Sparkler’s eyes suddenly glowed bright white and she heard the three hearts beating yet again. The heartbeats stopped after a few seconds and her eyes returned to normal. Once she came to her senses, she let out a loud groan. “Gah! What is happening to me?!” She asked as she banged her head against the picnic table.
“Sparkler? Is there something wrong?” Asked Autumn.
Sparkler looked to both Autumn and her roommate Feathers. After the trial back in January, Autumn, who had been best friends with Melody’s birth parents, Autumn had decided to move to Ponyville. Which allowed her, Sparkler, and Twilight to become fast friends. When she arrived in Ponyville, she opted to room with somepony. Enter Feathers, an Earth Pony Mare with a light pink coat. She had offered Autumn a place in her home, and ever since, the four of them have gotten together regularly. Mainly at the park whenever Sparkler and Twilight took their kids there to play with other foals.
“Yeah. Your eyes glowed white for a few seconds.” Feathers commented.
“I keep going into this trance-like state and hearing three hearts beating.” Sparkler responded. “Every, single, day for the past three weeks, I’d have these random trances, and every night in that time, I’ve heard the heartbeats along with cries for help.”
“Well that’s not ominous or anything.” Feathers commented sarcastically.
“Maybe it’s just a dream?“ Autumn suggested.
“We wrote to Luna this morning to find out. Since she’s the expert on dreams.” Twilight said.
“I just hope she replies soon, I’m not sure how much more I can—“
At that moment, Spike, who had been sitting off to the side reading a comic book, suddenly coughed up green flames and a scroll came flying out and landing on the table. Sparkler and Twilight recognized the seal on it as Luna’s seal. Feathers glanced at it and smiled. “Looks like you got a reply.” She said.
Sparkler quickly unfurled the scroll and read.
Dear Sparkler,
I have received your letter explaining what is happening. And after going through the dream realm archives, I was not able to find any evidence that these occurrences were merely figments of your imagination, as dreams often are. I am uncertain as to what this might mean exactly. However I would ask you to send me a letter the next time such an occurrence happens. I shall keep a close eye on your dream space until this matter is resolved.
Kindest regards,
Princess Luna.
Sparkler read through the letter once more, and let out a groan. “Darn, I was hoping these were just dreams.” She commented.
“If they’re not dreams, then what are they?” Autumn asked.
“I don’t know. But if they’re not dreams, they might be real.” Sparkler responded.
“You mean somepony might actually be calling you for help?” Feathers asked.
“It sounds possible.” Twilight said.
“But what I don’t get is how and why—“ Sparkler started before her eyes glowed bright white again, and this time in addition to the heartbeats, she also got MUCH more.
Somepony help us! Please!
In the cave above Canterlot, Silver-Mane was smiling at the vats, which had a trio of small foals floating inside them. “You may not be my desired results, but I still have a use for you in my plan to make Equestria see that menace for what she really is. Once I get the perfect copy of that falsicorn, you all will help her to discredit Sparkling Medley and make the world turn against her. Mwahaha!”
Unbeknownst to Silver-Mane, one of the foals had her eye open, the eye looked around for a bit, before shutting closed again.
Please! We’re scared!
The three hearts stopped, Sparkler’s eyes returned to normal, and her jaw dropped. Her mind began racing at the scene she JUST saw.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Sparkler?”
“…I think I just discovered who’s calling for help. Where the beating hearts are coming from, all of it.” Sparkler revealed.
“What?!” Twilight, Autumn, and Feathers asked.
“Did you see something?” Twilight asked.
“Silver-Mane, he’s planning something.” Sparkler said.
“What?!” Twilight responded, immediately fuming.
“Yeah. I just saw him, it looked like I was in a vat of some kind, Twilight, we need to go to Canterlot. Speak to the princesses in pony about this.” Sparkler said urgently.
“We could just send them a letter.” Twilight responded.
“Twilight, this is SILVER-MANE we’re talking about. Do you really think sending a letter is gonna be better?” Sparkler asked.
“…Good point.” Twilight agreed as she turned to Autumn and Feathers. “I know this is kinda last minute, but do you two think you could…” She asked.
“They’ll ask where you went off to.” Autumn responded, understanding what Twilight was asking. “But considering Silver-Mane’s crimes against Equestria, go kick his flanks. We’ll take care of the kids.” She said.
Twilight nodded and she and Sparkler ran off. Spike glanced up from his comic to see them go. “Uh, what’s going on?” He asked.
