A young mare began to trot home on her own, raising a hood over her head with some soft lilac coloured magic as the moon rose about the hills of Ponyville. The grass was soft below her hooves, yet damp also, and as she headed up to the top of the hill, her hooves slipped slightly and she nearly fell. She sat at the top of the hill, looking down at Ponyville Cemetery below. She looked up, mane falling into her right eye, and she dropped her head again, mane dropping forward like a silky purple curtain, her chest heaving slightly as she began to sob. There was nothing like this pain she was feeling right now, and she knew she couldn’t stand here long.
“I’m sorry Mother.” She whispered, green eyes glistening, and her flank burned slightly and she whipped round, staring at the small cutie mark that had appeared. A shaky smile spread across her lips and she knew what she was to do. Little black headphones. Perfect for sad, emo if you like, music.
Birds sang merrily as the sun rose up over a small and rather quiet settlement, nearly in the centre of Equestria. As ponies emerged from their houses, heading to the market to set up stalls, or to get the best bargains, the young unicorn sat up, her purple mane scruffy and she yawned widely, using her lilac coloured magic to run a comb through her mane, neatening so it fell in its usual asymmetric layers. She stumbled out of bed, nearly tripping over a pair of headphones that matched the colours of her mane. She shook her head, banishing sleep from her mind when she saw the poster pinned to her wall. She grinned, remembering rave she’d done a few nights before. Her and One Wing Pegasus, jamming out, giving everypony who’d turned up a rave to remember! She smiled to herself, pouring some coffee and taking a sip. “Agh, no sugar!” She spat and dropped the cup all over the counter. She sighed and rolled her eyes at herself, grabbing her saddle bags and heading out the door. Vinyl Itch trotted down the high road of Ponyville, her purple tail bouncing merrily as she skipped, looking at the shops, her eyes scanning for her best friend. She had something to tell him, something really important. Quills and Sofas, the market, Carousel Boutique… all of these vacant of Tranquil Sky. She shook her head when she saw two ponies arguing, both Earth ponies, one blue and one white. The white one had an interesting mane, tri-coloured and Itch stopped for a second to look at the two ponies, then she hurried on. Scents floated from Sugarcube Corner and she was tempted to stop as she heard arguing coming from inside but she shook her head, carrying on down the road. Why's everypony arguing today? She thought to herself as the sun beat down, warming her fur. It was a really nice day and she couldn't see the point in arguing. She was tempted to go back and find out what the ponies were are arguing about, but she shook her head. “Stop bein’ so nosy.” She scolded herself and trotted faster, heading for Tranquil’s favourite place. Ponyville Records.
“There you are!” She laughed as she walked through the door and she saw her pegasus friend bobbing his head to some music that the cashier was playing. He nodded at her, though she couldn’t really be sure if he was, or if he was just nodding to the wubs. “Yo Itch!” Tranquil brohoofed her before hugging quickly. “Whatcha listening to?” Itch asked and Tranquil passed her the headphones without thinking and in response he got a smack across the head with her hoof. “UGH! Scratch’s music!” Tranquil’s eyes widened as he realised what he’d done. “Ah damn, I’m sorry Itch…” After a long glare from Itch, she softened her gaze and smiled. She nudged him and shoved a few bits over the counter, and grabbed the CD that he’d been listening to, dropping it into his saddlebags. “My gift.” Tranquil’s jaw dropped and then he laughed out loud happily, leaping up and trotting out beside Itch. They trotted out together and the friends began to talk avidly. Whilst Itch was bouncing along at a moderate pace, Tranquil was walking rather slowly. Vinyl Itch was a short little white unicorn with a mane extremely similar to that of her twin sister Vinyl Scratch, however Itch’s mane was a dual toned purple. Tranquil looked similar to Itch despite having no relation to her, same style mane except it was dual toned blue like Scratch’s. As they walked, their chatter turned to more serious business, telling each other about the stories they’ve been hearing about the crazy weather that’d been occurring recently. A few days ago, there had been a hurricane for the first time, and since then, two ponies had gone missing. Itch hadn’t known the two who had gone missing, so it wasn’t really a bother for her, but seeing all the “MISSING” posters around town gave her a chill. She saw one fluttering in the cool breeze and she went over to have