> Storms On the Horizon
>  by Eeveexpert
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - The Hunt Begins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Just a...little further...

Somewhere in the middle of the Everfree Forest, a brown pegasus messenger stumbled through the trees, engaged in a losing battle with the limits of his own body. He had been walking for what seemed like days. His hooves were sore and cracked, his wings hung uselessly at his side, their strength long since burned out. His vision swam with fatigue; a single tree before him danced and waved so erratically, it appeared to be three trees in one. An unearthed root directly in his path easily went unnoticed. Until his hoof caught it, that is.

I can't quit... he thought, spitting out a clot of decaying leaves and mud. Celestia must receive this message... It needs...to get to...Canterlot... Pulling another chunk of energy out of some deeply hidden reserve, the pegasus forced himself back to his hooves and resumed his aimless staggering.

At long last, he finally broke free of the seemingly endless trees, and suddenly, there it was. Like the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, there it was. The royal city of Canterlot, perched high upon the mountainside. Relief flooded the tired pegasi's body at the sight. At that instant, his legs buckled underneath him and he found himself with the unpleasant taste of mud in his mouth once more. I...did it... I'm here... Before finally passing out, the winged pony remembered seeing a pair of twinkling points of light descending towards him, shining brightly even in the midday sun.

-------------------------

Somewhere deep inside the Canterlot Palace, a white pegasus stallion sat in a simplistic room, all manner of books, scrolls, and various other manuscripts strewn about on the table before him. The decorated golden armor he wore gleamed softly in the candlelight. Several quick knocks on the door broke his attention away from his studies.

"General Headwind, sir!"

The pegasus general stood up from his table and slowly walked to the door. On the other side of it stood another white pegasus, clad in very similar golden armor who quickly threw up a respectful salute at his superior's presence.

"At ease, Jet Stream." Headwind said, dismissively flicking his wing. "What is it, Lieutenant?"

"During one of our routine daily patrols of the city's outer limits, Cirrus and I discovered an unconscious pegasus messenger on the very edge of the Everfree Forest."

"Where is Cirrus now?"

"I requested he stay with the messenger so that the dispatched medical team could locate them easier."

The general nodded. "Very good. This pegasus, you mentioned he was a messenger. Was he carrying anything of significant importance?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, he was." The lieutenant produced a sealed scroll from a compartment in his armor located under his wing, which he passed to the other pegasus. "It is addressed directly to Princess Celestia." he added. "I know that you report directly to the Royal Sisters, sir, so I thought it fitting that I come to you first."

"Excellent work, Lieutenant." General Headwind tucked the scroll under his wing and gave a salute, to which the other pegasus responded with one of his own. "I want you to find that medical team and direct them to the messenger. Understood?"

"Yes sir, General, sir!"

"Very good. Dismissed!"

As the lieutenant galloped down the hallway, the general turned and started in the opposite direction, deeper into the palace. A lengthy trek up several flights of stairs and down several more hallways placed him in front of a brightly decorated wooden door emblazoned with an ornate depiction of the sun. Raising a hoof, the white pegasus rapped smartly on the door.

A female voice floated out from behind the closed door. "May I ask who it is?"

"General Headwind, of the Royal Air Guard of Canterlot, requesting permission to enter Her Majesty's chambers." he replied in a very militaristic manner.

"Permission granted. You may enter."

As if by magic, the elaborate door swung inward. Standing against the far wall, gazing out the window, was a tall white alicorn. There was no wind whatsoever in the room, yet her multi-colored mane and tail danced and shimmered as though tousled by a gentle breeze. The same image of the sun that was on the door was also visible upon her flank. The shining gold tiara, amulet, and boots that she wore completed her regal appearance. The general bowed his head in respect. "Forgive the intrusion, your Highness, but something has come up. Something that I believe warrants your immediate attention."

"What is it, General?" Celestia asked, keeping her gaze pointed out the window.

"A scroll, addressed specifically for you. It was found in the possession of a pegasus messenger that was found unconscious on the edge of the city. A medical team has been dispatched to locate him and transport him back to the palace infirmary for proper care. I have the scroll for you here, should it please you to look at it."

At the mention of the message, the princess turned to face the significantly smaller pegasus. A magical yellow glow surrounded her horn, and subsequently, the sealed scroll under the general's wing. Guided by her magic, the parchment rose to Celestia's eye level and unfurled itself. Her intelligent violet eyes silently traced over the words scribed upon the paper. As she read on, her brow furrowed and her tail began flicking in frustration.

"Beg pardon, your Majesty, but what seems to be the matter? It looks as though it's quite serious."

The mare let out a lengthy sigh. "Here, you take a look at it. You tell me." The scroll floated down to the general's eye level.

The pegasi's eyes were dark and clouded with worry by the time he had finished reading the message. "This sounds all too familiar, your Majesty. First it was Delamare, then it was Fillydelphia, followed soon after by similar reports from Manehattan. Finally, Appleloosa. This is the fourth case of such an occurrence in the-"

"Past month, I know." Celestia finished. "They're getting closer to Canterlot. Ponyville, too." The image of a young lavender unicorn, surrounded by all five of her closest friends flashed through the princess' mind. "It is as if these 'storms' are searching for something. Whatever that something is, I feel that they are getting closer to it."

"What course of action do you suggest we take, Princess?" Headwind inquired.

Celestia turned to face the window again, gazing out it, in the direction of Ponyville. Lost in thought, she remained silent, even after the general repeated his question. Finally, the white pegasus was forced to ask for the third time. "Princess?"

"Have several of your guards pull a chariot to Ponyville and find my student, Twilight Sparkle. Escort her back to Canterlot. I wish to have an audience with her directly. I shall send her a message announcing your arrival and explaining the circumstances that are upon us."

"Very well, your Majesty. There is still the matter of her friends, however. Do you wish to have them escorted back as well?"

"If they choose to accompany you during the time of your visit, then yes. I have not observed any of these 'storms' in this region of Equestria. As of right now, I do not believe that anypony is in immediate danger. Even so, our actions must be swift and without hesitation. I want your stallions en route to Ponyville within the hour. Is that clear?"

"Crystal, your Highness. They will be in the air immediately. You have my word." Headwind saluted and made a prompt about-face to exit the chamber.

"Oh, and before you leave, General, I've one more request of you."

"Anything."

"After your guards have been dispatched, find my sister and notify her of today's events." Princess Celestia instructed, glancing back over her shoulder. "Also let her know that I wish her to be present for the meeting with Twilight. She should be in the palace library, busy with her studies. I've a feeling that this involves her too."

"At once, your Highness." The general saluted once more and took his leave.

The same magical glow pushed the door shut behind the general. The alicorn took a deep breath and slowly stepped away from the window, cantering over to a large personal bookshelf that dominated the entire wall. A few minutes of searching, and a voluminous, thickly bound volume floated magically off the bookcase. Standing out against the book's black leather cover, flowing gold lettering spelled out its title. A Brief History of Harmony and Discord, by Stephen Colting. "This should tell me if my suspicions are correct or not..."

-------------------------

"There we go. All done."

In a humble, tree-like cottage on the edge of the small town of Ponyville, another pegasus was attending to her own very important matters. In the main room of this literal tree-house, a pastel-yellow pony with a flowing pink mane stood at a small table with her patient. Her standard tools of the trade were spread out on the table within hoof's reach.

"How does that feel?" the winged mare asked her patient.

Her "patient" was actually a young robin who had been unlucky enough to fall from his nest and dislocate one of his wings. Fluttershy, who had been going about her daily chore of feeding all the animals she attended to, immediately noticed his plight and whisked him inside, promising "I'll have you feeling better in no time, you poor little thing..." The pegasus had been true to her word, and the little bird felt great. He trilled happily and hopped about on the table.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're feeling better." she said, smiling from ear to ear. "Come with me, and I'll put you back safe and sound in your nest, okay?" Fluttershy brought a hoof up to table level, so the robin could hop on. With her precious cargo in tow, the pegasus spread her wings and began flapping. Taking great care to fly slowly and steadily, the pony carried the young bird back up to his nest in the tree next to her own. "Now, I don't want you to use that wing for a whole day, mister." Though the mare's words were stern, her tone was far from it. "I'll be back tomorrow to see how it's doing, okay?"

After receiving an affirmative nod, Fluttershy dropped back down to the ground to pick up her task where she had left off. Humming a familiar melody, she trotted back into her home, headed for the kitchen to prepare a meal for the last animal on her list, her special friend, Angel Bunny. She pulled open the door to her refrigerator, and dropped her humming. "Oh my... Out of carrots..." she murmured. As she thought of where she could acquire more carrots on such short notice, her first idea was a pony that shared the name of the orange vegetable. That idea was quickly dismissed, however. "No...that won't do; Carrot Top's shop won't be open until tomorrow..." A little more thought provided a reasonable alternative. "Applejack should be able to spare some carrots to tide me over until tomorrow."

Her mind made up, Fluttershy picked up her saddlebags and slipped them on. "Angel Bunny?" she called, stepping back into the main room. "I-I'm sorry, but I've run out of carrots for your dinner. I'll be back in about an hour, all right?" The mare stepped outside and spread her wings once more. Before she started for Sweet Apple Acres, the pegasus set her flight path toward the home of another of her friends, a one Carousel Boutique. 

As she flew, Fluttershy recalled the reason she was stopping at the boutique. The day before, the pegasus had received a knock on her door. Upon opening the door, she had been greeted by a white unicorn proudly sporting a very well-kept violet mane. "Hello there, Rarity. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Actually, darling, there is." the white pony answered. "I'm dreadfully sorry to drop in on you on such short notice, but I need a favor of you."

"Anything."

"I have found myself needing to accompany Twilight and Spike to Canterlot on business-related matters. You see, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie shall be joining us as well and I need somepony to look in on Opalescence for me. Not that anypony else has your talent with animals, my dear."

It goes without saying that the animal-loving pegasus had agreed to the request. As it turned out, reminiscing was a great tool for killing time; the tall, spired building known as Carousel Boutique had already appeared below the airborne pony. She barely made a sound as she landed upon the doorstep. "Now then, what did I do with that spare key that Rarity gave me?" Fluttershy muttered, rummaging through her saddlebags. "Oh, wait... Here it is." Slipping the key into the lock, the mare gave it a quick turn and pushed the door open.

The inside of Carousel Boutique looked every inch that one would expect a dressmaker's shop to look. The shelves were full of a veritable rainbow of supplies. The shelf space that wasn't occupied by fabric or string was taken up with other related items, such as tacks and safety pins. Tacked to the walls were a multitude of dress designs, some finished, some not. "Oh my... It certainly looks like Rarity has been busy lately..." the winged mare commented to herself, glancing at a sewing machine messily surrounded by the usual dressmaker's tools. "Goodness, I hope she hasn't forgotten to feed Opal... Speaking of Opal, I wonder where she could be... Opal? Opalescence, sweetie, where are you?" Fluttershy called softly, wandering up the stairs in search of the feline.

"Mrrrowwww..." A sleepy sounding meow slipped under the door in front of Fluttershy.

"I heard you, sweetie..." the pink-maned pony answered, opening the door to Rarity's room."Where are you?" A second meow above her caused the mare to look up. Perched on the top of a tall shelf, the white cat looked around sleepily. "There you are, Opal... Come down here, silly." At Fluttershy's beckoning, the feline quickly hopped down to the floor. She greeted the yellow pony with another meow and began rubbing against her forelegs. "That a girl..." The mare returned the feline's affectionate nuzzle. "Who's hungry?"

One bowl of cat food (and one very happy Opalescence) later, Fluttershy departed Carousel Boutique, making sure to lock the door behind her. Sweet Apple Acres was only a short flight away, so the pegasus took to the air once more. After another few minutes of flight, the mare could see the wooden sign for Sweet Apple Acres coming up fast. At first glance, Fluttershy only spotted two figures upon the farm grounds, one of which came running towards her as she landed, barking and wagging its tail; obviously not Applejack, but Fluttershy was happy to see her nonetheless. "Hi, Winona!" The collie energetically bounded after the winged pony as she trotted up to the other figure she had seen from the air. "Uhm... Excuse me? B-Big Macintosh?" There was a distinct change in the level of confidence in the pegasi's voice when she went from talking with animals to talking with other ponies.

"Well, howdy...er...Flutt'rshy, is it?" The big red earth pony took a break from his field plowing and glanced at the timid yellow mare. "Can Ah help ya with sumthin'?"

"Oh...um...yes. I-if it isn't too much of a problem..." Fluttershy mumbled, uncomfortably rubbing her foreleg. "Do...do you know where Applejack is? I have to ask her something..."

The stallion nodded. "Sure do. AJ's out in the orchard, bringin' in the' last of t'day's apple harvest. Do y'all want me t'take ya out there?"

"Oh no... That's...fine, thank you." she politely insisted, turning to head for the orchard. An instant later, she paused and looked back at Big Macintosh. "Uhm...actually, would you mind showing me? I-if you're not too busy...I mean..."

"Sure thing. Ah was just about finished with mah plowin' fer the day. Ah'd be happy ta walk ya out there."

"Th-thanks..."

The mare was unusually quiet, even by her standards, as the big red pony led her into the hundreds of apple trees that were the Apple family's orchard. Big Macintosh was the first to break the awkward silence. "Winona seems ta have taken a real shine t'ya." he commented.

"Huh? Oh, she follows me like this whenever I visit."

"Y've got a real way with animals, if ya don't mind mah sayin' so."

"Th-thank you..." Fluttershy murmured, blushing at the compliment.

"Eeyup."

Any further conversation between the two ponies was interrupted by a frustrated shout bearing the same country twang as Big Macintosh. "Owch! Dangnabbit, apple! Ah'm supposed ta be doin' the buckin', not the other way around!"

"That would be AJ..." Big Macintosh chuckled.

"Big Mac? Is that you? Ya finished with that field plowin' already?"

"Eeyup. Y'all have got a visitor here ta see ya, AJ."

The orange earth pony bent down to retrieve the offending apple, placing it in the baskets balanced across her back. "Well, who is it?" The blonde-maned pony answered her own question as she turned around. "Fluttershy!" she exclaimed. "What are y'all doin' here, sugarcube? What's the occasion?"

"I-I've got a favor to ask of you, if that's all right..."

"Well, of course that's alright. Y'all got here at the perfect time. Ah was just about ta call it a day, anyhow.  Ya wanna walk these apples back ta the barn with me?" The farmer pony shrugged to settle the baskets on her back a little more comfortably.

"Okay..."

"Alrighty. Let's get movin' then. Ah kin see a storm brewin' over yonder. Looks like it might be a real big'n, too."

"What?" Glancing out over the vast ocean of apple trees, Fluttershy could indeed see the dark, roiling clouds typical of a thunderhead growing on the horizon, most likely stemming from the Everfree Forest. "I didn't see any storms building after I left Rarity's..."

"Not surprisin'." the earth pony answered. "Ah've only just been watchin' this one fer the last few minutes. A li'l extra water's always good fer the apples, anyway."

"But from the Everfree Forest?"

"C'mon, sugarcube. Water's water. Don't make no difference where it comes from."

Disregarding the friendly banter between the two ponies, the trek back to the barn was largely uneventful, although the approaching storm did get a good deal closer.

"There we go. That's a right purty harvest fer a day's work." Applejack remarked, admiring the several dozen baskets of apples lined up in the barn, ready for sorting. "So, Fluttershy, what was that favor ya wanted ta ask of me?"

"Oh...that... Well, I was making Angel Bunny's dinner, and...I saw I was out of carrots... I was wondering...uhm...if it's all right, that is..."

"Y'all need a bushel or two of carrots, right?" the orange pony guessed.

"Yes. Just enough to last me until tomorrow. If you could spare them..."

"Of course. Ah'd be more'n happy ta loan ya some carrots. Not a problem." The hat-wearing pony cantered over to a large slotted crate filled to the brim with the orange vegetables. Out of this, she pulled half a dozen very healthy carrots, which she dropped into the pegasi's saddlebags. "There ya are, hun. The best of t'day's crop."

"How much do I owe you for these carrots, Applejack?"

The orange pony winked. "Consider 'em on the house."

"R-really? Are you sure?" Fluttershy asked. "I wouldn't want to impose..."

"Yer one of mah best friends, Fluttershy, y'all couldn't impose on me if ya tried. Shucks, Ah'd give ya the saddle offa mah back if Ah thought ya needed it. Take 'em. Ah ain't gonna take 'no' fer an answer."

The pegasus smiled. "Thank you, Applejack."

The mare's "thank you" was overshadowed by a massive peal of thunder that shook the very air inside the barn. Only in the following silence did the two ponies notice the sheets of rain drumming their rhythmic patterns on the roof of the barn. "Well, Ah'll be... That there storm got here right quick." The orange pony glanced out the open barn doors and grimaced. "Ah certainly hope ya didn't have anywhere ta go, Fluttershy... It's rainin' cats an' dogs out here..."

"Oh no... Oh no, oh no, oh no..." she fretted, joining Applejack at the door. "I-I'm sorry to run out on you like this, Applejack, but I need to get home..." 

The farmer pony placed herself in the winged mare's flight path. "Whoa, reign it in there, sugarcube. Y'all can't go out flyin' in a downpour like this; ain't safe."

"Oh no, Applejack... You don't understand... I absolutely must get home; Angel Bunny is probably terrified right now... I-"

The stubborn pony refused to budge. "Nothin' doin'. Ah know ya wanna get home an' check up on all yer li'l animal friends, but it ain't gonna do them a lick o' good if y'all get yerself hurt on the way home. Do me a favor an' stay the night. Y'all can head out first thing in the mornin', deal?"

As much as Fluttershy still wanted to hurry home, Applejack's reasoning made too much sense. "All right... You win; I'll stay..."

"Thanks, hun. Ah couldn't forgive mahself if Ah let ya get hurt in this storm. C'mon, let's make a break fer the house." she suggested, motioning toward the back door of the farmhouse. "Once we get inside, Ah'll help ya get set up fer the night."

Fluttershy nodded and sprinted after her friend, out into the deluge. Her mane and tail were soaked clean through by the time the pair reached the door. Applejack was in much the same state. The orange pony pushed the door open and ushered the pegasus inside. 

"Shoot!" The orange equine stomped a hoof upon the doorstep in frustration. "Ah'm mighty sorry, Fluttershy, Ah forgot that the girls are out in the clubhouse. Ah've gotta go an' fetch 'em... Y'all make yerself at home, sugarcube. Ah'll be back in a flash." Without waiting for a response, Applejack turned and galloped off, quickly disappearing in the driving rain.

The pegasus watched as the other pony dashed off. "O-okay... Be careful, Applejack..."

Fluttershy didn't think it was possible, but, in the time that Applejack was gone, the storm seemed to get even worse. The thunder and lightning had started coming in waves, with shrinking periods of silence between each wave. The rain had forgone coming down in individual sheets and now just battered the farmhouse continuously. The pegasus sat at the window, staring out into the merciless downpour, dutifully searching for any signs of Applejack and the self-named Cutie Mark Crusaders through the growing darkness.

"Ya doin' all right there, Flutt'rshy?" Big Macintosh asked from the kitchen.

"H-huh? Oh yes, I'm fine. Just a little concerned, is all..." she added softly, turning her blue-green eyes back out the window.

"Ah wouldn't be too worried 'bout AJ if Ah was you." The big red pony joined the mare at the window. "She's a right stubborn pony; she'll see that the li'l ones get back safely. They'll be just fine."

"If you say so..." The winged pony glanced down at Winona's smiling face. At least, Fluttershy thought she was smiling; it was sort of hard to tell. The canine hadn't yet left her side since she'd arrived. She gave the loyal collie a light pat on the head and returned the smile.

As it happened, Fluttershy didn't have to wait very long before Applejack and the fillies returned to the farmhouse. Truthfully, Fluttershy probably would have been happier had they not returned so suddenly. The farmhouse door flew open with such force that its hinges creaked. As the door flew open, a bolt of lightning lit up the doorframe, giving the three silhouettes standing within quite the frightening appearance. The pegasus uttered a frightened "Eep!" and dove behind the nearest thing available, Big Macintosh.

The red earth pony chuckled softly. "Hey there, Apple Bloom. Ah see AJ got ya back safely."

"Yup! She sure did!"

Her fear forgotten at hearing Apple Bloom's voice, Fluttershy stepped out from behind Big Macintosh. "Girls! You scared me..."

The "girls" to which the winged pony was referring to joined their yellow filly friend in a cry of "Fluttershy! It's so good to see you!"

The pink-maned pegasus soon found herself knocked to the floor under the force of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' excited tackle.

"Applejack said you'd be here! Good to see you!" the orange pegasus filly squealed.

"Uhm...girls...?" Fluttershy found it difficult to get a word in edge-wise against the fillies' constant stream of questions.

"What are y'all doin' here, Fluttershy?"

"Oh...uhm... Hi, Apple Bloom... Ow..."

"Are you staying the night?" Sweetie Belle chimed in.

"Y-yes... Girls, please, let me up..."

With Fluttershy's quiet requests going unheard, it fell to Applejack to help out. "C'mon, you scamps, get offa her. Let the poor pony stand' up." That did the trick; the three fillies finally extricated themselves from the tangled mess of tails and manes and let their quarry stagger back to her hooves. "Sorry 'bout that, Fluttershy. Ah shoulda given ya some warnin'. Ah mentioned y'all were stayin' over, an' before Ah knew it, these three were off an' runnin'."

Fluttershy smiled. "Oh, that's quite all right. I'm always happy to see the girls."

"So, what're we gonna do first, Fluttershy? Huh? Huh?" the white unicorn filly asked excitedly.

"Oh... Whatever you want, I guess. But I have to set my things up first." Pausing, the mare looked toward the hat-wearing farmer pony. "Where is your guest room, Applejack?"

"Hold on a tick. Y'all ain't staying in no guest room. Y'all can stay in mah room tonight."

"O-oh no... I-I couldn't..." Fluttershy murmured, taking a small step backward and averting her eyes. "I-I'm just going to be here for the night, anyway..."

"Nonsense. Ya weren't expectin' ta have ta stay over tonight; take mah room. Granny Smith is outta town visitin' Auntie Orange, anyhow. Ah'll stay in her room."

"But I-"

"Ah insist. Ah'm a big pony, Ah kin handle bein' outta mah own bed fer a night. C'mon, lemme show ya where you'll be stayin'."

-------------------------

Despite the apparently limitless energy of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they were still only fillies, and that energy quickly burned itself out, leaving the little ponies fast asleep upon the couch. "Whew... It's about time those three fell asleep. Cutie mark this, special talent that. Lan' sakes, Ah thought they'd never settle down." Applejack whispered. "That was a right purty lullaby, Fluttershy; knocked 'em right out."

"Lots of practice." she answered simply, pulling a blanket over the sleeping fillies.

"You'll have ta teach it ta me, so's I can get those little ones ta sleep whenever they're stayin' over." The orange pony yawned widely as the late hour of the night began to take its toll on her.

Yawns were, of course, highly contagious, and Fluttershy soon followed suit. "Perhaps some other time, Applejack. I-If that's all right with you, I mean. I'm exhausted from trying to keep up with the girls..." The pegasi's voice showed just how tired she really was.

"Shoot. Ah didn't mean right now, Fluttershy." she chuckled, starting up the staircase. The hat-wearing pony paused at the top to wait for her guest. "Mah room's the first one on the right. If ya need more blankets or a drink of water durin' the night, the linen closet and bathroom are just down the hall. Y'all gonna be okay tonight?"

"Oh, yes. I'll be fine. Thanks again for letting me stay the night, Applejack."

"Don't mention it, hun'. If y'all need anythin' else just gimme a holler." The earth pony turned and headed in the opposite direction, yawning as she did so.

The pegasus stepped into the bedroom and pushed the door shut behind her. A few moments later, she was wrapped up snugly in the covers as the storm continued to rage unabated outside the small farmhouse. 

Fluttershy was up long before the sun, startled awake by a particularly loud peal of thunder. The storm was still in full swing, so she assumed that she hadn't been asleep very long. A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand confirmed her assumption. She'd only been asleep for two hours. Ugh... Ignoring the glowing display of the clock, the winged pony rolled over and tried to find sleep again. Since she was now conscious, her body finally got a chance to tell her that she was thirsty. Ignoring her dry mouth was significantly harder than ignoring the clock, and she resignedly slid out of bed and clopped out into the hallway.

Thirst quenched, the pony was just about to round the corner back into Applejack's room when a loud crash stopped her in her tracks and made her heart jump into her throat. "That...that sounded like glass breaking..." she mouthed worriedly. Before she could take any further action, another noise reached her ears; voices...

"There's nopony in here... This is an empty room."

"Gee, I hadn't noticed, idiot... Thank you for stating the obvious..."

Fluttershy pressed herself against the wall, a hoof over her mouth to keep herself from screaming. Oh my...! Burglars! Swallowing nervously, she peered around the corner. The glow from the clock didn't provide nearly enough light to make out the intruders, but the terrified pony didn't have to wait long to get a glimpse. Another bolt of lightning lit up the small bedroom with a white, ethereal glow. That split-second flash of light seemed to stretch out into an eternity. During that eternity, Fluttershy got a very good look at the pair of thieves. Two female pegasi were against the far wall busily digging through Applejack's closet, tossing the earth pony's possessions helter-skelter.

The smaller of the two ponies stood up from rummaging through Applejack's things and sighed. "This is just like the last five places we've been to." she said to her counterpart. "The room is empty, and we haven't found a thing. Are we even looking in the right places?"

"Where else is there left to look?" the other pony sniffed. "The next closest city is...Canterlot... That's it! If we go now, we can be there by sunrise. Let's move."

After the hushed order, the two winged burglars made their escape out of the broken window, leaving the room in disarray with a very confused pegasus standing in the midst of the dishevelment.
> 2 - As the Phoenix Flies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Although the burglars had come and gone in quite the hurry without taking anything, there was no way that Fluttershy was going back to bed. In fact, for almost ten minutes, the pegasus sat in the middle of the room, nervously staring at the broken window pane, afraid the intruders might return at any moment. "G-get a hold of yourself, Fluttershy..." she murmured shakily. "Nopony was hurt, and th-they didn't take anything..." After a good deal of further self-urging, she finally stood up and started moving about. Unconsciously, the yellow mare began tidying up her host's possessions. Respectfully, Fluttershy simply set the disorganized items right inside the closet door.

However, the pony's nerves were still on edge, and completing this task was not as easy as it seemed. Though the storm was finally moving away, each flash of lightning caused her to jump in fright. Every time she did so, she ended up scattering Applejack's things once more, and would resume gathering them up, her heart fluttering. Roughly an hour and a half later, everything was at last back in order. By now, Fluttershy was wide-awake and still too nervous to return to sleeping, so she ended up trotting downstairs.

Taking care not to wake the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who hadn't moved from their position upon the couch, the butterfly-marked pony slipped into the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, Fluttershy gravitated toward the refrigerator. "I certainly hope that Applejack won't mind if I make everypony some breakfast..." In a relatively short time, the sweet smell of freshly baking pancakes was wreathing its way throughout the small farmhouse. The pegasus had prepared food for many mouths for quite a few years and was a very efficient cook because of it. As the minutes passed, the plate of pancakes next to the stove steadily grew, finally reaching a grand total of seventeen. Just as the pegasus was lifting what would be the eighteenth out of the frying pan, another pony joined her in the kitchen.

"Geez, Fluttershy, yer up real early. What's the occasion?"

"Aah!" Startled by the new voice, the pink-maned pony jumped, tossing the final pancake high into the air. "Oops...!" Acting quickly, she grabbed the serving plate and spun around, catching the wayward food just before it hit the floor.

"Nice catch..." Applejack remarked. "How come yer up so early? Usually Ah'm the first one up an' about. Have trouble sleepin'?" she asked, fetching a small bottle of apple juice from the fridge and taking up a seat at the kitchen table.

The pegasus placed a short stack of three pancakes upon the table in front of her friend. "Y-you could say that..." she mumbled.

"Ah'm sorry to hear that, sugarcube. Well, Ah hope ya didn't have it too rough. At any rate, it was real kind of ya to make breakfast fer everyone. Ah'm always the one doin' all the cookin'. Big Macintosh's an absolute mess in the kitchen."

Fluttershy was only half listening to the orange pony's musings as she ate her breakfast. Inside she was wrestling with exactly how to tell Applejack what had transpired last night. "Actually, Applejack... There's...something that I need to tell you..."

"If it's about the flapjacks, don't you worry none. It's not a problem at all-"

"It's...uh...not about that..."

"Then what's it about, hun'?"

"Uhm...how can I say this...?" As she went on, the mare's already quiet voice became even more so. Finally, she became silent outright and just stood there, uncomfortably rubbing her foreleg.

"C'mon, Fluttershy." the green-eyed pony urged. "Y'all can tell me. Ah can handle it."

"Somepony broke in last night!" the winged pony blurted out nervously.

If Applejack had been drinking her juice at the time, she would have done a marvelous spit-take. She did, however, cough and splutter on her bite of pancake. "Yer kiddin'! Where!?"

"It w-was up in your room... At about two-thirty in the morning..." Before Fluttershy was even finished with her first sentence, the blonde earth pony had bolted from the kitchen and was halfway up the stairs. "Applejack, w-wait!" the pegasus called from the kitchen doorway. Too late; the earth pony had already ducked into her room. "There's broken glass on the floor...!" Bypassing the stairs, the timid pony flew up to the upper level and joined the other pony in the bedroom.

"Lan' sakes... Ya weren't kiddin' about the glass. It's everywhere..."

"I'm sorry...I didn't get it cleaned up... I meant to, it's just-"

"Now hold on one applebuckin' minute." Applejack marched up to her friend, lifted up her downturned face and looked her square in the eye. "Don't start talkin' like that. Ah wouldn't have expected ya to clean up anythin' in mah house. If anypony in this room's gonna be aplologizin', it's me. Ah was the one that insisted ya stay in mah room. Ah'm just thankful that y'all didn't git hurt. Did ya happen to git a look at who it was?"

"Y-yes, I did..." Fluttershy replied. "It was a pair of pegasus mares. One of them was quite a bit shorter than the other. They came and went, without taking anything. They did say something about going to Canterlot, though..."

"Canterlot, huh? That's where the gang is..." the hat-wearing earth pony muttered. "Ahhh, who am Ah kiddin'? They're fine. It'd be dang near impossible fer anypony to git past all of the Princess' guards."

"Y-you think so?"

Applejack nodded in affirmation. "Ah'm sure of it. Ah wouldn't worry none. An' neither should you. Ah'll git this here glass taken care of. Y'all can head back downstairs an' have yerself something to eat. Ah'll be down shortly."

As Fluttershy came to the top of the stairs she ran into Big Macintosh, who was coming from the other end of the hallway. "G'mornin' Flutt'rshy. How'd ya sleep?"

Fluttershy answered the big red pony's question with a wide yawn. "Not so well..."

"Sorry to hear that." Habit steered the big earth pony into the kitchen, whereupon he caught scent of the fresh pancakes. "Shoot! Those smell downright tasty. Wonder who made 'em..."

"Uhm...I did... You can have some. I-if you want, that is..." Just like the day before, the pegasus was noticeably more nervous standing next to Big Macintosh.

The orange maned stallion trotted up to the large plate of pancakes sitting on the counter. "Don't mind if Ah do. Hey, while Ah'm over here, d'you want me to make you up a plate too?"

"Y-yes, please..."

The two ponies had just sat down at the table with their meals when Applejack cantered back into the kitchen carrying a dustpan filled with shards of glass. Big Macintosh looked up from a mouthful of pancakes. "What'cha got there, AJ?"

"Seems we had ourselves a li'l bit of a break-in last night." she sniffed.

"Really?" The big earth pony didn't do so much as bat an eyelid at the news. "What happened?"

"Fluttershy told me that a couple of pegasi broke into mah room real early this morning. They didn't take nothin', and, thank Celestia, nopony was hurt." The orange pony shot an apologetic look at the timid pegasus. "Ah'm real sorry about that, sugarcube..."

"I-it's fine..."

"Don't go brushin' this under the rug, Fluttershy." Applejack said very matter-of-factly. "Ah went an put y'all in harm's way. If anythin' had happened to ya, Ah couldn't ever forgive mahself. Ah'll figure out some way to repay ya, darlin'. Promise."

The rest of breakfast was quite dull and equally as silent. The only words spoken were between Applejack and her brother as they discussed the daily chores. Despite having made the breakfast for her hosts, Fluttershy was largely uninterested in her share of the cakes and spent her time at the table idly poking them with a fork. Those pegasi... They said something about the five other places that they had been to. I wonder...

The blazing orb of the sun continued its climb into the sky, guided, as always, by Celestia's will. A glance at the clock on the kitchen wall revealed that it was going on eight o' clock. With her hole-riddled, barely half-eaten stack of pancakes still upon her plate, Fluttershy stood up from the table. "I'm sorry to eat and run, but I do need to get home. Angel Bunny needs his food, and I have some patients I need to check on."

Applejack jumped up from the table after the yellow pegasus. "Speakin' of Angel, lemme dash out to the barn real quick and grab ya some more carrots before ya take off."

The pegasi's quiet voice stopped the earth pony at the kitchen door. "Thanks, but no thanks, Applejack." she politely refused. "I need far more carrots than I would be comfortable taking from you, whether I paid for them or not."

"Well...all right. That's fine. No harm done, sugarcube. But, if yer needin' that many carrots, at least lemme give ya a way to git 'em back ho-"

Before Applejack could finish her offer, an audible bang, more akin to an explosion than to thunder, sounded outside. The three ponies in the kitchen quickly sprinted out behind the house and stared into the sky. Far off in the distance, a massive shockwave comprised of every color in the rainbow, and a few colors that weren't, was rapidly spreading out from a single point.

"That's yer rainbow-colored friend, isn't it, AJ?" Big Macintosh asked slowly.

Applejack gave a slight laugh. "What in Equestria is that silly filly up to now?"

"Oh my... I hope everything is all right..."

"C'mon, Fluttershy, this is Rainbow Dash we're talkin' about here; she's probly jus' showin' off for the Wonderbolts again. Now then, as Ah was sayin', lemme give ya a way to git those carrots back home."

-------------------------

Within the next half hour, Fluttershy was on her way, with her helper following close behind. The wooden cart creaking along after her helper was hardly what one would call small or streamlined, yet Big Macintosh showed no difficulty whatsoever in pulling it. "I-I'm sorry, B-Big Macintosh, I didn't think Applejack was going to have you follow me all the way into town..."

The big farmer pony shook his head and gave a low laugh. "Ain't a problem, Flutt'rshy. Any friend of AJ's is a friend of mine. 'Sides," Big Macintosh leaned in close, like he was about to tell the winged pony a secret. "B'tween you an' me, she's a bit of a slave driver. Ah'm glad to get away fer a bit." he chuckled.

"If you say so..." Fluttershy mumbled. "Uhm...I hate to ask this now, but...could we stop by Rarity's on the way into town? I want to check on Opal..."

"Sumthin' about last night?" the stallion asked.

"Y-yes... Those two that broke in last night...they mentioned something about having been to five other places... That got me thinking..."

"Ah get'cha. Y'all wanna make sure that this here Opal's doin' all right." The pegasus nodded, silently continuing to stare at the path in front of her. "Ah git where yer comin' from." Big Macintosh went on. "Winona's given us our fair share of scares. It's fine if we stop by. Ah don't mind."

"Oh, thank you. I'll be right back..." Fluttershy broke into a quick trot, heading for the front door of Carousel Boutique. A short rummage through her saddlebags provided the key once more. The pegasus opened the door in a hurry, dashed inside and quite literally flew up the stairs. "Opal? Opalescence? Sweetie, where are you?" The pony instinctively dashed into Rarity's bedroom, the last place she knew the feline to be.

The bedroom that had been in perfect condition less than twenty-four hours prior was now in total disarray. The large window against the far wall had been smashed clean out of its frame, and now lay in countless razor-sharp shards upon the floor. The rest of the room had been torn apart. Dressers had been relieved of their drawers, and the drawers of their contents, both of which had been strewn carelessly about the room. The custom-made curtains hanging near the shattered window were nothing more than tattered shreds. Anything that could be picked up now lay awkwardly somewhere else in the room. "Oh my... Opal? Opal, are you all right?" Fluttershy couldn't help it; upon seeing the damage to her friend's room, the pegasus was becoming frantic with worry, and it started to leak into her voice. "Answer me, Opal! Please!"

Before the winged pony got an answer, she succeeded in finding the terrified Opalescence. The feline was huddling, wide-eyed, as far under Rarity's bed as she could squeeze herself. "Opal! Sweetie, come here... It's all right..." After much coaxing, the reluctant animal finally crawled her way out from under the bedskirt. "Goodness, Opal, you aren't hurt, are you?" she asked, carefully inspecting the feline for any sign of injury. Thankfully, aside from some mussed fur, Opalescence was completely unharmed.

After relocating Opal to another room, and attempting to restore some semblance of order to Rarity's room, Fluttershy was once again locking the door of Carousel Boutique. "So? How was she?" Big Macintosh asked as the pegasus slowly walked up to him. "Was the li'l one all right?"

"Mm-hmm... The window was broken, though. Rarity's room was a mess too..."

"Jus' like back home, huh?" the earth pony muttered. "Alright then, let's git a move-on." he added, quickly turning and making a beeline towards downtown Ponyville.

"W-why?"

"We're already halfway into town. Let's hurry up an' git ya yer carrots. The quicker we do that, the quicker we can git ya back home."

"O-oh." Fluttershy took off and flew after the red pony who was by now a good distance away and still moving at a quick clip. "W-wait...!" The gift of flight easily let the pegasus catch up to Big Macintosh. Once she had done so, the winged pony got the stallion's attention with a small squeak of a question. "B-Big Macintosh...?"

"Eeyup?"

"Thank you for your help."

The orange-maned earth pony smiled broadly. "Sure thing, Flutt'rshy."

The pair's lively pace had them in Ponyville's main square in a short five minutes. Coincidentally, they arrived just as Carrot Top was opening her stall. The vegetable-named pony recognized the yellow pegasus as her best customer and waved a hoof in greeting as she approached. "Fluttershy! Right on time, as usual. Here for your monthly supply, I take it?"

The pegasi's hooves lightly clicked upon the cobblestone as she landed before the storefront. "Yes. The usual fifty pounds, please."

"Coming right up, hon'." Carrot Top replied, disappearing back into her shop. A moment later, her head popped back into sight. "I see you even brought your own help today." she commented, winking at the butterfly-marked pegasus. A wink that made the timid mare blush hotly and uncomfortably rub her foreleg. Carrot Top had her name for a reason, and in the blink of an eye, the earth pony nearly had all of the requested fifty pounds of orange vegetables loaded in the cart behind Big Macintosh.

"How much do I owe you, Carrot Top?" Fluttershy asked as the other mare dropped the last of the vegetables into the cart.

"For any other pony, I would say three bits per pound, but since you're one of my best customers, I'll give them to you for our usual price. Seventy-five bits for the whole cartload." she answered in a very business-like manner, trotting around behind her outdoor stall.

"Sounds fair." The winged pony pulled out a tied pouch full of the small golden coins. She upended this upon the stall counter and began counting out the required payment. "That was some storm last night, wasn't it?" Her attempt at idle chit-chat was met with an awkward silence that was eventually broken by a confused reply from the orange mare.

"Beg your pardon?"

Fluttershy looked up from the currency, now equally confused. "You didn't get a storm last night?"

Carrot Top shook her head. "No, we didn't. The weather team hasn't scheduled a storm for this week yet. Its been dry as last month's hay lately."

"R-really? But it was coming down in sheets last night..." The yellow pegasus trailed off under the other pony's awkward stare. Fluttershy quickly glanced at Big Macintosh, who answered with a simple shrug.

"Ponyville didn't get a drop of rain last night, hon'. Are you sure it wasn't just a bad dream or something?"

"Th-that must have been it then..." she stammered. "J-just a bad dream... Anyway, thank you for the carrots."

"Of course, Fluttershy. Any time." the orange mare replied as she waved the two ponies off.

Fluttershy nervously glanced at the big red earth pony walking alongside her. "D-do you think that what happened last night was just a nightmare, l-like Carrot Top said...?"

"Ah doubt it. If it was, it musta been one powerful dream to go around breakin' windows an' such. Whatever's goin' on here, it's a whole lot bigger than jus' a simple storm."

The stallion's speech was as it always was; slow and methodical. Even so, Fluttershy didn't doubt his words for a second. Pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together. The pegasus burglars having been to five other places and the broken window at Carousel Boutique. The pegasus burglars heading to Canterlot and the Sonic Rainboom that had come from the direction of the royal city. That was the thing that worried Fluttershy the most. Applejack had made a lot of sense, though; the royal city was very heavily guarded. Still, the pegasus couldn't shake the haunting feeling that something very serious had happened to one of her friends.

"Um...Flutt'rshy? Y'all might wanna take a look at this..."

"Take a look at what?" The sight that met her eyes as she looked up sucked all the breath out of the pegasus. "Oh no..."

-------------------------

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack had just finished putting away the breakfast dishes and was out in the barn sorting out the baskets for the day's harvest. "Let's see now... Yesterday Ah got about five dozen baskets in... Today Ah ought to git abou-"

"Kreeeeeh!"

The farmer pony had just succeeded in hefting a full basket of apples onto her back when the harsh caw cracked the soft atmosphere of the barn, causing her to jump about a foot and a half into the air in shock, scattering the apples every which way. "What in tarnation!?" The startled equine quickly looked about the barn in search of the offending noise.

Perched high in the rafters, probably having entered through the open hayloft door, was a magnificently plumed red-orange avian. Applejack gave a shaky sigh of relief. "Philomena, y'all dang near gave me a heart attack... What're ya doin' here anyway?" The phoenix leapt from the rafters and spiraled down to the barn floor, landing in front of the apple-marked pony. At this close range, Applejack saw that the bird was wearing some type of harness. Attached to the back of this harness was a sealed tube. "What'cha got there, girl?" The earth pony popped the lid off the tube and removed the rolled parchment from inside. Her green eyes became worried as she read on. "Oh no..." she breathed. "Thanks for the message, Philomena. Ah'll take this to Fluttershy. You go find the guards and lead them to Fluttershy's place, got it?"

The phoenix nodded and soared out of the barn door as Applejack dashed back into the house to retrieve her saddlebags and prepare for the adventure she knew was coming. Soon after, she was packed and galloping full-steam for Ponyville. Fluttershy was right... Somethin' has happened to one of the gang... That letter from the princess sounded real hasty... Whatever happened, it sounds serious... Shaking the unsettling thoughts from her mind, the pony willed herself to run faster; time was very much of the essence. C'mon, AJ, pick up the pace...

Applejack didn't plan to stop in Ponyville, but fate had decided otherwise. She sprinted into downtown and quickly ducked around a building, nearly flattening another pony as she did. "Whoa nelly! Ya nearly ran me over there, Bon-bon! What's the rush?" 

"I could ask you the same thing, Applejack." the cream-colored pony retorted. "Wait a minute, you mean you haven't heard?"

"Heard of what?" Applejack was now thoroughly curious.

"There was a fire last night! Twilight's library went up in flames!"

The orange pony felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. The message to Fluttershy could wait. That break-in last night was no longer just a random act. Some outside forces were at work here. Applejack knew that Twilight's tree-house was protected by a lightning rod. This must have been done from the inside out. The earth pony spun on her hooves and set a new course. It wasn't long before a multi-colored crowd of ponies standing around a smoldering, blackened husk of a tree came into view. "Celestia, no..." The earth pony shouldered her way through the crowd to get a better view, although she really didn't know why she wanted to get a better look at this. Before anypony could say otherwise, she dashed into the burnt shell that used to be her friend's home. The door, now hanging loosely on a single hinge, offered little resistance to the pony as she burst inside.

If the external fire damage was to be used as an indicator of the interior condition of the tree-house, the comparison would have been sorely inaccurate. Ash and soot blackened every visible square inch of the walls and floors. Countless piles of ash lined what was left of the shelves as a cruel reminder of the many tomes that used to reside upon them. Still more ash covered the floor in a layer almost two inches thick. This wasn't a library anymore; it was a scorched wasteland. "How in Equestria am Ah gonna explain this to Twi'?" The very thought of the prospect, along with the sickening stench of burnt parchment and ink that still pervaded the air nearly made the orange mare vomit. "There's nothin' left... Every last book...gone..."

After seeing this wanton destruction before her, Applejack now fully understood the gravity of the situation at hand. Those two burglars were lookin' fer me and the gang... And, judgin' from that letter from the Princess, it sounds like they got one of us too... The sooner Fluttershy and Ah git to Canterlot, the better. she thought, eyes glinting with determination. The farmer pony galloped out of the library, leaving the gruesome scene, and one lone book sitting unseen behind the unhinged door, behind her. However, the scenes that were awaiting her at Fluttershy's cottage would prove to be no better.

Yes, the pegasi's cottage had been heavily vandalized as well, but that wasn't the first thing that the orange mare noticed. Instead, she saw a pair of ponies off to the side of the tree-house. One of them, the smaller of the two, was sitting upon the ground and seemed to be sobbing uncontrollably. "Fluttershy! What's the matter? Please tell me ya ain't hurt!"

The pegasus slowly shook her head. "I-I-I'm f-fine..."

"Then what's the matter, sugarcube?"

"L-look..." Fluttershy pointed a shaky hoof toward a sizeable pile of splintered wood and bent nails lying haphazardly before her. "I-it's An-Angel Bunny... Applejack, I can't find him anywhere!" The usually gentle pony slammed her hooves into the dirt in frustration. "I-I should have c-come home last night!"

"C'mon Flutt'rshy..." Big Macintosh started quietly. "Ah'm sure the little guy's all right. Ah'll bet he's jus' holed up somewhere..."

"Then where is he!?" she shouted very uncharacteristically. "We-we've looked everywhere!" The mare's tear-filled turquoise eyes burned with an angry flame.

The large red earth pony sighed. "There's nothin' that Ah haven't tried to tell her, AJ... None of it has worked... What are y'all doin' here anyway? An' why are ya covered in soot?"

Unsure if the yellow pegasus was listening or not, Applejack began explaining all that she had seen lately; the message from Philomena, the burned library, and the very vague details of what had happened in Canterlot.

As it turned out, Fluttershy had indeed been listening to her friend's recollections. Upon hearing the news about the incident in Canterlot, she stood up and spun around. "Wh-what happened? Is everypony all right?"

The orange, apple-marked pony shrugged. "Ah don't know, sugarcube... Ah didn't git a whole lotta info in that there letter. No names, no nothin'. Princess Celestia just wants us in Canterlot on the double. There's a ride fer us on its way. Mah guess is it'll be here in about ten minutes."

"Oh no... I c-can't go..." Fluttershy sniffed. "N-not...now... Angel's still...m-missing..." 

"Ah don't mean to sound rude here, Fluttershy, but we ain't got the time for this. Something downright nasty is goin' on. One of the girls is in real serious trouble. This ain't like anythin' we've had to deal with before. Y'all need to go an' git ready fer the trip." The orange pony began nudging her reluctant friend toward the front door.

"No." she answered adamantly, digging her hooves into the ground and leaning back against Applejack's shoving. "I'm n-n-not leaving until I know that Angel Bunny is a-all right..."

"Dang it, Fluttershy, stop bein' so stubborn! Our friends are in trouble! They...need our...help! We gotta-oof!"

The pink-maned pegasus finally took a step forward and ended up setting Applejack face-down in the dirt. Fluttershy quickly turned to face the prone pony. "I. Said. NO!" she yelled, her wings flaring out angrily. "Angel B-Bunny is my friend, t-too! I'm staying h-here!" The kind pony wasn't used to raising her voice so much and she had given herself the hiccups as a result. She also wasn't accustomed to being angry, and her bright spark of fury rapidly fizzled out, leaving a wide-eyed look of shock upon her face. "Oh m-my... I-I'm so sorry, Applejack... I-I'll...I'll go g-get my things..." 

The orange earth pony sat up, wide-eyed, as the pegasus disappeared inside her house. "Golly..." she mumbled. "Ah ain't never seen Fluttershy that upset before..."

Big Macintosh sniffed. "Can ya really blame her, AJ? How would you feel if something happened to Apple Bloom? That poor pony nearly fergot to breathe when she saw what was left of that there hutch."

"There they are! Bring us around for a landing!"

The two pony siblings squinted into the sky, looking for the source of the heavily militaristic voice. They didn't have to wait long before a chariot, pulled by two members of Celestia's royal guard came spiraling down out of the blue sky. A third pegasus, clad with the same style of armor also dropped out of the sky, to land before the two members of the Apple family.

Before the two ponies could pick their mouths off the ground after the guards' impressive appearance, the lone pegasus marched up to them and immediately began reciting his mission. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is General Headwind, of Princess Celestia's Royal Air Guard. I have been sent, under direct instruction from the Princess herself, to find a Miss Applejack and a Miss Fluttershy and escort them back to the royal city of Canterlot."

"Pleased to meet'cha." Applejack replied, stepping forward and extending a friendly hoof in greeting.

"Miss Applejack, I presume?"

"Yup."

Headwind took the orange pony's hoof in his own and lightly touched it to the tip of his snout in a very respectful manner. "The pleasure is all mine. I assume this is your brother, Miss Applejack?"

The large red farmer pony nodded. "Eeyup. Name's Big Macintosh. Good to know ya."

"Likewise. Well, Big Macintosh, I must say, in all my years of service, I've never seen a pony of your stature before. Even the tallest member of our Earth Pony Division is a full head shorter than you are."

"Thank ya kindly." the big pony chuckled.

"I wish we could continue with the pleasantries, but time is not with us. As my guards and I approached, we observed a particularly large storm building upon the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. We must be on our way quickly. Are you ready to depart, Miss Applejack?"

"You bet'cha."

"Very good." Headwind sniffed. "What about Miss Fluttershy? Is she ready?"

"Ummmm... I dunno about that." Applejack answered hesitantly. "She went inside to start packing just before y'all got here."

"Mah guess is that she's probly still upset about her li'l rabbit friend. Ah'll go an' see if Ah can't help her out." Big Macintosh offered. 

"Hold on a minute... Why you, Big Mac? What're you gonna do? Let me go. Fluttershy's mah frie-"

"Trust me, AJ. Ah'll be right back." As he walked into the disheveled cottage, Big Macintosh could make out a soft crying emanating from somewhere upstairs. With each step up the staircase, its origin became clearer, until the red stallion was standing just outside what he assumed was Fluttershy's room. "Flutt'rshy? Are ya in there?"

"Wh-what is it...?"

"Celestia's guards are here fer ya. Ah guess there's another storm comin' in fast. They want to git a move-on before it hits."

"I-I can't do this..." The mare's voice was barely audible, just above a whisper.

"What was that?"

"I can't do this..." she repeated."I c-can't leave... Not now..."

"Look, Ah know y'all wanna stay an' look fer Angel, but Ah really think ya need to go with AJ."

"N-no... I can't..."

"Listen, if it'd help any, Ah'll stay here fer a while and keep lookin' fer the little guy."

Fluttershy shook her head. "N-no... I couldn't ask you to do that."

"Ah know Ah'm just a simple farmer pony," Big Macintosh sighed, "and Ah know Ah don't know much about all of this 'Elements of Harmony' business that AJ and yerself a part of, but Ah do know one thing. The both of ya were picked to be a part of it. That right there's gotta mean somethin'."

"What...what are you saying?"

"Ah'm sayin' that yer friends need ya, Flutt'rshy. AJ knows it, and Ah know it too. What would yer friends do if it was yerself that was in trouble?"

The winged mare bit her lip and looked away. They'd drop everything to help me... An image of each of her friend's faces flashed through her mind's eye. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't do the same...? "A-all right, you win. I'll go. Just...promise me one thing before I do."

"Sure thing."

"As soon as you find Angel Bunny, let me know. I don't care how, I...don't care if it's good news or bad news, just find a way. Please?"

