Tales of Equestria

by Lunerpet

First published 22nd of October, 2014

Twilight and the girls run into a strange race of monsters and with the help of some new friends they have to save Equestria before it falls.

The kingdom is under attack by a new enemy, the girls get separated. Twilight runs into a girl from 4000 years in the past who seems to know Celestia and Discord. with Ponyville gone and the monsters hunting each of the girls there isn't much room for hope.

Chapter 1

It was a hot summer evening, Twilight Sparkle, who was a purple unicorn mare with dark blue hair with pink highlights and magic stars was on her rump which was her cutie mark, her eyes were a darker purple from her coat, Twilight was studying as per the norm for her daily routine, she had a lot of books that she liked to read over and over again, by now she had read every book in her home, but that didn't stop her from enjoying a good book.

Twilight was having a normal good day, when out of nowhere the whole building started to shake, Twilight looked around as the shaking got stronger and stronger. “Wha-what's going on so suddenly!?”

Twilight heard a loud thud as her bookshelves started to fall around her. “Whoa!”

Twilight quickly dodged the heavy shelves and ran to the door but a shelf had fallen in front of it blocking her way. “What's causing this!?”

The young mare ran upstairs and found her window was open, she didn't like the idea, but it was the only thing she could do so she ran over to it to jump out the window but the wood floor gave way as the whole library caved in and the earth split around it. “Wahhhh!!”

Other pony's watched as Twilight's home crumbled like it was made of paper and the open earth swallowed it as it fell and Twilight didn't make it out, Apple Bloom, a younger sister to one of Twilight's friends was one of the filly's who saw what just happened, she was a yellow mare with a red mane and tail, her eyes were a gold like color and she didn't have a cutie, she was just a normal earth pony.

Apple Bloom looked down the crag that now took place where Twilight's house was and saw nothing but darkness. “Oh no, I have to tell Applejack!” Apple Bloom then ran off to find her sister.

Applejack was a orange colored mare with green eyes, her mane was blonde as was her tail, she had them tied back and she had a cow girl hat, her cutie mark was of three apples, she was bucking some trees kicking down some apples when the ground started to shake tripping her up so she missed the tree.

“Wha-huh? What in Equestria is going on?!” Applejack tried to stand as the ground started to split and quake. “The whole field is shaking!!”

A large crack in the earth erupted in the middle of the field and her apple trees fell through it, some trees were hanging on by just some roots, Applejack quickly got to her hooves and ran for it as the ground started to swallow more of the land.

Applejack ran to the edge of the trees and the crag stopped just short letting Applejack catch her breath, Applejack wiped her sweat from her brow and took a deep breath, she could feel heat coming from the large rip. “What is going on here?”

“Applejack!?” Apple Bloom ran up as fast as her tiny hooves could carry her. “Twilight's in trouble!”

“Twilight?!” Applejack turned to Apple Bloom with a look of worry. “What happened!?”

“The ground swallowed her house and she couldn't get out in time and-” Apple Bloom was cut off as she finally saw what had just happened to their apple trees. “And what happened here!?”

“I don't really know myself but whatever it is, I don't like it” Applejack said. “I want to save Twilight, but we don't know if this will it again, we need to get the Ponies of Ponyville out of town and someplace safe”

“But what about Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I'll get Rainbow Dash and see if she can look for her” Applejack said before she ran off towards town. “You get Big mac and granny Smith and get out of here as fast as you can!”

Applejack ran into town shortly after and saw all the ponies in mass panic, everypony had what they could carry and was running as the ground was ripping apart. “This isn't good”

“You can say that again!” A blue mare pegasus said as she flew up, her mane and tail where multiple colors like a rainbow and she had pink iris's, her cutie mark was of a cloud with a rainbow lighting bolt on it. “This whole place is falling apart and I haven't seen Twilight or even Rarity at all!”

“Rainbow Dash?” Applejack looked up to see her. “Apple Bloom told me that Twilight was still inside her home when it fell, where are the others!?”

“Twilight's what!?” Rainbow Dash was in a panic now herself. “Applejack, you need to get these ponies out of here, find the others and get them to help you, I have to find Twilight!”

“Rainbow Dash wait!” Applejack tried to say something but Rainbow Dash left quickly and down into the hole where Twilight's home was. “Gosh darn it, okay Applejack, let's get these pony's to safety”

“Whhhhoooooaaaaa, this shaking is fun!” Applejack heard a familiar voice, she turned around and saw her friend Pinkie Pie, a pink mare with a rose colored puffy mane and tail, and she was shaking all over the place.

“Pinkie Pie!? What are you doing, the whole town is falling apart, we need to get out of here!” Applejack said trying to reach her.

“Don't worry about me, I'm shaking and grooving!” Pinkie Pie said as she was shaking with the ground.

“Pinkie, come on, this is no time for games!” Applejack said right before more of the ground broke around them. “We have to move!”

“Weeee!” Pinkie was having a blast as the ground ripped around her. “Oh I think that means it's time to go!”

Pinkie hopped over to Applejack as if nothing was happening, Applejack quickly grabbed her and bolted out of the town with the rest of the remaining ponies, they ran up to a hill and Applejack turned back to see Ponyville get swallowed whole by the earth. “Ponyville...is gone...”

“Well that's not fun, I wanted to shake some more!” Pinkie Pie said annoyed.

“Pinkie? Don't you understand? It's all gone...the farm, the town...” Applejack's eye's suddenly widened as she noticed some ponies were missing. “Oh no! Where are Fluttershy and Rarity!?”

“Their...” Pinkie was about to speak but stopped when she realized she didn't have the answer. “I don't know actually”

“What if they fell in with the town!?” Applejack panicked now and Pinkie put a hoof on her.

“Don't worry, I'm sure their fine, but right now we need to find a safe place for everypony here” Pinkie said making sense, which was odd but anything was possible.

“You're right Pinkie, but we can't just leave the others” Applejack pointed out.

“And we won't, but the ponies of ponyville need us don't they?” Pinkie Pie said.

As they were talking a blue earth mare walked up to them, her mane was a good long length and it was styled into a braid on each side, her tail was long and flowing like a blanket of snow, her eye's were purple and she had a sunhat on, on her rump looked like a pair of sugar cookies and they both had Christmas themes on them, one had a Snowflake and the other had a red cap on it and they were surrounded by snow making the area around her rump white. “Excuse me?”

“Huh?” Applejack turned to the pony and raised an eyebrow. “Who might you be?”

“That's odd, I don't remember seeing you before” Pinkie said.

“Well actually I just got to town before all this happened, my name is Winter Sugar by the way” she spoke with a calm and lovely voice. “I came from Canterlot actually, and I was thinking it would be a good idea to get these pony's go the city, it's probably safe there”

“That's a good idea, Pinkie you and Winter Sugar go and get everypony to safety, I'll stay here and look for the others” Applejack said as she readied herself.

“Well okay then” Pinkie wasn't sure about splitting up, but she knew one of them had to stay and search for the others. “Be careful Applejack”

“Don't worry about me, you all get going” Applejack said before running off.

“Come on Winter Sugar, let's get going” Pinkie said as she turned to the other ponies. “Okay everypony, we're going to head off to Canterlot, let's go!”

Pinkie and Winter then began to lead the other survivors out of the crumbling valley that was once their home, Pinkie looked back at the gaping hole that was once her home. “I can't believe it's gone..”

Winter looked back at her and walked over to her. “I'm sorry about you're home..”

“It's not the home that I'm sad about” Pinkie said shaking her head. “It's all the memories I had with all my friends I had here..and it's all gone..”

“Well it's not all gone, you're friends are still here right?” Winter asked.

“Yeah I guess you're right, I can always make more memories with my friends, but what about their homes? Where will they live?” Pinkie asked as they began to walk again.

“I'm sure if we ask the princess sisters, they can find them a place to live until they can build a new home” Winter Sugar said. “I'm sure everything will work out”

“You know what? You're right Winter Sugar, thanks” Pinkie finally smiled again and they walked with the large group towards Canterlot.

Applejack finally reached Fluttershy's home, however when she got there the whole building was in a wreck, the ceiling had fallen through and the inside was just rubble.

“Fluttershy!?” Applejack called out in worry. “Are you in there!?”

She didn't hear anything in the house which only worried her, she looked around the outside and it was quickly all around. “What happened to Fluttershy?”

Applejack walked to the front of the house and noticed hoof prints. “Huh?”

Applejack looked at the hoof prints and saw that they went to the forest. “Did she go into the forest?”

Applejack quickly followed the hoof prints hoping her friend was safe, she walked at a good pace keeping her eye's on the prints until she was deep in the forest and the prints ended, however she saw a yellow feather on the ground, she look a closer look and knew that it belonged to Fluttershy, but she didn't know where she was. “Fluttershy ran into the forest? But she's so scared of this place there is no way she go here first”

As Applejack walked further she saw other tracks but they weren't normal, and each track looked almost bug like. “What in Equestria is that? I've never seen tracks like this”

She followed the new tracks for awhile and ended up in a meadow, there she saw something moving in a bush nearby. “Fluttershy? Is that you!?”

Applejack walked over to the bush and looked closer. “Fluttershy?”

The bush moved and something jumped out into the meadow, Applejack quickly turned and saw a weird looking insect, it was as big as a full grown pony, it had large pincers and it had a bone like shell that shined almost like polished rock, it's eye's were solid green and it had six legs, the back of it had a strange symbol carved into it but Applejack didn't recognize it, it's pincers moved as if talking as it looked at her but it only made a clicking sound.

“What in the world is that? I've never seen anything like it, it can't be part of the Everfree forest, can it?” Applejack questioned before the bug creature slammed it's pincer into the ground and suddenly dug into the ground making the ground shake around them as it went down into the tunnel it was making. “Whoa! What the?!”

Applejack looked at the tunnel it made. “Wait a minute..was that the thing causing the earthquake's?”

As Applejack was looking at the hole it made a tree was shaking and a golden pegasus mare with a rose colored mane and tail, she had cyan colored iris's, the cutie mark on her rump was of three butterfly's was shaking in the tree's branch. “Is...is it gone?...”

Applejack heard a small whisper and looked up at the tree. “Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy clung to the tree and looked at Applejack, seeing her calmed her down a little though. “Applejack?...”

Applejack walked under the tree she was on. “What are you doing up there? We were really worried, the whole town became a sinkhole, everything is in chaos!”

“I...I saw this weird looking bug as big as me, so I went after it...” Fluttershy said quietly. “It was so strange looking, but when I got close to it...meep..”

“Well you should come down, do you know where Rarity is by any chance?” Applejack asked.

“Rarity?” Fluttershy thought about it for a bit and shook her head. “I'm sorry, I don't think I do..”

“Great, now I'm even more worried” Applejack said as Fluttershy managed to get down from the tree and her bunny angel popped out from under her wing. “I'll tell you what's been going on so far as we walk”

“Okay then” Fluttershy said as they started to head out the forest.

Meanwhile Twilight awoke in the wreckage of her home, her back leg was caught under a shelf, she had a splitting headache and her vision was blurry “Ugh..”

Twilight tried to get up but couldn't with her leg stuck, she tried to focus on her horn to cast a spell but it only caused her headache to worsen. “Ow..”

Her horn flickered and fizzed out as her head throbbed in pain, she tried to move her leg but it was no use, it was feeling numb but she kept trying to move it. “Ah...come on...I have to get free...”

Twilight managed to use her magic once more causing a splitting headache but she worked through it and the bookshelf lifted off her leg just enough for her to get free, she moved out of the way and her magic couldn't hold it anymore and it fell again, Twilight's head was in a lot more pain then before and her magic couldn't work right.

“I hope the others are okay..” Twilight held her head as she stumbled out of the rubble that was her home. “Fluttershy...Applejack...Rarity...Pinkie Pie...Rainbow Dash...Spike...I hope their okay”

Twilight Sparkle looked around what seemed liked a cave of some sort but she couldn't really tell due to her vision being blurry, Twilight shook her head trying to clear her head but it didn't work very much, it really only made her more dizzy, she stumbled around and saw some shadow's move in what seemed like a tunnel in the distance. “Huh?”

Twilight stopped and took a breather, she leaned against a rock and closed her eyes trying to stop the dizziness, she felt a strong source of cold as she leaned her head against the hard surface. “I wonder where this is?...”

Twilight opened her eyes seeing clearer now and she looked at the rock she was leaning against and saw it wasn't a rock at all, it was a large ice wall she was leaning against, which would explain why her head wasn't in so much pain, Twilight looked at the ice wall. “It's beautiful...was this under Ponyville all along?”

Twilight noticed some cracks in the ice from the earthquake, and it looked like it could break any minute, she looked into the ice and saw some sort of pony figure frozen inside. “Whoa, wait a minute, somepony is trapped inside!?”

Twilight felt another shake and fell on the ground, her headache got only worse and she felt sick, while she was on the ground she felt like she was in a pool of water, she looked up to the ice wall and saw it had been melting. “All this ice...melting?”

She felt her head pulse as the ice cracked and the figure seemed to move ether that or she was so dizzy she was seeing things, Twilight laid her head down having no strength, all she heard was some wings flapping before she couldn't keep her eyes open and passed out.

Chapter 2

Twilight looked around confused, she was walking down a forest path unsure where she was, all she could think about was she needed to be somewhere, she had to be there, where she was going she had no clue, but she knew she had to hurry.

“Where is it?” Twilight asked not knowing what she was looking for, she looked around and saw a meadow, she could see Celestia, her teacher was looking around for something as well so she went over to her.

“Lady Celestia?” Twilight asked as she walked up to her. “What are you doing here?”

“Huh?” Celestia looked over at her and readied herself like she was about to battle, Twilight didn't notice it at first but she looked younger too. “You're one of his aren't you?”

“What?” Twilight tried to explain but she ignored her staring past her, which made Twilight wonder what was there making her turn around.

Behind her was a white unicorn mare, she had a pink mane and tail styled like what you would see on a crystal pony and tied with some ribbon, her eyes were green and she looked rather young as well. “Celestia? I don't know what your talking about”

“You're with Discord, one of his minions aren't you?” The young Celestia spoke with anger in her tone, she never sounded so mad before, it was strange to Twilight. “Just who are you!?”

“Whoa, whoa, Celestia calm down, I'm not working with him, I mean I'm with him but I'm not working for him” The white mare said trying to explain herself. “My name is Melody-”

“I don't care! You're just a villain, anypony near that monster is a villain!” The young Celestia growled and her horn flashed yellow.

“No...” Melody backed up a little. “You don't understand, I'm only trying to-”

Before Melody could finish Celestia's magic surrounded her and ice started to form around her. “No, you have to stop, she's going to-”

“Silence you villain!” Celestia started to encase her in ice, Twilight was shocked to see this side of Celestia, then again she was so young here.

Twilight looked back and forth between them not sure what was going on, but she guessed this was a memory but she didn't know who's. “What is going on here? Who is that unicorn?”

“You....” Melody stared at Celestia as if looking into her soul as she was getting frozen over, she tried to use her magic but it fizzled out from the ice covering it. “You killed an innocent girl...”

Celestia looked at her confused as she froze her in a large block of ice, her magic slowed to a stop and she took a deep breath. “Wh-what?”

“Ugggghhhh...” Twilight awoke with a major headache, she could feel bandages around her head and body, she couldn't move her body well at all, she only managed to move her head a bit, she felt sick as well, but she could see she was in a bed. “Where...where am I?”

Rainbow Dash was sitting on a couch near the bed she was on and Twilight noticed she was asleep, her wing also had a bandage on it, Twilight tried to sit up but only managed to hurt herself. “Ouch!”

“Hu-huh?” Rainbow Dash woke up to the sounds Twilight was making and rubbed her eyes of sleep. “Twilight?”

“Rainbow Dash? What happened?” Twilight asked laying back down so she wasn't in pain. “I feel like I broke something...”

“More like everything, you broke a lot of bones from that fall” Rainbow Dash said and stood up. “I was lucky to find you”

“You saved me?” Twilight looked over to her and smiled. “Thank you..”

“It was nothing, just doing what I do best, but wow, you wouldn't believe what was down there” Rainbow Dash said as she made sure Twilight's covers where back on her. “You stumbled into a frozen cave full of weird...bug things and there was this mare frozen in ice too”

“A mare...frozen?” Twilight looked at her confused for a second but remembered that strange figure she saw before passing out. “Is she okay?”

“She's getting treated, she was frozen for so long it was a miracle she's still alive even if it is barely” Rainbow Dash continued. “I ran into Pinkie Pie though, she's with her new friend, what was her name? Winter something?”

“Pinkie's okay?” Twilight closed her eyes trying to relax. “And the others?”

“Yeah Pinkie's fine, she came here in Canterlot with as many survivors from Ponyville as she could, Applejack says she's with Fluttershy still looking for Rarity who's gone missing” Rainbow Dash explained. “We're all worried about her”

“Rarity's gone? Oh no..” Twilight was worried but she couldn't do anything right now. “I wish I could help..”

“Hey, hey, don't be like that Twilight, we're all worried, but this is Rarity we're talking about, she can handle herself” Rainbow Dash said. “You need to rest now”

Twilight nodded as best as she could and closed her eyes as she fell asleep, Rainbow Dash smiled and walked out of the room and Celestia, the princess of the sun was waiting for her. “Rainbow Dash?”

“Huh? Princess Celestia?” Rainbow Dash looked at her confused, she knew that with all the chaos Celestia didn't have time to worry about Twilight, so why was she here?

“Rainbow Dash, I heard that you saved another mare...buried in ice?” Celestia was quick to the question. “I need to see her”

“Oh..sure” Rainbow Dash wasn't sure why she was in such a hurry, but she shrugged it off and took the white ailcorn to the other room, inside was a white unicorn, her mane and tail were pink and very long, her eyes were closed so she couldn't tell what her eye color was, but she had a cutie mark of three flower buds in the shape of music notes, Celestia looked at her in shock. “Do you know her?”

“I....yes I do...she's alive, after all this time...” Celestia was shaking, she didn't know what to do, her past was right in front of her and she couldn't face it like she had wished she could. “This is Melody Bloom, somepony from my past...”

“Whoa, that's crazy, you knew her that long ago? And she's still alive!?” It was now Rainbow Dash's turn to be shocked.

