//------------------------------//
// III - Deep Everfree 
// Story: Stranger Magics 
// by GMBlackjack 
//------------------------------//

Reconstruction was progressing along nicely, considering what the clearing had looked like that morning. All but one of the concrete buildings were standing again, circling around the space in a ring formation. Where ponies had been moving haphazardly before, now there was order. Work has resumed - the business calming the frightened ponies. 

Sunset Shimmer stood on top of the central building examining the encampment as a whole. She could see progress - but she could also see piles of rubbish, ruined devices, and useless paper shreds. The imperfections seemed to stare back at her, taunting. 

"Miss Shimmer?" Somepony called, climbing up the stairs to the room Sunset was on. Sunset didn't turn to look at them. 

"Yes?"

"We were right. It is still out there. And we know for sure it was in Ponyville last night."

"What are the details?"

"Everfree Lights and a disappearing girl."

Sunset nodded slowly. "Have the premises been examined?"

"Yes. The readings are as expected."

"Mhm. Have their paperwork stall. We don't want them digging around until we get this under control."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Any word on our escapee?"

"We've found nothing."

"Keep looking. I don't need to tell you why this is important."

Sunset heard the pony leave. The hoofsteps gave away a nervous demeanor. Sunset knew it wasn't just because of he own fiery presence. 

Sunset focused on the red crystals at the edge of the clearing, watching the Everfree Lights sucked into nothing, keeping them 'safe'. 

