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// When the Circus Came to Town 
// Story: Fallen Sun 
// by shademaster24601 
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Wallowmire was in no sense a beautiful town. Dingy as a used dish towel and just as smelly, but the residents were happy. Mud Skip, for all she'd been through, really wouldn't want it  any other way. In fact, things had never been better. With their secret neighbors no longer a secret, the goblins had settled themselves right in to the daily routine of the town. The fixers, in their own manic way, shared their engineering knowledge so that the ponies of Wallowmire might maintain the machines themselves. Mud Skip took advantage of the opportunity and learned how to make her own motorized breakfast cart, which she used to make personal deliveries around town while her new wait-staff looked after the tavern. She zipped around town on that thing without a care in the world, feeling the breeze, saying hi to everybody. Her favorite part was rolling up to the docks, bringing some much needed nourishment to the folks who were in too much of a rush to grab a bite to eat. Ponies and goblins alike, hard at work, swapping stories, sharing laughs, made the start of her day extra special.
It had been a week since Uriah had knocked out Stalliongrad. The changelings were an adjustment, but the goblins assured every pony there wouldn't be any funny business. This clearly did not sit well with their queen. Chrysalis tried to assert her dominance over the wallow mire ponies more than once, but either Uriah or the goblins would quickly arrive to knock her off her pedestal. The giant centaur serving as Uriah's new muscle, however, was a much more intimidating addition to get used to. Tirek kept to himself and proved relatively harmless unless provoked. There was one incident where he nearly there one of the fish-carts into town, but the situation ultimately diffused once Uriah demonstrated his control spell. Mud Skip had to admit, seeing the three of them together was the definition of menacing, but she kept her head up and wheeled the cart to them anyway. They had gathered with a large crowd of goblins and changelings at the pier, all of them looking across the lake. Mud Skip approached the trio and presented called out their orders. "Okay, we've got two everything bagels, cream cheese on one and butter on the other, for Lord Tirek,"
Tirek took his plate from the tray and gave her a nod. "Thank you."
Mud Skip nodded back. "One spicy pepper omelette for Chrysalis,"
The changeling queen snatched the plate and fork in her magic and huffed. "About time."
Mud Skip rolled her eyes, but smiled at her next customer. "And last, but not least. For the illustrious Goblin King, who simply told me to surprise him, a short stack of waffles with powdered sugar and fresh strawberry slices." She presented the dish proudly, but her face fell when Uriah simply took the tray without saying a word or even turning to look at her. "What? Is that the thanks I get? Not even going to kiss the cook?"  Without skipping a beat, Uriah leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Mud Skip's face went beet red and she proceeded to take off her apron and smack him upside the head with it. "That's a figure of speech!"
The innkeeper had caught the alicorn mid-bite and he started hacking. "Gahk! Cack! Ow!" He shook his head and forced a sneeze. A little puff of powdered sugar obscured his vision. "Where am I?" Uriah looked up to find that in the commotion, he impaled his waffles on his horn.
Chrysalis couldn't resist a wicked chuckle. "Hehehe, he does take requests like that literally. I sarcastically asked for a full body massage one night and he went ahead and gave me one." She trembled at the thought of his magic hooves, but snapped out of it once he started giving her a teasing smirk.
Mud Skip still blushed, but cleared her throat. "Well, it's not like it was unpleasant, just caught me off guard." She sidled up to Uriah and gave him a playful bump with her flank. "Make a mare feel twenty years younger why don't ya?" It was his turn to blush, which she giggled at before helping him clean himself up. With his waffles removed from his head and a wash cloth to clear away a few stray strawberries, she couldn't help but notice the bags under his eyes. "Oh, you look exhausted. Are you feeling okay?"
Uriah was about to protest, but he was betrayed by a yawn. "I've...been better. I don't know what's wrong. I'm sleeping fine."
Tirek, who had held his tongue while trying not to gag from the earlier flirting, finished a bagel and interjected. "You've also been working non-stop. Between organizing the scouting parties, planning in the war room, and governing Goblin Town, I barely even see you take a moment to blink."
The alicorn rubbed his face with his wing. "Perhaps I am just feeling a bit of a burn-out." He turned his attention back out across the lake. "That's why I was relieved when the goblins brought this to my attention."
Mud Skip tried to look where he was looking. "What's going on?"
Uriah pointed up toward the cliffs overlooking the lake, across from them. A lone grunt, carrying a large, barrel-shaped, contraption on his back, approached the edge. "The fixers have been working on something and they think they've made a break-through. If I understand correctly, they believe they've manufactured the power of flight."
Mud Skip felt a lump in her throat at the realization. "You mean he's going to..."
Uriah kept his concerned eyes on the grunt. "Welcome to the most relaxing part of my morning." He called out to the goblin on the ledge. "Are you absolutely sure about this?"
The grunt straightened his pack and gave a thumbs up. "Affirmative! Ready for action!"
"Do a flip!" Everyone shot Chrysalis a scolding glare.
"You're not the boss of me!" This drew a laugh at the changeling queens expense and got the grunt pumped up for take off. Like a runner off the starting line, he dashed for the cliff. With a determined grin, he dove off. There was a stunned silence from the crowd as he plummeted straight down. The goblins held their breath in anticipation of their brother's mission. Mud Skip hid her face in Uriah's shoulder so she didn't have to look and he readied himself to catch his subject if need be. Tirek and Chrysalis just ate their breakfast in mild amusement. The grunt was unfazed at the rush of air around him. In a quick motion he pulled two cords at either side of him and two large wings of cloth and metal sprang from the sides of the barrel. He reached up to them and steadied them by two handles at either wrist. In a strong pull, he tilted back and the wings leveled him out at the last second. He proceeded to glide over the water, then squeezed a trigger in the right handle. There was a loud bang as a jet of fire shot out from the bottom of the barrel. With alternating pressure, he was able to adjust his altitude and perform a simple pattern to circle over the crowd and back over the lake. Then there was the sputtering. His eyes widened as the jet started to malfunction. His stability started to go and then his pack exploded, sending him face first into the lake.
Uriah ran to the edge of the pier and searched the water. He breathed a sigh of relief as a green form burst out of the water and started splashing. The alicorn flew out to the grunt and reached out his hooves. The grunt held on as his king lifted him and plopped him down on the dock with the others. "Are you alright?"
The grunt was speechless for a moment as his brothers surrounded him. "Heh...hehehehe. Hahahahaha! I did it!"  He shot to his feet, both fists raised in triumph. "Goblins fly!" The decree was met with thunderous applause. Two brutes lifted up the pioneer grunt, and the procession carried him off back home to the chanting of "Goblins fly!"
Uriah smiled. There was sense of pride welling up in his chest as he watched them head off to what was most assuredly going to be a tremendous party. "Amazing."
Mud Skip joined him, looking a bit confused. "Did they miss the part where it exploded?"
The alicorn brushed it off. "They'll have that worked out by tomorrow morning and then we'll have whole squadrons eager to take flight...of course I can't just have them flying around willy nilly that'll draw attention...and I can't let them down so I'll need a job for them to do, which means I'll have to work them into a plan to lay siege to Cloudsdale like way earlier than I was planning on and..."
He was cut short when Mud Skip put her hopes around him. "Hey, hey, slow down." He whined a bit, but she just brushed his mane while he steadied his breathing. "You really are overworking yourself. Maybe just relax and join the party."
Uriah let out a sigh. "I can't, I'll just start talking about it and I'll get sucked right back into the work. I should have gone with Trixie to her dad's birthday tour in Las Pegasus. Maybe...maybe I'll write another letter to my friend. That calmed me down."
"A letter?" Mud Skip reached into her apron pocket. "I almost forgot. This fell out of the sky the day before last." She pulled out a sealed scroll and presented it to Uriah. "Nopony really knew what to make of it except we thought it improper to break the seal. I would have gotten it to you sooner,"
"But I've been so busy." Uriah examined the seal. A blue circle with three familiar balloons.  "It's from her!" His face lit up with a grin as he excitedly opened the letter. It was a reply from Pinkie, every line filled with the friendliness and sincerity he expected from her. There was a sense of relief about Twilight and a concern for Applejack, but mostly he smiled knowing she was still thinking about him. "That settles it. I know exactly where I need to go to unwind myself."
