At a S.M.I.L.E. motor pool, our heroes take inventory of their belongings, preparing for the long mission ahead. “Last-minute check before rollout. Everyone still has bedrolls and such for the slumber party. What else?” Twilight Sparkle addressed her friends.
“Running sneakers in case I need a boost!” Rainbow Dash presented spare sneakers.
“Snacks when we’re hungry!” Applejack presented her homemade apple snacks.
“Critter food if we run into hungry woodland creatures.” Fluttershy produced a medium-sized kibble bag.
“My magic journal for when we get a message from the princess.” Sunset Shimmer pulled out her journal. “I’ve dropped a message that we found Ember, and still waiting for a response.”
“Magic scanner to track down Torch.” Twilight Sparkle presented a high-tech modified radar gun.
“My love and support.” Spike said for everyone to chuckle.
Flash Sentry puts down his briefcase and opens it, then tiers of camera equipment nested in foam shelves folds out. “Fifty-millimetre lens, seventy-to-two-hundred-millimetre lens…” he searches the contents, making sure everything is where it should be. “…supercharged batteries, Twilight’s Spider-Pod…”
“Mister Sentry?” Flash Sentry turns around and sees a young light yellow-skinned woman wearing a black pantsuit with sunglasses and a trilby with locks of blue and pink sticking out the front, carrying his purple drone. “Your drone.”
“Thanks!” he gladly receives the drone and puts it at the bottom of the briefcase. “Say, you look familiar.” He turns back to the agent, but finds she disappeared.
“Mysterious-figure-types love disappearing offscreen. Probs part of their formal training.” Rainbow Dash commented.
“What about you, Rare? Got yer makeup kit or…” Applejack asked Rarity, who is staring at Pinkie Pie moodily sitting on a far-off bench, hair looking less-puffed.
“Has anyone else noticed Pinkie Pie acting unusual?” Rarity asked.
“She almost looked like Twilight for the first few days at Camp Everfree.” Sunset Shimmer leaned against said person.
“Right down to distancing herself from us.” Twilight Sparkle added.
“She especially wasn’t the same after touching that… weapon.” Fluttershy hesitated.
“It sucks to see her like this. She’s always so happy and smiling. It’s weird to see her be the way she is now.” Rainbow Dash observed. “Usually, she’d be the one to get hyped about the spy stuff happening around us. I’ve been tryna fill her shoes by doing that… but it doesn’t feel the same.”
“Rarity, why don’t you talk to Pinkie Pie? Try to cheer her up.” Twilight Sparkle suggested.
“I’ll try my best. After all, she deserves it after all the days she’s brightened for us.” Rarity accepted.
As she sat there in solitude, Pinkie Pie can’t help but think of the eyes, the pistol, and the voice in her head. Even when she tries thinking about something else, her mind loops back to those things over, and over, and over, and o—
“Pinkie.” She snaps out of it and sees Rarity standing above her. “How’re you feeling?”
“Fantastic! Just fantastic!” Pinkie Pie forces a smile.
“Pinkie, we all know something’s bothering you since you woke up, and I know it isn’t the souffle.” Rarity sat beside her. “You can be honest with us. We’re your friends.”
Pinkie Pie sighs. “We’ve never had to face anything like what happened today: the carnage… the dragon… and… and I’m… just so scared… I mean, I actually flatlined! How can you get over that?!”
“Don’t you usually laugh off everything, no matter how scary?”
“I do, but…” Pinkie Pie hesitates, deciding on her next words. “…it doesn’t feel like I’m all here, y’know? Like something’s eating away at my happiness…” then Rarity suddenly hugs and brings her closer.
“Whatever it is, it’ll overstuff itself because you’re a big banquet of joy!” Rarity spoke with a babying tone, causing Pinkie Pie to crack a tiny smile.
“Rarity, stop it!” Pinkie Pie giggled before Rarity releases her.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yeah… I really needed that giggle.”
“Just remember: don’t focus on what’s bothering you, focus on your friends who have your back.” Rarity responded. “Ready for our next adventure?”
