//------------------------------// // but there was something more // Story: Very different beneath the surface // by Slick Dash //------------------------------// Surely enough, the sky was quickly full of the sight of the princess approaching on her golden carriage. It was set down besides armour’s silver one, its passenger departed slowly, looking to the surrounded group of mares with a frown. She slowly approached receiving a sweeping bow from the fast growing crowd of on looking local ponies. Her mane flowed freely on the breeze, but it was different than usual. The strands of transcendent hair seemed to droop slightly, as though her magic was struggling to keep it aloft. Before the goddess could even speak a word, she was besieged by the group of friends. “Princess! Please don’t hurt them!” Cried Twilight. “They aint changelings!” continued Applejack. “They don’t mean us the slightest bit of harm!” affirmed Rarity! “Please help them!” Squeaked Fluttershy. “This isn’t fair they’re trying to escape harm and now WE’RE their new biggest threat!” shouted an annoyed Rainbow. Their loud protests were brought to a halt by a raised golden hoof from the princess. Silently, she smiled down at her little subjects. She opened her mouth and spoke softly. “I am overjoyed that you are all safe and unharmed my little ponies! We feared the worst had happened when you didn’t reply to my letters!” Twilight frowned, letters? What letters? She shook her head and let the comment slide as the princess passed them and approached the group of doubles surrounded by the guard. The wall of stallions parted to allow her entry. The radiant princess continued until she stood beside her captain of the guard. “If Twilight and her friends believe you are not changelings, I am willing to believe them.” Armour tried to protest but was cut down by Celestias powerful gaze. He grew silent and still once more, leaving the princess to continue. “However.” She gazed at the cold and silent Pink. “It does not subtract from the fact you have already caused problems for Equestria.” She gazed up at the sky thoughtfully, almost as though sniffing the air. She grew stern and looked back at the group of other worldly ponies. “What are you doing here? The group looked at a loss for words, but to the astonishment of every watching pony, the yellow Pegasus, the one who throughout the entire event had shown nothing but an expression of calmness and acceptance. “Celestia!” She said loudly for all to hear. “You know what we have done here.” She glanced at her friends, and her eyes glistened with remorse for what she was about to say. Her heart was heavy, but she couldn’t allow herself, or her friends to destroy any more lives! The dragon was alone because of them! The filly was in pain because of them! After all she’d gone through over the past day after losing Mac, she couldn’t permit herself to go unpunished for doing the same to others. Rainbow Dash exploded in protest, realising what her new friend was about to do! It could only be deduced from someone who had been there, in the gorge with her as the dragon explained everything, and filled the yellow mare’s mind with doubt! “FLUTT!” She screamed, trying to fly over the guards, but was brought to a halt by the magic of two guards! She was dragged roughly to the ground, to the sheer fury of the princess. “Release Rainbow at once!” The alicorn demanded, the guards obeyed without question. Dash got back to her hooves shakily, her muscles wobbling from the sudden contact with the ground. Her friends tried to comfort her, but she pushed them away angrily. She needed to stop Flutt, who had watched the events silently unfold before her. For one final time, her teal eyes met Rainbows pink ones, and the cyan pony knew she wouldn’t be able to stop her. So with a sinking feeling that felt like a pit opening up beneath her hooves, Rainbow stood silently as Flutt addressed the princess. The yellow pony stood just ahead of her ally’s who all now looked to her in hope of salvation. “Your majesty...” She began. “We came here by the use of a spell, this spell overdosed every unicorn in your kingdom as we broke our way through the wall between our world and yours. Since here, we have harmed a small filly by the name of Sweetie Belle, and have destroyed a family!” She glanced at Rarity, whose hoof flew to her mouth in shock as she realised what the Pegasus was saying. (In her own way, she was apologising) “FLUTTERSHY! YOU CRAZY BINT! