"Are you okay, Dusk?"
"Hm?"
"I asked if you were feeling okay."
He tried to smile. "Of course, Miss Sparkle. I'm uh, perfectly alright."
"I don't think you are," she remarked sceptically. "You've been quiet all day."
"Aren't I usually quiet?"
"Sometimes, but today and for the past few days even, you've been unusually quiet."
"How can I be unusually quiet if I'm usually quiet?"
"Because I say so," she said with a smirk. "And around here, what I say goes."
"That's hardly a fair or reasonable argument."
"When you're the boss, you can make the rules." Her smile returned to a concerned frown. "What's bothering you, Dusk?"
"It's… it's nothing," he stammered. "Just lingering memories from the Empire…"
"That's what I was willing to believe at first. I was going to let you recover, relax, have some time to yourself if you needed it, but I can see now it's not just that. Something else is really bothering you."
"I-"
"Don't even try to deny it, Dusk," she cut off. "You've been taking home all of those books about Equestria's old legends and our ancient history. During our breaks, you always seem to have your nose buried in one of those books and the rest of the time, you just stare off blankly into space like you were just now."
He couldn't help but smile. "Nothing ever escapes your notice, does it?"
"As the librarian and your marefriend, it's my job to notice these things," she said smartly. "I know how you are with keeping things to yourself. Even now you still need a little push, so come on. What's really bothering you?"
Dusk opened his mouth and closed it again. Part of him found it easy to keep this from her. Dealing with his own problems and having no wish to place them on others was still something that was ingrained into him, like she'd said. That was what he was trying to draw from, to keep himself quiet.
Another part of him hated doing this. Seeing her standing there, her eyes shimmering with concern, her hoof almost reaching out to help him, made it even worse.
He wanted to tell her, but how could he? Even now, she was still riding her from the success of passing her test and saving a whole Empire. Not only that, she'd been proud of him for what he'd done, saving Sombra especially even if she still berated him for something equally as foolish as it was brave. Even Dusk had to admit that he didn't know where those strange bursts of courage came from, though he had a fairly good idea.
To tell her what was weighing on his mind, the truth he had uncovered while in the Empire… it would shatter everything. She was still under the illusion that they were relatively safe while he had no such luxury. The readings and research he had done only made it worse. How could he just tell her and shatter that?
But if there was one thing he did know, it was Twilight Sparkle. Now that she had her mind on this, she wouldn't let it go until he told her. He had to say something, even if it wasn't what she wanted to hear.
"I um… I'll be honest, my love… I can't tell you," he finally answered.
She glared. "Dusk…"
"What I mean is," he said quickly, "you'd need to give me some time to think about how exactly to tell you. This thing it… it isn't easy to put into words."
"Why, you gonna propose or something?"
They both jumped, not noticing the baby dragon until now. Even if he was standing in the middle of the room, watching the whole scene with an exasperated look.
"Spike!" she said sharply, though her cheeks were flushed. "What have I told you about eavesdropping?!"
"What eaves am I dropping? You're not exactly in a private place." He gestured around at the public space of the library. "Look, Dusk, I know something eating at you too. Twilight's not the only one who notices things."
"Did she have you spy on me?" Dusk tried to joke.
"Oh come on, I wouldn't need to spy on you to know something's up," he retorted. "We both know, so you might as well tell us. Unless you are gonna propose in which case, let me leave the room first."
"I'm not going to propose," insisted Dusk, trying to keep the blush off his face. "I just… I will tell you but… you're going to have to let me think a little on how exactly I need to say it."
Twilight conceded. "Okay. But you promise to tell me?"
"Pinkie promise," he said, performing the motions. "I'm sorry for keeping this from you."
"Idiot," she giggled. "It's not just that though. I don't like seeing you look so morose. It's better when you smile."
"You help to bring it out."
"I should think so." The smirk returned. "Well, I know what'll help take your mind off it at least. A change from the usual external environment will serve to break the usual monotony of a routine and help to release the necessary endorphins required to relieve the mind of stress."
"Um, in layman's terms, please?"
