“Well wouldn’t you know it,” Cherry Jubilee exclaimed, “Rainbow Dash. What brings y’all back around these parts?”
Rainbow Dash smiled at the sandy-colored mare and nodded. Cherry Jubilee looked back and forth at the empty bakery and brought over two cherry smoothies. The chairs scratched against the floorboards and they took their seats in the corner of the bakery. The clock outside rang four o’clock.
“I’m actually here looking for Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash said, “Do you remember her?”
Cherry Jubilee took a deep gulp from her smoothie and looked back at Rainbow Dash.
“I saw her yesterday morning.” Cherry Jubilee replied as the smile withdrew from her face, “Terrible about what happened.”
“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked, “What happened to her? Is she okay?”
“I meant about her ear, dear.”
“Oh, right.”
Rainbow Dash shuffled in her seat as Cherry Jubilee turned her attention to the window. They watched as the street filled with ponies as they left their jobs. Two foals entered the store; one was an earth pony with dark brown fur, the other was a white pegasus with pink hair. The earth pony immediately went to the counter to look at the treats, but the pegasus turned her attention to Rainbow Dash and squealed.
“Oh my gosh!” The foal said, “You’re Rainbow Dash!”
Rainbow Dash jolted upright at the attention and smiled down at the foal.
“Hey kid,” Rainbow Dash replied.
“I can’t believe you’re actually here!” The foal said as her speech became faster as she continued. “You’re here, in Dodge! I can’t wait to tell daddy!”
“That’s great, kid.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Daddy took me to the Best Young Flyers Competition. I can’t believe you were able to do a Sonic Rainboom!”
“Is there something I can help the two of y’all with?” Cherry Jubilee said as she got out of her seat.
“Can we get two slices of cherry pie, please?” The other foal replied as he continued to stare at the confections.
Cherry Jubilee made her way to the counter and pulled out the slices of pie. As she began to ring them up, Rainbow Dash noticed that the pegasus foal was trotting her fore hoof against the ground. She went to reach for her saddlebag, but then changed her mind.
“Daddy’s not going to believe that I met you.” The foal said as her smile left her face.
“Hey kid,” Rainbow Dash said, “How would you like an autograph to show your dad? That’ll make him believe you.”
“Oh my gosh,” the foal replied as her eyes went wide, “You’d do that?”
“Of course,” she said, “I can’t leave a fan hanging, now can I?”
The foal laughed as she pulled out a sheet of paper and quill from her saddlebag. She spun around in circles as Rainbow Dash began to write a message for her.
“What’s your name?”
“Rosewing.”
“Cool name,” Rainbow Dash said as she began to write, “To Rosewing, stay awesome. Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow Dash gave the autograph to Rosewing, who clutched it to her chest as she turned to face her companion. When the two foals left, Cherry Jubilee joined Rainbow Dash back at the table.
“Listen, Mrs. Jubilee,” Rainbow Dash said, “I need to go find Pinkie. Can you tell me where she went?”
“I’d rather not, dear.” Cherry Jubilee replied.
“Please tell me,” Rainbow Dash begged, “I just know that something awful is happening to her, and I have to find out what. I have a feeling that I need to save her from something.”
“Something,” Cherry Jubilee asked, “Or somepony?”
Rainbow Dash’s eyes darkened. She reached forward and took another sip of the smoothie.
“I don’t want to say. But let’s just say that he did something to one of my friends back home, and I don’t want the same thing to happen to Pinkie.”
“And you think it’s your job to save her form what she’s facing, is that it?”
Rainbow Dash remained silent.
“Y’all really are the Element of Loyalty.” Cherry Jubilee laughed, “What that stallion did to your friend must have made y’all feel really guilty if you’re willing to follow Pinkie to that horrible place. Y’all think that if you help her and perhaps save her, then y’all won’t feel guilty anymore?”
Rainbow Dash finished the last of her smoothie and stood up to go to the door.
“Nevermind,” Rainbow Dash said, “I’ll find her myself.”
Rainbow Dash took a few steps toward the door but was held back by Cherry Jubilee’s hoof.
“Wait,” Cherry Jubilee said, “If you follow the tracks for a few miles, y’all will find a large pile of dead branches at the edge of a forest that shouldn’t be there. Behind it is a path that leads to Flatts.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Jubilee.”
