is not the time for sadness or despair. So... please stop."

Pinkie Pie bounced foward, her grin so large it was hard to image how she managed to maintain it. "That's right, you sobby sobs! Today is a wonderful day! Don't worry... we'll have you laughing and cheering soon enough!"

Luna, who had remained silent for all this time, slowly inched her head up so she could stare at the five mares. "What... what have you done?"

"Hey, we've done nothing that wasn't needed to be done!" Rainbow Dash declared proudly, puffing out her chest. "We figured that Twilight had the right idea... even if she did it for the wrong reasons!"

"Twilight allowed herself to be corrupted by Doubt and now thinks only of herself," Rarity stated nobly. "But we forgive her... it is not her fault. We all played a part in her fall and when she returns we will save her and make her like us.” The fashionista leveled a cool gaze upon the sisters. “Still... though the ends are tainted the means by which she went about them held merit."

Applejack nodded and her newly formed horn flared. The crowd gasped as the five elements appeared around their necks, flashing in sequence before they transformed into royal jewelry. Each of the new alicorns now wore a gold crown, necklace and shoes; all of these bore their cutie mark upon them.

"For far too long all of you in Equestria have suffered! Suffered because you have not had the right guiding hoof lead you into the light. But that time is now over!" Applejack rose in the air, as did her four friends, addressing the crowd. "We, the remaining Elements of Harmony, declare that we shall take our rightful places as rulers of Equestria!"

Celestia and Luna step forward, their eyes dark and heads held high. The solar princess stared up the five alicorns and spoke. “Girls… your ideas are noble but your methods are foolish. If you want to enact change then do so in your towns and neighborhood. But to come here and make such a declaration… it speaks of just how little you truly know.”

“Change must come and it must be swift… and that change must start with you.” Applejack took a challenging step forward. “Stand down or we will make you stand down.”

“Don’t make us hurt you, please,” Fluttershy pleaded.

“You will try,” Luna said, charging her magic.

~MC~MC~MC~

“I’ve never seen a battle like that, Twiley. Never.” Shining swallowed, his tongue working along his chapped lips. His gaze was elsewhere as he remembered that terrible day, the memory of those sounds of battle echoing through his ears. “You… you can not image what it was like to witness it. Nightmare Moon was nothing compared to that… Discord was terrible beyond measure and yet with him it was not as frightening. And the changelings… I’ve always thought that would be the worst day of my life, the day I lost you and nearly lost Cadence. And yet… and yet that day, Twiley… that day was the worst.”

“What happened?” Spike asked.

“War,” the captain said. “War happened.”

The Plunge

‘The King is dead, long live the king’

-Traditional Proclamation

“War?” Twilight echoed, praying to any being that would listen that she had misheard her brother.

“Yes… war. The celestial sisters verses the elements of harmony.” He shook his head, as if trying to rid himself of the memories. He could still smell the scent of burning ozone as the magical blasts torn through the air. He could hear the sounds of the seven alicorns lashing out at one another. He could taste the marble dust on his tongue as the great strikes destroyed ancient columns. He was there again, watching as beings he could not even hope to rival in power decided the fate of the world.

“Shining?” Twilight whispered. She was struggling to understand all of this, to comprehend how things could have gone so wrong and how the stories her brother spoke of could possibly be true. They didn’t sound right at all and part of Twilight hoped that he was lying and this was some trick he had come up with to get her to come back to Ponyville. Heck, she would take it being some foolish ploy in order to lure her away so he could attempt to drain her powers and make her once more into a unicorn. She entertained that idea for a moment, thinking about how he would use the story as a warning about the dangers of power and why she should give up what she now held.

But one look at his face… one look at those pain-filled eyes and hollow stare and she knew… she knew it was all real. It had all happened and this wasn’t some lie he had come up with.

They both wished it was though.

“We use to wonder what would happen if we had to face you,” Shining spoke. It was hard to tell if he was talking to Twilight or himself. Perhaps he was doing both. “The guard, I mean. After Nightmare Moon there were a few that feared you and your friends. You had defeated an alicorn… one of the most powerful beings we've ever known. You had managed to strike her down and now you held the magical items that could rain destruction upon our heads. Don’t give me that look… you have to realize that some ponies feared you six. You had the legendary elements and there were some that wondered what would happen if you decided to use them for something other than attacking Nightmare Moon.

“Then Discord happened. Only a few of us were privy to the knowledge that your friends had been corrupted by him but it was enough to start the rumors spreading about the kingdom. There were whispers, Twilight… you were already seen as one of the most powerful unicorns to ever be born… and your friends are also some of the most talented. Rainbow Dash pulled of the Rainboom… the Wonderbolts can’t do that yet she did. Applejack is strong and determined and a capable fighter. Pinkie Pie… by the Creator, that mare scares me and I know I am on her good side. Fluttershy has that Stare thing… Celestia never talks about it, even after I asked her, but I get the sense that whatever Fluttershy does it isn’t good. Rarity is cunning and can manipulate well… she’d make a great spy, I think, if she weren't so flashy.

“Take all that and add in the fact that you six wield the elements. Do you understand why we might have been frightened? Why we might have feared you? What if one of you fell? What if you were corrupted?” Shining began to laugh and for a moment Twilight feared he had gone mad. “Didn’t you wonder about how the guards managed to line up so quick to take you on when you invaded the wedding? We had drills, Twiley… friggin’ drills about what we could do if one of you mares decided to go rogue!

“We all wondered… and we all debated and we all thought that we could manage if it happened. After all, we were trained and we were skilled and we were the best fighters in Equestria. How could you have any hope of defeating the Royal Guard?”

Shining laid his head on his pillow, staring at the ceiling as if it held all the answers. “In that throne room during the wedding I saw just how wrong we were. Even before you become an alicorn you wiped us out. You got a cheap shot on Celestia and had me kissing a window. You managed to take down the guard and you were drunk at the time. Still… maybe it was a fluke… maybe you just got lucky.

“But no… your friends’ ascension proved that theory wrong. They came in and they held their own against Celestia and Luna. More than that… they won.” Twilight and Spike gasped but Shining did not stop. “Yeah… they won. They ended up curbstomping the princesses. I think because Celestia and Luna were trying to hold back because they didn’t want to hurt your friends. Of course, maybe they would have lost even if they gave it there all. I… I honestly don’t know.

“I can still see the look in Celestia’s eyes when Rarity blindsided her and jammed her horn in her side. I’ve never seen the princess bleed, Twiley, but I saw it then. By the Creator it was horrible.”

“Shining… what…”

“Shhh…” Shining gave her a sad smile. “I am getting to the worst part.”

~MC~MC~MC~

Celestia struggled to stand up but found her body refused her mental commands. "But... but you are not ready!"

"We are ready enough," Rainbow Dash declared.

Luna shook her head, her muscles caught in spasms. "You have the power but like the training and knowledge! To do what you desire now... it will only lead to pain for our subjects."

Applejack shook her head, standing tall with her friends. "We'll have each other to lean on and our subjects."

"But, uh, don't worry," Fluttershy said with a slight smile, trying to make all of this sound better than it was, "we haven't forgotten about you, princesses."

Rarity beamed in delight. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna... you have held the burden of power for too long... you were never meant to bear it and thus you are forgiven for your mistakes. For your service to this land and for protecting it till we could arrive, we give you a reward."

The five elements glowed and Celestia and Luna let out cries as they were engulfed in a sea of many colors. When the display faded the crowd found that in place of the princesses there stood two mares: a white one with a pink mane and a blue one with a navy mane. They had no horn nor wings and even the strength of an earth pony could not be found in them.

"We give you the gift of a simple life... you may live your lives in peace, knowing we will protect the realm," Rarity said. "Go live your lives and be happy, safe. Be... harmonious."

Before the princesses could protest Pinkie's horn glowed and they were transported away. The crowd stared in shock is the five bearers moved forward, using their magic to part the throng of ponies and march towards the throne. Fluttershy focused and 4 duplicate thrones appeared next to Celestia's and each of them took a seat.

"So comes the Days of Harmony."

~MC~MC~MC~

"The Days of Harmony... Harmony only if you submitted," Shining said darkly. "The five queens, that's what they are called now, acted swiftly and without mercy. They began to collect ponies and..." Shining shuddered, "they altered them, Twiley. You saw how those guards' coats were overly bright, right?" Twilight nodded dumbly. "That was their work. The Queens get their magical hooks into somepony and they pump them full of their element... it becomes their defining trait.

"They wrap it up in noble words and maybe they really believe it... but there is nothing wonderful about their rule. Harmony can't be forced. Forcing ponies to be happy or help one another isn't harmony... it totalitarianism." The stallion hung his head. "I'll never forget the screams right before they brainwashed them. Stallions and mares would be ranting and raving... and then it was like something was shut off and they just... become fanatics for the cause. And the fillies..." Shining Armor shut his eyes. "God, what they did to those three fillies... their own family! And the foals...."

Twilight felt the tears dripping from her eyes but she found she simply didn't have the strength to wipe them away. The thought of her friends acting in such a way... attacking the princesses and declaring themselves the new rulers of Equestria... it was horrify. And their actions after they had claimed power? It made Twilight feel ill. She wanted to turn tail and run and not stop until the world made sense again.

"They are making armies, Twilight," Shining said softly. "Each of them... I wonder if they are going to wage war against the world. Rarity's troop are in charge of redistribution. Everything goes to everypony and they are marching about towns, capturing the wealthy or the well off and forcing them to covert and give up all they own. Fluttershy's team... I haven't actually seen them but I know they are there. They are the spies and they have eyes everywhere. I've seen alot of ponies talking about how much they hate how things are... then they disappear for a few days before returning as meek little things that praise all. Pinkie Pie's group is just as bad; she's set up court on this farm outside of Ponyville and any pony that isn't 'happy enough' is sent there. I don't know what happens but... I've never heard such chilling laughter. Applejack's battalion is probably the easiest because all they care about is honesty. I learned that as long as I didn't lie and just told half truths I was fine.

"You met Rainbow Dash's boys... they keep ponies from leaving and hunt those of us that want no part in their new kingdom. I've been on the run since the Princesses were defeated, trying to rally up other ponies to form a rebellion. I've got a few but... we knew we needed you so I decided to go find you. But then the Rainbow Squad found me... well, here we are."

"How?" Twilight whispered, her entire body trembling in fear and outrage. "How could they do this?"

"I don't know, Twilight. Maybe it has something to do with Faith.. where is he, anyway?"

"Around," Twilight said vaguely. "Faith runs on little errands and disappears for days. He's always there if I really need him but... he's still a mystery." She shook her head. She could tell that the abstract had heard all that Shining had said through her connection with him and now the gray alicorn was racing back to Equestria.

"I hope he shows up soon. I don't know if he is connected to this or maybe there is a new enemy that is using your friends as puppets... I honestly don't know. You two are the last alicorns we got, though... you and Faith."

"Shining... what about Cadence?" Her brother looked away. "Shining?"

"I don't know. She was in the castle when they took over and I haven't seen her. I don't know if they as altered her or if they made her like Celestia and Luna..."

"Uh, guys!" Spike called out, ducking away from the window. "This is all real interesting but we need to go!"

"What is it, Spike?" Twilight asked, hurrying over to the window and slowly leaning out far enough that she could take a peak. "Shoot."

"What is it?" Shining said from the bed.

"We've got company. More of those guards that attacked you." Twilight refused to call them the Rainbow Squad; doing so would be admitting that her friends truly had become the monsters Shining painted them as. "Wait... some new pony is flying in."

"Describe her," Shining hissed.

"Color of an overripe tangerine... large wings... wearing silver armor... huh, it kinda looks like the armor Rarity made Rainbow Dash for the Grand Galloping Gala."

"We need to run, now." Shining struggled to get out of the bed, only for Twilight's magic to hold him fast. "Twilight!"

"What has you spooked? I dealt with those guards, didn't I?"

"She isn't a normal guard... your dealing with the commander of the Squad... Celestia help us..." he refused to speak more but from the wild panic in his eyes it was clear Shining Armor had dealt with this new arrival before... and it hadn't ended well.

"Who is she?" Spike asked.

"Rainbow Dash's Number 1 Fan."

Twilight looked back down at the tall, noble mare that was landing before the pegasi... and thought back to a similar pony, this one a small filly with a shock of purple hair who was always staring at Rainbow Dash with admiration.

"No..." Twilight whispered.

Shining closed his eyes once more in despair. "I told you they experimented on the fillies and colts."

"Shining Armor!" the armored mare called out. "I am Commander Scootaloo! You are wanted for attempting to destroy harmony and the crime of abandoning your country. Exit the hotel with your horn down and I promise we will not harm you." Scootaloo smiled and Twilight felt her blood run cold. "It is time you accepted harmony."

Taunts

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

-Frank Sinatra, My Way

Scootaloo.

The warrior standing in front of the inn was Scootaloo.

It was like she had been struck in the gut. Twilight just kept staring at the tall, elegant mare, trying to make her brain lock onto the fact that this was Scootaloo. Twilight could see the little filly so well in her mind's eye: her spiky purple hair, her tiny little wings buzzing as she rode her scooter around, a look of determination that seemed to be forever on her face.

None of that could be found on the mare before her. Oh, her mane was purple and her coat orange but the attitude and the body language was all wrong. This mare that wore Scootaloo's face was more likely to sneer than she was to roll her eyes. The youthful joy had been cut out of her and replaced with a determined look that spoke of a hard life and a harder will. It was… a perversion, a twisting of something small and innocent into something horrible.

Rainbow Dash and her friends had experimented on her, using banned magic to accelerate her growth and make her their loyal attack dog. Now, the orange mare stood before the inn, shouting at the window. She knew Twilight, Shining and Spike were holed up in there, demanding the stallion come out before they ripped him out.

"We need to run," Shining whispered, creeping towards the door. "We can't take on Scootaloo."

The baby dragon gave Shining a cold look. "Come on, it's Scootaloo! I think we can manage!" Spike complained.

"The Queens altered her... she is different from the rest. They gave her strength and endurance. Her armor is enchanted too, to resist spells. I saw one of the unicorns from Celestia’s school take her on… a powerful one and… Scootaloo just crushed him. Laughed as his spells bounced off her and then stomped him into the ground till he couldn’t move."

“But that’s why you came to get us, remember?” Spike prodded.

Shining Armor was by no means a coward but he had been trained to understand his limitations. He had seen first hoof the terrible power wielded by the converted Cutie Mark Crusaders and he knew that against even one he stood little chance. Even though he knew in his heart of hearts that Twilight by herself could easily take on this version of Scootaloo and together with him it would be no contest… the memories of all the horrors he had seen the queens and their guards perform had left him with his flight or fight response firmly entrenched in ‘flight’. He knew this… he understood this… and yet he couldn’t fight the reaction. It made him sick to his stomach but… but he was scared. Scared he would be wrong and Twilight would fall just as all others had and he would have to watch them convert his baby sister.

"She'll take us down. We need to fall back and prepare-"

"No."

"Twilight?" Shining asked.

"No," Twilight repeated. Her body trembled with rage. "They don't get to do this." Her left eye lost all color while the right darkened into the deepest of obsidian. Her magic began to flare around her and the feathers on her wings shifted from purple to black and white. Her mane extended and the stars that were braided through the darkening strands began to streak across it. Dark and light magic swirled around her horn as Twilight set her jaw. She seemed taller, more noble, and in that instant the fear Shining had felt was chased away; the alicorn of the stars was on his side. "This is my home too... and no pony is driving me away. Spike."

"Right," the baby dragon said, clamoring onto his friend's back, his own face grim and determined. Something flashed in his eyes and Shining Armor was startled by the power that seemed to lay hidden within their depths.

"Shining, stay behind us. Don't interfere." Before the stallion could protest Twilight surrounded them in an orb of darkness. When it popped Shining flared his magic, backing away from the smirking Scootaloo. He had faced many dangers and was braver than most ponies... but he remembered well the terrible things Scootaloo and her boys had done to his fellow soldiers and he had no desire to get anywhere near her. It was a war of fear and bravery… Scootaloo vs. Twilight.

Twilight... smiled.

"Hello Scootaloo..." Twilight said, utterly polite. She might as well have been greeting the enchanted mare at the side of the road. She took a step forward and nodded to the guards. "I'm back."

Scootaloo was genuinely surprised to see Twilight standing there, though she did well to school her features before anyone could call her out on it. "We'd forgotten you were coming. All of us knew you would return... but we thought we had time." She took a step forward, keeping her wings spread wide as she spoke. Twilight could sense the wards woven around her armor, protecting the orange pegasus from anything Twilight might throw at her.

It was weird… Scootaloo seemed to suddenly find her gameplan altered and she was struggling to find her footing. Twilight had seen flashes of shock, fear, and… admiration? Yes… yes. Scootaloo had looked at her for the briefest of moments like so many had looked upon Princess Celestia.

"Twilight Sparkle... you have been found guilty of corruption by the rogue abstract known as Doubt.” Twilight raised an eyebrow at that. “But you are not to blame for your actions or your fall. My stallions and I have been commanded to bring you before the queens, so they might purify you and open your eyes to the glories of harmony once more. Then, and only then, will you be allowed to take your place as the 6th queen and help in ushering in the golden age of Equestria." Scootaloo’s gaze drifted onto Shining Armor. “Your brother… has betrayed Equestria… once you are cured you will decide his punishment. Then, you will help the queens hunt down Doubt.”

"Sorry, but no. On so many levels and on so many of your comments... no." Twilight said. She flashed a dark smile and for a moment Scootaloo felt a sense of dread. "And by the way, I kicked your favorite Queen's flank across the night club, so you aren't going to be much of a challenge."

"Uh, Twiley... could you maybe not taunt the guards that want to beat me up?" Shining hissed.

"Don't be a fool," Scootaloo snapped. The dismissal had clearly stung and now Scootaloo was pissed. Though she was several inches shorter than Twilight she still managed to hold her head up and find a way to look down her nose at the purple alicorn. "You have no hope of defeating us. We have harmony and justice on our side... what do you have? A baby dragon and a traitor. Even with your wicked powers you will not be able to stand up to all of us. You are truly alone."

"Is that so?" a voice purred in Scootaloo's ears. “How interesting.”

The orange mare looked about, trying to spot the intruder that had spoken. It had felt as if the voice were coming from her very soul, taunting and teasing her. When she found no pony standing at her side she turned back towards Twilight, glaring at her. "Your cheap little tricks don't mean a thing to us! They are nothing compared to the power of the queens!"

"Oh, it's no trick," Twilight said with a slightly bemused look on her face.

"Indeed," the voice whispered. "My dear Scootaloo, you have made so many mistakes... so many missteps in your short life. Would you like to hear about some of them? We have the time."

Scootaloo began to whip around, searching out the mysterious voice. A bit of her old self leaked out, like light shining through a crack. "Show yourself, lame brain! Show yourself and I promise I won't hurt Twilight!"

"Oh, resorting to threats now?" the voice teased. "My sad little Scootaloo... always trying to prove herself... always biting off more than she can chew. You are always so blind to what is around you. You are much too focused on what lies in the distance that you can not see what is right in front of your nose!"

Scootaloo looked down her snout, expecting her heckler to be standing on the tip of her nose, waving. Instead she found nothing at all.

"I was referring to other things, my dear," the voice said drolly. "Though… I am not surprised you fell for such a cheap joke. You weren’t very bright as a child and now it is clear when the queens grew your body they left your mind very small. Now then, hold that cross-eyed pose for a bit... it so reflects your natural mindset."

"I am going to kill you... I swear by the queen I am going to kill your lame, annoying behind!"

"Gasp!" the voice taunted. "So many have tried... so many have failed. But let us not forget our main topic of discussion: your many failings. I can't help but notice you remain a blank flank." The entity clicked his tongue, chiding her. "Poor, poor Scootaloo... you have been made an adult and still you fail to find your true talent; such a pity."

"I know my talent!" Scootaloo shouted. "I serve Queen Rainbow Dash, the most awesome queen ever to exist! I am her number one fan and her number one soldier! I will have your head on a spike and-"

"She'll finally notice you?" the voice whispered. "That's it, isn't it? You are so desperate to win her approval that you go against your very nature. You try to be like her but even you, in your heart of hearts... know that it is a poor imitation." That one hit home. “Oh yes… such a poor job. Like a wolf trying to pretend to be an ewe. Or perhaps the other way around, considering who you are, my little chicken, and who you long to be.”

"Shut up," Scootaloo whispered. Twilight swore she saw a tear fall from Scootaloo’s eye. "You don't know me."

"Not all of you, I will admit. I do know what you fear... and more than that... I know your doubts."

"Enough of this!" one of Scootaloo's stallions called out. "The corrupted element is using some parlor tricks to influence the captain." The armored guard took a step forward, wings flared. "Strike Twilight Sparkle down and knock her out... we only need her alive-"

The guard let out a cry of pain as a silver bolt of energy crashed from the heavens, striking him down where he stood. He pained and wheezed, falling to his knees and all looked to the sky.

"But the gravest of your mistakes..."

There was a great whoosh and from the sky a gray alicorn slammed into the ground, his white metallic wings shining as he slowly stood up. His black and white mane hung down his brow and his long horn gleamed in the sunlight. The new arrival took a step forward and silver magic began to swirl about him.

"...was believing Twilight was alone," Faith said darkly. Twilight moved to stand beside him. "She is NEVER alone... and for threatening her I will show you the TRUE power of an element of harmony."

"About time," Twilight muttered. "I thought you were never going to stop talking."

"I love to monologue... a holdover from my more villainous days."

"I thought you were more of an anti-hero," Spike said.

Scootaloo shook her head, the despair Faith had infected her with draining away as she came to her senses. "It's Doubt!"

"Faith, actually, but I can see where you got confused. Doubt was more stallion like…" He blinked, considering something before casually turning to Spike. “Is Faith a girl’s name?”

“Maybe a little,” Spike admitted.

“Bugger.” The silver alicorn looked at all the angry stallions that stood before him and the rest of the group. "Always getting in trouble, my dear Twilight."

"Well, I did learn from you," Twilight said sweetly.

"Gag me," Spike muttered. “Could you two not flirt?”

“We aren’t flirting,” the two said at the same time.

"Kill them!" Scootaloo screamed.

"Well then... talk later?" Twilight said.

"But of course," Faith said, wings flaring out as he prepared for battle.

The First Strike

"Forth and fear no darkness! Shields shall be shaken! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword day... a red day... ere the sun rises!"

-Theoden, The Return of the King

This was not how he had expected his first confrontation with the queen’s warriors to go.

Oh, Shining had been hoping that Twilight would agree to help fight against her friends and save Equestria. He had thought about that battle, of the danger and the violence… but it had always seemed so epic, like the tales of knights his mother and father use to tell him. The clash of armor and the blasts of magic…

But this… this was not a noble fight. It hadn’t even began and Shining knew it would be grim and dark and gritty. And this was only the first skirmish… the true battle… the true WAR… lay before them.

Shining shoved down the fear he was feeling and joining Twilight and Faith in staring down Scootaloo's squad. He knew that his magic would do little good but he hoped some of the non-magical defensive moves he'd been taught in the royal guard might help him. He would not be a coward; he would not let the fear the queens had instilled within him keep him from doing what was right. He would fight… not matter how broken he felt.

Faith looked upon the whole exercise with an air of boredom. Fighting was tedious in his eyes and he preferred a battle of words to one of hooves. The chess board of the mind was such a more thrilling place and, when in the hooves of skilled warriors, more dangerous. Bodies could mend but hearts and souls were such a tricky thing to break… and to heal.

Still, if pressed he would defend himself. And those under his protection.

Twilight focused, calling upon spells she had prepared for just such an occasion. While Twilight was no longer as anal retentive as she had once been she still prepared for the worst of situations... a trait that was going to help her out right then and there. She studied the armor of the guards and began to poke as the protection spells woven through it, trying to find weaknesses. Her quick mind looked at the squad’s structure and layout and she created theories on how they would behave.

"Twilight... you want me to help?" Spike asked, leaping down off her back.

"Why yes Spike!" Twilight said happily. "I think you've more than earned a chance to flex your muscles."

Scootaloo laughed as her men got in position, surrounding the small band of traitors. "A baby dragon... you are really going to have a baby dragon fight?" She scoffed. “You’re more desperate than I thought.”

"Maybe," Twilight said, her smile speaking volumes. "But I wouldn’t write him off. You see... Spike and I figured something out during our little holiday."

Spike closed his eyes, body trembling slightly. "I know what I want... I know what a want..." He repeated that over and over and the pegasi were surprised when the baby dragon began to grunt, his scales bulging slightly as if something were wiggling beneath them.

"Such an interesting thing about dragons," Twilight said, her tone almost clinical. She began to circle around Spike, not at all disturbed by the fact that his scales were bulging out. "Their growth is based on greed. Now, I've known about that since Spike's last birthday, which is why he is now on a very strict gift-getting-limit. But I never really considered what that meant, to have your growth be based on greed. It is such a strange concept, right? After my own... growth... I began to wonder if there weren't more shades of gray in the world. Why couldn't greed be turned into something for the side of good to use?

“It was Faith who made me finally see the answer.” Twilight shrugged. “Well, him and Discord. Both proved that there were negatives and positives for everything: lies and honestly, faith and doubt… and more than that the same emotion could be twisted for either light or darkness. Doubt can make a hero falter… or question lies. So, why not the same for greed? Why not turn it into something positive… something Spike could control?”

The baby dragon's eyes snapped upon, his dark pupils turned into sharp slits. "I want to be five times bigger, have the strength of an ursa minor, and wings that make me as fast as Rainbow Dash!"

Spike grunted as his body began to swell, his muscles expanding and his scales hardening as he began to age. He rose up into the air as his bones thickened and his limbs grew longer. Toned, powerful muscle burst from his body and smoke began to slowly drift from his nostrils. The dragon slammed a meaty fist into the ground as wings burst from his back and his teeth gleamed in the sunlight as he gave Scootaloo and her stallions a feral grin. He rose higher and higher, till he was several feet taller than Faith and filled with rippling, twitching muscle. And while he did look older there wasn't the malice that had drove him into a primal rage the first time he'd let his greed get the best of him. No... now Spike was driven by desire... a desire to help his friends.

“Wow,” Shining whispered.

"Our boy's all grown up," Faith said with a slight laugh and a hint of pride.

"Ha ha ha," Spike said, his voice having dropped several octaves. He rolled his shoulders and neck before bringing his clawed hands up and motioning for Scootaloo's squad to come at him. He was built like a minator and it looked like he could chomp diamonds into dust with his powerful jaws.

Faith took on a wounded look. "You laugh, but I played as much of a role in your hatching as my Twilight. That makes me the closest thing you have to a father."

“Then we need to talk about all my missed birthdays, dad.”

"Would we argue this later?" Shining snapped. "You know, when we aren't about to face a bunch of brainwashed pegasi."

“Don’t tell me you doubt us, my boy!” Faith said teasingly. “Twilight alone could handle this mob… I just want a chance to stretch my wings.”

“And it has nothing to do with you worrying about me?” Twilight asked playfully.

“Well, other than worrying about your sudden egotism causing you to do something stupid-“

Twilight glowered at him. “Really? I’m the egotist?”

“Are you sure they aren’t dating?” Shining whispered to the giant Spike.

“We aren’t,” Twilight snapped.

"Of course we aren’t. Oh, and before I forget!" The white stallion barely had time to blink before Faith struck his horn against the stallion’s. Shining let out a yelp, only to feel his body tense as… he wasn’t for sure what happened. It felt as if he had jammed his horn into the sun itself but just as quickly as the pain came it disappeared, leaving a sense of power behind. All the fear and worry he had felt faded in an instant and for the first time in 2 months he felt like his old self.

"What... what was that?" Shining asked as Faith and Twilight lowered themselves into attack position.

"A bit of a boast, my dear boy; and the return of your faith in yourself. Now then, have at them and all that rubbish."

The pegasi rushed them, lashing out with their hooves and their armored heads, their wings beating as they zipped and dove away from the party of four. The air filled with the sound of clanking armor and beating wings as they sought to strike down the party before they could make a move.

They quickly found, however, that they training and protection spells did little against the brute force of two alicorns, a teenage dragon and an amplified captain of the royal guard. What they had thought would be an easy fight quickly turned into a struggle. All the loyalty to the cause was meaningless when faced with those that could not be cowed or bullied.

Shining put his combat training to the test against the pegasi and showed them that just because he favored creating defensive bubbles did not mean he was helpless. The pinkish spheres would pop up in front of the zooming pegasi, holding like a brick wall and leaving them in a daze. He created several and sent them hurtling at the stallions like mini wrecking balls... with just as much damage being inflicted. The most painful were the smallest of his orbs, which he fired from his horn like a gatling gun. They would attach themselves to the wings and spread like molasses, paralyzing the limbs and sending the flyer crashing to the ground.

Spike proved to be quite use to his enlarged form and any that got near him thinking the change in height would throw him off were left with a painful surprise. What he lacked in speed, due to his sheer size, he made up for in cunning. His years spent learning under Twilight had not been in vain and though he looked to be a dumb, muscle-filled brute he was as cagy as the best general. One of his favorite moves was to leap into the air and clap his meaty hands together, sending out a sonic boom that would leave the pegasi tumbling about, trying to right themselves. Those unlucky enough not to find their balance soon enough would be caught in a bear hug, squeezed until they passed out. The stallions that avoided that were by no means save, as Spike would then turn his flames on them, heating up the air and creating thermals that would send them careening off course.

They say a good offense is a good defense and Faith clearly adhered to that motto. There was not a single moment in the entire battle where the lord of the gray ever attacked one of the pegasus guards; his horn never glowed and not one felt his hoof upon their form. He refused to make the first move and let them come to him, opening himself up to their attacks. But his lack of attack did not mean he didn't deal pain. Whenever they attacked he would deflect their strikes with a flick of his wing and send his opponent slamming into the ground or colliding with one of their comrades. Avoiding him also failed as the abstract used his speed and grace to place himself in the middle of attacks; he was a living shield for the rest of his team. The abstract leapt about the battle field, catching shots from Shining or Twilight that missed their mark and juggling them along his metallic wings before flinging them at a nearby pegasus. To fight him was to battle the wind or a river.

Twilight was Twilight. There was no real style that could be ascribed to her because she used them all. Her mind had always been a steel trap when it came to knowledge and she was always seeking to learn more. No topic had flew past her and she was open to any avenue of learning. When, as a teen, she'd taken an interest in the art of war (after a rather bad encounter with a rude unicorn stallion) she'd absorbed it all: strategies, battle formations, assault styles.

And, of course, she’d studied the moves and tactics of Commander Hurricane, the greatest pegasus warrior to ever live.

With her wings unfurled and her body now designed for flight, Twilight brought the commander's greatest moves back to life. The skies were filled with raging winds as Twilight spun about, creating the deadly blasting gusts that had made Hurricane a terror in the sky during the founding of Equestria. Several of the guards, even with their feelings of loyalty amplified as high as they were, began to tremble as they witnessed they acrobatics they'd studied in flight school being performed by the alicorn of the stars. They cried out and feared that Hurricane had truly returned from the grave and was unleashing his vengeance upon them.

In the end it was a lopsided battle and even then it was only the mercy of the four that kept it that close. Had they chosen to kill the Rainbow Squad the fight would have been over 10 minutes sooner. Instead they had sought to maim and knock out rather than brutalize and kill. Scootaloo's forces got in their hits but the foursome made sure they paid for each one 10-fold. It was only the aged filly that remained standing for her side once the final attack had been made. She panted and stared at them with wild eyes, like a cornered timberwolf caught against a rock wall. Her armor had been dented and pieces of it tossed arise. A bit of her tail still simmered from where Spike had burnt it and bruises were forming on her stomach after Twilight had landed a devastating kick.

"You can not win," Faith stated softly. "Stand down and you will not be harmed. We will heal your stallions and offer you what we can."

"I can help you, Scootaloo... I can make you normal again."

“You have been in their council,” Shining said. “Help us… you can give us so much-“

"NO!" Scootaloo screamed, enraged. "You will not corrupt me!" Her wing flicked and there was a blinding flash of light. When the spots faded from the foursome's vision they found that Scootaloo and her guards were gone.

"Teleportation. The queens built it into her armor. Clever, I will admit," Faith muttered.

"Do we go after them?" Spike said, his massive arms crossed over his broad chest.

Twilight focused. “I have a lock. I can-“

"No... we do that and we could be walking into a trap." Shining said.

Faith nodded. “I agree with the captain. It would be unwise to rush in.”

Shining began to walk away. "Come on... we have to let the others know there is hope."

"Others?" Twilight asked. "What others?"

"The rebellion, Twiley... the rebellion."

How We Are Seen

“I might be the villain of this story.”

-Rebecca Makkai, The Borrower

"Thank you," Faith said to the innkeeper, passing along a few bits to the kind stallion. His horn flared and another pile of bits joined the first. "We'd like our arrival in Equestria to be a surprise... you wouldn't want to ruin a surprise by revealing it, would you?"

"Of course not, my good masters," the innkeeper said, happy to please. He accepted the bits and waved as Faith turned to leave. "We should help each other, whenever we can! That is what harmony is about."

Faith nodded, internally smiling. He had figured out the rules of the game rather quickly and he was enjoying his time exploiting them. Just because he was back to being his old self didn't mean that he couldn't be devious every once and a while. And even if it did mean that… well, there was still quite a bit of Doubt still in him.

"That was quick," Twilight said once Faith rejoined them outside the inn. The alicorn of the gray lifted several bundles from his back and Twilight accepted one. She gave it a shake, allowing the tightly packed cloak to breathe before throwing it on. “I thought it would take you longer to convince him to sell us goods.”

"The law of the land is harmony... if you are smart you can use it to your advantage. He is eager to be generous and honest words can so easily be twisted."

Shining nodded. "He's right. I've found out a lot about the queens thanks to all the ponies not wanting to lie and feeling the need to offer advice. I don't think your friends realized that being so strict would mean there would be so many loopholes." His mood went sour in an instant. "Just don't break one of the five rules... that will draw attention."

"And attention is the last thing we need," Spike said as Twilight helped him pull on his cloak. After the battle it had been decided that it would be better for the dragon to appear as ponylike as possible. There weren’t any other dragons in Equestria and every guard would be on the lookout for the baby dragon, as he would be the easiest to spot. Thus, he had gone for a build roughly the size of Shining Armor's and remained on all fours. With the long cloak hanging off his form one would have to look at his hands and feet to notice anything strange about him.

Faith pulled his own cloak on and Twilight took a moment to look at the others and then herself, wanting to make sure everything was perfect. The four cloaks were a dark brown with braided cord holding them tight to their bodies. Twilight had grabbed a stack of bland-looking books from their room at the inn and placed them on her back. She took a deep breath before taking on the serene and downcast look of a monk. Until they got to the rebellion's hideout they would need to lay low; looking like scholars would help their cause greatly.

"Any other tips, Shiny?" Twilight whispered as they emerged from the inn and made their way past the battlefield. The remnants of the fight could still be seen and the 4 did their best to appear at once both interested and uninterested; too much interest would draw attention but ignoring the scene entirely would only lead to ponies wondering why they weren’t staring at the broken trees and torn-up grass.

"Stay low and stay smart. I've found that if you have to fight, taking one pony on one on one gives you a chance. It’s when they are in large groups that things get dicey."

"Like with zombies," Spike said.

"Why is it always zombies, Spike?" Twilight asked.

The dragon shrugged as the group began to make their way down the road. "Seems to fit. Ponies are captured and converted... they are all around us and will hunt us down... herds are more dangerous than a straggler..."

"The boy brings up a good point," Faith stated. “I would suggest not letting them bite you.”

The four of them fell silent and for a few minutes Twilight was able to pretend she was just out on a stroll. This was not a march towards war or a journey to fight her friends... just a casual trot down a road with the sun hanging in the sky and a light breeze.

Twilight glanced at two ponies that walked past them, their coats overly colorful. She nodded just barely and the two flashed overly large grins. "It just seems so... wrong," she whispered. "I mean... they look so happy."

"Because they are being forced to be happy, Twiley," Shining said softly. "They aren't really happy... somepony is making them feel that way."

"But is that really different than how things normally are?" Twilight quietly argued. She knew her friends were behind all this and their actions were terrible... but Twilight was seeking some way to make all of this fit properly. She was grasping at any angle she could find; anything to make their actions not as vicious as Shining made them out to be. "I mean, science knows that many of our emotions are chemical reactions. By altering the chemicals, we are able to make some pony feel whatever we want them to." She could see the disgust in Shining's eyes and she hurried to clarify. "I'm just saying that a lot of the emotions we feel aren't that magical at all... they aren't special."

"I am trying very hard not to be offended," Faith muttered.

Twilight's eyebrows disappeared into her hairline. "Oh! Well, I don't mean-"

“No no, I get it… I’m just a chemical imbalance.” Faith wiggled his head and screwed up his face in what could best be described as a ‘dumb dumb look’.

"I get what you are saying, Twiley," Shining said, ignoring the sulking abstract. "But here is the thing you are forgetting: true emotions, real emotions, come from here," he tapped his head and then his heart. "Not from some 3rd party. When you inject an emotion into a pony you are robbing them of their free will."

"But you have to admit they do it to themselves all the time. Think of all the depressed stallions that go and get a glass of hard cider. They are putting something in themselves to change their emotions."

"They aren't dragged in kicking and screaming," Shining countered.

Twilight shook her head. "They are in psych wards, Shining. Are you saying that we shouldn't medicate the criminally insane?"

"No, that is not what I am saying-"

"We are falling into the very problem that Equestria now faces," Faith stated softly. "Extremes. Shining, you must admit that at times, such changes in a pony by a 3rd party are needed... if you don't admit that then your dear fiancee is as much a foe to Equestria as the queens." Shining stammered and Faith turned to send a dark glare Twilight's way. "And you must admit that what is happening here is not sunshine and roses. They are your friends and you are trying to find a silver lining to their actions; this I understand. But what they are doing is wrong... I should know... I've done it myself."

"You have?" Spike asked.

"When I was Doubt. Not to the extreme the queens have but yes. I took what a pony had and pushed it towards a direction I preferred. Rainbow Dash and the rest, from what I can see, amplify an emotion to an extreme. There is no finesse to what they do, no attention to the details. I was a fine wood chisel... they are a keg of dynamite."

The baby dragon shook his head. "I can't believe the girls would do this."

"Me neither, Spike," Twilight whispered sadly.

Faith sighed. "The worst monsters in history have acted with the best of intentions... and the greatest heroes with the worst."

"Don't you think you are simplifying it?" Shining asked. He was growing annoyed by the abstract... mostly because he was making Shining question things he didn't want to.

"Am I?" Faith challenged. "May I tell you a story?"

Twilight smiled slightly. "You have got to stop monologuing."

"Quiet you. Now then, this tale takes place many, many years ago, back when I was merely Faith the abstract, without form. There was a hero who came upon these lands and saw that the world had become stagnant. The rulers of this land refused to ever let change truly come forth. The rulers liked things the way they were and the thought of change frightened them. The hero came to the rulers and when they stared at this figure, a mismatch of different species and preaching drastic change, they panicked. They tried to drive the hero out, to keep this noble figure from saving the ponies who longed for something more. The hero's methods were... extreme. The change that came about brought forth a chaos the likes of which you can not imagine. Many lives were ruined by this hero's actions, just as many were made better. Now... what do you think of the hero?"

Twilight smirked, her eyes twinkling in amusement. "I see what you are trying to pull, Faith. The 'hero' was Discord and the rulers were the Princesses. You are trying to show me that even evil can be twisted to look good and that-"

"The hero was Celestia," Faith stated softly.

The alicorn of the stars staggered as if punched in the gut.

"When Celestia and Luna appeared in these lands they brought with them chaos. Think about it... two ponies that could control the very moon and sun! Such things had been controlled by the unicorns for years! And they were faster than any pegasus that would live. Their strength made the mightiest of earth ponies look like foals. Never before had an alicorn been seen and to the first ponies that looked upon them there was a mix of awe and terror. With their rise in power came great upheaval. Princess Platinum and her descendants would slowly lose standing until... well, you've met Blueblood; a noble house, destined to rule, sees its heir care more for parties than the crown. Commander Hurricane saw his mighty army reduced to performing shows and guarding the very creatures he had attempted to drive out. He died bitter, by the way. The Chancellor found herself cast aside and left to wonder the lands, a shepherd without a flock. The mind of that one, already nearly lost, was broke the day Celestia took the throne. Madness... it is not a pretty thing. Their lives were ruined by Celestia and Luna's arrival."

"You... you can't mean that Celestia and Luna are evil!"

"Of course not," Faith said with a snort. "But to some they are. Life, you will find, is shades of gray. Show me a villain and I will give you a hero whose tale has not yet been told."

Shining shook his head in annoyance. "Why are you bringing this up? You just said yourself you are against the queens."

"Yes... I am. And you are and Twilight and Spike. And I am sure many more. But you must realize that there will be no complete victory." Faith looked up at the sky and, for the first time in a long, long while, sounded as old as he truly was. "Even if some great upheaval comes and your friends are returned to normal and all those ponies they amplified are cured and the princesses put back on the throne... some will see us as villains."

"How can you say that?" Shining snapped. "We are saving them!"

"From harmony. From happiness and laughter and joy. We are seeking to return sadness and loneliness and misery to this world. Yes, it is needed and without such things the world will never be truly filled with life... but do not be naive. What we do here will cause pain and the sooner you realize this the sooner we can solve things. Because," Faith wheeled around and jabbed his hoof at Shining, "if you are seeking to play knight and save the land you are a fool. This will be a war and all will lose."

Shining stared at Faith before purposely trotting ahead, not wanting to hear anymore from the abstract.

"Well... that is depressing," Spike muttered.

"So is life... the sour makes the sweet all the more wonderful." Faith looked up at the sky and sighed. "My concern is not with the queens."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, digesting what Faith had said.

"I sense another hoof at play here... you have sensed it too."

"Yes... something is not right." Twilight leaned forward, whispering so only Spike and Faith could hear her. "We can only trust each other... until we get the full story."

Spike nodded in agreement. "We've only gotten Shining Armor's side... he could be feeding us lies."

"You feel doubt... clever boy," Faith stated with pride. "Yes... we must be cautious. Things will come to a head soon enough and we will need to pick a side."

Twilight glanced at her brother. "Yeah... I just hope everypony can accept it."

Rapid Eye Movement

"If these visions have offended, think but this and all is mended..."

-Puck, A Midsummer Night's Dream

It was such a strange day to be marching to war. Twilight had assumed that grand battles would bring forth rains and overcast skies and moonless nights. The atmosphere, to her at least, should be heavy and foreboding; there should be an oppressive sense, as if some giant hoof was being slowly lowered onto one's back. That is how all the stories describe it and books rarely lied to her.

But that isn't what she felt and wasn't what she saw. The sky was bright and sunny, the clouds fluffy and white and the grass had never looked greener. Were it not for her brother's grim face Twilight would have thought she was on an afternoon stroll to work off a well deserved lunch.

None of it felt right. To Twilight, it was as if she were starring in a play that had suddenly been altered without her knowledge. She had come to perform as Spear Shaker's Lady Blood Hooves only to find the rest of the cast was performing Discord's Night.

"You ok, Twiley?" Shining asked, bumping against her.

"Fine, just fine," Twilight murmured to herself. "I mean no... I'm not fine, because everything has gone mad but if one ignores that then I am perfectly fine."

"Save for the madness?" Shining teased.

"Exactly," Twilight said, trying to remain perky and failing hideously. "I'll... I'll just be glad when this is over."

"When what is over?" Pinkie Pie asked, bouncing along next to her.

"The war."

"There is a war?" Pinkie Pie said, brow furrowed.

"Of course, against-" Twilight let out a yelp and jumped away, aiming her horn at Pinkie. "How did you find us!?!"

The earth pony giggled. "I got a twitchy twitch that said you were back and I followed it here!" Pinkie happily began to circle Twilight, giggling. "Now, tell me about the war! Is it between the gerbils and the field rocks again? My grandma used to tell me about that one."

Twilight's wings flared out. "What kind of trick is this?"

"Uh... I don't know. What kind is it?" Pinkie asked, confused.

Twilight turned, only to find that her brother had fled, leaving her to face the pink mare all by herself. But as the alicorn of the stars stared down her friend she was surprised to find that Pinkie didn't look any different. There was no horn upon her head. No wings fluttering upon her back. No sign of Pinkie being any different. She looked like... Pinkie Pie.

"What is this?" Twilight demanded. "What kind of trick is this?"

"What are you talking about?" Pinkie asked, tilting her head in confusion. "I'm not trying to trick you. And if I was, I don't know what I would be tricking you about!"

"You... you're evil! You overthrew the Princess! You took over and you are brainwashing ponies! You... you..."

Pinkie burst into laughter, rolling around on the ground, giggling up a storm. Twilight just stared at her, mouth hanging open in shock at the sudden giggle fit that had taken her friend.

After several moments Pinkie managed to contain her laughter. She slowly stood up, wiping her eye with a hoof. "Wow... and everypony says I'm random!"

"But... you are just trying to trick me..."

"Come on, Twilight, get serious!" Pinkie giggled again and Twilight found herself smiling at the irony of the party pony telling her to be 'serious'. "Does it make any sense that I'd be evil? That me or Fluttershy could be bad?"

"I... but Shining..."

Pinkie blew a raspberry. "Wow, you are believing your brother?" Pinkie knocked on her friend's skull. "Uh, hello! No offense Twilight but your brother is kinda a ditz and can't tell the different between his wife and a bug... you think maybe he got mixed up?"

Twilight stared at Pinkie, her frazzled nerves settling down. "I... yeah... I guess he did..."

Pinkie nodded, wrapping a foreleg around Twilight and gently moving her off the path she had been walking. "Seriously, Twilight... who are you going to trust? Your friends or your brother and Doubt? Who's been there for you through good and bad? Who always has your back?"

"You girls," Twilight said as she allowed Pinkie to lead her down a new trail through the forest.

"See? Was that so hard? We are your friends and you should always stick by your friends!"

"Right," Twilight said with a grin.

"Hey, you know what would make you feel better?" Pinkie began to bounce and, with her foreleg around Twilight's neck, made the alicorn bounce too. "We should Pinkie Promise to be friends forever!"

"That sounds like a great idea!" Twilight said with a smile, eyes bright. "There is just one tiny little baby problem."

Pinkie pursed her lips. "What?"

"I'm not really Twilight. Sorry." With that, 'Twilight' bucked Pinkie into a tree. "Really now... is that the best you could do?"

"What? What are you-"

"Stop it," 'Twilight' said sternly, before her entire body began to twist and reshape itself into a gray ball of liquid metal. "The scene is over and the actors have taken their bow. You played your part well, my dear Queen Pinkie, but you failed to sell yourself to the most important audience of all." After several moments the liquid reformed into a pony... but one whose shape was definitely NOT Twilight's.

"Doubt!" Pinkie exclaimed. Her tone wasn't angry or fearful... it was the same tone one might have if they turned a corner and stumbled upon an old classmate they had not seen in years. Her own form flickered for a moment and she was revealed in her true form: a large dark pink alicorn with a mane of frizzy hair that was nearly as big as she was that kept shifting and taking on new shapes like a large cloud caught in the wind. An impossibly large grin stretched her face to the breaking point. Though she was smiling it was easy to hear that there was no joy in her laughter. "What are you doing here?"

"Again, it is Faith. I really don't know why none of you can remember that." The silver blob began to, of all things, pace about the forest. "I mean, it isn't like I am shy about it. I considered even writing it on the moon but with Luna still a touch sore about the whole Mare in the Moon thing I decided it wise not to press my luck."

"Well, Doubt is a cooler name," Twilight said from high above. The sky darkened and the stars that shone swirled before creating a constellation that resembled the purple alicorn. "I got to say, Pinkie, I'm a bit disappointed; you really must not think much of me if you thought you could sneak into my dreams without me realizing it." She shook her head when Pinkie opened her mouth. "Don't deny it. The fact that Spike isn't here is enough proof that this is all a dream. Shining too... yeah, you did a number on him, and we are going to talk about that, but he would never abandon me. So, this is obviously a dream, which is why Faith and I swapped. You were trying to worm your way into my head... not a smart move. Mental shields were something they covered in magical first grade."

Pinkie looked up at Twilight, her smile still huge and her eyes vainly attempting to hide all her other emotions. "Wow Twilight, you sure are big and stuff! Imagine what we could do if we joined forces!"

"I have. Step down as a queen and help me save the others," Constellation Twilight said.

Pinkie giggled but the sound brought no joy to those that heard it. "Aw, you know I can't do that! I am spreading fun and sunshine and rainbows all over Equestria! This whole country is one big party and you are the grumpy next door neighbor that wants me to turn down the music. And I have to turn that frown upside-down!"

The liquid metal that represented Faith swelled up till it rivaled Twilight in size. The two massive alicorns stared down at the tiny Pinkie, who merely chortled at their ridiculous size. "It is clear we are not going to settle our differences here... will you at least answer a question or two?"

Pinkie clapped her hooves. "Of course! It can be a game! I ask a question and you ask a question!"

"How did you become an alicorn?" Faith questioned.

The pink alicorn raised an eyebrow. "You get right to the point, don't you? Well, okie dokie... I had help."

Twilight frowned. "From-"

Pinkie wagged her head. "Nah uh... my turn to ask the question! Where is the base full of those mean little rebels that want to ruin my fun."

"Equestria," Faith said simply, the metal twisting to form a smirk.

Pinkie's mood soured, even as her smile remained. "That's not fair!"

"Those are the rules of the game. Nothing said I had to give you the answer you wanted."

Twilight nodded. "Who made you an alicorn?"

"My new friend. See, I can do it too!" Pinkie stuck out her tongue and bugged out her eyes. "Where in Equestria is the rebel base?"

"On a patch of dirt big enough to fit it," Faith said casually. "What is the name of your new friend who made you an alicorn?"

"You know the name."

"That isn't an answer," Twilight snapped.

"Nothing in the rules said I had to answer honestly, did they?" Pinkie taunted. She turned on her heels and began to bounce away. "You'll meet my new buddy soon enough, and then all of us will have a party and have roasted Doubt for dinner."

A metal hoof slammed in front of Pinkie, nearly crushing her.

"You have tried to violate Twilight's mind... if you or your queens try this again I will not be held accountable for my actions."

Pinkie flashed Faith a feral grin. "Twilight won't let you hurt us."

"There are many ways to torture that don't leave marks," Faith whispered for only her to hear. "And there are worse things than death, my dear... I should know." Pinkie, still smiling if not as large, turned away and the dream shattered upon itself.

The next thing Twilight knew she was waking up with a gasp, Spike and Shining Armor hurrying over and helping ease her up.

"You ok, Twilight?" Spike asked. "You were muttering in your sleep."

"I'm fine, Spike... Pinkie and I just had a very confusing chat."

Shining frowned. "Does she know-"

"No. I let Faith muddle up everything. He's really good at that... I'm confused and I know what he was hinting at. She got nothing." She looked around, befuddled. "Where is Faith?"

"He stalked off right before you woke up. Said something about needing to do some investigating and he would check in later." Shining licked his lips, looking up at the dreary early morning sky. Night had not yet quite ended and the day was not quite begun. It was a time of contrasts and transition; he wished for the silver alicorn to be around if only because Faith seemed to thrive in such conditions.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you missed him!" Twilight teased. "Are you sure the queens haven't pumped you full of harmony?"

"What?" Shining asked, brow screwed up.

Spike chuckled. "Just kinda surprising. You weren't exactly Faith's biggest supporter."

"Back when he was Doubt and he had you convinced the best way to deal with me was to slam me into a stain glass window? Yeah, I wasn't very fond of him. But he's different now and I am a big enough pony to forgive and forget."

The smile left Twilight's face and she awkwardly scuffed at the ground. "Shiny... I am so sorry about how I treated you-"

"And I am sorry for how I treated you," Shining said softly. "We both screwed up, Twiley, so there is no reason for us to beat ourselves up over it. Forgive and forget."

"Forgive and remember," Spike said. "Otherwise you never learn."

"Someone has been hanging around Faith a bit too much," Twilight said, causing Spike to huff in annoyance.

The morning, unlike her dream, was dark and overcast, with a heavy fog in the air and a heavier foreboding feel. That comforted Twilight, despite the oppressive feel, as strange at it was. The tree they had slept under was heavy with morning dew and the grass slick with dew. The sun had not risen and even when it did there was little chance its rays would pierce through the heavy clouds.

"They still can't control the weather in the Everfree," Shining said, looking up at the sky.

"There is magic here," Twilight murmured, rising up. "I can feel it in my bones. It is old magic... very old. I think it was here before ponies came to Equestria." She shut her eyes, only to snap them open and reveal one was white and the other black. "Yes," she whispered, more to herself than the others, "very old magic."

"Should we be worried?" Spike asked.

"No. It isn't evil just... it is hard to describe. I'd almost call it playful... teasing." Twilight scanned the area, her wings fluttering as she did so. "Its like there are a thousand voices speaking but they are talking so softly that I can't understand the words."

Spike raised an eyebrow at this. "Sounds kinda spooky, Twilight."

"It is... and it isn't." Twilight took several steps away from them, as if she were being dragged into the underbrush by an unseen hand. "The magic... I know I've felt it before... or something similar..."

"Twilight... could you maybe stop looking at the spooky trees? Kinda creeping me out," Shining said, walking up to his sister.

"Celestia and Luna selected this forest because of the power," Twilight stated, as if she were lecturing a graduate class. "Nightmare Moon was born here... the elements were stored here... Discord wandered beneath these trees and felt no need to alter them. It's old... it's been waiting for a long time-"

"Twilight!" Shining exclaimed, pressing his horn against his sister's. All at once her eyes returned to their normal color and the magic that had been oozing from her horn flared out like the dying of a stove's flame. Twilight looked at her brother and for a moment it was as if she could not remember his face. "Twilight..."

"Shining... what..."

"You were disappearing, Twilight," Shining said, pointing to her flank. Twilight looked down and saw, to her shock, that bits of her back legs were transparent, though they seemed to be returning to a solid form even as she stared at them. "What the hay was that?"

"I don't know," Twilight whispered, no longer looking upon the Everfree with the reverence she once had. "Something... something was calling me... it was like mom was yelling that dinner was ready and I needed to come inside."

"Ooooookay," Spike said, giving Twilight a bemused look that was tempered with worry. "Could you try not doing that again?"

"Yeah," Twilight said, taking several deep breaths. "Yeah, don't think I'll do that again."

Shining looked upon the dark underbrush with a new sense of foreboding. "The queens have been showing an interest in the Everfree... I thought they were looking for us..."

The alicorn of the stars cut off his next comment. "Let's cross that bridge when we have to. I think we have enough on our plate without adding 'creepy magic forest that tried to kidnap Twilight' to the list."

Shining nodded. "Yeah... come on, the hideout is about an hour away."

The party of three continued on their way, though Twilight couldn't help but feel as if she were on stage... and a thousand eyes were suddenly staring at her, waiting for her next line.

Voices From the Past

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
― Jorge Luis Borges

“So… what will be my reaction?”

“Excuse me?” Shining asked, pushing several bushes away to reveal a wooden trap door. The entrance to the hideout was quite clever and Shining thanked all the stars in the sky that it existed. The hideout had been designed 60 years ago during the brief 5 year span Princess Celestia had banned all cider. The hatch was concealed using natural fauna and a brilliant concealment spell. If one came towards the hatch in any way over than the direction Shining had taken, the trap door would appear to be nothing more than a patch of dirt. The magical nature of the Everfree made it impossible to tell just where the magic was coming from, thus preventing scouts from tracking it. Of course, Shining had taking the extra precaution of enchanting 20 separate sections of dirt within a 4 mile radius, just to throw off any patrols that might make their way through the forest.

Shining had only managed to find the hideout because he had been expecting it; a member of the rebellion was, as they would say, a rotten Apple, and had known about her family’s history and the dirty little things they had done to survive. Things that Applejack and the rest of the ‘honest’ Apples refused to talk about, even if such actions had managed to keep the family afloat.

Some would frown at the fact that Shining was throwing his lot in with some less-than-reputable characters. The captain’s answer to that charge was that when one was in war, they could not be picky selecting allies.

"I was wondering what my reaction would be to this rebellion you’ve started up," Twilight said as she slipped into the hatch. "Am I going to be shocked by how few ponies are on our side or how many managed to escape? Will my jaw drop in surprise?"

"Why are we even talking about this?" the stallion asked, mildly annoyed by how his sister was making light of their situation.

"It's a valid question," Spike said, his body twisting and shrinking as he let go of his desire and returned to his normal baby dragon form. "I mean, I want to have my facial expressions right. Should I groan? Slap my hands over my cheeks in shock? That is very important!"

Shining's right eye began to twitch and he wondered if their time away had left the two of them a bit more twisted than he had expected. "Are you making jokes?"

"Of course," Twilight said, dead serious. "I have to, Shiny."

"Why... do you have to?” He was trying real hard not to scream. He really was. He could feel all the frustration and rage and annoyance and all the other pent up emotions that had been building since the queens had rose to power bubbling up inside like tar, threatening to drag him down into their dark depths. The only thing that was keeping him calm was the memory of Twilight kicking his ass at his wedding... and that was BEFORE she had become an alicorn.

"I have to make jokes,” Twilight said softly. “Because if I don't laugh I'll cry.” The alicorn gave her brother a watery smile and slipped down into the darkened hatch.

Shining stared at his sister's retreating form, heaving a sigh as all the frustration drained from him. "I am getting tired of upsetting her."

"Not your fault," Spike said, patting him on the calf. "It's... it's just hard to swallow, you know?"

Shining Armor nodded and slipped down into the hatch.

~MC~MC~MC~

The Canterlot Royal Library.

If ever a fire were to claim the building, the loss of the library would be the greatest blow to Equestria. Not because it held wealth or jewels or weapons; no, the grand babbles that the library held were the books and scrolls and written history of Equestria. Every piece of published work was represented there, from the pulpiest of detective novels to the driest of scholarly research. It was a time capsule and a refuge from time’s long march, holding the records of all those that had come before for all those that would come after. If knowledge was power, then those that controlled the library were the mightiest in the land.

Which is why, unlike most libraries, this one was guarded by royal soldiers.

"Halt!" one of the overly bright guards called out, spreading his wing in an attempt to stop the stranger from entering. The metal upon his wing was no longer decorative; it had been sharpened and tempered so that with a flick of a feather any that dared to pass would find themselves without a head.

But it was no thief and revolutionary that tried to pass. In fact, if one were to try and describe the opposite of such mighty figures, the huddled form would be the first definition to come to mind. The figure looked to be very old, with a bent back and hobbling, limping gait. The hood of his cloak was pulled as low as his horn would allow it. His breath came out in wheezing gasps and every once and a while he would cough. The guards raised their eyebrows in unison and for a moment they considered that the old pony had probably wandered off.

“What business do you have here?” a guard demanded.

The decrepit figure slowly plodded into the wing, his head lightly pressing against it. He back up, let out a cough, and shifted, now bumping into the guard’s barrel chest. The guards realized the old stallion was blind and near deaf.

' Why are you blocking his path?'

‘He isn’t a threat’

'You could get in trouble'

‘Just an old pony who wants to pass’

'It isn't harmonious to be so mean'

'What if he reports you?'

‘You need to help him’

'Can't let him report you'

'Let him through'

"My... my apologizes, sir," the other guard said, shrinking away from the cloaked stallion. "Please go ahead." The figure nodded, shuffling in as fast as his lame body could. The guards listened, letting out twin sighs of relief when then heard a snort, followed by a body plopping down on the ground. “Poor old bugger… fell asleep.”

“Tired himself out.”

‘What were you thinking?’

‘You didn’t get him a blanket’

‘he is old and frail, he could die from the cold!’

‘The floor is no place for a pony to sleep!’

‘He needs a blanket!’

‘Go get it!’

'Hurry now!'

‘NOW!’

Hurrying forward, the guards raced down the hall, their post forgotten as they went to get the old stallion a blanket. Had they taken a moment to turn their heads, they would have seen a curious sight: the old creature stretched up, extending his neck and shaking his head. His legs were no longer bowed and his back straightened and became strong. The unsure steps he had been taking became a confident trot as his ebony hooves clicked against the tile floor. The hood fell back and the face that was revealed was not ancient but young; yet the eyes were older than the mountains and the sea and within them held eons of pain and struggle and victory.

Thus it was that Faith, the silver alicorn, lord of the gray, and one of the elements of harmony, found himself alone in the bastion of Equestrian knowledge.

He had worried about facing more of a challenge sneaking into the library, but had found that the queens had long abandoned Canterlot. The great city had been emptied save for the guards and a few occupied buildings; the queens kept it as a museum piece, to show all in Equestria how things had been under Celestia and Luna. The city was made an example of how living without harmony could lead to division and opulence and class warfare.

Faith snorted. Those things had existed throughout time and always would; as long as there was free will, there would be those that held themselves as better than the rest. It was a sad truth but denying it was even sadder. Any ruler that believed their society would be above that was a fool.

The silver alicorn’s horn glowed and he selected the tome he knew he needed. It was an old work; not as old as him but still well aged. The acorns of the acorns of the tree that had been used to make its pages had long been reduced to dust. He brought the text to a table and, under the glow of his horn, began to read.

'The Diary of Clockwork the Curious, Student of Archmage Clover the Clever, Student of Archmage Starswirl the Bearded

May 5th- The princess has asked me to select a field of study. I have chosen the Elements of Harmony, with which her glorious highness used to banish Discord, the spirit of dishamony and one of the lords of chaos. She was surprised at my selection, for much has been written about the elements. I fear that she believes me to be like many of the fortune seekers that vainly travel across this land in search of them. But it is not their value I care about.

My dreams are plagued by visions of the six. I see them now, even as I set quill to scroll: six perfect orbs, each stamped with strange symbols. And yet something tugs at my heart... a voice whispers there is more to the elements. Could it be that they are more than mere stone? I must learn the truth, for I fear allowing this question to linger will lead to madness.'

Faith filled through the journal to the next passage, not surprised by what he found.

July 15th- The voice I have spoken of is clearly something not of this world. Where it hails from I cannot say but I know, to my great relief, that I am not insane. I have determined this because the voice presses me to question many things: the princess, my mentor, my lessons, our history… all save my sanity. Always I feel reassurance that I have not gone mad... far from it, I have the sense that the whispers feel I am the last sane pony in Equestria.

July 23rd- My research goes slow. Much of what I find about the elements is little more than fairy tales. The princess remains cagey and my teacher asks me to put my knowledge to better use; she suggests Starswirl's time spell. I considered such a thing, if only to travel back to the time of Discord and learn of the creation of the elements.

Sep 30th- I am now sure that the elements are more than mere stone. In the last two months I have traveled to the site of Discord's fall and what I have felt simply could not be the lingering effects of some spell. Could it be that the elements are alive? If so, then much I have experienced is explained and, more frightening, questions arise. Were the elements once ponies? Or were they some other lifeform? Did they sacrifice themselves to defeat Discord? I know already that they were not the same then as they were when they defeated Nightmare Moon. Something changed, altered a piece... more research is needed.

Oct 12th- As I set these words down I know that I am admitting to something that will shake Equestria to its core. The elements are alive... and I have been in contact with one. The whispers that have haunted my dreams are clearly the voice of one. I believe them to be that of the 6th element, the one whose name is lost.

...

As I set down those words moments ago something flashed in my mind. As offending as it might sound I felt like a dog being rewarded by a beloved master. I am still smiling at the feeling. It is now clear that the voice is the 6th Element… and his voice is glorious.

I find it sad that this voice, so full of life, is nameless. I have thought about it long and hard and I have decided upon a name, at least till I can help it find its own. The element has pressed me to question all I was taught and not to accept what others hold as truth.

Thus, I name the voice Doubt.'

Faith shut his eyes, letting out a shuddering breath. He had gone to many in the thousand years he had dwelt upon Equestria. Many he had cared little about... they had known his warmth and his protection but they had been tossed aside when they proved themselves weak or arrogant. They had been useless things that had served as little more than distractions.

But Clockwork... Clockwork had been one of the good ones. Faith had stayed with him for 107 long years and it had been the abstract's gift that had led to the unicorn's long life. Still, like all mortals he had passed and Faith still mourned the loss of the pony who had given him his name. Clockwork could have been a bearer, had fate been so kind and for a moment the silver alicorn wondered what life would have been like with the smart little stallion had saved him.

Twilight and Clockwork would have gotten along beautifully.

Taking as long as he could afford to honor his long gone friend, Faith’s horn glowed and he flipped to the section he had been looking for. While most of the diary detailed the mage’s quest to find out about the 6th element, he had included a small amount on the other 5. Back then, when he had been Doubt, Faith had cared only for his name and had paid little heed to the other 5 elements. Now he had come to regret that decision.

He flipped to 3 years later. He knew of this section mostly because he had avoided it. The other pages he recognize but this part, since it was not about him (and he was ashamed by that streak of egotism… but what was one to expect from a stallion that made his wings from mirrors?) he had ignored.

March 19th- My attempts to gaze into the past have left me confused and bewildered. What I have seen is impossible to understand and yet I feel as if the words I now write will serve a purpose, even if I myself find them foolish.

Any other scholar would be thrilled to look upon the sighting of one of the elements and crow with joyous glee. I am not one of them. My search is to find more about Doubt and his origins and I care little for some cackling mare than forever changes the color of her flank and whose hair twists and reshapes itself like a cloud in the hands of a pegasus sculpture.

I shall make my way to Froggy Bottom Bog next, to-

Faith shut the diary and used his magic to ensnare it. He considered, if only for a moment, placing it back on the shelf. Visions of the queens deciding to burn it (as such things had been done in the past to lesser libraries) stopped his hoof and he placed the diary in his saddle bag. Its uses could still be found, as it had already provided him with the answer he sought, even if it wasn’t the one he desired.

Faith shut his eyes once more and forced himself to accept what he had already expected.

The Elements of Harmony had taken control of the bearers. Twilight's friends were innocents that were being used much like the guards and the CMC. The true villain of the tale Faith now found himself in were the other five Elements of Harmony.

The Elements of Harmony… the abstracts... his older brothers and sisters.

His family.

"Bugger."

Kindness

"And then we discovered why… why this doctor, who had fought with gods and demons, why he had run away from us and hidden: he was being kind."

-Son of Mine, The Family of Blood

The first thing Twilight noticed was the eyes.

They all stared at her, their irises like fireflies in a dark room. All sound seemed to be pulled away and an oppressive quiet filled the air, which made the looks all the more humbling. Every range of emotion could be seen by those huddled masses that stared at her. Some gazed in wonder like one might do if seeing a fairy or some mystical beast of legend. Others looked upon her like she was a savoir descended from the heavens with a flaming sword. There were a few heated looked, filled with anger and hate; whether they were for her or the situation they all found themselves in Twilight could not say. There were those whose eyes held such sadness that Twilight felt only pity and a desire to make them smile again.

"Welcome to the rebellion," Shining said softly. "I have to talk to some of the other commanders... we need to decide what role you will officially play."

"What role?" Twilight said dumbly.

Shining nodded. "We are going to declare war upon five alicorns, Twilight... like it or not we are forming an army. If I have my way, you'll be our general."

"I don't want to command an army," Twilight stated.

"No one does," a stallion to her right said. "But we don't get to choose our fates, do we now?"

Twilight turned, her eyes widening. "Doctor?" She looked past Doctor Whooves to the mare that sat beside him, staring blankly at the wall. "By Celestia...Derpy?"

Shining shuffled awkwardly. "I'll make an announcement in a bit to let everypony know our next move... why don't you stay here and talk?"

Twilight could only nod absently, her entire world reduced to the sight of the wall-eyed mare that sat on the floor in front of her. Derpy was staring into nothingness, her eyes unfocused and unseeing. Her lips moved but no same came forth; it was like she was trapped in a silent movie where there was no title card. Her right foreleg was held awkwardly against her chest and her left continued to glide back and forth like she was petting some invisible cat.

"Derpy?" Twilight whispered.

"What happened to her?" Spike murmured.

"It happened too quickly," The Doctor said. There was a strange edge to his voice that made Twilight and Spike feel as if they had been struck by a physical blow. "The queens' guards marched into Ponyville and began to grab any pony they could find. We tried to make it to..." The Doctor shut his eyes and slammed his hoof against the ground, causing Twilight and Spike to jump in fright. "They took her, right from her arms... they took Dinky."

Derpy let out a soft, wailing moan. It set the hair on Twilight's neck straight up, though she noticed that no one else was startled by the keening; they'd all grown to use to it.

"Doctor... I am so sorry," Twilight whispered.

The stallion merely gazed at her and though his tone was soft, the storm of emotions he felt at that moment were clearly etched upon his face. "I don't like killing. I have done it and I am good at it but I don't like it. I try to avoid it at all costs because I always hold that there must be another way." His eyes slid down to stare at Derpy's trembling form. “But… but if there is one thing you should not do, if there is one mistake you can make, if there is was flaw in any plan that is sure to make me seek out your blood… it is hurting those I care about.”

He never raised his voice, that was the worst thing… the fury of the Time Lord.

As she turned away Twilight saw that the others were looking at her in much the same way. Any hope she might have held to find those in ranks that sought anything other than the death of the queens was dashed. The rebellion did not see them as Twilight did: her friends that had been corrupted or manipulated or who had lost their way. All these ponies saw were the rulers that had ripped them from their homes, turned their loved ones into puppets and pursued them like hunting dogs.

“Can you blame them?” Spike whispered to her, reading her thoughts.

“No… no, I can’t. But that doesn’t mean I like it.” She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. “Let’s just hope I can find a way to fix this… before I am forced to do something I will regret.” Twilight returned her attention to Derpy, taking a hold of the twitch hoof of the traumatized pegasus. “Derpy, I swear I will find your daughter… I will bring her back to you.”

“Twilight, can I talk to you?” Shining called out. The alicorn nodded, saying her goodbyes to the Doctor before she and Spike made their way to where Shining was standing looking over a map. “I’m sorry I put you through that.”

“You didn’t do anything,” Twilight said.

“I kinda did, Twiley,” Shining admitted, gesturing back towards Derpy. “You honestly think I just randomly picked them to be the closest ones to you?”

Twilight’s brow furrowed. “Wait… was this some kind of test?”

“Not a test… a lesson.”

“Shiny… are you trying to make me punch you?”

“Just hear me out, ok? There… there is no way for me to truly understand how horrible this is for you. The closest I can come to understanding is when you snapped during my wedding. I thought I had lost you and I needed to save you… and a part of me was scared that you would do something horrible and I would never be able to look at you and see my little sister again. I was frightened, Twilight, and that is why I reacted so horribly at times.

“But this isn’t the same as that. I mean, I get it Twilight, I really get it. This is so much worse, not only because they are your best friends but because you weren’t here when it all happened. You are just hearing about the bad and getting a glimpse of the things they’ve done but to you they are still your friends and you are going to keep seeing them as such. I can’t fault you for that, sis, I really can’t. You want to save them and you know what? I want you to save them to! I want you to figure out a way to undo all of this and make things better. Nothing would make me happier than seeing that.”

Shining gestured towards the huddle masses that lay before them. “But Twilight… look at all these ponies. Look at them and realize that not everypony feels the same way you do. They have had the worst of it and they can’t see the silver lining. For them the light at the end of the tunnel is a train… and they want to push the queens in front of it.”

“And I am just suppose to accept that?” Twilight said, not realizing that the hideout had grown quiet. Every ear was turned towards the siblings, listening to the conversation. It was clear to them all that something was going down that would affect the course of history and that they were there to bear witness to it.

“Yes. You don’t have to like it and you don’t have to go along with it but you need to accept that there are going to be other ponies that don’t feel the same way.” He gestured at the Doctor and Derpy. “They aren’t the only ones, you know. Take Spitfire.” He waved his hoof at the Wonderbolt. Even without her famous jumpsuit it was easy to recognize the talented flyer. “She had to chose to go back to try and help her teammates or escape. She is haunted by their cries for help. You think she is going to open her hooves to Rainbow Dash?” He pointed towards the back, where a pair of snobby looking unicorns sat. Or, Twilight wagered, they had been snobby; the trappings of high living had left their marks but they were just as ragged and worn down as the rest of the group. “Rarity took everything they owned… including their family. Top Floor there had to fight off his own brother, his best friend, just to escape. Do you honestly think he will be able to look at any of them again without wanting to throttle them?”

