Princess Luna ruffled through the papers once more, working through a few calculations in her head. A small crystal of light hung high above her, illuminating the dark blue walls of her solitude.
She scanned through the charts, trying to swallow down the staggering figures before her.
"Where's all of this coming from?"
A knock came on the door. The alicorn quickly placed it aside, sliding it between a stack of books.
"Come in!"
The door swung open, with Princess Celestia stepping inside. She gave her sister a feeble smile, settling herself down on a velvet, Hitchcock armchair. She sighed in frustration, looking at Luna with a darkening frown.
"I've been thinking... about the so-called prophecy you've mentioned."
"And?"
"I'm not so sure about it, though."
The white alicorn gazed at a clipboard she held in her hoof. She flipped through a few pages, before showing it to her sister.
"As far as we know, the Voyagers disbanded like five, six years ago. I can't imagine why would they regroup together after the... incident."
"Especially the ones that generally can't," Luna continued her sentence, studying the charts carefully.
"That's strange..."
"What is it?"
Luna took her version of charts from between the stack of books, handing it to the white alicorn.
"I've been studying the same thing as well," she explained, tracing her hoof along the red line.
The line quickly reached the top of the chart. Princess Celestia could only frown upon it, trying to understand the statistics.
"For some reason, there was some sort of energy surge here."
Princess Luna nodded her head. "Exactly."
"And not only that, but for the past few days as well."
The white alicorn flipped through the other clipboard, comparing the charts with hers. Her face instantly turned sour, settling both clipboards on the study table.
"It doesn't occur in the day. Somepony doesn't want to be caught using up all this energy."
"Who?"
"I don't know for sure."
Princess Celestia stood up, looking out the window. A darkening frown started to grow on her face, the alicorn letting out a frustrated sigh.
"But I'm sure it's not a good sign."
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"Would we be seeing you again, Prim?"
Primrose just chuckled at Pinkie, handing her a rattan basket filled with herbs. The afternoon sun glared brightly above them, dimmed down only by an approaching group of clouds.
"I'm sure you would!" the caramel pony said with a wink.
Twilight walked up to the mare, giving her a grin.
"Thank you. For letting us stay and curing me."
"Don't mention it!" Primrose said, shaking the lavender unicorn's hoof.
It was Rainbow Dash's turn. She flapped her wings gently, landing carefully in front of the mare.
"It's pretty cool here. I don't mind coming back!"
The caramel pony let out a chuckle, hugging the blue pegasus. A small breeze blew between them, ruffling Primrose's brown sweater slightly as she gave Rainbow a smile.
"Anytime, Rainbow Dash. Anytime."
Lastly, Pinkie stepped forward, with Gummy now huddling sleepily in the basket of herbs. She gave Primrose a grin, before hugging her tightly.
"I'll miss you, Prim."
The caramel pony tried not to shed a tear. She bring the pink pony's ear closer, whispering with concern:
"Be careful."
Too soon, the two friends separated, letting out a slight chuckle. Primrose chuckled at the sleeping Gummy, the alligator curled up in bundles of thistle and rosemary.
"Remember. Walk south, then turn straight into Fenderville."
"I'll keep that in mind!"
The three ponies started trotting down the path, waving back at Primrose. Pinkie bounced happily, shouting out to her friend:
"Bye! See you soon!"
"I will, Pinkie!" the mare shouted back, brushing her mane aside as it tossed around in the chilling wind.
"Be sure to visit me again!"
Pinkie nodded eagerly, before prancing down the path with her friends.
Primrose watched the three ponies from the patio, a warm smile creeping onto her face as Pinkie laughed.
She wandered back into the house, slowly shutting the wooden door with a sigh as she placed her sweater on the chair, sighing deeply with a faint nostalgia tingling in her voice.
Primrose turned towards the kitchen, immersing herself into a warm aroma of garlic soup. She sprinkled a few sprigs of parsley and thyme, stirring the tempting brew with a wooden spoon.
The door opened from behind. Primrose's ear twitched, detecting the sounds of hoofsteps approaching her. She continued stirring the soup, ignoring the pony.
"What's for today, Primrose?" a voice said with a chuckle. The caramel mare heard him settle down on the couch, the unmistakable squeak of the couch ringing through her ears.
"Just garlic soup. Nothing really much, though..."
She turned around, her face darkening quickly as she finished her sentence:
"Mirror Mare."
The masked pony looked out the window, watching closely at Twilight, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash as they disappeared from view into the horizon.
"I thought they would never leave."