"Some change will do you some good. It worked when we took a trip Sweet Apple Acres on one of our breaks, so let's try it again." She raised her voice. "Spike, grab that orange from the kitchen! We're going to do some spell practice outside!"
Dusk was a little unsure if it would work, but he had to admit that stepping out of the library to feel the cool breeze and the warm sun gracing his skin did make him feel a little more relaxed. Though they were in the dwindling days of summer, there was still a little warmth to be gained from what was left.
Twilight didn't miss this change and smiled proudly, letting him loop a foreleg through hers as they set off. Spike just rolled his eyes and followed.
Today, Twilight had been given a new form of transformation spell to practice by Princess Celestia, one that would allow her to change the very nature of an object into another. A very difficult and challenging form of magic, even for one as talented as Twilight, so they were starting off simple by turning an apple into an orange.
Admittedly, Dusk questioned her choice of location for the practice. Instead of an open field, she instead chose a nearby café and placed the apple on the table. Surely, he thought, it would be better to be somewhere there wouldn't be any distractions or obstructions that might interfere with her magic.
"This isn't for my benefit though," she answered. "Being somewhere around other ponies can be a big help too. You never know, some of our friends might drop by."
"Yeah, plus it means that if I want a snack, it's only a walk away," put in Spike, thumbing towards the café entrance.
Dusk didn't say anything. He just let a smile creep onto his face while he stood back and watched Twilight work.
The first attempt the apple flickered in colour but little else. The second it twitched like something was about to break out of it, but stopped. The third time it almost became an orange but reverted back seconds later.
"Try again, Twi, you can do it!" encouraged Spike.
"Phew, this spell's a toughie. But I feel lucky this time!" she declared, with a look at Dusk. "One, two..."
"Hi!"
Something or rather somepony pink barrelled into her and threw her aim off. The spell shot towards a tree and hit a bird, turning it's whole body into an orange except for its wings.
Well, Twilight was right. One of their friends did drop by. Quite literally.
"Pinkie, why'd you do that?!" asked a frustrated Twilight.
"'Cause hugs are funneriffic, especially when you throw one around a friend," she answered. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Trying to turn that apple into an orange!"
"But you kinda threw her aim off..."
Spike pointed at the winged orange that flapped by.
Pinkie just giggled with foal-like glee. "What a cute orange birdie! Do me next, Twilight! Do me, do me!"
Her excited bouncing led her to bump into a certain fashion designer dressed in a black hooded robe.
"Ooooh, Rarity, wanna see Twilight turn me into an orange?" Pinkie asked. "It's gonna be funna-fun-fuuun!"
"As fun as creating this haute couture ensemble that I just finished making?" Rarity threw off her robe to reveal an elegant gown with matching gloves. She'd even styled her mane. "Delightful, non?"
The party pony gasped. "This is terrible!"
"I admit it's perhaps not my finest work, but I–"
"You had total-awesome-amazing fun and missed out on it?!" She groaned. "Wait! What if there's more awesome amazing fun with friends happening somewhere in Ponyville right now that I'm missing out on too?!"
As quickly as she'd arrived, she was gone in a flash, leaving Rarity giving Spike an odd look.
"We weren't going to turn her into an orange! I swear!" he insisted.
"I should certainly hope not," she replied. "Pinkie is odd enough without also being a piece of fruit."
"Yeah, um, you look great, Rarity," he said quickly. "Your dress, I mean it um… it looks great."
"Oh. Why, thank you, Spike," she murmured, looking over it. "Like I said, it's not my finest creation but that doesn't mean I don't strive to try."
"You always look great, no matter what you wear," he said genuinely.
"You're very kind, darling." Her eyes lingered on Spike's scars and concern flashed across her face. But it quickly left. "So, Dusk, Twilight. You two are both looking well. How are things?"
"They're…" She cast a look at Dusk and halted. "They're fine, thank you. Nothing out of the ordinary, just us."
"Splendid. I'm pleased to see everypony's favourite couple isn't encountering any problems." They both blushed at this. "Especially in the wake of the romantic scandal that I've been hearing about."
"Scandal?" asked Dusk.
