Trixie groaned as she felt a nudge against her side.
“Pst. Hey. Get up.”
A voice in her mind echoed.
“Hey, I’m not kidding! It’s morning!”
Trixie’s eyes shot open, and she yelped as she jumped to the other side of the bed, furthest from a caramel-colored stallion that was standing over her, dressed in a white t-shirt and boxers. She began to breathe heavily, knowing for certain she had been caught. She had intended to wake up a little earlier, but her body must have been more exhausted than she thought.
“Whoa, calm down, there, I’m not going to hurt you.” The tall pony looked Trixie over, analyzing her nude body. He gave an insignificant smirk. “You must be a new recruit sent to bunk with me.”
Trixie sat there, calmer than before, staring up at the stallion and unaware of her nakedness.
“A bit shy, eh? My name is Vanilla Delights, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Recruit.” Vanilla held out his hand.
Trixie leaned forward a little, still looking up at the stallion. “M… My name is Trixie. I… I’m not a recruit, actually.”
Vanilla tilted his head and smiled. “Trixie. Cute name.”
“Thank you.” Trixie sat up in the bed. She glanced around the room as the two became quiet for a brief moment. She didn’t have much time to examine it when it was dark and she was in a rush to escape. Quickly, the blue unicorn turned her attention to her new roommate's eyes. Bright ocean blue and as calm as a soothing lake, they were. Trixie felt one with the tides just looking at them.
Vanilla nodded. “So, you’re not a recruit. Then you must be an escapee.”
“Well, yes, I don’t know exactly where I am,” Trixie lied, making it sound more dramatic, “and I’m trying to get out of this awful place.”
Vanilla paused and struck a serious face. “You’re very lucky. Had you told anypony else, you’d likely be carried off right about now to be dissected alive; however, I, too, am trying to escape. I need to unite with my family out in the Industrial Wasteland.” He looked out his window to the orange and pink dawn, barely visible through the curtain of clouds created by industrial smoke and pollution. The horizon was covered in ruins of small villages, villages of no inhabitants anymore. The plane in which she lived now was virtually desolate of free organic beings, only machines or mutant mistakes created by Twilight Sparkle.
“Well, maybe you could take me with you?” Trixie pleaded
Vanilla shook his head. “You will be leaving first and without me. But don’t worry for me, I’ll be following shortly after you make it out.”
Trixie looked down and bundled up in the blankets, realizing she had been naked this whole time, but covering up nonchalantly. “But, why not? Why will you wait so long?”
Vanilla sighed and smiled. “Let me explain: Lady Twilight is a sick a mare. She has absolutely no love or care for any life but her own. She aims to control everything and advance technology and magic at an incredible rate by sacrificing everything that is morally just and precious to us as sane ponies. And being the organized pony she is, she keeps tabs on everypony, and when their number comes up, she abducts them and uses them as live specimens for research and testing. Every test she does just results in agony and death.” The cream-toned stallion explained, hanging his head and sighing softly. “Nopony knows when their number comes up. Well, nopony but me. On the day my number comes up, Lady Twilight will let her guard down to catch me sleeping, but I’ll be out through the front door by the time she enters my room.”
Trixie smiled and propped her head up with her balled up hand. She was impressed at how much this pony had put into this plan, and the fact that he would be willing to help her escape. “Thank you, Vanilla. Be careful when you go to escape… Please.”
Vanilla gave a warm grin and walked over to his wardrobe. “I’m going down to get some breakfast, you hungry?”
“A little.” Trixie nodded, perking up at the mention of food.
“Well, you’re going to need to stay hidden while I’m not in the room. I happen to have a little hidden room that you can hide in. I hope you don’t mind.” The tall stallion told her as he took off his shirt. Trixie looked over at the half-nude stallion, his beefy arms and wide torso implying how strong his abdomen and chest is. She blushed, hoping he’d turn around, but he reached in and pulled out a black shirt, putting it on. Trixie sighed and felt a bit disappointed.
“Maybe one day.” She thought. She, then, turned her attention back to the original statement directed to her. “I don’t mind at all. If it means to keep me safe, then I’ll do whatever it takes.” The blue unicorn assured.