"Ya have mah word." the male pony promised. In a hugely unexpected gesture, Big Macintosh very lightly touched his muzzle to the surprised mare's cheek. "Just make sure ya bring AJ back safely..." he added quietly.

Fluttershy's muzzle couldn't have been a deeper shade of red. Slowly, almost unsure if that had just happened, she brought a hoof up to her cheek. "O-of c-course..."

"Thank ya. Now, let's git the two of ya on the road before that storm hits."

Too late. The encroaching storm broke directly over the humble cottage, announcing its arrival with a blinding flash of lightning and an equally deafening peal of thunder. Applejack's astonished voice could barely be heard over the building wind. "Whoa, nelly! That was a close one! Fluttershy! If y'all can hear me in there, we gotta go, now!"

Big Macintosh started nudging the startled Fluttershy toward the stairs. "C'mon, we gotta git the two of ya on yer way before this gits any worse." Rain was already beginning to fall as the two ponies reached the front door. This storm was growing quickly; if the chariot wasn't in the air soon, there would be no chance of a successful take-off.

"Quickly, Miss Fluttershy!" General Headwind shouted. "Into the chariot! Let us make haste while we can!"

The yellow pony shot a fleeting look at Big Macintosh, who simply smiled and nodded, before galloping into the rain. The chariot was not far from the door, but the storm seemed to become more active with each step Fluttershy took. With the lightning now almost coming down on top of her, the pegasus took a flying leap into the chariot, landing in a heap next to Applejack.

"Miss Fluttershy is in! Double time!" Headwind barked. At the general's command, the two pegasus guards leapt against the leads and the chariot lurched forward and into the air.

"General Headwind, sir! What is our flight path?" the larger of the two pulling ponies asked. "Are we avoiding the part of the Everfree Forest we passed earlier?"

The general shook his head. "Negative, Cirrus. Skirting the Everfree Forest would take time that we do not have. Run the gauntlet at full speed."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

Unlike the chariot that Princess Celestia often traveled in, this particular one was smaller, built solely for speed, and lacked comfort. The ride through the storm's turbulence and crosswinds was quite literally nerve rattling. The compact vehicle shuddered and jostled about like a leaf caught in a gale. "Ow..." Fluttershy rubbed her sore shoulder after being slammed against the chariot's side for the umpteenth time.

"How ya holdin' up, sugarcube?" Applejack asked, a hoof clamped over her hat.

"I suppose I've been worse..." The pegasi's voice was nearly drowned out by the wind rushing by.

"So, what did Big Mac say to ya that got ya back outside so fast?"

The thought of what had happened between her and the big red earth pony brought the blood rushing back to Fluttershy's face. "O-oh...uhm... He asked me about what you and the girls would do if I was in trouble."

"Gotcha." Applejack was silent for a bit before she looked suspiciously back at her friend. "Hang on a minute... Yer blushin' as red as an apple, Fluttershy! What else happened?"

An answer would have to wait. A rogue bolt of lightning came blazing out of the angry-looking storm clouds and swiftly severed the chariot's link to the two pegasus guards. With no more forward propulsion, the chariot only had one way to go. Down.
> 3 - Shadows in the Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Fluttershy came to with a splitting headache, and dizzier than if she had been on the losing end of a battle with a tornado. She didn't remember much after the lightning bolt had struck the chariot. A cry for help, a rending crunch, it was all very fuzzy. With a great deal of difficulty, she forced herself into a seated position. As she did so, she felt something lightly brush against her flank. Looking to see what it possibly could have been made her sick to her stomach. Her right wing hung limp and useless at her side. Oh no... Her first panicked thought was that it was broken. A closer inspection alleviated that concern. "No...it's not broken, it's just dislocated..."

The thought of dislocated wings quickly shifted the mare's thoughts to that young robin from the day before. "Ohh... I should have asked Big Macintosh to check...on...him..." Fluttershy trailed off, feeling her muzzle turn beet-red again. "B-Big Macintosh..." That spot where he had kissed her cheek began tingling softly. The pegasus physically shook off the light-headed feeling that was slowly working its way into her mind. There were more important things to attend to first.

Not the least of which was finding out exactly where she was. Doing her best to ignore the very odd combination of the dull pains coming from her limp wing and the euphoric feelings coming from her head, the mare gathered enough strength to stand up. "Where...where am I...?" she muttered, slowly taking in her surroundings. Just beyond the thick curtain of fog, she saw what looked like dozens of long, shadowy claws reaching out from the dark backdrop of trees. The rain was still falling heavily, adding an eerie ambience to the atmosphere as it battered the dense foliage. The realization of where she was hit Fluttershy like a blast of frigid winter air. "T-t-the Everfree F-forest...!" She swallowed nervously, and her eyes began jumping from one dark spot to the next. The more she looked about, the more tricks her worried mind played on her.

A rustling in the undergrowth behind her quickly drew the pony's wide-eyed attention. "W-who's th-there...?" she stammered. As answer, the rustling intensified and moved closer. "A-Applejack? Is...is that you?" Unconsciously, the winged mare began backing away from the approaching noise. Fluttershy was so fixated on this unknown threat, that when she backed under a broken branch, she nearly jumped out of her coat. "Aaahhh!" The butterfly-marked pony uttered a shriek of terror, and bolted forward, the rustling before her now irrelevant.

Now, as most anypony would agree, running with one's eyes closed is not the smartest thing to do. It was some kind of miracle that Fluttershy didn't gallop headlong into one of the dozen trees flying by her. Ultimately, it wasn't a tree that halted her panicked flight, but her own discarded saddlebags. She hit the muddy ground with a wet thud. The pegasus covered her eyes and lay there, shivering with fright.

"Brrrriii..."

The familiar noise snapped the pony out of her scared trembling. Sitting upon her saddlebags, struggling to free their latch and get at the provisions inside, was a small, spherical insect-like creature commonly known as a parasprite. The little blue critter looked forlornly at the pony. Fluttershy bit her lip; she was very familiar with parasprites. The tiny animals were unbearably adorable, but they also had voracious appetites and reproduced faster than ten rabbits.

These little buggers, armed with those two traits, had literally eaten quite a few Ponyville citizens out of house and home. Fluttershy, having befriended the first parasprite, had been responsible for the infestation. She had definitely learned her lesson from the mishap. As hard as it was for her to admit this to herself, she couldn't keep this poor creature. Especially not now. The words sticking in her throat, the pegasus shooed the little animal away. "Go on, little one... Go home...quickly now!" When the parasprite refused to budge, the pony finally gave in. She opened up her bags and pulled out a small apple. Showing it to the parasprite to catch its attention, she kicked the apple into the forest. That did the trick; the ever hungry animal made a beeline after the food.

Fluttershy picked up her saddlebags and slipped them on, struggling quite a bit in getting them over her injured wing. "Ow..." Finally, with her saddlebags on, and the parasprite hopefully taken care of, the pegasus...realized she hadn't the slightest idea where she was going. Applejack was missing, along with all of Celestia's guards; she was standing, alone, in the middle of the Everfree Forest. She wouldn't be able to pick out the right direction to Canterlot if it was given to her.

As the gravity of her hopeless predicament sank in, the pegasus mare dejectedly sat down to ponder her next move. She quickly wished that she had looked before sitting down, as she planted herself square on the business end of a sharp green pinecone. She was back on her hooves in an instant, doing a little jig of pain. "Ow, ow, ow..." When the bright snap of pain had faded, Fluttershy turned to investigate its source. "A pinecone...?" Wait, this pinecone is much too young to have fallen now..." Further inspections turned up half a dozen more of the young pinecones, scattered amongst several broken branches. These branches had not fallen naturally; something had knocked them from the trees.

A chance bolt of lightning going off overhead afforded the yellow pegasus a glimpse of the forest before her. It was like a tunnel of broken branches and crushed foliage leading deeper into the dark forest. Yes, it looked scary, but Fluttershy had no other options. The mare swallowed nervously and started into the darkness.

With each shaky step, the dislodged leaves and twigs crunched noisily underhoof, echoing into the inky blackness. "It's all right, Fluttershy..." she said to herself. "You can do it... Just keep walking..."

"Oooohhoooaaa..."

Fluttershy froze at the ghostly moan. Her frightened turquoise eyes darted from left to right. She didn't dare turn around, for fear that she would see whatever had just made that noise right behind her. "W-who's th-there...?"

"Somepony, help..."

The pegasi's eyes snapped open at the agonized plea. "That's no ghost..." Concerned, she broke into a quick trot. "Hello? Who was that?"

"This way... Over...here..."

The voice led the winged pony to the twisted, splintered mound of wood and metal that had been the chariot. Bits of debris, all various sizes, were strewn about the new clearing. Underneath the largest piece, probably what was left of the chariot's body, was the trapped owner of the voice. "General! Oh my goodness! What happened? A-are you all right?"

"Oh, Miss Fluttershy...it's you..." General Headwind wheezed. "Yes... I'll be fine...once I'm...free of this...wreckage... Could you-"

"Oh, yes, o-of course." Fluttershy nodded and set her shoulder against the chunk of debris, allowing the pegasus general just enough room to wriggle free.

"You...have my thanks, Miss Fluttershy..." he replied, quickly climbing to his hooves. He drew in a sharp breath of air and released the straps on his heavily damaged armor, letting it fall away. As it did so, Fluttershy spotted a trail of blood streaming from a fresh puncture wound directly under his left wing.

"Oh my... That looks serious..." the mare commented. "Where did it come from?"

"Look at my armor." he answered quickly, focused on his wing. He gave it an experimental flap and winced.

Confused, Fluttershy gave the discarded armor a closer look. One of its plates had been forcefully bent inward by some great force, creating a wickedly sharp edge. This keen edge was tipped with a sticky, crimson substance. No further inspection was required to figure out what that was. "A-armor's supposed to protect you...isn't it...?"

"It did." Headwind corrected. "After that lightning struck the chariot, it dropped like a stone. Not too far from here is a giant rift, and you and Miss Applejack were set to drop right into it. I did everything in my power to prevent that from happening. I was able to give the chariot enough of a pull to get it over the rift. Most of it, anyway; the wheels clipped the edge, and...well..."

Fluttershy clapped a hoof to the side of her head and screwed her eyes shut. A piercing cry for help ripped through the confines of her mind. "Applejack was thrown out..." she finished slowly.

The general bowed his head. "Yes...I'm sorry..."

"What...what happened to Applejack? Where is she?" The yellow pegasi's voice was suddenly fatigued.

"I...do not know. My apologies. The chariot was moving faster than I had anticipated and I was unable to stop it after the two of you had fallen out. The thing that did stop me was this tree here. If I hadn't been wearing armor at the time, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you." General Headwind explained. "I'd rather take a wound under my wing than become part of a tree."

"I see..."

"There should be first aid supplies somewhere in this wreckage. Once I'm patched up, we can be on our way."

"That won't be necessary."

"Beg pardon, Miss Fluttershy?"

"Wh-what I meant to say is that I actually have medical supplies in my saddlebags. Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Very true."

"I-if you'd like, I-I could dress that wound for you..."

The white pegasus nodded and held his wing aloft. "Be my guest."

The Element of Kindness was an expert at tending to all types of injuries and quickly had General Headwind's wound tightly bound. "I-I'm sorry, sir... But, uhm...your wing won't be useable for a while. That wound was deeper than I thought... I'm sorry I couldn't do more..."

"Nonsense, Miss Fluttershy. It feels as good as new. If you didn't already live in Ponyville, I would personally recommend you to the Royal infirmary."

"Th-thank you..." she murmured, blushing from the compliment. Shaking off the embarrassment, the shy pony mustered up enough courage to pose a nervous question. "Uhm...General, sir?"

"Yes?"

"I-I know that you want to get to Canterlot as soon as possible, but...but...I can't go without Applejack. She's my friend and she wouldn't leave without me. I have to do the same for her."

"My thoughts exactly." the general agreed.

"Re-really...? I thought we were supposed to get back to Canterlot as fast as we could?"

"I promised her Highness that would escort the two of you back to Canterlot. The first thing a pegasus is taught upon joining the Royal Air Guard is to never fall through on a promise. We'll find Miss Applejack, you have my word; and my promise." The stallion paused and focused his eyes on a gap in the swaying foliage. "It looks like the storm has passed for the most part. Princess Luna has also given us a full moon to travel by. Let us make the best of it. Follow me, if you would be so kind."

"Where are we going...?"

"Well, the most logical place to begin our search for Miss Applejack would be where she was last seen, wouldn't you agree?"

"I-I suppose..." the winged mare murmured hesitantly. "W-wait for me!" she quickly added after the general's short blue tail disappeared between two trees. As she trotted up beside Headwind, he flipped her a quick glance.

"Might I ask why you're not flying, Miss Fluttershy? Personal preference, or have you been injured?"

"Uhm... A little of both actually..." Reluctantly, the pegasus turned to reveal her limp wing. "It's not broken, just dislocated... It...it must have happened during the crash, I think..."

"Two usable wings between two pegasi..." Headwind muttered. "Not exactly the best situation to be in. Unfortunately, I possess very little medical knowledge concerning pegasi wings. Members of the Royal Air Guard are taught to continue their mission, even if they should lose use of their wings. I'm deeply sorry that I can't return your favor, Miss Fluttershy."

"It's all right, really. I'll be fine." the mare insisted.

"That aside, I do have another question for you. The Princess asked for you and Miss Applejack by name. How did you come to be so close?"

"Oh, that. I suppose being good friends with Twiligh-"

"Wait, you're the friends that Miss Sparkle always refers to in her letters to the Princess?"

"Y-yes. Why?"

"Her Majesty speaks volumes about her student and her close friends. I've heard many things about you, Miss Fluttershy."

The pegasus mare was genuinely surprised. "Good things, I hope?"

"But of course. I feel honored to be protecting the Element of Kindness."

The female pony didn't have an appropriate response to a compliment like that. Not that it mattered much; Headwind's quick pace had already brought them to the edge of the ravine that he had mentioned earlier.

Fluttershy swallowed nervously, the pegasus general was right. This ravine was giant. Gingerly, the pony leaned out over the edge to peer downwards. All she could see was a thick, wispy bank of fog below her, endless for all she knew. Just looking down into this gray, roiling soup was making her nauseous. "Oh my... Y-you don't suppose Applejack...f-fell in, do you? Ohh...it looks like such a long way to the bottom... I hope she-"

"Nay, yellow pony; do not fear, do not worry. Two pegasi, they caught her, and took off in a hurry."

Only one pony can rhyme like that. The butter-colored mare's gaze flew up out of the foggy ravine as she spun around to face the familiar voice. Her turquoise eyes lit up hopefully. "Zecora! What are you doing all the way out here in the middle of the forest?"

"A healer of animals cannot possibly doubt, that she can make medicine when her supplies have run out. You see, I have made this journey to where we now are, in order to find more herbs for my jars." The small zebra turned to reveal the baskets she was carrying, filled with glass jars of all sizes, that were in turn filled with various herbs and berries.

"Those pegasi that carried Applejack away, were they female?" Fluttershy asked concernedly, envisioning the pair from the burglary the night before.

Zecora shrugged. "They were flying too high for my eye to see clearly. I only knew they held onto their quarry quite dearly."

"Oh, o-okay then..."

Finally, the other pegasus deemed it time to join the conversation. "Forgive the intrusion, ma'am." he began politely. "My name is Headwind, General of the Royal Air Guard of Canterlot, and I have been instructed by her Majesty, the Princess, to escort Miss Fluttershy here and her close friend, a one Miss Applejack, to the royal city. This mission is of the utmost importance, so if you could point out the direction these two pegasi flew, I would be most grateful."

Even though the general stood a full head taller than her, Zecora remained as amiable as ever, even when he stepped right up to her. "Come with me, pony of great caliber. I would be happy to be the guide to your traveler."

"Oh, thank you, Zecora! Thank you so much!" the yellow pegasus said joyfully as she followed the two ponies along the ravine's edge.

Little by little, the trees began peeling away from the canyon rim, before finally opening up to a massive stone structure, crumbling in places from the ravages of time. Despite its disrepair, the ponies couldn't help but stop for a moment to take in its majesty.

"The ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters..." Fluttershy remembered this place; the site of the first (and last) showdown with Nightmare Moon. Something told the timid pegasus that this place was going to be very important in the near future.

Even General Headwind found himself in awe. "I was always told that this place was nothing more than myth. I can remember being told bedtime stories about this place when I was just a colt..."

Not to be left out, Zecora put in her two bits. "I remember hearing stories of this castle so grand, even while back in my homeland."

Standing before the trio was an imposing entry hall. The dark stone of the arched doorway gleamed invitingly in the strong moonlight, almost beckoning the wandering travelers into its gaping maw. The rough cobblestone path leading into the hall was horribly overgrown, slowly being reclaimed by nature. Significantly less confident than the ponies before her, Fluttershy cautiously followed them into the long-abandoned entry hall. The instant her hoof touched the stone inside, it felt like something stabbed her mind. "Ahh...!"

"I couldn't do it... I...wasn't fast enough..."

"Rainbow Dash, darling, you did all that you possibly could have done..."

"No, I didn't... I could have gone faster..."

"C'mon, Dashie, turn that frown upside-down. How could you have flown faster than a Sonic Rainboom?"

"Augh! You don't get it! Neither of you do! I could have done something! For Celestia's sake, I'm supposed to be the Element of Loyalty! Bottom line: Twilight needed me and I wasn't there for her! I...failed..."

Fluttershy didn't know it, but by this time she was unconscious upon the cold stone floor. General Headwind and Zecora had heard her fall and quickly stood over her. Above all of them, visible only in the moonlight streaming in through a hole in the dilapidated ceiling, a shadow moved. It rapidly leapt into the night sky, where feathered wings carried it off toward another massive stone structure.

Entering through an arched window frame, the pegasus trotted up to a circular stone slab that sat before a majestic stained glass window, whose artistic appeal had long since been shattered. Once in the center of the altar, the winged pony pressed a hoof into a small circular depression in the stone. A "click!" was heard in response, and, one by one, steps began appearing, spiraling their way down into the darkness under the stone disc. At the bottom of this staircase one would find a sturdily locked wooden door. A knock on the door and a small panel on it slid back.

"Password?" the revealed pair of pink eyes asked.

"Good and evil, their cycle eternal, hearkens to the moon's glow and the sun's inferno." the pegasus stallion recited.

The pair of eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How do I know it's you...?"

"Open this door, numbskull, before I knock it down on top of you..."

The female voice behind the door giggled. "Yup, that's you all right. One sec'." The panel slid back into place and moments later the door was opened, revealing yet another pegasus. One with a jagged, dark blue mane not unlike the shape of a bolt of lightning. "So? Whadd'ya find out? Huh? Huh?"

"Zip it... Just tell me where the boss is. We've found another Element."

"Oh. She's in the library, looking up spells we can use."

The winged stallion sniffed and set off down the torch-lit hallway, ignoring the stream of babbling from the pegasus behind him. A glow emanating from an archway showed him where the library was. As he turned the corner into the room, the pony was halted by a voice from the far wall.

"This had better be important... I don't need any more interruptions, so unless Nightmare Moon has somehow returned of her own accord, you can back your flank right back out of this room."

For some reason, the formerly serious male pegasus began snickering, very obviously holding back laughter. "W-we've located...a-another Element, just outside the e-entry hall...Pffft!"

The pony at the desk looked up upon hearing this. "Normally, I would lay into you again for laughing like that, but that's going to have to wait. Which Element did you locate?"

After regaining (some of) his composure, the stallion continued. "It was a little dark to see, but I believe it was the yellow pegasus. Kindness, I believe."

"Then I've got the perfect spell to test out our new 'power source.' Get me a charged sinkstone and meet me outside. It's time I tried walking in an Element's hooves."
> 4 - Nighttime Stories
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Twang!

Sssss-thunk!

"A little too much to the left..." the unicorn sighed.

Another arrow magically floated out of the leather-bound quiver strapped to the white pony's side. The icicle-sharp projectile glided up to the equine's face, where she studied it intently with her dark blue eyes. Rainbow Dash is taking all of this very hard... I've never seen the poor dear so shaken up before... Still guided by magic, the arrow nocked itself upon the suspended bow. In one fluid movement, the unicorn drew the bowstring taut... Draw... she sighted down the shaft... Aim... Finally, she took a deep breath, and... Release...!

The crisp Twang! of the bowstring reverberated through the still night air.

Thok!

"Exceptional shot, Miss Rarity. Dead center."

"Thank you, sir..." the unicorn mare replied absentmindedly. Her focus remained on the quivering arrow protruding from the bull's-eye at the far end of the range. Before long, she had selected another arrow and sat it upon her bowstring. One more Twang! later, and the new arrow was on its way downrange.

It was hard to tell in the low light, but if one looked just so, they would see that the second arrow had been split, nock to tip, by the third. This was quite the achievement, but the mare's expression remained unchanged. There really wasn't much to smile about at the moment. Sighing, she propped the bow up against the small table next to her and picked up the small bottle of sparkling water from said table.

"Are you finished for the night, Miss?"

Swallowing her sip of her beverage, Rarity glanced at the pegasus guard standing at attention several yards away. "No, I'm not quite finished yet. Although, it is getting rather late, isn't it?" she remarked, noting the height of Luna's full moon. "You do look like you've had quite a full day, too... If you wish, you may retire for the night. I shouldn't think I'll be too much longer."

The armored stallion adamantly shook his head. "I appreciate your concern, Miss Rarity, but I must refuse. Our weather teams have been carefully monitoring several rogue storms over the Everfree Forest. Following today's affairs, Her Majesty Celestia has ordered every member of the Royal Air Guard to remain on full alert. I'm afraid I am not permitted to let you out of my sight while you are outside the palace. My apologies."

"No need to apologize, sir. If such is the case, I shall be done within the next five minutes." The unicorn picked up her bow and faced the archery range once more. She had just drawn back another arrow when...

"Princess Luna, milady, it is an honor to have you join us during this beautiful night you have given us."

"Wait, did you just say Princ- Waahaah!" Surprise caused the white pony's magic to yank back heavily on the bowstring as she looked over her shoulder, but only for a second. She quickly lost her grip and the arrow streaked off into the night sky. Standing before her was the younger of the two royal sisters; a tall alicorn with a smooth navy blue coat and a star-filled mane and tail that glittered mysteriously and danced with a life of their own. The jewelry and boots she wore twinkled and shimmered as though they had been forged from the night sky itself. "P-princess Luna...! Your Majesty..." The violet-maned unicorn bowed respectfully, if a little hastily, in the presence of the royal alicorn. "Forgive me, your Highness; I must look simply dreadful... My mane is a mess, my hooves are-"

The winged unicorn laughed; not quite the reaction Rarity was expecting. "Oh, that's quite all right; I don't mind at all."

"Re-really?" Rarity stammered, hesitantly looking up at the princess.

"Really. That's another thing; everypony's always afraid to look me in the eye. Although," Luna added, a little nervously, "a good deal of that is probably my fault. I...presume that Twilight told you what happened last Nightmare Night?"

The diamond-marked pony slowly stood up, and cautiously met the alicorn's eyes. "A little of it, yes. I am terribly sorry that I was absent for your visit, your Majesty."

"That's quite all right. I'll admit that I did get a little carried away. The spiders, the shouting, the lightning... Things have really changed in the last 1,000 years." she mumbled sheepishly. "So...what exactly were you doing out here at this hour?"

The wayward arrow that had taken to the sky earlier couldn't have picked a better time to return to the earth. It reappeared in the blink of an eye, embedding itself in the table, right next to Rarity's drink. Luna flicked the vibrating arrow with a hoof. "Ah, I see. I don't recall any of Twilight's letters ever mentioning that you practiced archery."

"Not to be rude, your Highness, but how do you know of Twilight's letters?"

"Whenever 'Tia finishes reading one, she lets me borrow it so I can copy it down and learn a little something about friendship, because, well...I've been a little out of practice lately... That's not to say that I haven't learned a lot, however; your friend is very studious."

Rarity nodded in agreement. "She is indeed. At any rate, archery is something that I just picked up in my spare time. Idle hooves, as they say. Orders for dresses have a habit of coming in a very irregular fashion, if you'll pardon the clothing humor. If you think about it, archery is very much like making a dress. Threading the needles, drawing the bowstring, and so on."

"I can see how that would be true." Luna agreed. "But practicing at night? I don't often make my moons this bright."

"That's...easily explainable, too. As you could very well imagine, everypony is quite upset about today's events. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie have barely spoken to anypony and my mind has been galloping in so many directions, there isn't the slightest chance of me getting any sleep."

"I can understand." Luna nodded sagely. "From what I've read, you all seem very close. I know I have not really had the chance to really sit down and get to know Twilight, but I am just as concerned."

"Thank you, milady."

"Enough of those silly titles. 'Luna' will be quite all right. Now, if you wish, you're more than welcome to join me back in the study if you think that would help take your mind off things. I was about to do a little research on our current situation, and I wouldn't mind a little help."

"Thank you for the offer, and I don't mean to be rude in saying this, but I couldn't. I feel as though I should look in on my friends and try to get some rest. I would probably be more of a knot in your mane than anything else."

"If you insist." the princess replied simply.

The white unicorn nodded. "I do. It was a pleasure talking with you, mil-Luna." As Rarity passed the guard, she bowed her head in thanks. "Thank you very much for your patience, sir."

"My pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your night, Miss."

"Oh, before I go, could you direct me to Rainbow Dash's room? I'd be most grateful."

"Of course. Head left down this hallway and take your first left. That should take you to a staircase. Once you are at the top, Miss Dash's room should be the first on the right." the guard pony instructed.

"Thank you." Rarity bowed once more and took her leave.

"Are you retiring for the night as well, your Majesty, or do you plan to return to your study?" the white pegasus asked as Luna came back inside.

"Yes, I was planning to keep studying. I'd feel better if I could figure something out, no matter how small."

Very well. Do you require any further services from me?"

"I should be fine for the nigh-" The pony paused and looked up at the ceiling. "Actually, yes, there is. Stop by the kitchen and have the cooks begin preparing a dozen scones. Send half of these to Rarity and her friends. I think they could use something to eat. Also, have the cooks start boiling some water for tea. I'll be down shortly to pick it up. After that, have guards stationed at each of our guests' rooms. We can't have a repeat of today's incident."

"At once, milady."

"Very good, Lieutenant. You may go." Luna waved off his salute and watched as he subsequently turned and marched away. Waiting until she was sure he was out of earshot, she let out her held breath. "'Milady' this, 'your Majesty' that. How in Equestria has 'Tia put up with it for so long? It's already driving me insane..."

-------------------------

Rarity had little trouble in locating Rainbow Dash's room after following the directions from the guard. Despite the hour, something told her that her friend wouldn't be asleep yet. The unicorn raised a hoof and knocked quietly upon the door. To her surprise, the door wasn't locked, let alone latched, and it slowly swung open, creaking softly. Rarity's intuitions had been correct; the rainbow-maned pegasus was still awake. She was sitting silently at the window, idly tapping a hoof against the stone sill. However, there was one more pony in the room than the unicorn had initially seen. "Pinkie Pie, dear, it's getting awfully late. What are you still doing up?"

The aptly-named pink pony that was lying upon the bed looked up and blinked sleepily. "Hiiiii..." she mumbled, sounding as if she was forcing herself to sound happy and upbeat.

"But what are you doing in here, darling?"

"I kept having these really scary dreams every time I fell asleep. Like really, really scary. I came in here to see if Dashie was having the same problem, but she says she hasn't even gone to sleep yet. She's been sitting at the window since I came in." The curly, pink-maned pony let out a long, depressed sigh. "I don't blame her..."

"I understand you're upset, Rainbow Dash, but you should try and get some sleep anyway." Rarity urged, lightly laying a hoof upon her friend's shoulder.

The sky-blue pony snorted indifferently and shrugged off the unicorn's hoof. "I'm not tired..." she muttered.

"Okay... That doesn't mean that you couldn't try to go to sleep anyway. Things always seem better after a good night's rest."

"She's right, Dashie." Pinkie chimed in, hopping off the bed. "Whenever I'm feeling down, I always like to have a really biiig piece of cake and take a nice long nap. It always helps me!"

The unicorn couldn't help but flash a confused glance at the pink earth pony. "In that order, dear? Really?"

Pinkie Pie forced a grin onto her face and shrugged. "What? It works for me..."

"Just...leave me alone... Just go..." Rainbow Dash sniffed. Not bothering to see whether or not her friends had taken her advice, she continued murmuring to herself. "I couldn't do it... I...wasn't fast enough..."

"Rainbow Dash, darling, you did all that you possibly could have done..."

The pegasus shook her head. "No, I didn't... I could have gone faster..."

"C'mon, Dashie, turn that frown upside-down. How could you have flown faster than a Sonic Rainboom?"

"Augh! You don't get it!" For the first time since Rarity had entered the room, the pegasus turned to face her. The pony's expression was a frightening mix of anger, sadness, and deep regret. "Neither of you do! I could have done something! For Celestia's sake, I'm supposed to be the Element of Loyalty! Bottom line: Twilight needed me and I wasn't there for her! I...failed..."

As the multi-colored pegasus sank to the floor, slowly dissolving into a puddle of angry tears, Rarity could feel her heart moving in the same direction. What is happening to all of us? she thought. This is tearing us apart...

-------------------------

Luna's trip back to her room didn't take very long either. Several hallways and an equal number of staircases later, and she was in her private quarters. Just inside the alicorn's room, a little off to the left, was her own private study, walled in by three fully stocked bookcases. Even more books were spread upon the finely crafted desk in the center of the room, mingling with scrolls, quills, and a candle or two.

The princess made a quick lap around the room, carefully scrutinizing the shelved books, selecting one from here and a few from there. She placed the stack of books upon the desk and turned around to head back down to the kitchen as she had promised. She made it no further than her door. A pony dressed in typical chef's garb stood just outside, a serving cart before him.

"Here are half a dozen freshly baked maple scones and a kettle of boiling water, along with a selection of our finest teas, as you requested, your Highness."

Luna was a little surprised to see the head chef at her door. "Oh...my... You didn't have to bring that all the way up here. I was just on my way down to the kitchen to come get these."

"Nonsense. It was my pleasure. Will this be all for you tonight?"

"Yes, this will be fine. Thank you, Five Star." The familiar glow of magic surrounded Luna's horn as she removed the silver platter from the cart. "Have you taken the other scones to our guests yet?"

"Of course. Just as you requested."

"Very good. Enjoy the rest of your night."

"You too, Princess." The chef pony bowed respectfully and left to return to his kitchen.

At least he didn't call me "milady." the horned pegasus chuckled to herself. This time, as she closed the door behind her, she made sure to lock it; she wanted no further interruptions. "All right... Back to wor- Wait a minute... What's this book?" Out of the clutter on the desk, one book in particular stood out to the pony; a rather thick volume, bound in fine black leather. Attached to the front cover was a short message. Luna easily recognized the writing upon the parchment.

"Here's the book you wanted to read. I wanted to get into it a little bit more, but after what happened today, I don't have the time. I hope that you can take a longer look at it and perhaps shed some light on what's going on.

Love ya, sis,
'Tia."

Luna pulled the note off the book and looked at the gold calligraphic text of the title. "A Brief History of Harmony and Discord... 'Tia must've left this for me while I was outside. Looks like as good a place as any to start." Before she dove into the book, Luna picked out several bags of crushed rose petals and rosehips from the serving tray. These she put into the kettle so that the boiling water could do its work while she did hers.

Of course, it made sense to start at the beginning of the book, and as the pony opened to the foreword, something jumped out at her. "This work seeks to explain the many intricacies of the mysterious forces at work in our world today, collectively known as 'Harmony,' and those ponies that have wielded them." Luna read out loud. "As you read on, keep in mind one simple fact. Know that everything in this world, even the governing force of Harmony, has an opposite equivalent and is not always as it appears; good and evil, light and dark, so on and so forth."

Separated from this ominous-sounding reminder, farther down the page, was another line of text that appeared to be a quote of some kind. "Not every cloud has a silver lining, but everything good has something evil to go along with it." Strangely enough, this quote was not followed by any sort of name, not even "Anonymous." Interesting... Luna folded the top corner of the page down for later reference and flipped past the various dedications and introductions to section one, entitled Exploring the Elements: An in-depth look at each individual Element.

"Perfect." the blue alicorn mumbled around a mouthful of scone. Phoenix-feather quill and fresh parchment at the ready, she dove into the first section. With each hour that passed, Luna found herself a few more pages in, with several more scrolls of notes on the table, and one less scone on the plate.

Things were refusing to add up however. The beginning of the section had distinctly mentioned all six Elements, from Honesty to Magic. As she read, Luna had noted that each Element had a very thorough chapter dedicated to it. At least until she got to Magic. "Wait a minute... There's almost nothing here." Confused, she flipped back a page to see if she had missed something. "Nope... That's not it. Odd...there's barely even a paragraph for the Element of Magic. Even then, it just mentions it as a 'key.' That's it..."

A quick set of knocks at the princess' door interrupted her confusion. "Luna? Are you still awake?"

'Tia? The blue pony looked up from her book and ran to the door. The winged unicorn on the other side was lacking her tiara and usual accoutrements, but it was indeed Celestia. "You look awful, sis! What are you doing up? It's still the middle of the night."

The tall white alicorn blinked sleepily and yawned. "I know, but I'm waiting for Applejack and Fluttershy to arrive. Their chariot is long overdue and I'm becoming worried. I need somepony to talk to. May I?"

"Of course! C'mon in." Luna saw something in her sister's eyes; something other than fatigue. She took a step back and allowed the white pony to enter.

Celestia's gaze quickly fell upon the cluttered desk within the study. "You look as if you've been quite busy tonight. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"No, you're fine, 'Tia. I was just looking through that book you left me."

"Oh. Please tell me that you've figured some of this mess out." Celestia sighed, a touch of desperation in her voice.

"Sort of..." Luna answered hesitantly. She looked toward the book laying open upon the desk and followed it as it magically floated back to her. "Look at this." The slightly yellowed pages flipped backwards, to the dog-eared page with the strange quote.

"Not every cloud has a silver lining, but everything good has something evil to go along with it..." Celestia stared intently at the passage as something long since buried in a millennium of memories squirmed to free itself. Why does this sound so familiar? Where have I seen this before? Finally, like a drowning pony breaking the water's surface, it came to her. "That's it..." she murmured distantly.

"What's it?" Luna looked at the quote in confusion, then to her sister, and finally back at the text again. "Have you seen this before, 'Tia?"

The white alicorn princess nodded. "Let me see the book for a minute." Two pages before the enigmatic quote was the standard publishing information that all books possess. "Here. Read the publication date."

"December 22nd, 1010. What abou... Oh, right... That's one thousand years ago..." she mumbled.

"One thousand and one, actually, give or take a few months. This book was published one year after our..." The princess paused, unsure of how to breach the delicate subject.

"Disagreement?"

"Yes, that's a good way of putting it. Thank you, Luna. This book was written and published one year after our disagreement, in an attempt to explain just exactly what the Elements of Harmony were and how they worked. It also tried to explain why there were so many rogue storms in Equestria at the time."

"Wait, what?" Luna looked like she'd just been slapped. "So what's going on now has already happened?"

"Yes. There just isn't a pony alive that still remembers it. I'm the only one that does. Even back then, those storms were searching for something, just like now."

"But what exactly are they looking for?"

Celestia sighed and closed the book. She slowly walked over to a window and stared out into the night sky for some time. When she spoke again, her tone was very shaky. "I-if you...had asked me that two days ago... I...I couldn't have told you... A-after today, though...I...I..." The alicorn trailed off, refusing to finish her sentence.

"What's the matter, 'Tia? You look like-" It was Luna's turn to trail off, as her question was answered by a single tear dropping to the window sill. She'd never seen this before, not from her sister.

"I know what you're thinking, Luna...but there's something that you should know about that night all that time ago. That night... That night was the worst night of my life. I don't think I've ever shed so many tears in my life. For a week, I would cry myself to sleep, wake up an hour later, and keep on crying. I cried so long, and so hard, I actually believed that there weren't any tears left in me. For almost one thousand years, that was true; nothing could compare to what had happened between us. Until, that is, I met one pony. In that instant, I knew if anything should ever happen to her...it would bring those tears back..."

"Twilight..."

Celestia nodded weakly. "Yes... She reminded me so much of you... I had already failed to protect you, Luna... I swore to myself that I wouldn't make the same kind of mistake again. So much for that promise..."

Luna nudged her sister in her trembling shoulder. "It's not your fault, 'Tia. You can't be everywhere at once."

"T-that's true..." she sniffed. "But I could have paid more attention to what was going on. I should have done something the instant I saw the storms turn toward Ponyville. I saw all of the signs, just like I did with you. You weren't acting like yourself, you weren't the Luna I knew. By the time I knew something was terribly wrong, that evil force already had you tightly in its grip. I could have stopped it if I had acted sooner...and now...that evil force has returned, again taking s-somepony close to me... I...I'm sorry, Twilight..."

"I wouldn't worry too much, 'Tia. You've told me great things about Twilight, and from the time I spent with her, even though it was very short, she seems as though she has a smart head on her shoulders."

"Y-you're right, Luna. I shouldn't be worried. Twilight is a very smart pony. She'll be fine. Still, I can't help but worry as to why she was taken to begin with."

"About that, 'Tia. I found some-"

Luna's news would have to wait until later. Out of nowhere, Lieutenant Jet Stream appeared at the open door. "Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! Your Majesties! Your presences have been requested at the main gate!"

After exchanging confused glances, the sisters followed the lieutenant down numerous hallways and staircases toward the palace's main door. "What is the problem, Jet Stream?" Celestia asked over the rapid clicking of three sets of hooves upon the marble flooring.

"Your guess is as good as mine, your Highness." he replied. "One of the guards on watch said he spotted something approaching the palace."

"Not again... Once a day is more than enough..." The alicorn's violet eyes glinted angrily.

The trio slowed to a halt as they approached the main gate. "Open the gate..." Celestia ordered coldly.

The sight beyond the imposing double doors was not one that any of the three ponies expected to see. Two pegasus stallions, clad in a damaged variant of the typical armor issued to the Royal Air Guard, stood, exhausted from their quick flight.

Jet Stream instantly recognized the two guards. "Cirrus! Wind Shear! Where have you-"

One of Princess Celestia's majestic wings flicked out, cutting off her lieutenant both physically and verbally. "At attention! Quickly!" she barked.

The pair of guards scrambled to stand up straight and salute. "At once, your Highness!" they replied simultaneously.

"Excellent. Full report!"

"We had no trouble locating the ponies you asked for."

Celestia's eyes narrowed darkly at the pause in narration. "Then where are they, pray tell?" Understandably, the guards were quite nervous under the princess' cold, scrutinizing stare. "Well?"

Finally, one of the armored pegasi mustered up the courage and stepped forward. He swallowed visibly and launched back into his narrative. "We were able to take off without any problems. However, as we passed over the Everfree Forest... We...we lost the chariot..."

"How exactly does one just lose a chariot?" The princess' voice was quickly becoming frustrated.

Luna noticed this and gently nudged the white alicorn. "Calm down, 'Tia." she whispered. She flinched a little as she was smacked in the face by the feathers of Celestia's other wing.

"Hush. What happened to the chariot? How did you lose it?" Celestia repeated.

"A bolt of lightning cut the chariot loose from us and knocked us from the sky over the Great Scar. Since then, we've been picking our way through the forest until we were free of it. That's why we arrived so late."

"I see... Am I to assume that General Headwind followed the chariot down?"

"Affirmative. His orders were for us to return to Canterlot and find you if anything were to happen."

"Very good. The two of you have had a long day. You are dismissed."

The guard ponies bowed respectfully and rapidly took their leave. Perhaps they too could sense the princess' mounting irritation? "Shall I ready a combat squad?" Jet Stream asked the princess as the guards galloped away.

Celestia shook her head. "A regular combat squadron would draw too much attention to us. I want this operation to be as covert as possible. Ready the G.R.A.S.S. team. We will be moving within the hour."

"'We,' your Majesty?"

"Yes, Jet Stream. I will be leading this mission. I have observed from the sidelines for long enough; this time I take action."

"Forgive my saying so, Princess, but with regards to the day's events, I suggest you reconsider."

The alicorn turned a smoldering glare on the lieutenant, causing him to flinch. "Are you disobeying a direct order, Jet Stream?"

"N-not at all, your Excellency. It is just my opinion that-"

Celestia's gaze softened slightly as she spoke. "Jet Stream, you have served in my Royal Air Guard for many years and I do respect your opinion. However, this is not something I will be swayed upon. Too many things, today included, have only come to pass because of my lack of action. Send word to the armorer, have him begin preparing my armor. Quickly!"

Jet Stream gave a militaristic salute. "Yes, your Highness!" Soon, he too was off down the hallway.

"Come with me, Luna. I need to talk with you."

The blue alicorn watched as her sister started after the lieutenant. What's wrong, 'Tia? You don't often get like this. The last time I remember seeing this side of you was back while we were fighting against-

"Luna!"

"C-coming!" she stammered.

"Listen to me carefully, Luna." the elder princess instructed. "I do not foresee this...errand of mine taking more than a few hours, but in the event that I am wrong, I want you to raise the sun in my stead."

"Really? You've always done that, 'Tia. You think I'm ready for that?"

"I know you're ready."

The sisters rounded a corner and entered a massive chamber lined with dozens of variations of the standard Royal Guard armor. Against the far wall was a highly ornate, glass-doored cabinet housing two sets of armor, vastly different from the numerous other sets in the room. These two sets were identical in every way, save for their color. One of them seemed to act as its own light source, gleaming a bright golden yellow. The other one was forged from a nearly pitch-black metal that absorbed any and all light that came near.

"Princess Celestia, your Majesty." A unicorn garbed in a brown blacksmith's apron appeared from a small room alight with the glow of burning coals. "Jet Stream told me you would be coming. Your armor is ready and waiting."

"Very good. Begin my fitting."

"At once." The golden armor pieces drifted out of the cabinet, guided by the blacksmith's steady magic. "Pardon me, your Highness, but would you raise your wings? Thank you." Two parts of a magnificently crafted breastplate, floated up around Celestia's neck and fastened themselves together. A specially made helmet and knee-high leg armor, also made from the same golden metal, completed the ensemble.

The alicorn shrugged slightly to better adjust the armor over her back. It had been quite some time since she had last worn this. "All right, Luna, you're in charge until I return." Without waiting for an answer, the princess turned away and headed for the exit.

"Wait up, sis'!" Luna called after her. "I need to tell you something!"

"Don't worry; I know you can handle being-"

"Just stop and look at me, 'Tia!"

The desperation in her sibling's voice surprised the winged unicorn and she faced the smaller pony. "What is it?"

"P-promise me that you'll come back..."

Celestia smiled at her sister's concern. "I'll be back. Promise." She lowered her head and met the younger princess in a sisterly embrace.

"Please be careful, 'Tia..."

> 5 - Dark Dreams
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "...the sixth Element; the Element of Magic!"

The glowing stone sphere high above the purple unicorn burst into a magnificent light, illuminating the entirety of the cold stone chamber. As this light neared the pony underneath it, it morphed into a jeweled tiara.

A new light began shining throughout the chamber, surrounding the group of six ponies. A massive, double-helixed rainbow erupted vertically from the pink glow, twisting high into the air before radiating out toward the dark alicorn standing upon the pedestal.

"No... Noooo...!" The rainbow energy began circling around the alicorn , revolving faster and faster until it was a multicolored blur. Before long, however, the cyclone exploded outward, knocking the six ponies to the stone floor. Still upon the circular pedestal, standing there as if nothing had happened, was Nightmare Moon.

"What...what happened? The Elements of Harmony...failed?"

"Ahahahaha! Insolent foal! I am Nightmare Moon, darkness incarnate! What did you expect those useless little baubles to do?"

The purple unicorn staggered back to her hooves, dizzy from the shockwave. "The Elements are a force of pure good... Evil cannot stand against them!"

"'Pure good?' Ha! Nothing in this world is pure! Everything has an opposite; kindness, honesty, generosity, all of them! As long as there are those that fight for good, there will be those that fight for evil... True evil can never be defeated!" the black pony laughed. "It will always return!"

"But...but..."

"Enough! Your inane ramblings grow tiresome. Your efforts have failed, and this battle is over!" Nightmare Moon's amorphous mane began swirling itself into a violent, frenzied tornado. The very air became charged with an unnatural energy as lightning bolts started manifesting out of thin air.

"No!" Twilight shouted defiantly. "The Elements of Harmony will prevail! Back on your hooves, everypony! We can still do this! We can still win! We can...girls?" Met with silence, the unicorn glanced behind her. To her shock, nopony was there. She was alone.

"Pathetic little foal! You shall be the first to experience my endless night! Sleep forever!"

"Aah!" Twilight awoke with a start, her mane and coat damp with a cold sweat. The transition from dream to reality is always shaky, and it took the unicorn mare a good chunk of time to realize the difference. "T-that was just a dream... Nightmare Moon was defeated a year ago... That wasn't real..."

"Look who's finally awake... It's about damn time; you've been fidgeting and whining in your sleep like a newborn filly..."

Twilight's hadn't fully woken up yet, and her vision was a bit blurry, so she had no idea who (or what) she was talking to. Her first instinct was to conjure a simple light spell at the tip of her horn. The result was less than desirable; the spell fizzled, only succeeding in producing a tiny spit of magenta-hued magic that miserably sank to the floor and burned out.

"We won't have any of that while you're in here. This is a magic-free zone."

"Magic-free? But that would require a massive amount of oppositely polarized energy. How are you-"

"That's on a need-to-know basis. You don't qualify." the silhouette sniffed.

Twilight snorted in frustration at her roommate's silence. Her mind was a hurricane of questions and she just wanted some answers. After a short time, it became painfully clear that she was not going to get any, so the unicorn gave up waiting and began doing it herself. Her head had finally stopped swimming from her rapid awakening, and there was a tiny bit of light leaking in from the candle-lit hallway to aid in her search.

This tiny room was every inch a dungeon, from its purely cobblestone construction, its lack of furnishings, right down to the cobweb-coated chains snaking from the back wall. It wasn't until she went to stand up that Twilight found she was sporting her very own set, complete with heavy manacles fastened about each of her legs. As she stared at these in confusion, the mare discovered she was wearing some kind of strange jewelry; a choker inset with an odd gemstone.

"Ow!" Touching it quickly turned out to be a bad idea. The surface of the gem was about as hot as sticking one's hoof into an open flame. Where in Equestria am I? she thought, her worry mounting as her mind put together what little pieces she had before her.

"Ya'll git yer hooves offa me, ya varmint!"

Twilight's ears shot up at the familiar voice. Applejack?

"C'mon! Lemme go, Ah dare ya! Ah'll buck yer sorry no good flanks halfway into next week!"

Above the rising din from the hallway, a solid Thud! could be heard, followed by a very angry "Ouch!"

"Hah! How do ya like them apples? If ya'd hold still, Ah'd be happy ta do yer other eye so's yer all nice an' matchin'! How's that sou-uff!"

"I've had enough of your lip! Charger! Skies! Get her in there!"

Shortly thereafter, Applejack was forcefully ushered around the corner by a pair of pegasi. With a great amount of difficulty, along with a good number of bruises between them, the eventually succeeded in restraining the stubborn orange pony. As these two pegasi left the room, another, this one wearing a rapidly swelling eye, entered. "All right, ponies, cock an ear. This is important."

"Go choke on an apple core." the farmer pony snorted.

"Excuse me?"

"Y'all heard me. Or did some of that mud livin' in what you call a brain leak into yer ears too?"

The earth pony's insults were taking their toll. The pegasus was trembling with barely contained rage. Applejack saw this and decided to give her a little something extra. In a manner most cheeky, she pointed the tip of her tongue at the winged pony. As answer, she received the pony equivalent of a backhand across her mouth.

Thoroughly fed up, the pegasus mare turned to leave. As she passed the stallion standing guard at the doorway, he burst into a fit of laughter. "Hahahaha! She sure as hay gave it to you! Hahaha! What's the matter? The high and mighty Nightshade can't handle a simple earth pony? Haha-"

This "Nightshade" aggressively shoved the larger pony into the stone wall, glaring daggers at him. "Put a lid on it, smart-flank. You. Recon. Now." she growled.

"S-sure thing..." he stammered, still giggling like a schoolfilly. "R-right away..."

"Idiot..." Nightshade finally pulled the heavy door shut, leaving the pair of ponies in near total darkness.

A period of uneasy silence followed before either of the friends spoke. Applejack was the first to break the silence. "Heh. Ah thought that slap was gonna hurt a bit more. Guess not..."

After waiting to see if there was a response from beyond the door, Twilight finally let out her held breath. "Applejack!" The unicorn was overjoyed to see her friend, but terrified that it had to be under the current circumstances. "Are you all right? What are you doing here? Where are w-"

"Woah there, sugarcube. One question at a time. Take a deep breath an' start over."

Twilight obliged, already feeling better. The silent confidence radiating from the earth pony was immensely calming. "Are you all right?" she repeated. "That slap looked like it hurt."

Applejack nodded. "Don't you worry none, Twi'. It's gonna take more'n that to- Oop, 'scuse me... Ptoo!" The blonde pony took a quick pause and spat out a small mouthful of blood. "Like Ah was sayin': It's gonna take more'n that to harm one of the Apple clan. We're stubborn as the day is long."

"That's a relief... So then, what are you doing here?"

"We were on our way to Canterlot when our ride was knocked clean outta the sky by a lightnin' bo-"

"'We?' Who else was with you?"

The hat-wearing pony clapped a hoof to her forehead, making her chains rattle noisily. "Shoot! Fluttershy! Those pegasi had me so ticked, Ah plumb fergot about her... Ah hope she's doin' all right..."

"Fluttershy's in trouble too? What's going on, Applejack? Why were you two heading for Canterlot?" Twilight started rattling off questions again, forgetting what her friend had said moments earlier.

"Ah ain't got the foggiest idea... Ah just know it's real nasty." All of a sudden, the orange pony felt sick. Breaking the news about the unicorn's library to her wasn't going to be easy. "Ah...Ah've also got a bit of bad news..."

"What is it? Please tell me the others are all right..."

"Well...uh... Ah don't know how to break this to ya, Twi'..."

"Come on, Applejack." Twilight pleaded. "Tell me, please. I can handle it."

The earth pony sighed. There was just no other way to explain this. "Alright, sugarcube... Just know that this ain't any easier fer me to say this. The day after you and the girls took off fer Canterlot, that was when stuff started gettin' real bad. We got hit with a nasty storm an' Fluttershy ended up havin' to stay the night. Anyway, the next mornin', we found out that somethin' had gone and broken into all of our houses; includin' yer library, Twi'..."

The unicorn was becoming anxious again. Applejack wouldn't meet her eyes. "Why...why do you sound so depressed? They couldn't have taken that many books...right?"

"They're gone, Twi'. All of 'em. Whoever's b'hind all this burned every single thing inside that library. There ain't a thing left... Ah'm awful sorry..."

The look on the unicorn's face was indescribable by mere words. Images of charred, burning pages fluttering upon a hot, ashen breeze were all she could see. No... Scrolls, books, entire encyclopedias, all full of beautiful knowledge, burning...burning until they were no more that miserable piles of ash, ready to be blown away by the slightest wind. She shook her head, refusing to believe what she had been told. "No... No, no, no!" Twilight sank to the dusty floor, hooves pressed to the sides of her head. "That can't be true! It just can't!"

"Ah'm sorry, Twilight... For once in mah life, Ah wish Ah-"

"That's not true! Don't lie to me, Applejack!" she yelled, an angry spark in her violet eyes. "Don't lie to me!"

The apple-marked pony shook her head sadly. "Ah wish Ah was, hun'. Ah wish Ah was..."

"No! It's not true! It's not-"

"Fer Celestia's sake, Twilight! Look at me! Look at who yer talkin' to!"