"Oh, you two haven't heard? Well, Fluttershy told me at our weekly get together at the spa that she saw Applejack and Ray off to attend a viewing of the new Nightlight movie. Together. Alone," she said with emphasis.
"Really? AJ and Ray?" Spike scratched his head. "Were they really-?"
"That was my thought initially, but then I had a little chat with Sweetie Belle a day earlier," she went on. "Apparently, the whole Apple family, the Crusaders too, were in cahoots to get the two of them together, deliberately arranging it so they would be alone together in romantic circumstances. I honestly never thought my sister would be attempting something like that again, after the Big Mac and Cheerilee affair, although she has been hanging around that Button colt for a while now…"
"So, what happened?" asked Twilight.
"Hm? Oh, sorry dear, getting off topic. Well, in the end the whole mess was sorted out. Applejack and Ray see each other as friends, nothing more," she told them. "A good thing too. Fluttershy did appear to be fretting about it when she told me. She told me she went to talk to you in the wake of it, Dusk darling and she felt better about it after. Care to elaborate?"
The stallion shook his head. "Sorry, Rarity, but what happened was in confidence, strictly between me and her. I Pinkie promised."
"I can't help but be even more intrigued now." She sighed. "Oh well, can't blame a mare for trying. Well, I'd better be off. Need to get this ensemble home before it's ruined by the dust. Cheerio."
Her gaze lingered on Spike's scars again before setting off back for her Boutique.
"Alright then. Back to practice then," Twilight said brightly. "One, two..."
Yet again, a pink flash bounced off her back and disrupted her concentration. This time, the unintended target was a frog.
"Pinkie! What in the wide, wide world of Equestria are you doing now?" demanded Twilight.
Pinkie climbed out of the hole she'd skidded herself into. This was the first time Dusk had seen her so breathless.
"Timing myself galloping back and forth between the swimming hole and Sweet Apple Acres," she replied. "I'm trying to cut down my time so if Rainbow Dash dives off the swing, I can get to Sweet Apple Acres to help with the barn raising, and then be back in time to see Rainbow Dash hit the water after doing a double flip! If I can cut my time by only twenty minutes, I'm good."
Both Dusk and Twilight had to laugh at that.
"I'm afraid, Pinkie, that as remarkable as you are, that seems impossible, even for you," remarked Dusk.
"Dusk's right," agreed Twilight. "I'm afraid no matter how hard you try, the only way to pull something like that off is if there's more of you to go around."
Pinkie stood stock still for a good five seconds. Dusk could have sworn he heard her brain ticking away inside her head while it cocked jerkily to one side. Suddenly, she vibrated like an alarm going off and beamed.
"That's it, Twilight! The legend of the Mirror Pool!"
"Legend of the who-what now? Pinkie!" She and Dusk exchanged a quizzical look as Pinkie pranced off. "I'm familiar with loads of legends, and I never heard of–"
"Does this mean practice is over?" Spike asked suddenly.
"Of course not! Back to work," Twilight said brightly. "Come on, Dusk."
"Right." He stared off where Pinkie had run to. "One cannot help but wonder what it is exactly that drives that pony."
"Well, try to help it," she advised. "If you remember, I tried and that didn't turn out so well. We all know the most important lesson about living in Ponyville."
"Don't question Pinkie Pie," recited Dusk.
Even though he returned to watching Twilight, he still pondered what exactly Pinkie was planning on doing. He'd never heard of this Mirror Pool either. What did it do? And what was Pinkie planning to do if she found it.
Though something told him it would be more of a question of when than if. After all, this was Pinkie…
It hadn't taken much longer for Twilight to succeed at finishing her spell. The apple was now a full-blown vitamin C packed orange and with no more misfires and hybridized fruit/animals created. They'd tried finding the unintentional creations in question, but in the end just decided to leave them. Twilight said that the spell would wear off after a few hours anyway and they'd be back to normal after.
But that meant for Dusk on their way back to the library that his reckoning had come. He could feel Twilight's eyes boring into him as they walked. He had promised her an explanation and he was about to give it. He still wasn't sure what exactly to say though. Even now, nothing really came to mind. How would she take it? Would she panic? He was about to find out.