“The village is cursed.” Cherry Jubilee said, “They say that the village used to have a protector, but the protector left.”
“Protector?” Rainbow Dash asked, “What would they need a protector for?”
Rainbow Dash watched as Cherry Jubilee shook her head and finished the rest of her smoothie.
“They needed a protector from themselves.”
“How do you know all of this?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I once met a young stallion from there,” Cherry Jubilee said, “I don’t have the right to tell y’all the details, but needless to say, they’re an awful lot over there. Y’all best be careful.”
“I will,” Rainbow Dash replied, “I just need to find out what is happening.”
Rainbow Dash turned away once more from the mare and onto the porch. She turned towards the west where a small forest lay in the distance. Above the forest, a patch of wild grey clouds from the Everfree Forest had formed and floated outside of their natural habitat. She could feel the pressure the clouds were sending in her direction in the form of humidity. As she stepped forward, each floorboard creaked. Rainbow Dash opened her wings and took to flight in the direction of Flatts.
*****
Edger felt the hay poke at his back. He reached up to touch the back of his head and felt that a small welt had formed. Apiaris must have hit me pretty hard, Edger thought as he struggled to stand.
“Oh Edger, thank Celestia you’re okay!”
Edger looked up and through the darkness felt Pinkie Pie inches away from him. Pinkie Pie grabbed him and pulled him to the other side of the room, where Script sat with his ear pressed against the wall. Even in the darkness, Edger could tell that this was the same room he had been locked in years before.
“Will you please be quiet, Miss Pie.” Script said, “I’m trying to understand what they’re saying out there.”
The other two ponies made their way to the wall and tried to listen through it. Though it was slightly muffled, Edger could never forget the words the ponies outside chanted.
Helioselene
Enas alithinos theos
Perimenoume
ankalia sas eikosi oples
“This can’t be right,” Script said.
“What are they saying?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“First of all, it is a terrible bastardization of the old language.” Script replied, “But I can make out phrases, and that’s what doesn’t make sense. Helioselene, one true god, we wait for you, one with twenty hooves. It sounds familiar, but I can’t quite put my hoof on it.”
“Wait,” Edger asked, “Where’s Caramel?”
Edger watched as Pinkie Pie and Script shared a look. A cough echoed through the room and Edger turned to the other corner of the room. He made his way through the darkness and almost tripped over Caramel.
“Caramel,” Edger said, “Please, are you okay?”
“They thought he was Forge.” Script said.
“They thought what?” Edger shouted.
“They actually thought that Forge had returned and changed his cutie mark.” Script replied, “They obviously didn’t touch Miss Pie because of her father, and I get the feeling that they may try to use me if things don’t work out with you, as though I’m going to let them do that.”
A light burned in Edger’s mind. The light started out white and small, but then it began to turn red and orange until it took the shape of a fire. Edger turned his attention to the surrounding wooden walls. But when he began to focus on them, a headache formed in his mind and he lost his concentration. He fell to the floor and grabbed his now throbbing head.
“You just tried to use the geomancy skills you just learned, didn’t you?” He heard Script ask.
“Why didn’t you try to heal Caramel?” Edger asked.
“For the same reason your magic won’t let you burn down these walls.” Script explained. “From the information I gathered, the structure of this barn serves as a perfect barrier against outside magical influence. The anterooms that surround the main atrium were laid with spells. Don’t you remember doing that as part of the construction?”
Edger thought for a moment as he remembered how he helped build the barn. Each anteroom was built as a separate compartment, and Edger remembered reciting words in each one, but he could not remember them. And then he remembered placing a crystal inside of the main atrium in the roof.
“Yes,” Edger said, “We built each one, and then I was taken into each room as it was completed. They gave me something to say, but I can’t remember what I said. It was in that same old language that they are saying now.”
“Fortunately, it seems that they don’t have everything needed for the ceremony.” Script said, “They don’t have the proper crystal.”
“So that’s good, right?” Pinkie Pie asked, “That means they can’t do anything to us.”
“Oh no,” Script said, “They can still turn us into a vesperquus. Without a proper ceremony, Helioselene cannot be fully called, leaving the vessel incomplete as well.”
