Starlight

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter One

Starlight pulled her scarf tighter around her neck as a cold blast of wind caught her by surprise. The night, if you could call it that, was cold and clear; the sun sitting still and silent on one horizon and the moon, just as motionless, on the other horizon, in a perpetual dusk. It was not at all the type of evening she had been hoping for. She had been hoping for a warmer night, one where she would not have to waste candles to keep her warm. She shivered as she pulled herself into a small crack in the bridge she lived under, just barely big enough for a filly her size, leading her into her home, a hollow strut that held the bridge up. It was just enough room for her and her stuff; which was all the room she really needed.

Starlight didn’t have anybody really, no family to speak of, and of course, no friends; she was far too shy for that and it would have been very hard to keep friends, since she moved so often. She had to: staying in one place to long was bad, it meant leaving a trail; something for those who searched desperately to find her, and hurt her, to follow.

Even now, she thought, she had been in one place far too long. She looked around at the small hideaway she was in now, she had finally arranged it just the way she liked. A small candle burned in the center of the tiny room, illuminating the stone walls warmly and making it almost feel cozy. It really was only big enough for her and her belongings. There weren’t many of those. All she had was a blanket where she curled up and slept in one corner, along with her favorite hat; a white knit one that was really too big for her, but she loved it anyway and never took it off, except when she was home.
On the wall above her blanket was a small, cracked mirror. She caught sight of her reflection in it and sighed. Her pale yellow, really almost white, mane was in a horrendous tangle and her deep purple coat was made even darker by the dirt in it. Even the white freckles across her nose were a light shade of brown. She scrunched up her nose as she looked at herself and then giggled when it made her face look funny.

In the another corner was a small collection of books and trinkets she had collected over the lonely years of her short life; two walls were covered with star charts and planet diagrams and calendars that she had made herself and were all perfectly accurate. Ever since she could remember, Starlight had been fascinated by the sky; the sun, the moon, and most importantly, the stars. Even if she had never actually seen the stars, since Equestria had been stuck in eternal twilight for as long as she could remember, they still fascinated her. She had memorized every star chart and read every book she could find on anything to do with the sky and the celestial bodies that lived up there.

She even had a small refracting mirror telescope that turned so she could push it out a small hole in the wall of her room and look at the moon every night, well, every night that wasn’t cloudy that is. She huffed and put the telescope by the pile of books.

She looked at the books worriedly. If she had to leave quickly, she might not be able to carry all the books with her in her saddle bags; she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. In a fit of nervousness she organized the books with the most important on top and the least important on bottom, frowned and then made two piles, of important and non-important, organized by author’s last name. No, that wouldn’t do… Starswirl’s Basic Guide to the Skies was now at the bottom of the important pile and she might not get to it. Better organize both piles by title, she reasoned.

She was halfway through arranging the non-important pile, having arranged the important pile first, when loud hoofsteps sounded overhead. She tensed and quickly blew the candle out, crouching down in the corner with the blanket, barely breathing until they passed. She frowned and scrunched her nose; it was rare anybody used this bridge at night. It was on the outskirts of the city and only really used in the day time by ponies traveling out to other towns. Her hideaway was hidden in one of the stone pillars holding the small bridge up.

As the hoof steps faded, Starlight allowed herself to relax. She looked down at the candle just barely illuminated by the crack of moonlight coming in from the missing brick hole. She groped around in the darkness of the corner she was in and sighed as her hoof connected with an empty matchbox. Turning back to the candle, she concentrated fiercely, directing all of her energy at the tip of the wick. A small, very wispy halo of deep, dark purple surrounded the candle. With a supreme effort and a popping sound the candle sparked and then flared to life.

She flopped back down onto her blanket. Magic was hard. She rarely used it and when she did, it exhausted her. Unfortunately, she had needed it to light the candle since apparently she was out of matches. She was still very young and inexperienced at magic. Relighting the candle had made her tired.

She yawned and reached over to the book pile and pulled over the top book in the non-important pile. It was one she hadn’t read yet. She smiled and opened the first page, lying down on her belly as she did so. She yawned again and looked down at the page, but before she could even start the first sentence, her light purple eyes began to droop and she slowly began to snuggle into the blanket under her. She yawned a final time and gave in to sleep, using the book as a pillow and drooling slightly on the page.

The next morning, Starlight woke up to the heavy sound of many hooves passing overhead. She rolled over, yawning. Those hoof beats were her daily alarm. Every morning, the ponies that lived in nearby towns like Ponyville; but worked in the capital, would make their commute in using the bridge where she lived. She glanced at the watch on her foreleg and frowned. It had stopped again in the night. She slid it off and laid it on the ground, flipping open the backside. She quickly rewound one of the tiny gears, her small and delicate hooves perfect for the job. A quiet ticking started up again and she paused, deep in thought.

About 8:30 am she reasoned and turned another gear to set the time right. Even with no movement of the sun, Starlight could always, inexplicably, tell what time it was. It was a quirk she had no explanation for. She didn’t really need the watch but it was one of the few possessions she had that had belonged to her before she had run away.
Before her life on the streets and outskirts of the capital had begun, she had lived in a small orphanage. She didn’t live with the other foals though, she was… different. At least that was what the mare who ran the orphanage had told her. She didn’t really know what it meant at the time, though she thought she did now.

A soft rumbling sound snapped Starlight out of her reverie and she glanced down at her stomach. She was starving. Last night she had been unable to find food for herself and had gone to bed without. This morning, however, she knew she really had to find something to eat. She pulled on her saddlebags and stuffed a few essentials in. Then, grabbing her hat and scarf, she wiggled her way out of the crack and into a small alcove under the bridge. She waited patiently for a lull in the sound of hoof steps above her and when there was she ran up onto the bridge and then continued walking towards the capital city.

While her bridge was on the outskirts of the city, it really wasn’t that far for her to walk to get into the very heart of the capital. She looked around at all the sights and smells of the big city. It was a dirty place, filled with the stench of hundreds of ponies all living near each other. The tall buildings on either side of the street blocked most of the light that normally would have come into the city. Since the sun was unmoving, the city was always bathed in shadows.

Starlight figured her best bet for food today, since it was still rather cold and few ponies were out and about, was to go to the downtown market. She usually avoided it, choosing instead to pick up food other ponies had left behind, which, yes, sometimes included the garbage bins. However, everything was boarded up tight today and the market was looking like her only option. Starlight disliked the market for two reasons. First, because for her to actually get her hooves on food she had to steal it; and second because it was filled with many of the city’s most unsavory citizens..

It was one of the more dangerous parts of the city, which was saying something, since all of the capital was dangerous, filled with poverty, decay and decline. It was especially dangerous for a filly all by herself. Starlight hadn’t survived this long by being scared however, and made her way to the market.

It encompassed two city blocks and was, unlike the rest of the city today, filled with ponies. A huge crowd of pegasi and earth ponies filled the street. Merchants screamed their wares to all those who passed by and many of the customers shoved any pony in their way to get to them. Along with the customers and vendors, there were also a fair number of city police ponies milling about, in an effort to quell some of the chaos. They were largely unsuccessful. Usually, they stayed out of this part of the city since it was run down and few crimes committed here were ever reported or noticed. The police usually stayed in the more well-kept parts of town and ignored the ghettos, like this one.

Starlight tried her best to stay out of any pony’s way and to stay unnoticed. The presence of the police ponies had made her even more nervous. She could not be caught when, and if, she stole food. She didn’t want to go back to the orphanage, or worse. If they found out about her, worse things would defiantly be in store. She looked around for a suitable food source. It has to be a stall with lots of ponies to distract the vendor. She briefly considered a stall with a frantic orange-maned mare selling carrots, but dismissed on the grounds of wanting something warm to eat on this cold day.

Then she spotted it, a stall selling thermoses of sunflower soup. There were many ponies milling around it, occupying the three sellers quite nicely. She debated for a few more seconds before she saw that the middle of one of the lines waiting to be served contained a hectic mother and her five foals. Jackpot. Starlight quietly squeezed herself in after the family in line and waited patiently. Eventually they reached the front and the mother began barking orders at the frazzled mare behind the counter of the stall.

As the first thermos arrived for one of the younger fillies, Starlight moved herself up and grabbed it, walking away as nonchalantly as she could manage. She was about four feet away and considered herself home-free when she heard a voice behind her.

“Ma’am, one of you’re children is wandering off.” The vendor mare said, glancing in Starlight’s direction as she set a second thermos down. The mother looked where the vendor had been pointing and shook her head.

“That isn’t one of mine.” She shrugged. Starlight panicked and began to run, aiming for an alleyway not fare down the road. If she could just get out of sight before—

“Hey! Come back here! You have to pay for that!” The vendor mare yelled, catching the attention of a nearby police pony who turned and spotted Starlight. She spared a glace backward and saw him too. She increased her speed, only causing the police stallion to turn and give chase.

“Hey!! Stop right there!” He shouted, following her as she turned into the alley. Starlight skidded to a stop as she realized her mistake. A brick wall loomed over her- a dead end. She looked frantically around for a method of escape as the fast hoof beats of the officer grew closer. Then, suddenly, she spotted it: a ladder leading to the roof of the building next to her. She shoved the thermos into her saddle bag and began to climb, hoping that she would be fast enough to evade her pursuer.

“GET DOWN!” The shout nearly scared Starlight into falling. She looked down for a split second and sure enough, the officer stood below here. She climbed faster, but noticed that the ladder now shook with his bulk coming up behind her. She reached the roof and pulled herself up and ran to the edge of the building. The wind whipped around fiercely this high up and she experienced a surge of vertigo as she realized how high up she was.

“Hey! Just come down and we can sort this thing out! Okay?” The officer wasn’t up to the top of the ladder yet, but his voiced reached her and she went pale. There was nowhere left to go, she backed away from the ladder, not looking where she was stepping. Her back leg hit an air vent and sent her falling. She put her hooves out to stop her fall. It was only then that she realized that there was no building underneath her. Her misstep had sent her over the edge and she was now in free fall.

As she fell, time seemed to slow down. She resisted the urge to scream, desperately trying to get her magic going. If she could just eek out a force field, she could cushion her fall. It was no use, she was too scared. She closed her eyes and just as she prepared to hit the hard cold ground, she hit something else… something furry.

“Jeez, Kid! You have to be more careful! Nearly gave me a heart attack! You’re lucky I was looking up when you fell! What on earth were you doing up on the top of a building anyway!”
It was more of a statement than a question, and as Starlight opened her eyes, just a slit, she saw she was on the back of a light blue pegasus. They flew over another building and touched down in another alley, far from the police stallion. Starlight tumbled off the pegasus’s back and landed nose down on the hard concrete. It was a stark reminder of what had almost happened. When she flipped over and stood up, she found herself looking into dark pink eyes.

“I said, what were you…” The blue pegasus stood straight up and looked down at her, noticing something for the first time.

“What?” Starlight asked, not understanding. Then she caught sight of something small and white next to the pegasus’s hoof. Her hat! It had fallen off when they landed. She rushed over and picked it up, jamming it onto her head, but it was too late. The pegasus flipped back a bit of her rainbow mane and looked down at Starlight.

“You’re a unicorn.” She said in disbelief.

Chapter Two

Starlight’s heart sank. This pegasus knew her secret. The reason she wore a hat everywhere. The reason she was different. The reason that if she were ever caught by the police, the Guard, any pony, really; she would… Starlight couldn't even think of the horrible possibilities that could occur if her secret was ever found by any of those ponies. They would hurt her, or worse. In a land of earth ponies and pegasi she was a unicorn; and she knew that was not a good thing to be.

Ever since she was little, well, littler anyway, even before Starlight had left the orphanage she had known about the negative connotations associated with being a unicorn. She heard the whispers from the adults at the orphanage, she had seen the posters the Guard put up informing the public about the evils of magic and to report a unicorn immediately if you found one. They were known as evil creatures and it was the Guard’s job to protect the pegasi and earth ponies from their magic.

Starlight didn’t really see the big deal though; aside from herself she had never even seen another unicorn. If she didn’t look in the mirror every morning and see her own horn, she would have thought that unicorns didn’t exist and the Guard was spilling a bunch of hooey over nothing. However, she was living proof they existed, and she also proved the blather about the evils of unicorn magic really was a load of lies. She knew she wasn’t evil. It was just convincing any pony else of that; which was why she was so scared about this pegasus knowing.

“Please, please don’t tell any pony! Thank you so much for saving me; but, uh, I have to go now!” She hastily turned and began to run out of the alley they were in. She hoped that the blue pegasus would leave it at that. She would go home, pack up her stuff, find a new hiding spot and stay hidden for a while. She didn’t even look back, praying that she wouldn’t be followed. Starlight had just about reached the end of the alley when, in a sudden flash of rainbow mane the pegasus was in front of her.

“Whoa! Hang on there kid, where do you think you’re running off to so fast?” The dark pink eyes looked down at her. Starlight tried to just go around the pegasus, but either way she went, her path was blocked. “Just wait a second, okay?! I’m not going to hurt you or anything.” Starlight looked up, surprised.

“You’re not? But, but, you know what I am!” She blurted. Then she stopped and looked down. “I just want to go home.” Starlight continued, a little sadly.

“Hey, kid. Just let me at least make sure you make it home safe, okay? I don’t care what you are. I don’t believe any of that crap that the Guard spews out to every pony. Anyway, I’ll take you home. Wouldn't want to waste my awesome skills at saving you, would I?” The pegasus smiled. Starlight found herself oddly reassured. She felt, for some explainable reason that she could trust this pony.

However, it wasn't like she could show the pegasus her home. That would raise questions. Starlight didn't want her to know she lived alone; what if she wanted Starlight to go back to the orphanage? Things could get very sticky if she didn't find a way to get rid of this well-meaning, but troublesome pegasus. Starlight smiled back, hoping to dispel the pegasus’s worries about her traveling alone.

“Oh, I wouldn't want to trouble you… I can see myself home just fine, um, so I’ll just be going now…” She tried again to get around the pegasus. She was once again unsuccessful. The pegasus raised an eyebrow at her. “Well, if you insist.” Starlight sighed. She would have to think of something on the way.
The pegasus smiled. “I do insist.” They walked out of the alleyway together. “Oh! By the way, kid, I’m Rainbow Dash.”

“I’m Starlight.”

When they reached the edge of the City, Starlight stopped. The pegasus- Rainbow Dash looked down at her, not saying anything. Starlight began to feel even more uncomfortable. She had been unable to lose Rainbow Dash at every opportunity and nothing she had said had made the blue pegasus even think of leaving her alone to go home.

“Um, well, I live just out there… So thanks for, uh, taking me home…” She said and tried to edge her way towards the woods on the other side of the bridge.

“You live in the woods?” Rainbow Dash looked down at her skeptically, and then arched an eyebrow as if she knew something Starlight didn’t.

“Uh… Yes! I live in the woods with, uh, my family!… We, um, live in the woods… and I… I would show you our house, but, uh, I can’t! My family is, well, very secretive and they wouldn’t want you near the… house. So, really! Thank you and hope you have a safe, um, trip to your home!” Starlight was desperate at this point. She had never been a very good liar and this really was pushing her boundaries, she hoped the pegasus bought it. Rainbow Dash looked at her with a small frown on her face. Then, oddly, she sighed and then smiled. Starlight was very confused.

“Alright. That’s enough.” She flicked her rainbow mane out of her face and looked back down at Starlight.

“Enough of what?” Starlight asked innocently, but she had a feeling she knew exactly what the pegasus was getting at.

“Lying. Kid, I’m done beating around the bush. You live alone, don’t you? I suspect you probably ran away from wherever you were living. I came out here to give you the benefit of the doubt, but enough is enough. Where are you staying every night? I can’t just leave you out here alone.”

Starlight sighed and walked over to the bridge, slipping beneath in and looking up at the crack in the underside of the walkway. There seemed to be no way out of this mess and she was resigned to just tell the truth and hope the pegasus at least let her get her stuff before she was hauled back to the orphanage. She heard a pebble fall behind her and looked up to seen Rainbow Dash easing herself down under the bridge. Starlight sighed again before pointing to the crack.

“I live under the bridge. The middle support is hollow and this crack leads to it. I would show you but I don’t think you would fit.” Starlight explained and then sat down sadly. She really liked this spot. She was sad to leave it.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting that.” Rainbow Dash said, looking up at the crack. “I bet you’re the first pony to even notice this here. Rather smart if you ask me.” She continued and then smiled. Starlight did not return the smile. Then, as if realizing something, Rainbow Dash frowned.

“What?” Starlight asked moodily as a cold blast of wind hit them as it funneled under the bridge. Rainbow Dash’s frown deepened as she looked pointedly at Starlight’s hat.

“Oh, jeez, Kid. You’re in a heap of trouble out here by yourself, aren’t you?” Rainbow Dash’s tone of voice confused Starlight. It sounded more pitying than mean, which was what she had expected. Rainbow Dash looked around at the bridge. “Shoot.” She swore gently and closed her eyes, bringing a hoof up to her forehead, as if deep in thought and frustration.

“Can I get my stuff?” Starlight interrupted her train of thought.

Rainbow Dash looked up, “What?”

“Before you take me back to the orphanage?” She looked pleadingly at Rainbow Dash, who frowned.

“That’s where you ran away from?” Rainbow Dash asked and frowned deeper. “I’m not going to take you back there, you know.” She looked down at Starlight who tilted her head in confusion.

“Really?”

“No, not if you don’t want to go back there.” Rainbow Dash said. “Though, I can’t very well just leave you out here to fend for yourself.” She continued, with more conviction in every word she said, as if she had made up her mind about something. “You know what kid? I’ll give you a choice. I know how it is to be on my own; I was on my own when I was even younger than you are now, so I understand. I also understand you not wanting to go back to the orphanage.” Rainbow Dash said slowly and Starlight listened, still skeptical, but she remembered the feeling she had earlier; the feeling she could trust this blue pegasus, and she felt that feeling returning.

“I can leave you out here to your own devices. I promise not to say a word to any pony, especially not the Guard that you are here. That can be the end of it. I’ll go home and you can stay out here.” Starlight nodded, a bit of hope creeping back to her; she might make it out of this mess after all.

“Or, and I know you just met me today, and probably don’t trust me at all, you could come home with me.” Starlight stared at Rainbow Dash, open-mouthed. She looked up at the support in the bridge, then out at the sky.

“You promise not to tell any pony at all, no matter what, that I live here?” Starlight challenged Rainbow Dash and glared at her pointedly. Rainbow Dash sighed and said,

“I cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Rainbow Dash recited, completely serious.

“What?” Starlight was very confused.

“It’s a Pinkie Promise.” Rainbow Dash explained and then laughed. Her laugh was just the tiniest bit sad. Starlight was still confused.

“It means I promise; and nobody breaks a Pinkie Promise.” Rainbow Dash smiled. Starlight just stared at her. “Alright. I understand. I’m just glad you made it home safe tonight.” She turned to leave, flying up onto the bridge and disappearing from sight.

Starlight quickly pulled herself into the crack. She popped out in the hollow strut. She looked around, at all her belongings, the books, the blankets, everything. She focused her magic on the candle wick and after a few tense seconds it lit. She lay down in her blanket corner and took her hat off, pulling out the book from the night before as she did so. She flipped open to the first page and began reading.

After a few sentences, she realized she hadn’t comprehended anything she was reading. She closed the book and looked around again, a frown wrinkling her nose. There was something off about her hideaway that night. She just couldn’t put her hoof on it. Everything was there, everything in place, but it felt different; less cozy, less…like home. With a shock, Starlight realized what it was; it felt…lonely.

Starlight stood up as she realized her mistake. She quickly shoved her hat back on, grabbed the books from the important pile, her mirror, and her favorite blanket. She opened her saddle bags and crammed everything inside. Maybe if she was fast enough, Rainbow Dash would still be on her way back to the City. She squeezed through the crack and tumbled down under the bridge.

She expected to hit the ground hard, but for the second time that day, she landed on something soft, squishy and a little bit feathery.

“Hey Kid! If you’re going to come with me, you have to stop landing on me!” Rainbow Dash stood up and gently rolled Starlight off of her.

“What are you still doing here?!” Starlight asked, out of breath.

“Well, I almost left, but then I wanted to make sure everything was totally safe and you really didn’t want to come with me. I didn’t figure you would, but… Well, I just had this feeling that I wasn’t done here yet, um, if that makes sense. I guess it worked out that I did, huh?” Rainbow Dash stopped and backed up. “You know, if you want to and stuff. Doesn’t matter to me, I’m cool with whatever.” She backtracked, trying to feign indifference, leaning on the side of the bridge as she did so.

“Well, um, if you don’t mind. I thought I might like to come with you…” Starlight answered shyly.

“Cool.” Rainbow Dash said, then smiled hugely. “By the way, I live by myself, so I hope you don’t mind it just being you and me… I also don’t know for sure how long you can stay with me, but tonight, you absolutely are welcome. We can work more of this out in the morning.” Rainbow Dash tried to hide the happiness in her voice, but Starlight could tell, this pegasus was as lonely as she was and couldn’t believe the coincidences that had brought them together that day. They walked up to the road together and began walking back towards the City

“I live just around this corner. It’s a pretty small apartment, but you’re pretty small too, so it should be plenty of room for us both. You can have the couch. Don’t worry it’s comfy.” Rainbow Dash was telling her as they came to a street in the heart of the City’s downtown district. They came around the corner and immediately noticed the commotion around the building Rainbow Dash lived in.

There were Guard members everywhere. Rainbow Dash instinctively pushed Starlight behind her. She frowned as she heard the snippets of a conversation one of the Guard ponies was having with a civilian, her neighbor from across the hall. Luckily the Guard stallion was turned away from them.

“I’m looking for a Rainbow Dash. When was the last time you saw her?” The Guard asked the pale green mare.

“Well, she lives across the hall from me, I told you that already. Uh, she is usually home at this time of night, but I haven’t seen her since this morning when I left. When she does come back, you won’t miss her. She has a bright rainbow mane and tail and she is blue as the sky. Does that help? Why are you looking for her?”

“I am afraid that is strictly classified.” The stallion said, turning away from the green mare and towards Rainbow Dash and Starlight. Rainbow Dash grabbed Starlight and rushed into an alley next to the building.

Starlight began to panic, breathing quickly and talking even faster, “Oh, my gosh! I bet they saw me without my hat on earlier with you! I’m so sorry! I never meant for this! They’re after me! I…” Rainbow Dash cut her off, nervously looking towards the entrance to the alley. Starlight was still panicking, her breath getting faster and shallower, and her eyes growing wide. Rainbow Dash pulled her under her wing, trying desperately to calm her down.

“Shhh, it’s okay. It’s okay.” Starlight grew very still and quiet.

“I’m so sorry.” She said, feeling tears spring to her eyes. She couldn’t believe it, the first time she had opened up to somepony and they were paying for just being near her. She felt so guilty.

“Hey, Kid, it’s not your fault. This has nothing to do with you.” Rainbow Dash looked down at her.

“Huh?” Starlight was jolted out of her thoughts.

“They aren't here for you. They are here for me.” Rainbow Dash explained.

Chapter Three

Starlight looked up at Rainbow Dash with tears in her eyes, still very upset thinking she was the cause of the trouble.

“Why would the Guard be after you?”

“Not now, Kid--”

Starlight cut her off. “But--”

“Just let me get us somewhere safe and then I promise I will tell you anything you want to know.”

“Pinkie Promise?” Starlight asked, looking up at Rainbow Dash, who smiled.

“Pinkie Promise, Starlight.” Rainbow jumped when she heard a voice behind them.

“Hey!” It was the Guard stallion who had been questioning Rainbow Dash’s neighbor. He was standing at the opening of the dead-end alley, looking at them. “I know who you are, and you are under a warrant to be detained by the Guard for…Hey!” As he had been talking Rainbow Dash had scooped Starlight up onto her back, slowly so the Guard wouldn’t notice. “Stay where you are! I will shoot!” He called pulling out a long-range tazer.

Rainbow Dash watched him calmly, waiting for the perfect opportunity. She took in all her surroundings; the fire escape on the side of the building that would be a perfect launching pad to aid her quick flight; the nervous way the Guard stood and held his weapon. He was a rookie, Dash could tell. Standing perfectly on protocol, aiming the tazer at her at the handbook perfect angle, he was new. A veteran Guard would have known to taze her on sight.

Well, Rainbow Dash would take advantage of that.

“What’s on your back?! Put it in front of you and come towards me…slowly!” He mussed the last word as the tazer in his hand drooped and he quickly righted it. Good, Dash thought, he hadn’t seen Starlight on her back. She slowly inched towards the fire escape, hoping to make her escape while he was off guard. “Towards me!” He yelled, louder this time.

Starlight clung tighter to Rainbow as his call caused a chorus of shouts to erupt from the street. The Guard turned for a fraction of a second to make sure his comrades were coming. That was all the opening Rainbow Dash needed. She jumped towards the fire escape and pushed off hard with her back hooves, throwing them into the sky.

She breathed a small sigh of relief as her wings opened and they were airborne above the city. Rainbow Dash put on as much speed as she could, hoping to get far away- fast.

“Let’s hope that Guard was an Earth Pony!” Starlight yelled against the wind.

“Ha! Even if he was a Pegasus, he would have a hard time catching me!” Dash laughed. However, she craned her neck to see behind her just in case. Then her eyes widened in surprise and shock.

“What is it?” Starlight asked, but she never got an answer. Suddenly, Starlight was aware of a whizzing sound and then Rainbow jerked, static coursing over her body. Starlight could even feeling the tingling. Rainbow tried to say something, but her eyes closed, she passed out and they were falling.

“RAINBOW!!!!” Starlight screamed, desperately trying to get her to wake up. There was no response and they were falling fast. From this altitude, Starlight knew, when they hit the ground… well, they would be nothing but colorful splats on the hard concrete. You’ve got to think of something! Starlight was panicking and time seemed to slow down as they fell, making each second seem like a year. She saw something white fly past her in the breeze, her hat! She didn’t even care; what use was having a hat when nobody would even be able to tell she was a unicorn when they hit the ground!?

Wait! You’re a Unicorn! What are unicorns good for? Magic! She concentrated fiercely, hoping against hope she could do something, anything! Her magic wasn’t very strong, but she had to try! Come on horn! Work! She closed her eyes, concentrating ever harder. Just a she was sure her magic wasn’t enough, she opened her eyes. They were milliseconds from hitting the ground!

Suddenly, as if that intense fear had awoken something, her horn burst with dark purple energy that wrapped around her own body and Rainbow Dash’s. Starlight stared with wide open eyes as her magic swirled around them in waves, bringing them slowly to the ground. As soon as her hooves touched the stone path beneath her the purple bubble of energy burst and dissipated. She only had a moment to be relieved as she remembered the event that brought them down from the sky.

She turned to see if Rainbow was okay, but the blue pegasus was already staggering to her hooves. Her left wing hung limply by her side, electric sparks still dancing across the outermost feathers.

“Rainbow!” Starlight called as she rushed over to her.

“Its okay, I’m alright, just, well, a little bit…shocked.” Rainbow said, testing her wing. She winced as she tried to pull it in towards her body. At last, she succeeded in folding it in and she sighed.

“There’s no way I can fly on this wing. Huh, wouldn’t have believed that rookie Guard would be able to hit the broadside of a thunder-cloud, much less him hitting me. Not to brag or anything, but I was cruising pretty fast!” She stopped and looked down at Starlight. “Wait, how did we get down here? We were high enough for a fall to kill us, how are we okay?” Starlight looked at the ground.

“I had to do something! I used magic…” She said, not wanting to meet Rainbow’s eyes.

“Hey, Kid. I don’t care how you did it, I’m just glad we’re alive and you’re okay. Like I said earlier, I have no problems with magic…or unicorns.” At first Starlight didn’t say anything. Then she looked up at Rainbow and smiled. Nopony had ever been so nice to her. She couldn’t even believe how much Rainbow had already done for her. She opened her mouth to say something when suddenly they heard running hoofsteps coming up behind them.

“Hey! They fell over here!” It was the Guard. Starlight froze and Rainbow whipped her head around, her eyes narrowing. About ten Guard ponies were running towards them at full speed, but they were still a ways off. The Guard stallion that had found them in the alley and who had tazed Rainbow was in the lead.

“I swear to Celestia, if I ever seen that rookie Guard pony after tonight I am going to give him a serious reason why leaving other ponies the hell alone is a damn good idea!” She turned to Starlight and lifted her on to her back. Her left wing twitched again and she exhaled in frustration. “Well, looks like we’re hoofing it!” She said and took off running.

Luckily they were very close to the edge of the city. They had landed on a path that eventually led to a nearby town. Coincidentally, the path also led right over Starlight’s bridge. Rainbow galloped over the bridge at high speed. Even on the ground she was fast. However, the sound of hoofsteps behind them never faded in the slightest as the Guards gave close chase.

Starlight looked back to see how close they were and was startled to see the gap between them was closing, not very fast, but they were certainly gaining on Rainbow.

“How close are they?” Rainbow huffed.

“Close and getting closer!” Starlight responded, still looking at the pack of Guards chasing them. The Guards were close enough for Starlight to see their faces, and she watched as they continued to narrow the gap. The Guard at the front of the pack glared at her. Then his eyes widened and he stumbled momentarily before righting himself. When he looked back at Starlight there was new venom and fire in his eyes. He said something to the mare next to him, who nodded and repeated it to the rest of the group who in turn redoubled their efforts.

The wind snatched away the sound before Starlight could hear what they had said. She turned back around and bit her lip. They needed somewhere to hide. Rainbow couldn’t run forever.

“Rainbow! They’re coming faster!”

“It’s okay, Kid. We’re almost to the forest!”

Starlight faced back at their pursuers who were even closer now than before. The lead Guard stallion’s gaze was fixated solely on her. Then it hit her. She wasn’t wearing her hat. She was a unicorn for all the Guard ponies to see. That was what the lead stallion had noticed before they speed up!

“Oh no…” She whispered, flipping around and ducking low to avoid them seeing her, but the damage was already done. Suddenly, the path narrowed and they were plunged into dim forest. Rainbow Dash didn’t slow even the tiniest bit. They went around a corner and Rainbow dove into a break between bushes on the side of the path. They tumbled into a ditch and Rainbow flipped around, putting Starlight behind her. She was breathing heavily and didn’t say a word. Starlight knew to be quiet.

Starlight looked up at the opening Rainbow had made in the foliage. If one of the Guards noticed it, they would investigate for sure, and they would see Rainbow and her hiding below. She concentrated on the break and let her magic, which was oddly easy to call forth, swirl around the bushes, pulling them back together. Not a moment to soon, the branches knitted back together and the dark purple glow dissipated.

Seconds later the sound of hoofbeats on the dirt path thundered by and the forest was still. Both Starlight and Rainbow Dash breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Wow. I had no idea you were so talented in magic!” Rainbow turned to her.

“Please don’t be mad at me!” Starlight said, still feeling like a naughty filly for using magic.

“Are you kidding?! That was amazing! I can’t believe you saved us…twice! Well, I certainly am glad to have you on my side!” Rainbow smiled at her and she felt ecstatic. Not only was her magic flowing easier than it ever had, but she was being praised for it. Suddenly, being a unicorn didn’t feel like such a bad thing. Then she remembered something and frowned.

“What is it, Kid… Starlight?” Rainbow asked and looked down at her.

“They saw me.” Starlight answered. It was then that Rainbow noticed for the first time that Starlight didn’t have her hat on.

“Starlight, where I’m planning on going, I don’t think they will be able to follow.” Rainbow reassured her. Starlight looked up,

“Where are we going?” She asked.

“We’re going to see a friend of mine who hopefully will be cool with us staying with her for a few days. Don’t worry, she’ll love you.” Rainbow reassured her when she saw Starlight make a face at the mention of some pony else. “And she lives in a very remote part of the forest. So we’ll be safe for a while.” Rainbow looked up at the sky.

“We should get moving. This strip of woodland eventually joins up with the Ever Free forest and there are things in there we do not want to run into. We need to stay moving. Hopefully, my wing will be better soon, but there is no way to tell how long I won’t be able to fly. We’ll need to go fast. Do you think you can keep up for a while? I need to keep you off my back so my wing can heal.” Starlight nodded. “Let’s go.” She said and followed Rainbow Dash as she moved deeper into the forest.

Chapter Four

They had been walking for about three hours and Starlight was breathing heavily when Rainbow suddenly stopped and Starlight crashed into her and fell over.

“Are we there?” She said tiredly as she stood back up. According to her mental clock it was about midnight and she was exhausted.

“Nope. We’re only to the edge of the Ever Free and we still have a long way to go.” Rainbow responded. Starlight flopped back over with an audible, “ugh!”

“Yep! Gonna take us all night to get there, I figure.” Rainbow said jokingly as she looked at the small purple filly who was belly up on the ground. “Just leave me here!” Starlight said, equally joking. She mimed falling over dead. “I can’t go on!” She stayed as still as she could but in a few seconds she was giggling. Rainbow laughed and leaned over her.

“Tell you what. Since we’re at the edge of the dark forest, and I really don’t want to go prancing around in there, how ‘bout you hop up and I try flying. I’ve been itching to get back into the sky and we’ll get there about three times as fast if we don’t have to find our way over roots and bushes.”

“Are you sure you’re wing is okay?” Starlight asked as she sat up.

“Yep, I think so.” Rainbow said, testing her wing out. It already looked much better. “Just needed a few hours not using it. Tazers aren’t meant to damage anything. They’re just meant to stun.” Starlight hopped up onto Rainbow’s back and in seconds they were flying.

Unlike earlier, Rainbow was gliding along at a normal pace, rather than cruising at breakneck speeds. Starlight marveled at the view from so high up. She could see trees for quite a ways around them and if she turned back towards where they had come from, she could just make out the capital, sitting high on its mountain. She could even see the outlying suburbs that stretched out beneath the city on level ground.

She turned back forward and looked the moon, sitting on the horizon, just thinking. Suddenly something that she had almost forgotten about occurred to her.

“Hey Rainbow?”

“Yeah?”

“Why were the Guards after you?”

Rainbow sighed. “I can tell you later.”

“Come on, Pleease?”

“Ugh, fine, Kid. I’m not totally sure, but I would have to guess that they searched my room while I was out and found my…let’s just say it’s a magical object that, trust me, is not legal.”

Starlight nodded. Magic of any kind was forbidden. “Why would they search your rooms?” Starlight asked.

“Oh, jeez, probably because I ticked off one of them the other day when I pick- pocketed his tazer and got him in the flank with it after he harassed an old carrot seller for not giving him a suitable Guardly discount…namely, he wanted it free.” Starlight giggled.

“Yeah, it was pretty awesome. I just hate the way the Guards treat every pony. Now that they don’t have any unicorns to hunt down, they just terrorize the rest of the population. And they think they are so much better than every pony else! It’s not right.” Rainbow sighed.

“Was the magical artifact important?” Starlight asked, curious about it. She loved hearing about magic and now that hers was getting better she was even more interested.

“Seriously, Kid! This is a lot of questions!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Just this one! After that I won’t ask any more! Besides you promised!” Starlight pleaded.

“Alright, alright! And just to be clear part of that promise said we needed to be somewhere safe first. Flying above the Ever Free Forest doesn’t really count a safe it my book. Anyway, it was important. Extremely. But I just care that both of us are safe. I can go back and get it sometime, if I needed it.”

“So, what is it?” Starlight asked.

“You said no more questions if I answered that last one!”

“But--”

“Nope!”

“Come on! Plleee--”

“Not a chance, Kid!”

“Please, please, please, please!”

“No way, no how!”

“Arg! Fine!” Starlight huffed. Rainbow smiled. She rose on a warm air current and Starlight looked around.

“How close are we?”

“That was a question!” Rainbow grinned.

They flew for about another hour before Rainbow let them start sinking to the ground. They landed in a clearing. Starlight slid off and stretched. She had been sitting for way too long.

“Now, I know her cottage is around here somewhere…” Rainbow said, looking around. Starlight could see no difference in the surrounding trees and bushes. Suddenly she heard a loud, long howl that sent shivers down her spine. Rainbow tensed. “We need to find shelter soon; we do not want to be outside when that gets closer to us.”

“What was it?” Starlight asked, fearfully inching closer to Rainbow Dash.

“I would have to guess that it is a timber wolf.” That did nothing to make Starlight feel better. She had read about timber wolves and they were definitely scary.

“Come on, follow me. I am pretty sure that the cottage is this way.” Rainbow said as she went back into the forest on the side of the clearing.

Pretty sure?” Starlight asked.

Despite the sun and moon in the sky, under the shade of the trees it felt like the dead of night. Starlight could barely see where she was walking. Her saddle bag snared on a branch and she leapt into the air.

“Calm down. I would know if anything got close to us. We’ll be fine.” Rainbow reassured her, but it had little effect. She was scared, hungry and tired. She could only hope they reached their destination soon. She was jolted out of her thoughts when they both heard a scuttling noise from the bush next to them. Rainbow moved without thinking and Starlight backed away as fast as she could.

They both watched the bush in tense suspense. Fear gripped Starlight and she had a horrible sense of foreboding. Just as she thought she couldn’t take the pressure anymore, the leaves parted to reveal a pure white creature. Starlight’s thoughts raced with possibilities at what evil things the thing might do to them. She squinted to see what exactly it was… it was…it was… a bunny.

Both Rainbow and she breathed out a long sigh of relief. She wasn’t even sure she had been breathing at all.

“Oh! Look! It’s just Ang---” Rainbow started to say, but was cut off when something sticky reached out and grabbed Starlight by the tail. She let out a terrified, air-splitting screamed and was pulled back into the bushes.

“Hang on Starlight! I’m coming!” Rainbow Dash cried and raced towards the place where Starlight had disappeared. Dash raced through the forest, following closely behind what ever creature had taken Starlight. She caught a glimpse of it as it dodged a tree. It was big, black and hairy. Dash went even faster, trying to catch up. She opened her wings to try and fly, but the trees were too dense and if she tried to go above the canopy, she knew she would lose them.

Suddenly, the creature turned and Dash momentarily lost sight of it. She stopped, whirled and listened, trying to hear some indication of which way it went.

“RAINBOW!” Starlight screamed from off to Dash’s left. She took off after the sound. She came into a tiny break in the trees where a giant spider web hung between two huge trucks. An even more giant spider sat upon it, tying Starlight up in silk. Starlight struggled against the sticky confines, but the spider barely seemed to notice as it went about its work.

“Starlight! Don’t worry! I’m here!” Dash yelled, and without thinking, launched herself at the giant furry form of the spider. It turned to look at her, and just before her back hoof would have collided with its massive head, it scuttled to the side and Dash found herself tangled in the sticky web. She thrashed, trying as hard as she could to break the sticky strands.

“Stop struggling! The more you move the sticker the web gets!” Starlight called out to her. The spider, having noticed the new prey on its web was moving quickly towards Rainbow. Rainbow struggled more and wove herself in even farther.
“If you think you are going to eat me, you have another thing coming! I guarantee I will be the nastiest thing you have ever eaten and I will be kicking all the way down! I will seriously mess up your insides, you great big…” Rainbow yelled at the gianormous arachnid. It seemed to have no intention of wrapping her in silk before devouring her and was advancing towards her with its huge mouth open and fangs out.

Starlight turned away, more scared than she could ever remember being. She couldn’t watch this. Just when she thought it was all over, she heard a thump and the spider let out a disgruntled hiss and fell to the ground. Starlight whipped her head around in time to see what had knocked the spider off its web. A light yellow pegasus had dropped out of a tree just before the spider would have sunk its fangs into Rainbow’s neck.

Now; the pegasus faced the spider, a very reproachful expression on her face. She blew a lock of her pink mane out of her face and looked at the spider with such intensity that the spider itself seemed to shrink down in fear.

“You leave them alone! You have no business eating ponies! You are an insectivore and there are plenty of bugs for you to eat! If I ever catch you doing something like this again, there will be serious consequences! Do you understand?!” The pegasus mare scolded the spider, which dwarfed her in size by at least three times, like it was a naughty foal with its hoof in the cookie jar. It nodded and scampered off.

“That’s what I thought!” She called after it. She turned around to face them and her eyes opened wide. Starlight felt very nervous, sure she was gaping at her horn. However, the yellow pegasus was staring at Rainbow Dash, who smiled. “Hey Fluttershy! Been a while hasn’t it?”

“Sir! I have an urgent report from the south east edge of the city!” Silver Shot, a ten-year veteran Guard Pegasus rushed into the General’s office. This report was high security and the General was dealing with it personally. Despite the ‘Sir’, the General was a mare and she swiveled around in her chair behind her desk to face Silver Shot. She was not in a good mood. The last report had not been to her liking.

“Did the squad catch her?” She leaned forward menacingly and glared at Silver Shot. He did not want to be the bearer of this bad news. He wasn’t sure why this case had become so important to the General, who was, for all intents and purposes, the leader of the Guard itself. She was still glaring at him too.

“Um, well, uh…no…” He mumbled.

“What?! Speak up, solider!” The General barked.

“No, Sir! I mean, no, they were unable to apprehend Rainbow Dash. Sir!” He backed towards the door, hoping she would just let him go.

“Not so fast, Lieutenant Shot. You haven’t given you’re full report.” The General arched an eyebrow. “Well?”

“Oh, yes of course! Well, after she flew off after being spotted near her home, a private got off a lucky tazer shot and took her down. However, she somehow survived the fall. We still aren’t sure how that happened. She was then followed into the edge of the forest, where, uh, the squad lost sight of her.” Silver Shot turned to leave.

“Wait! Has any of that patrol returned yet?” She stopped him.

“Uh, yes, I believe so, Sir. I can get one of them to come up here if you want to talk to them…” Silver Shot was cut off as the door was flung open.

“Sir! I have an urgent report from the Rainbow Dash case! I was part of the patrol squad that was following her…” The young private trailed off as he caught the glare the General was giving him.

“So you’re one of the idiots who lost her!” She yelled at him, her voice rising in volume with every word. The private paled. She sat back in her chair and looked at him. “What’s you’re name private?” She said, regaining her cool.

“Private Blue Breeze…Sir!” He responded quickly.

“So what is this urgent news that you have for me? It better be good, private!”

“Oh! Yes Sir! Well, Rainbow Dash was not alone when she evaded us. She was with a young filly.” Blue Breeze exclaimed proudly. The General put her hoof up to her forehead and Silver Shot had the good sense to take the moment to slip out of her office unnoticed.

“Exactly why is this urgent?! I don’t give a buck who is with her! What I am concerned with is the fact that you lost her!” The General yelled even louder this time. Blue Breeze shrank back towards the door, but even in his fear he managed to croak out,

“I just thought you might want to know, since the filly is a unicorn!” The General’s eyes widened and she sat back at her desk, staring at Blue Breeze in absolute shock.

“A unicorn?” She muttered, more to herself than to him.

“Yes Sir.” He responded.

“I want you to go outside, find my second in command, Silver Shot; he should be lurking somewhere outside my office. I want you to tell him to put every available Guard on the task of finding them. I don’t care how you do it, I don’t care who you have to run over in the process. I want them found and I want them found now! Now get out of my office!” She delivered her whole speech in a scarily calm voice until the end at which point she opened the door, shoved Blue Breeze out into the hall, and incidentally right into Silver Shot who was waiting just outside. She slammed the door and turned around.

It was a serious problem that Rainbow Dash was loose, knew they were onto her, and was running. It was a massively serious problem that she had a unicorn with her. Things had gone from bad to worse. The General didn’t wonder how they had survived the fall, or why they had evaded the patrol so easily. Magic, it was the only answer; and if that unicorn filly had any actual talent in magic, she could ruin absolutely everything the General and the Guard had worked the last ten years for.

No, she wouldn’t let that happen. She would deal with both Rainbow Dash and this filly and then this whole mess would be over. She rubbed her temple. The whole problem was giving her a terrible headache. It had been a long day, starting when she had received the first report; concerning a highly magical object that had been found in a civilian pony’s apartment.

She had ordered it be brought to her right away and she had quickly realized exactly what it was and who it belonged to. She had wasted no time in sending out a patrol to apprehend Rainbow Dash when she returned home; which, of course, had just added to the disaster.

The only consolation in the whole day was that she had managed to get her hooves on the object and it was safely within her care. She looked down at it, memories from a time long forgotten rising unbidden into her mind. She shook her head to clear it and looked at the object, so simple and the cause of all her problems that day. It was also a source of great power.

A golden necklace with a red jewel in the shape of a lightning bolt set in the middle. She curled her hoof around it, a frown creasing her features. She sighed angrily and pressed a small button on the underside of her desk. A small, hidden drawer popped open and she placed the necklace inside, right next to another, very similar necklace.

In fact, the other one was almost identical. The only difference was that instead of a red lightning bolt, it had an orange apple set in the middle.

Chapter Five

“Rainbow?! What in Equestria are you doing here?” The yellow pegasus looked incredulously at Rainbow, who shrugged. “I haven’t seen you in…” She frowned, looking up as another howl reached them. “Well, a long time.” She finished and looked back at them. She turned her head, as if deep in thought.

“Fluttershy, I’m sure you have tons of questions, but we have been out all night and were wondering if we could stay with you, at least for tonight.” Rainbow cut into Fluttershy’s reverie. Starlight shivered as a cold wind blew past them.

“Oh! Of course! I would be happy to have you! You’ll have to introduce me to you’re friend when we get there, Rainbow.” She turned and walked into deeper foliage. Just as she was almost out of sight, she called back, “Come on. It’s not far.” Starlight turned to Rainbow, who nodded and they both followed behind the retreating form of the butter cream pegasus.

While they were walking, Starlight took the time to examine their guide, who she was very confused about. The pegasus, Fluttershy, hadn’t even batted an eyelash at her horn. She seemed totally unconcerned about Starlight; which both reassured her and made her slightly nervous. Fluttershy seemed like a very nice pony, but Starlight noticed the dark scar that ran from the corner of her eye down her cheek.

She was very at home in the forest, weaving her way in and out of the branches and roots without making a sound at all, her tied back pink mane and short, cropped tail lit up in the shade of the forest and were easy for Starlight and Rainbow to follow. It didn’t take them long to reach Fluttershy’s home. About ten minutes after they had started walking, they came to a clearing in the woods.

Sitting in the center of the clearing was a small, modest cottage with a bright, inviting glow coming from the windows. Fluttershy lead them to the front door, which she opened quickly with a key.

“Wow, Fluttershy, it’s almost identical to you’re old cottage…” Rainbow said, looking around. Starlight turned to look back at the door, as just before Fluttershy shut it, a small white form hopped its way in.

“Oh, Angel! Come inside please, its far too cold out for a little bunny like you.” The bunny looked at her in a way that could almost be condescending and went over to a pet bed in the corner and lay down with a huff. Fluttershy smiled warmly at the little creature and then turned back to Rainbow and Starlight.

“So, who is your friend Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked, her bright teal blue eyes looking at Starlight kindly. Starlight once again got the feeling of reassurance from this yellow pony.

“I’m Starlight. It’s nice to meet you. Oh! And thanks so much for letting us stay here for a little while.” Starlight smiled happily.

“I’m Fluttershy, and you are very welcome. It’s been quite a while since I have had friends over to stay with me.” She looked over at Rainbow Dash, who was nonchalantly looking around the cottage. Starlight yawned. It had been a very, very long day and she was exhausted.

