Twilight Sparkle lay comfortably in her bed in the Golden Oaks Library.
Rain pattered against her window as a storm raged outside, casting an ocean of quickly moving blots of shadow in the moonlight filtering in from the window. On the other side of her loft, Rarity and Applejack comfortably slept in the same bed. They were finally on good terms, after a long night of bickering and cleaning up after a treetop had fallen in her room.
But Twilight didn't want to sleep at that moment. She was tired, but right then, she felt oddly serene. She was captivated by the soft pitter-patter of rain, the gentle, blue glowing moonlight, the otherwise quiet and peaceful night. She just wanted to take it all in. Distant thunder rumbled, and she fell into reflection:
She used to be scared of thunder. But this night, that changed. She loved the sound of it. She loved the rain. Or, at least, listening to it from inside.
Her entire life up to now, she had heard of slumber parties, and what a great time ponies had at them. But in years past she couldn't stand to meet new ponies. They would always talk of trivial things, do frivolous things, and waste their lives away being unthinking and short-sighted, caught in the moment. They would do nothing but waste her time, forcing her into uncomfortable and time-consuming situations in places she didn't want to be.
But still, she couldn't not see it. Other ponies laughing, smiling, being happy and loving life... How did they do it? How did they enjoy parties and dancing and music? She couldn't bear such frivolous wastes of time, yet they were genuinely happy, and as often as she forced the thought away and focused on her work, it crept back into her mind; you're missing something. Something that is beyond you, that you will never have and never know, and it's the thing that makes them smile.
She would wage war with the horrible thought, force it away, then mock other ponies' frivolous lives, and return to her work of searching the depths of ponykind's knowledge. Every project always looked promising, exciting, something worth dedicating herself to, something that would change her life once she'd mastered it. But when she finished it, her appetite only grew more, and her sights would jump to another without a minute of celebration.
Something in her mind tugged at her, told her she was missing something, so she delved deeper into the cumulative knowledge of ponykind, and searched harder and harder for the secret that would fulfill her life. It was as if she were trying to satisfy her thirst with salt-water.
And then the thought would return. Look at them smile. It was frustrating. She had tried it before, she'd gone to a party with some ponies, gone shopping, hanging out, attended a study group (with almost no actual studying), she'd tried all of it... And couldn't stand it. She hated it. She always felt uncomfortable, out of place, like she didn't belong, that she really, really shouldn't be there. And worst of all, she thought differently than other ponies, she never understood them and they never understood her, they had nothing in common and she hated every moment of it.
Yet, the thought kept on mocking her, telling her that somehow it would be better than another book series, or another spell type or research project, and it never was. It was always a nightmare that couldn't end soon enough. So she learned to hate friendship's lying taunt, it's claim of fulfilling her life, and she mocked and avoided it's calls to social gatherings.
Yet, when she was a young filly, she did have three friends with whom she felt she belonged, who she could be with and enjoy their company: Shining Armor and her dolls Smarty Pants and Buzzlesworth.
She didn't need to be with other ponies to have their spectacular slumber parties, her dolls were company enough for a slumber party in years past, and even a few times embarrassingly recently (as Spike had found out). She never felt out of place around them, and in later years, around Spike, either.
It fulfilled her to have them with her, it made her truly happy, rather than merely distracted. But as she grew older, after a “slumber party” she would always realize how hollow and frivolous it was, and she would rail on herself for being so stupid and foalish.
This night, though, she had had it with real friends. It was not hollow. It started rough, had been bumpy and fraught with conflict, but in the end, they were better friends than ever. They were ponies that she felt she belonged around.
She was glad it happened. A single tear appeared in one of her eyes, and she sniffed and smiled. After so many years of pretending, it had actually happened, and after so many years of only drinking salt-water, she now tasted the clean water of friendship, and she was so glad it had happened. It was worth every bit of fighting she had to mediate to earn it.
There was a slight hint of dawn outside the window, and the rain began to soften.
She had never imagined she'd feel like she belonged around other ponies, at a slumber party. But after many years, that side of her that loved to be with others, hidden underneath her frustrated disappointments with friendship's “lying taunt”, had come out to shine, when the raging storm outside had forced her friends inside to hide.
As dreadful as the storm was, though, it had taught her something about herself. She knew for sure, now, that she could belong with other ponies. They had defeated Nightmare Moon together, but until now, she had never shared her private dreams of slumber parties with anypony. But now she knew she could, she could be herself around her friends, and she belonged there.
The tears welled in her eyes as she smiled. The dreadful storm had taught her she really belonged somewhere, and it wasn't hollow, and it wasn't a distraction; she was truly and deeply happy.
She fell out of bed with a hard thud, onto a cold, stone floor. She opened her eyes and felt the most intense headache she'd ever felt. A metal door slammed shut next to her. She quickly turned her head only to realize she was lying on her side in a stone jail cell, gagged, her four hooves shackled together, her warm library and bed fading away like gentle morning dew under a barren desert sun.
