//------------------------------// // Uncanny Rescue // Story: Price // by Havoc //------------------------------// Twilight was beginning to suspect something. They had been flying south for hours and the sun had long dipped below the horizon. The sky that replaced the burning day was a far cry from the night before. The stars, although there, didn't shine as brightly, neither did the moon. Clouds were forming to the north but Twilight didn't notice. She had asked Celestia where they were heading and gotten a non-committal response. This isn't like her. "Princess?" "I'm trying to concentrate, Twilight, can it wait?" "Yes. Well, no. Where were we supposed to meet the others?" "Farther to the south." Twilight accepted this answer. Her mentor was probably really busy searching for her friends. But something still gnawed at the back of her mind like an incessant tick. But why? "Princess Celestia?" "What is it now, Twilight?" She was taken aback by the annoyed tone but pressed her questioning. "But why would you make the rendezvous point so far to the south? We've been flying for hours. Wouldn't it have made more sense to put it to the north?" "I won't trouble you with the details, Twilight, just trust me." That doesn't sound like her. She always explains everything to me. Twilight uneasily shifted her weight on the Princess's back and looked down. It was a long way. She gulped and looked straight ahead. Then she had an idea. "Look, down there! I see somepony down there!" Celestia snapped her head down to scan the ground, her eyes feverishly shifting over the desert. "Where, Twilight? I can't see anything. It's probably just your imagination. You are so very tired after all." Twilight froze at the sound of the voice. It was like something was speaking just under Celestia's voice. She then became aware of just how high they had climbed. "You should get some sleep, Twilight. Fall asleep." Twilight's eyes began to get heavy and only the cool night air rushing over her face kept her awake. "No... I'm...n-not... TIRED!" Celestia's head turned right around at an impossible angle, her eyes were pure black. "Submit." "No!" Twilight let go and jumped away from the horrifying sight and into the night's sky. Lucien clashed with a giant black serpent that was connected to the shadow on the Door. It hissed and struck at him only to have a white light impale it. It shrieked and dissipated into the shadow which now boiled in rage as a dozen more snakes sprouted from it. "How long do you foresee you will last, Lucien?" Lucien paused for a moment, seeing everything in an instant, then nodded. "Admittedly, not long." He pulled a small package out of his coat and unwrapped it. He popped the mint into his mouth and stuck his hands into his pockets. He smacked his gum in defiance. "Come and finish it." All the snakes struck at once. Lucien was surrounded in a flurry of death and fangs, or would have been had he not side stepped out of the way at the last second and calmly walked over to the Door. The snakes recovered and tried to follow but were held in place by a small white chain. He pulled the glowing white gum out of his mouth and started to spread it over the crack. "...and you called me old school. It will not hold for long." Lucien chuckled. "For all your might and power, you really are dense." How the hell I am still alive? He then walked to the other side of the room and looked out the window at a vast desert off in the distance. He closed his eyes and started murmuring incantations under his breath. And I hope this works too. Twilight fell through the air, the false Celestia in pursuit. "GET BACK HERE, WHELP!" Twilight's mind worked madly to find a way of her predicament. Sadly it didn't come up with much. I could cast a levitation spell on myself and try to slow my fall but not with that thing chasing me! Teleport? Oh, but my magic's not working again! The false Celestia made a dive for her and she screamed and closed her eyes as a black horn knifed through the air towards her. A blinding white light shone right through her eyelids. It disappeared and she opened her eyes to see an empty sky, the stars shining down on her. The air started to rush slower and slower past her ears and she could feel herself slowing down until she stopped. She lay there, floating, and stared up at the sky, panting and not daring to move. She wanted to turn her head so badly but was afraid of what she might see, or if she might fall. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She slowly turned her head over her shoulder and peeked. She let out a sigh of relief and her breath disturbed the sand mere centimetres from her face. She put out a hoof and made it to solid ground where she lay, facing up at the night sky. "I think I'm going to rest here a minute." As she stared out into the stars something kept drawing her attention to one section of the sky. She named the constellations in her head almost reflexively. Wait, what's that? Her eyes passed over the new star several times before she finally realized it was there. It was pink. Brilliantly pink in fact, she wondered if this was another of the Darkness's tricks. Her eyes shifted over to another star on the other side of the sky that was pure white, and another that was orange. No, it can't be. Sure enough, over in other parts of the sky there was a yellow star and a cyan star and right over her head was a purple star. A voice spoke just above a whisper in her ear causing her to jump and see what was making it. "Let them guide you, Twilight. This is all I can give you." A white ball of light floated in the air next to her. It went out and in its place was her bags. Many miles away Pinkie Pie was trying to catch her breath on a log next to the lagoon while her friends all danced and partied. She was happy to see them too, but she wasn't that happy. They'd been going at it for hours. A frog hopped out of the pool and looked up at her. "Rough night?" "Yeah, tell me about it... wait a minute!" She glared down at the frog who hadn't moved from his spot on the shore. His voice was a deep, melodious affair. Pinkie Pie figured him for a jazz singer. "How are you talking to me?" The frog gestured to himself and rolled his eyes. "Of all the things you've seen and done, you're questioning the talking frog act? Tell me this, you have any other questions in that pink brain of yours or am I the only object of your curiosity?" "Well, no." Pinkie Pie looked over at the group that had been non-stop partying since she'd gotten there. Something had been off about them but she'd been too busy having fun to notice. "My friends have been acting really strangely." "I've been watching them too and you know what I think?" He motioned for her to come closer and she leaned towards him. "I think you just need to make them laugh! They've been dancing all night and all that is plastered across those faces is that creepy uncanny smile. I say, you try and make them laugh and see what happens." Pinkie Pie gave the frog an if-you-say-so look and walked over to her friends. She sidled up to Rainbow Dash and winked at her. "Hey, watch this!" She went up to Rarity and shook her hoof. One loud electric buzzer later and Rarity was smoking slightly at the edges. She winged and fell over. Pinkie Pie looked around at her friends who all smiled widely at her. But did not laugh. She looked at Rainbow Dash who was smiling the widest, almost impossibly so. "That was really... great, Pinkie Pie." She looked uncertain and doubt crept into her eyes as her smile got wider and wider. Pinkie Pie looked over at the frog who motioned for her to continue. "Is everything okay, girls?" Rarity twitched and her head tilted to the side. "Why yes! Everything is normal!" The frog hopped over to Pinkie Pie who was beginning to see the utter strangeness of her situation. "I'll take it from here." He pulled a top hat and cane out thin air and started tap dancing in a spotlight that came out of the sky. "I'm afraid I moustache you a question-" At this a huge moustache appeared on his face and Pinkie Pie giggled. The others covered their ears at the sound. "-but I'll shave it for later." Again the group covered their ears at the sound of Pinkie Pie's laughter. Or the terrible puns. "Hey now, don't trust people who do acupuncture, they're back stabbers!" Rarity disappeared in a puff of smoke. Pinkie Pie couldn't help but laugh as she realized what was going on. The frog threw away the hat and cane and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. He crouched down and spoke in a hoarse whisper. "What's the definition of a will?" They all shook their heads. Not wanting to hear it. "I'll give you a hint, it's a dead giveaway." They all burst into smoke and disappeared leaving Pinkie Pie rolling on the ground in laughter. The whole oasis was beginning to disappear and the frog hopped over the lagoon that was draining not unlike a toilet bowl. Her bag was shot out of it as it drained and it landed next to her inexplicably dry. "Hey, goodbye now, girl! Just follow the stars!" He jumped in as the pool drained completely. The trees and greenery turned to sand and blew away leaving Pinkie Pie in a