What Might Have Been

Chapters

Prologue: A Deal with the Devil
Chapter 1: To Crash a Party
Chapter 2: Of Fire and Magic
Chapter 3: A Secret Revealed
Chapter 4: The Twofold Path
Chapter 5: The End of The Beginning
Chapter 6: A Use for a Stone
Chapter 7: The Forest For The Trees - Part 1
Chapter 8: To Crash a Secret
Chapter 9: The Forest For The Trees - Part 2
Chapter 10: Tricks of The Light
Chapter 11: The Song...
Chapter 12: ...And The Serpent
Chapter 13: How to Cross Bridges
Chapter 14: All at Once
Chapter 15: Through a Mirror Darkly
Chapter 16: The Beginning of The Beginning

Prologue: A Deal with the Devil

Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all associated characters, settings and stories do not belong to me. They are the rightful subjects of Hasbro, the HUB, and the almighty alicorn empress, Lauren Faust.

Prologue: A Deal with the Devil

With steely eyes, Twilight Sparkle searched the bookshelf before her. If she put enough power into her stare she was sure she would be able to make the desired tome leap out at her. But the count of seconds rose steadily and with it, the purple unicorn's frustration.

“Ugh! Spike! Have you seen my copy of Max Trotmark's The Hierarchy of the Hypothetical Multiverse?”

From down in the library's main room the voice of one overworked dragon called back. “You got it down last night after that letter from Princess Celestia arrived. It's down here on your desk where you left it.”

“Oh, well why didn't you tell me that before I went looking for it?” Twilight responded, irritation creeping into her voice. As she came down the stairs she saw that Spike had set up everything at her desk; he really was her number one assistant.

“I'm not psychic you know. You actually have to tell me that you're looking for something before I can find it for you.”

“I'm sorry, Spike; I guess I'm just a little nervous about this new assignment. Even I haven't heard of algebraic topology and metrization of locally infinite dimensional manifolds.” The librarian paused at that, never having said the whole thing out loud before. “Blug, what a mouth-full!”

“You could say that again,” Spike grumbled

“Not if I can help it, Spike. Now, would you please start some water for tea? I have a feeling I'm going to be here awhile.”

“Sure thing, Twilight, just promise me that you won't go overboard with this.”

“I promise, Spike,” the unicorn chuckled. Turning to her book she lit her horn, and began to read:

“The idea of universes other than our own is both a fascinating fantasy and a deep and mysterious philosophy, but at root it can be broken down into four levels. The first is the simple idea that our universe is spatially infinite in all directions and has no edge. The second, allows the universe to have boundaries and exist as a single bubble in an infinite bathtub of other universes. The third admits that each and every possibility that ever could have come to pass exists as its own separate continuity of reality, and the fourth states that any mathematical construct possible describes not just an idea, but a reality in and of itself.

The consequences of all this will be discussed in-depth later in this book but for now, dear reader, it is important that you understand two things: first, that the probability that none of the above theories reflect reality is exceedingly low; a multiverse almost certainly exists in one form or another. And second, that in any such multiverse there could be ponies very much like you and me. They could be living lives almost identical to our own, different in only the most subtle detail, or strange beyond imagining, resembling nothing we would count as familiar.”

Twilight looked up from her reading. “I thought this was supposed to be a science book! Ponies in other universes, living lives almost identical to our own? What nonsense!”

Little did she know that across a gulf of unimaginable space and time, that is exactly what was happening.

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

With tear-filled eyes, an alicorn princess gazed in horror at the sky over what she had just done. The Elements of Harmony lay scattered around her, slowly petrifying as they lost their power. They were not meant to be used to harm friends, or sisters. The princess however, took no notice of this as she wept, the last few terrible moments replaying endlessly in her mind.

I didn’t have a choice, she told herself, it was the only way to make her stop. I have a duty to my subjects; to protect them from danger, no matter what. But these excuses did worse than comfort her. They only served to deepen the growing well of self loathing. I should have found another way! I should have done something, anything, to quell my sisters hate! That's what good sisters do for one another: they work it out, make peace, and forgive each other before they do something so stupid. Something...

“Unforgivable,” she whispered through her tears. “That's not how sisterhood is supposed to work.”

But that's what it had come to. And because of it, the princess had been forced to witness a sight that she knew would haunt her darkest nightmares for the rest of her eternal life. As the magic of harmony enveloped the other alicorn, the dark magic of possession was briefly pushed back, and from the eye of that storm of power her sister and reached out to her.

"SISTER, PLEASE!" she had screamed. Not in hate, but in sorrow, fear, and remorse.

But the spell had already been cast, and once unleashed, it rushed to carry out its purpose. The energy surged and shackled its victim bodily to its own intention then rocketed her away, far from the ponies that she had sought to enslave, far from the co-ruler she had sought to throw down, and far from the sister who loved her still and now wept for her loss.

Luna looked to the ground and saw the powers of friendship turned to lifeless stone because she had lost her dearest friend. Celestia was gone. Exiled to the sun with that monster Solar Flare and forevermore out of reach. Only once before had the moon princess known pain so deep.

Long ago when she was much younger, she and Celestia had fought side by side against Discord. In what would be their final confrontation, both pony sisters had fought desperately to bring to bear the newly acquired Powers of Harmony. But their nascent connection to the mysterious Elements was so very tenuous, and the struggle wore on and on and the Sky Sisters had grown weary.

How it happened Luna could not say, but in the heat of battle she had slipped. Capitalizing on her moment of weakness, the Lord of Chaos had aimed all his terrible power at the younger alicorn, intending to strike for the kill. In the moment when Luna looked death in the face Celestia intervened, shielding her younger sister from harm with her own body. For a brief, horrible moment Luna thought Discord had murdered her sister.

But while the Moon wept, and Chaos laughed, the Sun had miraculously risen. In that single, shining moment the love between the two sisters was so great it ignited the Elements, and Discord was at last defeated.

This time though, Luna knew that there was no chance that her sister would rise from the final blow like she had done then. This time it was Luna herself who had dealt the end-all stroke, and she knew there was no coming back from it. Though her sister was technicality still alive, Celestia would never be seen or heard from again by another living pony for the rest of eternity. So Luna wept.

She wept for all the times they had shared playing and laughing on their fledgling world. She wept for all the times they had fought and made up, feeling as if, come flame or high water, they would always be there for one another. She wept for the guilt that ate at her insides like a ravenous ape. Mostly though, she wept because her big sister, her protector, her anchor in any storm, was gone.

For a long time Luna stood with tears running down her cheeks, and watched the sun, now free of Solar Flare's hold, slide lazily toward the western horizon. "I'll have to make it set." she said to herself. "I'm not just the Princess of the Night anymore. I have to be strong for my little ponies. It's what 'Tia would want." This brought a new wave of grief to the moon goddess, but for the moment she pushed it aside. She had a job to do first.

Setting her hooves and lowering her head, Luna stretched out with her ailcorn magic and reached for the sun. The moment her will touched it though, her eyes shot open and she recoiled instinctively.

The sun is absolutely nothing like the moon! she thought. Luna paused for a moment, realizing the utter obviousness of the idea. Rolling her eyes at herself she tried again.

The first thing Luna noticed was the the size. The sun was massive beyond anything she had ever imagined, thousands upon thousands of times larger than her moon, and it was heavy. Luna could, if the desire took her, have the moon dance across the night sky almost at whim, but the sun would tolerate no such frivolity. It was a behemoth, a titan that had to stay its narrow course or risk crushing all in its path.

Strangely, it was also fluffy, or at least that's the best word that Luna could use to describe it. Unlike the moon, the sun had no solid surface, no boundary that clearly marked where it ended and where the empty sky began. Whereas the moon could be pictured as a great stone in the sky, the sun was more like a pool of water in the dimple of an oilcloth, yielding yet enormous.

Luna pushed with all her might, but the sun refused to quit the sky. She ground her teeth. "If Celestia could do it, so can I!" she exclaimed, and threw herself into the task before her. She pushed, pulled, shoved, heaved, threatened, begged, and demanded that the sun make way for the night, and slowly, agonizingly, it inched lower and lower into the west.

Luna then turned her attention to the east and reached for her moon. Though she was exhausted from the previous ordeal, the moon took pity on its princess and cooperated in its ascent. Luna gazed at the night she loved so dearly for a moment before taking wing and flying back to Canterlot. She was a solitary ruler now. A princess alone who had a duty to her little ponies, and she would not fail them again.

The days and weeks that followed Celestia's banishment were oppressively hard on Luna, and it started with the lack of sleep. The princess of the night was accustomed to sleeping through her sisters day and attending to her royal duties under her star-filled sky. Unfortunately the majority of her little ponies needed the services of their princess during the day, and the shift left Luna bone weary and frazzled.

Adjustments to her sleep schedule aside, Luna was also expected to do the work of two princesses. She had to be sharp and attentive for both her Night Court, where she dealt out justice in the criminal cases brought before her, and in her sisters Day Court where she was expected to rule on myriad civil matters. In addition, all the meetings and committees she had to oversee, and the added strain of shepherding both the sun and the moon across the sky, left Luna feeling as though she was beginning to fall apart.

Worst of all were the simple things that were gone. The voice that woke her to set the moon was no longer Celestia's, just her hoofmaiden's. Her meals in the private dining room were silent and lonely. Sometimes Luna thought she overheard her sister's voice in a crowd, but would turn and see no one there. Sometimes she felt a flutter of excitement as she rounded a corner in the palace, expecting to find Celestia, to be greeted with an empty hall. Mostly, she just felt a dull ache that crushed her heart.

Luna knew that eventually she would get used to the changes. She knew that she could adjust to the heavier workload and sporadic sleep schedule, and in the most cerebral part of her mind, Luna knew that she would also get past the loss of her sister. But she didn't want to get past it. She didn't want to wait for time to heal the wounds of her heart. She didn't want to admit to herself that her sister was as good as dead. If she did, all Luna had to look forward to was an eternity alone. She had to know if there was any hope for Celestia to return free of her hatred, or if the endless expanse of the future really was hopeless. Whatever the answer, Luna told her self, knowing the truth might just ease the pain.

The sun neared the western horizon as the Princess of the Night stepped out onto her private balcony of Caterlot Castle. In the few weeks since Celestia's exile, Luna had greatly improved at managing the sun, and sunset was only a few minutes late. After raising her moon and setting her all stars alight, Luna took a moment to appreciate her magnum opus. A few thin wisps of cirrus clouds gave the moonlight a pale and ethereal canvas to paint, and the stars were so many and so luminous that they almost ran together like milk spilled across the sky. A masterpiece. Not at all a compliment to the dark deed that the moon goddess was about to perform.

If Luna wanted an answer to her burning question, she knew there was only one place she could go to get it. Though Celestia could use her divine light to reveal hints and whispers of what was to come, Luna's power was much more precise. Given to her and her alone was the ability to peer past the veil of chance and uncertainty and see clearly a tiny piece of what would one day be; she could ask the future a clear and simple question and receive a clear and simple answer.

Celestia could feel the subtle pull of destiny, but her prophecies were little more than hunches and generalities of a vast and sweeping scope. Luna, by contrast, was given only the narrowest of foresight, but what she saw could be stunning in its clarity. Of course, partial knowledge of the future can often be more misleading and harmful that none at all, a fact Luna was well aware of. And then there was always the issue of price.

The princess of the night shook her head to clear it and tore her attention away from the star-filled sky. She turned her focus inward, and from the outside it seemed as though Luna's form reached up and melded with the night. From deep within herself, Luna could feel the tapestry of the night as though it were an extension of her own body. The waxing and waning cycles of her moon sang in harmony with her own heartbeat, and the path of the stars and constellations guided the blood through her veins. Luna took a deep breath and felt her lungs fill with midnight sky, and let all earthly thoughts slip from her mind. Here was her sanctuary. Deep in the magic of the night, Luna was utterly and completely at peace.

The moon goddess savored the tranquility for a moment before moving on, she had come here for a reason after all. Soft as a shadow, Luna slipped past her moon, venturing deep into the darkened sky. Carefully she maneuvered her consciousness around her stars, and finally past the sweeping starlight expanse that her little ponies affectionately called the Milky River. Beyond all heavenly light, Luna came at last to the endless dark that was her canvas. Here, in the deepest dark, lurked her goal.

"Nightmare!" Luna called into the void. "I wish to speak with you."

Form out of the abyss, the silky smooth voice of Nightmare Moon replied. "Be careful what you wish for my little Luna, for you just might get it"

Where before there was only emptiness, a shadow of terror bled into being. Her inky black coat melded perfectly with the dark beyond the stars and her dragon-like eyes sent a shiver down Luna's spine. "I thought you said that you were done with me,” the black goddess began, “after you realized that our dear sister was being overcome with jealousy for our beautiful night. The irony that you were almost as jealous of her is not wasted on me, you know. To think that Celestia herself would be the one to deliver to us the things we wanted most from her; respect for our glorious night, the adoration of our subjects..." Nightmare Moon gave Luna a knowing look and guilt blossomed in the princess’s stomach. "...And the uncontested rule of Equestria."

Luna didn't want to admit it even to herself, but there was a small, selfish, horrible part of her that wanted to throw Celestia down and ascend to a singular throne. The princess fought those hurtful thoughts back with her love for her sister and memories of all the kind things Celestia had done for her. Like when Luna's first mortal lover had fallen to sickness, and the gravity of Luna's immortality was crushing her, Celestia was there for her. Her older sister had said that though uncountable generations of ponies would grow and die before their eyes, the sky sisters would always have each other. Luna had felt so close to her sister then. Now they couldn't be farther apart, much to Nightmare's pleasure.

"Though not exactly how I would have gone about it," she went on, "I have to admit that your results are impressive Luna. You managed to get rid of Celestia all on your own. I must say I'm very proud."

"Stop it!" Luna gasped "She's still my sister and I love her!" she snapped back. Tears she didn't even know she was shedding streamed down the princess's face. "If there had been any other way to stop her rage, any way to save her, I would have done it in a heartbeat! Don't you dare suggest otherwise! You're a monster! You are nothing to me!"

"Such cruel words Luna!" Nightmare said, her voice thick with mock indignation "If I truly mean so little to you then tell me, why have you come here seeking me out? Is there some new immortal who isn't treating you fairly? Or perhaps you have realized that with Celestia out of the picture, I will be your only eternal companionship amongst a sea of ponies doomed to die? I can't say we're off to a good start if that's the case."

"I came here for an answer!" Luna demanded as she fought to regain her composure despite her raging emotions. "I want to know if I will ever see Celestia again. I want to know if she will ever be my sister again, and not just a monster."

The devilish grin slid from Nightmare's face to be replaced by a scowl. "Always so sentimental. It's what makes you weak, Luna. I'm disappointed in you, the moment you finally have everything your true heart desires you want to know when it will end."

"You are the one who wants those things Nightmare. You want to be rid of my sister. You want the singular rule of Equestria. Not. Me. I was a fool to listen to your selfish ambition. I only wish I had realized that before it was too late to help Celestia through her own dark feelings. Now I want to know if I will ever have the chance to correct that error!"

“I am just as much a part of you as you are a part of me." Nightmare retorted. Her voice was cold and flat and her smirk was razor sharp as she admonished Luna. "You ignore that fact at your own peril. Let us not forget that it was by ignoring another part of your self, namely your undying love for Celestia," Nightmare spat those words, "that led to this whole situation in the first place. And now you've come seeking a vision of what will be, filled with grief and regret, hoping to do what, exactly? Atone for your past mistakes? I suggest that you learn from them first!"

“Yes, I have come to make amends for what I have done, something you would never even consider! Now I came here with a purpose and I WILL see that purpose fulfilled! Will Celestia ever be returned to Equestria and free of Solar Flare's influence?"

Nightmare Moon's dragon eyes bore into Luna with a withering glare. The two silently held each others gaze for a moment before Nightmare let out a huff and looked away in defeat.

"As you wish." Her obsidian horn shone faintly with the glow of moonlight for a moment before she asked "Are you willing to accept the price?"

"And what price is that?"

A wispy ball of violet light coalesced between the two ponies and pulsed faintly with what could have been a heartbeat. "A destiny." Nightmare Moon responded "The fate of a single pony will be lost."

"What do you want with the fate of this single pony?" Luna hesitantly asked. She had long since learned that giving her alter ego what she wanted was a bad idea.

"Ha! I thought I made it clear that I want nothing to do with this fool's errand. If you wish to observe the future then you must necessarily change it. That's what this price is, Luna. It is the hoofprint you leave in the sands of time."

Luna though about the gravity of the choice before her. The lives and destinies of her little ponies were all valuable and unique, changing even one could have disastrous consequences down the line, and meddling with the stuff of fate was not a right of her divinity. But she already missed Celestia so much, and Luna was determined to see this through. Cautiously.

"What will become of this soul if I do this? Will they suffer?" She asked

Nightmare Moon glared at her other half. "Just asking that much has the power to change what might be, though you scarcely need my help to divine such trivialities. You're a big filly, why don't you look and see for yourself?"

It was Luna's turn to glare now, though she knew Nightmare was right. On her own, Luna could easily discern bits of the future that were of so little consequence. It was trying to see events that would shape the course of history, like the return of her sister, that required the Moon Princess to be joined with her darker half.

"Very well" she said, and closed her eyes. Then Luna reached deep inside herself to the place where her godhood dwelled, and with magic unique to her, turned her divine sight on the violet wisp between Nightmare Moon and herself. Her eyes opened, glowing from within with the pale light of the full moon. Looking deep into the purple haze she saw a colt. The sourceless knowledge of dreams told her that this young stallion did not suffer, or fear, or want. He was content, if rather lonely.

Luna released her hold on the magic and let the spell fade. Her eyes returned to their usual turquoise and her posture became more confident.

"I take it you've decided to go through with this then?" Nightmare Moon asked, already knowing the answer.

"I have."

The obsidian alicorn sighed and closed her eyes. As she called magic into her horn, the purple wisp between Luna and herself slowly froze into impossibly delicate crystal, then shattered and fell away. The night princess saw her darker half step forward and Luna lowered her head in response. Calling on her own magic, Luna closed her eyes as well, waiting. Nightmare Moon lowered her head, and for an instant, touched the tip of her horn to the tip of Luna's. Their eyes shot open, brilliant with divine power, and as one their voices rang out through the void.

On the longest night in one thousand years, the planets shall align,

Their baleful might will aid release of the Tyrant Sun Divine.

Her hate unquenched, her rage renewed for the starry firmament,

Her sister she will then throw down to lunar banishment.

A single soul, to heal her heart, will bare The Magic key,

But he who holds this broken fate must find lost destiny.

The magic spent, Luna and Nightmare Moon slowly came back to themselves from their trance-like state. The implications of their prophecy began to register and Nightmare was first to react.

"You fool ..." She whispered "... you IGNORANT, STUPID, SENTIMENTAL FOOL! We had Equestria at our hooftips and you didn't even care! All you could do was mope for dear lost Celestia and now we will spend an eternity in exile for it! YOU SELF-CENTERED CHILD! Now, because of you, Solar Flare will return and Equestria will be reduced to ASHES! Who will there be to rule then, who will appreciate our night? NOPONY! And all because you wouldn't accept the best thing fate ever dropped in your lap! You disgust me, Luna! I can't even stand the sight of you anymore! Leave me in peace for these thousand years that I will have to savor your absence, before Celestia casts us together forever. Go back to Equestria and pretend to be exactly what you're not! A perfect little princess!

With that, Nightmare Moon dissolved back into the darkness leaving nothing but her final words to echo through the abyss. "Pretend to be exactly what you're not" Luna felt the sting of those words more sharply than any Nightmare Moon had ever spoken. She had ensured a future of pain and tyranny for her little ponies. She didn't have the will to be a lone ruler. She couldn't be "A perfect little princess".

Neither could she escape the haunting echoes of her vision, or the justified rebuke in Nightmare's words. She had doomed herself and her subjects because she was weak. She had failed to make amends with her sister because she was foolish. She had done all of it because she was selfish. She didn't deserve to be "princess".

princess...

"Princess!"

Luna started, Coming back from her introspection. She was no longer in the starless black of her canvas, but back on the palace balcony beneath her starry sky and brilliant moon. Looking around, the goddess of the night noticed one of her royal guards standing by the door.

"I apologize for the interruption your Highness, but the Night Court is scheduled to begin in five minutes." The guard said

Luna knew she was in no fit state to deal out fair justice right now, or oversee the Equestrian Tax Reform committee meeting after that, or any of her royal duties. Her voice shook and her eyes glistened as she spoke "See to it that all my engagements tonight are postponed until tomorrow."

"but your Highness..."

"Lieutenant, please," the alicorn interrupted, her composure rapidly eroding "I need this night to..." her voice caught in her throat as the first of many sobs wracked her body "...to be alone."

"As you wish Princess."

The guard left Luna's chambers just as the goddess of the moon collapsed, crying like she was a little filly again. But this time, there was no big sister to chase the monsters away, and because of her actions this night, there never would be again.

Author's Note

Edit 8/4/2013
Posting a major update to this chapter. Nothing that will change the story, but I've recently gotten in touch with an editor and with his help I have improved this piece quite a bit!

Chapter 1: To Crash a Party

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, settings, likenesses, words, or punctuation in this fic. They rightfully belong to Hasbro and the alicorn empress, Lauren Faust. Except for the word 'is'. I own the sh*t out of the word 'is'.

What might have been

Chapter 1: To Crash a Party

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her alicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects: all the different types of ponies.

But as time went on, the older sister became resentful. Her sister's night was filled with beautiful stars, planets and galaxies, but she thought her own day was simple and dull. One fateful day, the older alicorn refused to lower the sun to make way for the night. The younger sister tried to reason with her.

“Your day is loved by our little ponies, see how they play and laugh in its light.”

“Nay sister, the ponies work and toil under my sun because they need it, but it is your night they adore. They marvel and love in the dreams you send them, some even forsake sleep to gaze at your sky and count your stars.”

Despite the pleading of her younger sister, the bitterness in the elder's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of fire: Solar Flare. She vowed that the sun would never set on Equestria

Reluctantly, the younger sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: The Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of The Elements of Harmony, she defeated her elder sister and imprisoned her permanently in the sun. The younger sister took on responsibility for both the moon and the sun, and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since.

Wow, I've never read anything like this before. I thought Princess Luna said this was a book of ancient Equestrian history, but it looks to me like a bunch of faerie tales... The story of hearths warming, a battle with an evil demon of chaos... I wonder why she was so adamant I read it today. And if these “Elements of Harmony” are the most powerful magic known, then why haven’t I heard about them before? These thoughts and many others swirled in the head of a young purple unicorn, only to be interrupted by a vaguely familiar voice.

“Hey, Dusk Shine!”

The lavender stallion looked up from his reading and noticed the rather fetching young filly addressing him.

“Oh, hello Moondancer.” he replied. Looking at the pretty mare had the same effect on Dusk that most mares had on him. Namely, that his usually well-ordered thoughts exploded into a tangled mess of incompetence.

“So I'm having a birthday party in the west castle reception hall this evening,” she began, “and, well, I was wondering if you'd like to come.”

Moondancer's request immediately caused two very different thoughts to jump to the front Dusk's mind.

The first was his own inner monologue, destined for his head: “Oh my gosh! I can't tell you how much I'd love to go to a party with such a beautiful mare as you!”

The second was sent to his mouth to be spoken: “Well I'd love to Moondancer, but I've got a lot of ancient equestrian history to study. Sorry.”

A bright and furious blush sprang to the Moondancer's face and she bashfully looked away. “Oh... uh … Thank you Dusk Shine … so … um … I guess I'll see you later then … yeah … um … goodbye!”

Wait, which thought came out his mouth again? Quick! He thought. Say something else so she doesn't run off! But it was too late, Moondancer was already sprinting away towards a group of her friends nearby.

Dusk watched her go, “Ponyfeathers,” he sighed. “Well, I guess I better go tell Spike where I'll be this evening. And see if I can't find a gift.” Levitating his book back into his saddlebag and wrapping his scarf a little tighter, the purple colt set off to his tower home. This being the beginning of winter, the walk through the castle grounds was chilly but stunning.

Thanks to the hard work of the Canterlot pegasi, the sky was a flawless sapphire blue and the air had just enough humidity in it to grow delicate frost crystals on every surface. Sunlight fractured and danced between the icy filigree and cast tiny rainbows about like confetti.

It was Dusk's favorite time of year. Warm scarves and saddles, hot tea and coco, and if you were out at just the right time of day, the sun warmed your flank like you were sitting near a fire.

In fact, that is exactly what Princess Luna's star pupil had been doing until a certain young mare had interrupted his studies and effectively scrambled his brains. Now he needed to get a gift together and put up with the crushing awkwardness that he would inevitably suffer at a party full of pretty fillies that he hardly knew. It was either that or try to find Moondancer and make up some half-plot excuse as to why he couldn't make it. All in all, neither option sounded very appealing.

As he arrived at his private tower, Dusk let out a long breath and made his decision. At least there will be cake and punch at the party. He thought to himself. After setting down his saddlebags near the door, the colt looked around for his draconic assistant.

“Spike! Are you home?” When there was no response, the studious unicorn wandered up to his living room and called again.

“Spike?”

“Ugh... Five more minutes” Curled up in his basket with an extra blanket was the grumbling form of Dusk's number one assistant. The baby dragon had been lethargic ever since the weather had turned cold due to his reptilian nature, but this was a little excessive.

“Spike! It's three in the afternoon and you haven’t moved since breakfast. I think it's about time you started your chores.” He said

“Uugghh.” Came the grumbled response.

“Come on Spke, I've been invited to a party tonight and I need you to get this place in order before I go.”

“Uuuggghhh, fine.” The lethargic dragon crawled his way out of his bedding only to pause. “Wait, you're going to a party? Since when?”

“Since Moondancer asked me and I couldn't think of a polite way to tell her I have work to do,” explained the colt as he began to rifle through a chest of drawers.

“Do you have work to do, or is that just another one of the excuses you use to avoid talking to any of your classmates? What are you looking for anyway?”

“Yes I have work to do,” defended the unicorn. Spike gave Dusk an incredulous stare.

“Well I had work to do. The princess wanted me to read this book on ancient Equestrian legends then discuss it with her when I was finished. I got through the book but Princess Luna will be busy in senatorial meetings until just before sunset. And I'm looking for my bit-purse for your information.” Unable to locate said object, Dusk proceeded to search his bedroom, Spike following close behind.

“Well then, it's a good thing you told her you could go, a little time away from all the studying ought to do you some good!” the dragon triumphantly replied. “You know your bit-purse is in the kitchen by the bananas where you left it this morning, right?”

Looking up from scrutinizing the dust bunnies under his bed, the young mage bore a surprised expression on his face and a stray sock on his horn.

“Really? Why did I leave it in there?” he said as he trotted into the kitchen.

“That's a mystery to me,” his assistant replied. “What do you need it for anyway?”

“Well I can't rightly show up to a birthday party with out a gift.” Picking up the coin-purse in his magic the purple colt made his way back to his saddlebags by the door to reorganize them. “I'll probably be gone for most of the afternoon so make sure you have all the housework done by the time I get back.” He paused, struck by a sudden idea. “Unless of course you want to go with me? Luna knows it will be nice for me to have somepony to talk to. And I'll let you get out of cleaning up the tower.”

Spike looked around himself at the spotless carpeting, the well organized bookshelves, and the neat and tidy desk space that Dusk used as a study, and was immediately struck by how clean their home stayed when the purple unicorn was not in it.

“I think I can handle this place on my own. Besides if I go with you, you'll do nothing but hang around me and the snack table and not actually talk to anypony. How do you ever expect to make any friends doing that?” Spike deadpanned

“I'm not interested in making friends. I just want to go to the party, give Moondancer a gift, and excuse my self as quickly as is polite.”

“Dusk, please promise me that you will at least try to get to know some of the other ponies. Staying cooped up studying all the time isn't healthy, and you might be surprised by how good it feels to have a few friends.”

The stallion looked like he was about to offer a sharp retort, but bit his reply off before it started. He sighed, “I guess you're right. Thank you for looking out for me so well Spike. And I promise I'll try to talk to Moondancer and her friends.” Getting his saddlebags comfortable on his back he made his way back over to the door.

“Good, oh and Dusk, one more thing.”

“What is it Spike?”

His dragon assistant pointed to his own forehead and made a tapping gesture. Dusk looked up and finally noticed the sock on his horn.

“Thanks buddy,” he said as he removed it. “You really are my number one assistant.”

“And don't you forget it,” Spike replied.

Though Dusk enjoyed the early winter, it really wasn't the best time for gift shopping. With the Winter Moon Festival and Hearths Warming looming on the horizon, and one only weeks after the other, every merchant worth his or her salt was out in their finest form. Every shop and stall had sales, deals, and all number of gimmicks to drawn in the passing crowds, and ponies of every shape and size were busy completing their gift lists.

Dusk wandered the merchant district of Canterlot trying with little success to avoid the thronging and sometimes rabid crowds that flocked around the displays of flashy toys and gadgets. Despite the efforts of many a shopkeeper and advertiser, the mage had no idea what gift he should give Moondancer. In fact, the more he thought about what she would like, the more he realized that he really didn't know the young mare very well at all. They had shared several classes at Luna's School for Gifted Unicorns, and Dusk couldn't think of a single time he had said more that six words to Moondancer before today. Come to think of it, the same could be said for almost all his classmates. Maybe Spike was right, maybe he really did need to get out more and make some friends.

With the sun slowly sinking toward the western horizon and the luxury of time slipping away from him, the violet stallion gave in and sprung for plushie Ursa Minor. Due to his reclusive nature he couldn't say something special about the birthday filly with his gift, so he settled with saying something about himself instead. A fluffy and adorable constellation beast seemed fitting coming from the personal protege of the Princess of the Night. Or so he hoped. Maybe he was over thinking things again, did it really matter what his gift 'said' about him? But how would it look to Moondancer if he got her a meaningless present? There was that book back at the tower 'An Anthology of the Neighponese Gift Exchange' he could refer to, but he didn't have time to go back and read up on the matter.

Plagued by doubts and haunted by anxiety the whole way, Dusk finally arrived at the west castle reception hall. He was running a little late which was partially intentional. He hoped he would be able to slip into the party more or less unnoticed, drop off his gift, wish the birthday-filly a happy birthday, and quickly make his escape. Maybe if there were some of those little mini-daisy-and-cucumber sandwiches he would stop at the snack table, but that was where he drew the line. However, these plans and personal ultimatums were all disrupted when he entered the room and was greeted by darkness and silence.

“Uh... Hello?” As his eyes began to adjust to the low light, Dusk was able to make out what looked like party decorations strung about the hall. “Is anypony here?”

A volley of whispers called out in response.

“That's not Moondancer”

“Who is it?”

“I think it's a colt.”

“Hey, it's Dusk Shine.”

“Dusk Shine showed up?”

“Really?”

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”

“False alarm, Star.”

“Oh, Sorry.”
The lights were flicked on and Dusk could see a great many ponies stepping out from behind tables, chairs, and other assorted furniture. So much for slipping in unnoticed.

“So... Uh... I take it Moondancer isn't here yet.” he observed.

A cream yellow unicorn with a curled blue mane stepped forward. Three hearts adorned her flank, two blue and one green. She looked familiar, and although Dusk could recite the names of all 118 elements, he couldn't seem to recall her name.

“No, but that must mean that you're here for the party right?” She said with tangible eagerness.

“Um, yeah. Moondancer invited me this afternoon...”

“Well it's about time she got up the guts to talk to you. Come on, we're all going to jump out and yell 'happy birthday' to surprise her.” The yellow mare wrapped her fore-hoof around a thoroughly bewildered Dusk Shine and began to drag him behind some chairs.

“Wait a minute, Moondancer herself invited me here. How are we supposed to surprise her if she already knows about this party?”

The lemon colored mare paused to think. “Huh, I don't know. It was Firecracker's idea, she said-” The mage never got the chance to hear her explanation because he was startled by a familiar voice from behind him.

“Who are we trying to surprise now?” Turning around Dusk found none other than...

“Moondancer! Uh... Hi, um, happy birthday! Here, I got you a-”

The birthday filly cut him off before he had a chance to present his gift. “Oh, don't spoil it for me. I'm going to open all my gifts right after we have the cake. And by the way," Moondancer's voice became soft with compassion, or possibly concern, “I'm really glad you came.” She winked at him as she trotted off to greet some more of the guests.

What the hay was that supposed to mean?! Thought Dusk to him self. Was I really that forward this afternoon or am I just imagining things. And why is that other mare giving me such a dirty look?

Sure enough a sea-foam green unicorn with a bright orange mane and tail, and a fireball cutie mark was glaring daggers at him. Being at a complete loss as to an explanation for this, he spoke up.

“What?”

“You ruined the surprise!” she snapped.

“Um, sorry?” Dusk still didn't understand how there had been any surprise to begin with, and was thus unsure how to make amends.

“Ugh...” the mare who he could only assume was Firecracker traipsed off grumbling in irratation.

And that's why I stick to books! Dusk looked around the crowded room for anypony he knew well enough to go talk to. His earlier apprehension about attending the party returned quickly as he realized that he couldn't count a single one of the ponies present as his friend. Sighing in resignation, the princess' protégé plodded over to the snack table, and pretended to be as invisible as he felt.

It was not to last though. For reasons that he feared to contemplate, Moondancer kept glancing over at him from her conversations with other ponies and shooting him strange looks. Every time she did it, Dusk became more and more uncomfortable. It wasn't that he did not want the attention of a pretty filly.

No... wait... It was that.

He was too involved in his studies, too busy practicing his magic and doing research to entertain the attention of another pony. On top of that, she probably thought that he was actually interested in her in a romantic sense. Not that he didn't think she was pretty or anything, but a fillyfirend was the last thing he needed right now.

Moondancer was having a wonderful time. She was so thankful that she was surrounded by friends that cared so much for her. The cake that Cherry Spices had baked was sweet, moist and delicious; Flower Wishes and Fizzypop's decorations were beautiful; and Sweetcream Scoops was singing live with her band. Nothing could make the party better! Well, almost nothing.

Off in the corner, hovering around the snack table was a pony she had invited with the express purpose of making her friend. Dusk Shine and herself had been classmates in at least half of their classes at Luna's School and, in all that time, she had never seen him hang out or socialize with anypony.

Well that changed today. Today Moondancer was determined to get the colt to open up a little and maybe have some fun. She didn't expect it to be easy, but you didn't get to be the personal student of Princess Luna by being a jerk. So what was it that kept Dusk form socializing?

The first few minutes of her party were consumed mostly by a parade of Moondancer's friends all wishing her a happy birthday and catching up on the latest happenings in everypony's lives. Through it all though, she kept hoping that a certain purple mage would come to talk to her as well. She kept looking over at Dusk (who was still hovering around the snack table, not actually eating anything) and imploring him with her eyes to join in on her conversation. Unfortunately as time wore on the colt seemed to be getting more and more uncomfortable.

When she finally got a free minute, Moondancer decided on a more direct approach and made a bee-line for the distraught unicorn.

Crushing awkwardness: Check. Even though this party was pretty good (or at least Dusk though so, not that he had anything to compare it to) he was still not having a very good time. For starters, he couldn't shake the annoying feeling that he was forgetting something. On top of that, with nopony to have a conversation with and no real idea of how to start one, the only place the lavender colt felt like he wouldn't be in somepony's way was at the snack table. Well, that or the dance floor, but he had no delusions as to the kind of disaster that would be. Looking up, the reluctant party guest watched in fear as Moondancer herself walked right up to him. Oh Luna here she comes!

“Are you having a good time Dusk?”

“Oh... Uh... Yeah. Listen, Moondancer, I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression but I don't think it was a very good idea for me to come here.”

“Is this about what you said earlier? Dusk Shine, I was flattered by what you said, you don’t have to apologize for it. I'm just glad you came. I was hoping to get a chance to hang out with you.”

“Well, that's very kind of you Moondancer, but I don't know if that's such a good idea. I'm so busy with my work for the princess and...”

“Of course you're busy silly.” she interupted “It's finals season after all. But you know what helps me deal with all the stress? Spending a little time with my friends. That's why I invited them all to this party. It's why I invited you to this party.” She tapped the young stallion on the chest.

“Really?” This was a completely unanticipated situation for the mage.

“Of course. So what do you say, will you be my friend?”

Hesitation filled his emotions with thick mud as all the excuses that he had made for himself came tumbling through his mind. He was too busy, he needed to focus on his studies, he didn't feel comfortable in social situations. But through it all, the events of today kept replaying in his memory. Dusk knew he often felt lonely, and everything from his conversation with Spike to not being able to remember that yellow mare's name told him that the right path to take here was to accept. The colt took a deep breath, then made up his mind.

“Alright” He tentatively began “Yes, I will be your friend. I think... I think I would like that.”

“Great!” chirped Moondancer “Come on and I'll get you a piece of cake.”

As the birthday filly lead Dusk into the crowd he couldn't keep a small smile from creeping across his face. Maybe this party isn't so bad after all he thought. Then the doors slammed open and the chill outside air blew in, silencing the party instantly.

In the wide double doorway stood a pare of tall armored stallions. Their coats were the enchanted black of the Lunar Guard, and the aggressive cut and shape of their armor fulfilled its purpose of inspiring fear. With golden, dragon-like eyes they silently assessed the crowd like a manticore would asses a rabbit, with a hungry, predatory gaze. When their withering glare fell on their target, an icy chill ran down his spine. One of them spoke.

“By order of Her Royal Majesty Princess Luna, the unicorn Dusk Shine has been summoned to appear before The Lunar Throne immediately.” The party guests parted like soft earth before the plow as the guards approached their pray. When they were within hoofs-reach of the trembling Dusk Shine, (striking distance went through the back of his mind) the guard spoke again.

“Sir, please come with us.” Even though they said 'please' it was clear this was not a polite request.

Chapter 2: Of Fire and Magic

Disclaimer: This story is based on actual events and reflects only the most unbiased representation of the truth. To protect the innocent, the names of all persons and places have been changed. Any resemblance of this piece to any content rightfully owned by Her Imperial Majesty, the Alicorn Lauren Faust, is purely coincidental.

What might have been

Chapter 2: Of Fire and Magic

Celestia's sun shone warmly down on the little town of Ponyville and all manner of ponies were enjoying its light. Rainbow Dash, having finished her weather mare duties for the day, was peacefully napping on a puff of cloud over the park. Below her, Fluttershy was busy checking up on the squirrels and woodpeckers that called the trees their home. On the outskirts of town, Applejack lovingly buried the roots of a brand new apple sapping in the fertile earth of her farm, and at Sugar Cube Corner, Rarity excitedly discussed her new fashion ideas with the ever optimistic Pinkie Pie. One pony however, was not enjoying the sun or the company of her friends.

Twilight Sparkle was hidden away from the world in her library home, hunched over the latest issue of 'Proceedings of the Canterlot Royal Scientific Academy', and desperately trying to find any information relevant to her current assignment.

Three days ago she had received a letter from Princess Celestia, asking her to look into the cause of a rash of strange happenings in and around Ponyville and Canterlot. Due to the nature, location, and timing of these phenomena (they seemed to have begun shortly after Discord was defeated by Twilight and her friends) the princess was inclined to think that there may still be some lingering effects of the spirit of chaos's short-lived rule.

The solar diarch had confided in her pupil that this was not the first time that such a thing had happened either. Long ago, in the First War with Chaos, it had been Discord's magic that had created the constellation beasts in an attempt to subvert Princess Luna's control of the night sky. After his first defeat, the maliciousness of the star-beasts was broken, but the beasts themselves were not inherently evil, and so they remained. Since then, their allegiance had fallen to the Princess of the Moon and this had earned her the title Mother of the Night. Celestia asked Twilight for her utmost discretion with this information however, as it was still a sore subject for her sister.

The events happening this time however, were far more subtle and far more strange. Two weeks ago, Celestia herself had spent nearly an hour trying to catch her reflection off guard in her mirror when, instead of a feminine princess appearing in the glass as it should, it had been a rather handsome stallion with a flowing red and gold mane, a neatly trimmed goatee, and a gold and ruby crown. The princess had come to the conclusion that she was desperately in need of a vacation.

That is until Luna had confided that she thought she had seen a teenaged Nightmare Moon dancing in the ball room a few nights prior. Luna said that she was at first terrified by what she saw, but then noticed that the black alicorn's cutie mark was a shield rather than a crescent moon. When Luna approach the intruder, the image faded like a mirage into nothing at all.

Twilight knew that similar things had been going on in Ponyville as well. Applejack and Rarity both had strange stories to tell about spooky things happening around their homes. Last week, Applejack had taken a freshly harvested crate of apples to her supposedly empty cold storage cellar, only to find it completely full. When she went to move the intruding apple crates, her hooves passed right through the material like it wasn't even there. Fearing for her life and sanity she then ran and got Big Macintosh, but when they both returned to the cellar, the phantom crates had become transparent and five minutes later they were gone altogether.

Rarity's tale was even more worrisome in some regards. Rather than just seeing things, she had started to find some of the dresses she had made would disappear from her shop in the night and be replaced by stallions' suits that had very similar color schemes and designs. Strangest of all was that all of the intruding garments bore Rarity's trademark on the tags, and were quite obviously her own work! Despite the fact that Rarity never remembered making such outfits. The fashionista had confessed to Fluttershy during their weekly spa visits that she believed that she was losing her mind.

Fluttershy in turn related to her friend that she had been having far greater difficulty keeping track of all her animal friends because she kept seeing them in almost more that one place at the same time. Yesterday, she had given Angel Bunny a carrot when he was in his box, walked into her kitchen and saw him sleeping on the radiator, then went outside and saw him harassing the chickens, all in the span of less than twenty seconds.

To top it off Rainbow Dash and her weather team had received multiple complaints of shadows from clouds that weren't even there; the shadows were there, just not the clouds that should've been casting them. Pinkie Pie's pinkie sense was on the fritz and Twilight Sparkle was stuck with the question of why an entire town full of crazy ponies had suddenly gone off crazier than usual.

That was why she had been pouring over the latest scientific publications, looking for anything that might relate to her assignment. Unfortunatly, the best she had found (other than a diagnosis of mass schizophrenia) was a mathematical treatise on 'tempero-spacial topology of n-dimensional riemanenian manifolds'. This article had given her some ideas, but it looked like she was going to have to resort to good old fashioned experimentation to find her answers.

Closing her book, Twilight leaned back in her chair and huffed. “Well feathers! Three days of straight research and I hardly know more than when I started. I guess this really is a new field of study.” She looked around her workspace. Text and reference books were strewn about in haphazard piles, prestigious journals and periodicals littered the floor and available table space, and accenting the mess here and there were little gobs of crumpled note paper.

However, the young mage was distracted from her thoughts by the sound of her name.

“Oh Twilight! Where are you?” Came the sing-song voice of Pinkie Pie from the library's common room.

“I'm here. Just a second.” She called back. Closing her book and shoving her papers into some semblance of order, Twilight came out of her study/cavern to find Pinkie and Rarity waiting for her.

“Hi girls! What can I do for you?”

“Why Twilight dear you've done so much! We are so thankful for you looking into the...uh, problems that everypony's been having” Rarity began “but we haven’t seen hide nor hair of you in three days and we're all starting to get a little worried.”

“Well thanks for the concern, but I don't really feel like I've made any progress on what's been happening.” the mage confessed

“Oh, don't worry about that.” said Pinkie “We just want you to come hang out with us and enjoy the sun for a while. We saw Fluttershy and Dashie in the park a few minutes ago and and they both though it would be a great idea to have lunch together. Dashie's already on her way to Sweet Apple Acres to see if Applejack can come too! Also, I have a big surprise for you!!”

Oh boy, here we go. thought Twilight. “What's the surprise?” She tentatively asked.

“I'M THROWING A PARTY TOMMAROW NIGHT AND YOU'RE INVITED!!!” The pink mare exclaimed as she tossed a hooffull of confetti in the air.

Some how, that's not all that suprising! The mage giggled to herself. “What's the occasion then?”

Rarity spoke up before Pinkie could go on to one of her rambling explanations.

“Well after all that dreadful business with the changelings at your brother's wedding, and considering all the awful visions that have been affecting the town recently, the mayor decided to let Pinkie throw a party for all of Ponyville in the town hall to boost morale. I dare say you're one of the last ponies left to receive an invitation, what with you being cloistered away for so long. We wanted to make sure you were coming”

“Of course I'll be there.” Twilight replied with a smile on her face. “And lunch in the park sounds like the perfect thing to get my head straitened out over this whole visions thing.”

“GREAT!! I'LL GO GET THE CUPCAKES! SEE YOU GIRLS THERE!” Pinkie Pie declared, then bolted out of the library towards Sugar Cube Conner.

“Spike!” called the purple librarian. From out of the kitchen came Twilight's draconic assistant.

“Yeah Twilight, what's up?”

“Spike, we're going to have lunch in the park with the girls, make a few extra sandwiches and put them in a basket. Rarity and I will close up the library. Be ready to leave in fifteen minutes.”