“Tell me when she awakens Rainbow Dash, I need to get ready” Celestia said as she left.

“Oh uh, sure” Rainbow Dash rubbed her head with her hoof confused.

Rainbow Dash turned and looked at the mare. “Well, it looks like it's just us huh?”

Rainbow Dash sat next to her and felt her head with her hoof making sure she was okay, she didn't want her to be to hot or to cold, she was frozen for a long time so increasing her body temperature slowly was the best thing she could thing of, she decided to sit and wait hoping she would wake up soon.

Meanwhile Pinkie Pie was waiting with Mr and Mrs. Cake, she was thinking about what had happened, her whole life seemed to turn upside down, she tried to keep the others smiling but it was hard to do with so much lose, she was thankful that the Cakes didn't lose anything or anypony.

Pinkie was so deep in thought that she didn't see Winter Sugar walk up to her. “Pinkie?”

“Huh?” Pinkie looked up and saw her. “Oh hey Winter, what is it?”

“You okay?” Winter Sugar asked. “Do you want to walk around Canterlot with me? It'll do you some good to stretch your legs”

“No thanks, I don't really feel like it with my friends still out there” Pinkie Pie sighed not acting like herself. “I'm worried about the others still with those...things”

“I understand how you feel, but do you really want to just sit around and do nothing?” Winter asked trying to get her new friend to be active. “We could get some cupcakes?”

“That does sound good” Pinkie said feeling glad that she cared. “Let's go”

Pinkie Pie stood up and Winter smiled. “There you go, smile right?”

“Yeah” Pinkie smiled back. “You're right”

Winter and Pinkie walked out of the shelter for the ponyville ponies, things didn't look so good, but for some reason Winter had a smile, even Pinkie wasn't in a smiling mood which didn't seem possible.

“How are you doing that?” Pinkie asked looking at her.

“Doing what?” Winter asked still smiling.

“Smiling, after all that's happened? How can you do that?” Pinkie continued to ask.

“How?” Winter gave it some thought. “Well that's an easy one, I made a new friend, so I can't help but smile”

Pinkie looked at her and smiled again, she didn't think about it like that, of course it was hard to look at the bright side after what happened to her home. “I guess you're right, but I just wish Ponyville wasn't gone, so many of my friends are missing since it happened..”

Winter knew that it hurt, losing friends was never easy, she was hoping that spending time not thinking about it would cheer her new friend up, she couldn't replace all those lose friends, but she could be there for her like any good friend would be. “No worries Pinkie, I'm sure their okay”

Pinkie nodded, she knew she had to be strong, with Rarity missing and Twilight really hurt she was one of the few mares keeping everyone calm, and being depressed wasn't helping. “Thanks Winter”

“Oh, what's this?” Winter suddenly turned her head and stopped, she saw a candy shop, it had a 'now open' sign so she figured it was brand new and wanted to try it. “Let's go in here!”

“Huh? But I thought you wanted muffins?” Pinkie asked.

“Oh we can count muffins later, this is a candy shop!” Winter grinned with excitement and rushed in. “Hello!”

Inside was a green Pegasi with blue eyes, her mane and tail were blond with her mane styled back into a half down and half up hair style, she must have long hair to pull that off, her tail was medium long and styled to be a bit messy and she had gem earrings only on one side, and on her rump was her cutie mark, it was a thunderbolt that seemed to shoot into a candy all wrapped up.

“Welcome!” The mare said with a wide smile. “This is the grand opening of my shop, Sweet Weather, my name is Rock Candy!” Rock Candy signed and hung her head. “At least I would like to say it's grand, but with the sudden havoc, the whole city is on high alert so I can't make a single sell”

“That's rough, but it's understandable” Winter said as Pinkie looked around the store, Pinkie could see candy she had never seen before, but she didn't have the bit's to get any of it right now.

“Here” Rock Candy set out some candy dishes and poured them into a larger bowl. “I was going to use these as free samples to get customers, but this is just a bad time to open, so help yourselves, I have to close up”

“Thanks, but are you sure?” Pinkie asked not wanting to take advantage of the mare's wares when she's having a bad time.

“It's better then them going to waste, take the bowl full” Rock Candy said with a smile.

“Well, why not?” Winter Sugar said before taking one and unwrapping it, she noticed it was a cute little blue ball. “This looks good!”

Pinkie took one of the candies as well and they both popped them in their mouths, Pinkie felt a sudden shock through her system, it wasn't painful, the shock was full of flavor, it was as if tasting lightning itself mixed with berry flavor giving it an amazing taste. “Mmmmmm!!”

Pinkie's mane fluffed up with the sudden shock as she enjoyed it. “This is amazing!”

“You really like it?” Rock Candy asked, they were the first ponies that tasted her creations so she was really excited. “I'm so glad!”

“It's like a bust of lightning with a tang of sour and sweet at the same time!” Winter added.

“How did you make it!? It's soooo good!” Pinkie said with her mouth full.

“Well actually, that's what my cutie mark is all about really” Rock Candy said as she showed them her rump. “My talent is using weather such as clouds, lightning, rainbows and the like and turning them into candies, what you just had is a jawbreaker using lightning to improve the taste!”

“Wow, that's amazing, I never knew that was possible!” Pinkie Pie said as she finished her candy.

“Well it was hard at first, but I got used to it in time” Rock Candy said as she gave the bowl of candy to Winter. “Enjoy”

“Hey, how about we take these back to the others? They could use a pick me up” Winter suggested after taking the bowl.

“That sounds like a great idea!” Pinkie said and turned to Rock Candy. “So Rocky want to join us?”

“Well...” Rock Candy thought about it and smiled. “Sure”

Pinkie Pie then grabbed Rock Candy and Winter Sugar and ran off with them back to the refugee camp.

Back with Rainbow Dash, she had gotten bored so she was telling the mare about her adventures, even though she wasn't awake to hear them. “So then I flew down and bam! My awesome sonic rainboom hit, pretty cool huh!?”

Rainbow Dash looked at the mare almost expecting her to answer, when she didn't she sighed. “Come on, this is so boring, how would Fluttershy handle this?”

Before Rainbow Dash could do anything else the mare began to stir. “Mmmm...”

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash watched as the mare opened her eyes. “Hey! You're finally up!”

The mare's eyes looked at Rainbow Dash, she felt her body but couldn't move. “Uh...where...where am I?”

“Hey there, you must be pretty confused, my name is Rainbow Dash, the coolest pegasi ever! What's your name?” Rainbow Dash said excitedly.

“My name?” The mare thought about it. “It's Melody...Melody Bloom”

“Melody Bloom?” Rainbow Dash pondered the name as if she had heard that name somewhere before. “You've been frozen underground for who knows how long, how are you feeling?”

“Frozen....” Melody's voice was weak and soft, Rainbow Dash could tell she was having a hard time even breathing.

“Maybe you should rest instead of talk, your lungs can't be feeling all that good” Rainbow Dash said and then remembered what Celestia said. “Oh I need to go get the princess, be right back okay?”

Melody nodded and Rainbow Dash walked out, when she walked out she saw princess Luna at Twilight's door. Luna was Celestia's sister, her coat was dark blue and her eyes were blue, her mane and tail were long and flowed like the night sky, her cutie mark was of the moon. “Princess Luna?”

Luna looked over to Rainbow Dash. “Oh Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here?”

“Celestia is having me watch over Melody Bloom, she just woke up so I'm going to tell her like she asked me too” Rainbow Dash explained.

“I see...so Celestia's past comes back to haunt her..” Luna said out loud. “If you'll excuse me, I was just about to check up on Twilight”

Rainbow Dash looked confused as Luna went into the room, both princess's were acting strange when it came to that mare. She really wanted to know what was going on so she followed her into Twilight's room.

Twilight was awake and feeling better, she looked over and saw Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash, I'm glad your here”

“Hey Twilight, how are you feeling?” Rainbow Dash asked as she walked up next to Luna.

“I'm a lot better, thanks to the medicine Luna brought me” Twilight said as Luna set down a cup of tea.

“It's an herbal tea my mother taught me when I was little, it helps focus the senses” Luna said.

“Hey, I have a question? What's the deal with you princess's and Melody Bloom?” Rainbow Dash asked.

At the mention of Melody Bloom Twilight's ears peaked, she remembered that name from her dream. Luna sighed and sat down. “That was a long time ago, even before I was taken by the darkness, as you both know Discord had taken the world as his own when we were young”

Rainbow Dash and Twilight listened closely as Luna continued. “It was a time when we could only trust each other, Celestia was scouting around the everfree forest when she met Melody, you see Melody was actually...it's hard to say”

“What? It's not like she's Discord's marefriend right?” Rainbow Dash said jokingly.

Luna cleared her throat and looked away, both mares looked at her and their jaws dropped. “Wait, she really was dating that guy!?”

“From what I understand, she was more using him then dating him, she was with him trying to gain his magic power” Luna was about to continue when Twilight spoke up.

“I think I know what happened” Twilight caught their attention. “Melody and Celestia ran into each other and before Melody could explain her intentions Celestia froze her in ice”

“How...how did you know that?” Luna asked confused. Only her and Celestia knew about that, how could Twilight Sparkle know?

“I had a dream when I was next to her frozen prison, I think she showed me what happened” Twilight tried to explain it. “But she said something strange to Celestia...'You killed an innocent girl' what did she mean by that?”

Luna knew this was going to come to pass, so she didn't hide it. “I can explain that, Melody was out in the forest looking for herbs, Melody was a kind mare, she was too kind for that time, battles happened everyday, blood was commonly spilled, it was total chaos, however she wasn't like the others, wasn't like me or even Celestia back then, she always helped those in need, without asking for anything in return”

“Wow, sounds like she's something else” Rainbow Dash said.

“There was this filly in a town not far from the castle she stayed at with Discord, she agreed to be Discord's, in exchange for teaching her the magic she needed...to cure that child, she didn't know that child or had any reason to help her, but she did it anyway” Luna took a breath before continuing. “The reason she wanted to help this filly was because that girl was born sickly, she was dying slowly due to the corruption of the chaos, so Melody tried to find a cure, but then Celestia found her, and froze her”

“So that's why..” Twilight couldn't believe what she was hearing, it made sense, but she still had a hard time with it, she now knew that Celestia freezing Melody in the ice killed the child because no pony else was looking for a cure. “So Celestia blames herself for that child's death?”

“She does, she threw away her anger after that, she was never the same, and somehow Melody lives, now I fear what will come to pass” Luna said with worry of her sister. “Melody might be like I was back then, full of hate, or maybe not, how would you react in her place Twilight Sparkle?”

“I...I don't know, angry that I failed to keep my promise...scared to wake up in a time I wouldn't know..it's hard to say” Twilight answered honestly.

“Yeah, I got nothing” Rainbow Dash added.

“But..I do know what I can do” Twilight said bringing a smile to her face. “As a princess myself, I'll help her realize another type of magic..the magic of friendship”

Chapter 3

Melody yawned as she slowly sat up, her body felt numb like little needles in her body, she looked around and saw a mirror with her reflection in it, she noticed that she was different, her body was that of a young adult instead of a teenager, her mane was longer then she remembered and it was unkempt and messy, her tail was the same. “What?”

Melody didn't understand what was going on, she remembered Celestia and then...cold. She could barely make out some talking next door as she looked herself over in the mirror. “My body...I thought I was killed..”

The door suddenly opened making Melody quickly turn and jump, Celestia then walked in and smiled at her. “Hello there, it's been awhile Melody”

Melody looked at her and cocked her head. “Who are you?”

Celestia knew that Melody wouldn't recognize her, she was different then when they first met after all. “I am princess Celestia, you must have many questions, and I am here to answer them”

For some reason or another it didn't click that Celestia was the same Celestia that froze her, she knew Celestia as a young pony but this Celestia was different, older and a princess. “Celestia? I know somepony with that same name, but she wasn't a princess, Celestia must be a common name”

Celestia looked at her and laughed a little nervously. “You've been frozen longer then I thought, why don't we have some tea and talk?”

“Uh, sure” Melody didn't understand what she was laughing about but whatever. She had to admit though she felt nothing in her stomach and she was starving. “I could use something to eat..”

Celestia nodded and soon some maids brought in some tea and food for them and set it all down on the table. Melody sat down on the bed and looked it over, the food looked amazing and the tea smelled great. “Wow, you really are a princess, maids that cook for you? Discord has maids, but their so bad at cooking”

“Melody...it's been over thousands of years.” Celestia explained as she sat down across from her. “Discord no longer rules this land, me and my sister do, we live in a time of peace and not chaos”

Melody found that hard to swallow, Discord. Thousands of years. What happened while she was gone? “So...what's been going on then?”

“Allow me to explain” Celestia said before she began to tell her about the new world.

Meanwhile somewhere in the forest, Applejack and Fluttershy were tired and didn't really know where they were. “Well this is fine mess we're in, and no sign of Rarity nether”

“Maybe she isn't in the forest?” Fluttershy pointed out. “We haven't seen her since Ponyville collapsed”

“Where in the hay did that mare go?!” Applejack threw her hat down in frustration. “We've been looking for almost a month now!”

“I'm sure we'll find her soon, Rarity is probably on her way to Canterlot by now” Fluttershy said staying positive.

“Wishful thinking...” Applejack said unconvinced. “I don't know if she's even...alive anymore”

“Now stop that!” Fluttershy suddenly shouted, although it was really quiet still. “We can't think like that, we can't give up on Rarity, she's our friend!”

“Ah know Fluttershy, but it's been weeks and we're no closer to finding her as when we started” Applejack pointed out.

“Then we have to check somewhere else” Fluttershy said embarrassed about her outburst. “I know we can find her..”

“Alright, let's get back to looking” Applejack said and they walked into the forest once again.

Fluttershy was deep in thought as they walked, she wondered about looking in the Princess's former castle, that was one of the only places they didn't check. “How about the castle?”

“You mean the princess's former castle? Well okay then” Applejack nodded and they walked to the castle.

Back at the castle Twilight was feeling better now and was able to stand, she was glad to be on her hooves. “Ugh, I'm glad to be back on my hooves, but I wish Ponyville was still above ground”

“Well at least Canterlot is still around right?” Rainbow Dash tried to lighten the mood as best she could.

“Yeah, that's true” Twilight said. “What do we do now though? Our homes are gone and there isn't enough room to house everypony from Ponyville here”

“Well we can rebuild Ponyville somewhere else right?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Maybe, but Ponyville wasn't built in a day it'll take time a long time” Twilight pointed out. “First things first though, we need to regroup with the others”

“I agree with you there” Rainbow Dash said.

“Do not worry about the pony's from Ponyville Twilight Sparkle, we will do all we can to find them all a new home” Luna spoke up.

“Thank you Princess Luna, that means a lot” Twilight turned to her and smiled before turning back to Rainbow Dash. “I want to go meet Melody Bloom, could you get the others and bring them back here?”

“Sure I can do that no problem” Rainbow Dash nodded and left the room before flying off.

Twilight walked out of the room and went over to Melody's room and over heard two voices coming from the room.

“So..things really have changed while I was away..” Melody sighed. “So I'm really in the future, it's nothing like I thought it would be, but it sounds nice”

“Our world has changed, I believe for the better myself” Celestia said.

Twilight smiled at this, she was glad to hear Celestia and Melody getting along so she opened the door and walked in. “Hello there”

“Huh?” Melody and Celestia looked over at Twilight. “Who is that?”

“Oh this is Twilight Sparkle, my former student and another princess” Celestia said and motioned Twilight to come closer. “Twilight, this is Melody Bloom”

“Hello Twilight” Melody smiled at her. Twilight recognized her from her dream, but she looked older.

“Hello there, I have to say, you look amazing for being frozen for so long” Twilight pointed out making Melody blush.

“Thank you, but it honestly feels like a new body” Melody said stroking her hair in a swooning fashion, she never got a complement like that from a mare before, if only she wasn't dating a certain monster.

“So Melody, would you like to to stretch your legs? The castle is quite large if you wish to have a look” Celestia spoke up.

“Oh that would be lovely” Melody said as she stood up. “I would love to see this Canterlot for myself as well”

“I wish I could show you around myself, but I must get back to my duties” Celestia said as she headed to the door. “Twilight? Will you watch over her for me?”

“Of course princess” Twilight nodded as Celestia left.

“She seems nice for a princess” Melody said as she walked over to Twilight. “Princess's are normally a bore or so selfish they only think about themselves”

“The princess's of nowadays are different from your time” Twilight said as they left the room and walked. “So you and Celestia get along now huh?”

“Now?” Melody looked at her confused. “What ever do you mean?”

“Celestia, the one that froze you in ice” Twilight said but was cut off.

“That Celestia wasn't anything like Princess Celestia, I hate her with every part of my being and if she was still alive...I...well I don't know what I'd do” Melody said before her tone went dark. “Other then gut her”

Twilight looked at her confused and shocked, her eyes had something different in them from a few seconds ago. “What?”

“Huh? What?” Melody's tone was back to normal and she looked at her.

“Uh...nothing?” Twilight looked away trying to understand what just happened, and she figured she would change the subject. “So, I heard you and Discord were a thing, why would you be with that thing?”

“Discord? Well it was complicated, I'd be lying if I said he wasn't fun” Melody said remembering what it was like. “I don't remember it all, me and him had something back then, that's all I can really say”

“That's just weird, Discord has always caused trouble for me and my friends, nothing fun about him if you ask me” Twilight said, she really didn't like him at all, she would be happy with sealing him back in stone if she could.

“Well he was more fun then the Pit I can tell you that” Melody said acting as if it was normal.

“Pit?” Twilight caught what she said and got curious. “What's the Pit?”

“It was where little mares and colts got stolen from their parents and forced into a ring to fight for the death for food or water, sometimes even hay to sleep on...” Melody Bloom sighed and kicked a small rock under her hoof. “My past isn't something I like to talk about Twilight, let's just say, it wasn't rainbows and magic like the fairy tales suggest”

“Oh my...I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories” Twilight felt bad for bringing up something like that, Melody didn't look it but she must be tough.

“Don't worry, you didn't know, and there is no harm in asking questions” Melody said.

Twilight was glad Melody was so understanding, she felt like she could really connect with her. “Come on, I'll show you the city” Melody nodded and they walked off.