Sunset was fairly certain that the crystals were actually useless. But seeing as her ponies were already panicked enough, she kept that piece of information to herself. She had to carry the terror alone. 


~~~


Elsewhere in the Everfree Forest, two mares trotted along without the foggiest idea of what they were doing. Cheerilee knew they were looking for Everfree Lights and then maybe - just maybe - they'd find Aloe. They had found neither of those things, of course - instead, they'd just found trees. Nothing but trees and an unnatural darkness to the forest, as if the light had been choked out. 

"Aloe!" Lotus yelled suddenly. "Aloe!"

"Shhh!" Cheerilee hissed. "There are pony-eating predators in these woods! You're telling them where we are!"

"How else are we supposed to find her!?"

"Look for the lights and go from there."

Lotus twitched. "They could be anywhere!"

And they probably won't be helpful...  Cheerilee sighed. "Look, we're just here for a... quick-ish search, to see if she's here. Tomorrow there'll be an actual search party and we'll find her that way."

Lotus shook her head. "You can't know that."

"No, I don't, but I can know they'll do a lot better than us."

"With the Mayor?"

"There are other, more experienced ponies," Cheerilee said. "Some who probably know how to navigate the Everfree. Unlike us."

Lotus made no response. She just kept walking forward, keeping her eyes peeled for anything of note.

"...Lotus?"

"I... I just want to keep walking and looking right now okay?" Lotus glanced at her friend with a pained expression that told her not to push the issue. 

"It's... Okay." Cheerilee said, gulping hard. This was a bad idea on so many levels. The more she thought about where she was and what she was trying to do, the more she realized how stupid they'd been. Were being. It was unlikely they'd find anything about Lotus, for one, even if they could find the Lights. Then there was the plethora of wild magics, dangerous predators, and mysterious plants. To top it all off, Cheerilee wasn't completely sure that just walking backwards would actually get them out of the Forest. 

This had been an ill-planned and doomed endeavor from the start. She just didn't want to tell Lotus that - not now. The poor thing looked ready to break as it was. Cheerilee didn't have the heart to shatter the last shreds of hope. 

In addition, Cheerilee had also begun to wonder what could be done. Even if the search party was made, or that Bon Bon did something else, how would they have any better luck? Ponyville was without any trace of Aloe, and Cheerilee was finding it harder and harder to believe Aloe'd somehow found her way into the Everfree Forest all the way from Rarity's house - especially while sick. 

Something must have happened to her there. Was she foalnapped? That was all Cheerilee could think of that made sense and she really didn't want to ponder it, but in the silence of the forest there weren't many other options. Who'd even want to take her? And why?

Cheerilee gulped - she couldn't keep going like this. She was going to have a breakdown eventually. "...Lotus?" she said again.

"No, I'm not going back. I'm going to find my sister. We'll find those Lights and she'll be right there, waiting. Like... Like..." She choked, stopping in her tracks. A few tears fell from her eyes, splashing on the ground. "Cheerilee... Why is everything so wrong?"

"...I can't answer that. I don't think anypony can."

Lotus looked Cheerilee in the eye, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I... I know we should go back. Get out. But what if she is here Cheerilee? What if we go now and then she's gone forever? What if we doom her by going back?"

Cheerilee pulled Lotus in, crying herself. "Lotus... We can't know..."

Lotus made a bunch of incoherent noises, failing to form words. She stomped on the ground and squeezed Cheerilee tight enough it hurt. She couldn't express what she needed to - it was impossible.

Cheerilee held her friend tight, trying not to fall apart herself. Aloe was missing, gone without a trace, and they were sitting in a forest where something might try to eat them at any moment. It had been quite the day already...

Crunch.

Cheerilee's ears perked up. Lotus felt her friend's entire body tense. She let out a "Hrm?" noise, fear already taking over her vulnerable mental state. 

"Shh..." Cheerilee said, looking left and right for the source of the noise. She was pretty sure she hadn't imagined it - the sound was far too crackly and detailed to be 'just the wind'. She was unable to see anything, even though she could hear some leaves rustling ominously. 

"Something's here..."

Lotus almost passed out at those words. Cheerilee steadied her friend as well as she could, but considering how shaky her own legs were, it wasn't of much help. 

The rustling was more prominent now - though Cheerilee was unable to tell if it was closer or just not sneaking as well. She could tell that it was coming from the left, sliding through the trees slowly and deliberately, but there was still nothing to see. 

Cheerilee motioned for Lotus to go to the right. Lotus took a few cautious steps with Cheerilee sneaking along behind her. 

Then Cheerilee heard growling.

"Keep moving..." Cheerilee whispered, picking up the pace slightly. The sound of rustling leaves kept getting closer. She stole a look behind her and gasped. Two yellow, predatory eyes stared back at her from the shadows of the trees.

"Run!" Cheerilee yelled, booking it. Lotus ran faster, keeping a few yards of distance between her and Cheerilee. Cheerilee focused entirely on following Lotus as fast as possible. She attempted to ignore the sickening, powerful crunches of tree branches being torn off behind her by something large. 

Cheerilee leaped over fallen branches, ducked beneath low hangers, and swerved around bushes, trying to keep up with her more athletic friend. The attempt was pointless. Her gallop was uneven, she kept stumbling over uneven stones, and tears had started to blur her vision. 

Why...

She hit a log, tripping head over tail into a stingbush. She barely noticed the prickly pods sticking to her coat. Her attention was completely occupied by the beast standing over her- it was a catlike creature with a powerful jaw, fiery mane, and draconic wings. A manticore. 

Cheerilee screamed.

The manticore decided that the noise was annoying. It opened its tremendous jaws, revealing rows upon rows of pointed teeth designed to sink into flesh and tear off a delicious morsel. The beast exhaled, filling Cheerilee's nostrils with a putrid stench as it leaned in for the kill. 

Before the beheading could be completed, the beast let out a powerful roar right in Cheerilee's ears. It took her a few moments to realize it was roaring in pain - a crossbow bolt had hit it square in the shoulder. It ran away into the forest without another look at Cheerilee.

She blinked. "...What?"

A pale mare with a red mane leaped down from a nearby tree. "He almost got you there."

"...Rose!?" Cheerilee gawked. She barely recognized the mare - she was wearing a hard safari hat and four large combat boots. Her saddlebags were filled to the brim with bolts, sticks, rope, and even a few daggers. Mounted on her chest was a crossbow designed to fit around her neck so it could be fired with her mouth, positioned expertly so as not to interfere with the water canteen slung next to it. 