A toothy grin spread across the baby dragon's face, Lunch with all his friends in the park, awesome! Spike snapped out a quick salute “Yes ma’am!” He said, then scampered back into the kitchen.

Twilight woke early the next morning. She had spent most of yesterday afternoon with her friends and now needed to devote herself to her experiments. Not that she would have done anything different. Spending an afternoon with her friends was comforting in a way she didn't even know she had needed. With all the stress of these phantasms and illusions on top of the recent events in Canterlot, the usually warm autumn air of Ponyville seemed cold and tense. It was a chill that set your nerves on edge, and made your heart feel like it was thumping off beat. A thin kind of cold that refused to be banished by the sun.

Her friends had warmed her though. Sitting in the park with Fluttershy, and Applejack had made her feel safe and welcome. Sharing her worries with Rarity and Rainbow Dash allowed her anxiety melt away, and of course Pinkie Pie had made her smile. The time she had spent with the other Elements of Harmony had thawed the reedy strain that hung like a pall over her head and gave her reason to believe that everything would turn out alright. It was a feeling of security that she hoped Pinkie Pie would spread to the whole town with her party tonight. Until then, it was up to Twilight to hunt down an explanation and actually make that happy ending come to pass.

A task easier said than done to be sure, but somepony had to do it and there really was nopony more qualified than Twilight Sparkle. After a rigorous and exhaustive review of the available literature, it was finally time to begin her experiments.

Her reading had lead her to believe that the most likely explanation for what had been occurring (again ignoring the schizophrenia hypothesis) was that some how Discord had managed to leave behind a quasi-teleportation field capable of spontaneous partial transmission of photo-material information. When she had explained this theory to Spike however, he had boiled it down to “Discord made it so that random stuff from elsewhere in Equestria sometimes half way shows up here for no good reason.” Both were accurate ways of describing it she supposed.

Thus the first order of business in Twilight's mind was to find out just where all this random stuff was half way showing up from. Twilight descended to her laboratory in the library basement and looked through her notes. After a few minuted checking and cross checking her calculations just to be sure, she walked over to her testing platform to begin.

The platform itself was nothing special. Just a roped off section of her lab that was about five meters on a side. Hopefully that would be enough room to ensure that if she accidentally did teleport something where she shouldn't, nothing would be in the way that might be damaged.

Starting with the basics, the purple unicorn called a simple teleportation spell into her horn and released it. With a flash and a pop, Twilight found herself on the other side of her testing area. “Well, nothing unexpected there, but it never hurts to start with what you know.” She said to herself as she marked off a check in her notebook. “OK next, attempt to half-cast a teleportation spell.” Calling on her magic a second time, the violet librarian began her spell, then yanked her magic away from it.

The effect was immediate. The spell rebounded back towards the caster and launched her backward into her work table. With a crash and a thump, Twilight found most of her research notes scattered about the room, the table knocked on its side, and a slowly darkening bruise on her rear. Levitating her notebook over and scrawling down her results, the battered unicorn decided that more safety padding would be needed before further testing.

From up in the kitchen of their home, Spike was beginning to worry about his bookish friend. She had been down in the basement for almost the entire morning and the crashes and bangs hadn't stopped since. Not that the young dragon thought that Twilight was in danger of seriously hurting herself. He knew the if nothing else, the studious unicorn took safety seriously. Although he wasn't quite certain if he should be reassured by the fact that she had all the pillows in the building down there with her, or concerned because she thought she might actually need them.

Regardless, It was his job, no his duty, to make sure that she didn't go off the deep end with her project or starve herself of food, company, and sunlight. To that end, Spike was hard at work putting the finishing touches on a delicious lunch of celery and tomato soup with daisy and daffodil salad. Let it never be said that Spike the dragon is a poor cook! He thought to himself.

With all the practice he got catering to Twilight and her friends, it was no wounder that his prowess in the kitchen was improving. There before the heat of the burners and with all the possible ingredients laid before him like an army waiting for command, Spike felt like a master of creation. From his post as chef, the amethyst dragon would order his troops forth to build for him a monument of taste. It was exhilarating. It was empowering! It was WHUMP...

What the hay was that!?!? Spike thought as oily black smoke began to seep up through the floorboards.

“SPIKE!” came a panicked cry from the basement “SPIKE GET THE FIRE EXTINGUSHER!!!”

Acting on pure adrenalin, the baby dragon lunged across the kitchen and ripped the extinguisher from the wall, wooden mount and all. He turned and raced back across the library toward the basement hatch and yanked it open. Thick smoke black belched from the trapdoor passageway but Spike's dragon eyes were unphased by the plume. Taking the stairs three at a time the young reptilian scanned for the only thing down here that he truly cared about. Standing on the far side of a rather impressive crater filled with roiling flame was a soot black unicorn blasting ice spells from her horn in rapid succession. Close enough he thought, then yanked the pin from the red cylinder and began filling the smoking hole in the ground with gooey, flame retardant foam.

In a matter of seconds it was over. The fire was out, the smoke was dissipating, and every surface was covered thickly in soot, extinguisher foam, or both. Standing on opposing sides of what used to be their basement floor stood a panting dragonling still deep in the throghs of his own fight-or-flight response, and a somewhat shaken and thoroughly embarrassed pony covered in soot. They held each others eyes for a several tense and awkward moments. Finally it was Twilight Sparkle that broke the silence.

“So... uh... on the bright side I think I have a working theory for where the phantasms are coming from.”

“WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT TWILIGHT!!! WHAT IN TARTARUS HAPPENED DOWN HERE!?!?”

The named unicorn had the good sense to look ashamed of her obvious blunder. “I was channeling a spell to probe the space between spaces that I move through when I teleport, but it rebounded. I think the backlash reacted with the runic circle I set up and, well...” She gestured toward the lack of flooring before her. “This.”

Spike took a deep breath to try and cool his blood. A dragon's ire however, is not easily quelled, and his still burning anxiety came out clearly when he spoke. “Damn it Twilight, you could have been hurt or worse! I've never been more scared in my life. I'd never be able to live with myself if anything happened to you!”

“Watch your language Spike,” the mage scolded, a hint of the stress piking through her own words. However it was quickly drowned out by the somber realization the her dragon assistant was right about getting hurt. “I'm sorry Spike. You're right. I... I just...” She held her legs in tight to her self and lowered her head. Though the room was still far too hot, Twilight couldn't stop herself from shivering. Spike came over to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace.

“Hey, its ok. We're all ok.” He gently stroked her mane and comforted her as she slowly regained her composure.

“I'm all right, thank you Spike.” She said after a moment, pulling away from him. “Thank you for... all of that.” Twilight gave him a sincere smile as she looked into his emerald eyes. “Are you all right?”

“Of course. I have lunch ready upstairs for you, once you get cleaned up.”

“That sounds lovely Spike”

She had been rattled by the catastrophe in the basement, but not even a brush with death could put the curiosity of Twilight Sparkle off for long. After a few bites of her salad and a half bowl of soup she was back to her usual peppy self. By the end of her salad and the start of her second helping of soup the mage's mind was grinding away on what she could learn from her experiments thus far, and when her meal with Spike was ended her determination and excitement to continue had returned in full force.

“...and that's why, when I released the trans-spatial displacement gaeis, it bifurcated in the harmonic convergent zone of the materio-energy matrix. No wounder I haven't had any success yet. It's so obvious!” The purple unicorn finished.

“Yeah. Uh, obvious.” Spike replied. He had been completely lost after the first two sentences of Twilight's rambling explanation, but he was glad that she was feeling so much better. Unfortunately his relief was not to last. As soon a Twilight finished her word vomit (Spike really had no better way to describe it) she started to go off about resuming her experiments this very afternoon.

“Of course, I'll need a new place to set up the apparatus, someplace outside where any catastrophic failure isn't likely to damage anything. Somewhere where there will be help nearby if something does go wrong... hmm, ah ha!” Twilight slammed her hoof down on the table at her new idea. “I'll go ask Applejack if she'll let me use Sweet Apple Acres! I'm sure she'll have an unused corner of the farm that would be perfect!” She clapped her hooves together in excitement then turned to Spike. “Spike get my saddlebag, I'm going to see what I can salvage from the basement then I'll get going.'

“Uh.. don't you think you ought to take a breather after that explosion? I mean, you almost burned down the whole library with the both of us in it. Maybe you should hold off on any more experiments until tomorrow when you've had a chance to figure out what went wrong?” The dragon pleaded

Twilight giggled. “But I do know what went wrong Spike. Weren’t you paying attention a minute ago? Besides, is see no reason to put off an assignment of this importance just because I had a little bad luck.”

“Oh, is that what you were talking about? I couldn't really follow.” He said and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

“That's alright. If it will make you feel any better, I promise to take a fire extinguisher with me.”

“Well... I still say you should wait, but ok. Just please be careful!”

“Don't worry Spike. I think I know what I’m getting into this time.”

Applejack had been happy to accommodate Twilight and her research. She lead the unicorn around to a disused area next to the the old barn that Rainbow Dash had demolished a few months ago. The Apple family hadn't quite gotten around to building a replacement just yet, as there were only a few days until the first of the Earligold apples would need to be harvested and there were a million and one things that needed to be done on the farm before apple buck season.

“Ah'm awful sorry I can't stay and lend you a hoof sugar cube, but me and Big Macintosh have ta get all the storage crates mended an' we still got over three hundred to get to.” Said the farm mare. “But if you need anything you be sure to holler.”

“That's ok AJ. I understand.” Replied Twilight. “If I need any help I'll be sure to let you know. I'll see you at Pinkie's party right?”

“Sure as shoot'n. Later Twi!” With that Applejack took her leave and the violet mage got to work.

The first thing she did was set up her runic circle. When she began her testing beneath the library it had rapidly become apparent that the magic she needed to be working with was too complex for even a sorceress of her talent. The studious mage had set up an apparatus that would allow her to set parts of her casting aside in order to work on the spell piecemeal, rather than try preforming the whole thing all at once. It was like having a magical coat-rack on which she could hang some threads of her mana while weaving others. It was a very useful tool.

It was also a liability for the vary reasons that made it so helpful. If Twilight put too many spell threads on the circle, or over powered the threads, or if too much of a completed spell was hung on the runes, then the circle's ability to sustain the spell would kick start what spell fragments it did contain. This usually had the effect of letting loose what amounted to a magical avalanche, usually with rather impressive and pyrotechnic results. Taking in to account the large size and quite staggering complexity of the spells Twilight was working with, her use of the runic circle was a lot like playing with a rubix-cube that had a bomb in it. Needless to say it was nerve wracking work.

Twilight was well acquainted with the dangers of what she was doing however, and with the experience that came from her past and recent failures, she quickly managed to get right back into the thick of things. She was so close to a breakthrough when she had blown a new subbasement into her home, it felt like she had arrived at the very spell that would yield her the answers she needed. But but when she called the magic into her horn, all her senses went bonkers.

There wasn't many ways to better describe the feeling. It was like the most intense vertigo imaginable, in conjunction with seeing around in a circle to the back of her own head. Her eyes saw in ways that her brain said couldn't happen and her stomach was not going to tolerate such a dispute. Before things could get out of hoof again, The young mare dropped the spell, stumbled away from her work space, and retched.

Struggling to regain her balance Twilight decided to put some of the more obscure research she had done to use. I hope that mathematical treatise I read was good for something. She thought to herself. Calling the theatrical structures to her mind, she drew on her magic and applied the thought to the spell.

Where before she saw only a roiling cauldron of vertigo, nausea, and confusion, now in the depths of her working was a hollow path. The spell she had been casting wasn't a teleportation spell at all. It was a door. And beyond that door lay the explanation to all the funny phenomena happening in Ponyville and Canterlot.

Twilight Sparkle looked around to see if anypony was watching, then consumed by curiosity, she stepped through.

Chapter 3: A Secret Revealed

Disclaimer:
The ponies in this story I host
Are not mine so I can not boast
I must say it's true
that they belong to
The Imperial Alicorn Faust

What might have been

Chapter 3: A Secret Revealed

The Lunar Guard did not restrain their captives, they did not threaten or demand. Always did they say please, and allow Dusk to comply with their orders under his own power. They never pushed him, or insulted him, or mistreated him in any way. Because they didn't need to. Such was their professionalism that they never used more force than was necessary, nor flaunted their legendary might. Were it the Canterlot city watch, or even the Royal Night Guard, the purple unicorn would be in shackles. But that wasn't how Equestria's most elite military force operated. The Lunar Guard just asked nicely and if you obeyed, that was the end of it. If you refused, well, that was the end of it.

In a way, it eased the fear Dusk Shine had that he was under arrest. He wasn't in any physical duress, nor had his dignity been compromised. Of course these were small consolations given the fact that HE WAS A CAPTIVE OF THE LUNAR BUCKING GUARD!!!

What he had done to deserve this honor he had no idea but that didn't stop his mind from frantically reliving his every mortal transgression. Maybe it was that time he knocked a vase over in the palace when he was still getting the hang of telekinesis. Or maybe it was when he accidentally set the hedge maze on fire during one of his lessons with the princess. Or maybe Princess Luna had found out about all the overdue books he had checked out from the palace library!!!

OR THE BOOK!!! The book he was supposed to read and discuss with Princess Luna as soon as possible! He had forgotten! He had gotten distracted by the Moondancer's party and her asking him to be her friend and OH SWEET STARS ABOVE THAT MENT HE WAS...

“T...T...Tar...Tardy.” The words sounded so far way. Like they had been spoke by a pony on the other side of thick glass. For a moment Dusk couldn't recognize who was speaking, or where he was, or what was going on. All he knew was that he had to keep walking with these two nightmare monsters on either side of him, and that it was a very bad idea to do any thing else. Then every thing gave way, and he slipped in to blessed catatonia.

He became aware that somepony was sobbing. Strange he thought, why would somepony be sobbing in front of Princess Luna? She is speaking to me. Her voice is so soothing. Whoever is crying, I'm sure she'll make it better. He took a deep and shockingly ragged breath and it all came back to him.

His name was Dusk Shine and he had been arrested by none other than the Lunar Guard and brought directly before Princess Luna herself. The Princess had assigned him a task and requested he complete it with the utmost haste and he had failed to do so. He was quivering with fear of the no doubt terrible punishments that he would soon endure. He was shattered because he had let his beloved mentor down.

“Princess I'm so so sorry! Please please please forgive me. I...” He choked out between sobs. Dusk would have continued to prostrate him self had he not been interrupted by the tender voice of his teacher.

“Dusk Shine my loyal student, please stop crying.”

The violet colt looked up from his weeping and into the tranquil turquoise eyes of his much beloved mentor. She was kneeling down with him on the floor and her body language spoke volumes of comfort and remorse.

“You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who needs to say they're sorry. Please, will you forgive me?” her voice was sweet and tender and being asked for forgiveness from the most perfect pony in all Equestria at once mended Dusk's shattered heart, then broke it all over again.

“Princess...” He hesitated, unsure of what his mentor was talking about. “What could you have to apologize for?”

The Princess gave him a sad look, and for a moment Dusk could see the burden of all her immortal years pressing down on her. But in the next instant that weary and vulnerable creature was gone, and Princess Luna, De'Noct Selene, Regent of the Night, Steward of the Day, and Goddess of the Moon stood in her place.

“Hammer, Anvil” In response to being addressed by their princess the named lunar guards snapped a out a salute in perfect unison. “Who authorized you to take custody of this stallion?”

“Day secretary Pen Scratch commissioned guardspony Anvil and myself to carry out verbal order 337 of this day's court. That the unicorn Dusk Shine be brought into your majesty's presence as quickly as possible.” The one on the left replied.

“We found the fugitive attending a birthday celebration in the west castle reception hall after we searched his residence and found him missing. We did have to subdue his guard dragon though.” Explained the guard on the right, Anvil must have been his name.

Sharp concern filled the Night Princess’s eyes. “You did the young drake no physical harm, did you?”

The two warhorses looked at each other briefly, then returned their attention the their liege. “No Princess. No physical harm.”

Back at Dusk Shine's home, all the lights were on and one fear stricken baby dragon was sitting wrapped in his blanket, with his back to the wall. “I'm OK. Everything's OK. There aren't any Lunar Gurads here. Nope! None at all! Oh man, keep it together Spike. Keep it together. OH SWEET LUNA WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!”

The princess let out a tense breath and her posture again showed her weariness. “Thank the stars. The two of you are dismissed once you convey my displeasure to secretary Scratch for her gross misjudgment in fulfilling my wishes.” A sadistic smile spread across Luna's lips. “Do her no harm, but you need not be polite about it.”

The armored stallions gave each other a serpentine smile, then turned and walked out of the throne room. If Pen Scratch sees fit to treat my loyal student like a criminal, she'll just have to sleep in the bed she has made for herself. Luna thought. I imagine I'll have to make it up to her somehow though. Maybe a treatment at the royal spa. Hopefully we'll both be laughing about this before too long. The moon goddess looked down at a still thoroughly rattled Dusk Shine and remembered the purpose for this visit. If I can be there for that laughter at all. Her heart sank with the thought.

“Um.. Princess?” Dusk began.

“Dusk, we are alone now. There is no need for formalities.” She gently reminded him.

“Sorry. Luna?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you need to see me so urgently?”

For the first time in a very long time, perhaps the first time he could ever remember, Dusk saw Luna struggle to give him an answer. “I...” She began, only to stop, hesitate then start again. “I'll tell you soon. I promise. But please, would you do me the honor of watching the sunset with me?”

“I would love to Luna” Dusk replied. Together they both walked out of the throne room and onto one of the many balconies that adorned Canterlot Castle. Though the evening was clear and cold, being near his mentor filled Dusk with a pleasant warmth, as though Luna herself was denying the winter air access to his skin. The purple mage looked out over the valley below and saw the shimmering lights of a small town off in the distance just coming to life.

“Dusk Shine. Look at the sun and tell me what you see.” The princes whispered, her voice filled with a strange reverence. The sun was just barely above the western horizon, waiting to be set, and it did not hurt to look upon. As always, the glowing orb left a characteristic after-image on Dusk's eyes. Rather than a round orb, the off-color spot behind the mage's eyelids was that of a feminine unicorn's head and sholders, her face bowed in sadness, or maybe penitence. Some called it the mare in the glare, or the solar mare, Dusk chose a more common name.

“I see the Mare in the Sun, a beautiful sunset about to unfold, and a beautiful night to follow.”

“An excellent observation my loyal student.” Luna said quietly. Dusk looked up at his teacher and was shocked to see a tear run down the princess's cheek.

“Luna, what's wrong?” he asked, his voice laced with compassion and concern. But the night goddess gave no indication that she had heard him. For a moment she just stood there, looking into the sun before she set it. When she finally spoke, it was in a voice that quivered and seemed to be meant only for herself.

“She... she's taller than me, you know. Just a little.” Dusk was thoroughly bewildered by her words, though he could plainly see how much they meant to his mentor. After a moment, Luna sniffed her sorrow away then lit her horn. With the most graceful bow Dusk had ever seen, the night princess lowered herself to a knee, and with her the sun lowered itself below the western horizon. Rising, the Goddess of Night then turned her gaze east and with a soft glow of magic, she lifted the moon into the sky and began the night.

As the pale lunar light washed over the two ponies, Luna gave a small, wounded laugh. “Ah ha. She is beautiful is she not? My moon. At least I will have that in the days to come.” With a weak smile Luna turned to her loyal student, seeking his opinion. Dusk Shine however, was beyond lost at this point and seeing his beloved Princess Luna in so much apparent pain was fundamentally distressing to his psyche.

“Please Luna, tell me what's the matter. Why are you crying?” he begged while giving his princess an affectionate nuzzle. The regal alicorn reached up and wiped her tears away, and took on a more somber demeanor.

“Come Dusk Shine, and I will tell you.” With a quick burst of magic, student and teacher both found themselves in Princess Luna's private apartments. Dusk looked around, having been allowed into Luna's personal sanctum only a few times before, when he was very young.

Little had changed from how he remembered it though. The space was shrouded in rich gold and orange tapestries that gave it a cozy warmth despite its open and airy architecture. In the main room a fire danced in the fireplace and made the saffron walls and pale cream carpet fairly glow with a light of their own. The contrast with the tall nighttime windows made the violet unicorn feel like he stood within a bubble of light adrift on an endless sea of black.

The princess walked over to an extra fluffy floor pillow and made herself comfortable, gesturing for dusk to do the same. Once Dusk was settled, Luna levitated over a tray bearing a shining silver coffee pot and a pair of cups.

“I had this made ready for us to share when you arrived. It's imported from Nickeragua and roasted dark.” Dusk's mouth began to water as the rich aroma met his nose. He had always loved the time he spent sipping coffee with Luna. It had become something of a habit for the two of them, when ever they sat down just to chat. The purple stallion took a careful sip of the steamy black goodness.

“Mmm. It's delicious.” he cooed.

“I thought you might enjoy it. Now tell me, what did you think of that book I gave to you? The one about ancient history?” she asked.

“Well I liked it. I have always had a soft spot for faerie tales, but I don't see how such stories relate to any of my studies.” Complained the pupil. “I thought you wanted me to study history, not bedtime stories.”

Luna just raised an eyebrow at her companion. “Do you know who wrote that book?”

“A mare by the name of Stoneflower. Why?” Dusk wanted to push for some answers as to what had upset his princess a moment before, but he couldn't find the words.

The night princess chuckled to herself. “Stoneflower is one of my better kept pen names Dusk. I wrote that book. And I wasn't mistaken when I said it was a historical account either. Most of the stories that feature me as a character in some way, I recorded from memory. I chose to publish these accounts because I wanted every equestrian to know the truth about their past, but I didn't want to scare them.

“I mixed in a fair amount of other stories to disguise it as foals tales, though all of those have a grain of truth to them as well. As you can tell the book was a success. Nearly every little filly and colt in Equestria knows these stories from the deep past, and yet none let it affect the way they see our land today.”

Dusk was stunned. Not only was he reeling from the revelation that what was known about the very earliest days of his homeland was not lost, but had in fact been sitting under his nose the whole time. But also the realization that his all-time favorite foal-hood author was and had been sitting right next to him for YEARS!!! And, oh yeah. Luna just admitted that she REMEMBERED these things happening!!! To tartatus with archaeological digging and speculation, here was a pony he could straight up ASK HOW IT HAPPENED!!! His mind was currently at a grinding halt simply trying to think of what he should ask first.

“I am telling you this because there is one story in particular that we need to discuss.” The princess when on. “What are your thoughts on the legend of the Solar Flare?”

Recovering from his shock, Dusk purged his mind of thoughts about interviewing Luna for a moment and turned his considerable mental prowess toward what he had read. “Its a creative story for explaining the mare in the sun. But if it's actually true, and not just a myth...” He paused to think and Luna gave him a solemn not of confirmation. “Then that means she was your sister... and you had to seal her away. Forever.” The magnitude and tragedy of this revelation nearly stopped his breath in his throat.

“Yes Dusk Shine.” Luna whispered sadly “I did.” For a moment neither of them spoke, then the princess took a deep breath and looked her student straight in the eyes. “You are so blessed to have a sister like Gleaming Shield. Cherish that. And don't ever let it slip away. Promise me. Promise you won't ever take her for granted.”

“I promise, Luna.” he swore. Suddenly Luna's behavior made much more sense. She missed her sister, and the fact that Luna herself had been the one to banish her in the first place must have been drowning the princess in guilt. In a way, he was glad that Luna had confided in him. He would happily do anything to make his princess happy, be it lending an ear for her pain or a shoulder to cry on.

As he thought on it more however, Dusk realized that Luna must have been carrying this burden for hundreds of years, plenty of time for her heart to heal. Of course what Luna was telling him was painful, but she couldn't possibly be telling him with the hope of gaining his emotional support. Why was the princess telling he these things now, or even at all? Something else was clearly going on here.

“Oh Dusk, I'm so sorry for what I must ask you to do.” The princess had the unicorn's full and undivided attention now. Dusk could already tell that this was something very big and he could guess that I wasn't going to be pleasant. “There is another piece of that story. One that I did not publish. It is something I have never revealed fully to any other pony, but before I tell you, you need to understand something.

“As a goddess, I am blessed with a great many abilities that even other alicorns, rare though they are, do not posses. One of these abilities allows me to peak past uncertainty like a star peaks through the black sky, and see what will be. Prophesy, they say, belongs to the night, and it is a prophesy that I must share with you.”

Luna rose, walked over to her desk and withdrew parchment and a quill. There was nowhere in Equestria where she would feel safe keeping the words she was about to pen, but of course there was no way she could forget them either. On her parchment, Luna scratched out six little lines, the most damning poem to ever grace her ears, then folded the note and sat back down with her student.

Dusk watched his mentor's odd behavior with consuming curiosity. What could be so important that Princess Luna had never told another soul in all the intervening centuries?

“This prophesy is the second act to the play that the legend of Solar Flare began. It is far darker than the first, and it is far more dangerous. I am showing it to you because you are the most capable, dedicated, and talented pony I have ever met. You are also the one I trust most.” Luna was not singing his praises when she spoke, Dusk could tell. Her words were spoken in the cold, hard voice of fact, and he was left with no illusions as to the kind of responsibility he was being entrusted with.

The princess hesitated for a split second, then added, “I can not, in good conscience order you to take up this burden. You would be within you rights to refuse and walk away now.”

Resolve rang strongly from Dusk's words. “I have accepted every challenge you have given me since the day I earned my cutie mark. I won't let you down now.” Whatever it was, he would face it for his princess, for Luna.

The moon goddess smiled at her student. “I knew I could count on you.” She said warmly. “Once you have read this, I will answer any questions you have. I have ensured that nopony will bother us until sunrise, when we must go our separate ways. Here.” Luna levitated the note over to Dusk and watched as he unfolded it.

Inside the folded parchment was a poem, written in Luna's flowing script. It was short, and Dusk briefly wondered how so small a verse could be so important. Then he read the words, and his heart almost stopped in his chest.

On the longest night in one thousand years, the planets shall align,

Their baleful might will aid release of the Tyrant Sun Divine.

Her hate unquenched, her rage renewed for the starry firmament,

Her sister she will then throw down to lunar banishment.

A single soul, to heal her heart, will bare The Magic key,

But he who holds this broken fate must find lost destiny.

Dusk read and reread the words on the page before him, willing them to be different, to be untrue, but it didn't work. His hooves shook as he let the paper slip from his telekinetic grasp and rest on the floor before him. No mater what he did, he couldn't take his eyes of that little slip of paper, as though it were a dangerous viper ready to strike. Luna said nothing throughout his ordeal. Choosing to remain silent until he worked up the nerve to speak first. When he finally found his voice, all Dusk could manage to say was a scared and scratchy “When?”

“Tomorrow night is the Winter Moon Festival, celebrating the 1000th winter solstice since I divined this prophesy. The longest night in one thousand years.”

Chapter 4: The Twofold Path

Disclaimer: Once upon a time there was a herd of magical ponies that were loved by a heard of not-so-magical bronies. One brony went to the ponies' true and rightful ruler, the Alicorn Lauren Faust and asked to tell a story using her ponies. But because the pony Empress was so busy, she could not answer. So the brony told his story anyway and hoped that the Empress would not be angered.

What might have been

Chapter 4: The Twofold Path

As the shock of his new responsibility slowly wore off, Luna began to fill Dusk Shine in on the specifics. The first thing the unicorn colt asked, was if it was possible to change what he had read.

“Unfortunately no, it is not possible to defy the prophesy. That's not how my prophecies work. It's not like predicting the weather tomorrow, where you can send a team of pegasi to change it. In a way, the events described in that little poem have already happened. One can no more change the prophecy than one can change the past.”

“What about the last couplet?” Dusk felt like he was grasping at straws, but he desperately needed some small hope that all was not lost. “What about the single soul and the magic key?”

“I do not know. I have searched for a millennium to discover what is meant by 'the magic key', but I'm afraid your guess is as good as mine. I know of many deep and powerful magics in this world, but with so vague a description to go off, it could be any or none of those.

“The power I called upon to defeat Solar Flare one thousand years ago was the Elements of Harmony, but that will not work this time. For one, I lost any connection to the elements when I used them against my sister, and for another, the elements have never been fully understood. You will have full access to the Canterlot archives, even the restricted section, tomorrow when you can do whatever research you like into the matter.

“As for the 'single soul', that is the task I wish to entrust to you. As the prophecy says, I will likely be... absent, very soon, and I leave it to you to find the one who will 'heal her heart', so to speak. Help me Dusk Shine, you're my only hope.” She pleaded.

“I swear I'll do my best Luna.” The violet stallion could barley keep his voice steady when confronted with the prospect of losing his mentor. By some miracle of fate he managed it, he could not stop the tears though. “I promise I will bring you back to us.”

The princess smiled at her student. “You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that. Thank you Dusk Shine.” The mage returned her sad cheer with a smile of his own, before a troubled expression creeped over his face.

“But what will become of Equestria once Solar Flare returns? How will the country get along without you?”

The princess gave a rueful chuckle. “Well seeing how Senator Blueblood won reelection last month, I can't say I'm optimistic about how Equestria is getting along now.” Princess and student both broke out into snorting giggles. With such monumental and depressing thoughts weighing on their hearts, the release of a little laughter was a like ray of sunlight through a storm. When they finally calmed down enough to continue, the princess explained.

“I have taken a great many measures to ensure that the governance of Equestria will continue despite an angry alicorn seizing the throne. Solar Flare will find that conquering a kingdom is a very different thing from ruling one. There are already under-ground networks of communication in place to allow the senators to retain their efficacy. By tomorrow, the last of the bureaucrats and decision makers, save myself, will have gone into hiding. You can be sure that the Lunar Republic will persist, for a time at least.

“But I don't want you to worry about the coming struggle for power. All you need concern yourself with is finding the 'lost destiny', discovering the 'magic key', and putting a stop to my mad sister. I have the utmost faith in you, my loyal student. If anypony can do these things, it's you.”

Long into the night did the two ponies talk. For a time, Luna related to Dusk Shine many secrets of Equestria's new underground government. She told him how to contact senators and advisers, the code phrases that would validate him as a representative of Princess Luna, and what he should do if he were to discover infiltrators working for Solar Flare. But each of the two ponies, in their own way couldn't bare to dwell on such grim topics for the whole night, and their conversation wandered to happier things.

Well before the eastern sky began to lighten, Luna and Dusk Shine were giggling like any other night they had sipped coffee together. Dusk told his mentor about his recent studies, and the princess related the tribulations she had endured dealing with the Lunar Senate. With the Sword of Damocles so soon to drop, neither soul could bear to let what little time they had together slip away. Unfortunately, time waits for no mare as they say, and all to soon it came time for Luna to bring about the dawn.

Dusk rose with his Princess and stepped out on to her private balcony. He did not cry. Only iron resolve filled his soul as he silently looked out over the horizon. Luna stood with him and surveyed her realm... Her realm.

It was never meant to be so, but now she would do almost anything to make sure it stayed that way. The irony of the situation was almost funny. Maybe when she had her sister back (her real sister, not the monster) and they sat by side once again, maybe they could laugh about it. If that day ever came.

What was she thinking. Of course that day would come! And it would come soon! Her loyal student Dusk Shine would solve the riddle and set everything right. The real question was if Celestia could ever forgive her younger sister for what she had done. If the sky sisters could ever heal their broken family. Only time would tell. Speaking of time...

Luna took a deep and calming breath, then took hold of magics as old as the mountains and seas, and bowed reverently to her moon, setting it beyond the west. Together she turned to face the east with her student, her friend, and slowly pulled the sun up. As its golden light spilled over the land below, Dusk quietly whispered.

“I'm going to miss you.” He did not look up, instead choosing to speak his words to all of Equestria.

“I will miss you too.” She replied. “But I know we will see each other again soon.” She looked down and smiled, Dusk looked up and did the same. “Goodbye my loyal student.”

“Goodbye Princess Luna.”

With that, the alicorn of the night took wing. She still had much to do in Ponyville before the ceremonial raising of the moon. A thing she was sure she would be absent for. Of course the first thing Luna expected her mad sister to do upon returning was to seek her out and confront her. Without the Mantle of Harmony it was a confrontation that Luna couldn't hope to win, but winning such a contest was not what Luna intended. All her plans had already been laid. Now all she had to do was put on a show for Solar Flare, then wait. Wait and hope.

She should have brought her notebook. No scientist worth her salt did anything without her notebook. And quills and ink. Extra quills and ink. But what she saw before her was so fascinating, so intriguing, so amazingly unexpectedly unbelievable, that she wouldn't have been able to stop to take notes even if she had brought her notebook. No scientist worth her salt could remain unmoved when the secrets of the universe finally revealed themselves to her.

Twilight Sparkle stood in a place that was best described as being no-place what so ever. She 'stood' before a slowly churning, vaporous cloud of dense verdant aether, which she had just stepped out of. What she 'stood' on was a very good question indeed, as there seemed to be absolutely nothing below her hooves. This did not stop the nothing from behaving like something though. In fact, it occurred to Twilight to wounder why the nothing 'below' her saw fit to masquerade as 'the ground' and not some other nothing.

No sooner had she finished this though than she felt a sudden pull up and to her left. With a grunt, the fledgling planes-walker found herself colliding with a new nothing and flopping 'down' on the 'ground'.

“Uug.” She mumbled as she got to her hooves. “What just happened?” She looked around and noticed her new position relative to her floating green cloud of origin. “Did I just fall... up? But down was that way!”

And so it was.

“Huwaa! Uff! Ow.” Recovering from her most recent ill-fated disagreement with gravity, Twilight began to take some mental notes.

“OK. Where ever I am, gravity seems to be... fickle.” She tried taking a few tentative steps forward. The 'ground' jerked again though not enough to throw her off her hooves. “If not flat out subjective.”

As if to emphasize her point, the purple librarian found herself flat on her flank for the third time in as many minutes.

“OK! OK!!! Down is that way!” She pointed below herself. “That way!! Aright?!” She looked around in defiance of the fickle gods that were obviously toying with her. She huffed. “Alright then.” With that problem out of the way for the moment, the violet mage took a moment to admire her surroundings. They were quite amazing after all.

Behind Twilight was a cloud of hazy green... well, haze. It churned and billowed like real clouds would on a windy day, but it did so with a will of its own. Wisps of this inconsistent vapor darted and leapt sprightly about amongst ponderous and slow-moving billows. Still more amazing than its behavior was its substance. The nebulous fog faintly glowed a cool and comforting green that reminded Twilight of Applejack's orchard in early summer, and it glittered like Luna's undimmed sky.

Probing the aether with a hoof, the mage found it responded to her touch, reaching out to touch her back. Its quiet caress moved her heart in ways most elusive to her conscious mind; it felt like searching for a long lost memory that had never been hers to begin with, like dreaming somepony else's dream while they were still awake.

Turning her attention away from the cloud, Twilight gazed out into the sweeping void of her new discovery. It was dark, but not unlit, and in all visible directions were spheres of colorful mist very much like her own. They lazily meandered amongst each other, performing a stately waltz to some unheard melody. Slowly the great orbs drifted in and out of her view and the dance of this piecemeal rainbow was hypnotizing.

As she watched, the mage noticed that the clouds seemed to react to each other's presence. When two spheres drew very close, their substance would distort and reach out toward its partner. The misty vapor of the orbs would mingle just a bit, before the glowing titans began a lumbering separation.

Twilight was in awe of what she was witnessing, and the feeling was compounded by the fact that she had no idea of what that could be exactly. Fortunately, her scientist's brain could not be stalled indefinitely and, failing to recall any established research methodology relevant to her current situation, the violet unicorn resorted to the most basic scientific procedure. When in doubt, poke it and see what happens.

Of course she first had to solve the problem of actually getting to another one of these vaporous clouds. The formless void that separated her from them offered no advice on how it could be crossed, but her recent difficulties with falling did give her an idea. Looking 'below' herself, Twilight picked out a cloud of frosty blue mist as her target. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and imagined herself about to descend a flight of stairs.

“Ok, here goes. Just going to walk down...” she took a step and felt her hoof land below the rest of her body. “...some stairs. Ha ha! It works! Ok, steady now.” Slowly she descended toward her goal. By the time she had gotten half way there, her confidence with her new 'stairs' technique and built enough for her to look around.

Now that she wasn't so close to one of the glowing balls, her eyes could adjust to the darker environment. Far off in the distance, she could now make out other creatures wandering between the globes. They were too far away to make out clearly, but some seemed to be pony-shaped while others...didn't.

Filing that mystery away for later she resumed her 'downward' march until she reached the blue sphere. Its mist seemed to be of a similar character to the mist from the previous green globe, so she stuck her hoof in.

It was cold...ish. Like she was feeling the idea of a cold thing and not actually being exposed to its temperature. It was a very disorienting sensation but, determined to learn more about this strange blue ball she stepped deeper into the mist. The idea of cold grew stronger, though she still didn't actually feel anything yet. Slowly, images resolved themselves out of the vapor. They started like vague shadows of continents covered in ice more than a mile thick, then resolved themselves to appear more and more like a specific place.

Before she knew it, She stood before what appeared to be a foggy glass wall, on the other side of which stretched out before her a frozen wasteland. From what she could tell, there was ice as far as the eye could see. Strangest of all was her view of the sky which held no sun, no moon, no stars, and no clouds. This world was empty, and were she to step through the glass wall, Twilight would be the first and only living being to ever grace its surface.

She backed away. She had no intention of freezing to death on an uninhabited ice ball, so she quickly made her way out of the frozen blue cloud of aether. Choosing another target orb, this one a deep indigo, the unicorn began her trek across the emptiness, this time, imagining a flat glass path connecting her to her destination. Her progress was faster this time, and far less straining on her knees.

When she reached the swirling aether, she stepped boldly in without a moments hesitation. This cloud was also cold, but that was not it's defining characteristic. What struck Twilight's mind this time was darkness. Darkness and night. Soon she had arrived at the threshold of the world and for what seemed like the hundredth time today, she was shocked by what she saw.

The land she looked out upon was steeped in shadows and somehow, Twilight knew they were permanent. In the sky above, the young mage could just make out a faint ring of solar corona, surrounding a disk as black as death itself. The sun was forever blocked by the moon. In this world the night lasted forever.

Dread settled in the pit of Twilight's stomach as she recalled a passage she had read when she first began the studies that had lead her here. “each and every possibility that ever could have come to pass exists as its own separate continuity of reality” Somewhere along the line in the reality before her Nightmare Moon had won, and this umbrial world was the result. Cold, desolate, and dark.

She slowly backed away from this scene of quite horror until she was back in the abyss between the worlds. The violet mage took a deep breath to steady herself and found her hooves were shaking. It was one thing to know that such a nightmare was possible, and to have thwarted it. It was quite another to see that same nightmare played out before your eyes.

Twilight's thoughts were interrupted however, when from out of nowhere a spinning blue box whizzed past her and nearly took her head off. An instinct developed from long association with Rainbow Dash immediately took over and the frazzled unicorn whipped her head around and shouted.

“HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!! YOU ALMOST CRASHED INTO ME!!!”

Before her thoughts had a chance to catch up with what was happening, a sliding door opened on the side of the box, and a gray pony with a blond mane and an unmistakably wall-eyed smile stuck her head out and waved from the rapidly retreating contraption.

“Sorry Miss Sparkle!”

Was that... the mailmare? She thought.

That was it. She was done. Every neuron and synapse in her head had put in a valiant effort but now it was time to pack up and move on. You don't have to go home but you can't stay here. Please exit the unicorn through either the left or right ears, and use caution when retrieving your luggage from the overhead bins, as it may have shifted during the flight.

For a long time Twilight stood there, little more than a dribbling mass of frustration and confusion. Eventually though, she did come back to herself, and her course of action was clear.

“And with that, Twilight Sparkle has officially earned a study break.” She said to herself. “Now which one of these gas balls did I come from?”

She looked around and was confronted with the sight of multitudes of spheres all slowly drifting aimlessly about. An icy claw of fear gripped Twilight's heart.

“Oh no.”

Dusk watched Luna fly away toward that little town in the valley, Ponyville she had said its name was. For a time, his mind was clear of his perennial dialogue. Too full was he of tumultuous emotions to spare any brainpower for conscious thoughts. For once, he just stood, saw, and felt. It was a beautiful dawn. But his moment of calm did not last, could not last. He had a duty, a mission, and it would not wait. He had a world to save, and it was time for him to set about saving it.

Turning and walking back into Luna's chambers, Dusk made his way to her desk and took the Writ of Agency Luna had left for him there. It stated almost literally, that Dusk Shine was entrusted with her majesty's royal word on all matters. With this signed document, no door would be closed to him, no secret withheld, no service denied. The idea that Luna had actually made him the most powerful pony in Equestria after herself briefly occurred to the young stallion, and the reality of the situation began to settle on him.

This was no diplomatic breakdown in the far flung reaches of the Griffin Kingdom. A minor squabble between tribal leaders that had no bearing on his daily life. This was... well... this was war. And he had been chosen to win it.

With a final look around, Dusk took his leave and made his way to the royal archives. In the coming battle for his home, the mage would need every weapon he could get his hooves on, and there was no keener blade than knowledge.

“Oh no. Oh no. No no no no NO! Ok Twilight. Just think rationally. Ok, I came down and... this way. So that must mean my orb is up and over... uh, there. Yeah.”

She gazed off in the direction she thought she had come from. She saw a cluster of globes in the distance calmly glowing in all different colors. All colors except green.

“No no no!!! I came from a green orb. Where are all the green ones!” As fast as her hooves would carry her, Twilight began sprinting up an imaginary staircase. Very soon, too soon, she was winded and gasping for breath.

Wait! She thought. Up there! Oh thank Celestia that's it! It's so far away. I'm not going to catch it!

“NOOOO!!! She screamed into the void, finding within herself a reservoir of energy her body hoped she would never need to use. That last little bit that is held in reserve for when a pony is being chased by a hungry dragon. But the cloud was still moving away from her. Her muscles burned and her lungs ached for more air than they could hold, and still she ran, tears of desperation streaming from her eyes.

The flame of hope was guttering and horrible thoughts of never seeing her friends, her home, or her world again flooded her mind. “no...” She weakly gasped. She wasn't going to make it.

The softly glowing green ball of home then collided with a vermilion cloud and began to deform. The vapors reached out and touched ever so slightly, then it rebounded and came back toward Twilight.

“Praise Luna and Celestia and Holy Faust above! Yes!!” Elation filled her heart and gave her renewed strength. With one final burst of speed she closed the distance, and took a flying leap through the emerald haze. Lighting her horn and filling it with as much power as she could muster, she crashed through the barrier of the world in a flash of light and heat.

“AHHHH!!! UFF!” The earthy taste of dirt filled her mouth after her face-plant into the soft soil of Sweet Apple Acres. Never had she been so happy to have a mouth full of dirt. In fact she was so happy she started to laugh, and once she had started it was hard to stop. There she was, Twilight Sparkle, one of the most powerful and respected ponies in Equestria, rolling in the dirt, laughing like a mad mare.

Fortunately for posterity and unfortunately for her dignity, Twilight's commotion attracted attention.

“Are you alright miss?” Twilight froze. How long had she been watched? Too long, was the answer. She looked up into the deep green eyes of an earth pony mare she didn't recognize. The mare was tall, quite a bit taller than Twilight herself, with a bright red coat and a wavy orange mane and tail. Twilight thought she looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place her name.

For a moment they both stared at each other, then Twilight realized she was still lying in the dirt and quickly got to her hooves.

“Uh. Yeah, I'm fine. Great actually. Thanks for asking.” An awkward silence fell between the two mares. Twilight looked around and idly kicked her hoof at the dirt. She waited for the other pony to speak, but her companion seemed more comfortable with silence. Finally the the purple mage could take it no more and introduced herself.

“So, my name's Twilight Sparkle. What's yours?”

“Red Gala. It's a pleasure to meet you Twilight Sparkle.”

“Oh. Thank you. You can just call me Twilight though.”

“Alright Twilight.” She responded slowly. Her voice was a sonorous alto, and though she used it sparingly, it was easy to listen to. “May I ask you a question?”

The unicorn mage was relieved to finally have another side to their conversation even though she was probably going to be asked about her strange behavior. Oh well, at least she was making new friends. “Of course.”

The red mare thought for a second, carefully choosing her words. “How did you get here?” she asked. “I've been working this section of the farm all day and I never saw you until you were right here.”

“Oh, well it's kind of a long story.” The mage replied.

“That's alright.” said Red Gala. “I'm nearly finished here. You can tell me on the way to the celebration. You are coming aren't you?”

“The celebration?” Twilight finally took a moment to appreciate her surroundings.

She was in the middle of a path in a part of the farm that she was only vaguely familiar with, and nowhere near where she had been performing her experiments. She felt fortunate that she had wound up in Ponyville at all. With her adventures between worlds having gone how they did, she thought herself lucky she hadn't ended up in Appleloosa.

It was also getting rather late in the day. The sun was slowly sinking toward the west and there was a bitter chill creeping into the air. Any minute now it would be time to gather at town hall for Pinkie Pie's town wide party. In fact if she didn't hurry, she was going to be late.