Meanwhile, Rarity awoke covered in dirt, she barely managed to open her eyes without being in pain. “Where....where am I?”

Rarity sat up and looked around, she could tell she was in some sort of cave, but that was all it was too dark to see anything in detail. “Let's see...”

Rarity focused and her horn glowed bright revealing that she was in a cell of some sort and she wasn't alone, she could see other cells with more pony's, there was a dark blue earth mare sitting across from her cell, her eyes were purple and her mane and tail were colored with a mix of blue and black, on her rump was half a glass heart and the other half looked like broken glass, she had a very Gothic style to her.

“Excuse me?” Rarity called out to her. The mare looked at her and stared blackly at her. “Do you know where we are?”

“We're in a prison” The goth looking pony said rather calm. “If you wanted to know where we are specificity, we're under Ponyville in bug made caves, and they apparently smart enough to make a dungeon”

“What!!!? but it's so....” Rarity looked around the dirt cell. “So dirty....ew”

“Well strangely enough they seem to like mares” The mare said still calm.

“How can you be so calm!? We're prisoners and have no idea what they'll do to us!” Rarity said in a panic.

“I'm used to controlling my emotions, it's better then freaking out and wasting energy like that” She pointed out.

Rarity stopped and thought about it, she had a point, these things weren't diamond dogs so she didn't know if she could trick them or not.. “How long have we been here?”

“Awhile, I can't tell being trapped in darkness all this time” The mare said looking down.

“I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name, I'm Rarity by the way” Rarity finally got back to her senses and calmed down.

“My name is Nightwish, I only recently came to Ponyville and then it sunk, I don't know how I got here, but I've been hearing voices other then the other girls trapped in here” Nightwish said and pointed out to the other cells with a bunch of other mares in each cell.

“Voices? Only taking mares?” Rarity pondered about it just getting more confused. “What does it all mean?”

“Well I have a few theory's” Nightwish said. “Ether their intellect or they have a leader that is, and as for the mares thing, they could be looking for certain mares or...we better get used to the idea of having insects for husbands”

“Insect husbands!!?” Rarity stopped frozen in horror of the idea, her mind going crazy with images of her in a wedding dress next to one of those bug things, and in the future little insect ponies running about and then growing old with her bug husband. “EWWWWWWW!!!!!!! NO!! NO!!! NO!!! I'LL NEVER MARRY ONE OF THOSE THINGS!!!”

Nightwish backed up a little from the sudden shout. “Uh....”

“I can't get married to one of those!!! I wanted to be married to a prince! I can't be with those things, so gross!” Rarity cried out in large tears. “Why me!?”

“Um, it was more like a joke Rarity, don't freak out please?” Nightwish tried to calm her down hoping words would be enough because that's all she could do.

“That's not a joke, it's a nightmare!” Rarity said still freaking out.

“Oh boy...” Nightwish let out a sigh.

Then a terrasect walked up to the cage and looked at Rarity's cell, Rarity looked at it and stopped crying, the bug watched her lit horn almost drawn to it.

“Oh no, Rarity, your magic glow, turn it off, their drawn to light!” Nightwish quickly said.

“My magic!? Oh my goodness!” Rarity then turned off her magical light and the terrasect looked away and left. “Oh thank goodness, but now I can't see very well”

“It's not like there is a bunch of things to look at though” Nightwish said.

They then heard a loud voice as if it was inside their heads it was so close. “Bring me the whinny one”

Rarity could barely make out some figures opening her cell and walking in, she backed up hoping she was just seeing things. “Wha....what's going on?”

“What do you want with her!?” Nightwish asked annoyed.

The terrasects ignored her and grabbed Rarity, picking her up and leaving. “Unhoof me you brutes!”

Rarity couldn't do anything as they carried her along, she could see that the cells all had mares from different city's, each one looking miserable, she was glad her eyes adjusted to the dark. “Where are you taking me?!”

They ignored her completely as she struggled, the ant like creatures turned the corner and held her tight, after a bit of walking through the tunnels they entered a large room, Rarity was fearing it was some sort of breeding chamber or something equally wrong.

“What is this place!?” Rarity asked almost hoping they wouldn't answer.

Just then the wall pulsed with a purple color, Rarity watched as the glowing pulse glowed brighter each pulse, she could see veins in the walls and heard the sounds of something...breathing.

“What...in Equestria is that?” Rarity asked herself as she looked up, the glowing pulse revealed that the wall was actually a large brain of some sort.

“Greetings equine creature” A raspy yet hollow voice spoke into her mind. “You are...carrying the element of which I seek, are you not?”

Rarity was actually relieved to see the giant brain, she was glad to know this wasn't some sick breeding thing, but then it hit her. “Wait a minute...my element?”

“You have one, I can feel it inside you” The voice said and the terrasects dropped Rarity in front of it.

“I don't understand...what are you? Why did you take all those mares!? You better have a good reason, you bugs destroyed my home!”

“We....are the forgotten ones, we took females not knowing which one of you had the elements we seek, to be complete we must have them” The voice explained.

“Complete? What do you mean? I don't even have the element on me” Rarity said.

“We have longed for what we lack, the dark is our home, yet we can not survive as we used to, we are making our new home above ground and we need what we lack to survive” The voice pulsed in her head.

“So...your a people that can't survive in your home any longer..” Rarity honestly felt bad, but there was nothing she could do, and what they did was unforgivable taking her and her friends homes like they did. “But that doesn't give you the right to destroy others homes! You should be ashamed of yourselves, and I'm sorry but I don't have the element with me so I'd like to go home now if you please!”

“Silence!” The voice bellowed in her mind. “You lie! we feel the element we seek inside you!”

“What are you talking about?!” Rarity glared at the large brain annoyed.

Then a tentacle from the brain like monster grabbed Rarity and lifted her up. “Ew! Get your tentacles off me!!”

The tentacle then stabbed itself into the back of her neck. “AHHHH!!!!”

The tentacle started to pump a magical glow out of her body, Rarity felt weaker and weaker as it did this the pain made her almost pass out as she tried to struggle, she could feel the power of the element of generosity being sucked out of her.

“Yes....yes, we feel it, the element we seek is flowing into us!” The voice laughed as took Rarity's powers, the magical energy flowed into the brain, Rarity went limp as it finished and tossed her to the side. “Throw it back in the cages, our brothers will be pleased now that we have an element”

The bugs then grabbed Rarity and walked out of the room, The magical energy inside the brain was forming into some sort of shape like a unicorn as they left.

Chapter 4

Melody Bloom had seen the whole city by now, or the important parts at least, she had been traveling with Twilight and they were now around the Ponyville refugee camp, Twilight seemed really interested in this place and there were a bunch of ponies walking and talking.

“I wonder if some of my friends are here?” Twilight asked herself.

“Who are you looking for?” Melody Bloom asked.

“Well I have five friends but we when Ponyville sank we all got separated, luckily I know where Rainbow Dash is, so I'm only missing four friends” Twilight explained.

“Twilight!” Pinkie hopped up excitedly as she came up to them. “I was so worried about you!”

Pinkie tackled Twilight in a hug with tears of joy. “I can't believe your back and walking so soon!”

“Oof!” Twilight luckily fell on some grass, even though it hurt a little she was more happy to see Pinkie then she thought she would because she didn't feel anything. “Hey Pinkie, I'm so glad your safe”

“Me too Twilight, I made some new friends, but I really missed you girls! Where is Rainbow Dash, wasn't she with you?” Pinkie asked looking around.

“She's getting Applejack and Fluttershy right now, and hopefully Rarity as well” Twilight explained.

From just those words Pinkie's day brightened ten fold. “OH GOODIE!!!!”

“Oh Pinkie? By the way, this is Melody Bloom, the mare that was found with me underground and she's from the days Celestia was a little older then a filly” Twilight introduced them with a smile.

“Hello there” Melody said with a small wave.

Pinkie gasped with excitement and grabbed Melody's hoof and shook her around like crazy. “Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, you don't look thousands of moons old!”

“I uh...” Melody was still shaking even after Pinkie had stopped. “I was frozen for all those years so I didn't change much”

“Wow! That's one cold nap, so your a unicorn, what kind of magic do you do!?” Pinkie asked watching her shake.

Twilight got up and placed a hoof on Melody to stop her from shaking. “Sorry about Pinkie, she's an odd ball, but she means well”

“I understand, and I don't mined talking about my past” Melody said. “My magic is mainly supportive, I can cast musical magic and warm the lonely hearts of others, but I can also do attacking magic such as nature spells and I think I can do something new”

“You can do more then one type of magic?” Twilight asked. “Most unicorns can only do one kind”

“One? That's strange” Melody said confused.

“And you said you can do something new? What did you mean?” Twilight continued her questions.

“I feel it, something I couldn't do before, like a surge of magic that wasn't there before” Melody focused her magic and her horn glowed a light green, then the tip of her horn sparked and the ground just around her froze over like it was flash froze but the sudden magic burst tired Melody out more then she thought.

“Wow! You have ice magic!? But how can that be? I thought you said your magic was about music?” Twilight looked at the ice around Melody in awe.

“I don't know, I only had magic for nature control and music, but I feel like my magic is stronger” Melody explained.

“Oh! Oh! I bet because you were sealed away in magical ice for so, so, so long that the magic flowed into you making you young for like ever and giving you new magic!” Pinkie said excitedly.

Melody and Twilight looked at Pinkie in shock and Twilight nodded and spoke up. “Wow Pinkie, that actually makes sense, Celestia's magic was never canceled out, so all that alicorn magic surrounding her for so long it was bound to leak some magic into her and because it was ice she gained ice magic!”

Melody thought about it and smiled. “That sounds great, but I shouldn't use it to much until I can control it better”

“Why? You can make your own ice for ANY party! That's awesome!” Pinkie said jumping.

“It's an unknown magic for me though, so it takes a lot to cast, I'll have to study it for awhile before I can get the hang of three magic types” Melody explained.

“That's true, but don't you feel cold standing in that ice?” Twilight asked.

“Huh?” Melody realized that she wasn't cold at all, like it was normal for her to be in the ice. “Actually, I don't feel it at all”

“I've never heard of a unicorn gaining another magic type like that before but alicorn magic is strange itself, so anything is possible” Twilight said.

“Like you and dark magic?” Pinkie said rather unsurprised.

“Wha?!” Twilight backed up a little. “I don't use that kind of magic!”

“It's fine, you used it to save the day, Spike told me, it's dark magic not evil silly” Pinkie said.

“I thought only Discord could do dark magic...things are so weird in this time” Melody said

“I don't like using dark magic, it's...it feels wrong when I use it” Twilight admitted.

“You have a lot of magic potential Twilight Sparkle, that's a rare trait” Melody said and put a hoof on her shoulder.

“Oh uh..thanks Melody” Twilight blushed a little.

“So Twilight? Now that I met your new friend, how about you two meet my new friends!?” Pinkie said and pointed over to the camp.

“Sure Pinkie, let's go” Twilight said and they followed Pinkie to the camp, there they saw Rock Candy and Winter Sugar talking with the cake family.

“I have a really bad time selling candy, I think I need to go back to school or something” Rock Candy said annoyed.

“But you make amazing sweets, I've never even thought of making weather candy, they make everypony forget about their problems for awhile!” Mrs. Cake said watching Mr. Cake eating a candy.

“Thank you, that's sweet, no pun intended” Rock Candy said with a blush.

“Hehe!” Winter laughed a little and ate candy. “So fluffy”

“You know, we're always looking for extra hooves around the store, Pinkie is great to have around of course, but she's only one mare and having two more attractive young mares to help around could help us” Mrs. Cake said. “If you'd like we could give you both a job when we get the store open again”

“You'd do that for us?” Winter asked. “It's true I need a job, and I love baking”

“If you want to, you could take and remodel my shop to your liking until your ready” Rock Candy said smiling.

“But it's your store, we don't want to take something you worked so hard for” Mr. Cake said.

“Oh no, if it'll help my friend's friends then by all means, and besides if I work for you two it'll be easier for me to make the candies” Rock Candy was actually too generous for her own good, so whenever she would try to sell baked goods she ended up getting ripped off in some way.

“Hmmm” Mrs. Cake thought about it and then got an idea. “How about...we use your store for a temporary place for Sugarcube Corner and you work for us, but in exchange we'll teach you good business sense!”

“Really!?” Rock Candy looked excited at the idea. “You'd do that for me!?”

“Of course, that way we have a fair deal” Mrs, Cake said.

“Thanks I like that idea!” Rock Candy jumped with joy.

Pinkie walked over and jumped on top of Rock Candy. “Wowwy! I get to work with my friends making baked goods!”

“Whoa!” Rock Candy landed on the ground with Pinkie still on top of her. “Hey Pinkie, Mrs and Mr. Cake are going to teach me business!”

“Haha!” Winter was also excited about this because she always wanted to work in a bakery. “I can't wait!”

Twilight was glad everypony was getting along, even after losing their homes, they still smiled, it was like a large weight that she thought was there, but it wasn't. “I'm glad to see you all still happy”

“Twilight! Your okay!” Mrs. Cake went over to her and hugged her. “We were so worried about you!”

“I'm fine, really, just worried about what we can do now without Ponyville” Twilight said and gave her a hug back.

They broke the hug shortly after and Mrs. Cake smiled. “We don't need to worry about that just yet, we have time and what really matters is the ponies around us, we were lucky to get away with our whole family”

“That's true” Melody spoke up. “Family is important, although you two seem to be one of the few ones to make it out with the whole family”

Twilight remembered that Melody never had a family and turned to her. “Everypony, this is Melody Bloom, a friend”

“It's nice to meet you Melody, and that's true, I feel bad that the others weren't so lucky” Mrs. Cake said looking down.

“Time will heal their pain, I know what that's like” Melody said not sure what to say about all that was going on, she didn't really know what was happening here other then what she was told. “It's okay to feel bad for them, but your family should be your first concern.....”

Twilight could tell she wanted to say something else, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. “Melody?”

“It's nothing, I think I know of a way to bring some joy back to everypony, at least forget about their troubles for a bit” Melody said and went onto a nearby table. “Let's see, I think this one will do”

“What is she doing?” Pinkie asked looking over at Twilight.

“I'm not sure” Twilight said studying Melody right there.

Melody's horn glowed as a bubble formed around it and then it grow around her and it kept growing, the bubble soon covered the area around them and Twilight and Pinkie heard a melody start to play.

“Music?” Twilight cocked her head to the side as she listened.

The melody was smooth and calming, everypony around the refugee camp relaxed and the crowd seemed to calm down from the playing music inside the bubble.

“Amazing, it's soft and relaxing..” Pinkie said closing her eyes to the sounds around her.

“It's even got you relaxed, that's saying something” Twilight listened to the melody as Melody herself hummed it like a lullaby. “I have to admit...it's beautiful”

After the refugees calmed down Melody stopped casting and rested a bit, she hadn't done magic in a lot time so it took a lot more out of her then she thought it would, Twilight walked over to her and looked her over.

“Are you okay? Casting that level of spell when your still weak isn't good for your body” Twilight said.

“I'll be fine...” Melody said panting. “My magic must be still recovering...”

“You shouldn't push yourself like that, magic pushes the body harder then anything and you use three types, that's going to REALLY push you” Twilight said.

“And you don't push yourself?” Melody asked, she knew from what Celestia had told her that Twilight had saved the world before several times. “You even went up against Discord if I'm not mistaken”

“Whoa, don't say it!” Twilight Put her hoof on Melody's mouth and looked around in a panic. “If you even mention his name he might show up and I really don't want to have to deal with him!”

“Mmmmff?” Melody mumbled looking confused.

“Did I hear my name? Or was that just me mishearing?” A voice came from behind Twilight.

Twilight sighed and turned to face the Draconequus, Discord was right behind her and smiling his creepy smile. “What are you want Discord?”

“I don't know, YOU called me” Discord said and then saw Melody Bloom with Twilight's hoof in her mouth. “Am I seeing things or is that a ghost?”

“No, she's real, why do you ask?” Twilight said annoyed.

Melody moved Twilight's hoof from her mouth and looked at him. “It's been awhile Discord, I heard about what you have been doing since I got frozen, it's great to see you again!”

“Uh...wow, this is awkward even for me” Discord said looking worried. “It's strange to see an ex-marefriend from over a thousand years ago”

“Well sure it's been awhile but-wait EX!!?” Melody glared at him. “What does that mean!?”

Twilight backed up knowing this wasn't going to end well and Pinkie was under the table, Discord sweat a little. “Well you did, or I thought you died, I'm an immortal being, so I didn't actually...care when you were taken out by Celestia back then”

They all ducked under the table not sure what Melody was going to do, Melody's horn flared from her anger. “So that's how you immortals work huh? Toss us living beings to the side because you'll get another chance later, this is why I hate ailcorns and now you!”

“I'll be glad to make it up to you if you want, I know some great places to eat” Discord said trying to calm her down.

“You know what!?” Melody shouted in anger, but then she stopped and took a deep breath, Twilight knew that breathing technique from her sister in law Cadance, she was surprised to see that from Melody though. “I'm done, and thank you Discord, I'm glad you confirmed it for me, now I know I'm a free mare again”

“Soooo...your not upset?” Discord asked hoping he was out of trouble.

“Nope, we're through right? I died once before after all” Melody said and turned away from him.

“Well, that's good, I hope we can still, be friends?” Discord said and smiled.

“I'll think about it, now please go” Melody said keeping her gaze away from him.

“Right” Discord then vanished in a cloud of smoke letting everypony relax.

Twilight went over to Melody and looked into her eyes. “You okay?”

“Twilight....don't ever become like them...” Melody said choking down her tears. “Discord is just like that other Celestia, evil, uncaring and selfish”

“Well Discord has always been like that, but not all ailcorns are bad, Celestia was nice to you remember?” Twilight said trying to think of what to say.

Melody then smiled and wiped away her forming tears. “I remember”

“I'm sorry you have to go through that so soon Melody, breaking up is hard” Twilight said.

“Are you kidding?” Melody said suddenly looking a lot better. “That's a huge weight off my shoulders actually”

“You used to date that weirdo!?” Pinkie said as she crawled out from under the table. “That's crazy, why would you do that!?”

“Well I had my reasons, but that reason died a long time ago” Melody pointed out. “Plus the magic I tried to learn never came up so I don't really care, I just wanted him to feel bad about it”

“Oh your good, I thought those tears were real!” Pinkie said in awe.

