As I run through the Everfree Forest, my mind races. Part of me is thinking about Molly. I'd never seen her in Equestria before, but she'd said she'd seen ponies like me before. Another part is about my friends. I probably would never find them. My main focus, however, was on the names Molly mentioned. I had never heard of those ponies before.
Strangely enough, I felt a special connection with two of her friends. Posey and Surprise, and though I had never seen them before, I immediately thought of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. It was probably nothing, but I still couldn't help thinking about them.
I also wondered about my promise. Well, dear, I may not be Posey, but you can come visit me in Equestria if you want! Looking back on it, I wondered how I was going to keep it. Based on the initial appearance of this new villain, I probably wouldn't have made it out of this forest alive.
No! I thought to myself. Rarity is not a promise-breaker!
"And if Celestia is my witness," I shouted out loud, "I will get back to Ponyville, if not for myself, then for Molly!"
Suddenly I heard a noise in the bushes. I dared to hope it was my friends.
"Who's there?" I shout to the rustling bushes. When I cautiously edged forward, the bush went silent.
Gently I poked it with my hoof. Out ran...
...a chipmunk. I jumped as the little thing ran between my legs, into the safety of the woods.
Well, at least it wasn't that shadow pony, I thought. But it sure did scare the life out of me.
Slowly I looked around. I could swear I'd seen that tree before, the one with the moss on it...
As I turned to look behind me, I saw a light, resting on a pen. With bland colored ponies grazing inside it. And a little blonde human filly arguing with a red-maned colt and a blonde mare.
I groaned. I had been running in circles for at least ten minutes!
[Stop laughing, all of you. It's not funny!]
The nerve. Anywho, I turned back to the tree with the moss. Maybe if I marked the path...
No, Rarity, Liberalis said. Do you remember the Flutterbat incident?
Yes, how could any of us forget? I responded. What does it have to do with anything?
What was that signal you used? she prompted.
You mean my pony-signal?
Yes.
Now I was really confused. What do I do with it?
You use it. It has your cutie mark, does it not?
You want me to use it?
Yes. Wasn't that clear?
Know-it-all, I thought. She stayed silent, so I thought about the spell that summoned the beam of light. It was simple, but I barely used it. It was a wonder I remembered it at all.
Wait, I thought, shutting off the magic. I still think I should mark the trees I pass by, so I can find my way if I need.
Excellent plan, Liberalis agreed.
Drawing from the magic again, I branded the moss-tree with a blue-glowing diamond. That way my friends will know which way I've gone, too.
Next, I summoned the blue beam. My cutie mark shone against the clouds. Looking back to the pasture, I saw Molly's brother and sister looking up and pointing to the signal, and Molly sticking her tongue out at them. I stifled a giggle, then started to move.
Be careful, Liberalis warned. Your beam will also attract enemies.
Now you tell me that! I mentally shouted at her. I started to gallop, the pony-signal moving above as I did.
I stopped at the edge of a thick patch of wood. If I went in there, the pony-signal would be blocked by the trees. I marked the edge with the blue-diamond on one of the trees, then went inside, shutting off the beam.
It was dark.
[Well, I know that kind of goes without saying. Please, just let me speak.]
Marking trees as I went, I tripped over brambles often. They were quite thick here.
Suddenly, I thought of Pinkie's grandmother's riddle.
Where the brambles are thickest, there you will find, a pond beyond the most twisted of vines.
This couldn't be it... could it?
Relax, Rarity, I thought to myself. The Mirror Pond is on the other side of Molly's farm. Pinkie would've had to go through it if it were here. Still, I kept an eye out for a large rock covering a hole.
The towns-ponies were always talking about what had really happened to Pinkie's clones. Some would say that the real Pinkie is trapped in the pond, while the Pinkie here is an impostor. Others say that the clones come out of the pond sometimes, and they couldn't get past the big rock. I was starting to believe them.
Stopping suddenly, I slapped myself across the face.
"Ow!" I yelped.
Be quiet! Liberalis commanded.
Did YOU do that?!? I demanded, outraged. Celestia said that they weren't in control, my hoof.
I had to, she said. You weren't listening. There's something out there. I can feel it.
My heart almost stopped. What?
I think it's the dark presence. I have an idea of what it is, but I cannot say.
Just in my head couldn't hurt, I prompted.
It's bad enough that you're leaving trail markers. Saying his name, even telepathically, will alert him of your presence for sure.
Can you describe this He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named?
Yes. He was a great king in the time of the great alicorns of old-
So, your time? I interrupted.
Yes. He was my king. He had two fillies with his wife, Queen Imperia.
Princess Celestia mentioned that name. Does she know Imperia? I asked.
Yes, Liberalis said. Imperia was Celestia's mother.
So that means that You-Know-Who is...
Celestia's father.
Liberalis stopped speaking and let it sink in. Celestia's father... I couldn't believe it. That monster in the throne room... was the fair princesses' father?