The purple pony slowly looked up, hot tears still in her eyes, right into the green eyes belonging to the Element of Honesty. Realization hit her like a dropped anvil. "I...I apologize, A-Applejack... I didn't mean to accuse you of be-being a liar... I just-"

"Ah fergive ya. Ah'd feel the same way if anythin' happened to mah family."

"S-so Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh... They-they're both okay then?"

"Yep. They're both right as rain."

Twilight wiped her eyes and sat up. "G-good to hear. What about everypony else's houses. I hope t-they're still standing..."

"Uh-huh. All still in one piece. We...weren't able to find Angel Bunny though; little guy's still missin'."

The unicorn was legitimately surprised at hearing this. "Fluttershy left while Angel Bunny was missing? What did you say to her to convince her to do that?"

"Ah didn't say nothin'. It was Big Macintosh who did all the sayin'."

Twilight's tearful expression gave way to a soft smile. "R-really? I had a hunch that that's who it was." she said mysteriously.

Applejack's eyes revealed nothing but confusion. "What in Equestria are ya talkin' about, Twi'?"

"You know that Big Macintosh came by the library recently, right?"

"Yeah, it was about two weeks ago. Why?"

"I was getting there." she chuckled. "Do you know what book he came looking for, though?" A shrug from the earth pony let her continue. "The book he ended up checking out was The Stallion's Standard to Going Steady. I didn't really think anything of it at first. A week later, though, I figured it out. This time, it was Fluttershy that came in looking for a book. The Complete Encyclopedia of Rabbits, I believe. Guess who had that one?"

Even though she was not one for "fancy mathematics," as she called them, Applejack easily put two and two together. The smile that crept onto her face was so bright, it almost lit up the small room. "Shoot! That's the best thing Ah've heard in a long time. Ah've been telling that ol' pony that he really should find himself a mare. What're the odds that it'd be Fluttershy?"

"Well, considering the apparent imbalance in the ratio of-"

"C'mon, Twi'! Ya know darn well that ain't what Ah meant!" the blonde-maned pony laughed.

"I know, I know." Laughter has a habit for being notoriously contagious, and Twilight was soon giggling along with her friend. "Ever since I got that letter from Princess Celestia two days ago, it's been nothing but bad news." the unicorn sighed. "It's so refreshing to hear something like that."

Good news or not, the two ponies were still in a dungeon, the door to which suddenly flew open, startling them both. The pegasus that had been sent on recon earlier had returned, and he had a very evil grin upon his features. He made a beeline straight for the unicorn. "Time we put that magic of yours to good use."

Unsure of the stallion's motives, Twilight screwed her eyes shut in fear. Barely anything happened, though. She felt her choker being forcibly ripped off and instantly replaced with a new one. "That's it...?"

The winged pony left just as quickly as he'd appeared, slamming the door behind him.

"What was he talkin' about, Twi'?" Applejack asked warily. "Puttin' yer magic to use?"

-------------------------

The early morning sunlight seeping through the closed curtains fell upon the sleeping pony's eyelids causing her to roll over in an attempt to escape nature's wake-up call. Contradicting her actions, the pegasus murmured sleepily, "I really should get up; I've a lot to do..." The pony then gave a massive yawn and sat up.

After returning the butterfly-marked quilt to a neat and tidy position upon the bed, Fluttershy happily trotted down the stairs, in the best of moods. "Good morning, Angel Bunny." she called out in a singsong voice as she passed his basket en route to the kitchen. "Are you hungry?"

IN the blink of an eye, the mare had pulled three carrots from the refrigerator and was cutting them up for her animal friend. Humming, she scooped these into a bowl and carried it back out to where the rabbit was still sleeping. "Wake up, my little Angel..." she murmured softly, touching her nose to the blanket-wrapped bundle.

"One mouth taken care of..." Fluttershy remarked, opening her back door. Her next course of action was to go about feeding the myriad of other animals under her care. Of this myriad, she saved a certain few for last. After digging a mouthful of worms from the ground, she flew up to the tall tree she had placed her patient in the day before. Just as expected, the young robin was still there, wing bandaged up just as she'd left it. As she spat the admittedly foul-tasting bunch of worms into the nest, the robin greeted her with a warm, friendly trill.

The mare smiled. "Well, good morning to you too. How does that wing feel?" Three cheerful chirps told Fluttershy that her treatment had worked. "Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. Now hold still and I'll have those bandages right off, okay?"

Each gauze strip that the winged pony removed was neatly draped over her foreleg. She was about to do the same with the last bandage when she noticed several jet black particles settling upon the white cloth. "Ash...?" Ash only comes from one source. A fire! Given her home's proximity to the Everfree Forest, the pink-maned pegasus was right to be worried about a fire. However, a quick, frightened look around revealed a black cloud on the horizon slowly climbing into the sky. At first, Fluttershy was relieved that the fire was on the opposite side of Ponyville. Until, that is, she realized just what was on the opposite side of Ponyville. "Sweet Apple Acres... Applejack!"

Leaving the bandages swirling in her wake, the pegasus took off for the apple farm. "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!" The pony's wings were a blur as she tore through the sky. She flew faster than she had ever flown before, yet the far-off wisp of smoke was not getting any closer. Night had fallen by the time Fluttershy reached the farm. The orange, unsteady glow of the dancing flames revealed a single pony standing far below her. The more the pegasus spiraled down to her, the better she could see that the young pony was wearing a large bow in her mane. "Apple Bloom! Are you all right?"

The little yellow filly nodded shakily, the burning farmhouse clearly reflected in her wide, tear-filled eyes.

The mare's relief at hearing this was short-lived, as she quickly noticed the lack of the rest of the Apple family. "W-where are Applejack and Big Macintosh?" she asked hesitantly.

"B-B-Big Macintosh never came out... AJ went b-back in to find him...!"

"Oh no..." With her heart suddenly in her mouth, Fluttershy spun around to face the raging inferno that was the farmhouse. It looked as though flames had consumed the entire upper floor. The longer the pony stared at the crackling flames, the louder that little voice in her head became. Of the two ponies that were supposedly still inside, the pegasi's thoughts turned to one of them.

Throwing caution (and logic, as running into a burning building is never a good idea) to the wind, Fluttershy went for it. The heat inside the farmhouse was sweltering and everything was bathed in a strangely eerie red-orange light. "Big Macintosh!? Where are you? Please! Answer me!" she shouted over the angry crackling of the fire as it slowly consumed the house. Obviously, this had not been a smart idea to begin with, but the pegasus was now learning why. The flames dancing all around her were greedily sucking up any available oxygen and simultaneously superheating whatever was left, making each breath burn from the inside out. The overabundance of soot floating through the air clung to the pony's mane and coat, and stung her eyes horribly. Still, something inside the yellow mare would not let her quit.

She shook away the light-headedness induced by inadequate oxygen and sprinted up the staircase. She looked to the left and right; both directions were overrun by tall crimson flames. Panicked tears began welling up in the mare's frightened eyes. "Big Macintosh! Answer me!" she sobbed. "Please!"

Fluttershy was not the hardiest of ponies to begin with, and her surroundings were draining her stamina reserves faster by the second; the intense heat was steadily strangling the life from her. A foul mixture of soot and sweat ran into the pegasi's eyes as she bent over fighting to catch the smallest breath possible. Though her eyes were red and swollen, there was still a glint of determination present in them.

Determination, no matter how strong, means nothing if one's body doesn't have the strength to back it up, and it was taking all of what Fluttershy had left just to remain standing. It wasn't long before even this was overpowered, though. The structural integrity of the farmhouse was reaching critical levels. "Aaah!!" The blazing cross beam above the winged pony gave way and collapsed onto her.

Struggling proved useless; the more Fluttershy squirmed, the more the burning wood pressed into her back. "Big Mac... Please..." Her voice was little more than a raspy whisper, yet it was finally answered. She could faintly make out a frenetic barking quickly approaching her. "W-Winona?"

The loyal collie bounded up to the trapped pony, barking madly. "N-no..." Fluttershy breathed. "You...have to get...out of here, Winona..." Ignoring the pegasi's command, the canine began frantically pulling on her right wing, obviously trying to free her. "O-ow... Winona...stop... It's not working..." she wheezed. Despite the weak protesting, Winona kept up her furious tugging on Fluttershy's wing, with each tug significantly more painful than the last, until...

Pop!

Fluttershy sat bolt upright, her chest heaving in and out. A quick inventory of her surroundings revealed her to still be in the Everfree Forest with General Headwind and Zecora. Her right wing was quite sore, yet an experimental flap proved it to be useable once again. Confused, she looked from Headwind to Zecora and back again. "Wh-what happened?"

"Miss Zecora helped me to tend to your dislocated wing." the general explained.

The zebra nodded in agreement. "A sadder sight has not passed my eye, than a pegasus that could not fly."

The shock of her nightmare had not yet passed, and Fluttershy was still on edge. She tried looking around again to calm herself down. The dark trees of the Everfree Forest stretched out before her. Against her back, casting a long shadow in the bright moonlight, was a rundown cobblestone wall. There was no sign of a farmhouse, burning or otherwise. That was just a dream...? It was so...real... Her heart skipped a beat as she realized just what had happened. I just ran into a burning building to find Big Macintosh... "Where are we?" she asked, shrugging off the apparent meaning of her dream.

"We're just outside the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. The instant you stepped inside, you fainted." Headwind informed her.

At hearing this, Fluttershy's memory returned; meeting Zecora, seeing the castle, hearing her friend's voices. With the return of these recent memories, came the flood of concerns. "What about Applejack? Have you found her yet?"

Zecora looked up from a mixture she was boiling over a small fire. "A place such as this has many places to hide. Had I told you 'yes,' I would have lied."

"What...what does that mean?"

"It means we could walk around the castle for weeks, perhaps even months, without finding a single sign of Miss Applejack... This castle has spent so long on the edge of memories, that nopony, not even the Princesses themselves, know all of its secrets."

Fluttershy swallowed nervously. "W-what's the plan now...?"

General Headwind flashed the mare a roguish smile. "What makes you think that it's any different? The day that I break a promise is the day that Her Majesty stops raising the sun. I'll find Miss Applejack, no matter how long it takes me."

"Well, shoot, y'all ain't gotta look real far!"

Everypony, Headwind included, jumped at the sudden voice. From the dark foliage behind the general an orange hat-wearing pony materialized. "Miss Applejack!" Headwind exclaimed. "You gave me quite the scare. I was of the impression that you were being held prisoner."

"Ah was, fer a while, anyways. But here Ah am now."

"Hold on..." Fluttershy slowly stood up, her eyes narrowed in the manner of one who is suspicious. "What is my cutie mark?" she asked, keeping her wings folded down over her sides.

"Butterflies." Applejack answered easily enough.

"How many?"

"Three." There was a tiny bit of hesitation in the orange pony's voice; short enough that it was undetectable.

The gentle pegasi's wings flared out in rage. "Liar!"
> 6 - Mirror, Mirror...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   General Headwind was forced to dive for cover as an angry yellow streak blazed past him.

The Applejack impostor was roughly buffeted to the forest floor by Fluttershy's wing-powered tackle. The yellow pony's eyes burned with a rage-fueled flame that was truly terrifying. "Where is my friend!?" she shouted at the top of her voice.

"Wh-what are ya talkin' about? Ah'm right here..."

"No! You're not Applejack! Where is she!?"

With a good deal of difficulty, Headwind managed to pull the enraged Fluttershy off of the other mare. "By her Majesty's mane, I've never seen this kind of ferocity from such a gentle pony before..."

Zecora offered a small piece of cryptically worded wisdom from her spot near her campfire. "True friendship is a power that can see through the most convincing of lies, even when no difference can be seen with the eyes." she chuckled.

By now, the cat was not only out of the bag, but was sprinting away. Even so, the fake Applejack continued her charade. "What in tarnation was that for?"

The general took a threatening step toward the impostor. "If you know what's good for you, you will drop the act now."

Before the pegasus got an answer either way, he got a tap on the shoulder from Zecora. A quick tilt of her head suggested he step aside. The zebra then crouched down in front of the orange mare and stared intently at her, murmuring under her breath. At length, she proclaimed, "Fluttershy, kind pony, please be a dear. In my things there is a tied pouch; quickly, bring it here."

"R-right..." The pegasi's anger was not directed toward Zecora, and her soft-spoken demeanor had returned. She hurried over to where the striped pony's baskets sat upon the forest floor. Jars clinked against one another as Fluttershy nosed through them in search of the aforementioned pouch. "I...I don't see any- Oh, wait. Here it is." The sought-after item was hiding at the very bottom of the wicker basket. The pastel-colored mare grabbed the leather pouch and trotted back over to the zebra. "Here you are, Zecora."

The striped pony nodded in thanks and untied the pouch. She poured a small amount of fine purple powder into her upturned hoof as six eyes looked on in confusion. With a quick breath, Zecora blew the glittering dust into the orange pony's face.

"Ack! What-pffft!-did ya do that fer?"

Zecora said nothing, but continued to watch the cloud of dust as it eventually gathered, floating in a small area just above the earth pony's chest. "A tiny bit of finely powdered dust of amethyst always reveals any magic within its midst." Faster than any eye could follow, her hoof flashed towards where the amethyst dust hung. Her hoof came back wearing a choker inlaid with a smooth black gemstone.

General Headwind and Fluttershy shared the same curiosity concerning the odd accessory. "What is that?"

"This strange jewel is known as a sinkstone, something I have seen many times in my home. It allows any pony without a horn to use magic just as well as a unicorn."

With no more magic to power it, the Applejack illusion faded, leaving an angry, violet-maned, slate-grey pegasus behind. Saying her expression was anywhere close to friendly would have been an egregious lie, and her swollen eye wasn't helping her cause. "Congratulations... You've found me out... What are you going to do now?" she muttered condescendingly.

The pegasus general snorted angrily. "Give me a minute; I'm sure I can come up with something."

"I'm shaking..."

Since the other pegasus mare had appeared, Fluttershy had been unable to look away. She had seen this pony once before, quite recently, actually. She just couldn't put a hoof on it.

"I want some answers and I want them now. The orange pony you were impersonating; where is she?" Headwind demanded.

The grey mare's quick yellow eyes spotted the bandage restraining the stallion's wing. An evil smirk crossed her features. "I'll tell you... But you'll have to catch me first!" In an explosion of leaves, dead grass, and air, she leapt into the sky. "Let's see how well you fly with that lame wing!" she jeered before wheeling around and taking off into the night sky. "Have fuuuun!"

"No-!" Fluttershy watched in horror as the only pony that knew where Applejack was vanished into the night.

Just make sure ya bring AJ back safely...

The mare's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected voice. B-Big Macintosh... The sincerity in his tone; that feather-soft touch against her cheek... Her promise to him. "I'll find you, Applejack." Fluttershy whispered. "Never go back on a promise." The pony winced as she spread her wings. This flight wasn't going to be easy, but it was either go after this other pegasus or wander the Everfree Forest for who knows how long looking for Applejack. She dropped her saddlebags and unsteadily took to the air. Oh no... She's already gone... Now what do I do? The yellow pony hovered in place, scanning the sea of treetops. With each flap of her wing, she wobbled slightly. Maybe that wing wasn't ready for use yet...

One would expect a pegasus in flight to remain in flight, not be perched upon a branch like some four-legged bird. In the tree just below the struggling Fluttershy, was the other pegasus. Look at her! She can't even keep herself in the air! It's time to clip this pony's wings!

-------------------------

"G.R.A.S.S. team at your service, your Highness."

Just outside the main gate of Canterlot, four lightly armored pegasus stallions were waiting patiently for Princess Celestia's arrival. "Excellent. I will brief you en route. Let's move." The princess' magnificent wings opened wide and effortlessly lifter her from the ground. She could hear the simultaneous unfolding of another four sets of wings behind her as she turned her path toward the Everfree Forest. Hold on, everypony. I'm coming.

The four pegasus soldiers flew in a tight formation around their princess. After a rather long period of silence, one of them broke formation and neared the alicorn. "Beg pardon, your Majesty... But what exactly is our objective?"

Celestia's eyes glinted in the moonlight. "The Elements of Harmony are under attack. It is time we struck back. A messenger chariot was downed over the Everfree Forest, near the Great Scar. Two of the Elements were in that chariot. That was hours ago, and they could be anywhere in the forest by now. Our objective is to comb the forest until they are located. Once we reach the forest, I want two of your team in the skies with me, and the other two scanning the area from the ground. We will move silently and undetected. Understood?"

"Yes, your Majesty!"

The winged unicorn abruptly halted her flight as the edge of the forest appeared below her. She turned to face the rest of the soldiers. "We will be scouring this forest from end to end, looking for three of the Elements of Harmony. Be on the lookout for an orange earth pony; answers to Applejack, a yellow pegasus; answers to Fluttershy, and a purple unicorn; answers to Twilight. If you locate one of these ponies, you are to stay with them at all costs. Should the need arise, use of lethal force for the Element's protection has been authorized. General Headwind is also in this area. If you are to locate him, inform him of this clearance. You have each been equipped with three flares as well. I trust that the conditions for their use are clear enough?" the princess asked, running her gaze across the quartet of ponies.

Each of the four gave a salute and replied in unison, "One per Element, your Highness!"

"Correct. Gust and Sky Runner, I want you at ground level. Cross Wind, Zephyr, you're with me. Luck be with us all. Godspeed."

Another round of salutes, and the troop parted ways. Celestia and her party spread into a wide formation to cover more area. With each wingbeat, the alicorn became more and more worried. There wasn't the slightest sign of any pony to be seen. Where are you? Please, give me a sign...

Suddenly, Zephyr could be heard shouting over the rushing wind. "Pony spotted! Twelve o' clock high!"

Twelve o' clock high? Could that mean...? Celestia spotted a pegasus hovering above the treetops. A wave of relief washed over her as she saw the silhouette of the pony's mane and tail against the strong moonlight. Fluttershy! That wave of relief quickly ebbed out when she observed another winged shadow explode from the treeline under Fluttershy and collide with her.

The Element of Kindness never deserved to be involved in this mess, and she definitely didn't deserve this.  This was the final straw, Celestia's patience had worn through. With a powerful clap of her wings, the princess put on an impressive turn of speed and streaked toward Fluttershy's attacker. Horrified, she saw the second pegasus circle back for another shot at the other pony. Celestia pushed her wings to the limit, further increasing her velocity until a golden wave of energy built up in front of her.

That first glancing blow that Fluttershy had taken hadn't knocked her from the sky, but it was all she could do to keep herself aloft. Any sort of dodging was out of the question, especially with her attacker too quick to track.

"Miss Fluttershy!" General Headwind's voice rang out from below the mare. "Behind you!"

As the pony turned around, she was forced to shut her eyes when a blinding light violently exploded before her. The light quickly faded, leaving a furious Princess Celestia in its wake. The yellow pegasus was both shocked and awed. "P-Princess...!"

"Enough!" Celestia's voice boomed out over the forest like thunder. "Not an inch closer!"

The slate-grey pegasus scowled and muttered something under her breath, slowly retreating from the alicorn. Then, like an arrow from a bow, Zephyr was upon her, knocking the winged mare into a chaotic, earthward spiral that landed her unmercifully upon her back.

"Oh my, that looked like it hurt. I hope she's all right." Fluttershy commented, staring down at the unconscious pony.

Celestia sniffed coldly. "That is of little importance to me right now. I'm more concerned about your well-being, my dear. Are you all right?"

The smaller pony bowed her head respect, an awkward gesture while in flight. "Oh yes, your Majesty, I'm just fine. I'm-wah!" Fatigue decided to cut Fluttershy off in mid-sentence by momentarily stopping her wings. Thankfully, she was swiftly caught by a soft yellow aura.

"Let's continue this conversation after we're safely on the ground, hmm?" Celestia chuckled.

"Yes, please." Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief when she felt the ground beneath her hooves once more. It felt as though there were thousands of tiny, fiery needles embedded in her throbbing wing. It wasn't going to be used for a while. "What are you doing here, your Majesty?"

"Your escort finally made it back to Canterlot and informed me of the situation. I finally decided to take matters into my own hooves. I believed that the situation warranted my input." The alicorn princess paused and looked over the small company that had gathered here. "Wait, where is Applejack?"

Fluttershy uncomfortably rubbed her foreleg. "Uhm... I...don't really know..." The pegasus flinched a little as Celestia pounded a hoof on the ground in frustration.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy," Celestia quickly added. "it's not you that I'm angry with. It's myself; I let this mess get too far out of hoof, and you and your friends are paying the price. I'll do everything in my power to fix this. General Headwind!"

"At your service, your Highness!" The white pegasus stallion stepped forward and saluted briskly.

"Do we have any information regarding the whereabouts of Applejack?"

"Affirmative. Based on an eyewitness report from Miss Zecora of the Everfree Forest, I believe Miss Applejack is being held somewhere in the castle above us."

As soon as the princess had called Headwind to her, Fluttershy correctly guessed that her part in the conversation was over. Her first task was retrieving her discarded saddlebags. Task number two? The yellow pony nervously trotted up to one of the two male pegasi standing over the unconscious grey mare. "Uhm... E-excuse me, sirs, but, uhm... Do you think you could let me take a look at her wings...?"

"Negative." the soldier quickly answered, blocking Fluttershy's path with a stiffly extended wing. "I'm afraid I cannot let you do that."

Out of the corner of her eye, Celestia had been watching Fluttershy's actions. "Stand down, Cross Wind!" the alicorn ordered. "Let the Element of Kindness do as she wishes!"

"Your Majesty, that would go against your earlier orders-"

"I know what I said! Listen to what I'm saying now! Let her pass."

"Very well, your Highness." Cross Wind sighed. "Right this way, ma'am."

The pink-maned pony smiled timidly at the soldier. "Sorry..."

Celestia sighed and shook her head. "You've certainly done a good job of teaching your troops to follow every order to the word, Headwind. What is our next plan of action?"

"It is the same as when you first dispatched me from Canterlot. I still fully intend to see that Miss Fluttershy and Miss Applejack reach the royal city."

"It is admirable to stick by your promise, General. I certainly hope that you are aware of the uncountable secrets the castle behind us holds, yes?"

The general nodded. "Indeed I am. However, I believe that our captive will be able to help us immensely."

"Oh my..." Fluttershy had succeeded in gently turning the other pegasus over so she was better able to look at her wings. It was a very familiar sight; both of the mare's wings were completely limp, having been dislocated from her heavy impact with the ground. Unlike the general, however, the yellow pony knew how to tend to injured wings. Bracing herself, Fluttershy carefully gripped the wing close to its joint and started pulling upward at a sharp angle. With some finessing, the wing finally popped back into place.

The timid pegasus cringed a little bit at the noise. Ugh... I hate that sound. After performing the same procedure with the other wing (and cringing just the same), the winged pony took a short trip into her saddlebags. She returned with a tightly wound roll of gauze, just as a new problem presented itself. She wouldn't be able to properly bind her patient's wings in her unconscious state. Not without a little help at least.

The Element of Kindness again found herself approaching the soldiers. "P-pardon me, sirs, but... I'm sorry I got you in trouble before...a-and I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor... I-if that's all right, I mean..."

"Of course, ma'am. What can I assist you with?"

With the support from the two stallions, Fluttershy quickly and efficiently bound the dark pegasus' wings. As she replaced the gauze in her bags, one of the male ponies spoke up. "Enlighten us, Miss..."

"Fluttershy." she finished.

"Enlighten us, Miss Fluttershy, but why bother with mending this one's wings?"

"Why not?"

"She is the enemy, and was attacking you just moments ago." Zephyr pointed out.

The mare's voice became just the tiniest bit sterner and more confident. "Enemy or not, she's still a pony just like us, and just because she was attacking me doesn't mean she can't be shown a little TLC."

"Spoken like the true Element of Kindness, Fluttershy." Princess Celestia added, stepping up behind the pegasus. "Kindness harbors no prejudice toward anypony. Nopony is exempt from it."

"Well said, your Majesty." Headwind stated. "Now, let us come up with some way to acquire the information we seek. Time is not with us."

-------------------------

"I'm really worried, Applejack..." Twilight mumbled, nervously tapping her hoof against the hard stone floor.

"What's eatin' ya, sugarcube?"

"I'm worried about what that pegasus was intending to do with my magic. I didn't like the tone in his voice."

"Ah don't see how he could be doin' much of anythin' with it. It ain't like he's a unicorn with a horn to go around magickin' and whatnot."

"I know, I know..." the unicorn fretted. "But still, I don't know what these stones can do..." Twilight experimentally poked the stone of her choker. It didn't take long to find it was just as hot, if not hotter than the last time she had tried that. A cacophony of rattling metal could be heard as she shook her stinging hoof.

With how often the door was roughly swung open, it was surprising that it hadn't fallen off its hinges yet. "Hey! Enough of that!" the stallion standing in the doorway barked.

"Jus' swell..." Applejack snorted. "This room was a lot prettier without yer ugly mug stinkin' it up."

"Hold your tongue, earth pony, or I'll stuff it back down your sorry throat."

Two other pegasi, one of each gender, entered the room after their cohort, each carrying a long, thick strip of cloth and several heavy ropes.

"Hold on a minute! What are you doin-mmph!" Twilight let out a shrill, muffled shriek of horror as one piece of cloth was shoved into her mouth and promptly tied around the back of her head. The brief glimpse that the unicorn had of her friend's equally terrified face would be an image that would stay with her forever. Another strip of cloth was in turn drawn over her eyes, leaving Twilight completely at the mercy of her assaulters.

"What in tarnation are ya doin' with mah friend!?" Applejack's demands went unheeded; the three pegasi were having their own conversation.

"So... Why exactly are we doing this again?" the pink-maned pegasus asked as she tightly fastened a rope around the struggling unicorn's neck.

"Before Nightshade left, she said if she wasn't back in thirty minutes, we were to assume the worst and fall to our back-up plan. Now quit blathering and get those ropes good and tight."

"Okay... What about the other one?"

"Not important. Magic is the key. We can afford a small setback such as this. The Elements call out to each other; they will all be ours in due time. Enough questions; let's go!"

The combined strength of the three pegasi leaning on the ropes easily pulled Twilight from the small room, despite her constant struggling and muffled pleas for help.

The orange earth pony still left in the dungeon bucked and snorted like a wild beast enraged, but to no avail. "Y'all bring her back here this instant! Ya hear me!? Let me outta here! Ah'll buck yer heads clean off!" Unfortunately, like the battle with her restraints, Applejack's threats would ultimately amount to nothing.

In the dark, solitary silence that followed the angry echoes of her voice, the earth pony made herself a promise. Ah'll save ya, Twilight. Ah promise.

-------------------------

After Celestia had left, Luna returned to what she had been doing earlier that night, albeit with a much heavier mindset. Retrieving the rather hefty tome from the sill where her sister had left it, the dark blue alicorn carried it back to her desk and sat down again. "Come on, Luna...stop worrying. 'Tia is going to be fine; just focus on the book."

At the princess' guiding, the book magically opened itself to the next section, titled Elements and Harmony; Their enigmatic relationship.

Compared to the previous section, this one was relatively short. It was barely two hours before the final page presented itself. Luna blinked and yawned widely. "Recall that Harmony is the governing force of our world. Recall also that the Elements are embodiments of that force, and they will actively call to and seek each other out over great distances in order to maintain Harmony." Luna sleepily glanced up from the yellowing pages toward a clock, simplistically divided into two halves, one illustrated like the day, the other like the night. "Still an hour left..." After a moment of thought, the alicorn decided to set an alarm and sleep the hour away.

Picking the small clock off the desk, she slowly clopped over to her canopied bed, where she set it upon her nightstand. Her tiara and necklace soon joined it. The feathery softness of the pillow and comforter were incredibly comfortable, and Luna quickly fell asleep.

In what seemed like less than five minutes, the young princess was ripped from her brief slumber by a shrill scream.

"Nooo!"

Half-asleep or not, it didn't take Luna very long to know that voice belonged to her sister. "Celestia!" In an instant, the dark blue pony was out of bed and skidding out of her room. "Hold on, 'Tia!" She shouldered her sister's door open and stopped dead in her tracks.

The white alicorn was crouched over a dark heap, sobbing uncontrollably. "What is it, 'Tia? Please tell me you're all right!" Luna pleaded, taking a step toward her sister.

"Not a step closer, you monster..." Celestia growled in a threatening voice.

Luna failed to hear the true malice in her sister's voice and took another step forward. "W-what are you talking about, 'Tia? What's the matter?" she asked, not noticing the yellow magic that enveloped the curtain rod hanging on the far wall. It became significantly harder to ignore as it came whistling through the air and thudded into her side like a club, buffeting her to the marble floor. With her head swimming from the impact, the confused alicorn looked up and saw Celestia just above her, reared up to her full height. There was a furious, almost murderous look in her violet eyes. "Ce-Celestia...? What's wrong with you?" The winged pony slowly began backing away from her taller, curtain rod-wielding opponent.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me!?" The princess' eyes radiated nothing but pure fury.

Luna suddenly found the decoration-turned-weapon held horizontally across her throat. It picked her up and rapidly carried her backwards into a full-length mirror. "Aaah!"

Step by step, Celestia continued her advance, pressing the curtain rod tighter against the other alicorn's throat. " You attack my loved ones... You invade my home... Yet you still have the audacity to ask me that!? How could you possibly bring me lower...?"

"Nngh...!" Whatever was going on, Luna was fed up with it. Her eyes lit up with an ethereal white glow. "That's it!" A concentrated sphere of magic appeared at the tip of her horn, and grew in size and brightness at a frightening rate. When it seemed like it couldn't get any brighter, it exploded with a great deal of concussive force. The hastiness of the spell meant Luna didn't have time to properly shield herself from its effects, but then, neither did Celestia. The sun alicorn had been thrown across the room from the blast.

A millennium of being the sole ruler of Equestria has its benefits, however; a great magical resistance being one such perk. With it, Celestia was back on her hooves in less time than it took to bat an eye. "I will make you pay, ten-fold, for what you have taken from me!" A blinding yellow magic surrounded the enraged princess.

Luna's heart skipped a beat as she saw a thin, laser-like beam tracing a deadly path toward her. She hurriedly looked around for something to defend herself with. The mirror shards... It was better than nothing. The mare's horn flickered to life, and dozens of reflective shards obeyed her command and quickly lay themselves along the outside of her wings like a coat of armor. With no time to wonder if it would work, she brought one of her wings around in front of her. The golden beam glanced off one of the shards and shot in a random direction.

The elder sister was just as quick on the draw, however, and another volley of twelve more shots were seeking a path toward the younger alicorn within the second.

Assisted by her magic, the night alicorn spun like a silver top. Beams flew in all directions, deflected by her mirror-coated wings. Numerous explosions rocked the bedchamber as Celestia continued her assault. Finally, one of the rays bounced just so that it impacted the floor right in front of Celestia and knocked her off her hooves once more. Noting the cease-fire, Luna stopped spinning and lowered her wings. Anger had replaced all timidity in her voice. "Just what did you expect to accomplish with that? You know I'm more skilled with defensive magic! Or have you forgotten?"

"I've forgotten nothing..." Celestia spat. "How could I forget what you have taken from me!? My most faithful student... My beloved sister...? I will never forget!"

"Your...sister?" Luna repeated slowly. "But, 'Tia, I'm your sister..." The alicorn swallowed her growing apprehension and looked toward the heap that Celestia had been hunched over. Her heart jumped into her mouth so quickly that she almost choked on it. The dark blue coat matted with crimson stains, the dislodged and broken feathers... It was her... "I-if that's me, then... What am I?" Hesitantly, Luna looked down at a chunk of the mirror that lay before her. The face that looked back was not her own. It was the pitch-black face of Nightmare Moon.

Luna awoke with a start to find herself back in her own bed. She cautiously glanced around, worried about what she might see. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of an amorphous, star-filled mane and panicked. Her frightened scramble to get away did little more than entangle her in her bedsheets, ultimately resulting in an unceremonious tumble onto the cold floor. As the rush of adrenaline faded, Luna's reasoning returned. "Wait... That's my mane..." Even with that one question answered, the princess' mind would not be so quickly put at ease.

There was a large-mirrored vanity standing next to the alicorn's bed. It would serve her immediate needs. Rubbing the sleep from her blue-green eyes, Luna gazed into the looking glass. Just to make sure that she was looking at herself, the pony made some very silly, unprincess-like faces. Each one of them was repeated perfectly. Finally satisfied, the winged unicorn let out a massive sigh and lowered her face into her hooves. There was one glaring fact that she just happened to overlook, however.

The pony in the mirror failed to do the same.
> 7 - A Promise is a Promise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "Come now, Luna, those faces weren't very lady-like."

A chill colder than a Windigo's breath shot down the alicorn's spine. That voice... No...

"Really now? You won't even look me in the eyes? But, my dear, it's been so long..."

Was it curiosity? Was it some kind of magic? Luna didn't know. She only knew that it was against her better judgment to look at the talking mirror. Still, she couldn't help herself. The pony looked up, straight into a pair of glowing eyes. The reflection of her face slowly twisted itself into the black visage of her former alter-ego. "Nightmare Moon..."

The black alicorn smiled. "That's all you have to say to me? For shame..."

If any expression was to be found upon Luna's face, it was one of calm composure. "You and I are no longer one. By what black magic have you returned?"

"I see that Celestia has been feeding you her typical lies. You and I will always be one and the same. You tasted evil, and you liked it."

Luna snorted angrily at the condescending mention of her sister. "I was not evil. That was jealousy. My mind was weak, and you took advantage of that. Nothing more!"

"Call it whatever you want, dear." Nightmare Moon calmly waved off Luna's retort. "But you mustn't be so modest. It was your magic that gave us this form. Excellent job, by the way; very...evil..."

"Jealousy and evil are not the same thing." Luna insisted.

Up until now, Nightmare Moon's expression had been peaceable enough. But it was clear that her patience was wearing thin. Her eyes flashed brightly and Luna staggered backward, holding the side of her head. "Nnnh!" Whatever the black mare had done, it felt like her very mind had been split into pieces.

"Silence! Your stubborn ignorance is infuriating! I am just as much a part of you as the stars are a part of the night! We are like a coin; opposites, yet two halves of the same whole. No matter how much you want to be rid of me, it will never come to pass; you created me, and I am here to stay!"

The alicorn princess cracked an eye to glare at the entity taunting her. Only about half of what Nightmare Moon had just said had actually sunk in; thinking had become somewhat of a painful activity. "My...magic might have created you, but...only because you forced me... It was not of my own accord..."

"Deny it all you want, foal, but we are the same; you cannot exist without me. When ponies look at you, what do you think they see? It isn't what you think it is... Benevolent ruler? Hah! Everypony is afraid of you... You will never be viewed like your sister..."

"I don't need them to see me like Celestia... I will make everypony see me...for me..."

"Stubborn as ever, I see. Very well. Two can play at that game!" The same cyan glow issued forth from Nightmare Moon's eyes once again, and Luna collapsed onto the floor.

The attack had come so quickly that Luna had had no time to cry out. The explosion within her psyche had been crippling and she could feel a dark presence seeping through the small fragments of her mind, reaching outward, seeking purchase with its shadowy tendrils. It was suffocating to the point where the princess actually had trouble breathing. Her vision began waning; dark tentacles started growing from the edges of her sight. What little magic she could conjure would be of little use. Her mind was failing, steadily succumbing to Nightmare Moon's magic. Nightmare Moon was right; I am e-

A sharp, blaring alarm cut through the black cloud enveloping the princess' senses, restoring some of her free will. The clock! Where did I leave it? Luna desperately searched the small part of her mind that was still available, trying to remember its location. There! A magic glow ripped the clock off of the nightstand and threw it into the mirror. The shattered glass exploded outward from the magical force that had slammed the clock into it. A wayward shard grazed the alicorn's cheek, and the shock from it snapped her from her trance. Finally freed from Nightmare Moon's spell, Luna could begin to recover. The first step to that recovery? The prompt loss of consciousness.

-------------------------

When Rarity had earlier said her mind was too busy to allow her any opportunity to sleep, she wasn't kidding. Sure, she had tried, but after seeing the state Rainbow Dash had been in, there wasn't the slightest chance. The white unicorn lay upon her bed, hooves crossed before her. She peered intently at a magically floating needle and thread through a small pair of glasses perched on the end of her muzzle. A sigh of frustration escaped her mouth as she watched the needle systematically work its way through the fabric. This was the third time, tonight, that she had missed a stitch. Not again... Rarity picked up a pair of sewing scissors and began undoing the mistake. I certainly hope Twilight is doing all right... Poor dear... Stay strong...for all of us...

The white unicorn looked from her work at a noise like someone turning over (and over) in their bed. "Spike, dear? Are you all right?"

The little dragon continued tossing and turning in his small bed, murmuring in a nearly unintelligible manner. "No... N-nagh! No...Twil -Twilight...!" Suddenly the dragonling sat bolt upright, causing Rarity to jump. "Aaah!" He looked around in a panic, tightly clutching a stuffed pony.

"Are you all right, Spike?" the unicorn asked. "It looked as if you were having quite the nightmare."

"H-huh!?" The dragon jumped at the voice and hugged the toy tighter against him. After a second of staring at the violet-maned pony, he glanced down at the stuffed one in his arms. "I-I'm fine!" he quickly stammered, hiding the pony behind his back. "Yup! Just fine! No nightmares here!" This might have been more convincing if he hadn't been blushing hotly.

Rarity let out a relieved sigh. "Good, because I'm simply terrified."

"Never fear, milady! I'll protect you!" Spike proclaimed, giving a brave salute...and forgetting the stuffed pony in his grasp. It gave a small squeak as it hit the side of his head.

The unicorn couldn't help but give a small laugh as the dragon began blushing again. "It's quite all right, dear. You don't have to hide anything."

"But I'm not!" Spike insisted.

The pony raised an eyebrow and affixed him with a disbelieving look. "Come now, darling; do you really think I've never seen Sweetie Belle have a nightmare? It's nothing new to me. Besides, with what happened today, I hardly think anypony could blame you for having one."

The purple-scaled dragonling sat down heavily. "Why...why did they do that? Why did they take Twilight?"

"I haven't the foggiest idea, Spike. Sometimes things just happen."

"But why do they happen? Twilight hasn't done anything to deserve this."

"I...don't have the answer to that. But you shouldn't worry about it; the princesses are working to find a solution. I wouldn't be surprised if they have something figured out by tomorrow. Try and go back to sleep, dear."

"Hmph..." The dragon snorted, blowing a small puff of green-tinged smoke from his nostrils. "I wish I could. I can't stop thinking about whether or not Twilight's okay."

I'm sure she's fine. Twilight would never let herself be outsmarted by some ruffian. She's much too smart for that."

Just as Rarity had seen through his facade earlier, so too did Spike see through hers now. "Don't tell me not to worry when you haven't slept at all for the same reason. I can see it in your eyes."

Slightly taken aback, the white pony looked to a mirror across the room and winced. Even at this distance, it was jokingly obvious that a night without sleep didn't help one's complexion. "Eughh... Perhaps you're right. I look simply dreadful. Anyway, back to what you said, Spike. Yes, I am worried. Not only for Twilight, but for Fluttershy and Applejack as well. We couldn't have picked a more inopportune time to have left them behind. No sooner had the Princess sent her guards after Philomena than Canterlot's weather teams reported a storm building directly in their path. I fear that they never reached Ponyville..." Rarity's careful magic removed the glasses from her snout for a moment, so she could rub her tired eyes. She sighed with fatigue. "Something tells me that the two of them are in great danger."

"What do you suppose it is?" Spike asked, leaning upon the end of the pony's bed.

"I'm afraid I don't know. I couldn't even tell you why it's troubling me."

Spike let his face fall into the downy comforter. "Darn. I could have used some good news to put my mind at ease." he mumbled around his mouthful of bedding. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and activity. It bears no explanation that Twilight was first on his mind. Like Rarity, something inside him kept telling him that his friend was not okay. He sighed and looked up. "What's that?"

"Oh, this?" Rarity held up the lavender fleece that the young dragon was pointing at. "It's a little something that..." She paused for an instant at the thought of her close friend before continuing. "It's a little something that Twilight asked me to work on. She told me that you were in need of a new blanket."

"Ooh! That looks awesome." Spike proclaimed, reaching for the fabric.

The magic holding the blanket quickly pulled it away from the dragon's outstretched claw. "Heavens, no. I would hardly call this 'awesome.' If anything, I would call it quite the opposite. I've had a terrible lack of inspiration lately; I've had no idea what to do with this project."

"I don't understand. It's just a blanket. It doesn't have to be fancy."

"I shouldn't expect you to understand, dear. It's just something that I, as an artist of sorts, have to struggle with. Besides, just because it's called a blanket doesn't mean it has to be blank."

The little dragon shrugged. "Whatever." His curiosity had the better of him however, and he couldn't help but watch as Rarity went to work again. He hopped up onto the bed to get a better view.

No response came from the unicorn; her attention was focused on the edge of the fabric and the needle pulling a dark purple thread through it. "Spike, be a dear and fetch me another spool of this color thread, would you?"

"Of course!" He pushed himself off the bed and jogged over to the diamond-marked saddlebags. The spool of thread greeted him as he lifted their flap. Grabbing the requested item, he returned to the bed. "What's it for?"

The jewel-marked pony carefully stuck the violet thread through the eye of her needle before answering. "I'm using it to hem the edges of the blanket. We can't have any frayed edges, now can we?"

"I guess not..." Honestly, Spike wasn't overly interested in the intricacies of needlework and his attention span quickly waned, as did his ability to stay awake. Within the hour he was fast asleep again, using a certain pony's flank as a pillow.

The night progressed in this manner for several hours. It turns out that all Rarity needed to stimulate the creative juices was an hour of heavy thought. Stitch by stitch, the blanket began taking shape. "There we are! Finished at last!" The unicorn released her hold on the needle and held up the completed product. The square piece of fabric now sported a handsome spiral stitching around its edge, while the lower right corner was dominated by a very familiar design; a large, six-pointed magenta star, surrounded by five smaller white stars.

A glance at the available clock revealed sunrise to be roughly forty-five minutes away. The nearby mirror revealed Rarity's mane to be somewhat less than well-kept. With one fluid motion, the mare replaced herself under the dragon's head with an actual pillow and pulled the finished blanket over him. Smiling, she lightly touched her muzzle to his small head before slipping off the bed. A fine-bristled brush appeared from her pink saddlebags and floated over to the mirror. An unkempt mane is a travesty of the highest degree when looking to meet with royalty. Repeated strokes of the brush through her violet curls soon had everything in order however. "Ah! Much better!" she proclaimed. The white pony tiptoed to the door, taking care to make as little noise as possible.

"Good morning, Miss Rarity." The pegasus guard stationed at her door greeted her warmly. "Is there something I might assist you with?"

"Indeed. Earlier tonight, Princess Luna asked me if I wished to join her in her study. Might you be able to direct me to her chambers?"

"Yes and no." he responded at length. "I do know where Her Highness' chambers are located, but it would be against my orders to let you roam the palace unsupervised. The safety of you and your friends is priority number one."

"Ah yes, that's right. If it isn't too much of an imposition then, might you be able to take me there instead?"

"Think nothing of it. It would be my pleasure. Follow me."

Perhaps it was just her fatigue, but Rarity thought the palace to be oddly quiet, even for the early morning. "It's terribly quiet, isn't it?" she asked, attempting to break the monotonous clicking of hooves upon marble.

"I agree. Something seems off. Something about the atmosphere feels...apprehensive." After numerous hallways and flights of stairs, the pair of ponies entered the palace's royal wing. Roughly halfway down the hallway, another pegasus guard stood at attention. "Lieutenant Jet Stream!"

The pony turned to face the new visitors. "At ease, soldier. What can I do for you, Miss Rarity?"

"Do you know if Princess Luna is still awake?" Rarity inquired. "Earlier tonight, she extended an offer to me to help her with her studies."

"I see. As far as I know, she's still awake. Let me check." Jet Stream turned briskly and raised a hoof. Just as he knocked, a tremendous crash, akin to glass breaking, caused all three of the ponies to jump.

"What in Equestria was that!?" the white mare gasped, her heart pounding inside her chest.

There was no time for a verbal answer. Jet Stream spun around to forcefully introduce his hooves to the door with a mighty kick. Such an action was unnecessary to open an unlocked door, but no less effective. His heart nearly leapt from his chest at the sight. An instant later, he was at the alicorn's side. "Princess Luna, your Majesty! Breeze, fetch the infirmary staff! Quickly!"

"Yes, sir!" The guard behind Rarity was gone in the blink of an eye.

The look upon the Element of Generosity's face as she walked into the room said everything that was on her mind. Mirror shards and clockwork pieces littered the ground around the two ponies. "Celestia above... What happened in here...?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. But we haven't the time to look into that now. It is clear that an attack was made upon Her Majesty Luna. Her sister must be informed immediately."

"Shall I run next door and fetch her?" 

"Negative. Her Majesty Celestia left the palace earlier tonight."

"Left?" Rarity repeated. "Left for where?" Her blue eyes widened with shock as Jet Stream explained.

"The escorts sent with General Headwind to locate your friends have returned, lacking a chariot. It fell from the sky somewhere over the Everfree Forest."

Oh no... I knew something was wrong... "Do you know anything else?" the mare asked hopefully.

"Regrettably, I do not. As we speak, the Princess is leading a search party for them. Regardless, she must be brought up to speed. How, though?"

The thought-laden silence was stifling. Finally, the unicorn's eyes lit up. "Spike! That's it!"

"Beg pardon, Miss Rarity?"

"Twilight Sparkle's assistant and our good friend." the mare explained. "He could send the Princess a message for us! I'll go wake him!" Without waiting, she quickly made for the door.

"Hold on, Miss Rarity. Allow me to escort you back to your room."

"What about the Princess?" The Element of Generosity glanced past the lieutenant to the unconscious alicorn.

"Her Majesty was found unconscious in her bedchambers. Whether or not it was an attempt on her life remains to be seen. Either way, she is not in a condition to rule. Canterlot law dictates that if either of the Royal Sisters is deemed unfit to rule, for whatever reason, any and all duties will be deferred to the able sister. If both sisters are unable to rule, duties are passed down through the military hierarchy to the currently acting General, which, at the moment, happens to be me. I am placing the royal city on lockdown; nopony will be entering, nopony will be leaving until further notice. As I do not know if Princess Luna's attacker is still within the palace premises, the safety of the Elements of Harmony is now more important than ever."

The sprint back to the mare's room seemed to take an eternity. The very air was thick and oppressive; almost saturated with evil. Tonight was not a night for doors to be opened gently, either, and the following crash roused Spike from his slumber instantly. He shot upright, as if forced by a spring, clutching his blanket in fright, just as Rarity's magic tried to yank it off of him. The result was quite comical, with the baby dragon dangling, wide-eyed, from the blanket suspended before the white pony's muzzle.

"Aaah! What is it!? What's going on!?" he babbled nonsensically.

"Spike, darling! Quickly! We must send a message to the Princess!"

Oddly enough, the dragonling remained attached to the blanket while he continued his rapid-fire questions. "H-hunh? Why? For what? Besides, I thought Celestia was here anyway..."

The unicorn shook her head, fighting to reclaim her lost breath (and wishing for a glass of water). "No..." she wheezed. "She went out to look for...Fluttershy and Applejack..."

Jet Stream took over the conversation as Rarity excused herself to track down a drink of water. "Their chariot went down over the Everfree Forest, but that is not important at the moment. Something has happened concerning Her Excellency's sister, and it is imperative that we contact her as soon as possible. Would you assist us, Master Spike?"

"Imperative, huh? You got it! Need a letter sent? I'm your dragon!" In the space of a few seconds, he had produced a quill and parchment. "Let me have it!"

"As you wish." the lieutenant replied. "I do hope that you'll pardon the impromptu letter, your Majesty, but a matter of the utmost importance has arisen. I have discovered your sister unconscious, yet alive, within her chambers, surrounded by broken glass, with a bleeding cut upon her cheek. Proper medical procedures have been taken, and, as per Canterlot law, I have assumed temporary rule in your absence. I will also be placing the city under lockdown until such a time as you see fit to say otherwise. I await your swift return. Sincerely, Lieutenant General Jet Stream."

"E-A-M... Got it!"

The pegasus stallion bowed his head in gratitude. "You have my thanks, Master Spike, and I am in your debt. Would you be so kind as to send it?"

Spike's claws were a blur as he twirled the parchment into a roll. "Way ahead of you." The iron hinges of the window, stiff from years of little use, creaked at its outward movement. A wisp of sparkling green flame curled out onto the night air, headed for the sea of trees that was the Everfree Forest.

"There is nothing more we can do; it is out of our hooves now." Jet Stream remarked flatly. "Miss Rarity, Master Spike, if you'll excuse me, I must see to the lockdown preparations. I will have a guard posted back at your door within five minutes. Until Her Majesty Celestia says otherwise, you and your friends shall be under constant protective surveillance. I apologize for the extreme measures, but luck favors the prepared, as they say."

Rarity nodded respectfully. "Of course."

"Wow..." Spike let out his held breath after the lieutenant had left. "That letter sounded serious... Things aren't looking too good right now, are they?"

The mare let out a long sigh, and the dragon saw that beautiful, confident gleam in her blue eyes fade as she did so. "No...they're not. This is far worse than anything that we've ever had to deal with in the past, and things will continue to get worse. I can feel it inside me, and it...troubles me deeply..."

"If it helps, I'll always be right here." Spike promised quietly.

The pretty white pony smiled softly and gave a small laugh. She extended a foreleg around the dragon and gently pulled him to her side in a friendly hug. "I wouldn't have it any other way." she murmured, lightly kissing the top of his head. "Thank you, Spike..."

-------------------------

"Y'all bring her back here this instant!"

Applejack's angry shouts echoed down the stone hallway, finally reaching Twilight's ears. The filthy strip of cloth shoved into her mouth prevented any understandable speech, so her reply sounded something like this: "Mmmmhhhmm! Mmm!" The corded loop around her neck dug painfully into her skin with her frantic escape efforts. "Mmmhh!"

From somewhere in the darkness caused by her unwanted blindfold, Twilight heard a voice rife with irritation. "Damnit! We put that in your mouth so you would stay quiet! Shut up!"

The helpless mare let out a muffled scream as a hard hoof collided with her cheek. "Mmmphmm!"

"Didn't you hear me!? Or do you want more!? I said quiet!"

The next blow hit Twilight in the other side of her mouth. This time she remained silent for fear of another blow. The acrid flavor of the blood seeping into her already foul-tasting gag helped a little bit too. She wanted so badly to spit it out, but any attempt to do so would probably result in another slap. She had two choices: Swallow the disgusting fluid, or end up choking on it instead. She had a hard enough time breathing around the gag as it was, but she wasn't ready to give up just yet, so swallowing it was. A small whimper was her answer to its revolting aftertaste.

"That's better... Now move it!" 

Blind, mute, and unable to escape, the mare had no choice but to continue stumbling in the direction she had been shoved. After who knows how long, she received a yank on her collar, telling her to stop.

"Are you sure this is the back door? I don't see anything but a wall."

"And that, Charger, is why Nightshade didn't make you second in command. The switch is...right here."

The switch must have been some kind of chain, as Twilight recognized the sound of metal on stone almost immediately. It was what the switch had triggered that baffled her. The very stones under her hooves started vibrating with a rapid frequency. What was that? Another shove put her thoughts on hold and her hooves into motion again. She hadn't taken but one step before kicking a staircase and falling flat onto it. Stone steps aren't very comfortable, but Twilight just wanted to lay there. Whoever was holding her leash obviously disagreed with that option and continued their tugging.

"C'mon, get your sorry flank moving!"

Have you ever tried walking up the stairs, in the dark, while wearing a blindfold? Neither had Twilight, but her captors insisted she keep up with their quick pace. Just when the unicorn had lost count of how many times she'd stubbed a hoof on the next stair, she felt something different underneath them. Grass... The clean scent of the rain-soaked forest was a welcome reprieve from the musty dungeon air. Twilight had never missed the sound of rustling leaves so much.

