> 100 years after the Nightmare
>  by Burning Wick
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: Reunion and Respite.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1: Reunion and Respite.

Morning rose over the hills in all of its bright radiance as the town began to wake. A light brown hat bounced on top of an orange mare’s head as she trotted through town. Her saddle bags hung as she rounded the corner. Standing in front of her was an old tree house with branches reached over the town. Fixing her hat, the mare hastened her step as the sun began to cast its blessing of light on the weathered tree.

Inside the tree, the sun’s welcoming glow brought warmth to a purple dragon sprawled on top of a bed. Looking up at the window, he lazily took his claw and drew the curtain over to block the incoming rays.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

The sounds of hooves upon the door caused the dragon to roll out of bed. Still sleepy, the dragon brought himself down the stairs, ducking under the threshold door before the staircase.  He tripped over a stack of books sitting at the base of the stairs causing a loud crashing sound that echoed throughout the two story tall bottom floor. Grumbling, he picked the books up with both of his hands and his tail. Placing the books on the only reading table in the room, he returned to the door. Unlocking it, his eyes were greeted by a familiar sight. “Morning,” he said as he let the mare in.

“Morin’ Spike,” she replied walking in and tossing her bags down on the reading table.

Heading for the kitchen, he replied, “What brings you here this early?” He walked back out with a cup of steaming coco, “Spring just began. Shouldn’t you be helping at the farm?”

“Nah,” the mare said as she dug through her saddle bag, “Ma has my brothers doing most of the work this morning.” She pulled her head out of the bag with a book between her teeth, “Also Coco asked me ta help set up for a party tomorrow.”

“Care to explain why Coconut Pop needs help setting up for a party today when it’s tomorrow?” Spike asked taking the book in one hand and placing the coco cup down on the table with the other.

Sitting on her haunches, the mare replied, “Don’ know. Coco said that some super hero had sent her a letter saying she wanted to have her birthday party at Sugarcube Corner.”

Spike opened the book and took the time to inspect its condition, “Why would a super hero be holding a party here in Ponyville?” Closing the book, he chuckled as he read the title, “Properly Raising Apple Trees, take it you’re still having trouble, huh, Autumn?”

Autumn Gold removed her hat letting her deep red mane fall down and placed her hat on the table before giving the dragon a nod. She reached into her bag again while replying, “Yep, and Ah reckon’ it’ll take about another year or so before Ah get it right.” She pulled out of her saddle bag a card, “Ah would like ta check that book out again.”

Taking the card from the mare’s teeth he headed over the podium near yet another stack of unsorted books, “All it takes practice, Autumn. You’re an Apple, trust me when I say that you’ll figure it out someday.”

“Thank ya, Spike,” Autumn replied watching the dragon carry out his job by signing the library book back out to the farm mare. She reached into her saddle bag once more and pulled out a hair tie.

Spike closed the book with the card in it signaling that his work was finished. He walked back over to the table grabbing the coco cup with a free hand as he went over to the only chair in the room. Taking a seat across from the mare that was busy tying her hair into a bun, the dragon tossed the book on to the table with enough force to slide it right over to her.

Placing her hat back onto her hair, now fully styled into a bun, Autumn reach for the book before having an idea, “Ya should come to the party!”

“No,” he replied before taking a drink from the still warm mug.

Placing the book back into the saddle bag, she asked, “And why not? Iris’s ma told me that staying indoors too much is bad for yer health.”

“I’ve been getting out, Autumn,” the dragon replied before getting up again. Letting his long tail take hold of the mug, he reached out to a nearby pile of unsorted books and bought over to the already large pile of books by the podium. “But I’ve got a lot of work as you can see.”

Seeing through the lie, Autumn replied, “Ah’ve seen ya clear a mess that went all the way up ta the attic in less than a couple of days. And that was before winter.”

Sighing, the dragon returned to his chair, “You’re right. But do you know what tomorrow is?”

Autumn Gold thought hard for a bit before realizing what he was getting at, “Ya mean it’s that time again?” Spike nodded before taking another drink. The two sat in silence letting the morning birds chatter away. Finally Autumn got up off her plot and said with care in her eyes, “Spike, Ah’m yer friend so Ah’m going ta say this nice like; ya gotta put yer past behind ya.”

“Autumn, you know as well as I do that it was Twilight that kept this place growing,” Spike said with a hint of anger in his voice despite him keeping a sturdy appearance.

“How was long has it been?” Autumn asked making her way around the table. “Twenty years?”

“You were just a filly then, Autumn,” Spike said avoiding the look the mare was giving him.

Coming from behind the chair, Autumn stared into his dragon eyes, “Ah know from my Grandma Applejack that Twilight was always proud of ya.”

Spike’s free claw tightened on the arm of the chair while the other brought the mug up to his lips. He closed his eyes as he tilted his head back to finish the drink. Autumn watch him as he got up from his chair and began to return the kitchen. “Isn’t Coco waiting for you?” he asked hoping for the topic to end.

Seeing the anger in the dragon, Autumn return to her bags. Once they were back on, she asked, “Please think about coming ta the party, Spike. Every pony will be there.”

The dragon stopped at the enlarged threshold to the kitchen. Without looking back he replied, “I will.” With that, the farm mare sighed and left through the front door. Spike return to the now empty room with a now full mug of hot chocolate. Grabbing a book with a free hand he walked over to the shelves hoping to find its home among the others at random. Sighing with the failure at finding it off the back, he turned and looked up at the portrait hanging above the fireplace. The violet mare depicted in it bore a cheerful smile. Engraved on the frame below was written ‘Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of the Element of Magic’.

Sitting down in his chair, Spike stared at if it was going to give him a sign. He whispered to himself, “I miss you Twilight,” before returning to work.

*******

The day carried on normally as Spike began to clean the large stacks of library books lying about, only stopping when the occasional Ponyville resident entered looking to either return or check out a book. It was finally noon when the dragon nodded in satisfaction at his work before heading to his chair with a scroll and writing quill. Sitting down, he pulled the quill pen from its ink well and began to write.

“Another year, and another four seasons alone in this tree,” he said aloud as he began to write when a loud BOOM came from above. Looking up from his work, he saw a pastel white pegasus sprawled among a pile of large pillows set at the base of a bookshelf.

Glancing from the pony up to a clock on the wall he greeted his visitor, “12:04, on the dot.”

A head popped up from the pile as the pegasus up righted himself and stood at attention and asked, “Care to explain yourself, sir?”

“Storm,” Spike said setting the quill down while getting up from his work, “You been trying to prove you can do the Sonic Rainboom ever since you heard about it.”

Storm pulled a pillow off his head, revealing a crew cut rainbow mane, “Your point is, sir?”

Using claws and tail, the dragon began to clean up the pillows he had left out, “Every Sunday you make an attempt for it over Sweet Apple Acres and EVERY time you fail to get enough speed and get sent flying over here. It’s like clockwork these days.”

Crawling out from the mess, the stallion looked at the dragon awkwardly, “Oooookkay, sir.” With that, he stretched his wings and took off for the open window high above the front door, only to be stopped by a violet pegasus with a first aid kit held tightly in her teeth.

Taking the box in her hooves, the newcomer asked in a worried tone, “Spectrum Storm, are you okay?”

“Yes, ma'am, I’m fine,” Storm replied pointing at Spike who was finished re-stacking the pillows by the crash site.

Tilting her head to peer through the aquamarine mane that attempted to block her vision, the pegasus mare gave the dragon a wave, “Oh, Hi, Spike.”

“Hi, Iris Drop,” Spike said turning around to greet his newest visitor. Using his tail, he grabbed one of the pillows and placed it on the floor and motioned her to sit on it.

Taking up the offer, the pony floated her way down to the pillow leaving Storm back at the window. Spectrum, who was at the time was bent on leaving, floated back down and landed next to the mare who was fixing her mane up behind her ears.

“What would you like?” Spike asked making his way to the kitchen with his empty mug in hand.

Finally pushing the last bit of her mane out of her eye sight, Iris replied, “I would like tea if you have some hot water already made.”

Spike stopped and looked over his shoulder, “I’m a dragon, hot water isn’t a problem.” The dragon shifted his gaze at the other pegasus who was busy scanning the shelves. “Storm, would you like anything?”

Snapping to attention, “No, sir. I’m good for now.” Shaking his head, Spike disappeared through the threshold leaving the two pegasi alone. Storm gave a deep sigh before setting his plot down on the wooden floor.

Breaking the silence, Iris tilted her head up to her companion and asked, “What were you talking about before I got here?”

Tensing up again, Storm replied, “It seems that Spike has gotten my routine nailed down, ma’am. That is why the pillows are stack where they were. It’s strange though, I’ve been here no more than a season.”

Iris looked behind her at the pile of pillows before looking up at the open window that she had flown through. Putting the pieces together, she giggled before replying, “Well, he had a lot of practice beforehoof.”

Looking over his shoulder to the relaxing pegasus, Storm asked “Would you mind repeating that, ma’am?”

Before she could say anything, Spike returned with his mug of coco wrapped in his tail and a cup of tea carefully balanced in both of his claws. Setting the cup down in front of the mare, who thank him with a bright smile, the dragon answered, “She is trying to say that I’ve had experience with another pegasus who was training her tail off just to get into the Wonderbolts.”

“Sir, I presume that you are referring to my Grandmother?” Spectrum Storm asked as his eyes followed the dragon to his table. Setting the mug down on it, Spike nodded.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, Spike went for the stairs, asking as he past the two pegasi, “If somepony knocks, and I’m not down here in time, can one of you two get it?”

“I will, sir,” Spectrum said saluting. Spike halted to look at the pegasus awkwardly before ascending the stairs. The moment the last of his tail disappeared, a light tap on the front door echoed through the large room.

Storm was on it with in a blink of an eye and had the door open wide in a matter of seconds. Stunned at the knee-jerk reaction, the yellow unicorn mare’s head snapped back, nearly losing the hair band that was nestled among her light blue mane. Recovering, the mare walked in and saw the two pegasi, “Iris Drop, Spectrum Storm, why are you two here?” she asked.

“I was training, ma’am,” Storm replied walking over to the pile of pillows. Taking one off of the pile, he dropped it next to Iris Drop and sat down upon it.

“By ‘training’ you mean crashing, right?” the mare asked, lifting a hoof. Storm rolled his eyes out of sight of the unicorn while Iris nodded in reply.

“So, Luminance,” Iris said picking up her cup of tea, “what brings you here?”

Luminance reached back into her saddle bags with her magic and pulled out a dark purple gem that was carefully carved into a star. “Spike asked if I could get this for him. I don’t know why though, I mean he likes eating gems but he told me himself that he prefers rubies over amethysts. Plus the shape on this one was really hard to get. Rough Cut even had to help me on this.”

“I’ve seen that shape on a glass window before, ma’am,” Storm said eyeing the gem.

Iris took flight with the tea cup and went over to the unicorn. She motioned with her head to the other pegasus to join her and unicorn. Once he was nearby, the mare lowered her head and whispered, “Don’t mention the ‘T’ word around Spike. He gets very sad this time of year.”

“Oh dear,” Luminance whispered back while raising her hoof up to her mouth, “So, I take it tomorrow is the day?” Iris gave a small nod of a replied which caused her mane to fall in front of her face.

“I’m still new in these parts, ma’am,” Storm asked glancing at both of the mares. “Mind sharing what is going on?”

Luminance grab the stallion’s sturdy neck and brought it down before saying anything else, “I just realized this myself, but take a good look at the portrait above the mantle.” Doing as he was told, Storm looked up at the said portrait. Before he could connect the dots in his head, Luminance brought his head back down. “This gem is her cutie mark.”

“And tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of her passing,” Iris chimed in while sliding a bit of hair out of her sight. “Oh dear, I wonder if Spike knows about the party?”

“I do,” the dragon said causing the mares to jump in surprise while Storm looked over his shoulder and gave the dragon a stare. Standing at the base of the stairs, Spike held a thin, floppy book rolled up under one arm. “And I’m not going,” with that he went over to the gem that floated next to Luminance.

Luminance gave the dragon a smile while fighting back the beads of sweat running down her forehead, “How much did you hear?”

“Not much, Just something about the party” he replied he said opening a claw underneath the floating jewel. Both mares relaxed with a deep sigh while Luminance released the gem into the open claw. “Thank you for getting this gem for me, Luminance.”

The three ponies followed the dragon as he went to a shelf on the opposite side of the room. On it was a highly decorated chest that the dragon carefully placed the star gem next to. After pushing it toward the back of the shelf, he turned to the unicorn and handed the rolled up book.

“Here is the magazine that you wanted. Homes and Stables of the Wealthy vol. 65, right?” he said letting Luminance’s magic take hold.

Unrolling it before placing it into her saddle bag, Luminance embraced the dragon with a hug and said, “Oh thank you, thank you very much. You don’t know how much this will help me convince my mother to letting me open my own business.”

Grabbing the mug off the table, he went and downed the whole thing in one gulp. Removing some of the coco that stuck to his snout with the back of his hand he asked, “Care to explain how a magazine is going convince Bliss to let you start your own store?”

“Weeeeeell,” Luminance started looking between the door and the dragon. “Do you mind if I stay around for a bit?”

“Feel free,” Spike said heading for the kitchen once more. “It is a ‘Public’ library after all. Would you like anything?”

Moving a pillow to the reading table, she replied, “I could go for some tea.” She began to remove her saddle bags and pull out the magazine. As Spike began reheating the pot of water, both Iris and Storm moved their pillows to the table and sat upon them. While Iris and Luminance settle into the pillow seats nicely, Storm quietly struggled with the softness.

Spike returned with a tea pot in one hand, a cup settle among three hay sandwiches in the other and a large ruby wrapped in his tail. He began serving his guest while Storm, who had finally given up with his pillow seat, returned the cushion back to the pile. Once everybody was served, Luminance started discussing her plans using certain articles from the magazine to prove her point.

It was when she got to started on how the wallpaper improves a value of a home, Spike began to feel uncomfortable. He doubled over in his chair, nearly smacking his head on the remains of the ruby he ate.

“Spike, what’s wrong?” Luminance asked getting up.

“I’ll get some water,” the violet pegasus said before running into the kitchen. The sound of clinking glass and running water revealed the haste Iris was displaying.

Storm cantered around the table and inspected the dragon’s condition with a careful poke to his side. In response to the pressure applied to his side, Spike’s cheeks swelled up before a burst of green flames flew from his mouth, singeing the white pegasus’s mane. A loud burp followed the flames as a cloud of black smoke floated in front of the dragon. It swirled in the air before it turned into a scroll with a small POP.

Iris return with the glass of water which Spike took as the scroll was brought before him by Luminance’s magic.

“What was with the flames?” the unicorn asked waving her hoof in front of her nose.

Pointing at the scroll with a wing, Storm answered, “It’s a letter from Princess Celestia, ma’am. She sends them through magic fire.” This brought puzzled looks from everyone gathered. He looked away from them while keeping calm, “I saw it happen before.”

While the mares nodded agreement, Spike kept his glare on the stallion a bit longer before referring to the letter, “It’s how Twilight and the Princess kept in contact during most of our early years here in Ponyville. Strange.”

“How so?” Iris said taking a sip from her tea cup.

Taking the scroll from Luminance’s magic, Spike began to unroll it, “We never used this method again when Celestia ended Twilight’s education in magic.”

“Why would Celestia want to send you a message now after all this time?” Iris asked. Spike shrugged before he began to read it out loud.

Dear Spike,

I know it has been a long time since I used this method of communication, so sorry if it was a bit painful on its way out. The reason I’m sending you this message is that I heard that your sister is dropping by later today for a party in Ponyville.  It has been a long time since ether Luna or I have had a chance to sit down with her and talk. So, would you mind letting her know that my sister and I will be dropping by tomorrow? Also, can you minimize the amount of ponies that know about our visit? I personally would like the party to be as informal as possible.

Your old friend,

Princess Celestia.

Both Iris Drop and Luminance were stunned at the thought of the visit from the royal sisters danced in their heads; even Storm froze at the mention of it. Spike read it over once more in his head before quietly rolling up the scroll and tossed it to the reading table. “Storm?” he said getting up from his seat.

Standing up, the stallion replied, “Yes, sir.”

“Can you help me move a bed down from the attic?” the dragon said as he went for the stairs.

Finishing her tea, Luminance asked, “Why do you need bring down a spare bed? Is there not a bed in your guest room already?”

The dragon let his head drop with a sigh before he replied to the pony, “My sister Morning Dawn is married now and has a daughter. If I know her, she’ll be dropping by with both Erebus and her daughter. Plus, I’ve only got a double in the guest room. I’m going to need a single in there for Starlight.”

“Then allow me to help,” Luminance offered getting up.

Stroking the scales on his chin, Spike replied, “Well, I think me and Storm can get the bed but if you want, you and Iris can get the doors.” Both mares smiled as they followed Spike and Storm up the stairs.

As the group continued to climb up the flight of stairs, a dark purple cloud of swirling smoke flew in through the open window. It hovered in midair for a moment, as if it was waiting for somepony to come back down the stairs. After waiting for a while, it started to fly around the room. It zoomed by the bookshelf, pausing to use its shapeless form to switch a pair of missed placed books. It then picked up the empty teapot and flew it into the kitchen. Everyplace on the first floor was visited by the cloud of smog before it dared to fly up to the second floor.

The sound of falling books followed by outburst of frustration signaled the return of the furniture movers. The purple cloud retreated to the main floor with haste. It paused over the reading table, looking for a place to hide. Seeing a dark space behind it, the shapeless form took shelter by the decorated box. It took a glance at the box and the gem beside it. From the cloud, a shadowy trail branched off and opened the chest. Inside was a golden jewel encrusted tiara. The incomplete crown was poorly crafted. Both the malleable metal and gemstones bore claw marks, proving that the librarian dragon was the one that made it.

A black aura took hold of the remaining gem and crown and carefully weaved its magic to fuse the gem to the last remaining spot of the crown. The claw marks and imperfections slowly disappeared as the magic continued to be pour into the crown. When the final repairs finished, the black aura replaced the crown back in the box and closed the lid.

“And that should do it,” Spike’s voice remarked as the sound of hoof steps came down the stairs. The purple cloud remained hidden as it viewed the three ponies that accompanied the dragon. The white stallion’s flank bore a cutie mark of a dark cloud with a sword piercing it from above. The yellow unicorn’s Cutie mark had an elegant, red velvet sofa. The pegasus mare’s mark was three of what the flower she was named off, Irises. The cloud watched as the four friends’ conversed before making a break for the open door that lead to the upper floors.

Gently the cloud floated past the open doorway where two beds stood in what it could guess was the guest room. It continued on to the next door. The cloud leaked through the almost closed door and scanned the bedroom. Around and around the cloud went checking each book and every corner. It stopped in front of an old worn tome. The cloud began to shake as it started to take shape. Slamming itself to the wooden floor, it flattened out before collecting to four points. The smoke rose from each location leaving behind a solid form. From the legs to the haunches to shoulder, the form of a regal pony continued to take shape. The transformation finished as the now black alicorn’s wings and horn returned from its spectral form while the rest of the cloud became a flowing mane of magic.

With a start, the eyes burst open to look at the room. Tears bubbled at the base of the turquoise dragon eyes and memories began to flood her mind. Her horn glowed with a black aura as the book she stopped in front of began to float from its place. The alicorn sprawled herself on the rug in the middle of room with the book and opened it. Inside, there wasn’t the words of a story of some long forgotten tale. It was the items that were part of her story. Inside the book were the memories of Nyx.

*******

A mile or so outside of Ponyville, a carriage rolled its way along the road. The stallion pulling was a local resident of the small community but made constant trips between his home town and the shining city of Canterlot.  He enjoyed his job of carrying both ponies and supplies back and forth between the two places though he felt uneasy with today’s load. Along with some supplies need for the big party that was being planned for tomorrow, the stallion was also pulling two unicorn mares into town.

Something was telling him that he knew both of these ponies, or at least the older of the two. It was probably something to do with the books the older one had.  He shooed the thought free from his mind as he continued to pull.

But the nagging thought came back as the town came into view. “So,” he started, “what are two nice mares like yerselves want to go to a place like Ponyville?”

The older of the two looked up from the book she was reading. “I have family there,” she replied with a smile.

The stallion’s ears perked at the comment, “Tell me who yer relatives are and Ah’ll drop ya off there.”

“Just take us to the library,” she said. “My brother runs it.”

The stallion couldn’t fight the urge to look back, “Ah beg yer pardon miss, but the library owner is a dragon.”

“Oh, I know,” she replied cheerfully which got the carriage pulling pony even more confused.

“Well, miss…” the stallion began to say.

“Morning Dawn,” the older mare replied.

“Morning Dawn?” he asked, mind racing as he thought he heard that name before. The mare in question nodded in replied. Then it hit him, “Well, dip me in sugar and call me a candy apple, Dawn it has been a while.” Morning Dawn’s head tilted as she wondered why the stallion remembered her. “It’s me Crab, Crab Apple.”