“Then what do we do?” Edger asked.
“We escape, plain and simple.” Script replied, “The ponies here are doomed anyway, so we let them destroy themselves.”
“No!” Pinkie Pie shouted, “I know how to save them! I just need to get my saddlebags back!”
“And what about Caramel?” Edger asked, “We need to find a way to carry him out of here.”
“I suppose we do.” Script replied.
Another cough echoed through the room. Edger made his way back to Caramel and placed a hoof on his mane. He wished he could generate light so that he could see the extent of the damages, but he was worried of what he would see. Caramel’s mane felt matted and sticky. Edger knew that had to mean he was beaten until he bled. He reached down and felt Caramel’s barrel. Edger could feel the bruises through the muscle and fur. Silence filled the room, and Edger could hear Script walk to the wall again.
“They’re saying something else now.” Script said, “It’s like a song. Helioselene, one true god, cleanse us of our sin, make us pure again. This doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“Okay Script, that’s it,” Edger said, “You know things about this place. There are things you aren’t telling us. You need to tell us now.”
Edger heard a sigh escape from Script’s muzzle and the sound of Pinkie Pie’s hooves as they moved closer to him. Caramel coughed as he moved his hoof off his barrel.
“Okay,” Script said, “Is everypony here? I’ll have to go off of what I saw on the documents I found here. But first, Edger, don’t you ever wonder where you get your magic from?”
“What do you mean?” Edger asked, “All unicorns of Equestria are given magic by the Celestial sisters.”
“Ha.” Script laughed, “And that’s why Princess Luna took us to Canterlot to study?”
Edger remained silent.
“I thought so. You know as well as I do that our magic abilities come from something older than the Celestial sisters. You know that the unicorns here are born with magic abilities meant to serve them and keep the balance of Equestria.”
“So there’s a power older than Princess Celestia and Luna?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“The Celestial sisters gained their powers when they overtook the previous rulers of Equestria.”
“So our powers come from Discord?” Edger asked.
“No,” Script replied, “It’s not like that at all. There is a power that precedes even Discord. But in this village, they only seemed to have gained the understanding of one of those older gods.”
“Helioselene.” Pinkie Pie muttered.
“Yes. There are numerous powers that we have been blessed with, Edger. But these ponies seem to think that Helioselene is some sort of savior figure or purifier. They can’t possibly know how to perform the ceremony if they don’t-”
A square of light appeared in the room that stretched until it reached the ponies. Edger looked down and finally saw Caramel. His eyes were half closed, and his hair was matted with blood. A trickle of blood fell from his lips. His barrel was splotched with bruises that discolored his tan fur. Edger ran his hoof down Caramel’s hind leg as he fought his curiosity to make sure that the enforcer’s hadn’t done to him what he feared most. What are you doing, Edger thought. You just want to make sure he’s okay, he argued with himself, somepony like him doesn’t deserve this. Does anypony, he asked himself. Edger shook his head and looked back up to Caramel’s eyes.
“I’ll be fine.” Caramel whispered.
Edger turned his attention to the doorway and saw a form in the doorway.
“Ag.” Edger said, “Have you come to finally use me as the village’s vessel?”
Edger stood up to face Ag. He took a few steps forward and stared coldly into Ag’s eyes. Ag began to laugh.
“Ha. We know that your body isn’t suited for that anymore. You fortunately brought another unicorn who can serve perfectly as the vessel.”
Edger turned his eyes towards Script, whose eyes grew wide.
“Excuse me?” Script said, “You will do no such thing.”
Ag entered the anteroom, followed by Iron. Edger focused as much power as he could and swiped directly at Ag’s muzzle. The sudden hit sent Ag back a couple of paces, but he soon regained his standing and turned to Edger.
“You little coltcuddler,” Ag said as he placed a hoof across his muzzle to stop the blood flow, “You’ll see what the elders do to you after that stunt.”
“Get your decrepit earth pony hooves off of me!” Script shouted as Iron wrapped his hooves around Script’s barrel.
“Hey, you let him go, Iron!” Pinkie Pie shouted.
“Pinkie, your father wants to see you.” Ag replied as he grabbed her.
Edger felt a pair of hooves wrap around him.
