Twelve

Sweetie Belle was not a cowardly filly. She was brave, adventurous and curious. Basic prerequisites of a crusader. However, like any normal filly her age, there were things that she feared. Some more. Some less. Just like any kid her age. It would be weird if she didn't have any fear in her. However, there was ONE thing that Sweetie Belle did fear in particular.

I bet you're wondering: What could a crusader fear? They have faced fire, darkness, monsters, high peak and deep ravines and the occasional gum making machine. Well, the answer was simple. Have you ever been alone in a dark, abandoned castle?

No?

Well Sweetie Belle has. She is in one right now. So what is she afraid of? Here is the answer: Have you ever been in the dark, and felt that there was sompony behind you? And you turn around but there's nopony there?

"There's nopony behind me, there's nopony behind me, there's nopony behind me..."

Sweetie Belle slowly walked through the dark hallways. Her horn was brightly illuminated with a small green spark. It was the only real magic she knew. Normally, she would use it without a problem. Magic wasn't something that came natural to her, but she had some skills, like any unicorn.

"There is nopony behind me...."

But of course, right now, she was half scared to death. Common knowledge dictates that a unicorn's control over its magic has a direct relation whit his emotional state. A serene pony will be able to perform true magic. And angry pony will manage powerful yet uncontrolled spells, and so on and on. Being afraid meant that the control in magic was weak, while the output was minimal, as the body had to be prepared to run an a moments notice.

Which meant that the only light Sweetie had would flicker at the worst possible moment.

Like right now.

"There's nopony behind me, there's nopony behind me, there's nopony-" Flick. Darknes engulfed her. "Oh no! No, no, no, no, nonononononono!"

She tried to focus, a couple green sparkles flashed before her horn lit up. Sweetie Belle opened her eyes. And screamed. And ran. And screamed some more. And then ran some more.

A small spider slid down the string she made before the unicorn filly had ran away.

"Shush...you hear that?" Scootaloo asked. Minnie strained her ear. Yes. She could hear something. A shrilling, loud scream. It was getting closer. And closer. And closer. And clo-

BAM.

Sweetie Belle crashed Scootaloo into a wall. Minnie could only feel her mane flutter a bit from the speed of the unicorn.

"Sweetie Belle! What the hay is wrong with you!?" Scootaloo rubbed her nose, pushing Sweetie Belle away from her.

"Monster! Spider! Coming this way!" Sweetie Belle shrieked. Scootaloo pushed her to the ground.

"Calm down, will ya? There's no monsters in here. Don't you think we would have seen one already?"

"I belive Scootaloo is right here. We have not come across any form of danger or creature so far." Minnie said.

"But...but..."

"Lets go Sweetie Belle. We gotta find Apple Bloom and Gem." Scootaloo proceeded onwards, soon followed by Minnie. Sweetie Belle hesitated. at least until she saw that she was being left alone again. One could say she almost teleported by how fast she was by Minnie's side.

"Where do you thin Apple Bloom and Gem are?"

"You were pretty close to us, so I bet that they are close too." Minnie answered. The roof above them ended in a broken curve, revealing the starry sky. From Ponyvile it was a pretty nice view. From their position, high in a corridor in the forrest, it was gorgeous.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" Minnie pointed a hoof at the sky. "Virgo used to sing us a lullaby under them when were younger."

"Fluttershy does that too when she looks after us too." Sweetie Belle commented.

"Well, if we don't hurry, we can forget about that." Scootaloo said.A large shadow briefly covered them before disappearing. Nopony moved for a few seconds.

"What was that?" Minnie asked. Sweetie Belle shrugged.

CRASH!!

"GAH WHAT THE BUCK!!"

Three heads peered down. A purple light was flickering on and off. Some vague words could be heard. Most of them were too soft to be heard, but a few of them were very clear.

"Thats a very weird use for flank..." Scootaloo said.

"Whats a plothead?" Sweetie scratched her head.

"Is...is that Leo?" Minnie asked.

Indeed, there was Leo, having barely avoided the falling vanity. Twilight on the other hand, had not. Her magic barely managed to make a shield her body, digging her into the ground. The large piece of furniture had smashed apart, sending wood and splinters flying around. Leo was horrified, since there was no sign of the purple unicorn's survival except for some shouting coming from the dust. A grunt proved her wrong, as Twilight emerged from the ground, mostly unharmed.

And pissed.

As in I-will-rape-you-kill-you-rape-you-and-kill-you-again pissed.

"I am tired of PONIES DROPPING STUFF ON ME!!" Twilight raged against the heavens. Grabbing Leo, she teleported them to the highest tower, Twilight charged a spell, ready to fry whoever was there.

"Now who was the piece of manure who threw...that... Apple Bloom?"

"Hi Twilight!" Apple Bloom smiled, ignoring the almost visible death aura that emanated from the unicorn. Gem noticed. Thats why he immediately hid behind Leo.

"You...you dropped the vanity?" Twilight asked in a growl.

"Yeah, sorry about that, guess mah' aim was a bit off." Apple Bloom answered. Twilight didn't say anything. The tension started to slowly fade away from Twilight, replaced by a glint of evil. Barely noticeable in her eyes to the untrained spectator. But those who knew Twilight could deduct what was going through her mind at the moment.

"Hey Apple Bloom." Twilight began charging a special." I know something that's also off right now."

"Yeah?" Apple Bloom asked. "What?"

ZAP.

"I think I can feel my brother's presence again." Minnie perked. "He's nearby!"

The other two rose up to the new info. They were getting somewhere now! MAybe they would finally leave this dang castle!.

"You think you can take us to him?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Not without him doing it too." Minnie started walked back where they came from. "Bu I can lead you to him."

The corridors weren't any different from before, but even the two fillies could feel something different in the air. It was lighter. As if somepony had taken the evil out of the place.

"We are almost there!" Minnie started running. Apparently, Gem had the same idea, as he popped into existence right in front of them, along with Twilight, Leo and Diamond Tiara.

"Tiara!?" Scootaloo shrieked.

"Whats she doing here?!" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Its me girls..." Diamond Tiara answered, her voice riddled with a very thick country accent.

"A fitting punishment for you Apple Bloom." Twilight decided.

"Are you alright Minnie?" Leo asked. Minnie nodded. Now they would finally go back to the town. The twins ran to each other, being separated for long enough. Twilight counted the ponies present.

"Three zodiacs, three fillies, one unicorn. Were set!" Twilight prepared her spell." Everypony stay close to me."

With a loud pop, the seven ponies reappeared in front of the library. Minnie and Gem had to be placed on the back of Leo, since they were still unused to the teleportation.

The library was dark. Not a light was on.  The windows were shut. Not a sound came from inside.

"Thats odd. Spike and Capricorn should have already gathered the rest." Twilight opened the door, followed by the rest of the gang. "Wonder what happened..."

"SURPRISE!!"

Pinkie and Cancer jumped in happiness, streamers raining around them. All of the zodiacs were there, all of them smiling, except Virgo, who's mouth was slightly swollen. Spike held a small cake with a candle.

"Its party time!" Pinkie shouted.