Tirek and Chrysalis shared a smirk and the Centaur asked what they were both thinking. "I take it that means we get the day off?"
Uriah chuckled. "Oh, heavens no. I have a very special job for you, my dextrous friend."
Tirek rolled his eyes. "Of course you do. Well, what is it?"
Uriah materialized a pamphlet and presented it to the warlock. "My spies in Manhattan came to me last night with an interesting bit of information. There's a pop-up museum of "ancient artifacts" opening up later today."
Tirek snorted. "Likely a waste of time. I've seen my share of shows like these while I was on the run. They're almost always nothing but fakes and lies."
Uriah nodded, but kept a serious look. "That's what I thought at first, but then I saw their main attraction."
The centaur thumbed through the pamphlet with an incredulous grimace, but his eyes widened when he saw the biggest advertisement, a picture of a strange wooden staff in a glass case. "The Kaladanda?  Not that Kaladanda?"
Chrysalis pushed him over so she could get a better look. "I thought that was lost to time. They couldn't possibly..."
Uriah flew over and got between their shoulders. "I'd know it anywhere. I was the last one to use it." He pointed to one end of the staff. "See these crystal shards near the one end? That's from when I had to use it on King Lavan after he stole a sister magic to the elements of harmony."
Mud Skip felt a nervous twitch in her ear. "I'm sorry, but what is the Kaladanda exactly?"
Tirek stroked his beard as he eyed the picture. "It's primal magic. Crafted by gods to be the ultimate weapon. Once thrown, it will destroy its intended target and no boon can protect against it."
"Not even immortality." Uriah concluded with a grim tone.
This made the centaur raise an eyebrow at the alicorn. "You intend to use it on Celestia."
"I intend to keep it as a failsafe. If all goes according to plan and you fulfill your end, I would see her completely powerless, imprisoned, and forced to watch helplessly as a new world of my making unfolds without her." He squeezed Tirek's shoulder. "However, should you fail me, I'd like to have an ace in the hole."
Mud Skip started to slowly make her way back to her cart. "I'll just...leave you to talk shop."
Uriah's ears twitched at the slight catch in her voice. She was afraid. Before she reached the cart, he swooped down in front of her. "Mud Skip, wait." He could see a slight panic in her eyes as he quickly took her in a tight hug. "I really do appreciate you and all you do for me. For taking care of me."
Mud Skip took a deep breath, then hugged him back. "Some pony has to. All this...I knew you were trying to take over Equestria and, frankly, I'm still all for you being in charge. It's just getting so grim."
Uriah nuzzled her gently. "That's why I'm going to see my friend. She never fails to cheer me up." He eased back and brushed her cheek with his wing. "Everything's going to be just fine. I promise."
She smiled, gave a nod, and set off back to her tavern with a wave. Tirek watched Uriah with a judging glare as he waved back. "So, how do you want me to do this? I suppose I can sneak in with a team of goblins through the basement before the show opens..."
"No sneaking this time." Uriah held his head high. "The last two operations needed to be done discreetly as to hide my involvement, but, seeing as I won't be directly involved this time..."
The centaur nodded, smiled, and cracked his knuckles. "Then we don't need to be quiet. I'll just lead a charge through the front door then. Snatch the Kaladanda while the goblins round up the guests."
"Also no." Uriah brushed back his mane. "The goblins have a tunnel that will take you right outside the building, but you'll be going in alone. We won't be taking anypony this time, so just get in, wreck up the place, take the staff and any other real artifacts you happen across, then leave." The pale alicorn stretched out his wings. "Put on a show, rough up security, give them a story to take back to Celestia."
Tirek grinned at the challenge. "I'll be sure to leave an impression."
Chrysalis stepped forward. "What about me?"
Uriah booped her nose. "You, my little leech, can take the day off." She snapped at his hoof, but he just started giving her scritches behind her ear. "If you hurry, you should be able to get back to Goblin Town in time for the first batch of grog. Not to be missed."
Tirek crossed his arms. "How come I'm the only one who has to work?"
Uriah lifted off the ground. "Because she already put in her special assignment with Stalliongrad and I'm teetering close to a break down. Tell you what, you still have a couple hours before the museum opens, go have some fun and get yourself pumped. I have total confidence in you." He started flying away. "I'll be back later tonight. Don't try to usurp me while I'm gone or I'll smite you both. Bye." When he climbed to a certain height, he vanished in a red blink.


Pinkie Pie whistled away as she finished up the last of the cleaning. It had been a slow day and the Cakes were going to close up early so they could all enjoy the day. The pink earth pony giggled in excitement over how special a day it was. She kept up her tune and wiggled her rump in rhythm as she put away the last of the cookie sheets. In her work, Pinkie failed to hear the creak of the kitchen door. A shadow crept along the floor, slithering up and over the table, silently approaching the mare. The shadow slowly approached the pink pony, then began to rise up behind her. A tall figure took shape and a pair of glowing red eyes beamed from the dark. 
As Pinkie picked up the last sheet and lifted it toward the shelf, a deep, hushed voice whispered in her ear. "Surprise."
"Aaahhh!!" She shrieked at the top of her lungs and swung the cookie sheet around as hard as she could. With a resounding *clang* that rang like a bell, the shadows poofed away and left Uriah laid out on the floor. Pinkie dropped the cookie sheet and covered her mouth. "Ohmygosh, Uriah! Oh no oh no." She sat down next to him and cradled him in her forelegs. "I'm so sorry, please speak to me!"
Uriah's eyes were doing circles. "The carbuncle ate itself..." He shook the delirium from his head, looked up at her and smiled. "Oh, hey, Pinkie."
Pinkie beamed and hugged him tight. "Thank goodness you're okay." She pulled back and raised an eyebrow. "What the hay were you doing?"
He kept smiling at her. "I came to see you again, like I said I would. Of course, I probably should have knocked. I thought it would be funny to surprise you."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, like a prank? I love pranks!" She giggled. "That was pretty funny. Sorry about clocking you like that."
Uriah gave her a playful nuzzle. "Pinkie, that is exactly what you should do if a shadowy stranger sneaks up on you." He reached up and pulled her down with him in a tight embrace. She snuggled into his hold and he rested his chin in her curly mane. "Mind if I just hold you for a bit? I really missed you."
Pinkie blushed. "Me too." She held him tight, almost afraid to let go. "Thank you for writing that letter. It felt so much better knowing you were okay. How have you been?"
"Better." It was a short response, but it posed more questions than it answered. Did he mean he was doing better or that he had been better. Even Uriah wasn't sure. "I'm still making friends and working things out. They're...interesting company."
She curiously looked up to him. "Anypony I know?"
Uriah felt a quick shiver at the prospect of telling her a half-truth. "Trixie, the magician you told me about. I met her after I left Canterlot, she gave me a lift."
"Oh, yeah," Pinkie nestled in. "That was your magic in the amulet she was using to take over Ponyville."
He hushed a laugh. "She's really sorry about that by the way. I've been trying to help her get over the guilt. It was my anger that was corrupting her after all." Uriah gave Pinkie a light Squeeze and wrapped his wings around her like a blanket. "I felt bad enough knowing I wasn't here when Equestria needed me, but then I find out it was my magic that was hurting ponies."
She poked him lightly in the chest. "Hey, you are a good pony. I know you'd never do anything to hurt anypony on purpose." There was a pang in his heart at that, but he didn't let it show. "With help from good friends, I know you'll be able to make everything right."
Uriah let out a deep sigh and gently rubbed her back. "It's all been hitting me so fast. I've felt so drained, but with you I feel...right. I feel like I'm still me when I'm with you, instead of the thing my exile made me." He felt like he could just fall asleep right there on the floor with her. However, something started gnawing at him. It was a low sound, distorted yet familiar. It started building, like it was getting closer. Then it hissed in his ear and made him jump to his hooves. He looked down at the confused Pinkie and reached out his hoof. "Sorry, muscle spasm. Cold tile." She simply gave him a forgiving smile. "So what shall we do? I took the whole day off just to spend it with you."
Pinkie beamed and hopped in the air. "Oooh, perfect! I've got the day off too. The best part is, the circus is in town."
