//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: Magic of the Heart 
// by Pegasus Rescue Brigade 
//------------------------------//

Three unicorns stood together in the dark, abandoned house.  Cosmic Glow eyed her host with suspicion.

"Wishing Star, huh?" she asked.  "You're the pony who has a way to finally put Ditzy and Dinky Doo in their place?  You look like you wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Appearances can be deceiving, Cosmic Glow," Wishing Star chuckled.  "And I would know.  I've been deceiving a lot of ponies for the last two months or so."

"Explain yourself," Bright Spark demanded, her aura still at the ready.

Wishing Star rolled her eyes.  "Oh, relax, I'll get to the point in a minute," she chastised, casually dusting off a dingy old armchair with a few swipes of her tail before flopping down in it.  "I know you aren't actually going to threaten me, Bright Spark.  After all, I'm your last resort!  Dinky Doo's got Celestia on her side, and you no longer have any sway at the Academy.  Just face it; without me, you're out of options."

Bright Spark scowled, but said nothing.

"And you, Cosmic Glow," Wishing Star continued, grinning smugly.  "You've got no way to jeopardize Ditzy's job, or steal back her coltfriend.  Heck, you couldn't even stop her wedding.  Not permanently, anyway.  As you are, you're both washed up; cast out and humiliated by those two ponies who left your lives in shambles.

Glow snarled.  "Don't remind me."

"We accepted your initial offer for just that reason," Bright Spark said.  "As much as I hate to say it, you're right.  We are out of options.  But I am not a patient pony; if you truly have the means to make Ditzy and Dinky suffer the way we did, then spit it out already."

"Oh, I do!" Wishing Star giggled.  "And that brings us back to what I was saying a bit earlier, about deceiving other ponies.  Neither of you can ever stage another attempt to drag those two down without them seeing it coming a mile away, but I have a clean slate!"

"Plenty of ponies have that luxury," Glow pointed out.  "But what makes you think you'll be able to get close enough to Ditzy or Dinky to have an impact on their lives?"

"I already have!" Wishing star announced delightedly.  "I've been hired into two very interesting positions in recent weeks.  The first, as the new office manager of Equestria Speedy Shipping Services, and the second, as the new student counselor at Celestia's Academy for Gifted Unicorns!"

She grinned at the other two ponies' identical flabbergasted expressions.  "So you see," she continued, "I've inserted myself intimately into the lives of both the ponies you hate, and neither of them, or any of their pitiful friends, has any idea that my intentions are anything but pure.  And what's more, Ditzy is not yet aware that I've met Dinky, and vice versa.  And that puts us in a very favorable position for making our next move."

"True..." Bright Spark admitted.  "But there's one thing that still doesn't make sense.  You know full well why we are seeking revenge, but what do you have against the Doo family?"

"Oh, my reasons are just a little less direct than either of yours," Wishing Star cooed.  "Ditzy and Dinky haven't personally messed with my life, but that doesn't mean I'm doing this for no reason.  I definitely stand to gain from their defeat, though not quite in the same way as you two.  That shouldn't matter though; we all want the same thing, and if you two are on board, I'm confident we can get it."

The orange mare stretched and placed her forehooves behind her head, reclining and watching Glow and Bright Spark quickly huddle up to discuss.

"Should we do it?" Glow whispered.  "We don't even know this pony, but she definitely has the connections to meddle with Ditzy and Dinky undetected.

"Don't know her?  We didn't know each other until ten minutes ago," Bright Spark pointed out.  "But you and I share a common goal, and it seems Wishing Star does too.  When it comes to something like this, you can't just visit a local business and hire somepony for their help.  We have an opportunity here, and I think if we want to finally have our revenge, we need to take it."

Glow nodded solemnly.  "Ditzy and Dinky left us with almost nothing," she said sourly, "so I mean... what have we got to lose?"

The two mares turned back to their host, who simply smiled at them.  "So... do we have an alliance, or what?" she asked coolly.

"We'll do it," Bright Spark declared, pushing her glasses a bit further up on her snout to appear more professional.  "You said in your messages that you've already got a starting point for us.  Care to elaborate?"

"Gladly," Wishing Star replied.  "Let's start with Glow, if you don't mind.  After all, that half of the operation has already begun."

"It has?" Glow asked, tilting her head.

"You did as I asked, didn't you?" Wishing Star questioned.  "You told me you got a hold of the journal of the late Dr. Candyfloss.  His death, while tragic for them, was awfully convenient in providing us with an opening.  We got lucky; this would've been much harder if he was still around.  It was extremely important that you swiped that journal before I took up my new position there, so no suspicion about its whereabouts would be directed at me."

The journal levitated out of Glow's saddebag, suspended in her purple aura.  "I have it, but I still don't understand what the big deal is," she grumbled.  "Candyfloss was a senile old fool who preached idealistic theories about the power of the bonds between ponies.  This journal is just a compendium of his nonsense."

Wishing Star frowned deeply.  "Well now, I can see why you failed in the past, Cosmic Glow," she said harshly.  "Confidence is fine.  Failure to take your enemies seriously is stupid."

Before Glow could respond, Wishing Star's rosy aura engulfed the battered journal and carried it over to her.  "Dr. Candyfloss, harmless as he seemed, was easily one of the smartest ponies you've ever encountered.  The ponies who worked for him, however, are a little too naive and trusting.  Without their boss's guidance, they'll be easy to manipulate.  There's a reason he wanted them to have this book.  He was always one step ahead; although he couldn't have known we were planning anything, somehow, he would've had the wisdom to help Ditzy and the others prepare for the threat that faced them.  Now, from inside his company, I can drive a wedge between Ditzy and her beloved coworkers, including Autumn Breeze.  And by stealing the journal, we've robbed them of the last bit of Candyfloss's wisdom that might have protected them from our plans."

Glow raised an eyebrow.  "Fine, if it's so important, destroy the stupid book and be done with it," she snapped.

"Don't mind if I do," Wishing Star chuckled, placing the journal down on a small table.  Her horn glowed pink for a moment, and then a hot, sputtering fire burst to life around it.  She aimed her magic at the old book.

"Goodbye, to the last vestige of Dr. Candyfloss!" she announced, unleashing the fire spell.

Immediately, the journal was surrounded with a blinding silver aura, a sphere of light that extended out from it.  It extinguished the fire instantly, and upon contact with Wishing Star, sent the unsuspecting mare hurtling clear across the room.  With a pained cry, she smashed into a shelf on the opposite wall, shattering a display of dusty, forgotten china.

"See?  See!?" she roared, staggering to her hooves.  "Even now, months after his death, that miserable old stallion is a step ahead!"

"It... it can't be," Glow mouthed.  "There's no doubt that was his aura, but... he never used more than the most basic magic.  How could he possibly know a protective enchantment that strong?"

"Because he was brilliant, you imbecile," Wishing Star grumbled, limping back over to the journal, which remained unharmed and once again looked unremarkable.

"May I see?" Bright Spark asked.  "I did work for the finest magical establishment in the land, after all.  I'm sure I can remove any enchantment."

"By all means," Wishing Star said as she flopped down in the chair and worked her aching limbs.

Bright Spark cautiously reached out with her magic, probing the journal to examine the spells within.  Her brow furrowed.

"How bizarre," she said finally.  "There are enchantments that do something very similar to what I just witnessed this one do to you, but it's been cast in a whole different way.  It's almost as if the owner created a completely custom enchantment to do the job of an existing, common one, specifically so that it wouldn't be obvious how to remove it."

"Are we talking about the same Dr. Candyfloss here?" Glow muttered, still in denial.

"You know what?  It doesn't matter," Wishing Star declared.  "So what if we can't destroy the journal?  As long as we keep it out of the hooves of Ditzy Doo and her friends, our mission will be just as effective.  I'll just hang onto this until we can find a way to break the enchantment."

The orange mare stuffed the book into her own bag, before turning back to Glow.  "It will be a slow and meticulous process, but I'm confident I can drive Ditzy and Breeze apart," she announced.  "With Candyfloss gone and his journal in our hooves, you'll definitely have your revenge.  I just need you to give me some time."

Glow nodded slowly.  "Fine then," she relented.  "But I expect to hear news from inside the company whenever we speak."

Now Wishing Star looked to Bright Spark.  "Now, your case was originally going to be much harder," she started.  "After all, even with Celestia's recent disappearance, Dinky still has the remaining princesses and the entire staff of the Academy on her side.  Glow's case was made much easier by Candyfloss's demise, but obviously we'll have no such luck with Dinky."

Bright Spark flicked her tail impatiently.  "You said it was originally going to be harder," she repeated.  "Has something changed?"

"Oh yes," Wishing Star replied, grinning.  "I've been with Dinky in person for mere minutes, and I've already found something incredibly exploitable."

"That she's a criminal?" Bright Spark scoffed.  "It doesn't matter.  Celestia brushed her crimes under the rug.  Nopony remembers or cares what she did?"

Wishing Star giggled delightedly.  "Oh, Bright Spark, Dinky Doo is so much more than just a criminal," she chirped.  "She has a secret.  A secret that, if revealed, could turn almost the whole of Equestria against her."

Bright Spark blinked.  "Do tell..."

Wishing Star smirked.  "Bright Spark, little miss Dinky Doo is a wraith."

There was a long, long silence.  Bright Spark looked a little faint.

"I... I beg your pardon?"

"She's a wraith!" Wishing Star repeated excitedly.  "That trusting old nag Spiral Script believed me when I pretended I had no idea what that was, and told me everything!  It's a big secret, and everypony on staff at that school is in on it.  Shortly before your dismissal from the Academy, Dinky had a serious run-in with dark magic, didn't she?"

