//------------------------------// // Illusions and Reflections (Desistance) // Story: Why is life? // by Daxisle //------------------------------// Illusions and Reflections (Desistance) What stepped through the door sent waves of confusion over the two ponies. It was a white toy pony, no bigger than Rainbows hoof. The two examined the miniature object before Rainbow burst out laughing. "Oh, oh boy, you had me going there for a second." She manged before giving the thing a condescending smiling. "Aww, it's so cute, what's it going to do? Walk into a wall and fall over?" Applejack, for her part, was unsure of what to make of it. Something about it didn't sit right with her. Of course, the whole situation they were in was beyond anything she'd experienced before. Save for the time Discord had escaped and turned the world Topsy turvy. To her stress, the Rainbow pony began to approach the toy with a smug grin. "Hold on Rainbow!" Her plea went ignored as the mentioned picked up the soulloett. "Oh relax Applejack." She lifted it to the pony's face. "It's not going to do anything to ya so long as I'm here. "That's what you think." A squeaky voice answered. Rainbow dropped the miniature and stepped away in shock. "Wha's wrong Dash?" Rainbow shook her head. "Did- did that thing just talk?" Applejack tilted her head over and examined the thing's head, but it' mouth was carved into a plastic and dead smile. How could it talk if it had no moving mouth? "Pft, your right." Rainbow said, her confidence returning. "I'm probably just hearing things." "Are you so sure?" "Of course I'm sure, why wouldn't I be?" "Sure of what?" Applejack asked. "Sure that I was hearing things." The pegasus answered rolling her eyes. "No one's sayin' otherwise, Rainbow." 'Wait, what?" "C'mon, let's jus' see if we can fin' a way out. Ah don't think that Tosh feller's gonna be of much help." Agreeing, Rainbow left the toy forgotten and followed her friend up the stairs. They entered the next hallway and began to walk to the other end. Though, something seemed different about this one, the over head lights weren't as bright as they were in the last? No. It wasn't the walls, they were the same. Dismissing it as her own mind playing tricks, she followed wordlessly. One by one, the two went up the floors. Each hallway seemed to grow more and more different from the last. But whenever she tried the place her hoof on what exactly the difference was, the cyan mare drew a blank. "I'm gettin' real tired of this nonsense." "You said it." Rainbow agreed. Applejack stopped. "Said wha'?" 'Again?' "This place is getting old." Dash replied, a tinge of annoyance to her voice. "Ah didn't say anythin'." "Yea right, real funny Applejack." As if this place wasn't driving her crazy enough. The look on the orange mare's face went against Rainbow's hopes that she was pulling her hoof. Was she hearing things? She could have sworn AJ had said something, maybe not exactly what she heard, but words did come from her mouth. She swore it. After another few levels up, they decided against any farther attempts to climb. It was obvious that what ever that minotaur had them in, walking out of it wasn't an option. The fact frustrated Dash to no end. What the hay was going on here? How was he able to do all of this? Why was AJ messing with her? And what was with that doll back there anyway? "Well, let's try goin-" The cow mare stopped. "What in tarnation?" Rainbow looked back and he heart skipped a beat. The doll, it was standing in the middle of the hall way from where they came... How was that even possible? What's worse, the door that lead to the lower level was now covered with cement and metal like the rest of the wall. "Alright, this is just getting too weird." Rainbow announced Applejack agreed and the two stared at the, what they assumed was mechanical, contraption standing before them. Though, the fact that the door they had come from had disappeared was a bit more concerning. How did that happen? When? Was it right after they'd come through? Did this toy do it? No, no it must have been the minotaur, but how? She was beginning to wish Twilight was here to explain this. She didn't know alot about physics, but doors disappearing didn't seem the most logical thing to happen. "The door!" Applejack exclaimed. Rainbow broke her concentration away and looked back to find that the other door had disappeared as well. "What?" She asked taking a step away. How? No that was impossible! She just saw it! It was just there! Deciding it was some kind of illusion spell, the mare cautiously drifted her hoof across the area the metal divider was suppose to be. Her heart sank as the stoney feel of concrete continued unabridged from one side side to the other. "How're you doin' this!?" Applejack exclaimed to the ceiling. Rainbow was beginning to question her friend's own mental state before a voice replied. "Sorry?" The orange mare repeated her question, a bit more forcefully. "Oh, wouldn't you like to know? Tell you what, you give me your names and I'll give you a clue." AJ facehoofed and reiterated that she'd already given the desired information. Tosh said something in return, but Rainbow was too distracted by the mech toy to listen. It had moved from the end of the hallway to the middle of it, with out either of the two noticing. How? She wasn't sure. She'd have heard it's hoofsteps, right? Did it slide? Were there small wheels under it's hooves or something? She narrowed her eyes and looked directly into the things painted on blue retinas. Rainbow could have sworn she saw one of them move. Minutes dragged on as she held her silent staring contest, allowing AJ and Tosh to converse with out her concern. 