a read. “Tranquil look.” She said as she read the poster. MISSING. Ocean Zephyr. Light blue pegasus stallion with a green mane and tail, Libra cutie mark. If found, PLEASE contact Gallant Façade immediately. “Damn. Must be one of those ponies that vanished the night of the hurricane. Dapper Ducky I think was the other one.” “Yeah…” Itch paused, wondering what had happened to them. They couldn’t be… well… dead could they? If they were, then what would happen? Would somepony stumble across their corpses in a few weeks? What if the never found them, and the ponies who were looking for them just carried on hoping they were alive… “ITCH!” Tranquil shouted and Itch jumped. “What?” “You zoned out, I’ve been calling your name for a while.” Itch blushed a little when she noticed others looking at them. “It’s raining, I think we better go i-” A crack of lightning shot through the air, cutting off Tranquil’s words. “Holy buck.” Itch swore and Tranquil kicked her lightly, reminding her to mind her language and she scowled. “Uh, this way!” She galloped off towards the Everfree forest, considering the fact that her and Tranquil both lived a while away and that was the closest form of shelter that wasn’t packed to the brim with ponies already. When they reached the edge of the trees, the air seemed electrified and it crackled around them. Itch frowned. This wasn’t right. A rumble of thunder rolled through the air and Tranquil sighed, sitting on the dry grass under the think canopy of trees. “Well at least it’s dry here. Suppose we wait it out.” He mumbled as Itch sat beside him, watching the rain lash down, the lightning flash and the thunder growl like an animal. The closer she listened, the more she could hear the growls running out of an animal’s throat, bursting towards the creature to intimidate and she shuddered. No. The thunder’s not an animal. It’s not going to hurt you. She reassured herself and laid down next to Tranquil, shivering in cold. Tranquil laid beside her and wrapped his wing over her to warm her up. “T-thanks…” She stammered, looking up at the grey swirling sky, still worried about that thunder. It sounded almost artificial. Not real…not real at all.
*****************************
“Anthony? Anthony!” Monochromatik the Mad shouted through the echoing halls of his castle. “Anthony Rothstein your glorious master Prismos wishes to see you!” Soon a darker grey pony appeared from a door way, his purple and orange mane rumpled from sleeping. “What?” He asked snappily. Mono looked at him sternly. Monochromatik the Mad was an… interesting character Anthony thought to himself. He called himself Prismos, and was an arrogant stallion. To him, other ponies were just objects. That happened to scream. Loudly. Their screams pleased him, he revelled in them, laughing manically along with them at times till they died off, only leaving echoes. They kept Anthony awake at night, which displeased him. Anthony trotted closer to him, and stamped his front left hoof a little. “YES?” “What? Oh! Come come come.” Mono mumbled and he trotted off quickly to a large room. Rolling his eyes, Anthony reluctantly followed. “So what-.... oh dear Celestia.” Anthony’s jaw fell open and Mono spun round at a pace Anthony hadn’t known he could reach. “WHAT DID YOU SAY? You DARE mention that… that WHORE-QUEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR GLORIOUS MASTER PRISMOS?” He roared and Anthony stumbled backwards slightly in shock. “Woah woah cool it big guy I’m sorry I’m sorry.” He mumbled and Mono’s chest heaved angrily, but he closed his mouth and turned back to the giant swirling machine in the centre of the room. “So, what’s this contraption do hmm?” “This MARVELOUS piece of technology is what I shall use to control the elements my dear Rothstein.” Anthony raised one eyebrow and stretched his wings. “Oh?” “Remember the hurricane?” “Who can forget…” Anthony growled, remembering the howling wings and the chill all too well. He doesn’t sleep well through noise. “I created it! And this time, I shall be creating a storm. And soon, I shall be able to control the most violent of weathers and DESTROY those whore-queens and GOVERN EQUESTRIA AS I FEEL FIT!” Mono’s head snapped back as a flash of lightning lit the room up and he cackled loudly, the hysterical laughter reverberating round the room. As he laughed, Anthony smiled and began to laugh along side him. “LONG. LIVE. PRISMOS!” He shouted and Mono reared up, his front hooves wheeling and they slammed down on the concrete with a-
