To see the world in a grain of sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour:StarShine-Friendship in the Darkness

It is forbidden to kill; Therefore all murders are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets:General Greymane-Battle of Ruby Canyon.

Rainbow Dash stepped into the middle of the living room. Sweat already covered her body from her time lifting weights. Now she was going to go through her routine, then a eight mile run followed by some yoga, then a shower, then off to work. Rainbow lifted her hooves parallel to her shoulders as she started. Saying to herself. " I am Rainbow Dash. I am liquid lightening." Her body found the rhythm of the routine she had done countless of times going through the years. Like a dancer she gracefully stepped, leaped, punched, kicked, and twisted herself around the living room going through her forms. "I am Rainbow Dash. I am the best." she repeated to herself, a mantra she did when she worked out.

"I am Rainbow Dash! I am unstoppable. I am Rainbow Dash! I am the greatest. My enemies tremble when they hear my name." she could feel her heart beating hard and her body warming up again . The world disappeared around her as she continued. "I am Rainbow Dash. I am death on wings." she mumbled crouching low extending her rear hoof in a side kick, completing a roll to finally get back up, following it with a strike and a roundhouse kick. "I am Rainbow Dash and I am the Best!"

She completed the form with some quick jabs as she started her next routine. She could feel some slight pain in her left triceps, probably overworked it a little with the weights, but it wasn't anything she couldn't deal with. She felt on fire, and at the same time calm and displaced with the world around her faded into the background and her own inner world took over. "I am Rainbow Dash and I am amazing! I am Rainbow Dash. I am Scootaloo? Wait? What?" she said tumbling to the ground. Finally seeing Scootaloo sitting in one of her chairs drinking from the jug of simmilk she had bought yesterday. Her concentration lost, she stopped her workout, panting, and dripping with sweat she glared at Scootaloo. "You ever think of knocking?"

"Aw don't stop. You looked awesome doing all that martial arts stuff." she said with another gulp of simmilk.

"You know I do have glasses." said Rainbow Dash, walking to the couch to grab her towel she had left their. "I would appreciate if you would use them. Besides isn't today a school day?"

"I'm sorry Dash." she said looking as guilty as she felt. "I have a few hours to kill before school and I wanted to know if you wanted to go get breakfast?"

She thought about telling her no, because she wanted to finish her workout. But her stomach was growling over having missed a meal yesterday. (thanks Soarin.) " Let me grab a quick shower, then we will head out." She walked to the bathroom and in a few moments Scootaloo could hear the running of water.

"So how is everything going?" yelled Rainbow from the bathroom. "You usually are hanging out with the rest of your friends, where are they?"

"Well Apple Bloom got into some kind of trouble with her family so she is grounded for a few days. Their picking her up and dropping her off at school."

"Ouch! That can't be good. Is she using again?" she asked. It was no secret about Apple Blooms pasts, a lot of ponies were concerned about her health and wellbeing.

"So where do you want to eat?" asked Scootaloo getting up and putting the milk back.

"I don't care. Anything and everything I'm famished." said Rainbow as she got out of the shower and dried herself off.

"Not in the mood for healthy food. Besides with all that genetic modifications how healthy is that stuff really."

"Ugh! I hate their stuff and the owner Mr. Pineblossom always overcharges me." said Rainbow leaving the bathroom as she finished toweling herself off.

"So were do you want to go then Dash?" asked Scootaloo, Feeling that she was too young to be getting a migraine.

"I'm just teasing Scoots." laughed Rainbow Dash. "Seriously anything is good right now." As she put on her jacket.

Their was a crash coming from next door as something heavy hit the wall and broke, followed by the yelling of two ponies and the screaming of kids.

"You know you pay extra for sound proofing your home and it still doesn't do any good." she said with a chuckle,

"Money probably, medical bill, their blind son, work not paying enough, that kind of thing." said Rainbow shrugging her shoulders. "What can you do?"

Opening the door she let Scootaloo out first. Watching her walk out of the apartment, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. "Really." she said to herself. "What can you do?"

The best way to describe Tirek's building is somber. He disapproved of the flashy and glittering that the other business ponies have thrown into their buildings and offices. To him it spelled weakness. A fear that in the blink of an eye they would be gone and forgotten. Which is very true in this world of rabid dogs each trying to tear the other apart on its way to the top. But still he believed in quiet power. The strong know they are strong, they don't need to show it. They just are and the ponies will fear it. It was a rule that he always lived by.