“Oh yeah, the party! Of course I'm coming. Are you all ready to go? If we don't leave soon we'll be late.”

Red Gala looked about. “It's nothing that can't wait until tomorrow. So, what was with that flash of light?” She began the walk into town with Twilight by her side.

“Oh, well I was casting this spell...”

She took her time on the flight to Ponyville. She was glad to savor the little bit of freedom that came from being unaccompanied by the royal guard. Luna knew that her banishment from her beloved Equestria would be short lived, but the times when she would be free of royal obligation, or demanding manners were few and far between. Not that she wasn't worried. There was always a chance that things would turn out for the worse, so she savored the moment for those reasons as well.

The moon goddess did not dwell on such pessimistic thoughts however, she had faith in her loyal student and in all her little ponies. They would pull through, they always seemed to find a way.

Cool night air tousled her mane and tickled her feathers has Luna swooped and glided, performing simple acrobatics just for the joy of it. It had been so long since she had an opportunity to fly unhindered. Taking a deep breath and savoring the feeling of cool morning air in her lungs, the alicorn of night folded her wings and slid into a dive, she had a lot of altitude to lose to get to Ponyville after all.

Upon her arrival, a detachment of the royal guard was waiting for her. As she touched down, the four armored stallions snapped out a salute, then fell into step along side their ruler. Quickly making her way to town hall, the Princess of Equestria got to work. The running of her country didn't stop for anything, not even a holiday dedicated to her.

After almost a full day of attending to royal business in the center of Ponyville, (Luna had to concede that the change of scenery was very refreshing) the time to begin the Winter Moon Festival was drawing near. The sun was sinking low and Luna could feel a disturbance in the force. A foreign presence in the fabric of the heavens that she had not felt in a thousand years. She was coming.

The princess of the moon quickly made polite excuses about needing some fresh air, promising that she would return and be back stage when the time came to begin the festival. Her guards flew with her to the edge of town, where she ordered them to return to town hall. They were clearly not happy about leaving their princess unguarded, but Luna was adamant. She did not want any other ponies to be involved in a fight that only she could hope to survive.

Like in the royal court of old, the challenger had chosen the time for their duel and Luna, as the defender chose the place. It was a fallow wheat field a little over two kilometers from town. No roads or buildings nearby that could be destroyed by the struggle. Looking toward the setting sun, she waited.

She did not have to wait long. From behind her, the voice of her mad sister pulled her thoughts into focus. “You don't have the Elements. Are you so confident in you abilities that you would stand to face me alone, or have you chosen to accept defeat and beg for my forgiveness?”

Luna turned, and confronted the fear that had worn on her mind for centuries. “I do not need the Elements to stand up to you. Your jealousy has driven mad. You are no Princess, you are a monster, and I will ensure you are stopped.”

The monster laughed, true amusement ringing from its voice. “And what exactly can you hope to do about it? How have you passed these intervening centuries hmm? I'll tell you how I've spent the time Luna. How I have spent the last MILLENNIUM!!! I have prepared for this moment. I've thought of little else since you took from me what I rightly deserve.”

“YOU HAD EVERY THING YOU DESERVED!!!” Luna screamed back. “You had the love and admiration of our subjects and you ignored it because you envied the only thing that gave me comfort. But you were too consumed with your own vanity to see what you were doing to me! Or to Equestria!” It was shameful and foalish, but the goddess of the moon couldn't stop herself from getting worked up. Painful memories of painful times undermined her composure.

The monster dawned a malicious smile. “Always so emotional Luna. It was always so easy to get under your skin. I can see little has changed.”

A chill colder than the depthless void filled Luna's words. “Don't you dare lecture me about emotion. For a thousand years I have kept this country on its hooves BY MY SELF! I can see that a millennium of brooding has done you no such good!”

The smirk slid from the monster's face. “You have no idea what I have endured, but you will. I will make sure of that!” She lowered herself into a battle stance.

Luna did the same. “Bring it, bitch!”

Their battle was furious, brutal, and short. When Luna finally found the courage to open her eyes, a pale and barren vista filled her vision and all sound fell from her ears.

Twilight did most of the talking on the walk, and after her explanation of her inter-planar misfortunes their conversation wandered to all sorts of topics. With remarkable ease, Twilight found herself joking and laughing with Red Gala like they had know each other for more than just the fifteen minutes it had really been. She just could not shake the feeling that she knew Red Gala form somewhere. Try as she might, she made no progress toward unraveling her deja-vu.

Finally Twilight gave up guessing and decided on the direct approach. “Hey Red Gala, I've had a really great time chatting with you, but something's been bugging me for a while now.”

The scarlet mare lowered her head in shame and looked away. “Oh. I'm sorry if I offended you Twilight.”

“No no. You've been great to chat with,” The mage reassured her shy new friend “but that's just it. I have the strangest feeling that I've met you before. Don't you feel the same way?”

The earth pony mare recovered and gave a kind smile. “Eenope.” She responded, then realized that they both had reached the center of town. “Oh my. Look at the decorations!”

While Red Gala was entranced by the sight of Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle was still on reboot after what she had heard. Her new friend Red Gala had answered her question in the negative but in doing so, the red mare had more or less bludgeoned Twilight over the head with deja-vu. The wits of the purple mare were still recovering when she finally noticed the decorations her crimson companion was admiring. Her hooves shook and her heart trembled with fear as she took in the sight. The motif was overwhelmingly... Lunar.

Pale wight disks adorned the tops of all the lamp posts and deep blue banners hung from every building. The shape of the crescent moon was emblazoned on flags and pennants, and star shaped confetti was fluttering about on a gentle breeze. Most prominently displayed of all was Princess Luna's Cutie mark, which seemed to grace every available surface.

The deja-vu that Twilight was feeling went from shocking to out right crippling, and accompanying it was and equal amount of terror. Pinkie Pie was all about overdoing things, but the sight before the violet unicorn bore none of the party pony's trademarks, even if the princess was coming.

“Is... Um, is Princess Luna attending this party?” Her voice quivered and her pupils had shrunk to pin pricks as she asked Red Gala, hoping against hope that she would be surprised by the answer, that her rapidly building sense of dread would be dispelled.

“Well of course.” Answered the earth pony mare. “What kind of festival would it be if the princess didn't show up to her own celebration?” She turned back to look at her friend. “Oh my goodness Twilight, are you alright? What's wrong?”

“I... I'll be fine.” The mage tried with some small success to pull herself together. “Lets just... keep going.” she said as she forced her hooves back into motion.

“If you're sure.” Replied Red Gala, concern thick in her voice. Together they made their way to town hall. The crimson mare kept a careful eye on her new friend. It was obvious something was scaring her half to death, but Red Gala couldn't begin to guess what that thing was. She felt helpless and scared for Twilight. and more than a little scared herself by proxy.

The interior of the Ponyville town hall was festooned in much the same manner as the exterior, and as many ponies as could fit were gathered inside. Twilight immediately recognized more than a dozen ponies all waiting for the ceremony to start. Carrot Top was quietly chatting with Derpy Hooves, Dinky at her side. Lyra was leaning against her marefriend Bon Bon, their tails romantically entwined. Above her Flitter and her sister Cloud Chaser shared a laugh with Blossomforth.

Conspicuously absent from the crowd were the five faces she was looking for though. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were nowhere to be found in this collection of ponies, and this scared Twilight most of all. She was so scared of what was about to happen (and she didn't even know what that might be) but right then, she really needed her friends.

Then the lights dimmed and the music started up, and every thing fell into place. She had done this all before. Same old story, same old song and dance. It was like waking up from a nightmare only to find it wasn't a dream, it was real, and no matter how terrible or confusing or impossible your dream had been, reality had conformed to it regardless. Your most irrational fears now made perfect sense. To Twilight, it all made perfect sense. She had read the script for what was to come, and the scariest part was there was nothing she could do to change it.

From the main stage Mayor Mare began her speech. “Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Winter Moon Festival!” Her announcement was met with cheers. It also sent a dagger through Twilight's heart. When the noise died down, the mayor continued.

“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the moonrise, and celebrate this, the longest night of the year!” Another cheer, and another stab of ice into the unicorn's chest. Tears came unbidden to Twilight's eyes. She didn't want to see what came next, but she couldn't look away. Mayor Mare then unknowingly spoke the final words to the curse that was descending over the land.

“And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the moon and the sun each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria...”

In that split second of stillness, where the mayor hoped to build dramatic tension, Twilight's voice cut through the room. “She's not going to be there.”

“Princess Luna!!!” The curtains were drawn, the lights came up, and an empty balcony was revealed.

A chorus of confusion rippled through the crowd but Twilight was frozen in fear. The mayor tried to regain some semblance of order. “Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!”

Here it comes Twilight thought. Right on cue, nightmare became reality.

Blazing threads of fire raced up to the position of honor from every unseen corner of the room. Joining together, they built into a roaring inferno on the indoor balcony. Ponies screamed in fright, fearing the building had caught fire. Some even kept their heads and shouted for water, but reality was not so kind.

From deep within the heart of the blaze a cruel and twisted laugh taunted the assembled mortals. Its sound was hollow and warped by the fire, and its unearthly horror froze everypony in their tracks. The pillar of flame then burst into a thousand smoking embers and revealed the monster at its heart.

Gleaming golden armor complete with razor sharp blades and spikes covered the form of a tall and slender alicorn. Her mane and tail were composed of sheets of billowing flame and infernal heat radiated from her crimson, dragon-like eyes. Her coat was the glowing orange of the sun just about to set, and her flanks were adorned with the mark of the blood red sun. She spread her vast and intimidating wings, every feather sharp like a dagger and eyed the crowd below her with a vicious, triumphant smile.

“Oh, my beloved subjects.” She cooed, menace dripping from every word. “It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little night-loving faces. Soon though, you will learn to love the day, and you will pay me the honor I am due for lighting your world.”

A challenging voice spoke up from the ponies somewhere behind Twilight. It sounded like a colt, but the violet mage was too preoccupied by the sight before her to pay it much mind. “What have you done with our Princess!?!” It demanded.

“Are you so devoted to the night that you spare no thought for the day!?!” The creature demanded in turn. “Have I been so easily forgotten? Does my crown no longer count now that I have been unjustly imprisoned for a thousand years?” Her voice descended to a deadly whisper that cut through the silence of the room with all the malice of a rusty blade. “Do you not know who I am?”

Twilight was on autopilot. Her roller-coaster day of explosions, discoveries, nightmares seen, worlds almost lost and only barely regained, new-old friends, deja-vu, and nightmares made real had all taken its toll. She had nothing left to give. No thoughts, no logic or rationality, no emotions but the pain-filled heart break of a lost little foal. She desperately wanted her mother right now. She wanted to wake up from this terrible dream. She wanted her most beloved mentor, teacher, and friend to embrace her and tell her it would be alright. She was denied all of these things, and their lack left her with nothing but confused, unliving desperation.

“You're my teacher.” Twilight begged “You're my mentor and you're my friend and I'm Twilight.” Tears streamed down her face and her body convulsed with sobs as her world crumbled around her. “I'm your student, Twilight. Why don't you recognize me?” She collapsed on the floor, mind body and soul in all out breakdown. “Please Celestia! Why don't you recognize me!!!” She wailed through her tattered crying.

The Creature's eyes widened at the sound of her true name, and instantly she morphed herself into coiling fire and shot toward the mess of a pony below her. She wrapped her fire in a tight circle around the balling unicorn, used its roaring heat to shield the two of them from the eyes and ears of others. Her horn blazed a fell and radiant light and brutally pulled Twilight face to face with her seething dragon eyes. “HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT NAME?!” The monster bellowed, rage infusing every echo as the sound bounced around inside their fiery sanctum.

Mortal terror briefly overrode any other thought in Twilight's mind and she struggled futilely to free herself from the angry goddess's hold. But the monster shook her firmly and fixed her with a terrifying glare. ”SPEAK!” She commanded.

“You're my Princess, and my mentor.” The distraught unicorn confessed. “You chose me to be your personal student. I lived with you for years at the palace. I send you friendship reports every week. You're my FRIEND!! Please, you're my friend” Twilight's speech fell apart into desperate whimpers and sobs.

The monster held the weeping unicorn for a moment longer, but it was clear she would get no more from the pathetic mare. She unceremoniously dropped the inconsolable mass of pony and with a thought, dispelled the barrier between her and the outside world.

Rising to her full height and lording her massive wings over the ponies around her, she addressed the crowd with scorn in her voice. “Even your prophets and madmares insult me with their ignorance. That will soon change.” She leapt into the air and let her awesome sight wash over those present. In the voice of gods she made herself known. “I AM SOLAR FLARE, REGENT OF THE DAY AND GODDESS OF THE SUN! I AM YOUR NEW QUEEN, AND FROM THIS MOMENT FORTH, THE DAY SHALL LAST FOREVER!!!”

With a clap of thunder and a gout of flame she was gone, and the room was left with a silence broken only by the quiet sobs of Twilight Sparkle.

Chapter 5: The End of The Beginning

Disclaimer:
Once upon a Thursday dreary, while I typed out, weak and weary
A story of ponies knocking on adventure's door
As I sat, engaged in tappin' on a keyboard, my will was sappin'
by the thought that ponies happen to belong to Lauren Faust and more
They belong to Empress Faust, Hasbro, the Hub and what's more,
I hope they sue me nevermore!

What Might Have Been

Chapter 5: The End of The Beginning

It was dark. She liked it dark. She needed it dark. Darkness was her master and her slave, and it would rule by her side. It was also quiet, and this unnerved her. For too long, silence had been her jailer and her foe. Her mortal enemy and only companion. It haunted her, teased her with its beguiling presence whenever she was still. Reminding her that no matter how far she were to run, silence would be waiting for her once she was spent.

The hated silence was slain by another. A being she recognized.

Or did she?

No. She was sure she had never seen this pony before. A deep blue coat played host to bright turquoise eyes, brilliant with youthful zealotry. Youthful invincibility.

She scoffed at her intruder. Such a fool that little filly was to believe that she could be victorious. Did she not realize that even a living goddess had to fight for her victories?

Was that why the foal had hope? It didn't matter really. All she needed to know was, that was why the bright-eyed filly would fail, and she didn't need her prophetic sight to know it either. This creature would fail, just like her mentor had failed not hours ago.

Wait. It was her sister who had failed wasn't it? Yes. Her older brother who had tried to stop her and... and what? Why was it so hard to remember events so recent? It didn't matter. The intruder was making her move, time to put youthful invincibility to the test.

The navy coated interloper lowered herself into a battle stance and pawed the ground aggressively. Did this little filly really think she could challenge the living incarnation of Twilight? She lowered herself in turn and lined the needle sharp tip of her violet horn up with her adversary's heart. This would be quick, and she was going to enjoy it. They charged each other and the blue filly spread her wings and charged her horn with magic, face set in determination.

In a rush the two combatants closed and with a flash of light it was... Wait, why wasn't that foal skewered on her horn? There was a pop of magic behind her, and she turned to see the midnight blue filly surrounded by the Elements of Harmony. The blue mare lowered her horn to the Elements and began feeding her mana into them. That had to stop.

In a rush the living goddess blasted her foe out of the way and took her place above the five legendary stones, but the artifacts were already responding. Glittering bolts of power shot between the stones, and she felt panic grip her mind. She was so close, too close to her final triumph to have it yanked away at the last moment by an upstart girl and her stupid magic rocks. IT COULD NOT END LIKE THIS!!!

It didn't.

As quickly as it had come to life, the magic of the elements died away again, leaving the relics inert stones. For just a moment she could only stare in wounder. The only power that could stop her, the only weapon she needed fear was useless. She had won.

A wicked and malicious laugh surged up and out of her chest. She had won. The realm was her's and no power remained that could challenge her. The look on the blue filly's face made the victory all the sweeter. Shock and despair and loss panted her young foe as the goddess triumphant reared up and slammed her hooves down on the wasted elements, shattering them with the strength of her spite.

It was done. Her victory was complete. The land would be remade in the image of its goddess and a shadowed new world would take its place. A different world where her foe was broken and where there could be no salvation for the young mare with the turquoise eyes. There were no allies the blue alicorn could call upon, no followers to protect her, no friends to come to her aid. All of those things were lost to a world in the past, and she wasn't in that world any more.

She didn't have any friends.

This wasn't her world.

She was alone.

Her laughter was high and reedy, and sounded strangely like screaming.

She awoke screaming. Her mind was twisted and clouded from troubled sleep and refused to engage her senses. Reflex took over in her mind's absence and she reached out to the orange and yellow pony making soothing noises. Her coat smelled of earth, apples, and faintly of sweat and Twilight lost herself in tears. The horror and stress of all her trials and dreams came flooding out in the warm embrace of a friend.

Her breakdown only lasted a moment before Applejack's hug soothed her frayed nerves. Without pulling away from the embrace, the violet mage apologized for her lapse in composure.

“I'm sorry Applejack, I've just had the most terrible nightmare.” She spoke, giving the farm mare a little squeeze in gratitude. Rather than return the gesture, Applejack went stock still and rigid. A clearly masculine voice vibrated out of the pony's chest.

“How do you know mah name?” It asked with great trepidation.

Startled, Twilight leapt out of the now foreign embrace and fell squarely on her plot. The first thing she noticed was that she had been brought to Carousel Boutique and placed on Rarity's fainting couch to sleep off her emotional trauma. The second thing she noticed was that she was in the middle of a group of six other ponies, all of whom looked like fun-house reflections of her friends.

The pony she had just balled her eyes out on bore a striking resemblance to Applejack; same orange coat, same green eyes and blond mane, he even had the same cutie mark and hat. But he was also clearly a colt. Well... a stallion really. Twilight would have blushed in embarrassment from such close contact with a stallion had the circumstances not been so strange.

Standing next to this masculine reflection of the Applejack she was familiar with was Red Gala, who was appraising Twilight with a calculating glare. Seeing the two ponies side by side finally snapped the violet unicorn's brain into recognition. Red Gala must be Applejack's big sister, and Twilight had just thrown herself on him.

Woops.

Once she made the connection between the Apple siblings, the identities of the other four ponies quickly fell into place. They were her friends, but not as she knew them. Her thoughts were cut short when her vision was filled with the rose colored gaze of a blue pegasus with a spiky, rainbow colored mane.

“Yeah! Who are you anyway?” The colt demanded.

Recoiling from the invasion of personal space, Twilight pushed her would-be interrogator away. “Ack, Rainbow! Give me some room to breath.”

“Wow she really is a prophet!” gasped a bubely pink colt with bright blue eyes before leaping in front of the overwhelmed mage. “Oh oh! Do me next! Do me next!”

A pearly blue aura enveloped the bouncy colt and not so gently hauled him to the side. At the same time, Rarity's stylish counterpart spoke up. “Gentlemen please! Give the lady some room. For whatever reason she seems to be the only one who has any idea of what is going on right now and invading her personal space is not the way to get her to talk!”

He turned to Twilight. “Please forgive my friends dear. They can be quite energetic, and I must admit this whole 'eternal day' business is wearing a little heavily on all our nerves. My name is Elusive, and this...” The alabaster unicorn gestured to the room at large. “...is my home. I hope you won't find it too forward of me, but after that fiasco at town hall I couldn't bear to leave you all alone. If there is any thing I can do for you please don't hesitate to ask, but I must say we're all quite curious about you. Would you care to introduce yourself?”

Still slightly bewildered, she answered “Uh... I'm Twilight Sparkle.”

“Are you really a prophet like that creature said?” interrupted the small voice of a timid yellow pegasus.

“What? No, that's silly. There's no such thing as prophets or prophesies. They're just made up superstition.” She scoffed.

“Then would ya mind tellin' me how how you knew both our names,” Applejack chalenged, indicating his rainbow maned friend “when I don't ever remember meetin' you before in my life?”

“Yeah.” The pegasus added “And what was with you and that freaky Solar Flare lady anyway?”

There it was, the question of the hour. What indeed?

“I... I don't...” 'know' was how she intended to finish the sentence, but that wasn't true. Twilight had little choice but to acknowledge the facts of her situation. She was now thankful that her misadventures in the space-between-spaces had gone the way it had. Had she not stumbled upon those cold and dark other-worlds she would not have had the knowledge or perhaps even the courage to understand what had become of her.

The inevitable conclusion was equal parts sickeningly obvious and blatantly horrifying, and a large part of her mind simply did not want to accept it as true. However, Twilight's irrepressible logic steamed right through her hesitation and demanded she see the situation as it was. She wasn't in Equestria anymore.

At least not her Equestria. When she had lost herself in the void between worlds, she really had been separated from her home. The swirling green orb she had crashed through in her rush to get back had looked just like her point of origin, but appearances were deceiving and now she really was lost.

Twilight might have wept for her hopeless situation, but she had already done that. Now what she needed to do was to confront her new situation head on. She did know Solar Flare. She knew it was Celestia.

“Her name's not Solar Flare. And I'm really not a prophet, I'm...” I'm actually from another universe that is strikingly similar to this one and you are all my friends or at least you would be if you were all mares and Solar Flare is obviously Princess Celestia who seems to be taking the place of Nightmare Moon where I'm from which means that you guys haven't recovered the Elements of Harmony yet which raises the HUGE question of where my analogue is in this world or if 'I' even exist in this world at all and let's not even start on how I'm lost in an infinite sea of worlds and have absolutely no way of finding my way back!!! No really, I'm not crazy; it's all true!'

“... I'm, uh...” Maybe it would be best keep the specifics on the down low for now. “I'm just lost. And very far from home.” Not at all a lie, and Twilight could maintain an appearance of sanity for her new / soon-to-be / already-but-not-yet / whatever friends.

“Well I must say I'm sorry to hear that dear.” Elusive soothed. “I suppose then that a round of introductions are in order.” The alabaster unicorn indicated the shy pegasus colt with a wavy pink mane. “Twilight, I'd like you to meet my good friend Buttersc...”

“Wait just a minute. She still hasn't told me how she knew my name!” Applejack interrupted. Elusive gave the orange farm colt a glare that could curdle milk and the Fluttershy analogue, Butter-something, shrank into silence.

“Well... um...” Think Twilight, think! You need to keep this whole thing under wraps or all the ponies in this town will think you're crazy! “I, uh... I walked to town hall with Red Gala. She must have mentioned you. You're her younger brother right?

“Yeah, right.” The farmer replied hesitantly, his skepticism hardly sated.

“And what about me!” Insisted Rainbow Dash's masculine counterpart.

Twilight stared pointedly at the chromatic pegasus's distinct mane for a moment. “Just a lucky guess.” The mage deadpanned.

Rainbow looked up at his own mane. “Oh.”

“Boys!” Elusive scolded. “You could at least pretend to introduce yourselves like gentlemen.” He turned back to Twilight in a huff. “I'm Elusive, this is Butterscotch, I see you have already become acquainted with Red Gala and her brother Applejack. Rainbow Blitz is our local weather colt...”

“Weather stallion” the brash pegasus interjected. Elusive rolled his eyes.

“And this is...”

“HI-YA, I'm Berry Bubble and you and I are going to be the very bestest of friends I just know it! Oh, you know what? Since you're lost and new in town we should have a 'welcome to ponyville' party so you can make lots of new friends! We can play music and dance and eat cupcakes and play pin the tail on the pony! It'll be great!

Twilight couldn't hep but giggle at the colt's enthusiasm; worthy of the Element of Laughter for sure. “I'd love to Pin... er Berry, but...”

“But you know something about Solar Flare, don't you?” True to form, Red Gala used her words sparingly but made every last one count.

The violet mage looked down at her hooves and nodded. “I do.” she confessed. All right Twilight you can do this. You need to tell them the truth, just not the parts that make you sound nuttier than an outhouse at a peanut festival. Ok, here goes. Twilight gazed back into the eyes of all the ponies that were looking to her for guidance. They needed her. What they could not have known was just how much she needed them in turn.

“Where I'm from, something like this has happened before. That time, the evil goddess's name was Nightmare Moon, and she vowed to bring about nighttime eternal. But the sad part was that Nightmare Moon wasn't really evil, she was just hurt and confused and possessed by the dark magic of her own madness. It took the courage and friendship of six ponies, and the power of the Elements of Harmony to free her from her curse. I think something similar is happening to Solar Flare and if I'm right, then our best hope for freeing her is to find the Elements and wield them against her.”

As she finished her story Twilight was met with a somber stillness. Everypony present was processing her words, each to their own conclusion. Notably, Applejack and Elusive appeared somewhat confused by the tale, but before either one could speak up Butterscotch broke the silence.

“Sometimes when an animal is scary and aggressive, it's really because it's hurt or scared. If Solar Flare is hurting like that, then we have to help her. I won't leave any creature in that kind of pain if there is anything I can do to help it.”

Judging by the expressions of his companions, the shy colt's resolve was quickly adopted by the others. Red Gala sidled up next to the yellow pegasus and gave him a friendly nuzzle.

“That's very brave of you, Butterscotch.” She murmured.

Surprised by the sudden attention, the colt in question had to fight valiantly to hide the bright blush that was quickly overtaking his features.

“I'm with Butterscotch.” Declared Rainbow Blitz. “We cant let this Solar Flare lady keep the sun up forever, it would ruin the climate. I don't know if she's good like you say or if she's just plain evil, but if we can help Equestria by stopping her, I say let's do it.”

“Ooh Ooh me too! I can't stand to see a pony who isn't happy, and that mean meany-pants needs a serious attitude adjustment. I bet if we can get her to smile again she won't want to take over the world as much!” Berry Bubble was on on board.

“Count me in as well.” Elusive insisted. “A true gentleman does not shy away from protecting his friends, and I won't let some wannabe royal in a tacky tin suit threaten my home.”

“Nor will Ah.” Applejack stated firmly. “With unending sun, our whole orchard and every other farm will dry out and wilt. Ah can't rightly let everypony starve if there's anything Ah can do to stop it.”

Red Gala looked with concern toward her younger brother. “Are you sure you want to do this Applejack? As the oldest, it should be me who goes.”

The orange farmer looked looked up to his big sister and idol. “Not this time Big Red. You've looked after the farm, Applebuck, and Ah for so long, Ah think it's 'bout time I took up my share. 'sides, Ah just have a feeling; like I'm meant to do this.”

The tall red mare considered this carefully before leaning in to give her brother an affectionate nuzzle. “Just be careful 'liljack” She said.

With that, the five stallions stepped forward with purpose. “We're with you Twilight.” Said Rainbow Blitz. “Now how do we get those Elements?”

Twilight chuckled to herself as she realized that all her friends had volunteered themselves without the slightest idea of what it was they were signing up for. It reminded her of her first adventure with the other Element Bearers back home. Then as now, she couldn't have gone it alone even if she had tried.

“I'm glad you asked Blitz.” She said. “The last resting place of the Elements of Harmony is in the ruins of the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters which is deep in the Everfree Forest.”

Her statement was met with wide eyed stares and worried looks. None of the assembled stallions had anticipated that particular outcome and now the prospect of recovering ancient artifacts with which to save the world wasn't looking so appealing. Hesitantly, Butterscotch tried to bargain with fate.

“Are...um... are you sure, Twilight? I mean if there's some other way to help Solar Flare that doesn't involve going deep into an trackless, unforgiving, dangerous, dark, and scary place like the Everfree Forest, maybe we could try that first?” Just thinking about that cursed place was giving the timid yellow colt the willies, and his rather detailed description of the forest was doing no favors for the resolve of Elusive either.

Twilight saw the fear in the cerulean eyes of the pegasus, but she also knew that Fluttershy, and therefore Butterscotch, was capable of great feats of courage. If only she could get this colt to see the same bravery in himself that Twilight herself saw.

“I'm sorry Butterscotch, but it really is the only way.” The yellow colt looked away in despair, but Twilight continued. “I may be...uh, new, around here, but please believe me when I say that I know, and I really mean know, that each of you can help me.” She turned to Butterscotch and addressed him directly. “I have a very strong feeling that you're stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

The yellow colt returned Twilight's gaze with a mixture of uncertainty and doubt but also, Twilight was pleased to see, a tiny spark of hope.

“Come on y'all.” Applejack demanded. “We may not like what it is we've all agreed to, but a promise made is a debt unpaid, and more than that, Equestria needs us. We can't back down now.”

“Sing it brotha'!” Cheered Blitz. “All the way!”

“All the way” Elusive declared, stamping his hoof in emphasis.

“Yeah, all the way” Affirmed Berry.

Butterscotch rose from his usual shy crouch to stand tall and proud for just a moment “All the way.” He said softly but firmly.

Chapter 6: A Use for a Stone

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What Might Have Been

Chapter 6: A Use For A Stone

After her triumphant introduction, Solar Flare teleported back to the fallow field that was the site of her duel with Luna. There was nothing special about that spot, but it was secluded and easy for her teleport to due to her having been there so recently. With the first step of her conquest complete, she now faced the difficult decision of where to go next?

The defeat of her sister had been almost too easy, but the sun goddess could chalk that up to the full millennium she had spent honing herself in body and mind for that single confrontation. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Luna had a more devious plan to stop her than just a duel. Say what you would about her sister's flaws, and Solar Flare was willing to list a great many of them, but stupid would not make that list. Something more was surely going on.

And then there was that madmare. The one that had known her former name and claimed to be her friend. That little purple unicorn was obviously delusional when she claimed to personally know the Mare in the Sun, but if it was all just crazy talk then how did she come to know her true name? Solar Flare had made it a point to erase any record of her former identity during the war of solar rebellion, so how could her name have persisted to the present day?

Was it Luna? Had her sister sustained the knowledge for all that time? If she had, what purpose could it possibly serve? The only outcome Solar Flare could imagine was that rumors of a lost princess of the sun would create an opportunity for ponies to turn their allegiance away from Luna herself. Whether these ponies did so with true loyalty to the sun goddess or simply as a way to oppose Luna was irrelevant.

No. The facts were clear that Luna had no more incentive to keep her sister's memory alive than did Solar Flare. By all rights, the name Celestia should have been forgotten long ago. So why was it not? And for that matter, what particular flavor of madness was it that allowed a mere mortal unicorn to possess such knowledge?

Solar Flare, a deity of living fire and the physical incarnation of the sun on the mortal plane, was gripped with indecision, and it irked her to say the least. Especially when she tried to answer the question of what exactly she intended to do about that strange violet pony. It was true that with little effort at all, she could kill the raving unicorn, but such acts of petty murder would only serve to empower a resistance against her new rule.

Logic told her to disregard the madmare and quickly proceed to capturing Canterlot and the seat of Equestria's government. But at the same time her gut, and another kind of logic told her that such an anomaly in her plans of conquest should not be so easily ignored. What if that madmare knew other things about Equestria's new queen? What if she knew of the Elements of Harmony, and her first defeat?

Of course, if Solar Flare went straight to conquer Canterlot and built the support of a new government, there was very little one raving pony could do to stop her. Said raving pony was also equally unlikely to be the catalyst for a resistance of any appreciable threat. In fact, had that lunatic unicorn (Solar Flare couldn't help but chuckle at the word) not appeared, the conquest of the capital would be her most obvious next move.

Come to think of it, that was in all likelihood what Luna was expecting of her. Escape from imprisonment, defeat her sister in combat, take control of Canterlot. That's probably where all Luna's other unpleasant surprises were waiting for her. Solar Flare's face split with a fanged and malevolent grin. The first and most important rule of warfare is to never do what your enemy is expecting you to do.

She would not go to Canterlot. Not yet anyway. That purple unicorn unnerved her and so she would investigate to ensure that whatever threat that the violet mare posed was neutralized. Let the forces up in Canterlot sweat for a while, a little anarchy now could only help her cause. For now Solar Flare would bide her time. She had waited a thousand years for this opportunity, she could wait just a little longer.

With that, the sun goddess let her body melt into coiling flame, and snaked her way back to that little town called Ponyville.

Striding through the Everfree Forest failed to inspire the same sense of dread in Twilight that it seemed to do in her five stallion companions. Perhaps it was the fact that in her time in Ponyville, she had become accustomed to its strangeness on her many trips to Zecora's cottage. Or it could've been all the dangerous and at times down right strange adventures she had had that simply numbed her scene of self-preservation. If it wasn't a rampaging hydra or a fire breathing dragon it just didn't seem to register as a threat anymore.

Regardless of the source of her familiarity, the confidence it gave her did not go unnoticed by her companions. The poise and bearing of the violet mage spoke volumes to the colts. What exactly those volumes were saying however, happened to be vastly different from one stallion to the next.

Butterscotch found the unflappable mare to be an insperation. How it was that she could remain so calm in the face of such blatant peril was a complete mystery to him, but if she could make trekking through the Everfree look like stroll through the park, maybe such a feet was possible for him as well.

Rainbow Blitz was also impressed by Twilight's apparent guts, and that was saying a lot coming from Ponyville's resident dare devil. There were few ponies that the chromatic pegasus truly admired, the short list including Spitfire, Soarin, and not too many others. This quirky violet mare however, was quickly joining their ranks. The Everfree Forest was wild and maybe even cursed after all, and it took some real stones to waltz in like you owned the place.

Berry Bubble couldn't be happier to have met somepony as perky as himself for once. Nothing could keep him down and it seemed that nothing was going to keep Twilight down either. What a great day to have made such an awesome friend. Hopefully after this whole adventure was over he would have a chance to hang out with her and play board games, maybe he would even throw a party.

Applejack and Elusive were struck with slightly less positive impressions through. For starters, the farm colt had to wonder if the confidence that Twilight was exuding came from ignorance about the forest’s many dangers. Only fools courted hazards like the Everfree with so causal a regard, and Applejack was no fool. Twilight Sparkle didn't strike him as particularly foolish either, which left the orange farmer with the question of what she knew that he didn't.

It was apparent to Elusive's keen eye that Twilight wasn't simply unafraid of the forest, but that she displayed a kind of cautious familiarity with the creepy surroundings. The alabaster designer took note of the way the mare's eyes scanned side to side in a practiced manner, briefly examining bushes, trees, or anything else that could hide a potential threat. He also realized that Twilight was walking with a very deliberate pace, slow enough to not overly disturb the foliage and underbrush, but fast enough to eat up the distance efficiently. The more he watched, the more he became certain that despite what the purple mare had told them back in the boutique, Twilight Sparkle had been here before.

Soon the violet mage and her friends came to a fork in the road. Up ahead on the right Twilight knew, was the cliff-side path that had collapsed under her hooves and almost sent her falling to her doom. Having no desire to repeat the experience, she chose the left path. It was longer and would take them all the way around the gully to their right, but at least it would be free from rock slides. Without hesitation, Twilight lead her party down the safe but long way.

Unfortunately their progress was halted no more that a hundred meters down that road by a sprawling field of pretty blue blossoms. Immediately Twilight pulled up short, recognizing the fell flowers as the troublesome Poison Joke. Her companions by contrast, made no such connection and could only stand in awe of the beautiful sight.

“Well ponyfeathers!” she sighed in frustration.

“Why Twilight dear, whatever's the matter?” Inquired Elusive.

“Yeah, why'd ya stop?” asked Berry.

“We can't go this way.” Twilight replied. “It's overgrown with Poison Joke!”

Applejack was confused. “With what now?”

“Poison Joke, it's a really nasty plant that plays a joke on anypony that touches it.” The violet mage explained. “Last time I got some on me, it made my horn all floppy and covered in blue polka dots. Another of my friends had her wings turned upside down and another had her voice changed from her usual soft soprano to that of James Earl Pones.”

“You mean this stuff?” Butterscotch asked as he reached out to smell a nearby blossom. “But it looks so nice.”

With a quick flash of magic Twilight griped the yellow pegasus's pink tail and yanked him away from the offending vegetable, prompting a very filly-like squeak to be emitted from said pegasus's mouth

“It's not, trust me.” she assured. “We'll just have to go back to that fork and take the other path.”

One by one, the group of six ponies turned to leave, Applejack being the last to do so. Before he fell into step behind Rainbow Blitz, he had to take one last look at the field of blue flowers and wonder, if Twilight said she wasn't from around here, how is it she's run into this 'Poison Joke' stuff before?

Twilight was not looking forward to traversing that narrow cliff-side path again, especially given the similarities between her first trek through this forest and what was going on now. She was willing to put the probability of a landslide at around fifty fifty, and she didn't like those odds. Still, that event had been how her Applejack and earned her Element of Honesty, so maybe the ordeal was necessary.

As they reached the fork and changed course, the orange farmer decided to strike up a conversation. Perhaps he was just missing something and there was a clear explanation for the whole thing, but Applejack couldn't shake the feeling that Twilight wasn't telling him the whole truth. Maybe the mare just needed a chance to tell the whole story.

“So you mentioned that you'd run afoul of that poison joke stuff before, right?” He began.

“Uh, yeah.” Twilight responded

“So that must mean you've been in the Everfree Forest before.” It wasn't a question this time, and the purple mage started to get the distinct feeling that this wasn't quite the innocent conversation she was hoping for.

“Well, um... Yeah, I guess.”

“So how come we've never seen you 'round Ponyville then?” The farm colt's questioning was fast digging into territory that Twilight was not comfortable with. She knew she shouldn't lie to her soon-to-be fellow Element bearers, but the fear of being seen as a kook by the ponies that she desperately needed to be her friends was strong in her mind.

“Uh... See, I used to live in Canterlot and...”

“Oh, my goodness, you're from Canterlot?” Elusive suddenly enthused. “Oh I've always dreamed of living there. The class, the sophistication, you must tell me all about it. Oh! Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting Princess Luna?”

Relieved for the change of subject and also because their little party had reached the dreaded collapsing cliff and had yet to be caught in a rock fall, Twilight happily responded.

“Well actually, Luna and I are good friends...” She began, but was stopped when just out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimmer of flickering orange light coming from below the cliff face. Then for three reasons, Twilight's stomach leapt up into her throat.

First was the realization that the reason that the cliff hadn't collapsed was that Solar Flare's magic had not yet made it collapse, and that the flickering glow she had spotted was just that. Solar Flare's magic.

Second was the thought that by admiting her friendship with Princess Luna she was effectively blowing her own cover. She was friends with the Luna in her world not this one, and now she had made the critical error of mixing up her cover story and the truth she was trying to conceal.

Finally the simple G forces acting on a body in free fall, in this case her body, completed the trifecta of reasons why Twilight Sparkle was now choking on her intestines.

Knowing it was coming didn't make it any less terrifying when it was actually happening. Twilight screamed as she fell, hoping against hope that she would be able to catch the same ledge she had last time.

Then, she wasn't falling anymore. A pair of silky smooth cyan hooves were wrapped around chest under her forelegs, and she was slowly being lifted into the air by strong steady wing beats. She looked up into the face of her savior to see a pair of rose-colored eyes gazing back. “Don't worry, I got ya!” Rainbow Blitz assured her.

Her mind kicked back into gear and she looked around frantically for her friends. A short distance away, hovered Butterscotch, Berry Bubble held tightly in his hooves.

But if I'm not sliding down the cliff, who is? The mage thought to herself. Her question was answered by a shout of distress from below. Elusive was speeding toward the shear drop just as Twilight herself had done once before. Applejack, who had grabbed an exposed root to save himself, saw what was happening and pushed himself off to try and help.

As the pale white unicorn reached the edge, he flipped onto his stomach and desperately clawed at the edge with his hooves.

“Don't worry Elusive! Ah'm commin'!” Shouted Applejack

A look of pure mortal terror adorned the alabaster colt's face as he struggled for grip, but he was fighting a loosing battle. The dirt, pebbles, and dust on the edge served only to loosen any hold he managed to gain. Fortunately, Applejack had almost reached him.

With one final heave, the farm colt reached out his hooves just as the last of Elusive's hold fell away. With a mighty stretch, both ponies reached for each other.

And missed.

Elusive screamed as gravity took its rightful hold and dragged the white stallion down. The other five could only watch in horror as his mortal cry was abruptly cut short by a sickening crunch. Then silence.

“NO! RARITY NO! PLEASE NO!” Twilight sobbed, completely oblivious to the fact she was using the wrong name.

As fast as equinely possible the other five raced to their fallen companion. Rainbow Blitz had tears running down his face, his breath ragged from his powerful sprint toward the crash site with Twilight in toe. Applejack's voice was ragged and ruined from howling out his defiance of his friend's fall down to the rocks below. Butterscotch and Berry were stunned into gasping silence, both wishing with all their hearts for what they had just witnessed to be untrue.

But it was true. Laying at the bottom of the cliff was a battered and broken body. Ocean blue eyes open and staring at nothing, blood leaking from multiple cuts and scrapes, hind leg twisted and bent at an impossible angle and his chest...

His chest was moving! OH THANK FAUST HIS CHEST WAS MOVING!!! It was rapid, and shallow, and uneven but Elusive was still breathing.

Twilight didn't think, she just acted. There was a spell she could use, one she had found after examining some of the lost and forgotten tomes in the basement of her library. A spell from the dark side of her talent, but something she had learned just the same. It wasn't a healing spell, not really. But it was her only hope.

Grabbing a nearby stone in her magic, the mage shattered it with the force of her mind and desperation. Letting the pieces fall to the ground, she selected one particularly sharp fragment, then approached the broken form of her friend.

With her crude stone knife Twilight cut a deep and twisted gash from her left forearm, down past her knee and all the way to her fetlock. Four other ponies gasped at the grisly ritual before them, never having seen such black magic preformed before. But like any power, magic is neither good nor evil, only a tool for the wielder and this was a fact Twilight knew well.

Casting the stone away, the mage lit her horn and began a low and guttural chant. Blood welled from the wound and flowed down to her hoof, but she was undeterred by the pain. The power of her horn began to flow through her body and its light spilled out through the deep cut in her leg, setting her blood alight. Then Twilight pressed her now blood soaked hoof squarely over Elusive's heart.

As the blood magic began to flow between them Twilight began the hardest part of her working. With a surge of resolve, she pushed her own life-force and well-being into Elusive's broken body, while at the same time pulling the hurt and damage into herself.

Pain lanced through her in unmitigated waves. Small cuts opened on her skin as the same cuts closed on Elusive's body. One of her ribs cracked and Twilight's eyes shot open in agony, but still she pressed on. Her rear leg torqued and tore, the shattering of bone in Elusive reducing to hair-line fractures and torn ligaments in both ponies. A second rib snapped in Twilight's chest and Elusive's breathing became slightly deeper, more regular. Lastly a palette of colorful bruises blossomed across the violet mare, before she fell beside Elusive, her terrible magic finally spent.

The pale unicorn colt took a deep strong breath, still wincing in pain from his injuries, but his eyes quickly found focus. He looked to Twilight first, laying on her side next to him and twitching in hurt.

“You saved me.” He rasped “I could feel your magic. You saved my life.”

Though it hurt immensely, Twilight couldn't help but smile. “That's what friends are for.” she whispered back.

Immediately the other four ponies were on them, concern thick in each of their voices.

“Oh my gosh Twilight, Elusive, are you two all right?”

“What in the hay kind of magic was that? Twilight, what did you do to Elusive?”

“Holy smokes that was amazing! You were all like 'garble grumble gurble', then Elusive was like 'Ahh', then you were all 'AHHH!', and then you went 'thwump'. Are you guys alright?”

“Wow Twilight, I didn't even know unicorns could do magic like that. Hey um, are you two gonna be ok?”

Elusive spoke up in answer to the myriad questions being slung his way. “I'll be alright. If, ug... If somepony could help me stand...” He grunted with the effort of regaining his hooves. Instantly Butterscotch was at his side taking his wight and helping him stand.

“What happened between you two?” asked the timid pegasus colt.

With Applejack assisting her, Twilight struggled to her own hooves. “I can't heal wounds that severe, so I-AHH!...” The violet mage winced in pain as she tried to put wight on her rear leg. “So I took them away instead.” Carefully this time, she tried standing on her own. With a little effort and quite a bit of discomfort the mare was able to manage the feat.

Elusive spoke with wide eyes, seeing Twilight now in any entirely new light. “I didn't think magic could even do such a thing. Where could you have possibly learned such a spell?”

“Well...” Twilight began, hesitating to tell them the whole truth. However, something in her gut told her that equivocating now would be a bad thing. “Alright, but before I tell, you guys have to promise never to tell anypony about what you saw here, ok?”

A chorus of affirmative nods and responses was her reply, so she pressed on. “I run a library back where I come from, and I found the spell scrawled in the margin of an old pony anatomy and physiology book in the basement. I immediately recognized it for what it was, but I couldn't help but remember such a forbidden piece of magic.

“Blood magic is fantastically illegal, so much so that the princesses have worked hard to ensure that it's almost entirely forgotten. Please don't tell anyone I cast that spell, it was the only thing I could think of to save Elusive.” Her pleading eyes glistened with nervous tears, a cold dark dungeon was one of the better things she could look forward to if word of her spell ever got out.

“Your secret's safe with us Twilight.” Blitz assured her, giving her an encouraging nuzzle.

“Thank you, all of you.” she said, sighing in relief. She knew she could always count on her friends to have her back.

Elusive just chuckled, then quickly flinched as his remaining broken ribs reminded him of their presence. “You are hardly one to be saying thank you Twilight Sparkle.” He began. “You quite possibly saved my life, and at great risk to your own. Never have I experienced such an act of generosity. As a unicorn and a gentleman, I am forever in your debt.”