The tranquil lull of leaves brushing past one another was startlingly silenced by a thundering voice. "Enough! Not an inch closer!"

The lavender pony's ears perked up at the voice. Princess Celestia!? The shock in the voices of her leaders revealed that they too recognized the booming voice.

"That's not good..."

"Then pick your mouth off the ground and let's get a move on! We're not that far from the hideout-"

"You four there, halt!"

That sounded like a Canterlot guard! Twilight thought hopefully.

"That fifth pony with you; the unicorn. Why is she gagged and on a lead? What is her name?"

Not surprisingly, no answer was given, so Twilight decided to voice her opinion. "Mmh-mmmph-mmmh!"

"Twilight? Miss Twilight Sparkle?"

"Mmmmhphmm!" The unicorn screamed as loud as she could through her gag to let the guard know he had gotten it right. The end result wasn't very loud, but the urgency within her stifled voice was answer enough.

"Release her at once!" the guard demanded. "Under direct order from Her Majesty Princess Celestia, release the unicorn immediately!"

"Your Princess holds no jurisdiction over the Everfree Forest; her words carry no authority here!"

"I say again, release your captive! We have been cleared to use lethal force, and if you do not comply, we will be forced to take action."

"Take your action then!"

A gust of wind slapped Twilight's face as pegasi on both sides flew into battle. This is my chance! The purple pony jerked to the side, liberating the rope from the one pony holding it, and was away like a shot.

"Hey!"

Courageous though her flight was, fate had laid other plans. Blindfolds have their name for a reason, and Twilight was quickly reminded why. She charged blindly into a springy, low-hanging branch. As it whipped back into place, it carried the unicorn off her hooves and knocked the back of her head against an exposed root. She was sent off into the dark silence of unconsciousness by an equally dark promise.

"That...was the worst possible thing you could have tried. You will regret that decision, I can promise you that..."

> 8 - Letters From Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "If Her Majesty herself doesn't even know all of the secrets of this castle, then what are we expected to find?"

A voice echoed down the corridor-like room, coming from behind one of a dozen columns. "Our orders were to investigate the grounds for anything out of the ordinary. Have you found anything that would qualify as such, Cross Wind?"

"Negative. The masonry on this pedestal is loose and cracked in places, but that's nothing more than age. What about you, sir?"

"Not a thing." Zephyr replied, appearing from behind an exquisitely designed column. "Whoever designed this castle wanted those secrets to stay that way."

"Wait, wasn't it the Princess herself that ordered the building of this castle?"

"Yes, Cross Wind, that is true. However, you sould also know that Her Majesty has set hoof inside these halls but once in over one thousand years. I highly doubt that she remembers much about it. But, seeing as we have made little progress, I suggest we try asking anyway."

"After you, sir." Cross Wind gestured toward a glassless window arch. He spread his wings and followed his superior into the night air. Far below them in the courtyard was a brightly glowing point of golden light.

"Fluttershy, would you come here for a second?"

"O-oh, of course. One second, Princess." Before she stood up from the small cooking pot in front of her, the pegasus glanced at Zecora. "Do you still need my help?"

"You needn't worry; I'll be fine. Go and see what is on your Princess' mind." Zecora nodded toward the sun-marked pony.

"Thank you. What did you want, Princess?" Fluttershy asked, taking a respectful bow as she neared the armored alicorn.

Armor or not, Celestia was still her same caring self. "General Headwind tells me that your wing was dislocated earlier, and I noticed it troubling you a little bit. How is it feeling?"

Several flaps of the wing in question sent bright flashes of pain through the yellow pony, making her wince.

"Not too good, I see. Do you want me to take a look at it?"

Fluttershy's pink mane bounced back and forth as she adamantly shook her head. "Oh no, it's quite all right. I wouldn't want to be any trouble."

"I know how uncomfortable a dislocated wing can be even after its been set. Trust me, it won't be any trouble at all, my dear. At least let me ease the discomfort for you." A tiny point of healing magic appeared at the tip of Celestia's horn.

This was brought within an inch of Fluttershy's wing. It pulsed once and the pegasus felt a calm wave of warmth smooth itself over the pain, washing it away.

"I'm not much for healing spells, but that should make it feel better."

"It feels good as new. Thank you, Princess!"

The alicorn smiled and nodded in reply. Mere moments later, her ears twitched at an approaching sound. The beating of wings. Two pegasus guards dropped to the ground soon after. "Zephyr. Cross Wind. Have you discovered anything?"

Zephyr shook his head. "Negative, your Majesty. But, we've actually returned with the hopes that you might assist us."

Celestia let out a long sigh. "I suspected you might ask that. I regret to tell you that I remember but one thing about this place, and it is because of that one thing that I have chosen to forget all else about it."

"Very well, your Majesty. Cross Wind and I shall retur-"

"You didn't let me finish, Captain."

Zephyr paused in mid-step and faced the alicorn again. "Excuse me, Princess?"

"Yes, it is indeed true that I have forgotten much of this place. However, that is not to say that I will not do my best to assist you. Current circumstances do not allow for any indecsion on my part."

"Eep!" Fluttershy tripped backwards and fell onto her haunches as the Princess' magnificent wings opened wide.

"General Headwind, I want you to remain here with Zecora and our captive. If you are able to get any information from her after she wakes, or if you figure out anything more about that 'sinkstone,' come find me in the castle. Fluttershy, Zephyr, Cross Wind, come with me. We're going to get Applejack back." Celestia's tone was serious, indicating "no" would not be a sufficient answer.

"O-oh my... Now?" The yellow pony now had an idea as to why Celestia had been so eager to heal her wing. "Oh my... Your Majesty...w-wait!" The alicorn and her guards were already airborne and headed for the main castle. Just as the pegasus mare matched their height, they were disappearing through a window arch. "W-wait for me!"

Fluttershy was reluctant to enter through the window. The dusty stone walls and lack of any real light didn't provide the most inviting atmosphere. "Uhmmm... Oh dear..." A nervous mind peering into a dark, unfamiliar room will often do one thing. Dark shapes began flitting past the pegasi's eyes. Unconsciously, she began backing away from the gaping arch.

Fright almost knocked the butter-colored mare from the air as Celestia appeared at the window. "Fluttershy, my dear, what's the matter?"

"O-oh, uhm...nothing... It's just that...last time I stepped inside the castle, I-I...fainted."

"Yes, General Headwind told me about that... I believe I know why. The entry hall, where you fainted, where you and your friends originally found the Elements, was where Luna and I found them too. Every Element is tied to that place and you stepped right into the middle of those ties. For an instant, you were one with each of the Elements, which is why you fainted. No one pony can control all of the Elements at full power, myself included. You should be fine here, though."

"Oh..." The amount of information that Celestia had presented had given Fluttershy a bit of a headache. "I-I think I'll go back to the others anyway... Better safe than sorry." The pegasus grinned nervously and continued backing away.

"There's a reason I asked you to join us, Fluttershy. As an Element holder, you are closely connected with your friends. I had hoped that you might have been able to help us locate Applejack."

Applejack... I promised I'd bring you back safely. A change came over the mare. "Right, let's get started."

A year's time can change many things. The stones of an ancient castle are not one of them, though. The instant the cautious Fluttershy let her hooves touch the weathered floor, she knew nothing here had changed since defeating Nightmare Moon. "Uhm... How exactly can I help again?"

Celestia's head popped out from behind a column section that time had decided to fell. "Walk around and see if you can...feel where Applejack might be."

"'Feel?'" Fluttershy parroted.

The alicorn nodded. "Yes. The Elements brought you six together and connect you, even now. Try it and let me know if you can find anything."

"All right..." Element bearer or not, the mare had no idea where to start looking, or even how to start looking, for that matter. Applejack, where are you? she thought desperately. She closed her eyes to think for a moment, and must not have felt herself walking, as she opened her eyes to the intricately carved, slightly cracked side of a stone pedestal. "Oh...what happened?" A quick look over the top of the monolith, which was just barely shorter than the average pony, and she saw that the others hadn't yet taken notice of her. "Uh... Excuse me?"

Less than an instant later and each of the other ponies was staring intently at her. "O-oh m-my... Sorry..." the timid pegasus stammered, silently thanking the darkness for hiding her cherry-red muzzle. "I-I was wondering... Is there anything special about this platform here?"

Zephyr shook his head. "I am sorry to say, Miss Fluttershy, that both Cross Wind and myself inspected it and found nothing out of the question."

"Now, now, don't dismiss it so quickly, Zephyr." Celestia interrupted. "The Elements may tell Fluttershy something that our eyes do not. Why do you ask, dear?"

The yellow pony disappeared from sight as her turquoise eyes scanned the countless carvings within the stone. "It's just that...some of these carvings look like...buttons..." Experimentally, Fluttershy reached out to touch one of the carvings, a picture of the sun; very similar to Celestia's cutie mark. It provided little resistance to the mare's curious hoof and slid half an inch into the pedestal with a chunk! "Oops..."

Celestia spun around from investigating a particularly uninteresting section of wall upon hearing the noise. "What was that?"

"Th-that was m-me..." Fluttershy murmured. "I-I didn't-"

"Your Majesty; do you hear that?"

At the beckoning from her captain, the alicorn held her tongue and listened. She could hear some sort of...whirring sound coming from within the castle walls. Almost like something powering up... "Fluttershy, duck!" the princess shouted.

Thoroughly startled by the urgency of the command, the pegasus instantly obeyed, closing her eyes and falling flat on the floor. Several things then proceeded to happen all at once. Four armored hooves hit the stone in front of Fluttershy. The very air around her experienced a massive spike in temperature; by almost seventy-five degrees. Even though her eyes were closed, it felt like she was looking at the surface of the sun.

"Funny, I don't recall having that installed..."

"Having what installed, Princess?" Fluttershy uncovered her eyes once the heat and light had faded. A black circle was charred onto the stone around the two ponies. Flakes of ash were falling, as if something had been instantly and completely burned. "My goodness... What happened?"

"I wouldn't touch that stone if I were you, Fluttershy." Celestia stopped the yellow mare as she neared the black ring. "It's still quite hot. A wall of fire usually does that. Whatever you did, you triggered some sort of trap." the alicorn explained.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

"Nonsense. Traps are used for protecting secrets. There must be something about this pedestal that we don't know. Cross Wind, Zephyr, search the platform again."

"At once."

The top of this enigmatic stone slab seemed to be decorated with simple depictions of the sun. Simple, meaning it looked like how a young filly would draw the sun; a circle with lines radiating out from it, ending at an outer ring, which was in turn marked with six more suns of the same design. An interesting design to be sure, but nothing too far from the ordinary. "There are suns all over this stone, your Majesty. Do you remember anything about them?" Zephyr asked.

"Suns?" Celestia joined her guards upon the stone slab. "No, I'm afraid I don't recall their purpose."

Left alone behind the pedestal again, Fluttershy continued investigating. If there had been a button on the side of it, why couldn't there be other buttons somewhere else on it? The mare reared back onto her hind legs to get a better look at the top of the pedestal. Her attention was drawn to the smaller suns around its perimeter, and the hoof-sized indentations therein. Perplexed, she looked at her own hoof for a moment. I wonder... Going with her hunch, Fluttershy stuck her hoof into the center of one of the small suns; it fit perfectly, but nothing else happened. This time, anyway. There were five other carvings to check.

"Princess, have your guards look at the carvings on the other side of the platform, please."

"Carvings?" the trio repeated.

"The little suns around the edge of the platform. Hooves fit perfectly into them, and-" Click! Ancient mechanisms ground to life once again, shaking the platform.

"Of course..." Celestia breathed. "Now I remember. Those six suns represent the Elements of Harmony. When in place, they hid the switch that activated-"

Thunk...thunk...thunk...

The sun-like design upon the surface of the pedestal was not just for show. It was a clever method of hiding a spiral staircase that was beginning to show itself to the ponies atop the monolith.

"Do...do you think that Applejack i-is down there?" Fluttershy mumbled, wide eyes peering down into the infinite blackness.

Celestia was already three steps into the hole before she answered. "You're the Element bearer, Fluttershy. You tell me."

The butter-colored pegasus closed her eyes again and thought of her hat-wearing cowpony friend. "Yes...she is...and it sounds like she's...crying. Oh no! She must be hurt!"

"Woah!" Before Celestia could offer a reply, Fluttershy shot past her, creating a gust of wind that nearly knocked the princess from her step. "Zephyr, Cross Wind! With me! Quickly!" Skipping every other step, the alicorn rapidly followed the Element of Kindness into the abyss.

Everything has its uses, even magically glowing armor, and the pony wearing it was extremely thankful she had requested it to be made as such. At the bottom of the winding staircase, she met up with Fluttershy once more, in the presence of a heavy, wooden door. "I take it that door is locked?"

"Yes..." she murmured, preoccupied with trying to open the door's small sliding panel and get a peek inside. "How...I don't know."

A gentle hoof eased the pegasus aside. The same hoof then began repeatedly tapping on the door, assisted by its owner's careful ear. One part of the door always returned a duller reply than anywhere else, like that part was blocked with something. "A plank across the door... Crude, yet effective. Easy enough to get by." Magic flashed from Celestia's horn for an instant.

"How did you know to do that?" Fluttershy asked.

A small chuckle escaped the armored pony's mouth. "I wasn't always a princess, you know. A young filly has to find some way to amuse herself."

As the door was pushed open the Element of Kindness was greeted with a faceful of musty, stifling dungeon air. Soot from smouldering torches unattended set her to coughing.

Equestria's overseer nodded to her guards and motioned to the dungeon hallway. "Start looking for any signs of life. Remain hidden until you have full knowledge of the area."

"Understood, your Majesty."

One guard to each wall, the two stallions moved off down the hallway. "Stay right next to me, Fluttershy. I doubt we'll find anything foolish enough to attack an alicorn within these halls, but I don't want to risk your safety. Let me know if you feel anything strange." Nearly every torch sconce was dark and lifeless, having been left to burn themselves out, yet Celestia's armor gleamed bright as a dozen torches. Subtle, no, but the princess had a point. Not even the mighty Ursa Major would dare confront an alicorn of Celestia's age. Only two creatures could stand in one-on-one battle against these powerful opponents; a draconequus, or a fellow alicorn.

Fluttershy, on the other hoof, was not so confident. She was in a strange place, she didn't know where her friends were, and she couldn't see anything past the light from Celestia's armor. Applejack, where are you?

-------------------------

Ah'm sorry, Twi'... Ah'm sorry Ah couldn't stop 'em... Applejack rubbed her tear-filled eyes on the back of her leg and sniffed. "Rrrgh!" She slammed an angry hoof against the stone floor. How could Ah have let them do that to ya!?

A very faint clicking, almost like hooves on stone, just outside her cell door, caught the earth pony's attention. "Huh? What in tarnation was that?" she whispered. A short wait, and...nothing... The hoofsteps, if that was what they were, had disappeared. "Nothin'... That's what Ah thought..." Captive solitude affords a pony much time to dwell on things, but, most often their mind will eventually turn to one thing. What's gonna happen to me in here? Who...who's gonna tell Apple Bloom an' Big Macintosh?

"Oh, Celestia, no...!" This frightening thought created its own tears to mix with the angry ones already in the earth pony's green eyes.

"Princess! Over here! Quickly!"

That was a voice Applejack wasn't expecting to hear. "F-fluttershy?"

"What is it, Fluttershy?"

Applejack was now on her hooves. "Princess Celestia?"

"Applejack is in here! I know she is!"

"All right. Let me have a crack at that lock."

Any sharp ear could hear the tumblers of the lock magically shifting about as Celestia fiddled with them. Moments later the door gently swung open, for the first time since the apple-marked pony had been here.

The greeting that awaited the orange pony on the other side of the door wasn't as gentle, but was friendly nevertheless. "Applejack!" Kindness met Honesty in an enthusiastic tackle of feathers and fur. "I'm so happy to see you again!" Tears had traced two wet furrows down the pegasi's cheeks and she made no effort to hide it. "I'm s-so happy!"

"Ah-Ah'm happy to see ya t-too, sugarcube..." Applejack hiccupped, fighting to hold the new, joyful tears back. "How'd y'all g-git down here, anyhow?" After sorting out legs and tails, the two ponies stood up. "Ah d-don't even know where Ah am..." The orange equine rubbed her eyes again, half to dry them, half to make sure it was actually her friend standing before her.

"That would be me." Celestia said quietly, ducking under the small doorway.

"Y-yer Majesty!" In her hasty bow, the cowpony's hat fell to the floor. "Fergive me, Princess! Ah didn't notice you there!"

A soft yellow magic retrieved the hat and placd it on Applejack's head once more. "I appreciate your respect, Applejack, but this is hardly the time. Do you know where Twilight is?"

The orange pony couldn't bring herself to look at the princess. "Ah...don't know, yer Highness. The ponies b'hind all of this...dragged her off agin, about an hour or so earlier."

Shock flashed in Celestia's violet eyes, but only for an instant. "And they just left you behind?"

"Yeah... Some sorta nonsense about the Elements callin' out to each other."

"Interesting." the alicorn murmured, somewhat distantly, as she worked to release the earth pony's manacles. Once done, she removed herself from the room without another word.

"Boy, am Ah glad to be outta those darned things..." Applejack muttered, shaking each leg to get some blood flow going again. "They were startin' to rub me the wrong way, if ya know what Ah mean."

Back outside, Cross Wind and Zephyr had finished their search and returned to the princess. "Anything to report?"

"Other than this room here, there were two more; a small library, and some type of living quarters, both recently used, based on their appearance."

"That doesn't surprise me. Was there anything else?"

"Negative, your Majesty. This is just a hallway; nothing more."

"Look again."

"Your Majesty, there isn't-"

"I don't care! Look again!" Anger had robbed Celestia of her control of magic for a split second, and a little bit of it slipped into her voice, causing an unnatural earthquake in the small hallway. Stones dropped from the ceiling, rattled loose by the alicorn's deafening roar. "Ponies don't just disappear into thin air! They must have gone somewhere! Find them! Twilight was taken again! I don't want to lose her a second time!"

An enraged, thousand year old alicorn is not something that you would ever want to see, much less stand right next to. Fluttershy would not easily forget that sight. "W-wait a minute... Applejack, look down the hallway. What's that?"

"What's what, sugarcube?" Applejack glanced down the hallway, following her friend's outstretched hoof. "Hold on a sec'... That looks like a message from Spike!"

"That's what I thought, too. But what would he be doing up at this time of night?"

Celestia's calm demeanor returned as the green-tinged wisp of smoke materialized into a scroll before her, just in time for a shiver to run down her spine. The surprise message also came bearing an unseen gift; a feeling of dread. It wrapped its icy claws around the alicorn's stomach as she unfurled the parchment with a slight fwip! "Something tells me that he's got a very good reason, Fluttershy." When her eyes fell upon the news regarding her sister, the alicorn's wings opened wide with shock. "Oh no..."

"Beggin' yer pardon, Princess, but is everythin' all right?"

"What is it, your Majesty?" Zephyr asked, after Applejack failed to get a response.

"Something...has happened back in Canterlot. Something's happened to Luna..."

Between all the shocked responses and questions, one could barely make out a quiet "Oh my..."

"What is your suggested course of action, your Majesty?"

Lost in thought, Celestia seemed to ignore Zephyr's question. Finally, she crumpled up the scroll and threw it into the darkness.

-------------------------

There is something strange about looking into the embers of a dying fire, twinkling like the countless stars in Princess Luna's night sky; it is somewhat calming. This opportunity for relaxation was lost on Headwind, however. His mind was always busy, always thinking of what had happened, what was happening, and what could happen next. One doesn't become General of Canterlot's military forces by sitting idly by and merely watching, after all.

"Forgive me for the quick assumption, Miss Zecora." he murmured. "But you seem like the type of pony who is well-versed in magic and mystical things."

"Of that assumption, you need not be afraid; I am indeed skilled in the magical trade." the zebra responded in her traditional rhyme. "I sense that there is more to that question than meets the eye. You asked about my expertise in magic. Why?"

The general poked an ember contemplatively. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a tiny flit of movement next to him. "Make any move toward those bindings and I'll break your legs." he said, straight-faced.

Not doubting his seriousness, the captive pegasus mare sat up, cursing under her breath.

"As I was saying, Miss Zecora, Her Majesty gave me direct orders to find Miss Applejack and Miss Fluttershy, insisting that the Elements of Harmony were in great danger. Sadly, the Canterlot Military Academy does not cover magical education and I know nothing of their potential. What do you know about the Elements?"

Zecora's striped face appeared downright eerie in the low, unsteady light. "The Elements of Harmony and their mystery are a story passed down through history. But, I must confess, stories are all that I possess."

"I understand." Headwind fell silent again. His gaze drifted back to the twinkling cinders before him. His mind did a little drifting of its own, back to the order that Celestia had given him, in an attempt to find an answer to all of this. Though his mind was wandering, the stallion remained alert. Hoofsteps upon cobblestone caught his ear and he looked up. A strong yellow light was quickly nearing the campfire. It didn't take too much brain power to realize who that might be. Running before the source of the light were four other ponies; three pegasi and an earth pony. "It's a relief to see you again, Miss Applejack!"

"Yer tellin' me. Ah never thought Ah'd miss the feelin' of grass under mah hooves so much." When the apple-marked pony spotted the captive pegasus, her expression hardened. "Well, yer lookin' real pretty with that there shiner. How d'you like bein' hog-tied like that? Ain't fun, is it?"

"I've had worse, earth pony..." Nightshade snorted.

Within seconds, Applejack was nose-to-nose with the other mare. "You ain't seen nothin' yet... Ah've got a real good idea as to who fixed up yer wings, an' lemme tell ya; Ah ain't that pony. Mah Element ain't Kindness, it's Honesty, an' this is the honest truth: If yer lackeys do anythin' to mah friend Twilight, Ah'll give ya somethin' far worse than a black eye... Ya hear me?"

Normally, Nightshade was not the pony to show fear of any sort, but as Applejack's angry snorts repeatedly blasted her face, instinct took over. The light in the orange mare's eyes was terrifying. Not for a second did she doubt the earth pony's dark promise.

"Easy, Applejack." Celestia interrupted. "Save some of that for me during the walk back to Canterlot. Zephyr, Cross Wind, fly ahead and loose your flares to notify the others. We'll meet you back at the palace. The sun is on its way, and we should be too. Let's move, Headwind. Double time."

"At once, your Majesty!"

> 9 - The Dark Side of the Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   A farm of any kind requires a good deal of work to keep running smoothly. That work usually requires a routine that starts with rising with the sun.

This morning, however, the sun was late in rising. Regardless, Big Macintosh was awake at the same time as usual. The first thing he noticed upon waking was the lack of early morning sun seeping in through the window. His bed creaked a little as he rolled over to check his clock. Nope, six o' clock. Huh...Ah wonder if the Princesses are feelin' under the weather...

Whatever the issue was, the big earth pony didn't dwell on it long. He rolled out of bed and cantered downstairs to get started with his routine. If memory served, Applejack had organized for the weather team to provide a rainstorm for the fields today, which meant that Big Macintosh had to get his plowing and planting done early. A passing glance at the refrigerator-mounted calendar proved his memory to still be in good working order. Ah better git goin' then.

Just outside the kitchen door, parked up against the side of the house, was the cart that the stallion had left with the day before, complete with five large burlap sacks filled to bursting with carrots.

One of the ten pound sacks was hardly a challenge for the well-muscled earth pony. He took one of these in his mouth and returned to the kitchen counter. The simple rope tie came away easily, revealing the bright orange produce within. Two of the biggest ones ones went into Big Macintosh's mouth, but not for himself. It was little surprise that the vegetables smelled extremely good; Carrot Top's carrots were the best in Ponyville.

The pair of carrots were quickly carried back upstairs into the stallion's room, where his guest was still sleeping. He placed the produce beside the white rabbit. He paused to stare at the sleeping animal before leaving, and his mind turned to the creature's owner. That kind, gentle pony...

Big Macintosh wasn't quite sure when exactly he had begun harboring feelings for the pretty young mare. He only knew it was shortly after the whole episode with Cheerilee, brought on by the Cutie Mark Crusaders' love potion. He still didn't know what it was about the pegasus that he liked.

She was always polite, no matter who she was talking with. She was also one of the prettiest mares he had ever seen, and yet, when she had been recognized throughout Ponyville because of it, she had turned it down. She put her friends first, even at personal expense, and the big earth pony respected that. That little rabbit meant the world to her. When Fluttershy had seen that destroyed hutch, she had nearly fainted.

The earth pony's red chest rose and fell as he let out a great sigh. AJ, Flutt'rshy... Wherever the two of ya are... Keep each other safe...

-------------------------

Fluttershy had spent so much time in the Everfree Forest lately that it was beginning to lose a (very) little bit of its creepiness. Then again, that might have been because of her increased company.

Conversation was at a minimum as the party trekked its way through the forest. Zecora had volunteered to lead the group, while Headwind and Celestia brought up the rear with the captive. Given the situation, Fluttershy and Applejack were positioned between them.

The apple-bucking farmer pony kept sneaking the odd glance at her friend from under her hat. Why am Ah so nervous about this? Fluttershy's mah friend an' Big Mac's mah brother. Jus' ask her, AJ... In an attempt to to break the constant crunching of hooves on pine needles, Applejack cleared her throat. "Ah'm certainly glad to see yer safe an' sound, Fluttershy."

"I know. I was worried that you had fallen into that great big ravine."

"Yeah, that was a real close one." she laughed half-heartedly. "Hey, sugarcube, can Ah ask ya somethin'?"

"What?"

"Fergive me if Ah'm steppin' on yer hooves, darlin', but might Ah ask what happened with Big Mac what got ya to come along on this trip?"

"O-oh...that..." Since she had first woken up in the forest, Fluttershy's mind had been going in one of two directions; worry for her friends, or what had happened before she had left. Guess where it was now? "I...thought I already told y-you..."

Applejack might have been a farm pony, but she wasn't born yesterday. "Ya told me what he said, sugarcube. Not what he did. Ah've never seen anypony look redder'n you are right now."

Hiding behind her mane would do little good, yet instinct made the pegasus do it anyway. After your typical awkward silence, Fluttershy finally murmured, "Just promise me that you'll let me tell the others, okay?"

The orange pony grinned. "Regular promise or Pinkie Pie promise?"

"Regular will do." She giggled slightly before falling silent again. The pegasi's wings ruffled nervously, and she didn't know why. This wasn't really a life-or-death secret, and it seemed like Applejack already knew. At length she motioned for her earth pony friend to come closer. Even with mere inches from ear to mouth, Fluttershy was still reluctant to speak. "He k-kissed me..." The winged mare quickly withdrew, looking and feeling guilty.

Her guilt was waved away with a dismissive hoof. "Y'all shouldn't feel guilty, Fluttershy. Ya can't help who ya fall fer. Er...wait..." Now Applejack looked a tiny bit guilty. "Ah kinda figured that Big Macintosh had a thing fer ya, but Ah don't wanna go puttin' words in yer mouth, darlin'. Do you like him?"

"Well, of course I do. He seems like such a nice pony, and-"

"Not what Ah meant..." she interrupted in a sing-song voice. "Ah meant like Spike likes Rarity."

"O-oh..." That was different. That was something that Fluttershy had to think about. Did she like Big Macintosh? This was unfamiliar territory for the pegasus; she had always been so busy caring for all her animals that she had never really given any thought to a romantic relationship, much less one with the brother of one of her best friends. As she thought about it, however, it started to make more and more sense. Fluttershy didn't know many stallions and he seemed very nice. One thought led to another, and soon the mare was again thinking of her dream, and in turn the kiss that had started it. "M-maybe a little bit..."

"Ah knew it." The orange pony lightly butted her friend in the shoulder. "Ah won't tell a soul, Fluttershy. Ya have mah word."

"Thank you, Applejack." Fluttershy nodded in gratitude and let out a long sigh. That word of reassurance lifted a huge weight from her shoulders. In fact, even the forest around her seemed to become lighter and less oppressive. Just when she was about to ask Applejack if she noticed it too, Zecora spoke up.

"At long last, we have arrived. Behold, my friends, the royal city on high."

No sooner had Zecora spoken these words than Fluttershy stepped out of the forest. Perched high on the mountainside before them were the tall, spired buildings of the city of Canterlot, their marbled sides gleaming in the morning sun.

For much of the journey back, Princess Celestia had been silent, anxious about what would await her upon arriving. However, as she stepped into the lush field that was the last thing separating her from Canterlot, she turned to her General and laughed. "Mission accomplished, Headwind. You brought Applejack and Fluttershy to Canterlot."

"I did only as you ordered, your Majesty." he replied with a swift salute.

"Well said, General. Let's hurry up and take them the rest of the way. I'll feel much better once we're within the city limits."

After the seemingly endless hours of wading through the countless trees of the Everfree Forest, this last leg of the journey was a much welcomed respite. Now that the city was within sight, the party was blessed with renewed vigor and was quickly at the palace gates.

A warning cry of "Halt! Who goes there?" rang from the battlements as the company approached the massive main gate of the Canterlot palace. "State your business! The palace is currently on lockdown!"

"At ease, Jet Stream!" Headwind called back to the unseen voice. "Her Majesty Celestia has returned with two of the Elements in tow!"

-------------------------

It had taken quite a bit of work between them, but after a few hours (and a couple maple scones apiece), Rarity and Pinkie had finally succeeded in convincing their distraught pegasus friend to get some sleep. Being the close friends of the Princess' private student means that your accommodations within the palace are rivaled only by the royal chambers. As such, the beds in these rooms are equally as lavish; big enough for two or three ponies, and then some.

Seeing as Pinkie was still worried about nightmares, Rainbow Dash had offered to let the pink pony take one side of the enormous bed, while she took the other. The Element of Laughter happily obliged. About three hours later, the pegasus came to regret that offer.

Late or not, the sun was still coming up, and the east-facing room ensured that the ponies inside would soon know.

The instant the sunlight fell upon the sleeping Pinkie Pie, the room erupted into chaos. Pinkamena sat bolt upright, uttering a guilty squeal of, "No, Rainbow Dash, I didn't eat your scones!" Blankets swiftly wrapped themselves around her head as a startled and sleepy Rainbow Dash took to the air in panic... Right into the  bed's canopy, so its elastic properties could slingshot her straight back into the mattress and bounce her off onto the floor.

Meanwhile, Pinkie, who had been madly struggling to extricate herself from the suffocating blankets, finally succeeded in doing so, just in time for the empty scone tray, sent skyward by Rainbow's impact with the bed, to slap her square in the face. "Owwww..." Pinkie sat back up, rubbing her smarting nose.

A set of angry magenta eyes appeared over the edge of the bed a moment later. "Geez, Pinkie, you nearly scared my feathers clean off! What gives!?"

"Sorry, Dashie..." The Element of Laughter grinned sheepishly. "I dreamt that I had accidentally eaten your scones."

The pegasi's expression was as deadpan as her tone. "You did eat them..." She held up an empty tray, bearing a slight indentation from its meeting with Pinkie's snout.

"Oh yeah... Oopsie..." A pink coat does an excellent job of hiding blushing and the balloon-marked pony was grateful for it. "I'll go get more then..."

"Go for it..." Rainbow Dash muttered, climbing back into the bed. "Just be quiet when you come back in."

"Okie dokie!" In her traditional method of locomotion, Pinkie bounced over to the door and opened it.

"Good morning, Miss Pie. You seem well-rested. May I help you?"

One could tell from the pink mare's split-second break in expression that she wasn't expecting to see a guard upon opening the door. Nope, I'm okay. I was just going to the kitchen for some breakfast."

"Very well. Allow me to escort you to the kitchen then."

"No, that's fine; I know where it is. I'll be right back." When Pinkie went to step around the stallion, he mirrored her ste. A step in the opposite tirection produced the same result. For an instant, she thought about making a silly face and seeing what he did.

"I respect your decision, Miss Pie, but it would go against my superior's orders to let you roam the palace unsupervised."

"'Kay. That works too. Let's go then." Since she had woken up, the Element of Laughter had been having periodic twinges in her right shoulder, very obviously part of a self-proclaimed "combo." She just couldn't remember which one it was.

As the two ponies got closer to the kitchen, sweet smells of various baked goods began tickling the inside of Pinkie's nostrils. Finally, "Here we are, Miss Pie." The guard pushed open one of the double doors before them.

When you're a kitchen providing food to the whole of Canterlot Palace, you rarely get a break. Just beyond the swinging doors, ponies were bustling about, some carrying trays, some not. Pinkie's eyes lit up at the sight of the freshly baked scones and brightly frosted cupcakes. Yes, they looked delicious, but their smell... Oh, their aroma; they smelled absolutely divine. She inhaled deeply, drinking in the warm scent. Life was good, if just for this moment.

One of the kitchen staff, a pony wearing the traditional chef's hat, approached the curly-maned mare. "I presume you're enjoying the aroma, miss?"

"You're soooo lucky..." she sighed blissfully. "You get to smell this all the time!"

The toque-wearing stallion chuckled. "I suppose I do. What brings you to my kitchen this fine morning, Miss..."

"Pinkie." she added quickly.

"Oh? You must be a friend of the princesses. I trust you enjoyed the scones we prepared for you last night?"

"Oh yes, very yummy. That's why I came down; to see if I could get more of them."

"Of course. A kitchen without scones is hardly a kitchen. Excuse me for a moment." He disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, to return shortly thereafter, bearing another tray of six freshly baked, recently iced scones. "Here we are, half a dozen maple scones, topped with our finest whipped rosehip icing."

Pinkie didn't respond; she was too busy staring at the scones. "Ooooh... May I try one?"

"I'd be insulted if you-" Before the end of his sentence, one of the scones, icing and all, had disappeared from the tray.

The sight and smell of the scones did absolutely no justice to how they tasted. They tasted so good that the mare was actually at a loss for words. It was like...like a party in her mouth. It wasn't long before an uncomfortable pinch pulled her away from the festivities and elicited an "Ow..."

"Miss Pie, are you all right?" the guard asked.

"Yep, I'm-hic!-fine!" she answered, uttering a single hiccup that lifted her from the ground.

"What about your ears then?"

"Wha' 'bout them?" As her question worked its way around her mouthful of scone, Pinkie noticed her erratically flapping ears. Pinchy shoulder, hiccups, ear flop... "Thash it!" she proclaimed.

There was no time to ask exactly what "it" was. In less time than it took to bat an eye, the pink equine was gone, leaving a pony-shaped cloud in her wake.

Sometimes guard duty gets very boring and monotonous, and then sometimes, you're assigned to watch over the Elements of Harmony. All the guard outside Rarity's room saw was a pink blur that blew past him. "Rariry, quick! Wa' up!" Pinkie shouted.

The hastily spouted warning call was unnecessary; sleep had not come to the unicorn tonight. "Pinkie Pie, dear, it is hardly considered proper to speak with one's mouth full."

"No time! Frien's a' th' door! Hurry!"

Rarity traded a confused look with the dragonling next to her. "Did you make out any of that?"

Spike shrugged. "Sounded like 'Friends at the door.' to me."

Next door, the same message was being delivered. Rainbow Dash, however, understood straight away, and was out the door like multicolored bolt of greased lightning, Pinkie Pie spinning like a top in the doorway behind her.

-------------------------

"Open the gate, Jet Stream!" Celestia ordered. "I am renouncing the lockdown protocols!"

"You heard Her Majesty! Open the gates!" Jet Stream did an about-face and disappeared from the window. Chains began clinking as wheels steadily lowered the massive drawbridge into place. The lieutenant met the alicorn inside with the customary salute. "Welcome back, your Majesty."

"It feels good to be home again..." she breathed. "Greetings, Jet Stream. I trust things have gone smoothly since your letter?"

"That is correct."

"Very good. I've a new assignment for you. See to it that Miss Zecora here is given the finest acommodations during her stay with us. Headwind, I want you to show our other guest to her accommodations. Afterwards, take the sinkstone to our research wing and meet me in the infirmary. It's time we got that wing of yours fixed up."

The two replies sounded as one. "At once."

Fluttershy had visited the palace on several occasions prior, but one thing about it always amazed her. Everything seemed to be made from marble; hallways, stairs, walls, all of it. It also carried sound extremely well. "Applejack, do you hear that?"

Curious, the hat-wearing pony stopped and cocked an ear. She could hear hooves clicking rapidly upon marble...and...wingbeats? Before she could ponder it too much, the source of the noise came into view. "Whoa nelly... Heads up, sugarcube!"

Thud!

Rarity came around the corner just in time to catch the four pony pile-up caused by Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. She laughed, something she had been doing far too little of lately. "You were right, Spike. There were friends at the door." Dashing about like a madpony does not readily fit with palace etiquette, but Rarity could hardly contain herself. Before she was halfway to the other ponies, she had broken into a full-on gallop. "Heavens, you two! Let the poor dears stand up!"

Tails were tangled and heads were spinning from the impact, so it took a moment to sort things out. Applejack was the first back on her hooves. "Ah'm real glad to see all of ya again." she sighed, after a round of hugs (and the expected pat on the back from Rainbow Dash).

The Element of Generosity would't be caught dead admitting it, but she had been missing the compony's unmistakable accent. "It certainly is. I haven't gotten a minute of sleep. I've been worried sick."

"Hold on a minute..." Spike interrupted the reunion. "Where's Twilight?"

"Yeah, Applejack, where is she? Did she come in with you?" Rainbow Dash glanced past the pair of ponies, expecting to see the lavender unicorn come trotting across the drawbridge.

Kindness and Honesty exchanged guilty looks. "We...uh...don't k-know exactly..." Fluttershy admitted quietly.

Applejack swallowed visibly before explaining. "She was hog-tied an' hauled off before Fluttershy an' the Princess showed up..."

"By whom?" Rarity inquired.

"A group of three pegasi..."

The Element of Loyalty narrowed her magenta eyes to threatening slits. "Did one of them have a pink mane?"

"I think so... Why?"

"That was the pony who kept me from saving Twilight... If I ever see her again, I'm going to take her feathers off one by one..."

"Easy now, Rainbow Dash..." the unicorn mare cautioned. "It's far too easy to become obsessed with holding a grudge. First things first; all of us, Twilight included, are alive and safe, and second, we could all use some sleep."

"Ah'm with Rarity..." Applejack said around a wide yawn. "Ah'm runnin' on empty..."

This statement was unanimously accepted by everypony else, and the small group started back to their rooms. Rarity followed behind, lost in thought. Sure, they had been reunited with their friends, but what had been the cost? What else was to come?

-------------------------

Celestia's mind was no more at ease than Rarity's as she made her way to the infirmary. Ever since Luna had returned from her...absence, the elder alicorn had always kept her sister in the corner of her eye. Not out of fear or suspicion, but out of worry and protection. Though Celestia appeared unshakeable and resolute most of the time, news of this event had shaken her to the core. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and knocked on the infirmary door.

A short period of silence later and the door swung inward. "Ah! Your Majesty. I trust you are here concerning your sister?"

The princess nodded. "Correct."

"Very well. Right this way." The nurse turned and allowed Celestia to enter. "Your sister is doing just fine..." she commented absentmindedly, glancing at a clipboard floating alongside her. "Her only injury was a minor cut on her cheek; so minor, in fact, that it won't even require a bandage. A light cleansing with water will be plenty."

"Injuries aren't what I'm worried about..."

"Here we are: Room 1022. Let me know if you need anything, your Majesty."

"Thank you. I will." As the door clicked shut behind her, Celestia could finally drop her facade. Tears came to her eyes and she began quietly weeping. How had things fallen so far out of hoof? First Twilight, and now Luna, the latter of whom lay, still unconscious, in the bed before her.

Her forehead looked damp, as if she had been sweating, and the ruffled sheets belied occasional fits of tossing and turning. With the aid of her magic, Celestia removed one of her golden boots and set it aside. Then, with the back of her now-bare hoof, she started gently stroking her sister's forehead, softly humming a sweet tune. A moment or two of this, and the night alicorn began to stir. "It's all right, Lulu..." she cooed. "It's just me..."

Remember what was mentioned about standing next to an enraged alicorn? It's not a good idea to sit next to a frightened one, either. Luna came to with a start and her eyes flew open. The first thing that greeted her senses were Celestia's face and the hoof upon her forehead. With her nightmare still very fresh in her mind, she panicked. "No! 'Tia, wait! Don't hurt me anymore!" she cried, forcibly shoving the other pony away.

Celestia flinched like she had just been kicked in the face. "Luna... I would never do that..."

When the shove had failed to put any real distance between the two of them, Luna had quickly stumbled from the bed, wide-eyed with fright. "No! Stay away!"

Confused, the sun alicorn stepped around the bed to follow her terrified sister. She was repelled by a concentrated burst of raw magic. Much of the impact was dissipated by her enchanted armor, but an alicorn on the defensive is not to be trifled with, and the concussive force of the blast blew her off her hooves.

Now that she had a chance to calm down and think rationally, Luna finally realized what had happened. "Oh no! 'Tia! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Are you okay?" she asked concernedly, standing over the other alicorn.

"Don't worry, Luna. I'll-oof!-be fine. I'm here to look in on you. Are you all right?"

"I-I'm fine. But what about Fluttershy and Applejack? Did you find them?"

"They're safe and sound here in the palace."

"And Twilight?" Luna recieved all the answer she needed by looking into her sister's eyes. "Oh...I'm...sorry, 'Tia..."

"Regardless of whether or not I found her, I know she alive, and right now I'll take that. I recieved a letter from Jet Stream, and that's why I came back. My concern now is that you're okay."

"I told you, 'Tia, I'm fine." Luna repeated.

Celestia had finally recovered from the magical attack and was back on her hooves. "Jet Stream said he found you unconscious in your room, with a cut upon your cheek. What happened?"

Events were still quite fuzzy for the younger princess, but she could easily remember Nightmare Moon's smirking face. Just the recollection of the image in the mirror sent chills down Luna's spine. The evil mare's words echoed forth from the dark recesses of her mind. I see that Celestia has been feeding you her typical lies. You and I will always be one and the same. Luna hesitated as these words crossed her mind. "Tell me something, 'Tia. Nightmare Moon and I... Are we still connected?"

"Wh-where did that come from?" The innocent question had quite obviously caught Celestia off guard.

"'Tia, please. Just tell me the truth. Please."

Nightmare Moon... The sun-marked pony had not heard that name in well over a year. The sudden mention of it, especially coming from her sister, was extremely unsettling. "What happened while I was gone, Luna? What happened to you?"

"Answer me, Celestia! I want to know!" Luna's patience was quickly burning out, and that meant that one thing would be following.

"Listen to me, Luna!" Celestia ordered. "Tell me what happened! Now!"

By now, the question dodging had grown very old, and Luna's restraint had deserted her. "We demand that thou tell us the truth at once!" Her relapse into the Royal Canterlot Speaking Voice was not a very subtle solution, but it worked nonetheless.

Celestia let out a long sigh. "I...haven't been completely honest with you, Luna, and I am deeply sorry..." She drew a sharp breath and paused, looking away. Regret would not allow the alicorn to look back at her sister. "I...don't know how much you remember from that time so many years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Now, before I go on, am I right in saying that you used to be...jealous of my day?"

Luna was becoming scared once again, but for different reasons. This alicorn before her...she looked like Celestia, she sounded like Celestia, yet at the same time, she obviously was not. The Celestia that Luna knew was strong and pround. This alicorn seemed so...so broken...so regretful. This wasn't Celestia. "A-at the time I was..." she admitted slowly.

"I thought so... It was about a month or so after we had sealed Discord away; something happened... Something that showed me what evil really was. I awoke one morning and you seemed...different. Maybe you hadn't slept well; I didn't know. You just weren't yourself. I brushed it under the rug and thought nothing of it. That was my first mistake, and I am so, so sorry, Luna. As the days passed, I watched you fall farther and farther away from everypony. Then, one night... I came to you so we could trade off. I asked you to lower the moon; you refused and...struck me..."

Luna recoiled in shock. "I-I don't remember doing that..."

"That's just it; it wasn't you. You had already been taken from me. Nightmare Moon had already been born."

The younger princess was unnerved at hearing this, but curiosity forced her to ask. "So, i-is Nightmare Moon still a part of me?"

"When wielded at full power as they were intended, the Elements of Harmony will remove any evil influences from their target. But, they cannot completely banish said evil. As long as good exists, evil will exist to oppose it; you cannot have one without the other." Celestia's tone was no longer wavering. It was dead serious. "When your magic gave Nightmare Moon her form, she knew she had full control. She wants that back... But, at the same time, she knows she cannot have it, so long as you refuse it to her. She is inside, waiting for her chance to strike... Long story short: The Nightmare Moon that Equestria knows exists because of you, Luna. For all intents and purposes, you are Nightmare Moon."
> 10 - Flight Of the Unicorn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   There were no nightmares this time around; Twilight simply awoke to the slowly receding throbs of a painful headache. Thankfully her gag had been removed so she could finally breathe normally again. Apart from the absence of its horrid taste in her mouth, its disappearance was of little solace to the unicorn; her blindfold was still in place. Even so, she could still tell that her legs were bound once more, this time with rope instead of iron.

There must have been a door somewhere in the darkness caused by her blindfold; Twilight could hear faint voices, as if blocked by darkness.

"So, what do we do now? Sit here in this hole in the ground?"

"For the time being, yes. We're dealing with the Elements of Harmony here. If we step too far out of line, that's it, we're done. Do you remember how far we got last time we tried this? We didn't get a single Element."

"Well, that was because the princess held all the Elements. It's not like we could just walk up and ask for them."

"So just because they're separated now, our job is supposed to be magically easier? If anything, we have three times the work to do. You two featherbrains aren't helping our cause either!"

"Explain to me how our situation is my fault!"

"Six Elements to pick from, and you two grab the one closest to Celestia!?"

"We were ordered to get the Element of Magic! Her connection to Celestia was an unforeseen circumstance!"

"Enough! All of you!"

Twilight's heart skipped a beat at the new voice. It was far louder, as if it spoke with magic. That voice...there was no mistaking it.

"Cease your inane squabbling, you petulant foals! You exist as my agents because I will it! I have not forgotten your previous failure! What little patience I have left is rapidly wearing thin with all your idiotic questions! I could never hope for any of you to understand my methods, but if it will shut you four up, I will say this. Your orders to go after the Element of Magic were not a mistake. I want Celestia involved in this; I want her to feel the loss I felt when she...banished me for a millennia! I also require the raw energy from the Element of Magic. It is the most important Element."

"Why?"

"It is the younger princess, Luna... Since her return, her magic has recovered at a rate far greater than I could have fathomed. Even now, her power is still growing. She is stubborn and has a strong will, and, without assistance, my influence and voice within her mind will go unheard. I was able to reach her directly because we had two Elements in our possession. With just Magic, my influence is much weaker; limited to dreams and faint suggestions. The Element of Magic is also the key to which all other Elements respond. If we are able to turn Magic, the remaining Elements will follow suit."

"'Turn' the Elements..." Twilight repeated. "What does that mean? Like opposites?"

"Turning the Elements is only the first part of your task. Princess Luna is no longer a suitable vessel for me to exist through. She is no longer jealous of her sister as she was one thousand years ago. Without that weakened state of mind, and as long as she denies it to me, not even all six turned Elements will permit me full control. A separation ritual would be required before I could return."

Before she could stop herself, Twilight let out a squeaky, "Oh no!" Seeing as she was tied up and unable to clap a hoof over her mouth, she did the next best thing and bit her tongue, hoping that nopony had heard.

Thankfully, it didn't seem that way, as the unseen conversation continued. "The Elements work through partial separation; and an ancient knowledge of magic is required to achieve a complete separation. Have you found any tomes that might possibly contain such knowledge?"

Something in the unicorn's mind clicked at the word "tomes." No...those pegasi... They did that to the library? What were they look- Suddenly, as if by magic, Twilight knew exactly what they were looking for. The Harmony of Magic; the book that Princess Celestia sent me... That's what they're looking for...

"N-no...we have not found any such tomes..."

"Useless foals!!"

Instinct fought with rope as Twilight tried to cover her ears from the booming voice.

"You four are one failure away from me renouncing your sorry existence! Since you obviously cannot do anything on your own, here is what you're going to do. Three of you will continue searching for any information for the separation ritual. The most competent of you, should that even be possible, is to stay here and ensure the captives remain as such."

"Captives?" Twilight parroted. "As in, more than one? Who else is here?"

"That-cough!-would be me..."

Oddly, the mare didn't jump at the voice. In fact, she recognized it. "It's you; you're a Canterlot guard, aren't you?"

"Indeed I am..." the voice wheezed, obviously having trouble breathing."Officer...Sky Runner...at your service... I presume that this is...Miss Twilight Sparkle I am speaking with?"

"Yes, it is." she answered quietly.

"I thought so..." Sky Runner gasped. "Forgive me for asking, but...would you come closer? It's hard...speaking this loudly... They only...bound your legs; you should be able to untie them yourself..."

The guard was right; save for the sinkstone still around her neck, there was nothing else there. She quickly freed her legs from their binding and let out a silent sigh of relief. "I...I can't see anything... Where are you, Sky Runner, sir?"

"O...over here..."

Taking the utmost care not to step on anything, Twilight slowly crossed the room. Her stomach turned as her hoof landed in a puddle of something wet and sticky. Instinct instantly told her what it was. "Oh no... you're hurt, aren't you?"

"It's...just a scratch..." he replied."My well-being is not our first concern. You need to get back to Canterlot...at once. The longer...you stay here, the longer the other Elements are in danger..."

"I know! I heard!" the mare said under her breath. "But what can we do? There's two of us and four of them!"

"Not...for long... I don't know how much...you heard, but three of our captors are on their way out... I'll bet the two of us...can outsmart one of them..."

Twilight nodded shakily, unsure if the guard she was conversing with would even see such a motion. "What do you need me to do?"

"Remove my blindfold... I'm no use to either of us with it on..."

Just as she was about to ask how, Twilight heard a small grunt and shortly thereafter, could sense a face inches from her own. With deliberate movements, the Element of Magic carefully sought out the guard's eyes.

"Thank you, Miss Sparkle... Now...allow me..."

Her cell wasn't as dark as she had previously thought. A small hole in the dirt ceiling afforded the unicorn just enough light to see. She recoiled at what her eyes first met. When she had guessed her cellmate injured, she had thought it to be his leg or...something. No...it was something else entirely. A single, uniform gash was traced upon his face, effectively forcing his left eye closed and useless for the rest of his life. Since ponies had no claws to speak of, it must have been caused with some type of weapon. Whatever it had been, this same weapon had left its mark on his chest as well, which much have accounted for his difficulty speaking.

"I...expected that reaction..." he wheezed. "I must certainly look a sight..."

Twilight had never seen such injuries before, and she was still in shock. "Celestia above..." she breathed."I'm almost afraid to ask... What happened...?"

"Gust and I weren't...expecting your captors to...outnumber us two to one... He fell in battle and...I was claimed as a prisoner..."

This news made the mare sick to her stomach. "I-I'm sorry... I can't believe I've caused all of this trouble..."

"Nonsense, Miss Sparkle; you've done nothing wrong..."

"Oh no... Oh no... You don't understand. This is bad-no, this is worse than bad! Ponies have died! Because of me!" Twilight was barely keeping her voice low and tears were collecting in her eyes. "I don't want that to happen anymore!"

Sky Runner let out a grating cough before replying. "There is something you should know, Miss Sparkle... A member of the Royal Air Guard...is always ready to relinquish their life to...protect a member of the Royal Family... Your apprenticeship under Her Majesty...qualifies you as such..."

Is that why Princess Celestia took me as her student? To protect me? Her entire life, Twilight, had though it was only her magic that had earned her admission to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. This fact was doing a good job of shredding that notion. "I...I didn't know..."

"No harm done... Now, listen carefully. As soon as we're sure that...three of them had left, here's...what we're going to do... Get them to open the door...and I'll jump them..."

"Then what do I do?" she asked as Sky Runner removed her sinkstone.