“Ok, ok, I get it!” Twilight called out. She turned towards the crowd. “I understand you are all hurting and in pain!” She stood a bit taller, her wings flared out and her gaze turning to steel and ice. “The queens have to be stopped. And I will do all I can to help you stop them.” Her horn glowed, stopping them before they let out a cheer. “But we are not going to blindly murder them. We are not going to hurt any pony if we can help it. We are going to fight to save this country and save it we will, but we are going to do it the right way, the Equestrian way!”

“Why should we?” a pony called out. “The queens aren’t playing by the rules so why should we?” Several other members of the rebellion murmured in agreement.

“We are going to because we have to… because if we don’t, not only will we be as bad as the queens… we will be everything they say about us.” The ponies grumbled at that but Twilight could tell that they were listening. “That doesn’t mean you won’t get your pound of flesh! That doesn’t mean there won’t be blood! But only when needed and only when necessary!” Twilight raised her head up tall and proud, the ponies all around her nodding in agreement. “We are going to take back Equestria and we are going to do it on our terms! The queens say they know harmony! I say they don’t! Harmony is freedom! Harmony is the right to choose your life and your path! Are we going to let them choose? Are we going to let them turn us into something wicked?”

“NO!” the crowd boomed out.

“Are we going to let them win?”

“NO!”

“Are we going to surrender who we are?”

“NO!”

Twilight nodded. “Good. Doctor, Spitfire, Shining… come with me… we have a war to plan.”

"Not yet," Shining said, wrapping a foreleg around her. "I have two ponies that want to see you."

Twilight's eyes widened as she saw just who had been standing behind her during her little speech. "MOM! DAD!"

Her parents laughed as Twilight leapt towards them, grabbing therm both in a huge hug.

~MC~MC~MC~

“Hello, Doubt.”

The silver alicorn frowned as he took in the sight of the new arrival. A blanket and a pillow were sitting on her back, and while they looked fluffy there was nothing comforting about the sight of the bearer.

She was taller than him, to start with. He didn’t much like that; only Celestia had made him feel small since his transformation from Doubt into Faith. The lord of the gray had shrunk from his mighty size to being just a bit bigger than Luna but had still been able to look down at all ponies. But now, this yellow colored alicorn made him feel rather puny, which annoyed him to no end. Her long, pink hair seemed to be forever twisting and sprouting like rose petals and the scent of the woods and life and nature clung to her.

“Queen Fluttershy, ruler of Equestria, Bearer of the Element of Kindness.” Bowing low, the abstract smiling politely. “What brings one of the mighty queens here to grace my presence?”

“I had heard rumors that you were causing mischief, Doubt.” The yellow alicorn stepped toward, her guards flanking her as she did so. “I hope that is not the case.”

“You hope correctly, Queen Fluttershy.” While remaining low, he gestured with one of his wings towards one of the guards. “I entered the library wishing to retrieve a book written by one of my very old friends. In order to avoid any altercations, I allowed these stallions to believe me to be old. They went to get me a pillow and blanket, which you have brought with you.”

“We are smarter than you think, Doubt.”

“I believe you are just a smart as I think,” Faith stated. “Oh, and the name is Faith. It is only polite that you call me by the name I have chosen.”

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Fluttershy said quickly. “I didn’t mean to offend.”

“You have not offended. I merely wished to point out my desire, that is all.”

“Still, I find it not very nice that you lied to my guards.”

“Permission to rise?” Faith asked. The guards moved in and Faith ever so slowly tucked his wings against his sides, mimicking Fluttershy’s own stance. “I will not hurt you… you have my word.”

“The word of a liar-“ one of the guards began to say, only to be shushed by his queen.

“Abstracts cannot lie,” Fluttershy said softly.

“Correct,” Faith said with a smirk.

“But that doesn’t mean they are honest. I’m sorry to say this, Do…Faith… but while you cannot lie you are very skilled at manipulating the truth, to make honest words tell tall tales.”

“No offense taken, Queen Fluttershy,” Faith said with a gentle smile. “You speak the truth. I am quite skilled in twisting the truth to my own means.” His eyes shined darkly, “It is, after all, a family trait.”

If she understood the undercurrent of his statement she did not show it. Instead, Fluttershy merely nibbled on her lip nervously. It was clear that while she was now very powerful, a goddess and immortal, there was still much of her old self in her manners and motives. Polluted, perhaps, or maybe altered to something more extreme… but still, it was there. When Faith looked upon her he felt much like an uncle would when seeing a niece for the first time in years; he remembered how she had been and could see traces of her younger self in this new mare.

“So, you have come here to retrieve a book.” Fluttershy kept her head held high, even though Faith could detect the nervous twitch that showed that she wanted to do nothing more than to hide behind her long pink hair. “I don’t want to offend you but I think you aren’t telling me everything.”

“I’m not,” Faith admitted. “But I suppose you will have plenty of time to try and figure me out.”

“What do you mean?”

Faith held out his hooves. “I surrender to you, Queen Fluttershy… and only you.” When the yellow alicorn blinked in surprise Faith flashed her a smile. “What? You expected some grand battle? A war between the two of us that would tear this city apart? Don’t tell me you assumed that I would begin lobbing balls of magic at your head and you would come charging at me like some warrior-queen of old, wings flared and teeth bared.”

At the slight nods from the guards and their queen his mood soured ever so slightly. “What a deplorable lack of vision. We could easily do all of that but all that would be achieved was the death of one of us and little change. If I die I would be made a martyr for the rebellion… an image to place upon their flags and a name for them to call out in the heat of battle. Should you fall your fellow queens will use your death as a tool to strengthen the resolve to hunt down your enemies and crush them so harmony could prevail.”

“We don’t want to crush anyone,” Fluttershy said. “We merely wish to speak with them, to make them see the glory of harmony and to join with us in friendship.”

“How wonderful! That is the same thing I want to do with you.” He clanked his front hooves together. “Now then… how about some tea? I am in the mood for a cuppa. Or perhaps cocoa? Yes… yes, a nice cocoa with some tiny marshmallows and a few cookies to dunk. That would be the proper thing to serve as we discussed our differences and sought to settle things like the immortals we are.”

“Yes, yes it would,” Fluttershy said sweetly, using her magic to restrain her prisoner.

“Well then… lead the way,” Faith said with a smile.

Tea Time

"And sometimes we play chess with other people's lives"

-Magneto

"He's WHAT?!?!"

Fluttershy cringed. Even though she was one of the most powerful beings in the world, with abilities and magic that allowed her to reshape the world at a whim, and whose body had been remade into that of the most glorious of immortal stock... she was still Fluttershy. It didn't matter if there was nothing that could truly hurt her; she would still feel the urge to tremble and curl herself up into a small ball when faced with an opposing force.

The force, in this case, was in the form of a pristine white alicorn with a grand purple mane that seemed to twinkle like diamonds.

"He's... he's... coming to tea."

Rarity gave her friend a sour look. "Darling, I want to make sure I understand this right... Doubt, the monster that corrupted Twilight and drove her away from harmony... who helped create Nightmare Moon and whose actions have led to the need for all of us to take our rightful roles as rulers of Equestria... he is coming to have tea with us?"

"He said we could do hot coco if we wanted."

The fashionista let out a suffering sigh. "Fluttershy, my dear, he is the enemy. We can't socialize with him. It would cause a scandal... our little ponies might think we have become monsters ourselves... it would be the WORST... THING...."

"Ever," Fluttershy said, finishing the quote. When Rarity huffed a little Fluttershy smiled and shrugged. "Sorry... but you have said that a few times."

"The classics never go out of style," Rarity stated, taking a nibble of a sugar cookie that lay on her plate. She had always dreamed of having tea in Canterlot Castle but now that she had done it several times she found the whole experience had become, sadly, rather pedestrian. When you could travel anywhere with a blink of an eye having an afternoon bite in a fancy castle just couldn't live up to the hype. "Now then, we must figure out a way to politely decline his offer and suggest that he spend some time in the dungeons."

Fluttershy rapidly shook her head. "Oh no no no! The dungeons are not ready yet! I found out that they put 900 count thread sheets on the beds when it needed to be at least 1500. And the jacuzzi isn't getting as hot as it should."

"You do realize that ponies that go to the dungeon our prisoners... we don't have to treat them like guests at a grand resort."

Fluttershy blinked. "But... but if we are mean to them they will never join us." Rarity blinked, considering this idea.

"Fluttershy brings up a good point," Faith said, entering what had once been Celestia's bedroom. Several guards flanked him, including a age progressed Sweetie Belle dressed in the most beautiful of uniforms, but he paid little heed to her or her guards. In fact, if it weren't for the leg irons he wore he would have appeared to have been just another stallion coming to join two lovely mares for a bite. "Unless, of course, you want to just kill all that disagree with you and be done with it. Can't recommend that path, especially since you are already trotting on thin ice, but I suppose it is up to you." Faith settled down and stared at the empty cup before him. "Would you like to be mother?"

"Huh?" Rarity said in an utterly undignified manner.

Faith flashed her a look of utter disdain. "Serve... would you like to serve." He brought his right hoof up and scratched the base of his horn, right were the magic dampener had been clamped upon it. "I would but I am currently without my magic."

"I will serve," Fluttershy politely, her horn encased in a golden glow as she began to pour Faith a cup. "Would you like a straw."

Faith rattled the chains that bound his forelegs. "Please. And a bit of lemon, if you would. I tend to like a little bit to my tea." He smiled as Fluttershy did as he requested. His eyes slide over to lock onto Rarity's, the silver alicorn smile conveying utter amusement at the rage that the white alicorn was attempting to conceal. She hid it well, but when you were as old as Faith was... and as evil as he had once been (and yes, he could admit that he had been quite evil during points of his long life) you could just tell when an enemy was seething. "I would have thought you would know the proper way to serve tea in Canterlot, my dear Rarity. You have so worked hard to achieve a standing here... such a good student."

"If I didn't know any better I would say you were mocking me," Rarity said with all the snooty airs she could.

"Yes, and it is quite clear, looking around, that you do not know better." Faith leaned down, sipping the tea through the straw. It wasn't the same as using his magic to take a drink but beggars couldn't be choosers. He'd only discovered his love for tea-time after Twilight had introduced him to the concept. Oh, he knew HOW it was done... but he'd never really had a chance to sample the drink until he'd returned to being Faith. Now he loved the stuff more than Twilight did and the poor mare was constantly having to get him to not partake in the daily ritual. "Now then... I suppose we have much to discuss."

"Oh yes," Fluttershy said. "You have been very mean and rude and...well... we'd like it very much if you gave us Twilight back."

"I've been rude? My apologies. But as for you final point, I confess I am confused. You know that I am not controlling Twilight... or you would if you were yourself, Queen Fluttershy." Faith stuck his tongue out and nabbed a biscuit, pulling it into his greedy mouth. "But then, you two aren't alone in those skulls of yours, are you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Rarity said.

"I am talking about my dear older sisters, who have taken up residency in your gray matter." Faith pursed his lips as he leaned back in his chair. "Kindness, Generosity... I wish I could say it was a pleasure."

Something flashed in the eyes of the two female alicorns, which was enough to confirm Faith's theory.

"You lost the right to call them your family when you betrayed the elements and fell into darkness," Fluttershy said, surprising even Rarity with her brashness.

"And they lost the same privilege when they left me on my own, confused and befuddled without any guiding hoof." A snarl appeared on his lips but he quickly tapped down his anger. "I was like a newborn and you and the rest of the family failed me. You abandoned me and stayed where you were tucked away. And then, when I dared to interact with the world, you piled scorn on me because you felt we should be above those things."

"You failed yourself, Doubt," Rarity said.

"Ah... now which one of you is saying that," Faith said with a smirk.

The white alicorn leaned forward. "You are such a rude-"

"That isn't very kind of you, Queen Rarity." He shook his head sadly. "Can't abide by your own rules? Tsk tsk tsk."

"Please... please don't do that," Fluttershy said.

"Do what?" Faith asked innocently.

"Try and turn us against each other. It won't work." Fluttershy smiled slightly as she sipped her tea. "Others have tried that but we are stronger than you assume. We won't fall just because you point out a few small details."

"That confident, are you?" Faith asked. "Well then, I was going to spend more time sowing the seeds of distrust, but I so do hate repetitiveness, especially when it is futile, so let us move on."

"Thank you," Fluttershy said. "Now, if it is ok with you, could you tell us where to find the rebels and Twilight."

"I haven't the foggiest. I left before Twilight got close to whatever cave they are held up in. My apologies." Faith leaned over the table, locking eyes with Fluttershy. "Next topic: You are going to fail."

"Excuse me?"

"You and your friends... this whole new rule that you've set up... you are going to fail... be overthrown." He waved a hoof at her dismissively. "Don't worry... every rule is overthrown. Nothing is truly eternal."

"Except you," Rarity pointed out. "And now us."

"Living forever and being eternal are two different things, my dear." Faith snatched another biscuit and munched upon it. "To be eternal is to last forever unchanged. None can claim that. All of us grow and change and evolve. I am not the same creature I was a 1000 years ago and I will not be the same 20 minutes from now. Everything is changing and growing. Such is life and not even an immortal is immune to that."

"And that is why you think we will fail?" Fluttershy asked, using her magic to snag a cookie.

"Of course. Nothing is static and already things are in motion that will challenge you."

"And those are?"

"The rebellion, for one," Faith pointed out. "You should have seen them coming, my dears. You overthrew Celestia and Luna and set up great change in this land... that will always cause strife. Change is violent and messy. "

"But we are offering something better," Rarity countered, wanting to shut the smug alicorn up (and not wanting to talk about anything that was 'messy'). "We offer the ponies of Equestria peace and joy and happiness. All that have joined us know only love and the glory of life. We are eliminating strife and conflict and war. We are setting up a utopia where all are free to live their lives and never fear being hurt."

"Oh, is that all?" Faith asked, a bit of sarcasm coloring his words. "You can't dream just a bit bigger?"

Rarity tisked as she took a sip of her tea. "That is your problem, you know? You believe that darkness is a part of life; you think of it as something needed, as something that must exist and that it can't be removed. You look upon this world, see all that is wrong, and just shrug your shoulders and refuse to do anything because 'that is the way it is'. What a sad, pathetic view from a sad, pathetic creature. Life has been hard on you and you've decided that since your existence has been cruel then all of life must be cruel. You have the power to help others, to make a difference, and you refuse! Instead you sit there on your plump behind, spouting off your little theories and sarcastic speeches and contribute nothing. And one of us 'little ponies' dares to try and save this world you belittle and mock. I tell you now that darkness is nothing more than a disease and we five will cut it away. We will save this world and that eats you up inside because if every pony is happy then you'll be the only one left around to be miserable."

Faith slowly turned to Fluttershy. "It isn't that plump is it?" He glanced at his flank in worry.

Rarity began to growl.

"My dear, foolish queen... you can no more remove darkness from this world than you can stop the sea from churning. Even with your mighty power there are still some things that you cannot control; one such thing being the nature of living creatures. Don't get me wrong, you are doing quite well... very fine job you did on your own sister, by the way. But that is only the emotions... not the nature. You create a choice and there will always be those that side against you. Some might simply believe that you are wrong. Others may cling to the old ways or perhaps want something new. Some just want to go against everypony else. It is our nature to resist and not always follow and because of that there will always be a rebellion.”

“Then we will just crush those that dare to fight against us.” Rarity declared. When Fluttershy stared at her with an open mouth and horror in her eyes, Rarity waved off her friend’s concern. “We offer them kindness and joy and they push it aside… they are no better than Discord. They are enemies to harmony and must be destroyed. Do you believe Discord deserves anything than what he got?”

“No... no he didn't. And if others won't listen to us and became just as much as a threat..." Fluttershy gulped before turning a steely gaze upon Faith, "then they will have to fall."

“Such is the way of rule,” Faith said, wishing he could use his magic to wipe the crumbs from his upper lip. “Of course, you run into the danger of force.”

“The danger of force?” Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow.

Faith brought his hoof down onto a biscuit, crushing it. “Apply too much force and one of two things will happen: subjects will be squished away, escaping your hoof and finding new places to dwell, leaving you with a more wide-spread problem. They will drift off, find others that don't know your name, and spark rebellion in their hearts. Then you will find yourself suddenly with too big of a world and not enough hooves.” He waved at a knife sitting on the table. “Their other option is that they will harden and press back.” He looked at the biscuit in annoyance, brushing the crumbs away. “And, of course, there is still the dangers from within.”

“W-within?” Fluttershy whispered.

“You honestly don’t think that you five can rule forever without fighting, do you?” Faith rolled his eyes. “Yes yes, you say that you can't be turned against each other. I say that is fooling yourselves. Fluttershy, what if a friend paints a terrible painting and asks you what you think… would you tell them it was ugly and you hated it?”

“N-no!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “That wouldn’t be nice! It could hurt their feelings.”

“So you would lie… I can’t imagine Queen Applejack would like that.”

Rarity wasn’t buying Faith’s argument for a second. “Friends argue all the time, Faith. You’d know that if you truly had some. We bicker and we feud but we always make up. Will there be disagreements? Of course there will be! But we will overcome them like we always do.”

Faith pursed his lips, before glancing at Fluttershy. “Yes, disagreements. You’ve had a lot of them and that was fine when you weren’t playing chess with a nation as the board. Now such disagreements can result in the deaths of millions.”

“We won’t let that happen,” Rarity said.

“What is greater… five or one?”

The fashionista frowned. “Five, of course.”

Faith laid out five cinnamon sticks. “Five.” He slammed his hoof down, crushing them. “One. One force will always be mightier than five splintered armies. And that is exactly what you are setting up here. The fact that you can’t see that shows me just how useless it is to hope that you will come to your senses. I had hoped there would be some chance of peace between all of us, that you would be willing to work to correct the mistakes you have made... I see you are too entrenched. Pity. Let slip the dogs of war then.” Faith bowed to Fluttershy. “I find I am no longer in the mood for tea. I would like to be shown to my cell now.”

“O-of course!” Fluttershy stammered, waving for the guards to escort Faith away. The abstract gave Rarity a dark smile as he was led away.

“Faith!” Rarity called out. She rushed over and, to his surprise, gave him a hug. “I am sorry if I upset you. I hope you can forgive me.” Before he could answer, she leaned in and whispered. “I am generous in everything… in happiness and wealth… and in pain. Remember that.”

“Oh… I will,” Faith said coolly. "Believe me, I will."

Bedfellows

“War makes for strange bedfellows”

-Old Saying

The reunion with her parents had been wonderful, but like all great things it had been forced to end much sooner than Twilight would have liked. The needs of the rebellion outweighed her desire to curl up in her mother and father’s embrace and Twilight had been forced to finally move away from them and join Shining and the other leaders of the resistance in plotting their next move.

The ‘management’ was an odd collection of ponies. They represented all different facets of Equestrian life, from the poorest to the richest, the famous to the infamous to the unknown, and everything inbetween. Many of them were not soldiers or warriors in a traditional sense but civilians that now found themselves engaging in a fight they had never sought.

There was her brother, of course, and a few remaining royal guards that had managed to escape the attack on the castle. Twilight was surprised that they weren’t bucking and snorting and demanding to be in charge. The guards she had met at the palace had always been a bit arrogant (which, she supposed, came with the territory) but these stallions were more than willing to listen to the ‘civies’. They weren’t shellshocked either… it was simply a matter of them being soldiers who found themselves in a war with a new type of army and accepting that it was either adapt or die.

It was of little surprise that the Doctor was part of the planning committee. Though he cracked a few jokes and put on the airs of amusement it was clear to Twilight that his anger over the mistreatment of Derpy was coloring his thoughts and leading him down dark paths he might not normally follow.

So too was Spitfire's inclusion of little surprise. The pegasus was more than willing to go on any mission they could come up with, no matter the danger, if it offered a chance to avenge the fall of the Wonderbolts. Twilight's mind mentally flipped through her research on mental illness (one of the many topics she had gone over during her studies with Celestia) and she came to the conclusion that Spitfire was suffering from survivor's guilt.

One of the most shocking members was Flim of the Flim Flam brothers. It was hard to tell it was him, at first; his clothing was gone and his face had suffered from some mild burns that had eaten away his coat, leaving him scarred. He said little of what had happened to his brother or how he had ended up in his condition; all he had told Twilight shortly before the meeting began was that he was on her side and that she had nothing to worry about when it came to his allegiances. Shining had vouched for him, which had gone a long way towards reassuring Twilight.

"We are all starting over," her brother had stated when she had pressed him on the issue. "Who we were before is gone."

The rest of the leaders were ponies Twilight had never met. There was a unicorn from Phillydelphia who had become separated from his wife during their escape. A grim looking earth pony who was dressed in clothing 50 years out of date who kept glancing at his wife and two daughters, as if wnating to reassure himself that they were still there. A pegasus mare with a tornado cutie mark kept gnawing on her lip till it bled.

And now joining them were an alicorn and a dragon.

Spike had grown just enough so he could look down at the table they were gathered around without having to sit on Twilight's head. He pointed a claw at the map Shining had laid out, gesturing towards a town with a bright red circle around it. "I've never heard of Winniepeg."

"It is up north, near the Crystal Mountains," Shining stated.

"And you really think this is where we should strike?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, I do," Shining said.

Flim nodded, his horn glowing. Around the map little red blocks began to dance around different areas, circling particular areas. "If you look here you can see that the queens have been setting up patrols and guards around all the major cities and points of interest." He began to gesture at cities. "Each of them is either of emotional importance to them, such as Ponyville, strategic, like Manehattan and Detrot, or where they are currently holding court." He pointed his right hoof first as a circle of guards that surrounded the Rocky Plains, then Sweet Apple Acres. Clyde, the grim earth pony, looked upon the Rocky Plains and his frown grew all the more deeper. "There is only one spot where we can't explain the amassing of their forces."

"Winniepeg," Spitfire said.

Cyclone, the mare with the bloody lips, clicked her teeth together. "We don't know if they have a secret prison set up or some kind of lab that is working on magical weapons. None of our spies have been able to get a good look."

"We have spies?" Twilight said in surprise.

The Phillydelphian, who Twilight later learned was named Whistle Wind, flashed her a smug smile. "Let's just say Queen Fluttershy isn't the only one to have a way with animals."

"So you want to attack the city, is that it?" Twilight said, her tone making it clear she didn't like the plan.

"No," Shining stated, agreeing with her unspoken denouncement. "But I do want to send a team in to take a look. It could be a trap but I don't want to miss out on an opportunity to deal a blow to the queens."

One of the other guards, an off-white stallion named Blade Buster, nodded his mighty head. "We need to make our move and soon. If we don't we are risking the queens finding us and putting on unneeded pressure."

"What did you have in mind?" Spike asked. "A 2-pony team? A squad?"

"Something inbetween. No more than five in." Shining turned to his sister. "I want you and Spike part of the infiltrators." Twilight opened her mouth but her brother cut her off. "I know it is sudden and you just got here but Buster is right; we need to move and we need to move now. If you don't think-"

"We're in," Twilight said firmly. "I don't like but we're in."

~MC~MC~MC~

"Let it not be said you aren't generous!" Faith exclaimed sarcastically, stumbling into his posh cell. "You deliver beatings quite well and hold nothing back!" The moment the guards had gotten him out of earshot of the queens the beating had come with viscous vigor. The magic dampener on his horn had prevented him from fighting back and his ability to dodge attacks had been reduced by the iron chains on his ankles. They had struck hard and fast, providing him with lumps and strikes as they saw fit.

Faith looked like an absolute wreck. His left eye had swollen up so much he could barely see out of it and his ribs ached every time he took a breath. Silver ichor dripped from the several gashes on his flank and his one wing was twitching as it attempted to repair itself. His mane was matted with silver blood and his horn felt like it had been cracked after a nasty stomp.

He'd never given them the satisfaction of hearing him cry out. He'd known the beating was coming the moment he left the table and had prepared himself for pain. Instead of howls of agony he had thrown out insults while wearing each bruise like a badge of honor.

"You do your sister proud, Sweetie Belle," Faith said, running his tongue along his teeth, checking to see if any had been knocked out. He knew it would be really painful to regrow a molar.

The age progressed mare glared at him as she slammed the barred door of his cell. "If Queen Fluttershy didn't want you alive I would have given you much more, abstract."

"Such a brave little girl fighting a chained stallion," Faith mocked, spitting out a wad of blood. Sweetie Belle made a move to attack and Faith let out a laugh as two of her guard held her back; they realized that any more damage would mean the abstract wouldn't be healed by the time he had his next audience with the queens and questions about just how harmonious the guards were would be asked. "Pain and scare tactics... useful on those that aren't expecting them. But you know that it will take more than that to truly hurt me, don't you? Pain is my friend... I was raised in it. Not physical pain, like the wreckage you have made out of my body. Mental pain... soul pain. Pain was my mother, my father... it was all I knew for so long that when I finally felt joy it was nothing more than torture. You have little hope of inflicting true pain on me."

"Is that a challenge?" Sweetie Belle said with all the sweetness in the world.

"Yes," Faith said simply, sitting down on the floor and watching his blood stain the carpet. "Your queens fear me... with all their skill and power they are slow to strike me. What hope do you have? You are nothing more than a child forced into a mare's body. You have a blank flank and no magic or skill. You are nothing more than an ant waving its leg at a hoof." Faith waved his own hoof dismissively. "Go get your maids... it would not do well for you to have to explain all this blood on the floor." Faith smirked as best he could with his aching jaw. "And learn how to fight... you lash out like a child having a tantrum. It is... pathetic."

Sweetie Belle screamed in outrage and it was only the strength of her guards that kept her from ripping open the cell and burying Faith once and for all. The silver alicorn merely listened as she cursed, waiting for her to leave before curling up into a ball and letting out a moan as his body attempted to reassemble itself.

~MC~MC~MC~

"I had been hoping Faith would be back by now," Shining said, adjusting his saddle bags. Each of the 5 members of the infiltration team were wearing black catsuits, much like the ones Twilight, Pinkie and Spike had donned when they had snuck into the royal library. "Be nice to have another alicorn on the team."

"We'll be ok," Twilight said. In the end her and Shining had decided they needed to balance the team, fearing that have too many fliers or magic users would blow their cover. Many of the members of the rebellion had not been happy being left out but had agreed that the fivesome was the best of the best.

"I will return, Derpy," The Doctor stated, placing a hoof on her shoulder. The pegasus merely continued to stare off into space and the TIme Lord let out a sigh before looking over at Blade Buster. "Do not let her come to harm. She means the world to me."

"Don't worry, Doctor. I will protect her with my life."

The Doctor smiled at that. "You are a good chap." Checking to make sure he had his sonic screwdriver, the stallion turned to Spitfire, the last of the team, and nodded. "Well... onwards and upwards."

"Good luck, all of you," Whistle Wind said. "Be safe and be on your guard."

"We will. And we'll return as soon as we can." Shining Armor, Spike, Spitfire and the Doctor pressing their flanks against Twilight's as she focused. "Alright, here we go."

Spitfire took a deep breath. "You're sure you can do this?"

"Absolutely," Twilight said. "Besides, as Faith says, 'Now is not the time for fear.'"

"'That comes later.'" Spike stated, finishing the quote just as Twilight's magic flared out and teleported the team away.

~MC~MC~MC~

Rarity had been right in her assessment that the cell was not at all designed for prisoners. Save for the bars (which were of course padded) the cell looked more like a small hotel room than a place of confinement. There was even several books sitting on the table, though a glance at them showed that they had been hastily put together by the queens to help convince their prisoners to convert.

"You have a death wish or something?"

Faith twisted his head, grunting as the bones in his neck snapped back into place, allowing him to walk without pain searing his soul. "I think my special talent is annoying ponies. That or delivering a nice monologue." He edged over to the side of his cell so he could speak to the prisoner in the cell next to his without shouting. "And I suppose I do… I have now nearly died so many times I’ve lost count.” Faith looked at his wing in annoyance. “My greatest weakness is the physical things, it seems.”

“Are you sure it isn’t running your mouth?”

“Ha bloody ha. I am sorry if my bones breaking awoke you."

"You are sarcastic... you should be good for a laugh."

"I sense this place could use more laughs."

"This whole world can use some giggles," the mare said. "So... you have just moved in."

"Indeed. Well, I suppose we should introduce ourselves. We are going to be escaping this place together."

"We are?"

"Indeed. I don't plan spending the entire war down here." Faith stuck one of his uninjured hooves through the bars. "I am Faith."

After a moment a blue leg reached out to touch his.

"Trixie."

Winniepeg

"When Gotham is ashes, then you have my permission to die"

-Bane, The Dark Knight Rises

“There it is… Winniepeg,” Shining said, passing the binoculars over to his sister.

Twilight looked upon the northern city with interest. Winniepeg was roughly 2 days’ train ride from Canterlot and located on the foot of the Crystal Mountains. One of the oldest cities in Equestria, it had originally been founded as a trading fort on the border of the Crystal Empire. But as the Crystal Ponies and their kingdom had faded from memory Winniepeg had lost much of its significance. Cities such as Manehattan, Los Pegasus, Cloudsdale and Detrot had gained prominence, leaving this once capital of trade behind. It had grown, of course, and anypony coming from Ponyville would have still gasped at its size, but for every citizen it gained other areas gained 30 and for every new house that rose up entire skyscrapers were built in other, more powerful cities.

The ponies there were proud, however, and did not look at their town with anything but joy. It was a point of pride that theirs was a city of blended cultures. Ancient buildings stood next to new coffee shops and roads that had been walked upon by Celestia when she was barely a hundred years old were dotted with the latest fashion boutiques.

Even the populace was blended. There were plenty of ponies, of course, but also mules, a few hundred minotaurs and, most startling for their warm-weather pony brothers, reindeer. Winniepeg took all these different races and blended them together to create the most accepting of cities. It was rare to find unicorns that married pegasus or earth ponies and vica versa in Equestria, but here such things were not even looked upon with a second glance. There were even prominent families that feature reindeer and ponies raising orphaned mules and minotaurs.

Still, with all of this… there was no reason for the high level of guards that patrolled the city limits.

“How many do you count?” Twilight asked, passing the binoculars to Spitfire. Pegasi were known for their keen sight and with the aid of the binoculars Spitfire might as well have been standing 3 feet from the nearest squad.

“Atleast 10 guarding the southern entrance. They look spread out though,” Spitfire said, flapping her wings. “If I was higher I could get a better look.”

“No,” Twilight said softly. “I don’t want them spotting us.”

“Why aren’t we just rushing in?” Spike asked. “We could take them Twi.”

“Yes, we could,” Twilight said. “But we don’t know what is inside. Maybe this is a trap just to get us inside. Or maybe they have some prison which will call for more fighters if we want to liberate it. Right now our concern isn’t taking out the guards but getting information.”

“Think of it like extreme research,” Shining joked.

Spike stuck his tongue out. “Every day with Twilight is extreme research.”

“Ha ha ha,” Twilight muttered. She closed her eyes, her horn beginning to glow. “I think if I send out a low level white magic burst I can figure out if they are shielding-“

The Doctor tapped her on the shoulder, shaking his head. “Might I suggest a slightly different approach.” Reaching into the pocket of his catsuit (which he was still tickled about… he was wearing a catsuit… like a ninja! He was a pony ninja in a catsuit… fantastic!) he pulled out his trusty sonic screwdriver. “Thank whatever deity you want to thank at this point in time and space that I was able to hold onto this little darling.” He moved the device around in his mouth, waving it at the city. “Now, unless I begin thinking about turning on their waffle makers, I should be able to scan the city and detect any magical security systems,” he mumbled.

“Doctor, I hate to ask but… what happened to your box?” Twilight asked.

“The Tardis?” The Doctor frowned as he began to sweep his screwdriver in the general direction of the city’s art district. “When the queen invaded Ponyville Derpy and I were caught right in the middle. I tried to get to my Tardis but then the guards snatched Dinky-“ there was a crack and Twilight realized the Doctor had snapped his teeth against his screwdriver. The memory of the abduction was still painful for the Time Lord. “I was forced to pursue and leave the Tardis behind. I had Whistle Wind get his birdies to check for it but they found nothing; I can only assume your friends snatched away my box and carted it off somewhere. It doesn’t matter… if they try to play with it my sexy girl will give them a nasty spanking.”

“You do realize you are talking about a box, right?” Spike said. “Boxes don’t have genders.”

“Some genders have boxes though,” Spitfire quipped, causing the Doctor to snort. Spike soon followed, after he got the joke, though Twilight and her brother just stared at the three and rolled their eyes.

“Alright, we should be good to go. I detected no defensive spells around the city… we should be able to sneak in quite well.”

Twilight looked up at the sky, her horn glowing black and her eyes went monochrome “Well then, goggles on everypony… it’s time to kill the lights.”

~MC~MC~MC~

Broad Back frowned, sweeping his flashlight along the ground. Just moment ago he had been doing a routine check of the road when… something… had occurred. He didn’t know what it was or if it was good or ill, but the night had changed and it put him on alert.

He considered for a moment sending out a magic flare to signal the other members of his squad but he resisted the urge. He hadn’t spotted anything dangerous and he didn’t want to pull his friends away from their own routes just because he felt like something was off. A small voice in the back of his head (which sounded a bit like Queen Applejack) whispered that he might be acting a bit dishonest, but he dismissed that thought. It wasn’t dishonest to wait before sending up the alarm. Doing so without all the information would only lead to panic and fear; those were the opposite of the harmony he worshiped. Better to gather the facts and come up with a plan before he became the colt who cried wolf.

Broad Back swept his flashlight towards some bushes, only to catch sight of a raccoon darting away. He let out a sigh, tilting his head back and laughing at how silly he had acted.

The chuckles died in his throat when he looked upon the night sky.

The moon was still hanging up there, as it had since time began. The queens had taken over moving the celestial orbs and life had continued on like normal. But now, instead of shining down on him, the moon was darkened like it had been covered in soot. More startling was that not a single star could be seen; the night sky had become a sheet of blackness that stretched out as far as the eye could see. Broad Back felt like he was falling into it and he stumbled, ripping his eyes away. He realized that was the disturbance: the night had gone almost completely pitch black.

That’s when the pink orb wrapped itself around his head, cutting off his air supply and sending him crashing to the ground for a not-so-earned rest.

“Neat trick,” Spitfire whispered as she helped Spike drag the guard off into the shadows.

Shining smiled, the lens of his night vision goggles flashes as he turned his head to address the pegasus. “Everypony just assumes that all I can use that spell for is making big barriers. Nice to show off.” He looked up at the sky and pursed his lips. “Especially when my baby sister can turn on and off the night sky like it is a night light.”

“Please don’t ever say those words in the same sentence,” Twilight stated.

“What?”

“’Turn on’ and ‘night light’. Puts very horrible thoughts into my head.” Spike began to snicker at Twilight’s blushing. The mare rolled her eyes and reached into her saddlebag. She pulled out a scarf, some boots and a winter hat, all done up in a muted blue. The rest of the team did the same, bundling themselves up. The wind off the Crystal Mountains made the city a chilly place even during the fall, which would provide them with a perfect story for why they were decked out in 'winter gear'. The catsuits also resembled the long johns some ponies in the city wore and thus wouldn’t attract too much attention.

At the late hour there were few ponies on the streets but there were just enough that the fivesome didn’t stick out. The guards, for their part, didn’t seem all that interested in what was going on and just nodded at any pony that passed. Other than the patrols the group didn’t see any overly saturated ponies, which meant the queens hadn’t began brainwashing and amplifying the public.

That was both good news and bad. It made things easier… but also raised many questions.

“It looks normal,” Shining whispered. “No new structures or signs of weapons building.”

“Everypony looks normal, too,” The Doctor stated. “A rather nice surprise, as I don’t think I could have handled staring at a thousand overly-cheerful grins without coming down with a bad case of body shivers.”

“What the hay is going on here?” Spitfire hissed as they passed a darkened toy store, the painted sign in the window stating they would be opened at 10 the next morning. “Why are all the guards here if nothing is going on.”

Spike shook his head. “Maybe they are doing something underground… or maybe this is a decoy city to keep us from finding their zombie labs over in Appleloosa!” The baby dragon turned towards Twilight. “What do you think Twi?”

The alicorn, however, was no longer focused on the road. She turned her head, staring down an alley, her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed.

“Twiley?” Shining whispered.

“Don’t you sense it?” Twilight asked.

“Sense what?”

“Power… it’s been muted and drained… like an hour glass emptied of all its sand. But it is still there, I can… I can…” Twilight burst into a run, the others letting out yelps before they chased after her. The alicorn of the stars didn’t stop, however; she couldn’t even if she wanted to. Her entire focus was on what lay ahead. She was drawn to it like a moth to the flame and her heart and her head told her to continue on.

She was not disappointed.

“I am telling you something is wrong!” a voice called out. Twilight skidded to a stop, staring at the small house that stood before her. It was a simple building, pleasant but plain. The lawn was well maintained and a fresh coat of paint clung to the walls but there was no true love put into the grounds. Whoever lived there didn’t do so by choice… they merely dwelt in the walls, nothing more.

Upon the porch sat a navy blue pony, who continued to stare at the sky. Her gaze was fixed on the moon and she tugged on her mane every so often. Twilight was startled by the fact that there was no magic within the blue pony’s body; she didn’t have a horn, or wings, or the natural strength and endurance of an earth pony. She was none of them… she was just a pony.

Shining nearly slammed into his sister and he was ready to ask her what was going on only to find that the question died on his lips.

“That’s why… that’s why they are guarding this place," Shining whispered.

“Captain Armor?” The Doctor murmured.

“Come back inside!” a new voice called out. “You’ve been staring at the sky for the last two months! Just stop it, please! Stop torturing yourself like this!” From the doorway a white pony with a pink mane stepped out, tapping her hoof against the porch. “I mean it Luna, come-“

“No,” Twilight whispered, stepping onto the two ponies' yard, revealing herself to them. “It can’t be…”

The white mare froze, staring at the lavender alicorn, startled by the reversal of roles. “T-Twilight?”

The alicorn felt hot tears burn against her cheeks as she stared at the pony that had once meant the world to her. “Princess Celestia…”

Tomorrow

“So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.”

-Padme Amidala, Revenge of the Sith

“We could play Twenty Questions.”

Faith scratched at the wall with his hoof, causing a bit of the drywall to chip away. Beneath the plain white wall lay the cold stone of the cell. The abstract gave a bitter smirk, finding dark delight in how the wall, looking so plain and domestic and homey on the outside yet hiding the dark, hideous truth under a thin layer, served as such a wonderful metaphor for the reality Equestria found itself in.

He’d put so much work into this country, fostering it and helping it grow. Yes, much of his work had been to get ponies to turn away from Celestia, but that doubt in their government had fostered independence and, with that, innovation. Now, with one fell swoop, the queens had taken it all that away. And the worst part of it all was that they had dressed the entire thing up in a pretty bow and justified their every action.

“Do you really think that is the wisest idea?” Faith finally said.

Trixie didn’t say a word for several moments. An immortal alicorn, who had been around since the first time Discord had ruled, who had spent years drifting through the minds of some of the smartest ponies in the world and who, from the way he talked to Sweetie Belle, could banter circles around anypony he wanted…

“Trixie did not think this through.”

Faith let out a barking laugh.

Trixie didn’t join in on the laughter, though Faith got the impression she was laughing on the inside. “You do realize that if Trixie takes into account your… handicap… into account, many of the possible ways to pass the time are eliminated.”

“Handicap?” Faith said, raising an eyebrow. “Since when has intelligence been considered a handicap?”

Trixie did laugh that time. “You really have led a sheltered life, haven’t you?”

“Sheltered?”

“Is this the game we are playing? You repeat all that Trixie says?” When Faith remained silent the unicorn continued. “If there is one thing the rubes in this country hate, it is a pony with some brains in their head. Makes them feel all nervous when they realize just how stupid they are. They scorn those that are smart and belittle and mock them until they are forced to either leave or dumb themselves down. Ponies don’t rise… they settle.” Trixie let out a scoff. “Truly it is a handicap… one we both must share.”

“You know, my dear, I do believe I have seen balloons with less hot air than what puffs up that chest of yours.”

“Trixie denies nothing.”

“Faith can see that. Faith can also tell that you like to lay it on quite a bit and Faith is wondering-“

“Ok, ok!” Trixie exclaimed. “I get it.”

Faith laughed so hard he thought he was going to spit up a lung. “So you do know the word ‘I’. It was getting a bit concerning-“

“Trixie… I am an artist, oh gallant abstract, and all artists have their quirks. It is required of them.” Though he couldn’t see her, Faith got the sense that Trixie was posing as if she were walking the red carpet in Ponywood, with a hundred photographers calling out her name. “It is my calling card, the way I set myself apart.”

“It seems rather difficult to me,” Faith stated. “It must be tiring.” Before Trixie could say a word Faith cut her off. “I am not merely talking about the third person style of talking you use. I mean all of it… all of you. It must be very tiring to be the Great and Powerful Trixie.”

“Don’t psycho-analyze me, Faith,” Trixie said coldly, marching over towards the bars and passing one of her forelegs through. She waved it at the abstract, as it was the only thing she could truly do that would let him see any part of her. “Don’t you dare try that on me.”

“If I caused you some offense I didn’t mean to,” Faith said gently, trotting over to the bars. “It was not my intent. If it makes you feel better, I find that every pony hides their true selves… myself included.” He leaned against his own cell door, resting his head against the padded bars. “How about this for a game… I psycho-analyze myself. Tell you all my faults and failings and why my life is an absolute wreck.”

“Oh, I know all about you, Faith, so that game would be rather boring.”

The abstract sighed. “Don’t be like that.”

“You think I’m just blowing you off, don’t you?” Trixie complained, jabbing her hoof into his foreleg. “You think I’m lying and just trying to hurt you.”

“Prove me wrong,” Faith muttered.

Trixie cleared her throat, her hoof withdrawing to the confines of her own cell. “You have been hurt many times in your life. That much is clear… a blind mule could see that you have suffered. You have known betrayal and you have known pain.”

Faith let out a long suffering sigh. “And I now push others away because I am afraid of being hurt again.” He let out a dry chuckle. “Child’s play.”

“No,” Trixie said quietly. “You don’t push them away. You should push them away… that would be the smart thing to do, the safe thing to do. But you don’t, do you?”The unicorn began to tap the bars of her cell. “You do everything you do… all the little insults and digs and needling… because you are trying to make them better. You are trying to help them.”

“To help them?” Faith asked, amusement coloring his words. “Is that why I do it?”

“Yes. That is exactly what you do.”

Faith stuck his tongue out, though he knew Trixie couldn’t see it. “So, when I was taunting Sweetie Belle to the point that she wanted to throttle me until the words stopped bubbling out of my mouth… that was because I wanted to help her?”

“Oh yes,” Trixie said. “You did that because you wanted her to act like an actual pony instead of one of the many puppets that now populate this sad little country. You did it because you wanted her to see just how foolish she was behaving and how wrong all of this is.” Trixie gestured at the many cells that lay before them. Within each one sat a pony, every one of them declared by the queens to be against harmony. “You do everything you do because you care too much. You care about this world and all that dwell within it and you hold them all in such high regard that when they fail to achieve all that they could be it upsets you and you lash out. You insult them and you belittle them because you see what they could do and it angers you. But even then you still care and all your taunts and barbs are veiled hints at what they could do to save themselves. That’s why you do what you do Faith… not because you stopped caring but because you CAN’T stop.”

Faith let out the weakest of chuckles. “Well,” the abstract said, clearing his throat and running his foreleg along his nose, sniffing, “that is… well that is just…”

“So… I’m a pony that puts up a front because that is what is expected… and you, my fine piece of stallion, play the role of know-it-all jackass because of a large heart.” She looked around the jail and sighed. “And we are trapped down here until the queens decide to murder us or brainwash us.”

Faith clicked his teeth together, digesting Trixie’s words. “What brought you down here, if I may ask?” He trotted away from the bars and pulled a pillow from his bed, tossing it on to the tightly woven carpet that Fluttershy had put down in all the cells. He walked around the pillow like a puppy before settling down. “I mean, I know why I am here… but what grand crime did you commit to warrant yourself being placed next to me? What exactly did you do?”

“Twilight.”

It was a good thing Faith wasn’t taking a drink at that moment, else he would have sprayed it all over his cell.

“YOU DID TWILIGHT?!?!”

Trixie blinked before bursting into laughter. “Is that what you… oh, no no no no.” Trixie scoffed. “I have standards.”

Faith leapt up and rattled the cell door so hard all the prisoners thought it would burst from its hinges. It was only the enchantments that kept it from buckling under Faith’s strength. Even then, the metal squealed in protest as he fought against both it and the iron chains that were wrapped around his limbs.

“Twilight… is a very dear mare to me… you would be wise to watch how you speak of her.”

“…ok,” Trixie said softly.

“Now then… what does Twilight have to do with you being imprisoned here?”

Trixie blew out a blast of air, making a mental note not the press THAT button again. “Several years ago the two of us had… a run in. It is all old news and, to be quite honest I had completely forgotten about how she ruined my career and left me a disgrace and forced me to work on a rock farm in order to survive-“

“I can tell you have let go of the past about as well as I do,” Faith said dryly.

Trixie huffed. “When the queens took over they captured me and threw me down here… they said I was to be Twilight’s prize when they ‘freed her’ from the grips of dark magic. Her first ‘convert’, I believe.”

“That’s it?” Faith questioned.

“Isn’t that enough?”

“It just seems… so lacking.”

“These are the queens… even before they gained their powers they were rather lacking.”

Trixie didn't say anything for a long while and Faith began to wonder if the unicorn had drifted to sleep. Time had lost all meaning in the cells; it was always bright and from what he had gathered from the others sleep was fitful and short. It made it impossible to figure out when one day ended and another began and even Faith was have problems. With the magic dampener on his horn he could not connect to Twilight and read her thoughts, which meant he truly was cut off from the world. That had been... an unpleasant discovery. He had done well to hide how much that detail put a wrinkle in his plans. It had been a tactical error to assume the queens would only shield the cells or that they would fail to take into account his special brand of magic, and now it was putting a wrench in his plans.

"Faith," Trixie said softly. It wasn't so much that she had spoken as the way she said his name that startled him. It was so quiet, empty of the vigor and boldness that normally colored her words. He had only known her for a few hours but it felt like they were already old friends; hearing her talk like that was worse than any blow the queens could have given him.

"Yes Trixie?"

"We're going to die here... aren't we?" She sniffed and Faith looked down at the enchanted iron chains on his legs with disgust. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to break the wall down and comfort the mare he barely knew.

Trixie had been right: he cared too much.

"Maybe," Faith said softly, unable to lie. It just wasn't in his nature. He pursed his lips in annoyance at that thought; what would Queen Applejack think of that?

"We are going to die or they are going to turn us into their puppets," Trixie said, her voice hollow. "I... I don't want to die, but I don't want to s-smile like that... like they m-made those... those..."

Faith moved over to the bars and forced his leg through it as far as it could go. He waved his hoof but, to his disappointment, Trixie did not extend hers. "Do you want to know what death is like?" Faith asked her. "I died once... Twilight brought me back but I did die, if only for a moment."

"Let me guess... it was a pretty green pasture and there were dead relatives and you were happy," Trixie said bitterly.

"No," Faith said gently. "You know what death is like? It is life... it is every moment of your life, the best moments, played over and over. Sometimes they aren't even the moments you expected to be your best ones; sometimes they are just simple moments where you did nothing at all but exist... but that is good enough. And you understand… you truly understand how all your actions affected the world, even the smallest, and it makes you weep and smile. You get the experience the best life has to offer, again and again... and it is so long and yet so short and you don't care because you... you know peace." Faith let out a sigh. "Don't get me wrong, I prefer life to death but... if I have to die I can adjust. So you see… death isn’t scary at all."

Trixie considered his words. "And... and if they want to make me a puppet?"

"I won't let that happen. You have my word."

"How can you-"

Faith's hoof clanged against the bars, silencing her. "I… will NEVER let that happen. You have my word.” He let out a long sigh. “Enough of that... dwelling upon it will only drive you mad."

"Then what should I do?"

"Wait," Faith said. "Wait for tomorrow."

"What's so good about tomorrow?" Trixie asked.

"Everything," Faith told her softly. "Tomorrow is full of possibilities and chances... tomorrow is hope. Tomorrow is made for dreamers and wishers... and those with faith. Today is for my brothers and sisters... tomorrow is all mine. That is why I am different than them… they look only at today; I look at yesterday and tomorrow and I honor what has come before and I race towards the bright dawn that is to come. And you should too." He could tell Trixie wanted to argue but he refused to let her say another word. “Now dry your tears and close your eyes… it is time to sleep.” Faith waited… and a smile blossomed when Trixie reached out and pressed her hoof against his own.

Faith

The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your very last bit that tomorrow
There’ll be sun

Just thinking about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs and the shadows
Till there’s none

Tomorrow
Tomorrow
I love ya, tomorrow
You’re only a day a-way

The Gilded Cage

"He captured my vessel and spared my life for one reason: so I would know his pain. He beamed me here so I could observe his vengeance. As he was helpless to save his planet, I would be helpless to save mine."

-Spock, Star Trek

Awkward. Stifled. Stilted. Uneasy.

All of these words could have been used to describe the first meeting between Twilight and Celestia since the alicorn of the star's departure from Equestria. Each described the situation the two found themselves in... yet they were all poorly chosen as none of them conveyed the full ramifications of this reunion.

The past, the present and the future all collided together in that moment and left the two blind, deaf and dumb. Time lost all meaning and the world dropped away as the two looked upon each other and remembered.

There was the giddy foal, so excited to learn magic that her normally reserved emotions bubbled forth and she bounced in the air in utter glee, squealing and giggling.

There was the mentor who had not trained a student in a hundred years, looking upon her new student and remembering another dark-coated filly who showed such joy at learning beside the solar princess. Celestia had sworn not to make the same mistakes with Twilight as she had with Luna. She would be both stern and kind, not letting the little one weasel her way out of obeying the rules... and then offering a hug even when the filly assured her she was fine. She would watch and she would teach... and she would never let her control become lax.

The same mistakes were not repeated but the same results came all the same. A student, a friend and a mare Celestia saw as more of a daughter than a student; Twilight was all of these. And yet as she grew the pressure that Celestia placed upon her became too great. The tests and the hidden agendas became to taxing for her soul to bear. Not that Twilight was innocent in this; her hero worship and her fear of disappointing those she cared about prevented her from fully being honest with her teacher. Where others might have lashed out and thus worked through their anger, Twilight bottled it up, letting it condense into raw hate.

And then Doubt had come.

Doubt. Celestia's failure. Twilight's salvation. The black alicorn, who had led so many ponies to move against her and her rule... it had been him that had exposed it all. It was Doubt, just as much a chessmaster as her, who had set his sights on Twilight. But while Celestia used tests and secret examinations and white lights to mold Twilight, Doubt was honest: he would give her power and strength in exchange for her aid.

Twilight had fallen, descending into dark magic and later becoming the dark alicorn, and with that all of Celestia's moves and decisions had been cast into the cold light of day. Her actions took on a sinister tone and she appeared to be a ruler who cared little for her 'pawns' and used Twilight purely to aid herself and her final goals.

As Celestia stared at the strong alicorn mare that stood across the street from her she wondered if she should hate Doubt for stealing her student away or thank him for taking her place in Twilight's life.

Things had changed. What they had been before was gone. The Twilight Celestia had known was lost to her forever and it would only be in vain to hope that the little filly who had hung on her every word would ever return. And yet Celestia could not find it within herself to mourn this loss; was it not the wish of every teacher to have their student move on, to grow enough that they could leave the classroom and succeed? Wasn't that the greatest success? As Celestia looked upon Twilight she wanted to smile, for she saw that within the lavender mare there was the potential to match, if not go beyond, all that Celestia had once been.

The former solar princess merely wished that Twilight would let her take on a new role, any role, in the life she was carving out for herself. That would be the worst of it... to have to see Twilight journey past her and be unable to join her in the sunshine, to be stuck in the shadows and be merely a watcher...

"Twilight Sparkle?" Luna whispered, finally noticing the new arrival and cutting off Celestia's inner thoughts. "Can... can this be real?" Luna slowly made a move to cross the road but Shining Armor was already shoving his sister towards the house, shaking his head.

"Not here... too many eyes."

Celestia managed to nod. "Yes... yes you are right. Come in... with have much to discuss, I suppose."

Twilight didn't say a word.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Sleeping well?"

Trixie grimaced as she attempted to open her eyes. There was gunk clinging to her lashes and her mane felt greasy to the touch. She felt dirty and disgusting and she wanted to do nothing more than to soak in a tub for the next 15 hours until her limbs turned to jelly.

"You know, you might sleep better if you actually used the bed," her 'alarm clock' said with a gentle smile. "That's why it is there."

"Queen Buttershy."

"Fluttershy," the mare said softly.

"Whatever." Trixie got to her feet and stretched. Though she acted like a pampered pony princess Trixie had long grown used to sleeping in strange places and making do with less. The road was not an easy one and without her wagon she had been forced to sleep out in the wild under the stars. Thought she would never admit it, part of the reason she had slept on the floor was because the bed was simply too soft; her body had become use to the hard dirt.

It was mostly for that... and not because she wanted to be closer to the gray alicorn with the funny accent that laid in the cell next to hers.

"Aren't you interested in why I am here?" Fluttershy asked as Trixie leaned back, craning her neck until the bones in her spine popped back into place.

Trixie let out a dainty snort. "If it were any other pony Trixie would assume torture was on the menu, but since it is you Trixie figures you just want to talk."

The yellow alicorn frowned. "Yes... the torture. I see Sweetie Belle and her guards were very giving when it came to beatings." To Trixie's surprise Fluttershy's horn glowed and the door to her cell opening, letting the blue unicorn step out of her confinement for the first time in 3 weeks. "I wish they hadn't done that."

Trixie let out a gasp as she laid eyes on Faith's prone form. She had briefly seen him when he had been marched into the dungeon but that had been a fleeting glance. Now she could see him in full detail and she couldn't help but wonder how any pony to go through what he had and have the strength to comfort her. The magician knew that he had been healing since the attack but it still looked as if his body were a wreck; he was covered in bruises and silver ichor stained his dark mane.

"He can't hear you," Fluttershy said as she opened the door to Faith's cell. "No pony can. I am shielding us both. Everypony is asleep and will remain so when I leave. I wanted to talk to you alone, without interference."

Trixie walked over to Faith and ran her hoof along his barrel. The silver alicorn winced in his sleep but remained still, his one foreleg still extended in an attempt to remain in contact with her.

"Why are you doing this to us?" Trixie whispered.

"Because you won't work with us," Fluttershy said simply. "We just want to make Equestria better and all of you keep fighting us."

"You don't want to make it better," Trixie said darkly. "You want to make us all your slaves."

"Only because you won't accept harmony into your heart." Fluttershy looked down at the magician, her eyes weary and tired. "I don't want to do any of this. I don't want to hurt you and I don't want to hurt Doubt."

"Faith," Trixie reminded the yellow alicorn. "His name is Faith."

Fluttershy blinked before shaking her head. "Yes, of course... I don't know why I said that." She walked over to join Trixie and, to the stagepony's utter amazement, the once bashful mare leaned down and kissed Faith's forehead. His body glowed for a moment and then he was still, his wounds all healed. "It breaks my heart to see what is happening to Equestria. If I could have things the way they have always been then I would but that will never happened."

"Why not?" Trixie said, refusing to drop the issue. "You want to rule, fine! I don't care if you are in charge or Celestia or Iron Will! Just keep things the way they were!"

"But they weren't good the way they were," Fluttershy reminded her. "There was pain and suffering and ponies were sad... they lied and they were cruel and selfish-"

"That is life! Life isn't always peaceful and wonderful! Sometimes things get messy but it is our job to make things better!"

"Even when you don't have the desire to do so?" Fluttershy said boldly. "I've seen so many mean ponies in my life... so many of them have abused me and taunted me and made me cry... none of them wanted to change. They just wanted to make the world a worse place." She shook her head sadly. "We are working to make life better for every pony. Are there growing pains? Of course. When are there not pains in life? But the end result will be so wonderful that all will be forgiven."

"So the ends justify the means?" Trixie countered. There was something about seeing the broken for of the silver alicorn that gave Trixie the strength to speak her mind. "It is ok to hurt others... to have Trixie locked up like this and to beat Faith as long as it makes things better!" She paused, giving Fluttershy a dirty look. "Oh, Trixie apologizes... you don't want the pain to happen but if it does, oh well!"

"No pony complained when Discord was turned to stone," Fluttershy said. "No pony minds it when things grow dark and bad things happen when it isn't them. Yes, I have locked you in a cell... but I could have killed you. I showed you mercy and I think you should show me a bit of thanks!" Fluttershy glared at Trixie and the magician found herself turning away, unable to meet her gaze.

"What... what do you want from me?" Trixie stammered.

Fluttershy let out a sigh, her shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders. "I want you to help get Faith to see that our way is better and he needs submit himself to our will."

"What?" Trizie said, puzzlement written all over her features.

"Faith's mind is too twisted for us to bless him with the grace of harmony. He would fight us and in the end he would be destroyed... we can't allow that. He is Twilight's element and he has to be cleansed if we have any hope of elevating her properly and making her a queen. The only way to get Faith to do this is if he is willing. Right now, he is stubborn and clings to the silly idea that he is fighting the good fight. So... that is why we need you."

"You... you want me to betray him like that? You want me to be some double agent that tricks him into becoming your puppet?"

"I want you to help save his life," Fluttershy stated. "My friends aren't going to be as kind as I am... their elements can allow more cruelty than mine. I balance them but I can't do so forever. Soon they will decide to treat Faith like Discord and he will fall... and I don't want that." She flashed Trixie a delighted smile. "And, of course, when you do what I ask... you will have proven that you are willing to embrace harmony... I will see you freed and you may go wherever you want. Every pony wins."

Trixie glared at the queen. "You are threatening him."

"O-of course not! I would never-"

"You are," Trixie told her. "Not directly, but via your friends. You... you could stop them. You could fight for him! But instead you just let them do your dirty work and hide behind the guise of being a kind ruler." She sneered. "You're the worst of them all."

Fluttershy's face darkened. "I do what I do for the greater good... and sometimes to be kind to many you must be cruel to one. As long as Doubt is around others will suffer, such as yourself. I am trying to save him too... but soon the needs of the many will outweigh him and... and my kindness will have to be to save him from a slow death." She turned, flipping her mane behind her. "Maybe you should decide if you want to be part of this world... or the sole pony that stands against all of existence." Fluttershy's horn glowed and she lifted Trixie up and deposited her back into her cell, slamming the door shut. "Please choose soon... before the other queens get tired of waiting."

~MC~MC~MC~

"It's been horrible," Celestia said softly. The group was gathered around her dining room table, sipping glasses of water and trying to pretend that this was nothing more than a casual get together.

"I can only imagine," Spitfire said, her wings flapping slightly in agitation.

"No offense, but you really can't."

"I can," Twilight said softly. "Discord took away my horn... he made me like you are right now. I never felt so scared in all my life. it felt like a piece of me was gone... it must be torture for you."

Luna glared at the star alicorn. "You think that is all we care about? You believe us so petty and spoiled that it is our POWER that we mourn?"

Shining was shocked by the venom in the princess' words and quickly spoke in defense of his sister. "Princess Luna, I don't-"

"They make us watch," Luna hissed. "Your friends, the queens. They could have easily killed us or exiled us or turned us into their puppets. We could have handled such a fate... sometimes we dream of such a destiny." Tears stuck Luna's eyes as she spoke, struggling to contain herself. She kept fluctuating between the ancient Canterlot dialect and modern Equestrian. "Does thou not understand? They placed us here in this pretty little cage like two song birds, forced to watch the world and be unable to turn away."

Celestia reached over and in a display of kindness that was so rare for her to give in public, she held her baby sister in a tight hug and allowed her to sob. "We've had to watch all they have done to our subjects. We have been powerless as they convert the innocent and enforce their laws. Every day we are forced to sit and observe the perversion of harmony by five that we trusted and loved. What is the use of magic or a pair of wings or the strength to move the moon and sun when it comes to combating such horrors? Even if we held all our old powers and remained trapped we would cry... we would cry for Equestria."

"I... I never thought..." Twilight stammered.

Celestia sighed, stroking her sister's mane. "It is not your fault my faithful student. I do not know if even the queens realize what they have done."

Spike shook his head. "None of that matters, though! We are here to spring you!"

The Doctor nodded. "Quite right. We will get you back to our hideout and...well, I honestly don't know what we will do next."

"Faith," Shining said firmly. "He said he has the power to elevate a pony into an alicorn, remember? I bet he can turn you back to normal."

"I bet he would," a new voice called out, laughter tickling every letter. The team and the sisters turned, falling into defensive positions at the sight of the intruder.

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, trying to keep the tremble out of her voice. It was one thing to see her transformed friends in a dream or hear about their crimes from her brother; to see one of them floating above her was another thing entirely.

Rainbow was the least changed of the queens. her hair was a bit longer, though no more longer than Twilight's had been before her ascension. The tomboy's body had always been lean so her transformation into a long-legged alicorn did little to alter her overall form. Her wings were longer and the horn that jutted out of her head was new, but for the most part it was the same old cocky Rainbow Dash Twilight has always known.

That made the situation all the worst.

"Hey Twilight!" Rainbow Dash said, warping beside her friend. Twilight shivered, remembering how Discord had moved about in much the same way. "Wow, kinda weird to see you smaller than me. I mean, I just have this image in my head of you being as big as I am and now you look like a filly!" Rainbow Dash ruffled Twilight's mane playfully. "And whoa, look at you, Spike! You went through a growth spurt!"

"Well, I-Hey!" Spike's scrunched his face up in anger, his eyes flashing as he took a step forward. "You aren't going to trick me!"

"Why would I trick ya?" Rainbow Dash said, warping over to stand by the Doctor. She leaned on him, using his back to support her right foreleg while she pressed her hoof to her chin in an utterly thoughtful manner. "Unless you are talking about pranks... I'll tell ya, this horn makes pranks so much more fun!"

"Like the 'pranks' you pulled on the Wonderbolts, you sick monster!" Spitfire shouted.

"Whoa, calm down there!" Rainbow laughed, warping over to Spitfire and tugging on her wings, making the flyer yelp. Before she could retaliate Rainbow was already back in front of Twilight. "Man, you rebellion ponies are so lame! Maybe I should open your eyes-"

Twilight's horn flared and she took a step forward. "Rainbow Dash... you might be bigger than me but I doubt you are as skilled as I am with magic." Her eyes went monochrome and the stars that dotted her mane began to streak down her locks. "Don't make me test my theory."

"Ok, ok, geez!" Rainbow Dash held up her hooves in protest. "No need to freak out, dark magic mare! I just came to tell you two things: first, Faith is kinda tied up at the moment, so i don't think he will be able to give Celestia and Luna a shot of vitamin alicorn."

"What do you-" Shining began, only for Twilight to cut him off.

"And what else did you want to tell me?"

Rainbow began to float about their heads lazily. "You are totally trapped here now, so you should forget about breaking Celestia and Luna out." Rainbow smirked. "The girls will be here in a day or two and then we are going to combined our magic and free you from whatever dark magic corruption ya got going on, Twi. Then, once you are thinking clearly and get on the bandwagon, you can help us totally get every pony on the harmony-"

Rainbow was fast. Very fast.

But in that moment, Twilight's magic was faster.

The cyan mare cried out as white and black magic raced along her skin, sizzling her nerves and sending her crashing.

"Stay here," Twilight said, flaring out her wings as she walked towards the hole she'd made in the wall by slamming Rainbow Dash through it.

The blue alicorn slowly got out, a pissed off look gracing her features. "Twi... I haven't forgotten our last dance in that night club. I love you... but I think I owe you a few knocks."

"Rainbow Dash? Let me say this in a way you'll understand." Twilight smirked. "Princess Celestia...put on a good beat for me to kick my friend’s ass to."

The Battle of Winniepeg Part 1

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

-George Santayana

“Trixie, pay attention.”

The blue unicorn hurried over to the bars, dropping the magazine that had been left in her cell. It wasn’t all that interesting, as the periodical had been written by Rarity. Oh, there was the standard gossip rag articles on fashion and new plays and such, but everything had the sickeningly sweet coating of harmony painted over it. All the plays being reviewed were happy pieces where there were no real problems; the dresses were advertised to be free to everyone because it would be horrible to make them pay. It was garbage but unlike Faith, who had a bad habit of going into trances and not talking or moving for hours, Trixie needed something to do before her head exploded.

“What’s going on?” Trixie asked, peering through the bars. The wide hallway made it near impossible to see the cells across from hers but Trixie got the sense that they were occupied; she could hear murmurs and snippets of conversations coming from the cells much the same way Faith and her passed the time with idle talk.

“A murmur is rolling through… I think we are getting a new prisoner.”

“Wonder who this could be?”

“I am hoping the queens with Celestia marching in to inform us the war is over, but I doubt that,” Faith said.

“You still feel doubt?” Trixie asked, surprised.

“Does Princess Cadence feel hate or annoyance? Just because I am the embodiment of faith doesn’t mean I’m full of it.”

Trixie frowned. “Well… isn’t that interesting.”

“What?” Faith asked. He had found out early on that his larger size prevented him from getting his head through the bars to look down the hall, a problem Trixie did not suffer from.

“You must be psychic.”

Faith didn’t have a chance to question his friend (‘Is that all she is?’ a little voice that sounded much like Twilight nagged him; the abstract made a note to discuss mare and stallion relationships with his student, to get a better understand of what his feelings for the blue unicorn really were... especially since Twilight was the only mare he'd really been friends with since gaining a body), as at that moment the guards passed by with the new prisoner.

“Cadence,” Faith murmured in shock.

“No…” Cadence whispered, staring at Faith before thrashing against the guards. “NO!”

“Get in there,” one of the guards said. "We don't want to hurt you princess but we will."

“What are you doing here?!?” Cadence screamed in a near panic. “You are suppose to be with Twilight! Who is with her? Who?”

“It doesn’t matter,” one of the guards stated, answering the question that had not been directed at him in the first place. “Our queens are set to retrieve Miss Sparkle from Winniepeg and she will soon join them in ruling this land… then you will be dealt with, all of you.”

Faith grit his teeth in frustration. “Bloody stupid fool,” he muttered at himself. For the last day and a half he had been willing the chalk up his errors that had landed him in the cell as his own problems and nothing more. But now that the queens apparently knew where Twilight was a cold fear gripped his heart. All of their plans now hung on the dagger’s edge and with one flick they would be cast into the abyss. “Had to leave her… arrogant git!”

“Faith?” Trixie called out. “What is wrong?”

“I am just praying, my dear… praying I haven’t buggered everything up.”

~MC~MC~MC~

Winniepeg, as it was known, was a town of old and new, and this could best be seen in its buildings. For example, the Great Opera House had existed since 128 PC (Princess’ Coming). Much of the original structure remained, including the grand domed roof that dominated much of the city’s eastern skyline. However, there was still modern elements placed over the building. Some purists complained, likening the new restaurant that abutted the southern side of the Opera House to be like a bad wig on an old mule’s head, but most merely shrugged and accepted that such changes were needed to keep the old structures up to date.

The complainers would have something new to whine about when they awoke to find that the western wall had been blown out.

“You know,” Rainbow Dash said as she popped up on stage, looking down at the musician’s pit, “normally I wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this. But you… you would.” Rainbow Dash chuckled as Twilight pulled herself out of the crater she’d made on impact. “Get it? Caught dead? Because we are trying to kill each other.”

Twilight groaned, but it was less from the pain and more from the bad joke, pushing a chair off of her. “Did you blast me in here just to say that?”

The cyan alicorn shrugged. “What can I say, I was inspired. Don’t tell me you weren’t thinking the same thing before-“ Rainbow’s thought was cut off when every chair in the audience section were transfigured into long chains that whipped through the air. She warped around, but the chains just latched together and created a massive web that clung to any surface it touched until one could hardly move an inch without colliding with one.

Rainbow Dash backed away, falling to the stage when it became too hard to find an empty patch of air. Twilight, much to the speedster’s annoyance, simply slipped through the chains, which curled around her like kitties wanting to be nuzzled.

“Huh, a variation on the tunnel web trap from Daring Do and the Sword of Ages. Impressive.”

“Not sure if that should be a compliment, since the one giving it is the evil hell queen that took over Equestria. And by the way, I wasn’t planning on some joke, if that is what you meant earlier. Just trying to figure out the best place to do this without hurting any innocent ponies.”

“Hell queen? Ouch!” Rainbow Dash looked down at the ground and began to spin rapidly, wood flying up and getting caught in the chains as she bore through the stage and into the Opera House’s basement. Twilight pursed her lips and phased through the floor, chasing after Rainbow Dash’s magical signature. “Seriously Twi, I don’t know what Doubt did to screw with your head, but the fact that you think he is one of the good guys and me and the rest of our friends are the bad ponies just proves how nuts you are.” Rainbow Dash’s voice seemed to echo through the cavernous supply room and Twilight frowned, sending up a few magical orbs. The points of light glowed before zipping out in all direction. Meanwhile, Twilight lit her horn and began to search on her own. “Oh, and I’m not an innocent?”

“First off, the blood on your hooves means you aren’t, Dash. Second, you can take what I am dishing out.” Twilight lifted up several trunks, only to find that Rainbow Dash had set up several magic orbs of her own as booby traps. The lavender alicorn yelped as they exploded in her face, sending her crashing halfway across the room. “I didn’t hurt ya, did I Twilight?”

“Blinded me but I’ll be ok in a second,” Twilight said, keeping her tone light. Both of the alicorns knew that the other wasn’t out for their throats and thus they were able to converse without resorting to snarls and growls. The moment Rainbow Dash had emerged from the wall Twilight had made her joke to Celestia then struck Rainbow full on while the speedster was frowning over Twilight’s not-so-subtle reminder of their fight 2 months earlier. The two of them had launched out of Celestia and Luna’s house and dueled in the air, each finding that the other was their superior in some way: while Rainbow had magic Twilight was absolutely a terror with her star magic, and while Twilight knew the battle skills of Hurricane, Rainbow Dash had created all new moves based on her super speed and teleporting. The result was a much more even battle than either of them could have ever supposed.

The skies above Winniepeg had only seen them duel for a few minutes but it was enough to send the guards into a panic. They had tried to rush in and defend their queen but Rainbow Dash had forced them back to their posts, thanking them for their loyalty but telling them it was not needed at the time.

“They are loyal… but they have no faith in you… that is MY element,” Twilight had taunted.

That’s when Rainbow had planted her in the Opera House. Even though she was the queen on an entire country, Rainbow Dash was still Rainbow Dash, anger issues and all.

Twilight blinked her eyes… or, more accurately, her new ones. One of the first things Faith had taught her was how to repair her body. Alicorns were made of strong stuff and healed fast but Faith had learned tricks during his long life that even Celestia and Luna knew little about. Clockwork, one of Faith’s avatars when he had been Doubt, had learned how to speed up the body’s natural healing processes to the point of near regeneration. It could be done with almost no effort as long as the user had magic in their system and Twilight had taken an instant shine to the spell. Which was good, since her first attempts at chaos magic (or gray magic, as Faith preferred to call it) had resulted in her usually blowing up bits and pieces of herself.

“I really hope they aren’t green this time… I hate green eyes.”

“Geez, are you talking to yourself?”

“It was either talk to myself, a brick wall or you. The brick wall will be quiet and you won’t listen, so I settled for myself.” Twilight sent out a blast of magic, only for Rainbow Dash to warp away before the blast could do anything more than taking out some music stands.

“You know, I think you have some misconceptions about all of us.”

“Do tell,” Twilight said, firing several smaller, faster blasts that nearly nailed Rainbow Dash in the flank. She made a mental note to decrease the size of the magic shots by about 30% in order to get a 45% faster strike rate.

“First I have to know… what was the eye thing about?”

Twilight shrugged, still sweeping her horn about and moving about the furniture and props that lay scattered about. “I regrew them and I was hoping I wouldn’t get green ones. Second time I had to do that I ended up with green eyes and yuck!”

“You’ve regrown your eyes?” Rainbow asked, her tone making it clear she was surprised by that bit of news.