“Oh, Crab,” the mare said, “It sure has been a while since I was last in Ponyville. I didn’t even recognize you.”

“Yep, Ah reckon it’s tha beard,” the stallion said looking back toward the town, “Still it’s great seeing ya again. How long has it been since ya left with that stargazer husband of yers?”

Dawn had to put a hoof to her chin as she thought back, “Last time I was in Ponyville was for my mother’s funeral, sooo, twenty years.”

Crab Apple whistled, “Dang, time sure does fly. Ya should drop by Sweet Apple Acres while yer in town. Ah’ll even let Russet know yer here.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Dawn said returning to the book.

The young dark grey unicorn sighed, “I’m not leaving the library.”

“Oh, come on now, Starlight,” Dawn answered looking up from her reading once more. “You spend too much time at home already. You need to get out some more.”

Grunting in displeasure, Starlight risked standing in the moving carriage, “I’m my own mare.  You’re not telling where I go. For one thing, they could be like my classmates.”

“For one thing,” Dawn said closing the book, “Most of the residents in Ponyville are earth ponies. They can’t use magic like me and you.” She brought her head closer and lowered her tone down to a whisper, “Also if we keep you problem a secret, no pony will know.”

Starlight rolled her eyes but after a glare from her mother, sighed in agreement and went back to watching the environment roll by.

The carriage carried on its way toward the town. As it crossed the bridge into the town, Crab made a sudden stop when two ponies went bolting across the path in front of him. “Autumn Gold, what in the tarnation ya doing?” he shouted the pair. The orange coated mare slid to a stop while her brown coated companion carried on.

“Sorry Uncle, we’re in a bit of a hurry” the earth pony said fixing her hat before yelling to her companion, “Coco, hold up fer a sec!”

From a distance, the brown coated mare stomped her feet as she yelled back, “Come on Autumn we need to get this done fast so we can finish setting up the party!”

“Yeah, well Ah’m talkin’ to ma Uncle,” Autumn replied pointed to Crab.

“What’s got her tail tied up in a knot?” Starlight asked overhearing the conversation. Both Morning Dawn and her leaned over the side of the carriage and watched as the brown mare began to pace where she stopped.

Meanwhile, Autumn took off her hat and addressed the two unicorns, “Howdy there. Ah beg yer pardon about stopping yer carriage, but Coco tends to be a bit gun-ho about some stuff.”

Dawn placed a hoof over her mouth in an attempt to stop herself from giggling, “There’s no need worry about that Miss Apple.”

“Beg yer pardon?” Autumn asked giving a confused look to the unicorn.

Pointing to the farm mare’s flank, Dawn answered, “I figure anypony with an apple cutie mark is a member of the Apple family.” Autumn looked back at her cutie mark, still a bit confused. Staring closely at maple leaf over an apple mark on her flank, she realized what the unicorn was getting at and chuckled.

“Ah reckon’ that’s so,” she replied before putting her hat back on.

The brown mare came stomping up with frustration in her eyes, “Autumn Gold what is talking you so long?” the farm mare looked right into the cherry red eyes of her friend before pointing up to the unicorns in the carriage. Coco’s wiped her head around, her eyes following the outstretched hoof. Her multi-braided milky white mane slapped Autumn Gold across the snout.

She stood there looking at the unicorns before sticking a hoof out to Starlight with a huge grin, “Please to meet ya. Name’s Coconut Pop.” Starlight shook her head at her mother who was encouraged her to shake the pony’s hoof.

“Starlight, you need some friends,” Moring Dawn said rejecting the unicorn’s refusal. “You can start here. Now shake.” Starlight sighed and reached out while Autumn Gold shook her head while mouthing the word ‘No’ behind Coco’s back. The moment their hooves touched, Starlight felt a surge of energy rush up her foreleg, numbing all feeling in it and even causing her navy blue mane to stand up. Snapping her arm back, Starlight glared at the giggling earth pony holding up a hoof buzzer.

“Sorry about that,” She said through the small fits of laughter, “It’s just my usual greetings.” Autumn raised a hoof to her head and sighed.

Treating her numb limb, Starlight looked her mother who couldn’t help but chuckle at the little prank. Coco went back to talking to Autumn Gold about their important task on hoof was, while Starlight went back to her seat on the other side of the carriage to fix her mane. “Mom,” she mumbled, “These ponies are crazy.”

Snapping her head to her daughter, she barked, “Starlight! Ponyville is where I grew up. It’s a great place to live. Granted some of the folks here are a bit eccentric, but that’s what gives this place its charm. By Celestia’s horn, you should have seen my farewell party Pinkie Pie held.”

“Mom, trust me when I sa-” Starlight began to say looking up at her mother only to stop and look at the brown mare who was glaring at Dawn. The older unicorn jumped up at upon making eye contact with Coco.

“You knew Granny Pie?!” Coconut Pop’s voice climbed in pitch as she ended her question. Both Dawn and Starlight shared looks of surprise before Dawn replied with nod. With that said, the earth pony leaped up into the carriage. Sitting back her haunches, she gazed at the unicorn like a puppy wanting a treat, “Can you please tell me about her? Oh, please tell me what she was like during her glory years.”

As Dawn chuckled before sitting back down and began her tale, Autumn looked up at her Uncle, “Where are ya takin’ these two?”

“The library,” the stallion replied as he started to shift his weight into pulling the carriage, “That older mare there is the daughter of Twilight Sparkle and yer mother’s closest friend.”

“The library?” Autumn asked as the carriage began to roll away, “That’s where we’re going too.” With that she hopped up into the back with the others and listened to Morning Dawn talk about Coconut’s grandmother.

*******

After what seemed to be forever to Starlight, the carriage finally stopped in front of the giant tree library. Starlight was the first to hop off as the squeaks of the earth pony continued. “Argh,” she exclaimed as Autumn hopped down next to her, “Has that pony ever been quiet?”

Nudging her on the shoulder, Autumn replied, “Ahh, don’t be so hard on her. Coco is normally just as reserved as you and me. Granted she is a klutz. Yer ma just made the mistake of saying Pinkie Pie around her.”

Doing her best to cover her ears as Coconut Pop squeaked again, “Is there any way to stop her?”

Autumn took a look as the last two passengers hopped off the carriage. She caught Coco whistling a familiar tone. “Ah think it’s about over.”

Uncovering her ears, Starlight watch as Coconut Pop broke out into song. “When I was a little filly and the sun was going doooowwwwn.”

“Tell me she’s not,” Starlight said recovering her ear.

The well timed line just sparked more energy in the mare, “The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frooooowwwwn.”

“She is,” Autumn said chuckling.

“I'd hide under my pillow from what I thought I saw. But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at allllllllllll.”

Dawn chimed in, “Then what is?”

These last words caused Coco to pour more feeling into the song, “She said: Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall, learn to face your fears. You'll see that they can't hurt you, just laugh to make them disappeeeaaar. HA HA HA! Soooooooooo, giggle at the ghostly. Guffaw at the grossly. Crack up at the creepy. Whoop it up with the weepy. Chortle at the kooky. Snortle at the spooky.”

And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna... HAHAHAHA...heh... LAAAUGH!” With that the mare flew herself down on her back in a fit of laughter. Both Autumn and Dawn couldn’t help but giggle with the crazy mare.

After the fit of laughter ended, Coco rolled onto her hooves and sighed as the energy left her body, “Granny Pie always sang that to me around bed time.” She sighed once more before looking at Autumn, “Autumn now let’s continue our mission. Off to the library!”

Autumn couldn’t help but laugh, “We ARE at the library.”

Looking behind her, Coco chuckled, “Oh, we are, heh heh... Well then, to the front door!” On that note she led the group around the base of the tree.

“Mom,” Starlight said harshly from the back causing Dawn to fall back to join her, “What are the odds of us meeting any more crazy ponies?”

Morning Dawn laughed as she lifted her hoof, “Each generation has one of those ponies that just make you want to have a good time. Now let’s go surprise your uncle.” With those words, Coco gave the door a hard knock.

“One second,” came a male’s voice from the other side of the door. It was opened by a white pegasus with a rainbow mane.

“Wow, mom,” the younger of the two unicorns said, “Spike really looks like dragon.”

At the mention of his name, the purple dragon walked up next to Storm, “Hey, Morning Dawn I expecting you guys to arrive at nightfall.” The dragon and unicorn embraced each other before Morning Dawn pushed her dragon brother away.

“Wait you were expecting us?” she asked with a confused stare.

“I thought you told Dad not to send to a letter here?” Starlight asked from the back.

“I know,” Dawn replied with a hint of anger in her voice.

“It wasn’t Erebus that sent the letter,” Spike said defending the missing pony, “It was Princess Celestia that sent me the letter. She is coming down tomorrow to talk to you.”

This got Morning Dawn really confused, “I just had a talk with her yesterday. Why would she want to... oh, OH.”

“Oh?” Spike asked pressing for more information.

Dawn laughed before leading her party into the library, “Oh, you’ll see when she shows up.”

“Dawn, you know I hate it when you hide things from me,” Spike said counting the ponies now in his library. Including Luminance, he only counted three unicorns when he thought there was four, “By the way, where’s your husband, Dawn?”

“Erebus had to work late into the night and on to the next day,” Morning Dawn said while taking a pillow from the pile, “he won’t be coming down.”

“That’s too bad,” the dragon said before looking at Starlight who was busy looking at the books on the shelves, “So you must be Starlight?” the dark grey mare turned her head and nodded slowly to the dragon.

“I am, and you must be my Uncle Spike,” she replied before returning to looking up at the books.

“Yeah,” he replied scratching his chin, “now only if I could get a mustache.”

Morning Dawn could help but laugh at the comment, dropping the pillow in the process. “Spike, no matter how much you think it would work,” she said, “you don’t make a ‘good uncle with a cool mustache.’  You’re just a good uncle type.”

“I know,” Spike said kicking at the floor, “But imagine if I did have one?” Everypony burst out laughing at the dragon’s pursuit of facial hair.

After letting the laughter died down, the dragon addressed his relatives, “Okay, Dawn, Starlight, allow me to introduce, Autumn Gold of Sweet Apple Acers,” the dragon’s hand went to each pony as their names were called. “Coconut Pop who works over at joke shop, Laugh-Along Gags. Luminance here works at the Boutique with her mother, though she prefers interior design rather than fashion itself.”

“Mother takes care of the clothing department,” the unicorn interrupted.

“Ahhem,” Spike coughed before finishing his introduction, “The pegasus you met at the door is Spectrum Storm, and this is Iris Drop who helps her mother at the hospital. Everypony, meet my sister Morning Dawn and her daughter Starlight.” Hellos were quickly exchange between before Morning Dawn and Spike were bombarded by questions of how the two were related, while Starlight returned to her self-guided tour around the library main floor. Her gaze caught the box on the shelf. Carefully she opened it with her hoof and peered inside.

“Hey Uncle,” she said pointing at the tiara, “Is that your gift for the party tomorrow?”

“Huh?” Spike asked looking over. Upon seeing the open box she was pointing to, the dragon quickly ran over and closed the lid to it. “N-no. This isn’t a gift. And I’m not going to that party.”

“And that is why I’m here,” Coco stated as she jumped up onto the table and pointed a hoof at the dragon. “You are going to go to that party or Celestia help me; I’ll bring the party to you!”

“Trust me, Spike,” Autumn said casting a nervous look at him, “She is determined to have you at this party.”

Morning Dawn added her two bits, “Starlight and I came all the way down here from Canterlot for this party.”

“Not to mention the rest of the town will be there,” Luminance added standing up.

“Yeah, but does anypony here know who this is this mystery guest of honor is?” Spike asked with his back against the bookshelves. “All I know is that she is some kind of superhero.”

Dawn was about to answer when Autumn turned her gaze to the earth pony on the table and asked, “Ah been meaning to ask this, Coco. How do ya know it’s a superhero?”

“Well you see,” Coconut said digging out a folded piece of paper from her upbraided tail. She opened it up on the table, “This letter didn’t have a name on it but look,” Her hoofed tapped the blue shield that was at the bottom, “I know of only of one pony in all of Equestria that has this as her cutie mark.”

Spectrum Storm, Iris Drop, Luminance, Autumn Gold and Morning Dawn gathered around the table to look at the cutie mark on the paper. “I think my mother was commissioned to design a dress for someone with that cutie mark,” Luminance said tapping her chin. “Oooooo, what was that name again?”

“How about Nyx?” somepony said from behind the group. Reactions varied from pony to pony. Storm locked his legs so fast that it could be heard by the trained ear as Iris and Luminance jumped back in fright of the sudden guest. Coco’s eyes widen greatly while Autumn’s shrank to the size of an apple seed. All eyes were on the black coated alicorn as she walked down the staircase.

Spike slapped his head with an open hand, “That’s who Celestia meant!”

Before any other words could be said, Dawn bolted to the base of the stairs and embraced the alicorn. “Nyx, my sister it’s so good to see you after so long.” All but Spike, Starlight and Storm (who was quieter than the grave at this point) responded with a ‘What?’ as the two mare embraced one another.

********

“So let me get this straight,” Iris said as the collected group sat around the small reading table, “Not only were you raised by Twilight Sparkle with Spike and Dawn, but you also became the size you are now back when you were a filly and stopped the whole town from being raided by monsters from the Everfree.”

“Not to mention turn Fluttershy into a tree,” Nyx added before taking a sip. She, Spike, and Morning Dawn, had spent most of the time between meals telling Nyx’s story of how she first came to Ponyville, leaving out the negative things she had done in her youth.

“That reminds me,” Spike said looking at Nyx from his chair, “Pinkie never did convince you into turning her into a cake didn’t she.”

“And no one ever will,” Nyx said taking a sip of her tea, “Fluttershy was the only pony that I used magic like that on and that was because I was convinced it was ‘ok’ to try it.”

“I should ask Grandma how it felt to be a tree,” Iris said playing with her empty tea cup.

Nyx stopped mid sip, lowered her cup and asked the violet pegasus, “Fluttershy is still alive?”

The pegasus nodded before letting the thought bring a frown upon her face. Letting her mane fail over her face she added, “But she might not last much longer.” The ponies sat on the other side of the table from her leaned in an attempt to hear her better. Iris looked up to repeat herself but her mouth refused to open.

“What Miss Iris is saying,” Storm said drawing eyes to him instead of the upset pony “is that she might not be with us much longer. The Element of Kindness arrived back at her cottage just last week and has been under the watchful eye of Nurse Wide Heart. She suspects that Mrs. Fluttershy has about one to two weeks with us left.”

Iris fought through the sobs as tears began to creep from her eyes, “Grandma loved that meadow with all her heart. The animals there were so happy when she returned.”

Everyone gathered around the table sat in a silence as the Iris’s sniffs echoed around the room. Starlight could only lean down to take a sip from her drink. Nyx looked down at her hooves before standing up. “Where you going Nyx?” Spike asked as the black alicorn made her way to the library door.

“I’m going to see her,” she said using her magic to open the door, “I figure I should pay my respects to such a good friend that she is.”

“We’ll travel with you, ma’am,” Spectrum Storm said before urging the crying mare next to him, “Come now, ma’am, your mother is waiting for your return.” Iris brought herself up onto shaky hooves before letting herself be guided out of the library.

“Mind if Starlight and I join you sister?” Morning Dawn asked. Starlight was about to object when she caught a glare from her mother. Nyx nodded as Autumn Gold and Luminance joined them.

“Autumn and me need to finish setting up for the party” Coco said grabbing the farm mare by the hoof.

“Ah, Coco,” Autumn said pulling her hoof away, “I kind of wanted to talk to Fluttershy as well.”

Grabbing the hoof again, she pulled Autumn through the doorway, “Me, too. But we spent too much time talking already. We need to finish setting up the party.” With that, the two earth ponies disappeared out the door with the unicorns leaving Nyx and Spike left.

“Nyx,” the dragon said stopping the alicorn from leaving, “I’ll get a room ready for you.”

“Thank you Spike,” She replied with a nod of her head. “Also would you mind staying up until I get back? I... I have something I want to talk to you about.”

Spike sighed before climbing the staircase, “Sure thing.”

*******

The evening air greeted them as the six ponies crossed the small bridge that lead to the cottage by the meadow. Iris gave a few quick taps on the door before entering with the rest behind her.

“Make yourselves at home,” the violet pegasus went ahead up stairs, “Storm, would you mind getting them some things to eat and drink?”

“We’re not staying here long, Iris,” Morning Dawn said watching the pegasus leave. The stallion didn’t seem to care as he went into the kitchen leaving the three unicorns and Nyx alone and waiting. Around them they could see bird houses hanging from the ceiling and mouse holes going along the length of the walls. Luminance jumped off to side as a squirrel brushed past her leg with a nut tightly clenched between its teeth.

“Don’t come here often?” Starlight asked the unicorn with a smirk.

“I do,” Luminance replied letting her eyes follow the woodland creature run up a small set of stairs that disappeared into the ceiling, “It’s just last time I was here the animals were all over this place. Now it seems abandon of life.”

“My guess is that they’re all up stairs,” Nyx said making her way to the stairs. Coming down them was Iris and another pony in a white dress while carrying a medical box.

“Greetings, everypony,” the nurse said looking at the gathered ponies. Catching Dawn in her sight the nurse pony trotted over to her, “Dawn, my word, those years in Canterlot sure have been good to you.”

“You can thank my husband for that, Wide Heart,” Dawn replied motioning to her daughter, “Heart this is my daughter, Starlight.” The dark grey unicorn felt reluctant to shake hooves with the nurse but figured she wasn’t about to prank her as well.

“I take it you already meet Iris Drop,” she replied pointing you her daughter.

“And Spectrum Storm,” Dawn said before looking toward the kitchen, “So why is he here?”

Heart watch as the stallion began to prepare a plate of food, “All I know about him is Rainbow Dash was his Grandmother.”

“But didn’t her son go to Cloudsdale?” Dawn asked with a raised hoof. A clatter of metal from the kitchen brought all eyes on the stallion as he stood rigid.

“We try to not mention Cloudsdale around him,” Heart said in hushed tones as the pegasus went back to work on the food. “He showed up here one day before winter asking for a job.”

“So where does he work?” Nyx asked looking at Storm while he worked.

“Well the mayor had him join the weather patrol,” Heart said walking over to a chair and taking a seat, “He does a very good job at it.”

“Then why is he here and not in a home of his own?” Starlight asked sitting down, “I’ve seen pegasi make homes out of clouds before.”

“We told him that,” Luminance said from her seat, “But that pony is very stubborn.”

“Well, has anyone asked him why he is so reluctant?” Starlight questioned. Before she could get her answer, turn her head over to the stallion, “What’s keeping you here and not in the sky?”

Storm looked over his shoulder and countered, “I thought you came here to talk to Mrs. Fluttershy, not me?” Starlight crossed her forelegs in frustration.

“We gave up on asking him,” Iris said looking at him with unblocked eyes, “I don’t mind him here.”

Heart leaned in to whisper to Dawn, “I think she really enjoys his company.”

“Mom,” Iris said before lowering her head to allow her mane to cover her reddish checks..

Nyx chuckled a bit before looking up at the stairs, “So can we see Fluttershy?”

“Sure,” the nurse pony said, “she’s been awake for a while now, though be careful. Your presence might cause her weak heart to skip a beat.”

“I know,” Nyx said looking down, “Everypony around her age was afraid of my looks.” Both Luminance and Iris looked at Dawn and Starlight hoping for a bit of clarification on what she meant. Both unicorns gave each other worried looks before following Nyx up the stairs.

“Mom,” Iris asked when the last pony that went upstairs disappeared, “What does Nyx mean by everypony around ‘grandma’s’ age?”

“It’s a long story,” Wide Heart said, “I’ll tell it to you some time later.”

As Nyx carefully opened the door, the sound of small paws could be hear swarming about as mice, squirrels, bunnies and the such moved away from the door and the entering ponies. On the bed was a cream colored pony with long pink mane staring out the window. On top of her was a thick blanket of sleeping bunnies. As Nyx and company approached the bed, one of the tiny rabbits looked up at them and lightly tapped the old mare on the check.

Looking around, the light blue eyes looked softly up at the three. “Morning Dawn, Nyx,” she said gently pushing herself up on the bed only to be stopped by Nyx’s hoof. “Who is your young friend?”

After getting pulled through the doorway she replied, “My name is Starlight, Mrs. Fluttershy. I’m Dawn’s daughter.”

“That means you’re Twilight’s granddaughter?” the old pegasus said as her old eyes grew with every word. Starlight nodded before Fluttershy continued, “Then you must be as talented as Twilight.” Starlight couldn’t help but look away when the pegasus made the comment. Dawn herself ended up biting her lips at the mention of magic. Both actions were clearly seen by the nearby alicorn.

Fluttershy didn’t press the issue as she asked, “What brings you girls to town?”