*****************************
BANG. Itch shrieked loudly as something behind her exploded. “What?” Tranquil leaped to his hooves, shaking as Itch cowered on the grass. The air in front of them swirled in circles, first left, then right, then left again, always changing and it shimmered a light purple colour. “What… is... that…” She mumbled and Itch crawled towards it, almost hypnotised by the constant swirling. “Don’t go too close!” Tranquil warned and he followed Itch, determined not to let anything happen to her. “But it’s- WAH” Itch shouted as the vortex sucked her in and she tumbled forwards, falling through it. “ITCH!” Tranquil yelled and he dived through it, grabbing her tail with his teeth and they both spun at high speeds as they seemed to fall forever. And then, with a smack, it was all over. Itch’s nose hit something rather warm and rough with a smack and she yelped in pain as the rest of her fell onto the tarmac. Groggily she stood up and she stumbled, regaining her balance. Tranquil flopped down behind her, her tail still clamped in his mouth and he reluctantly let go. Itch looked up and gasped. Building surrounded them, tall and grey with glowing yellow windows. The sky was an inky black and she couldn’t see any stars at all. Grey posts stuck out from the ground and the tops of them glowed, illuminating the streets. She slowly trotted towards a wall and she saw something walking towards them. “Here kitty kitty…” It cooed and Itch frowned and walked over to it. “I’ll have you know I’m NOT a kitty!” She said indignantly and the thing reeled in shock. “A talking… pony?!” Itch glared at it and then she realised this couldn’t be good. If ponies aren’t from here then something bad would happen if word got out she was here. Turning to Tranquil, she gestured to a dark alley that smelt pretty bad. “Quick, down here.” They galloped into it and hid in the shadows, ignoring the shouts from the two legged pony about ‘talking ponies’. “So now what?” Tranquil asked as they sat down and Itch leant on him for security. “I don’t know…” She mumbled. “Hey! Ocean down here I found them!” Itch looked over as a blue stallion trotted out from the shadows, a yellow fez balanced jauntily on his scruffy black mane and set of black, thick-framed glasses on his nose. “W-who…” Itch stammered and he came closer and she caught a glimpse of the yellow rubber duck shaped cutie mark. “You’re Dapper Ducky! One of the missing ponies!” She exclaimed, leaping to her hooves. He looked confused then recognised the small white unicorn. “Oh god Itch!” He hugged her tightly and she laughed, pleased to see her old friend. “I… I don’t know what happened; Ocean Zephyr and I were sent here…” He turned as a pale blue pony stepped out from where Dapper had been, his green mane matted considerably and he looked miserable. “I just… uh… Dapper why can’t we go home?” He mumbled quietly and his wings stretched out, shaking dirt off them. “I don’t like it here.” “No one does Ocean.” Dapper said as a small Breezie pony flew over, settling on Dapper’s fez. “Aw I like it here! All the lights, the smells… it’s so…” “Busy. Unponylike.” Ocean snapped and the Breezie looked rather upset. “Now now…” Dapper scolded. “Don’t you go bein’ rude to Tulip.” Ocean sighed and hastily mumbled and apology to the grey Breezie atop the yellow fez, who was now entranced with the black tassel, swatting it with her hooves. Dapper chuckled and turned, beckoning for Itch and Tranquil to follow, and hesitantly, they did. The one thing Breezie was right about was the lights. It wasn’t dark like it was during night at Ponyville. It was bright, the streets flooded in all different colours, the puddles reflecting them. Itch trod n a black puddle with rainbows on the surface and she screwed her nose up in disgust at the thick, foul smelling substance. “Oil.” Ocean said matter-of-factly and Itch just coughed at the petroleum fumes, wiping her hoof on the nearest patch of grass. “It’s…” “Nasty, we know, we see a lot of it.” Dapper chuckled, quite light-heartedly bouncing along the dark road. “And here we are.” He stopped at a grey door swinging on its hinges, a green sticker peeling off the metal. “Homely…” Tranquil mumbled snidely and Itch shot him a look. Anywhere was better nowhere in a place you don’t know. Following the others in, Itch was inclined to agree with Tranquil. Stinking water trickled in through holes in the bricks and she could have sworn she had heard the scurry of paws from a rat or two. “Here’s the main room.” Ocean mumbled, flicking his tail at a room and they entered. This room was a lot nicer than the rest of them, cleaner, no leaks, and it was bright too. “Ah, this is nicer…” Itch said cheerfully and Dapper chuckled. “It is, this is the room we live in, though the roof does get loud and whistle a lot when it‘s windy. Plus it gets pretty cold too, mainly at night.” Itch just shrugged, deciding that any room that was bright, clean and dry was better than nothing. As the group of ponies sat down, beginning to attempt to create plans for a way back, ponies back home were worrying themselves sick about their friends.