“More than that, actually. If you want to get technical, there really isn’t a piece of me that was there when I left Ponyville. Well, maybe some of my brain, but still.”

“Huh, I’ll have to try that out.” The cyan alicorn laughed. “So many new things I’m learning about this alicorn gig!”

“I wouldn’t, Dash,” Twilight said politely. “I mean, you’ll heal just fine, but it will take time. I had to learn all of this from Faith... no offense, but between him and Celestia I have 2000 years worth of knowledge that has been culled and sorted. I know the best of the best and I am not afraid to use it.” Twilight pursed her lips. “By the way, once I am done with you I am going to find Faith and free him. And then the two of us are going to beat you and the rest of the queens down until you give back Equestria.”

“Yeah, sure,” Rainbow said and Twilight could hear her friend rolling her eyes. “Let me tell you how this is actually going to go.” Before Twilight could react Dash launched herself at the lavender alicorn. Twilight was flung back, only for Dash to warp and strike her back. The cyan speedster began to warp so fast it appeared that there were 5 of her, each one lashing out with a hoof and smashing Twilight like a ping pong ball. “You can fight me all you want, Twi, and you can use any magic trick you want, but in the end I am still going to beat you. Do you know why?” One of the Rainbow Dashs bucked Twilight in the barrel so hard that alicorn was sure her ribs were going to go flying out. “Because you’re all brains, Twilight. Don’t get me wrong… you need smarts. But life is more than brains.

“All you girls think I am just stupid, don’t you? Rainbow Dash the jock and Rainbow Dash the muscle. But I have brains to, Twi.” A hoof lashed out and nearly took off Twilight’s jaw. “I just have always preferred to go the more direct route. You can plot and plan and coming up with strategies but they are all worthless when you get a good hoof in the face! Pretty speeches and mindgames only get you so far, especially when the pony you are trying to trick isn’t buying what you are sel-“

Twilight reached up and caught Rainbow Dash’s incoming hoof, pushing it aside. The alicorn of the stars favored her friend with a dark smile as she spat out a wad of blood.

“Doesn’t this feel really familiar, Dash?” Twilight said, looking up at the larger alicorn. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened as Twilight slowly began to push the cyan mare’s hoof away. “Think long and hard with that big brain of yours.” Twilight’s mane was now whipping around her head, the stars streaking through it almost violently. Her eyes, instead of going one black and one white, went monochrome and then negative: empty blackness with two pinpricks of white light forming her pupils. “Two months ago, in a night club?”

Rainbow Dash, realizing where this was going, warped away. However, instead of reappearing across the room she only made it half the distance. She tried again, and the leap was even shorter this time.

“Think about it… you beat me down, you delivered a little speech… and then I unleashed a trap and kicked your flank.” Twilight smiled, looking over her shoulder. The cyan alicorn paled when she saw the orbs Twilight had sent out at the beginning of their fight in the cellar, the ones Rainbow had dismissed as being seeker orbs, were now engorged with magic. “You know what they say about learning from history.”

“What… what are you… doing to me!” Rainbow grunted, finding that she couldn’t even move her mouth at a normal speed. Her eye lids shut and for a moment Rainbow began to panic, thinking that Twilight had blinded her, before they finally drifted open and a worse truth became clear: that was a blink. She was BLINKING in slow motion.

Twilight stepped closer and Rainbow saw that Twilight looked more like a ghost than a pony. Her body and head were see-through and her legs tapered off into a trailing mist. More startling, Twilight’s main joints where now flaring, white orbs of light growing with each passing second.

“I’ve learned so much about alicorns, Rainbow Dash. Granted, before you girls when power crazy, there were only five, but still, there was a lot to learn. Did you know there are two distinct types?” Twilight continued to pace around her friend, lecturing her like the former pegasus was a filly in school. “There is your kind, the emotional ones. You deal with feelings and thoughts. Faith, you girls, and Cadence are all emotional alicorns… though I guess technically Faith is one of a kind, since he is an abstract-pony hybrid.” Twilight shrugged and continued on. “Then there are the celestial alicorns, like Celestia and Luna and me. We are tied to a physical thing and control it and can become it.” Twilight gestured to herself. “In other, simpler words, I am now starlight, which is very fast and has very low mass; that’s why I can move while my heavy orbs, which have been feeding off all the magic you wasted warping around, slow you down to a crawl. They made all the oxygen in this room more dense, so it is like you are swimming through mud… and soon it will be like iron.”

Twilight returned to face Rainbow, glaring at her. “You want to know your mistake, Dash? You want to know where you got things wrong? Between just the two of us things would have been different. I would have been distracted and made mistakes… but you should have been more careful who you hurt. You depowered the princesses… you beat up my brother… you stole Dinky and all the foals from their homes… and you kidnapped Faith, my friend. That’s the problem with you, Rainbow Dash… you’re boasts are big and your power is great but instead that head your brain really is just-to-small!”

“And you… talk too much, egghead!” Rainbow Dash snarled, her horn flaring. A concentrated ball of energy flared rapidly and only too late did Twilight realize that Dash had done the impossible: she had figured out how to store and contain the power of the Sonic Rainboom.

The Opera House crumbled as the ball exploded.

The Battle of Winniepeg Part 2

"The skies split apart and the God of War stepped through."

-The Narrator, God of War

There was a very old saying in Equestria, dating back to the first arrival of Celestia and Luna upon the shores of Bridle Bay. Though several of the words have no modern version, the basic idea can be gathered from what is available.

'There is no peace when the gods go to war'

The sleepy citizens of Winniepeg were learning the truth of this old adage first hand.

The first warring had been the sound of explosions echoing from the Great Opera House. It sounded like some giant pony was stomping on the ground, trying to squish a bug. Then the building had trembled and a great multitude of light had blazed out, nearly blinding all those that saw it. The ponies that had not yet retired to their beds quickly sent up the alarm and their dreaming brothers and sisters awoke to find the Opera House, that hall of culture, reduced to kindling.

Then the cries had been heard. Not from those that looked upon the event... no, these cries came from two beings that hung in the sky. The first, a mighty alicorn with massive wings and hair the color of the rainbow and a flank stained with the pallet of the afternoon sky, let out a scream of fury and frustration, challenging her opponent and daring her to attack.

Queen Rainbow Dash, the alicorn of loyalty and commander of the pegasi air force and the Wonderbolts.

The other was her opposite in form and demeanor. This mare was smaller but no less awe inspiring, with a body and mane that resembled the night sky. She never said a word, instead allowing her actions to speak for her thoughts. Her horn flashed and great tendrils of white and black magic lashed out like whips, cracking and breaking against the dark sky.

Twilight Sparkle, the alicorn of the stars and personal student to Princess Celestia and, if one were to believe the rumors, the creature known only as Doubt, the corrupter of souls (at least that is what the queens labeled him).

It was Rainbow Dash that attacked first, her horn flaring as she called forth the storm clouds and the lightning. The air became thick with electricity and a current of raw energy ran through the night sky. The rumble of thunder foretold of Rainbow Dash's power and she did not disappoint. The queen lifted up her head and the dark clouds took on the forth of a great war hammer bejeweled with ball lightning.

She swung her weapon and Twilight dove away, tucking her wings as she began to twist. She rose, the funnel of winds that gathered behind her roaring as the power of the gale was summoned. No since Commander Hurricane had one so easily called out the winds and yet here was Twilight Sparkle, who had not even been born with wings, seeking to become his heir.

The great twister met Rainbow Dash's hammer head on, ripping the clouds apart and forcing the speedster to warp a safe distance away. The cyan alicorn refused to give her once friend the chance to press the advantage; instead, Rainbow answered back with several Rainboom bombs, hurling them at Twilight and shaking the city with their rage and light. The night was chased away and Twilight Sparkle found herself in a world of white, with nothing to hide herself and no shadow to take refuge in.

Twilight turned tail and spirited away, but if Rainbow Dash believed that her friend was turning tail she was sadly mistaken. Twilight twisted her head around and fired off a dark orb, hurrying away as it began to consume the rainbow energy around it.

The black hole... a star which had collapsed upon itself and now captured all, including light. What better weapon for the once dark alicorn?

Rainbow cried out, fighting against the pull. Any blasts she sent at the hole to try and destroy it merely fed its greedy mouth and let its mass swell. The cyan alicorn struggled, twisting and beating her wings, but every second saw her move 1 foot forward and 2 feet back.

Finally, Rainbow launched out a chain of pure magic, lashing it around Twilight's ankles. The alicorn of the stars fought her own battle but found herself being drawn towards her black hole, a victim of her own trap. Even turning into starlight would not help her, as she was now caught in the pull as much as Rainbow Dash. With a cry of frustration Twilight shut down the black hole and the night sky returned to normal.

The two deities panted, their wings flapping as they sought to steady themselves... then they launched themselves at each other once more.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Huh..." Trixie said, twisting her head through the bars of her cage, attempted to see Princess Cadence. "Trixie must admit, she knew she was powerful, but to be ranked next to two alicorns... Trixie blushes."

Faith chose to ignore his friend and her ego stroking. "Cadence, what happened? What are you doing down here?"

Cadence sniffed, her usual bubbling personality completely absent in the face of her new 'home'. Though the queens had done all they could to make the dungeon look like some posh hotel room there were still bars on the door and guards stationed at each exit. "What... what do you know?"

"I know much," Faith said.

"She meant about the situation, not in general," Trixie teased. "And they say I am arrogant."

Faith glowered at the wall, not caring if Trixie could see it or not. "I meant that I know much about the general situation... including some things many do not."

"Such as?" Cadence asked.

"Twilight's friends are not fully responsible for their actions." When the two mares began to clamor Faith whistled for silence. "They are not themselves. They have been forced to bond with their elements."

"Their elements?" Cadence said. "You mean-"

"My brothers and sisters," Faith said darkly, spitting out the word.

"I didn't realize obsoletes had brothers and sisters," Trixie stated.

"...abstracts." Faith glared harder at the cell wall before continuing. "Yes, brothers and sisters... and no, not."

Cadence blinked. "Faith, please don't do that double talk thing you do. I have a bad enough headache as it is."

"My apologies," Faith stated. "The simple answer is that brothers and sisters is the closest word for what I and the rest of the elements are to each other."

"What do you mean?" Trixie pressed.

"Abstracts are not born in the traditional sense. Life is our mother and father... we are born when a being feels us for the first time. The first creature that found the strength to wiggle it's body created Willpower. An insect being chased by a predator knew fear and thus created Fear."

"What of you?" Cadence asked.

Faith smiled to himself, remembering well. "I am the baby of the abstracts... one of the very last to be born. When a small foal looked upon his mother and believed that she would always love him... I was born." He chuckled slightly. “I was the one that was constantly coddled and worried over… my family feared that I could easily fade away if enough ponies lost faith. I think it was my age that allowed me to survive the loss of self.”

“How old are you?” Cadence questioned.

Faith smirked. “I am 1,709 years young… Luna beats me by a century. For immortals I am barely a teenager.”

Trixie let out a huff. She was going bored quiet rapidly. "This is all quite dull... could you please get back to the matter at hand?"

"Of course," Faith said, bowing his head. "My brothers and sisters are connected to me because we are all seen as parts of something greater. In this case, Harmony. We tended to, back in the day, find that we were influencing the same ponies and thus we became kin, in a pony sense." Faith chuckled. "It is hard to explain and even for I it is confusing... I have lived separate from my species for so long that I think in your terms and the ideals of my own kind are nearly lost. I am not a true abstract... I am more of a hybrid... an abstract pony." He frown marred his face. “That is why they behave as they do… and why Twilight’s friends are not to blame.”

“I don’t understand,” Cadence said.

“My brothers and sisters never learned how to adapt to the mind of a pony,” Faith stated. “All abstracts inspire ponies with their abilities. I learned to do it with a light touch, mostly because I was unsure myself what I was becoming until Clockwork gave me my new name. My brothers and sisters do not have those lessons and thus they are like hammers… they overwhelm their targets to near madness.”

“The queens are insane… yes, I can believe that,” Trixie stated. “Who would have this color carpet with these bedspreads?”

Faith rolled his eyes. “Yes, they are quite insane… and in Equestria you can be found guilty by way of insanity. That is how we must view Twilight’s friends… and that is what I had hoped to tell the rebellion before my imprisonment.”

“When you screwed up and got locked up,” Trixie reminded him.

“Quite,” Faith muttered. “Now Cadence, unless you have the urge to see baby pictures of me, perhaps now we can discuss what happened to you. I understand that the queens banished Celestia and Luna… why were you not given the same fate?”

Trixie and Faith could hear the annoyance in the pink alicorn’s voice as she spoke. “They got it in their heads that I could work with them. I think… oh, what’s her name, the yellow one with the long hair-“

“Gutterpie.”

“Fluttershy,” Faith said drolly.

Trixie shrugged. “Same thing.”

“-I believe she considers me to be another queen, but the others aren’t as interested. Perhaps the snooty white one-“

“Bitchity,” Trixie supplied. Faith did not bother correct her, as he still had some soreness in his neck from the beating ‘Bitchity’ had commanded her guards to perform.

“-might have also went along with it, but the other three-“ Cadence paused, but when Trixie didn’t supply and cute and insulting names, the alicorn continued, “-they see me more as a tool or a weapon; something pretty they can trot out to prove they haven’t destroyed everything from Aunt Celestia’s reign.” Cadence glowered in annoyance. “They kept me locked in my room when they weren’t having me canter about the city, visiting the poor ponies they are brainwashing. I haven’t felt the wind through my feathers or a drop of magic burst from my horn in nearly a month and a half. I was only brought down here because the queens are going after Twilight and don't want to risk my escaping.”

“Poor little foal, forced to not be in a dungeon for a month and let out to walk around,” Trixie snarked. “I mourn for you.”

“Trixie, the adults are talking. Go play read your magazine until we are done.”

“I am not a child!” Trixie roared.

“I am over a 1000, my dear… you are a fetus compared to me.”

“Fossil,” Trixie muttered.

"When we get out of here I am going to take you over my knee and show you just how much of a child you are!"

"Is that a threat?" Trixie snapped.

"A promise."

"You aren't stallion enough to handle me!"

Cadence blinked. “Are you two… flirting?”

“No!” Trixie and Faith said sternly.

The pink alicorn merely smirked.

~MC~MC~MC~

“So, this is the end of the world!” Shining Armor shouted, watching the battle above his head with wide, fearful eyes. The winds the two alicorns were whipping up roared around the team and the princesses, forcing the captain to scream in order to be heard. “And my sister is causing it!”

“I always knew she’d destroy everything!” Spike called out over the howling gale. Though his words were mocking, he couldn’t help but smile as Twilight began to perform Hurricane’s Lightning Rider maneuver. His best friend had been giddy when she had finally perfected it, having always wanted to determine if it was possible. Of course, she had told him she had no plans to actually use it in a battle…

Rainbow Dash screamed as Twilight bucked the bolt and sent it into the cyan alicorn.

…but fate had a funny way of making liars of us all.

The Doctor was the only one not impressed. “I’ve seen the end of days plenty of times and this rates about a 6.” He winced when Rainbow Dash animated several clouds to take on the form of griffons, which dive-bombed Twilight and forced the mare to go into her intangible form. “Though I will admit this is a bit flasher than that volcano…”

“They’re going to destroy the entire city,” Spitfire whispered, not caring if any pony heard her. This entire time she had been gearing up to take on Rainbow Dash, to give the queen some revenge for the pain she had brought upon her and those that had lost friends and family to their insane rule. The rest of the rebellion thought that she had a death wish because Spitfire lived with the guilt that she had ran while her friends and comrades had been brainwashed by the cyan alicorn.

But now, Spitfire knew that they were 100% right. She did have a death wish… because she could never hope to take on one of the queens and she STILL wanted to go up and kick Rainbow’s flank.

“I suggest we move!” Celestia called out. She grimaced as Twilight dove at her former friend, the sound of the two mares colliding rocking several buildings. “Perhaps to someplace where we can be sheltered-“

“-or we can get the hell out of this city!” Luna called out, already racing down the street. She turned, glaring at them when they just stared at her blankly. “This was suppose to be a rescue, right? Well then hurry up and RESCUE US!”

And with that, the 6 of them ran.

The Battle of Winniepeg Part 3

"What have I done? Sweet Jesus, what have I done? Become a thief in the night, become a dog on the run? Have I fallen so far, and is the hour so late, that nothing remains but the cry of my hate?"

-Jean Valjean, Les Misérables

“Ooooohhhh,” Celestia moaned as she darted down the street, struggling to keep up with the infiltration party. Normally it wouldn’t have been a problem, but she still wasn’t used to her now stubby legs and weak muscles, which mean that her gait was about as graceful as a foal’s. There was a crack overhead and the princess let out another pitiful moan.

“Don’t worry, Princess, I am sure Twilight will be ok,” the Doctor said. He chanced a glance up and grimaced. “Errrr… she might be a bit bruised…”

“It’s not that. I know that Twilight will manage perfectly fine and that there is no need to fear for her safety.” She gave the Doctor a cool stare. “She will defeat Rainbow Dash… I have complete faith in her. You should too. Of all the ponies I know, Twilight Sparkle is the one I can always depend on… I made the mistake of not trusting her once and I will spend eternity making up for that mistake.”

“Then why are you moaning?” the Doctor asked.

“Do you know how much it is going to cost to rebuild Winniepeg after this?” Celestia let out a choked sob when Twilight sent several shooting stars at Rainbow, one of the fiery orbs accidentally striking The Daily Equestria Building.

“Buck up… maybe the queens will have to deal with it and it will be repaired by the time you take back your throne.”

“Huh… that would work.”

“Dear big sister…” Luna called out as they raised towards the city limits, “could you perhaps save your whining and penny pinching for when we are not in enemy territory with two alicorns raining death over our heads?”

“…of course,” Celestia said quickly, hurrying after her sister.

~MC~MC~MC~

“I… won’t let… you beat… me!” Rainbow Dash growled, her horn braced against Twilight’s. The two alicorns hovered above the shell-shocked city, their magic spells and tricks with weather forgotten as they focused solely on using their horns like medieval swords. The two of them grit their teeth as they struggled against one another, trying to find a weak point in the other’s defenses and bring their opponent crashing down. “There is… to much… to lose!”

“I was thinking the same thing!” Twilight snapped, her teeth grit as she pressed her forehead against Dash’s. “I am not going to let you win, Dash. I am going to beat you and you are going to pay for everything you did!”

Rainbow slid to her right, managing to unlock her horn. She lashed out with her hoof, socking Twilight in the flank and sending the alicorn of the stars nearly plummeting; it was only a timely adjustment that allowed Twilight to remain in the air and near her former friend. “You just don’t get it, do you? We are saving Equestria! We have brought harmony and happiness to ponies everywhere! You shouldn’t be fighting us, you should be working with us!”

“Work with you?” Twilight snapped in frustration. The fight had left her emotions raw and having heard Dash use this argue several times already, Twilight felt her rage nearing the breaking point. “You think I would want to be any part of this madness? You had destroyed Equestria and all it stood for!” She fired off a blast of magic when Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to protest. “NO!” Twilight boomed, using her magic to amplify her voice to the levels of the Royal Canterlot Dialect. Her eyes flashed and, for good measure, Twilight added in Faith’s personal persuasion spell, which caused her voice to seem like it was coming at Rainbow from all directions. “You will shut up and you will listen to me! I am going to finish and you will not even grunt until I am done, or by the Creator I will wipe you and this travesty you call a country off the face of the planet!”

It was a bluff, of course. Twilight held no where near the power to do such a thing, nor would she ever think about committing genocide against Equestria. But Rainbow Dash didn’t know that, especially with both the power of Celestia and Luna’s Royal Voice and Faith’s Persuasion Spell (otherwise lovingly known by its creator as his ‘I AM MONALOGUING!’ voice) burning in every word.

“Follow me now,” Twilight snapped, launching herself into the sky. Rainbow Dash, her eyes wide, did the unthinkable: she followed.

The two alicorns rose up, past the clouds, rising higher and higher. The stars hung high above them and twinkled as Twilight approached, like puppies rushing to greet their mother. The lavender alicorn took a moment to look at them and smile before turning her attention back to Rainbow Dash. It was taking all her strength to maintain the Persuasion Spell and if she lost too much focus Rainbow Dash would snap out of it and just come at her again. That simply would not do… Twilight knew this was her only chance to open her friends eyes and get her to see what her and the rest of their friends had done.

The alicorn of the stars removed the Royal Canterlot Voice but kept the persuasion spell at full power. “I want you to look down at Equestria and think. I want you to think long and hard about the country as it is right now.” Twilight’s horn glowed and a bit of cloud was pulled up to join them. “Think about everything you love about it… and I don’t mean what you’ve done and how great it is and everything else you keep telling me. Think back when you were a filly, and everything you loved about being young and living in Equestria. Think about what you did, your favorite hangouts and your friends and what you use to eat for a snack after school.” Twilight’s horn continued to glow and the cloud twisted and turned and fluffed up and slimmed down. Rainbow never looked up, staring intently at her kingdom. “Picture your bedroom in your mind, how it was when you were five years old. Trot through the door and remember what it smelled like... open the closet and look at your toys. Remember what your covers looked like and what stories your mom use to read you when you were tucked in. Remember that all… and look at me.”

Rainbow did as she was told and found herself staring at… herself.

The cloud Twilight had grabbed had been sculpted into a perfect replica of her 5 year old self. The colors were off but still… it was her, made from the fluffy white cloud.

“You are five years old… and you are looking at yourself as you are now… Queen Rainbow Dash… the alicorn who defeated the Wonderbolts… who forces ponies never to get angry and gets mad when they do and punishes them…. the queen who is all about rules and laws and who only wants harmony… the mare who kidnaps fillies and colts and rips them from their parents’ arms… the pony that wants to kill ME, your friend. Look at what you have become and ask yourself… do you really want to be this? Do you really want to be this kind of pony? Is this the pony you wanted to grow up to be? Can you honestly look at yourself and say you are PROUD of what you've become?”

Rainbow trembled, staring at the cloud, staring into the eyes of her younger self. She remembered her hopes and dreams... of what she thought her life would be. She remembered it all. Rainbow Dash began to tremble, unable to look away, pleading with her younger self. “I… we were doing it… save Equestria… make it better… make it safe… we… we…” It sounded like she was repeating a mantra.

Then there was a crack, as if a glass bottle dropped to the ground.

“No!” Rainbow Dash screamed, grabbing her head. “You… you lied to me! You lied to all of us! How… how dare you!” Rainbow let out a cry and Twilight backed away, her eyes wide. This was not the reaction she was expecting. “You told me this was right! You told me you would help us! You used me! You’re using all of us!”

“Dash!”

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” Rainbow screamed, punching herself in the face and Twilight realized the rant was not directed at her. “YOU TURNED ME INTO A MONSTER! YOU LIED TO ME!” Twilight was forced to back away and Rainbow pummeled her face viciously. “I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN ANYMORE! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET-“

Rainbow Dash went ramrod, her body tensing as light burst out of her eyes. The cyan mare screamed as she began to shrink down, the energy draining from her body until she was Twilight’s size. The purple alicorn held her friend up, stroking her horn against Rainbow’s, which while smaller remained, then looked at the light as it began to swirl and condense…

“You!” a male voice snapped from the swirling energy. “You made her betray me! Doubt’s little bitch! The destroyer of harmony!” The light twisted and took on the wispy form of an alicorn. “I will have her back… I will take her back, you her me! Rainbow Dash is mine! She is my bearer!”

“I don’t know who you are,” Twilight snarled, “but if you ever try and take her again… I will end you.”

The light said no more, choosing instead to rocket away, leaving Twilight holding her friend with only the coldness of space to keep them company.

“It’s gone,” Rainbow Dash whispered. “The voice… it’s gone…” The mare trembled. “Oh Celestia… how… how could I… I didn’t want this… I didn’t…” And then Rainbow Dash did something Twilight had never thought she would see.

The speedster hugged Twilight and began to cry.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry Twilight…” Rainbow Dash sobbed, clinging to her like a child would her favorite toy.

“It’s… it’s ok, Dash… it’s ok…” Twilight whispered, tears in her eyes, hugging Rainbow Dash right back. “It’s will be ok.”

~MC~MC~MC~

"I've never.... flown."

Faith and Cadence moaned but still raised their cups to their lips, taking a drink.

The pink alicorn considered her words carefully, tapping her chin. "I've never... been a male."

"Now you are just being petty," Faith complained, taking a drink.

Sweetie Belle stared at the three prisoners, wondering if they had lost their minds. Each was sitting as close as they could to the bars of their cell, a cup of water placed at their hooves, each in various stages of emptiness. Faith's was the lowest, as it was clear that Trixie and Cadence had decided to team up on him. The alicorn's face spoke of his annoyance at this little alliance and he kept casting dark glances in the direction of each mare.

"What are you two doing?" Sweetie Belle complained, marching towards them. The alterations Rarity and her friends had made to the Cutie Mark Crusaders had seen to it that Sweetie had become an utterly lovely mare. Her bouncy mane remained perfectly coiffed and her coat was the brightest of whites, to the point that some compared it to Celestia's (but never to the unicorn's face). Her mind had also been sharpened and like her sister she was always looking at different angles and thinking how she could turn things to an advantage.

She also, thanks to the conditioning, was always looking to see if some act went against the nature of harmony. Seeing two mares and a stallion playing a drinking game went against all the proper rules of etiquette Rarity had drilled into her head made it clear that such behavior was certainly NOT harmonious.

“We are having a drinking game,” Faith said simply. “I would have assumed you would be smart enough to understand that.” He looked down at his cup of water in disgust. “I will admit it loses something without spirits being consumed, but since your mistresses have failed to install a wetbar, we are forced to make due with what we have.” Faith considered his glass and frowned. “Not that any of you would have decent spirits here. I spent a few decades in Griffian and must admit that they are quite superior. I didn't test them myself but the body I was living thought-“

“YOU ARE PLAYING DRINKING GAMES IN CANTERLOT?!?” Sweetie Belle roared.

Faith just stared at her. “Yes… are you deaf as well as stupid?” He smirked, turning towards Trixie. “I have never said a nice thing about Sweetie Belle.” Cadence let out a groan and took a sip, complaining about getting a full bladder. “Let’s see… do you mind if I take another turn?”

“That not how-“

Faith cut Trixie off. “I have never thought Sweetie Belle was intelligent.” Neither mare took a drink. “I have never found Sweetie Belle that interesting.” Again, none of them took a drink. “I have never been a miserable little blank flank that gets off on beating ponies to compensate for the fact that I will NEVER, EVER get my cutie mark-“

“I’LL KILL YOU!” Sweetie Belle roared, slamming her hoof against the lock. The spell charm clicked and the unicorn burst in, fire and rage in her eyes as she sought to ‘give’ Faith more pain.

Much like her sister, Sweetie Belle could be blinded by rage.

The alicorn slammed his head up, head butting the mare, before sliding behind her. Sweetie let out a squawk of protest when Faith actually MOUNTED her, but those protests died when he merely reached around and wrapped the chain that bound his forelegs around her neck and tugged. Faith snarled as he pulled, Sweetie Belle struggling against the assault before she finally fell to the ground, unconscious.

“So quick, Faith,” Trixie said as the alicorn dragged Sweetie Belle over to the blue unicorn’s spell. “No wonder you are single.”

“Do you want out of this cage or not?” Faith asked. Trixie wisely shut her mouth and Faith slammed Sweetie’s hoof against the lock. With a click the door swung open and Trixie happily trotted out. “Stand guard. I am going to free Cadence and then we can see about getting the rest of the prisoners out of here.”

“How did you know she would take the bait?”

Faith smirked. “I'm bloody annoying as hell, my dear Trixie… most ponies want to punch me.” He dragged Sweetie towards Cadence’s cell and repeated the process with her, moving aside so the pink alicorn could walk out. “If we see a guard with a bit of magic in his horn we need to nab him…" he gestured at the magic canceling ring on his horn, "this will go easier when we can levitate Sweetie Belle around.” Faith glanced at Cadence, who was still standing in her cell. “Come along now, darling, chop chop.”

It was only then that Faith noticed the utter terror in Cadence’s eyes. “I… I’m trying…” Her right leg moved a step, then another, but this was no comfort to the pink alicorn. “Something… something is-“

All of Faith’s senses went on high alert. He saw the absolute terror in Cadence’s eyes. He heard Trixie let out a scream. He smelled the dang musty dungeon. He tasted copper in his mouth.

He felt Cadence’s horn pierce his chest.

“Cadence isn’t here right now,” another voice hissed from the pink alicorn’s mouth.

Trixie rushed forward but Cadence, against her will and without moving, knocked her aside with a swing of her right hoof, sending the showmare slamming into a wall, her head throbbing. Faith let out a gasp as Cadence ripped her horn from his chest and silver blood poured out of his body, staining the dungeon floor. There was a burning sensation in his heart… a fire that raced up his throat and into his brain, tinting his vision pink. The abstract trembled, his footing unsure even as Cadence took a step closer. Sweetie Belle was tossed aside, forgotten, as 'Cadence' began to push him towards a wall.

“You are confused… the little thief is so utterly, utterly confused. Who is this that ruins all your plans, controls your little princess and seeks to end your life?” The voice that came from Cadence’s mouth laughed before kissing his cheek, then giving him a quick love bite. “Oh, my dear robber… of all the many sins you committed you fail to remember the pain you brought to me.” ‘Cadence’ took another step forward and Faith through the haze that the pink alicorn’s eyes no longer held tears as this new force took complete control. “You stole everything from me, little burglar… you whine about them forgetting your name but then you turned around and stole my name and my purpose!” ‘Cadence’ pressed her face to his, nuzzling him. Faith let out a gasp as he realized what the voice was speaking of. “That’s right, my little thief… you stole my name… my purpose… but I reclaim them all. And so once more, you may call me… Doubt.”

The Fire Rises

“Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”

-Alfred Pennyworth, The Dark Knight

“Does it hurt?” Doubt asked, poking Faith’s shoulder. The male abstract grit his teeth, refusing to give in to the taunts. The wound on his chest continued to pour blood onto the stone floor and it was only his status as an alicorn that ensured he wasn’t dead already. He could feel his skin slowly reforming around the wound but he knew it would be a long time before it was healed and that it would be touch and go until he could get the magic canceller off his horn and perform the rapid healing spell. “Shhhh, you don’t have to answer, little snatcher. I can tell it hurts rather badly.” Doubt lowered her head and tenderly kissed his cheek. “I am glad it does, bandit; it wouldn’t do if you didn’t feel my pain.”

“I… am not a thief,” Faith growled out. He was, by his very nature, not a violent stallion. That didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous; far from it. There were plenty of ponies that, much to Faith’s regret, had died because of him. The lord of the gray simply preferred to focus on defense and mental battles over physical offensive assaults. It just wasn’t in him to brutally attack another living creature unless pushed to his limits. His attack on Sweetie Belle had not been fueled by anger at all and he had sought only to knock her out, not kill her.

Staring at Trixie’s fallen form and feeling his own blood coating the chest, the desire to drive his hooves through Doubt’s eyes until he punched two holes through the back of her skull welled up deep within his soul.

“Oh, so angry, my robber baron,” Doubt teased before kicking him in the side. “So very, very angry. Why not give us a quip or a snarky little reply?” Doubt drove her hoof down onto Faith’s left foreleg, causing him to buck. “Come now… why so furious?” Doubt pressed her hoof against Faith's side, giggling as she felt his ribs slowly begin to crack under the pressure. "I only wish I could let you feel the agony I suffered through for so very, very long."

The silver abstract let out a gasp when Doubt released her hold. "It... it wasn't a picnic for me, you mewling quim!"

Doubt’s hoof lashed out and his head snapped back, striking the wall.

"You got blood on my hoof," Doubt complained, wiggling her right foreleg and sending droplets of ichor raining down on Faith's face. She leaned down and tenderly licked his forehead. "Mmmm... your agony is so yummy. I could lick you for hours."

"Any pony every tell ya you are a bloody crazy bint?" Faith gurgled. He winced, preparing for a strike, only for the blow to never come.

"I"m... I'm not crazy," Doubt said, her eyes wide and tears gathering. "I'm not."

"... apple, cherry, pumpkin, bananna..."

"What are you doing?" Doubt asked, genuinely confused.

"I have a horrible condition known as 'I cannot keep my big mouth shut'. Rather than insult you, I decided to list my favorite pies in order."

Doubt smacked his right leg. "Fool... every pony knows pumpkin is the best." The abstract that was wearing Cadence's face began to pace before him, clicking her tongue in annoyance. "You must take this more seriously... you are going to die soon."

"I've been dying most of my life, love," Faith commented. "Mind if I spit out some of the ichor in my mouth? I normally don't spit in front of a lady-"

Doubt motioned for him to do so, taking sick joy at seeing just how much blood landed on the floor. "Now then, I could either tell you why I am doing this in graphic, mournful detail... or we could discuss the weather."

"There aren't any windows in here, so let’s discuss why you are beating me."

"Wise choice." Doubt turned and sat down right on Faith, causing the battered gray alicorn to whimper. His attacker showed no sign of noticing or caring about his pain. "My life was a wonderful one, pickpocket. I spread doubt through the world, convincing ponies to abandon their friends and family and make oh so delicious mistakes that led them down dark and rather dramatic paths. Ponies that would have stayed home and had such boring, safe lives were driven towards adventure and danger and many times death. Truly I was an artist and this entire world was my canvas."
"And the blood of the innocent wet your paintbrush?"

Doubt patted him on the head. "You are catching on! It is a pity I hate you... I think you and I could have had so much for loving and fighting. Now, where was I?"

"You were causing the death of innocent ponies."

"Ah, yes. Things were going so well for me. I used to dance with fear and terror and I were on a first name basis... though we only had first names-"

"By the Creator, you'd make Pinkie Pie's head hurt," Faith groused, earning another swift kick. "You know, I might be attracted to you if you weren't such a filthy slag."

Doubt preened a bit, which was very disturbing when she wore Cadence's face. Faith wasn’t for sure if he should laugh or roll his eyes at her antics. "Things were going well and I was making quite a name for myself... parents would warn their little foals to always follow the rules set down for them, lest they be dragged away by some faceless monster. That only made my job easier... it is such a breeze to inflict doubt upon a mind that has been told what to do. The more stern the enforcer, the easier it is for me. Oh, so many children were lured away-"

Faith growled and Doubt had to smack him upside the head to keep him firmly on the ground. Doubt's smile fell and her voice went as cold as the top of the Crystal Mountains. "And then YOU came along. You... the spreader of Faith. At first I saw you as of little interest... we actually complimented each other quite well: you would steer ponies to believe in some silly notion and I would bring them back to doubt."

"Or you would corrupt them and I would open their eyes to the strength of faith."

Doubt just shook her head. "Stupid little snatcher." She sniffed and continued. "Then you forgot your name and I celebrated! Soon you would die and a new, weaker Faith would arise. It would make my job so easy, so simple..." The spirit that wore Cadence's form grabbed Faith's head and slammed it into the ground, causing the abstract's vision to blurr. "But you just couldn't die, could you? You were stubborn and had to stay around, first trying to get Luna to aid you... then that little worm Clockwork." She glanced over at Trixie and laughed. The blue unicorn was just coming around, stumbling and trying to find her footing. "You do so love to cavort with pathetic, meaningless thin-"
Faith bucked violently, throwing Doubt from her perch. She blinked in surprise as he rose up, his limbs shaky from bloodlust but his fury still there. "You will respect them."

"I will do no such thing!"

The silver abstract lowered his head, jabbing his horn at her. Doubt let out a hiss of pain, backing away. She brought her hoof up to her cheek and stared at the blood to dripped from the gouge Faith had given her. "You listen to me, you filthy tart, and you listen well...I don't bloody care. I already know the end of your story." Faith took a step forward, ichor oozing down his legs. His head felt light and his limbs were numb but he couldn't bring himself to care; a 1000 years had a way of numbing some to the normal fears of death. "Clockwork gave me a name... your name. And because I was more connected to Equestria because of my time being an element, I was able to more easily slip into the minds of ponies. And here is the rub, you silly little bint: I was a better Doubt than you ever were! You were unfocused and destructive; I had honor and guided ponies towards grand destinies. Were some of them wicked? Of course... but at least I wasn't out there slaughtering the innocent. At least I didn’t murder children for my own sick joy.” Faith swayed but remained on his feet. “I always thought I was a monster but now I thank the Creator I fell, because it meant you were contained!

"I don't know how you survived and I don't bloody care, if I am honest. You survived and now you blame me for something that wasn't my fault. Well, guess what? THAT HAPPENS TO EVERY PONY! We all get a crummy turn sometimes and you have to roll with it! Even at my worst, when I blamed Celestia for everything, I never lost my cool and I worked to help those that were innocent. You, my dear, are nothing but a monster and any sympathy I had for you died the moment you opened that filthy little mouth of yours, you trollop! So how about you just shut up and kill me, then move on because I could care bloody less about you and your moronic sob story!"

Doubt merely stared at him, surprised by Faith's hate-filled words. She blinked, ran her tongue along the inside her cheek... and then let out a giggle.

"Have you gone nutters?" Faith grunted.

Doubt lashed out, raining blows upon him until he was on his belly, unable to even cover his head to protect himself.

"I am not crazy! Stop calling me crazy!" She gave him one final, solid kick, then turned to look at Trixie, who had finally managed to stand up. The blue unicorn's forehead was stained with crimson that dribbled down her temple and along her jawline. "I'm not crazy."

"Sure you aren't," Trixie said, slowly backing away from the fuming pink alicorn.

Doubt shook her head and laughed. "Oh, look at it... it doesn't understand, does it?"

"I am assuming I am it," Trixie stated.

"It is clever," Doubt said with a nod. "Is it much more clever than the thief." Trixie didn't say a word, proving that she at least was smart enough to not egg on the clearly mad pony... unlike a certain silver alicorn. "Does it understand what is going to happen?"

"No... why don't you tell Trixie?" The blue mare began to edge away from Doubt.

The pink alicorn chortled. "Oh, it will be ever so much fun. War is brewing and the two sides of the board are in motion. The thief's accomplice moves the rebellion against my queens while they step up their efforts. Both will clash and Equestria will tremble. Oh, it will be such a long fight, full of betrayal and lost. One will kill the other and when that happens their faith in goodness and harmony will be shattered. Then, and only then, will Doubt reign. I will brew discontent and anger in all the ponies and they will turn on each other likes hungry timberwolves till all are dead dead dead!" Doubt spun around in utter glee as she spoke of her master stroke. "The burglar worked so hard on this land and loves it so... and I will burn it to ashes and bath in the soot made from a thousand dead ponies!"

"That... that is your plan?" Trixie whispered in horror. Her stomach rolled and she felt like she was going to throw up. "You did all this to make ponies feel doubt?"

"Yes! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes!" Doubt cheered and danced around, grabbing Trixie's front legs and spinning her about before letting go and sending the blue mare crashing into Faith's broken body. "They will doubt their queens and they will doubt their friends and in the end all will doubt themselves. Then faith will die and all that will be left is.... MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" Doubt suddenly stopped, her mood switching to utter sadness. "Oh... how terrible that you and the robber tried to escape... Cadence tried to stop you but you killed the guards as they killed you... such a pity." Doubt advanced on Trixie would wrapped her forelegs around Faith in an attempt to shield him. “But atleast Cadence survived to tell the tale…”

"I think Faith was right." Doubt turned, staring in shock at a fully recovered Sweetie Belle; the captain stood tall, glaring at the pink alicorn. "You are crazy."

"I AM NOT CRAZY!" Doubt screamed.

"Crazy crazy crazy crazy!" Sweetie taunted. "Crazy flank, crazy flank!"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Doubt howled, charging at Sweetie.

The alicorn let out a yelp when a meaty hand gripped her by the throat, halting her advance.

"While you were rambling on like a bad supervillain I took the time to free the rest of the prisoners," Sweetie Belle said with a grim smile.

Doubt stared at the creature that restrained her. "Who-"

"Iron Will is the name!" The minotaur slammed her into the wall before delivering enough punches to leaving Cadence/Doubt's body twitching. "Beating up crazies is my game!"

Sweetie Belle took one last look at the wiggling form of the pink alicorn before trotting over to Trixie. The blue mare sneered and jabbed her horn at Sweetie Belle while draping herself over Faith's mutilated body, not caring if his blood stuck to her coat or mingled in her wounds.

"It's ok... I'm not going to hurt you," Sweetie said gently.

"You could have fooled me, the way you beat him up before," Trixie snapped.

Sweetie Belle grimaced. "Right... do you know the old saying, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'?" She gestured towards the other prisoners. Behind Iron Will there was a score of other ponies, each watching the captain of the guard carefully. "Whatever the hell is in Cadence is using my sister... and it used me. It wants to kill us all and that goes against everything I believe in. That means, right now, all of you are the best chance I have at harmony."

"So we are just supposed to forgive you?" Trixie snapped. "Maybe Iron Will should give you a few punches, see how you like it."

"No..." Faith croaked. Trixie moved to shush him but he merely shook his head, motioning for silence. Every word hurt and he knew he had to make each letter count. "Not... her fault... my siblings... tricked her... and Doubt... tricked them." He let out a cough, wheezing as he tried to catch his breath. "Have... to work together."

A yellow unicorn with red hair nodded. "Indeed! The silver fellow is quite right... we are all of different talents and worlds but we have to put that behind us and help save Equestria!" He puffed out his chest. “Oh, I have always wanted to be a hero… wait till my dear brother hears of this!”

Iron Will nodded. "I agree with Flam! Sweetie Belle was wrong but she wants to help, so I say we let her."

Trixie scowled but, seeing she was outvoted, let out a huff. "Fine."

Sweetie nodded. "Iron Will, please carry Faith and Trixie; I don't think either of them can walk."

"What about the pink alicorn?" one prisoner, a buffalo, asked. "Do we take her?"

"Kill her," Sweetie said darkly. "She is the cause of all of this."

"No!" Trixie shouted. "That's Princess Cadence!"

Another pony prisoner frowned. “That doesn’t matter! She is like the queens, trying to kill all of us!”

“Not… her fault!” Faith gasped out. “Leave… leave her… we’ll… find a way… to save her…”

“You can’t be serious…” Trixie complained. “We-“

“He’s right,” Sweetie said with a sigh. She wanted to destroy the creature that called itself Doubt but realized that attempted to do so would not work and only spill more blood. “We can’t risk taking her with us and we can’t kill her… we have to leave her.” She nodded her head towards the limp body of the abstract. “Iron Will?” Iron Will reached down and gently gathering the two in his arms.

“Let’s go,” Sweetie Belle said, leading the prisoners out of the prison… and leaving a fuming Doubt behind.

Your Place in the World

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive."

C.S. Lewis

“I don’t like this… we should have waited for her.” Shining Armor paced back and forth, chewing on the inside of his check nervously. He knew that he wasn’t helping to settle the nerves of any of the other members of the infiltration team, but he couldn’t help it. None of the breathing exercises or relaxing techniques he had learned in the guard were doing anything so that left pacing and mumbling like a madpony.

It had been 20 minutes since they had escaped Winniepeg. 20 minutes since Shining had used the transporting spell Twilight had taught him. They now stood about a mile from the rebellion’s hideout, their mission a success; the princesses were alive and well and with them. They had managed to infiltrate the city and get out with no injuries.

And yet Twilight still hadn’t returned.

“She’s ok, Shining,” Spike said. “I know she is alright.”

“I don’t like this,” Shining muttered to himself. “I don’t like this one bit.”

“By all means, keep saying that,” Spike grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. “I am sure Twilight will appear quicker if you keep complaining.”

Shining glared at the dragon but held his tongue. He knew Twilight’s friend was right, but that didn’t mean he had to like the advice.

“I should have stayed… should have helped her.”

“Oh, is that what you should have done?” The Doctor mumbled, his sonic screwdriver in his mouth as he ran it over Celestia’s right leg. “Would have been interested to see that… just how many seconds would you have lasted before the two almighty alicorns reduced you to dust? My guess is 5 but I am an optimist... or is a pessimist? I can never remember what I am, what with all the regenerations…”

“We had a job to do,” Spitfire stated coolly. “We had to get the princesses out and we did. I don’t like this any more than you but we had to get our job done.” She flapped her wings in agitation; a good part of her brain was wishing he would decide to go rushing back to Winniepeg… the leader of the Wonderbolts was not use to running away from fights and that is exactly what she had been doing for quite some time now. She was itching for a good rumble, even if the odds were clearly not in her favor.

Shining, in an attempt to get his mind off of his sister and her battle with the queen, turned toward Celestia, Luna and the Doctor. “So, what did you find?”

“It appears these mares were quite right in their assumptions: the queens have removed all traces of the three different types of magic from their bodies. They might as well be mules… not that being mules is bad; I had a companion who was a mule… lovely girl, though she did tend to snore and had this weird fetish involve cabbage…” The Doctor tapered off, his mind focused on the memory of that companion and the adventures they had shared.

“Uh… Doctor?” Spike said, waving his hand in front of the Doctor’s face.

“Oh… sorry about that! I was wool gathering, as it were. Anyway, it appears that everything that made them an alicorn is gone. Really quite fascinating-“

“Not to us,” Luna said darkly.

“Right… suppose it wouldn’t be.” The Doctor flashed her a grin. “I suppose though that you can look on the bright side of things!”

“And what exactly would that be?” Spitfire asked.

“We aren’t dead. That is a wonderful upside. Especially for me, as it means I get to keep my teeth. Rather like these ones, as they are great for eating corn right of the cob… though I do wish I had a horn, as that would keep the butter off my hooves. Ah, but I have another few regenerations to get myself some of that wibbly wobbly magic stuff.”

Before the others could think too much about that, there was a popping noise followed by some very mild curses. Shining whipped around, his tail practically wagging like a puppies as he hurried towards the underbrush. “Twiley?”

“It’s ok, Shining,” Twilight called out. “Listen, could you back up for a moment?”

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, yes, very much so.”

Luna frowned, taking a step forward. “If you are fine, then why do you remain hidden in that bush?”

“Uh… just… catching my breath.”

Shining narrowed his eyes. “Twilight….”

“Listen, just stay there, ok. Things were a bit intense during the fight and it took a surprise turn but uh... everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you.” Twilight paused. “How are you?”

The Doctor smiled. “Oh, I am quite alright, thank you for asking. Quite polite of you to ask and frankly I am surprised at the respect you have for your fellow rebels. Your parents must have instilled it in you-“

“Wow, he can ramble just as much as Pinkie Pie!”

The 5 ponies and the baby dragon that were standing in the clearly looked at each other before slowly turning back to the bush. “Twilight Sparkle…” Celestia said, using her best ‘strict instructor’ voice, “…who is with you in that bush.”

“Uh… maybe you guys should just go on ahead and we’ll-I’ll-catch up to you. Yes… I’ll catch up to you… no we in here… heeheehee.”

“I coming in,” Shining said sternly.

“Oh, for pete’s sake!” The shrub shifted and Rainbow Dash trotted into the clearing. “Seriously Twilight, we can’t hide-“

The cyan alicorn suddenly found herself pinned to the ground by a massive purple claw. Spike growled, standing taller than even Twilight, smoke billowing from his nostrils. Shining’s horn was glowing and the Doctor had his sonic screwdriver pointed at her, that that was mostly because he didn’t want to feel left out. The princesses were standing in shock at the sight of one of the alicorns that had ripped away all their powers, while Spitfire had frozen in place, unable to move at the sight of the flyer that had taken everything from her.

“This is why I wanted to wait,” Twilight complained, emerging from the bush.

Rainbow did her best to smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I think we’ve established that I am not good at making smart decisions,” she wheezed.

“Point taken,” Twilight muttered. “Spike, let her go.”

“You sure, Twilight?” Spike rumbled.

“I’m sure.”

Rainbow Dash coughed once the dragon released her throat, sucking in big mouthfuls of air. “Wow, you sure had a growth spurt, Spike.”

“And you shrank,” Spike stated, staring down at Rainbow's diminutive form. “What the heck happened?”

“She’s free,” Twilight said sternly. “Whatever that… thing was that was controlling her is gone and she is herself again.”

“How can you be sure of that, Twilight?” Celestia asked. “How do you know this isn’t some sort of trick.”

“I saw the energy leave her body, Princess Celestia.”

“An illusion,” Luna argued.

“The energy yelled at me.”

“… still could be an illusion.”

Twilight gave them all a sour look. “You know, the last time you didn’t believe me, Shining almost married a bug and I nearly became the new Doubt.” Celestia, Spike, Luna and Shining had the decency to look down bashfully.

“I’LL KILL YOU!”

Spitfire didn’t have such issues.

Rainbow let out a yelp as the pegasus tackled her, the former wonderbolt strangling the flyer. Twilight rushed over, using her magic to restrain the cursing pegasus as Rainbow Dash coughed and rubbed her neck.

“Geez, I am seriously getting tired of that happening.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have betrayed everypony and turned them into your brainwashed goons, you monster!” Spitfire thrashed against Twilight’s restraints, fighting with all her strength to escape. “Did you brainwash Twilight too? Is that why she didn’t slam your corpse into the ground and dance on your broken body? Did you brainwash her too? Did you? DID YOU?”

“ENOUGH!” Twilight shouted, Spitfire freezing up once more.

“… Canterlot Voice?” Celestia finally said.

“And Faith’s Persuasion Spell. Works pretty well.” Twilight floated Spitfire over to the rest of them and stood next to Rainbow, pressing her shoulder against her friend’s in a show of solidarity. “Now I want you all to listen and listen good because I want you to understand. I need you all on my side when we get back because it is going to be hard enough when everypony sees Dash.” Twilight leveled a stare that would have done Fluttershy proud when the others opened their mouths to speak. “No. You listen, then you may speak.

“Rainbow Dash isn’t to blame for what happened. None of our friends are. Something took a hold of the girls and made them act like they did. They weren’t in control and they weren’t responsible for their actions. You want someone to blame? Blame the ghostly alicorn that ripped itself free from Rainbow after she nearly caved in her own skull trying to remove it.” Twilight stretched out her wing and placed on of them over Rainbow’s back. “Rainbow Dash is my friend and it is NOT her fault that this happened.”

“Yes… it is.”

Twilight had been expecting that comment.

She hadn’t expected it from the cyan mare that stood beside her.

“Uh, Rainbow… trying to help you out here…”

“You aren’t helping if you don’t understand the truth.” Rainbow Dash lowered her head and sighed. “I am to blame. I did all this and so did the rest of the girls. We screwed up… we screwed up bad and we deserve everything you give us and more.” She took a shuddering breath before continuing. “But please… can I at least explain why before you kill me?”

“No one is going to kill you, Dash,” Twilight said.

“They should… I’d want to kill me if I were in their place.” The cyan alicorn’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe you should…”

“Glad to see we are in agreement,” Spitfire said challengingly, only to back off when she saw Twilight’s cold stare. The mare was itching for a fight but she wasn’t stupid; if she took on Twilight she would lose… most likely after the first punch, the moment Spike and Shining attacked her in retaliation.

“Well, I want to hear,” Spike said simply, tapping a claw against his chin. “What made you and the rest of the girls go nuts and do all of this.” He held his arms out wide, as if all their sins had suddenly popped up in front of him.

“You know that old saying, the path to Tartarus is paved with good intentions?” The others nodded and Rainbow Dash smiled sadly when she saw their eyes flicker. They were expecting the same tired excuse that all madponies gave. She was going to disappoint them. “It is a lie. It is only the beginning, the doorway, that is made of such things.” The cyan alicorn lowered her head miserably. “It started with the dreams. I don’t know about the rest of the girls, but it was always the same thing, for a week straight… a voice calling out to me, telling me that it was time to help save Equestria.

“I tried to ignore it. I mean, come on, dreams that offer you chances to be a hero? That is so corny even Daring Do doesn’t do to it. And yet I kept waking up with this voice ringing in my ears, pushing me to action. It just… I don’t even know how to explain it.” Dash should her head in annoyance. “It wasn’t the words it spoke, you know? It was the tone and the rhythm… it was like music.”

“Music?” Shining said, utterly confused.

“Yeah… the words didn’t really matter, it was the how they were said. I got this sense that something big was going to happen, something really big and really bad and that I needed to be more powerful than I was in order to save Equestria. I kept seeing flashes of Equestria in flames and it a golden city… I honestly don’t know now which was the bad vision and which was good.” The flier sighed weakly. “I tried to ignore the voice… I would brag to it when I could that I was the best flyer in all Equestria and that I’d taken on Discord and Nightmare Moon…” Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. “Then he showed me it.”

“He?” Luna said.

“It?” Celestia echoed.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah… not sure who he was but in the end it was a he. The same voice you heard, Twilight, from that… energy… was the one that was in my head. A few nights before we-“ Rainbow shuddered and the Princesses realized that Rainbow was remembering what she had done in Canterlot castle to them. A part of them wanted to comfort her… a bitter part of their minds screamed for the two former alicorns to let Rainbow wallow. They weren’t pleased with this reaction but they understood where it came from; despite what some might believe, Celestia and Luna were living creatures, with the same faults and failings as the rest.

“Have… have you ever considered just how meaningless we all are?” Rainbow finally said softly, tilting her head up to look at the waning moan. The sun would be coming soon and she wondered how long it would take for her friends to realize she wasn’t there to help lift it. Maybe a few days… they took turns and she had raised it 2 days ago. She hoped it would go longer… she wasn’t ready to face any of them yet.

“What is that suppose to mean?” Shining asked, annoyed by Rainbow Dash’s vague comments.

“That was the last thing the voice showed me… the final dream. He showed me exactly what my place was in all of existence. He showed me where I stood and then I was pulled up, farther and high into the air and through the sky and past the moon and sun. Millions and millions of miles, till this planet was but a speck of dust. And he told me that we were only a 10th of the way there. That… that is how little any of us matter. If all of Equestria blew up tomorrow, in the grandest of schemes it wouldn’t matter. We aren’t even dust.” She let out a shuddering breath and the others shifted, trying to comprehend the idea Rainbow was attempting to express. “That’s when I agreed to join him… because I realized my life was worthless in the grand scheme-“ she smiled ever so slightly, “-but with his help, I could at least help others. It wouldn’t matter but it would make me feel better.

“It was just so simple… he made it sound so easy. Take the power, become an alicorn. Then I could fight the bad guy and save the day. But he just kept pressing me to do more. ‘The Princesses won’t let you do what needs to be done… you need move them aside for their own good’.” Rainbow scowled. “Then all that stupid stuff about harmony… by the Creator it makes me sick I bought into all that but it made sense at the time…” the cyan alicorn began to shudder in disgust and self loathing. “I… I did such horrible things… and I wanted to do them because I couldn’t see just how bad it had gotten. It was like the lights were fading and I didn’t realize I was in the dark until someone struck a match and showed me just how deep the shadows were.”

The others were silent, unsure of what they should say.

“The path to Tartarus isn’t paved with good intentions; it is paved with compromises.”

It was Twilight that finally spoke. “Rainbow… the voice…”

“Please… I don’t want to think about it anymore.”

“Just… just listen. Did it sound like this?” Twilight opened her mouth and for a moment they all wondered what was going on. No sound came out, not even the sound of her own breath… just silence. Twilight stood there, staring at them, her lips parted in a little ‘o’, saying nothing.

It was Shining who first realized that ALL the sounds, including his own breath, were gone, leaving only silence.

Then the whispers began.

‘You don’t honestly believe she is a monster, do you?’

‘Look at her… is that evil?’

‘Don’t condemn her just because you need to punish someone’

‘Hasn’t she suffered enough?’

The whispers grew louder, overlapping each other, blending together until the words became meaningless… and they all heard it… the music. It was like a symphony with no instruments, just the overlap of words and voices, repeating over and over and drowning each other out until they couldn’t focus on anything except the words that seemed to pierce their minds and call out to their souls and hearts with the music of the world-

“SNAP OUT OF IT!”

Everyone gave a violent start when Twilight shouted. The world returned to normal; they hadn’t realized that their eyes had drifted closed and their bodies become lax as they listened to the music. Celestia and Luna were staring at Twilight, recognition dawning on their features. Spike too was wide-eyed, staring at her friend like she was a ghost. Shining, The Doctor and Spitfire were shaking off the effects, utterly confused by what had just happened.

Rainbow had fallen to her belly, her eyes turned up to stare at Twilight’s.

“How… how did you do that?” Rainbow whispered.

“Those are the Whispers… Faith’s main power is doing that. Our connection means I can do it too…” Twilight looked at the others, holding them in her gaze. “It is a trait of Faith's kind. Do you realize what this means?”

Celestia nodded. “This… this is very bad.”

“My sister is right…" Luna said with a shudder. "Never did I dream-“

“What?” Spitfire said. “What is it?”

“The voice Rainbow heard,” Spike said gruffly, “was like Faith… it was an abstract.”

“The Elements of Harmony,” Twilight said grimly. “They are the ones that did this… our enemies are the Elements.”

They all absorbed that chilling thought. The Elements of Harmony… the items that had helped defeat Nightmare Moon and Discord. The legendary items that were spoken of in myth and legend. For those that had been in Ponyville 2 months ago they had witnessed the power of just one of those elements: Faith, the 6th element and the baby of the family.

If he were the youngest of the six…

“I… I know it won’t make you trust me…” Rainbow finally whispered, “…or undo the damage I’ve done... but what if I told you that I knew where the foals that had been kidnapped were.”

The Doctor suddenly was very close to Rainbow Dash. “Dinky?”

Rainbow nodded.

“I suggest you start talking.”

On the Run

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

-Fantine, Les Miserables

"Move!" Sweetie Belle shouted, darting through the street. Behind her she could hear the clatter of hooves as the prisoners of Canterlot Castle's dungeon hurried after her. They wheezed and panted, their limbs aching. They had been confined in those cramp cells for weeks and now that they had finally been given a chance to move freely they found that their imprisonment had robbed them of much of their strength. Even Iron Will, who had managed to bury an alicorn 4 inches deep into the concrete, was beginning to tire.

The only thing going their way was the fact that the guards that were chasing after them were just as worn out. It said much about the state of the kingdom that the new Royal Guard had been allowed to get fat and soft. Harmony had brought a lapse in protocol and allowed them to become lazy, thinking that the good times would last forever. The only thing healthy on them was their lungs as they screamed for the prisoners to halt and return to their cells.

"Do they honestly think we are going to do that?" Iron Will snorted, keeping pace with Sweetie. Be it her youth or simply luck, but of all of them Sweetie was the most fit and only the minotaur could match her stride for stride.

"They believe that you will do the honorable and peaceful thing and stop. That is how things are in Equestria."

"Do you practice saying such garbage in the mirror so you can say it with a straight face?" Trixie asked, smirking slightly at the glare Sweetie sent her way. She hung in Iron Will's grasp, looking utterly put out that she was being treated like luggage but smart enough to realize she would never be able to make it if she tried to run on her own; the world was still pitching and swaying even after 10 minutes. The blow to her head coupled with the stress of the escape was getting to her.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that staying in Iron Will's arms meant she had to 'cuddle' next to Faith.

The silver alicorn had lapsed into unconsciousness the moment they burst onto the street. His body was mangled and he had simply lost to much blood to be able to fight the blissful darkness. Trixie rubbed his forehead gently with her own, not caring in the slightest that the silver fluid ('ichor' her mind whispered) was coating her head and getting into her wound, mixing with her own blood. There was still a very good chance that he was going to die and she needed the contact to remind herself that he was still breathing.

But that was all. It wasn't anything else, despite the looks she was getting from the others.

"What's the plan here?" a buffalo prisoner named 'Great Storm Chaser' grumbled. He and his tribe were use to long runs and though he was out of shape he was still able to keep up with the rest. When a few of the weaker prisoners began to stumble and fall he, along with a few of the bigger, stronger prisoners, had stooped down and hefted them onto their backs. Sweetie Belle had stared at them in surprise when they did that and Chaser had rolled his eyes at her.

"You believe that we would leave any of them behind?" he had said. "We are brothers and sisters now... we are of the same tribe and if one must be left behind then all of us will be left behind. That is friendship, little one... that is harmony; not the foolishness your queens spout."

The white unicorn had nodded at this, wanting to argue but finding her mouth unable to say the words.

"We have to get out of the city," Sweetie Belle told them, pulling out of the memory and focusing on the task at hand. "If we can make it off the mountain we will have a chance."

"How do you figure?" Iron Will asked, lashing out with his right leg and kicking away a wagon that had fallen in their path. He pivoted and with a mighty strike sent the structure flying through the air, crashing down behind the very last member of the escape party, blocking their pursuers' path.

Sweetie Belle grimaced before speaking. "Much of Equestria is... untouched by the guard. There is simply too few of us to patrol every inch of land."

"That's how it was before," a lime green pegasus named Shred Deal stated. "I use to run trade routes from Equestria to Detrot... there were always the occasional robbery but there was little the guard could do about it. They could never fully invest in protecting the trade routes because it would leave other areas, like the coast lines or the mountain passes, under-protected.

"The same is true now," Sweetie Belle stated, turning right when she saw a dead end baring down on them. "My sister and her friends are focused mostly on the towns and cities; they figure that if they control them and are able to promote harmony there, then they had little to fear from the forests and the wild."

"That is stupid," Trixie stated plainly, looking away from Faith's shivering form. "Do you realize how many ponies make their homes outside the limits of the cities and towns? There are gypsy camps in every forest and the nomads in the deserts south of Appleloosa-"

Sweetie Belle grumbled, cutting her off. "I know that but..."

"But you didn't want to argue... you couldn't argue," Chaser stated.

The white unicorn sighed. "Yeah." She took a shuddering breath but kept running. "Listen, if we can just find a gate we can get down the mountain and into the forest. We'll be safe then and we can regroup... maybe find a somepony who has magic-"

"Unlike you," Trixie snarked.

"-and they can remove the magic cancelers. That will even up the odds."

"We'll never make it off the mountain," Shred Deal said. He glanced back at the rest of the party, all 30 of them, and shook his head sadly. "They just don't have the strength to keep up."

"We are NOT leaving them!" Chaser snarled.

"I am not saying we leave them but we have to think of something else!"

"Why walk when we can ride?" Flam called out. He had caught the tail end of the conversation and was now racing to catch up with the leaders of the herd. "Would that not be better?"

"What are you talking about?" Trixie asked impatiently.

Flam puffed out his chest. "There is a reason the queens merely put me in the dungeons instead of brainwashing me. They had me working on something... something that would allow them to show their might and prevent enemies from across the sea from disrupting their plans. I tell you, it is a brilliant design." He gave them a wink. "Of course, i might have put a few flaws in that would prevent it from working... but it will only take me 5 minutes to correct them and make her ready."

"Why would you make flaws that are so easy to correct?" Iron Will asked.

Flam grinned so wide it was a wonder his face didn't split open. "Ah, it is clear to any inventor that if you wish to keep business flowing, you put in a few flaws so the customers must keep hiring you to repair them."

"That is... so dishonest!" Sweetie Belle complained.

"You are brilliant!" Trixie said with a laugh. "You know where this... thing... is?"

"Of course my lovely lady! This way!" Flam turned right and led the group away from the mountain pass and back towards the cliff face. Iron Will paused only long enough to erect another barricade to prevent the guards from following before charging back up to the head of the herd.

After 5 minutes Flam halted before a massive warehouse that sat on the very edge of Canterlot. He knocked on the door and when the guard answered he gave him a quick headbutt, sending the stallion down. "Ooooohhh... that was tough on the old noodle." Shaking himself, Flam threw open the doors and gestured at the device that lay within. "There she is... my baby."

The prisoners craned their necks up... and up... and up.

"Well... that will do," Trixie whispered in awe.

Talks

"A demon can get into real trouble, doing the right thing."

— Crowley, Good Omens

"Where is she now?" Clyde asked coolly.

Twilight despised his tone but thought better than to call him out on it. She needed the heads of the rebellion's support if she were going to convince the majority of the ponies in the hideout to hear her out. She wasn’t going to be able to get away with flashing some wing and having them fall to their knees, begging for help. It might have… if it weren’t a queen she was trying to get them to accept.

So, instead of rolling her eyes or snapping back, Twilight merely gave him a level stare and stated, "A half mile away secured with my magic. She suggested that, by the way, as a show of good faith."

"That does little to ease our discomfort," Whisper Wind stated, shaking his head. "You have to understand where we are coming from."

"I do, I really do," Twilight said. "I get it... my friends have destroyed Equestria. No pony is denying that, not even Rainbow Dash. I wanted to push the blame to the abstract but Dash wouldn't hear of it. She wanted to take the blame because she is guilty. But it is not all her fault!" Twilight turned, gesturing for the others to hear her out. "Rainbow Dash was driven to do what she did by the same entities that have also turned the rest of my friends into the queens: The Elements of Harmony."

"I find it hard to believe that the Elements could do this," one of the former royal guards said. "The Elements have always been tools for peace."

"But it makes sense, doesn't it?" The Doctor interjected. "What other force out there would be so concerned with harmony than the Elements?"

Celestia clanged her hoof against the ground, drawing all attention to her. The ponies looked over at her, still startled by the fact that they didn’t need to crane their necks to look her in the eye. "You all must understand that it is not the Elements that are the problem; the Elements are merely necklaces and jewelry that are worn by the bearers. It is the abstracts that lend their strength to the Elements and the bearers that now cause the strife in the kingdom."

"I'm still not for sure I believe that there are such things as 'abstracts'," Clyde stated, chewing on his straw stalk in agitation.

"Believe it, good farmer," Luna told him. She looked at the others and they were surprised to find that though her powers had been taken and her sized diminished Luna still had the ability to hold their attention. "The abstracts have played a role in the fate of Equestria for the last thousand years. It was the aid of six that allowed my sister and I to defeat Discord: Honestly, Loyalty, Generosity, Laughter, Kindness and Faith." Several opened their mouths to question the existence of ‘Faith’ but a cold look from Luna kept their mouths shut.

"And it was my failure in trying to hide the achievements of one that led to the fall of the final abstract and turned Faith into Doubt." Celestia shut her eyes; even after all they had gone through, her shame in her part in the corruption of the abstract still weighed heavily upon her.

"It was Faith, before he truly fell, who helped me... and gave me the power to become Nightmare Moon. His removal from the battle allowed my dear sister to banish me."

Twilight nodded. "Faith, when he was Doubt, traveled the world and created many of the greatest heroes and villains. Our lives would be so much more different if he had not been here."

"While that is well and good," Whisper said, "i don't understand the point of this history lesson."

"Those that fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it," Shining said softly. His voice grew stronger as he spoke. "Faith was merely one abstract and the youngest of the 6. According to what he told Twilight, he had little knowledge about his powers when he became trapped in Equestria… he wasn’t even for sure how to return to his own… well, for lack of a better word… world. And yet he still managed to do so much… I don't want to consider what older abstracts might be able to do."

"My friends are in the control of four immortal beings... and there is a 5th that we managed to purge from Rainbow Dash that is in the wind." Twilight began to pace. "So far, all of you have been reacting to the actions of the queens. Now we have a pony that was in their confidence and knows what they had planned. Rainbow Dash has information, locations and strategies... we'd be foolish not to utilize it!"

"Twilight, it is easy for you to say that... you have the power to face the queens. You can't be threatened by them or bullied," Whisper Wing gestured towards the rest of the rebellion. "But all of us? There is nothing we could do to stop a queen. Even if your friend Rainbow Dash has been cured she is still an alicorn... she still has the power to destroy us. How can we ever believe that we can talk to her... be in the same room as her... and not be threatened?"

"Well, you are doing it right now," Twilight said, her image shimmering. In her place stood Rainbow Dash, who fought every urge to smirk. The rebels squawked but before they could act the air beside Rainbow rippled and Twilight revealed herself to them.

"I'm sorry... but we had to do something drastic," Twilight stated. "Rainbow was able to walk right in here and none of you realized it was her."

"And we should be giddy because she tricked us?!?" Clyde snapped.

Twilight sighed. She had known this was a very risky move; it would have been easy for the rebels to view this as a trick and close ranks even more on Rainbow Dash, fearing that she could look like any of them. Shining and her had argued about it but in the end Twilight had realized that if they didn’t do something drastic the rebellion would waste days debating the issue and that was time they needed. Twilight wanted action, even if it was to learn that she couldn’t rely on the rebellion for aid.

"No... you should be scared because if it was that easy for me to sneak in, the rest of our friends could do the same thing." Rainbow leveled a cool stare at them. "I screwed up and I am ready to face my punishment... but don't waste this opportunity. I can help you get into Cloudsdale and we can get the foal and fillies and colts back. I can help you ward this place tighter than Fort Clops so that no other queen can get in. After that, if you want to throw me in a dungeon or banish me or banish me to a dungeon, go right ahead. But don't punish innocent children because you don't want to suck up your pride and ask for help!"

The others looked about, mulling over her words. Finally, one of the royal guard said, "Give us half a day to debate this."

"Ok," Twilight said; she hated the waste of hours but was gracious for the chance.

"But don't wait too long," Rainbow said, unable to stop herself from ruining the mood or voicing the fears Twilight held. "Every hour we wait we lose the advantage."

~MC~MC~MC~

"They... they were so vicious!" Doubt sobbed dramatically, covering her brow with one of her forelegs. She swooned and Rarity hurried to help her sit up, missing the dark little smile that flicked along Doubt's face.

"Cadence, how did they manage to escape?" Fluttershy asked softly, rubbing the sobbing alicorn's back.

Doubt, her voice mimicking Cadence's perfectly, whimpered in mock pain. "Oh... oh Fluttershy... I... I can't say! You'll think I am lying!"

"My dear, I promise you we will not think you are lying," Rarity said sweetly. "You are the victim here. We should have never put a gentle soul like you down there with those ruffians."

‘Cadence’ hid her frown at that. The dungeons had not been part of the plan at all when the queens had begun their takeover of Equestria. Prisons spoke of law breaking, which simply wouldn’t do in a magical land of harmony. The goal had been to awash the country in harmony and bring all the ponies peace. Of course Doubt had begun to select a few ponies to hook her claws into, infecting them with doubt so they could throw off the brainwashing and fight the new regime. She had come up so many wonderful plans, picking out housewives and business stallions that would become arsonists and rapists in their attempts to fight against the new rules of society. She had planned for years of slow burning dissent that would end with the bloody war that would see both sides dead and her the sole survivor.

But then, a month ago, something had changed. Doubt wasn’t for sure what it was, but the queens had been forced to convert ponies one at a time, rather than on mass as they had been. The ones resistant to the change would have normally been brought before all five queens… but instead Rarity and Fluttershy had simply begun to lock them in the dungeon.

Not that Doubt was going to complain. The prisoners were wonderful at stirring up trouble and had kept her nice and fed while they rotted away. But the way it went about caused trouble for the female abstract; in the beginning Canterlot had been empty (thanks mostly to the queens ruling that it should be abandoned and its subjects sent to Manehattan and Cloudsdale), making it the perfect base of operations for Doubt. The few guards assigned there were little more than honor guards that stood guard more in ceremony that to protect the realm, which meant Doubt could easily slip into their minds and spy then dart away, back into Cadence, who had become the perfect vessel for her to rest in… what brought on more doubt that the first flickers of love?

Then the dungeons had been opened up and Fluttershy and Rarity had begun to visit more and more. They had held tea time once a week, but now they spent nearly half their time in the castle and half in their domains (Rarity having set up her throne in Manehattan and Fluttershy preferring to stick with Rainbow Dash in Cloudsdale). It was Rarity’s guard that had ended up coming to help out the undertrained ‘royal guard’, but even with the generous amount of reinforcing there still hadn’t been enough to go around and most of the prison was watched over by ponies that had let themselves get fat, believing peace was at hand and there was no reason to worry about chasing after criminals. Rainbow didn’t help, even though her forces were some of the best, Pinkie had locked herself up in the Rocky Plains, Fluttershy’s were not suited for guard duty and Doubt hadn’t seen Applejack in ages. It was all Rarity’s forces and they were simply not enough… as the recent jailbreak had shown. All of Rarity’s ponies had been on the other side of Equestria, planning out their next march on Trottingham, when Faith and Trixie had led the escape.

Doubt didn’t like it when twists were thrown into her plans. It was hard enough managing with her slipping sanity without new wrinkles being added in. Still, the female abstract rolled with the punches. The dungeons were here, Fluttershy and Rarity were in the city more often… she could use all of those things to continue her plans.