ditch. "What?" A green froggy hand shot out of the desert and point up to the coloured stars in the sky. "Oh! Thank you!" It gave her the thumbs up and disappeared into the sand as Pinkie Pie picked up her saddle bags and hopped away, looking up into the night sky. Hundreds of miles away Sweet Apple Acres was peaceful in the beautiful night. The same could not be said for its inhabitants. Macintosh shifted in his bed. He never slept easy when Applejack was away, especially when she was away on some other damn fool mission for the country. He finally gave up and stretched. It was going to be a long night. He walked downstairs and poured himself a glass of water and thought about what to do. He could start his chores early. He looked at the clock on the wall. Too early for that. As he sat the air above the table began to boil. He felt something hot on his face and looked up to see a dark object floating through the air towards him. He flinched and dove away from the table, banging his head on the wall. Applebloom was jolted awake as the whole house shook. "Big Mac! I think I heard something! Big Mac?" She got up and went to investigate the source of a string of harsh words she didn't understand. "Big Mac what are you doing up so... early." He rubbed his head and pointed to the note on the table. Dear Applebloom and Macintosh I write to you in the hopes that you'll do something for me. Don't panic and let the firefly in the window would you? Lucien Applebloom frowned as she read it. "Well that's a strange letter? And what kind of a name is Lucee'en?" Hundreds of miles away and five minutes earlier Applejack and Big Mac trudged on through the sand. They'd been walking for hours and only his constant jeering had kept her on her feet, and too tired to notice his drastic change in personality. She stumbled and took a second to catch her breath. "Come on, Applejack, are you really going to make me wait for you?" She grit her teeth and through a herculean effort managed to lift herself to her feet and hurry after him. Big Mac sneered at her and kept up a much faster pace. He's so going to get it when I catch up to him. Applejack felt something buzz into her ear and she flinched and waved a hoof at whatever it was. A firefly easily avoided her clumsy and tired swatting and raised a furry eyebrow at her. "My my, you look like you've just walked through hell. Take a minute and sit, you're not going anywhere anyways." She looked up at the glowing bug and gave him an suspicious look. She felt his voice belonged more to a old coot than anything else. If she had been more alert she'd have realized that the landscape hadn't changed at all since she'd met Big Mac. "You're just a trick of that Darkness-whatever. I'm wise to your game already so just go away." The firefly chuckled and starting picking his claws. "Is that what'choo believe now? Uhn, we're gonna have to change that attitude real quick. Speaking of which, you're following that there pony-thing over there for what reason? Girl, he is driving you harder than a queen ant drives her slaves, what'choo walking yourself dead for?" "That there pony-thing is my brother and we're going home. My little sister's been hurt." The firefly landed on her nose and looked her in the eye. "Is that so? And you took his word for it? Girl, you are days away from Ponyville. She'll be all grow'd up by the time you get to her! And even if she was ill or injured, don't you think he'd show more concern? Ask him how he feels about his family." She gave the firefly a skeptical look but was too tired to argue. "Hey, Big Mac!" He stopped and sighed. You calling for a break already?" "Mmhmm. How was it that Applebloom was injured again?" "The storm came and collapsed the cellar we were hiding in. She broke all her legs. Her left fore proximal phalanx is broken in three places and her left aft third metacarpal is broken in half. Her right fore-" Applejack stopped listening. She was too stunned at the lack of emotion in her brother's voice as he described her sister's horrific injures. The firefly nodded. "I told you something was wrong with that thing. Don't worry I'll sort this one out real good." The firefly flew over to Big Mac and started buzzing around his head. He stopped describing how Applebloom's lungs had collapsed and snorted angrily at the firefly who was starting to making lines of light appear in Applejack's vision. He made a lunge for the offending bug but was tied up by the glowing yellow lines in the air. He got angrier and angrier and the more he fought to free himself the less he looked like Big