//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: The Dome // Story: Equestria Girls: Fallen Canterlot // by Feather Book //------------------------------// Dust danced in the warm wind and peppered Twilight’s face, tearing at her peeling skin like sandpaper. She threw her head into the crook of her elbow and clenched her eyes shut, wishing she had a soft bandanna like Sunset to shield herself from the elements. A dry cough escaped her and once the wind had settled, she took a sip of warm water from her canteen. “Mind if I have some?” Spike asked, his head resting against her shoulder. The ground had grown too hot for his paws in the midday sun, so Twilight had made room in her backpack for him. Twilight smiled and raised the bottle for him to easily lap up the drops. “Be careful, you two.” Applejack walked close behind them with Fluttershy stumbling along beside her. “It’s not like water is everywhere these days.” “It was just a sip,” Spike grumbled. “Besides, this place is hotter than that desert back in Equestria… You remember, Twilight? The one with that shady town and the awesome pirates?” “Yeah, I remember.” Twilight stepped over a deep crack in the road. The sand and dust had hidden the torn-up asphalt. It wasn’t hard to imagine the city being swallowed by an endless sea of sand, much like the Great Southern Desert back home. “Pirates?” Fluttershy squeaked. “Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Applejack took hold of Fluttershy’s arm to help steady her. “I bet it’s just a great story Twilight will tell us later.” “Quit chit-chatting, we don’t have all day!” Trixie’s voice echoed around the empty street. She threw a glare at them from out under her wide-brimmed wizard hat. Twilight rolled her eyes and continued to trudge along the road. Her clothes felt heavy and clung to her with sweat. Her jacket rubbing against her bandaged arms served as a painful reminder of the sun’s power. Unlike ponies, humans were highly susceptible to sunburn. “Come on, Trixie, don’t be like that,” Sunset said as she walked next to Trixie. “There’s no harm in talking.” “The sooner we get there the better,” Trixie huffed and threw a glance over her shoulder at Twilight. “It’s bad enough that we have to walk.” Twilight winced, not at Trixie’s stare, but at the painful reminder of when they first tried setting out. “I’m sorry, Trixie. But I have never ridden a bicycle before.” “Yes. You falling from it over and over again made that clear.” She shook her head. “At least it was amusing.” “Well, I’m glad you found it funny.” Twilight rubbed the sore spots on her arms. The design of those two-wheeled contraptions was fascinating, but after an hour of falling off them Twilight had decided it was best to study them from afar. “So, Trixie,” Applejack called. “How long have you been mayor for?” Trixie’s pace slowed for a moment. “About two years.” “An’ what ‘bout before then? Ah know Magicland had been around for quite a while longer than that.” “There wasn’t one,” Trixie said, her voice having lost a bit of her usual energy. “It was kind of a self-organising magical commune.” “And then they put you in charge?” “I’ll have you know, I was chosen in a fair and open election.” Trixie quickened her pace as they reached a crossroads. “It’s not much further now.” The junction was just as dead and lifeless as the last fifty of so they passed. Dust swirled around them and gathered in large piles against the abandoned cars. The trees that once lined the now broken asphalt where little more than skeletons and the houses either side of the road creaked and groaned in the wind. Fluttershy stumbled over a pothole and fell against Applejack. “Easy there, ‘Shy.” Fluttershy let out a feeble “Sorry,” and clung limply against Applejack’s side. “Are you okay?” Twilight asked. Slowly, Fluttershy looked up to her. She blinked heavily a few times before nodding. “I’ll be fine.” “We should rest,” Applejack said, wiping the sweat from her brow. She led Fluttershy over to a fallen tree and gently sat her down on it. “It’s midday. We can’t keep going in this heat.” Twilight nodded in agreement. She leaned back against the tree and let out a sigh of relief as she rested her legs. A bead of sweat dripped off her nose, almost evaporating as it fell to the ground. “No, we can’t stop now!” Trixie snapped. “It is of the utmost importance that we get there as soon as possible!” “Come on, Trixie. A small break won’t hurt,” Sunset said. “We still have over an hour to walk.” Trixie rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Sunset. That’s if we go the long way.” “The long way?” Sunset frowned for a moment before her eyes shot wide. “Oh, no. Absolutely not.” Trixie glanced down the road to her right. A set of road cones crossed it, a sign that said “Do not enter,” in faded letters was attached to one of them. “What’s with that sign?” Twilight asked. “That road is nothing but anomalies.” Sunset said. “We’re taking a rest and then we’re going the long way.” “If you’re so adamant for a rest then Trixie supposes that we can rest out here in the sun,” Trixie said with a shrug. “Or, we can go down there where there is the perfect resting spot. Trixie knows the way like the inside of her hat.” “And just where are we going?” Twilight leaned forward on the log and glanced at the package Trixie kept a tight hold of. It was a small box wrapped in purple and blue paper with a matching ribbon tying it together. “You still haven’t told us anything about this mission of yours.” Trixie sighed. “We’re going to the old Magicland, alright? This package must be there today.” She carefully patted the box. “The old Magicland?” Applejack asked. “Ah thought that place was abandoned.” “It…” Trixie fidgeted with the ribbon. “It is, for the most part, but we’ve still got to get there and the sooner we get there the better. That’s why Trixie is taking you this way.” She pointed down the street. Twilight peered down the street. In the heat-haze she made out several strange dark columns rising from the ground. They twisted to the height of a house and flashed with a distant light. “Yeah, that definitely looks magical.” Sunset nodded. “I once saw a madman walk towards them and—” She bit her lip. “The sign is right. We shouldn’t go that way.” Trixie patted Sunset’s arm. “Please, Sunset, Trixie knows it looks