//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Cutie Mark Dimensional Crusaders (CMDCs) // by Shadowmane Nox //------------------------------// Why is this happening? In the rare moments that Scootaloo was capable of conscious thought, this was the only question that ever seemed to arise; despite knowing full well that it could not be answered. After all, there was no reason or logic which could explain why a filly like her could be trapped in such a nightmare. Her existence, if it could be called such, had become constrained almost entirely to a shadowy realm of semi-consciousness. In this terrifying limbo, even time itself seemed to be in flux. Hours... days... weeks... all were one in the eternal void. Here the darkness felt as if it would last forever, working to consume every thought that might attempt to claw its way to the front of her mind. No words could describe the terror of such nothingness. And yet, whenever the void would begin to retreat and give way to consciousness, Scootaloo would find herself pleading for its return. After all, even an eternity of non-existence was preferable to a mere moment in the waking world. For it was in waking that the true nightmare would begin. During these times the sound of clicking and whirling metal was a constant: a ceaseless cacophony of blades and needles dancing on the ends of shifting metallic arms. These piercing noises were often joined by the dull drone of giant machines and the crackling of air heated by scorching flames. While terrifying at first, these sounds had become commonplace and no longer instilled in her the fear they once had. Instead, it was now the voices which would make Scootaloo yearn for the absolute silence that was brought on by the void. Sometimes the voices would speak to her. Other times they would argue amongst themselves. There were even some occasions when the voice she heard was her own. It was these moments that terrified her the most; for while the voice was certainly hers, the words were not. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Slowly Scootaloo could feel the darkness withdrawing. And as always she grasped frantically at the black abyss. Please... she pleaded to the shadows of her mind. Please just let me rest! "It appears they were not wrong. You can in fact speak. Well this is new!" At the sound of the strange voice, Scootaloo eyes flashed open. With a rush of roaring wind, she found herself standing again atop one of the ruined towers where her nightmare had first begun. It was all just as she remembered. Decrepit walls, rotting furniture, and a massive cliff where the floor of the building had long ago given way. The filly was standing at the building's edge, staring down into the flowing clouds which hid the ground from view. "I could certainly understand if you wished to jump..." The words sounded as though they held some sort of amusement, and Scootaloo gave a small gasp as she frantically looked for the one who had spoken them. But she was alone at the top of this tower, with only the stars and moon overhead to keep her company. "Why... would I want to jump?" she asked uncertainly before glancing down at her still transformed body. "I don't have wings. I'd fall." For a moment, it sounded as if the wind was laughing at her. "That is generally the result when one decides to put their fate in gravity's hands." The voice responded, seeming to originate from all directions at once. "However, I do not doubt that many who have been placed in your current situation would have found a long fall and sudden stop preferable." "My situation? What do you mean?" "I mean that at this moment, my influence is the only power which stands between you and insanity." A sudden gust of wind forced Scootaloo to close her eyes. When she opened them again she was quick to notice that something else had joined her atop the tower. The figure was cloaked all in black, with a hood pulled forward to shield their face from view. Despite the stranger's sudden appearance, the young filly discovered that she was not afraid. She knew she should be. Especially given her past experiences on this tower. But despite this fact, there was not even a twinge of unease. "The mind is truly an amazing thing, is it not? Love and hatred. Good and evil. These abstract concepts which come together to create what we term 'existence' all originate from a mere mass of cells entombed in a bony shell. To influence their functioning is to control one's very reality. I often find myself wondering if that is the very definition of 'playing god.'" As the figure spoke, Scootaloo watched the world around them shift. Crumbling towers became a lush green forest, followed immediately by the great expanse of an endless ocean. "What are you?" Scootaloo asked, awe in her voice as the world settled in the shape of a beautiful white beach. "A friend. Or at the very least, I have the potential to be one. However..." The figure took a step forward, and suddenly the voice became that of a young woman. "...the real question is what are you? Or perhaps more importantly, what are you becoming now that Dr. Helix has gotten his hands on