'Why was this thing here? Why are the doors gone? Where are we? And why do I have the sudden urge to yell bloody murder at it?' All of these questions and more swarmed around the speedster's head. Her body began to tense from the confusion turning into frustration. Typically, when she didn't understand something, she'd just brush it off as being not her problem. But this was her problem, and a very big problem. "N' tha's how we ended up here." Applejack stomped her hoof, bringing Dash back to reality? Tosh yawned. "That's a very nice story." He complimented. "A group of Equestrians coming to the Federation at the behest of their matriarch in the care of two Federalists... And that's the story you're sticking to?" The mare took a breath and gave her reply. "Well, that would explain the names." The echoing voice of the minotaur conceded. "However, you'll have to pardon my skepticism. I'm afraid that answer is still unsatisfactory." AJ roared in an frustration that, despite the current predicament, somehow seemed over dramatic. "Nao' you listen here mister!" She demanded with a snarl. "You le' us outta here righ' now!" Her emerald eyes were practically aflame with rage, Rainbow actually took a step back from the ferocity in her friends voice. What was going on here? AJ has never been shaken this easily. The voice was silent for a time, as if he were considering something. "Mister?" He chuckled. "I'm sorry, that was just too much. What are you, four?" Applejack's eye twitched repeatedly as she ground her teeth. "I'm warnin' ya, once Sin 'n Mac find out abo- Con sarn it Rainbow! Can ya stop with the clicking already!" It took the aforementioned a moment to register her address and she looked at Applejack quizzically. "Don' look at me like tha', you've only been doin' it fer the last half hour!" She removed her stetson and rubbed her temples, "It's giv'en me a migraine." "I'm not doing anything." Dash replied, her tone becoming defensive. Tosh's presence was cast aside for AJ's sudden lack of tolerance. "Ah can hear it righ' now!" She practically shouted. 'Ok, she's really starting to get on my nerves.' "Click, click, click, clickclickclickclickclickcklickclick wouldja knock it off?!" "I don't hear anything but your yelling." AJ deadpanned. The look set an inexplicable boiling streak into Rainbow's blood. 'First she messes with me by saying she didn't talk when she did, and now she's yelling at me for doing nothing? That's it' The two began to argue, Honesty vs Loyalty. Both denying doing anything that the other accused. Eventually, bad blood was brought up after the current situation couldn't be resolved. "And what about 'Mare-do-well, huh?" The flier spat. "You said you didn't know a thing about her, but not only was that a lie, you were her to some degree. If you lied then, you could be lying now! So much for the Element of Honesty." AJ's eyes widened, Dash smiled, knowing she'd hit a nerve. "You wanna go on 'bout our Elements? How 'bout Scootaloo? When we went campin' you couldn't even see how scared tha' poor thing was. It wasn' till she was almost in tears thacha actually tried to comfort her." Rainbow's infamous short temper was at it's breaking point already, and she couldn't stop what came out of her mouth next. "Whatever, it's you're fault we're here in the first place." Applejack's eyes widened. "Whadaya mean it's mah fault?" The cyan mare rolled her eyes again. "If you would have treated Macintosh better, we wouldn't even be here." The orange mare's eyes narrowed. "Oh, so it's mah fault? What about the way YOU treated Mac huh? Makin' fun o' his sexuality and what not." "Hey! I mess around with everypony, alright?" Rainbow said defensively. She expected another retort, but what she got instead was Applejack holding to stifle a laugh. It confused her a bit, but all she was trying to do was explain that her pranks and jokes were inclusive of everyone. "Y'all mess 'round with everypony?" AJ said between snickers. "Yea! Anypony who can take it anyway. It doesn't matter if they're colt cuddlers, filly foolers, or whatever. I mess with everyone equally." Applejack couldn't hold it in anymore, she burst out laughing. Rainbow gave her a confused look before the realization hit her. "Ugh, Applejack, really?" Scoffed. "WHERE IS SHE!" Barked another echoing voice, the two froze. "What? How did you get in here?" Tosh demanded, the sounds of glass breaking and papers being tossed wildly echoed loudly, causing the two to cover their ears. "Ow! Get off of me you-" "Where is Fluttershy?" The