About two hours later, Sparkler, Flash, Twilight rushed into the throne room of Canterlot Castle. There, they found Celestia and Luna waiting for them.
“Your Majesties, we may have a problem, named Silver-Mane.” Sparkler said immediately. Stopping and bowing in respect, as did Flash.
“Luna has informed me of your flash occurrences.” Celestia responded.
“And we received a letter from Spike explaining what happened after you received my original reply.” Luna added. “Whatever Silver-Mane is planning, it would appear based on the evidence we have so far that it involves you.” She told Sparkler.
“Yeah. It does. Now, of course I am fully aware that this might all be nothing but my own imagination, but I could both see and hear Silver-Mane. He said he was going to discredit me and turn all of Equestria against me. And it looked like he was talking to whatever was in vats because I could see that the perspective I had was from inside a vat.” Sparkler explained.
At that, Celestia’s eyes widened. “Did you see if he had anything that could be used for CLONING?” She asked. Putting together what might be going on.
Sparkler thought for a moment, before nodding. “I remember seeing…what looked like one of my feathers hooked up to a machine…” Her irises shrunk in horror.
“Silver-Mane is trying to CLONE you.” Celestia said simply.
“He’s WHAT?!” Twilight exclaimed.
“The reason he had obtained noble status at all was through his scientific work. He specialized in genealogy and his latest research involved cloning. The project was meant for things like organ replacement and the like to be used to assist doctors around Equestria that did not have access to magic. If he has one of your feathers Sparkler, it stands to reason that he is trying to clone you.” Celestia explained.
Sparkler, Twilight, and Flash were all flabbergasted. Silver-Mane? Cloning? Twilight immediately started running through scenarios where a Silver-Mane controlled Sparkler would be devastating. “But…you can’t clone ALICORNS, can you?” She asked.
“It would appear he is trying to.” Luna responded.
Celestia nodded, and looked directly at Sparkler. “Explain to me these occurrences Sparkler.” She asked.
“Every day for the last three weeks, I’ve been hearing a trio of hearts beating. And at night, those hearts beating are accompanied by calls for help. Today is the first day I got a vision with the heart beats.” Sparkler explained. “And just my luck, Silver-Mane talked during that vision.”
Celestia listened attentively, and thought for a moment. “Sparkler, could you try reaching out to whatever is calling for help?” She asked.
“Huh?” Sparkler and Twilight asked.
“With the available information. I have a theory. Whatever is in those vats is clearly calling out for help, and if you alone are receiving these pleas Sparkler. It’s plausible that somehow, a mental link has been created.” Celestia explained.
“Mental link? Are you saying I’m mentally linked to whatever that maniac is trying to make?” Sparkler asked.
“That is what I am thinking. And if I am right, that mental link will work both ways.” Celestia responded.
Sparkler thought for a moment, before deciding to just give it a try. She closed her eyes, concentrated on…whatever was going on with these occurrences, and attempted to access the supposed mental link. For the next few moments, nopony said or did anything, just watched Sparkler.
Finally, after a few moments, something began to happen. Sparkler started to feel something. Fear, confusion, the call for somepony to come to the rescue. “I…I think I’m through the mental link.” She said.
“See if you can’t determine where the other end of that link is.” Luna suggested. “If you can feel where it is, we just might be able to find where Silver-Mane is.”
Sparkler nodded and focused. After a few moments, she could feel where they were. “They’re near Canterlot. Somewhere above it.” She announced.
Luna and Celestia glanced at each other. “Near and above Canterlot.”
“There is a cave that fits that location.” Luna commented.
Sparkler went to cut the connection, before something came to her, whatever was in the vat had reached out to her, and if she could feel it’s location…It’s ok. Just hang on. Help is on the way. She thought through the mental link, hoping that it worked.
Sure enough, while the fear and confusion remained, there appeared a feeling of hope. An indication that it worked. She smiled as she closed the connection and opened her eyes. “It’s definitely a two way street. I just told them help was on the way and I felt hope appear. That must mean it worked.” She announced.
“We shall assemble the Royal Guard and the CPD.” Celestia announced.
“Right. You guys do that. I’ll scout ahead and see what it is we’re dealing with.” Sparkler said.
“I’m coming with you.” Twilight announced.
“Me too. I’m still your guard.” Flash added.