Primrose just eyed the pony suspiciously, pouring the soup into a bowl before handing it over to the masked pony.
"What do you want?"
"Just some time-off, that's all."
Mirror Mare drank from the bowl, licking its lips with a satisfied sigh.
"And a little bit of appreciation."
"For the chaos you've caused?" Primrose said with a scoff. The caramel pony poured another bowl for herself, sitting down across the masked pony with a grimace.
"Appreciation is the last thing ponies like us have in mind."
"That was the mindset of Sidus, Primrose Custard."
The masked pony faced her, the white mask intimidating the mare with its stitched grin.
"That was how Sicarius disbanded. Because nopony appreciates assassinations anymore."
A small dagger streaked beside Primrose, whizzing through her mane before stabbing deeply onto a wooden post.
The mare didn't stop to gasp, instead furrowing her brows at Mirror Mare.
"You're here to kill me, I suppose."
Mirror Mare laughed from beneath the mask, ruffling the cape slightly.
"That dagger was intended for somepony else."
"Somepony you really know."
Primrose slammed her hooves on the table, before pointing at the pony with a glare.
"Don't you dare touch her!"
The masked pony only cackled coldly at her response, stabbing another dagger onto the table, just beside Primrose's hoof.
"She still hasn't gotten over it yet? I can't imagine that to happen for such a pony like her."
"You killed her!" Primrose shouted defiantly.
"You killed her right before Pinkie's eyes! Did you know how deeply hurt she was?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It does matter, you selfish wretch!"
Primrose pulled the dagger from the table, throwing it towards Mirror Mare. The masked pony deflected it easily with its hoof, letting out a small laugh.
"Dear, dear Primrose. You really never understand, do you?"
The masked pony stepped towards the door, ignoring the caramel mare's ferocious glance as it continued:
"Sacrifices had to be made, Primrose."
Mirror Mare swung its cape around, the wind blowing across its mane. Primrose could only watch it disappear into the forest, as its booming voice continued:
"It was, and has always been, her choice."
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Winter tried not to belch at the scene before him.
Chief Griffonhooves was beside him, signaling to a few other police ponies as they dragged a body from the ceiling.
"Be careful with the ropes."
Slowly, the body was pulled down, revealing an alabaster stallion. Blood poured in gallons from his neck, flowing into a large pool of it below. A small piece of rope was wrapped around the hoof, the remainder still hanging on the ceiling
Chief Griffonhooves turned the dead pony's head to look at its neck. A giant slash was carved deep inside, making Winter turn away in disgust.
"Pony's name is Snapper Newsflash. Journalist from Fillydelphia."
"One slice, with a razor." the chief estimated, taking it down into his notebook.
"Maid reported a waterfall of blood falling from the ceiling. Called us straight away."
Winter could only nod. His white face turned a slight green as he examined the stallion's body.
Four more giant slashes were aligned on his back, with one more striking through them.
"Five..."
Chief Griffonhooves looked up to Winter.
"Pardon me?"
"The slash marks." he explained, pointing at the grotesque marks on the dead pony's back.
"It's the tally mark for number five."
"Of course!"
The chief quickly took it down, slightly muttering under his breath.
"But what does it mean?"
A small glint caught Winter's eye. He tapped the police chief's shoulder, who was talking to another police pony.
"Griffonhooves, help me turn the body around."
The two ponies turned Snapper's body around, revealing his frozen face of terror. Winter avoided the pony's widened eyes, instead gazing over at his mouth in suspicion.
"His mouth is closed," the Patriarch inquired. "Isn't it strange for a murdered pony to have a closed mouth?"
The chief got closer to the body, trying to force the jaw open.
"His mouth is sewn shut... there must be something inside."
The police pony took a scalpel from his kit, slowly slicing through the threads holding the dead pony's blue lips together. Winter watched in anticipation as Chief Griffonhooves pulled a small, round object out of the dead pony's mouth.
"Strange thing, isn't it?" the chief said, passing it to the Patriarch.
Winter examined the round object, stained in dry blood and saliva. The smell reeked of rotten skin, among many other chemicals covering its surface.
The white pony tapped it against one of the marble column in the grand hallway, the object clinking lightly in response.
"It's a coin," Winter concluded, handing it over to Chief Griffonhooves.
"There might just be something underneath that rot. Maybe to reveal the next Hostia Prima."
"I'll see to it that it'll be sanitized."
The chief placed it in an airtight bag, tightly sealing it before handing it to another pony.
"So you're saying Mirror Mare's wanting us to find the next victim?"
"It's playing a game with us, Chief."