Mac. Applejack stepped back as a black skeleton of a stallion broke through the glowing lines. It turned its attention to Applejack and charged. The firefly yawned and held out a tiny hand and her world erupted in light. Applejack tried to blink away the spots in her vision. The lights faded away until one remained. It winked at her. "See, told you so. Now you can get back to the ponies who really need you." He pointed to the sky and she swore she saw a set of brightly coloured stars moving across the sky. The firefly turned to leave and Applejack called out to him. "Wait! But what about my family?" "What? Oh, fine. Give me a second to send a letter... there we go. Alright now, watch carefully." He began to fly in a circle and it quickly was burned into Applejack's vision. She blinked and saw Applebloom and Macintosh in the circle, as if looking through a window. "What? But I dont-" "I can't keep this up for long, it's prohibitively expensive so hurry up now." Applejack walked towards the circle, a look of disbelief on her face. "Applebloom?" "Sis?!" They touched their hooves up to the surface of the window and it rippled. "I can't believe it! Where are you? A desert?" Applejack struggled to keep back the tears of joy from seeing her sister alive and well. "Yep, a bona fide desert just like where cousin Braeburn lives. You're okay? No storms on the way or anything?" Applebloom gestured out the window of their house. "Nope, weather's been great ever since you left." "Why you!" They shared a laugh and Macintosh entered Applejack's view. "Is everything alright?" Applejack took a moment to take stock of herself. She was bone tired and lost in a desert somewhere with no food or water and she was without her friends. The firelfy, as he flew, gestured for her to hurry it up. "Everything's going to be alright. I've got a friend on this side that'll help me out just fine, don't you two worry now. I'll be back before you know it." The window slowly faded away as the firefly slowed his revolutions. He stopped and the circle died away. "There, now, don't go expecting anything more. I've got urgent business to attend to elsewhere. You just follow those stars to your friends and for goodness sake take this." He snapped his fingers and an apple fell out of the sky. He caught it, barely, and huffed and puffed as he brought it to her. She took it and ate with a ravenous hunger. It was the one of the best apple's she'd ever had. She felt invigorated. "Goodness, I can't thank you enough..." He was gone. She looked out into the sky and picked a star. She trotted at a modest pace, filled with a new determination. Rainbow Dash and Spitfire landed on a dune top and lay down in the sand, panting and sweating, huge smiles on their faces. "You know, if you fly that good all the time I might just have to give you a chance at the team." Rainbow Dash sat up, a lot of her dreams were coming true tonight. "Really?!" "Sure, Dash. I'd give you a shot." Spitfire winked at her and Rainbow Dash blushed and tried to keep her cool. Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This perfect! I am sooo awesome! A little voice in her head begged to differ. Aren't you forgetting something. SOMEONE?! She briefly recalled what had happened the day before but Spitfire caught her eye and the memory was pushed from her mind. "Hey Dash, you tired?" "Not really." She could see where this was going. "I say we bed down for the night, the others can wait." Her voice dripped over Rainbow Dash's ears and she shuddered in delight. Spitfire rolled over on top of her and stared into her eyes. "Just relax." The nagging voice in Rainbow Dash's head got louder. No, this is wrong. I owe my loyalty to Twilight. "Hey, why don't we just, umm, lie down and get some sleep for the night?" "Lame." Spitfire kissed her and Rainbow Dash's mind went blank. Her eyes rolled back and her body relaxed. But the voice wouldn't go away. Stop this! This isn't you! ... I'm right. She pushed off the yellow mare on top of her but she recovered and pounced on top of her again. Her eyes black and full of enjoyment. "I didn't know you were a fighter! This is going to be so much more fun than I thought!" Spitfire went in for another kiss but was bucked off more forcefully this time. Rainbow Dash got up only to be tackled to the ground. "You're no fun." Crap. Not Spitfire. She felt a pair of hooves wrap around her neck. She gasped and fought for breath that won't come. You are sooooooo dead. She stood up and hurled the false Spitfire over her shoulder and jumped on top of her. She started pounding her hooves into