“If you know how colts work, their easy to manipulate” Melody said with a bit of a laugh. “Do you want to learn how to do that?”

“Oh! That sounds fun!” Pinkie said jumping up and down.

“Haha, you have a lot of energy Pinkie!” Melody said, she seemed to have forgotten all about Discord right then and there.

“Oh great just what we need” Twilight sighed, but she couldn't help but feel good about all this, she knew if she took time to work with Melody she would come to like Celestia and be true friends with everypony.

Rock Candy and Winter Sugar looked at each other and then back at them before Rock Candy spoke up. “What did we get ourselves into?”

“I have no idea” Winter said.

Pinkie jumped behind them and glomped them both. “Come on you two, we have a lot to do before my friends all come back! Let's bake!”

Rock Candy smiled at her. “Sure!”

“I'd love to!” Winter said smiling.

Twilight was glad to see Pinkie as her old self again, she didn't know what clicked but she could tell that Pinkie was having a lot more fun.

Melody's ears went up as she heard the sound of baking, she drooled at the thought and went over to Pinkie. “Bake? As in...cake? Cookies? Sweet....sweet....chocolate?”

“Yeppers! We're going to have a bunch of sweets ready by the time my friends come back!” Pinkie said grinning. “You can become their friend too!”

“Chocolate....” Melody licked her wet lips just thinking about it. “Can I have some?”

“Well of course silly!” Pinkie said. “Let's go bake girls!”

Winter and Rock Candy nodded and they followed Pinkie to Rock Candy's shop to go bake, Melody turned to Twilight happily.

“I think I'm going to enjoy this time period more then I thought” Melody said.

Twilight couldn't help but smile, she knew Rainbow Dash would be back soon, so she didn't have to worry, she finally could relax a little. “Well? Shall we go? Pinkie is really good at baking”

“Let's!” Melody grabbed Twilight and ran off to go after them.

Chapter 5

Fluttershy was looking around the castle of the two sisters from the outside, she really didn't like going inside it, so she was hoping Rarity as outside somewhere.

Applejack wasn't one to give up, but it had been so long since they last heard from Rarity, she didn't have a lot of hope left. “Fluttershy? What are we looking for?”

“Any sign of Rarity of course” Fluttershy said checking the ground for anything, but all she really saw was terrasect made tunnels, it was strange to see so many tunnels in one place. “You know? This could be where those creatures came from”

“Those bugs? Well maybe” Applejack kicked a rock down a tunnel and watched it go waiting for a sound, there wasn't a sound for awhile so she knew it was deep.

“What if those things...took Rarity?” Fluttershy said scared and worried for her missing friend.

“We could go down there and check?” Applejack said, she had a feeling Fluttershy was right but even if they found her...wound they like what they saw? She hoped Rarity was fine, she knew she could take care of herself but it's been awhile since they lost her.

“Well....if it's for Rarity, then let's go” Fluttershy seemed rather brave, she would do anything for a friend in need, even face things she was scared of.

Applejack felt better with Fluttershy keeping up such a brave act. “Let's!”

Applejack then jumped down a nearby tunnel and Fluttershy followed after her, they fell into darkness for what seemed about three minutes, Fluttershy was covering her eyes and Applejack watched as the sunlight disappeared from their view.

With a sudden thud they landed on soft dirt, Applejack stood up and shook herself looking around, it wasn't as dark as she thought it would be, she could see for the most part. “What kind of tunnels are these?”

“Scary ones...” Fluttershy said dusting herself off and shaking a bit. “It's....so dark...”

Applejack could make out a fork in the tunnel, but one tunnel seemed to be used more. “Let's go this way”

Fluttershy felt around and nodded. “Okay...”

Applejack went down the right path and Fluttershy felt around and went to the left not seeing her at all.

“Stay close Fluttershy, we don't know what we'll find down here” Applejack said and waited for Fluttershy to speak. “Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy moved along not sure where she was going. “Applejack?....Rarity? Where are you?”

She wandered for a bit until she came across a larger tunnel, she could see some lights from glowing stone on the ceiling but it wasn't really enough to see still, however she could make out some shapes of mares in what looked like cells.

“Huh?” A mare looked up and saw her. “Oh my goodness...are you real? Oh thank Celestia, I thought we were doomed!”

“What are you doing in here? What happened?” Fluttershy asked.

“Those bug...things, they fillynapped us and some strange voice...it said it's looking for elements of some kind, and mares were the only ones that could have it, they didn't know who to look for so they took all of us” The mare explained.

“That's awful, I'm so sorry, I'll get you all out as soon as I can, but I'm looking for somepony, her name is Rarity, have you seen her?” Fluttershy asked.

The mare shook her head but another mare from a different cell stood up. “Your looking for Rarity?”

Fluttershy went over to the other mare and nodded. “Yes, do you know her?”

“I do, in fact she's here!” The dark blue mare said with a smile, she then turned and pointed over to a figure in the shadows. “Although I don't think you'll like what you find....”

“Rarity!? She's okay!?” Fluttershy was happy at first but then she looked confused at what the mare said. “What do you mean, Ms...?”

“Nightwish, and I mean they took her into a room and she came back...different...” Nightwish said looking back at her. “She's not the same mare I saw get taken away”

“I'm Fluttershy, and could you tell me how to open the cell doors?” Fluttershy asked.

“I don't know myself, but I did see them open the cells doors with ease, maybe they had a key? Or something?” Nightwish questioned herself.

Applejack was wandering around seeing a bunch of terrasects working on tunnels and none of them seemed to have noticed her. “What is all this? A hive?”

Applejack walked right into a large room with a strange glowing yellow wall. “Huh?”

As she looked at the wall a voice entered her head. “We feel it...an element is inside this one, the element we seek!”

“Element? Who said that?” Applejack looked around confused. “Hello?”

“Why are you here of your own free will small creature?” The voice asked.

“I'm looking for my friends, I don't know where they are and I've been looking for awhile now” Applejack responded.

“Friends? Such terms are unknown to us, but you know the other elements...yes?” The voice asked in a raspy tone.

“Well of course, their my friends, well all my friends have them that is, do you know where I can find a white mare that's a little stuck up but is really generous, she has a purple mane and is all fancy like” Applejack explained.

“The generous one we know well, follow us and you shall have your 'friend'” The voice spoke as a large worker drone walked over to Applejack and motioned her to follow.

Applejack smiled and followed the drone, the yellow brain creature brought a tentacle up to the ceiling and hooked itself to what looked like organic wires. “The elements are close 'friends' we can send...Greed to fetch us what we seek!”

Then the purple voice spoke up. “Greed will gain for us what we lack, we no longer have need of those mares”

“We shall release them, and Greed with follow them to the rest of the elements” The yellow voice said with glee.

Fluttershy noticed the cells suddenly open and all the mares looked around as they walked out. “It opened?”

“You did it! You freed us!” The mare ran up to Fluttershy and hugged her. “Thank you so much!”

“Wow! Amazing work” Nightwish said and went over to Rarity. “Rarity? Come on, it's time to leave and go back to your friends”

Rarity nodded and stood up, Applejack then came around the corner, she saw Fluttershy and other mares around there. “Wow, there are a lot more then I thought down here”

Fluttershy turned to see Applejack. “Applejack, I'm so glad you found me, I found Rarity!”

“Rarity's here?! Great!” Applejack looked back and saw her guide leave. “Thanks strange voice!”

“Huh?” Fluttershy looked at her confused and Rarity stepped out into the small amount of light.

Rarity's eyes were glassed over, she had no emotions, just a blank stare, Nightwish sighed at this and turned to them. “They did something to her and now...she's almost like a doll”

“That's horrible!” Fluttershy said in shock.

“We should leave, I don't want the guards to come around here and see all of us” Nightwish said.

“I agree with her” Applejack said. “Let's get out of here and we can help Rarity get back to normal then”

Fluttershy nodded and they lead the mares out where they came from, it was actually rather easy, like the terrasects wanted them to leave.

“How odd, they don't seem aggressive like I thought they were” Applejack said. “But yet they did that to Rarity...what are they after?”

Nightwish looked at Applejack and shook her head. “Their not evil? I don't trust them they want something and it's bad whatever it is”

Fluttershy was checking on Rarity and found a wrapping around her neck. “What's this Nightwish?”

“They did something to her and her neck had a big hole in it so I did what I could to fix her up” Nightwish said. “I'm sorry I couldn't do more”

Rarity looked at Fluttershy not saying a word, looking at her with almost doll like eyes, Fluttershy didn't know what to do, maybe Twilight knew something? “Let's get her back to Canterlot, and fast”

“That could be a problem, we can get Rarity back just fine, but we have over forty gals here” Applejack said pointing to the crowd they saved.

“Oh my...” Fluttershy looked at them now really unsure of what to do.

“Applejack! Fluttershy!” A voice called as a Rainbow came from nowhere and Rainbow Dash landed on the ground. “There you two are, I've been looking everywhere!”

“Rainbow Dash!?” Applejack said surprised to see her. “What are you doing here?!”

“Twilight asked me to come and get you and-” Rainbow Dash stopped after she saw Rarity. “Rarity!!? awesome your okay!”

Rainbow Dash went and hugged her lost friend, when she didn't say anything or really even move she knew something was wrong. “Rarity? You okay? It's me Rainbow Dash”

Rarity looked at her coldly and didn't even smile as if she didn't even have a soul, Rainbow Dash looked more worried then before and shook her a little. “Rarity? Come on snap out of it, this isn't funny!”

Fluttershy pulled Rainbow Dash's arms off of Rarity and looked down. “Rarity isn't feeling herself right now, I'm sure Twilight will be able to fix her...”

Rainbow Dash noticed that Fluttershy was holding back tears, as if she didn't even believe what she was saying, she knew Fluttershy was trying to be strong for her friends so she stopped and looked over at Applejack. “Come on...let's get these girls back to Canterlot”

Applejack nodded and they all started to walk, Rainbow Dash flew up next to her and saw Nightwish and Fluttershy helping Rarity walk. “What happened while you two were gone all this time?”

Applejack sighed at hearing this. “The truth? I gave up looking for Rarity....”

“You did? But you found her” Rainbow Dash said confused.

“I gave up on week three, I felt like I failed her and gave up...I couldn't protect my friends, the only reason I was able to keep going was because of Fluttershy” Applejack explained. “Without her, I wouldn't have come this far, she had to steal her own heart for it, it changed her”

“Man...she's been holding back her tears awhile now huh?” Rainbow Dash said getting worried. “It's not good to hold all that back”

“Normally she's the cry baby of our group, but she worked harder then any of us to save Rarity and found her like...that..” Applejack couldn't even bring herself to look at what had become of Rarity.

“Well things haven't been going well at Canterlot ether” Rainbow Dash said trying to change the subject. “Celestia and Luna both are running around trying to keep the peace and make room for survivors, Ponyville wasn't the only place hit”

“Those bug things...one of them spoke to me, I think it was anyways, it was looking for a missing element, an element of what I'm not sure though” Applejack explained.

“Elements? Like the elements of harmony?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Could be, if that's the case they could dig up all of Equestria looking for us” Applejack said feeling better now that they found two of their friends. “There is no way to tell though”

“Well we should tell Twilight about this” Rainbow Dash said as they walked.

Applejack nodded and they kept walking, it was a long walk to Canterlot after all so they just talked as they walked.

Meanwhile at Canterlot Twilight was sitting there with Melody as they watched Pinkie, Rock Candy and Winter Sugar all over the candy shop bakery like pros, Twilight looked at her and saw her smile brightly. “Sooo, Melody? What are you into?”

“Huh?” Melody looked over at her and thought about it. “Well I'm into a lot of things, I like reading, magic practice, I love music and taking care of plants, also hot colts, it's been a long time since I've been on the dating scene, I don't even know what colts are like nowadays”

“Hahaha, wow, you do have a lot of hobby's” Twilight said and blushed when she mentioned colts. “That last hobby sounds...uh..”

“Well do you have somepony your looking at?”Melody asked, she hadn't about colts to anypony in forever so she was getting excited.

“Well...no, I've been wrapped up in my studies” Twilight blushed hard thinking about it.

“Really? NO colt has interested you...at all?” Melody looked at her confused and kinda disappointed.

“Well...I can't think of any, sorry” Twilight said with a shrug. “I never even thought about colts before”

“Sooo....are you into mares?” Melody asked raising an eyebrow. “I only ask because you have a lot of mare friends around you a lot”

“WHHHAAATTT!!?” Twilight jumped and choked at the same time. “Wh-wh-wh-why would you said that!!!?”

Pinkie, Rock Candy and Winter all laughed when they heard Twilight freak out, and Pinkie spoke first. “Wow Twilight, I never knew you were into mares! But don't worry, I'll support you one hundred percent for your decision!”

Rock Candy looked around the room with just her eyes and blushed hard so Winter spoke up next. “It's okay Miss. Twilight, I know we're new friends and all, but I'll support you as well!”

“Ooooohhhh, you do like the flower fields huh!?” Melody said teasingly.

“No, no, it's like that, I'm not into mares, really!” Twilight said in a panic.

“Well your only friends are all mares, that's called a field of flowers my dear Twilight” Melody nudged her a little. “I bet you have some great flowers to pick from!”

“Oh come on, I'm not, really! Right?” Twilight thought about what she said and started to actually question her sexuality, she really didn't think about colts and her only friends were mares, was she into girls?

“Uh....” Rock Candy spoke up finally. “Actually....I'm a lesbian....”

They all stared at her for what felt like ten full minutes, they didn't really know what to say, Melody had just been joking, she didn't think those type of mares were actually around, Winter didn't know what to say and felt rather awkward about the whole thing, sexual stuff wasn't really something she knew.

Twilight rubbed the back of her head and bit her lip lost in thought about what she was really into and Pinkie just laughed and hugged Rock Candy. “Haha! It's a good thing to talk about how you do things and I'm proud to be friends with you!”

“Thanks Pinkie, I've never told anypony this...it feels good to get it off my chest” Rock Candy admitted.

“So accepting, this world is harder to understand then it was in the past” Melody said looking at Rock Candy and smiled. “I'm glad for the change”

Twilight kept running what they said through her mind over and over again, maybe she was a lesbian and didn't even know it? Then again she didn't know any colts other then her brother and Big Mac, that was just gross thinking about her brother that way, and Big Mac, sure he was good looking, but he was older then her by more then a few years and he didn't show any interest in love or anything like that, she laughed at the idea that she would find a man like Cadance did, in the royal guard, that was just silly.

Chapter 6

Twilight found herself lost in thought as Pinkie was holding a plate with cake on it. “Twilight? Did you want some?”

Pinkie looked at her concerned. “Do you have a tummy ache? Maybe you ate already?”

“Huh?” Twilight shook her head and finally noticed her. “Pinkie? Oh sorry, I was lost-”

“In my eyes? Hehe! Twilight you charmer you!” Pinkie giggled cutting Twilight off. “You don't have to be fresh with me, but you might want this fresh cake!”

Twilight blinked and blushed hard at what she said. “Pinkie...I'm not! I swear....I think”

“Wow Twilight you really need to relax, I'm only kidding, if you want I'll stop” Pinkie said, she was usual good when knowing if she took things to far.

“No, it's not that” Twilight said. “But Melody brought up a good point...I don't really know any colts only mares, and that does make me look like a lesbian doesn't it?”

“Well only to strangers or new friends, that's all really, we know your still experimenting and that's a good thing” Pinkie said happily. “Heck, I'm still there myself”

“Really? You don't know any guys?” Twilight asked surprised the party pony didn't know what she was into herself.

“Well sure, there isn't a whole lot of colts IN ponyville, their ether way to old or too young, or their just not my type” Pinkie said. “I've been throwing parties for every pony in Ponyville and I know them all by heart, but I don't feel that way towards any of them, well one time I thought I did, still working on that though”

“Wait, you have feelings for somepony?” Twilight asked even more surprised. “Who?”

“Oh no, that's for me to know, and for you to guess and guess until you can't guess anymore, because if I said anything, it would make our friendship reallllllllllllly awkward, she might never speak to me again” Pinkie said and realized what she said at the end of her sentince. “Oh hay barrels, I didn't mean to say that!”

“She?” Twilight giggled a little, she was relived to know she wasn't the only one with troubles like that. “Maybe we can face our experimenting troubles together huh Pinkie?”

“Sure thing, but don't tell her anything okay?” Pinkie said as if Twilight already knew. “It's a secret, a secretly secret secret okay?”

“You have my word, I won't say a thing to 'her' I promise” Twilight said smiling.

Rock Candy laughed as she listened in on them, she enjoyed their friendship and how they were able to joke around and tease each other without any worry of insulting each other, Winter poked her shoulder and looked at her. “Rock Candy?”

“Huh?” Rock Candy looked back at her. “What is it?”

“This oven isn't working” Winter pointed to one of the many oven in the shop. “I don't know what's wrong”

“Oh I can fix that” Rock Candy said as she went over to it, she took out a wrench and some tools from a nearby drawer and got to work.

Winter watched as she quickly fixed it, she did amazing work, it was only five moments before she was done, Rock Candy put down her tools and backed off to look at it. “What did you do that was so fast?”

“Oh, it was an fix, just some wiring problems with a broken element, it should work now” Rock Candy said and went over to the sink and washed her hooves.

“I thought your cutie mark was for baking?” Winter asked confused.

“Well if you look, it's some candies and weather patterns, to be honest it took me a long time to get my cutie mark, and I always wanted to be an engineer when I was little, so I worked with tools a lot back then, and then I took cooking classes and learned how to make weather candies, so my main skill is candy making, but I still know how to work tools really well”

“Wow, I never thought about my life at all when I was little, I just loved to bake so much that it was the only thing I did” Winter Sugar admitted.

“Well everypony wants to be something when they grow up, so we all retain skills of that even if we don't pursue what we wanted to as filly's” Rock Candy said.

“Your cutie mark should have both a wrench and candy!” Winter laughed and went back to baking. “Thanks!”

“My pleasure Sugar!” Rock Candy said and went back to what she was doing, she noticed Melody's pink mane slowly come up from the counter. “Melody? What are you doing?”

Melody looked into a bowl used for some chocolate brownies and looked at Rock Candy drooling. “Can....can I have.....some?”