The alicorn could feel her infectious enthusiasm. "I do enjoy a good circus."
She giggled and put a hoof over his shoulder as they headed out the door. "Oh, your gonna love it. There's games and rides and funnel cake and music and..." Pinkie went on like that all the way out into the street, just over the moon to be spending time with him again. Uriah let her lead the way, watching her bounce along with all the cheer she first met him with. He took a breath and felt the weight of his anxieties just fall right off of him. The sun felt warmer, the air seemed cleaner, and every pony they passed just seemed genuinely happy to see him. Word of mouth had spread about his helping Twilight get rid of the plunder vines and he received more than a few thanks. There was even a sweet, wall-eyed, pegasus that offered him a muffin.
While he was thinking of the vines, Uriah remembered a loose end he meant to tend to. "Has Discord been around lately?"
Pinkie thought for a moment. "Well, I haven't seen him in a few days, but I know he's dropped in to see Fluttershy and help cheer up Applejack."
A familiar lump form in the pale alicorn's throat. Long had Uriah waged war with the magic of guilt. "How has Applejack been holding up?"
Pinkie's smile faded. "Better, but she's still really worried. Celestia and her soldiers searched for days, but there's not a single trace. It's been so long, they just had to give up."
His brow furrowed. He made a mental note to do something to help sooth the problem. "In my experience, one just has to stay positive. As amazing as it sounds, sometimes just having hope things will turn out is enough to make it happen."
Pinkie slowed her bounce, sidled up next to him and gave him a sweet smile. "Keeping the sunny side up. I like that." She looked ahead and her eyes widened. "Oooh, we're here!"
Uriah felt a familiar mirth drum up from his memories at the sight of that big yellow fence, the sign over the gate with balloons on either side, and, of course, the tents peaking over the top. "P.T.'s Wonder Park. Fun for Everyone Under the Sun. Heh, don't tell aunt Luna."
Pinkie excitedly stamped her hooves and zipped over to push hi toward the gate. "Come on. I can smell the funnel cake!" Uriah picked up his pace and the two raced each other there. As was his habit, he paid their way as she happily showed him all the wonderful sights to see. There was a live band playing, fried treats at every other booth, fresh lemonade, clowns and other performers, animal shows, and so many game to play. None of this was particularly new to Uriah, he'd been to his share of circuses. Some more memorable than others, but they were all more or less the same. Pinkie, however, helped him see things with a rejuvenated sense of wonder. Anytime something new caught her eye, she'd eagerly usher him along to marvel at it. 
"Come one, come all, and test your strength!" The voice of the barker rang out over the din of the circus, causing the pair's ears to twitch. They followed to a crowd beginning to form around a very tall figure, in a very tall hat, with very tall shoes. "Step right up! You heard it from P.T. himself, folks, everyone's a winner. First try is free, see if you can slay the dragon!" He gestured to a mechanism to his left that was even taller than he was. Uriah recognized it as a strength tester, but with a very loud gimmick. The frame was modeled as a towering green dragon with cartoonishly evil eyes and a light smoke wafting out of its nostrils. "Yes, fillies and gentle colts, all you gotta do is your best and you can walk away with any of these fabulous prizes." He gestured to the prize wall on his right. Rows of stuffed animals of all varieties, in ascending sizes, all puffed and stuffed and waiting for a good home. "Its first come first serve, folks. Step right up. How about you, sir?" He pointed to Uriah. "Care to show us what you got, win your little lady a prize?"
Uriah blushed at the implication and suddenly heard that sound again. This time it was like a growl, right in his ear. He twitched a bit, but played it cool. "It's certainly an enticing challenge. What do you think, Pinkie?"
The pink pony's eyes were transfixed. With an almost trance-like stare, she pointed to the top row. "The raccoon...it speaks to me." The raccoon in question hung lazily from the center of the top row of stuffed toys. It was a goofy looking thing with neon green fur, purple stripes, and crooked teeth poking from the upper lip of its silly grin. "I must have it."
Uriah rolled his eyes and ruffled her mane. "Then have it you will." He pointed to the barker with a determined smiled. "P.T, I will slay your dragon."
P.T. straightened his hat. "That's the confidence we like to see folks! Does he have what it takes? Step on up, good sir." The tall figure watched as Uriah walked up, flaring his wings for dramatic effect. P.T. appreciated a pony who appreciated showmanship. " Alright, my good stallion, all you gotta do is take your front hooves and bring them down as hard as you can on that big red button. The higher you send the puck, the bigger your prize."
"Straightforward enough." Uriah approached with a sly grin then stretched. He turned and gave Pinkie a little wink, then reared up and brought his hooves slamming down on the button. The puck shot up like a rocket, lighting up a series of markers along the way before slamming into the bell under the dragon's chin. It rang out, and the dragon made a phoned in death-roar, it's eyes doing circles and smoke spraying out it's nostrils in jets. There was a gasp from the crowd at the ease, followed by cheering. Uriah victoriously strutted over to P.T. "I'll be taking that raccoon on the top row."
The tall figure let out a joyful chuckle. "Ho ho, you see that every pony? First big win to the first customer!" He reached over and pulled the big Raccoon off the shelf. Uriah accepted it in his magic. "Congratulations, good sir and a very wonderful day to you and your lady."
Pinkie was practically vibrating she was so excited. That raccoon was bigger than she was. Uriah Happily presented it to her and she immediately put her hooves around it as far as they'd go. "This is the best thing ever!"
Uriah chuckled a bit, the sight of her rocking the massive plus too adorable to resist. "Heh, well I'm glad you're happy. So, what shall we do next, my lady? What trials shall I overcome to ensure the success of our merrymaking?" He did a little heroic pose with his tongue sticking out.
She rose up, and struck a pose of her own as she pointed. "Too the bumper cars! May our enemies tremble at our electrically powered buggies of justice!" He picked up her raccoon for her and the pair ran off victoriously, laughing all the way.


The streets of Manehattan were a living example of organized chaos. So many ponies walking the street at once, yet hoof-traffic flowed like water. All one really had to do to get from point A to point B was keep their eyes forward and not get in anypony's way. If there was a hiccup, say road construction or an overturned cab, you had to adjust quickly or risk disrupting the flow. Disrupting the flow agitates ponies, makes them sluggish and confrontational, which in turn causes further disruption. Recently there was an epidemic of banana peels being tossed onto the street. Was this just a coincidental chain of folks carelessly littering from the apartments above or perhaps the work of a bored draconequus  who had recently gotten out on parole. You decide. At any rate, the biggest clog always came from a major event.
A pop-up establishment always drew a crowd. Whether it was clothing, decor, a restaurant, it was trendy for as long as it was open. The influencers came like moths to the flame. Every pony who was anypony was lining up to get their publicity into the mix. Photo Finish, Hoity Toity, Fancy Pants and Fleur Des Lis, and any number of high-society types all gathered to shoot the breeze and drum up business for the cause. Fancy pants was eyeing a collection of medallions. "I say, such a fascinating command of color. The intricacies of the stone work in the patterns." He examined the placard in front of the case. "I wonder what sort spells these were used in."
Hoity Toity joined him, straightened his glasses and scoffed. "Oh, please, there's hardly anything magical about these at all. I recognize these patterns from a jeweler I met in the Crystal Empire. Nothing ancient, just unheard of. Certainly pretty though."
Fancy Pants looked offended. "You mean the ponies running this museum are not only defrauding people with fake exhibits, but they're showing off other ponies' work without credit? Of all the nerve."
Hoity Toity shrugged. "Is it any better than what we do? All the acclaim I get as a "major representative of the fashion world;" did you know I haven't touched a sewing machine in years? Yet I put out a few reviews a month about what some pony else is doing and I just smile and rake it in."
The sound of a camera flash interrupted them. Photo Finish adjusted her lens. "Gentlemen, would you kindly take a few steps apart, you are blocking mein light." They did as asked and she took another picture. "Perfect. As to your concerns, it is simply what we do. I, Photo Finish, am rather proud of the work we do. To be able to guide ponies to fame and popularity at a whim. To find the beauty and share it far an wide."
Fancy Pants nodded. "True, but still, the deception..."
