"Is she going to be alright?" Rainbow asked in desperation.
The doctor placed his stethoscope down, frowning slightly as he took a glance at Pinkie Pie.
"She's undergoing through a lot of stress." he explained.
"The trauma she has gone through has driven her paranoid. It is necessary for her to see a psychiatrist."
Pinkie stifled a moan, making Fluttershy look away.
"C-Can I leave?" she muttered. "I-I don't want to s-see her like... this."
The yellow pegasus ran out the room, galloping away before Rainbow could answer.
"I'm sorry," she apologized to the doctor. "She's like that."
The doctor just sighed.
"I don't blame her."
"Seeing your friend like this, I'm sure many ponies would."
Rainbow nodded slightly, glancing uneasily at the unconscious pony.
"Please be alright, Pinkie."
"I should go," the blue pegasus excused herself.
"Tell me when she wakes up."
The doctor nodded, watching her as she trotted out the room.
Rainbow let out a relieved sigh, closing the door behind her. "Well, that went well."
"Fluttershy?" she called out in the hallway, trying to look for the yellow pegasus.
"Fluttershy?" Rainbow looked around in confusion.
She trotted down the hallway, ruffling her wings slightly as she glanced down the corridor.
"Rainbow!!"
The blue pegasus tripped over as she felt something crash onto her back. A few, yellow feathers tickled her face, making her groan in annoyance.
"Fluttershy, please! Don't ever do that-"
"Come on, Rainbow!" Fluttershy chirped. "There's somepony you gotta see."
Rainbow let out a sigh, buckling her hooves as she lifted herself up.
"Well, what is it you want me to s-"
She instantly froze in surprise, as her eyes landed on somepony beside Fluttershy.
Looking up from his shadow, she couldn't help but smile widely as a pair of emerald eyes stared back at her.
"Spike...?"
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Twilight tried to hold in her anticipation. They've been here for a week or so, just for this time to come. The time to finally get some answers.
Another stack of books piled up as Dahlia lifted them frustratingly off a row of shelves. She cursed irritatingly under her breath, shuffling through the next row.
"It must be here somewhere..." she mumbled as her hoof scanned through the shelf.
A spark of interest escaped her eyes as she finally found it.
"Here it is!" Dahlia called to the unicorn.
"This is what she wanted to give you."
From her hoof, Dahlia passed a small, circular lacquer box. It was brightly adorned with ink pictures of flowers and butterflies. The lid was glazing in the light, shining like a polished mirror despite the small traces of dust covering it.
Placing the box on the table, Twilight blew the dust off, scattering in the air as she let out a slight cough.
"How old is this?" the purple unicorn asked Dahlia, who shrugged with uncertainty.
"I have no idea, Twilight." she replied. "It was one of mother's most private things. Even I have no clue what was inside."
Twilight examined the box carefully. "I've never seen these kind of boxes before."
"So? Found it yet?"
Applejack walked over, swerving around a few, misplaced chairs as she raised her broken hoof with care.
Dahlia smiled invitingly, standing up to help her as the orange pony tipped her hat in appreciation.
"Thanks."
"No problem." she replied.
Applejack sat down on a chair, sliding it close to Twilight as she watched her unicorn friend fumbling with a golden latch.
"It's... very..." her hoof slipped as she panted slightly. "...tight."
"Let me try," Applejack insisted.
"No, AJ." Twilight looked at her with concern. "Your hoof is injured. The last thing I want to see you is get hurt again."
Applejack slumped back in her chair, watching with disappointment in her hoof as Twilight tried to use her horn.
"For some reason, spells aren't working either."
Her horn flared a brilliant purple, a similar aura enveloping on the latch.
The latch glowed in purple for the third time, before the aura faded into nothing. Twilight felt like smacking herself.
"Cheer up, Twi." Applejack said. "I'm sure there must be a way to open this."
"Well..." Dahlia looked around the room. "My mother wouldn't keep anything here, if you must know."
"I suggest her hometown," she continued with a shrug. "Otherwise there is nowhere else I can think of."
Twilight nodded. "Thank you, Dahlia. For everything."
