Six Days Ago
The day was almost over. The tower of Princess Twilight Sparkle glistened with the colors of twilight. A gray alicorn flew past delivering her mail. Twilight Sparkle waved at her friend Ditzy "Derpy" Doo, daughter of Princess Luna, element of Unity, and current town mail mare.
A young mare walked into the town of Ponyville. An old goat passed her he was red furred with some black. His golden eyes glistened in the setting sun. His black beard twitched as she walked past. He looked at her with his steely golden eyes.
There was nothing particularly interesting about this mare. Except for her cutie mark, a horned cross with upside down v surrounded by a circle. The one leg he saw from under her cloak was a steel green with two nasty black stitches. One stitch was above her knee and the other was at the hip.
She saw him eyeing her and quickly covered up. Her magical aura was a poisonous black. She walked quicker even though it was with a noticeable limp. The goat grimaced and continued his rounds. She slipped into an alleyway behind Carousel Boutique and curled up in her cloak as night descended.
Unfortunately the owner of the boutique, Rarity, had been out with her friend Applejack. She came home with Applejack who was helping her stay steady.
"that's the last time I accept your drinking challenge dahling. I don't know how you and that rainbow maniac can handle it."
"Sugarcube, Ah have been challenging Rainbow since we met. We have a high constitution."
Rarity stuck her nose in the air and stumbled against the first step. She tripped and landed on top of the mystery pony. Her eyes widened and she let out a piercing shriek. And hid behind Applejack, who was in a fighting stance. The cloaked pony rose weakly and collapsed in front of them her draconic blue eyes looked up at the two before she whimpered and curled up in a fetal position. There was a flash as Twilight appeared.
"I heard the scream, what's wrong?"
She then looked at the pony on the ground and nudged her. The pony stirred only to whimper some more. Sweetie Bell opened the door and looked at the small gathering. She looked down at the pony and gulped.
She spoke "Hi Essence."
The weak pony stirred at her name and clutched her cloak tighter.
Rarity was the first to finally speak "Sweetie dear you know this thing?"
"Yep she sleeps back here and I feed her scraps of food. I was hoping to get my cutie mark in generosity."
Rarity grimaced at the dirty pony in front of her. Only to have Applejack hoist Essence onto her back and carry her into the boutique.
Rarity scurried after "please do not put her on the couch."
"Too late"
Rarity looked at the pony. She finally dragged Twilight in, who had been examining the ground outside where Essence had laid. She saw a red and black goat round the corner and come to a screeching halt.
"Ah Miss Rarity, I thought I heard a scream. Was that you? What is it this time some mud or did you see a bug?"
Rarity glared daggers at him "I'll have you know Axel Foal that I ran into a homeless pony hiding near my door."
Twilight looked at the goat and spoke "Inspector I have this under control. There is no need to start an investigation."
"I take it you do not trust me princess?"
"Just because you are Ditzy's uncle does not mean I have to trust you. Also you are a Blackmane. Your kind are problems."
"My Kind? Whatever, very well princess. When this falls apart please feel free to not call me."
As he left Twilight stuck her tongue out at him. She went inside the boutique and began examining Essence. They tried to remove her cloak but she kept pulling it closer to her.
Sweetie Bell spoke "It's okay Essence you can trust them."
Essence allowed them to remove her cloak revealing a steel gray mare with a sunshine yellow, Teal, and royal blue mane. Her tail swished nervously. Her tail was an Amethyst and midnight blue. She had stitches above every joint. She cringed as Twilight's magic examined her.
Twilight pulled Applejack and Rarity aside as Sweetie Bell tried to get Essence to eat something.
Twilight spoke "I detect large traces of black magic. She seems harmless, though. I'll send a letter to Luna tomorrow. But for tonight do you think you can care for her Rarity?"
Rarity nodded as Applejack spoke "Ah'll be here in case she tries any funny business."
Twilight walked to her castle and opened a black book she had swiped from the fallen satchel of Celestia. She looked at the various runes and incantations. She began to try and decipher the markings.
Rarity snuggled against Applejack as they sat near her fire sipping coffee so as to be awake if Essence tried anything.
Pinkie Pie sat in the bakery talking to Rainbow Dash about her drinking problem. The bell rang over the door and three gray mares and a white mare with a pink diamond walked in. Pinkie looked up and gasped.
"Maud, Limestone, Marble. Oh My Gosh this is the best day ever! Who’s this?"
Maud walked over and nuzzled the mare “she’s my mare friend Diamond Mint.”
Pinkie’s jaw dropped then she squealed and shot in back. Three seconds later she came out with a bright yellow cupcake. She handed it to Diamond who took a bite and smiled. Rainbow Dash was examining Diamond Mint. She backed up nervously and Maud nuzzled her to calm her.
Rainbow spoke “I know you. You’re the wanted mare from mmph”
Diamond Mint had muffled Rainbow “shush.”