The two unicorns rushed through the forest, full of adrenaline and panic. What was supposed to be a simple, peaceful camping trip turned into a giant mess, with the campsite being destroyed, creatures panicking, and Fluttershy going missing.
Twilight stopped first. "Haven't we been here three times already?"
"I don't get it. Where could Fluttershy have gone?" Starlight's eyes suddenly locked onto a specific path. "Wait, have we gone that way?"
"I don't know." Twilight started running again. "But we don't have time to wonder."
Starlight was running just behind Twilight. "Why don't we use Accelero?"
"Because we have to be as thorough as possi-" Twilight's eyes shot wide as she came to a stop while forcing Starlight to do the same, preventing a collision with Pinkie and Rainbow, who had just stepped out of the forest. "There's also that."
Pinkie looked winded. "We found Fluttershy, but she's completely out!"
Rainbow was less worn, but just as worried. "There was a lot of damage around her. I think she got corrupt-"
A loud scream of pain cut her off.
Starlight's eyes went wide. "Was that... Sandbar?"
"I'll go check on him." Rainbow motioned towards where she and Pinkie came from. "You guys check on Fluttershy!"
Starlight spoke up, "I'm going with you. It's not a good idea to be alone right now."
"Alright." Freaking logic! Rainbow led Starlight in the direction of the scream, while Twilight and Pinkie went the other way. After a bit of running, four distinct figures came into view.
Sandbar swatted at Silver. "I said I'm fine! You're only hurting me more, Silver!"
Silver flinched. "I-I'm sorry."
"Guys! What are you doing out here?" Rainbow asked, already having a good idea why they were there, and that they wouldn't give an honest answer with Starlight there.
"I know your last outing this way was relatively peaceful," Starlight said as she tended to Sandbar's wounds the best she could, "But that doesn't mean this forest is safe to be in."
"We know," Smolder said, hanging her head. "We had a bet. The one to last the longest in the Castle of the Two Sisters overnight would win."
Gallus looked unusually panicked. "So the six of us put some bits in a pot, and-"
"Six?" Starlight practically yelled. "Yona and Ocellus too?"
Rainbow asked a question she actually wanted to ask. "If they were with you, where are they now?"
The only one that didn't look worried or sad was Sandbar, who looked angry.
"Smolder and I got separated from the group when we saw a Timberwolf. We lost it, but the next time I saw these two bird-brains, they were alone and telling us to run."
"We saw Professor Fluttershy." Silver looked like she saw a ghost. "She was... threatening us. Acting crazy. Gallus and I ran. We thought Ocellus and Yona were right behind us."
"YOU THOUGHT WRONG!"
"Sandbar!" Starlight grabbed him into a hug. "Calm down! Starting a fight isn't going to help anyone!"
"Start a fight over what?" Twilight entered the small clearing, followed by Pinkie, who was carrying an unconscious Fluttershy. Twilight's eye started twitching. "Please tell me you left Ocellus and Yona at the school."
"Twilight!" Applejack called from a distance.
"OVER HERE!" With all the yelling they were doing, they were lucky none of the monsters came by to eat them.
Moments later, Applejack and Rarity ran up. "Twilight! It's horrible. Well, not awful horrible."
"What do you mean? Death is always awful horrible! Even if it is Queen Chrysali-" Rarity quickly took note of Twilight's wide-eyed shock. "Eeeehhhh hehehe. Oops."
Applejack sighed. "Yeah, we found Queen Chrysalis dead. She was surrounded by six hunks of wood, with our colors and cutie marks."
"So that's why you were acting weird earlier. She must have made mean copies of you." Starlight's happiness over her realization quickly faded as she noticed the glares aimed at her. "Uh, sorry."
Twilight looked at the others. "We need to get back to the school and fast. We've got four students, one of which looks injured, and Fluttershy's out cold. We can get our things later."
The other mares agreed (even if Rarity didn't like the thought of leaving her things vulnerable to nature), got Sandbar on Applejack's back, and started running back to the school.
Rarity turned to Starlight. "Why were the students here in the first place?"
"It was a dare gone bad. They all put money on the line, then got split up. Oh, I hope Ocellus and Yona are okay."
Once they were gone, the other mare stepped back on the path. "Students? And two of them are missing?"
Spike made his way back to the main hall. He normally wouldn't be in the school at this hour, but what he saw required his attention. He made it halfway to the front door when it swung open, revealing seven mares and four students.
"Twilight! Y-you're back early!"
"Spike? What are you doing in the school?"
The young dragon scratched his head. "Uh... promise you won't get too mad at me."
Twilight let out a sigh. "Spike, whatever it is, it can't possibly make tonight any worse."
"If you say so. I was up late reading a comic when I heard a noise outside, near the school. I thought the school was under attack, so I looked outside. Turns out... Yona fell over outside of the school."
Twilight's eyes shot wide. "Y-Yona?"