Twilight asked Spike to busy himself with something else while she talked to Dusk. She led him upstairs, his legs shaking all the while and up to her bed. She lay on it and patted the spot next to her. He at first thought this was a rather odd venue for this topic, but he couldn't deny it was comfortable.
She budged along so their sides were pressed against each other and gazed at him with her violet pools. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. She just waited. And she didn't have to wait for long.
"It wasn't just Tube."
She blinked. "What? What do you mean?"
"I mean… he wasn't the only one who was responsible for the Crystal Empire's return," he elaborated. "There was somepony else. Somepony that he answered to. Edge too, we suspect. In fact, we're all but certain he's been behind everything they've done."
"I see…" She didn't break her gaze. "Who is it then?"
Now, he returned her gaze. "Do you remember the story I told last Nightmare Night?"
"Of course, I-" She gasped sharply. "Oh no… you don't mean… him?"
He nodded. "I do. That was what Tube was doing in the forest, why he was gathering all of that energy. He needed it to power a device strong enough to break through the bowels of Tartarus so they could pull him out." He frowned. "Do you hear that?"
"Don't change the subject," she snapped. "So, it worked? They got him out?"
"They did. Fallen Soul has returned." Dread lay heavy on his words.
Twilight fell into a pensive silence. She looked almost more thoughtful than frightened at the news.
"And that's why you've been reading all of those old books," she murmured. "You've been trying to find out more about him."
"Trying, yes, but there's not a whole lot of clear facts. It's mostly stories about his deeds and many different versions of the tale when he turned traitor. I can hazard a good guess at his motive."
"Revenge," she said instantly. "It would explain why he went to the changelings and brought back Sombra."
"But it doesn't feel right," he said. "On both of those occasions, he was shown to be responsible yet he himself took little part in most of the events. He didn't stay and help Chrysalis, nor did he help Sombra beyond bringing him back."
"Perhaps he had confidence in their abilities to manage on their own."
"But if he truly wanted his revenge, he would want to take part in it personally," he replied. "He would have been right there to see the downfall and reap the benefits but he's just been watching from the side-lines. And I swear I can hear something. It sounds like yelling…"
"Just ignore it. So… what do you think he's after?" she asked.
"I don't know…"
"Revenge still seems like the strongest motive for him. Do you think he wants to go about it in a different way?"
"I really don't know…"
"It has to be something big because he needed additional aid to pull it off. What if he wants to find something, something that might give him more power or a stronger foothold or-"
"I don't know, Twilight!" he yelled. "Stop asking me, because I don't know!"
She flinched. "Dusk, calm down, I'm only making suggestions. I'm just trying to help."
"Well, it isn't."
"I could have done something to help sooner if you'd just told me from the beginning."
"It wasn't your problem…"
"That's not an acceptable excuse and it never has been. Not anymore." She placed a hoof on his cheek. "I thought we were done keeping things from each other. Why do you insist on doing this to yourself?"
"I… I…" He cast his eyes down. "I wanted to tell you. I really did but… I couldn't."
"Why? We've faced his kind before."
"Not his kind," he muttered. "Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, they're nothing compared to him. You may think they're the worse, but Fallen truly he is. It's not that he's power hungry or a trickster or a tyrant. He's… he's…"
He trailed off. The thought was too horrible.
"What?" she prompted gently. "What is he?"
It took him a while to find the right words.
"Imagine, Twilight. Imagine if you'd done what he did. Imagine if you were imprisoned for so long that by the time you got out, everything had changed. Everything you'd ever known, everypony you ever loved was gone. Forever. Worse, while the ponies and places may be gone, the things you'd done weren't. Everypony would remember, children would cower at the very mention of your name, history has forever branded you as a monster, a traitor. A murderer…
"That's all he has, Twilight. He has nothing in life, no purpose or place except what he's been branded with. And if after all this time they still see him like that, why should he think they would forgive him? Why would they think that it would change? What else would there be to drive him, other than the one thing he has left? You either die a hero…"
"Or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." She smirked at his surprised look. "I had a look at that book. I can see why you like it."