"Well, yes, but I was told that Twilight Sparkle and the others managed to control the situation⁠—"

"A lie," Wishing Star said flatly.  "Or at least, half a lie.  It's true that the ancient, evil pony Dinky summoned was sealed away again, but Dinky herself gave in to dark magic that night.  Somehow, though, she's remained friendly and civilized, but that doesn't change the fact that for more than three years now, she's been a monster, capable of deadly force at a moment's notice.  And the school has allowed her to remain there, magically concealed beneath a facsimile of her former unicorn self."

The look on Bright Spark's face was roughly akin to that of a pony who had just won the lottery.  "We... we have to tell everypony!" she declared.  "Wraiths are so fearsome, the whole nation would stand united against even one!"

"And the princesses would immediately quell the rumor," Wishing Star deadpanned.  "No, Bright Spark, we have to be far more subtle.  We can't just tell everypony that Dinky is an abomination.  We have to prove it.  And for that, I'm going to need time to use my connections at the Academy to find out a little more about her."

Bright Spark sighed.  "I suppose you're right," she admitted.  "It seems we're both leaving a lot in your hooves, Wishing Star.  Just let us know when there's anything else you need us to do to further the plan."

"We'll do whatever it takes to leave both those ponies' lives in shambles," Glow affirmed.

Wishing Star smiled.  "Oh, I know you will," she chuckled, as she turned away and began to retreat into the depths of the dark house.  "I'll need help from both of you again soon.  But for now... just leave things to me.  In just a few more months, you'll both taste the sweet revenge you're craving.  That much I can promise."





"Guys!"

Ditzy Doo burst into the employee lounge, causing all of her coworkers to look up in surprise.  Watt, Breeze, and Cloudcover were gathered around the usual breakfast while Wishing Star sat at the meeting table poring over some recent profit and loss reports.  The orange mare was the first to speak up.

"Uh, morning Ditzy," she said awkwardly.  "Something special going on?"

"It sure is!" Ditzy announced.  "Though, uh... it's not related to you, Wishing Star.  Sorry."

Wishing Star giggled and shrugged as Ditzy hurried over to the three stallions.

"Breeze, I found her!" she declared.

Breeze furrowed his brow.  "Found who?"

"I found Sparkler!"

"What!?" asked all three of her coworkers simultaneously.

"W-where is she?" Breeze asked urgently, stepping forward from the group.  "How did you find her?  Is she okay?  Is there any way we can help her?  Did she say anything about us?  About me?"

"Whoa, slow down there, buddy," Watt advised, patting the pegasus on the back.  "You're talking so fast nopony can follow!"

Breeze glanced at Watt incredulously.  The earth pony blinked at him.

"Good thing you aren't like that all the time," he continued obliviously.  "I bet that would get real frustrating."

There was a pause.  Cloudcover stifled a snort.

"Anyway..." Breeze said more slowly as he turned back to Ditzy, "please, Ditzy, what did you find out from Sparkler?"

"I managed to get her to join me at the cottage for a meal," Ditzy explained.  "She was pretty hesitant, but she agreed as long as we were alone.  She's, um... not ready to see you yet."

"I figured as much," Breeze sighed.  "But at least she talked to you.  If she won't speak with me directly, you're definitely the next best thing."

"Did Sparkler reveal anything to you about her troubles?" Cloudcover prompted.

"More than I ever expected," Ditzy said quietly.  "She used a spell that let me view her memories.  I got to look into almost twenty years of her life."

Breeze worked his wing joints nervously.  "And... what did you find there?" he ventured.

Ditzy's eyes clouded.  "Glow... put some ideas in that filly's head," she said sorrowfully.  "Some really misguided ones.  And she enforced them so strictly that eventually, Sparkler struggled to believe anything else."

Breeze's posture drooped.  "So she brainwashed her," he mumbled.  "Glow turned her into what she is now."

She cringed at the pain she saw reflected in Breeze's green eyes.  "Breeze, we can help her," she said quickly, stepping close to nuzzle the stallion.  "There's a good pony still in there.  She's trapped under the layers of protection she built to shield herself from the world Glow showed her, but I don't think she's buried there forever.  Dinky reached the scared, struggling pony deep down inside of her years ago, and I think I managed to reach her again.  She wants to change, but she's beyond the point of doing that herself."

"You've got a plan, dont'cha Ditzy?" Watt asked, leaning in a little too close as usual.

"I've definitely found a place to start," Ditzy confirmed.  "The only solution I can see begins right here, at Equestria Speedy Shipping Services."

Breeze cocked his head.  "What can we do from here?" he asked.

"There was one recurring theme in many of Sparkler's memories," Ditzy revealed.  "A classmate of hers: a young stallion named Presto.  The two of them met at Celestia's Academy when Sparkler was about thirteen, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to be the one to show her the saving power of friendship."

"I imagine Glow cracked down on those dreams quite quickly," Cloudcover huffed.

"She convinced Sparkler that letting a friend like Presto into her life would only hurt her in the long run," Ditzy sighed, wings and tail drooping.  "It hurt even more to watch because... well, I've been in this business long enough to see signs of a crush on a pony's face.  Sparkler really fancied him, but that only made her push him away even harder.  There's a silver lining though; at least in the memories I saw, no matter how distant and cold Sparkler became, Presto never seemed to give up on her.  Even during their last year at the Academy, he held onto the friendship they once had.  He tried to remind her that he cared, that even when she'd shut everypony out, he still wanted to be close to the filly locked inside.  But... he failed.  Dinky was the one who managed to wrench open the door to Sparkler's innermost feelings, but by the time she did, Sparkler was out of opportunities to make up with her childhood friend."

Breeze seemed to understand the implication.  "So you're saying, now that Sparkler might be receptive to another pony reaching out..."

"...then Presto should be the one to do it," Ditzy finished, looking hopeful.  "Sparkler desperately wants to see him again, and Presto... well, I have no idea how he feels, but it would be foolish not to try.  The problem is, we have to find him.  Once we do, maybe Sparkler can finally be with a pony who can pull her out of the darkness that Glow led her to hide in."

"Oh!  Oh!  I wanna help!" Watt announced, jumping in place.  "Pinkie Pie knows just about everypony ever!  If she doesn't know Presto, maybe she'll at least know somepony who does."

"I'm happy to do what I can as well, if it can bring poor Sparkler some happiness," Cloudcover added.

"Ditzy, this is perfect!" Breeze cried, hugging her tightly.  "Even if Sparkler doesn't want to make up with me personally, giving her a chance to be with somepony she does long for is exactly what she needs.  We'll do everything in our power to find this long lost friend of hers."

"Just don't go too overboard," came another voice.

Ditzy turned as Wishing Star stood up from the table and trotted over.  "Sorry, Wishing Star, I kind of forgot you were here..." she apologized.  "But what do you mean about going overboard?"

"It's great that you're all going to help that filly, especially if she's related to Breeze," Wishing Star said, smiling.  "I just don't want you to forget that Equestria Speedy Shipping Services has been struggling a bit lately.  We just haven't had the same success rates that the records say we did during Candyfloss's era."

"Work is important, but this is important too," Breeze said, frowning slightly.  "We may be the only ones who want to help Sparkler; we have to try."

"I'm not saying not to!" Wishing Star gasped, her pink pupils shrinking as she hurriedly corrected herself.  "Sparkler deserves your attention.  I just want to make sure nopony shirks their responsibilities here.  You have a duty to Sparkler, but we also have a duty to Candyfloss, right?"

"Right," Ditzy agreed, nodding.  "Don't worry, Wishing Star.  We'll find a way to make both things happen."

Wishing Star's cheery little smile returned.  "That's all I can ask," she chirped.  "The work day's about to start, so I'm going down to my office to wait for client calls.  Good luck with the plan to find Presto!"

She trotted out into the hall, leaving the four matchmakers alone.

"So Ditzy," Breeze asked, "where do we begin?  Do you have any leads that could help us locate Presto?  Finding one pony in all of Equestria isn't going to be an easy task."

"Well, I don't," Ditzy admitted, "but I think I know somepony who does..."





It had been a little while since Ditzy had been to Cloudsdale, but she still knew her way around as if she'd just been there yesterday.  The light of the setting sun painted the cloud-based architecture of the pegasus capital with brilliant yellows and oranges.

Ditzy wasn't here to admire the scenery, though.  There was a specific pegasus she needed to talk to.

Ditzy turned the corner onto Nimbus Way, and the facade of a large building came into view.  Dozens of pegasi, all wearing matching brown uniforms, fluttered in and out of the windows.  The huge sign above the entrance looked exactly as Ditzy remembered it; she'd flown under it hundreds of times.  It displayed the name of the company that had employed her for nearly a decade.

Cloudsdale Mail and Freight.

Last time Ditzy had set foot in this establishment was more than five years prior.  Much of the staff was probably different than the ponies she remembered, but one pegasus in particular was definitely still here, and she was the one Ditzy needed.

As she stepped into the lobby, she was immediately greeted by a perky young receptionist who looked no older than Dinky.  "Hello!" the young mare called, waving to her.  "Welcome to Cloudsdale Mail and Freight!  Can I help you?"

Ditzy didn't recognize the pony behind the desk, but then again, she would've been far too young to work there, even as an intern, during Ditzy's days with the company.  "Um, hi, I was hoping I could speak with a specific employee," she revealed as she stood and placed her forehooves on the reception desk.  "Is Raindrops available right now?"

