//------------------------------// // Towards the Goal // Story: For Want of a Dawn // by Ciroton //------------------------------// Once upon a time, in a land beyond the magic of Equestria, there lived a resourceful and proud species. They survived and thrived in the worst kind of climate imaginable to ponies: extreme oppressive heat in the day followed by bone-chilling nights. They were the buffalo, beset by dangers both great and small, from poisonous snakes up to massive dragons who searched the desert for an easy meal. It was a hard life for them, but they lived it by their own choice, for they were strong as well as proud. Our story starts one fateful day in the life of one of the tribes' younger members: a small calf by the name of Burning Sands. He was not more than ten winters old at the time when they first stampeded within sight of the end of their desert. Bound by the natural curiosity that binds all young of every species, he became enthralled by what he saw: a forest of deep green and brown. He had only heard tales of the fantastic wood from the adults who ventured away from the group to harvest the wood for the nightly fires! Alas, his parents forbade him from entering the forests beyond their land, citing terrible dangers of flora and fauna that dwelt within their borders. Although his young heart yearned for adventure, he knew well enough to respect the wishes of his elders. Yet, every dawn he found his waking mind drifting to the forest and the possibilities that existed within until he was finally of age. One summer, the annual rains failed, throwing the Buffalo into a state of panic! Their usual stampeding grounds became devoid of life, so they had no choice but to move on. Yet, no matter how far in the desert they went, they could not find any stable source of food. Desperate, the chief of their tribe called together the best young hunters, scouts and gatherers they could spare and split them into teams of two. Burning Sands was excited to hear that he was in their number, and that he and a friend had been assigned to look in the very woods he fantasized about! Together, the two young bulls entered the cool, shady woods for the first time. They ventured on for days and into weeks through harsh terrain and past beasts they only knew of in legend as they searched for enough food to sustain their tribe. Thankfully, their labours were fruitful and they managed to fill their satchels to the brim with fruit and vegetables as they went. However, that would not be the only thing they would bring with them upon their return. One day, during the journey home, the two bulls happened across a strange sight. Sitting there, in a clearing in the middle of the wood, bathed in the light of the noon-time sun was the most beautiful buffalo cow they had ever seen! Her coat was as white and sparkled in the sun as the richest stone and her eyes were as purple as the most valuable and beautiful gemstones. They were both captivated instantly and yearned to know her. One of the scouts felt an insatiable desire burn in his heart. He wanted to embrace the woman, to see if she was pleasing in touch and feeling, and would take her for his wife if she was! He stampeded forward, taking leave of his senses as raw instinct governed his actions. However, Burning Sands felt revelation wash over his body, for he had never known a buffalo to have such a stunning coat. He cried out to his companion to stop, for the cow was obviously a sacred being, but the possessed bull failed to heed his warning. He watched as his friend and the cow became enveloped in a dense fog, obscuring both from view for what felt like hours. Eventually, the cloud dissipated, leaving only the white buffalo in the clearing, the other scout having vanished entirely! Frightened, the other bull tensed up and drew his axe in order to combat the strange threat; however, she beckoned him forward, saying no harm would come to him. Since she spoke his language, the bull slowly approached the white buffalo as he decided she was actually one of the tribe, if not from his herd. When he finally arrived in the clearing, she pointed to a spot where the other scout had stood to show a pile of white bones. Sadly, exhaustion and poisonous berries he had eaten drove him to desire her, so she had to destroy him lest he destroy himself with his impure actions. Burning Sands became even more frightened at the white one and brandished his weapon against her, hitting her square in the head. However, his mighty axe of iron disintegrated like cheap wood against her skull. She explained that she was a sacred being, and that his mortal weapons could not harm her. The bull prostrated himself before the truly divine creature as even he could feel the power she radiated like the sun itself. She told him to rise before she went on to say that if he did exactly as she instructed, not only would she spare his life, but also promise great prosperity to come to his tribe forevermore! He agreed and was instructed to return to his herd and gather the elders. There, they would make a grand feast for her arrival, where she would bequeath her gift upon them and their lands. The young scout asked her what they were to call her, so she revealed her name: Celestia. "Oh brother, another one of these stories?" "Do