“Good. I don’t want you getting hurt. Lady Twilight’s personal guards search our rooms randomly, once a month or so.” Vanilla explained. “They know who the recruits are, and who are not. Luckily, you won't be here for longer than a few days, hopefully.”
“But, this place is huge,” Trixie began, watching as Vanilla Delights finished covering himself in thin armor, as if it were armor that was equipped under thicker armor, “These guards must be computers to keep up with all the residents.”
“You’re partly right.” The stallion began to explain as he walked over to the wall. “They’re organic computers created by Lady Twilight. They analyze our DNA upon recruitment so that they memorize who we are.”
Trixie sat there and listened. She seemed to enjoy listening to Vanilla rather than debate with him. It was something about his voice that enticed her. It was calm and mellow, but sharp enough to keep her attention.
She watched as Vanilla Delights pressed in a part of the wall by his wardrobe, making a part of the wall near the floor slide over to the side and reveal a small vault-like space with a vent on one of the walls that apparently acted as a ventilation system. It was definitely big enough for Trixie to fit in, but if she knew that if she stayed there too long she’d get cramps in several places.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be gone long. Just try not to make a lot of noise.” Vanilla chuckled. “Also, feel free to rummage through my wardrobes and drawers for clothes. I’m sure I have something that will fit you; although, you’re so much smaller than me so…”
“Oh don’t worry about that,” Trixie interrupted him, “I have a spell that will make the clothes fit perfectly.”
Vanilla smiled. “Well, I hope you don’t mind the colo-…”
“Oh I have a spell for that too…” Trixie grinned widely.
Vanilla began to feel defeated, now. He elicited a small giggle. “Just get in the box.”
Trixie giggled back and got up, walking over to the stallion’s wardrobe. She scrounged around and found some large, drab shirts of a stained ivory. The color made her cringe, but she figured it wasn’t Vanilla’s choice of what color they could wear. She took a baggy shirt and some men’s boxers.
Vanilla couldn’t help himself but to study Trixie’s naked body. Several times did he have fantasies in just the short time he’s known her. It was all in the fact that she was there before him, without a single piece of clothing on her; however, those fantasies were swiftly washed away by the truth: She’ll have escaped by the time he even gets the chance to make a single move, and after that, he’ll probably never even see her again.
Trixie casually put the clothes on. She struggled to keep them on long enough to use the spell. She held onto the boxers and shirt with each hand as her horn lit up a blue, sparkling aura. The clothes began to shrink and shape nicely around her body. Trixie smiled at the success of her spell.
“Nice job, now hurry up and get inside the box thing. I’m starving.” Vanilla smiled and chuckled softly.
“Okay okay, Mister Bossy.” Trixie giggled and climbed into the small room. She positioned herself as comfortably as she could and looked up at Vanilla. “Okay, we’re good. See you in a bit?”
“See you in a bit.” The armored stallion smiled and pressed the space in the wall again. The wall slid in and Trixie relaxed as the light began to fade. The wall-door placed perfectly back with the rest of the wall and a black veil prevented Trixie from seeing anything.
~~~~~~
Rarity groaned as the five walked onward through rolling dust clouds. Applejack was supporting her weight some.
“Uggh! Ah feel like Ah’m carin’ fer a bunch’a foals! Would ya please stop whinin’ Rarity?” Applejack snapped as she rubbed her head.
“But my leg hurts!” Rarity groaned again. Her leg was wrapped from above her knee all the way up her thigh as far it could be wrapped.
“Ah know yer leg hurts! We all know, Rarity. At least Pinkie’s trying to bounce around.” Applejack pointed back to Pinkie who was skipping around as bubbly as usual.
“It doesn’t hurt that bad. You get used to it after a while!” Pinkie hopped up beside Rarity, who didn’t look too pleased with the pink pony.
“Her leg wasn’t nearly cut off.” Rarity said, gritting her teeth as she pointed to her bandaged leg.
“Ya both took sharp spears to the chest. Yer both lucky to be alive.” Applejack reminded Rarity.
“Hmph. You know, there’s mean, and there’s just plain rude.” Rarity turned her head away.
