Shadow of a Doubt
The Taj Mahoof, on the northeast side of Ponyville, served "home cooking" (meatloaf and mashed potatoes. With cottage cheese and lime gelatin). It also featured a resplendent three tier buffet and the lunch price was popular enough to turn a profit.
Starlight Glimmer's plate held corn, some rice and lentil hotdish, and salad. Starlight herself was watching Trixie approach with three fully loaded plates, which she was maneuvering awkwardly with unicorn levitation. Trixie reached their table and lowered her plates.
Trixie was a travelling stage magician, and her finances rose and sank. Whenever beached for a month or two, there was an unspoken agreement that Starlight would invite Trixie to join her at the Taj buffet, Starlight's treat. Just to smooth over rough waters.
The restaurant was busy today, and almost every table had a conversation going, adding up to a comfortably unintelligible din. Every table kept to its own business, offering everypony surprising privacy.
Starlight ate a spoonful of the hotdish, then looked up at her comrade. "So nothing in the offing until the Running of the Leaves?"
Trixie took a couple of hungry swallows before answering. "Nothing definite. There's a Renaissance fair in Whinnieapolis next month, and I've applied there. I've been there before and they like my costume." Which was a blue cloak and wizard's hat, both bedecked with astrological sigils. "I'm waiting for a reply."
"Like your chances?"
Trixe shrugged and scooped another spoonful of carrot soup. "Meh. Barely enough to cover my expenses. Folks there aren't rolling in money, although they are generous with their tips, I'll give them that." Scoop, swallow, repeat.
"Slow down or you'll give yourself indigestion."
"Right now, I'll take anything I can get."
"You could always increase profit by lowering your expenses."
Trixie actually paused. "What? The Great and Powerful Trixie travel coach class? Never."
Starlight hid a grin.
Trixie spoke around a mouthful of bread. "How're the mmph Changelings."
"Coming along. Thorax is in another tizzy. They're all looking at him to make the big decisions and he's trying to get them to think for themselves. Autocracy versus democracy."
Trixie nodded. "A losing battle. Democracy can't agree on anything and autocracy doesn't listen anyway."
The noise level in the restaurant grew. Somepony somewhere was raising his voice.
Trixie put her spoon down long enough to raise a hoof. "Actually my best bet -- "
Starlight waved her own hoof to silence Trixie. She wanted to hear.
"-- sometimes three nights a week. I've seen [something] that [something something]. I tell you, the damn thing's -- "
Starlight craned her neck. "Did he just say 'haunted'? Is that what you heard?"
"Where?" Trixie was now also looking around. "I didn't hear -- "
"Are you calling me a liar?"
A large overweight stallion had stood up and was facing a table along one wall. Evidently that was Mr Big Mouth.
"Who is that?"
"That one? There?" Trixie turned back to her plate. "I think that's Boss Mustang."
"Boss who?"
"Mustang. He and his brother run a farm just outside the town limits."
"And you know that because..."
"Cheerilee told me. Boss has a reputation as a trouble maker."
"Cheerilee?"
"Yes." Trixie looked defensive. "I do talk to common ponies, you now. Sometimes a school teacher knows a lot more of what's going on in town than her students realize. A couple dozen loose tongues and one attentive adult drinking it all in." Trixie smiled. "She'd've made a good mentalist."
"Okay." Starlight had turned back to the commotion. Two other ponies had joined in and the conversation was now anything but private.
"-- ghosts in this town, pal. The princess knows --"
Princess, Starlight thought. Twilight Sparkle.
"Your princess doesn't know everything going on. And our farm's just outside the city limits. She's probably never even heard of us. And I know she don't know squat about what's been happening."
"We don't get ghosts around here."
"No, just Discord, timberwolves, and Nightmare Moon."
"Look, If something were going on, the princess'd know about it.
"Well, then, she's too lazy or too afraid to do anything about it."
Trixie broke into Starlight's thoughts. "Hey. Boss is trashing your precious princess."
Starlight gritted her teeth. Trixie and Twilight got along like vinegar and baking soda.
Starlight answered, "He doesn't know what he's talking about."
Trixie actually put her spoon down. "Well. I say we have some fun." She stood and started towards the argument. Starlight hurriedly got up from the table and followed her. Trixie and arguments were a volatile mixture.
"Hey! Boss!" Trixie was now in a stately stepping pace as she "announced" her presence.
The bully stallion turned with an ugly face.
"One ought to speak with a civil tongue about our most honored citizen," Trixie went on, showing a smug grin. "Twilight Sparkle may not be perfect, but she is beloved by the residents."
"Hear, hear," one of the opposing ponies muttered.
"That a fact?" Boss Mustang showed no sign of being intimidated.
Starlight took up position just behind Trixie and to her right. The door was to Starlight's own right. "Know where your exits are," Trixie had once told her. She had meant it as stage direction, but to Starlight it made good sense anytime anywhere.
Trixie was going on, of course, digging the hole deeper. "The Princess Twilight does not need me to defend her. But your discourtesy provokes public unrest."
Shut up, Trixie, Starlight thought. Quick check. Did the door open in or out? In. She would use her unicorn magic...
"Listen, witch. My farm's haunted and if your holy princess won't fix things I'll find a way to fix it myself. No damn spook is going to --"
"My troubled friend," Trixie sassed back, "A simple farmhand would know nothing about the truly supernatural. You must approach the princess humbly and plead for help --"
Starlight acted. She could read the signs; Boss's muscles were tightening and Trixie was in their site. Starlight reached out with her horn and snared her friend while heading for the door. Fortune was with them; some couple had opened the door to enter. Starlight bullied through them, Trixie in tow, and ran.