you want to hear it, or not, Trixie?" The scout returned to his tribe as fast as his hooves would carry and told his herd of the encounter he had in the woods. They were sceptical, naturally, but decided that any way out of their predicament would be welcome. So, they prepared a grand feast out of the fruits of his travels and anticipated her arrival. That night, as the moon hung high above their heads, the white buffalo entered their camp and spoke the name told to the scout. After eating her fill and making merry, the white cow told the tribe of how she moved both sun and moon across the sky. For their hospitality and kindness, she forever vowed to ease the heat of her sun upon their lands and promised that if they ever needed her protection, all they had to do was pray to her. In return, she asked the buffalo to aid any travelers passing through the desert; to show the same kindness they extended to her to perfect strangers. It was a tempting offer, to which they agreed. They would help any traveler they came across and sing praises to her name in return for prosperity and protection from the dragons and other creatures that hunted them. For finding the goddess and saving their herd, the tribe named Burning Sands as the next chief in line. Ever since, both sides have kept their agreement intact, despite the number of generations that have come and gone since that day. "... The end," Twilight finished with a smile. Trixie, Spike, and the storyteller sat around in a circle as they sat in the big chamber at the entrance of the monastery. Chronus had been adamant they spend the night indoors rather than out in the cold embrace of the vicious winds. He sat in the circle and listened as well, although he did not interrupt. "It was... nice," Trixie started, "But... well... Trixie knows you were going off the version the princess told when you were a filly, but she can't shake the feeling that it was oddly self-serving. Then again, that's just her. You told the story well, but you used some fairly confusing words, considering your audience. As well, the lack of visuals do not make it very engaging... An 'A' for effort, but a 'C' for execution." "I'd have to agree, Twi," Spike nodded his head. "Don't quit your day job. Now, it's MY turn!" Clearing his throat, the baby dragon began to tell his own story for their little pastime. "This one is called, 'The Black Dragon!'" Twilight and Trixie quietly rolled their eyes as he began. ~*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*~ Twilight opened her eyes with a quiet groan the next morning and rolled over in her sleeping bag, desperate to get a few more minutes of sleep. Even if it meant enduring more nightmares, it was better than the alternative of staying awake for the rest of her life. In theory, she could do it, but that would mean giving up part of being a real pony. She had made peace with the fact she was a construct of magic, but that did not mean she had to like it, or live by it. Yet, as much as she tossed and turned, sleep failed to find her. After about an hour of futile effort, she gave up and walked out the door back into the main chamber. Chronus had offered a palatial room to her, but that did not mean she felt comfortable taking his charity. Besides, what right did she have to sleep in a comfortable bed when other ponies lacked even basic shelter out there in the cold, dark perversion of the nation she loved? As she approached the door, she could hear hushed words of discussion from beyond; obviously she was not the first to wake. Upon entering the room, Twilight found her sister, Spike and the Draconequus sitting at a table while enjoying some warm oatmeal to start the day. They had fallen silent as the door creaked open, but she chalked it up to the building paranoia she could feel on the edges of her brain. If it was important, they would tell her. "Good morning, Twilight!" Trixie asked with enthusiasm. "Did you have a good night's sleep?" She said nothing as she sat at the table and grabbed a bowl with her magic. The words washed over her in a haze of sleep, like water over a rock on the beach. "So..." The blue magician trailed, unsure if she did not hear her, or was actively ignoring her. "We were wondering just what, exactly, Genesis told you." The previous night, she emerged from the chamber, or 'Regenesis Machine', in a daze from thought and the lingering oppressive energies. It was Chronus who had to explain who she saw and that he more than likely gave her advice on how to move forward. But how could she tell them her choices when they all revolved around that wick- that hor- that creature living in the deepest part of her subconscious? She sighed outwardly as she realized that, no matter what, she could not do it completely on her own. "He gave me three choices," she spoke as she poured herself some breakfast. "Each is more absurd and difficult than the last, but they are the only ways to kill the queen. We can either march up to her this minute and do battle with little to no preparation, venture into the depths of the Sorrel Hells themselves and grab some stupid MacGuffin item that will do stars-know-what, or try and reunite my missing friends despite them all being pony-plop insane and struggling to kill each other off." "My, my," Chronus spoke, "That