“Ready.” Pinkie Pie nodded.
They walk back to their friends, who greet Pinkie Pie with smiles. “Got everything, Pinkie? Candy? Streamers?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“All here and more!” Pinkie Pie showed off a sprinkles shaker and loose streamers from her backpack.
“Ahem.” Furlong and Bravo suddenly appeared behind everyone, surprising them. “Are you ready to mobilize?”
“Yes, sir.” Twilight Sparkle nodded respectfully.
“What’s our ride? A super-stealthy spy car? A mobile command centre disguised as a freezer truck? Oh! Oh! A military-grade twin-rotor copter?!” Pinkie Pie asked excitedly. Bravo points to one of the many standard S.U.V.s like the ones that transported them to S.M.I.L.E. “Is it at least bulletproof?” Pinkie Pie asked in disappointment.
“Now that’s the Pinkie Pie we know and love.” Flash Sentry smiled as he takes her picture.
“It’ll only take you as far as the campgrounds. There’s no road access through the forest, so the rest of the journey is on foot.” Furlong told them before Bravo unlocks the vehicle. “Bravo will accompany you, and is your direct contact with headquarters should you require anything.”
“Um, before we go, how is Ember doing?” Fluttershy asked before an agent approaches them with Ember inside a carrier.
“Because Ember understands more of the situation with Torch than us, she’ll accompany you for the mission.” Furlong explained.
“When can I get outta this thing? I’m starting to hate boxes.” Ember asked before Bravo lets her out. “Thanks. You’ll be mauled less-painfully later.”
Bravo hops into the driver’s seat and starts the engine as the team get in one-by-one. “Shotgun!” Rainbow Dash hops onto front passenger seat beside Bravo.
At the back row, Flash Sentry and his equipment sit to the right, followed by Sunset Shimmer in the centre and Applejack on the left.
In the middle row, Ember sat on Fluttershy’s lap on the left-most seat, while Rarity and Pinkie Pie cram into the centre seat, then Twilight Sparkle with Spike on her lap sitting at the right. “Oof, sorry about the tight squeeze, Pinkie.” Rarity apologized.
“No big. At least I’m sandwiched between friends and not hard rubble. Hehe.” Pinkie Pie happily chuckled.
“The heck is this thing? I don’t think ponies have this.” Ember wondered as she looks around the vehicle’s interior.
“This is a car. We use them to travel between places fast.” Fluttershy explained.
“We dragons fly to get around. We don’t need fancy metal boxes.” Ember grunted.
Bravo sees Furlong approach his window, and rolls it down. “Keep a close eye on them.” He instructed Bravo, who nods.
Then Furlong looks at the girls. “Remember: if you do not neutralize Torch before he appears again, S.M.I.L.E. will take matters in our own hands.”
“Smile…” Pinkie Pie hears the voice again, and starts to panic. “Smi—”
“Pinkie.” Rarity turned her head towards her. “Focus on me. It’s alright.” She spoke in a hushed tone.
Pinkie Pie soon calms back down and takes a deep breath. “It’ll be alright… it’ll be alright…”
“There we go. It’s all better now.” Rarity assuredly pats her on the back.
“We’ll be back before the fat man falls down yer chimney!” Applejack assured proudly when the S.U.V. starts to move.
From the garage, they travel down a length of metal and industrial lights before emerging from a disused train tunnel, meeting the night sky looming over the city. “It’s a long ride to Everfree, so let’s play some tunes!” Rainbow Dash reaches for the radio when Bravo slaps her hand away. “Buzzkill.”
“So…” Ember eyes everyone beside her. “What are you things? You’re not ponies, but you sure act like ‘em.”
“We’re humans.” Sunset Shimmer answered.
“We’re descended from apes, evolved over the course of millions of years to become the beings you see now.” Twilight Sparkle elaborated.
“Apes? I heard from some dragons that they’re delicious.” Ember spoke, spooking Fluttershy.
“You… e-eat apes?” Fluttershy trembled in fear for Ember to laugh at her.
“No, of course we don’t! Dragons eat gems!” Ember cackled.
