Darkness. Pure black nothingness enveloped Autumn as her mind finally began to focus. Everywhere her eye wandered, the landscape remained the same. “So,” a stallion that she didn’t recognized said, “what you’re saying, Storm, is Discord hid one of the elements somewhere here in Appleloosa, right?”

“Yet,” a mare spoke up a hint of disbelief in her voice, “you don’t have a single clue on where this element is exactly.”

‘Pepper’ sighed, “Just great, for all we know, the element could be hung around a dragon’s neck.”

“Awwww do be like that, sis,” another mare spoke up. “Think it like a treasure hunt. We’ll be looking for an ancient artifact that holds untold power. Fight off the forces of evil-”

“Pepper, Mint,” the Lieutenant’s voice re-entered the conversation. “One of you, go on patrol while the other sees to the Storm’s friends..”

“I’ll take this shift, sir,” the more mature of the two mares spoke up first as hoof-steps echoed into Autumn’s ears. The hoof steps soon faded into another set. This set though was getting louder.

“Yay!” Mint cheered as she skipped closer to Autumn. “I’m wake up duty. Oh, this one ah stirring.” The steady beat stopped suddenly.

Control of her body began to flow into the farmer as she rolled onto her back. She started to open her eyes slowly. What she saw was a failing pegasus right above her. Her eyelids blasted open as the sudden weight rammed air out her lungs. Recoiling from the sudden pain, Autumn flung herself off her bed sending her attacker flying back up into the air.

Sucking in fresh air, the small mare barked, “Wha’cha doin’ dropping on ponies like that? Ain’t nice ya know.”

“’Ain’t’,” ‘Mint’ mimicked with a chuckle. “Are you really from Ponyville? You sound a lot like the locals here.”

Grabbing her hat, the mare of Sweet Apple Acres glared at her tormentor. “Ah am too from Ponyville. My family been living at Sweet Apple Acres since tha town’s founding,” she said.

The flyer ignored her as she flew over to other earth pony in the room. Fluttering over her, she tickled the waking Coconut Pop. Unable to protect herself, the prankster blurted out into a torrent of laughs as the pegasus’s hooves assaulted her.

“Pleeeease, hahahaha,” she laughed rolling around in the bed. “Stooooop, hahahhaha. I got to hahahahaha, goooooo!” With that she completely rolled off the bed onto the floor where she proceeded to bolt out the closest door.

The white coated flyer laughed as she did a back flip in the air. Despite the small room, the mare managed to perform the acrobatic stunt without hitting anything. “Boy, you guys are hilarious,” she said once her mirth died down.

A series of angry chirps brought the attention of everypony in the room to Iago. Landing, the pranking guard silently approached the bed where Starlight laid with the sparrow perched on the her horn.

“Calm down you little feather fighter,” she said as she placed a hoof over her victim's nose. “I’m just helping you guys wake up.”

“Violently might I add,” Luminance commented only to have Mint wave it of with a wing.

In response to a blocked airway, Starlight started breathing out her mouth. Frustrated at her failed attempt, the prankster used her other hoof and closed her mouth. When she saw the Starlight’s cheeks swell up with air, the flyer grin madly waiting for her to wake.

“Oh, come on!” Mint shouted as she removed her hooves off of Starlight’s face and started tickling her. Nothing came out the unicorn’s mouth aside another snore fueling the tiny bird’s amused cries of glee that filled the air. Anger rising, the pegasus took off and drop on top of her target of torment. She bounced off without even stirring the sleeping mare.

“No fair,” she complained a she floated out of the room. The three mares watch she disappeared before turning their attention to their friend.

“Do you think something happen when Nyx teleported us here?” Luminance ask coming around the other side of the bed. She hushed Iago’s laughter with a hoof.

“Ah don’t get it,” the farmer stated. “She’s always up before I visited tha library.”

“Wait, where’s Nyx and Spike?” Nurse Iris asked looking around the room. Both of her friends join in searching the bedroom only to find the last sleeping pony was Starlight.

“Could it be that they’re downstairs?” Luminance queried as she trotted to the exit.

Shaking her head as she joined the interior designer, Autumn replied, “Ah doubt it. Spectrum was a talkin’ ta someponies downstairs. For all Ah know, they could still be in the Everfree.”

“With those fiends?!” The designer couldn’t help but place a hoof over her mouth in shock. “Do you think they’re going to be alright?”

The earth pony was about shake her head when Iris interrupted, “Well, dragons are the toughest creatures in Equestria so, Spike should be fine.”

“But Alicorns like the Princesses and Nyx are quite resilient as well,” the yellow coated mare stated. “Why do you think Nyx is call the ‘Knight of Equestria?’ Surely it can’t be because she charismatic.”

Autumn interrupted with a wave of a hoof, “Ah know, Ah know. But we can’t just go and assumin’ things like this. Look at tha facts; we never saw Spike fightin’ and when Nyx first telaported us, she was wounded here.” The farmer tapped her chest with her last words.

Tilting her hat over her eyes and sighing, she replied “Like ah said, Ah rather not assume, but Ah think so.”

Luminance wiped a tear quickly from her eye before clearing her throat, “I’ll be the one to tell Starlight.”

“Tell Starlight what?” Coconut Pop asked trotting up to them. “That the pies are going to burn?” The farmer put on a weak smile at the jest before it flipped back down.

Tilting her head, the earth pony poked her friend in the shoulder, “Hey, why the long face? I’m only joking. Come on Autumn put a smile on!”

This didn’t settle with the prankster as she still manage to a wear smile through her pouting face. “What are you talking about? Every time is a time to smile.”

A sniff brought attention to Iris as she attempted to dry her eyes, “Not every time is a time to smile.”

The gears clicked in the usually cheery mare’s head. With a long ‘Oh’ of understanding she asked, “Like Fluttershy?” Everypony nodded.