Starlight stopped half a mile away and let Trixie down. She turned on her friend. "Trixie. Do you always have to pick a fight?"
Trixie drew herself up. "Excuse me, it was Boss Mustang who was spoiling for a fight. I simply obliged the gentlecolt."
"I would appreciate it if you would be more prudent when obliging gentlecolts."
"Where's the downside?"
"For one thing, I paid for two lunch buffets and all you got was three spoons of carrot soup."
"Six." Trixie raised high a hoof. "And it was carrot ginger. You must learn to be more observant."
"Trixie!"
"Okay, okay. Chill. Anyway, I appreciate the lunch, even if it was interrupted."
"By you."
"Would you rather we parted company for now?"
"Uh uh." Starlight looked grim. "I want to know what Boss is afraid of."
"Uh, ghosts, apparently."
"Oh, come on. A Visigoth like that wouldn't be afraid of somebody dressed in a white sheet walking around rattling chains. There's something more going on."
"You've been around Twilight too long. You see ghosts in the clouds. Dark magic everywhere."
"I know where evil comes from." Starlight fixed Trixie with her eyes. "So do you. I want to find evil, I just look in a mirror."
Trixie's smile fell. "Wow. Bring a girl down, why don't yuu."
"I'm sorry. I just don't like it when ponies talk about evil and good as being Out There. It isn't."
"Geez. Cut a pony some slack. Most ponies would rather find bad guys Out There instead of in their own bathroom mirror."
Starlight's eyes fell. "True. I just don't..."
"You're as bad as Luna. Just because you tried to kill your sister and enslave Equestria you think that makes you the bad guy."
"Trixie..." Starlight shook her head. "Sorry. We just have different views."
"You have a mood disorder with distorted thinking. I have personality disorders and impaired judgement. Very different."
Starlight grimaced. As a performing magician, Trixie had become a self-styled expert on psychology. "Maybe. But if there is something going on out there, I want to see what it is."
Trixie deflated. "Well, if you want to, go ahead. But I haven't had any sleep since I got to Ponyville. Midday or not, I'm going to bed."
"Me too. For a short nap. See you tonight?"
"If you do, I'll be the one who's asleep. Honestly, Star, I have better things to do than chase after imaginary ghosts."
Starlight scowled. "Well... okay. Get a good night's sleep and all that. I'm going for a nap and an evening stroll."
Lying on her bed, Starlight knew she wouldn't get any sleep. What had Boss Mustang been talking about? Or was he just trying to stir things up? And for what reason? Why did Trixie always march headlong into losing battles? And Starlight was supposed to stop off and let her mentor, Twilight Sparkle, know that she was in town for a few days. And visit Twilight's friends. There was too much going on. Tired as she was, she wasn't
under the cloud had turned magenta with white streaks. The trees were sneaking around again. Wasn't there something she was supposed to be doing? But the parade had already started. Starlight joined in, naked as she was, but the other ponies hurried ahead, leaving her behind. She stood there, and stood there, and stood, as the grounds grew silent, with only cold breeze blowing around her. What kind of dream was this?
Wait. How did she know she was dreaming?
She looked around and saw a dark cloud slowly drifting out of a copse. It was terrifying, but she wasn't moved. Starlight was a detached observer. It wasn't her dream anymore.
The dark mist approached and Starlight could make out the princess Luna walking in steady stately pace toward her.
The Dark Sister stopped in front of her. Starlight knew she should kneel, but didn't.
"Marry, our sister, Starlight Glimmer."
"You... do know Princess Celestia is your sister."
"By blood. We two are sisters by portion."
"Let's see. You appear to foals to soothe their nightmares. You come to fillies to help them cope with their fears. You come to grown mares bringing new nightmares."
"Prettily said. I bring admonition."
"Aw. And I didn't get you anything."
"Attend! Malice abides, and you will be enlisted in its fall."
Starlight stared blankly. "Could you be a little more specific?"
"I play herald. In time the meaning will present to you." And was gone.
Starlight's eyes shot open. She had woken to dusk and cold wet sheets. She was covered in sweat.
Trixie had sworn to sleep, and Starlight knew she would. "Comatose" might be le mot juste. Starlight was on her own. What about Twilight? "Hey, Twi, I'm off to find ghosts. You doing anything?" No. Nor any of the others. Rainbow Dash didn't believe in ghosts, Rarity needed her beauty sleep, Fluttershy would have hidden in a closet, and Pinkie Pie would have said "Sure!" and then scared off the ghosts. Discord? Better the ghosts. Maud, maybe, but Maud was not always available. Too many rocks to investigate. As previously noted, on her own.
A moody Starlight Glimmer made her reluctant way out of town, alternately cussing out her friends and sympathizing with their priorities. Fluttershy had Angel to deal with, which trumped any phantasm. And so on down the line. Starlight welcomed her dissonant thoughts, since they kept her company on the way. Here was the turn off. Fenric Road, unpaved and (near as she could tell) unmaintained for maybe the past ten years. Further down she made out a modest farm home and barn, no doubt the Mustang estate. Starlight slowed down. Across from the Mustang farm seemed to be her goal. A low hill, heavily wooded, with dense undergrowth and large boulders, and fallen timber. Not welcoming. Starlight walked up and down Fenric Road, and finally chose a stretch of grassy plain that slowly rose up one side of the woods.