The receptionist giggled.  "We have half a dozen ponies with 'Raindrops' in their name," she pointed out.  "Do you have her full name?"

Ditzy took a moment to struggle to remember.  "Uhh... Sunshower Raindrops, I think," she said finally.

The pegasus behind the desk quickly flipped through an employee registry.  "Here we go, Sunshower Raindrops!" she chirped, pointing to the entry.  "I'll see if she's available."

The mare paged Raindrops via an intercom not unlike the one Dr. Candyfloss had always used (although with decidedly better sound quality and less grating feedback).

"Please wait here," she said smiling hospitably.  "Miss Raindrops will be down in a few minutes."

Ditzy sat.  Several pegasi passed by as she waited; she recognized a few of them, and one or two even paused to say a brief hello to their ex-coworker.  A short while later, a lift arrived from somewhere up above and Raindrops stepped out.

"Ditzy!" she gasped, fluttering over to her old friend.  "I haven't seen you since the... incident at the wedding.  I'm so sorry; I hope everything turned out okay for you and Breeze."

"Good to see you, Raindrops," Ditzy greeted, hugging her old friend.  "And don't worry, Breeze and I are as close as ever.  We're still working through some of the fallout, though.  That's actually what I came to talk to you about.  I think there's something you can help me with."

Raindrops nodded.  "My shift's over anyway," she admitted.  "C'mon, let's fly together while we chat."

The two mares stepped out of the company's headquarters and took to the air.  Soon, they were gliding side by side on the warm evening breeze.

"So Ditzy, was it a little weird stopping by the mail company again?" Raindrops asked with a little smirk.  "It sure has been a while since we worked together, huh?"

"Sure has," Ditzy agreed, chuckling.  "Time really flies.  I can't believe Dinky's about to be eighteen.  I'm getting old."

Raindrops glanced back toward the receding skyline of Cloudsdale.  "Some things are always changing, and others seem to be the same forever," she reflected.  "Your life has changed a lot since we were coworkers.  You aren't still bitter about getting fired, and then the whole thing with that huge fine, I hope?"

"Of course not," Ditzy chuckled.  "I miss working with you, of course, but Equestria Speedy Shipping Services is a better fit for me than Cloudsdale Mail and Freight ever was.  Sadly, our boss passed away recently, but we're managing."

Raindrops frowned.  "Even despite that, it's good to hear things are still going okay," she offered.  "But sounds like something else is still bothering you, huh?  What's this about something I can help you with?"

Ditzy chewed her lip for a moment.  "Well, I was hoping you can help me find a certain pony..." she started.  "I know there's a master directory of Equestrian mailing addresses at Cloudsdale Mail and Freight, so I figured that would be a great place to look."

Raindrops giggled.  "Ditzy!" she chided.  "You worked there, you know the rules.  I can't just distribute addresses to non-employees without the consent of the pony in question."

The yellow mare laughed for a moment longer, but her giggling faded when she saw the concerned look Ditzy was giving her.

"Oh, you... you're actually are trying to get an address..." she realized.  "Ditzy, you're an old friend, and you know I'd gladly do you any favor, but I... I can't..."

Ditzy sighed.  "Raindrops, remember the young mare that Glow brought along to crash the wedding?  The one Dinky knew?"

"Breeze's daughter?" Raindrops asked.

"That's right," Ditzy confirmed.  "That poor filly is... struggling right now.  She's depressed and bitter and very, very lonely.  Dinky and I have both talked to her, but I think there's only one stallion in Equestria who can help her find her way back and learn to trust and care for other ponies again.  But I have no idea where to find him."

Raindrops turned away.  "I want to help," she murmured, "but if I break a rule like that, I could lose my job.  Are you sure finding that stallion is the only option you have?"

"The only way I can see, at least," Ditzy confessed.  "Even if it's not through the mail company, I have to find Sparkler's old classmate, a pony named Presto, somehow.  I just... I've seen how much pain she's in, and I can't imagine just looking away and letting it continue.  She's not just another pony, she's Dinky's friend, and my..."

She allowed herself to really, consciously make the connection for the first time.  "...and my... future stepdaughter."

Raindrops smiled sadly.  "And one thing's for sure, nopony is more willing to move mountains for their family than you," she said.

Ditzy nodded proudly.  "And I'll move some more, if that's what it takes to help Sparkler."

The two mares flew in silence for a bit.  Ditzy angled her wings and caught a thermal updraft that sent her soaring several pony lengths higher.  Raindrops flapped a few times to catch up.

"...Anyway, thanks for listening, Raindrops," she said finally.  "I figured it was a long shot, but I'll find a way to find Presto somehow.  I better get home, but nice seeing you."

The grey pegasus began to veer away from her old friend, angling toward the cottage far below.

"Ditzy.  Wait."

Ditzy flapped a few times, hovering in place.  Raindrops swooped down beside her.

"I'll... I'll see what I can do," she said quietly.  "No promises though, okay?  I don't want to do anything I shouldn't... but I don't want a pony my friend cares about to suffer, either.  So... give me some time.  I'll see if I can find any info that might be useful."

Ditzy beamed and pulled the other pegasus into an embrace.  "You're a saint, Raindrops," she bubbled.  "With your help, maybe Sparkler's long lost friend won't be so out of reach after all."





The month of May arrived.  In a calm, often carefree nation like Equestria, few ponies were up at the crack of dawn on cozy Spring mornings.  Of course, the ponies training to be enlisted in the Royal Equestrian Navy were an exception.

Pipsqueak knew he was supposed to be awake with the six o'clock bell, but the early morning sunlight was so comforting.  He rolled in his bunk and pulled his pillow over his head.  This provided approximately half a minute of peace, before the quiet was broken by a voice.

"Pip.  Hey Pip.  Piiiiiip."

Pipsqueak lifted the pillow slightly and glared up into the face of the pony peering down at him from the bunk above his.  "C'mon, a couple more minutes," he mumbled.

The pony up above leapt from his bunk, preventing a hard landing with a single flap of his webbed wings.  He was one of those rare bat-winged pegasi, a breed of pony Pip had never met in person before joining the navy, and was a wiry, scrappy-looking pony with a green coat and fiery red mane streaked with several zigzags of yellow.  A trio of peppers, each a different shape and color, decorated his flanks.

"Ensign Briny is gonna have you scrubbin' the latrines if you're late, buddy," the batpony snickered.  "And you're an earth pony, so y'know, holding that brush with your mouth and all.  Not ideal."

Pip rolled his eyes.  "Shut up, Scoville," he grumbled, nevertheless giving his bunkmate a smirk as he forced himself up and out of bed.

Pipsqueak had arrived at the naval training camp just a week or so after Dinky had left to begin her term at the Academy.  Each recruit had been assigned a bunkmate immediately, and Pip had barely had a moment to himself since.  Scoville Scale, hailing from some far-off town on the west coast of the continent, was welcoming enough, if perhaps a little too eager to joke at Pip's expense.  The batpony also had an astounding lack of any sort of filter when speaking.  Conversations with him were often a little more crass than Pip bargained for.

"Don't you tell me to shut up," Scoville chattered, hovering above Pip as the latter quickly made his bed.  "If anything, you should be thanking me.  I go outta my way to make sure my good buddy Pip doesn't get in trouble with the officers, and all I get is complaints.  The nerve!  I tell ya, Pip, if I wasn't such a forgiving pony, I woulda given you a piece of my mind by now."

Pipsqueak stifled a laugh.  Scoville's comments were all in jest, of course; he just wanted Pip to play along with the banter as always.  "Oh, would you?" he asked, staring up at the stallion floating above him.  "I'm about twice your weight, Scoville.  Dunno how a skinny little git like you would manage that."

Scoville sneered playfully.  "I'd show ya, but there ain't time for that," he said.  "Let's just get to the mess hall before Briny comes in here and starts screamin' at us."

"Okay, okay, just a sec," Pip said, digging into the box of belongings at the foot of his bed.  He quickly found his diamond pendant and slipped it around his neck.

"You and your jewelry..." Scoville grumbled, crossing his forelegs as he continued to hover.  "What's so special about that shiny trinket anywho?"

"This 'trinket' was given to me by my fillyfriend," Pip answered.  "Make fun of it all you want, I don't care; as long as I have it on, she's with me, even when she's a hundred miles away in Canterlot."

"Canterlot?" Scoville asked, finally returning to the ground.  "What, is she some kinda stuffed-shirt noble or somethin'?  Doesn't strike me as your type, Pip."

Pipsqueak shook his head.  "If you must know, Dinky's a brilliant unicorn mage studying at Celestia's school," he explained.  "I have a picture here somewhere, hold on."

Pip dug through his trunk again and soon withdrew a photo of him and Dinky, taken during the Midsummer Holiday they'd all spent together at Clarity's place in Whinnychester.  Scoville took a look and gave a low whistle.

"Hoo boy, Pip, that filly has a nice butt," he declared. 

Pipsqueak rolled his eyes.  "Why am I not surprised that the first thing you do when you see my fillyfriend is hit on her?" he asked dryly.

"I'm not hittin' on nopony!" Scoville declared.  "I'm just makin' sure you know what you've got there!  We may be just naval recruits right now, but if I was you, next time I went home, I'd get right up behind that and announce my promotion to rear admiral if you know what I'm sayin'."

Pip smacked the other stallion.  Scoville teetered sideways, cackling maniacally.

"Har har," the pinto colt said, shaking his head.  "Can we be serious for a couple minutes?"

"I am serious," Scoville said quickly.  "This is my serious face."

Scoville made a face.  It didn't look very serious.  Pipsqueak continued anyway.