dangerous, but it leads straight to the old Magicland. We used that path all the time to sneak in and out.” “Look, we’re not discussing this.” Sunset pulled away from Trixie. “We’re going the long way and we’ll find a nice empty house to rest in along the way.” “If Sunset says it’s dangerous, then Ah agree. Long way it is,” Applejack said. Twilight glanced down the street and sighed. “Well, I guess studying whatever is down there can wait.” She stood, holding onto the old tree for support as her legs complained about the effort. She looked down to Fluttershy who swayed back and forth and offered her a hand. Fluttershy glanced at it through heavy eyes but turned away, falling into Applejack’s side. “Come on, ‘Shy,” Applejack said as she gently held her. “Ah know it’s hard, but just a bit longer.” “I don’t… I don’t think I…” Fluttershy’s voice was quieter then normal. Twilight pulled her water canteen out of her backpack and offered it to her, only to pause. Fluttershy’s usually pale face had broken out in painful red rashes and blisters and her eyes had turned a bloodshot red. Twilight almost dropped her canteen at the sight. She rested a hand against Fluttershy’s shoulder and held it up for her. “Come on, Fluttershy. Have a drink. We’ve got to get you out of the sun.” Fluttershy’s eyes closed, and she fell forwards into Twilight’s arms. “Fluttershy!” Applejack cried and gently shook her shoulders. “Come on, girl. Wake up.” Twilight helped steady her back on the log. She was limp, ice cold to the touch and her rashes excreted a foul odour like old fruit that had been left in the sun. In an instant, Sunset was by their side. “What happened?” “It’s the sun, gosh darn it!” Applejack shook Fluttershy some more. “She’s not used to being outside during the day. She can’t take it. Ah knew she shouldn’t have come!” “She volunteered, Applejack. She should have been rea—” Trixie stopped speaking when Applejack shot her furious glare. “We’ve got to get her inside.” Twilight looked up at the surrounding houses. All of them were in various states of disrepair: some were completely demolished, as if some great beast had trampled them, and the few that did remain didn't appear at all welcoming. The darkness through their broken windows was almost unnatural. In one, the shadows moved as she looked at it, and another had black tendrils creeping out of the window. Nightmare Creep Sunset had called it. The mad used it as food and it only grew around the nests of a nightmare. “Applejack, you’ll have to carry her,” Sunset said. “There must be safe shelter nearby—” “She needs more than shelter, Sunset! She needs… She… Look, we’ve got to go back.” “We will not!” Trixie snapped. “It took us all morning to get here. We’re too close to go back now.” Applejack flashed red. “She could die if we don’t!” Trixie rolled her eyes. “Look, we’re closer to the old Magicland then we are to the new and even closer still is a safehouse. We can be there in fifteen minutes. Now do you want to retrace your steps or keep going?” Applejack gritted her teeth and just glared at Trixie. “There’s shelter and medicine in the safe house. She will be safe there. Trust Trixie.” “Ah trust you about as far as Ah can throw my hat.” “So, pretty far then?” Trixie said hopefully. Applejack growled, but a small rasp from Fluttershy grabbed her attention. She lifted Fluttershy into her arms, pulled Fluttershy’s hat down to protect her red face. She then looked Trixie in the eyes. “You really know the way through that death trap?” Trixie nodded confidently. “Fifteen minutes to the safe house. Half an hour to Magicland. You'll get there safe and sound or my name isn’t the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Sunset held the bridge of her nose and nodded. “Fine. Okay. We’ll follow you, Trixie.” A clatter down the street jolted them, snapping the group’s attention towards a lone figure that staggered out into the road a few houses away. Their hair was an unkept mess, matching the dirt-covered clothes that hung raggedly off their body. They twitched and shrieked incoherently as they swiped at the air. “Oh great. All this shouting as attracted the local lunatics,” Trixie said coldly. Twilight was taken back by Trixie’s nonchalant tone. Whoever that person was, they were suffering from the madness much like Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Cranky Doodle were. Not to mention that they posed a threat. How could she be so casual about it? The mad person looked over to them, staring curiously and again cried, “Snap!” It was a long, and desperate cry as if they were pouring their soul into the word. A shiver ran down Twilight’s Spine. Trixie turned to them all. “Let’s get going. Trust me, it’s safe but no madman would be foolish enough to follow us through there.” “But we’re foolish enough to follow you through it?” Applejack muttered with a sceptical frown. “Trixie, are you sure you can get us through there in one piece?” Twilight said. “Can Trixie pull a rabbit from a hat?” Trixie beamed. Twilight rolled her eyes. “That's a yes. Now come on, we don’t have the time.” Trixie turned and strolled down the street, brushing past the no entry sign. Sunset sighed and turned to the others. “Just stick close to me and everything should be okay.” “Yeah,” Twilight said, trying to hide the nervous twist in her stomach. “We’ll be right behind you.” They hadn’t even reached the strange pillars before the smell of ozone stung Twilight’s nose. A static tingle crawled its way up her skin and the silence was broken by a faint ringing sound that echoed around them. The road looked as if it had been melted and crushed down into a long winding path. The strange pillars arched over it like the bones of some ancient beast, their dark, rocky surfaces glinted in the sunlight and small flashes of greenish-purple light ran over them. The light sparked at the pointed tips of the pillars and arced between them like some kind of arcane conduit. Twilight’s heart jumped when she hit something with her foot, almost tripping into Sunset. She glanced back. There was a discarded watering can slowly floating into the air as if it was weightless. Sand and dust swirled around it like a dancing smoke. “You know that feeling when someone lifts you with magic?” Spike whispered in Twilight’s ear. “I’ve got it all over me right now.” “So do