She came to a point about midway along the woodland. She stepped carefully through the undergrowth and came to a jumble of masonry marking an immense rectangle on the ground. Wooden debris lay around and inside it. Once it had been a house or manor; now it was rubble. Starlight could make out nothing else. She picked her way to the outline of a path, perhaps once a walkway to the front door. Now it was weeds and shrub, covered in shadow.
The night sky was cloudless, and there was a gibbous moon. But everything in the woods was dark and shadowed. She picked her way cautiously along the orchard and timothy.
Bdoom. The noise came from left behind. Starlight looked over her shoulder, but saw nothing. There came a second loud sound, just as anonymous. She hurried forward. Now sparks of yellow light reflected off the leaves and grass, disappearing as fast as they appeared. A deeper thump somewhere farther behind.
Starlight swerved and scrambled forward. There was a thicket of shrub and tall grass between her and the road. The silence itself was now unnerving. Starlight pushed forward and ran into brambles and twigs. She pushed through with her unicorn horn and burst clear, to come face to face with her mentor, Princess Twilight Sparkle, just outside the woods. And not far behind her, a small purple dragon. Spike.
Twilight Sparkle gasped. "Starlight?"
Starlight stopped in embarrassed surprise before her. "Oh. Hey. Twilight. Fancy that."
"Was that you making all that noise?"
"What? No!" Starlight stepped back a pace. "I've just been following -- wait. Have you been too?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Time to compare notes."
"I think it's time we compared notes," Twilight Sparkle said. She paused a second to glare at Spike, then turned back to Starlight. "Long story short. Little Mustang just visited Spike and me to ask us to investigate strange sounds and sights on the abandoned property across from his."
Starlight put on a smile. "Funny thing. Boss Mustang was in town today making a lot of fuss about he was going to find and beat up this ghost thingie that was scaring everypony and Trixie said to me 'Let's have some fun', well, you know how she gets, and starting teasing Boss and Boss started yelling and I sorta horned Trixie back --"
" 'Horned' ?"
"Y'know, a little unicorn magical persuasion to pull her out of the way, and Boss got all worked up and I dragged Trixie away before she could say anything more and --"
Twilight Sparkle raised a hoof. "Stop. Stop. I get the general idea. But how did you end up here? And where's Trixie?"
"Well... Trixie decided that chasing after ghost rumors wasn't really her thing. She went on home to sleep for the next week. As for me... I don't know." Starlight felt uneasy. "I just felt like I'd made a promise to somepony that I'd... look into it."
"Yeah," Spike spoke up. "To yourself."
Starlight nodded. "I suppose so. I just wanted to see what could be out here that would spook Boss Mustang."
Yet again, a pair of deep booms echoed not so far off. Now a swatch of yellow-white light threaded and twisted its way silently among the silhouetted trees. A moment later and it was gone. All held their breath, but there was nothing more.
"Right." Starlight blew out a breath. "I am now officially scared."
"With you," came a thin dragon whine from behind Twilight.
Twilight spoke. "Just to be sure. What did you just see."
"I heard another anonymous whomp and then a streak of light do-si-doed through the back forty and evaporated and I'd like to leave now, please."
"Thought you wanted to know what was going on."
"I just found out what's going on and I'd like to get back to my scrapbooking."
"Great idea!"
"Shut up, Spike. Starlight, we can't just turn and run."
"Sure we can. Twilight, I'll tell you one thing I've learned from studying magic. Failure is always an option."
"My sentiments exactly." Spike ran back toward the roadway as Twilight started after him.
Twilight turned back to Starlight. "You know, I'd say you were a bad influence on him. But that wouldn't be fair. He's his own worst influence." She looked back at the woods, now quiet. "I guess that's all for tonight. The ghosties and ghoulies have left. We'll come back again tomorrow night."
Starlight's smile faded. "We will?"
Twilight started back to the road herself, head high and hooves ajig. "Of course. C'mon. Can the Changelings spare you for a couple of days? Stay at my palace tonight. I'll bring you up to speed tomorrow."
Starlight's eyes narrowed as she began to follow the princess. "You know something about this I don't?"
"Well, no, not exactly. But we can always go through my library." Starlight winced as Twilight blissfully went on. "And there's somepony I need to talk to tonight."
"Tonight? This late?"
"In my dreams."
Dreams? Had Luna come to Twilight's dreams as well? Our cunning sister. "Plots have I laid..."
On to town they trotted, proud princess alicorn, troubled unicorn and shivering dragon.
Once in bed, Starlight Glimmer slept the untroubled sleep of a woodlands creature. She had seen Twilight Sparkle head straight for the library when they got home and knew the princess would not sleep all night. Once Starlight's own head hit her pillow, though, her mind went blank and she was finally and blissfully out.
She awoke refreshed as soon as the predawn was bright enough. She arose, stretched like a cat, and stepped to the window to watch the sun brim above the Eastern hills. A silent nod to Princess Celestia, who made sure the sun rose for everypony (whatever the weather). She did a brief form of Tai Ji, as Zecora had taught her. Ten or twelve minutes, depending on Starlight's mood, but always invigorating. Twilight might have been her mentor, but, hey. Zecora.
On to the dining hall. Spike was laying out breakfast. Whatever it was, she was grateful to have it. Pancakes. Mm, not her favorite. But "shut up and enjoy" she told herself. "Twilight still in the library?" she asked Spike.