Winter glanced at Snapper's body, the scars on its back shining a bright scarlet in the sunlight.
"And we're stuck right in the middle."
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...and never before a pony dared to defy that law, until in the year 430, when a pony named Ganja Twister led a full-fledged rebellion against the Canterlot Ministry. This became known as the infamous Deterriere Revolution...
Rarity groaned in annoyance, slamming her face onto the tattered pages of the book.
"Why can't it contain something better? Like dressmaking lessons or finding the best jewels..."
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Rarity turned around, looking to see a scaly, purple face staring back at her.
"Hey, Spike."
"Got anything?" the dragon asked, sitting down beside her as he took a glance at the book.
Rarity tried not to scream. Instead she looked at the book with a small frown.
"I really hope so. There's nothing in this dumb thing except for facts, facts and facts."
Spike chuckled at the unicorn's frustration. He closed the book, before telling her:
"Speaking about facts, the fact is you haven't had lunch yet."
Rarity let out a slight chuckle, looking over at the clock.
"I know, Spike," she said as she stood up.
"But I can't let Mirror Mare run loose like that. It can hurt one of us at any moment!"
Spike just rolled his eyes, pecking his beloved mare on the cheek. Rarity giggled as she pushed him away playfully, the dragon landing on the soft bed behind them.
"Want me to bring lunch again, Rarity?" he said with a beaming smile.
"No need for that, Spike."
Octavia stepped into the room, giving both of them a smile. Crimson followed behind closely, carrying a heap of boxes on his back.
Rarity could only look in amazement at the boxes. Spike just grinned as the couple approached them, slowly setting down the boxes on the table.
"What's all this for, Octavia?"
"You don't remember?" the grey mare said with surprise. Crimson laughed a little, making Octavia nudge him.
"What, 'Tavi? It is quite unheard of, after all."
Rarity just looked at them in bewilderment.
"What is unheard of?"
Spike took one of the boxes, flashing his claw out as he grinned at the unicorn. He used it effortlessly like a blade, sliding across the corners as the cardboard flipped open.
Rarity gasped in disbelief, gazing into the contents of the cardboard box on the dragon's lap.
A round, vanilla-scented cake stood before her in the box, topped with three red candles. The surface was coated in light-blue icing, with a drawing of three blue, sparkling diamonds in the center of the cake, slightly above a set of cream-colored words that spell out: 'Happy Birthday, Rarity!'.
The others chuckled as Rarity looked at the cake, still trying to run through what just happened.
"Why... it's.. it's just..."
"Beautiful!" she finished her sentence, her eyes sparkling with glee.
Octavia stepped forward, rolling her eyes at the unicorn's enthusiasm.
"It was all Spike's idea. He was the one that got everything for you."
Rarity turned to Spike, who was scratching his head with a shrug, his cheeks turning bright red.
"You did this? For... for me?"
"Why not?" the dragon chuckled, hugging the mare. "I'll do anything for you, Rarity."
Crimson let out a small 'awwwww...', making his marefriend nudge him once again.
Rarity's eyes watered, overwhelmed by surprise and joy.
"Th-thank you.. Spikey..." she said with a giggle.
"No problem at all, Rarity," the dragon said, stroking her curly mane. He quickly turned to Octavia and Crimson.
"What are we waiting for, guys?" he asked. "Miss Rarity here needs her birthday song right away!"
With a playful laugh, Octavia took out a violin from one of the boxes. Crimson just stood, clearing his throat.
As the grey mare started playing the violin, the sound humming across the room, Crimson's voice came in, harmonizing along with the melody, singing out the song:
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter,
Togetherness, girl, is all I'm after,
Whenever you need me, I'll be there.
Rarity chuckled with Spike's arm wrapped around her, watching the two ponies singing together as they danced around the room:
I'll be there to protect you,
With unselfish love that respects you.
Just call my name, I'll be there.
Spike suddenly stood up, with Crimson and Octavia striding backwards. He cleared his throat, making the unicorn gasp as he continued the song:
I'll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you,
I'm so glad that I found you.
The dragon winked at Rarity, making her giggle with a blush. Octavia and Crimson stepped back to the front, continuing the song together with Spike.
I'll be there, I'll be there
Just call my name, I'll be there...
Spike grabbed her hoof, kneeling in front of her, making Rarity raise up her other hoof with a gasp. The dragon gave the white hoof a small kiss, with the unicorn blushing redder than before.
Just call my name, I'll be there...