"Scoville, listen.  Dinky and I have been really close since we were foals," he began.  "She doesn't look it, but she's been through so much more danger and hardship than I ever have. And despite that, she doesn't let it stop her from treating everypony with kindness and loyalty.  We spend a lot of time apart, so it's really important to me that she knows she always has my support."

Pip clutched the pendant with a forehoof.  Surprisingly, it glowed a few seconds later.  "Huh, she's up early," he chuckled.

"Yeah, I getcha'," Scoville replied, his snarky expression softening into a gentler smile.  "She's a lucky little mare, having a pony like you keepin' her close.  It's nice you found a way to remind her you're thinking of her, even when she's at school and you're here."

Pip gripped the pendant a little tighter, sighing contently at the soothing feeling of Dinky's magic.  "I think that's how she feels too," he said with a nod.

Scoville's mischievous grin returned.  "And you're a real lucky colt," he snickered.  "A filly that's sweet and loyal and has a real nice butt?  Jackpot, buddy.  You got a good thing goin'."

"Scoville..."

Scoville opened his mouth to add what was sure to be more questionable comments, but a much louder voice from out in the hall cut him off.

"Pipsqueak!  Scoville!  Get your aft ends out here or both of you are on double-shift cleaning duty for a week!"

Pip exchanged a panicked glance with Scoville and galloped for the door.  "Coming, Ensign Briny!"





"Well, today's the day," Dinky announced as she trotted into the hideout.

Honeydew and Scuffle looked up from their game of checkers.  "The day of... what?" Honeydew asked.

"The day Dinky starts her counterspell research with Professor Surge," Clarity explained as she trotted in as well.  "I still can't say I'm really on board with the idea though."

"Why's that?" Dinky asked.  "I know dark magic is dangerous, but I'll have three academy staff members and at least one of you three with me at all times.  And c'mon, I haven't had any problem controlling my powers since Scorpio made me a wraith.  Everypony will be perfectly safe."

"It's not really safety I'm worried about," Clarity admitted, rubbing one foreleg against the back of the other uncertainly.  "It's more about... how you've changed over time, I guess.  You used to hate your powers for the first few months after your transformation.  You didn't want to even acknowledge them, let alone use them.  Now you seem almost eager to take them for a spin."

"She has a point," Honeydew said, nodding shyly.  "We just don't want you to start taking something as powerful as dark magic for granted."

"I am taking this seriously," Dinky retorted.  "And on some level, Clarity, you're right.  There is a part of me that's actually really excited to finally see what I can do with my magic, and maybe that's an impact of being a wraith for a few years.  But that doesn't mean I plan to use my powers recklessly."

Clarity still looked wary, so Dinky turned to make sure her friend could see all the black and purple stars on her flank.  "Dark magic is part of my special talent, Clarity," she reminded her.  "All the princesses told me they had confidence that I could find a way to use it to help ponies rather than hurt them, and maybe this is the way to do it, don't you think?"

Her tone, meant only to explain her reasoning and not to accuse somepony or defend herself, seemed to put Clarity at ease.  "I guess you're right," the grey filly relented, smiling a little.  "There's still the matter of taking one of us along to your practice session though.  I can't go; there's a special presentation tonight for the first term foals where some of the professors and senior students are going to speak about how the Academy has helped them pursue their dreams and goals in the magical arts.  Tango and I, being the Overseers, are involved of course."

"I'll go!" Scuffle volunteered.  "I kinda wanna see Dinks in action too.  Wanna come along, Dewey?"

Honeydew glanced up from the checkerboard.  "Well, Tango is busy with the presentation Clarity is going to, so I'll be free..." she admitted.  "Is it alright if I come too, Dinky?"

"The more friends I have with me, the better," Dinky assured her.  "If you're comfortable with being around me while I'm using those spells, I'd love for you to come."

"Yeah, and you can keep Scuffle from egging Dinky on too much during practice," Clarity commented dryly.

Scuffle rolled his eyes and waved away the comment like usual, but Honeydew looked quite upset.  "Clarity, that's mean," she grumbled, giving the other filly a disappointed glower.  "I know you, Scuffle, and Dinky mess with each other all the time, but you don't really think Scuffle is so irresponsible that he'd encourage dangerous behavior, do you?  He cares about Dinky too much to act like that."

Scuffle blinked a few times.  "Uh... yeah," he managed.  "Th-thanks, Honeydew."

The corner of Honeydew's mouth curled up just a bit at hearing Scuffle's rare use of her full name.

Clarity hung her head slightly.  "You know, you're right," she admitted, smiling apologetically.  "I'm sorry, Scuffle.  I'm so used to your exaggerated persona that I guess I forgot how earnest a friend you are when it really matters."

Scuffle shrugged and gave her a smirk.  "Don't sweat it, Clarity," he said casually as he used the tip of a hoof to slide one of the pieces on the checkerboard.  "Just try not to worry.  Me and Dewey will make sure Dinks' practice session goes smoothly, alright?"

"Alright," Clarity agreed.  "Just be careful, okay Dinky?  Don't let things get out of hoof."

"I won't.  I promise," Dinky vowed.  "This isn't a game; it's a chance to help Equestria learn to defend against dark magic.  I'm going to take it seriously."

"And while you're doing important research and being very safe doing it... you also might get to, y'know, enjoy being a badass wraith just a little," Scuffle simpered.  "Ready to finally see what Dinky can do, Dewey?"

"As long as it's not too scary," Honeydew said, smiling sheepishly.

"Ah, you know Dinks, she's only scary when she wants to be," the colt laughed.  "Besides, you'll have me there.  That'll help, right?"

"Of course," Honeydew chirped.  "Oh, and Scuffle?  One other thing..."

Scuffle's ears perked.  "Yeah?"

Honeydew lit her horn and lifted one of her checkers, jumping all four of Scuffle's remaining pieces in one move.

"I win."





"Seal the room," Spiral Script ordered.

Dinky watched as Professor Surge carefully closed the heavy doors of the battle magic arena, bolting them shut and then applying a series of enchantments.  In the stands, Scuffle and Honeydew sat side by side, and counselor Wishing Star was situated a few rows behind them, watching with interest.

"It's done," Surge declared.  "Subtle inconspicuous spells, anti-teleportation wards, three different varieties of magical locks... the whole nine yards.  Nopony is getting in here tonight besides us."

Dean Script investigated the professor's work.  "Very good," she said finally, her purple curls swinging slightly as she nodded.  "I'll be up here in the stands with Wishing Star and Dinky's friends.  For purposes of safety, the four of us will remain there unless Dinky, and only Dinky, requests otherwise.  Got it?"

"Got it," Professor Surge parroted as Spiral Script took her seat.

"Wishing Star, would you mind taking some notes?" the dean asked.  "Professor Surge is going to be a bit busy to be writing anything down."

A notepad was lifted up triumphantly in Wishing Star's rosy aura.  "Already on it, ma'am!" she called.

"So... are you ready Dinky?" Professor Surge asked, turning to Dinky, who was standing alone in the middle of the arena.

"As I'll ever be," Dinky replied.  "I hope you have some idea of where you want to start.  You're the researcher here."

"We'll start at the very beginning," Surge replied.  "For all of us at the Academy, our knowledge of dark magic is entirely derived from academic literature.  I've never seen it in use at all, much less seen it used by a wraith.  Today, I don't think we'll be doing much with counterspells.  First, I'd like you to give us all a little crash course on dark magic, from the perspective of somepony who's experienced it first-hoof!"

"Oh, that's easy," Dinky began.  "Dark magic is really hard for unicorns to summon the first few times, but gets easier with repeated use.  Even once it becomes easier to cast, it's an unpleasant, often unnerving sensation when a unicorn uses it at any stage.  You know that much, right?"

"Of course," Surge said quickly.  "Is it different for you?"

Dinky snickered.  "Wraiths' bodies are designed to wield dark magic," she explained.  "I can summon it as easily as I can call forth my unicorn magic, and cast spells with it quite comfortably.  My body doesn't resist it like a unicorn's does."

To demonstrate, Dinky threw back her head and allowed her horn to erupt with energy.  A churning, crackling aura of purple and black sprang up at her forehead, casting long, narrow shadows.  Professor Surge's eyes widened, and from the corner of her eye, Dinky could see Dean Script and Wishing Star watching with apprehension, and Scuffle and Honeydew with a much calmer curiosity.

"It really is just an intimidating as I've been told," Surge chuckled as the aura around the filly's horn faded again.  "I guess what I'm not quite sure about is the exact difference between a unicorn and a wraith, besides the ease of wielding dark magic, of course.  I've been told you're 'in disguise', so I would assume that means true wraiths can't pass as unicorns without the aid of such camouflage?"

Dinky heard Scuffle snort from the stands.  "Not by a long shot, professor," he called.  "Go on Dinks, show him what you really look like."

Dinky looked skeptical.  "Are you sure?" she asked.  "That might be a bit much to start out with."

"I'm with Scuffle" Surge replied.  "If I'm going to be studying you and your powers, I suppose I ought to become familiar with exactly what you are early on."

Dinky glanced at Spiral Script for approval.  "You have no obligation to fulfill the professor's request," the dean reminded her.  "It's true that it will probably be useful for our purposes, but do so only at your own discretion."

Dinky shrugged.  "I mean, it's easy for me to drop my disguise," she admitted.  "I just need you to understand that it's a drastic change, professor.  Don't, uh, panic and attack me or anything when I do it."

"Heavens, no," Surge promised.  "This is your show, Dinky.  You're perfectly safe here."