"Physically, spiritually, professionally, pathologically." Having vented, Spike trudged off.
A minute later the princess came prancing into the hallway. "Sorry. Sorry. Kind of got lost in something."
Starlight nodded and kept on eating. Twilight sat down across from her and stuck her snout into a stack of pancakes and butter. No syrup; just butter. Oh so Twilight. Starlight finished at her own pace as Twilight wolfed down her breakfast in time to join her guest for a glass of apple cider. Spike himself joined them for a quick bowl of quartz and some small blue gemstones. Starlight and the princess settled back, Starlight to digest, Twilight to rest.
"So. Twi. What have you found out?"
Twilight shook her head. "Nothing too helpful. But verrry interesting" She leaned forward. "About a couple of hours ago I drifted off and got a chance to talk with Princess Luna."
Starlight felt her mane prickling. "Oh?"
"Yes." Twilight yawned. "Sorry. I'm not too much use right now."
Starlight measured her words. "Twi, why don't you go back for a quick nap. I mean right now. Sleep until lunchtime. You can tell me about it after you're rested."
Twilight looked unsure. "You don't mind?"
"No, please. That gives me a chance to check in with Pinkie and the others, and get some fresh air. In fact, I can help Spike with lunch while you're still asleep. Go on. You need to take care of yourself, girlfriend."
Twilight nodded. "Thanks, Starlight." She turned to leave, then looked back at her one time student. "I've missed you."
To keep from blushing Starlight swooshed it off with a wave of a hoof. "We'll have our leisure later." Big friendship smile.
Off Twilight plodded. Starlight scooped up the tableware with unicorn Levitation and trotted off to the kitchen. "Spike honey! I'm leaving now for a bit."
Exit Starlight.
First stop, Trixie's trailer. Nobody home. Starlight left a note attached to the door. "Gone ghostbusting with Twilight. Fill you in when we're done." Very careful with the handwriting. Trixie had to be able to read Starlight’s scribbles.
The rest of the morning passed pleasantly. Pinkie Pie was... random, Rainbow Dash as busy and braggadocios as ever, Rarity eager to show off her latest creations. Applejack paused long enough in her chores to say "howdy", and Fluttershy was introducing a small crowd of frightened animals to a mildly interested Discord. All and good. Well, for them.
Though Discord had looked up from Fluttershy (remarkable in itself) long enough to tease Starlight. "Oh, the Mustangs? Ignore them. There's worse than that out there. Watch yourself, girl." And back to Fluttershy.
Burying dark thoughts about draconequi, Starlight made her way back to Twilight's palace. She paused to catch up on more local gossip with Cheerilee the school marm, just for a bit. Oops. Here she was. Twilight's palace, so soon. Starlight trotted in and made her way to the kitchen.
Starlight helped Spike by staying out of his way, using unicorn magic now and then to fetch something he was screaming for. She also did a smidge of magical cleaning and tidying as the little dragon raced from station to station throwing the meal together. Not a word, Starlight told herself. Leave him to his work. The noon hour passed peacefully (for Starlight) as lunch came together.
So. Lunch. Starlight brought out the table settings, Spike juggled them into place, and Owlowiscious (Twilight's nighttime personal assistant) tended to the candles and window drapes. Starlight sat demurely as Spike presented the food and the owl flew off, probably back to sleep. And Twilight Sparkle made her second entrance.
Starlight stared. That look, in Twilight's eyes, she had seen before. Twilight's twisted little brain had tumbled onto something.
The princess sat down and joined her friend for lunch. Starlight kept her peace. As they finished the peach cobbler Twilight looked up at Starlight, her eyes... well, sparkling.
"You're right. I found something."
Starlight arranged herself. "My my."
Spike, lunch finished, picked up his tray and silently removed himself. It wasn't modesty. He just had better things to do than listen to the twitter of two witch ponies.
Twilight began. "When I told Princess Luna about what we saw, she grew very quiet. She suggested I look for a very old document. Something I read a couple of years ago, but didn't think much about at the time."
"But now."
Twilight laughed. "Now indeed." Her face sobered. "When we talk about hauntings we usually mean some ghost or spirit haunting a house."
"That's... sort of the definition."
"Not the only one." The princess raised a hoof. She was in lecture mode. "There is another kind of haunting. Spiritus loci."
Starlight picked at that. " 'Spirit of the place.' "
Twilight applauded. "Sometimes the real evil is the land itself, ancient evil that began when the ground first formed, an evil so strong that it swallows anything that gets too close. There may be other ghosts or spirits there, but they're actually trapped, slaves of the cursed ground itself, doing what it commands."
"Okay. Now why would you think that's what's going on here?"
Twilight gestured. "While you were out socializing, I asked Spike go look through county records. That plot of land has passed through a dozen owners for the last hundred years. Only one pony ever tried to settle there, one Wisteria Hedge, about sixty years ago. She abandoned the property and retired to a nursing home, badly shaken. She said the land was haunted by ghosts of previous owners, suicides, and murder victims, who visited her every night screaming at her to leave -- or become one of them. She disappeared from the nursing home months later and was never seen again." Twilight leaned forward. "You see? The land itself is the evil force, trapping anyone who goes near there. It hijacks their ghosts and forces them to haunt its woods. But that's not all."
Starlight had been shrinking in her chair. "That's not enough?"