“A unicorn! I still can't believe I caught it!” a pegasus guard bragged to a small troop around him.
“We caught it. Not you,” another corrected.
“I can't wait to see the unicorn spectacular they'll be having!” yet another said as the small group trotted away, leaving four pegasi soldiers to guard.
She let out a muffled yell into the gag.
A stocky brown pegasus approached the bars of her cell: “We gotcha, unicorn!”
“Back off, Foehammer,” a smaller brown one ordered.
Twilight looked to see Foehammer glaring at her, while a blue pegasus eyed her with curiosity and uncertainty and a soldier with Applejack's orange simply looked with curiosity and indifference. The leader produced a piece of rolled paper, approached her dutifully, and read loud and clear;
“Unicorn, you and your kind are guilty of atrocities against ponydom. You have brought eternal winter, waged war against The Order, and have brought eternal night. To end these terrible oppressions to our world, your kind must be exterminated. For this reason, and for the blood of our murdered brothers and sisters that cry for justice onto you, you will be executed by any sure means as The Order sees fit for your crime. Your pleas will only be heard by ears immune to your siren's song.”
Twilight just looked, wide-eyed and baffled, as the leader walked next to the blue pegasus and gave him the rolled page. “See? Not so hard.”
Her thoughts raced. Brought eternal winter? Waged war? Eternal Night? Exterminated? EXECUTED?! She yelled into her gag again.
“Looks like you upset it a bit, first sarge,” the blue one observed.
“It deserves any upset it gets, corporal, don't you forget it,” he replied.
“Every bit,” Foehammer echoed.
“This isn't a bad time for some unicorn raffle,” the sergeant said. “It can hear us. Which is perfect. If it doesn't already know it's going to be executed, it should.”
“Hear that, unicorn? A dome-slickin' unicorn like you should know. Stoned, choked, hanged'n shot. You're the star of the next spectacular,” the orange one told her.
No... It can't be! This isn't happening! What's going on!? Why!? Her thoughts fell into panic. All that was happening slowly dawned on her as her headache softened. She looked straight at the guards as they watched her. Her horn began to glow.
In a single flash of hooves raising and metal bolts sliding, she was looking down the barrels of four rifles. It only took her a moment to recognize what they were, and she stopped using her magic, just as her gag fell off and she cried out.
“Hold!” the sergeant shouted. “Lower your weapons but keep the barrels out and stay sharp” the sarge told them. The rifles were strapped to their hooves. He took the stock off his shoulder, flipped the rifle to the outside of his arm, and walked up to her.
He started before she could; “Don't try your magic on my stallions, unicorn. Maybe you don't realize that's a gem-studded ribbon on your horn, so your magic's mostly blocked, but still, try to use it, and we'll riddle you with so many holes your own unicorn mother couldn't recognize you.”
“What's going on!? Execution!? Me!? But I didn't do any of those things! You've got the wrong unicorn!” she shouted.
“Wrong unicorn?” he asked, baffled for only a moment. “Blast it! Silence! Another word and we fire! We'll not have any siren's song on my stallions!” he shouted.
She barely let out a noise before she stopped herself, just as the barrels lined up again. She started shaking and crying, wishing her gag hadn't been so loose to be so easily to taken off.
“Sir – are we just going to leave her ungagged! What of siren's silence!?” the blue one asked.
“I'm fully aware, Clockwork,” he replied.
“Advise we re-tie that snout!”
“We're under strict orders to keep that cell shut!”
“But-”
“Can it! There's another way to silence her. Aim for the head!”
She gasped, bit on the gag, and violently shook her head at them, sobbing as tears came down her cheeks and hooves pressed on triggers.
“Hold,” the sarge coolly said. “The governor should be here shortly. We can complete secondary, just stay cool, and unicorn, hold still.”
She stopped shaking her head, but her body kept shaking and sobbing.
Tense breathing filled the air.
“Relax that trigger finger. Remember secondary. Alive until the governor gets here. But if the rope drops out of her mouth, shoot.”
A shut mouth is just as dangerous as an open one... Sergeant Hardlight echoed in his mind.
“Sir-” the blue pegasus began, his voice trembling.
“Clockwork...” the sergeant growled.
“We just gotta o-open that cell, tie it on-”
“No. That's treason. Relax that trigger-hoof, Clockwork. You're shaking all over the place,” the sergeant soothed.
“B-but-”
“Get out of here. Go inform the prison of the situation.”
“Sir!” he affirmed, then gladly fled.
“Sarge! Please, let's just pop open that cell!” Foehammer yelled.
“Shut the-”
“YOU'LL NEED MY AUTHORITY TO DO THAT,” a beautifully familiar voice half-shouted with great authority, as the sound of many slow, regal hoofsteps and clanking armor came within earshot.
“Sir!” came Clockwork's voice, “The governor is here!”