Applejack grew a furious expression. “Ya know, there’s fussy, an’ there’s just plain gettin’ on mah nerves!”
Rarity grumbled and just held her breath. They had been walking for hours and the constant pressure Rarity was putting on her leg was killing her.
Pinkie Pie hoped beside Rainbow Dash, who was up in front with Fluttershy. “Hey, guys, what’re you up to?”
“Talking about whatever we can to drown out their annoying fighting.” Dash pointed back to the orange and white ponies behind her who had just found something new to argue about.
“Oh you know they can’t help it. This whole situation has us a little on edge, but we just have to remain calm and stick together. We’re The Elements after all, the most renowned rebellion group in all of Equestria.
“I know, but these occasional quarrels are nerve-wrecking!” Rainbow Dash turned to Pinkie and explained. “We need to be discussing tactics and plans for how we’re going to defeat Twilight.”
“Well, um, do you think we should stop and make camp soon?” Fluttershy started up. “I mean, it’ll be dark soon, but if we keep going in this same direction, we’ll come across Ponyville… Or what’s left of Ponyville I mean.”
Rainbow Dash looked over at Fluttershy with a silent stare. Her eyes were filled with shock, and a chill echoed up her entire body. “Y-yeah, let’s book it to Ponyville.”
“I agree with Dashie. We can survive a few minutes in the dark.” Pinkie nodded and agreed.
“Hey! You two back there!” Dash shouted back at Rarity and Applejack who immediately stopped arguing and turned their attention to Rainbow Dash. “We’re going to stay out a little later so we can get to Ponyville for the night. You two cool with that?”
The two ponies nodded in agreement then went back to quarreling. Dash sighed and shook her head. She looked over and noticed Pinkie was much drabber than before. She was dragging along now, rather than bouncing like she was a few minutes ago.
“I was just thinking about Twilight… I really miss her. We wouldn’t have such a difficult time getting around or killing these creatures if she was on our side… Of course, if she was on our side, we wouldn’t have to travel across Equestria or kill creatures at all.” Pinkie sighed and held her arm.
“I know, Pinkie. We all want our friend back, and by Celestia we will.” Dash said to Pinkie, patting her on the shoulder.
“I really hope so, Dashie.” Pinkie replied softly. Rainbow Dash noticed that ever since Twilight became the sadistic mare she is now, Pinkie’s mane and tail have been straight, even when she’s been happy. She had always wondered why her hair was so straight, because it’s only ever straight when she’s really upset or depressed. But Pinkie had just shown Rainbow why, even though Pinkie has been bubbly and beaming after the industrialization, her mane and tail were still flat. Pinkie had lost one of her closest friends, and she was masking the deepest, most agonizing scar her heart had. She hadn’t been truly happy, she had been masking her pain with fake bubbliness so she didn’t bring the rest down to her level of depression.
“Pinkie… We’ll fix this, I promise, and we’ll bring back your happiness.” Rainbow told Pinkie in her thoughts. If only Pinkie Pie could have heard her, though.
“Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie spoke out to her but didn’t look at her.
“Yes, Pink?” Rainbow Dash looked over at her pink friend.
“Thank you for being my friend.”
Rainbow Dash hesitated for a moment, but smiled and wrapped an arm around Pinkie Pie. “Come ‘ere. You know you’re my best friend, and I love you, right?”
Pinkie smiled weakly and looked over at Rainbow. “Yes, I know. And I love you too. You’re such a great friend”
“And the coolest.” Rainbow Dash grinned and nudged Pinkie with her shoulder.
“Definitely the coolest.” Pinkie Pie giggled.
~~~~~~
Ponyville was particularly quiet that day. The usual chatter and clamor of ponies was rather small, and shops were getting little business. It was that rare day that the purple unicorn, Twilight Sparkle got to laze in the grassy fields and read in the warm sun. She could send Spike off to run some silly, mundane errands for her while she vacationed on Rainbow Bridge Mountain, one of her favorite places to relax and watch stars. On these rare, quiet days, however, she’d trot off to that cliff and read some books that she wanted to read, but never could due to being a busy mare.