Twilight blushed at the praise. “Yeah... Don't mention it.” Five other ponies chuckled at her modesty. “No seriously, don't mention it!” She gravely pressed, giving her companions a hard glare.

But her stern expression could only last for a moment before all six ponies dissolved into a giggling mess.

Chapter 7: The Forest For The Trees - Part 1

Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is the intellectual property of Hasbro and Her Imperial Alicorn Majesty, Lauren Faust. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is not for everyone. Side effects may be mild to severe and have been found to include sqweeing, involuntary release of d'aww, extreme levels of awesome in the bloodstream, diabeetus, and ponyfication. Talk to your doctor to find out if My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is right for you.

What Might Have Been

Chapter 7: The Forest For The Trees - Part 1

After the the startling events on the cliffs, Twilight and company felt they all were well deserving of a short rest. None of the six ponies had brought any food, but there was a small trickle of a stream running through the bottom of the gully where they could all take some water. For the two now injured members of the group, this was easier said than done. It took the combined effort of a friend to help both unicorns down what would otherwise have been an easy hop down to the water, but in time it was managed.

When Twilight and Elusive were both slaked of their thirst it became apparent that, while both were willing and eager to see their little quest to completion, they were both for lack of a better term, lame. Applejack was quick to point out this was a problem if they hoped to reach their destination with any haste. Fortunately Butterscotch offered up a solution.

The timid colt gently instructed Rainbow Blitz and Applejack to look around and fetch for him six or seven straight smooth sticks and a small bundle of reeds or vines. Meanwhile he had Berry Bubble help him collect a few hoofulls of a leafy green herb with a reddish flower-head and small purple flowers.

It didn't take longer than ten or fifteen minutes (it was hard to estimate time with the sun hanging stationary in the sky) for the search parties to return with their hauls.

“Mash up those flowers with your hooves and gently rub it into their open wounds” the yellow pegasus instructed, as he began inspecting the sticks with a critical eye.

“Um Butterscotch, what exactly is all this stuff anyway?” Twilight asked, her native curiosity asserting itself.

The confident air of command which Butterscotch had assumed in their time of need evaporated as the shy colt was called to explain. “Oh, um... well, you two are going to have a hard time walking with your legs sprained like that, so... um, I was going to splint them for you with these sticks. If that's ok with you.”

“It's more than fine, I thought I was just going to have to grin and bear it from here on out.” Elusive admitted. “I must say I'm quite impressed by your ability to improvise first aid like this.”

Butterscotch tried to hide a faint blush at the praise. “Oh, its not that hard really. Anypony could do it, I'm really not that special.”

“I wouldn't say that.” Twilight countered. “You really look like you know what you're doing.”

The continued attention was only making the shy colt more uncomfortable. He didn't deserve such praise for something so mundane as first aid. In fact, Butterscotch didn't really think he deserved much praise period. He wasn't able to preform jaw-dropping feats of healing / blood magic, nor did he have the expertise to properly set and treat his friends' wounds. All he could manage was some sticks and vines for splints and a hoofull of raw herbs for poultices. Not very praiseworthy at all.

“Oh, um... thanks... I guess” was all he could manage for a response.

Noticing his friend’s discomfort with the topic at hoof, Twilight let her curiosity take the conversation forward. “What's with this flower, by the way? I don't recognize it at all.”

Free from the approval that made him so uncomfortable, Butterscotch perked up a bit as he explained.

“It's Prunella vulgaris, also known as heals-all. It's a weed that's actually edible and quite common around Ponyville. I like to put it in salads and soups, or sometimes I make a cold tea out of it.

“It also has antiseptic properties that make it a good thing for open cuts, as it helps keep wounds from becoming infected. I've heard that drinking an infusion of the leaves can help with indigestion and diarrhea, and the whole plant is supposed to be good for your liver.

“I've actually used it a lot to help my little animal friends with small injuries because it's so much cheaper than getting disinfectant from the store. Not that the disinfectant isn’t important, but for little things sometimes this is all you really need.”

His detailed exposition came to a sudden halt when Butterscotch realized that all his friends were staring at him. For Applejack and Elusive, that was just about the most words they had ever heard come out of their shy neighbor in one go. Rainbow and Twilight were each impressed with the extent of the yellow colt's knowledge on the subject, and Berry was just impressed.

Who knew such an unassuming plant had so many cool abilities. It was like a superhero plant. Silently helping ponies with cuts and scratches but never revealing its true power. Definitely Berry's new favorite member of the Lamiaceae family.

“Well that's all just common knowledge... nothing too special.” The yellow pegasus added, trying to mitigate any damage he might have done by showing off.

Not willing to debate the point, Twilight just thanked her timid new medic as he proceeded to splint her leg while not making direct eye contact with anypony. Once Butterscotch was finished with the violet mage he moved on to Elusive and in short order both ponies were on their hooves. Finally the yellow colt made one last check over each of their bodies and announced his verdict.

“You both have probably broken your back leg, but the fractures look like they're just hairline so it will hurt to walk but you should be fine 'till we can get back to Ponyville hospital. What's more severe is the sprained tendons in your legs, that's why I put you each in a splint.

“Try to put as little wight on it as you can because I don't know how long some sticks and vines are going to work as splints. Besides the surface cuts and bruising, I’d say you both have some broken ribs too, probably two each.”

“That would make sense.” Twilight commented. “When I cast my spell, I tried to split the injuries between us fifty-fifty.”

“A fact I can't thank you for enough.” Said Elusive.

“We still need to get you both to a hospital soon though.” The yellow colt continued. “You might have other injuries like internal bruising that we don't know about.”

The violet mage gave a solemn sigh. “We can't turn back now. The longer we wait, the worse the damage to Equestria will be from the continual sunlight, and the more opportunity Solar Flare will have to act against us.”

Butterscotch's demeanor preformed a dizzying 180 from confident to terrified as he asked, “What do you mean 'act against us'? Do you really think she'll come after us?”

“I can't be sure, but I can't rule it out either.” Responded the violet mage. Twilight thought back to what she had seen a split second before the cliff collapsed. It could have been her imagination when she saw that tiny flicker, or it could have been a coincidence. Maybe she was just seeing things. Then again, maybe not.

The purple unicorn slumped with the weight of her ill tidings. She made a brief struggle to stand from her resting place on the ground, and began her limping pace onward down the gully. “Let's get going. We've still got a ways to go before we reach the ruins, and I have a feeling we're still in for a few surprises.”

By now it seemed obvious to Twilight what those surprises were going to be. Unfortunately she also still felt that if she were to spill the beans to these ponies that still only barely knew her, they would see her as crazy and refuse to continue their little quest. As much as the violet mare feared rampaging manticores and disgruntled sea serpents, she feared what would happen to this world if Solar Flare wasn't stopped even more.

There was another grim reality pushing her onward as well; she wasn't doing it just to save this Equestria, but to try and regain her own. Twilight harbored no illisuions regarding her current situation. She knew there was little hope of her ever getting home again on her own.

The purple mage could easily return to the place-between-places with her fancy new spell, but that didn't mean she could find her way back to her own little green gas ball. Lacking the eons of magical knowledge possessed by Celestia and Luna to help her navigate the greater cosmos, Twilight Sparkle was stuck. Her only hope of getting help from either of the two alicorns now rested with the Elements of Harmony, which brought her back to the situation at hoof.

Looking back over the past few hours, the studious mare easily detected the pattern. When they reached the mouth of the gully, there would be a manticore waiting for them, then a cursed forest, and a sorrowful sea serpent after that. The mage felt a little guilty about knowingly leading her new stranger-friends into that kind of danger, but she was confident they could handle it.

Besides, when all the chips were down, saving the world was just the right thing to do. So gathering up her courage Twilight pressed on and, with varying degrees of uneasiness her five companions followed, all of them slowly making their way down the gully.

It wasn't a long walk, even with her and Elusive moving at their limping pace it only took the five colts and one mare a few minutes to reach the valley mouth. As they approached, a flock of birds flushed up from the trees ahead and a guttural roar split the quiet day-lit air. Elusive stumbled and was caught by Butterscotch, Rainbow blitz froze up in shock and crashed into Berry Bubble, and Applejack rammed into the back of Twilight due to her sudden and unexpected stop.

“Right on que.” The violet mare said quietly to herself, she being the only one among them unfazed but the sound.

Applejack however, picked up on the remark. “What in the hay do you mean 'right on que'?” he said, his face filling with a mix of fear, dread, and accusation.

Twilight wipped her head around, her pupils constricting with the realization that she had been heard. “I uhh...” Was all she managed to say before another savage roar cut through their ears.

In an instant, the path before the six brave ponies erupted into dancing orange light. For a moment it seemed like the Everfree had caught fire, but the sinister glow was not coming from the trees. The twisted boughs were violently pushed aside to let pass a monster the likes of which none of the ponies had ever seen.

Long, razor sharp claws the color of blood scored the ground with its passage. Fibrous muscles, rope tight with anticipation for the kill smoothly coiled and stretched beneath a radiant coat of glowing white. Boney wings strung through not with supple membrane but roiling flame loosely spread into readiness while a great segmented tail, tipped with a wicked poison stinger rose from behind the beast in obvious threat. Finally a full lion's mane of raging fire surrounded the face of a feline predator complete with waiting fangs and patient, crimson eyes.

A manticore that was not at all what it should have been.

A moment passed between the hunter and the six hunted. Eyes growing wide with fear or narrowing in preparation for the kill.

Rainbow Blitz gave voice to the single thought ringing through Twilight's mind. “What in the hay is th-”

An ear splitting roar cut through the small valley, interrupting the chromatic pegasus and sending sharp jolts of adrenaline through all six ponies. Blitz immediately took to the air, dashing out in front of his companions and preparing to meet the beast in a battle charge.

“Everypony, back up the gully NOW!” Shouted Applejack. Elusive turned to comply knowing he was in no condition to put up a fight. He then let out a very emasculating shriek when Berry Bubble ducked his head under the white unicorn's hindquarters...

“In Luna's name what are you doing Berry?!?! Ahhh!!”

...and unceremoniously tossed Elusive atop his back. However Elusive's ride upon the galloping earth pony was not at all helping the condition of his injured ribs.

“You weren't running fast enough so I'm carrying you silly! I know your ribs still hurt but I couldn't just leave you there limping with that monster coming after us.”

“That's hardly the point” Elusive hissed through gritted teeth and the agonizing pain that was rippling through his chest.

Berry immediately dug his hooves in and put the brakes on hard, skidding to a sudden halt, his alabaster charge scrunching up against the back of the pink pony's neck. Berry craned his head around to look Elusive in the eye.

“Well, if you're upset because I had to nuzzle your nethers, I'll be happy to buy you dinner when we get back to Ponyville.” He said with a smoldering gaze and a husky, mischievous voice. “Just to, you know, make it official.”

The alabaster unicorn's jaw droped and his eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, pupils shrinking down to pinpricks. Did I just hear what I think I heard? Was the only thought to make it through the locked up gears of his mind. Suddenly the pain in his chest didn't seem quite so important any more.

Berry however, could only hold his face straight for a second before breaking into gales of roaring laughter. The look on Elusive's face was PRICLESS!!! Tears came to Berry's eyes, his sides felt like they were going to split and staying upright was almost impossible, let alone walking.

The white colt stammered through his recovery. “B-Berry! Now's really not the time for that! What were you thinking?!”

“Well it got your ribs to stop hurting didn't it?” the party colt said with a smile and a twinkle of mischief in his eye. Elusive could hardly argue, the shock certainly had done that.

“What 'er y'all still standin' around for, dangit?! I said RUN!” Came Applejack's stern order, reminding the two that they were still very much in the middle of a life or death scenario.

“Okie dokie lokie!” Was Berry's response as he resumed his galloping, his wounded charge able to do little more than hold on for the ride. Meanwhile the orange farm colt had his own hooves full dealing with the manticore.

Rainbow Blitz's initial charge had been a feint to throw the beast off its balance and it had worked, the fiery monstrosity reared up on its hind legs to swat at its attacker. After chastising Berry and Elusive, Applejack saw his chance. The apple farmer raced forward into the fray to deliver unto his foe the full force of his famed buck. Closing with his target he planted his foreleg to pivot and used his centripetal momentum to lend extra power to the blow.

However the precious few seconds Applejack had spent concerned for the pink and white ponies gave the manticore time to realize what was coming. With a mighty crash, the beast brought it's forelegs down right in the path of the farm colt's arc. Only halfway through his swing, Applejack's gut connected squarely with the manticore's front knee.

With an audible whoosh of escaping air the orange farmer spun away from the fight gasping for breath.

“Applejack!” Twilight called in concern. Fortunately though, the farm colt was winded but otherwise unharmed and was quickly regaining his hooves, voicelessly waving for the mage to flee to safety further up the gully.

Blitz was faring better in his attempts to distract the manticore from his wounded and weaker friends. Harrying the larger creature from the air allowed him to exploit his trademark agility and speed. Unfortunately due to the roaring fire that covered the beast's wings and mane, the rainbow pegasus was having difficulty scoring more than a glancing blow. When he saw Applejack rebound off the manticore's leg, he desperately stepped up his attempts to draw his foe's attention away from his companions, taking more risks and daring to get closer to the flames.

The smell of burning hair on his hooves and the tingle of low degree burns rewarded Rainbow Blitz as he cut closer and closer to the creature, but his efforts were far from ineffectual. In the face of the greater onslaught from above, the fiery manticore turned its attention back to the whizzing blue annoyance.

This time the beast spared no patience for Blitz's antics and reared up again, spreading its fiery wings and flapping them with wide powerful strokes. The air moved by the magically burning appendages twisted and filled with soaring flame, lashing out and indiscriminately scorching everything nearby.

Luckily that meant that the only valid target for this assault was Rainbow Blitz himself, who was forced into an out-of-control turn to avoid flying right through the billowing fire. The cerulean pegasus spun and veered trying to right himself, but before he could bring his wings to bear he tumbled into a bushy tree with a leafy crash.

Free of its attackers for the moment, the burning manticore began to advance on Twilight and Butterscotch's position. The purple mare began to back peddle as best she could with her wounded leg, unwilling to break eye contact with the creature. Frenzied reasoning was chasing itself around and around inside her mind, trying to understand what she was seeing.

I've never seen a manticore look like that. Why is it burning? Manticores aren't supposed to be on fire like that. This wasn't part of the plan. How can you plan for manticores on fire at all?!? Oh, what do I do? What do I do?

Twilight frantically cast her mind about to whichever fact of knowledge or observation of her surroundings that could offer her inspiration or guidance, but try as she might her vast and deep reservoirs of learning held no ready advice for dealing with a manticore on fire. Then in the heat of her searching her eyes came to rest on Butterscotch.

The gears in her head snapped into alignment and the solution was made clear. This was Butterscotch's time to shine and indeed, the yellow colt was not backing away from the advancing monster but determinedly standing his ground. Relief flooded Twilight with the realization that this encounter was going to go just like it had her first time around.

Just like that fall on the cliff? Asked a traitorous thought from the depths of her mind. This wasn't exactly like the first time. This manticore was very different from the one she had met then, and she had no assurances that its problem was a thorn in its paw.

No. This world was different but it wasn't that different. Even if something more was going on than just a thorn, the Fluttershy she knew back home would be kind, brave and caring enough make it better. Despite him being a colt and this being a completely different universe, Twilight just knew that this yellow pegasus had the same hidden reservoir of courage and compassion. She had faith he could do it.

However her unstoppable logical mind would not let the matter rest and forced her to continue analyzing the scene, urgently searching for that niggling little detail that set her ill at ease. She watched as the flaming monstrosity advanced with the easy power of a top tier predator, taking its time, its eyes never leaving Butterscotch who waited patiently for it to approach.

Behind them, Applejack managed to catch his breath and Rainbow Blitz dug his way out of the tree. Both ponies could only stop and stare, dumbfounded by the sight of their easily frightened friend displaying such bravery. Berry Bubble and Elusive also halted their retreat up the valley to watch the showdown, and Twilight Sparkle just couldn't look away.

Butterscotch relaxed his posture and extended his hoof in a non-threatening way, showing the manticore a soft smile. The beast halted barely more than a meter away from the pegasus and silently appraised the offer of friendship, its eyes never leaving the yellow colt.

Twilight sucked in a breath of realization. Its eyes! She had seen those eyes before, and their presence here resolved her doubt into understanding. The manticore she had encountered on her first trip through this forest had eyes with round pupils and wild green irises, but this beast was different. Its pupils were dragon-like slits and the crimson irises blazed with a furious light, the light of an angry goddess. This manticore wasn't enraged, it was possessed, and Butterscotch was in terrible danger.

In that critical moment of enlightenment the violet mare shouted out a warning. “Butterscotch, watch out!” The yellow colt turned his head just in time for the razor claws of the flaming monster to give him a rather close haircut.

“Butters!” Rainbow called in alarm as he launched himself from the tree and toward his friend. Now realizing the peril he was in, the yellow colt cowered down in fear just as a blue and rainbow blur collided with him and sent both ponies tumbling away from the threat. The manticore reacted too, opening its mouth and sending a blast of fire after its lost quarry.

Applejack sprung into action lining up another powerful buck, this time to the creature's side while Twilight gathered her mana and launched a crackling bolt of magic. The two shots, one physical the other ethereal, connected squarely with their target and knocked the beast down and back.

The orange apple farmer then raced to assist Butterscotch and Rainbow while Twilight looked around for shelter. Noticing a small spur canyon she pointed and called out. “Everypony into that gully, we've got to get away from it!”

Her companions leapt into action and made for the small ravine, making the most of the time it took for the manticore to recover . Elusive and Berry made it in first, followed by Twilight, who stopped to watch for Applejack, Butterscotch, and Rainbow Blitz. Thankfully the yellow pegasus was none the worse for wear, having been shielded from the fire by his companion. The blue speedster however, had lost most of his trademark mane and tail to the heat, but he too showed no signs of lasting harm.

Applejack urged them on, galloping behind his friends and looking over his shoulder as the manticore regained its feet and shook itself off. To hasten their escape Rainbow lept into the air shouting. “Come on, we’re almost th-” He was interrupted by a sudden face-plant into the ground.

Quickly righting himself and looking back at his own wings, the colt saw that large swaths of his primary feathers were charred and burned away. His eyes widened as the implication of this damage dawned on him. Until his feathers molted and grew back, he was grounded.

Behind them the beast roared and gave chase. Applejack headbutted his blue friend in the behind and began to push the stunned colt along. “Come on Blitz, we've gotta MOVE!” Snapping out of his stupor the daring pegasus bolted for his companions in the ravine. As her last two friends passed, Twilight also turned up the small gully and regrouped with the others.

“Alright, now what?” asked the orange farmer, unknowingly voicing the question that Twilight had been frantically pondering. How could a mere mortal mage like herself defeat and angry goddess who was intent on murdering her and her friends with the possessed body of a beast.

“I believe we'll have to stand and fight.” Elusive said as he clambered down from Berry's back. “The top of this gully is choked with thorns and brambles, I don't think we'll be able to escape.”

Well that's not good. Twilight thought to herself. Ok, how can I stop a magically enhanced, fire breathing manticore? Come on Twilight, think! Think!

“Maybe if we throw water on that monster, it'll go out.” Berry suggested. “You know, like a campfire”

“Berry this is no time for jokes.” Scolded the tailor. “We're in serious danger here!” Twilight suddenly knew what she had to do, but she would have to act quickly if it was to work. Quickly she readied the first of many spells she would need to fulfill her plan. As if to emphasize Elusive's point, an earsplitting roar cut through the small ravine as the flaming monstrosity stalked into view.

Though he was without flight, Rainbow Blitz was not without attitude. With fire in his eyes he turned to meet the oncoming beast, his every movement radiating confidence. With his friends at his back he shouted encouragement to the other five ponies. “Don't worry guys. As long as we all have each other, I just know we'll pull through this!”

Then with a flash and a pop, Twilight Sparkle teleported and was gone.

Chapter 8: To Crash a Secret

Disclaimer: The below story contains characters and settings that fall under the rightful domain of Her Imperial Majesty, The Alicorn Lauren Faust. This story was written purely for fun, and in tribute to Her masterful accomplishment, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. I, as the author of this work, receive no monetary gain from its publication or distribution, nor do I ever intend to seek such consideration. This disclaimer is hereby affirmed this, the sixth day of November in the year Two Thousand and Twelve of the Gregorian Calender.

What Might Have Been

Chapter 8: To Crash a Secret

As Dusk Shine made his way from Princess Luna's private chambers, his mind began to churn with ideas. He was headed for the royal archives with the intent of doing any research he could into the Elements of Harmony, and this mysterious Magic Key. Book titles and authors fell into line and were organized with regard to their potential usefulness. Questions bubbled up in his mind and lines of inquiry were identified for finding the answers he needed. One thought however, did not fall neatly into place and brought the unicorn mage up short.

Of all the resources Princess Luna had put at his disposal, and of all the ponies that were now sworn to aid and protect him in his mission, there was one above all the rest who he needed to see immediately. This pony was one of the Princess's most trusted servants and held a position of great honor and responsibility in Luna's court. This pony was resourceful, and knew the workings of the new government-in-hiding inside and out. This pony was a highly trained magic user and an even more talented tactician. This pony was brave and strong and kind. This pony was Dusk Shine's sister, Gleaming Shield.

The purple colt quickly turned his hooves away from their path toward the archives, and began making his way out of the palace. According to the Princess, Gleaming Shield had gone into hiding with the rest of the royal guard in preparation for the coming of Solar Flare. Of course, being the captain of the royal guard meant that though she was in hiding, she had not gone far.

Currently Capt. Shield was staying as a civilian guest in an upscale townhouse a few blocks away from the castle gates. The house belonged to a mare by the name of Mi Amore Cadenza. It was a vaguely familiar name to Dusk Shine, but the purple colt was unable to place it. In his private meeting with the Princess, Luna had claimed Miss Cadenza as one of her distant descendants, and also a princess in her own right of the lost Crystal Empire.

Dusk had to admit he was impressed by the accommodations his big sister had scored. Apparently being captain of the royal guard came with some rather nice perks. It was a little added bonus for the violet mage to get to see the inside of such a fancy abode. The more he thought about it, the more he was looking forward to the meeting.

It did not take long for the spry young colt to make his was to the home in question, and as he arrived he was pleased to see the shape of a pony in the upstairs window. Encouraged by the fact that somepony was home, Dusk knocked on the door and waited for a response.

As he stood on the doorstep, the words of his mentor came bubbling up to the forefront of his mind. You are so blessed to have a sister like Gleaming Shield. Cherish that. And don't ever let it slip away. Truly it had been too long since he had last spent time with, or even seen his big sister. With his ever intensifying studies and her never ending responsibilities as a captain, the two could hardly ever find time for one another. It was a real eye opener for Dusk that it took such apocalyptic circumstances for them to...

Wait a second, what exactly is taking her so long to answer the door?!? thought the colt. He had been standing on the threshold lost in thought, and only now realized how long it had been since he knocked.

Trying again, this time with more force, Dusk called out. “Gleaming, are you there?” there was not response. “Miss Cadenza?” Cautiously he tried the door. It was unlocked.

Though he did not want to trespass, the violet colt had little time to spare. He needed to see his sister and tell her of his mission, as well as question her for a better understanding of the underground government. On top of all that, he still had to visit the royal archives to do any research he could on ways to stop Solar Flare, and he needed to do all of this before the Mare in the Sun showed up in Canterlot. In short, he really couldn't wait.

Cautiously entering the high class home, Dusk called again. “Miss Cadenza? Gleaming? Is anypony home?” Again he was met with silence.

The entryway in which he stood was magnificent in its decor. Black and white checkered tiles made crisp the sound of each of his hooffalls, and the warm wood paneling lent the place a cozy elegance. A rich red carpet tightly hugged a finely carved staircase that lead up to the second floor and wide archways on either side gave way deeper into the house.

Since he had seen somepony in the upstairs window, Dusk chose the staircase as his first route of investigation. It was a testament to the skill of the carpenters and crafts-ponies who were responsible for its construction that the stairway made not a single creek or groan as the purple colt ascended. Feeling more like an intruder every second, Dusk tried to call for his sister again upon reaching the top, but in his nervous state his voice came out strained and low. “Gleaming?”

Pausing to listen for a response, Dusk faintly made out the sound of soft voices coming from behind the doors at the end of the hall. Unable to make out any words, the purple colt warily made his was forward, the plush carpeting underhoof muffling the sound of his hooves. As he neared the door, which appeared to lead to the master bedroom, the violet mage began to pick up mumbles and gasps coming from within, but he still could make out no decipherable words.

Perplexed by the situation at hoof and noticing that the door was ajar, the curious colt moved to open it fully. It took hardly any pressure at all for the door to glide soundlessly open on well oiled hinges, providing Dusk Shine with a sight he was unable to understand.

Laying in the middle of a grand fourposter bed with the pillows and covers haphazardly strewn about, was his sister Gleaming Shield and strangely, his childhood foal-sitter Cadance, both tangled in each others arms and in a very compromising position.

Perhaps it was a lack of experience in these sorts of matters, or perhaps it was a cognitive reluctance to compute the information he was taking in, but whatever the reason, the reality of the situation was not quite registering in Dusk's mind, causing a flat “Uhh...” to leak from his mouth.

And then it clicked.

The purple colt having finally made enough noise to be noticed, Gleaming Shield’s ears swiveled around and locked onto the source of the disturbance an instant before the guard captain's battle trained reflexes. A scream of mortal terror erupted from Dusk Shine's lips, not because of the rock hard wall of violet magical force racing toward his face, but because of the fact that what he had just seen could never be unseen.

The wall of conjured force slammed into the traumatized colt and blessedly threw him from the scene of his horror. Gleaming Shield immediately followed up her spell by jumping off the bed and chasing after the now screaming intruder.

For his part, Dusk quickly regained his hooves and began a frantic sprint down the stares and into the rest of the house. He was lucky enough to find himself in a very well stocked and provisioned kitchen, and he made a bee line for the sink. Unfortunatly no mater how hard he scrubbed his face, eyes, and head, the image of his most beloved sister doing that would not remove itself from his brain.

A moment later Gleaming Shield herself rounded the corner fully prepared for a fight to the death, her horn blazing a furious lavender. Her battle charge was brought up short however, by the sight of her little brother grinding sudsy water into his eyes and yelling at the top of his lungs.

“Dusk Shine?!?” She exclaimed in confusion.

As a response, the distressed colt snapped his gaze around to her and pointed, still shouting incoherently. He proceeded to make confused and dysphoric gestures while continuing his distressed tirade.

“Dusk Shine!” Gleaming repeated sternly, trying without success to get some form of intelligible communication out of her little brother.

The purple mage just turned his head back to the sink and dunked his head under the soapy water, his pained wails turning into noisy bubbles.

Fed up with her brother's antics, Gleaming Shield grabbed the traumatized colt roughly by the shoulders and gave him a solid slap to the face. “Dammit Dusk! Snap out of it!” She commanded.

The slap did its work and silenced the distraught colt, but Dusk Shine was still far from copesetic. He stood there stunned for a moment before both ponies began to talk over each other.

“What in the world are you doing here?”

“What in Tartarus were you doing up there?”

“...”

“I should be asking you the same question!”

“...”

“Stop copying me!”

“...”

“Quit it!”

“Children, please!” commanded a third voice. With more grace than would be expected in such a situation, Princess Canance entered the kitchen and put an end to the siblings' dispute. Both brother and sister had the good sense to looked embarrassed by her comment before she spoke again. “I realize this situation seems a little awkard-”

“More than an little, dearheart.” interrupted Gleaming Shield with a weak smile and a strong blush on her face.

“Yes, well...” The pink alicorn valiantly fought off a blush of her own as the though of what she had just been caught doing was brought to the fore. Pressing on, she addressed the purple colt. “Dusk Shine, I don't know why you're here, but I think we all have some explaining to do. Perhaps it would be best if we went and sat down?” With this Cadance gestured in invitation toward her living room, hoping that her hospitality could make up for any mental scaring she had inadvertently inflicted on Dusk.

The young mage however, was still very confused by the current state of affairs. Most notably by the fact that he had found two ponies who he knew very well, both in the house of somepony who he was certain he knew nothing about.

“Wait. I was told this house belonged to a mare named Mi Amore Cadenza. Forgive me for being so blunt, but what are you doing here Cadance?”

The princess of love paused for a moment before understanding came to her. With a warm smile she explained. “Dusk Shine, my full name is Mi Amore Cadenza. This is my house. Now please, come sit down. I think we all have a lot to discuss.”

“Some more than others I'd wager” Dusk said shrewdly while shooting his sister a sharp glare.

Rolling her eyes, Gleaming Shield followed her unicorn brother and her alicorn lover into the living room. When they were all comfortably seated (comfortable being a relative term considering the circumstances) she decided it was time for some answers. Her younger brother however, was quicker on the draw.

“So, uh... How long have you two been together?” As usual, the purple colt went right for the most awkward topic possible without even realizing it. Cadence looked confused by this question though.

“Didn't Gleaming tell you?” She asked.

“Tell me what?”

“About our engagement silly. Your sister asked me to marry her almost a month ago.” gushed the alicorn. Enthusiasm and euphoria filled her as she got to relive that magical moment. “It was the most romantic thing. I still get giddy just thinking about it” leaning over to her betrothed, Cadance gave Gleaming a lovesome nuzzle.

The guardsmare by contrast, was clearly not comfortable with the attention. Not for any reason having to do with her fiance of course, but because of the shocked and betrayed look she was receiving from her dear little brother. Somepony was busted.

“Engaged!” He exclaimed in surprise. “You two are engaged?”

“Yep! I thought you knew already?”

“No.” replied Dusk, hurt creeping into his voice. “Do mom and dad know about this?”

Despite her well known courage and years of combat training, Gleaming Shield was quite obviously losing her nerves. She had indeed wanted to tell her little brother about her relationship, but for one reason or another she never seemed to be able to find the right moment. Now Dusk had found out in perhaps the worst possible way, and all she could do was come clean with the whole sordid truth.

“Well, yeah. Actually when I told them, Dad went and got our great grandma Twinkle's wedding ring for me to give to Cadence. So uh, yeah... they know.” She said while closely examining her hooves.

“Gleaming, I'm your brother. Why didn't you tell me?” He pleaded

The hurt in Dusk's eyes and voice cut deep into Gleaming Shield. “I wanted to Dusk, I really did. But the princess has had me so busy lately that I could hardly spare a minute to see Cadance, let alone you. I know that's not much of an excuse, but I am sorry.”

Dusk could plainly see Gleaming's remorse on her face and hear it in her voice, though he was still a bit peeved. He huffed in frustration at his boneheaded sister. “Yeah well, I guess I can forgive you. But I'm still mad at you for this.”

“Would it help if I said that I want you to be the colt of honor?” Gleaming offered.

“Really?” he said, leaning forward in his seat, nearly overcome with excitement.

The guardsmare smiled to see her brother so pleased with the idea. “Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Oh Gleaming, I'd be honered!” enthused the violet mage as he leap up and hugged his sister. No sooner had he done so than he pulled away again and coughed modestly into his hoof. “I mean, uh... Yes. That will be sufficient recompense for your previous transgression.” he said keeping a neutral tone.

“Well that settles it.” Cadance chimed in. “If there was ever any doubt before, it's gone now. You two are defiantly siblings!” she said with a chuckle.

The air in the richly furnished living room now significantly clearer, Dusk once again took hold of the conversation. This time however, he had a plan.

Being captain of the royal guard, his sister rarely had an opportunity to speak to Dusk about her work. Mostly this was due to security protocols and the trust of the state. However now that Dusk was in possession of Luna's Writ of Agency, he could technically be considered Gleaming Shield's boss. This was of course, an opportunity too good to pass up.

“So Gleaming, you said the princess has had you busy lately. What exactly has she been having you do if not guard the castle?”

Gleaming's face drew into a frown. “Dusk, you know I can't talk about work to ponies without security clearance.”

Feigning surprise, Dusk went on. “Oh really? … Huh.” The colt took a deep breath through his nose and turned to look out a window and up at the morning sky, all the while only just managing to keep the grin off his face. In a casually distracted manner, he made a comment on the weather which wasn't really about the weather at all. “You know, I've always found the sunlight welcome.” The purple colt turned back in time to see just what he was hoping to see.

Had she not already been sitting down, Gleaming Shield would have fallen flat on her rump. As it was, her jaw was hanging open and her eyes were wide in shock. The grin Dusk had been keeping in check finally slipped out as he leaned in closer to his sister. “What do you think, dear sister?”

For a moment the white unicorn mare could only stammer as she tried to find her words. “Uh, bu... Y-yes, but you won't get burned in the shade” she finally forced out.

The purple colt couldn't help it any more and burst out into gales of laughter, falling back into his seat and clutching his sides. “You should see the look on your face!”

Cadance, being the only pony not in the loop at this point, spoke up. “Um... Did I miss something? What's going on between you two?”

Her betrothed looked over to her with a sheepish grin. “Uh, Cadence dear, could you give Dusk and I a chance to talk in private for a bit?”

The alicorn princess of love was only more confused by this request and was about to say as much.

“Please honey.” Gleaming added quickly, giving the pink mare a brief nuzzle. “It's important, I promise.”

“Ok... I guess I just go make up some tea for us all then.” Cadance replied hesitantly before getting up and leaving the room.

As soon as the alicorn princess was out of earshot, the white guardsmare turned to her brother. “I was told to be ready to aid Princess Luna's chosen champion. I never though it would be you though.” she said still trying to get over her surprise.

“Is that really what she called me?”

“Yes actually. All the other officers and I were told that the princess was going to leave one pony with a singularly important mission, and that it was our first and highest duty to protect and aid this pony in any way possible, even at the cost of our own lives. We were told that this single pony was the key to stopping Solar Flare and saving Equestria.”

Dusk took a deep breath as he absorbed his sister's words. “That's about the gist of it.” he said slowly. “It's also part of the reason I came here in the first place. But it's not the only reason.” He got up and moved to sit next to his big sister. “Things are going to get very bad very soon, and I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to see you.”

“I know Dusk. I'm glad I get to see you too.” Gleaming said as she put an arm around the younger pony.

For just a little while they stayed like that, in a quite embrace. In the time to come both ponies knew that such familiar comforts would be few and far between, so the took what they could.

“There is something else I need to ask you.” Dusk said as he pulled away. His sister nodded once and suddenly the violet mage was looking into the face of a captain of the royal guard, calm, controlled, and ready.

Letting his intellectual mind take over, dusk began his explanation. “The mission Princess Luna's given me is still something I need to do substantial research on, and the best place for me to do that is in the Canterlot Royal Archives in the palace. However, once Solar Flare returns, she'll most likely come here, to Canterlot to start her conquest. I need to be away from here when that happens, but unless I stumble upon a promising lead in my research I have no idea where I should go after that.

“It won't help my cause any if I simply go into hiding just anywhere. I need a place that will have at least some chance of furthering my quest. You've been through tactical training so I thought I'd ask you. After Solar Flare arrives in Canterlot, what will be my best move?”

Gleaming took in all this information form Dusk with a calculating expression, slowly weighing the options available to her brother and trying to anticipate future events. Though she had been taught how to make sound tactical decisions based on incomplete information, there was one point of data the seemed critical to this whole problem. “What will the princess be doing when Solar Flare returns to Equestria?”

“Luna said that she expects Flare to hunt her down and challenge her to a fight. She said that two warring goddesses should be nowhere near a major city, so she left Canterlot just after sunrise. I can't tell you everything, but the short version is that it's a fight Luna knows she won't be able to win. Suffice to say that once she has been overpowered by Solar Flare, Princess Luna will be lost to us until we can put a stop to the Mare in the Sun.”

Gleaming thought on this for a moment as well, then she gave her opinion. “You're right that once Flare takes hold of the city, Canterlot will be a very bad place for you to be. I don't know the specifics of your mission and you shouldn't tell me, regardless the more information you can gather on your enemy the better. Nowhere are you going to find a better place to do that than the site of the princess's and Solar Flare's battle. If its information you need, I'd go there.

“Where exactly has the princess gone to wait for Flare?” She asked

Dusk thought back to his moment on the balcony with Luna just hours before, and to the image of that little town down in the valley.

“She went to Ponyville.”

Chapter 9: The Forest For The Trees - Part 2

Disclaimer:

In the beginning there was Zacherle which brought forth all ponies and all the lands and seas and all the others things besides from formless thought. Upon this creation did Holy Faust come and give new soul and life to the ponies. She who gave birth to Celestia and Luna and many more besides, then wove their fated threads into the great tapestry we know as Equestria. And with her divine labor finished, She allowed countless others to marvel at her work and pay it tribute.

Thus do we, the observers of divinity, respectfully take up the strands of fate which Holy Faust has left unto us and weave our own designs; not to the ends of profit, but so that the great tapestry of Ponydom may be made ever more grand by our efforts. With these words do we pray that our actions not besmirch Her work, nor seek to undermine Her name upon it.

What Might Have Been

Chapter 9: The Forest For The Trees – Part 2

The halls of Canterlot Castle were empty in a way Dusk Shine had never known them to be before. Even on the loneliest night of the slowest business day there had been at least some ponies wandering the corridors of the palace. At such a time servants, maids, and butlers would occasionally pass Dusk by on the way to their own errands. Honor guards could be found at the entrance to each wing and patrols would periodically make their way across the grounds. Even the wayward bureaucrat or official could be seen from time to time during even the most empty of hours.

The home of the princess was after all, more than just a fancy house. It served as the seat of Equestria's national government and as the most important house of justice in the land. It was a fully equipped, staffed, and functional military base that housed no less than two hundred and fifty of the finest earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn troops, in addition to all of the support facilities and personnel those troops required. The castle also served as one of the finest dinning establishments in the city, and boasted a clientele list consisting of VIPs hailing from as far away as the sun baked planes of Zebrica and the ice bound peaks of the Crystal Mountains. The palace and surrounding grounds showcased world renowned zoological gardens and were places for study and great learning, while the dungeons were an infrequently used jailhouse.

In truth, Canterlot Castle was more like a small city unto itself than any single structure, and as such it was filled with ponies that all lived and worked as a part of its day-to-day economy. Like any city, it was never truly still even when it slept, and this reality was hammered home to Dusk Shine by the ringing silence that pressed in on him.

Now, the castle truly was as still as the stone from which it was carved. The purple unicorn colt was aware that this was all part of the plan of course. It was Princess Luna's intention that when Solar Flare made her move on Canterlot, and specifically on Canterlot Castle, that she should encounter no resistance. The mad Mare in the Sun would be allowed to stroll right up to the Lunar Throne. She was even welcome to pop a squat on its black velvet cushions and nopony was to stop her.

In fact, nopony was even supposed to be in the castle at all. If Solar Flare wanted the Throne she could have it, silver trim and everything, but there would be no soldiers for her to fight, no bureaucrats of officials for her to muscle over, no pages to spread her proclamations, nopony at all.

Dusk was at first confused by this strategy, but Princess Luna has explained. “It's all part of the plan, you see. If my mad sister truly wants the crown, I'll be happy to provide her with it. For all I care she can have all the fun she wants with that stupid fancy hat, what I intend to keep from her is the actual rule of Equestria.”

It was rather brilliant really. Vacate the castle and all other large scale government facilitates and let the conquering alicorn be wholly ignored by the population at large. By sending nearly all of Equestria's government into hiding, and having the senators, officials, and bureaucrats blend in with the general population, Princess Luna had deprived Solar Flare of any traction she would otherwise have in her usurpation.

If the Mare in the Sun wanted to conquer Equestria, she would have to build its new government from scratch, while simultaneously fighting to dismantle a hidden system of governance that was already established.

“Perhaps my greatest regret about this whole situation is that I won't be there to see the look on her face when she realizes that there isn't actually an army for her to fight.” Luna had jokingly confided with her loyal student. “I'm sure it'll be quite a sight!”

Dusk couldn't help but smile as he recalled the words of his mentor, and for a short while the cavernous halls felt a little less barren. However the vacant stillness of the vast corridors could not be ignored for long, and soon enough a lonesome melancholy fell over the young stallion.

By the time he reached the imposing doors of the Royal Equestrian Archives, the mood of the purple mage had descended to downright brooding. Enterering the Archives, Dusk paid no heed to the great wooden doors as they swung open and as usual, their momentum carried them into a resounding collision with the wall.

The resulting bang shattered the silence of the castle utterly, but it was not the startling sound of wood hitting stone that made Dusk Shine's insides clench tightly down on his adrenal glands. No, the sound that so spooked the violet mage was the first pony voice he had herd since entering abandoned castle, its droning baritone condemnation sending ripples of chill recognetion down his spine.

“How many times must I remind you Mister Shine, that if you continue to abuse the doors to this library, you will soon be barred from passing through them?” There behind the reference desk, statuesque as always, sat the weathered visage of Dusty Stacks, Master Archivist.

For as long as Dusk could remember, Mr. Stacks had been the chief librarian for the entire Royal Equestrian Archive System. This meant that not only did he oversee The Canterlot Archives on the campus of Luna's School for Gifted Unicorns, but also two other collections; the Palace Library, and The Grand Arcanum, the largest repository of magical knowledge in the known world. Though both of the latter two establishments were housed in Canterlot Castle, it was for two very different reasons.

The Palace Library was Princess Luna's own personal collection of books, documents, and music, and its contents literally belonged to her alone. Over the course of a multi-mellina life, one tended to acquire a rather staggering quantity of books, and sometime in the not so distant past the princess had decided to share her horde with the general public. Being Luna's own personal property, the contents of the Palace library were kept in her own home.

The Grand Arcanum however, was another matter entirely. It had been established shortly after the mysterious fall of the Crystal Empire as a place for keeping any and all information about powerful magic spells and artifacts. It was hoped that with such a resource available to the Princess and other highly skilled mages, whatever arcane catastrophe had wiped the lost crystal ponies off the face of Equestria could be prevented from ever happening again.

The sheer quantity and power of the knowledge held within meant that security was a top priority. The wards and shields that protected this most treasured vault were crafted and maintained by some of the most powerful unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies in service to the Princess, and access to the records within was closely monitored and tightly regulated. Very few ponies had unrestricted access to all sections of the Grand Arcanum, but now that Dusk carried Luna's writ, he was finally one of them.

Unless of course Dusty Stacks were to say otherwise.

It was common knowledge amongst the students of Luna's school that the Master Archivist was not a pony to be trifled with. He was stoic, quite often cold, and highly protective of his papery charges. It was all enough to spawn a great many rumors about Stacks' 'supernatural powers'.

“Bad things happen to ponies who displeased him.” A senior had told Dusk Shine during his first week at university. “I once knew a mare who accidentally dropped her book in a mud puddle. When she tried to return it, Stacks just gave her this... this look, and that was it man. She was gone. Like the soul had been sucked right out of her. For weeks she just wondered around campus mumbling to herself, unable to speak or sleep, barely eating.

“And that's not the half of it man, just ask any of the tenured professors. The dude's been around literally forever. Not a single pony here can tell you who the master archivist was before him, and the Library has been around for centuries.

“Every now and then somepony will get the idea to ask the princess about him, but she never responds to any of the letters. If you ever get the chance to see him and Luna together in the same room you'll know why. The princess gets this strange look in her eye when he's around. Its a look you'll never see on her face anywhere else, and it'll take you a while to recognize it, but you wanna' know what that look is man?

“It's fear.”

Despite Dusk Shine's immediate dismissal of the ghost stories that surrounded the master archivist, he had yet to find a single scrap of evidence that would disprove them. Of course, neither had he found evidence to validate the tales, but at least in this instance, the purple mage had resolved he was better safe than sorry. There really is no up side to screwing with things you can't explain, after all.

Now that same eldrich disapproval was leveled squarely at the violet stallion, and Dusk would have been lying if he had said he didn't feel the temperature of the room drop about ten degrees. Hastening to make his apologies for slamming the door open, he approached the reference desk.

“I'm sorry Mr. Stacks. It was an accident. Really. It won't happen again, I promise.”

“See that it does not.”

As was usual when speaking with the master archivist, the conversation descended into uncomfortable silence. Dusk's curiosity got the better of him however, when he realized that the entirety of the castle was supposed to be vacant in anticipation of Solar Flare's return.

“Um, Mr. Stacks?”

“Yes Mr. Shine. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Why um... why are you still here?” His question drew an arch look from the elderly bookkeeper, but he answered all the same with only a hint of pride in his voice.

“Because Mr. Shine, I am the Chief Librarian for the Canterlot Archives, the Personal Bookkeeper for Her Highness Princess Luna, the Master Archivist of the Grand Arcanum, and Director of the Royal Equestrian Archive System.” Stacks leaned in close and looked the young stallion dead in the eyes. “It's my job.”

“I know, but everypony in service to the princess was ordered to evacuate the castle. Why have you stayed?”

Dusty was silent for a moment while he considered Dusk's question, and the violet mage got the distinct impression that Mr. Stacks was not thinking about the answer he would give, but whether or not he should give it. Just before Dusk felt obliged to retract his query, the aged master answered as he would to an apprentice.