Twilight's ears perked up and her mind shot faster than it ever had before.
Rainbow!? Can it be? But she didn't come with us! Then perhaps – they said only the governor has authority to open the cell! If they can't open it without her permission – she has to be the governor! She's the one that can explain everything and save me! But, is it really? It can't be! But...
“Governor!” sarge exclaimed.
“Well this is unusual,” came the governor's voice again as she came on the scene. The many hoofsteps stopped just out of Twilight's view.
Twilight was sure of her voice, now.
“The gag is off, m'am! We're ready to fire on the first word she says!” the sarge announced.
“That won't be necessary. As you were, gentlecolts. A sergeant? Don't you have any counter-magic training for siren's song?”
They lowered their weapons.
“Yes, m'am. My stallions, however-”
“RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight yelled.
The entire hall immediately fell silent, as if she had uttered some powerful spell.
It lingered for a few moments, before her voice came again, loud and firm; “Everypony. Clear the room. Now. Wait at the door, High Guard.”
They all obeyed, and soon the hall was empty, while Rainbow was still out of sight, just barely down the hall from Twilight's cell. She could hear Rainbow Dash walk with firm, confident steps. She heard medals clanging against eachother as she walked into view.
She wore a navy blue dress that would have impressed Rarity; golden leaflets decorated the collar, sleeves, and rim. A row of medals adorned her chest, there were holes cut for her wings, and where her cutie mark was covered, a golden-plated emblem was embroidered. The emblem had a three-point shield with wings, with a spear leaning out from each side, and a plow hung from the center point on the shield, trisecting the shield into areas decorated with a pitchfork, a scythe, and a hammer.
Her mane and tail were crafted as finely as her dress. Her glaring, condescending look made Twilight feel as though she were facing an angry Celestia.
“You. You will explain to me this moment how you got my private name!” she demanded. The unicorn looked vaguely familiar to her. It was as if she were from her dreams. She tried to brush the thought away, but still, a distant, but driving curiosity loomed in her mind.
“Rainbow!? How did you get here!? It's me, Twilight Sparkle!” Twilight knew something was very wrong, but all she could do was hope for the best.
The governess calmly opened the cell, approached the hog-shackled Twilight, and leaned down to her face and spoke coolly; “Unicorn, you are completely helpless right now, and anything I do to you, anything at all, is completely within my power. So let's get this straight: I'm asking the questions. How did you get my private name?”
Twilight froze. Rainbow Dash doesn't know me... Of course, she's the governor, so she has to have lived in this world, so, is this a copy of Rainbow Dash? But why does she have the same name? What does she mean by 'private name'?
“Well, are you done preparing your lies, yet?” the governor asked.
She'll never believe me... But I don't know enough about this world to make any kind of cover story, cover story for what? So far my only crime is being a unicorn! And something about eternal night and genocide!? This world is so different!... I'll just have to hope... Twilight thought.
“I can tell you the truth... But you won't believe me,” Twilight finally answered, looking up at Rainbow, her eyes glistening and wet.
Although her face revealed nothing, Dash's attention was held captive. Her memories from the dreams came back, she remembered Twilight Sparkle. Though even if it really was Twilight, the waking world was too unsafe to let anypony know about her blasphemous, private dreams where unicorns were equals and all was well.
“Hah. Of course I won't believe you, because you'll be lying...” She's going to say it. She is the Twilight from my dreams. But it can't be! It can't be real, I can't believe it! There's no way, it's impossible, but it's happening, but it can't be!... “Look, I don't want to waste time, and you don't want to be tortured any more than you will be.-” Twilight sobbed, the governor continued without pause; “So why don't you just save us both the trouble and tell the truth?”
“Rainbow, I!-”
“And start calling me by my real name! I will NOT be called by my private name by some unicorn!”
“Your 'real name'? I thought you just said-”
“Call me 'governor'!”
“Okay!” Twilight closed her eyes, looked away, and started shaking. “I'm so sorry! I-I'm just-” the prisoner stammered.
“-So how did you get my name!? Are we going to have to do this the hard way!?” the governor pressed.
“No! No!... Because... because governor...” Twilight closed her tear-soaked eyes for a brief moment and thought: Here goes... I've got nothing better... Please, Rainbow Dash... She sighed, and steadied herself. “Because you're my friend, governor. I used my magic to come from another world, and there's a copy of you in that world, and her name is Rainbow Dash, and she's one of my best friends!...”
There was a pause. Twilight couldn't see through her wet eyes, but the governor's guard had been broken by shock, and for a brief moment, her face showed utter amazement. She... She said it!
The governor quickly returned to feigned indifference, noticing that Twilight hadn't seen her shock.