“You want to lick the bowl?” Rock Candy laughed a little and nodded. “Haha, go ahead darling”

Melody's eyes were replaced with stars as she took the bowl and quickly started to lick the bowl clean. “Mmmmmmm!!! Oh so good!!! I haven't had chocolate in sooooo long!! Delicious!!!”

“Wow!” Rock Candy watched as she almost ate the entire bowl. “You really love chocolate!”

Melody kept eating and enjoying the mix. “Mmmmmm!!!!”

“You'll love the brownies we're making then!” Rock Candy said with a smile.

“Oh boy!!” Melody drooled so much at the thought it filled the bowl she was eating. “Creamy...creamy chocolate....”

“Haha!” Rock Candy couldn't help but laugh at this scene, Melody's face was covered in chocolate, she had never seen someone love chocolate that much. “Your silly”

“Oh! Oh! I found some chocolate!” Pinkie suddenly appeared next to Melody with the same stars in her eyes and as quickly as Melody was eating the chocolate she licked the chocolate off of Melody's face. “Mmmmmmmmm!!! It is creamy!!! Yum!!”

Rock Candy sweated a bit as they both had their starry eyes on her. “Uhhhh...”

“Creamy, creamy chocolate....” They both said in unison.

“Whoa, whoa, you'll both have to wait, it's not done!” Rock Candy said backing up.

They both now drooled in the bowl as if watching and waiting. “Put frosting on it to! And nuts! And fudge dressing, and lots of oats on the inside!”

Rock Candy didn't know what to do, but since they really wanted it. “Well I guess I can do that”

The stars in their eyes grew and Twilight got in between them. “You two done flooding the place?”

They stopped and looked down, they saw the floor was flooded with their drool and Melody spoke up. “Ohh...oops...”

“Heheeh! We need a mop!” Pinkie said happily.

“And why does my face feel like it was licked all over?” Melody asked feeling her wet face. “Eww...”

“I have NOOO idea!” Pinkie said getting two mops.

“Talk about tunnel vision” Twilight said with a small giggle. “I know I get like that with books”

Melody and Pinkie then started to clean their mess, around that time there was a knock on the door. “Could you get that Twilight?”

“Sure thing” Twilight went over and opened the door. “I'm sorry we're-oh my gosh!”

Celestia smiled at her from the other side. “Hello Twilight, I see you solved the commotion down at the refugee camp, you saved me some time and effort, the Cakes told me that you and your friends would be here”

“Oh my, uh, please come in” Twilight moved and bowed. “We're just getting ready for when Rainbow Dash returns with the others”

“That's very kind of you” Celestia walked in and saw the ponies all working. “Hello my little ponies”

They all stopped and looked at her. “Princess!!?”

They all quickly bowed except for Melody and Rock Candy bowed so fast she hit her head on the counter. “Oof!! ow”

Celestia laughed at the sudden surprised greeting, Pinkie looked at Melody confused. “Why aren't you bowing? She's the princess!”

“Huh?” Melody looked at her and then back at Celestia. “She said before not to be formal with her, so I'm doing as she wishes”

“Melody!” Twilight ran over to her and put a hoof on her head and made Melody bow. “You don't not bow to a princess!”

“Oof! Hey, what are you doing?” Melody glared at her annoyed.

“It's okay Twilight, she's from a different time, and I really did say that, she doesn't need to bow to me” Celestia said calmly. “And after our past...”

“Oh right...sorry princess Celestia” Twilight took her hoof back. “I just don't want her to insult you or anything”

“Why would I insult her?” Melody looked confused as she stood up. “And what do you mean our past?”

“Oh uh, nothing, you misheard her” Twilight quickly spoke up.

“I did? Well okay then” Melody said and the other ponies stood up now.

“I heard about what happened with Discord, I'm sorry for not keeping him on a tighter watch” Celestia said.

“It's okay Princess, I don't mind, it's better this way, and Twilight can help me get a special somepony, she's really skilled at “picking flowers” if you know what I mean?” Melody giggled a little at the tease.

Celestia blushed knowing what she meant. “Oh my...I had no idea Twilight Sparkle was into that sort of thing”

“NO!!! No!! lies!! I haven't decided that yet!” Twilight smacked herself. “I mean I'm not into mares! I swear Princess Celestia!”

“Hahaha, oh Twilight, you must lighten up, we're only teasing” Celestia said with a small laugh.

Twilight sighed and felt very embarrassed, Melody put a hoof around her and smiled. “Don't worry, we won't tease you anymore...that much”

Rock Candy and Winter looked at each other and then back at them, Rock Candy rubbed her head from the red mark due to the counter. “How come you guys are being so familiar with THE princess of the sun?”

Pinkie smiled and pointed to them. “That's easy, Twilight is princess Celestia's pupil!”

“WHAT!!?” Rock Candy jumped back. “Are you for real?!”

“Well of course I'm real and so is Twilight!” Pinkie said jokingly.

Celestia went over to the counter and saw the candies in the shop. “This is quite unique, may I try one?”

Rock Candy could only nod, Celestia used her magic and one flew out of the candy dish and she ate it, she rather enjoyed the natural flavors of the sweet candy. “Mmmmm! This is very good”

“The...the...princess...praised my cooking...” Rock Candy smiled widely then she fell back and fainted.

“Oh dear” Winter grabbed a pillow and laid it under Rock Candy's head.

“Would you like to eat with us!?” Pinkie asked as she took out the brownies that finished cooking.

“Well if it's not to much trouble, I would like a little something before I have to go” Celestia said.

“Hey Twilight!?” A familiar voice called out from outside.

“Huh?” Twilight looked outside and saw Rainbow Dash looking around for her. “Rainbow Dash?! She's back!”

“Really!? Great!” Pinkie jumped excitedly.

Twilight ran out followed by Pinkie. “Rainbow Dash! Did you find them!?”

Rainbow Dash turned to face them. “Twilight! Good we need your magic right now!”

Celestia and the others walked out and Twilight looked confused. “Did something happen?”

“Yeah! Rarity's....I don't know what happened to her!” Rainbow Dash said quickly.

“Slow down, where is Rarity?” Twilight asked getting worried.

“She's with Fluttershy and Applejack and all the other survivors, but those bug things did something to her, she doesn't respond, and I'm freaking worried!” Rainbow Dash said without stopping to take a breath.

“Let's go then Rainbow Dash, lead the way!” Twilight said.

Rainbow Dash nodded and flew off, Twilight quickly followed after her and Melody couldn't help herself and quickly went after them. “Wait up!”

“Melody?” Celestia questioned and followed after her, she was actually very concerned with what was going on.

“What are we waiting for!? Let's go!” Pinkie said hopping after them, Rock Candy and Winter Sugar nodded and ran off.

Near the refugee camp Nightwish was happy to see that families thought lost were getting reunited, the terrasects took those mares looking for something, but didn't kill or eat them, so it got her thinking why they would release them after going and gathering them, it was far to easy to get out of there, she knew they where up to something, and it had something to do with what happened to Rarity.

Nightwish looked back and saw Applejack and Fluttershy taking care of Rarity, Fluttershy was brushing Rarity's mane because she hadn't been taking care of it due to being fillynapped by the bugs.

“Your mane is looking much better now Rarity...” Fluttershy said brushing her mane more.

“........” Rarity didn't even move, she looked ahead without saying a thing and that broke Fluttershy's heart, she hated seeing one of her friends like this.

“Please say something...Rarity...” Fluttershy begged keeping tears back. “Anything....please...”

Rarity looked back at her and saw the tears form around her eyes, she just stared blankly at her as if she knew that she was going to cry but couldn't do anything about it, then Applejack went over and gave Fluttershy a Handkerchief. “Don't cry Fluttershy, Rarity will recover, ah know it”

Fluttershy took it and wiped away her tears. “I know...but it hurts to see her like this...it's like she's there...but isn't...”

“We're back in Canterlot and Twilight should be here and should be able to help” Applejack pointed out.

“Okay, I know things will work out, but....” Fluttershy stopped and looked at Rarity unsure.

“I know what you mean” Applejack said.

Rainbow Dash flew up and smiled. “I found her!”

“That's great!” Applejack said feeling relieved as Twilight and the others ran up.

“What happened!?” Twilight quickly went over to them and looked at Rarity. “Rarity!?”

Rarity looked at her as if she didn't have a soul, she moved her head a little and it looked like she tried to smile but couldn't, Twilight looked at her eyes and gasped.

“What in Equestria happened to you?” Twilight examined her. “Her eyes are so...empty...”

Pinkie ran and hugged Fluttershy and Applejack. “You guys! I was so worried about you!”

“Hey Pinkie! Glad to see you too” Applejack smiled at her.

“I was worried about you and the others as well” Fluttershy said.

Celestia went over to Twilight and Rarity. “How is she?”

“It's not good, she's alive, but...missing something, like her soul or something” Twilight guessed still examining her.

Celestia's horn glowed and the golden energy went over Rarity, she stayed like that for a bit and then shook her head. “It seems you were right Twilight, I don't sense any magic in her body”

“And that means....” Twilight backed up.

“It means something was powerful enough to take Rarity's very being without killing her...as if they wanted her alive, but why?” Celestia pondered.

“Maybe to-” Twilight suddenly turned to Rainbow Dash. “Wait, were you followed!?”

“Uh, I don't think so” Rainbow Dash thought about it. “But Applejack said she talked to one of the bug things and it let out all the mares they took, it was a little odd really”

“The large brain like bug thing said something about seeking elements, but I didn't know what they meant” Applejack add.

“Large brain like bugs?” Celestia repeated to herself.

“So you weren't followed then?” Twilight asked.

“I don't think so” Applejack said.

“I want to get ready in case those bugs attack Canterlot, but Rarity needs me” Twilight said thinking of what she could do.

“Don't worry about those strange bug creatures Twilight, I'll make sure they can't get to the city, you focus on your friends, I'm sure you have some ” Celestia said getting ready to leave. “I have to be going now, I have some research to do, your welcome to use a guest room at the castle for Rarity”

“Thank you Princess Celestia” Twilight seemed to relax a bit. “Come on everypony, let's go”

“Aww, can't we get some of our snacks from the candy shop before we go?” Pinkie asked.

“Chocolate...” Melody said feeling like she could taste it.

“Hehe, traveling with these ponies things keep getting crazier and crazier” Rock Candy said smiling.

“Pinkie has great friends” Winter said.

“I need my brushes” Nightwish said to herself. “Painting them is my new goal”

“Okay Pinkie, you and your friends can go, me and the others will get Rarity to the castle and try to get her back to normal” Twilight knew they all could use something to eat, and when it came to snacks she wouldn't argue with Pinkie.

“Great!” Pinkie, Rock Candy and Winter all left to the shop as Twilight and the rest took off to the castle.

As they all left a figure moved from the shadows, it was a mare with a beautiful mane and tail, her eyes glowed a light cornflower blue, her mane was colored golden and her coat was pearl white, she didn't even have a cutie mark ether, she could hear a voice in her head giving her orders. “Greed, retrieve the elements we seek!”

“Yes....fathers...your will is mine” Greed spoke to herself and went into the shadows once again.

Chapter 7

“Rarity....” Twilight blushed deeply as she looked at a picture of her best friend. “What do I do?”

Twilight knew that Spike was in love with her, but she secretly loved her as well, she couldn't do that to Spike, he tried so hard to be with her, but would that mean to give her up just like that?

She tried to before, she cheered for Spike to get her, but she couldn't get her out of her head, she put the picture down and sighed. “I can't do that to Spike...even if I get hurt”

Then as she was deep in thought there was a knock on the door, Twilight was glad that somepony came by, she needed to get Rarity out of her head, she went over and opened the door.

Her worst fear hit her right there as Rarity was the one who knocked. “Hello Twilight darling! I needed to see you, we must chat right away!”

Twilight looked at her and gulped being nervous. “Wha...what did you want to talk about?”

“I must confess I am emotionally confused!” Rarity said walking in.

“What happened?” Twilight asked watching her closely.

“I fell in love with such a manly stud of a stallion recently!” Rarity confessed.

“Oh....really?” Twilight looked down disappointed for both herself and Spike. “Who is he?”

“Oh who cares!?” Rarity said annoyed. “I was about to ask him, when his six wives showed up, I could NEVER be with such a pig, no matter how good looking he is! I can't stand colts!”

“So, your...available?” Twilight asked getting her hopes up.

“Yes, and this time I'm thinking about going on the other swing for bit and see where that leads me” Rarity said looking at her hoof.

“Really!?” Twilight blushed from her excitement.

“Are you okay Twilight?” Rarity looked at her confused.

“I have to tell you something Rarity...” Twilight got really close to her.

“What is it?” Rarity stared at her watching what she was doing.

“I love you.., I always have, I just never found to words to say...” Twilight said blushing more.

“Twilight....I..I never knew...you felt that way...” Rarity had to admit she never thought about it, but Twilight was a princess, and she was very dear to her, so what if Twilight wasn't the colt in shining armor she dreamed of, if it was Twilight, it was better then even her wildest dreams. “If you love me...truly...then would you....kiss me?”

Twilight nodded as she gazed at Rarity, her eyes meeting with hers and locking on, each second of looking into her beautiful eyes made her heart skip a beat, Rarity blushed and moved her mane back embarrassed.

Twilight put a hoof under Rarity's chin and gently leaned in moving her head slightly to the side, Rarity closed her eyes feeling Twilight's breath on her lips, she felt her heart pound against her chest and Twilight locked lips with her.

“And that's my story so far!” Pinkie Pie said showing Rock Candy and Winter Sugar a book she was writing in. “I've been working on a cute little romance with my friends as the casts!”

“Wow!” Winter said excited and clopped her hooves together. “What a touching scene!”

“Is there anymore!?” Rock Candy said looking over the book. “That was so h-I mean cute!”

“I'm glad you two like it, I'm thinking about making it a book, although if I did, I would have to change the characters and I just love using Twilight and Rarity, it's hard to choose” Pinkie said as she packed up the snacks they made.

“That story really touched me” Rock Candy said. “I can't wait to read more!”

“Aw, thanks Rocky, I'm glad you liked it!” Pinkie giggled happily.

“Hehe, it's perfect for Rock Candy” Winter sugar said jokingly.

“Huh? Well I uh, sure I guess” Rock Candy blushed.

“Your silly Rocky, don't be shy about being a lesbian, that's just who you are” Pinkie went and padded her back.

“Actually....” Rock Candy looked down. “It's a bit more complicated then that”

“Your secretly not a lesbian?” Pinkie asked. “Or is it that your only pretending?”

“Well it's true I'm into girls, but um...I'm not all....you know?” Rock Candy was far to embarrassed to say the rest.

“OH!!” Pinkie had a pretty good idea of what she wanted to say. “Your into both!”

“I'm a...hermaphrodite” Rock Candy said looking away.

“A hermafrodate?” Pinkie asked confused. “What's that?”

“Hermaphrodite Pinkie, it means she has both genders” Winter Sugar explained. “That's why she's into girls so much, I've never seen one before though”

“I hope this doesn't ruin our friendship or anything, I'm still me after all” Rock Candy lost a lot of friends due to her little secret, and she didn't want to lose her new friends because of it.

“Rock Candy, don't be like that, nothing will ruin our friendship, and that whole herma thing is just a part of who you are!” Pinkie explained.

“Really? Your not grossed out?” Rock Candy was used to being pushed away but Pinkie was really something.

“Well duh, Pinkie don't judge!” Pinkie said with a laugh at the end.

“Thanks Pinkie, that means a lot!” Rock Candy felt a whole lot better getting that off her chest. “Now how about we go and bring these snacks to your friends?”

“Sounds like a plan!” Pinkie said and went back to packing.

They soon finished packing up and then they headed out, Rock Candy seemed a lot happier then before, she was happy to finally be herself, Pinkie and Winter looked at each other and smiled knowing that their friendship could only increase.

Meanwhile Twilight and the others were busy trying to care for Rarity, Twilight was looking over book after book to find anything about what happened to Rarity, but nothing came up.

“Melody?” Twilight turned to the unicorn who was currently looking into a book herself. “You lived back in the past, did you see anything like this before?”

“You make it sound like I'm old” Melody joked, she knew this wasn't a joking matter and closed the book shaking her head. “I'm sorry Twilight, I've never seen this before”

“Darn it, how can we cure something we can't understand?” Twilight was more flustered then ever.

“Maybe if we shake her?” Rainbow Dash asked as she went over to Rarity about to shake her.

“That won't do anything Rainbow Dash, you can't shake her soul back into her” Applejack said annoyed.

“Well all their doing is reading books, how is that helping!?” Rainbow Dash complained.

“Girls” Fluttershy said trying to stop them.

“Their doing their best Rainbow, don't get in the way!” Applejack shouted.

“In the way of reading!? Come on, Rarity's in trouble and we're doing nothing!” Rainbow Dash shouted back.

“Girls!” Fluttershy shouted getting in between them. “Stop it!”

They looked over and Fluttershy huffed annoyed. “You girls aren't helping Rarity by arguing, if your nothing going to help Twilight, go wait outside!”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked shocked at Fluttershy's outburst, Rainbow Dash knew her for a long time and never heard her that loud before. “I'm sorry Fluttershy, I'm just...worried”

“Yeah, we both are, seeing her like that is...terrifying...” Applejack admitted. “It's worse that we can't do anything about it..”

“I understand, I feel that way too, but if any pony could solve this it's Twilight, now let's let her work, please?” Fluttershy said getting quiet again.

“Yeah okay” Rainbow Dash said and the three of them stepped out of the room.

Twilight sighed as she kept reading. “Nothing in all the books in the history of Canterlot, nothing in the magical books, I'm getting worried...”

“Me too, those bugs are going to be a problem from what I hear” Melody said looking over another book. “But I now know twenty one ways to bake bread”

“So Melody, what do you think we can do?” Twilight asked hoping she would know.

“Well if we could find out where her magic went we could put it back into her and that should turn her back to normal, although that's just a guess, she might be like this forever” Melody said thinking about it.

“I hope not” Twilight said looking at Rarity. “What in Equestria do we do...I wish you could tell me what happened to you Rarity”

“Don't worry, she'll be back to normal in no time” Melody said serious this time.