All of this flew through Doubt’s mind at a speed that would have shocked most ponies. Part of being an abstract was thinking quickly; the mare wondered if Twilight Sparkle realized just how long it took Faith in abstract-time to come up with his little ‘off the cuff’ speeches.

"You're... you're sister has betrayed us." Doubt sniffed, giving them her best ‘hurt’ face.

Rarity blinked in shock. "Are... are you sure? Sweetie Belle would never... could never..." She shook her head, confused. "That makes no sense... Sweetie Belle embraced harmony..."

Realizing that she was overplaying her hand, Doubt began to backtrack. "I think they did something to her!" The female abstract nodded quickly, trying to convey rapid shock. "Yes... yes that is it! I think that horrible Faith did something to her!"

"But we put a magic dampener on Doubt's horn!" Fluttershy said in surprise, turning towards Rarity. Only Doubt heard the tint of accusation in her tone. It had been Rarity who designed the magic dampeners. "How could he do something without his magic?"

Doubt fought back a scowl. When she had discovered the other elements of harmony they had been under the delusion that their baby brother was still corrupted. She had used that to her advantage, as she knew that none of the abstracts would have ever moved against Faith if they knew he was himself again; of all their flaws, laziness was the worst one abstracts had. Because of their prolonged life they felt that they had forever to accomplish a task and thus it could take centuries for them to act. The five members of the Elements had, after all, not moved to save their brother in a thousand years. Their slow reaction had caused Faith, who had always been unlike his brothers and sisters and had a nasty case of 'impatience', to steal her name. Their failure to act had doomed the true Doubt and thus the female abstract had sought to destroy the five siblings along with their baby brother.

She had lucked out to find them finally preparing to deal with Faith when he had elevated Twilight. That act had drawn them out of the sloth and Doubt had been more than willing to point them in the right direction, taking on the guise of a kindly, helpful abstract.

The only downside was that the five siblings, and in turn the five queens, still referred to Faith as Doubt; this was something that the true Doubt took umbrage too. She had to bite her tongue each time she heard them use her moniker in relation to the wrong pony, lest she scream in rage.

Still... it was a small sacrifice.

Rarity and Fluttershy said a few kind words and then motioned for one of the guards (one of Rarity’s boys, Doubt noticed) to take ‘Cadence’ back to her normal room. The abstract nodded, covering up her laughter with a cough when she saw Fluttershy and Rarity rapidly talking, gesturing at each other and debating about what had happened and how. It wasn’t a fight… not yet… but the seeds had been planted.

There wasn’t much harmony in Canterlot that day.

But there was plenty of doubt.

Prep Time

"Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many."

-The Doctor, A Good Man Goes to War

"You've been awfully quiet."

Spitfire looked up at Flim and sighed, poking at the biscuit that sat on her plate. Twilight had used one of her wishing stars to conjure up some food for the hungry troops, reasoning that ponies were more likely to listen when they had nice full bellies. From the way several of the ponies were shoveling the meal into their mouths, Spitfire had to admit that Twilight might have been on to something. But the flyer found no comfort in biscuits or salads. The pains she was suffering from could not be easily cured by a full plate.

Flim nibbled on the sandwich he had made for himself, knowing it was useless to press the Wonderbolt. The inventor and schemer had run into plenty of ponies during his long years on the road and prided himself on knowing when to push and when to back off. For some, they were begging to be led by the nose and one could easily lead them about like a puppet. Others required a more subtle touch; hinting words and coy little comments that would draw the target towards the answer Flim wanted them to arrive at.

But there were some, like Spitfire, who bucked against the trend. Trying in any way, shape, or form to get them to do what you wanted would cause them to clamp down and tune one out. That was only useful if your goal was to get them to NOT listen to you, and such situations rarely presented themselves.

So, it was better for him to wait her out. He had planted the seed and now he just had to see if it would grow.

"I don't want to talk about it," Spitfire stated.

"Of course not," Flim said with a smirk, returning his attention to his sandwich.

Spitfire glowered. "You won't get me to talk."

"You are quite right."

"I know you are going to use your reverse psychology or some mumbo-jumbo like that... but it isn't going to work!" Spitfire jabbed her hoof at Flim, who merely cocked an eyebrow. "You... you think you are so smart!"

"I think nothing... I know," Flim said with a smirk.

Spitfire glared at the scarred inventor, eyes blazing with a look that would have incinerated most ponies. "You cocky-"

"It isn't cocky if you can back it up," Flim stated calmly. "I tell you, I know your head better than you do!"

"If that is the case, then why I am I so upset?"

Flim scoffed, waving her off. "That is painfully obvious."

"Try me."

"Rainbow Dash," Flim said, holding his hoof up to forestall her next comment, "is not the issue. She is part of the problem, obviously, but she is not the main source of your aggravation."

"Then who is?" Spitfire grumbled avoiding his eyes.

"The rest of us." Flim shrugged, a slight smile tugging on his lips. "If your issue was merely with Rainbow Dash you would have dealt with it. And, the truth of the matter is, you already have. You tried to attack her and failed. You aren't one to do the same thing over and over and expect different results... that is the definition of crazy, by the way. No... your problem is that the rest of us haven't gone for her throat." His horn glowed and he brought up a biscuit, which he drizzled with butter before chomping down on it. "It is enraging you that we are not stringing her up now and reducing her into quarters. You see it as a betrayal of everything we do and everything we stand for that we let a queen live."

Spitfire trembled with rage; whether it was because of her rage at the rest of the rebellion or her anger that Flim had been able to read her so well was a matter of debate, even within her own head.

"I am not a good pony," Flim stated simply. "I could have been great... had things gone different I could have rivaled Fancy Pants in wealth and prestige. But life is fickle and so am I. I like the way my life as gone and I have enjoyed the path I have taken. But that does not mean I have been a good stallion. To quite a few ponies my brother and I could be seen as villains. We have schemed and tricked and deceived. We used our talent and our Creator-given gifts to make a quick bit. We have nearly ruined lives... and have ruined our own, if one wants to be bitter."

"Why are you tell me this?" Spitfire asked.

"I am telling you because there are plenty of ponies that should hate me... but they forgave me when I decided I wanted to help. Just as I forgive Rainbow Dash, now that she has come to her senses." Flim stood up, gathering up his empty plate and cup. "That, lovely lady, is true Harmony... the thing we are fighting for, if I am not mistaken. Wallow in revenge and self-pity all you want, but I tell you this: such actions only make the queens right."

Spitfire merely watched him go.

~MC~MC~MC~

Rainbow Dash looked over the magical model Twilight had suspended in front of them, circling it and giving it a critical eye. Of any pony, Rainbow Dash was the one most specialized to confirm that the model was correct. She had ruled the city as its queen only days before and in her youth she had called the place home.

Cloudsdale. The city of the clouds. Stronghold of the Rainbow Guard, Dash's elite fighting unite.

The prison which held the foals, fillies, and colts of Equestria.

"There have been several changes made to Cloudsdale since you last visited, Twi." Rainbow's own horn began to glow and she grit her teeth as she worked to reshape the model. Rainbow wasn't ashamed to admit that Twilight was simply better than her at magic and even if Rainbow spent a thousand years studying she had little hope she would be able to match the lavender mare. Twilight was magic itself and with time Dash was sure even Celestia and Luna would be surpassed by the purple alicorn, if they hadn't already.

Rainbow pushed down the twinge of guilt as she thought about Celestia and Luna. It did no good to worry about them and wonder if they would ever be able to become alicorns again. It did no pony any good to focus on things that were out of their control; better to focus on what few mistakes Rainbow could fix.

Number 1 being the rescue of the foals.

"We are using compacted clouds that are dense enough to hold the weight of a pony," Rainbow stated, motioning for Twilight to enlarge a section of the model that she had been working on. Where once had been a simple stretch of houses there now stood a long, flat building made of clouds. "They are safe and comfortable. Security measures were put in place to ensure that no matter what, there was no way that the foals could escape the building and end up on the weaker, fluffier clouds."

"What sort of measures?" Shining asked.

Rainbow pointed to the entryway of the building. "The building is made up of two walls sandwiched together. Between them there is set up a gale wind that is continuously blowing. Only pegasi with specially charmed armor will be able to pass through; if a foal tried to they would find it like trying to walk through a wall."

Twilight looked at the prison, deep in thought. "I suppose we could try and steal some armor..."

"But that still doesn't help us," Shining told her. "There are simply too few of us to stage an attack." His horn glowed and he began to do a count of all the fliers they had. "We have maybe 20 pegasi we can count on. Even with you and Rainbow Dash the odds will be against us."

"If Scootaloo keeps my squad up there then we are looking at atleast 150 pegasi," Rainbow said sadly. "And that isn't taking into account the normal citizens or the Wonderbolts."

The lavender alicorn merely smiled. "Don't worry, big brother... I have an idea that will not only even the odds but also give us the element of surprise. As for the foals' compound..." Twilight turned to The Doctor and Clyde. "I need to talk to you both about an idea."

Allies

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

-Old Proverb

2 days later...

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS?!?!"

The pegasi trembled, cowered in the face of Scootaloo's outrage. The sound of her shout still echoed through Wonderbolt Stadium, rattling off of the empty seats. Normally the arena would be full of pegasi cheering on the queen and her guard as they trained and performed. The stadium had become a monument to power and grace of Rainbow Dash and her Woderbolts, but today was not such a day. The guardponies had known that they were in trouble when they couldn't find any sign of their beloved queen. They had searched for her, checking her normal hangouts but had not been able to find a lick of her. As it became clear this was not a prank of hers, their hearts dropped with dread. One of the queens had gone missing and all signs pointed to capture. The idea of the harmony-hating rebellion managing to snare Rainbow Dash had even the lowliest private quivering in his armor.

The only silver lining was that Rainbow's disappearance wasn't, from all appearances, the biggest problem facing the queens. Queen Rarity and Fluttershy had been on their way to reinforce Rainbow Dash when troubling news out of Canterlot had sent them screaming back. None of the guards knew what had happened, but rumors swirled that the rogue abstract Doubt, the corruptor of Twilight Sparkle, had laid siege to the city and converted all its guards into his mindless metal slaves. Queen Pinkie had, upon realizing that none of the rest of the queens were there, promptly turned tail and ordered her mobile party to return to her base of power (the guards had been thankful for that... there was something about how Pinkie's entourage smiled that made each and every one of them shudder). Queen Applejack had, as always, been running late but apparently gotten the news as well.

Still, knowing all of this did not make facing the berating any easier.

"She is your queen!" Scootaloo roared. "Rainbow Dash is the greatest, most awesome pony ever! She freed us and opened our eyes to the glories of harmony! How could you just misplace her?! What is she, a quill?" Scootaloo got in the face of one of the guards, her cheek turning red as she screamed. "Why were you not protecting her!?!"

The commander of the Winniepeg guard swallowed before speaking, choosing his words VERY carefully. "Captain, the queen commanded us to hold back and allow her to deal with the rebels. You of all ponies know how she can get." Scootaloo begrudgingly nodded her head. "We were to hold the gates-"

"Which you failed to do, lame brain." Scootaloo rolled his eyes in disgust. "Celestia and Luna managed to escape."

The captain cleared his throat. "They somehow were able to get through the line..."

Scootaloo shook her head, waving off his further comments. "I don't care. All that matters is the fact that you failed." The commander lowered his head in disgrace. "The question is what should we do about this setback?"

"Prepare," a male voice called out, startling the group. "You should prepare."

Scootaloo whipped around, wings flared out and her eyes narrowed as she took in the intruder. To her surprise the stallion that brashly approached her was an alicorn that was only half a foot taller than she was. His body was lean and athletic; tone muscle could be seen under his flank and there wasn't an ounce for fat anywhere on his body. His golden coat seemed to shine like a medal given to a victorious flyer and his eyes held the burning fire of competition that Scootaloo had come to expect in Rainbow Dash's eyes. His short mane was dark and slicked back, as if plastered there by a gale force wind. A lean horn, sharpened to a razor's edge, poked out from the golden alicorn's forhead, jutting out over his eyes and looking ready to pierce the skies at any moment.

What was most eye catching were his wings. Rather than the feathered appendages one would expect, this stallion’s wings appeared to be made out of golden thread, twisted and woven to create the wings. Though it was glorious to behold, the ends were fraying though and bits of string were forever caught in an ethereal gust that sent them billowing out. If a pony got too close the thread would tangle itself around them before dissolving into morning dew.

"Is that a way to treat a friend?" the stallion said, mock hurt coloring his words. "I came here to help you out and all you do is glare at me? Not very friendly at all!"

"Who are you?" Scootaloo demanded, taking a step forward.

"I just said... a friend."

"I meant your name," Scootaloo snapped, not in the mood for games.

"Ah. Well, before I give my name I suppose I should explain myself." The golden alicorn took a step forward and the guard closed up ranks. "Ha! Very good! You become a unit when threatened... very smart. But let me assure you... if I wanted you dead..." the sky cracked with lightning, though none could be seen, "...you'd be dead already."

"That does little to comfort any of us," Scootaloo snapped, trying to act braver than she felt. Her stallions gathered behind her, gaining strength from the knowledge that they had the advantage of numbers.

The golden alicorn shrugged his shoulders. "Let me ask you... you have heard of Doubt, right?"

"He is the black alicorn that corrupted Twilight Sparkle and turned her away from harmony."

"Correct." The golden alicorn took to the air, lazily circling the guards. "I am another of his kind... not just an abstract but another member of the elements of harmony. If you wish to be technical, I am his older brother." The golden alicorn flashed a saucy grin. "I got the good looks in the family."

"You're his brother?"

"Congrats, you have reached the intelligence level of a parrot." The golden abstract rolled his eyes. "You can call me Loyalty."

"You are Rainbow Dash's element?" Scootaloo asked. It was less of a question than an accusation.

"More than that, I am her partner... or was." Loyalty dropped down to the clouds and began to pace in front of Scootaloo and her troops, cantering like he was a prize poodle on display. Disgust was clearly written on his face as he thought about what had happened in Winniepeg. "Twilight Sparkle interfered... she somehow managed to separate Rainbow Dash and I. I fear that Dash has been corrupted."

"You lie!" Scootaloo shouted, her stallions preparing to attack. "Rainbow would never fall!"

"Your dedication to your mentor warms my heart but you are just a bit blind. Even the mightiest of us can fall, sweetheart." Loyalty's cocky grin reformed. "But that doesn't mean we can't do something to raise her back up. That is loyalty, after all."

Scootaloo pursed her lips, warring between mistrust and hope. "What do you suggest?"

"An alliance," Loyalty said. "You worked with me already, when I wielded my power through Rainbow Dash... I ask that we stand side by side again. Together we can save your mentor... just as she would save you, if your roles were reversed."

Scootaloo grimaced, her mind a jumbled mess. Her heart screamed at once to not let this outside help... and yet denying him might bring harm to Rainbow. The former filly just didn't know what to do.

Loyalty nodded skyward. "I thought you might have your doubts, so I brought some aid, to help in your decision."

Scootaloo's jaw dropped as, bursting from the clouds, came the Wonderbolts. Rainbow's elite squad, they only responded to her commands and followed only her into battle. To see them lining up next to Loyalty... is wiped away any misgivings the filly had about the abstract.

Loyalty saw this and grinned. "Good! I see you and I are on the right page. Now then... we must plan out how to find Rainbow Dash."

"That won't be that hard," a slightly larger than average Wonderbolt said, pulling away her hood and removing the illusion charm she had placed on herself.

"Rainbow Dash?"

"Surprise," Rainbow said with a smirk as Twilight and two of the banished royal guards yanked off their disguises as well. "Don't stand there with your jaws hanging open," she teased, "either surrender or fight." Rainbow's horn glowed as she stared down the abstract that had ruined her life. "One guess which choice I hope you pick."

The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 1

"Demons run when a good man goes to war. Night will fall and drown the sun, when a good man goes to war. Friendship dies and true love lies, night will fall and the dark will rise... when a good man goes to war. Demon's run but count the cost: the battle is won but the child is lost."

-River Song, 'A Good Man Goes to War'

"R-Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo whispered, staring at her mentor, half expecting her to turn into cloud fluff and float away. The cyan alicorn was much smaller than Scootaloo remembered, standing roughly a few inches taller than the former filly. The grandur she had projected since her ascension was not there too… she was powerful, yes, but the aura that had always been about her, encouraging others to listen to her words and follow her into battle was long gone. And yet she wasn’t empty… far from it. There was something strange about her... a flicker in her eye that had not been there before. The orange pegasus was struck all at once by the sheer rightness and wrongness of the figure before her; all at once Rainbow Dash was perfection and perversion of the ideal form.

"Hiya squirt," Rainbow said with a grin. The way she said it warmed Scootaloo’s heart and for a moment the mare believed that they were back in Ponyville and all that had happened was a mere dream. Then her armor clanked and Scootaloo was back in reality.

Rainbow Dash looked over at the guards, who seemed utterly confused by this turn of events, and shook her head in utter mirth. "Geez, you guys are tense... why don't you scowl at me and paw at the clouds, maybe then you'll relax."

"Dash, not helping," Twilight hissed, glancing at the heavily armored guards as they began to do exactly that.

"Twilight Sparkle," Loyalty snapped, reminding them all that he was still standing there. He glared daggers at the alicorn that he currently saw as the cause of all his misfortunes. "The traitor."

"That's right," Twilight said firmly, taking a step forward. Loyalty mimicked her actions, not about to stand down in the face of the alicorn of the stars. "I betrayed you... I betrayed your sick values... I betrayed your twisted goals... I betrayed this mockery you call 'harmony'. I betrayed it all and I would again... so go ahead and call me a traitor because I happily accept the title! And more than that… this traitor is going to kick... your... flank."

Loyalty laughed. It was a biting, insulting sound that instantly had Rainbow Dash bucking to give the golden alicorn a sound thrashing. "You think you stand a chance? Against me?” Loyalty nearly doubled over with laughter. “Let us ignore the fact that I am an abstract and you are nothing more than a pathetic pony pretending to be something divine… I have an entire army at my disposal! The might of Cloudsdale will crush you like the bug you are!"

"What army?" Rainbow Dash asked snidely. "I only see the rebellion and MY squad... and they follow me, not you." The guards blinked, suddenly realizing that their queen WAS standing before them and this this strange alicorn had threatened her. They turned their anger towards Loyalty, but the golden abstract showed no signs of concern.

"Don’t be so quick to call them yours,” Loyalty stated before sending out golden threads at every pegasus he could find. Each fell to their knees, screaming as energy danced along the wires and fried their brains. Twilight and Rainbow focused on cutting down the threads that were headed towards the few pegasus that stood on their side, fighting against the slippery strings. Loyalty merely laughed as he ensnared more and more pegasi, trembling in almost orgasmic joy as he did so.

“Ok, this is creeping me out!” Rainbow said as she sent out a quick cutting spell Twilight had taught her, just managing to stop a group of thread that had tried to wrap her up.

"R-Rainbow..." Scootaloo panted before letting out an ear-piercing scream.

"Squirt!" Rainbow cried out, rushing to get to her number one fan. Rainbow gathered the orange pegasus in her forelegs and turned murderous eyes towards Loyalty. "What did you do to her, you sick bastard?"

"I have shown her the error of her ways," Loyalty said simply, his body lowering back down to the ground as the strings he had sent out faded. Before Rainbow could question him on his actions Scootaloo's eyes snapped open, revealing that all the color had faded, leaving them pure gold. "Scootaloo... you serve only me. You are mine… I am your god… your savior… your everything. My will is yours and you will do as I command." The abstract gave Dash and Twilight and sad smile. "It is your own fault it came to this, Rainbow Dash… I had such high hopes for her.” He casually waved a wing at the two of them. “Scootaloo… kill them all."

Rainbow letting out a gagging whimper as Scootaloo began to throttle her, strangling the cyan alicorn with all her strength. Twilight used her magic to blast away the guard that was coming at her, only to look up and see that more pegasi were flying in to join the battle. She couldn't focus on the other members of her team and hoped that they would be able to manage without her aid... though, as more pegasi landed, such hopes were dashed. These were not just soldiers but citizens of Cloudsdale, young and old, who now found themselves ensnared by the deranged abstract known as Loyalty.

"Did you really think you could win?" the golden alicorn asked smugly, watching Twilight and Rainbow struggle to fight off their attackers. "I control all of Cloudsdale... I am Loyalty and all rush to my aid when I give the call! What hope did you two have, trying to face me on your own? Would it not be better to give in, to accept me as your master? I am an abstract… I am an element of harmony… it is my duty to lead and your duty to follow."

"Who... who said..." Rainbow, much to her shame, smashed Scootaloo in the face. "Who said... we were alone?"

Loyalty turned, eyes widening as a mighty roar echoed throughout Cloudsdale. The issuer of this bellow was soon revealed: Spike, now 20 feet in length and resembling one of the mighty winged mountain dragons, was smashing his way through the ranks of Loyalty's brainwashed army. Spitfire zipped beside him, using her skill to pick off any stragglers as they rushed past. Spike let out another roar as he zeroed in on best friend and began to fly towards her.

“Twilight to Spike…” the lavender alicorn said, her horn glowing as she used her magic to send a message to her #1 Assistant, “give’em hell.”

The dragon roared and dipped down, leaving Twilight to her own devices while he focused on Loyalty’s reinforcements. Smoke billowed out of his mouth as he reached out a claw and destroyed a skyscraper, using to bits of cloudy fluff to obscure Sptifire’s actions, allowing her to have the chance to show everypony just WHY she was the leader of the Wonderbolts. She dipped and weaved about, bucking clouds and faces in equal messure.

"This changes nothing!" Loyalty screamed, though the quiver in his voice spoke to the fact that he wasn't as confident as he wanted them to believe. "I will take the dragon for my own and I will use him to destroy you."

"You will try," Twilight said, breaking free of her attackers and striking Loyalty head on. Her horn charged up and she leapt at Loyalty, driving the two of them through a cloud wall and out of the coliseum. "First you have to deal with me!"

~MC~MC~MC~

A mile away, in a small, non-descript building, a group of fillies and colts looked at the walls of their prison with fear-filled eyes. Moments ago the guards had ran off, leaving them by themselves. They had thought about trying to escape but realized that was foolish; the door was rigged that if they opened it they would be hit with a whirlwind that would push them back into the building.

The whimpering cries of the panicked foals filled the air and a few of the younger ponies joined in, not caring if they look like babies. There had been a bright yellow light then all the guards had left and now the roars of a dragon filled the air.

"What... what is going on?" Snips asked nervously, sitting next to a crying Snails.

"Do you think there is a dragon out there?" Pip asked, torn between his desire to see the beast and his fear of being gobbled up.

"No... no of course not!" Dinky said, even though she was staring at the roof of their room with wide, fearful eyes. She let out a scream and a section buckled and several of the younger fillies and colts joined the foals in sobbing. "Back up!" Dinky called out. "Back up!"

"What do we do?" Rumble asked.

"I... I don't know... just be ready!" Dinky commanded, wishing she could strike up a spark of magic. She refused to give into fear… her parents were never afraid and she wasn’t about to give in to it herself. She was Dinky Hooves… she was the daughter of a mailmare and a Time Lord and everypony knew those genetics spelled hero!

"What does that mean, ‘be ready’?!" Snails complained. The compacted cloud began to fall apart, sending bits of the reinforced fluff down. The children screamed and stumbled towards the walls.

“It means be ready!” Dinky called out, squaring her shoulders.

BOOM

"Here it comes!" Pip shouted, breathing fast as he prepared to leap into battle.

A large chunk of the cloud roof fell down and the children shut their eyes. But instead of the bellows of some monstrous dragon, they heard something else entirely.

"I told you it would work!" a jovial voice called out. "The pegasi reinforced the walls but never thought about the roof!"

A second voice scoffed. "For thinking they are so wonderful for being able to fly, these pegasi sure don't think in three dimensions.”

“I’ve found so few bother to think things through-”

Dinky cracked an eye open and gaped at the sight that lay before her. Two stallions had dropped into the room, looking unlike any pony Dinky had ever seen. Upon their backs were beautiful butterfly wings that looked to be made of stained glass. They fluttered, as if their owners were not use to them. That might have been the case, as both ponies did not look like they normally had wings. They each hovered an inch off the ground, their hooves never touching the condensed cloud floor. The second pony, the one that had bucked in the roof, was older, with a gray mane and dark, piercing eyes and stern mouth. He looked at the foals though and instantly they felt better in his presence... he was like the stern grandfather they had never had.

It was the other pony, the one that had first spoken, that drew Dinky's attention.

“Hello everypony… guess who!”

"DOCTOR!" Dinky squealed, racing over to him and giving him a hug. The other fillies and colts hurried over, foals on their backs as they mobbed the brown stallion. "I knew you'd come! I knew you'd save me!" Dinky shouted as the Doctor lowered his head and flipped her onto his back, the filly giggling as she watched his wings flap.

The Doctor smirked. "That is right, Dinky... no one gets left behind, especially not you!"

"Where's mommy?" Dinky asked, feeling more secure and safe than she had felt in weeks.

The Doctor smiled. "I set her down right below Cloudsdale and told her to watch the sky... I swore that we would be coming down to see her if she waited. She misses you so I don’t think we should doddle."

"Uh... Mr. Doctor?" Snails said, taking a step forward. "We get to come with you too, right?"

The Doctor nodded to Clyde, who let out a long whistle. Suddenly hooks appeared and were pulling the roof from the building, revealing a squad of earth ponies with similar enchanted wings.

"Indeed you are!" The Doctor proclaimed as the rebellion began to fly down to retrieve Equestria’s most precious cargo. "It is time to go children, get your coats!"

“…we don’t have coats,” Rumble pointed out.

The Doctor pursed his lips. “Well then… let’s just go!” He took to the air, Dinky riding on his back. “Alonsy!”

The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 2

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure."
Jeremiah 17:9

Spike grunted as a pegasus soldier slammed into his side, the stallion kicking and thrashing against the purple scales. It didn't so much hurt as it annoyed the baby dragon; he had desired scales as hard as diamonds while being lighter than a feather. There was simply nothing the pegasi currently ramming him could do to injure him. Their blows, however, were beginning to wear on his nerves. It was like someone constantly poking someone in the shoulder, over and over, without rest.

Of course, Spike was willing to admit that he wasn't in the greatest of moods to begin with. Taking on a larger form was always fun but it was a mental strain. He had to remain focus and ignore the naughty little voice in his head that was screaming for him to just pillage and consume and gather a great horde. It was emotionally draining and Spike felt as if he had been up for 48 hours straight cramming for finals.

Adding to this annoyance was the fact that Spike truly couldn't cut loose. He could feel the fires welling up in his belly, begging for release, but he didn't dare unleash them. He knew that the ponies that were attacking him were not in control of their actions; they had been blinded by Loyalty and forced to do his bidding. They were much like him during his greed-induced rampage and he could not have lived with himself if he hurt any of them.

That knowledge didn't help shrink the annoyance of having the ponies he was trying to help keep attacking him.

"Stop that," Spike complained, snatching up one of the pegasi that had been attempting to buck him in the snout. The mare struggled against him and Spike narrowed his eyes, giving the struggling pegasus a 'seriously?' look. He applied just enough pressure to knock her out before tossing her into the enchanted bag Twilight had created for him. It would hold the prisoners nice and tight until Twilight could free them from whatever Loyalty had done to them.

"You ok, Spike?" Spitfire asked as she zoomed around him. She was acting as a second pair of eyes, ensuring that the dragon did not miss anything.

"Peachy," Spike grumbled, dipping down so low that his belly touched the peaks of several cloud towers. Another wave was coming at them and he was mentally prepping himself for the next run. "I am getting really tired of brainwashing villains... Discord, the Changeling Queen..."

"Faith," Spitfire said with a smirk. Shining had shared with the rebellion plenty of stories about the mirror-winged alicorn and his role in Twilight's fall/ascension.

"...ha ha ha," Spike said, fighting the urge to stick up for his friend. Faith, unlike so many ponies, had treated Spike like an adult instead of a child. Yes, Spike was a baby dragon; but mentally he was only a few years younger than Twilight. And yet every pony treated him like he was a 5 year old that was to be coddled and humored.

Except Faith.

It was that reason that Spike was so enraged. The other elements had trained Faith like he was a baby too; they had thought to keep him away from battle and tuck him away. When his involvement had led to the defeat of Discord, the other elements had refused to lift a hoof to help him and merely watched as Faith fell from grace and become the dark abstract Doubt. Now, they were treating Equestria as if all the ponies were naughty foals... it was sickening.

"Yuh, Spike?" Spitfire called out. "Kinda getting rumbly on me."

Spike blinked, pulling himself from his thoughts. "Sorry about that, I was-"

His world exploded pain.

Spitfire let out a cry as Spike tumbled down, his body spasming from the ravages of the great bolt of lightning that had struck him. He came crashing through Cloudsdale, taking out a good chunk of one block as he fell through the clouds and continued on towards the ground below. The former Wonderbolt dove down, preparing to check on him, only for find her way blocked by a wall of dark blue.

"Hello Spitfire."

"Soarin'," Spitfire whispered, staring at him as the rest of the brainwashed Wonderbolts lined up behind him, creating a phalanx of wings. "Don't do this."

"You ran away, Spitfire," Soarin' stated coolly. "You abandoned you team... you have no loyalty to any of us... but you can still repent."

The mare's face hardened. "Not on your life."

"No no no," Soarin' teased as the Wonderbolts began to circle the two of them, their mighty wings creating a vortex that threatened to consume any that came near it, "it is YOUR life you should be concerned about."

~MC~MC~MC~

"Squirt, you need to fight this!" Rainbow Dash called out. Scootaloo showed no sign of hearing her, her eyes remaining a solid gold as she lashed out against her idol. The cyan alicorn found herself pushed back, forced to rely upon her reflexes to avoid her #1 Fan's attacks. Even though Dash had the strength and endurance of an alicorn she found that the blows the orange pegasus was directing at her still hurt... and not just her body but her heart.

She looked upon her 'masterpiece' in disgust. She had twisted Scootaloo into this, warping her from a happy little filly that dreamed of flying and enjoyed riding her scooter into a violent soldier who would attack without thought... all in the name of Loyalty.

"Some on Scoots, I know you're in there!" Rainbow Dash pleaded, ducking a blow that had been aimed at her head. "You need break free! I know it is hard but you can do it!"

Scootaloo responded by flying around and bucking Rainbow in the stomach, causing the alicorn to cough.

"I don't want to hurt you!" Rainbow shouted, batting away one of the blows. She found herself panting and wondered how it was that her alicorn form was tiring out so quickly when Scootaloo showed not even a drop of sweat on her brow. The answer was, of course, a painful one: Rainbow's body was built around power. Every muscle thrummed with the desire to unleash its fury upon those that stood against her. Her horn ached from the magic that was pumping through it, begging for release. She felt tired and dizzy and every instinct screamed at her to kill and destroy. Holding back was, ironically, killing her.

'By Celestia, is this what Twilight felt when she ascended?' Rainbow thought as she reached out and lightly struck Scootaloo. The blow, while barely glancing from her perspective, sent Scootaloo flying through the air. 'No wonder she was barely able to keep it together! It feels like I am coming apart at the seams! How the hay does Princess Celestia manage not to incinerate all of us?' Rainbow could feel her body churning with power, her nerves on fire and her brain screaming at her to kill, kill, kill. Alicorns were the alpha and the omega and though they now lived in civilized times, the drive to become the predator was strong within all of them.

But when faced with an innocent who had no choice in her fights...

Rainbow let out a gasp as Scootaloo slipped behind her, her forelegs wrapped around Dash's throat and squeezing the air from her. Rainbow blinked and bucked but Scootaloo hung on, her head close to Dash's ear.

"No..."

"What... what was..."

"No... please... please Dash, don't let me..."

"Scootaloo?" Rainbow managed to croak out before the forelegs tightened once again.

"Don't... don't let me kill you... please... please... kill me."

Rainbow Dash's eyes snapped open, the horror of Loyalty's act hitting her full force: Scootaloo wasn't brainwashed... she simply had no control over her body. Loyalty had turned her into a puppet, forcing her to watch as her own hooves murdered her idol. She was a witness to an absolute horrid act that her own body was commiting.

"Kill me," Scootaloo sobbed. "Kill me..."

~MC~MC~MC~

Loyalty and Twilight crashed into each other, the sound of their bodies striking together rumbling like overhead thunder. The two of them lashed out with their hooves, trying to knock the other out and only serving to make things chaotic. Twilight pushed away and charged up her horn, sending several bolts of magic at Loyalty, the golden alicorn forced to take a page out of his brother's playbook and deflect them away.

"Why do you fight me?" Loyalty asked, dodging a blast of magic Twilight sent at him before launching himself at her. "You once believed in what I seek out... has my little brother clouded you mind so much you can't even see what you have become?" Loyalty's horn flashed and a bolt of golden energy lashed out from the sky, nearly taking off Twilight's head. "I seek unity... solidarity... with those things peace will come to Equestria!"

"Peace through oppression!" Twilight shouted, her mane billowing out as her eyes went black and white. Chaos magic roared from her form as her coat darkened and her wings gained an almost metallic shine to them. The sun found itself setting as there was no Celestia to aid it against the coming of the night sky that Twilight was summoning forth. "You don't want unity, you want blind devotion!" The stars gleamed and Twilight sent several of them racing towards Loyalty, forcing the abstract to twist and turn to avoid being incinerated. "You aren't really loyal... loyalty is standing with some pony, even when they are in the wrong! You abandon them the first chance you get!"

"So I should just stand by and watch them sin?" Loyalty countered, his own wings stretching out as he sent countless threads at Twilight, forming a great golden web that caught her and held her tight. Loyalty pulled himself towards her and shook his head in disgust before striking her in the gut. " You refuse to fix anything because you don't want to hurt feelings! I am loyal to an ideal! If you aren't part of that ideal you are merely an obstacle in my way!" He slammed his hooves into Twilight's stomach, causing the lavender alicorn to violently cough. "You can wear the mantle of power and give these grand little displays but in the end you are still the mindless worm you always were! You fail to see the big picture because you can't handle it."

"You're... lecturing me on seeing the big picture?" Twilight ground out, forcing herself not to scream as Loyalty struck her in the ribs again. The abstract, freed from Rainbow Dash's form and her conscious, was able to go in for the kill. "You keep reacting to the wrong things and only making everything worse! You abandoned Faith and let him become Doubt! You abandoned Equestria and let darkness infect it! And we finally begin to solve things on our own you throw a fit and demand you toys back! You are a monster, Loyalty, and-"

"I lecture you because I am your better!" Loyalty roared in anger, punching Twilight in the face. The threads grew tight, cutting into Twilight's skin. "Your kind was never meant to rival us... you were meant to follow our lead, to listen to our words! The abstracts are the true masters of this world… it was us that threw down Discord, not you! We were your saviors and now you attempt to write off what we did! And you, Twilight Sparkle... you are nothing but a worm screaming at the bird that has come to consume it.”

Twilight glared at the abstract. "I was wrong..." she said, though her tone was anything but apologetic. ”I always felt bad for Faith that you abandoned him. He spent a 1000 years without knowing his name and his purpose lost. He had no one to rely upon, no one to help him shoulder the burden. But now that I see you and see what he could have been... I am glad he was forsaken. Leaving all of you was the best thing that ever happened to him!"

"Just what I would expect a corrupted witch to say," Loyalty snapped, several more threads latching onto Twilight and pulling her body taunt.

"Without any of you to force him to become narrow minded he was able to explore and grow. Were those thousand years terrible? Of course... but during that time he learned about love and friendship and compassion and humility. He grew and became something better, something alive; not like you. You say I am a worm? You are a rock! You aren't able to feel, to think, to change! You might as well be dead! Faith might be an abstract but he is a pony, one of us… and he is a better stallion then you'll ever be!" Twilight forced her head forward, her eyes locking on Loyalty's. "That is your problem... you can claim to be big and powerful but inside... you are JUST-SO-SMALL!"

Loyalty sneered and back-hoofed her. "Before this day is done... you will beg me to forgive you for all the lies you've said."

The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 3

"There was never much hope... just a fool's hope."

-Gandalf, The Return of the King

"Please... just kill me," Scootaloo pleaded even as her forelegs squeezed tighter around Rainbow Dash's throat. Scootaloo barely had enough strength to move her lips and speak the words; there was simply nothing she could do to throw off Loyalty's control on her body. Her form was under his complete command, following his desires without question. She could feel the whispers in the back of her mind growing stronger, each demanding that she just give in and accept that Loyalty was right. It was the easy path... the safe path... the one that offered no more pain or suffering. The voices spoke of harmony and peace and it would be wonderful for her to do so and it was so easy for her to do it because it was only Loyalty who was offering and Loyalty was always right and if Scootaloo just listened to Loyalty and obeyed him and sided with him and killed that traitorous whore Rainbow Dash-

"Kill me!" Scootaloo wanted to scream, though it came out as more of a squeak. "Please... please Rainbow Dash... don't let me do this..."

And then her world was spinning and pain blocked out all the whispers, For a brief moment Scootaloo thought that Rainbow Dash had heard her pleas and that she had done the deed... and Scootaloo was happy. Oh, she didn't want to die, but better to die a pony then live as a monster. Better the fall then to live with the guilt…

But instead of a white light Scootaloo found herself staring at the enraged face of Rainbow Dash. The cyan alicorn lashed out, striking her in the face and making Scootaloo blink in pain. Scootaloo could feel her traitorous body heeding the command of Loyalty but before she could strike Rainbow hit her again, making her cough up blood. Scootaloo struggled, only to find her hooves restrained by some magical force as Rainbow Dash stood over her, glaring.

"I can't believe what I am hearing!" Dash snapped. "What the hay is wrong with you, asking me to kill you?!? You think I am that horrible that I would even THINK about doing that?"

Scootaloo sniffed, having so little control that she couldn't even cry. "Please... I... I don't want to kill you..."

"And you think I want to kill you?" Rainbow Dash shouted in frustration. "You think I could live with myself if I did that?" Rainbow leaned down, getting in her #1 Fan's face. Scootaloo was forced to look Dash in the eye and she felt her heart break as she saw the tears falling from the cyan alicorn's eyes. "Scootaloo, you have to fight this!"

"I... I can't-"

"Yes you can!" Rainbow shouted. "You aren't some weak-willed pony... you are Scootaloo! My biggest fan!" Scootaloo squirmed, her body still trying to fight itself free of the restraints. "You are a Cutie Mark Crusader... would a Crusader let some lame brain like Loyalty control them?"

"I... I..."

"You are Scootaloo!" Rainbow shouted, her horn flashing as she began to fill the pegasus with magic. Scootaloo reared back, nearly snapping her own spine as she felt to two warring magics fill her form. Her eyes twitched to her right and she saw, to her horror, that the golden threads Loyalty had shot at her were still tied to her body, yanking and pulling on her like she was some kind of marionette. "You are a daughter of Equestria! You command my guard! You are stronger than this! Stronger than some stupid golden ass! NOW FIGHT!"

Scootaloo grit her teeth, fighting against Loyalty's pull. She pictured everything she wanted to do, everything she desired, that she knew could only be achieved by breaking free of the golden abstract's grasp. The threads that ensnared her body tightened and cut into her skin but still she fought them, even as they threatened to cut her to ribbons. The ends of the golden string began to hiss and smoke before bursting into flames but she paid no heed. Scootaloo threw her head back and screamed as she severed the connection, ripping her body free from Loyalty's grasp. Upon her flank there was a flash… and the image of a wings flying high above a broken chain appeared.

The orange mare smiled weakly as her heart stopped beating.

"No... no, you don't get to go now!" Rainbow shouted, giving Scootaloo CPR. "You hear me, Squirt? I didn't do all of this just for you to die on me!" Rainbow pressed her lips to Scootaloo's and blew, forcing air into her lungs. "Come on... come on..."

Scootaloo remained still.

Rainbow screamed to the heavens as she pounded on the mare's chest. "Please... please... give me this... I don't care about anything else... I don't have to be a Wonderbolt... I don't ever have to perform the Sonic Rainboom again... please... don't let it end like this... please…"

~MC~MC~MC~

"I think you should keep'em!" Dinky exclaimed.

The Doctor glanced over his shoulder at the filly, banking right to avoid a skyscraper. "Keep what, my dear?"

"Your wings! I think they are pretty!"

The Time Lord laughed. "I bet you do." He banked right again, searching for a break in the cloud buildings so he could begin his descent. The rest of the rebellion was following his lead, weighed down with cheering foals, fillies and colts. Every once and a while they could hear the sounds of battle and the Doctor and Clyde wanted to be well out of Cloudsdale before any pony realized that they had made off with the little ones.

"And mommy is waiting for us?" Dinky asked for the fifth time.

"That she is. I sat her down and told her to watch for us to descend!" The Doctor chose not to tell the filly that her mother hadn't responded or shown any sign that she understood what he was talking about; Derpy simply sat as she always did, staring blankly at the world and occasionally running her hoof in the air like she was petting an invisible cat. He’d forced several members of the rebellion to swear that they would watch over her, but never did the thought cross his mind of keeping her locked up. She would be there to see Dinky the moment they landed. "And once we meet up with here everything is going to be alright."

"Are you sure of that?"

The Doctor let out a cry as golden threads launched out at him, ripping the enchanted wings from his back and holding him and Dinky in place. The filly screamed as the cords tightened around them, forcing them to hold still and not move a muscle.

"Doctor!" Clyde shouted, skidding to a stop. He just managed to avoid he trap himself.

"Get out of here!" The Doctor shouted. Clyde stared at him in surprise but The Doctor merely waved him off. "You heard me, go! I'll find a way out... you need to worry about the foals."

Clyde nodded grimly, not liking the thought of abandoning one of their own but seeing the logic to the choice. He gave the order and the rebellion forces dove down into a side alley, leaving the Doctor and Dinky to face down the predator to their prey.

Loyalty.

"What have I caught in my net?" Loyalty teased, throwing a twitching Twilight into the air and sending out some more threads to hold her in place. "Two more little traitors."

"Hey! I'm no trainer!" Dinky called out.

"Traitor, Dinky, traitor." The Doctor narrowed his eyes, turning his glare upon Loyalty. "I know it is utterly cliché... but don't make me angry, abstract... you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

"The fury of a fly means nothing to a spider," Loyalty stated calmly.

"Huh?" Dinky squeaked, looking about for this ‘spider’ that Loyalty talked of.

Twilight fought against her bonds. She would have wanted to use her magic but all of it was being directed at the accursed threads that were trying to worm their way into her brain and take control of her. "Leave them out of this, Loyalty! This is between you and me!"

"I beg to differ!" Loyalty gloated. "You got them involved and thus they are now part of this. You and your foolish rebellion dared to stand against me and now... an example must be made."

The Doctor rolled his shoulders in frustration. "Your definition of loyalty and mine are quite different, abstract." The golden alicorn snapped his head in his direction and the Time Lord continued. "You claim to be about loyalty, but loyalty is built out of trust and friendship... you seek of obedience and slavery! You don't want loyal subjects, you want puppets."

"I want harmony!" Loyalty thundered. "I want things to be as they were in the days of my youth and I will do all I can to return this world to that grand design."

"...you're crazy!" Dinky exclaimed with youthful fury.

Loyalty scoffed. "A child's view matters little to me." The strings jerked and Dinky screamed as she and the Doctor fell a few feet. "As I said, an example must be made."

Twilight shouted in rage, sending out a blast of magic that Loyalty easily dodged. She let out a cry as the strings intensified their assault on her brain, forcing her to focus all her magical reserves on protecting her thoughts from Loyalty's control.

"You brought this on yourself, Twilight Sparkle. You sided with my corrupted brother and doomed Equestria. Everything that has happened is on your head... all the pain, all the suffering, all the horrible acts I and my siblings have committed... they were done for the greater good... a good that needs to come about because of YOUR actions. You forced me to clean up your little mess… remember that." Loyalty shrugged. "And these two's deaths are also yours to bear."

"NO!" Twilight screamed as the threads snapped and Dinky and the Doctor were sent plummeting to the Earth.

The Doctor gripped the filly tight as they fell harmlessly through the clouds that made up the great home of the pegasi. They tumbled end over end, both letting out cries as they burst out of Cloudsdale and fell towards the hard, unforgiving Earth below. All of The Doctor's plans and schemes were useless in that moment... there were none in Cloudsdale that would be able to reach them in time. No sonic screwdriver and clever quip would be able to stop their fall now.

There would be some, in the days to come, who would question all that happened at that moment. The Doctor clung to Dinkie, his great mind for once blank as the earth rushed up to great them. This stallion, who had fought gods and demons, closed his eyes and, for the first time, prayed. He prayed not for himself but for the child. He prayed that some pony would save the day. He called out to the universe and asked for a boon; how many times had he saved it? How many lives had been spared because of his actions? Would existence finally choose now to repay him… or had all his work been in vain?

He could not hear several members of the rebel scream as they tried to reach them, only to find that there was simply not enough time. He did not see Twilight Sparkle struggling against Loyalty, trying to find an opening to make a wish upon one of her stars and teleport the two to safety. He did not sense the others who watched on, terrified yet enthralled at the carnage that was to come, tears of grief falling from their eyes as they uselessly watched, unable to act.

None of this he knew.

But he did feel the forelegs that wrapped around his own.

"Ma....mama?" Dinky whispered as they were jerked upwards.

The Doctor stared, his mouth hanging open in shock…as Derpy Hooves, the pony that so many had signed off as a waste and of little value, the pony all had seen as a joke, the one so many held in little regard, the one that was seen as never being good enough, never the best, never the brightest, always picked last, always considered the lowest and the weakest and the dumbest and never good for anything, the one that only a few ever bothered to get to know… the mare that he loved… became the second pegasus in history to perform the Sonic Rainboom.

The light poured from her as she broke the sound barrier, a smile blossoming on her lips as she shattered that opaque wall and ripped through the sky, leaving a trail of color in her wake. All at once she was the sky and the clouds and they were her. Only two moments beat out the sheer joy the gray mare felt then: the first time she met the Doctor and the day Dinky was born.

"Don't worry, baby," Derpy said softy to Dinky as she strengthened her grip on The Doctor and her filly, the three of them rocketing over Cloudsdale and bathing Twilight’s night sky in a wash of light and beauty, "mommy's got you… and I will NEVER let you go again."

~MC~MC~MC~

“That… is why we will win,” Twilight stated, a tear falling from her eye before she snapped Loyalty’s threads with ease. “That… is why you’ll always fail.”

~MC~MC~MC~

A smile formed on the normally grim face of Clyde as he stared at the physically representation of one young mother's love for her child. “Good for you, Miss Hooves,” he whispered as he turned his group towards the rainbow trail.

~MC~MC~MC~

Rainbow Dash gasped in surprise as the wave of rainbow energy hit her, filling her heart with warmth. Her eyes grew wide as she saw who had performed the rainbow and her face broke out in a grin, all fear and sadness forgotten. “DERPY!” She screamed, and soon others were cheering as the gray pegasus raced over their heads. “DERPY!”

"Rain... Rainbow Dash?"

The cyan alicorn looked down, trembling as she looked at Scootaloo. The orange mare stared at the sky, her brow knitted in confusion. "Rainbow Dash... what-"

She never got to finish, as the speedster wrapped her up in a hug and refused to let go.

~MC~MC~MC~

Miles away… a group of scattered souls, who had been searching for a sign… saw the Rainboom… and turned towards Cloudsdale.

~MC~MC~MC~

“Hope… is kindled”

-Gandalf, The Return of the King

The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 4

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

-All that is gold does not glitter, The Lord of the Rings

~10 minutes earlier...~

Spitfire's wings ached. Her muscles felt like they were going to snap like dried out rubber bands. The cold winds bite her cheeks and made her eyes water. Every mouthful of air she took in was both a blessing and a curse, keeping her in the fight but prolonging her agony. She could hear her heart beating so rapidly that it was sounded like the steady buzz of an angry bumblebee.

And yet she could not stop.

She dared not look over her shoulder, knowing that even a fraction of a second that wasn't spent in total focus of her goal would spell her death. She'd somehow ended up in the cloud recycling yard, which was filled with condensed cumulous clouds deemed to hard and thick to hold water. They were the air equivalent of rocks in river rapids and even brushing up against one of them would cost her feathers... if not alot more.

Still, it was not the clouds that posed the greatest danger to her, but those that pursued her into the dangerous terrian.

"Come on captain!" Soarin' jeered as he got close enough to her that she could swear she felt his breath on her hind hooves. "You know you can't outrace us! You've gotten old and soft!"

"Yeah!" Maverick shouted, pulling up beside her. Spitfire slung to her right to try and put some distance between her and her old team. Spitfire didn't need to glance over to see those awful golden eyes staring at her, taunting her. "You were the weak link even before you abandoned us... now you're-"

Maverick was cut off by a small cumulous he'd failed to see. He was stopped quicker than if he had hit a brick wall and Spitfire could tell from the howls of pain that he'd done a number on his nose.

"Not turning back and seeing if she needs help?" Soarin' asked, a sneer clear in his words. "Just like ya, captain."

Spitfire didn't say a word. She had thought, before the Twilight had shown up, that meeting her old team and seeing them corrupted by the queens would be a blow she could not survive. She had feared the guilt she'd natural feel when looking on the ponies she had failed to save would cripple her. But now that the time had finally arrived, she found herself not feeling guilt. It was strange... she knew she should have felt it but she did not.

Perhaps it was seeing Twilight and Spike and knowing that there was good in the world. Maybe it was the fact that they had already succeeded once, when they had saved the Princesses. It could have been her quiet observations of Rainbow Dash and realizing that it was possible not just to break free but to come back from being controlled by the elements. Perhaps it was merely accepting that she was playing only a small role in this war and that it was in the hooves of other ponies to save the day...

It could have been any of these things... it didn't matter. What mattered was that in that moment Spitfire didn't feel guilt; what she felt was desire... desire to keep going, desire to win... desire to buy The Doctor and Clyde time. This wasn't about saving her team... this was about saving the foals.

So she pushed on, not saying a word. She knew it would be useless to trade barbed words with the Wonderbolts so she saved her oxygen and focused on flying. She wanted them to chase her, to taunt her, to focus on her... all to keep them blind when it came to the true reason they had come to Cloudsdale.

Soarin' opened his mouth to shoot off another insult, only to be silenced by an explosion. Spitfire's eyes widened as she stared up at the sky, marveling as the sonic rainboom washed over her. She slowed down and turned, looking at her team.

"I swear... I'll find a way to save you."

That was all she said before racing forward again. The chase was back on.

~MC~MC~MC~

"You... you think that little display changes anything?" Loyalty barked. Twilight cringed; it was clear that the abstract was trying to laugh. There was something so utterly disturbing about how the golden alicorn behaved… Twilight’s thoughts instantly went to a wind chime that had become tangled. "The mare performed the sonic rainboom... good for her! It is a fine feat and she should be proud of it!" Loyalty scoffed in disgust. "But if you think for one moment it has some higher meaning, you are wrong. It was a trick... a rare trick, I admit, but a trick. It is no different than doing a corkscrew or a backflip. It doesn't mean a thing and believe it does is just plain stupid!"

"You could be so brilliant," Twilight whispered sadly, ignoring the foolishness that had come out of the abstract's mouth. Of course he wouldn’t believe… that would mean having faith…

"Save me your hollow flattery," Loyalty snarked. "I am going to taking control of you... once I open your eyes to the glories of harmony-"

Twilight merely shook her head, trotting around the abstract. Her casual dismissal of his threats had Loyalty blinking, flustered that she wasn't rising and taking the bait. This was his moment, the point that, years from now, the scholars would identify as when he made the final push that would crush the rebellion and make them see the error of their ways.

But Twilight Sparkle wasn't playing along. She was supposed to deliver some speech about how she was 'the hero' and how Loyalty would pay... and he would respond with actions and show her the power of the abstracts. He would prove to her that his way was better than hers, that her little rebellion, made up of loosely knit ponies, could not compete with the glory of a species united in one mind and one spirit.

"I'm not flattering you or trying to trick you," Twilight said gently. "I am only telling the truth... you could be so brilliant. You have the brains and the will and... and if you only opened your mind for just a moment you could do so much for this world. You have such utter potential." She took a step forward, staring at him with those deep, dark eyes, and Loyalty twitched, not liking the strange feeling he felt in his chest. "But the first thing you have to do is accept that you have built your base on falsehoods."

Loyalty glared at her. "Is this where you try to convince me to believe your dark lies?"

"No... this is where I try and make you see the truth. You have existed for thousands of years... but this is the first time you've been alive, isn't it? You're experiencing all these new things and it is confusing you so you cling to the one constant you have: loyalty." Twilight took another step forward, eyes pleading with him to listen. The rainboom had filled her with hope and thus she would try, one last time, to convince Loyalty to end this peacefully. "But the loyalty you are trying to create doesn't work any more... it isn't loyalty."

"I am Loyalty... what I say is loyal is loyal!"

Twilight shook her head. "No. No, you are wrong, Loyalty. Do you want to know what loyalty is to me?" She continued even as he opened his mouth to insult her. "Loyalty is built on a foundation of trust and battles. It is crafted slowly, over time, through both the good times and the bads. Every victory strengthens it and every failure hones it and removes the imperfections. And when loyalty is finally achieved it is nearly impossible to destroy! Loyalty isn't blindly following somepony and helping them do bad things... loyalty is telling them that when they awake up and see the error of their ways that you'll be there to help them rise back up!

"Look around you... this isn't loyalty! This is control... blind devotion... mindlessness. You are trying to create a hive mind but you don't realize that there is no loyalty in such a state... loyalty comes from separate beings, with their own ideas and values and experiences, coming together and finding common ground! You are trying to create obedience… and that isn’t you."

Loyalty tried to sneer but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "What would you have me do then? Swear fealty to you and become your slave? Would you make me write friendship reports like your precious Princesses commanded you to do?"

Twilight shook her head. "I would have you stand down and free Cloudsdale... and then I would have you help me find your brother."

"Doubt," Loyalty snapped. "The traitor of the abstracts."

"No... not any more. Your brother was lost and like you are now he became confused. He began to preach something he truly didn’t believe in and it caused pain. But he opened himself up and sought help... and he learned about the world. He came to understand compassion and humility and friendship and love and loss… and he found himself again. That is your mistake, Loyalty... your brother has returned... he is Faith again and he needs you! You want to know what loyalty is? Loyalty is going to your brother and telling him you will help him." Twilight blinked back tears that gathered in her eyes. "You don't have to forgive him... he did so many bad things... but you can help him achieve true redemption, if only in your eyes."

"You... you honestly think it is that simple?" Loyalty questioned.

"Yes!" Twilight practically screamed. "These last three months have been the greatest of my life! Faith and Spike and I have learned so much from each other and our bond is so strong... it would be my honor to travel with you." She smiled, taking a shuddering breath. "Imagine it... the four of us could go together and create REAL harmony... we could find your siblings and show them the truth that I am showing you. The eight of us... we could do what you tried to do with my friends! We could spread true harmony throughout the world. You could help Faith grow and he could show you the wonders this world has. There is so much you have yet to experience... and now that you have a body you can! There... there is no better fate I could think of than to travel at your side, you and Faith, and learn from you and you from me." Twilight's body shook with raw emotion. "Please... please stop this madness. You have made a mistake but you can still correct it... don't abandon your brother and don't turn against your true nature because of pride!"

Loyalty stared at her. It was as if the entire world had gone still and waited for his answer. Fate would be rewritten and history altered by what he would chose at this moment. He looked at this mare that had so passionately argued her case and felt his heart just a bit faster.

For abstracts time moved both quick and slow. A thousand years could flash by in the blink of an eye and the space between seconds could last a million lifetimes. He pondered her words and thought of all she said and that which he saw and knew.

"You..." he said softly, "sound like an apologist."

Twilight's heart shattered.

"My brother... my brother Faith... he betrayed all of us." Loyalty was shaking as if he had caught a sudden cold, his wings flapping in agitation. "He didn't listen when we warned him to stand down and leave it to us five to battle Discord. Had he stayed... had he just stayed away from this world and remained home where it was safe... my baby brother would still be alive." Loyalty's golden eyes flashed in anger. "Because my brother is dead. You can call whatever it is you know Faith but the Faith I knew died when he came to this place. You ponies... you were his killer. You with your fighting and your wars and your need to always disagree! Even the most fundamental truths are fought about... you fight just to fight! You betray each other all the time... oh, you dress it up with cute titles like 'little white lies' or 'acting for the greater good' but the fact remains that you stab each other in the back every damn day! It is your nature... you can't help it!"

Loyalty let out a pain-filled laugh. "What you call loyalty I cal being an apologist. You wrong others and then expect them to reconnect the ties that bound you? How stupid can you all be?" He pointed a hoof at a trembling Twilight. "You fell because of loyalty! Your friends betrayed loyalty again and again and you were a fool for letting them come back! You should have found others that would have followed you to the end! Instead you bottled up till you in turn betrayed all you believed in and became the dark alicorn! How is your way better than mine? Mine is the path of peace and harmony... your way is filled only with pain and sorrow."

"Life isn't all good!" Twilight shouted.

"Then life is flawed!" Loyalty roared. "I am creating something better... life perfected. You justify the failures and imperfections as being needed. Ha! I am removing the blemishes like a doctor with a scalpel, carving them away and leaving only the pureness that has been hidden by the dark you allowed to fester."

Twilight shook her head. "But you are taking away free will!"

"So be it! If you can only have one or the other I vote for a world without pain." He shook his head in disgust. "You ponies... you killed my baby brother and then took his body and... and you twisted it and tainted it and turned it into something foul. You all turned him into Doubt and force me to break my ties with him."

Twilight's brow furrowed, her tears drying up as she rose. Anger was etched on her face as she glared at the golden abstract. "We did no such thing! YOU chose to abandon him! YOU chose to leave him be! Everything that happened to him is your fault because you weren't LOYAL to your own brother!"
"How could I be loyal to that creature?" Loyalty screamed.

"Because he is your brother and you love him!" Twilight howled. "If you can't get that through your head then you are a fool!"

Loyalty shook his head in disgust. "There is no reasoning with you."

Twilight's horn began to glow with chaos magic. "And I with you. I tried... I tried to make you see reason... are you sure you want to continue down this path?"

"Yes." Loyalty's own horn began to call forth golden magic.

"Then may I be forgiven for what I must do." With that Twilight fired a blast of chaos magic at Loyalty, the golden abstract responding in kind. Cloudsdale trembled as the beams met, pushing against each other as each alicorn fought for control. The skies trembled under the sheer volume of magic and each of them struggled to maintain control.

And that is when they heard the rumble of engines.

Both combatants turned at the same time, their magic dissipating within a moment. They looked to the east of Cloudsdale, towards a great cloud bank that had formed as the city shook under the ravages of war. It loomed before them like some great curtain and from within they could hear the steady thrum of something big preparing to burst through.

Then the cloud bank parted and the sky grew dark. All of the rebels felt their hearts falter at the sight of this new doom that had appeared before them, ready to snatch their victory away. They all trembled and their will to continue crumbled, for coming towards the great cloud city was a thing of untold power and strength, the likes of which had never been seen in Equestria before: an airship.

It resembled, in many ways, the mighty galleons that raced along the Mareatine. Massive sails were held aloft by great rigs, though these mighty wind catchers were not made of cloth but some strange metallic fabric that was covered with glowing mystical runes. Great wings burst from the sides of the ship and upon each rumbled monstrous propellers that drove the war ship forward. Cannons lined the sides of the vessel and the rebels could see a crew of grim and dirty ponies manning the weapons and preparing to launch their assault upon them. The mighty airship turned towards Cloudsdale and Rainbow Dash's heart fell into the depths of her stomach at the sight of the giant beast that screamed their doom as it bore down upon them.

Loyalty strolled forward, a sneer on his face as he favored Twilight with a pitying glance. "I see my brothers and sisters saw fit to send aid. Behold our secret weapon, built in the ruins of Canterlot. With this airship we will be able to crush any that refuse to swear allegiance to Equestria and the power of harmony!" He turned his back to the mighty vessel and focused all his gloating upon Twilight. “What hope do you have now? How can you believe for a moment this war can be won when I have this at my beck and call?”

"I want to make sure I understand this right," a voice called out from the ship. Loyalty slowly turned, eyes widening almost comically as he realized it was not one of the queens that held the command. "Whoever controls this ship controls the war, right?" Upon the railing a blue unicorn leapt forward. Her normal cape and hat were gone and instead she was decked in a modified royal guard dress uniform and a naval tri-corner hat. "Well, bad news everypony... because guess who!”

"No...way," Twilight whispered in shock.

"That's right, everypony, it is I, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL CAPTAIN TRIXIE!"

"…hahahahahaha!” The golden abstract just began to laugh, his entire body shaking with mirth. Trixie looked down at him in annoyance but Loyalty kept laughing. “Oh… that is… too rich.” He fired a blast of magic, Trixie crying out as she was struck. “This is the trump card? This is what you think I should fear you? A pathetic little unicorn?" Loyalty sneered.

Trixie, though injured, merely smiled back in response, rising to her hooves. Her coat was singed and her face darkened from the blast but still she managed to stand up and face the golden alicorn. "No... I am not the one you should fear." The unicorn whipped around, the power dampener on her horn falling off as Loyalty’s magic finally deactivated it. In turn, Trixie twisted and let off a blast of magic herself. Loyalty's eyes widened in fear as he stared at Trixie's intended target rising up in the air. His body was broken and bleeding, his face swollen and his side marred by a large gash. "You and your siblings locked his powers away… you imprisoned him and tried to hide him away…" Trixie said, spreading her forelegs wide and Loyalty trembled as a small device fell from the horn of the LAST pony he’d expected to see, "but now that dampening ring is gone... and Faith is free."

The silver alicorn rose up higher, his wounds from Cadence fading away as his magic was restored. The lord of the gray's horn flashed and silver energy began to radiate around all the crew of the ship. Celestia’s sun burst through the darkness Twilight had created and shone upon him. Faith twirled several times as his strength and power returned. Twilight looked upon her friend with tears in her eyes and Rainbow Dash’s smile grew so wide it threatened to split her face. Cheers rose from those ponies that knew him and those that didn’t felt the urge to do the same as the living embodiment of belief was revealed. Those that had been infected by Loyalty found themselves on their bellies, trembling at the sight, ashamed without reason. Loyalty called out for it to stop, demanding it stop, firing off blasts of magic to MAKE it stop… but it never did.

"Hello Loyalty," Faith said calmly as he began to descend, his great metallic wings shining in the rays of the sun. The crew of the airship, the former prisoners of the queens, called out his name and roared words of encouragement. Faith threw back his head and with a sudden burst of magic all of Loyalty’s threads were shattered, releasing the citizens of Cloudsdale. The golden abstract gnashed his teeth together but the youngest of the abstracts merely stared at him. "Your baby brother has returned.”

Loyalty blinked but quickly regained his composure. His confident swagger returned and he began to trot towards his brother, a sneer on his face. "Are you here to lecture me brother? To try and convince me you are the hero of this story? Are you going to 'monologue'? I know you love to do that. What clever little comments do you want to make? What snarky comment-"

A bolt of silver energy struck Loyalty and sent him flying into a building.

"The time for talk is over.” Faith said simply, his eyes going pure black and he began to approach his older brother. “Trying to kill Twilight and Trixie... was a mistake." Faith's eyes flickered with rage and his extended his wings, their sharp edges promising pain and suffering. “Twilight!”

“Faith?” the lavender alicorn called out.

“Run.”

Twilight shook her head. “I’m not leaving you!”

Faith merely turned and Twilight gasped at the raw rage that poured out of the abstract’s eyes. “So be it… but we warned, my dear… this city is about to become the most dangerous place in all of Equestria.”

“I’m not afraid!” Twilight shouted.

“Now is not the time for fear,” Faith stated. His horn flashed and he began to beat his wings, summoning up a mighty wind that nearly sending Twilight toppling. “That comes later.” Twilight nodded grimly and together they turned and faced his brother, wings stretching out wider and wider till they appeared to go on till eternity. Lightning cracked over head and thunder shook Cloudsdale to its very foundation. Loyalty sneered, golden threads latching onto the clouds as the storm grew in power. Faith raised his head, calling upon the power of the maelstrom.

Loyalty, Twilight, and Faith began to fly towards each other, their eyes dark as they prepared to do what they must. All about them the city of Cloudsdale trembled as the great maelstrom descended upon it, heralding the grand battle that had finally come.

Faith… had gone to war.

The Battle of Cloudsdale Part 5

"The heavens split apart and the God of War stepped through."

-The Narrator, God of War

The winds howled around them like hungry wolves but none of the combatants give it any heed. Twilight's sky had become a dark swirl of stars and emptiness, setting the stage for the battle. The clouds that hung about the great pegasus city had been whipped into a frenzy by the flapping wings of the three immortals that now dueled for the fate of so many. Far below, all sorts of creatures, which had been staring at the sky in amazement as the sun was snatched away, now cried out in terror as they witnessed the maelstrom that had formed over their heads. None of them realized just what was happening, but if they did it would have only made their panic more severe.

The alicorns had gone to war.

~MC~MC~MC~

"What is going on?" Scootaloo mumbled. She barely had enough strength to lift her head and Dash was thankful for her alicorn strength; it let her carry her number one fan like she was a newborn foal without costing her any speed.

Dash looked up at the darkening sky and frowned. Yes, she was glad she had her speed. "I think Twilight and Loyalty and going at it."

'Evacuate the city'

Rainbow blinked. "Faith?" She looked around but could not find the abstract.

'Rainbow Dash? Hmmm, that explains why my brother has his own body and is ranting and raving. Mouthy little git, isn't it?'

"Where are you?" Rainbow Dash said, not caring if she looked like a madpony.

'Cloudsdale, same as you... though I would suggest you not spend much more time here, as I am about to bring my full wrath down upon my brother and I fear this city will be collateral damage.'

"There are still innocent ponies in the city!" Rainbow exclaimed, banking sharply. "We need-"

'My airship is anchored on the west side... Trixie and Will now know you are coming. Get as many ponies as you can follow you. Those that can fly well must race away from this place. Any that can't will be safe with my crew. I am already sending word to Shining Armor's little rebellion to do the same-' Silence cut through Faith's comments and for a moment Rainbow feared the worst. ‘... while my brother’s control is gone they will still be under the effects of your control and will obey you; command them to help.'

"I don't understand-"

'There is no time, just go!'

"Rainbow Dash, what is going on?" Scootaloo asked as the cyan alicorn dove down towards a group of guards that were standing on a cloud, blinking as their eyes returned to normal.

"Follow my lead," Rainbow stated sternly, before calling out. "GUARD! IS THIS HOW YOU ACT WHEN YOUR QUEEN APPROACHES?!"

The guards leapt up, spreading their wings and saluting the speedsters. If they had any questions about why she was smaller or why Commander Scootaloo was on her back, they didn't speak them.

"We have been betrayed by the one called Loyalty! He lied to all of us and led Equestria into war! The alicorns Twilight Sparkle and Faith are doing battle with him now... the city is to be emptied before Loyalty strucks us down. Find all that you can and command them to fly... if they are small, weak, sick or elderly take them to the... airship..." Rainbow forced herself not to stumble over that word, wondering just how much she had missed while under Loyalty's guidance, "...where the pony Trixie will provide them shelter. Go!"

~MC~MC~MC~

Twilight's face was grim but even she was startled that Faith was the first to strike. His horn exploded like cannon fire, sending a bolt of silver chaos magic at his older brother. Loyalty dodged the attack and flapped his wings, sending out a multitude of golden thread to try and ensnare his baby brother.

Faith growled and cut the string with his metal wings, dissipating the magic and sending the remains into the vortex. He rocketed upwards, gathering lightning as he spun amongst the clouds, dodging Loyalty's attempts to strike him down. Electricity danced along his wingtips before he dived down, his body glowing until he became a living lightning bolt. The sky trembled when he collided with his brother, but when the energy faded the two of them were pressing their faces together, horns locked as they struggled for dominance.

"How you have fallen, brother," Loyalty said grunted, his wing tips becoming like whips and striking Faith over and over, ripping off hunks of his hide. Of course, the silver alicorn gave as good as he got, firing of razor sharp feathers that stabbed his older brother, drawing glowing ichor. The two of them spun in the air and Twilight was struck dumb and mute by the show of power. "You betrayed us all and now you throw your lot in with rogues and rebels."

Faith merely smirked as he pressed back against his brother's physical assault, his hide already healing from the damage. "Ah, so you are resorting to trickery and words... a useful weapon on the weak and those outside the family." Faith slid his horn to the right, costing himself a scratch on the check but winning him a moment to slam his foreleg into his brother's ribs. "But I am not an outsider... am I brother?"

"You are no brother of mine, Doubt!" Loyalty broke free from his brother and began to send orbs of swirling magic at the silver alicorn. Faith dipped and weaved, gritting his teeth when the magic bombs would explode and release a kind of magical acid onto his flank. "You betrayed us all and now you side with this arrogant ponies-"

"I thought you would be happy," Twilight said, popping up beside Loyalty and smashing him in the face. The golden alicorn yelped in pain, sending out several threads that forced Twilight back. However, Twilight wasn't about to go down that easily and with a quick thought called upon the stars to aid her. The balls of light rained down on Loyalty, burning his body and forcing him to quickly weave a shield of golden thread to protect himself. "After you abandoned him he sought out anyone that could help him... he found me. Faith fights because I am his friend and he is mine... the very definition of loyalty." Her eyes flashed and one of the shooting stars she had sent at Loyalty burst into a miniature super nova. Loyalty roared in agony as much of his right side was burned and he fell 20 feet before he was able to right him. "Shouldn't you be proud of your brother? He is displaying loyalty."

"That is why he is such a failure," Loyalty snapped, his wounds already healing. He fired off a beam of energy that would have drilled a hole in Twilight's chest if it weren't for the quick actions of Faith. The silver alicorn leapt in the way, using his wings to shield her from the blast. He grunted as several metal feathers were blasted away but he held firm, slowly making his way closer to his brother.

"Then tell us, brother, what grand sin have I committed that justifies all of this?" Faith and Twilight advanced, forcing Loyalty to try and intensify the blast. The magic shot off Faith's wings like water against rocks, bathing the eye of the maelstrom in a amber light. "Look at what you have done, Loyalty!" Faith shouted over the din of battle. "Take a good long look at what your actions of wrought!"

"All of this falls upon you, brother!" Loyalty screamed, sweat dripping down his brow as he struggled to keep the beam firing. "You betrayed us... you still betray us!"

"You abandoned me!"

"And you learned to FEEL!" Loyalty shouted, sending a wave of energy at the two alicorns. Twilight yelped as Faith was sent slamming backwards and the lavender alicorn just managed to zip away before Faith crashed into her. Twilight whipped around, fury written on her features as she called forth two tendrils of magic, one pure white and burning, the other as dark and cold as space itself.

"That is your problem? That he actually has emotions?" Twilight roared, sending the whips at Loyalty and driving him back towards the wall of the storm. "You abandoned him! You all left him alone, forgotten! What did you expect to happen?"

"I expected him to die with dignity!" Loyalty snapped, grabbed the tendrils and yanking them towards him. Twilight was flung forward, unable to stop herself before Loyalty drove his hoof into her face. The lavender alicorn screamed in pain as the golden abstract began to punch her over and over and over. "We are abstracts! We are one thing and nothing more! When his purpose was lost he should have died and allowed another to take his place... instead he clung to life and took on another form! I could have forgiven this," Loyalty lifted Twilight's bloodied face up before head butting her, "but he had to develop emotions and feelings that were alien to faith itself! Such things are the coping mechanisms of you pathetic creatures! Abstracts are better than that... we are above such petty needs and you... and you... you would see us all end up like you!"

Twilight coughed, staring at him through swollen eyes. "And... and what do you call what you are feeling? That sounds like rage, not loyalty."

"It is rage born out of loyalty for an ideal and a purpose... something you would never understand." Loyalty's horn glowed and he moved in for the kill. "That is why you are weak... why you fail."

~MC~MC~MC~

Spitfire knew something was off.

One moment the Wonderbolts were pursuing her, shouting insults and trying to rip her from the sky. The next, she was flying all by herself, her attackers left frozen in place, hanging in the sky in confusion. The mare twisted, staring at them in confusion, only to let out an undignified ‘whahuh?’ when they all began to depart in different directions.