“You... You won't really let them do all those things to me, will you governor? I heard them say something about stoning, and choking, hanging and shooting... I don't know what a 'private name' is... But you are Rainbow Dash, My friend... You're energetic, you love life, you love nothing more in the world than to soar through the blue sky, and maybe you're competitive and like to play rough... And maybe in this world you have to act harsh because you're a governor... But you're a kind pony at heart, and you'd never let your friends be tortured! You're loyal, and you would do anything - you would fight to stop it!” Twilight's voice broke up.
The governor was speechless. Her mind scrambled for a reply.
Twilight's words struck her; “ You're energetic, you love life... you'd never let your friends be tortured!...” No, no! How could some strange unicorn walk straight out of her haunting dreams and call itself real? How could this strange unicorn describe her as she only dreamed of being? Yet there the unicorn was, as real as the shackles that bound her, on the floor in front of her.
Her face still revealed nothing, but tears came down her cheeks regardless.
All at once, her head spun. She felt out of place in her uniform. It was meant for somepony else. Her hooves felt covered with the innocent blood and tears of thousands, all at once it felt like the eternal winter, every execution, every interrogation, political imprisonment and foul deed of the world were her fault.
And the very worst of all, she had taken a happy, carefree pegasus full of life and love, forcefully tore her from her home and her world, and murdered her, and the pegasus was someone she loved dearly. She had covered herself with the innocent creature's blood, and now it was in her own body; she had not just killed it, but stolen it's life.
And now, she looked at another innocent creature from that land of sun. She recoiled at the sight of her, dirty, scraped, her mane a mess, crying and shaking. She did not belong.
Twilight heard medal clanging. She looked back up just in time to see Rainbow Dash finish giving herself a quick shake.
“Governor?...” Twilight asked tentatively.
Full Spectrum laughed. “Death is too kind for you, 'Twilight'! So tell me, what magic did the Blades of Night use to figure this one out? I'll admit you had me for a moment, there.” Although she put on a cool front, internally, the governor's mind was still reeling, now just as confused as horrified.
“I-... I... Who are the Blades of Night?”
“I said I was asking questions.” She glared at Twilight.
“But I don't even know who the Blades of Night even are!” Twilight sobbed, then fell into crying again.
The governor couldn't bring herself to continue to interrogate the poor creature. Although she continually fought the idea that the unicorn really was Twilight, the idea refused to die, and there was another possibility, an excuse she could use on herself to stop the interrogation.
Her glare suddenly became entirely condescending. “You're useless to me. The Blades have doubtlessly warped your mind into some false fantasy, as some cruel assault on myself. I'm almost sorry you got caught up in this.”
I should give her some alcohol to numb the pain before the spectacular... Even if she's a fake, she's definitely had her memories altered. Even if she's a criminal, that criminal died in the memory purge the Blades must've given her...
If that means the old 'her' is dead, then doesn't that also mean the new 'her' is the real Twilight Sparkle? Even if she's not really from another world, if she has all those memories, doesn't that make it the real her, anyways? The governor thought, her mind still racing and indecisive.
“Please, you have to believe me, it's really the truth! Wasn't I right? I knew your name, so it has to be true!... I just came here to bring my friend home, I sent her here by accident, and I want to bring her and all my other friends home, too. Including you. It's a beautiful place where ponies are kind, and you can come with us, too.” Twilight explained.
Rainbow's eyes went wide. Bring me home? To the land she came from? To an azure sky?
But as she thought about it, about going to that land, she became painfully aware of the blood on her hooves. It's not right for me to be there. I don't belong there, any more than Twilight belongs here. I can't go, but I can take Twilight to her land of Azure Sky...
“Believe me, Twilight, you will return to the land of the Azure Sky. Just hang in there.” The governor got up and began walking away.
“So... You know a way I can get back home? You know what I'm talking about?!” Twilight asked excitedly, recovering from crying.
“Yes...” the governor said, her ears drooping. “You really don't belong in this world, no matter what. Next time I see you... I'll take you home.” The governor began walking away again, holding back tears.
“How?!” Twilight asked.
She kept walking down the hall.
She mentally pushed the emotional Rainbow Dash away, and became the cool, regal Governor Full Spectrum that the world knew her as.
“I'll see you then, Rainbow...” Twilight mumbled.
* * *
"Mmm Mmm!" Applejack yelled into her gag as Big Mac rounded the corner.
She had been waiting in the room for what seemed like hours before he arrived.
She would've run up and hugged him if her forehooves and hindhooves weren't tied.
Big Mac froze. "My- it really is..." he muttered in disbelief.
He suddenly stopped, then said with a booming voice; "It worked!"
Confusion came over Applejack's face, both at what Big Mac said, and upon realizing Big Mac was wearing a well-docarated military uniform, and instead of a green apple, his cutie mark was a three-pointed shield with a sword in front.
"Hmm?"
"Good job, guards, warden. You've played a key role in testing classified Order technology. You'll get off with your lives if you never utter a word of what's happened here today, to anypony, ever. Understood?"
They nodded gravely, shocked.