voice growled. Rainbow tilted her head. It was Star Shade, and he did not sound happy. "YOU!" he barked, "Blue one, you were there. Where is Fluttershy?" Was he talking to her? "They can't answer you." Tosh explained, his voice weezing as if being choked. "They are in a magi-nano educed com-" His comments were cut of by a yelp. "Get. Her. Out." Shade growled. A couple of loud thuds and a crash later, "I'll fucking kill you!" Rainbow grimaced as another slam echoed. An eery silence overtook the overhead. The two mares stood silent. As bad as this place was, the cyan mare wasn't to keen on the idea of Shade wanting to talk to her right now. She hadn't seen him do too many terrible things, but if the stories she heard were true; things could get messy qick. After a few more moments of silence, Shade's voice spoke again. "How do I hear her?" His voice full of venom. "The headset, the headset." Tosh replied whimpering. Applejack looked to Rainbow and placed her hoof over her mouth. The speedster understood and as Shade began addressing the "blue one" and "orange one", they both stood with feigned oblivion. "You lying sack of HEATHEN!" They heard before a crash louder than any other and the cries of Tosh before the noises settled. Turning the atmosphere into an ethereal sound of static. Rainbow's heart slammed against her chest as her breathing swallowed. Why did he want to know where Fluttershy was? He never met her, and why was he so pissed off? Granted, he wasn't always in the best of moods around most mares, but the timid pegasus had never done him any wrong. Other than trap his god in stone of course... Wait what? Suddenly, a feeling of light headedness over took her and she staggered into the wall and blacked out. Rainbow groaned and moved her hoof to nurse her growing head ache. When she found her forelegs couldn't move, her eyes burst open to see what was going on. A pair of angry golden eyes greeted the mare as her head ache began to alleviate itself. "There. Sh- she's awake." Tosh sputtered before tossing what looked like some kind of helmet and crawling away a bit. Rainbow chanced a look. The poor minotaur looked like he'd been through Tartarus! One of his eyes were not blackened and bruised, he sat with his hands clutching his stomach and shoulder, and it looked like one of his legs was bent at a very disturbing angle. All of it, the work a pony she was traveling with... Her attention slowly returned to Shade after he snarled. "Hey, woah there." She exclaimed trying to push him away, though her bound legs made that impossible. "QUITE!" He barked. Rainbow complied. "Where is Fluttershy?" "W- What do you want with her?" The mare managed, trying to hide the trembling in her voice. "I don't have time for this." He stomped on the wooden chair in which she sat, shattering the furniture into shambles. With the loss of a base for the straps that held her appendages, she could take some solace in her freedom. Now for Applejack. "I wouldn't." Tosh shook his head, the cyan pegasus hesitated. "If I don't extract her consciousness from the O.R.B. first, you'll give her brain damage beyond repair." Rainbow glared daggers to her captor, his face betrayed nothing, if he was telling the truth, she could seriously hurt her friend. She groaned before removing her hooves from AJ's own helm. She sighed and looked at her friend's peaceful face. "Let her go." Tosh began to comply, though, he was halted by Shade. "What?" Rainbow looked at him dubiously. "She stays." Shade stated simply. "She's our friend!" "No, she's your friend. I have one friend, now move it." Rainbow stood firm. She'd admit, Shade intimidated her a little, ok alot, but this was Applejack. One of her closest and best friends, and the wasn't about to leave her here. Here in this mad scientist wannabe's grips. "Tell you what." She said, a smug grin beginning to form. "I'll take you to Fluttershy myself. If you get him to let Applejack go too." Shade smiled in return. "Nah, I'm good with just you." Her grin faltered. "And why is that?" The insane stallion rolled his eyes. "Mac wouldn't let me take her, Spike would object to me taking the purple one, and I'm not sure, but the pink one scares me." his smile returned, "But you, no one will look at me twice if you take me to her." "I'll tell Sin and the others." Dash shot in desperation. The cynical look on the bat pony's face scared her now. He was fully willing to let AJ, for all he knew and probably cared, die down here. "How do you think Macintosh and them will react once-" Her desperate speech was cut off by a harsh chuckle. "What do I care? I've been alone most of my life! I'm insane blue, if it comes down to it, I can just fly away and return to Equestria on my own. I'll find your friend eventually with or without you, where were you from again?" He paused in mock thought, "Ponyville?" Restraining the urge to smack herself, Rainbow could only gawk in disbelief. She had to be having a nightmare or something, this couldn't be real. Why was this happening? What had she done to deserve this? Her eyes began to water as she found how exhausted her