“Tomorrow’s my birthday,” Nyx answered bringing her look back to the old mare, “I came here seeing if you wanted to go.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet of you, but... I’m sorry,” the kind pegasus apologized looking down at the furry creatures around her. “I don’t think I would be able to go. Though, I’ll try if you really want me there.”

“Fluttershy,” Nyx said trying to not sound disappointed, “If you’re unable to, don’t worry. Your health is more important than any birthday I have.”

“I know, but,” Fluttershy pleaded, “It’s your birthday-”

Nyx hushed her by gently placing a hoof over her mouth, “It would make me sadder if something happen to you while at the party than you being safe here. And don’t worry; I’ll personally bring a piece of cake back for you.”

“Oh... ok,” the pegasus replied petting a bunny.

Nyx saw how much the sweet pony wanted to be there and came up with idea, “If you want we can have a small party here afterwards with just a few of us.”

This seemed to lighten the pony’s mood as she replied, “That would be nice.”

The four of them continued talking till the last rays of sunlight faded from the room. Saying their farewells, the group traveled downstairs to see Iris nodding off in her chair. “Where is everyone else?” Dawn asked.

The pegasus woke with a jump. Getting her bearing, she replied, “Ahhhhh, Luminance and mom left a while ago. As for Storm, he went out back.”

“We’ll be leaving then, take care Iris,” Nyx said looking at the window. She looked down at her family and said, “I’ll see you two back at the library.” With that the black alicorn took flight and left the meadow.

“See you tomorrow, Iris,” Dawn said as she and her daughter left the cottage to Iris, Storm and Fluttershy.

*******

Nyx entered the library while Spike was reading. The dragon looked from his book for only a moment to say, “You’re room is on the third floor next to the stairs that go to the attic.” Nyx merely just sat down on the other side of the reading table.

“I wanted to talk to you before the others got back,” Nyx said. Spike closed the book and placed it on the reading table. He then looked up at the alicorn across the table waiting for her to speak. “Something has been eating you.”

“Last time I knew nothing,” Spike joked back looking at his tail.

“You said that you weren’t going to the party,” Nyx asked keeping a strong poker face.

“So what?” the dragon asked getting up and making for the kitchen, “just because it’s your birthday party, you think you can get me to go to it?

“I just want to know why?” Nyx asked with a caring voice.

Spike return with two cups, one was filled with tea while the other was brimming with hot chocolate. “You know very well why I’m not going,” the dragon set the tea cup down in front of his alicorn sister.

“It’s Twilight’s anniversary, right?” Nyx asked leaving the tea cup alone.

“Yes,” the dragon said taking a drink of his hot chocolate.

“Spike, it has been twenty years,” Nyx commented as she walked around the table, “I loved her as much as you did.”

The cup Spike was holding slammed into the tabletop, nearly breaking it on impact, “Then why weren’t you at the funeral? Why haven’t you been here the years afterwards to pay your respect to her grave? I haven’t seen a trace of your existence since that Manehattan problem.”

“I was recovering from that fight when word reached my ears of Twilight’s condition,” Nyx said keeping her eyes on the dragon. “I couldn’t fly or use magic at the time so I walked all the way here only to find her in her grave. I couldn’t bring myself to face her afterwards.” Turning her back to the dragon and looked up at the portrait above the fireplace, “I left and spent the last twenty years on the road doing small jobs.”

“So why come back now?” Spike said his claws tighten on the cup.

Never moving her eyes of the Twilight portrait, “During my time on the road, I thought about everything Twilight had told me. Just a month ago, I found the quote that cleared all the problems that ran through my head.”

Moving to his seat, Spike took another drink, “What’s this famous quote that Twilight told you?”

“On the day of my graduation,” Nyx began, “She quoted a line in one of Star Swirl the Breaded’s books. ‘Put your past behind you for all the negative emotions in your life will only block the road to your future. But don’t forget the memories of those you loved because without them, the road would have never appeared before you in the first place.’”

Spike sat in silence before replying, “That’s deep.”

“I had a lot of painful experiences that needed to be put aside,” Nyx said raising her voice a bit, “Or I wouldn’t have been able to help everypony like I said I would.”

“Let’s see,” the dragon said holding onto his mug with his claws, “You brought around two weeks of endless night, locked not only your friends, but also Twilight in jail, and you also had a hoard of equestrians under your control.”

“It was Nexus that had the Children of Nightmare under control,” Nyx countered.

“You don’t get it, Nyx,” Spike said slamming the cup on the table causing it to shatter. He stared at the alicorn as the hot chocolate ran over his hand. “You have past memories that needed to be forgotten. Me, I don’t. All the memories I had are with Twilight.”

“So aren’t mine,” Nyx angrily replied staring into the dragon’s eyes, “Luna took all the memories of Nightmare Moon while she was still a part of her.”

“What about your time out there saving other ponies?” Spike questioned, “Surely you have memories of those events.”

“I get your point, but still you have some memories that you rather forget too,” Nyx said breaking eye contact, “How about that time you let your greed take control of you and you nearly ended up destroying the whole town.”

“How did you know about that?” Spike asked taken back.

“Twilight told me about it when I went out looking for a gift for you on your birthday,” Nyx confessed. “Everyone has a dark spot in their past that they wish they could hide.”

“Whatever Nyx,” Spike said cleaning up his mess, “Can you get the point so I can go to bed?”

Nyx stepped onto the table and looked down on the dragon, “Neither of us are going to bed until you tell me what is your problem is?”

Spike couldn’t keep eye contact with the turquoise dragon eyes as they stared him down. “It’s what Twilight said before she went,” Spike finally said, “She sat there looking at all of us. Dawn, her husband and Starlight while she was still a newborn, Fluttershy and the rest of Twilight’s friends, Dawn’s friends, almost everypony that knew her was there, besides you. She sat there on her bed, looking at the gathered crowd and asked, ‘Where’s Nyx?’ She was so bent on seeing you before she was gone and in the end I told a lie to her saying that you were just flying past Canterlot.”

The purple dragon couldn’t help but sit back down with his face buried in his claws, “Afterwards.... *sniff* I started collecting those gems for that crown. I made a promise that each year you weren’t here, *sniff* I was going to add another jewel to the crown. This year I was going to finish it and present it to her grave with a letter. Hoping that she would at least read what I had to say to her.”

Nyx couldn’t help but comfort the dragon as the tears slowly poured out, “I’m sorry Spike. You could have sent a letter to me telling me your problem.”

“But how?” he said looking up that his adopted sister, “You’ve been on the road day and night. You never spent more than an hour in one place.”

“You could have sent a letter to Celestia,” Nyx replied, “she would then passed it on to me.” The dragon reached out and embraced the alicorn’s long legs. Both of them stood there even as the sounds of Morning Dawn and Starlight walking in. Starlight was about to say something to the two but Dawn merely hushed her and led her young mare to bed.

********

The next morning bought Coconut Pop prancing down the road to the library. In her mouth was a basket loaded with invitations she had made the night before. Upon reaching the door, the chocolate brown mare gave the door a quick tap.

She quickly set the basket down behind her to pull out an invite before the door open. Looking up, Coco stared right into the eyes of Nyx. From shear surprise, the earth jumped back only to fall over the basket she just set down.

“Coconut Pop, right?” the alicorn asked with a grin on her face.

Coco hopped up on her feet and replied with a cheery grin, “Midnight Nyx, I wasn’t expecting you at the door this morning.”

“Spike was passed out on his bed when I woke up,” Nyx replied using her magic to lift the invitations back into the basket for the mare, “So I figured I would make breakfast for my family today.”

“Oh, that’s so nice of you,” Coco said handing the piece of paper to the alicorn, “Would you be so kind to give this to them for me? I would wait and do it myself but there are so many ponies that are in town so I really need to go.” Before Nyx could take it, she pulled it back and handed another one. “Sorry about that, this one is for Storm.”

“What’s the difference?” the black alicorn said taking the new innovation in her magic.

“You saw how much of a statue he is,” she said waving a hoof in front of her face, “I figure a harmless prank might brighten him up. Anyways, see ya later alligator,” with that the pony ran off down the road.

Turning her back to the door, Nyx saw both her unicorn relatives walking down the stairs. Morning Dawn carried two books with in her magic and carried herself with a bounce in her step. Starlight on the other hand couldn’t bring herself to move at all and moaned as the sun blasted her eyes.

“Morning,” Nyx said leaving the invite on the table while heading for the kitchen, “what would you like for breakfast?”

“Pancakes will be just fine,” Dawn said happily as she sat down and began reading.

“How many would you like?” Nyx asked leaning around the threshold.

“I’ll settle with just one Aunt Nyx,” Starlight said still half asleep.

“Starlight, are you sure?” Nyx asked. “It’s going to be a long day.”

Morning Dawn waved to her signaling to stop right there. Returning to her book she said, “I’ll have three myself sister.”

“I could go for four pancakes myself,” Spike said walking down the stairs, still half asleep as well, “could you also add some rubies from my stash in the batter?” Nyx merely shook her head as she return to her work. The dragon went right for the kitchen only for Nyx to hand him a cup of coco and shoo him out of the room.

“Well,” he snorted as he walked to the table, “looks like somepony is ready for her big day.” His eyes caught the invitation sitting on the table. “So, when is this party of yours?”

“Noon,” the alicorn replied from the kitchen.

“It’s only 8 in the morning,” Spike said taking a seat, “you still have 4 hours before the party.”

“I know,” Nyx said magically flipping a hotcake in its pan, “I wanted to visit some places before making an appearance at the party.”

“Well then,” the dragon said reaching for the chest sitting on the bookshelf, “Can we make one extra stop on your list of places to go?”

“Sure thing,” the alicorn replied flipping the pancake again before settling it on an empty plate.

Spike opened his treasure box only to have surprise plastered on his face. Inside was the finished tiara that was repaired of defects and claw marks that he remembered adding himself during the years. Holding it up out of the box, both unicorns looked at it in amazement.

“That’s so well done. Spike,” Dawn said walking around to get a better look at it.

“Yeah, but just yesterday morning it was...” Spike began to say before the sound of a whistling alicorn floated out of the kitchen. Chuckling, he placed the crown back in the chest and closed the lid, “Nevermind.”

The rest of the morning carried on as Nyx and her family toured Ponyville, much to Starlight’s dismay. They visited places both new and old to the alicorn and her unicorn sister. One of such visit was to Carousel Boutique where the family stumbled upon Luminance as she busy conversing with her mother about opening up her own store.

After visiting Sugercube Corner for a quick check up on the party’s condition, the group travel to Sweet Apple Acers. When they arrived, they were greeted by the whole Apple family as they filled a wagon with a wide variety of apple related food. The reunion of Morning Dawn and Autumn Gold’s mother, Russet Apple, was, as Starlight put it, ‘long past disturbing.’ The two mares broke out into so many stories that if Spike wasn’t there with a helpful reminder, they would have forgotten about the party all together

Now the four family members carefully walked along the stone path that made its way through their final stop. Spike’s head nervously went from one stone to another as if expecting something to happen. He tightened his grip on the box he carried.

Nyx, who was leading the party, stopped and looked forward as did everyone else once they got around her. There, standing proudly over the other stones embedded into the ground was a statue.

“We’re here,” Spike barely said as he walked toward the six stone ponies. Setting the box down, he opened it and pulled out a rag. With the rag he began to clean the dust off the busts of his friends. Nyx stepped up to a podium that stood in front of the statue and used her magic to remove the vines that grew over the text.

Starlight walked around the alicorn to see the dragon eyes tightly closed with tears pooling up at their base.  The unicorn looked at what her aunt had read.

Here lie the bearers of harmony. It is because of their friendship that all of Equestria has endured many hardships. Since the return of Nightmare Moon, they have put the elements to the test, proving that while friendship is rough, it’s something worth fighting for. So let their names forever be remembered even though not all maybe sleeping here. Applejack; bearer of the element of honesty, Rainbow Dash; bearer of the element of loyalty, Pinkie Pie; bearer of the element of laughter, Rarity; bearer of the element of generosity, Fluttershy; bearer of the element of kindness and Twilight Sparkle bearer of the element of magic.

Everyone remained silent as the dragon continued his work; all of them bearing an element of sadness within their eyes.

When he was finished, Spike took the tiara in his tail and brought it to his hand. Giving it a last minute shine, he placed it on top of the stone unicorn at its base. Standing taller than that of the life size replica of his Mother, he went to one knee and hugged Twilight’s bust with as much strength as he could without breaking it. “We missed you, Twi,” he said loud enough to be barely heard by everyone nearby.

With that he step down off the statue of his friends from his early childhood and began to walk back to the town. Starlight seeing her mother follow the dragon, went as well leaving Nyx alone in front of the six busts.

“Mother,” Nyx cried softly, “I know you must be upset with me not being around lately but it’s just that I needed to clear my head of some bad thoughts. I wanted so much to come here each day after I heard news of your departure but I couldn’t bring myself to face you. The only other time I came so close to lose you, I was there to save you. B… but… but I can help myself now that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me the most. I thought I finally put the pain of not being with you at the end was over. Here I am now; crying like it was that time you found me in the Everfree.” The wind continued to blow through the as the sobs of the alicorn were carried along the wind.


> Chapter 2: Parties and Problems
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2: Parties and Problems

Music roared through the street as the party began in full swing. Ponies of every age filled the area outside Sugercube Corner as Coconut Pop went about the crowd greeting each one personally. Russet and the rest of the Apple family arrived with three wagons overloaded with their crop. An area in front of a stage was packed with dancing ponies as tunes played from a turntable on the raised platform. Spike, Morning Dawn and Starlight arrived with mixed reviews.

“Mom, I’m going to head back to the library” Starlight stated feeling weak in the knees.

“Starlight,” Dawn replied looking at her upset daughter, “What’s wrong?”

Backing away, she the unicorn replied, “There are so many of them.”

Spike stopped the retreating pony by stepping in her path. Looking down at her, he commented, “There are three times the ponies in Canterlot than here.”

“Yeah,” Starlight began her counter argument, “But not all of them, let alone a third of them are in one place at the same time. I tend to take the back roads as well.”

Crossing his arms, the dragon asked, “And why’s that?” This got both unicorns to paint worried faces on themselves.

Interrupting them, Nurse Wide Heart came up and asked, “Dawn, did you just get here?”

Silently thanking her for the distraction, Dawn replied, “Yeah, we just got back from the cemetery.”

“Where’s Nyx?” the nurse asked. “Coco’s been looking for her to officially start the party.”

Looking back, the unicorn answered, “I think she’s still at the statue.”

Nether Spike or the two older mares notice Starlight slipping into the crowd. Hoping to stay incognito, she kept her head below the rest of crowd. Saying sorry whenever brushed by another pony, she found an empty gap in the crowd and sat down at a table.

Sighing, she said to herself, “Now, I just need to make it to the library and no one will know.”

“No one will know what, ma’am?” asked a stallion that she didn’t realize she was sitting next to. Jumping up off her seat she looked at Spectrum Storm who looking at her with a small tilt of his eyebrows.

She studied his features before replying, “Nothing really important, I just don’t like large crowds.” Her eyes darted back and forth while the stallion looked out to the crowd.

The two sat in silence, paying no attention to the other as the party continued without them. Without warning, Storm said without looking in her direction, “I don’t care for these kinds of crowds myself, ma’am. They remind me of my mother.”

Startled at the broken silence, Starlight began to internally question this stallion. Who is this buck? Aside from Cloudsdale, where is he from? Who was his mother? Did Rainbow Dash have a daughter too? Before she could ask any of her questions, Iris appeared from the sky with a pair of juice boxes between her hooves.

“Starlight,” she said seeing the unicorn as she touched down by the stallion, “I just saw your Mother-“

“Don’t tell her where I am,” the unicorn pleaded.

“Ok,” Iris replied setting a juice box in front of Storm.

Starlight was taken by surprise, “What? No attempts to refuse?”

“You said not to tell her where you are,” Iris said taking the straw and poking into the other box still in her hoof, “and I was told by your mother to have you find her.”

“Huh?” Starlight glared at the pegasus totally confused.

Storm stepped in, “You were meant to find Morning Dawn, ma’am.”

Dropping her head on to the table, she said, “Logic. I have none of it.”

“So, you’re not going to find her?” Iris said removing the straw from the hole she had made in the box.

Looking up, Starlight replied, “Are you crazy? She’ll probably go and show me off like some sort of trophy which is DUMB!” Iris listened carefully as Starlight continued her rant while taking a small green pellet and dropping it through the straw hole. “I have nothing that is worth showing off. ARGH! Mom, you’re a teacher! You should be able to put two and two together!”

“Here,” Iris said pushing the juice box over to whining unicorn.

“What’s this?” Starlight said looking at box. “I saw you put something in here.”

“Don’t worry,” Iris softly said, “I just put a bit of herbs into it.”

Looking at the drink then back at pegasus, she asked, “Are these ‘herbs’ going to make me have weird visions?”

“Good heavens, no,” Iris replied as if she was insulted. “I would never do that. You just looked a bit tired, that’s all.” Starlight gave her a puzzled look. “It’s just a couple of plants that will re-energize you.”

Storm piped in, “I can vouch for her, ma’am. I had some of her herbal drinks during my training.”

The unicorn continued to look at the pegai as if she didn’t believe them. Iris gave up on trying to convince the reluctant mare and changed the topic, “So, what do you do?”

“Well… I, ahhh,” Starlight stumbled slowly walking away from the table, “I’m a student in Canterlot.”

“Oh, what do you study?” Iris said looking up at her with unblocked eyes.

Starlight looked back and forth between the two pegai. Storm seemed oblivious to conversation as he stared off into the crowd of ponies while taking a sip of his juice. “Well… ahhh,” she started to lie, “… we study… Trees.”

“When did Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns study trees?” a voice said with a southern tone, “‘Cause Ah would love to see yer reports on apple trees.”

Starlight flung herself away from the speaker and went over the table. Looking back over she saw Autumn Gold standing near where she jumped from. Her saddle bags were filled with some big, juicy, red apples.

“Autumn,” Iris said helping the unicorn back on her feet, “It isn’t nice to scare somepony like that.”

“Pardon,” the farm mare said placing her hat on the table. She pointed at Starlight and said, “Ah was looking for her an-”

“You’re not taking me to my mother!” Starlight protested.

Displeased at the interruption, Autumn continued, “AND Ah overheard her saying she was studying trees.” She then sat down and pulled out a notebook and a pencil. “So would ya mind telling me what ya know about trees?”

Starlight gave Autumn the most confused look she had and asked, “Did you really believe me?”

“Nah,” Autumn replied before placing her writing tools back in her bags, “Ah just wanted to see how far ya go with the lie.”

Starlight banged head again on the table and exclaimed, “Why can’t I read between the lines?!”

“I can recommend you a really good eye doctor in town,” Iris commented. Starlight stared at her asking with a face that said, ‘Are you serious?’

“It was a phase, ma’am,” Storm said still looking out into the crowd. His posture had become rigid when the farmer appeared. Iris giggled at her mistake and turned her attention to Autumn. As the two talked, Starlight began to walk away.

She was about to disappear back to the crowd when she thought, How did she know I went to Celestia’s School? Sitting back down she interrupted, “Excuse me? How did you know I where I went for school?”

Autumn looked back at her, displeased to be interrupted again, replied, “Yer mother teaches there, right?”

Slapping her head with a hoof, Starlight mumbled, “Of course it would be mother.”

“What tha hay is wrong with ya and yer mother?” Autumn asked walking around the table. She placed a hoof on the depressed mare’s shoulder.

Shrugging it off, Starlight looked up at those around her and said, “For countless years, my mother has been personally trying to train me so I can live up to the family name. Day after day during school, it’s ‘Try to lift that with magic,’ or ‘Turn that apple into a pear.’ Why won’t she just leave me alone and allow me to leave school?!”

“Will ya quit it with the whining?” Autumn said stomping her hoof, “Yer sounding like a hound that’s lost his bone.”

Starlight brought her head up and looked at the farmer, “If I’m the dog and my magic is the bone, then I haven’t lost anything. My magic just won’t-” she brought her hooves up and covered her mouth.

Autumn’s eyes gave off a shine that made the unicorn gulp. “Yer magic just won’t, what?” she said giving her an evil grin.

Starlight started to back away while replying, “Ahahaha… nothing.” With that she bolted away from the table and down a back alley.

“Storm, stop her,” Autumn yelled as she ran after the unicorn. Storm who seemed out of it was gone before Iris could even get up and get her bags on.

Dodging through the back alleys and around stalls, Starlight poured all of her energy into hooves. Glancing back, she saw Autumn jumping over a stall she just ran around. Okay she sure can get height on those jumps, she thought looking ahead, and at this rate she’ll catch me. At the end of the street she saw a ditch with some bushes on the other side of it. Maybe I can trick her with those- what the?!