"Yeah. Hi!" Roseluck smiled. "What are you doing out here?"

"Well, Lotus and I were... Looking for Aloe," Cheerilee sighed. "I know it's stupid but we couldn't just do nothing..."

"It's not stupid," the Doctor said, coming out of a nearby bush. He was the exact opposite of Roseluck, wearing nothing but his tie. "It's what we're doing, after all."

Cheerilee blinked. "...Really?"

"Yes. Though we are admittedly better prepared to do so."

Cheerilee nodded. "I know... We shouldn't be in the Everfree..."

"Definitely not!" Roseluck confirmed. "You could have been eaten. You really don't come out here unless you know what you're doing!"

Cheerilee looked down at the ground. "But... Lotus had to do something... I couldn't just let her go alone." Cheerilee sat bolt upright. "Oh no! She's alone!"

Roseluck blinked. "Right. Stay here, I'll go get her." She galloped off in the direction Lotus had gone, leaving Cheerilee alone with the doctor.

The Doctor grinned. "So, want to keep looking?"

"...Yes," Cheerilee nodded rigorously. "Will Rose be able to find us though?"

"She's overprepared. Of course she will. Easy." He turned around, walking in a seemingly random direction. "Come along!"

Cheerilee blinked, trying to process the quick turn of events and failing. She shrugged. "So... Do you two do this sort of thing a lot?"

"What sort of thing do you mean?"

"Venture into the Everfree Forest?"

"Oh," the Doctor's expression shifted to one Cheerilee recognized as somepony choosing their words carefully. "We've been here more than our fair share, yes. Haven't been in a while though."

"Has it changed much?" Cheerilee asked with concern.

"Oh, some here, some there. The Forest is in a constant state of magical flux to balance the harmony output elsewhere in Equestria. It cannot stay the same, that's against its nature. But at the same time, a lot of things are familiar. Sure, rivers change and clearings move, but trees are the same trees, the rivers still exist, and the magic still flows..."

Cheerilee blinked. She had no idea what half of that implied - or really meant, once she thought about it some more. "Uh..."

"I know what I'm doing and you don't need to be worried, basically."

Cheerilee didn't buy it. She'd always considered the Doctor to be a bit queer, but she was just now realizing she was walking through danger with a likely mad stallion. Even if he did know what he was doing, did she even really want to be here?

"Oh look!" the Doctor called, pointing ahead. Cheerilee followed his hoof to a small light floating around aimlessly - an Everfree Light. 

Cherilee shook her head. "So... we found one. Now what?"

"We've found Light country, so now we go that direction until we get closer to the center of it! That way we'll find more!"

"Okay..." Cheerilee said, raising an eyebrow. The Doctor didn't notice the skeptical gesture, for he had seen two more Lights slightly to the left, so he went towards them. This process was repeated a few times until they were surrounded by over a hundred of the lazy magical lights. 

The Doctor smirked. "Told you I knew what I was doing. Oh, how you doubted me."

"...Is this how you talk to Rose?"

"...Eh, more or less," he admitted. "Come along! It's time to investigate! Look for clues! Anything odd!"

Cheerilee pointed at some blue flowers. "These?"

"Poison joke, completely normal! Don't touch them, they're cursed."

Cheerilee pulled her hoof back before she made contact. "Good to know..."

"The flower's exceedingly common in these woods. Who knows, you might already be cursed! Wouldn't that be something!"

Cheerilee's eye twitched involuntarily. "Greaaaaaat..."

While the Doctor began inspecting trees, bushes, and a few crystalline structures Cheerilee let her eyes study the Everfree Lights themselves. The innocent blue sparks moved slowly, like carefree bits of pollen in no rush to get anywhere. She followed them through the forest.

"...Hey, Doctor? Where do the Everfree Lights go?"

The Doctor looked up from a dragonfly shaped rock. "Huh? They don't go anywhere, they just drift around until they run out of energy."

"Then why are they all going that direction?" Cheerilee pointed.

The Doctor followed her gaze. "Great Whickering Stallions, you're right, they are going that direction. Odd..." He started walking with them, Cheerilee following close behind. They walked for maybe two minutes before they saw it. 

A huge clearing lined with red crystals that sucked the Everfree Lights out of the air. Within the clearing were a few dozen buildings, most of which looked quickly hobbled together. There was trash and debris everywhere giving the impression that the place was recovering from a destructive calamity. Ponies in official labcoats walked around, either emotionless or nervous. There were no smiles. 

Atop the building in the center was a giant Equestrian flag. 

"...Government base..." Cheerilee said, freezing in her tracks. "We shouldn't be here."

"Oh, most definitely not," he snickered, pulling a small metal rod out of his tie. He walked closer.

"What are you doing!?" Cheerilee hissed.

"Investigating?"

"A government base!?"

"What's it look like?" he said, showing no sign of hesitation.

"No! Stop! I won't be a part of this! I'm not a criminal!"

The Doctor blinked. "I thought you wanted to find Aloe?"

"Please," Cheerilee groaned. "What are the chances the government, Celestia's government, took her?"

"Pretty low, but they might know something."

"No, you're crazy, I'm crazy for coming with you! We aren't going to find her by walking aimlessly through the forest or by trespassing on government property!"

The Doctor frowned. "I'm still going in."

"Not with me you're not! I'm leaving!"

"You shouldn't be in the forest by yourself Cheeril-"

"Oh really? I didn't know!"

The Doctor sighed, putting away his screwdriver. "Fine. We'll go back and wait for Rose."

Cheerilee knew what went unspoken - he was going to come back himself later. She shook her head in disapproval. "You really are insane..."

"It comes with the territory," he shrugged, walking past her back the way they came. She followed in silence, stopping only when they finally returned to where the manticore had attacked.

Cheerilee fumed in silence. This Doctor... he just, he had less common sense than she and Lotus did! Go charge into a government base? Crazy! That was something that nopony would do. Especially not in Ponyville... Lotus could never know about the base, Cheerilee decided. She wouldn't be able to stop herself from going in, screaming for Aloe. There was no way that could go well. Cheerilee would have to say they found nothing. 

Just as she solidified this thought, Roseluck appeared, alone.

Cheerilee panicked. "Where's...?"

"Back in town. Ran most the way back. I just took her out since we were close, came back here."

"Well, now take me back," Cheerilee insisted.

Roseluck looked at the Doctor. "...You found something."

"Yes," the Doctor began.

"No. We didn't," Cheerilee huffed. "Let's just go."

Roseluck shot the doctor a look. He rolled his eyes and shrugged. Cheerile turned away from him, scowling. 

"Okay..." Roseluck said. "This way. Watch yourself, Doctor."

"I will!" he said, waving them off. The moment they were out of sight he galloped back to the government base and took out his sonic screwdriver. He was going to break in there and get some answers.