Dinky nodded.  "Alright, it only takes about five seconds to—"

"Wait!" Scuffle cried.  "Dinks, this is the first time you're showing your true form to anypony new since the day after you became a wraith.  You can't just transform!  Do it the dramatic way!  You know, a whole magical transformation sequence like those ponies in the Neighponese comics with unrealistically huge manes and too many light reflections in their eyes."

Honeydew had to put a hoof to her mouth to stifle a giggle.  "That's... one way to put it," she managed.

"Err... however you want then, Dinky," Professor Surge said.  "Let's see what we're dealing with here."

Dinky took a deep breath.  "Well... okay," she conceded.  "Just back off a little further, please.  One wraith, minus the unicorn disguise, coming up."

Surge gave her plenty of room.  Dinky closed her eyes and slowly let the darkness within her travel up into her horn again, surrounding it with the loud, angry aura.  Only this time, it didn't stop there.  It flowed down from her head and over her body like a torrent, bathing her in unstable energy that would've caused any normal pony unspeakable agony.  Smoky black mist, faint and first but quickly growing thicker and darker, began to seep down her coat and along the contours of her legs, billowing out along the floor around her.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Wishing Star asked nervously.

"Yes, this is normal for Dinky," Honeydew said quietly.  "Though I'm pretty sure I asked the same thing the first time I saw her do this."

As Dinky's aura grew, her body began to change.  The black clouds flowing down her body seemed to be taking her color with them; lilac purple was swept away like a layer of dust, revealing a dark, sinister violet underneath.  More and more of the mist ran along her mane and tail, enveloping and consuming them until they were nearly indistinguishable from the smoke itself.  A black, wispy mane was all that remained, and though at the roots it could perhaps still be considered hair, by the end of the strands it was little more than a cloud of inky blackness, its ethereal movements allowing small tongues of dark energy to occasionally be flicked off before vanishing into the air.

Dinky's aura quieted, revealing her dramatically changed horn beneath, now curved like a crescent and smooth as polished marble.  A pair of tiny fangs protruded from beneath her upper lip.  After a few seconds of silence, she opened her eyes, staring at Professor Surge with two glowing, slitted yellow pupils radiating out from the abyssal darkness of their sockets.  Wisps of violet mist seeped out the moment she lifted her eyelids, trailing off to the sides continuously.

Never had Dinky seen such a mix of terror and wonder on the face of a pony before.  Surge opened his mouth once or twice, but was unable to produce any words.

"So you see, professor," Dinky began, chuckling as the frightening hiss of her voice made the stallion take another instinctive step back, "this is what happens to a unicorn when dark magic builds up within them unchecked.  No wonder Equestrian law cracks down on it so strictly, huh?"

"S-so... I've known you for a few years now," Surge said weakly.  "I met you in... what, your third year?  And all that time, this is the creature I was really speaking to?"

"Yup," said Dinky casually, causing wisps of blackness to float off her mane as she nodded.  "I just don't have any trouble impersonating the long-gone unicorn I was as a filly, that's all."

"And that transformation spell," he continued.  "It's not... painful for you?"

"Not at all!" Dinky assured him.  "I mean, it was the very first time, but that was because Scorpio burned away my unicorn body.  Now I basically can't even feel it."

"So this isn't... even the same body you once had?" Surge asked, confused.

"Well, yes and no," Dinky admitted.  "Scorpio described wraiths as something akin to a hollow shell.  When a unicorn reaches that tipping point where their anatomy simply isn't able to contain the amount of dark magic within them anymore, it, uh, bursts free, violently, and consumes the pony that was wielding it.  The resulting wraith is... what's left, I guess.  An ethereal, almost hollow exterior, shaped roughly like a unicorn, full of an incredibly vast store of darkness and very little else.  I couldn't say for sure, but when I'm in my transformed state, I don't think I've even got organs in there anymore.  The pony disguise fabricates some for me, of course, but they're dark magic constructs like everything else."

"That's... pretty horrifying," Wishing Star chimed in.  

"But fascinating," Professor Surge added.  "This is an even greater opportunity than I ever imagined.  I've got an honest-to-goodness dark magical monster right here in my arena, ready to help me create new counterspells!"

"That 'monster' is one of your students," Spiral Script said loudly, giving him an unamused look.  "Dinky has all the intelligence and civility of every other unicorn at this school, and if you want this research to continue, I suggest you treat her with the same respect and care that you would with any of your students."

"I'll be fine, Dean Script," Dinky assured her.  "So, can we begin casting some spells now?"

"Oh yes, of course!" Surge replied delightedly.  "Perhaps if you could just demonstrate the combat applications of dark magic for me, it would help me decide where exactly to begin."

With a flash of magic, he conjured a plain, dull clay jug out of thin air and placed it down near the center of the arena, then backed off a decent distance.  "If you could just destroy that for me, Dinky, that would be wonderful.  I want to see how these spells work when they strike a target."

Dinky tilted her head, causing her airy mane to flow in a different direction.  "Destroy it how?"

"With... with dark magic, of course," Surge answered, confused.

Dinky giggled, though her monstrous voice made the sound come out quite unnerving.  "No, I mean, what kind of destruction?" she clarified.  "Do you want me to burn it?  Melt it?  Reduce it to dust?  Blast it against the wall?  There's no shortage of violent ways to break things when it comes to dark magic."

"Dinks."

Dinky turned to Scuffle.  "Yeah?"

The colt leaned forward eagerly.  "You already know what I'm going to suggest, don't you?" he asked, smirking.

Dinky rolled her eyes.  "Blow it up?"

"Blow it up," Scuffle replied matter-of-factly.

Dinky gave her flowing tail an uncertain flick.  "Is that okay with you, professor?" she asked.

"Very much so," Surge answered excitedly.  "Plenty of unicorn magic is capable of doing enough damage to break something, so I want to see how your magic differs."

Dinky shrugged and surrounded her horn with a black aura once again.  "I'd keep clear if I were you," she advised as she lowered her head.

For a moment, the room was quiet, except for the crackling, sputtering sound of the wraith's horn.  All the assembled ponies watched with excitement and a bit of apprehension as Dinky carefully took aim.  When she was confident her spell would hit its mark, she let it loose.

Dark magic was not about appearances.  It didn't arc gracefully through the air, leaving a trail of color, like many unicorn spells.  It didn't create bursts of light in grand, sweeping waves when it was used.  It traveled in a perfectly straight line, faster and more direct than even Clarity's lightning spells, and hit its target.  There was no cracking, or swelling, or any sort of buildup at all.  Immediately upon being struck, the clay jug violently shattered, not in the direction the spell was moving, but outward in all directions, as if an explosive had been set off inside.  The sound echoed throughout the arched chamber as fragments of it were blown across half of the arena.

Dinky turned to Professor Surge, whose eyebrows had risen in surprise.  "Well, that's certainly more efficient in terms of destruction," he commented.

"Dark magic's not as versatile as unicorn magic, but you gotta admit, it's really good at what it does," Dinky chuckled.  "Of course, it doesn't have to blow stuff up.  If I just throw a bolt of dark magic without casting a specific effect spell, it just strikes the target with a very painful impact."

Surge nodded and turned to the stands.  "Are you getting all this, Wishing Star?" he called.

The counselor held up her quill in her aura.  "Every word, Professor," she replied with a smile.

"Dinky, if I may ask," Spiral Script put in, "how much of your power was behind the spell you just cast?"

Dinky shrugged.  "Not much," she confessed.  "That was a pretty casual spell.  The only time I ever used my full power was when trying to defend my friends and family from Scorpio."

"Oh really?" Professor Surge asked, grinning.  "Well, naturally we need to see how much power wraiths have then."

The stallion trotted to the other end of the arena.  His horn began to glow, and layer after layer of magical shielding appeared before him, until Dinky could just barely make out his silhouette behind it all.  "Go on then!" he called.  "Let's see how many layers a powerful dark spell can break through.  This could be some really critical data; how strong of a shield charm does one need to keep a wraith out?"

Dinky blinked.  "Um... no," she deadpanned.

"...No?" Surge asked.  "What's the problem?"

"I'm not casting a dark spell directly at anypony, for any reason," Dinky replied firmly.  "Especially a powerful one.  I've seen dark magic rip through shields before.  I could really hurt you, or worse."

The Professor chuckled.  "Yes, but Dinky, those were shields conjured by students.  Even your spells shouldn't be able to overcome the strongest level of defense cast by one of Equestria's greatest battlemages."

"'Shouldn't' and 'won't' are two different things," Dinky grumbled, glaring at her teacher.  "I don't care how strong your shields are.  If you want me to cast a spell at a shield, fine, but only once you move out from behind it to somewhere safe."

Fortunately, Surge complied with Dinky's demand before Spiral Script had to intervene, but she could see the dean shaking her head in exasperation from her seat in the stands.  He moved a reasonable distance off to the side of the arena, but kept his layered shield in place.  "Is this better?" he asked.

"Much," Dinky said curtly as her curved horn began to charge up her next spell.  "So you really want me to go all-out?  I should hit the shields with as much force as I can muster?"

"Please do!" the professor encouraged.  "I need to know if wraiths are really as fearsome as the texts have always claimed."

As the spell forming on Dinky's horn grew, she couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement.  She hadn't unleashed magic like this in years, after all; even she didn't know the extent of her power.  And some quiet, dormant part of her was really excited to finally cut loose.  She couldn't help but grin, bearing her fangs in the process.

The churning blackness around her horn grew still greater in intensity, filling the huge hall with twisting shadows and ominous sounds.  Faint scorch marks began to form on the stone floor around her position.  She lowered her head, getting ready to set it all loose.