"No biggie." Dahlia grinned. "She would want you to have it."
The three ponies smiled, the room brightening up a little as Twilight and Applejack slowly strode out.
Twilight looked at the box once again. The bright decor of flowers shone brilliantly back at her.
She sighed deeply in frustration.
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"Crimson Lux de Cavalle.... Harlequin Velvet...."
Winter fumbled the names in his mind as the tip of his quill became smothered in a bottle of ink.
"Basil Luck.... Sidus Storm...."
The door slammed open, making Winter jump from his seat.
"Winter, we need to talk."
"Autumn." he tried to keep his cool. "Please. I'm in the middle of discovering something here."
"Winter Palgiot, we're talking this instant and that means right now!!"
Autumn brushed her mane aside roughly, glaring at Winter as she slammed her hooves on his table.
"What is it?" he asked sharply, ignoring her sister's rage.
"You've ordered Stencil to raise the taxes again, haven't you?"
Winter looked up contemptibly, sipping a few drops of wine.
"And why'd you ask?"
"Winter!!" Autumn looked at him in shock.
"Do you have any idea what are you doing?!"
"As a matter of fact, I do." he said calmly, his brows furrowing towards her.
"I know the last thing these ponies needed was a tax. But I require the finances for-"
"For what?!" Autumn shouted. "For building that dream machine thing of yours?!"
"Look Autumn, the machine does not matter into this. It's something else."
Autumn just scowled. "I have seen how.. angry the ponies are in town, alright?"
"And they're just going to rampage up here and tear everything down before you even know it, Winter."
Winter gazed at her in suspicion. He ruffled his collars, letting out a small sigh.
"Tell me, Autumn." he asked his sister. "What happened?'
"What do you mean what happened?" she replied.
"What happened to you, I mean."
Autumn just looked at him, unsure of what he just said.
"I'm feeling fine, Winter. That's all."
"There's something else," her brother's voice trailed off as he stared out the window. The golden sky flourished as the sun started setting between the twin peaks.
"You're a little... different, perhaps."
He shrugged a little. "Playing music, visiting the town often, this is seriously not the Autumn I used to know."
Autumn shuffled nervously, her mind aching to find something to say.
"T-There's something. On my mind these couple of days."
"And you're sure you're okay with it?" Winter raised his voice.
"After what happened to Summer, I don't want to see you or Spring get hurt."
"If you could just tell me what's going on-"
"No!"
Autumn broke in sharply.
"This is, and never was, any of your business Winter." she scowled, glaring at her brother.
"And I'll make it clear. If you dare stick your arrogant, little snout inside it again-"
She stomped towards the door, neglecting the carpet below her hooves.
"- I swear to Celestia, I'll finish what Summer had failed to do!"
The door slammed loudly as Winter looked on in bewilderment. He settled his gaze upon the papers strewn all over his desk. Every piece seemed to wrinkle as he bent down, slotting a few into his hooves at a time.
"What could she be up to?"
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Rarity couldn't believe her ears. "What happened? Was she hurt?"
"Luckily, no." Rainbow's voice crackled slightly.
"She's having a lot of problems recently. She's always accusing other ponies for saying things behind her back, even when no one said anything."
"In other words, as what Twilight would say, she's intensely paranoid."
Rarity slumped back in her chair, her face mixed with worry as she tried to picture Pinkie in her mind.
"What happened to you..." she mumbled silently.
"Um... R-Rarity?"
She instantly snapped from her thoughts.
"Yes, Fluttershy? What is it?"
"T-There's somepony that wants to talk to you..." the yellow pegasus chirped.
Rarity's mind piqued with interest. "Whoever is it, dear?" she asked curiously.
"Is it Sweetie Belle? I've got a lot to share with her. We haven't really talked much."
"No it isn't." Fluttershy's voice tingled with excitement.
A soft clatter came from the speaker as Rarity strained her ears, trying to hear the muffled voices in Fluttershy's cottage.
"Come on! She's waiting!"
"I... I can't, Fluttershy." another voice croaked slightly.