~~~


Granny Smith was sprucing up the kitchen, leaving no speck of dust behind in her cleaning onslaught. She had already taken care of all the animals and had plans to go out apple bucking after she did some of the lighter work. She hummed a ditty to herself, feeling rather pleased. Admittedly, the outer appearance wasn't perfectly honest. She was worried about Applejack like any grandparent would be, and Surprise was just rife with mysteries that had no answer. 

Speaking of the white pegasus, she had just walked into the kitchen with a full bucket of apples. She set it at Granny's feet, acting like a cat that had just brought prey as an offering. 

Granny laughed at this display, grabbed an apple, and took a bite. "Now what do you think you're doing missy?"

"Bucking apples," she said, smiling.

Granny laughed. "Ain't no pegasus that can buck apples, I know that for sure." Granny caught something in Surprise's eye. "What did Ah say?"

Surprise looked away and said nothing. 

"Look, Ah'm sorry - oh, maybe you're confused. Y'see, bucking apples is about us usin' our earth pony magic to kick apples out of trees into very specific buckets. Just pickin' 'em doesn't count. Still, thanks for the help."

Surprise nodded slowly. 

"Though, bring the next basket to the barn if you're gettin' another one, kitchen can't hold too many apples. Ha!"

Surprise blinked in confusion.