She slid to a stop as Spectrum Storm landed in front of her. His spread out wings and his intimidating eyes froze the mare in the spot where she sat. Autumn slowed her pace as the gap closed between them. “Golly, Storm, where did you get that speed of yours?” she asked panting.

Looking away, the stallion replied, “Months of training, ma’am.” Folding his wings, he walked pass the unicorn and earth pony and went back to the party. Iris dropped down in front of him as Autumn walked around Starlight.

“So what was that about yer magic?” she asked looking into the mare’s eyes.

“Promise not to have him look at me like that again?” she requested, her knees shaking a bit hard.

“Promise,” Autumn laughed while grabbing the unicorn and leading her back to the party, “but let’s get back to tha party. Ah heard Coco got the Cakes to make a really big cake for yer aunt.”

Back at the table, the four of them sat around eating apples from Autumn’s bag as Starlight began building up courage to begin. “Well,” she started, “my magic is………no, my magic does…… no, my magic makes things explode.” She braced herself for the laughter she expected. Opening her eyes she saw that they (aside from Storm) looked confused rather than amused. “What? No laughs, no giggles, no nothing?”

“Well,” Iris started, “There aren’t a lot of unicorns in town so we don’t know what happens when one loses their magic.”

“But I didn’t lose it. It just won’t work right,” Starlight replied looking off into space.

“Well, maybe a demonstration is needed,” Autumn asked.

Looking around for something to protect herself, she asked, “Does anyone have a cup or something?”

“Here you go,” a mare replied handing out a clear glass cup with her yellow hoof. Starlight looked up into Luminance’s purple eyes.

“Oh no,” she said waving her hooves in front of her. “I’m already revealing my secret to three ponies already. I don’t need any more finding out.”

“Finding what out?” the unicorn asked her friends across the table.

“She has a problem with her magic,” Autumn said taking bit of her apple. This got a glare from the grey unicorn.

“Oh, that is a secret worth keeping,” Luminance said before looking around. Once she was satisfied, she sat down on her haunches.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” she continued while making the proper motions in rhythm with the chant. Starlight looked around confused only to see that both Iris and Autumn making the same actions.

“What’s going on?” Starlight asked looking from the mares.

Luminance leaned close to her ear and whispered, “It’s called a Pinkie Pie promise. It’s a promise that one must keep.”

“So what was with all that looking around,” the confused mare asked again.

Autumn jumped in with a replied, “Remember what happen when yer ma mentioned Pinkie Pie yesterday?” Starlight thought back to the ride into town. Realizing what would of happen, she smacked her face down on the table.

“Well, are you going to show us what you mean by problems with your magic?” Luminance said taking a seat next to her. Sighing, Starlight took a piece of the apple she was eating and placed the empty cup over it. She then focused her power into the apple slice.

********

Outside of town, Nyx was walking down the road. She stopped as a wave of magical energy passed by her. That is one strong source of magic, she thought to herself. Too strong in fact. If it isn’t channeled properly it will- As sudden as the wave of magic began, it ended. Deviate. She waited for the surge in magic to rise again. After minutes of waiting, she took off.

*******

Back at the table, the group looked from Starlight to the contents in the cup. Inside was no longer the apple slice but apple sauce that plastered the whole inside of the cup.

“Golly,” Autumn exclaimed, “and that’s just from levitating it.”

“Not only levitating, but every spells I try has the same ending,” Starlight replied carefully turning the cup up with a hoof, “It just explodes.”

“Well,” Luminance said using her magic to clean the glass, “That sure is one problem you have there.”

Nyx came walking up to the group, causing the tension to shift greatly as she said, “Yes, and a problem that needs to be fixed.”

“Aunt Nyx,” Starlight said cowering in the alicorn presence, “How much do you know?”

“Plenty, my niece,” the alicorn said taking a seat next to her, “You do have the magical power to rival your grandmother but, you need to channel it properly.”

“I have,” Starlight said harshly knowing where this going. “I’ve tried everything in the book. I’ve tried full force; I’ve held back; I did the balancing act. By Celestia’s horn, I even have done the pulsating method.” She pointed to the pile of applesauce, “All of it ends up the same way; that. Celestia doesn’t even know what’s the matter with me is.”

“Strange,” Nyx said placing a hoof to her chin. “If the princess can’t even figure this problem out, then something must be really wrong.”

“No duh,” Starlight sassed.

Getting up the alicorn began to say, “I’ll go find your mother an-”

“NYYYYXXXXX!” said a high pitched cried from the crowd. Everyone at the table looked around to see the brown coated mare leaping over the crowd. Coco made one final leap, hoping to cover the rest of the distance. She slipped up on the landing and went face first in the dirt and skid the rest of the way over. Before letting anyone help her up, she threw her weight to her flanks and up righted herself into a seated position.

Patting herself on the head she said, “Oops, hehehe. Anyways Nyx come on over to the stage. I need you to official start the party.”

“Coco, are you okay?” Nyx asked inspecting the mare.

“Don’t worry, it happens all the time,” Coconut said waving a hoof.

Autumn leaned up to Storm who became even more rigid since Nyx arrived, “A bit too much if ya asked me.”

“We’ll talk later, Starlight,” Nyx said before taking flight over to the stage. Coco began to push her way back through the crowd leaving the rest alone at the table.

The whole party fell silent as the black alicorn prepared her speech. Her horn glowed, making her voice loud enough to be heard from the other side of town, she began, “Citizens of Ponyville, it has been years since I have last seen this place. Most of you know me as Midnight Nyx, the protector of ponykind and the vigilant guard of the night. Some of you know me just as Nyx, the adopted filly of Twilight Sparkle. Only a few of those among you also know me by another name. I don’t want to speak of that name though, as it carries with it a horrible history that dates long before my birth 100 years ago.

“But now is not the time to remember those painful memories of the past. Now is not the time to be holding grudges towards one another. Now is not the time to be sad. Now is the time to be happy. Now is the time for everypony to be merry. Now is the time that we all can celebrate on what we have done and what we will do in the future. Now is the time I share my birthday with all of you. I count you all as friends even if we had only known each other for a few minutes. I want to pass the teachings that I have learned about friendship to each one of you. For without friendship, our beloved Equestria would have been truly different.

“So be merry as the music and games will go on throughout the night. So be joyful and let your worries be washed away with the soap that is friendship. Let us all be thankful for the harmony that is the string that binds us together becomes stronger each passing day. Be happy, my friends.” With that the crowd began to stomp in applause. Nyx nodded to the collected mass of ponies and began to walk away.

Without warning a pie planted itself on the back of Nyx’s head. Everything was dead silent. Slowly she looked around while letting her magical mane clean the mess off of her. “Who threw that?” She said holding back all urges to laugh.

A brown hoof shot out of the crowd as Coco cried out cheerfully, “It was me!” Nyx’s horn glowed as three pies appeared above the earth pony’s head and splatter on top of her. Nyx finally let her laughter lose as the prankster mare continued her mad giggling. After a bit the whole crowd was caught up in laughter and the music started up again.

Nyx walked behind the stage as the laughter continued and sighed in relief, “That went better than expected.”

“Nice speech if I do say so myself,” said a regal voice. Looking around, the black alicorn looked up and locked eyes with two more of her kind, Celestia and Luna. The Royal sisters wore their usually regalia of armor and jewels.

“I wasn’t expecting you to be here you highnesses,” Nyx said bowing.

Raising her hoof, telling Nyx to rise, Luna said, “I thought your brother Spike was going to inform you of our pending visit?”

“You see, we kind of got into a fight last night,” the black alicorn commented.

Celestia looked at her sister and back at Nyx, “We aren’t here for small talk right now, my friend. What we have to tell you is very important.”

“Then let’s go to the library,” Nyx suggested unfolding her wings, “No one is there.” With that the three alicorns were gone.

********

Fighting through her laughs, Luminance said, “I must say, that was wonderful.”

“Coco sure knows how to get everypony happy,” Autumn said reaching into her bags.

Licking pie off her face, Coconut found her way through the crowd to them and sat right down. “Care to tell me why you did that to Nyx?” Iris asked.

“It looked like she needed help proving her point,” Coco said trying to clean the pie from her hair.

“Not where from I was sitting,” Starlight replied. “She was getting a round of applause after all.”

Stopping what she was doing, she placed a hoof around the unicorn’s shoulder, “You don’t seem to be the type that can reach out to a crowd?”

“Seeing how I never once took a public speaking course at school,” Starlight said shrugging off the hoof, “yeah, I’m not.”

“Well,” the prankster mare commented, “you should drop by the store some day while you’re here in Ponyville and I’ll teach you.”

“Ahh…” Starlight said staring to back away, “I think I will be leaving after tomorrow, soooo-” She was interrupted by the rest of the girls as they pleaded her to stay. She looked up at the quiet stallion, hoping if she made a break for it, she could get away.

“Excuse me for saying this,” he said speaking up, “It’s up to her where she wants to go.” Starlight sighed in thanks at the stallion. “But, I can say from experience that Ponyville is a better place to stay than Canterlot.”

“Argh,” Starlight said running off into the crowd.

“I think we pushed a bit too hard,” Iris said picking up her saddle bags.

Autumn place her book back into her bag and replied, “Ah think so too. Come on, Ah know where she’s a heading.”

“Where are we going?” Coco asked cheerfully.

“Most likely the library, ma’am” Storm said as the group left the table and followed the unicorn mare to the old tree house.

*******

Starlight welcomed the sight of the giant tree as she picked up her pace. Glancing back once, she saw that no pony was following her and slowed down. “I think they finally let me go in peace,” she exclaimed. “Now time to relax from all these ponies.”

Stopping at the door, she was about to push it open when she heard someone shout, “No, I won’t!” She lowered her hoof and bent down and went to nearest window. Peaking in, she saw three alicorns talking. One she knew was Nyx as her magical mane was furiously moving about. As for the other two she recognized as the Royal sisters.

“Nyx, calm down,” Celestia said unaware of the eavesdropper.

“How can I?” Nyx countered, “You want me to leave Fluttershy the moment she passes away.”

Luna stepped in, “We know you have a tight connect to her, but once she gone, the seal will be broken and chaos will once again be released onto Equestria. My sister and I can’t fight him alone.”

“And how is adding one more alicorn to the fight going to help?” Nyx asked stomping.

“At the height of your power,” Celestia replied with a commanding voice, “You were able to defeat me and Luna in single combat. I personally hoped that you have restored much of that power over the years.”

“I have,” the black alicorn stated. “But I’ve because enough discomfort within my family that leaving here right after a family friend’s death would cause too much pain among both them and Fluttershy’s family.”

“Was it not you that promised to me a hundred years ago,” Celestia could barely keep her voice down, “that you would protect others for you can withstand what would harm others?” Nyx casted her eyes to the fireplace as the sun princess continued, “If you don’t help us overpower Discord, ponies will be hurt.”

“Discord?” Starlight whispered her thoughts as the three alicorns stood in silence, “why does that name ring a bell?”

“I don’t know,” replied a cheery voice in hushed tones, “Maybe you own money?”

Whipping her head around, Starlight realized she was surrounded by her table buddies. “What are you doing here?”

“Getting you to come back to the party, duh,” Coco answered.

“Fine,” Nyx finally said causing the eavesdroppers to return to their spying, “But promise me one thing.”

“We’ll try to,” Luna stated.

“Make sure you find others who can wield the elements of harmony soon,” Nyx said looking up at the portrait of her mother, “In case I don’t make it there in time.”

“You’re still bent on staying here?’ Celestia asked, “You could save a lot of trouble if you just come to Canterlot.”

“You said earlier,” Nyx countered, “that Discord was defeated here in Ponyville. What makes you think he will still try to steal the elements from the vault again?”

“I see your point,” Luna agreed, “He could go into hiding in the nearest town.”

“You can’t seriously believe that could happen, sister?” the white alicorn questioned.

Lune looked at her elder sister and replied, “We can’t be sure what Discord could do at this moment. The fiend is unpredictable. He could flee if all three of us are there to start with. Remember the last time we fought him?”

“We were a lot younger then,” Celestia said thinking, “And yet we were able to withstand his attacks for a while before we had to use the elements.”

“I can also fly faster than any of you can,” Nyx added.

Celestia looked up and nodded, “So be it, we’ll have ponies start looking for those worthy enough to use the elements. But I can’t ensure that they will be able to use them.”

Luna interrupted, “Remember what the elements did to you when they had that show pony as a stand in for Twilight?”

Nyx could help but laugh as she remembered the prank she did on Trixie, “I remember. It was weaker because it also has something to do about the users’ friendship right?”

“Correct,” Celestia replied, “Even if we can find those worthy enough, if they can’t become friends fast enough then the elements are just mere jewels with magical abilities.”

Luna nodded before her eyes caught that of the six outside, “It seems that our talk is no longer private.” Both Celestia and Nyx looked over and saw as the last of Coco’s braided mane vanish around the window.

Nyx walked over to the door and opened it see the five mares hiding against the wall still looking at the window. Storm, who was the only one standing away from the group, bowed as Celestia and Luna left. “Your highnesses,” his address of the royal sister caused the rest of them to move away from the wall and bow to the princess as well.

“It seems we had quite the party listening in on our conversation,” Celestia chuckled.

“Starlight,” Nyx said to her niece, “Why aren’t you at the party?”

“Why aren’t you?” the mare restated.

“It seems that you’re needed back at your birthday party,” Luna said opening her wings.

“You’re not staying?” Coco asked as everypony stood up, “It would be really super if you did.”

“I’m sure it would, my little pony,” Celestia replied. “But Luna and I have work in Canterlot to do. Farewell.” With that last word, both royal sisters took flight.

Nyx watch as the two shrink out of sight before looking down at her niece, “How much did you and your friends hear?”

“Hey, these guys aren’t my friends,” She started waving her hooves in front of herself. “They just tailed me.”

“How much?” the alicorn asked again raising her voice.

Starlight lowered her head in fear, “Something about Discord and the Elements of Harmony.”

Nyx sighed, “I doubt you heard just that. No matter we’ll talk about this afterwards.” With that she walked back to the party. Autumn and the rest of the Ponyville ponies followed her leaving Starlight near the library door.

Inching her way to the portal, she said to the group, “I think I’ll stay here and- HEY!” She looked at Autumn Gold and Coconut Pop who had stopped the rebel unicorn by biting on her tail. “Let go!”

“Noa kan doo,” Autumn said with a mouth full of tail, “H’it h’is h’about ‘ime ya halk ta her ‘other.”

Hoping to release some of the pull on her tail, she called out, “I can’t understand what you are trying to say?”

Her plan worked as Autumn removed her grip in the tail and said, “Ah said, ‘No can do. It is about time ya talked to yer mother.’” All throughout Autumn’s clarification, Starlight managed to pull the prankster closer to the door. Catching on, Autumn bit back down and pulled. Realizing her plan failed, Starlight gave up and became dead weight to be dragged back.

*******

“Fillies and gentlecolts!” Spike roared from the stage, “I want all the teams for the Tug-of-War tournament in front of me. It’s time to begin.”

“Well, Storm,” Autumn said getting up from her seat with the rest, “May the best team.” The white pegasus stood and nodded in response before leading the way through the crowd.

Starlight looked at Iris asking, “They aren’t on the same team?”

It was Coco who answered, “Oh nonono. Storm is part of the weather team while Autumn has her family helping her out.”

“I hope both teams make it to the finals,” Iris added.

“Me too,” Coco jumped up onto her hooves, “I can’t wait to see their faces when they find out who they be going against afterwards.”

“Going against afterwards?” Nyx asked lowering her tea cup, “Who are you implying?”

Luminance whipped her gaze to the earth pony, “You didn’t tell her?”

The prankster opened her mouth to say something before closing it again. She sat down and thought hard. After a bit of silent waiting she slapped her head with her hoof, “Nope, I forgot.” This got a dreadful sigh from both Iris and Luminance.

“I take it this involves me,” the alicorn stated.

“Well,” Iris said biting her lip, “We figured on having you go against the winning team.”

“That was implying you wanted to,” Luminance added.

Nyx thought hard about the offer. “Will I be-“

“Take your time Nyxie,” Coco interrupted while walking around to the alicorn. She slapped her hoof on her back, “You have till the final round to decide.”

Nyx looked over her shoulder to see if the mare placed anything on her. Smiling at the lack of anything aside of her wings on her back, she replied, “I should have my decision by then.”

Spike’s voice came booming from the other side of the party, “Alright everypony, we are ready for the tug-of-war tournament. Our eight teams will take turns pulling their opponents across this here line.” With his tail, the dragon dug up the earth in a solid straight line growing off the stage, “Game is called when all four hooves of the first pony in one of the teams are across. First up on the list is…” he flipped through his clipboard until he got to the desired page. “Well, it seems we have a family feud here today as the Apple family is up against the Cake family.”

Among the cheers and jeers, Autumn Gold and her family stepped forward. The farm pony and her family took the length of rope in their mouths with her mother as the anchor and the twin brothers filling in the gap between the mares.

The Cakes stepped out from the group looking ready to bring a good fight. The first three to grab the rope looked a bit small to pose any competition though the young colt with them was a bit stocky. As the cake’s anchor was none other than the family’s man of the house, Pound Cake Jr. The big pegasus stood over his family like a tower over a field.

“Barry, Baldwin,” Russet said barely keeping her hold on the rope, “I’ve seen Pound pull two full wagons by himself at the same time so dig in and wait for ma signal.” The twins nodded before pushing their hoofs into the dirt, “Autumn ya do tha same.”

“Aye, ma” she said before digging into the dirt.

“Here are the rules,” Spike said pointing to the teams, “No wings, and no magic. We want the teams to play on even fields and I’ve seen how they can be used to win.” He got in return a trio of sighs. His green eyes scanned the crowd before locking on to three members of the weather team. Storm looked at the dragon with understanding eyes.

“Ready?” Spike said returning to the two teams ready to begin. He raised his claw above his head. The Cakes grinned as they prepared for the match to start. With a sudden chop of the air, Spike shouted, “GO!”

Right from the start, the Apples nearly loss as the overbearing strength of the Cakes nearly yanked Autumn over the line. The mare locked her knees with her hoofs down in the dirt while the rest of her family started to pull back. Russet shouted out through the rope, encouraging the twins to start pulling in unison with her. Once her last hoof was safely across and away from the line, Autumn started adding her strength to the pull.

Pound Cake’s legs harden with determination as he planted his hooves into the ground, stopping their advance. He and his family leaned in before yanking the rope back. Autumn’s hooves lost their grip as she flew back to the line with her family. With another lock of her legs, Autumn stopped before her first hoof crossed the line. Grinning at the difference from the last yank, the farm mare shouted back at her family, giving them the urge to fight on.

The two families continued this fight back and forth. Each time the Apples saved themselves from a yank, they increase the difference between them and the line while the Cakes inched closer and closer. With one final pull, the little Cake slipped and was pulled across the line.

A shout went up from the crowd as the dragged out battle finally ended. Autumn spat out the rope and asked her mother, “I thought ya said there would be a signal?”

Spitting out her end, the leader of the Apple family replied, “I thought so too, but that Pound Cake kept yanking us back before I could give it to ya.”

“All right, right lets clear the field,” Spike said shooing the ponies away from the rope as his tail re-drew the line. Looking at his clipboard, the dragon returned to his booming voice, “Next up is the team called Double Trouble and the Town Office Crew!”

******

Back at their table, Iris clapped with Luminance and Coco as Starlight began to fidget in her seat. The alicorn saw this and looked at her niece and asked, “Do you have an ant crawling on your flank?”

“Huh?” the unicorn replied. She looked up at the alicorn like she just spoke in another tongue.

Cheers went up from the tug-of-war area as Spike announced the winner as Nyx pointed at Starlight’s rear and stated, “You’ve been moving about a lot in that little seat of yours.”

“I have not,” she stated turning her nose up in the other direction.

“Oooohhhh,” Luminance said looking at the mare, “Isn’t somepony showing off her Canterlot upbringing.”

“Next thing you know,” Coco said adding onto the friendly teasing, “She’ll be addressing us with the Royal Canterlot Voice.” Starlight replied with a sarcastic ‘ha, ha.’

“Next up,” Spike voice roar above the crowd, “The Weather Patrol versus Team Beta.” The next few words were lowered and addressed the contenders of Team Beta, “Team Beta, really?”

Iris didn’t care as she looked at her friends and asked, “Would anypony want some drinks?” Before anypony could reply she was off flying in wrong direction of the drink stand. Luminance and Coco watched her as Spike shouted to begin the match. The violet mare stopped in mid-air and watched the two teams put their combined weight into it.

“Ahh, the poor little bird,” Luminance said looking up at her friend, “destined to sing your love song only to have the wind carry it away.”

“Anyways,” Nyx interrupted getting back to the topic she started, “What’s the matter?”

Starlight turned her head to face the alicorn but kept her eyes focus elsewhere, “Does it matter to you?”

“I want to look out for everypony,” Nyx stated before lowering her head to the grey unicorn, “which includes my family.”