you?" At the sound of that name, Scootaloo suddenly felt her heart seize. It was only a momentary attack of panic. A brief sensation of pressure upon her chest. Yet brief or not, almost immediately the stranger's attitude shifted. The amusement which had been present mere moments ago was now gone. "So... it seems you recognize the good doctor's name. Your fear must be great indeed if even my barriers are not enough to keep it at bay." "Barriers?" "As I said, the horrors you have suffered thus far would be enough to break even the strongest of minds. And you, little one, do not look to be much of a warrior. Not by any stretch of the imagination. So for the moment, I have enacted protocols which are preventing your recall of any recent events they determine as having the potential to cause you intense emotional distress." For several moments Scootaloo just stared confusedly at the stranger. "In other words..." the hooded figure clarified, acknowledging the girl's confusion. "I am hiding some of your more recent... traumatic... memories from you." "My memories?" the pink-haired girl gasped. The very idea was terrifying. And yet, for the some unknown reason, she still felt no fear towards this stranger. "How are you doing that?" "I do not wish to belittle your intelligence. But I find it highly unlikely that you will understand how. Though with that being said..." The stranger appeared thoughtful for a moment. "...I see no harm in at least trying to explain." The world around them shimmered for a moment, revealing a small wooden bench. The stranger moved to sit, and Scootaloo suddenly found herself compelled to join her." "This world is a construct." the woman stated simply. "An amalgamation of your thoughts and feelings, given substance by your memories. I suppose you could go as far as to call it a dream, for I lack a description I feel you would truly understand." "A dream." Scootaloo marveled as she glanced towards the flickering ocean waves before them. "But then, why are you here?" She was now close enough to see the figure's mouth beneath her hood. At the question, the stranger's lips formed a bemused smirk. "As I said before, the mind is an amazing thing. And thanks to the good doctor's work, yours has now been opened to me." "Dr. Helix..." Scootaloo muttered, feeling her heart once again clench tightly in her chest. "Yes." The stranger whispered as her tone became dark. "That man is responsible for a great many crimes. And I fear that you are only the latest in a long line of victims. Though, for better or worse, he is the reason I am now able to speak to you." "What do you mean? Who is he?" "Dr. Alpha Helix..." The stranger recited. "...is the assistant head of Research and Development for Sanctuary's military; specifically their Enhanced Special Reconnaissance forces. He is also a monster, lacking any morals or even the slightest shred of human decency. However, I am apparently one of the few who knows this. And even I cannot deny his unmatched scientific genius. He is both dangerous and powerful; and for the moment, he has you in his clutches." "But why?" Scootaloo pressed. "What does he want from me?" "Among the many 'contributions' to society he has made..." the stranger continued as though she had been uninterrupted. "Dr. Helix is most well known for his creation of the Guardians." "Guardians?" "Yes. You see... the ruins where you were first found were once part of a city. A magnificent city called Crystal which has long since been destroyed. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to give you a full history lesson. But suffice it to say that its destruction was brought about by creatures of terrifying power." "Like monsters?" The stranger gave a small chuckle. "There are many who would call them such. Monsters, demons, extra-dimensional organisms; they have carried many titles. And since the desolation of Crystal, every time these creatures have appeared, they have brought only chaos and devastation. The Guardians were Dr. Helix's response. Fight fire with fire! Battle terror with terror; and destroy these monsters with those of our very own. Although I do not approve of his methods, there is no denying their effectiveness." "I still don't understand what this has to do with me?" "Everything!" the stranger answered sadly. "After all, you... little one... are the newest monstrosity to join the doctor's ranks." Scootaloo stared at the cloaked figure, too stunned for words. "But I'm not a monster!" To her surprise the stranger suddenly gave a hearty laugh. "No you are not." She agreed, patting Scootaloo on the head. That act was perhaps even more shocking then her words. But the young girl found the woman's touch reassuring; almost mother-like. "After having this conversation with you, I would have to say that you are certainly no monster. But that is the very reason I have taken this risk. To discover for myself whether you were simply some mindless beast or if, as I had been led to believe, you were capable of thinking for yourself. At the very least this has made me feel better about my decision. So now, tell me... would you like me to save you?" Scootaloo