"Ah have an odd sense of humor sometimes, Surprise."

"Mhm," Surprise mumbled. 

Granny let out a small laugh that awkwardly died. "Surprise... You're doin' chores."

Surprise nodded.

"...You're not plannin' on leavin', are you?"

"...No?" she said, unsure.

"Well, Ah won't kick you out, you can stay if you want, but Ah've learned that hidin' from your problems rarely pans out well. Why, one time I tried to hide from my folks in the Everfree forest! Almost got eaten by a manticore. Not the first - or the last - time Ah tried hidin' from things, but it sure is pretty memorable."

Surprise looked ashamed. 

"Surprise, no manitcores here. You're safe. Just think you should consider facin' your problems, whatever they are."

"...How?"

"Depends on the kind of problem, frankly. If you ran away from somepony, you can go back and apologize. Or if someone's tryin' to mess with you, Ah could give them a talkin' t-"

Surprise grabbed Granny by the shoulders, eyes suddenly very intense. "No! Bad ponies. Dangerous ponies."

Granny blinked, shock evident on her face. "...Really that bad huh?"

Surprise nodded slowly.

"...Huntin' ya?"

"...Yes."

Granny sucked in a breath. "Great..." Some bad poines were after Surprise and they had the pegasus absolutely terrified. Which meant they were willing to do nasty things. And if Big Mac or Applejack were in the way... Not to mention her son and his wife when they came back from their trip...

She'd worry about that later. She couldn't just turn Surprise away, but she'd need to take a more active role.

"Alright, Ah'm goin' to help you solve this however Ah can."

Surprise smiled. 

"Ah'm goin' to find those bad ponies and call in some... favors you might say. Ah could get this entire town rallied behind me if Ah wanted."

Surprise shook her head.

"...Why not?"

"They're here."

Granny frowned. "Now, Ah know everypony in town. None of them would be after you. They're not all the best, if you know what Ah mean, but they wouldn't hurt a sweet little mare like-"

Surprise extended a wing. A soft purple glow extended from it, and a magical aura surrounded a nearby apple. She levitated it into her grasp and stared blankly at Granny for several seconds.

Granny gawked at the magically moved apple. "...You're somethin' special, ain't'cha?"

Surprise nodded. 

"You really did buck those apples... My Word..." Granny sat down in a chair. "Ah'm still gonna help you, you can trust me on that, Ah'm just... This makes things mighty complicated."

Surprise nodded.

"Can you tell me who they are?"

Sunset paused for a moment, looking out the window at the glow of the sun. She glanced around the room for a moment before shaking her head profusely.

Granny put a hoof to her chin, trying to think of a way out of this. She wasn't going to get who they were from Surprise - if the poor mare even really knew - and they may or may not be in town right this very now. She would have to be careful. Very careful, considering what Surprise's existence might mean.  Only ponies she knew she could trust...

Granny looked at Surprise. "How good are ya' with those fancy powers of yours?"

Surprise thought for a moment, and then made an apple tree outside light on fire. 

Granny Smith was impressed.

Big Macintosh, on the other hoof... He walked in the door and said, "WOOOOOOAH what in Tarnation!?"

Surprise panicked at the sudden loud noise, tossing him outside with a simple flap of her wings. 

Granny facehooved. "Darnit. Surprise, stay here." She galloped outside to see Big Mac running away at high speed. "Big Macintosh you get your toosh back in here!"

"Ah'm sorry Granny, but Ah can't do that! She's crazy!" He ran for the gate, finding his path blocked by a Surprise that definitely hadn't been there a second ago. "AUGH!"

Surprise winced at the loud noise but continued blocking his path. 

"Granny! She's tryin' to keep me here! See!?"

"Yes, Big Mac Ah see. She's scared."

"Ah'm pretty sure she just teleported! What in Equestria is she afraid of!?"

"There are bad ponies after her!"

"Ah can see why!" Big Mac moved further from Surprise. "Granny, Aloe's vanished."

"...What?"

"She vanished the night of the party, under mysterious circumstances, the night Surprise showed up. 