Focusing her eyes to Nyx, Starlight interrupted, “I don’t see how this matters.”

Reeling back it the sharpness in her voice, Nyx replied, “You’re wondering what I’m going to say to your mother.”

“Was it that obvious?” Starlight sassed, “Or did you have to wait for thirty minutes before the pieces started to fit together.”

“What is with you?!” Coco shouted at Starlight, bringing all eyes on her, “You two are family! Why are you being so mean to your aunt when she just wanted to know what wrong?”

“Why should you care?” Starlight barked back.

Coco’s eyes twitched, “Because you my friend an-”

“We just met yesterday!” Starlight yelled standing up, “How does that make us friends!?” She slammed a hoof down on the table and stared at the earth pony. In the background, cheers went up as Spike announced the Weather Patrol as the winners.

“Starlight!” Nyx shouted, “There is no reason for you to raise you voice to somepony who wants to help.”

The unicorn looked at Nyx, “I don’t need her help!” With that she bolted away from the table.

“Are you okay, Coco?” Luminance asked as Iris returned with five juice boxes.

After a brief silence, the earth pony looked at her unicorn friend with a huge smile, “Never better.” Nyx was taken aback by the cheery expression on her face.

“Where’s Starlight?” the pegasus asked as she placed the juice down on the table.

“Probably the library again,” Nyx said taking a box in her magic.

“Oh,” the mare sighed before continuing, “I guess she doesn’t want friends.”

Shaking her head, Nyx replied, “No, I think she does. It’s just she doesn’t know how to be friendly yet.”

Morning Dawn came running through the crowd with Wide Heart in tow. Speaking through her deep breaths she asked, “Where… is … Starlight?”

“She just left,” Luminance said pointing toward the library.

“Right after Autumn gave you her location,” Wide Heart said placing a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.

Sighing, Dawn turned back toward the crowd as Spike began calling for the teams for the next round. “If you see her again,” the unicorn started, “Bring her to me.”

“What’s going on between you two?” Nyx asked hoping to get some answers to her family’s problem. “Starlight seems very defensive.”

Sighing again, Dawn began, “You know what is wrong with her magic right?” Nyx nodded, “Well, between the doctors and the Princesses, Erebus and I have come up with many possible reasons why her magic is… flawed.” Nyx looked worried as her sister started to shake. “Well, all of the doctors in Canterlot think because she was a month late, she developed too much magic for her body to control.

“Another theory and this one came from Celestia herself, is that since a unicorn family’s magic never stays the same through generations, Starlight is suffering because of two generations of highly magical attune unicorns.” Morning Dawn paused and took in a deep breath, “Erebus has a theory of his own and it gets him really upset about it.” Nyx comforted her sister with an embrace of her wing. Morning Dawn brushed a hoof across her eyes before continuing, “He has himself believing that he dropped her when she was little.”

“Dawn, we talked about this,” Wide Heart attempted to cheer her up, “There is no way a blow to the head could affect one’s ability to use magic.”

Morning Dawn looked at her nurse friend, “I know, but still what if…?”

“Well, it is the most far-fetched theory out of them,” Nyx added hoping to be of some sort of comfort. “But what does this have to do with your relationship?”

“Well,” Dawn started looking away, “Ever since she was allowed into Celestia’s school, I have been trying to help her. I even have been working with her at home.”

“Could it be that you been trying to help too much?” Luminance asked with an upturn hoof.

“What do you mean?” Dawn questioned.

“Mother told me that when she was learning about dressmaking,” the yellow unicorn started, “Grandmother would give her time to practice on her own while offering some time to help.”

Cheers went up from crowd as the round ended. Everyone at the table with-held the conversation as the Apple family came walking through the crowd with their heads down.

“Sorry, ma,” Autumn said taking a set, “I’m just not strong enough to pull mah own weight.”

Hitting the back of Autumn’s hat so it tipped over her eyes, Russet suggested, “Maybe ya should try to buck some apple tree before this year’s Applebuck season.”

“I told ya to have Uncle Crab fill in for me,” Autumn stated fixing her hat.

Sitting down next to her daughter, Russet replied, “Yer Uncle needs his strength to pull tha wagon later today, he can’t go and burn it all on a tournament that was just for fun.”

“Getting back to the subject on hand,” Dawn said turning to the interior designer, “You’re saying I should let her practice on her own?”

“Maybe not just practice on her own,” Luminance replied, “you should try letting her go on her own and let her make her own choices.”

“Knowing her,” Dawn countered, “She’ll just stay at home and sleep. She doesn’t know any other places outside of Canterlot.”

Nyx’s ears perked up as an idea formulated in her mind, “How about here in Ponyville? Spike and I will be here and I can help her with her magic.”

“You’re willing to look out for her?” Dawn replied looking at her alicorn sister with hope in her eyes.

“On my oath to protect others,” Nyx promised. Morning Dawn allowed tension to relax in her body.

*********

“Fillies and Gentlecolts!” Spike roared over the crowd, “It’s time for the final round!” Cheers went up from the large crowd gathered. “With have Team Double Trouble with Double the Twins.” The mentioned team of two pairs of similar looking stallions stomped as their supporters cheered for them. “And on the other side of the rope, with have the Weather Patrol,” Spectrum Strom and three other pegasi stood proud.

“I have a special note here from Coconut Pop,” he continued pulling out a note, “It says, ‘If she says yes, then the birthday girl will be challenging the winners.’” Spike stroked his chin scales as he completed on how to answer that. “Well, I’m not sure if it will be one-sided in favor her or the winning team.” This got some chuckles from the crowd, “Anyways, teams get ready!” Both teams took a hold of the rope and prepared for Spike’s claw to drop.

When it did, the line went rigid as the first unicorn from the double twins attempted to yank the pegasi closer to them. As the anchor, Strom stood firm preventing his team from inching closer. The pegasus mare on point signaled with a flap of her left wing. The rest of the team responded with a similar motion.

The earth ponies at the end of twin’s rope leaned in closer to the center with the front two unicorns. The lead mare of the pegasi opened her left wing carefully and lowered it to the ground making the pegasi team to pull back the slack. Right as Double Trouble threw all their strength in a pull, the lead mare’s wing stood up and the pegasi leaned into the pull. The two pairs of twins unprepared for the sudden slack tripped over their own hooves and fell down. The pegasi went back into pulling and cleanly dragged the lead stallion over the line on his back.

“The Weather Patrol Wins!” Spike cried out over the shouts. While the rest of the team took to the sky to celebrate, Storm stood and let the waves of congratulations wash over him.

“No fair they used wings!” one of the twin earth ponies stated.

“As a means of communication, sir,” Storm replied. This seemed to be enough for the stallion as he backed down.

“So now that we have our winners,” Spike attempted to calm the cheering ponies down, “Does Nyx want to face them?”

“Ha,” said one of the weather patrol stallions, “We could probably beat her while she is using magic.”

“Is that a challenge?” Spike questioned nervously. Storm tried to reason with his team but the outspoken stallion didn’t listen.

“You bet it is!” he stated.

A surge of magic pour out from behind the crowd as the black alicorn took flight. She came smashing down in front of the rope with her horn glowing in a dark aura. Looking up at her opponents with a smug grin, she replied, “Challenge accepted.” The entire team looked nervously as the magic could be felt leaking out of her. Shrugging, Spike lifted his claw and told the teams to get ready.

Nyx bent down and took the rope into her muzzle. Strom watched as the alicorn fiddle with her gripping. Smiling, he looked at his team and replied, “We got this.”

“Storm, are you blind?” the outspoken pegasus said regretting his decision, “Can you not feel the magic pouring out of her.”

“It’s your fault we’re doing this, Sky Buck,” the mare pointed at him with a hoof.

“How was I supposed to know she was going to accept?” he tried to defend himself.

Storm broke the fight up by opening his wings between the arguing pair. “Uses those traps for pulling not talking,” he said looking stern. Both looked at their team captain and nodded in agreement. With both teams ready, Spike dropped his claw.

The pegasi threw all the strength into pulling the alicorn across the line to little anvil as Nyx kept her hooves planted on the ground. With a flick of her head, the Weather Patrol where pulled forward a bit but with Storm at the end, the pegasi easily stopped their advance with only a little loss. They regained this ground and a bit more by pulling in unison.

This struggle continued as Nyx slowly loss ground underneath the combine strength of the pegasus pullers. The confidence grew and grew as they replied each attempt Nyx made to gain ground was halted and returned with more losses. It only took time before the last of Nyx’s hooves came sliding across the ground. Cheers and shouts went out as the Weather Patrol was swarmed with celebration.

Chuckling, Nyx walked up to the stage to let the true winners of this tournament get the glory that they won. Spike sat down next to her and asked, “Did you throw away the match?”

With a shake of her head Nyx replied quietly, “No, I just didn’t use magic.”

“You could have won easily if you did,” the dragon stated.

“I know,” Nyx agreed with a nod, “But, It wouldn’t fair even if they allowed it.” Storm approached them as the rest of his team soaked up the glory as it poured from the populace of Ponyville.

With a bow, the white pegasus said nobly, “Thank you, ma’am, for a honorable battle.” Reading the meanings in his words, Nyx bowed in return and congratulated him. The rainbow mane pegasus took off for the table where the rest of his friends waited.

“Spike,” Nyx said loud enough to be heard only by the dragon, “we’re going to have a family meeting tonight.”

“Oh?” Spike raised an eyebrow, “What is it going to be this time; a confession to the whole family, an ‘I’m so sorry’ speech?”

Nyx dismissed the comments with flick of her magical mane, “No, I need to tell you all something and it will be safer to tell everyone at once.”

“Whatever, Nyx,” Spike shrugged looking out to the party that went from the stage, “it’s your party.”

********

Late that night, Nyx, Morning Dawn and Spike came walking through the door. Even tried, they were surprised at the sight of Starlight still up. She was deep in thought as she stared at what appeared to be twenty full cups worth of apple sauce and orange juice.

“I hope that isn’t all of my fruit you have there?” the dragon asked. Starlight bounced off her haunches and into four of the cups, spilling their contents.

“Horse-apples,” she muttered before looking at her family, “I’ll clean this up right now.”

Watching her daughter run into the kitchen, Morning Dawn commented on the scene, “I’ve never seen you up so late let alone using magic on your own free will.”

“Yeah, well I’ve been trying different spells,” the mare said coming back out with a towel on her head.

“Any success?” Nyx asked walking over to the table to look at the open books. Most of them where spell books with that covered simple tasks, but one book stood out.

“Well…” Starlight said looking away. She slowly lowered a hoof to the floor as she thought hard before replying with a shy grin, “Yes.”

Dawn was by her in seconds, probing with questions, “You did? When? What spell is it?”

Pushing her mother away she summarized what happened, “I was reading a medical book when I heard a bird crying out in pain. At least I thought it was pain. It sounded differently than what birds normally chirped out. I went outside and saw this little sparrow outside the door with a broken wing. Looking around I saw an eagle flying away.”

“You probably scared it away before it could finish the sparrow,” Spike commented while taking the towel away from her and began cleaning the mess himself.

With an agreeing nod, Starlight continued, “Well I brought the bird back inside with the help of a book. By the looks of it, the little guy wouldn’t last much longer sooooo... I used a healing spelling on it.”

“STARLIGHT WISH!” Dawn bellowed, “I thought I told you, no spells on living beings!” Both Nyx and Spike were taken back at the sudden out burst from their family member.

“I know!” Starlight yelled retreating through he cups of applesauce, knocking over a few more, “But look! I saved it!” She reached a bookshelf and pointed. On top of it was a bird waking up from the noise. Its right wing was in a cast, preventing it from flying. Dawn eyes went wide and her mouth hung open. Spike stroke his chin scales before asking Nyx what was going on. The alicorn filled the dragon of Starlight’s problem.

“If Starlight has a problem with magic,” he asked as the bird started chirping, “then how is she in Celestia’s school?”

“I got a free walk through thanks to my family,” Starlight confessed, “they think just because I’m Twilight’s granddaughter, I’m just as good.” The sparrow hopped over to the edge of the bookshelf and looked down at the unicorn. “Anyways, after I healed most of damage, I went to Fluttershy.”

“And I thought you wanted to stay in the library while you’re here?” Spike asked as Dawn stood in silence.

The little sparrow hopped right into Starlight’s mane and began nuzzling itself into it. Slightly stun by the bird’s affection of her mane, the unicorn addressed her mother, “I remembered what you said about grandmother’s friends, mom. Plus I figure since that Wide Heart and Iris Drop are both nurses, Fluttershy might know what to do.” She looked up at the sparrow as it started to fall asleep again, “After she walked me through on how to fix the wing, this little guy followed me out of her room, “ She laughed a bit before continuing. “Fluttershy said that he likes me a lot for some reason. So, Iago came home with me.”

“Iago?” Nyx asked while her eyes went through the out of place book.

“I think that what species it is,” Starlight said carefully approaching the table, balancing the sparrow in her mane.

Dawn started to jump around happily while saying, “This is so great. I’m so happy for you Starlight! Oh, please tell me you were successful with more than one spell.”

Sighing, Starlight turned to her mother and said, “No, I haven’t. You see all these cups of applesauce and OJ here? This was after I saved Iago. My magic is still not working properly.”

“But,” Spike said picking up the rest of the still standing cups, “you did have one spell successfully casted.”

“That was just a dumb luck!” Starlight stated, “Next time I try that I could kill someone instead of saving them.”

“Starlight, calm down,” Nyx said finally turning her gaze away from the book. After a bit of coaxing the unicorn finally calmed down.

“So,” Spike said breaking the silence as he went for the kitchen, “Why are you studying magic now?”

The young unicorn’s mother realized this too, “Yeah. Back in Canterlot you never wanted to lift a book off the shelf.”

“Well, ummm…” the grey unicorn started.

“Is it about what you overheard when you eavesdropped on my private conversation with the Princesses?” Nyx asked while looking down on the young mare.

Starlight nodded with guilt as she replied, “Yeah. I got bored started looking through books and that Discord guy’s name came up.”

Spike blasted out of the kitchen with a surprised shout, “DISCORD?!” Everypony was taken aback by the dragon’s outburst. He directed his attention to Nyx, “You talked to the princesses about Discord?!”

“That is what I wanted to talk about,” Nyx said lifting the book in question from the table with her magic. “Discord is a spirit of Chaos and Disharmony. Right now he is encased in stone in the Canterlot Gardens. But from what the Princesses told me, the seal is weak. It appears that they heard of Fluttershy’s condition and became worried about the seal.”

“What does the seal have to do with Fluttershy?” Spike asked taking a seat at the table.

“The seal was made by the Elements of Harmony,” Nyx stated looking at the book, “But the power of the seal depends on if the bearers and the seal loses strength as the elements are either exchanged or left unattended. As it is right now, Fluttershy is the only one left out of Twilight’s group still alive. And once she passes away…”

“The seal loses all of its strength,” Starlight interrupted, her eyes was pointed downward while her head remained still to keep Iago from falling off. “That book talks about what happen when he was allowed to run free on Equestria that last few times. It was… horrible,” She shivered as the last word left her mouth.

“With the seal running at zero power,” Spike said thinking hard, “Discord will be released once again. But if the Princesses know of his return, then they should be able to stop him before he causes too much damage.”

“Celestia and Luna are…” Nyx started, “scared. They think they might not be able to stop Discord. So they asked me to help fight him.”

“So you’ll be coming back to Canterlot with us?” Dawn asked.

Shaking her head, Nyx replied, “No, I want to be with Fluttershy during her last moments with us.”

“Are you kidding me?” Spike asked with a raise voice, “You are really going to stand there and watch Fluttershy just pass away and then leave again?”

“Spike wai-” Nyx tried to reason.

Slamming his claw on an open spellbook, Spike shouted back, “No! You listen here Nyx. I can understand why you never came back for Rarity and the others. I can barely get over why you weren’t for Twilight. But you aren’t going to pull ANYTHING with Fluttershy and her family. She does not get that kind of treatment, Nyx. Either you are going to stay for the WHOLE thing or you are going to leave with the others.”

Nyx met the dragon gaze with her own while replying, “I’m not a filly anymore Spike. I have been taking care of myself for over the past 80 years. I can make choices for myself.”

“The last time I remembering you making choices for yourself-” Spike said pointing a claw at his alicorn sister.

Nyx stomped as she interrupted, “You leave that time out of this! I know what I’ve done and I have been trying to make up for it. But, I promised Celestia the day that I got my Cutie Mark, that I would protect everypony. And if Celestia and Luna fail to hold him off and I’m not there, then I don’t deserve it.” With that she turned around went for the door.

“Aunt Nyx,” Starlight said chasing after the alicorn. Iago was chirping loudly as his sleep was interrupted once again. “Where are you going?”

“Fluttershy’s,” Nyx replied, holding back tears, “I’m promised her a personal party to make up the one she missed.” With that the black alicorn disappeared into the night.

Starlight walked back to the table and sat down. Letting her head fall into an open book, she watched as her little sparrow climb down her mane until he was looking at her in the eyes.

“Starlight,” Dawn said walking up to her daughter, “Nyx and I have been talking and…”

“I want to stay here,” Starlight interrupted, shocking her mother.

“You mean it?” she asked.

Looking up at her mother, the young mare nodded, “I need time away from Canterlot and Nyx needs someone with her right now.” Grinning at her mess of books, she added, “Plus, she can help me a bit with my magic.”

Dawn’s eyes went wide as she replied, “Did you learn a mind-reading spell too because I was just thinking that myself?” Chuckling, Starlight shook her head.


> Chapter 3: Stories and Songs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3: Stories and Songs

One week since Nyx’s birthday party. One week since Dawn return to Canterlot. One week since Starlight started learning from her Aunt. One week, with no improvement.

“Ok,” Nyx exclaimed as she moved the remains of a small tree into the forest behind her, “That is the last time we try and have you move a pine cone off a tree.”

“Yeah,” Starlight agreed looking at the damage she had just done. “I’ll be heading back to the library.”

Stopping her from leaving the hillside that they stood on, Nyx said, “Not yet. I want to try something today.” She used her magic to float out a medical book. Opening it up to the bookmarked page she scanned the list of spells. “You said you used the ‘Heal Minor Flesh Wounds’ spell on Iago the other day, right?”

Nodding, Starlight said, “Yeah, well his is a tiny bird.” The little sparrow took the comment as an insult and chirped angrily at the unicorn from her hindquarters.

Nyx’s horn glowed as she closed her eyes, letting her magic surround her in a black aura. Starlight watched as an after image of her aunt appeared right next to the alicorn. After a bit of focusing, the grey unicorn was looking at two aunts.

“And I thought you were lying when you said you could so that,” she stated as both alicorns opened their eyes and looked down.

The right side Nyx’s horn lit up again as a small magical blade formed in front of her while the left side Nyx said, “What we’re going to do is test and see if you can perform that spell again: this time on me.”

“Oh, nonononono,” Starlight rebelled as she stepped back and shook her head, “If mom found out that I used magic on somepony, she would have my horn on a silver platter.”

“Calm down,” The Nyxes reassured in unison, “Even if you do fail the spell, alicorns are able to withstand more painful spells and treat them like small scars. Plus you have my own healing magic to cover for you if you fail.”

Taking the alicorns for their word, she nodded, “Do it.” She watched as the magical blade slice a small wound in the left side Nyx’s leg. Blood drizzled out slowly. Lighting up her horn, Starlight channeled her magical energies into the open wound. Both Nyxes watched as it stopped bleeding, closed up and finally removed the scar completely. Opening her eyes, Starlight saw the warm smiles and the now perfectly fine hoof. Unable to control her excitement she started to hop around the alicorns. She stopped when she realized Iago was chirping angrily at her. “Sorry,” she apologized to the broken winged bird.

“This is very good news,” Nyx said as her clone vanished, “Now that we know that you’re able to repeat the same spell without problems, we can start finding out how you were able to do that spell and not the others.”

Starlight felt a dark cloud hover over her as she asked, “As in right now?

The alicorn couldn’t help but laugh at the unicorn’s worried state. “Not today,” she said after the laughing fit ended, “But tomorrow morning after breakfast.” Starlight rolled her eyes at the comment. Shrugging with her shoulders, the unicorn left her alicorn aunt on the hill. Nyx turned her attention to the small pile of spell books she had brought with her and sighed. Taking the books in her magical mane she followed the young mare back to town.

******

Out by the meadow, Iris Drop was packing a bottle of water into her saddle bags while Spectrum Storm came walking up with a pre-made sandwich in a small bag. “Oh, thank you, Storm,” she said taking the package meal in her hooves. She carefully set the sandwich next to the bottle and a plant book.

“Are you sure about this, ma’am?” the stallion asked with a hint of concern, “I’ve heard rumors that the Everfree is a dangerous place.” The pegasus mare set a small first aid pouch in her bags before closing it and placing the bags on her back.