options had become. This pony took on a full grown dragon and lived to tell about it, Mac and the others wouldn't stand a chance, and there's only so much Celestia could do for Fluttershy. If she left and warned of AJ's whereabouts, would she be found before Tosh could have her moved? A silent tear began to fall due to her uncertainty and confusion. "Oh give me a break with the water works already." Shade belched before pushing Dash to the door. No, no she couldn't leave her friend like this. With all her might, the rainbow mare halted her mover and pushed him away. The dark pegasus growled again before looking into Dash's fusha eyes. She would fight if she had to, to protect her friend. The stare down didn't last long before Shade rolled his eyes again. "Oh bleeding hearts of the world unite!" He turned to Tosh. "Get her out too, I guess." The minotaur nodded and quickly went to work. It was only then that Rainbow actually took in her surroundings. Of course there were the four beings present inside of A large white room with a... big floating mirror orb in the middle? What? It was the best she could describe the thing, though instead of reflecting what was outside, it showed Applejack standing in the hallway she'd just left. The mare looked frightened out of her wits, but at least that would end shortly. Small wires came out from the bottom of it, some leading to the chairs in which the two were sitting, some to the helmets, and some that just went into the walls. It was official, this place was beyond weird... And badly written. After Tosh had done a bit of work on the back of AJ's seat, the mare in the O.R.B disappeared, and Applejack began to stir. The minotaur made quick work of undoing her straps, seeing what happened to the last time he'd failed to do so. "Oww, Mah head." The orange mare complained, rubbing her golden mane. "Wha' happen?" She was obviously groggy, and understandably confused but at least she would have a better welcome than Dash did. She looked around and found the applepony's stetson cast to the corner. Quickly, Rainbow retrieved the head wear and placed it back on AJ's head. "Rainbow?" She called in a daze. "Yea, I'm here." AJ staggered forward, her friend helping to keep her up before explaining that sick feeling would pass quickly. As the awakening sickness began to dissipate, AJ caught sight of Tosh. "YOU!" She pushed off of Rainbow and marched to the cowering Federalist, "Wha' in Celestia's name didja do to us?" "I- I put y-you in the Optical Reality Bend-" He sniffled. "Enough!" Shade interrupted before Tosh could continue. He hooked his leg around Dash's neck. "No explanations, no talking, let's move blue." The pegasus tried to protest her abduction, though Shade's last victim came into her vision, and considering she'd already push him once, thought it best to simply find Spike and Sin and let them deal with it. Though, Applejack followed after with questions of her own, each ignored by Shade to be sure. His inarguable silence eventually caused any attempts at questioning to end. Though, the desire to know just how long they'd been gone still remained, but Rainbow figured Twilight would be able to answer that for her. Finally, they came to the rec room in which they had originally left to find Mac snoozing on one of the couches. "MAC!" Shade yelled, the farmer stallion jumped and looked around before yawning. It took him a moment to awaken to the point where he could inquire the reason for the rude interuption, but eventually he did. "Where's Spike?" He thought about it for a moment than shrugged. "Discord dammit all." As the night pony turned back to the hallway, Dash motioned for AJ to stay in the room. Of course, her friend protested leaving her to Shade's whims but Rainbow gave her a reassuring smile. Though, it was all for nothing when Mac himself decided to follow the two, his sister fully in tow. After a few flights of climbing, and one confused Pinkie Pie, later; the speedster was lead to the Lobby and finally outside. "There you are." She looked over surprised that Spike would actually be out here, to her surprise, it was he and Sin... Sin walked quietly while Pinkie spoke enough for the both of them, and then some. So, this was the Pinkie Pie everyone was talking about. She seemed a great deal more fun than what he'd seen previously, he supposed the ice cream had done her more good than he anticipated. She was still going on about the play the two had just seen, though, instead of demonizing Nedran, she was praising Vanyel. Speaking about the amazing powers he had to fight off demons, and how the lines of him denying the dark lords bribes were "the best thing ever". "I'm glad you liked it." Sin stated as the duo reached the block that held the Syndicate head quarters. "It was my favorite play growing up here." "This is your home town?" Pinkie asked happily. "Indeed." The stallion replied, he wasn't used to the pink pony smiling this much, nor being this happy. Perhaps giving her the sugar rush wasn't the best idea... but hay, if she's happy that just makes things easier. He pointed to the east and mentioned