Twilight stared at Princess Luna, incredulous. As soon as she had gotten back to her library for a moment's peace, Luna had confronted her with bad news. “What do you mean it’s worse than we feared?” Twilight asked, stamping a hoof. “How could it be worse than this?” She thrust a hoof back in the direction of her door. The stern stare she received from Luna made her wither. “H-how bad is it?”
“Canterlot is officially on lockdown. We are awaiting Prince Armor's arrival to take over the defensive shield around the city. Princess Cadance has already erected a barrier protecting the Crystal Empire,” Luna gravely replied. A quick glance out of the window provided a view of Canterlot, a colorful bubble surrounding it. “My sister and I agree that it would be prudent for you to shield Ponyville as well.”
Recoiling, Twilight shook her head. “I-I mean, I can do a force field big enough to cover the library, but I’ve never even tried to do anything that big.” She licked her lips. “I’ll try my best, but... just what was in that file?”
Luna breathed out a long sigh. “We do not have anything definite or concrete, but the potential situation could be a threat to all of Equestria.” Walking over to a nearby table, she flipped open a folder only containing a few pages. “We do not have much. What we do know is that Blue Blazes was born to a pair of Unicorn cultists.”
“Cultists?”
“Are you familiar with the Followers of Sombra?”
Twilight shook her head. “I don’t believe so. Do you think this has something to do with Sombra?”
With a resolute nod, Luna continued, “The Followers of Sombra is a group of Unicorns that believe the three pony tribes should have never allied under the rule of my sister and myself. They believe Unicorns to inherently be more ‘worthy’ than Earth Ponies or Pegasi. A thousand years ago, they celebrated the power of King Sombra to enslave the Crystal Ponies. They hoped he would overthrow Equestria.”
“But King Sombra was defeated a thousand years ago,” Twilight said. She shook her head. “Why would such a group still exist today?”
“For a thousand years, the cult persisted. Their numbers dwindled, but those that remained believed in King Sombra’s return. They’ve never really presented a threat before, so they were permitted to follow their beliefs as they pleased—under a certain level of surveillance, of course.”
Holding up a hoof, Twilight raised an eyebrow. “How does this tie in to Blue Blazes and what happened here?”
Princess Luna shook her head. “Blue Blazes’ parents belonged to this cult. When he was a colt, they gave birth to a daughter who bore a striking resemblance to King Sombra. Believing her to be a reincarnation of the tyrant king, they tried to sacrifice Blue Blazes to her.”
“Wait, this would have happened before King Sombra’s return. How could she possibly be a reincarnation?”
“The truth of the matter and what they believed are obviously two different things.” Luna sighed, pulling a photo of a red and black filly from the file. “Needless to say, they were forcibly removed from their parents and placed into an orphanage. This represents the only picture we have of Sombra.”
The adorable foal couldn’t have even been two years old. “Why is this the only one?”
“Shortly after their arrival at the orphanage, it was consumed by fire. Originally, it was believed that there were no survivors, but in the end, there were two bodies missing. We were never fully certain until Blue Blazes resurfaced years later, already committing arsons.”
Twilight nibbled on her lip. If Blue Blazes really believed his sister was King Sombra like his parents, then it was entirely possible that this filly could be the deity Blue Blazes ranted about. But could a little filly call the shots about something this serious? “How old would she be now?”
“A year younger than you, Princess Sparkle.”
“Do you really think she would be capable of orchestrating something like this?” Twilight asked, her eyes inexorably drawn back to the photo of the foal.
“Even if she is not, there is still cause for great alarm.” Luna closed her eyes, breathing out a long sigh. “I cannot express enough my regret in our failures.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“We only kept loose tabs on the members of the Followers of Sombra. Of course, when we learned of Blue Blazes’ involvement, we tried to reach out and contact them.” Luna hung her head, her eyes ducking under Twilight's sight. “They were all gone. Every last one has been missing for at least several weeks. Some of them haven’t been heard from in months.”
“There’s no way you could have known.”
“We should have been more diligent!” Luna stomped, marking a reverberating knock as her gilded hoof met solid wood. “This could have all been prevented.”