“Hey, Kid, I bet Fluttershy would be happy to show you to a bed, if you’re tired.” Rainbow said, noticing Starlight’s yawn instantly. Fluttershy smiled, almost imperceptibly at Rainbow, before turning to Starlight.

“Absolutely I would. Come upstairs and we’ll get you settled in for the night.” Starlight nodded, her eyelids already starting to droop. She had never been good at staying awake when she was tired. She would simply get sleepy and then drop like a log. She followed Fluttershy up the stairs as Rainbow turned to go into the kitchen.

A few minutes later Fluttershy came back down and went into the kitchen after Rainbow, who was hunting around for food. “I’m starving, got anything good?” She asked, peering into a cupboard.

“How do sandwiches sound?” Fluttershy replied, getting out the supplies.

“Perfect” Rainbow said, flopping into a chair at the dinning room table. There were a few minutes of silence as Fluttershy busied herself around the small kitchen.

“I can’t believe Angel is still alive after all these years.” Rainbow said, hoping to break the silence that was hanging around them.

“Oh, that’s not Angel, well, technically, his name is Angel, but his full name is Angel the Third. He’s the original Angel’s grandson.” Fluttershy responded absent-mindedly.

“Oh.” Rainbow replied and the conversation died again.

Fluttershy sighed and without looking at Rainbow said, “She’s a unicorn.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.” Rainbow replied.

“You know how much trouble this could bring down on you, and now me by extension, right?”

“Yep.”

“Well, just wanted to make sure you know what you are getting into.” Rainbow shot her a look. “Don’t get defensive. I expect no less of you. I knew from the first moment I saw her that you cared for her. I just want you to understand the risks you are taking.” Fluttershy smiled wistfully, “Not that you’ve ever been one to avoid risks.”

“Nope, and don’t worry. We’ll only be here a few days at most. After that I will need to come up with some other place for us to go more permanently. Although, I’m not sure the Guard will stop looking after they saw her with me today.” Rainbow grabbed a sandwich off the counter and went to sit down, not noticing that Fluttershy had frozen and had stopped everything she was doing.

“They saw you?!” Fluttershy whipped around to face Rainbow, pure terror in her eyes. “You’re sure they didn’t follow you here?!” She gasped, looking around as if there were Guard ponies just outside the windows.

“Pfft. They didn’t know what hit them. We lost them way back on the edge of the Canterlot forests.” Rainbow laughed. “That kid has some serious magic talent. You should have seen her! She saved both of us today when I got hit with a tazer! I nearly fell right out of the sky, but somehow she stopped our fall right before we hit the ground. And just after that she helped us hide from those moronic Guard idiots. It was pretty darn cool, not as cool as me, but still pretty cool.” Rainbow finished, still very excited.

“You never did tell me how you met Starlight.” Fluttershy commented and Rainbow filled her in on the events of that day. Fluttershy listened anxiously and her frown deepened. “There are two things I don’t understand; first: what did the Guard find in your house that had them in such a tizzy to find you? And second: Starlight, we need to know more about her. Where did she come from? How has she stayed hidden all these years? And how magically talented is she? It’s been ten years since unicorns were supposedly wiped from the earth. I can’t believe she is still here. She can’t even be more than ten years old!”

“I have no idea about Starlight. I just get this feeling that she’s important and I need to protect her. I mean, think about it. She is most likely the last unicorn in all of Equestria, and that has to be important, doesn’t it?”

“Rainbow, I think I gave up on changing the way things turned out a long time ago. I just want to be left alone in my cottage with my animals. I was never built to be a hero the way you can be.” Fluttershy sighed. “But, I know you. And I know that when you stake a claim, when you put your loyalties somewhere; you are never wrong. If you believe your place is to help this filly, who am I to even try to talk you out of it?”

Rainbow looked up at her and smiled. Fluttershy had always had a little something that helped her understand other ponies and made them feel better. Rainbow realized how hard it had been all these years, alone. She once had thought that their friendship, not just her and Fluttershy, but her other friends too; she thought it would never end, but it had been ripped apart and…

“You still haven’t answered my question about the Guard.” Fluttershy abruptly interrupted her thoughts. She looked up,

“They found my necklace.” She didn’t have to elaborate. Fluttershy knew exactly what she was talking about. “

“Oh, no, Rainbow. That’s terrible.” Fluttershy put a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder.

“Whatever, I guess. It’s not like we could have used them ever again regardless.”

“No, but we need to protect them. In a society that hates and fears magic… well, the Guard will destroy them if they ever managed to get their hooves on all six of them. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen. Even if we can’t use them now, it doesn’t mean we won’t ever be able to again, or some pony else won’t.”

“It’s just lucky they need all six together to destroy them. You still have yours, right?” Fluttershy nodded.

“But they already have four for sure and maybe even five. We know they have Twilight’s and Rarity’s, and obviously Applejack’s, but we don’t know about Pinkie.” Rainbow huffed angrily, old fires relighting in her spirit. The events of those days gone by, well, they were better left in the past. She got up stormily.

“Like I said, it doesn’t matter. The past is the past and there is nothing we can do to change it. What we have is here and now. We need focus on changing the future.” Rainbow paced the kitchen.

“Calm down. I didn’t say that and I didn’t mean to bring up old wounds. Let’s just finish our sandwiches and then get some rest. We can figure out what to do next in the morning.” Fluttershy got up too and went to start cleaning the few dishes they had made.

“You’re right. As usual.” Rainbow conceded and went towards the door of the kitchen, then stopped. “Do you think Starlight is alright up there?” She said, an odd, rather out of place look crossed her face. Fluttershy smiled.

“Of course she is, but if you want I can sleep on the couch and you can take my room, since its right next to the guest room where she is sleeping.”

“Really? Thanks!... I mean, whatever, I don’t want to make you move or anything.” Rainbow floundered.

“Oh, it’s no trouble. Angel loves when I sleep downstairs anyway since he can snuggle with me.” Fluttershy went out into the living room, where she began pulling blankets out of a closet. Just as Rainbow was heading up the stairs, she turned. “You really care about this little filly, don’t you?”

Rainbow looked uncomfortable, but she tried to play it off. “Uh, yeah, I guess. I mean we’re friends and stuff, but like I said, I just get this feeling about her. Its, uh, really nothing more than that.”

“Well, I was just going to tell you that you’ve learned a lot more about kids and being there for a little pony than the first time around.” Fluttershy finished, turning to make up her bed.

“You mean that?” Rainbow asked, unsure of herself.

“I do, and I am glad Starlight found some pony like you to look out for her.”

The General looked down at the reports for the day. Even if most of her energy was going towards making Rainbow Dash and the supposed unicorn filly were found, there were still other things she had to make sure were running smoothly. Equestria never stopped, never slept, and there was always one crisis or another she had to handle. She sighed. If she didn’t make sure everything was spot on, and the Guard were doing their job, her superiors would be all over her.

While most civilian ponies and part to most of the Guard believed her to be the ‘leader’ of Equestria, this wasn’t really true. She was the head of the Guard, that was true, and the Guard was the only part of the governing body that made themselves known and seen out and about. So most ponies assumed, rather incorrectly, that the chain of command ended with her, especially since she was the ‘figure head’ of the organization.

Despite all this, she had higher powers to answer to, and they made her life nothing short of a living hell. The council was comprised of four ponies that had been in charge since the uprising ten years ago. The intercom on her desk blinked, interrupting her thoughts.

“General, a Council Member has requested your presence in the M.A. room.” It was her secretary calling, one of the few ponies around her who even knew of the Council’s existence.

“Let them know I will be along shor-”

“Immediately.”

“Well, then I am on my way.” She frowned and rolled her eyes. She had known the Council wouldn’t wait long to get their meddling noses into this case. She had, however, expected it to wait until tomorrow.

She reached down and pressed the button under her desk and removed the lightning bolt necklace, leaving the apple one where it lay. She wasn’t 100 percent sure this was the reason the Council was calling her, but to her best reckoning, it was the only one she could think of. However, she wasn’t going to reveal all her cards until she was sure that it was; so she slipped the magical item into a pocket on her uniform.

She walked out of her office and locked the door as she went. She then went to the end of the hall and turned towards what was a seemingly blank section of white wall. She glanced to make sure no ponies of lower rank were around. She pressed one front hoof into the ground, on a particular pattern in the carpet and held one green eye up to an imperceptible crack in the wall. A short beeping sound was heard and the wall slide open, allowing her into a darkened hallway.

She waved her badge by a scanner on the wall and a dim, red light came on. She quickly went down the long hallway, passing by many of the doors. The Council was composed of four ponies, two males, two females, two earth ponies, two pegasi. She was slightly nervous about which one she would find waiting for her. She didn’t like any of them and dreaded the few times that their duties and hers had crossed paths. She just sincerely hoped it wasn’t the male pegasus member. His name was Iron Flare and he was the most ruthless of the group and quite frankly gave her the jitters. Finally, she came to the one she was looking for, a door with the label ‘Magical Artifacts’. She opened the door and walked in.

In contrast to the dark hall outside, the room was surprisingly well lit. Gleaming cases lined the white room, full of old magic that could not be destroyed, at least not by any means the Council or the Guard had discovered yet. In the very center, on a raised platform, a necklace with a purple diamond in the center rested alongside a tiara with a brilliant pink-purple, six-pointed star on the top. The necklace was another companion to the lightning bolt one the General held in her hand. Also inside the case were the indents to fit another four necklaces.

Standing next to the case was a dark red pegasus. The General mentally groaned. It just had to be him. He turned and looked at the General, who frowned.

“Why the harsh looks, General?” He asked innocently, though his dark, almost black eyes looked anything but.

“No reason, Sir. Just a little peeved you pulled me away from my work. I was almost finished with the details of a rather important case.” She turned towards the wall, looking into one of the other cases, inside was a dark red amulet that she pretended to examine so she could avoid meeting Iron Flare’s eyes.

“General, focus. It is the details of that very case that have given me reason to call you here. It has come to my attention that you are in possession of another one of the missing Elements.” He was quick to the point. She turned back towards him forcing herself to concentrate on him. She frowned and reached into her pocket. She had hoped she would be able to hide it from him, but she could tell by his tone that he not only knew she had it, but also knew it was with her currently. Besides, she was really, really bad at lying.

“Yes, Councilman Flare. It was recovered today in an apartment building on the far west side of the city.” She brought out the red necklace and gave it to Flare, who opened the case and placed it gently inside.

“As you are aware, General, this is the most potent magic left in existence. This is an abomination to everything the Guard, and the world we have created stands for. However, without all the pieces, these artifacts are quite indestructible. I have long thought they had been scattered to the four corners of the Equestria and possibly the world. However, now that we have found one, we can assume the others are still out there and probably still with the ponies they are connected to. We need to put any and all available resources towards finding the other three Elements and the two bearers we don’t know the location of. I trust you understand what I am asking of you?”

“Sir, I understand and will make sure to put extra patrols out and double the patrols already looking for Rainbow Dash. Just keep in mind we have no leads on the location of the other two Elements or their bearers. Is that all you needed from me?” She turned to leave, hoping he wouldn’t bring up the fact that she had only mentioned finding two, not three other Elements.

“I believe you have lost track of one of the Elements. That of Honesty, which is odd, considering that you, my dear General used to be the bearer of that Element yourself. You are still positive you cannot remember its location?” She froze, her hoof outstretched to the door handle.

“uh, erm. Ah.. No Sir. Like ah have said before… I mean…” She turned and without looking at him said, “No Sir. Like I have stated before, to you and to the rest of the Council, I lost it during the first battle of the ‘Glorious Uprising’ when I realized that to protect my family and uphold earth pony honor, I would need to ally myself with the Guard. In fact I got rid of it for specifically that purpose.” She spat meanly and turned again towards the door so he wouldn’t see her face scrunch. It was a nervous twitch and happened whenever she told a lie. It was part of the reason she avoided lying as a rule these days.

“General! Did I give you permission to leave? I realize you are eager to get back to your duties, however I require your full attention.” She turned to face him and he came closer to her, his face filling her vision and his dark, almost black eyes looming over her. “Do I make my self clear?” He said, still deadly calm, even though his voice had assumed an even deeper and more sinister quality.

“Yes Sir.” She said her voice not as strong as it was before. He backed up and looked at the case again, almost angrily.

“Speaking of your family, they are doing alright aren’t they? You still have a brother and a grandmother at home don’t you?” He asked, making no attempt to sound conversational. She nodded. “It would be a shame if something happened to them simply because you couldn’t jog your memory, now wouldn’t it?” He faced her and arched an eyebrow.

Her heart stopped. She could not, under any circumstances allow that to happen. Yet… for some reason she still held back. “It would Sir. Trust me; you can be assured I am doing everything in my power to bring you the other three Elements and the bearers that are still at large.” She held her face as still as possible, but her nose still wrinkled at the lie.

“Thank you, General. That is all.” He said and motioned toward the door. She couldn’t get out fast enough. As soon as she was back in the hallway she breathed a sigh of relief to be away from Flare. She walked down the hall and back towards the main building of the Guard, conflicted. She had almost told him about her possession of her Element right then and there, but something had stopped her, she wasn’t quite sure what.

Obviously she would eventually have to hand it over, especially if her family was threatened, but she couldn’t help feeling like she had to protect it and make sure nothing happened to it. In her rational mind, she justified it by thinking that if there was ever a threat against Equestria; the Elements were good back-up if the situation was dire.

Under that there were other feelings, of remorse, sadness and though she would never admit it, even to herself, she might have even been a little sentimental about the old thing. Even those feelings were outweighed by her sole reason for keeping it; she almost had the feeling that she was meant to keep it, it was hers and she had to protect it at all costs.

The General shook her head, a small bit of her yellow mane falling into her eyes. She held her head up and straightened her shoulders. She needed to focus on her job and her responsibilities. She was not a scared mare, concerned with her feelings and emotions. She was a leader, she was strong and she needed to act like it. She wouldn’t let any pony, even the Council, or more accurately Iron Flare get the better of her. She walked back into her office and immediately got onto the intercom and ordered for extra patrols to be sent out and a team to begin looking for leads on the whereabouts of the other Elements.

Chapter Six

Starlight woke up to a warm, fluffy smell coming from the downstairs of the cottage. She sat up in the guest bedroom Fluttershy had given her and gave another sniff. Alongside the unidentifiable floury smell was a thicker, rich sweet one. Her mouth was watering as she slid out of bed and hit the ground running. She opened the door and was about to run down the stairs when she hit a blue feathery mass.

“Seriously, do you just run into every pony all the time? Or is it just me?” Rainbow said, a little irritable. She yawned. “It is just too darn early to be awake.”

Starlight tilted her head, thinking. “But it’s nine in the morning!”

“Like I said, too early.” Rainbow yawned again and began working her way downstairs. “The only reason I’m even up is Fluttershy happens to make fantastic breakfasts…and coffee. I need coffee.” Rainbow continued down the stairs and Starlight followed her, eager to discover the source of the delicious aroma.

They found Fluttershy in her kitchen, along with a host of animals who were clustered around her on the floor as she dealt out food to all of them. Rainbow sat down next to Angel, who was in a chair rather than the floor. Starlight pulled herself up on another seat and looked expectantly at Fluttershy who smiled.

“I thought I heard you two up. Good thing too, since I made breakfast! Who wants pancakes?” Starlight looked at the fluffy pads Fluttershy placed in front of her. They were the floury smell she had gotten out of bed for. She dug in eagerly.

“Wow! These are fantastic! I’ve never had pancakes before!” She smiled hugely at Fluttershy who was putting down pancakes for herself and Rainbow. Rainbow grumbled a thank you and immediately began eating. Starlight looked at her odd.

“Oh, don’t mind Rainbow. She is definitely not a morning pony.” Fluttershy said, seeing Starlight’s look, and then putting a mug of coffee down for Rainbow who eyed it happily.

“So, are we staying here long Rainbow? I like it here!” Starlight said, helping herself to a third and fourth pancake. Rainbow shrugged.

“Don’t know yet. If it’s fine with Fluttershy, I guess. Maybe another day or two to figure out where we are going.”

Starlight nodded and went back to her breakfast. She pulled her pancakes across the plate wishing she had just a little bit more syrup. There was a small thud next to her plate and she looked up to find the syrup sitting on the table, where before it had been on the counter. It had moved to the table by itself, Starlight knew neither Rainbow nor Fluttershy had gotten up. She realized with a start that she had moved the syrup. With her magic.

She looked up at Rainbow and Fluttershy; they hadn’t noticed the syrup bottle moving. On an impulse, Starlight bit her lip and focused on the bottle, trying to get it to pour syrup on her plate. It took a second, but then the syrup bottle levitated and poured just the right amount on to her plate. She was surprised, her magic continued to flow so much easier than it ever had before. She looked up triumphantly, to see both Fluttershy and Rainbow staring at her with wide eyes. She panicked and the dark purple glow around the bottle vanished, dropping the bottle onto her plate with a clang. She was covered in syrup.

Rainbow had watched in awe as Starlight had levitated the bottle. Even though she knew next to nothing about unicorn magic, she knew that was impressive for a filly Starlight’s age.

“I’m so sorry!” Starlight gasped and felt tears prick the sides of her eyes. She was so embarrassed and ashamed. She should have never used magic. Even if she knew that it was fine for her to do so, it still felt wrong.

Fluttershy leaned forward to help, but Rainbow was already there with a napkin.

“Hey Starlight, it’s okay, we’ll get you cleaned up and it will be fine. It’s just a spill and Fluttershy doesn’t care; trust me the animals make way bigger messes than you did.” Rainbow smiled, in what she hoped was a reassuring way. Starlight burst into full on tears.

“Woah, woah! Hold onto the waterworks! It’s fine!” Rainbow tried to wipe Starlight’s cheek with her napkin, but Starlight pushed her away.

“It’s not the mess!” Starlight said and raced from the kitchen. Rainbow heard her go into the bathroom and slam the door.

“What was that about?” She asked Fluttershy. She was out of her depth here. While Rainbow wasn’t too bad with kids, she just didn’t know what to do to make Starlight feel better.

“Give her a minute to wash up and then go talk to her.” Fluttershy responded helpfully. “I think this has less to do with making a mess than it has to do with her magic. Put yourself in her hooves for a second. Imagine growing up in a place where you and your talents are not only shunned, but openly forbidden. I think she may be conflicted about using magic.” Once again, Fluttershy proved herself to be the element of Kindness as she instantly understood the situation.

Rainbow sighed and looked up the stairs.

Starlight stared into the mirror. She put the washcloth she had found up to her face and wiped some more syrup off. She snuffled and sighed. She should have never gone with Rainbow that night. She should have stayed in her hideout and not bothered any pony. Because of her, both she and Rainbow were on the run, and had disturbed poor Fluttershy’s peaceful house. She just felt awful. She felt so guilty for spilling the syrup and making a mess of Fluttershy’s kitchen and her home. It was so nice of her to let them stay with her, even at risk to herself.

All of that wouldn’t have bothered Starlight so terribly if she hadn’t gone and used magic and mussed things up even further. She felt personally responsible for all the bad things that had happened, especially to Rainbow, ever since she had landed on her that day. Then, on top of it all, she had made things even worse by using magic. Don’t you know better than to use magic? A small voice in her head chided her.

It’s wrong and unnatural. You can’t change being a unicorn, but you can make darn sure to never use magic! It is one thing you can control! No pony is ever going to like you or accept you if you do things like that! The voice continued. She looked in the mirror, her light purple eyes focusing on the horn on her head. But…Rainbow didn’t mind my magic! She even told me she didn’t care and that my magic saved us yesterday! She fought back against the little voice of doubt.

Come on! Some pony who doesn’t hate magic? That can’t happen. Rainbow is lying. She hates your magic and so does Fluttershy! Did you see the way they looked at you at breakfast?! Like you were some kind of freak! Starlight burst into tears again. She just didn’t know what to do. Her thoughts continued to spiral out of control and she sat down on the bathroom floor, just crying.

“Starlight, its okay. Really. I know you aren’t just upset over the mess at breakfast. Can you come out here and just talk to me? I promise we can work it out.” Rainbow’s voice reached her from the other side of the door. She looked up and stared at the wood angrily.

“No! I’m not coming out! Not now, not ever!” She yelled and turned her back to the door.

“You have to come out sometime. Seriously, we can work out whatever has you so upset.” Rainbow said, trying to be understanding.

“I said no! I’m not ever coming out! I don’t want to come out and have my magic ruin anything else! Just leave me here.” Starlight flopped down on the bathmat.

Rainbow tried to combat her rising frustration. This was so hard. She wasn’t very good at being sympathetic. She believed that any problem could be solved by picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and moving on. This was no exception.“You’re overreacting, Starlight. Your magic hasn’t ruined anything! So you spilled some syrup? So what?”

“It’s not about the syrup!!” Starlight screamed in frustration. “It’s about the fact that I mess stuff up for every pony else because I’m a unicorn! I can’t control my magic very well; I put any pony I come close to in danger! You’re on the run because of me, and now we’ve involved poor Fluttershy! Just leave me here! I’m not coming out!”

“So you’re just going to stay in Fluttershy’s bathroom for the rest of your life?” Rainbow asked exasperatedly.

“Well…” Starlight hadn’t really thought of that. Rainbow continued with the logical approach and said,

“Besides, I would have been on the run anyway. Fluttershy doesn’t care. In fact I think she likes having other ponies around. She gets lonely out here, you know. Can you just come out so I can talk to you face to face? You can always go back into the bathroom if you decide to.”

Starlight sighed. She walked over to the door and opened it to fit Rainbow sitting right outside. She sniffed and looked and Rainbow hesitantly, then lowered her face to stare at the floor. Rainbow looked at her at first with reproach, but when she saw the utterly sad expression on Starlight’s face she sighed, scooted closer to her, and put a wing around her.

“It’s okay.” She said, her frustration melting away.

“I just feel bad. Like I mess everything up for every pony else. It’s hard to control my magic and lately it’s been harder and harder not to use it. Ever since I stopped our fall, its been right there below the surface. I’m sorry. I’ll try harder now…”

“You just don’t get it do you?" Rainbow said softly. "As much as you may not want to be, you are a unicorn. You’re magic is a part of you, a very important part. You can’t help wanting to use it, just like I can’t help wanting to fly. And you have a very potent magical talent. A unicorn your age shouldn’t be able to do the things you’ve done in the past few days, but you have. I have a feeling your magic is a big part of your destiny and that is something you shouldn’t ignore. No matter what every pony else says. It’s totally uncool to change because some pony else says you should. Just be who you are.”

“But I don’t know who I am! I’m not even supposed to exist! Unicorns were supposed to have disappeared completely a long time ago! I didn’t think it mattered that I was a unicorn, because, up until a few days ago, my magic wasn’t strong. It was very weak! I could barely light a candle before and now I can levitate objects. I always knew I was a unicorn, but it didn’t matter because I didn’t and couldn’t use magic; but now everything is different!”

“Huh. I didn’t know that you just discovered your magic that day…” Rainbow was about to go on, but she was interrupted by a voice from the stairway.

“Not that I am an expert on unicorn magic by any means, but magical talent can be triggered by a traumatic, or at least startling event.” Fluttershy came up the rest of the way. Rainbow looked at her for a second and then nodded.

“You’re right! That’s how both Rarity and Twilight got their cutie marks and discovered what their magic was good for! It was because of my Sonic Rainboom!” She exclaimed, more to herself than any pony else.

“Wait, wait, wait. I didn’t ‘discover’ my magic! It just got stronger... Is that the same thing? And who are these ponies you’re talking about? Whose Rarity and Twilight? Are they unicorns too?” Starlight asked, confused. She felt very out of the loop of conversation. Rainbow stiffened at her questions and shook her head. Fluttershy stepped up and sat down next to Starlight.

“I think its can just be the start of a magical talent. Again, I don’t know much about this, I am a pegasus after all…”

“Oh, okay. I understand. I guess that kinda makes sense.” Starlight saw her point, but there was still one thing that was bothering her.

“So who are Twilight and Rarity?”

Rainbow huffed angrily and then exhaled slowly. “They were two of our best friends; and yes, they were unicorns.”

“Were? What happened to them?” Starlight asked, not even thinking. Then she realized. “Oh.” She said softly.

“Yeah. That’s why we don’t care that you’re a unicorn or that you use magic. You know, Starlight, I fought for the unicorn side in the Uprising. I would never abandon my friends when they needed me,” Rainbow paused and looked down at her, “and now, you are one of my friends. No matter what, I will side with you I will protect you and I think every part of you, from your purple coat, to your horn, and your magic is just about as cool as any pony I have ever met. So as long as I’m around you don’t need to worry, about any of this…stuff…that has made you upset this morning.”

Starlight had never had a friend. Ever. She looked up at Rainbow and couldn’t even believe what she was hearing. Rainbow’s loyalty was amazing and she found it hard to comprehend that she had been deemed worthy of that loyalty. Rainbow smiled a small half smile and stood up.

“Now, I never got any pancakes, can we get some pancakes?”

“I’ll just go heat them back up!” Fluttershy said and went down to the kitchen. As Rainbow was about to follow her, Starlight stopped her.

“Thanks.” She said, hugging Rainbow, “for everything.” Rainbow smiled and hugged her back.

“Are you two coming? I have the pancakes ready! You know, if you don’t mind…” Fluttershy called from downstairs. Rainbow laughed and they came into the kitchen.

Starlight pulled herself back up into her seat, which thankfully had been cleaned off while she was in the bathroom. She dug eagerly into her fifth pancake. As she chewed, something occurred to her, something she was rather curious about.

“So you really had unicorn friends?” She asked to both of the ponies sitting at the table. Fluttershy looked at her, a little bit of sadness in her eyes; Rainbow stared down her plate like she was going to attack it. “Never mind, its okay if you don’t want to talk about it…” Starlight backtracked and went back to eating.

“No, its okay. Well, yes we did.” Fluttershy said softly. She looked at Starlight for a moment and then continued. “Back in the day there were six of us. Two earth ponies, two pegasi,” She gestured to herself and Rainbow, “And two unicorns.”

“What were they like? What were their talents? What were their magics like?” Starlight couldn’t help herself, she was just so curious. She had never heard about other unicorns. She really had no idea what they would have been like. Fluttershy thought for a moment.

“Well, there was Rarity. She was, well, she was… the best word I can think of is fabulous. She was a fashion diva; she actually owned her own boutique and was on the road to the elite of Canterlot. Her magic dealt with that, her special talent was finding the beauty in things. She was a very generous friend too, Dash do you remember when she made all six of us gala gowns? Twice?”

Rainbow looked up and a small smile came across her face. “Yeah. We should have just listened to her. Do you remember how bad our fashion sense was? That fashion show was so embarrassing and we thought we were just awesome!” Rainbow laughed.

“Of course!” Fluttershy was laughing now too.

“And Twilight? What was she like?” Starlight asked.

“Twilight…” Fluttershy began, but Rainbow cut her off.

“Twilight Sparkle." She said a little thoughtfully, "She was actually a lot like you, Starlight. She loved books and knowledge. Her magic was really unique and powerful because her special talent was magic. She also was a bit of a control freak, which I am glad you aren’t.”

“Well that all worked out eventually.” Fluttershy added. They both fell silent suddenly.

“You miss them, don’t you?” Starlight asked, looking at the two ponies that sat in front of her.

“Every day.” Rainbow said. “I would do anything to have them back. All of us, back together. If I could have one thing in the whole world it would be that” Fluttershy nodded in agreement.

"But its no use dwelling over the past because its over and nothing can be done to bring them back. We have to look to the future and focus on the present."

Chapter Seven

Silver Rain was a weather pegasus. She loved her job and her favorite time was when it rained, which it was doing now. Unfortunately, she knew it was just a quick shower and would have to go clean it up in an hour or two. She sighed and then brightened. No use feeling sad when it was raining. She smiled and leaped out of the tree she had been perching in and soared into the sky above the gray buildings and streets of the City.

She was really cruising high today, far into the clouds. From this high up, she could almost pretend that it was just clouds and fog that made the City look so gray and depressing, even though she knew full well it looked like that all the time. She swooped lower and brushed the top of a lightning rod that stuck out off one of the higher buildings. As she flew she watched the streets. Most every pony had gone inside, as if the rain and washed the streets clean and empty.

Silver sighed happily as the rain pelted her steel-blue feathers and slicked back her silvery mane and tail. A soft rumble from her mid region reminded her that she hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning and needed to eat before she had to help clear the sky. She dived for the street and came to a soft and easy landing. She looked around and began walking back towards her home, which was a few streets over.

It wasn’t long before she was walking up to her small building. It was just another of hundreds of apartment buildings, but she liked it and didn’t need much space. She could have had any home in the city she wanted, heck; she could have the whole apartment complex if the impulse struck her. However, she was a pony of simple wants and needs and liked just living on her own with just her basic necessities. She just wasn’t happy any other way.

With a few powerful flaps of her wings she hovered up to her balcony and let herself in through the glass door that overlooked the street. She pulled herself into her home and shook the water out of her coat and mane, splattering it everywhere. She smiled and walked towards the kitchen, about to make a honeydew sandwich when a sharp voice from behind assaulted her ears.

She spun around to find herself face to face with a flint-gray pegasus mare with pure white hair and ice blue eyes that seemed to cut right through Silver Rain.

“What are you doing here? I thought we agreed that after my last mission you would leave me alone for a while.” Silver narrowed her eyes at the other mare.

“Ah, yes, I had thought that too. However, as they so often do, complications have arisen and I need your services.”

Sliver scowled at the flint pegasus. She tried to control her rising frustration at the situation. She hated when Silver Shard, who happened to be the mare who had once again invaded her home, came to her for dirty work. Silver Rain wasn’t just a simple rain and clouds pegasus, as much as she wanted to be. She also possessed a remarkable talent for stealth… and the ability to deal with the ponies the Guard and more importantly the Council wanted dealt with; mainly by making them disappear.

“So, come by my office later and I will give you the details.” Shard said and went for the door.

“I don’t think I said yes. I told you before, I want a break from all this! I have a job to do and I’m not leaving right now to go off on one of your nasty missions!” Silver stood her ground and looked the Shard in the eye, as hard as it was to do so.

“If I recall correctly, you don’t have that choice. Besides, why waste your natural talents, Silver? You are by far the best assassin the Council has and you shouldn’t be wasting your effort clearing clouds; any pegasus can do that.” Shard said dismissively.

Silver turned her head down, glancing for a moment at her cutie mark. It wasn’t the nice rain related mark one would expect from a pony like her. It was a knife, with a single rain drop, or tear drop as she had also thought it might be, falling off the very tip. She sighed.

“So it’s a direct order, really? You couldn’t give me a few more days of peace?” She asked, relenting.

“Sadly, no. It is a matter of the utmost importance, quite easily the most important mission of your career.” Shard looked at her and she nodded. It didn’t really matter what she thought. Shard had all the power here and Silver had none. After all, Silver Shard was the female pegasus member of the Council, one of the four most powerful ponies in all of Equestria. A direct order from her meant business.

“Well, I will be coming by your office later this afternoon then.”

“I am so glad you decided to see reason. Of course, I would expect nothing less from my favorite daughter.” Shard smiled, one eyebrow arched.

“I’m your only daughter.” Silver said turning back towards the kitchen. Silver Shard may have been one of the Council members, but that wasn’t why Silver Rain listened to her. It was because Shard was also her mother.

Starlight was out in the small clearing behind Fluttershy’s cottage. The area was fenced; less to keep the animals that lived there in, than to keep the animals of the Everfree out. She was happily sitting under one of the neighboring trees and reading one of the few books she had managed to fit into her saddle bags when she left her hideaway with Rainbow. Already that felt like a whole lifetime ago. She turned back to the page happily, engrossed in the reading.

Rainbow Dash glanced out the window in Fluttershy’s living room, watching Starlight. Having her out there made Dash just the tiniest bit nervous. The monsters of the Everfree attacked with little to no warning, even in daylight. However, she was reassured that the clearing was safe. Fluttershy wouldn’t let her chickens and other animals be back there otherwise. Dash shook herself and turned away from the window. All this running and their near capture, and then close experience with being eaten the day before had made her jumpy.

Fluttershy came into the room and sat down on the couch opposite the window.

“How long do you really intend to stay? Not that I mind, but you seem to think you need to be somewhere. You’ve been antsy to leave since you got here.” Fluttershy asked.

Dash sighed and looked at the floor. “As soon as I can decide where we need to go. After this morning’s incident, it’s pretty obvious that we need to find a way for Starlight to sharpen her magic skills. She just isn’t safe otherwise. She needs to be able to use her magic, at least to defend herself. Equestria has become a very dangerous place; even more so for a unicorn filly.” Dash paced around the room with a frown on her face.

“I just don’t know where to find that knowledge though! No pony would know how to help her, and any magic books the Guard could find were burned. I mean, its not like flying. That’s instinct. Unicorn magic has to be learned, doesn’t it? Even Twilight had to spend most of her time studying to be able to use the magic she did!” Dash turned back to Fluttershy, who had a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Do you remember the second time Trixie came to Ponyville?” She asked, seemingly out of the blue. “And Twilight couldn’t beat her when she had the Alicorn Amulet on?” She continued.

“Well, yeah! Of course I do!” Dash interrupted Fluttershy’s next thought. “‘Cause we all helped take her down by fooling her! You really should dress up like me more often. I looked good on you! Of course, I’m pretty sure this level of awesome would look good on anybody. Too bad I’m the only one who can really pull it off… It has something to do with the personality I--”

“Rainbow, focus.” Fluttershy cut her off sharply. “I mean, if you don’t mind.” Dash arched an eyebrow and then smiled. Fluttershy continued.

“Not that part. Do you remember when Trixie ran Twilight out of town? And Twilight went looking for magic advice?” Dash nodded, still not quite seeing the connection to their conversation about Starlight.

“Yeah. She went to see Zecora who told her that sometimes magic isn’t the best answer to the problem. We solved it with teamwork instead. What does that have to do with Starlight’s magic?” Dash was even more confused.

“I went to get Twilight when we found out about the Amulet remember? When I found them at Zecora’s home, they really were training in magic. Zecora may have taught Twi when not to use magic, but she also taught her lots of other things. I’m not sure she’ll be able to help in Starlight’s case, but it is worth a try, don’t you think? Even if she can’t help at all, she may know where you can look next.”

Dash looked out the window at Starlight peacefully reading in the yard. She sighed. It seemed as good a plan as any. Also, Zecora didn’t live very far from here. About a day’s worth of flying would get them there safely. Dash didn’t want to leave the relative safety of Fluttershy’s, but they would have to sooner rather than later.

“Alright. It’s settled then. Starlight and I will leave first thing in the morning to see if Zecora could help with her magic control.” Dash said, turning around decisively. Fluttershy smiled.

“You’ll at least stay for breakfast though right?” She asked. Dash amended her earlier statement.

“Starlight and I will leave first thing in the morning—after pancakes.”

Silver Rain flew unhappily towards the center of the City. Her face was scrunched into an unhappy frown and her thoughts twirled angrily. She absolutely hated the way the Council used her, but she could think of no way out of it. There were reasons why the Council had taken power, and she did not want to be on the receiving end of their wrath. Lost in her thoughts, Silver plowed headfirst into a small gray cloud. She kicked it angrily out of existence and flew on, more focused on where she was going.

Not to far off she could see her destination. A tall, grey rectangle of a building stretched towards the sky in the center of the City. She had a vague memory of something else being there before the Uprising, but she had been too young then to properly remember it. Now, it was at the very heart of the grey city she called home. It was the headquarters of the Guard and the heart of the Council’s rule.

She shuddered inwardly. She really hoped that the rest of the Council was not attending her mission assignment. She had met them all before, and had received missions from all of them, though her orders usually came through Shard regardless of who was giving them. However, Shard’s earlier comment about this being one of the most important missions of her career weighed heavily on her mind.

She was used to Silver Shard. She might be mildly scared of her on occasion, but at least Silver Rain could usually tell what Shard was up to. The other three Council members however, were an entirely different story. Iron Flare, the pegasus stallion who effectively ran the council was the worst. Not only was he cold and calculating, he was a dangerous fighter and his rages the stuff of nightmares.

The two earth pony members were just as bad. She was sure that Copper Wire, the mare, was certifiably insane and would be just as likely to give you a cookie as she was to mercilessly kill you. The earth pony stallion was a bit of a mystery to Silver, since she had only met him a few times. He went simply by the name of Steel and was a large pony who spoke very little, preferring to let his sword and hooves do his communicating for him.

Silver Rain hoped for the best, that only Shard would be there to receive her. She focused again on the tall building in front of her as she swooped down to the front gate. She frowned. All that hoping would do her no good. What awaited her inside would be the same, no matter her thoughts. She knew her hopes had no effect. They never had in the past.

Scowling at those grim thoughts, Silver pushed a button on the side of the gate and said, “Silver Rain requesting access to headquarters.” The automated system responded by blinking green at her voice and opening the gate. She walked inside and the gate shut loudly behind her.

Starlight looked up at the sky angrily as it clouded over. If it began to rain, she would have to go inside to finish her reading. Starlight was very particular about where she liked to be. She loved being outside and was not happy with the sky for possibly forcing her inside. A small raindrop fell and hit her square on the nose. She scrunched her face and sighed, picking up the books scattered around her.

She would under no circumstances risk damaging her books. She packed them up quickly and went in to the cottage through Fluttershy’s back door. It led directly to the kitchen and she began depositing her stuff on the floor. Starlight looked around the kitchen and upon seeing no pony; she made her way into the living room.

She found Rainbow sitting on the couch, just looking out the window. Starlight made her way over and pulled herself up next to Rainbow, who seemed to be lost in thought. Starlight poked her in the back and Rainbow turned to look at her.

“Finish your book or something?” Rainbow asked.

“No, but it’s going to rain.” Starlight replied. Rainbow nodded and looked back at the window. Starlight looked around the room.

“Where’s Fluttershy?” She asked.

“Upstairs. One of her animals is sick.”

Starlight flopped onto her back, letting her head hang off the front of the couch. She sighed heavily and loudly, all the while looking at Rainbow Dash, who didn’t seem to notice. She rolled her eyes and sighed again, even louder this time. Once again, her efforts proved in vain as Rainbow continued to stare out the window.

“I’m booooooorrrrrreeeedd.” She groaned, looking at Rainbow expectantly. This time she was rewarded in her efforts with a glance.

“Why don’t you finish your book?” Rainbow asked.

“I don’t know. I’m bored with reading right now.” Starlight sighed dramatically again and then perked up.

“Whatcha thinkin’ ‘bout?” She asked Rainbow who finally looked down at her with a bemused expression. Starlight flipped back over and looked up at Rainbow with wide eyes.

“Nothing.” Rainbow said and turned back towards the window.

“I’m Boooooooooooorrrreeedd!” Starlight repeated, louder this time.

“Go outside and play or something. It isn’t raining yet.”

The sky responded to Rainbow’s suggestion with a loud crack of thunder and a downpour of rain.

“I’m really, really, really booooorrrreeed!” Starlight whined and crawled her way up to the back of the couch, right next to Rainbow’s head. Rainbow turned around to look at her and rolled her eyes, but then sighed in defeat.

“Ugh! Fine! What do you want to do?”

“Yippy!” Starlight yelled and bounced off the couch, down onto the floor; then abruptly she stopped, and looked at Rainbow Dash. “Do you know any good stories?” She asked very seriously.

“Like scary stories? I know lots of them, but they probably too scary for a kid like you. You aren’t chicken are you?” Rainbow challenged, leaning forward ominously. Starlight paused, looked out the window and then nodded.

“Yep. I’m a total chicken. I don’t like scary stories. Do you know any good stories? With adventure? And action? Oh! and a happy ending?” Starlight wiggled her way back onto the couch until she was looking right up at Rainbow.

“Well, I know a few.” Rainbow responded and then looked thoughtfully down at the young filly. Then as if a light bulb had appeared above her head, she smiled and looked at Starlight.

“How about the awesome adventures of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony against all of Equestria’s evils?”

“Elements of Harmony? What’s that?” Starlight asked.

“They are the traits of Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter and Magic. When wielded by six ponies who exhibit those traits of Friendship, they are the most powerful magical force in all of Equestria.”

“Woah.” Starlight said, her eyes growing wide.

“Yeah.” Rainbow nodded. “But if you don’t want to hear about them, I can come up with another story…”

“Tell me! Tell me!” Starlight was practically bouncing off her seat. She blushed, “Please?”

Rainbow Dash smiled and launched into the story. “We’ll start at the beginning, when the Elements first came together to defeat the evil of Nightmare Moon. Of course, I should begin by telling you that your favorite character is going to be Loyalty. She’s way awesome. Like twenty percent cooler than any pony else. Anyway, it all started with Magic, when she discovered the reality of Nightmare Moon’s return to Equestria…”

Silver Rain looked at the door to Silver Shard’s office. She frowned angrily and then knocked.

“Excellent! Right on schedule! Come in Silver!” Shard barked from inside the office. Silver opened the door and went in. She was greeted by Shard sitting at her desk. Silver breathed a sigh of relief. They were alone. None of the other Council members had decided to come. Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind her all by itself. Silver whirled around to see who was behind her, but found that the room was still empty.

She turned back to face Shard and found herself nose-to-nose with a dark brown pony with wild amber eyes.

“Heee Heee.” The other mare laughed slowly. “Gotcha!” The pony screeched, shoving her face even closer to Silver’s. Silver accidentally let out a small squeal of fear and jumped backwards towards the door, her heart hammering in her chest.

The mare turned towards Shard. Silver was glad to have the other mare’s eyes taken off of her. They were wild, crazy and never quite seemed to focus. Despite this, Silver felt like those eyes were cutting her apart whenever the mare looked at her. She shuddered inwardly. The mare wore rusty goggles on her eyes, which made them even larger and creepier.

“Shard, you need to work on your daughter’s nerves. A jumpy killer is dead rather than killing.” The mare said in a high squeaky voice, one that sounded like a hinge that needed oil. She whipped her head back towards Silver, her wild copper mane following just a bit behind her. That wild tangle of hair was how she got her name. Copper Wire backed towards the desk, her eyes never leaving Silver.

“You hear that girly? You better kill before you are killed.” She said with a deadly look. She pushed the rusty metal goggles from her eyes and up onto her forehead, focusing on Silver. Then as if a switch was flipped she focused on the door instead and simply walked out. As she slammed the door shut behind her she screamed, “Where is the corn!? Where is it???!!! It’s MINE!!!” She continued to scream as she went down the hallway and it was long minutes before Silver couldn’t hear her metallic voice ringing in her ears.

Shard rolled her eyes and picked up a packet from her desk, acting as if the entire episode with Copper Wire hadn’t even happened.

“You are going after two ponies this time. One is a fugitive from the Guard for possession of magical artifacts… among other things. The name is Rainbow Dash and she is a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane. She and the other one were last seen at the edge of the forest at the base of the City’s mountain.” Shard pulled out a picture from the file and slid it to Silver who looked at it with little interest.

“Her you can kill. However, I want the second one brought back alive. It shouldn’t be too hard. She’s only a filly after all.”

“You have me hunting a filly?” Silver frowned.

“She has a dark purple coat and yellow, almost white mane. She will be with Rainbow Dash.” Shard looked at the file.

“Earth pony or pegasus?” Silver asked, because there was no picture.

“Unicorn.”

Chapter Eight

The General paced back and forth in her office, absolutely furious. The Rainbow Dash case had been hers! How dare Silver Shard call in an order like that! She had completely gone behind the General’s back and sent out a kill order. She hadn’t thought even the Council would go that far. What was so wrong with just capturing Rainbow? Though, the General had a bad feeling that even if one of her patrols had captured her first there would still be dire consequences for the blue pegasus.

There was the problem of the unicorn filly to think about too. What the Council had planned for her, the General shuddered to think about. Clearly she couldn’t be dealt with in the same manner most of the other unicorns had. The General frowned and resisted the urge to kick something. She turned back to her desk to call in for a report from the squad that had been doing fly-overs and searches of the forest, though she knew for a fact that Rainbow Dash wouldn’t have stayed there long. She and the unicorn were probably long gone, vanished into the dense vegetation of the deep Everfree.

Just as she turned around there was a frantic banging at her office door. She flipped around. “Just come in already! What’s so darn important that you can’t knock like a normal pony?!” She hollered at the door. It swung open with a crash against her wall. A very panicked looking young stallion, dressed in Guard uniform stood in the doorway.

“General! Sir! We have a very serious problem!” He shouted and turned to go, expecting her to follow.

“Woah! Hold it! What exactly is this ‘serious problem’ before we go galloping through the halls?!” She shouted at him. His response was to stand completely still in fear at her outburst.

“Answer me, Private!”

“Um, I’m not entirely sure, uh, Sir!” He squeaked out. “I was down in the research section of headquarters, just going through my patrols when one of the head scientists burst out of the lab and told me to get you straightaway! There was other stuff… like a problem with the sun or something but I was already on my way to get you…” He blubbered, his words getting muddled in his attempt to say it quickly.

The General understood about half of what he was trying to say. Either way the only solution was to go down there herself. She pushed past the private and walked down the hall at a brisk pace. It would do no good for half the Guard to see her running in a panic. She would get there and any dire problems could be solved when she did.

As she walked, she wondered what exactly the problem was. She must have heard the young Guard pony wrong. A problem with the sun? Certainly not. It wasn’t possible. He must have misheard the scientist or something. She would sort out this mess and get on to the rest of her day. She took a staircase down to the lower levels of headquarters. Ever since the removal of unicorn magic the Guard has run a very good research and development team of scientists to create ways to bypass the process that had before taken magic to execute.

They did a pretty good job too. Most of their technology was doing for earth ponies and pegasi what the unicorns had done for millennia. The only thing they couldn’t develop a solution for was the moving of the sun and moon. Not that it mattered. Equestria had been fine during its last ten years of permanent twilight and there was no reason to think it wouldn’t continue that way.

The General came to a locked doorway. Not even slowing, she turned and punched a code into the panel on the wall nearby. The door slid open and she walked briskly into the R&D sector. It didn’t take her long to find the pony she was looking for.

A green stallion in a starched white lab coat and safety glasses rushed out to greet her, a panicked look on his face.

“Sir! I’m so glad you’re here! We have a very serious problem!”

The General resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the blatant vagueness of the scientist's statement and tried unsuccessfully to curb her rising frustration.

“I just came all the way down here, and I don’t even know what the problem is! Would somepony spit it out!!” She yelled at the green stallion who seemed to be the head scientist currently on duty. He paled at her but managed to keep his voice strong and lead the General into a room filled with measuring instruments, test equipment and other scientific stuff and the General didn't have a clue what it all was for.

“Have you seen the sun today, Sir?” He went up to a screen that showed a view of the land and sky surrounding Guard headquarters and the City itself.

“Yes, I have, but could you get to the point…uh…” The General said, looking at the stallion.

“Professor Nebula. And did you notice anything out of the ordinary? It’s size perhaps?” He continued on and moved a joystick below the screen, zooming in on the celestial orb in question.

“I don’t know! Will you just tell me what the hay you think is wrong with it!” The General was fast loosing any patience she had. Nebula seemed to finally pick up on the General’s deteriorating mood and decided to hurry his explanation.

“It’s too big. Bigger than it should be.” The General once again resisted the urge to violently kick something. She made do by angrily putting her hoof to her forehead in frustration.