He tried to return it but failed. "But you understand why though. Why I couldn't tell you. I couldn't ask you to… to live with that knowledge."
"You never have to ask. Dusk, I… I know it seems bleak. Just remember that we…" She stopped when she noticed that the yelling outside had grown louder. "What in the world is going on out there?"
Spike came rushing upstairs. "Twi, Dusk, you better come down here. There's a big crowd of ponies outside and they don't look too happy."
Dusk followed her out and found himself stood before a large crowd of panicked and angry ponies. Though all of them were speaking at once, there was one name that Dusk kept hearing over and over again above it all. Pinkie.
"Everypony, please!" she urged. "One at a time, tell us what happened!"
"It was horrible!" Roseluck cried. "One minute I was tending my flowers, the next a horde of Pinkies paraded on by and trampled them all!"
"I tried to stop them!" added Carrot Top. "But they just kept chanting on and on about fun, they wouldn't listen!"
"They ruined our barn raisin'!" added Applejack angrily. "Knocked over the frame work, smashed up the wood an' wouldn't even clean up afterwards!"
The librarians all exchanged bewildered looks with each other as the cries and yelling rose in volume again. More than one Pinkie Pie and they were apparently causing havoc? How was this even possible?
"Okay, everypony, please, calm down!" insisted Twilight.
"Calm down? I just had a Pinkie hurricane raging through my shop!" Rarity yelled.
"And they trashed our critter picnic!" added Fluttershy.
"How can you expect us to stay calm?!" demanded Ray. "How are we supposed to stay calm when there are dozens of physics-and-reason-defying hyperactive pink mares bouncing around?!"
The ponies all cried out in angry agreement with the stallion.
"Please, everypony, hang on while we try to figure something out!" She ushered her assistants inside and shut the door. "Come on, you two. We've gotta try to remember the name of that legend she mentioned."
Dusk nodded and quickly started scouring the ancient myths in the History section. What was that Pinkie had said? Something about a mirror… the Broken Mirror of Foul Fortune, no… Vanity Glass, no… the Mirror of Erised, no…
A loud thud brought him out of his search. He turned to see Spike lying against the pile of books and scrolls they'd accumulated with a book open on his head. Twilight levitated it off him and opened it.
"Aha, here it is! "The legend of the Mirror Pond"..." She quickly flicked through it. "It describes a spell I can use to send them back where they came from!"
"That's perfect! Let's go!" Spike said.
"But there's a catch," she added. "If I can't figure out which one's the real Pinkie, I might send her back by mistake!"
"What is this 'I' business all of a sudden?" asked Dusk. "You might be the one casting the spell, but there is more than one mind and set of eyes to assist you."
"Yeah, we'll just have to figure out who the real one is then. Shouldn't be too hard," Spike said optimistically.
She smiled warmly at them both and led them back outside to confront the crowd. After how he'd been before, Dusk knew he had to make it up to her.
"Does anypony here know how we can tell the real Pinkie Pie from all the rest of them?" she asked them.
All of them shrugged and scratched their heads. Except for one who desperately pushed her way through to them.
"Twilight! Dusk! I have to talk to you, I need your help!" begged Pinkie.
"Excuse me, whoever you are, but we're not talking to any of you Pinkies unless you're the real Pinkie," Twilight said firmly.
"Do you mind?" Dusk asked a Pinkie next to Twilight who was imitating her motions while she spoke.
The Pinkie gasped and bolted away like a rabbit caught in headlights. He slapped a hoof to his forehead.
"Oh, but, but I am the real Pinkie!" she insisted.
"No, you're not! I'm the real Pinkie!" another one said.
"I'm the real Pinkie!"
"No, I'm the real Pinkie!"
"I'm the real Pinkie!"
This went on and on until there were dozens of Pinkies in the square, every single one of them saying they were the real one. Eventually, they all started chanting 'fun, fun, fun' and returned to bouncing around and breaking things.
Dusk stared around in shock. Though he'd heard it from the mob, seeing it with his own eyes was quite different. It should have been impossible, but here it was. Impossible incarnate. A mob of Pinkie Pies, prancing everywhere and chanting about having fun.