Despite her own reservations about what could have been, Twilight tried to find the right words to assuage the livid princess. Honestly, some small part of her wanted to blame Luna and Celestia, if only to mollify her own guilt. “We can’t dwell on what could have been. Blue Blazes is out there, and if this morning is any indication, he isn’t done terrorizing Ponyville.”
Luna nodded. “You are right, of course, Princess Twilight. And now we know who he is working with. We are already disseminating information to the royal guard all across Equestria. If any of the cultists turn up, they will be stopped.”
“Should we tell everypony about what’s going on?” Twilight cast her eyes back toward the door. “They might be able to help.”
“They may also panic, even going so far as to persecute anypony they suspect of working with Blue Blazes.” Luna cupped Twilight's chin with a hoof, drawing the younger princess’s full attention. “In the end, the decision is yours. Regardless, you should take steps to ensure the safety of the good ponies of Ponyville.”
Twilight's eyes widened. “Shield! Right!” Her horn glowed but a moment before she vanished in a flash of magenta light. Reappearing on her balcony, she turned her gaze to the sky. “I can do this,” she muttered, flaring her horn.
A beam of magic shot straight up. It came to a stop high above Ponyville, where it flattened into a sheen that draped over the town. The magic flowed down, forming a dome. As the shield trickled down, it started slowing down before dimming.
Again, Twilight focused her willpower into her horn, sending another beam of magic streaking into the sky. It met the top of the barrier, rejuvenating it. It both regained its intensity and continued its journey toward the ground. One more burst of magic for good measure, and the shield was complete, completely encapsulating Ponyville.
Twilight panted as she wiped her brow. “That took even more effort than I thought.”
“You have done well, Princess,” Luna said, stepping out onto the balcony, “but do not rest easily. It will take a great deal more effort to keep the force field in place. You will also need to address the issue of citizens needing to pass through your shield.”
Twilight tried to put on a hopeful smile, but managed little more than a weary grimace. “How do I do that, exactly?”
A few steps, and Luna found herself at the edge of the balcony. She cast her gaze down at a pair of patrolling guards. “Some of the royal guard has been trained in such magic. I will see to it that those who qualify come see you for assignment and attunement.”
“Me?” Twilight pressed a hoof into her own chest. “Wouldn’t you be more adept at this sort of thing?”
“It is your shield, Princess. You will have to work with them to allow them to weaken certain spots for citizens to enter or exit.”
Twilight shook her head. “No, I meant assigning the guards.”
“Do you truly believe that I know Ponyville better than you?”
Hanging her head, Twilight pawed at the floor. “Well, no.”
“Then let us not waste time,” Luna said. She stretched out her wings and took flight.
Twilight rushed after her. “Right!”
Wandering down the halls of the hospital, Applejack came across a familiar room. Inside, Rarity lay alone on a hospital bed. Double checking the room, Applejack couldn’t find any signs of Sweetie Belle. Hesitantly, she raised a hoof to the door frame, giving it a few, weak knocks.
Rarity looked up swiping at her cheeks. “Applejack? What are you doing here?”
After stepping into the room, Applejack rubbed her neck. “I, uh, could get exactly get home. Twi wasn't home either, so I came on back here until she decides to show up and explain what the hay’s going on.”
Rarity blinked a couple of times. “Did something happen?”
“Yah ain't noticed?” Applejack replied, thrusting a hoof toward the window.
Quickly twisting around, Rarity peered out the window. “I don't get it. Is something there?”
“There’s a huge force field surrounding Ponyville!” Applejack said. “It doesn’t cover Sweet Apple Acres, though. If you look real close, you can see a shield over Canterlot, too. Just like that time the Changelings attacked.”
Rarity stretched back over. “I can’t see it.”
Rounding Rarity’s hospital bed, Applejack pressed her head against the bedframe and slid the bed over to the window. “That better?”
“My goodness. It reminds me of when Trixie trapped the whole town.”
Applejack nodded as she moved to stand by the window. “Yeah, but the color is the same as Twi’s magic. So, best I can figure, she’s the one that put it there.”