that his old home was somewhere off in that direction, assuming it hadn't been demolished of course. The area Sin's family lived in wasn't exactly the best. "Aww, I'm sorry." Pinkie frowned. Sin shrugged. "Meh, world's not perfect. No point in complaining about it." He concluded. It was something he hated, complaining. There was an old saying he lived by, 'if you don't have a solution, you don't have a problem'. His childhood didn't have any solution now, and complaining about it would do no good. So, move on. "Well, what about venting? It always helps to talk about your problems, you know." Sin failed to stiffle a chuckle from the sudden words. The comedy was lost on Pinkie. "I'm sure it does Ms. Pie." He looked forward to find a familiar pony mare leaning on the Vindications building, looking right at him. His body tensed and his good mood was killed. "Pinkie, why don't you head inside?" His eyes never left the grinning Triple M. agent. Pinkie looked back and forth between the two and thought about it. She'd be going in, Sin wasn't in the mood for arguments, but he could pretend to let her think she had a say in it. "Ok, but promise me you wont hurt her." PInkie gave her best puppy dog eyes. With as many times as that's failed, you think she would have learned by now. "Why, what ever do you mean?" Sin replied sarcastically. Pinkie's face deadpanned, but the stallion didn't really have a choice, there were far too many Citizens around. But if he had to hurt the mare, he was going to hurt her. Nothing could be done for it. Eventually, and reluctantly, the party pony agreed and with one last look of concern, slugged into the doorway. "So, Islander's got a new girlfriend?" The agent wiggled her eyes mockingly. Sin scoffed, "Sure, why not?" he repeated. He preferred not to think along those lines with anything. Especially when it concerned him. And if he denied it, this earth pony seemed the type to tease. With as many pony's around as there was, he had to remind himself that assaulting her wasn't the best way to go. "Well, at least it's not the one Malich's interested in." She shrugged and smirked. 'One Malich's interested in?' "Speaking of which, where is the purple unicorn?" She looked around playfully. Wait, playfully? Matter of fact, she didn't show much of a professional demeanor at all now that Sin actually thought about it. "Bah forget it, I'll just tell him she'd doing fine. Oh and I have a message for you." She cleared her throat and explained that his brother was losing patience with his tedious progress. Sin surpressed a smirk, he couldn't be happier about the stress he was causing, though the next part caused he himself duress. "If you do not reach Unitas within the next two days, one of your friends will be... Extracted." She gave an evil grin to the word. "And brought to Malich as incentive." Sin's heart skipped a beat, he had been expecting this. After all, it wasn't the first time the Corporate head had threatened the lives of his friends to get him to comply. Though, these weren't some lowly ponies within the common folk. "My brother's become foolish." The opposing mare quirked a brow. "Zell wasn't well connected, Malich killing him had very few implications." Other than gaining Sin's everlasting hatred, but he smiled regardless. "The ponies I travel with have direct connections to the alicorn sisters of Equestria," "Tell him, that if he really wishes to anger two immortal goddesses and turn an entire country's military onto him, than by all means. However, I'd think twice about it. For all of his power, he needs to be reminded that he only controls his agents as much as they allow him, not to mention his allying corporations will tuck tail when they find out what they are up against. He can try to propagate it as war of the old land upon us to rally Citizens to his cause, but as the saying goes; 'history repeats itself'." The mare rolled her eyes than shook her head. "You severely underestimate him." "Perhaps," Sin conceded looking to the entrance to find Spike leaning against one of the columns, His face solemn and expectant. "However, as many time's as he's short changed my own capabilities, I think I owe him this one." Again, the mare just shrugged and asked if there was anything else to be said, when the former senator replied in the negative, without another word; the mare turned around and disappeared into the crowd. He took a minute to make sure she was gone before he spoke. "How much did you hear?" Sin asked, his body turned away from Mac. He knew what was about to come, it was only a matter of time until the others found out about it anyway. Still, how should he reply to it? Being a smart ass, or genuine and apologetic for keeping such a secret. "Why didn't you tell us about Malich?" Spike's eyes were flat and unimpressed. Sin turned to address the drake. "Well, you didn't-" "And I swear Sin." Spike cut him off raising a claw. "If you say: 'Well you didn't ask', I'm going to smack you." 'Oh a threat, perhaps I should reconsider.' Sin shrugged. "Ok, than I'll leave it at: 'Well you didn't'." TWACK! "Totally worth it." "There you are!" Sin and Spike looked over to find Shade dragging Rainbow Dash out of the building by her neck. 