Chapter Ten
Twilight walked through Ponyville with a Royal Guard on either side of her. In front of her was a modified version of the ‘Track Owner’ Spell, the ashes of the dimension spell held within. Through several hours of hard work, she was able to glean information about the pieces of magic that came from the mirror, as well as being able to track their location. One of the energies was extremely violent, while the other was harmless; unfortunately, this was all she could learn about the properties of the energy.
However she had learned much more, location wise. By using a modified ‘Map Search’ and ‘Location’ Spell, she was able to narrow the search down to Ponyville, and by using the ‘Track Owner’ Spell, she would be able find exactly where it was in town.
As she walked, she heard the familiar sound of Scootaloo’s scooter and wagon. The sound of the wheels made it sound like they someone else with them; perhaps Pipsqueak or Featherweight were riding with them. She turned her head to follow the noise out of habit, while still paying attention to the ‘Track Owner’ Spell. Scootaloo and the other Crusaders went by on a different street, and Twilight could see them through the intersection. Her eyes widened as she realized that they had become ‘Pinked’ like Spike had before. Replaying the scene in her mind made Twilight aware that Friend was riding with them. And as a final confirmation, the ‘Track Owner’ Spell was pointing towards them.
She stopped walking, trying to calculate the best course of action. As she thought, she was distracted by a loud crunching noise. She looked up, and saw a cloud above and to the front of her. Rainbow Dash gazed from the edge, eating from a box of popcorn. After a few moments, Rainbow Dash stopped eating. “Go back to thinking about whatever you just were. You face was hilarious,” Rainbow Dash stated. She sat up. “Hey, Twi, the Crusaders are doing something weird. They’ve painted themselves pink or something. Oh, I think Friend’s with them. Yeah, that’s Friend alright. Look, they’re coming this way. And fast.”
Faint shouts of “Move!” could be heard coming from the direction of the Crusaders.
Twilight turned. Scootaloo had lost control of her Scooter, and was now heading straight for them. Twilight quickly stepped to the side to avoid getting rammed. The ‘Track Owner’ Spell flashed brightly as they passed, and Twilight flinched.
“Ma’am, your spell activated. Now that we know our targets, how do you want us to carry out the mission?” one of the guards asked.
Rainbow Dash leapt from her cloud and landed in front of them. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Targets? Twilight, what’s going on?”
Twilight looked back and forth between the guards and Rainbow Dash. She gulped. She racked her mind for what to do. She sighed as she chose Celestia over her friends. She turned to the guards. “You are to apprehend all four of them. But do not harm them in the process, or after you’ve captured them. Restrain them if necessary.”
“What?! Twilight, what are you going on about?” Rainbow Dash shouted.
Before Twilight could give an answer, Fluttershy and Applejack rushed onto the scene. “We heard shoutin’! Have any of you seen the Crusaders? We found some monster tracks by the tree house, and none of them were at the farm!” Applejack explained.
“They just passed by! They were covered in pink paint or something,” Rainbow stated.
“P- Pink? Oh, dear,” Fluttershy muttered.
“And now Twilight has told these two to capture them!”
“W- Wait! Was Friend pink?” Fluttershy asked.
“No, just the Crusaders. But how is that important?” Rainbow Dash questioned.
“Then they should have been cured by him,” she said.
“Infected?! Cured?! What in Tartarus are you all going on about? And for Royal Guards, you two sure ain’t good at your job if yous are distracted by us talkin’!” Applejack shouted, glaring at them.
The two guards looked about in surprise, before running of in the direction of the Crusaders; Rainbow Dash and Applejack followed close behind.
Twilight turned towards Fluttershy. “Now, I know how you probably feel about what I’m about to say, but Friend is to be taken into the custody of the Royal Guards and brought to Canterlot. There, we will examine him and try to repower a spell using him.”
“Huh. Actually, I expected that you would want to capture him,” Fluttershy said. “But that’s not the important thing. What is important is that Friend was not Pink, but the Crusaders were.”
“Actually, the more important thing is that we follow them,” Twilight said, starting to trot in the direction of the spell.
In the distance, the sound of the Royal Guards using their magic could be heard, along with shouts from Applejack. Twilight became concerned, and quickened her pace. When they arrived at the scene, they found several upturned carts. The Royal Guards were unconscious, Applejack was stuck under a pile of broken wood, and Rainbow Dash was tied up to a cart. Twilight quickly lifted the wood off of Applejack while Fluttershy undid the knots on Rainbow Dash.
“That darn thing needs ta be stopped!” Applejack said fiercely. “My sister was under its spell, and she attacked the guards with magic! Who knows what it’s gonna make her do next?”
“I don’t know. . .” Rainbow Dash murmured. “They did say they we’re trying to protect Friend, and he is definitely worth protecting once you get to know him. . .”