“Hey!” Spitfire shouted, trying to catch one of them and figure out what was going on. “HEY!”

“Spitfire!” Rainbow Dash called out, flying over to the confused flyer. “We need to get out of here, now! Faith’s storm is going to rip everypony to shreds!”

Spitfire glanced at the retreating forms of her team mates… before sighing and following Rainbow Dash.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Come along, children!" Clyde called out, dropping onto the deck of the airship. Pip and Ruby Punch leapt off his back, swaying as the airship rocked int the gale force winds. "Everyone down below!"

Iron Will nodded, grabbing the little ones and helping them to the door that led down into the bowels of the ship. "There are plenty of ponies down there... find some and stay with them!"

Derpy landed on the deck in a crash of limbs, Dinky rolling head over tail before ending up besides Trixie. "Again, again!" she squealed as Depry and the Doctor attempted to untangle themselves.

"Maybe later," Trixie said, motioning for the family of three to get below deck. The Doctor nodded to Derpy, nuzzling her for a moment before joining Trixie at the rail, watching as the maelstrom whirling just above Cloudsdale. "Go below."

"I have faced worse and you might still need my help." The Doctor looked at the airship and laughed. "And this is just too cool! It looks like a pirate ship but with wings! Splendid!" He began to examine every inch of the deck. "How do you make it run? I imagine it isn't a combustion engine, as the energy output would not be enough... magical, perhaps?"

Flam gripped the wheel of the airship, turning it first one then the other as he fought against the winds. "We are getting bucked pretty badly here, captain! I made her well but I doubt even she can manage to survive this storm."

Iron Will frowned. "What could have caused this?"

"Faith," Rainbow Dash said, landing on the deck, Spitfire landing a second after her. Several of the former prisoners glared at her and she held up her hooves. "Uh, he did tell you I was coming, right?"

"He did," Sweetie Belle said, emerging from below deck. "Scootaloo!" She ran to her friend, checking her over. "You're hurt! We need to get you to a doctor!" She dragged the confused pegasus down below, leaving Rainbow, Trixie, the Doctor, Spitfire, Flam and Iron Will stare at the chaos that was Cloudsdale.

~MC~MC~MC~

Twilight shut her eyes, preparing herself for the end. It never came. Loyalty turned, only to receive a blast of silver magic right in his face. Faith rushed forward, catching up to his brother even as he tumbled, and began to lashed out with his wings, skinning the golden abstract and sending bits and pieces of his flank into the wall of the storm.

"You stupid, closed minded fool!" Faith roared in fury, grabbing his brother and slamming golden alicorn's face into his knee. "You think feeling makes me weak? Then how could I have survived these last thousand years? I am not the weak one... you are! You hide away from the world like the rest of the abstracts, trying to claim that you were better than all those you saw as below you. But you have been lying to yourself! You have learned to feel too, brother... you learned to feel fear! Fear of my power... fear of your precious ways and traditions being overthrown... fear that the ponies you thought so weak might be strong enough to cast you aside."

Loyalty struggled to fight off Faith but his baby brother would not let him have an inch. Faith grabbed him by his dark mane and tossed him upwards before firing off a blast of magic that crushed several of Loyalty's ribs. The golden abstract groaned, only to howl as Faith leapt up and snapped his right foreleg.

"And the saddest thing of all, brother, is that your backwards, outdated views have brought Equestria to the brink of chaos! It is a wonder that Discord hasn’t broken free! Of course, that is what your master wants!" Loyalty's eyes widened and Twilight, who had landed on a cloud to heal, looked up with wide eyes as Faith delivered his most devastating blow with his greatest weapon: his words. "Oh yes, I know all about your master, the one that provided you with a way the cross the breach and return to Equestria. I know more about her then you, brother... your little mistress is the first Doubt, driven mad and seeking out all our deaths. You inadvertently pledged yourself to a madmare and she will see all of us burn!"

"You lie," Loyalty snapped.

"No," Faith said coldly. "But you are too far committed to see the truth in the matter, Loyalty." Faith lashed out, driving his horn into the golden abstract's chest, drawing blood. He backed away, a smirk on his face as he retreated to Twilight's side and began to heal her. "You say that my emotions make me weak... I say they make me strong. I have truly lived and by doing so I have gained so much, brother... joy, sorrow, allies... and friends." Faith smirked, looking down. "Speaking of-"

A great roar ripped through the maelstrom and Loyalty screamed as Spike burst through the storm, his fires burning away the golden alicorn's wings. If it weren't for the threads that Loyalty quickly sent out he would have plummeted to his death. This quick thinking only served to bring him more pain; the moment he came to a halt Faith and Twilight fired twin blasts of magic that struck him head on, rendering the abstract nearly catatonic. Spike flew around Twilight and Faith and the two leapt onto his back watching Loyalty as he struggled to lift his head.

"This... means nothing," Loyalty snapped. "I... I am Loyalty... one of the Elements of Harmony... you... you..."

"Yes, yes, all that, brother," Faith said snidely. "You came to my home... you tried to take it from me and corrupt it. You took control of those I deem friend and you did it all in the name of a madmare." The silver abstract glared at his brother. "You are done... yield."

"It... it doesn't matter," Loyalty coughed, golden ichor staining his lips. "Even if I fall... the rest of MY family will defeat you, Doubt. You will-"

Twilight fired a blast of magic right into Loyalty's stomach.

"If all of the abstracts fail to hear reason... then we'll beat them too," Twilight declared.

Faith nodded. "Indeed... I have lived with your guilt for far enough... the time of the abstracts has come to an end." Faith turned, flicking his wings and sending two bladed feather's into Loyalty's sides, causing the gold alicorn to scream in agony. "Now... try and have the decency to die with dignity."

And with that, Spike took off, leaving the dying form of Loyalty... all alone.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Something is bursting through!" Iron Will called out, gripping the rail tightly.

"Battle stations!" Trixie shouted, steeling herself as the maelstrom split apart. "Holy-"

"Don't worry, good ponies!" The Doctor called out. "That is merely Spike!"

Rainbow smirked. "No matter how many times I see him like that..."

Spike shrank down as he approached the airship, until Twilight and Faith leapt off his back and Spike swung around and grabbing Twilight's horn, holding on tight as she landed on the deck of the airship. Trixie raced up to Faith and, to Twilight's utter surprise and horror, nuzzled him in a FAR too affectionate manner.

"Is it done?" Trixie asked.

Faith pursed his lips, slowly turning towards the city of Cloudsdale. Lightning cracked as he looked towards the great city of the pegasi, black eyes gazing at the swirling storm that lay before him. "It appears my brother refuses to listen to my advice..."

Cloudsdale seemed to stretch and contract, like some mighty giant who had been struck and forced to catch his breath. With each constriction the city changed it shape and the clouds, to those that looked upon them, looked to be made of gold. Great spires shifted and flattened and a terrible roar filled the ears of all those nearby as something rose up from the city, terrible yet broken.

"What... is that?" Trixie whispered.

"That... is Loyalty." Before the others could comment, Faith continued. "He is dying... any his last attempt to save himself is to infuse Cloudsdale itself with his essence. He wishes to place something of himself, even the smallest spark, within the clouds and the storm, so that he might have a chance to live on."

"He can do that?" Dash said in shock.

"We all can... I attempted the same with Twilight, remember?" Faith watched as Cloudsdale began to revert to its normal form. "He will be a part of it all as long as the city stands." The silver alicorn took a deep breath. "Iron Will."

"Yes?" the minotaur called out.

"Fire on Cloudsdale."

"WHAT?!?!" Twilight and Dash shouted in shock.

"Yes, sir," Iron Will said, marching along the deck and pounding on the boards, calling for the gunners to arm their stations. "Get us the chain shot!" From the side of the great airship panels moved aside to reveal 30 great cannons packed and ready. "Flam, bring us about!"

"What? No!" Twilight turned to Faith, eyes wide with fear. "You can't destroy Cloudsdale. We’ve won… what’s the point?"

"The city is now Loyalty... I will not allow him even a hoofhold in this land." Faith turned his back to Twilight, staring at Cloudsdale.

"You... you can't!" Rainbow shouted in a near panic. "You can't wipe out Cloudsdale!"

"You said it yourself... he is only a part of it... but we can make sure he never comes back! You don't have to do this!"

Faith lowered his head. "I am sorry. Fire!"

"FIRE!" Trixie and Iron Will called out. The cannons boomed and from each three small metal balls burst forth, connected to each other with thick chain. Twilight and Rainbow could only watch, powerless as the chain shots ripped through Cloudsdale, shattering the magic that held the clouds together and forcing them to dissipate and fade. The stadium, the towers, the homes... all that had been a part of the city, which had hung above Equestria since the coming of the alicorns... all of this was wiped out with a flurry of cannon fire. The wind blew and it sounded to some like a final, mournful death rattle.

Cloudsdale was no more.

Rainbow fell to her knees and sobbed while Twilight turned on Faith, eyes burning with fury. "How could you-"

Trixie, Iron Will and Flam jumped in front of Twilight, their own eyes as deadly as daggers.

"You will show our king respect," Iron Will snapped.

"King?" The Doctor said in surprise, looking at Faith who seemed just as startled by the proclamation.

"Equestria can keep its princesses and its queens... our King is the one who saved us," Flam proclaimed. "We are his company and he is our leader... and you will not speak ill of him."

"That is enough," Faith said wearily, trudging away. "All of this silliness can be discussed later. I will be in my quarters. Iron Will, you have the command." Faith turned, his wings hanging limply at his sides. “Trixie?”

The blue mare favored him with a slight smile. “I’ll be there… give me a moment.” Waiting until Faith had left, Trixie turned to Twilight. "You would be wise to remember where you stand... this is not Equestria and though you might be his friend, we are his family… we will follow him to hell and back. He is loved… by all of us." She said the last bit awkwardly. Shaking her head, Trixie forced herself to adapt a sneer. She gave a long, mocking bow. "Welcome to The Abundance."

Blood

Which blood, like sacrificing Abel's, cries,
Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth,
To me for justice and rough chastisement;

-William Shakespeare’s ‘Richard II’

It was a mixed group of ponies that greeted Shining Armor as he stepped onto the deck of The Abundance. There were happy tears and joyful cries as foals, fillies and colts rushed over and leapt into their parents' forelegs, hugging them tightly and jabbering about what had happened to them. They told stories of flying earth ponies and stallions with wings made of silver glass who called upon storms to aid him in fighting dark knights built of gold. Those little ones that didn't have parents to welcome them were not forgotten and quickly found some pony to nuzzle. It warmed Shining's heart to see every pony actually smiling and felt that this moment was worth all the pain of the last few weeks. They had won… not the war, perhaps, but at least one battle.

And yet it wasn't all happiness on the great airship. There were pegasi that seemed to be walking about in a daze, their eyes blank and their stares hollow. Most troubled was Rainbow Dash, who seemed nearly as bad as Derpy had been. Scootaloo, who was receiving some dark stares from members of the rebellion, was always at her side, her wings fluttering as she constantly asked Rainbow what she needed and rushed to provide it.

Shining glanced over at the bubbly gray mare, who was chatting away with Dinky and the Doctor. At least that was one happy ending... for now.

The ponies that were clearly in charge of The Abundance glanced at him with measuring glazes, like they were studying him and looking to see if he would meet their standards. They gave many members of the rebellion a wide berth, a clear division forming between the former prisoners and the ponies that fought against the queens. The ponies that had gone with Twilight seemed to have no problem with this, shooting back wicked glares of their own.

Something had happened that much was clear... and Shining didn't like being left in the dark.

"Twilight!" Shining called out, spotting his sister making her way below deck. He hurried after her, bobbing and weaving through the throng of ponies on the deck before slipping downstairs. His horn glowed and he used a bit of magic to track down his wayward sister. The alicorn of the stars had selected an empty room of her own and was furiously pacing back and forth, muttering under her breath. Spike was seated on the bed, nibbling on some purple stone Shining couldn't identify. The baby dragon motioned for Shining to come closer and the unicorn sidestepped his sister, who showed no sign of having noticed him enter the room. "What is going on?"

"She's losing it."

"What now?" Shining practically moaned, wondering what little issue could have driven his sister nutty.

"Faith blew up Cloudsdale."

"...huh?"

Spike sighed. "His brother, Loyalty, really did a number on us. Loyalty had the ability to turn ponies into puppets... literally puppets, with strings and everything. Would have been cool, if not for the whole brainwashing evil mastermind thing. From what I was able to gather, Twilight was having some problems with him until Faith showed up in this totally cool airship," Spike grinned wide, looking about the cabin in glee, "I mean, look at it!"

"Spike, about Cloudsdale going boom?"

"Right, sorry." The drake blushed. "Anyway, Faith showed up and him and Twilight fought Loyalty. I arrived at the end and delivered the killing blow, but hey, that's just Spike being Spike!" The purple dragon puffed out his chest and the stallion rolled his eyes, motioning for him to continue. "Ok, so we all managed to give Loyalty a mortal wound and we came here... only..."

"Only what?" Shining pressed.

"Only Faith decided to blow up Cloudsdale!" Twilight snapped, whipping around and glaring at her brother. "Boom! Just blew it up! Just like that! Didn't matter if I told him not too..." Twilight lowered her head, hissing under her breath, "but TRIXIE asked him I bet her would have been dancing around asking what to do next…”

Shining's right eyebrow shot up and he glanced once more at Spike, silently asking for some clarification.

"Seems that when Faith was captured he ended up with Trixie… she’s a magician that-“

“I know who Trixie is,” Shining said simply, leaving it at that.

“Oh. Well, Faith ended up with her, that Iron Will guy, Flim's brother and a punch of other ponies. They staged a jail break and apparently they are now pretty close."

“I’m not surprised,” Shining stated. “As horrible as it is to say, being in prison is much like being in the military… it becomes a second family.”

"Pretty close," Twilight grumbled. "I'm surprised Trixie isn't picking out china patterns yet." She began to pace again, rattling off of the issues she had with the silver alicorn. "He ran off without tell me where he was going, and then when he does pop up he had the nerve to tell me to leave and let him take on Loyalty? Ha! Like I was going to let him out of my sight for a moment! Good thing too; who knows what horrors he would have committed if I weren't there." She grit her teeth together, grinding them so hard it was a wonder they weren't turned to powder. "He didn't care... that was a city... home to pegasi… it has existed for thousands of years and is a beacon of hope and light in Equestria and he just destroyed it, like it was nothing!"

"But Twilight, what about Loyalty?" Spike asked. When Twilight whipped around to level him with a cold stare the baby dragon leaned back nervously. "Just... saying that Loyalty was bonding with Cloudsdale and if Faith hadn't ordered it destroy he might have come back..."

"There were other ways, Spike. Who gave Faith the power to do what he did?"

Shining sighed. "Twilight, take a breath, ok?" The alicorn's jaw twitched but she did as asked. "I get why you are angry... Faith overreacted."

"Exactly," Twilight said.

"You were facing a monster that could take over ponies and force them to turn against everypony they knew. That got him angry, of course, but that is no excuse for what he did."

"Right," Twilight said, stewing in her own frustrations.

"And when Faith attacked the changeling queen, he let his emotions get the better of him and he overreacted."

"Yeah, that he-" Twilight blinked. "Wait, what-"

"Did I say changeling queen?" Shining said with mock surprise. "I meant to say abstract. I mean, they are so different from each other... it’s not like Loyalty disguised himself as a pony you knew and trusted." Twilight pursed her lips, readying to tear into her brother, but he just steamrolled ahead. "And it isn't like he had mind control abilities that could make ponies like... well, me... into their slaves." He narrowed his eyes. "Of course Faith should get a tongue lashing for going overboard... the proper response would have been to brutally beat Loyalty in the middle of a wedding until he was an inch from death… then he should have attacked a bunch of doctors and gone to a nightclub." The unicorn turned to Spike. "Should we be expecting Faith to begin chatting with a black-flanked alicorn with mirror wings?"

Twilight leapt forward, getting in her brother's face. "That was different! Don't you dare make what I did to be anything like what Faith did."

"You are right... Faith was justified."

"What are you-"

"THIS IS WAR!" Shining roared in fury. Twilight stumbled back, eyes wide and legs trembling. All at once she felt like a small foal once more, her big brother towering over her. It was silly, of course, as Shining was now an inch or so smaller than her... and yet she felt like the little one. "Did you forget that, Twiley? Did you forget what the abstracts have done? They have brainwashed this country... they kidnapped foals and they imprisoned innocent ponies just because they refused to give up their own beliefs! One of those damn abstracts was trying to take over Cloudsdale… he bastardized it and destroyed it. Get that through your head right now… Cloudsdale was no longer Cloudsdale… it was Loyalty. Faith mercy killed that great city so it wouldn’t be turned into a weapon against the ponies that loved it.” Shining shook his head in disgust. “And if you honestly think Faith enjoyed doing that then you are a fool.”

“Shining-“

“I barely know Faith but I can tell you, from what I have seen, that abstract is nothing like his brothers and sisters. He actually cares for us and he works constantly to avoid hurting any of us… and you.”

“He did say sorry,” Spike pointed out softly. “And… he didn’t look to happy doing it.”

Shining turned his back on his sister. “Faith did what you were to scared to do. And his reward for actions is your hate… the hate of his truest friend. By Celestia, if he is anything like you then we are truly doomed… last thing we need is him to go dark again.” Twilight winced at that. “If you want to be mad at Faith for destroying Cloudsdale, go right ahead. I understand that. But be mad for the right reasons… be mad because he didn’t consult you or take your objections seriously. But don’t stand on a soap box and pretend you are better than him. If this war has taught me anything… it is that all of us are a bit lower than we thought.”

And with that Shining left Twilight, Spiking hurrying quickly after him.

“That was kinda harsh,” Spike stated.

“Twilight has gotten away with a lot lately, Spike,” Shining stated. “Maybe it is time she got a taste of harsh.”

~MC~MC~MC~

“I… I suppose this should have been done with more pomp and circumstance, but I am afraid this will have to do, Princess.”

Celestia smiled softly, fluttering her wings as if she were a filly, trying to learn to fly. She looked down at Faith and smiled as the silver glow from Faith’s horn faded, the magic receding to reveal Luna returned to her former glory. The alicorn sisters, restored so that they could once again claim the title, took several moments to inspect one another, examining each others’ returned forms. Luna had remained almost completely unchanged and if one had missed the events of the last few months they would believe nothing had happened to her. The same could not be said of Celestia; while she was the largest of the alicorns much of her impressive height was gone, leaving her only a few inches taller than Luna and Faith.

“It will take time, I’m afraid, for you to be restored to your full power. You will be strong, of course, but I fear not strong enough to tackle one of my sisters or my brother on your own.” Faith turned, swaying as he made his way over to his bed. Celestia and Luna hurried over, helping to prop him up. It was clear that the alicorn spell had drained him and it was a wonder he had not collapsed after performing the first one. He put up a brave front, but his imprisonment and stabbing had weakened him greatly and though he had seemed to return to full strength to battle Loyalty now he appeared quick feeble, as if all his magic had been drained from him. “Don’t mind me, Princesses, don’t mind me… seems my age has caught to me at long last.”

“None of that,” Celestia said, using her magic to help ease the silver alicorn onto his bed. The main cabin of The Abundance was fit for a queen… quite literally, as it was clear that it had been designed to house whichever of the queens were to command it at the time of battle. A massive bed like those in Canterlot Castle dominated the room, but there was also a writing desk and a small sitting area for guests. There were no windows, for the queens’ protection, but instead veins of enchanted gems ran along the ceiling, allowing light to spill in. There had once been a mural depicting the five queens, but the crew had seen to destroying and defacing it. “You are barely older than I am, so saying that makes me feel quite ancient.”

Luna nodded. “And stop with the Princess nonsense. You have had no problem calling us by our names in the past.”

Faith sighed. “I suppose I have been beaten down recently and it has left me reeling. Not quite sure where I stand in this world right now.”

Celestia smiled sadly. “Yes, we heard about some of your troubles… are you alright, Faith?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Faith said, a bit more brashly than one would have expected. His voice held a fake sugariness to it that set one’s teeth on edge. “I mean, of course I have only been Faith for 3 months, having spent 2000 years as a dark alicorn who enjoyed using ponies like chess pieces, but there is no time to truly get settled in, not when I am helping a new alicorn and a baby dragon grow strong. And when I returned from the vacation that was suppose to help myself and Twilight relax and discover ourselves, I discover that her friends… ponies that she cares about and thus I care for… have been brainwashed by my family.

“My family… my brothers and sisters… now there is a shocker. I… I spent 2000 years searching for some hint of them, trying to remember their names and faces and now that I have found them we are opposite sides. The last memory I have of them, before Discord and all that, is us being happy. We spent so much time together, working together to spread joy and friendship and harmony, yes harmony, to this entire world. I can hear my sisters’ laughter and remember the games my brothers and I played. I… I can see it… when I close my eyes…”

Faith’s head twitched violently, as if he were going through a seizure. Luna stepped forward but leapt back and a tendril of dark magic lashed out, nearly striking her. Faith didn’t notice, lost in thought. Magic poured out his horn and thrashed about in agitation.

“And… and then I hear my brother Loyalty’s cruel words… he, of all my family, is unable to forgive me. He hated me, till the ever end. I searched for him and I missed him and he hated me. So I killed him… I killed him to save Equestria and to stop this madness and I killed him to save him from himself because the Loyalty I remember would never have wanted to be like that but I wonder if I knew him at all. He wasn’t like me, when I was Doubt… I was changed but he seemed to be more distilled, stripped away. That’s… that’s why I had to do it, don’t you see?” he turned wide, panicked eyes towards Celesta and Luna and the alicorns swallowed nervously. He looked all at once so utterly desperate and broken. “You understand that, right? You understand why I had to kill him?”

“Yes,” Celestia whispered softly. “Yes we do.”

“Good… at least some pony does. The rest of them… they look at me like it was easy. They scorn me and hate me all because of that… or cheer and slap me on the back and call me the abstract killer…. when I didn’t even want to do it! How could they think I…” Faith’s wings fluttered in agitation. “Twilight hates me… she hates me and it is worse than when Doubt stabbed me. I want to talk to her… I want her to listen and to understand but she’ll only scream. She’s the only one I want to talk to, the only one that understands… no, I thought she would understand. She doesn’t, she just loathes me…” The abstract slammed his hoof against the mattress. “And now Trixie and the rest of them have put me on some damn pedestal and that was never what I wanted! I am their king… what bloody foolishness! I want to be their friend, not their master! I don’t want to rule, I don’t want to be some warlord or commander… but how the hell am I suppose to tell them that? How do I keep from breaking their hearts and spirits? Tell me that. How do I go on when all the world hates me and Fate conspires to force me to continue on this horrible mission and all I see is my brother’s face right before I killed him! I… I’ve tried so hard… so very hard and it all just keeps turning to ashes and I don’t know what to do and then I see my brother’s face and… oh Loyalty…oh…”

The silver abstract turned, red rimmed eyes locking with the sisters, drawing them in.

“Am I alright?” His voice was utterly quiet, like the morning air on a grave. “No… I’m not alright at all.”

And with that he broke down. Luna moved in, wrapping him up in her forelegs, murmuring as he sobbed against her shoulder. Celestia stood beside them, hugging them both as the lord of the gray cried, 2000 years of pain coming to a head. His body shook and his tears fell like a thunderstorm and for a moment the alicorn sisters thought he might disintegrate into dust and ash. Every once and a while he would whisper “Loyalty” and begin to sob again. He cried till there were no more tears to cry and still he found the power to cry some more.

Finally Faith fell it an exhausted sleep and the mares extracted themselves.

“What do we do now?” Luna whispered, her heart breaking at the sight of that noble stallion lying in such terrible ruin.

Celestia sighed. “I will go find Twilight… you find the other one… Trixie. They need to know about this and they need to make this right.” Luna nodded and the two left the room, gently shutting the door behind them.

“Oh Faith,” a deep, rumbling voice whispered sadly, emerging from the shadows. If Faith had been awake, he might have died of shock at seeing just who it was that had come to sit at his bedside. “I am sorry… this is all my fault.” He leaned down, gently kissing Faith’s forehead.

Faith opened his eyes. “Honesty?”

Honesty

“If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people.”

-Virgina Woolf

Flam shook his head, reaching up to rub his temples. It felt as if he had gone three rounds with Iron Will then smashed his head against a wall for an hour.

"Are you quite alright, brother?" Flim asked, glancing nervously over at his closest friend in the whole world and the only blood relative he really cared about. If he were honest with himself, he was worried about Flam. He had found him gathered around a bunch of other ponies, grumbling about the rebellion not showing Faith respect; their words had been rather… mutinous… and it had shocked Flim just how angry his brother had been with Twilight, Shining and the rest. It had taken him several minutes to convince his brother to take a walk with him, finally managing to play on Flam's pride in the airship and asking him to give him a tour of the wondrous invention.

"Quite fine, brother," Flam said, blinking his eyes. "I just feel a bit out of it... it has been a tiring few days and I am worried about Faith."

"Yes, Faith," Flim said neutrally. "I have been meaning to discuss him with you."

"Oh?" Flam asked.

"Yes... there are rumors he has declared himself your king. Is this true?"

"No, they are not," Flam stated. "We declared him our king."

Flim hid his frown. He didn't say it, but it concerned him that Flam would go along with declaring Faith a king. Not just because his brother had never held any real interest in serving another... they traveled on the road and were their own bosses for that exact reason. It went against Flam’s nature to want to tether himself to another. Work with Faith, yes… but make him his king?

No, what was more troublesome was that Flim knew from Twilight and Spike's stories that Faith would never want to be a king. Princess Celestia had confirmed as much, joking about how Faith had refused to be knighted because he found such a thing quite silly; it had been the first time such a thing had happened and thankfully Faith had left with Twilight before he could catch much flak from the noble elite. Flim had felt that Faith was much like him and his brother: a free spirit who desired not just the freedom of not being ruled but the freedom of not having to rule others. Heavy was the head that wore the crown and Faith clearly had enough weight pressing down on him. Friends were alright, even close friends that were more like family... but never subjects. Never slaves.

“Our King…” Flam groaned, leaning his head against the side of inner hull of The Abundance. "Though, now that I say the words... it just seems so silly. None of us ever discussed it, but when we saw that Twilight Sparkle insulting Faith it... it just burned me up so much. Faith did so much for us, saving us and leading us and-"

Flim grabbed his brother's face, twisting it towards him and staring him in the eye. "Don't blink."

"What?"

"Don't blink and answer me this question: how do you feel about me, right now?"

"Well...I... I think of you as my brother and my friend." Flam smiled. "My best friend and my loving brother. I would do anything for you; you must know that and I know you feel the same. You and I, thick as thieves and out against the world-"

Flim swallowed nervously. "Your eyes went gold."

"What?"

"Your eyes are gold," Flim repeated, it feeling like there was a pound of ice in his stomach. He watched as the gold flakes that had appeared in his brother's eyes flashed and flickered before going dark. "That... isn't good."

“What does it mean?”

“I have no idea, brother… but we need to find one of the alicorns, now.”

~MC~MC~MC~

Faith shifted, his eyes trying to adjust to the darkness of the room. He felt constrained and restricted, fighting against something that held him in place. For a moment his fear won out and he began to thrash, trying to escape whatever prison he was now confined to.

"Relax," Honesty said softly, flicking on a light to reveal that they were still in the captain's cabin. Faith pained, his heart beating too fast for him to be annoyed at his childish actions. "I merely wanted you to get your rest... you were emotionally drained and needed a few minutes of sleep. You have not slept long, baby brother, but perhaps it is just enough."

Even though it was very comfy, having his brother there made Faith want to struggle against the comforter that had him wrapped up. He was over 2000 years old and despite how his brother made him feel like a foal he refused to act like one. He knew he was being coddled and it rubbed his silver hide the wrong way. Instead, he gingerly sat up, his wings flexing as he looked upon Honesty in his physical form.

The eldest of the elements of harmony was large, both in sense of size, scale and personality. His hide made him look as if he had been forged from superheated steel. His wings were made of the finest wood, polished to a fine sheen and carved so that every feather had microscopic detail. Deep roots dug from those woody feathered appendages, burrowing into his back. His dark hair was long and he wore it in a tight ponytail that all at once made him look both dashing and down to earth.

It was his persona that drew Faith in. Honesty was exactly how Faith remembered him: larger than life. Even whispering his voice rumbled and made Faith feel like he was caught in an earthquake. When he smiled it was like being out on the most pleasant of spring days. A frown, however, was to be caught in a winter storm. Of them all… only Honesty could truly make the cocky Faith feel small, like he was a foal once more.

It was so strange… until that moment Faith had never seen any of his siblings as anything more than shapeless things… actually he had never seen them at all. Abstracts had all sorts of wonderful senses living creates lacked, including the ability to sense each other. Abstracts, in their own plane (and even after all this time he still didn’t quite know what that plane was… the curse of being abandoned when he was basically a foal) held no physical form. One could sense and hear them, but there was no real form to see because there was nothing to see. They were shapeless things.

And yet… and yet when Faith had first taken form in Twilight’s house, he had known he wasn’t himself. The black coat and the shattered wings were grand but not fitting of him. It was only when he was reborn as Faith, his name and duties reclaimed, that he had looked upon his silver body and white mirror wings and known that this was HIM. Twilight and Spike had said the same thing, admitting that they found it so hard to think of his ‘Doubt’ form as being him, as his ‘Faith’ body just fit him so much better.

The same was true with Honesty. Everything just fit and worked. There was never a question in his mind that, looking at this alicorn stallion, this was his brother, the embodiment of honesty and truth.

"What... what are you doing here?" Faith said softly, swallowing.

Honesty sighed at the guarded tone his brother took. "I can't blame you for being distrustful; Creator knows I deserve it. I was a stubborn jackass and you suffered greatly for it." He paused, considering his words, knowing that the wrong thing could set Faith off. Faith, despite what some might think, did have a temper and he had proven himself willing to kill family. "And yet... had I took you back home things might have ended all the worse."

Faith rolled his shoulders. "I don't know about that..."

"Yes you do," Honesty said sternly, brokering no debate. "Just look at what Loyalty became." Faith winced at that and Honesty was quick to comfort him. "You do not believe it now but you did him a favor."

"I killed him... how can you think for a moment that is a good thing?" Faith asked bitterly.

"I do not think, I know. Had you not acted when you did Loyalty would have died anyway... and been reborn into some terrible new abstract. Think of all that he thought about you… that we, I am ashamed to say, thought of you. All of those things, such terrible lies now that I look upon you with clear eyes, would have come to pass for Loyalty. He would have fallen and he would have been darker and more wicked than you ever were. For all you did you kept your honor and worked to do just as much good as you did evil. The same would not have been true of Loyalty… we both know this. You prevented his fall and saved the life of another abstract."

Faith shook his head, feeling utterly miserable. "He could have been saved like I was!"

"Brother, end this self hatred. To be saved one has to want to be helped. Have you ever known our brother, even in the best of times, to ask for help?”

The silver abstract rolled his eyes at that. “If Loyalty was loyal to anything, it was his stubborn pride.”

“Though he would never admit to that,” Honesty stated. “No… Loyalty would have never backed down. He would have only kept going down that path, loyal to his ever darkening goals. You were different from him, baby brother… you were better than him.” His horn glowed and he pulled over some apples that had been left by Faith’s bed, cutting it up into neat little slices before he sent it floating towards Faith. The mirror alicorn scowled but did as he was silently commanded, taking a bit of the treat while his brother prepared another slice. “I think back at all the comments and beliefs we had about abstracts and I am so ashamed…”

Faith raised an eyebrow. “Ashamed, brother?”

“Yes, ashamed.” Honesty sighed. “And many other things. It is clear that we abstracts did not so much have one emotion as we chose to only focus on one while ignoring all others. Are you shocked to hear that? Not as shocked as when I realized it. It was like awakening from a dream to find that what I had thought was so pleasant was a nightmare. I sit here now and look back at who I was only a month ago and I hate it and I am happy because I know I will never be that stallion again.”

“How did you come to realize all of this, brother?” Faith asked. “What changed… why do you come to me like this, feeding me apple slices and treating me like a babe again?” He flexed his wings in agitation and Honesty hid a smirk; his brother’s tone reminded him so much of Faith’s first few months of existence, so moody and independent. “What made you go from tricking Applejack into becoming one of the queens to coming in here acting like my kind big brother?”

Honesty let out a sigh, the weight of his many, many years placed fully upon his shoulders. “What am I, brother?” Faith opened his mouth to speak, but the red abstract cut him off. “I am the truth… the honest truth. I am the cold, harsh reality of the world. I am the spark of legitimacy that drives away the falsehoods that hold others down. I tell the delusional that they must strive for things a bit… closer to home; I speak to those that believe themselves worthless and tell them that they can do so much more and can strive for so much more. Am I cruel? Of course… honesty can be very cruel in the wrong hands… but it can also be the most wonderful thing. Honesty can break spirits but it can also admit true love and friendship.” Honesty managed a smile. “I hope, as time goes on and I earn your trust, you and I will have a chance to work together; it is clear that we are more alike than I ever believed. Honesty and Faith are a powerful combination.”

“That does not answer my question, brother.”

“I am honesty given flesh. I see the truth… even in my own actions.” The ruby alicorn’s shoulders slumped. “But you deserve to hear it all… hear how I came to see the truth and the error of my ways… thanks to the Apple Family.”

~MC~MC~MC~

“Ok, ok, stop shoving!” Trixie complained. She had gone to get something to eat, having finally left Faith’s side only after he had told her to do so for seven times. She had stuck by him since the rebellion had arrived, fearing that the cruel words of Twilight Sparkle and the rest would break Faith’s heart and leave him a shell. She had already seen the damage that horrid purple alicorn had done and she refused to let Twilight do any more.

She did not notice the flecks of golden that shimmered in her eyes as she thought this.

But then, after her second cup of broth, Princess Luna had entered, her form restored and with it her powers, and instantly thrown her weight around by picking Trixie up and shoving her out the door. The blue mare had held her tongue, stopping herself from saying some of the nastier comments that begged to be spoken. That didn’t mean, of course, that she wasn’t going quiet.

“There, we have arrived,” Luna said, throwing the door open.

“And what was-“ Trixie froze when she saw Princess Celestia standing there with an equally annoyed Twilight.

“We need to talk about Faith,” Celestia said as Luna locked the door behind her.

Bridging the Divide

" Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!"

-Proclamation after the ascension of King Charles the VII of France

Translation: The King is dead, long live the king!

"...I suppose that somepony wittier than I would cut the tension that has filled the air with a joke." Celestia shifted back and forth. “But… I am no comedian.”

Twilight and Trixie remained silent, looking anywhere but at each other. It was as if they believed that even glancing at the other was the worst fate any pony could suffer and they would do anything to avoid it. Celestia and Luna, for their part, stood off to the side, awkwardly sighing and rocking from one hoof to the other. Neither was used to ponies behaving in such a way; even those ponies that served in the government, who lived for fighting and bickering, would grit their teeth and find common ground when either of the Princesses walked by. But these were not ordinary ponies: one was an alicorn in her own right; the other the de facto leader of a group of fugitive ponies and commander of an airship that could whip much of Equestria off the map.

"Do you both truly believe you have nothing in common?" Luna finally asked.

"What could I possibly have in common with her?" Trixie said with a scoff, sticking her nose up in the air.

Twilight scowled. "Well, you aren't level-headed or rational or humble-"

"I'm sorry, did the mighty purple alicorn that once had a meltdown so bad she brainwashed an entire town just claim she was level-headed?"

"How do you know about that?" Twilight snapped.

Trixie smirked. "Faith told me... oh, me and him spent so much time in those cells... never being rescued by you, I might add... and I learned so many things. So… many… things."

"He lived in my head since I was a foal... Faith and I are closer than you could ever imagine!" Twilight narrowed her eyes in rage. "And I might add that he was never stabbed when he was with me... you did quite well helping him."

"I helped him plenty!" Trixie shouted, trying to match Twilight eye to eye only to find their height too great. "Unlike you, I don't toss him aside the moment he doesn't do what I want!"

Celestia frowned, her magic swirling around Twilight and Trixie, separating the two of them. "Please, that is enough."

The two mares bucked and thrashed in fury. "LET ME GO!" both of them shouted at the same time.

"Please," Celestia said, "just calm down and-"

"Faith is hurt," Luna blurted out.

The looks that passed over the feuding ponies' faces told the whole story. For Twilight, all anger and disappointment in the silver alicorn disappeared as concern became her primary focus. Everything that had happened, all the mistake she had pinned on the abstract and the many hateful words she had been prepared to lob at him were wiped away, leaving only fear.

For Trixie, the raw, open pain that appeared on her features told them all the truth that even the blue showpony was unwilling to fully admit: she was in love with Faith. Not lust… not desire… love. She had fallen for Faith. What other emotion would cause somepony like her, who was use to being on her own and laughing away the concerns of others, to look as if her world had been shattered and the sun had be snuffed out?

The two of them reacted in tandem, bucking once more against Celestia’s magic, wanting to break through the door and find the silver abstract.

"Please let me finish," Luna said softly. "I admit it was cruel of me to say that, but sadly my statement is not a lie. Faith is hurt... not physically, though he was exhausted and fell asleep before we left him. His pain comes from his heart and his soul. Both of you… how you have acted… have wounded him worse than what this…"

“Doubtence,” Trixie mumbled.

“…Doubtence did to him.”

Celestia gently settled down next to Twilight, locking eyes with her former student. "Do you truly believe you mean so little to Faith? He loves you, Twilight. Did he make mistakes? Of course. Does he behave in strange ways? Of course… we must remember how new this all is to him. Truthfully, he is only a few months old. He has spent a lifetime alone, making allies only to be forced to abandon them... is it any wonder that he would run and not see why that is wrong? Are you truly surprised he would not consider for a second letting you join him in battle… having somepony fight with him is completely foreign."

Twilight frowned. "He... but why didn't he see how much it hurt me?"

"Why did you not see that your actions hurt him?" Celestia countered softly. "Some of it, I suppose, can be attributed to being blind to what his actions were doing to you... a sin that I know of all too well." The sun goddess sighed wearily. "I lost you and Luna because I failed to see how my actions were affecting you. Faith has done the same thing... and you to him. Do not let both of you foolishly throw your friendship away."

Twilight worried her lip with her teeth. "I... I can't help it... I saw how he was with Trixie and the rest of them... and I wondered..."

Luna turned to Trixie, who looked close to breaking down in tears. "Do you believe he could turn you away so easily? Did you believe he would throw you away the moment Twilight was back in the picture?" Trixie's head snapped up, eyes showing the wonder and shock that Luna had guessed just what had been tormenting her. "I know the pain you felt all too well. You gained something that was your own but you feared that it truly didn't belong to you but was instead merely lent. You feared that you were a replacement for Twilight and that Faith would be done with you the moment he saw her again."

"You believed that?" Twilight whispered.

Trixie didn't even have the energy to make a nasty retort. It was as if all her secrets had been laid to bare and she felt the need to unburden herself of them all. "Why shouldn't I?" she asked gently, only the barest tint of anger coloring her words. "He always talked of you and told me of his adventures with you... he didn't ask me to stand by his side and fight Loyalty... he let you, though."

"He didn't ask me though; he told me to run," Twilight reminded her. "You can't believe that Faith would forget about you... for a pony that spent 2000 years basically being Equestria's great seducer, Faith... Faith is loyal to a fault." Twilight scrunched her nose in distaste. "I will never be able to think of that word the same way again." Trixie closed her eyes and Twilight gently reached out, placing her hoof over the blue mare's, though she didn’t truly understand why she felt the urge to do so. "Do you know what really set me off after the battle? It wasn't even Cloudsdale that bugged me, not really... it was the fact that you two were so in sync. You said so few words but were able to understand everything. Faith and I were... are like that and I hated to think that another pony had taken my place."

"And I was afraid that I was merely a stand in for you," Trixie added. "That's... that's why I was so aggressive to you." The showpony-turned-airship captain ran her tongue along the inside of her cheek. "And, I suppose, our shared history did not help anything."

Twilight managed a smile at that. "Of all the ponies Faith could choose to become friends with, we are probably the worse pair."

"Both of you were foolish," Celestia chided gently, like a mother playfully teasing her foals. "If there is one thing I have learned about Faith it is that he has an overabundance of love in his heart. He cares... he cares deeply and sometimes, like now, it brings him pain. But rest assure, there is simply no way that Faith could either turn his gaze from one of you solely because of the actions of the other. Each of you, in your own way, holds sway over him."

"And that is why he is in pain."

Trixie swallowed hard. "What's wrong?"

"He is miserable," Celestia stated. She glanced at Twilight. "Do you believe that he enjoyed doing what he did?"

The purple alicorn blushed at that. "Shining and I talked about that... well, he yelled at me and I didn't really talk." At the princess' annoyed looks (for they remembered all too well how things had gone the last time Shining Armor had laid into his sister) Twilight waved off their anger. "No, he was right to do that. I was in a death spiral of rage and needed to be snapped out of it. Luckily, I didn't have a certain abstract whispering in my ear when he did it, so he was able to actually get through to me. Don’t like how he did it but it worked."

"How lucky for Shining Armor," Luna muttered.

It was, of all ponies, Trixie that came to his aid. "Lay off him... can't be easy to find out your fiancé became a meat puppet for a crazy abstract."

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, that's why there isn't a Shining Armor-sized dent in the wall right now. Still, he was able to snap me out of my rage before I fell too much."

Celestia nodded, secretly glad that Twilight had matured enough that having somepony fly off the handle did not result on her going on a bender. "I think both of you have failed to consider something very important: For Faith, Loyalty wasn't some monster that had enslaved ponies and turned Equestria into a dictatorship. For Faith... Loyalty was his big brother."

"By the Creator," Trixie murmured, the truth hitting her like a brick wall to the face.

Luna looked at Twilight, who waivered on the edge of nausea. "I... I never thought..." Twilight's mind went to Shining Armor and for the first time in her life considered the full ramifications of murdering him. She thought of all the good and all the bad... and suddenly saw herself in Faith's place. For him it had been so much worse... he had longed for his family for 2000 years, even if he couldn't remember them, and just when he had found them he had found him twisted and vile… Faith’s own brother had screamed at him and treated him like dirt and Faith had been forced to kill him…

Her stomach lost the battle and Luna just managed to bring a wastebasket over for Twilight to heave in.

Trixie sat down with a 'fwomp'. "None of us... none of us even thought about that..."

Celestia sighed. "I am ashamed I did not either. It is easy to forget that these are not faceless monsters that we must deal with. Our enemies are family to Faith and thus our friend has been put in the worst possible position. Faith's heart is already heavy... he fears he has lost you, Twilight, and he worries that you, Trixie, do not see him as a friend but as a leader, a role he never wanted. But the pain that came from murdering his own kin... I fear it will break him."

"We need to go and see him now," Twilight said firmly.

"We?" Luna said, amused.

"Yes," Trixie said. She did not like Twilight Sparkle... it would take more than one talk to heal all the scars that were on their relationship, but she could bury her dislike for now, in the name of the stallion that she loved... yes, loved. It was a scary word but now that the princesses had said it she was willing to admit the truth: she loved Faith and she was going to make up for her foolish actions. She glanced at Twilight and nodded. "Yes... we."

~MC~MC~MC~

"How can you stand to be near me?" Rainbow murmured.

Scootaloo stared at her idol and sighed. Several hours ago Twilight and Rainbow had combined their magic and removed the enchantments that had been on her and Sweetie Belle's minds. The orange pegasus mare had openly wept as she thought of all those she had hurt while the commander of Rainbow Dash's army. She'd held her friend as Sweetie screamed herself hoarse, crying out for forgiveness to any that came towards her. Those few remaining escapees who had not fully forgiven her had tearfully told her that she had no reason to apologize and that all was forgiven. It did little to help either of the mares, who had still found themselves swirling down the abyss of despair. When Twilight had sadly mentioned that she was unsure that she could safely restore them to fillies the two had held each other and grieved for their lost childhood. They had done all this till all but Dash had left, only to fall into an uneasy sleep.

Sweetie snorted, still lost to the blissful embrace of sleep. Scootaloo had awoken to find Rainbow Dash, her eyes rimmed red from tears, standing guard over her. The cyan alicorn had moved to leave but Scootaloo had asked her to stay, causing Rainbow to be rendered speechless. Finally, after 5 minutes, Rainbow had asked her question.

"How can you stand to be near me?"

Scootaloo considered her answer carefully. "Part of me hates you," Scootaloo whispered. "Not because of what happened though. No... you were as much a victim as me. Maybe even worse, in a way. Loyalty clouded your mind and whispered in your ear and made you think what you were doing was right. I... I can at least use the excuse that I wasn't in control... you made the choice to be a queen... it was based on bad info, ya, but you still made the choice yourself. I don’t know how I could live with that.

"I hate you... because you opened my eyes. I... I look back at how I was hours ago and want to go back to that. Everything was so wonderful and I could do anything because I knew it was right but now... now that peace has been taken away."

"But it wasn't real," Rainbow whispered.

"I know," Scootaloo said. "But it still hurts." Scootaloo let out a long breath. "But that is only a small part of me. The rest... the rest wants you here."

"Why?" Rainbow hiccupped. If the younger Scootaloo had been there, she would have been shocked that Rainbow was letting herself act so mushy and 'weak'. But this Scootaloo was mature, and knew that such emotions were anything but weak. "I brainwashed you... I let Faith destroy Cloudsdale-"

"Knock it off, Dash," Scootaloo said sternly. "You were brainwashed too, I just said that. As for Cloudsdale, I could care less!"

"But-"

"Cloudsdale isn't gone," Scootaloo snapped, wings flared out. She held up her hoof before Rainbow could speak. "What is Cloudsdale?"

"It... it was a city... with cloud buildings and-"

"Cloudsdale is pegasi," Scootaloo said. "If I made another Cloudsdale, made it exactly like the first one down to the last bench, then filled it with griffins, it would not be Cloudsdale. It would be something different. Cloudsdale is the ponies that call it home. It is the Wonderbolts and the mayor and the fillies and the colts and the hard workers at the weather factory and ponies like you and me. We are all Cloudsdale! We are what made it special." Scootaloo held her forelegs out wide. "And you saved us, Rainbow Dash! You got your guards to get everypony out! You saved the ponies and thus you saved Cloudsdale! You know what Faith destroyed? Clouds... clouds and bits of Loyalty. That is nothing! Clouds can be remade! Cities can be rebuilt! But ponies... ponies can never be replaced. Cloudsdale is right here, on this ship! It isn’t gone!" Scootaloo grinned at her idol. "And that is why I want you around, Rainbow Dash... because just like Cloudsdale, my life isn't anything without the ponies that make it special... and you are one of them.

"As for the whole queen thing... I know you, Rainbow Dash... you are going to work your flank off, kick those abstracts in the rump, and make everything better... better than better! It will be... 20% more awesome! I know you are going to do it and I want to be there to help! I want to stand by you and help you out because you would do the same for me!"

Rainbow shook her head, her tears drying up and a smile on her lips. "You still haven't given up on me, have you?"

"Never," Scootaloo said with a grin.

Then she screamed.

"Scootaloo!" Rainbow shouted as the orange mare began to glow. The former filly threw back her head, going hoarse as her body trembled. The light was so intense Rainbow had to shield her eyes, but still she tried to reach her Number 1 Fan, who was crying out as she was torn to shreds. Her feathers burst into starlight, her body was ripped away, and all that remained was a swirling maelstrom of energy. The cloud shifted, changing forms rapidly… looking like an eagle, then a pegasus, then even Cloudsdale…

Rainbow struggled to reach out, not know why but knowing she had to do so… and just as her hoof touched the cloud she felt something pulse in her chest. Rainbow gasped as it felt as a tether had been connected to her heart and tears formed in her eyes as every moment she had spent with Scootaloo flashed through her eyes. The energy began to condense and swirl… before the explosion set Dash flying into a wall. Sweetie Belle awoke with a start and let out a scream as she stared at the carnage that was their cabin.

And then... it was over.

“Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo called out shakily and for a moment Rainbow believed herself to have gone mad. Opening one eye, she let out a ragged breath as she saw that… yes… Scootaloo was still standing there. Not dead… not torn apart… but right there.

But not the Scootaloo she had known.

"Kid?" Rainbow asked.

“Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle murmured.

Scootaloo looked down at her hoof... her orange, metallic looking hoof…

The door to their room burst open, reduced to kindling, and Faith and Honesty ran into the room, their eyes wide in shock as they looked upon the metal-flanked mare.

“It can not be,” Faith whispered, jaw hanging low as Scootaloo spread her wings, the ends of her feathers looking as if they had been coated in gold dust.

Honesty nodded, licking his lips. “It is…” he said in awe, “…the new abstract of Loyalty.”

Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash fainted.

Origins of the Species

“You are still you… this is just merely another part.”

-The Metatron, Dogma

It was a small miracle that The Abundance hadn’t descended into pure anarchy. Scootaloo's screams had brought not only Faith and Honesty but also Twilight and Trixie, who had been heading to talk with Faith and settle the differences that lay between the three of them. Their cries of alarm at finding not one but two more abstracts than they had been expecting brought Shining, Spike, Celestia, and Luna racing in. There had been shouts of surprise and fear, magic had filled the air, and like keg of dynamite sitting in a lighter factory, all it would take was one small spark to cause things to explode.

"Everypony, I need you all to settle down," Faith had said calmly as the chaos swirled around him. Honesty was snapping at Luna after the lunar goddess had made a rather insulting remark, Shining and Spike looked ready to tie Scootaloo in chains and Twilight and Trixie were babbling out apologizes. "I understand that this is all confusing but you need to-" Faith didn't get to finish, as some pony (no one was ever able to discover who) threw a bolt of energy right past his nose. "Fine then... you will all shut up because I AM MONOLOUGING!"

The bellow was enough to get them to all simmer down. Faith flared out his wings in annoyance, sending withering glances at all of them before he began to speak again.

"Now then... obviously answers need to be given to the questions that are quite clearly bubbling up in your brains. If you will all be kind enough to sit down, we will handle this in a rational and sane manner. Of course, if you’d all rather babble on like chickens then you can go ahead and do so, but I have had a long, stressful day, which came on the heels of several move long, stressful days, so my patience is at its limits and I will be leaving if you do not all sit down and act like adults." All the ponies, even the princesses, wisely settled down on the floor. He whipped around and glared at Honesty, who, for his part, actually cringed. "I told you to stay in the cabin, didn't I?"

"I was worried..." the older abstract said, only for his baby brother to roll his eyes and motion for him to shut his gob.

"Now then... we will handle the issue of Scootaloo first." He held up his hoof when Shining opened his mouth, "It will be the quicker of the explanations and the young mare deserves to understand exactly what has happened to her. The questions about my brother can wait a few moments… but let me assure you, he will bring no harm to you.” Faith shot Honesty a dark look. “Because if he is planning something, I’ve already proven to be a heartless killer that can murder his own family.” Trixie and Twilight flinched at that but Faith paid no heed. “Now then... Luna, would you kindly wake the two?"

The goddess of the night's eyes glowed briefly and with a yawn Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash slowly awoke. They looked about in confusion before gasping, their eyes staring down at Scootaloo's metallic coat. Celestia and Twilight, wisely, used their magic to gather up blankets for the two of them, wrapping them around the two shocked mares. Scootaloo burrowed into the blanket, trying to hide as much of herself as possible. Sweetie Belle joined the two on the ground, settling beside Scootaloo so she was flanked by her friend and her idol.

"Scootaloo has been given the rarest of gifts... she has ascended and become the new Abstract of Loyalty." Faith turned and gently placed a hoof upon the orange pegasus' own. "It is ok... I know you are scared but I swear everything is fine... allow us to explain." Scootaloo bravely nodded, her shoulders becoming more firmly set when Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash pressed against her, affirming they were still with her. "Brother?"

Honestly cleared his throat, ignoring some of the darker glances that were being sent his way. "Abstracts are the creation of life. When the first living creature willed itself to actually wiggle just a bit, an abstract was born. When prey felt fear of death... an abstract was born. This is the first way that abstracts were created. We gain strength through the beliefs ponies and griffins and all manner of creatures have. The stronger the connection, the more life we have. The less… the weaker we become.

"When an abstract dies, either through a loss of belief or, in the rare cases such as Loyalty, killed by another, a new abstract MUST be brought forth. Our numbers never shrink, only grow. Most times, a new abstract is born to take its place. However, there are times when a creature, be they pony or manticore or donkey, displays an abundance of the needed emotions or concept... and they become an abstract. Their form is lost and they take on a higher calling. This is what has happened to Scootaloo… she displayed an abundance of loyalty and thus whatever power sees us abstracts come into being chose her to join our ranks."

Rainbow wrapped a wing around Scootaloo. "No way... no way is the kid having her body taken away!"

Faith smiled. "If that was going to happen it would have already occurred. No... Scootaloo has kept her body because Loyalty died with a physical form... thus to continue on, she must have one as well."

Scootaloo held up her shiny foreleg. "So... I am still me?"

Honesty nodded. "Correct, my dear mare. Do not be concerned that you will become our lost brother or that your mind will decay like him. You are your own mare with your own thoughts and opinions. How you handle these powers is up to you. All that you are is still there. This is merely... another piece of you."

"Most likely," Faith said, "had Loyalty died without a body you would have never been chosen and a new abstract would have been created. That is how it happened with me."

Twilight frowned, glancing over at red alicorn. "What are you doing?"

Honesty blinked. "Me?"

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Yes, you. You just made the same face Applejack does when she tells a lie."

"I... well..." Honestly's face twisted and contorted, the words unable to pass through his lips.

Rainbow's eyebrows shot into her maneline. "You did it again! You can't lie so you do AJ's funny face!"

"Yes... yes I do," Honesty said quickly, hoping they would let the subject drop.

"What are you not telling us?" Twilight asked. Honesty squirmed and she leaned in close. "What are you keeping from us! Tell us now! Tell-"

"We weren't born abstracts!" Honesty blurted out.

The cabin grew quiet.

"... what?" Faith whispered.

"We... we were not born abstracts." Honesty gestured towards Scootaloo. "We ascended just like her."

Faith looked at if someone had just told him the sky was pink. "No... no we are abstracts! We have always been abstracts..."

"Have you never wondered why you were so drawn to ponies?" Honesty asked gently. "You have always stayed with them. There were so many other creatures and places to explore but you have stayed here, in Equestria. Your friends are all ponies, save for the baby dragon and the minotaur. Why, when you took physical form, did you end up like you are? Because he felt it natural... like you had been in it before. You took the form of an alicorn because you view it as the definition of strength in the pony race… our race. Have you not thought about why you are so different from others like Doubt? It is because you are.”

Faith rose up, stumbling over his own feet. "I... I would remember..."

"You called him a baby," Celestia said, remembering how Faith had spoken of his family. "Faith, you said your brothers and sisters saw you as a baby... but if abstracts have no forms, how could you be a baby?"

"Abstracts, natural ones, are fully formed, aren't they?" Luna pressed.

Honesty nodded. "You were barely a month old when we ascended…. what being would better express faith than a child? Especially in those dark times, when Discord raged across the lands and so many abstracts withered and died because of the madness he inflicted. So helpless and needed... you believed in those around you and depending on them. Myself, Kindness and you… the last three of our family. Genorosity, Loyalty and Laughter found us and brought us into their family. They became our brother and sisters but… but they were not your blood kin. Kindness is… and so am I.”

Faith was trembling. "This... this isn't true..."

"He can't lie," Shining stated softly. "Honesty, remember?"

"I... I need..."

Celestia nodded to Twilight and Trixie. "Get him so fresh air." The two nodded, standing up and guiding the hyperventilating Faith out of the cabin. The solar princess glared at Honesty, the fury of the sun hidden within the depths of her eyes. "So far you have done little to suggest I should allow you to live."

Honesty shut his eyes. " Believe me, I know. My only defense is that, if I am allowed to live, I will do all I can to help you all... especially you, Scootaloo. Just as my sisters and brother did with me, I would bring you into my family, call you sister and protect and aid you."

The orange mare swallowed. She didn't understand it, but her heart felt like it had broke into a thousand shards when Faith had begun to panic. She had turned towards Honesty, wanting to scream at him for his actions, but she suddenly felt the urge to comfort him, knowing that it had been painful for him to so bluntly reveal Faith's past.

"You sense it, don't you?" Honesty said with a soft smile. "Focus... focus on those thoughts."

Scootaloo did as he asked and the rest of the group gasped as fine orange lines appeared throughout the room. They ran from Scootaloo to all of them, some of them thick as rope, others as delicate as gossamer. Scootaloo reached out and touched one and suddenly saw an image of Spike, all the great moments between the two of them flashing through her mind. When she followed the string she saw that it ended right in Spike's heart, joining other ropes that led to Celestia, Rainbow Dash, Shining, Sweetie Belle, Faith, and Twilight (that one being the thickest of them all).

"You are Loyalty now," Honesty said. "You inspire loyalty in others and you can see how loyalty connects us all. It is a wondrous gift and a terrible burden. In time... if I am allowed... I will show you the wonders of your new abilities."

Rainbow pulled Scootaloo closer and the lines faded away, though all of them sensed that they were not gone at all, only hidden till needed. "It's nice that you know this stuff about Scoots, but that doesn't explain what you are doing here right now. Last I knew, you were telling Applejack to depower the Princesses and to round up ponies and convert them into our drones."

Honestly grimaced. "I admit it was a foolish plan. I see that now. We were blinded by our goal and it cost all... you, this land, and us... greatly."

"What exactly changed your mind?" Luna pressed.

Honesty smiled. "It is as I told my brother... Applejack was my savior." Honesty tilted his head back. "It all began a month ago..."

~MC~MC~MC~

As Honesty began his story, Faith was looking out over the night sky, his eyes glassy and tears having dried upon his cheeks. Twilight and Trixie stood next to him, wanting to tell him so many things but wisely knowing that now was not the right time to do so. Faith had been dragged through the emotional wringer and he needed to work out his issues before the mares tried to make their apologies. Both thought of it as their penance for their foolish acts.

"Why didn't he tell me?" Faith asked finally.

"I'm sure he had his reasons," Twilight reasoned.

Trixie nodded. "Besides, from the sounds of it you were still a baby when you six fought Discord and you were lost. Do you remember a lot before that battle."

Faith grimaced. "No," he admitted. That had been a bitter little pill to swallow; when Twilight had reminded him who he was, Faith had been startled to find that his memories before his abandonment on Equestria were few and far between. He remembered his brothers and sisters and he remembered spending time, helping them spread harmony... but he had always assumed there would be thousands of years of history that he would gain back with the return of his memories. Instead... he had maybe a few months. Nothing about a time before being an abstract.

2000 years bitching and whining... for nothing.

Faith loved pie, but found humble pie was the worst

Twilight draped her wing over him. "Does this change anything, really? I mean, knowing that you were born a pony doesn't really alter who you are now. It’s not like you were 50 years old... Honesty said you were a month old when you became an abstract, so being a pony really didn't shape you."

“And maybe it did… but this just answers all your questions,” Trixie said. “And hey, now you have an excuse for when ponies call you out on stuff! ‘Can’t blame me, I use to be a pony!’”

"This... it is all..."

Trixie got a determined look on her face. "Does Scootaloo being an abstract change who she is? Does Twilight now having wings change her? No! I don't know Scootaloo at all but from what I've seen from you guys she isn't acting any different! And Twilight is still a pony that can't handle me being so amazing and powerful..."

"Thanks, Trixie," Twilight grumped as the showmare played with her white mane. "And clearly being a prisoner has change Trixie from being a egotistical-"

"Ok, ok, I understand," Faith said. "Unless you are going to wrestle for my amusement, please stop fighting." The two shot him twin glares and Faith's smile withered. "Don’t blame me, I use to be a pony.”

Twilight 'hurmpfed'. "Now... are you ready to head back in and hear what Honesty has to say?"

Trixie nodded. "I want to know why we aren't killing him outright. He is responsible for all of this..."

Faith sighed. "Please, just hear him out. I have heard the story and once you do I wager you will be more willing to allow him to give council." The three of them headed back below deck, discussing Honesty and the wisdom of allowing him to remain on the ship.

Had any of them looked up, they would have seen a pair of eyes and a floating set of teeth wearing an unnatural smile floating above them, watching all of the proceeding before letting out a laugh and disappearing from sight.

Open Your Eyes

"Some people don't like telling the truth... And some people can't handle hearing it."

-Unknown

~One Month Ago...~

Applejack had earned herself a vacation.

It had seemed so easy when she and the rest of the girls had come up with their grand plan to save Equestria. They had ascended, becoming alicorns. They had bonded with their mutual abstracts, much as Twilight had only without falling into darkness. They had given the Princesses the gift of rest and begun to restructure the land so that the ponies could better enjoy their peace and harmony.

It had been a wonderful dream... one dreamed by those that had never attempted something so grand.

Somethings had gone perfectly to plan. Others hadn't, which had led to headaches and long hours and general worry. Applejack had found that being a queen, for her at least, wasn't about endless parties and social gatherings. The others might have been happy with having their little bands of followers that hung to their every word, but for the former farmer that simply wasn't enough. Her element had promised that it would help her bring about a new day in Equestria and she would not be satisfied until she did just that.

Still, as her grampy use to say, 'Ya have to take the time to sip some cider... otherwise why work so hard makin' it?'. So Applejack had spread her wings, bid the girls a fond farewell and made her way back home.

Letting her hooves settle on the oh-so-familar dirt path that led up to the house, Applejack took a breath of fresh air and felt the weight that had settled on her shoulders fade away, if only for a few days. She longed for the time when her work would be done and ponies would be able to manage keeping harmony alive by themselves, without the need for a queen. Then she would fade into the woodwork, returning to the farm and the chores she loved. She had taken the mantle of queen because it needed to be held... but it was her greatest hope that, someday, Equestria wouldn't need her and she could go back and enjoy the fruits of her laboring... while laboring to get fruit.

Applejack chuckled at her own joke, eyes set on the old farmhouse. The seasons would pass, princesses would come and go, but there would always be the Apple Family House.

"Howdy, big brother!" Applejack called out, her long legs eating up the last few yards that separated her from the house. She looked down at him, finding it so utterly weird to be not have to crane her neck up to look at him. Big Macintosh was the same as he ever was, chewing on a a piece of long grass, his yoke hanging on his thick, powerful neck, his eyes half lidded as he stared out over the farm. Some points might have thought him slow or stupid but Applejack knew her brother was brighter then a lot of the ponies in the fancy universities that so loved to look down their snouts at the farmers that provided them food. Her brother was smarter then them all and knew that a wise pony kept his mouth shut and listened, rather than spout off nonsense to prove himself great and special. He was smart enough to know when to show off his intelligence... and when to hide it.

"Hello AJ," Big Macintosh drawled out. Applejack threw her forelegs around him and gave him a hug and, after a beat, Mac returned the gesture.

"It is so good to be home!" Applejack ducked through the door, recommitting her childhood home to memory. "Ya miss me, Big Brother?"

"Eeeyup."

"I missed ya too... I can't wait to tell ya all about everything. It is just... I hate that old sayin', 'ain't no words to describe it', cuss for the most part ponies then attempt ta find words to describe it..." The blonde alicorn blinked before letting out a laugh. "Boy howdy, I am ramblin' on! Must have gotten use to makin' them grand speeches."

"Eeyup," Mac stated, trotting into the kitchen to check on the barley stew that was warming on the stove.

"Anyway, I can't wait to tell ya'll about it. Applebloom!" Applejack hurried up the stairs, her jeweled horseshoes clicking on the stairs. "Applebloom? Granny? Where ya'll hidin'?" She checked their rooms, only to find that neither of the ponies she was looking for were there. "Big Macintosh, have ya seen Applebloom and Granny?"

"Eeyup."

"Where are they?"

"Around."

Applejack scowled. "Can ya be a bit more specific?" She trotted down the stairs, watching as her brother ladled out some soup for both of them.

"Nope."

"What do ya mean, 'nope'?" Applejack stomped towards the table, not liking it in the slightest that her brother wasn't telling her everything. Keeping secrets was almost as bad as lying. "Do you know where they are or don't ya?"

"Eeyup."

"So tell me!"

"Nope." Big Mac settled down at the table, lowering his snout down to slurp his soup.

"And why not?" Applejack asked. When her brother took just a bit too long to answer, the orange alicorn slammed her hoof against the table. "I mean it, Big Mac, you-"

There were few things in the world that truly scared Applejack. She had lived all her life on the edge of the Everfree, listening to the howl of timberwolves and other creatures she didn't even want to picture. She had faced down the mad goddess Nightmare Moon and confronted her worst aspects with Discord. She was a mare of the land and the soil and this pressure had made her strong, with shoulders that could handle most burdens.

But the sight of her big brother enraged was enough to send the orange alicorn tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

"You threaten me like that and ya wonder why I told Granny to get Applebloom out of here?" He snorted and AJ knew if he were a dragon she would have been able to see if an alicorn could survive dragonfire. "There is no way I was gonna let our little sister see what you've become, let alone let her near ya!"

"What... what are ya..."

Big Mac slammed his hooves on either side of her and Applejack forgot that she was immortal. It was as if all her powers had been drained into the mighty stallion before her, leaving her a whimpering foal to stand against this great power.

"I wanted ya here, without them, so I could say my piece. If ya then wanna torture me or brainwash me like ya've done to most of this country, then so be it. But I am NOT gonna stop till I said what I need to! Ya hear me?"

"Yes Mac," Applejack whispered.

Big Mac's anger died down but not by much. "Ya've got yourself all twisted around and stuck up your own flank, Applejack. Ya've been around your friends too long, hearin' what ya want to hear, and now you can't see the truth!"

Applejack glared at her brother. "Truth? I am the bearer of-"

Big Macintosh pressed his face against hers. "Did...I say... ya could speak?" Applejack weakly shook her head. "I thought so." He pulled away, his eyes narrowed into near slits. "Ya'll queens had some mighty big ideas... but you've failed to see just how bad they are." Before Applejack could protest the red stallion pressed on. "You have wanted ta make harmony, but all I see is a bunch of mares becomin' dictators. Ya brainwash ponies that don't agree with ya... ya got armed guards paroling all over, scarin' ponies ta death... and the less said about Applebloom's friends, the better." He grit his teeth in outrage. "Were ya thinkin' of doing that to her, AJ?"

"I... I don't know," Applejack admitted. She had thought about it after Rarity and Rainbow Dash had used their magic on Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and the girls had been pressing her to act... but she hadn't made her decision...

Big Macintosh shook his head in annoyance. "Don't ya see, AJ? Everything you are doin... it's a lie."

Applejack's magic crackled at the insult and it was a testament to Mac's will that he didn't cower at the sight of an angry alicorn. "How can ya say that, Big Brother? I am wiping out lies... every pony I work my magic on doesn't lie anymore... they embrace truth as the best policy! Just like Fluttershy is inspiring kindness and Dash is creating loyalty-"

"But it is still a lie," Mac stated, staring his sister down. "If it ain't done of their free will, then it is a lie. They don't want to be honest, your just makin' 'em. It's like when we tell Applebloom to clean her room... she ain't wantin' to do it, but she does it. But that don't mean she chose to do it on her own... she is doing it because she was forced. That's why we don't reward her after we tell her to stop whinin' and ta do it. We reward her when she puts in the hard work herself, without having to be asked. What do you call it when a pony does a hard job because they know it needs to be done?"

"An honest day's work."

"And would ya call it that if the pony cut corners?"

"Course not... that's like cheatin'!"

"You're cheatin' now! Ya'll are using that fancy magic of yours to skip steps and just bring about harmony now! If'n you were using those powers of yours ta show ponies WHY they should be honest, or was usin' it to reveal lies, I'd be behind ya. But what ya'll are doin' now is cheatin'."

Applejack blinked, convincing herself that it wasn't tears she felt gathering in her eyes. "Big Mac-"

"Ya'll are cheatin' those ponies out of bettering themselves. It is suppose to be hard to be a good pony... it is suppose ta be a struggle. That is the point of life... to struggle and fight and buck, because when you do make it ya find the victory all the much more sweeter. What ya'll are doin... it be like if you went to a rodeo and I just gave ya the blue ribbon before ya were out of the gate."

"I... I..."

"Look me in the eye and tell me you are ok with brainwashin' ponies. Tell me ya don't mind forcin' them to behave like you want them to. Tell me how what you and your friends are doin' is any different than that scum Discord and his mindgames!"

"It... it... it isn't." Applejack sniffed, dropping her head as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. Her body was consumed by light and Mac blinked in surprise as Applejack split into two. One pony was her, looking almost as she had before all the queen business. She was maybe a hair taller and she still had the horn and wings... but she was Applejack again. Her crown and jewelry and horseshoes fell to the ground with a clank, much to big for her now, and her mane and tail were lip as she cried. Big Macintosh sat down next to her and held her close as she cried, looking over her head at the second figure.

This pony could have easily been his twin, if not for the wings and the horn he sported. He too look stricken, staring off into space as if suffering from shock. His metallic coat gleamed in the dying sunlight that broke through the window, his shaggy mane hanging in his eyes. His great wings were made of the finest oak, though they looked anything but magnificence the way they were draped over his sides.

"AJ... who is your friend?"

Applejack looked at the newcomer carefully. "You're the voice that's been whisperin' in my ear, ain't ya? You're one of Faith's kin."

"Doubt," Honesty muttered, "and yes... I am an abstract. And after listening to your brother, it is clear I am also a fool."

"AJ, I thought you said that there Faith fella was no longer Doubt."

"I did,' Applejack said, narrowing her eyes. Her horn glowed and her old hat floated over to her settling on her head just behind her horn. It felt better than any of the jewels or garments she had been wearing the last few days. "And I want to know why I suddenly forgot everything that happened after the wedding... like how me and Twi came to an understanding. Or how I suddenly remember, what with you no longer bouncing around in my skull, that Doubt relearned his name and became Faith again... and was not a dark corrupter that was leading Equestria towards destruction. Tell me why the TRUTH was concealed from me."

A bit of his old spark returned to Honesty's eyes. "When it comes to my brother, we differ on our opinions. However, what matters-"

Applejack smacked Honesty across the back of his head with her hat.

"For somepony that believes so hard in honesty, you sure do like avoiding the truth." Honesty opened his mouth to speak but Applejack just smacked him again. "You and I are going to have a nice, long discussion about hiding from hard truths... and every time you open your mouth and try and say somethin' stupid, I'm gonna smack ya." big Macintosh nodded in agreement to Applejack's proclaim and went to go get another placesetting for supper.

Honesty, eldest of the Elements of Harmony... bowed his head under the scornful gaze of Applejack. It was not going to be a pleasant couple of days.

Check... Check

“And sometimes we play chess with people’s lives.”

-Magneto

"So the stories were true... I suppose it was too much to hope that they were lies."

Rarity stared out at the vast expanse of blue sky. The sun had risen on another fine day in Equestria and other than the occasional cloud that drifted by it was shaping up to be a magnificent day for all the little ponies of the land. They would be able to do their work and play their games in the bright sunlight, a smile on their face and a song in their hearts, for they knew the power of harmony and reveled in all that the queens had provided. All the negative aspects of life were slowly being stripped away, leaving them only with the feelings of joy to fill their souls as they lived in their newly minted paradise.

But, for the mares that ruled over Equestria, the sunny day was not at all peaceful or sweet. The joy that flowed through the land could not conquer the sadness that filled their hearts. No, for them the day was one marking tragedy, even if the dark events that had brought them to this empty patch of sky where the great city of Cloudsdale had once hung had been over with nearly a week ago.

At her side was Fluttershy, who was biting back tears as she gazed upon what little remained of her childhood home. When they had begun to hear the tales of the fall of Cloudsdale and the yellow alicorn, had called Rarity back from her stronghold of Manehattan, seeking her aid. Fluttershy had feared the worse and, in a rare show of impulsiveness, wanted to rush forth at once, but Rarity wanted to give the truth time, knowing that rumors were always hard to prove and even harder to dispel.

"Come now, Fluttershy," Rarity had said upon her arrival. "Dry your tears and steady your heart. We do not know if these stories are true so it is silly to mess up your eyeliner."

"But I'm not wearing eyeliner."