“Yeah, I know she will” Twilight said.

Outside Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy were waiting, Nightwish was out there already and she was watching the clouds. “How is she?”

“Same as always” Applejack said. “Still spaced out”

“That's not good, Rarity seems really nice and she has to suffer like that..” Nightwish sighed not sure if she'd ever be normal again.

Pinkie and her new friends all came up with a lot of bags. “Hey everypony!”

“Hey Pinkie, what's up?” Rainbow Dash said not feeling herself.

“You girls want some cupcakes!?” Pinkie asked as Rock Candy opened a bag full of snacks.

“You all need to eat” Rock Candy said smiling.

“Hey...don't I know you?” Rainbow Dash asked Rock Candy looking at her confused.

“Huh?” Rock Candy cocked her head in confusion.

“You know Rock Candy Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie asked.

“Rock Candy? I do know her!” Rainbow Dash went over to her and looked her over. “Your that pegasi that disguised herself as a baker, that cutie mark of yours is a fake!”

“Wha!?” Rock Candy backed up and shook her head. “I don't know what your talking about!”

“Wait, fake cutie mark?” Winter and Pinkie looked at each other and then at Rock Candy. “What is she talking about Rock Candy?”

“She was an amazing flier, she was once a wonderbolt, her special talent was working with tools, she built a lot of devices the wonderbolts use today in training!” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “I'm a HUGE fan of the wonderbolts, I know everypony that was a wonderbolt ever!”

“Oh man...” Rock Candy sighed and put a hoof on her head. “This is why I came to Canterlot...Pegasi are rare here, nopony would realize who I am”

“So it's true? Your really a wonderbolt!?” Pinkie said excited. “This is crazy!”

“But..why would you hide that?” Fluttershy asked quietly.

Rock Candy worked up the nerve to speak. “There is a reason...but...”

“Come on Rock Candy, you were going to be a big shot, one of the best wonderbolts ever, why go through all that trouble to hide?” Rainbow Dash asked. “It's an incredible honor to be one of them, and you just gave it up?!”

“I did give it up Rainbow Dash...” Rock Candy sat down. “It was a long time ago, well it feels like it anyways”

They all gathered and Pinkie gave them each some snacks, then Rock Candy spoke. “The thing is, my family comes from a line of really amazing wonderbolts, each one making the family horseshoes bigger and bigger”

“A family line of wonderbolts!? Awesome!” Rainbow Dash went into geek mode.

“It's not that awesome, not awesome at all” Rock Candy said. “It was actually horrible”

“How can that be bad!?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Having a line of amazing wonderbolts is amazing!”

“It's stressful, that's what it is” Rock Candy said brushing her mane back. “It sounds nice, but they set the bar too high, everypony expected me to be as good if not better then all of them combined, if I messed up even once they would all judge me and look down on me”

“Well if you put it like that” Rainbow Dash said. “Is that why you quit?”

“I couldn't live up to it, I tried so hard...and I failed” Rock Candy said hanging her head. “I crashed hard, broke my wing and failed my family line, I felt so ashamed that I covered my cutie mark with paint and made this fake one, I then moved to Canterlot to get away from it all”

“That's horrible” Fluttershy said feeling bad about what she heard.

“I'm not fit to be a wonderbolt, so I'm just a candy maker now” Rock candy said.

“Oh come on!” Rainbow Dash smacked her hoof on the ground. “You can't give up just because you got hurt once!”

“What else could I do? I worked so hard and I humiliated my family name” Rock Candy said.

“Oh come on, your Rock Candy you invented the flight simulator, you made devices to turn clouds into food, you inspired a lot of mares to really challenge themselves, you set records that pegasi can't break even Spitfire hasn't been able to beat some of them, you did all that, that was you all you! Not your family, it's stupid to give it all up over a small mistake!” Rainbow Dash shouted annoyed.

“I....” Rock Candy looked at her in shock.

“Well it's harsh, but she has a point there Candy” Applejack said. “You shouldn't throw away who you are for a mistake, you've made a name for yourself already, you don't need to feel pressure from your kin folk's past deeds”

“I agree, what you do is what matters not what your ancestors did, you can't live unless you step out of their shadows” Fluttershy said surprising everypony there with her words.

“Wow...thanks everypony, that means a lot” Rock Candy said starting to smile.

“You need to go back to who you really are Rock Candy” Rainbow Dash said. “Or should I say Misty Gale?”

Rock Candy hadn't heard that name in a long time, she smiled fully, she never said it but she had changed her name as well, her real name was Misty Gale and she felt like she could go back without any worries, she couldn't help but tear up from the joy she felt. “Thank you Rainbow Dash...everypony....thank you so much..”

“It's no biggie” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.

“Wow! First we learn Rocky is a hermaphrodite, and then we learn Rocky is actually Misty! That's crazy awesome!” Pinkie said eating a cupcake. “And she's a wonderbolt!”

“I'm still in shock myself” Winter Sugar said eating a brownie. “I wonder what you didn't change about yourself?”

“Haha! Oh I changed almost everything, but don't worry, I'll go and clean up this disguise and you'll see me for my true self soon” Misty said laughing a little.

As they all laughed and talked Fluttershy noticed a familiar figure in the corner of her eye, it looked almost like Rarity but that couldn't be, right?

“Fluttershy?” The voice called out to her asking her over.

“Huh?” Fluttershy stood up looking confused.

What's wrong Fluttershy?” Applejack asked.

“I don't know, I have to check something out, I'll be right back” Fluttershy said walking away.

She turned the corner and saw the Rarity look alike Greed in the shadows. “Rarity?”

“I've been looking for you” Greed said grinning.

“Wait...your not Rarity...who are you?” Fluttershy got a better look at her, she had the same shape and size, but her color was off and she didn't have a cutie mark.

“Your element is needed for our fathers” Greed said and walked over to her.

Fluttershy backed up looking scared. “M...my element?”

Greed grabbed her and her horn glowed the same color of Rarity's, the magic wrapped around Fluttershy's neck and started to choke her.

“Gah!!” Fluttershy tried to reach for the magic but her hoof just went through it. “Uhhh..ahhh..”

Greed laughed as Fluttershy was getting choked. “Haha, time to get your element!”

She loomed over Fluttershy as she choked her and got to work as the forgotten ones taught her.

Chapter 8

“Can I really do it?” Misty Gale asked. “Go back to what I ran away from? Is it really that easy?”

“Sure it is!” Rainbow Dash said. “Your family did great things, but they aren't you”

“But I-” Misty Gale tried to say something but Rainbow Dash stopped her.

“You gave up flying, and it was because you felt all that heavy pressure, no pony can do only the best, trust me, I know” Rainbow Dash explained. “I'm awesome but even I have my limits, and you know what? I lost more then once, but I always had my friends to pick me up after a crash or something that hurt me”

“Friends huh?” Misty Gale thought about it. “I never had friends before”

“Well you do now” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.

“Thanks Rainbow Dash” Misty Gale said wiping away some forming tears.

“I'll get this stuff off now and then can I have a cupcake?” Misty asked turning to Pinkie.

“You got it Misty!” Pinkie said eating another cupcake.

Misty Gale then walked into the guest room, the room did come with a shower luckily, Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash who was feeling pretty proud of herself right now for helping out a wonderbolt.

“How did you know Rock Candy was Misty Gale?” Applejack asked.

“That's easy, my wonderbolt senses were going nuts!” Rainbow Dash gloated.

“How does that work?” Applejack got even more confused.

“Who knew she was a wonderbolt? But even more crazy is the fact she has two genders!” Pinkie said happily.

“Wait, what!?” Rainbow Dash stopped and looked at her confused. “She's a he?!”

“No, she's a she with extra!” Pinkie explained. “Futa ponies are really, really rare”

“Wow, I never thought those kind of ponies were real” Applejack said.

“Weird, By the way I haven't seen Fluttershy around, where is she?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“She said she had to go check something out, that was awhile ago though” Applejack said. “I'm getting worried”

“Fluttershy didn't even eat her cupcake!” Pinkie said worried.

Fluttershy stumbled out of the corner she had passed by and fell down on her knees, Winter Sugar noticed her and gasped. “Fluttershy!?”

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash turned and saw Fluttershy. “Fluttershy!? What happened!?”

She flew down over to her and Fluttershy sat up and looked at her, her eyes were doll like and lifeless like Rarity's.

“Fluttershy!? Oh no! Not you too!” Rainbow Dash tried to get her to respond but Fluttershy didn't move. “Come on Fluttershy, stop joking around!”

Applejack and Pinkie ran over and Applejack looked her over. “This is what happened to Rarity, she's just...empty...”

“Not Fluttershy!” Pinkie cried out. “Who would be so mean to do that to her!!?”

“Grrr, those jerks!” Rainbow Dash flew up into the air she didn't know where to look or who to look for but she needed to do something.

“Where are you going Rainbow Dash!?” Applejack shouted up to her.

“I don't know, but whoever did that to her must be close by!” Rainbow Dash said and flew off.

Some distance away Greed was sitting at a table with another figure, she looked rather tired and the figure was eating a sandwich. “Do you understand our mission? Our fathers need us”

“I understand, I can hear the voices of our fathers” The figure said and took a bite of her sandwich.

The voices reached the figure calling out one word that made her smiles. “Anger...”

Rainbow Dash flew right passed them as she looked around for any strange pony, but she didn't have any luck.

Back with Twilight and Melody, they were still reading when Applejack and Pinkie Pie ran in with Fluttershy. “Twilight!!!”

“Huh? What is it Pinkie?” Twilight asked and then saw Fluttershy in the same state as Rarity. “Oh no!!”

Twilight ran over and checked her. “She's in the same state as Rarity...what happened!?”

“She left for only minutes and then stumbled back like this!” Applejack said in a panic.

Twilight moved her over to Rarity and looked at them both. “What's wrong with me...I can't save them...I failed...”

“Don't you dare!” Melody suddenly spoke up.

“Huh?” Twilight turned to her in tears.

“You can't blame yourself for this!” Melody said annoyed. “If you give up now, there is no hope for them!”

Twilight looked at her and thought about it then nodded wiping away her tears. “Your right..I have to stay strong...for them”

“That's the way” Melody said with a smile coming back to her face. “You need to stay strong”

“Melody? Can I ask you to check up on Celestia? Maybe she knows something we don't?” Twilight asked.

“Celestia huh? Well okay sure” Melody said and left the three mares to care for the two.

“So what can we do?” Applejack asked.

“Right now? We just care for them” Twilight said.

“First Rarity....and now Fluttershy!?” Pinkie cried. “I don't want to lose my friends anymore!”

Twilight nodded in agreement. “I know how you feel Pinkie”

“We haven't lost anypony yet girls, we just have to trust that they'll be back to normal soon” Applejack said.

Winter Sugar watched them and didn't know what to say, she knew it hurt losing friends, she would know better then anypony about loss.

“You okay?” Pinkie turned to her new friend and noticed a tear going down her cheek. “Your sad too huh?”

“It's...it's just this reminds me of something that happened back when I was a filly” Winter said.

“What happened?” Pinkie asked. “Maybe if we talk we'll feel better”

“Okay...” Winter went over and sat down next to them. “I...I lost my younger sister...”

“That's horrible...” Applejack said quietly.

“She was quiet, but always loved to play and she loved flowers” Winter said. “Her name was Winter Flower”

“She sounds nice” Pinkie said still down.

“She was, she died of....well let's just say...it wasn't natural causes..” Winter said and looked at the two mares that were more like dolls now. “Seeing them reminded me of her that's all”

“I'm sorry to hear that” Twilight said.

“It's okay, I've been over it for years now, even though you never truly get over something like that” Winter said.

“Can you help us take care of our friends?” Applejack asked. “If your up for it?”

“Of course, I'll help, we're friends after all” Winter said with a smile again.

Meanwhile Melody was walking to Celestia's room when she came across a library, she looked up and saw the name Starswirl on it. “What's this?”

Melody walked in and saw Celestia in there reading a book. “Celestia?”

“Melody?” Celestia turned and smiled seeing her. “I was just reading about something very interesting”

“It's gotten worse, they have taken another victim, Fluttershy” Melody said kicking her front hoof, Twilight is losing friends left and right, and I don't know what to do”

“I see...that isn't good” Celestia said putting down her book. “I came here hoping I was wrong, but I know what is causing this”

“You do? Is there a way to stop it?” Melody asked.

“Unfortunately this is the first time this has happened, these terrasects happened once before, a very long time ago, and they took the elements of harmony for themselves” Celestia pointed out. “I remember a story about these monsters known as the forgotten ones, their a race of creatures that were abandoned by their god, so in order to keep order five intelligent ones took over the minds of the others and made piece, but when they lost the elements they lost a large amount of power, however they were able to keep control”

“So those bugs are after the power they once had?” Melody looked confused.

“Yes, and once they get it, they will be unstoppable, their goal is to take our world, and they will if they extract the elements from Twilight and her friends” Celestia explained.

“And they have two already...” Melody couldn't believe she didn't know about this before. “Isn't there anything we can do to help them?”

“Perhaps if we can find out what they did with the elements and take them back, we could use a spell to put it back into them” Celestia said.

It was the only option that really made sense, Melody had to go and tell them but she couldn't help but think about Celestia. “Celestia?”

“Yes?” Celestia asked not knowing what she was about to say.

“There is only one Celestia...isn't there?” Melody asked.

“Uh...” Celestia didn't know what to say. “Well...”

“I've been thinking about it and hanging around Twilight and her friends, I've come to understand a few things and what happened between us...well I want to say, I don't blame you anymore, and I hope we can be friends from now on” Melody said with a smile.

Celestia felt tears forming in her eyes, she never even forgave herself for that mess, and here the one she wronged wanted to be friends. “I....I want that too Melody”

“I'm glad, thanks Princess” Melody said and hugged her. “I'm glad I have this chance, even if it's in another time I don't truly understand”

“Me too” Celestia said with a smile. “Me too”

Meanwhile with Greed and Anger, they watched as Rainbow Dash flew overhead and Greed smiled. “She has it”

“Can I take it dear sister? I don't know why, but I REALLY really HATE her....” Anger said with a growl.

“That's the feelings of your former self darling, she must have truly loved that rainbow colored one, and you can't, you don't use magic, leave this to your big sister” Greed said as she watched Rainbow Dash.

Anger was a golden mare with red hot mane and tail, her eyes were a pink color like Fluttershy's cutie mark and she also didn't have a cutie mark, she had wings just like Fluttershy as well. “I want her blood...cut her open for me...I need to see her punished”

“Darling sister, I can't go against the wishes of our fathers, we just want their elements, killing them would only harm us, I told you before, if they die, we die, but keeping them in that doll like state, they can't fight us and they can't die” Greed explained.

“But she gets on my nerves! Grrrrr! Can't I just beat her a little?!” Anger asked.

“But then you would be hurting your sister, and is that what you want?” Greed looked at her raising an eyebrow.

“No...” Anger let out a sigh and sat down annoyed. “About my old shell? Why didn't we take her with us?”

“Father said it was like a warning to those with the other elements, they know we're coming and once we have them, we can do whatever we want to those mares” Greed explained.

“I want to keep her pretty, my former self had beautiful hair, I might even dress her up” Anger said rather calm.

“All in due time my little sister” Greed said smiling. “All in due time”

Anger looked up at Rainbow Dash and called out to her her voice suddenly sounding like Fluttershy's. “Rainbow Dash!!”

Rainbow Dash stopped and looked down to see the Fluttershy copy. “Fluttershy!? Your okay!? Awesome!”

Rainbow Dash flew down to her and without thinking hugged her. “I was so worried! I didn't think you'd wake up, don't do that to me again!”

“Oh don't worry Dashie, I'll never do something like that again” Anger spoke in her own voice.

“Huh? Wait a minute...” Rainbow Dash let go of her and moved back to see that it wasn't Fluttershy. “Your not Fluttershy, who are you!?”

“We're your other halves of course” Greed said coming up behind Rainbow Dash.

“Oh no..I have to tell the others!” Rainbow Dash quickly got herself into the sky when Greed's magic went around her tail and yanked her down to their level and magic then wrapped around her hooves and neck. “Gah!!”

“Your quick, but my magic is faster” Greed said looming over her.

“Stop! Let me go!” Rainbow Dash struggled fruitlessly against the magic.

“But we need you...” Anger said putting a hoof on her head. “We want our sister to come out and play”

Rainbow Dash looked at her confused and rather scared not sure what they were going to do, Greed's magic glowed and a tentacle came ripping out of her back and stabbed itself into Rainbow Dash.

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” Rainbow Dash screamed as the tentacle sucked out her elemental glow.

Greed licked her lips tasting the power Rainbow Dash had. “She's powerful, our fathers will be pleased”

“Oh goodie, I can't wait to have another sister!” Anger said watching Rainbow Dash struggle in vain.

Greed took all of Rainbow Dash's elemental life force and sat down extremely tired from it. “Haa...haa....that's two...”

Greed's belly was now large, she had taken all of the life force and surged it into her womb, it was the best place to hold life after all. “I remember when you were inside me Anger...it felt nice” Greed said rubbing her belly.

Anger nodded and walked passed Rainbow Dash who's eyes were as dead as a doll's and put an ear to Greed's belly. “Our sister is growing fast”

“She'll be ready to come out in a few moments, she'll be hungry when she's out, shall we get something to eat?” Greed asked as they started to walk away.

“We should!” Anger said feeling her belly grumble.

They walked away proud of themselves, having three of the elements meant they were closer then ever to bring the end to Equestria.

Meanwhile Rock Candy came out of the shower feeling refreshed and better then ever, her true colors finally showing, her coat was a dark purple, her mane and tail were a lightish black and her eyes were actually yellow, her true cutie mark was a rainbow over a working gear symbolizing she was an amazing flier and good with machines.

She smiled and looking into the mirror. “Thanks for everything Rock Candy, but I don't need you anymore, I'm finally able to be myself....so goodbye Rock Candy”

Rock Candy in the mirror smiled as Misty Gale walked away. “Glad I could help”

Misty Gale turned and only saw her reflection. “Huh? Am I hearing things?”

Misty Gale shrugged and walked out, she was ready to finally take back her old life and she had actual friends to back her up, she couldn't wait to show Rainbow Dash.