“I’ll be fine,” she replied, “Luminance and I have been going in the forest together for the past four years. The dangerous creatures rarely cross the river.” She walked up to him and tapped his shoulder with a hoof. “Plus, mom needs somepony to stay and help watch over Grandma with her. And, I think you don’t, unless you do, know what plants I’m looking for.”

Storm’s eyes moved away from the mare while he answered, “No, ma’am, I don’t.” With that, Iris took flight leaving the white pegasus behind.

Iris flew close to the edge of the massive forest, her eyes darting back and forth along the tree line. She came floating down next to an upturn log that sat near Ponyville. After taking off her bags, she began to fix her mane so she could see much better, humming as she went.

Starlight, whom was trotting a good distance ahead of Nyx, stopped at the sounds of the pegasus’s lyrics-less tune. Her eyes scan the horizon while her ears swiveled back and forth trying to find the source. Once her ears locked-on to it, she spotted the violet pegasus on the upturn log. “Good morning!” she shouted, pulling Iris attention away from her mane.

“Greetings, Starlight,” she replied before seeing the alicorn behind her, “Greetings to you too, Nyx. What have you two been doing this morning?”

“It appears that Starlight truly does know a spell that works,” Nyx replied walking up to the log.

Iris got her bags back on while she said, “That’s great news.” She flew down before continuing. “Grandma told me about your visit with the sparrow.” Iago chirped out happily as it hopped up onto the unicorn’s horn. “Maybe you can help out with hospital when you have the time.”

Starlight waved a hoof in attempt to ward off the comment, “Nonono, I’m only good for small cuts. I’m not sure if I can do anything else.”

“Still,” Nyx said sitting down, “Even with just one spell, no matter how simple it is, can do a great deal of things.”

Rolling her eyes, Starlight countered, “Yeah, I can heal all of the little wounds ponies get when they jump through the bushes.” Nyx sighed and shook her head.

“Sorry I’m late, dear” Luminance called out as she ran up to the collected bunch of ponies. “Oh, it seems that we have a much larger party than what we usually have for our little outings. No matter, the more the merrier.”

“Outings?” Nyx asked with a raised eyebrow.

Iris set her bags down once again and pulled out a thin book. She opened it to a page with several colorful flowers. “I usually make trips out to the Everfree forest to look for some of these plants,” she said tapping on the images in the book. “Since winter ended, the hospital has been running low on herbs and other goods needed for their medicines.”

“I tend to not have much work this early in the year myself,” Luminance interrupted, “so I tend to join Iris on her trips. I find them quite enjoyable.”

Nyx looked up at the forest line beyond the fallen log. “Are you sure it’s safe?” she asked the pegasus. The violet mare went back into her saddle bags.

“Well,” Iris replied while she rummaged through her bags, “we always stay close to the forest edge. That way the monsters don’t come near. But, if we...” she paused before sitting down and frowned.

“What is it, dear?” Luminance asked as the pegasus got the saddle bags back on.

“I forgot the decoy, again,” Iris stated with frustration. “I’ll be back.”

Nyx stopped the pegasus from taking off with an open wing. “Why do you need a decoy if the monsters don’t go near the edge of the forest?” she asked.

Luminance stepped in, “It’s a safety measure, dear. You never know when one of those vicious timberwolves will get hungry and try hunting near the edge.”

Nyx thought for a moment before letting the spell books fall out of her mane in a neat stack next to her unicorn niece. “Would you mind taking these books back to the library, Starlight?”

“What are you going to do?” she asked placing a hoof on the books.

“I’ve decided to join these girls on their little trek into the woods,” the alicorn stated.

Iris waved a fore hoof at Nyx as if to ward her off, “You don’t need to Nyx. We said we’ll be fine”

“You two need some sort of protection if something decides to appear,” Nyx countered. She looked back to the tree line and added “Plus, it’s a great way to conquer my fears of this place.” This got her a trio of confused faces which made her chuckle.

Shrugging, Starlight waited for Iago to climb on her horn before making an attempt to get the stack of books on her back. After watching her fail, twice, Nyx helped the unicorn out with the use of her own magic to levitate the books on her back. “You don’t know how badly I hate not having levitation as the one spell I know,” Starlight mumbled as left at a slow rate.

“She is right, you know,” Iris stated once she was sure the unicorn was out of hearing distance. “A simple healing spell won’t do anypony any good they get a wound bigger than cut.”

Nyx sighed as the truth came crashing down on her, “I know. But still, now that we know that she can use some magic safely, we can figure why that one spell does work and others don’t.” She turned her gaze over to her niece as she disappeared into the busy streets, “Also, I can tell she has been the happiest this past week, than her whole life has been.” The other two mares stood in silence as they followed the alicorn’s gaze.

“Well then,” Luminance broke the silence as she turned to the trees, “Shall we begin our little outing?” With that the three mares entered the Everfree forest.

******

Coconut Pop was setting up a series of dribble cups next to a row of sneezing powder cans when the door opened. Dropping the cup she had in her mouth, she spun around on a hind leg to greet the entering customer. “Welcome to Laugh-Along Gags,” she said while bowing her head without looking at her guest, “If you need a laugh, you’ve come to that right place.” The brown mare brought her head up; eyes closed shut and stuck out her hoof, “Pleasure to meet ya.”

“I’m not shaking that,” a mare’s voice reached the prankster’s ears. Opening her eyes, Coco saw Starlight looking at her outstretched hoof with disgust.

“Starlight,” she replied returning her hoof to the floor, “What can I do for you? Got a good idea for a prank on Nyx? Or is it for Spike?” she paused to make a grab at a ‘Snakes in a Can’ on a nearby table but paused. “Oooorrrr… are you here for those Public Speaking lessons I told you about last week?”

The mare shook her head gently causing Iago to hop down from his post on her horn, “Neither of those. No, I just dropped off some books I was using back at the library.”

“What are you doing here then?” the earth pony questioned as she finished her work.

“Spike kicked me out saying he was working on something private,” Starlight mumbled, kicking the wooden floor.

“Got any clue on what he was working on?” Coco asked. Starlight replied with another shake of her head.

“Not a clue,” she said with an added hoof shrug. Starting to look around, she added, “So, I decided to take a walk around town and familiarize myself with some of the stores.”

“You haven’t got to know the whole town yet?” Coco asked as she went around the main counter.

Starlight walked over to a nearby self and stared at the items on displayed. Iago jumped off her back on to a nearby table as she replied, “Aside from where your friends live, no. I’ve been in the library reading Daring-Do and spell books.” The unicorn looked back to see that the earth pony was missing.

“Umm, hello? Coco? Where are you?” she called out as she walked among the shelves stacked with pranks. She looked over the counter to find nothing. She gently opened a cabinet to see only empty space. The sound of an opening door caught Starlight’s attention. Looking around she saw a door that went to the back room of the shop swing gently back in place.

Starlight could feel a chilly breeze float around the room as she looked from side to side. She back stepped to the exit keeping all eyes on every possible hiding place. She turned her back to the store as she started to leave. Then an icy chill ran down her spine that made her heart jump a beat. After the shock of the sudden coolness on her back, Starlight turned around to confront her prankster, “Oh, it’s just you Cocooo-OH my Gawd!”

Staring at the unicorn in the eyes was a set of giant, pale yellow eyes with tiny eye holes cut in the center of them. Jumping out of the store, Starlight crashed into another pony at full speed. Getting up, the unicorn saw a brown hat sitting on her head. “Sooo sorry, Autumn,” she apologized to the earth pony as she dusted herself.

“Warn me next time ya decide to go flying out of a door,” the farmer said before taking the hat back. Looking back at the store, she saw Coco rolling on the floor in laughter while wearing a wooden mask. “You really pulled off the old mask prank on Starlight here?”

“Hehehehe,” the mare laughed, “Sorry about that, Starlight.” From inside, the group heard chirping that resembled laughing.

Frustrated, Starlight walked back into the store and glared at Iago, who was laughing hard. “You could have warned me,” she scolded the bird who just continued laughing.

While the unicorn tried to talk to her sparrow, Autumn walked up to her earth pony friend as she removed the mask and placed it on the counter. Seeing the melting block of ice on the floor, see asked, “Did ya drop the ice and trip on it again?”

“Nope!” Coco replied smiling like she just got a medal, “I did the prank with noooo mess up this time.”

Autumn looked surprised as she replied, “Well, Ah’m mighty impressed, Coco. But Ah got to ask, why did ya it?”

“I would like to know as well,” Starlight added as she paused from her attempt to control the little bird, “You’ve be pranking me whenever you get the chance.”

Putting on a sly grin, the brown mare replied, “Because, you make it so easy. Remember the exploding pie just yesterday?” Starlight gave off a frustrated sigh as a hoof went up to support her head.

“Exploding pie?” the farmer said walking in, “How did ya mange that?”

“Ahahahaha,” the unicorn laughed making both earth ponies look at her with masks of confusion. Autumn quickly put the puzzle together and nodded.

Coco on the other hoof, tilted her head and stated, “That is the weirdest laugh I’ve ever heard.”

“It’s a long story,” Starlight said taking a seat next to the table where Iago finished his fit of laughter.

“Does it involve Granny Pie?” the prankster mare asked and hope in her eyes. That hope though was smashed as the unicorn shook her head. “Okay then, I’ll be right back to listen to it later.” The brown mare took the mask in her teeth and left the others alone in the room.

Letting the sparrow hop back into her mane, Starlight said the first thing that popped into her mind, “Oh yeah, I finally got a spell that won’t explode.”

“Ah heard,” Autumn said making the unicorn feel a bit upset, “Iris told me about yer visit to Fluttershy during yer aunt’s party.”

“Well that’s a bit… disappointing,” the unicorn commented, “I thought I could tell everyone myself.”

The farm mare placed a hoof over her friend’s shoulder, “Ah’m sorry about Iris stealing yer thunder, but that’s who she is. Everypony has something about them that bugs the hay out of others.”

“Like Coco and her pranks?” Starlight asked looking into the farmer’s eyes.

“Like Coco and her pranks,” Autumn replied. “Iris gets around town with her job and such. She tends to eavesdropped without even trying.” The orange mare paused as if something struck her. Suddenly she let out a laugh that caused Starlight to cover her ears.

“What’s so funny?” Coconut Pop replied, sticking her head out a doorway, “Did Autumn just pull a prank on Starlight?”

Waving a hoof, Autumn replied, “Nothing of the sort Coco. Ah just remembered how the four of us first met.”

Coconut thought for a moment as she joined the others. Another sly grin crawled along her face, “Ahhh, good times.”

Starlight got up and went for the door, “Well, I must be going. I’ve lot of places to visit and so little daylight left.” She was stopped as Coco bounced up to her with saddle bags full. “Ah, Coco?”

“Yeah,” the mare asked as she took small can of silly string from her bag and tested it. The strand of crazy fibers flew into the unicorn’s face, “Oops.” She slid the can back in her bags.

Taking the offending string off her face, Starlight gave the prankster a confused look and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Giving you a Grand Tour of Ponyville, and going to prank some other ponies along the way” Coconut Pop replied. She then looked at the doorway behind the counter, “Daddy, I’m going out! Look after the store!”

Starlight was about to reply when a gruff voice came from within the store, “Be back before supper.” Coco replied with a loud ‘Okay’ and marched out the door.

“Hold on,” Starlight said jumping in front the earth pony, “who said you could give me a tour? I was doing fine with myself guided tour.”

“I wanted to give you one,” Coco said walking around Starlight.

“Why would you want- never mind,” Starlight said following brown mare.

Autumn came galloping up to Starlight’s side, “That was easiest I ever seen you give up on something.”

Starlight casted the orange mare a glance, “I think a week is enough time to realize that anypony in her blood line somehow has more logic than they let on. I rather give in now rather than return home with a pounding headache.” Autumn couldn’t help but give off a chuckle.

*******

“Ah ha!” Luminance cheered as she pulled on a small flower with her magic, “Found another Gracebelle.”

“Great,” Iris said as she watched the flower float into her saddle bags, “that brings us up to twenty.” She then flew up and plucked a small batch of leaves from a nearby tree.

Nyx stood and watch as the two mares took their time picking flowers from the side of the path that they walked along. She gave random glances to the looming darkness. Memories poured into her mind as went back to her first year in Ponyville. The fear of being lost deep in the forest began to creep up her spine.

“Are you alright?” Iris asked placing a hoof on the alicorn’s shoulder. Nyx’s head whipped around to look at the pegasus.

“Not really,” she replied, “these trees bring back the oldest of memories.”

“Alright,” Iris said leaving the topic behind. “Oh, can you get me some of those dandelions hidden that patch of Poison Joke.” Nyx nodded as her black aura plucked out the yellow headed plants.

“We’re almost to the clearing, Iris,” Luminance said galloping ahead. Behind her the two winged ponies took flight to catch up with the yellow unicorn. Ahead of them, they saw the parting of trees a sea of colorful flowers dance upon the slight breeze.

Iris bolted across the meadow to a patch of yellow petal flowered and carefully took the heads off of them. Luminance pranced up to group of plants off to the edge of the clearing. Nyx, on the other hand just stood at the clearing’s entrance. She caught a glimpse of a squirrel running through the flowers. To her side she could hear the love songs of small birds as they hopped from tree to tree. Her mind exploded as a memory of her past smashed its way through her mental walls.

“Oh, the Everfree has this one place that is, like, totally not creepy,” said a small filly in the alicorn’s mind.

“Yeah, it’s so beautiful,” Another piped up, “It has this huge field of flowers that are so colorful that it’s like, a painting.”

“And don’t get me started on the creatures in there,” the first voice returned, “there are like the ones Fluttershy has at her cottage, but so much cuter!”

“Really?” her mind reproduced her younger voice.

“Oh yes, the Everfree Forest really is amazing once you go deep enough inside,” the first voice said as the memory faded.

Nyx’s eyes scanned the area, looking for any other signs of life in the open field. “All it needs is the babbling brooks,” she said aloud. Her eyes continued to gaze at the field until they land on the center of the field. An unfriendly, yet familiar, chill rushed up the alicorn’s spine as she stepped forward.

Each step she took toward it was like a step to a familiar person. She could feel an unnatural connection to the clearing, and her memory started to tell her why. Her head whipped around to where they entered, and scanned the area. She spotted a huge bush that Iris was standing next to and rushed over.

Iris looked up from what her work to see that alicorn was crying as she stared at the bush. Placing a hoof on her shoulder, she asked, “Are you okay Nyx?”

“It took one hundred years,” she said to herself. “One hundred years to find this place that those bullies talked about. And… and it was the same place I was born.”

“What?” the pegasus leapt back at the outrageous statement.

Nys just pointed to the bush, tears still pouring from her eyes, “Th… this… this bush is where I first woke up. This is where my memories begin. This is where I first met Twilight.”

“I don’t understand,” Iris said as Luminance walked up. She whispered about what was going on only to be replied with a confused shrugged.

Nyx removed the tears from her eyes as she turned to the two mares with her. “What do you two know of Nightmare Moon?” she asked.

“Well,” Luminance started with a hoof under chin, “wasn’t she Princess Luna when she became envious of her sister and hated the ponies because they slept through her night?”

Iris followed up, “But didn’t our Grandparents defeat Nightmare Moon and cleansed Luna of her like in that play we saw a few years back?”

Nyx closed her eyes as Luminance spoke up again, “Yes, they did. Nightmare Moon vanished from our world that night. At least that is what Mother says.”

“Well, yes,” Nyx interrupted, “and no. You see, roughly a year after Nightmare Moon was defeated, a cult… resurrected her.”

“Why in the world they ever do that darling?” Luminance asked as she took a step back in shock.

Nyx sighed again before looking at the unicorn, “A week ago I told you of my exploits of my early childhood. But, those where only the good deeds that I’ve done.” She looked back at the bush and took a deep breath, “That night, when the Children of Nightmare began the spell that would bring back that hateful being, Celestia, who had heard that they had captured Twilight, stopped it with a blast of powerful magic. While the spell wasn’t finished, it did create something,” she took another breath, “It… created me.”

Both Iris and Luminance were caught off guard by the thought of a pony being born through magic. “I’m Nightmare Moon, technically speaking, but during my first few months with your grandparents and the rest of Ponyville, I learn to love and not hate.”

The three stood in silence as the breezed caused the field of flowers to dance. Breaking the silence, Luminance stated, “It seems that if I ever saw one of these ‘Children of Nightmare’ ponies, I would have to thank them.”

Nyx’s head whipped around to focus her dragon eyes down on the unicorn, “Are you crazy? They hurt other ponies, convinced me to fight and exile both princesses to the sun and moon, they beat up my mother and almost had her hung. And you want to thank them?”

“Granted,” Luminance said recovering from the startling stare down, “But without them, Equestria wouldn’t have such a helpful pony willing to protect other at the cost of her own well being.” Nyx opened her mouth only to be cut off. “Yes, we all made mistakes in the past, but that is the part of growing up. If we didn’t make mistakes, then we would have nothing to learn from.”

Nyx tilted her head at the unicorn, “It seems that I’m not the only one that made a big mistake in their life.”

“My mother always told me that,” Luminance said taking a seat among the flowers. “I finally learn it the day I got my cutie mark.”

“Must be quite the story,” Nyx said taking a seat herself. “Would you mind telling me about it?”

Luminance dug at the ground with a hoof. “Oh, I would be delighted to share my tale. But only if you don’t say anything until the end.”

“Promise,” Nyx swore by taking a hoof and crossing where her heart is.

Taking a deep breath, the unicorn started, “When I was very little, I was very selfish. I always wanted the first things that pop into my mind; from wanting a new dress for school, to wanting the first animal I saw as a pet.”

“You were quite selfish when you were just a filly,” Iris commented.

“Hey,” Nyx said pointing a hoof at the pegasus, “If I can’t say anything until the end, the same goes for you.”

“Indeed,” Luminance replied taking control of conversation, “Well, one day, when I was visiting my Grandmother in Canterlot, I took this beautiful fire ruby from her house. I was so obsessed with it that I even lied about taking it. But no more than week later, she was taken in by the hospital. The doctors couldn’t understand what was wrong with her. I took a look around the room she was in and trust me when I say that if they couldn’t tell what was wrong with her, that place was making it worse.”

Nyx nodded in an understanding way as the unicorn continued, “So with the help of Mother to let me get in, I took some of Grandmother’s stuff from her home and brought it into the room. When she woke, she nearly fell out of bed at the stunning appearance I had made. It seemed that I remade her bedroom in that hospital room. Though the best thing she liked was how I returned the jewel to her.

“I placed the Fire Ruby in a box that matched its shape, wrote ‘I’m sorry’ on the cover and waited for sunrise. I guess I fell asleep because when I woke up in Grandmother’s forelegs with her tears hitting my forehead.” Luminance brush a tear from her eyes before finishing her tale, “I was told later that it was a just a set up between Grandmother, Mother and the doctors to get me to learn a lesson. But I learn two that day; that one about lesson mistakes and selfishness will only hurt others.”

“Plus,” the alicorn said pointing a hoof at the unicorn’s flank, “you got your cutie mark after that morning right?”

“No,” Luminance corrected, “Mother told me that it appeared while I worked on getting the room ready.”

“Then that would make better sense seeing how you gawked over that magazine Spike gave you in exchange for the star gem,” Nyx said standing back up while the yellow unicorn tried to fight herself from giggling. She looked back to the bush before turning around to the path. “Thank you for sharing that story. I’ll make sure to remember that.”

With a glance up, the alicorn spotted a streak of colors dart across the open clearing in the trees. It made another pass over the meadow letting the group below know it was Spectrum. Iris could feel her heart skip a beat as the pegasus landed in front of her.

“Ma’am,” the rainbow mane stallion greeted.

“Storm?” Iris asked taking a step closer to the white pegasus, “Is everything alright?”

“Fluttershy has fallen out of bed, ma’am,” he said before the violet mare took off leaving her bags on the ground.

*******

“What?” Starlight asked as she and Autumn started into the grapefruit sized eyes of Coconut Pop.

“That is so cool!” the prankster shouted out in the middle of street.

Taken aback, the unicorn asked, “You’re kidding right? That is the first time anypony ever said that.”

“I am?” Coco replied with a tilted head. “Well maybe because I think it’s such a great ability.”

Turning the farmer next to her, Starlight asked, “Please tell me that  she’s kidding?”

“Why would I be kidding about this,” Coco said tossing a hoof around the unicorn’s shoulder, disrupting Iago from his seat in the unicorn’s mane, “Think about it, wouldn’t it be the best prank tool out there!”

Releasing herself from the earth pony’s hold, Starlight said, “We must be on two different train tracks, because I have no idea what you are talking about,” Iago chirped in agreement.

Sighing, the earth pony started drawing shapes in the dirt, “Okay, let’s say you wanted to prank somepony, all you really need to do is to take a pie and have it blow up right in their faces. Not only do you prank them, but everyone else in the room.”

“Wouldn’t I be getting myself too?” Starlight pointed out on the diagram the earth pony made.