“But why? And without telling us anything?”
Applejack bit her lip. “I know. It don't sit well with me either.” With a sigh, she stepped back from the window. “I reckon we just have to trust Twilight. I'm sure she's got things well enough in control, otherwise she’d have come and got us to help, right?”
Instead of responding right away, Rarity set her eyes on the enormous cast encompassing her thigh. “Well,” she said, rubbing a hoof gingerly over the cast, “she certainly would have gone to you for help.”
Applejack placed a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. After Rarity turned her azure eyes to her, she smiled and said, “Hey, if I thought Twilight needed my help the most right now, I'd still be out there looking for her.”
“Oh, Applejack!” Wrapping her hooves around Applejack’s neck, Rarity pulled her into a hug.
Leaning in, Applejack rubbed Rarity’s back. “I’m here for yah, and not just because I’m trapped by that force field, either.” Even though Applejack got little more than a weak chuckle from Rarity, she still succeeded in coaxing some small semblance of happiness from her. Though, it made the next part that much harder.
After reveling in the hug a few more moments, Applejack said with a sigh, “So, uh, I couldn’t help but notice that Sweetie Belle ain’t in here with yah.”
Rarity’s grip tightened at her sister’s name. “N-no, she’s not.”
With a sigh and one last squeeze, Applejack pulled back. “I take it yah couldn’t get through to her?”
Rarity’s gaze fell away as she shook her head. “It’s not just that. I… she has a point, Applejack. I keep going over it in my head, again, and again, and again. What could have happened, what I could’ve done differently…”
“We done been over this, Rare. Yah can’t go and do this to yourself.” Applejack put a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder, though she still didn’t look back up at Applejack. “There ain’t a thing you can do to change what’s already done. Don’t go and blame yourself. Blame that Blue Blazes. And remember, you saved Sweetie’s life. She wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you.”
“You know, when I went inside, I went straight for Sweetie’s room. I knew she was there; she needed me. But… if I’d never had that stupid fight with her, then, maybe, I could’ve helped my parents instead. I could—”
“Now you stop right there!” Applejack grabbed Rarity's chin, forcing her to make eye contact. “Do not do this to yourself, and don’t you dare let Sweetie Belle do it to herself, either.”
“But I—”
“But nothing!” Applejack shouted. “Now you listen here and you listen good. First off, if Sweetie was at the boutique, you never would’ve left it. I know you. Ain’t no way you’re gonna go and just leave Sweetie Belle alone while Ponyville burned, and no way you’re gonna take her with yah to go chargin’ into an inferno. There wasn’t a thing you could’ve done to change what happened. Certainly no way you can go and change any of it, now.”
Rarity’s irises moved the corners of her eyes as she tried desperately to avoid Applejack’s gaze. “I-I suppose that’s true.”
Sighing, Applejack released Rarity’ jaw. “Second, you… you ain’t got a clue how much you’ll regret it if you go on and blame yourself like this, Rarity. I can’t let yah do that to yourself, and I ain’t about to let Sweetie, either. It’ll tear you apart inside.”
Rarity finally looked up as Applejack’s eyes fell away. “Applejack,” she spoke in little more than a whisper, “what happened to your parents was an accident. You cannot possibly tell me that you blame yourself for that.”
Tugging on her hat’s brim, she hid her eyes from Rarity. “They weren’t supposed to be there, you know. I know I was just a filly, and I know it ain't all my fault. But still, sometimes I look at Granny Smith or Big Mac or Apple Bloom and I just… I hate myself.”
Applejack suddenly looked up, a fiery glint in her eyes. “And you’re outta your pretty little head if you think that I’m just gonna stand here and let ya’ll do that yourselves!” An angry hoof stomped on the cool tile. “Especially not when you two got somepony to actually blame for all this. You need to go and blame Blue Blazes for what happened. It’s his fault, and don’t you go and forget it, not even for a second. Hate him, not yourself.”
“Applejack…”
Abruptly turning around, Applejack headed for the door. “I’m gonna go and get Sweetie.”
“Applejack!”
Applejack marched out, her ears deaf to Rarity’s cries.