*****************************
“Itch? Itch!” Someone shouted, standing outside her house at about 10am. He rolled his eyes, wondering why she wasn’t answering. A pony in the house next door stuck his head out of the window. “Hey you, keep it down!” The red pony looked up, and the other pony stammered. “Gallant Façade… do you know where Itch is?” One Wing Pegasus asked. “Velocity? Is that you?” The stallion chuckled, sitting down while looking up at Gallant. “I normally go via the name One Wing Pegasus now, but yes, it’s me. I came looking for Vinyl Itch, we were going to record some new songs.” He glances back at the door. “But it doesn’t seem like she’s in.” “Oh, she’s not. She didn’t even come home last night. And from what I’ve heard, neither did Tranquil Sky.” “Who?” “Her friend, you know; the one she’s always hanging around with. Angel Hooves came round earlier, he said he’d seen them in town earlier but Tranquil didn’t go home!” Gallant disappeared from the window, and a few minutes later opened the door, trotting out. “You don’t think something happened to them… do you?” “C-course not.” Velocity mumbled, thinking. If Itch didn’t go home, and neither did Tranquil… where were they? “Do you think anypony else knows where they are? I really needed Itch’s help with something today to. Maybe… I dunno, RipDash?” Velocity just gave his best pony shrug, still contemplating this whole thing. Gallant shrugged too, seemingly skipping forward and past Velocity. “Want to come see him with me and ask?” Velocity nodded, standing up and shaking some dust out of his tail.
“Hey! HEY!” Gallant shouted, trotting along the street, his eyes set on a blue pegasus ahead. “Ugh, he’s playing deaf again. RipDash!” He shouted louder, and the stallion turned, his red and black mane slicked back. “Gallant? Oh gosh, you could have just caught up with me ya lazy stallion!” They both chucked and nudged each other’s shoulder. “Anyway, what was the rush to see me?” “I was wondering, have you seen Itch today? Just, she didn’t go home last night and according to Angel Hooves neither did her friend Tranquil Sky. I just… I’m scared we’ve had another disappearance, like Tulip, Dapper, and Ocean.” RipDash froze, bowing his head and thinking carefully before looking up, a lightly solemn look on his usually cheerful face. “I haven’t seen either, I’m sorry.” Gallant’s face fell with those words, but he tried not to let it on. “It’s fine, I’m sure we’ll find her!” He smiled as warmly as he could, a hint of fear running through his voice. What if they didn’t find her? Dapper Ducky and Ocean Zephyr had vanished clean out of Ponyville, what if Itch and Tranquil had to? The thoguht of it chilled Gallant, and he shivered. All he could hope though, was that they were together.
***************************************
"ANTHONY!" Mono shouted as he galloped through the corridors. "ANTHONY YOUR GLORIOUS MASTER PRISMOS WANTS YOU!" Anthony opened his door and Mono crashed right into it, sprawling backwards in a flail of hooves. "Oh my, sorry bout that Prismos." Anthony mumbled, shutting the door as Mono stood up, his mane rumpled and a look of fury settling across his face. "How... HOW DARE YOU!" Mono roared and his wings flew open, but Anthony just laughed. "Calm yourself... it was an accident..." Mono's chest heaved as he continued to growl, but then he stopped, an evil grin spreading over his face as he recollected his thoughts. "Ah... I remember why I wanted to see you now..." He purred, slowly trotting off, Anthony tagging along behind him. "You see, I found another pony willing to join us." "Oh, who?" "His name... is Blueflow." Anthony frowned, that name ringing a few bells in his mind, all of them warning. "Uh... master Prismos, you sure about him? I've heard rumou-" "I don't CARE what you've heard! He is one of the most rumoured pegasi... and I have him here." Anthony shrugged while walking, slowly stepping slower, unsure of Mono's intentions. Blueflow was a mysterious pegasus, only his name was truly known. "Follow, follow." Mono whispered, sneaking into a side room, where a blue pegasus sat, his back facing away from the othher two. "Is this..." Anthony breathed as the pegasus stood up, his long blue tail brushing against the floor and as he turned, a sick and twisted grin formed over his mouth. Dark blue mane fell over one eye, the other was wide and yellow. The stallion’s chest barely seemed to move as he breathed, a soft white cloud puffing out from his nostrils each time, the chill from the room curling around them. Anthony swallowed, beginning to feel slightly uneasy as Blueflow walked towards them slowly his mouth moving in silent words and his hooves making a gentle tapping sound on the stone. It was something about this pony that Anthony just didn’t like. "Alas Mono, time moves faster than you can comprehend. Shall we begin?" Blueflow purred in a soft and silken tone, sending ripples through Anthony's coat. As he squinted in the poor light, he could have sworn Blueflow's coat was... greyer than the average shade of grey, but without a decent bit of light, he couldn't tell. "We shall." The three ponies put their hooves together, sealing a deal.