Sparkler shook her head. “Thanks, but it’s better if I went ahead alone. A one pony advance team has less of a chance of being caught.” She lit her horn and vanished. “And with my new ability to turn invisible, they shouldn’t see me coming.” She added.
Flash and Twilight glanced at each other. They knew Sparkler wasn’t in the mood for arguing. So instead everypony just agreed. “Alright, but if you need help send a horn pulse and I’ll be there in seconds.” Twilight told Sparkler.
Twilight felt a kiss upon her cheek, followed by Sparkler’s voice. “Of course.” With that, they heard hoof steps as Sparkler left.
Twilight nodded and turned to Flash. “Flash, assemble a guard unit.” She said.
“Yes Twilight.” Flash said, racing off to find some guards.
It didn’t take long for Sparkler to reach the cave, which was indeed where Luna claimed it was, near and above Canterlot. Still invisible, she landed at the entrance of the cave. Alright Silver-Mane, let’s see what you’ve been up to. She thought as she quietly made her way into the cave. Fortunately there was a lot of ambient cave noise so Sparkler didn’t need to worry about her hoof steps being heard. She walked deeper into the cave, eventually coming upon a sight that shocked her to her core. She immediately recognized it as a lab, and lo and behold, she saw the vats that did indeed hold HER clones! No way! She thought. That maniac really WAS trying to clone her!
She had noticed Sparky, Misty, and the goons that tried to foalnap her were there also, and while she was happy that they had a chance to capture all of them, her mind was focused on the three vats. Careful to not disturb the crooks, she walked up to the vats, and got a closer look at the foals inside, she could immediately see that they weren’t her perfect clones, because none of them were Alicorns, but aside from being one of every species of pony, it was like looking through time. There, in front of her, were three foals, looking no older than five, that for all intents and purposes, were HER. That psycho… Sparkler looked around, and saw the feather. Her mind raced as she immediately went and grabbed the feather, disconnecting it from the machine and denying Silver-Mane any further access to her DNA. Well I can’t pluck it back on, I guess I can give it to Twilight, as per that Pegasus tradition Rainbow told me about. Deciding that’s what she was going to do, she carefully secured the feather in her mane, turning it invisible, and started looking around some more. Soon, she heard Silver-Mane screaming. She glanced around and saw that he had noticed the feather missing.
“Who took my feather!” He roared as Sparkler quickly moved behind a vat.
The rest of Silver-Mane’s gang turned to him. One of the crooks raised an eyebrow. “What?” He asked.
“Where is my feather! Which one of you imbeciles took it!” He roared at his six minions.
While the minions gulped and denied taking the feather, Sparkler giggled as she lit her horn.
Sparkler: Silver-Mane and his cronies are all here. And he is indeed attempting to clone me.
Twilight: Stay tight, we’re on our way.
Sparkler nodded, and then an idea came to her. She glanced at the vats, and then at Silver-Mane screaming his top off. She smiled as a plan formed in her brain. I wonder if the foals can be removed from the vat… She glanced over at the screen and cast a magnification spell to better see the screen’s contents. While there was a bunch of junk that she didn’t understand. She did take Genealogy back in school, so she could understand enough to know that yes, the clones could be removed from the vats at this moment. She smirked and lit her horn. Let’s really ruin Silver-Mane’s day shall we?
Back over to the evil gang. “Whoever took the feather, put it back NOW!” Silver-Mane roared.
“None of us took it!” Sparky retorted.
“SOMEPONY did!” Silver-Mane said. “It couldn’t have just disappeared on it’s own!“ He growled.
One of the goons went to say something, before he noticed the vats opening. “Uh, boss, are the vats supposed to open right now?” He asked.
“What?!” Silver-Mane whirled around, and saw the three clones he was growing leave their vats and got up on their hooves on the ground in front of them.
The three clones shook their heads and opened their eyes to see a bunch of strange ponies staring at them.
After a few seconds, Silver-Mane snarled. “Hey! What are you three doing out of your vats!” He roared.
Big mistake. The clones jumped when he yelled and they all yelled back, very loudly in what was surprisingly the Royal Canterlot Voice. “STRANGER DANGER!” After that, they all started to panic and run around the lab.
The evil gang unplugged their ears from the shouting and Silver-Mane growled. “Get them!” He ordered.
His minions nodded and they proceeded to chase the three little clones around, but the clones always evaded them whenever it looked like they were going to grab them.