“Could you elaborate WHY this is a problem?!” She asked tersely.

“Well, that would require some back knowledge. If you don’t mind a bit of an explanation, I would be happy to fill you in, Sir.”

“By all means, Professor take your time!” She said sarcastically.

The professor did not pick up on this very obvious sarcasm and nodded.

“Our sun is a very old sun. When a sun gets too old it can…well…explode basically. It’s called going ‘super-nova’.”

“You think the sun is going to explode?” The General said flatly. That was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. Nebula pushed his glasses up and nodded.

“You see, our sun is expanding. That is the first sign that it may go super-nova. However, we would not be in danger of the explosion part. If the sun continues to swell, it will engulf the planet long before it finally dies in a fiery explosion.”

The General looked at the scientist pony before her. Suddenly his explanations were starting to make a little bit of sense. Even if she didn't quite believe that could happen to the sun, she needed to address the situation at face value and take consideration of what the professor was saying.

“How soon?” She needed to know the level of crisis they were dealing with here.

“At the rate it’s expanding, you see we’ve been seeing slight expansion every day for over a week now, but we just figured out today what it all could mean, we think that it will engulf the entire planet in about two weeks.”

“TWO WEEKS?!”

“As far as we can predict.”

“How is that even possible? Shouldn’t it take longer than that for the sun to basically die?!” The General was having a hard time wrapping her head around this.

“That is the same thing we all thought too!” The professor nodded. “However, there were other factors to consider. We thought our sun was a lot younger than it actually is. By the actual age of the sun, this should have happened a long time ago. In fact, our sun is about 2 to 3 thousand years overdue for this event.” The General frowned.

“So why didn’t it go super-whatever back then?”

“Magic.” Professor Nebula said, turning to an astral chart on the wall.

“What?!” The General was getting even more confused.

“Do you know that the sun and moon used to move by themselves?” Nebula asked, not looking at her.
“No, I didn’t.”

“Before the rise of the Royal Pony Sisters, they did.”

“So the reason this is happening is because of magic meddling in natural places where it shouldn’t!” The General exclaimed, everything becoming clear.

“No. The reason that Celestia and Luna took power was not because they decided to move the sun and moon. It was because they saved the sun. It was going super-nova way back then and they used their combined powers to put a Stasis Spell on it, so it would no longer age, or explode. However, this caused both the sun and move to stop their orbits around the planet. The spell had worked a little too well. So from then on, the sisters moved them by magic so the planet would go on the way it had for the thousands of years before that event.” Professor Nebula turned back to face the General.

“And now,” He continued, “that spell has worn off. With no magic in existence to restore the stasis on the sun, it is now resuming the process of going super-nova. Thanks to the effects of the Uprising, we now have no way to save ourselves. To re-cast that spell we would need either the power of at least two Alicorns or many, many unicorns.”

The General couldn’t believe what she was hearing. An awful feeling of dread had settled deep in the pit of her stomach. She knew from long experience to trust that feeling. It had always been right in the past.

“Are you absolutely sure of this, Professor Nebula?” She said quietly.

“As sure as I can be of anything, Sir. Our teams are working around the clock to come up with a solution, but I predict that it will not be found. I would take this matter to the Council and have them do whatever they feel is necessary. I would like to say that we can solve this problem, but I just don’t see it happening. I am sorry that we could not have come to our awareness of the crisis sooner, but the research we had to do to piece this all together took precious time.” Nebula frowned and stopped.

“I understand.” She said and turned to leave, not looking back. She had to come up with a solution, but she had no idea what she was going to do.

Starlight was sleeping peacefully when she heard a noise outside her window. She was instantly awake. Years of living by herself and staying hidden had taught her well. She was a very light sleeper. She scooted off her bed and crawled along the floor to the window. Rain and thunder still raged outside as the storm that had blown in that afternoon had refused to leave.

She pushed her back to the wall beneath the window, careful to stay hidden. She thought back on the noise; it had been a snap or a crack, like a tree branch that had snapped. That wasn’t too hard to believe, there was a storm outside and surely there were twigs snapping all over the forest. This one had been right next to her window though. Starlight wasn’t too worried, but past experience had taught her to always err on the side of caution.

She had to be sure that nothing was out there, even if she was almost positive the storm had done the damage to the branch or whatever had broke. She slowly inched her head upwards too peer over the window ledge. Her heart was thudding loud in her chest as she dreaded the worst. Her rational mind might have been able to pass it off as nothing, but her nervous imagination could think of all sorts of monsters and villains that could be outside.

However, what she really saw was not a possibility that even occurred to her. As she could finally see out, she was met face to face with a pair of dark, menacing grey eyes, silhouetted by darkness. A blinding flash of lightning lit up the stormy sky and Starlight saw the outline of some pony outside the window.

She didn’t even stop to think, instead she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her out of the room and into the hall. She didn’t scream, she didn’t cry, she just ran like hell was at her heels.

She reached the top of the stairs and was about to go down, the only thought in her head was that of needing to run and hide. Suddenly, she stopped and reversed direction, remembering that, for the first time in her life, there was some pony who could protect her, some pony she needed to warn.

She rushed into Rainbow Dash’s room at full speed and leaped onto the bed, shaking it.

“Iheardabranchbreackandthenisawsomeponyseyesandtherewassomponylookingatmeandtheyareoutsidethehouse!!!! RAINBOW!!! Wake UP!!!” She cried. In seconds Rainbow had rolled over and was standing next to the bed, her wings extended and her body tense.

“What? There’s somepony outside? We’re way too deep in the Everfree to have ponies looking in windows in the middle of the night. Are you sure?” Rainbow turned to her, ready for anything. Starlight nodded.

“Alright. You stay here, if you hear anything, hide in the closet. Not under the bed. I’m going to make sure everything is safe.” Rainbow said, turning towards the door. Just as she was about to go into the hall, the entire cottage rang with a blood-curdling scream.

Chapter Nine

Silver Rain cruised high above the treetops of the forest that ran next to the city, hoping to find a trail. She had started in the last place her quarry had been seen and moved from there, finding first the bush where their hoof prints had stopped and then reappeared on the other side. She had followed those prints for about an hour before they stopped. It was clear that they had flew from that point on, a fact Silver was not happy about.

There were ways to track pegasi when flying, but following on the ground tracks was much easier. The only advantage was that, while most fugitives covered their land tracks, they never thought to conceal their passage through the sky. Most pegasi didn’t even know it was possible to track a contrail; it was a technique that Silver herself had discovered.

Each and every pegasus left behind a trail in the sky when they flew. When they were going fast, or deliberately trailing it, it was actually visible to the naked eye. Silver Rain’s personal trail looked like big blue rain clouds. However, even those visible trails faded in time, and the non-visible ones faded even faster. Silver pulled a pair of goggles out of her saddle pouch and slipped them on. They were light-refraction goggles and allowed her to see more of the visible light spectrum.

With them on, she usually could pick up trails in the sky, even hours after the pegasus who made them had moved on. She looked down at the picture she had been given. Rainbow Dash… if she had to make one guess on what that pegasus’s trail looked like, she would bet it was a rainbow. She looked up and sure enough, spread out in multicolor, was a trail of rainbow, stretching out far over the Everfree forest.

With a small smile, Silver followed the trail.

It only took Silver an hour or so to reach the spot where Rainbow Dash and the unicorn had come down. Their hoof prints were easy to find in the clearing where they had landed. Silver followed them around the clearing a few times. They must have gotten lost. Then the little set, the one she had been looking at, disappeared and then Rainbow Dash’s prints had gotten very far apart, meaning she had been going faster.

Silver followed these frantic hoof prints to a spot where a tattered and torn giant spider web stretched between two trees. The tracks indicated there was a struggle, Silver hoped that her fugitives hadn’t been eaten, but sure enough, the tracks left the clearing.

Then Silver noticed something; instead of one set of adult sized hoof prints, there were two. She looked at these new prints for a few seconds, another female pegasus, she decided. She could tell it was female because the prints were small and pegasus since their weren’t indented very far. Earth ponies were heavier and their prints always hit the ground on all four hooves. Pegasi tended to float a little.

Silver couldn’t be entirely sure which set were Rainbow’s, but it didn’t matter since they continued together. Another ten minutes of tracking lead her to another clearing. Sitting in the very center was a small cottage that the hoof prints lead right up to. Jackpot. It was early afternoon right now, and Silver wanted to wait until they went to bed to strike. She knew that the only way she was going to sneak up on Rainbow Dash was if the other pegasus was unaware and Silver had the element of surprise. She found a particularly good branch to perch on and settled in to wait. She smiled. This was going to be good. And if she wasn’t mistaken, she could smell the start of a storm on the horizon. Perfect.

Dash whipped her head around at the scream, her eyes narrowing.

“Stay here! If they come up here, hide!” She said, turning to Starlight, who nodded fearfully.

Rainbow Dash turned and ran to the stairs and leaped over the railing down to the main floor. She did not have time to waste on stairs if Fluttershy was truly in the danger Dash was sure she was in. Dash skidded around the corner and was met face to face with a dark blue pegasus who held a knife in her hoof.

Fluttershy was lying on the floor on the other side of the room, not moving. Dash could see a puddle of something formed around her, but in the darkness of the storm she couldn’t tell what; though she had a guess.

The intruder wasted no time and charged towards Dash, her knife going straight for Dash’s neck. Rainbow Dash turned at the last second and the attacker went past her, but only for a fraction of a second. With startling speed, the attacker whipped around and turned her over shot into another stab, this time, she nicked Dash’s shoulder.

Dash pulled back and with a powerful flap of her wings jumped and came down hard on the back of the intruder. She was sure she had the attacker pinned, but in another burst of abnormally fast speed and flexibility, the other pegasus flipped around and with a little bit of boost from her wings, pulled both of them up and then slammed Dash down to the floor.

Dash’s head cracked against the hardwood floor and stars danced in her vision. She tried to push up or pull out, but the attacker’s hold had no weaknesses. She struggled, but it was in vain and the dark blue pegasus had her knife out and was swiftly going for Dash’s throat.

Silver had waited for the storm to roll in and every light in the house to go off. Even then, she gave it another hour before she even thought about making her move. As the rain slicked down her back she smiled grimly. She may have hated these missions when they started, but in the thrill of the hunt, she had no regrets and she never held back.

She flew to one of the upstairs windows and let herself perch on a branch. She peered in, hoping to see who was inside. The small form of a filly lay in the bed. This is the room she would go to last. She pushed off the branch and heard it snap beneath her. She hovered for a few seconds, hoping that the filly inside hadn’t heard it.

She couldn’t get a clear view of the bed anymore, but it still looked like the small form was in it. She sighed and went to move onto the next upstairs bedroom, when a small pair of eyes peeked over the window.

Silver’s eyes connected with the small purple ones for only a second before Silver dropped down to the lower level of the house, but she knew it had been enough. Silver need to work quickly if she wanted to keep the upper hand. She looked into the window before her.

It seemed to be a living room. On the couch, the sleeping form of a pegasus breathed softly. It had to be Rainbow Dash, Silver was sure. This wasn’t her house, so it would only make sense that she was the one on the couch. Silver put her hoof against the window and was surprised to find it unlocked. She crept into the house and pulled her knife out of her pouch.

She slowly inched her way over to the sleeping form. A quick cut to the main vein in the neck would do the trick, quiet and efficient. She pulled her knife back and thrust it down.

At the last possible second, the pegasus turned, her eyes flew open and she screamed.

Silver’s knife connected, but not where she had wanted it to. The spot she had cut was a killing blow, but it would be from loss of blood, not quick, not quiet. A burst of lightning lit up the entire room. Silver could see the pony she had attacked and her heart stopped when she realized its coat was yellow, not blue.

She swore. If this wasn’t Rainbow Dash, where was she? A thump as something landed behind her caused Silver to turn around. Rainbow Dash came around the corner, ready to attack. Her magenta eyes were narrowed menacingly in intense anger. Silver Rain smiled. This was just about to get interesting.

Starlight heard crashing and banging downstairs. She went to hide in the closet, but an even larger crash than before made her turn around and race down the stairs. She couldn’t just leave Rainbow alone to face the intruder.

She came around the corner into the living room at top speed. She saw the attacker, who had Rainbow pinned to the floor and a knife darting for Rainbow’s neck. Starlight didn’t even think.

“RAINBOW!!!” She screamed and her horn flared with a huge outburst of dark purple magical energy that flew at the attacker and literally picked her up and threw her against the wall with a crash. Rainbow was up in an instant.

“Stay back, Starlight!” She yelled and went towards the attacker who was already getting up too. Luckily her knife had been dropped in the scuffle and now she and Rainbow faced each other equally. Neither said a word, but in almost perfect unison, they charged.

Rainbow knew how fast and how skilled the attacker was. Now, since she had a clearer picture of her opponent, she could use that. Just before they would have reached each other, Rainbow stopped and leaped upwards. There was enough time for the attacker to stop, but not nearly enough time for her to avoid Rainbow coming down right on top of her.

This time it was the attacker’s head that hit the floor hard. With all of Rainbow’s strength behind the blow, she was out cold in seconds. Rainbow huffed in relief, but only for a second.

She turned away from the now unconscious intruder and rushed over to Fluttershy. Starlight followed. Fluttershy did not look good; her pale yellow coat looked even paler in the stormy light.

“Fluttershy! Fluttershy?! Wake up! Can you hear me?!” Rainbow Dash cried, panic rising in her voice as Fluttershy’s still form remained motionless. Rainbow leaned down and put her ear to Fluttershy’s chest. She exhaled in relief.

“There’s still a heartbeat, but she is losing blood fast.” Rainbow said and wiggled herself under Fluttershy. She stood up with Fluttershy on her back. A soft moan escaped from the yellow pegasus, but she remained still.

“Find a towel to wrap her neck with. It won’t help much but hopefully it will last long enough for us to find help.” Rainbow said quickly, turning to Starlight, who nodded and ran to the kitchen.

In less than a minute, Starlight was back. She wrapped the towel around Fluttershy’s wound and Rainbow nodded.

“Good enough. Alright. I know of some pony who can help Fluttershy, but it’s going to take a while to get there by hoof. I can’t fly both you and Fluttershy. We’ve got to go as fast as we can, Starlight. You have to do your best to keep up, okay?”

Starlight set her mouth in a hard line and nodded.

The General faced the four members of the Council. She was in their meeting room and the five of them all sat around a conference table.

“So what options do we have?” Silver Shard, the calmest and most collected of the group asked the General who just shook her head.

“At this point, I would think that we just need to wait it out. Hopefully a solution will present itself.” She shrugged. She had explained the crisis facing them, and obviously it had not been easy to come to a consensus, or even get every pony to discuss it rationally.

Iron Flare had opened the meeting by refuting her sources and making sure that every fact was checked three or four times, not quite believing what she told him. He had to be in control and gather the facts again; his way. Once that was done, Copper Wire delivered her own ideas by way of a dire prophecy. Currently she was sitting in the corner repeating over and over,

“We’re all going to DIE!” in an incredibly creepy voice, trying to catch the eyes of any pony with her rusty stare. The General was doing her best to ignore her. Steel hadn’t said anything at all, just stood there silent and imposing. Silver Shard was doing her best to be the mastermind she was supposed to be and come up with a plan, but the impossible situation was baffling her and ruining her cool.

The General knew for a fact that when they wanted to be, the Council was a terrifying and deadly force that had been the driving force that caused the Uprising. However, on days like these, she had to wonder how they managed to all get up out of bed in the morning and dress themselves, much less run an entire country.
She shook her head. That was what she was for, she guessed.

“So I motion for the meeting to end, awaiting further developments?” The General posed the question. At that, Copper Wire jumped up and raced out of the room like her tail was on fire. Steel shrugged. Any problem that couldn’t be fixed by brute force was far beyond his ability to solve.

“General, I expect you to do anything and everything in your power to resolve this issue. I trust you implicitly.” Silver Shard said as she walked out the door, but her glare was anything but reassuring. The door swung shut and the General was left alone with Iron Flare; a situation that she really needed to try harder to avoid in the future.

He trailed a hoof along the edge of the table.

“Normally I would issue some ultimatum so that you would get the job done and work everything out. However, not even I expect you fix the sun. I do expect everything will be done to solve this problem. You have never failed the Council before, or failed any pony, far as I know. That’s the reason we chose you for your position all those years ago, after all.” Iron Flare turned to leave and did not look back.

The General growled in frustration when he left. Why all of this fell down on her shoulders eluded her. She went back to her office and slumped in her chair, mulling over the problem.

Magic! All my problems in the last 10 years have come down to that! Why couldn’t everything just been left the hay alone?! Now we have a problem that can’t be solved! Not unless we had a whole ton of unicorns! Buck! My Guard can’t even find one! The amount of magic we would need to solve the problem would be huge! More powerful than the Royal Pony Sisters when they were in power! The most powerful magic in Equestria…

Her eyes widened and she stared and the spot where the hidden drawer in her desk was; where her element lay, unused and dusty. She grabbed quickly across her desk to a buzzer that connected to her second in command’s office.

“Yes Sir?” A voice came over the intercom.

“Override the kill order on Rainbow Dash! Make sure that she is brought in ALIVE! Send a patrol out over the Everfree forest to stop that agent that the Council sent out!”

“Yes Sir!”

The General sat back, her mind spinning. The Council was not going to be happy when they found she had gone behind their backs. A very dangerous thought had appeared in her head. Using magic. The very thing she had given up almost everything to destroy. She shook her head. There wasn't time to waste on regret. She had to do whatever was unnecessary. As ridiculous as it sounded, the planet's fate could literally hang in the balance. Hopefully she hadn’t been too late. Before, Rainbow was a problem, but now, now they needed her. Her and that unicorn filly.

Chapter Ten

Starlight and Rainbow Dash raced through the forest. Rainbow was going so fast that her wings were half open and she was using them to get every burst of speed and every bit of air pressure she could get beneath them. Every so often she looked back to make sure that Starlight was keeping up, but to Rainbow’s surprise, she was.

Running away was not a new skill to Starlight. She would get tired soon, but with the added adrenaline pumping through her veins, she was actually managing to keep up with Rainbow. Her horn glowed with dark purple energy as she used her magic to fling anything in her path to the side. Roots, rocks, brambles, any challenge the forest faced her with she returned to its leafy embrace.

They had been running like that for about half an hour when Rainbow slowed and looked around.

“Where are we going?” Starlight huffed.

“An old friend’s. She may be able to help you with your magic and she will be able to help Fluttershy.” Rainbow responded, not even short of breath. She looked around, listening for any signs of pursuit. The forest was silent. Normally, the Everfree teamed with sounds of life at all hours, but with the storm overhead just beginning to subside, most of the animals and creatures were bunked down in their homes, at least for now.

It was still raining and Starlight looked around, hoping for a sign that would tell her which way they were going.

“How long until we get there?” She asked.

“Well, it would have taken us about a day by sky, so hopefully we’ll get there by tomorrow morning if we don’t stop at all. We’ll walk from here. I just wanted to get some distance between us and that attacker.” Rainbow looked around and started walking.

“Why do you think that pony was there? How did she know where we were? I thought you said no pony would follow us.” Starlight said, walking alongside Rainbow.

“I didn’t think any pony would be able to. I would assume the Guard sent her. Other than that, I really don’t know.” Rainbow said, turning forward. That was a lie and she knew it. She just didn’t want to scare Starlight.

The truth was that Dash knew full well why that pony had come. It was not the first time the Guard had tried to kill her. She frowned unhappily. The wound that had been inflicted of Fluttershy… That should have been her. Ever since it happened, Dash kept running the events over in her head, trying to come up with something she could have done to keep every pony safe.

“Mhm… Rainbow? Where are we going?” a soft voice from behind her murmured. Rainbow turned around to look at Fluttershy. This was the first time she had moved or talked since they left the house.

“Don’t worry Fluttershy. I’m going to get you some help.” Rainbow promised.

“Okay… I’m tired… Can I sleep?” Fluttershy asked.

“Sure, Fluttershy.” Rainbow said. She and Starlight continued walking through the forest. She just hoped they made it to Zecora’s in time. They had a long way to go.

Silver Rain’s head hurt, bad. She groaned as she sat up. She looked around her. The house she was in was a complete disaster. Blood everywhere, furniture that had been overturned during the struggle between her and Rainbow Dash, there was even a huge hole in the wall behind her, though she couldn’t quite remember where that had come from. She put a hoof to her head and frowned.

This case was not going to be an easy one. She had never failed so utterly. If things had gone like every other mission she had ever been on, the pony on the couch would have been Rainbow Dash and not the yellow pegasus. She would have slipped in, silently killed her target and been back home enjoying mini-wheat cereal by now.

Silver stood up, her whole body protesting at the movement. She needed time to heal. She would not be able to continue the attack right away. However, the hunt wasn’t over and she was far from giving up.

She looked around the house. The line of blood that lead out the front door was more than enough to get her started on the trail. She would have no trouble following them. First things first though, as a pony almost entirely motivated by food, Silver went into the kitchen to make herself breakfast.

“I spy with my little eye something green.”

“Is it a tree?”

“Dang! How did you guess?”

“I’m just that awesome. Okay my turn. I spy with my eye something grey.”

“Is it that rock?”

“Nope.”

“Well if it’s not a rock, what is it? There isn’t anything grey around her but rocks!”

“It’s that rock.”

“That’s cheating!”

“No its not. Your turn.”

“Fine. I spy with my little eye something…green!”

“Is it a tree?”

“Seriously how are you doing that?!” Starlight huffed. They had been walking for about four hours and “I spy” was the current game to keep them occupied. Although Rainbow won every round since the only thing Starlight ever picked was trees (Seriously they were in a forest, there wasn’t much else), they had been playing for about an hour.

“Okay. Let’s take a break from the game. I need to figure out which way we need to go.” Rainbow said and stopped, looking around. She glanced back at Fluttershy, who was still asleep on her back. Rainbow bit her lip. They needed to get there soon.

Rainbow’s ears pricked as she picked up a sound, a rustling sound, not far from them. She froze and looked at the treetops around them. She strained to see anything, but the shadows of the forest offered no answers. She listened, trying to hear the sound again. Silence greeted her. She shrugged. There were lots of animals in the forest, it could have been anything.

“Come on Starlight, we need to keep moving.” Rainbow said and headed for a break in the trees.
Suddenly, without warning a hissing sound rent through the air right in front of Rainbow. A resounding ‘thunk’ followed it as something imbedded itself in the tree right next to Rainbow’s head.

“Get down!” She shouted at Starlight and both of them dropped to the forest floor. Rainbow looked up at the arrow that had missed her by inches. She waited for another one to come, but no more arrows came out of the forest. She cautiously stood up, looking at the direction from where the arrow was fired.

“If I had wanted to hit you, I would have.” A voice said from that direction, but still neither Rainbow nor Starlight could see any pony in the surrounding vegetation.

“Who are you? Show yourself!” Rainbow called.

“I think I get to ask the questions, as I’m the one with the arrows and you have no idea where I am.” The voice had moved and now sounded like it was coming from behind them. Rainbow turned and frowned.
Starlight stopped and flipped back around to face where the voice came the first time. This time she caught sight of a pair of orange colored eyes looking back at her.

“There! Rainbow, look!” She called. Rainbow whirled around, but the eyes were already gone.

“Where?”

“They were there a second ago!” Starlight said defensively. They both fell silent, looking at the trees around them. Everything was silent for a few seconds, and then in quick succession there was a snapping sound, a crash, and “Aaaaah! Pony feathers!” Both Rainbow and Starlight rushed over to the sound.

They found the source of the voice in the trees all tangled in a bush. It was a young pony, younger than Rainbow, but not a filly like Starlight. She picked herself off and brushed the brambles out of her red mane. Finally, she noticed Rainbow and Starlight staring at her. She raised her bow, an arrow already strung and ready to go.

“You aren’t allowed to go any farther in this part of the woods and I’m going to--” She started but Rainbow Dash cut her off.

“Hold on a second… Apple Bloom? Is that you?”

“Rainbow Dash? What in the wide world of Equestria are you doin’ here?” The butter yellow earth pony responded.

“You know her?” Starlight asked Rainbow, feeling very left out of the conversation. Apple Bloom looked down at her for the first time, and like most ponies who saw Starlight, her eyes widened.

“And with a unicorn, no less.”

“I’m Starlight.” She told her. Apple Bloom turned to Rainbow.

“I’m awfully sorry I shot at you. You see I couldn’t tell who you were before, you know, it’s dark, uhm.. Well, I’m just awfully sorry.” Apple Bloom said.

“Whatever. You didn’t hit me did you? So no harm, no worries. Now, I need to get straight to the point. Fluttershy is injured and we need to get her medical attention. So..” Rainbow turned and Apple Bloom saw Fluttershy for the first time.

“Oh goodness! Come with me! I can take all of you back to camp. Zecora’s there and some other ponies that could help her! Follow me!” Apple Bloom said quickly and motioned for them to follow.

“Camp?” Rainbow asked, but Apple Bloom didn’t hear and either way, time was of the essence.

Not even five minutes later they all walked up to a seemingly impassable wall of trees and bushes and random other plants.

“Don’t worry. The wall surrounds the camp on all sides, so it’s safe and concealed. Besides that we’re in the heart of the Everfree forest. Guard ponies never come this far in.” Apple Bloom explained.

“Um, what?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking skeptically at Apple Bloom.

“So how do we get inside?” Starlight asked.

“You just have to know where the door is!” Apple Bloom went up to a particular spot on the wall, which Starlight thought looked exactly the same as every other spot on the wall, and pushed her hoof in. There was the sound of a click and then the whir of gears and a section of the wall of greenery came apart.

“You can’t tell, but this section of plants is on runners. Each plant has its own pot under the ground and the whole thing is geared to split apart at the turn of that handle, which can be locked from the inside or outside, if you have a key.” Apple Bloom continued, beaming.

“Wow! I never would have thought of that!” Starlight said, trying to get a look at the mechanisms of the door.

“Thanks,” Apple Bloom smiled and went through the door. Starlight ran to catch up to her.

“Does that mean you designed it?” She asked.

“Sure does. I have a head for mechanics and building things. That’s why they like me so much her at camp!” Apple Bloom turned and once Rainbow, along with Fluttershy on her back, was through the door, she closed it with another click and whir of gears.

“Woah! There sure are a lot of ponies here!” Starlight said, looking around. Spread out before her was a huge camp. Surrounded on all sides by the wall, a small community thrived in the middle of the forest. There were tents lined up all along the edge and even some make-shift buildings in the center. The whole place seemed self-sufficient. There were gardens and the smell of baked goods reached Starlight and the group.

“Y’all stay here for just one second and I’ll go get some help for Fluttershy.” Apple Bloom said and raced towards a white tent.

“What is this place?” Starlight asked Rainbow, who shrugged.

“I have no idea. I’m glad Apple Bloom found us though. We never would have been able to find this place on our own. She said Zecora is here so I guess whatever this is, we’re in the right place.”

Starlight continued to look around, but she noticed the other ponies were looking at her too. She suddenly felt the absence of her hat and wished she had it with her.

Apple Bloom was back quickly, along with two other ponies.

“Hey, they’re going to take Fluttershy to the med tent, okay?” Apple Bloom told Rainbow who frowned.

“I promise we’ll take good care of your friend. We’ll let you know as soon as possible how she is doing, but you have to let us take her, just for a little bit.” One of the medical ponies, a mare with a white coat, said to Rainbow. She reluctantly nodded and let the mare and the other pony take Fluttershy off her back and to the white med tent.

After they were gone, Rainbow Dash turned to Apple Bloom.

“Okay. Time for answers. What is this place? What are you all doing here?” Apple Bloom nodded.

“Well, this is a camp set up for ponies who refuse to live under the Guard’s rule. These are the ponies who sided against the Guard in the Uprising, well, any of the ones who lived anyway. We’re kinda like a resistance, although we don’t really do much other than stay out of the way for now. We just protect each other. That’s what I was doing when I found you. I was doing sentry duty and protecting the border…Y’all are welcome to stay here for as long as you want.” Apple Bloom looked at the two of them hopefully.

“What about me? Won’t all the other ponies be mad if you let a unicorn stay in camp?” Starlight asked. Apple Bloom laughed.

“Of course not! No pony here has anything against unicorns! We’re the side that fought for them after all. We’d be happy for you to stay here.” She told Starlight.

“So is there some pony in charge here that we need to talk to? I don’t think we’ll be staying very long, but I at least want to make sure Fluttershy is okay before we would think of leaving. Also, I think Starlight should meet Zecora.” Rainbow said, looking at Apple Bloom who nodded enthusiastically.

“Absolutely! In fact, I think she’d be even happier to meet you than you would be to meet her.” Apple Bloom smiled and walked towards another large tent. She pulled back the opening and went inside, motioning for Rainbow and Starlight to follow. They were about to follow, but before they could even get inside the tent, a pink blur shot out, raced past Starlight and tackled Rainbow Dash.

“Omygosh! Rainbow Dash! I haven’t seen you in forever! Do you remember me?! I remember you!! It’s been so long I was worried I’d never see you again! But I shouldn’t have worried, cause look! You’re heeeeerrreeee!” All this came from the pink blur in a crazy fast rush of words. Suddenly it stopped.

“Holy Cupcakes! Do you know what this means?! It means we can have a Super-special-I-haven’t-seen-my-best-friend-in-ten-years-but-now-she’s-back Party!!!”

The pink blur had turned into a cotton-candy pink pony who was giving Rainbow a massive hug.

“Uh Pinkie Pie? I…need… to breathe!” Rainbow managed to get out.

“Hee hee! Sorry! I’m just so excited that you’re here!!” The pink pony giggled.

Chapter Eleven

“Pinkie, what are you doing here?” Rainbow asked, finally pulling herself out of Pinkie’s hug.

“Well, it is my camp after all! It would make no sense if I wasn’t here! Now, who wants a cookie? I have lots of them! I just made them this morning, so they’re super-duper fresh!” Pinkie Pie bounced towards a tent that had delicious baked smells coming from it.

“Your camp? Like you made it?” Starlight asked following after Pinkie.

“Yep!” Pinkie replied and went in, Starlight was about to follow when Rainbow stopped her.

“Starlight, I need to talk to Pinkie Pie for a minute. Can you wait out here with Apple Bloom?”

“Awww… I wanted a cookie!” Starlight pouted.

“I’ll get you one; just stay her for a minute.” Rainbow said, turning towards the tent opening.

“You promise?” Starlight asked. Rainbow grinned.

“I’ll do better than promise! I’ll Pinkie Promise!” She said and completed the moves. Starlight giggled.

“Rainbow Dash! You better get in here and get that filly a cookie!” Pinkie’s voice called from inside the bakery tent.

“Wait…is that the Pinkie Pie from the Pinkie Promise?” Starlight asked, but Rainbow had already gone inside. Apple Bloom walked up behind her. She laughed.

“Eeyup! The one and only Pinkie Pie.”

The General huffed in frustration as she flung yet another book to the side. Nothing! She was deep within the Guard archives looking for anything that had been saved. Anything that would give her a clue how to use any remaining magic in the Elements of Harmony to re-cast the Stasis Spell on the sun. She cursed. Every magic related book had been burned during the uprising.

She knew that, of course, but she couldn’t help but make sure. She wanted to know if there was any way she alone could use their energies to stop the super-nova. Even if she did manage to find the remaining three bearers, that still left two missing. She sat back on her haunches and looked around.

She didn’t really know why she was up here, if she was honest with herself. She knew full well the Elements didn’t work unless all six were there. She also knew that none of them could possibly be activated without a spark of magic; which she knew didn’t exist anymore.

She put her head against a bookshelf and closed her eyes. Everything was falling apart. She wanted to feel remorse, regret, and guilt; well, she did feel all those things, but there wasn’t time for those feelings. The world was about to come to an end in two weeks and there seemed to be nothing she could do about it.

The General sighed. Magic. Before the uprising began it was just another part of life. Like the ground or the sky, it was there and she had never had a problem with it. In fact, it had saved her butt and all of Equestria’s more times than she could count. She had even used it herself to do just that.

Then, when the Uprising started, when pegasi and earth ponies had risen up; against the princesses, against the unicorns, against magic, everything changed. At first she had fought alongside her friends and family. She had been dependable. Never-flinching, never failing, she was always there for her friends. She had been the Element of Honesty for Pete’s sake!

Then, less than a year into the battle, the unicorn side started loosing. It wasn’t gradual either. Suddenly, without warning, unicorns started disappearing. No pony knew where they went or how to find them. There was nothing any pony could do either. They would be there one day and the next, without warning or explanation, they were gone.

Her two unicorn friends had gone into hiding after that. They had all fought in the beginning. They had tried everything. Even the Elements of Harmony had no effect because it wasn’t magic they were fighting against, it wasn’t evil, it was other ponies. Her friends didn’t disappear like the others though. They were captured, they were killed.

She would never forget that day as long as she lived. Harmony, magic, friendship; none of it had worked, it had all been useless. In that pit of hopelessness, she had looked around at what was left. Her family. She knew the Guard was merciless. In their eyes those who fought for the unicorns or hid them were just as bad as the unicorns themselves. They were killed right along with their unicorn friends. That was the day she decided that her family, the only thing she had left in the world, was more important to her than her morals.

She had to protect them, whatever the cost. So she did the only thing she knew would work. She switched sides, leaving the losing unicorns, none of which she even really cared about, and joined the Guard. She had never shown weakness to her superiors, never flinched from a fight. She took what she had given to her friends, who were now either dead, or hated her, and gave it to the Guard. Now, ten years and a steady rise of promotions later, here she was.

She had never regretted her decision. Her family was safe, wasn’t it? Didn’t that prove she had done the right thing? She had never allowed doubt into her mind. Maybe she could have saved both her family and what was left of her friends, maybe; but even if she could decide again she would make the same decision as before. The one with the sure and true outcome, the one where her family was fine, no matter what happened. She wasn’t willing to risk it the other way.

She sighed and thumped her head against the bookshelf. At least she hadn’t until today when everything she had done for the last ten years, or ever, was literally about to blow up in her face. The General huffed and stood up, going towards the door. There wasn’t time for this. She needed a fix to the problem and she needed it now.

There was nothing to be found up here in the archives. She needed to focus her time and energy on the only lead she had. She came back into her office and got on the intercom to her second in command.

“Lieutenant Shot! Any news on the patrols over the Everfree looking for Rainbow Dash?” She barked into the microphone.

“No Sir. Sorry Sir. Half a patrol just flew in to sub out. They say they couldn’t find anything!” Shot told her. She frowned.

“Well tell them they better find something or they are going to have me to answer to!” She yelled angrily. She sat back in her chair, letting it swivel around to face the window at the back of her office.

“Where are you?” She asked quietly.

“Rainbow Dash, I need to talk to you. Pretty please?” Pinkie asked and led Rainbow to the back of the bakery tent into the kitchen.

“Actually Pinkie, I wanted to talk to you too.” Rainbow said and followed her.

“Really? That’s funny! We have, like, the same brain today!” Pinkie Pie smiled.

“So what really is this place? Why is it here? I just have so many questions.” Rainbow sighed.
“Well, remember right after things got really bad, and we knew we were going to lose?” Pinkie asked, becoming oddly serious.

“Yeah. I stayed in Canterlot to keep an eye on things. Not that I ever did much though…I just wanted to make sure I would be the first to know if there was anything that changed…any opening we could take advantage of…I don’t know…So you came here?”

“Not at first, first I went home to Ponyville. But no pony ever smiled anymore. They were all sad, and I was sad too. I thought everything was a lost cause, but then, I decided that if I couldn’t make my friends smile anymore, what good was I? I thought real hard and I realized that the Guard was making every pony sad, so I told any pony who wanted to come, to come with me and we would start someplace new, where the Guard couldn’t find us. And we’ve been here ever since.” Pinkie said, looking down at her hooves.

“You made this place?” Rainbow asked, surprised.

“I had a lot of help! It was just my idea.” Pinkie smiled.

“Well, I am really glad you did. I don’t know how long Starlight and I can stay here, but…” Rainbow trailed off, not sure how to continue. She didn’t want to hurt Pinkie’s feelings by telling her they probably wouldn’t stay.

“Starlight! She’s the unicorn you were with right?” Pinkie perked up.

“Yeah, she’s something special, I think. Her magic is really strong. That was why we were coming through the forest. We wanted to see if Zecora could help with her magic control at all.”

“Well, then we’ll make sure you both get any thing you need to do…whatever you think you need too! It’s okay if you can’t stay. I’m just so happy to see you! and Fluttershy! It’s been to long…” Pinkie Pie turned away, a small sad look coming over her face.

Rainbow understood. These years had been hard on all of them. She didn’t say anything. She simply went over to Pinkie and put her wing around her, pulling Pinkie into a hug.

“Rainbow!! How long does it take to get a cookie?” Starlight’s voice reached them from outside the tent. Rainbow smiled and she and Pinkie went out into the main bakery area. Rainbow grabbed a small chocolate cookie and opened the tent flap to find Starlight sitting, patiently looking up at her.

“Yay! Thanks!” Starlight said and took the cookie. Rainbow laughed and Pinkie Pie came out of the tent.

“Mhm! This is really good!” Starlight said in appreciation to Pinkie.

“I’m glad you like it!” Pinkie replied as she bounced over.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy is awake and she’s asking for you.” Apple Bloom had gone over to the med tent while Pinkie and Rainbow were talking. Now she raced over to them. Rainbow didn’t even stop to respond to Apple Bloom as she took off for the med tent.

“Well, we’d better follow her!” Pinkie said to Starlight and they both did just that, Pinkie bouncing along and Starlight trying to keep up.

Rainbow Dash flung back the opening to the tent and rushed in, nervous. Fluttershy had to be okay. She just had to.

“Woah, Rainbow, calm down. I’m fine.” Fluttershy was sitting in a cot on the far side of the tent, propped up by several pillows. The only indication of her injury was a bandage that stretched across her neck. She smiled as Rainbow came in and sat next to the bed. The med tent was pretty simple. A few cots were arranged along the walls and in one corner was a small table and cupboards that held medical supplies.

“Are you sure you are okay? You looked pretty bad…” Rainbow said, still not quite satisfied that Fluttershy was really doing better.

“Your friend is a fighter. When she first came in, we had thought we would lose her, but she pulled through admirably.” The white med pony said, coming up behind Rainbow.

“We can’t take the credit for it, though. Without the help of Zecora’s healing remedies we never would have saved her.” She continued. The medic mare turned and went to the other side of the tent, just as Pinkie Pie, Starlight and Apple Bloom all entered.

“Yay! Fluttershy’s okay!! We totally need to have a party for her! What would you call a party like that? A hooray-you-didn’t-die-from-your-injury party? No that’s too scary, more like a hooray-you-survived-your-life-threatening-injury, or even…” Pinkie Pie rambled and then trailed off, a little lost in thought. Starlight made her way over to Fluttershy’s cot and sat down next to Rainbow.

“I’m really glad you’re okay.” She told her.

“Thanks, Starlight. I’m really glad you and Rainbow managed to get me here so I could be okay. Thank you.” Fluttershy smiled and Starlight smiled back.

“Rainbow, its funny you found this place, since you were looking for help for me and to find Zecora, if things hadn’t happened the way they did, well, who knows what would have happened.”

“Well, just be happy Apple Bloom didn’t hit me with that arrow, besides, why waste time thinking about what could have happened, and focus on what did.” Rainbow said, eyeing Fluttershy, who nodded.

"A Yay-you-are-getting-better Party! That's what I'm going to call it! Or just a 'Getting Better' Party, since I don't think all of that would fit on a banner...It would be a big banner though and who doesn't love big banners?! And big cake! Fluttershy what is your favorite flavor of cake? Oh wait! I know this one! Hrm... It's been a while, but I think I remember.... It's strawberry, No! Raspberry! Right?" Pinkie said in rapid fire. Fluttershy nodded, Pinkie was right, she did love raspberries.

Starlight was listening to all of this, but she wasn’t paying attention. Her thoughts were spinning.

“So this Zecora is the pony we were looking for?” She asked.

“Well, technically, she’s not a pony…” Apple Bloom said, but she was mostly ignored as Rainbow jumped in.

“Yep! She should be able to help with your magic, Starlight.”

“Well, she certainly helped me, without the potion she brewed, I…” Fluttershy continued, but trailed off as the flap to the med tent opened and a very strange looking pony walked in.

Starlight had never seen anything like her. She was black and white striped and her mane stuck straight up, like no pony Starlight had ever seen.

“Potion? That is not so. It was simply a remedy to help blood flow slow.” She said in response to Fluttershy, who blushed.

“Woah! You’re…” Starlight started, but was unsure how to continue.

“She’s a Zebra.” Apple Bloom muttered, still miffed about being shut out earlier.

“Oh! I read a book once that had Zebras in it! It was The Complete Guide to All Equine Species in and around Equestria! I mean, there were some pages ripped out, but the part about Zebras was there!” Starlight said, excitedly.
Zecora smiled and looked around.

“My! There are many ponies in this room, some I have not seen for many moons.” She said, looking at Rainbow and Fluttershy. She looked at Starlight, who was still staring at her, ever curious.

“And there is even some pony new! Little filly, do not think I have forgotten you.”

For what seemed like the tenth time today, Starlight introduced herself.

“I’m Starlight.” Rainbow had been waiting, but now she went up to Zecora,

“Zecora, it’s great to see you after such a long time, but that isn’t why we are here, in addition to looking for help for Fluttershy’s injuries, we were also looking for you. Starlight, as I am sure you noticed is a unicorn. From what we have seen, she also has a pretty great magic talent, but she doesn’t know anything about magic and we could think of no pony, or no zebra, I guess, that would know how to even start her on the right way towards learning. I don’t know if you can, but would you try to help her with magic?”

“I did indeed see her horn, I am well aware she is a unicorn.” Zecora began.
“I can help her learn the control that is necessary for any young foal. I cannot help any further than that, for she does not even know where her magic is at. I would not know where to start, since she does not yet have a cutie mark.”

“What?” Starlight asked.

“It means she’ll help.” Apple Bloom told her.

“That’s great! How do we start?” Starlight said, looking up to Zecora, who smiled.

Chapter Thirteen

Rainbow Dash looked up apprehensively at the sky as dark, churning storm clouds approached the camp. Lightning cracked through their depths and thunder was already beginning to boom loud enough to shake the ground beneath her. Dash was not new to harsh weather and storms, she had brewed up a few herself back in the day, when she was still on a weather team; but this was something else. The wind was howling and nature’s unrestricted fury was about to be released on the camp.

A flurry of activity was shaping around Dash as the ponies of the camp readied themselves for the oncoming storm. Taking tents down, moving ponies into some of the more stable and permanent structures, securing tree branches, all of it swirled around Dash as she stared up at the sky, a deep frown crossing her face. She heard hoofsteps come up behind her but she didn’t turn. She sniffed and mixed with the smell of the storm was that of apples. Dash didn’t turn, but said,

“How often does something like this happen? I’ve never seen a storm this powerful. It might even produce a tornado. I can’t believe none of the pegasi living here didn’t know it was coming or at least do some cloud breaking before it got here.”

Apple Bloom frowned. “That’s the problem. The weather of the Everfree is resistant to pegasus magic. The clouds do what they want. Trust me the pegasi here have tried. These storms come out of nowhere. Though I’ve never seen one this strong-lookin’”

Dash tilted her head in confusion. “Did you say pegasus magic?” She asked, assuming that what Apple Bloom had said was only a slip of the tongue.

“That’s what ah I said, and that’s what ah meant.” She replied with a smile, her accent even more pronounced than usual. It reminded Dash of some pony and she frowned again. Apple Bloom didn’t notice and continued.

“Don’t let them Guard idiots fool you into thinkin’ that unicorns are the only ponies with talents. Every pony has their own kinda magic. Pegasi have the sky and we have the land. Now, you should come inside 'cause this is gonna be one doosie of storm.” Apple Bloom said and turned to go towards the make-shift buildings in the center of the camp.

“I’ll be in, just give me a second.” Dash said, and leapt into the air, trying to get a feel for the air currents around her.

“Something isn’t right.” She whispered to herself.

Applejack sat on a blanket, it was a warm and sunny day at Sweet Apple Acres and she was having a picnic with her friends, no special reason other than it was a particularly nice summer day. They were all laughing and having a great time; Pinkie Pie was passed out asleep on the grass next to them, a smile on her face and a distended belly from all the sweets she had eaten at their picnic.

Rainbow was doing tricks in the air above them, trying to improve her times. Her tryouts for the Wonderbolts were only a few months away. Twilight timed her from the ground, her own wings twitching as she watched. Fluttershy and Rarity were chatting about some new fashion trend that Rarity had recently gotten into, making clothing for animals of all things.

“Well, after Opal; who just looked so precious in that old sweater of mine, I just had to keep going. I designed a new look, but the only darling critter who could possible pull it off is that little bunny of yours! Don’t you think?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy nodded in approval.

“I think he would wear it, too. I mean if I asked very nicely. He’s very particular about his looks. Just yesterday was tail fluffing day, and we spent hours at it.”

“Twi! How fast was that?” Rainbow Dash called, spinning out of a dive.

“9.87 seconds! I think that’s a new personal record for you!” Twilight responded, a pad of paper with times popping out of think air in front of her.

“Mhm….Gummy! Don’t eat those! That’s my cupcake!” Pinkie said in her sleep, rolling over and letting out a snore. Every pony laughed. Applejack smiled, leaning against a tree, just enjoying it all. Normally, she would have been right in on one conversation or another, but today she was just content to watch, enjoying the company of her friends.

Then, a giant cracking sound came from overhead. The sky had turned black and the wind whipped past them. Applejack stood up, straining to see. It was so dark that she could no longer see her friends. She couldn’t see anything.

“Where’d y’all go? Is every pony okay?!” She called out into the darkness, a sense of fear creeping into her belly.

“Seriously! Y’all are scarin’ me! Call if yer okay!” She yelled.

“Is every pony alright?” called another voice. It was Twilight’s. A magenta light pierced the darkness and flowed around them, suddenly Applejack could see every pony again, bathed in Twilight’s magic.

“What’s going on? We have to do something!” Rainbow shouted above the wind that still whipped outside of their bubble of protection.

“I don’t know! Here, girls! Put on your Elements! Something is wrong and we’re going to fix it!” Twilight responded and a burst of light from her horn transferred to each of them, a golden necklace appearing on each of their necks.

“Just tell us what we need to do, Twilight!” Rarity said; a fierce look of determination on her face. Twilight nodded,

“Just leave it to the Elements!” she said and closed her eyes in concentration. The other four did the same. Applejack looked down at her own Element and closed her eyes. A few seconds later she could feel the energy building around them and she opened her eyes. Each of the Elements was glowing now, a strong multicolored stream of power flowed around them, replacing the shield from the darkness.

Applejack smiled, it was just like every other time they had saved Equestria from certain doom. Then she noticed something. Something was off, something was missing from the rainbow colored stream of magic. The color orange. She gasped and looked down at her own neck; her element was dark and lifeless. She concentrated, putting all her energy towards it, but it remained dark.

“Applejack! We need you! Get it together!” It was Rainbow Dash’s voice that reached her. Suddenly, the wind broke through their barrier, flinging them all apart. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were all blown away by the initial blast.

“Hold on! We’ll be back!” Rainbow Dash called through the darkness.

“Like likty-split!” Pinkie Pie agreed.