Walking to the conference room he grabbed the cuff of his arm straightening it once again to smooth out any wrinkles either real or imagined. Tirek always believed in perfection in all things he does.

Opening the door he saw his board member standing next to their seats waiting for him to arrive. He like that kind of subordination. Too know who ran New Futures International. The board room was colored in a tasteful grey. with a huge, narrow oval table in the middle, with Tirek's seat at the far end.

In the center of the table, on top of a glass made stand was a small globe carved from stone that was rumored to have been a remain of the Canterlot castle that the sisters once lived in. While some questioned its authenticity, no one questioned the stained glass window that was behind his seat. The picture was an abstraction of the Two sisters, Celestia and Luna flying around the sun and the moon. No one was quite sure how it survived the destruction, or how he was able to get a hold of it and bring it here. But their it was for all to see. Daring any to deny its existence.

Tirek approached his chair and sat down, with a wave, he signaled the others to follow suit. As they did one of them spoke. "Mr. Tirek we are at a eight percent Loss with the advancement of CryoWare Industries newest military program that they have been aggressively pushing across the consumer line. For the past month our revenue is estimated at a loss of around twenty-six milli..." stopping when Tirek waved his hand up. What did he care of such things. Gain a billion, lose a billion, it was all the same, when it came down to it. Besides he had more important matters to attend. "What I want to know is about this acquisition of InGen by T.E.C. Can someone explain please."

"Well the company paid exactly one hundred and fifty million bits, with an additional thirty million bits in stocks and bonds, plus a profit sharing of the two com..."

"But why?" he asked. "It was worthless, we were planning on dismantling the company in a few months. Selling it off and merging it with other companies we owned. Yet Trans Equestria paid more than its value to acquire it and I want to know why." clasping his hands together in front of his face. "What did they see in InGen that we did not? What did we miss?"

"I think I might know." said Mr. Starfruit, head of New Futures Research and Development.

"I have been going over their access to InGen when they took over the company shortly after the death of Mr. Fancypants. Tragic loss that it was."

"Fancypants was stupid and inept. Choosing to kill a coworker instead of seeing what was really going on. His death was well deserved for such insipidness. But proceed." said Tirek.

"Anyway during their first access they weren't trying to take over their A.I. or security. Or even stop the funds to make sure no one tries to run with their assets. They instead went directly into InGen's research files. Quite strange for a hostile takeover. They were looking for something."

"Yes we do. All the files from InGen have been copied and archived here in our mainframe for safe keeping." he said as he activated a projection on the table. "One second while I bring up the file." he said tapping a few keys. "Ok I found the file, now let me just bring it up."

"I would guess its the DNA of an alicorn." His face reddened with embarrassment as he heard the quiet snickers of his fellow ponies laughing at him. Except for Tirek who silently sat their, expressionless.

"Better if I show you." as he brought up the similar images on the projector. "These are the DNA strands of an earth pony, pegasus, and a unicorn. notice how they all look almost identical." he continued on. "Except for in a few places, which I will mark for you." as tags appeared on each of the pictures. "Now as we look at the forth sample from InGen. At first it looks completely different, but really its the same strand. Or rather its the strand of all three ponies intertwined." he tapped a few more keys as the molecule separated into completely different DNA strands. "Now we see this is actually three DNA strands, earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn."

Tirek didn't say anything for a moment as he was lost in thought. Finally speaking. "What could they do with this sample? Could they create an alicorn?" he asked.

"Unfortunately no. This is only a partial strand. I dare to comprehend the disaster if they foolishly tried to create one with this. This wouldn't be just stupid. It would be a complete disaster."

"I couldn't tell you. Its only a piece, you need the entire puzzle to see the image."

Tirek said nothing as he looked around the room seeing some of the board members snickering. Yes many did not believe in the sisters. Thinking it to be nothing but an old mares tale of a romantic age. And why not? It has all the makings of a tragedy. The betrayal, the stereotypical angry mob, all they needed was some cute songs about puppies, or stars, or love lost, or whatever they sing about in those types of movies to make it an award winner.

"Well then I would like to meet with this Rarity and congratulate her on her purchase."