"I flew out and asked her what happened. She just started demanding food. She's in the Laughter classroom, going through the food there fast. We may be out a good bit of-"
Twilight interrupted Spike by squeezing his cheeks. "I don't care how much food we need to replace! If Yona made her way back here, that's good news!"
"Wait, it is? Why?"
Yona knew that what happened to her that night was nothing short of a divine being smiling on her. Between her stunt to take out her corrupt professor, and her miraculously making her way back to the school, all on no energy, she had to have gotten incredibly lucky. For now, though, the food was her best friend. Even the somewhat stale bits tasted amazing at that moment.
The door to the room swung open, with Spike leading the others in. "That does sound like a nightmare. Anyways, there she is, alive and well."
Yona swallowed what was already in her mouth and waved. "Hello, Headmare!"
Twilight motioned for the other four students to sit in the room. "I'll wait until we find Ocellus before I scold you since I think it'll stick better if she's here. For now, though, you should all stay here." Rainbow suddenly whispered something into Twilight's ear. "Oh, sure. Go ahead. Just try not to take too long."
Rainbow nodded. "Smolder, this way please."
Smolder raised an eyebrow but complied and followed Rainbow out of the room.
"What was-"
"She wanted to get some more details, and Smolder is the best one to get them from right now." Twilight looked at the other teachers. "Rarity, take Fluttershy to the infirmary and tend to her, please."
"With pleasure." Rarity lifted Fluttershy to her back, then left.
"Starlight, go check on the other students. I don't want any more trouble with disappearing students right now."
"Right." Starlight made her leave.
"Mind if I fetch our stuff? I still feel ready to work, and I stand the best chance on my own if something comes after me."
Twilight nodded. "Go for it, Applejack."
Applejack nodded and left.
"Pinkie, get some more food from the Honesty classroom. Even if Yona doesn't need it, the others look tired. After that, look after them."
"Yepper depper!" Pinkie bounded off, finding enthusiasm where she shouldn't have.
Twilight looked at her assistant. "Spike, we need to get some letters ready, in case there's a political fallout."
"But what about Ocellus?"
"That will have to wait for tomorrow, once we're all rested up." Twilight looked at her students. "You will stay here. We've had enough trouble tonight as is." With that, she took Spike and left.
The four friends sat in silence. Then Sandbar got up and moved to the window.
Yona tilted her head. "Getting some air?"
"I'm going to find Ocellus."
Silver's ears perked up at that. "Wait, didn't you hear-"
"Quiet." The look in Sandbar's eyes screamed murder. "If she's dead, I'll make sure neither of you will ever forget what you did." With that, he vanished.
Gallus, after recovering from the threat, scratched his head. "Wait, did he just teleport?"
"Ocellus! Ocellus!"
Sandbar wandered the Everfree forest, with only one goal in mind. He passed by the clearing he met the teachers in, the tree Ocellus was pinned to, the ravine that Fluttershy threatened to jump in, and a few places that showed clear signs of recent battle. He continued wandering, yelling Ocellus' name out, until...
"Sandbar!"
He whipped around. It wasn't Ocellus, but Twilight that said that. Applejack was right behind her, with a train of carts full of things.
Twilight's eyes narrowed. "Didn't I tell you to stay in the classroom?"
Sandbar backed up under a tree. "I don't care. I'm not leaving until I find Ocellus." He didn't notice the rustling above him.
Applejack pulled out some rope. "Don't make me drag you back, boy."
"I said, I'm not leaving until I find-"
*Fwump!*
Had it been something larger that landed on Sandbar's back, he would have fallen to the ground. He looked down and saw a gray pair of hooves. He then looked over his shoulder.
"Ocellus?"
The Changeling weakly giggled. "Sorry. Lost my balance."
Sandbar reached a hoof around to hug her, smiling for the first time in a while, and was quickly joined by their teachers.
"Now, let's get you two back. You need your rest." Twilight started leading them back. "At least I won't be needing either of those letters."
As they went back, Ocellus grew curious. What did you tell them?
About you vanishing? We said we made a bet and got separated by Timberwolves and Professor Fluttershy.
I see... Are you going back to protecting me?
Yeah, but I'll try not to be so bad about it. Still, I feel like I could have done more to protect you.
May I ask why you're trying to protect me? It feels like it's more than just me being fragile.
Sandbar looked at the ravine as they passed by. Well, I guess... I'm just repaying you.
... Huh?
*Boom!*
They all looked at the ravine.
Twilight used her wing to push Sandbar and Ocellus away. "Get back! Get back!"
After a series of smaller explosions, something shot out of the ravine, then landed in front of them.
Sandbar felt scared. It was a pony, but something about her put him off. Was it her height? Her grey eyes? Her black coat? Her red mane? The fact she used explosions to travel?
She lifted her head, standing to her fullest height. That's when Sandbar realized where the fear he felt was coming from.