does sound rather harrowing... if you believe it to be. I trust, if he suggested the Sorrel Hells, he said you had to obtain the Shoes of Rocinante?" "Yeah, that's the MacGuffin," the purple mare replied. "Do you know what, exactly, they do, Princess Twilight?" She shook her head and started on her cooling breakfast. "Well, you won't find the answer in any book, so I will be the one to tell you. The Shoes of Rocinante look exactly like they sound, but there is a twist. They allow the wearer to match any creature they face in physical and magical power, and bestow control over shadows and darkness to the pony. But there is a major expense. If one wears them for too long, their body is destroyed and they are turned into a constellation for all eternity, essentially killing them." "That sounds horrible!" Spike spoke in shock. "Well, I know which one we shouldn't do right now! Twilight, there is no way we can go to the Sorrel Hells, even if it is technically possible!" "Trixie is inclined to agree with the pint-sized dragon. There is nothing, really, to be gained from such a dangerous power boost. I'd rather we go stones in and beat the snot out of the queen right now!" "Actually," the spirit of time continued. "It is not so much a power boost as it is a device to ensure an even fight. For example, if a pony were to wear them and face a filly, they would have a filly's magical prowess and physical ability. However, if they were to face the queen... well, then you would be her match." "Mmm," Twilight nodded as she ate, "What about reuniting my living friends? Where are we going to begin, never mind how we're going to make them stop being so crazy? They've all lost their elements, so we can't count on the Elements of Harmony, especially since we don't have the time to find the new bearers." "Just because they lost them," Chronus answered, "does not mean they cannot hold them anymore. You simply have to make them remember why you were friends in the first place. Now, as for where to start, I would suggest you go to the lovely Ms. Rarity. I can assure you that she feels most horrible about giving up on you and would join you in a heartbeat. I would save Ms. Pinkamena for last, obviously, since you will need some backup to get through to her." "That's all well and good," the purple mare replied, "but just in case it doesn't work, then... then how would we even find a way to get into the Sorrel Hells? There is no way that I am killing myself." "I would assume that the royal archives would have a text on the matter. If not the actual location, then the clues you would need to find it." "So, no matter what," Trixie pondered, "our next destination is... Canterlot. Well, Trixie is glad that our path has been decided: right into the jaws of the beast" There was a general murmur of agreement between the baby dragon and the librarian as they conceded that, in order to continue, they would have to head to the heart of darkness. Still, Twilight could not help but remember an old adage: 'The closer one is to danger, the farther they are from harm.' ~*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*~ South-east of Canterlot, straddling the eastern border of the Everfree Forest stood the imposing and dangerous Swayback Mountains. By contrast, the peaceful Forest of Burzee extended from its northern edge right to the gates of Canterlot City itself. With the spirit of time to point the way, the trio found that the journey down the mountains was exponentially easier then the trip up, resulting in them reaching the wood in a matter of hours instead of days. Tall, majestic trees spread about the ground, littered with debris from the trees above. No grass could grow on the ground because of the thick canopy above, shading the travelers below from the heat of the summer sun. It was easy to see why ponies rumoured the place to be the childhood home of the mythical reindeer Jingle Bells. Twilight had nearly forgotten what it was like to be outdoors and not freezing her flank off, so the change of pace was embraced by her as the troupe walked on in silence. Unlike previous stints of traveling, Twilight took up the rear of the group, using her magic to sense for any possible assailants. Meanwhile, Trixie and Spike walked alongside, quietly talking among themselves again. A sneaking suspicion in the back of her head told her not to trust them, but another voice was telling her such thoughts were foolish. It was to the point where she did not know which voice was supposed to be what, but she decided being paranoid was not going to help her. "What do you think, Twilight?" Spike called back to her. "Hmm?" the confused unicorn uttered as she jerked herself out of her musings. "Sorry, I wasn't playing attention." She giggled to herself and grinned a little to hide her embarrassment. They weren't excluding her from anything, but rather she was not paying proper attention to them. "We were talking about those options Genesis gave you some more and what, exactly, we are going to do when we reach Canterlot. I mean, it is just a day's walk or so from here, so it would help if we knew what we were going to do first." "Well, I have no ideas, I will say that much. I'd like to hear what you decided upon first though." "Well, we figured you would want Rarity to join us