The stallion dropped the jewelry into a leather case strapped to the inside of his foreleg. "Run. I want you to run... Run as fast as you can. The sun is up; run towards it." His leather case came off and was tossed to the mare.

"W-what's this...? Run towards the sun...?" Twilight stumbled over her words in confusion.

"The sun rises behind Canterlot. We aren't that far from the forest's edge. That tactical case I gave you...contains three emergency flares... As soon as you clear the forest, use them. Somepony is bound to notice and send help."

"I-if not?"

"Keep running. I'll be completely honest with you... I'm not expecting to walk out of here... I'll do my best to 'entertain' our captor...but, if I fail, they'll be after you like an Ursa Major after her cub."

"Ulp!" Twilight had read accounts of the unparalleled ferocity of the Ursa Major. Hearing that wasn't terribly reassuring.

"There's a combat knife attached to the side of the case should you need it." Sky Runner instructed.

"A what!?" The unicorn had just belted the case to her leg. She cast is a quick glance and started dancing about, shaking her leg wildly, as if a venomous snake were crawling up it. "I can't pull a knife on somepony!"

"Then keep running and hope the flares are spotted. Sky Runner said gruffly. "If they catch up to you...you'll have two choices; fight back, or get dragged back here. You have one shot at this. If you're caught...you won't be let out of their sight again. Your choice."

The lump of worry in her throat had robbed Twilight of speech. She drew the knife from its leather sheath and held it aloft before her. Yes, that pony reflected in the burnished steel blade was indeed her, but was that it? What did other ponies see? What did these pegasi see? What did Princess Celestia see? She filed those questions away for later and swallowed loudly. Come on, Twilight... You helped stop Discord... This is nothing... Finally, the knife floated back into its sheath. "I understand."

The guard nodded. "Very good. The flares you have are lit via a magical friction fuse. Just...drag it across a surface and point it skyward."

"Got it."

"Excellent. Now, all that's left is to wai-"

"Dammit! I don't see why I have to be the one left behind to rot in this hole in the ground... Me, second in command of the Shadowbolts! I can't believe it!"

Sky Runner nodded toward the door. "Sounds like our cue."

Twilight nodded slowly and followed her cellmate to the door. She swallowed again before speaking. "Ummm... Excuse me?"

"What is it?"

The mare hesitated for a split second. "I'm terribly thirsty... Might I have a drink of water?"

"Yeah, yeah... Quit your whining. I'll get it..."

"Thank you..."

Hoofsteps and mumbling receded from the other side of the door. Twilight exchanged a glance with Sky Runner as he took her place. The mare's heart skipped a bit as the door opened inward.

"All right... Here's your water. Now, I don't want any surprises..."

"Too late!" Sky Runner was poised and ready. He met the other pegasus with a two-legged kick to the face. "Now, Miss Sparkle! Run!"

Heeding his advice, she burst from the small cell into a larger circular room. She looked about wildly, searching for the exit, ignoring the clamor caused by the two stallions.

Before she had located an escape route, she heard, "Miss Sparkle, look out!"

Coming at her like an arrow was a (very) angry male pegasus. "Aaah!" A glow appeared around Twilight's horn, and with a magenta-hued flash, she disappeared from existence. Her magic had not yet recovered enough to allow for a long-range teleport and she only moved a few inches. Even so, the slight spatial displacement was enough to surprise the oncoming pony and let him go crashing into the far wall.

Dizzy though she was from the expenditure of magic, Twilight was finally able to locate the exit and was away at a full gallop. Sky Runner followed her as far as the staircase. "Good luck, Miss Sparkle..." He then drew another knife from its sheath and strapped it to his foreleg. "One on one. My kind of combat..."

This hideout must have been very far underground; it took Twilight a good thirty seconds to climb the staircase. At the top, she took a brief moment to catch her breath and reorient herself. "Sun, sun, sun... The sun rises in the east... The east is..." Purple eyes quickly scanned the thick leaves, praying for some sort of sign. Finally, through a hole in the canopy, the mare caught a glimpse of a spired tower. "That way!" Countless trees flew past Twilight in her flight. She almost stumbled a few times, as her eyes were fixated upon Canterlot's marbled buildings and their fleeting appearances through the leaves. With each hooffall, the trees grew thinner, before disappearing altogether. All right, Twilight, time for those flares.

Magic drew one of the cylindrical pyrotechnics from the hard leather case. While she was at it, Twilight also unsheathed the knife. Unbeknownst to her, the sinkstone made its escape by catching on the flare as it left. It jarred itself loose and fell into a small stream as the mare jumped it.

One... Two... Three... After three strokes across the knife blade, the fuse finally took and started burning. A few seconds later and a bright red ball streaked into the clear morning sky. Please Celestia, let somepony see this... she thought desperately, going for another flare.

-------------------------

No sooner had those words left Celestia's mouth, than she knew that there had been a better way to phrase them.

Luna wore an indescribable look of disbelief. "I am Nightmare Moon!? What...what exactly does that mean?"

"It means...that the entity that we know as Nightmare Moon is...inside you. Or, more accurately, inside your mind."

The Princess of the Night fell back onto her haunches. "Inside my mind? But what about the Elements of Harmony? I thought that they were pure good..."

"If there is no night, there is no day. If there is no evil, there is no good. That is the very nature of opposites. The existence of one is wholly reliant on the existence of the other." Celestia explained. "No matter the power or intent of a spell, laws older than even myself forbid the utter destruction of good or evil. The Elements are no exception. When Twilight and her friends freed you from Nightmare Moon, they separated you from your magic, which is what gave her form. Without it, she was unable to physically exist, and she withdrew into your mind to bide her time."

Though she might not want to accept this information, Luna could not deny that it made sense. "Why did you wait so long to tell me this, 'Tia?"

The difficulty for Celestia to talk about this was painfully obvious. "You had very little magic to protect yourself. I didn't want to give her an opening to...to..." The alicorn fell silent mid-sentence and bowed her head. "I didn't want to give her an opening to...take you away from me again."

"I wasn't a filly back then, 'Tia. I could have handled that news."

"Let me ask you something, Luna. Do you know what it's like to live in a palace with dozens of other ponies and still be completely alone?"

All at once, Luna saw one thousand long years of regret and loneliness come flooding back into her sister's pink eyes. In a few seconds, they aged a millennia, leaving them tired, dull, and filled with tears.

"You're right... You probably could have handled the news. I knew you deserved to hear it. I was overjoyed to have you at my side again, but it was my own selfishness that stayed my tongue. I felt if I had told you, it would weaken you to her influence. She had already succeeded in taking you from me once. I would rather die than let her do it again." When there was no immediate response, Celestia chanced a glance at her sister.

She sat on the other side of the room, staring out the window in silence.

"You have every right to be angry with me, Luna. I certainly would be. I'm hardly deserving of your forgiveness, but I wish to ask for it nonetheless."

Luna's mind was a whirlwind of different thoughts. This was a lot of information to take in all at once. Seeing Celestia so broken and so weak just made it that much worse. After some time, she broke her silence. "It's probably a good thing that I don't remember much about my one thousand years of banishment, but there is one thing I remember. Moments before you cast the spell, you hesitated. You hesitated and said, 'Forgive me...' I didn't know why you said that. I did know why you hesitated, though."

Celestia felt a gentle hoof raise her tear-stained face until she was looking into a pair of blue-green eyes.

"You hesitated because I was still your sister; because you still loved me. That was the one memory that Nightmare Moon couldn't take from me. I knew you loved me, despite what happened between us."

"I-I'm sorry it came to that, Luna..." The white alicorn avoided looking at her sister.

"Don't apologize, 'Tia. You did what you had to do."

The Sun Goddess' eyes flashed back to her sister, making her jump. "Did I, Luna? Did I? Was I justified in sending you away for a millennia when it was my negligence that allowed you to fall into darkness to begin with? Was I justified in banishing my sister? My own flesh and blood?"

"'Tia... Whether or not it was justified, we both know you did the right thing. Equestria couldn't live under eternal night. Do you know how many lives you saved?"

"That didn't make it any easier..."

Luna snorted in frustration. Without thinking, she grabbed the nearest thing she could get her magic on (thankfully it was only the boot Celestia had removed earlier) and sharply rapped it on her sister's helmet.

That helmet came off Celestia's head faster than if there had been a swarm of angry bees inside it. "What was that for?"

"Just checking if you still have your hearing. Have you been listening to yourself? The Celestia I've been living in this palace with has been the happiest pony I've ever seen. Why is that?"

Celestia still indeed had her hearing, although the ringing in her ears made her wish otherwise. "It's because you had finally returned, Luna. I had my sister back."

Gravity took back the boot and pulled it to the floor. Luna's wings reached around the other alicorn in a warm embrace. "I'm still here, 'Tia. Nothing has changed." she whispered. "And nothing will change."

Words escaped the sun-marked pony. Too often, the answers to our most troubling questions are the simplest. "You're...you're absolutely right, Luna. For far too long, I have looked at you as my little sister... I should have been viewing you as what you are; Princess Luna, ruler of Equestria and mistress of the night. You have always been my equal, and it's time I start seeing you as such."

A great pair of wings wrapped themselves around the younger alicorn. "Thank you, 'Tia..."

"It's the least I could do. I owe you that much."

Following a tender moment such as this with anything but a period of silence would have been unthinkable. "All right. I'm back, you're back, and Nightmare Moon had better watch out. What did you find out while I was gone?"

"I...don't honestly remember..." Luna admitted with a sheepish grin. "It's still kind of fuzzy. I'm sure it would come back if I read it again though."

"Now that's some good news. The book is still up in your room, right?"

"It should be, yes."

Discarded pieces of armor began floating back to the white pony as she moved for the door.

"Where are you going?"

Celestia let the gilded helmet settle back onto her head before answering. "We're going to do a little homework, and we'll need that book. I'll be right back."

"Don't worry. I'll come with you."

"No." A quick shake of her head told Luna to stay put. "You just woke up; I don't think you're-" Celestia trailed off, courtesy of the skeptical look upon her sister's face. "Right. C'mon, Princess."

As the two royal sisters exited the infirmary, they met up with General Headwind, who met them with a low bow. "I'm glad to see you up and about, your Majesty. The way your sister described Jet Stream's letter left much to the imagination."

"Thank you, General. What about you? You look to be injured as well."

"Naught but a scratch in the line of duty, Milady."

The conversation traded possession when Celestia started speaking. "You always have been a tough one, Headwind. Did the research team have anything immediate to report about that sinkstone?"

The stallion shook his head. "Negative. They promised a quick analysis though. I will keep checking back with them, and you will be the first to know, your Majesty."

"Thank you. And our captive?"

"Detained and getting acquainted with the dungeon stones."

"Excellent. As you were, General."

Captive? Luna flashed a glance at the white stallion, and then at her sister. Both ponies had continued with their travels. "What captive were you talking about, 'Tia?" she asked, breaking into a quick trot to catch up.

"Fluttershy and Applejack weren't the only ones I brought back. We were able to secure one of the perpetrators as well. Hopefully, she'll be able to provide us with some information as to Twilight's whereabouts."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure she's fine, sis. I wouldn't worry."

Feathers ruffled nervously as Celestia's wings twitched unconsciously. "Ugggh... Better said than done, Luna..." One of the biggest annoyances for an alicorn or pegasus is an itchy feather. Oftentimes, it's impossible for the victim to tell exactly where it is. By the time the pair were back at Luna's room, Celestia had gone over every feather on her right wing, looking for the culprit.

Understandably, the younger princess was apprehensive about going back inside. Her last experience therein hadn't been what one would call positive. After a long sigh to calm herself, she followed her sister in.

It was a good thing that Celestia was wearing boots, because the first thing she stepped upon crunched loudly. Hundreds more of the same jagged mirror shards littered the floor. "My goodness... It's a wonder it was only your cheek that was cut. What happened?"

"Nightmare Moon happened..." Luna's reflection answered. "Breaking the mirror seemed like the best option at the time."

"What happened with Nightmare Moon?"

The mirror shard floating before the blue alicorn dropped to the ground and she shivered. Upon first picking up the shard, she had feared that she would see that familiar black face again. She hadn't and that had been a huge relief.

Countless shards gave way under the rise and fall of Celestia's boots. She brushed an area clean and knelt down next to her sister. "Luna?" she asked softly. "What happened?"

"Nightmare Moon kept telling me that we were the same pony, and that I was...evil. She was right..." Luna muttered, kicking one of the glass shards.

"Listen to me, Luna. You're not evil. You and Nightmare Moon might be the same pony, but it wasn't you that threatened Equestria with eternal night. You are not evil. I'm telling you the honest truth." Another period of silence passed before she noticed a smile cross her sister's face.

"Thanks, 'Tia."

Celestia returned the smile and lightly touched her nose to the other alicorn's cheek. "You got it. Let's get started, shall we?"

"Right! Let me get the book; I left it in on my desk!" In mere seconds, Luna was on her hooves and away.

The sun-marked pony followed at a slower pace, stopping to gaze out the window. Luna was still herself, and with that discovery, a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Despite the good news, all was not as it should have been. Twilight... Where have they taken you? It was then that something caught the alicorn's eye. In the field far below Canterlot, a red sphere, bright as the morning sun, was cutting a glowing arc into the air. It took Celestia a moment to realize what was happening. "That's a flare!"

"What was that, 'Tia?" Luna poked her head out of her study only to find her window wide open. Through the open window, she spied the morning sun glinting off her sister's golden armor. "'Tia?" The second flare that took to the sky soon had her out of the window as well.

-------------------------

This is the last flare... Twilight had never run so long in her life; her lungs were on fire, and her muscles felt like they were tearing themselves apart. I hope somepony sees this last fla- Fatigue had slowed the mare's reaction time, and she caught her hoof against a half-buried stone and took a tumble. Of course, she lost her grip on the flare and it bounced away, eventually loosing its payload straight into the ground, and a flare aimed at the dirt draws very little attention to itself. "No... No, no, no!"

Fate is oftentimes cruel and, in this case, had left Twilight holding on to the knife. Frustrated, she repeatedly stabbed the ground with it. Keep running... Sky Runner's voice echoed through her mind, reminding her of the gravity of the situation. He's right... I have to keep going... She staggered back to her hooves and sheathed the blade so her flight could continue.

Beads of sweat dripping into her eyes blurred her vision, but one thing still managed to draw the unicorn's attention. In the sky above her shone a golden point of light, not unlike a falling star. As curious as it was, she was not about to stop and think about it.

As it happened, Twilight didn't have to stop. This point of light grew closer at a frightening rate, before finally landing like a meteor. The shockwave from the impact spread rapidly, sending the mare to the dirt again. "Pbbbthpp!" Twilight enjoyed a good mouthful of grass as much as the next pony, but the topsoil below it? Not so much. Before she could regain her footing, a shadow fell over her. The unicorn had never used a knife before, but with the very real possibility of recapture looming over her, she was willing to learn quickly. Faster than an uncoiling snake, Twilight rolled over, ripped the knife from its sheath and flung it, spinning, at her assailant. "Get away!" What she heard in reply was completely unexpected.

"Careful, Twilight. you could put somepony's eye out like that."

"Princess Celestia!?" Twilight almost fainted from relief and let her head fall back onto a soft tuft of grass. "Somepony did see the flares..." she sighed.

"Geez, 'Tia, tell me before you start jumping out of windows."

Twilight's head came up again and she was on her hooves before the second alicorn had landed. "Princess Luna?" A slight breeze tousled her mane as Luna dropped to the ground.

"Twilight Sparkle? It's so good to see you again. Celestia was starting to get worried."

"'Starting?' I haven't gotten a minute of sleep and you know it. I'm...so relieved to see you again, Twilight...my faithful student..." Celestia met the young mare in long overdue embrace while a single tear rolled down her cheek. "Let's go home..."

There were more witnesses to this reunion than either of the princesses knew. Across the open field, just within the forest boundary, a green-eyed pegasus stallion watched the gathering intently. When he was sure that they were leaving, he finally stepped from his leafy cover. His muzzle and face wore a varied assortment of cuts and bruises, badges of his battle against Sky Runner. The Canterlot guard had given him quite a fight, but his injuries had ultimately proven to be an insurmountable handicap. Damn! That stupid guard cost me too much time! Fed up with losing his captive, fed up with the injuries on his face, and in an all-around bad mood, the stallion stomped his way out into the field, towards a small stream. He bent down to rinse his face and something laying amidst the well-rounded pebbles caught his eye. After fishing it out and inspecting the object, an evil grin crossed his features. "Well, well, well... Thank you ever so much for leaving me this..."

> 11 - Inside Out
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   For any pony other than a pegasus or alicorn, flight is not something oft experienced. Suspended aloft by a gentle yellow magic, Twilight got a very good view of Canterlot. Buildings rushed by beneath her while the marbled walls of the palace grew ever closer. Celestia landed before the palace gates and issued a call up to the gatekeeper currently on post. "Lower the gates!"

A white face appeared at the window for an instant before vanishing again. Chains and wheels began creaking, slowly dropping the massive drawbridge. The owner of this white face came galloping down out of the gatehouse to greet the royal sisters. "Your Majesties!"

Celestia acknowledged his salute with a quick nod. "At ease, soldier. The last Element is home. You may return to your post."

"Of course, Your Majesty." The guard sent the princesses off with a parting salute. He spun on his hoof and started back up the stairs to the gatehouse. A lever inside willed the gates into motion once again. As the rumbling of the gate machinery subsided away into the stone floor, the white stallion took up his stance at the window.

Parts of the gatehouse were still covered in shadow, as the sun had not yet risen above Canterlot. Perhaps if the gatehouse was just a little more well-lit, things might have gone differently...

In a particularly dark corner of the gatehouse, a pair of green eyes sat in the shadows. Very slowly, they began creeping towards the unsuspecting guard. Before he knew any better, a ragged piece of cloth was laced around his neck and pulled tight.

The air within the guard's lungs only served him for several seconds before he lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor. "Too easy..." the slate-grey pegasus chuckled. Around his neck was the all-too-familiar sinkstone, just begging to be used. Quietly, and in an ancient forgotten language, he began chanting: "Accipio hoc corpus, ad fallere eorus oculus. Cum hoc magicae, sino me abscondam."

A sickly green glow lit up the center for the gem at the spell. Tendrils of the same color started snaking out of the glow and reached for the unconscious guard. Within a few seconds, said guard was enveloped with these magic threads. When the spell had done its work, the tendrils retreated back into the sinkstone, and the formerly grey pegasus was now the spitting image, armor and all, of the guard before him. Perfect...

Flawless though this illusion seemed, there was still one final test. The impostor left the gatehouse and trotted down the steps. Luck was on his side today; another guard passed him at the bottom. "Greetings!" he called to the fellow pegasus. He immediately regretted that.

Our impostor might as well have just shot himself in the hoof, as the passing pony happened to be Jet Stream. "No salute this morning, soldier?"

Damn! Acting as quickly as possible without making any more of an idiot out of himself, the disguised pony sprang to attention. "Sorry, sir! Just a little tired from night watch, sir!" Fortunately for him, he was met with a slight chuckle.

"At ease, soldier; I'm just pulling your feathers. It's been a long night for everypony."

"That it has, sir."

"In that case, you're dismissed for the day. Go get some rest."

"Thank you, sir." Inwardly, the pegasus was grinning like a madpony. His disguise was perfect; he wasn't suspected at all. He watched Jet Stream for a moment before turning and walking in the opposite direction. "All right... now I have to find Nightshade..."

Truthfully, he wasn't completely sure how to go about doing that. Obviously, she would be held within the palace dungeon, which, logically, would be the lowest level. A situation such as this would call for a little trial and error. Besides, he wasn't overly pressed for time.

That turned out to be a very good thing for him. Whoever had coined the term "trial-and-error" must have also had a large amount of time on his hooves. The amount of doors within the average palace hallway was staggering. Nearly every door checked ended up being either living quarters or a broom closet. Finally, just as he was sure that he had checked every last door, he found one that opened to something far different than the marbled hallways.

Stepping down onto the rough stone step was like entering another world. The narrow cobblestone hallway was lit with nothing but the odd, wall-mounted torch. It was a far cry from the sunlit halls of the palace above. As he predicted, there was a watch posted outside Nightshade's cell.

"Don't look now, "the pegasus mare muttered, "but your relief is here..." With little more than a nod between them, the two stallions traded places. This new guard seemed a little...off, however. Instead of standing with his back to the cell, he faced the captive pony, staring at her and smirking a little. "Can I...help you with something?" Nightshade snorted.

As if this stallion wasn't odd enough, he burst into a quick fit of laughter. "Ahahaha! I should be the one offering you help!"

"Make your point or hold your tongue. I've no desire to listen to your idiocy."

"All right then, Nightshade. Be that way. I'll let the others know you wanted to rot in this dungeon."

"Hold it." Chains rattled as the mare stood up. "Recite the password."

"Good and evil, their cycle eternal, hearken to the moon's glow and the sun's inferno."

A slight chuckle escaped the gray pegasi's mouth, a sound not often heard. "Stratus, you sly devil, you..."

"How'd you know?" he asked, grinning widely.

"Simple. Charger isn't smart enough to come up with a plan like this, and Skies and Blitz would make terrible guards, fake or otherwise. So, to what do I owe this meeting?"

"We've lost the Element of Magic. She was returned here, to the palace."

Oddly, Nightshade didn't explode at this news. Rather, she was unusually quiet, almost as if she were already planning something. "I see. And you followed her?"

"Precisely."

"And what of the others?"

"The Night Ruler sent them out to look for a separation spell. Who knows how long that simple task will take them..."

"Just give them some time. We have our own problems to deal with in the meantime. Our job is to reclaim the Elements. If what you say is true, then all six are now within the palace. Half of the work has been done for us. All we need to do now is find a way to make them ours again, and if the Elements are under constant surveillance as I think they should be, then I have a way to do just that."

"How so?" Stratus asked.

Nightshade tapped a hoof to the side of her head. "Think about it, numbskull. What are you disguised as?"

Realization lit up the stallion's eyes. "We attack from the inside..."

"Atta' boy..."

"So what do we have to do?"

"Cool your hooves, hotshot. We're still on thin ice here. Just keep acting like one of the guards. As long as nopony suspects anything, we'll be fine. I'll let you know as I put the pieces together."

"Got it. I'll be back later today." Stratus promised before turning to leave. It wasn't long after he had come up the staircase before he ran into another guard. He grabbed the other stallion's attention with a quick wave of his wing. "Would you take over guard duty for me? The princesses have asked to see me."

"Of course."

"So far, so good." Everything was going perfectly. Stratus could move wherever he wanted within the palace and nopony would be the wiser. His first task? Re-locating the Elements of Harmony.

There was just one problem with that. He had been extremely lucky thus far. The odds of it holding out even further were not favorable.

-------------------------

Even with being back within the well-guarded walls of Canterlot Palace, Twilight could not put her mind at ease. She had remained silent during the trip back, but she could no longer hold her tongue. "Princess?"

"Yes, Twilight? What is it?"

"I know what's going on; I know why those pegasi are after the Elements. Why they took me."

That got Celestia's attention. Up until now, the events of the past twenty-four hours had been without reason. She stopped and faced her student. "Please explain then. It would take a great deal off my mind."

"Nightmare Moon isn't gone. She's controlling these pegasi; she's using them."

"Nightmare Moon never was gone, Twilight."

Slowly, the unicorn's gaze drifted to the second royal sister. Shock was grossly evident in the young pony's eyes.

Luna sighed and tossed a (very) quick glance at her elder sister. "Yeah, that was news to me too."

"Never gone? Wh-what does that mean?"

"It means that you're looking at Nightmare Moon herself. Since you brought me back, she's been lurking within my mind."

Realization replaced shock upon the lavender mare's face. "So that's what she meant..."

The game of twenty questions continued with Celestia. "What who meant? Nightmare Moon?"

Twilight nodded. "Yes. While I was in captivity, I overheard her plan. She said that Luna wasn't an acceptable medium for her to exist through. She needs a complete separation to return. What would she mean by that?"

Celestia's eyes grew dark at the news. "I had hoped and prayed that these events were just random acts... How foolish of me to think that... True evil can never be defeated..."

Those words... Icy dread ran down the unicorn's spine. "B-but the Elements..."

"Hush..." An armor-clad hoof held aloft silenced the Element of Magic. "I know what you're going to ask, Twilight, so let me ask you something. If there is no evil, how do we define 'good?'"

After several moments of heavy thinking, Twilight found she had no answer to such a question. "I...I don't know..."

"I didn't expect you to. Truthfully, there is no answer. The Elements are neither good nor evil, and thus cannot destroy one or the other. They are only capable of separation. That is why Discord was turned to stone. To separate the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony from those things would leave him with nothing, which is what he became. In Luna's case, the Elements separated Nightmare Moon from her magic, which is how she existed. A complete separation would have removed her from Luna's mind entirely."

"So why didn't that happen?"

"The Elements were incapable of such a feat. The deeper two things are entwined, the more it takes to separate them. Nightmare Moon had control over Luna for one thousand years. That could not be undone in mere seconds."

"What about a ritual of some kind? Could they achieve a complete separation then?"

"In theory, yes. But for Nightmare Moon to maintain a physical form, she would need to be fused with a magic source on par with Luna or myself. Even I don't know where she would obtain that."

"Hold on, 'Tia." Luna lightly brushed a wing against Celestia's shoulder. "I've been thinking. If night is the opposite of day, and good is the opposite of evil, do the Elements of Harmony have opposites? If the Elements work through separation, would their opposites be able to fuse things together?"

"Again, in theory, I suppose. I don't know of any documented instances of such a thing. Discord's reversal of the Elements was the closest we've seen, and given the context within which that happened, studying said occurrence was not a top priority. Reversing the Elements would be nigh impossible without a thorough knowledge of their workings."

"Or a key?"

Twilight... Magic... Key... Thoughts were flying through Luna's mind one after the other. "That's it!" she exclaimed, thoroughly startling the two other ponies.

"Wh-what's it?" Celestia asked, trying to catch her breath.

"Hold on!" A high-pitched whining began to fill the air, slowly growing in volume.

Celestia could feel a familiar tingling quickly working its way up her legs. One look at the vortex of magical energies amassing around her sister's horn told her all she needed to know. Self-teleportation was easy enough, but with each other pony that was making the jump, things became significantly harder. "Twilight, duck!"

Finally, the Princess of the Night had enough energy to achieve a multi-pony teleport. In a burst of glittering stardust, the three ponies took their leave of the hallway. Less than an instant later, and the trio stood within Luna's chambers.

After a quick check to make sure all body parts were accounted for, Celestia let out her held breath and lowered her wings from their protective embrace around her apprentice. "Forgive my hasty actions, Twilight, but I didn't want to have you sent to the other end of Equestria by accident."

"It's all right, Princess. I'm fine." Honestly, Twilight was a little dizzy, but all her body parts had made the jump.

"Warn somepony before you do that, Luna."

"Yeah, sure." she called back from her study. She came trotting out moments later, a book floating before her. "Listen to this. 'Of the six Elements, Magic is the least understood. Obviously, its wielder must possess immense talent with the arcane arts. Beyond that, little is known about this enigmatic Element, save that it acts like a key. A key to which all other Elements respond.'"

"Let me see that book for a moment." The blue aura surrounding the tome was replaced by a yellow one, and it drifted over to Celestia. Her pink eyes traced over the aged text several times. "That sounds familiar..."

"How do you mean, Princess?" Twilight eyed the back of the book, wishing she could see the text inside. The way Celestia and her sister were talking about this book had piqued her curiosity, especially that passage that was just read. Was it coincidence the both Nightmare Moon and those pegasi had mentioned it? If it had been, Twilight was prepared to eat her own hoof.

A small puff of dust jumped from the book's pages as Celestia's magic flipped it shut. "You see, Twilight, though I might not have known of the reasons for the events of the past few days, the events themselves are nothing new to me. Honestly, I remember little of what happened, but it was very shortly after our..." A glance at her sister belied the true sensitivity of the topic. "Falling out..."

Luna nodded. That was an acceptable way to describe it.

The sun-marked alicorn continued with her explanation. "With this repeat occurrence, I believe that I've figured out why this is happening. Every time that Nightmare Moon was sealed away, remnants of her power remained, and sought a way to facilitate her return. The pegasi behind this; they are those remnants."

Twilight might as well have not had any ears; Celestia's explanation had gone unheard. Or ignored, most likely. She was already leafing through the book, searching for the previously spoken text. Her snout appeared over the top of the tome. "What page was that passage on again, Luna?" she asked.

"Ummm..." Familiar text breezed past Luna's eyes as the magenta glow holding the book commanded the pages to turn.

"Laughter... Loyalty... Honesty... Generosity... Kindness... Hold it. There."

"Before...you get too far into that book, Twilight... I need your attention." Yellow magic took the book from the two other mares. "I know the both of you very well; when you get into a book; you'll be at it for hours. This needs saying now. When you were taken, Twilight, it was then that I knew what these pegasi were looking for, both then and now. It's painfully obvious that the Elements are under attack. With what you've just told me, I now know why they are. The entity we know as Nightmare Moon is actively seeking for a way to return."

"I know. I heard." the unicorn sniffed. "And that's why I wanted to get started on that book. See if we couldn't stop it from happening." Magic matching the color of her cutie mark sheathed Twilight's horn once again.

Celestia's own horn flashed once in response.

The young mare flinched. She had not expected her magic to be met with resistance. "Princess, I-"

Having been sole ruler of Equestria for ten centuries, Celestia knew how to speak and ensure she would be met with silence. "Hush, Twilight."

Not surprisingly, she did as Celestia bid. That was the Princess' no-nonsense tone, and attempting to push an argument against it would accomplish nothing.

"These are trying times upon us. Equestria has weathered many a threat, but never before have the Elements of Harmony been so actively hunted by the enemy. Their safety, and your own, is my primary concern. I do not know exactly what Nightmare Moon is hoping to achieve by targeting the Elements, but I would be lying if I said I did not fear her intentions to be on par with the changeling assault on Canterlot. Your friends, Fluttershy and Applejack included, are all here in the palace, safely under protective surveillance, and as long as there is a threat to the Elements, you will be too." Having made her point, Celestia re-presented the book to her student. "I apologize for my tone, Twilight, but you are directly involved in this. I made the mistake of negligence once, and I'm not going to let it happen again."

Twilight's violet eyes darted from the book to her mentor and back again. After a moment's pause, the mare did something she never thought she would do.

The Princess of the Night was forced to take evasive action, lest she be floored by the book-turned-missile courtesy of Twilight's angry hoof. Magic grabbed hold of the parchment-based projectile just before it impacted the far wall. The princess tucked the wayward book under a wing and turned back to the unfolding conversation.

"Look at me, Princess." Twilight began slowly. "Look at me and tell me: What do you see?"

"I-I'm not sure I follow..."

"Ugggh..." Twilight looked around for something with which to get her point across. Her eyes settled upon a few of the many glass shards around her. These she assembled into a crude but serviceable mirror and held it between herself and Celestia. "Now what do you see?"

"I see myself..."

Each of the shards dropped to the ground, as if those had been the magic words. "And now?"

"Well...I see you, Twilight."

"Do you?"

The alicorn pressed a hoof to her forehead to alleviate her building frustration. She had not slept in over a day, and fatigue had made it a struggle to avoid becoming short. "Forgive me, Twilight, but I'm tired and I'm having a hard time seeing your point."

"Why did you let me into the School for Gifted Unicorns?"

"You were able to hatch a dragon's egg, Twilight. It took Starswirl the Bearded his entire life to find a way to do what you managed to do in second; and as a filly, no less."

"Are you sure it wasn't just because I happened to be the Element of Magic? Is that why you made me your apprentice? Just so you could keep me hidden from the rest of the world!?" When it was obvious that no answer was forthcoming, Twilight snorted angrily. "You knew all along, yet you never found the time to tell me so... Thanks a lot..." She ripped the book from under Luna's wing and left the room in a burst of magenta light.

"I think she took a couple feathers with that book..." the dark blue pony remarked in a vain attempt to break the heavy pall that had been cast upon the room. Failing that, she went on. "What was that about, 'Tia?"

Without bothering to raise her head, her elder sister sighed. "I'll...explain on the way..."

By now, Luna was almost expectant of this behavior. "Sure. But...where exactly are we headed?" Four shoes, a tiara, and a necklace returned to the night princess and took up their usual positions upon her. "Twilight could be anywhere in the palace."

"If I know Twilight as I think I do, I know where she is. Follow me."

-------------------------

How does anypony  find their way around this infuriating palace!? Luck is far-and-away one of the most fickle concepts ever conceived, and if our false guard didn't know it before, he certainly knew it now. All the doors looked the same, all the walls were built from the same uniform marble. Even the odd guard or chamber attendant that passed by looked like the one before them. Stratus was convinced that he was going around in circles. "Aaagh! This is pointless! I give-"

"All right, Luna... I suppose you want an explanation for what happened, don't you?"

"That would be nice, yes."

Hugging the wall, Stratus crept to the nearest hallway and peered around the corner. At the far end, he caught a glimpse of a pair of flowing tails. The Princesses... This could be good. There would be a lot of good information in this conversation. Making sure to stay just within earshot, which wasn't hard given how well the marble hallways carried sound, the fake guard followed the unsuspecting sisters.

"Well, 'Tia? I'm waiting. Twilight seems to have guessed something correctly, judging from your reaction."

"She was...right in what she said. I did have my own reasons for bringing her into the palace school. It was because she possessed the Element of Magic. For the longest time, I possessed all of the Elements. I could not harness their full power, but they were still mine. Until, one day, the Element of Magic left me. Several years passed, then I received word of a gifted young unicorn. She succeeded in passing the entrance exam, even the advanced one I suggested she be judged by, with flying colors and then some. At the time, I didn't know why, but it was obvious that the Element had chosen her. It was imperative that she be kept safe until I learned more of the situation. When the rest of the Elements finally left me, I knew. The Elements were preparing for your return."

Stratus wasn't able to see Luna's face, but the tone in her voice gave him a good idea of what it looked like.

"My return?" the star-maned pony echoed.

"Yes. The Elements work via separation, remember? They certainly separated us, didn't they?" Celestia's awkward attempt at levity was met with an equally awkward grin. "Anyway... For the Elements to separate us as they did went against the very force they try to maintain."

"Harmony, right?"

"I see you've read that part, too. At any rate, for the Elements to permanently separate the two things necessary to maintain Harmony in Equestria was an impossibility. Whether or not you were Nightmare Moon at the time, there was no proper substitute for you, Luna. Yes, I stepped in to fill that role, but it wasn't how things were intended to be. The Elements then did the next best thing and sent you away long enough for them to find ponies capable of wielding them properly."

Celestia fell silent and there was no response from the second alicorn. For a heartbeat, Stratus thought they were aware of his presence.

"But," There was a subtle change in the Sun Goddess' voice. "while I brought Twilight into the palace for my own admittedly...selfish reasons, she in turn, brought out something in me; a side of myself that I had long thought dead. I loved her, Luna; like a daughter, like a sister, like you. She was so much like you, it was hard for me to not see you in her."

"I'll be honest with you, 'Tia. I've never seen you get so emotional before; it's starting to weird me out." Luna teased.

"Oh hush, you." the taller alicorn giggled. "We're here."

"The Star Swirl Archives..."

-------------------------

"Nnggh! Twilight's landing in the Archives was less than perfect. Anger and fatigue had caused her to misjudge the speed of her arrival. She lost her balance and stumbled into a shelf, knocking a shower of books and scrolls onto her head. Magenta magic quickly started reshelving them as the lavender mare searched for the tome she had dropped, grumbling as she did so.

Finally proclaiming, "Got it." she trotted back to the center of the Archives. The recovered book was placed to the side, starting a small pile. Little by little, the pile began growing with each of her trips down the many aisles. When she had amassed a fair collection of knowledge, the mare planted herself before the stack and called several books up to eye level.

"I hope you're planning to reshelve all that material, Twilight."

A glance over her shoulder put a face to the voice. "You know I always do..." Twilight returned to her research with a disgusted snort.

"Twilight...I know I owe you an explanation. Would you at least hear me out?" Each step closer that Celestia got, so too did the books to Twilight's face.

These eventually got so close that Twilight could no longer read the text within, but that was beside the point. "There's nothing to explain. I've already figured it all out. I'm nothing more than a...a magical...plaything! What about my friends? Are they just your pawns too!? I don't want to hear it!"

"Five minutes, Twilight. That's all."

If looks could kill, the unicorn would have slain Celestia where she stood. "Fine." She released her hold on the books and turned around in a huff. "Five minutes."

Out of respect, the alicorn sat down to lower herself to her student's level. She let out a long sigh and began speaking slowly. "I'll admit... I...did bring you into the palace because you possessed the Element of Magic... But, that wasn't the reason that I kept you there. I don't know if you realize this, Twilight, but in nearly one thousand years, you were my first real friend."

"Pffft..."

"Whether or not you want to believe me is your choice, but let me say this. Do you remember all those years you spent in the palace? Those experiences, those memories? At any point did those feel faked to you?"

"No..."

"That's because they weren't. Those good times that you had, those good times that we shared? I came to cherish those times. I had all but convinced myself that friendships with other ponies was nothing but a waste of time. One thousand years of self-induced solitude can do that to a pony. You managed to teach me otherwise. Why do you think I sent you to Ponyville with the simple instruction to 'make some friends?'"

Realization flashed through the young mare's eyes and her ears stood up. Yet...some small shred of stubbornness wouldn't let her completely accept what Princess Celestia was telling her. "Then why keep me in the palace so long?"

"I was protecting you, Twilight. You, not the Element of Magic. Like a mother would her foal. I had already lost Luna; I wasn't about to lose you, too. But then...then...then you were... I'm so sorry, Twilight..."

Surprised at the pony in tears before her, the Element of Magic tossed an uncomfortable look to the princess' sister, who merely shrugged in answer. At length, the purple pony swallowed the lump in her throat. "No, I'm sorry, Princess... I spoke without knowing the entire story. It wasn't right for me to assume things..."

"Don't apologize. We've all made mistakes." Celestia sniffed, drawing her foreleg over her eyes. "I should have been more truthful with you. Both of you."

Luna glanced up from the stack of books that Twilight had amassed and nodded in reply. She returned to the pile of knowledge and began listing off titles. "The Way Magics Work... The Encyclopedia Magicka... Magic for Foals... Were you looking for a particular spell, Twilight?"

"Yes and no. I am looking for a spell, but it was in a specific book. The Harmony of Magic, I believe."

"The one I sent you?" Celestia inquired.

"Yes."

Hesitation slowed the alicorn's response. "I'm...sorry. I believe that one copy was the only one that I had. Why did you need it?"

"Those pegasi; they set fire to my library... Applejack said they burned everything. I remember that book saying something about a spell for 'complete separation.'"

"I'm sorry to hear that. When we resolve the matter currently upon us, I'll replace what I can. In the meantime, I'll ask the bookkeeper to look through all palace archives, but I can't promise anything."

Twilight flicked her tail impatiently. "That will take a week at least. Could we somehow get a message back to Ponyville to have somepony check the library on the off-chance that something did survive?" she eventually asked.

"I suppose... Canterlot is on high alert as is, and I'd rather not send anypony for a pickup unless we knew it was a sure thing."

"What about Philomena?" Luna suggested. "She was the one that delivered the message to Applejack, right?"

"And we could send it to Applejack's brother! He was in the library a couple weeks ago!"

"Sounds like a plan." Celestia stood up, eyes determined. "Twilight, you and I will get that letter written. Luna, find a guard willing to make the trip to Ponyville. In the case we do find a lead, we need immediate action."

That was the Princess Celestia that Luna knew. "You got it, 'Tia!" The Princess of the Night spun around and took off like an arrow.

The grin on Stratus' disguised face was pure evil. He sidled the wall as Princess Luna came careening excitedly around the corner. He waited for a moment, and then called out, "Princess Luna, Your Majesty!"

In an effort to reclaim some of her dignity, Luna slowly turned to face the stallion and cleared her throat. "Yes?"

"I was passing by, and I couldn't help overhearing your dilemma. In light of that, I would like to volunteer to be the one to go to Ponyville."

"Very good. Be ready to depart within the hour. It is imperative that you be ready and on standby as soon as possible. Understood?"

Stratus saluted proudly. "Understood, Your Majesty."
> 12 - Second Guesses
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   There is nothing more frustrating than lying awake in your bed, exhausted, yet unable to fall asleep, and, as a dressmaker, Rarity knew about frustration. Sighing, the unicorn mare opened her eyes to her sleep mask and sat up. Her horn glowed a light blue as magic removed the mask. I'm relieved to see Fluttershy and Applejack safe, but even they didn't have any information about Twilight... A yawn forced its way from the pony's mouth and she blinked sleepily. "Heavens..."

Following a slight mane adjustment, Rarity slipped out of bed. Having spent years in her profession, she had seen her share of sleepless nights. There was always one thing that had helped with getting some rest; her secret weapon, so to speak.

Breeze, the guard outside Rarity's door, turned to face her as it was opened behind him. "At your service, Miss Rarity. What can I do for you?"

"If it wouldn't be too unreasonable a request, I could do with a kettle of boiling water and some tea."

"Of course. Any specific tea you would like? We have orange spice, lemon, peppermint, a fine selection of herbal teas..."

"Chamomile, please. Six bags would be lovely."

"Excellent choice. I'll have it sent up for you right away. In the meantime, I'll have to ask you to wait with Miss Fluttershy in her room. Her Majesty has renounced the city-wide lockdown, but you must remain under watch. I trust you understand."

"Of course. But, Fluttershy is asleep, is she not?"

Breeze shook his head. "Storm Front tells me otherwise. He tells me that she's having trouble sleeping as well."

There were no more questions; the news of her friend put Rarity's hooves in motion. Her eyes met with those of the guard outside Fluttershy's room, though just for an instant. An instant long enough for Storm Front to understand the mare's intent. He dipped his head and silently stepped aside.

Concern is no excuse for rudeness and good manners led Rarity to knock upon the wooden door.

The voice that came from beyond the door was very obviously Fluttershy's, yet at the same time was so tired and depressed, it was bordering on unfamiliarity. "Come in... It's open..."

The Element of Generosity slowly pushed the door open and looked around. Nothing had been disturbed, not even the bedsheets had been moved. Instead, the yellow pegasus lay on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. "Fluttershy, dear? Are you all right?"

"I'm..." A long sight accompanied the rise and fall of Fluttershy's back. She paused afterwards, as if taking back her thoughts. "No... I'm not all right..."

"Whatever could be the matter, dear?" Beds within Canterlot Palace were extraordinarily lavish, and there was plenty of room for a concerned unicorn to sit down next to her friend. On the floor before Fluttershy, previously just out of Rarity's view was yet another guest. "Heavens, Fluttershy, you didn't make off with the Princess' pet a second time, did you?"

"No..." the pegasus laughed slightly, stroking the phoenix's red-orange head. "She came in through the window half an hour ago..."

"Fluttershy, you hardly sound like yourself... What is it?" Kindness Rarity's Element was not, but Fluttershy seemed extremely upset.

After a short pause, Fluttershy slowly looked over at the unicorn. Although her blue eyes were rimmed red from lack of sleep, genuine concern is hard to hide. "I'm worried, Rarity... About Twilight, about Angel... About everything..."

Rarity lay a gentle hoof across the other mare's shoulders. "I understand completely. These are times we don't often have to deal with. It's natural to be worried; I am too." Another period of silence followed, broken only by short trills from Philomena. "I can't bear to see you so out of sorts..." Rarity sighed. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I...appreciate the offer, but it's not something you or I could fix..." The butter-colored pony let out a long breath into her tail.

Fluttershy... The Element of Generosity was at a loss for words. First Rainbow Dash and now you... Now that she thought about it, Pinkie and Applejack had been in a similar state. Ever since Twilight had received that letter from the princess, things had been steadily going downhill.

Three quick knocks at the door interrupted the Element bearer's thoughts. "Pardon me, dear." With a single glance back at the forlorn pegasus, Rarity trotted over to answer the door. A young unicorn mare, pale green in color, and sporting a dark brown mane streaked in places by a very light green greeted Rarity on the other side of the door.

"Miss Rarity?"

"Yes."

"I have your requested tea. Six bags of chamomile, correct?"

"Again, yes."

"In that case..." Dark green magic presented a tray completely stocked with all the items necessary for the proper enjoyment of tea to the older mare. "Here you are, Miss Rarity. There are your six bags of chamomile; it's my own special blend. There are also freshly cut lemon wedges and honey to taste. Is there anything else that I can get for you while I'm here?"

Rarity's brow furrowed as she cast a careful eye over the tea tray. "No... I think I should be all right."

"Very good. I'll be off then." With a quick bow, the young pony turned to leave.

"Hold on, dear. I don't believe I caught your name."

Obviously, the young mare wasn't used to small talk. "Um... Mint Tea. Mint for short..."

"I see." Rarity set the tray aside, but not before removing one of the embroidered napkins from it. "If you would follow me back to my room, I have something for you."

"O-okay..."

"When I was your age, I would have given anything to live and work in Canterlot Palace. What is it that you do here, dear?"

"Princess Celestia...heard of my talents and invited me to Canterlot to oversee the tea-making for the entire palace."

"That is quite a lofty position for one so young. Your teas must be divine."

"Th-thank you, Miss Rarity... What was it that you wanted to give me again?"

"Ah yes." Rarity followed the door as magic swung it into her provided room. "Do step inside for a moment, won't you?"

Despite the invitation, Mint stood in the doorway, reluctant to enter the chamber. "Oh no, Miss Rarity, I couldn't. Kitchen staff aren't permitted to enter the guest's quarters..."

"Nonsense." the white mare replied, rummaging through her saddlebags. "I shan't be more than a minute or two. Please, come in." The aforementioned rummaging came to an end when Rarity pulled a small purse from her belongings. She upended the contents of this bag onto the napkin spread out upon the vanity. "Two...four...six..." One by one, bits were removed from the napkin, until... "There. One dozen bits, wrapped up and ready to go."

Mint's brown eyes stared at the package as though it were the embodiment of evil itself. "Twelve bits? Oh no, I couldn't... I don't deserve this; I only brought you tea..."

"Oh, but it wasn't just any tea. It was tea prepared by Canterlot Palace's premier tea expert. It's only fair."

The light green pony adamantly shook her head. "Miss Rarity, I-" She trailed off when she felt her hoof turned over and a currency-filled napkin pressed into it.

"Please, darling, I insist."

Eyes looked from Rarity face down to the money and back. A smile crossed the young unicorn's face. "Thank you for your generosity, Miss Rarity!"

"It was my pleasure." Smiles are contagious among ponies well practiced in social etiquette. "Now you hurry back down to the kitchen. I expect I'll be requesting your tea from now on."

"Yes, of course! Thank you again!" Mint gave a small curtsy and galloped from the room.

Rarity also took leave of her room, though in a much slower manner. Such a nice young mare... she thought as she trotted back to Fluttershy's room, wherein nothing had changed. The pegasus had failed to move, and a plaintive wisp of steam was slowly rising from the spout of the tea kettle.

"Who was that pony you were talking to, Rarity?"

"That was the tea-maker for Canterlot Palace, dropping off the tea requested. Speaking of, would you care for some?" Behind her, Rarity could hear hooves hitting the ground as Fluttershy finally slid off the bed.

"What sort of tea is it?" the winged pony asked, glancing at the kettle.

"Chamomile." Two of the tea bags floated out of the silver dish they were cradled in. "With a slight hint of crushed mint." Rarity added after a quick sniff.

"That sounds wonderful. Yes, I'll take a cup."

Inwardly, the diamond-marked pony breathed a sigh of relief; Fluttershy's voice was starting to shed some of its depressed tones. A unicorn's magic comes in very handy for a wide variety of things, not the least of which is the pouring of hot water for tea.

During this time, Fluttershy retreated back to the edge of the bed. In the space of a few moments, she was presented with a fragrant cup of hot chamomile tea. "Oh, thank you, Rarity."

"Think nothing of it. Mind your hooves, though; it's still rather hot."

Each of the ponies remained silent whilst enjoying their drinks. In between sips, Fluttershy would gently swirl her cup and stare thoughtfully at the liquid. Finally, she murmured, "I...I'm not sure I want to be the Element of Kindness anymore..."

There are no words in any language, written or otherwise, to aptly describe the sound that came from Rarity. Out of manners and respect, the mare clapped a hoof over her mouth to stop her sip of tea from drenching Fluttershy. "Heavens above, Fluttershy!" she gasped, shaking the tea from her hoof.

"S-sorry..."

"Why in Equestria would you say that, dear?" Tea time forgotten, Rarity edged closer to the pegasus.

Put on the spot, the shy pony retreated behind her mane. "N-nevermind... I-I'm sorry I mentioned it..."

"Don't be, darling. That's not something I'd ever expect to hear from anypony, much less yourself. What's going on, Fluttershy?"

Not surprisingly, the bearer of Kindness didn't answer. She looked down at her folded hooves and began fidgeting uncomfortably. The next ten minutes were filled with silence, and the occasional urging from Rarity. Each time she was met with this, Fluttershy's eyes would drift a little bit closer to her friend before looking away.

"Fluttershy, please. You're starting to scare me."

Finally, the butter-colored pegasus closed her eyes and turned away. "Ponies h-have been hurt...be-because of me... Because I'm the E-element of Kindness..."

"What ponies are you talking about, dear?" Another napkin floated off the serving tray towards the unicorn who presented it to the distraught pony.

"G-general Headwind, that pegasus in the forest, Tw-Twilight..."

Rarity placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder once again. "General Headwind volunteered to escort you and Applejack back to Canterlot. He knew it would be dangerous."

"I...I n-never asked for any of th-this..." The yellow pony's eyes were bright with tears. "I never asked a-anypony to put themselves in harm's way for me... I never asked to c-carry an Element, Rarity. Did you?"

The pointedly direct question very obviously caught Rarity off guard. "N-No..." she answered at length. "None of us asked to be part of the Elements of Harmony. But we were all picked for a reason; you, me, even Twilight."

"W-why...?" Fluttershy hiccupped.

Of course, the white pony didn't have an answer for that. She let out a silent sigh of relief where there was a knock at the door for her to answer. " O-oh my! Princess Celestia, Your Majesty! Please, come in!"

Equestria's ruler nodded in thanks and stepped inside. "Thank you, Rarity. Is Fluttershy awake?"

"There's no need to whisper, Your Highness. I-I'm awake..." the pegasus sniffed, quickly dabbing her eyes dry.

For all of the power she possessed, Celestia was not without a heart. "Fluttershy, my dear, are you feeling all right?" She took the napkin from the pegasus and properly wiped her eyes.

"I-I'm-hic!-fine, Princess..."

"Come now, little one. I know from experience; it's not good to suppress your feelings. Tell me."

"I-I don't want my E-Element any...more..."

Celestia said nothing, but only because her shocked eyes said it all. Rarity nodded as the princess looked her way. The alicorn sighed. "Fluttershy, I know you didn't ask to be the Element of Kindness, and I know it's a heavy responsibility, but it was the Element that chose you."

"B-but why did it?"

"Truthfully, Fluttershy, you were the only one it could choose. Think of all the animals you care for. They don't ask to be cared for, nor do they have a way to repay you for what you do for them. Yet you tirelessly work each day, seeing that they are fed, groomed, and healthy. Tell me, Fluttershy, why do you choose to do all of that?"

"They d-don't need to repay me..." Fluttershy explained. "Kindness doesn't ask for payment; it is its own reward..."

Celestia winked. "I think you just answered your own question. Just as Rarity is the embodiment of Generosity, you are the embodiment of Kindness. The Elements chose you for that reason."

"Ponies are s-still being hurt trying to protect me. I-I'm not okay with that..."

"Headwind?" A slight nod told Celestia to continue. "I understand how you feel. Headwind had been in my service for years, and I don't like seeing him, or any of my guards for that matter, injured in any way. But, I wouldn't have asked them to join Canterlot's military unless they knew what I asked of them in doing so. They are proud of what they do." In a two-headed attempt to break the following silence and comfort the pegasus, Celestia offered a suggestion. "Would you feel better if I had headwind assigned as your door guard?"