"No. I'm sure the evil there wants to grow, to spread itself. Now it's trying to enslave Boss and Little Mustang, and add their farm to its realm. And them. And maybe all Ponyville, and all of us." Twilight sat back. "But."
"But."
"While doing the research, Spike found that the Mustang brothers have been arranging the paperwork to buy up that land, and expand their farm. I think they're the ones responsible for all the weird noises and lights. Lots of spooky special effects, see. Like Trixie uses in her act. Then Boss Mustang goes to town and talks loudly about the ghosts. And Little Mustang asks me to look into the hauntings. All part of their plan to scare everypony else away while they buy up that land to add to theirs."
"Wait..." Starlight's head was aswirl. "You said you think that place is really haunted, that the land itself is evil."
"I do! It is! I'm sure of it."
Starlight put a hoof to her head and tried to sort things out. "Which means... what?... that the Mustangs don't really believe any of that haunted business, they just want to grab the land, and then what?"
"I think that's exactly it. They don't believe in ghosts or hauntings. But everypony else believes that area is haunted. So the Mustangs hid some special effects out there and waited until everypony else was scared off and they could take over the place for themselves. And that's when the evil that is really there will claim them!"
Starlight let it sit for a few seconds. "There's worse than that out there. Watch yourself, girl." Words of the draconequus. "Twilight? What if... you're too late?"
"Too late?"
"What if the Mustangs have already been, well, possessed or occupied or whatever you want to call it? By that evil? And don't even know it yet?"
Twilight was silent for a minute. Then, "Our objective remains the same." She planted her front hooves on the table. "We have to put an end to the spiritus loci. Then deal with the Mustangs afterwards."
Starlight blew out a breath. "So. After all that. Lovely theory and all, but it comes down to the same thing. How do we exorcise an evil spirit?"
"That's going to take some research."
"Well. You don't need me for that, you're the research expert. I'll stay here in Ponyville and keep an eye out if the Mustangs show up."
Twilight's eyes darkened. "Starlight Glimmer. Your unicorn magic is stronger than mine, we both know that."
"But you're an alicorn now!"
"But you're Starlight Glimmer! And I need you as much as I've ever needed you." Twilight got up and came over to her. "Starlight, I don't think I can do this without you. Please. We'll find the answer, and cleanse that plot of land. I know we can." The princess's eyes had gone from stormy dark to puppy dog pleading. Starlight almost blew her top, then settled back. It was Twilight, and volens nolens, Starlight owed her. It was Twilight who had forgiven Starlight her crimes and given her a new life in Ponyville. So reluctantly, "okay."
Twilight's face brightened, and Starlight brooded.
That afternoon, after helping Spike, Starlight Glimmer sought her princess. In the library, of course.
Twilight looked up, and her happy face spoke promise to Starlight. "Found something."
"Where?"
"In... the area I mostly keep..."
"Locked up."
"Yyyyes."
"The Dark Arts."
"Well... the material that kinda goes..."
"Into places you'd rather I'd stay away from."
Twilight sighed. "Not just you, Starlight. I shouldn't be reading any of those books myself. They're the stuff of real nightmares."
"I get the picture. And what did you find out?"
"I found a very old manuscript, in Old Ponish. I barely made most of it out. But this is the general idea. Way back when, pockets of Good and pockets of Evil danced over the world, keeping each other in check. Over time, as ponies learned that compromise and cooperation accomplished more than violence and deception, Good became more widespread. So Evil shrank down into smaller and smaller packets. Soon there were only small puddles of Evil scattered here and there. But those puddles didn't disappear. They sank deep into the ground, and took root. That made those particular spots, those special places, naturally evil, and any pony that came near them was corrupted by that evil, turning to violence and crime. And when those ponies died by violence, their spirits were trapped by that dark well and became its servants themselves."
"You believe that?"
"Well... it does sort of make sense."
"So where does that leave us?"
"According to that paper, there is a way to root the evil out, and lance it like a boil."
"Eww."
"If you draw the spirit out, you can compel it with a simple charm. However it takes two or more ponies to make it work."
"You -- one. Me -- two. We're good."
"No. This sort of power must be deliberately called out, summoned by name. You and I together might make that summons strong enough, but for the charm we should include Spike."
"Okay, Spike too. I mean three. Let's do this."
"The wording is in Old Ponish."
"Teach me the words and I can do it."
Twilight Sparkle looked troubled. "You can't just pronounce the words, you have to feel them for the charm to work."
Starlight Glimmer prickled. "Twi, we've been here before. If I know what the words mean I can fill it with my own spirit and direct it with my horn. Don't waste time. What's the charm?"
Twilight summoned Spike, and the trio memorized the spell.
When twilight -- the time of evening, not the princess -- approached, the three set out. They hadn't gone a quarter mile before something fast and pink slammed into Twilight. "Whoof!" Pinkie Pie caught her breath. "ahaI I knew I heard somepony out here well not three of you but at least I found you and where you guys all going mind if I join you wherever it is the sun's going down we'd better get a move on!"
It shouldn't be too hard to find something to distract Pinkie before they got out of town, Starlight thought. Pinkie could be distracted by a squirrel on a fence post. Off they went, princess in front, Starlight and Spike following, Pinkie Pie hopping around them. Four was a manageable number.
Then they ran into Applejack.
"Well, out for a little evening stroll, ladies? Figured I was on my lonesome out here. Mind if I tag along?"
Twilight tried a smile. "Ah -- we're actually on a job for somepony."