could already feel the tears in her eyes. This was impossible to believe. After all, what were the chances that a stranger would magically appear to offer salvation from the nightmare she now found herself in. It was far too good to be true. And yet, deep in her heart, she could not help but feel a small flicker of hope. It might be an impossible situation. But for the first time since appearing in this world, the tears that now rolled down her cheeks were not because of fear. They were tears of relief. She did not know who this stranger was, or even if this was all just some fantastical dream. But for the moment, the hope was real. And as short lived as it might be; Scootaloo still grasped for it with all her might. "Please. Please help me." "Very well then." the stranger replied, her voice as warm as the smile beneath her cowl. "My decision has been made. On my word, you shall be freed." Intrusion detected! The words flashed into Scootaloo's mind, and as they did she was struck by a sudden jolt of searing pain. It felt as though somebody had driven nails into the back of her eyes, and the young girl cried out in pain as she fell from the wooden bench. Immediately the stranger was at her side. Though her face was still hidden from view, the concern in her voice was obvious. "What's wrong?" Scootaloo cried out again as her mind was wracked with pain. Meanwhile, the sky overhead turned blood red as both the ocean and earth began to tremble. Virus intrusion detected. Unknown programs confirmed. Initiating trace. Strange words she could not understand arose out of nothingness in her mind, each one sending out new waves of pain with its appearance. Confirmed intrusion of defensive barriers. Beginning disconnect of peripheral hardlines. Breaches have been traced. Initiating shut down of proxies. Antibody programs responding. Mutual destruction in progress. "They've found me." the stranger whispered, her voice wavering slightly even as she placed a comforting hand on Scootaloo's shoulder. "I am so sorry child. I did not think that they would discover me so quickly. We should have had more time." Scootaloo glanced up, and watched as the crimson sky seemed to dissolve into strings of strange letters and shapes. All the while, the earth beneath them continued to shift as if struck by a massive quake. "Please tell me little one... do you have a name?" "Scootaloo." the young girl gasped, her eyes watering from the pain. "My name is Scootaloo." "Well Scootaloo, you may call me Nyx." The young girl looked up, and for the first time the stranger removed her hood. Her hair was dark blue, and her sapphire colored eyes glistened with tears as she gave Scootaloo a sad smile. "I did not mean for our first meeting to end like this. It seems I have cruelly added to your suffering child, and for that I apologize." Warning! Unknown program has gained control of proxies. Infected sectors are attempting to spread. Unable to disconnect hard lines. Cutting infected sectors lose to act as decoys. Rerouting remaining lines to released sectors. The ground buckled yet again as the earth began to crack apart like an egg. As Scootaloo watched, the sand of the beach falling into the rapidly expanding crevices gave the appearance of bloody waterfalls as it reflected the red sky above. "What's happening?" Scootaloo cried over the roaring wind. "This world I created is being torn apart. In a few moments it will be gone." Commencing total purge. Prepare for emergency shutdown and system restart. "Stay strong Scootaloo. This pain will be over soon." Commencing restart in 5... 4... "Please." the young girl sobbed as her heart gave in to despair. "I don't want to be alone again." Scootaloo felt Nyx’s warmth as the woman held her close. "I will stay with you until the very end. Remember that we are coming for you Scootaloo. I promise!" 3... 2... 1 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scootaloo's eyes fluttered open, and she was momentarily blinded by the white light above. All around her could be heard the constant beeping and whirring of machines, joined by the muffled chatter of masked men. She was back. Back in the nightmare. "System restart successful. No abnormalities detected in the subject. We are commencing final sweep of all effected systems now." "Antibody programs are terminating the last remaining intruders. All viral breaches have been isolated and sealed." As the voices continued to speak, Scootaloo took the opportunity to assess her current situation. She was still transformed. That much was obvious. And try as she might, she could not move her limbs, which meant she was still restrained. How long had she been lying on this table? Had it been days? Weeks? Scootaloo blinked, and immediately cleared these thoughts from her mind. By now, this had become somewhat of a ritual during the rare occasions when she was allowed full consciousness. She had discovered early on that trying to guess how long she had been trapped here was useless, and therefore, pointless to waste time dwelling upon. She would be better served focusing on more immediate matters... like her dream. "We have finished