first," Trixie started. "Of course, the odds of a team infiltrating Canterlot Castle successfully are slim to none, so it could only be one of us. The others would stay behind on the outskirts of the city and wait for the two to return, and then we would head off to get another Element of Harmony. That is... what you were planning, wasn't it?" "In a way," Twilight replied. "I would like to be the one to go into the castle and rescue her. I mean, I lived in the castle for most of my life, so I know it better than anypony except for Princess Celestia. I even picked up a couple of new things after the fire that the queen would not easily know." "I suppose..." Trixie trailed. "I just don't like the idea of you going in alone. I mean, getting in and out undetected like that is going to be quite the performance, and I am not sure if you would be able to handle it. As the resident expert on illusions, I would stand a much better chance against detection and the royal guards." "I appreciate the sentiment, Trixie, but it HAS to be me. I mean, do you expect Rarity to believe you after she's been tricked into selling out the Crusaders? Besides, I need to see her for myself and I need to reassure her that I am there for her and to help our friends. Please, Trixie, this is something I have to do on my own." "Well, I suppose if you must..." From there, the group pressed on in silence, crossing shallow streams and large rivers alike, runoff from the mountains to the south. Birds chirped happily in the trees; a reminder to Twilight that the world was still turning despite her internal struggles and the encroaching darkness. Occasionally, a strange feeling would pass over her, as if she were being watched. Twilight shook those notions out of her head once more as they came to a stop in a forest clearing, the sun beginning to set and usher in the night. For the past few hours, they had continued on in silence, so it was refreshing to hear her two companions start talking as they set up the tents. With the magical fire lit and their camp restored, they gathered around the fire to eat and share more stories. "You know our plan?" Twilight spoke over the burning embers, as the sun finally slipped below the horizon. "Well, I just wanted to let you know that... if Rarity should arrive alone and tells you I'm not coming, then I want you three to go on ahead. Maybe try out Fluttershy first over Applejack. There's something I need to do, to make sure all our bases are covered, so... just continue on without me. I'm sure you can do it without me. I don't want to see her like that anymore. It... it hurts me to see her so bitter." Trixie growled and tensed up for a few minutes, but instead of yelling, she let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Trixie knows she won't be able to stop you, even if she tried to... just go do it, Twilight. If you feel you need to do something on your own, go for it. Just promise you won't do something foalish, and actually FIGHT BACK if a pony or some other creature tries to capture you. We don't want to have to save your sorry flank a second time! I... I don't have a second Bella to use in your place." "You... you sacrificed your doll just to help me escape!?" Twilight gasped, having not realized she gave up the most precious item she possessed just to let her walk free. Trixie nodded her head solemnly and looked into the fire. "If... if we do get separated, then we'll meet up in two weeks outside of Fluttershy's old home in Ponyville. I'd normally say the Library, but they might be watching it. If I am not there... then we'll meet up some other time, as I'll be going to look for AJ after that." "I think we'll be done with Fluttershy by then, but let's not split hairs quite yet." Spike simply nodded his head in agreement before Twilight decided to call it a night. ~*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*~ Light flooded into the room from the windows all around like a cathedral, only one made of wood and filled with books. Laughter echoed through the room like a choir as the six multicoloured ponies sat in a circle. Twilight had just finished regaling her friends with the story of her long nightmare and they had helped her feel better about it: they said that everything was just a dream and that they would always love her. It made her feel warm and happy again after spending such a long time being cold and miserable. Yet, on the edge of her mind, she could not help but feel as if something were amiss with everything around her. Twilight shook the notion out of her head as quickly as it had come: it was just the dream putting her on edge again. The whole thing was silly, now that she thought of it. As if her friends could ever become bloodthirsty psychopaths like in the dream! The notion just made her want to laugh again, so she let loose a little giggle. Her friends smiled back at her with a warm glow on their faces, telling her subconsciously that everything would be all right. So, together Twilight and her friends started playing all sorts of games together. It was like a slumber party, except in the day time since none of them were busy for some reason. All she knew was that she did not care. After such a horrible nightmare, she just wanted to be with her friends. Until, however, everything suddenly