"Um, Dinky, wait."

It was the first time Honeydew had spoken in some time.  Her gentle voice seemed to soothe the part of her that was raring to go.  "What's up, Honeydew?" she asked, letting the building magic fade a little.

"Just... be extra careful, okay?" her friend asked, rubbing subconsciously at the small notch in her horn as she so often did when nervous.  "I know you can cast powerful spells safely, but Clarity had a point earlier today; don't let your excitement to let your powers loose lead you to do anything reckless."

"I'm with Dewey on this one," Scuffle added.  "None of us really know how strong you are.  Even you.  We all wanna see, but make sure to focus, 'kay Dinks?"

Dinky smiled.  "Don't worry, I've got this," she promised.

She turned back to the shield and once again built her dark magic up to its maximum intensity in her horn.  Focus, she reminded herself mentally.  Power without control is just mindless destruction.  I'm better than the wraiths who use dark magic like that.  So just aim carefully, and make sure no part of the spell has a chance to break off or rebound, and...

Dinky flung the spell at the layered shield, and found a moment later than she was entirely unprepared for what followed.  

Just the sound of the magic being let loose created a loud bang.  The tremendous, writhing bolt of energy rocketed through the air, punched effortlessly through every last one of the professor's shields, and struck the brick wall at the back of the room, creating an explosion of such magnitude that the pressure wave nearly knocked her over.  Chunks of rubble were thrown more than a dozen pony lengths away, leaving behind a blackened crater in the wall about half the size of an average pony.  With the brickwork of the subterranean wall obliterated, a mound of soil poured in from behind, making a small mess on the floor beneath the point of impact.

Dinky stared at her handiwork, dumbfounded.  Once the ringing in her ears quieted, she nervously turned to look at her companions.

Professor Surge wasn't even looking at her.  His jaw hung loosely as he stared at the hole in the wall, even as the fragments began to float back toward it by magic, repairing the damage exactly as the enchantment on the room was supposed to.  Wishing Star was cringing and holding her notepad above her head like a makeshift umbrella.  Scuffle's horn was lit, and Dinky wasn't honestly very surprised to see that, given almost no time to react, his instinct had been to erect a shield around Honeydew rather than himself, protecting her from any small bits of rubble that may have been flung that far.  From inside the little blue dome, Honeydew blinked in shock, her hooves over her mouth like she'd just received terrible news.

Spiral Script's expression was harder to read.  Her eyes were wide, but she looked neither amazed nor angry; she seemed to be simply waiting for something to happen.

"S-so, Professor," Dinky stuttered, as the last of the damage she had done was magically repaired.  "Let's maybe, um, not consider aiming dark magic directly at anypony going forward, regardless of shielding."

The professor pursed his lips.  "Dinky I... must apologize for being so brash," he said finally, giving her a doleful look.  "I never dreamed wraiths could be that powerful.  Thank you for having the sense to prevent a tragedy.  On the upside, this just proves that counterspells are even more vital.  Clearly, nopony except perhaps an alicorn could hope to defend themselves from a wraith with shields alone."

"To be fair, I had no idea I was that powerful either," Dinky admitted.  "I've only ever struck another pony with dark magic once, unless you count Scorpio.  She recovered, of course, but at that time, I was much younger, and also was still a corrupted unicorn instead of a wraith.  But as you can see, if I were to attack somepony now, and really meant to harm them..."

She trailed off, and paused to glance at the concerned looks of her friends nearby.

"I try not to let being a wraith stop me from living a normal unicorn life," she continued, shaking her head to clear away a bit of the mist emanating from her eyes.  "But the fact of the matter is... I have the ability to effortlessly kill somepony, Professor Surge.  That's why I want to help you find a way to counter my spells, but it's also why we need to treat this research with extreme caution.  Wraiths kind of have a tendency to... well, enjoy flinging deadly spells around, and unfortunately, I'm no different.  But unlike other wraiths, I still have morals and inhibitions, and I honestly don't want to hurt anypony.  That's why I really wanted to have some of my friends here with me; they're good at making sure my conscious unicorn self remembers to keep my subconscious, more wraithlike aspects under control."

Scuffle smiled.  "I think we usually do a pretty good job with that," he said proudly.  "I mean, when's the last time Dinky's decision making put us in mortal danger?  Gotta be at least a year."

Honeydew giggled.  "I mean, she was the one who suggested we visit the Everfree on winter break, so really it's only been about five months," the pink filly pointed out.

"Was that really mortal danger though?" Scuffle argued, laughing as Honeydew gave him a playful shove.

"The point is," Dinky said loudly, cutting them off, "I'm a good pony with a dangerous combination of power and impulsiveness.  So please, professor, let's be careful."

"You don't need to tell me twice," Surge chuckled.  "I think perhaps we should end our first session here, so I can develop some potential counters.  Next time we meet, we'll test them out against some nice, low-power dark spells, fired safely away from anypony of course.  That is, if that's alright with you, Dean Script?"

Spiral Script frowned.  "We are playing with fire here, professor," she muttered.  "After what I've seen here, I have half a mind to cancel the project due to the degree of danger, but I must admit, learning to counter magic like that will be extremely useful research.  You, Wishing Star, and myself will need to have a discussion about improving defenses to keep us safe from any collateral damage Dinky may unwittingly cause."

"So, before we call it quits," Wishing Star ventured, finally feeling safe enough to lower the notebook she was still holding aloft to deflect debris, "do you have to do that whole big sequence to return to pseudo-unicorn form, Dinky?"

"Oh, not at all," Dinky assured her.  "Like Scuffle said, that was just for dramatic effect.  I can transform in seconds, see?"

Dinky's entire body dissolved instantly, leaving behind a swirling black cloud.  A moment later, it gained form again, taking on the shape and colors of the unremarkable unicorn teen she pretended to be.  "Wraiths are more like constructs of dark magic than normal living things," she explained, her typical, effeminate pony voice now replacing the sinister wraith one.  "My physical body only just barely maintains a stable, solid state, so either form can be shed and replaced with the opposite one almost immediately."

Wishing Star looked impressed.  "Honestly, Dinky, creatures like you would be really cool if you weren't so shockingly dangerous," she admitted.  "Thank you for the presentation, though.  At least Professor Surge has a real sense of what he's dealing with now."

As the ponies climbed down from the stands, Spiral Script strode over to Dinky and smiled gently.  "Dinky, we'll meet for another session of this in two weeks, if you're willing," she said.  "Remember that if you're uncomfortable or unwilling, though, you have the power to cancel further sessions at any time."

"I want to continue, Dean Script," Dinky assured her, returning the smile.  "Professor Surge's research is important, and with you, my friends, and Counselor Wishing Star here, I'm sure we'll be able to keep working safely."

"Very well," Spiral Script replied, nodding as Honeydew and Scuffle trotted up next to Dinky.  "Of all the students to become a wraith, I'm glad it was one with a responsible attitude and caring friends."

Dinky giggled.  "Thanks, Dean Script.  See you in class."

Spiral Script and Professor Surge removed the seal on the room, and Dinky trotted out into the castle, her horn still tingling gently from her powerful magic.

I've made the first step toward helping Equestria, she thought proudly.  I wonder what Professor Surge will have in store for me next time...





"Thanks for being there, Honeydew.  I know you get nervous in situations like that."

"I guess I do," Honeydew admitted, her eyes meeting Dinky's for a moment.  "You're my friend, though, and I wanted to be there to support you.  Your other form is a little bit scary, but I guess I'm getting used to it now that it's been a few years."

"And having Scuffle with you probably helped a little too," Dinky added.

Honeydew beamed.  "Scuffle's such a gentlecolt, isn't he?" she cooed.  "He pretends to be all tough and reckless, but these days, I always feel safer when he's around."

Dinky nodded.  "I bet you're glad we gave him a chance back in our first year, huh?" she asked.

Honeydew nodded.  "He turned out to be one of my best friends, eventually," she admitted.  "And now Tango Trot is too!  They're both such nice colts."

Dinky bit her lip.  As expected, Honeydew was still unaware of the escalating rivalry between her two male friends.  She tried not to dwell on what might eventually become of that as she followed Honeydew into the Magical Biology classroom.

"Hurry up, ladies!" Cornelius squawked, leering at them from the brim of Professor Chestnut's hat.  "The professor's got a lot to cover today, and the quicker we get started, the quicker we can get it over with."

"I see you're just brimming with excitement for our lesson today," Professor Chestnut commented dryly, rolling her eyes.

"Eh, you know I don't care for lectures about hearts and minds and magic and crap like that," Cornelius crowed.  "Half the class is probably gonna fall asleep.  Your star student will pay attention, of course, but she already knows all this junk by heart."

Honeydew giggled as she took her seat in the front row.  "Cornelius, hush," she chided playfully.  "The professor's lectures are very interesting.  Just take a nap until it's over if you don't want to listen."

Cornelius took to the air and perched on Honeydew's horn, using the notch in the upper surface for a secure foothold as usual.  "Fine, but I'm sleeping here," he declared.  "You're ten times quieter than Chestnut."

The brightly colored bird tucked his head beneath his wing, and that was that.  Honeydew stroked him gently with a hoof for a moment before she and Dinky returned their attention to the professor.

"Good morning, class!" Professor Chestnut greeted, waving slowly to all her students.  "I'm afraid our loudmouthed friend Cornelius does have a point for once; today's lesson is a lot more theory than practice.  But we're going to be discussing such a critical pillar of Magical Biology that I imagine I'll keep much of your interest anyway.  To start with, let's go back to a concept you all learned in your first year of this class; can somepony tell me how we use magic to interact with life around us?"