“Just hold on please!” Fluttershy cried, her voice fading.

Twilight and Rarity were still in the circle though, the deep purple and light blue of Rarity’s magic and her Element mixing with the pure magenta of Twilight’s. The both were suspended above the ground, Rarity levitating and Twilight slowly flapping her wings.

“We can do this! Just DON’T STOP” She called to Rarity and the other element bearers. Her eyes opened and they were pure white and glowing as she looked across to Applejack.

“We need you!” She cried as holes started to appear in their magical auras. Applejack gasped and looked down.

“Come on, ya darn element! Work!” She said to it in desperation, her heart hammering. “Come on!” It was no use. Her element wouldn’t light up. She looked up at Twilight who was looking back at her, expectantly.

“Ah’m sorry! I…I…can’t.” She said, and her whole body plummeted to the ground, hitting hard. There was nothing but darkness and cold around her. She screamed into the darkness for each of her friends in turn but there was no response. The necklace around her neck felt like ice. She frantically tried to get it to light again, but it, like everything else stayed dark.

Her heart thudded in her ears. She was so scared. She was alone. All there was in the darkness was her and the louder than life hammering of her heart.

“General!” A loud male voice shocked her as her heart pounded…no, that wasn’t her heart… She sat bolt upright in her bed, her breath still caught and her back slicked with a cold sweat. She was in her room in the Guard's barracks. She breathed heavily, trying to come out of the dream. Slowly her heart slowed and she came to reality.

“Sir! Council Officials Flare and Shard want you!” It was Silver Shot, her second in command pounding at the door. She rolled out of her bed, slicking her wild mane back with a hoof as she wretched open the door.

“There better be a damn good reason for waking me up!” She hollered in his face. He backed up several steps. She put a hoof to her forehead, still feeling the effects of her dream. Nightmare, she corrected. She cleared her throat and looked at the officer in front of her. She couldn’t let any of her subordinates see how scared and unsettled she was by that experience. She could, and would deal with it later. Right now, apparently she had other matters to deal with.

She looked at Shot with a look of disdain.

“Well?”

“Flare and Shard have requested your presence in the Council Room. They said it was urgent. From what I understand, there was some kind of signal from the Everfree from the agent who went after Rainbow Dash.” Silver Shot explained and saluted.

“What now?! Literally the sky is falling and now this?!” She growled in frustration. It was just too much. She just didn’t need this right now.

“Sir?” Silver Shot asked.

“Understood, Captain. On your way.” She nodded at him. He left and she ducked back into her room to put the jacket of her uniform on and then made her way through the tunnels that connected Guard living spaces to headquarters.

Starlight was down in the dug-out basement of what was the camp’s main building. It was the only one with a below ground area for sheltering against storms like the one that was coming now. She looked around anxiously, Rainbow still hadn’t come in.

“Fluttershy?” She asked. “Do you think Rainbow will be in soon? Should somebody go out and get her?”

Fluttershy, who was sitting next to her, replied,

“She’s fine. She’ll be able to take care of herself. Don’t be worried.” Fluttershy had been doing well since they had been in camp. Her cut was now just a thin pink line and she had been up and walking around for a few days. Zecora’s healing tonics, which she had been mixing ever since the first one, had worked wonders. Fluttershy scooted closer to Starlight.

“Everything will be fine. Rainbow knows how to handle herself in any weather.” She reassured her. Starlight nodded, but was still very nervous. She had never liked storms.

Silver Rain perched high in a tree, she would have no problem riding this storm out. The clouds were now directly overhead and the rain front had descended. The world had transformed into a dark place, lit only by flashes of lightning. Despite the darkness, Silver could see perfectly fine and was watching the storm as it boiled above her.

A flash of color caught her attention.

“What are you doing out here all by yourself?” She smiled and put her hoof to her knife. Silver couldn’t believe it. It was just too perfect. Rainbow Dash was out, by herself no less, in a storm. She would be no match for Silver in these conditions. Silver lived in the rain and the lightning. Her trail was a storm cloud after all. Silver smiled grimly. Time to get this over with.

The General paused at the outside of the council room, collecting herself. She had never experienced anything like the nightmare she had just woken up from. It had shaken her. She never dreamed, and hadn’t had a nightmare since she was a very young filly. It had just been so real. She couldn’t stop thinking about it and it had been on her mind her whole way to the headquarters. She frowned. No. She would not be weak in this. She needed to be strong right now and her morals could not get in the way of what she had to do. She had done this for ten years and never had a problem.

She opened the door and walked into the meeting room to find Silver Shard and Iron Flare down off the raised council seats and standing in the middle of the room.

“General. I need you to send as many troops as you can to the Everfree. We have the coordinates.” Silver Shard told her briefly and then turned. When the general didn’t move she motioned towards the door. The general lifted an eyebrow.

“Um, is that it? I’m gonna need more information before I send my troops out. They are under my command, much as you would like them to be yours.” She knew she was treading hazardous territory, but she was tired and didn’t want to take Shard's intentionally vague orders.

“You want to talk about command? You are under the command of the Council and we are telling you to send troops out. I suggest you do as you’re told.” Shard said with dangerous malice in her voice.

“Actually, if you want to really get into specifics, the Guard and the Council are legally separate and nowhere does it say I have to listen to you without question. Just tell me where I’m sending them and why, and there won’t be any trouble and we can all go back to bed.” The general said bluntly.

Iron Flare stepped up to her.

“You are getting on my nerves, General. Remember that. We had an agent send up a red flare this evening in the Everfree, meaning she needs reinforcements.”

“I know what a red flare means.”

Silver Shard glared at her. Iron Flare continued.

“So, we need to send troops. The only agent in that area is the one tracking Rainbow Dash and that unicorn filly, so time is of the essence if we want to get that unicorn back alive. Clearly something, we don’t know what yet, has occurred that is out of the ordinary. We need your troops to go in, put a stop to it, dispose of Rainbow Dash and get the filly. Understand?” Iron Flare said and then towered over her, daring her to say anything other than ‘yes, sir.’

She would take that dare.

“I thought the kill order on Rainbow Dash was cancelled.”

“You don’t have the authority to cancel that order.” Shard said, coming up to her.

“Why not? Who put it out?”

“I did. And I sent my best agent out for it. I want that pony dead.”

“How do we know this ‘best agent’ of yours didn’t just sprain a wing and send up the wrong flare?” The general challenged Shard. They faced each other and Shard didn’t say anything, her expression getting more and more furious. The general felt a grim satisfaction burning inside her.

She had never gone against the Council like this. She didn’t even know why she was now. It was like something had snapped inside her. She sick and tired of doing everything the Council told her. She was going to do one thing right. She was not giving up on what she had done the last ten years. She still believed she had made all the right choices.

But, a small voice in her head said. I’m not going to let any pony else die. She would fight for that.

“I’ll send my troops, but I want Rainbow Dash left alive. Her crimes do not warrant death.” She told Shard and Flare, who frowned.

“Who cares if she deserves death? She’s going to get it. We need to make an example of ponies like her who go against us. You have one chance, General. Let me remind you that you are already on thin ice. You not just send your troops, you go with them. I want her dead. You are going to make that happen. I’ve trusted you for ten years now, and you’ve never done wrong. Don’t let there be any sentimentality or doubt in you. This is a test of your loyalty. Don’t let us down.”

Iron Flare had gotten closer and closer to her throughout his ultimatum. She backed up. Did she really want this? Her family would pay for what she did in the next few seconds. Then she looked back up at Flare. She suddenly realized something; he was not the same pony he was when he took over Equestria ten years ago. She could beat him.

She was so done with all this. She didn’t care anymore. Let whatever happens happen. She would do whatever it took to protect her family, but she wouldn’t do this. She would not kill some pony who had once been her friend. Once been one of her best friends. No, not that.

Iron Flare was still looking at her, waiting for an answer. His last words came back to her, ‘this is a test of your loyalty…’ Loyalty. That did it, she decided.

“No. I will not send out my troops to kill some pony who doesn’t deserve it.” She said, advancing towards Flare, whose eyes lit up with a dangerous flame.

“This has gone on long enough.” A deep voice said behind her and she was grabbed from behind by strong hooves. Steel had come up behind her while she was arguing with Flare and Shard. She struggled against his tight hold, but it was no use. She just wasn’t stronger than the huge pony that held her back.

“General, you are dismissed we have no more use of your services.” Shard said maliciously.

“Steel, put her in her office and make sure she stays there until the resolution of the Rainbow Dash problem.” Iron Flare told him and then he and Shard went up to the raised table and began to lay out plans. Steel gripped her front foreleg, hard and drug her out of the room. She couldn’t believe it. Had she really just done that?

Her office was not far from the Council room. Steel opened the door and shoved her inside. “Enjoy your last night in the office, General, if it were up to me it would also be your last all together. I don't like ponies who don't just do what the hell they were told. Troublemakers, General.” He said with out emotion and then slammed the door shut. She looked up from where she had hit the floor. General? She thought. For the first time in ten years, the title didn’t sound right. Like it didn’t fit anymore.

Chapter Fourteen

Silver Shard frowned. “We need to know what’s actually going on in the Everfree. I don’t want to send out a large group of troops just yet. It could give away our agent and her position. If Rainbow Dash caught wind of it, she and that filly will be gone in a heartbeat and we’ll be right back where we started; with less of a lead than before.”

“I thought we already decided this! Your agent sent up a flare for reinforcements. We’re sending them! I’m sending a pegasus recon squad first, to be followed by ground troops. Seriously, do you think that one pegasus mare and a filly are going to be able to get away from all of them?” Iron Flare countered. “Time is of the essence! If we don’t want to lose our already strained hold on the country, we need to make an example of these two!” Flare slammed his hoof on the table.

“Don’t you get testy with me! I just think you're being stupid.” Shard sniffed. Flare rolled his eyes.

“There are already rumors flying through the streets about this filly, about what a unicorn could mean. Along with how easily it apparently is for one pony to completely evade the Guard, we’re being made out to look like idiots! We need this to end. I’m sending the troops!” Flare said with a tone of finality.

A cackle came from the corner of the room, where Copper Wire was sitting, examining an old clock.

“Doesn’t matter! We’ll all be eaten in a week or two anyway! Ole Celestia is mad at us!” Copper laughed and resumed pulling out the cogs in her clock. She took a particularly small gear and ate it, just to emphasize her point.

Shard snorted.

“Celestia? Ha! She’s dead. The sun’s is simply expanding. Am I the only pony in this room with her head screwed on right?”

“Well, yes, since I am in the hallway now.” Flare said as he left the room.

“Hey! Where are you going?!” Shard yelled at him.

“I told you I’m going to send out troops to take care of the Rainbow Dash problem and bring back that filly.” He said, leaving. Shard got up and raced to the door.

“We didn’t decide that! She said, coming up behind him. He calmly continued walking.

“We need to make an example of her and nip this civil unrest in the bud. We need to teach ponies not to tangle with the Council and the Guard. Also, we need that filly. I don’t know if it has escaped your notice, Shard, seeing as you have a knack for ignoring the obvious, but the sun is about to consume the planet. The only way to stop it is to use a stasis spell. That filly is the best chance we’ve got. She’s got the only magic left.”

“Magic?! You want to use magic?! Wasn’t the whole point of the Uprising to eliminate magic? Seriously, you talk about me missing the obvious!” Shard rebuffed.

“No, the point of the Uprising was to take control of the Equestrian government. We just needed an enemy. What better enemy than the one currently in power at the time?” Flare explained, as if to a small school aged foal.

“I know that!” Shard snapped. “What I meant was that if the populace sees us using magic, won’t that kind of undermine our entire position?”

“WE don’t need to use magic. Just let the filly learn of the problem and solve it. Afterwards, when everything is fine again, we publicly kill her for using magic. We keep our hold on the country and deal with the last of the unicorns and magic. Simple. You understand now?” He asked arching an eyebrow.

Shard frowned at him but nodded.

“What if she isn’t strong enough to do the spell?” She asked quietly.

“Then we all die and it doesn’t matter anymore.” Flare answered simply.

“This is a big gamble you’re taking.”

“Do you have a better option?” He asked. Shard was silent.

“That’s what I thought. I’m going to send out the troops we need.”

Rainbow Dash snapped her wings open and rose on a warm air current. Thunder boomed overhead and she blinked rain out of her eyes. This storm made her nervous. She knew there was little she could do at this point, but she still didn’t want to go inside. Some pony should stay out and make sure that nothing that this storm threw at the camp would do actual damage. She felt the swirling of a downward cool current and frowned deeper. This mix of air could be very bad. When a weather team wanted to really brew up a storm they mixed warm and cool air currents. This occurring naturally did not bode well.

She landed outside of the camp wall and looked around. She wanted to fly above the cloud front and see how big this storm actually was. She would need some serious momentum to get through the clouds though. Suddenly, her ears pricked as she heard hoofsteps behind her.

Silver Rain had been following Rainbow Dash since she had first spotted her, staying quiet and following far enough behind to not alert Rainbow Dash of her presence.

“Land! Damn it, land!” She whispered. If she could confront Rainbow Dash on the ground, it would be so much easier. Even in the storm, Rainbow Dash had proved herself to not only be fast, like Silver already knew, but agile, which had made Silver more than a little angry. She needed Rainbow Dash to land!

Then, in a stroke of luck, a cool current sent both of them towards the ground. Rainbow Dash coasted in for a landing and Silver was right behind her. She had to time this perfectly. Knife in hoof, she approached, not even caring if she was quiet anymore.

Starlight looked up at the door of the basement. It had been almost an hour since they had all taken cover and Rainbow still hadn’t come in. Starlight had managed to get away from Fluttershy’s watchful eye by pretending to fall asleep and then sneaking away when the yellow pegasus had fallen asleep too.

A loud crack of lightning from outside made Starlight jump. A long roll of thunder followed, shaking the ground below her. Rainbow was out there alone. What if something happened? And she can’t get back? Starlight thought. She nodded her head in determination and went for the lock on the door above her.

“Where are you going little filly? Going out in a storm like this would be quite silly.” Zecora said from behind her. Starlight turned, and the zebra met her with a very serious stare.

“Please don’t stop me Zecora! Rainbow is out there and I think she might need help. I just need to go and make sure she’s okay! Please don’t try to stop me, because I’m going no matter what!” Starlight pleaded.

“Stop you? That is not what I came here to do.” Zecora said simply.

“Thanks! We’ll be back in a--” Starlight began but Zecora cut her off.

“I did not say our conversation was through. I have something very important I need to tell you.”

Starlight turned around fully and looked up at Zecora who nodded and said,

“It seems our time has reached its end, but I have one final lesson to you I must lend. I have taught you of magic, of focus and control; but those are things that can be done by any foal. There is one last thing about magic that I know.”

Zecora paused and looked at Starlight who was focused entirely on the zebra.

“Listen, and remember what knowledge I show:

Magic is not yours alone.

All types of ponies have magic of their own.

Zebras and earth ponies know the ground,

and the sky is the place where pegasi magic is found.

But unicorn magic is different; it comes from far, far up above.

It also comes from who you are inside and the ponies you love.

Right now, unicorn magic is almost gone,

but, it does not have to stay that way for long.

Look inside to the you that is true, because,

Starlight, the key to returning this magic is the first part of you.”

Zecora took a step back and smiled at the young filly.

“Goodbye, Starlight, for our time is through. I hope you understand what you need to do.” Zecora finished and turned and walked back through the tunnel to the main part of the basement, without another word and without looking back.

“But…but…Wait! What do you mean?! I don’t understand!” Starlight yelled, but it was too late, Zecora was already gone. A resounding rumble of thunder reminded Starlight of her purpose. Rainbow was still out there. She pushed open the door and pulled herself into the swirling wind of the storm.

Rainbow Dash whirled around, but before she even saw who had made the hoof steps, she was knocked to the ground and a knife darted for her throat. Her eyes widened in surprise and she twisted hard at the last second, just enough that the knife missed her jugular vein, but not enough to miss her altogether. A searing pain went through her shoulder as the knife sliced down.

Dash bucked hard with her back legs and connected with the stomach of the pony on top of her. The pony went reeling backwards and Dash was up in an instant. She looked through the rain at her attacker. With a start she realized who she was looking at. It was the same attacker that had nearly killed Fluttershy.

“You!” Dash snarled. This pony was going to pay for hurting her friend.

The dark blue pegasus smiled.

“Did you miss me?” She mocked. Dash wasted no time in charging at her. Once again she was startled by how fast the other pony could move as they began trading blows, each trying to get the upper hoof. The pegasus’s knife moved like an extension of her hoof and in no time Dash was covered in tiny nicks and cuts. She returned the pegasus’s attacks though, using all six of her limbs to hit and wound her opponent.

The knife came dangerously close to Dash’s head, but she ducked at the last second and then snapped open her powerful wings, trying to hit the other pegasus’s hoof and dislodge the knife. She hit her target, but the other pony held tight to her weapon, and used Dash’s momentary loss of momentum to ram her.

Dash’s hooves slipped on the wet grass and she fell. The other pony was on her in an instant. The other pony smiled again, secure now that she had her quarry pinned down.

“It’s a shame about your friend. I really was hoping it was you lying on that couch.” She said simply.

“You have no right to feel sorry about that!” Dash spat.

“Oh, I think you misunderstood me, I meant it’s a shame she isn’t dead. It’s very rare I miss my mark, you know.” She grinned and held up her knife.

“Glad I get the opportunity to fix my mistake with you.” She said.

Applejack sat in the middle of what used to be her office. She angrily kicked at her desk. She couldn’t believe how stupid she had been. Now she was in no position to help any pony, least of all Rainbow Dash. She looked around the room, searching for an exit. She needed to get out and she needed to get out now.

The first thing she tried was her intercom; she had no idea if her betrayal to the Council had been made known to the rest of the Guard. If it hadn’t, there would still be ponies loyal to her that may let her out. She pressed the button, but only a static sound came from the device. Stupid. She thought, obviously Steel would have thought of that!

She looked at the window, she would be able to break the glass, but her office was on the top floor of headquarters. Getting out the window would do her no good.

“Come on, think!” She told herself. She did another sweep of the room. A vent caught her attention. Seriously? You would have to be half your size to fit through there. She thought to herself. She moved on, scanning the room, her focus finally coming to rest on the door. It was the only way. She would need to get out the door and then get out of the building as fast as her hooves would carry her.

She fumbled around in her desk for a few minutes, trying to find something to pick the lock. She needed to be quiet. Anything loud and half the Guard would be in to investigate before she could go two steps. She half-heartedly tried a paper clip she found, but it was no use. She growled in frustration. She was wasting time. Oh Buck it! I’m just gonna kick the darn thing down! She thought and headed for the door.

Right before she was going to kick it, she suddenly remembered something. She rushed over to her desk and popped open the hidden drawer. She pulled out her Element and was about to shove it into her pocket when she noticed something very odd. It was pulsating with a dull red light, despite the jewel being orange. Her breath caught in her throat.

Applejack’s heart almost stopped. She knew what this meant. Each one of the Elements would be pulsing red right now. When they did something like this it meant a bearer, whichever color it was pulsating was in mortal danger. She knew what the pulsating meant because she had seen her Element do it once before. On that day, though, it had pulsed deep purple and then magenta, before going black; it had been the day of Rarity and Twilight’s execution.

Chapter Fifteen

Blue Breeze flew hard. A squad of other pegasi followed close behind him, their formation tight and angular. They were going really fast. It had already been several hours since the flare from the center of the Everfree had been sent up. No pony in the guard knew what the situation was there and it was imperative that they provide support as quickly as possible. It would be hours more before the ground troops would arrive, so it was doubly important that the aerial reinforcements were fast to their destination.

They had been flying for some time, riding very fast on a cold air current that was blowing down from the top of the mountain the City sat on. It was conveniently streaming right over the forest and towards the rendezvous point. They were making excellent time. Breeze couldn’t remember the last time he had flown this fast.

Suddenly, looming before them was the edge of a huge storm front. It neither moved towards them nor away from them, but remained in place, churning and roiling. The squad skidded to a halt, their wings still ruffled in the cold current that was feeding the massive storm cell.

“Sir, it’s not moving because it’s Everfree weather, sir! We’ve reached the border!” One of the soldiers behind him informed the group. This was Blue Breeze’s first command mission and he was in charge. He turned to face the group.

“We can fly over it for some time, but we need to watch the tracker carefully. Cloud Puncher, make sure that you let us know the second we are close to the coordinates that were given.” He announced, nodding towards a stallion in the group, who nodded.

Breeze turned and they flew up and over the storm, the wind rushing around them in all directions.

Applejack raced through the halls of headquarters, desperately searching for an exit. She had bucked down her door moments before and was now frantically racing towards the lower levels. She slid to a halt as she heard voices coming from around the corner. She cautiously poked her head out, and pulled back against the wall when she saw a guard on patrol, talking into a walkie. She stayed perfectly still, not even breathing as he walked past. She could not be seen. She doubted that the Council would have informed any of the Guard that she was no longer in command, but if they saw her racing through the halls in the middle of the night, there would be questions raised. On top of all of that, it was only a matter of time before the Council noticed she was gone.

Luckily, for some reason unknown to her, there weren’t as many ponies around in headquarters. Something must be going on, but she had no idea what it was. As the guard on patrol rounded the next corner, she inched out of her hiding spot and quickly trotted to the end of the hall. If she was where she thought she was there should be an exit right around here somewhere. She looked around, and finally down a side hallway, she spotted it.

She grabbed the handle and shook it in dismay. It was locked. Oh horseapples! She cursed. This was the best exit, and the next closest one was right past the control rooms, where the Council and probably half the Guard would be right now. She frowned, and then realized she still had her badge in her saddle bag. She grabbed it out and swiped it past the door’s reader. It blipped red. The Council had already shut her badge number down.

She growled in frustration. She couldn’t just buck the door down; it was metal, unlike her office door, which had been wood. She was about to turn away when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She whirled around, ready to face any attacker. When she did see who was behind her, she was met face to face with her second in command, Silver Shot.

She was about to tell him to stay quiet when he put his hoof up.

“I know what’s going on. I know what the Council did. I’m here to help. You need to get out.” He held up his badge. “I just got promoted. My number will let you go.” He told her and went to swipe his badge.

“Why are you helping me?” Applejack asked suspiciously.

“The Council is a bunch of idiots and the world is ending. Maybe I don’t want to die in a fiery inferno when the sun explodes, or maybe I’m just being nice. Either way, you need to high-tail your flank to the Everfree. That’s what all the commotion is about. The agent that was sent found Rainbow Dash and that filly. They sent out air troops hours ago and the ground forces soon after. I would be surprised if either of them manages to survive the night.”

Silver Shot told her in a harsh whisper. She just stared at him, the pieces in her head clicking together. She thought of the Element in her bag. She would be surprised if Rainbow Dash would be alive in the next few minutes. Silver Shot swiped his card and the door popped open.

“Get going!” He said and motioned to the door. Right as she was about to exit, a loud siren wailed and the red emergency lights started flashing.

“Sir! We’re over the rendezvous point! Coordinates match perfectly, dive!” Cloud Puncher called from the back of the squad. Blue Breeze nodded and took the nose of their formation into a dive that tore through the storm clouds. When they were above the storm, the sky was blue and clear, below it was a maelstrom of wind and rain. The squad was instantly blown apart by the sheer fury of the storm.

“Land and regroup!” Blue Breeze called to his troops. They did as he said and swooped through the gale-force winds to the ground. He stayed up for just another second, making sure everyone had gotten down safe. Then, as he was about to join them on the ground, a massive gust of wind surged and pushed him away. He snapped his wings shut, hoping to fall out of the current. He did, but as he tumbled he slammed into a bush.

He groggily pulled himself up and looked out. His eyes widened as he realized this bush was huge and surrounded an entire clearing. He squinted in the dark of the storm to see what was in it. A flash of lightning illuminated what he was already beginning to suspect. Hidden behind the wall of bush was a huge camp.

“Sir!” A member of his team called from below. He pushed himself out of the wall of vegetation and landed down where his squad was waiting. The pony that had called up to him was one of the few females on his team. A young green cadet by the name of Sassaflash.

“Did you see what was on the other side?” She asked, tipping her head towards the bush wall. He nodded.

“There is a camp on the other side. Looks like at least a hundred ponies are living there.”

“What? No pony should be this deep in the Everfree! We don’t even have records of a clearing on our maps! How have they not been noticed?!” Cloud Puncher exclaimed.

“I don’t know, but something is up. This would explain a lot of inconsistencies in Guard records though.” Breeze said thoughtfully. Then something occurred to him. “Hey does any pony have a sweeper?” He asked.

The female member of the group nodded and pulled out a small black device. Blue Breeze wanted to know what the levels of magic were. If they were at a certain level it could mean this camp was hiding the unicorn filly. The sweeper would light up and blink depending on how strong magical forces were around it. It was an incredibly sensitive device. It was one of the biggest innovations the Guard had ever produced and had lead to the capture of many, many unicorns back in the day.

Sassaflash flicked on the device and waved it through the air. They expected to see some magical feedback, they were in the Everfree after all, so it was no surprise when the device went from green to yellow. She cracked the sensitivity dial on the side of the sweeper. A high pitched ringing began coming from its speakers. Then in less than a second the device turned dark red.

The entire squad just stared at the angrily glowing device.

“How is that possible? That indicates a lot more magical energy than one unicorn! Even a full Alicorn wouldn’t make it light up like that!” Sassaflash exclaimed, looking to Blue Breeze for support. “Sir?” He was speechless for a moment.

“There are two possibilities. One: that entire camp is full of unicorns. Two: they have some serious magical objects hidden somewhere in there. Either way we need to tear that camp apart and find out!” Blue Breeze told his troops. They nodded.

A buzzing sound came from Breeze’s pack. He pulled out his walkie-talkie just as a message came in.

“Captain Breeze? This is Sergeant Clover requesting copy. Over.”

“This is Captain Breeze. I copy. Over”

“What’s your position and situation?”

“We have reached the coordinates. No sign of the agent that sent the flare. We just came across an encampment. Unusually high sweeper readings.”

“An encampment? This deep in the forest? Any more info?”

“Sir, I think I know what this camp is. I believe it’s an anti-Guard resistance settlement.”

“Captain, I think you’re right. I’ll radio to headquarters. Proceed with regular procedure. Our position is less than ten minutes out. Try to find that agent. I suspect that might be the reason she called for backup.”

“Yes Sir. Over and out.”

“Over and out.”

Blue Breeze turned to his troops.

“Well, you heard him! Let’s capture and secure the position.” His troops nodded. “If any pony finds either that unicorn or Rainbow Dash they are to report directly to me!”

Applejack froze as the sirens wailed even louder. She tried counting the number of tones before a repeat. Obviously it was a code red, but she wanted to know what type of emergency it was. Five. She counted five ascending tones in the wail. She relaxed slightly. The number for a lockdown (as in the case of an escaped prisoner) was three ascending. She frowned. She didn’t know what five tones meant. Then Silver Shot’s walkie cackled to life. Iron Flare’s voice came over the radio.

“General Shot. You are needed in the nerve center immediately. Our ground troops just radioed in. They seem to have found a resistance camp in the middle of the Everfree. To top it all off, they believe the camp is hiding the unicorn and there are higher levels of magic being detected. All of headquarters is on high alert!” Flare barked at them. “Get your arse in here immediately!” He roared and signed off, the walkie fell silent.

“Well, now you know.” Silver Shot looked at Applejack. She nodded and went for the exit. She turned quickly. “Uh, well, thanks for helping me.” She said to Shot. He nodded his expression firm.

“No problem, General.”

“Call me Applejack.” She told him and then raced off into the streets of the City. She needed to be fast if she wanted to get there in time. She was not going to let another of her friends die. Even if that pony would not count her as a friend anymore.

Rainbow Dash could feel her heart beat in her ears. She breathed heavily and she knew that this was probably it. Rain and wind lashed around her as the storm continued to visit its unholy wrath on the forest. Everything seemed to slow down as Dash looked up at the knife that the pegasus that was pinning her down held only inches above her neck.

She swallowed and looked into the eyes of her attacker. There was nothing there but cold malice. She braced herself for the feeling of the knife coming down. If she was going to die she was going to do it with dignity, looking right into the eyes of her killer.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do this.”

“Well, then get on with it. If you’ve waited this long, what’s stopping you now?” Dash pointed out sarcastically. The dark blue pegasus shrugged and raised her knife. Dash was determined to keep her eyes open as it sliced towards her.

“Agent Rain! Stop!” screamed a voice from behind them.

Silver huffed as the blade was about to reach Dash’s neck. Dash watched it, just waiting for the impact, but at the very last second, her attacker flipped the knife and the handle slammed into Dash’s temple. She only felt a second of pain before everything went dark.

Silver Rain hissed in frustration.

“WHAT NOW?!! What could you possibly want?!” She screamed at the cadet who had just interrupted her kill. “I have orders to kill, I’m following those orders. You better have a damn good reason why you felt the need to stop me!” She yelled in the Guard pony’s face.

“We can’t find the unicorn filly. We need Rainbow Dash to locate her. That filly’s capture is far more important than Rainbow Dash’s death. Besides, we just got new orders from the General. We’re to bring both of them in alive if possible.” The young green private told Silver.

“Fine.” Silver rolled her eyes. “So I take it both the aerial and ground troops have arrived? Have they taken control of the camp?”

“They’re working on it. I was sent to find you and do a check on the situation that caused you to send up that flare.”

“It was so we could take the camp. I knew it was anti-Guard and needed to be eliminated. So, Private…?” Silver asked.

“Sassaflash, ma’am.” Sassaflash responded.

“Take care of Rainbow Dash. I’m going to see how the capture of the camp is coming and see if I can’t get my hooves on that little filly.” Silver told Sassaflash dismissively.

“Yes ma’am.” Sassaflash nodded.

Starlight watched in horror from the edge of the camp clearing. Seconds after she had shut the barrier behind her, shouts and crashes had echoed from the camp. She had climbed to the top of the wall with little bursts of magic and levitation and was now sitting on top of it, hunched down to avoid being seen.

A whole squad of pegasus Guards had raided the camp and were prying open the door to the underground shelter.

“By the legal authority of the Guard I order every pony out! This camp and every pony in it are now under the control of the Guard. Now get moving!” A tan pegasus captain shouted over the roar of the storm.

An older mare, one of the doctors from the med tent came up to meet him.

“There are sick ponies and foals in here! If you haven’t noticed there is a severe storm going on! I can see how that might not be a problem for you Guard pegasi, but the rest of us need shelter!” She told him hotly. “What do you want?! We’ll cooperate, just don’t force us out into the weather!” She continued.

“We’re looking for a unicorn filly and a pegasus mare by the name of Rainbow Dash. There are reports of this camp hiding them. Now, give them up or we tear the entire compound to pieces!” He snarled back at her. She met him stare for stare, her blue eyes meeting his green ones.

“A unicorn filly?! Have you completely lost your mind? All the unicorns are gone. Read your history books officer because it was you who killed them!” She yelled at him.

“That’s it!” He roared back, and turned to his troops. “Search the building! Search the tents and get a perimeter going! Search everywhere! Find that unicorn!” He turned back to the white doctor pony and she promptly punched him in the face. She turned back towards the opening.

“Every pony! We’ve got a full breach! Prepare for battle!” She shouted and ran down the stairs, the Guard ponies hot on her hooves. Before they got two steps however, a massive boom resounded from the basement. A huge explosion of streamers, balloons, confetti and other miscellaneous party items sent the Guard officers flying away from the opening.

“Come on party ponies! We’ve got them on the retreat! Let’s GO!” Pinkie Pie shouted from behind a large blue cannon that she had pulled out. A massive cheer rose up behind her and all the ponies of the camp swarmed out to do battle in the storm.

A large streak of lightning illuminated all the ponies in the clearing and nearly scared Starlight into falling off her perch. The camp would be alright, she reasoned. She felt bad that she had brought the Guards down on them, though she had no idea how they had all been found.

Starlight didn’t have time to worry about that though. Rainbow was still out in the storm all alone and possibly hurt. She had to find Rainbow. Starlight’s horn lit up with a dim purple glow and she popped out of existence, only to reappear on the ground. She shook her head, teleporting was dizzy business.

Then she stopped, concentrating and blocking out the storm. She needed to find Rainbow, she needed a finding spell. She thought of Rainbow Dash and her only. Her blue coat, her rainbow mane, the friendship they shared. Starlight’s very first friend. Suddenly, like before, the magic of the spell clicked into place and Starlight directed her magic through the patterns of this new spell. Her eyes opened and her horn continued to glow; and now, laid out over the stormy forest before her was a purple and red glowing magic string.

Starlight smiled, all she had to do now was follow it. It would lead her to Rainbow.

Author's Note

Sorry for another late update! I promise this was the last one! From here on out there should be a new chapter out at least every two weeks. Sorry again for the wait (finals! Gah!), but now school is over and I have all summer to make sure you get your regular dose of Starlight! Thanks for reading and enjoy~

Chapter Sixteen

“Ohmyohmyohmyohmy!” Fluttershy muttered as she frantically looked around at the ponies doing battle around her. She had no idea what to do, she wasn’t a fighter. The doctor and nurse ponies, along with Zecora had taken all the foals, old, and sick ponies out of the compound through an underground tunnel that connected the compound’s basements with an emergency shelter that was about half an hour’s walk away.

At least they would be safe. When they got halfway through the tunnel they could trigger a cave-in that would shut the tunnel behind them in case of pursuit. The ponies of the camp had been expected a raid like this for a very long time and were more than prepared.

“Fluttershy! Do you know how to use this?!” Apple Bloom yelled and tossed Fluttershy a bow, followed a second later by a quiver of arrows.

“Um! Not really, but I can try, if, uh, you need me to!” Fluttershy yelled back as she caught both things in her hooves.

“We need every pony! Ah’m takin’ the archers to the top floor of the main building. Come with us!”

“Okay!” Fluttershy said determinedly and raced after Apple Bloom. The storm was still whirling around them and Fluttershy had to flip her wet mane out of her face to even be able to see. A crack of lightning sounded not far off and the entire ground shook with the thunder.

“Hurry up, Fluttershy!” Apple Bloom yelled as she pried open the front door of the building, but Fluttershy was already right behind her. They and several other ponies rushed up the stairs.

Pinkie Pie twisted and turned in a tight, fast circle, hitting and bucking any Guard ponies who were stupid enough to get close to her whirlwind. She stopped as the number of attackers thinned for a moment. She looked around. Her troops were faring pretty well against the Guard. She was proud. It was a moment they had spent countless hours preparing for, and one she had hoped would never come.

However, she knew it would someday, apparently today. Another Guard came rushing at her and without a second though she whipped around and her tail, weighed down by all the water from the rain smacked him right in the muzzle. He fell to the ground with barely a whimper.

“They’ve got reinforcements comin’! Fall back!” She heard Apple Bloom scream from one of the top windows. All the camp ponies that had been fighting pulled back, kicking off any lingering opponents. A few seconds before every pony was clear, Apple Bloom yelled,

“Archers! At the ready!” One last mare rushed behind the camp’s line and without a moment’s delay,

“Fire!” Apple Bloom screamed. Arrows rained down on the new Guard forces, all earth ponies. Only a few were taken down by the archer’s efforts.

“Fire!” Apple Bloom yelled again after letting them reload. A few more of the advancing line fell, but they pressed on, relentless.

“Alright! Outta my way, every pony, it’s time to party!” Pinkie yelled, and she swung her party cannon into the fray, blasting it several times, and taking down at least half of the enemy line. She laughed, just a little manically. She was about to fire again when the cannon let out a chugging sound. It was empty. Her eyes widened in surprise and fear.

Pinkie had done some serious damage, but it wasn’t going to be enough. The wave of Guard ponies slammed into the camp’s line, and the resistors were instantly scattered. Screams sounded throughout the camp as the Guard began subduing their forces.

There were simply too many Guard ponies. Most of the camp ponies had escaped through the tunnel, and the few that were left had put up a valiant effort, but with the combined forces of the pegasi from the air and the earth ponies on the ground, all better trained in fighting than the resistance ponies, it was a losing battle.

Pinkie Pie stood there, in the pouring rain and watched as the camp she had help build and run fell to ruins. Her troops were no match for the brute strength from the Guard. She sighed in desperation as another roll of thunder shook the camp.

Fluttershy flew down the stairs to the main floor of the building. The other archers had already gone out to directly enter the fray, but there was something she needed to get before the camp was taken.

“Fluttershy, are ya coming?” Apple Bloom yelled up at her.

“No! I have to get something! I’ll be out in a minute I hope!” She said back. Apple Bloom shrugged.

“Alright! If things start looking bad don’t feel like ya have ta stay! Get out and save any pony you can!” Apple Bloom finished and ran out the door. Fluttershy turned and raced down the main floor hallway. She stopped at a seemingly random door and tried to open it. It was locked. Oh my… Fluttershy thought in dismay. She needed to get inside that room.

A particularly piercing scream came from outside. Fluttershy didn’t have time to waste. OH MY! She thought again and bucked the door. The top hinge wobbled a little. That won’t do at all! She braced herself and took another buck. This time the door crashed down complacently. She rushed into the room and pulled up a floor board.

Hidden underneath was a golden necklace with a blue balloon in the middle. The Element of Laughter. Pinkie had shown her were it was a few days ago in case something like this ever happened. Fluttershy’s own element was still at her home. She had been unconscious when she left and had not retrieved it. That was the first place she would go now that the camp was no longer the save haven it had once been. The elements were too important to lose.

She grabbed the necklace and a saddle bag that was hanging on the wall. She shoved the necklace in and raced back out into the fight and into the storm. She needed to get to Pinkie.

Starlight followed the glowing string through the woods as fast as her hooves would carry her. She fell hard as her front hooves snagged on a root. She was up again in seconds though. She had a horrible feeling that something bad had happened. She thought back to the attack on the camp she had just witnessed. Something else bad She amended.

The wind whipped around her, blowing her mane every which way and the rain poured unceasingly. Starlight almost didn’t notice either as she followed the trail with an unrelenting determination.

Suddenly a flash of lightning lit up the area around her, almost as bright as day. When Starlight saw what that light had revealed she stopped dead in her tracks. A group of about five Guard ponies stood, talking in a tight circle. Two of them Starlight recognized, one was the blue Guard pony who had first chased her and Rainbow right when they entered the forests back at the edge of the city. The other was the dark blue pegasus, the one that had attacked Fluttershy.

“Our ground troops just took hold of the camp. They, along with the rest of your squad are just cleaning things up. However, we were unable to find the source of whatever was setting off the sweeper.” A large green earth pony said, looking at the blue pegasus captain.

“Well, tell them to keep looking! We still haven’t even found that unicorn filly.” He looked at the dark blue pegasus agent.

“Agent Rain, we had assumed that you knew the location of both Rainbow Dash and the unicorn.”

“I did! They were together in that camp. I assumed that if you searched the camp you would find her, I have no idea where she has run off to!” She said hotly. He rolled his eyes at the young and impulsive agent, who catching him frowned and huffed.

“Alright. Let’s get this situation cleaned up. At the end of the day we still took down a huge anti-Guard settlement and have most of the trouble makers in custody. Agent Rain did her duty and captured one of the Guard’s biggest offenders. Now we just need to set up a perimeter and do sweeps of the forest. She’s just a filly. She couldn’t have gotten that far.” The large green earth pony said, bringing all the rest of the officers back to the reality of the situation.

A chill ran up Starlight’s spine. Captured? Were they talking about Rainbow Dash?! And what about the other ponies in the camp? Fluttershy? Pinkie Pie? Zecora? Starlight suddenly felt very alone. She had thought the camp would win. When she had left they had been doing okay against the Guard’s forces. Now the camp was gone and Rainbow might be captured. Starlight didn’t know what to do and she was running out of options.

Her focus went flying back to the group of Guard ponies when two more ponies entered their meeting, with a third supported between them. Starlight’s heart fell. It was Rainbow. They came up to the others and dumped Rainbow on the ground. She didn’t move and her hooves were tied. One of the ponies who had brought her in, a light green pegasus, said,

“She’s alive, but Agent Rain gave her a pretty good knock to the head. We should be able to get her back to headquarters for questioning before she wakes up. She might have an idea where that unicorn ran off to.”

“Thank you Private Flash. We’ll take it from here. Both of you go see if they need any help rounding up the rest of the camp ponies.” Both she and the other pony who had helped her nodded and flew off.

Starlight’s heart was hammering at the sight of Rainbow. She had a huge bruise on her head and deep gash through her shoulder. In addition, she had tiny cuts and bruises all over the rest of her body. She looked bad. If the Guard pony hadn’t said she was alive, Starlight would have thought the worst. As it was, she was totally still, and only when Starlight really looked could she see the shakiest of breaths being pulled in.

“Agent Rain, you and Captain Breeze take Rainbow Dash back to headquarters. I’m going to make sure the rest of the camp is dealt with properly.” The earth pony leader told them. The blue pegasus, Breeze did a double take.

“Sir, this outfit is as much under my command as it is yours. I demand you send some pony else. I need to stay with my troops.”

“And I need to find that unicorn! I only have half my assignment completed! Do you know how long it will take me to get back on the trail?! With the rain the way it is, I need to be looking for tracks NOW! Not two days later when I get back from the City!” The dark blue agent argued.

“I outrank both of you and you’ll do as I say! Now…” As the green earth pony began to issue more orders, the Guard ponies seemed to forget about Rainbow behind them. To their credit, she was unconscious and all, but their inattention was all Starlight needed.

With a dark purple pop she vanished and reappeared next to Rainbow, double checking to make sure the Guard ponies were looking away. They were as they continued to bicker amongst themselves about who was staying and who was leaving. Starlight looked back to Rainbow; she tried nudging her gently to see if she could get her to wake up. If Rainbow could move, Starlight could probably get them both out of there, but there was no way Starlight could lift Rainbow or teleport them both.

She bit her lip. There had to be something she could do. Then she remembered back to one of her lessons with Zecora. It had been right after Zecora had been tending to the sick ponies in the med tent. Starlight had asked why Zecora put just a touch of magic in every potion and tonic she made. Zecora had told her that magic could act like a spark, restarting the sick parts of a pony and getting their own body to make them well again.

Starlight didn’t know if it would work the same way, but maybe she could wake up Rainbow with the same principal. Glancing over one last time to make sure they still hadn’t noticed her, Starlight let her horn lit up and slowly let her magic flow towards Rainbow. As the dark purple strands reached Rainbow, she gasped and her eyes flew open. She put a hoof to her head.

“Ouch.” She moaned. She seemed out of it for a second, as if she wasn’t quite sure where she was or what was going on. Then her eyes focused and she noticed Starlight standing over her. Rainbow was about to say something when Starlight put a hoof up, meaning be quiet. She tilted her head towards the Guard ponies that were not far off. Rainbow followed her tilt and nodded when she saw them.

“Starlight! What are you doing here?! I thought I told you to stay in the camp!” Rainbow hissed quietly.

“The storm got really bad and I wanted to make sure you were okay, but then the camp got attacked and so did you! We need to get out of here!” Starlight whispered. She went towards Rainbow’s hooves to untie them.

Rainbow tried to sit up but her eyes unfocused again and her head felt like a ton of lead. She blinked tiredly.

“Starlight, you need to get away from here! It’s not going to be long before they see you. I don’t know what they’re going to do to me, but if they can’t find you. You need to go! Besides, I don’t think I’d make it five feet. Trust me, I’m not going anywhere with these injuries. Please, just go; get as far away from here as you can.” Rainbow pleaded.

“I’m not leaving without you!” Starlight cried. “I don’t have any pony else!”

“Starlight. I want to come with you. I can’t. I’m sorry, but you need to go. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if they caught you too.” Rainbow said quietly.

“Get as far away from here as you can. Don’t go back to the camp. It’s too dangerous. I’m sorry I can’t help you more. Just stay safe, and stay out of sight. Never forget that your magic can help you. It’s very strong. Okay?” Rainbow said, her magenta eyes locked with Starlight’s light purple ones.

Starlight sniffed and nodded. Rainbow smiled, just a little, but then she winced and then her eyes closed as she slipped out of consciousness. Starlight didn’t want to go didn’t want to leave, but she could already tell that the Guard ponies had come to a decision. With tears in her eyes she teleported away from Rainbow.

“Alright. Captain Breeze, go talk to your squad. Agent Rain, I’m trusting you and Private Flash to get the prisoner back to headquarters.” Starlight watched from behind a tree and as the Guard ponies picked up the still form of Rainbow, she turned and ran as quickly and quietly as she could. She didn’t have a plan yet, but she was darn sure she was going to come up with one.

Chapter Seventeen

Fluttershy watched in horror from behind the corner of the main building of the camp as the ponies that lived there were rounded up. The Guard ponies had them cornered up against the wall and formed a circle around them. The fight was over though. There had been a few casualties on both sides, but far more of the camp ponies lay unmoving in the mud. Almost every pony in the clearing had injuries of one kind or another, some more severe than others.

Fluttershy’s heart went out to each and every one of them. However, she knew that by helping she would give herself up, and in the long run, that wouldn’t really help much. Besides, the white, pink-maned doctor mare that had called the rest of them to battle was tending to those with the worst injuries. Fluttershy sighed and looked around.

At least the storm was letting up. While the rain still fell as steady as ever, the clouds had lightened and thunder and lightning no longer rolled and flashed across the sky. The damage from the storm was immense. Fluttershy couldn’t believe the building was still standing. Every tent in the compound had blown over and everything inside was scattered across the camp. There were trees down all over the forest, some had even fallen and breached the camp’s wall. Even without the Guard’s attack, it would have been a dismal day at the camp.

Fluttershy scanned the crowd of ponies that had been captured; there was no sign of Pinkie Pie. She frowned. She needed to get Pinkie and they needed to get out of here and come up with some way to free the other ponies of the camp. They also needed to meet up with the ponies that had escaped and make sure they were in a safe place out of harm’s way.

Suddenly, with an obnoxiously loud battle cry a pink blur leapt over Fluttershy, who squeaked in surprise.

“Come on! We must free them!” Pinkie hollered as epically as she could. Before she could get much farther though, Fluttershy grabbed her by the tail and drug her around the other side of the building.

“Pinkie! Are you crazy?!” She yelled. She would have worried about being quiet, but Fluttershy’s yell was barely more than a whisper on a loud day, much less when she wanted to stay hidden. Pinkie Pie slumped. Fluttershy sighed, softening.

“I’m sorry. You just startled me. We need to go. We need to meet up with the rest of the camp and devise a plan to get them out. If we run in all willy-nilly, we’ll just get caught too!” Fluttershy told her. Pinkie nodded more than a little dejected.

“Okie Dokie.” She sighed and stood up. “Let’s go.”

Applejack stood at the edge of the Everfree forest, catching her breath. She had been running alongside the forests outside of the City suburbs for hours and had finally reached the opening to the Everfree near what once used to be known as Ponyville. Now, like every other town and city in Equestria it had been renamed to represent new beginnings under the Guard’s rule. Free of the unicorn names and tyrannical magical influence.

Applejack sighed. She knew the Guard and its policies inside and out. She had basically run it for the last ten years. She still couldn’t believe she had left. She wished she had done it sooner. As she stood, not fifteen miles from the town she had called home for her childhood and most of her life before the uprising, she was filled with regret.