stopped. Her friends stood around, suddenly becoming stony-faced and expressionless until they shifted to sad and downtrodden. Twilight blinked, confused by the sudden turn of events. "What's wrong, girls? Is there something the matter?" she asked out of her confusion. "T'ain't nothing wrong, Twilight," Applejack replied. "It's just time fer us to go, is all. We had fun, but... all good things hafta come to an end. Sorry, sugarcube." The wind began to pick up as she smiled dully; specks of brown dust flew away from her hat and into nothingness, the hat itself disappearing from existence before her hair flew into the wind. Twilight gasped as all that was left behind was the skeleton of her friend until it crumbled and fell to the floor in a pile of white dirt. "A-Applejack!" Twilight croaked as the dust pile too vanished. "I'm so sorry, Twilight," Fluttershy spoke up. Her mane had turned into a deep, sickly brown and started falling out as her coat started to turn. "We tried. We really did. We waited for you, but... you were too late. I'm sorry we weren't strong enough to be there for you, but now we have to go." The yellow Pegasus began to lose weight at an astonishing rate, becoming nothing more than skin and bones before the now brown mare lost all of her hair. With a weak smiled, she slowly sank into the ground and disappeared. "Fluttershy..." the librarian trailed, feeling a knot develop in her throat. "Oh, darling," Rarity started, looking at her with a smile on her face and a tear in her eye. Her coat was matte and dirty, hanging off of her bones as she started to resemble Granny Smith more than her usual radiant self. "It's not your fault. Time just does funny things to some ponies. Goodbye, Twilight." With that, she lay down on the floor, exhausted before she disappeared as well, her mane as white as her coat used to be before the end. "No... Rarity," Twilight felt tears began to well up in her eyes as she saw her friends start to die one by one in front of her. What was going on? Ponies never died this easily, did they? "Don't be sad, Twilight! Smile!" Pinkie chirped as she hopped on the spot with that usual grin plastered on her face. "Sure, we're going away and that's a sad thing, but sometimes you just gotta learn to do things on your own! I mean, sure, having friends is nice and all, but you can't depend on them all the time and- oop! I gotta go now, bye!" Without another word, she waved Twilight off before disappearing in a loud pop with a bunch of streamers and confetti bursting from the spot. "Pinkie Pie..." The scholar spoke quietly. Until, however, a second explosion ripped through the library, staining her lavender coat crimson as blood spewed forth, complete with the odd section of intestine and other organs. She did not move or speak at first, even as blood trickled down her face. "Oh that Pinkie Pie," Rainbow chuckled. "You should see the look on your face, Twilight! Hilarious!" Upon inspection, the purple mare found that the blood too had disappeared, leaving her unblemished. "Heh. What can I say that hasn't been said already, huh Twilight? Well... I..." Tears of rainbow juice started to seep out of her eyes, leaving Twilight with her mouth agape at the normally stoic Pegasus. "See ya, Sparkles!" Before her eyes, the chromatic Pegasus began to stream tears of rainbow as her ruffled mane and tail melted, slowly taking the rest of her body with it. The last discernible expression on her face was a sad smile before it sloughed off, pooling onto the floor in a sick slurry of colours. The puddle sizzled and bubbled as it got smaller before disappearing forever. "Rainbow Dash..." Twilight broke down, her legs buckled, leaving her sobbing to herself on the floor, completely alone without a friend in the world. What had happened? Why did they all have to leave her like that!? Did they not say, once upon a time, that they would be the best of friends forever? Did they not know just how helpless and alone she felt without any one of them in her life!? She pressed her head into the floor and sobbed some more, crying in sorrow and frustration. She stayed like that for what felt like hours, alone and cold in the sinfully bright library, sobbing uncontrollably. Eventually, she heard the sound of hooves upon the wood, but did not dare raise her head, wanting to be alone in her misery. She would not receive her wish, as she felt a thud beside her, followed swiftly by the wrapping of a large, feathery blanket over her body. For a while, memories of her and Celestia embracing crossed her mind, making her feel safer. When she finally chanced a look, however, she found a sight that nearly made her blood boil. It was an alicorn with a soft lavender coat and mane that faded from starry night at the roots through the twilight hours and into a gentle sky blue. She had tears cresting in her eyes as well, but what reason did a monster have to cry other than to lull the hero into a false sense of security? She wanted to strike out at her and wring her neck but... she just did not have the energy to care anymore. "S-stop looking like her. You're NOT Celestia!" "Oh, you see the relation?" Eos replied with a measure of surprise. "Well, that makes one of you. I personally don't." "It's your shape and height and..." Twilight gave an