"Yes, sir!"
"Good!"
Big Mac strode confidently up to Applejack. "Alright, citizen, come with me. We'll be able to answer questions somewhere else, but for now, please stay silent."
She went cross-eyed as she looked at her gag, then gave her brother a deadpan glare.
Big Mac undid her bonds from her hooves, then motioned for her to follow. She tore the gag from her face herself. “Silent,” Big Mac ordered harshly.
After all that had happened, she wasn't going to question it. Even if this was another world, it was still her brother and she trusted him. But his harshness had killed her joy at seeing him.
"No escort will be necessary, warden," he said as he walked out with Applejack following. “But I will request a message be taken to the governor's palace. I want Scarlet to meet me at Gold Will's house, under protection, as usual.”
“Yes sir.”
When they left the prison, Applejack had time to take in the city again. She couldn't understand what was wrong with the sky. It was completely dark, no clouds, no stars, no moon, and definitely no sun. Instead, there was a faint metallic glean. So faint she wondered if it was her eyes playing tricks on her.
She nudged her brother's side.
“No questions,” he said.
She was at a loss. All she could think of was questions.
As they walked down the street, she noticed many of the ponies looked very poor, and few were dressed for the cold. There was no snow, but frost on the cobblestone attested that it was cold enough. There were more police than she had seen in any city, and a large number patrolled far above in the sky. She looked at her brother again, wearing the uniform. He definitely seemed different. But it didn't take long for her to think of something to say that wasn't a question.
She jumped up to Big Mac's side, wrapped her hoof around and hugged him. "It's so good to see ya again, Big Mac! It's mighty nice to see a familiar face 'round here!"
He stopped.
She paused. "Uh... Big Macintosh... Are you cryin'?" she asked.
He sniffed, his voice trembling: "I love you too, little sister."
He kept walking.
"Wha- oh, alright, no questions..." she said.
He gave a small nod.
The urge was powerful; she had to physically fight to keep her mouth from asking questions.
Finally they arrived at a small house.
Big Mac opened the door and ushered her in. Once they were inside, and the door locked, Applejack turned back, opening her mouth only to be stopped by Big Mac's sudden hug. He squeezed her, lifting her off her forehooves. “Big Mac... I'h can't breathe!” she barely managed to get out.
He jumped back, terror in his eyes, only to sigh and drop it. He hugged her again, much more gently and affectionately.
“Uh... Huh, Big Mac...” she said in an observant tone.
“You're alive!...” he said.
“Uhm. Eeyup,” she replied uncomfortably.
He pulled back just enough to look her in the face and give the most incredulous look she'd ever seen from him.
“Is... There a reason I shouldn't be alive?” She carefully asked.
He let go.
“You don't know?” he gawked.
“No... I can't say I do...” she replied.
“Can I ask a question, Applejack?”
“Uh... Yeah, sure, go 'head.”
“Why is your cutie mark three apples? It used to be a flame!”
“Ohkay, this is weird. What about your Cutie Mark? It oughta be a big, green apple! Wait a sec!” It dawned on her.
There was a knock on the door.
“Hide,” he commanded.
She didn't ask questions. She'd learned well enough this world wasn't safe.
He opened the door. Two guards stood behind a very young Applebloom. “Scarlet.” He nodded towards her.
“Sir!” The guards saluted Big Mac.
“Hey Crimson,” Applebloom greeted him. “Why'd you call me here? And tell the guards to be nicer!”
He glared at them. “Explain.”
“No unnecessary force was used sir. No force was necessary at all,” one said.
“Yeah, but they didn't have to keep tellin' me to hurry!” she complained.
“As you were, colts. You may return to the palace” the general ordered.
“Sir.” They nodded and flew off.
“No need to hide, now! Come out!” he yelled into the house. “Come inside, Scarlet, I think you're going to like this.”
“I doubt it. There's only one thing in the world I'd like... APPLEJACK!” she yelled, then charged her older sister and wrapped her hooves around her neck as tightly as she could.
“Woah, there, Applebloom!” She returned the hug, noticing her younger sister seemed a bit smaller than she remembered.
“Oh, Applejack! I was so scared you were never comin' back! Big Mac said you'd gone to the place with the blue sky that ponies never come back from, but I knew you would come back, because you love your family and you'd never leave and not come back, you'd find a way back!”
“Oh, Applebloom, I'd never leave ya!...” She glared at Big Mac.
They finished the hug and she set her teary-eyed younger sister down.
“Now Big Mac and I need to talk by ourselves for a minute. Can you wait out here and not get in any trouble, Applebloom?”
“Of course, big sister!” She grinned. “Please hurry!”
“Oh. We will! C'mon Big Mac, we need to talk,” she finished with a flat tone.
He sheepishly followed her into another room.
“Applejack-” they began in hushed tones.
“Big Mac! You gotta listen to me! I know this sounds crazy, but... I'm from another world! So, I guess I need to know some things...”