I, Spike,” Twilight replied. She shivered as they passed by one of the twisted pillars. There was a spark of green that caught her eye. Her foot slipped, and for a moment she felt as if she was going to float off into the air before her stomach lurched and she stumbled forwards. “Do be careful, Princess,” Trixie said. “Follow me and don’t touch anything.” “Can’t you feel the magic, Trixie? This much ambient magic is dangerous.” “Only if you don’t know the path,” Trixie said smugly. “And I do.” “And just how’d you figure that out?” Applejack asked. Twilight glanced back to her. She was stumbling along behind them with Fluttershy safely in her arms, carefully navigating between the magical pillars and the floating junk. “A magician never reveals her secrets,” Trixie said, giving Applejack a knowing smirk. “You’re not the first group I’ve had to lead through here either.” “The Witch Hunters,” Sunset said quietly. “This is how you escaped them.” Trixie nodded. “This is the path of the great exodus from one Magicland to the next,” she said sombrely. “Lead by yours truly, of course.” Trixie paused for a moment with her hand against her chest in a prideful pose. She let out a low breath then span around almost too quickly, her cape flourishing out behind her. “Now, come on. You’ll just love what’s next!” Twilight continued to follow, making sure to trace Trixie’s steps as carefully as she could. She passed a shoe floating in the air and gave it a curious nudge. The shoe spun away from her weightlessly until it hit one of the obsidian pillars. A bolt of green lightning shot out. Twilight jumped and shielded her eyes from the blinding flash. When she blinked the daze from her eyes, the shoe was gone, leaving only a cloud of ash floating in its place. “I did say to be careful,” Trixie called. They moved through the ruins of a home. Fragments of wood, furnishings and the twisted remains of household possessions hung in the air like they were caught in mid-explosion. On the other side of the building, the dirt and sand gave way to a thin layer of moss and lichen that lay over the dead ground like a creeping carpet. Twilight and the others paused, stunned by the sight. “Well, Ah’ll be,” Applejack whispered. Flowers had sprung out from green ground, blooming a rainbow of colours. Ivy grew up the broken remains of a dog’s kennel and a child’s play set and from it sprouted yet more flowers. Twilight had to blink, unsure of if what she saw was real. They were flowers. Actual flowers. They wouldn’t look out of place in the meadows around Ponyville. Trixie continued forwards, crushing a small blossom of flowers under her boots. She stopped and turned to them. “Trixie told you it would be sight to see! But this is just a mere hint of what is to come.” She threw her arms wide, and it was only now that Twilight noticed what Trixie had stopped in front of. A shimmer was the best word she could find to describe it. It hung in the air like a giant bubble. A faint reflection of Trixie shimmered on the cloudy, wax-like surface as ripples of light flowed around it in an unnatural sheen. Twilight took a few steps forward, careful not to step on any flowers. “What is it?” Sunset grabbed her shoulder. “Wait!” She shot a look to Trixie. “Trixie! This looks just like the barrier around downtown.” “Does it? I’ve never been there so I wouldn’t know.” “I’ve heard that if you touch it the magic will rip you apart. Even getting too close can hurt.” “Oh please.” Trixie rolled her eyes. “I’ve gone through here plenty of times. See!” Before Sunset could object, Trixie threw out her arm and it passed through the bubble. It’s glistening surface moving around her arm almost as if it was trying to pull her in. “It looks like a shield spell,” Twilight said. She reached a hand out and placed it against the bubble. It was cold to the touch and tingled ever so slightly. “A rather advanced one too. Nothing compared to what my brother can do but still pretty good. But why is it here? How is it here?” “Beats me.” Sunset said. “Are you sure this is safe, Trixie?” Trixie dismissed Sunset’s concerns with a wave. “Is it safe? Hah. Of course it is, Sunset. Trixie would never take you into danger. Now, come on. We’ve got to keep moving.” Without missing a beat, Trixie pushed herself through the bubble and disappeared into a faint shadow on the far side. Twilight, Sunset and Applejack all looked at each other for a moment. Applejack sighed. “Ah swear, if there’s a monster on the other side, Ah’m letting it eat her.” She stepped through with Fluttershy in her arms. The bubble eagerly swallowed them too. “I don’t get it,” Sunset muttered. “This shield looks just like the one downtown. But this one is harmless.” “I don’t know, Sunset,” Twilight said. “Shield spells can still let things through if they’re set up right.” “Yeah. I know. It’s just odd, that’s all. Who’d make something like this?” “Perhaps they were trying to protect something,” Spike said. “Maybe. Well, there’s only one way to go from here.” Sunset took a deep breath and pressed against the bubble. Soon she had vanished like the others. “Okay,” Twilight said to herself and took a deep breath of her own before pressing against the bubble. There was a tug on her arm, like a large icy snake had coiled itself around her and was desperately trying to drag her in. Twilight gulped and held her breath, trying not to struggle against the pull. She pushed forward and felt the coldness envelop her. Then the pain started. Her skin burned. The cooling grasp of the bubble had turned into a smothering fire that clawed at her skin. She opened her mouth to scream, only for a torrent of firefly-liquid to fill her lungs. Her eyes opened wide, but she saw nothing but a roaring wave of light and colour that twisted and burned at her mind. Then the pain soothed. Like a turbulent sea had suddenly calmed into still pond. A refreshing coolness washed over her, leaving her dizzy and faint. Her body was numb and the light in her eyes shifted to a bright rainbow before clearing. She fell to her knees and into Sunset’s arms. “Twilight!” Only part of her mind registered Sunset’s voice. The world around her twisted gently from side to side. Every sense told her to gasp for air, but all she could manage where a few deep, smooth breaths. The air was cool and crisp, and smelled faintly