“Dusk Shine, I am going to tell you a secret.” The purple unicorn was shocked to hear this, as never before had the master archivist addressed him by anything other than Mr. Shine.

“I do not serve the princess.” Dusty went on. “Though I am employed by Equestria's government and paid from its national funds, I do not serve it, nor its even its' citizens. I serve a higher authority and purpose than all of those things. I serve the books of this great library and most importantly, the knowledge those books contain.

“My purpose is not to please the crown or the ponies of Canterlot, but to maintain and disseminate the knowledge that has been entrusted to me to any and all thinking beings that need it. It is my duty to ensure that the thoughts and ideas of the past and present are never lost to the future.

“When Princess Luna ordered the castle emptied, I asked if she intended to relocate the contents of the Palace Library and the Grand Arcanum. When she said that the books would remain where they were, I told her that I would remain as well.” His words were spoken firmly, and with a strength of resolve that plainly showed he was willing to die to uphold them.

Still Dusk was concerned for the old master. Say what you would about is demeanor, but Dusty Stacks was still the best reference librarian Dusk had ever met. “But Luna, er, the princess told you why the castle is to be evacuated didn't she? About Solar Flare's return?”

“She did.”

“Then what are you going to do when The Mare in The Sun finally comes to Canterlot?”

For the first time in Dusk's memory, perhaps even the first time in living memory, Dusty stacks smiled.

“Dusk Shine, my boy.” He began, in a confident and conspiratorial tone that made the violet mage's skin prickle in the good kind of fear. “Never underestimate a librarian.”

She was gone.

She had come from out of nowhere, screaming and in tears but knowing something about that demon alicorn. The only one who did.

She had begged them for help, claiming she was lost far from home and that they all were in terrible peril. She had promised them hope, believed in them, and lead them into the jaws of danger with the confidence that they all were capable of coming out on the other side. She was smart, brave, and very strange, and now Twilight Sparkle was gone.

For some reason that one little fact struck Rainbow Blitz harder than any collision with the ground ever had. It knocked the breath from his lungs and forced the cold reality of his situation on him.

The were trapped. Trapped like a rabbit in this briar chocked draw with a mad beast quite literally hot on their tails. In all likelihood they were going to die, to be eaten by an otherworldly horror.

Had he known this trip into the forest would end in such disaster before setting out, Rainbow thought he could honestly say that he still would've gone anyway. The world was at stake after all, and if he was destined to be manticore chow he may as well be so as a hero. Not the most positive outlook sure, but Rainbow Blitz was resolved not to go down without a fight.

Now however, none of that seemed to matter. Now he was just abandoned, lied to, and betrayed.

This wasn't a hero's last stand in defense of an imperiled world, it was just him and his friends, mere acquaintances really, and they all were about to get eaten. The finallity of that idea caused the spirit to leak out of him and be replaced by despair. Terror took hold where hope had been, and the morbid pain of doom filled his guts.

Rainbow Blitz stood hollow before the naked threat of the manticore. His impotent wings were spread wide in aggression but trembled with futility, for his heart could not bring to bear his pegasus instincts of fight and flight. His knees were weak and unduly protested his wight, and his vision became clouded with tears. In his mind he knew that he had to fight, that his friends were counting on him to help them through, but nothing he could do would save them.

Elusive was shouting something, pointing to a pair of small, twisted, gray acacia snags that still clung to the walls of the canyon above them. The words didn't register in Blitz's mind. His muscles trembled with nerves but refused to yield to his command.

I have to fight it. He though to himself. If I fight it off, the others might be able to flee to safety. It was an encouraging thought, one that Rainbow desperately wanted to act upon, but his body just would not obey.

Berry Bubble was making strange gestures and frantically conversing with Applejack. Elusive was preparing a spell with Butterscotch standing near, his head held high and firm, his expression stoney.

Why won't I move?!?! I have to save my friends! He ground his teeth together while tears streamed down his cheeks in frustration, but he already knew the answer. Because if I try and save them, I won't be coming back, and there's no grantee they'll get away. It could all be for naught. It really is hopeless. We're all going to die.

Something was pulling on Rainbow's tail, trying to drag him back. The chromatic colt turned to see Butterscotch pleading with him to stand back. But he knew it didn't matter. The only thing a few meters would buy them was a few more seconds as manticore bore down on them.

With surreal detachment Blitz allowed himself to be moved further up the draw. Turning his head he briefly entertained the curiosity of why Berry Bubble looked like he was getting a boost up the cliff face from Applejack. The canyon walls were far to tall for even five ponies to scale in such a way, what hope did those two have? Why was Elusive's horn glowing so brightly?

The world exploded into sound, light, and color.

With a tremendous effort, the alabaster unicorn used all his talent for presentation magic and turned it into what amounted to an arcane flashbang.

In an instant, all of Blitz's senses came tumbling down. His eyes were bleached of light and his ears rang with the sound of thunder as he staggered to regain his balance. Why hadn't any pony warned him Elusive was going to do that?

“Rainbow! Rainbow, you weren't supposed to look. Are you alright?” Butterscotch's voice swam up through the bedlam still raging in his head. Blitz shook his head to clear it, squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed them, then he came back to the world.

The flaming manticore was still headed up their little draw, but Elusive's magic had a definite effect on the creature. It was shielding its eyes with its front paws and whipping its head back and forth to clear it.

Berry and Applejack were using this distraction to try and block its passage up the valley. The pink party colt had used the boost he got from the farmer in conjunction with his uncanny agility to scurry up to the two dead acacia trees on the cliff side, and now he was putting all of his considerable earth pony strength to use trying to knock them over into the gully.

As the beast at last found its bearings, the sound of deadwood snapping and earth giving way filled the air. With a mighty push from Berry Bubble, first one, then the other of the thorny snags came crashing down to the bottom of the gully between the stranded ponies and the fiery monster.

“Alright Berry! Wooh!” cheered Blitz, finally catching on to the scheme that his friends had been hatching. The dryed, acacia trees were a nightmare of thorns and stickers, and the little canyon was just too small for the creature to maneuver effectively in the air. Though they were still stuck, they were now safely out of reach of the predator.

In the slide of rubble that accompanied the the falling trees, Berry surfed down to be caught by the orange farm colt. Together the five ponies then turned their attention toward the manticore.

The presence of the nasty thorn bushes left the creature with two options; leave, or have its skin torn from its bones by the dagger like thorns of the acacia. With winning slimes all around, Rainbow blitz and his four friends beamed their triumph through the brambles at the predator.

They did not however, receive any outward indications of their victory. The flaming manticore did not growl or roar in frustration, nor take wing in search of easier pray. Instead it glared at the five tired ponies through the bush, determination etched on it's features.

Inhaling a deep breath, the manticore blew a steady stream of flames into the newly relocated thicket. The dried twigs and leaves caught easily, and soon the whole barricade was alight.

Hope turned to despair for the five ponies trapped in the gully, as they saw the future outcome just as clearly as did their foe. Soon the acacia would burn away and once it was gone, they would be defenseless before the great hulking predator. The manticore didn't need to tear through thorns to get to them. All it had to do was wait.

SHA-ZAP

Twilight found herself standing atop the cliffs overlooking her friends. From her elevated vantage, she could clearly see the danger her friends were in. The gully couldn’t have been more than three meters wide up by the other five ponies, and the flaming manticore was rapidly bearing down on them. She had to hurry.

SHA-ZAP

The violet mage snapped back into existence further back up the trail, near where the cliff had just collapsed. With her injured leg she was unable to move at anything other than a brisk walk, and she still had a few hundred meters to cover.

SHA-ZAP

Now she was at the fork in the road. The one where she had thought to avoid the death trap of a ravine where her friends were now stranded. Instead, she had just found a meadow of poisonous and highly obnoxious weeds that had barred her passage as surly as any wall.

SHA-ZAP

Down the path she blinked, with each flash and pop coming closer to her goal. What and moments ago been an obstacle would now be made to pay penance for its stubbornness by serving as her salvation. She was almost there, through the thinner trees and branches she could make out tiny glimpses of blue.

SHA-ZAP

Now Twilight Sparkle stood back on the edge of the field of poison joke that had impeded her progress earlier. She was breathing deeply, the frantic rush of one teleportation after another having challenged but not strained her. No, the real strain was about to begin.

Taking a deep breath and centering herself, the young mage conjured a field of telekinesis, and shaped in into a long thin blade. She lowered it parallel to the ground then with a flourish of her horn whipped it low across the meadow just below the level of the poison joke.

A tumble of flower heads was left in the wake of her ethereal scythe, but not nearly enough. Again the unicorn mare swung her glowing purple blade and again the blossoms fell like late summer wheat.

Sweat began to trickle down Twilight’s forehead as the demands of her spells began to show. Creating any shape out of pure force was no mean feat, and slinging it back and forth with precision took lots of concentration.

When nearly half the field had been sufficiently mowed, the purple pony moved on to the next step of her plan. Sparks began to slip from the tip of her horn as Twilight cast a great wave of telekinesis out across the field. In response, all the freshly cut poison joke flowers leap into the air and rushed into a floating sphere in front of her. Now came the hard part.

Turning from the field and levitating her great blue ball of plant matter with her, Twilight began to limp back to the ravine as fast has her wounded leg would allow her. Though she had teleported here, she couldn't risk dropping her giant wad of poison joke by trying to maintain levitation during a teleport. Skilled though she was, without it her friends were doomed.

What had since been rendered a dull ache by butterscotch's skilled healing now flared into a biting lance of pain as the purple mare made her way back up the trail. To help keep the agony from the forefront of her mind, Twilight began to run calculations of body mass and dosage through her head.

OK, if I weigh 88.5 kilos, and if we assume that roughly 25% of my body's surface area was exposed to the poison joke last time, and assuming that the amount of joke toxin absorbed through the skin was proportional to surface area, AND if the metabolism of such a toxin is a relevant factor in the latency time of for the appearance of symptoms, then given that my horn didn't go all floppy for anywhere between eight and sixteen hours means I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA IF THIS WILL EVEN WORK!!!

It wasn't working very well.

As she hurried back towards her stranded friends, the violet mage began to massage her floating mass of noxious plant-matter. Pulling it and compressing it and grinding the flowers down into a sticky wet paste that hung in the air before her.

In short order the poison joke flowers were little more than a think pulpy sludge and their innate magical properties started to make themselves apparent. The more she worked the flowers down the more Twilight began to notice a tingling numbness in her horn. She took it as a good sign that the power of the weeds was beginning to interfere with her telekinesis, however it was making maintaining her spell all the more difficult. It was starting to make her horn feel like the magical appendage was falling asleep, and it was causing her grip to slowly fail.

Little drips of blue began to slip from her ethereal grasp and the violet mage knew she had to hurry. She was only just now rounding the fork in the trail when a resounding boom echoed through the Everfree. The noise had come from the direction of the canyon. The same canyon were her friends were now trapped.

Twilight's insides clenched down in fear for her friends and she quickened her pace. Limping as fast as she could and using all of her concentration to keep her wad of poison joke aloft, the violet mare prayed to Faust she would not be too late.

Fire burned before them, and backed up as they were against the cliff walls they could still feel its heat. The flames licked at the bone dry acacia trees that were their only protection and were being rapidly reduced to cinders. It would not be long now.

Huddled together with these few fleeting moments left to contemplate the grim nature of the situation they found themselves in, the morale of the five colts had depended to outright despair. Butterscotch was curled tight into himself weeping quietly while being held by Elusive. The white unicorn was doing little better at holding back tears and could best be described as pale, rather than pristine alabaster.

For his own part, Berry bubble was taking his immanent demise rather well. This was due mostly to his own efforts to comfort Butterscotch and Elusive distracting him thinking too long on it. However, it was plainly apparent that even the bubbly colt was afflicted, as his usually bouncy boyish curls hung limp from his mane and the usual spark in his eyes was gone.

Rainbow Blitz was aware of the desperate straights he and his friends found themselves in, but it was not despair that occupied his mind, at least not entirely. A few moments ago he had allowed himself to become paralyzed by his fear and as a result his friends had been forced to try and fight off the beast themselves. That wasn’t' right.

He should be the one to defend his friends. He was the fastest, the most capable and it... It just wasn't right to leave your friends stranded!!!

Anger began to boil up in the chromatic pegasus as he thought of Twilight's abandonment, of her betrayal. Leading them all into danger then just blinking away when things got to tough, how could could she do something so wrong? He though she was a good pony, that she had their best interests at heart, but it had all been a lie.

Rainbow Blitz had even let it get to him and missed what may have been his one and only chance to get them all to safety. Well, none of that mattered now. He would make his own opportunity to save his friends, regardless of the cost. Squaring his shoulders to the creature on the other side of the bonfire and digging in his rear hooves, Blitz made himself ready.

The orange apple farmer standing by his side seemed to pick up on his thoughts. “Rainbow, what are you doin'?” Applejack asked hesitantly.

Without breaking eye contact with his soon to be opponent, the brash colt replied. “As soon as the way is clear, lead Butterscotch and the others out of here. Run straight for Ponyville and don't stop till you get there.”

“You can't take that thing by your self. We're not going to leave you.”

“Damit AJ, I'm not asking I'm telling! First chance you get, run!”

“Rainbow Blitz you idiot, you'll be killed!”

With a snarl of rage the blue stallion finally looked over to his companion. “YOUR POINT!?!”

Applejack recoiled from the pain and fury in his friends voice while hurt and confusion filled his own. “Rainbow, I...”

The chromatic pegasus huffed and swallowed his anger for a moment. “I'm sorry AJ. I didn't mean to yell at you, but look around. We're trapped and we're alone out here. The only way any of us are ever going to see Ponyville again is if somepony tries to hold that monster off long enough for the rest to escape. And that's exactly what I intend to do.”

Applejack was taken aback by the blue colt's macabre assessment of their current situation. In a desperate attempt to sway his friend from this suicidal course of action, he spoke. “Please Blitz, you don't have to do this. We can find another way. Twilight said-”

“Twilight's gone, Applejack.” Blitz interrupted. “She got out while she still could and left us to fend for ourselves. The only ponies who can get us out now are us. And while I'd love for there to be a better solution, I haven't found one yet and we're running out of time.”

Looking back to their quickly evaporating blockade, the orange farm colt could tell that there really wasn’t much time left. The thorns and brambles were nearly all gone by this point. It was only the manticore's patience that now gave them any grace.

“You and Berry help Elusive. Make a break for it the first chance you get.” Rainbow Blitz commanded as he returned his focus to his glaring match with the monster. The grim determination in his voice left no room for further debate. Applejack didn't like much the idea of his new friend sacrificing himself like that, but it was apparent there was nothing he could say to change it.

Before he turned back to Berry and Elusive, he gave the blue pegasus what might very well be the last words Applejack would ever say to him. “We'll come back for you.” The farmer then turned and made his way back toward the others. He didn't hear Blitz mutter under his breath.

“Why bother?”

Cold sweat poured from Twilight's brow from both exaustion and worry. Every second that ticked past slammed down on her heart, reminding her that each and every one could be the last second she would have to save her friends.

On she pressed and slowly, the recently ruined cliff face came into view. She was getting closer when another pall of worry decended, she didn't know exactly how to get to the particular spur-canyon were her friends were. She hadn't really been paying attention when they had all run in, and in her mad-dash teleportation she hadn't had an opportunity to memorize the surroundings.

“Come on... please” she begged of everything and nothing all at once, taking it on faith that she would find her friends, for faith was all she had left.

Then up ahead, close but not yet close enough, Twilight spotted wispy blue smoke rising out of a steep gully. With her goal finally in view, the purple mare redoubled her efforts and powered through her pain.

She was almost there. She could nearly see over the lip. Just a few more meters.

Ten more.

Five more.

Three...

Little was left of the acacia snags by now, and Blitz decided to make the first move. Boldly he ground some of the ashes underhoof and rubbed war stripes across his cheeks. The fire possessed manticore took to its feet, and spread its front legs in a fighting stance.

The monster roared in challenge.

The colt screamed out a blattle cry, and bolted forward. Swiftly he lept up onto what remained of the chard trunks of the acacia trees. His hooves barely touched the still smoldering wood as he launched himself at his foe. The beast was ready for him. It reared up on its hind legs and hurled itself forward into the midair collision.

Twilight watched it happen in slow motion and acted on instinct.

With a heave, she threw her vile wad of posion joke high into the air. She then charged a teleport spell into her horn and leapt through the tear in space it rent. In a flash she was no longer on the gully rim but sailing out of the aether and slamming into Rainbow Blitz.

The two ponies tumbled down and to the side, landing in a heap in the dirt while the monstrous manticore overshot its mark and crashed into the heap of smoldering acacia trees.

In a blink it was back up. It whipped around in furry and took aim for another pounce. Utter disbelief colored the chromatic colt's face as he tried to recover form the crash. “Twilight?!?”

The violet mage rapidly regained her senses and quickly searched the sky. Finding her weapon careening through the open air, she lit off a blast of telekinesis and brought the blue ball crashing down on the fiery monstrosity.

There was a great flash of light, a violent hiss of fire being extinguished, the pungent stink of burning greenery. Then stillness. Five pairs of eyes could only look on the violet mage with utter bewilderment, and for a long moment Twilight's heavy breathing was the only accompaniment to the stunned silence.

For her own part, Twilight simply stared at the the oozing mound of blue plant-matter where the manticore had stood, daring it with her eyes to get back up and challenge her again. When there was no immediate indication that would happen, she turned her attention to Rainbow Blitz. “Are you alright?” she said, concern lacing her voice.

“I... Yeah I'm...” The blue colt trailed off as a shudder rippled through him. Now that the intensity of the situation was over, the reality of what he had almost done began to sink in. “I was... I almost...” He gulped back a terrified sob. “You saved me.” He whispered.

Twilight quickly wrapped the rainbow pegasus in a tight hug. “It's ok.” she cooed. “You're ok now.” For a moment they just lay there, Blitz quietly sobbing through the worst of his fear on her shoulder.

“You came back for us.” He softly said. “You could have left us and saved yourself, but you came back.” He pulled away to look the purple mare in the eyes. “Why?”

A keen look came over the purple mage. “Because I'd never leave my friends hanging.” she said with a soft smile.

Rainbow chuckled weakly at that. “Yeah....” He looked away then with a faint blush of shame. “I'm sorry I doubted you.”

She wrapped the blue colt in a tight hug. “It's alright Dash-er-Blitz...” Twilight sputtered through her slip up, pressing on to cover for it. “I forgive you, so uh... don't worry about it.” She pulled back and put on her best cheesy grin, hoping the colt wouldn’t notice.

Rainbow Blitz gave the mare an odd look for a moment before chuckling. “You're alright Twilight Sparkle. I can't wait to get back to Ponyville to hang out some more.” With that he got to his hooves and started helping the injured mare to her own.

“I really hate to interrupt the adorable little heart to heart between you two,” Elusive called form across the gully, “But I don't think it's time for celebration just yet. Look!” The alabaster colt pointed with his hoof at the dirty mass of acacia cinders and poison joke. To everypony's horror there was movement coming from under the ruined plant-matter, and by the looks of it, something was struggling to get out.

As it struggled through the mess, pieces of the creature began to emerge: a clawed leg here, a leathery wing there, a segmented tail behind that. Slowly the fragmented sections of animal blended together until what finally stepped free was revealed. A bushy orange mane and coat, catlike claws and fangs, a scorpions tail and bat wings; a Mantacore of Everfree, no longer fire-possessed but resplendent in all it's natural grace. The top tier predator of the forest.

This one stood a little less than knee high.

“Ohhh! It's so cute!” Butterscotch enthused, quickly overcoming his usual shyness and flitting over to the now cat sized creature.

Immediately all the tension in the air deflated and Berry Bubble lost it, falling to the ground and clutching his sides as gales of laughter tore through him. He tried to speak and only barely managed it. “Its a...” *gasp* “A... ha ha” *snort* “A minicore! Ha ha ha!”

“Butterscotch, are you sure you should be getting so close to it? That beast did just try to kill us.” Elusive called in concern, but the butter yellow colt would have none of it.

“Oh, he was just a little confused is all.” said the yellow colt as he wrapped the creature in a tight hug. “You're not really dangerous at all, are are you?”

The minicore looked like it wanted to strongly disagree with Butterscotch's assessment, but it was quickly becoming apparent that any resistance to the butter pegasus's attentions would be futile. Still resist it did by struggling and squirming, trying to break away from the cuddles it was receiving to reclaim any remaining shreds of its savage dignity. The effort was of course a failure, and in the end the once proud predator was forced to content itself with being fawned over like a house cat.

“Holy hay Twilight, what did you do to that thing?” Applejack asked in shock.

A crooked smile split the purple mare's face when she explained. “I told you poison joke was a nasty plant.”

“Woh, no kidding!” Rainbow Blitz marveled as well.

Once again back on her hooves and moving down the gully, Twilight rallied her little band of friends. “Now come on, we're not out of the woods yet.” To which Berry devolved into snorting giggles yet again. The violet mare rolled her eyes with a smile. “We've still got a long ways to go before we reach the Elements.”

Author's Note

At long last, the next chapter is up. I warn you there may be a few errors and for those I apologize. Truth to tell though, I'm just tired of looking at it for the moment so I hope it's not too offensive. As always feel free to let me know if you see any mistakes and I'll fix it as soon as I can.

Other than that, I hope you like it!

Chapter 10: Tricks of The Light

Disclaimer:
Well there are strange things writ by the bronies who sit
at their computers for hours in dark
With faces quite pale they write many a tale
of ponies gone out for a lark
The alicorn Faust has seen queerer than most
But if mine she ever does see
Then I hope number one, that it's all in good fun
And second please do not sue me

What Might Have Been

Chapter 10: Tricks of The Light

The air was cool but not cold as evening descended on Ponyville, and as the moon crept over the eastern horizon it cast its light on a warm little gathering. Banners of every color were strung about between buildings and over the streets leading into the town square, where ponies of equally varied hues were mingling, laughing, and making merry. In pairs or small groups they congregated around the many snack tables, tried their hooves at party games like bobbing for apples or pin-the-tail-on-the-pony, danced happily to the soft but catchy music, or simply reveled in each others company. Yes, this was a fine party indeed.

After making her rounds to greet all the late arrivals, Pinkie Pie took a moment to step back and appreciate her work. Nearly the whole town had turned out to share in the festivities and no amount of creepy pasta weirdness would ruin this night. Of that the pink party mare was sure. There was however one itchy little thing that she just couldn't put her hoof on though.

The punch bowl was full and as yet unspiked (Pinkie had plans to rectify that latter in the evening), the cupcakes were immaculately frosted and delicious, the music was swinging, the whole joint was jumping, but still that little itch would not go away. It was vaguely like her Pinkie sense warning her of things to come, but also like that off kilter feeling that comes when you've forgotten something. Try as she might though, the answer to her unasked question just would not come.

Shaking off her little itch for the moment, Pinkie Pie set out to find her very best friends, most of whom had already arrived. Rainbow Dash had been one of the first ponies to show up of course, and Pinkie had quickly recruited her into helping put up the last of the banners. Then came Fluttershy and Rarity, who were quietly mingling amongst the crowd. Last to arrive had been Applejack, who had come straight form her farm pulling a cartload of fresh apples for the gathering.

A certain purple unicorn mare however, was nowhere to be found and Pinkie was starting to get worried. Not to mention that the itch was back and was quickly growing into a full fledged doozie. Concern and curiosity rising in equal measure, the pink party mare set off to find word of Twilight.

Fluttershy confessed that she hadn't seen the mage all day, and a quick flyover by Rainbow Dash confirmed that she wasn't present at the party at all. Rarity was starting to get worried, Twilight had promised to come to the party and being late for anything was not like her at all.

When the growing posse found Spike, who had arrived solo, things began to get serious. “Oh man... I knew I shouldn't have left her alone with that new spell of hers.” He lamented.

“Why Spike, you're beginning to worry us all” Chimed Rarity. “What do you mean you shouldn't have left her alone?”

“All this morning Twilight was working on some new spell that had something to do with all the creepy happenings going on around town. She seemed really excited about it before lunch, but to make a long story short, whatever it is she's doing must be really dangerous because she blew up our basement earlier today and nearly burnt down the whole library!”

This startling revelation drew gasps from the four other mares.

“I told her to take a break from all the spell-work for a bit but she said something about being in a groove and super close to a breakthrough, so I made her promise to be more careful before doing anything else. Twilight decided this meant moving all her experiments out to Applejack's farm. I've been so busy trying to clean up the tree that I haven't see her since she left.”

Now Pinkie was getting antsy. If Twilight had nearly burned down her own home earlier today she could be in real trouble, and with her pinkie sense only getting worse it was imperative they find her pronto.

“Guys, I've got a bad feeling in my Pinkie sense about this.” Warned the bubbly mare.

“I agree. We need to find Applejack and find out where Twilight went to do all her magic stuff!” Rainbow Dash chimed in.

“What's all this about me an' Twilight now?” As if summoned by fate, the orange farm mare came moseying out of the crowd. “Shoot Pinks, this is sure a great party! You've really outdone yourself.”

In an instant Pinkie Pie rushed up muzzle to muzzle with the farm mare and frantically filled her in on the situation. “Oh my gosh Applejack! There's no time to party! We've got to rescue Twilight from a giant rampaging mutated apple-tree monster that never should have sprung from the mind of equines!”

The farm mare was unmoved by the plea. “Say what now?” She deadpanned.

Rarity cut in to try and explain things a little better. “I think what our over-imaginative friend is trying to say, is that Twilight Sparkle has not shown up to the party and we are all starting to worry about her.”

Spike said that she was working on something dangerous.” Said Fluttershy softly.

“And last I knew she was heading to your farm.” The young dragon put in. “”Did you see on you way here?”

“I didn't, but if y'all are frettin' like this we better go check on her. Come on, I'll show you where she was set up.”

Quickly the five ponies and one dragon left the celebration and made their way to Applejack's orchard. They didn't meet any ponies on the way there as nearly the whole town had turned out to Pinkie's shindig. When they arrived at the front gate, Applejack lead then around the main fields towards the back, almost to Carrot Top's property. There she slowed.

“It was right around here were I left Twi to her work. TWILIGHT! YOU HERE SUGARCUBE?!” She called.

There was no response.

Immediately Rainbow looped around to gain altitude and scanned the surrounding area. Her keen eyes quickly spotted what was out of place.

“Wow! Guys over here! I think I found something.”

Rushing past a few trees and around a small embankment they found it, though what it was exactly was a rather difficult question to answer.

Magic hung so strongly in the air it could be smelt, like the electric smell of ozone mixed with burnt oranges. Etched deeply into the soft earth of the farm was a glittering and sparking runic circle, its lines and symbols glowing steadily. This was not the most remarkable feature of the scene though.

Hovering above the circle, bound to it with what looked like ethereal ribbons of runes, was a swirling cloud of dancing vapor; it wreathed and pulsed and stretched as though it were alive. Its color was something difficult to name and would be best described and having none at all. It was not white, nor was it black nor any shade of gray. I shone with a light of many colors but was never any one in particular and it wasn't exactly rainbow either.

Around the circle, wispy glowing runes floated in a lazy imitation of orbit. As tangible as smoke, they seemed to drift in and out of existence as much as drift through the air. A few meters away from this enigma of the senses was a hay bale, upon which a bottle of ink, some quills and an open notebook rested. Beside the bale were Twilight's saddle bags, but of the mare herself there was no sign.

Somewhere deep in the Everfree Forest the sun shown down with a sinister intensity. Its golden rays focused and converged, igniting fire form nothingness and twisting to become solid. In a flash she was there, the sun's daughter and empress, the queen of fire, Solar Flare, and she was not pleased.

“Damn that little purple witch! Damn her and her little friends too!” She seethed, pacing back and forth in the little abandoned clearing she had manifested in. “How dare she assault me so. How dare she have the hubris to oppose the Living Sun. What can she possibly hope to accomplish is this blasted forest? Does she seriously think she can defeat me? ME? The Mother of Fire, The Empress of Light, THE BLOODY SUN HERSELF!?!?!”

Panting in rage the alicorn of the day tried to reign in her temper. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and looked sightlessly down at her hooves in an attempt to calm herself. The technique worked, at least until she opened her eyes again and actually saw her hooves, and her legs, and the whole rest of her body.

“AND WHY IN TIREK'S BLACK NAME AM I PINK!?!?!”

An indeterminate amount of time later, after a great many birds, beasts, and other critters had been scared from their homes, and a few rather large chunks of ground and trees had been scorched to glass or ash, Solar Flare was finally able to cool her temper and think. Perhaps she was over thinking this. That purple mare worried her sure, but was it really worth going to such trouble to eliminate her for good?

In warfare it was foolish to expend a disproportionate amount of resources on minor objectives. Better to do only what was necessary to achieve victory and be satisfied with that, then to obsess over the details and lose sight of the bigger picture. Maybe her personal intervention in the violet mares existence was not required. She had after all, wandered into one of the most dangerous and untamed regions of Equestria with what could only be minimal supplies. It was almost as though the girl was doing Solar Flare's job for her.

So why wasn't she dead yet? And perhaps more importantly, why had she plunged without hesitation into this forest in the first place?

These questions ate at the solar mare for she did not have ready answers to them. Luckily though, the first problem could be easily addressed. Rather than trying to personally put a stop to that little purple witch, all Solar Flare really had to do was nudge her in the wrong direction in this trackless wilderness then let nature take its course, so to speak.

Delegation is after all, the mark of effective leadership. She thought to herself with a dark chuckle, and so she began to cast her spell. This was not a focused working of destructive magic or force of possession, but a subtle enchantment of her sun and its light.

Infused with her malevolent will, the streaming golden rays grew thick and warm, and day in the Everfree slipped from bright and fresh into something softer and more heady. The dappled ribbons of sun dancing through the trees grew hazy and rhythmic and the air grew codling and close. All throughout the forest, the trees and daylight took on a fey cast, enchanted and strange.

With the light of the Everfree forest now allied against her foes, Solar Flare took wing. This was one spell she felt comfortable leaving to its work, for time was now on her side. Now she could turn her attention toward finding first what the purple unicorn and her little band were after.

The significance was not lost on The Mare in the Sun that Luna had not brought the Elements of Harmony with her to their duel. Both alicorns knew that the power of the six sacred gems could be a deciding factor in their battle, so why had Luna not come armed with them?

The only reasonable answer Solar Flare could come up with was that Luna had lost either the Elements of Harmony or her connection to them some time in the intervening millennium. That meant that the single most powerful magic known to ponydom was unaccounted for and quite possible at large. In her plans of conquest she had no room or desire for things as important as the Elements to be up in the air.

The more the tyrant sun goddess thought on the matter the more she became sure that she needed to rectify this. There was a disturbing possibility that somehow that crazy purple prophet knew something about the Elements, and though she had no evidence to support this, neither could she rule it out. Perhaps the mad mare and the Elements of Harmony really were unrelated, but there were simply too many coincidences to rule that out.

Regardless of the girls intentions, there were two things Solar Flare intended to do before her assault on Canterlot; find out what the violet mare was doing in the forest with five other ponies, and find a lead on the Elements of Harmony. In the pit of her stomach, the mare in the sun had a feeling that both these quests would lead her to the same place.

While wondering through the Everfree Forest at what should have been midnight but was in fact broad daylight, Applejack found himself to be quite lost. Not the I-don't-know-where-I-am-or-how-to-get-home kind of lost (though he was lost in this way as well) but the kind of lost he would be were an arcanics professor to explain to him Starswirl's law of thaumaturgical uncertainty. In short, he had absolutely no idea what was going on.

This is not to say that Applejack had been unobservant or obtuse, far from it. In fact Applejack was beginning to think he was the only one to have given any serious though to what Twilight Sparkle was telling them all this time. It started with her explanation of this whole Solar Flare business and had just gone downhill from there. Sure her intentions seemed good at first glance, but there were so many subtle inconsistencies when you though about what she said a little harder.

Take for example their little pow-wow back at Elusive's house. There, Twilight had admitted that she was “lost and very far from home” but less than an hour ago before the cliff collapsed, she said she was originally from Canterlot, not very far at all. And her behavior guiding them all through the forest was anything but lost, if anything it bespoke a familiarity only born of past experience.

There was also the bit where she claimed that all this had happened before, with some goddess of darkness trying to bring about eternal night. Never mind that the only pony Applejack knew of with the power to bring the night was his beloved Princess Luna. If such a thing really had happened in the past, why had he never even heard of it? Wouldn’t a bout of eternal night make just as much of a commotion as this whole eternal day business, which is to say everyone everywhere noticing it?

Further, if this so called 'Nightmare Moon' lady was defeated by the Elements of Harmony, why were they looking for these artifacts in the middle of the Everfree Forest? Wouldn't a power great enough to overcome a goddess be be kept in a more auspicious place? One with say, guards and actual buildings and ponies who had a plan for what to do if another angry deity ever showed up?

Though this Twilight Sparkle seemed to have the best of intentions, none of what she said was adding up. Perhaps even more disturbing was the fact that none of his companions seemed to be as disturbed by any of this as he was. He couldn't be the only one to have noticed this, could he? Surely one of the others, Elusive or Butterscotch maybe, must be having the same doubts. It was time he found out.

Since Elusive's fall, their pace had been slowed considerably, and the two injured unicorns could only move at a careful limp. With Twilight being the only one who knew where they were going, she had taken up the lead position in their little troop with Rainbow Blitz, impatient as always, right beside her helping her on. This was good, as it allowed Applejack to sidle up to the alabaster tailor and speak unnoticed.

Slowing to match the pace of the injured colt, the orange farmer leaned in close and with a nod of invitation accepted some of Elusive's weight.

“Thank you Applejack.” Sighed the unicorn. “I'm all for saving the world, but I must say I never thought it would mean a broken leg and cracked ribs.”

“S'all right E.” replied the farmer. “Actually I've been thinking about that whole 'saving the world' thing. I kinda wanted to discuss it with you” He said with an ominous darkness to his voice

“I take it from your tone you don't have as positive an opinion of it as when we started.”

“Oh, mah opinion of saving the world in general hasn't changed much, its my view of our guide that's been buggin' me.”

“You mean Twilight? Why whatever can you mean Applejack? From the moment we met her she's shown nothing but a willingness to help us all.”

“Ah think you know exactly what I mean. She seems like she wants to help, but it's all the rest of it that doesn't sit right with me. Neither you nor Ah have ever seen her around Ponyville, but some how she knows her way around the Everfree forest better than Butterscotch? She conveniently shows up at exactly the same time as the crazy mare we're all trying to stop and is coincidentally the only one to know what's goin' on? You can't tell me you haven't noticed the exact same things!” Applejack quietly urged.

At this, the alabaster colt grew thoughtful. He had indeed been suspicious of Twilight Sparkle, and it could be said that he still was. There were just too many holes in her story and little details that didn't add up, details that did not escape the keen notice of a journeyman tailor such as himself. Had Elusive been asked an hour ago his opinion of the purple mare's story, his doubts may well have grown into full fledged dissension But after Twilight had used her magic to save his life, his skepticism had been replace by faith.

“You're right Applejack, I have noticed, and when I really think about it, I can't escape the conclusion that there is something terribly wrong with this whole situation. It's deeply unnerving. But there's something else I should tell you.”

Here Elusive paused mulling over his words. It was hard enough to describe what he was feeling to himself, let alone put it into words.

“Well?” Prompted the farmer.

“It's...” He tried to start but failed. The unicorn sighed and tried again. “The source of a unicorn's magic comes from their soul. That special place within ponies that that marks them as thinking, feeling, living beings, and using our minds and horns we project that vital essence out into the world.

“When Twilight Sparkle used her magic to heal me, she filled me with that same power, the essence of her own soul. I assure you there is no invasion so penetrating or complete, and I couldn't have stopped her even if I had the presence of mind to try.”

Elusive began to talk faster in words more hushed, his jumbled stream of thoughts on the matter almost getting ahead of his words. “Her power is incredible, Applejack. Looking at it was like looking at the whole of the ocean, endlessly vast, unfathomably deep. It would have been terrifying but for one saving grace. All her power, all her heart and soul; it was all filled with pure and abiding love.

“In that moment she looked into the core of my being and I into her. She could have unmade everything I am and it should have been terrifying, but it wasn't. I could feel her goodwill and her desire to help us.” Elusive finally caught his breath.

“I can't explain it any better than that I'm afraid, and believe me when I say that little else has occupied my thoughts since. So regardless of anything she's said or that's happened, I can't help but trust her.”

Hearing all this put a sour look on Applejack's face. He wasn't comfortable with all that mystic mumbo jumbo, and it did little to quell his doubts about the purple mare.

“I know that's not the answer you were hoping for. I do think that she is hiding something from us, but I just can't hold that against her.”

With a grunt the orange farmer accepted his friends words, but rather than put his unease to rest, they only deepened it. Being an earth pony, he couldn't speak to the whole 'looking into the soul' thing, but Elusive's faith in the mare coupled with his admission that he had noticed something off, all reeked of cognitive dissonance to Applejack. It made him itchy to find out the truth.

The apple farmer's decent into brooding did not go unnoticed by Elusive however. With a nudge he tried to rouse his new friend. “If this is still bothering you so much, I think you should ask her about it, politely of course. We're all risking our lives together on this little quest of ours, so we owe it to ourselves and to her to clear the air.”

Applejack looked and saw the encouraging smile Elusive was giving him. “Ah reckon you're right.” he said with a sigh. “If you don't mind, I'll think I'll catch on up to her and we can get it all worked out. Can you get on alright on your own?”

“Please Applejack, I may be wounded but I'm not yet incapacitated.” The unicorn colt replied with mock haughtiness. Elusive held his nose in the air for the briefest of moments before both ponies shared a good little chuckle.

“Alright, I'll ask her.” Applejack stated, before he eased Elusive back to taking all his own wight. Then with a nod, the farm colt picked up his pace from a slow amble to a brisk trot, trying to catch up to Twilight Sparkle and the others. Walking with the alabaster colt had caused them both to fall somewhat behind. Though they weren't at risk of becoming separated, it would probably be a good idea to regroup and have a short rest. The perfect time for a conversation with Twilight. He just had to catch up to her first.

Looking back on it, he should have called out to her, that would've been the normal thing to do. Just raise his voice and say her name, but he didn't. The thought simply never occurred to him. Instead he was intent on catching up to Twilight all on his own, then he could talk to her like he had been talking to Elusive. Yeah, that made sense.

He also should have picked up his pace. Even with the violet mare limping and in a splint, he wasn't gaining any ground on her. This didn't seem to bother him though.

In fact, the orange colt was having difficulty being bothered by anything at all really. The sky was blue and clear of any clouds, the sun was warm and bright, and a gentle breeze rippled the leaves of the forest and made shadows dance across his face. It was such a beautiful day, and now that he though about it, it was also the perfect time for a nap.

Applejack usually didn't take naps. With a farm to manage he was usually a very busy pony and didn't have time to sleep during the day. But he had been awake for so long now and hard at work for most of that time, perhaps he deserved some rest.

Yes, whispered the wind through the leaves, a nap would be perfect. Just lay down in the grass to sleep and enjoy the warm sunlight.

Deep down a part of himself rebelled at this notion. There was no time to rest, there were ponies depending on him, the world was in danger, his friends needed him!

He just couldn't place who those friends were, and the world obviously wasn't in danger; look at what a lovely day it was.

Shh, cooed the dappled light, just relax and sleep. Lay down, that's it. Now close your eyes...

Something heavy and solid kicked Applejack in the ribs and his eyes snapped open. When he looked up from his bed of grass he saw a white unicorn pony who had just walked right into him. The pony looked familiar, like he was supposed to know this pale stallion, but it was so hard to think. The warm air pressed down on his eyelids and dissolved his thoughts into haze.

Then he was gone, the unicorn colt just wandered off as suddenly as he had appeared. Good though Applejack. Now I can get back to my nap.

Berry Bubble and Butterscotch together made up the middle of the marching order. Ever since their brush with certain doom back in the gully, the quiet yellow colt had been even quieter than usual and Berry had taken it upon himself to cheer up his new friend. Of course Berry knew that Butterscotch and the others were his friends. They were all going on an adventure together after all, so that had to make them all friends. Well, at least he hoped so.

Since moving to Ponyville, Berry had made it his goal to know and become friends with everypony in town, and at present his mission was nearly complete. There were only a hoof full of ponies unfamiliar to the pink colt, and Butterscotch was one of them.

The shy pegasus only rarely attended his parties, and usually didn't stay very long when he did. Nor had Berry had the opportunity to have many conversations with him. Butterscotch's quiet nature and easily frightened demeanor did not lend themselves to getting along well with the spontaneous and enthusiastic Berry Bubble.

To say that this bothered the pink colt would have been true, though not quite stating it right. Really, it put a dull ache in his chest that tended to cool his optimism. He wanted Butterscotch to like him, and it stung that his attempts at socializing had been failures in the past.

Now however, they had just barely pulled through a truly life threatening ordeal, and the strange intimacy of a shared realization of mortality was still thick between them. Berry would not let this opportunity go to wast, could not let it go to waste because in truth, he was just as scared on the inside as Butterscotch seemed to be on the outside.

And truth to tell, he really needed a friend.

There was still the issue of how to break the ice with the the yellow colt. Though berry was rarely at a loss for things to talk about, he didn't want to mess up this opportunity. Looking around for anything of interest, It occurred to the pink stallion that the simplest solution might just be the best.

“You know, with the world in danger I always though it'd be all windy and stormy” he observed.

Butterscotch looked briefly at Berry Bubble but said nothing. Continuing undaunted for the moment, the talketive pony gestured around with his hoof. “We all may be risking a grisly death but at least the weather's nice.”

With a cringe the shy pegasus returned his eyes to the road. “Oh, um... yeah, I guess.” He mumbled, glancing skyward as he finished.

It really was a beautiful day, but the pall of dread was still strong in Butterscotch and an awkward silence slowly began to develop between him and the pink stallion.

His attempt at conversation having failed, Berry's mind raced with way to fill the growing stillness. “So uh, you live near this forest right? Do you come here often?” He inquired.

“No, not really.”

“That's good, what with this place being filled with dangerous creatures and all, right?”

“Mm hm.” Butterscotch responded without taking his eyes off his hooves.

Again the conversation ended before it could really begin, and Berry's discomfort grew as a result. A somber mood had taken hold of their fellowship, for it had become abundantly clear just how high the stakes of their quest really were. They were all risking their lives to save the world, and it was terribly frightening.

Berry was having trouble escaping this fear. His quick mind and active imagination were ceaseless in their contemplation of all manner of nasty ways their mission could end, or the consequences should they fail. His thoughts filled him with cold dread and try as he might, he could not turn his mind to happier things.

That's why he was so desperate to hit it off with the yellow pegasus. He needed to get out of his own head and get all those worries off his chest. He needed somepony to confide in who could reassure him it was all going to be ok. He needed somepony to help him smile.

For his own part, Butterscotch was just about the most afraid he had ever been in his life. Though fear was something the timid colt was well antiquated with, he was currently without any of his usual coping methods. Out here in the Everfree, there was no safe bed to hide under, no doors to lock, no easy escape. He had to keep going to help Twilight and the others, though what use they could have for a coward like him, Butterscotch couldn't guess.

The other ponies he was traveling with were nice enough, but the yellow colt still couldn't seem to open up with them. He had very nearly died a few minutes ago and it left him feeling cold, empty, and afraid. As much as he needed some comfort, Butterscotch was barley putting one hoof in front of the other. He didn't have any courage left over for an attempt at socializing.

When Berry Bubble tried making small talk with him though, Butterscotch felt like he was railing against a glass prison. He didn't want Berry to stop, but he couldn't keep the conversion going no matter how bad he wanted to. Reaching out just wasn't something he knew how to do.

Still, Berry kept trying to get the yellow pegasus to open up. “So what are you going to name him?” he asked.

Butterscotch perked up. “Um, what?”

Berry nodded toward the pint sized predator glaring over the top edges of the pegasus's wings, daring the world to assault his feathery fortress of solitude.

“Your new friend, what are you going to name him?”

Butterscotch looked over at his smiling companion. “Well, I haven't really thought about it yet. I've never had a manticore as a pet before, so I don't even know what kinds of names would fit.”

“Well what kind of pets have you had before?”

Just like that Butterscotch found himself on firm footing. He could go on for hours about all the animals he knew, and now it seemed he finally had a pony who would listen.

“All sorts really. Right now I'm taking care of 21 bunnies, 12 chickens, 5 cats, 3 dogs, a small flock of songbirds, a family of river otters, a barn owl, a peregrine falcon, 2 frogs, 4 ducks, 7 bumble bees, and one giant Galapagos saddle-back tortoise.”

“Wow, that a lot of critters. I just have one pet alligator named Gummy. I named him Gummy because he's got no teeth.” He said with a slowly growing smile.

“I've never taken care of an alligator before. What kinds of things does he like?”

“Oh, well he really likes taking bubble baths with me, and playing with balloons, and he's a really good dancer. Like this one time I tried to teach him to play pin-the-tail-on-the-pony...”