Honeydew, naturally, raised a hoof, but the professor called on Dinky instead.  "We use any of a small set of spells that allows us to tap into the essence of other living things," she answered.  "It allows us to feel what they feel, physically and emotionally, and we can use that link to send thoughts, energy, or even healing."

"Well put, Dinky," Chestnut replied.  "Now for a harder question: what is the shared property among all living things that allows us to do that?"

Dinky didn't have an answer for that one.  "I'm not sure..." she admitted.  "I guess I never stopped to think about how life magic works."

Honeydew quietly raised a forehoof again.  "Well, it's because we can use unicorn magic to tap into the target's heart directly," she offered.

"Be more specific, Honeydew dear," Professor Chestnut said with a smile.  "After all, most animals have hearts, but plants and other types of life do not."

"They don't have a physical heart," Honeydew clarified.  "But I'm not talking about the organ, professor.  Our field of study still refers to the core of all living things, the abstract, inner being from which our thoughts, senses, and feelings are born, as the 'heart', right?"

Professor Chestnut chuckled.  "I swear, I've been trying for years and I've yet to trip you up with a question, Honeydew," she said delightedly.  "Yes, what I'm talking about is not the structure pumping blood in your chest.  The 'heart', as it pertains to the use of life magic, is the purest form of the being of any living thing.  It contains their spirit, but it is more than that as well.  It is every sort of sensation you can imagine. It creates a plant's simple, unconscious satisfaction at being supplied life giving water, but at the other extreme, it gives rise to the complex emotions of love and trust that us ponies feel, and everything in between as well.  That energy, so abstract that there's really no adequate way to fully describe it, is what separates living things from their inanimate surroundings.  The power that's responsible for all our feelings, our senses, everything that makes each of us a unique individual... that power is the Magic of the Heart."

Awed, Dinky considered the professor's words.  Though she'd been using these sort of spells for years, she understood for the first time just how meaningful they were.

"The magic in the hearts of living things is so much stronger and so much more all-encompassing than mere unicorn magic, and yet it is shared by every living thing, from the tiniest microorganism to the largest of Equestrian beasts," Professor Chestnut continued.  "And that, above all else, is the reason I find Magical Biology to be the most fascinating subject of all; with magic, we are able to take a glimpse into the hearts of every other living thing.  Even pegasi and earth ponies can manage a similar feat, if they're especially in tune with the natural world.  The Magic of the Heart is responsible for every one of the elements that make us who we are, and we must never take for granted that we can so easily use our magic to explore the bonds it forms between us in new ways."

Is it any wonder Honeydew has such a passion for this type of magic? Dinky thought, gazing at her friend, who was hanging on the professor's every word.  Even when I first met Honeydew, her appreciation for the life around her was incredible, and now that she's managed to make real friendships with the ponies as well, she sees them the same way.  If only everypony could see the world around them with the same reverence she does...

Realizing her mind was beginning to wander, Dinky quickly grabbed her quill and resumed taking notes.





"I think I understand your research project a little better now," Clarity acknowledged as she led Honeydew, Dinky, and Scuffle down the tunnel into the hideout.  "It sounds to me like unicorn magic is a vehicle used to tap into the innate magic in our hearts, which is a different sort of magic entirely.  You're trying to find a way to access that magic, or at least a portion of it, in a broader way that doesn't require so much effort and concentration, right?"

"Exactly!" Honeydew affirmed, nodding emphatically.  "The Lifesense spell, if I can somehow get it to work, should detect the magic radiating from the hearts of everything around me.  It won't be as deep and intimate of a connection as it is when the spell is used on just one target, but it was never intended to be anyway."

"How's that research going, by the way?" Dinky asked.  "You've been at it for two months now; made any progress yet?"

"Well, it's hard to say," said Honeydew self-consciously.  "I've definitely figured out how to do something new, but I'm not sure if it's actually a step in the right direction."

The pink filly took a deep, slow breath and let her pale green aura spring to life.  "I've been tweaking the existing life connection spell ever since Tango Trot suggested breaking it down into smaller parts," she continued.  "It took a lot of trial and error, but I've managed to link to the emotional state of the spell's target without also tapping into all their physical sensations.  It isn't as strenuous as the parent spell, so I've been practicing casting it without blocking out all my surroundings.  I'm going to have to be able to do that if I ever want to stand a chance of connecting with more than one living thing at a time."

"Honeydew, that sounds like a huge step forward!" Clarity exclaimed.  "Can we see the modified spell?"

Honeydew's slim frame wiggled with glee.  "Sure!" she replied.  "Hold still for a moment, Clarity.  I'll link my magic with yours."

The green light on Honeydew's horn grew a bit brighter.  Dinky watched her face scrunch up just a bit as she focused, but she didn't close her eyes and cease all movement like she usually did during life magic spells.  "There, I can feel you now," she said finally.  "You're such a caring pony, Clarity.  As soon as I linked into your magic, I could feel your determination to help the ponies around you.  I really admire that."

Clarity blushed.  "Thanks, Honeydew," she said humbly.

"Your turn now, Scuffle," Honeydew sang, turning to the colt who had been watching the scene with quiet interest.

Scuffle tensed.  "Wait, Dewey, nopony's used that spell on me before.  Is it gonna—"

He stopped mid-sentence, most likely surprised by the sensation of Honeydew's magic tapping into his own.  Only a second or so passed before Honeydew broke into a huge, beaming grin.

"Oh, Scuffle!" she gasped.  "I always knew you were sweeter than you like to admit, but wow!  The warmth and affection you have for us is so strong, you must see us as really close friends."

Scuffle fidgeted.  "I mean, s-sure," he stammered, looking away as if that would somehow lessen the effect.  "Of course I like you girls.  W-we're all good friends, alright?  You already knew that, no need to be all mushy about it..."

Honeydew giggled as she ceased the spell.  "And Dinky, you've already used magic like this, so you know what to expect, but I can show you the modified spell anyway if you like," she offered.

"Go for it," Dinky replied.  "I don't think I've ever linked magic with another pony anyway.  Just plants and animals."

Honeydew trotted up to Dinky and smiled encouragingly as she lit her horn once more.  A moment later, Dinky felt her friend's being rush into her mind.  There was a touch of Honeydew's usual anxiety, of course, but Dinky was happy to find it was kept in check by a sensation of tender, hopeful positivity.

Honeydew, however, looked confused.  "Hold on Dinky," she said apologetically.  "Something's a little off with the spell.  Let me try again."

"It is?" Dinky asked, tilting her head.  "I can feel you through the link just fine."

Honeydew blinked.  "Huh," she mumbled, "it must've only worked in one direction for some reason.  It is a new version of the spell though; there's probably some issues with it I need to iron out.  Let me use the more traditional, full-connection spell for a moment instead, so I have a point of reference."

Dinky nodded, and both fillies closed their eyes.  Dinky concentrated and felt the full breadth of Honeydew's being enter her mind.  Deep emotion and clear physical sensation flooded her senses as she experienced her timid friend in a new way.  But just a few seconds later, the link was closed.  Dinky opened her eyes to find Honeydew frowning deeply.

"Did it... work for you again?" Honeydew asked hesitantly.

"Yeah...?" said Dinky, raising an eyebrow.  "I felt you very clearly when our magic linked.  Didn't you?"

Honeydew looked supremely nervous.  "Dinky, um..." she mumbled.  "Y-you know I don't mean to brag, but I'm usually very good at these spells.  It's really very unlikely that I'm doing something wrong.  But when I establish a link with you, I feel... nothing.  I-I-It's like there's just static.  No sensation, no emotion, just... well, nothing.  Which is odd."

"To say the least!" Dinky agreed, shuffling her forehooves concernedly.  "Why wouldn't you be able to detect anything when you link with me?"

Dinky's three friends all exchanged glances.  Scuffle was the one who chose to speak up.

"Dinks, I know I'm not good at wording things real delicately," he reminded her, "but uh... that spell is for sensing and connecting with living things.  Are you, uh... are you sure you're alive?"

"What kind of question is that?" Dinky laughed.  "I'm standing here talking to you, aren't I?"

Clarity didn't seem to share her mirth.  She glanced at Dinky uncertainly.  "Scuffle might have a point..." she mumbled.  "Dinky, you've said yourself that a wraith is a construct of dark magic.  If you're literally made of darkness... as much as I hate to admit it, maybe you don't qualify as a living being."

Dinky's stomach turned when she realized Clarity had a point.  "Okay, well that in itself is hardly the weirdest or most shocking part of being a wraith," she said, "but does that mean... does that mean I don't have a heart anymore?  That magic that I share with other ponies, is it... gone?"

"It can't be!" Honeydew insisted, glancing between her friends desperately.  "Something allowed you to remain who you are even when Scorpio destroyed the pony you once were.  I can't see any way you wouldn't have fallen to the dark side that night unless the magic of your heart survived!  I just... can't seem to find it..."

She trailed off, and the room was filled with an uneasy silence.  Dinky's anxiety grew; suddenly it felt like her friends were staring at her with apprehension, although deep down she knew that wasn't how they felt.

"I need to go think this through for a bit," she mumbled, turning toward the exit.

There was a red flash, and Clarity materialized right in front of her, blocking the exit.  "Dinky, wait," she pleaded.  "I know this discovery is a little hard to swallow, but going off and brooding about it isn't gonna help.

Dinky stared back at her friend.  "So you want me to just shrug it off?" she asked, growing irritated.  "Clarity, losing my body was one thing, but my heart, the one thing that I always assumed survived Scorpio's magic and kept me tied to the rest of ponykind, might be damaged or even entirely gone!  How am I supposed to just ignore that!?"