"Well, I can still walk with you until you get wherever you're going. If you don't mind the company."
Twilight turned to Starlight, who had put on her poker face. Twilight turned back to Applejack. "Sure. I mean, no, we don't mind. It'll be all the way to Fenric Road."
Applejack looked up. "Then we better get a move on. It's getting dark."
Twilight gritted her teeth, but smiled and nodded. Five, Starlight thought. Hopefully that was the magic number.
Nope. A swoop and a swoosh above them proclaimed a sixth. "Hey! Where're you guys going?" Rainbow Dash called out.
Applejack called back. "Twilight and Starlight got some chore down Fenric Road a piece."
"It's pretty dark. I'll stay up here and keep an eye out for you."
"Gracious!" Yet a seventh party heard from. Rarity was walking toward them. "Fancy meeting all of you here! I thought I was alone."
"Hardly," Starlight Glimmer muttered.
"I heard Twilight and Starlight and Spike they're going up Fenric Road I don't know why but Applejack is going along with us and Rainbow Dash is following us up there so it sounds like fun!"
"An impromptu soiree. How delightful." And without asking, Rarity fell in step alongside the other two unicorns. Spike didn't complain. Not that anybody noticed, Starlight observed.
Near the edge of Ponyville limits Applejack held them up. "There's Fluttershy's home." Hard to miss. Birdbaths, hummingbird feeders, bat hotels, and partially eaten bales of timothy hay scattered around. "Might as well invite her along too."
"Sure. Why not." If anyone saw the dark look on Starlight's face nobody said anything.
Applejack walked up to the door and knocked. And knocked. And waited. "Fluttershy!" And knocked. "Fluttershy!"
A small wait later the door opened a crack. "I'm... um... "
"C'mon, Sugar Cube. The whole gang's here and we aren't taking another step without our favorite critter pony coming along."
Slowly Fluttershy made her way outside and closed the door (quietly). "Yes. I know."
Twilight blinked. "Know what?"
From behind Starlight bumped the princess repeatedly. "Move it, Saint Michael." Twilight probably didn't know that Michael was the archangel of the Exorcism. Starlight's Catholic upbringing had its merits.
With Eight now the magic number, the parade started up again. (Princess) Twilight Sparkle took the point, followed by Rarity, Starlight and Spike, then Applejack, Pinkie Pie bouncing back and forth, Rainbow Dash hovering above, and Fluttershy bringing up the rear. The distant rear.
On they went. Luna apparently knew the What. Twilight obviously knew How. What Starlight couldn't figure out was the Why. Sister mine, quo vadis?
They reached the turn onto Fenric Road, and fell into a single file march. Short of their destination Twilight stopped and turned. "Look, girls. I appreciate your company but this is where Starlight and I have some serious work to do. It could be... a little dangerous. I'd rather the rest of you just turned around and went back home now. Not you, Spike!"
"Sounds to me as if you could still use a little help."
"Applejack, why don't you just tell me what everypony else already seems to know."
"Well." Applejack pawed the ground. "Yesterday Starlight over there stopped by the farm to say hello. As she left she said something about 'ghostbusting'." Twilight threw a look at Starlight Glimmer, who just stared back.
Pinky Pie chimed in. "And we've all heard Boss Mustang going around talking about ghosts and how his property is haunted and everypony should stay away until he and his brother could teach those baddies a lesson and send them flying and then the land would be safe again and Starlight said you and she had been to see it so we knew you'd want to do something and try to kick the ghosts out of there but that's dangerous but you always do dangerous stuff anyway so we all decided to come along --"
Rarity interrupted. "Yes, dear. We all met and discussed what little we knew. We anticipated that you might concoct some rash scheme --" Spike rolled his eyes.
Applejack again. "Anywho we came here to help, whatever the Hail Columbia you're up to." She leaned forward. "Care to fill us in on what we all need to know?"
Starlight stepped in. "Look, people, Twilight and I have to deal with a very old and very wicked spirit. If you get too close to it, all of you risk being sucked into it."
Fluttershy shivered. "I hate ghosts and hauntings and scary things in the dark. I really, really didn't want to come. But the others are right. I'm your friend, and we're friends, and... Friends help each other."
Twilight wore a rueful smile. "There is an old charm to lure out the evil presence we think is here. Then I hope we can dispel it. But it could all get pretty ugly."
"Oh." Applejack nodded sagely. "Is that all."
Rainbow Dash landed. "Look, whatever it is, we can handle it. There's no problem we can't fix. We're just too awesome."
Twilight Sparkle raised a hoof. "Okay, ladies. I'm glad you're all here, you can all help, but I have to teach you the song. It's in Old Ponish."
In the silence that followed, Fluttershy alone spoke up. "What's the song?"
Starlight Glimmer took her place next to Twilight. "Gather around your headmare, students. Teacher is about to hold class."
Far behind came a dragon mutter. "And good luck." No one paid attention. Poor Spike, Starlight thought.
With repetition the others caught onto the spell. A couple of them substituted 'kl' for the correct 'll', and Pinkie had trouble with the vowel 'w'. Since Twilight didn't push the matter, Starlight assumed it would work. Twilight said. "Raise your right hoof on 'Hwaefeog'. Lower it on 'Cwman'. Draw back and raise your snout on 'lo Vecern'." The princess demonstrated.
It took a little longer to get the words (and movements) down. By then night surrounded them. They formed a ring before the woods and waited.