"M-maybe..."

"Let's do that then. Now, the reason I'm here. Do you mind if I borrow Philomena for a while?"

"Of course. She belongs to you, Princess." Fluttershy motioned for the phoenix perched upon the footboard of the bed to return to her owner. "What did you need her for?"

Two knocks upon the doorframe, followed by, "I can answer that." served as yet another interruption.

"Twilight!?"

Before the purple mare could take a step into the room, her friends had met her at the door for a round of welcoming hugs.

"Darling! Where have you been?"

Tears of a much happier variety were streaming down Fluttershy's cheeks at the sight of her friend. "T-Twilight... I-I'm so happy to see you a-again!"

"Me too, Fluttershy... Me too..." she whispered. I thought I never would see you again... A napkin suspended by a soft yellow glow brushed Twilight's cheek, causing her to look up. Celestia smiled and nodded as their eyes met. The simple gesture brought a fresh wave of tears to the unicorn's eyes. She quickly dried her eyes and finally succeeded in extricating herself from Fluttershy's prolonged hug.

"So, Twilight, dear... Why do you and the princess need Philomena? Is it something to do with that scroll you're carrying?"

In between dabbing her nose, the Element of Magic nodded. "Long story short, we're sending a message out to Big Macintosh to have him check the library for a book."

"Uh-uhm, Twilight? C-could I add something to the letter? I-if that's o-okay..."

"Sure. What did you want to say to him?"

Fluttershy swallowed at the wording of the question. "I-I want to ask him if he's found Angel yet."

"That's right... Applejack mentioned he was missing... I'll add that to the letter."

With the donation of a feather from Philomena and Spike's inkwell from next door, the message, addendum and all, was away within minutes. The four ponies stood at the window, watching until the avian disappeared from sight. "Be safe, Philomena..." Fluttershy said quietly.

"I just hope that Big Macintosh finds the book we need..."

"Forgive the interruption, Your Majesty, but I have need of your attention."

Turning from the sill, the alicorn saw her general standing in the doorway. "Yes, Headwind? What is it?"

"The research team has requested an audience with you, regarding the sinkstone."

"Sinkstone?" Rarity murmured under her breath.

"Thank you for letting me know." A quick nod from the princess bade the three Elements follow her. All three obliged, but not before trading glances.

Headwind and Celestia were already into a conversation of their own by the time the trio joined them in the hallway. "I see... And the research team wouldn't tell you why they needed me?"

"Negative. They only said it was urgent. I thought it wiser to notify you as soon as possible rather than press the issue."

"A wise move indeed. Thank you, General."

Twilight spoke for three ponies at once in asking, "What is it, Princess?"

"Fluttershy and Applejack managed to obtain a sinkstone from one of the pegasi that captured you. I had it sent to the research team for further study. Something has happened concerning it, but that is all I know."

No further questions were asked, nor were any additional words spoken. There was business to be done. Conversation could wait until they were walking; there was little else to do in the palace's long hallways anyway.

"General Headwind? I have another assignment for you."

"Of course, Your Highness."

"As soon as we have resolved the issue warranting this audience, you are dismissed to get some rest. That's an order. Fluttershy has requested you as her door guard while she is with us. I want you well rested."

The general respectfully dipped his head to the mare. "It would be my honor, Miss Fluttershy."

"Th-thank you, sir..."

"Forgive me, General Headwind, sir. You mentioned something about a sinkstone earlier. Where exactly did you come by it?" Rarity inquired at the first available pause.

"It was...'liberated' from a pegasi in the Everfree Forest. Is there a reason you ask, Miss Rarity?"

"Not in particular. It's just that sinkstones are considered somewhat of a commodity here in Equestria. They're not often mentioned nowadays." Sinkstones are used for one thing and one thing only. the unicorn added silently. "The pegasi you took it from, was she a gray color? With a dark blue mane?"

"I believe so... Why?"

"Because that was the pony that captured me." Twilight interrupted. "The sinkstone you took for that pegasus was the one I was wearing when I woke up. She...was using my magic... She was using my magic to harm you, Fluttershy..."

The yellow pegasus quickly shook her head. "N-no, Twilight... She didn't hurt me..."

The unicorn shot a glare at the timid pony, her violet eyes as cold as her tone. "Given the opportunity, she would have. You didn't see how she treated Applejack..."

"Speaking of Applejack... Do she and the others know you're back yet, darling?"

"Not unless somepony else has told them. Our current situation called for immediate research."

Rarity raised a questioning eyebrow. "Pray tell, what exactly is our current situation and how is it more important than our friends?"

"Nightmare Moon is trying to find a way to return."

After the initial shock of the blunt answer had passed, Headwind was the first to speak. "What exactly is to stop the Elements from defeating her again?"

"Allow me, Twilight." Celestia cut in. "In a nutshell, the Elements of Harmony work via separation. Seeing as absolutely everything in this world has an opposite, it stands to reason that the Elements would as well. If it was the Elements that defeated Nightmare Moon the first time, what do you suppose their opposites would be capable of? If Nightmare Moon uses the Elements to give herself form again, she's keeping them. We wouldn't have a way to stop her if that were to happen."

"H-how do we stop th-that from happening?" Fluttershy stammered, understandably alarmed at the news.

"Our priority, first and foremost, is the protection of you and your friends. I have already seen what Nightmare Moon is capable of with one Element in her possession. I shudder to think of what she could do with more, and I do not intend to give her the chance to show me. We will fight her to the death to protect the Elements."

Celestia's admittedly poor choice of words might as well have stopped Fluttershy's heart. The Element of Kindness froze in place, staring in utter shock at the alicorn princess. It didn't take long for hears to start filling the timid pony's eyes once more. She cast one look each at Rarity and Twilight before turning and fleeing.

For the second time in half as many days, Celestia had shot her mouth off. "Fluttershy, wait!" she called after the pegasus. In a bout of frustration, the Sun Goddess slammed an armor-clad hoof to the ground, cracking the marble unfortunate enough to be in the way. "Headwind, I hate to have you running back and forth across the palace, but would you go-"

"I'll go talk to her, Princess." Twilight offered, starting after her friend. I know how she feels...

"Are you sure, Miss Twilight?"

"Absolutely. I've already had a sinkstone around my neck twice. I don't need to see any more of them."

"As you wish."

"Thank you, sir." Twilight nodded in respect and ran off in pursuit. "Fluttershy! Come back!" The purple mare knew the palace halls well, and knew the exact path Fluttershy would have taken. I should have known that Fluttershy felt this way... She never asks anypony for anything; to have ponies put themselves in harm's way for her... It must be tearing her apa- A sudden impact derailed her train of thought and planted her square on the ground.

"My apologies, miss."

"No, it's my fault, I wasn't watching where I was g-" For some reason, Twilight's mouth sealed itself shut upon meeting the face of the guard she had barreled into. "-oing..." She quickly skirted the guard and continued on her quest, casting but one glance back at him. There had been something in his eyes that had made her uneasy.

As Twilight's tail disappeared around a corner, Stratus found the one flaw in his near perfect disguise. The Element of Magic throws herself at me, and I can't do a damned thing!

-------------------------

Thanks to her head start, Fluttershy was back to her room, door shut behind her, well before Twilight could catch up. The pegasus flung herself onto her bed and began sobbing into the pillow. "I c-c-can't handle this any more...!"

Knock, knock, knock.

"Wh-what?"

"May I come in?"

"I...j-just want to be alone, Twi-Twilight..."

"Fluttershy... Please... I know how you feel..."

That did it. Fluttershy slipped off the bed and slowly trotted to the door. Latches clicked, hinges creaked, and the door slowly swung inward. "Y-you do?"

The unicorn on the other side nodded. "I do..." After stepping inside, a light kick proved enough to shut the door behind herself. "I assume that Applejack told you what had happened to me before you found her?"

"S-she said you had been ta-taken... That's all. She didn't know where..."

Twilight's tone changed ever so slightly. "I didn't know either, Fluttershy, and I still don't know. I know some Canterlot guards tried to help me, but...they were...well..."

Silence can speak volumes, and this time was no exception. The Element of Kindness finished her friend's sentence for her. "They were killed, weren't they?"

The lavender pony nodded slowly. "Yes, they were. But I'm not any more comfortable with it than you are. If I had known that being the Princess' student qualified me as a member of the Royal Family...I...would have reconsidered."

"That doesn't really help much..." Fluttershy murmured to nopony in particular.

"I thought the same thing... Until I got back to the palace. Nightmare Moon did something to Luna; she attacked her, and that was only the beginning, too. Nightmare Moon wants to use the Elements to revive herself. I know you don't like seeing ponies hurt, Fluttershy, but think about this. If Nightmare Moon returns, how many ponies get hurt because of her?"

The yellow pony said nothing, but Twilight knew she had understood. There was a change in the way she stood; a change in her eyes.

-------------------------

Rarity had never seen so much of the same color before. Everywhere she looked in the research wing, all she saw was white; the walls, the floors, even the ponies milling about were white, or at least their lab coats were. The unicorn's eyes involuntarily squinted in protest.

"A little bright?"

"You could say that, Princess... I'm aware that it's all carved from the same marble as the rest of the palace...but the rest of the palace had standards, flags, and even the odd potted plant to provide contrast. This is just a lot of white, is all."

Before Celestia's mouth could form a reply, one of the coat-clad ponies noticed her presence and approached. "Ah, Princess Celestia, Your Majesty. I trust you are here because of the message we sent with General Headwind?"

"You are correct." Celestia affirmed her reply with a curt nod. "What was it that you needed me for? Something about the sinkstone, yes?"

"Indeed. You see, roughly half an hour ago, the sinkstone that General Headwind delivered to us began...acting up..."

"Acting up? How do you mean?"

After a moment's pondering, the scientist pony finally replied. "It's...hard to explain, really. It's as if the sinkstone is calling to something. Come take a look, if you would."

"Very well. Lead on."

Once Celestia could see the sinkstone, she understood what the scientist had meant. The gem was pulsing with a sickly green light, and everypony had cautiously given it a wide berth. The princess didn't blame them; that glow didn't look overly inviting.

While everypony else was keeping their distance from the pulsing stone, Rarity was not one of these ponies. She strode right up to the sinkstone and eyed it thoughtfully.

"Be wary, Miss Rarity." Headwind cautioned. "We still don't know what these stones are capable of. It could be dangerous."

The mare waved off his concern with a dismissive hoof. "Nonsense. Anypony who knows anything about gems knows that sinkstones are only dangerous if one knows how to use them."

Princess Celestia was surprised at this statement. "You have heard of these before, Rarity?"

"Oh yes. I...made the mistake of making an accessory out of one... It was quite the ordeal and I..." Rarity interrupted herself with a quick clearing of her throat. "I digress... It was ugly at best; let's just leave it at that, shall we?"

"What exactly happened?"

"Any time a pony wears a sinkstone, in any manner, it blocks that pony from using any magic at all." With a sigh, Rarity turned back to the gemstone. "It's a horrid shame, really. These stones are simple marvelous to look at. So smooth, so clear, so-"

Celestia sensed that this admiration could go on for quite a while unless interrupted. "Ahem..." When the unicorn looked to her, the princess made a circular motion with a hoof to bid her continue. "If you would, Rarity..."

The white mare coughed awkwardly before resuming. "Yes... Well... As I was saying, not only will these sinkstones block a pony's magic, they will outright absorb it, hence the term 'sinkstone.'"

"If I may interrupt you for just a moment, Rarity, I have a question."

"Of course, Your Highness. I was nearly finished as it was. Go on."

"You say it 'absorbs' magic. Can that same magic be put to later use?"

The Element holder nodded. "Indeed it can, but only through the proper incantation, of which I have no knowledge."

"You may not know any such incantations, Miss Rarity, but I might know somepony who would."

"Enlighten us, General." The alicorn cast an eye towards the pegasus stallion.

"Miss Zecora, Your Majesty. She was the pony that explained sinkstones to me in the first place."

Celestia nodded slowly. "Very well, Headwind. But..." she added bluntly as the general turned to leave, "Do not bring Zecora back here unless she agrees of her own will. I don't want to drag anypony else into this if I can avoid it. Is that clear?"

"As crystal, Your Majesty."

Canterlot's resident sun goddess breathed a long sigh as she watched Headwind depart. "May Mother forgive me for letting things come this far..."

-------------------------

Headwind knew the palace like the back of his wing and quickly found Zecora's room. Three quick knocks on the door announced his presence.

"Pony that knocks for three, for what reason have you come to visit me?"

"It's me, General Headwind, come on behalf of Princess Celestia."

Movement could be heard from beyond the door, shortly before it swung open. "You come bearing a message from your ruler? Tell me, General, why did you not come sooner?" The striped pony's tone grew concerned.

"My apologies, Miss Zecora. I was occupied with the situation concerning the sinkstone in the research wing." Zecora's eyes grew wider as Headwind continued to explain. "The stone that you found on that pegasus has started glowing, in response to something, it seems."

"This glowing you have seen, tell me, was it green?"

"Yes, I believe it was; a very sickly color green, if I recall correctly."

Zecora looked as if she had just seen a ghost. She spun away from the door to grab several small pouches from within her room. Seconds later, she was out into the hallway at full gallop, calling back to Headwind. "Hurry, General, we must make haste, for there is no time for us to waste!"

> 13 - Breaking the Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   For a farm pony, there is no better sensation than the feeling of freshly plowed earth beneath your hooves to let you know you're putting a in a hard day's work. Except maybe the hunger one gets when you skip breakfast to get started on that hard work. Big Macintosh was just finished plowing the sixth row for the soon to be carrot patch as his stomach gave one loud growl of protest. "Ah reckon it's gettin' t'be that time."

The big earth pony shrugged off the yoke for his plow and set his course for the farmhouse. Cooking was not quite his forte, so Big Macintosh gravitated towards the refrigerator, hoping to fins dome leftovers that would be suitable for breakfast. His eyes fell upon the rest of the pancakes that Fluttershy had prepared one day prior. Sure, they were cold, but the farm pony wasn't overly picky. Out came the plate of six, along with some apple butter and apple juice after a few trips to the table. Half of the pancakes were moved onto their own plates and set aside for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, one for each member.

Not a mere thirty seconds later, almost as if the mere gesture had summoned them, the three fillies came cantering into the kitchen, sleepy-eyed and yawning. "G'mornin', sleepyheads." the red earth pony said amiably.

"Mornin'..." Apple Bloom slowly replied, climbing up to the kitchen table. "Is AJ back from Canterlot yet?"

"Fraid not." her brother responded around a mouthful of breakfast.

Another small head popped up next to Apple Bloom's, this one white in color. "I wish Rarity would come back soon." Sweetie Belle sniffed. "It's boring without her here..."

"Ah wouldn't worry too much. Ah'm sure they'll be back real soon. They're probly-" Big Macintosh trailed off mid-sentence. "Hang on a tick... Y'all are one short..."

The two fillies traded glances, then began looking around.

"Scoot?"

"Scootaloo?"

All three heads turned at the sound of the front door slamming shut. Big Macintosh was the first to vacate his chair in curiosity. "What in tarnation..."

"Kreeeeeeh!"

That shrill cry put all hooves in motion.

"Scootaloo!"

The front door nearly popped from its hinges as the massive red earth pony shouldered it open. His fears were soon proved unfounded however. The orange pegasus filly in question was hardly in danger. In that case, where had that harsh cry come from?

That had come from up higher. Circling above the pegasus filly, another creature of similar color was looking for a somewhere to land and remain unharassed by her pursuer. Big Macintosh recognized the avian as described by Applejack. "Philomena?"

Upon hearing her name, the phoenix sensed a place where she would land undisturbed, and spiraled down to the stallion, landing upon his broad back.

Having never seen a phoenix before, one might (correctly) guess that the Cutie Mark Crusaders would be excited at the new guest. All three fillies crowded the earth pony, wanting a closer look at the fiery avian.

"She's so purty!"

"Her feathers are beautiful!"

"She looks so cool!"

"Steady on now, girls..." Big Macintosh warned. "She's wearin' some sorta harness. Looks like there's a message in it, too."

With some delicate maneuvering, Philomena popped open the letter case and presented the orange-maned earth pony with a scroll, which he promptly unrolled and began reading.

Odd..." he murmured to himself. "AJ tol' me the library went up in flames..."

Apple Bloom was the first Crusader to speak. "Big Macintosh... what's goin' on. What's wrong with Miss Twilight's library?"

"Ah'll explain on the way. Come with me, girls."

Big Macintosh had not yet seen the library since Applejack had told him about it, so he had no idea what to expect upon arriving. Truthfully however, nothing could have prepared him for the devastation waiting for him as he finally peered inside. "There's nothin' left..." he breathed.

Even the Cutie Mark Crusaders were at a loss for words. A single stunned utterance from Scootaloo accurately summed their feelings. "Whoa..."

The interior of the library was as much a desolate wasteland as it had been during Applejack's visit. Piles of ash littered shelves and every possible inch of floor space. "Alright girls, holler if y'all see any books lyin' around..."

"What kinda books are we lookin' fer?" the yellow, bow-wearing filly asked.

"Any ya can find. We ain't got the time to be real picky.  Jus' start lookin'."

In order to be as thorough as possible, the four ponies checked every single pile of ash, both upstairs and downstairs, with nothing to show for their efforts but blackened hooves and snouts. The searching went on for a good hour or so, but ultimately proved fruitless.

With her white coat a dark grey from all of the ash, Sweetie Belle slumped heavily against the loose door. "We're never gonna find that dumb book!" Frustrated, the unicorn filly rapped her head against the door.

Finally fed up with the stress, the tired door broke free of its hinges, forcing Sweetie Belle to scramble for cover.

After the ensuing cloud of dust had eventually settled, and the party had stopped coughing, Big Macintosh noticed something behind the fallen door. One particular pile of ash was shaped oddly...almost like a book... A quick puff of air removed the ash, revealing...

"The Harmony of Magic..." he read slowly. "This is what we're lookin' fer... C'mon girls, back to the house."

No sooner had they stepped back outside than a shadow fell over the group. Philomena was still perched upon Big Macintosh's back, so the large pony grew uneasy.

"Charger! Look! Down there!"

Mere seconds after that female voice rang out from on high, a trio of pegasi dropped to earth several tail lengths from the red stallion.

The earth pony placed the book he was carrying on the ground and set one of his massive hooves upon it. "Stay b'hind me, girls..." he quickly whispered before calling out to the three winged ponies. "Y'all three look lost. Is there somethin' Ah can help ya find?"

"As a matter of fact, there is." Charger stepped forward and nodded to the book upon the ground. "That book under your hoof there. That's all we're looking for. Give it to us and we'll be on our way."

This book here? Ah'm mighty sorry, but a friend of mine asked for it first. Ah'm afraid y'all are jus' gonna have to look elsewhere."

"Listen, earth pony. I won't repeat myself a second time." In the blink of an eye the pegasus stallion's tone had done a complete about-face. "I told you to give me that book."

"And Ah told you 'NO.'"

"If you won't give me that book, then I'll take it from you!" The pegasi's wings became a blur as he exploded toward the red pony.

In his usual stoic manner, Big Macintosh didn't bat an eyelid. Rather, he lowered his head and widened his stance.

THUD!

Anypony with a lick of common sense could tell you who was going to come out on top in this confrontation. The massive red earth pony barely moved an inch from the impact. "Now you listen t'me. This here book is mine. I suggest y'all take yer friends an' fly back to wherever ya came from, otherwise things are about to get mighty ugly."

"They already have gotten ugly, earth pony!" Charger spat into his opponent's face.

Big Macintosh snorted, and a smile crossed his mouth. "In that case, Ah hope yer ready for a rodeo, partner." In one fluid motion, he took a step back, and as the still airborne pegasus lurched forward, the big red pony caught him by the scruff of the neck and with a twist of his own muscular neck, flung him into the side of the library,

As Big Macintosh had turned, so too had the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Unbeknownst to them, the two pegasus mares were silently drawing closer. Silently, at least until Sweetie Belle let out a wail of terror as she was plucked from the ground.

"Aaaaaah! Apple Bloom! Scootaloo! Somepony help me!

Big Macintosh spun like a top, his expression one of pure horror. The book held no value compared to the terrified filly being carried away through the air, and he immediately charged after her, with the remaining Crusaders hot on his heels.

Scootaloo chanced a look back at the abandoned book, just as the pegasus stallion was coming to. She glanced from the book to her trusty scooter, propped against the side of the library, and a mischievous grin appeared on her face.

"Unnnh..." Charger held a hoof to the side of his throbbing head. Everything was spinning, his ears were ringing up a storm, and it hurt to even think. Through his cloudy vision, he could barely make out the book lying unprotected upon the ground. Calling up some hidden reserve of strength, the stallion slowly began crawling for the tome. Just as he was about to lay his hoof upon it, an orange blur flashed by, and it was gone. "What!?" A taunting whistle from his right instantly got the pony's attention.

"C'mon, ole' floppy feathers." Scootaloo taunted from atop her scooter. "You want this book, right?" She nodded to the book held on her upturned hoof. "You can have it if you can catch me!"

Groggily, the pegasus stallion lunged at the orange filly, grabbing nothing but air as the scooter wheels spun to life, powered by their rider's quickly beating wings.

The two pegasus mares that had grabbed Sweetie Belle were cruelly teasing the now-sobbing young pony, taking turns dropping her, only to catch her a few frightening moments later, all while staying just out of reach of the earth pony below. Every time Sweetie Belle was dropped, Big Macintosh would run to catch her, only to outpaced time and again. The simple fact that he had no way to get to the terrified filly drove the stallion mad. While it was true that Big Macintosh was lacking in the wing area, there was one among them who was not. Philomena had had enough of seeing the Crusader tormented like this.

An angry screech cut through the clear morning air. The phoenix left Big Macintosh's back like an arrow, just as Sweetie Belle was dropped for the umpteenth time. She struck the pegasus waiting to catch the unicorn filly like a fiery lightning bolt, screaming like a banshee and razor-sharp talons out for blood.

Preoccupied with the whirlwind of flaming wings and raking claws spinning around her head, the pink-maned pegasus had no choice but to let Sweetie Belle drop past her, right into the waiting mouth of Apple Bloom's brother.

"It's all right, hun'... Ah've got ya..." he whispered after setting the young pony safely at his hooves. "You'll be safe now. Ah promise."

In the meantime, Scootaloo was leading Charger on a merry chase around the perimeter of Twilight's library. As she came around the back, her pursuer was drawing within range, and she was going to have to make a move quickly. Just as the pegasus stallion made another grab for her, Scootaloo lay her scooter down and shot right through Big Macintosh's legs, letting her pursuer run smack into his broad flank.

"Yer a stubborn one, Ah'll give ya that much." the red earth pony commented, turning a dark eye upon the pegasus. "Ah'll give ya one last chance to take yer friends an' leave."

After a moment of visual debate, Charger looked away. "Very well...earth pony..." the pegasus growled."But this will not be forgotten..."

"Good." Big Macintosh replied simply. "Maybe nex' time y'll think twice about picking' on lil' fillies. The stallion looked to the sky and gave a quick whistle, to which Philomena ceased her assault on the two pegasus mares, and returned to the earth pony's back. "Now git."

"N-now what do w-we do...?" Sweetie Bell stammered, still shaking, as she watched the three pegasi slowly fly away.

"We're goin' to Canterlot. It's not safe fer us to stay in Ponyville anymore. We've got some errands to run b'fore we leave. C'mon."

Arrangements were made to have the Cakes look in upon Opalescence and Fluttershy's animals before the four ponies finally returned to the farmhouse. "All right, girls, hurry an' git yer things; quickly now." Big Macintosh urged the three fillies up the stairs and into Apple Bloom's room. "Hurry, girls. We ought to git movin'. When you have yer things, meet me downstairs. With that, the earth pony turned and disappeared into his own room.

Even though his decision had been a quick one, Big Macintosh's return to the farmhouse had not gone without witness. In a cloud bank high above Sweet Apple Acres, three pegasi watched the farmhouse, sinister grins upon their faces.

"Game over, earth pony." Charger laughed. "Game over."

-------------------------

For a half of an instant, General Headwind was speechless. "Miss Zecora?" The pegasus general quickly shook off his surprise and was after the zebra just as fast. "Miss Zecora, what is the matter?"

"The news you have brought me is most dire indeed, so I bid you be silent, lest our flight you impede."

Headwind nodded. "I understand. Let me lead the way then."

Zecora returned the nod and slackened her pace slightly.

"General Headwind?"

The two ponies skidded to a halt at the hailing voice. "Princess Luna?" Headwind spun around to face the night blue alicorn. "Princess Luna, Your Majesty..." Respect made the white stallion take a knee in haste. "Forgive our rush, Your Highness, but I was on an errand by request of your sister."

"You were? I've been looking for her. Verily then! Lead on, General!"

Trips back from destinations always seem shorter for some reason, and it was no more than five minutes before the three ponies were back at the research wing. Zecora came barreling through the door like a striped tornado. In a rather impolite manner, she shoved Rarity, who was still admiring the sinkstone, to the side, causing her to stumble.

"Oof! Zecora dear, was that entirely necessary?"

Whether or not Zecora actually heard the other mare was impossible to tell. The striped pony made several laps around the glowing sinkstone, inspecting it from all sides.

New to the situation, Luna leaned close to her sister and whispered, "Is there something I've missed?"

"If I knew anything, I would be happy to tell you."

"Princess of the Sun, this stone I see; how long has it been glowing green?"

Celestia turned her eyes to the ceiling, recalling that particular bit of information. "About half an hour, if I recall correctly."

At hearing this, Zecora fell silent, muttering to herself at regular intervals. After a period of time, she turned to Celestia once more. "How many ponies live here? Is it many, as I fear?"

"All told?" the alicorn asked. "Airing on the conservative side, I would guess about five hundred, six hundred at the very most."

The striped pony nodded thoughtfully. "I am sorry, your Majesty, but I must take my leave. There are things I must attend to lest all of us are deceived."

Zecora barely made it three steps before a massive white wing blocked her path. "I respect your expertise, and I greatly appreciate your decision to help us, but I must insist that you fill the rest of us in. This problem has now been brought to my doorstep, and I want to know what exactly I am up against. Please."

"Very well, your Majesty, if it is the truth you request... As you can see, this stone here before you has woken from rest. The glow from its center; to me it has shown, that the gem is responding to one of its own."

"'Responding?'" Luna repeated. "That would mean that there is another sinkstone in the palace, right?"

"After seeing this stone that your sister has found, I would indeed say your logic is quite sound. These stones, they glow brighter the closer they sit to another stone with magic seeping from it."

"And what exactly does this glow represent? You seemed quite startled after I told you." Headwind added.

Zecora shook her head sadly. "The glow... The glow...that is what worries me. One of the ponies in the palace is not who they claim to be."

Celestia's eyes widened for an instant. "I knew that color looked familiar. That green color...it's the same color as changeling magic. That must be its basis."

"Indeed. Changeling study was the inspiration for this spell. And, just like the changeling, the difference is nigh impossible to tell."

"Pardon my interruption again." General Headwind spoke up. "But, Miss Zecora, you had a way to tell the difference. That bag of amethyst powder you own; it seemed to work perfectly. What about that method?"

Without saying a word, Zecora motioned for Luna to bend down. A quick flick of her hoof tossed a small amount of the aforementioned purple dust into the air. This wispy amethyst cloud wasted no time in gathering around the princess' horn.

"I see. A unicorn's inherent magic would interfere with the dust..."

"Thought the dust may fail as a foolproof test, there is one other way to separate the fake from the rest. There is one spell I know of to remove a disguise. Sad to say, the years have hidden it from many an eye."

"Of course..." Celestia snorted in tired disgust. "I suppose I should ask the archiver to begin browsing our spell records. Is there anything we can do in the meantime?" A shake of the zebra's head and the alicorn sighed. "Very well... Once again, we're stuck waiting for a book. Headwind, take Rarity with you and find Jet Stream. He will stand as Fluttershy's door guard until you are well rested. I also want you to inform those guarding the Elements of what we have learned here. If they see anything out of the ordinary, they are to report it to either Luna or myself at once. I also want two guards at each door until further notice. Oh, and Rarity?"

"Yes, your Highness?"

"If, at any time, you or your friends feel uncomfortable with their guards, ask them to fetch one of us and we will stand as your guard. If they should refuse, lock your door and stay put until Luna or I arrive in your room. Also, do not leave your room with anypony other than Luna or myself, and, even then, only if we call you by name. Let your friends know of this as well."

"Of course."

The sun goddess sighed again and glanced to the one pony she had not yet addressed. "Zecora, I hate to ask this of you, and you are completely free to refuse, but if you would be willing to help us look for any sort of information, I would be grateful beyond words."

"Your Majesty, you need not ask for my aid. I am happy to give it any time of day."

"You have my infinite thanks, Zecora."

This news that Zecora had given her worried Celestia greatly. I knew that Canterlot wasn't invincible, but first the changeling attack and now this...? She couldn't even look at her guards or palace staff without that doubt squirming in the back of her mind like a bad itch. She took a deep breath and ruffled her wings in an attempt to calm herself down.

"What's the matter, 'Tia? You look sick to your stomach." Luna said, concern ringing evident in her tone.

"I might as well be... I haven't eaten or slept in nearly two days...and in those two days, Twilight was taken from me, you were attacked, Nightmare Moon wants to return, and now I don't even know who I can trust anymore... Being sick to my stomach would only improve things right now..."

"If you think it would help, I still have some scones in my study left over from last night. They're obviously cold by now, but food is food."

"I appreciate the offer, Luna, but we don't have the time."

As an immediate reaction, the moon goddess snorted angrily. Her second response was a bit more forward however. Wings flared, she placed herself before Celestia, blocking her path.

"Luna! I just told you we don't have time for this!"

"'Tia, you and I have all the time in the world. Listen to me, because I'm not going to move until you do."

"Very well..." she relented.

"You need to make time, 'Tia. You need to eat something. I don't care if you have one of those scones or some of the grass from the palace garden, but it has to be something." Unbeknownst to the night princess, she sounded quite like a mother reprimanding her foal.

Even a being that has complete control over heavenly bodies can't eliminate their most basic of needs. All this thought of scones and food was relentlessly chewing away at Celestia's last thread of resistance. Finally, with one loud growl from the alicorn's stomach, the decision had been made. "Guess I don't have any say in this. Go ahead and get the scones."

Luna nodded approvingly. "I'll be right back." Her mane and tail flowed up around her, revolving faster and faster until disappearing altogether.

Zecora took up a spot next to the elder of Equestria's two rulers. "Your younger sister is remarkably wise. Many years of wisdom sparkle in her eyes."

Celestia nodded slowly and smiled. "That she is, Zecora. That she is."

-------------------------

No matter how many times she used it, Luna always found teleportation strange. It always left the user with an odd tingling sensation in the bottom of their hooves. In much the same fashion as her departure, Luna arrived in her chambers. Stardust left over from her appearance swirled and danced around her as she headed for her study. From amidst the scrolls and books littering her desk, the silver serving tray rose into the air, suspended by a blue glow. Three left... One for each of us, I suppose.

Once more, the alicorn called up the magic necessary for teleportation. Just before she went through with the jump, something stopped her. She dropped the spell and turned back to face her room. Something was calling her from within. Without remembering how or why, she found herself standing over the broken field of glass that used to be her mirror. After who knows how longs, Luna snapped from her trance, gasping for breath like a drowning pony. She knew she was the only pony in the room, yet the telltale chill of outside eyes upon her trickled down her spine.

"No... No, no, no..." The dark blue alicorn backed away from the mirror shards, shaking her head. "Nightmare Moon is gone. All the Elements are here in the palace; she doesn't have any of their power... She's gone..."

"Neverrrr..."

The ghostly, echoing voice actually stopped Luna's heart for a second. "No..." The princess screwed her eyes shut and continued backing away, stopping only when she hit the wall. "You're gone... You don't exist anymore..."

"How can you say that, when I'm right in front of you?"

Every thread of common sense told Luna to keep her eyes shut and yet, every thread went unheard. The sight that greeted her caused her to recoil, thus slipping and falling against the wall. Held together by some black magic, the broken mirror shards had assembled themselves into a jagged, misshapen whole. Within the broken reflection, Luna saw a hideous amalgam of her face combined with the sneering black visage of her former alter-ego.

"Hello, Princessss..." she hissed. "Did you miss me...?"

Praying that this nightmare would depart if she looked away, Luna again closed her eyes, shivering in fright. "Y-you don't exist anymore..." she repeated in self-affirmation. "This can't be happening again... It just can't..."

"Well, my dear... You look like you've finally remembered your place. In my shadow, where you should be..."

That was it. Luna was not about to pushed around like a frightened little filly any longer. A gale-force wind whipped itself up at the princess' command, spiraling around the bedchamber, picking up all manner of scrolls and books. The timidity in her cyan eyes faded away behind a ethereal white glow of pure energy as she rose to her hooves. "Hear us now, accursed demon..." Luna's voice resonated with the power of hundreds of thousands of stars, sending tremors through the ground beneath her. "Thou no longer holdeth any power over us. In the name of the stars, moon, and every pony that resideth under them, we, Princess Luna, sister of Celestia, mistress of the night, and daughter of the Creator herself...CAST THEE OUT!" One by one, five spheres, each burning with a brilliant starlight, appeared around the alicorn.

Now it was the reflection's turn to recoil in fear.

From each of the orbs, a beam of equal intensity lanced forth, merging into a sixth sphere before the alicorn. Luna let out one final cry that shook the very air itself. "BEGONE, VILE ONE!" Finally, the central sphere erupted in a beam of light that would have blinded a lesser pony instantly. This beam ripped through the mirror and wall behind it like wet tissue.

The book-carrying hurricane subsided as the white light left Luna's eyes. Her eyes remained hard and unblinking...until she looked at the ground before her.

The mirror shards, which should have been outright vaporized, remained scattered upon the floor, still in the same irregular pattern as when they had first been broken. They hadn't moved, and there was no evidence to suggest they had been a part of the mirror that Luna had just seen. A terrible feeling of nausea overcame the princess as she realized what had transpired. "A-all of that was...a hallucination...?" Her eyes drifted from the broken glass up to the gaping hole in the palace wall. "Wh-what have I done...?" Nightmare Moon never was here..." Luna slumped back against the wall and slid to the floor in stunned silence. Several moments went by like this before a single tear dropped to the floor, soon followed by many more. The mare collapsed to the floor in a heap, covering her eyes.

"What's wrong with m-me...? H-have I gone crazy?"

Feeling alone, scared, and very confused, Luna curled into a quivering ball and began brokenly sobbing.
> 14 - Lullaby For a Princess
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Celestia and Zecora had remained in the hallway for several minutes after Luna's departure, waiting for her return. After roughly five minutes, they resumed their trek. Their destination: the massive Canterlot Archives.

No sooner had the pair stepped inside than they were approached by a blue unicorn stallion. "Salutations, your Majesty. What brings you to the archives today?"

"Good morning, Crescent. We've come looking for some information."

Magic removed the stallion's monocle and held it before his muzzle. He breathed on it several times and cleaned it upon his chest, replacing it afterwards. "Naturally. What are you looking for?"

"Two things, actually. One: anything regarding sinkstones. Two: I'm looking for a spell that one can use to reverse disguising magic."

"Hmmm..." The blue pony pondered for a moment before turning away. "If you would come with me, your Majesty." He beckoned the alicorn with a flick of his brown tail. He led the sun goddess to a podium with a remarkably think tome atop it. "It sounds to me that you're looking for dispel magic." the stallion commented, leafing through the yellowed pages. "I don't believe we have much in the way of that sort of magic, but I'll do my best... What was the other thing you were looking for, your Majesty?"

"Any and all information we have regarding sinkstones."

"Ah, yes. Now that is something I know we have. There's not a lot, but I know exactly where it is. If you like, I can show you where."

Celestia nodded. "If you would be so kind." Once more, the blue unicorn turned to mark out their path.

The sheer amount of literature with this maze of shelves amazed the alicorn. She had lived over one thousand years, but even a life that long would not have permitted her enough time to read all of them, and yet... The true grandeur of this mountain of knowledge was lost to her. Celestia's mind was elsewhere at the moment. Luna should have been back in a few seconds... It's been almost ten minutes; something is wrong...

"Sinkstones...sinkstones...sinkstones... Ah-ha!"

The alicorn's train of thought jumped the tracks as Crescent presented her with a single leather-bound volume. Years of dust collected from little use coated the cover.

"Pardon the dust, your Majesty. We don't get many ponies looking for sinkstones."

"It's quite all right." the winged unicorn commented, accepting the book. She started to open it, but quickly changed her mind. "I'm sorry to come and go so quickly, Crescent, but I need to go look in on Luna for a moment." Her yellow magic returned the manuscript to the stallion. "Zecora here has agreed to help with our search, but I must excuse myself."

"Of course, your Majesty. I certainly hope your sister is well."

"As do I..." she said under her breath. Celestia departed the library in a brilliant yellow flash. An identical flash preceded her appearance outside Luna's door. Her knock upon said portal caused it to glide open in an eerie fashion. "Luna?" she whispered. "Luna, are you in here?" Celestia pushed the door wide enough to enter, taking several cautious steps inside. Her stomach dropped into her hooves when she saw what awaited her.

A giant hole blown in the outside wall of anything is hard to miss. Celestia galloped to the edge of the hole, eyes wide with shock. "Luna! Luna, where are you?"

The sound of muffled sobbing behind her grabbed the alicorn's attention faster than anything had before. Seeing her younger sister in a heap, amidst a circle blackened onto the floor, Celestia immediately assumed the worst. "LUNA! NO!"

The few steps to the far wall were far more than Celestia was willing to take at the moment. In a flash (actually two), she was at the younger pony's side. "Luna! Talk to me! Tell me you're all right!"

Silence.

Luna! Please!" Celestia was beside herself. "Tell me you're all right!"

The dark alicorn said nothing, but she did open her eyes and glance up at her sister.

Though small, this movement did not go unnoticed. The Goddess of the Sun sat her sister up and had her wrapped safely inside her wings in the blink of an eye. "D-don't you ever scare me like th-that again... I would r-rather sit through one t-thousand cold winters alone than lose you forever..."

Luna was surprised by the sudden hug, but she eventually leaned into her sister's embrace. "I-I'm sorry, 'Tia..."

"It's o-okay..." Celestia made no effort to hold back the tears falling from her eyes. "J-just t-tell me y-you're all right..." It took significant effort to understand the alicorn's words with as much as she was sobbing. "For H-Harmony's sake... p-please be all right, Luna..."

When you're upset, knowing that somepony else genuinely cares about you always makes you cry that much harder. Luna's sniffling and shaking redoubled at her sister's concern and she tightened her hold around the white alicorn.

At this, Celestia's tone adopted an air of inquiry. "L-Luna...? You...are all right... A-aren't you?"

After yet another period of tense silence, Luna slowly shook her head. "N-no... I-I'm n-n-not..."

The sisterly embrace was broken momentarily so that eye contact could be made. "Luna, what happened? Tell me what's wrong. You aren't hurt, are you?"

"No... I'm n-not hurt..."

"Then what is Equestria is the matter?"

"I...can't tell you..." Luna replied at length, tightly closing her eyes.

"Luna...please... Tell me what's wrong... I'm just-"

The younger princess shoved Celestia away. "Let it go, Celestia!" Now angry and upset, Luna spun around, presenting her sister with a frigid shoulder.

Time itself spun backwards before Celestia's eyes. One thousand years, to be precise. Once again, Luna's words rang in her ears, sounding very familiar. "Let it go, Celestia!" A hard scowl crossed Celestia's features. Not this time. Never before had Celestia raised a hoof against her sister in anger, but she was not about to let history repeat itself.

She hooked a hoof over Luna's shoulder and unmercifully whirled her around. "By the Elements, Luna! You know why I can't do that!" The Sun Goddess' eyes were a whirling torrent of sorrow, anger, and one thousand years of regret. "I love you too much to let myself do that to you again!"

The night blue alicorn had been thoroughly startled into silence. She had never before heard Celestia's voice at this volume. All Luna could do was bite her lip and uncomfortably hold her sister's gaze.

"I won't make you pay for my negligence again!" Celestia had both hooves upon Luna's shoulders and was practically shouting into her sister's face. "The last time I 'let it go,' I had to let you go, Luna! You never deserved to pay the price that I should have paid! I'm sorry, Luna! I'm so sorry..." she sobbed, hugging the younger alicorn tightly, as if trying to make up for her thousand year absence.

Held in this tight embrace, hearing the emotion in her sister's voice, Luna finally saw who Celestia was; she understood. On the outside, Celestia was beautiful, kind, and majestic; and all-around excellent ruler. But this was just a facade, a pony created to present to her subjects. Behind that mask, Celestia was old, tired, and broken from mulling over one thousand long years of regret and loneliness. She was cursed with immortality, doomed to see the passing of all she loved. All, except for the one she loved the most. "I forgive you, 'Tia... For everything; for all those years, for anything you said... I forgive you..."

"Wh-what? How could you f-forgive me so easily...?"

"Not many ponies get a second chance to completely start over, but you gave me that chance. You forgave me after what happened, and even if you hadn't, I would still forgive you, because you're my sister, and I love you, 'Tia."

Sister... I'd forgotten what that meant. Sisters are always there for each other... "Thank you, Luna..." Celestia whispered.

"Anytime, sis'..."

"Now, would you please tell me what happened?"

Luna swallowed visibly and locked eyes with her sister. She was still scared, and that fear held her tongue.

"Let me help, Luna. Tell me."

"It...it was Nightmare Moon..."

"Again?" Every time that name came out of her sister's mouth, Celestia's heart skipped a beat. "So she's to blame for this hole in the wall?"

"Uhhh...no... That was my fault... I...overreacted..."

"To what, though?" Celestia turned to look at the gaping hole. Even from the other side of the room, she could see that the edges of said hole were still smoldering and probably quite hot to the touch. "Luna...you vaporized a foot and a half of solid marble. What happened?"

"You're probably going to think I'm crazy, but...I saw Nightmare Moon again, in the mirror..."

Curious, the elder alicorn stepped away from her sister to look at the mirror shards still littering the floor. "This mirror? The same one as before?"

"Yes... At least...that's what I thought..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean... It was just a hallucination; my mind was playing tricks on me..." Luna had closed her eyes once more, replaying the events in her mind.

With all her power, Celestia was no mind reader, but she didn't need to be to see that whatever Luna was seeing wasn't pleasant. The younger alicorn had become shaky, both in tone and posture. Luna...

"I..I h-heard her, 'Tia... S-she was talking t-to me... Taunting m-me... A-and then...I...I... Aaaahh!" For one fleeting moment, as Celestia's wing gently brushed her shoulder, the visions that Luna was seeing spilled over into the real world bringing all their terror with them.

"It's all right, Luna. I can tell what happened next. These hallucinations though, how long have they been happening?"

"Just today..." she answered. "I-I think..."

A pony's eyes can say just as much as their words, and Luna's frightened eyes spoke volumes. "Luna...there's something you're not telling me..." In one thousand years, Celestia had learned how to read these signs, and she had seen anger, happiness, and nearly every emotion in between. "You're scared, Luna... You've seen these before, haven't you?"

"I...I have..." she stammered. "One thousand years ago... That's when I first heard her voice. She spoke to me, 'Tia. I had conversations with her... I-I thought I was r-rid of her.." Fresh tears found their way to Luna's eyes as she paused. "I'll n-never be r-rid of her, will I, 'Tia...?"

The truth caught in a sticky lump in the back of Celestia's throat. She knew this answer was not the most desirable, but, at the same time, it had to be said. "I...I'm afraid not, Luna..." The Sun Goddess grimaced as the words passed her lips. She had heard about the truth being bitter, but she never knew it really tasted that way.

For the umpteenth time, Luna fell back on her haunches. She was exhausted, emotional, and this truth knocked the rest of the strength from her. "I...I can't do this a-anymore... I c-can't keep fighting..."

"Luna... Don't say that..."

"What's the p-point in fighting her, 'Tia? You just told me she's going to b-be here forever... She's going to win eventually; she a-already did once..."

"Still your tongue, Luna!" Celestia snapped. "I know fighting is hard; it wouldn't be called as such if it were easy. It's what you fight for that keeps you going. Every day, for one thousand years, I woke up knowing that it would be a fight to get through it, and it always was. But, I kept going; I kept fighting, because I knew you would be coming back, and I was going to be there to greet you. I fought to see the future, and that's what we have to fight for now. Not for my future, not for your future, but for Equestria's future. Don't underestimate yourself, Luna. I know you can keep fighting, because I'll be fighting right alongside your. You're my sister, and I will always stand with you, no matter what happens."

This time, Luna was the one to embrace her sister, eyes bright with happy tears. "Thank you, 'Tia."

"You don't give yourself nearly enough credit, Luna. You're stronger than you know, and when you stand up and fight, ponies take notice. Nightmare Moon is not going to win; we will make sure of that."

"How do we make sure she doesn't?"

"Easy. We just have to make sure Nightmare Moon loses. As long as she doesn't have the Elements, there is nothing she can do."

"What about the hallucinations?"

"You said it yourself, it was just your mind playing tricks on you. How much sleep have you gotten in the past two days?"

Luna's answer was delayed in coming. "I don't know... How long was I unconscious?"

"Only a few hours, but it hardly looked restful; you were tossing and turning. You're tired, you're worried, and you're scared."

These words birthed a hard lump in the younger princess' throat. Yes, she was scared; all of this Nightmare Moon was happening so quickly, and there was so much she was learning. She was terrified, but at the same time, she was too proud to hear herself say it, and looked away. "N-no...I'm n-not scared..." she refused, her wavering voice giving her away.

"Luna..." Celestia lightly touched a hoof to her sister's shoulder. "You've always been so proud... There's nothing wrong with being scared. I was terrified when I saw you lying on the floor like that. Fear is not weakness, Luna, and I won't look down upon you for it. I'm here for you, and I always will be."

It took Luna several seconds to swallow the stubborn lump before speaking. "I...I am scared, 'Tia... I'm scared and tired..."

"As am I, Luna. As am I. I think we could both use a nap, yes?"

"But what about everything that's going on? I didn't think we had the time."

Celestia nodded slowly. "i thought that too. But, a very wise pony once told me that I had all the time in the world."

Luna smiled; she knew where this was going.

"She told me that I just had to make the time, and she was right."

"Thanks, 'Tia."

Rather than reply directly, Celestia softly began singing. Singing something that Luna had not heard in millenia.

"Mother's love, mother's love...
Little ones, let me guide you through the night.

Mother's love, mother's love...
Little ones, let me be your light.

Mother's love, mother's love...
Little ones, should anything give you fright,

Mother's love, mother's love...
Will always be there and everything will be all right."

That song... Luna blinked in surprise, her eyes suddenly much heavier. "That's the lullaby that Mother would sing us to sleep with as fillies... Where did you learn it?"

"I had her teach it to me quite some time ago."

For the first time in hundreds of years, Luna felt completely safe and free of worry. Celestia's wing around her became that of their mother and Luna became a young filly in the loving embrace. "Sing that again, 'Tia..." she murmured, now struggling to stay awake.

The elder alicorn happily obliged and began voicing the sweet notes of the lullaby once more.

"I've never heard you sing before, 'Tia..." Luna mumbled sleepily. "You should do it more often; you have a wonderful voice..."

As the last words of the lullaby floated over her ears like the soft caress of fine silk, something happened.

Seated just beyond Celestia, the younger princess saw another alicorn. Though she was ghostly and transparent, her beige coat and red mane could be seen easily enough. There was no mistaking those soft sky-blue eyes; Luna knew who this was. This alicorn opened her mouth and spoke quietly. "It's all right, my little princess. Sleep; you're safe now."

Just before she fell asleep, Luna had time to say but one thing more. "Thank you...Mother..."

"Mother?" Celestia repeated. The Sun Goddess turned, unsure of what would actually be there. As it happened, she too saw the same. "Mother...what are you doing here?" Why can I see you?" The alicorn stood, questions filing from her mouth one after the other.

"A mother knows when her little ones are troubled."

"That's...putting it mildly..." Celestia muttered. "Can you do anything to help us? Can you fix anything?"

The alicorn's sky-blue eyes became sad and she shook her head. "Regretfully, I cannot."

A pall visibly fell over Celestia at these words. "You can't help at all? There's nothing you can do?"

"I can offer my love and support to you and Luna, but that's all. Believe me, Celestia, I wish I could help; you don't know how hard it is for me to stand here and refuse my little one's request for help, but you know the ancient laws. My hooves are tied, Celestia."

With a sigh, the white alicorn turned back to the peacefully sleeping pony behind her. "If you can't help, then just answer one thing for me."

"Of course, Celestia."

"Why Luna? Why her?"

"I...I'm not sure I understand the question..."

Celestia bit her lip before answering. "W-why was she given this path in life?"

"It was her destiny, Celestia. It w-"

The Sun Goddess rounded upon the apparition, hot tears glinting off the furious light in her eyes. "Destiny!? This is a curse! Luna was cursed with this burden! Calling it anything less is an insult to her and everything she has endured!"

"Celestia..." The see-through alicorn hardly flinched in the heat of her daughter's anger, though her eyes were filled with sadness. "The truth is never something we want to hear, but it is always something we need to hear..."

"But why Luna? She never asked for this... She never deserved what I did to her..."

"The choice to raise the Elements of Harmony against Nightmare Moon was the best possible choice. You did what Equestria needed you to do."

"What about what Luna needed me to do!? She never would have become Nightmare Moon if I had been there for her!"

"The fact of the matter is, you don't know that, Celestia. There are events in time that must happen, can happen, and will happen. Luna's becoming Nightmare Moon was one such event, and when I learned of this, believe me, I did everything in my power to change it. Some destinies cannot be changed, however, and I learned this the hard way."

Realization sparked behind the anger in Celestia's eyes. "That's why you left us...isn't it?" The red-maned alicorn said nothing in response, but she didn't need to; the look in her eyes was answer enough.

"That...is not the reason I am here, Celestia."

"If you cannot help us, and that is not the reason you are here, then what is?"

"I told you, Celestia, I came because my little ones are troubled. You are at wit's end, yes?"

"I...am... Everything is happening so quickly, and...I'm running out of answers for it all... Nightmare Moon is making attacks on Luna again, the Elements are in great danger, and I don't know who I can trust anymore..." A bout of sniffling hit Celestia, stuttering her speech. "E-everypony looks a-at me as if I have a-all the answers... Everypony always expects me t-to be p-perfect... I'm tired of this a-act... I-I don't kn-know what to do a-anymore..." The bottled-up emotions of the past two days finally breached what little self-control Celestia had left, and she dissolved into tears.

"Celestia, my dear..." Thought the red-maned alicorn was transparent, she raised a hoof to Celestia's cheek. The princess must have felt it, as she looked up into her mother's sky-blue eyes. "You do have the answers. You just just haven't found them yet."

Celestia cracked a half-hearted smile and gave a weak laugh. "T-tell me where to look then..."

"Look to the ponies closest to you, Celestia. They will show you."

"Hold on..." the alicorn sniffed. "What happened to 'my hooves are tied?'" She cast a playfully questioning eye upon her transparent parent.

The beige pony's eyes twinkled with a hint of laughter. "Even laws as old as time have loopholes." The light quickly returned to Celestia's eyes at these words.

"Thank you...Mother..." she whispered.

"That's better... Those eyes are too pretty to be filled with so much sadness. I haven't seen them this bright in hundreds of years. You've been carrying so much guilt upon your shoulders... Immortality gives a pony the time to try everything once, but all too often this time is spent worrying about things that are out of our control; you must let your guilt go and move on, Celestia."

"But, I-" Celestia was cut off by the faint touch of a hoof upon her lips.

"You forgave Luna. It's time to forgive yourself. Equestria needs both of you. Not until you cast off your chains can you shine as you were meant to, Celestia. I know it, Luna knows it, and you know it too."