exasperated sigh. "Forget it. I don't care anymore. I'm just so tired of this plop!" She put her head to the floor and started taking deep breaths, still crying, but no longer sobbing like a filly. Eos pulled her wing back into her body, exposing Twilight to the cold once more. She sighed as well and lowered her head to the floor, not quite touching it. She did not wear any vestments upon her body as Twilight might have expected, but she was still the mare that she detested the most. "I am tired as well," she replied wearily. "Why are you here?" the smaller mare snapped. "What do you want? Did you come to laugh as I slip into madness?" "Why on earth would I laugh at you? I think it is a shame that you are losing your innocence to war and death so quickly. It just makes everything more confusing if there is no line between right and wrong and... I do not like it." "Who cares what YOU think, foul demon! I think it is an insult that everypony seems to think we're the same bucking creature! What the Sorrel Hells ARE you anyway? You don't talk like me and you certainly don't think like me!" Eos pushed herself off of the floor and curiously started pacing around the room, as if willing for the words to appear on the ground for her to recite. "You don't think I have anything to do with you. If you refuse me outright, then I have no power, or right to address you as 'me', 'us' or even 'we'. I am, after all, a personification of your subconscious. I know you do not want to be me, and that you think you can handle things on your own. But I must remind you, had I not intervened, you would be in the hooves of Queen Eos, or a distorted reanimated corpse if those Barghests had their way with you." Twilight growled and got up onto her hooves, clenching her teeth shut as frustration and anger roared through her. "YES, I KNOW!" she screamed. "I'm not HAPPY about it, but for buck's sake, I GET IT ALREADY!! You're nothing more than a temptation: an easy answer to a problem that's YOUR fault in the first place! If I became you, then that would just be another monster for my former friends to fight against! I HATE YOU!!" The alicorn looked taken aback by her explosion, and rightly so too! She had been the one to start the mess in the first place. She, Twilight, was innocent where that STUPID mule had goaded her into attacking her friends! It just had to be true. "You know how you said to Genesis that you do not want to embrace me?" Eos spoke. "Well, the feeling is MORE than mutual, Twilight Sparkle. Ever since I have been awakened, you have done NOTHING but fear and loathe me. Can you even comprehend what it is LIKE to have the only pony you can ever know fear and hate you, no matter how hard you try!?" "It feels like the moment I found out Celestia made me as a disposable tool and I had served my purpose," Twilight replied as-a-matter-of-factually. "But that was not ME. It was YOU. You're just the betrayal I felt: nothing more than how Luna and Nightmare Moon were. In fact, I'd even call you MY Nightmare Moon." A look of insurmountable pain came over the murderous horse's face. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes as she threw her head down to the floor again. "I knew this was a mistake," she sobbed. "W-why do I even bother!? I... I just..." She sighed, realizing that she would be doomed to be an outcast in her own mind. "Never mind. You won't listen to me: you never do. I'll leave you in peace, and NEVER return." Twilight sighed as the alicorn dejectedly trudged towards the library door and applied a hoof to her face. She'd probably regret it later, but it would be better to know the demon she would have to slay and her weaknesses before she tried to do in the queen, right? "Just... Go ahead and talk. But I don't want any emotional rhetoric horsefeathers. I want a concise LOGICAL explanation of yourself. From the beginning. Why do you insist on helping me if all I do is turn you away?" Eos returned to face her, tears still dripping down her muzzle. "Well," she sniffed. "I used to be your conscience. It's my... it's my job to nag at you sometimes, and I apologize for it. I will admit I was born of anger and pain, but that does not ordain me as a demon. You were simply having a very bad day, and the stress shut me out from trying to calm you down and... I apologize for being so weak, Twilight. I could not reach you until Luna cast her spell and let me pierce that fog." "What is it that you want with me?" Twilight asked. "Do you want to take over my body one day and go on some sort of spree? I realize that you can just lie blatantly to my face, but I'm curious to see what plop you can come up with beforehoof." "Simple respect," the alicorn replied. "Respect enough for you to humour me. Respect enough for you to listen when I have something to say. Respect enough to... to feel like I actually matter." "That last one might be a bit of a stretch," Twilight replied with a measure of spite. "Yeah, I know. I seek your approval, nonetheless." ~*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*/\/\/\*~ Drifting on the edge of consciousness, the sound of birds and scurrying woodland critters invaded the peaceful dream of marshmallow clouds and expansive fields of flowers: the first pleasant dream she had since falling into the Pool of