Not for long, as it happened. Thumps and loud crashes echoed in the darkness, and before long, strands of pale yellow light fluttered through the trees.
"Don't be scared," Starlight called out. "It's just the Mustangs' special effects. Like Trixie's stage tricks. But the real thing is coming."
Twilight and Starlight joined the magic currents of their horns. Rarity didn't know what they were doing, but willed her own unicorn horn to feed strength and stamina to the two masters.
Before long a dark globular cloud emerged from the ground, then shot up into the air, menacing the ponies. But they had faced terrors before and held firm.
"Now!" And at Twilight's command they called out the chant, more or less in unison. Spike's firm holler held them together. "Again!" Now more sure of themselves, with Spike conducting, they chanted in chorus and gestured as one.
The black mass drifted high into the night sky, then suddenly loosed a hundred bolts, each of which spat out into the sky, over the woods, or onto the ground. Whatever it had intended, the sparks just fizzled and sputtered. Only dim coals fell about them, sizzling on the ground, dying away. The dark cloud, having played itself out, faded to a pale ash white and was soon blown away by the night breeze.
Rainbow Dash stared. "Well, that just happened."
Twilight had gone limp. "That's it. It's gone."
Fluttershy spoke again. "Gone where?"
"Into nowhere. Gone forever." Starlight looked up at the moon.
"Not quite, Starlight." Twilight spoke sadly. "Its power became pure energy, according to that old text. The energy just returns to the planet. Some of it may turn to the Good, or some of it absorbed by other Evil. Only time will tell."
"That's it? We beat the dang thing and that's all there is to it?"
Twilight nodded. "That's all. It had no right to be here. The charm condemned and expelled it."
"Well, I don't believe it. A varmint like that should put on more of a fight when you put up your hooves."
"Applejack," Starlight said. "It was just a shadow. A memory. That's all it was. The old charm called it up and banished it. It was just malice and spite, not the original evil that caused it." Metaphysical dialectic, but let it go.
Fluttershy let out a little shriek. The others turned to see a frightening sight. Above the woods, into the night sky, rose a host of phosphorescent white streaks. As they rose they thinned into glowing threads, and as they rose further, Twilight could make out phantom eyes and mouths just taking shape, and heard, far off, faint whispering.
"Twilight?" somepony asked.
It was Starlight Glimmer who answered, her voice harsh and trembling. "Those are the dead, the ponies violated by that Thing. The souls it trapped and twisted."
Twilight Sparkle stepped over, raised a hoof and rested it on her student's cheek. "That's not you, Starlight. It wasn't you. If anything, tonight you've atoned for whatever you've done in the past. You not only defeated this evil, you freed these ponies to their own fate."
Starlight pulled away, then turned to face Twilight. "I know that. Twilight... you've never done anything you're really ashamed of, something that stained you. I can't help having bad memories."
The thin wisps faded into the night sky. Starlight spoke again, her voice firmer. "That's it. The field is clean. No more spook stuff."
Twilight smiled. "No. No more spook stuff. The souls that were trapped here are gone. And so is the real threat." She stood tall and became Princess Twilight Sparkle. "Ponies, thank you for your help. Without you, I'm not sure we could have done this. Go on back home. Our job is done."
Applejack pursed her lips. "That's it, girls. Nothing to see here. Move along; move along."
"No no, Applejack. Well, yes, sort of. We did what we came to do. You wanted to help and believe me, you all helped us pull this off. I really believe it was the magic of our friendship that made that old song work. But the evil is gone now, and all Starlight and I have to do is deal with the Mustang brothers."
"Oh, that's all." Applejack sniffed. "Well. No point in us all hanging about to help you with that."
"Oh... all right. C'mon. All of you. First we have to clear out all the gimmicks the Mustangs planted out here. But then we're done. All done. And you girls can go back home and to bed while I write a letter to Princess Celestia."
For another hour or so they searched out the woods for sound and lighting effects. Small tape recorders, amplifiers, speakers. A couple of projectors. Some outdoor lamps on timers. Lots of extension cords. Embarrassingly pedestrian, but effective late at night on imaginative passersby.
For the rest of the night and next morning the mares dealt with the Mustang brothers. Bottom line, the two left Ponyville, surrendering their property to the city council. Not much of a property, as it turned out. They had been losing money. And with the eldritch malignancy no longer compelling them, they were more than willing to pull up stakes and try their luck elsewhere.
There followed an afternoon of Pinkie Pie's cupcakes, Sweet Apple Acres cider and pony celebration, during which Twilight was arraigned before an ad hoc jury of her peers to account for her actions. Starlight watched with grim relish. Esoteric ethics on trial before plain horse sense. Discord would have loved it.
After hugs and promises all around, they went their separate ways, Twilight (and Spike) back to her castle (and to bed), Starlight Glimmer on her way back to the Changelings (with a whopping great story to tell).
Starlight stopped by Trixie's trailer, only to find it still empty. She went on home to find Trixie brewing a pot of hot chocolate. Starlight's pot; Starlight's chocolate. "Well, there you are. Have we investigated the haunting?"
"Yep. And we have purged it."
Trixie paused in pouring a second cup. "Oh?"
"Twilight found an old incantation. We used it to rid Equestria of the demon."
"Ah." Trixie topped off the second cup, and served Starlight. "Well. That's the princess's specialty, isn't it."
"Yes it is." Starlight accepted the cup as they sat down. "It is her specialty."