She kept to her photography. "Nopony's holding you to it. You want to tell the truth, tell the truth. It's just that, in our business, the lies are beautiful and the truth, not so much." She made her way to the main exhibit. "After all, whoever owns this collection is just trying to make a living sharing a little culture with the world. Who are we to rob them of that?"
The stallions followed and Hoity Toity continued. "She has a point, I'm sure there's more to it we don't know about and I'd hate to ruin a pony's reputation of nothing."
Fancy Pants nodded. "Agreed. For all I know, they still paid the jeweler well."
Hoity Toity chuckled. "Honestly, after meeting the stallion, I wouldn't be surprised if he just gave them away for free. Nice chap, really, a real passion is the point kind of pony." He took a moment to clean his glasses. "Still, I'll probably let the replica thing slip in my article. I can't imagine anypony being upset as long as they enjoy the stories. I mean, really, can you imagine if they really did gather so many magical artifacts in one place like this? Any malcontent could just waltz right in and..."
A loud blast stopped him mid sentence and drew a frightened gasp from everyone in attendance. A scuffle could be heard outside, security shouting, and a mix of fierce grunts and victorious laughter. The doors, swung open and the massive form of Lord Tirek entered the room. With a sadistic grin, he tore the double doors off their hinges and tossed them at two guards who were approaching from inside. The centaur held his head high as he addressed the room. "I know its cliche, but no pony moves and no pony gets hurt. This museum has something I want and I'm leaving with it. If you think you can stop me, you are welcome to try." He stomped his way through the room until he caught sight of his prize. Under a spotlight, cased in glass on a velvet pillow, was the Kaladanda. The greatest weapon in all of creation and it was just sitting there like a prized putter. Tirek couldn't help but smile at how easy this was.
The three influencers were all taking shelter under the snack table. Photo Finish was having a fit. "Verdammt! You just had to open your big mouth!"
Hoity  Toity lowered his shades to glare at her. "You can't be serious. How in the world...never mind, not important. Is every pony okay? Fancy, wheres your girlfriend?"
Fancy Pants raised an eyebrow. "You mean Fleur? She's not my girlfriend, that would be completely unprofessional."
The two earth ponies shared a look of confusion and surprise before Photo Finish asked "Well, what is she then? She's always hanging around you."
Fancy straightened his monocle. "She's my bodyguard."
There was a synchronized befuddled head shake from the two fashion buffs as a security guard sailed over the table from being thrown out of the fight. Hoity Toity piped up again. "Are we talking about the same Fleur? That lithe little thing is your bodyguard?"
Fancy pants had to roll his eyes. Ponies and their assumptions. "I'll have you know she's a former royal guard. As a matter of fact, she saved my life the first time I met her." Mustering his courage, he peeked out of their hiding spot to survey the chaos. The attacker proved to be a virtual juggernaut, swatting away any security that got close and blasting the flying ones out of the air with his magic. All the while, making his way to the staff displayed in the back of the room. Fancy's eyes got a glimpse of something over the brutes shoulder. Flour had made her way up to the second floor and was now climbing curtains to reach the ceiling. "Ah, there she is."
Photo Finish cautiously joined him and was taken aback by the daring display from a mare she'd photographed as an example of prim and proper. "It looks like she's trying to ambush him, but if he so much as turns his head..." She thought for a moment then picked up her camera. She let out a nervous breath. "Time to make da magicks." To the fading protest of her less brave associates, Photo Finish charged right up to the brute. She didn't consider herself the heroic type, but she held her head up, because she knew how to own a room. "You!" The centaur, in mild annoyance, stopped and turned to face the mare. She looked up at him, and stamped her hoof for emphasis. "I, Photo Finish, must know your name."
He took one step forward, she reflexively took two back. "I am Lord Tirek. You would do well to remember that name." He smirked. Uriah did specify a show. "Take note of how easily this place crumbled before me. Soon all of Equestria will follow suit."
The earth pony nodded. "Oh, yes, of course and I think I could help you spread that message." She held up her camera with dramatic flare. "As Equestria's most renowned fashion photographer, I can cement your name and visage into modern history." She did another pose, concealing a nod to Fleur, who continued her climb up to the rafters. "You simply must let me photograph you. Such magnificent poise and stature. Your simply radiate with masculine grace and raw force."
Tirek, intelligent as he was, did have slight itch for vanity. After spending well over a thousand years as a frail weakling, he simply couldn't resist the chance to revel in his physique. He flexed a little and smiled. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to document my power for posterity. Let Celestia see just how powerful I've become."
"Wonderful." She snapped a few pictures and he changed poses as she went. Photo Finish couldn't believe how well this was working. She kept egging him on and he was happy to oblige the camera, all the while she did her best to keep him in one spot for Fleur. "Oh, yes, keep it up. The camera is loving you."
He raised a fist in an intimidating stance, reared up and point down at the floor. That moment, Fleur decided, was the most vulnerable she could catch him. In a quick motion she snatched a banner from the ceiling and dropped down on him. She draped it over his face and swung around, wrapping it tight around his head. When she went around as far as she could, she swung down and bucked him hard in the stomach, causing the centaur to lurch in pain. She dropped down in front of Photo Finish, just in time for Tirek to rip through the cloth with a blast of magic that sent them both flying back. Thankfully, Fancy Pants and Hoity Toity were there to catch them. The group trembled as Tirek loomed over them with a furious glare. "Congratulations," he snorted. "You've accomplished a very minor annoyance. Consider yourself grateful it's in my best interest to not smear you all over the walls. Besides..." He turned back to his prize. He walked up to the case and brought his fist down hard. With it firmly in his grasp, he could feel it, a fire in his film and a chill down his spine. This really was the Kaladanda of legend. "I have what I came for." That was the end of it. Tirek blasted on more hole in the back of the museum and jumped through it. The goblins were waiting in the alley on the other side. The escaped down into the sewers, then down into their tunnel, which they promptly sealed behind them with a controlled collapse. By the time anypony answered outgoing calls for help, there would be nothing but rubble, fire, and battered ponies all over the place. All in all, it was definitely news worthy.


Rainbow should have been happy. It was a beautiful day. The circus had an athletic competition. She got to show off her awesomeness, won a gold medal, and hear the roar of the crowd. She should have been happy. Instead, she just gave a sour look to her reflection in her prize as she and applejack stood outside the fenced off play area. "I'm really mad at you."
Applejack had been staring off at the crowd and the sets of families within. "Yeah..."
Rainbow snorted and gave a swift kick to the side, causing the farm pony to yelp. "You're not even paying attention to me!"
Applejack rubbed her aching flank. "Well I am now! The hay are you kicking me for?!"
The pegasus glared. "Are serious?! The whole point of us going out today was to cheer you up and its like you aren't even trying." She held up her medal in aggravation. "I can't even enjoy this medal because the one pony who signed up, who could actually compete with me, didn't even try."
AJ rolled her eyes. "Well, pardon me if I'm still a might upset if my cousin and his entire town are still missing without a trace." The Earthpony put up as tough a front as she could, not wanting to break down and cry in a public setting.
Rainbow covered her face with a wing. "I know, I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a jerk about it, but I just can't stand you moping like this. You're one of the strongest ponies I know. I don't know where any of us would be if you just let yourself fall apart when the bad stuff happens."
AJ gritted her teeth for a moment, but relaxed into a defeated sigh. "You're right, sugarcube. I just never expected it to hit this close to home. Still, its no excuse to make such a mess of myself. I've even been letting my chores slip on the farm. I'm sorry." She kicked the dirt.
The cyan pegasus sidled up to the earth pony and gave her a side-hug. "You have not called me that in the longest time." She rested her face on Aj's neck and slowly brushed her way up until they were cheek to cheek. "Now all I need is that smile so you can start making it up to me." Rainbow pulled away slightly, just so she could see Applejack's cheeks turn red, and then planted a little kiss on the farm pony's forehead.
Applejack's eyes lit up with astonishment, and then a bashful smile slipped onto her face. "Heh, what was that for?"
Rainbow gave her a teasing grin and look like a falcon in the dive as she moved in again. "Because I love you and I want you to be happy. Even if," She started smooching up the side of her neck. "I have to resort," Smooch. "To drastic," Smooch. "measures."