Sweetie Belle was BBBOOOAARRDD! Having cut class to spend time with her sister, only to find out she had taken Fluttershy to the doctor for her monthly body cleansing. Now she just idly roamed the corridors around the building to kill time, waiting for her to come back. She knew she should have called, but decided not to in order to avoid the flank chewing she was going to get anyway for ditching school. But still she missed Rarity and loved the time she spent with her, even worth the punishment she was going to get later.

So with nothing to do, she wound up standing next to the V.R. labs. Fluttershy has let her use it a few times, more of to keep her out of her sisters mane when she was busy then actually wanting her to join. But she did like it their. Seeing what Equestria was like all those years ago. Before the everything it is now. She wondered if she would have been happier without Television, computers, cell phones, or cybernetics. She thought about it, but not too long as she stood next to the entrance. Didn't matter anyways the future is here to stay for good or ill.

"Miss Rarities orders. The lab is off limits to everyone except to those she deems necessary."

Sweetie Belle did know of another place, and she was sure Fluttershy wouldn't mind as she headed for her room. It was mostly bare in their, just like she remembered. Fluttershy didn't keep much, just a few mementos of her family, some other trinkets she has collected over time, but mostly they were pictures of her and Rarity, during much better days. Sweetie Belle wondered if they would still have been friends if they had known just how bad it was going to get. Watching someone you care get sicker as the days go by, finding out that no matter how rich and powerful you get their is really nothing you can do. She wondered what would happen if Scootaloo or Apple Bloom, got Black Mouth, or any of the other nasty diseases out their, she would like to think she would be strong like he sister and be their for them. But the reality is you don't know until you been in that situation.

She looked around for a moment until she finally found it. The spare virtual jack hookup she kept. It wasn't as good as the ones in the labs, she didn't even have the suit, but it was better than nothing and it gave her something to do and that was important. Sweetie Belle closed Fluttershy's windows to stop the nose of Pinkie Pie doing her patrol in the Party Cannon. She hoped one day they would let he ride in it. Hopefully.

With a click she attached the hookup to the input at the base of her spine just below her skull. Watching the start image float in front of her eyes. She moved her hoof over to it, clicking it on Sweetie Belle was transported to the world of virtual Equestria.

If Applejack was paying more attention maybe she would have avoided the trouble all together. If Applejack hadn't been worrying over her sister maybe things wouldn't have happened the way it did. Walking down the street after dropping off Apple Bloom at school, trying to avoid the crowd of ponies surrounding her as they went on with their daily lives. She wanted to believe Apple Bloom was clean, more than anything she wanted to believe she was. But she also knew how hard it was to stop once your in. And Apple Bloom was in it very deep at one time. She dared not believe that a dry out and a couple of touchy-feely feel good sessions at the center could make it all better. But she still had hope, and Applejack still wanted to believe, Because without hope and belief, what else do you have?

It wasn't until she was tackled to the ground behind some cars, was she finally brought back away from her thoughts.

"GET DOWN YOU IDIOT!" said the familiar voice as the pony covered her body from the explosion coming from the small building and a hail of gunfire erupted from it. Applejack turned over to ask what the hell was going on and to thank her savior. When she finally saw her. Recognizing her instantly, and more than that, so did her savior.

"Your welcome for saving your flank as well." retorted Chrysalis, as she fired a few rounds at the building. "We were hired by Stainless manufacturing. Seems like someone was smuggling their precious merchandise onto the black market. We tracked the smugglers here and they started to attack. Someone must have tipped them off. Seems like we are at an impasse, we cant get them and they cant leave."

The corner of AJ's eye caught what was coming for them. Wrapping her rear legs around Chrysalis she grabbed her front hooves and threw her to the ground as the beam from a railgun zipped by overhead. "Celestia! They have that kind of hardware?" said Applejack as they crawled to better cover.

"Grab my rifle would you?" asked Chrysalis as she got another clip from her pocket. Applejack held her rifle up to show the little pink fluffy pony figurine attached to it.

"Just gimme my rifle." said Chrysalis grabbing her weapon. "It's a good luck charm if you have to know." Slapping a fresh clip in, then popping out to return fire at the ponies in the building, before ducking back to cover. "Lightly armed my fanny! I swear if I catch the pony who...Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Applejack, remind me why I just didn't take my chances and shoot you when we raided your building?" she asked as she rubbed her temple.

"I'm shuttin! I'm shuttin! But seriously you are pinned down." as Applejack took aim and fired. hitting the pony who was foolish enough to peek out of the window, feeling the wall she was using for cover shake as it absorbed the return fire. "This is pretty bad. They have some serious stuff."