“Crab!” an elderly voice echoed up into the room. “Did ya burn ma pies again?”

Everypony looked down the hallway to where the stairs where. “Wow I was right about the pies,” Coco stated taking a whiff of charred aroma floating up the stairwell.

With a sniff of her own, Autumn’s ears perked up. “Pardon me girls,” she calmly said to her friends.

“We’ll be down once we gotten Starlight up,” the designer replied through her bit lip as her friend disappeared around the corner.

Carefully trotting down the steps and letting the smell of food guide her, she soon found herself staring into a kitchen where an elderly mare confined to a wheelchair sat looking into a stove. She pulled her rose red mane out with a tray of burnt pastries. Setting the tray down, she mumbled to herself, “That boy is worse than Ah was aroun’ his age. When Ah first made them they were at least gooey on tha insides.”

“Have ya tried telling him to follow the recipe for once, Gran-Auntie?” the farmer said leaning up against the door frame.

“Ah told him twice alre-,” the cook grumbled before recognizing the voice. Looking over her shoulder, she gave warm smile as Autumn trotted over gave her a hug. “Ah’m glad to see ya visit, Autumn Gold.”

“Same here, Gran-Auntie Bloom,” the small mare replied before adding, “Granted, Ah wish Ah could of let ya know Ah was coming.”

“Don’t fret nothin’ Autumn,” Applebloom said pulling out of the embrace. “Just wish ya coulda showed up sooner. Ma son burnt tha last three batches of pies. Ah’m worried Ah might run out of vittles for ya and yer friends.”

“Ya know ma,” Crab’s voice said breaking up the moment, “Ah’m right here.”

Autumn Gold could help but chuckle at the statement. “We know Uncle Crab, but she’s right ya know.”

“Ah know,” the assistant baker replied before his voice dipped into deeper tones, “but what Ah don’t know is why ya and yer friends were found miles outside of town?”

Rubbing her neck, the young Apple replied, “Well, Nyx kinda of telaported us out there.”

“Nyx?” the baker asked with break in her voice. She leaned back in her chair as her eyes gazed up at the fan spinning lazily.“Ah haven’t seen her in a... in a really long time. Ah was a thinkin’ on visiting Ponyville ta see her after tha buffalo show up tomorrow.”

“Umm... Gran-Auntie,” Autumn said looking at the floorboards, “Ah don’t think Nyx is in Ponyville anymore.” She began to fill her family in on the current events all leading up the fight the night before. Applebloom sat and listen as her sister’s granddaughter even went as far as admitting her fears.

As she told her story, Spectrum and the stallion he had referred to as Lieutenant entered the kitchen followed closely by a still upset Mint. They stood and listen to the farmer’s retelling.

“Ah just don’t know what Ah’ suppose ta do Gran-Auntie,” Autumn pleaded from her seat next to the sink, her own waterworks finally opening up. “Spike was a good friend of mine and Ah’m just startin’ to accept tha fact that I might not see his face again. Nyx was tha closest friend Starlight ever had and they’re related ta boot! Ah can hardly think of what will happen with she finds out.

“Find out what?” the mentioned pony said rounded the doorway with her friends in tow. The student looked to each one of the ponies in the room and saw their face shadow over. Casting a glance back, she saw the others ponies she come to know wearing the same gloomy expression with their own hint of other emotions.

Lifting her head, Applebloom stated, “Let’s have breakfast first, then we talk.”

The meal was carried out in silence with the only sounds being that of silverware scratching the inside of bowls. Looking up from her small portion of oatmeal, Starlight took note of her friend expressions. Iris Drop’s eyes were slightly red with matted fur running streaks down her cheeks. Coconut’s face was half buried in her bowl only to come out sighing heavily while her neighbor Luminance sampled her meal gingerly like it was her last and wanted to remember the flavor.

Across the table, Autumn attempted distract herself of her half eaten food make making small talk to her uncle while a certain ex-guard had left the table with his bowl full. Shifting a look to last unicorn at the table she asked, “Excuse me, mister...”

The guard lowered his spoon before replying, “Lieutenant Glasshorn, Miss Starlight.”

“Glasshorn got it,” she repeated to herself. “Umm, do you know what’s going on? It’s like somepony...” Starlight’s word drifted off as everyone looked across the table at her. The Canterlot pony reeled back as her thoughts hit home.

With a chill crawling up her spine, she asked, “I-i-is there a-a-any word on N-N-Nyx or S-S-S-Spike?”

“Starlight, dear...” Luminance started before clearing her throat, “We’re just going along with the facts given to us but... we think they may have been-”

“NO!” the student said rage dripping from her mouth. “I can’t- no, I won’t accept that. They can’t be dead. Nyx may have used herself to protect us but she just won’t... She survived fighting a horde of monsters from the Everfree. THE EVERFREE! Hydras, Ursa, Lupins, and even a chimera and some manticores. I was told that all of those beast nearly put Nyx at death’s door. That one wound is nothing compared to that.”

“Yes,” the interior designer replied trying to quell the verbal storm that was brewing, “but all of that is nothing compare to Discord, dear. That’s like trying to compare enough tiny pebbles to fill every house in Ponyville to a boulder.”

“I don’t care!” the rage induced mare shouted before slamming a hoof onto the table and bolting out of the building with a tear soaked face. Moments after she left, Spectrum Strom trotted in and inspected the varied faces of his friends.

Autumn sat looking out the window as her shadow slowly creeped closer to her. For the past hour, the farmer sat with the others as they watched the their rage fueled friend rip through the old workshop behind the inn that Appplebloom took over decades ago. The sound of screaming and exploding equipment were muffled by the thick walls keeping the rest of the town oblivious to the meltdown Starlight was having.

“This is worse than I would expected,” Iris mumbled as her eyes envisioned the self harm the Canterlotian was doing to herself.

