//------------------------------// // Rift // Story: Beyond the Veil // by Twi-Fi //------------------------------// “Wait! Apple Bloom!” Applejack’s voice echoed throughout the castle. Twilight leaped off her chair in shock as Apple Bloom came barging in with her sister on her tail. “She’s gone! She’s gone!” Apple Bloom cried. “You’re speaking nonsense.” “You gotta believe me,” she insisted, ignoring her sister and staring at Twilight with desperate intent. “Wha-what’s going on?” Twilight finally spoke. “Rainbow Dash! Sh-she’s g-gone!” stammered Apple Bloom. Twilight cast a look at Applejack for help. “I think she reckons she saw Rainbow Dash disappear,” Applejack said. “She did!” Apple Bloom stamped her hoof. “Sugarcube, Rainbow Dash just can’t disappear. This is part of her new act.” “No—ugh! It’s not that! She’s gone.” Twilight held up her hoof before Applejack could counter argue. “Alright! Just start from the beginning. Please.” Apple Bloom took a deep breath. “I was leaving Sweetie Belle’s, going home, when Rainbow Dash asked if I wanted to see her new routine—the one Scootaloo wouldn’t stop talking about—so, I figured it would be pretty cool. Anyway, she did it for me and it was pretty cool. She did her disappearing act… well kinda—” “What do you mean kind of?” Twilight asked. “She messed up on the final part and begged to do it again. And that’s where things got weird. She became distracted; she wouldn’t stop staring at something on the ground.” “What was it?” asked Twilight. “I don’t know. I didn’t see anything. She flew toward it; whatever it was. Then… then she… sh-she just vanished.” “Just like that?” Twilight asked. She doubted this was a cheap sleight of hoof trick Apple Bloom was describing. “Like when you teleport.” Apple Bloom gulped. “Sh-she looked scared right before she vanished.” “Are you sure that’s what you saw, sugarcube?” Applejack asked with more concern. Apple Bloom, incapable of responding any further, nodded as her golden eyes watered. Applejack pulled her sister into an embrace, nuzzling into her neck. “Hey, it’ll be alright. I’m sure Rainbow Dash is fine,” she whispered. “Show me where you were, Apple Bloom,” Twilight urged. The filly nodded again, sniffling, and freed herself from her sister’s clutches. Twilight and Applejack kept a few paces behind Apple Bloom, who moved at a fast walk-trot gait. Her legs were short, but Twilight still found it difficult to keep up with her. “I’m sorry for barging in like that, Twi. I saw Apple Bloom high-tailing for the castle. I could only stop her for a few seconds and didn’t get much from her.” “Don’t worry, Applejack. Something’s got her really worked up. Let’s just hope it isn’t as bad as it sounds.” “So, any ideas?” Twilight had several ideas: none of them were good. A non-unicorn can’t simply vanish into thin air without another unicorn present or dark magic at work. Oh, but of course! Twilight fought the urge to facehoof. How could I have forgotten to ask who else was present? The details matter! Feeling Applejack’s gaze, she shook her head. It was best to not jump to conclusions. “Here!” shouted Apple Bloom, coming to an abrupt halt. “I was standing right here.” She spun on the spot to face Twilight and Applejack. “And Rainbow Dash was up there”—she pointed over Twilight’s head—“when she disappeared.” Applejack and Twilight split up, each walking toward where Apple Bloom pointed. “Well, what do ya reckon, Twi?” asked Applejack, looking around the area with little regard. “I’m not sure. Everything looks normal. But…” Twilight trailed off staring at an unspecified part of sky above her. “But magic can leave traces, especially powerful magic… Apple Bloom, who else was here?” Apple Bloom shrugged. “It was only me and Rainbow Dash.” Just as I feared. “Applejack, don’t move! Whatever you do, don’t move any closer.” “Closer to what?” Twilight held up a hoof for silence. The spell she was thinking of was complex and took a lot of energy. She only hoped she was wrong. Concentrating on the flow of magic, she traced it from her horn to the magic that surrounded her; everything felt calm. Twilight navigated images of tranquil ocean of energy forming in front of her. Feeling confident, she pushed forward, extending her conscious across the smooth plane. She pushed on until the energy became choppy, and Twilight felt gaps where her spell would almost break. And then there was nothing. Gasping, Twilight fell back on her haunches as her spell fizzled out. Panting, she held her head in her hooves. “What is it?” Applejack rushed over to help Twilight back to her hooves. “A fissure.” Apple Bloom cocked her head to one side. “A tear or hole in the fabric of magic. They’re extremely dangerous.” Twilight cast a nervous glance at the affected area. “Applejack, I need you to get your brother and supplies. We need to fence this area off as soon as possible. Apple Bloom, can you go tell Rarity to get the rest of my friends here. Then go get Spike and help him carry every book by Starswirl The Bearded here,” Twilight said with the most urgency and confidence she could muster. “Got it!” Apple Bloom cantered off for the Carousel Boutique. “I’m on it, Twi!” Applejack shouted. Twilight trembled. The thought of a tear in the magic itself was frightening. To make matters worse, magical fissures were the result of magic ponies were strictly forbidden to mess with. Altering the fabric of magic had irrecoverable consequences. One small miscalculation could tear apart the very foundation of Equestria. “Oh Rainbow, I hope I can get you out of this mess.” Just thinking of the places Rainbow Dash could be made her stomach turn over.