******************************************
Itch stood up, shaking some grime off her white coat and she headed for a makeshift balcony she saw. Nudging the broken door open she sat there, in the blisteringly cold wind, her mane blowing over her face. Was this what it was like, being lost? She'd been lost and alone before, just never felt like this. Was anypony looking for them? What if they weren't? She was one to keep her nose down, out of anypony's radar. She wasn't the most popular of ponies, most didn't like her for a reason she didn't even know. She looked down at her hooves, the whote fur marred slightly but light grey marks that most ponies couldn't see. She could see them because she knew they were there. She sighed to herself, a light stinging in her eyes making her shake her head in denial. Somepony had to be looking for them. If they were looking for Ocean and Dapper, they'd look for her and Tranquil, or at least, she hoped they would. She was too engrossed in her thoughts to hear the soft hoofsteps behind her and she leaped in the air when a soft hoof touched her back. "GET O- Tranquil!" She gasped when she saw her friend, a concerned look on his face. "What's wrong?" He said, sitting down in front of her, his front hoooves either side of her so she couldn't escape. She turned her head away but he nudged at her cheek with his nose, making her face him again. "I... I wonder if anypony's looking for us... I mean... you they would be, but me?" She shuffled her hooves, her voice dimming in pitch and Tranquil sighed. "Hey, Ponyville loves you. Just because they didn't back at your home doesn't mean Ponyville doesn't." Itch's ears twitched and Tranquil sighed, wrapping his hooves around her and holding her tight. "It's okay Itch. We'll get home. I promise." She looked up, unsure of what to say. She wasn't entirely sure that all the other ponies would be looking for her, she knew Tranquil was more.. sort after in the community, but she wasn't willing to call her best friend a liar.
********************************************
"Hey... Hey Velocity... I wonder if the pegasi have seen Tranquil recently..." Gallant mumbled and Velocity shrugged. "I'm not sure he'd be in Cloudsdale, seeing how Itch can't go with him. But should we go check?" They both nodded and leapt up, soaring around some clouds that were awkwardly placed and Gallant slammed his back hooves into one, popping it as they flew on towards the floating city. "Watch out watch out!" A cyan streak flew past their noses and Gallant sneezed, watching the streak go and he just shook his head, not knowing who that pony was. They landed, and went seperate ways, nopony having seen Tranquil. After half hour, they gave up. He wasn't in Cloudsdale. After heading down to Ponyville and another painstaking hour of questioning and inquiries, they found out they weren't in Ponyville either. They'd vanished. "What are we going to do!" Gallant shouted and a few specks of rain dripped onto his nose, and he scowled more, but then laughed a little as more cool droplets of water spattered over him. As more rained down, him and Velocity say there in the rain, talking over their plans to find the missing ponies. Tehe air beside them began to swirl and then two ponies moved away as a portal appeared, making them both jump. "WHAT'S THAT?" Gallant shouted over the roaring of the wind, similar to that of the time when Ocean and Dapper finished. "I don't... LISTEN!" Velocity gasped, hearing familiar voices come through. "D-dapper! Itch! Come throguh the portal, hurry!" Him and Galant moved backwards and 4 ponies dived through, appearing from nowhere. After all four tumbled through, looking muddy and tired, the portal closed with a snap. "I-Itch?" Gallant gasped as the small unicorn stumbled towrds them, dirt entangled in her mane and she smiled weakly. "Hey guys."
***********************************************
"Hey! Lord and Master Prismos, we got a problem!" Anthony yelled as he ran out of the main room of Mono's palce, panicking. "What is it?" Mono grumbled, emerging slowly from his bedroom where he had been torturing an unlucky pony. "T-the.... Blueflow... he's... MAD!" Anthony skidded to a halt, panting as his orange and purple mane fell into his eyes. Mono tilted his head in confusion, a few specks of blood on his cheek glinting in the artificial light and Anthony regained his breath. "He... he says your weather machine was making portals to the human realm... and ponies have being going into and out of it." Mono's velvety ears pricked up. "This... is... wonderful!" He cackled. "We can banish them there, having Equestria to ourselves!" Anthony resisted to the urge to facehoof. "But what if humans come through?" "THEN THEY SHALL DIE, YOU FOOLISH PONY!" Mono bellowed and Anthony grimaced. "Master Prismos..." Blueflow purred from the other side of the corridor. "Someone requests your presence." He nodded once before melting back into the darkness. Mono scurried across to where Blueflow had been, only for a cacophony of clangs to resound round the place. Anthony winced as something smashed, and a pony squealed. “R-right away Master! No no I won’t disobey you!” Mono cried out, terror striking into his voice and Anthony frowned, confused. Mono… scared? He shook his but after another terrified shriek he knew something was up. Heading across the corridor he peeked in. A creature, taller than all the ponies stood in the center of the room, Mono cowering from it in the corner. Blueflow sat at the creature’s side, his tail slowly swishing on the ground. Anthony didn’t know who that creature was but if it scared Mono, it was a force to be reckoned with.