Granny blinked. "She'd never hurt her."

"You sure? You sure she isn't involve-"

"Now listen here Big Macintosh, Ah promised her Ah'd help with this, with those bad ponies, and Ah'm not backin' up on that! Ah've seen nothing but a lovely, carin', scared mare who doesn't know what to do!"

Big Mac tried to keep his eyes even with Granny's, but he faltered. She continued on after he looked to the ground. "We are both going to help her and that's final."

"...But what about Aloe?"

"Ah'm sure the Mayor's Office is doi-"

"Sound ghost," Surprise said. 

"...Say what now?" Big Mac asked. 

"It took her."

"...Where?"

Surprise closed her eyes, spread her wings, and furrowed her brow. She made a whimpering noise and passed out. 

Granny rushed to her unconscious form. "Poor thing's overtaxed herself... This ain't natural Big Mac."

"Sound ghost?" Big Mac said. "What's that? Some kind of legend?"

"There are many weird legends about ghosts, BIg Mac, perhaps you should keep a more open mind."

Big Mac bit his hoof. "So... Assuming she's tellin' us the truth..."

"She is."

"Right. Then some kind of ghost or something took Aloe."

"And when she tried to find out where, she passed out because of your question!"

Big Mac backed away from Granny. "Yeah... Right... Ah need to tell Lotus..."

"Don't mention Surprise, somepony in town is after her."

"...Her name's Surprise?"

"Yes it is. Now go," Granny sighed. "And be safe will ya? Ah'm starting to get a real bad feelin' about all this."

Big Mac gulped. "Ah feel you there... You be careful too."

Granny facehooved. "She's not dangerous!"

Big Mac nodded quickly and dashed away.

Granny shook her head. "What am Ah gonna do with that boy...?"


~~~


The sun was setting when Roseluck and Cheerilee finally got out of the Everfree Forest. "Lotus headed right for home soon as I got here," Roseluck said.

"Mhm," Cheerilee said, brushing a few sticks out of her mane. "...I'll be going then."

Roseluck shook her head at Cheerilee's distant demeanor. "Okay. I'm going back in. See you around...?"

Cheerilee didn't respond - she just walked into town. A few ponies shot her inquisitive looks - her normally frazzled mane was ruined, her body was bruised, and she looked nothing like her normal self to them. She didn't care - let them enjoy the new unusual look all they wanted. The holes they were boring into the back of her skull didn't matter - she just needed to get to Lotus, to tell her friend that she was fine. 

She trotted up to the twins' house and knocked. Their parents answered - a pair of red and dark blue ponies.

"Oh," the red one - the father - said. "...Cheerilee."

"Please tell me Lotus is here," Cheerilee pleaded.

"...Yes, she's fine," the mother said, smiling sadly. "She just..."

"You took her into the forest right?" the father asked.

Cheerilee sighed. "Yes..."

"She step in any poison joke?"

"I don't think so...?" Cheerilee frowned. "It's possible... Why? What's wrong?"

Before either of them could respond, Lotus ran into the doorway. "Cheerilee! She's talking to me!"

"...Who?" Cheerilee asked.

Aloe, Cheerilee! Aloe!" Lotus dragged Cheerilee into the house, through the halls, and into the living room. Cheerilee had been in the room countless times before, and yet, she was still impressed each time. Lining the shelves were brooches, necklaces, and other bits of jewelry filled with naturally glowing magic gems that sparked all the colors of the rainbow. It was the mother's collection. 

Lotus pushed Cheerilee's face close to a large topaz crystal. "She's talking through this!"

Cheerilee blinked. "...Lotus..."

"Just watch this! Hey! Aloe! You there!?"

Nothing happened. The crystal did nothing whatsoever. Cheerilee turned her focus to Lotus. "Lotus, I-"

"Did you see that?" Lotus interrupted.

Cheerilee shook her head. "Uh... no?" Something did flash out of the corner of my eye. "And even if I did, these gems flash all the-"

Cheerilee saw Lotus's look; one of barely restrained despondency. Cheerilee gulped. "But... You're her twin sister, I suppose you know best..."

The topaz crystal flashed twice- convincing Cheerilee that it was all just random magic fluctuations like she'd learned about in school. They happened all the time - not that anyone really knew why.

"Aloe..." Lotus said, staring into the gem. "What happened to you?"

Seeing Lotus fixated on the crystal, Cheerilee backed out, looking at the parents. "I don't know if this is poison joke or... not. She's not doing well... hasn't been doing well." She sighed. "How are you two doing?"

"Our daughter's missing, how do you think we're doing?" the father demanded.

"Dear!" the mother called out. "She's just being nice!"

"She dragged Lotus into the forest! This is probably her fault!"

"It... Might be," Cheerilee said. "I'm sorry. I'll go now."

"You best," the father said. 

Cheerilee walked out of the house and sighed. Now Lotus had gone mad - and Cheerilee didn't know what caused it. Her? The forest? the attack? Rose? All of the above? 

All she knew is that she was really glad Lotus didn't know about the Doctor and that government base... She wasn't in a good decision making position. 

"Uh... Cheerilee? What're you doin' standin' outside Lotus' house?"

Cheerilee blinked, realizing Big Mac was standing in front of her. "Oh! Uh... I came in to check on her. She.. isn't doing so well."

"Well, Ah came here to tell her somethin'-"

"You probably shouldn't. She's barely keeping it together. She's positive she's talking to her sister through a magic crystal. I just..."

"...Well, A talkin' magic crystal does seem kinda odd, but..."

"But!?" Cheerilee snapped. "Oh my gosh you're actually wondering if it's true or not!"

"Well, it's not the weirdest thing that I've heard or seen lately, Cheerilee."

"Such as?"

"Well there's this pe- pony Granny knows that says... things sometimes with her weird magics. Said Aloe was taken by a sound ghost or somethin'. So Ah was goi-"

"You were going to tell her that!?"

"Uh, yeah? Wouldn't you?"

"She does not need to hear that right now! She's crazy, headstrong, and likely to follow any random idea religiously! She should not be told about Everfree lights, secret government bases, or sound ghosts! She's had enough!"

"...Secret government bases? What?"

"None of your business. You should go. Find someone else to share your crazy with."

Big Mac lowered his head. "...Okay..." He slowly slinked away.

Cheerilee bristled the moment he was out of her sight. Sound ghost. What even was that?