Chapter 9

Misty Gale came out and saw them around Fluttershy and Rarity. “What's wrong everypony?”

“Hey Misty, you look nice...” Pinkie said still sad over the loss of her friend.

Misty Gale looked at Fluttershy and it hit her. “Oh no...this happened while I was in the shower...”

Applejack nodded. “It did, but don't blame yourself, none of us knew what happened until it was too late”

“That's what you really look like huh?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, this is the real me” Misty Gale said. “Are they going to be okay?”

“Yeah, they have to...” Pinkie said looking down at the floor.

“We tried our best and nothing works” Applejack said.

“And nothing will work” A voice came from the door.

“Huh?” Twilight looked at the door and Melody walked in. “Melody? What do you mean?”

“Princess Celestia told me everything she knew about it, and the fact that she was the same one who sealed me away” Melody explained.

“Oh dear....you didn't fight her did you!?” Twilight asked in a panic.

“Well I might have blown up some parts of the castle, but that's all” Melody said and then laughed a little. “Haha, no we didn't fight, and that's thanks to you Twilight”

“Phew...wait me?” Twilight looked at her confused.

“Yeah, the friendship I have seen while around you, it made me realize that if you have such trust in those around you and are so loyal to the princess's, it really showed me to give Celestia a chance, a chance of friendship” Melody said, she knew it was a little sappy but she learned a very valuable lesson.

“Wow, all that from being around me?” Twilight smiled at this, she didn't think of herself like that but it was what she needed to hear, with her friends as they were she needed some positive reinforcement.

“You got it, I mean even I wasn't sure if I could forgive her, but I just kept thinking about you and your friends and how you saved me, I'm grateful to you for that” Melody said.

“Thanks Melody, I'm happy that you feel that way” Twilight said feeling a lot better.

“Now then, Princess Celestia told me that the bug things are being lead by larger brain like monsters called forgotten ones, like a hive mind, they had the elements at one point, I don't know when, but they used their powers to control all of the terrasects, but they lost that power and they feel incomplete without them, so now they want their old powers back, but you and your friends are the elements now, so then they take the elements it's like they take their souls, so if we can stop them, they should all go back to normal” Melody explained.

“So...if we stop those things, they should go back to normal?” Pinkie asked getting her smile back from the hope.

“Oh no...it's all my fault...” Applejack stepped back in shock. “I ran into one of those things...and he released everypony so I thought they weren't so bad...but I was being used...I led them right to everypony...”

“Applejack...” Twilight went over to her and placed a hoof over her shoulder. “You didn't mean to do anything, you were just looking for our friends”

“But...I hurt everypony....” Applejack only blamed herself, she didn't know what else she could do.

“No!” Pinkie suddenly spoke up. “It's not your fault Applejack!”

“Pinkie...” Applejack looked down and away from her.

“You didn't hurt them, I know you would never do anything to hurt our friends, so don't blame yourself, blame those meanie bugs!”

“She's right you know? It's the terrasects not you who did it, and we still have a chance to save them” Twilight added.

“Right...sorry...I'm just...it hurts so much...” Applejack felt better thanks to their words.

“Maybe it would be good to read your book Pinkie? Do something to get your mind off things?” Misty Gale said.

“My book!?” Pinkie took her hoof and put it into her mouth. “Shhhh! Don't say anything!”

“Mmmmmf!?” Misty Gale looked at her strangely with her mouth full.

“What book Pinkie?” Twilight raised her eyebrow confused.

“Nothing! I don't have a book!” Pinkie said making shifty eyes.

“Okay?” Twilight didn't know how to respond to that honestly.

“Mmmf? Mmff?” Misty Gale tried to speak but with Pinkie's hoof in her mouth made it rather difficult to do.

“Oh sorry Misty” Pinkie said and took her hoof off her.

Misty understood that Pinkie wanted her book to be a secret so she changed the subject. “Where is Rainbow Dash? I wanted to talk with her again”

“She's off trying to cool off, she needs some time” Applejack said.

“Are you sure that's a good idea? She's an element of harmony isn't she? If she's out there she could be a target” Melody brought up.

“That's a good point! We need to find her!” Twilight said.

“Well let's not waste time!”Applejack said and dashed out.

“Wait, we shouldn't split up!” Twilight called out. “We need a plan!”

“I'll go with her!” Winter Sugar said and ran off after her.

“Wait, come on we can't be rash about this!”

“Weee!!” Pinkie hopped away and Misty Gale looked confused but followed after her.

“Don't leave without me Pinkie!” Misty said as she flew dashed after her.

“Ugh...great!” Twilight ran after them hoping to catch up.

“Oh boy” Melody said to herself and turned to the two girls sitting there like dolls. “You two be careful okay?”

Melody then ran after Twilight, Applejack and Winter Sugar were looking around the city. “Where would Rainbow Dash be?”

“I'm not sure” Winter said.

Rainbow Dash came out of an alley looking just as dead as the others and Applejack gasped. “Oh no! Now Rainbow!?”

They went over to her in a hurry and looked her over. “I'm sorry Applejack...she's gone just like Fluttershy and Rarity...”

“DARN IT!!” Applejack stomped her hoof hard on the ground. “Now what do we do!?”

“Hahaha!” A voice laughed from behind them. “You elements are so easy to fool!”

“Huh?” Applejack and Winter turned to see Greed right there. “Rarity? Wait...your somepony else..”

“Well you have it half right Applejack” Greed brushed her mane back. “I'm a part of Rarity, and yet I'm nothing like her”

“Your the ones hurting my friends! Change them back!” Applejack shouted.

“It's not like I meant to hurt them, I don't wish them harm, but you all have my sisters inside you, and I want them back” Greed said grinning. “”So why don't you you just give up and let me have them?”

“What are you talking about!? You make it sound like your an element of harmony!” Winter stepped in.

“Well actually that's close, but I'm the living counterpart of Rarity, Greed, I'm what was made using the magic and powers of the forgotten ones, my fathers” Greed explained.

“So that means...they twisted the elements, turned them from positive to negative, who kind of monsters have that kind of power? Their elements of harmony, and yet they changed them to be reverse” Applejack said to herself.

“Oh no....how can we fight something like that?!” Winter asked.

“We can't, not easily, we need Twilight, can you go and find her for me? I'll hold off this fake” Applejack glared at Greed while speaking to Winter.

“You sure about that Applejack?” Greed asked. “You don't stand a chance.

“The hay I don't!” Applejack rushed her and Winter ran off to find Twilight, Greed stepped to the side as Applejack jumped her.

Her magic glowed and grabbed Applejack by her legs. “What the!?”

“Hahaha! You rush into a fight faster then Rainbow Dash, it's almost too funny!” Greed said as her tentacle broke out of her back in a painful way, it then stabbed into Applejack's neck.

“AHHHHHHHH!!!!” Applejack cried out in pain as Greed took her elemental energy.

“HAHAHAHAHA!!!!” Greed laughed hard as she filled herself with Applejack's element.

Applejack fell down and passed out as Greed finished with her. “Two more to go”

Greed walked off and Winter poked her head out, she couldn't leave Applejack and Rainbow Dash not like that, she went back over to them and picked them up, she put them on her back and walked off, she was actually very strong so she was able to hold them both up, she needed to get to Twilight and fast with the news.

Meanwhile Pinkie and Misty were wandering around the market, Pinkie looked around seeing all sorts of things, but nothing she was looking for. “Jeez, we'll never find Rainbow Dash this way”

“Well it'll take some time but we'll find her” Misty said smiling.

“Yeah, I hope so” Pinkie said.

They wandered for awhile when Anger sneaked out of the shadows and watched them. “Do you think they will still eat their cupcakes in that weird state?”

“I don't know, maybe?” Misty pondered Pinkie's question.

Greed walked up to Anger and smiled. “I see you found one”

“Once we have her, all we need is Twilight” Anger said. “I want to hurt them...”

“Let me handle this sister” Greed said and started to follow them.

“Tch, I wanted the pink one” Anger said annoyed.

“You don't know how to harness your powers yet, give it time” Greed said leaving her.

“Do you think it will ever be the same?” Misty asked.

“I don't know, of course I hope so, but even I'm not very positive at this point” Pinkie said honestly.

“Don't worry, we'll save them all” Misty said. “I know we will”

“Aww, it's cute that you think that, even though it's wrong” Greed said behind them.

“Huh?” They turned and Anger stepped up to their side. “Who are they?”

Pinkie shrugged and another one showed up ahead of them, this one looked a lot like Rainbow Dash, her coat was darker blue, her mane and tail where all different shades of a rainbow and her eyes glowed red. “Wait, is that Rainbow Dash?”

“I don't think so...” Misty said looking at them all. “Although they all have a similar look to our friends”

“Betrayal? Be a darling and hold the pink one down” Greed said smiling.

“Sure sis, I can't wait do see our next sister!” Betrayal said, she didn't have a cutie mark just like the others.

Betrayal then jumped on Pinkie and pinned her. “Hey what the!?” Pinkie tried to struggle but she was able to keep her down.

“Let her go!” Misty tried to stop her when Greed's horn glowed and grabbed her by her wings. “Hey!”

“You're just a normal pegasi, move aside” Greed then snapped back her left wing.

“AHHHHH!!!!” Misty fell back with her wing broken and she hit the ground hard. “My wing!!”

“Misty!! you big jerks!! stop hurting my friends!!” Pinkie cried out. “Stop it!!”

“Oh boo who, your friends don't matter to us” Anger said grinning. “If you ponies weren't so goodie horseshoes maybe we wouldn't have done that”

“Ha! Yeah right! I would have done it anytime!” Betrayal laughed.

“Goodbye Pinkie” Greed said and her magic formed around Pinkie and the tentacle came back and stabbed into her.

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” Pinkie screamed out in pain and the tentacle sucked out the element from her and it went into Greed.

“PINKIE!!!!!” Misty cried out and tried to ignore the pain to stop them.

“Oh I've been waiting to beat something!” Anger said as she slammed a hoof down on Misty.

“AHHHHHHHHH!!!” Misty gritted her teeth still trying to stand up. “Leave Pinkie alone!!”

“Hahaha!! I love those screams!” Anger said as she hit Misty again and again.

Pinkie's essence was soon sucked out and she stopped struggling, her eyes dimmed, Greed took her tentacle back inside her and the energy stored into her body. “Two at once, our sisters well be ready soon”

“Can we call our fathers yet?” Betrayal asked getting up.

“Not yet, we need one more” Greed said walking away. “She should be coming by soon”

“Let's go Anger, stop playing with that pegasi” Betrayal said as she went back into the shadows.

“Tch, I wasn't done” Anger got up from the beaten Misty and walked off annoyed she couldn't finish.

Sometime later Twilight and Melody were walking along not sure where everypony ran off too.

“Great where did they go?” Twilight asked looking around.

“I don't know, but it's strange isn't it?” Melody asked worried. “The town has been rather quiet lately”

“I did notice” Twilight said pointing out the fact that there were no ponies on the streets. “Something bad is happening....”

“I hope Rainbow Dash is okay” Melody said as she kept her guard up sensing magic that seemed off. “Do you sense that?”

“I do, it almost feels like Rarity's but...it's darker” Twilight could feel eyes on her, but then in the middle of the street she saw Pinkie and Misty laying on the ground, Misty looked really hurt while Pinkie wasn't moving. “Oh no...”

Twilight and Melody went over to them and Twilight checked Pinkie out. “She's alive...and in the same state the others are in, how is Misty!?”

“She's hurt, a broken wing, but she'll recover” Melody checked her wounds. “Nothing really bad”

“I hope Applejack is okay...” Twilight said shaking.

Just then Winter came running up with Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Twilight!”

“Winter!?” Twilight saw her with her friends and gasped. “Rainbow Dash and Applejack too!?”

“I'm sorry, I tried, but...I was scared, I ran for it...some friend I am..” Winter hung her head and set the two next to the others. “I don't know what to do...”

“This isn't good they now have five elements...” Melody said checking them over for wounds or bruises.

“No, it's worse then we thought, they ARE the elements, those bug things have a strange way of taking the life force of the ponies with elements and turn them into opposite versions of them, such as Greed and Anger!” Winter explained.

“So that's how their doing it...” Twilight was shocked, why didn't she figure this out before? They took Rarity's generosity and took out the positive parts and put only the darker parts into copies of them. “Then that means we're facing five negative elements”

“If they get yours Twilight, we can kiss Equestria goodbye” Melody said worried.

“Equestria!? Who cares about Equestria!?” Twilight shouted suddenly. “My best friends souls were just taken from them, and I couldn't protect them! What kind of friend am I!?”

“Twilight, it's not your fault, we did what we could” Melody tried to calm her down but Twilight wouldn't have it.

“Just-just stop, okay? I'm a failure...” Twilight couldn't stop herself from crying. “I let them all down...”

“But you haven't let US down” Greed appeared with a grin from the shadows.

“What!?” Twilight noticed that she looked similar to Rarity and knew who she was. “You!? Your the reason my friends are in this state!”

“Well I wouldn't want to take all the credit” Greed said with a laugh. “Right sisters?”

Then all five came out of the shadows as well. “Meet my sisters Twilight”

Anger flew just above her and growled. “You, I hate you most of all! Can I ruin her sis? Please!?”

Betrayal flew on the other side of her. “Name's Betrayal, I like you, maybe I'll help you, help end you that is!”

The Applejack lookalike was a lighter orange almost yellow, her mane and tail were colored white and her eyes were neon green, she went over to Twilight and smiled. “I'd say it's nice to meet you, but I'd be lying, I honestly don't like cry babies, by the way My name is Lies”

The last one was the Pinkie lookalike, her coat was hot pink and her mane and tail were a darker candy red, her eyes had different colors for each one, her left eye was yellow and her right eye was blue. “You can call me Gloom, I love to make others suffer in total misery!”

“And I'm Greed of course” Greed said smiling as they all gathered around Twilight.

Twilight didn't even notice, but her eyes were clouded with tears. “This...this is all wrong...you look like my friends, but your nothing like them....”

“Don't worry Twilight, soon you'll be like us too” Greed said and her horn glowed ready to attack.

Suddenly Melody appeared in front of Twilight using a teleport spell. “Back off!!”

“Who is this?” Betrayal asked annoyed.

“Get out of the way, you useless mare” Greed said coldly and cast a spell at Melody, she quickly countered it and Greed's magic back lashed canceling it out. “Huh? Nopony can stop my magic!”

“You blank flank freaks better leave or else!” Melody growled.

“Can I sis? Can I please hurt her!?” Anger asked.

“Please do” Greed said annoyed now.

Anger flew at Melody ready to hit her, but she cast a quick spell making a bunch of roots suddenly sprout from the ground and wrap around her four legs. “What the?! Roots!?”

“Hya!” Melody kicked her hard forcing her back. “I didn't spend all that time in the pits to lose to some fakers!”

“Pits? Who is this mare?” Greed raised an eyebrow. “Sisters take her out!”

Twilight was in no condition to fight back, she couldn't stop crying over the loss of her friends, Melody stayed in front of her knowing that she was their last hope. “Don't even try!”

Betrayal flew at her ready to kick and Melody cast another spell that magical grabbed her tail and spun her around like a dryer and slammed her down on the ground. “Oof! What is with this mare!!?”

Lies came up from behind her going to Twilight and Melody focused her magic and froze the ground under her making her slip and hit the ground. “Ow! Why you!”

“This mare is getting on my nervous!” Greed said getting more and more angry.

Gloom suddenly slammed her side making Melody stumble and fall, but she quickly kicked herself up and her horn sparkled as a bubble formed around Gloom and a loud BOOM of noise hit her ears making Gloom fall back holding her head. “Ahhhh!!! Too loud!!”

“That's it!! I'm done with you!” Greed used her magic to create a ribbon and it wrapped around Melody's throat choking her.

“GAHH!!” Melody quickly cast another spell making roots spike up and ripping the ribbon apart. “Haa...haa..not that easy!”

Melody grabbed Winter and Twilight and ran to the group of Twilight's friend's bodies. “Sorry fakers, but Twilight is off limits!”

Melody focused her magic hard causing a ripple in the fabric of reality and a blinding flash hit all their eyes.

“STOP HER!!!” Greed cried out putting a hoof over her eyes so she wasn't completely blinded.

They all jumped Melody but then they only hit the ground where she was, Greed growled and walked over to the spot. “Twilight still had friends to help her, I don't know who that mare is, but I want her gone, I want Twilight to watch as we snuff out the last of her friend's life, do you understand sisters?”

They all nodded. “Yes sister”

Then they all heard a voice reach them. “Five is enough, send in the workers”

“You all heard them, let's go” Greed said in a bad mood and they all walked off.

Melody wrapped into the castle with everypony with her and she stumbled a bit and was very tired from all that casting. “Haa...haa...I'm not used to this body yet...I can't control even a tenth of my magic without problems...”

Twilight was crying in the corner, all her hopes seemed pointless, she had given up, without her friends around, what was the point?

“Oh dear...I was afraid of this” Celestia said as she walked in. “So they have taken all of Twilight's friends....”

“Without her magic, do you think we have a chance?” Melody asked holding her head a little, it was easy to get headaches from so much magical use.

“I'm afraid I can't answer that Melody, Twilight? You must remain calm, this fight isn't over” Celestia tried to talk to Twilight.

“Celestia....” Twilight choked down her tears to try and talk. “I failed my friends...I failed Equestria....what good am I to anypony?”

“Twilight Sparkle, this is a time where your friends need you the most, you must defeat them to restore them back to their former selves” Celestia tried to explain.

“But how?” Melody asked.

“Is there anything we can do?” Winter asked looking over all the ponies.

“Twilight is the only one that can defeat them, if she can make the elements turn back to normal she can put them into her friends and save them, but Twilight is the only one that can do that” Celestia pointed out.

“M-me?” Twilight asked wiping away her tears. “Can I really save them if I can take their elements back?”

“I have a spell here you can use, but you can only use it once as it will take a lot of magic to use, so make it count” Celestia brought over a magical book to Twilight.

Twilight took it and started to read it, maybe it was to early to give up, with this last chance she could save all her friends, at least this spell gave her a final hope.

“Great..I feel so useful” Melody said sarcastically.

“I need you Winter Sugar to look over all of them while we ready for battle” Celestia said.

“Of course princess, I'll do my best” Winter said.