The earth pony flushed and tried in vain to squirm away. "Rainbow! What's gotten into you? Not that I don't like it, it's a might nice actually, but you hate PDA."
Rainbow paused only to smirk with a light scoff. "I hate the cutesie-wootsie baby-talk, the dumb pet-names, and the cyclical agony of the "no, you go first." She put her best mocking tone toward the offending clichés, then dropped back on top of AJ to lock her in a snuggle. "I do, in fact, enjoy getting all up close with you every chance I get. The world is hard and cold, but my girlfriend is soft and warm."
Applejack tried keep her head off the ground as the top of Rainbow's head nestled against her chin. She was about to protest, but a realization brought a content smile to her face. "Heh, I think that's the first time you called me your girlfriend."
The cyan pegasus lifted her head up with a puzzled look in her eyes. "Well, yeah of course we are. I know we've never said it out loud before, but it always just kind of...felt right, you know? A whole actions-speak-louder kind of deal." Her eyes widened in a sorrowful look. "Did you want me to say it out loud? Oh, shoot, I've been taking you for granted haven't I? Stupid, Rainbow, stu..."
"Oh, hush up." Applejack ended Rainbow's panic by pulling her into a passionate kiss. The world around them seemed to melt away and, when the kiss ended, they were lost in each other's eyes. "Ain't no pony in the world who makes me feel as amazing as you do. I feel like I could run every race in Equestria at once if I'm running 'em with you."
"Right back at ya, buddy." Rainbow nuzzled her sweetly and the two shared a giddy laugh.
Their little moment of bliss was interrupted by a familiar, sweet, voice. "Well, don't you two look positively impassioned." They looked up to see Rarity, adorned in her best shades, with a supportive smile. "I don't mean to ruin a moment, but there are children present, darlings."
The pair scrambled to their hooves and brushed themselves off. They tried to be nonchalant, but AJ ruined it immediately. "Rainbow called me her girlfriend." She nudged the pegasus, drawing a blush.
Rarity's eyes lit up and she trotted in place. "Oooh, yes! Fluttershy owes me five bits."
Rainbow cocked her head. "Wait, you were betting on if we'd end up together?"
Rarity waved it off. "Darling, every pony from here to Canterlot knows you two are together. The bet was whether either of you ever acknowledged it." She looked over to the bumper cars in time to see her little sister zipping around. They exchanged a wave before she continued. "It's such a lovely day, I thought it was a great opportunity to spend some quality time with Sweetie Belle."
AppleJack gave a smile and a nod. "Yeah, we were gonna meet up with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo at the ferris wheel. You see any of the other girls?"
Rarity giggled a little. "We saw Twilight and Princess Luna partaking in a pie-eating contest on the way over here. I invited Fluttershy to come with us, but she's busy tending to some poor hawk that had a little accident with a weather vane." She put on a curious look. "I'm surprised I haven't seen Pinkie yet. She was the one who let me know the circus was in town."
Rainbow and Applejack exchanged a look, then rainbow answered. "Same. She was really excited too. Came in through my window in the wee hours of the morning to fill me in. Then she sank right through my floor and I had to catch her. Still not sure how she got up to my house in the first place."
"Hello, girls!" The triumphant voice rang out with and uplifting joy. Princess Luna held her head up hi, a golden medal with a pie on it hung around her chest. She was also wearing her favorite blue t-shirt, which was making Twilight laugh all day with its ever-shifting phrases. "We have returned victorious from the fields of battle." She wiped a bit of pie from the corner of her mouth. "My beloved was most ferocious in the final round."
Twilight was looking anything but ferocious. Her wings dragged, her head hung low, her stomach slightly bloated, and her face was rather pale. She gave a rather urpy moan. "Too much pie...why do I keep doing this to myself." Luna gave her a little side hug and a peck on the cheek. "Don't squeeze me, I'll barf."
Luna gave a warm smile, reached her wing around Twilight and gently rubbed the lavender alicorn's aching tummy. "Maybe we'll head back to the library and I'll make you some nice ginger tea."
Twilight looked up at her with a weak smile. "You're an angel."
Luna beamed. "I know." She turned back to the group and looked about. "Where's Pinkie? I was sure she would have been a part of the competition."
Rarity shook her head with slight concern. "We were just talking about how none of us had seen her yet. It's not like her to miss out on this much fun, I hope she's alright..." She paused, looking past Luna and down the path. "Wait...oh, there she is now." The unicorn's expression brightened at the familiar sight of that bright pink coat and ever present smile. Pinkie was happily making her way toward them, bouncing, cart wheeling, and all manner of energetic movements as she juggled a funnel cake, a candy necklace, and a giant stuffed raccoon. The five of them smiled and felt a bit a warm relief seeing her in her joyful element. However, there was a rather curious sight following her. Rarity lifted her shades and looked closer at the tall figure following close to Pinkie's side. "Is...is that Uriah?"
There were mixed emotions, but a a shared shock when the pale alicorn emerged from the crowd to join at Pinkie's side. There he was, the same stallion that fell from the skies and declared war on Celestia, just casually walking along, wearing a a comically big, floppy, black and white stripped hat, eating some funnel cake that dusted the air with powdered sugar overtime he took a bite. AppleJack and Rainbow stood their ground. Rainbow kept her eyes on Uriah while she questioned the other alicorns. "How is he here? Shouldn't you two have been able to sense him?"
"Not if he doesn't want us to." Luna shot the pegasus a look for the tone of the question, but shook it off. "Besides, its not like he's shooting up flares or moving a mountain, he's just walking around. Just another pony in the crowd."
Twilight found her energy, in spite of her stomach ache. "He did send Pinkie a letter saying he was going to come and visit."
AppleJack gave Twilight an incredulous look. "That's it? He just decided to pop in?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah, there was also several detailed paragraphs explaining his evil plan." The earth pony clearly didn't appreciate the sarcasm. "I'm sorry, still feel like I'm gonna be sick. It was just a letter, with some vague positive notes on what he's been up to."
Rarity puzzled as she watched Pinkie and Uriah. They stopped at a booth, Uriah tossed some rings with his magic, Pinkie got a slide-whistle. The fashionista's eyes widened as she observed Pinkie lean in particularly close to him as they walked. "Girls...I think they're on a date!"
There was a collective "What?!" from the group. Twilight hiccuped and turned and unpleasant shade of green before bolting to a nearby trashcan. Rainbow piped up. "You're kidding. There's no way..."
Rarity leaned on a fence post as she continued her observation. "I'm almost certain. The way she's egging him on, that nervous smile he's giving her," The snow white unicorn had the biggest smile. "Our sweet little Pinkie is on a date with a prince."
Luna stepped up next to Rarity and took on a proud smile at the sight of her nephew. Uriah looked so much happier than he appeared in the dream realm. He lifted Pinkie in the air and playfully spun her around him as she played her slide-whistle. "Don't tell them I told you, but they've both expressed to me that they care very much for the other. I hope they can make it work."
Rainbow flew up between the two mares and shot a frustrated glare between them "Hello? Are you two seriously rooting for Pinkie dating the bad guy?!"
Luna rolled her eyes. "He's not a bad guy. He's just lost. He's convinced that his desire for revenge is all that he has left."
Rarity's eyes widened. "But if they do go together, then it won't be all he has. He'll have her."
Applejack, who had taken to holding Twilight's mane while the lavender alicorn was being sick, shook her head. "Don't you two think you're just being a mite too hopeful. It's a pretty thought and all, but, and I'm not saying I agree with anything he did, spending five hundred years and exile and having your whole world plum erased sounds like a pretty big hurt. I don't think any amount of romance can make up for that."
Rarity and luna's faces fell when the reality of the statement set in. Luna let out a sigh and looked back to her nephew, who was sharing a laugh with Pinkie, with a wishful glimmer in her eye. "Love has done the impossible before. It saved Canterlot from a changeling invasion when all else failed. I have faith in my nephew."
"That's lovely to hear." The group turned with a start to find Uriah and Pinkie Pie suddenly standing in their midst.
Pinkie took a sip of lemonade, then waved. "Hi, girls. Isn't this the best circus ever?"
Luna, Rarity, and Rainbow all did a double take. Rarity pointed back down the road, where they had been looking. "We were just looking at you come this way, how did you get behind us?"