"How in tarnation are we supposed to tell which is the real Pinkie?" asked Applejack.
"I have no idea," admitted Twilight hopelessly.
"There has to be some way," reasoned Dusk. "Let's try walking around town for a bit, observe how they behave and there might be something that could give them away."
"Good idea," agreed Twilight. "Maybe inspiration will strike us as we go."
Instructing Applejack to try and keep order among the townsfolk, they set off through town. It was truly alarming how many Pinkie Pies there were bouncing around. Ray had been right. Dealing with one Pinkie was challenging enough. How were they meant to try and control dozens of her?
Silently though, Dusk was grateful. This was giving him something else important to focus on, rather than have his thoughts linger on the matter that had been plaguing his mind for so long.
"We could try and use a spell to see into their minds," suggested Dusk while they scoured the town. "Sift through their thoughts and see which one is the original."
"But if they're all duplicates of Pinkie, then their thoughts are also going to be identical," she pointed out. "Besides, something tells me we don't want to try poking around inside Pinkie's head."
"Thinking about it, you might be right," murmured Dusk.
"Ugh, this is hopeless!" she groaned.
"Maybe that one's the real Pinkie." Spike pointed towards a Pinkie who was just sat a table, her head slumped in depression.
Twilight was cynical. "Please. The real Pinkie Pie never sat that long in one place her whole life!"
"Then perhaps that's all the more reason to find out why this one is," reasoned Dusk. "Regardless, we might as well try."
Spike nodded. "Yeah. Come on, Dusk, let's go ask."
"Of course she's gonna say she's the real Pinkie! They all do! You're wasting your time," grumbled Twilight.
Dusk smiled back at her. "Have a little faith, Miss Sparkle."
He caught her rolling her eyes a little as they approached the depressed Pinkie.
"So lemme guess. You're the real Pinkie Pie," ventured Spike.
"Heck if I know. Could be any one of us if you ask me. And if I said I was the real Pinkie, you wouldn't even believe me anyway." She hung her head and got up from the table. "So just leave me alone. I've got some important poking the ground with my hoof to do."
Dusk felt a stab of pity as she trudged off. His fellow librarians seemed to hold the same opinion.
"Oh, guys, how're we gonna do this?" Twilight asked. "I can't risk sending the real Pinkie back into the pond!"
"I miss the real Pinkie," sighed Spike.
"As do I, little brother," replied Dusk. "There has to be something we can try. Something that would help our Pinkie to stand out from these ones, something different that the others don't have. Something like…"
"Hey. Hey!" The depressed Pinkie was calling them back. "What if you gave them a test? Pick something really hard for a Pinkie to do, something not fun at all! Any Pinkie that can't do it goes back into the pond. But whoever wants to stay the most, that must be the real Pinkie!"
"Something like that," finished Dusk.
"Yeah…" Twilight nodded. "You know, that's not a bad idea."
"Indeed. Thank you!" he called to the Pinkie before galloping after Twilight, Spike waddling close behind.
He couldn't help but glance back at her. She'd sunken back into her depression. Something none of the others were doing. Could it be…? He lingered a little, reminded himself of what he had to do and galloped off again.
Maybe his suspicions would be confirmed later. If this worked.
With their plan worked out, they began to set it in motion. Dusk went to the Apple Family and Ray and set them up with the task of rounding up all of the Pinkies and getting them to town hall. Considering their chaotic nature, herding them like cattle seemed to be the best solution. Fortunately, the farmers were in agreement.
"Yeah, count me in too," Ray said. "I have a hard enough time with one Pinkie Pie, I refuse to deal with a whole horde of her."
Meanwhile, Twilight and Spike set about locating their friends so they could bear witness to the test and help to set it up. Everything was just about ready when the herd of Pinkies arrived at town hall, the doors snapping shut quickly behind them.
Twilight saw her cue and took place centre stage, Dusk and Spike following her.
"Welcome, Pinkies, welcome. Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable." They didn't seem to hear her and carried on their chant. "Okay, I suppose you can't be comfortable staying in one place, but have a seat anyway." This produced the same result. It took a light flare from Dusk and Twilight's raised voice to get their attention. "Sit down!"