“That wasn’t nice, Ember. The last dragon we met was so kind. I was hoping you’d be more like him.” Fluttershy scolded her.
“Don’t get too hung up over it, it’s just a joke.” Ember chuckled. “Do humans have wings and horns like ponies do?”
“Nope. None at all.” Applejack answered.
“Except us.” Rainbow Dash answered. “We got Geodes that give us pegasus wings and pony ears whenever we need a magical boost!”
“Say, what’re your names? Somehow, y’all kinda sound and look familiar.” Ember asked them.
“You already know me as Twilight Sparkle.”
“And I’m Spike: her faithful partner in crime.”
“I knew the little guy sounded familiar.” Ember smiled. “I knew the other Spike. Brave little dragon, he saved my life once and became Dragon Lord for five minutes, but don’t tell anyone.”
“Me? Dragon Lord?!” Spike widened his eyes.
“He didn’t do much. Just tell some loser dragon to embarrass himself before handing the title to me. Said the work didn’t suit him.”
“I’m Fluttershy. It’s a pleasure meeting another friendly dragon.”
“Rarity, at your service.”
“Applejack.”
“Rainbow Dash’s my name, speed’s my game!”
“I’m Pinkie Pie.” she gave a slow wave.
“And I’m Sunset Shimmer; Princess Twilight’s friendship student.”
“Like Starlight?”
“You know her, too? She’s a great pony, isn’t she?”
“When I can tell her apart from Twilight, yep.” Ember smirked.
“I’m Flash Sentry.” he leans forward from his seat. “I take pictures of the girls’ adventures with Lil Flash here.” he presented his camera.
“No way, you’re Flash Sentry? I remember you! You were awesome!”
“I am?” Flash Sentry responded in surprise.
“Yeah! You took down my dad the first time ‘round!” Ember answered. “You zipped and zapped all over the sky to lure him into a thundercloud, knocking him out with all the lightning!”
“Other me did all that? He must be amazing!”
“He also told us about the parasite infecting my dad. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t know who’s face to pound in!” Ember growled.
“Wow… the first time I hear about other me and he’s being a big hero.” Flash Sentry said in awe.
“As if you weren’t one yourself before, mister giant robot pilot.” Sunset Shimmer playfully nudges him.
“Yeah, but I’m sticking with being the camera guy. If I get inside another high-tech battle suit, it’ll be too soon.” then he and Sunset Shimmer giggle.
“I’m glad I’m with creatures that I’m already kinda friends with thanks to meeting the yous in Equestria.” Ember said in relief.
“That makes it easier for us to get along.” Fluttershy said.
“What else can you tell us about dragons?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“We’re real jerks. We’re one of those ‘we’re better than everyone else and everyone else sucks’ kinda creatures. Gosh, I honestly can’t stand it!”
Throughout the trip, Ember regales everyone with stories of home, enraptured by fantastical descriptions of this strange land. “Thorax and I made up and became really good friends, officiated by Miss Princess of Friendship herself.” She concluded one such tale.
“Other me did all that?! He’s amazing!” Spike exclaimed excitedly.
“But at the end of the day, he’s still the same worrywart we love.” Ember giggled.
“You’re an alright dragon, Ember.” Pinkie Pie said.
“Thanks… Pinkie Pie, right? I wasn’t sure if you were you the most, since you aren’t smiling a lot.” Ember questioned her.
“I’ve been through a lot, with the city getting wrecked, and getting practically kidnapped, and all.” Pinkie Pie nervously chuckled.
“I haven’t thanked you for saving me earlier. So… thanks.”
“You’re very welcome, Ember.” Pinkie Pie petted Ember.
“We’re here!” Rainbow Dash pointed to Camp Everfree’s approaching gate.
“I can’t believe it’s almost been a year since last we were here.” Rarity commented.
“I wish I’d taken up photography back then.” Flash Sentry snaps a picture of the gate as they pass through.
“It almost felt like yesterday we got these Geodes and our powers.” Sunset Shimmer said, looking at her Geode.
“I texted Timber earlier, so he and Gloriosa should expect us.” Twilight Sparkle announced.