"Teleport." Uriah said quickly, looking ever so innocent.
Rarity shook her head. "Yes, but...oh, never mind. Hello, darling. Its ever so good to see you again. I don't I've properly introduced myself to you. I'm Rarity." She daintily extended her hoof to the pale alicorn.
Uriah gave a gentlcoltly bow and accepted her gesture. "Charmed. Pinkie's told me so much about you. I simply must check in with you at a later date. I'm going to need to update my wardrobe."
He gave her a charming smirk and Rarity couldn't help but blush. "Designing for a king? It'd be an absolute honor."
Rainbow quickly got between them and shot Uriah an accusatory glare. "Okay, casanova, that's close enough."
Uriah rolled his eyes. "Hello, Rainbow Dash. I suppose you'll want to do the dance again."
The pegasus raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
"You know. The one where you act all brave, threaten to beat me up or something of the like, I say something dismissive, you try your luck on the follow through, then I flex my magic that takes you out immediately and makes the whole thing pointless." He rolled his hoof in the air as he spelled it out.
Rainbow was about to take a swing at him before AppleJack stepped in to hold her back. "Ain't no need for that. Everyone's just here to have a good time right?" 
Uriah noted the suspicious look she was giving him and nodded with a smile. "Quite right, Applejack." His smile returned. "I really am having a fantastic time. I've been working myself so hard lately, it's nice to just be able to laugh and breath easy again."
Rarity raised and eyebrow and flashed him a mischievous grin. "So the dates going well?"
Uriah went dead pan and blushed. "Date?"
Pinkie got up next to him and leaned against him with a smile. "Yep! He dropped everything just so he could spend the whole day with me." She gave him a hug, which made the pale alicorn tense up more. "Isn't he great?"
Uriah was sweating, but when he looked down at Pinkie's sweet smile and adoring eyes, there was this soothing calm that brought his smile out through his nerves. "Thanks, Pinkie, it means a lot to..." There was that sound again. A low, menacing rumble that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Uriah looked up at the fence of the athletic field and he swore he saw a shape move and rattle the posts. A tightness seized Uriah's chest and his eyes wandered to Twilight, who was pulling her head out of a bin. "Oh, dear, little sister seems to be having a bad time." He turned back to Pinkie with an encouraging grin. "Why don't you try cheering her up. Catch up with your friends while I have a few words with my aunt."
Pinkie looked over to see Twilight dizzily approach. "Can do." The cheerful pink earth pony was more than happy to zip over to Twilight's side so she had some pony to lean on.
Luna smiled warmly at the sight of the five joining together, but went crestfallen when Uriah met her gaze. His eyes were anxious and pleading as he gestured her to follow him further down the road. She walked with him till they were out of earshot of the others. "Is something the matter?"
Uriah brushed back his mane. "It's just...Rarity called it a date...and Pinkie acknowledged it..."
The night princess suppressed a laugh. "Oh, nephew, I'm sorry. We just gossiping, we didn't mean to offend..."
"I'm not..." He corrected a bit harsher than he meant and she stepped back. Uriah took a breath. "Aunt Luna, have you ever heard of a nightmare happening when somepony's awake?"
Luna's ears drooped at the lilt of pain in his question. "I haven't seen it since I returned, but its not unheard of. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know." He stopped and pressed his head against a post. "The more I think I'm getting better, the more unwell I seem to be. Its like I have moments where I'm happy, but...something comes in and chases me away from it."
She placed a reassuring wing around him. "Twilight's not feeling very well either and we were about to call it a day. Maybe you'd like to join us and we could talk more?"
Uriah picked his head up, shook it, and rubbed at the base of his horn. "No, I don't want to spoil Pinkie's good time." He smiled, but it was clear to anypony, especially Luna, that it was forced. "I'll be okay. I just need to remind myself its not real and enjoy the fun. I'm fun. See my fun hat?" He pointed for emphasis, but the floppy hat just fell off his head.
Luna thought for a moment, then gave him an understanding smile. "Okay, but you do know you can talk to me about anything, right?" His smile became smaller, but more genuine and the two shared a hug. "Just remember to take care of her and don't be afraid to make a move when you get the chance."
He blushed. "Aunt Luna!" She giggled and he gently pushed her away.
In the midst of the scene, Pinkie wandered over. "Hey, everything okay?"
Uriah straightened himself out and brushed back his mane. "Everything's great." He shot her a playful grin and scooped the pink earth pony up in a hug. "Better than great with you here."
Pinkie snuggled into the hug and gave him the biggest smile. "You ready to move on? There's two roller coasters coming up and then one more ride I want to go on with you before we go."
Uriah set her down and gave a bow. "As you wish. Do you want me to send your souvenirs back to your place so you don't have to keep lugging them around?"
"Yes, please." With a quick glow of his horn, Pinkie's raccoon and Uriah's hat were gone in a flash of red light. "Okay, here we go!" She galloped off and Uriah followed. He looked back one more time to wave goodbye to Luna.
The night princess smiled at the two, but couldn't ignore the itch in the back of her mind. There was an impulse to not let him go and do everything she could to help him, but she knew Uriah would insist on fighting his own demons. All she could do was hope that Pinkie might save him.


The news out of Manehattan was the cherry on top of a very worrisome cake. Celestia mulled over the reports and the pictures and rubbed her aching head. She kept telling herself it was all coincidence, that she was just assuming the worst. She sat back in her throne and left the files rest in her lap while she took a breath. Then there was the munching and a piece of popcorn that fell on her head. She let out an aggravated sigh. "Discord."
A few more species of popcorn fell from above and the sun princess looked up to indeed find the lord of chaos, coiled around the top of her throne. "Oh, don't let me interrupt. You're in such a deep brooding session."
"I'm not brooding, I'm thinking." She said as she picked up the folder again.
"Thinking. Alone. In the dark." Discord bent down to give her a teasing smirk. "Looks like brooding to me." He snapped his fingers, disappeared and reappeared in a folding chair hovering next to her throne. "Whatcha reading?"
Celestia gave him a sideways glance, then opened up the file. "Well, since Luna and Twilight are busy, I might as well share with you first, seeing as we may need your help." This peeked the interest of the draconequus. "It started with the vanishing of Appleloosa, then Stalliongrad had its walls knocked down and they vanished as well. We got our first lead there, clear traces of changeling magic left behind. Now, we have a suspect. Have you ever heard of Lord Tirek?"
Discord stroked his beard. "Rings a bell. Real brutish fellow, tried to steal all the magic in Equestria until his brother sold him out?" He materialized a nail file and sharpened his eagle claws.
She nodded and showed him a picture. "We stopped him, took away his power, and imprisoned him in Tartarus, but earlier today, he attacked a museum in Manehattan."
"Let's blow that up for a sec." Discord snapped his fingers and the picture became the size of a movie screen. The image of Tirek flexing was bigger than the both of them. "Only scaled up a little bit, but he's still certainly looking pretty powerful to me."
Celestia gave the picture a hard look, them smile on Tirek's face almost mocking her. "We should have felt it. If he's been stealing magic, there should have been a disturbance, but its like he's back to full strength without so much as a blip."
"Well, what about the changelings." Discord  snapped up two glasses of chocolate milk and offered one to Celestia. She rolled her eyes, but too kit in her magic. "Bad guys teaming up. Tirek must have sought out the changelings for an alliance. They're a sneaky bunch, they must have kept him under the radar. They took the towns, Tirek stole their magic. Mystery solved. Now we can track them down and give him the old friendship one-two and save everypony."
Celestia sipped her drink. " Except, if the reports are to be believed, Tirek didn't steal any magic when he attacked the museum. He just showed up, made a show of beating up security, robbed the place and left." She sat back again and gestured to the image. "I mean he posed for this. Why go through all the secrecy only to have a big "here I am" moment. For that matter, where's Chrysalis? If she was involved, why wasn't she there for his big unveiling?"
Discord crept around the other side of her throne with a magnifying glass and peered over her shoulder with it. "He's certainly a vibrant shade of red, but methinks he resembles more a herring than a centaur."
"My thoughts exactly." Celestia smacked her head against the back of her chair once she realized she was agreeing with Discord. "The thought of the two of them together is one thing, but it's a whole new problem if whoever is behind this is reducing Tirek to bait."