With that the pink colt was off. As his story unwound, his shy new friend seemed to grow more and more at ease. Soon, they were both happily chatting back and forth. Suddenly the forest around Berry Bubble and Butterscotch didn't seem so menacing; their plight not quite so dire.

Berry had found his diversion and more than that, he had found a willing heart to share his worries with. Butterscotch had found a companion who could leap the gap of his shyness and in whose presence he finally felt comfortable.

A tender warmth suffused them and their conversation slowed to an already familiar and not at all uncomfortable silence. Indeed, both stallions felt content for the moment to simply bask in each others' company. Closing their eyes with a contented smile, they did just that and for a while the world was perfect.

When they opened their eyes though, each was entirely alone. The trees were trackless and unfamiliar; the path was gone from beneath their hooves, and not a single sign of another pony could be found for as far as the eye could see.

Every third step hurt, and for a creature with four hooves like Twilight Sparkle, that meant walking was extremely uncomfortable. Her stunt in the canyon a few minutes ago was not helping things either. Her crash and tumble into Rainbow Blitz would have been stunningly painful had she not been hopped up on adrenalin at the time.

Now though, her wounds were reminding her with a vengeance that she ought to be taking it easy. It was nearly all she could do to keep up her march and hold back tears of hurt. In fact, were it not for the pleasant distraction from the pain that Rainbow Blitz and the rest of her friends provided, she might have already given in.

“Oh man, you should have seen it! Elusive let off this crazy magic spell that, I admit, had me a little disoriented there for a second, but then Berry and Applejack kicked these trees down right in front of the path and we were like 'It'll never get us now' but the monster was all like 'Naw son, I can breath fire!' and then we were like 'Oh snap!' but I was all 'Chill guys, I got this!”

Despite the dangerous forest, the angry goddess out to kill them, her fractured ribs and her gimp leg, Twilight still couldn't keep a smile off her face. Rainbow Dash always was a sucker for action, and it seemed that Blitz was no different. Just give the prismatic pegasus a shot of adrenalin and she (or he, in this case) could go on for hours. The familiarity of it all filled Twilight with a warmth that cut through both gloom and pain.

“And I was just about to do it too. I mean launch myself into a climatic battle with a huge monster that would have been waaaayyy awesome in like a movie or something but probably would've sucked in real life and then BAM! You just appeared out of nowhere and tackled me right out of the air and the monster went sailing over our heads and SMASH! Right on the burning trees.”

Twilight chuckled and rolled her eyes. “I know Rainbow, I was there.”

“Where did you even get that big blue wad anyway? I looked like you pulled it right out of the sky.”

Now it was Twilight's turn to have a little fun. With a sly look she lit her horn and used a little illusion magic to make her eyes faintly glow a mysterious purple. “Come on now Blitz, you know a magician never reveals her secrets!”

“WHAT!! What do you mean you can't tell me your secrets?!? You're not a magician!”

“Of course I'm a magician! I graduated valedictorian from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, so I think that if anypony could call themselves a magician it would be me.” She said with a playfull smile

“Pfsish! That doesn't make you a magician, that just makes you an egghead. Besides I've never even heard of this 'Celestia's School for Unicorns' so it can't be nearly as awesome as the Cloudsdale Weather Academy. Which I passed with Flying colors, I might add!” Said the chromatic colt while puffing out his chest, and giving his mane a meaningful toss.

The violet mage didn't even notice her slip up as she went on. “Oh, you mean that jock school that lets anypony in just so long as they can play hoofball?” She playfully jeered while giving the rainbow colt a saucy bump with her flank.

“I'll have you know I was an excellent hoofball player. I still am as a matter of fact. It comes with being the fastest colt in Equestria!”

“The fastest colt in Equestria huh?” Twilight repeated with a sly smile. “I can't imagine you got many dates with that kind of reputation.” She snickered.

Blitz got an arch look in his eye before he stretched out a wing and used it to pull the purple mare in close to him. She squeaked in surprise at the sudden intimate contact, but for reasons she could not explain she welcomed it all the same.

In a sensually deep voice the stallion cooed to her. “I may be fast on the field, but it will never be said that Rainbow Blitz doesn't know how to please a mare.” He gently nipped her ear, sending a shiver of delight down her spine. “Maybe if you're lucky I'll give you a little demonstration.”

A strange heat was building in Twilight's chest (and in other places) that the warm daylight air was doing nothing to abate. Feelings that were more than her friendship with the rainbow pegasus were welling up in her from absolutely nowhere, but that didn't seem to matter.

Coyly she pushed herself out from under Blitz's wing and pranced ahead of him, swishing her tail provocatively. Her wounded leg completely forgotten, she turned and gazed at the chromatic colt with smoldering lust.

“I don't know Blitz. I'm not any floozie cheerleader, I'm a real catch; and if you want some of this.” She wiggled her rump in the air. “You're going to have to catch me!” Giggling like a schoofilly she tore off into the woods without a look back and was followed moments later by Rainbow Blitz.

What she was doing felt so free, so spontaneous, so wrong and right at the same time. She didn't care where she ran so long as that sexy stallion caught up to her soon. She had plans for him. Oh did she have-

Her hoof caught on a root and she went sprawling into the ground. Tumbling and rolling before coming to a halt.

The pain was back.

Oh how the pain was back. Her leg throbbed in agony with every heartbeat and her chest heaved for air. With every breath she was gutted by the excruciation of her cracked ribs. The bruises all along her body screamed at the abuse suffered from her fall and for a time all thoughts were bleached from her mind.

Slowly she began to come back to herself. She didn't dare to open her eyes just yet but she did become aware that she had been whimpering in pain. She got her voice under control first.

“Rainbow, I'm hurt.” She begged. “Rainbow?” Twilight managed to open her eyes and look around. Rainbow Blitz was nowhere to be seen.

The wounded unicorn screwed her eyes back shut for the moment and tentatively tried to stand. I hurt badly but she managed it. After a moment to catch her breath she looked around again.

She was alone, far from the path, and in a part of the Everfree forest she did not recognize. In an instant the events that had brought her here came rushing back, and a whole new pain stabbed into her chest. Shame, confusion, and anger boiled up in her, and tears of embarrassment began to build in her eyes.

Author's Note

Ok! Man Its been a long time since I was able to get a new chapter out but here it is, Chapter 10.

Also if you think of a good name for the minicore post it in the comments. I couldn't think of one I liked so I'll leave it up to my readers.

Chapter 11: The Song...

Disclaimer:

Writing this story,
was done only in tribute,
To Alicorn Faust,

I seek no money,
from what belongs to Hasbro,
Please do not sue me.

What Might Have Been

Chapter 11: The Song...

After the haze of hormones (and something slightly more sinister) had faded from Rainbow Blitz's mind, he took a moment to look around himself. The inscrutably faceless trees all around gave no indication of how far he had run or in which direction he should go to return. Now he finally began to feel the loss that came from his damaged feathers as he was unable to simply fly above the trees and get his barrings.

Further adding to his frustration were the circumstances which brought him here in the first place. Blitz had always considered himself a charmer of mares and occasionally stallions but looking back, his recent flirtations with Twilight Sparkle were not sitting well with him.

He liked the purple mare sure, but the way he had come on to her like he did was outright shameful. What in Tartarus was I thinking? “It will never be said I don't know how to please a mare?” I'm lucky she didn't slap me right then and there! A wave of irritation tinged with anxiety came over Blitz as he paced back and forth amongst the snowberry and bracken.

I mean she's cute and all, but she saved my life for pony's sake! What kind of a friend repays that by making her a one night stand? She probably thinks I'm just a sexist pig now.

Sadness opened up within him. Twilight was so determined and full of energy, so kind hearted and optimistic. She was a pony Blitz admired even though he had known her for less than a day. The idea that he had let her down or offended her was a great weight in his shoulders.

I need to make this right, he resolved. I need to find her and apologize, so we can be friends again.

His course of action clear, Blitz stopped his pacing and tried to find any trace of where the violet mage had gone. But the trees all looked the same, and even the sun was no help in finding his way; hung as it was at the peak of the sky and no longer following its usual east to west course. In all directions the forest and its many paths were identical.

“... Fuck.”

Elsewhere in the Everfree Forest the other ponies were slowly realizing their predicament as well. With a snort and a jerk, Applejack awoke form a deep and peaceful slumber. As his senses resolved themselves back on the waking world, confusion grew rapidly in his mind. What in the hay is going on? Why was I just asleep? And where's everypony else?

Taking a quick look around an even more pressing thought came to light. For that matter, where am I?

When Elusive broke out of his own trance-like state, he was far less composed about it. The injuries in his leg and chest had made a constant rhythm of pain as he walked, and this hurtful cadence had somehow lulled him into mindlessly moving forward. Now that he was stopped though, each and every step he had taken was reminding him of its presence.

The alabaster colt was quickly overcome by a throbbing ache he could ignore no longer. He let himself fall on his good side and screwed his eyes shut, quivering in agony and praying for the pain to subside.

To Butterscotch it seemed as though he just blinked and everything was different. He shut his eyes for what was only a moment, and now his friends were all missing and something was defiantly wrong with the forest in which he stood.

The timid pegasus never enjoyed the times he had to enter the forest near his home. But it had happened often enough that he was rather familiar, if not confident in his ability to navigate within it. There were always little clues that his animal friends would use to find their way, and Butterscotch was keen enough to pick up on some of them.

For example, the Everfree River flowed through the heart of the forest and as such the landscape was always at a gentle slope down towards it's banks. The species mix of trees would subtly shift as well. Vine maples and ceder were more prevalent away from the places where the river had once flooded, while fir trees and alder liked the periodic disturbance.

There were perhaps a half dozen other ways the nature loving colt could at least guess his way through the woods, but the strange thing was that none of those signs was showing up. The ground looked perfectly level in all directions, the trees also showed no distinction between one place and another, and even the shadows cast by the sun fell straight down.

The forest shouldn't be like this. It's not like this, He thought to himself. Then a chill ran down Butterscotch's spine as a creepy little though wormed it's way into his head. It's like the forest is hiding something from me. Like it's trying to get me lost.

Though this seemed ridiculous at first, the yellow colt could not get the idea out of his head. The more he looked around the more he began to feel like something foreign was infusing the woods. Something intangible but malevolent.

Something evil.

“Butterscotch? Hey Butterscotch where'd you go?”

…

“Butters?”

Berry Bubble looked around in confusion. One minute he had been talking with his new friend and then next, he was all alone in the Everfree Forest.

“Guys? I know you're all hiding. You can come out now!” The pink colt began to scan the surrounding greenery for signs of the others. His bright blue eyes flicked from one possible hiding place to another but each was more ridiculous than the last. Still he could not accept that his friends weren't near by.

“Ok guys, I get the joke. You've all had a laugh now it's time to get back to that whole 'saving the world' thing!” His voice was strained to a reedy thinness as it stretched to span the growing gulf between what Berry wanted and what was actually happening.

Doubt took hold, and with it fear. “Guys? Twilight?” They weren't there.

Berry trotted a few paces and looked around again. The other ponies had to be near by, they wouldn't just leave him. He could still find them if he was fast enough, before they left him for good.

Mindlessly, he trotted further into the woods. Twilight has to be around here somewhere. But what if I'm going the wrong way? The others could just as easily be behind me, and now I'm running away from them!

Berry turned and ran back toward where he had started, but the trees all looked the same, and he couldn't be sure where that was. Coming to a halt once more, the pink colt maniacally searched again for signs of his friends. Cold sweat began to bead on his brow and the jittery rush of panic slowly crept into this thoughts.

Where are they?! They've got to be nearby somewhere. I couldn't be that far away. I just need to find them.

His hooves were carrying him at a dead sprint before he even gave them thought. His breath came in quick, shallow gasps that had nothing to do with running. In an instant he skidded to a halt again trying, needing to see some sign of his friends.

They're not over here! What if they're not this way at all? What if they're back the other way? I could just be missing them! Turning again he sprinted back the way he had come. I still don't see them! Oh, where are they?!

Berry's mind raced through a hundred different ways he could try to find his way back to the group, each more tenuous than the last. All his powers of imagination and ingenuity were unable to aid him. Then one last fleeting hope popped into his head.

Wait! If we got separated they'll have to come looking for me! They must be calling for me! I just need to listen! Taking a deep breath and holding it, the usually peppy colt tried to remain perfectly still, quieting himself until his only sound was the blood rushing through his ears.

The forest was deathly silent. The only sound he heard was the beat of his own heart. Then a muffled whimper, a quiet sob, and finally tears of despair pattering on the ground.

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

For a brief moment, shame and embarrassment swirled within Twilight Sparkle as she though about what she had just done. How could I have been so... so... Ugh! I don't even know! What was I thinking?

...

Wait a minute, just what was I thinking? So we're all just walking along when all of a sudden, for no apparent reason I go into an estrus cycle so strong it overpowers my ability to think or to even feel pain? And then less than five minutes later when I'm completely alone it just as suddenly passes?

Yeah, something's not right here.

Twilight's face twisted with incredulity as she began the first step of what she like to call 'The Method': make observations. She started with herself.

Her wounds were paining her again as they rightly should, though it was nothing she couldn't handle for the time being. The splint on her back leg was looking a little loose though so she tried to sure it up a little with her telekinesis. The instant she called power into her horn however, she could feel it. Magic, thick and prevalent.

To really be accurate though, it might have been better to say she could smell it through her horn. The earth and trees and even the air around her was bathed in thick, syrupy arcane energy. It curled around her horn like vinegar fumes and made her eyes water with its pungency.

Forgetting her bandages for a time the violet mage took a moment to try and figure out what such a wide and diffuse spell was trying to do. A cursory glance around her revealed no obvious signs of any magical working. The abnormal daylight was a bit off-putting, but other than that, the trees all looked the same, the shrubs all looked the same, and the...

Wait a second. The trees really do all look the same. And not just similar, they all look exactly the same. That's not right.

Looking back and forth between two of the trees near her, Twilight was unable to find a single difference between them. This was of course impossible. The chances that two trees growing right next to each other would turn out identical was so small as to be beyond the realm of possibility. The seed of an idea was starting to take root in her mind. She now had a hypothesis.

Clearing off a small patch of dirt before her, the curious mare took a twig off the ground with her magic. The feel of vinegar fumes against her horn was still there, but for the moment she ignored it and turned her attention back to her two subjects. Experiment time.

Starting by looking at one tree and not looking at the twig she held, she quickly sketched five lines in the dirt. One for the trunk and the four biggest branches. Then she turned to the second tree and repeated the process while still not looking at her drawing. When she was done she cast the twig away and finally looked at her work.

The two sketches were nothing alike.

Twilight frowned at the result. Not because she was disappointed in her drawing ability, but because she finally knew what all the pungent magic in the air was doing. It was creating a labyrinth.

She had read about labyrinths once in a history of magic book some time ago. They were one of the oldest types of spells. Very difficult to defeat and long since outlawed, labyrinths were an enchantment on a place that prevented a pony from getting from one point to another within that place. By twisting perception and appearances, a well constructed labyrinth could turn simple directions like 'two rights and a left to get to Ponyville town hall' into a nightmare of twisted alleys, U-turn roads, blind corners and dead ends.

The easiest way to get through was to wear a blindfold and walk the route by memory. If you couldn't see where you were going, you couldn't be lead astray by the spell. However Twilight was nowhere near familiar enough with the forest to do that and in addition, she still needed to find her friends. Not exactly something she could do blind.

Outright dispelling the enchantment was probably not going work either. She would need at least as much power to undo the spell as the original caster had put into its creation, and Twilight had a sneaking suspension that the caster of this particular spell had divine levels of power at her disposal.

Until she could find a way to negate the labyrinth though, she was stuck. Here in the forest, the purple mare could be no more then twenty or thirty meters from the path or her friends, but due to the magic of the labyrinth she had little hope of ever finding either one. The spell would ensure that even if she started walking in a straight line, she would at best end up right back where she started. At worst, that history of magic book had a few references to ponies getting lost within the spell and never coming back out, even after the labyrinth had been uncast. Not a pleasant thought.

She was stuck, and with the fate of this world hanging on her shoulders, stuck was not a good place to be. Despair began to creep into her heart as her mind worked frantically for a solution to her problem. She was almost at the end of her rope when she though of something that might actually work.

It was something Pinkie had taught her on their very first trip through the Everfree together. When the night seems darkest and you're the most afraid, giggle at the ghostie and it will all be ok. Twilight didn't think she had enough raw power to dispel the labyrinth spell, but maybe she could do one better. Maybe she she could defeat the spell not with magic from her horn, but with magic from her heart.

Maybe she could break the spell outright.

Breaking a spell outright was not something done with conventional unicorn magic though. It meant calling on a deeper power that resided in all ponykind. Something pure and beautiful, like true love. Being the veteran Bearer of Harmony that she was, Twilight had no doubt in the power of such emotions. What she needed to do was properly harness that strength; like through laughter, or a song.

Twilight Sparkle knew the perfect one, it was also a gift from her bubbly pink friend back home, and she sent thanks for it with a silent prayer. She ran the words through her head and hummed to warm up her voice, then she opened her mouth and her heart and let the music guide her.

My name is Twilight Sparkle,

She winced as the extra syllable made a burr in the melody, but she continued on just as strong.

And I am here to say,

I'm gonna make you smile and I will brighten up your day-ah-a-ay.

A light of joy filled her heart as she though of how happy her friends made her, and the miasma of enchantment began to evaporate around her.

It doesn’t matter now

If you are sad or blue

The forest began to clear. Twilight caught a flash of sky blue amongst some nearby trees so she trotted toward it, never letting go of the melody.

'Cause cheering up my friends is just what Twilight's here to do!

Rainbow Blitz noticed the purple mare as soon as he heard the singing. When he met her eyes his face split info a relieved grin, but then he remembered what had happened and he looked away in shame.

'Cause I love to see you smile smile smile.

Yes I do.

It fills my heart with sunshine all the while

Yes it does.

Without any hesitation the joyous singer walked right up to Blitz and wrapped him in an affectionate hug. It didn't matter what had come between them, or whether or not they were wrapped up in destiny together, or that they were from separate worlds. He was her friend right now, and there wasn't any doubt about it.

So close to his face she had to lower her voice to a gentle coo, but the power of her melody rang though the trees all the same, growing more powerful with every bar. She pulled back and ran a hoof along his cheek, letting the magic of her song carry all the meaning she needed. Understanding seeped into Blitz's mind and a smile of his own spread across his face.

'Cause all I really need's a smile smile smile.

From these happy friends of mine.

Though the words came to a rest, the music Twilight had started seemed to carry on unimpeded, and for the next verse Blitz lifted his own sandy tenor to the tune.

We love to see you grin.

We love to see you beam.

The corners of your mouth turned up has always been our dream.

Gently, the new harmony began to pull the two singing ponies through the woods and they gladly followed, trusting the magic of their song to guide them.

But if you're kind of worried

A flash of pale yellow in the underbrush ahead.

And your face has made a frown,

Butterscotch's eyes lit up when he saw them.

We'll work real hard and do our best to turn that sad frown upside down!

The timid pegasus leapt at Rainbow Blitz and caught him in a tight embrace, then turned to Twilight with tears of joy in his eyes. Elation lit his features and the song spilled out of him.

'Cause I love to see you grin grin grin!

Yes we do!

Bust it out from ear to ear let it begin!

Again the melody began to pull them along, this time more urgently.

And you fill us with good cheer!

Now the melody slowed and became more somber. It did not give any ground to the now rapidly evaporating malfeasance, but it now asked for compassion over elation.

Its true some days are dark and lonely,

There was a sliver of white fur peaking through he grass nearby.

And maybe you feel sad,

Elusive looked around as the song took him up and saw his friends coming to rescue him. As they neared, the pain of his wounds receded, and the strength to carry on returned to him.

But your friends will be there to show you that it isn't that bad!

Butterscotch and Blitz helped the unicorn to his hooves and watched in awe as the song spilling from their lips forced away the tangled confusion lurking amongst the trees.

There's one thing that makes me happy,

Twilight sang.

And makes my whole life worthwhile,

Butterscotch responded. Then Blitz took over

And that's when I talk to my friends and get them to...

Smiiiiiiiiiiile!

Elusive's own clarion baritone burst forth fort his chest. His outburst surprised him but it just felt so good to join his voice with his friends that he couldn't stop.

We really are so happy,

Your smile fills us with glee

We give a smile we get a smile

And that's so special me!

With four voices raised in song against it, Solar Flare's enchantment was rapidly eroding. The trees began to look the way they should, birdsong sprang forth from the distance, and the trackless paths of the forest slid back into focus.

'Cause we love to see you beam beam beam

Yes we do

Tell us what more can we say to make you see

That we do.

Again the song tugged the gathering group of ponies along, leading them through the wilds of the Everfree more surely than even Zecora could. Then up ahead Twilight spotted a worn stetson and a blond mane poking around a tree.

It makes us happy when you beam beam beam

Yes it always makes our day-ay!

The farm colt whipped his head around when he heard the singing, and a huge grin split his face as he saw the other four ponies approach.

Come on everypony, smile smile smile!

Fill our hearts up with sunshine sunshine!

The strong thumping cadence reverberated up through Applejack's hooves and filled him with energy. As soon as all his friends were around him he gayly joined the chorus.

All we really need's a smile smile smile

From these happy friends of mine!

They were off again, trotting through the woods at the song's behest, coming quickly to a conclusion. The last tatters of the labyrinth enchantment were driven before them like dust in the wind and in their wake, a spot of pink.

Berry Bubble was sitting facing away from them and even from a distance Twilight could tell something was wrong. His usually bright pink coat had lost much of its luster and his mane and tail hung straight and limp. The singing mare could just make out his shoulders heaving with sobs.

Then the music began to reach him and he turned. Hope and disbelief mixed in equal measure on his tear streaked face, as the five ponies he most wanted to see came marching and chanting up to him.

Come on everypony smile smile smile!

Fill our hearts up with sunshine sunshine!

All we really need's a smile smile smile!

From these happy friends of mine!

Twilight stepped forward and lifted Berry's chin with a hoof. As they locked eyes, Berry could see the joy shining out of her. It filled and warmed his soul as she sang just for him.

Yes the perfect gift for me,

Is a smile as wide as a mile,

To make me happy as can be.

Berry leaned into the caress of her hoof. A small but quickly growing smile spreading across his features as new tears, this time of happiness, rolled down his cheeks. He hadn't been abandoned. He had friends. He would always have friends who he could smile and laugh with, and there were no better friends in the world to have than the ones right in front of him.

Smile, smile, smile, smile, smiiiiiiiiiiiiile!

Come on and smile!

A divine wind swept through the Everfree with the climax of their song. It started with the circle of friends and rushed outward with the force of a hurricane. It was a gale that barely rustled the petals of flowers, but it tore through the malevolent enchantment on the woods and scattered it into nothingness. The forest was cleansed.

Berry wrapped Twilight in a crushing embrace, laughing and crying at the same time. His mane poofed up and his bright color returned.

“Thank you Twilight. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!” he repeated over and over.

The violet mare hugged him back. When she finally had a chance to speak, she pulled back enough to look the pink colt in the eye. “I'm your friend Berry. There's no need to thank me. It's what friends do for each other.”

The once again bubbly colt pulled her in for another tight hug. “I already knew that part silly,” he whispered in her ear. “Thank you for being my friend.”

An instant latter the other four stallions were on them. Filled with laughter and good natured roughhousing, the next several minutes were spent basking in the merry afterglow of their song and its magic.

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

His research was not going well. He had the best magical education bits could buy (better in fact), he had the run-down on all of Princess Luna's own personal research into the subject, he even had the entirety of the Grand Arcanum at his very hooftips, and still his research was not going well. Dusk Shine ground his teeth in frustration and reviewed his progress in searching for what the prophesy had deemed The Magic Key. Quietly to himself but with steady growing volume he mouthed his findings aloud.

“The lost Crystal empire was said to have been protected by a magical artifact called the Crystal Heart. Any tasliman of such power would certainly count as The Magic, but there is nothing indicating it could unlock anything, open anything, or reveal anything. It's not a Key.

“Deep in the bowels of the earth, the mighty beast Cerberus guardes the black iron key to the gates of Tartarus. Definitely a Key, definitely not Magic.

“The unhallowed bells of Grogar are said to be able to open any gate, even those of the mythical city of Tambelon. Yes to both “Magic” and “Key” but suffering from the unfortunate problem of not being real.

“The Rainbow of light, broken.

“The Alicorn Amulet, lost.

“The Outworlder Meh-hegon, a myth.

“And the Elements of Harmony?”

Dusk let his head thump to the surface of his desk, and a growl of half anger and half misery rumbled from his chest. As far as the Elements were concerned, Dusk had learned far more than almost any other pony before him, but that only served to show just how much he didn't know.

“There are six elements in total, five are supposed to be material and one transcendent. How the virtues of Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, and Laughter, are supposed to qualify as “material” is unknown. The sixth element is completely unknown. The elements can be bonded to two, three, or six beings, but not one, four, or five. The reason for this is unknown, as is how exactly Luna was able to use them all by herself or how the elements bond to a pony in the first place.

“What the elements are capable of is unknown.

“What it takes to wield the elements at all is also unknown.

“And the last known location of this so called 'most powerful magic known to ponydom'?”

Dusk gave a truly pitiful whine. The irony was perfect after all. “Not unknown, but hidden somewhere deep within the one of most dangerous, trackless, and downright creepy forests on the continent. Lovely!”

The defeated colt looked around him at the patient shelves of books and scrolls, then up to the skylights high above. Daylight bright and strong streamed in through the slanted windows in the ceiling, and motes of dust drifted lazily through the radiance above his head. He stared at the gentle light for few seconds, something about it didn't feel right, the innocent ambiance just didn't feel quite so innocent anymore.

Getting up and having a much needed stretch, a chorus of creeks and pops rippled down the young colts spine as blood began to flow properly through him once again. Oh man! How long have I been at it? He wondered. It felt like he had been hunched over his books for a whole day, but the angle of the light told him it was high noon. Oh.

Time was pressing, he had spent as much time in Canterlot as he could and now he needed to move on. Gathering up his papers and quills, Dusk Shine made his way back up to the front desk. Unwavering as always, Master Archivist Dusty Stacks was still at his post, sifting through a small stack of well ordered documents. He took his eyes away from his work only to give the purple mage the briefest of nods, before continuing his task.

“I was tempted, Mr. Shine, to remind you to keep you voice down while in my library. However, as you are its only patron at the moment, I didn't bother,” the stoic stallion said without looking up from his work. Dusk blushed at the gentle rebuke and was about to offer an apology but Stacks beat him to it.

“From the sounds of things, I take it your research is not going well.”

“Err, no. I wouldn't say it is,” replied the colt. “Do you happen to know what time it is Mr. Stacks?”

Without even looking away from his papers the aged librarian answered. “It is exactly 10:32pm.” The fact that bright daylight was still spilling in through the windows didn't seem to disturb him at all, Dusk noticed.

A prickle of anxiety lent urgency to the purple colt. “I really have been here too long,” he said to himself. “Thank you, Mr. Stacks, for all your help. I've got to get going so-”

“Where are you going, Mr. Shine?” Now the master archivist did look up and locked the purple unicorn in his gaze.

A moment of strained silence passed between the two ponies, or at least it was strained for Dusk Shine. Dusty Stacks showed all the strain of a sheer stone cliff. Of course, as Princess Luna's chosen champion the purple colt knew that telling anypony of his whereabouts could be risky, and though he did trust the ageless librarian, the fewer ponies who could track him down the better.

“Uh... Well you see, Mr. Stacks I have some sensitive business to take care of for the Princess and-”

“Dusk Shine,” The old master put an abrupt end to the violet colt's half hearted equivocation. “Princess Luna has ordered the entire castle evacuated due to a credible threat of attack from an enraged deity of fire. You and I are most certainly the only ponies that remain. I, because I refused to leave my post as librarian and you, who currently hold a legitimate Writ of Agency in the name of Princess Luna herself.

“You have spent the entire day thoroughly searching the most expansive collection of arcane knowledge in existence during a time when the very sun itself refuses to set. You clearly have not yet found what you are searching for but due to time constrains you must now leave with your goal unfulfilled.

“Whatever you are doing is obviously of great importance and time is currently not your ally. I don't want to know your errand, but I will ask you one more time; where are you going?”

The purple unicorn had to pick his jaw up off the floor after that complete dissection of his situation. In addition, the withering gaze of the master archivist was now pinning him to the spot, hungry for an answer.

“Uh... Ponyville. I'm going to Ponyville.”

Dusty Stacks accepted this answer with a muffled “Hmm,” and Dusk Shine could almost hear the gears truing in his head. “Wait here for a moment please, Mr. Shine,” said the archivist before he turned and disappeared into the front office.

A moment later Stacks returned with a small stack of papers and a small cloth pouch. After briefly sorting through the papers, the old master slid two forms across the counter to the young student.

“Sign here and here,” he indicated while passing Dusk a quill. The forms were rather involved and as yet mostly blank.

“What am I sign..ing...” Dusk's argument died in his throat when he was met with the unforgiving eyes of Dusty Stacks. He signed the forms, which were quickly whisked away by the master archivist and replaced by the pouch.

“What is this?”

“It is a key, Mr. Shine.”

“A key to what?”

“The Golden Oaks Library, Ponyville public, branch office 7B which, under normal circumstances, is operated via volunteer labor coordinated through the office of the mayor. However, as these are not normal circumstances, the facility has been closed indefinitely.” Stacks gave the young colt a stern glare. “I do not like it when libraries are closed indefinitely.

“You, Mr. Shine, have now been deputized as interim manager of that facility. I will fill out all the required paperwork personally. Once you arrive on-site you will find all the necessary supplies as well as a primer on the usual day to day operations in the lock box under the front desk.

“The facility includes on-site lodging for library personnel which I expect you to keep in top working order. If you need to leave for any extended period of time, I expect you to return the facility to the state in which you found it, and to keep this key with you until such time as you can return it to me in person. Is this all understood Mr. Shine?”

The purple colt didn't know what to say. So many of the little problems he would've had to face had now been instantly resolved by the master archivist. Where he was going to stay, how he was going to continue his research, what his cover story should be. Yet without even knowing his mission, Dusty Stacks had just done more to advance his cause than he could have possibly imagined. The amount of trust it showed that the old master had for Dusk was deeply moving. It seemed as though, one way or another, all Equestria really was depending on him.

“I... Yes, I understand. Thank you, Mr. Stacks,” he said, then for the second time in all of history, Dusk saw Dusty Stacks smile. An instant later it was gone, and the old master briskly got back to his work.

“Good. And Dusk Shine,” he added without looking up, “Have a pleasant trip.”

Author's Note

As promised, here it is: Chapter 11. As an added bonus, Chapter 12 is already complete and will be posted in a week or two. I realize that 7 months is a long time to go without updating, but as this is kinda like a double, I guess that works out to only 3.5 month wait for each, right?

Yeah, that still sucks, but here it is anyway!
Enjoy!

Chapter 12: ...And The Serpent

Disclaimer:
Friendship, magic, and everything nice. These were the ingredients chosen to create the perfect little ponies. But Alicorn Faust accidentally added an extra ingredient to the concoction...
Chemical Awesome!
Thus the Brony fandom was born! Using their ultra super creativity, bronies everywhere have dedicated their lives to making fan art, and not getting sued!

What Might Have Been

Chapter 12: ...And The Serpent

Deep in the Everfree Forest, amid poison thorns and hungry predators, six ponies were splayed out amongst the grass, all of them grinning like idiots. Drunk off their song, they had fallen quickly into giggling and chatting.

“Ok guys. Guys listen,” Berry Bubble began. “I've got a serious question.” The ear to ear smile on his face put the lie to his statement before he could say another word. “What's red, and bad for your teeth?”

Sinckers and giggles answered him, but eventually Rainbow Blitz managed to form words. “I don't know Berry, what?”

“A brick!”

Peals of laughter erupted around the pink colt once again. In this merry setting Twilight found herself rolling on her back, clutching her sides. Due to her injured ribs even laughing a little caused her a stab of pain, but it felt so good to laugh that she couldn't help it. Tears of both pleasure and pain rolled down her face. “Ha ha ha... oh Celestia, I can't... he he... I can't breath. A brick, ha ha ha.”

“Oh man Berry,” Applejack began after recovering form his own bout of giggles, “You've really got to write these down when we get back to Ponyville.”

Twilight snapped to attention. “Ponyville!” she exclaimed with a wince as she stumbled to her hooves. “We can't head back until we find the Elements of Harmony!”

“Oh yeah, we had a whole 'save the world' thing to do huh?” Blitz noted.

“Indeed,” answered Elusive as he was helped up by Butterscotch. “And I dare say we have been remiss of that duty long enough.”

Once they had all stood and dusted themselves off and Butterscotch had rounded up his new pet, much to the pint sized predators displeasure, they all turned to Twilight for directions. For a moment the purple mage just stood there with a blank expression on her face. Then her brain kicked into gear. “Oh, right. This way. It shouldn't be too much farther now.” With that she turned and resumed her march toward the ancient castle ruins.

Applejack was slow to follow though, for as his recent bout of euphoria had warn off doubts had once again began to creep up on him regarding their mission and their guide. After all the strange events that Twilight had pulled them through, Applejack had to admit that this quirky purple filly was growing on him. She was smart and compassionate, and he got the impression that she truly wanted all six of them to be friends.

He liked her to be honest, but that was also a problem. Though he was glad to have her as a friend, it was quite clear that she had not been entirely straight with him about herself or what they were doing. The farm colt could forgive some degree of dissembling from a pony he might pass on the street (everypony had a right to their own privacy after all) but Twilight was more than just a stranger in passing. She was asking him and four other colts to risk their lives for her quest. In the mind of the orange apple farmer, that kind of commitment garnered far more openness than she had yet provided.

I hurt him too, her dishonesty. He jumped on board her quest without hesitation because it sounded like the right thing to do at the time, and he had stayed with her this far because he had come to genuinely care about her. He was her friend, didn't that mean she should trust him?

He wanted to get the truth about Twilight out in the open, but he knew it would not be an easy conversation to have. Though she had already shown remarkable courage on their journey, Applejack got the distinct impression that the purple mare was still very afraid of the secret she was keeping. Applejack kept hoping that she would come around on her own, but that was looking less and less likely. Soon, he would have to press the issue himself.

However, while the orange farm colt was busy brooding, the other four ponies had been happily chatting with their guide.

“So is it always this exciting hanging out around you?” Rainbow Blitz asked. “I mean I've seen more cool action since I met you than on, like, a whole week of thunderstorm duty.”

“Yeah!” chirped Berry Bubble. “I haven't really liked all the grim-dark-ish parts, but overall this is turning out to be a pretty good hero's journey. Still not sure who's supposed to be the hero though.”

Twilight looked at her bouncy pink companion in bewilderment for a moment. “Uh... What?”

“Don't mind him Twilight dear,” Elusive chimed in. “He's just being Berry Bubble again.”

Now the purple mare laughed as understanding quickly dawned on her. “Ah. I think I get it.”

“Um, Twilight?” asked Butterscotch. “I was just wondering, how much further until we get to the ruins? If you don't mind me asking that is.”

“Well the castle is on the other side of the Everfree River then not too much farther after that. We're almost to the river now so it wont be much longer.”

Elusive looked trouble by this news. “Forgive me Twilight, but as I recall, the Everfree River is running quite fast this time of year. Neither you nor I are fit to swim and even if we were it would be madness to try with the water so high. This of course leaves the disturbing question of how you intend to get us all across.”

“Oh, you don't need to worry about that,” replied the violet mage as a sly smile spread across her face. “I know a guy.”

It was her hope that she could find this world's Steven Magnet, the foppish river guardian who had aided her and her friends to cross the Everfree river back in her own world. After her first quest to find the Elements back home, she had occasionally returned to the river to visit Steven, and though she didn't go this deep into the forest often, she had gotten to know him somewhat well. She was counting on that familiarity to convince him to help her cross the river now.

Considering all the twisted mix-ups she had encountered so far though, the mage really couldn’t expect the violet sea serpent to be distraught about a damaged mustache like last time. With any luck, there would be some other way she could persuade Steven to aid her.

Meanwhile, disbelief colored the alabaster tailor's expression. “I'm sorry, you 'know a guy'?”

“Yep!”

“Who can get us across a wild raging river in the middle of an uninhabited forest?”

“Yep!”

“Forgive me if I seem somewhat suspicious of your claim, my dear.”

“Don't worry about it. I'll show you.” Twilight encouraged as she lead them around a small copse of trees while Berry whispered to Butterscotch.

“Ooh, maybe Twilight's a mobster!”

As they all rounded the bend, the wild Everfree river surged into view. Just as Elusive had predicted, the water was nearly spilling over its banks and the current was swift and powerful. Immediately Twilight began to scan the water for signs of it's keeper.

Applejack, who had overheard the conversation, frowned deeply. How can she possibly 'know a guy' if she claims to be from far away? He thought. We've put our necks on the line what, three times now, and she's still feeding us some kind of spin! That's it. We need to talk about this now!

Filled with purpose, and a little angry as well, the sturdy farm colt marched right up to the purple mare. “Alright Twilight, I think-”

“Ah! There he is!” She interrupted, pointing further downstream. Just like that she was off, hobbling away as best she could and leaving Applejack with his mouth hanging open. He closed it and followed after with a growl of frustration.

Twilight however, as completely focused on that little flash of purple she had seen beneath the water's surface. As she approached as near as the riverbanks would allow, she called out. “Hello Steven! How's the water today?”

Immediately the churning water was whipped up into a froth. Shimmering amethyst scales arched and uncoiled from the water's surface as a rumbling groan like rocks colliding beneath waves descended into a yearning stretch.

“Grroooooooooaaaaa... The water is just lovely today, thank you for asking!” Steven Magnet proclaimed as he rose out of the water and settled on the riverbank. “But my dear, it seem you have me at a disadvantage,” he cooed. “You know my name but I'm at a loss to place yours. Have we met before perchance?”

“My apologies good sir,” Twilight began with a overmodest smile. “We haven't met, but your reputation as the most stylish sea serpent in the Everfree forest made your identity obvious.”

The Steven Magnet of her own world was nothing if not flamboyant and playful. Though the violet mage didn't exactly share those qualities, she was more than happy to oblige her soon to be serpentine friend. True to form, the well manicured sea serpent ate up the praise with gusto. “Oh, flattery will get you everywhere darling. But come now, you simply must introduce yourself and your charming companions.”

“With pleasure,” She replied with a little curtsy. “My name is Twilight Sparkle and these are my friends...” As the mage turned toward the other five ponies, she couldn't help but giggle at the five sets of eyes gone wide and five jaws hanging open in amazement. Getting her chortling under control, she continued with her introductions, indicating each pony in turn.

“Ahem... My friends, Elusive, Berry Bubble, Butterscotch, Rainbow Blitz, and Applejack.” Her companions quickly collected themselves enough to offer their own greetings.

“Salutations sir.”

“Hi-ya!”

“Um, hello.”

“'Sup?”

“Uh... Howdy.”

“Oh, it is such a pleasure to meet you all,” enthused the serpent. “I so rarely have visitors all the way out here you know, but c'est la vie as they say.” Turning his attention back to Twilight he went on. “Now you my dear must be quite the enchantress to have five dashing young lads escorting you alone so far into these woods. Dare I ask what you're planing to do with them?” A cheeky grin spread across Steven's face at his subtle insinuation. Twilight's cheeks and ears reddened in response.

Before she could formulate an answer, Elusive came to her aid. “Actually sir, we've come because we need to cross your fine and flowing river.”

“Ah, so it's business before pleasure I see. Very well.” The serpent seemed to deflate a little at the news, but he still had a gleeful twinkle in his eye. “If you all can pass a small trial, I will allow you to cross my river.”

“A trial?” Twilight repeated. That didn't sound right. She wanted to point out that in her own world she hadn't needed to pass a trial, but there was no way to say so in front of her friends. “But... uh, isn't there some other way you could help us?”

“Well I'm always open to a little good natured bribery, but as there really isn't anything I want for at the moment I don't think that's going to work out for you. I am a river guardian after all: 'sworne to ensure that none but the pure of heart may pass' and all that. And as odious as that burden might be from day to day I'm afraid it is my duty.”

Trepidation crept into the pit of Twilight's stomach as she considered Steven's words. Without the opportunity to help with his mustache, getting the sea serpent to help her across the river was going to be harder than she thought. Her glum look did not go unnoticed though.

“Oh there's no need to worry Miss Sparkle. I am not cruel, and I'm already quite fond of you and your consorts.” He gave her another playful wink. “I think I'll go easy on you if you promise to come back and visit me from time to time. Deal?”

She was still worried about what the frivolous serpent had in mind, but she had come too far to let such doubts stop her. She was the Element of Magic after all, pure of heart came with the territory. “Alright. We'll all try to visit whenever we're able. Right guys?” she said looking around to her friends.

A chorus of nods and affirmations answered her. “Right. We accept your trial, Sir Steven Magnet. What must we do?”

“Oh, how very formal. I like it. Now let me see...” Steven's stroked his glorious golden mustache for a moment while he thought. “Ah, I know! A trial of words. One for each of you, I think.”

Suddenly Twilight's confidence came rushing back. Words were something she knew, something she was familiar with. She had read nearly every book in her library back home and more than that back in Canterlot. She had written more words than she cared to count in essays and papers and reports. Words were something she was good at.

“Now then, let's get started shall we?” Steven continued. “I think I shall start with you, dear boy,” he said to Butterscotch. In response, the timid colt shied back somewhat from the attention of being called out.

“Oh, now there's no need to be shy. I told you I would go easy on you remember? Now let me think of your word.” The purple river guardian stroked his flowing mustache and looked around while he thought. When his eyes drifted up to the bright daylit sky, it came to him. “Ah yes! I think I know just the one,” he exclaimed. Then turning back to Butterscotch he said, “Now look into my eyes dear boy. That's it. Now...”

As the timid colt brought his sight up to meet with Steven's, the eyes of the river guardian opened into depthless voids and skewered him down to his very bones. For the briefest of instants the serpent's gaze took hold of every part of the pegasus's mind and infused his being with a single word.

When-

“-did the sun stop moving in the sky?” Steven finished politely.

Not a trace of the killing power of his glare remained, and Butterscotch almost wondered if he had only imagined it. But a stirring in the back of his mind, subtle and strong as the tide, told him this was not so. It compelled him to answer and the words came spilling out of him, unstoppable and true.

“I... It stopped just a few hours ago at what would have been sunset. I was there. I saw what happened. We were gathering to celebrate Princess Luna and the Winter Moon Festival, but the princess wasn't there. Instead another pony showed up. She called herself Solar Flare and said she was Queen now, and that the day would last forever. Twilight Sparkle seemed to know who she was but I... I was very scared.”

As he finished speaking Butterscotch's eyes slid back into focus and he became aware of his surroundings once more. “Oh, um... I hope that answers your question,” he said while trying to hide behind his own wings and mane.

“Why, you've done admirably my dear boy: no need to fret. Now who's next hmm?” The purple sea serpent turned his attention to the other five ponies who all felt a tingle of apprehension. None of them had missed the way Steven's eyes had flashed with power nor how his question had forced it's answer from Butterscotch's lips. However, the well polished sea serpent was already moving his attention onto Berry Bubble. “How about you.”

No sooner had he heard the words than he was lost to the serpent's gaze, his very being laid bare as a single word consumed him.

What-

“-is going to happen now?”

“I don't really know, but it's not going to be anything good. If the sun stays up forever it will dry up all the rivers and lakes. There won't be enough water for clouds and all the plats will wilt and die. I don't think Solar Flare cares about that though. I think she's going to start hurting ponies unless somepony does something like Twilight Sparkle says. We have to make her see that being mean isn't going to make her feel better, it's only going to make things worse.”

Steven Magnet considered Berry's response for a moment after he had finished. “Hmm... A noble goal indeed, but it certainly does not sound easy. Though now I'm getting curious...” He turned to Rainbow Blitz and again the power of his eyes infused every fiber of the pony he questioned.

How-

“-do you hope to accomplish this?”

The sky blue pegasus was talking before he even knew what he was saying. Bits of what Twilight had told him only once came rushing up perfectly remembered and lept from his tongue.

“Twilight Sparkle said that Solar Flare's not truly evil, more like possessed by evil magic, and that the only way to break the curse is to use the Elements of Harmony. She said it takes six ponies to use the Elements, so that's what we're going to do. First we'll find the Elements, then figure out how to work them and make sure Solar Flare doesn’t have a chance to hurt our friends or our world.”

As Blitz was shaking off the last effects of the serpent's glare, Steven Magnet was again stroking his mustache in thought.

“My my, these are deep, old magics you hope to meddle with. I hope you know what you are doing,” he said. “You ponies are certainly an fascinating bunch, you really have piqued my interest now.” Turning now to Elusive, he brought his magic to bare.

Where-

“-are you going now?”

The alabaster colt's usually melodious voice was ground down into an unfocused monotone as the knowledge was pulled from him by Steven's magic.