Sparkler watched the chaos unfold in front of her and it took everything she had to not burst out laughing. She was the one who let the clones out, and it was definitely worth it. She let it go on for a few moments before deciding to reveal herself, so she positioned herself in front of the vats, canceled the invisibility spell, and cleared her throat loudly. “Clones! Get behind me!” She called out to them.
The clones, seeing Sparkler grinned and instantly rushed behind Sparkler. “Don’t let them hurt us!” One of them shouted.
“Don’t worry guys. I gotcha.” Sparkler responded.
Silver-Mane and his goons took a second to process what just happened, before Silver-Mane growled. “YOU!” He roared at Sparkler.
“That’s right Silver-Mane.” Sparkler responded, lighting her horn and spreading her wings. “Using my feather to clone me? Did you honestly think that would work?”
“How the Tartarus did you find us!” Silver-Mane growled.
“Your little experiments have been calling out to me. I figured I’d come by and rescue them from whatever insane plan you cooked up.” Sparkler responded. “Now how about you do the right thing and GIVE UP! I already called in the Royal Guard and the CPD.” Sparkler urged him, knowing that it was unlikely any of them would surrender.
“Over my dead body!” Silver-Mane responded. At that moment, they all heard a ton of footsteps coming fast.
“It’s the fuzz!“ One of the goons realized.
Silver-Mane lit his horn and made sure the goons were in physical contact with him. “You’ll pay for this falsicorn! Count on it!” With that, he popped away with the goons.
Sparky and Misty went to light their horns as well to teleport, but before they could, Sparkler aimed at them and blasted them with a net spell, tangling them up in a net just as Twilight, Flash, and Chief Quill stormed into the lab with CPD and the Royal Guard.
Twilight took one look at the scene in front of her. “Sparkler, what happened?” She asked.
“My little clones were let loose and caused havoc. Silver-Mane and the goons escaped. But I can’t say the same for THOSE two.” Sparkler responded, gesturing to Sparky and Misty.
Chief Quill smiled when he saw the two crooks entangled in the net. “Well well well. Fancy meeting you two again.” He remarked, the CPD immediately blocked their magic with horn inhibitors and took them into custody.
Twilight and Flash meanwhile approached Sparkler. “So what about the clones?” Flash asked. “Where are they?”
Sparkler smiled as she stepped to the side to reveal a Pegasus, a Unicorn, and an Earth Pony, all of them looked exactly like Sparkler, if she were any one of the three species.
While the clones looked nervous still, Flash and Twilight stared at them in disbelief. “Huh. Look at that. He really was trying to clone you.” He told Sparkler.
“And by the looks of it he didn’t get the desired result.” Twilight observed.
At that moment, Princess Celestia revealed herself and approached the group. “I take it Silver-Mane escaped.” She asked.
“He did. He popped away with most of his goons before I could stop them. Sparky and Misty weren’t so lucky though.” Sparkler responded.
“I am sure some ponies will be happy to hear of their capture at least.” Celestia responded. She then turned her attention directly to the clones.
The clones, upon seeing the massive pony look at them, quickly hid behind Sparkler again. Sparkler smiled. “Hey. It’s ok.” She cooed at them. “She won’t hurt you. She’s nice.”
Celestia nodded. “I believe it would be best if we were in a more comfortable location. It would seem we have some things to discuss.” She said.
Everypony agreed, and they all started to leave, Sparkler however remembered something. “Wait, Twilight. Before I forget.” She pulled the feather out of her mane. “I managed to snag this back from Silver-Mane before everything went sideways. And, well…” She offered the feather to Twilight. “You’re definitely more deserving of it than HIM.” She said.
Twilight’s eyes widened. She realized what was going on. “Sparkler, are you sure?” She asked.
“Rainbow told me about this tradition a while ago. And while I will admit that I was going to wait for a better time to pluck one of my feathers for you. Seeing as how Silver-Mane apparently beat me to it and I can’t unpluck a feather, I figured if anypony should own one of my feathers, it’s you.” Sparkler explained.
Twilight stared at the feather, and then at Sparkler, before smiling and accepting the feather. “Thank you Sparkler. This means a lot.” She said.
Sparkler smiled, leaned in, and kissed Twilight on the lips. “Now let’s get out of here.” She proposed. “And talk about a little idea I just came up with concerning the clones.”
Twilight laughed. “I think I know what you’re going to say. Think the kids would mind?” She asked as they exited the cave, both of them thinking the same thing.
To be continued…