“Well, you really should…”

The days had gone by but the stories never changed: Queen Rainbow Dash had battled an alicorn claiming to be the abstract Loyalty. At her side had been the queens' fallen friend, Twilight Sparkle. The events of the duel were hazy at best. There were some that claimed Twilight had turned into an ursa major and ate ponies wholes. Others side that Rainbow had donned golden armor and wielded a great burning sword. There were even reports of Derpy Hooves perform a Sonic Rainboom… a silly rumor that Rarity dismissed at once. But what was known was that at the end the dark alicorn Doubt, along with the prisoners he had broken out of the Canterlot cells, had arrived on The Abundance, the secret airship the queens had commissioned which had been stolen by the corruptor. Twilight and Rainbow had joined them on the deck and, from what they could gather, had fired upon Loyalty and Cloudsdale till neither were left.

"How... how could any pony be so cruel?" Fluttershy whispered. It was a miracle she hadn't fallen to the ground, as the sight of Cloudsdale reduced to a few nimbus shreds had her wings trembling so hard they threatened to lock up.

"Clearly Doubt is much more powerful than you ever believed," 'Cadence' said. Of course, it wasn't the pink alicorn that was speaking... no, this was the original Doubt, wearing Cadence's form like a glove. The mad abstract (both in terms of her temperament and her sanity, though it wasn’t wise to say so to her face) had not argued when Rarity had announced her decision to bring the final princess under the queens' control with them to inspect Cloudsdale; after all, it had been Doubt who had suggested it. Not in so many words, obviously... but a few casual comments about the likelihood of the entire Canterlot cells managing to escape on their own had Rarity questioning the strength of the guards. The white alicorn had already grown distrustful of the Canterlot soliders, who had grown fat and slow watching over the ghost town. Of course, Canterlot was suppose to be empty and serve merely as an example of the failures of Celestia and Luna; it had never been meant to act as a jail and it was only because of a lack of options that it had become so. Even with Rarity's own guard coming to support the city (as Pinkie had refused, as had Applejack; Rainbow's elite were searching for the rebellion and Fluttershy's were more spy than warrior) they had failed.

And now Cloudsdale had paid the price.

Doubt felt like lewdly rubbing herself all over, she was so delighted in her evil scheme.

"Yes, you are right," Fluttershy said gently. "I just wish..."

Doubt tuned the yellow alicorn out. That was the problem with Kindness... when directed the right way she proved to be quite evil in her actions... one of the biggest advocates of brainwashing the innocent, feeling that it was a kindness to remove their free will so that they might interact better with those around them. But when there was even a moment of down time the abstract that fueled Fluttershy would turn her gaze towards those she thought of as enemies and suddenly get a case of nerves. She had an abundance of empathy and that did not do well for Doubt's master plan. Kindness needed to be treated like a cannon to be aimed. That just wouldn’t do though, not when her attention was focused on so many other things.

No, everything needed to be rolling along just as she wanted if she had any hope of having her revenge. While Rarity and Fluttershy looked upon the remains of Cloudsdale in despair, Doubt mentally reviewed her notes and considered how things had gone so well for her. The elements of harmony had fallen in like just as she had wanted, believing the worst of their brother just because he didn't act as they did. If she did not loathe Faith with every fiber of her being, Doubt might have become his greatest ally. Both of them had done terrible things to survive and it was only because Faith's acts had directly caused Doubt harm that she now sought his end. But though she might be unstable, even she was able to see that the two of them were quite alike and, more importantly, stood against the other abstracts that remained grounded in the past and tradition and unable to move beyond that which they had always known.

Doubt had reveled in the way that she had gotten the five elements to justify the most horrid of actions. She had blinded their hosts as well, slowly at first with little whispers and comments... but now Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity were so far down the pit that Doubt reasoned there was little chance they would be able to drag themselves out of it in time.

Of course, she had thought the same of Rainbow Dash…

Through Cadence's eyes, Doubt examined the empty sky that had once held Cloudsdale and felt her gloating abate just a touch. Yes, Rainbow Dash. She had thought she was under her control and now saw that this was far from the truth. Rainbow Dash had managed to escape from the fog Doubt had put about her and had joined up with Twilight Sparkle and the monster Faith. It had been a loss and one that Doubt had felt greatly.

And yet, even then, her defeats had yielded victories. She had never guessed that Loyalty could become so twisted and corrupted. He had been the perfect weapon and Doubt had used him fully.

'Abstracts are so arrogant,' she thought with a snort. 'They all believe themselves to be so above others that they don't see that they are being manipulated just as much as they ponies they play mental games with.' Doubt savored the stories she had heard of Loyalty taking control of Cloudsdale and showing ponies just how powerful an abstract could be. More than anything he had done, it was this whisper of danger and control that had done more to spread doubt throughout the land. Now all sides worried about the queens and the abstracts, their minds forever turning on the problem that they too could come under the iron hoof of these strange creatures.

The other side had fared no better... Faith and his little band of escapees had just sent to all those in the country a clear message: we are willing to go to extremes to exact what we think is just. Nothing shattered alliances better than one pony holding all the power and with that little show of force Faith had just provided the perfect breaking point.

As Rarity and Fluttershy discussed their next course of action, Doubt pondered the foolishness of Faith. He was playing right into her hooves and the mad abstract couldn't have achieved such results on her own without him. It made her wonder if he truly understood the scope of her plan. He had just helped her spread more doubt throughout the land and there was simply no time for Faith to correct any misconceptions ponies might have about him now.

A much darker thought crept up on her, however, and drove away the smile that had been threatening to blossom alone her features. Faith WAS cleverer than this. He had survived 2000 years not only stealing her power but developing just enough of his own that, when he was reborn as Faith he didn't find another abstract holding his strength. That was troubling... Doubt didn't like dealing with ponies that could match her wit for wit and Faith had already proven himself such an enemy.

So why go and do something that would spread doubt?

Answer: because the upswing was greater than the downswing.

Doubt forced herself not to begin to hyperventilate; it would do her no good to break her role now and reveal that the serene little prisoner the queens saw Cadence as was not who she seemed. But it was hard... oh, it was so hard. Doubt had made a mistake, a flaw that could become fatal. It was a part of her plan she had never considered and now that she saw the shatterpoint it made her heart race. After all, when things grew dark and ponies began to doubt, what did they do?

Sought refuge in those things they held to be steady... true... those things they still had FAITH in.

Now that she threw open her senses and paid attention not just to her element but to all, she could feel the strength of faith growing in the hearts of even the queens. They were believing in their abilities and their goals... and lending Faith the power to move against her.

Doubt thought of Celestia and how the alicorn had so enjoyed playing chess with ponies’ lives. Faith and his little minion Twilight were now doing the same thing, using Doubt as their opponent... and Faith had just countered her check with one of his own. The board had shifted and Doubt suddenly found herself staring down at a battle that was no longer assured.

"We must return to Manehattan," Rarity said, breaking Doubt out of her twisted thoughts. "We can regroup there and come up with a new plan."

She held faith in a city now too... she doubted Canterlot but held faith in Manehattan. Check... check.

Doubt scowled when the queens turned their backs to her. She hadn't wanted to resort to this move just yet, but it was time to place the forgotten piece onto the board... one that could distract Faith and Twilight and let the mad abstract work. Already this little weapon was spying on The Abundance... it would only take a small push to make her entire the game.

The Abundance was too dull... and needed to learn to smile... smile... smile.

Reunions

"Coming back is the thing that enables you to see how all the dots in your life are connected, how one decision leads you another, how one twist of fate, good or bad, brings you to a door that later takes you to another door, which aided by several detours--long hallways and unforeseen stairwells--eventually puts you in the place you are now.”

-Ann Patchett

“And you are sure that Iron Will will come and pick up us when you give the signal?”

“Yes, Twilight” Faith said calmly. He glanced up at the sky, watching the clouds hang overhead and wondering if the Abundance was up there. He knew it was silly to think that; he had told Iron Will and the Flim Flam brothers to keep the airship as far away from Sweet Apple Acres as possible and he and the rest of the group was heading right towards it. Will would follow his orders, knowing that it would do no good for the queens to realize that so many of them were heading towards the farm.

“It is strange, isn’t it?” Scootaloo said, trotting next to Rainbow Dash.

“What is, squirt?”

“The clouds not moving.”

Celestia sighed when Rainbow Dash didn’t answer. “All the pegasi have been scattered to the winds. The remaining queens will begin to take care of it, but it will be a while.”

The group fell into silence, none wanting to discuss just WHY the pegasi were scattered. The group that walked down the lane was a strange bunch: there were Faith, Honesty, and Scootaloo, three members of the Elements of Harmony (even if the last had only been part of it for less than a day). Rainbow Dash and Twilight, both made into alicorns because of the actions of abstracts. Spike the Dragon, who walked besides Clyde the rock farmer and his family (who were friends of the Apples and wanted to see the farm again… being away from the fields had made all of them antsy). Shining Armor, Sweetie Belle, and the Princesses were the last, though their presence had been argued; several of the group had worried about Honesty leading them into a trap and that it would be unwise for the princesses and Shining to come along. Celestia had merely raised an eyebrow at that… then sent a blast of magic out that had even Twilight’s knees shaking.

After that, no one questioned if the princesses could take care of themselves.

“And did you remember to check to see if we locked the ammo bay?’ Trixie asked. "I don't want Dinky getting in there... again."

“Yes.” Faith glanced over at Rainbow Dash, who was fighting back a snicker. “And just what exactly is making you giggle?”

“Never seen three ponies act like an old married couple before,” she said.

“We are not!” Faith, Twilight and Trixie all shouted at the same time.

Rainbow snorted, managing for only five seconds before losing the battle with her laughter. She fell to the ground, kicking her legs as she screamed with glee at the way Faith, Twilight and Trixie were all blushing and avoiding eye contact.

“Should have left her mind controlled,” Trixie muttered in annoyance.

“Or we could have left you on your airship, Captain,” Twilight grumbled.

“Yeah, because you were so cool and collected, Princess Sparkle,” Trixie shot back.

Faith glanced over at Luna, who was wearing the slightest of smirks. ‘What exactly did I do to deserve this?’ he projected into her head. When Luna merely smiled, Faith mentally rolled his eyes. ‘I never had this problem with Clockwork.’

‘Your old friend was a stallion, Faith,’ Luna thought back. Of all of them, she and Twilight were the ones most use to Faith darting into their heads; he’d lived in both of theirs for long enough. He could do it with the others, but they tended to... not like it.

Faith slowed down enough so he could trot next to Luna, leaving Twilight and Trixie to fire barbs at each other (and he hoped that was all they would fire). “Well, I never had this problem with you,” Faith retorted.

“You would have, if Celestia had felt the same way about you as I did.”

“I still don’t understand why they are- wait?” He turned towards Luna, who found it her turn to blush. “What do you-“

“If you had possessed a body…” she shrugged, “well, let us be thankful that you did not do to me what you did to Twilight.”

“Because…”

“Because I imagine Nightmare Moon would have been even more cranky if she were heavy with your foal.”

Faith stopped dead in his tracks, his face twisted into an absolutely expression of confusion. Luna merely smirked and cantered away.

“Little brother?” Honesty whispered, Shining and Clyde stopping next to the ramrod still silver abstract. “Are you ok?”

“I… I… why are mares so utterly confusing?”

Clyde merely sent him a cool look. “The world is going to hell and that is your focus?”

“The fact that mares are still causing us to go crazy is proof not everything has changed,” Shining pointed out. "I find it reassuring."

Honesty stared at his brother. “We never had this problem when we stated in our dimension.”

“Next time make sure Celestia writes my bloody name down,” Faith grunted.

~MC~MC~MC~

“No fair!”

Sweetie Belle winced. Even though she was technically an adult and Rarity had been ‘generous’ in making sure that her body was strengthened to make her a good guard, apparently that meant little when it came to the strength of a mad Apple.

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack shouted, trotting out of her house, Granny Smith and Big Mac close behind. “What are ya doin’?”

“Ain’t no fair, Applejack! Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle get to be all big and strong and I am stuck bein’ all small and-WHOA!” Apple Bloom spun in place, her bow nearly falling off as Applejack rushed past her. The filly blinked as she came to a stop, watching as Applejack tackled Twilight to the ground and gave her a hug.

“Twi, are you a sight for sore eyes!”

Twilight laughed. “Good to see you too, Applejack.”

The farmer got up, though it took a bit longer than it should have with her longer legs getting all tangled up and her feathers hitting her in the head. “I swear, this body ain’t worth the magic or the flyin’! I feel like I’m a teenager again and I just went through a growth spurt!” She whipped around, shooting Big Macintosh a glare. “And don’t ya even think that is a call for ya to go get that darn photo album and show them pictures of me!”

“Eeyup,” Macintosh drawled.

Granny Smith, however, had no such problem, pulling out a stack of photos from her mane (why they were there, no one knew). “Whata say, Applejack… ya want the princesses to see some baby pictures? Well, I can do that.” Before Celestia and Luna could protest, the old mare was pulling them aside to show them the pics. “Ya know, ya remind me of another white pony I met… she gave my daddy this farm and boy, were we ever grateful for that, why…”

“Applejack, come on!” Rainbow pleaded, having been dragged into the hug by the apple farmer.

“I’m just happy ta see ya, Dash!” Applejack’s mood darkened. “I thought about comin’ and savin’ the rest of ya, but Honesty there thought it would end badly…”

“He was right to think so,” Rainbow Dash stated. “Twilight broke me out of Loyalty’s hold but we got lucky… he could have killed you or brainwashed you…”

“But he’s gone now?” Applejack asked.

Twilight nodded. “Faith… Faith killed him."

"Good," Applejack said, surprising Twilight. "Nothin' against Faith and Honesty... but the rest of them abstracts need to be buried."

"Well, he is dead now," Rainbow stated. "That’s why Scootaloo is all metal-like.”

“I was wonderin’ ‘bout that. Apple Bloom ain’t gonna be happy.” When her friends gave her a confused look Applejack rubbed the back of her head. “I forget than none of ya’ll have a little one that is always wanting to grow up too fast.”

Twilight glanced over at Spike, who was chatting with Clyde and his wife and daughters. “No… I get it… shouldn’t be surprised with Apple Bloom… seems like she has always wanted to grow up faster than she should. Must be a blow that her friends actually got to do it.”

“They’ll straighten the kid out,” Dash said, remembering well the tears Sweetie and Scootaloo had shed the night before. “So… how is it that I suck at getting abstracts?”

“Huh?” Twilight and Applejack both said.

Rainbow gestured at Honesty. “I mean, Loyalty was a nut and yeah, he looked pretty strong but his mane looked so greasy Mrs. Cake could have used it on her cake pans. But Honesty? Sure, he looked a little bit like your brother, which is creepy, but other than that he is about perfect for ya, AJ. And Twilight… Faith is…”

“Yummy,” Applejack commented, nodding in agreement and giving the gray alicorn a once over.

“Hmmm,” Twilight murmured, watching Trixie as she chatted with Clyde's wife. The showmare had been trying really hard since Faith’s breakdown to not be so snooty to everypony and for the most part Twilight had to admit that Trixie was doing a good job (for all the last 12 hours, which considering Trixie was a miracle). Yes, she was doing well... except when it came to any mare that glanced at Faith for more than five seconds. Spitfire had been screamed at, Derpy got the cold shoulder... so on and so forth. Seemed to Twilight that Trixie was overprotective of the silver alicorn… not that Twilight could blame her, since she herself was resisting the same urges.

“I am telling you, brother, something is wrong,” Faith muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

“And what is that?” Honesty asked, looking at the farmhouse fondly. The last month spent there was the greatest of his life and the red abstract wondered if, when all was said and done and Equestria was safe, he could build a little home of his own and try his hoof at farming. It was hard labor but one that didn’t involve lies or cheating to get by. You made do with what you put in. He smiled, secretly hoping he could convince Faith to come with him… and maybe their sisters, if they could save them. It was time for them to be a family again and make up for a 1000 years of mistakes.

Faith looked around, feeling like a caged animal. “Everypony is looking at me.”

“Of course they are,” Honesty stated. “You kinda stand out. I'm getting looked at too."

“Not like that. I mean the mares… they are all… you know…”

“What?” Honesty asked.

Shining trotted over, wearing a smirk. “They making love to you with their eyes.” Honesty and Faith’s eyes tripled in size. “I find it so cute that the all powerful beings are so naive.”

“You have to be wrong,” Honesty said.

“Do I look like I am lying?” Shining shot back. Honesty had the decency to look abashed. “I am engaged to the alicorn of love… Cadence’s powers have a side affect, they cause ponies to be drawn to her. Most of the time she can control it but I remember a few times when she was stressed and her powers flared up… had to fight off some very enamored stallions.”

“I might remind you that my power is in belief, not love,” Faith stated, catching Blinkie Pie’s eye. He smiled and she fluttered her lashes at him, causing him to quickly look away, lest Clyde decide to beat him. “Why would they all be lusting after me?”

“Seriously?” Shining asked. “You are tall, dark, mysterious, and powerful. Also, over half the mares here are immortal. There are right now two alicorns in the word: you and your brother. That makes you something rare... something they all want.”

“Then they can lust after you, Honesty!” Faith exclaimed. "it is creeping me out."

Honesty shook his head, the three stallions heading forward when Big Mac gave the call for them all to head inside for lunch. “No thank you, brother. The mares are all yours.”

“Bloody wanker,” Faith grumbled as he trotted up the steps. “Bad enough I have Trixie and Twilight and our… relationships… I don’t need any more mares-“

“You don’t?”

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. The kitchen of the Apple Family house had stretched and elongated till it was nearly the size of Canterlot’s throne room. A large table was laid out with all sorts of treats and cakes and goodies. The walls were now orange and yellow, with different apple prints appearing on them… only said apples were depicted bucking trees filled with ponies. The chairs ranged from folding chairs to Celestia’s own throne, and the table cloth looked to be Twilight’s bedspread expanded to nearly 20 yards in length. High above them were floating candles and the ceiling was painted to look like the night sky… it even had moving shooting stars.

Rainbow leapt away when she saw Gummy bouncing by on a balloon shaped like Applejack’s head. She was having a VERY nasty case of déjà vu…

Seated at the table was a strange collection of ponies. First there was a large, stone pony wearing a hardhat looked at them with a frown. Then there was a purple pony with a green, leafy mane and a turnip for a cutie mark. Across the table was a pony made of gray fluff, wearing grand, if mismatched, armor. Next to him was a pegasus mare that was as white as snow, laughing daintily every time bits of her crumbling away. But all their attention was focused on the head of the table… where a particular alicorn was seated.

“But I set up a tea party just for all of you!” Pinkie Pie said. She was wearing a purple tux and had on a huge purple top hat on the very top of her overly poofy pink hair. She batted her eyes before leaning forward. “You are late for tea, Alice, and that will not be good at all.”

All the doors and windows disappeared, leaving them trapped in the dining room.

“Have… a… seat.”

“Oh… one of Twilight’s evil friends,” Trixie said dryly, “that’s new.”

An Unexpected Tea Party

"Curiouser and curiouser..."

Alice in Wonderland

"Well, aren't you going to sit down?" Pinkie asked over her tea cup. “We have jams and jellies and all sorts of assorted treats. I laid them out just for all of you!” When none of them moved she turned to the tea pot, which strangely enough had a face on it. "They are very rude, aren't they Mrs. Potts?"

"Oh, very rude my dear, very rude. Positively beastly,” the teapot said.

“I hope that teapot only sounds like Mrs. Cake and ain’t really her,” Applejack said nervously.

Pinkie laughed. “That would be silly, Applejack! Mrs. Cake is a pony, not a teapot. Besides, if I was going to turn her into something I’d turn her into a cake… oh, want a piece of cake?” Pinkie held out a plate, a piece of cake with frosting the same color as Mrs. Cake sitting perfectly in the center.

“I’m good,” Spike murmured, looking a bit green in the scales.

“So… sit sit! You are dreadfully late to the party!” Pinkie said.

“Indeed, madam,” Sir Lintsalot said. “It is rather rude of them to stare at you.”

“Rude indeed,” Madame Le Flour stated with a Prance accent.

Rainbow scoffed. "Yeah, sorry to be rude, but I have a rule about sitting down at tables that might turn into monsters that will eat my bones."
Pinkie gasped. "Dashie! That... is... brilliant!" Pinkie pulled out a long list. "Bone... eating... tables." She tucked the list in her mane and flashed Rainbow Dash a large smile. "I'll make sure to list you on the patent application! You are so smart… I might have to turn you into a cupcake and eat you!"

“Let’s not and say we did,” Trixie stated, backing away. “By the by, I left the stove on in my flying fortress, so Faith and I and every other pony are going to go turn it off… we’ll be right back so if you could just wait right here…” A cage fell down, trapping Trixie. “Shoot.”

Celestia, seeing none of the other ponies had not a clue what to do, stepped forward, selecting a seat three down from Madame Le Flour. The others stared at her, shocked, but the solar alicorn merely raised a single eyebrow as she used her magic to snag a biscuit. "You don't honestly believe she is going to attack us, do you?"

"Why wouldn't she?" Shining Armor said, eyeing the pink alicorn warily. Pinkie merely grinned and used her magic to grab a teacup and hold it upside down over the tea kettle... which promptly began to pour up. “She did threaten to turn Rainbow Dash into a pastry.”

“So?” Pinkie complained, waving away Trixie’s cage. “Trixie cast spells on her… and Doubt-“

“Faith,” everypony said.

“-was an evil mastermind…”

"Pinkie won’t hurt us because that is what we are expecting," Twilight said, clueing into what the Princess was getting at. She took a seat next to Celestia, watching Pinkie out of the corner of her eye. Trixie, not wanting to appear cowardly, quick sat down near the purple alicorn. "And that is the last thing Pinkie or Laughter would want to do. Living up to expectations isn't funny... the unexpected on the other hoof..."

Faith took a seat between Twilight and Trixie, knowing that not doing so would only lead to infighting. "You know what would be completely unexpected? Your total surrender. I would not see that coming."

"Me either," Apple Bloom commented. The others took seats, though they were smart enough to keep the alicorns between them and the deranged queen and her 'friends'.

Pinkie shook her head, her top hat growing belts that latched around her head to prevent it from flying off. "No no no no no! If I did that then the fun would be over and all the burning baby fishes would be nibbling on ashes. Why do you hate burning baby fishes so much?" Pinkie paused, considering her words. “Do you like me… even the parts you can’t see? Tell me Honesty, if I were to rip out my intestines would you love those?”

"... I vote for running at fast as we can," Scootaloo said nervously.

"Why would you run?" Scootaloo's chair said. "You just got comfy!" The armrests coiled around her arms and Scootaloo began to buck.

"Sees hers buckin'?" Rocky laughed. "That filly's gots somes spunk!"

"I suppose, though it is rather unladylike," Flour complained.

"Laughter, stop this!" Honesty shouted over Scootaloo's curses. “Release her now and you might be spared the pain you are begging to be delivered upon you!”

Pinkie blinked. "Laughter? Who is Laughter?"

"Do not play games with me, little sister. I am your elder brother and you will obey me!" Honesty snapped.

Pinkie's eyes flashed black and her smile took on a decidedly less-friendly gleam. "You killed Loyalty... I don't have to listen to you because you are no fun! Bye bye!"

The lights went out and when they came back on Honesty was draped over the table, a knife in his back. Pinkie's sisters screamed but Faith merely narrowed his eyes. "It isn't real. None of this is. Nice try though" 'Honesty' faded away, as did the blood that had pooled under his chair.

Luna stared at where ‘Honesty’ had been laid out, her own heart beating fast in her chest. For just a moment she had feared for all their lives… “How could you…”

“Trixie, what makes a good illusion?” Faith asked.

“Smoke and mirrors.”

The silver alicorn flexed his wings. “Lord of the gray and the mirror alicorn,” Faith stated. He turned to Pinkie and stared her down. “Of all of us, Laughter, you are the one that lacks the most substance."

"But she makes up for it in party favors!" Pinkie giggled, pulling out gift bags and passing them around. "Go ahead... there is a little teddy bear and some chocolate and assorted suckers... oh, and a t-shirt!"

Applejack pulled said shirt out. "I lost my mind and all I got was this lousy t-shirt?"

Pinkie bobbed her head up and down, the top of her skull popping off to reveal a little note that read ‘IOU 1 Brain –Celestia’. "Don't worry... it only hurts for a moment!" Applejack let out a yelp when Rocky grabbed her and pressing her against the table, a saw in his hand.

"I wouldn't do that," Twilight said, her horn glowing as she pressed the end into Madame Le Flour. "Drop the saw or I turn your friend into biscuits!"

"Do what she says!" Flour screamed in fear.

Pinkie sighed and waved for Rocky to release Applejack. "You are no fun. I wasn’t going to hurt her… just make her an airhead… get it?"

"I am having Discord flashbacks," Rainbow hissed to Shining.

Pinkie brightened up at that. "Discord? Why didn't you say so!" Her purple suit was gone with a thought, replaced by a flimsy pink outfit resembling the styles found in Saddle Arabia. Pinkie crossed her forelegs over her chest and blinked hard, summoning Discord's statue into the dining room. "It's weird, I went to check on him early on, in case he tried to destroy all the harmony, but he's just like a chocolate bunny!" Pinkie's head inflated to five times its normal size and she bit down, taking off Discord's stone head. "He's hollow!"

Celestia bolted up, her eyes wide in panic. She stared at the empty statue and trembled. "No... that's not possible! There… there should be something in there. How... how can he-"

"Don't know, don't care!" Pinkie giggled, spitting out the head and using some chewing gum to try and put it back on. She managed to secure it backwards before giving up and warping it away. "That just means that I have to take over bringing silliness to Equestria! Isn't that right, Honesty?"

A panel in the ceiling moved and Honesty dropped down, tangled up in puppet strings and wearing blue tights and a red cape. He glared at Pinkie, who had changed into her purple suit again, only this time she was wearing a gray bowler hat.

"Come on Super Abstract... stop me." Pinkie bounced over to him and with a wiggle of her right hoof caused his strings to jerk him up and down. "Oh, but I won't disappear if you make me say my name backwards..." Pinkie's left leg spasmed. "Hold that thought!" With lightning fast speed she grabbed a plate and used it to deflect a bolt of magic Luna had fired at her into Big Macintosh, who was trying to sneak up on her. The large stallion rolled along the floor till he collided with some bowling pins Pinkie had set up. Granny Smith, Applejack and Apple Bloom rushed over to help him. "All of you are just so silly!" She skipped back to the head of the table, where her 'friends' clapped in approval. "My Pinkie Sense is tuned in to all of you, so I can tell what you are going to do-" She reached over and grabbed a cookie Spike was getting ready to eat, switching it for a different one, "-you won't like that one... this one is better, it has nuts in it!- before you do it!"

Twilight opened her mouth but Pinkie wiggled her nose and Twilight found her head suddenly wrapped up like a present. "Nope, don't care about any 'Oh Pinkie, you aren't spreading harmony, you are doing the opposite' speech you were about to give! You want to know why?"

The others stared at her and Pinkie casually reached over and nibbled on some corn bread she had created out of thin air.

"Aren't you going to finish?" Shining finally asked, watching as Twilight unwrapped her head.

"I was waiting for your answer."

Faith rolled his eyes. "Yes, we would like to know why, Pinkie."

"Aw, thank you Doubt!"

"Faith," the silver abstract said. "You have god-like powers and you can't remember my name?"

Pinkie shrugged. "Anyway, I don't care because harmony isn't really that funny! I don't want chaos of course, because that is mean funny, but I realized that harmony is just bor-ing! So I..."

Twilight leaned forward, the rest of the group turning their ears towards her and tuning out Pinkie's rambling. "Listen... we need to think here and come up with a plan.”

Rainbow frowned. “What if all of us just blasted-“

“Wouldn’t work!” Pinkie called out.

“-her,” Rainbow finished.

Twilight shook her head. “She controls everything right now… we walked into her little world and now we have to play by her ever changing rules.”

Celestia nodded. “We must be cautious; everything we say just feeds her and makes her sanity slip. We need to stay quiet, let her try and burn it out of her system... maybe if she talks enough-"'

"I don't think that is possible, Princess," Applejack pointed out.

"Dangit, that gal sure does like the blather on!" Granny Smith complained, rubbing Big Mac’s shoulders.

“Eeyup.”

"I like to talk," Faith said.

"Huh?" Twilight said in confusion.

"I like to talk too much too."

Trixie's eyes lit up. "Oh, that is just evil! I love it!"

"What?" Scootaloo said, confused. "What is evil?"

Faith smirked. "What happens when two equal but opposing forces meet?"

Twilight's eyes shined as the plan dawned upon her. "Oh... oh I almost feel bad for her."

"Mind cluing the rest of us in, dear?" Sue Pie asked.

"Just follow my lead... and don't try and follow along too much," Twilight said, leaning back.

"-and then he says, "No, I am your father!" and-" Pinkie took a breath. "Where was I? Oh right, so-"

Faith let out a yawn.

Pinkie's right eye suddenly twitched.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Faith said causally. "Please, keep going." Pinkie opened her mouth, only for Faith to yawn much louder. "Again, so sorry."

"What are you doing?" Pinkie demanded.

"Yawning, obviously," Faith said dryly. "One tends to do that when they are bored."

"Bored... bored?" Pinkie said in shock. "How can you be bored? Have you SEEN what I am throwing your way?"

"I can be bored quite easily, apparently. You don't make it that difficult."

Pinkie shook her head. "What are you talking about? I am giving you good stuff here-"

"Good stuff? I thought this was your C or D material... don't tell me these are your best jokes."

Pinkie's other eye began to twitch and Twilight and Celestia began to slowly make their way over to Honesty, wanting to get him cut down.

"I mean, I get that I am rather dour, but even I have a sense of humor and I am afraid you are just failing to tickle it!" Faith looked around and when he found no good spot to pace, leapt onto the table and began to march up and down its length. Tea cups and plates of biscuits were sent flying as he kicked his hooves up in frustration. "Come now, big sister, this is truly sad! You are the embodiment of humor and you resort to such weak, pitiful jokes!"

"Hey, these jokes are strong!" Pinkie pulled out a hammer and swung it at an old-timey 'Test Your Strength' machine one might find at a carnival. The weight rocketed up, hitting the bell at the time. "See, strong as can be."

Faith merely gave her a dry, unimpressed glower. "I would find better jokes in a pack of chewing gum." He took several steps forward and Pinkie stumbled back, the smile on her face losing much of its joy. "You know, I've seen this before... two really good comics try and make a double act and the routine is just horrible. You don't blend well together... Pinkie, Laughter, you are a clown with tears in his eyes or a standup in a plaid jacket playing to an empty club. It is sad... pathetic really. Or maybe even a bit funny… if only for how sad it is."

"I... I..." Pinkie stammered.

Faith threw his head back and laugh. “Look at you… your one mission is to make ponies laugh and the only way you can do that is to be pathetic at doing your job!”

“I…”

"Yes?" Faith asked.

"I know exactly what you are trying to do."

The group let out cries when plaid-colored chains burst out of the walls and grabbed them, pulling them all back to their seats. Faith looked down in annoyance when Pinkie put a muzzle on him... and a doogie collar that read 'Doubt'.

"Pinkie... sense! Gotta love it!" Pinkie giggled, all sadness gone as she began skipping around the table as her 'friends' cheered her on. "You think you can trick me so easily? Nuh uh! I am smarter than the av-er-age bear!"

"...what?" Trixie said.

"You know what I think the problem is?" Pinkie asked to no one at all. "There are too many of you in here! You are all sharing screen time which means I can't play with you all effectively." She flashed a dark smirk. "Don't worry... I know how to fix that!"

The room was torn away and the ponies let out cries as they tumbled down into a dark abyss, Pinkie's laughter echoing in their ears.

Down Down Down

Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.

-Inception

You all thought this would be easy, didn’t you? Thought you could march in with your plans and your strategies and take me out. You thought I would sit by and let you come to me on your terms? Did you assume that I would be too stupid to realize that you planned to come at me full force, once you had gathered up Applejack? Of course you did… you thought I would stand by and wait my turn like a good little soldier. That is just silly. Where is the fun in waiting around for you to overwhelm me when I can bring the games to you?

Sunlight streamed into the Ponyville Library, shining down on the form of its librarian as she looked through her periodicals. Twilight turned the page of the magazine in front of her and snorted when she read its contents. “I can’t believe any pony would believe this spell could give you a longer mane! It would clearly cause your hooves to shine!” She levitated a quill over to her and moved the magazine over to her desk. She rolled her eyes as she grabbed a scroll and set to work. “To… the editors… of Magical Monthly… I have found it quite… laughable… that you would publish such an incomplete spell… as you did in your March edition. “

She chuckled to herself as she detailed just what was wrong with the spell. It was just so utterly silly it made her nearly weep. She glanced over and lost the battle with the giggles when she noticed that the spell next to it was wrong too. Shaking her head, Twilight set about correcting the editor again, never noticing the cracks that were forming in the air around her, pink energy oozing out of it. To one side, unnoticed, was a magazine bearing the image of a certain pink pony…

You see this all as a math problem, don’t you Twilight? 5(alicorn=1000) + 3(abstract=1000)=8000. Even if my power is at 2000 or 5000 you still outpower me. But life is not mathematics, Twilight, and that is why you have been failing all this time. You keep rushing in, thinking that because you have the numbers you can win. But how can you succeed when you are playing against someone who controls the very system around you. You based your beliefs on a set of rules… but I have rewritten them. They were rewritten before you even knew I was here. You thought you were prepared… you thought that you had built up your walls and knew how to keep me out. Silly, silly Twilight… my attack was merely to a feint; I wanted you to find me so I could see your strengths and weaknesses. Everything you thought was real was merely a dream and with each ‘awakening’ you merely fall down deeper. I found the fissures in your mental shields and now I use you to get to the rest…

Celestia and Luna sat in their customary box at the Canterlot Playhouse, watching a wonderful staging of ‘Twelfth Night’. It was a wonderful production, with no expense spared and the greatest of actors giving even the smallest part all the strength one could. They chuckled and laughed at the antics of the ponies on stage, delighting in how every cue was made and every line hit just right. They never noticed that the actors were all pink…

This is how you enjoy life, isn't it? You like it structured and controlled, with every actor knowing his lines and all roads leading to happy endings. That is why you were so against Discord; if you desire life to be a play then he wanted it to be all improv. I see now that both of you were wrong... life can not be pure chaos but it can not run without a strong hoof to guide it. A paradox, you might say; a stubborn truth is my reply. There must be room to grow… but boundaries to keep one in place. A balance… harmony. True harmony… MY harmony…

Spike was holding his sides, laughing so hard that he was a having a hard time staying in his chair. The comedy club was filled to the max, every pony joining him and laughing at the dignified Fancy Pants as he worked the mic and the room.

"Why did the chicken cross the road?" he said with his usual pompous flair. "To get to the other side!"

Spike threw back his head and laughed, pounding the table with his fist as his pink waitress brought him another lemonade.

You like to pretend that you are so powerful and refined, don't you Spike? With you new powers you want everyone to see you as an adult, able to hold his own. But it is all a lie, isn't it? You are still a child, giggling at knock knock jokes and snickering when someone says the word poop. You haven't grown up at all, have you? You've just learned to hide the truth. A child… an infant in a world of giants…

"He didn't!" Trixie exclaimed.

"He did," Faith said with a smile, gently running his hoof along her side. The two of them were lying upon their backs, watching the clouds as they drifted by, swapping stories and gossip about any pony they could think off. Trixie, of course, was focused on Twilight Sparkle and her hilarious freakouts, while Faith would discuss ponies who had long since passed on to the other side. It didn't matter to Trixie if she had never heard their names before; she just enjoyed spending time with Faith.

"I can't believe Princess Celestia didn't banish him after that!"

"Apparently old sunny butt has a better sense of humor than we thought," Faith said, causing Trixie to snort. "Ok, ok, we need to calm down... no need to wake up the little prince."

Trixie nodded, a smile growing upon her lips as she looked at the little blue foal that was curled up against her side, his metallic white mane gleaming in the sunlight. Every once and a while he would let out such a great snore that he would wake himself up, looking around in confusion before drifting back to sleep, leaving Fatih and Trixie to laugh at their son's antics.

All that glitz... all that glamour... you have put up so many fronts and played the roles everypony expects you to play. Do any of them realize how simple your dreams are? How the thing that would make you smile and laugh the most is such a grounded thing? Of course they don't... you are too busy pretending your want everything but that to reveal your heart’s desire...

She watched them all… watched as Applejack and Rainbow laughed in glee as they raced, each believing themselves the winner yet unable to see that they were tied. She saw Shining surrounded by family, the center of attention at long last, a wide grin on his face. There was Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, delighting in their cutie marks and waving their rears in Diamond Tiara’s face. There was Big Macintosh, a stuffed doll at his side as he watched apple trees blossom with cherries. She watched the swirl of madness that was Honesty… of course an abstract would find abstract art fun.

She watched it all… she watched them laugh… again… and again… and again….

~MC~MC~MC~

Clyde Pie’s life was exciting.

Normal ponies didn’t see it that way. They looked at his life and saw it as drab and boring. He knew that but it didn’t bother him… he was simply wired differently than the rest of Equestria. They wanted thrills and adventures… but he found excitement in the ground and in the rocks and upon the land. To him, the rest of the world was boring; his farm and his work was the most exciting thing ever.

But he had been pulled away from his exciting life by forces beyond his control. He and his family had been forced to live their lives by the rules of other ponies and deal with what they deemed ‘exciting’ and ‘adventurous’. It gave the farmer a migraine and the desire to run back to his fields.

All of this flowed through Clyde’s head as he slowly stood up,

"What happened?" Sue asked with a moan, Inkie and Blinkie hurrying over to help their mother up.

"Don't rightly know," Granny Smith said, Apple Bloom bringing her walker over. "Big Mac, you know... Big Mac?" Granny waved her hand in front of Macintoh's face, but the stallion just kept staring straight ahead, his eyes flickering every one and a while. "Dang it, you didn't go and have a stroke on me, did ya?"

"If he did then he ain't the only one!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, nudging Sweetie Belle. "Scootaloo and Sweetie are out too!" Apple Bloom turned and let out a panicked wail. "And so is Applejack!"

"So is Miss Sparkle and Miss Dash," Clyde stated, trotting over to the two alicorns. Spike, Shining Armor, Trixie and the Princesses were off to one side, piled up together with their eyes still wide open. To their right Honesty and Faith were crumpled in a heap, looking completely normal save for the long dead stare they sported.

"What happened to them?" Inkie asked.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Blinkie added.

Apple Bloom stood next to her sister, her little hooves pressing against AJ's flank. "We were all at that freaky tea party and then Pinkie Pie made the floor drop out-"

"That was not Pinkie Pie," Clyde said sharply.

"Clyde..." Sue chided gently.

"No. I won't have them bad mouthing our little girl. Pinkie might not act like us but she is a Pie and Pies stick together. That was all Laughter's doing."

"So, what ya think happ'ined?" Granny Smith asked. "How'd we all end up here?"

"I don't think we made it into the house," Clyde said. He took a step forward and his entire body began to twitch. "There be magic around the door, alright. Laughter must have set up some kind of magic booby trap."

Apple Bloom frowned, tilting her head in confusion. "What did you just do?"

"What do you mean?" Inkie asked.

Apple Bloom frowned. "The whole twitching thing... I thought only Pinkie had Pinkie Sense!"

"Pinkie Sense?" Sue said, the slightest of smiles forming on her lips. "Course she would call it that... silly thing always loved naming things after herself! Why, she still refers to our house as Pinkie Pie Manor..."

As Sue trailed off Clyde continued to test the doorway, getting the same results. "Every pony in our family has the Sixth Sense. They say that our line can trace itself all the way to Prince Pie, Princess Platinum's younger brother. He married Smart Cookie and started up a whole brood. I don't know how much of it is true, but all Pies can sense things... including magic." Clyde walked towards the house again and frowned. "Strange magic...my knees get a bit achy followed by my left molar feeling hot and my lids blinking."

"That means the spell was set for a specific pony!" Blinkie declared. "Remember when that mean land developer tried to trick us off our farm and set up that spell that would only affect you, father?"

"I do indeed... and you are right, daughter. Laughter set this spell for one particular pony."

"Yes," Faith called out, slowly rising to his feet, "she set it for Twilight."

"Mr. Faith, you're awake!" Apple Bloom called out, rushing towards him. "You have to help my sister and-"

Sue grabbed Apple Bloom and threw her onto her back, Clyde and the sisters getting in a defensive stance. Granny Smith held up her walker, ready to pound Faith if he made any sudden moves.

"You aren't Faith," Inkie stated. "Don't try and claim that you are! You don't feel like him." All the Pies twitched the same way.

"No, but I am a friend," 'Faith' said as 'his' eyes flashed solid pink. "Doubt tried to use me... but it looks like she made a grave mistake."

"Who are you?" Clyde demanded.

'Faith' smiled. "Cadence... I’m Princess Cadence."

Pinkie Suit

"Is sanity the price to pay for power!?"

-Dante, Devil May Cry 4

Apple Bloom trotted next to 'Faith', glancing at the silver alicorn from the corner of her eye, ducking her head when 'his' eye ever caught hers. Honesty and Applejack told about Faith. The red abstract had spoken of good times and bad, chuckling about how his brother had done played some trick, only to quickly tell the filly that ‘you shouldn’t do that’. Applejack had been much the same way, after she had gotten Honesty out of her head; she had painted the picture of an angry stallion who held a high moral code.

Apple Bloom had wanted to meet this stallion, to find out what his deal really was. And when she did… he wasn’t him?

"Apple Bloom, if you wish to ask me something please do so.”

"... what do we call you? I mean, you're Cadence, but you are wearin' Faith's face and using his voice..." Apple Bloom kicked at a stone that lay in the middle of the lane, watching it skip into the grass. "It's just so confusin'!"

"I think it is just as confusing for the princess as it is for you," Sue Pie said gently. She looked up at the clouds, wishing there was a way to get to wherever Clyde was taking them faster. She didn’t like being out in the open, even if it was a beautiful day. Her husband had said little after their awakening, only telling them that they needed to get a move on. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom hadn't liked the idea of leaving the others behind but Clyde had told them that he suspected that Laughter would not let any creature hurt the others until she was done playing with them.

Cadence smiled. "It is... I have heard of 'out-of-body' experiences, but this seems to take it a step further." She glanced at the mirror wings, taking just a moment to flex her face, watching in slight amusement at the faces she was forcing Faith to make. “You have no idea how strange this feels… all the muscles are different and I feel so… bulky.”

"Princess, how did you end up in Faith's body?" Inkie asked. "And why are you just now letting us know?"

"And where is Faith right now?" Blinkie asked.

The princess shook her head sadly. "Believe me, I wanted to let all of you know I was safe... so to speak. What do you know about Trixie and Faith's time in the dungeons?"

"Not much," Clyde admitted, shifting slightly. With Cadence's help he had gotten Granny Smith onto his back, letting the old mare rest as he led them towards their destination. The weight didn’t bother him, as he had given his daughters rides up into their teens and Granny weighed about the same. "Miss Trixie isn't one to open up to most ponies and I think Faith is trying to put on a brave show about how bad it was. Think he realizes how nasty it is for us out here and doesn't want to look like he is whining or complaining."

"Sounds like Faith," Cadence muttered. "I haven't known Faith for a long time... but in that time I have found that he is one of the most self-sacrificing ponies there is. Bouncing around his brain for the last week has only confirmed that suspicion. He… keeps too much to himself." The alicorn of love flexed her wings in agitation. "You know about Doubt though, right? The first one?"

Apple Bloom frowned. "I thought Faith was Doubt... or is it Doubt was Faith..."

Granny Smith scoffed. "These young'uns and their changin' their names all the time! I just got use ta callin' Nightmare Moon Princess Luna, then that Doubt fella had ta change his name a few times and leave us all reelin'! No respect for their elders, I'll tell ya what."

Cadence found herself thankful Granny Smith was along; her rumblings and rantings made her smile and kept her thoughts from settling on the dark and depressing. Her silver horn flared and Cadence carefully lifted Apple Bloom up and settled her on her back, her wings tuck tight against her sides to keep from cutting the little filly. "What do you know about the Elements of Harmony?"

"Other than they are all nuts?" Apple Bloom asked, causing Inkie and Blinkie to choke back laughter.

"Other than that," Cadence said.

"...they helped defeat Discord and Nightmare Moon!"

"That's right," Cadence said. "A long, long time ago, six abstracts, which each represented one aspect of life, aided Princess Celestia and Luna. They were Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty, Laughter, Generosity and Faith."

Sue frowned. "I thought the final element was magic."

Cadence nodded. "Yes, and that is where the problems began. My aunt, Princess Celestia, made a mistake; she feared the power of the abstracts, so she hid the name of one of them..."

"Faith?" Inkie asked.

"Correct.”

“Why?” Inkie asked. “Why just a name?”

“ Abstacts are influenced by the world. Celestia thought that if only she knew Faith’s name, she would have power over him and thus the other abstracts.” Cadence shook her head. “My aunt was… different back then. Discord had destroyed much of the land and she feared another battle could ruin everything.

“But Celestia only knew part of the story. If everypony forgets about an abstract, they grow weak and fade away. When that lost emotion is felt again, a new abstract is born.”

"Or ascends, like Scootaloo?' Apple Bloom asked as they made their way around a bend and began to descend down into a large shallow valley.

Cadence nodded. "Right. Because even Celestia forgot Faith's name, he forgot his name too... and his purpose. His brothers and sisters abandoned him, figuring that he would just disappear."

“They left him to die?” Sue asked in horror.

"Disgusting," Clyde rumbled. "They ought to be ashamed of themselves!"

The alicorn of love silently agreed, deciding not to mention that, thanks to being in Faith's brain, she knew his secret: when he had been abandoned he had barely been colt by modern reckoning. There was enough hate when it came to the abstracts. "But instead of fading away, Faith sought out other ponies. First was Princess Luna... but her anger at Celestia fed into Faith's anger at her and, well..."

"Nightmare Moon," Blinkie supplied.

"Right. So then, Faith found another pony, a student of Clover the Clever named Clockwork. Clockwork is the one that gave Faith a new name."

"Doubt," Apple Bloom said. Her brow scrunched up. "But wait, does that mean there wasn't a Doubt until Faith came along?"

"Very clever," Cadence said pleasantly, even as her gut tightened as she thought about the mad abstract. "You see, by taking the name Doubt and having a greater presence in Equestria, Faith stole the original Doubt's job. And an abstract without a job, he or she..."

"Fades away," Apple Bloom said. "But Doubt didn't?"

"No," Cadence said darkly, a scowl marring Faith's face. "She did not. Doubt somehow found a way to continue on... she find some abstract that she could draw power from and used it to her own ends." The currently silver alicorn shuddered slightly.

"You don't have ta go on if ya don't want ta," Apple Bloom said gently.

"No... no, I need to talk about this." Cadence cleared her throat. "Doubt blames Faith for everything she had done. And maybe she is right, but-"

"Don't matter if she is right or wrong," Clyde said, turning right. Apple Bloom and Granny Smith, looked about, startled by the seemingly barren landscape. They opened their mouths to question what they were seeing by Clyde cut them off. "Faith seems to be working to redeem himself... she just wants to find some pony to blame while she whines."

"My thoughts exactly," Cadence said. "So... You now understand the deal with Faith and Doubt?"

"As best as I'm goin' to, I guess," Apple Bloom admitted.

Cadence smiled at that. "As for why I am inside of Faith's body... when we were in the dungeons... I am ashamed to admit that I had a moment of doubt. I'd already given Doubt a hoofhold into my head back when Twilight had gone dark after the wedding and the changelings... but being down there gave Doubt enough leverage to worm her way into my head. She took over my body and forced me to watch as she plunged my horn into Faith's body.

"But the moment that happened, something strange occurred. I wasn't in my body any more, I was... well, I was sliding into Faith's. I don't know how it happened, but my spirit was transferred to Faith. I… I think it has something to do with abstracts.” Cadence shut her eyes for a moment, digging through Faith’s memories. They were tougher to get to, with him in the grip of Laughter, but she could find them. “I think because abstracts are connected to ponies and usually don’t have physical forms that I… kinda became like them when Faith and Doubt fought.”

“You became an abstract?” Sue asked.

“Something close. My talent is spreading love, which is pretty close to being an abstract… I think the time Doubt spent with me, combined with my own abilities let me do some magic that normally only an abstract can do. Problem is that I do have a body so I am kinda suck.

“But back to the dungeons. The problem was that I wasn't strong enough to fight Faith's spirit... abstracts are very strong-willed and Faith's spirit overpowered mine. I could see and hear all he did but couldn't make his body do anything I wanted... until now."

"Yes, now," Clyde said. "What has Laughter done to everypony?"

Cadence glowered. Of all the abstracts, Laughter was rapidly becoming #2 on her Hate List, right below Doubt. "She set a trap. From what I gathered from Faith's memories, Laughter and Pinkie-"

"Not Pinkie," Clyde snapped. "This is all Laughter."

Cadence pursed her lips but continued. "Ok... Laughter went into Twilight's mind. Faith and her thought Laughter was just trying to brainwash her, but now I think what she was really doing was leaving a back door in Twilight's mind. She knew she couldn't break through Twilight's mental shields, but if she could trick Twilight..." Cadence sighed. "It is hard to explain... I only understand it a tiny bit and that is because I wasn't affected like the rest of you. When the trap went off Twilight sent magic into each of you and connected all your minds. I think you all shared a vision that you thought was real... that allowed Laughter to attack Twilight's mental shields, as well as Faith's and Honesty's and the Princesses'; they aren’t dreaming but they aren’t awake either…."

"Then why are the rest of us awake?" Inkie asked.

Cadence focused. “Faith’s memories show Laughter to be a bit… smug. She wasn’t evil back when he knew her, but she wasn’t the nicest abstract. I think she doesn’t view any of you as a threat because you don’t have magic.”

“And she took my big brother because he broke Applejack out of it!”

“Right, but we can worry about that later. Right now we need to figure out a way to break the rest of the group out of Pinkie and Laughter's-"

"Stop," Clyde said sternly, turning to stare down Cadence. "My daughter isn't doing this."

Granny Smith hopped off Clyde's back when they arrived at a small farm house in the middle of the dark and barren field. "Clyde?" Sue asked. "Why are we home?"

"I know you feel like that," Cadence said as Clyde led them into the Pie Family's house, "but you have to face facts... the abstracts corrupted Twilight's friends-"

"You’re wrong," Clyde said, marching down the hall. He hadn't been home since just before the queens' arrival; the Pie family had been coming home from Manehatten after selling a load of their finest geodes when all of this had begun. They had tried to make it back but had joined up with the rebellion shortly after. Now, Clyde regretted that choice. "My Pinkie is the only pony that has ever made me laugh... and she understands how dangerous a Pie is." Clyde walked up to a door and, opening it just enough to poke his head in, glanced inside. "If she were the queen, she would never have let us go."

"Clyde, please," Cadence said. "You-"

"If I am wrong, what do you call this!" Clyde snapped, throwing open the door for all to see.

There, tied to the simple bed with sheets, lay Pinkie Pie. Not an alicorn, not a queen... just Pinkie.

"What the hay?" Cadence whispered as Sue and the Pie sisters rushed over to the pink mare, quickly tugging her free of her bonds. "How is this..."

"Pinkie?" Sue whispered, stroking her daughter's cheek.

"Mom?" Pinkie whispered, blinking her eyes, coming out of the trance she had been in.

"We're here Pinkie."

“Is it her?” Apple Bloom asked nervously. “You know… really her?”

All of the Pies trembled at the same time. “Yes,” Inkie, Sue, Blinkie and Clyde all stated.

The pink mare began to smile even as happy tears rolled down her cheeks. She gripped her father’s hoof, speaking rapidly. "That mean abstract... she tried to trick me! I knew that she didn't want to make ponies smile like I do, so I told her no way, OJ! She wanted to wear me like a Pinkie Suit but I told her there wasn’t enough room and she should leave! Oh, and she kept calling Faith bad names and I told her he was my friend and I don’t like ponies making fun of my friends so she could go clop herself! She didn't like that and said she needed me to behave..." Pinkie licked her lips. "So she tied me up and then made herself look like me! I tried to tell her that it was a mean prank but she wouldn't listen..."

Sue hugged her daughter. "None of that... you just rest." She squeezed Pinkie tighter, only to find that she was now holding empty air.

"Are you kidding?!?" Pinkie exclaimed, now standing on her dresser. "I have been resting for the last few months… laying in that bed, Laughter feeding me and keeping me in a trance… no parties, no fun! I can’t rest now! There is some meanie-bo-feanie wearing my face and hurting my friends!" Pinkie leapt into her closet, sending bits of clothing flying all over.

"And... and how do we do that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"We take the fight to her!" Pinkie said, bursting out of her closet wearing her Mare-Do-Well hat and cape. "Mom, Dad, sisters, Apples, Faith-"

"Cadence... long story."

"-okey dokey...” Pinkie pulled the hat down a bit lower and draped to cape over the lower half of her face, “let's...get...dangerous!"

The Doozy

"You mustn't be afraid to dream a bit bigger darling"

-Inception

Pinkie tapped her chin as she inspected Twilight, staring into her friend’s glassy eyes before setting her head back down. “You know,” the pink mare said, pressing her hooves against Twilight’s cheeks and making her do a ‘fishy face’, “if we weren’t in the middle of a war with a bunch of immortal beings whose power nearly rivals Discords and want to brainwash into their grinning slaves, this would be a really good opportunity for a prank.”

Sue just stared at her daughter. “But… you won’t, right?”

The pink mare sighed, stepping away from Twilight and tossing her purple cape over her shoulder, adjusting her Mare-Do-Well hat. “Yeah… but could we at least cut Dashie’s hair? It would be fun! She’d be all like,” Pinkie made an outrageous face, “and I would go like this,” Pinkie pointed and mimed laughter, “and Spike would be like this!” Pinkie stood up on her hind legs and began to trot around, bobbing her head and rolling her shoulders. “I don’t know why he would be like that, but I know he would be!”

“…ya sure she ain’t Laughter?” Apple Bloom asked. “’cause she is starting to creep me out.”

“I’m sure,” Clyde said calmly, not fazed by his daughter’s antics. “Knew the moment I looked at Laughter that it weren’t my Pinkie… my Sixth Sense wasn’t buzzing like it normally does when one of my kids is acting up.” Inkie and Blinkie, in a rare show of defiance, stuck their tongues out at the comment. Clyde, without even turning to stare at them, huffed. “And put your tongues back in your mouths!”

“Wow,” Cadence said in awe.

“Your Pinkie Sense lets you tell when a young’in is misbehavin’?” Granny asked. “I needed that when I was raising Applejack and Big Mac… I swear them two got in so much trouble it’s a wonder they didn’t grow up to be orange thieves or accountants.”

“And our sister is the one that freaks you out?” Blinkie complained.

Trotting over to Pinkie, Clyde glanced down at Twilight then at his daughter. “I assume you have a plan to break them out of this?”

Pinkie bobbed her head rapidly. “Oh yup yup yup yup yup!”

“And that is?” Sue prodded

“We very carefully… and very stealthily… rush in there and hoofpunch her in the flank! LEROY JENKINS!”

The others just stared at her.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!” Pinkie rolled on the ground, pointing her hoof as the group. “I can’t believe you fell for that! You should see your faces!” Pinkie pulled out a mirror from behind a bush. “See? Aren’t they funny?”

Clyde’s lips twitched, forming the slightest of smiles. “Very good, Pinkie… the plan?” The non-Pies turned their disbelieving stares on the farmer, shocked he hadn’t blown a gasket at Pinkie goofing around during such a serious time.

Pinkie grew serious, giving her father a salute. “Right! Well, Laughter invaded every pony’s mind, right?” The others nodded. “And she also invaded Faith’s mind… that’s why Cadence can use his body.”

“Right…” Cadence said slowly, backing away from Pinkie, who suddenly had a rather manic look in her eye. “Uh… you kinda remind me of that changeling that threw me in the caves… starting to scary me, Pinkie.”

“Why would I scare you?” Pinkie asked, trotting after the reapidly retreating Cadence. “I just want us all inside you.”

“…Pinkie, could you please explain that to the rest of us?” Inkie asked.

“Without sounding like some sexual deviant?” Blinkie added.

Pinkie nodded. “Of course! Since Faith is trapped in Laughter’s mind trap, and Cadence can access Faith’s mind, if she beams us into Faith’s mind, which we can then use to get into Twilight’s mind, where we will find Laughter! Easy peasy, lemon squeezey!”

"Pinkie, how do you suggest we go into Faith's brain?" Sue asked, her face scrunched up as she considered just how silly that statement was.

Cadence nodded, just as bewildered as the earth pony. "I am not even sure how I ended up in Faith's body, let alone how to bring the rest of you into it."

The pink mare giggled. "Oh, that is simple! I did all the figuring out while we were walking back here! First, I need every pony to form a line and bite down on the tail of the pony in front of you. Single file... that's it, Apple Bloom you grab onto Blinkie's tail... no, I need you to be at the end, dad!" Pinkie hurried over to Cadence and grinned, wiggling her tail for a confused Inkie to bite. "I wish I had been able to use my strawberry flavored shampoo, but this will just have to do, ok?" Before any of them could question why Pinkie would have shampoo that came in flavors, the pink pony reached over and grabbed Cadence's face. "Alright, now dad, I want you to focus all of your Pinkie Sense-"

"Sixth Sense," the stern stallion stated, correcting her.

"-on me, ok? And every other pony, I want you to just close your eyes and breathe... in and out, in and out. Just like you were trying to fall asleep." Pinkie grinned. "Cadence, think of about Faith's mind... try and pull something from it, ok? Something simple... something basic." The baker grinned. "Oooo! Try and find out how he keeps his flank so firm!"

"What are you-MMMPPPFFF!" Cadence's eyes went wide in shock, as Pinkie had grabbed her by the cheeks and pressed the biggest, wetting kiss to her lips. Her silver horn flared and Pinkie's body began to spasm, the twitchy twitches going right down the line from pony to pony, all the way to Clyde, who sent back his own. The Sixth Sense/Pinkie Sense feedback bounced against each other, doubling and redoubling as Cadence's horn glowed brighter and silver energy began to surround her.

And then, with a pop, all of them collapsed.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Blah!" Cadence exclaimed, sticking her tongue out. "Pinkie, what the heck was that!?! Why did you kiss me... and... and..." Cadence's thoughts trailed off as she stared at the others. "Who are you? Where is every pony?" She frowned, looking at the pitch-black landscape that stretched out for miles and miles before her.

Inkie groaned, rubbing her head. It felt like a wagon of rocks had been dropped on her. "Us? We aren't the ones that changed... you did!"

Cadence looked down, eyes tripling in size. "I'm... I'm me!" Her light pink wings flapped as Cadence spun about, inspecting herself. "I'm me!” She began to trot about, delighting in the fact that she was a mare again and not trapped in the silver abstract’s body. “I'm not Faith! How... how is this-?"

"Surprise!" Pinkie said, giggling to herself, clutching her white sides. The mare no longer lived up to her name, as she now resembled a white pegasus with a poofy yellow mane. “Weren’t expecting this, were ya?”

"Pinkie?" Sue said, taking a step towards the strange pegasus. "What did you-" Sue froze. "My voice..."

Pinkie grinned, reaching into the darkness that surrounded her and pulling out a mirror. "Look mom, you're young again!" The old mare gasped at her reflect: her normally tightly wrapped hair had darkened to a brilliant black that cascaded down her shoulders. The little worry wrinkles and the creases that had added 10 years to her face were gone, leaving her looking to all that saw her like a 25 year old mare ready to conquer the world.

"Sue..." Clyde whispered, stepping forward. Pinkie's father was also young again, much of the wear and tear that came from being a farmer wiped away, leaving him with only the hard, firm muscle that had made him the object of desire for so many mares. "Look at you..."

"My... my stars..." Granny Smith whispered, looking down at her smooth, strong legs before tossing her walker away. She clicked her jaw together before flashing every pony her teeth. "They're... they're real! My own teeth! I haven't had my chompers since that caramel apple incident 15 years back!"

"Wow..." Apple Bloom said, looking Granny in the eye. "Everything is smaller now..." the filly looked to the group as if she had been struck by the queens' age-progression spell, leaving her only a few years younger than Inkie and Blinkie (both of whom look the same, if only a bit taller and with fuller, poofier hair).

Pinkie landed, her wingers fluttered. "I knew it would work!" She trotted around, looking every pony over. "Yup yup yup, this worked out great!"

"Pinkie..." Clyde said, forcing himself to tear his eyes away from Sue; he felt like he had when they had first begun dating, full of bravado and desire... it was strange for the stallion that had grown to be stern and solemn to feel such things again. "What happened? Why do we look like this?"

The now-white pegasus landed. "Oh, that's simple! You see, I kissed Cadence when she wasn't expecting it, so it creatde a doozy! The doozy power went towards you, and you sent it back to me and the sisters amplified it. That created a connection between us. Because Cadence was focusing on Faith at that moment, the shock caused some accidently magic and BOOM!" Pinkie leapt in the air, throwing confetti. "We ended up in Faith's head!"

"And again, why do we look like this?" the now-adult Apple Bloom asked, a tad disappointed her cutie mark hadn't shown up.

"Oh, that's simple!" Pinkie exclaimed. "This is how we see ourselves! In your head you always see yourself in some way... for you, you are always thinking about growing up! For Granny Smith and my mom and dad, they remember when they were young! Cadence and the sisters are already at their perfect age, so they just had some cosmetic changes."

"And... you looking like that?" Clyde asked, still a bit disturbed that his daughter was suddenly a white pegasus with a blonde mane.

Pinkie looked down before shrugging. "Sometimes I like to imagine I look like this. Other times I look like this," Pinkie's form twisted into a cinnamon unicorn with icy blue hair and mismatched eyes. "Or even this!" Pinkie bounced up and down until she turned into a pink version of her mother. "All depends on my mood," Pinkie said gravely, before returning to her white pegasus form. "Besides, it will help everypony keep track of me and Laughter, so she can't pull a 'No, I'm Pinkie!' routine."

"...right," Granny Smith said. "Now then, how are we gonna beat Laughter?"

"That's easy!" Pinkie said. "We just need to find Faith!" She turned to Cadence. "Beam us up, Scotty!"

"O...kay?" Cadence said, getting the gist of what Pinkie was trying to tell her. She focused, but instead of seeing Faith's thoughts like she had come to expect, there was instead a blast of light as the world warped around them, the darkness twisting and churning away as the group suddenly found themselves in a clear meadow

"There... we should be all set!" Pinkie said. She paused, pursing her lips. "Though, now I can't help but think I forgot something..."

"DOUBT!" Faith roared, leaping to his hooves. He pushed Trixie behind him; wings spread wide and fury in his eyes.

“Is that… a baby?” Apple Bloom said in surprise, staring at the little bundle Trixie was guarding.

“DOUBT!” Faith bellowed again, sending a blast of energy at Cadence.

"Oh... right... he doesn't realize this isn't real," Pinkie stated as Faith lit up his horn, black and white magic swirled around him, lowering his head into attack position. “Or that Cadence is actually Cadence.”

Clyde looked down at himself, then back at Faith. “And we look nothing like we normally do.”

“This is going to hurt,” Cadence whispered as Faith pounced.

The End of the Dream

“The world was in a dream before the war, but now its woken up and said goodbye to it. And so must we.”

Lord Grantham, Downton Abbey

"I hate this."

Fluttershy looked around nervously, resisting the urge to throw up as many force fields as she could. While it might have helped to ease her concerns, she knew that a big yellow energy bubble would only attract unwanted attention. It was better to just continue on like nothing was the matter and she was merely trotting into her old cottage because it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

But it wasn't the most natural thing and everything was the matter.

She could feel her 'friend' trying to soothe her, whispering that it wasn't very nice of her to keep secrets from Rarity. The yellow mare ignored such things. Many ponies looked at Fluttershy and thought her to be a pushover; if she were truthful then she would admit they were right. Fluttershy tended to be bullied and coerced more often than not. She simply found it better for every pony if she just gave in and agreed with them rather than fight. Oh, she would rebel at times, but that was rare.

But there was one domain where she was queen: her mind. So many times she had felt her self-doubt well up within her, insulting her ways. Pegasi were not known for being humble creatures and even the buttercream alicorn had buried deep within her a strong ego that demanded that she show all the pathetic unicorns and powerless earth ponies who was the dominate one. Fluttershy had never given in though... and in turn she had turned the strength of her ego upon itself, to do away with her self-guessing.

Fluttershy marched over to a mirror and, mustering up her nerve, stared at her reflection. "Ok, Miss Kindness, we need to have a talk." Her eyes flashed and the buttercream mare sent the Stare right at herself. "So... get out here right now!"

"Of course, Fluttershy!" The alicorn fought the urge to rear back; she could feel her face moving, her lips forming the words, yet it was no her doing the talking but the abstract that had joined with her. Her new looks, combined with Kindness' voice, made Fluttershy instantly think of her mother. Strongheart was a massive pegasus, rivaling Big Macintosh in size and in courage. Fluttershy had, sadly, taken more after her father, a waif who tended to be on the skittish side. Kindness acted like her loving mother too, which would not help things. "What's the matter?"

"You know what's the matter!" Fluttershy said sternly, giving her reflection the same stern look she might give a cockatrice that was misbehaving. "You've been telling fibs!"

Kindness blinked in confusion. "Fluttershy... I don't know what you mean!" The abstract looked absolutely befuddled by the mare's words. "The elements don't lie... to do so would mean we'd been so corrupted that we had gone past the point of return... you've met abstracts like that... remember Doubt?"

Fluttershy bit her lip, turning her head away, but Angel quickly raced over, shaking his little paw in aggravation at Fluttershy's reflection. Bolstered by her friend's anger, Fluttershy swallowed her fear and turned towards the mirror once more. "Yes... yes I remember Doubt. He tried to corrupt Twilight-"

"He did corrupt her," Kindness said.

"No, he didn't." Fluttershy took a deep breath. "Angel found many of my woodland friends who remember seeing Doubt during that week after the wedding. They told him about how kind Doubt was... how he worked to HELP Twilight and the rest of us. Because of that, he was redeemed. He talked to bluejays that remember all of us, including me, spending time with him, saying goodbye and he and Twilight left on their short vacation... I don't remember any of that but I don't really remember anything when it comes to that week."

"They are mistaken," Kindness said sadly. "Doubt-"

"Now you listen to me, little lady!" Fluttershy snapped, surprising even herself with the venom that came spewing from her lips. She floated up, Kindness mimicking her, and Fluttershy pressed her hoof again the mirror. "My animal friends would never lie to me! I have known them a lot longer than you, and if it comes between deciding between all of you they are going to win! So you to admit that something is going on!" Fluttershy stared at her silent reflection. "Well?"

"...it wasn't a lie," Kindness finally mumbled. "But... I did hide the truth." She looked up quickly and Fluttershy wasn't for sure if it was here or Kindness that was crying; maybe both. "I know he must have brainwashed you or tricked you! I know it!"

"How... how could you-"

"He... it must have been a trick... he couldn't be good! He couldn't have come back!" Kindness was now near frantic. "Why would he... he become good for you ponies..." Kindness lowered her head, fat tears rolling down her checks, "...and not for us?"

Fluttershy was confused. "You? You all abandoned him!"

"They did!" Kindness shouted in desperation. "They abandoned him! Not me... never me..." The abstract covered her eyes as her body shook with guilt. "The others left him and I was forbidden from going to him directly but I did all I could to help him! Everything... I was there... in every pony he talked to, that listened to him... I helped keep him alive, helped others open their minds to his... I kept trying to reach him through those ponies and he never listened... why didn't he listen to me? What... what did I do wrong?"

Fluttershy pressed her hoof against the mirror and, to her utter amazement, her reflection stepped out, altering in appearance until she became a blue-metal alicorn. Her pinkish-red hair fell over her face and hid her eyes as she cried, her crystal-like wings trembling like icicles readying to fall from a roof. The yellow alicorn reached over and hugged the sobbing abstract.

"It will be ok, I promise."

~MC~MC~MC~

What finally snapped Faith out of his despair were the giggles.

"So you finally came to the punchline!" Laughter exclaimed, her overly wide smile taunting the ponies before her.

Clyde glared at the abstract that wore his daughter's face. "You have no sense of shame, do you?"

"Sorry, Shame is my uncle and I tend not to talk to him!" Laughter chuckled at her own joke as she floated around the group. "Poor little Doubt, sobbing for his baby." Laughter grabbed one of the few remaining clouds that hung in the sky and sculpted it into a little foal. "Too soon?" she asked, waving the cloud at Trixie. The blue mare merely trembled, tears blurring her vision.

"Hey!" Pinkie called out, flying over to Laughter and shaking her hoof at her. "You aren't funny, you know that? And Discord is going to be mad when he finds out you are ripping off his bit!"

Laughter snorted. "Discord... oh, how I hated destroying him. He got it, you know? He understood. But he responded by stealing all of our roles and trying to take my place... couldn't have that, so it was off to the stone he went."

Sue stared at the abstract in horror. "Discord... was trying to become an abstract?"

"Well duh!" Laughter exclaimed. "Of course he was! 'Spirit of Disharmony'? What is that? Nothing, I tells ya, nothing! He tried everything! He showed ponies the cold, hard truth; they didn't like that. Then he was loyal but his heart wasn't into it. He gave ponies everything and was always so happy but that just made them greedy or upset when they figured out that what they desired wasn't what they expected!" Laughter shook his head. "He got the joke though."

"What joke?" Apple Bloom demanded. "What are you talking about?"

"Life!" Laughter shouted, getting right in the farm pony's face. "They call it a game but it is really a joke!" Her horn glowed and a screen appeared, as did an old-timey slide projector. "I mean, look at the facts, Jack! Celestia wanted to prevent the abstracts from being used for evil and ended up making Faith fall." She switched to a slide of Nightmare Moon. "Luna wanted to be loved and ended up making every pony fear her. Pinkie, your parents are as dull as dishwater and they get the most energetic and silly pony as their daughter! Cadence is the sweetest pony in the world and yet when that changeling acted all cruel not a single one of the ponies that claimed to love her saw through the bit! Apple Bloom works hard every day for a cutie mark and never gets it while spoiled little Diamond Tiara gets one for doing NOTHING!" The screen disappeared and Laughter began to squeal in delight. "It is a joke! Life is just a big stupid joke!"

"...are you insane?" Clyde snapped.

"No... I'm just Laughter," the pink abstract said. "Geez, do I need to spell everything out for you ponies? Life is a cruel joke! Everything you want doesn't matter! You work hard for your dreams and they never come true and if they do they aren't what you wanted! Life is like a knife that just keeps twisting in your side and you ponies just keep coming back for more and more! It is just... so... funny!" Laughter flashed them a dark smile. "The only sane way to survive is to smile and laugh."

The pink abstract landed next to Faith, pushing Cadence away. The silver abstract never looked up, never even flinched as his older sister lazily draped a foreleg over his shoulder, playing with his hair. “And then there is my poor, deluded, corrupted brother. You get the joke, don’t you? You see the punchline.” She leaned in close, kissing him on the cheek. “I gave you everything… the two ponies you love merged as one… the war over and peace stretched out before you… a son. You had it all and now you have lost it because of your own devices. Oh… it would have been less painful to rip out your own heart, wouldn’t it?

“And that isn’t even the best part! By doing it… by pulling yourself back to reality, you’ve ensured your dream will NEVER come true!” Laughter jabbed a hoof at Trixie as she giggled. “The blue one won’t be able to stand the sight of you because you stole her son away and the purple one will know that you chose her rival over her. Both your loves will abandon you… kind of a running theme in your pathetic little life.” Laughter flipped onto his back, her neck stretching so she could look at him eye to eye. “Wouldn’t it have been easier if you had just died, Doubty-Woubty? You’ve linger on for what… a hope at redemption? Ha! You’ll never be redeemed… life is a joke and you are the poor sap that gets the pie in the face!” Laughter conjured up a pie and threw it at Faith.

The pastry stopped an inch from his face, black magic having grabbed a hold of it. Laughter let out a yelp when tendrils of energy shot from the sky and shoved her off the stallion's back.

“You’re right,” Faith said softly, his wings trembling till, to the horror of the others, they began to crack. Little tiny shatter-points formed over their surface, raining bits of glass upon his silver hide. When each piece hit it left a gash and from those wounds dark blood began to ooze. Laughter watched on with glee as her brother began to cut himself to shreds. “It was a joke… a dream. All of this… my hopes, my desires, all my attempts… folly.”