"But she would be happy to hear you!"
"Fluttershy?" Rarity tried her best to call her friend. "Whatever is going on in there, darling?"
A loud crash of books made her jump from the chair. "Fluttershy?" she called again.
The walkie-talkie crackled, buzzing a little as Rarity listened closely.
"Um... Rarity?"
The unicorn gasped, covering her hoof with her mouth. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stumbled backwards.
"Rarity....?" the voice dragged with concern.
Could it be....
"Is that you, Spike?" she asked cautiously with growing excitement.
There was a pause. Rarity tapped her hooves impatiently, waiting for the answer.
A small huff crackled through the speakers. "Uh... Yeah, I guess."
Rarity couldn't hold back anymore.
"Celestia, Spike!!" she shouted into the walkie-talkie. "You're alive! You're really alive!!"
A nervous chuckle fluttered from the speakers as tears flowed down her white face. She shivered slightly at the dragon's voice, trying not to sob loudly as she wiped her tears away.
"Y-You scared me, Spike! You stupid dragon!" she raised her voice.
"How can you be so insensitive about this?! You know how worried I was about you?! Every d-day I prayed, every day I h-hoped that you'll be safe! Do you have any idea how much I've gone through?!"
"Alright! Alright!" Spike's voice broke through. "I get it, Rarity."
"I'm sorry. About everything, okay? About how I didn't say goodbye, about how I made you guys worried and -"
Rarity hushed him up, immediately silencing the dragon.
She smiled with relief. Spike hasn't changed at all.
"It's okay, Spike. I-It wasn't your fault." she said with a sniffle.
"It wasn't your fault, not at all."
Rarity pictured Spike smiling at her, small tears of joy glittering her eyes as she laughed softly.
"I'm just glad you're safe." she said.
Spike's voice crackled through the speakers. "I'm glad you are too."
His tone turned somber. "Listen, Rarity. There's something I gotta say."
Rarity perked her ears in anticipation.
"What is it, Spike?" she asked.
"Remember the day? When we first met at the Town Hall?"
Rarity chuckled a little. Images of the Summer Sun Celebration echoed in her mind.
"What about it?"
"Well..." his voice shifted nervously. "when I first laid my eyes on you, I've, how should I put this... I've never seen a finer mare in my entire life than you, Rarity."
"You were the one that kept me going, Rarity, when I was hurt." he said, slightly tearing up.
"Because since that day, I swore to myself that I won't give up on you. I swore I wouldn't let you leave with some other pony other than me."
Rarity trembled, her mouth aghast as Spike continued.
"What I wanted to say was," he held his breath, before continuing.
"I love you, Rarity."
Her mind tried to absorb what the dragon said as Rarity froze, her heart pulsing furiously.
"Come on... Say something!!"
"S-Spike?"
The dragon's voice returned. "Yes, Rarity?"
"I..." she was at a loss for words. Her mind raced through her, prompting her to continue.
"I..... I love you too, Spike."
"Really? I mean.. uh... you really mean it, Rarity?"
The unicorn chuckled slightly. "Of course I do, Spike. I always wanted to say that since you gave me that fire ruby, but I couldn't. I don't know why, but I just... couldn't."
"And I'm sorry for not realizing it before." Rarity held back a sob. "I-I'm really sorry."
She couldn't help it. She broke down, burying her face in her hooves as Spike tried to calm her down through the walkie-talkie.
"Don't cry, Rarity." the dragon said. "Hearing you cry really makes me wanna cry too."
Rarity chuckled at his comment, her sniffles slowly receding.
"You're such a sweetheart, Spike-Wikey. You know that?"
Spike laughed sheepishly. "Well, it just... flew out of my mouth, really."
The white unicorn brushed her hanging mane aside, laughing along with the dragon.
"Really, Spike. You're a natural charmer..." she giggled softly.
"That's what I like about you..."
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The wheels screeched to a halt as the steam died down. A small grin was plastered on Twilight's face as she stepped outside into the familiar town around her.
"Ah...... it's good to be home.."