They exit the S.U.V. at the courtyard, reminiscing at the camp’s features and attractions. “That’s the rock-climbing wall where Rarity n’ I discovered our powers!” Applejack pointed to a snow-frosted monolith.
“And the mess hall where we first discovered Pinkie’s powers.” Fluttershy pointed to the mess hall.
Pinkie Pie reminisces at the canoe dock overlooking a frozen lake. “Hey!” Rainbow Dash suddenly jumped her. “That’s the dock you blew up! Rebuilding that the second time was a hassle.”
“Yeesh, I said I was sorry.” Pinkie Pie giggled.
From the counsellors’ office, two familiar figures emerge and wave at the heroes. “Twilight!” Timber Spruce ran towards her.
“Timber!” Twilight Sparkle is soon hugged tightly by Timber Spruce.
“We were just leaving to visit relatives.” Gloriosa Daisy informed them as they group up. “So… a dragon really attacked Canterlot?”
“Yep. Just like the fairy tales.” Applejack nodded.
As they talk, Timber Spruce stares suspiciously at Bravo putting on a black parka and backpack from the S.U.V. “Who’s that? A new friend?”
“He’s a secr—” Pinkie Pie was suddenly silenced by Bravo nudging her.
“He’s our driver.” Rarity covered for her with a nervous smile.
“Did you see where the dragon went?” Fluttershy asked when Ember jumps out of her arms.
“Where’s my dad?!”
“Another talking dog?” Timber Spruce raised his eyebrow.
“She’s Ember, and she—” Spike spoke before—
“We don’t have all day! Where’d my dad go?!”
“Long story short: that dragon that attacked Canterlot is her dad and we’re trying to find and stop him.” Sunset Shimmer explained.
“Her… dad…?” Timber Spruce repeated in doubt, staring at the growling Doberman.
“We didn’t see him, but a few hours ago we felt what we thought was a low-altitude plane fly over camp that way.” Gloriosa Daisy answered, pointing towards the forest.
“There’s one more thing you need to know.” Timber Spruce added. “Recently, we heard weird noises in the forest.”
“Weird noises?” Twilight Sparkle repeated curiously.
“It sounded like beeping and—” then Gloriosa Daisy grabs Timber Spruce’s hand.
“Come along, Timber! We can’t keep uncle waiting!” Gloriosa then drags him to a parked station wagon. “We know you got this!” Gloriosa Daisy gave the team thumbs-up before driving away from the camp.
“Weird sounds? He probably heard a cryptid.” Rainbow Dash commented.
“C-cryptid?” Fluttershy shuddered.
“Y’know, weird creatures unknown to science, like Bigfoot.” Applejack explained.
“Back in Equestria, we just called them wildlife.” Sunset Shimmer giggled.
“If it’s evil, we got the stuff to beat it down.” Applejack cracked her knuckles.
“Especially with little miss action movie explosion here.” Rainbow Dash puts her arm around Pinkie Pie’s shoulder. “If bad guys come our way, they’ll get an explosive dose of sugar!”
“Yeah! Explosions!” Pinkie Pie pumps her fist energetically.
Twilight Sparkle points her scanner to the forest, then turns to Bravo doing the same with a modified smartphone. “I’m picking up high concentrations of Equestrian portal magic in this direction, as the satellites extrapolated.” She informed her friends.
“I’m coming, dad!” Ember dashes towards the forest. Before she could even hit the trees, Fluttershy catches her. “Hey, leggo me! We can’t waste time!”
“Ember, it’s too dark to properly navigate, especially through this weather.” Twilight Sparkle advised as she looks up, seeing snow blowing on them harder. “In fact, if we even continue, we could get trapped in a snowstorm.”
“We have to find shelter for the night.” Fluttershy added.
“But where can we stay? I don’t think the tents’ll survive this weather.” Pinkie Pie wondered.
“I got an idea. Everyone, follow me!” Sunset Shimmer ran into the forest.
“Couldn’t you tell us where we’re going first?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Sunset Shimmer responded before disappearing into the trees, and her friends have no choice but to follow.