"Most of my team is on the other side, their pinned down as well. You know this is none your concern. Maybe you should leave while you have a chance."

"What and give up a chance of meeting some new friends? Besides your fighting on Trans Equestria property. It wouldn't look to good if we turned our backs. And besides I do owe you one."

"Well I'll tell you what then." said Chrysalis as she fired again at the building. "I'm going to try to get closer. What I want you to do is provide covering fire for me."

"I have a better one." said Applejack. "We wait for help." as she touched the side of her neck. "This is Applejack. Yes its good to hear from you as well. Hold on! Stop! This is what I want you to do. Lock on to me. Got it? Good! Now come here as fast as you can cause we are in a world of trouble. Oh and bring flowers. Thanks I owe you one." she finished switching the communicator off.

The first thing Sweetie Belle saw was the rabbit face of Angel staring at her in complete stillness. in the middle of the field overlooking the town of Ponyville. She wanted Angel to join her but decided against it, not wanting to mess with Fluttershy's things. It didn't look to far away and everything was so beautiful like she remembered. It was a shame none of this was real.

"Oh chill Discord. I promise I wont harm anything." she said galloping faster as she reached the outskirts of Ponyville.

Sweetie Belle ignored Discord as she roamed the streets talking to the citizens, and enjoying herself. She had forgotten how much fun she had in this virtual world. Too bad none of her friends were here with her. Walking down the road she found the boutique, the one she heard Rarity tell of once how she really wanted to be a designer. "This is great! Discord does Rarity ever use this?"

"Yeah! Yeah! Leave got it." she interrupted. "But does Rarity ever use the boutique?"

"Once." Sweetie Belle could almost hear the sigh of Discord giving in. "She used it to make a dress for Fluttershy. She had lost her touch I'm afraid, it didn't go so well."

"Really? That's a shame. I know how much she really loved making things." Sweetie said as she pulled out the virtual fabric and twirled it around her. "Hehe I used to sneak in her room and look through her things. She had so many fashion magazines. Hardcopies too. Those things are hard to find."

"Sweetie Belle you really shouldn't be making a mess in here. Miss Rarity or Miss Fluttershy would not like it too much."

"Oh Discord this is a virtual world. Everything will be okay. Besides you can just zap everything back to were it was." grabbing a pair of scissors she laid the cloth on the table "I Don't see what's so hard about it. You just cut pieces of cloth and sew them together. Doesn't seem so bad."

"I'm sure their is more to it than that Sweetie Bell." said Discord putting the fabrics back.

"Sweetie Bell all you were going to do was make a mess. Granted its a virtual mess, still its my mess to clean up."

"Well I want to make something. So let me." as she grabbed the fabric again, placing on the table.

Chrysalis fired off a short burst. followed by a longer burst from her rifle as she switched it to full auto, before ducking for cover next to Applejack as her barrier was pounded from the enemy fire.

"What I don't get is why didn't you just change and infiltrate them, would have made it a lot less messier." said Applejack.

"Heh! We haven't been able to do that for ages. We lost that skill when we came to Equestria. Would have been a lot easier for us. Dammit! I lost two on the west side." As she touched her neck activating her communicator. "Your friends better get here soon, were getting pounded."

The Party Cannon legs extended, while it slammed into the ground next to the building. Causing a minor tremor around it. As a shower of sparks erupted over it at as the ponies in the building opened fire at it."

"Pinkie? I seemed to have misplaced my keys, can you be a dear and get to door for me?"

"Sure thing." came the reply as the U.A.T. moved to face itself towards the entrance. Extending a cannon from underneath the base of its body, it moved a little closer.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!" she yelled, as she fired a round into it. Their was a loud explosion as the door, a large chunk of the wall, and some of the floor. suddenly vanished Into a huge plum of smoke.

" Now!" Yelled Chrysalis. As her and Applejack Mad a mad dash towards the opening.

"Pinkie give us covering fire." said Applejack. while the both of them crouched low to the ground zig zagging towards it.

"Way ahead of you." Pinkie said firing short Bursts. "Except for the wounded I'm not getting a lot of activity in this area. However I do count seven to eight heat signatures on the lower level, and something in the back. I think their regrouping. Sorry Applejack I can't take the Party Cannon in their."