She had thought about stopping by the farm, since she was closer to it than she had been in the last decade, but she had quickly shoved that thought aside. Her brother had let her know she was unwelcome there the last time they talked. It was right after she joined the Guard, and Big Mac had told her it was the wrong decision. She had honestly agreed, but she, unlike him, had seen the family name on the Guard’s black list of unicorn supporters and knew it was only a matter of time, when they, like so many others would be quietly and efficiently dealt with.

Unless she did something to prove otherwise; which meant she joined the Guard. The rest was history, but there was no stopping the thoughts swirling in her head. She hoped her family was still safe, still doing what they always had done. She hoped they had been fine without her. The Guard was stationed in the City, this far away, their influence lessened. Applejack liked to think that life was pretty much the same as she had left it.

She shook her head and looked up. A rain cloud sat right at the edge of the Everfree. She shrugged; it wasn’t like she was afraid to get wet. Just before she entered the forest, she pulled out her Element. She exhaled in relief. It had stopped flashing red, and it had not gone black either. Rainbow Dash was out of any immediate threat to her life, though she could still very well be in danger. Applejack’s stomach twisted. She wondered what it was going to be like seeing Rainbow after all these years, if she could find her that was.

She knew the coordinates that were sent to the squads, so she should be able to get close, but now that Rainbow was out of mortal peril, Applejack wasn’t quite sure what she was doing out her. I’m going to save my friend. That’s all that matters. I don’t care what she thinks of me, I need to make sure she is okay. She thought to herself, though nagging doubts still crowded her thoughts. She thought back to seeing her element light up bright red earlier, it had scared her badly.

It just brought back so many memories. That one event had seemed to snap her back into reality. It was almost like she had been some pony else for the last ten years, but when she saw that; everything changed again. Could some pony even change that fast? She questioned.

Applejack rolled her eyes at her own circling thoughts. She had never been much of a thinker, and she figured now was not the time to start. She was a do-er and right now what she needed to do was make sure Rainbow was okay. With that thought in mind she walked into the Everfree and the rain overhead.

Starlight walked through the forest, trying to get some sense of direction to tell her where she was, unfortunately, she was utterly lost. She had been out wandering for hours now. She looked up at the sky, wishing she could get a glimpse of the moon or the sun, or anything to tell her which way to go, but all she was met with was dreary grey clouds that insisted on dumping a constant drizzle down on her. Earlier, she had tried to make a spell to deflect the raindrops around her. It had worked for a while, but now she was just too tired to keep walking and do any sort of magic.

A rustling sounded in the bush beside her, she barely jumped. It was just one more rustle in a long line of rustles. The forest had so many creatures in it and Starlight had given up on being scared of everyone of them. She still had a tingling of fear, thinking about the spider that had attacked her, and with a start she remembered the timberwolf howls from nights past, but she had no choice but to press on through the forest.

Her best hope was to find out if any ponies had escaped from the camp. She knew there was an evacuation tunnel, but she had no idea if it had been used or not. She also had no idea where it came out. All in all, she was lost, but she was even more lost because she hadn’t the foggiest of an idea where she was going. She sat down in frustration, looking angrily at the trees around her, as if they could give her an answer.

Which of course, they couldn’t.

“Before we meet up with the rest of your camp, can we go back to my house so I can retrieve my element? I just don’t feel right not having it with me…um, if that’s okay with you?” Fluttershy said to Pinkie Pie as they walked. They were several hours away from the camp and were tracking the tunnel so that when the other ponies surfaced, they would be nearby.

Fluttershy had a good idea where they were and she knew her home was not far off; it would only take them an extra couple hours to go and get her necklace.

“Okie Dokie, but we need to get to them soon. Hopefully, they remembered to bring my cookies! I could really use a good cookie right now.” Pinkie responded and went off to the direction of Fluttershy’s house.

“How do you know which way to go?” Fluttershy asked.

“I guessed! Was I right?!” Pinkie said matter-of-factly, as if she already knew she was right.

“Um, yeah. This is just the way I would go.” Fluttershy said.

“I’m a real good guesser. Maybe has something to do with my Pinkie Sense.” Pinkie shrugged. Fluttershy didn’t feel the need to press the subject and they walked towards her home in companionable silence.

“That’s the last of them!” Blue Breeze called to Sergeant Clover, who nodded. Their troops had taken control of all the remaining ponies in the camp and were now set to march them out of the compound and back to the City. With any luck it would only take a day or two. The earth pony troops flanked the line of prisoners on both sides and the pegasi flew overhead to discourage any fly-off escape attempts.

“Well, not bad for you’re first command mission, Captain.” Clover said to Blue Breeze, though his tone implied that he didn’t really mean it. “Lucky for you we showed up when we did. You might have been in some kind of pickle!”

“Yes, Sir, we could have. Though my troops seemed to be handling it fine.” Blue Breeze responded, not letting Clover get a rise out of him. The sergeant had already tried to undermine his authority once and he was not getting caught off guard again.

“Well, just glad we earth ponies were here in time to save your flanks is all. You know pegasi troops, all fine, but if you ask me, they're just a little flighty, in a pinch. Anyway, let’s get this all wrapped up and head home. I could seriously go for a good sandwich right now!” Clover said dismissively. Blue Breeze rolled his eyes.

“Sir?” Cloud Puncher, one of his troops asked. Blue Breeze turned around to acknowledge him. “Is there anything else we need to do here?”

“We don’t want this settlement being used again. We’re sure every pony is cleared out?” Blue Breeze asked. Cloud Puncher nodded.

“Torch the place. Get a wind going to dry off the buildings and light them. We want no evidence left that this place even existed.” Blue Breeze told his troops, who nodded. Sergeant Clover glanced at his troops, a few wordless broke out and lit torches.

Suddenly, a commotion from the group of prisoners interrupted the officer’s conversation; a yellow earth pony burst out of the prisoner line and bucked one of the nearby Guards in the head, hard. He was out instantly and she made a run for it. She stopped when she was just about to hit the trees, as if realizing that none of the other camp ponies had followed her lead.

“Come on! At least go down fighting!” She shouted, but none of the other ponies seemed eager to engage in another, even more out numbered fight against the Guard. It was only a matter of seconds before the troops responded, filling the hole in the line and sending two other guards out after her. Her eyes widened and she turned to run, she was surprisingly fast She even managed to outrun the two earth ponies that had chased her.

Blue Breeze just shook his head and snapped his wings open. He really hated runners. They always thought they could get away. He pulled out his tazer and took off in her direction, flying over the two guards that had taken off after her.

“I got her, go back to the line and make sure she is the only problem we have!” He shouted down to them. He looked down a few seconds later and sure enough, she was right beneath him. He put on another burst of speed and dropped down in front of her, firing his tazer as he landed. She barely had time to look surprised before she hit the ground.

After Blue Breeze had hauled the unconscious mare back and instructed two of the camp ponies to carry her, they were ready to go. Blue Breeze nodded to his pegasi troops and Sergeant Clover did the same to his.

“Well, another case handled efficiently. Let’s move out!” Clover said as the camp burned down behind them and the line of prisoners moved forward

Chapter Eighteen

Applejack yawned. It was no wonder she was tired, she had been up all night. She did some calculations. The flare had been sent up at around ten the previous night. She had escaped headquarters at around midnight, according to the last clock she saw, the one in her office. She estimated it was probably around seven or eight in the morning now, though she had no way of being sure.

Suddenly, her tracker began to beep; she was near the coordinates of the flare being sent up. She looked around, for what she could see there was nothing but trees nearby and this part of the forest looked just like every other part of the forest she had been wandering through all night. She frowned, trying to hold back her frustration and think through the problem; which was something she had never been particularly good at while tired, and right now she was exhausted.

She realized that the flare wouldn’t have gone up right at the source of the problem. Most likely, the agent had recognized the issue and hid a little ways off into the forest, to not alert her targets. So, the best option would be to search the area around where the flare coordinates were in bigger and bigger circles. So that is exactly what she did.

It was not long after that, only three circle rotations when she came across something very odd, and without a doubt, Applejack knew that this had been what she was looking for, though she had not expected to find it.

Starlight looked up at the sky. The gray storm clouds from the night before had finally stopped drizzling and were finally beginning to dissipate. Starlight felt an immediate sense of relief when she saw the glowing form of the moon peaking out from between the clouds and trees. She didn’t know quite why, but she had always felt better when she could see the sky. Being able to now made her feel a little less alone.

She tilted her head and thought for a second. Eight a.m. on the hour She thought to herself. Now if she could just figure out where she was. As soon as she thought that, she heard a crunch under her hoof. She had stepped on a leaf. She looked up and realized she had walked into a clearing, a very familiar clearing. She looked at the leaves scattered around on the ground and groaned. It was the clearing she and Zecora had used for training! Which meant she was near the camp. Which meant she had been going in circles all night. Starlight could have yelled in frustration.

At least she had an idea where she was now. She paced in a small circle, unsure of what to do. She could just turn around and try to leave the forest again. That was probably the smart plan since she needed to stay clear of any Guard ponies still wandering around. Also, if she could get out of the forest she could start to figure out a way to get back to the City, which is where she assumed they had taken Rainbow.

On the other hoof, it would be nice to know if the camp had withstood the attack. She doubted it, when she left things had looked pretty dire. However, if there was a chance any pony was left in the camp, or nearby, they may be able to help her figure out what to do next. Also, if she went to the camp she could try to locate the escape tunnel and try to find the ponies that had avoided the attack. She even could try locating Fluttershy or Pinkie Pie and get them to help her.

She needed help. She figured her best bet was to try to find the camp and see if any pony was still there. If they weren’t, then she could try to find the tunnel and where it let out. Either way, she had the best chance that way. She may even find Zecora and be able to ask her about what she had said right before Starlight had gone out into the storm. That was another thing to think about.

The way Zecora had said it made Starlight confused. It almost sounded like a poem, or a riddle or something… Zecora had talked about unicorn magic, about bringing it back…What did that mean? And the key was the first part of you? Did that mean the letter ‘y’ or the word ‘yo’? Or was Zecora directly talking about Starlight? Was the key her head? And that stuff about where magic came from…far above? Where was that? Did Zecora mean the mountain the City was on? It was the highest point of elevation in all of Equestria after all. Was there a secret door in the mountain that had magic inside? Thinking about it all gave Starlight a headache.

She needed to find help. What was most important to Starlight right now was getting Rainbow free, not deciphering some zebra riddle. Despite the fact that her head was still spinning with thoughts and plans, Starlight decided to find the camp. She set off in that direction.

Applejack stared at the destruction laid out before her. A huge half-scorched bush surrounded the place like a wall. Inside, everything had been burned. Smoking remains of what seemed to be tents and other supplies lay in heaps, looking like they had been thrown and scattered by the wind. At the sight of these things, Applejack realized what she was looking at. It was the remains of a camp.

The frame of a make-shift building stood in the center, half collapsed from fire damage. The lower floors still looked like they might have actual flames burning in them. The destruction was not without casualties. There were Guard soldiers and civilians laying still in the mud and ash. Applejack resisted the urge to be upset or disgusted. This was not the first time she had seen a battlefield after a fight.

She realized that this was why the agent had sent up the flare. She must have found this camp while searching for Rainbow Dash and the unicorn filly. They must have been a resistance against the Guard. Just like protocol in this situation, the Guard had responded fast and eliminated the camp. Applejack’s scowl deepened. This was not the first time the Guard had done something like this, but it was one of the first times in a long time she could feel the true hatred for it.

She needed to go. She still had no idea where Rainbow Dash was, and if the unicorn filly was even still alive. She had to assume that the Guard had arrested any surviving members of the resistance and were on their way back to the City. Applejack needed to intercept that march. She hoped that Rainbow Dash had evaded capture. If they had caught her, she may already be back in the City for questioning. Applejack bit her lip, thinking out her options.

She shrugged, realizing the decision was not a hard one. That march was her best option. There was a chance to find Rainbow Dash or the unicorn filly and at the very least she could help free the Resistance ponies now that she was officially against the Guard. She looked around for tracks that would indicate which way they went for sure. It wasn’t hard to find. The tracks of over twenty ponies lead off from the other side of the camp, back towards the edge of the forests and back to the City.

Applejack went to follow it and as she did she turned around to look back at the camp one last time, just to make absolutely sure she wasn’t missing anything. She was glad she did as a sudden flash of movement caught her eye. What was that? She thought, turning to look at the spot where she thought she had seen something small dart behind the wall. She narrowed her eyes and began to move towards it. It had almost looked like a very small purple pony.

Starlight wanted to cry. She looked at the camp in complete ruin and felt her heart sink. She had only been here a week or so, but it had already started to feel like home. Like the best home she had ever had. Now, now it was gone. Along with every pony in it, it felt like. The destruction was total. She stood still, almost in shock as she looked at the ruins of the vibrant and alive place that had been perfect and whole the day before.

Then she noticed something. An orange earth pony was standing on the other side of the camp. Starlight had thought the place was empty, and this was not a pony she recognized. She ducked behind a still standing portion of the wall and hoped to the stars that she had not been seen. With her luck, it was probably a left-over Guard pony. From what Starlight had seen, the pony wasn’t in uniform, but you could never be too cautious.

Starlight started inching her way back towards the forest, keeping her face turned towards the hole in the wall she had almost gone through. She was so scared she didn’t even breathe. She could not be caught by the Guard, not after Rainbow had given herself up so she could get away.

She was almost to the tree line when her back hoof ran into something warm and furry. Her heart skipped a beat, she jumped and she screamed as she whirled around to see what it was. She jumped even higher when she realized that it was the orange pony.

Starlight had never wished she had her hat on more than she did right now. When she was at Fluttershy’s and then the camp, it hadn’t mattered that she was a unicorn or who knew it. Now, looking into the bright green eyes of the mare that was currently staring down at her, she felt very exposed and did the very first thing she could think of.

With a pop she tried to teleport away, she didn’t really care where, just away, but just as she was about to disappear in her bubble of dark purple magic, a hoof stopped her.

“Woah, now just hold on a second.” The orange pony said as she reached out and took Starlight by the hoof. “I’m not gonna hurt you, just stay here for a second.” She continued. Starlight tried again to teleport, but she couldn’t. If another pony was touching her when she tried, she would have had to take them with her. Starlight’s magic was not strong enough to teleport more than herself. She huffed and looked up at the mare who was holding her.

The orange pony slowly let her go. “Please, just hear me out.”

“Who are you?” Starlight demanded, looking up at the pony with a scowl.

“My name is Applejack. I’m uh, ah…well, I used to be a friend of Rainbow Dash, and I’m looking for her. Do you know her? Or where I could find her?” The orange pony told Starlight slowly, as if she was afraid Starlight was going to bolt any second, which was a well founded thought because Starlight was thinking of doing exactly that.

Starlight frowned and narrowed her eyes at the orange pony, Applejack, if that really was her name.

“Prove it.”

“Prove what?”

“That you’re really a friend of Rainbow’s.”

“So you do know her.” Applejack said with a small smirk. Starlight was unfazed and raised an eyebrow at the older pony. She was still waiting for her proof.

“How do you want me to prove it?” Applejack asked. Starlight thought for a second. She wasn’t quite sure how. She just needed to know this pony was being honest. If she really was who she said she was, then maybe she could help Starlight free Rainbow, or at least help Starlight find her.

“Tell me something about Rainbow most ponies wouldn’t know.” Starlight said.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know…were you just friends with Rainbow? Or were you friends with her other friends too?” Starlight asked, still trying to think of a way to know for sure about this orange mare.

“We were all friends. Rainbow, me, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie…” Applejack trailed off. Starlight put up a hoof, that was a good start, but any good spy could have looked that up. Then she had an idea. She wasn’t sure if it would work, but Applejack had said she was friends with Pinkie too…

“Can you promise me that you’re being honest?” Starlight asked. Applejack smiled.

“I can do better than that. Have you ever heard of a Pinkie Promise?” Starlight grinned, just a little, and just to herself. It was exactly what she had been hoping for. It was as good a proof as any. Besides that, if she was lying, she would be breaking the promise. Nobody breaks a Pinkie Promise. Starlight was pretty sure that Pinkie actually hunted down those who did.

“I’ve heard they’re unbreakable and I’ll know whether or not you do it right.” Starlight countered. This was a good test, Starlight thought. Not many ponies knew about Pinkie Promises and it was one of the few things Rainbow had told her about her past and her friends.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Applejack recited, and looked back at Starlight, who nodded. Starlight sighed in relief and smiled. She had been almost positive she had been caught, but now she had a new ally. She didn’t know for sure that she could trust this mare; after all she had no idea where she came from or who she really was, other than her name was Applejack. However, despite all that, Starlight could feel like she was telling the truth. She didn’t know how she knew it, but she did for certain.

“So do you know where Rainbow Dash is?” Applejack asked. Starlight felt her heart sink just thinking about it.

“Not for sure…I do know that she was captured.” She said quietly. Applejack blinked slowly, taking it in.

“That’s what I was afraid of.” She muttered unhappily.

“Hey, you’re her friend and you want to find her right? Can you help me get her back?” Starlight asked, looking hopefully up at Applejack who nodded.

“Absolutely.”

Fluttershy was deep in thought as they walked. She and Pinkie had just left her house, or what was left of her house anyway. They had found it in a dismal state. Not only was there all the damage from when Rainbow and the pegasus that had attacked her fought, which included a huge dent in the wall, an actual hole in another all and all the knocked over and ruined furniture; but there was also all the damage from the storm.

A nearby tree had fallen on the cottage and rain had spilled in. The bottom level had flooded, and there was still an inch or two of water on the floor. Luckily, none of the animals had been hurt, for which Fluttershy thanked the lucky starts above. While they had been there, she had cleared out a few rooms and reset some enclosures in the backyard and told all the animals she would be back soon. Well, almost all.

Angel had absolutely refused to let her leave, so she had compromised and let him come with. He was now sitting happily on her back and looking around curiously.

“Don’t you get any ideas.” Fluttershy told him. “The forest is no place for a little bunny like you.” He pouted and then moped for a second. Fluttershy raised an eyebrow at him, and once he realized she wasn’t buying it he resumed his looking around. She rolled her eyes.

“Pinkie? How much longer until we get to the emergency shelter?” Fluttershy asked. Pinkie scrunched up her nose and looked at the sky. She put her nose to the ground and sniffed. She stood back up.

“About five minutes, I’d say.” She said with certainty, although it was hard to take her seriously with the bit of mud that had stayed on her nose.

“Really? That soon?” Fluttershy giggled. Pinkie nodded, not understanding why Fluttershy was laughing, but she wasn’t concerned with finding out and just turned on her hooves.

“Follow me!” She bounced ahead, then, as if something had suddenly occurred to her, she stopped. “Hey Fluttershy?” She said, a little more serious as she turned around.

“What is it?”

“So, I was thinking. This shelter is not very stable, we can’t stay here for more than a day or two.” Pinkie said slowly.

“Yes, and?”

“Well, your house needs rebuilding and we have a lot of ponies that would be willing to help. It wouldn’t be permanent or anything, but could we set up camp around your place? Just for a little while? We’d repay you by fixing your cottage!” Pinkie told her enthusiastically.

Fluttershy didn’t really even have to think about it. It was the best option those ponies had and if she was honest with herself, she wanted them to come. She had loved this past week or so, getting to see ponies every day, getting to talk with them, it made her realize how lonely she had been these past few years. She had been dreading going back home, but now, she could bring them with her.

“Don’t worry; we wouldn’t all be in your house! We have lots of tents and stuff stored at the shelter; really we could work it out so you would barely notice us.” Pinkie said hopefully. Fluttershy smiled happily.

“I would love to help. It will be nice having so many friends around.” Fluttershy told Pinkie, who bounced with joy. She turned and bounced down the path.

“Well, we’d better go get them!” She said and Fluttershy followed.

Chapter Nineteen

Starlight and Applejack had been walking through the forest for roughly two hours and Starlight was beginning to really get tired. She could see that Applejack was too. She yawned for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, but Starlight did not feel like stopping. Not only were they still deep in the Everfree forest, which was a horrible place to sleep at any time, they also could not afford to stop. Every second they walked rather than stopped was a second closer they were to Rainbow and that was where Starlight desperately wanted to be.

She looked up at the sky. She was happy to be able to see both the moon and the sun for the first time in days, since the storm had finally cleared completely. Looking at the sun, Starlight noticed something odd. It seemed…off; like it didn’t fit in the sky anymore. She frowned. She was sure it was too big. It wasn’t just her imagining it. It was defiantly the wrong size. She stopped, just looking towards its still form on the horizon.

When Applejack noticed that she had stopped, she turned around,

“What is it?” She asked, looking around as if there was something hiding in the brush.

“The sun is too big.” Starlight said simply, and to her surprise, Applejack nodded.

“Yep. It’s expanding.” Applejack replied.

“Is it supposed to do that?” Starlight asked.

“Nope.”

Starlight shivered as if blown by a cold breeze, despite the fact the forest around them was quiet, still, and pleasantly warm after the storm had passed through. The shiver was something deeper, like a distinct wrong. Starlight had known that the sun was wrong before, but having it confirmed, that was something different entirely. She wondered for a fleeting second if Applejack was being truthful, and besides, how did she know?

Despite that, Starlight could tell her words rang with truth. Starlight didn’t know how or why, but she knew Applejack wouldn’t and more importantly, wasn’t, lying to her. She frowned.

“How can we fix it?” She asked, more than a little scared by what the answer could be.

“We? We can’t.” Applejack said, turning to the path, motioning for Starlight to come up beside her and talk as they walked. Starlight scrunched up her nose. The typical ‘You’re a kid and you can’t help’ response, exactly what she had been expecting. She was wrong.

“But…” Applejack started, turning to face Starlight again, “maybe you can.”

“Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked tentatively, looking at the fluffy tail in front of her. She had been following Pinkie through the forest for several hours now, and she was sure they should have come to their destination already. Pinkie, though, seemed just as sure of where they were as she was when they started out that morning.

“What’s up, Fluttercup?” Pinkie said, turning around and bouncing back towards her. Fluttershy looked around; they were in a part of the forest she had never been in before.

“Are we lost?” Fluttershy asked bluntly. Pinkie looked up as if she were thinking. She went over to a tree, put her ear against it and started nodding, as if she were listening to some pony. Fluttershy was baffled. Then Pinkie stepped away from the tree and went right over to a seemingly random patch of dirt, muttering as she went.

“Do you know where we are?” Fluttershy pressed.

“Results so far are inconclusive. Hold on for just a tinsy-weensy minute!” Pinkie said happily. She picked up a dirt clod and licked it, then with a shrug ate the whole thing. Fluttershy’s eyebrows rose in confusion, but she didn’t say anything. She had long ago learned to let Pinkie be Pinkie, and not get in the way. She shuddered as she remembered a particular instance of parasprites when Pinkie wasn’t listened to. It hadn’t ended well.

Pinkie finished the dirt clod and dug a lollipop out of….somewhere. Fluttershy couldn’t tell where, one second it wasn’t there and the next Pinkie was eating it as she looked around.

“So…?” Fluttershy prompted.

“I have no idea where we are!” Pinkie said with flourish and went to continue down the path.

“Wha….?” Fluttershy trailed off.

Suddenly Pinke jumped, turned and focused on a spot off the path; she was completely still.

“Pinkie?!” Fluttershy was getting frustrated.

Pinkie turned to her, eyes wide and held a hoof to her muzzle, signaling for Fluttershy to be quiet. Flutterhsy nodded, her ears pricked in the direction Pinkie was looking. After a few seconds of still, tense silence, a voice reached Fluttershy’s ears.

“Me? How could I fix it?”

Pinkie looked deliberately at Fluttershy. They both knew that voice. Starlight. They needed to get to her. Fluttershy felt hope flare inside her; maybe Rainbow was with her, maybe she was alright. No pony had seen Rainbow since she had flown off before the storm and the attack. Fluttershy had been worried, but there were other more pressing matters at hoof. Rainbow, for the most part, could handle herself. Fluttershy strained to hear another familiar voice answer back to Starlight.

She was not prepared to hear the familiar voice that answered.

“Well, as far as ah understand it, the sun is expanding because it is too old. Before the Uprising the princesses were stopping this from happening with magic; but now the magic has worn off and we have no way to put it back.” Applejack said.

It suddenly dawned on Starlight why she might be able to fix it. She was the only unicorn left. The only magic left. She felt a very big weight settle on her. It was far too much to expect a filly to save a planet. Wasn’t it? Starlight felt a little nauseous. Applejack noticed and her face softened.

“It’s alright, sugarcube. We don’t really expect you to do it by yourself, we--”

Applejack was cut off as something launched itself at her and tackled her to the ground. She struggled, but whatever it was had an iron grip on her. Starlight jumped backwards in shock, and also to avoid the mass of flailing hooves, both those of Applejack as she struggled and those of her attacker.

“You get away from her!” The attacker yelled at Applejack, who tried to say something, but was clearly being crushed under the weight of the very angry, very pink pony on top of her.

“Pinkie?!” Starlight gasped. “What are you doing?!” She yelled, trying to run towards them, but something got in her way.

“Fluttershy move!” Starlight yelled. “She’s a friend!” Starlight tried to squirm under Fluttershy’s outstretched wing.

“Starlight, please! We need to get you out of here! Hop up! You can ride on me like you do Rainbow!” Fluttershy said, her voice tense and strained. Starlight didn’t understand. What was going on? Why were Fluttershy and Pinkie acting like this?

“Starlight! It’s dangerous! Come with me!” Fluttershy said with force.

“No! Tell me what’s going on! What’s dangerous?!” Starlight yelled back, trying again to get around Fluttershy, straining to see what was happening.

Pinkie still had Applejack pinned under her. Applejack struggled to free herself, or even to be able to breathe.

“Pinkie Pie!” She gasped. “Get off….can’t breathe!”

“Why should I care?! You’re a just dirty traitor! You deserve it!” Pinkie yelled shrilly. Applejack had clearly had enough.

“One last…chance! GET OFF!”

“No!”

Applejack pulled in a breath and kicked her back legs, hard. They connected with Pinkie’s stomach and the force threw Pinkie up into the air.

“Pinkie!” Fluttershy cried, trying to fly towards her friend. Pinkie was going to come down hard on the forest floor.

“Starlight!” Applejack yelled, and in an instant, Starlight understood what Applejack wanted her to do. She pulled deep into herself and summoned her magic. A dark purple aura surrounded Pinkie seconds before she would have crash landed. Starlight let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding.

Applejack sucked one in and stood up.

“Alrighty, can we just stop for a second and talk about this like rational ponies?!” She said, trying to stay calm. It was clear that she was frustrated.

Pinkie pulled herself up, apparently not injured in the slightest, and faced Applejack, the intent to re-attack written all over her face.

“The time for talking is over! You should have thought of that ten years ago!” Pinkie snarled, and then sprung. Applejack set her hooves in the ground and braced herself.

“STOP!!!” Starlight screamed, running between them. Surprisingly, they both stopped. She let out a huff. “There’s no need for any pony to get hurt!” She said, looking at both of them.

“Starlight, get out of the way.” Applejack told her.

“Starlight get away from her!” Pinkie said, with a venom-filled glare directed towards Applejack.

“No. She’s not mean. She hasn’t hurt me or anything! She’s nice! She found me by the camp and she’s gonna help me find Rainbow!” Starlight pleaded to Pinkie. Then she turned back to Applejack.

“I thought you said that they were your friends.”

“'Were' being the important word in that sentence.” Applejack responded wryly.

“Yeah. We are totally not friends.” Pinkie said, very seriously. All traces of her usual playful nature were gone. “Now go with Fluttershy.” Starlight frowned up at her.

“Um. Can I ask something?” Fluttershy asked. They all turned to look at her. “You know, um, if you don’t mind.” She said, shrinking a little.

“Go ahead, Sugarcube.” Applejack automatically responded. Pinkie shot Applejack another hate filled look.

“Starlight did you say something happened to Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked. Starlight nodded sadly.

“She was captured during the raid. They brought her directly back to the city.” Starlight’s heart fell just thinking about it.

“Oh, no…” Fluttershy murmured softly.

“I know… But Applejack said she knew how to get her out! We can go save her!” Starlight said, holding onto the one hope she had left.

“Starlight, I think you need come with us. We’ll drop you off with the rest of the refugees from the camp and we’ll go get Rainbow, I promise.” Fluttershy said pleadingly, looking down at her.

“I’m coming too! You might need my help! Besides, you can’t just leave me here! And you need Applejack! She promised me that she’d help get Rainbow free! She said she knows how.” Starlight said, standing to defend Applejack. Pinkie looked up at Applejack.

“I’ll bet she does.” Pinkie said meanly. “The better question is: Why?”

“Why what?” Applejack rebuffed.

“Why you would want to free Rainbow Dash! Why you’re helping Starlight!” Pinkie responded. “Starlight, have you thought of that?! Why she’s helping you? Has it even occurred to you that it might be a trap?” Pinkie said, her eyes wide.

“Because she’s a friend! And friends help each other!” Starlight said.

“How do you know she’s a friend?!”

“She proved it! And she promised.” Starlight said. Pinkie frowned and closed her eyes, clearly thinking something over.

“I found her, lost and alone in the woods. She happens to want to help get Rainbow Dash free, which is the same thing I want. I know you don’t trust me, and I understand that.” Applejack said to Pinkie, trying to get Pinkie to understand. Pinkie sighed.

“Why are you helping us? Why free Rainbow Dash at all? Why…” Pinkie trailed off, looking at Starlight.

“Because I don’t want Rainbow to get hurt. Same as you.”

“Why don’t you just let her go? Surely you would have that power.” Pinkie responded.

“Actually, I don’t. As of yesterday, I am no longer a member of the Guard.” Applejack confessed. All three of them stared at her. Fluttershy and Pinkie because they couldn’t, and at least Pinkie, didn’t believe it. Starlight because she didn’t know Applejack was a Guard pony in the first place. She backed towards Pinkie and Fluttershy.

“You’re a Guard?” She asked cautiously.

“Not anymore.” Applejack said, trying to keep Starlight on her side.

“She wasn’t just any Guard, Starlight. She’s the General.” Pinkie said, knowing that it would drive home why she and Fluttershy didn’t trust Applejack. Starlight was shocked. A cold lump of something formed in her belly. She realized it was a mix of fear and betrayal.

“What? Is that true?” She asked, searching Applejack’s face, waiting for her to deny it.

“Yes.” Applejack said, her voice infused with shame.

“So, you were trying to trick me!” Starlight gasped. She didn’t even want to think of what could have happened. She had always seen the Guard ponies as obvious, blunt officers who took what they wanted when they wanted. It had never occurred to her that one could slip under her nose in the guise of a friend. She focused on Applejack, confusion and fear written all over her small features.

“No, I really did mean everything I said.” Applejack said, trying to win the losing battle in front of her.

“You’re a liar!” Pinkie said harshly and then looked to Fluttershy and Starlight. “Let’s go. We have to find the rest of the camp, and then we all can go and save Rainbow Dash.”

Starlight bit her lip. Somehow, despite everything stacked against Applejack, Starlight still felt like the orange mare had been truthful with her. Besides, who better to break into the Guard’s stronghold than its old leader? It was a huge risk. There was still a nagging doubt in the back of Starlight’s mind that she was being led into a trap. She didn’t know what to do. She looked at the faces of the ponies around her.

Applejack had her head held in shame, as if she already knew that she had lost all trust. Pinkie still looked like she wanted to attack Applejack, and Fluttershy just looked nervous. Starlight needed to either go with Pinkie and Fluttershy or stand with Applejack. She couldn’t help feeling like they were both the wrong choices. Then another thought floated towards her, something she had forgotten about.

Applejack knew about the problem with the sun and she also knew that Starlight was the only one who could fix it. Even if she was lying, she needed Starlight alive and willing to fix it. Starlight swallowed, her mouth dry; she would need to know how to fix it too, which was no small task for a filly who had only just started learning magic last week and knew a grand total of two spells.

Starlight sighed. There really was only the one choice; the one that lead her back to Rainbow with the most speed and the most chance of helping her escape. It also happened to be the choice where Starlight had to master high level magic and save the sun, so the world wasn’t destroyed. She pushed that particularly scary thought out of her mind; she would cross that bridge when she reached it. Though, she could still feel that in the back of her thoughts, a weight that she knew wouldn’t leave until this whole mess was figured out.

She looked back to the ponies around her, and they were all looking at her. She realized she had completely spaced out and had not moved for several minutes. She coughed in embarrassment. Then she steeled herself and said,

“I’m going with Applejack.”

“WHAT?!” Pinkie yelled angrily.

“I trust her, even if you don’t and if she was part of the Guard, she’ll know how to get to Rainbow.” Starlight defended her decision. Applejack looked very surprised for a second, but then with a shake of her head, reasserted herself. She opened her mouth to say something, but she was interrupted by Fluttershy, of all ponies.

“Well, then we’re coming too.”

“Fluttershy! We can’t! We have to get to the rest of the camp…and other things!” Pinkie protested. Fluttershy pulled her away from Starlight and Applejack.

“You don’t have to come. I am going to make sure Starlight is safe and get Rainbow Dash back. The refugees will be fine for a few days. Zecora and all the med ponies are there. They all know how to take care of themselves.” Fluttershy reassured Pinkie. “Besides, then you can keep an eye on Applejack.”

“I can’t believe you’re willing to trust her! After all that has happened, we see her again and poof! You believe everything she says!” Pinkie frowned.

“I didn’t say I trust her. I did say she is the best way to get to Rainbow, nothing more. I just don’t think attacking any pony is going to solve anything. Who knows? Maybe she has changed. It’s been a very long time. I think we should give her the benefit of the doubt.” Fluttershy explained in a soft voice.

“Fine. But I’m keeping a very, very close eye on her!” Pinkie fumed.

“Agreed.” Fluttershy nodded.

Chapter Twenty

Starlight tilted her head and looked up at the sky. Seven-thirty… She thought then frowned slightly, thinking. five. Seven-thirty five. She rolled over and yawned, looking at the remains of the previous night’s campfire. After Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy had joined them, they all had been far too tired to continue trekking through the forest. They had decided to make camp for a few hours before resuming their rescue mission.

It was actually a really good thing Pinkie and Fluttershy had decided to come along. Before, when it was just Starlight and Applejack, camping in the Everfree would have been far too dangerous, but with increased numbers, and other ponies to be able to stay up on watch, they had managed to get through the night. Starlight looked up at a very tired looking Fluttershy, who smiled at her. Fluttershy, apparently had taken the last watch. She and Pinkie had alternated all night.

Applejack had offered, but Pinkie refused to let her. She had looked a little put off, but had settled down to sleep while muttering something about “fine! More sleep for me anyways!”

“We should wake the others so we can get going.” Starlight said to Fluttershy. Starlight was already thinking about how much time sleeping had cost them and how much longer it was going to take to get to Rainbow. Fluttershy nodded and tapped Pinkie lightly on the shoulder.

“No…five more cupcakes…” Pinkie murmured. Fluttershy rolled her eyes and tapped her a little harder. After a few more taps, Pinkie rolled over, stood straight up and walked out of the clearing they had stayed in. Starlight gave Fluttershy a questioning look. Fluttershy shrugged.

“Good mornin’” Applejack said with a stretch from behind Starlight. Fluttershy didn’t say anything, but Starlight gave Applejack a smile and responded with her own ‘good morning’.

“We should reach the edge of the city by nightfall. That is if we get going. Where’d Pinkie Pie run off to?” Applejack said to Fluttershy, who shrugged.

Suddenly, Pinkie raced back into the clearing, going full speed and breathing heavily. They all jumped up when she came barreling in.

“What? What it is?” Fluttershy gasped, startled.

“The rest of the camp!” Pinkie said in a rush. “Come on!”

“Wait! Like the ones who got out through the tunnel? They should be no where near this side of the forest.” Fluttershy responded in confusion. Pinkie turned back towards her.

“No! The ones the Guard captured! We have to help them!” Pinkie said and prepared to zip out of the clearing. Before she could run off again, Applejack grabbed Pinkie’s tail in her mouth.

“Now wait just a gosh-darn second!” Applejack said around a mouthful of curly pink hair.

“Let go of me!” Pinkie shrieked and kicked Applejack in the jaw. Applejack tried to hold on but was unable to. She fell backwards and landed with a huff, the air in her lungs knocked out. Pinkie tried to leave again, but was blocked by Fluttershy.

“WAIT!” Fluttershy yelled just about as loud as she could. Pinkie stopped and looked at her.

“Not you too! I knew she was a traitor, but you won’t help me rescue them either?!” Pinkie said, getting even more frustrated.

“I didn’t say that!” Fluttershy protested.

“Neither did I!” Applejack chimed in, “We just need a plan first.”

“The plan is to rescue them! Let! Me! Go! Do! That!” She said with emphasis on each word, while trying to edge around Fluttershy, who was doing a surprisingly good job at keeping Pinkie from running off.

“Pinkie Pie!” Applejack said sternly. “Listen for a second. That line of prisoners is going to be surrounded by no less than two squads of Guards, one pegasi, one earth pony. That is at the very least sixteen soldiers, and could be up to thirty-two. Do you really expect to take on that many all by yourself?”

“I don’t care what you say! I’m going after them! They’re part of my camp and I have to protect them! I don’t care about the odds!” Pinkie rebuffed.

“Just listen! I’m not going to stop you if you want to try and free them. But if you want a chance to not just get caught yourself and actually free them, you’re going to need help. More specifically, my help. So can we work together on this?”

Pinkie sighed in resignation, her hard set composure melting away.

“Fine, but you betray us in anyway to those Guards, you will pay for it.” She finished.

“Good. Let’s get started.” Applejack smiled and began drawing a plan in the dirt. Starlight looked up at Pinkie and was more than a little surprise to see the ghost of a smile on her face too.

Rainbow Dash slowly drug herself out of unconsciousness. Every single inch of her body hurt. She tried to roll over, but was stopped by something. She realized with a start that all four of her hooves were tied down. She wiggled each in turn, trying to see if she could slip out of the metal cuffs. Nope. They had even put a brace on her wings; she could feel it digging into her back underneath her.

She was about to open her eyes and find out exactly where she was, but just before she did she heard the softest exhalation of breath. She tensed, some pony else was in the room with her. She was instantly fully awake. Her ears twitched, trying to pick up any other sounds. Hopefully whoever was there would think she was still unconscious.

“I know you are awake, Miss Dash.” A male voice informed her. Her eyes flew open and she looked around. She was in a prison cell; concrete walls, concrete floor, thick bars on one side, no windows. She was chained to a metal table in its center.

A sick feeling of dread rose up in her stomach. She wasn’t just in a regular cell, and it wouldn’t take an idiot to figure out where she really was or why she was there. They wanted information. Her pulse quickened and she finally looked towards the other pony in the cell with her.

He was a lean and brutal-looking pegasus. He looked back at her with obvious cruelty in his dark, black eyes. His coat was the dark red color of dried blood. All in all, he sent shivers racing up and down Dash’s spine. She fought down the urge to flinch.

“I hope you find our accommodations to your liking.” He said in a calm voice, laced with malice. Dash steeled herself. She needed to stay strong. She needed to not submit to anything he did. Play it cool. She thought to herself.

“Oh yes, five star.” She said sarcastically. He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t rise to the jab.

“Good, good.” He turned away from her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a small table lined with small objects. She couldn’t really see what they were, but she had a good guess.

“Now, I just have a couple of questions for you, Rainbow Dash.” He said, turning back towards her, still calm, still relaxed. She didn’t respond.

“You see, we have two options. We can continue being civil, I ask the questions, you answer them. The other option, well, I will get my answers. Whatever it takes. I have ways, you know.” He explained in a detached way. She stayed silent. He pursed his lips.

“If I were you, I would choose the first option. It will be a lot more…let’s just say pleasant for you. Then again, if I were me… and of course I am,” He laughed. “I would choose the second option. It sounds like a lot more fun.” He turned back to the table with a smirk.

“Going to stay silent, huh?” With surprising quick speed, he turned around and struck. Dash gasped as a line of pain blossomed across her cheek.

“So, what’s your choice?” He asked again. Dash bit her lip as blood ran down her face from the cut he had just made. It was only the first. The first of many, she knew would be coming. She had to get through this. She had to believe she was going to get out of this mess.

And if she wasn’t, well, she had to make sure those she cared about would stay safe. She couldn’t afford to let any information slip. Besides, she knew how this would end. It wouldn’t matter if she gave him anything or not. At the end of the day, he would still kill her. Nothing short of a miracle could save her now. She took in a breath, preparing herself. Better to go down loyal than to die a coward.

“I’m not going to tell you anything.” She told him.

“That’s what I was hoping you would say.” He said, all trace of calm now gone, replaced by a savage intensity of malice, and excitement. She met his gaze head on, and their eyes locked for a fraction of a second, black and magenta. His filled with cruelty and hers with defiance; but it only lasted for that brief second.

With another burst of lightning speed, he thrust his knife down. Rainbow Dash screamed in pain.

“Alright. I’m going to go over this one more time, and then we’ll attack. Ready?” Applejack asked. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Starlight all nodded. They all looked down at the drawings in the dirt Applejack had traced with a stick. There was a line, that was the prisoners; and there were little ‘X’s scattered around it, those were Guards, and finally there were four ‘O’s to represent the four of them. Applejack pointed to six of the Xs, spread out farther from the main group.

“These are the outriders. If we want to have any chance of getting to the line, we’ll have to take them out first. The two in the front are scouts; the two in the back are the rear Guards, the middle are moving sentries. They all have whistles to alert the main Guards of any danger, if any of them signals, the entire line stops and the other ten Guards, four on each side of the line, and two above” She pointed to the Xs in question. “form a protective circle around the prisoners. We cannot let those whistles sound. Got it?”

They all nodded.

“Good. So, I’ll take out the two in the back. Pinkie Pie will handle the scouts. Fluttershy and Starlight, can you each handle one of the sentries? We have to be fast and take all of them down at roughly the same time. All six of the outriders have a relay system between themselves as well and if just one goes down before the others, they’ll whistle.”

Fluttershy and Starlight nodded.

“We can handle it.” Starlight said with a nod from Fluttershy.

“Once we take out the outriders, the real fight is going to start. We got lucky. Most of each squad must have been sent ahead, leaving only a small few to guard the line. We only have sixteen to contend with in total, and only ten are actually guarding the line. We’ll need to attack with surprise and efficiency. Our attack will start from above.”

Applejack pointed to the front of the line and drew two fluffy-looking circles. Starlight guessed they were trees.

“Fluttershy and Pinkie will be concealed in the trees here,” she jabbed at the first fluffy circle. “and here. Pinkie, you’ll drop down in front of the line. Your first and most important targets will be the two leaders. Fluttershy, you’ll try to get the two high Guard pegasi down to the ground. Disable them quickly and move down the line. Do anything you can to take them down. I’ll attack from the rear. If they are in traditional formation, the two squad leaders will be in those positions. I’ll handle them.”

“What do you want me to do?” Starlight asked. Applejack nodded and drew another fluffy circle off to the side.

“You stay behind this tree until you hear the signal. When you do, still try to stay hidden. Do what you can to help us from a distance. You are our eyes in the sky; help out any of us that you can see get in trouble. Use your magic. Don’t hold back, got it?” Starlight nodded.

“Pinkie? How much assistance do you think we can get from the prisoners? You’re the only one who has seen them. How bad did they look?” Pinkie thought for a moment and sighed.

“They looked roughed up. You have to remember that before they were captured there was a huge battle. But, I think they could help. They’re a tough bunch. There are nearly twenty-five of them in that line. They should help us even up the numbers, at least a little.” Applejack took that in and looked down again.

“Good. I think we’re ready. We need to get into position now. We need to be ready before they pass by. Attack when you hear the signal.” They all nodded. Pinkie Pie took off at a run; she would have to be fast to get into position before the scouts arrived. Fluttershy shot off with a few flaps of her wings and was quickly lost to sight amongst the trees and other foliage. Applejack turned to Starlight.

“Stay safe above all else. You’re more important than the rest of us.” Starlight nodded.

“Thank you.” She said before Applejack left.

“For what?”

“For not underestimating me, and not treating me like a kid.”

“With that magic of yours, you're probably more powerful than any of us. Use that to your advantage.” Applejack turned. They could both hear the not very far off sounds of marching. Applejack turned and galloped off in the opposite direction. Starlight soon couldn’t see her anymore either.

Starlight looked around and then trotted to a tree a few feet away from where they had planned their attack. Applejack had purposely given Starlight the sentry on this side so she wouldn’t have to go very far. She focused on a branch up above her and lit her horn.

A soft dark purple aura enveloped her and she felt herself lift off the ground. Levitation was just one of many rudimentary magics she had learned during her time with Zecora. It had taken a little practice to be able to be able to turn it towards herself, but with a little effort, she was soon sitting up in the tree, waiting for the sentry to pass by.

The forest was quiet and still for a few seconds and Starlight jittered in anticipation. Her heart raced. Finally, an orange stallion dressed in Guard uniform materialized out of the trees. She looked down on him from above. She powered up her magic and prepared to fire the spell at him. She just had to wait for the signal. Horn tingling, she waited tensely. Where was the signal? If she didn’t fire the spell soon, the sentry would be out of her reach.

A high bird whistle reached her ears. It was the signal. She had practiced listening for it all morning. It was a bird call that no bird would make in this forest, but only some pony like Fluttershy would know that, unless they were listening specifically for it.

With sudden intensity, Starlight whipped her head down and fired directly at the Guard below her. He fell to the ground with a thump. A few seconds later a snore floated up to Starlight. She smiled. The sleep spell was a new one for her. She liked it. He would be asleep for at least an hour now, hopefully more. With a pop, Starlight teleported to the forest floor.

She took off in the direction of the prisoner line. It was time for Phase Two.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Starlight sat in the dip of Applejack’s back as they raced through the forest. After they had left the rest of the camp ponies they had set out with a relentless, driving pace. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were using every bit of earth pony speed and endurance to keep that pace up. Starlight couldn’t figure out how they were going so fast without stumbling over roots or plants or fallen logs or any of the things that had slowed her and Rainbow Dash down when they came through the forest the first time.

One time Starlight had looked down and could have sworn she saw a root actually wiggle out of Pinkie’s way. She looked up. Fluttershy was flying overhead, catching the air currents that constantly blew over the Everfree to stay level with them on the ground. As she was looking to make sure Fluttershy was still with them, a glare caught her eye. She blinked and looked over towards the sun, so big now that it was brighter out than Starlight had ever seen.

Applejack had commented that it was nearly as bright as day. Starlight really didn’t know what that meant, since she had never seen the sun any brighter than the usual twilight brilliance it shared with the moon, and the sky was the same whether it was day or night. Now though, the moon, sitting on the other horizon, looked dim and small in comparison to the giant sun that was already starting to fill the sky.

A sliver of doubt nagged at Starlight. She was meant to fix that? That problem looked too big for any one pony to fix, let alone a tiny filly who didn’t even really know magic. She shivered. She would need more magic if she was going to do it. She just wished she knew where to get it. Ever since Zecora’s cryptic riddle right before she left the camp, she had been thinking about magic and where it came from. Zecora had even said that Starlight could get it back. Starlight wasn’t sure how she was going to find that magic, since she didn’t even know where it was gone, or really what it was.

Starlight could only assume that meant there was more magic, magic that belonged to other unicorns that she had to find. She frowned. It just seemed like an impossible task. Wouldn’t the other unicorns taken the magic with them when the Guard made them disappear, or killed them? That seemed more plausible to Starlight. Wasn’t the magic tied to its unicorn?