Laughter giggled, but the sound began to catch in her throat as she realized that the ichor wasn’t falling to the ground. No, it merely congealed on his flank, crusting over and darkening with each passing second. Faith’s mane fell in his eyes, turning gray as if time had finally caught up with him… then it was as white as snow.

“I dreamed the dream… but now I see how foolish I truly was. You and the rest of my family shouted it in my face… I have seen how Twilight and the rest look at me, wishing that it was not this silly gray fool that prattles on with his speeches...that it wasn't him that stood beside them but…” Faith shut his eyes as his horn melted away. “It is time to stop playing… and accept that nothing I do will change things.”

And with that, his wings exploded.

Clyde pushed Pinkie behind him, trying to shield her from the blast. But it was unneeded… the bits of silver glass only swirled around Faith’s body, cutting into him more and more till every inch of his flesh was torn to ribbons and his blood coated him from nose to tail. The fragments swirled about without Faith paying the slightest bit of heed to them; he didn’t even flinch when one large shard was driven through his forehead.

Laughter’s smile fell when chains made of dark magic leapt from the ground and ensnared her, wrapping around her limps and her wings and her neck. She struggled and bucked but found that she could not break them.

“This… this isn’t funny!” she screamed in a panic.

“It isn’t?” her brother whispered, the mirror shards clanging together into a pair of sharp patchwork wings. “I find it very funny.”

And then he laughed.

“Faith?” Cadence whispered in horror.

“No… not Faith,” he said. “I see that Faith was an illusion… one none of you wanted. My family didn’t want Faith, my friends didn’t want Faith… the world wants me to be dark again… and who am I to argue?” The formerly gray alicorn began to trot towards Laughter, the blood darkening to the most vile of blacks. He noticed Laughter’s wide eyes and frowned. “Why so serious, dear sister? This is what you wanted, is it not? You took such joys in reminding me of my place… you all did.” He turned his head, the dark gleam in his eyes making Apple Bloom and Pinkie’s sisters shiver. “Oh, the wonders I am going to open your eyes too!”

“Faith…” Pinkie stammered, trembling like a leaf, “Faith, come on, you-“

“Not Faith. Didn’t I tell you that I hated names… they give power to others, so that they might control you. That was my mistake... caring about a name. Faith Faith Faith... I was so concerned about who i was that I forgot who I truly am. I see that now and I choose to fix what I broke and give you all EXACTLY what you secretly wanted." He smirked and all fo them shivered. "You wanted darkness... power... violence? You want me to be your dark sword? Very well. If you need a name for me, take the one you all so enjoy throwing at me.” The dark alicorn leaned forward, his hot breath ghosting along Laughter’s face, the pink alicorn whimpering. It wasn’t suppose to be like this… it wasn’t suppose to happen like this. “You wanted Doubt? Well... here I am."

Heartless

"I fear nothing... I hope...for nothing."

-Kratos, God of War 3

"This is bad, isn’t it," Apple Bloom whispered, slowly backing away from the dark alicorn. Laughter was fighting against the dark magic chains that had been wrapped around her body, bucking and snorting as she vainly attempted to escape. "This is really, really bad, right?"

"Uh huh," Pinkie said, wings fluttering in agitation before she fell to the ground, her body shifting into her Pinkimenia form. "Faith... Faith, come on-"

Faith turned, a dark smile ghosting across his face. Any hope that they might be able to reach him was lost at the sight of that smile; it was clear that they were not dealing with the Lord of the Gray at the moment but his former self, the dark alicorn Doubt. "You act so frightened! Do not tell me that you are scared of me." He rolled his eyes in annoyance. "There is nothing to be afraid of... you aren't the ones that robbed me of everything." His eyes ever so slowly slide back to stare down Laughter. "You, on the other hand... oh yes, you have much to fear, sister."

"I... I knew it!" Laughter exclaimed, grinning in triumph. "I knew you were evil!"

"You think this is evil?" Doubt asked calmly. "My dear sister... you think much too small and much too narrow." He suddenly lunged forward, Laughter screaming as he jabbed his horn at her throat. At the very last second he pulled back, leaving the poor mare panting in terror. "No... I am far from evil. Enraged, perhaps, even a bit mad... but not evil." He tapped his chin with his hoof, puzzling things over. "Of course, that doesn't mean you aren't in a world of trouble. I'd wager that if I were evil you'd be in a much better spot... evil might bite and nip... but good stallions, when pushed the anger? Oh, those poor creatures can destroy kingdoms."

"We need to go," Inkie said nervously.

"Where to?" Sue asked. "This is his mind... he is in total control."

"It's... it's ok..." Trixie whispered, forcing herself to swallow up her fear and heartache. She edged towards the group, Doubt not paying the least bit of attention to them (or perhaps he was... it was hard to tell with him). "He's still Faith."

"Don't look like Faith to me," Granny Smith quipped.

Trixie shook her head. "Trust me... Faith is still around but we need to give him some room." Trixie let out a long breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. "I want to try something." She turned to head towards Doubt, only to find Clyde was at her side. "I need to do this alone."
Clyde took a step forward, preventing Trixie from escaping. "Sorry, but I will not let you face him alone." He spoke up before she could argue. "It isn't anything against you... you are as strong as any mare I've met. You just suffered a tragedy and aren't in the greatest of spots, though. Grief makes you act funny... I know. My father died and I ended up plowing our driveway. I 'm not letting you out of my sight, Miss."

"Alight... but follow my lead and keep your mouth shut. It isn't anything against you... but one wrong move and we will be in as much trouble as you think we are in right now." Trixie closed her eyes and focused. "Doubt!"

The black alicorn tilted his head, his eyes softening slightly at the sight of the blue unicorn that was making her way towards him. "Trixie... don't try and talk me out of this."

"I wouldn't dream of it," she said, forcing herself not to shudder at the raw pain and hate that seemed to bubble along Doubt's body. She remembered how Faith had described the dark times, before his rebirth, and found this returned Doubt to be much worse than Faith's description. That was actually a small comfort, as it was strong evidence that her theory on what had happened was right... but it did little to ease the tension she felt coursing through her. "That's why I want you to open your connection to Twilight... so I can get to her."

Doubt cocked an eyebrow. "Don't you want to watch?" Before Trixie could speak Faith continued, suddenly warping to her side. "I know you do... I can feel the desire pouring off of you. it calls to my vengeance like a swallow's song." He moved around her and Trixie shuddered, power filling her form. Clyde stood his ground, trying to remind himself that none of this was truly happening and the curdling sensation he felt in his stomach was merely a trick of his imagination. "Yes... yes, your rage is strong... your hate... all of it... you want to see her suffer... scream and beg and cry and bleed. You want it... need it. Oh, you need it like one needs to breathe-"

"Doubt!" Trixie gasped, Clyde staring at her, startled by the guttural moan that escaped the mare's lips. Trixie panted, though it was hard to tell if it was from pain or absolute pleasure. "Doubt..." Trixie whimpered, eyelids fluttering as her coat darkened and dark magic began to pour out of her horn. "I... I do want it... so bad..." Her cutie mark flashed blood red and her horn for just the briefest of moments became sharper than any blade, the darkest of magics raging through it.

"Then give in, my dear... give in and we can make her pay... then we'll make all the rest pay." Doubt leaned towards Laughter, his right wing sliding along her pink belly, scratching her skin and leaving a thin line of red. "You know you want too..."

"Yesssssssssssssss..." Trixie moaned wantonly, before getting a hold of herself. It was as if a rubber band had snapped; Trixie was herself again, standing next to Clyde, all the wicked magic that had filled her suddenly snuffed out. "But not yet. Twilight... I need to see Twilight."

Doubt's eyes flashed black. "You aren't thinking of hurting her, are you?" Trixie, startled by that sudden line of thought, nearly fell back when Doubt got in her face. "You are mine, Trixie, but so is she. I will not have either of you come to blows."

"No," Clyde said, no longer able to hold his tongue. "She doesn't want to hurt Twilight... none of us do." Clyde steeled himself, hating that he felt the cold rush of fear that now tingled along his spine. "Fa-Doubt... Everypony is trapped in this illusion and Twilight is the key. You can..." he shut his eyes, hating his next words, "...do what you wish to Laughter, but please let us go free Twilight so the rest of the group wakes up." The stallion forced himself to remain committed to his words; he thought of Pinkie and Blinkie and Inkie and imagined what he would feel if they were stolen from him. That helped ease the guilt, if only just a little bit.

Doubt blinked, his anger leaving him for a moment. "Why... why of course." He let out a laugh, shaking his head in good humor. "I am so utterly stupid... consumed by thoughts of what I am about to do," he flashed laughter the briefest of looks, "that I forgot why you were here. I am so very sorry, Clyde." Doubt turned towards the group. "My apologizes for keeping you waiting!" He twisted the other way and with a blast of dark magic opened up a portal. "There... my link to Twilight's mind is still strong. Go and get her and she can bring you back here."

"Come on," Trixie called out to the others, the ponies hurrying towards the portal. "Princess!"

Cadence sadly shook her head, remaining where she stood. "I need to stay... Doubt...er... the female Doubt... she still has my body."

Faith/Doubt pursed his lips. "Doubt and Doubt? That will be confusing... it was already confusing and now it is even more so. I'll just have to kill her next."

Cadence gulped. "I have to stay with Faith, so my soul doesn't get lost when everything goes back to normal."

Sue nodded, not liking it in the slightest by knowing that Cadence was right. "Be safe."

Cadence watched as the rest of the group left, leaving her with the corrupted form of Faith and the trembling Laughter. She watched the dark alicorn slowly circle his sister like a hungry shark, his tongue running along his teeth. "Faith... maybe..."

"Cadence, you have my word that I will bring no harm to those that do not deserve it." Cadence was surprised by the soothing waves of magic that the dark alicorn sent her way. "Now that I know you are here... though how you got here I haven't the foggiest... I swear I will protect you and get you back to your body." His smile fell the moment he looked back at Laughter. "You... you should be worried, however."

"You... you can't hurt me!" Laughter exclaimed. "You can torture me but it won't work." She leaned forward, a mocking grin on her face. "You won't break me...ha...ha...ha!"

Doubt merely smiled and Cadence all at once knew that Laughter would not live to see another sunrise.

"What?" Laughter shouted, fighting against the dark chains that bound her. "Why are you smiling?"

"I am smiling because you are so utterly foolish." Doubt paced in front of her, head held high and shoulders squared. Cadence gave him plenty of space; she knew he wouldn't harm her... he'd given his word, after all... but that didn't mean she wanted to get in his way. "Do you honestly believe that I am going to physically harm a hair on that silly little head of yours? That is simply not my style, darling... if you truly knew me and my ways you would understand that. The fact that you think I would resort to cuts and burns shows me just how little you understand me."

Doubt pressed his face against hers, his warm breath ticking her cheeks. "Oh, you stupid deluded child. You don't understand just how much trouble you are in." Faith pulled back and turns away from her, his sharp tail swaying back and forth right in front of Laughter's nose. "Perhaps, if it had been a minor trespass against me, I would have let you off with some innocent blood-letting. A cut here," his tail flicked out, slashing Laughter's cheek, "a stab there," his wings flexed and one of the mirror shards shot out, driving into Laughter's leg, "simple as that. Of course, I wouldn't have made it that easy on you."

Doubt's horn glowed and Laughter gasped as her wounds healed. He whipped around, dark eyes dancing with amusement as Laughter cringed and tried to fight the chains that restrained her. "Oh, you get it now, don't you? You see what might have been and just how bad it would be to be you if I were in that kind of mood." Doubt cantered back towards her. "We are immortal, dear sister... and if I were so inclined I could torture you until the end of days. I would cut you to ribbons and let you hang on the very edge of death before pulling you back to the land of the living, only to start again.

"But as I said, I will not do that. Now now, don't believe I am going soft. As I said, that would only be for minor issues. You, sister, you... you killed my child." For a moment, just a moment, hot tears gathered in the corners of Doubt's eyes. "My boy... my son. I... I can still feel him lying beside me..."

Cadence, her own eyes misty, moved to comfort Doubt, but the stallion trembled and all signs of sadness and despair were driven from him, leaving him strong and solid once more. He looked at the love goddess from the corner of his eye and Cadence bit her lip, ducking her head and backing away.

"You were right, Laughter... it would have been easier to rip out my heart. And yet you were also wrong... because that is exactly what you did. You ripped out my heart, and with it my compassion and any sense of family love I might have held for you is now gone as well. I killed Loyalty... I gave the command and had his soul torn to shreds by cannon fire. I did it with a heavy hurt and before today I felt grief for the action I had to do. But you... I won't shed a single tear. I am going to do so much worse to you, sister, and I will not even bat an eye."

"I won't break you? Ha... now you are showing why you are named Laughter, because that is a joke. I am going to destroy you. I am going to shatter you and leave you broken and only when you are at your lowest and are begging for death will I give it." Doubt pressed his horn against her forehead. "I learned so much in my 1000 years... bones may break and minds may crumble but the worst, my dear, oh the worst... is when the soul is raked across the coals." His horn flashed and Laughter let out a gasp as Doubt began to pull her mind apart, sifting through it like a child through a sandbox. "Now then... scream for me."

The Punchline

Screams.

Agonizingly painful screams that would make any pony shiver in horror. The cries of the dying, the damned, the tortured. They were the kind of cries that would make even the blackest of hearts tremble and the strongest wills falter. They spoke of agony and distress and the destruction of not just the body but of the mind and the soul.

All of these rumbled along the mindscape, echoing through the vastness of the empty world. There were only three there to hear them, and it was Cadence alone who shuddered at the sound, backing away from the horrific scene. At that moment, she would have preferred to be locked in her body, watching the original Doubt use her as a puppet. The screams were terrible and horrible…and made all the more horrific by the fact that it wasn't Laughter who was screaming.

The pink alicorn squealed in delight as Doubt threw back his head, raw energy racing through his body and leaving his nerve-endings fried. It would have been funny, the way his skeleton was occasional reviewed like an x-ray and how his mane stood on end, if it weren't for the dying cries he let loose. He trembled and shook like he was having a seizure, unable to pull away as his own magic rebounded on him.

"Stupid baby brother!" Laughter exclaimed, mocking Doubt as he was sent flying, his broken form crumpled in a heap next to Cadence's hooves. "You think I wasn't ready? You think for a moment I would appear to you without backup plans? My backup plans have backup plans! I admired Discord, baby brother, but I am not him: he is chaos without any thought of what happens next; I am Laughter and I am always setting up the joke! My mind is filled with all sorts of traps and failsafes to keeps the likes of you out! It's like a jack-in-the-box, except instead of a Jack it is PAIN!"

Cadence cried out as the pink abstract broken free of the now weakened chains, bouncing on top of her and pulling on her mane until the love goddess was staring the deranged mare in the eye.

"Please... please..."

"You like spreading love, don't you? The pleasure and wonderful feeling that come with it?" Laughter touched her horn to Cadence's and giggled as she sent a jolt of magic into her. "Well, let's have some fun, ok?" She took out a feather and tickled Cadence's side, the princess screaming in agony. Cadence bucked and thrashed as if the feather were a hot poker, crying out for mercy. "I just reversed your pleasure and pain receptors," Laughter said darkly, summoning a knife and jabbing it into Cadence's side. The alicorn of love’s screams died in her throat, a smile forming on her lips as she cooed, pressing her hooves against the bleeding wound. Her eyes rolling back in her head as she coaxed the bleeding gash open wider and wider. Laughter could tell that Cadence was trying to fight the twisted pleasure she was getting but was simply not strong enough. "What a way to die..." Laughter teased, watching as Cadence began to stab herself over and over, screaming now in unadulterated bliss.

She then trotted over to Doubt, who was still twitched as his brain was fried. "BZZZZ!" Laughter mocked, shaking like she had also been electrocuted. "BZZZZ BZZZZ!" She kicked her braindead brother before turning to her right, a portal opening up for her. "Don't worry... I'll tell your corrupted little friend Twilight... hello."

~Days Later....~

Laughter rolled about the charred remains of Sweet Apple Acres, giggling in delight. "Come on now, Applejack, you have to think this is funny! Give us a chuckle!"

The farmer didn't say a word, mostly because she couldn't It wasn't even correct to call her 'Applejack' anymore, since everything that made her her had been torn away. Laughter had converted the poor mare into a machine, merging AJ with the Flim Flam Brother's Cider Squeezer. Her metallic face stared out blankly as she worked, the spark of intelligence having been ripped away from her, making her only able to follow her new mistress' orders. She didn't even see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, each aged till they were more like corpses than living, their bodies infected with the cutie pox. All she did was keep moving along, sucking up trees and making cider for Laughter.

She was a great contrast to Big Macintosh, who now had to keep talking or else his heart would stop. Every once and a while his eyes would droop before he would hurriedly begin speaking about anything he could think of. Laughter watched him and knew he would be day within a day… she hadn’t decided if she would alter his curse to prolong the fun.

The pink abstract glanced lazily at Rainbow Dash, the mare silently screaming at her. Every time the speedster tried to move towards the abstract or her friends, she suddenly found herself speeding up, her body moving so quickly it was intangible.

"Why is she so upset? She is always on the go!" Laughter asked the hoof puppet she wielded... which looked exactly like Pinkie. "Yeah, I don't get it either. Twilight, make a note of it!"

"Of course... have to record it, Princess Celestia!" Twilight said, fumbling for her quills. The purple alicorn would have had an easier time taking down 'Celestia's' notes if she still possed her eyes... but in their place were merely empty dark sockets. “Spike, we need to take a letter!” She reached over, bumping the frozen baby dragon, not realizing that he was unable to move and could only watch on, not even able to scream as he stared at the bloody face of his friend.

"Good girl," Laughter said with a smirk, reaching over for her chocolate milk. Discord had been so smart to come up with that-

Laughter frowned, her giggles subsiding. Her legs weren’t moving properly. She tugged, pursing her lips... it was almost like she was back in her-

"What?!?" Laughter screamed, seeing the dark chains that held her fast.

"Hello again, big sister," Doubt said, leaning in from behind. Laughter turned, but in the split second it took for her to meet her brother's eyes, the world had shifted and she suddenly found herself back in his mindscape. Twilight, Applejack and all the rest were gone. "Do you get the joke?"

"How... how?!? I killed you!"

"Did you?" Doubt said. "Is that what you saw this time?" At her confused look, Doubt laughed. "I keep forgetting that your memory gets wiped each time we do this." He sighed happily. "This is the 20th time you've snapped out of a dream, dear sister. The last one involved pirates, apparently." Laughter's mouth went dry and her heart plummeted. "Do you understand now?" The pink abstract turned, eyes wide as she stared at her brother. His color had returned to its normal silver shine, his wings restored and his magic once more a perfect blend of light and dark. The only thing that even came close to connecting him with his fallen form were his eyes; the same mix of sadness and rage that had filled Doubt's pupils now swam through Faith's. "Do you understand big sister?"

"A joke," Laughter whispered, swallowing. "It's all a joke. None of that happened..." her brow furrowed. "And is this really happening?" Faith merely smiled and his sister shut her eyes. “Is this a dream too? No… yes… you would…or…” She looked at him and Faith smiled at the fear her saw in those orbs. "That's the punchline, isn't it?"

"It is why the chicken crossed the road and why fireponies where suspenders." Faith dissolved his sister's chains and the mare fell to the ground in a heap. She didn’t bother to get up… there was no point. "You stole a thousand lifetimes from me, Laughter... so now I will steal a thousand from you. You'll never know when the dream has ended and when it is beginning again. Maybe all of it is real and I am merely warping you back, to live in an eternal loop.” Laughter shuddered and Faith let out a dry, half-hearted chuckle. "Yes, for somepony that thrives on originality and spontaneity, that would be hell, wouldn't it? To live the same life over and over? Buck up... maybe these are all just a series of dreams and you are doomed to forever live through one nightmare only to awaken in another."

"Doubt..."

Faith' scowled. "Yes... that too. Doubt or Faith? I suppose you can't believe anything when it comes to me either, as I have shown." He leaned in close, nuzzling her. "I forgive you for not understanding, big sister... I made the same mistake until Twilight and her friends showed me the truth: I am Faith and I am Doubt... or, Doubt is my past, something I will never be able to purge myself of."

He pulled back and the pink alicorn stared at him with red eyes. "How... how long?"

"Forever," Faith said sadly. "I'll torture you forever, Laughter. Of course, for us time is very subjective... a lifetime in a second and a second stretching on till Judgment Day." Faith turned and began to trot away. "And don't worry... if I am anything I am creative... you'll never be bored. How does the old curse go? "May you live in interesting times"?”

"There... there must be something!" Laughter screamed in a panic, giving chase. "Something I can do-"

"What can you do?" Faith asked blandly, his body fading away till only his eyes and teeth remained. They floated around Laughter, taunting her, his leering smile darting away from her. "You've gone down the rabbit hole, sister, and now up is down and down is sideways. I might be just another illusion Doubt is casting... that's the punchline, remember? You can never know for sure."

Laughter trembled. "Brother... brother I'm sorry!"

"No you aren't." Laughter whipped around as hundreds of statues popped up around her, each one shaped just like the dream foal she had forced him to have and lose. "Well, you are, but for the wrong reasons. You are sorry that you were caught and sorry you suffer... you aren't sorry for what you took from me... what you stole from Trixie... what you've done to Twilight and the rest of our friends. None of that you are sorry for. You aren’t sorry for killing my son!” Each statue exploded and the world trembled around Laughter. “You betrayed everything, Laughter, on the word of the real Doubt. And now...well... you must pay the price, much as I was forced to for my perceived 'crime'. Don’t worry… I’ll be as merciful to you as you were to me…"

Laughter looked about as the world began to shift, turning now into Celestia's throneroom. She panted, tears in her eyes as she began to wonder if she had merely dreamed up her brother being there or if this was now the illusion.

"Wait!" Laughter screamed. "There... there has to be something... there has to be..." She stammers and stumbled and racked her brain…

And then she smiled.

"Yes... yes there is a way... yes brother... one thing I know is real... that I can still control." Laughter shut her eyes and sighed. "If I am to dream forever, then I choose to go to that final sleep... dreamless and peaceful." Laughter felt her body twist and turn and the pink alicorn laid down, shutting her eyes. "I choose the path you almost took… I hope it will be enough to satisfy you.” The smiled even as she began to dissolve. “Say goodnight, Faith."

~MC~MC~MC~

"Goodnight, Faith," the silver alicorn said softly, tears in his eyes.

"Faith?" Clyde called out, confused. He and his family, along with Apple Bloom, Granny Smith and Cadence, had watched as Laughter taunted Faith and Trixie over the loss of their dream foal. Pinkie had been prepared to give Laughter a 'talkin' to!' when Faith had suddenly broken out of his depression and leapt up and pressed his horn to hers. The pony that had been wearing Pinkie's form had twitched then gone still, both her and Faith's eyes going black.

For six minutes Faith and his sister had stood there, unmoving. Trixie had snapped out of her despair and rushed towards them, only for Cadence to hold the blue mare back, fearing what would happen if she interfered. The others had shifted and twitched and licked their lips as they nervously watched the strange staring contest, wondering what was happening.

And then, as suddenly as it had began, Faith had spoken.

"Faith?" Cadence whispered, only to let out a gasp when Laughter's body turned to dust, the pink abstract letting out a peaceful sigh before she was blown to the winds.

The silver alicorn shut his eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Find Loyalty on the other side, sister... and be happy." He turned to the others. "It's time."

"Time?" Sue asked.

Faith nodded. "Yes." His horn glowed and with a blast of light all but Cadence and himself were gone. "Time to go home.”

~MC~MC~MC~

Apple Bloom groaned, rubbing her head. "What... aw man!" She leapt up and inspected her little legs in annoyance. "I'm a filly again!"

Sue and Clyde looked over at each other, seeing that the gray hair and wrinkles had returned. And they smiled, for while it had been nice to be young again, they had earned every crease. It was a badge of honor, showing they had lived long, full lives.

"Yeah," Pinkie said, bouncing up and down. "Though, when he is feeling more up to it, Faith could always make you an alicorn."

"Really?!?" Apple Bloom squealed.

Granny shook her head. "Not till her chores are done, ya hear me?"

The filly looked at the old mare and pouted. "Granny, that isn't fair!"

“Don’t you be arguin’ with Granny,” Applejack said, slowly standing up. “You need-OOMPF!”

“You’re ok!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, hugging her sister. “You all are!”

The rest of the group nodded, shaking themselves as they rose from the ground. “What happened?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Laughter… Laughter happened.” Honesty turned to his left, his wings falling. “Faith… oh no…”

“Faith?” Twilight whispered taking a step forward towards the stallion. The lord of the gray turned and the others gasped at the sight of him.

He was covered in blood.

“Two…” Faith whispered. “I think two is quite enough.”

Before any of them could answer a blast of silver exploded where Faith had stood, his own variation on the Sonic Rainboom bathing the world in light and dark. They all blinked and rubbed the spots from their eyes, looking to the sky just in time to catch a glimpse of the alicorn’s trail leading North.

“If we shadows have offended, think but this; and all is mended that you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear and this weak and idle theme no more yielding but a dream.”

-Puck, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Purpose

"Put away the ranger... become who you were born to be."

-Elrond

"I feel like a baby," Kindness muttered weakly, trying to blink away her tears. They were still on the floor of Fluttershy's cabin, the mare hugging the abstract as she cried.

"You are upset," Fluttershy said gently, refusing to let go of the abstract. "No one is going to blame you for being upset."

"They are going to blame me for so many other things though." The metallic mare sounded more like a child than an immortal; she idly ran her hoof through Fluttershy's hair, watching as the pink strands fell back down into place. "I don't know how you can stand the sight of me." The buttercream mare opened her mouth to refute the abstract's claim but Kindness steamrolled ahead. "I... I had so many wonderful dreams... I wanted to help you out, give you strength and confidence. I wanted to lift you up and strengthen your heart. Did I do any of that?" Kindness shook her head. "No... all I did was turn you into a monster that enslaved Equestria."

Fluttershy chewed on her lower lip. "Well... you kinda did." She favored the abstract with a small smile. "Here I am, having just confronted you... that is pretty brave, right?"

"Yeah," Kindness sniffed, laughing through her tears. "Maybe. But... but I wanted to do so much more..."

The yellow alicorn pulled away so she could better look the abstract in the eye. "Sometimes you don't get a choice. Sometimes your plans and dreams don't come true... but that doesn't mean everything is bad." Her wings flapped slightly as she tapped down her nerves. "I wanted to be a royal guard."

"R-really?" Kindness said in surprise.

Fluttershy blushed. "My mom is the head of the Pegasi Royal Air Squadron. She... she is so brave and tough and when I looked up at her when I was a foal I always felt safe. I wanted to be just like her." Fluttershy shifted back and forth. "But I take after my dad."

"Your dad?"

"Yeah... he's really quiet and... small. My mom says she fell in love with him because he was the only stallion that wasn't trying to measure up to her." The yellow alicorn smiled faintly. "That's why I went to flight school... I wanted to build up my confidence. It didn't really work, I guess, but I did find my talent." Fluttershy swallowed, jaw working slightly. "When my mom and dad finally found me, I was so afraid they would be disappointed. I thought they'd believe I was giving up on my dream and taking the easy path. I thought she would look at me and just be... disgusted. Do you know what my mom said?"

"What?" Kindness asked.

"She said, 'Flutters,'-" Kindness couldn't help but laugh; Fluttershy's voice had dropped several octaves and took on a slight Appleloosian twang, "-'Flutters, did you know I wanted to be a ballerina?'. I just looked at her in shock and my mom laughed. 'I would practice every day, I was constantly playing classical music in the house, and I wore my tutu every day! Then, one day, I grew several inches in the span of a month... and then several more... and several more.' I just stared at her and she began to nuzzle me. 'I will never be a ballerina... but I can be the most graceful guard in the corps. I can do spins and dives faster than some Wonderbolts.'.

"And that's when I realized that just because your dream didn't come true didn't mean it died. It just... changed. I will never be a guardpony... but I am the protector of all my woodland friends. And I love it." Fluttershy leaned over and nuzzled the abstract. "You can still bring about harmony... you can still help me... you just need to change your dream to fit your reality."

Kindness nodded, sniffing away her tears. "Yeah... I think you are right."

"And as for your first dream... it already came true." At Kindness' look of confusion, Fluttershy smiled. "Faith is back. He has been reborn... he is no longer Doubt. Your brother has returned and while it might not be because of you that doesn't mean there isn't a place for you in his new life. Maybe your dream shouldn't be about saving Faith... it should be about being the best big sister he could have."

The metallic abstract nodded. "You're right, Fluttershy... you are absolutely right." Kindness stood up, a hard glint in her eye. "And I know the first thing I can do to help him and Equestria."

"What's that?" Fluttershy asked bending down so Angel could jump onto her back.

"We are going back to Manehattan... and we are going to get Generosity to see the truth... and we are going to fix this."

~MC~MC~MC~

Twilight was just about ready to chase after Faith, only to find a lasso made of pure energy latched onto her hind leg, preventing her from taking off. "Hang on now, Sugarcube!" Applejack said, her horn glowing as she tugged Twilight back to the ground. "I think that fella needs some time on his own."

"But-" Twilight began.

"Twilight, she's right," Celestia said softly. She had been nearly knocked onto her backside by the raw confusion and pain that rolled off of Faith.

Rainbow Dash gave the Princess a sour look. "We don't have time for him to take some time! In case you haven't noticed, Fluttershy and Rarity are still puppets of those stupid abstracts!"

"Standing right here," Honesty said dryly.

"...those stupid abstracts!" Rainbow repeated, earning a glare from the red alicorn. "And we also have that Doubt that highjacked Princess Cadence's body to deal with!"

"Don't worry about that!" Pinke said happily. "Cadence is in Faith's body."

Spike blinked in confusion. "Ok... so Faith was once Doubt, but he was originally Faith. When he was first Faith he was in Princess Celestia's head, then after that was in Luna's who then became Nightmare Moon, but she got better, only to stop being an alicorn along with Celestia but they both ascended again. Luna being Nightmare Moon caused Faith to leave and then he became Doubt. He was then in Twilight's head, till he came out, then Twilight made him Faith again and now he has Cadence in his head. Meanwhile, the original Doubt is running around in Cadence's body. Honesty here was in Applejack's body till she convinced him to get out, Loyalty was in Rainbow Dash, then was his own pony, then was Cloudsdale which got blown up, so now Scootaloo, who was Rainbow's general is now the abstract of Loyalty. Kindness is in Fluttershy, Generosity is in Rarity, and Pinkie-"

"Laughter was never me!" Pinkie said happily. "She just made herself look like me!"

Spike nodded, looking a bit frazzled. "Ok... is every pony who they say they are now?" He wagged his finger at all of them. "Because if you aren't..."

"Oooh!" Pinkie said in glee, holding up her hoof. "I am me right now but I am going to be the new abstract of Laughter!" When the others looked at her she merely smiled. "Come on everypony, who else is it going to be?"

Honesty nodded weakly. "She has a point."

Pinkie grabbed Apple Bloom and held her up. "And I preemptively declare Apple Bloom the Bearer of my Element, so she doesn't feel left out!"

Spike sighed. "Alright, is that everyone? Do I have this straight?"

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Seems legit."

And with that, Spike fainted.

"Alright, that happened," Trixie muttered.

Applejack cleared her throat. "As I was sayin'... ya'll need to give Faith a moment ta breathe. He just killed two of his siblings... none of us can even come to imagine how painful that is." Applejack looked over at Big Macintosh who, feeling the same ping of fear AJ did, trotting over to her and nuzzled her. Applejack used her magic to gather Apple Bloom and Granny as well; the Pie family did the same, while Shining bumped against Twilight and smiled softly. "Just... give him time, alright? He will back and ready to fight when he is ready."

"What are we suppose to do till then?" Scootaloo asked.

Honesty turned towards the east, his eyes unfocused as he stared out in the direction of Manehattan. "We fight. We finish this battle and save our friends and family." He glanced at the others. "And then we make Doubt pay for every bit of pain and suffering she has caused."

~MC~MC~M~

He shivered, though it wasn't because of the cold. His metallic flank meant that he didn't feel temperatures like most ponies. The cold made him a bit slower but also more durable, just as intense heat made him feel as if the world was in slow motion while also making him more easily injured by attacks.

Faith stretched out his wings, listening to the metal creak and groan as the snowflakes gathered upon them. All around him was ice, white and endless. No pony lived here, nor deer or bear or peryton. This was a barren wasteland, too far north to support life. It was a place of death that brought only suffering to those that encountered it.

A dark part of Faith's mind couldn't help but point out that such an analogy could be applied to him.

"You're not going to die now, are you brother?"

"Loyalty," Faith whispered, whipping around. He found no sign of his brother and began to wonder if he weren't losing his mind.

"Maybe you are," Laughter called out, giggling in his ear. Faith turned this way and that, trying to find his siblings, only to be greeted with the cold wind and icy snow.

The silver alicorn stiffened when he FELT Loyalty's breath on the back of his neck. He refused to move, fearing that doing so would cause his brother to disappear. "You aren't going to let her win, are you?"

"You are not to blame for our deaths, baby brother." Laughter, for once, was not giggling. No, her tone was solemn while still hoping onto a touch of hope... just how he remembered her, before all of this madness. "And neither is Doubt. We are to blame. We should have done more to help you... but we refused and that gave Doubt a way in."

"You are giving her one now, Faith," Loyalty said. "You are letting your actions cause yourself to feel doubt. But that is not who you are. You question, yes, you ponder and think... but you don't doubt. Not anymore. You are Faith and that is what you should feel now... faith that you did the right thing and faith that we are both at peace."

"I want to believe this..." Faith murmured to himself. "I want to believe you are really here..."

"Faith is daring to believe that which you can not see," Loyalty stated. "You have suffered, brother... for a thousand years you suffered. You have done terrible things but you made it out the other side... and with reward. You have friends that care about you, allies willing to fight side-by-side, a brother who has opened his eyes to your strength and goodness, and two mares that love you and will continue to love you no matter which you chose."

"I'd pick both... more fun that way," Laughter giggled.

"So, tell me baby brother..." the winds whipped about and for that moment he saw in the whirling snow his brother and sister whole once more, "...is this the final act of the great Faith, lord of the gray? Or is this merely the first step towards your destiny?"

Faith shut his eyes, his wings trembling for a moment. “You… you think it is that easy?” He whipped around, the snow clinging to him and the wind biting into his flank. He sought out the voices, but found himself still alone. “YOU THINK IT IS THAT EASY!?!” His face contorted in rage. “A thousand years! A thousand years I have lived! Not existed, not dwelled, but lived… truly lived! No rest, no sleep, no pause… a thousand years! I was there when this world was twisted and broken under the maniac games of a mad god! I saw one of the most heroic mares I’ve ever known become the very monster she wanted to destroy… and I stood by, impotent as two sisters, so full of love, tried to kill one another with tears in their eyes.” Faith shook, tears of his own rolling down his cheeks. “I stood by ponies so full of dreams and ambitions and hopes and WATCHED THEM DIE! They died without achieving their dreams, their lives reduced to dust! I witnessed towns fade away, piece by piece, until only I remained… only… me! I know of knowledge that would have saved so many that was lost to the sands of time and screamed in silence as good mares and stallions gave up when I knew they were one step away from achieving greatness! And yet… and yet… and yet I have also seen good, haven’t I? I must have, right? I have witnessed the strength of friendship between ponies who had no right to even meet. Love that should have been snuffed out only burned brighter and it blinded me and yet I could not turn away. I have seen the weakest become heroes and the those that should have lived simple lives become champions. I heard songs that are only remembered by me and seen places that no other eye has ever looked upon. I know things no one would ever understand and I have lost things none of you will ever understand! Is that not enough? What more is there to give? To do? WHEN AM I ALLOWED TO REST? TELL ME THAT? WHEN IS IT ENOUGH?!? WHEN CAN I REST!?! TELL ME! HOW IN THE NAME OF EXISTENCE HAVE I GONE ON?! WHAT HAS KEPT ME GOING?!? WHAT AM I… what do I… believe…”

Faith looked up, eyes shimmering with tears, his face a beautiful mask of dawning revelation. He began to laugh even as he cried, the ice cracking as he began to flap his wings. He rose in the air, turning towards the south, towards Manehattan. Black and white magic swirled around him as he turned his energy upon a great rising mountain of ice. The sound of the frozen world being reshaped filled his ears and still he laughed and cried.

He understood now… he remembered why he had held on… and he knew now what gift he would give to them all.

The world exploded in light as Faith rocketed towards Manehattan… towards Doubt…

Towards his destiny.

The Final Charge

"What have you done?"

Kindness ignored the acidic tone Rarity's voice took, refusing to let herself feel even a touch of guilt at the incrimination that dripped from every word she spoke. The metallic alicorn held her ground, looking up at the white mare whose jaw was working so hard it was a wonder she hadn't broken off a few teeth. The rage and frustration and disgust seemed to radiate from her form and had Kindness been any other pony she would have been struck ill by its potency.

None of Rarity’s reactions had shocked Kindness. She'd arrived at Rarity's penthouse in Manehattan expecting a battle. How could she not, when she knew deep down that if things were reversed she would have been looking upon Rarity with annoyance if she tried to tell her that everything SHE had done so far had been wrong and only caused suffering? No, Kindness knew from the get-go that this was going to be a tough talk and that she best prepare herself for the white alicorn thrashing and fighting every step of the way in the long, hard, drawn out push towards reason.

"What are you doing?" Rarity hissed, glaring at the abstract. "Why have you rejected Fluttershy?"

"I haven't rejected her," Kindness said, her voice soothing. All that heard it were reminded of a mother's song to her sick child and found themselves hard-pressed to keep up their anger. Even Rarity, in her Generosity-infused rage, was having problems keeping her temper up. "Far from it... the two of us are closer now."

Fluttershy, who'd taken shelter behind the abstract in the face of Rarity's anger, looked up at her friend and nodded her head rapidly. "She's telling the truth, Rarity."

Rarity gave her friend a sympathetic smile. "I know you are just trying to put a brave face forward, my dear, but it is clear that..." Rarity waved her hoof dismissively at Kindness, "she has put you in a horrible position."

Kindness smiled and took a step forward. "Rarity, I forgive you for not understanding. Just as I forgive you, sister, for continuing to tow the line. I see now where we went wrong-"

"We have not gone wrong," Rarity said with a sniff; not even she was sure if by ‘we’ she meant herself and the other mares or herself and Generosity. "All that we have done has been just!"

"Perhaps... but just because something is good doesn't mean it can't be bad." Fluttershy bowed her head for a moment, her hair falling in her eyes, before she looked back up, courage flaring up within her heart and driving her to speak. "Is it ok to give some pony something to eat if they are hungry?"

"Of course!" Rarity said. "The definition of generosity is giving to others!"

"What if you don't have enough to feed yourself... should you give up your share to help some other pony?" Before Rarity could reply, Fluttershy continued. "And what if two ponies come and you only have enough for one? Or what if there are three? Or four?"

Kindness nodded. "And what if their demands are outrageous? With if I say that I love your horn and I want it?"

"Well... I..." Rarity stammered, even as the two pressed their attack.

"Or what if I wanted you to give me something that wasn't yours? Or something I didn't need? Would that be right then? Fair?" Rarity backed away, bumping into an endtable. "Don't you see? You can't live through absolutes. The only thing that happens when you try and commit yourself 100% to an ideal is that you fail to see the world around you properly."

Rarity shook her head, as if she were trying to remove the words from her ears like they were droplets of bathwater. "No... no, I don't accept that! I'm not the confused one here, you are! You and Fluttershy separated somehow and it has left you all muddled and unable to grasp the glorious harmony the five of us achieved-"

"Rarity, stop," Fluttershy said gently. "We aren't muddled and we aren't mistaken."

"You have to be." Rarity's eyes darkened. "This is Doubt's doing, isn't it? He's clouded your judgment and left you unable to see clearly. He worked his magic on you and now-"

"Doubt isn't to blame for any of this," Kindness said softly, her whisper ringing louder than any scream. It left Rarity stumbling and stammering, her balance totally destroyed at the eight little words. "Of any abstract, FAITH is the only one that gets what is truly going on."

"Faith is gone," Rarity said quickly, Generosity's own voicing echoing clearly with the white mare's. "He fell."

"What do we do when we fall?" Kindness asked. When Rarity refused to answer the abstract answered her own question. "We pick ourselves back up. It might have taken a thousand years but Faith rose up again."

"No... no, you are wrong," Rarity said, laughing at such an absurd idea. "Faith-"

"Faith has returned. He has been redeemed," Fluttershy stated. "You were there, Rarity, we all were... Generosity has just made you forget."

"Why would she do that?" Rarity demanded in anger. "She is my friend and ally... why would she lie to me?"

"Because I blinded her to the truth,” a new voice called out.

Rarity turned, only to get a gut full of magic that sent her flying across the room and crashing into a bookcase. Fluttershy and Kindness whipped around only to be struck as well, their heads snapping back and stars appearing all around them as they hit the oak bookcase with a solid THWUUUMMP!

"Oh, come on now," Cadence purred as she slowly cantered over to the fallen alicorns, a cocky little grin that had no reason to be on her face gracing her lips, "you cannot tell me you didn't see this coming." Her horn crackled with black magic and the three other mares could feel the hair on the back of their necks rise. “I’ve tried to be a good girl and not be a bother… but then I remembered I’m not a good girl at all. I am quite… quite… naughty.”

"Princess Cadence," Rarity moaned, her legs trembling as she tried to stand up. "What are you-"

Cadence fired off another blast of black magic, silencing whatever comment Rarity was preparing to make. The first blast she had sent out was like a bat: blunt and hard. This new one was like a thunderbolt and Rarity threw back her head and screamed in agony as every nerve ending she had seemed to light up all at once. Her limbs went ramrod straight and her teeth clamped together, almost taking off a chunk of her tongue.

"Now now now," Cadence chided, twisting her head towards Kindness and Fluttershy. The two had been trying to rise up, wanting to protect the white mare from the pink alicorn's attack. Whip like tendrils of dark magic lashed out from her horn, striking the two. Fluttershy cried out as the whip racked across her flank, the magic having hardened along the sides to form rose thorns. Kindness' horn lit up, only for Cadence to flip in the air and fire off several blades of dark magic. They drove into Kindness' horn, cancelling her magic and leaving her howling in pain. "You are all so rude to interrupt!" Cadence shouted. The black magic formed into three choke chains, which she threw over their necks and tightened until each was gasping for air. "Especially since I am the bestest of best allies you've got!"

“Cadence,” Rarity gasped, fighting to breathe, “what-“

“Are you really this SLOW?!” Cadence roared. “Come on now, use that squishy mush in your head and think this through! Think good and hard because I am warning you, I am getting bored and I HATE BEING BORED!”

“You… you aren’t Cadence, are you?” Fluttershy managed to get out. “You… you feel like Faith use to, back when he was Do-“

“HE IS NOT DOUBT!” ‘Cadence’ screamed. “HE IS THE USERPER AND THE CHEAT AND THE THIEF! HIS NAME WAS STOLEN BY YOU STUPID PONIES SO HE TOOK MINE! THEN YOU-“ she whipped around and jabbed her horn at Kindness. “YOU AND THE REST OF YOUR KIND LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT! YOU LET HIM TAKE MY NAME!” ‘Cadence’ twitched for a moment, a smile quickly reforming on her face. “But that’s ok… because I took it back and now I am going to collect my interest.”

“You’re… you’re Doubt,” Kindness whispered, the choke chain around her neck loosening slightly when she said the name. “The first Doubt.”

“The only Doubt,” ‘Cadence’ purred. “There is me and the liar… nothing else.” She walked up to Kindness and rubbed against her. “But of course, you might know me as someone else…”

Kindness’ eyes went wide and she looked at Doubt in horror. “No…. no no no…”

“Yes… it was me… the one that whispered in YOUR ear, just as you have whispered in so many ponies. I am the one that convinced you to finally act. I was the one that drove your siblings to attack this country and spread ‘harmony’… of course, I also kept you blind to what you were really doing. I made you doubt ponies and your own senses. I pushed you hard and fast to go against your better judgment. It was me… it was always me.”

Tears fell down Kindness’ cheeks as the blinders that had obscured her, the ones that Fluttershy had managed to crack, were ripped free and she saw just what she had done. She saw everything… the true horror of her actions and Kindness wept. Doubt turned and winked at Rarity, who fell to the ground sobbing as the full weight of her sins was revealed to her. “Oh… what have we done?”

“You’ve destroyed this land better than any monster ever could.” Doubt pranced about, wiggling her wings in glee. “Your names will go down in the history books along side monsters like Nightmare Moon and Discord. Well, they would, if there was any pony left to write the history books.”

“What… what are you talking about?” Fluttershy asked.

Doubt favored her with a smile. “This is the final act… all the pieces are in place and the fat pony is about to sing.” Doubt’s horn glowed and her eyes flipped through several different colors at once. Doubt dragged the three over to the window, forcing them to look down as a horde of ponies began to march towards the skyscraper. “I must thank you Rarity for being so generous.” The word oozed out of Doubt’s mouth and Rarity cringed. “If you hadn’t given so much of your power to those ponies, making them little more than mindless slaves, none of this could have happened. It was going to be so hard creating my army… but now all I had to do was spend a few days drifting through their minds and placing a little bit of myself in each and every one of them… well, it has made things SO much easier. Now they heed my call… they see me as their champion and will do anything for me. They will DIE for me… and die… they… will.”

Doubt tugged them back inside, letting out a happy sigh. “Soon, the rebellion will arrive and pony will fight pony. Brother vs. brother. Mother killing daughter. Husband slaughtering wife. The battle will be vicious and brutal and the gutters will scab over with blood. I, of course, won’t be around to see it… I have one last surprise to set up before the big kaboom, but you will… you will watch it all hap-“

The wall exploded, sending drywall flying all over and leaving Doubt shaking.

“I have something to say about that,” Faith said as he entered through the hole, his wings flexing and catching the rays of the sun. All at once he appeared to Fluttershy as an angel with fiery wings and the strength of the heavens contained within his eyes.

“Brother?” Kindness gasped out, staring at the lord of the gray in shock. She knew what Fluttershy had said, understood what she had been trying to get her to understand… but seeing her baby brother there, looking much as he had before his ascension… as she knew him before everything in their past had occurred….

Kindness, despite her injuries, wept in relief.

“Get the hell away from my friends,” Faith snapped in annoyance. “Get the hell away from my family.”

“Make me,” Doubt taunted, firing off a blast of magic. Faith grunted, deflecting the shot and sending off several blasts of his own that left the mad abstract blinking back stars. He marched forward, only to throw up his wings when Doubt sent her tendrils of black magic at him, trying to whip him as she had his sisters. “Faith the fool… Faith the blowhard… ALWAYS RUSHING IN!” Faith fell back to one knee as Doubt struck again and again, ripping away steel feathers. “You thought I would fall so easily?!” Doubt’s body trembled as the pink of her flank darkened till it became nightmare black, her mane a bleached out white. She laughed, her wings exploding to reveal her own metallic feathers, these ones looking to be made of tarnished sterling. She had become a bastardization of his fallen form, an amalgam of Cadence and Faith-as-Doubt. Or perhaps this had always been her form and it had been Faith who had created stolen the color and design. It was a question neither abstract could answer.

Doubt grabbed Faith’s wings and forced them open so she could look him dead in the eye. “My army is going to watch me tear you apart. Faith is going to die… not just you but the very concept! Every pony is going to feel faith itself wither and die and with it all hope, all dreams, all wishes will be shattered as well! All will only know me!”

“Your army is going to be a touch busy,” Faith said coldly.

“Doing what?” Doubt scoffed. “Fighting you?”

“No… fighting my army.”

Doubt looked behind Faith, staring at the hole in the wall, eyes widening as The Abundance dropped from the sky, its cannons already armed and its deck full of ponies. Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Applejack, Honesty, and Rainbow Dash all stood on the bridge, their horns glowing.

“Oh, poor Doubt,” Faith whispered mockingly. “I am sorry… but you’ve been outplayed. The pieces are on the board but that does you little good when I already have you in checkmate. The dice has been thrown, the bones are in the yard and the train has left the station. Did you REALLY think I’d rush over here? Did you think I came flying in without a plan? You poor stupid girl… I’m not you. I have friends… and we fight together. We plan together… we planned this for 3 days. And we are going to win together.”

Faith smirked and Doubt couldn’t stop the tremble from rolling along her spine. “A thousand years from now, every pony in Equestria is going to look back at this moment and they will never, ever, forget it.” Faith smirked. “You want to know why my dear?” Faith asked, leaning in close so he could whisper in her ear. “I taught them my alicorn spell.”

“No,” Doubt whispered, trying to buck him away so she could stop the magic that was now swirling around the alicorns on The Abundance. “NO!”

“TWILIGHT NOW!”

The lavender alicorn smirked. “You heard him.” The six alicorns threw back their heads, white magical energy bursting from them. Kindness, Rarity, and Fluttershy struggled to their feet, jaws dropping as the glow surrounded The Abundance, consuming it to the point that it looked like a miniature sun. It was blinding and beautiful and all that gazed upon it could not turn away.

Then, in the next moment, the spell ended, leaving the airship the same as it had been.

But not the ponies that crewed it.

“Well, this is new,” The Doctor said, flexing his wings and lighting up his horn. Behind him Spitfire smirked, her newly grown horn glowing with the flames of a raging inferno. Pinkie Pie giggled as she floated behind them, watched as every pony on board The Abundance tested out their new abilities. Even the non-ponies had been changed; Iron Will smirked as he smashed his now stone hands together, his horns flashing with powerful magic.

Faith headbutted Doubt, sending her back. “This is why you fail, Doubt!” Faith spread his forelegs out wide. “Don’t you GET IT? When there is doubt in the world ponies rally together! They find strength in each other… they wish for better days and they pray for guidance. Your quest to create doubt only strengthened us… and now you’ve raised an army against yourself! An army that flies the banner of faith and hope!” Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom flew up to the mast of The Abundance and unfurled the flag of Equestria.

“Kill them…” Doubt screamed, her eyes glowing. “KILL THEM ALL!”

“Incoming!” Trixie shouted, pointing at a massive swarm of pegasi that were rushing into the air towards the airship.

“This is going to be bad,” Spike muttered, his now jewel-studded wings flexing as he leapt off the airship and raced down with Flim, Clyde, Shining Armor, and Derpy to lead the first wave.

Faith’s horn crackled as he turned away from the oncoming battle. “A thousand years has been quite too long, Doubt. It ends… today.”

“Indeed,” the mad abstract said in glee. “I am going to kill you… I am going to rip your heart out and devour it. And then I am going to find your little friends and I am going to BURN them. You think you can hide them from me? You think your sacrifice will protect them? You fool… I WILL FIND THEM!”

“You have to get through me first,” Faith stated, his body trembling as dark and light magic swirled around him. “And I am never going to stop. Never going to give in. Never-going-to-back-down!” He rushed the mare, lashing out and striking her in the jaw. “So what we have here-“ Faith struck Doubt again, drawing blood, “-is a case of an unstoppable force-“ he grabbed Doubt’s face and drove her down into his knee, “-meeting an unmovable object!“ Doubt, dazed, could only yelp as Faith wrapped his limbs around her, “Let’s see who breaks first!”

And with that, Faith launched himself through the roof of the penthouse, Doubt screaming as he flung her aside. She lit up her horn and charged, Faith not budging as she collided with him Behind him, The Abundance’s main hatches opened and a squad of rebel alicorns flew out, zooming down to meet the brainwashed citizens of Manehattan.

"Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war"

-Anthony, Julius Caesar

The Battle for Equestria Part 1

"Zeus! Your son has returned! I bring the destruction of Olympus!"

-Kratos, God of War II

"Remember, we don't want to hurt them too badly!" Twilight called out to the newly-made alicorns that were leaping over the railing of The Abundance.

"They are going to give it their all!" Shining called out, his strong voice ringing out over the chaos of battle. The stallion was in his element, all his training coming into full play as the brainwashed pegasi rushed towards the rebellion members. He and Twilight shared a look and his sister nodded, stepping to the side and letting him take the lead. "They are going to try to kill you but it isn't their fault. They act against their will and we must remember that they are victims in this." His horn flashed, stopping Flim and Flam before they could leap over the edge. "I want you paired up with a pegasus!" He turned to the remaining members of the rebellion and motioned for them to begin splitting off. "If this is your first flight I want you with an experienced flyer! If you've never shot off a blast of magic you need a unicorn at your side! If you are an earth pony find another pair and lend them your strength! I want this done cleanly, understood? As much as you might think we have the advantage we are, in fact, in the weaker position, so use your heads!"

Celestia and Luna strode forward, their eyes narrowed and hard as they looked at the penthouse. "We will go and talk with Fluttershy and Rarity."

"And I'll deal with my sisters," Honesty stated.

"Good," Twilight said, spreading her wings. "I'm going to help Faith." Before any of them could say a word Twilight launched herself skyward, spinning slightly as she gained altitude.

Shining watched her go before turning to Iron Will. "Get us out over the bay! I want to provide some cover fire! Anyone with medical experience needs to stay here to tend the wounded!" He turned to look up, watching as Faith and Doubt dueled. "And for goodness sake... leave that one to Faith and Twilight."

~MC~MC~MC~

Rainbow Dash's face was a mask of determination. All around her there were ponies flying about, some up towards the airship, some down from it. it was madness and chaos and it took all her skills as a flyer to be able to weave through the crowd without getting hit. Those gifted by the alicorn spell were using their magic to try and restrain the brainwashed citizens, but found it difficult due to the sheer ferocity of their opponents. Shining had been right: despite their power boost they were at the disadvantage. They were battling with one hoof tied behind their back while the unfortunate horde that had been driven into battle had no sense of remorse or guilt when it came to attack their enemies.

"They're like those dang parasprites!" Applejack called out to her as she flew in close, watching as five of the attackers swarmed onto one of the former Canterlot prisoners, dragging him down as they kicked and punched and bit. Applejack's horn glowed and she ripped them away from the stallion, who slammed into building and remained still. "They outnumber us 20 ta 1!"

"We have to find some way to push them back!" Derpy called out, managing to avoid 7 pegasi that had been trying to sneak up on her. She did a quick 180 and fired off a blast of magic, creating a storm of stone muffins that knocked her pursuers out.

"I got it!" Applejack shouted, turning her attention and her magic on a new target. She grabbed onto a billboard and bent it till it looked like a snowplow. Rainbow and Derpy quickly ducked behind the plow, lending their magic and calling out for anyone from the rebellion that might be below them to get out of the way. They then plowed through the mob, sending them spinning into buildings and tumbling aside into the waiting forelegs of other members of the rebellion, who were more than happy to wrap them up with magical chains and leave them hanging from balconies.

"LOOK OUT!" Derpy cried out, ducking down just in time to avoid the squad that rocketed at them. Rainbow wasn't so luckily as Applejack strained to hold onto her plow as the cyan alicorn was yanked away. "Rainbow Dash!"

"I... I need help here, sugarcube!" Applejack grunted. Derpy cast one final, reluctant look Rainbow Dash's way before zipping over, firing up her horn and straining to help Applejack guide the billboard to safety.

Rainbow, meanwhile, was struggling to regain her equilibrium. The city spun about her, the street appearing in the sky and the Abundance below her. Just as quickly as it had begun it ended, Rainbow crying out as she struck a brick wall.

"Come on now," Soarin' taunted, the rest of the Wonderbolts lined up behind him. "If you want to join us, my queen, you have to be tougher than that!"

"That so?" Spitfire shouted as she and Scootaloo sipped down, firing off magical blasts. "I think I'll be the judge of how tough you are!"

~MC~MC~MC~

High above her Twilight could hear Faith and Doubt screaming at each other, trading attacks. The two of them were firing off their magic with no sense of restraint. An aura of silver light shot at Doubt, taking on the form of a pair of giant scissors as he tried to clip her wings. The mad abstract responded by diving down and creating a drill of black magic, which Faith only just managed to block by grabbing nearby satellite dish and using it as a shield.

"You think I am just going to lay down and die?" Doubt screeched, rushed up and punching Faith in the side. The silver alicorn grunted, twisting to avoid a second hit. "I have planned this out for a thousand years!" She smashed his face with her back hooves, causing the lord of the gray to spit out a wad of blood. "My plan is foolproof!"

"It'd have to be," Twilight said, using her own magic to grab a hold of Doubt's head and yank her away from Faith, "what with you being a fool and all." Twilight's eyes flashed and several shooting stars rained down upon them, their fiery tails superheating the air around them and making it nearly impossible to breathe. The three alicorns panted, getting slightly lightheaded as they struggled to catch their breath. "Look at this madness, Doubt! Look at what you've done! You honestly think this is in any way a victory!"

"I see victory... not my fault you are too feeble minded to understand the scheme!"

Faith slammed down onto Doubt, grabbing her face while his magic yanked her eyelids open. "You truly are crazy if you think this madness is some sinister plan! Every step you've taken we've knocked you back down and this time will be no different! You are going to lose, Doubt, and do you know why?" Faith leaned in close, face pressed against hers, his hot breath burning her face. "Because it is your nature. Your crazy... crazy nature."

The mad abstract glowered at him. "I... am... not... CRAZY!" Her body exploded with magic, sending Twilight and Faith tumbling back. Doubt panted, glaring at them with hate-filled eyes. "You have no right to insult me! Everything that has happened is because of you two!" Her horn burned and Faith's eyes widened as Doubt lifted a yacht from the Hoofson river and brought up in the sky. "You stole everything from me!" She throw the ship at Faith, who grunted as he grabbed a hold of it, struggling to keep it from crashing to the streets below. "Oh, I'm Faith! I am so special because I am one of the Elements of Harmony!" Doubt raced down and punched him in the face, causing Faith to slip and almost send the ship crashing down. "Waa! Celestia forgot my name so I am going to turn evil!" Doubt's magic grabbed onto the yacht and forced it down a bit more, Faith's wings beating like mad as he fought against the mighty push. Doubt lashed out again, striking him in the back. "Everyone has such sympathy for you... where is my sad music? Where are my words of encourag-"

Twilight fired a blast at Doubt, striking her in the side and sending her spinning about.

"Your right... Faith was in the wrong," Twilight said as the silver abstract lowered the yacht back into the river. "Ignore the fact that when his name was taken he was barely a toddler and didn't know how to react... he still stole your name and purpose." Twilight focused and one of the smaller skyscrapers was ripped from its foundation, rising higher and higher in the air as it was surrounded by the glow of her lavender magic. Doubt began to back away, eyes wide in shock. "But the reason why we all care about him is how he handled himself after the fact! Faith's worst crime as Doubt was convincing me I didn't need my friends; even then he still helped them apologize. Faith has honor while all you have is your thirst for revenge!"

Twilight threw back her head, screaming as she sent the building hurtling at Doubt like it was a baseball bat.

Doubt cried out as the building struck her, her horn flaring as she attempted to shield herself from the hit. But even as she worked to block the blow she felt herself being driven into the building by another force.

Faith’s eyes flashed with rage as he shoved her against the building, his hooves colliding with her stomach and sides, raining blows upon her. Doubt twisted away but Faith merely launched himself onto the building and captured it with his own magic, stealing it from Twilight and sending it like as missile at Doubt. The mad abstract twisted around, smirking as the building fell into the Hoofson.

“Such a show of force!” she said with mock appreciation. “That is yet another reason you two are so pathetic!” Doubt’s horn flared and with a scream she sent out a shockwave that shattered every window in the city. Winds whipped around her as she sent out her magic, catching each one and lifting them up. The winds swirled and Faith and Twilight flew close to each other as Doubt created a hurricane of broken glass. “You have no understanding of finesse!

“Twilight!” Faith shouted, hugging her tight and wrapping his wings around her as the glass swirled around them, cutting into anything it could find. In the distance they could hear the Abundance fire off an emergency siren and begin to retreat, let the airship be torn to shreds.

“I think Trixie is going to get jealous,” Twilight said.

“We can worry about that after we aren’t dead.”

Twilight opened her mouth to say something, only to cry out when a long shard of glass slammed into her unprotected flank. Faith grit his teeth and adjusted his wings, covering her up completely while leaving himself exposed. The storm cut into his back, flaying his skin and leaving rivers of blood pouring along his flank.

“Aw, look at you two!” Doubt cooed, catching a piece of glass and running it along Faith's back. “Aren’t you just precious!” Faith bite back a curse as Doubt drove the shard into his back, just an inch from his spine. Doubt didn’t seem to notice the glass that was coming within inches of her head; she merely floated around them, poking at his wings. “Look at you clinging to each other… its just so cute! It reminds me of something… what was it...” she tapped his chin in thought. “Oh yes, I remember now, little thief… it reminds me of your other friend, Clockwork… the scholar that gave you MY name.” She leaned in close the winds growing more ferocious. “You clung to him so hard, didn’t you… your first friend. The one that actually cared about you. You cared for him like you care for this one. But then he went away… poof… left you all alone… even though it wasn’t his time.”

“What?” Faith whispered.

Doubt leaned in close. “Let me say it in small words, so you might understand.” Her lips brushed against his ear. “I killed Clockwork.”

Faith’s world went red.

“YOU LYING BITCH!”

Twilight let out a yelp as she was shot out of the storm. She spun about, blinking in confusion, before turning to see Faith rearing up, his horn burning with white magic as he turned his fury on the mad abstract.

“That’s it…” Doubt whispered to herself as Faith began to head at her, his magic swirling about him. She cast a glance to the west, towards the Everfree Forest. “That’s it…”

It was all going according to plan.

The Battle for Equestria Part 2

“Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?”

-Discord

They had been expecting many different things.

When Honesty, Celestia and Luna had flown towards Rarity's penthouse, they had braced themselves for a fight. They knew that at least one of the Queens had to be in there, watching over the warring factions. The sisters had been prepared to use whatever they needed, be it words or physical attacks, to remove the abstracts from the two mares. Then it would be Honesty's turn; the red abstract had been gearing himself up for a long battle with his sisters that would see them hurting each other despite what they wanted.

It would be a cruel, painful battle. It would be filled with hurtful words and broken hearts. There would be blood and there would be tears. There was no doubt in any of the three's minds that this is what was waiting for them.

But the broken forms of Kindness, Fluttershy and Rarity were not at all the opponents they had been expecting.

"Princess..." Fluttershy whispered, before hurrying over to toppled chair and hiding behind it, her long tail flicking back and forth in agitation. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Fluttershy whimpered, repeating the same reframe over and over until it became the chorus to the depressing scene the alicorn sisters found before them.

"Fluttershy?" Celestia said softly, approaching with caution. Laughter's trap was still fresh in her memory and thus she made her way towards the trembling mare with a small amount of trepidation. Her horn lit up and she gently pushed the chair aside, looking down at Fluttershy. The mare was attempting to curl herself into a tight little ball and whimpered when Celestia reached over and brushed her mane. "Fluttershy, what-"

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," Fluttershy said over and over.

Honesty, meanwhile, was staring at his sister in surprise. "Kindness... I don't understand... how are...?"

"Fluttershy opened my eyes," Kindness said, tears in her eyes. "She made me see we were wrong." Kindness shuddered. "But Doubt made me truly understand just how wrong we all were."

"Doubt?" Luna said, glancing up at the battle overhead. "What did Doubt-"

"We have sinned!" Rarity wailed. She fell to her back, one foreleg resting on her forehead. "We attempted to reach greatness but our wings were made of wax and we fell to the dark sea!"

Celestia's mouth was set in a firm line. "Then you see what you did wrong? You understand how your actions hurt your fellow ponies."

"Yes," Fluttershy said softly.

"We... we are so sorry," Kindness said, crawling to her brother and wrapping her forelegs around his own. "Please... please forgive me brother."

"Yes," Rarity said, sniffing back tears. "You must forgive us! We see now-"

"No," Celestia said sternly.

The three crying alicorns blinked in surprise. Luna and Honesty did too, startled by the harshness of Celestia's denial.

"Sister?" Luna said slowly.

Celestia looked upon the three alicorns, her eyes narrowed. "I am glad you now see the error of your ways. But begging for me to forgive you will not earn you the redemption you seek." She gestured towards the city. "While it is true that you were led astray by Doubt these are still the fruits of your actions. Just as I was guilty of abandoning Twilight and allowing her to fall into darkness, so are you guilty of your actions." Her face softened just a touch. "Begging for forgiveness will not earn you it."

"Then w-what must we do?" Kindness stammered.

It was Fluttershy who first realized what Celestia was getting at. "Make things right." She slowly rose, her legs a bit wobbly from her crying jag. "Its just like with Twilight or when any of our friends are upset with us... it means nothing if we just ask apologize. We have to make things right... Rainbow Dash would say that actions speak louder than words." Taking in a deep breath, the buttercream mare that so many pegged as being a coward bravely stepped towards her princess, looking her dead in the eye. "What can I do to help?"

Celestia smiled. "Doubt has taken control of the ponies that were brainwashed by you Queens. I am hoping that by combining your magic with the rest of your friends, you'll be able to free them and end this battle."

Fluttershy nodded her head, turning towards Rarity. "We need to fix this."

"Yes," Rarity said, shuddering slightly. She took a step forward and shrank before their eyes, splitting into two ponies: one the alicorn Rarity all had been talking to moments before, and another who seemed to be made from white gold, her wings encrusted with millions of gems that were forever falling at her feet like raindrops. She walked over to Kindness and helped her up before turning to Honesty.

"What now, brother?" Generosity asked.

"Now?" He looked skyward. "Now we go stand by our little brother... and we defeat this Doubt as a family."

"I will join you," Luna said, eyes flashing with magic. "Sister, you bring the rage of the sun... I will bring the coldness of night itself."

Celestia spread her wings. "Into the breach then."

And with that, the alicorns rejoined the battle.

~MC~MC~MC~

Spike twisted in the air, catching the Doctor just before he crashed through a window. "Thank you, Spike!" The Doctor said with a smile. "Afraid I am not quite use to these wings yet."

"You can thank me after we survive," Spike said, batting away a few earth ponies that had rushed them. The Doctor, Trixie, and Pinkie Pie had ended up on the street, trying their best to knock out the unicorns that were firing anti-flyer spells at the rebellion. It was difficult, as not only was their small group outnumbered 100 to 1, but each of them were forcing themselves to not use their full strength; Spike especially realized that a good swipe of his claw could behead an innocent pony.

"They just keep coming and coming and coming and coming and coming-" Pinkie grabbed her own head and banged her forehead against the ground. "oooooo... sorry about that, I got stuck in a loop."

Trixie glanced up, a dash of worry appearing on her face as she watched Faith and Doubt trade blows. One of the mob tried to take advantage of her distraction, only to be rewarded with a face full of magic for their trouble. Trixie leapt up, eyes glowing as she fired out a barrage of spells. Magical rope and magician's boxes appeared, ensnaring the ponies and trapping them nice and tight.

"Are you ok?" The Doctor asked, ducking a blow from one of the brainwashed stallions. He normally didn't like to fight but in situations like these he was willing to get his hooves dirty for the greater good.

"Fine," Trixie said, once more glancing skyward before turning to lead the charge at a battalion of unicorns.

"You want to be up there, don't you?" Spike asked. He grabbed a door and threw it in the way of a blast that had been heading toward Flim, giving his a salute before continuing.

"Of course," Trixie said, twisting around and bucking a unicorn mare that was trying to sneak up on her. "But that doesn't mean I HAVE to be up there." She smiled slightly as she paused, watching their targets try and mount a counterattack. "Besides, I am right where I need to be: taking care of these problems so Faith doesn't have to worry about them."

"A good way to think about it," The Doctor said, powering up his horn. "I have found that more battles have been won because of the actions of those off to the side than those of the heroes."

Trixie nodded. "And I don't need to worry about Faith... Twilight knows if she lets him get hurt she will answer to me." She narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Now then... let's take care of these fools."

And with that she charged in, the rest of her team hot on her hooves.

~MC~MC~MC~

Faith lashed out, grabbing Doubt by the throat. The mare merely smiled at him as he drove her towards the building. He had been beating her for about five minutes, his rage over her words driving him toward ignoring everything around him. he had lost focus and was no obsessed with destroying her.

Doubt cackled in glee as they neared the building.

At the last minute, however, Faith stopped dead, his wings beating as he slowed enough to prevent Doubt from being turned into a bloody smear on the side of the building. He locked eyes with her, black and white magic shining in his eyes.

"Did you think you could trick me so easily?" Faith said coldly. He pressed his foreleg against her windpipe, keeping her from moving. "You wanted me to kill Cadence in my blind rage. You wanted me to forget that you are inside her like some parasite, wearing her like a suit. Only one problem, Doubt." Faith's eyes flashed pink and when he spoke next it was in a different voice. "I'm in here, Doubt... and I want my body back!"

Doubt let out a cry as Faith pressed his horn against hers, opening the connection between the two of them. The mad abstract trembled and her dark coat began to drip away from her like hot tar. It fell from the mare Faith restrained, oozing off of her to reveal Cadence's true form. Her wings returned to normal and her healthy pink coat began to shine with its normal luster the moment Cadence opened her eyes.

"I'm... I'm back," she whispered. A huge grin blossomed on her face and she hugged Faith. "I'm back!"

Faith smiled too and Twilight hurried over and joined the midair hug. "It’s good to have you back," Faith said, before breaking off. "But we aren't done yet."

The three of them turned, watching as the black ball of ooze hovered in the air in front of them, twisting and turning like a mound of ants. They could feel the darkness that poured off of the sphere and it was only their resolve that kept them from turning away from the disgusting mass.

"You've failed, Doubt," Twilight said sternly. "Again."

Cadence nodded. "You wanted to destroy Equestria and fill it with doubt... but this is your last stand. We are going to undo the damage you did and free the ponies you corrupted."

Faith's mouth was set in a firm line. "You wanted to sully the names of Twilight's friends... but you have failed to take into account the power of forgiveness. it might take decades, but those girls will make up for their sins and Equestria will be stronger because this."

"You wanted to shatter Faith and ruin the abstracts... and yes, some have died." Twilight took a moment, remembering Laughter and Loyalty. "But new abstracts will take their place... just like a new Doubt will arise when you are dead and gone. Faith always told me that life isn't static and I know he is right; things will change and we will heal."

The ball of ooze that was Doubt began to laugh.

"What is this?" Faith said coldly. "The last bit of humor from a fallen foe?"

Doubt merely giggled. "You still haven't gotten it... have you?" The ball began to twist and the upper portion reformed to resemble Doubt's head when she had possessed Cadence. "Who said anything about spreading doubt?'

"You did," Cadence said in confusion.

"I did? Yes... I suppose so... and we all know I am so trustworthy, what with corrupting your friends and your family. Oh yes, completely trustworthy, your mortal enemy." Doubt's head shot forward. "I LIED!"

Faith slashed out with his wings, only for Doubt to pull back just in time. "What new game is this?"

"This isn't new, Faith. This is the same game we've been playing; not my fault you didn't realize that you were basing all your moves on faulty assumptions." The ball shuddered and a set of wings formed: one a pegasus wing, the other bat-like. "Haven't you wondered how I was able to do all this? You've said it so many times: Abstracts can't lie. Oh, your brothers and sisters were able to fool themselves and justify their actions but they never lied, did they? They just ignored the truth... two different things. But me? I've lied... and lied... and lied?" Doubt's tongue shot out, serpentine now, licking her newly grown fangs. "So, how could that be? How could I, an abstract... lie?"

Twilight's eyes widened. "You... you aren't an abstract anymore, are you?"

"And the slowest runner finally finishes the race!" Doubt exclaimed as a long tail burst out of the black ooze ball, flicking about. "Yes... yes, I haven't been an abstract for quite some time. I became something more... something different and strange. I took a page out of your book, Faith, and stole from another being... I stole his purpose and his power and made it my own. He wasn’t using it, you saw to that, so I decided to take his place.

“It opened my eyes and my mind..." a taloned claw burst out and gripped Doubt's forehead. "I learned to feel so many things... and the voices... the voices tell me so many things... telling me how to get my revenge on you and this country and all the abstracts that abandoned me... and let me become this... this... I"M NOT CRAZY!" Doubt screamed as her other arm, paw-like, burst out of the ball. She seemed to get a hold of herself and she smiled. "There are a few questions you haven't asked and one last kaboom before its lights out for all of you... but let me speed this along and clue you in." Doubt began to grow longer and taller, her body twisting and changing more. "Look at the chaos I have created... why hasn't Discord been freed yet?"