"There's no sense jumping to conclusions!" Clarity said firmly.  "Remember, Dinky, my special talent involves looking into the heart as well, though maybe in a more abstract way than Honeydew does.  But I can say with certainty that the same brave, smart, loyal filly I met in our first term is still standing in front of me right now, regardless of what kind of body she might have.  I don't know much about sensing the magic that makes you who you are, but I know one thing; you're not one of Scorpio's cruel, sadistic lackeys.  You're our friend, Dinky.  You always have been, and you always will be.  And whether or not Honeydew can detect some specific magical signature inside of you isn't going to change that."

Dinky glanced toward Honeydew and Scuffle.  While they didn't speak, both were nodding in agreement with Clarity's words.  Honeydew stepped a bit closer and leaned against her gently.

"If you're really worried, maybe Professor Chestnut will have some answers," her timid friend whispered.  "But it's okay, Dinky.  Nothing has changed. Just because we learned something unexpected about you doesn't change who you are."

"We've had your back through way weirder and more horrifying stuff than this," Scuffle reminded her.  "Heart or no heart, we're not goin' anywhere, Dinks."

Dinky sniffled, smiling just a bit as the other three unicorns crowded around to embrace her.  "Alright, alright," she conceded.  "I'll try not to overreact.  I still really care for you guys, and that's gotta count for something, regardless of the state my heart is in."

Clarity rubbed noses with Dinky, grinning.  "It sure does," she reassured her.

"You know what makes me feel better at times like this?  Food," Scuffle declared.  "C'mon Dinks, it's dinnertime, and you'll feel better when your stomach's full."

Dinky chuckled and rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, alright," she agreed.  "Lead the way."

As the four students returned to the castle, Dinky tried her best to keep a hopeful smile on her face.  After all, the support of her friends didn't seem to waver, and that was all she could ask for.  But though she kept up the appearance, she couldn't silence the doubts in the back of her mind completely.

Did any part of me really survive my encounter with Scorpio years ago?  Or... has the magic in my heart truly gone dark...?





"So you've seen Dinky assume her wraith form?"  Bright Spark asked.  "Right there in front of you?"

"Yup," Wishing Star replied proudly.  "And believe me, it's a sight to see; if she ever showed her true form in public, there would be pandemonium in an instant.  We just have to find a way to make her do so."

"And I assume that won't be easy," Bright Spark guessed, peering at her host from over the top of her small spectacles.

"Unfortunately, Dinky appears to have a lot of control over her dark magic," Wishing Star admitted.  "I don't think anypony would be able to goad her into willingly transforming, nor would it be likely that she would transform by accident.  We need to find a way to force it to happen, and for that, I need more time to study her.  That shouldn't be too hard though; that oblivious battle magic professor is going to be using her talents to learn all he can about wraiths and dark magic; it's only a matter of time until I can find a weakness to work with, and he's doing almost all the work for me!"

"Fine, fine, but what about Ditzy?" Glow asked, tapping a hoof impatiently.

"It seems Ditzy's taken an interest in your daughter, of all ponies," Wishing Star revealed.  "Sparkler hasn't shown herself to you in months now, but I've overheard enough office chatter to know she's definitely in contact with Ditzy.  If we can find a way to utilize her situation to our advantage, we might be able to use her as a valuable playing piece in this little game..."

Glow frowned.  "Sparkler didn't react well to being used as leverage last time," she said sourly.

"Ah, but this time, she won't even know she's involved!" Wishing Star giggled, her pink eyes glittering mischievously.  "Just give me some time, and I think I can manage to shape Sparkler's plight into just the thing to lead Ditzy down a path to misery."

"So basically, you're telling us both to keep waiting," Bright Spark mumbled.

"We only have one chance to make this work," Wishing Star reminded her.  "If Ditzy and Dinky realize I'm not really on their side, it's game over.  So we have to do it right, even if it takes a while."

Bright Spark sighed.  "I suppose there's no rush," the older mare conceded.  "Just contact us in the usual way when there's an update, alright?"

"And don't cause Sparkler any undue stress," Glow added.  "We're trying to make Ditzy miserable, not her."

"Yes, yes, leave it to me," Wishing Star replied, unconcerned.  "I'll inform you both as soon as circumstances start to swing in our favor."

With nearly identical curt nods, Glow and Bright Spark turned and exited the dilapidated building.  Wishing Star watched them both from the window, until they were out of sight.  She snickered, and turned away, grinning darkly.

"Idiots," she laughed, her voice echoing in the empty room.  "They couldn't make this much easier for me if they tried!  Their judgement is so clouded by their need for revenge that they're willing to overlook the fact that they don't even know why I'm helping them!"

She lit her horn and removed her headband with magic, polishing the gems that studded it with an old rag.  Well, now that they're gone, I suppose it's time to check on my other guest, she thought.

A brief flash of pink magic was all it took to haul a cobweb-ridden couch aside.  Another spell flipped the old rug up from the floor, revealing the trapdoor under it.  Humming contently, Wishing Star tugged the hatch open and descended into the hidden cellar below.

The secret room below the old house didn't look much different from any other basement.  A cold, stone floor and bare walls caused the unicorn's hooves to echo with each step.  A few boxes of various old junk, most of it broken or rusted, sat on one side.  A drip of water, no doubt from some leak in the old house above, hit the floor with a tiny sound.

Yes, the cellar would've been quite unremarkable, if not for the enormous pink crystal prism hovering just above the floor in the center of the room, with Princess Celestia sealed inside it.

"Your majesty," Wishing Star greeted, her voice heavy with sarcastic glee as she feigned a respectful bow.  "It's been a few days since I've checked in with you.  Are you enjoying your stay?"

Celestia glared and said something, but whatever magical properties kept her sealed inside the glimmering prison also didn't allow any sound to escape.  It was apparent that the enchantment worked in only one direction, though; her reactions made it clear that she could hear everything her captor was saying.

Wishing Star smiled serenely as she trailed the tip of a hoof along the outside of the glass-like surface of the hollow crystal.  "I bet you've been mentally berating yourself for weeks, huh?" she asked casually.  "The harmless little mare that you hired to be the counselor at your school turned out to be... well, you know exactly who I really am by now.  I don't even need to say it."

Celestia mouthed a name.  Wishing Star giggled.

"See?  I was right," she replied.  "You're a little too trusting, but you're not stupid."

The princess stared back coldly.  After a moment, Wishing Star went on.

"How agonizing it must be, Celestia," she cooed.  "You're onto me now.  You know exactly what I'm trying to do, and how to prevent me from doing it.  But you're in there, and I'm out here, free to keep manipulating ponies into fulfilling my plans.  What a shame."

Celestia didn't attempt to speak anymore, but she glared daggers at the Wishing Star, which only served to delight the orange unicorn further.

"I'm getting stronger, you know," Wishing Star continued, turning away and pacing slowly across the stone floor.  "Those two vengeful unicorns are absolutely obsessed with ruining the lives of some nobody pegasus and that cute little wraith student at the Academy.  They're selfish, greedy, impatient ponies.  They're so self-centered, in fact, that they neither know nor care why I'm willing to help them bring misery to those ponies they despise.  Imagine their surprise when they realize what I'm doing with all that malice they're producing!  By the time they figure it out, of course, it'll be far too late."

She turned back to the imprisoned princess, waiting for a reaction.  Celestia spoke another entirely inaudible sentence, but Wishing Star seemed to get the gist.

"You... you really think the only reason I imprisoned you here is so you can't impede my plan?" she asked incredulously.  "And not two minutes ago I was complimenting your intelligence!  For a millennia-old monarch, you sure can miss the big picture sometimes, can't you?"

Celestia watched apprehensively as the unicorn slowly approached her again.  "Princess Celestia, you aren't here because you were an obstruction to my plan.  You're here because you're a part of it."

The grave look on the princess's face grew yet more serious.  From outside the crystal, Wishing Star reared up, placing her forehooves against the surface so she could stare at Celestia eye-to-eye.

"Did you think somepony like me wouldn't know how Equestria works?" she asked.  "Did you think I assumed this near-utopia sustains itself?  It doesn't, Celestia.  The princesses sustain it.  You, in particular, passively spread harmony among communities wherever you go, bathing the empire in subtle waves of peace, dampening the potential for violence and war merely by existing.  But with you here, sealed in this crystal that saps all your power, harmony in Equestria will gradually, imperceptibly begin to erode.  That doesn't mean good ponies will suddenly turn bad, of course; after all, the influence the presence of the princesses have is a gentle, subconscious one.  Ponies who are consciously good will still be good, and those who are consciously bad will still be bad.  But as time goes on without you, it's going to become just a bit easier to chip away at the weaknesses in the bonds between ponies.  And that weakness, so small that most ponies won't even be aware of it, is exactly what I need to begin the next phase of my plan."

Seeing the horror on Celestia's face, Wishing Star couldn't help but grin.  "Imagine what will become of Equestria if the rest of my plan succeeds!" she cried as she stepped back down onto all fours.  "I'll make sure to tell you all about it as the months go on."

The mare turned and trotted back to the stairs.  Just before she slipped back through the trapdoor to the house up above, she turned to face her prisoner one final time.

"You must be terribly bored down here, with nothing to do but contemplate what's to come," she observed.  "But never fear, Celestia, your wait is almost over.  Somepony else will be joining you here very, very soon..."

With a cackle, Wishing Star slammed the trapdoor behind her, plunging the cellar into total darkness once again.