Twilight was standing by a table in the main lobby, packing her satchel with books. She had an impatient grin upon her face, and an expression clearly indicating that she can’t wait to relax. The Sparkle family heirloom dangled from her neck, and bit of light in room gleaming off it.
“Spike?” Twilight called out.
“Yeah, Twilight?” The dragon’s voice replied from another room.
“I made a list of things I need for you to do while I go out to Rainbow Bridge Mountain.” Twilight explained as she finished putting all the books she wanted into her bags
“Aww, you’re going to Rainbow Bridge without me?” Spike complained.
“Well, I need someone to finish those errands, and you’re my number one assistant.” Twilight told the baby dragon.
“Alright, fine, I do it for you, Twi.” Spike agreed.
“Thank you, Spike. The list on my bed.” Twilight called back to him. “I’ll see you in a while!” Twilight headed out of her library, shutting the door behind her.
Twilight was about halfway to her destination, trotting along happily. The sun was warm on her lavender coat, the breeze was soothing, and the sky was beautiful.
Twilight suddenly felt a pulse inside her, an odd, abnormal pulse from nowhere. She paid no mind to it, but suddenly felt strange. It wasn’t pain and it wasn’t uncomfortable, just strange. She heard a whisper in her ear shortly after.
“We are invincible…”
“Huh? Who said that?” Twilight looked around, but only heard the whispers of the rolling breeze. She shook her head and continued onward to Rainbow Bridge.
“Together, we can take Equestria…”
Twilight stopped again and looked around. “Alright, I know somepony’s there. Who’s there?”
Only the rustling of leaves replied. She was alone. Twilight shivered and just began down the road. The strange feeling she had had gone away, and she no longer heard the voice for the rest of her trip to the cliff.
The rest of the way to Rainbow Bridge, two strange compound words struck a chord in her head: Skyfire and Nightveil. It was as though something was shouting those words into her head every second that went by. Twilight didn’t care though. She just wanted stretch out on the soft grass and read her books.
When the purple mare got to the cliff, she raced over by the edge and lied down. She opened her satchel and grabbed the first book she saw. It was titled ‘Flames of the Twilight’. Twilight always wanted to read this particular book, mostly because her name was in the title.
The eager pony opened the book and began reading, soaking in the intriguing story, and retaining every word and letter.
~~~~~~
Twilight lied in her bed with a book in her hand, using her magic to turn the pages. She was on the last page of the book.
“The dark cloud had unveiled the village and the two heroes stood victorious. Finally, after so many years of agony and suffering, the two stallions vanquished the monster of the twilight that had lit the sky on fire and brought darkness across the land.
And in the midst of hopelessness, they triumphed and laughed at the face of death. Peace reigned across Equestria once more.” Twilight closed the book and set it aside.
The doors timely creaked open and a pony wearing armor of a dark amethyst color lined and bordered with silver walked into Twilight’s room.
“My Lady, your presence is needed in the throne room.” The guardspony bowed and announced to her.
“Very well, I will be there shortly.” Twilight replied casually.
Twilight got out of bed and grabbed her normal regal outfit. She looked outside and noticed it was almost dark. What could be so important at this hour? She sighed as the guard exited the room. She dressed herself in the shining outfit and left her room. She made her way to the throne room slowly and casually.
Twilight eventually came into a wide open room with white walls and a gleaming white floor. The floor was so clean it was like a mirror, and walls were spotless, stainless. She looked over to the throne, her throne, and saw ragged, filthy, dirt-covered stallion. His coat was white, and he had blonde hair. He was wearing tattered and worn pants and a shirt; it looked like he had been wearing the same clothes for months, years even.
“What is the situation here?” Twilight called to him. Two guards stood on either side of the white stallion.
“W-we seek guidance, Lady Sparkle. I work the Dreamruby Caverns.” The pony explained. “We seem to have m-mined everything from the cave and I have come to ask where we should go now. The slave drivers only tell us to keep mining, but there is nothing left to mine for.”
“You are certain?” Twilight inquired.
“Y-yes, my Lady. We have mined every inch of the caverns and can no longer find any minerals.” He told her, quivering.