“I believe you.”
“You... You do? Just like that?”
“Maybe you're not the same Gold Will that... That died. But you're still Applejack. I know I can trust every word you say.”
She blushed, pulling her ears back. “Hey, now...” Her expression snapped to normal and she continued; “But I need you to explain to me where I am! And what was that about 'Gold Will'?” she asked, cocking an ear back as confusion came over her face.
“I will explain everything... But I need you to promise me something, first, Applejack.”
“What?”
“I need you to swear to me, give me your word of honor, that you will not endanger your life, over what's absolutely necessary to protect Scarlet.”
“Scarlet?”
“Applebloom.”
“I... I'm not gonna make an oath lightly, Big Mac... Why do I need to make it?”
“Just promise me your word of honor that you will not endanger your life over what's absolutely necessary to protect Applebloom. Then I'll explain things to you.”
“I... Of course, Big Mac! I promise on my honor!”
“I have your word of honor?”
“You have my word of honor.”
“Okay. But First, I must know how you got here...”
She explained everything. She described her friends, the spell, the alternate version of him, their family, and her trip to the dome, up until she met him.
“And...” she continued; “Right 'afore we came here, Twilight said that this world was different, right when the three tribes came together at the first Hearth's Warming Eve, that somethin' happened differently there... Which is here, I guess. In history.”
He nodded. “I do believe your story, Applejack. Unicorns can be powerful magicians. Now let me tell you about what happened since the time of the tribes in this world. The trust formed, but was soon broken by the unicorns. They once again brought a harsh winter with their magic, but the Earth Ponies and Pegasi wanted to avoid a war, so they built domes to live under. Soon the unicorns attacked, and only by banding together under The Order were they able to hold them off.”
“But – why in the world would the unicorns do that?” Applejack asked.
“Because they're prideful, ambitious, aggressive, selfish and cruel creatures, Applejack. We held them off, and in the intervening hundreds of years, unable to communicate, many of the domes fell astray from The Order, forming their own independent governments. As a result, hundreds of years passed with no progress against the unicorn menace, and so the winter continues to this day. But luckily, seventy years ago, railways re-connected the domes, and although at first some domes resisted, we eventually regained control of every dome, and now, today, our efforts are unified once more against the unicorns. Once they're all dead and only then, the winter will end, and daytime will return, and the world will enjoy an azure sky once more,” Big Mac answered.
“Wait, you mean it's eternal night? An' It's still winter from the time of Hearth's Warming? An' that unicorns are evil?” Applejack pressed.
“Yup.”
“But no, big brother! Eternal night came because Nightmare Moon returned, not because of unicorns! It's winter because of Wendigos, because of hate in Equestria, not because of unicorns! An' unicorns are not evil! They're jus' another kinda pony!” she censured him.
“Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon more than a thousand years ago, Applejack. For all purposes she's dead. As for Celestia, she was so emotionally and physically crushed from banishing her sister that she was no longer able to rule, and she vanished from history, ending the rule of the princesses. And what in the world are 'Wendigos'? Maybe things are different in your world, but here, Wendigos don't exist, and Nightmare Moon has not returned,” he replied.
“Ugh! You have to listen to me, Big Mac. You got it all wrong! An' even if you don't, my friends are trapped here, an' I gotta help Twilight take'em home. Twilight, an' probably Rarity, have been captured, an' they aren't evil!” She contended.
“Applejack! They are unicorns! You can't be worried about them!” he reprimanded.
“But I am, Big Mac! I already told you, they're my friends!”
His face crossed with horror.
“FRIENDS!? Do 'friends' aspire to bring endless night!? Do 'friends' try to kill 'friends'? Do 'friends' bring endless winter!?”
“They didn't do any of that!”
“They're unicorns! They can be nothing but evil! I've told you what their kind is like, what their kind has done!”
“It's not true, darnit! Some other unicorns may be bad, but not them; They're my best friends!”
He sighed. “I'm not going to convince you, am I?”
“Not at all!”
“Of course not, you grew up with their kind...”
His expression slacked, and he continued. “If anypony ever finds out you know the truth, then you will be unnecessarily risking your life, Applejack. So nopony, I repeat, nopony is to ever know that you know what I'm about to tell you. This is a dangerous world. The Order will kill anyone that opposes them, or is a threat in any way. When you made that oath, you effectively swore to never oppose The Order.”
“You... You tricked me!”
“No, Applejack, I didn't. I meant it. Gold Will was the public name of you in this world. You - She learned the truth, and the meaning of her cutie mark. Her mark meant she was to be a light of honor and truth in the world. And they hanged her for it.”
“Hanged?”
“Tied a knot of rope around her neck, and hanged her from it. It's how The Order kills its enemies.”
She stepped back, her face wrought with horror, her own beloved rope coming to mind. “They choke them from rope!?”