"Well, why not loop in that son of yours? He seems to the clever, dashing, hero type. Maybe he can unravel the conundrum." He took a moment to savor the look of doubt on Celestia's face from the corner of his eye, before turning to her with a more sympathetic tone. "Unless...you think your boy might actually behind this sinister plot?"
"No." The answer was quick, but certainly weak. Celestia took a deep breath. "I know my son. Despite what he's proven to be capable of, I know where he'd draw the line. Like you said, Tirek must have drained the magic from the missing towns to regain his power and Uriah would never stand for that. Besides, he's out in the open now." She opened a magic window in front of them. It revealed Uriah and Pinkie Pie. "I felt his magic this morning and, much to my relief, he's just been having a good time."
"Spying on your subjects." Discord put on a look of mock outrage. "Celestia, for shame."
Celestia rolled her eyes. "Its not spying, I'm just checking in on my subjects when a wild card made itself present." She ignored his incredulous head shake and smiled as she watched Uriah and Pinkie on their roller coaster. "When Luna told me there was a circus coming to town, I hoped Uriah would appear. The best day of his life happened when he was at the circus*."
Discord felt his interest peak again. "Oooh, do tell."
The solar princess smiled, closing the window as Discord shrank the picture back to its original size. "Well, it all started one particularly sunny morning in the Canterlot markets some five hundred years ago. It was business as usual, meeting with the ponies in the market, but I had noticed Uriah seemed a bit glum..." She went on with a nostalgic glow in her eye. A mix of warmth and guilt welling up in her heart as she recounted how it was before it all went wrong.


"Ok, turn left." Uriah did as instructed, doing his best to keep his balance. "Oops, pedestrians, veer right!" He did a little jump and strafed in the air. Pinkie was on his back, covering his eyes. "We're almost there."
"Pinkie, while I do enjoy your games, is this absolutely necessary?" He asked as she pushed his head down, forcing him into a short dive. He skidded across the dirt until coming to an abrupt stop. "Ow."
"We're here!" She let him stand up, but still kept her hooves over his eyes. "Ready?"
"Willing and able." He replied, trying his best to smile while spitting out some dirt.
"Okay." Pinkie released him and did a little twirl as she moved in front of him. "Ta daaah!"
Uriah looked up in curiosity, and immediately felt what little color he had left in his face drain into the lump in his throat. It stood like a monolith, mocking him, with its giant heart-shaped sign and the big red letters he felt compelled to read aloud. "The Tunnel of Love?"
She slipped behind him and gently nudged him forward. "You've been so patient with me, letting me drag you around all day, playing all those games with me, eating all that yummy food, going on that roller coaster four times in a row."
"So many loops." He tried to distract himself with the memory as he cautiously made his way to the entrance.
Pinkie, with the everlasting bounce in her step, took the lead. "I thought, after such an exciting day, you might like to end it with a nice, soothing, boat ride."
She looked him in the eyes when she said it. They were so pure, so innocent, yet powerful in how they could just compel Uriah's smile. "That's very sweet of you, Pinkie. It sounds like an excellent idea."
They stopped at the boarding platform and she gave him a teasing bump. "Always so formal. It's just me, you can relax." 
Uriah didn't say a word. He just smiled and gently nuzzled her cheek. It was the most perplexing thing. Something was clearly off, but the closer he got to her, the less it felt off. When the little red boat drifted up, he let her in first and he carefully slipped in next to her and the two were afloat. Pinkie cuddled up next to him and he blushed, but instinctively put his wing around her. It was a simple ride, going down a path that went through scenic rooms, each in a different theme. First up was a story-book village filled with adorable fairy-tail caricatures. The gentle rocking and the closeness of Pinkie brought a strange serenity to the alicorn. It was perfect, yet somehow very wrong at the same time.
He rested his head against her mane, enjoying the sweet smell of sugar and cinnamon from all those funnel cakes. His mind started to wander, and his thoughts vocalized themselves to him. "What am I doing? What am I really doing? All that raging, five hundred years of screaming into the void about wrath and justice and I'm...I'm back at the circus. Aunt Luna just wants to help, sister Twilight needs guidance, Rainbow hates me, I've traumatized Applejack, and Pinkie..." He glanced at her just as she was laughing at a troll getting booted off a bridge. "It's not fair. Everything is going so smoothly. I have an army, powerful allies, Tirek is bound to have the Kaladanda by now. I am on the edge of victory, about to avenge my entire world that was ripped away from me...and she's here with me." He squeezed her tighter, she held his hoof. "I. Am. Winning. How, in the name of all things mystic, can I be so happy, but so...afraid." The sound was back, much louder than before. The low bellow rattled Uriah's skull and made him sit up right. He looked around the tunnel and found they'd changed rooms, to some kind of haunted swamped. The sound erupted vicious hiss from the left side. Uriah faced it, his horn aglow, only to find a fake alligator that sprayed mist as it jutted out of a log.
Uriah felt like he was going to cough up his heart, but Pinkie leaned in front of him, pointed at the animatronic and laughed. "Oh, my gosh, that things so fake. Look, I think somebody snuck in and put lip-stick on it! Ha!"
The alicorn steadied his breathing, and watched the reptile awkwardly slide back into its hole. "Maybe she just wanted to look pretty." He was only partly joking, but she laughed out loud anyway. Pinkie sat back up and he went back to holding her under his wing. "I'm happy we did this. This day. I really needed this...needed you."
She gave him a warm smile. "I'm glad I could help."
As she settled back against his shoulder, continuing to giggle at every ghost, ghoul, or monster that sprang out, Uriah went back to his thoughts. "It would be easy the other way to. To give up revenge and anger and start anew. I already have ponies I care about again. Trixie, Twilight, aunt Luna, I haven't even gotten to know Fluttershy yet, but I'm sure she's wonderful, and then there's Pinkie." Uriah looked down at her with a lazy smile, lost in the melody of her laugh. "The goblins won't question their king, and would certainly be happy not having to fight anymore. I could even broker peace with the changelings. Chrysalis will be easy enough to deal with, if she fights back, and I've got Tirek on a short leash. I don't even have to forgive Celestia, I can still hate her without going on a warpath. Just one good shove in either direction and I could drastically alter my entire life. His brow furrowed as the implications set in. A new life. Not the one he lost. "Its not like I was ever delusional about it. I could turn the planet inside out and it wouldn't bring anything back. I could even try time travel, go back and prevent my exile, but that wouldn't solve anything. I'll still have to return to the present, which means I'll either just create an alternate universe that has no effect my timeline or I do change things, but its still five hundred years later, I'll still have lost everything, I'll probably gain new memories of watching it all fade away over the centuries, and it'll just be a whole different world that replaces the one I'm in. To summarize, time travel sucks. Maybe...maybe it really just isn't worth..." The sound was back. He scanned around making sure it wasn't the fake alligator from before, but they had changed rooms again. They were in an art themed room, but the sound persisted. "No. No please." It hissed in his ear, making him cringe. Pinkie was saying something, but he couldn't understand. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry, but what do you expect me to do? Why are you even doing this to me?"
A vicious growl rumbled throughout the tunnel, but was clearly behind them now. Uriah turned in the seat. He stared down the darkness of the mood-lit tunnel and then he saw it. The shape from before was back, in the water this time. It moved toward them slowly, but just fast enough to catch up with the boat. Uriah's heart began to race as he followed it with his eyes. It steadily made its way along side them and just floated there, massive and foreboding. The pale alicorn felt his wings flare and his eyes darted between Pinkie and the shape. A moment of silence let him hear the pounding in his chest. Then it made its move. It erupted out of the water, jagged teeth bared, yellow eyes glowing, and a clawed hand reached out for Pinkie. Uriah quickly grabbed the earth pony in his hooves and pulled her away. "No! Leave her alone!"
Pinkie's eyes were widened and the wind got knocked out of her. "Gak! Uriah, what are you doing?!"