“Hm. Guards, send somepony of a higher status to tell those slave drivers to move the slaves at Dreamruby Caverns somewhere else.” Twilight commanded one of the guards beside her.
“Th-thank you, Lady Sparkle.” The stallion began to make his way out of the palace. The guards around Twilight also made their way to do as she commanded.
“Wait.” Twilight stopped him. “You seem familiar… What is your name?”
“M-my name?” He turned toward her. “My name is Blueblood.”
“Aha! I knew I recognized you. Prince Blueblood.” Twilight blinked from existence and appeared in front of him to greet him. “I remember you from the Grand Galloping Gala some time ago.”
“I… I’m surprised you remember me.” Blueblood replied cautiously.
“It was the most memorable night ever, I never forgot anything or anypony.” Twilight told him with a smile. “You know, you could be of some extra use to me.”
“Oh? H…how so?” The white stallion asked.
“You could help me around the palace, but you could be essential to my most recent and important experiment yet.”
Blueblood hesitated and didn’t move. He was frozen in place. He was scared to answer. “I… I don’t…”
Twilight’s smile became a wicked grin as she stepped closer to him. “You don’t exactly have a choice in that. No matter what you say, you’re mine.”
Blueblood immediately turned and sprinted for the door as fast as he could, but as he approached the door, strips of shadows stretched from Twilight. The shadows crawled toward Blueblood and wrapped around his hooves, bringing him to the floor. The shadowy tentacles dragged him toward Twilight.
“No! Please! Let me go! Don’t do this, please!” Blueblood pleaded and screamed.
“You are essential to me, and I have no choice.” Twilight continued to grin wickedly as the shadows brought him back to her. As Blueblood neared her, the shadows began to wrap around them both, engulfing them in darkness. When the shadows dissipated, the two were gone from the throne room.
~~~~~~
“Well there it is.” Applejack spoke aloud in the cold night. “Twilight’s Library.”
The five had arrived at Ponyville. The entire village was torn and several buildings had been burned and broken down, or boarded up. The first building of note they came across was Twilight’s library. It was barely touched, almost unscathed.
“Look at this place. All this damage…” Fluttershy squeaked. “I hope my cottage is still where I left it.”
“We can check on that tomorrow morning, Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash calmly told her. “For now, we need to just find some shelter and get some sleep. We’re just a few days away from the palace now.”
“How ‘bout Twilight’s library? It seems perfectly sturdy.” Applejack suggested.
“I like that idea. Besides, it’s right there.” Rainbow Dash giggled and agreed. The five made their way to the giant tree, studying the ghost town that Ponyville was, now.
They got inside the dark, trashy library. Books were scattered all around the floors, most of them burned. The books that weren’t burned had pages ripped up or torn out.
“D-do you think it’s s-safe to make a f-fire in here?” Fluttershy asked flattening her ears at the eerie darkness.
“It’ll be alright if we keep it small, and open a window or something.” Rainbow Dash replied. “If we keep it away from any other part of the tree, it won’t burn down the whole place down.”
Pinkie began working to pick up the books and setting them aside, saving a few of them to help start the fire. Occasionally she’d find a book that had only minor damage or none at all. She made sure to keep those books in her bag to read later.
The five laid out some metal plates on the floor that they had found along the way. They formed a large space big enough for a campfire. Pinkie laid out the ruined books in a circle and tossed in some twigs she found on some of the branches in the library. The five stood there a moment.
“…We need Spike.” Rainbow said, breaking the silence.
“Anypony got any matches?” Applejack asked.
Pinkie perked up. “Oh wait, I have a lighter.”
“A what, now?” Applejack asked, scratching her head.
“A lighter. You remember that little village we stopped by right before we fought that big golem, and that rebel group we met there? Well, one of them gave me this doo-hickey and called it a ‘lighter’. You just pressed down this button here,” Pinkie demonstrated by pressing down a button on a small device, a small flame eliciting from an opening of the device, “And voila! We have fire.” The other four stared in amazement.
“What the- How’d ya do that?” Applejack inquired, amazed by the sudden conjuring of fire.