******************************************
Where have you... oh god. You all need baths, NOW!" Gallant mumbled under his breath, eyeing up the group of ponies who'd just come throguh the portal. Velocity stepped towards Itch but her head hung low, and she didn't seem like the type of pony who wanted a conversation about the last rave they’d had so he stepped back again. Clouds moved over the sky and it rained, again. as they all sat there, discussing what to do, who's house to go and other trivial things like that, a dark shape wound it's way across the sky towards them. "Hey.. uhm... what's that?" Tranquil asked, noticing the shadow curling it's way over the sky. A laugh, unlike that anypony had ever heard rumbled the very stones on the ground, consequently turning them into chocolate pebbles as the rain changed to chocolate milk, and the clouds became candy floss. The ponies pressed together in a huddle, knowing exactly who that was. "DISCORD!" They yelled together. “My my… hello there my little ponies.” Discord purred as he landed, three ponies scrambling off him. One looked queasy, one slightly scared and the other… well, indifferent. Discord stepped forward, the road below them turning to soap and the huddle of ponies dispersed rapidly as they all slid in different directions. “Oh dearie me look at that…” He reached forward, prodding Tranquil in the side so he spun in a circle. “You… you leave him alone!” Itch shouted, her hooves slipping all over the place as she skidded in front of Tranquil, attempting to be a makeshift barrier. “Oh look at this, a little pony willing to do anything for her… friends.” Discord clocked his fingers, him and Itch vanishing, appearing in a small cosy home. “Where are…” Itch stopped when she recognised where they were. Home. “Don’t you recognise your old home Vinyl Itch?” Discord chuckled as a white mare ran down the stairs, hastily followed by an identical mare, who had different colours in her mane. Itch’s heart sank seeing filly her and her sister play like the best of friends on the carpets, starting to have a pillow fight. Her heart ached slowly in her chest, watching the two fillies begin to change into full grown mares. Both grew up, through Itch was still the shortest one, and the scene was now outside their high school. “I hate you, you ruin everything!” Scratch shouted into her sister’s face and Itch turned her back to her. “You wasn’t saying that last time I saved your flank.” “I don’t WANT your help!” Scratch stamped her hoof on the pavement and Itch swung back round, vemon dripping off her voice. “Well I don’t want YOU as a sister!” Scratch didn’t even flinch as she swung a hoof, whacking Itch in the face sending her flying across the pavement into a puddle. “Good thing I never wanted you either. Short flank.” She snarled and trotted off, heading towards their home. Itch stood as Discord clicked again, flashing to a beach scene. Or, most truthfully, the view of a beach from the top of a cliff where a little white mare sat, her head hanging low. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts she wanted to get rid of but she couldn’t. She’d tried everything. Ever since Scratch abandoned her, she’d had nopony to be there for her. She was always teased, and hurt, and was alone. So… so alone. Scars marred her fur on her front left hoof, and crystal tears decorated her cheeks, or was it rain? A light drizzle fell around her, so everypony left. It was just her, alone, as usual. Nopony wanted to know her anymore, she was just that one pony. Most didn't even know her name. Not like she gave it when they asked. Like she wanted anyone to know who she was. Because what could they do? Insult her, mock her? before throwing her back to the street. Where she belonged. “Uhm… hello?” A small voice whispered, almost inaudible. Itch didn’t hear him as she stood, teetering a little as the cold had frozen her joints up and she nearly tripped over the edge. “Just… one more step…” She whispered to herself, building up the courage, slowly raising her hoof, determined. “No!” A mouth clamped over her tail, dragging her back and she stumbled, being dragged back so she was level with a white stallion, mane colours similar to her sister. “Scr-… you’re not my sister.” She murmured and he frowned. “My name’s Tranquil Sky… you’re soaking wet… hmph, come with me. I’ll get you warm, dry, and you can explain why you’re up here, okay?” Itch cried silently, her tears mingling with the rain, but soon enough Tranquil nuzzled under her chin and she nodded, forcing herself to stand up and follow him. Discord’s hand trailed over Itch’s cheek and he turned her face away from the scene to look at him. “Nopony loves you…” He cooed. “He only helped because you were about to do that. No other