"You got us in and that's enough." said Applejack. Watching an armed pony come out of cover with a very long weapon in its hooves. "Careful Pinkie one of them has a..."

"Can she move to the back and give my group assistance as well?" asked Chrysalis. standing behind the wall next to the new opening the Party Cannon made.

They both stood on opposite walls of the opening peering in, giving a quick glace at the inside. Chrysalis motioned Applejack, as she provided the lookout. Applejack entered with a roll diving for the neared cover she could find. Which was part of the roof that had fallen to the ground. Laying on her belly with Winona pointed outwards, she waved her hoof for Chrysalis. Who followed Applejack, getting low to the ground and getting behind cover. Other than the gunfight going on the other end and the groans of the wounded it seemed that most of the activity was going on outside.

The building shook again with a loud boom, followed by some very surprised screams from the other side.

"Not to bad they had some serious firepower over here but nothing I couldn't handle."

"They seem to be taking care of themselves right now. Lets head downstairs, Maybe we can catch the rest of them." said Applejack. As they softly padded their way through.

Applejack had to respect Chrysalis, she was a pro. Seeing what need to be seen, then doing what needs to be done. Being clear and calm in the face of danger. It was too bad she was a mercenary.

"Okay." said Chrysalis as they approached the door. Reaching into one of her pockets she pulled out a tiny cylinder. Applejack already could tell what it was. A flash-bang grenade. Grasping the handle she whispered. "On three."

Chrysalis slammed the door wide opened, tossing the grenade out as she threw her hands over her eyes and turned her face away. "What happened to three?" asked Applejack. Mentally scratching off every nice thing she said about Chrysalis.

"Failed counting in school." Chrysalis said as a loud boom was heard. "You can come in whenever you feel like it." as she charged in low firing away.

"Stupid changeling! Gonna get herself killed one day." she muttered to herself as she ran in.

The ponies were in pain and defenseless seeming to be more of a danger to each other than the two of them. As they shot at anything that that moved in front of them, screaming and stumbling around. Applejack had to hand it to them, despite the obvious handicap they were still trying to hold ground. Not that it mattered much. As she added more noise to the chaos going on.

The fight was fast and one sided as the two of them brought down their opposition in a few minutes. Despite their hardware they weren't combat experienced like the two of them, failing to regroup and organize themselves.

"How are things outside Pinkie?" asked Applejack bringing her sights on another pony.

"We eliminated all hostiles, area is secure, and I found this really great song." said Pinkie. "A team of changelings has entered the building and should meet up with you two in a few mikes."

"That's great to hear." said Applejack firing off a few rounds at the panicked pony, dropping him. He'll live but he wont be too happy about it. "Looks like we just about have this."

"Seems so." said Chrysalis. "Lets wait till the group meets us here, then we will do one more sweep of the area. Oh and Applejack."

"Thank you. It would have been a disaster if not you and Pinkie. Thanks for saving our flanks. We owe you."

"Don't worry about that." said AJ blushing a little. "Just keep the wars off of T.E.C. property and we call it even."

Rarity didn't scream, didn't yell as she walked with Fluttershy down the hall. The two traveling in silence with only the clicking of Rarities hooves on the tile floor making any noise. Fluttershy was feeling sick, nauseous, and more than a little tired after her monthly body cleansing, complete with her chairs upkeep, drainage and general maintenance. Right now she just wanted to go to sleep, but her concern for her friend kept her going.

"She didn't mean any harm." She said through her mask. "You know she was just waiting for us to get back."

Rarity said nothing, staring straight ahead , resting one of her hoofs on Fluttershy's armrest.

"Worst case scenario we'll pull Sweetie Belle and give Twilight Sparkle another wipe. Their might be some risks but I'm sure we can do it safely."

"Are we still getting together tonight?' said Fluttershy. She had seen Rarity yell and scream when she was angry. But when she got quiet that was the time to be scared. That was when she got really, REALLY, angry.

"Fluttershy I have always done things calm, cool and collected. And I will handle this calm cool and collected." said Rarity. " I will kill my sister in a calm, cool and collected way. What part of you are not allowed to enter does she not understand."

"It was wrong of her I know, but still she is just playing with her." said Fluttershy wheezing through the mask. "Discord."

"I want you to get some rest, and yes we are still up for tonight, wouldn't miss it for the world. If it makes you feel better. I promise my sister will be exiting upright on her own hooves when she leaves. Although I can't vouch that the rest of her will be."