“Each pony handles death in their own way, ma’am,” Spectrum Storm commented as he walked by. “Some are explosive, while others bottle it up.”

Autumn was about to ask the stallion a question with the Prankster of Ponyville stuck a hoof at the window, “She’s coming out!” Sure enough, with her mane and tail covered in splinters and several large cuts on her flank, the grey unicorn trotted out and collapsed.

The nurse mare was out the door and hovering over the wounded pony in seconds. Flinching as the healing slave as applied, Starlight let out one last cry of anger.

“I hope she gets better soon,” Luminance said watching Starlight stand back up and was lead into the house.

“Me too,” the farmer agreed with a nod. “We goin’ ta need her if we want ta find tha Elements of Harmony.”

“Speaking of which,” Glasshorn said joining the group, Mint fluttering close behind him. The orange pony could tell where this was going but allow him to continue. “On behalf of the Royal Guard, I want to thank you all for personally bringing this information to us. But, if from what I could understand with my conversation early with Storm, Discord has hidden the elements most likely in places that will pose too much of a threat to you. I advise that the six of you return to Ponyville or even head to Canterlot and inform the Princess directly as soon as possible.”

“Hold on there a sec, Glasshorn,” Autumn Gold said holding up a hoof. “How come we have to be movin’ along?”

“I apologized, ma’am,” the unicorn guard replied, “but aside from Storm, none of you have received formal training. I don’t want to risk innocents looking for the elements if we have to enter places like a dragon’s den.”

“Anyways,” Mint added rolling her eyes, “you’re way too shrimpy to be doing the stuff we do. You’re better off kicking your apple trees than help us.”

“Hold on there a sec,” Applebloom interrupted rolling her chair up to them. “Autumn may not be as strong as my sister Applejack, but the Apple family has just as much reason to be looking for the elements as you folks, if not more.”

“I’m going to have to agree with her, sir,” Spectrum Storm spoke up from the open doorway as Starlight came limping in with her nurse close by for support.

“Sergeant…” the officer started when Pepper came blasting through the open doorway and landing mere inches away from him.

“Lieutenant… *huff* we have *huff* a problem,” she said not giving herself time to breath.

“I’ll say,” her sister spoke up first, “you’re redder than normal. That’s not healthy.”

Inhaling deeply, the mare glared while saying, “This is not time for your jokes, Mint.”

“What’s happen, Corporal?” Glasshorn said taking note of the condition the guard was in.

“While I was on patrol,” she started, “I was unable to spot any of the townsfolk. Nopony was in the orchard, saloon or even town hall.”

The questioned mare took a look over her shoulder before pointing out the door. “Believe it or not but, they’re on their way here.” Everypony got up went from one side of the inn to other as they filled the threshold. Sure enough there was a small cloud of dust as a swarm of color ponies came marching down the street.

“Well,” Glasshorn said calmly, “Let’s go see what they want.” Following the guard, the party cantered out to the front porch. As the mob got closer, they slowed down to a mere trot before halting all together.

Several stallions stepped forth. The leader wore a silver star on his coat. The followers wore similar stars.

“Sheriff,” Applebloom spoke up first, “What’s yer reason for marchin’ up to ma property like ya wanted to burn it down?”

“Ma’am,” the earth pony replied, “Ah here to tell ya that yer harboring criminals.” Reactions varied among the group but old mare remained strong as she allowed the town’s law enforcer continue. “We have solid proof that Glasshorn and tha two pegasi with him ruined tha town’s reserved food supplies. While we normally would have them work off the damages, tha next harvest won’t be till next month.”

“Not to mention tha buffalo will arrive tomorrow and tha peace between us have been uneasy as of late,” one of deputies added flicking his hat up.

The stallion looked back and gesture one of his deputies to step forward. In the colt’s mouth was a bag of red feathers. The color drained out of Pepper’s face aside from the blush that danced on her cheeks. “These feathers were spotted everywhere around tha storehouse and there was a set of hoof prints that matches the unicorn’s leading into tha building,” the lead stallion stated looking back at them.

“That’s impossible,” the white mare shouted once more. “None of us where near the storehouse the entire night. We were busy outside of town.”

“Shut up!” a stallion called from the mob in the distance. The rest of townsfolk agreed as shouts of anger and hatred were fired at the three guard’s direction.

“Yeah let tha buffalo deal with them. Let it be our offing to keep the peace!”

The mob slowly marched up to the party with murderous intent. Their shouts of anger and distrust continuing as panic settled in.

“You just had to start molting didn’t you, sis?” Mint questioned looking at the red mare.

“What are we going to do, Lieutenant?” Pepper asked not bothering to answer the angry pegasus’s question.

Glasshorn looked back at his followers and mumbled, “We have orders not to reveal ourselves unless compromised. But the evidence is too conclusive.”

“Now hold on there just a min,” Applebloom surprisingly shouted, halting the crowd. “Ya’ll are just acting uncivilized. Don’t we have methods to prove one’s innocence?”

“Silence, Wild Star,” the Sheriff barked. “She’s right. We’ll hold court. Ah’ll be tha one doing the persecutin’. Who’s going to be defendin’ them?” Everypony took a back step in response.

Silence drifted through the town as Autumn Gold looked at the three guards. “They couldn’t have done it,” She whispered to herself. “They’re guardsponies. But ah got to help find the elements.”

The lawcolt turned around and stared at the speaker with distrust. “Ah wounln’ trust ya with my saddle let alone this case, Silver. Won’t somepony else speak up.”

The farm mare sized up the stallion that stood up. His body betrayed the lack of exercise as he flinched at the Sheriff’s words. Casting a glance at to her friends, she saw Storm tensed up beyond belief.

“Come on, sir,” the stallion pleaded before flinching. “Nonepony else is going to do it.”