Looking up, Coco replied, “That is why it would be so perfect! You’re able to prank yourself. You don’t know how badly I always wanted to do that!”

Starlight growled before putting a hoof up, “Calm down, Starlight. Clam dowwwWWN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” she jumped away as the brown earth pony tried to turn the unicorn around. Iago cried out in dismay as he almost lost his hold on the unicorn’s mane.

“I wanted to take a look at your cutie mark and see if it has anything to do with your ability to make things go boom,” Coco replied walking around to spy the unicorn’s flank. On it were three, white, eight-pointed stars. Each had a halo around them.

“That has nothing to do with explosion,” the prankster stated in disappointment.

Starlight, on the other hand, moved her head look at the prankster in the eyes, “You could have just asked rather than pony-handling me.” The sparrow gave off an angry chirp in agreement.

“You were busy calming down,” the mare said pointing a hoof at her, “How was I supposed to know you would react to me touching you.”

“Do you ever think before you act?” Starlight blurted out.

All the while those two argued, Autumn was laughing so hard that her hat fell off. “Ah thought ya said that ya learn not to try and outsmart Coco,” she said between laughs, “But here ya are.”

The unicorn turned to the farmer, giving the prankster time to fully analyze Starlight’s cutie mark. Pointing a hoof at Autumn, she replied, “This is different, I’m not trying to outsmarting her.” She looked over her shoulder to notice the goggling Coconut Pop and adjusted her body to prevent her from staring at the unicorn’s flank. “I’m trying to teach her something about personal space!”

“Well,” Coco began with a frustrated tone, “I can see your point.”

Caught off guard, Starlight replied, “You can?”

“Yeah,” the earth pony replied with her usual grin, “We're totally not the best of friends, yet. But give use time, I’m sure you’ll warm up to us.”

“Yeah,” the grey mare replied with a roll of her eyes, “when I learn to levitate things without having it blow up in my face.” She began to walk away from the earth ponies.

Leaning up to Autumn Gold, Coco whispered, “Not the best of starts when it comes to friend making.”

“Ah hear ya,” Autumn whispered back with a nod. She then turned her gaze up to the grey unicorn, “So what does your cutie mark mean?” This stopped the unicorn dead in her tracks. Iago gave off a supportive chirp as she lowered her head.

“I…” she began as she went to look behind her at the mares, “I don’t really know. I… I had it since I don’t know when. I mean I didn’t have it when I was born but, I just don’t remember ever getting it.”

Coco’s usual smile flipped around as her ears dropped, “Y… you don’t know your cutie mark story?” Starlight gently nodded.

“That’s not natural,” Autumn stated as she picked up her hat, “every pony know how they got their cutie mark, even down to the tiniest of fillies.”

“I only know roughly the time I got it,” the unicorn pointed out, “I went looking through my families scrap book one day and there is picture of me a week old without it. But there is another picture of me at my first birthday with it. But all that tells is that I got it before then. For all I know is that I got it that day!” her voice started to become louder with those last words.

“Simmer down, gal,” Autumn said placing a hoof on the mare, who brushed it right off, “On my word as an Apple, Ah’ll help ya find yer cutie mark story.”

“Me too! Me too!” Coco added before performing the actions that Starlight remembered as the Pinkie Promise.

“Thank you girls,” Starlight said with a sigh, “But I why are you going so out of your way just for me?”

“Do Ah really need to tell ya?” Autumn remarked only to have Starlight smack her face with a hoof.

“Logic,” the unicorn commented as she slapped her head with a hoof, “I have none of it.”

Coco lowered the hoof for Starlight as she said, “You do have friends though, cause we’re them.” Autumn chuckled as the crazy mare threw her hooves up in the air.

“I- never mind,” Starlight before heading down the street again, “So where’s our next stop on this little tour?” She was stopped by the brown mare as she jumped in front of her and pointed her hoof down an alleyway. On the far side was a house that looked like a gingerbread house. Starlight stared at the house before looking back at the prankster only to find a grin as wide as a broomstick on her face.

Autumn looked over her friend before saying to the nearby unicorn, “It looks like we’re having lunch at Sugercube Corner.” With that Coco was off like a bullet with the others on her heels.

Blasting through the door, Coco went flying into the confectionery shop and right into the owner. The load of cupcakes the pegasus was carrying was sent flying into the far wall were the Cake kids were busy studying. Starlight and Autumn arrived just in time for Pound Cake Jr. to give the mare a talk down.

“How many times I’ve told you to not come barreling in here like you were just shot out of a cannon?” he scolded. “You’ve once again ruin another batch of cupcakes. Those where for a birthday party later today and I was about to bring them over.”

“I’m sorry,” Coco replied giving off a weak smile.

“Please be careful about entering, not sorry,” he replied before making his way back to the kitchen.

“Dad,” the stocky colt said pointing to the mess on the wall, “these cupcakes are salty.”

Surprised at this son’s statement, the pegasus walked over to the mess and picked up one of cupcakes that weren’t totally ruin. Taking a bite, the baker chewed on the treat when the salty taste hit his tongue like a hammer. Spitting out the cupcake, he called out to the kitchen, “Honey? Did you use that bar of salted butter on the cupcakes for the party tonight?”

There was a clatter coming from within as the sounds of cabinets opened and closed. An earth pony’s head appeared seconds later from the swinging doors and said, “I did Pound dear, sorry. The packaging looks so much alike. I’ll start on another batch right away.” With that she disappeared through the doorway.

With a sigh, Pound turned toward his customers, saying to himself, “First it was the over-cooked cookies, then the soggy wedding cake…” he looked up at Coco, “it seems you’ve once again, saved us from yet another bad mistake.”

The prankster began to glow once again as she tackled the baker, “Apology accepted, Mr. Cake,” she then climbed off and pointed at the others, “Would you mind getting me and my friends something for launch?”

“Sure what would you three like,” Pound replied walking over to the counter. Coconut Pop bounced right over and slapped a couple of bits down on the table.

“The usual, please,” Coco replied pushing the coins across. He happily took the coins into his apron.

Autumn took out her own money and placed it on the counter next, “Two Apple tarts please. And add a bit more topping.”

“Will do,” the pegasus stallion replied taking her bits as well. He then looked at Starlight who was busy looking at the amount of treats in a nearby cabinet, “And what would you like miss…?”

“Starlight will do, Mr. Cake,” the unicorn replied returning to the counter, “Ahh, you wouldn’t happen to have anything that isn’t so fattening would you?”

Pound Jr. looked at the unicorn with an upturn eyebrow. His eyes darted up and down the mare’s frame before replying, “Pardon me, Starlight, but you’re in a sweets shop.”

“Right,” Starlight said looking up at Iago, “in that case I’ll just have an oatmeal cookie.” The sparrow

“That’ll be two cents please,” Pound replied. Starlight dug out a bit and watched as the pegasus baker gave her back precise change. Pound then picked up the boxes that once contain salty cupcakes and went into the kitchen. The three mares went to a table opposite of the three foals as they worked.

“So getting back to cutie marks stories,” Starlight began as she sat down. She took a look at the prank snake cutie mark on the brown mare’s flank, "I kind of want to know Coco’s story. It’s hard to believe that a pony’s special talent is pranking.”

Autumn was about to begin when Coco blurted out, “Ohhh, it is such a great story. And it involves Granny Pie!”

“And tha way ya tell it, we’ll be here till sundown,” the farmer interrupted before turning to the unicorn, “Really long story short, Pinkie and Coco here got into a prank war that Coco won.”

Starlight rolled her eyes as she replied, “How am I not surprise with the amount of pranks she pulled on me.”

“That’s not even tha best part,” Autumn added as Pound return with their orders. With one wing, he placed the 2 apple tarts in front of the farmer pony and with the other he slid the oatmeal cookie in front of the unicorn. With his tail, he lifted a giant cupcake off his back on to the table in front of the milky white mane earth pony.

“What is that beast of a pastry?” Starlight asked as she and the sparrow glared at the cake.

“This,” Coco said with her hooves on either side of it, “Is my Harmony Cake. It has three layers of cake. First, we have is a white sponge cake with small blue candies mixed in to give it more of a base. Next, we got a rainbow cake made with Zap Apple Jam to give it that rainbow look. Both of these layers have freshly cut apples baked inside like a pie. For the crown, we got angel food cake dyed yellow. The whole thing is finally covered in fluffy pink frosting and purple star sprinkles.” With that the mare ripped off a huge piece of the cake.

“Harmony Cake?” Starlight asked as she looked at the apple filling of the baked good, “Looks to me like its more disharmony than anything.” She looked up to see Coco with puffed out cheeks staring at her.

“Don’t say that about our grandparents,” she said spitting food out as she spoke. “They wielded the Elements of Harmony for a reason.”

“I’m sorry,” Starlight apologized as she let the sparrow jump off her and onto the table, “I didn’t know it was named after them.” Coco nodded letting the unicorn know that she understood before she continued, “So speaking of our Grandparents, how did you win?”

Autumn took control of the conversation after finishing off one of her tarts, “Well, Coco here jerry-rigged Pinkie’s party cannon to fire prank snakes rather than tha usual stuff and had it not go off by adding a safety switch. When the cannon wouldn’t fire, Pinkie went to check it. Coco ran around, flipped the switch and blasted her with it. Ah swear Ah never seen neither one of them laugh so hard since that day.”

“Hard to believe that,” Starlight commented as she watch the prankster rip off another piece. Coco gave off a puffed checked smile before she started chewing. Autumn chuckled before starting her second tart. Starlight broke of a piece of her cookie and set aside for the sparrow to peck at while she began to eat the rest.

The earth pony from earlier came walking out of the kitchen with a worried look on her face, “Pound dear, something’s up,” she said walking to the door. She pushed it open and stared outside.

“What is it, Honey?” the stallion asked as he put down his work and joined her at the door.

“I don’t know,” she replied looking at her husband, “Iris just flew by in a big hurry. Oh, please let the little one be alright, whomever it may be.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Cake,” Coco replied drawing the worried mare’s attention to her, “Iris can cure anypony. Anypony.”

“There goes Storm and Nyx too,” Pound Jr. said getting everyone’s eyes to the near windows. Like baker said, a trail of rainbow colors and another trail of blackness parallel to each other where being painted across the sky.

“That’s the meadow they’re flying to,” Autumn said before going wide eye. The three mares enjoying their launch looked at each other with fear and worry. They quickly finished what was left of their meal before grabbing Iago and darting to the door pushing the married couple to either side.

“What’s the hurry this time?” Pound shouted to them.

Coco wheeled around on one of her fore hooves and shouted back, “They’re heading to Fluttershy’s!” Pound watched as Coco speed off with the others.

He thought for a bit before yelling to his family, “Let’s move. Something must of happen to Fluttershy,” With that the bakers were out of the house and down the road.

********

“Please, Iris,” Fluttershy said from her bed, “don’t worry about me.”

“But why were you trying to get out of bed, Grandma,” the violet pegasus asked with her hooves around her grandmother’s.

Fluttershy looked at a spotted rabbit resting on her outstretched wing with a worried looked, “Pepper here was hungry and everyone else was busy. I didn’t want to interrupt them so I…” She looked up to see Nyx standing in the doorway, “Nyx, I’m sorry to bring you rushing here from your busy day.

“Don’t worry about me, Fluttershy,” the alicorn said before Nurse Wide Heart ushered her back down stairs.

“How is she, Heart?” Nyx asked as they enter the living room where Storm waited with what the alicorn concluded to be a concerned face.

Wide Heart looked at the waiting pegasus and asked, “Did you get Doctor Lighthoof?”

“I went to him first before finding your daughter, ma’am,” he replied quickly.

“Then go to the library and let Spike know,” the nurse said turning her head back to Nyx.

“I had Luminance find him once she got out of the Everfree,” Nyx interrupted.

With no other options she could think off, Wide Heart looked back at Storm, “Then let everypony else know.” Spectrum nodded before exiting the cottage. The medical pegasus return her attention back to the alicorn in the room. She took a deep breath before giving the news, “Her heart rate is dropping at the steady pace; always has been. But after that fall, it dropped by a huge amount and the decay has hastened. I rather have Lighthoof double check but…” Nyx urge her on even through the tears that started to form at the base of her eyes, “but, I’m sure she won’t see Celestia lower the sun with us.”

Nyx took the now crying pegasus under her wing to comfort her the best she could. “There, there,” she shushed. “We knew this day was going to happen. We just didn’t know when.”

The door flew open as Starlight came galloping into the room with her sparrow clutching on her mane with dear life. Spotting the alicorn, the student blurted out, “Aunt Nyx, I saw you fly over town. I ran here as fast I could.” Nyx held up her free wing to silence the unicorn. After the young mare’s breath slowed, the alicorn allowed her to continue, “Autumn and Coconut are getting their families and will be here soon.”

“Did you let your Uncle know,” Nyx asked only to be replied with a ‘no.’ “Then don’t bother just take a seat either here or upstairs.” Following her Aunt’s words, the unicorn disappeared up the stairs. Nyx then looked down at the pegasus crying underneath her wing, “Come on Heart, put on a strong face.”

The nurse wiped her eyes with the side of her legs and replied, “You're right, Fluttershy wouldn’t want us acting this way just for her.” With that, Wide heart went back upstairs, leaving Nyx alone in the living room.

A slight rumble in Nyx’s belly told her that she missed launch. She started toward the kitchen only to have the door swing open again. From the portal, Pound Cake Jr. and his family came walking in. After a letting his family and Coco’s family that entered soon after know what was going on, she pull out ingredients for a fruit salad. Thinking of the others, she took twice as much ingredients for it and pulled a large bowl from a nearby cabinet.

Residents from Ponyville poured into the cottage at the steady pace including Autumn’s family as well as Luminance and her mother being among the first to arrive. Doctor Lighthoof arrived with Luminance and went straight up stairs. Each visitor halted the alicorn on her work as she filled them in on the situation on hand.

When she was finished, she went back upstairs to find Fluttershy’s room was packed with ponies. The critters that once populated the floor around the bed had moved to the cabinets and tables that lined the walls of the room. In the window she saw Spike peeking through the open space along with some pegasi.

“I made some salad for everypony,” she said getting everyone’s attention. The alicorn turned into her shapeless smoke form and carried the salad bowl over the gather ponies placed in at the foot of the old pegasus’s bed. Reverting back to her normal form, Nyx offered Fluttershy a small bowl of salad first.

Fluttershy placed a hoof on the bowl and pushed it away, “Thank you Nyx, but I’m not feeling hungry right now,” She took a deep yawn before continuing, “Rather I’m quite sleepy. You should, that’s if you want to, eat first. You’ll need your strength for later.”

Nyx looked the kind pegasus in the eyes and asked, “You’re aware of your condition?”

Fluttershy looked off to the side and replied, “I’ve treated many animals in my day. I saw them die while I took care of them. I have, through my time taking care of them, seen the signs of a weaken body. I’ve also learn that some things are just unavoidable. Plus, you were a little too loud down stairs.”

Nyx chuckled as she took the bowl and went to the window. Sitting down next to Spike she ate slowly, enjoying every last bit, hoping it could help with the sorrow in her heart. When she was finished, she looked at the dragon and opened her mouth.

“Don’t worry Nyx,” He interrupted, “I’ve already sent a letter to the princesses of her condition.” He turned his look the alicorn and added, “They sent a reply that said they were unable to find suitable bearers for the elements. But they’ll try using them themselves.”

“You know what I must do, Spike,” Nyx added in a hushed tone.

Returning the whisper, Spike said, “I rather not have this talk while we’re around Fluttershy.”

“So how’s your wife, Doctor?” Fluttershy asked as Lighthoof checked her heart with a stethoscope.

Looking up from the watch on his wrist, he replied cheerfully “Just fine Fluttershy. She’s due in about a month.”

“What are you planning to call the new foal?” the pegasus asked adjusting herself, only to be gently push back down.

“We haven’t really decided on a name yet,” he replied standing up.

Fluttershy patted the spotted rabbit on her wing making it look up at her, “When you do, you’ll know that it was the right one.”  The doctor smiled as he turned around to the waiting ponies. Slowly he walked out of the room still holding onto a strong face. Right before he went down stairs Nyx saw a tear roll from his eye. Wide Heart and some other ponies saw it as well for they hung their heads in sorrow.

Without warning, Fluttershy coughed so rapidly that Iris was by her side in a heartbeat. “Are you okay, Grandma?” she asked.

The old mare looked up at her granddaughter and replied, “Yes, Iris, I’m fine. Just a little tried.”

Iris fought back the tears as she replied, “Wo-would you like f-for me to sing you a l-lullaby?”

“That would be…” Fluttershy coughed again, “nice.”

Iris cleared her throat before looking into her grandmother’s eyes. Her voice was soft despite the stuttering, “H-hush now, q-quite now, T-time to lay your sleepy head. H-hush now, q-quite now, i-it’s time to go to bed.”

Iris jumped to hear another voice pick up the tone. From outside the window, Storm’s deep voice brought harmony to the lullaby, “Drift; drift off to sleep, with an exciting day behind you. Drift; drift off to sleep, let the joys of dream world find you.” The stallion looked at the mare as if he did something wrong. Iris smiled as the pair of them continued the song.

“Hush now, quite now, time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quite now, it’s time to go to bed. Drift; drift off to sleep, with an exciting day behind you. Drift; drift off to sleep, let the joys of dream world find you.” The gathered ponies joined in on the singing until a whole round had started.

“Hush now, quite now, time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quite now, it’s time to go to bed. Drift; drift off to sleep, with an exciting day behind you. Drift; drift off to sleep, let the joys of dream world find you.” Nyx’s eyes scanned the room as she sung her heart out with the rest of them. She was amazed at the strength that the residents of Ponyville still had after a hundred years.

“Hush now, quite now, time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quite now, it’s time to go to bed. Drift; drift off to sleep, with an exciting day behind you. Drift; drift off to sleep, let the joys of dream world find you.” Those bonds of friendship she still had with those from her past still held tight even during the last moments of one of her dearest and beloved friends. She watched as Fluttershy smile softly and closed her eyes.

The chorus of singers increased their volume as if they were singing to someone down the road, “Hush now, quite now, time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quite now, it’s time to go to bed. Drift; drift off to sleep, with an exciting day behind you. Drift; drift off to sleep, let the joys of dream world find you.” Their voices were proud and strong and yet still carried the love and softness that their listener was known for.

Through the singing, Nyx barely caught a small whisper, “Thank you, every pony.”

“Hush now, quite now, time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quite now, it’s time to go to bed. Drift; drift off to sleep, with an exciting day behind you. Drift; drift off to sleep, let the joys of dream world find you.” They continued, still doing their best for her. Eyes started to tear up from much of the younger singers while their seniors held a strong face.

Suddenly, Nyx felt a rush of magical energy that sent goose-bumps across her entire body. The dragon eyes of hers shrank at an alarming rate at the sudden appearance of power. Looking at Fluttershy, the alicorn could see no signs of life in the kind pegasus anymore. Standing up, Nyx went and nuzzled her head and whispered her farewells before transforming into her shapeless form once more and flew out the window Spike was looking in through.

“Nyx,” she heard stopping her flight and landing on the road that went up to the cottage. Looking around she saw Spike walking up to her, “So that’s it? A lullaby and a farewell and off you go to be a hero again?”

Changing back, Nyx replied, “I’ve already told you Spike, I made a promise to be there and I’m wasting flight time just standing here.”

“But I already said that the princesses are going to use the elements themselves,” Spike added, “There is no need to worry about going since they won the last fight with them.”

“That was when they truly represented the Elements of Harmony,” Nyx counter letting her horn glow. Spike watch as magical armor appeared on the alicorn’s body and legs as she continued, “Right now they’re unsure if they will work since the events that brought me into this world. Well at least Nightmare Moon.”

“They had a hundred years to re-forge those broken bonds Nyx,” the dragon said stepping in front of her.

“I could tell they still had some bridges still broken last time they were here, Spike,” the alicorn said walking around the dragon only to be caught by his tail.

Spike held her there as he went back around to look at the alicorn’s dragon eyes, “I’m going to ask you this once, is this, what you truly want?”

This time it was Nyx who raised her voice, “This is nothing that I want. I don’t want to leave Fluttershy’s side until she is with her friends. I truly don’t want Fluttershy to past away period. What I do want is to take her place right now. I want to be with Twilight and tell her I’m sorry for not being there when she died. But I can’t, because I have the longevity of the princesses. I can guarantee that in another hundred years, we’ll be still here watching our old friends pass away like so.

“I got to do this though Spike,” Nyx continued as she released herself from the dragon’s hold, “This is my duty and this is what I promised what I would do.” She left the dragon stunned as she walked around him once more. Letting her horn glow once more, a helmet formed on her head that went around her horn. Her magical mane shifted to flow out from the hole in the back of the helmet.