"Me? Angry? Nooo! I'm not angry at all." interrupted Rarity. "Murderous rampage is a much, Much better description of what I'm feeling right now. But angry? Not me."

The door to the lab slid open as the two of them entered. Walking over to the virtual reality containment, Rarity grabbed one of the suits and began putting it on.

The screen showed the both of them in an animated discussion. As the both talked excitedly to each other.

"And then I said to Rarity. You have to put the disk in first." Sweetie Belle joked.

"Not you too." said Rarity putting on the helmet. "Were going to have to talk about that, when I bring my sister back." Clicking the start button. Their was a bright flash as the new world was loaded up.

"Deep Breath! Deep Breath!" Rarity said to herself, adjusting her smile on her face.

"Okay I see you near the door." said Fluttershy through the communicator. "Their still inside talking."

"You want to buy a sister Fluttershy?" asked Rarity. "I got one cheep for sale if your interested."

"I don't think its right to sell your sister. You shouldn't do things like that."

"I was joking Fluttershy. Honestly what's the point of telling you jokes if you don't get it."

"Never mind that. Lets just get this over with." said Rarity as she grasped the handle opening up the door.

"Darling!" said Rarity entering the boutique. "Its so good to see you again. And this must be the new guest to Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle wasn't it?"

"And you must be Rarity. its a pleasure to finally meet you." Twilight Sparkle said bowing a little. "I got caught up talking to your sister. She tell the most amazing stories. Hopefully I will learn what a cybernetic cranial incursion upgrade is one day."

"She does tell the most amazing stories, doesn't she?" said Rarity forcing a small laugh out. "As much as I would love to stay and chat I'm afraid I do have a lot of things to do right now. I would appreciate it if Sweetie Belle would give me a hoof with some of them."

"But Rarity Twilight is amazing." Sweetie Belle said. "I love this new A.I.! Why didn't you tell me about her."

"She's been calling me that all day. "said Twilight Sparkle. "Just what is an A.I.?"

"What was that you wanted me to make again?" said Rarity desperately trying to think of someway to get Sweetie Belle out of the simulation.

"It's just a mess in their." said Fluttershy through the communicator. "Anything I can do to help."

"Thank you Fluttershy but I'm ok. You should just get some rest, I will take care of this." said Rarity.

"Oh!....Umm I was just thinking aloud Dear." said a very uncomfortable Rarity. "She had asked me to do a few things for her earlier. But if you want I'd be happy to help you out. What was it you wanted?"

"Oh I almost forgot." said Twilight. Walking over to the workstation. "I brought this dress from Canterlot and it got damaged in the move. I was wondering if you can repair it."

"It doesn't look to hard to fix." said Rarity pretending to look at the simulated dress. "It should only take a few minutes to repair it. So no problem at all. But let me finish this one small errand first." Rarity said as she turned around to face Sweetie Belle. "Can you be a dear and follow me upstairs? I could use your help on this one small matter."

"I'm in trouble aren't I?" Sweetie Belle said as she closed the door behind her.

"Trouble? HA! Your two seconds from becoming glue. What were you thinking? When we say something is off limits, we mean off limits."

"I don't see what the big deal is. She may be a cool A.I. but she's still just an A.I.. Discord is better than her."

"Now this is what I want you to do. I want you to exit the program now. Do not go back and talk to Twilight. Do not walk out of this room. We will talk about this later."

"Fine!" pouted Sweetie Belle. Without saying a word she reached to the hookup behind her back, and left the virtual world.

"Well that's one problem solved." she said to herself. heading back downstairs. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Twilight. Let me take care of that dress for you now." She said heading over to the table to look at it.

Twilight walked over to stand next to Rarity. "Your sister is great Rarity. Please don't be mad at her."

"She has such a vivid imagination. Telling me all about cybernetic implants, computers, cell phones. She would make a great writer."

"She actually wants to be a singer. But your right she always had a very vivid imagination." said Rarity as she laid the dress on the table. "This should be an easy fix. Let me just get my needle and thread." Pretending to get down she whispered. "Discord."

The kit materialized in her hoof. "Got it." she said as she got back up and began to sew the dress. "So is everything going good for you Twilight?"

"Everything is going great thank you. The ponies are so nice to me here and the food is great. I just love it here."

"I'm happy to hear that. Ponyville is a wonderful town." said Rarity. "I should know, I grew up here."