reason. He’s just afraid you will. He doesn’t love you. Nopony does.” “No… nopony… loves… loves me…” Itch groaned as her heart burned and she nearly fell over in the agony, Discord’s finger pressed just in front of her horn. A ripple went over her, all her colours dulling, turning her coat grey. "Nopony loves me... nopony.. NOPONY!" She raised her voice, it soaring to the heavens. “Itch…?” Tranquil gasped as he saw the ripple, turning her grey. “Itch no!” He leapt for her, tackling her onto the grass. “Itch no listen we all love you, don’t listen to-” She shoved him off her with an angry growl before she sat beside Discord like a puppy. Blueflow nudged her softly and she growled at him too. Discord’s eyes widened lightly when he realised what he’d done. She not only hated her friends… but the ponies she was with. “Well ta a now you ponies have fun!” He disappeared in a cloud of bubbles and Tranquil scrambled up. “Itch!” He ran for her again, tackling her to the ground and they rolled down a hill, landing in a ditch at the bottom. He fell off her on the way down and she tried getting back up the bank, but he dragged her tail, pulling her back down. “Leave me alone, why do you bother? I know you hate me, it’s only pity!” She cried, tears running down her face as she fought against him, her magic brewing but fizzling out before it could form any form of spell. “Itch please.” Tranquil’s voice softened as his hooves stroked her shoulders soothingly and he pushed his nose against hers, closing his eyes. Itch’s body froze as images flashed through her head. A warm fire, curled up by his side, huddled up under his wing as she told him every time, bawling like a foal. Him waiting for three hours for her to finish her rave night and to take her home. Fighting off the gang that attacked them on the way home. The night she had nightmares and he held her, making her hot chocolate to calm her down. Nightmare night. HearthsWarming Eve where he bought her the dual toned purple headphones she still wears today. And… the night where they revisited the cliff where he’d found her…
“I… I was gonna jump off?” She whimpered shyly as Tranquil nodded. “I remember that.” She sighed and hid her face behind her mane. “Itch…” He brushed her face from her face and looked into her eyes, a blush creeping over his cheeks. “I… ugh. I l….” “Shooting stars!” She gasped, looking up at the sky, silver streaks lighting up the dark velvety blue. Tranquil sighed as they watched, wrapping his wing around her back, pulling her tight against him. Itch sighed, leaning against him and smiling at the sky. There was something she wanted to say. Something really important, but could she bring herself to say it? She looked up at her friend, heart thumping slightly faster as she fought for the courage to say it. "Tr..." She managed but she shook her head, looking down briefly before readjusting her gaze to the sky, dreading the consequences of not saying it.
"Itch you have to listen to me!" Wind blew, blowing their manes over their faces as Tranquil began to cry harder. "Please, I love you okay, I love you." He crushed his mouth to hers in one last desperate attempt to restore her. And it worked. With a deep breath she pulled back, gasping for air as light swirled around her, turning her back to white, her mane back to the normal shades of purple. "I... Tranquil? W-what?" Her friend laughed loudly, nuzzling her nose and holding her close, ignoring the mud that was splatered about their coats. "I love you. Shh. Just. Shh." He growled in her ear and she laughed too, not bothering to argue. After a few seconds they climbed out of the ditch, heading back towards the others, a huge smile on Itch's face that sent Blueflow leaping backwards. "What, what?" He snarled, wings snapping open. "You can't just break Master Discord's... UGH! You know what. If you want something done, do it yourself." He dived for Itch and Tranquil, dragging her into the ditch by her mane, making her squeal in pain, waving wilding to try and dislodge him. "Oi, Bluey!" A voice called and Blueflow looked upm racing back to the bank to see who'd called him. A dark blue pegasus stood there, his black and red mane slicked back, with two ponies next to him. "You touch Itch and you have to deal with us!" Gallant shouted, his wings flapping slightly. Blueflow bared his teeth in anger, leaping at them three. They moved just in time, though Blueflow hadn't noticed the net they were holding. He crashed into it as they tied them up, placing their hooves on his sides to hold him down. "Now. The hell are we meant to do to undiscord him?" Ripdash mumbled, frowning at the squirming pony in the net who was slashing and biting at them. "Well..." Itch said. "He seems angry, and the discording reverses