Pinkie Pie was about to follow when something fell out of her jacket. “Oops.” When she bends down to pick it up, she retracts her hand and cups it over her mouth when she realizes what it is.
It's the pistol.
“W-what…? How…? How’d it get here?” Pinkie Pie reaches to pick it up.
“Pull the trigger…”
“Ah!” she squeaked as she drops it onto the snow.
“Pinkie, is everything okay?” Rarity turned to her, not seeing the pistol.
“Yup! Just dropped my phone!” Pinkie Pie responded.
“Oh, I thought you tripped.” Rarity sighed in relief. “Can be I be of help?”
“No!” Pinkie Pie shouted. “I mean, no, I got it.” she assuredly showed her phone to Rarity.
“Then let’s not dally.”
Rarity turns around and Pinkie Pie quickly grabs “Pull—” the pistol and pockets it before anyone notices.
“Hey, wait up!” Pinkie Pie called to them before joining them in the forest.
Sunset Shimmer leads them into a large cave with ruby-encrusted pillars glimmering brilliantly, a stalagmite pedestal blanketed by snow sprinkling from a hole in the ceiling, and a rock outcrop at the back big enough to be a stage.
“This is where we found the magic Geodes!” Twilight Sparkle realized.
“And where we arranged the Crystal Gala to save the camp!” Fluttershy added.
“Never thought we’d ever be back here.” Pinkie Pie noted.
“Made some fond memories here.” Applejack tipped her hat.
“It’s roomy, good shelter against the snow, and it’s already pretty cozy.” Sunset Shimmer summarized.
“Not the most perfect place for a slumber party, but it’ll do.” Rarity commented.
“Let’s make ourselves at home!” Rainbow Dash rallied.
Soon, everyone does their part to set up camp; Sunset Shimmer and Fluttershy starts fire, Applejack hands out snacks, Flash Sentry and Twilight Sparkle perform maintenance on Lil Flash and the equipment, then Rainbow Dash, and Bravo return with kindling. “If this mission goes as planned, are we gonna do more? Could we travel across the globe, or maybe space?” Rainbow Dash bugged Bravo incessantly.
Bravo doesn’t answer as he places a bundle beside Sunset Shimmer before walking away.
Rainbow Dash furrows her eyebrows and tosses her sticks into the fire, surprising Fluttershy with a sudden burst of flame. “C’mon, at least say something!” Rainbow Dash groaned before Sunset Shimmer elbows her thigh.
As everyone was hard at work, the dogs sit by and watch them. “Humans consider sleeping together a party?” Ember asked Spike.
“It’s less sleeping and more hanging out late at night.” Spike explained.
“Doing what?”
“Games, gossiping… friend stuff.”
“Can’t you do that when you’re awake?” Ember responded in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie is sitting in a corner away from her friends, looking at the pistol in her hands. “Trigger…”
“Pinkie?” Rarity approaches her from behind, and she hides the pistol in her jacket. “How’re you feeling?”
“Never better…” Pinkie Pie groaned dejectedly.
Doubting her, Rarity goes in front of Pinkie Pie, looking at her moody face. “You were so excited just now. Why don’t you cheer up and give me your signature smile?”
“Smile…” Pinkie Pie winces painfully and stands up.
“I-I’m sorry, I just wanna be alone.” Pinkie Pie hurriedly runs to the back of the old stone stage.
“Oh dear, not again.” Rarity looked concerned as Twilight Sparkle notices Pinkie Pie fleeing from Rarity.
“Trigger…”
Behind the stage, Pinkie Pie rolls up into a ball as the sinister voice echoes in her mind.
“Trigger…”
She takes the pistol from her jacket and looks at it, but it gets even worse.
“Trigger… pull the tr—”
“Please, just stop it… stop…” Pinkie Pie cried. “Stop…”
“Pinkie Pie…” a pitying voice called to her. Pinkie Pie lifts her head to see Twilight Sparkle approaching her. She hides the pistol under her jacket before Twilight Sparkle sat beside her. “How’re you doing?”