Rainbow had said that the Guards had ways of making the unicorns just disappear once captured. She said they had vanished without a trace. However, Starlight had a feeling that it was more permanent than that. She didn’t like thinking that way, but even in her young years, Starlight was a realist. They must have taken their magic with them, right?

She sighed. Where was the magic Zecora had mentioned? The question wiggled its way back to the forefront of her mind. She struggled to remember Zecora’s exact words. It was hard because she had been worried about Rainbow and trying to get out of camp unseen at the time; so she hadn’t really paid attention. She bit her lip, thinking.

Zecora had said that all ponies had magic, it just came from different places. Pegasi magic came from the sky, obviously. Earth pony magic came from…she couldn’t quite remember that one. Earth ponies seemed very un-magical to her, them having magic was a new concept. Actually, when she thought about it, if all ponies had magic, like Zecora said, then the whole Uprising had been a sham. That was a new thought too. It both made her feel less like an outcast and also sparked a bit of righteous fury in her.

Pressing beyond that thought, she turned back to the task at hoof. However, mere seconds after she went back to the problem, she was interrupted.

“Starlight? You totally bored yet? If you want, we could play a game! I love games! Did you know I hold the world record for ‘I spy’? ‘Cause I do! We should play!” Pinkie asked with enthusiasm, apparently undaunted by the fast pace she was running at.

“That’s okay. I’m fine. I’m thinking!” Starlight responded. Pinkie nodded, seriously.

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt that! Thinking’s very important! I try to do it at least once every day!” Pinkie laughed as she ran.

Starlight thoughts turned abruptly back to Pinkie. The way she could move so fast, sometimes even faster than Rainbow. The way she and Applejack could run for hours and the way the forest moved with her to let her through. Starlight gasped as she was hit with a realization. That was magic too. Earth pony magic, that came from the ground!

Feeling like she had just had a breakthrough, Starlight turned back to the problem of where to find unicorn magic. She figured that if she knew where to draw the power from, she would be able to supplement her own magic and therefore be able to perform the spell to stop the sun’s expansion…. Maybe. She briefly thought about trying to draw on earth magic or sky magic, but realized quickly that she couldn’t.

Reaching down to the ground with her magic, she tried to feel for the source of power than was flowing through Applejack and Pinkie. With a soft exhale, she slipped into her magic-sight. She opened her eyes and looked around. Flowing softly through and around the earth ponies was a green and brown magic thread that wove into them and back to the ground. Glancing around, she saw it flowing in every tree, every flower, every rock, and every bit of soil in a massive network of threads braided and woven together in an amazing tapestry of earth magic that thrummed with power.

She looked up and was not surprised to find that glistening, lacy, strands of blue and white magic crisscrossed the sky. They formed lattice work around the clouds and gauzy silk that flowed with the currents in the air. The magic surrounded Fluttershy as she flew, holding her up and pushing her forward. The whole sky looked like a pattern of the thin, but very strong lace that shimmered in the sunlight and sparkled even in the weak moonlight.

Starlight’s widened. She was dumbstruck with awe. This was magic she had never seen, or even known to look for before. Tentatively, she reached forward with her purple magic. She noticed with a start that it had taken on a new color too. Deep within the purple aura, there were silver and gold lines of crackling energy. Starlight realized with a start that this was what unicorn magic looked like. Giving her magic a shove she probed towards the green magic that flowed with the ground.

Starlight’s magic bounced off the earth magic with a loud clanging noise. She thrust her magic at it again, but was again meet with resistance. Starlight frowned. Apparently the magics were incompatible, like trying to pour oil on a rock and expecting it to go through. The same was true of the sky magic. When she tried to connect with it; it recoiled away from her, like water around oil. So, calling on other pony magic was not going to be an option.

Magic was everywhere, Starlight realized. Equestria was a world filled to the brim with it. But, she could feel that something was missing too, some deep tie to put it all together like glue. The three pony magics were meant to exist in harmony, and now, with all the unicorns gone, they couldn’t. That was why the sky was wrong, why crops didn’t grow like they used to, why the world didn’t work just quite right anymore.

Starlight frowned again, that still didn’t solve her true problem; the source of unicorn magic and where it had disappeared to. If she could just figure that out, maybe she could pull on it and it could help save the sun. It wouldn’t fix the magical balance in Equestria, but at least it would buy them some time, time that was quickly running out.

What was it that Zecora had said? Something about unicorn magic coming from far up above? That couldn’t be right. Pegasi magic came from the sky. So what was up, but not the sky?

“Duck down, Starlight we’re getting closer to the edge of the forest. It won’t be long until we reach the city.” Fluttershy said to her as she coasted in lower to walk beside Pinkie Pie and Applejack. They all looked up at the towering city on the mountain. The seat of the Council and the home of the Guard’s rule. Starlight gasped.

Up! But it wasn’t the sky! The answer had been staring her down the whole way here!

“What is it Starlight?” Applejack asked.

“Nothing, nothing. I’m just happy we will be able to get to Rainbow soon.” Starlight replied. It was true after all, even if it wasn’t the reason she had gasped.

A theory started to form in her mind, what if the Guard had taken the unicorn magic? What if that was what they did when they made them vanish without a trace? It all made sense to Starlight. The magic was in the City! The highest point in Equestria! Far up above! Starlight wasn’t so sure how the rest of the riddle fit it. That part about the magic coming from ‘who you are and what you love’ or something, but then again, Zecora was hard to understand and if she had needed a rhyme, well, maybe only parts of the riddle were important.

Even the part about the ‘first part of you’, which Starlight figured either meant her, or the word you, could fit here. The City was the first place she had lived, the place where she grew up. It was the first part in her story after all. Starlight still felt like something didn’t quite add up, but it was the best idea she had.

She pushed her doubts to the back of her mind. She had to do something. If she didn’t, the whole world could be engulfed in a fiery inferno in a few days or less. So, she was sticking to her guns and her best idea so far. She bit her lip. She just hoped it would be enough.

She looked around. They really were at the edge of the forests that bordered the City. In the light of the growing sun, she could see all the way up the mountain, right to the top. The Guard Headquarters. That’s where they were going. Starlight was ready, she hoped. She stifled a yawn, tilting her head sideways. It took a little longer than usual for her to figure out the time, but after a few seconds she realized it was almost midnight.

Noticing her yawn, Applejack nodded.

“We’ll camp here for the night…Or for a few hours at least.” She said, looking up at the sky, clearly aware of how little time they had left to figure everything out. “We need to be ready for this.” She didn’t need to elaborate. They all knew the challenges that would face them when they woke up.

They bedded down in the small clearing they were in. Starlight could look out and see the edge of the forest. They were really getting closer to Rainbow, finally. With that thought in mind she curled up and closed her eyes.

Unfortunately, sleep evaded her. Thoughts of dire prophecies, unknown magics and Rainbow swirled around in her head. She tossed and turned, trying desperately to find a comfortable spot. She huffed unhappily, flipping over onto her back in another unsuccessful attempt to fall asleep. The bright sun in the sky didn’t help either. She was just too awake, despite her yawns and tired eyes and body, her mind didn’t want to cooperate.

Finally, after what felt like hours, she drifted off.

Starlight woke up inside a dark, stone room. She bolted to her hooves, the chill from the brick still clinging to her fur. She gasped and looked around. She didn’t understand. Where am I? She had fallen asleep in the forest right? She whirled around.

The room was bare, and one wall had bars. She was in some kind of prison cell. She raced to the bars and tried to peer out. There was nothing but darkness.

“Hello?! Is anypony there?! I don’t know where I am!” She screamed into the darkness, anxiety slicing through her belly.

To Starlight’s shock there was an almost immediate response.

“Starlight? Where are you?!” A voice echoed in through room. Starlight flipped around.

“Rainbow?!” She gasped, but there was no one else in the room. “I can hear you but I can’t see you! Where are you?!” Starlight yelled into the darkness.

“Starlight?” Rainbow’s voice repeated again, vibrating against the walls, this time sounding like it was coming from the hallway outside the cell.

“I’m here!” Starlight yelled even louder, pushing herself up against the bars. “I’m here.” She said, softer, when no reply came and the place fell silent once again. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She didn’t understand. None of this made any sense.

Suddenly the sound of pounding hooves reached Starlight’s ears as some pony thundered down the hallway at full speed. Starlight gripped the bars and listened as the came closer. The running pony galloped past in a fraction of a second and then kept going.

For Starlight though, that fraction of a second was enough to recognize the flash of blue and rainbow that had gone past.

“Rainbow Dash! Come back! I need you! I’m back here!” She screamed, her voice raising shrilly. She needed to follow, she had to find Rainbow. Starlight fell forward as the room pitched and she found herself staring down the hallway. She took off after Rainbow.

“Wait! Wait for me! I’m coming!” She yelled again, but the retreating form of Rainbow just got farther away. “Please!!” She put every ounce of energy she had into her small frame, trying to desperately catch up to Rainbow.
She was there one second and gone the next. As if by magic, Rainbow’s running form in front of Starlight had disappeared.

“Rainbow!” She called out. She ran faster, but then, her front hoof, instead of hitting solid ground, found nothing but air. Starlight pitched forward a saw nothing but a yawning dark abyss before her, the drop immense. She slammed her back hooves into the ground and skidded to a stop, right at the edge of the cliff.

“Kid! Right here!” Rainbow’s voice laughed from below her. Starlight looked down, and sure enough, hovering right below her was Rainbow. “I gotcha good didn’t I?” She laughed again. Starlight felt a prickle of unease. This was wrong. Something wasn’t right. Other than the fact that she had no idea where she was and had no clue what was happening, she felt an even bigger sense of wrongness.

“Here, Kid! Jump down! I’ll catch you!” Rainbow called up to her. Starlight frowned nervously as Rainbow smiled reassuringly at her. Then, it was as if time slowed down. Rainbow’s body seized with electricity and she let out an ear splitting shriek. Her wings buckled and she started to fall.

“Starlight!” She wailed.

“Rainbow!” Starlight screamed her eyes widening. Without a second thought, Starlight dove after Rainbow, all her doubts flung away. She had to help Rainbow, no matter what. Rainbow flipped around as they fell, still crackling with electricity. She smiled, a wicked grimace that sent shivers down Starlight’s back. She opened her wings and slowed, right under Starlight as she fell. Starlight saw something dark and black in her eyes.

“Gotcha.” Rainbow said.

Then, just as Starlight was about to fall into Rainbow, a swirling nexus of magenta magic engulfed her.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Starlight floated in the ball of magic and the rest of the world around her fell away. Am I doing this? She wondered. The magic aura was purple, like hers, but it was the wrong color, magenta instead of the darker hues her magic was made of. She glanced up at her horn. It wasn’t lit up at all. So, I’m not doing this. She floated, suspended in the nexus of magic for a few seconds.

“Hello?” She asked cautiously. As if in response to her question, the bubble expanded and filled the world around her in shimmering magenta and purple twinkles and sparkles. She was left both feeling like her hooves were planted firmly on the ground, and simultaneously like she was floating through space. It was a very odd feeling to say the least.

“Is any pony here with me?” She asked, trying to get another response. “Wherever here is…” she muttered to herself.

In a burst of stars and more magic, an image of another pony materialized in front of her. Starlight gasped and backed up in surprise at the sudden appearance of the other mare. She was a light lavender and her purple eyes stared down at Starlight, who found herself looking not at the mare’s eyes, but instead at her horn.

Starlight’s eyes widened. The pony was a unicorn. Starlight had never actually seen another unicorn. She could barely contain her surprise as she looked up at the elder pony. Her image was distorted though, and Starlight couldn’t really get a good look. The whole image fizzed, parts coming clearer and parts going fuzzy or blurry. The only part that stayed clear for any amount of time was the pony’s face.

“Who are you?” Starlight asked. The unicorn smiled, but as she was about to speak a cold blast of energy ripped past them, the entire magic field around them rippling.

“No time. This is important.” The unicorn said, her voice fuzzy like her image. She closed her eyes and a magic pulse went up her horn. For a few short seconds she solidified and her voice came through stronger. “You have to get to the source of the magic, call on it and we’ll…” Her voice cut out, even though her image continued to mouth the words.

“Yes! I know where it is! I just have to find it for sure!” Starlight replied, trying to light up her own horn to replicate the magic the other unicorn was using. She hoped she could duplicate the spell and strengthen the connection on her end. The energy field warped.

“No! Don’t use magic!” The unicorn gasped. Starlight cut off the spell abruptly. The unicorn continued to send out pulses of magic, her voice coming in and out of focus. “Sorry, I’m….not….controlling….dreamscape…..magic…..disrupts…”

“This is a dream? You aren’t real?” Starlight asked. The unicorn nodded, then frowned.

“Real…” Her voice said fuzzily.

“You are real, but this is a dream?” Starlight tried clarifying. The unicorn smiled and nodded.

“Source…magic?” She asked.

“Yes! It’s in the City! I’m on my way there now. Do you know anything else?” Starlight asked. The unicorn shook her head.

“Wrong…source….city…source…you…star…” The pony said, her voice getting weaker and more distorted. Another blast of cold magic raced past them, and the unicorn disappeared completely for a second.

“Wait! What’s wrong? The source is me? The source is Starlight? I need to know more! Where in the City is the source?” Starlight was becoming desperate.

“Calm…Source…star…” The unicorn said.

“I don’t understand!” Starlight cried.

“Source….star…magic…stars…stars…” The pony said, trying to get the message across as she faded. A final blast of cold, dark energy ripped the magical bubble apart. The pony’s image sparked as her eyes widened in surprise and then she vanished. Starlight was left alone in the darkness with only the burning questions in her mind.

Starlight sat bolt upright, cold sweat slicking down her spine. Her heart raced and her breathing was heavy. Slowly, as she realized where she was she calmed down. Gone was the cold stone and the magenta bubble of her dreams. For that was what they were, nothing but dreams. She looked around the clearing, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were still sound asleep.

“Bad dream?” Applejack asked from behind Starlight. She had been up on watch most of the night. Starlight turned around, the images of the nightmare still playing in her head. The last part with the unicorn hadn’t been scary, but Starlight could still hear the voices that had yelled at her in the first part of the dream. She nodded, and then shivered.

She didn’t even have to say anything for Applejack to see the truth on her scared face. Applejack nodded understandingly.

“That’s not even a little bit surprising. You’ve been through a lot lately. You should try going back to sleep though, we have a lot more ahead of us. We have a few more hours before we have to get going.”

Starlight frowned. She didn’t want to go back into that dream world with the Rainbow Dash that wasn’t really Rainbow Dash. Just thinking about it made her stomach hurt.

“It’s okay, I’m not really tired anymore. I’ll just stay up with you until Pinkie and Fluttershy wake up.” She said, trying not to let her voice waver. Applejack wasn’t buying it.

“You look pretty darn tired to me.”

Applejack was right. Starlight was tired, exhausted in fact. She felt like she hadn’t gotten any sleep at all. She was more tired than when they had settled down for camp that night. She sighed. Even if she had wanted to sleep, she didn’t think she would be able to.

Applejack looked over at her sad little face and scooted closed to her. Starlight looked up at her, surprised, but didn’t move away. It was kind of nice to have some pony nearby again. It was like having a big sister, like having Rainbow there, well, not quite, but close.

It wasn’t what Starlight had expected from Applejack, who seemed to be every bit the focused and rigid Guard commander she had been. What she did next surprised Starlight even more. Applejack started singing.

“Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are…” She hummed softly. When Starlight looked up at her in disbelief, Applejack gave her a little smile and shrugged.

“It helped Apple Bloom when she was a filly having nightmares.” She went back to singing. She was right. Starlight could already feel herself drifting back to sleep, one she hoped wouldn’t have any more nightmares.

Applejack started over. “Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are…” Starlight had never heard the song before, but she liked it. She loved the stars, even if she had never seen them. She yawned.

“What were they like?” She murmured.

“Huh? What were what like?” Applejack asked.

“The stars. I’ve never seen them.”

“Oh! Huh, I didn’t even realize what I was singin’, just picked the first song that came to mind. Kinda fits here though…yeah, the stars... Well, they were real pretty. I loved lookin’ at them. They were good for remembering things, and thinkin’ about things, and sometimes it could feel like those stars up there were the only ones who understood what you were going through.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, like they were up there watching out for you. Sometimes it even felt like being watched by some pony you lost…friends…family. I don’t know, but I do know that even when everything else seemed wrong or bad, the stars were always there, looking down…and then one day they were gone too. When the unicorns started disappearing so did the stars, and eventually the sun and moon stopped moving too, like they just didn’t have the energy to keep going. A lot of us felt that way too, you know, back then….” Applejack trailed off. “But you didn’t wanna hear about all that. You just asked ‘bout the stars…sorry.”

“No, I think I understand. I’m sorry I won’t ever see them....They sound...wonderful.” Starlight sighed, which prompted another yawn.

“That’s a real shame, especially since you’re kinda a star yourself.” Applejack replied, a little sadly.

“What?”

“Well, it is the first part of your name, Starlight.” She smiled. Starlight nodded. Applejack was right. Maybe it was why she loved the stars so much. They were a part of her. She yawned again. She really was exhausted. Applejack took the hint and continued the song.

Starlight’s eyes began to droop and then finally close. She breathed out and let herself relax, the soft grass underneath her felt nice. She knew she was about to fall asleep, as she entered that halfway dozing place where a pony isn’t really asleep or awake.

“Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky…”

Starlight jerked and her eyes flew open. Up above! The first part of her, her name! She understood now. Her heart sped up and her mind raced as she realized the answer that had been there all along.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Starlight, it’s time to get up.” A soft voice woke Starlight up from a deep, and thankfully dreamless, sleep. She hadn’t even realized she had fallen asleep, though for the first time in days she finally felt well-rested. Fluttershy smiled down at her, trying to hide the nervous worry written all over her face. “We have an important day ahead of us.”

She was right, though important didn’t seem to cut it. They were just four ponies, actually three ponies and a filly whose magic was just as likely to not work as to work at all. How in the hay were they going to break into the Guard and Council headquarters, the seat of the Uprising and all power in Equestria? Starlight felt a nervous flitter in her stomach. Not like butterflies though, that didn’t cut it either, more like bees or bats.

She took a deep breath. It would be okay, she had to just remember that. They were going to get Rainbow back and maybe she would even be able to call the lost magic. Despite everything, she still felt like the answer was in the city, or at least that’s where she needed to be to really figure out the puzzle. She frowned as the ghost of a memory came back to her.

She felt like something important had happened last night. She remembered having a nightmare…and then something about another unicorn…and then something that had to do with Applejack. She glanced over at Applejack, who was cleaning up camp, along with telling Pinkie that she needed to clean up her sleeping area; which was, for some odd reason littered with candy wrappers.

“They’ll disintegrate! It’s not like I’m littering!” Pinkie countered.

“We have to leave no trace that we were here.” Applejack explained, annoyed. It was not the first time she had told Pinkie this.

“Yeah, but these are special wrappers, new design! They disintegrate when it rains and it’s actually good for the plants and stuff! Like fertilizer!”

Applejack put her hoof to her face. “Please, Pinkie!”

“Ugh! Fine!” Pinkie said and began shoving the wrappers into her saddlebags.
Applejack looked around the camp and nodded. “Alright, let’s get going. We have a long way to go before this is all straightened out.”

They all nodded. Starlight hopped up onto Applejack’s back and they were off.
They only had a short distance through the forest to go. Then, it would be going through the outskirts and suburbs of the City itself, until finally they reached the top of the mountain and made it to Guard headquarters. Starlight took another deep breath.

It wasn’t long before they reached the edge of the forest. They all looked out across the blank expanse of ground to where the outskirts of the City began with apprehension. They all slowed to a halt before Pinkie bounced ahead.

“Let’s go, sillies! The most important part of getting anywhere is actually moving!” Applejack shrugged and followed her, Fluttershy trailing behind.

“You know, maybe we should just go home. It’s not that far of a walk. I actually think it’s, uh, closer.” Fluttershy said, her voice growing softer and squeakier as she said it.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Rainbow Dash is in there. We’ve gotta get her out. You coming or what?” She said.

A look of panic passed over Fluttershy’s face. “Oh, uh, yes. There is that. I guess we better get moving then.” It took all her effort, but she managed what might be called a determined expression, if you didn’t look to close, and walked forward, her wings only shaking a little.

“Alright good.” Applejack said and they all followed Pinkie out of the safety and cover the forest provided. Once they were out of the trees, they were hit full on with a hot blast of sunlight.

Starlight squinted up at the sun. What hadn’t been obvious in the dense forest was more than clear now. The sun was enormous. It took up what must have been at least a third of the sky. The harsh light loomed over them and sent rolling waves of heat through the air.

“Woah! It’s, like, super-duper hot out here!” Pinkie exclaimed, wiping her face.

“Thanks for stating the obvious!” Applejack replied under her breath. She looked up at the sky. “Two weeks my left flank!” She muttered to herself.

“What does that mean?” Starlight asked.

“It means I reckon’ we’re about out of time.” Applejack said and picked up her pace as they neared the edge of the City. Starlight couldn’t help feeling the nervousness that rose up inside her at the sight.

It felt like a long time since she had been in the City. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to go back, in fact, she was pretty sure that she didn’t. It may have been the place where she had lived her whole life, and where she had grown up, but it didn’t feel like home.

Home was…Well, home was what Fluttershy’s cottage had felt like, what the camp had felt like. All the places where she was surrounded by ponies who didn’t care that she was different, and ponies who were even more than that. Ponies who were her friends and, maybe even kind of like her family. All the places where she had been with Rainbow, and with the three ponies she was with now.

The places where she had learned about herself, and about her magic. The places where her magic had become strong. Though, the more she thought about it, maybe it wasn’t the place, maybe it was the ponies you were with. They were home. She liked that idea, it made her fell like she had a home. Even if part of that home was missing.

Then she smiled, a small, determined smile. She was going to get that part of home back. They were going to get Rainbow Dash.

Making it through the suburbs and outskirts of the City had been no problem. Applejack still basically knew the Guard position rotation schedule by heart, so avoiding the few low-ranking Guards lording over the slums of the City had been a breeze. Now, things were going to be more difficult.

Starlight stared down at the outskirts of the City that sprawled out below them. Up above it all, from the high bridges and streets of what was known as the Upper City, they suddenly looked very small. All of her life, every hidden home, every stolen thing to stay alive, every struggle to avoid the Guard had happened down there, in those small-looking, sprawling streets. It was an odd thought now that she had a different perspective.

She had never been to the Upper City. It was too dangerous. This close to headquarters, there were Guards everywhere.

“There is no way we aren’t going to be spotted now. We have to figure out some way to go unnoticed.” Applejack said quietly to the rest of the group as she peered out around the corner of a building. They were currently hiding in a dark alley, trying to come up with a plan to get to the center of the City without being captured.

“Ooo! A disguise!” Pinkie chirped.

Applejack frowned. “Well, I don’t know if we need a disguise, exactly, but we for sure need to do a few things before we go running through the streets of the City. First, I’m totally recognizable. Second, we have to find a hat or something for Starlight. Third, while most Guard ponies don’t actually know what you two look like,” She gestured to Pinkie and Fluttershy,

“I don’t want to take the risk of a higher ranking official, one who does know what the bearers of the elements look like, being out and about and spotting one of you.”

They all nodded. Applejack looked across the street at a derelict shop. It was rare to find a store so run down in the Upper City, but then again, they were on the edge. She grinned. “That’s our target.” She said and pointed.

Five minutes and one raid of a low-end thrift-shop clothing store later, they were ready to go. Starlight had found a new hat. Unlike her old, wonderful one, this one was a rather ugly fedora and she was quite sure she looked utterly ridiculous. It had been the only hat in the store that was small enough to not completely slip over her face. It still went down all the way to her eyes though.

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy looked no better. Pinkie had found an old pair of glasses and a baggy mumu. After twisting her mane up into a messy bun, she looked like a little pink old lady. Well, if you weren’t looking too closely. Fluttershy had grabbed an old make-up kit and, ever helpful, Pinkie had given her dark kohl eyes, and black lipstick. She had even gone to the trouble to rumple her mane and spike it a little.

“Are you sure we need to do this?” Fluttershy whimpered.

“Of course, silly! We have to make you look as much not-you as we can!” Pinkie said cheerfully while trying to draw a black line through fluttershy’s mane with the mascara.

“I don’t think we need to go that far.” Starlight said, seeing Fluttershy’s unease.

“Thank you!” Fluttershy mouthed at her.

Applejack looked at all of them and put her hoof to her face.

“We are so dead.” She groaned. Her disguise was probably the worst out of all of them. She was in a long, pink and purple dress that looked like it came from the most unfashionable, frilliest, store imaginable. Topping off the ensemble was a matching, and equally hideous hat. She kicked the back of the dress angrily.

“Stop it. You’re going to ruin it! And after I picked it out for you special!” Pinkie scolded. Applejack’s original disguise pick lay in a heap on the side of the alley: coveralls and a cowpony hat.

“There was nothing wrong with my pick!” She argued.

“You’d look just like yourself!” Pinkie countered.

“Yeah, but I would look nothing like the General! Which was the point!”

“Well, now you look like neither!” Fluttershy giggled, breaking up the fight. Applejack sighed in defeat.

“Aright, we’re going to have to go through the City separately. All of us together would draw way too much attention.” She pulled out a map from her saddle bags after struggling briefly with the bow on the back of her dress. She laid the map down in front of them and traced a path with her hoof.

“Pinkie, this is your path. Do you think you can remember it?” Pinkie nodded seriously. “Then go.” She said and pointed to the end of the alley. Pinkie sprang up and bounced to the end and peered around the building.

“Remember, you’re old!” Applejack called. Pinkie nodded and shuffled out into the street. Applejack traced another path. “Fluttershy. Stick to the skies as much as you can. There are less Guards that just wander around up there. You’ll still have to watch out for the patrols though. Take this route and meet us at the rendezvous point on the west side of headquarters.” Fluttershy flapped her wings and took off.

“Alright Starlight, do you think you can go on your own?” Applejack asked. Starlight nodded.

“Okay, stick to the shadows and alleyways. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how to move around unseen.” Applejack explained.

“Nope. I’m pretty good at that!” Starlight told her.

“Good. Follow this route.” Applejack said and traced a windy path through alleys and under overhangs. As she did a trail of purple magic followed her hoof. When she was done the magic lifted off the map and hung in the air for a second before it disappeared. When Applejack looked at Starlight, her eyes were glowing softly with magic.

“Keep your eyes down if you are going to do that.” She advised.

“Obviously.” Starlight said and raced off, ducking around the corner of the building.

Starlight ran along the mapped trail. For her, there was a purple, shimmering line that she just need to follow. As long as no pony noticed her eyes glowing slightly, it was a fool-proof way to get where she need to go. She glanced up and saw a patrol going past. Those were the most important to avoid. While there were Guards just about everywhere in the Upper City, only a few were actually on-duty at any given time. Most of them just lived here. That didn’t make them any less dangerous though.

She whipped into the arch of a door way and waited for them to pass. No problems. She let out a breath and was back on the main path.

“Woah, kid! Where’r ya heading to so fast? Where are your parents?” A deep voice said as some pony put out a hoof to stop her. Starlight hit the brakes, both running and on her magic. The trail disappeared and so did the glow around her eyes. She looked up…right into the face of a Guard pony. She would need to think fast for this one.

“Uh! Yes! Sorry, Sir! I was, uh, just with my…Mom! Yeah, we were out, you know, shopping and stuff and she…well, we…we got separated! So I’m just trying to find her and I’ll just be on my way to do that...” She tried to duck underneath the Guard’s hoof, but he blocked her.

“I see.” He totally wasn’t buying it. Starlight bit her lip.

“Yep! And I don’t want to waste any time, uh… because who knows where she’ll be! So…” Starlight needed to go and she needed to go now. She glanced around for anything that could help her.

“Well, how about I help you find your mom and then we can all have a nice chat about why parents need to look out for--” He cut off abruptly as a huge crash resounded through the street.

“What the?!” He said turning around towards the sound. Starlight took off running without even looking back. She didn’t need to. She knew exactly what happened. A large apple cart had decided at that very moment to mysteriously break an axle, fall over onto a passing cart and create a domino effect that had toppled two more carts, several roadside stands, break a few windows in shops and sent tens of innocent passerbys running for cover.

As Starlight turned the corner onto the next street, the last wisps of purple magic faded from around the axle. She bit her lip. That had been a huge risk. She just hoped that no pony had seen, or if they had, they were too busy trying not to be squished by errant apples or falling carts.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Fluttershy flew close to the rooftops of the City. She had never been much of a flyer and even now she didn’t like to be any higher than necessary. Besides that, there were patrols roving the skies and the lower she flew the less likely she would attract notice. She nervously glanced as one passed over her. They didn’t even look down at her. She let out a small breath, tilting her wings to turn.

She caught sight of another, lower, patrol of Guards out of the corner of her eye and dropped down to fly between two buildings. One of the patrol broke off and dipped down, as if looking for something. Fluttershy felt her heart speed up and she felt her pulse painfully in her neck. She put a hoof to the scar that was just beginning to form over the wound she had received from the attacker.

Even if she, Rainbow, and Starlight had only fled her home a few weeks ago, it already felt like a long time ago. The time when she had lived peacefully in the forest alone seemed even longer ago. Absorbed by her thoughts, she clipped a wing on a fire escape and had to flounder to correct herself. She shook her head… she was not built for this.

She whipped around another corner and could see the dark shape of the Guard headquarters looming before her. She sighed in partial relief. One step closer. She still had a ways to go though, because of Applejack’s roundabout routes to the center of the City. She rounded another corner and risked flying above building level, just to get another look at her planned route.

A few more turns and she would be there. Her wings twitched and she was about to fly forward when something flew out of the sky and nearly dropped on her head. She jerked back with a squeak as she watched the object fall and hit the ground with a thud. She squinted, trying to see what it was, it kind of looked like a—

“Hey! That’s mine, you bum! Leave it!” A voice from above her yelled down. Fluttershy looked up at the pony the voice was attached to on instinct. She could have kicked herself when she saw the Guard pony staring down at her.

“Well, look at what we have here.” The Guard, who Fluttershy instantly recognized as the very same as the one who had given her the new scar on her neck, taunted as she tipped her wings and dove at Fluttershy. Fluttershy tried to dodge, but she was in no way fast enough. This mare had proven herself to not only be as fast as Rainbow, but possibly faster. There was no way Fluttershy could have avoided her dive.

The mare slammed into Fluttershy and drove her towards the ground. Fluttershy’s head smacked against the pavement as they hit and the air was driven out of her lungs.

“What a funny coincidence. It isn’t very often I get a second chance to fix my mistakes.” The mare remarked drily. “And so nice of you to just find me right here. Makes it just too easy… almost.”

Fluttershy tried to respond, but all that came out was a wheeze.

“What was that? I would really like to hear what you have to say,” She shrugged and grabbed a knife from the belt on her saddle bags. “Pity I won’t get to.” She brought the knife swinging down towards Fluttershy, who squeezed her eyes shut.

“Oh, come on now! I like to see the fear!” the mare whined as her knife gently pressed on Fluttershy’s scar. Fluttershy defiantly kept her eyes shut and mumbled something.

“What was that?”

“Why?”

“Why am I going to kill you?” The mare finished for her. “I love this question….Well, let’s see. First, I like to finish what I start, and second because I finally figured out who you are.” The mare said triumphantly. Fluttershy opened her eyes to stare at the mare above her, who was staring back intently.

“I thought you were just some Pegasus friend of Rainbow Dash’s, whatever, you got in my way, but then I started thinking, and then looking into the records once I got back to the City. I realized you were as good a prize for me to bring in as Rainbow Dash, better even! A hidden element bearer! You have no idea what bringing you down will get me! I’ll be able to put this whole fiasco behind me! I’ll be the best in the business again!”

The mare rambled, her eyes widening maddeningly as she talked faster and faster. She had the look of somepony who had lost it a long time ago and had finally snapped.

“After I failed to kill Rainbow Dash, I’ve had some very tight situations. You, know I was almost killed myself! Can you believe that?! But then, then they let me out to find you, once I told them who you were! It’s funny! I was on my way back to the Everfree right now!” She started laughing.

Fluttershy tried to follow the mare’s ravings but she was beginning to fade as the blow to her head was finally sinking in. Her vision was going black and she knew she was going to pass out. She blinked. No! If I pass out, I won’t wake up again! She thought. There was something digging into her back, she tried focusing on that. If she could just stay focused and awake. She didn’t know past that. Just awake.

That thing in her back really was annoying. She idly wondered what it was, usually the streets, even the back alleys like this one were kept pretty clean in the Upper City.

“Are you even listening?!” The mare scolded as her knife dipped down. A blot of blood rose up as it broke through skin. That prick of pain jarred Fluttershy. She gasped and came back to her senses, which also meant she realized exactly what was driving into her back. The thing the mare had dropped!

“I said, are you listening!” the mare shrieked and pulled her knife back to stab down. It looked like she was actually going to do it this time. Fluttershy used the lessened weight from the mare’s backwards pull to lift up and grab the object underneath her.

Fluttershy whipped up the tazer, flicked the safety off, and the prongs shot out to lodge firmly, point blank into the mare’s chest. Electricity rolled across her body and she screamed in agony. A second later she collapsed down onto Fluttershy, the knife falling to the concrete with a clatter. Fluttershy let out a breath and rolled the mare off of her. She looked down at her attacker and realized with a shock that the other mare was dead. She had no pulse and wasn’t breathing.

Fluttershy started shaking. She had been looking to survive, nothing more. As she started at the dead mare, she felt bile rise in her throat. She turned around and threw up, still shaking. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in and then let it out slowly. She was okay. She needed to get back to the others. That is what mattered now. She could deal with the consequences of this later. She pushed her short mane out of her face and flapped her wings, flying as quickly as she could towards the Guard Headquarters.

Applejack looked around a corner and slipped out into the street, careful to watch for patrols and Guards. None should be in this sector at this time of day, although, Applejack thought wryly, it’s not like I can tell what time it is anyway with another glance behind her, and another towards the burning sun, she slipped back into another side alley. She looked up. If every pony was where they were supposed to be, Fluttershy should fly over right….now!

The sky remained empty. Applejack frowned. Her path was an even bigger zig-zag than the rest of the group’s since her path followed behind each of the other three, and she would see them at specific times as they either flew, ran or bounced past her route. She took off at a run, doubling back along Fluttershy’s path. Something must have gone wrong.

Suddenly, Applejack heard a whooshing sound above her. She looked up as she ran, relieved to see Fluttershy’s yellow form flying fast towards the City center. Applejack sighed in relief and then promptly ran into somepony as she tried to follow behind Fluttershy.

“Hey!” They yelled as she tumbled over them. “How dare you trip over an old lady?! Watch where you are going, uh, whippersnapper?!” a blob of pink and mumu scolded her.

“Pinkie Pie it’s me!”

“Oh, good. I’m a little rusty at impersonations.”

“We don’t have time for that.” Applejack groaned and pulled Pinkie up. “If we don’t get there soon, we’ll miss our opportunity.”

“Got it.” Pinkie replied seriously.

“What are you even doing here? This isn’t on your route!”

“I know, I heard a scream and then a squeak, I had to make sure everypony was okay!”

“A scream?”

“Yeah. I though Fluttershy might be in trouble, but I guess not. Anyway, I’ll see you up there!” Pinkie said happily as she bounced off. Applejack frowned. She just couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. She shrugged. There really wasn’t time to dwell on it.

Applejack took off back towards her path at a brisk trot. They needed to get there and be done with this sneaking around thing. She looked at a street sign and nodded. She should pass by Starlight in a block or two.

She heard fast hoof steps coming up behind her as somepony whizzed by. It took her a moment to realize it was Starlight, running her little legs out at top speed, her fedora bouncing up and down on her head. Applejack speed up and caught up to her, not stopping. She ran alongside as Starlight panted,

“Guard! Following me!” She huffed. Applejack’s eyes widened in surprise as she leaned over and scooped Starlight up onto her back. “We just have to lose him! He doesn’t know about my horn!” She elaborated. Applejack blew out a breath in slight relief.

“…I think anyways.” Starlight finished a little guiltily. Applejack turned her head almost all the way around to look at her.

“WHAT?”

“Well, I kinda needed to lose him! I wasn’t going to get away fast enough without some serious talking, so I made a distraction.”

“You used magic?”

“Yep.”

Applejack frowned and ran faster. She whipped around a corner into an alley and swore when she realized it was a dead end.

“WHY?! Why in the muther-bucking horse apples do we even have these?!”

Starlight shrugged, about to slip off of Applejack’s back.

“Just stay up there. He might not notice where we went. By the way, what kind of distraction ends up with you being followed anyway?”

“Apparently a bad one. I thought it was genius actually, but then I heard him behind me.” Starlight said huffily. Applejack resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They both looked up a rapid hoof beats ran up the street. They stopped and a head peered around the corner to look at them. The uniformed Guard stepped into view, the sun shining behind him. Applejack squinted, desperately trying to see who exactly it was.

“General?...Uh, wait. Applejack?” He asked. Applejack instantly relaxed as she recognized his voice.

“Silver! You have no idea how glad I am to see you!”

He looked around nervously and then came into the alley to meet them.

“What in the world are you doing here?!” He whispered.

“Saving the world and other related duties. What do you think?” Applejack said in full volume as she pointed to the sun.

“Ah. That. Yes. So.” He said, shifting from hoof to hoof.

“Stop that. You’re making me nervous.” Applejack told him. He shook himself.

“Sorry. Things have been bad since you left.”

Applejack arched an eyebrow. “Obviously.”

“Can we get on with it?” Starlight asked, bored.

Applejack smiled deviously. “Yep, in fact we’re going to get in a lot faster now, I think.” She said, eyeing Silver Shot who looked around as if he wanted to find some pony else to be right now.

“It wasn’t enough that I snuck you out? Now you want me to sneak you back in?! Do you have any idea how tight things have been lately? The entire council has completely lost it and trust me, the entire Guard is on high alert!” He whispered quickly.

“Stop that. You’re the official leader of the Guard, Silver, act like it!” Applejack snapped. “All you have to do is get us in and then give me your card pass. I can handle the rest.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

“But…”

“I said don’t worry. Now let’s go.”

Silver Shot nodded.

Pinkie Pie shucked off the itchy mumu, disguises from this point on would be useless, if they were caught, there was no going back. She walked up behind Fluttershy, who was already waiting at the rendezvous point about a block away from the Guard headquarters.

Fluttershy squeaked in surprise as Pinkie came up behind her. She whipped her head around, her eyes wide.

“Pinkie! Don’t scare me like that! I’m already jumpy enough.” Fluttershy whispered angrily. Pinkie nodded.

“Sorry.”

They both sat there for a second.

“I wonder where Starlight and Applejack are.” Fluttershy said.

“They both can take care of themselves, more or less. Besides, I think Applejack was following behind all of us. If something happened she can handle it. I’m sure they are both okay.” Pinkie said, reassuringly.

“I don’t know how you can stay so positive.” Fluttershy remarked.

“Are you?” Pinkie asked.

“What?” Fluttershy responded, confused.

“Are you okay?” She clarified.

“Oh, yeah. Just fine.” Fluttershy said, turning away from Pinkie.

“Because you were flying really fast back there. I don’t know how you made it here before me.”

“Oh, I was just nervous. Didn’t want to be in the sky longer than I needed to.” Fluttershy said, trying to brush off the topic.

“I saw what happened.” Pinkie said softly.

“What?” Fluttershy asked, her face going pale.

“I saw what happened in that alley. Was she the one that hurt you before?” Pinkie asked.

“How much did you see?”

“Not much. By the time I got there she was…I mean, you had the situation handled.” Pinkie trailed off.

“Oh.”

They both sat in silence for a few more seconds.

“I would have helped if I thought you were in trouble. I wish I had been there sooner.” Pinkie said.

“I know.”

“It’ll be okay, I promise.”

“I know that too.” Fluttershy sighed.

Loud hoofsteps came up behind them. They turned to see Starlight, Applejack and a Guard pony run up to them. Applejack looked up at the sky.

“We really don’t have much time.”

“Who is that?” Fluttershy asked nervously, pointing at the Guard.

“He’s gonna help us get in!” Starlight said, eagerly.

“Yep, but we have to move fast. Silver?” Applejack said, nodding to the Guard.

“Alright follow me. We should be able to go in through back entrance in a few minutes. They Guard will switch out and if I’m lucky I can delay them a few minutes so you all can slip in. I’ll leave the door unlocked. Watch for my signal.” He said to Applejack who nodded.

He walked off, looking completely casual and at ease.

“Come on!” Applejack said, pulling Starlight up onto her back and motioning to the others.

“Pinkie, wait.” Fluttershy said softly.

“What?”

“Thank you.” Fluttershy said and gave Pinkie a quick hug. They ran up behind Starlight and Applejack.

“Are you ready for this?” Applejack said, turning to look at Starlight.

“As I’ll ever be.”

Applejack turned to face all three of them.

“Pinkie, Fluttershy, you two will need to take Silver’s pass card and get Starlight to the observatory tower. Just keep going up. It’s at the very top floor of the Guard building.” Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy nodded.

“Wait! Where are you going?” Pinkie asked.

“I’m going to get Rainbow Dash. We’ll meet you at the tower as soon as possible. Starlight, do whatever you need to do as soon as you get there.”

Starlight nodded grimly, as a tight nervous feeling rose in her chest. She could do this.

The glint of a small mirror reflecting the sun shone out from the window directly to the left of the door they were waiting for.

Applejack looked up and smiled. “That’s the signal. Let’s go.”

She stared at the ceiling. She concentrated on feeling nothing, thinking nothing, doing nothing. Just focus. Breathe in and out. You can do this.

Something sharp whipped past her head, just barely nicking her cheek. Her concentration shattered into a million painful pieces. She didn’t know how much longer she could do this. She struggled to be impassive again. It wasn’t working well.

“Where is she?! Where did you find her?! Tell me!”

This wasn’t the first time he had tried to get her to tell him something, anything. For some reason, quite beyond her reasoning, he was desperate to find Starlight. She couldn’t figure why it was so damn important to find one little filly, unicorn or not.

At first she had tried arguing, yelling, telling lies, but he saw through every one and the weird thing was, the more she yelled and screamed at him, the more he seemed to enjoy it. So, now, she was trying to be silent, unflinching. This just seemed to enrage him, and the madder he got, the more he hurt her. She wasn’t sure which was better, but at least this way she was pissing him off. She liked that.

She blinked, looking up through the haze of pain as he dealt another blow. By this point she wasn’t even sure where he was hitting her, it all just blended together in a cacophony of pain. She wiggled, the straps that held her down dug into her flesh. That was the worst part. She had all this pain, but the worst was that she couldn’t move. Even her wings were pinioned behind her. Just the thought of being unable to move scared her, living it was a constant nightmare of pain and terror that she couldn’t escape.

Something hit her head and blood streamed down into her eye.

“I don’t care how long this takes! You will tell me what I need to know!” He yelled, inches from her face. His dark red coat wet with sweat and what might have been blood, with the color of his coat it was hard to tell. In a small, dim sane part of her mind she knew he was one of the Council members, probably Iron Flare, the leader. She had no idea what had warranted himself dealing with her, rather than a lower-ranked Guard. Personally, she had a hunch it was because he liked this job.

She remained silent. He frowned.

“You know that if I don’t get the information I need from you, that I will kill you. Why all this for one filly you barely know?” He said, as he calmed himself and smoothed down his wild hair. “You’re willing to die….just to stay true to a friend. Unbelievable.” He said with contempt.

She relaxed, this was usually when he got frustrated and left. With lightning speed he whipped around and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her down on the table. Her wings were crushed underneath her, shooting waves of agony through her body. The pinion holding them dripped with blood from where it had been stabbed through. She screamed.

“Now we’re getting somewhere.” He smiled. She gasped, unable to breathe through the pain.

“Tell me where she came from. Now.” She tensed, the pain rolling through her like a living thing. She just wanted it to end. She bit her lip and tasted blood.

“No.” She said, looking him in the eye as best she could. He pushed down harder. She felt her vision go black as she heard a snap underneath her. She stayed conscious though, unfortunately.

A bright red light overtook the room as a piercing wail split the air. An alarm bell. He growled in frustration and ran to the door, turning before he left.

“That wasn’t the worst of it. Keep in mind, Miss Dash, that there are far worse things than death, and I know all of them.” He told her, slamming the door. She shook, the pain still unbearable. With a sigh as the door slammed, she slipped into unconsciousness.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Applejack looked up as the alarm went off.

“Oh, Buck!”

They hadn’t made it more than three steps past the door when the alarm went off and the red warning lights flared. The door slammed shut behind them and both Silver Shot and the Guard he was distracting ran out into the room.

“Run! Go to the observatory tower! We can regroup up there! It’s the top floor of the building! Just keep going up! Keep Starlight safe, I’m going to get Rainbow Dash!” Applejack yelled over the shrill alarm tones. Pinkie Pie bounced Starlight up onto her back and sped off in a pink blur, Fluttershy flying as fast as she could behind them.

“Oh! Wait!” Applejack grabbed Silver’s badge from around his neck.

“Hey!” he protested.

“Take this, it should open any doors on your way!” Applejack tossed the badge to Fluttershy, who caught it and flew off.

“Your code will still work won’t it? You’re General now, right?” She asked Silver quickly. He nodded. It was around this time that the other Guard figured out what was going on. He lunged toward Applejack, and without missing a beat she flipped around and bucked him in the face, hard. He fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

“Do you know which prison block Rainbow is in?” Applejack asked Silver.

He frowned. “I don’t think she’s in any of the usual blocks…”

Applejack paled. “You don’t mean…?”

Silver nodded.

“Damn. This day just keeps getting better.” She bent down and grabbed the badge off of the unconscious Guard laying on the floor.

“That won’t get you in there.” Silver told her.

“Obviously.” She rolled her eyes. “But it will get me closer faster than I can get there on my own.” She started towards the door, Silver moved to follow.

“Oh, no you don’t. Don’t come with me. If this goes badly one of us needs to still be in the Guard, and alive.”

Silver sighed. “Fine.”

“You could go see if you can, I don’t know, create some distractions…” Applejack smirked. Silver grinned back.

“You know, I think I will.” He strode off down the hallway.

Applejack raced down another hallway. A minute later a huge explosion rocked the floor beneath her hooves. She smiled grimly. Silver Shot hadn’t wasted any time.

Starlight grabbed ahold of Pinkie’s mane and held on for dear life as Pinkie Pie raced off at top speed. Surely this breaks some fundamental law of physics! There is no way she can be going this fast! Ohmygosh! Starlight thought as they went around a corner and she was nearly spun off.

“Stairs!” Pinkie yelled and took another turn.

“Oh!” Starlight gasped as they nearly flew up the stairs.

“Starlight! Is Fluttershy behind us?” Pinkie asked. Starlight turned, in time to see Fluttershy round the corner and come zooming up the stairs behind them.

“Right here, Pinkie! I have a door pass!” She puffed out, clearly winded.

“Okie Dokie! We’ve got a door coming up on the left at the top of the stairs! It should lead to the next flight!” She yelled back.

“Wow! How did you know that?!” Starlight wondered.