~~~


"Geist," Berry said. 

Derpy took her gaze off the setting sun. "...Geist?"

Berry shrugged. "Yeah. Geist."

"A Gest isn't scarier than a shadow manticore," Golden huffed.

Berry raised an eyebrow. "...You don't even know what I'm talking about, do you?"

Golden said nothing. 

Derpy looked deep into Berry's eyes. "What is it?"

Berry smirked. She pointed at the Everfree Forest. "A Geist is the lonely soul of a pony long dead, forced to wander the world, substanceless, for eternity. They cannot do anything - cannot even be seen! All they can do is watch... And they are always watching..."

Derpy shivered. "Even now?"

"Yes! There could be three here right now and we wouldn't know!"

Rarity huffed. "Don't be silly. Geists aren't real - just like all the other creatures you come up with."

"How would you know?" Berry asked. "If you can't see or feel them, how could you say they don't exist?"

"Because it's stupid. This whole thing is stupid. Why are we out this late anyway!?"

Golden glared. "We're going to see Applejack. You know, one of those uncultured farmer types who happens to be sick?"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "I'm sure she'll be fine..."

"But us going to see her will make her feel better faster!" Derpy said. 

There were so many things Rarity wanted to say about that particular comment but she knew it was in her best interests to keep her mouth shut. 

"Why are you turning red?" Derpy asked.

Rarity bit down on her lip - hard. Derpy's idiocy was infuriating. If she said one more thing...

"Hellooo? Raaaaaaaarity?"

Berry rushed in before Rarity could explode. "Leeeet's give Rarity some space okay Derpy? Think we can do that?"