Rarity clapped her hooves in fascination at the small performance. Crimson and Octavia bowed, a keen smile on both of their faces as they watched the couple in an embrace.
"Spke, that was the kindest, most marvelous, most beautiful thing I've ever seen!"
The unicorn kissed Spike on his cheek, hugging him tightly. The dragon blushed a deep red as he muttered:
"Uh... thanks, I guess."
Crimson's booming voice suddenly broke in, completely destroying the moment:
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's chow down!"
Octavia groaned at her coltfriend, with Rarity and Spike chuckling slightly.
The unicorn sliced the plastic knife deep into the cake, closing her eyes as she blew the candles out.
"Well?" Spike asked cheekily, grinning from ear to ear.
"What does the birthday mare wish for?"
Rarity rolled her eyes, giving him another kiss on the cheek.
"I don't know, really..." she replied slyly with a grin.
"...maybe to spend more time to be with a certain, cute gentledragon."
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"Finally."
Dresden opened the latch on his knapsack with a sigh, placing a few more vials back inside. He swept a little bit of dust off the study table he rented from Winter, getting ready to depart from the Palace.
A soft knock came onto the door, before it swung open.
The Patriarch stepped in, giving Dresden a warm smile.
"Leaving so soon, Dresden?"
The light-blue stallion just chuckled, swinging his knapsack around his neck.
"You know very well I can't stay here for long."
He sighed, glancing out the window with a small frown.
"I appreciate you let me stay though, for Caper's funeral."
"He was a good pony." Winter strode towards the witch doctor, giving him a smile.
"He made Autumn a happier mare."
"Remember, he was the one that killed her source of happiness."
Dresden furrowed his brows as he continued: "It wasn't his choice to do it. Somepony asked him to."
"Like who?"
Dresden shrugged his shoulders at the Patriarch's reply.
"No clue at all. But until then, I'm going to watch my step."
....
Chief Griffonhooves handled the tongs carefully, slowly pulling out the metal they found inside Snapper's sewn mouth. The surface of it is now gleaming brightly, with intricate carvings on both sides.
The police chief held his breath as he settled the steaming piece of metal onto a glass side, sliding it under a white microscope.
A small knock came onto the door as he turned the lens on the device.
"Come in."
Winter Palgiot stepped into the room, straightening his black suit. He just returned from Autumn and Caper's funeral, greeting the police chief with a small 'hi'.
"So," he asked, "what did you get?"
"I can tell you it's some sort of coin."
Chief Griffonhooves looked up from the microscope, slightly puzzled at his presence.
"Weren't you talking to the witch doctor just now?"
Winter blinked his eyes in surprise.
"I was planning to do that. I thought he might like to finish cleaning up first."
The police chief pondered a moment, before shrugging his shoulders.
"I could've sworn I saw you enter his room."
"It might be somepony else," the Patriarch suggested, turning the microscope towards him.
"Or you could've just forgotten, Sir."
Winter rolled his eyes.
"I'm sure I'm not that forgetful, Chief," he muttered, looking through the pair of lens.
Chief Griffonhooves bit his lip, watching the Patriarch turning the lens slowly.
"I'm not sure about that, Sir Palgiot. I would recognize you when I see you."
Winter suddenly gasped, prompting the chief to ask:
"What is it?"
The Patriarch turned to him, his face turning into a dark frown.
"This coin... I know who Hostia Prima is."
Suddenly, his eyes widened in horror, gazing at the door leading into the palace gardens. He quickly galloped towards it, with Chief Griffonhooves following him hurriedly, still bewildered at the pony's behavior.
"Who is it, Sir?"
Winter flicked the coin towards him. The chief examined the coin once more. On the heads side, he saw a metallic dove carved onto the surface, frozen in flight.
He turned to the other side, greeted by a silvery, ace inside the shape of a poker cards, the corners of the chrome-plated card topped with the suit of spades.
The chief took his gun from the table, his eyes glued to the coin in confusion.
"I don't get it."
"Mirror Mare is on the move," the Patriarch finally said.
"This time, it's impersonating me."
...
"You won't take any chances, do you Dresden?"
Dresden turned to the Patriarch with a sigh, slowly stretching his hooves.
"The two of us got killed in this town, by the same pony."
He looked out the window once more, letting out a small mutter:
"It's only a matter of time before he gets us as well."
The atmosphere around him suddenly turned cold. Dresden rubbed his eyes in disbelief, seeing a white stallion marching up to the palace, a few police ponies following behind, their guns at the ready.
"Winter Palgiot...?"