“The sign that we just passed, silly!” Pinkie replied. Starlight looked back, they were moving way too fast for her to be able to make anything out. She shrugged. They came out on a landing and Pinkie whizzed to the door, Fluttershy following behind as best she could. She whipped out the door card and pressed it to the sensor by the door, it clicked and swung open.

The stairway was filled with Guard ponies in uniform, all running towards them.

“Oops! Wrong door!” Pinkie said, and pulled the door closed. She turned and bucked the sensor. Angry shouts came from the other side.

“We should try…uh…that one!” Pinkie yelled, pointing at another, seemingly random door.

“Pinkie! I don’t think…” Fluttershy began, but Pinkie already had the door card to the sensor. The door clicked, revealing a long hallway.

“Let’s go!” Pinkie said and ran. Fluttershy swung the door closed behind them and kicked the sensor.

“Hurry!” She puffed out.

“Stairs, Pinkie! Stairs!” Starlight yelled. Behind them, the door they had just come through slammed open.

“Stop right there!” A loud shout reverberated off the walls towards them. Starlight whipped her head around, horn ablaze and slammed the door back closed with a dark purple blast. Smoke puffed out where the metal had melted. That would hold…she hoped.

“Oo! I found it!” Pinkie yelled, pulling open a door with a sign that said “Stairs” on it. She yanked it open and they raced up the stairs at top speed.

“How many floors does this place have?!” Fluttershy gasped.

“A lot!” Starlight said back.

“Twenty-Four!” Pinkie said, without a moment’s hesitation.

“What?!” Fluttershy huffed.

“TWENTY-FOUR” Pinkie yelled.

“I heard! I meant, how are we going to get there that fast?! There has to be a better--” *huff* “way!”

“Well, have you seen any elevators?! I sure haven’t!” Pinkie responded. Starlight rolled her eyes. They were getting off topic.

“There!” She yelled. They ran up the next flight of stairs and came out in a metal-floored hallway. Pinkie’s hooves clanged loudly on the floor.

“Be quiet!” Fluttershy cried.

“Speed is more important!” Starlight replied and Pinkie nodded.

“Wait!” Fluttershy called. Neither Pinkie nor Starlight heard her over the racket and kept running.

“WAIT!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. Pinkie skidded to a halt.

“I thought you said to be quiet!” Pinkie fumed as she flipped around to face Fluttershy.

“Shhh!”

“WHAT?!”

“SHHH!” Fluttershy hushed her again. For a second everything was still. Then they all heard it. The sound of hoofsteps, coming up fast, and by the sound of them, there were a lot of ponies coming their way.

Starlight’s eyes widened. “We have to get out of here!” They all looked around, searching for the best way to go. All that was in front of them was more hallway and all that way behind was they stairway they had just come from. They were going to be closed in on both sides. Then, something on the wall caught Starlight’s eye. A tiny crack running up and down the wall where no crack should be. It kinda looked like any other wall panel in the hallway, but there was something…off about it. Like it was the wrong shape or something.

“Hand me the key card.” She asked Fluttershy, who shrugged and tossed it to her. She jumped down off of Pinkie’s back and put the card to the crack in the wall. At first nothing happened, but as she slid it over and then down, the wall split open with an audible swoosh.

“Wowie!” Pinkie said and raced inside, looking around. She gasped. “It’s an elevator!”

“No way!” Fluttershy said.

“Let’s go!” Starlight reminded them and got in and pressed the button for the top floor.

Applejack almost tripped as another explosion rocked the floor beneath her. She just hoped that Silver Shot was smart enough not to bring the entire building down. As plaster dust shook from the walls, she turned and went up yet another flight of stairs. She wished she still had her card pass. It was the only way to access the elevators, and most of them were hidden anyway. She knew where they were, but currently, without any access codes, she was unable to get to them.

As it was, it was going to take some fancy maneuvering to get to Iron Flare’s private area of headquarters, which was, if Silver Shot was to be believed, and Applejack’s suspicions were correct; where Rainbow Dash would be. A sick feeling came to Applejack’s stomach. Even if Rainbow Dash was perfectly fine, this rescue would probably get very ugly very fast. Last time she had seen Rainbow Dash…well, it had not been on good terms.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud sounds of pursuit. She swore and turned around as she ran. Nearly an entire squadron was chasing behind her. She ducked into a side hallway and immediately chose the next door at random. Two or three more turns and another hallway and door later, she was somewhat confident she had lost them.

There were very few ponies that knew the ins and outs of the Guard Headquarters better than she did. She even knew places the Council was unfamiliar with. As she caught her breath and listened anxiously to make sure that she really had lost them, she frantically thought how she was going to get to Rainbow Dash. Right now, she was far too noticeable.

“Whoops! Sorry!” said a voice as something ran into her. She whirled around to find herself face to face with a young Guard pony clearly trying to find her way to her post during lockdown. Applejack grinned mischievously. Perfect.

“Hey! Aren’t you…?!” The Guard began but was cut off as Applejack delivered a swift jab to her temple. She would be fine in an hour or so, well, other than the lump that was already forming.

Applejack walked out into the hall, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. It was very weird to be back in uniform, especially the private’s uniform she had just stolen. A squad of Guards ran past, the same ones that had been chasing her earlier. One of them slowed, but Applejack jogged up to him, keeping her stolen hat low over her face.

“I think she went that way, sir!” He nodded and rejoined his squad. She breathed out a sigh in relief. Even with the uniform, nearly every Guard pony knew exactly what she looked like. She just needed to play up the fact that they were looking for the few ponies not in uniform. She smiled and looked down at the card pass in her hoof. She had swiped one off of the private whose uniform she was wearing, but she had upgraded when the squad leader had talked to her. She ran off, knowing exactly where to go, but dreading actually getting there.

Dash stared blurrily at the ceiling through the one good eye she had. The other was swollen shut. The little light that illuminated the room came from the flashing red alarm on the wall above the door. She was grateful for it, usually the room was pitch black when Iron Flare left. Dash hated the dark. At least the alarm tones had stopped. They had been really annoying. She blinked and tried to take a deep breath in. Halfway through she stopped and gasped as another wave of pain rushed through her at the tiny amount of movement the deep breath had caused.

Her wing was broken, she was sure of that at least. She closed her eye and tried to drift back into unconsciousness. She was just so tired of the pain. All the pain. Just as she finally was drifting off the door slammed open, along with a crashing noise. She jerked in her restraints. He couldn’t be back so soon, especially not during an attack, if that was truly what was going on. She gasped and tried to turn her head to look at the door.

The figure of a Guard, a female, one she didn’t know, rushed in. She ran over to Rainbow Dash’s table and began pulling off the restraints. Dash tried to get a better look at her, despite the fact that Dash didn’t know any female Guards, there was something familiar about the intruder, and besides that, she was freeing Dash, so she couldn’t be all bad, could she?

“Oh, thank heavens you’re awake. We need to get out of here NOW.”

Dash frowned and her eyes widened. On second thought, she most certainly could be all bad.

Applejack scrambled to get the restraints of off Rainbow Dash, who looked terrible. Applejack’s heartbeat thudded in her ears as she looked at the extent of Rainbow’s injuries. She had no idea how to give her the medical attention she desperately needed and they needed to get up to the top floor to help Starlight and the others. Looking at Rainbow Dash, it was a wonder she was even alive, much less awake.

Just as she finished getting the last strap off, Rainbow Dash’s back hoof socked her in the face and sent her skidding to the floor on the other side of the room. She blinked, dazed, but not all that surprised.

“Woah! Wait! We need to work together!” She yelled as Rainbow Dash tried to heave herself off the table. She made a lunge for the door and fell. Applejack rushed over to her.

“Don’t you dare touch me.” Rainbow Dash muttered. She weakly tried to twist around to get another shot off at Applejack, but was unable. She winced in another wave of pain. “I would never, ever work with you. Not ever again. Besides, aren’t we on opposite sides?” She said with as much venom as she could muster.

“I defected.” Applejack replied.

“No surprise there. Once a traitor, always a traitor. There is no way in all of Equestria I would ever trust you again. You’ve done things to your friends that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies!” Rainbow Dash spat.

Applejack sighed. She really didn’t have a response to that.

“Just leave. I’ll get out on my own. I don’t want your help.” She tried to push herself up, but fell and landed back on the ground with a weak gasp. Applejack gently pulled Rainbow Dash up and wiggled under her so that Rainbow was now on Applejack’s back. She tried to pull herself off, but when that didn’t work she settled for biting Applejack, hard.

“OW! Would you stop that and listen for a gosh darn second?!”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really.”

“Well, then. By all means! Proceed! Tell me some lies to get me on your side, traitor!”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Starlight, Fluttershy and Pinkie are on their way upstairs. They’re going to need our help. Starlight is trying to call on the old unicorn magic source, which was somewhere in the castle before it was torn to the ground and headquarters built on top of it, to fix the sun.”

“What’s wrong with the sun?” Rainbow Dash had several more questions regarding Applejack’s wild story, but that was the first one that popped into her head.

“We really need to get moving. I’ll explain on the way.” Applejack peaked her head out into the hallway. Clear for the moment. “The sun is expanding and will eventually, well in about twenty-four hours, engulf the planet unless some sorta spell is put on it so that it doesn’t. Which is what Starlight needs some powerful magic source for.”

“Wait. Why are you with Starlight?”

“I found her after the camp was raided.” Applejack explained.

“The camp was raided?!”

“Yep, by the same ponies that captured you. I was there trying to stop you from being captured.”

“Why would you do that? You don’t care about any pony but yourself anymore.”

“Let’s move on from that for a second. Long story short, I found Starlight, who wanted to go after you, and of course, I wanted you to be set free also. I had already been fired and basically sentenced to death by the Council myself, which is another long story; so I agreed to help her get you and also get her to where she can fix the sun. Fluttershy and Pinkie came along because they didn’t trust me with Starlight.”

“They shouldn’t have trusted you at all.” Rainbow huffed. They came to a door at the end of the hall. Applejack set Rainbow Dash down and turned around. She calmly bucked down the door and went inside. A few moments later she came out, her pockets bulging. She leaned down and handed something to Rainbow Dash.
Dash could barely believe it. It was her element of harmony.

“Why are you giving this back to me?” She asked, eye narrowed.

“Because you might need it. And could you just for one second believe that I am back on your side?”

“Absolutely not.”

“It was worth a try.” Applejack shrugged. “Do you think you can walk or do I need to carry you the rest of the way?”

“I can walk!” Rainbow retorted and hauled herself up onto her hooves. She teetered unsteadily for a moment and then tried to put her front hoof forward. The movement sent a wave of agony up her middle. She gasped and staggered. Applejack was there in a second.

“Oh.” She said softly, noticing the pin in Rainbow Dash’s wings for the first time.

“It really hurts.” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“We have to take it out.” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash nodded weakly. Applejack walked around and took ahold of the clasp on the pinion. She pulled that out. Now all that was left was to take the metal bar out.

“You have to stay still. Try not to scream. Do you want me to count or just pull?” Applejack told her.

“Just--” Dash was cut off as Applejack swiftly pulled the pin out. A whole new kind of pain ripped through her wings and down into her core. She screamed and fell to the floor, fighting to stay conscious as waves of blackness rippled at the edges of her vision.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s out.” Applejack said quickly. Rainbow Dash slowly moved her wings into a more normal open position. She breathed in relief despite the pain from the broken one. She gingerly pulled the other wing down into its spot next to her body. The broken wing would have to stay open. She pushed herself up off the floor, squared her shoulders and looked at Applejack. She took a few steps forward.

“Okay. Show me where to go.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Starlight stared in tense anticipation at the elevator door as the numbers slowly but surely clicked up to the twenty-fourth floor. The suspense of the whole thing was excruciating. Pinkie Pie was literally bouncing off the walls waiting for them to get to the top floor. Even though Starlight had hopped off her back when they had gotten in the elevator, it was quite maddening. The tacky music playing in the background wasn’t helping either. Starlight frowned.

Suddenly Pinkie slammed to an abrupt stop in front of the door. She sniffed.

“Do you hear that?” She asked, flipping around to look Starlight dead in the eye.

“Do I… wait, what?” Starlight responded, confused.

“Up! In there!” Pinkie pointed to the escape hatch in the elevator’s ceiling.

“Wha..Why?!” Fluttershy cried.

“No time for questions!” Pinkie Pie commanded. Fluttershy squeaked and opened up the hatch. She picked up Starlight and flew up into the elevator shaft. She deposited Starlight on the roof of the elevator and then bunkered down next to her.

“Don’t you need to go back for Pinkie Pie?” Starlight asked.

“Why? I’m right here silly!” Pinkie Pie chirped into Starlight’s left ear.

“How did you…?”

“I’m made out of springs! Don’t tell any pony, though, it’s a secret!” Pinkie giggled. Starlight just stared at her, unsure of how to respond to that.

“Uh, Pinkie?” Fluttershy whispered.

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t we going to the top floor?”

“Yeppers!”

“Um, won’t we, uh, be, well, squished?!” Fluttershy stammered, looking nervously at the top of the elevator shaft.

“No, silly there’s plenty of room!” Pinkie Pie said with full confidence.

“Pinkie, I don’t think…!” Fluttershy said and trailed off with a squeak as the shaft’s ceiling became dangerously close. Suddenly the sound of the elevator wound down and their ascent slowed. Fluttershy let out a continuous scared squeaky noise as the ceiling hit the top of Pinkie’s fluffy mane. Just as it touched it, as if that had stopped the elevator itself, they came to a halt. Fluttershy let out a nervous breath.

“Pinkie! That was way too close! Why are we even up here?!” She hissed.

“SHHH!” Pinkie scolded, looking Fluttershy in the eye. Below them, in the elevator a bell dinged to signal they had made it to the top floor.

“Let’s go!” Starlight said, and wiggled forward. Pinkie Pie grabbed her from behind as nearly a whole squad of Guards rushed into the elevator.

“What the--?!!” The leader, a buff-looking earth pony yelled. “Where did they GO?!” He hollered at who appeared to be his second in command, who shrugged nervously. “FIND THEM!” He yelled and they all turned to get out of the elevator. It was at that precise moment that Starlight realized what to do. She fired a blast of magic at the elevator panel. The door clanged shut and the whole panel sparked and buzzed.

“What in the name of the council is going on in here?!” The lead Guard bellowed at his subordinates. None of them had an answer.

“Nice thinking Starlight, but how are we going to get out?” Fluttershy whispered. Starlight put her hoof to her forehead.

“Oh no! I didn’t even think of that!” She gasped.

“Don’t worry! I’ve got this one!” Pinkie said, eyeing the cables above them.

“Pinkie!” Fluttershy scolded.

“What?” Pinkie said, turning back towards her. She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Flutters! Not even I’m that crazy!” She said with a laugh. She wiggled over towards one of the gears on the top of the car.

“A little help, Starlight?” She said happily.

“Uh, what do you want me to do?”

“I need this gear,” She pointed at the biggest gear. “To go that,” She pointed to the left. “way!” Starlight nodded and reached out with her magic. She felt the gear turn as her aura enveloped it. The car started to ever so slowly move downwards.

“Perfect! Keep going!” Pinkie encouraged.

“What the hay?! Who in the buck hit the button?!!” The lead Guard roared from bellow them.

Pinkie smiled and turned towards the front of the shaft, where the door to the top floor was slowly rising.

“That’s good! Stop there.” Pinkie said. “Now we just have to break through the door.”

“How are we going to do that?” Fluttershy asked.

“Stand back.” Starlight told them. Pinkie nodded. Fluttershy was about to say something when Starlight turned and forced her magic out towards the door, pulling it open. The metal screeched and groaned as it split apart.

“Go!” Starlight yelled. “I can’t hold it much longer!”

“HEY!! DID YOU HEAR THAT??!!! WHERE ARE THEY?!” The Guard bellowed from below as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie ran through the opening Starlight had made. She gasped and ran after them, the metal of the door screaming as it crimped back together.

“Perfect!” Pinkie said, ruffling the top of Starlight’s mane. They had come out into a little center room with multiple hallways branching off of it. “Seriously, that was some super-duper awesome magic skills!” Pinkie continued.

“I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t found that gear!” Starlight exclaimed.

“That’s right! That was pretty crazy smart!” Pinkie giggled.

“Let’s go!” Fluttershy reminded them.

“Oh. Yeah!” Pinkie said, running after Fluttershy with Starlight trailing behind her. Suddenly, Starlight stopped.

“Where are we going now? We don’t know where the observatory is!”

“Huh. That’s a good point.” Pinkie said, skidding to a stop.

“Girls.” Fluttershy said.

“I think we should go this way!” Pinkie announced and turned to go down the hallway to the left.

“I think that’s wrong. See the right hallway? It slopes slightly upward!” Starlight countered.

“Girls!”

“Fluttershy, hold on a minute, we’re trying to figure out which way to go. I still think the left, Starlight!” Pinkie said.

“I don’t think so!”

“GIRLS!” Fluttershy yelled.

“What?” Pinkie asked.

Fluttershy pointed to a sign on the wall. ‘Observatory.’

“Oh.” Starlight and Pinkie said in unison.

“On a second, more careful consideration, I believe this is the correct hallway.” Pinkie said and raced down the center hallway, picking up Starlight as she went. Fluttershy rolled her eyes and followed.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash skidded around a corner and ducked out of sight.

“Quiet.” Applejack ordered. Dash scowled at her.

“What is the point of you being in Guard uniform if we still have to hide whenever we see a squad of Guards?” She hissed.

“I said be quiet!” Applejack spat.

“And I asked a perfectly normal question! We need to be moving faster!” Dash huffed.

“Now whose fault is the speed issue?” Applejack responded, looking pointedly at Dash’s broken wing.
Dash raised an eyebrow warningly. “Not me.” She said, daring Applejack to continue. Applejack swallowed her comeback. Now was not the time for this. She didn’t even know how Dash could piss her off so easily. She took a deep breath.

“We need to find an elevator is what we need to do.” She said.

“Well, lead the way!” Dash said sarcastically. “Oh, wait! That’s what we’ve been doing! And look! No elevator!” She looked right at Applejack with a frown. Applejack sighed, desperately trying to control the anger that was rising up in her.

“Just stay close, and for the love of Equestria, Shut. Up.”

Dash pointedly stuck her tongue out at Applejack, but stayed quiet.

“There is an elevator that goes all the way to the top floor just down this hallway. If we can get into it, I can use a clearance code to overrun the card we have and take us up.” Applejack said, peering around the corner.

“Got it. Just go.” Dash said, and went to get around Applejack. Applejack’s hoof shot out and stopped her.

“Do you have any sense of patience at all?”

“Jeez. No! I want to get there, I don’t know, sometime TODAY.”

“Will you just look before you go charging down the hallway?”

“No.”

“Fine. Then I will have to do the looking so you don’t get us both killed! There will be a patrol rounding the corner at the end of the hall, right about…now.” Applejack said and ducked behind their corner. Dash didn’t move.

“Yeah. You’re totally right! In fact, I think they have used an invisibility spell! Oh. Wait. That doesn’t make any sense! Gee! I wonder why I can’t see them!” Dash retorted. Applejack leaned around the corner and looked down the empty hall with a frown.

“That’s odd.”

“That’s our opportunity. Stop questioning good timing!” Dash said and ran down the hall. Applejack ran after her. The light above the elevator said that it was somewhere up around the twelfth floor. It stayed there for almost a minute before moving down.

“Why is it going so slow?” Dash asked.

“Maybe someone got in on that floor?” Applejack replied.

“Okay, it’s still going super slow.”

“Just hold on. It’s coming.” Applejack rolled her eyes. Both of them stared as the numbers ever so slowly worked down. When the light for the second floor flashed, the sound of shouting reached their ears.

“What do you think that could be?” Applejack began, but was cut off when the elevator opened, revealing an entire squad of Guards.

“Get down from the gears you lowly bunch of sorry, unintelligent…” the leader, a large brown earth pony roared up the exit hatch in the ceiling of the elevator. He trailed off as the doors opened and he came face to face with Applejack and Rainbow Dash. A very confused look came over his face.

“General…?”

“Um. Hello, uh, Sergeant Hammerbolt. Are you finished with the elevator?” Applejack replied.

“GET THEM!” he roared.

“Run.” Applejack said, but Dash was already halfway down the hallway. Applejack stopped briefly to buck Hammerbolt in the face before running after Dash.

“You know, on second thought, maybe we should take the stairs!” Dash said to Applejack when she had caught up.

“You know, I’m starting to think you just might have had a good idea for once.” Applejack laughed.

“For once?! I have good ideas all the time!” Dash retorted. “It’s you that has all the bad ideas!”

“Oh yeah? Like what?!” Applejack countered, looking backwards to see if they were still being followed. They were.

“What bad ideas?! What bad ideas! Maybe turning traitor and deserting your friends!” Dash spat, suddenly serious.

“Annnnd, we’re back to that.” Applejack sighed.

“GET BACK HERE!” Hammerbolt roared from behind them.

“So, yeah. We should find the stairs!” Dash said as they rounded into another hallway.

“Up here!” Applejack said and pulled open a door that lead to a stairway. She rushed inside. "Dash?!" She gasped and looked around.

"Damn it! Get off of me!" Dash yelled.

"Shit." Applejack swore and ran back into the hallway to see Dash desperately trying to fend off the squad of Guards, well, failing to fend them off. Applejack ran up and bucked Sergeant Hammerbolt in the face. He dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Applejack turned around to find her next target. As far as she could tell they would have to fight their way out of this one.

A shrill scream made her ears ring. She turned around just in time to see Dash get flung up against the wall and pass out. She amended her earlier assessment. She would have to fight their way out.

She jumped and came down hard on the Guard who had hit Dash. She spun and positioned herself between Dash and the squad of Guards.

"Alright! Who's next?" She yelled at them. None of them moved. They were all fully aware of who she was and seemed stunned to be in this situation. One of them was looking nervously back and forth between Commander Hammerbolt and the Guard Applejack had landed on.

"Really? No pony? Wow." Applejack rolled her eyes. She had trained her Guard better than this. Of course, that might have been the very problem. Another explosion rocked the floor underneath them. Applejack looked down, and during that half second one of the apparently more brave Guard ponies, a young green pegasus, leaped at her. Barely even looking up, she spun and his face connect squarely with her back hooves as she bucked. He hit the wall with a thud and slumped to the floor.

"Anybody else want to be a hero? No? Alright then. I'm just gonna leave now." Applejack turned and picked up Dash, who swore and rolled to her feet. She swayed a little.

"What happened?" She asked drunkenly.

"Just follow me, we're kind of in a situation."

Dash turned around to face what was left of the squad of Guards facing them down.

"Heh. All too scared I'd put the smack-down on all of you. Yeah. I'd be standing there pissing my feathers too. Yeah. I could take all you right now! Right. Now. Yeah!" Dash told them woozily. She blinked and swayed again.

"Oh my god, Dash. Come on." Applejack grabbed a hold of her and steered her down the hallway. The Guards just stared at them, confused. Applejack eyed them menacingly before opening the door to the stairway. She pulled Dash inside and flipped the lock. She let out a breath and faced Dash, who was blinking.

"What the hell happened?" She asked, this time though, she seemed fully aware of what was going on.

"You...I think you hit your head or something." Applejack shrugged.

"What?! But did they catch us? The squad that was following us?! How'd we get in here?"

"You passed out for a bit there...and uh...hit your head." Applejack decided not to tell Dash anymore than that.

"Oh. Okay." She nodded and looked up the stairs. "Let's go, then."

"Yeah." Applejack nodded and they started up the stairs at a run. Dash turned back to look at Applejack.

"You saved my butt back there, didn't you?" She asked with a frown.

"Yeah, I guess." Applejack shrugged.

"Well. Thanks. Don't make it a habit, but, uh, thanks."

"Whoa. I mean, uh, no problem. Don't worry about it." Applejack replied.

"Oh, I wont." Dash assured her. "And by the way, don't think this changes anything!" Dash finished with what Applejack guessed was supposed to be a fierce look.

Below them, the door shook violently.

"I think they followed us. Nice job getting rid of them." Dash said sarcastically.

“Oh yeah?! Because you were such a big help!" Applejack replied. "We should probably get moving though." She continued.

They ran up the stairs. Luckily, the door stayed shut. They reached the top and slammed that door behind them too. Dash looked at the floor level and swore. Only floor fifteen. They still had so far to go.

“There aren't any other elevators?!” Dash asked as they ran down the hallway towards another staircase.

“Not any that we can get into with this card pass!” Applejack answered.

“Well, shit.” Dash swore again.

Both of them were winded and breathing heavily.

“Only four more floors!” Applejack said encouragingly as they came to the top of yet another staircase.

“Oh, joy.”

“Only problem is that we’re going to need a new card pass. Regular access only goes up to the twentieth floor.” Applejack admitted.

“What.” Dash said flatly.

“However, this floor also has Silver Shot’s office, so we should be able to get one of his card keys.” Applejack said and pointed to a closed door about halfway down the hall. She ran to the door and tried pulling it open. It was locked.

“What now, genius?” Dash asked.

“Oh, will you lay off for one second and just trust me?” Applejack asked and pressed her hoof into the door frame. A small keypad slid out of the side of the door and beeped at them.

“No.” Dash replied, fully serious. Applejack rolled her eyes and typed a sequence of numbers into the keypad.

“It’s my full access code. Works anywhere in the building…well anywhere where there is a keypad rather than a door swipe. Best part is that the Council never knew I had a master code, so they won’t have changed it.” She explained. The door lock clicked and they went inside. Applejack ran over to the desk and started riffling through the drawers.

“Got it! Let’s go!” She said and held up the door card.

“Where are we going?” A voice said from the doorway.

“Shit.” Dash swore.

“I just wouldn’t want to miss all the fun, you know.” Iron Flare said gleefully as he came into the room.

Author's Note

Hi guys! Quick note this time! Also, this one won't be removed when the next chapter goes up because it is only for the credit part of it all. :D
For this chapter, I used a character that doesn't belong to me. I found him in the The Ultimate Free-Use OC Collection, which is a group database of freely usable OCs for authors to use in their stories.
Hammerbolt belongs to vandram

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Applejack tensed and Dash lowered herself to spring at Iron Flare.

“I would just stop right there, if I were you.” He said calmly. Applejack could see part of the way into the hall behind him, it was filled with Guards. She glanced up at the surveillance screens lining one wall of the office, it confirmed what she could see. Most if not all of the squads that were stationed at HQ were outside waiting for them, with Steel at the front. Silver Shard came into the room behind Iron Flare.

Applejack sighed and moved out of her attack position. Dash stayed fixed in place, staring at Iron Flare in equal parts fear and a stare that would have killed a lesser pony. Iron Flare barely seemed to notice.

“As you can see, there is no point in continuing this little ‘rebellion’ you seem to think is going to work. I would suggest you surrender now.” Silver Shard said with a professional coldness.

“Of course, it might be more fun if you don’t.” Iron Flare suggested, “Since there really is no good outcome here for you.” He shrugged and looked at Rainbow Dash, who flinched. Applejack frowned furiously.

Iron Flare walked farther into the room and turned to look at the screens on the wall. Behind him several Guards came in and took ahold of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, neither of them resisted, it was pointless. He walked behind the desk and started turning dials on the surveillance control board.

“Let’s just see where the rest of your friends are.” He said as the screens flicked between locations all over headquarters.

“There!” Silver Shard said, pointing to one of the screens in the corner of the wall. It showed a view of the observatory tower. Inside, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Starlight seemed to be looking around for something, a dark purple aura flowing around the room from Starlight’s horn. She was already looking for the source.

Dash looked at the screen with a pained look on her face.

Applejack turned to Iron Flare. “You have to let her finish! If she doesn’t succeed, the whole planet is done for! You know that, right?!” She yelled at him.

“Well, obviously. I have no intention of stopping her, this is exactly what I wanted.” He motioned to Steel, who had moved to stand in the doorway. “Take several squads up to the Observatory and block every exit, by door or by window. Do not let them escape. When she is finished, I want them all captured. Alive, understand. Once you have completed that, await my orders. Go.” Steel left.

Iron Flare turned back towards Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Let’s watch the fun, shall we?” He laughed.

Starlight ran into the Observatory and squinted up at the glass ceiling, the sun was huge. It basically took up the entire sky. She frowned and looked around. Now that she was finally at the highest point in the City, she had no idea what to do. She looked around frantically, there had to be something here. There were cabinets and telescopes along the round walls of the room, other than that, the room was empty.

“Starlight, do you need our help?” Fluttershy asked kindly. Starlight turned to look at her and Pinkie Pie, who smiled encouragingly. She took in a deep breath. “I’m going to try searching with my magic, but could you two check and see if there’s anything that looks important anywhere else?” She asked, motioning to the equipment scattered around the room.

“Sure. Just do whatever you need to.” Fluttershy said and went to start digging through the cabinets. Starlight closed her eyes and focused. The room fell away as she slipped easily into the vision her magic gave her. She saw the swirling pegasi and earth pony magics inside Fluttershy and Pinkie, as well as her own dark purple. She began sending out tendrils of energy, searching for any other magic items that might be in the room, anything that could even possibly the source. She was high above Equestria, in the highest point in the City. It had to be here, or at least reachable from here. She could just feel it.

Suddenly, two of her tendrils shot energy back at her, strong magic had been found. She frowned, looking out the two swirling vortexes of magic that had just reached her awareness. One was centered on Fluttershy’s saddlebags, the other around Pinkie’s.

She levitated each source out of the bags and towards her, one was pink, the other blue. As the two magical objects floated to her, Pinkie and Fluttershy turned to look at her. She slipped back into her normal sight.

“What are these?” She asked.

“Oh, Starlight, those aren’t the source. They’re our Elements of Harmony. They won’t be any help.” Fluttershy explained. Starlight tilted her head in confusion.

“Elements of Harmony? Those are real? I thought it was just a story…” Starlight trailed off, looking up at Fluttershy and Pinkie.

“Who told you that story?” Pinkie asked.

“Rainbow Dash did. It was really fun, but if the elements are real…” Starlight gasped. “You’re all the ponies from the story!”

Fluttershy smiled sadly. “Yes, but we need to focus on the problem at hand. We can talk about this later.”

“But…but! Why don’t we just use the elements instead of me? They can do anything! Their magic is basically limitless!” Starlight argued.

“Starlight! Stop. The elements won’t work! They’re useless!” Fluttershy told her sternly.

“But.” Starlight said, confused.

“Just keep looking for something else, okay?” Pinkie said to her.

She sighed. “Okay, I guess.” Starlight frowned and levitated the two elements back to Fluttershy and Pinkie, and then turned back to her magic, still searching around the observatory. She slipped easily back to looking around with her magic sight. She looked up at the sky and directed her aura up.

Farther….farther…closer…. Starlight felt a voice in her head, not her own. She gasped and her focus slipped. The tendrils snapped and her aura winked out. She desperately tried to regain her focus, but her horn stayed dead. Her eyes widened as she realized that she recognized the voice. It was the same as the unicorn from her dream…Her dream! She had forgotten in the light of the day what she had realized. She struggled to remember.

Farther? What did that mean? She slowly felt her magic reboot itself and her energy tendrils reform. She could have smacked herself when she realized. Farther up! She quickly sent her magic spinning towards the glass ceiling.

Dash watched in dismay as Starlight’s shimmering vortex of dark purple magic shattered. On the screen, she looked around as if stunned.

“Hrm. That’s unfortunate.” Iron Flare said from behind them. “I had hoped she would do it all on her own, but perhaps…perhaps she needs a little…encouragement.” He finished thoughtfully. He shot a weighted look at Silver Shard who nodded.

“Let’s go.” She said sharply to the Guards nearby. The guards holding Rainbow Dash and Applejack pulled them roughly towards the door.

“Wait! She’s got it going again! We can’t--!” Dash yelled, still looking at the screen on the wall. No pony answered her, and neither Iron Flare nor Silver Shard took another glance at the screen, unaware that Starlight had regained her focus and was searching again. Dash was cut off as the three Guards around her pulled her out the door. Applejack frowned angrily, but went out the door without resisting.

Internally, though, her mind was racing. There had to be something she and Dash could do before they got up there. They got out into the hallway. It was packed wall to wall and as far as she could see with more Guards. She could have burst with anger. It was pretty much hopeless, she figured.

Starlight’s magic twisted and twirled above her, reaching higher and higher, and passing seamlessly through the glass ceiling and into the sky above. She could feel, just at the edges of her awareness, something. She had no idea what it was, but it was there, and she knew it was what she was looking for. She had the feeling that if she could just figure out exactly what it was, it would reveal itself, but she just couldn’t quite tell what the source was, but she knew it was what she was looking for.

Suddenly, there was a crash behind her. She pulled her wavering focus back, switched back to normal sight and turned around to face the door.

“Starlight, get back!” Fluttershy gasped, moving to stand in front of her. Pinkie Pie rushed to what was left of the door, it had been kicked down by Guards, who were now swarming into the room. Several of them tried to grab Pinkie, who was already halfway across the room by the time they were even close to her. Fluttershy pulled Starlight up towards the ceiling with her. Starlight’s eyes glowed with purple light as she tried with everything she had to hold onto the web of magic in the room.

Pinkie was surrounded. She looked around for a brief second before all of them leaped at her. In an instant, she was a spinning pink blur of attack. Amazingly, she was managing to hold them all off. Any Guard that even got close was met with a hoof, or her head, or even her tail.

“Hold.” Said a dark male voice from the edge of the fray. Almost instantaneously the fighting ceased, leaving a furious Pinkie Pie in the middle of a circle of Guards. Several of the windows opened and more pegasi Guards came in, disrupting the delicate strands of Starlight’s magic. She closed her eyes and maintained the web, just barely. They flew in and surrounded Fluttershy, though they all kept their distance, a few of them looking nervously at Starlight.

“We don’t need to fight like this. We’re all sensible ponies here.” A dark red pegasus who Starlight had never seen before continued. He glanced sharply up at Fluttershy. “Would you please put the unicorn back on the floor and move away.” Fluttershy looked around nervously at the Guards around her and held onto Starlight with a look that might have maybe been defiance, and that was a big maybe.

“Just put her down! This doesn’t need to take this long.” A grey pegasus mare came up next to the leader who had been talking before. Starlight had the feeling they both were in charge here. “Iron Flare,” She scolded, turning to the red pegasus, “We don’t have time to play games.” She turned back to Fluttershy and motioned for her to move. Fluttershy held her ground.

Iron Flare nodded. Without another second’s warning, one of the pegasi Guards behind Fluttershy and Starlight came up and hit Fluttershy in the back of the head, hard. She crumpled and she and Starlight tumbled towards the floor.

“Fluttershy!” Pinkie yelled.

Starlight gasped and pulled her magic in. At the last second, she found herself hovering just above the floor. She looked behind her and let out her breath. Fluttershy’s limp form was also hovering.

“My, you really are powerful. And all that with no real training.” Iron Flare said, almost to himself. Starlight looked up and her eyes locked with his cruel almost black ones. She gasped and both she and Fluttershy hit the ground, her horn going dark.

“Please. I’m just trying to help. I think I can fix the sun, I just have to find the old source…and I’m real close!” Starlight told him. He raised an eyebrow, as if surprised she had actually talked to him. The room was silent for a second.

“We don’t have time for this!” The grey pegasus stormed up to Iron Flare.

“Silver Shot! Have an ounce of patience.” He replied sharply. She huffed and turned around, motioning to the Guards around her, who looked confusedly at Iron Flare. He sighed in a disinterested way and completely ignored Silver Shot and the Guards.

“Now. I want nothing more than the sun to get fixed, but time, as you may have noticed is of the upmost importance, and seeing as you’ve already been going at this for quite some time, I feel that you may need a little encouragement. Especially concerning your apparent…focus issues.” Iron Flare explained calmly, almost seeming to imply the fact that Starlight had been unable to maintain the web because of some problem of hers. Starlight frowned in confusion.

He turned and waved to the Guards at the door. They brought in Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Starlight’s breath caught in her throat. Rainbow looked bad. She was bruised and bloody. Starlight ran over to her.

“Rainbow!” She cried.

“Starlight! Stay back!” Dash yelled as the Guards holding her pulled her back and Iron Flare stepped in between Dash and Starlight. He pushed Starlight back into the center of the room.

“Let’s all be professional with this.” He said, aloof.

“Oh, buck that.” Silver Shard said from behind him. He turned to say something, but she cut him off again. “Listen here, unicorn. You figure out how to fix the sun, or we kill your friends.” She told Starlight maliciously.

Starlight glared back at her.

“Silver Shard!” Iron Flare admonished.

“We don’t have time!” She argued. She pulled a knife from her belt and sliced across Applejack’s face. Applejack frowned and actually growled at Silver Shard.

Iron Flare smiled. “Well, I guess that does get the job started, doesn’t it.” He locked eyes with Applejack with a smirk. She didn’t even blink.

“You’ll kill them all anyway. I’m not stupid.” Starlight said into the quiet room. “It’s not like I’m not going to fix the sun. I’m not going to doom the whole planet just to spite you. How big are your egos? You aren’t that important. I’ll do what I came here to do.” She turned around did her best to ignore them, pulling her focus in and reforming her web of energy. Her aura reached up to the ceiling and out into the bright, sunny sky.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, they glowed with her signature purple magic. The tendrils of her magic swirled with energy. She was so close, it was almost as if…if she could just put a name to what she was looking for, the source would reveal itself. The place where the unicorns used to pull their magic from, their part of the world that corresponded to the pegasi and the sky, and the earth ponies and the earth. She pushed her web out farther. What was it?!

Starlight, The voice said in her mind.

Yes? She tried to answer back. There was no response. She frowned.

Why? Of all the things to tell me, why that? Starlight thought. Her magic swirled angrily as she desperately tried to figure it out. Then something tweaked at her magical web, something hidden, something that should be there, but…wasn’t. Some part of the world that had gone missing, but…she could feel it. Her eyes widened in realization, it had to be the source! Her mind raced, what was missing?! If she could put this puzzle together, that would be it. She pushed her magic even further, and as she did, the room was bathed in her purple aura…and something else, some other bit of magic mixed in.

She gasped as the power of whatever had mixed with her magic hit her. It was like nothing she had ever felt before, the connection to the source! Her parallel to the connection the other ponies had with the earth and the sky. It wasn’t all there though, she still had to figure out what exactly it was to access the full potential of the source.

“Hurry up!” Silver Shard yelled from behind her as she pulled her knife out. Starlight gave her no attention. This was far too important. She looked at the magic swirling around her. A minute speck of white magic drifted past her, a part of the source. She focused on it, just for a second. The tiny speck sparkled and shone like a small star, perfect and beautiful. Starlight was in awe at the raw magical power just contained in the smallest part of the source.

Starlight.

Her heart raced as every bit of her magic training and everything Zecora or the unicorn from her dream had said came back to her in one brilliant flash. It all made sense! High up! The first part of her! Why the voice kept saying her name! That was it! THE STARS! They were the source! The unicorns and the stars!

With that realization, the dam that had been holding back the source burst and Starlight was filled with the wave of magical energy behind it. The room filled with a blindingly brilliant, white, light, as if a star itself had exploded in the room, with Starlight at its epicenter. The power was enormous and it took every ounce of strength Starlight had not to be swept away by the sheer magnitude of the blast.

The light began to fade slightly, though Starlight’s horn was still lit; not with her signature dark purple, but the brilliant white of the star power. As the light faded, her purple magic aura began to retake the room. Starlight frowned. Wait a minute… That’s not my magic…She thought. It was too light. Her magic was darker.

The light purple magic pulled back and condensed into a single sphere near the center of the room. With a popping noise it completely pulled inward, leaving a figure in its wake.

“It’s you!” Starlight gasped as the unicorn from her dream, and the voice in her head stepped out of the magic sphere. She shimmered slightly for a moment before her horn lit up and she solidified.

“Yes, it is me, and Starlight, you did it! You found the source! You have no idea how proud of you I am.” She smiled. Then Starlight noticed something else. Not only did this pony have a horn, she also had wings.

“But… who are you?” Starlight asked.

“TWILIGHT?!” Several voices in the room yelled.

Chaos broke loose as Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie all began fighting desperately against their captors.

“Get her! And don’t let any of them get away!” Iron Flare yelled over the din.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"STOP.” The command was not loud, it was not terribly forceful, but in in an instant, every single pony in the room froze in place and stared at the purple alicorn who had materialized in the center of the room. Her features betrayed no emotion.

“Now, stay.” She said quietly. A wave of light purple magical energy washed over the room, sticking to any ponies it came into contact with. They seemed to be frozen in place by the spell. Only five ponies avoided the blast, Starlight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were all unaffected. The purple alicorn, Twilight by what her friends had called her, sighed. She looked up into the faces of the five ponies standing around her, but only for an instant before she was swept up in a massive group hug.

“Twi?! Is that you?!”

“I can’t believe you’re here!”

“How did you get here?”

“This is so great! I can throw a super-duper-your-best-friend-is-back-from-the-dead Party!”

“What happened?!”

“Where have you been?”

The questions flew so quick that Starlight couldn’t even keep track of who had said what.

“Girls! Girls!” Twilight laughed. “I’m here to help Starlight! Let me do it!” They broke off, the smiles on their faces wide and happy.

“Perfect! You two can fix the sun and totally take down the frozen bad guys and then we can go PARTAY!” Pinkie squealed.

A look of total sadness washed across Twilight’s features.

“Oh, Pinkie…”

“What?! Do you not like parties anymore?!” Pinkie gasped, fully serious.

“No, I still love parties.” Twilight said softly, then grinned, just a little.

“Then what is it?” Rainbow demanded.

“I’m not staying.” Twilight said sadly, but firmly.

“WHAT?!” All four of her friends yelled.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m…well…I’m dead. This isn’t even really me, I mean sure I’m sentient and I can talk and appear in full form right now, but as soon as Starlight breaks her connection with the stars, I will vanish again. I’m just a remnant, left here when I died, so that I could help the world’s last unicorn learn about magic. I had no idea that I would also need to help her fix the sun, and appearing to her before now took every ounce of strength I had left. I won’t even exist as a remnant after all this.” Twilight explained sadly.

Her friends and Starlight were silent.

“But. I’m here now. I will help to make sure the sun is put to rights and that Starlight has what she needs. I’m sorry, but that is all I can do. Besides, everything has a time and mine was ten years ago. I’ve come to terms with that and I’m sure you all have too.”

“That sucks.” Rainbow said bluntly. “Like, really sucks.”

They were all quiet for a moment. Twilight coughed.

“Okay, Starlight, I can’t maintain this spell forever, it’s time to fully connect with the stars and replace the spells on the sun.”

“What do I need to do?” Starlight asked, determined.

“You’ll need to put another stasis spell in place to stop the supernova, as well as a shrinking spell to return the sun to its original size. It still won’t move, but until there are more unicorns, or another alicorn springs up, there isn’t any possible way to move it. It’s just too far away.” Twilight explained.

“You’re going to help with those spells, right?” Starlight asked.

“I wish I could, but the sun is well out of my range. The fact that I even cast the stop spell on the ponies here is nothing short of a miracle and is, quite frankly, the absolute last of my magic.”

“Oh…Okay.” Starlight said quietly, and then with more determination, “Then I’ll just have to be able to do it myself!” She turned and looked up at the sky.

“I believe in you. I may have stayed around to be here when you needed me, Starlight, but really, I didn’t have to teach you. You understand magic in ways that even I don’t fully comprehend and you are only at the beginning of unlocking your potential.” Twilight said.

Starlight smiled. She could, no, she would do this. Not because the fate of the world hung in the balance. Not because she had to do it to save her friends. She was doing this because she knew she could do it. She had the magic inside of her, she had finally connected with the source. She finally felt like maybe, no definitely, being a unicorn was not a bad thing. Her magic defined her, shaped her, and was a part of her, and now, she was going to save the world with it.

She gulped. That was a lot of responsibility.

“Go ahead, we’ll all be right here for you.” Rainbow said from behind her.

“Yeppers! And we can have a Saved-The-World cake when you’re done!” Pinkie chimed in.

“Don’t worry, you’ve got this.” Applejack encouraged her.

“Just do what feels right.” Fluttershy said softly.

Starlight turned and looked at them all, the five ponies who had taken her on this journey, who had stuck by her no matter what and who, even though they had lost almost everything during the Uprising, were still here, fighting for…well, for her, even if she had only known them for a little while, they were her greatest supporters, her allies, her friends, no more than that…her family. Twilight smiled at her.

With a giant smile back she flipped around to the open sky above the observatory and sent her magic, part dark purple, part brilliant white spinning up and out toward the sun, farther and farther than she had ever reached before. Long before she expected to hit anything, she felt the heat of the sun start to warm her magic. The sun may have been far away, but it was a star like any other and its magic was a massive part of the world. It had lived so long without a guiding touch. It reached back towards her and when her magic, mixed with the star power, finally met it in the middle a dazzling white-hot light spilled across the sky.

Starlight struggled to hold on as the two magics reunited and seemed to dance across the horizon. Her eyes went wide and pure purple as she tried to reign in the enormous amount of energy swirling around her. It would take every ounce of force and concentration she had to direct the energy towards healing the sun.

“I-I can’t hold it!” She screamed.

Suddenly she felt Twilight right behind her.

“Just focus. You can do this. We’re all here for you. Use our energy to divert and direct the force where you want it to go.” She told her.

Starlight felt a surge of warmth and energy behind her. A rainbow of magic swirled up around her dark purple and pulled the star and sun energies together into beam pointed directly at the sun. She could finally feel the connection between her and it, and the pain it was in. It was breaking apart and ready to fracture across the sky.

No, she thought, not apart…together. Come together.

The beams of magic swirled across the sun’s surface, pulling it, condensing it back to its previous size. Starlight felt the stasis spell flow easily from her and up to the sun, it was one of her specialty spells, after all.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the explosion that had raced across the sky receded and the sky returned to its perpetual state of twilight. The myriad magics swirling around the sun gave one final burst of rainbow, dark purple, and white energy before dissipating into a shower of colored sparks that rained down over all of Equestria, and probably the whole world.

Starlight gasped as her eyes turned back to their usual color and she fell to the floor, as the magic energy released its hold, leaving her feeling empty and very, very tired. Before she hit the ground, she felt something furry slip under her and catch her. She smiled and gave Rainbow a long deserved hug.

“Good job, Kid.” Rainbow said simply.

“Thanks.” Starlight said happily. They both turned back to face the room. Every pony was smiling, and Twilight’s smile was the biggest of all of them.

“You did it! I knew you could!” Twilight exclaimed as her form wavered slightly.

“Are you okay?!” Rainbow Dash asked, alarmed.

“I’m fine, I just can’t hold on to this form and the spell holding the Guard in place for much longer.” Twilight explained.

Starlight frowned. “But I didn’t.” She said. “Well, not really, if you guys hadn’t helped me, I never would have been able to maintain that spell!” She cried.

Twilight smiled. “Oh, Starlight. Just because you have help accomplishing something doesn’t make that accomplishment any less important, especially when it’s your friends who got to help you.”

Starlight didn’t look convinced.

“And, besides! We only helped a little bit, you formed the spell and cast it, we only gave you a little boost.”

“I wanted to ask you about that...” Applejack began, looking at Twilight. “How did we do that?” She frowned.

Twilight laughed, “We did it the way we always have! With our friendship and the Elements of Harmony, of course!”