"All this time, I've been holding myself back..." the white alicorn breathed, finally understanding.

"You greatest strength has always been the passion with which you care about other ponies. You are selfless beyond words, Celestia, and that is why ponies look up to you. At every turn, you put them before yourself. But, there are times in which you must ask yourself what you need. Do you understand?"

The Sun Goddess nodded. "I do. And there is something that I've needed for a while."

"And what is that?"

"A good night's sleep." she laughed. "You don't know how tired I am..."

"Now that is something I can help with." A softly glowing ball of blue magic appeared at the tip of the red-maned alicorn's horn.

Celestia's eyes grew heavier the longer she looked at this magic, until she finally fell asleep. She didn't know it, but along with Luna, she had been sent back to her own room and magically tucked into bed.

The transparent alicorn turned from this bedside and vanished...

...only to reappear in a distant corner of the Canterlot Archives. Soft blue magic selected a book from a particularly dusty shelf before the alicorn disappeared once more.

Back in Celestia's room, the red-maned pony placed the book upon the nightstand next to the ornate bed. Finally, she turned back to the two sleeping alicorns. She lightly touched her snout to each of their foreheads in turn, and quietly sang them off with the familiar lullaby.

When finished, she kissed the sisters one final time. "Remember, the night is oft darkest before the dawn, and the sun that follows is most brilliant indeed... Sleep peacefully, my little ponies... I love you."

-------------------------

For the second time that day, Rainbow Dash found herself second-guessing the decision to let Pinkie Pie share the oversized bed with her. The pink pony was constantly tossing and turning, and her overly frequent hiccups kept sending small tremors through the mattress. When she finally started mumbling nonsensically, Rainbow Dash finally grabbed her pillow and pressed it over her ears, thus blocking the unintelligible babbling. The bed remained as bouncy as the chariot ride to the palace, though. A quick rap of knocks at the door was the last straw. The pegasus rolled out of the bed, and stomped over to the entrance. Bitter from lack of sleep, she ripped the door open. "Whaddya want!?" she barked.

"I know we're all tired, but that's hardly an excuse for such volume, darling..."

"Oh...sorry, Rarity..." the pegasus muttered, blinking sleepily and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "My bad... So, what's up?"

The unicorn mare stepped to the side and motioned to have her friends join her in the hallway. "This begs explanation, Rainbow Dash. If you could step outside? I should hate to wake Pinkie."

"Yeah, we'd hate to do that, wouldn't we?" the rainbow-maned pony grumbled. Reluctantly, the Element of Loyalty met her friend in the hallway. "What's up?" she repeated.

Rarity pondered for a moment, tapping a hoof against her chin. "Where to start? Where to start? I trust you remember those pegasi from yesterday, yes?"

The cyan pony unconsciously flared her wings in anger. "How could I forget that smug face!? Boy, am I gonna buck her teeth in!"

"A simple, 'yes, I do' would've been quite sufficient, darling; but thank you for that mental picture nonetheless. Anyway, as I was, one of those pegasi has infiltrated the palace, and with the help of magic, courtesy of Twilight, is masquerading as somepony else. As such, the princesses have requested us remain in our rooms, lest they accompany us."

So much of this news failed to register with Rainbow Dash, and she quickly shook her head, as if trying to sort it all out. "Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, back up, start over. Two questions. How exactly is a pegasus using Twilight's magic, and how do you know it's her magic?"

"In order; a sinkstone, and Twilight told me."

"So Twilight is back in the palace? When exactly did that happen?"

"I believe the princess found her sometime earlier this morning, but that's not my poi-"

"Twilight's back and she didn't even bother to let us know!?"

"I was getting to that-" Rarity barely had time to get out half a sentence before the pegasus was off and ranting once more.

"I mean, come on! How long would that have taken her!?"

"Rainbow Dash, I-"

"What gives, Twilight!? I thought-"

"Rainbow Dash! If you would!" The white unicorn mare loudly rapped a hoof against the marble floor to further punctuate her shout.

"Geez, Rarity..." Rainbow Dash wiggled a hoof in her ear. "I think you broke an eardrum there or something..."

"My apologies, Rainbow Dash. That was nothing but uncalled for." The holder of Generosity pressed a hoof to the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Truthfully, I wondered the same thing. As it happens, though, Twilight had a very good reason for not telling us of her return."

"And that 'very good reason' would be...what?"

"Nightmare Moon."

The spectrum-maned pegasus waved off the threat and laughed. "Big deal. We already took care of her once. We'll just fire up the Elements again and Pow! No more Nightmare Moon!"

"There's just one problem with that. Nightmare Moon is trying to use the Elements to bring herself back to begin with. We won't have them as an option this time."

Rainbow Dash's dismissive hoof waving abruptly came to a stop, leaving said hoof held aloft, dangling loosely. "Th-the Elements can do that?" she asked, wide-eyed with surprise. "How?"

"You'll have to forgive me for not knowing the finer details, but Princess Celestia said the Elements work through separation. She also said that everything, the Elements included, have their opposites. That is what Nightmare Moon is wanting to use to return, and if she does, we can't use them to stop her." Rarity explained.

"So...what can we do?"

"Right now, the only thing we can do is keep Nightmare Moon's hooves off of the Elements. To do that, each of us needs to stay in our rooms, unless one of the princesses is with us. In the meantime, we will each have two guards at our doors. If you feel uncomfortable with either of them, ask them to fetch one of the princesses. Should they refuse, lock your door and stay put. I assume Princess Celestia will tell us when things relieve themselves a little, but, until then, we must keep the utmost caution about us."

It was unusual for Rainbow Dash to follow anything with silence, but the last few days had been anything but usual. "Sure thing, Rarity..." Something was obviously weighing upon the mind of the blue pegasus; she had done a complete about-face in personality. "Before we hunker down, d'you think we could stop by Twilight's room first?"

Rather than answer outright, Rarity turned her eyes to the pegasus stallion beside her. "Is there time enough to do that, Lieutenant?"

After a moment of silent, expressionless thought, Jet Stream nodded. "Headwind informed me that Miss Sparkle was last seen with Miss Fluttershy in her chambers, whom I was tasked with guarding until the general said otherwise. I shall have to accompany you, as per usual."

Rarity's curled mane bounced as she nodded respectfully. "I should expect nothing less, sir."

Though the trip was short, with the destination just down the hall, it was more than long enough for Rarity to begin worrying about her friend. The way she was walking, the way she was carrying her tail; something was seriously troubling her.

The cyan pegasus didn't speak until the party had reached the second room. "Ummm... This is gonna sound weird, but...could you guys wait out here? Just until I'm done..."

I'd be glad to honor your request, Miss Dash, but I'm afraid I have to leave the door ajar slightly, just to be sure of your safety."

"Yeah, that's fine..." The pegasus turned and knocked on the door, waiting for an answer. When she met with silence, she slowly pushed the door open. "Fluttershy? Twilight? Are you guys in here?"

A quick look around the room answered the pegasi's question. The sought-after ponies were indeed in the room, albeit fast asleep upon the bed, snoring softly. Fluttershy's wing was draped over Twilight's back, probably placed there from one of them shifting during slumber.

Seeing Twilight asleep caused the pegasus to hesitate, but only for a moment. I need to say this... Rainbow Dash sat down at the edge of the bed, facing Twilight's closed eyes. She spoke slowly, working around her shaky voice. "Y-you probably can't hear me, Twilight...b-but I h-have to tell you this..." The rainbow-maned pony took a deep breath before continuing. "A-about yesterday morning... I-I-I'm sorry..."

Twilight was a light sleeper, and she had awoken shortly after Rainbow Dash had begun speaking, but had elected to keep her eyes closed.

"I know I d-don't say it m-much...but you and the girls are m-my best f-friends, and if anything ever happened to one of y-you... I'd...I'd..."

Twilight chanced opening an eye to see why the pegasus had trailed off. The usually proud and headstrong Rainbow Dash had broken down into silent tears and a bowed head.

"I'm sorry I-I wasn't able to save you, T-Twilight... Th-those pegasi pr-probably put you through Tartarus...a-and it's a-all my fault... I l-let you down when you n-needed me th-the m-most... I'm s-so sorry... I-I don't d-deserve the Element of L-Loyalty..."

It wasn't ten seconds later that Rainbow Dash felt a pair of hooves yank her into a friendly embrace.

"I heard you, Rainbow Dash..." Twilight whispered, tears of her own gathering in the corners of her eyes. "Every last word... I heard you, and I forgive you..."

"Thanks, Twilight..."

> 15 - Home Fires
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   When traveling alone, time tends to pass on quite the slow side. The solitude also affords a pony much time for reflection. The airborne chariot ride was particularly bumpy, given the speed of its travel, but its lone occupant hardly felt it, lost in thought as he was.

"Forgive my interruption, sir," one of the pulling ponies spoke over the rushing wind. "but you've hardly spoken a word since our departure last night. Is everything all right?"

"My apologies, soldier." the well-armored unicorn stallion called back. "I know I haven't been much for conversation, but I'm a bit troubled."

"Might I ask what about, sir?"

"The faster you get us to Canterlot, the faster you'll find out. Double time!"

"You heard him, boys! Let's pick up the pace!"

The chariot lurched as the four pegasi set their shoulders to their harnesses.

How did this happen? The stallion was beyond confused. Everything had gone to pieces upon arrival of that letter...

-------------------------

Roughly twelve hours earlier saw the same unicorn back home, going about his usual evening duties.

"All right, soldiers, form up! I want all of you on high alert. I have been receiving word of sentient storms appearing in multiple locations in southern Equestria. As of right now, we do not know if this is more changeling activity, but lack of knowledge is all the more reason for us to be on our guard. Is that clear?"

"Crystal, sir!" was the unanimous response.

"Very good. Dismissed!" The stallion watched as each of the armored ponies took his leave. Just as the last of his soldiers was leaving, something airborne caught his eye.

"Sir! Sir, your attention, if I may!"

There were no other ponies around, so this pegasus was very obviously addressing the ground-bound stallion. As this flying pony grew closer, his golden armor and blue plumed helmed identified him as a Canterlot guard, and his saddlebags as a messenger. He had been flying nonstop, as he was out of breath and nearly collapsed upon landing.

"I'm...glad I found...you, sir... I come...bearing a message...from Canterlot...addressed directly to you, sir..."

"Easy now, soldier." the unicorn cautioned, quickly moving to support the fatigued messenger. "Canterlot is easily a twelve hour flight. That's hardly a possible flight for a lone messenger."

"This letter comes...from the quill of Princess Celestia's desk... It is of the...utmost importance..."

"Very well." the armored unicorn replied. "May I have this message then?"

"Of course, sir." A short span of time produced a scroll from the messenger's bags. This was in turn presented to the unicorn.

As he read this message, his eyes grew dark with worry. "I see the reason for your hurry... Thank you for notifying my of this. There are matters I need to attend to. Please, feel free to recuperate here in the barracks before you return to Canterlot." Without waiting for an answer, the armored stallion turned and galloped away. There was one other pony that needed to see this.

The stallion's trip across the impromptu camp took him through a sea of tents before finally reaching one single, massive tent. He nosed the flap aside and entered, proceeding toward the back. For all its size, this tent was nearly empty, occupied by all of two ponies and a lone table. He approached the taller of the two ponies, the one who had her back to him.

The shorter of the two ponies leaned closer to their companion and whispered, "Begging your pardon, your Majesty, but it appears we have company."

As she turned to greet this company, the pink alicorn knew something was wrong when she saw who it was. "Oh my... Pardon me..." She hurriedly excused herself from the conversation and ran to meet the newcomer.

"There's...something I need to show you." he said before any other words could be spoken. "Let's go back to our tent for a moment."

One would have had to have been blind to not have seen the rolled-up scroll floating alongside the stallion, and the alicorn most certainly was not. "What's in that letter? Is that what-"

"Cadance, please. This is something we ought to keep between us."

The alicorn cast a glance around the outside of the tent before ducking back inside. "All right, Shining Armor, you're starting to worry me. What is in that letter?" Cadance asked a second time.

"Do you want to read it or should I?"

"Let me see it."

Blue magic replaced magenta as the scroll traded possession and unfurled itself before the alicorn's eyes.

Though he could not see the words upon the parchment, Shining Armor read along with his wife, following her eyes and watching their reaction. "Oh my goodness..." Cadance clapped a hoof to her mouth in shock and worriedly looked toward the stallion. "When did you get this letter?"

"A few moments ago. This is the first I've heard of it. It was flown in directly from Canterlot, but even then, it's a good twelve hour flight, and who knows what could have happened in that time. That's why I'm leaving for Canterlot tonight. I have to see what's going on with my own eyes."

"Tonight!?" Cadance jumped in front of the armored stallion as he turned to leave. "Honey, I know that this is about Twilight, but is that really the best decision right now? Besides, Princess Celestia explicitly told you you didn't need to come. She doesn't know exactly what she's up against. It could be dangerous!"

"More dangerous than the changeling attack on Canterlot? I find that hard to believe. Let's say that I don't go, though. What am I supposed to do? Sit here in camp, obsessing over what might be happening to my little sister? You know I can't do that, Cadance. For all intents and purposes, Twilight is your sister, too. Can you honestly say that you'd be able to accomplish anything here without knowing what's happening back in Canterlot?"

Cadance bit her lip and looked away. "No... But, at the same time, I don't want anything to happen to you either." she whispered, poking Shining Armor in the chest.

"I'll be fine, Cadi. " he assured, resting his chin upon her forehead. "I promise. I'll send you a letter as soon as I know more, okay?"

"I'll be waiting..." she murmured, softly kissing the stallion's cheek.

The unicorn quickly returned the gesture of affection before galloping from the tent, leaving Cadance staring after him.

"Please, be careful..."

-------------------------

Shining Armor shook his head to clear his thoughts. He needed to focus on the task before him; now was not the time for daydreaming. The spired towers of Centerlot were finally coming into view.

"Canterlot at eleven o' clock low, sir!"

"Very good. Circle around the palace and set us down on the chariot run on the cliffside."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

The chariot shuddered as the pegasi slowed their rate of travel to cut a wide arc around the front of Canterlot's towers. The white strip that was the runway came up fast, growing closer and closer to the chariot wheels until...

Dnk!

No sooner had the vehicle's wheels skimmed the ground, than Shining Armor leapt from the chariot and began running. His service in the Canterlot military told the stallion that there would be a tunnel at the end of the runway, carved right into the mountainside that led straight into the palace. That would be his path.

His intended course was not to be, however. As Shining Armor neared the tunnel, he saw a group of four Canterlot guards standing in file across the passage's mouth. They must have seen him coming, given how they tightened together. The unicorn slowed to a trot and finally stopped.

"What business have you in Canterlot Palace?" One of the four unicorn guards stepped forward, magically hefting the spear at his side.

"I am Shining Armor, captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard's Unicorn Division 21, here upon a summons from her Majesty, Princess Celestia." The stallion effortlessly rattled off his formal title.

"I see... This 'summons' you speak of. Present it."

Inwardly, the armored stallion kicked himself into next week. He had left Celestia's letter back with Cadance. Twelve hours away. "I...do not have it."

"Then you do not have passage to Canterlot." the unicorn guard replied stiffly.

"Let me explain, soldier. This is a very important matter, and-"

"I couldn't agree more, sir. Her Highness Princess Celestia has ordered all of Canterlot's forces to be on the highest of alerts. Her Majesty has reason to believe that there is an impostor within the palace walls, and the city has been locked down until further notice."

"May I speak with the Princess then? She will be able to verify my summons."

"I've no doubt she could." the spear toting guard answered. "But, I have my orders. You passage to the palace is not allowed. I can send one of my guards to request her Majesty's presence here, but until such time as I am told otherwise, you may not pass." The guard made a quick nod to one of the identically-clad unicorns, who promptly spun around and galloped off down the tunnel.

The guard's rapid flight quickly carried him down the passage and back to the palace. He paused for a moment, as if gathering his bearings. Then, just as abruptly as he had stopped, he was off again. Given that his particular post was primarily upon the outskirts of Canterlot, the guard was unfamiliar with the numerous halls and corridors of the palace interior. Therefore, it took him longer than usual to find the ornately emblazoned door that marked the chambers of the Sun Goddess. Oddly enough, the door was ever so slightly ajar. A cautious hoof slid the door open. "Your Majesty?" The guard paused with the door halfway open; he wasn't expecting to see three alicorns within the room.

Before the armor-clad stallion could respond, the transparent alicorn turned to face him. She slowly shook her head and held a hoof to her lips, requesting his silence.

Stunned beyond words, the guard nodded dumbly. He backed out of the room, latching the door behind him. Princess Celestia was not available; a plan B was needed. Another moment of thought and the messenger was away once more.

Meanwhile, back at the landing strip, tensions had been steadily mounting. Yes, Shining Armor was probably ranked higher than the guards blocking his path, but he was in no position to overrule orders given directly from the Princess, especially without any form of proof of his presence. His many years of service enabled him to sit (somewhat) patiently and wait for the confirmation that would allow him to pass. The four pegasi that had accompanied him, however...

Not so much...

One of the four chariot pulling pegasi (who had been grumbling the entire time) finally had had enough. He leapt to his hooves, exclaiming, "This is ridiculous! We've been sitting here for half an hour! This is the Captain of the Canterlot Guard!"

"Who still cannot overturn commands that come directly from her Majesty." Shining Armor curtly reminded him.

"How do we even know he has those orders!? Can't you just pull rank on this oaf!?"

Before the pegasus could blink, Shining Armor was in his face, less than a nose away. "Put a latch on that tongue of yours, Thunderhead. I was serving alongside these ponies long before you had you cutie mark. Be mindful of how you speak of my brothers, lest you want me to pull rank on you... Is that clear?"

"Y-yes, sir..."

"Be thankful that it was my ear that heard that comment and not General Headwind's. A quip like that would have you grounded for a month, at the very least, if not removed from active service indefinitely.

"Unless my ears deceive me, that was my name used in a threatening manner.."

The three unicorn guards blocking the tunnel parted at the arrival of the new voice. Through them strode a re-armored General Headwind. "What's all this?"

Respect led Shining Armor to salute the decorated pony. "General Headwind, sir!"

The pegasus nodded in response before turning to the younger pony. He had indeed heard enough of the prior conversation to answer the question he was about to ask. "I hear you've been disrespecting your brothers in arms... What truth is there to that?"

"Y-yes, s-sir..." Thunderhead stammered under the steely gaze of Canterlot's general. "i-it won't h-happen again... S-sir..."

"I should hope not. At attention, soldier; I want to ask you something."

The young pegasus sprang to attention, salute and all. "Sir!"

"That's better. Now, tell me: Who should a soldier respect the most?"

"His commanding officer, sir!" Thunderhead barked without a moment's hesitation.

"Quick thinking, soldier, but you're dead wrong. I don't care if you respect me, you just have to listen to me. You respect your fellow brothers at arms, soldier! They're going to be the ones who will pull your sorry flank out of the fire. They are the ones you respect. Do you follow?"

"Sir! Yes, sir!"

"Very good. At ease." The pegasus general turned his gaze back to the unicorn stallion. "It's a pleasure to see you back in Canterlot again, Shining Armor. How are things in the northern mountains? No griffon trouble, I hope?"

"None to speak of, sir. I come upon the summons of Princess Celestia. I received a letter from her, informing me that something has happened to Twilight. You understand the reason for my impromptu return, yes?"

"Indeed I do. What time did you receive this letter?"

"Early yesterday evening. I am well aware that a round trip to the northern mountains requires a full day, so much could have changed since she sent me the message. Perhaps you could fill me in?"

"I could indeed. Twilight is safe within the palace, under constant surveillance."

"'Constant surveillance?'" Shining Armor parroted. "Her Majesty didn't mention anything of that sort. What else has occurred?"

"After the Princess returned Twilight to the palace, you sister was able to give us reason to the recent attacks upon the Elements of Harmony. Without going too far into the detail of the 'how,' know that Nightmare Moon is intending to use the Elements to give herself form again. I trust you can see why this constant surveillance is of the utmost importance."

Shining Armor nodded slowly, his thoughts churning. The changeling queen was clever and cunning, but to say that her own power paled in comparison to that of a true alicorn would be an insult to the very word itself. As if Nightmare Moon wasn't enough of a threat herself, the Elements of Harmony possessed near-limitless magical potential. "That...is far more serious than I had anticipated..." he replied at length. "I can see why the city is on lockdown."

"And thus, you see why you have been denied passage to the palace..." Headwind added, in much the same tone as the unicorn guard. "However... I am giving you one chance to convince me that you are indeed Shining Armor. Think carefully."

A moment's pondering and Shining Armor motioned for the general to approach him. What passed from mouth to ear went unheard by all others present, but they could see Headwind's eyes widen for an instant.

The pegasus general stepped backward and nodded solemnly. "Well played, Shining Armor. You have earned passage, but on one condition. Until Princess Celestia awakes from her slumber and is informed of your presence, you and your escorts shall be accompanied at all times. I am not taking any chances whatsoever. You will stand guard with Lieutenant Jet Stream outside Miss Fluttershy's room until the princess grants you full priviliges."

"Understood, sir."

Without another word spoken between them, Headwind turned and made his way down the tunnel. The slightest flick of his tail instructed the unicorn stallion to follow.

"What in Equestria did you say to him?" Thunderhead quickly whispered before Shining Armor left earshot.

"It was something regarding his cutie mark, and that's all you need to know, Thunderhead." Shining Armor shot back. "Form up, stallions!" he then called to the rest of his ponies. "We're entering Canterlot palace; I want you on your best behavior!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Very good. Follow me." It had been a couple months since Shining Armor had been within this tunnel, but litle had changed. Truth be told, though, Headwind could have turned and lay a hoof across his cheek, and the unicorn wouldn't notice until his cheek started swelling. Twily... What's going on? This is bad... He sighed inwardly. I've never really understood this 'Elements of Harmony' business...

"Oof-!" The Captain of the guard bumped into the general with a metallic thunk! as Headwind pulled up short before him.

"I didn't expect to see you out of your room, Miss Rarity."

"I was spreading Princess Celestia's order regarding the additional guards..." The mare trailed off at the glimpse of movement behind Headwind. "Shining Armor?"

"Good morning, Rarity. I hear you've been doing well."

"I should say the same. I hear you've been stationed in the northern mountains. A harsh assignment, to be sure. What brings you back to Canterlot so soon?"

He sighed and removed his helmet. "In a word, Twilight." In light of the silent, confused look from the Element of Generosity, he continued. "Cadance and I received a letter from Princess Celestia, informing us that something had happened to Twilight. General Headwind, however, tells me that she's doing just fine. I'd just like to see her for myself."

"She's actually just inside this room." Jet Stream nodded to the slightly cracked door. "I don't think a quick look inside would be out of the question."

After waiting for Headwind's eventual affirmation, Shining Armor quietly knocked on the door and pushed it open, causing a minor creak.

Rainbow Dash was the first (and only) to notice the small noises. "Twilight? We've got company..."

"What?" The mare turned her purple eyes to follow her friend's words. "Shining Armor?" Magic moved Fluttershy's wing, so Twilight could slide off the bed without disturbing her. "What are you doing here?" she asked quietly, giving the stallion a quick hug which was met with an equally quick kiss.

"I received a letter from Princess Celestia saying that you had been foalnapped, but it must have been written in a hurry, as it said nothing else."

The multi-hued pegasus joined the brother-sister pair, a sheepish grin on her face. "About that... You...uh...wouldn't have gotten that letter if I had been just a little bit faster..."

"Nonsense, Rainbow Dash. I know you put every bit of wingpower you had into that Rainboom and I'm glad you did." Twilight nudged the pegasus affectionately.

"Whoever it was outran a Sonic Rainboom?" Shining Armor was legitimately surprised.

"More like 'knocked me out of the air and walked away from it.'" she growled. "So, how's the family then?" she added, changing the subject.

"Worried, just like myself. Cadance will be relieved to hear you're all doing well. Especially you, kiddo. You weren't hurt, were you?"

Twilight involutarily winced, remembering the slaps she'd received to force compliance. "No, I wasn't... A couple guards were, though..." she put in under her breath.

Shining Armor sighed. "I follow... You've got to understand that when a pony enters the-"

"I know, I know... 'When a pony enters the Royal Guard, they sacrifice their lives to the Royal Family.' I just didn't know that that meant me, too. I never asked for ponies to throw themselves in harm's way for me. How is that fair?"

"Not everything is fair, kiddo. It's not always so cut-and-dry. I'm told that Nightmare Moon is back on the agenda. What are we looking at regarding her?"

"Nightmare Moon wants to fuse herself with the Elements. Nopony quite knows how that's going to work, though."

A second series of knocks upon the door immediately followed Twilight's voice. " I do apologize for the interruption, Twilight, dear, but we do have quite the pressing matter at hoof."

"Rarity? What happened with the sinkstone?"

"Therein lies our problem, darling..."

Shining Armor cast a sidelong glance at the similarly colored unicorn mare that stepped up beside him. "It sounds like you've been doing your homework, Rarity. Would you mind bringing me up to speed?"

"Not at all. In the interest of time, though, I'll keep it brief. The sinkstone in question was found to be reacting, as it were, to the magic from another stone, somewhere within the palace."

"'Another stone?'" Twilight echoed. "No, no, no! How could I have forgotten!?" Forgoing the usual levitation spell, the Element of Magic grabbed the tactical case still attached to her leg and ripped it off, throwing it to the ground.

Rarity jumped backwards as the combat knife bounced from its sheath and spun along the marble floor. "Gracious, Twilight! What could possibly be the problem?"

"When I was in captivity, one of the guards that was with me helped me remove my sinkstone... He placed it..." Magic finally upended the case, shaking it wildly. "...in this bag..." Obviously, nothing came from this, all the flares expended earlier. "There's nothing in it... No! I'm so stupid!"

While Twilight had been fruitlessly searching the empty case, Rarity had been inspecting the discarded blade, her own magic turning it over and over. When the case was finally tossed away in a similar manner, Rarity retreived that too and returned the sharpened steel to its proper home. "Heavens above, Twilight! Calm down! A misplaced sinkstone is hardly the end of the world."

"It might as well be! Who knows what that sinkstone could be used for!?" Twilight repeatedly, if a little roughly, tapped a hoof against her temples, nervously dancing in place. "Think, think, think!"

Rarity's own hoof caught Twilight's as it went in to rap upon the lavender mare's skull again. "Twilight, please, calm down. As of right now, we believe this sinkstone is only being used for disguising magic. Besides, magic is like knitting, Twilight; mistakes can be undone. As we speak, Zecora and the princesses are scouring the archives for any spells we can use."

"About that..." A second interruption produced a second additional face as Headwind joined the company. "The reason I'm here is because Princesses are unavailable at the moment. I'm told they are asleep, as I most likely should be. I trust you can behave yourself, Shining Armor?"

"Of course, sir."

The pegasus nodded curtly. "Very good. In that case, Jet Stream, I leave you in charge. Ladies, if you'll excuse me." Just as quickly as he had entered the room, Headwind turned and left.

"What about that?" Twilight gestured after the absent general. "He just told us that the princesses are asleep! Who's looking for the spell now!?"

"All right, Twilight, you really need to take it down a notch." Rainbow Dash cut in. "He didn't say anything about Zecora leaving; she must still be looking. Take it easy."

"Please do, Twilight." Rarity added. "This is not the time for us to lose ourselves."

The star-marked pony glanced to each of the three ponies before her. Each one had a similar look in their eyes; concern.

Through some silent consensus, Rarity spoke for the three of them. "Twilight, you're worried, we can understand that. But you would do well to know that we have all been equally as worried about you. I shan't have you recite what you have experienced in the past twenty-four hours, but Celestia knows it certainly wasn't pleasant. We're just concerned, darling; we're all in this together, and we can't do it without you."

The Element of Magic smiled. Her tone had returned to a much calmer level. "Thanks, Rarity... We are in this as a team. Whatever happens, we'll face it together, right?"

"Absolutely." Rarity extended a hoof in camaraderie.

"Believe it, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash added her hoof to the center, atop Rarity's, with Twilight following suit.

The three mares all glanced toward Shining Armor. "Well?" the lavender unicorn asked?

"'Well' what?" the stallion replied.

"Don't give me that. You're in this with us... BBBFF."

The white stallion shrugged. "Since I don't seem to have a choice, I'm with you, sis'!" One final hoof joined the huddle. "Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard, at your service!"

Given all the yelling going on in her room, it was amazing that Fluttershy had been able to sleep through it all. At least until Shining Armor's proud proclamation, that is. She slowly came to, her tired body protesting the disturbance of her slumber. The usual long stretch followed, and she rolled over to see if she could find sleep buried somewhere within the downy blankets.

The sweet embrace of sleep had long since fled from the mare this day, however. Her eyes flew open and her attention flew out the window. She saw it, but she didn't want to believe it. Bit by bit, that rank, musty smell started filling her nose. She felt the strong heat falling upon her wings. Instinctively, her breathing quickened, with her heartbeat rising to match. She bolted to the wrought-iron window, praying that her eyes were playing tricks on her. "Celestia, no..."

"Fluttershy...?" Rarity politely ushered Rainbow Dash aside and approached the Element of Kindness, drawing the attention of her peers. "What is it, dear?"

The pegasus remained silent, her gaze locked on something outside.

"Fluttershy? What's wrong?" the unicorn repeated.

Without warning, the pegasus spun around to face the others. She said nothing, but her wide eyes spoke enough. Before any question could be issued, Fluttershy flew from the window and out the door.

Rainbow Dash jumped from Fluttershy's path, watching as she blew by. "Hold up, 'Shy!" The blue pegasus flared her own wings and took off in pursuit. "Come back!"

When the gust from Rainbow's take-off subsided, Rarity ganced at Twilight. "Whatever do you suppose is the matter?"

"I don't know... She must have seen something outside." Twilight wandered over to the window to see for herself.

"Goodness, Rainbow Dash..." Rarity muttered to herself. "Warn somepony before you do that. It'll take me hours to restyle my mane..."

"Rarity, let that go for a minute and come here."

With a sigh of resignation, Rarity ceased fidgeting with her windblown coiffure and joined her friend at the window. "Is that what she saw? That smoke?"

"I guess so... But I don't see why she-"

"Twilight. Look, near the base of the smoke."

"What? It's just a...lot of trees... Oh no..."

-------------------------

Rainbow Dash pulled a tight turn as she shot out of Fluttershy's room after the panicked pegasus. "Fluttershy! What's gotten under your feathers?"

The head start that Fluttershy had over her friend let her turn the corner into Applejack's room before she was caught. Throwing subtlety to the wind, the winged pony pounced upon the bed and began bouncing upon it in a filly-like manner. "Applejack! Applejack, wake up! Wake up!"

It took about three bounces before the apple-bucking cowpony came to. "Who...? Fluttershy? Darlin', what in the name of all things red an' delicious has gotten into you!?"

"Quickly! The window! Go look out the window!"

"Ah'd love to, sugarcube... Jus' as soon as ya stop that gol-darned bouncin'!" Applejack protested, against the earthquake plaguing her mattress.

The pegasus obliged, allowing a rather disgruntled Applejack to retrieve her ejected hat. "Now then, what's all this that's got yer tail in a knot?"

Fluttershy jumped from the bed, creating a clack! upon the marbled floor. "There's something outside you need to see!"

Another clack! of hooves on marble brought attention to Rainbow Dash's arrival. "There you are, Fluttershy! What's goin' on with you?" These words bounced uselessly off the yellow pony's back, forcing the Element of Loyalty to approach her at the window. "Hello? Earth to Fluttershy... What's up?"

Fluttershy had since grown tired of repeating herself, so she instead took the cyan pony's cheeks between her hooves and pointed her gaze out the window.

Rainbow Dash was used to seeing Ponyville from altitude, and knew exactly where the plume of smoke was coming from. "Uhhh... AJ... You really need to see this..."

"Lan' sakes, RD..." the farmer pony sighed. "Not you too..." Applejack's tone was flat and uninterested, probably on account of her impromptu wake-up call. When her green eyes were finally drawn out the window, she understood the strange behavior. "No... It can't be... That's Sweet Apple Acres!!"

> 16- The Best-laid Plans...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   There's a funny thing about the Everfree Forest. Ponies come, ponies go, and ponies just pass through, and yet, life in the forest continues on, with barely an eye batted. Such was it for the three pegasi flying in tight formation just above the sea of trees. Words were not spoken between them, but the tension was palpable. Finally, the group dove into the foliage near an unusually large tree. A space between two thick roots had been hollowed out, creating a tunnel down into the earth.

One by one, the three pegasi filed down into the darkness. It wasn't until the lone stallion of the group reached the bottom that his voice was finally heard. "Dammit, Stratus..."

"What now?" The pink-maned pegasus coming down the stairs behind the stallion answered her own question as soon as it had left her mouth. The large circular room before her had been left in total disarray. Tables and chairs were upended and broken. Books and pages of books were strewn about, amidst numerous small blood stains. Slumped against the wall was the damaged, lifeless body of a Canterlot guard.

The stallion made a hurried beeline for the open door on the far side of the chamber. He stuck his head inside for an instant before proclaiming, "We've lost the Element!"

"Really? What was your first clue, Charger?" Sarcasm was dripping from the pink-maned mare's tone. "Was it the books thrown everywhere? The broken table? Or maybe it was the dead pegasus in the corner!"

"You know what, Skies? I have just about had it with that tongue of yours!"

"And I've had it with that head of yours! By what thread of logic in that tiny brain did you think  it's a good idea to burn down the house that had the one book we were looking for!?"

Charger didn't have an appropriate answer to that. He bit his tongue in frustration and stomped over to the expired guard, to begin dragging him (rather unsuccessfully) towards the staircase.

In the meantime, Skies went about salvaging what she could of the scattered scrolls and parchments, and generally straightening up. "Blitz, get off your sorry flank and make yourself useful. See if you can find Stratus."

The violet-maned pegasus comically scrambled back to her hooves and saluted. She dashed for the staircase, quite literally bouncing off of her comrade.

"Feather-brained idiot..." Charger muttered around the pegasus in his mouth, slowly following her up the stairs.

Efficiency was not Skies' strong point, so she was nowhere near finished by the time her teammates had returned. Bitter from his verbal defeat and looking for any chance to pick a fight, Charger jumped on the opportunity. "You're still not done yet!?"

Rather than dignify the stallion with a voiced response, Skies took another route...and whipped a severed chair leg at his head.

Charger ducked the wooden projectile and stormed up to the mare. "You're lucky that missed..." he growled into her face.

"Hold still next time..."

"Why you..." The stallion's wings flared in anger and he rose a hoof.

The squabbling pegasi were shocked about two feet into the air by a voice from nowhere. "Foals!! Look at you! Whining amongst yourselves like parasprites fighting over an apple core... Your collective idiocy astounds me! Tell me...who is responsible for lighting the farmhouse containing the one book I ordered you to find on fire?" The disembodied voice became disarmingly and disturbingly calm.

Neither one of the pegasi dared to answer the question, fearful of the consequences of consequences that would follow.

The unnatural voice did not appreciate the lack of an answer. "Your incompetence shall be your undoing, and it shall be by my hoof with which you are undone! I know all that you do and see! Step forward, Charger..."

Stepping forward to a formless voice is a paradox unto itself, but Charger dared not draw the wrath of his creator upon himself. He took two shaky steps toward the center of the room and awaited his judgment.

"I know full well that it was your decision to set fire to the library and the farmhouse. I give you your existence, and yet at every turn, you three foist regret upon me for doing so! Give me one reason why I should allow you to continue drawing breath!"

"Uhhh...uhhm..."

"Must I do everything!?" Nightmare Moon's disembodied voice shook the timbers of the crude ceiling. "While you three have been busy failing at the one task I assigned you, the two among you with any semblance of intelligence are within Canterlot Palace, seeking to further our progress."

"B-but Nightshade was captured and Stratus lost..."

"Do not...lecture me about their shortcomings! They made something of it! You three do nothing but wallow in your insufferable stupidity! It is infuriating!"

The bodiless voice paused to sigh. Within this period, Charger, Skies, and Blitz traded uneasy looks. There was no face to show Nightmare Moon's anger, but it wasn't necessary. The air-shaking magical voice was indicator enough. "So... What is our next assignment, your Darkness?"

"I will keep this simple, for your simple minds. Return to the ancient castle and recover three charged sinkstones. Return here when you have them."

"Th-then what?"

"Sinkstones! Now!"

"Y-yes, ma'am!"

With a scrabbling of hooves and a hurried beating of wings, the three Shadowbolts were gone once more, flying before the heat of their creator's anger.

The flight back to the ancient fortress was not a long one, and the pegasi soon saw the rear of the imposing structure rise from the many trees. They spiraled to the forest floor, landing at the base of the time-worn tower. A massive willow tree grew up against the masonry, its wispy, draping branches concealing thick shrubbery, which in turn concealed a tunnel leading into the earth.

Darkness sat heavy upon the descending staircase, torch sconces extinguished from the pegasi's earlier flight. They knew the passage well, though, and reached the bottom without difficulty.

"Alright, Skies, you run to the armory and find us three charged sinkstones. Blitz, head to the larder and get us another few weeks of rations. Meet me in the study when you're finished."

With silent nods between them, each pegasus went their own way. Lost in his own company, Charger mentally grumbled his way down the hallway. Nightshade hasn't done a damn thing! She gets all the credit! She wouldn't even have the Element of Magic if it weren't for us three! Charger's angry monologue trailed off as his hoof fell upon something soft. Something that felt like crumpled parchment. "What's this?"

Not surprisingly, what Charger felt to be crumpled parchment turned out to be just that. There was something written on it, but there was barely enough light to even see it. The discarded paper made the journey to the study with the stallion. He rummaged around in the desk for a candle and something to light it with, taking far longer than he had wished. After the candle bathed the desk in its small sphere of light, he smoothed the scroll out as best he could and began reading.

Spike's letter to the princess had been quite short, and thus Charger's investigation was too. Still, this letter seemed important...possibly useful, too. This letter was a keeper. Hoofsteps outside pulled the winged stallion's attention away from the paper, just in time to see Skies standing in the doorway.

"I've got the sinkstones and I can see Blitz coming down the hallway. Are you ready to leave yet?"

Charger quickly folded up the parchment and slipped it into the saddlebags sitting next to the desk. He snuffed the candle out with a slight flap of his wing. "Yeah, I am. Let's go."

Three flights later, two of them being stairs, the pegasi had returned to their still-disheveled hideout.

"Do you have the sinkstones?"

"We do, your Darkness. I was also able to find something else of use." Charger announced.

"Oh? And what would this be?"

"It appears to be a letter addressed to Celestia from within the palace."

"I see." Nightmare Moon's voice seemed distant, as if plotting something. "Read it."

As a disembodied voice has no eyes to speak of, Charger had little choice but to comply. A rather long period of silence followed his narration, leaving him to wonder if he had been heard.

"So that is what happened after our last...encounter. If the princesses can be broken, the Canterlot walls will fall that much easier. One of the princesses is already close to the edge... She just needs a...little bit of a push in the right direction..."

-----------------------

The last few notes of her mother's lullaby hovered just outside Luna's sense of hearing, faint as the slightest spring breeze. The princess yawned widely and snuggled down into the downy blankets. She didn't want to get up, but her brain had already started reminding her of the day's errands; today was a very big day, after all.

With a sigh of complaint, Luna kicked her covers off and rolled out of bed. Celestia had already vacated the room, obviously to attend to her share of today's duties. A glance of the nightstand revealed a simple note, all by its lonesome. Magic retrieved the parchment and brought it to eye level.

"Morning, sleepyhead." she read. "I hope you're feeling better after your nap. I ran down to the kitchen to take a look at the preparations for today. I'll be down there for a while, so come find me when you wake up, all right?

Love, 'Tia."

I'd better get going... There's an awful lot to take care of today... Several accoutrements magically floated to the princess. A tiara upon her head, an amulet for her neck, and one shoe per hoof. The princess tapped her foreleg upon the floor several times to better adjust a particularly stubborn shoe over her hoof. "That's better."

The palace halls were surprisingly active, even for a day as special as this one. Luna was greeted countless times by countless ponies by the time she reached the kitchen, so many that all of them blurred together.

The sweet smell of all manner of pastries and cakes met Luna's nostrils as she entered the palace kitchen. Ponies were milling about, filling orders, and preparing for the burden of a single kitchen in a palace of hundreds. Amidst the controlled chaos, Luna spotted two recognizable ponies. "Applejack? Pinkie Pie? What are you doing here in the kitchen?"

The orange pony turned from the oven door and the pie just behind it. "Shucks, yer Majesty, we're jus' makin' sure y'all've got yerself a right purty feast for yer big day."

"I...appreciate the thought, but you really should be up in your room. The Elements are still in danger."

Applejack nodded vigorously. "Ah get'cha yer Highness, 'cept it was yer sister what came down here with us, ain't that right, Pinkie?"

"Thure isth!"

Luna took a moment to wipe the chewed cupcake from her muzzle. "I see... And where is Celestia?"

"Shoot! She left jus' b'fore you got here. Didn't ya see her? She went to check in with Fluttershy an' Rainbow Dash. They should be out in the palace garden."

Though a princess she was, Luna was not above presenting gratitude to other ponies. She dipped her head to Applejack and took her leave.

Odd... I passed the exit to the garden on my way here. I would have run right into 'Tia... Literally... "Wait a minute!" Luna exclaimed, stopping mid-stride. "Why would Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash be out of their chambers as well?"

The fishiness of the present situation called for a little bit more haste than her hooves could provide and so the princess' wings came open to power her flight. Remaining unseen behind her, a tall figure stepped from a small patch of shadow. Her cyan, reptile-like eyes narrowed in a dark smile.

Luna reached the palace garden within the space of a few minutes. The step from the marble-clad palace hallways into the open-air garden was like entering a different world. The true number of plants within this miniature paradise was nearly uncountable, known only to the ponies tasked with their care. This was obviously a daunting task, but the results were beyond words.

Flora of every known color and shape grew and flourished within this garden. Just as varied as the garden's plants were the creatures that lived amongst them. Animals from all over Equestria, including some of the most exquisitely-voiced songbirds, called this place home. Not many could coax this sound from them, however.

Save one...

A wonderful melody reached Luna's ears as soon as she stepped into the foliage. "Fluttershy? Is that you?" While the song was very pleasing to the ear, it had no discernible direction, and seemed to change origins randomly. Every time Luna thought she was drawing closer, the song would move so that it came from behind her. "Fluttershy? Where are you?" As if in answer, the night alicorn eased the wispy branches of a willow aside with her wing, and there she was. "Fluttershy! I knew that was your conducting!"

The pink-maned pegasus ceased conducting her avian choir to face the princess. "Good morning, your Majesty."

"I...suppose it is..." Luna dropped her defensively-raised hoof to the ground. Something in the back of her mind was making her unusually wary, even of the timid Fluttershy. "I don't suppose that either you or Rainbow Dash have seen Celestia, have you?"

"Of course we have." Fluttershy answered in her demure little voice. "She just left, not more than a minute ago. Were you looking for her?"

The winged unicorn answered with the usual gesture. "Indeed I am. Did she happen to say where she was going?"

"Sure did." Rainbow Dash chimed in from her tree-bound seat. "Said she was headed up to the archives. Gonna help out Twi and Rarity with some sorta bookish thing."

A cherry pit and its partner followed the pegasus' words from the tree, landing right before the princess. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash."

"Don't mention it..." Her reply was...a little hard to make out, probably due to the cherries filing into her mouth.

'A minute ago?' I was wandering around for a good ten minutes, and nopony passed me... Something's wrong here. It's almost as if I'm dr-

Luna's suspicion quickly curtailed itself upon bumping into another pony just inside the halls. "Oh, excuse me, Apple...jack..." If things had been strange before, now they were just downright creepy.

Applejack was completely silent and her green eyes were completely devoid of any emotion, as was the rest of her face. Her steps were slow and methodical as she approached the princess. Pinkie Pie, behind her friend, was in an identical state, emotionless and slowly plodding after her.

"Applejack...? Pinkie...?" Luna took a few steps back from the encroaching ponies, uneased by their zombie-like behavior. Finally, she turned and fled at a full gallop. She ducked down a hallway and her horn flashed to life, whisking her from the hallway. The Moon Goddess took a moment to recompose herself outside the archives. It's all right, Luna... You're just seeing things... She started to take a calming breath, when she heard hoofsteps upon marble from farther down the hallway.

Slow and methodical ones.

A nameless fear gripped the pit of the alicorn's stomach. She ducked inside the archive, magically slamming the large double doors behind her. Each beat of her heart resounded loudly in her ears. So much for being composed... A quick shake of the head relieved some anxiety and let her think straight. "Twilight Sparkle? Rarity? Celestia? Are you in here?"

Luna nearly gave herself whiplash with how quickly she spun her head towards a cry of, "Over here, your Majesty!"

"Twilight Sparkle? By the stars, is it ever a relief to see you! Have you seen Celestia?"

"Of course! She just went to find a particular book for you! She should be back any minute!"

"A book? For me? For...what exactly?"

"Well, for your big day, of course!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Right." Luna nodded. "And what is it that you two were doing?"

"We were helping your sister look for a few other books."

"May I see one?"

"Well..." Twilight nervously rubbed the back of her head. "It was supposed to be a secret, but I suppose a quick look couldn't hurt."

What Luna found in the book upon opening it startled her so much that she dropped it. Truthfully, it wasn't what she found within the book so much as what she didn't find. Every page of that book had been blank.

"You Majesty, are you all right?"

"I...I'm not... Hold one a minute... Just what is my big day?"

"You mean you don't know? Your Majesty, it's the day you get to go home!"

"What?" The crack in the alicorn's voice was everything but unnoticeable. "But I...am home... Explain yourself, Twilight Sparkle!"

"Princess, it's the day you get to go home! You get to see your sister again after a thousand years! Aren't you excited!?"

That fishy smell was back, and Luna had finally figured it out. "'Thousand years?' 'Home?' This is nothing more than a dream!" As quick as her revelation had come, Luna whirled to face the unicorns. "You're not real. None of this is."

"But that's where yer wrong. We're very real, yer Highness."

The accent told Luna exactly who it was before turning around. It was a good thing, too; she didn't really want to turn around. "Applejack! Pinkie Pie! How did you find me here!?" Naturally, the taller pony began retreating from the comatose expressions. At least until she backed into something.

"You sound surprised, Princess..." Twilight murmured.

That was definitely Twilight's voice, but the unicorn's eyes were not her own. They were dark teal and cat-like in appearance. "Nightmare Moon!"

"Can't get anything past you, can I?"

"What have you done with Twilight Sparkle, foul demon!?"

"Luna...dear, I'm...hurt that you would so brazenly accuse me of such a thing..."

"Dispense with the pleasantries!" Small earthquakes started running through the library, evidence of Luna's rising temper. "I've no desire to listen to your silver tongue! What have you done with my sister's student?"

"But Luna, I've done nothing with Twilight. You see, I don't need to do anything. Twilight and the other Elements will be fuel for my return. They are the catalysts. My return is set in stone, Luna, as was your banishment. Celestia knew, but she refused to tell you..."

"Unfounded lies!" Luna's horn roared to life with a furious white flame. "Release your hold on Twilight!"

"Or what?"

"I'll force you out..." the princess growled.

"Try it." Twilight's overwritten eyes narrowed darkly.

The ethereal flame condensed itself to a single blinding point. A white-hot cone razed the spot where Twilight stood, leaving a charred circle upon the marble floor.

"Excellent shot..."

Luna whirled to throw another conical blast at the purple mare.

"Ooh, almost had me that time..."

And thus this pattern of arcane cat-and-mouse continued until Luna grew fatigued. Beads of sweat upon her forehead mixed with the ashen remains of the archive's parchments and scrolls, and yet the possessed Twilight had naught but a fleck of ash upon her coat.

"What's the matter, Luna? Running out of steam?"

An alicorn has immense magic reserves at their disposal, but even the most powerful still has their limits. The next magical burst to issue from Luna's horn amounted to nothing more than a miserable fizzle.

"I see... My turn then." The Element of Magic stood up and dusted the ash off her coat. "This...is how you do it..." Her eyes flashed once, and Luna was hurled backwards, pinned to a cold marble wall.

"Y-you...have none of the Elements... You shouldn't be here... This is my dream..." The alicorn struggled uselessly as all six Element bearers slowly approached her, each one playing host to Nightmare Moon's slitted eyes.

"You are half right, my dear. This is in fact, your dream. But, by that simple fact, it is my dream as well, and I need no permissions to walk within it. I live within your mind, as do you dreams. You have no power over me here."

Luna laughed. "Perhaps not, but you forget; two can play this game. You cannot follow me to the waking world!"

-------------------------

The alicorn's eyes opened to motes of dust floating plaintively beyond the fine silk curtain of her sister's canopied bed. She spent little time within the hold of the linens. The window...!

Outside, the sun shone brightly upon the sea of trees that was the Everfree Forest. A sigh of relief moved from the goddess' lips. "I am home... That was just a nightmare..."

"If that was a nightmare, then what am I?"

Several spider-webs of cracks spread through the marble floor from the hoof slammed down upon it. "An unnecessary thorn in my side... What spell lets you walk amongst the waking?"

The jet-black alicorn seated upon the bed closed her eyes and took a long, slow breath. "Luna, Luna, Luna... You give yourself far too much credit... Did you honestly think it would be that easy to escape me? Come now, don't look at me like that; that hatred burning in your eyes. You shouldn't be upset with yourself, dear. You tried your best..." During her monologue, Nightmare Moon took a leisurely stroll around the far side of the bed, glared at the entire time. Finally, she leaned in, face-to-face with the princess. "But it wasn't good enough, was it...?"

Luna snorted. She wasn't about to dignify that with a reply. She pushed the smug alicorn's face away with her horn.

"Really, Luna? Must you act like such a filly? I've not come seeking hostility from you."

"Then explain yourself, and make haste, starting with the spell you've used to seal me in sleep."

"Spell? You're here by no arcane means. You're here because I want you to be. No other reason."

"Then you won't mind if I leave."

Nightmare Moon smiled, the mere sight of which sent shivers down Luna's spine. "Go ahead."

The navy blue alicorn closed her eyes, imagining herself waking up once more.

"So... How is that going for you?"

"How are you holding me here?"

The helmeted alicorn shook her head. "I'm surprised at you, Luna... Both you and I know you're quite smart and yet you still haven't figured it out?" She paused to allow the silence to provide some thinking time. "No? Let me help." she strode over to the wall-turned-bookcase and deliberated for a moment. "Here we are. Catch." Her magic spun a single tome towards Luna.

"I'm not interested in research." Luna instantly vaporized the book in a wisp of blue flame. "Tell me."

"This is my dream too. I have just as much control over this world as you do. Anything you do, I can undo."

"Why have you kept me here?"

"Goodness, aren't we full of questions. You're here so I can talk to you."

"Save it. I've heard all of your lies before."

"Lies? I have spoken no lies to you, my dear."

The cold touch of metal against skin made Luna shiver as her dark half caressed her chin with an armored hoof.

"But... if you wish to speak of lies, let us speak of your sister..."

"Leave Celestia out of this! She has no parts to play here!"

"On the contrary, Luna, she wrote this whole play. Who was the one who told you that you were free of me?"

A steel-hard gaze was the only answer that Nightmare Moon received, but she could see the gears turning within Luna's mind.

"Who was the one that willingly sent you away for a millennia because she didn't know what to do?"

The princess' cold stare faltered for a moment and she looked away, obviously pondering these words.

Nightmare Moon had found a hoofhold and she wasn't about to give it up. "Who was the one who stood idly by and watched you descend into darkness, even though she knew something was wrong? Who, Luna!? Who!?

"Ce-Celestia..."

"That's right, Luna... It was Celestia... She is the one to blame for what happened to us."