you... so... calm!" She sat down, squeezing her eyes shut as magic flowed from the tip, surrounding Blueflow, holding him still. After a while, he stopped strugging, eyes closing and he seemed to fall into a peaceful slumber but Itch wasn't fooled. She stood up, grinding her hooves into the ground and forced more magic from the end of her horn, putting all sorts of calm images through his head. Her jaw fell open, panting heavily, shaking from mane to tail as she forced herself to hold up the spell. Finally, a light lit up the courtyard as Blueflow glowed, going back to his normal bright blue colour and Itch dropped the spell. falling onto the ground, totally exhausted. "W-where... am... I?" Blueflow looked around, his muzzle stuck in the net. "Why am I in a net?" He frowned and the ponies unwrapped him before explaining everything. "And then THESE TWO-" Tranquil gestured to where Anthony and Mono had been sitting but the space was vacant. "Hey where'd they go!" He looked round, no sign of either trouble maker. "Leave 'em..." Itch giggled, leaning against Tranquil and sighing. He shrugged, nearly knocking Itch over in the process but he managed to catch her. A small snore drifted from a a doorway and everypony looked over, seeing Dapper Ducky, Ocean Zeyphr and Tulip Parade were curled up together, fast asleep. "I think we should all head home..." RipDash nodded towards the three sleeping ponies and at Itch who was drifting off to sleep sitting in the dark. "I'll take Itch, see you guys tomorrow?" Tranquil squirmed underneath Itch, lifting her onto his back where she fell asleep. Gallant, Velocity and RipDash nodded, watching Tranquil trot back to his house.
A few weeks later; "NO CHITCHAT, TIME IS CANDY!" The speakers vibrated the room and Itch waved her hoof in the air in time, bobbing her head as ponies below raved their cutie marks off, leaping up and down, shouting, screaming and singing along. She giggled, watching ponies rave more, One Wing Pegasus standing beside her, turning the volume up. He winked at her and she shook her cue, using her magic to fire a ray of multi coloured light into a mirror ball on the ceiling, sending colour everywhere. Finally, as the clocks rung 2am, ponies filed out of the club, heading home. Itch trotted over to the bar, accidentally stepping into a spilled drink and getting a very sticky hoof. "Ick." She turned her nose up but poured herself some ice cold water and downed it in one, smiling as she began to cool down. "Hey Itch, we got some helping hooves to help us pack up!" She looked over, seeing Tranquil and Dapper Ducky, who still had the little Breezie on his hat, hiding underneath the tassle. Soon after, RipDash and his coltfriend Blueberry Twist came in, mumbling to each other. From what Itch made out, they were calling each other "LokiBear" and "Big Mac". She rolled her eyes at the cheesiness and grabbed a broom, beginning oto sweep up some popped balloons and streamers. "One trick pony only knows one song, one trick pony plays it all night long..." She sung quietly to herself, pushing all the rubbish into a pile in the center of the room where she ifted it with magic into some black sacks. Tranquil sat next to her, nuzzling her shoulder until she sat down and nuzzled his cheek back. "Sing more?" He asked and she laughed, shaking her head. "Nah my voice hurts." "Please?" He purred, nibbling her ear and she wiggled away. "Fine fine... one trick pony only knows one song, one trick pony plays it all night long, one trick pony never tries something new, one trick pony could me or could be you!" She carried on singing and Velocity reognised the tune, turning the speakers on to the dubstep rattled the room and the ponies laughed, all raving along. "Excuse me but would you mind turning the music down?" A low voice growled from the doorway and they looked over, seeing a bald male pegasus standing in the doorway. "Me and my daughter can't get any sleep." "Oh sorry mister... uh..." Velocity rambled, pulling the volume slider down. "Dark Mood. My daughter's Lilith Stormcrow." "Well Mister Dark Mood, tell your daughter we're sorry and we'll keep the noise down." Itch murmured and he nodded sharply, walking out, slamming the door behind him. The ponies departed after the hall was tidyed and Itch walked a distance away, turning away and looking at Tranquil, catching a glimpse of RipDash and Blueberry sharing a goodnight kiss. "You coming with me Itch?" Tranquil asked and she nodded as his hoof brushed through her tangled mane. "Hey... back on that cliff top, the night the stars fell, I wanted to tell you something." "Oh?" "Yeah... I love you." Tranquil smiled, kissing her again under the stars, neither of them noticing the stars overhead. Another perfectly clear night with shooting stars.