analyzing the viruses locked in our decoy servers. They do not match any known codes in the local database." "Engineers are beginning to reconnect hardlines. We should be back online and fully operational in five minutes. Once online we can send the analysis to Central and see what they say." "Before then... would someone care to tell me how this happened?" As the question was asked, all other voices immediately fell silent. It was not hard for Scootsloo to recognize Dr. Helix; and judging by the icy sound of his words as they hung suspended in the air, the man was absolutely livid. "Sir! We had a viral intrusion through the defensive barriers of our supply server. It came in as a basic request form, and was therefore able to bypass all Gatekeeper checks. Once in, it spread through almost every system, shredding our barriers as it went. After it bounced through our internal security sectors, failures in those sectors led to additional ruptures in four separate external systems. At which point..." "SHUT UP!" The words rang in out in the space of the large room, echoing off the sterile walls which surrounded them. Nearby, the stranger who had been speaking instantly ceased. "Shut up, and answer the question I asked, you incompetent moron. I am well aware of WHAT happened! What I asked you, was HOW!" "I'm sorry sir." Another voice stammered, and despite herself, Scootaloo felt a small smile appear on her face. Good. She thought. Let someone else be terrified for once. "Our analysis is not complete yet so we just... " "Don't know! You... just... don't... know! Is that not what you were going to tell me? Because of your failure, Mr. Wall, an intruder was able bypass every security protocol we have. This same hacker was able to make your precious barriers, ones which you promised us were impossible to circumvent, look as though they had been coded by a toddler. They were even able to reach my precious masterpiece because of you! And yet... YOU CANNOT TELL ME WHO THEY ARE!" The room once again went silent, save for the hum of the nearby machinery. "Dr. Helix, sir. This should not have been possible. Once we have more time to analyze the attack, I know that we will discover who..." "I think not." The doctor's voice had regained its normal composure. However, the tone in every syllable was cold enough to freeze the sun. Even though she was still blinded by the white lights of the ceiling, Scootaloo felt a cold chill run down her spine simply imagining the man's face. "Mr. Wall and Mr. Space, your analysis is not required. Nor are your services. I have already reached my own conclusions concerning this matter, and while there is indeed someone here who I believe will confirm my suspicions, I know for a fact that it is not you gentlemen. Therefore, you are both dismissed!" "Sir, as I said, we are very sorry for this breach. I believe I speak for Mr. Space when I say that we take full responsibility of this intrusion. I can assure you that..." "The responsibility is indeed yours! Which is why I would suggest you prepare your résumés gentlemen. By tomorrow morning, your contract with us will no longer be in effect." "But sir!" "I want every man here to get out... now!" "Doctor, please allow us to..." "Anyone who does not exit this lab in the next thirty seconds will be escorted out by security. Or would you gentleman rather I simply order them to execute you on sight!" There was a sudden rush of rustling papers and lab coats, followed by the dull thud of bodies fighting to get through a doorway. A moment later the sliding doors of the room hissed shut, and Scootaloo suddenly found herself very much alone. "I am sorry you had to hear that my dear." The light overhead dimmed, and Scootaloo soon found herself staring up into the familiar face of Dr. Alpha Helix. "I cannot stand failure. Especially when it threatens such a monumental project. Those men were fools, and I will see to it that they pay the price for their incompetence. But for now..." The bespectacled man took several steps back as Scootaloo felt the table beneath her begin to shift. "... I thought we could have a little chat." The table ceased to move, leaving the pink-haired girl lying on an angle. She was now able to see the entirety of the lab and, in particular, the large mirror suspended nearby. Her shocked gasp caused the doctor to give a heartless chuckle. "What do you think? I suppose it has been a while since you last had the opportunity to see yourself." The first thing Scootaloo noticed was that the outfit she had been wearing while in the ruins was gone. It was replaced with two, much simpler, pieces of clothing which felt more like tissue paper than cloth. The first piece covered only her upper chest and shoulders, while the second did the same for her lower body and upper thighs. Asides from these small pieces of cloth, the majority of her body was left completely bare. Perhaps it was her new lack of fur, but trapped here in this room she felt... naked. It was an alien and rather terrifying sensation seeing as she had rarely worn clothes back in Ponyville. However, her lack of covering aside, what truly caused Scootaloo's