Autumn glanced back at this ‘Silver’ pony before returning her stare to Storm whom was staring daggers at the outspoken pony. Storm seems ta think something’s funny bout Silver, her mind raced. Come on, Autumn, think, think, think. Ah ponyfeathers.

“I’ll do it!” she shouted while raising her hoof. Opening her eyes, she was greeted by a swarm of stares in return. Iago slowly chirped.

“Autumn, what are you doing?” Starlight asked limping to the farmer’s right.

“Ah can’t just let good ponies get blame for what they didn’t do,” she stated low enough that only her friend could hear while adjusting her hat. “Ah also got that naggin’ feelin’ just beggin’ for me to take a closer look.”

The Sheriff turned to his deputies and said, “Alright boy, take them back to tha jailhouse.” As ordered the three guardponies were quickly detained.

“One minute, sir,” Glasshorn said causing the ponies around him and his friends to halt.

Looking over his shoulder up at the young mare, he asked, “I hope you know what you’re doing, Miss Autumn Gold.” The guard’s new defence attorney replied with a silent nod before he was guided to the jailhouse with his pegasi companions.

Letting her gaze drift away from the departing townsfolk, Autumn turned around to face her friends and family. Storm was still staring off into the distance where the deputies took his once fellow guards. Coco and her other two friends from town gave her reassuring smiles though completely confused. Crab Apple was caught between disapproval and pride while Applebloom beamed strongly at her like she just earned her Cutie Mark all over again. When the mare’s gazed finally rested on the grey unicorn, she flinched at the hateful glare that tempted to burn holes through her hide.

“I hope you know what to do, Autumn,” Starlight stated before setting her face on her hoof. “The facts are against you; the townsponies are more likely to give you a mouth full of bull instead of useful facts and the only thing we have going for us is that they did save us from being eaten in the middle of dessert.”

“Ah’m pretty sure tha ponyfolk around here are whilin’ to spill tha beans with tha right questions,” the farmer countered heading back into the house with the others in tow. “Also, Storm looked might too tensed when that young’n name was said.”

“Indeed, ma’am,” he replied taking another look over his shoulder. “As you all know, I was once a guard like the rest of them. During my time, we were instructed to be on the lookout for any criminals still loose. While I’m not totally sure if he is still at large these days, there is one stallion that used the cover name of Silver Tongue.”

“Ah see where ya goin’ with this,” the farmer said making her way up the stairs. Pausing, she turned around once more and looked down at those following her. “Alright, everypony, listen up. Storm, ya and Uncle Crab go track down this ‘Silver’ fella and see if ya right about him. Don’t ruffle any feathers though. Luminance and Iris go talk to those around town and try to see what they got to say about last night. Coco and Ah will go check the crime scene out, see if we can’t pick out anything.”

“What about me?” Starlight asked looking at the farmer still ticked off with annoyance while her pet sparrow chirped with energy.

“Ya can help me do some baking,” the oldest mare in the room said wheeling herself to the kitchen.

“Ummm, Ma?” Crab asked following the mare to the kitchen. “Don’t cha think it would be better if Ah helped instead?”

Shaking her head, Autumn let out a sigh, “Personally I had nothing else for ya ta do aside from some walkin’. But seeing how ya hurt yerself pretty badly, Ya better off just staying here.”

Sighing, the newly appointed assistant chef made her way toward the kitchen saying, “I would’ve probably taken her offer anyways then.”

Looking at her uncle, the farm mare said, “Once ya n’ Storm are done following that lead, would ya mind checking how long it takes to where they found us. If we can figure out how long it took them to go get us, we might be able to prove their innocence.”

“So, Storm,” Crab asked as the two stallions trotted down the central street of town, “What make ya think that boy Silver is tha same Silver Tongue yer talkin’ bout?”

Spectrum kept his eyes forward as he allowed the wagon puller to lead him past the saloon. “A lot of things, sir. Silver Tongue, or Viper Bite as he was known before hoof, was once an officer of the law back in Fillydelphia. But a hoof full of bits had him locking up ponies for crimes that they didn’t commit. He was quickly expelled from the force. He then moved to Baltimare where things got worse. After building a record too big for his flanks, he went under and has been missing for more than three years.”

“A stallion that big should be recognized that easily,” the older stallion stated as they rounded a corner into an alleyway.

“One would think that, sir,” the ex-guard started, “but the only reason why they were able to connect both of his records together was because someponies spilled the beans. Some ponies have talents in changing another’s appearance. They’re a dime a dozen though.”

“Ya saying someponies can do that? Golly,” the Apple replied with a look of disbelief. The continued on in peace as they reach their destination. Walking through the door, the two stallions were greeted by their suspect.

“Mr. Apple,” he asked holding an ice pack to his head, oblivious to the look they were giving him, “what can Ah do for ya and yer friend?”

“Ma friend Storm here wants ta ask ya some questions,” the earth pony said pointing to the pegasus.

“First of all, sir,” Spectrum Strom said turning sharply on a fore hoof, “what’s your full name?”

“Silver Star,” he replied quickly and proudly before clutching tightly onto the ice pack. “Ah named after ma great-grandpa. He was sheriff here in town when it was starting out. Ah’m kinda was hoping to become the same.”

“Headache,” he replied tossing the packed onto a nearby dresser. “Nothin’ ta worry about.”

Storm started walking around the pony as he asked his next question, “Where have you been in the past ten years?”

“Well,” the colt started, “Ah’ve been living Baltimare for most of ma life until two years ago? Didn’t do much though aside from schooling is law.”

The interrogator came around and looked his suspect in the eye, “You’ve been in school for law?”

“It’s not like Ah’m a lawyer,” the stallion said cantering over to a dresser. Opening it up, he rumbled through it. Finding what he wanted, he withdrew his head and revealed a framed paper. “Ah’m at least able to count myself a deputy.” Both inspector ponies walked up and read the paper.