“What?! Y’all do realize that Scootaloo was under its spell too, don’ ya?” Applejack shouted.
“No, I mean he has life-makers on his head! They’re from his world, and they kinda provide all the new life. Plus, he’s been through a lot, and-”
“Wait, wait! His ears can create life as well as remove the Pink from others?” Twilight interrupted.
“Say what? What in hootanany are you goin’ on about?” Applejack asked.
“Girls! None of those are important right now! What’s important is that we need to find them and help them, not let them be captured. And Twilight, I kinda already know in advance that you will try to capture them anyway,” Fluttershy stated. Twilight opened her mouth, then closed it. Fluttershy nodded. “Now that that’s established, when we find them, we need to ask questions; try to get some answers.”
Twilight teleported in the direction that the ‘Track Owner’ Spell was pointing. After five teleports, she found the Crusaders and Friend. She quickly held them in a total ‘Firm Grasp’ Spell, also called the ‘grab the entire thing at once’ spell.
“What the? Twilight, don’t do this!” Sweetie Belle called out. Twilight focused the spell to keep their mouths from moving.
Apple Bloom slowly bared her teeth. Slowly, she managed to speak a message. “Friend got all of his information from you.”
Twilight tilted her head as she allowed everyone to speak again. “‘All of his information’? When did I give him information?”
“During the spell you did at Canterlot! His world is still developing, but your magic let him speak our words! It let him know about hot chocolate and furniture and smells and candy and cushions and a bunch of other stuff!” Sweetie Belle said.
“And did he learn anything from you?” Twilight asked.
This time, Scootaloo spoke. “Well, kinda. But we learned more from him. Whenever the Pink is spread, along with it comes the want to serve his king, as well as a bit of the past infecteds' knowledge. Like a chain process!”
“And what of curing this infection?” Twilight asked.
“I- I don’t know. So far, just the pieces of the tree. Some have been immune, like you. But that’s because of the aura around you. I think it’s the Elements that do it?” Friend said.
Twilight sorted the information in her mind. She gave a sigh. Her next question would allow her to know how much of this information would actually be beneficial. “Friend. . . How much do you really know about the infection and your world, and how sure are you of what you know?”
“N- Not much. My King created the virus. I think. I was only infected days ago, right before you cast your spell and brought us to your world. I know that the tree provides life. I know that these triangles can cure the virus. I know that the third is infected and can spread the virus. I know that I am loyal to my kings.”
Twilight gave another sigh. “Tell me, did you even know the word ‘king’ before you came to this world?”
“N- No. We spoke the image of a crown to say king. Plus, we speak in music, colors, and images.”
Twilight dragged a hoof down her face. “So most of the information you have given us could potentially be wrong?”
Friend’s head flinched back, seemingly causing the Crusaders to become upset with Twilight, as they immediately glared at her. “M- Maybe? I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m not very helpful at all, am I?”
“Don’t say that! You just haven’t had the right chance!” Sweetie Belle reassured.
Twilight's ears picked up the sound of a bush moving. Turning, she saw Fluttershy climb out of a bush. "What the-? How long have you been there?"
"Well, right after you teleported, I heard Discord snap his fingers. Then, I was in the bush. And then, I just waited. But Twilight, You can't capture Friend. We have to help him."
Twilight groaned. "Fluttershy, the Princess- I- We have to-" Her mouth opened and closed a few times as she tried to find words. She sighed. "I don't know. He's infecting others when he gets upset, but I'm the one that pulled him from his world. He is just a colt, but we may need him for a spell that Celestia and I have been working on. But when I look at the choices, I see only these two options: Princess or friends? Those who I have been on so many adventure with, or my mentor who helped teach me all my life? I want to say my friends, but my duty to Celestia. . ."
Fluttershy inhaled, bringing her hoof to her chest. She exhaled as she moved her hoof away. Twilight followed her example. Fluttershy nodded. "Twilight," she said. "I want you to imagine something for me. I want you to imagine that, with whatever choice you chose, you had the full support of the other."
Twilight obeyed, imagining. After a few moments, she firmly nodded her head. She set the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Friend on the ground.
Friend smiled, his face expressing happiness. He quickly moved towards Twilight, only to trip over something in the dirt. As Fluttershy came over to see if he was alright, he felt around on the ground. He found a rope. He held it up. "I think this is connected to something."
Twilight took the rope in her magic, slowly pulling it until is was taut. Seeing it lead into a tree, she gave it a strong pull. From the tree fell Princess Celestia, tied up in the rope. "What the-?! Princess Celestia?!" She quickly unbound Celestia, slinging the rope to the side.
Celestia took a three deep breathes. ". . . Thank you. Discord came into my room and offered me a cupcake, and then I was in the tree. I didn't even has a chance to ask him why he was offering me a cupcake. But I see why he brought me here." She got to her hooves. "Friend, I know a spell that can send you back to your world."