“What?” Applejack replied. “How is that possible?! We’re missing…” She trailed off, looking frustrated and upset.

“Well, darling I might be able to answer that.” A voice said from the side of the room. A pure white, but entirely see-through, unicorn stepped out of the shadows. The only solid part of her was the necklace around her throat, which Starlight recognized as one of the Elements. All five of the ponies stared at the new comer with disbelief.

“WOAH! I can’t even believe it! I get to have TWO of my best friends back from the dead on the SAME DAY! Wowie Zowie! I’m going to need some serious cake supplies!” Pinkie exclaimed and pulled her party cannon out of what seemed to be thin air.

Twilight giggled. “Pinkie! We don’t have time for that! You guys can celebrate later!”

“Aw, bummer!” Pinkie sighed, then perked up slightly. “Starlight! What’s your favorite flavor?” She gasped, turning toward Starlight.

“Of what?” Starlight asked confused.

“Anything!” Pinkie chirped.

“Um…grape?”

“Perfect! We can have a grape party! I mean I’ll have to make a new cake recipe and of course I’ll need to get my supplies from my old kitchen at camp, and…” Pinkie trailed off, talking to herself.

On the other side of the room, Applejack was staring at the white unicorn with what could only be described as total and utter disbelief.

“Rarity…” She gasped. “How?!”

“Darling, I would have expected you to be a little more excited at seeing me!” The unicorn, Rarity, Starlight amended mentally, fake pouted before smiling a huge, warm smile.

“I am!” Applejack exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock as it slowly dawned on her that yes, Rarity was actually here and talking to her, even in her ghostly form.

“Wow! That’s incredible! The power from the elements must have stored some memory of you, Rarity, and when we powered them up unintentionally, a sort-of remnant of you came through. Huh, I wish I would have had more time to study the elements!” Twilight lamented.

“Yeah, but if you had then the writer couldn’t use them for plot-devices to bring us all together for last chapter good feels!” Pinkie said happily while blowing up a balloon that popped as she tied it. “Gosh darn it!” She said and pulled another out of her mane.

“What?” Starlight asked.

“What?” Pinkie asked.

Starlight sighed, she figured that she would never really understand Pinkie. Although, on that note, did any pony? Pinkie let go of the new balloon and it floated to the glass dome of the ceiling, despite the fact it was clearly only filled with air. Nope, they sure didn’t.

“Twilight, dear, what in the wide realm of Equestria are you doing here? You didn’t manage to survive the Uprising, did you?” Rarity asked.

“Ha! No, I’m a remnant, just like you. I’m just more solid because I was recreated by star energy, rather than accidentally element set-off.” Twilight smiled.

“It doesn’t matter, does it? For right now, we’re all here!” Rainbow yelled, flying up at the ceiling, and then swooping down to hug Twilight.

“Yes, it does seem like that!” Fluttershy smiled.

“Yay!” Pinkie said, launching herself onto Fluttershy, who fell over with an “Oof!”

Rarity turned to Applejack, who stood apart from the group, smiling, but still just standing there.

“Come on, let’s all be together one last time.”

Applejack sighed. “I know they don’t want me over there. I…” She trailed off.

“What is it?” Rarity asked, confused.

“Well, after you…well, you know…” Applejack stopped again.

“Darling, spit it out! Time is of the essence, as it were.” Rarity sniffed.

“Well, I’ve done some things I’m not proud of since you….passed.” Applejack finally said, “The mare I became, the things I did…They don’t want me over there. I betrayed them.” Applejack hung her head in shame. Having to admit to all this to Rarity of all ponies, was horrible.

“Applejack…” Rarity began. Applejack turned away from her. “Don’t be so dramatic! I know about all that, and I don’t care. If I’ve forgiven you, they damn well can do the same.” Rarity said confidently and pulled Applejack over towards the group hug that was fast under way.

“Look at that!” Rainbow Dash said, looking up at the sky.

“What?” Starlight asked, following the direction of Dash’s outstretched hoof. Then, she saw it, up in the sky, right in the center between the moon and sun was a brilliantly shinning white star, the only one in the sky.

“Where did that come from?” Starlight asked.

“Do you really need to wonder?” Twilight laughed. “It’s your star!”

“What? Mine?” Starlight asked again, looking up with new wonder.

“Well, yes! Old unicorn legends used to believe that each star in the sky was tied to a certain unicorn, and new ones appeared when a unicorn first received her cutie mark.” Twilight explained.

“Wow! Is that really true?” Starlight asked.

“Well, actually, uh…no. Its presence in the sky is merely indicative of a renewed connection with the magical energy of the stars that has lain dormant since the absence of the unicorns ten years ago. In time, with the birth of new unicorns, and with the growth of your own and other’s magics, more stars will reappear independent of young unicorns and their cutie marks,…but it’s a nice story to tell your grandfoals someday!” Twilight laughed and pointed to Starlight’s flank.

Starlight gasped and looked down. A brand-new, shiny, awesome cutie mark stood out against the purple fur on her flank. It was a circle of six stars, connected by a rainbow. A pointy-rayed sun shone out from the center of the circle.

“Starlight! That is a seriously cool cutie mark.” Rainbow said, coming up behind her. Pinkie jumped up behind them.

“Alright every pony! GROUP HUG! I’ve been waiting ten years for this!” Pinkie yelled. They all laughed and obliged.

“Ah…I should probably unfreeze all of them.” Twilight said, looking around at the Guard ponies.

“Oh. Yeah! I totally forgot they were even here.” Rainbow laughed. “Actually, can you wait until we get out of here?”

“Absolutely!” Twilight laughed.

“Um, not to interrupt any pony, but I seem to be fading. It’s been lovely seeing all of you, but it seems that my time is up.” Rarity said, looking down at herself.

“It was good to see you!!” Pinkie laughed.

“I’ll miss you.” Applejack said softly. Rarity smiled.

“Don’t be silly, darling. We’ll meet again.” With that, she disappeared completely and the element around her neck fell to the floor. Applejack leaned down, picked it up and solemnly slipped the necklace into her pocket. She turned back to the rest of the group with tears in her eyes.

“Now, how are we going to get out of here?” Fluttershy asked. Rainbow rolled her eyes and fluttered her wings. “We can fly down.”

“What about Starlight and me?” Applejack asked.

“Starlight can ride on me and I’m sure you can get down yourself.” Rainbow said dismissively.

Twilight frowned. “Get along.” She scolded. Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack had the good sense to look shame-faced.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about me!” Starlight said, “If you each carry one pony, I can levitate myself down.”

“Looks like you’re gonna be carryin’ me.” Applejack said to Rainbow. Neither of them looked pleased, but again, they didn’t want Twilight to say anything

“What about you Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

Twilight smiled knowingly. “I’ll wait here until you’re all out and safe. Then I’ll discharge the spell. After that, I’ll disappear.”

“I don’t want you to go.” Pinkie said sadly.

“It’s okay. I’ll always be with you. I promise.”

“Pinkie promise?”

“Pinkie Promise.” Twilight assured her. “Well, you should go. I don’t know how much longer I can hold the freeze spell.” Twilight smiled ruefully.

“Okay, Twilight.” Fluttershy said softly and picked up Pinkie. They flew out the window on the top of the dome together. “Byeeee~” Pinkie yelled as they went.

“Alright, let’s get this over with.” Applejack said, frowning up at Rainbow, who swooped down and hauled the orange earth pony into the air.

“You’re heavy!” She huffed.

“Oh, quit you’re complainin’ you’ve never had a problem carryin’ me before!” Applejack replied.

“Girls!” Twilight said with a look. “Bye, then Twilight. Take, uh, good care of yourself!” Rainbow said as she lifted through the skylight. “Stop squirming or I’ll drop you!”

“Stop flying like a squirrel!”

“That doesn’t make any sense!”

“Yes it does!”

Twilight laughed. Starlight started making a levitation matrix around herself.

“Hold on a second, Starlight.” Twilight said quickly. “I need to talk to you before you go.”

Starlight turned around. “What do you want to talk about?” Starlight asked.

“Well, first, gosh, I’m so bad at stuff like this…” Twilight trailed off, took a deep breath and started again. “Never give up, you’re magic is amazing. You have the potential to one day become an even greater mage than, well, me. Keep learning, keep trying new things and looking for new inspiration. Find more ponies, and well, zebras like Zecora, they can only help you. Keep all four of them,” She gestured toward the skylight where Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow and Applejack had gone, “close, they are the best friends I’ve ever had and will ever have, and there are no better ponies to be around in all of Equestria.”

Twilight smiled. “You’re going to be fine, Starlight, and if you want to, you’ll be able to do great things. Always remember that I believe in you and am more proud of you than I could ever put in words.”
Starlight felt something wet slid down her face. She was crying. Why was she crying? She turned to go.

“Starlight, have you ever wondered where you came from? Who your parents were?” Twilight asked softly.

“What?” Starlight asked, turning around.

“I just thought you should know if I don’t see you again.” Twlight said.

“I didn’t think you would know.” Starlight replied. “I once asked Rainbow Dash, and she said she had no idea. I didn’t figure you would know either then.”

Twilight took in a deep breath. “You’re my daughter, Starlight.”

Starlight was speechless. She had given up on whoever her family was a long time ago. She knew that they would be unicorns and she also knew that they were dead because of that.

“I’m sorry. So, so, so sorry. I never wanted you to have this life. I wanted to be there for you, I swear I did….It…just didn’t work out that way….I’m so sorry.”

Starlight smiled through the tears that were now coursing down her face. “It’s okay.” She sniffed. “Well, it’s not okay, but…I understand. I forgive you…and…thank you for helping me when I needed you most.” Starlight laughed. “What other mom can come back from the dead when you need them?”

Twilight laughed too. “I love you Starlight.”

Starlight ran towards Twilight and hugged her tightly. “I love you too….mom!” They hugged and then, in the blink of an eye, Twilight was gone. Starlight looked around wildly before realizing that the Guard ponies were waking up. She quickly threw up the levitation matrix and floated out of the skylight before any of them regained full senses.

As she floated down to her friends on the ground she could hear outraged shouts and yells coming from the observatory, most notably, Iron Flare screaming at the top of his lungs to find them all. She laughed. Good luck She thought.

“Starlight! We need to get going!” Rainbow yelled up to her. “Hop on!” Starlight landed on Rainbow’s back. Pinkie and Applejack took off running while Rainbow and Fluttershy flew overhead.

Starlight sighed.

“No worries now! We’re heading back to Fluttershy’s place, and I promise we’ll be safe there.” Rainbow said from underneath her.

“Pinkie Promise!” Pinkie laughed from the ground.

Rainbow Dash smiled and Starlight smiled back. “Pinkie Promise.” They both said in unison.

Chapter Thirty

Epilogue

~3 Months Later~

You know, in stories, it’s always the end when the bad guy gets beaten. The heroes don’t have to go hide in the woods again while the world figures itself out, they just beat the baddies and they live happily ever after. I thought that was what it would be like when we defeated the Guard and fixed the sun, and brought the unicorn’s star-based magic back….

But that wasn’t really happened, of course. I’m starting to learn that real life is a lot more complicated than the stories I’ve read make it out to be. I never realized that when a hero goes on an adventure they actually could be scared, or that it was actually painful and sad sometimes. I guess that’s what makes a story a story. In the end, we didn’t really defeat the Guard. They’re still in power and the council still rules Equestria with a strong anti-magic fist.

It’s been three months since my star appeared in the sky and the sun went back to normal. We’ve built a new camp, centered around Fluttershy’s old home in the woods. Well, what was left of it anyway. It’s nice, even if we always have to worry about being found….

But, we’ve noticed something. The ponies of Equestria aren’t really so sure that they want to be lorded-over by the council anymore. There are rumors of dissent all across the nation, and new ponies join the resistance every day.

Every pony can see the sky, and every pony can see the symbol of our small, but crucial victory against the Guard. The new star, our only star, has become the mark of the resistance, a way to show to each other that we are on the same side. The resistance is getting very big, now that ponies are starting to see the destructive power of the Guard and the council.

We have new networks of spies all over, in cities as far and near, including the City and the Guard itself. Many of the Guard ponies that we fought that night either quit the Guard entirely or started working for us from the inside.

It’s not moving fast, and it’s going to take a long time before Equestria has true peace and harmony again. There is a lot of fear. But…there is also a lot of hope. It’s not much, but it is definitely a start. Who knows how it’s going to end up?

As for me, I don’t really care…well, at least not right now. I’m sure that I will someday, but for the first time in my life, I have a home, and even more importantly, I have a family. All of us are living in camp now, along with Apple Bloom and Zecora, and of course, all the other camp ponies, and a bunch of new recruits.

Applejack, after a long and lengthy working-it-out discussion, mainly with Rainbow, has taken the reigns of the resistance. She’s really good at getting stuff done and she never stops working once she has a goal in mind. On top of all that, she has more reason than most any of us to want to see the Guard destroyed for good, and now that her brother, Big Mac and her granny have moved into the camp, she doesn’t have to worry about the Guard using them against her anymore.

Pinkie has gone back to baking full time and is running the kitchens. She’s teaching me how to make cupcakes tomorrow. I’m really excited. I love cupcakes! I hope we can make strawberry ones, those are my favorite. Fluttershy is taking care of animals and ponies, just like she always has. She’s a lot happier now that she isn’t all alone in the woods…well, I have to assume she is. I sure am.

“Hey! Starlight, Apple Bloom and I are doing a perimeter check, wanna ride along?” Rainbow asks, breaking me out of my thoughts. I look around at the tent I’ve been sitting in, slowly realizing I’ve been staring off into space for some time.

“Equestria to Starlight! Come in Starlight!” Rainbow laughs. I shake my head and smile.

“Starlight reporting! A perimeter check sounds invigorating! I will arrive post-hast!” I joke. Rainbow gives me an exasperated look before joining in my laughing.

“Hey before we go can you get my goggles out of the drawer?” She asks as she flexes her wings.

“Sure.” I turn and lock the drawer handle in my magic and pull out the goggles, then float them over to her.

“Thanks! Well, come out when you’re ready.”

I look around our tent. Oh yeah! I forgot to mention! Rainbow has been letting me share a tent with her. I have my own little bed in the corner, and my own bookshelf right next to it. It’s cozy, and I love it.

…I never did tell Rainbow Dash about what Twilight said to me that night….I think it would complicate things. Rainbow, and of course the others, were Twilight’s closest friends, and they don’t even know she had a kid. I don’t know what happened back then for sure, and I don’t know why Twilight didn’t tell them, but I’m not going to go back on whatever reason she had…even if it doesn’t exist anymore. Besides, I am who I am, regardless of where I came from.

I don’t know how the other ponies in camp would react if I told them, that in addition to being the only unicorn alive, I’m the daughter of an alicorn princess. Yeah, it still sounds weird even to me.

“Starlight! Come on!” Apple Bloom yells from outside. I jump off the bed and run out the door flap into the brilliant sunlight over the camp. Rainbow and her new weather team have done wonders with keeping some of the Everfree weather in check lately.

I rush over and hop up on Rainbow’s back as she takes off into the sky. I don’t think I’ll ever really get used to flying, though I definitely like it better than the first few times I flew with Rainbow.

I look out at the camp spread below us. Apple Bloom and Big Mac have already started growing a natural wall around it, with even more complicated defenses this time around. The only real building is Fluttershy’s old cottage, but there are the foundations for several others around it. We may not have much, but, with any luck, this could be the start of a whole new Equestria…for every pony.

I smile and look up at the sky, the sun on one horizon, the moon on the other, and the star in the middle. We have a lot of work to do, but for me, I’m happy just where I am right now, especially since it took a whole lot of work to get here.

“Hold on tight!” Rainbow calls and swoops into a dive. I hold on and let out a whoop of pure joy. Yeah, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, with my family.

END

Author's Note

Thanks so much for reading! That's all! It's been a year and three months since I first started this story and I can't actually believe I finished it. Thank you to everyone who read it, critiqued it, commented, liked and favorited Starlight.
Oh, and if anybody is curious, I have a blog post going up about my thoughts on the story and some of the background on how it was written. You can find it here: {Soon!} Don't feel obligated to read it or anything, I more wanted to write it for myself than anything else :D

Thanks again!
-PurpleFire Out!-

Chapter Twelve

“Concentrate!” Zecora called to Starlight who was panting in exertion as she tried to pull leaves off of trees in her magic and keep them from falling to the ground. It was not a test of her levitation ability; instead it was a focus task. Levitating the leaves as a large heap would have been simple, over the past week she had levitated far heavier things than leaves. However, the leaves all spread out around her, swirling in the wind, focusing on each was a very hard task, exponentially so because she could not hold all of them in her magical aura at once. She had to toss each one up as it threatened to hit the ground.

“You must combine their natural order with one you create!” Zecora continued as she watched from the edge of the clearing. It was off in the woods, about five minutes from camp. While Starlight was welcomed at the camp, her training in magic would have made them nervous. So, she and Zecora had been training in this clearing, and other places surrounding the camp, like a stream that followed nearby and also in dense forest to strain Starlight’s perceptive skills.

“AH!!” She cried in frustration as a leaf hit the ground. Her concentration was broken and she missed even more leaves as they fell to the forest floor. She quickly tried to pick them all up in her magic and toss them at once, but along with the others she was currently holding, it was too many objects for her to handle. Suddenly, without warning, her horn sputtered and died and all the leaves crashed to the ground, devoid of the dark purple aura that had been surrounding them.

Starlight stared at the ground. She hated failure. Zecora came from her spot outside the clearing.

“That was very good, your concentration has improved greatly. That was a great deal of items for your magic to carry,” Zecora nodded approvingly. “But, there is still much room to improve, now go again; this time listen to how the leaves move.”

How the leaves move? Starlight thought. They move like leaves! What is this supposed to tell me? She frowned, but none the less powered up her horn to go again. She felt a rise in the wind and began pulling leaves up off the ground and off nearby trees and watched them swirling around her. She pulled in with her magic, to make sure none of them floated out of the clearing and then began the arduous task of catching each one as it plunged towards the ground.

Silver Rain bent down, her nose almost touching the ground. The trail she was following was a few days old and was beginning to fade. She cursed. She should have tried to follow them sooner, but up until today she had woken up, ever day since the struggle at the cottage, with a pounding headache. Today, it was still there, but not as bad as before, besides, she could feel a storm brewing and with the rain it would undoubtedly bring, the tracks could be completely gone.

At least they were deep. Rainbow Dash must have been carrying the other pegasus, since her tracks were sunk in and every step had made its mark. The smaller set of the filly followed next to it, but those were even harder to see than Rainbow Dash’s hoofprints. She exhaled at the ground, an unfortunate cloud of dust rising up at her breath.

“Gak!” She spluttered as it hit her in the face. Silver scowled and wiped her muzzle with a hoof. She rolled her eyes at her own stupidity and continued walking, her eyes never leaving the trail. She had been following their tracks for almost a full day now, only having slept for a few hours in between. They couldn’t have gotten far. They had no supplies and were carrying a pegasus who should be close to death. Silver wouldn’t be surprised if her cut had already killed the yellow pegasus.

A rustling noise sounded in the brush overhead. She turned her head up to look, but saw nothing. As she did, her hoof snagged on a root, it snapped and she went sprawling. In seconds she was up on her hooves again. The forest was silent for a fraction of a second and her ears flicked back and forth, trying to hear the rustling again.

She didn’t hear it, but she did hear something else, and even before her conscious mind could piece together what was happening, her hoof had already captured the source of the whooshing noise she had heard. She stared at the arrow she now clutched. She snarled and in one motion dropped the arrow, pulled her knife out of its sheath on her leg, and threw it; spinning into the woods from the direction she had heard the sound.

The ‘thunk!’ as it made contact was followed swiftly by a loud crashing noise. Silver allowed herself a small grim smile as she crept towards whatever had been knocked down.

To her astonishment, lying still on the forest floor was an unconscious pony. She looked him over, he was breathing, but her knife had connected hilt first with his temple. She arched an eyebrow, not surprised or proud that her shot had been perfectly on target. There was one thing that troubled her though, what was he doing out here in the middle of the Everfree forest? She knelt down beside him, and noticed that squished underneath him was a small side-saddle bag.

She grabbed it and unceremoniously deposited its contents onto the ground. A water flask, a torch, a few food items, more arrows, all of it she tossed to the side. Then she struck gold. A small folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and was not surprised to find a map.

It displayed the region of the Everfree they were in, but more importantly, there was a large circle drawn around a seemingly unremarkable part of the forest. She looked closer and noticed an ‘x’ marked on one side. She tilted her head in confusion. She wondered what it meant.

She shrugged, he was probably just a camper; admittedly an odd one to be prancing around the deep parts of the Everfree, but probably a camper no less. Other than the arrows, she had no reason to suspect anything else. Silver looked down at the lump that was forming where her knife had hit him. He would be out for a couple hours. He wouldn’t be any trouble for her. She absentmindedly hoped he wouldn’t get eaten, but she didn’t let it bother her and continued following the tracks.

She came to a bend in the path just a few minutes later. Sticking in a tree next to it was an arrow, almost identical to the one that she had encountered. She frowned. Either this pony was shooting arrows all over the place, or there were more where he came from. Silver hesitated a moment, but figuring there was nothing else she could do other than to stay on her guard, she moved forward.

Then she noticed something new about the tracks. Another set of adult tracks had joined Rainbow Dash and the filly’s. She looked hard at these new tracks, small and deep. She looked back at Rainbows, hers were just as deep as they had been. That meant she must have still been carrying the yellow pegasus. This new addition was an earth pony. Silver felt a small sliver of apprehension.

Not that she was worried or anything, but the more ponies Rainbow Dash was with, the harder her job became. It would be almost impossible to get the unicorn filly if these new tracks were on Rainbow Dash’s side, which it seemed they were. There was no sign of a scuffle when they met up, other than the earth pony tracks indicating that he or she had fallen before they joined the other tracks.

“Listen to how the leaves move.”

Silver stopped. She had heard a voice. She turned. It was faint, but she knew it was coming from the left of her. Silver looked down at the tracks and then up at the sky. She had time to find out where the voice was coming from and finish tracking before the storm set it. She listened hard, but no other sounds came. She frowned, but nonetheless went off in search of the voice.

Starlight huffed as more leaves threatened to hit the ground. She had managed to keep of them up this time, but she was getting tired. Zecora had told her the point of the exercise was to work on her magical focus, so she had assumed that meant that she had to use her magic on each leaf individually.

But what if there was a way to control all of them at once with just one spell? Instead of dividing my magic and losing my focus on all the leaves one by one as they fall could I come up with a way to do it together? She frowned, a leaf slipping on the edge. With a heroic effort she pulled it back in and it resumed its swirling. At the same time as she was doing this, she was still thinking, It wouldn’t just be a levitation spell, it would be like a stop spell, or a hold spell.

She opened her eyes to tiny slits, looking at the clearing around her. She took in everything from the edges of each of the trees to the individual leaves swirling around her.

I can’t just stop the leaves, they aren’t really moving. The wind and air and trees are moving them. I need to stop everything in the system. Like a particle stopper. A stop motion spell.

Starlight bit her lip, more leaves threatening to hit the ground. She gasped and thrust them up, her mind going back to her previous thinking. She had never done a ‘spell’ before. Levitation was something that came naturally to unicorns, they just did it, like a pegasus being able to fly; sure there was finer points to learn, and many ways to do it, but almost all pegasi could fly from the time they were babies. And unicorns could levitate things.

She had done other magic, but when she did it, it was all instinct, she just thought about what she wanted her magical energy to do and it did it. This was different though, she needed to form her magic and shape it into the right pattern. She didn’t know how she knew this, but she could feel it was right. She had heard of unicorns using spells and spell books to cast magic in the past. She had always wanted to get her hooves on something like that, but never had.

This feeling of what she had to do was a certainty. There was no doubt in Starlight’s mind that a proper spell that shaped her magic would do the trick. She concentrated hard and dug her hooves into the ground. She wasn’t sure how it was going to happen, but she figured that she would find out along the way. Zecora could help her with magic, but in the end, she knew that she would really have to do it on her own.

Stop... She thought into the clearing around her. Her mind zoomed in on the trees dropping more leaves. Stop, next the wind blowing past her and ruffling her mane. Stop. The very air itself Stop! and finally the leaves, darting closer and closer to the ground as her concentration shifted from levitating them to the spell she was shaping. STOP!

Her focus never faltered, never slipped. Suddenly, as if a switch had been thrown it her mind, it all clicked into place. The words and feelings she had been pouring into her magic stopped being words, changing almost instantaneously to figures and matrices of pure magical energy. Starlight’s magic soared, she could see the spell laid out before her, and she could feel the energy she needed to put it into place. It was as if her mind had translated the words into a new language, the language of magic.

She opened her eyes wide and pushed just the tiniest bit harder. It was all she had. If this didn’t work, nothing would. Then as if a something had snapped, her magic flowed out like water burst from a dam. A brilliant flash of light that transformed from blinding white to her own dark purple washed over the clearing. Starlight closed her eyes against the glare, but didn’t flinch.

She inhaled and opened her eyes. Everything in the clearing was still. A dark purple aura surrounded it. On the outside, Zecora looked in, her form shifting and wavering as if she was looking in through warped glass. Nothing moved inside though. It was perfectly still and silent. Every leave was suspended where it had been when the spell had been cast.

Even the air was frozen still. Starlight breathed in and out, her breath the only thing disturbing the stillness. As soon as it hit the rest of the air though, the movement from her breathing halted and resumed its static state. She didn’t even move, she felt like if she took one step forward, she would break some unspoken rule that had been created.

A leaf was floating just above her head. The little bit of sunlight that filtered through one side of the clearing shown perfectly through its veins. The other side was shadowed and that darkness made the leaf a beautiful dark green. Starlight reached up with her nose and touched the very edge of the leaf with the tip of her muzzle.

With a cracking sound that Starlight was sure only she heard, every leaf in the clearing crashed to the ground and the wind whipped with renewed frenzy as if it was making up for being still before. Zecora walked into the clearing, an unreadable look upon her face.

“That spell had more talent than to me you have ever shown. The lesson of control is one that is no longer yours to own. You have done well and your magic has grown.” Zecora smiled. “Tomorrow we will move on to the last of my training. You have learned well and there is little that I can teach you remaining.”

Starlight buzzed with excitement. She couldn’t believe it worked. She wanted to try new spells now, harder spells. She idly wondered what the last of Zecora’s lessons would be. They had been working hard for only a week, but Starlight’s magic had improved considerably. Now she had the basics under her; controlling when and where her magic happened and now exactly what she wanted to do with it. She scrunched her nose. She wanted a spell book so badly! Reading was one of her favorite things to do and she knew reading about magic would be amazing.

She couldn’t even let that dampen her good mood, however. She bounced happily as she and Zecora walked companionably back to camp. Zecora had made it down the path a little further than her because she was so distractedly happy. The zebra turned around,

“Little filly, what are you doing? We must get back to camp; there is a storm a’ brewing.” Zecora said and continued. Starlight paused for a moment more and than ran a little to catch up. She looked up at the sky. Sure enough, there were dark clouds moving ominously across the sky. It was more than a little unsettling to see them moving all by themselves, regardless of any pegasi help.

Zecora sniffed the air and frowned. “I do not know what this storm will bring; it is an unpredictable and wild thing.” She said and moved faster. It wasn’t long after that when Starlight and Zecora reached the camp wall. Zecora wasted no time and put her hoof to the handle.

The wall slid open and Zecora went right inside. Starlight couldn’t help but turn and look at the clouds moving in. They were very dark.

Silver perched on a branch outside a clearing. It had not taken her long to find the source of the voice. An old zebra mare on the side of the clearing opposite her was instructing a young filly who was practicing in the clearing. It was much to Silver’s surprise when she saw the young filly in question.

A small filly with a dark purple coat and white-yellow mane. Silver stored those features in her memory, she didn’t have picture after all. The most noticeable feature however, was the horn on the filly’s head. Silver smiled. She was rewarded for her instincts to follow the voice. This was the filly she had been searching for. The last unicorn.

Silver had been rather young when the Uprising began, but she was no stranger to dealing with unicorns, this one would be no different. She would have to wait though. She didn’t know anything about this zebra and attacking before she knew all the assets of her opponent was the mistake she had made with Rainbow Dash.

She would just wait and follow them; hopefully they would lead back to Rainbow Dash herself. Silver settled into wait. She watched as the unicorn trained. It was clear that she was being instructed in magic. Another fact that would make Silver’s job harder, but she was not overly concerned. She had a magic suppressor in her bag if she needed it.

It was only basic levitation after all. Any unicorn baby could have done that. Silver yawned and looked up at the sky. The storm she had felt, back when the sky was still clear and the wind calm, was now approaching. Dark storm clouds with lightning flickering in between were bearing down on their part of the Everfree. They still were a ways off for now though.

She turned her attention back to clearing in time to see the filly standing perfectly still, her horn’s glow darkening and intensifying. Silver leaned forward in apprehension. If this unicorn had magic talent, it would seriously surprise her. The young filly would have had no teaching, no magic to observe, nothing explained, and certainly no magic texts to consult. By all reasons, her magic should be very minimal.

Especially since magic spawned more magic. The more magical energy around a unicorn, the stronger their magic could be. Since almost all magic and magical items had been destroyed there was little natural magic left to draw from. Silver made it a point to be well informed. She liked to know exactly what she was up against and what weaknesses she could exploit. This young filly was far from the first unicorn she had targeted.

Then, as Silver turned her focus back on the filly, a blinding white light exploded from her horn. It raced past Silver, nearly blowing her out of the tree she was hidden in. She managed to hold on, but she was momentarily blinded. When the dark spots finally disappeared from her vision, she stared at the clearing in astonishment.

Everything was still. It had all stopped moving. Silver’s mind raced with the implications of what she had just seen. It meant that this unicorn was nothing to sniff at. She was, apparently, a very magically inclined young pony. For her to do that kind of spell at the age she was; it was nothing short of amazing. Silver frowned. She needed to nip this in the bud.

She softly touched the knife in its sheath. She could end this all right now. The unicorn would be dead, and the last bit of magic extinguished, exactly what the Guard wanted. Silver was a firm believer that magic was the root of all evil in the world. She could end this young unicorn’s existence and all of it would be gone. It would be so easy for Silver to do it. She pulled the knife out of its sheath.

She huffed and slid it back in. Her orders were to bring the unicorn back alive. No killing unless by orders. It was part of her moral code. She hated these missions, at least when she wasn’t in them, because during the event, it was exhilarating. However, she had rules for herself. If she had to be a killer, she would at least still try to be a good pony. And that meant no killing. She already felt bad about hurting the yellow pegasus.

Silver would wait. She would bring the unicorn back alive, she would not kill a child either. As she thought this over, the zebra and the unicorn had left the clearing. She followed them, watching from up in the trees. It was not more than five minutes before they reached a seemingly impassable wall of foliage.

Much to Silver’s amazement, the zebra walked up and put her hoof into the plants, allowing a section to open like a door. She and the filly walked in and it shut behind them. Silver flapped her wings and glided down to the ground, looking at the wall. She was puzzled.

However, being the pegasus she was, she simply flew up to the top of the wall and just barely peaked her head over. Inside there were dozens of ponies milling around, apparently preparing for the coming storm. Silver’s eyes widened as she struggled to grasp the ramifications of something like this. A camp of ponies completely out of the control of the Guard, who were sheltering a unicorn no less! Silver’s job had just become exponentially more complicated.

On an instinct, she reached into her pouch and pulled out the map she had found earlier. She studied it for a moment, lining up the directions, looking for landmarks. She twisted it and her suspicions were confirmed. The place the zebra had opened was exactly where the 'x' was on the map. The circle must be the wall surrounding the encampment. She put a hoof to her forehead. This place was huge. There were tons of ponies, and they were organized too. Her head jumped back to the arrow shooting pony she had encountered. A sentry! She realized. They were ready for attack from any pony.

With a powerful flap of her wings she soared up above the tree-tops and away from the camp. She couldn’t handle this job alone. She would need reinforcements from the Guard. She flew as high as she could, the winds from the storm already blowing around and creating unpredictable air currents. She reached into her pack and pulled out a small round cylinder and a match. A signal flare.

Far in the distance, she could just make out the tall buildings in the center of the City; especially the dark form of the Guard building. She hoped they were on lookout since they should have received word of her tree to the Everfree. Silver struck the match against her pack and lit the fuse, throwing the flare high into the air.

It exploded in a burst of red. She had several flares at her disposal, green meant she had found her target and was either returning with it, or it was dead. Yellow meant she was injured and would need assistance to get back to HQ; she had never used a yellow, but her stash of greens had to be replaced constantly.

She had also never used a red before. Red meant that she had encountered an emergency and needed reinforcement; usually it called an entire squad of Guard ponies. She squinted towards the City, waiting for the reply. She didn’t have to wait long. Within a minute a red flare shot up from the Guard HQ, followed by a blue. The red meant they understood her flare and were repeating it. The blue meant they were on their way.

Chapter Twenty-One

Applejack left the two rear Guards lying in a heap behind her as she raced to catch up to the rear of the line. It wasn’t long before she was trailing directly behind the convoy. She could now see the two squad leaders at the back of the line from where she was at. She felt a bit of relief when she recognized them, it would mean that she was right; they were traveling in rigid formation. It also meant she knew their fighting abilities.

One was a large, green earth pony. She knew him as Sergeant Lucky Clover. He was big, but slow. The other was a slim blue pegasus. She didn’t recognize him at first, but as he walked, she realized he was Blue Breeze, the young cadet that had first told her of the Starlight problem all that time ago. Apparently, judging by the stripes on his uniform, he had been promoted to Captain in her absence. Whoever had approved that was an idiot, she thought.

So, Clover is going to be my first target. Take him out and this will get easy. She readied herself; she just had to wait for Pinkie’s signal. Without a moment’s hesitation a large boom echoed around the forest. She knew it was Pinkie setting off her party cannon, both further disabling the scouts and letting Applejack and Starlight know that she and Fluttershy were in position.

The whole line faltered at the sound and all the Guards stopped, looking around. The front Guard on the left held up a hoof and every pony went silent and stood at a standstill. Applejack smiled. It was time.

She turned decisively and bucked the tree next to her, hard enough to send vibrations reverberating up and down its trunk. All the Guards turned to look at this new sound, so much closer than the cannon fire. In that second, while they were distracted Pinkie Pie attacked, landing hard on top of the front right Guard. He went down and didn’t get back up. Before any pony could even blink, Pinkie had kicked the other front Guard in the head and he too went down.

It was then that chaos erupted as the remaining eight Guards relied against the attack. By that time, though, they had already lost two members and any semblance of order or discipline was thrown out. They dove at Pinkie with a singular force. Of course, in true Pinkie fashion, she was long gone before they got there.

Applejack ran into the fray, straight at Clover. She rammed into his side with a head butt and he went sprawling onto his side, a huge whuff escaping him as the wind was knocked out of his lungs. He was a seasoned fighter, though and was back up in an instant, trading Applejack blow for blow.

Up above, Fluttershy was doing her best to dodge and maneuver around the two air Guards. She dove, ducked and weaved around in a deadly game that, if she was doing it right would bring them close enough to the ground to be attacked. Then again, it also would put her in a more vulnerable position. The first of the Guards dove at her and she pulled her wings in tight as she rolled to the side.

“Ohmygoodness!” She exclaimed as he whizzed by her, his downward momentum far too much to be able to stop. Before she could even catch her breath the other one was upon her. Fluttershy snapped her wings out with as much force as she could muster and hit the Guard right in the face, sending him spinning out of control. She took the opportunity to dive down as far as she could. She knew they would follow.

Starlight teleported from tree branch to tree branch above the battle, her horn blazing and ready for action. She fired another sleep spell at a Guard that was sneaking up behind Pinkie, who was a whirl of spinning pink fur as she used all four hooves, her tail and sometimes even her head to ram and disable her opponents. The spell misfired and hit that Guard in the flank instead of the head.

Starlight huffed, but despite the spell’s poor aim, the Guard was still down for the count. Apparently the spell had still worked… sort of; his leg had clearly fallen asleep and he was down on the ground trying to drag it along. Starlight resisted the urge to laugh and turned her attention back to the battle below her.

She noticed the prisoners in the line were trying to attack the Guards now too, but there was a problem. They were all tied together in their line with thick ropes connecting the hooves on one pony to the hooves of the next. Starlight realized that until the ropes came off, there was no way they could help. Well, she figured she could probably do something about that.

She scrunched her nose up and focused. Her first instinct was a levitation/manipulation spell, but once she tried to get just the first knots undone, she realized that would take way too much time. She needed a spell that would to it all at once. Her next thought was to use a disintegration spell to destroy the rope entirely, but she didn’t want to risk firing it and hitting some pony in the line. She growled in frustration.

Then an idea hit her like a light bulb going on in her head. If she wanted to untie something, why not just use an un-tying spell. She had no idea if such a thing existed, but if she could do what she did when she discovered the stop spell, maybe she could find it. She concentrated on the rope, letting it fill her vision. Untie She thought at it, feeling it respond to her magical aura. Untie, undo, unmake! She thought, not entirely sure where those words were coming from, but feeling they were right.

With a tingle she slipped into her spell vision, where the words stopped and she could see the spell matrices that would complete it. She directed her magic into those grooves and with a satisfying sound, the rope dropped to the ground. Starlight smiled and let the magic fade for a few seconds, as she caught her breath. A cheer rose up from the line of prisoners and they turned as one to attack the remaining Guards.

Applejack hit the ground hard. Clover loomed over her menacingly. With a snarl, he slammed his hoof down, aiming for her head. She braced herself, but, to her surprise no impact came. Some pony had rammed into Clover from the side, throwing him off of Applejack. A yellow pony jumped over her and continued fighting him.

Applejack was up in an instant. Not even stopping to look at the pony who had saved her, Applejack launched herself onto Clover’s back. He buckled underneath her and she swiftly kicked him in the back of the head. He went limp.

“AJ?” A startled voice from in front of her asked. She looked up at the pony who had helped her. Applejack’s heart froze.

“Apple Bloom?” She asked back. They just stared at each other. Suddenly their stare was broken as two Guards charged at Applejack, one was Blue Breeze, and the other was a line Guard. Applejack whirled around to take them on. She traded blows with both of them for a few seconds, but she was losing ground fast. Just as she was about to go down, Apple Bloom attacked the line Guard from behind. Applejack tried to help as he turned his attention towards her, but was swamped by Blue Breeze’s new flurry of attacks.

“I got it!” Apple Bloom yelled and delivered a swift kick to the Guard’s head. Applejack nodded and turned back towards Blue Breeze. They didn’t have time to do anything else but fight on. Both she and Apple Bloom continued to hold off the Guards, but they were both tired and were losing ground. Applejack landed a solid blow to Breeze’s face, but as she did, she felt herself push up against Apple Bloom.

As if the two Guards weren’t enough, two more found a way into the fray and in seconds the two were fighting off attacks from all sides.

“AJ!!!” Apple Bloom yelled.

“What?!”

“Grape Juice!!”

“Got it!”

Apple Bloom flipped backwards, her back hooves hitting the Guard in front of her hard in the face. She landed lightly on Applejack’s back, but was only there for a fraction of a second as Applejack catapulted her up into the air. She came down hard on the second Guard and as she did, Applejack used the distraction to buck the third Guard, hard, right in the chest. He went flying at the force of her kick. They both turned to the final Guard who cowered for a second and then turned tail and ran.

“Here!” Apple Bloom yelled, picking up a piece of rope and tossing it to Applejack and spun it a few times before throwing the lasso at the escaping Guard, who happened to be, of all ponies, Blue Breeze. The rope sailed through the air, quickly approaching its target… and then came down a few feet short of Blue Breeze’s rapidly fading form.

“AJ!”

“Sorry! I’m a bit rusty!” Applejack countered.

Suddenly, the rope was enveloped in a purple aura and it, seemingly by itself, floated up and whizzed towards the Guard. It wrapped itself around his hooves and drug him back towards the rest of the line. Another flash of purple light shot out of the trees, and hit him in the head. He slumped and began to snore.

As quickly as the battle had begun, it was over. The ten Guards were slumped all around, each in varying degrees of sleep and/or unconsciousness. Starlight took in a shuddering breath. They had done it. She teleported down out of the trees and reappeared next to Applejack and Apple Bloom, who were both still staring at each other like they’d seen a ghost.

“Do you two know each other?” She asked innocently. Starlight’s voice seemed to break Applejack out of her thoughts. She shook her head.

“Yeah, Starlight, she’s my sister.” Applejack responded.

“Really? That’s so cool!” Starlight said happily. She liked meeting other pony’s families. It was even funnier since she had already known both of them. Now that she knew they were siblings, it made a lot of sense.

“Yeah. Hey, Starlight how about you go and see if Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy need any help. We just need to finish things up here and the rest of the camp can meet up with those who escaped through the tunnel.” Apple Bloom said, looking down at Starlight.

“Okay!” Starlight said and went towards where Pinkie Pie was talking to some other camp members.

“What are you doing here?” Apple Bloom asked, turning back towards Applejack. “Not that I have a problem with it…You all really saved us.”

“Uh, that’s…ah’m…here because…” Applejack trailed off, at a loss for words. Then, suddenly thinking of something, she frowned, looked at Apple Bloom and said, “Well, for starters, how about you tell me what you’re doing in a resistance camp?”. She did not sound happy.

“Helping. Some pony has to stand up against the Guard.” Apple Bloom said defiantly. “And we both know it wasn’t going to be you.” She finished with venom.

“You know the reason I joined was to protect you! And the rest of the family! How am I supposed to do that when you’re off running around the Everfree with a bunch of resistors?!” Applejack scolded.

“Maybe I’m not okay with just waiting home at the farm either! Maybe I want to make a difference too! I just don’t understand why you couldn’t just protect the family another way! Why did it have to mean you going against everything you stood for before? Why did it have to mean leaving us?!” Apple Bloom hissed.

“Has it ever, ever, occurred to you that maybe I had no other choice? That not the Guard, but the actual Council, the real ponies behind the Uprising, were sniffing around us? That our family, our whole family, not just the four of us at Sweet Apple Acres, but the entire Apple family was under suspicion? That the whole reason for that was because of me?! Because I was on the unicorn side, but even more because I bore an Element of Harmony? If I hadn’t joined, hadn’t proven beyond a doubt that I was on their side, that they would have let any one of us live?! Have you ever considered that?!”

Apple Bloom sighed. “I guess not like that…” She murmured. “But couldn’t we have fought? Stood our ground? The resistance won today! Why couldn’t we have done that ten years ago?”

“Ten years ago was a very different time. The Guard and the Council were stronger, fueled by hate and open war. They were ruthless, they stopped at nothing. By the time I joined most of the unicorns were already gone. I had already seen two of my best friends die. I was not going to let that happen to my family.

“And, yes, the resistance won today, but at what cost? Have you considered all the ponies that died from both sides in the raid? When I was General, I tried my best to employ tactics that captured, not killed resistance, I used battle plans to make sure the fewest numbers died. I was making a difference. I know it doesn’t seem like that to you, or anybody else, but where better to try than at the top? I know I’ve made mistakes, I was harder than I should have been. I lied. I did what I had to do to survive and keep you alive sometimes. I’m not proud of that. But, I am trying to make up for it.” Applejack explained sadly.

Apple Bloom looked stunned.

“Wait, were? When you were General? Aren’t you still?” She asked, confused. Applejack smirked.

“Nope. I defected and escaped about a few days ago. Why do you think I helped the resistance get away?”

“I kinda thought you might have done it because you saw me…” Apple Bloom trailed off. She shrugged. “What made you leave?”

“They sent out a kill order on Rainbow Dash, and actually had the gal to try and get me to fill it when their first agent failed. I came here to stop it, but I didn’t get here fast enough.” Applejack frowned. Apple Bloom paled.

“Rainbow is…” She couldn’t even say it.

“No. Just captured, luckily. Since they didn’t get a hold of Starlight yet, I would have to assume they’ve taken Rainbow Dash alive for questioning” Apple Bloom let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

“So, we’re going to save her right?”

“Yes. We as in Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Starlight and me. You are going back with the rest of the camp. Or better yet, back home.”

“What?! No! I’m coming with! You aren’t leaving me again while you go off into the fire! I’m coming to help! I mean, you’re taking Starlight! She’s just a filly!” Apple Bloom protested.

“Yes, a filly that can do magic, the only filly who can do magic, which we are going to need if want to have any shot of breaking into Guard headquarters. You are staying here and that is final.” Applejack said in a voice that brooked no argument.

“I’m not a kid anymore AJ! I’m a full-grown mare and I can do what I want!” Apple Bloom said with frustration. Applejack huffed and tried a different tactic.

“They need you back at camp. They’ll need to rebuild and fortify wherever they plan on staying. There is no pony better at that then you. Are you really going to leave them? They already lost Pinkie, who was leading them.” Applejack pointed out.

“Ponyfeathers!” Apple Bloom swore. “Why’dja have to bring that up?” She sighed, defeatedly. “Fine. I’ll go with the resistance. You just better promise me that you’ll come back.”

“I promise.”

“Pinkie Promise.”

“Why does everyone ask for that? Is a regular promise no good anymore?”

“You can’t break a Pinkie Promise.” Apple Bloom pointed out.

“EVER!!!” Pinkie yelled from where she was standing.

“Fine. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. There, happy?” Applejack complied, along with matching movements.

“Eeyep.” Apple Bloom said with a smile. They both walked back over to the rest of the group. Some of the resistance ponies had used the rest of the rope and had tied together the unconscious Guards. It would be awhile before they woke up, much less untie themselves. The camp ponies were reading themselves to leave, after getting instructions from Pinkie and Fluttershy as to where they could go and start rebuilding.

Starlight, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were waiting for Applejack so they could get back on the road towards the City. They had already lost most of the morning in travel time, so they had to get going. Applejack turned to Apple Bloom and hugged her.

“I’ll come back, okay?”

“You’d better.” Apple Bloom pulled away and went with the camp ponies, who were already leaving.

“Ready to go?” Starlight asked, coming up next to her.

“As I’ll ever be.” Applejack replied, with a look behind her.

“Well, let’s go then, slow-pokies!” Pinkie said, bouncing ahead. Apparently, she had been angry enough, and had decided to go back to her usual pink and buoyant self.

“Don’t think this doesn’t mean I’m not still watching you!” She called to Applejack. When Applejack snorted under her breath, Pinkie stopped dead in her tracks and before Applejack knew what was happening, Pinkie was right behind her.

“Always watching!” She said creepily, and then bounced back to the front of the group. Applejack shrugged and Starlight burst out in a fit of giggles.

Suddenly, Fluttershy stopped with a gasp and began digging through her saddle bags.

“What is it?” Pinkie asked, turning around.

“Something in here is burning!” She exclaimed. Finally, she pulled out a gold necklace and it fell to the ground. It was her Element of Harmony, and right now its usually pink jewel was pulsating an angry red.

“I wondered if that had started up again.” Applejack said. She flipped open her saddlebags, instantly seeing that hers was also flashing red. She frowned. She, Pinkie and Fluttershy were all quite aware what the pulsating meant. They looked at each other, dread written on each face.

“But why is it hot?!” Fluttershy asked, alarmed. Applejack didn’t know for sure, but she had an idea. Either way, it really only meant one thing. She looked up, meeting the shocked looks of the rest of the group.

“We have to hurry.” She said.