“Golly,” Crab Apple said have stunned, “I didn’t know they hoof over these kinds of things. Did ya, Storm?”

The rainbow mane flyer marched back to the open door, “Officers in the guard are required to have one, sir.” He then stopped, rotated back to look at the young stallion and pointed at the star that the earth pony supported on his flank. “What does your cutie mark mean?”

“Oh, this?” Star checked to where the ex-guard was looking. “This is because Ah have a superior sense of justice. Ah mean Ah wanted to defend those ponies that were locked up because everypony else was being so hard on ‘em.”

“Pfff!” Silver snorted making both stallions take a step back, “Ah have a better chance of stealing a kiss from one of those mares than all three of them actually committing that crime. They’re honest folk they are.”

“So why are ya asking questions?” Silver Star inquired. “Does it have to do those folks that got locked up?”

“Thank you very much, darling” Luminance said trotting out of the general store. She hung her face low as she waited for her friend to return.

“What a waste,” she mumbled to herself. “Mr. Salt was sure it was Cookie hanging out by the storehouse last night. But his wife just sunk that boat. Ohh, I hope Iris is doing better with that lead.”

Looking around she caught sight of a stallion trotting past to her. “Should I interview another pony about last night before Iris comes back?” she asked nopony in particular. “It’s better than just waiting. Excuse me, my good sir! Could I borrow some of your time?”

Her called pulled him out of a fog that he seemed to be in. Shaking his head, he replied, “Howdy, Ma’am. Ya won’t happen ta be new in town?”

Putting on the best charm she could muster, she began her questioning off, “Why yes, indeed I am new here. My friends and I came here from Ponyville and its my friend Autumn who’s defending those ponies.”

“Really now?” the earth pony replied, “That’s ah kind of funny seein’ how the sheriff has me helping him with that case. I don’t get it though”

“Mr. Hogtie,” she corrected. “Your rudely loud friend already said that you have all the evidence that you need. Why should the sheriff need an extra hoof?”

“Personally, ah don’t see how they did‘it,” the stallion replied shifting the jacket he wore. “Silver Star was on night watch. That foal been tryin’ to prove he’s sheriff material. He should’da seen who did it.”

Tapping her chin, the interior designer pondered the information given to her. “Why would Appleoosa need a night watch?” she queried. “It’s a pretty quiet town to need such petty things.”

The deputy scratched his head. “It was his idea in tha first place. Like Ah said though, he’s ah brown-noser.”

“So…” the mare said leading the stallion to a nearby bench, “what were you doing last night?”

“Ahh…” Hogtie started with another scratch of his head. The tilt in the mare’s head made him blush a bit before looking to his right. “I was drinking with Wild Star the whole night, though ah turned in around ten that night.”

Shaking his head, he took the seat next to her. “Not fer last night. There was a big party last night. Anyways, Wild Star turned in later that night.”

Motioning to a sore shoulder, the deputy replied with a chuckle, “Cause he had pushed me outta his bed.” The mare could help but burst out laughing. “Yeah, ah went ta sleep in his room instead his own. Welp, Sheriff will be needing ta see me, ya have a nice day.”

“You too,” she replied waving the stallion off. Now left alone, the interior designer re-took a seat on the bench. “I guess Spectrum was right to suspect that Mr. Silver Star. It sounds like he was unaccounted for the whole night.”

Before she could continue her train of thought, the violet pegasus floated up. “Oh, Iris, how did it go?”

Touching down, the herbalist took a moment to recollect her thoughts. “Well, things don’t look good for our friends.”

“It really was a unicorn that entered the storehouse,” the flyer said taking the seat.

Watching her friend fix her mane, Luminance added, “And with Cookie accounted for, yes, it does seem like Glasshorn was there. We really need to inform the others.”

“Pfff, go ahead,” Wild Star said sharply, “it’s not like yer going ta find anythin’ that we already haven’t.”

“Thank ya kindly,” Autumn replied with a tip of her hat before leading her fellow earth pony toward the crime scene.

“Gesh,” the prankster exclaimed once they entered the trashed building. “That Wild Star sure is a meany.”

“Don’t start pranking him yet, Coco,” the farmer said throwing a wrench into the mare’s thought process. “We need ta make sure those guardponies are out of jail first.”

“Okay,” her cheery friend replied before looking around the interior, “so what are we looking for?”

“Anything that can prove they didn’t make this mess,” she said before pulling out a notepad and pencil.

“Anything.” Autumn confirmed before inspecting the storehouse. Looking into a barrel, she saw mashed apples and cores plied halfway up. “Well, it looked like whoevera did this not only ruined the food but also ate a bit of it.” Turning her gaze to the ruined shelves, she started scribbling her thoughts down.

“These lower shelves are broken,” she mumbled through her writing utensil. “Why would they?”

The farm mare shifted her gaze to reply when a pie crust smacked her in the face. “Coco, watch were ya throwin’ things”

“Anyhow,” Autumn said with a shrug, “Ah figure that much. But why would Glasshorn need to climb on tha shelves when he had help from pegasi?”

“He just wanna make more work for us, that’s why,” The stallion outside shouted.

“He’s also an unicorn, ya rock fer brains,” Autumn countered. “He could just magick the stuff on the shelves.”

“Maybe he’s like Starlight?” her fellow mare questioned as she checked another barrel.

The farmer shook her head as she turned back to the scene, “Ah don’t think so, Coco. He was using it mighty fine back at Gran-Auntie Bloom’s house.”

“Hey!” the prankster said pulling her head out of the tipped barrel. In her mouth was a white feather. “Does this help prove their innocence?”

The earth pony inspected it closely. “This doesn’t help us a bit, Ah’m afraid. There not a whole lot of pegasi in town.”