“I’m…” Pinkie Pie sighs. “…I’m not great. I haven’t been since we left the hospital.” She curls back up, knees meeting her nose.
“Pinkie, don’t distance yourself from your friends. If there really is something really, really disturbing you to your core, you have eight loving friends to talk to.” Twilight Sparkle advised.
Pinkie Pie lifts her head to look Twilight Sparkle in her sincere, understanding eyes. “Have…” she stuttered. “Have you ever had voices in your head?”
“Pinkie… where are you going with this?” Twilight Sparkle asked in increasing concern.
“I’ve had this weird voice in my head since I woke up, and it turns on whenever someone mentions…” Pinkie Pie began explaining before a long pause. “…the thing you do with your mouth when you’re happy.”
“You mean sm—” Twilight Sparkle was about to speak when Pinkie Pie puts her finger on her lips.
“No, don’t say it!” Pinkie Pie pleaded in a hushed tone. “When… when it happens, it keeps on repeating it in my head over and over and over… and it’s just… too much for me.”
“So that’s why…” Twilight Sparkle realized, remembering her seemingly-random panic attacks.
“Not only that…” Pinkie Pie pulls out the pistol from her jacket, alarming Twilight Sparkle.
“What—” she’s hushed again. “I thought you left it in the hospital!” She spoke quieter.
“I did! But it just fell outta my clothes before we entered the forest.” Pinkie Pie explained. “Not only that, but every time I touch it, the same voice tells me to—”
“Pull the trigger…”
Pinkie Pie winces in fear. “P-pull the t-trigger…” Twilight Sparkle quickly takes the pistol from Pinkie Pie, and the voice ceases to her relief. “Was… was this what you went through last time at camp, when you were scared of Midnight Sparkle returning?”
“I was scared that she’d somehow come back and hurt everyone I love, but it was because of that love I was able to overcome that fear.” Twilight Sparkle recalled. “I don’t fully understand what’s happening to you with the voices and the gun, but whatever force is responsible for this, we’ll solve it together.” She held out her hand to Pinkie Pie. “You were part of the light that pulled me out of the darkness. Now, let me be yours.” Twilight Sparkle extends her hand.
Pinkie Pie looks up with a slight smile before taking her hand and standing up. “Thank you, Twilight. This really means a lot.”
“We’re friends. It’s the least I can do.” Twilight Sparkle responded. “C’mon, let’s tell the others about this. Don’t worry, they’ll understand.”
They walk back to the main camp where they see their friends continuing their activities. “Uh, hey, guys…” Pinkie Pie addressed her friends. “There’s something I need to tell everyone.”
“Pinkie, is everything alright?” Sunset Shimmer asked.
“Remember know how I got traumatized from being buried under that building? That wasn’t even half of what’s been going on with me.” Pinkie Pie recalled as she rubs her arm. “I’ve been keeping a secret from everyone because I was so scared it’d hurt you… but I’m telling you now.” Pinkie Pie gathered as much confidence as she could. “Before we left Camp Everfree, I—”
Suddenly, a strange sound echoes throughout the cave: an otherworldly mix of rapid beeping at three-second intervals, distorted croaking, and static fluctuations.
Everyone stops what they were doing and turns to the cave entrance where the strange sound emanates, spotting a tall, imposing silhouette standing outside in the blizzard, lit up by orange lights on its face and chest.
“Beeping… this must be what Timber warned us about.” Twilight Sparkle realized as she and her friends back away.
“Y-you mean a c-cryptid?” Fluttershy shuddered.
Bravo reaches for his piece when Rainbow Dash pulls him away from the action. “Hey, like Gloriosa said: we got this.” Rainbow Dash assured with a pat on his back.
The shape enters the cave, revealing a tall, black roach-like humanoid with glowing orange, gelatinous strip for a face, two larger orange bulbs on its chest, and around its neck is a metal collar dotted with white diodes.
“Ember, is that the parasite?” Spike asked Ember nervously.
“I know what the parasite looks like, and I know it’s not that!” Ember answered fearfully.
To be continued…