“I’m not sure, exactly. All I know is that a little container of fuel is met with a spark at the nozzle of the device, causing fire.” Pinkie explained.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash glanced over at each other, and then back to Pinkie Pie.
“You know, Pinkie Pie is a lot smarter when her hair is straight.” Rainbow whispered to Applejack.
“Yeah, Ah’ve noticed. It must be because her head isn’t clouded with bubbly nonsense.” Applejack whispered back.
“You and I both know we like her bubbly nonsense. It’s what makes Pinkie Pie… Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow Dash replied back to her.
Applejack nodded. “Well, Pinkie Pie, let’s get this fire a’goin’. It’s startin’ to get a might chilly in here.”
“Okie dokie lokie.” Pinkie said cheerfully. She sparked the fire and lit the books and sticks ablaze, a small fire igniting into larger one, providing warmth for the ponies.
Rainbow Dash looked around the lit room. It was so eerie yet it felt safe too. It felt like the only sanctuary they had left, even though she knew that no matter where they were, things wouldn’t change if they just sat around, and Twilight’s minions would find them.
“Hey, ya’ll remember when Rainbow Dash tried to sneak back into the hospital fer a book?” Applejack chuckled.
Rainbow Dash blushed but giggled anyway. “Hey, that book awesome! Don’t make fun of me! Remember when me painted all the apples in Applejack’s orchard, Pinkie Pie? That was such a funny prank!”
“Yeah, I remember that!” Pinkie Pie began laughing. “It’s been so long though.”
“Don’t worry, Pinkie Pie.” Rarity said. “We’ll fix everything. We’re going to pull through, you’ll see.” She and the others sat down by the fire. They sat in a circle of complete silence. The only sounds heard were the crackles and pops of the fire.
“Well, I’m going to sleep, guys.” Rainbow Dash said already out of her armor and in t-shirt and pants. “Good night, everypony”
“Yeah, Ah think I’m gonna hit the hay too.” Applejack announced with a yawn.
“Me too.” Fluttershy gently said.
“As am I.” Rarity said with the rest.
“Well, I’m going to stay up for a while.” Pinkie Pie told them.
“Well, Alright, just don’t wander off, ya hear?” Applejack told her. “Remember that we never fight alone, and if yer out there by yerself, you could get ambushed by one o’ Twilight’s creatures.”
“I understand. I’ll be okay.” Pinkie assured Applejack. “If I do go outside, I’ll probably just stay by the door.”
The four ponies were asleep. Pinkie Pie was the only one awake. She was sitting on Twilight’s bed, staring out her window. The moon was barely visible through the chemically laced clouds. She sighed and stretched out on the bed. When she did, she looked down into the lobby at Rarity who was sleeping on the hardwood floor by the dying fire.
“Rarity needs this bed more than I do.” Pinkie thought to herself. She quietly snuck downstairs and walked over to Rarity. Rarity was sound asleep, giving tiny, lady-like snores. Pinkie swung her hands down by her sides, her gloves lighting up a sort of purplish aura. She reached her hands under Rarity, who groaned as Pinkie did so, and lifted her up. She began to carry Rarity, who was still asleep somehow. Pinkie was a little wobbly carrying someone who was about her own size. She went back up the stairs, carefully making sure not hit Rarity’s head on the wall or anything. She stepped up beside the bed and laid Rarity on the bed. “You’re a bit heavier than you look.” Pinkie whispered under her breath.
Rarity groaned and rolled over. As Pinkie went back downstairs, Rarity smiled and slightly opened an eye, looking around. She wrapped herself in a blanket she had been carrying with her when Pinkie carried her, closed her eye, and drifted back to sleep.
Pinkie lied down where Rarity had been sleeping and curled up into a ball. She watched the fire dance and play as it slowly died out. “Sometimes I wonder if we’re just a fire in the dead of night.” Pinkie whispered to herself. “We dance around and have fun, but the night’s darkness will eventually consume us; we’ll die out and our light will fade.” Pinkie sighed, sat up, and left the library, quietly closing the door behind her.
She walked outside into the quiet, dry night and started down the trash-covered street. Pinkie wanted to visit a place she hadn’t seen in years. A place she called home. A place called Sugarcube Corner.