Midnight. Twilight's eyes fluttered open to find the confines of her tent illuminated by the sun through the leaves of the trees. She stretched out and yawned loudly before getting to her hooves. After a quick brush of her mane and tail, she stepped outside into the crisp morning air. Dew still coated the blades of grass in the small meadow, so that the ground speckled with hundreds of small diamonds. She was not normally a morning mare, but she had to admit that there was something bracing and wholesome about waking at a reasonable hour, rather than spending half of the night studying. Although normally, Spike or Trixie would be around to greet her, or they would be getting breakfast started. Twilight could not help but feel a mild panic build. Had they been captured under pretence of mistaken identity, or were they removed so the guards could come in and pounce with no interruption? She stuck her head into their identical yellow and blue tent. Inside, she could see nothing but their empty sleeping bags and a note attached to her sister's. On it, she found out that she and Spike had slept in unintentionally, so things were late getting started. The lavender mare breathed a sigh of relief as she realized she was worrying over nothing, as usual. That did not stop her from giving the tent a quick comb-over for any sign of a struggle though, since forgery or a forced statement were not out of the question. "Sweet Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, stop being so paranoid!" she chastised herself. With a quick shake of her head to clear her mind, she stepped back outside to get a breath of fresh air. The magical fire she cast the night before still burned, as usual. Although, she could not help the nagging feeling that she was being watched again, as silly as the notion was to her. Meanwhile, on the edge of the wooded clearing, the hunter closed in on her prey, after many an exhaustive hour of tracking and following. It was a fine balance of remaining in cover while being able to keep track of her prize, not to mention the heavy guard she maintained. Although she had no clue what the small dragon was capable of, she knew all too well that Trixie kept herself primed in case of a sudden attack. So, she shadowed the group through the mountains, jumping from rock outcropping to outcropping, using her coat to help blend into the surroundings. The real trick was keeping herself hidden in the woods, but somehow she had managed. All of her hard work was about to be rewarded, as she saw the magician and the small dragon venture off on their own, leaving the prize completely unguarded. Well, perhaps not completely. Vinyl Scratch had to admit that the thought had crossed her mind that, if she really wanted to, Twilight Sparkle could kill her in less than ten seconds. Of course, the white mare knew she had no intent to kill, but the idea still scared her. Yet her need to cash in on the bounty outweighed the danger. She could not let her escape again when they were so close, or else she would have to try it again from the top. Already, her mind began to churn and create plans left, right and centre. She had faced magically superior ponies before, but never had she been so outclassed by a single mare. She refused to shrink from the challenge, however: her livelihood was hanging in the balance. The pounding of the bass, the feel of the knobs in her telekinetic hold... how she longed to be at the DJ booth once more and reclaim her crown as the most radical musician in all of Equestria! "Okay, Scratch," she spoke quietly. "You've done enough prep. It's time to give that filly a show that'll rock her world!" Taking a deep breath, the white unicorn emerged from her hiding place. "Trixie?" the prize spoke and looked around. Her mouth hung agape when she saw the mare was not her meddlesome little sister. With a flash of her horn, a wall of multicoloured light surrounded the meadow, locking the two ponies inside. The magic contained the odd note of music gently floating up before hitting the lip and disappearing. "Vinyl!?" "You like my Wall of Sound, filly?" the former DJ smirked. "Touch it and it'll blow your mind! Well, maybe your eardrums. It's so nopony interrupts us. Not even Tricky Trixie can get past that barrier, so we'll be quite undisturbed. I'd sorta like to play this tune at double time, so how's 'bout we rock this joint?" "No!" Twilight cried out. "I refuse to fight you, but there is no way that I am going with you. You're a greedy, selfish mare and I will not indulge you!" "Well, if that's what you want to believe." Vinyl put her saddle bags on the ground and cracked her neck. Her sunglasses reflected the light of the morning sun off her lenses. Twilight now knew why she had that feeling of being watched, so her paranoia was, at least, a little bit justified. The purple mare lowered her front into an attack position. Obviously the other pony had confidence and skill, or else she would not be so foalish as to fight her one-on-one. The white mare smirked wider when she saw the prize take a defensive position. "I gotta say that Trixie has prepared you well. You almost look passable as a fighter, Twilight Sparkle. But, I say we've stalled long enough. I'd like to get you to Canterlot by nightfall and claim my due reward. Let's