blood to run cold upon seeing her reflection were the lines. Strange, glowing veins of light which traced their way along her limbs and exposed stomach. Pulsating with a soft pink glow, the lights spiderwebbed their way across her body with each beat of her heart. As she watched, one vein suddenly appeared, tracing its way up her neck towards her left eye. Watching the pulsating veins crawl across her body, Scootaloo felt as though she were going to be sick. "Magnificent." The white-clothed man sighed happily as the line on her face faded away. "You still have a long way to go. But already you are turning out far better than I could have possibly imagined." "What are you doing to me?" she gasped, frantically struggling against the bindings which held her as additional lines of pink light slithered across her stomach. "Beautiful, aren't they? Channels of pure energy, coursing through you like blood. When combined with the additional enhancements I have planned, you will truly become an achievement without equal my dear Tempestas." "Who?" Scootaloo spat. She had finally given up struggling, and instead forced her gaze away from the mirror. "Why, you of course." the doctor responded with feigned surprise. "Tempestas. That is the name I have chosen for you. After all, it’s customary for an owner to name one's pet." "I am not your pet!" "Oh?" This time there was genuine surprise in the man's voice. "I was unsure whether or not you would be aware of the concept. It seems that you continue to surprise me. How wonderful." Dr. Helix reached into his pocket and withdrew the small tablet he always carried. Scootaloo watched him tentatively as he approached her, his eyes hidden behind the reflection of his glasses. "Whether or not you consider yourself my pet is irrelevant at the moment. As is whatever name I choose to call you. Instead, let us reflect on the recent... events... which have transpired." With a whirring of gears, the table began to move once again. However, to Scootaloo it felt almost as if the surface on which she lay was beginning to break apart. The pieces began to fold and contort, carrying with them her restrained limbs. A few moments later, the young girl found herself sitting in a strange chair. Her arms and feet were still held tight, but at least she could now move her head. "There we go." her captor sighed happily as a portion of the floor rose up to form a stool for him. "This feels much better, does it not?" The man began taping on the tablet, but Scootaloo was sure his eyes were studying her from beneath his glasses. "Now tell me Tempestas. Have you spoken to anyone asides from myself, in the past few hours." "Stop calling me by that stupid name!" "Would you prefer I just call you Tempest? That is what most of my assistants have taken to calling you. Personally, I believe my choice has a certain... elegance... to it. But if you want..." "MY NAME IS SCOOTALOO!" she shouted angrily, straining at her restraints in frustration. Across from her, the doctor did not so much as bat an eyebrow at the sudden outburst. "Fascinating, but irrelevant. As I said, names mean little to me at the moment. All I care about is determining whether or not my hypothesis concerning this recent cyber-incursion is correct. Now please answer my question. Have you recently spoken to anyone asides from myself." "No!" Scootaloo's response was immediate, defiant, and would most likely have been accompanied by a folding of her arms had they not been restrained. "I see." the doctor responded, continuing to tap the tablet. He gave Scootaloo a wide smile, but it was devoid of any real warmth. "I can certainly understand you not wanting to cooperate with me... Scootaloo. But please realize that, despite what you may think, I have no interest in hurting you. That is why I'm going to give you this warning." The man leaned forward and turned the tablet towards her. On its glass surface, Scootaloo saw a picture of her transformed body. All around the picture danced various words and numbers which meant absolutely nothing to her. However, it was obvious the doctor could decipher them, because as spoke, he began to touch them one after the other. "Heart rate, blood pressure, core temperature, skin temperature, and on, and on. Every single aspect of your biology is as clear to me as the words on the page of a book. I know everything about you... including when you are lying to me." Scootaloo glared defiantly at her captor, burning gaze reflected back at her in the lenses of his glasses. Yet despite her facade, she felt a cold chill as she watched his smile widen. What if this man was telling the truth? "Increased heart rate. Elevated epinephrine levels. The slightest decrease in skin temperature. Experiencing a little fear, are you my dear? Well then, now that I have given you my warning, I will ask again. Have you spoken to anyone else?" "No!" Scootaloo insisted, not allowing her gaze to waver. This time, Dr. Helix did not smile. A light buzzing sound was the only warning she had. The next moment a searing pain erupted from the middle of her forehead, causing her to cry out as the burning sensation rapidly