With a sigh, Autumn reached down for the feather. “Yeah, this can pin Mint here as well,” she said in a hushed tone.

“Ah like yer thinkin’,” the farmer said before slapping her forehead with a hoof. “Coco, why are ya lookin’ at the dirt?”

“Hoof prints!” the brown coated mare said pointing at the tracks that lead in and out of the storehouse. The defense attorney joined her helper in staring at the hoof prints.

“Well dip me in sugar and call me a candy apple,” she said after a long moment of silence, “Coco, Ah think you found something useful.”

The farmer could help but chuckled along with the prankster before a realization hit her. “But this doesn’t make sense…”

Sighing, she rotated on a hoof. “What in tarnation did ya doooOOOOOO! Holy Horseapples!” Instead of her braided mane friend sitting among discarded baked goods, there was a green zebra with wings. Autumn just stared as the mare checked out her new body.

“What happen?” Wild Star said trotting up to entrance. The two mares watched as stallion’s eyes exploded.

“CHANGELING!” he screamed before bolting away from them leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

“Wait!” the pair of them shouted after him. They were barely out the door when all traces of the deputy were just a trail of hoof prints leading into town.

“Just great,” the farmer sighed and removed her hat, “now we have two things ta deal with.”

“Hey!” her friend shouted. “I’m back to normal!” Sure enough the prankster was back to her usual brown coat and white mane.

“What in Equestria happen back there?” the farmer asked putting her hat back on.

“I don’t know. I slipped on pie plate and next thing I know, I had wings. What’s really weird is it felt like I couldn’t fly with them.”

“Ah’m more surprised that you couldn’t,” Autumn said leading her friend back into the storehouse. “For a minute I thought that buck was right bout ya being a changeling. Now let’s check out where ya landed.”

The two spent hours sweeping through the storehouse. They flipped over pie trays, checked under piles of crumbs, dived back into barrels of mushed apple cores. The farmer even had her assistant repeat her fall yet no attempt could yield anything.

“This is getting us nowhere,” Autumn finally said fixing her hat. “Let’s get back to tha others and see what they found.”

“Autumn…” a mare nervously called out from behind her. “I got that weird feeling again.” Turning around to the source of the voice, the young mare found herself staring up at black alicorn with a frighten look plastered on her face.

“Wait!” Coco’s voice came from the winged unicorn. “I’m Nyx? Strange I was just thinking what she would do in this kind of situation.”

“Don’t move!” the farmer shouted making the alicorn freeze up. “Lift each hoof one atta time, slowly.” The alicorn lifted her left foreleg with the earth pony staring closely at the ground below. Nothing but pie crumbs on the black hoof. Autumn’s eyes darted over the next hoof once the other one was lowered. A large chunk of frosting was dangling from the hoof.

Trusting her instincts, she reached out and pulled the mass of. Once she had it off she looked back up at her friend to stare right into her cherry red eyes.

“Sooo… did it work?” the prankster asked without moving her eyes. With a nod from the farmer, she whipped her head around to inspect her backside.

“Let’s get back to everypony,” Autumn said tossing her evidence and notes back into her back. “They’re gonna flip with what we found.”

“Careful now, Star,” Applebloom said as she guided her apprentice in pulling a hot pie from the oven. Even through the oven mitt in her mouth, the searing heat brought tears to the unicorn’s eyes. From his seat in the aged pony’s mane, Iago cheered her on with a combination of chirps and flipping wings.

“You could help cool me off, Iago,” Starlight said through the mitt. Fighting against the pain, she found a open countertop for her to drop the tray as gently as she could. After the sound of metal being drop from two hoof lengths died down, the young cook threw herself at the sink.

Wheeling her chair around to watch her assistant drink straight from the tap, the original Cutie Mark Crusader place a hoof on the student’s shoulder. “Their alive, ya know?”

Pulling her face out of the sink, the grey mare replied, “Huh?” Her dripping muzzle adding to the confused look she gave off.

“Nyx and Spike, Ah know ya be worryin’ bout her,” the cream coated pony answered leaning back in her wheelchair. “It’s ah written all over yer face like ah book.”

Turning back to the sink, the unicorn leaned in and took another drink. “Ah’ve know both fer ma whole life. Ah doubt they’re going to let Discord bet them.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Starlight snapped pulling her face away once more while turning the water flow off. “Did you not hear me yelling about it at breakfast? Did you not see me turn the inside of that workshop into a pile of wood chips? I’ve will not believe that their dead. Both mean a lot to my mother and while I won’t say it to her, I care about how she feels. If she knew that both her of her older siblings died on the same night would... just... just... just ruin her. I’m even sure that my father won’t be able to make her happy.” She looked at her hooves, “I bet the only thing that would make her happy if that happen would if I learned how to bring ponies back from the dead.”

Bringing her head back and to look into the handicapped mare’s eyes, she said, “That’s why I can’t accept- no that’s why I know for a fact that they're not gone.”

The Apple pony brought a hoof up and pointed it right at the sadden mare. “That there is why Ah know they aren't dead. Ya have faith in them. Just like yer grandmother had faith in her friends long ago. Never lose that faith and gain new faith in those who count ya as their friends. That will help ya do what needs to be done. Ah would join ya if Ah could move my hindquarters without this chair.”

The young mare couldn’t help but smile to the old crusader. Returning the smile, Applebloom gestured toward the doorway. “Now go get anotha basket of apple from ma store while Ah start tha next batch.”

With spirits lifted, Starlight motioned for her pet to hop onto her horn. Accepting the offer, Iago gave a happy chirp as it flutter the distance between the two ponies’ head. Picking the basket up in her teeth, the two of them left the inn and ventured toward the rear of the building.

“You know, Iago,” Starlight looking up at the sparrow resting on her horn, “I think things are starting to look up.” The tiny bird chirped angrily at her as they approached the small shed nestle right behind the inn.. “What, did you think I jinxed it?”