“To the ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. According to Twilight Sparkle, that is the last know resting place of the Elements of Harmony. She knows the way through the forest and has helped us through it's dangers. She saved my life when I fell off a cliff, and fought off a manticore single-hoofedly using the native flora. She lead us back to the path when we were lost, and to get us across the river she has lead us to you.” Elusive blinked his eyes rapidly as the grip of compulsion faded.

Steven Magnet was looking less and less the flamboyant soul that Twilight was used to. In fact he was starting to seem downright serious. “Curiouser and curiouser...” he said to himself.

The purple mare was getting rather uncomfortable with the 'trials' they were being asked to preform. Setting aside the issue of how the violet sea serpent was compelling her friends to answer, it was the answers themselves that were getting to her. So far, each of her friends had mentioned her by name, and it was becoming alarmingly apparent just how much of their quest was riding on nothing more than her word. The young mage was getting the impression that Steven's questions were becoming less a test of her companions purity of heart, and more an investigation of her own motives.

Worry began to twist inside her then. She was confident that she was doing the right thing, but if she really thought about it, it didn't feel like she was doing it for the right reasons. I know I haven't been completely honest with them, but they need to stop Solar Flare just as much, if not more than I do. If they though I was a nut-job they never would've come with me. Saving the world's a good and noble cause, right? Her attention was drawn away from her own inner musings as she watched Applejack step forward to receive his word. Then why does it feel like I'm the one on trial here?

Who-

“-is this mare who has lead you here?”

Worry resolved into fear in the purple mage, as the words were already spilling from her friend's lips.

“Her name is Twilight Sparkle but in truth, I do not know her. She hails from Canterlot, but claims to be lost far from home. When Solar Flare appeared, Twilight recognized her but Flare did not know who she was. She said she's seen something like this happen before with unending night, but I know of no history where this is so. She told us all of the Elements of Harmony and that the Elements are our best hope for stopping Solar Flare, though I've never heard of them before.

“She is generous, loyal, and she lifts our hearts to be with her. We only met her today and she would give her life for any of us. She has asked that we risk our lives for her but...” The magic was gone, and Applejack’s eyes had long since come back into focus. For a tiny, silent moment his words hovered half said. He need not go on, but he did.

“...But the truth is, I do not know who she is at all.”

A lance through her heart. That's what it felt like. A frozen, twisting lance gouging her insides and robbing her blood of warmth. There was utter silence as four pairs of eyes looked upon Twilight Sparkle. Applejack refused to meet her eye, or to look anywhere but straight ahead. His face was solemn but steely. He didn't like what he had said, but he wasn't going to take a word of it back. She wanted to reach out to him, to say his name, or say she was sorry, or anything to break the icy stillness, but she was denied.

Steven Magnet approached and wordlessly turned his gaze on her before she ever had the chance. She wasn't even aware of his eyes on her until his power demanded her attention.

Why-

“-have you lied to them?”

A second passed in stillness.

Twilight did not look away from the eyes of the river guardian. His face was a mask of neutrality, immune to the dismay in her heart. This time there was no compulsion, no mind numbing control drawing forth her words like water from a well. As soon as Steven's magic had touched her it was gone and only silence remained.

Her eyes pleaded for succor, to know why he would be so cruel, for the magic she had been expecting to take hold of her tongue and spill out the truth for her. But it did not come. No magic in the world could aid in making a confession.

“Well?” Rainbow Blitz pressed, the beginnings of anger creeping onto his voice. The question was a slap in the face and Twilight winced from the blow.

“I... uh, y-you see...” She began to stutter.

“You said I was your friend, but real friends don't lie to each other,” Berry Bubble said with hurt in his voice.

“Is it true Twilight?” asked Butterscotch. His eyes full of doubt, he searched her face for assurances that were not there. “Is any of it true?”

The purple mare cowered before their accusations. She sought support from any of the stallions she had lead all this way. None was forthcoming.

“It's clear you've deceived us Twilight, I think now we deserve the truth.” Elusive added.

Applejack's eyes we chips of emerald ice. Wordlessly his glare flayed her to the core and his face was a mask of stoney judgment, unforgiving and cold.

Twilight Sparkle was deep within a deadly wilderness, forcibly reliving one of the most harrowing days of her life, on a world not her own with no guarantee of ever seeing her real friends of family ever again, but only now did she truly feel alone.

The five ponies she had met since arriving had so quickly filled the place of her real friends that it was easy to forget they were completely separate. But they had given her strength when she was weak, courage when she was afraid, and purpose when she was lost. The loss of their trust and support hurt her more than any curse Solar Flare could ever conjure, and for the first time in a very long time Twilight Sparkle was afraid.

Applejack knew this moment would come, though he hadn't expected it to be so dramatic. There they were, out in the open at last; the many deceptions of Twilight Sparkle. Now was the time for the violet mage to face the music.

Stern as a glacier he approached the mare. She still stood before the riverbank, but all her previous confidence had left her. Beneath the patient observation of Steven Magnet, Twilight had huddled in on herself, shivering fear. When Applejack confronted her, she couldn't even look him in the eyes, but it was time to answer that all important question. With iron in his voice Applejack spoke.

“Who are you?”

Twilight hesitated. At first she didn't quite know how to respond to so simple a question. Where should she even begin? But as the words sunk deeper a different kind of hesitance took hold, and it's name was fear. Applejack wanted the truth from her, but that was something she barely believed herself. What if he didn't believe it, even if it was true? What if none of them believed it, and they left her here in the forest and abandoned the search for the Elements? What would she do then? Where would she even begin?

Unable to meet the eyes of the orange farmer, Twilight tried to explain. But the words all came at once and in a jumble, little more than stutters and false starts making it past her lips. Then like sun through storm clouds, the soothing advice of her most beloved mentor drifted up to her from the depths of memory. When in doubt my little pony, always start at the beginning. Celestia had once said.

So she did. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I was born and lived most of my life in Canterlot. On the day I earned my cutie mark, Princess Celestia, regent of the day, steward of the night, and ruler of Equestria chose me to be her personal student and protegee of magic. Three and a half years ago, the princess sent me to Ponyville to oversee preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. While there, I met and befriended five wonderful mares; Applejack,” She pointed to each stallion as she listed off the names. “Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.”

Each colt she indicated found himself with a different reaction to being pointed out, ranging from bewilderment, to amazement, to incredulity. None however, dared interrupt Twilight to probe further.

“The night before the Celebration, when Princess Celestia was due to raise the sun and bring the dawn, a thousand year old prophesy was fulfilled. Nightmare Moon escaped from her imprisonment, defeated Celestia, and vowed to bring about The Night Eternal.”

Slowly Twilight's voice gained more strength. These were the events that had hammered and tempered her into the mare she was today, and her conviction was clear.

“But my five friends and I had learned that there was a power strong enough to defeat Nightmare Moon and bring back Celestia. Together we ventured into the Everfree Forest and found the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. There we recovered the Elements of Harmony and used their power to break the curse that held Nightmare Moon in thrall.

“Once the dawn had come again, Princess Celestia revealed that Nightmare Moon was actually her younger sister, Princess Luna, who had been banished to the moon a thousand years ago. My friends and I became the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and in the months and years that followed we used their power and our friendship to defend Equestria.”

That was the easy part of her explanation, if any part of it could be called easy. Twilight took a deep breath. Now for the hard part.

“Three days ago I began experimenting with some strange magical phenomena occurring in and around Ponyville. I'll spare you the technical details, but long story short I ended up inventing a new kind of teleportation spell that took me away from the whole of Equestria and I think even the whole planet.

“I don't know where I was, but I wasn't there for more than half an hour before I tried to go back. But I got lost.” Speaking the words out loud hurt more deeply than she was ready for. Saying it made it real. She might never see her home again.

As she went on, her voice became laced with the pain. “I thought I had found my way back home, but when Red Gala brought me into town, I knew I had made a mistake. I didn't wind up in my home, I ended up here, in yours.” Tears began to build at the corner of her eyes but she winced them away to continue.

“All this stuff with Solar Flare and eternal day, I've seen it all before. It was one of the most terrifying nights of my life, but my friends and I, we all got through it and it brought us together. We even saved the Princesses and were heroes. I miss them so much.”

She paused then, looking down at her hooves. Taking a shuddering breath she pressed on.

“I'm good with magic, and I could use my spell to hop between worlds again right now, but that wont get me home. There were hundreds of paths I could have taken, and they all looked so alike. Without help, I could spend my whole life adrift and never get back.

“My mentor, Princess Celestia would know what to do. Or maybe Princess Luna. They move the heavens, they might know how to help me. But here, now... Your Princess Luna is most likely imprisoned in a moon that will never rise, and Celestia... Well, you were all there at town hall.”

She looked to each of the stallion reflection of her friends, not knowing what she hoped to see, but looking anyway. With what little force she had left she finished her explanation. “That’s why I brought you all out here. So we could recover the elements, restore Solar Flare, free Princess Luna, and maybe, just maybe, I can go home.”

For a very long time only silence met her waiting gaze. Finally Applejack broke the stillness. “And why all the evasion?” He asked in a slow whisper. “Why keep us in the dark?”

Her muscles twitched and a tinge of mania crept into her voice as the words spilled from her. “Isn't obvious? Three days ago I was secure in the belief that the world outside my door, scary and twisted and dangerous as it may be, was the only thing I had to worry about. But based on what I’ve seen and done in the past forty eight hours, I'm now faced with the fact that I've been cast adrift amongst an ocean of alternate realities, other dimensions, and alien worlds with no real hope of ever seeing my friends or family again.”

She caught herself then, pausing to take a deep breath to calm her nerves. “Sorry. I didn't intend for that to sound so defensive. But the reason I kept this all a secret is because this is all so frightening and strange, I can hardly believe it myself. How could I expect you guys to believe it too?”

For a moment all was quiet as the five stallions processed all she had said. Huddled as she was, Twilight could only bring herself to lock eyes on her own hooves. Finally, in a voice very small, the violet unicorn added, “I may have withheld the truth, but I never lied to you. When I said I was lost far from home, I meant it.”

Before the silence could drag on, Steven Magnet uncoiled himself from the riverbank in a great stretch. “My my,” he cooed. “It seems you all have a bit of soul searching to do now. I do apologize, it was never my intention to tear a rift between you fine young ponies. You have all done your best to pass my trials and I will assist you in crossing my river if you see fit. Now however, I think you would best be served by a little privacy. I won't go far. Just call out for me if you still wish to cross.” With that the purple serpent slid back under the frothy waves.

Twilight almost wished he had stayed. Turning back to her five companions, she awaited their judgment. Blitz was the first to speak. “Look, after that whole manticore thing I gotta say, I really respect you, Twilight. But come on, alien dimensions? I'm not saying you're crazy or anything, but don't you think there might be a more realistic explanation for all this?”

She couldn't argue. She wanted that to be true, but she knew it wasn't.

“I agree,” Elusive added. “I know you want to help us, Twilight, but extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, and so far that has been rather lacking.”

Weakened by there doubt, her defense sounded piteously small. “But what about Solar Flare? You all saw her. And the unnatural daylight! What about that?”

“Um, Twilight,” Butterscotch began cautiously. “What if there is something else going on. I mean, this has been really hard on all of us. What if there's something you missed? Maybe it would be a good idea to go back to Ponyville. There's a library there. Maybe there'll be something that will help us instead?”

The purple mare swallowed hard, she couldn't go back. She had to recover the Elements, it was her only hope.

Berry Bubble spoke up next. “As much fun as it has been so far, I think Butters might be right. Maybe there's a less life-threatening way of saving the day?”

“And you and I are both injured, Twilight.” Elusive added. “If we head back we can get bandaged up like we need to.”

“The forest isn't going anywhere, we could head back and ask around to see if anypony else knows what is going on.” Blitz cut in. “We could always come back if we find something.”

The longer it went on the deeper Twilight Sparkle sunk into despair. Each voice against her was a flood of ice-water through her veins. She knew how it all sounded, but she had no answers to their doubt. All she could do was ask them to trust her, but it seemed their trust had run out.

Butterscotch was laying a comforting hoof over her withers, cooing things she didn't understand to try and sooth her. She didn't want to go back, but without the faith of her friends she felt so empty. Her hooves slowly started to move on their own.

Applejack's iron baritone cut through her catatonia. “No. Wait.” She turned to look at him. He had been silent ever since Steven Magnet had left, and it looked like he had hardly moved a muscle.

“I say we go on.” the words took longer than they should have to register in the minds of the five other ponies.

“Applejack?” Finally she met his eyes. She saw hesitation there, but also resolve.

“Listen, I don't know about any alien dimensions or what not, but I'd like to think I can tell when a pony's trying to be honest. That was a right yarn you spun there sugar-cube, and though I can't rightly say I buy all of it, it did take real guts to get it out in the open. I respect that.”

Looking back to the other four colts he continued. “I may not believe what Twilight said, but I do believe in her. I think she's being honest, and even though I don't really buy it, the first part of honesty is trust.”

He looked to Twilight again. “If she can find the courage to be honest like that, the least we can do is trust her. I trust you Twilight. And even if you're wrong, honest mistakes are just that; honest. You saved our lives back in the canyon after all. That's got to count for something.”

With watery eyes but a smile on her face, Twilight Sparkle wrapped the orange farmer in a bone crushing hug. “Thank you.” She whispered.

“S'all right. I'm sorry if I've been a bit of a jerk so far. I only ever wanted you to be straight with me.”

Parting from their embrace, she replied. “I know. And I'm sorry too, for not telling you the truth.”

He smiled at that, before straightening out his stetson and calling to his companions. “Well what do ya' say fella's? Are we gonna save Equestria or not?”

Still rather hesitant, Berry Bubble, Butterscotch, Elusive, and Rainbow Blitz all returned to the river bank

“Um, alright.”

“I suppose it can't hurt to see this through to the end.”

“Well at least it's not the craziest thing I've ever done.”

“Yeah! Besides, only misbehaving PCs get to derail a narrative like that.”

Five pairs of eyes looked on Berry Bubble in utter confusion.

“Well it's true! DMs hate those guys.”

“Anyway,” Elusive cut in. “I think it's time we summoned our ride.” Limping to the water's edge, the suave colt raised his voice to call, “Mr. Magnet? I think we're ready to cross the river now.”

As the violet sea serpent coiled back into view, an annoying little thought popped into Twilight's head quite uninvited. I have no idea what I've gotten myself into.

Author's Note

And as promised here is the second part of the double chapter post. Keep in mind that the next chapter will likely take much longer than a fortnight to get out as it's currently just a provisional title on a blank ODF doc on my hardrive at the moment. Still, I haven't given up on this story by a long shot. I'll keep working on it slowly but surely!

Enjoy!

Chapter 13: How to Cross Bridges

Disclaimer:
There's a story, there's a story, there's a merry old story
'Bout many a cute pony
Who laugh and play in the light of day
'Cause Empress Faust made them that way
So please do not sue me

What Might Have Been

Chapter 13: How to Cross Bridges

The walk away from the river took place in awkward silence. Coming to grips with everything Twilight had said was certainly a tall order for the five stallions but as usual, Rainbow Blitz was fastest on the uptake. “So you're really from another universe, huh?”

Without turning her eyes away from the trail Twilight gave a heavy sigh along with her response. “It would seem so.”

“And in this other universe there's another me, right?”

“Yes.”

“But like, me as a mare?”

Equal parts suspicion and confusion seeped into the unicorn's voice as she turned to regard her prismatic partner. “Her name is Rainbow Dash. Yes.”

Blitz took this information with a small nod to himself and seemed to think deeply on it for a moment. Assuming his curiosity sated, Twilight returned her attention to the trail.

“So... is she hot?”

Berry Bubble snorted loudly and began to snigger as Twilight stopped to give her chromatic friend a long suffering look. “Really?”

“What?! A stallion's gotta' know these things!”

The violet mage could only roll her eyes and smile. She may have traveled distances unfathomable to mortal minds but sometimes it felt like she hadn't even left.

“Honestly Rainbow,” Elusive scolded. “Can you not go three days without acting like such a complete-”

“Horn-dog?” Applejack finished with a smirk. The alabaster tailor shot a scathing look at the farm-colt.

“Yes. That.”

Berry Bubble was full on chortling at this point and Twilight was having a hard time keeping her own laughter in check.

“Hey, there's nothing wrong with getting a little intel on the competition,” Blitz defended. “After all, there's only room for one most-awesome-pony-in-Ponyville.”

“You better watch out, Blitz, my friend Dash would say the same.”

The chromatic colt just gave a knowing smirk before he asked, “But seriously, what's she like?”

“She's a lot like you,” she said, smiling as the memories welled up in her. “Energetic, daring, at times a little full of herself.”

“Ain't that the truth,” Applejack quipped.

“Hey!”

“She's never once failed to stand up for her friends or her principles even when it might cost her hearts desire... or when they don't really deserve it.” Images of a raggedy old doll and a very miss-used spell tumbled through Twilight's mind as she spoke. The want-it-need-it incident had been entirely her fault but when she stood before Celestia to receive her punishment, Dash had still been the first to jump to her defense.

But before any of the other ponies had a chance to question her sudden pensiveness, Twilight perked up and said, “She's been accepted into the Wonderbolt's Academy.”

“Wow really?” Blitz's eyes seemed to grow large in admiration of this new revelation.

“Yep!” the purple mage continued. “She had her first week of basic training a couple of months ago, and now she's in the cadet reserves.”

“Cool,” the chromatic colt said in awe.

As she thought about her friend back home, a nagging question pushed it's way to the front of Twilight's attention.

“I realize this might sound a bit off topic but if you don't mind me asking; before the festival, did anypony come around and check on the preparations?”

Blitz looked confused. “What do you mean, like from the mayor's office?”

“No, I mean did Princess Luna send anypony from Canterlot to personally oversee the preparations for the festival? Like, Elusive, I bet you were in charge of decorating town hall,”

“Well yes, but how did you kn-” Twilight cut him off as she continued.

“And, Rainbow Blitz, you were charged with clearing the sky of clouds. Wasn't there anypony who came to check up on you guys and claimed to be from Canterlot?”

“Uh, no. Besides, why would the Princess wast time sending somepony special from Canterlot when they all know how awesome I am already?” Blitz answered.

“No one fitting you description came to visit me either, darling. But why the sudden interest?”

Twilight felt her heat sink down into her stomach. “Oh... Well then who runs the library in town? Who's the librarian?”

Applejack spoke up to answer her. “Ponyville doesn't have librarian, Twi, at least not full time. What's got you so on about this all of a sudden anyway?”

For a moment Twilight was silent. She briefly considered trying to pass her inquisitiveness off as idle curiosity but considering the events back on the river bank, she decided that might not be such a good idea. That left explaining her worries as her only option. Her fear that here, in this world, Twilight Sparkle didn't exist.

“It's... it's what I should have done, if I were here.”

“But I thought you said you only got here today?” Berry asked in confusion.

“Not me me. I mean it's what I did in my own world. The day before the Summer Sun Celebration I was sent from Canterlot to check up on all the preparations. That's how I met my friends. And back home I run the Ponyville library. It's my place, the part I play in all this. But here that part's empty. Like it was never cast at all.” Her voice dropped down to a whisper. “Like I was never born.”

Silence fell as the other five ponies digested her words. These were heavy thoughts indeed that hung from Twilight's heart, and none of them like seeing her so down. Applejack decided to take the initiative in dispelling her melancholy. “I can't rightly imagine what the idea that you might not ever'a been born is making you feel like, but what matters is that you're here now. And we wouldn't have made it half this far if it weren't for you.”

“Yeah!” Berry exclaimed. “And now that you're here, it means you get to be friends with us all over again. We also happen to get to save the world, but that's just a nice bonus.”

She couldn't help but giggle at that.

“Indeed Twilight. There's really no point in worrying over what might have been when we have the here-and-now to concern ourselves with,” Elusive added. “For the moment you're here with us, and we'll stand by you through thick and thin.”

A warm smile lit her features at his decree. “Thanks guys. I needed that.”

“Hey it's like you said, 'it's what friends are for.'” Rainbow Blitz said while tossing his mane.

Butterscotch had remained silent throughout this whole conversation. It wasn't that he didn't hold some curiosity regarding his potential other self, nor that he was unconcerned with Twilight's anxiety, but all four of the other colts had already shared an intimate, heartfelt moment with her. They're more her friend's than I, he thought to himself. I'm not brave like Rainbow or strong like Applejack. I'm just a cowardly pegasus who can barley fly.

Huddled on his back between his wings, the minicore picked up on his new caretaker's distress. Purring in it's strange insectoid way, it nuzzled the back of Butterscotch's neck and began to knead its paws into his back.

The colt hummed in appreciation. “Thank you, my friend. But I do not think that will help.” He sighed deeply. “I just want to be finished with this quest so we can go back home.”

“Garou raow rrdrrdrrdrrd.” The tiny predator purred back in response.

“I know, but it's true. I can't fly well or cast spells or-”

“Gerrrraww graow rrgrrgr”

“No, I cant do that either but that's besides the point. Ponies are vegetarians after all.”

“Rarrg prrdrrdrrdr.”

“Thank you, but I think you should leave that to me now. Your not quite as big as you once were.”

The pint sized predator stopped its massage of Butterscotch's back to glare back at him. “Hahhhssssss,” it hissed in displeasure before turning around and pointedly ignoring the yellow colt. He was just about to try rousing the minicore from it's huff when Twilight's voice caught his attention.

“Speaking of the here-and-now, we're here.” As the trees opened, the shape of a torn and weathered ruin swam into view. Once tall towers of heartless gray stone scrapped skyward in defiance of the wild forest that would one day claim them. The vaulted peaks floated unbound from earth or sky above a thick swirl of fog which concealed the lower halls and surrounding grounds. Before them stretched a yawning chasm from which the mist and haze billowed up, smelling strongly of swamp water. At the edge nearby stood a pair of mossy stone pylons, dutifully marking where a bridge once hung.

“Here it is,” Twilight said in a hushed tone. “The ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, and the last known resting place of the Elements of Harmony.”

For a moment her five companions could only stand in awe. At last Applejack spoke.

“So it's real then. Solar Flare, the Elements, you.” He paused, collecting his thoughts. “Somehow, I didn't quite believe it until now, but this is all really happening, isn't it?”

As he looked to Twilight she gave a solemn nod. “Indeed it is.”

“How are we to cross the canyon though?” Elusive asked

“Well in my world, the bridge was mostly intact and hanging from this side. Rainbow Dash was able to fly down, grab it, and tie it off on the other side.” Five pairs of eyes settled on Rainbow Blitz, who nervously rubbed the back of his mane

“Yeah, about that...” he said, spreading his still badly charred wings. “No more flight feathers for a while, remember?”

“Well then that just leaves-”

“Meep!” Butterscotch crouched down and hid his face in his hooves at the sudden attention.

“Awe, come on Butters, don't be like that,” Rainbow chided. “All you have to do is fix the bridge and we're in the clear.”

“B-but it's so foggy, we can't even see the other side, or the bottom!”

“You don't have to be a scaredie-pony, Butterscotch,” Berry bubbled. “It's just a hop, skip, and a-hurk!” Before he could complete his demonstration, Applejack grabbed Berry's curly pink tail with his teeth and roughly yanked the bouncy colt away from the edge.

“Woh there, that's about enough of that!” he said after removing the tail from his mouth. “Hows about we not go jumping around right next to the bottomless chasm of doom, eh?”

Berry playfully stuck out his tongue. “Party pooper.”

Applejack rolled his eyes before continuing to address his timid pegasus friend.

“Come on now, we all need that bridge to be fixed and you're the only one who can do it. It won't take you but a minute and then you'll be done.”

“But I'm not even that strong of a flier! What if I can't lift it, or if I get lost in the fog?”

“That's not gonna happen, Butterscotch. Just flap those wings of yours and git 'er done.” It was clear the pragmatic farm colt was staring to get a bit frustrated.

“Honestly, I can't imagine what it is you're so afraid of dear. Judging from the ruins it can't be more than fifty meters from here to there,” Elusive chimed in.

“But I... it's...”

“Yeah, Butters, I've seen you fly through worse clouds back in Cloudsdale, and these aren't even that bad to begin with.”

Butterscotch was wilting under the scrutiny of his four friends. He knew what they were saying was all true and that he should just get up and do it, but he couldn't. He just couldn't, and even in his own mind he was scolding himself for his inaction. Just go. Do it. Jump off the ledge and fly down there. Why can't I do it? What's wrong with me? It's not that far just do it you coward. JUMP!

The clamor of voices, mostly his own, filled with derision and scorn ground down his will and tears began to fill his eyes. His insides felt like they were pulling themselves apart. All he wanted to do was jump but his wings just would not obey. He hid behind his bangs and his hooves, squeezing his eyes shut tight and wishing it would all go away.

A tender hoof upon his cheek brought his thoughts to a halt. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked up into the warm smile of Twilight Sparkle.

“Guys,” she said without breaking eye contact. “Could you give the two of us a few minutes alone?” The other four ponies paused to consider her rather unexpected request. “Please?” now she did look back. “I promise it wont take long.”

Applejack, Elusive, Berry, and Blitz all looked between themselves before shrugging there shoulders. “Sure, but don't take too long,” Rainbow replied. “We've still gotta save the world and all.” With that her friends moved off a ways along the canyon, giving Twilight the opportunity to speak with the yellow pegasus in private.

For his own part, Butterscotch was rather confused by the violet unicorn's behavior. Once she had helped him to his hooves she sidled up next to him and quietly sat, looking toward the ruins in the distance. For a moment they stayed like that, side by side in companionable silence.

“Her name is Fluttershy.” Twilight said at last.

“Who?”

“Fluttershy.” She looked down at her hooves smiling in remembrance. “The mare version of you in my world.” A little chuckle escaped her. “I remember this one time, I went into the Everfree Forest on my own to see a good friend, but I ran into trouble on the way. Did you know there are cockatrises still living in this forest? I didn't. I though they'd all died out or migrated further away from civilization. But there's at least one left, and I found it.”

Butterscotch's eyes grew wide in horror. “That's awful. How did you get away?”

Twilight was silent for a long moment, dredging up this particular memory was not in any way pleasant. “I didn't.” She took a shuddering breath and tried to swallow down the rising panic that reliving this moment was bringing on. “It... it got me, Butterscotch. It got me dead in the eyes. And just before everything went dark, I could feel it petrifying me.”

Her composure was rapidly eroding but Twilight pressed on with her story. “At the time, Fluttershy was hosting a sleepover with Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo at her house. You can't imagine how rambunctious those three fillies can be when they're together. Anyway long story short, Fluttershy's chickens somehow got loose and those three decided they had to go track them down through the forest in the middle of the night. As soon as she figured out where those fillies had gone, Fluttershy ran after them to make sure they were ok.” Twilight paused again to collect her thoughts.

“If she'd have been there even a second later, it would have been too late. As it was, Fluttershy found Applebloom and her friends just as the cockatrise found them too. Fluttershy managed to get the girls behind her but that left her facing the creatures gaze eye to eye.”

Butterscotch was gnawing his hoof in anticipation by this point in her story. But when Twilight looked over to him, she had a crooked smile on her face. “She didn't get turned to stone though.”

“Really?”

“Nope. She stared right back at that thing and willed it into submission with her eyes alone. In fact, she so scared the cockatrise that she got it to change me back all on it's own.

When I asked Sweetie Belle about it later though, she said that some of her lower body had started to turn to stone before she came out on top. Apparently it was pretty close, but for staring down a cockatrise, what can you expect?” The purple mare chucked a bit at that while Butterscotch simply gaped in awe.

“I got curious about the whole thing sometime later and I asked her about it. About being partially turned to stone like that,” she said, somber once again. “I had been having nightmares about it, you see. Dreams where I'd start to loose feeling in my hooves, and that icy chill would slowly creep up my limbs, crushing me, suffocating...” She took a deep breath.

“I wanted to know how Fluttershy was dealing with it because it didn't seem to bother her at all. When I talked to her about it and told her of the nightmares I'd been having, she was at first confused. She didn't quite know what I was talking about. You see, she hadn't even though about that night at all since it had happened. It was like it was just a bad mane day for her. It was done, and that was it.

“When I asked if she could feel the petrification she said she had, but that at the time all she could think about was getting the girls to safety. 'Didn't it frighten you?' 'Doesn't it haunt you?' I asked. But she just calmly shrugged it off. 'Not really,' she said.” Twilight shook her head and laughed. “Not really,” she repeated. “Like water off a duck's back. You'd think she was talking about the weather for all it bothered her,” she said with a smile.

Butterscotch took it all in with awe. To think a mare version of him had done all that, and shaken it off like a true badass to boot. Too bad I'm not more like her, he thought to himself. “She sounds amazing,” he meekly said.

“You are.”

“What?”

“The two of you are a lot alike, and in more ways than just looks. You both have a passion for animals, you both hate public speaking, you're both really shy but a great friend underneath.” Butterscotch blushed at the praise but Twilight went on. She was taking a gamble with this bit, but she had a sneaking suspicion it would work.

“You both are older than you look, you both conduct a song bird choir, you're both fascinated by nature and contrary to what most ponies assume you're not afraid of spiders.”

Now he was starting to get a little creeped out by Twilight's uncanny knowledge of him, but still she pressed on. “Your favorite flower is an orchid, your favorite color is green, you often go to the spa to relax, and even though I've only heard it a few times, you have a lovely singing voice.”

Eyes wide staring, Butterscotch could only mumble. “How do you know all this about me?”

“I know this about you because I know Fluttershy. And I know the same strength that's in her is in you. You are her, Butterscotch. You're the bravest, kindest, most courageous pony I've ever met, and I would give my left hoof to have half the courage you do.” She wrapped the butter colt in a tight hug. “It may seem like I know what I'm doing most of the time but the truth is, I'd fall apart without you and the others.”

He held her, silently absorbing her words. She pulled away, looking him in the eyes with a beatific smile, and he spoke. “But I'm not really that courageous, I'm afraid all the time.”

Another warm smile. “A very wise pony once said that courage isn't the absence of fear, it's doing what you must in spite of it. It's the strength you have in here,” she place her hoof over his heart. “And I've never seen a stronger heart than yours.”

“Do you really meant that?”

“I really do.”

He looked down to where her hoof rested on his chest, feeling her warmth through it. Taking a deep breath he looked back up, and this time Twilight saw steel in his eyes. Wordlessly he walked over to the canyon ledge, spread his wings, and closed his eyes. Slowly he let his weight lean further and further forward over the cliff. Then he thought of Fluttershy.

She's got real sand, shrugging off almost being turned to stone. Like water off a ducks back. He he. I like that. I'll have to tell it to Mr. Mallard once I get back.

Wind rushed past his face and when he opened his eyes he was flying. What was more, there was no fear, no anxiety, just his feathery yellow wings gently sliding through calm air. He smiled. It had been a long time since Butterscotch had enjoyed flying, and this was certainly not the way it usually went when he did.

This was different though. Right now he felt light, unburdened by the anxiety that normally squeezed him into crippling inaction. He knew he was afraid but somehow, Twilight's kind words and her faith in him had pushed his worry away. He wasn't all that far from the cliff face though. He still couldn't see through to the other side of the menacing fog bank ahead, and he still needed to repair the bridge.

Banking into a turn, he located the dangling ropes and planks that were his goal. As he hovered down to find it's end, the smells of swamp and rot became stronger. The thick acrid air lanced his sinuses and caused a throbbing to develop in his skull. A stray thought wondered through Butterscotch's calm and with it came a twinge fear. What if I'm overcome by the swamp gases? What if I pass out and fall? They'd never find me!

His stomach clenched but he quickly found the dangling end of the ropes and wrapped them around his hoof. As he did so he chanced to look down to the fuming chasm below. There protruding up through the vapors and fog were the very tips of long spears of stone. Ground and polished they were by mindless erosion into needle sharp points. Were he to fall here, or slip, or descend any more than he already had, his friends wouldn't need to find him. He would be impaled on those jagged tines, run through for all to see.

Butterscotch's hooves began to tremble as his earlier tranquility seeped away. His wings fumbled for purchase in the rank air. I have to get back up. I have to fly! he thought to himself as the first slimy threads of panic slipped through his veins. In a rush he speed up the face of the cliff and back into the cleaner air of the woods.

Sweet fresh sky filled his lungs with every breath, and Butterscotch could see that his friends had returned. Standing there with Twilight, the other four ponies had looks of impressed surprise adorning their faces. And not for nothing was this the case. Looking down, the yellow colt saw the remnants of the bridge still tightly wound around his hoof. He was doing it.

Then he looked out into the thick billowing cloud of swamp gas he still had to cross, and his rapidly eroding courage fell even further. Up ahead of him the fumes were thicker and he still couldn't see the other side. And he knew that lurking below, reaching claws of rock were waiting to claim him should he fall. He gulped and looked back to Twilight. There he saw not surprise in her features, but pride. You can do it, she silently mouthed to him.

The calm she had inspired in him had worn off. Now he really was afraid again, and he knew it. But he had come this far already, he couldn't give up now. He took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline and stress course through him, the physiological evidence of his fright.

“Courage isn't the absence of fear,” he whispered to himself. Buzzing his wings and darting forward he finished, “it's doing what you must in spite of i-HURK!”

The rope snapped taught and Butter's forward momentum whipped his body around in a dizzying one-eighty. Flailing frantically to regain his equilibrium, one of the yellow colt's rear hooves found purchase on a rocky ledge. As he brought his wings to bear, Butterscotch found himself standing just on the lip of the far cliff. He had made it, and just as Elusive had predicted, the gap was no more than fifty meters wide. There to his left was the stone pylon he was looking for. After fumbling with the knots for a minute he finally got the ropes secure and began trotting back across his new accomplishment.

As he emerged from the fog on the other side he was met with a chorus of cheers and smiles.

“Alright Butters, we knew you had it in you!” Rainbow Blitz said with a pat on the back.

“Yeah, way to go man! Hoof-bump!” Berry demanded.

But dispite the attention from the other four, Butterscotch walked right up to Twilight and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you for believing in me,” he said.

The purple mare hugged him back. “I never doubted you for a second.”

Their tender moment was quickly interrupted however, as Applejack began pushing the two of them toward the ruined castle. “Alright, enough sappy stuff. We got a job to do after all,” he said with a smile.

“Indeed,” Elusive added. “I think it's high time we finish this quest!”

“Yeah!” Berry Bubble cheered from up ahead. And with gleeful confidence five ponies marched forward to meet their destinies.

Author's Note

Well here's chapter 13. I have to give a big shout out to BlueNinja for helping me edit it and a bunch of the other chapters as well. Like I said in the blog post I've got chapter 14 all ready to go as well so once the hype dies down from this post I'll throw it up as well! Let me know what you guys think in the comments!

Chapter 14: All at Once

Disclaimer: Long ago in a distant land, she, Faust, the almighty creator of ponies, unleashed an unspeakable adorableness. But foolish brony writers, wielding magic keyboards, stepped forth to emulate her. Before the final C&D letter was sent, she tore open a portal in time and flung it into the future where such evil is law. Now the bronies seek to avoid that day, and do only homage to the ponies that are Faust.

What Might Have Been

Chapter 14: All At Once

Great fiery wings soared through gentle thermals above an uninhabited stretch of the Everfree Forest. There's nothing here! Solar Flare thought to herself. For the last several hours she had been surveying the forest looking for any sign of what that strange purple mare and her friends could be looking for. She had flown up to the headwaters of the Everfree river and all the way across the great forest, but still she was confounded. She had even found the ruins of the old castle she had once shared with Luna. All she had found there was moldering stone and unwelcome memories.

By this point the tyrant sun goddess was running out of patience. Whatever she hoped to find here, be it the Elements of Harmony or some other great power was either hidden too well, or not present within the forest to begin with. It was starting to look like the purple witch was just a crackpot after all.

An angry tremor passed down her spine at the thought that she had been made a fool of by some mere mortal. Perhaps she would outright murder the mare if she ever managed to make it out of the forest intact. Won't that be fun? She mused as a fanged and sinister grin split her face. Or perhaps not murder, that would be far to quick. There are after all, so many other ways I can make her pay for humiliating me.

With an evil chuckle and a flick of her wings, Solar Flare began a broad turn toward Canterlot. She was done with this wild goose chase. It was time to begin her conquest. But no sooner had this impulse been translated into action than the fabric of the world heaved. A shockwave of power radiated through the aether and overtook her in mid-flight. Like the light of her sun but invisible to the eye, this magic shown brilliantly from its source. To Solar Flare it's feel was familiar. Sickeningly so.

The Power of Harmony was revived.

In a storm of rage she found its center right in the middle of her old castle. The magic must have lain dormant when she passed earlier, but now it was awake and alive and very dangerous. Her horn flashed bright as Flare imbued herself with inequine speed, and like a bolt of fire she raced to put a stop to the only power she feared. This time I will be victorious.

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

“TWILIGHT?”

“TWIIIII-LIIIIIGHT!”

“Come out, come out, where ever you are!”

“Pinkie this isn't a game of hide-and-seek, this is serious!”

“I am being serious! I'm way better at finding ponies when I play hide-and-seek, so maybe if I pretend like it is, I'll find Twilight faster.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh, very well. Just keep looking. It's getting dark and I can't bear to think our friend might be lost out at night.”

With a whoosh of ruffled feathers Rainbow Dash soared in above them to come in for a landing. “No sign of her in the gully behind the south field,” she said a little winded. Since they had discovered Twilight's abandoned work site, the six of them, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Spike had devoted themselves to the search for their missing friend. Being the fastest and able to take advantage of high altitude, Dash had immediately taken to doing flyovers of the surrounding topography.

“Horse-apples,” Applejack swore. For the last several hours she had been directing Rarity and Pinkie Pie in making a through search of all Sweet Apple Acres. “What on Celestia's green earth has that filly gotten up to? It's not like her to just wonder off like this without telling anypony where she went. And now we're running out of places to look.”

Once they started to search in earnest for Twilight, Fluttershy had shooed all the other ponies away from the site of the strange magical disturbance. She wanted to make sure that any hoof prints that the mage may have left weren't disturbed or trodden over. Using her knowledge of the outdoors, she had slowly and carefully tried to reconstruct where Twilight had gone.

Unfortunately, despite hours of patient work she hadn't found anything of use. She had managed to locate Twilight and Applejack's tracks leading into the area, and had found lots of the mage's hoof prints around the magic circle and her notebook, but no matter how hard she looked she couldn't see any sign of Twilight leaving the area. This had to mean that Twilight had teleported away, but Fluttershy could only guess why she would feel the need to do so.

Spike had spent the time reading through his caretaker's notebook, hoping to find some insight into where she had gone. Even considering the top notch education he was receiving from the mage, he was only able to wrap his head around some of the things he found within.

The last entry he found particularly difficult to decipher, as it consisted mostly of densely written mathematical expressions and Twilight's thoughts on their relation to her spellwork. One passage towards the end he found particularly worrying though.

...2nd and 3rd Derivations of above transformations yield respectively translational and rotational matrices for the geas structure. Recursive application of the above could then conceivably bring dimensional resolution down into the normal range for ponies. This presents the possibility of passage through the central rift by a living thing with minimal cognitive overload. Proceeding with trial application of above stated version of Riemaneian manifold transform with Godel's statistical correction for...

That line, 'passage through the central rift' was raising a whole host of red flags for the dragon who had seen Twilight get in over her head on more than one occasion. The rest of it was all pretty opaque though, so he was looking for references elsewhere in her notes that might shed some light on her musings and maybe put that sentence into context. It was not an easy search.

Finally the other four ponies wandered back from their excursions to check back in. “Did you find anything?” Fluttershy asked as she looked up from some small depressions in the dirt near the magic circle.

“Nothing,” Rainbow conceded with a frown.

“We didn't see any signs of her either,” Pinkie said, her mane going a little flatter than usual.

From the looks on Rarity and Applejack's faces, Fluttershy could tell they hadn't had any more luck. “How about you?” Rarity asked.

Fluttershy huffed out her frustration before beginning. “Well there are plenty of Twilight's hoof prints around the area, especially near that magic... thing. But I still haven't found any sign of her leaving by hoof. She may have teleported away, but unless you guys have any ideas I can't think of why she would need to do that. The strangest thing is that her tracks never enter her magic circle except for once, and they don't lead back out. This could mean she walked into the center of her spell and then teleported back out just to the near-by area, but then why would she waste the mana when she could just walk?”

Spike perked up at Fluttershy's interpretation of the tracks. “Um, actually she may not have teleported at all,” he said.

“What do you mean,” Applejack asked. “Did you find anything in that notebook?”

“Sort of. I don't really understand most of this, but there is this one sentence in her last entry.” After reading aloud the passage, Spike looked about for opinions. “Well, what do you all make of that?”

Perhaps it was due to not completely understanding the whole thing, but the words of Twilight's notebook sent a chill down the spines of her five pony friends. “Is that what this thing is?” Rarity said with a trembling voice as she indicated the twisting magical anmoaly. “The rift? Did Twilight actually walk into that thing?”

“I don't know, Rares,” said Applejack. “But I do think we should get some professional assistance with our search. I say we take this back to the library and send a letter to the princess.”

She found agreement immediately, and in a rush they all packed up and made for Twilight's library. Once there, the five element bearers and Spike all slipped into emergency mode. Rarity began drafting a letter to Celestia summarizing what was going on and asking for assistance. Meanwhile Spike occupied himself by pulling out any and all books that might shed light on Twilight's project, and Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Fluttershy all started sifting through the material.

No sooner had Rarity handed off her letter to Spike for sending than a stunning purple flash washed through the library. When the shining light died down all eyes turned to it's source; the display case for the Elements of Harmony. The element of Magic looked as though it were on fire. Livid violet plasma wafted off the amethyst gem and it shone with a brilliant inner light.

In a flash Rainbow Dash zipped over to the case and cast the glass cover aside. “Quick you guys, grab your elements!” she as she tossed them across the room to their respective owners. “I don't know much, but I know that's Twilight!”

“I completely agree, but what do we do with them?” Rarity worried as she clasped her element of generosity about her neck.

“Guys, I don't know where our Twi-Twi is,” Pinkie proclaimed in answer. “But we're her friends and I know that right now she needs us!” Then she held her own element close to her heart to squeezed her eyes shut tight. “The Elements of Harmony are trying to tell us something. If we just listen with our hearts...” She trailed off as the other four ponies all opened themselves to the magic they knew was inside them.

It was there in all of them, the Power of Harmony. A depth-less wellspring of light that they each touched in their own special way to activate the elements. As each of them reached out to take hold of this power they all fell flat. It was like walking up a flight of stairs and taking that last step only to realize there was no last step, and to have your hoof collide with nothing. There was nothing for them to grasp.

With a gasp Fluttershy looked around to her friends. “You can all feel that too, right? Whats going on here?” None could answer her and still the element of Magic blazed on.

“We've got to do something!” Dash proclaimed in a rising panic. “Something’s wrong with Twilight but this isn't working!”

Then just as suddenly as it had started it stopped. The light from the amethyst tiara abruptly cut out, and the clear violet gem slowly calcified into dull gray stone. Then all was still.

At last Applejack spoke. “Spike, get Celestia down here right bucking now.”

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

It was cold. It was so very, very cold, and Luna knew that there was no respite from the chill. From the very moment her senses had returned to her, she had turned her sight upward toward that placid blue jewel hung in a pitiless black sky. It was like a shining pearl, bright with oceans, and forests, and clouds, and hope. She hoped there was still hope.

Her sister's cruel magic pressed down on her with the weight of continents, binding her soul deep within its last refuge, the Moon. In a way it was, perhaps not comforting, but affirming. Like finally finding all the lost pieces of herself and pulling them into her whole. Luna could feel the Moon's compassion and it's patience. The alien thoughts and will of her celestial body flowed through her in a way she had never felt before, and she could tell the Moon felt the same.

Luna could feel the shadows as well, the dark mysteries of the void that lurked wherever the light dared not go. These dark secrets and fell desires were not pleased with the Princess of the Night, but they were a part of her all the same. And she was a part of them. For the first time in her life the trinity of her being was unified: Moon, Luna, and Nightmare. The thoughts of the Princess could not be hidden from her other incarnations, they were all three sides of the same coin, three halves of the same whole. The mind of one was the mind of all, but that did not mean they all shared the same opinions.

The vast inexplicable cognition of the Moon was placid as ever, and it's musings concerning the goings on of ponies big or small did not fit well into Luna's brain. But it did support her in some way. Its twisting clairvoyance reserved kindness for it's smaller sisters' plight. It offered sympathy and strength where it could, but ultimately it could only look upon Luna's actions with mute incomprehension.

Nightmare, by contrast, knew everything: her hopes, her plans, her justifications and transgressions. Though a thousand years had passed since Luna had last been united with her, Nightmare Moon's malcontent was little cooled. She was the incarnation of unknowable darkness and as such, she had no sympathy for Luna regarding Celestia or the rule of Equestria. Her warped intentions spared no pity for impulses she saw as weak. However, though she was indeed cruel, Nightmare Moon was not needlessly so; she also knew about the student, and how much he meant to Luna.