Spitfire's face. She was bucked off and they each stood up to square off against one another. Half of Spitfire's face had been torn off revealing a black skeleton beneath and an empty socket. Oh, double crap! Something tapped her on the shoulder. She started and looked over at a falcon staring at her. "You're going to need these, kid." Rainbow Dash couldn't understand how the falcon was talking but she liked his gravelly rough voice. Like he had been a cowpony for as long as there was the term. She was offered four horses shoes that gleamed in the moonlight. The skeletal Spitfire shifted uneasily as its eye passed over them. It gulped. Rainbow Dash stepped into the shoes and instantly felt lighter. The stiffness in her muscles from the day's flying melted away and she felt ready to take on the world. "Focus on what's important, kid. Don't forget that." Rainbow Dash lowered her body and sprung towards the false Spitfire, her heart full of fury and anger at having her feelings betrayed. But it was you who betrayed her. She was knocked back as she took a savage blow to the jaw, sending her spinning. "You can't fight this thing with anger and hatred. It'll beat you every time. Focus on what's most important to you." "What does that even mean?!" She never got an answer as she was stuck again. She rolled to her hooves and blocked a blow aimed at her wings. She punched it in the gut and tried to throw it but a leg swept the ground out from beneath her and she was pinned under a knee. "Help!" "You don't need help, kid. Not for this. What is the most important thing in your life, Rainbow Dash?" "Uh, *gasp* flying?" She was struck in the stomach and she struggled to breathe. The corners of her vision began to darken. Well, looks like this is it. Goodbye world. Goodbye stupid unhelpful falcon. ... Goodbye Twilight Sparkle. She felt the thing's grip loosen and she breathed in. THAT'S IT! She threw the black skeletal Spitfire off of her and got to her feet. She pushed off the shifting sands and used her wings for extra force as she rammed into it. They sailed through the air and Rainbow Dash was thrown away but she righted herself and lunged. She flowed under a punch and upper cutted it's jaw, sending it reeling. She pressed her advantage and parried a clumsy blow as it tried to get her on the defensive. She kicked out with both legs and felt bones snap beneath them. It fell to the ground, writhing in pain for a moment before it turned to dust and disappeared into the sand. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and watched the faint outline of a pony be blown away by a breeze. The falcon landed next to her and looked up to the stars. "Hey, um... bird? Thanks for the help and everything." "I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't do anything." Rainbow Dash looked down at the sand crumbling off of her hooves. She shook it away and looked at the falcon with a what-the-buck look on her face. "That was all you, kid. Hey, you remember junior flight school?" Rainbow Dash was beyond caring how or why this falcon... everything'd. "Yeeaah?" "They teach you how to navigate by the stars?" She nodded. Duh. First lesson after we learned how to fly. In case we-I got lost... again. "Good. Notice those coloured ones? Pick one and follow it and kid-" He turned to her and spread his wings to fly away. "-she's one lucky mare to have you." He flew off and disappeared into the starry sky and Rainbow Dash took a moment to do some thinking before she too flew out into the night. Rarity had fallen asleep. She dreamed of a twisted Ponyville in which she was alone. A storm was tearing the town apart and she was running from a cloud shaped like Sweetie Bell chasing her and asking why she hadn't saved her. She started awake and started running. Her heart pounded in her chest and she wheezed in air to fuel her aching and worn out muscles. She stopped and struggled for breath as she fell to her knees then to the ground completely. No! NO! You have to get up Rarity! Sweetie Bell needs you! You have to be there for her! "You look lost, friend." Rarity became dimly aware of a presence standing over her. She was turned over and a bottle was offered to her. She took it and inhaled the refreshing cool water. She chocked and dropped it, spilling the contents. "Oh m-my. I'm so sorry. It just..." She looked up to see a large tortoise holding out another water bottle in its mouth. It voice was high pitched and scratchy but undoubtedly kind. She took the bottle and drank more carefully. It had a cleansing effect and she felt much better. "What brings a traveler