“How are things going on the desert front?” a familiar voice said from the other side of the shack. The unicorn and bird froze in their tracks. “I heard that getting dirt stuck in between your horseshoes and hooves is quite painful.”

“Things are goings well, Discord,” a stallion replied to the chaotic voice. “Those guard ponies you pointed out for me are in jail. Everypony wants their tails. The buffalo are due in the morning and from what I learn from the townsfolk is right, I pretty sure they’ll have this town turned to pancakes before the end of week.”

The eavesdropper inched around the building to hear better. “Discord does have a hoof in this mess,” she whispered to her sparrow, “My assumption was right. I need to tell the others now.” The tiny bird couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

“I think that’s not all you’re telling me Viper,” Discord stated bringing the unicorn and sparrow’s attention.

‘Viper’ sighed. “That old mare that runs in the inn convinced the whole town to put them on trial. While I planted enough evidence to have them guilty, I think they might have a chance to find them not guilty. I already had a backup plan in place though, so even those six ponies that showed up last night and took the chase won’t even suspect me.”

“All but one,” the stallion replied. “Big pegasus colt with a white coat and the most strangest mane and tail color I’ve ever seen.” A long silence forced the unicorn eavesdropper to peak around the corner. Standing over a barrel of water was the suspected stallion with apple in his hoof.

Discord voice emerged from the barrel. “Do whatever you need to keep them from getting to court. Even the best laid plans of mice and ponies can go astray if there is even a string is left loose.” The stallion nodded. “Now deal with those eavesdroppers.”

“Run Starlight!” another voice screamed from the barrel as Viper looked up and stared into Starlight’s eyes before the unicorn and sparrow took off leaving the empty basket behind

“Shoot, shoot, shoot,” she panted as she dashed toward the open streets. Iago chirped out encouragement as they reach the alleyway that gapped the distance. “Iago, if anything happens to me tell my mother I love her even after all the… WHY AM I TELLING A BIRD THIS?!” A large weight fell on top of her bringing her down off her hooves.

Looking at what had tackled her, her eyes were greeted with a devilish grin. “Who woulda thought the perfect plan would fall right into my lap.

Luminance and Iris followed their tall shadows up to the inn as they converged with the others from their information gathering missions.

“So let’s recap shall we?” the unicorn asked nudging her nurse friend. “We know that a unicorn was spotted entering the storehouse around eleven-thirty.”

“Yes,” the pegasus nodded, “but there are only two unicorns in town aside from you and Starlight. And we confirmed that Cookie was home last night with his wife during that time.”

“Which places Glasshorn at the time of the crime,” the interior designer pointed out as she mounted the steps. “Unless it’s an earth pony with an ice cream cone on his head, but it could very well be since it was crescent moon out last night. What else do we know?”

“Ummm,” Iris paused in her steps to place a hoof on her chin, “I heard there was a party last night on the other side of town that most of the town attended.”

The unicorn nodded her head as she sat down at the top of the steps. “That accounts for the whole town really aside from Mrs. Applebloom, Mr. Silver Star, the guardsponies, Cookie, his wife, Mr. Salt and Mr. Tootall. Out of all of them the only one that wasn’t accounted by other means is Silver Star. He does have a motive because he wants to prove himself.”

“But why would he want to defend the guards?” the nurse asked deflating that theory.

The unicorn brushed a hoof through her hair. “That sure does ruin that motive, but he’s the only one that could possibly have done it.”

“Ya saying that ya figured out who did it?” their farmer friend said trotting up with the prankster in tow.

“I have little doubt who could have done it, is I’m implying,” the interior designer. “The problem is figuring out why he did it.”

The unicorn stood up. “Well you unless you found the cone he had on his head, I doubt anything can explain it so simply.”

“Then getta load of this,” the farmer said as the frosted covered objected was tossed in from of them.

Both mares new to this piece of evidence stared at it. “What is it?” Iris asked poking it. The farmer picked it up and hurried inside. Her fellow earth pony ushered the others to follow.

Ignoring the alluring smell of home cooking, Autumn rushed over to the dining table. She tossed her find on the wooden surface with a thunk before attacking it. When her friends entered the room, they found her hooves holding up a star with the smallest bits of frosting still clinging to it.

The farmer tossed the star over her the prankster, “We found it in tha store house and it has tha crazy of magic on it. Show them Coco.” Beaming at the prospect of trying out the device once more, the mare slapped the star on her.

The three mares watched as their friend’s coat and mane went a stunningly bright pink. Luminance dared to inch closer when the prankster gone pink tackled her. “Neato isn’t it?” she said hugging the unicorn. “I can change my appearance as long I have a clear mental image of somepony.”

“But if she loses focus,” Autumn continued to explain as the badge wearing pony began to shift once more to a mare with wings, “she changes inta some random combination. While she may have a horn or wings, she can’t use them.”

“Which means it must have been Silver Star who did it,” Iris said helping her unicorn friend out of the shape shifting pony’s grasp.

“Indeed it does,” the interior designer replied once the energetic mare released her hold. “He’s an earth pony like Coco, he wasn’t at the party last night-”

“And wasn’t anywhere near the storehouse last night, ma’am,” a stern voice interrupted the unicorn’s train of thought. Looking toward the source, the mares saw Spectrum Storm and Crab Apple entering both breathing slightly harder than normally.

“But Storm,” Coco stated as her body shifted to that of the pegasus, “you suspected Silver from the beginning.”

“That suspicion I had was destroyed when I had a talk with him, ma’am,” the stallion said cantering over to the mare and removing the badge. He inspected it closer as he continued, “He may want to prove himself, but he wouldn’t go through this just to do it.”