They all shut up and hurried to sit down. It felt strange, seeing so many of the same bright blue eyes staring at them.
"Better. Now," she went on, "I suppose you're all wondering why I've gathered you all here today."
"For fun?" a Pinkie asked hopefully.
"No, just the opposite actually."
"Wait up, I got one more!" Rainbow arrived carrying a Pinkie. "Found this one poking at the ground with her hoof, drawing frowny faces."
Twilight nodded. "Have her come sit with the others."
The Pegasus placed her down with a loud thud in the midst. Even amongst them, Dusk didn't lose sight of this one. Her eyes held none of the happiness the others did.
"Pinkies, you've been brought here to take a test," Twilight announced. A collective groan rose from the Pinkies. "Don't worry, it's a simple test, about as simple as they come, and whoever passes gets to stay." Murmurs of interest rose from the crowd.
"Curtain, please." They stood aside as the curtain lifted and Fluttershy and Rarity wheeled out the test. "The test... will be watching paint dry!"
A stretch of bare wall with nothing on it except a fresh, wet coat of purple paint was revealed. The duplicates gasped as one at the enormity of such a dull task.
Dusk used his colours to make a countdown and set them off. The Pinkies leaned forward, their eyes fixed intently on the wall.
Spike propped himself on a seat with a bag of popcorn.
"Ooh, this is so exciting!" Five minutes later, his eagerness was drained, along with his snacks. "Okay, maybe not that exciting."
Dusk had to agree. He couldn't talk to Twilight, as she had to remain ready to cast the spell to send them back. He managed to keep himself entertained by idly swirling colours around his hooves and coiling shadows around his legs.
This might be necessary, but by Celestia this was dull. Until something helped to break the monotony
A Pinkie looked out the window. "Oh, hey, look at the birdie!"
Twilight shot off a spell at the Pinkie. She shot into the air, expanded like a balloon and burst into a cloud of pink vapour. It floated out the building and no doubt back to the mirror pool.
"Watch me bounce and touch the ceiling!" The Pinkie who tried received the same treatment.
Getting an idea, Dusk made his colours a little brighter and more active. A Pinkie seated on the edge of the crowd caught it out of the corner of her eye and was soon transfixed by the sight.
"Ooh, pretty colours…" A second later and she was gone.
One by one, the bored Pinkie Pies succumbed to other ways to distract away from the boredom. Witnessing the orange frog from before, growing strange appendages from their hooves, somehow altering how their faces looked. Each time they did, Twilight shot another spell and sent them back to the mirror pool.
She fired off so many, her horn was actually smoking. She blew it away and smiled proudly.
"Nice shooting, Tex," remarked Dusk, tipping his hat to her. That only made her smile widen.
Now, there were only two left. These ones seemed to have learned from the mistakes of the others and were even more determined to be the last one standing than ever before. As a result, there was a genuinely tense and hoof-biting long pause as they waited for a sign that one of them would crack.
Dusk could see droplets of sweat trickling down their heads, their eyes quivering and their bodies shivering faintly. They couldn't keep this up forever. One of them had to give in and they'd be left with the real one. But he already had an idea of which one. He'd made sure his eyes never left this one and she hadn't faltered once.
Finally, somepony did crack. But it wasn't Pinkie.
"Ugh, I can't take it anymore! Somepony's making balloon animals!" yelled Rainbow.
"What? Where?" One last blast for one last Pinkie and the result was clear.
Dusk approached her and placed a hoof on her shoulder gently.
"The test is over, Pinkie. You can stop looking now."
"I passed?" She appeared genuinely surprised.
"You passed," he confirmed. "You're the last mare standing. Just as I suspected you might be."
"I had to. I just had to. I couldn't leave my friends, I just couldn't. But I guess sometimes I will have to choose between them," she realised.
"We knew you'd be up to the challenge," put in Twilight proudly.
"I'm me! I'm me! I'm me!" She paused. "Or am I? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I am." Then she whipped her head at Dusk. "Wait a second, how did you know I was the real one?"
"But you already know how, Pinkie." He winked at her. "I'm psychic, remember?"