"Well the important ones actually. Ah! Finished." said Rarity holding up the dress. "Easy as pie...wha." muffled a surprised Rarity from Twilights embrace.

"I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to do this small thing for me. I know your busy and I appreciate it."

"Th-Thank you Twilight. It means a lot. Thank you." stammered Rarity trying to compose herself. "Well um here it is. I-I'm sorry but I'm going to have to let you go for now. I have a lot of orders I need to finish."

"I understand." said Twilight taking the dress and heading out. "I hope I get to see you again."

Rarity waited until she reoriented herself back to the real world before she began to take off her suit. Stopping for a moment. She saw Fluttershy had fallen asleep in her chair. She thought about waking her up and taking her to her own bed, but decided against it. Sweetie Belle was probably still their, and she still needed to talk to her. Rarity look around her lab for a moment lost in thought before heading off into the next room over.

In the containment vat Twilight Sparkle floated in the liquid. Her body covered with various instruments measuring her, studying her, testing her. Her face covered with a modified helmet, hiding the real world away from her, along with an air hose attached to her mouth. Rarity placed her hoof on the tank as she watched the body gently drift around.

"....The Ponyville Elementary School was evacuated due to a outbreak of Soft Foot after one of the students..."

"....Terrorists attack today in Lower Manehattan. Killing at least five security guards and seven civilians caught in the conflict..."

"...A new border attack by the western tribes on the edge of Equestria was repelled by our security team but was not with out cost as..."

"....The pharmaceutical giant Wendigo has reported failure of testing their prototype of a Black Mouth vaccine today. In a statement released to the press. President Frostrose said..."

"....A total of thirty bodies have been brought out so far. It is estimated that the Cult of Celestia had over a hundred members and more may be found as searchers go deeper in the mansion..."

"Fluttershy why do you keep watching such awful things." said Rarity in the kitchen brewing tea for the both of them.

"Low blow Fluttershy. Low blow." said Rarity bringing out the drinks on a small silver plate with her as she exited the kitchen. Sitting on the table, she began to fix tea for both of them. "Your pretty doom and gloom tonight, what is wrong?"

"I'm okay Rarity. Really I am." said Fluttershy, "By the way what did you do with Sweetie Belle?"

"Just a talk Fluttershy. I promise I did not do anything else. I didn't even yell at her." said Rarity "We just talked about how disappointed I was with her using equipment she wasn't allowed to use. Everything went pretty good, although I do feel a little bad about not spending as much time with her as I wanted. I do miss her when she is not around."

"Remember that time in college when Trenderhoof asked you out? I was so jealous. So did you get in the sack with him?"

"Its true. I had such a crush on him. And then he winds up asking you out. Life is not fair."

"He was a nice pony." said Fluttershy taking a sip through a straw. "I always wondered what would have happened if I didn't get sick."

"He bailed on you. After finding out you had Black Mouth he left. Some boyfriend." said Rarity in disgust as she drank her tea.

"I don't blame him. Really I don't. What could he have done except watch me get sicker." said Fluttershy.

The both of them sat in awkward silence staring out, drinking their tea as they both tried to think of the next thing to say. Finally Fluttershy spoke.

"Of course!" said Rarity taking a sip. "Think of everything we can accomplish with her. No more Black Mouth. No more sickness."

"You make her sound like a cure all." said Fluttershy. "You do know she is not a Deus ex machina."

Rarity grabbed Fluttershy's hoof with hers. "I know how you feel Fluttershy. To tell the truth I don't like it either, but if she will save you, save a lot of ponies, then I am willing to do it."

"Stop that!" said Rarity getting up. "For over ten years I stood by your side watching you get sicker and sicker. I know its horrible for you but its a nightmare for me as well. Seeing a good friend and a wonderful pony dying in front of my eyes, knowing theirs not a damn thing I can do about it."

Rarity bent over and placed her hooves around Fluttershy's mask. Their was a sharp hiss of escaping gas as she removed it off of her face.

"I would sell my soul if you never had to wear that horrible thing ever again." said Rarity as she knelt down to look in her eyes. "And if that means I have to walk barefoot through Tartarus then so be it."

Getting a napkin from the table Rarity wiped off the black ooze coming from Fluttershy's eyes and mouth.

"Nonsense! You are a beautiful pony who deserves good things." replied Rarity stroking her hair. "You deserve to have a family. Take care of animals like you use to tell me about when we were in college. Remember when you wanted to be a biologist? Have kids. Although I'm not sure anyone deserves that last part."