all the way out here with no water? You looked like you were going somewhere in a hurry." Rarity recovered slightly from the shock of meeting the tortoise and remembered her previous haste. "Yes! I am terribly sorry but I really have to go. Thank you so much for the water." She made to get up but her muscles wouldn't let her. "Sit, friend. Rest awhile with an old tortoise and talk." Rarity considered protesting again but figured she could rest a little while. She had after all been given two bottle of water by this old reptile. Well, he is very generous. Oh, alright. "So, what brings you to the desert" Rarity considered telling her their mission to him but knew not to trust anything. She was suddenly reminded of how she had trusted Ebony Bloom and something about the meeting had worried her, the warning besides. "I am... going to visit family." An innocent enough answer. "And do they live around here?" "No, they live far away. Days away, even. I should be going." She tried to stand again but her legs turned to jelly and she collapsed in a huff. "Sorry, just not myself right now." "I'll say, child. You are running yourself ragged. Here let me help you." "No, it's fine. I can manage." She tried a third time and fell yet again. Only this time she was caught and placed on the large tortoise's back where he carried her to the side of a dune. He put her down and pulled out a blanket out of his pack. He spread it out and then laid her on it. "Take a moment. Catch your breath." Rarity could hardly refuse such hospitality, especially in her current state. "You fight your fatigue even now. Tell me, what could possibly drive you so?" "I..." Even Rarity was beginning to see the ludicrous nature of her flight. "I was shown a... vision of my sister. She was in danger." "And you go to her with a zeal unmatched by any. You have a noble heart. But a vision? And you trusted this vision? In this place of all places, you should know to only follow what your heart believes to be true." She was running out of reasons to trust Ebony. What if it all was just a trick? "Who are you?" "A kind spirit. I'm not even really here. You've been trusting illusions and visions for so long now. I think it's time you see what's real." The tortoise closed its eyes and Rarity's mind was filled with the memories of her friends. How much she cared for them. She sat up, eyes wide but unseeing. She was filled up with a swirl of emotions as she realized that she'd been tricked by Ebony. She felt guilty that she'd abandoned her friends but at the same time glad that she had them and cared for them so much. She returned to the desert. "You were shown a vision of a lie. Your ever giving spirit was used against you and you have been led astray. But no more." "But how can I trust you?" The tortoise got up and turned to leave. "Because I didn't show you anything, no illusion, no vision. I merely reminded you of what you already knew. Follow the stars to your friends. Or don't, if you are tired of trusting magics. They're sure to find you anyways." "Wait! What about my sister?!" The tortoise looked at her with a bemused look on his face. "How could I know anything about your sister? For that matter, how can you?" He walked away and Rarity understood what he'd meant. He's right. It's useless of me to worry about things I can't control. I either have to drive myself sick with worry about it or have faith and trust that she'll be fine when I get back. You, know what? I do trust him. He walked around the edge of the dune and disappeared from sight. Rarity tested out her limbs and found that while her legs and back ached, she had the energy to walk. She looked out into the sky and saw a curious bunch of stars moving across it. They were coloured to match her friends coats. She thought a moment, then walked towards one. It can't be any worse can it? She made it ten steps before tripping over her bag which had appeared in the sand out of where she had spilt the bottle of water. Fluttershy hadn't moved. From where she'd laid down. She wasn't used to being alone. No one to console, no one to care for and no one to be kind to. She'd lost her purpose. The only keeping her awake was the constant feeling of shame. How could you just lie here and not do anything to find your friends? They might need you? instead your just lying here and complaining. I'm so alone. The silence is killing me. I wish there was a bird or even a slight breeze. There's nothing here. No sound. Get up! Come on, Fluttershy, get up! Alone. She heard something. A noise. To her it seemed to last an age and yet be over too