of dew on fresh flowers. She closed her eyes and took several deep, shaking breaths as the feeling returned to her arms and legs. “Twilight! Are you alright? Twilight!” “Twilight! What’s wrong?” “What did ya do to her!” She winced at her friend’s voices. They were all so loud. Just like the sound of birdsong in the air. She opened her eyes and stared at the green grass below her and frowned. This wasn’t like the strange creep outside the bubble. It was actual soft grass with only a hint of the old asphalt between the cracks. She blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the golden light and looked up. Trees. Actual, real trees with thick green leaves and moss and ivy hanging from their healthy trunks. The harsh sunlight had turned golden, gleaming in the dew drops like glitter and shimmered in faint, magical ripples in the air. Twilight had only been away from home for four days, but the sight made her heart leap. Trixie stood in front of her. She was still like a statue and stared wide-eyed at Twilight. Applejack was at her side, her face red with anger but she threw a worried glance towards Twilight. “Twilight!” Sunset said, shaking her. “Ah! Not so loud.” Twilight winced, only to be pulled into a tight but not unwelcome hug. Sunset pulled back to stare into Twilight’s eyes. He eyes were wide and full of fear and concern. “Are you okay? What happened?” “I… I don’t know,” Twilight said. She took another deep breath and placed a hand against her head. She felt exhausted. Not because of the heat and walk, but like all her energy had been drained. It was a struggle to keep her eyes open, but the golden rays of light that pierced the thick, green trees above them kept her alert. “Where are we?” “I-Inside the dome,” Trixie said she took a step backwards and glanced away. “It… Twilight, I have no idea what happened to you. Trixie… I swear I don’t.” “You said it was safe, Trixie!” Sunset snapped, shooting her friend a glare. Trixie winced and then gave a small nod. “Y-Yes I did. I did say it was safe. I’ve never seen anything like that before. I have no idea what happened.” Twilight eyed her up and down. The Trixie she knew was a great showmare, but she wasn’t a good actor. The look of guilt and fear in Trixie’s eyes were far too strong to be an act. “Twilight?” Spike wriggled himself out of her bag and fell to the floor before resting a paw against her knee. “I’m fine… I think,” she said with a sigh. With Sunset’s help she rose to her feet. After a moment to steady herself, she nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.” Trixie let out a small breath and straightened her hat, whispering something under her breath. “What was that?” Applejack said, still glaring at Trixie. “Trixie said she was glad that Twilight is well and that we should continue.” For just a moment, Twilight saw a look of sincerity about her before it vanished under her mask of a showmare… or was it showman in this world? Twilight shook her head. “I believe you, Trixie. Let’s just keep going.” Trixie cleared her throat. “In that case…” She threw her arms wide. “Welcome to the Dome! Trixie’s secret paradise!” She grabbed her cape, flourished it and held it in front of her, letting only her narrowed eyes peek out from below her hat. “But beware. For its beauty is teeming with hidden dangers. The Dome has a mind of its own and if you displease it then it will strike you down!” Trixie twisted to the side. Her star-covered cape unveiling an ivy-covered statue in a small pool of clear water. Twilight stared at it for a moment. It was a statue of a man kneeling on the ground and shielding himself from something. His face was twisted into a scream, but it was his eyes that caught Twilight’s attention. No sculpture could capture a look of fear in their silent stillness as realistically as this statue had. A sickening feeling grew in Twilight’s stomach as she remembered her own experiences of being a statue. “This guy where was a Witch Hunter,” Trixie said with a small shrug. “What do you mean?” Applejack asked slowly. “She means, he’s been turned to stone,” Twilight said, almost breathlessly. Sunset’s eyes widened. “But who would do that? Who could do that?” “Trixie has no idea, but he was the only Witch Hunter foolish enough to follow us as we were—” Trixie’s voice caught in her throat and then she snarled. “He was the only one who followed us as we fled the attack on Old Magicland.” “But what happened to him?” Applejack asked. “Beats me. All I know is that he got what he deserved.” “Are you sure?” Twilight asked. She couldn’t take her eyes off the statue. He was young, with long, unkempt hair and a ragged, torn duster coat, all having been turned to stone with him. He had tried using his right arm to shield himself from something, no doubt whatever turned him to stone. But now the arm lay broken in the water under him. But she kept coming back to his eyes. They reminded her of the look Discord had when they turned him to stone for a second time. And while Discord definitely deserved his fate, he was a friend now. And wherever this man was, could he have really been bad enough to be left like this? “If you knew what he did, Twilight, you would agree,” Trixie said, lacking her usual dramatics. “Witch hunters are cruel, selfish and angry people. They want nothing but to hurt us and take from us just because of our magic.” “But stone?” Applejack said. “Ah can’t imagine how horrible that must be for him.” “It isn’t painful,” Twilight said, unsure if it was to comfort her own troubled thoughts or everyone else’s. “It’s kind of like falling asleep.” “And a fate too good for him,” Trixie humped. “But enough dawdling here. We have a mission to complete.” Trixie turned and walked into the thick undergrowth. After sharing a few looks, Twilight and her friends followed. Twilight pushed aside hanging leaves and carefully followed in Trixie’s footsteps over the uneven ground. She had only been away from home for four days, but she couldn’t resist reaching out and feeling the damp leaves. They felt real enough. “I never thought I’d feel so amazed at seeing tees.” “Same,” Applejack whispered. “Ah never thought Ah’d see somethin’ like this again.” She glanced down to Fluttershy’s sleeping form. “If only you could see this place.” “I’m sure she can on the way back,” Twilight said, also