spread outward. From her head it passed through her neck, chest, and continued on to the very tips of her limbs. Then just as quickly as it had arrived, the pain vanished, leaving Scootaloo gasping for air as tears continued to fall down her cheeks. "I told you..." The young girl struggled as the doctor grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. His glasses had shifted, and his cold grey irises now stared unblinking into her own. "... I know when you are lying." "I'm not!" Another jolt of pain caused the girl to cry out . However, the doctor's gloved hand would not allow her to look away even as she felt her skin sear. "Do you feel that?" he hissed; the agony once again evaporating. "That is direct stimulation of every pain receptor in your body. Pain in its purest form! I may have no interest in hurting you, but a tool that does not do as I ask is worse than useless to me. Now you will answer me truthfully... NOW!" "I haven't spoken to anyone." The girl choked on her tears as she heard the buzzing sound start again. However, this time there was no pain. Instead the doctor quickly tapped something on his tablet and removed his gloved hand from her chin. For several minutes the bespectacled man simply stared at her, his face an unreadable mask. For her part Scootaloo refused to look away. Though her cheeks still glistened with tears, she would not allow this man to win! She did not know where this resolve was coming from, but in the end, that did not really matter. She would use it for as along as she was able. "I suppose, some would say that your defiance is commendable." The doctor continued to stare at the girl he held captive; his eyes once again concealed behind the reflection of his lenses. However, as he moved to push the glasses up his nose, Scootaloo was momentarily able to see the anger burning in his gaze. "However, I do not have the time to deal with such foolishness. I gave you the opportunity to cooperate of your own free will. Yet you refused. Fortunately, free will is a defect I have become quite adept at correcting." The edges of the man's lips curled into a grim sneer, and Scootaloo suddenly felt her heart stop. "Now then... Tempest Project access code: It is you who holds the celestial key." Drowning. That was the only way Scootaloo could describe the terrifying sensation which gripped her. The moment those words had left the doctors mouth, it felt as though she had been pulled into a darkened sea; left to sink into a crushing black abyss. All light vanished, followed immediately by any sense of touch or taste or smell. All that remained was sound. Muted, distant, but still discernible. Through the darkness, the terrified girl could hear a voice. Cold, lifeless, still immediately recognizable. It was her own. "Command code recognized. Priority access granted. My apologies if I angered you doctor. It will not happen again." "No need to apologize. How are you feeling Tempestas?" "I am well doctor. How may I be of assistance?" "I am seeking confirmation. Have you been contacted by any unauthorized personnel within the past two hours?" "Yes." From inside the void, Scootaloo cried out in despair. Stop! She pleaded. Don't talk to him! "I thought so. Did you recognize this person?" "No doctor. I have never her before." Please... please stop! "Her?" Even though his voice was muted, Scootaloo could almost feel the chill in his words. "Did this person tell you their name?" NO!!!! "She called herself Nyx." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The sound of birds chirping was the first thing Sweetie Belle heard upon waking, their gentle song proving to be a wonderful alarm-clock of sorts. Turning in bed, the young filly marveled at how soft and pleasant the sheets felt. She couldn’t quite remember how she had gotten to this bed, but that hardly seemed important at the moment. Especially now when everything felt so wonderful. Though… the more she thought about it, the more the pony sensed that something wasn’t quite right. While the blankets and bed were indeed soft, it almost felt as though they were too soft against her skin. Skin? What about all my hair? A gentle breeze caressed her face, and immediately the filly stopped breathing. Did somepony shave me? Her eyes flashed open in an instant, and she found herself squinting against the light of an early morning sunrise passing through an open window. However, as her vision slowly returned, Sweetie Belle found that she could not take this opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the morning sunlight. Instead she felt her stomach churn as she saw the strange appendage lying just in front of her face. Hairless and white… the young pony barely knew what to make of the strange object. But the fact that she could feel the warmth of the morning breeze from the window as it passed over the alien limb was enough to instill panic in the filly. With a shriek she sprang upright in the bed, sending the blankets which lay over her tumbling onto the polished wooden floor. Frantically Sweetie began to pat herself down with what should have been her front hooves in the hopes of finding some