soon. She bolted upright and a loud series of pops was heard as her once immobile skeleton was made to move again. "Ow!" She rubbed the back of her neck and looked around her prison. It was the same, a large dune towering over her and smaller dunes hemming her in this natural hole. "Help..." Her body froze. Someone had called out for help. He sounded really weak. The voice was coming from somewhere atop the large dune. She gathered her legs beneath her and made to fly but the combination of sand in her feathers and hours of disuse had rendered them useless. She winced as they protested with aches and snaps. "Help... " The voice was getting weaker. She started running but didn't get very far. The dune was surprisingly steep and every time she tried to take another step the sand would just collapse beneath her. "He-help..." "HOLD ON! I'M COMING!" She rushed the dune and attacked the ground with her hooves, this time gaining ground. She surged up the hill. She broke out over the top and saw a desert hare lying in the sand, clutching his chest. She knelt beside him, eyes looking over him for his injury. "What happened? Where does it hurt? Let me help you." She moved his leg and saw a red stain under his vest. She thought about what to do. He needs a bandage. Oh, but I don't have anything to bind it with. She looked around frantically for something he held out a paw to stop her. "Don't worry about it. Heh. *cough* There's nothing that needs to be done." "Oh, hush now. Don't speak. I just need to-" He stopped her again and wheezed in another breath. "I'm just glad I'm not alone anymore." Tears started streaming down Fluttershy's face. "Me too." "Are you out here all alone too?" Fluttershy looked down at the pit she'd been cowering in then out across the desert that looked white in the moon's glow. "Yes... No, my friends are out there somewhere. I was just too weak to find them." "That doesn't sound true at all. You came up here for me didn't you?" Fluttershy smiled despite herself. The hare winced and clutched his chest. "Won't be long now. *COUGH*" "No, please! Please don't go! Don't leave me alone!" He smiled feebly. "By the sounds of it, your friends are out there all alone too. Find them and you won't be alone." "No, I can't. I'm not strong enough." "Stop doubting yourself, girl. There's no time in life for it, believe me. You can't let anything stand between you and what you care most about." Fluttershy looked down at the dying hare and something changed. She looked up into the sky and no longer was intimidated by the vastness of it all. She looked out into the desert and wasn't scared by how small she was in comparison. She felt brave. Not unafraid, but something more. Like she could handle this. "You're right. *sniff* You're right-" She was holding her saddlebags. She stared at the scene for a moment. Was it all just a mirage? She looked up into the night sky and saw a star shooting across it. It was cyan and reminded her of Rainbow Dash. I miss her. I miss them all. The star was blotted out for a moment and she could hear someone calling to her. She squinted into the night and her eyes lit up. "RAINBOW DASH!" The sun was rising over the desert. The group all slept in each other's hooves having found each other during the night. They each wore a smile on their face. Relieved to back in each other's company for their own reasons. Rainbow Dash woke up. She didn't want to disturb Twilight whose hooves were still wrapped tightly around her so she smiled and nuzzled her head into her leg to try and fall back asleep. But something was tickling her nose. She opened her eyes and saw a patch of grass underneath her. She jolted upright sending Twilight flying through the air. "Catch me!... Rainbow Dash... zzzzz." Rainbow Dash looked around at the meadow they were in. She looked to the north and saw that the trees and mountains had gotten considerably closer despite them having traveled so far south. She blinked a few times and narrowed her eyes. I'm not even going to try. She picked up Applejack's saddlebags and started making breakfast. Hundreds of miles away. The Darkness wore a scowl that could wither stone and boil oceans. "You have not won yet, Old Man." Satisfied that he had regained his dominance, Lucien sipped his coffee and grinned at the small skull on the Door's surface. "Shut up, fiend. And go back to whatever it is you do in there. Play cards? I'd imagine you're really good at solitaire at this point." The Darkness roared a tiny, almost cute, roar and disappeared from Lucien's sight, leaving him to enjoy the morning sunrise.