keeping her voice low but she didn’t know why. Perhaps not to disturb the peace of such a paradise; or perhaps it was because of the shadows deep between the trees. There was an unnatural darkness to them, much like the deepest parts of the Everfree forest. Then there were the ghosts of buildings, having been broken and absorbed by the greenery. They passed a rusting car with a tree growing out of its roof and an overturned truck lying in a golden pool. A raven sat on the truck, watching them with its beady, dark eyes. “Trixie used to come here all the time,” Trixie said as she easily navigated the uneven ground. “It was Magicland’s secret paradise. But like everything else, those witch hunters took it from us.” “What happened?” Twilight asked. Trixie stepped over a fallen ivy-strangled lamppost. “They attacked in the night,” she said. “Trixie lead everyone she could out of the town and we eventually found the mall.” “I’m surprised it was empty,” Sunset said. “It’s basically a fortress with everything you need in it.” Trixie nodded. “Exactly why we went there. And we didn’t just move in. We had to make sure it was safe first.” “Mad?” Trixie nodded. “And a nightmare.” The trees thinned out and the group stepped out into an open cracked street. Twilight blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light and then gasped. There was a floating island with a house on it. The ground around it had fallen away into a deep water-filled basin which someone had tied a rope bridge across and to the island. Above them the dome shimmered like an aurora and rays of golden light fell to water, scattering the scene with little glints and glimmers like starts. “Well, ah’ll be,” Applejack whispered from other her shoulder. “Yeah. It certainly something,” Sunset whispered. “Magic,” Trixie said and threw her arms out wide. “Isn’t it wonderful! This is the safehouse.” She looked over to Fluttershy. “You can rest here if you want, but we’ve still got to get to Magicland today. Just don’t trust the water it’s… temperamental.” “What does that mean?” Applejack asked. “Well… We all thought it was fine for a time, but one day we saw a deer trying to drink it and it suddenly sprouted extra legs and turned albino. No one has touched it since.” “Right…” Applejack chewed on her lip for a moment. “This will have to do. Thank you, Trixie. Everyone else should keep moving.” Trixie nodded and pressed on towards the bridge, only to come to a sudden, startled stop. Trixie did a double take as she stared off towards the edge of the basin. Twilight followed her gaze. There was an old park bench by the water’s edge. On it lazed a young woman with long-flowing orange hair from out her wide-brimmed black hat. She looked over to them, gazed out from under her orange sunglasses and waved. “Cooee!” “Who are you?” Trixie snapped. “How’d you get in here?” “Oh, it’s such a lovely day, isn’t it? I thought I would just have a nice sit next to the lake on my way home from shopping.” The woman pa pair of shopping bags to her side. Both stuffed full of clothes and fabrics. She stood, smoothed out her unblemished black and blue dress and smiled at them. “Oh, but where are my manners? The name’s Sassy Saddles. A pleasure.” Sassy Saddles, store manager of the Canterlot branch of the Carousel Boutique, or at least that’s who her Equestrian counterpart was. Despite the difference in species Twilight could see the similarity. She was also quite clearly mad. Her smile was too wide and her eyes that still peered out over the top of her sunglasses held the same distant, fogy look that Cranky Doodle had. Sunset stiffened and gently nudged Twilight and Applejack in the back. “We should keep moving,” she whispered with a small tremor in her voice. “Get to Magicland. Now.” But Twilight didn’t budge. If this Sassy Saddles was anything like the one back home, then there might be a chance. “Do you know Rarity?” she asked. Sassy Saddles moved towards them. She threw her head back and laughed, running a hand through her long hair. “Know Rarity? Now, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Why do you ask?” Twilight’s heart jumped. She knew Rarity. Twilight opened her mouth to ask another question, but Sunset grabbed Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight threw a glance behind her. Only Sunset’s wide eyes were visible between the letterbox of her black hat and her red bandana. Yet her pupils had shrunk to fearful pin-dots. “Everyone. Run. Now,” Sunset hissed. “Oh, sequins and stars!” Sassy cried. “You’re her, aren’t you? You’re Applejack! “Me?” Applejack took a step back. “Oh, my, it’s exactly as she said you’d be. The hat, the accent, although your hair is a mess.” Her head twitched to the side and she held up a beckoning finger. “Come here, let me see.” “Ah’m sorry, but we really should—” “You could come with us! Oh, everyone would love to meet you. Yes, yes. We can get you a new outfit and everything. It will be simply wonderful.” “She’s not going anywhere,” Trixie said, stepping in front of Sassy. “We have an important mission so we must be on our way. Now, move along.” Sassy frowned. “How rude! I was just being polite.” “Is Rarity there?” Twilight said. She couldn’t hold back her curiosity. If Sassy knew, it might just be their closest lead to finding Rarity. “No!” Sunset said, tugging on Twilight’s arm. “Rarity isn’t there. Twilight, she’s dangerous.” “Sunset Shimmer.” Sunset froze. Sassy was glaring right over Twilight’s shoulder at her. “I should have known it was you. You’ve still got that same drab hat.” Sassy shoved Trixie to the side and marched towards Twilight and Sunset. “How dare you show your face again after what you did.” “We want no trouble, Sassy,” Sunset said. There was a tremor in her voice and her grip on Twilight’s arm tightened. Twilight took a step back, pressing herself up against Sunset. “You two know each other?” “Know? Of course I know Sunset Shimmer. How could I ever forget her after what she did?” Sassy’s eyes narrowed at Sunset. “You have no idea how much you hurt us. How much you hurt her.” “I… I do know, Sassy. Believe me, I—” “Excuses are not enough! All we wanted was to be friends and yet you had to do that unspeakable act! It’s ripped a hole in our hearts, Sunset Shimmer. Our lives haven’t been the same since then—” “You were trying to sow a dress to