Something had compelled her to walk down the secluded path. The familiar sounds of park seemed to fade away with each step she took. Her thoughts drifted from her sisters to her mother, her real mother. She wasn't sure if Queen Harmony had loved her or her sisters. Was her mother even capable of love? She had crafted her own daughters into weapons based on her own fear and paranoia. Hadn't she realized that the Ponies had an army in the form of the EUPGC, not to mention the Pillars and the most powerful sorceresses in existence. The Princesses were that powerful. What were you thinking Mother, Aria thought to herself as she rounded a bend in the trail and found herself standing on a moonlit beach. Aria looked up towards the moon and lookd into the eyes of the Mare-in-the-Moon. Then she felt a presence behind her.
"What do you want Mother," Aria said coldly as she balled p her fists and spread her feet to shoulder width, she refused to turn around and look at her mother.
Aria, you are the fiercest and most hot tempered of my children, Queen Harmony said, But I need to speak with you.
"And why should I listen to you," Aria said as she spun around to face her mother, "you never cared for any of us, and now that you're gone you think that gives you the right to haunt our lives!"
You always were a protector, Queen Harmony replied calmly, I've always admired that about you.
"Hmmph, like you really care," Aria said as she turned to walk away.
Aria, I don't expect you to forgive me, her mother shouted, but I come to you with a warning.
Aria stopped in her tracks and turned back around and looked at her mother, "A warning? What kind of warning?"
There are ancient and powerful beings that have slumbered undisturbed for a countless number of ages, Queen Harmony explained, recently one of the most ancient and powerful of these beings has begun to awaken, and I fear that it will devour both Equestria and your new home.
"And what am I supposed to do about it," Aria stated as she pointed at her neck, "it's not like I have any magic any more."
You have all the magic you will need, Queen Harmony answered, I have always been proud of you. Look after your sisters and the rest of your new family.
Slowly the image of her mother began to fade and Aria found herself once again standing in the park on the secluded trail.
"What in the name of Starswirl's beard just happened?" Aria asked herself.
<SNAP!!> Aria turned at the sound of a twig being snapped.
"Well, well, well," Gilda said, "if it isn't Monsters Inc, and she is all alone."
"Gilda," Aria said as she looked around, "where is your partner in crime? Or did you leave your brains at home today?"
"She doesn't need my help," Lightning Dust said as she stepped from behind Gilda, "shame, you are a cute one."
"Are we really going to do this now?" Aria asked as she took off her jacket.
"I'm going to enjoy this," Gilda said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Whoa, whoa," a voice said as Rainbow Dash stepped out from behind a nearby boulder.
"What do you want Rainbow Crash?" Lightning Dust snarled through clenched teeth.
"Let's just say that I am here to make this a fair fight," Rainbow answered, "and to give you a Rainbow Thrash!"
"You have no idea how long I've been looking forward to seeing you crash," Lightning Dust replied.
Aria blinked once. Time seemed to stand still. The tension was so thick, she could have cut it with a knife. Aria could smell the adrenaline in the air. She sized up Gilda. Aria preferred to allow her opponent to throw the first punch, but Gilda could put so much power and force behind her punch, that it would most likely send Aria out of the fight. Her only advantage was her smaller size and speed. Aria could sense when Gilda's muscles twitched. As she side-stepped out of the way she felt the displaced air caused by Gilda's fist as it sailed past her face. Using her momentum, Aria allowed her own fist to collide with Gilda's stomach, her intent was to knock the air out of the larger girl. Aria, Lightning Dust, and Rainbow Dash watched as Gilda folded in half.
"I'm outta here," Lightning Dust said as she watched Gilda fall. She took off running down the trail.
"You. Are. Gonna. Pay. For. That," Gilda gasped as she slowly picked herself off the ground. Neither Rainbow Dash or Aria noticed Gilda reach into her pocket and pull out a butterfly knife, but they both noticed the blade as it sparkled in the sun as she unfolded it with an expertly performed flourish. Both girls took a step back away from Gilda.
"C'mon Big Gee," Rainbow said nervously, "put the knife away."
"Someone needs to put her and her sisters in their place," Gilda snarled as she took a step toward Aria, "they come to CHS and use mind control and who knows what other kind of Voodoo, how are we supposed to protect ourselves from that!"
"Gilda, it isn't worth going to jail," Rainbow pleaded as she stepped between the other two girls.
"When did you go all soft," Gilda said, "I remember when you would have been here by my side."
"I grew up-" Rainbow started to say, but she didn't get to finish as Gilda lunged forward and pushed Rainbow to the ground. Rainbow tried not not to look as she waited for the inevitable.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Gilda screamed. Rainbow opened her eyes. Aria.... was on fire! Yet she didn't seem to be burning or in any pain! In her hand was the knife that Gilda had been holding. Gilda was cradling her burnt hand, her eyes wide with fear. Not taking a moment to try another attack, Gilda ran down the trail in the direction that Lightning Dust had fled. After watching Gilda flee, Aria closed her eyes and felt the flames that had enveloped her subside and extinguish themselves. As she looked herself over she noted that her clothes were slightly scorched.
"What the hell was that?" Rainbow asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Aria answered.