“It's what I said. They have to. We have to. Outside these domes is an endless, deathly winter. We only survive because there is order in the dome. If we weren't organized, ordered, by The Order, then we would not survive the winter. They've tried it. Others have tried to survive without The Order, and they failed, and Hoover Dome fell. All of ponykind depends on The Order, Applejack, that's why they kill their enemies. It's either the lives of a few, or the lives of everypony.”
“That's... That's the most terrible, downright awful thing I've ever heard!” Her face showed both confusion and horror.
“They rally everypony together by teaming them up against an imaginary enemy; 'the unicorn menace'. It keeps them from making The Order their enemy. We depend on our great Unicorn Hunt, and on The Order to survive. I know the unicorns are innocent, that our history is a lie. But what the truth is doesn't matter. What matters is that we survive. And if what's written in textbooks now is what it takes to survive, then that's the truth, because that keeps us alive against the cold. That's the only real enemy in this world. The cold. And we must do everything we can to survive against it.”
“So... What are they gonna do to Twilight and Rarity?”
“They're going to hang them in a big public event called a 'unicorn spectacular'.”
“No! They... They can't!” She yelled.
“They will. And you swore to do nothing about it.”
“Big Mac! You dirty little – you tricked me! You tricked me into sittin' back and lettin' this happen! Lettin' my best friends choke on rope an'-an' die!” she yelled at him, stomping, tears coming to her eyes.
“I did it to save you, Applejack, because I couldn't bear to watch you die again...” He approached her, and tried to pull her into a hug.
She pushed him off. “You!... You!...” She couldn't find a reason to be mad at him. But she was.
“You need to live, because Applebloom deserves an older sister, Applejack. I did what I had to to make that happen.”
“But now my friends are gonna die in an awful way an' I can't do a thing about it 'cause you tricked me!” she sobbed.
“It's either your friends, or you AND your friends. At least this way, Applebloom has an older sister.”
Applebloom walked in the room, her mane a mess, bags under her eyes, yawning herself awake. She looked at the two, shaking, cowering at their yelling.
“For Applebloom, Applejack. You have to be here for her, like you said you would be.” he continued in a gentle tone.
She looked at her, wiping her own tears away, then ran over to her younger sister, and lifted her in a hug. “It's okay, Applebloom! Me an' Big Mac were just... getting' over some things...”
“Applejack... Were you thinking of leaving me again?” she said, her voice trembling. “I fell asleep in the hall when Big Mac was talking... And I had the most terrible dream that you left again, and you and Big Mac started yelling and, and...”
She held her tight. “And that's never gonna happen, Applebloom. Never.”
“Do you promise? Do you promise never to leave me again?”
“I promise.”
She cried again. Not because she was angry, hurt, or scared. But because she was comforting her scared little sister, and she loved her. “I'm sorry I was mad at you Big Mac...” She apologized, An' I see you were right... I gotta be here for her. She mentally added. “Come'ere!”
He walked over, and she pulled him into the group hug.
They soon set off for the dome's palace.
That's when it dawned on her. She fell a few steps behind Scarlet and whispered. “Big Mac.”
“There's public names and private names, too, Applejack. A private name is only to be used and given to very close friends and family, and only used in important things. Call me Crimson Fire, Applebloom is Scarlet, and you're Gold Will.”
“Wasn't Gold Will an enemy to The Order? Isn't it dangerous for me to go by that name?”
“Right now it is... It should be different by tomorrow. I'll tell you if it is. Just lie low and stay by me until then. Now what were you going to say?”
“'Crimson Fire'... Heheh... Crimson Fire, this isn't my home.”
“It isn't, is it?...”
“No. My home is at Sweet Apple Acres. I came here to rescue Rarity, not to watch her die! An' then I need to go back! To my other family! My real family!”
“But you've promised to do neither. Am I not real to you, Applejack? Is she not real to you?” He motioned towards Scarlet.
She sighed deeply.
“So is that it? You won't let me go?”
“I would release you from that promise, if Scarlet could go on without you. But she can't. Breaburn should show up soon. I called him to take care of her with you... gone. But she would never be the same without you... Nopony in this family would.”
“I see... So that's it, then? I'm livin' here now?”
“It looks like you are, at least until Applebloom is comfortable with you being gone. The other world sounds nice. It sounds like Applebloom will have lots of love, there, even with you gone. This place just isn't the same...”
“Aw-... Ahright...” She looked down, her ears drooping, the heavy logic running in her head. “I just dunno if I can get used to this place... I dunno if I can live here... An' I think Twilight is the only way I can get back.”
“I wouldn't be so sure,” he said.
“Do you – you know of a way to get us back!?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know if you know?”
“Eeyup.”
“How can you not know!?”
“It's complicated. It would endanger your life if I told you.”
“Are you just gonna start pullin' that on me, now!?”
He looked straight at her, his face entirely devoid of amusement. “It's the truth. I shouldn't have even hinted it.”