dance!" Twilight was expecting the other mare to charge, but nothing happened. She stood with her horn aglow in a light blue shimmer, but she could not see or sense any attack magic being built up around her. Before she could even think, she fell to the ground on her side. Somehow, Scratch had used a simple levitation spell on the ground to churn it up and make her fall! But she could not dwell on it, for the white unicorn had chosen the moment to charge! Twilight struggled onto her hooves and quickly dodged the attack. There was no time to think for her, only react. As soon as the bounty hunter noticed she overshot the target, she wheeled around and was upon her before she had half a chance to charge a spell. Twilight rolled onto the dirt as the other pony came like a train, only having the presence of mind to trip her up. Thankfully, the white mare stumbled and skidded to a stop a short distance away. Using the lapse in the action, Twilight charged her horn and lifted her attacker before flinging her back. Vinyl hit the ground hard, but she did not show it. The fact she could lift her and toss her was a testament to her raw power, but she still lacked the will to injure. Killing was probably out of the question for a mare that soft. It was of no consequence to her since it was not her neck on the line. The white pony charged forward, but her prize was ready, probably lured into thinking she had a pattern. Twilight charged her horn as the white mare came in close, ready to teleport to a point just behind the charging mare so she would overshoot again. However, at the last possible second, the white unicorn suddenly veered to the left and over to the fire pit. Vinyl smirked as she looked at her over the flames; horn alight with more magical energy. Yet, again, she did not sense a sudden build of magical power. Thinking quickly, the purple mare jumped to the side to avoid being humiliated once more. Before she could take a breath and counter, a hunk of something brown smacked her in the face. She cried out in surprise and tried to remove the clod of dirt from her vision. However, she felt herself jerk and a ripple of pain radiate from her chest. When she could see again, she found herself on the ground with Vinyl looking over her, horn red and dripping blood. Looking down, she saw a large hole in the pit of her stomach, bleeding profusely. "All's fair in love and war, and we ain't smoochin'," the former DJ smirked. "Now, are you going to continue to thrash around like a filly with a temper tantrum, or are you going to come at me like a MA-?" She could not finish her sentence as she was suddenly thrown back by a gust of wind, passing through her barrier and out of the arena before careening into a tree. Unseen by the raging purple unicorn, Vinyl was smiling despite the sharp pain in her back. "Why are you doing this!?" Twilight screamed in anger when the bounty hunter re-entered the arena, unharmed by her own construct. "What did I ever do to you!? Or is this all about the money, you heartless horse!?" "All about the moolah, baby," Vinyl calmly replied. "That and I lost my career thanks to that stupid friend of yours! She ruined my eyes, and now I am going to catch you and use that money to get them fixed, and maybe I'll pay off a few bills too!" With a flick of her horn, the ground shook with a shockwave of sound. The ground underneath the magical fire lifted into the air and spread out, falling in small patches of now dry grass. The tiny fires quickly surrounded the purple mare. With the vibrations in the ground, the flames flared up and down quickly as the low rumble of a song played out under her hooves. Twilight summoned all of her strength and let loose an explosive ball of wind to douse the flames and rip up all the grass within three meters from her. Yet, as the dust cleared, she realized she lost track of the hunter. Before she could wheel around completely, she felt a sudden weight on her back. "I'm so glad you're a golem, Twilight Sparkle!" The musical mare grunted with effort as she tried to stop from being bucked off. "'Cause now I can stop the music with this one beat, and not kill ya!" Twilight felt her body shudder as the sudden jerk from the DJ's hooves snapped her neck, making her fall unceremoniously to the ground, paralysis taking hold. She tried with every fibre of her being to cast a spell, any spell, but only sparks would shoot out of her horn. Meanwhile, Vinyl Scratch lifted her saddle bags to her side, panting with effort as she lay atop her hard-fought prize. Clamping the Mithril braces to her legs and slipping the ring on her horn was like a symphony of victory to her tired ears. But she could not relax quite yet. The fact of the matter was that Trixie was still out there and fighting Twilight had taken a lot out of her. No doubt, if she and the blue unicorn went hoof-to-hoof, her mix records would suddenly spike in value. She reached down and snapped the purple mare's neck back into position. Twilight would still be paralyzed for a while, but she would not be damaged enough to void the bounty. Using her magic, she lifted the prize onto her back and used a featherweight spell on her body before she dashed off into the woods, grinning from ear to ear on the inside. Soon, her hard-fought goal would be in reach!