She stretched her tired hooves, a small bag dangling from the side. Applejack stepped down behind her, with Vinyl helping her lift her bags down.
"Finally!!" she hollered. "Ponyville!"
She waved her hat around, smiling widely as her hoof touched the ground.
"Watch your cast, AJ," Vinyl called out to her friend. "You don't want to get hurt again."
"Twilight!!"
A streak of color burst through the crowd, scattering a few papers and hats as a flutter of yellow wings tried to keep up.
"You're back, Twilight..." Fluttershy beamed at her friend.
"Howdy, Rainbow." Applejack chuckled nervously.
"Applejack!" the blue pegasus cried out, before giving her a glare.
"What were you thinking?!! Scaring us like that!"
"Yeah, about that, RD-" she began.
"You've made us worried sick!! Me, Fluttershy, your family, for Celestia's sake!" Rainbow continued. "Granny Smith nearly got a heart attack!"
"What?" Applejack paled slightly. "How is she? Is she alright?!"
"You're lucky I was there!" Rainbow shouted. "You should've seen your family. They nearly went berserk over there."
The orange pony drooped slightly, biting her lip. "What am I gonna tell 'em?" she said, looking at her cast.
"I'm sure they'll...um... understand, Applejack..." Fluttershy said with a smile.
"Anyways," she continued. "There's somepony else wanting to see you guys."
She gestured her head, as a purple dragon stepped from the crowd.
"Uh.. Hi?"
"Spike!!" Applejack galloped to the dragon's side, completely forgetting about her cast.
"By golly, I'm so glad to see you!!" she cried with glee.
"You're awake!!" Vinyl rushed up to him, giving him a hug.
Spike grinned at the two mares. "It's great to see you guys again."
Twilight trotted up to him, her face darkened with a frown.
"Uhm...." The dragon shifted nervously.
"Uh.... Hey Twilight."
The unicorn just scoff, her eyes piercing into the dragon's green pupils.
"So... how's Manehatten?" Spike tried again.
"Just fine." she replied coldly.
Spike didn't know what to say, glancing around nervously as he fidgeted his claws.
"Look, T-Twilight," he stammered. "I k-know I was a little t-too-"
He stumbled backwards as Twilight gave him a hard slap. The other ponies gasped in unison at the unicorn as she gritted her teeth.
"That's for scaring the heck out of me, Spike!" she shouted
"Twilight," Fluttershy cut in. "I think that's enou-"
Spike felt his other cheek blazed sorely as her hoof struck on his scales once again.
"And that's for making me believe you're not going to make it!!"
Twilight scowled scornfully with tears in her eyes.
"Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?! Don't!"
The dragon lifted himself up, sweeping dust off his chest.
"I'm sorry, Twilight." his voice was filled with regret. "I was stupid."
"I didn't know what I was thinking." the dragon continued. "and I was too ignorant of my friends. All of them."
Suddenly, he felt hooves launching around his chest as Twilight suddenly embraced him tightly, sobbing inside his chest.
"I-I'm just *sniffle* glad t-that...."
"I know, Twilight. I know." Spike grinned at her, returning the embrace. "And I'm happy you're safe too."
Twilight stopped sniffling, smiling at the dragon. She looked around at her friends, scanning each of their faces.
"W-Where's Pinkie Pie?"
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Winter strode around his room, glancing around as the gears in his mind tried to click in place.
"Something doesn't fit..." he mumbled to himself.
He slumped against his velvet couch, sighing deeply as he finished his seventh glass of champagne.
His face twinged a little as the strong smell of grapes slithered down his throat.
"Looks like somepony's enjoying himself."
Winter twirled around. "Who's there?" he called out.
He flipped on his lamp, the small bulb illuminating the room in a deep shade of yellow.
A shadow stood on the far corner of his room, a small sparkle of gold revealing a mask. The pony walked forward, the mask grimaced from its smiling, stitched lips.
"What a wonderful night it is, Patriarch."
"And just what are you doing here?" Winter growled. "To terminate me?"
The masked pony stopped in its tracks. "Cute. I'm here to warn you, Mr Palgiot."
Winter scoffed at that. "Warn me?" he chuckled.