“How can you be so sure?” Luminance asked as there was a knock on the door. Excusing himself, Crab went to greet the visitor. “From what you said of his cover name ‘Silver Tounge,’ one would figure he is very charismatic. I say, Silver Star could have wanted to be the defender in order to frame yet another pony all together making even more chaos.”

“It’s what I would do if I was in his horseshoes,” the chipper mare pointed out.

Shaking his head, the stallion tossed the coat-changing star on to the nearby table much to the prankster’s delight as she took it. “There are too many ‘what if’s’ in such a setup ma’am,” he countered. “As it is now, there is a lot of ‘what if’s’ in this case as we speak. But, unlike the complex motive you’ve set up he can manage the ones he has now. Besides, going that deep isn’t his style.”

“Has anypony seen ya grey unicorn friend?” Grand-Auntie Bloom asked wheeling herself slowly into the room. There was a unanimous shake of the head. “Ah sent her outback 20 min’s ago. Where did that youngster run off to?”

“Do you think she had another outburst?” Iris questioned as she started digging medical supplies.

The old mare’s son came trotting up with a letter in his mouth. “Ah don’t think so,” he said through the paper. Spitting it on to the table, the others gathered around and read the message.

To: The Guest at Applebloom’s Inn.

If you want to see your friend alive,

Do not go to court tomorrow.

From: Viper Bite.

“Ohohohohohohohoh!” Discord laughed as he watched a pair of stallions in suits tackled each other in the middle of a packed street. He tossed cotton candy into his mouth as he gazed through the glowing portal. One of the stallions slammed a hoof across his opponent’s face before the police pulled him off. “Oooooooooooooooh, this can’t get any better. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes Discord, Hornclaw thinks these ponies are dumber than other Diamond Dogs,” the gem hunter said from his master’s side.

With a pleading face, the spirit of disharmony looked around as his visitors. “Ahh, come now. You must admit this is better than that ‘professional wrestling.’ At least here they’re trying to kill each other.”

A small burst of green flame landed on the draconequus’s face. “There’s what I think of your ‘fun’, Discord,” the sender said before sending another burst of flame toward them. The puff of fire landed square on top of the other blast.

“Spike, stop it,” the dragon fellow prisoner said before letting out a goan.

Waving away smoke and snapping away the small fire that started on his beard, the draconequus said, “You should listen to your dear sister, Spikey-Wikey. Nyxie is not feeling so good and things could get worse if you don’t behave.”

“You think keep me this cage and hiding behind my sister is going to save you?” Spike snorted sending a puff of smoke from his nostrils.

Discord grinned, “Even if you were fully grown, you wouldn’t stand a minute against me.” Turning around he started walking back to his chair.

Taking in a deep breath, his serpentine like belly swelled. Channeling the energy from waist to cheeks, he launched his largest blast yet. The pillar of flame slammed right into the backside of the chaotic being bringing him to the floor.

For minutes the dragon continued his barrage of energy draining heat storm until he lost his breath. Collapsing onto the side of his cage he shouted, “There’s more where that comes from, you minotaur-kissing crazy!”

There was no reply. Not even a word from Nyx scolding him. Looking toward the other cage on the ground, his eyes shrank. Standing back up, he looked to where his fire blast had landed. Sitting in the middle of superheated soil, was the wounded alicorn.

Her coat was a deep grey from the dragon fire but was slowly returning to normal. The once magical mane had returned to a form he hadn’t seen in decades. What really sent the young drake into panic was her still chest and tightly closed eyelids.

Crying reached Spike’s ear. “Bohoho, it’s so sad,” Discord said wiping tears from his eyes. “You’ve killed your very own sister. How would Princess look upon such act? How would your family? How would Twilight?”

The panic turned to rage as Spike turned and blasted the area that the draconequus once was. Discord continued to taunted the librarian as he blew fire everywhere. The Diamond Dog even had to dive behind the chair as one of the random blast landed mere inches away.

“Stop it, Discord!” said a pained voice catching the attention of raged fuel beast. Spike stared as Nyx attempted to stand. She was able to get three legs before one that was burnt gave away sending her back to floor.

The being of chaos floated over to look into the knight's eyes. “But I’m having fun,” he whined, throwing a quivering lip for extra effect. “Plus, I bet you’re even getting a kick out of watch.” If stares were weapons, Nyx’s was worth an entire army’s worth of spears.

“I’ve mastered the pleading face when I was one,” she stated bluntly as she lifted her head..

Crossing his arms, Discord gave a snap of his fingers. Nyx reappeared in her cell next to Spike, completely unharmed from the dragon fire.

“Why are you keeping us alive when we’re the biggest threat to you?” the Knight of Equestria asked getting back up on her hooves. “I’m magic-less in here and not just by your little light cage.” She tapped the silver band of metal clutching tightly around her neck.

“I’ve got plans for you,” he replied reaching through the alicorn’s cell and brushing his claw through her thick purple mane. “Both of you in fact. You’re going to help me bring chaos to everypony.”

“Over my scaly body,” the dragon snorted letting out tiny puffs of flame from his nose. Laughing madly, the draconequus left the two alone as he return to his chair where Hornclaw waited.

“Are you okay, Nyx?” the dragon whispered low enough so Discord couldn’t hear.

Nodding her head she replied, “Yes, but I don’t know for how long.” She tapped the call’s cage, sending ripples of magic along the bars of light. “This is cell is doing more than prevent me from using magic.”

“I can see that,” the librarian stated. “You haven’t had that mane since you went to tutor under the princesses.”

“Yes,” Nyx said inspecting her matching tail, “I’m being drain of my magic.”

The realization struck Spike, “Do you think you could die if you in there too long?”

“I- I don’t know,” she replied honestly. “If so though, I pray that Starlight was able to get away and find the elements.”

100 years after the Nightmare

by Burning Wick

Chapter 8: Spoiling the Barrel