"What do you mean?! Don't you see..." Uriah looked at her for a split second and when he looked back, there was nothing there and the water was perfectly still. The realization sucked the air out of his lungs as he let Pinkie go. She held her side where he grabbed her and he saw a fear in her eyes that ripped his heart in half. "Pinkie I...Aaaaahhhh!!!" He roared and flapped his wings hard enough to displace some water. "I can't do this, why did I think I could do this!"
Pinkie was taken aback at first, but approached cautiously and took on a caring tone. "Hey, its okay." Her ears drooped. "I'm sorry. When Rarity assumed it was a date, I shouldn't have answered like that. I was just really happy you were back and I thought..."
He put up a hood to stop her. "No. No, Pinkie its not...Rrrrr." He took in a breath. "Pinkie, I'm insane. I spent five hundred years in isolation, it broke me, and now I'm hallucinating. It started like a week ago and its been going on all day."
Concern washed over her face and she held his hoof. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I didn't want you to worry and, I didn't...feel wrong." Uriah placed her hoof to his heart. "Because...I like you, Pinkie, I like you very much."
Pinkie reached up with her free hoof and cleared a few loose strands from his face. "I like you too." They paused for a moment to look into each others eyes. They both saw a mix of fear, hope, joy, and sadness, then exchanged a knowing smile.
He kissed her. Uriah castaway the trauma and took her in a warm embrace. He wrapped his wings around her, she pushed until he fell back, and they shut their eyes and let the warmth of their lips reveal their hearts desire. They weren't sure how long it lasted, but they wished it didn't have to end. Pinkie pulled back and Uriah let his head rest on the edge of the boat. He gave her sly smile. "I can still taste the cotton candy." They both shared a laugh and she nuzzled him sweetly, resting her head next to his. "Pinkie Pie...why?"
She didn't budge. "Why what?"
Uriah gently caressed her back. "Why wouldn't you just leave me alone? That first day we met, I was trying to leave...you wouldn't let me."
Pinkie gave him a squeeze. "Because you were new and you looked like you needed a friend." She paused for a moment. "Like you needed me. I don't know how to describe it, but ever since I met you, and I learned what happened to you, I just got this sense that you needed my help, I needed to help you, and just needed to..."
"Be needed." He finished with a tear in his eyes. "Discord was right. He warned me about trying to have it both ways, that I couldn't have my revenge and a new start with all of you. Now I'm at the crossroads of that, trying to force a path straight ahead and the force of the two paths is trying to pull me apart by the wings." He kissed her cheek a few times. "I'm sorry, Pinkie. You deserve better than this. I want to be better for you."
She raised her head to look him in the eye. "All I want is for you to be you, for you to be happy, and to be happy with you." She kissed him on the forehead. "Tell you what. How about, instead of a fun day out that turns into a date, we try this again with an actual, for real, we see it coming this time, date-date?"
"Are you sure." His ears drooped as he took on an apologetic tone. "I've got so much baggage, Pinkie. I don't want you to feel like you have to put up with it."
Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Earlier today, when we were just cuddling on the kitchen floor, I could have stayed there with you for hours. I want to make this work." She puzzled for a moment. "I got it! The Grand Galloping Gala!"
Uriah raised an eyebrow. "That stuffy snob gathering that Celestia holds in Canterlot. Isn't that a little dull for your taste?"
She gave him a playful look. "It's gotten a lot more fun since I started going. You'll love it."
"Hmm, good enough for me." He gave her a kiss on the forehead, she blushed and hugged him tight as the approached the end of the ride. "No matter what happens, I'm sure of one thing. I'm going to do everything I can to keep you by my side."
Pinkie giggled. "Oh, that'll be easy." She kept hugging him as he stood up, swinging around until she was seated on his back. "I'm pretty hard to get rid of." The two shared a laugh as Uriah carried her out of the boat. 
She hopped down to face him, then the alicorn put his wings over her shoulders as he nuzzled her gently. "You smell so good. I should probably head out before I decided to never let you go."
The pinkie earth pony gave him a pleading smile. "You don't have go yet. Maybe we can catch a movie."
He booped her nose. "Like I said, I want to get better. I think I know what's causing me to see things and, if I'm right, there's somepony I need to see. It'll be a long flight." Uriah pulled back, then gave her chin a little lift before he started to lift off the ground. "I'll make sure to pop in again, and I'll definitely pick you up for the Gala. Until then, sweet Pinkie, think of me fondly." He took off into the sky, Pinkie waving goodbye until he was out of sight.


It was a cozy little setting, certainly cleaner than most of the caves. Tirek didn't even have to duck under the doorway. He ran a finger along the shelf as he examined the collection of books Uriah had gathered for him. He found one that seemed intriguing and pulled it out. He moved to a large chair in the corner, next to a torch. It ended up being a perfect fit. Tirek had to admire that Uriah was as accommodating as he was cunning. He settled in and opened to the first chapter when he was startled by a sudden voice. "Tirek."
The centaur sat up and scanned the room. It was loud and seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. "Uriah?"
"No, it's your conscience. We haven't spoken for a while." The teasing laugh incited and irritated throwing of Tirek's brow. "I wasn't going to do it, but I'm in such a funny mood."
Tirek put a finger up to his temple. "You're...in my head."
"Nothing so sinister. Just a little telepathic connection I slipped into your compliance spell. Thought it might come in handy in case of emergencies or a combat situation." The nonchalance of his tone was not well received.
Tirek sat back down with  defeated slump. "How thoughtfully invasive." He opened his book back up. "I take it your day went well."
"Marvelous. I went to the circus." He was notably upbeat. "I played games, had some good food, caught up with old friends, fell in love...again. Oh, I also suffered a psychotic break with very powerful hallucinations. So that was fun."
Tirek turned the page and raised an eyebrow. "Should I be concerned about your mental state as we move forward?"
"Probably not." The centaur shrugged. At least his sense of humor was intact. "That's why I'm calling. I'll be extending my leave and extra day to get it sorted."
"Do you need anything? Shall I arrange an emotional support goblin?" Tirek allowed himself a wicked chuckle.
"Ha ha ha." Tirek smirked as he pictured the eye-roll. "I should be fine. I'm going to visit family in the Crystal Empire. If I understand correctly, they're experts in my...particular hang-ups. Just don't tell Chrysalis, she's got bad history with them. Is she doing alright, by the way?"
"Heh, she misses you already." Tirek smirked as he flipped another page. "She claimed your bed and, I don't mean to alarm you, but I walked in to offer her a drink and she was licking the sheets and pillow."
"Oh, poor thing." Uriah's voice turned soft and concerned. "She must be trying to get at any ambient love energy from our last therapy session. I"ll have to give her some extra attention when I get back."
"I have the Kaladanda by the way. I had to hide it so she didn't get any ideas." Tirek looked to a small crack in the wall above the shelf. There was a hidden compartment where he was able to secure the staff. "Any other orders while you're out? Recon missions, projects for the goblins to build, or anything else you'd like me or Chrysalis to handle for the plan?"
"Not till I get back." It was a flat, serious reply. "I did find a window for the endgame. We strike at the Grand Galloping Gala."
"That stuff-shirt ball you were always complaining about?" Tirek set the open book down on the arm of his chair. "It'll be a big target with lots of attention. You've taken a more covert approach so far."
"Yes, but if I play the set-up right, I can align the odds in our favor. It'll be all or nothing, but if it goes well, we'll have won the second we begin." The was a cold confidence that he tended to reserve. The voice of the Goblin King.
Tirek Just kept reading. "Very well. I'll await your return then. An extra day of rest sounds rather delightful. I'll be sure to let the goblins know so they don't worry."
"Huh," There was a little of confusion. "I was kind of expecting an argument. You're not gonna insist I return and get serious?"
"I don't see why I should." Tirek adjusted the book to catch more light. "So far you've proven to be an intelligent, capable, leader. I have full faith in your ability to deliver a total victory."
There was a moment of pause before Uriah answered. "Don't tell Trixie, but you're my favorite...You can rub it in Chrysalis's face though. OW!"
Tirek's eyes widened. "What happened?"
Uriah groaned. "Ugh, I think I collided with a hawk. Ew. Ew, It's impaled on my horn. Ew ew ew ew ew it's in my eyes! Ew ew ew ew why am I still transmit..." Just as quickly as it arrived, Uriah's voice went silent. Tirek smiled, shook his head, then returned to his book.