“Hey,” Verdant said, “It’s true. A gelding’s fur is just as soft as a mare’s.”
“What,” Ag laughed, “So you want to buck him now?”
“As if,” Verdant replied, “I’m pretty sure that nopony would want to have to deal with this thing.”
Edger began to yell, but the larger stallion was able to wrap a hoof around his muzzle as well as carry him out of the anteroom with Script and Pinkie Pie. As they were carried out of the room, he could hear the sound of Caramel’s breathing grow lighter. The light on Caramel’s body disappeared as the door was shut in between them.
*****
Twilight Sparkle stood in front of the Canterlot train station and stared at the conductor. Her wings ruffled with each breeze that flew by. For a moment, her horn glowed and then dimmed. Finally, she sighed and looked at the conductor.
“I understand. Trains do sometimes overheat. Do you have any idea how long it will take to fix?”
“Well,” The conductor replied, “We can get it up and running in an hour. From the looks of it, you’ve used a bit too much of your magic energy to perform a transportation spell.”
“That’s true.” Twilight Sparkle replied.
Why did it take so much energy just to get into that room, she thought.
“I am sorry for the inconvenience, your Highness.” The conductor said as he bowed.
Twilight Sparkle nodded to the conductor and opened her wings. She took to flight in the direction of the castle. Though her body wobbled back and forth to keep in the air, she knew it was much faster than galloping through the streets. She needed to hurry. It was sunset, the time when Princess Celestia would be focusing all of her attention of lowering the sun. Princess Luna was most likely at the top of her own tower, preparing the moon’s path for the evening. She knew that Edger and Script weren’t the only ponies being trained in old magic.
And what are you doing now?
Twilight Sparkle turned her head to see two yellow eyes. The rest of Discord’s body formed and together they made their way to the castle.
“I’m going to find the other ponies that have the abilities of old magic.” Twilight Sparkle replied, “I need to get some first-hoof knowledge before I continue.”
“I see.” Discord said, “Knowing Luna, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have been sworn to secrecy.”
“I am a princess now, you know.” Twilight Sparkle replied, “I’m sure that I can persuade them.”
“Well, here’s your chance.” Discord said, “There’s one, right there.”
Twilight Sparkle looked down at the balcony on the lower half of Princess Luna’s tower. Sitting at the edge was a small green unicorn. She stared out at the city of Canterlot, her attention not even turning for a moment as Twilight Sparkle tried to land as delicately as possible. Discord materialized on the balcony next to her.
“Hello, Princess Twilight,” the green unicorn said without turning, “And hello, Discord.”
The alicorn and draconequus stopped.
“You know of us?”
“No,” the green unicorn replied, her attention still on the city, “But I knew you were coming.”
The green unicorn turned away from the city and to Twilight Sparkle. Whereas her fur was a dark green like the leaves of an apple tree, her mane was a paler green like the sea, and her eyes an even paler green still. Twilight Sparkle could tell that she had been crying.
“What’s your name?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“Leila.”
“And you know why we’re here?” Discord asked.
“I know why the two of you are here,” Leila replied, “And I know that you two are here for two different reasons.”
“You’re the one with the gifts of Psukeineuma.”
“You don’t have to be clairvoyant to know it’s a bad idea to say that name out loud so near to the princesses, Discord.”
Leila turned away from the two and continued to stare on at the city. Twilight Sparkle watched as Leila’s body began to tremble.
“There are so many lives in this city.” Leila said, “They all truly believe that when it comes down to it, they are each an independent entity. But look, that red pegasus dropped a small stone from his saddlebag, it falls to the ground, where it hits a red pony and stuns him, giving the white mare a chance to run away from the mugging. And none of them realize that it was all part of a line that has been connected. Above all else, those connections need to be protected.”
Leila turned back and made her way into the castle.
“Being able to see these things is not a gift, it is a curse. I know what you both want to do, and that is why I’m not going to help you. Please, let things happen the way they are meant to. Nonetheless, it is ultimately your choice.”
Leila disappeared into the castle, leaving Twilight Sparkle and Discord alone. Discord’s eyes fell down towards the floor, but Twilight Sparkle’s eyes gleamed. She turned around so quickly that her hair tossed violently behind her. She ran to the edge of the balcony and took off as quickly as she could back to the train station.