Dresden quickly turned around, just in time to see the 'Patriarch' turn into a dark void. The shell melted away into the cracks on the ground, revealing a caped pony, its mask stitched at the lips.
He reached for a double-blade he hid in his knapsack, raising it as the pony before him laughed coldly.
"Always the fool, I suppose."
The masked pony raised his hoof, snapping it loudly. Immediately, a small click rang from the door, the lock on the door sliding quickly into place.
"What do you want from me?"
Dresden swung his knapsack to his back, gritting his teeth with a growl as Mirror Mare slowly advanced towards him.
"Just reminiscing...."
The two ponies turned in a circle, with Mirror Mare now unsheathing his own pair of twin daggers. The masked pony smiled from underneath its mask, letting out a snort.
"Look at you now, Dredges Deniers. All grown up."
Dresden just scowled:
"You still look ever the same."
Mirror Mare laughed at his comment, before continuing: "It's been, what? Five, six years?"
The masked pony suddenly jumped forward as Dresden raised his double blade in defense, the two weapons clashing together.
Dresden buckled his hooves as Mirror Mare's dagger pushed down onto him, his own weapon already scratching down the sides of his cheek.
"Don't you miss me?" the masked pony taunted.
"Not... one... bit!"
He suddenly launched forward, swinging his long blade. Mirror Mare tumbled backwards, letting out a chuckle.
"Dredges Deniers. Always wanting to be first in the team."
Mirror Mare threw a dagger, in which the light-blue pony deftly avoided, the weapon slicing a little bit of his mane.
"Too bad the rest of the Voyager Six never approved it."
Dresden scoffed at that, preparing his weapon.
"I was a different pony when I was in the Voyager Six. They've changed me."
"Into a worthless mutt." Mirror Mare finished his sentence, laughing tauntingly at the witch doctor.
"Being the First... or should I say, Third, Voyager to die is tough, isn't it?"
Dresden jumped into the air, stabbing his blade towards Mirror Mare. The masked pony just slid to the side, letting out a small grin.
With a roar, Mirror Mare launched his dagger towards Dresden's hoof, stabbing it deeply inside. The light-blue pony let out a yelp of pain, blood spurting out from his veins.
He clutched tightly on his injured hoof, biting his lip in pain as he limped, steadying himself back up.
"That the best you got, Mirror Mare? Have you softened?"
The masked pony twitched.
"Soften? But I was only getting started!"
Mirror Mare suddenly swirled in midair, turning into a mini-tornado. The serrated daggers swung along, slashing against the walls of the room rapidly, fragments of it flying across the room.
Dresden jumped away too late, the blade slashed into his other three hooves. He yelled in pain, collapsing onto the floor.
The masked pony landed from its spin, advancing towards Dresden quickly.
"We both know you can't survive, Dresden."
The light-blue pony spat on the floor, a small drop of blood leaking from his mouth.
"C-Come on..." he whispered to himself, struggling to stand up.
"Then prove it, Mirror Mare!" he shouted defiantly at the masked pony, throwing his blade aside.
"Prove that you can kill me!!"
With a roar, Mirror Mare rushed forward, his blade stabbing through Dresden's body.
The light-blue pony grunted, his eyes widened at the sudden pain.
The door behind them rattled. Both ponies could hear Winter shouting as the ponies outside buckled their hooves against the door, trying their best to knock it down.
"The world would never know the secret that you and the rest of your friends have kept..." Mirror Mare whispered into Dresden's ear, the light-blue pony managing to moan:
"T-They wil...will.... soon."
The masked pony smiled. A challenge.
"Then I'll make sure they don't."
The door slammed open, with Winter, Chief Griffonhooves and a group of police ponies rushing in.
Dresden laid on the floor, sputtering and coughing as he gripped his bloodied chest. Winter strode hurriedly to his side, trying to speak as blood flowed from his mouth. The window was now open, the curtains fluttering in a breeze.
Chief Griffonhooves started barking out orders:
"Search the Palace! Get this pony alive!"
"W-Winter.. Winter Palgiot," Dresden managed to moan.
"What is it, Dresden?" the Patriarch asked, clutching the dying pony's hoof tightly. Holding in one more breath, Dresden managed to mutter:
"W..War....Warn the... the others..."
With a sigh, Dresden's hoof slumped to the floor, the witch doctor turning his head to the side, blood still dripping from his mouth. Winter tried not to curse as he looked at the pony's frozen stare.
Something fluttered across the floor, catching his eye. Winter quickly reached for it, grabbing a small piece of paper.
His face darkened, as he read out the taunting message:
"Let the game begin."