Her horn.
It was broken.
"... Twilight! Applejack!" And any sense of fear was gone when she cheerfully greeted his teachers by name and practically skipped up to them. "It's good to see you again!"
"Tempest!" Once the friends were in range, Twilight hugged Tempest. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in-"
"Yakyakistan? Had to cut that out of my travels." Tempest shrugged. "Wouldn't let me in. So I've got a bit more time before going back to my route." She looked past the princess. "Are those your students?"
"Yeah. Their names are-" Twilight did a double take. "Wait, how do you know about that?"
"I heard you were camping out here and thought I'd come to see you. Saw you as you were leaving and heard Rarity talking to mini-you about it."
Applejack leaned over. "Her name's Starlight."
"Anyway, I did find something you'll want to know about, at the bottom of that ravine, but..." Tempest eyed the students. "It's not something to talk about in front of the kiddies."
Twilight looked at her students. "Right. Let's get back."
"Ocellus?"
Silver was the first to notice Sandbar and Ocellus enter the room. Once she pointed them out, however, the rest realized it as well.
"Ocellus!" Gallus was the first to hug their very-much-not-dead friend, though the others were right behind him.
"So these are your students?" Tempest looked the group over. "Kind of a ragtag bunch, huh?"
Silver looked right at the mare. "Do I know you?"
Tempest shook her head. "Nope. I wouldn't mind changing that later, though. For now, I need to talk to your teachers."
"That's fine." Sandbar rubbed Ocellus' head. "I'm not going anywhere else tonight."
Twilight motioned to Pinkie and led the adults out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Smolder had an immediate question. "How did you survive? You were stabbed! A lot!"
Ocellus giggled, clearly tired. "Castor had discovered how to meld with trees, for hiding, defense, and healing. I learned how to do that when I got his staff. She didn't hit anything vital, so all I needed to do was restore missing flesh. Er, wood." She let out a heavy sigh. "Did nothing for my sleep, though."
Sandbar laid her down on a pile of pillows. "Well, you have an excuse to sleep in. I'm sure the professors won't mind."
Gallus scratched his cheek. "Though we are due for a tongue lashing soon."
"I'm sure the Headmare won't go too hard on uuuaaaAAAHHHH! Gasp!"
"Relax," Sandbar said, digging his hooves into the Changeling's back. "I know what I'm doing."
"S-Sandbar. Nngh. I-it's alright. Ah. I-I don't neeeeeeeed..." Ocellus suddenly looked... very happy. "Mmmm. Don't stop." She closed her eyes and started to snore.
The other students smiled at each other, though Smolder was the one to speak up. "Do you loooooove her, Sandbar?"
Sandbar chuckled. "Yeah."
His friends stared for a second, then laughed as quietly as they could.
"Okay. Sure," Gallus said through his snickering. "Don't deny it or anything."
"Celestia?" Twilight stared straight at her mentor. "What are you doing here?"
Starlight coughed. "I sent her a message. Figured it would be best if she knew."
Celestia placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "She said one of your students is missing."
Twilight giggled. "Not anymore. Pinkie told me that Sandbar left, so I met up with Applejack in the forest and we went to find him. When we did, though, Ocellus literally dropped onto him."
"She is alive!" Rainbow let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I was worried we had a definite bad ending on our hooves."
"Especially with Gilded Lily scaring us." Spike flew in through the window. "She was at the clock tower like the note said."
Celestia smiled at the flying dragon. "Oh! You molted."
"It's not quite a good ending."
They all looked at Tempest.
"Right." Twilight turned her whole body towards Tempest. "You had something to tell us."
"What was it?" Applejack was already worried. "You couldn't talk about it in front of the students."
Twilight put her hoof on Tempest's shoulder. "What did you find?"
Most ponies would have hesitated, but Tempest was used to the concept and the term. "Death."
"Death? Oh." Rarity quickly calmed herself down. "You found Chrysalis too, huh?"
Celestia was stunned. "Wait, Chrysalis is dead?"
"Yeah. Applejack and I found her. We think Fluttershy got corrupted and killed her while in that state. She was surrounded by some odd looking wood pieces that Starlight thinks were used... to..." Rarity noticed Tempest's confused expression. A moment later, she came to a horrible realization. "It wasn't Chrysalis, was it?"
Tempest shook her head. "There were several ponies, and I didn't find any wood."
Celestia bit her lip. "Do you have any idea who they were?"
"There are two possibilities, and I'd definitely prefer one over the other." Tempest pulled something out of her bag; a blue, circular amulet with the moon placed in the middle.
Celestia's eyes widened. "The Night's Embrace?"
Tempest nodded. "I hope they're the victims, but that depends on what this other emblem means."
She pulled out another amulet. This one was was yellow, and decorated with a horseshoe and two laurel leaves.
They all fell silent.
"The E.E.A.?"