She sighed.
“So... Why are we goin' to 'the palace'?” she asked.
“I live in the Delphi Dome. This is the York Dome. I came here, officially, to be closer to an upcoming conference. Really, I came here to see you, one last time, before...” he paused, leaving the words unsaid. “-And to take care of Scarlet.” He motioned at Applebloom.
“Okay... An' one more thing, Crimson...” She paused for a moment. “I want to see them. I want to see my friends one last time. I could never forgive myself if I wasn't there...”
“Applejack... Are you sure? You gave your word of honor you wouldn't do anything. Are you sure you can just watch?”
“Yes. An' I have to! No matter how awful it is! I just can't leave them... Not now! Even if I can't help them... I have to at least be there for them... Even if only to watch them... 'hang'...”
He grimly nodded.
* * *
The team moved in a column formation through the snowy world. The snowfall was heavy, but much gentler than earlier. The sky overhead was a dark gray, with the horizon a much darker, almost black color, and the ground was a darkened white. They walked under a strict silence.
They all carried enormous, over-packed backpacks and saddlebags, and wore thick, heavy white winter gear that covered their entire bodies, all except Rarity. Her winter gear was the brown color of the blanket, which it had been made from. Amber had already broken his snowshoes in half to give the other half to the downed pilot of the group, Flameheart, who was also wearing his flight goggles. Nurse Redheart had been made to break her snowshoes in half to give to Rarity. It had taken half an hour to break and re-build the snowshoes, and still they were only attached by a mess of rope that tied them onto her hooves. Luckily, the winter gear offered a thick layer of padding to protect from chaffing.
Rarity was the only one not wearing goggles of some kind, and although the blizzard had stopped, the occasional snow flurry still hit her in the eye with a sharp pang of pain. She looked back. Snowglade was in the rear, walking backwards, using her telekinesis to make their tracks disappear behind them.
The leader's hoof flew up. They all stopped. He started waving it towards the ground with a pounding motion, and all at once they all dropped into the snow. Rarity quickly followed.
In the distance a small point of light sat on top of a hill.
Wait, no, it's... It's flying... Rarity noticed.
It was moving at an unnaturally steady pace.
She began to hear an odd rumbling, whirring noise as it came closer. A large quickly-moving area of snow in the distance was filled with the light of sweeping floodlights.
As the noise became terribly loud, an enormous green, metal contraption flew by in the distance. The Earth seemed to shake with the noise. She could see ponies sitting on it as if it were an airship, but without a balloon. It quickly flew off and faded back into the haze.
“T.B.-Five.” Flameheart called from the lead.
“They never have pegasi with aircraft, so we can talk for a little,” Amber Light announced back to Rarity, who was immediately behind him. “So, Rarity, you said I look like somepony with my private name in Equestria, and you briefly mentioned he's a kind baker. What is he like?”
“Well,” she began, “he's the baker at Sugarcube Corner, a nice gentlecolt and a family stallion with a wife and expecting foals. He's not quite... How do I put this gently?... As coldhearted as you are?” she finished.
“Miss Rarity...” he began, then paused. There was nothing but their hoofsteps for a long, uncomfortable silence.
“Let's just say, it doesn't make sense to be sweet as icing in a world not meant for it.”
“Oh, darling, have you not found a 'Missus Cake'?”
“Low noise.” He called out, ordering the group into whispers.
Sweetie Belle sped up to come next to Rarity. Still walking backwards and making their tracks disappear, she multitasked with great effort to whisper, often pausing in the middle of her speech.
“Rarity... Don't bug him about it. He's never met a 'missus'... but he's been through some really hard trouble.”
“Oh?”
“He once ran into a young colt playing with littler colt outside an Alliance mining town. They were spotted. His second-in-command said to kill them. He refused, and they had no choice but to let them go. Oop!” She quickly used her telekinesis to fix a spot she'd accidentally raised the snow instead of filling a hole, then continued.
“Later, they were spotted by an Alliance search party sent out to intercept them... A high explosive round landed too close, and when he woke up... his team was dead, and he was alone. The worst part was, there was a young unicorn in the group, not much older than me... An' he didn't have a razor-knife.” Her ears drooped as she said it.
“What does that mean?” she asked gently.
“It means he couldn't kill himself before he was captured...” Sweetie Belle replied softly.
“But – why on Earth would he want to do that!?” Rarity barely kept herself to a whisper.
“What's it like to be in a world where you don't know what The Alliance does with unicorns?... It must be so nice...” she replied.
Rarity was horrified. “Amber Light said it was horrible and cruel, but is it really that bad?!”
Her younger sister nodded, then finished: “He's still angry about losing him. He never lets his feelings get in the way of thinking. It makes him harsh... But he means well. And he's a fast and good leader.”
None of them could tell, but he was shaking. “Total silence.” he called out as she finished.
Sweetie Belle and Rarity glanced at eachother.