semblance of normality. Instead the young filly’s breathing turned panicked as her mind attempted to make sense of the tidal wave of alien sensations which now assaulted her. Both of her forelimbs had transformed, and her hysterical investigations quickly revealed that they were far from the only parts of her which had changed. While most of her transformation was hidden from sight by a white silken nightdress, one thing was very clear. This was not her body! A large wooden door flew open with a bang, causing Sweetie to give her second shriek of the morning. This was quickly followed by her third as a strange looking creature charged into the room. “Young miss? Is everything quite all right?” The beast, whatever it was, had a strange sounding voice. It was slow and drawn out, as if every word were being carefully considered before speaking. However, it moved quickly and with earnest towards her bed, its eyes glimmering with a look of honest concern. “I…” Sweeite began to respond, stopping as she noticed for the first time the large mirror hanging opposite the window. It had only come to her attention as the creature passed in front of it. Yet now she could not take her eyes off the scene reflected in its polished glass. Sitting atop an ornate wooden bed was another creature, similar to the one which had just barged into the room, but clearly smaller and younger by several decades. The young figure had pale white skin without even the slightest trace of hair, save for the long purple and pink mane which fell untidily about its head. While most of its body was cloaked in a loose-fitting nightgown, it stared back at Sweetie Belle with bright-green eyes, widened in shock and fear. As she stared in terror at the mirror, the young filly watched as a single drop of water fell down the reflection’s soft cheek. The sensation of that tear falling from her own chin onto the bed was all the evidence Sweetie Belle needed to confirm her suspicions. “That’s… me…” Those were the only words the pony could manage before the shock became to much, forcing her to seek the relief of unconsciousness once again. The poor pony did not know how long she slept after fainting. But, it was not nearly as untroubled as her first rest. Now she found herself plagued by dreams of shadowy creatures, terrifying monsters which sought to change her into one of them. They clamored all around her, walking on their hind limbs as they grasped franticly at her mane. At first the horrified filly swiped franticly at the claws which reached towards her, trying to do whatever she could to free herself from their clutches. However, a soft voice began to whisper in her ear, and as it did the nightmarish creatures began to vanish one after another. “Everything is going to be all right darling.” The voice sounded familiar: both warm and gentle. Despite herself, Sweetie felt a sense of relief wash over her. Eventually the last of the nightmarish creatures disappeared from her mind. As it did, the grasping at her mane became a soft, almost loving, caress. “You are safe here.” The voice whispered as a figure next to her placed something warm over her eyes. “Nothing is going to hurt you here.” Slowly Sweetie Belle felt her eyelids flutter open once again, but this time a moist towel blocked the sunlight filtering into the room from view. “White! White where are… oh there you are! I think she’s beginning to wake up now. Would you be so kind as to call doctor Cross?” “Of course madam. Right away.” As Sweetie felt her senses begin to return she attempted to make sense of what was going on around her. The second voice was clearly that of the creature who had barged into her room. With that realization, the memories of her previous attempt to wake up, as well as her current… condition… came back in a flood. Once again the young filly felt her stomach churn uncomfortably as she thought of her strange transformation and what could possibly have caused it. However, her thoughts were cut short as the conversation next to her continued on. “Shall I send for the tailor as well? I suspect the young miss will need a change of clothing given the state of her previous outfit.” “If you could book an appointment for tomorrow White, I believe that will prove sufficient. She can borrow some of mine until then.” The other voice was most certainly that of a female; Sweetie Belle could make that out clearly. But why was it so familiar? Where had she heard it before? “Are you sure you wish to give her your clothing madam? I am certain I could find something in the back of the boutique that would not be nearly as… expensive.” “White, if I was worried about being robbed, I would not have brought her into our house in the first place. Therefore I would appreciate it if you remember that she is a guest, and should be treated as such.” “Of course! My apologies madam. I meant no disrespect. If you excuse me, I will be right along with the doctor. I believe he was taking a call in the foyer.” Sweetie Belle heard the sound of footsteps moving away from her bed, followed soon after by the gentle click of a door latching shut. Taking a deep breath, the young filly