me!” Sunset said. “Only because you wouldn’t wear it.” “It was made of skin!” “Oh, come on, Sunset, leather is all the rage these days. You’re even wearing it now.” “Fake leather!” For a moment Twilight wondered what her own leather jacket was made from, but she quickly pushed the thoughts from her mind. “Whatever happened, I’m sure we can work something out,” she said. “Oh, we are far beyond such civilized things,” Sassy said. She raised her hand with her palm outstretched. Several sparks of light flashed above it and formed into thin metal sewing needles. They hovered still above her hand and pointed towards Sunset. “Stand aside. This is just between me and that monster you’re protecting.” Twilight glanced from the needles and to Sassy’s eyes. They were wild and full of an unnatural, simmering anger. They might as well have been the eyes of some Everfree beast. She gulped and stood up straight. Whatever Sunset had did to Sassy, there was no way she would let anything hurt her friend. She looked Sassy in the eyes. “No.” The corners of Sassy’s mouth twitched before she let out a cackling scream. “Then I’ll sew you up and drag you home with—Hey!” Applejack rushed forward and grabbed Sassy’s wrist and twisted it, knocking the floating needles to the ground. “Ah think that’s enough of that, thank you very much.” “Let go of me, Applejack!” Sassy snarled and thrashed wildly against Applejack’s tight grip. Applejack grabbed her other arm and pulled tight. Sassy let out a scream of either rage or pain and kicked against Applejack’s shins. Thank goodness, Twilight thought. If anyone could keep Sassy at bay, it would be Applejack. But where was Fluttershy? She looked around to see that Applejack had left her resting up against the side of a old car with Trixie at her side. Trixie kept her eyes on Sassy and was slowly backing up towards the rope bridge. Sunset rushed to Fluttershy’s side and held her under her shoulder before shooting a look to Trixie. “Help me.” Trixie looked down and after a moment of hesitation grabbed Fluttershy from the other side and together they lifted her. Sassy snarled and barked like a wild animal. “That’s it, Applejack! I guess you’re one of them too!” A light flashed between Applejack and Sassy. Applejack released her grip and pushed back just in time to avoid an upwards blast of needles from Sassy’s hands. One of them sliced at her chin, causing Applejack to let out a cry of pain as blood dripped from the small gash. The needles twirled around like a flock of birds and darted back down towards Sassy. They flew into her long hair and threaded themselves with the silky orange strands. “I have no idea how Rarity ever considered you lot her friends. You’re nothing but crazy monsters!” “Applejack, run!” Sunset shouted as she and Trixie rushed Fluttershy towards the bridge. Twilight watched wide-eyed as the needles in Sassy’s hair rose on their own, lifting her hair like silken thread. All pointing at Applejack. Applejack didn’t waste a moment. She dived to the side just as the needles shot out, darting through the air like a swarm of hornets. Sassy’s hair flew with them, reeling from her head like thread from a spindle. The needles flew back around. Criss-crossing the air, narrowly missing her back. Applejack passed a old car and grabbed the door, ripping it clean off its hinges before turning and holding it up as a shield. The needles slammed into the door, piercing the thin silver surface. Another set of needles flew for Applejack’s legs. “Applejack!” Twilight cried. She watched helplessly as the needles tore their way through Applejack’s trousers, criss-crossing between her legs, sewing the fabric together. Sassy pulled on her own hair, dragging Applejack to the ground with a yelp. Applejack kicked out and grabbed at the ground, easily managing to hold back against Sassy’s pull. Twilight wanted to rush forward. She couldn’t stand back and watch. She had to do something. But those needles were sharp and were smeared with drops of Applejack’s blood. If only I had my magic! I could teleport Applejack away, throw up a shield, blast Sassy with magic. I could… I could do something! Her nails dug into the palms of her hands as she pressed them to her head. She watched Sassy’s movements the needles’. Sassy had a look of maniacal glee about her as she moved her hands in erratic, but fluid movements like that of a conductor being electrocuted. The needles appeared to follow her movements while keeping a mind of their own. They darted around her and clawed at Applejack who was still fending them off with the car door. Applejack suddenly pulled her legs back, catching Sassy off guard, and then slammed the door down on the strands of hair connecting her to Sassy. Sassy yelled in surprise and pain as she tumbled over, head first. She hit the ground with a thump and her needles fell next to her. Twilight rushed forward and grabbed at the strands of hair woven around Applejack’s legs. The hair was as soft as silk but stronger the steel. Her fingers had trouble pushing between the tight strands as she tried to rip Applejack free of them. “Grab my knife,” Applejack said. “Where?” “Bag. Right side.” Twilight reached behind Applejack’s back and found the blade held securely in its sheath. “Twilight!” Spike cried. She looked over just in time to see a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. Twilight threw herself to the ground as several needles shot over her. She pushed herself back and scurried behind the car before pressing herself up against it and panted for breath. Her hands where shaking and had smears of red on them. Blood. But it couldn’t have been hers. She ducked as several needles ripped through the air above her like darts. Several more slammed into the side of the car with a deep metallic thud. There was a growing, stinging pain in her cheek. She raised a hand to it and felt warm blood seeping from a small gash. “Don’t ya dare hurt her!” Applejack shouted. Twilight peaked around the corner just in time to see Applejack swing the door at Sassy. The needles flew wide as Sassy ducked out of the way of the door. Applejack didn’t waste a moment and grabbed the hair tied to her legs and pulled. The hair spooled off Sassy’s head until it snagged, lurching Sassy’s head forwards. “Let go of my hair you ruffian!” Applejack pulled