Twilight's eyes widened. She now understood why Laughter had been trying to tell them during her dream trap.

"That's right... I bled him dry and took all there was in that stony shell... he was a chocolate candy and I ate the creamy filling till it became my blood." Doubt said as finished her transformation. Her black head sat grinning on a replica of Discord's body, though all the color had been bled away, leaving it black and white. Clashing magicks swirled about her as she looked at them, a twisted smile on her face. "I am Doubt... the Spirit of Chaos." She snapped her fingers and the sky trembled. "Now then... shall we begin?"

Faith and Twilight glanced at each other, then at Doubt.

"No," Faith said coldly. "We won't begin... we shall end."

The Battle for Equestria Part 3

"May you live in interesting times"

-Ancient Chinese Curse

Equestria was not a land known for boredom.

Even the ponies that would be called dull by their neighbors were seen by those of other nations as living lives full of adventure and excitement. The wild side seemed to call this place home and any that set a foot or a paw or a hoof upon it were quickly infected. Indeed, the greater challenge was not finding danger and excitement but avoiding it. Every pony that lived in that country had some sort of tale to tell, one that would seem farfetched to those that had never seen the depths of the Everfree or the shores of Capricorn Bay.

Equestria was a land of magic. It was the home of thrill seekers and dreamers. Magic was all around, the very earth trembled with power, and the rainbows in the sky were the product of pony-power. They said that down south 'there be dragons', and across the Mareatine 'griffins this way'. But those that dwelled in the far spread lands pointed towards Equestria and whispered it was the Land of the Impossible, where gods trotted and the unlikely was mundane.

For the ponies that now stood in the streets of Manehattan, craning their necks and twisting about, they found themselves riveted. These fair folk had seen the return of Nightmare Moon, lived through the Second Reign of Discord and watched as the Changeling Horde attempted to take Canterlot. In recent months they had learned of the Fall of Twilight Sparkle and the Redemption of Lord Faith. The alicorn sisters had been overthrown and the Queens had taken their place. But now, at this moment, as they watched the sky go dark and the raw chaos magic of Doubt, Spirit of Chaos, flow down like hail, they trembled in fear.

This was something new.

This was something to truly fear.

Princess Celestia looked up from the pony she had been restraining, staring upon the purple-tinted sky and blue lightning with dread. She could taste the old magic in the air.... magic much older than her own.

Princess Luna felt the energy racing along her flank and for a moment wished she were Nightmare Moon again. The Nightmare wouldn't have feared the sight of their enemy revealing that ancient magic. The Nightmare would have done something more than stop and stare.

It was a mixture of fear and remorse that filled Twilight's friends and their respective elements. They lowered their heads and shrank away, seeking shadows to hide in as the memory of what they had become when Discord had ruled returning full force. The abstracts stared at this unholy union of chaos and doubt and wept bitter tears that they had allowed themselves to be swayed by such a monstrosity. These ponies, who had shown such bravery… trembled in terror and wept bitter tears in the face of this new foe.

The rebellion stopped in their tracks and those ponies that had been under Doubt's control were little more than statues. All of them were suddenly aware of their place and felt so utterly small and helpless. What were they but foal in the face of such might? From Spike to Shining to Flim and Flam to the Cutie Mark Crusaders to Cadence to Derpy to all the rest, they each and every one of them had the sensation that they had been suddenly shown a great map of the world, with every connection lit up... then shown a small, blurry dot and told that it represented them and all they had accomplished and lived for.

Only two held their emotions and thoughts in check. Only two weathered the storm.

Only two.

One… who had bonded with the power of doubt once before.

The other… had taken the name once, long ago.

"Am I supposed to be impressed?" Twilight said, eyes narrowed and dark as the deepest dragon cave. "Is this show supposed to frighten me?"

"What should I care about how you feel?" Doubt teased, flexing her taloned-hand. "Why does a god care what an ant thinks?"

"Good question," Faith said, flapping his wings and sending a barrage of silver feathers at the madcreature. Doubt twisted out of the way, only to catch Faith's right hoof in her mouth. "Why should I care what you think, ant?"

"How cute," Doubt said, batting Faith away before sticking out her paw and creating a ball of black magic. She fired it at Twilight, the alicorn darting away just in time to avoid the strike. "You still play games and make your cute little taunts. You think this will be like the happy little adventures you've gone on, don't you?" Twilight turned, letting out a yelp when she found that Doubt had warped beside her. The madcreature grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, Twilight gasping as she struggled. "You never understood why you beat Discord, did you?"

Faith launched himself at Doubt, only to be backhanded into a building for his trouble. Doubt watched this, smiling as Faith struck the building with a sickening crunch, before turning back towards Twilight, a smirk on her face. The purple alicorn tried to fire bolts of magic at Doubt, but the twisted monster merely wrapped her paw around Twilight's horn, giggling as the magic tickled her.

"You won because Discord was playing with you. He was a cat toying with a mouse, batting it back and forth before swallowing it whole. You tasted only a portion of his power because, even though he claimed to love chaos and disorder, he still had his own twisted sense of honor and rules of play." Doubt leaned in and Twilight's eyes went glassy as Doubt squeezed her throat a touch harder. "But the problem, Twilight Sparkle... is I have no desire to play. I have no need. Why hold myself back? Why not cut loose and just... destroy you all." Doubt's talon crackled with magic and with a smirk she turned, melting the building Faith had been blasted into, trapping the abstract in a prison of molten steel. She lifted her eyes up and took hold of the stars… Twilight’s stars… and ripped them down and sent them at Manehattan, screams of fear filling Twilight’s ears. "There will be no games. I am not going to turn you into a weapon to destroy your friends or set up some impossible task for you to complete. I already did all that and found it lacking.

"No... I am going to break you down, Twilight." The lavender mare screamed in agony as magic flooded her veins. It felt as if every part of her had been connected to fishing line and was being tugged in a thousand different directions. "Part by part... cell by cell... atom by atom. You are going to feel yourself spread across this entire land, pulled and pulled, growing thinner and thinner but never breaking, never-"

Twilight's eyes widened as cold air filled her lungs. It actually hut to breathe and for just a moment she wished for Doubt's claws around her throat once more. But as more oxygen flowed into her and her vision cleared, the fog that had overtaken Twilight's mind cleared and she was better able to look upon the battlefield and comprehend what was happening.

Fire was pouring from Doubt's nostrils and her eyes glowed with black magic as she stared at Twilight's savior, the one that had launched the attack that had freed her. The air was thick with chaos magic and Twilight felt the heady mist affecting her like some hard cider. She blinked, trying to gather herself, before turning her attention to Faith.

But no... not Faith. Not this time. Twilight's hero was not Faith at all.

It was the only pony to care for him as much as Twilight did.

"I am so sick of you abstracts!" Trixie roared, her horn glowing a pale blue. Doubt spread her arms wide and sent 3 bolts of lightning at the blue mare's form. The moment they struck, however, 'Trixie' was revealed to be nothing more than an illusion. "All you do is talk. You talk about how powerful you are! About how you are better than ponies! How you know better than us and how we are foolish to fight you and doomed to defeat!" Doubt twisted around as hundreds of Trixies began to appear, each one with the annoyed sneer on their face. "Talk talk talk talk talk! Is there an abstract of annoying babbles? If there is he must be very BUSY!"

Doubt grit her teeth and sent out a wave of magic that shattered all the illusions... but still Triixe kept talking.

"You talk about your strength and your grand plans... each and every one of you!" Doubt grunted as Trixie, only now looking like a mixture of herself and Nightmare Moon, slammed her hooves into her back. Another Trixie with Celestia's coloring appeared and punched Doubt in the jaw. "You boast and you brag, but when it comes to backing up your claims, what do you do?" Doubt sneered as she charged up her magic. "NOTHING!"

Doubt twisted her hand and the very earth itself rose up, forming a mighty fist that caught the two alicorns, shattering them and revealing them to be nothing more than illusions as well.

"I look at you and I see everything I hate about myself," Trixie whispered. "You and all the other abstracts are what I once was, Doubt... a charlatan. You’re all confidence ponies, rolling into town with your snake oil and your music boxes and claiming to be all powerful. You are magicians pretending to be gods. The Great and Powerful."

"Shut it," Doubt snapped.

"Make me," Trixie mocked. "But even though there is so much of me in you, and realized that there are still parts of my soul that are my own and make me better than you."

Doubt twisted about, calling upon the rage of the hurricane and the strength of the tornado. The Abundance shuddered and tried to steady itself as a maelstrom 10x greater than the one Faith had summoned over Cloudsdale tore through the sky.

"Unlike you, when I do my act everyone is in on the joke. I know it isn't real and they know it isn't. For some they want to believe and hold onto the dream that all my tricks are real. But for those that don't see that... they aren't hurt by the knowledge. They are strengthened because they learn to look for the wire and the rubber sword. And I wouldn't have it any other way... because if they question my act maybe they will question other things... laws and traditions that have been in place for a thousand years and the rule of creatures like you. They learn to question and debate..."

"No..." Doubt screamed, even as the skyscrapers shuddered and the clouds were torn asunder by her storm. She rushed about, trying to find Trixie, even as her words hung in the air. Doubt pressed her paw to her chest, as if afraid her heart was about to burst. "NO! DON'T YOU DARE-" She turned, eyes narrowed as she found Trixie, the real Trixie, flying just a hundred feet away.

A Trixie whose coat was shining with a metallic sheen.

"I... inspire... doubt," Trixie said slowly, a smile on her face as the magic swelled, the last of her feathers falling away from her now steel wings.

"NO!" Doubt screamed, rushing her and grabbing the mare. She slammed her into a building, her talon glowing with the heat of a hundred volcanoes.

But Trixie didn't burn.

"You said it yourself, Doubt...” the new abstract said coolly, “you are no longer an abstract. You took Discord's power and title..." Trixie grinned, despite the pain. "And now your name is up for grabs."

"THIEF!" Doubt screamed, slamming Trixie into the skyscraper again and again. "THIEF! BURGLAR! ROBBER!"

"Madmare," Faith said coldly, grabbing Doubt by her mane and yanking her away. He flicked his wings, sending bits of the molten metal from his prison flying. “Trixie… go get Twilight… time to finish this.”

“…Faith, whatever happens,” Trixie called out, a slight hitch in her voice, “I-“

Faith smiled. “I love you too.” All happiness left his features as he turned his attention to Doubt, Trixie flying down to help Twilight back up from where she had fallen. “You… and me.” Faith began to fly around the enraged spirit, ignoring her attempts to destroy him with blasts of magic. The world seemed to grow utterly peaceful around him and Faith looked upon the land that was his home. The sky was distorted and cracking like an eggshell. Fires burned and smoke rose to meet the clouds. And yet this was all like a painting to him… not a sound could be heard and there was a strange stillness in the never-ending chaos.

“You and me,” Faith repeated, the tips of his wings catching the light of the setting sun. Even with all of Doubt’s actions, the spell the Queens had cast to keep the sun and moon in motion was still in effect. It lacked to flair of Celestia and Luna… but it worked. The moon was rising, the sun was setting, and for one brief moment the world was in balance. “You and me. We’ve been dancing around each other for quite some time, Doubt. We are the cause of so much misery in each other’s lives… no… that’s not true, is it? We are the own makers of our failures.”

“You stole my name, just as your little whore did,” Doubt snarled, sending out a blast that would have ripped Faith’s heart from his chest. “Everything is your fault… everything that happened is on you!”

The lord of the gray’s eyes flashed silver and he batted it away.

“No. We could go round and round about this… I stole your name… but you made Celestia doubt in her ability to control the elements and thus allowed her to forget mine… but I would have never come to the battle if I didn’t have faith in myself… I wouldn’t have had to if other ponies didn’t doubt their strength in fighting Discord… on and on like some twisted merry-go-round. I see now, at long last, that no one is to blame but ourselves for allowing the cycle to continue. So I accept my failure and move on.

“Now… more than ever… we are the opposite sides of the same coin.” Faith hovered before her and for the first time Doubt saw that he was glowing with magic. She sent out living shadows that would prey on his fears but they shriveled up and died in the face of his determination. “Did you really think my master plan was making an army of alicorns?” When she just stared at him, Faith pointed down. “Look at them… all those ponies you tried to destroy… who you blame for things that they had no hoof in… look at them now.”

Doubt did just that.

Down below, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie, Twilight, Cadence, Celestia, Trixie and Luna were channeling their magic together, creating a great interlocking web of swirling energy. One by one, the members of the rebellion save for those mares gave up their alicorn status, smiling as the power they had wielded flowed into the web, which was then channeled into the elements of harmony that now spun about in the air. They all watched, without fear or dread, as the magic grew larger and stronger.

“Do you see them now?” Faith asked. “I gave them a gift… I showed them there was hope… and they took it and nurtured it and made it grow. They held ultimate power and realized that it didn’t change them. That they were still good and noble… and they now see that it isn’t about the type of strength you have, but the way you wield it… for good or for ill. So they took that magic and they added their own to it by simply… having faith… and they made it expand a hundredfold. I had faith they would return these gifts, just as they had faith that I would provide them with the strength to fight. And our faith has been rewarded and now that magic is being tuned to the weapons that will bring about your downfall.”

Doubt laughed.

“Is that so? You think you can fire off the elements of harmony and encase me in stone like Discord?” When Faith shrugged the mad spirit laughed. “You will never get off the shot. Even assuming Rarity and Fluttershy can find it in themselves to accept the mantles of bearers again-“ she looked down at the two mares in question and even Faith could see they had been shaken to the core by the ramifications of their actions, “-the elements won’t work. I tainted them… corrupted them… and a few kind words from Twilight Sparkle and the forgiveness of some silly fillies will not undo the damage I’ve done. The mighty Honesty forced to lie to himself… Loyalty dead and his replacement a child who is better at hero worship… Laughter gone and her replacement to silly to claim the title… Kindness is broken and Generoisty left weeping.” She threw her arms out wide. “THESE are your champions?”

“No,” Doubt heard Twilight call out. “But Faith is.”

The spirit of chaos turned, eyes widening as she saw the magic Twilight and the other alicorns gathering being sent towards Faith, surrounding him in rainbow light.

“The elements…” Faith said softly as the power flowed through him, “they seek out what is inside and bring it out. A good mare turned to darkness is returned to the light. A being of chaos with no harmony is rendered little more than stone.” Faith shut his eyes. “And one who sought redemption… finally finds it.”

The silver abstract shed a single tear as the hopes and wishes of Equestria filled his veins. Doubt watched as Faith’s body began to grow, his legs stretching out, muscle filling, until he reached the height and size he had once held when he’d first received his body… when HE had been Doubt. But instead of his coat darkening, the silver only shone brighter. His wings spread and his horn grew longer as power flowed through him.

Equestria itself had answered

For all his crimes… his misdeeds… at long last… Faith was forgiven.

“So…you want your revenge? That’s what this has been all about… getting your pound of flesh from me.” Faith eyes snapped open, a maniac gleam that made even Doubt shudder. The combined power of harmony joined with the power of faith and hope and the silver stallion laughed. “Well come on then! Take it! Have it, baby! Come and get it! YOU COME AND GET IT!”

With a primal roar, Doubt launched herself at Faith, only for the abstract to grab onto her and, with a burst of speed, launch the two of them away from Manehattan. This was no longer a battle for the city. Now... Equestria would be the stage for their final confrontation.

“Come on,” Twilight said, spreading her wings. “Are we just going to stand here and let him do it by himself?”

The rebellion, as one, hurried back towards the Abundance.

The battle for Equestria wasn’t over yet.

The Battle for Equestria Part 5

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

-Sydney Carton, A Tale of Two Cities

The Gate. It had no other name and for many such a simplistic title would have been seen as a grave insult to something so majestic and wonderful. It was a shining jewel in a world already full of amazing and awe-inspiring things. To call it the Gate was to call Canterlot a town or to call Princess Celestia a mere pony of little interest.

Of course, there were not many to know of its existence, let alone its name. The Gate was a well kept secret in Equestria, known only to a small few throughout the millennia that had passed since the first ponies had arrived on the shores of that land. None knew how it had come into being nor did they begin to comprehend how this magnificent structure truly worked. It was a riddle waiting to be unwrapped… coyly hiding its secrets till the day came that one would unlock its mysteries.

A barrier of energy, the Gate severed as both a doorway and a wall to a fantastical world so foreign to what was known by ponykind that a mere glimpse of it would have driven even the most prolific of thinkers to spend the rest of their days attempting to capture just a percentage of its scope. For the Gate led to the world of the Abstracts, they themselves a strange race created by the thoughts and dreams of living creatures. It was these ideas that flowed through the Gate, the magics within it transforming them from shapeless desire into the manifestation of thought and the representatives and inspirers of great ideals.

Of course, there were some that whispered the Gate was so much more. Rumors of other worlds and other paths had reached the princesses’ ears and they had worked hard to keep them under wraps.

Normally, the Gate was unseen, one of its first lines of defense. It would be small, as clear as a gentle breeze, and draw in the thoughts and feelings of those all throughout the land with as gentle of a touch as a mother stroke her newborn’s head. Twilight Sparkle, so connected to the abstract Faith, had felt the pull and nearly been mistakenly dragged through the Gate before her brother had broken her from her trance.

In times of need, however, when great forces and even greater desires rolled through the lands, the Gate was revealed in all its glory, so that the abstracts and the ponies to meet together in great waves and join forces against a common threat. Sharped like a half disc, it stood 20 feet tall and 30 feet across. The edges, rather than being smooth, were like the lapping waves of the sea, churning about as the glowing white magic that made up its form pulsed.

Princess Luna, upon seeing it during the first battle with Discord, when the six elements of harmony had rushed forth to heed their call, had thought it looked like the path to the Elysian Fields and nearly ran through it in hopes of being reunited with those that had been taken from them.

The Gate had been always protected by the ancient castle of the Everfree, followed by the forest itself. It had been Celestia and Luna who had enchanted the forest and filled ponies with dread about entering it... not that much dread was needed, as the ponies already feared that unnatural forest that had stood with its mysterious creatures since before the founding of Equestria.

The Gate had been a secret and a path to a fantastic world. Never had it been threatened; not even Discord had dared to attack it. He had not feared it, per say, but he had respected its strength and merely decided to find his fun elsewhere. The same was true of Nightmare Moon and so many others. All had honored the Gate and made no move against it.

But now... the madmare Doubt had commited the greatest of sins: she had dared to corrupt the Gate and was using it to bring about the end of all things.

With chaos magic so foul it turned the stomachs of even the most vile, Doubt had attacked the Gate the moment it had responded to the call of the oblivious Faith, who hadn't realized he was stepping into Doubt's trap. The spirit of chaos had lashed out with her spells and caused the very foundation of the Gate to change, disrupting its magic and turning it from a portal to another world into a churning maelstrom that devouring all in its path with a gluttonous abandon.

Even as it lashed out at the forest that had been its home and protector, the Gate called upon the abstracts and those that were connected to them, sensing the thoughts and feelings that made up their very DNA and attempting to draw them towards its maw. The ponies fought and bucked, digging their hooves into the ground in an attempt to provide themselves some form of purchase. They had no idea what was happening on the other side but their concern for the abstracts was put on hold in their fight for their own lives.

The strongest of them managed better and worked to aid the weaker. Twilight and Trixie, along with the princesses, formed a magical net that Honesty and Big Macintosh took up and began to drag away from the maw. Rainbow's horn burned so hot it threatened to explode as she pulled a screaming Scootaloo away from a lashing tendril that had nearly cut her in half; the blue mare had begun to curse as she fought to save the filly that looked up to her. Faith let out a bellow as he drove his wings into the ground, using them to drag himself inch by inch away from the vortex while also shoving Fluttershy back with his forehead, the mare sobbing in pain as the suction became almost too great.

And through it all... Doubt laughed.

"This is how it ends, Faith!" Doubt called out over the wanton destruction. She had dug in, unaffected by the pull now that she was no longer an abstract, and merely had to avoid the thrashing magic. "This is how Equestria meets its end: the very Gate that is supposed to be its protector destroys it... and you, its noble savior, were the cause of all of this. Once again... it all falls on you... your fault... only you! All you touch turns to ashes and the last thing you will know is that you killed them all!"

Faith, swallowed, shutting his eyes for a moment before he looked up at Twilight. She stared at him and for a moment the world fell away and all was forgotten. There was no Gate. There was no war. No Queens or battles or alicorns or grand speeches. It was just the two of them, alone in a void of their own making. From the moment Twilight had taken her first breath Faith had been with her… and for the silver abstract his life had only truly begun when he laid eyes on her.

Countless words passed between them in that moment. Twilight, for the first time in her existence, saw how Faith looked upon the world: a moment lasting a thousand lifetimes… and a thousand lifetimes occurring in a single blink of an eye.

She didn’t want it to end… because she knew in her heart what was to come.

“I love you all,” Faith said softly, breaking his gaze from her and letting his eyes drift to each of them, taking them all in, drinking in their visage and committing them to memory.

“FAITH!” Twilight screamed, the cry being brought up by the rest as Faith ripped his wings free from the ground and surrendered himself to the pull of the Gate. “FAITH!”

The silver alicorn twisted around, driving his left hoof down and using the push to bring himself just to the left of the Gate. He could feel the heat of the magic burning his coat and smell the cooking ozone as he rocketed towards oblivion.

But he wasn’t done… not just yet.

Doubt’s eyes widened as Faith slammed into her, his right foreleg pressed against her throat as he brought his back hooves down onto the ground, shoving the madmare with all his strength.

“Is this what you wanted?” Faith screamed as he forced Doubt to take a step back. “Life dealt you a bad hand so instead of trying to do better you want to destroy everything?!?”

“Yes,” Doubt screamed, struggling to roll Faith off of her and send him plummeting into the Gate’s deadly grasp. “A thousand times yes! I suffered and so too must the world! Everything is going to feel my pain!”

“You’re not insane,” Faith snarled as he pushed her back once more. “Calling you insane is an insult to all crazy ponies out there!” He grit his teeth and drove his foreleg harder into her neck. “You could have been wonderful. You could have taken all the bad that happened to you and used it to fuel yourself, to better yourself and become something more!”

“Like you?” Doubt snarled, grabbing onto his wings and, with a violent tug, ripped them from his back. The silver abstract screamed as they were tossed into the vortex, blood gushing from the gaping wounds. “Faith, looking down his nose at me once again! You act like it would have been so easy!”

“It was for me!” Faith shouted, despite the pain.

“I’m not you,” Doubt said, punching him in the side.

“Believe me… I see that clearly.”

Doubt reached up and grasped his horn, forcing his face towards hers, not letting his eyes break her stare. “You want some final speech to make this all come together, don’t you? Oh, the logical little thief wants to understand why I have behaved so badly.” Doubt slammed her left leg down, nearly breaking Faith’s ankle. “You want me to reveal my motivates, my desires, and what drove me to this dark path. You are looking for the piece that will make you understand me and how I could so easily seek to kill all of existence.” She leaned in close, her lips almost touching his, a tear falling from her eye. “And… perhaps… for me to see the error of my ways… to see the madness for what it is and realize just how badly I have hurt the world, your friends, and… you. You… so like me… who should have been my ally and my lover and my companion… the one I have hurt so. You seek a moment… just one… when I have the chance to wipe away all the evil I have done and be redeemed.” Doubt pressed her lips to his, rewarding him with a tender kiss.

Then… she snapped his horn from his forehead.

“Sorry,” Doubt said, Faith’s blood coating her lips as it ran down the abstract’s face. “No answers… no grand gestures… no final redemption. There are none, Faith. I just want all to suffer … end of story. End of YOUR story.”

“Not… not quite,” Faith said, battling through the pain. “One… one final chapter to go.” He gave Doubt a shove and the spirit of chaos let out a yelp when she stumbled back another few feet, the heat of the destabilized vortex burning her back. “We caused this… the Gate opened because of my power and it is destroying everything because of yours. But tell me, Doubt… what if my power isn’t there to keep it open? What if you aren’t around to continue corrupting it?”

Doubt drove her taloned hand into his side. “You… you’ll die with me, Faith!”

“I know,” Faith said, smiling as he began the final push. He saw her words for what they truly were: a final gamble by one who had suddenly seen the flaw in her plan. It was easy to want death… it was quite enough to finally face it. “Come on now, darling… now is not the time for fear… that comes-“

Faith let out a weak gurgle, eyes widening in shock. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. His mouth silently opened and closed, no words passing his lips. It wasn’t from anything Doubt had done, nor was it the power of the vortex. No… Faith had lost his breath because a noose had fallen around his neck. Doubt and him, for one moment, shared an almost comical stare before Faith was yanked away from the madmare.

Twilight, Trixie and the Princesses caught the silver abstract, holding him tight as the bleeding stallion stared in shock at the scene before him. Rarity lay at his feet, smaller now and less powerful, looking bewildered as Spike reached out and grabbed her, keeping her from being sucked into the Gate. Doubt still stood there, was still being shoved back… but now it was a crystal alicorn mare with jewel-studded wings who was pressing her back.

“Generosity?” Faith whispered, staring at the new abstract who’d taken his place.

“You were right, Spike!” the diamond-coated alicorn cried out as she shoved Doubt back, the spirit of chaos screaming in outrage. “I was being selfish… and I was keeping Rarity from you all because I didn’t want to let her go. Just like I refused to help you, dear brother, because I wanted to believe you weren’t special. I refused to see the truth… but now I do… and I know what I can give… to make all of this right.”

“Generosity!” Faith, Honesty, and Kindness cried out.

“This… this is such a lovely world, Doubt,” Generosity said, her wings flapping as she channeled every bit of her strength into moving forward. “I have only been a part of it a short time, even shorter when you think of how long my vision was clouded. But even in that short time, I have come to realize something important: ponies are better than us. Not because of their power or their strength or their intelligence… these don’t make them our betters.”

Her horn glowed, releasing a cloud-like bloom of energy, and she could hear her siblings gasp when the spell took the shape of Loyalty and Laughter… not as they had died but as they should have been. The two phantoms took a hold of Doubt’s arms and pulled them away from Generosity, allowing the mare to push the spirit of chaos closer to the Gate. For one brief moment Loyalty and Laughter looked upon the rest and smiled sadly, silently apologizing for all that had happened.

“They are better than us because despite all their limitations… they live. They live… these strange, silly, sad, wonderful lives. We’ve never lived, Doubt… neither of us. We were too busy thinking ourselves above them and making plans and playing our pathetic mind games to see we were lower than them… no more than stones under their hooves.” Generosity smiled as the tears fell. “I see now… I see why Faith chose to stay, even after he remembered. I don’t want to go either… but I have to.

“It is for this reason… for their capacity to LIVE… that I give my final gift.” Generosity took a breath before locked hard eyes with Doubt, who, for the first time since her transformation… was completely and utterly sane.

And she knew only fear.

“I give my LIFE… in trade for theirs.”

And with that, Generosity drove herself and Doubt into the Gate.

The world exploded with light and the gathered ponies slammed their eyes shut and pressed their forelegs against their faces. It was blinding and painful and hot and horrid…

…and so utterly beautiful.

Then there was a cool darkness and a gentle thrum… and they all opened their eyes to see the Gate restored, its energy stable and its magic no longer causing such wanton destruction. And from within they heard voices… a thousand voices speaking together as one. They said no words but they all understood. It was the abstracts, those without forms or bodies… wondering if they were needed. They called to Faith, the one that had made the summons, if only by accident, asking if their world was in danger.

It was Twilight who spoke at long last. “No… no… we are protected.”

A slight trill filled the air, like a happy tune played upon a flute… and the Gate disappeared, quiet once more and waiting for the time it was needed to open again.

“Is… is it over?” Apple Bloom whispered as the forest grew quiet once again.

“I think it is,” Luna said.

Overheard the cheers began to ring out, and soon all that were gathered in that clearing began to hug each other and laugh and cry. Applejack wrapped her forelegs around Big Mac, Celestia and Luna laid their heads against each others, and Cadence and Shining embraced and filled the Everfree with a pink glow of love. Up above they heard some cheers and they looked up in time to see Derpy dip the Doctor and deliver a tail-curling kiss. Flim and Flam fired off the cannons and IronWill pumped his fist and roared in delight.

Only three did not join in.

Twilight and her friends, along with Trixie and Spike, broke away from the crowd and joined Faith, Honesty and Kindness. The three abstracts, the last of their family, stood on the spot where Generosity had been, looking down at it with tears in their eyes and smiles on their lips. Their sister had died there, not as a monster but as a sane mare once more, doing as she always wanted: giving of herself.

“She always loved to make grand exits,” Faith said, laughing weakly. He didn’t resist when Kindness reached over and for the first time in a thousand years hugged him. He looked skyward and smiled. “Her spirit moves on… to join with the greatest heroes of Equestria… and now, in their grand company… she shall feel no shame.”

“Faith…” Twilight said, walking up to him. Kindness backed away and Faith looked at Twilight in confusion as she smiled… then punched him hard in the face. Before he could fall Twilight grabbed him and planted a kiss on him. “That’s for doing something so stupid!”

Trixie nodded, bumping Twilight aside and kissing the lord of the gray… then belting him as well. “And that is for kissing Doubt!”

“I didn’t want to kiss her,” Faith weakly protested.

“Sure,” Rainbow teased, hovering above him. She leaned down and summoned a cloth, which she with surprising tenderness used to begin cleaning his wounds. “We all know what dirty fantasies you stallions have.”

“What fantasies?” Faith said in genuine confusion. The others stared at him, waiting for the joke, but he just continued to look on blankly. “Why are you all staring at me like that?”

Honesty glanced at Applejack and shrugged. “He fell before I could give him that little talk.”

“What talk? What is everyone laughing about?” Faith asked, perturbed by how they all seemed to be taking great joy at his expense. Even Fluttershy was giggling… though only after Kindness leaned in and whispered a quick explanation.

“So… what now?” Spike asked as the laughter grew quiet. The others looked at him and the baby dragon shrugged. “I mean… the war is over. The Queens are gone-“ he gave all the ponies and abstracts a hard look and they all bashfully nodded, “-are gone and there is no more Doubt… unless she is ready to spring a trap on us right now!” The others jumped and Spike looked about with wide eyes, earning some curious looks from the princesses and the rest of the rebellion. “Ok… so she’s gone for good. But all those places are still destroyed and ponies are going to have questions… so what do we do now?”

The others shuffled uneasily, trying to think of something to say. Indeed, the way Spike painted it… the path before them was littered with hurdles.

Faith, his body aching, took a step forward. He’d sacrificed much of his magic and now stood at Twilight and Trixie’s height, his wings and horn torn away and needs time to grow back. The two mares stood beside him as he looked up at the trees, the sun shining down upon them as Doubt’s chaos storm was blown away.

“We honor Generosity’s final wish,” Faith said.

“And that is?” Fluttershy asked.

“We live.”

All Good Things...

"I prefer goodnight. It offers hope for a new day."

-Faith

Three Years Later...

Faith had spoken of ponies ability to develop powerful relationships. Generosity's final words had been of how they lived their lives to the fullest. While she agreed with both these assessments, Princess Celestia felt that there was another trait that separated her little ponies from the other races: their ability to overcome.

The land had been scarred and many ponies hurt, both mentally and physically, as a result of the war. For as much as they had regained they had also lost too. Cloudsdale had been destroyed. Manehattan laid in ruins. Canterlot had been deserted. The Everfree had seen an eighth of its mass removed from it, leaving a grassy field in the middle of the enchanted forest.Those that had been under the control of the Queens struggled just as much as those that had been part of the rebellion.

And still... they overcame.

Celestia smiled as she thought back on how her little ponies had come together. Even the name of the war had been debated. Those on the side of the rebellion had been split; some wanted to call it The War of Doubt, highlighting that it was the mad abstract that had caused the damage. Others suggested Faith's War, honoring the one abstract who had not fallen during the conflict. Those that had been brainwashed muttered about the War of the Five Queens and Elements' Fall.

In the end, it had been Dinky Hooves who had come up with the name: The 5 Months War. Simple, to the point, with no blame assigned. All sides had agreed, though the Princesses had heard Shining jokingly call the conflict 'The War of a Thousand Monologues'.

"Princess, are you sure you don't want to wait over there in the shade?"

"No, Scootaloo," the princess said, smiling at the pegasus filly. "I am quite fine." She took a moment to look at the orange pegasus, decked out in blue vest and cap. Scootaloo, having experienced all sides of the war, had quickly become a pony of some importance during the rebuilding. She had helped dissuade rumors and mend fences between the many different groups.

The Princess of the Sun looked upon New Cloudsdale and smiled. One of the very first projects started and the last to be completed, the cloud city had taken the tragedy of Cloudsdale and turned it into a shining victory. Ponies of all kinds had worked hard to create a new home for the pegasi that also allowed the earth ponies and the unicorns to interact more easily with their feathered brethren. Using Griffish designs, New Cloudsdale as now located on the very mountain where Twilight and her friends had dealt with a snoozing dragon. The Weather Factory still remained purely a pegasi location, but other attractions, like Wonderbolt Stadium, were now placed on the mountain, allowing other ponies to see the famous flyers.

Repairing the city had been the easy part... it was the repairing of her subjects that was difficult. Buildings could be remade and possessions returned easily enough...it was the mental scars that took time to heal and led to bitterness and pain.

The Princess sighed, thinking of how much still laid before them. Twilight's friends were still looked down upon by some of the country. There were whispers that they should have fought harder against the abstracts and thus prevented the war. It didn't matter how much it was explained to them that Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity had been victims as much as other ponies; they still wore the faces of their oppressors. Even Pinkie had caught some flack, even though she had never been a Queen.

Princess Celestia smiled slightly, remembering the pink mare's shock when she had finally ascended and become the abstract... of generosity. It seemed that the magics woven into the world saw the giggly pink pony who so longed to give parties and make others smile as being the most selfless pony in Equestria.

'The abstracts must have never seen her at a buffet table,' Celestia thought.

More shocking had been Discord's return.

"What is that dreadful music I hear?" Princess Luna said, looking around in surprise.

"Hola, Princesses!" Discord had proclaimed, popping into the throneroom with a sombrero on his head and accompanied by a full mariachi band. “I’M BACK!”

"Discord!" Princess Celestia had shouted.

"Yes, it is I! You didn't think that crazy abstract Doubt could really defeat me, did you? I am made of sterner stuff than that!" He'd flexed his arm, only to frown when it deflated like a balloon. "Ok... so she did steal my powers and left me little more than a puddle on the ground, crying out for mommy... but I have found a new role! I am no longer the spirit of chaos!" He snapped his fingers and cigars appeared in their mouths.

"Swell," Cadence had grumbled.

"What powers are those, Discord?" Celestia had said cautiously.

Discord threw his arms out, his wings turning into a crude replica of Faith's while his coat became a mix-mash of metals. "What else? I have finally achieved my dream... I am an abstract... the Abstract of Laughter!" When they all looked at him he shrugged. "What, you thought Pinkie Pie was going to get the job?" He snapped his fingers and Cadence looked at the two strapping ponies dressed in speedoes that were now rubbing against her. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

"I don't need your stallions," Cadence said sternly.

Discord frowned. "You know, I think I prefer you when you are a crazy nympho." Another snap sent them to Luna, who gave the stallions a once over.

"Discord!" Celestia shouted. "Enough of this!"

Discord sighed. "Very well." He wiggled his nose and all his creations disappeared. "I just thought I would tell you that I am going to be bouncing around, inspiring giggles and gaffs. And while it is true that I am now only semi-phenomenal and nearly cosmic, that doesn't make me a softy." He pinched the solar princess' cheek. "See ya around, Tia baby." Discord crossed his arms over his chest, and with a nod disappeared.

After that, weekly spottings of Discord had become quite common. Luckily, his pranks were little more than semi-harmless fun and several ponies had began looking forward to his jokes.

Twilight and her friends, through some good grace, had not been targets of the former spirit of chaos. Celestia had been utterly thankful for this, as all of them were dealing with enough problems on their own. The former queens weren't the only ones suffering from scorn, after all. Just as Faith had predicted, some ponies had looked upon Twilight and the rest of the rebellion in hatred, feeling that they had robbed them of peace and happiness. Luna had reported finding several cults that worshiped the Queens and Celestia knew it would take decades, if not centuries, to undo the misconceptions from those ponies minds.

While Faith had suffered little scorn, save from those that longed for the return of the queens, his brother and sister were not so lucky. In the end, after several failed attempts at helping (the last of which resulted in Faith delivering a long, rambling rant that ended with Trixie mooning those in attendance) the two elder abstracts had decided that it was wiser to just stay out of the way. Honesty had retreated to Sweet Apple Acres, while Kindness had sought sanctuary with Fluttershy, finding some peace with the animals.

Sadly, Celestia knew it would take quite a bit of time before her subjects trusted the abstracts again.

Luckily, New Cloudsdale was helping to ease all through the tensions that had arisen and offered a glimmer of hope that the day when all the wounds were healed would come much quicker. Twilight and her friends had each taken part in the crafting of New Cloudsdale, helping to shape it and making it something truly special. Ponies from Canterlot and Manehattan that had turned their noses up at the girls now whispered in the princess' ear that she HAD to get the Element of Harmony to help in the rebuilding of their cities.

Celestia was pulled from her thoughts as a shrill whistle filled the air. Standing up, she noticed for the first time that she had been joined by others: the Apple Family stood off to the side, whispering to themselves and laughing as Honesty did his best to hid his horn with the cowboy hat Applejack had gotten him. Rarity, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle and Kindness were huddled together on a bench, while Rainbow had come to join Scootaloo. Shining Armor had finally run up with Cadence, the two pleading that they had slept in and ignoring the chuckles coming from Luna. It was clear from the way the two were sweating that sleep hadn't been what kept them.

"Don't worry," Celestia said softly as The Abundance soared towards them. "You are just in time."

It took several minutes to get all of them on board. The deck was full of ponies, hurrying about to prepare the airship to take off. Almost all the former prisoners who had joined Faith and Trixie in their escape had remained on The Abundance after the war. Though none of them had ever used the word again, their actions proved that they still saw Faith as, if not their king, their leader. He had been the one to free them... and besides, the Abundance had earned quite a rep and many of them had seen their star rise by being tied to the airship that had helped save Equestria.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight called out, hurrying over to the white alicorn and giving her a hug. In the years since the war Celestia had regained her height and power much faster than Twilight, leaving the little purple alicorn looking up once more at her mentor. Truthfully, Twilight would have it no other way.

"Hello, my faithful student. How are you?"

Twilight grinned. "Very well, thank you." With practiced ease Twilight walked along the deck as the airship took off, not at all thrown by the sudden swaying.

The alicorn of the stars had decided early on in the days after the war that the Abundance would serve as a perfect base of operation for her efforts to help rebuild Equestria. Twilight had thrown herself into the grand task, partly because of her love for her country and partly because she wanted to help her friends. The crew had welcomed her and she had fit in just fine.

Celestia glanced over at Spike, who was in his larger form, laughing as he helped Iron Will adjust a sail. The minotaur and the dragon had bonded after the fall of Doubt after Spike had learned that Will had been an orphan and adopted by a pair of loving, if overly assertive, earth ponies.

"Princess Celestia," Trixie said, her horn glowing as she removed her captain's hat. Celestia looked the current abstract of doubt over. Of all the ponies to get dragged into the war, she had come out the best. The theft of Doubt’s powers had left her immortal and with the ‘great and powerful’ magic she had longed for. Luckily for all, Trixie was quite different from Doubt and her use of power helped get ponies to doubt their preconceived notions and their bigotry. Her time in prison had tempered her and allowed her to have those powers without abusing them. The Abundance was her ship and gave her a feeling of control. And after only 6 months of continued backsliding followed by hard work, Trixie and Twilight had FINALLY managed to bury the hatchet. They still snipped at each other, but each, in the end, believed they had won. Twilight was the alicorn of the stars and partner with Faith. Trixie was the abstract of doubt and as for Faith…

“Where is Faith?” Rainbow Dash called out. “Figured he of all ponies would like to make a speech.”

“Where else? He’s dealing with the current Big Bad,” Trixie said with a smirk, pointing to their cabin just as a small blue foal scrambling out of the cabin, Faith chasing after him. The baby looked behind him and began darting between legs, giggling up a storm.

“Get back here Clockwork!” Faith shouted, his coat covered in bubbles as the naked little colt squealed and ran about the deck. The metallic blue foal’s black-and-white mane was full of bubbles and his mouth was open in a wide smile as he darted under Princess Luna’s legs and made for Twilight. “Don’t even think about going to her for help!” Faith said sternly.

Clockwork blinked before looking at Trixie.

“Not mama either,” Faith said sternly, using his magic to lift up his son and march him back towards the cabin. “Messy foals need to finish their baths before they can meet our friends!” Clockwork looked at the others and, when he thought his daddy wasn’t looking, made a silly face.

Honesty cocked an eyebrow as Faith marched away. “You know… I remember him doing that a few times… so wonderful to see him seeing how annoying it is.” That earned a snort from Kindness.

Celestia smiled as she watched the group join in laughter. Later that night there would a moment of silence for those lost and quiet reflection on the events now three years gone. But for now, they were able to joke and smile and enjoy the swaying of the Abundance.

There was still work ahead of them and many fences to mend, but as Celestia looked out at all the ponies gathered before her, she felt something stir within her. Not faith… not doubt.

Hope.

End of Volume 2

The Abundance
Cast
Twilight Sparkle: Tara Strong
Applejack and Rainbow Dash, : Ashleigh Ball
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy: Andrea Libman
Rarity and Princess Luna: Tabitha St. Germain
Spike: Cathy Weseluck
Princess Celestia: Nicole Oliver
Shining Armor: Andrew Francis
Princess Cadence: Britt McKillip
Trixie: Kathleen Barr
Faith: Tom Hardy
Doubt: Cate Blanchet
Laughter: Arleen Sorkin
Loyalty: Nathan Fillion
Honesty: John Rhys Davis
Generosity: Keri Russell
Kindness: Kristen Bell
Scootaloo: Madeleine Peters
Applebloom: Michelle Creber
Sweetie Belle: Clare Corlett

“Why are we here, sister?” Luna asked, following after Celestia. The white alicorn ducked under a low branch, her horn glowing to light the way as she walked down the faint path. It was one she knew all too well, though it had been many, many years since she had taken it. The destination, though, was one she knew all too well.

The Gate.

“It has remained silent,” Luna stated calmly, noticing how Celestia eyed the spot where the Gate stood, invisible to even their eyes. “There has been no sign… no reaction… nothing.”

“I know,” Celestia said gently. “I just-“

“AARRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!”

Celestia and Luna leapt away as the air shimmered and, seemingly from no where, a beast burst out, looking around with wild eyes. He was a horrific mix of stone and water given life; the black rock that formed his bones was not hidden by the water that served as his skin, allowing the sisters to see the clicking of his jaw and the flexing of his spine as he looked about, his movements erratic. His eyes held the fury of a hurricane and he looked about as if expecting an attack.

Then he looked upon them.

“Celestia?” the beast whispered in confusion. “Luna?”

The waters stilled and the stone disappeared as gray fur and green scales rapidly reformed, covering the beast’s odd form and leaving him looking decidedly more natural. The Princesses stared as he looked at them with wide eyes before collapsing in a heap.

They knew this beast well… after all, they had been at his side when he had died over a thousand years ago.

“FATHER!” Luna screamed, racing to the capricorn’s side. Celestia tried to stop her, knowing it must be some trick, but Luna would not be held back, the sight of the old goat that had raised her and her sister as his own causing her heart to flutter and tears to blur her vision. “Father….” She whimpered, laying down beside him and stroking the green tuffs of hair on his head.

“He’s… he’s coming…” he whispered. His eyes were wild and filled with fear as he rambled on. Never had the Princesses seen him so scared. Fear was a foreign concept to him. “The Gate has changed… he knows… tried to hold him back… he has broken through paradise and now… the fires of hell are his to command and he will burn us all!” He saw Celestia and grabbed her foreleg, pleading. “He’s coming!

“Who?” Celestia asked. “Who is-“

“You think this country is yours,” a voice said all around them. “You believe it your birthright… that it is something you deserve, for it was passed down to you by your fathers, and their fathers, and their father’s fathers. You tell your little tales of Hearth’s Warming and none dispute your claim. You are the masters of this land and always have been.

“ This… is a lie. A fairytale told by usurpers and thieves to justify their crimes. They have swept the truth away and rewritten history to make your kind the heroes. Enjoy these last few days of harmony… for we have returned… to take back what is MINE.”

And Introducing

Lord Tydal: Keith David
Speaker Beyond the Gate: Benedict Cumberbatch

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”

Volume 3
The Should-Have-Been-King

The battle for Equestria Part 4

“The fate of unborn millions will now depend… on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die!” –George Washington

"Brace yourselves!" Flim shouted, racing towards one of the riggings and quickly clamping his teeth around a large spool of rope. The Abundance rocked violently, Iron Will twisting the wheel with as his strength. It was only his quick action that kept the airship from doing a barrel roll and tossing all the ponies that were stationed on its deck into the air.

"What the hay is goin' on?" Applejack shouted, letting go of the three crusaders. When Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had surrendered their alicorn magic back to Faith, they had been delighted to find that the age magic the Queens had used also left them, leaving the two once more as fillies. Scootaloo, of course, was thrilled to see that she remained an abstract AND her cutie mark was still on her flank, but the chance to be her right age again had thrilled her.

Now, however, being pitched about on the deck of the Abundance... she kinda wished she still had her adult wings.

"Turbulence," Rainbow Dash said, flying up to one of the masts and helping Spitfire secure one of the solar sail's riggings. "You'll get use to it once you do a bit more flying!"

"Felt like a skyquake!" Applejack complained, shooing the crusaders to Big Macintosh who took them down below (though not without a few groans from the girls). "Think I'd rather stick to the land, thank ya!"

"That was no ordinary turbulence, Applejack," Celestia said, narrowing her eyes. For a moment her pupils and irises went white as she looked at Equestria from the sun's point of view, Luna joining her as the two bodies fought to drive back the chaos storm Doubt had unleashed overhead. "Hmmm... I am not surprised you did not realize what that was, Rainbow Dash. Except for one time you have always been at the center of a rainboom and not near it."

"That was a rainboom?" Twilight said in shock. "But... I've never felt-"

Luna pulled herself from her lunar gaze. "Faith and Doubt are performing feats that go beyond anything even my sister and I have tried. I dare say they do not realize that their battle is causing such actions."

Shining Armor's face was grim, one foreleg wrapped around Cadence. "Are you saying there is nothing we can do?"

"No, my little pony," Celestia said her tone soft even as her face remained grim and hard, like some ancient dragon awaken from her slumber to find thieves upon the threshold. "Even the tiniest of pebbles can start an avalanche. I have abandoned too many in my long life and I will never do that again. Even if all we can offer are our lives I for one will do so."

"How soon till we reach them?" Luna called out.

"It is hard to say," Trixie said, her steel wings held tight to her metallic sides. "They keep... changing direction."

"Changing direction?" Rainbow called out, hurrying back down to the deck just as Flam engaged the thrusters and sent the airship rocketing across the sky towards the source of the turbulance.

Trixie nodded. "It looks like Doubt has decided to take all of Equestria down with her."

~Appleloosa~

Faith landed in the middle of a dust storm, his eyes stinging as the tiny grains struck and left him half blind. He could sense the buffalo herd a few miles to his right, huddling together in fear. They had known peace and harmony for several months until, like a rope cut by a sudden slash, reality had crashed down upon them and their free will had been returned. They had been horrified by what had been taken from them and rage, sadness, and longing filled their hearts.

Now, however, they felt only fear.

Faith leapt towards them, his horn glowing as he sent out little orbs of magic into the storm, the balls caught in the wind and joining with the grains of sand as Faith landed before the herd, wings spread and eyes narrowed.

Doubt stood before him, cackling as she lifted up several buffalo and with a thought turned them to stone before sending them at Faith. The alicorn caught them, careful not to even chip a piece from them, before sending a wave a light their way that restored the creatures to normal.

"I am one of the Elements," Faith said coolly. "It was my power the rendered Discord stone. It is my power that can undo such magic."

Doubt slammed her fist down and the buffalo cried out in horror as the corpses of their long departed mothers and fathers rose from their graves, their dried out flesh clinging to their bones, which had been polished smooth by the shifting sands. "You are the master of faith... of goodness. If you are so powerful... bring these poor creatures to life once more." Doubt leaned in, stroking one of the zombies, before shoving it towards a sobbing calf.

"There are some things even faith can not do," Faith said, getting between the calf and the corpse. He rose up and his voice boomed out from all corners of the desert. "But these buffalo can have faith that these abominations are not the ones they love!" His horn glowed as the herd gasped as ghostly forms of their departed loved ones appeared in the sky, smiling down upon them. "Those they care about are waiting for them and they will be together again. These falsehoods you created are affronts to those they lost..." The tribe let out yells, their fear forgotten as they felt strength flood their hearts, "...and they will do what they must to defeat them."

Doubt watched on, lobbing lazy blasts of magic at Faith as her zombies and the herd attacked each other. "You fight so hard, Faith, but even you must see that your cause is worthless and doomed to fail." She spread her arms wide, the land shifted and open graves appearing, threatening to swallow the buffalo whole. "What is life but madness and chaos? We are but pain collectors hurtling towards oblivion! What you call stability I call the delusions of those unwilling to open their eyes and see that the only way to survive it to let yourself be free and-"

The spirit of chaos paused, a trickle of blood rolling down her forehead. She reached up to touch the wound, only to find her hand covered in little cuts as well.

Faith smirked, watching as the balls of magic he had sent out exploded, pressing the sand grains together and superheating them into flying bits of glass. The winds picked up these projectiles and sent them tearing through Doubt, the madmare stumbling back as she was slowly cut apart.

"That is the mistake you make, Doubt. You look at the world and see chaos. I look at chaos and see the order hidden within."

The spirit screamed spreading her wings as she forced the storm back.

"Come on, crazy lady... come and get me."

And with that, Faith performed another rainboom, rocketing away from Appleloosa with Doubt fast on his hooves.

~MC~MC~MC~

"So... here you are."

Rarity looked up, blinking her eyes as they tried to adjust to the sudden light that invaded her hiding spot. She had slipped away from the others once they had boarded the ship and found a small unused cabin to claim as her own. She hadn't even bothered to crawl onto the bed, feeling that it was too good for her, and instead had chosen to simply curl up in a corner.

Through her mind the last few months had played like a horror film. She saw herself taking control of ponies' minds. She watched as she gave the command to have prisoners tortured, figuring that if she was giving pain she was still being generous. She watched as her friends slowly drifted apart, becoming mockeries of themselves, and all the while she continued to justify herself.

It was worse than the battle with Discord. At least there she could blame the chaos god for her actions and look upon the horrible parody of herself and accept that it was the polar opposite of herself. But this... this was all her worst traits, amplified and magnified till they had overwhelmed her. She saw not a cruel parody of herself but her own dark desires and wished finally brought to the forefront. It frightened her and left her a sobbing wreck.

And now she had been found by the last being she wanted to see.

"Go away, Spike," Rarity whimpered, hiccupping slightly.

"No," the baby dragon said firmly. "We are getting ready to fight Doubt and we need all the help we can get." The baby dragon shut the door behind him, leaving Rarity in the cool darkness, save for Spike's glowing eyes. Those slits seemed to pierce her soul and it took all her strength not to scream in terror.

"I... I can't help you. Neither of us can." Rarity stroked her tail, lips trembling. "Generosity and I d-deserve each other. Just... just let us stay here and-"

The alicorn let out a yelp as a pair of large, strong hands grabbed her and forced her to her hooves. Her horn glowed, her magic flaring up purely on instinct, and the mare gasped at Spike's appearance. Rarity, still bonded to the abstract, stood as tall as Celestia once had and had the same regal beauty of the princess, even if it was marred by her tears. But Spike dwarfed her, forced to crouch in order to fit his bulk in the cabin. His snout had grown longer and was filled with razor sharp teeth and his chest had become broad and as solid of a diamond. His arms and legs rippled with muscles and his mighty tail thrashed in agitation as he looked at her in annoyance.

"Who are you?" Spike snapped, his deep baritone making Rarity tremble.

"Spikey-Wikey?" Rarity murmured.

"No, you aren't me. Who are you?"

"I don't-"

Spike shook her. "Who are you?"

"Rarity!" the mare cried out. "I am Rarity... Queen Rarity... Rarity the fool and Rarity the monster and-"

Spike's taloned-hand covered her mouth, forcing her to be silent. "You are the Spirit of Generosity and its beater. You are Generosity and Rarity. And yet," Spike leaned in close, smoke slinking out of his nostrils, "right now I have never met someone so greedy."

"What?" Rarity whimpered.

"I am a dragon and I think you are greedy," Spike said, ignoring her question. "Do you get that? I only have this body because I want it and my greed makes me get bigger. I can't help being greedy... I'm a dragon. It's my nature. But I've learned to control it. So explain to me how somepony who is suppose to be the most generous in the world could be so greedy."

"I... I made mistakes... I let myself go blind with my desires and I thought-"

"I'm not talking about your time as a Queen. I could care less about that. You were tricked by Doubt and in my book you are in the same boat as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo." Rarity let out a wail as the memory of her sister's terrified face right before the Queens had pumped her full of magic flooded her vision. Spike shook her, forcing her out of the memory before in consumed him. "I am talking about right now, at this very moment, you are being selfish."

"I... I don't-"

"You made a mess. You made a horrible mistake and yes, you are going to have to eat some humble pie... and not the kind that Pinkie made 6 months back." Rarity choked back a laugh at that, remembering well that disaster. She sobered with Spike's next words. "But what are you doing right now? You are hiding and crying and throwing yourself a pity party." Rarity opened her mouth but the dragon steamrolled ahead. "You know what you should be doing? You should be throwing yourself in head first, working your hardest to make up for your mistakes! We are still in a war, a war you helped make even if Doubt tricked you... and we could use every horn and every bit of magic we could get.

"But instead of giving us the help you need, you sit in here and cry. That is being greedy, Rarity; that is being selfish." Spike stood up, his height and muscles condensing down until he was his small self again. "The Rarity I know and... care about... would not wallow. She would give everything she had to make things right."

~Canterlot~

Faith grunted in pain as Doubt kicked him through the roof of Canterlot Castle, sending him crashing into Celestia's throne room. The madmare landed and snapped her fingers, the stain glass windows coming to live. Glass versions of the bearers and Discord and Nightmare Moon all rushed Faith, striking his with their sharp limbs and drawing blood. The abstract fought back, shattering those he could, even as Doubt summoned two swords, one golden like the sun and the other a pale silver like the moon, and began to come at him, swinging away.

"Look at you Faith, wasted and gasping for air." Doubt's voice changed, mimicking his own cadence and pitch. "But you don't get to go yet. When Equestria is ashes... then you have my permission to die." Doubt lunged forward, the swords charged with magic as they drove into his wings, shattering the silver appendages and sending Faith to his knees. "I have been waiting a long time to say that."

"Bully... for you," Faith grunted, struggling to fear himself.

"You can't win, Faith. The natural order is chaos, not order. Every creature and every system falls to chaos... that is the way of the world. I proved that... I brought harmony to Equestria and it only bred the chaos that allowed me to claim my true power and have my ultimate revenge!" Doubt twisted the blades and Faith cried out in agony. “I gave them your precious harmony… and they happily sold it away for a moment of CHAOS!”

Faith’s horn exploded with magic, throwing Doubt off him. The spirit of chaos groaned, trying to get to her feet, only for Faith to pounce on her, slashing at her with his wings. “You don’t GET IT!” he roared. “None of you do… not my brothers and sisters, not my friends… none of you.” Faith whipped around and nearly slit Doubt’s throat. “What you created was not harmony, Doubt. It was stability… order. Something that is needed in the world but not to the degree my brothers and sisters brought forth.” Faith’s wings gleamed, droplets of blood rolling along their edges, before he lashed out again. “Perhaps a demonstration is need.

“Let us say my wings, cutting into your weak, soft flesh, represent order. You set up rules and laws to have stability but you can’t live solely on those. Life was meant to have some turns and twists… a joke with a surprise punchline, a gift given purely because you wanted to. Sometimes yes, you need chaos.”

Faith turned his head and sent a blast of magic at Celestia’s throne, lifting it up and bringing it towards him. The great stone chair hung in the air for a moment and he paused to give Doubt a cruel smile.

“This bloody throne will be representing chaos in our demonstration!”

He slammed the stone chair into Doubt again and again, crushing her limbs and bludgeoning her head till the tiles ran red with her blood. The entire time he did not stop watching, did not stop gazing at her features. Again and again he drove the stone into her body, cracking bodies and turning limbs into jelly.

Doubt, her wounds already healing, grabbing the throne and snapped it in half before wrappingher taloned hand around Faith’s throne and rocketing them out of the castle.

~The Everfree Forest~

Faith and Doubt landed in a heap just outside the crumbling walls of the Castle of the Alicorn Sisters. The abstract rolled his shoulders, trying to get his wings to work. Doubt had nearly ripped one of them out during their flight and it was twitching weird every time he tried-

The silver abstract screamed as Doubt sent a blast of lightning through him.

“And we come to it at last… the final moments of the great and arrogant Faith,” Doubt said, spitting a wad of blood out as she spoke. Her body was lined with scars and the left side of her face was slowly trying to regrow portions of her skull. “It ends as it began… with you all alone, facing a power you do not understand.”

“Understand?” Faith said, fighting the urge to close his eyes. Somewhere over Los Pegasus Doubt had gotten a hold of his horn and left several deep cracks in it. The headache left him seeing double and his balance was wonky as he focused his health magic on his wings and shattered rips, as well as the multitude of wounds Doubt had littered upon his chest during their battle in Canterlot. “It… it is you that doesn’t understand,” Faith said, his tongue feeling fat in his mouth. “You don’t understand what I want… and don’t understand how I function.

“I was ready to die after what Laughter did to me. I was ready to end it all. But then I remembered something, Doubt… I remembered something I had forgotten, something so utterly important that it dwarfs the search for my name.

“I remember what I have FAITH in.”

“And what is that?” Doubt said mockingly.

“Ponies,” Faith said as the Abundance came into view overhead, the alicorns and the bearers and the rebellion and the abstracts leapt down, standing behind Faith as he glared at Doubt. The madmare looked at them with wide eyes, surprised they were there, surprised they had come to face death with Faith. “I have lived over a thousand years… and in that time I saw quite a few things, but I always longed to see the impossible. I wanted to see something that should not be occur. It was a desire of mine, selfish perhaps, but something I wanted to see nonetheless.

“And then… and then I met six special ponies… who, despite all their differences and the unlikelihood of them EVER even knowing each other… somehow… someway… they became the best of friends.” Faith spared a glance behind him, a tear falling down his cheek and a smile on his face as he watched Rarity… the last of them… emerge from the crowd and stand with Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. He turned back to Doubt and took a step forward, energy pouring off of him as he spoke. “And again and again, when their differences should have torn them apart… they found a way to make up and continue to be friends… and their bond became stronger. This… this capacity for love… it flew in the face of all the bitter thoughts I had come to known during my journey. I had seen so much anger and bitterness… and yet here they were. It wasn’t supposed to be like this… it was…

“Impossible.”

Faith threw back his head as Twilight and her friends’ horns glowed, the elements of harmony appearing before them. The golden pieces shifted before placing themselves on them. The girls, as one, took a step forward, standing with Faith, the elements flashing as they formed golden armor around him, each piece bearing one of their cutie marks.

“And that’s when I realized… they weren’t the exception. They were the rule. Despite everything that happens, the ponies of this land will always find the magic of friendship and love… again and again.” The rest of the group step forward, creating a great wall of solidarity. Princesses stood next to farmers and dragons and minotours locked arms together as they faced down Doubt. “This… is what I have faith in.”

“Good,” Doubt said, turning her head and snapping her fingers.

Twilight’s eyes widened as a sensation… a sensation of being pulled away… filled her. It was one she had felt in the Everfree, only a couple weeks ago… and now it was growing stronger.

“Then you can all die together,” Doubt said as a massive portal of pure magic formed behind her.

“What… what is that?” Fluttershy whispered.

It was Celestia who answered, fear coloring her words.

“That… is The Gate.”

“The Gate? The Gate to what?” Rainbow said, before crying out when Scootaloo, against her will, was dragged towards the swirling vortex. She moved to grab her, only to let out a yelp as she found herself being dragged forward as well. She glanced at Twilight, eyes wide as the alicorn of the stars became transparent for a moment.

“To world of the Abstracts,” Doubt laughed as the Faith, Honesty, Kindness, Rarity/Generosity, Trixie, Scootaloo, and the bearers fought against the pull. “I must thank you, Faith… the gate could only be opened when enough power had been gathered. The stupid little failsafe our kind created to prevent the ponies from invading… that kept you locked out… it would only come crashing down when there was a big enough presence of abstract power on this side… a sign of fellow abstracts, ready to go home.” She smiled in awe as the magic of the portal lashed out, disintegrating the Castle of the Alicorn Sisters with a single blast. “I needed you to gain power, Faith, or for me. It didn’t matter which of us. All that mattered was the power. It doesn’t matter now, though… the door has been opened…” Doubt fired several blasts of magic at the gateway and it trembled, the power fluctuating. “And now I’m going blow it to hell… and all of us with it... pony and abstract alike, destroyed in one-” she fired off a ball of energy, “-fell-“ another, “-swoop!”

Doubt cackled as she fired wave after wave of chaos magic into the gateway… which began to violently destroy the Everfree.

"This isn't revenge, Faith... this is genocide." Doubt rolled her shoulders and sent another blast out, the portal lashing out and taking down a grove of trees, reducing them to dust. "And you get a front row seat!"

Death of a Dream

"Are you the dreamer, or merely part of someone else's dream?"

- Tweedle Dee, Through the Looking-Glass

Manehattan

Fluttershy paced back and forth, chewing on her lip anxiously. Her sudden case of nerves had nothing to do with where she was, which was quite shocked due to the fact that under any other set of circumstances she would have been huddled in a corner, whimpering. Rarity had chosen a truly magnificent penthouse for her base of operations. There was a tub big enough for 10 grown alicorns, a lounge with 5,000 bit furniture and some of Equestria's greatest examples of modern art decorating the walls. The bed had a mattress that made everyone sleepy by just looking at it and a thread coat that was in the quadruple digits.

The penthouse was also on the 134th story of Gallop Tower with a view of the entire city. The balcony hung out over the edge and even for Fluttershy, a pony born with wing, it was a dizzying height that would have left her trembling under normal circumstances.

But the yellow alicorn had other things on her mind, things that drove away her fear and left her more pressing issues to dominate her mindscape.

"You are sure?" Fluttershy asked.

Angel Bunny nodded, nose twitched as he let out a series of quick squeaks.

"Fluttershy, is everything alright?" Rarity asked, trotting into the room.

"Oh!" the buttercream mare exclaimed, leaping up a few inches off the group in surprise. "Rarity... you startled me."

"I am sorry, my dear!" Rarity said, patting her on the back. "I like to give out many things but frights are not one of them!" She flashed her friend a smile before trotting towards the couch, oozing onto it like syrup onto a flapjack. "And hello to you two, Angel! Would you like some carrot cake? I can have the chef make one up.”

The bunny just glared at her before hopping towards the door, sending Fluttershy a meaningful stare before making his leave. Rarity watched all this with a semi-amused expression.

"I still do not understand why you do not let us work our magic on that ill mannered cotton tail,” she said the moment Angel was out of earshot. “He would be much kinder to you.”

Fluttershy shook her head. "Oh, you just don't understand Angel Bunny like I do... he is very kind... in his own way." She smiled at Rarity. “Oh yes… very kind.”

"I'm sure," Rarity said dryly. "So, what did your spymaster tell you?"

The yellow alicorn frowned, running her tongue over her teeth. "I wish you wouldn't call him that... I hate to think of my sweet Angel as a 'spy'."

"But that is exactly what he is, my dear... he and all the animals are your spies, keeping tabs on ponies to make sure they behave themselves and don’t cause problems for the innocent. It isn't right to deny it... you'd have Applejack in a fit." Rarity's horn lit up and she grabbed a magazine from the table, flipping through it. "Lucky for you our dear Applejack isn't around."

"Yes... lucky," Fluttershy said.

"You know, perhaps we should visit her and make sure she is ok... I know she asked for some space to deal with her family and get them on our side, but I haven't heard from her in so long and it makes me worry so.” She shook her head sadly. “It isn’t right that were spend so much time apart. If it weren’t for that dreadful beast Doubt coming into Canterlot and causing you problems, you and I would have never seen each other. I suppose that is one thing to thank him for but still…” Rarity trailed off, turning the page in her magazine. “We are best friends, aren’t we? The six of us are so close… but we are all separated. Doubt corrupted Rainbow Dash and Twilight… and then there is Pinkie…” Rarity shifted. “I don’t mean to sound unkind but there is something a touch off about her, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Maybe,” Fluttershy said quietly, wishing Rarity would just stop talking and let her leave.

“But that is no excuse… and Applejack also being in the wind? It just isn’t right.” Rarity tossed her magazine aside and stood up. “The rebellion has been awfully quiet and with Cadence now behaving herself and growing warm to our view of things we could stand to take a few hours off. We could go find Applejack and make sure she is ok! A quick peek..."

"I don't think that is a good idea," Fluttershy said gently. "Applejack likes her space and it would be rude of us to intrude, especially if she asked us to leave her be. I wouldn’t want to upset her… she asked to talk to her family by herself and you know how stubborn Apples can be…"

"Of course you are right," Rarity sighed. "Still, I can't help but worry..." She licked her lips, giving Fluttershy a look of concern. "Angel didn't bring bad news, did he?"

"Oh... uh... yes, and by that I mean no... but also yes..."

"Fluttershy, you are speaking in riddles."

"He came to tell me there was no news," she said, puffing out her chest a bit. "Which is good, because it means the rebellion isn’t doing anything bad, but it is also bad because we don't know if they are secretly planning something. So it is good and bad… it is good and that isn’t bad… but it is bad and that’s not good…right?"

"Ah, yes, I see what you mean... that is a rather thorny rose." Rarity smiled, stretching like a cat. "Do not worry, I am sure Angel will bring back something for you soon enough... then we can give the rebellion exactly what they deserve."

"Of course," Fluttershy said quickly.

Returning her attention to her magazine, Rarity failed to notice Fluttershy head into the guest bedroom... and use her magic to teleport away.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Faith, stop!" Clyde exclaimed, straining to hold the enraged stallion back. Cadence had managed to jump out of the way of Faith's first tackle, but the second sent had sent her sprawling on the ground. It had only been the quick thinking of Clyde that had kept the silver alicorn from cutting the pink princess into ribbons with his metal wings. "Faith, we are not your enemy!" The farmer struggled, the alicorn struggling to break free and attack Cadence.

The lord of the gray snarled at Clyde’s attempt to calm him. "I don't who you are but I will not let that monster near my family!" He reared back, his eyes flashing, and when he and Clyde spun around the farmer was startled by the sight: Trixie no longer looked like Trixie. Oh, there were elements of the mare, like the white hair and her shimmering eyes... but her coat was purple and her mane was cut in a simple but recognizable style.

"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" Apple Bloom said in confusion, rubbing her eyes.

Granny Smith nodded as she helped Cadence asked. "I saw it do, little miss! Trixie there done body swapped or… somethin’."

Pinkie leapt at Faith, wrapping her body around his head, a huge grin on her face. "We are in Faith's mind so of course his visions are going to be the strongest!"

"That doesn't explain why Trixie looks like Twilight," Sue stated, pushing Inkie and Blinkie away from the warring stallions, wishing Pinkie would stop face-hugging Faith. "Or Twilight looks like Trixie... or the two of them are merged, or-"

"Doesn't it?" Inkie asked. “If he loves them both…”

“Have his cake and eat it too,” Blinkie finished.

“There’s cake?” Pinkie asked. “WHOA!” Faith began to buck. “Nevermind, cake will have to wait!”

"You will not hurt them!" Faith roared, reminding them all that they had bigger concerned. His horn glowed and Pinke was forced to slip down to avoid the blasts.

"Faith!" Cadence shouted, bravely approaching the bucking stallion as he tried to dislodge Clyde and Pinkie. She could feel the magic pouring off of him and she ignored the tingle in the back of her head the warned her that dying here might kill her in the real world. She saw the rage and the terror in Faith’s eyes and knew there was only one way she could snap him out of it. "Doubt is crazy."

The silver alicorn froze.

"That's right," Cadence said gently, speaking low and softly like she was addressing an injured dog. Faith stood a still as stone, staring at her in confusion. "Doubt didn't like being called crazy... it made her go nuts. And yet I am saying it... crazy, crazy, crazy. She is nuts, pyscho, mad..." Cadence took another step forward. “Am I acting like Doubt? Do I feel like Doubt? If you close your eyes would you think I was Doubt?”

Faith panted like he had just ran a marathon and Trixie (who returned to her normal colors), took a few steps forward, their son peaking at the newcomers from the safety of her back. "Faith..." Trixie said quietly, looking as shellshocked as him, "I think it’s really her."

"It... it can't be," Faith said, his voice strained. "I... I watched her take your body..."

"And she still has it," Cadence said, using her magic to fully free Pinkie from his face. She took another step forward, her nose grazing Faith's. Clyde slowly eased up his grip. "You need to focus... your brain is muddled and you are not thinking clearly" Faith shook his head but when he opened his eyes Cadence was still standing there, looking at him with the same bright eyes. "Faith, how did you get here?"

"What?"

"How did you get here? How did you and..." Cadence glanced at 'Trixie', who was once more looking like a blend of Twilight and herself. "...Trixie get here? How did you end up in this meadow?"

Faith's brow scrunched up. "I... I don't..."

"What is this place? I've never seen a meadow so beautiful... what city is it near?" Faith opened his mouth but Cadence just kept pressing him. "How long have you been here? When are you leaving? Where are you going after you leave? Where did you come from?"

"I... I don't know," Faith whispered, the sky cracking apart and clouds exploding into a fine mist. "I... there was Laughter... Laughter..." his jaw clenched in anger. "She tricked us... trapped us..." the grass began to soar up into the sky like fireworks and the mountains that surrounded them melted into puddles. "This... this isn't real... none of it is- no." Faith rushed towards Trixie. "NO!"

Trixie turned, letting out a scream as her dream child flicked in and out of existence. The foal didn't act scared though, still curled up on her back, gumming his little hoof, staring at his parents as they cried out. Trixie tried to grasp him with her magic, only to find he had no real solid form to hold onto.

"Nononononono!" Trixie wailed, desperately trying to take hold of her fading baby. "Don't go... please don't..." She turned wild eyes to Faith, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Please...”

"I… I…” Faith froze up, staring at Trixie’s back.

His son let out a little yawn… before fading away.

The blue unicorn let out a wail that pierced the sky and made the earth tremble. The others were shaken by the sheer pain of the scream, their hearts feeling as if they had been ripped from their chests as Trixie broke down in sobs. Faith stood dumbfounded, staring at her back as if he expected the little foal to pop back into existence at any moment.

Pinkie slowly fluttered over to the silver abstract, patting him on the shoulder. "You ok?" She knew it was a stupid question to ask and she felt such self-loathing the moment the words left her mouth… but she didn’t know what else to say.

"No," Faith said softly, his head lowered to the ground. All around him the meadow was being torn to shreds, its matter becoming a swirl cosmos that represented his chaotic mind, freed finally from Laughter's grasp.

"Faith..." Clyde began, only to find himself tongue tied. This wasn’t what they had expected… what any of them had expected. A battle, a war, a fight to the death… all of that would have been better than this.

"He... he wasn’t real," Cadence said, breaking the silence. Faith turned towards her, utter pain written on his face. Behind him Trixie still cried, ignoring Sue and the sisters as they tried to offer her comfort. "The foal... he's just an illusion.. one of Laughter’s tricks."

Faith squeezed his eyes shut and salt water fell from the heavens. He stared at Cadence and, with five little words, destroyed any other comment any of the group had.

"He was real to me."

Tears fell from Faith’s eyes as the world went to hell around him. Cadence hurried over and hugged him, letting the broken abstract sob on her shoulder.

“He was real to me.”