Rarity said nothing as she sat back down next to her friend. Picking her cup back up again, she finished her drink in silence. Watching the moon float across the night sky.

It was the crash that made Ulysses drop the bowl of soup from his hoof in surprise. Spilling it onto the ground. The past two days he been holed up in the dead end alley feeling...great actually. And that's what bothered him. Ever since that strange...whatever that was had happened, Ulysses had woken up to feel like a change pony. Cutie mark and all.

It should have made him happy, and it did. But it also had left him confused, and puzzled. Wondering what in Equestria was going on. So Ulysses had spent the days since then hiding here in the alley trying to figure everything out. But that wasn't the only reason. It felt safe here. For the first time since he moved to Ponyville he felt safe in that alley. Ulysses realized just how much that meant to him.

Maud from the soup kitchen was nice enough to give him extra food saying it was going to go to waste if she didn't do something with it. Their would have been a time his foolish pride would have turned Maude down. But starvation can make a pony rethink their view. Plus since that incident he found his appetite had returned with a vengeance.

The crash came again, followed the sound of somepony, a female by the sound of it, yelling at something, or someone. Cautiously Ulysses got up from the corner he had been sitting next to. Grabbing a piece of pipe he had scavenged, he carefully went to investigate.

"ROLL YOU STUPID THING!" the pony at the other end of the alley yelled at her cart.

She looked young, about his age. Ulysses watched her move around the cart trying to get it to move. He noticed she moved with a weird lopsided gate as she walked around. Ulysses could see she was trying to keep herself together as the girl was doing everything she could to get the cart rolling.

Surprised the pony turned around to face him. Then it was Ulysses' turn to be surprised. As the unicorn found himself staring down the barrel of a zip gun. Knowing those homemade weapons are just as dangerous to the shooter as to the shootee, In real fear Ulysses threw his hooves up in the air.

As she moved around Ulysses finally noticed that her right rear leg was missing. Instead their was a cheep broken crutch attached to the stump.

"Some of us can't afford this wonderful technology that's offered." she said reading his thoughts." Their was an accident a long time ago. Now go away!"

"Okay I'm leaving." said Ulysses. "But Celestia herself wont be able to move that cart of yours. Its broke and its not going to go anywhere. Good luck getting it to go."

"Around here? Nowhere. I'm sorry but theirs no one around that can fix that. Not without bits at least."

The girl looked at him closely, trying to decide things in her mind. Finally after some thought she answered. "Swizzle Stick." she finally said glaring at him.

"Well the both of us can at least push this further down the alley hide it better. Other than that I don't know of anything else to help you. The shelters are always overflowing, and dirty, and usually a hazard to stay."

"I been staying at the end of this alley. Its not the nicest place, and its out in the open but for some reason I just don't want to leave."

Swizzle Stick lowered her gun causing no end of relief to Ulysses. "Well if you can help me get this off the road, I can figure out what to do next."

"Okay then." said Ulysses getting to the front of the cart. "You push and I'll pull." As he placed the yoke over him. "Ready?'

The two of them more drag than pulled Swizzle Sticks wagon down the alley. Not helping as the front two wheels fell off halfway their. But after a few hours the both of them did finally make it to the end of the alley.

"Oh my back!" Ulysses panted with exhaustion rubbing himself. "That was rough. I think I cracked a hoof pulling it here." said Ulysses stopping when he noticed Swizzle Stick looking around. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know, I just really like this place. Feels like home. Or as close to a home as I ever had." she said as she walked around looking at the alley. "Oh! What is this? "asking as she noticed the purple flower blossoming in the night sky. "I never heard of a flower blooming at night. How strange." Kneeling down she examined it closer. I can see a few more growing from the ground. Did you do this?" she asked.

"Umm.." Ulysses said feeling awkward and a little jealous sharing this place with another pony. "Now that we got the cart in here what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know." she said Letting down her defenses. Showing the scared pony she really was. "I don't have any idea what to do next."

"Well I'll tell you what. I have some extra food I got from the soup kitchen. And I'm full so if you want some your more than welcome to it."

For a second he thought she was going to say no. But the sound of her stomach groaning at the mention of food, overruled and thoughts about denying a free meal.

Ten Seconds of Sunrises

by Opium4TmassS

Chapter 4