"I'm sure." Trixie sipped at her cup. "Then there was something out there?"
"Oh, yes. Something very bad. But we got rid of it. And the nightmare is over." For some of us, she thought.
Trixie nodded. "Well." Sip. "Hooray for Twilight Sparkle." Sip.
"More than you know." Sip. "You should give her more credit."
"Oh?" Sip. "And what of your own contribution?"
"I did my part." Sip "So did her friends. You needn't be so dismissive." She held up her cup. "Any left?"
Trixie refilled Starlight's cup and topped off her own. "I suppose so. She just seems to treat all these catastrophes so easily. How fortunate."
"Yes. Very fortunate." Sip. "You done?"
Trixie finished her cup with a long gulp. "Yes. Anything else I should know about?"
Sip. "I'm off to the Changelings in the morning. You can come along if you like. For now, time to call it a night."
"Hallelujah. I could still use another nine hours." Trixie set her cup down. "Mind if I sleep here tonight?"
Starlight sighed. "No. No problem. I'll be there in a little bit."
And Trixie was off. Leaving her dirty cup behind, naturally.
Starlight nursed her final cup. Chocolate and evil spirits. And a lot of questions. What really created that evil force? How was it so easily dispersed? What of those lost souls. Where did they end up? Starlight finished her cup and made ready to retire. Rinse the pot and cups, lights off, check the door, nightgown and night light, brush those chocolate teeth, and so to bed.
Trixie was already sprawled over two thirds of Starlight's mattress, muttering in her sleep. If only her fans could see her now. Unicorn or not, Trixie's true magic was showponyship. Starlight sneaked into bed alongside her friend and turned on her side. Running narrative or not, Starlight needed to sleep. And she did.
She dreamt of a distant field, with dancing foals and trees, leaves singing in the breeze, beneath cotton candy clouds. And of a dark mare, on a distant hill, where it was night.
Starlight finally started toward that hill, up it and to the Dark Sister. She bowed.
"Stand by me, Starlight Glimmer I said we are sisters."
Starlight fell in alongside the Mare in the Moon. "Quite an adventure."
"Even so. You and your friends won the day."
"Twilight had it under control."
"You make a good team."
"And we did win."
"So you say."
Starlight looked up. Luna’s expression was inscrutable.
"Didn't we?" Starlight asked.
"Ponyville is no longer haunted. The dead are freed."
"But?"
Luna turned to her. "Have you never heard, no good deed goes unpunished?"
Starlight fretted. "You mean you can't have the good without the bad?"
"I will not say. You must learn for yourself."
"So you have to measure both the good and bad of any action."
"One measures herself -- wisely or no."
"Here I thought we accomplished something. I thought we defeated a devil. Twilight will be disappointed."
"She did well. They all did. Do not rob them of a victory. You and I know whence evil arises."
Starlight braced herself. "I think I do. You lured me and Twilight into this fight, so I guess all we really did was carry out your plan. So what did we accomplish out there for you? Was it Good or Evil? Or maybe a blend of both? Did Celestia approve? Does she even know?"
Luna was unmoved. "So am I transparent. So then is your answer."
"Oh, it was for the greater good, I'm sure. It always is."
"Celestia moved slowly. I expedited matters."
"And all you had to do was deceive Twilight and make me a pawn."
"A willing pawn, I think."
"Maybe. Why did you do it?"
"I feared the charm would not work without Twilight Sparkle's innocence or your redemption."
"So the end justified the means."
"Means always reach an end. Which justify which?"
"That's not the point! And you know that!"
"You are not politic. You are moved because you care."
"... Well then, if that's the case, you must care too."
Luna hung her head. She looked tired. "These anomalies are known to us. Celestia plans to eradicate them all in time. This one presently threatened Ponyville and ponies I call friends. I was moved by concern."
"And you're not sure if it was the right call."
"I was cavalier. Even peremptory." Luna looked at her. "As another pony I know."
Starlight flushed. "So. What did her Highness have to say>"
Luna sighed. "Now we will only know with time."
Starlight let it alone. Things were fine now in Ponyville. Let Canterlot deal with its own.
"You say we're sisters."
"In wisdom. I would call you friend... an you will."
Starlight shrugged. "I like 'sister'. Never had one."
"May not sisters be friends?"
Starlight stared. "You tell me. You've already got one."
"My sister and I... concert."
There's a glowing endorsement, Starlight thought. Aloud, "Beggars can't be choosers. Sister, friend, cohort -- I'll take whatever I can get."
"Even so this mendicant."
"The thing about friends is... you have to be willing to trust."
"And I betrayed your confidence. I... trust I can rebirth it." Was that a little smile?
Starlight looked at Luna. "As sisters, we have our own issues."
"Rather those, than the path I have to share with another."
"Seriously?"
Luna nodded. "In Celestia is my antithesis. In you I find myself. You I may guide and counsel."
"And maybe let me ask sensitive questions?"
"About me?"
"About Equestria, its history, certain ponies' backgrounds..."
Luna's eyes narrowed briefly, then softened. "Always you may ask. We may not always answer."
Starlight let out a breath and nodded. "Fair enough. Friend sister, may I go back to my dream?"
"Please do.” An impish smile. “I enjoy your dreams." The Mare in the Moon flew into the night and vanished.
After a bit Starlight made her way back down and stopped to look out over the scene below. Fillies pranced and trees sang beneath cotton candy clouds.
If not for two particular Sisters, it would all have been charming.