"Celestia is not without her faults, nor am I without mine... Just as she forgave me for what I did, I have forgiven her! Celestia is my sister, and no amount of your lies will turn will turn me against her again!" Under her furrowed brow, a bright glow issued forth from Luna's eyes. Nightmare Moon was blown off her hooves, into the far wall.

"Impressive." Nightmare Moon laughed. "But your restraint makes you weak. Next time you attack somepony, make sure you follow through!"

In less than an instant, Luna felt herself hurled backwards again, her spell broken and turned against her. The marble wall was going to hurt, unless...

Rubble exploded from the palace wall, yielding to Luna's magical barrier. Instinctively, the princess' wings shot open to full span. A deft flick righted the falling alicorn, just in time to drop four hooves upon the ground. Her momentum bled off quickly as she skidded through the loose grey dust. The magical blow had winded her, but her instincts remained focused. She flexed her wings, ready for the inevitable battle.

"Quick thinking, Luna, but I wouldn't expect anything less."

A puff of dust masked Luna's snort. She pawed the ground angrily and fell into a crouch. Her takeoff was explosive, rivaling the speed of a falling star.

Nightmare Moon smirked. "It seems I spoke too soon..." She jumped from the wall and went into a fast dive. Magic began building around her horn, concentrating to a lethal point. Just as she was about to run Luna through, a flash of light replaced the princess. "Clever move, Luna! A spatial shift; effective, if a little naive! Come on, Luna! You can't sustain it forever!"

"I know..."

A white crescent of pure magic struck Nightmare Moon in the back. She whirled, only to find a crippling kick to her back, robbing her control of her wings. The taste of her conjured dreamscape in her mouth as she hit the ground was particularly unpleasant, although significantly less so than the fiery needles digging into her paralyzed wings. "Body focusing? You're full of surprises, Luna."

"Body focusing, combined with a small paralytic charm. I've had practice."

"Indeed. But you'll have to keep trying!" The villain's body dissolved into her mane before sinking into the dusty ground.

"No! Show yourself, monster!" A slight rumbling under the princess' hooves forced her into a cautious retreat.

Dust went in every possible direction as Nightmare Moon summoned an arcane burst from the ground directly below Luna's hooves.

Luna's wings came out again in instinct, but she didn't have enough time to right herself. Her right wing caught the ground awkwardly and she heard an audible pop, meaning only one thing. "Nngh!" In less time than it took for the dust to settle, a heavy hoof descended into her chest. "Aaaah!" She cried out in pain against the full-body pulse of magic discharged into her. "I...I can't move!"

"Paralytic charm. Cute trick. Try a full-body version next time. Now that I have your undivided attention, do yourself a favor and look up into the sky for me."

"W-what?" Luna did as she was bid, and nearly had a full-on panic attack as a result. The formerly sun-filled sky was pitch-black, marked only by small points of light. "N-no... That's the...earth!"

"That's right... Welcome back..."

-------------------------

Given the circumstances at hoof, Celestia was very behind on her sleep and this mid-day nap was heavenly. Her room was warm, there was just the right amount of sunlight seeping in through the silk curtains, and the sheets were comfortable beyond description. It was perfect. Until her bunkmate kicked her in the side. Several times. "Ow! Careful, Luna..."

"No...! Not the moon! Release me...!"

"Luna...?" The Sun Goddess sat up, blinking the sleep from her eyes. "Luna? Luna, wake up..." She nudged the sleeping princess, not expecting what would follow.

Luna came to with a gasp as if she had been drowning. Her eyes were wild and terrified, and darted around the room faster than a startled parasprite. "Celestia!?"

"Luna! What is it!?"

"Nightmare-" Mid-sentence, Luna's eyes rolled back in her head and she slid from the bed, pulled back into slumber.

"Luna!" The covers flew from the bed along with Celestia. "Luna, wake up!" Wait... 'Nightmare?' Not again! Magic returned Luna's unconscious body to the bed. "I know we agreed to stay out of each other's dreams, but I can help, Luna. Please, let me in."

-------------------------

"Nice trick. But are you really that dense? You don't wake up until I let you..." Nightmare Moon hissed into Luna's face. "You don't leave until I say so.."

With each word, Nightmare Moon's hoof pressed harder and harder into Luna's chest, finally getting another cry of pain. "Aaggh!" Her mind was on fire from fighting its forced containment, but she was still able to make out her sister's voice.

"...I can help, Luna. Please, let me in."

Without a second's hesitation, the younger princess dropped her mental walls, and the moment she did so, the entire wrath of Tartarus was unleashed.

With no battle cry whatsoever, Celestia arrived like a comet, mane and tail blazing with the fury of one thousand suns. She caught Nightmare Moon in the side with a devastating body slam. A column of fire and burning dust rose from the ground, generated by Celestia's rapid cyclonic flight. Higher and higher this pillar grew until it was crested by a blinding golden point of light. Celestia folded her wings and dove, spiraling like a drill, into the center of the column, the pillar of fire swirling into a single point on her horn as she flew. Her rage pushed her velocity to supersonic levels. The magic gathered at the end of Celestia's horn impacted Nightmare Moon's breastplate with the force of a falling meteor. At the moment of impact, Celestia detonated the spell and watched as the dark alicorn dug a massive crater into the lunar surface. A slow glide carried the white alicorn to her sister's side, where she helped her back to her hooves with a healing spell. "Are you all right, Luna?"

"Y-yes, I am... Thanks, 'Tia..."

"So, you fight Luna's battles for her now, Celestia?"

"Do not patronize me, Nightmare Moon. Luna is my sister, and the instant you decided to raise a hoof against her, you made it my battle. If you continue to harass her, I will continue to place the wrath of Tartarus upon your head."

"I never took you as the type to give out empty threats, Celestia."

"Nor should you. I can assure that this is no threat. This is a promise. One thousand years has given me plenty of time to practice different types of magic. To call upon power from Tartarus is a mere parlor trick. Do not force me to become creative. Relinquish your hold on Luna's mind and let her awaken."

"And should I refuse?"

"You shall receive a glimpse of my 'imagination.'"

"Very well, Celestia. I concede. But know this, Luna dear... Every time you sleep, every dream you remember, I will be there. Every one."

Celestia finally turned to face her opposite. When she spoke, her voice was not her own, but a voice which crackled and burned with the power of the sun itself. "Should you harm a single hair on Luna's coat, I will drop something far worse than the wrath of Tartarus upon you..."

"Oh, and what would that be?"

"My wrath."

-------------------------

Celestia's awakening from her second nap was far less pleasant. Her head might as well have been splitting itself in two. "I...forgot how much that takes out of me..."

"Ce-Celestia...?"

Luna's weakened voice immediately erased Celestia's headache and replaced it with concern. "Easy, Luna. Don't sit up too fast."

"Did...that really just happen?"

"You saw me in your dream?"

The Moon Goddess nodded weakly. This simple action twisted her face into a pained grimace and she fell back onto the pillow. "Ngh!"

"Easy, easy." Blankets floated up over Luna's body. "Yes, that actually happened."

"That's...what I was afraid of..." Luna pressed a hoof over her eyes.

"Luna?"

"I c-can't do it anymore..."

"Luna, don't-"

"Don't tell me i-it'll be all right! Y-you heard her... Every time I fall asleep, she'll be there! She won't let me wake up, and I can't b-break her hold... You can't always follow me into my d-dreams... I-I give up..."

Celestia knew that there was nothing she could say that could make it better, so she simply extended her hooves, inviting Luna into a warm embrace. "Don't be scared, Luna; I'll fight for the both of us..."

The only response was a tighter hug.

I just hope I can...

-------------------------

"I'm terribly sorry, but, as I've said, I cannot permit you to leave your chambers without the accompaniment of the princesses."

"Now look here, Jet Stream, Ah mean ya no disrespect, but if y'all don't git outta mah way right now, Ah'm gonna buck ya halfway to the moon!"

"Easy there, AJ. Don't go pickin' fights with-"

The blonde earth pony rounded on the cyan pegasus so fast that she slapped Fluttershy with her tail. "Butt out, Rainbow Dash! That is mah livelihood goin' up in smoke out there, and if you don't let me leave, Ah'm gonna-"

"You'll what, Applejack?"

Jet Stream stepped aside to allow Twilight and company to enter the room.

"Twilight? What in Equestria happened to you!?"

"Long story, for another time. Right now, you need to calm down."

"Twilight is right, dear. You really must calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down, Rarity!"

"A-Apple...jack... P-please..." Fluttershy had already been upset and on the verge of tears. All of the yelling had only pushed her over the edge. "St...stop... Ple...ase..." she whimpered, remaining unheard over the heightened emotions.

"Applejack, please!"

"No! Ah'm not going to calm down! Mah family is on that farm! Yours too, Rarity!"

A pall fell over the room at her words. All eyes turned to face Rarity. It took about three seconds for this information to process. "Sweetie Belle! No!"

The shock from Rarity's voice spread quickly. Even Rainbow Dash uttered a weak "Oh no..."

"Applejack said my library was burnt down..." Twilight started pacing as she put two and two together. "All this can only add up to one thing!"

"Spit it out, Twi'! Ah ain't got the time for yer fancy mathematics!"

"This fire must've been caused by the same pegasi that set fire to the library!"

"All the more reason for me to start kickin' some heads in! Outta mah way, Twi'!"

Applejack easily shouldered her way past the unicorn, only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash. "Hold it, AJ. If these are the same pegasi, dont'cha think this might be a trap?"

"Stow it for somepony who cares. That's mah family out there! Now git!" Once more, the earth pony shoved her friend aside, but the stubborn pegasus wouldn't be defeated so easily. She grabbed the cowpony's blonde tail and gave a swift yank. "Darn it, RD! Leggo!" One of her powerful hind legs came out, clocking the side of the pegasi's skull and throwing her into the solid marble wall. In the stunned silence that followed, the orange mare threw a challenging glare over her friends. "The next pony to try that gits two. Anypony gonna try?"

Armor plates clanked against one another as their owner shrugged. "Yeah. I will." Shining Armor replaced his helm and nodded to Applejack.

"Look, Shinin' Armor, Ah've got nothin' against you, but if you don't move, yer gonna be in a world of hurt."

"I'll take my chances." The air filled itself with a high-pitched whine that steadily grew in volume.

Twilight knew that noise. "Wait, Shining Armor! Don't use that spell!"

Applejack's hind legs shot out like two steel pistons, straight into Shining Armor's barrier, whose reflective magic shoved the force right back. The mare found herself on the floor, feeling like she had just kicked herself.

Twilight knew the capabilities of her brother's spell inside and out. All force directed against it would be instantly and equally rebounded. Applejack could seriously hurt herself. "Applejack! Stop!"

"Nothin' doin', Twi'..." Applejack stumbled back to her hooves and charged the stallion.

"Applejack, stop!" Rarity cried. "Please! You're going to hurt yourself!"

"Shining Armor, drop the shield!"

The stallion remained just as stubborn as his sister's friend, who was in the process of bouncing off his shield once more, leaving her hat behind.

"Stay down, Applejack!"

For the slightest of moments, Shining Armor's stoic expression cracked. Beyond the magenta hue of his shield, he saw an exhausted Element of Honesty back on her hooves, pawing the ground and ready to charge.

Little explanation was needed for the third attempt to breach the shield, save that each attempt rebounded the orange pony less and less.

"Applejack! Please!" Seeing her friend struggle like this made Fluttershy physically ill. "Stop this!"

"Drop the spell, Shining Armor!" Twilight knew the stubborn cowpony; she would keep going until something broke. And it wasn't going to be the barrier. "Do it!"

The stallion's eyes darted to his sister's frightened expression. He knew what she was thinking. With a resigned sigh, he lowered his spell.

The act of pacifism was lost on the Element bearer. She stampeded the stallion a third time.

What happened next happened in slow motion for all present. A bright burst of magic illuminated the room and Applejack fell to the floor, unconscious, with a sizeable patch of orange fur between her shoulders blackened and smoking.

Every eye again moved in unison to look at the caster. All except for two.

The tears in the white mare's shocked blue eyes all too clearly reflected the blue aura surrounding her horn.

"Wh-what have I d-done...?"
> 17 - Sisterhood Like Moon Pies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "W-we're not gonna be able t'go home agin, are we?"

"Ah told ya not to look out the window..."

A short period of silence followed before, "Big Mac?"

"Don't look out the window."

"Big Mac! Answer me!"

A massive red nose descended upon the yellow filly and hoisted her, protesting, into the air. The pony attached to the nose placed his younger sister on the far side of the seat.

"Move me all ya want, but that ain't gonna stop me from askin'!"

Big Macintosh sighed and looked out the window of the train. The black plume of oily smoke painted an unsightly smear upon the blue sky. As much as he wanted to deny it, he knew that it was going to come to something like this. He just wished that it hadn't.

"Well? Can we go home or not?"

"No, Apple Bloom. We can't. Not fer a while anyway."

The somber answer put a damper on the young pony's demanding. "So where're we gonna stay then?"

"Until this whole situation blows over, we're gonna stay in Canterlot. Ah'm sure the princess'll put us up."

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle exchanged excited glasses. "We get to stay in the palace! We get to stay in the palace!" they squealed in unison.

Apple Bloom was significantly less ecstatic about the change of venue. "What about afterwards?"

"Ah...don't know... But we'll figure somethin' out." He forced a smile to show to the young pony.

"Ooh! Ooh! You could stay with me and Rarity! Pleasepleasepleaseplease!"

"Thanks fer the offer there, Sweetie Belle, but we'll cross that bridge when we git there."

The bow-wearing filly sniffed. If we git there... She reached down and softly stroked the fiery-plumed back of the sleeping Philomena, trying to distract herself from her lack of a home. The phoenix trilled slightly from under her wing. "Atta' girl..." Ah hope AJ is all right...

"Attention, passengers!" The door at the end of the car slid open. "We will be pulling into Canterlot station within the next five minutes. If this is your stop, be warned that the carriage service to the city is currently not running. The inner city has been placed on lockdown. You are welcome to stay at the station for the night to wait out the lockdown. Should you wish to return to your original destination, you may do so free of charge, and your initial ticket shall be refunded. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."

"All right, girls, this here's our stop. You have your things ready to go?"

Each of the three fillies jumped to the cabin floor, where Apple Bloom began passing out saddlebags from under the seats.

"Thanks, darlin'." Big Macintosh took his bags from the small pony. "Sweetie Belle, would you carry Angel Bunny fer me?"

"Sure!" The unicorn member of the Crusaders very gently nosed the rabbit in question as he slept at Philomena's feet. "Angel? Angel, wake up. I'm just gonna put you up on my back, okay?"

"Apple Bloom? D'you want to carry Philomena?"

It took significantly less time for the earth pony filly to rouse the dozing avian and she was soon perched upon the filly's yellow back.

A series of three whistle blasts announced the arrival into Canterlot Station. Brakes hissed and the cars shifted, unbalancing one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "Now, when we git off, Ah want you three to stay in front of me at all times, okay?"

"Why? This is just a train station, isn't it?"

"Eeyup. But Ah'm not takin' any chances. Y'all are stickin' with me until we get to Canterlot, understand?" Three "Uh-huh's" were his answer, one from each Crusader. "Alright then. Let's go." The red earth pony started ushering his charges toward the door and the platform beyond. Steam rolled across the platform, pushed by a brisk breeze. "C'mon, girls. Let's git inside and find us a way to git to Canterlot."

Not many ponies moved throughout the station, probably due to the citywide lockdown. The only ponies present were those that had been on the incoming train. "Lookie there!" Apple Bloom pointed across the terminal. "Infermation!" The three fillies broke into a run. Big Macintosh followed at a significantly slower trot. "Uhh, excuse me, miss? Ah've got a question."

The unicorn mare working the desk leaned forward to see her addressor. "Of course! What can I do for you, little one?"

"Ah'm sorry to bother ya, miss, but we're lookin' to git a ride to Cainterlot."

Big Macintosh arrived just in time to hear, "I'm sorry, dear, but we haven't had any carriages running today. The inner city is on lockdown; Princess Celestia's orders."

"But we really hafta git to Cainterlot! Ya don't understand; this is important! Please!"

"Manners, Apple Bloom." her brother softly reminded. "Ah'm sorry, miss."

"Oh, it's quite all right. She's adorable. Is she yours?"

"Mah sister. We were just on our way to Canterlot to meet some family. Are you sure there's no other way to Canterlot?"

"You could walk, but the city itself is barred from any traffic in or out. I do apologize for the inconvenience. We'd be happy to provide you with blankets for the night if you wish to stay until tomorrow."

"You'd better. At least until we've got an idea of what we're doin'."

"Of course. One moment, please." The brown-maned mare ducked behind the counter briefly, coming back up with a small pile of blankets. "Here you are, sir."

"Much obliged, miss." The farmer pony nodded in gratitude, draping the blankets across his back. He started to turn away, when he caught glance of the fiery avian upon his sister's back. The one with the messenger harness... "Beggin' yer pardon, miss, but might you have a pencil and paper Ah could borrow?"

"I do." A well-sharpened pencil and several sheets of parchment floated over the desk.

"Thank ya kindly. Ah'll have it back to ya in just a moment."

The party of four excused themselves off to a small corner of the terminal. "What's the paper for?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Ah'll feel worlds better once we're inside the Palace an' we've got that there book into the Princess' hooves. We ain't got the time to sit here and wait out a lockdown. We need to git a letter to the Princess, an' Philomena here's gonna help us do it."

"Trrrr..." Hearing the mention of her name, the phoenix turned an inquisitive eye to the earth pony. She watched him spread the parchment upon the floor, ready to be scribed.

"Okay, who wants to write our letter?"

"I'll do it." the unicorn filly volunteered. "Rarity's had me practicing my writing." She took the pencil within her mouth and nodded to the stallion.

Slowly, so as not to outspeak Sweetie Belle's writing, Big Macintosh began dictating. "Dear Princess Celestia, We were able to find the book you were lookin' fer. We did have a slight change of plans, though. Three pegasi attacked us and set fire to Sweet Apple Acres. The girls and Ah have the book. Have Philomena lead you to us when you receive this. Big Macintosh."

The finished letter was twirled up and slipped into Philomena's harness. "We ready to go?" Apple Bloom glanced up at the avian upon her back.

"Eeyup." At his urging, the Cutie Mark Crusaders led the earth pony outside, where he had the phoenix hop over to his foreleg. "All right, Philomena. Y'know what to do; find Princess Celestia and bring her back here."

The phoenix nodded and winged to the sky. Four sets of eyes watched her until she disappeared from sight. A crisp breeze rolled across the front deck of the station, sending shivers through each of the small fillies. "Brrrr..."

"C'mon, girls, let's git back inside... We've jus' gotta wait fer the princess now. Y'all three should take a nap; y've had a busy day."

As usual, there was protest to the idea of a nap, provided by a one orange pegasus filly. "But I'm not tired! I'm full of energy!"

"A likely story, missy." the orange-maned stallion chuckled. "Ah saw ya noddin' off durin' the train ride. C'mon, a quick nap'll do ya good."

"Oh all right..."

Thankfully, the three blankets were rather large, easily able to accommodate three fillies. One blanket was spread upon the ground, another was rolled into a makeshift pillow, while the third was finally pulled over the little ponies. A crude bed, but it would suffice for the moment.

"Let us know when the Princess gets here, okay?"

"You got it, Sweetie Belle." Each one of the three fillies received a quick kiss on the forehead, and when he reached his sister, the red earth pony softly whispered, "Now don't ya go worryin' yer tail into a knot, okay? Everythin's gonna be all right."

"If you say so..."

Big Macintosh retreated to a nearby bench, where he could keep the fillies in the corner of his eye. He watched them until they fell asleep, which didn't take too long. Despite her protests, Scootaloo was actually the first to go. He chuckled lightly and glanced out the window, where his jollity took to the sky like Celestia's phoenix. AJ, if y've seen that there smoke, y'all're probly worried sick...

-------------------------

Given the happenings in Canterlot Palace, worry seemed to be the only thing on anypony's plate.

The two alicorn sisters remained in bed, Luna under the blankets, Celestia seated next to her. Every now and then, the night blue alicorn would sniff a little and wipe her eyes.

"Are you sure that there's nothing I can do to help, Luna?"

She nodded weakly. "I'm sure..."

"Luna..." The elder alicorn rested a hoof upon her sister's shoulder. What can I do to help you...? "Luna, talk to me..."

"What's to talk about? Y-you saw my dream... She locked me on the m-moon, Celestia..."

Celestia's eyes widened for an instant to let realization pass through. "You...you're scared of being imprisoned on the moon?" The look that Luna turned to her sister almost stopped Celestia's heart. "I...I had no idea that you remembered any of that..."

"I wish it were that simple... Every day for one thousand years, she would force me to stare at the earth until I broke down. Every day it took longer and longer... Finally, I stopped giving her the satisfaction; I just kept it inside... But it still hurt, 'Tia... It hurt so m-much... It hurt...and she liked it..."

"You've been holding all of this in since you returned, haven't you?"

Again the dark blue pony's head bobbed slowly up and down.

"Luna, why didn't you tell me? I would have been happy to help you."

"Y-your sentiments are well-received, Celestia, but this is something that I need to fight with."

"But nopony said you needed to fight alone. We're in this together."

"Celestia, I'm-" A massive white wing flipped itself into Luna's mouth, deciding that she was done speaking.

"Luna, I don't like playing this card on you, and Harmony forbid I should ever have to do it again, but I am your older sister, and I will not let you do this alone. I don't doubt that you have the capacity to do this on your own, but I am not okay with watching you struggle with this burden, especially when it was my use of the Elements that gave it to you."

"You didn't know what the spell would do; it's not your faul-"

"Luna...I'm helping."

"So that's it? That's the last word on the subject? There's no chance for me to talk you out of it?"

"None at all."

For a second, Celestia took her sister's challenging glare as a sign of defiance, but there was no reason for worry. Luna lowered her head and murmured "Thank you."

The sun-marked princess extended a wing and pulled her sister closer. "Do you feel any better now?"

"It'll be a long time before I'm 'better.' I am glad for your help, though."

"I see... Hold on..." Celestia slipped off the bed and cantered over to the bookcase. A collection of eight books floated from the shelf. One by one, the tomes filed past her pink eyes, pages flipping. "No...no...no...no... Ah-hah!" Seven books were returned to the shelves. "All right, Luna, get dressed and come with me."

"What? Why?"

"Trust me." Celestia winked, wiggling the one book she still held with her magic.

The blue alicorn shrugged. "Fine. I'll meet you in the hallway. Give me a moment."

It wasn't three minutes before the sisters had reunited in the hallway as had been requested. "All right, follow me." Without waiting for any sort of answer, Celestia started down the hallway, humming to herself."

What in Equestria has come over you, Celestia? What's in that book?

"You coming, Luna? The surprise in this book is for you."

"What?" Luna's curiosity put her hooves into a swift trot. She quickly drew even with the taller alicorn. "Where exactly are you taking us?"

"You'll see."

"What's in that book then?"

"You'll see that too."

"Fine..."

There was no other mention of the book for a good five minutes. Without warning, Luna made a surprise grab for the tome, to which Celestia responded by teleporting the book away."

"'Tia!"

"Come now, Luna. You're over two thousand years old."

"You're one to talk, playing keep-away with a book! Hypocrisy is not a good color on you, dear sister."

"Perhaps not, but I think I'm more of a summer anyway." The book winked back into existence as if nothing had ever happened. "Come on. We're almost there."

-------------------------

"The kitchen? Why are we here?"

Yellow magic passed the book to the Moon Goddess, already opened to a specific page.

"No... Where did you get this?"

"What, did you think my bookcase was full of dusty old spellbooks?"

"No... I mean, this is the recipe for...for moon pies that Mother used to make us as foals. How did you come by it? This...is even her writing..."

"It should be; that's her recipe book. Now, what's say we see if we can't make some?"

"Really? I haven't had one of those in years!"

"Let's go then!" Celestia eased open the kitchen doors with a great wing. All activity in the bustling kitchen immediately stopped at the presence of the royal sisters.

"Your Highnesses!" The head chef ceased his proceedings to properly address the sisters. "What brings you to my humble domain?"

"Good morning, Five Star. " Celestia nodded in greeting. Her mother's recipe book traded auras down to the chef pony, still opened to the recipe for the preferred pastry. "How many of these ingredients do we have in the larders?"

Five Star pondered the yellowed pages for a moment, complete with hoof-to-chin tapping. "Heavenly Moon Pies... Not a recipe I usually see cross my ovens...but... Sugar...butter...cocoa powder...marshmallow crème... Yes, I do believe we have all of these. How many pies would you like this to make?"

"Two dozen."

"Very good. I'll get started on these immediately and have them up to your chambers within the hou-"

"Thank you, Five Star, but that won't be necessary. Luna and I shall be preparing these ourselves. If you could fetch us the ingredients and utensils, we'd be happy to get out of your mane."

"O-of course! Feel free to choose any oven you wish and I'll be right with you."

Obviously, none of the ovens or counters were built for operators of alicorn height, but the sisters would make it work. The provided aprons were also more than a bit short. There weren't many other options though.

"Here you are, your Highnesses!" Five Star returned, pushing a two-tiered serving tray stocked with all manner of ingredients and utensils. "Do let me know if you need any help."

"Of course." Celestia dipped her head to the unicorn, who promptly turned and scurried off to survey the rest of his kingdom. The Sun Goddess-turned-pastry chef nosed through the various sacks and bottles, seeking the cookbook. "Ah! Here we are." She passed this to Luna, continuing her trip through the ingredients. "What do we need to get started?"

"Let's see... Set oven to 400 degrees...done... Ready?"

"Go."

"Two bowls, butter, sugar, evaporated milk, eggs, vanilla, flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder."

One by one, each of these items floated off of the cart. "Now what?"

"Is there a cookie sheet on that cart?"

"Ummm..." Shuffling was heard as items were pushed about. "Wait, yes. Here it is."

"Let me see it." The book was moved to a nearby stand for easy viewing. Luna's eyes traced the instructions once more. "It says 'lightly grease the sheet.' Pass me the cooking oil, 'Tia."

"While you do that..." Without a word spoken or a step missed between them, Luna moved to the side, allowing Celestia to take her place. "I'll get started with step two." Bowls and ingredients lined up before Celestia. Her eyes glanced at the book and the ingredients started filing into the two bowls according to recipe. Magic placed a whisk in each bowl, spinning each to a fine mix. The dry bowl was then slowly poured into the wet, whisk twirling steadily.

"Are you almost done with the dough?"

"Just finished. Give me the sheet." Muffled laughter was not the answer she was expecting to meet. "What's so funny?"

"Y-your face..." Luna giggled around her hoof.

"My face?" Mirrors were not readily available in a kitchen, so Celestia grabbed the next closest thing. Her reflected expression in the pot lid was distorted and quite comical, but she could still see a layer of brown dust covering her muzzle and most of her face. "Oh. I see."

If there's one thing that magic cannot do, it's disguise laughter. Luna's efforts weren't doing a very good job either. "Pffft!"

Celestia's eyes darted from her tittering sister to the spoon lying next to the chocolate batter and a mischievous smirk crossed her face.

Luna's eyes, however, were still closed from resisting laughter, so the batter-laden spoon heading for her nose went unnoticed. "Ack! What was that for, Celestia!?"

"Now we match." she replied cheekily.

"Funny..." Luna muttered. Behind Celestia, the jar of marshmallow crème unscrewed its lid. A dollop of its contents floated out, with one target in mind.

"Apbthbb!" The sweet, sticky condiment was magically shoved into the Sun Goddess' mouth and nose. "Okay, okay, we're even. You're certainly feeling better, I see."

"You could say that."

"Good to hear. I'd give you a hug, but...we might make more of a mess than it's worth..."

A genuine smile crossed Luna's face; something that Celestia had not seen in far too long. "It's the thought that counts, 'Tia."

-------------------------

With all silliness between them expended, the rest of the baking went off without a hitch. The marshmallow filling was prepared and the cookies were baked and finally filled. After returning the utensils (cleaned, of course) to Five Star, the sisters took their creations and their leave of the kitchen.

The cookies smelled absolutely delicious and Luna couldn't wait until they were back in Celestia's room to try them. She removed one of the moon pies from the plate, her stomach growling in anticipation. "Mmmm..." That first bite was nothing short of bliss and the rest of the cookie disappeared in short order.

"How did we do?" Celestia noticed the pastry fitting itself into her sister's mouth. "Are they as good as Mother used to make?"

There was no hesitation in Luna's answer. "No. Not even close. They're good, but they're not that good."

A wing lightly nudged the younger alicorn. "Gee, thanks..." Another cookie removed itself from the plate floating alongside the white alicorn. One bite later and the agreement was unanimous. "Okay, you're right. Mother made them better." she commented, nudging the door to her room open. She set the plate down upon her nightstand and turned her magic toward straightening her bed.

Luna remembered all too well what had happened in this room an hour earlier. That oppressive, strangling feeling slowly started crawling up her spine again. Absentmindedly, she took another moon pie to distract herself, eventually noticing something sitting under the plate. Magic carried this over to her as well. The Great Guide to All Things Gemstone... A quick inspection revealed two different dog-eared pages. "What were you looking for in this book, 'Tia?"

"Which book would that be?"

"This one here."

The elder alicorn pondered the floating book before her for a minute. "The Great Guide to All Things Gemstone? Where did you find this?"

"On your nightstand, under the moon pies."

"Funny... It wasn't there this morning..." Celestia cracked the encyclopedia to the first marked page. "Peridot? Why in Equestria is..." Further reading stifled the flow of words from the princess' mouth. "Look at this, Luna. Second paragraph."

The Moon Goddess wiped some wayward crumbs from her mouth before reading. "Legend says that if this gem is set in gold and worn, the stone will develop its full potential as a talisman, and will have the power to eradicate terrors of the night, such as fearsome visions and nightmares."

A broad smile appeared on Celestia's face. "I think we just found a solution to your problem that might let you get some real sleep."

"Really? You think so?"

"She calls herself Nightmare Moon. It's worth a try."

"I suppose..."

"Still..." Celestia turned the book every which way, looking for...well, she didn't really know. Something. "I find it odd that this book just up and appears on my nightstand. I know that I didn't get it. I didn't even know this was in the archives..." Curiosity flipped the tome open to the second marked page. Then, just like that, Celestia knew where the book had come from. "Mother..."

"Mother? What are you talking about?"

The Sun Goddess' voice was warm, just above a whisper. "Mother put this book there for us to find."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "She...appeared to me earlier today, just after you fell asleep. I... was in a very hard place, Luna. I was at wit's end; I didn't know what to do. This page here clearly details a counterspell one can perform that absorbs the magic from all nearby sinkstones, rendering them useless until recharged. Remove the magic and the pony wearing the disguising sinkstone is revealed. One less thing to worry about. Let's head back down to the research wing and-"

"Kreeeh!"

Pecking and scrabbling at the window diverted Celestia's attention. "Philomena!?" A yellow aura popped the latch on the window and the phoenix came flapping inside. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" Celestia held the phoenix upon her foreleg, nuzzling her fiery head.

"Trrrrrt..." Philomena opened her harness case to fetch the message within, which she presented to her master.

The alicorn's brow furrowed at the scribed words. "Philomena, fly down to the chariot run. Luna and I will meet you there when we're ready."

Luna watched as the avian shot from the open window like a flaming arrow. Something...building far off on the horizon, above the Everfree Forest, caught her eye and finally beckoned her to the window as well. "What was in that letter, 'Tia?" she asked, only half paying attention, busy as she was trying to make sense of what she saw. Oh no...

"That was Applejack's brother. He found the book that very possibly contains a ritual for complete separation. Wherever he is, he has foals in his care, and I'm not about to see one of them hurt."

"We're probably going to need a plan then."

"Why do you say that?"

The Princess of the Night looked back over her shoulder. "Wasn't there a storm over the Everfree Forest the night Fluttershy's and Applejack's chariot went down and over Canterlot the day Twilight was taken?"

"'Storm?'" Celestia felt a claw dig into her stomach at that word. "What are you looking at?"

Luna pointed a hoof out the window. "See for yourself."

As much as she hated it, the alicorn knew what she was going to find upon looking outside. The view did not disappoint. Black, roiling clouds were quickly gathering over the sea of trees that was the forest. So quickly that Celestia could see the storm growing even now. "We do need a plan...and I know just where to start." 

"To the armory?"

Celestia's golden helm slid pointedly over her head. "My thoughts exactly."

As the sisters galloped from the room, they passed a lone guard. He watched them until they disappeared from sight. He then glanced into the chambers, spying the book left open upon the bed.

-------------------------

"Ah! Your Highnesses! I did not expect to see you again so soon. I hope things are going well."

"That's why we're here."

"If you would be so kind as to ready my armor." Luna nodded to the blacksmith pony."

"Of course, your Highness." The black, enchanted metal floated from its case. Luna moved as needed as the pieces sought their proper locations. "There. Is there anything else you require of me?"

"Yes. Prepare our weapons."

The blacksmith swallowed in surprise. The royal sisters rarely called upon their weaponry; only in times of dire need were they used. "O-of course. Excuse me."

Within a few minutes, the blacksmith had disappeared and returned, bringing with him several objects. Two of these, both two-foot long scabbards built of a polished black leather emblazoned with a simple crescent moon, he presented to Luna. He laid their harness across her back, adjusting it so that the sheaths rested just under her wings.

The Moon Goddess' horn took hold of the handles protruding from the sheaths and quickly pulled them out. As the obsidian handles came free, a curved blade, honed to a wicked edge, sprang forth from each one. She twirled them about, magically testing their heft. She nodded in silent satisfaction and replaced the scythes.

With one princess satisfied, the unicorn faced the other, giving to her a three-foot marble staff, topped at either end with a spiked head built from the same metal as her armor. While she tested this weapon, he went about fastening a mail of golden scales to the outside of her extended left wing. In about the time that it took him to finish, Celestia had finished her test swings, placing the morningstar upon her back.

"Thank you, Hammerfall. That will be all." After acknowledging his response, Celestia turned to her sister. "Ready the Wonderbolts, then meet me on the chariot run. I've got one more thing to do."

-------------------------

A strong wind tugged at the manes of the eight ponies standing upon the chariot run hewn into the mountainside.

"All right, Wonderbolts, listen up!" Celestia barked. "Luna has called you to attention because we have witnessed another storm breaking over the Everfree Forest. We have need of your speed, power, and overall flying ability. This is not your average rogue storm. Previous intelligence suggests that we are up against something capable of retaliation and rational thought, so precautions have been taken. We're racing the clock, so I'll keep them brief. We will be following Philomena to the extraction point. We make the pick-up and go. I'm not expecting this to be a clean run; I fully expect this 'storm' to give us chase, so once you receive the passengers, you fly for Canterlot. Luna and I will provide aerial support and I have established three breakpoints. When we call out one of these, two of you will break from the chariot and find the unicorn team I have stationed there. You will create as much atmospheric disturbance as possible to slow the storm down. Soarin, Spitfire, you are to stay with the chariot until the last breakpoint. Are we understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Lead the way, Philomena!"

At her master's command, the phoenix spread her wings to the sky, roaring into a living flame.

"Hooves up, Wonderbolts!" Spitfire called out. "Follow that bird!"

Luna and Celestia made sure the chariot went airborne before following. "Let's go, Luna."

"Right."

The alicorns left the ground like arrows from a bow, easily catching up to Celestia's chariot. Luna flanked the vehicle's right, while her sister took the left, For the next twenty minutes, the only sound past any ears was rushing wind. Beyond Philomena, Luna kept her eyes fixated upon the black storm clouds on the horizon.

"Kraaah!" Philomena let out a piercing cry, circling above a structure far off in the distance.

"Celestia! Look! The train station!" Luna shouted over the wind.

The Sun Goddess' eyes flicked from her sister down to the station and out to the building storm.

Which had also noticed Philomena's signal, apparently.

"You're kidding... Luna! With me! Let's put some wind under our wings!"

Luna nodded. A heavy clap of her wings sent her rocketing after the sun-marked pony. Countryside flew by at a quick clip, bringing the station closer with it. When it drew even with her, the alicorn rolled over and closed her wings.

-------------------------

"Kraaah!"

The phoenix' sharp cry startled Big Macintosh, who had been dozing down in the train station. He sprinted outside, eyes to the sky. A gold point of light came falling from the blue, dropping like a meteor. Instinct closed his eyes. The foomph! of wings opened quickly was the next thing he heard. "Princess Celestia."

The battle-ready alicorn nodded curtly in response. "The foals with you; they are unharmed, yes?"

"Sure. They're inside takin' a nap."

"Rouse them. Quickly. We are running on borrowed time."

The orange-maned pony nodded, running back to the sleeping fillies. "Girls? Girls, wake up."

"Hu-hunh?"

"Git yer bags and take Angel outside. Quick now!" While they were doing so, the stallion quickly, if messily, gathered the blankets, returning them to the clerk. On his way back, a massive peal of thunder rocked the train station. By the time he was outside, Celestia had been joined by another alicorn and a chariot.

"Big Macintosh, take the little ones with you in my chariot." Celestia instructed. "Luna and I will make sure you have a safe flight."

"'Safe flight?'" Sweetie Belle echoed. "Why would we-"

"Celestia? We need to leave. Now."

No sooner had the words fallen from Luna's mouth than the storm's fury broke directly overhead. Rain, lightning, wind, everything was unleashed upon the station.

"Quickly, girls, into the chariot!" Celestia ushered the Cutie Mark Crusaders toward the vehicle, shielding them from the rain.

A dome of blue light fell over the group, just in time to absorb a bolt of lightning very obviously thrown their way. "I'll keep this spell around us as long as possible, but we need to make some distance!"

"You heard the Princess! Lean on those harnesses, Wonderbolts!"

Luna followed the chariot into the air to make sure they were protected by her spell. The six ponies in the harnesses were Equestria's number one flying team for a reason; they quickly put up a safety cushion before the storm front. "It's working, Celestia!"

"Stay sharp. We're not home yet." Long, slow wingbeats carried Equestria's Sun Goddess up to the chariot's side. "Are you four doing all right?" she asked.

From their huddled position against Big Macintosh, the three fillies nodded shakily.

"Good. We should be back in Canterlot soon-"

"Gaaah!"

"Luna! What is it!?"

"That...last bolt wasn't lightning..." She forced one eye open against her splitting headache and fought to re-level her flight. "It was dispel magic...!"

"What exactly does that mean?" Big Macintosh asked.

As if in answer, Luna's protective field flickered once and vanished.

"Weapons out, Luna! We'll have to do this the hard way!" Celestia's horn lit itself with an angry yellow flame.

Two scythes sprang from the scabbards under Luna's wings. She flashed her sister a playful glance. "Have we ever had it easy?"

Celestia returned the grin before disappearing in a flash of yellow light. Her point of reappearance was several feet above the chariot, right in the path of an oncoming bolt. She pirouetted, catching the lightning upon the curved surface of her wing shield and rebounding it back into the clouds. In the same pirouette, the princess swung her morningstar so that one of the two heads snaked out on a magical chain to intercept another lightning bolt, swatting it away. Then, in another flash, she was away to repeat the process.

Luna had no wing shield to speak of, but she was no worse off. The lightning bolts were coming at a frantic rate and the Princess of the Night was keeping up wonderfully. Her scythes were spinning like two pinwheels caught in a hurricane, catching lightning inside their twirling blades before tossing it back into the cloudbank. On occasion, she would summon a jet-black vortex to harmlessly swallow the entire bolt.

They were so enraptured with the magical dance of the two princesses that none of the passengers expected what came next.

Celestia's voice rang out over the storm. "Breakpoint Alpha! Go!"

The two outermost Wonderbolts severed their leads and broke off into a steep banking dive. The chariot shuddered violently as the remaining Wonderbolts sped up to compensate for the loss of power.

Apple Bloom hugged her brother's foreleg and whimpered quietly.

Behind the chariot, a pair of massive tornadoes erupted into the sky. The high winds tore into the clouds, shredding them like tissue. This was no natural storm, though; it parted itself around the cyclones and continued chase. Lightning bolts filled the air once again.

Celestia flashed out of the way as Luna sent a scythe spinning through the space she had been instants before. "Hah!" The royal sisters were fighting lightning and winning. "Breakpoint Beta! Away!"

At Luna's command, another pair of Wonderbolts peeled off from the chariot. "Think you can keep up, Soarin'?"

"Funny. I was about to ask you the same thing."

A doubling of the pegasi's speed was necessary to keep the chariot's course true, but the Wonderbolts were up to the challenge.

"Girls, look. We're almost there." The earth pony stallion nudged the fillies and pointed to the cliffside city.

"We're almost there, Wonderbolts!" Celestia shouted to the pegasi. Curtains of rain slashed through the air, one after another; visibility was near zero. Both of the princesses were fighting on instinct and everypony knows that that will only get one so far...

One bolt that got in a little too close succeeded in grazing Luna's flank. Without a second thought given to what might happen, a cry of pain slipped from her mouth. "Aaah!"

Celestia's protective instinct immediately shoved the battle fury from her mind. "Luna?"

With that one lapse in attention, the defenses had fallen and the chariot was vulnerable. In situations such as this, weak links are oft the first broken; so it was with the chariot and the Wonderbolts in their harnesses. A single bolt went through the pin connecting the two, removing all power from the chariot. Above the ringing in her ears, Celestia caught the wails of sheer terror from the three Cutie Mark Crusaders. "I've already lost one chariot this week, I'm not losing another... Luna! Cover me!"

The Princess of the Night had witnessed the accident too and required no further convincing. The scorch upon her flank was completely irrelevant, now weighed against the lives of other ponies. She broke into a dive after the plummeting chariot. A burst of magic whipped the surrounding air into a sphere of gale-force winds that drove off any storm clouds in its path.

When she drew a bead on her falling targets, Celestia's magic was finally able to grab the chariot, its five passengers, and all of their belongings. "Hold that shield, Luna!"

"You've got about a minute. Move." The use of magic was risky, all but inviting another bolt of dispelling magic their way. Luna had little choice in the matter, though. There was no way she could spin her scythes fast enough to protect a group this big. She had to take it. The first bolt that slammed into the shield sent a massive shock down Luna's horn, straight into her mind. Her wings involuntarily locked up and her flight path dropped a few feet before recovering. She did manage to hold the spell though, which was all that mattered. The chariot run was coming up fast, but not fast enough. "Pick it up, Celestia! I don't think I can repel another one of those!"

She was right. The second bolt that came in lanced right through the barrier and dropped onto Luna's armored back. Thankfully, her armor dissipated the electrical energy, leaving only concussive force. Combine that with her locked-up wings though and the Goddess of the Night was still taking a hard tumble onto the chariot run. "Hahhh... That...hurt..." One by one, she gathered her hooves underneath her and struggled into a standing position, scythes at the ready.

Meanwhile, Celestia had made it safely to the tunnel, guests and all. Big Macintosh never thought he'd be so relieved to feel solid ground underneath his hooves again. "Thank ya, yer Highness."

"There will be time for gratitude later." Celestia ushered the red earth pony and his charges into the tunnel. "You must get these foals to safety. Head down this tunnel, shelter in the guard barracks. Remain there until Luna or I fetch you and then only if we call you by name."

"Right. C'mon, girls." A row of unicorn guards fell in behind the earth pony, sealing off the tunnel mouth.

"Let nothing pass this point." The Sun Goddess gave one final order to her guards then turned and galloped down the chariot run to where Luna stood fighting off lightning bolts like a madpony. "Are you holding up all right? Dispel magic isn't easy to defend against."

"'Tis but a scratch. I've endured worse, sister. The foals, are they safe?"

"Indeed. Shall we finally return the fight?"

Luna's two scythes clicked together so that they resembled a stringless crossbow. A bolt of magic manifested upon the shaft of the weapon. "Let's." Shots began flying from the weapon like the rain from the clouds. Some intercepted lightning bolts, while most sought paths through the clouds, punching holes as they went.

Celestia's efforts were met with no more success than her sister's; the clouds were reforming faster than could be dissipated. After ten fruitless minutes of struggling, she drew the proverbial line. "Enough!! Shield your eyes, everypony!"

The twin-headed morningstar of Equestria's Sun Goddess began spinning, gaining speed enough to pay out fifteen feet of enchanted chain behind each spiked head. Faster and faster it spun, until each morningstar became brighter than its namesake.

Luna dared not cast eye upon the spell being conjured by her sister; it was almost too bright, even behind closed eyes.

"My apologies, everypony. You may open your eyes."

"An impressive display," Equestria's night princess commented as her blades slid back into their sheaths. "but perhaps a little excessive for a last resort, yes?"

"Perhaps. But it was no less effective for it. Come, we've further business."

Leaving pristine blue skies behind her, Celestia pointed herself toward the tunnel. Her charges were not yet home.

-------------------------

"How is your head feeling, Rainbow Dash?"

"I'm fine, Fluttershy... Go check on Applejack..."

"A-are you sure? I c-could get you more ice for y-your ice pack...or something..."

"I'm. Fine." The glare from the mare's magenta eyes nearly knocked the Element of Kindness onto her flank.

Nearly all volume had fled from the yellow mare's voice at her friend's stare. "O-okay then..."

The rainbow-maned pony huffed as her timid friend slowly backed away. Ice clacked upon ice when her head returned its gaze out the window again.

"You don't have to be like that, Rainbow." Twilight called from Applejack's bedside. "She was only wanting to help."

"I don't know if you've noticed, Twi', but we're kinda beyond help here! Sweet Apple Acres is up in smoke, Applejack is out like a light, and the pony responsible for that is sitting right next to you!"

In any case other than this, makeup is intended to positively accentuate one's features. When one has been crying for the past hour, however, not so much. At the words from the Element of Loyalty, Rarity looked up. The mascara she had put on as part of her morning routine had traced two sloppy, black streams through her white coat. She quickly wiped her eyes, succeeding only in smearing the mess all over her foreleg. Pristine and lady-like were the last words Rainbow Dash would have used to describe her right now.

"Rainbow Dash! What happened to Applejack is not Rarity's fault!"

"Right! And I suppose it was you that knocked her out with magic, huh, Twi'!" The sarcasm rolling from the pegasi's mouth was as obvious as her six-colored mane.

The purple mare opened her mouth to defend Rarity once more, but quickly shut it when said pony walked straight past her.

Rarity's voice was a little hoarse and broken from her periodic fits of sobbing, but still she spoke with strength. "L-look, Rainbow Dash, I'm sorry for what happened to Applejack, I-I truly am... Forgive me f-for assuming that there was...any compassion or understanding underneath that greasy scrap of cloth you call a mane!"

"What!?"

"Perhaps you haven't noticed...but I might have just lost my only sister! Some ponies actually worry about their family, you...you...feather-headed...inconsiderate excuse for a ruffian!"

"That's it!"

Twilight barely had time to conjure a spell to grab the tail of the cyan pegasus. "Sit down, Rainbow Dash. Sit down and fold your wings. You're not helping anypony by flying off the handle like that."

"What about Rarity!? She's off the hook just like that!?"

Twilight shook her head. "I didn't say that. But if we let hooves start flying again, somepony else is going to get hurt!"

"My goodness...so much shouting..."

Twilight's reprimanding bowed before the regal voice, as did she when its owner entered the room. "Princess Celestia..."

"We're not interrupting anything, are we?"

The Element of Loyalty yelped like some kind of foal's toy as Twilight's magic gave her tail a sharp yank. "N-no... You're not."

"It's fine, Rainbow Dash. I heard enough from the hallway."

"M-my apologies, y-your Highness..." Rarity sniffed, wiping her eyes again. "I...lost my tongue..."

"It's quite all right, Rarity; besides, there's somepony here who'd very much like to see you." The sun-marked pony nodded to Luna, who stepped aside...

...and let three fillies charge in.

"Rarity!"

"Sw-Sweetie Belle!?" The young filly pressed herself up against the older mare. "Y-you... I t-thought..."

Sweetie Belle looked at the black smear upon her flank from her sister's forelegs. "Have...you been crying, sis?"

Rarity had her younger sister in the tightest of embraces, and she had no intention of letting her go. "I-I have... I...I thought I h-had lost you..." As if the mere mention of those words could wrench her sister from her, the white unicorn tightened her hug around the filly, silent tears falling from her eyes. "H-hold still for a moment..."

Sweetie Belle felt the embrace fall away, replaced moments later by the familiar tug-release, tug-release of her sister's hairbrush. "Sis?"

"Y-your mane is a m-mess, Sweetie Belle... A lady must always look her best..."

"Right..." Her best... The Crusader's light green eyes kept looking from the black smear upon her flank to the ruined makeup upon her sister's face. Finally, she reached up and began rubbing the mascara away.

"Sweetie Belle... What are you-"

"A lady must always look her best."

"O-of course..." New tears appeared in Rarity's eyes and she nodded. "H-how could I forget...?" she laughed softly. "So, who brought you back, darling?"

From the unconscious Applejack's bedside, Apple Bloom let out a desperate "Big Mac!"

Seconds later, the large red earth pony rounded the corner into the room. "What is it, Apple Bloom?"

Fluttershy's heart skipped a beat or two (probably two) when she saw the apple-marked stallion set hoof in the bedroom. Not in Celestia's lifetime did she ever expect to see him. Not here. Not now. Not in the middle of all this. Still, his being here meant she had to ask him one thing. Before he could reach Apple Bloom, Fluttershy inserted herself in his path. "C-c-can I t-talk with you...? I-in the hallway...?"

A moment of pondering and the farmer pony nodded. "'Scuse me, Apple Bloom. Ah'll be right back."

In the few second out to the hallway, Fluttershy must've played the ensuing conversation out in her head at least a dozen times. Swallowing, she turned to face the stallion...and met with a raised hoof.

"Ah know exactly what yer lookin' fer." Big Macintosh's snout disappeared into his saddlebags, coming back out with a very familiar face.

"Angel Bunny!" The mare scooped up the rabbit in her forelegs. "Oh my goodness! Where did you find him?"

"Little fella was hunkered down in the forest b'hind yer house. Took some callin' 'fore he came out. Didn't really trust me at first; still don't think he does, really..."

From Fluttershy's cradling embrace, Angel Bunny shot a cold glare at the earth pony.

"He's just a little picky, that's all. Thank you though." The pegasus mare floated up to the farmer stallion's cheek and very lightly kissed him. Then, as if coming out of a trance, her eyes opened wide as serving trays and she recoiled in shock. "O-oh...m-my...I-I'm...sorry... I...uhm...oh my..."

"Shhh... It's fine. Ah'm jus' glad Ah could help ya out. Now, could you help me with somethin'?" Through the pegasi's following recollection of Applejack's unconsciousness, Big Macintosh remained...thoughtfully silent, only nodding every few words. "Ah see... Is Rarity doin' all right?"

"Now that she knows Sweetie Belle is okay, she'll be a lot better."

"Big Mac! What's takin' ya!?"

"That...would be fer me." A silent consensus was reached between the two ponies to return to the room. "What's the matter, Apple Bloom?"

The filly's small voice had become squeaky with worry. "AJ's not wakin' up! I-is she gonna be okay?"

Twlight's tail descended upon the filly's back. "Of course she is. I've been watching her for the past hour. She's just resting right now."

This answer was less than sufficient. "But why won't she wake up!? Ah'm scaired! Ah want her to wake up now!"

"Ugh... Be quiet, ya blasted rooster! Sun ain't up fer 'nother five minutes!"

The voice brought all attention to the orange pony's bedside.

"AJ!? AJ, are ya awake? AJ! Wake up!" Apple Bloom called once more.

"All right, fine! Darn rooster..." The orange cowpony shifted about under the blankets, still dreaming. It wasn't until she went to sit up that she properly came to. The charred patch upon her back was a little tender and it stretched ever so slightly. "Aagh!"

"Take it easy there, AJ."

"Big Mac?" A mixture of relief and surprise glinted through the pained tears in Applejack's green eyes. "Apple Bloom?" A long sigh passed her lips as she fell back to the pillow. "Thank Celestia y'all're all right..."

"Go ahead." the princess giggled. "I'm right here."