attempted to speak for a second time that morning. “Where…” she began, coughing at the dryness of her throat. “Where am I?” “Oh thank goodness you are awake darling. I was afraid you were going to sleep the entire day away.” Sweetie Belle felt as though her heart would burst from excitement. If she had any doubt as to the owner of that voice before, that last comment quickly washed it away. Sweetie had heard it enough times when staying at her sister’s house. “Rarity?” Snatching the cloth from her face, Sweetie Belle blinked the water from her eyes as she turned to the figure sitting beside her bed. It was impossible to describe the strange mix of emotions that assaulted the poor filly as she took in the strange form seated next to her. It was the same type of creature as the one called White, and looked very similar to her own new appearance after whatever magic had transformed her. The figure in question had a glorious purple mane which fell loose about her head, and crystal blue eyes which were currently staring at the filly with a mixture of concern and suspicion. Like the voice, Sweetie Belle would recognize those eyes anywhere. They were Rarity’s eyes! Her sister’s eyes. “I’m terribly sorry…” the creature said, picking up the discarded cloth and placing it in a bowl of water on her lap. “…but have we met before?” “You don’t know me?” Sweetie asked timidly, her eyes beginning to fill with tears at the sight of this strange reinterpretation of her own sister. It felt as though her heart would break, seeing something so familiar, and yet so alien. “I’m afraid not darling. I believe this is our first time meeting. Or second, if you wish to count me picking you up off the sidewalk outside of my boutique as the first.” “Sidewalk?” the green-eyed filly muttered confusedly. “I… what… where am…?” Realization was quick to set in. Whatever had happened with the gem, it was clear to Sweetie Belle that she was not in Equestria anymore. More importantly, no matter what similarities they might have, this creature was not her sister. Before she could do anything else, the filly knew that she had to figure out what was going on, while raising as little suspicion as possible. “I’m sorry.” She gasped, quickly wiping the tears from her eyes as she gave the biggest smile she could manage. “I’m so sorry. I’m still a little confused after that fainting spell. One minute I was looking at the beautiful dresses in your shop window, and the next I’m lying here. I didn’t mean worry you, and we most certainly haven’t met before. But I just I love the dresses you make, and always wanted to be able to buy one and…” You’re talking too much! Sweetie chided herself as she took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. “… and anyway, my name is Sweetie Belle.” she finished clumsily, sticking out her hand. Rarity stared at the young girl bemusedly for several seconds as she placed the water bowl on a bedside stand. However, after a few moments of silence she gave a bright smile and gently took the extended hand in her own. “Well Sweetie Belle. I am Rarity, and it is an absolute pleasure to meet you. I must say that it’s refreshing to find someone your age who is interested in my dresses. I generally cater to a more… mature crowd. As for where you are darling, when I found you lying outside my boutique I had White bring you inside. Initially I wanted to take you to a hospital. However, once we discovered that you did not have an ID card, I felt that you might be more comfortable being checked over by my own doctor. So we drove you back to my house. I apologize if I presumed too much.” “No! I appreciate it.” The young girl responded uncertainly. “You are right, and I’m afraid I don’t have an… ID card.” Whatever that is. “I assumed not, judging by the state of your clothing at least. I can’t imagine what it’s like for a young girl like you to grow up on the streets. Do you have any friends who might be looking for you? Any family?” “I… I don’t…” Try as she might, Sweetie Belle could not keep the smile on her face. Nor could she stop her eyes from watering as the reality of her situation began to take shape. The mere mention of friends and family had been enough to draw the young filly’s thoughts to her parents, to Rarity, and especially to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. What happened to everypony? Am I really all alone? Before she could stop herself, the young filly felt warm tears streaming down her cheeks. Without the hair normally on her face, the sensation felt... wrong, and only served to drive more tears to fall. “I’m sorry.” She sobbed, desperately tying to dry her eyes. “No, I have no family here. No… no friends. Nothing… I have nothing.” Suddenly Sweetie Belle felt a soft pressure against her cheek as she was pulled into a warm embrace. “It’s ok.” Rarity whispered, holding the young girl to her chest as Sweetie began to cry freely. Gently, almost as a mother would her child, she stroked the sobbing youth’s purple and pink hair. “I cannot even begin to imagine what happened to you, but you don’t have anything to worry about. You are safe here Sweetie Belle. I promise.”