'Oh hell, what did she do?' Before he had time to ask, the pony marched up to Spike. "Send a letter, tell the Magical Horse lady to get her plot over here NOW!" The confrontation forgotten, the drake took a step back. "What? Why?" Shade's eye twitched. "Fluttershy." he growled, more to himself than Spike. "Wha's goin' on?" Mac asked lethargic, as if he'd just woken up to this. Shade cursed the situation and gave a brief synopsis. Apparently he had some kind of premonition about Discord being "reformed" and wanted to take revenge on the timid butter-milk pegasus back in Equestria. "They broke him from stone using the Elements of Harmonicas and the... the... bitch made him cry!" he scowled to the others. "And you were all there too, and I'll make you pay too!" Everyone stood dumbstruck after the tirade gone explanation. Discord... Reformed? He was a god, you can't reform a god. Luckily, the there were loopholes so obvious he'd have not choice but to accept them. "Shade, you said these four were there right?" Sin asked motioning to the Equestrians, the pegasus nodded. "How can they be here, and there, at the same time?" "Internet." Shade replied. "What?" "What?" He looked around. "Send the message." He returned his gaze to Spike, who was still quite puzzled with the whole situation. The drake looked to Sin who just shrugged. "You're not going to hurt Fluttershy, are you?" The dragon asked, his eyes narrowing. "Oh, I'm not going to hurt her," Shade chuckled lightly. "I'm going to make her bleed, squirm and cry for death! 'Hurt' will be what she wished I'd done." Twitch, twitch. If Sin remembered correctly, Fluttershy was the quite and timid one of the group He didn't really remember her saying too much, and when she did, it was always accompanied by some kind of affirmation seeking statement. It kind of pissed him off in a way, asking permission to talk or do something she should be able to do anyway. Why did she bother asking, Her timid nature was borderline spineless. She stood no chance against Shade. "Ok, tell you what." Sin interjected with a sigh, the two of us will teliport back to Canterlot, go to the garden, see Discord's statue, and find out for sure. If he's there and not 'reformed' we come back here, and forget about paying Ms. Shy a visit." He looked between the dragon and bat pony. Spike wouldn't help send the message if he thought his friend was threatened, but Sin knew Shade. If he wanted to hurt someone, he hurt them. It may take him a while to find them, but a certain amber unicorn found out that the hard way back in Manehattan just how tenacious the bat pony could be. The Unicorn had the misfortune of meeting Shade and Sin while they walked in the streets, as the story goes; he bumped into the insane pagasus and after insulting him, threw his red colored tie at him in a rage. At first, Shade didn't react, he just grabbed the tie, shrugged and walked on. As much as it surprised Sin that he didn't lose it, it also gave him some pride that his friend's anger was finally getting under control. Though, the news two days destroyed that hope. The unicorn from before had, 'officially', hung himself in is apartment. What made him know that the story was wrong, was the fact he'd done it with a red tie. Shade was mythological like that, and he would eventually find who he was looking for. "You promise not to let him hurt her?" Spike said after a full minute of thought. Sin nodded and looked to Shade. Who, in turn, finally released Rainbow Dash and verbally agreed. The group made their way back inside and down stairs to the rec room where the dragon drew up the letter requesting the Princess's presence and sent it, after receiving and resending the tracer parchment, Celestia appeared. "YOU!" Shade snarled, "you're the one who gave her the assignment in the first place!" Celestia gave the pony a quizzical look before her gaze went to Spike. The dragon filled her in about Shade's anger and how he thinks that Fluttershy was trying to change him to be good. "Reforming Discord?" Celestia rubbed her chin over the thought. "That's an interesting proposal." "I'll kill you." Shade shot. "Though highly unlikely." She turned her attention back to the pony, oblivious to his last few words. "I can more than assure you, Discord is still within his stone prison and not changed since you last saw him." "I demand to see him!" The sun goddess began to protest, mentioning how his last visit to Canterlot ended, but Sin's whispering of his friend's perfect tracking and revenge record, conveniently leaving out the murder detail; worried her more than the stallion's actions before hoof. . It was obvious nothing short of standing before the statue would appease the pony's worry, and perhaps spare her subjects life. Sin offered to escort, which the goddess was all to pleased to agree to. After a few bits of Shade childishly chanting: "Let's go, let's go." A white glow emanated from the Alicorn's horn and the three ponies were gone before the others could get a word in.