Pinkie stared for a moment, giggled gleefully and threw her hooves around Dusk in a hug. One that he gladly returned.
Repairs began shortly after. Luckily, a Pinkie Pie horde wasn't the worse thing to ever come storming through Ponyville and the damage was relatively minor. With Big Mac's help, they hauled a large boulder to the entrance of the Mirror Pond and used it to seal it, ensuring nopony would use it again.
The only thing left to clean up was the books they'd left scattered in the library. Dusk and Twilight set about tidying them away while Spike went to take Pinkie's letter to the princess. They made sure the book about the Pond was hidden away too, behind a secret panel on one of the book cases.
"I wonder why this was here in the first place," remarked Twilight. "Why hide away this book at all."
"Perhaps for the same reason the events of today happened," replied Dusk. "Some things are better left undiscovered."
"I don't know about that." She fluttered her lashes at him. "I wouldn't mind having more than one of you around."
Dusk blushed. "I think one of me is enough. I'm sorry, Twilight."
"What for?"
"For before. For losing my temper, for keeping this from you. I'm… I'm sorry."
She smiled softly. "There's nothing to be sorry for. I of all ponies know what it's like to be stressed and worried about something. I'm just glad you finally told me."
"You're… you're not angry with me?"
"Not angry, no. More annoyed at you being an idiot, but I'm used to that." She cupped his cheek. "I know it seems daunting, what we're about to face, but do you remember when I thought there was a disaster coming? How much I panicked over that?" He nodded. "Do you remember the lesson I learned from that experience?"
"To deal with problems as they come?"
"Exactly," she said. "And remember, you're not alone in this. You have Luna, our friends, Spike…"
"And you?"
"Goes without saying." She kissed him lovingly. "Whatever it is, whatever he's planning, we'll face him together. Like we always have done. And for now, let's try not to worry about it. For now, we're safe and we're happy. Let's just enjoy that. Promise?"
"Pinkie promise," he vowed, for the second time that day. "To be fair, at least I haven't tried to stop time."
"Oh, shut up," she giggled, punching his leg. "Come on, let's go and see how Pinkie's doing."
The gales of the frozen north echoed like the cries of the damned, the snow whipping up furiously in the wind. The Crystal Empire was protected from the fierce storm by the field of magic generated by the Heart and remained untouched. Nopony in their right mind would be caught out in a storm such as this.
This, combined with the low visibility of the storm, allowed the one who did to remain unnoticed as he approached the outskirts of the great settlement. Even with the strong winds billowing all around him, his cloak flowing behind him, he remained as unfazed by the wind and the cold as a glacier. Almost as if he belonged here.
Fallen halted at the edge of the shield. Though he had his armour and magic to protect him, the light and love of the Empire was enough to keep intruders such as him at bay. He could break through it given enough time and energy, but there was no need. His path didn't take him inside the border, the spell he cast guiding him around the outside.
He resumed his search. Had things gone according to plan, he wouldn't have had to be here in the first place. But since Sombra had disappointingly failed in his task, it was the only option open to him in order to proceed with his plans. There was a reason he needed the former king… specifically the magic that he possessed.
But things hadn't gone according to plan. Sombra was purged of his darkness and he had gone into a self-invoked exile. The unicorn king had covered his tracks well. Even Fallen was having trouble pinning him down. So, he had to take matters into his own hooves, emerge from seclusion and risk being seen again before the curtain rose.
But he knew how to remain hidden and it would be worth it for this addition to his penned masterpiece.
Finally, he saw it. The snow had almost buried it, but he could see it poking out. The only remaining aspect of the Crystal King's dark side: a red and black horn, sliced cleanly at the bottom and curving up into a sharp point. The Crystal Ponies and their new leaders had foolishly left it here, lying out in the open where anypony could find it.
All the better for him.
He reached out and picked up the horn. Though it was broken, he could feel the lingering power within it. Dull though it is, the magic is still great... it needed only to be tapped by one who truly knew how to wield it.
Silently, he placed the horn in his cloak, turned and walked away. He was soon swallowed up by the storm and the snow covered his tracks, eliminating any sign he was ever there.