Thus as the Night Princess pined for a world now lost, Nightmare did not berate or scorn her. She saw no need to add insult to injury and instead chose simply to sit next to Luna. The Princess knew she was there. She knew what Nightmare's presence meant and what the obsidian mare would say if she spoke. So rather than tear open old wounds, she too sat in silence. All three of them together, sitting, waiting, and hoping.

Each of them could feel Solar Flare's magic sealing them in, abrading against their soul and corralling them in on all sides. They could feel the spells she cast as one could feel the flexing of muscles under skin. Teleportation, fire manipulation, teleportation again, physical dissolution, a spell to crumble stone, animal possession with a strong stink of manticore, then a great outpouring of undirected destruction magic.

It all pulled at Luna's insides. She could only tell what spells Flare was casting, not why she was casting them, and that tiny insight filled the Night Princess with imagined dread. What is she trying to destroy? Who could she be fighting? Oh please Mother Faust, let it not be Dusk Shine.

Then the terrible strength of the tyrant sun flexed in a massive casting. Luna could almost see the twisting arc of light stretch forth from the very sun and splash over the surface of Equestria. As the spell took hold, the banished princess could smell with her arcane senses pine forest and loamy earth. Then all was still.

The quiet ate at the Night Princess, and she chewed her lip in worry. What was that massive spell? I don't even recognize the spell form, what is going on down there? Please be alright my loyal student.

The minutes ticked by with torturous slowness, but Luna could perceive nothing more. She tried to calm herself with the thought that she must be patient and have faith in her little ponies, but her heart continued to quiver in her chest. Then Solar Flare's magic went to work again.

A flash of enchanted speed and more fire manipulation. A short pause, then for just a moment Flare's power went slack. It was back an instant later in full force and Solar Flare cast again. A spell to freeze flesh and stop the heart, and with it the touch of a soul she recognized.

Dusk Shine!

Luna's scream of anguish fell dead as soon as it left her lips, her tears froze solid as soon as they left her cheeks. In her ragged torment she sobbed her vocal chords raw, repeating silently over and over. “I'm sorry Dusk. I'm so sorry.”

Without a word, Nightmare Moon extended a wing and wrapped in around Luna, who leaned into the embrace and wept.

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

The squealing of metallic brakes woke Dusk Shine from a deep sleep.

“Last stop, Ponyville. Now entering Ponyville,” the conductor called as he walked through the otherwise empty train car. The trundling and swaying of the carriage had lulled the young mage to sleep almost instantly, and for all Dusk knew the trip could have spanned three days rather than the three hours it actually took.

In fact it occurred to Dusk Shine that this was the first time he had slept since Luna had tasked him with reading that children's book. That makes, what, nearly forty two hours without sleep? Oh Faust above, why do I do these things to myself? Gathering his saddle bags and the few other belongings he had brought, the severely sleep-deprived unicorn made his way toward the car door.

Manning the hatch was the conductor who, despite the unnatural daylight and the near midnight hour, looked slick, trim, and professional. “Mighty strange weather we're havin' isn't it?” he said, looking over the ruffled student with an appraising eye.

“Oh, I'm sure I don't know what you mean,” Dusk replied sarcastically. “It looks like a bright sunny day out to me.” That got a laugh out of the older stallion.

“I suppose that's one way of looking at it.” He laughed before continuing. “You know I've been all over Equestria, Stalliongrad to Vanhoover. And I can tell you that way up north the sun sometimes stays up for a whole day, but I've never seen it happen this far south.”

Dusk grinned in agreement with the conductors assessment. “I guess you see something new everyday,” he replied.

“That's the honest to Luna truth if ever I've heard it. Speaking of which, I can't say I've ever seen you on the rails before. Mind if I ask what's got you out on such a strange day so late at night?”

Though it definitely didn't look like it, it was past midnight. Dusk had been lucky to catch this train, as it was the last one leaving Canterlot until morning. Not that terms like midnight or morning seemed to have any real meaning anymore, but one's circadian rhythm didn't just give up without a fight. Still, it was apparent he was the only pony foolish or desperate enough to board the red-eye train to Ponyville.

“Oh, you know,” the mage began. “Boss says go here, meet these ponies, sign these papers, make these deals. 'Oh and just be sure to do it all before Monday so the stock price doesn't drop.' I'm sure you know the drill.”

His excuse was immediately accepted by the trim conductor. “I do indeed lad. No rest for the weary, as they say.”

Finally the train came to a full stop and the conductor threw open the car door, offering Dusk a hoof down as he stepped off. “You know, you seem like an alright kid,” he said. “My next shift doesn't leave until three in the afternoon tomorrow. If you're in the neighborhood, you should stop by the station and we could grab a brew together, Mr...”

“Dusk Shine.”

“Clock Work,” he said as he shook Dusk's hoof. “Pleasure makin' your acquaintance.”

“Likewise,” the mage replied with a smile. “And I'll try and take you up on that offer, Good evening.”

As he made his was from the train station an eerie wind ruffled through the town. The streets were bare of ponies but showed evidence of a recent celebration. Lunar blue pennants quietly flapped in the breeze, the only sound audible above the damning silence. Were this any other night, the soft noises of a town at rest would have wrapped the air in patient calm, but now the harsh sunlight pushed ponies to hide in their homes and left an empty tension in the air. There wasn't a soul in sight.

Knowing where he would be staying, he had taken the time to look up directions to the town library before he left Canterlot. The small clip-clop of his hooves on the flag stones followed him methodically as he made his way there. At last he rounded a corner and saw the great tree, enduring and calm as it drank in the unnatural light with bright emerald leaves.

Then a great flash of light in the distance almost blinded him. It came from over the rooftops beyond the edge of town, from somewhere deep in the Everfree Forest. With the flash came a great rising column of fire that twisted and lanced out with rays of burning light. In an instant it rocketed toward town, ripping the sky as it came. It passed high over Ponyville and the roar of its passing rattled the teeth in his skull. As its thunder rolled away in the hills, the streak arced up toward the mountain and headed straight for Caterlot.

Dusk's eyes were wide, only barely comprehending of what he had just seen. One thing he knew immediately though; that streak of fire could only be a bad omen of things to come.

Chapter 15: Through a Mirror Darkly

Disclaimer: Mi Caballita Pequeno: La Amicidad es majica y todads las personajes, lugares, y historias asociadas no son mios. Ellas son las asignaturas legitmas de Hasbro, le HUB, y la emperatriz todopoderosa, Lauren Faust.

What Might Have Been

Chapter 15: Through a Mirror Darkly

Six sets of eyes gazed in awe at the ruined castle before them, for even after a thousand years it was still a sight to behold. Thick stone walls surrounded the inner courtyard and the keep, their broken, uneven crenelations cast shadows of jagged, hungry teeth on the soggy ground below. Proud columns, choked with ivy, still managed to hold aloft a cadre of flying arches and echoing vaults, and on every surface muted ripples in the stone whispered of the ghosts of masterwork carvings long since eroded away. Rosy granite, shimmering labradorite, and swirling gneiss run through with garnets, all in tumbled blocks, were the only shreds of beauty not yet undone.

Elusive gave voice to their unspoken awe. “It's so grand, even in death,” he breathed, barely above a whisper. “What splendor it must have been in life.”

Despite having been here once before, Twilight was just as impressed by the ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters as her friends since the last time she had been here it was dark. Now that she had a chance to see the ruins in the light of day she could really appreciate them. It was a sight that made the violet mage want to come back to really poke around and discover all the hidden treasures of the palace later when the fate of the world didn't hang in the balance. Perhaps once I get back I'll do just that, she thought to herself.

“Come on,” she called out to the others, snapping them out of their gawking. “The great hall should be this way.” Through the courtyard and past a few crumbling gateways, Twilight lead them toward the central chamber. There, just as she expected, was the alter that held the five sacred stones.

Levitating them off their pedestals, she placed the five elements in a circle on the ground in front of her while the five stallion reflections of friends gathered round. “Wait a minute,” Rainbow Blitz piped up. “I thought you said there were six elements, not five.”

“Yeah, where's the last one?” Berry Bubble asked.

“When the five are present, a spark shall cause the sixth Element to be revealed,” Twilight quoted. She turned to look at each of her companions as she spoke. “That's what the ancient lore says about the Elements. The spark is the friendship we six feel for each other. It's the bond we share, and the light that lives inside all of us.” She took a deep breath and opened her heart, reaching for the magic she knew was within her. “And it's the power that lives within me.”

As she spoke, an arc of plasma jumped from the tip of her horn to the element stones and immediately they began to respond. The glittering light split and multiplied as it shot from one stone to the next until all five were shining like stars come to earth. Twilight watched with satisfaction as the the dusty stone began to crumble away, revealing the glittering golden necklaces she was so familiar with. Finally the swirling cloud of energy collapsed in on itself and congealed into the Element of Magic.

“Each one of us represents one of the Elements of Harmony.” Twilight explained. “Chosen by fate, it is our destiny to bear our given element. It's a part of us, like an arm or a leg, we six are as much the Elements of Harmony as these gems.”

Taking the Elements in her telekinesis and donning her tiara, she began to pass out the necklaces. “Applejack; the Element of Honesty.” She passed the farm colt his element. “Rainbow Da - er Blitz; the Element of Loyalty, Berry Bubble; the Element of Laughter, Elusive; the Element of Generosity, and Butterscotch; the Element of Kindness.”

There was a moment of reverent silence as each colt contemplated the jewel he had been given. Slowly, one by one, they each donned their Element and looked to Twilight for what to do next. For her own part, the purple mage couldn't keep the grin off her face. Looking around at her friends, and by this point she really did think of them as her friends, each equipped with their sacred gem, filled her with a warm nostalgia. These five stallions were all just as strong and courageous as her friends back home. She knew they would have the strength be victorious and help her get her back to her own world.

A twinge of sadness crept into her then. Though she missed her real friends back home dearly, she had also grown attached to all five of these new ponies. And though they were similar to her friends back home, they were all unique as well. The thought that soon she might never see them again filled her with bittersweet grief.

Twilight shook herself out of her reverie. Best not to dwell on that until the time comes, she thought to herself. We still have an angry sun goddess to deal with first.

Blazing aurulent plasma streamed from her wingtips as the roaring sky was torn apart before her. Her enchanted speed ripped the air with its passing and she gained the castle walls in mere seconds. From there, her preternatural senses could discern voices echoing thought her old castle. With a fanged and predatory grin, Solar Flare heard her cue and made her entrance.

“Cool!” Blitz said whilst fondling his ruby thunderbolt. “So does this mean we all get super powers or something?”

Twilight giggled. “No, nothing like that. The gemstones allow us to harness the magic we have inside us, the power of goodness and well... harmony. That's the power we'll call on to break the curse and free Princess Celestia from Solar Flare's madness.”

“Speaking of which,” Berry Bubble piped up. “Now that we have the elements, how are we supposed to find said upstart usurper anyway? I mean, it's not like she's just going fall out of the sky right in front of us.”

Then with a concussion like lightning, the stone of the ceiling was blasted apart and the Tyrant Sun descended from above.

“Ask, and you shall receive,” she sneered.

Coughing away the dust and climbing back to his hooves, Applejack glared daggers at his bright pink friend. “You just had to go and open yer big mouth didn't ya?”

“Oops! He he, sorry.”

“Enough of this nonsense!” Flare bellowed. “You've had your fun and led me on a merry chase, but now it ends. Equestria is mine, and nopony can stop me.”

“No!” Butterscotch proclaimed. His whole body was tense and quivering, but not with fear. This time he shook with resolve and righteous fury. “We're not going to let you hurt anypony else. We've found the Elements of Harmony, and we're going to stop you!”

At this the demon laughed deeply, “Ha ha ha! You seriously think you can wield the elements against me? In the War of Chaos, it took my sister and I years to unlock their power.” Her mirth turned to malice as Solar Flare sent writhing snakes of flame to coil around the still defiant Butterscotch, barely a centimeter away from his skin. Slowly she approached her prey. The yellow pegasus could smell his fur singeing and now was truly shaking in fear. “What makes you think the elements can save you?” Flare whispered.

A shimmering beam of violet magic slapped Solar Flare square in the face and banished the fire entrapping Butterscotch. “Because you don't know the Elements like I do!” growled Twilight Sparkle.

“You!” Flare snarled in recognition.

“Yeah, me.” Twilight countered.

“Us!” proclaimed Rainbow Blitz and he lept beside her.

“All of us.” Elusive said as Applejack, Berry Bubble, and a still shaken Butterscotch joined him at Twilight's side. The five colts could already feel the Power of Harmony pulling at them, straining to be set free. The jewels were shining with radiant light and Twilight knew this was the moment she'd been waiting for.

“No!” Flare gasped in horror. “It's not possible!”

Twilight let her focus turn inward then, reaching for the magic she was so familiar with, the magic that would end this great mess and finally let her go home. Her eyes shone with power as she reached for it. The Power of Harmony. It was hers. Just like all the times before. She could feel it, see it, reach out and touch it...

And like oiled glass it slipped away.

Dread opened in the pit of her stomach as Twilight futilely tried to take hold of the power of her element, but each time she was denied. She could hear the Element of Magic calling out to her but she couldn't reach it. In that moment she was living her nightmare.

This isn't my world. she realized. It's not my destiny. This is not my Element of Magic.

The light faded, the power ebbed away, and Twilight Sparkle was left stunned. Her five companions all were released from the magic of the elements.

“Did it work?” Berry asked, shaking his head to clear it.

The fanged grin of the Tyrant Sun was his answer. “Ha. Ha ha. Ah ha ha ha!” She laughed, and a pall of mortal terror descended on the six friends.

“My turn.” she hissed.

Solar Flare's horn flashed with power and all six ponies cringed away from a fiery death that did not come. Five of them wondered briefly what Solar Flare had done, but Twilight knew immediately.

She recognized the chilling numbness creeping up from her hooves. She knew exactly what horrid stiffness was binding her joints, her chest, her breath. Her last thought before the blackness took her wasn't of her friends, or her family, or even beloved mentor. It was the mocking laughter of Discord as she had heard it so many moons ago.

“...I don't turn ponies into stone.”

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

Utter silence.

Solar Flare's fanged smile shone with a malicious sort of pride as the nature of their fate was made clear to the five stallions. This is what awaits you all for your defiance! She thought to herself. Indeed, she could see the horrified emotions splashed upon their faces slowly precipitating from shock into something darker. Now flee before my wrath like the insects you are!

Upon reflection however, Butterscotch, Rainbow Blitz, Elusive, Applejack, and Berry Bubble might have all found it strange that it was not fear that then crystallized within them. In that moment a single thought resolved to razor clarity in the minds the five ponies. So simultaneous was their collective realization that none of them could be sure who exactly it was who gave voice to their unanimous intention.

“Get her!”

Flare recoiled in shock. “What?!” but her opponents were already moving.

Rainbow Blitz charged the startled sun goddess, and managed to halve his distance from her before she was able to call upon her magic. Just as she was about to release a spell to incinerate the cerulean colt, a rock the size of her hoof struck her right on the base of her horn. From behind Blitz, Applejack whooped in triumph for his well placed shot and frantically began to search the ground for more stones suitable for his purpose.

Her spell disrupted, Solar Flare struggled to regain her reeling senses. She managed to clear her vision just in time to see that Blitz had closed with her. In slow motion she watched as his toned, muscular body twisted from the hips and all the way up through his torso to his raised hoof. Like an avalanche she saw each of his muscles tense in sequence as Rainbow threw his whole body into the punch that connected squarely with her jaw.

The blow staggered her, and Blitz would have kept up his assault had Berry Bubble not shouted for the attention of his friends. The bubbly pink colt was nervously dancing in place near a darkened tunnel leading deeper into the ruined castle. “You guys, quick! Over here!” he shouted.

None of them had any time to doubt Berry's suggested route. Applejack, who had found another rock, quickly snapped off his last shot at Flare before joining Rainbow Blitz in a mad dash toward the tunnel. With a flash of insight, Butterscotch raced to Twilight Sparkle's petrified form and snatched the Element of Magic from atop her head before following after his friends. Finally to cover their escape, Elusive used his magic to conjure a billowing cloud of smoke and mist before he too rushed to follow Berry Bubble.

Reeling from repeated blows to the head, Solar Flare struggled to bring her senses back into focus. When she finally recovered, she was met by a thick smokescreen concealing the echoing shouts and hooffalls of the retreating stallions. A wordless scream of rage thundered up from her lungs, rocking the very foundations of the old castle as shrieking loops of solar plasma erupted from her body, melting to slag the stones and walls.

Berry Bubble was running on pure instinct, leading his companions through a labyrinth of foreign hallways and tunnels. Their heavy breathing echoed sharply in the confining space as the pink colt skidded around another corner. “This way guys! Come on!” he urged.

Following close behind, Applejack piped up, “How do you even know where we're goin'?” But before he could receive an answer, Berry reared up and threw out his arms. “STOP!” he shouted while digging his hooves in and skidding to a halt.

“She's right behind us, Berry,” Rainbow Blitz began. “We gotta ru-”

He was interrupted as an earsplitting scream tore through the air, accompanied by a tremor through the earth that nearly knocked the ponies from their hooves. As the ground shook, a block of stone the size of a hay cart dislodged from the ceiling less than a meter in front of where Berry Bubble had brought them all to a stop. With geometric perfection the massive block fell straight through the floor. The concussion of its impact threw the ponies back against the hard floor like leaves in an autumn wind, and the gaping hole it left behind revealed another passage below running perpendicular to the one above.

Fueled by adrenaline and recovering quickly, Berry urged his friends back up. “Into the hole and to the right!” he shouted as the quakes ripping through the castle grew in strength and frequency. He didn't need to ask twice. Struggling though they were, the five colts managed to tumble through the rubble strewn hole and resume their flight down this new corridor.

Now in the rear of the company, Berry raised his voice again, “Get ready for it!”

“Get ready for what?!” Elusive called back trembling with fear and trepidation and panting with the effort of keeping up the sprint despite his injuries.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the earth heaved again and before the five colts could even hit the ground the worn tiled floor slid out from under them to reveal a hidden rectangular pit. In they crashed, landing hard one on top of the other and with a snap the trap door above them slid shut.

Darkness surrounded them as the tremors and aftershocks of Solar Flare's rage shook dust and sand loose from the walls of their temporary refuge. None of them dared move in the blackness, nor speak in the silence. Only the sounds of their panting breaths and the blood pumping in their ears accompanied the low thunder of the earthquakes. In restrained anticipation five ponies waited for the danger to pass.

Sleep deprivation had addled his wits, so when Dusk Shine tried to unlock the front door to the Golden Oaks Library, it took him nearly a full minute before he realized that he had the key upside down. Grumbling to himself, the tired colt corrected his mistake and trudged through the front door. Most of the windows had been shuttered and all the lights turned off since it's last visitor, so the cavernous interior was dim and cool. Making sure to find the lock box like Dusty Stacks had instructed, the young mage then began an inspection of the premises.

The kitchen was well equipped with cooking appliances but the cupboards and icebox were empty of any food. The white tiled bathroom was clean and ready for use, and up in the loft, highlighted in a ray of sunshine, was a simple full-sized bed. To Dusk's eyes it looked like heaven. His saddle bags hit the floor, his face hit the pillow, and Dusk Shine was down for the count.

He awoke hours later with sunlight streaming through his closed eyelids. Not that this had been different when he fell asleep, but he was now too well rested to continue ignoring it. Though he was still groggy, the mage went about making himself ready find out what had become of his beloved Princess Luna and the demon Solar Flare. Figuring he should start by asking the local ponies what they had seen, Dusk Shine set out to begin his investigation.

Slowly their breathing calmed and some time later so did the quaking earth. In the darkness Butterscotch finally managed to whisper, “Where are we?”

“I have absolutely no idea!” Berry chirped. “I just followed my Berry sense and poof! Here we are.”

His explanation was met by the groans of his four friends. “You've got to be kidding me.” Rainbow Blitz deadpanned. “Hey, Elusive, do you think you could get us some light?”

“I can... AH!”

As he tried to move he was immediately reminded of his worsening injuries. His fractured ribs made every breath an agony and he didn't think he could walk any more do the the recent strain his leg had been through. The best he could do was curl up on the ground, gritting his teeth while trying to regain some measure of control over his pain.

Immediately his friends were there beside him. “Whoa there, take it easy E.” Applejack said as he affectionately nuzzled the unicorn.

“I don't think I can stand on my own.” Elusive muttered. “But if somepony could help me up, I think I can cast some light.”

Carefully in the darkness, Applejack aided in bringing the wounded colt to a sitting position. Woozily, Elusive charged his horn with magic and managed to cast a pale flickering glow. Their sanctuary was a near perfect square of dull stone, and only a hoof sized hole in one wall broke the monotony.

“No way out,” Applejack said in a huff. “Great, now what are we supposed to do?”

“I don't know,” Blitz replied while eying the hole. “But I think there might be something on the other side of this wall.” As he spoke he reached his hoof through the opening and began to fumble around. “Hey, I think I got something.” There was a muted click, then the wall pivoted open to reveal a shadowed hall lined with stone hooves holding unlit torches. “Woh... Creepy.” he said in assessment.

Blitz then turned back to his companions with a fragile smile. “But at least we've got a way out now, right?”

“What's the point?” Butterscotch mumbled, but in the stillness of the ruined castle his words carried to all of them.

“Butters?” Berry Bubble looked to his new friend and saw only an image of despair. The yellow colt had risen to a sitting position, his tail wrapped tightly around hooves. His head hung low and his tousled pink mane obscured his eyes, but none could miss the wet tracks that ran down his cheeks. Quiet sobs sent shivers through his frame as he spoke.

“What does it matter anymore? We may have found the elements but look at the price we paid for them. Twilight, she... We all saw what Solar Flare did to her, what she was going to do to us! Twilight brought us all here. She protected us and believed in us and now she's... she's...”

Berry wrapped his weeping friend in a gentle embrace, wordlessly sharing in Butterscotch's sorrow.

“What are we gonna do without her?” the yellow colt murmured into Berry's shoulder.

Silence was his only answer.

After a long moment Applejack finally spoke. “We can't stay here,” he said weakly. “Elusive needs to be taken to a hospital, and we've got no food or supplies. I reckon we could all use a hot bath too.” The others nodded in agreement and began to stir. “We best be gettin' back to Ponyville,” he concluded. “... put this whole mess behind us.”

The journey back out of the forest was long and quiet. Upon setting out from the castle it had quickly become apparent that Elusive was now too injured walk any great distance, so with help he was placed on Applejack's back to be carried.

They all still wore their Element necklaces, though this was more out of neglect to remove them than any desire to keep them. Blitz however, had made sure to pick up Twilight's Element of Magic before they left. It just didn't feel right to leave it, he had said.

With hung heads, weary hearts, and heavy hooves, they slowly made their way back, resting long and often, rarely speaking. It took hours for them to reach Ponyville again, but with the sun hanging stationary in the sky, it very well could have been days.

When they did reach town, they all made their way to the hospital. There they were fussed over by nurse Redheart. Elusive had his damaged rear leg put in a cast and his midsection was heavily bandaged. Meanwhile, a pegasus nurse helped Rainbow Blitz crop and remove the burnt stubs of his feathers.

When they were finally released, Berry Bubble took it upon himself to invite the others to Sugarcube Corner. After a day like the one they had all just been through, it was agreed that a sweet pick-me-up was needed. Upon arrival, the pink party colt ushered his friends into one of the many booths in the sweet shop and quickly fixed them all warm cups of cocoa. They sat together not really speaking, hoping that the close company of friends could ward off the the pain of loss and defeat. It wasn't much, but it helped.

Then there came a knock at the door. At first nopony felt the urge to answer, and the five friends silently hoped the caller would give up and move on. But then the knocking came again and louder. Grunting in frustration, Rainbow Blitz shuffled out of the booth and made his way to the door, fully intending to tell whoever it was to get lost.

“Can't you tell this place is clo...” As he opened the door his words trailed off into a strangled hiss. His body seized up and his pupils shrank to pinpricks. Looking up from across the room, four more sets of eyes grew wide at the sight of the uninvited guest. Butterscotch's mug even slipped from his grasp to shatter on the floor, but nopony so much as batted an eye.

Barely getting his voice under control, Blitz finally choked out, “Who the buck are you?”

The newcomer answered, “My name is Dusk Shine, and I've come to investigate the aftermath of the Winter Moon Festival.”

Author's Note

Huzzah! I've finally finished another chapter done! As always, let me know if you find any errors that I need to correct. And so once again I proudly present, What Might Have Been.

EDIT: testing the new site stuff.

Chapter 16: The Beginning of The Beginning

Disclaimer: SCP-P0N135

Object Classification: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: The master copy of SCP-P0N135 is to be stored in the hard drive of a black, 15.3 inch (38.86cm) laptop computer housed at [REDACTED], North America. Backup copies of SCP-P0N135 are to be stored on externally hosted data servers using foundation standard data encryption protocol [REDACTED] operated by the following third party organizations: FimFiction.net, [REDACTED], DeviantArt.com, [REDACTED], and [REDACTED]. Public viewing of SCP-P0N135 is allowed only with written approval of Level 4 personnel and is to be continuously monitored by foundation cyber security teams. Such teams are to devote particular attention to the prevention of litigation against the foundation by rival groups including but not limited to: Chaos Insergency, [REDACTED], Hasbro, Discovery Family, [REDACTED], and The Factory. Any anomalous behavior detected in personnel who have had contact with SCP-P0N135 is to be immediately compiled in document [REDACTED] and reported to Dr. Lauren Faust for evaluation.

Description: (see below)

What Might Have Been

Chapter 16: The Beginning of The Beginning

Fury. Fury was her nature. Seething, compressed, radiant in its anger. The fury of stellar fusion was the very engine of her core. And in that moment when she had not only been assaulted but bested by mere mortals, it was that fury she let slip. Through her divine connection with the sun she siphoned the tiniest filament of that ire and conjured it within her, letting it lose upon the mortal plane.

Deep into the earth it cut, outward and into the air as well. Loops of magnetism and rage that vaporized all they touched writhed around her in a cyclone of fire. The stone walls of her old castle slumped into magma, bedrock screamed in protest, and the sky howled in agony. Nothing was spared her wrath, nothing but her.

Her she wanted to keep.

Buoyed by the surge of divine light through her veins, Solar Flare ascended until the ruined castle was but a scab on the forest below her. Then she took aim at distant Canterlot, and like lightning bolted forward. As she flew, she used her stolen solar plasma to wrap heavy shields of force and flame about her, in her horn she charged her deadliest curses. This battle will be glorious! She thought as her fangs came forth with a wicked gleam.

When she spread her wings to brake against the air, the impact of her arrival could be heard all throughout the city. Few ponies were out at so late an hour, but those that had ventured beyond their doors to marvel at the unnatural daylight all looked up in sudden fright. And many who fought the light for sleep in their beds were roused to their windows to see the Tyrant Sun.

Solar Flare could feel their eyes on her, from her position hovering above the center of town, she could even make eye contact with some. They all fled from her sight the moment she did so. With a tactician's eye she surveyed the city, its walls and towers, the streets and fountains, and all the buildings. Nothing she saw indicated a threat.

Her suspicions deepened. Where were all the soldiers? Where were the cannons and trebuchets and mana blasters? Where were the unicorn shock troops, the battle wings of pegasi, or the thundering hooves of an earth pony charge? No doubt they lie in wait. Hidden until I am deep enough into Luna's trap that they can surround me. Then her eyes widened as a single thought passed through her mind, but as soon as it passed Solar Flare knew it was too late. FROM ABOVE! her battle instincts screamed.

As she whipped around in the air she let a jet of fire and light straight up into... into...

Nothing.

There was nothing there. No descending squadron of pegasus troopers, no conjured lighting bolts, not even any clouds. Nothing but a clear blue sky. Solar flare tightened her jaw and returned her glare to the waiting city below. You can not hide your army from me, Luna, she brooded to herself. I will find them. And I will crush them.

In a torrent she descended into the plaza before the castle gates, cracking the flagstones beneath her hooves as she landed. Dropping into a battle stance and raising her wards, she waited for the assault to begin.

Silence judged her cruelly.

Growling in frustrated rage she lept atop castle walls and quickly located the guardhouse door. Ripping it from its hinges she charged inside to find the small room empty.

“Dammit!” she seethed. She turned, and as she walked from the room she let magic enchant her voice. “WHEREEVER YOU ARE HIDING, YOU CANOT STAY HIDDEN FOR LONG!” her voice boomed out to a castle of ghosts. “I WILL FIND YOU!” she screamed, maddness tinging her words. “I AM THE QUEEN AND I WILL FIND YOU!”

Then she once again took wing and wheeled above the castle. With mania in her veins she pulled heavenly fire down from her sun and let the enchanted flames wash over the structure. Her spell rushed away from her in an expanding shock-wave, infusing the very stone of the castle with her will and seeking out any life within.

As her scenes, carried by magic spread outward, her building frustration tightened further and further. In the castle courtyards, there was nopony. In the barracks there wasn't a soul. The gardens were abandoned and all the palace living quarters were vacant.

When she finally came back to herself, she howled in fury that her spell had failed and dove to the ground. At a full gallop now she careened down the halls and corridors of Canterlot Castle, frantic to find the challenge she knew Luna had left for her. But all the guest rooms were stripped and the sheets folded away. All the files in the offices were missing, the desks all barren. The royal kitchens held barely more than some flour and a few eggs and even the dungeons had been stripped, all the iron bound doors having been removed from their hinges and packed away.

At last she came to the ornate doors of the throne room, her breath heaving from paranoia and disbelief. Spinning about, she bucked the doors open earth pony style and sprinted up the dais to the throne.

Large and black, carved of obsidian and polished to a mirror finish, inlaid with sliver filigree and studded with diamonds like stars, the Lunar Throne of Equestria glared down at her in angry judgment. And there, resting squarely upon its silk cushion was a silver and sapphire diadem. In hooves trembling with madness and rage Solar Flare lifted the tiara and saw her twisted reflection in its many gleaming facets. Finally, the true nature of her sister's gambit became clear to her.

Screaming in defeat, Celestia hurled the crown across the room as tears of frustration slid down her cheeks.

✶✶✶ ☽☀☾ ✶✶✶

Applejack managed to recover first, if recover could even be the right word. He got up, walked over to the silent pair at the door, and dragged a very confused Dusk Shine in.

Not expecting to be manhandled in such a way, the violet mage tried to get his questions out as he stumbled along. “So if I could just ask a few-”

The farm colt cut him off abruptly when he pulled out a chair for Dusk and pointed. “Sit.”

Dusk sat.

Rainbow Blitz followed the pair mutely back to the table and returned to his seat along with Applejack. What followed was later referred to as the mother of all awkward silences. Five battered and in bruised ponies, all with haggard faces sat arrayed around the far side of the table and looked at him with tired eyes. Dusk fidgeted nervously under their gaze, feeling as though he was sitting through some strange job interview he was unprepared for.

“So... ” he began, hoping to alleviate some of the graceless tension.

Before he could continue Elusive drew in a breath and sighed into the stillness. “By Faust, could it really be her?”

“Her?” Dusk asked in confusion.

Rainbow leaned out from the edge of the booth to glance down at Dusk's flank. “He's got the same cutie mark.”

Feeling a little violated for being ogled so, Dusk piped up. “What exactly is going on here?” Then he finally recognized the glittering necklaces that each of his interrogators wore, and specifically the hallowed jewels at their center. His eyes grew wide in awe as they came to rest on the tiara sitting at the center of the table.

“Are those...”

“Yes,” Butterscotch interrupted with finality. The yellow pegasus colt had no doubt what Dusk intended to ask. None of them did. Seeing a doppelganger of their friend sitting right in front of them, and so soon after having seen her turned to stone, well, it was all just too much to be coincidence.

Shock and amazement were quickly building in Dusk Shine. This was all so far beyond anything he had anticipated that he found himself utterly at a loss for how to proceed. The Elements of Harmony were right there, right in front of him. It was amazing. It was incredible. It was so fortuitous it looped right back around to alarming.

Something was clearly wrong with these five stallions. Their injuries, the despair in their voices, the way they looked at him like he was some kind of impostor or spy, all these things made the hairs on the back of Dusk's neck stand on end. Somehow he knew that the eyes of destiny were on him. What he said and did now would determine the fate of Equestria.

I may have already tipped my hoof by asking after the Elements like that, he thought to himself. I can't afford to make those kinds of slip-ups if Solar Flare is around. I need to take control of this situation.

As these thoughts passed through his head, Dusk Shine sat up a little straighter in his chair and cleared his throat. Assuming a more business-like manner he said, “So like I said earlier, I have a few questions about what happened during the ceremony. If we could just start with-”

“How did you get here?” Berry Bubble cut in, throwing off Dusk's grove once again.

“Uh... I took the train. Look, If I could just-”

The pink colt shook his head, ignoring the rest of what Dusk was going to say. “No, I mean, why did you come here, to Ponyville?” he pressed.

That wasn't exactly the kind of question he was expecting, but before setting out earlier Dusk had taken some time to cobble together what he thought would serve as a halfway decent cover story. “Oh, well word came into the Office of Magical Abnormalities and Nuisances that there had been a class 3 helio-type disturbance, so I was dispatched from the Canterlot branch office to evaluate projected municipal compensation allocations for the Equestrian Revenue Service.” He rattled off his excuse with practiced ease, and even managed to end with a toothy please-don't-think-too-hard-about-what-I-just-said-because-it's-all-complete-balogna kind of smile.

Unfortunately for Dusk Shine nopony, including himself, was buying it.

“Well that's not true,” Applejack deadpanned.

“Why did you really come here?” asked Elusive. But before the purple mage could could formulate a response, Elusive's eyes grew wide and he sucked in a breath of realization. “You were sent here by Princess Luna, weren't you?”

That barb struck far too close to home for Dusk's liking. The other five must have been able to see it in his face because a similar spark of insight seemed to spread around the table.

“You're her personal protegee, aren't you?” Butterscotch put in.

“And Ah'll bet she chose you on the day you got your cutie mark?” Applejack added.

“You graduated valedictorian from... I guess it'd be Luna's School for Gifted Unicorns” Rainbow Blitz stated.

Then Berry Bubble reared up on his hind legs and brought his fore-hooves down decisively on the table. He leaned way over into Dusk's personal space, scrunched up his face and fixed the purple mage in a suspicious, steely glare. “What exactly is your relationship with the Ponyville Public library?”

His blood ran cold, adrenaline coursed through his veins and his heart hammered against his chest. How do they know these things about me?

Dusk was just about to acquiesce to his fight or flight instincts when the pink colt's stern visage began to crack.

They all must have seen the truth written across his panic stricken face, because snorts of laughter began to emerge from all around the table. Berry was the first to break and the others soon followed, soon all five stallions were chuckling and Dusk was the only one left out of the joke.

“What... has just happened?” he said.

While Dusk was stewing in his bewilderment, the other five stallions just couldn't maintain the tension in the situation any longer. Bleak as their situation was, they had all come to the realization of just who this new pony was, and the utter unexpectedness of this twist of fate was so great as to be laughable. So they laughed, and for just a few moments, things didn't to hurt quite so badly.

As their humor slowly subsided, Applejack held out his hoof to Dusk Shine. “Ah think we owe you an apology for putting you through the wringer, Dusk was it?”

“Yeah.” Replied the purple mage as he reached out to give a friendly hoofshake.

“Sorry for givin' you the cold shoulder there. Name's Applejack. Pleasure to meet ya'.”

“Uh, likewise.” Dusk was still a little confused by the whole situation, but at least this time when he looked around the table he got warm smiles and a round of introductions.

“My apologies good sir, my name is Elusive.”

“Hiya, I'm Berry Bubble!”

“Um, Butterscotch. Hi.”

“And I'm Rainbow Bliz! Autographs available upon request.”

Dusk was silent for a brief moment as he took all this in. “Right. Well, it's very nice to meet you all but could somepony please tell me what exactly is going on? What happened at the Winter Moon Festival? Why do you all look like you've been through a war zone? How in Luna's name did you wind up with the most powerful magical artifacts known to ponydom? And how the buck do you know so much about me when I'm pretty sure I've never met any of you before in my life?!”

By the end of his rant Dusk's mane had gotten a little frizzy and a thread of mania had slipped into his voice. He hadn't intended to come off so aggressive, but by now he was feeling more than a little overwhelmed.

“Uh, yeah,” Rainbow Blitz began, nervously rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof. The other four all appeared uneasy as well. “I guess we better fill you in then.”

So they did.

They started with what happened at town hall, about Solar Flare and how they had first met Twilight Sparkle. At first Dusk would stop them frequently to ask questions, probing every detail and furiously scribbling down notes. But as their story went on he did so less and less. He was silent for their description of their journey through the Everfree, and for their trails at the Castle of the Two Sisters, Dusk barely dared to breathe.

Once the five ponies had finished their tale a somber pall had returned to haunt the group, but this time Dusk shared in it, for now he knew from whence it came. After a quiet moment he softly said, “It all seems so unbelievable.”

“That's what we thought too,” Butterscotch replied.

“And this mare, Twilight Sparkle... You really think I'm her?”

“Twins don't look so much alike as the two of you would.” Elusive assured. “Believe me, I've spent enough time with Aloe and Lotus to know.”

Dusk didn't ask who Aloe and Lotus were. He was too preoccupied trying to digest what he was being told. Other worlds. Other me's! How is any of this possible? I wouldn't believe a word of it if the Elements of Harmony weren't sitting here right in front of me. I still don't think I believe all of it. Oh Luna, what am I gonna do?

Then he took a deep breath slowly let it out. His posture straightened and his gaze became hard. He knew what he was going to do. He was going to stop Solar Flare and bring back Princess Luna. He was going to save Equestria, or die trying.

With cold resolve in his veins he looked back up to the five stallions across the table. “Thank you,” he began. “For telling me all this, and for retrieving the Elements.”

His voice softened. “I can only imagine what you five have been through in the last twenty four hours. Please believe me when I say I am truly sorry for the hardships you've endured and the loss for your friend. I wish I could have met her. She sounds like a mare worthy of your company. You are all heroes, and your actions this day are testament to that fact. All Equestria is in your debt.”

Five pairs of eyes stared blankly back at the young mage, faces waiting for direction. Steeling himself, Dusk went on. “But the battle isn't over yet. Solar Flare is still out there, and somepony's got to stop her. That's why I'm here. That's what Luna sent me to do.” He reached for the Element of Magic at the center of the table. “And now that you've found the Elements, I might finally have a chance-”

His hoof was stopped by Applejack. “Woah there partner. I don't think you were listening back when we told you what happened to Twilight. The Elements didn't work. Just a gust a' wind, a big flash a' light, then nothing. Like hey are we gonna let you get turned to stone like her!”

Three other heads nodded in agreement.

“Look, I appreciate your concern,” Dusk began, “But Princess Luna made the risks of this mission perfectly clear to me from the get-go. Make no mistake, I know exactly what kind of danger I'm courting by taking up this quest. But I think you all know, perhaps better than anypony, just what is at stake here. Solar Flare must be stopped, and it's my job to stop her.

“You five have done more than enough in this struggle. There's no reason you should have to be thrust back into danger now. Whatever risks there are from here on out are mine alone to take, and I will face them gladly. But I can't ask you to again make that same sacrifice. In fact I must insist you don't.

“As civilians, it's not your responsibility to protect the realm and save the day. Would I be wrong in assuming that each of you has family and friends who are counting on your safe return? What of your responsibilities to them? What would they do if you were petrified or killed in all this?

“I realize you all want to help defend our homeland, and you have all proven yourself heroes already in that regard. But please don't let your concern for me blind you to the concerns other have for you. I asked for this task and I knew the risks going in, but you guys had neither of those forewarnings. Now in this time of crisis you all deserve to be with your families and friends.”

Applejack seemed immediately affected by Dusk's candor. In fact he looked almost as if he'd been slapped. Dusk was right, he wasn't soldier, he was a farmer. And even though he had given his level best in trying to save the world, he realized that he had been forced to abandon his family to do it. The tension between doing what was right for his family and what was Right (with a capital R) ate at the orange farm colt like caustic lye. As much as he wanted to, Applejack couldn't honestly refute anything Dusk had said.

Elusive and Butterscotch shared similar feelings of guilt. They each had ponies, or in Butterscotch's case animal friends, who would be devastated if anything were to happen to them. In fact Elusive just couldn't shake the horrible visions of how his little brother Silver Bell would react if he never made it back. It was almost too much to bear.

Even Berry Bubble seemed to be brought down to earth by Dusk's impassioned plea, as his normally poofy main hung just a little straighter. Meeting ponies from other dimensions was awesome, and going on adventures was super fun, and being a hero and saving the day was great! But even he had to admit that all that fun wasn't worth your life. Getting turned to stone was just about the least fun thing in the world, and Berry almost wanted to cry at the thought of never seeing his family again.

This time nopony moved to stop him when Dusk reached a once again for the sacred amethyst star in the center of the table. As the purple colt took the Element of Magic into his hooves he felt a great weight descend on his shoulders, as though the gem itself were pressing down on him. The physical crown was far heaver than he'd expected, and somehow its weight hung just as heavily from his heart as from his hooves. I never expected this mission to be such a lonely enterprise. Dusk lamented to himself, but that very thought seemed to make the Element all the heaver.

“Please,” he pleaded. “Let me finish this fight in your stead.”

There was a long pregnant pause. Dusk sat there holding his Element close; the other five wearing theirs. Applejack, Elusive, Berry Bubble, and Butterscotch all wanted to help and continue their quest, but none could now ignore the price of their involvement.

At last Rainbow Blitz sucked in a deep breath through his nose and blew it out in a profound sigh.

“Welp,” he said. “I'm goin' with him.”

“What!” cried the other five ponies in simultaneous incredulity. But Blitz had already gotten up out of his seat and was walking toward the door. With his hoof on the handle he turned to look pointedly back at a still flabbergasted Dusk Shine. “So, you comin' or what?”

“Rainbow, what the hey?” Applejack admonished. “Didn't you hear a word he just said? What about Scootaloo?”

“And your parents back in Cloudsdale?” Butterscotch added.

Sighing like he was speaking to children, Rainbow Blitz explained. “Look, I get it. What we're doing is crazy dangerous, but so what?” Pointing a hoof at a sternly frowning AJ he whent on. “You could step out your door tomorrow, get hit by a run-away cabbage cart and that's game over man. Our lives are fragile and fleeting, and Dusk is totally right that we should spend them with the ones we love.

“But I've been training to be a stunt devil for years now and I'd be lying if I said I haven't flirted with death on more than one occasion. Was it intentional? Of course not. And of course I try to minimize the risks I take, but I'll never get to be a Wonderbolt if I don't take those risks and push myself to be better.

“Now the sun won't set and all Equestria is going to suffer for it if somepony, or more likely someponies, don't step up and take a chance at saving her. We might get killed doing just that, but that is a risk worth taking.

“You're right, Butterscotch, if something happened to me my parents would be crushed, and I don't even want to think of what Scootaloo would do without her role model. But even if we die and fail, we'll have died trying to save all those we care about. And if we die and succeed, our families will grieve for our loss but at least they won't all die of thirst on waterless desert-world.

“But if we all stay home and hope somepony else goes the distance to pull all our asses out of the fire, then I guarantee you we're all headed down the shitter together.”

His energy spent Blitz gave a short sigh and folded his ears back. “Look, I'm sorry for being so blunt, but I don't think this is something any of us should back out of. We're 'chosen by fate', remember? We've been given a chance to save everyone we care about and no way am I gonna pass that up.”

For his four companions, Blitz's words rang rather definitively. None of them could really argue with the chromatic colt's assessment of the situation and they all found themselves quite unexpectedly convinced. Looking from one to another, Applejack, Berry Bubble, Elusive, and Butterscotch all shrugged in resignation at their unanimous agreement. They were going, it seemed.

Dusk Shine tho, tried to assert himself one last time. “Well I, uh... I respect your dedication but this is really more of an official government mission so...”

Blitz just walked over to the stuttering colt and threw a hoof across his shoulders, pulling him in for a friendly side hug. “Just give it up G-man. We're coming with you and that's that. Right guys?” Blitz turned his winning smile on his other companions.

“Of course!” chirped Berry.

“Oh, um... Yes.” Butterscotch stammered.

“Well I'm convinced,” Elusive put in. “Applejack?”

All eyes turned to the farm colt, who still wore a troubled expression on his features. Finally he let out a breath and chuckled. “You crazy fool,” he said to Rainbow with a warm smile on his lips. “Yeah, I'm in.”

“Awesome!” Blitz cheered. Then pulling away from Dusk he asked, “So, where to now oh fearless leader?”

Dusk just sat there with a blank expression on his face as one resounding thought rang though his head. Sweet Luna, what have I gotten myself into?

Author's Note

As always feel free to point out errors in the comments and I'll fix them straight away. Other than that, I have to say tho the past 5 some odd months have been rough, it's good to finally start writing again. Here it is, the long awaited chapter 16 of What Might Have Been. Enjoy!