"Okay!" Derpy said, smiling like the dork she was. The positivity only grated against Rarity further. She couldn't believe this was her life now - hanging out with Derpy. She found herself wondering, once again, if she should just face her parent's wrath instead of suffering through this...

Berry left Derpy next to Golden before turning back to Rarity. "You're welcome."

"It'd be better if you could get her completely away."

"You could go back home."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "You don't think the Doctor is watching us?"

Berry rolled her eyes. "He's not a Geist, Rarity."

"Oh please, don't bring that thing into this."

"I'll have you know that was based on a real thing I read about - poltergeist. Magic spirit that moves things around."

"That just makes it less original," Rarity snapped.

Berry blinked. "Wow, you are even more crabby than I thought you were."

"Can you blame me?"

"Well, yeah, it's pretty easy to do that."

Rarity grumbled. "Gee, thanks."

Berry smiled. "I knew I'd get a thank you out if I tried hard enough."

Rarity moaned. "What is my life?"

"Maybe you should try to look on the bright side! This'll get you... points with the others! Getting past your differences-"

"That behavior is only 'in' because Tree Hugger says it is..."

Berry sighed. "You are too fixated."

Rarity said nothing. She just looked ahead, following Golden with a simple trot. 

Derp squeaked, pointing to the Everfree Forest. "I see a light!"

Golden blinked. "Well, whaddya know, there's somethin' there."

"I wanna go get it!" Derpy shouted, flying away in a dizzy path towards the distant blue speck.

Berry sighed. "I'll go get her..." She ran after the gray pegasus in the dim light of dusk.

Rarity shook her head. "That pegasus..."

"Is a much better pony than you."

Rarity twitched. "Golden, dear, care to repeat that?"

"You heard me."

"Oh no, you see, I couldn't have, since I could have sworn you said that idiot was better than me, and that's just absurd!"

"'S what I said though."

Rarity cocked her head and smiled. "care to explain how that is?" A few soft blue lights illuminated her face, giving it a more sinister look. 

Golden raised an eyebrow. "You're a stuck up pig who doesn't like anything, treats even her friends like trash, and cares far too much for a 'popularity' that doesn't even exist!"

"Ah, psh, as if. You just don't understand class!"

"Maybe you don't understand class!" The light had started vibrating around them with increasing rapidity. "Pretty sure being fancy doesn't require bein' a jerk!"

Rarity laughed."Oh you are just a little ball of hate aren't you?"

Golden shook her head in disbelief. "How far in denial are you?"

Rarity sneered. "Golden, you see, it's you who are in denial. It's just that I'm better and you're jealous. So ha to-"

A sound rang through the dusk air. The two fillies froze, noticing the dozens of now perfectly still Everfree Lights surrounding them. The screaming, scratching, shredding, skittering, sucking sound forced the two of them to their knees and their ears to their heads. 

Rarity looked at Golden - and saw something reflected in the filly's eyes. It was orange, casting an intense glow in the darkness. Spirals of energy wafted from the edges of its form - a form blurred by Golden's terrified tears. 

Then Rarity saw the limb - it reached over her. It wasn't a hoof, hand, tentacle, or claw. It was a jagged, pointed shape reminiscent of lightning, shaking with every variation in the sound. Its four pointed tips were outstretched, the spirals of energy trailing back behind Rarity. Patterns of circles within circles appeared within the energies, the complexity completely beyond Rarity's understanding. 

It grabbed Golden. The filly let out a painful scream the moment the vibrating limb touched her.

"Golden!?" Rarity heard Berry yell from somewhere nearby. "Golden!?"

Golden was pulled behind Rarity with one swift motion. The orange glow was gone in an instant. It was night, the brightest light coming from the dispersing Everfree Lights. 

Berry and Derpy rushed in a second later. Berry looked around frantically. "Where's Golden? Where's golden? I saw something orange and... and... What happened-" she stopped short. "...Rarity? Are you crying?"

Rarity nodded slowly, the two streaks of fluid flowing down her face. 

"Rarity...?" Berry put a concerned hoof on her friend's face. "What...?"

"Geist," Rarity said, eyes distant.