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” Pink yelled furiously -forgetting the use of her alias- as her ally condemned them all. She would continue, but the princess cut across the Pink pony’s tirade. “Is what your friend is saying true?” She addressed the pink scarred leader. The pony froze mid breath, gazing at the piercing eyes of the ruler of the kingdom. Flutt destroyed any chance they had, no matter how slim. She had stated only the facts, no lies, and no embellishments, it would do nothing for the group to lie now. So with a newfound loathing for her yellow comrade, she sighed slowly, straightened herself braced her heart for the noises she knew would come from her three friends behind her. “Yes...your majesty.” Dashie squeed in fear, curling up into her tight little ball, holding on to little Mac for dear life as she waited for tendrils of light to choke the life from her. Twilight gasped, her horn immediately starting to glow in fear of an attack from the guards. Applejack sniffed hard, as she gazed at yet another possible fight on their hands, so much fighting, she thought they had escaped all this! “Guards!” Shining Armour called out. And without any further command, the circle of stallions began to approach the group, cornering them even more. Twilight screamed to her mentor, “Please! Princess! They didn’t mean to! Flutt doesn’t know what she’s... It’s not what you think! The magic they used is gone! They’re not hurting anypony else!” unseen by the purple unicorn, Rarity’s ear twitched, it flattened to her head for a moment, and then sprung back up. The white unicorn batted it absentmindedly as she stared at the downfall of their new friends. Applejack noticed the odd behaviour and frowned at Rarity who raised a questioning eyebrow to the country pony as a response. Celestia raised a hoof to halt the advance of the guard. She gazed back at her pupil sorrowfully. “Dearest Twilight. I’m so sorry that you haven’t realised this, but yes. The power has dissipated from these ponies entry to ‘our world’ as they say. But haven’t you noticed anything odd?” Twilight looked around, she couldn’t see anything. She caught a glimpse of her brother; her swayed slightly on the spot, shook his head to recuperate and stood strong again. Twilight frowned; did Armour have something wrong with him? She glanced around at the unicorns within the ranks of the soldiers. Each seemed to be drained slightly, it was to be expected, from so much going on over the last twenty-four she was surprised that they didn’t look any worse! But there was something more... “Twilight?” whimpered Rarity, Twilight paid no head as she saw a guard Blink hard and then open his eyes wide open, his left lid was twitching angrily, was his eye hurting? Another unicorn’s nose flared suddenly, he sneezed loudly and staggered back a few steps. What was going on? “T-Twilight...” Rarity squeaked quietly. “Rarity, you ok darling’?” Asked Applejack, who saw the pale faced pony was beginning to teeter around. The white unicorn’s ears were now pushed hard against her head; one of her eyes was clamped shut as though trying to shut something out. “Eh- I- ow! It’s...” She looked at Twilight beseechingly. Twilight’s mouth dropped. She stared back at Celestia. The goddess looked down at her favourite pupil, her horn began to glow with a pure gold gleam, the gleam shot into the air, then exploded, as the sparkling remnants of the spell fell to the ground, so did a small sheet of magic Twilight recognised as a shield spell. The princess began to speak as the bubble began to seal away the squad of soldiers, Twilight and her friends, and the other worldly ponies. “One of the reasons we are here is because. After the last explosion of magical power vanished, a new one has been growing; it’s far greater, and far stronger than the previous one.” She looked to the visiting ponies. “This is why we thought you were a danger to us; you’ve brought something with you, following in your wake.” Pink’s mouth gaped as she realised what it must mean. “No.” She whispered, Dashie quivered with newfound fear, Flutt’s eyes grew even darker, as her mouth coiled into the old angry snarl that everypony was used to. “It can’t be!” AJ moaned, it wasn’t over. “This barrier will protect you as best as possible, but I promise you, you will still sense whatever’s coming here. It’s too close to protect you fully.” Celestia closed her eyes, concentrating on the shield spell. Slowly Twilight made her way to her brother, who held her tight. Surely enough, Rarity took hold of her ears, beginning to shudder and squeak in pain. She slumped to floor. Just as Twilight felt the taste return to her mouth once again. Outside of the bubble of golden woven magic. Sparks began to emit from the town centre, Ponies quickly ran to their houses –unable to reach the bubble of protection in time. The sparks grew in magnitude quickly, making the space from where they came from seem dark and distorted. Everypony stared at the spot of the anomaly, silent and waiting. Twilight’s taste buds exploded in pain, she bit back the urge to throw up. Rarity began to scream in pain as the wining noise screamed into her ears. Twi began to teeter slightly on the spot, threatening to lose consciousness again. Suddenly, with an explosion to rival that of a sonic rain-boom; the spot in the clearing burst, the air seemed to tear as though it were simply a painted canopy. And out from its swirling depths, stepped a single, white, silver coated hoof. The end had truly begun.