harder, dragging Sassy to her knees. The needles flew wildly around Sassy like a swarm of hornets protecting their nest. Applejack yelped as one of them stabbed at her hands. She wouldn’t last long. Not as Sassy slowly regained whatever control over the needles she had. There had to be a way to stop her, but Twilight couldn’t get close unless she wanted to become a pincushion. Spike bounded up to her side. “What do we do, Twilight?” “I don't know Spike! I’m thinking!” Twilight clasped her head in her hands and rocked back and forth. She glanced up, examining her soundings. She could try throwing something at Sassy, but what if that just made her angrier? What if she hurt Applejack by accident? And violence never solves anything. Sure, Twilight and her friends had a fair share of fights to save Equestria. But even with the power of four alicorns it was friendship that saved the world for Tirek, no matter how hard Twilight fought. Sunset and Trixie had reached the other side of the bridge. Trixie unlocked the door to the house and was left to drag Fluttershy inside as Sunset turned and ran back towards the bridge. “Twilight! Applejack!” She called. The bridge wobbled under her bounding steps. Sassy’s head strapped up from Applejack, her eyes narrowing at Sunset. The moment of distraction was all Twilight needed. Without even thinking, she launched herself out from behind the car and lunged at Sassy. Sassy let out a yelp of surprise as Twilight tackled her to the ground. She felt a burning prick in her arm, much like a doctor’s needle, but she bit her lip against the pain as she grabbed Sassy’s hands, pinning them under her own. In an instant, the needles fell to the ground and remained pinned against the grass. Applejack yelped as she narrowly avoided being skewered by them. She quickly pulled herself up and ripped away the lower part of her trousers, freeing herself from Sassy’s web. Twilight’s heart hammered away in her chest like Pinkie Pie on the drums. So long as her hands were restrained, her needles were useless. Perhaps they could tie her up or— Sassy twisted and kicked out from under her, threatening to throw Twilight off. With each movement of her hands, the needles shifted along the ground, like iron filings following the pull of a magnet. Along with the needle stuck in Twilight’s arm, just above the elbow. Each movement sent an unbearable burning pain through her arm. She bit down harder on her lip to keep herself crying out in agony. “Get off of me!” Sassy screamed and threw her head forward, sinking her teeth into Twilight's wrist. The explosion of pain was beyond breaking point. Twilight screamed and pulled back, giving Sassy just enough room to spring up, throwing Twilight to the ground. The world tumbled around her before she slammed into the grass covered rocks. The broken asphalt strapped into her side. Her bag took most of the blow, but it was enough to leave Twilight gasping for air. Sassy, her eyes were burning with a bestial blood-shot anger, turned her full attention to Sunset. Sunset skidded to a halt and dived out of the way just as a swarm of needles flew at her. Applejack jumped up and punched Sassy in the gut. It wasn’t with anywhere near her full strength. Just enough to make Sassy keel over clutching at her stomach and gasping. Spike had run over and was pawing at Twilight’s side, knocking her from her daze. She ignored the burning pain in her body and forced herself upright. “Run!” Applejack grabbed Twilight’s arm and pulled her towards the bridge. Twilight didn’t need telling twice. She sprinted to the rickety wooden rope bridge, keeping just behind Sunset and Applejack. They leapt across the wooden plans with Spike trying not to catch his paws in the cracks. It wasn’t far to the water below. There was a prism-like shimmer across it’s perfect reflections that wouldn’t look out of place in a magic mirror. It was in this reflection that Twilight spotted needles shooting towards her back. Twilight didn’t even have time to duck before the needles stuck her back. They scraped at her skin as they wove themselves through her jacket, wrapping her tightly with threats of hair like an expert seamstress. There was a tug and Twilight fell backwards, the bridge swaying violently as she tried to stop herself falling against the wooden planks. The others had stopped and Sunset called out for her, but Twilight was suddenly lurched back before she could respond. The wooden boards of the bridge scraped along her back as Sassy reeled her in like a fish on a line. Twilight yelped and reached out for the bridge rope only for it to slip from her hands. The needles working their way down her body shot out and grabbed her arms, pulling them in tight against her as the hair shifted to warp around her legs. Twilight screamed out, kicking and thrashing. Sunset dived for her, but another hard lurch of the hair pulled Twilight back, just out of Sunset’s reach. The hair around Twilight pulled tight and jerked her into the air. The world spun around her as Twilight screamed. She wriggled and squirmed but the hair only pulled itself tighter leaving her unable to move like a cocooned animal hanging from a spider’s web. Twilight looked up, or rather down as she saw her own reflection staring back at her from the mirror-perfect water below. She gulped. She had no idea how to swim in this body and there was no sight of the bottom of the pool. “Sassy! Stop!” Sunset cried as she glared down the woman, staying a few cautious steps back on the swaying bridge. “Why should I?” Sassy growled. “You hurt my friends, Sunset. So, I will hurt yours. It’s only fair.” Sunset’s eyes narrowed. Her face grew cold and grave as a shaking hand reached into her jacket and pulled out her revolver. “I won’t let you do that.” “So, you haven’t changed at all,” Sassy cackled. “Same old Sunset Shimmer. Returning to the same violence that caused all of this.” To Twilight’s horror, Sunset levelled the revolver at Sassy. Her hand still trembled, but a deep breath brought her steady. “I will not let you hurt Twilight or any of my friends. Put her down and leave.” Sunset’s voice was cool and calm but carried with it a deep anger. Sassy seemed entirely unphased by the threat. If anything, her resolve hardened. The blood was beginning to flow to Twilight’s head. She moaned and gritted her teeth as