"Warn me about what? Not to pry any further?"
The masked pony laughed coldly along. "Very funny, Winter Palgiot."
"You had done something. Something very idiotic for a pony like you." the voice boomed with elegance.
The Patriarch stood from his chair, readying his hidden blade.
"And just what do you plan to do about it?"
"Oh, nothing much." the pony said, shifting the cloak down.
"As I've said, I'm here to warn you."
The pony shifted closer towards Winter, who was focusing on a chance to strike.
"Why warn me?" he questioned.
"Why tell me at all?"
"Because..." the pony stopped short, slinking back into the darkness.
"B-Because..."
Winter crept closer to the pony, slightly confused by the pony's sudden loss for words.
"Because what?" he asked.
Suddenly, he felt himself gripped into the darkness with his lips smashed against the other pony's. He tried to push away in vain, his face anguished with disgust. "Get off me, you crazy..."
The taste in the other's lips started twirling in his tongue. Winter felt himself succumbing into the fizzling taste of cherries and raspberries as he slowly closed his eyes.
The pair kissed deeply, with the cloaked pony leaning against the window, letting out a sensual moan.
Winter suddenly stumbled back, pushed away by the unknown pony.
"Haah..." the voice panted, wiping its lips. "That's a tad little too much."
The white stallion couldn't believe what just happened. He had just kissed one of the most dangerous ponies in the world.
"Wait!" he called out as he spotted the pony sneaking out the window.
"Who are you?"
The pony seemed to smile, the moonlight giving Winter a glimpse of faint, pink skin. She uttered one last thing before jumping into the forest.
"I am nopony."
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"So your brother just said it was necessary. He never exactly said why?"
Autumn nodded silently, tears streaming slowly down her face as the robed pony sneered.
"Well, well. Winter Palgiot's abusing his reins." Thistle chuckled morbidly.
The room filled with soft laughter as Autumn looked at the ground, shamefully under Thistle's shadow.
"Don't bother squirming around, Miss Autumn." he said. "The ropes will hold you there forever if I want to."
Autumn stopped struggling, her hooves tightened to the chair by a set of ropes.
"Please, Thistle!" she pleaded. "Don't hurt my brother!"
Thistle grunted, then edged his hoof.
"I already told you, I gave him one last chance..."
In one swift move, he slapped Autumn to the side, making her cry out in pain. The chair fell to the side, pulling her along.
Her face landed on the concrete floor. She wept bitterly, coughing a little.
"... and he wasted his chance. The one chance to redeem himself." Thistle finished.
Autumn gazed at the other ponies around the room. Her eyes quickly settled on a black pony watching in horror from the crowd.
Please, Caper...
Caper glanced away, trying not to stifle a sob.
"Tonight! We prepare!" Thistle shouted, his voice storming through the room. "We prepare for a correction of an error so major, the whole of Pendant Lakes will turn upside down!!!!"
A chorus of cheers erupted through the room, as Thistle stood, beaming with pride.
"By tomorrow, we shall gather, we shall unite!! We shall strike Pendant Lakes at the very core of its heart!! We will burn it down, raze it!!!"
A volley of pitchforks were suddenly raised into the air. Another wave of cheers erupted, this time even louder.
"Then we! We, the Sanguine Surrogates!! We shall claim Pendant Lakes!! As our own!!!"
One last eruption of cheers echoed, blasting into Autumn's ears.
Caper looked at Autumn, clenching his hooves tightly with anger and guilt.
He felt a hoof placed around him.
"Cheer up, Caper!" a light blue pony said.
"Tonight is the night of redemption!! To obtain what is rightfully ours!"
"I don't need redemption, Dresden." Caper said, pushing the hoof away.
"I just need Autumn, and that's all I need."
"If you can't open your eyes, Caper." Dresden warned him. "you will never see the morning light."
Caper scoffed. "And what of you, Dres? How did you become so... blind suddenly?"
He left the room in a huff, ignoring his friend's spiteful glare.
"Oh and Dres?" he said before closing the door.
"May Tartarus have mercy on you."