“And Melody, you will be more useful out there fighting their minions” Celestia walked over to a window and Melody followed.

Melody looked out the window and saw a large amount of Terrasects start to come out of the mountion the city was placed on. “Oh hay barrels...”

Chapter 10

“So what now?” Melody turned to Celestia but she was gone. “Celestia?”

“What!? No!” Twilight closed the book she was reading and tossed it. “I won't use that magic!”

“What's wrong?” Melody asked and picked up the book.

“That spell...it's horrible, I won't use it...” Twilight said shaking.

Melody opened the book and looked into it. “Let's see”

She read the spell, she realized that it was a spell to destroy life forces. “This is dark magic...”

“Why would Celestia give me that? I could never use that!” Twilight shouted.

“Wait, there's more” Melody read on and smiled. “I don't think she wants you to use the spell but read this part”

Twilight looked at the book and read out loud. “Souls once lost can be recovered by reminding them of who they once were”

“I never thought about that...” Twilight said getting a smile back. “If I can just talk to them, maybe I can get them back to who they belong too”

“But that's not going to be easy” Melody pointed out. “This has never happened before, it might not work”

“True, but we have to try” Twilight said. “I won't give up on my friends”

“That's good to hear” Melody said. “I should get down there, I'll hold off as many as I can”

“I'll take care of these girls, you don't need to worry” Winter said patching them up with a first aid kit she found.

“Thanks Winter” Twilight said with a nod. “Let's go Melody”

“Let's? As in we?” Melody raised an eyebrow.

“I need to face those copies, I don't know why...but I think I can save them” Twilight said putting a hoof on her chest. “I feel it...I know I can reach them and save my friends”

“Well okay then” Melody said and walked out of the room.

Twilight quickly followed after her and went up next to her. “You don't believe me huh?”

“Why would you think that?” Melody asked looking ahead.

“Because even I'm questioning it” Twilight said looking worried. “Can I really save them on just this feeling?”

“Twilight, it was you who showed me that even with my past I could change how I felt about Celestia, I trust your judgment” Melody smiled at her. “Don't question yourself, do what feels right”

“I will, thanks Melody” Twilight felt better, she didn't feel alone thanks to Melody, and that gave her strength.

The castle shook and Melody looked out a nearby window seeing the bugs destroy the city. “Their getting closer!”

“Melody, you go and hold them back, I'll go out there and lure the five copies out!” Twilight said and dashed off in a hurry.

“Great, give me the hard job why don't you?” Melody joked as she ran off to the outside. “Oh who am I kidding? I love this sort of thing!”

Twilight walked out into the courtyard and looked around, she could feel eyes on her as soon as she stepped out.

“Well, well, you've been a thorn in our sides for far to long Twilight” Greed said as she walked out from behind a pillar covered in roses. “But now your all alone”

“I'm not alone, Melody, Misty, Winter, and all of my friends are with me” Twilight said proudly.

“Oh gag me, what can friendship do now!?” Betrayal asked flying down into the garden.

“It can do a lot” Twilight said.

“What power do you have now? We have taken over your little home, your friends are nothing but husks, your princess does nothing to stop us, we're going to win” Greed said full of herself, then the others came out from the garden as well glaring at Twilight.

“I'm still here and I won't let you win” Twilight said and turned to Betrayal. “I know the truth now, I figured it out, your all the elements of my friends, you don't belong to those bug things, you have to go back to them, they need you, and I know you need them”

“Ha! What has Rainbow Dash done for me? Loyalty? Please, it's so much more fun like this” Betrayal smiled as she spoke.

“Rainbow Dash, she is loyal to her friends she would never betray anypony, and she never betrayed you, your what kept her going have so many trials and hardships, don't you remember? Rainbow Dash helped Fluttershy when her animal friends all got sick, even though she didn't want to, she stuck to it because they were friends” Twilight explained.

“Well...I...” Betrayal thought about it and smiled fondly. “Those little guys were sorta cute, and I couldn't let her take care of all the animals, that's a big job”

“I knew it!” Twilight thought to herself and then spoke. “That's right, and you loved it, she even helped you get your favorite pet Tank, remember when Rarity got you that signed photo of your favorite wonderbolt? You felt bad at first because she ended up missing her deadline because of that and you helped her finish and deliver the dress's barely in time to give her a second chance?”

“I loved that photo, I hanged it up next to my bed, then I learned Rarity was in deep trouble and I felt like it was my fault, I don't even like dresses but she was so awesome in doing that for me, I had to help her” Betrayal said sounding more like Rainbow Dash.

“It's working...come on Twilight, just a bit more” Twilight thought to herself again and spoke up. “That's right, and what about Pinkie Pie? You loved to pull silly pranks on ponies with her, she even baked you a cake in your likeness, she helped you open your eyes to true friendship”

“I remember that, she helped me see what true friendship was all about” Betrayal was more confused then ever and didn't know what to think anymore. “We pulled some great laughs together”

“And then Applejack, she helped mend your wings when you crashed and broke them, and even after you recovered a little and you wanted to fly again she stopped you from doing that to make sure your wings fully recovered, even though you hated being grounded you were grateful to her, remember?”

“If I did go flying I would have broken them even more and never fly again, that's what the doctors told me after, I couldn't thank her enough after that” Betrayal said and her body started to glow her elemental color.

“And remember when you came to sleep over at my house because your house was blown away and they had to fix it, we would stay up all night reenacting scenes from our favorite parts of different Daring Do books, we had so much fun even though we kept it just between us because it was embarrassing” Twilight said.

“Haha, I loved doing that, and it was so awesome that even though I didn't have a place at the time you helped me” Betrayal added and she was glowing brightly now.

“Don't listen to her!” Greed tried to stop her but a magical barrier stopped her instead. “No!”

“Your not Betrayal, your loyalty!” Twilight shouted and Rainbow Dash's energy shot out of Betrayal's body and floated over to her. “Nothing will ever change who you really are inside”

Loyalty smiled at her and flowed into Twilight's body, Twilight then turned to Anger. “Anger...remember what Pinkie did for you?”

“Huh?” Anger backed up not sure what she was going to do, but she couldn't move any further for some reason. “Don't make me hurt you!”

“Everypony forgot your birthday, you tried to tell us over and over again but we didn't pay you any mind, you were at your house feeling so alone at your birthday party Pinkie came by with a cake and gifts for you, she then used her party cannon to get our attention and made us realize what we did without knowing, we all felt so bad, but you forgave us” Twilight explained. “Pinkie saved your party because she was the only one that payed attention”

“I....I remember...” Anger said looking down. “She worked on everything for me, I couldn't have been more happy that day”

“Then Applejack, she helped you build all those homes for those tiny animals, even when it was raining she made sure they all had little homes, and you saved a lot of animals because of that” Twilight added.

“She was very helpful...” Anger started to sound more like Fluttershy now. “I was grateful to her hard work, I didn't even have a way to repay her so I ended up working on her farm for awhile to pay her back”

“That's right, and remember Rainbow Dash? She went with you when you went back to Cloudsdale for a few days to cheer you on when you needed to pass the fliers exam so you could stay in Ponyville” Twilight said.

“It was really hard, they always bullied me..” Anger said as she began to glow. “But thanks to Rainbow Dash I passed”

“And then you did her a favor when you came to cheer her on in that contest” Twilight pointed out. “Then there is Rarity, remember when Rarity came over to your place when you were having a bad mane day? She spent the whole day trying to fix it, and you two ended up bonding and she gave you a mane clip, and then you learned it was one of her most prized pieces”

“Rarity really saved me that day, I felt so bad I couldn't leave my house, but then she showed up and helped, it was really nice of her” Anger said.

“And remember when you lost angel? You were crying for weeks, then I went out and found him for you, it took me a long time, but seeing you smile again was worth it” Twilight said smiling at her.

“Angel bunny? I couldn't do anything without him...I remember I was so happy when you walked in with him, I couldn't stop crying from joy...” Anger was now glowing brightly.

“NO!!!” Greed tried to move but a magical force was keeping her back.

“Your not anger, your kindness, and you would never hurt anypony!” Twilight said and Fluttershy's element flowed out of her and Kindness hugged Twilight before going into her like Loyalty.

“Stop it!! You can't do this, this can't be happening!” Greed shouted.

“And you!” Twilight turned to Gloom. “Remember all the fun times you had with everyone?!”

Gloom glared at her. “What do you mean?”

“Remember when Applejack took over for you when you were sick? She helped you get better and she baked all the goods that week just for you” Twilight said.

“That-that's true” Gloom said thinking about it.

“And when you lost all your party balloons Rainbow Dash managed to get them all back for you so you could threw a party” Twilight continued.

“That really saved me..” Gloom said.

“And when you were so busy and running around to the point you passed out, Rarity came and made you sleep and she did everything on your list so you could rest” Twilight pointed out.

“Ye-yeah...” Gloom was starting to glow now. “I never forgot what she did for me...”

“Fluttershy and her animal friends threw you a party and remember that bear actually liked you and asked Fluttershy to give you a cute love letter and you thought it was from her?” Twilight said with a bit of a laugh remembering what Fluttershy told her.

Gloom blushed at this and her voice changed to that of Pinkie's. “I felt so embarrassed when she gave me that, even though it was the bear's letter I couldn't get Fluttershy's cute face out of my mind”

“And remember when I was so stuck in my books you had to steal my book and make me go outside, you lured me to the park and everypony was there, we all then had fun and you even had cupcakes with each of our faces on them” Twilight said getting a warm feeling from the memories.

Gloom smiled as the memories flowed in and Pinkie's element came out and Laughter giggled as she flew into Twilight like the others.

Twilight was feeling the energy of her friends flow through her, she was glad to feel them, and she was close to finishing this. “Good to feel you again Laughter”

“Let's talk about you next” Twilight turned to Lies.

“Oh heck no, I won't listen!” Lies said trying to ignore her.

“You have to remember our friendship! Remember when your dog Winona was hurt and Fluttershy came to care for her? You couldn't watch over her due to your work, but Fluttershy stayed with you and her to make sure she was okay” Twilight told her making her listen.

“Yeah...I...I remember..” Lies said starting to glow just like the others.

“And the time Rainbow Dash helped you with your apple bucking because Big Mac had to repair the building she crashed into, you barely managed to get enough but thanks to Rainbow Dash you got through it” Twilight pointed out.

“She really helped me out..” Lies spoke as she voice changed to Applejack's. “We had cider for weeks after that”

“Remember when Rarity made nests for the birds in your farm so they wouldn't get in your way?” Twilight said keeping it going.

“That's true, without her doing that I would have bucked baby birds out of their tree and that would have been horrible” Lies said as she glowed brightly.

“Then there was Pinkie, she's so close to you, your like cousins, remember when you were feeling down? She came in and spent the whole day with you, braiding your mane and tail, playing silly games, talking about colts with you, she didn't stop until you smiled again” Twilight said.

“I remember, she really came through for me then” Lies said remembering it.

“And remember when my magic went crazy and changed all your apple crops into oranges and it took forever to pick them and change the trees back into apple trees, I felt so bad I couldn't even face you for weeks, until you came and told me it was okay and no harm was done, you have to remember that!”

“I...I do, I remember it all now...” Lies said and Honesty came out of her and flew right into Twilight's chest.

Twilight could feel her magic growing and her bonds increasing with her friends. “Honesty....”

Greed stomped her hooves hard angry. “No, no, no, you can't be this strong, your just magic you don't even have any friends anymore, where is this power coming from!?”

“It's coming from friendship Greed, and you need to come back with us too!” Twilight said walking up to her.

“Stay back!” Greed tried to move back but her legs would not move.

“Remember who you were, remember the time you tried to get a client to try your new dress but she harshly turned you down, then Applejack managed to convince her to give you another change” Twilight said making her listen.

“No, I won't listen!” Greed tried to stop her but she realized she was glowing. “Stop it!”

“Then there was the time you were fantasizing about your dream colt and you accidentally kissed Rainbow Dash on the lips, she freaked out and didn't talk to you for quite sometime, and because of that you were having a hard time and you locked yourself in your home” Twilight said smiling, she only knew that because Rainbow Dash told her the reason Rarity was locked up in her place for that time.

“You're lying! You can't make me go back!” Greed stopped as she heard her voice, it was now like Rarity's.

“And then there was Pinkie, you were trying to set up a party but you didn't have enough bits at the time, so Pinkie gave you what you needed and helped out even though she didn't understand your high society party” Twilight said knowing she was getting through to her.

“Pinkie really saved me...no, I can't give in!” Greed was inner fighting with herself trying to make sense of things.

“Remember Fluttershy? She always went with you to the spa, when you had to go out of town she ran your shop while you were gone for days” Twilight pointed out.

“She had barely managed to hold up things I couldn't have gone out of town without her help...” Greed was now glowing brightly.

“Remember when the two of us had a girl's day out? All we talked about was stupid stuff like books and fashion sometimes colts and mane styles, but we bonded so well it was worth it, I cherish my memories with everypony and you have a special place in my heart” Twilight reminded her.

Generosity came out of Greed and floated over to Twilight, she kissed her cheek and went inside her like the others and Twilight smiled at this. “Welcome back Generosity”

The five mares looked at each other and each started to fade away, Greed watched as each of her sisters were fading out of existence. “Twilight...”

“Huh?” Twilight turned to watch the last of them fade and Greed smiled at her, she didn't understand why, but she was glad that they didn't fade away in pain.

Twilight started to move back with a terrasect worker came out of the ground and looked right at her. “Purple one...”

“What!?” Twilight knew it wasn't speaking to her, but she could hear a voice, she somehow knew what it was. “Your...a forgotten one...”

“We have watched the surface for eons, we have seen the rise and fall of many nations, Equestria will fall one day, just like all the rest”

“I won't let that happen” Twilight said facing the bug. “You won't take our home”

“We realize this, you have fought and beaten our hopes for gaining power, we will die out soon” The voice spoke as if it was ready to die.

“Wait, your hopes? Why did you want to surface in the first place?” Twilight asked.

“We are dying, without a new land we will run out of food and we will fade away” The voice explained.

“Hmm...” Twilight wanted to stop them, but she didn't want to wipe out an entire species, then she got a idea. “How about we make a deal?”

“A deal?” The voice echoed confused.

“You leave Equestria and never return, find a new home away from ours and you can live there without anypony attacking you or you attacking anypony” Twilight suggested.

“You are willing to give us a surface to live?” The voice was lost but wasn't going to not take it. “Why?”

“Because, every living being deserves to live, and you don't need the elements to do that” Twilight said.

“The elements create a lust for power, we have been blinded to see any other solution without them, thank you purple one, we shall undo what we have done to your race and we shall leave” The voice spoke and then went quiet.

Twilight nodded and the bug dug underground once again, Twilight then turned and walked back into the castle.

Twilight went back to the room where the others were, she focused her magic and the elements came out of her and flowed into each of their bodies.

“Twilight....what is that?” Winter asked watching it all.

“What they were missing” Twilight simply said as they started to wake up.

“Ugh...” Rainbow Dash woke up and her eyes went back to normal. “What...what happened?”

“I'm not sure...” Fluttershy said getting up. “We're back to normal though, and I can move again”

“Me too, I feel much better now” Applejack said sitting up.

“I never want to do that again” Pinkie said stretching. “We could see everything that was going on...but not do anything about it”

Rarity sat up and smiled. “I'm...I'm back, oh thank goodness....”

“Girls!!!” Twilight cried out and hugged them all in one big group hug. “I was so worried!!”

“Twilight!!” They all hugged her back and Nightwish and Melody walked in.

“I can't believe they all left like that” Melody said.

“Me too, it's weird” Nightwish said and saw them all hugging. “Whoa!”

“Your all okay!!” Melody said happily. “That's wonderful!”

“Hey what about Misty!?” Rainbow Dash asked and then saw that Misty was up as well. “Your okay!”

“Yeah, I'm grounded for awhile, but I'll live” Misty said enjoying the moment.

“Oh man, that's bad, I was hoping we could fly together soon” Rainbow Dash said a little annoyed but she understood.

“Nightwish, I was so worried!” Rarity went over to Nightwish and hugged her.

“Thanks, I was worried about you too!” Nightwish said and hugged her back.

“Aww, that's good” Melody said and looked to her side hearing a noise and saw Celestia. “Celestia?”

“I see everypony is safe and sound, I'm so glad” Celestia said and looked at Melody. “You and these other mares have helped out more then you know”

“Thank you Celestia, so what are we going to do now?” Melody asked.

“I think that's settled already” Twilight said suddenly. “I made a deal with the terrasects and I think we'll all have homes soon”

They all looked at her confused and shrugged.

A couple weeks later the terrasect's had finished rebuilding their homes and Ponyville was back to normal as if nothing happened, Celestia herself was there to make sure it was all as it once was and approved.

“Well, well, Twilight you made some powerful allies haven't you?” Celestia said smiling.

“Allies? I don't know about that, but we have an understanding” Twilight said checking out her house.

“This is awesome!” Rainbow Dash said flying around. “Everything is back to normal!”

“Hahaha!” Misty Gale flew after her and Melody walked over to Twilight and Celestia.

“I like it here” Melody said looking around. “I think I'll enjoy living here”

“Are you sure? You could live with me at the castle” Celestia pointed out.

“Thank you, but it's time I get my life back on track on my own” Melody said. “And I recently met this DJ pony that's really good with music, I'm making friends all over the place”

“Well you were one of the heroes who saved Equestria” Rarity said walking up.

“Everypony seems to be getting back to their lives huh?” Nightwish said watching the several different ponies.

“Well I must be going, I'm glad everything worked out Twilight” Celestia said.

“Okay Princess, I'll handle the rest here, I bet in another week or so we'll all be back to our lives” Twilight said.

The princess left and Nightwish smiled. “I have a little something for you Twilight”

“For me?” Twilight asked confused.

“Here” Nightwish took out a painting and Twilight looked at the big painting, it was over Twilight and her friends and her new friends all together happy. “I hope you like it”

“Like it?” Twilight shed a small tear. “I love it...”

“Well I don't know about you girls, but I'm hungry, shall we go eat? I heard of some strange place called a Hayburger, I wish to try it!” Melody said happily.

“I'm pretty hungry, let's go!” Twilight said and put the painting of them inside her house and they all left.

THE END.