the dizziness began to set in. There had to be some other way to stop Sassy. But how could you reason with something that is incapable of listening to reason? Something that is out of touch with reality and is full of such anger and hatred towards Sunset. What did Sunset even do to deserve it? Twilight had thought of questioning Sassy on the matter to distract her. But even if it worked, what then? Plead for her life? That was no use. The mad couldn’t be reasoned or bargained with, Sunset had said. They lived in their own words of irrationality where logic and reason do not apply, or at least, they saw things differently to everyone else. Twilight looked to her surroundings. Trixie was on the far bank watching intently and Applejack stood with Spike just behind Sunset. Behind Sassy, new needles where forming in the air and threading themselves with her hair. And by the bridge the park bench still sat with Sassy’s bags on it. Stuffed to the brim with fine clothing that somehow survived in the wasteland around. Clothes! It was obviously important to Sassy just like how school was to Cranky Doodle or Apple Bloom to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Twilight frowned as thoughts turned to a hypothesis in her mind. She hadn’t met many mad, but they all seemed to share one thing in common: they all desire someone or something from their previous lives. Sassy was out gathering clothes, she had said so herself, and if Sassy was anything at all like her pony counterpart then she must be second only to Rarity in her love of them. “Sunset!” Twilight cried. “Stop! Don’t shoot her!” “I’ll get you down, Twilight,” Sunset said, a slight tremble had returned to her hands. “No, I mean aim for her bags!” Sunset threw a quick glance to Twilight. “What?” “Her bags full of clothes on the bench over there. Threaten them, not her!” Sunset’s confused look quickly grew to one of understanding as she moved her aim. It instantly had the desired effect. “No! No, stop! You wouldn't!” Sassy cried. “Put her down, Sassy. Or you can say goodbye to those fancy clothes of yours.” “You really are a despicable monster, Sunset Shimmer,” Sassy snarled. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to find pristine silk these days! None of the stores stock it anymore!” They glared at each other several moments. How long exactly, Twilight couldn’t tell. Sassy’s hold around her was tight and her vision blurred from the blood rush to her head. “Fine. If you want me to put her down, I will.” Twilight felt the threads of hair unravel around her. Her eyes shot wide in a sudden burst of fear as she felt herself slipping from Sassy’s grasp. Sunset shouted something, but Twilight couldn’t hear it over her own scream and the rush of wind as she fell towards her unnaturally perfect reflection. She closed her eyes and braced for impact. There was nothing to grab, nothing to stop her fall. Her mind all but shut down and her body reacted on pure instinct. She tried spreading her wings, only for nothing to happen. Her mind channelled magic into a familiar, well known spell. There was a crackle of magic. She felt the air shift around her and for a moment she was weightless. Her eyes shot open just in time to see green grass emerging from rolling clouds of white smoke. She hit the ground face first. The pain short through her as she fell into a crumpled heap and buried her head into her hands. There were voices calling her name and slowly, she looked up and blinked the harsh golden light out of her eyes. Spike was on her in an instant with Applejack and Sunset close behind. Spike dived on her in the best hug his paws allowed. “Twilight! Are you okay?” Twilight wrapped her arms tightly around her assistant. “I… I think so.” “Quick, get her inside,” Sunset said, throwing a cautious glance over her shoulder at Twilight. She still had her gun out and aiming towards Sassy who remained on the bridge. Twilight was quickly dragged to her feet before she could take in what was happening. Her legs gave out from under her, but Applejack kept a tight grip and was able to effortlessly pull her into the safehouse. Once Sunset was in, Trixie slammed the door closed behind them all and bolted several heavy locks before sliding a plank of wood in front it. “Where’s Fluttershy?” Applejack asked Trixie. “I put her upstairs. Put Twilight in there.” Applejack nodded and carried Twilight into the front room of the house. There was little light as the windows had been boarded up and fortified with sandbags and thick wood but there where a flew soft chairs and couches gathered in a circle. Applejack lay Twilight down on one. “How are you feeling?” Twilight groaned gain. “I… I’ll be fine. Just a bump on my head, that’s all.” “Good.” She let out a sigh of relief. “What about you?” “Just a few scratches, nothing major.” Sunset entered the room and moved over to one of the small in the window and peered out. “Wait… What about Sassy?” Twilight asked, shifting as she sat herself upright. “She’s running from the looks of it,” Sunset said, squinting through the golden light that seeped lazily inside. She let out a sigh of relief. “I can’t believe that worked.” “Worked? She dropped me!” Twilight said. “But…” Twilight frowned in confusion. She was dry. She shouldn’t have been with how close she was to the water, yet she never hit it. She had landed next to her friends on dry land. But how? she thought. She didn’t have magic. It was impossible. Trixie entered the room with a smug grin. “Well, it’s not quite Magicland, but I guess we can rest here. Good job everyone.” “Ah should go and check on Fluttershy.” “Up the stairs first door on your left. There’s medicine in the bathroom across the hall.” “Thank you.” Applejack gave a curt nod and left them. Twilight watched her leave and turned back to her hands. She closed her eyes and focused her mind. She knew magic inside and out. There was almost no spell she couldn’t learn to cast or knew by heart. If she really had teleported, then it should be easy to repeat. “You okay there, Twilight?” Sunset asked, knocking her from her thoughts. Twilight looked up at them. “When Sassy dropped me I… How did I—” “Not drown like a rat in the magic water?” Trixie asked. She snapped her fingers. There was a puff of white smoke and a teacup appeared in her hand. “I have no idea. Tea, anyone?”