“One thing though, Spike,” she added as she allowed her body to slowly shift back into a smoky form. “I won’t be missing the funereal. I’ll be back once the princesses and I end this.” On that note, her body fully shifted to its cloudy form and took off toward Canterlot.

Spike hung his head low, letting what his sister had just told him soak in. Letting a tear roll down his face, he went back to the cottage where he could hear the ponies inside still singing to the now sleeping Fluttershy.


> Chapter 4: Fights and Fears
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4: Fights and Fears

The royal gardens of Canterlot - a beautiful place full of flora and fauna. This peaceful place that was usually full of life and noise now stood silent. All the animals that lived there weren’t dead or decided to move elsewhere; they hid as high above them, three beings of power fought in an explosive battle.

Celestia dodged a rouge pink cloud as it flew past before looking back at the sender and sent off a bolt of lightning. The beast dodged the fast moving electricity with a snake like expertise and laughed.

“You missed me again, Celestia,” he taunted before snapping his finger making the pink cloud come zooming back around at her. The white alicorn stopped it in mid-flight with another bolt of lightning, sending puffs of cotton candy floating gently down to the forest.

“Discord,” she replied with a hateful glare, “you will be defeated here once and for all!”

“We will see, Celestia,” Discord replied as he snapped his fingers and disappeared. Reappearing behind her, he readied a ball of energy in his hand. Before he could attack though, a blue blur smashed into his side sending him flying away.

The princess’s savoir flew back around to her side and said, “Pay attention, Tia.”

“Thanks, Luna,” Celestia replied before focusing her attention back to the draconequus who was recovering from the attack. Their horns glowed in preparation of the next attack.

Discord quickly dashed toward at the two princesses as they fired off lightning bolts at him. Ducking around them, Discord approached the two and with a snap of his fingers created a shockwave between the two princesses, blasting them away from each other.

Recovering first, Celestia looked around to see Discord chasing her sister as she tried to recover from free fall. Casting out her magic to Luna, the younger alicorn was teleported to her side.

Discord rotated in midair not stopping his downward decent, and with crossed arms replied, “Ahh, no fun,” with a displeased look he snapped his eagle fingers once more, opening a circle of nothingness behind him as he fell. The portal closed as he fell in, reopening above the sisters. He landed on top of the Sun Princesses with his elbow right between the wings.

The white alicorn, stunned, fell toward the ground while her sister recovered her own flight. But before the dark blue alicorn could react, a dragon tail grasped her neck and pulled her gaze into a pair of mismatched eyes.

Kissing the Moon Princesses on the nose, the fiend of chaos joked, “Hey there, cutie.” With her face turning red from rage rather than blush, she fired off lightning from her horn at point blank range. The lightning missed him as he vanished in a flash of light.

Reappearing on a nearby cloud, the being of disharmony called out, “What’s the matter, Woona? I was trying to giving you a compliment.”

“Your sweet words would never charm me!” Luna snapped back as her horn started to glow brightly. Several clouds around her darken as they charged the draconequus. Discord was about to counter her when Celestia, coming from below, flying past him while leaving small balls of light in her wake.

These balls of light exploded in a volley of blinding energy, forcing him to cover his eyes. When Discord reopened his eyes, he saw the clouds under Luna’s control where in a complete circle around him. Each one sent of a lightning bolt aimed at him. With a quick snap of his fingers, he was once again gone. The lightning bolts smashed into each other causing an explosion of electrical energy to fly out.

Discord reappeared behind Luna, grabbed her by her horn with his eagle claw and with both of his feet, pushed against her spine. They fell at an alarming rate, smashing into the ground at full force.

Leaping out the impact crater first, the draconequus became under heavy fire from the Sun Princess as she dove at him from above. With a snap from his lion paw, he opened a portal in front of Celestia. Unable react, she fell in and reappeared just feet from him with her face implanting into the ground.

He reeled back, exclaiming, “Ooooh, that’s that got hurt.” She started to stand back up when the dirt at her hooves turned into a slippery substance. Falling off her hooves, the princess looked up at her foe as he grinned wickedly.

“Ahh, are you so tired that you can’t stand up?” he taunted before kicking her with his goat foot. She slid down the trail of soap, off the edge of the crater and into her sister as she was standing up.

Looking over the edge of the crater, he laughed wildly as the two sisters pulled themselves off one another. Growling in anger, the Sun Princess started to channel magic into her being chasing a bright, brilliant glow to radiate from her body. Covering for her sister, the blue alicorn took off after the chaotic being as he blinked away from the crater.

She fire lightning bolt after lightning bolt as he laughed at her. As her rounds of lightning missed, she wove her magic into clouds behind. Unaware of massive storm cloud forming behind him, the draconequus chuckled his way right into the heart of the threatening mass of moisture.

Grinning, the Moon Princess shifted her magic to the cloud and forced it the discharge. The surge of energy erupted sending electricity throughout Discord’s body. Luna watch as the dark clouds slowly whiten as lightning bolts peppered his body, grinning the whole time. But the grin turned upside down as the white clouds turn bright pink.

The mass of cotton candy started to swirl around madly, moving apart from one another all the while.  From within, the spirit of disharmony’s usual smirk was replaced by a hateful glare. Raising his lion paw, the pink clouds halted in their mad dance before assaulting the princess of the night.

Despite her efforts to flee at the hostile sweeten clouds; they caught her wings, jamming them shut under their sticky embrace. Several more latched onto her before she was nothing more than a large pink blob. Appearing above it, Discord shouted toward her, “That hurt, Luna!” Snapping his fingers, the gravity shifted above the mass of clouds making it plummet to the earth below.

Light appeared behind him as he commented, “Oh, I forgot about you for a moment.” He snapped his fingers and slid into a portal that opened at his feet as the princess of the day unleashed a large outburst of the solar energy she had store in her body. The massive solar shockwave acted like a Sonicrain Boom as it cleared the sky above the Royal Gardens of every cloud in sight.

Breathing heavily, Celestia looked around for her foe only to have him call, “Still standing after that? I’m impressed.” Turning sharply, she launched up at the draconequus, lightning bolts firing. Snaking around each one, he kicked her square in the jaw.

Using his tail, he took her by the neck and tossed her into a portal that opened up behind him. She appeared, disoriented, right in front of Discord as he drove a clenched fist into her face. She was sent into another portal and reappeared above a tree. Crashing into it, she summoned her magic to her once more.

Discord looked down at the tree the Sun Princess fell into impatiently. Tapping his lizard foot on the air, he sighed and looked at his wrist as if it had a watch on it, “What is keeping her so long?” Answering his question, a loud shattering noise exploded from the tree as the solar ruler launched her whole being at him going so fast that it left bright after images in its wake.

He grinned as he ducked around her and the first three of the after images before reeling back a fist. Swinging his lion fist with all his might, he made contact right on the face. Celestia was sent flying from her bright glow with the versions before her evaporated. The ruler of chaos gave pursuit as she approached the ground in free fall. Planting his feet into her side, he gave the final burst of energy for her make an unrecoverable fall to the ground.

She landed with a heavy thud and created a small crater where she landed. Discord landed on the ground with a grin as he watched the princess stand back up. “How?” she asked through labored breath. “How did you know I wasn’t the first one?”

Discord laughed out hard, doubling over in mirth, before replying, “Really? Oh, my dear Celestia, I can’t believe that you forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?” the white alicorn asked casting a glance to her right before returning her stare to the laughing beast. “I never used that spell against you.”

Blinking toward her, he grabbed her horn and ran a finger up her chin as he said with an evil tone, “Oh, but you have my dear. You have.”

Teleporting away from him, the alicorn shouted back, “That’s impossible. You’ve be imprisoned in stone for over a thousand years.”

Snapping his fingers, Discord replied, “But for a thousand of them we been fighting, and each year brought a new spell for me to learn and counter.” Celestia’s eyes shrank at his comment before realizing that four pillars of blue light shot out from the earth around her. Before she could leave, the pillars quickly became a cage, grounding her and leaving her unprotected. Looking back at Discord, the Sun Princess prepared herself for his next attack.

He was about to unleash a spell when a large ball of pink candy smashed into him. Looking back over to her right, she saw her sister approaching her, still removing clumps of cotton candy from her hide.

“Don’t let him get to you, Celestia,” the lunar ruler said once she was by her sister’s side again.

“I’m sorry, Luna,” she replied as the magical cage disappeared. Looking back at Discord who was trying to break free from his prison made from his own chaotic mind, she added, “How about we finish this fiend off for good this time?”

Grinning, the Moon Princess replied, “I couldn’t agree with you more, sister.” She threw her head back and shouted, “Bring forth the elements!”

Out of nowhere, a unicorn guard appeared with a highly designed box held tightly within its magic. “Here you go, your highnesses,” the guard replied with a famine voice despite the male appearance.

“Thank you, Trick Mirror,” the white alicorn said as the box opened to reveal the six differently shaped and colored jewels embedded on five necklaces and a tiara. Both princesses took three apiece in their own magic and face Discord as he was still fighting to break free of the sticking substance.

“Discord,” both spoke in unison with a loud, commanding voice, “For crimes against Equestria and all of pony kind, we sentence you to an eternity of imprisonment in stone.” Magic began to flow toward the two sisters as the elements began to glow brightly. Closing her eyes, Celestia could feel the strands of magical energy flow around both her and her sister.

Discord wormed his body around among the pink compound that prevented him from making an escape. Looking back up to the two alicorns, he shouted, “Even if you do imprison me again, I will break free!” in response the sisters opened their eyes allowing Discord to see only a bright white glow radiate from them. Within seconds of his outburst, a rainbow shot upward from the princesses and came cascading down on the draconequus. Discord cringed in pain as he could feel his body becoming harder by the second.

Faster and faster the petrification spread around his body. Faster and faster Discord could feel his time free to roam was up. But then, he grinned. His grin went around his mouth wickedly as he watched the two princesses as his vision turned into a stony stare.

Recovering from the discharge from the elements and fully renewed, the princesses look at their foe that was now frozen in stone once again. Letting out a sigh, Celestia said, “It seems that we were able to defeat him without Nyx’s help.”

“Indeed,” Luna replied as she return the elements to the box Trick Mirror still had. With a bow, the guard vanished in a burst of light.

Looking back at her sister, Luna continued, “Shall we retire back to the castle, Tia. I heard the kitchen was making Cloud Cake in honor of our victory.”

Celestia took a step back and looked at her sister, “I didn’t order them to… you.” Luna released a slight laugh she had pent up which drove her sister to give a slight kick to her sister’s flank.

Stopping in her mirth, the blue alicorn asked, “So, what did Discord mean by, ‘Fighting for a thousand years?’”

Celestia thought for a bit before she looked back at her foe and replied, “The day you became Nightmare Moon, I could feel the seal that held Discord trapped start to weaken. Even though both of us were still bound to the elements, by my action of sending you to the Moon, the power that ran the seal began to slowly fade away. So for the thousand years you were banished, I was sending a portion of my magic into the seal to renew it and hold Discord at by.”

“But that kind of magic needs a certain ritual to be performed.” Luna interrupted, “How did you-?”

“I used the Summer Sun Celebration as a cover up,” Celestia smiled sheepishly before returning to her story, “But it seems that with each year, the magic I sent into seal took some sort of manifestation inside Discord’s mind. I was constantly learning new spells for the day where I would have to fight him again back in those days and it seems that the manifestations used those same spells against him. I’ve been such a fool.”

“No, you haven’t Tia,” Luna confronted her. Then with a sly grin she added, “Now let’s get inside and have us some cake.”

Celestia sighed as she replied, “Must you always taunt me with cake?”

“But it’s your favorite!” Luna chimed before the sisters started laughing.

But the laughter was cut short as a wave of magic radiated from behind them. Whipping around the princesses starred as cracks crawled like a spider up the statue.  “What is happening?” the dark blue alicorn asked as magic leaked out of the splitting stone. With a violent shattering sound, the stone prison around his head flew off to reveal his mad grin widening even more so. Tossing back his now released head, Discord roar out in chaotic laughter as the rest of his petrified body returned to its normal coloring.

He blinked out of the mass of cotton candy clouds that tried to keep him held. Appearing in front of the girls, he double over with tears poured out of his eyes. “You should the looks on your faces,” he laughed.

The Sun Princess couldn’t believe her eyes. In front of her just seconds before, was her greatest foe, trapped in a stone coffin. Now he was free once again from the element’s supreme power. “How…?” she uttered from her mouth.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Discord ended his laughing fit by saying, “It seems that you two aren’t the best of friends you used to be.” With a snap of his fingers, he blinked over to them. Using her back as an armrest, Discord brushed the multi-colored magical mane of the regent of the day with his free claw, “Holding back on the truth lately, my dear.” Snaking around to the regent of the night, he patted her on the head just below the horn, “Still holding some envy to your dear sister’s sun, sweet, sweet Woona?” he blinked away leaving the Moon Princess growling in hate at the draconequus. “It also appears that you’re also missing another element. I wonder who the lucky pony could be.”

Snapping out of her stupor, Celestia focused her eyes on him with hatred oozing from her clenched teeth, “Discord, I don’t know what you’re saying is true or just more of your empty lies, but your fight is with us, right here, right now.”

Discord sighed before turning to the Sun Princess. “Will you stop being such a bore, Tia? I gave your answer without a hint of my silver tongue,” his voice became a bit harsher. “Would you like for me to make it simpler for you to understand? You and your dear sister have lost parts of yourselves that once allowed the elements to work for you long ago. Instead someone else has stepped up and filled the gap you two opened.”

The two princesses looked at each other with worried expressions. The lunar alicorn whispered, “So, it seemed that we really did need her here for this fight.”

Her sister nodded and whispered back, “Then we’ll have to stall for time. I can only hope that Nyx can fly as fast as she calms to be able to.” Looking back at the draconequus, who was charitable enough to allow the two to talk, Celestia brought her horn to a glow.

“If we can’t defeat you through the elements of harmony,” she shouted out to him. “Then we will have to defeat you through the violent method.” A bright magical sword, the size of the regent of the sun’s wing, appeared before her pointing right at him.

“Violence you say, Celestia?” the chaotic being chuckled. “That’s a word I thought I would never hear from you.”

“Then consider this a special day,” Luna retorted as she summon a pair of magical daggers to her sides, “For we will see the end of you once and for all.”

Discord looked at the regent of the moon and replied, “Now violence is a word I know would be in your vocabulary, being Nightmare Moon after all.”

Looking at her hooves, she said, “That time is long behind me.” Diving at him, she added, “AND SO WILL YOU BE!”

The moon blades sang a sweet tune as they slashed out ward at the draconequus who back away. Snapping his fingers, the soil she was about to land became slippery. Losing her footing, she became an easy target for him as he kicked her into the over to the statues.

Getting up from the soapy road, the Moon Princess looked up to see the statues starting to move. Three filly statues hopped down onto ground and approached her like mindless zombies. She was about to fly away when the statue of victory’s flag came flying by her snout. Looking around to see other statues starting to move, she knew was trapped.

Looking away from his work just in time to see the golden sword go for his face, the draconequus teleported away from and chuckled, “Now that we’re in a one on one, bring it.” The Sun Princess brought it as she charged forward with her claymore, screaming at the top of her lungs.

With a snap of his fingers, a sudden explosion sent the alicorn up into the air before she had time to react. He jumped up and grabbed her by a hind leg and tossed her back into the trees. Trying to reorient herself, the princess could feel the tree she was stuck in shudder with an angry buzz. Bolting from the branches, she caught the sight of magically enlarged and enraged hornets following her out of the woods.

Casting her magic out, she calmed the angry swarm and reduced their size back to normal. Turning her head back to look at her foe, she received a right hook across the jaw. The draconequus followed up with an uppercut to the chin sending her up into the air even more.

She righted herself in time to use the flat of her blade to block another punch to the face. Seeing the dragon tail snake around, she sent off a lightning bolt at his face, making him blink back. Having room to finally attack, she swung her blade for his head.

Ducking underneath, Discord grabbed her leg and pulled her downward into a portal that opened up. As it closed, he turned around to see the alicorn coming through another portal and delivered a power punch into her backside. He watch as the alicorn fell to the ground for a bit before giving chase. Upon catching up to her, he dropped his elbow down into her side. Both beings of power impacted the ground in an explosion.

Appearing above the small cloud of dust, he snapped his fingers once more. The earth trembled under the Sun Princess’s body as she looked toward the woods.  Out of the tree came a swarm of long legged rabbits looking as if they were under a powerful mind control spell. She tried to move but was unable to as the herd of hares stampeded over her.

Once the rabbits finished trampling her, Discord came crashing down on her side, knock what wind was left in her lungs. “Want to continue, Celestia?” he asked with a wild grin. He was answered with the stone head of a filly statue bouncing right off his head.

Looking over he saw Luna among the remains of the statute army around her. Breathing slightly harder than normally, she shouted. “I would like to go for a round.” Accepting the challenge, the draconequus stepped off the solar ruler and marched over to where the blue alicorn waited.

“Luna… don’t,” the white alicorn tried to warn but her voice was too weak to carry it to her sister.

The lunar ruler made the first move as she magically tossed more rocky remains at the draconequus who shielded himself with his arms. When he lowered his protection, the alicorn was gone. “Where are you Woona?” he called out playfully, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” Turning around, he reached out to the open air and clenched his claw and grabbed something. Pulling his arm backwards, the invisibility spell that the princess of the night had casted on herself broke, leaving a stunned alicorn with her horn held tightly in the eagle claw.

“Found ya,” Discord grinned at the surprised eyes of his opponent before causing a wave of stones to fly up from the ground at her. Each stone brushed the nightlight hide as they bombarded her in a reverse hail storm.

When the barrage ended, Luna looked up to see the draconequus reeling back for punch to the face. Daggers still within her magic, she slashed at him forcing the chaotic being back, but not without a few feathers and bit of hair from his beard left behind.

Examining his now shorten facial hair, he joked, “I must say, it was about time I got a shave.” The Moon Princess snorted at the comment before attempting to remove more than a beard. He dove into a portal that opened behind him.

Stopping in her tracks, the lunar ruler look about for the exit portal when a lion paw hit her with uppercut and knocking her into the air. Following in the accent, Discord snaked his tail around her neck and tossed her back into the portal that had opened at her feet. Reappearing from the portal he jumped into, she recovered just in time to receive a punishing blow to the backside as the being of chaos elbow dropped her.

Standing up from the painful blow, the Moon princess spat dirt from her mouth before barking at the draconequus, “You *huff* are not *huff* not going to be me.” She started screaming as she drew power to herself before launching a powerful bolt of lightning at him. Opening a portal in the lightning’s path, the master of chaos redirected the attack right at the princess of the night. She took the full blow of the shock as she continued to send the electric energy through the portal.

Discord chuckled at the self-harm the princess was doing to herself. But that smile soon turned to confusion as she started to glow from the continued exposure to lightning. Brighter and brighter the glow continued as the look on the draconequus’s face became even more puzzled.

Without warning, Luna shifted her stream of lightning at him, stunning him temporally. When he recovered, he was looking at the Moon Princess as she was radiating a pale blue glow. Sparks flew from her mane as she slowly walked toward him.

Inspecting the power pouring off her being, Discord commented, “That is quite similar to Celestia’s little solar flare she used a little while ago.” His guess was proven wrong when Luna blinked past him, leaving him clenching his side as the smell of burning fur crawled up his nose.

She repeated the lightning fast ram attack several times, each one leaving another scorch mark on his hide. Once he was finally able to teleport away from the rapid strikes, he quickly became under attack from her as she zooming at him from the ground. Opening a portal, he reached out through it. On the other end he clenched the neck of the glowing alicorn and pulled her through.

“Nice trick,” he complimented as he watch the overpowered alicorn’s glowing form slowly faded away to reveal the lunar regent tried and weak. Smiling he added, “But it’s only a trick.” Tossing the weak alicorn toward the ground, he opened a portal high above his head.

Back on the ground, Celestia watch as her sister impacted the ground softly. “Luna!” she shouted with her voice renew to some degree, “LUNA!” Casting her gaze back up to Discord she saw a large rock fall from the open rift in space down onto the lunar regent.

Trying to stand up she shouted, “LUNA RUN!” She was pushed back down as the draconequus kicked her side.

Kneeling down and grabbing her chin, he said, “Watch closely, Celestia. Watch as your last hope of defeating me is smashed right before your eyes.” Tears poured from her eyes as she continued to cry out to her weak sister. She even tried to use her magic to teleport Luna to her, but her head was smack to the ground before the magic could reach her.

“LUUUUNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” was the last thing the Moon princess heard before her world went black.

“YOU FIEND!” Celestia barked as she summoned her sword and swung at the draconequus from her position on the ground. He walked out of range as the raging alicorn unleashed her furry at the air around her, blinded by tears and rage.

Sighing, Discord kicked her back to the ground and took the magical sword by the hilt. The color of the blade shifted to an evil red “Celestia, you knew that this day would come,” he started his victory speech. “This is the day when nothing in the world matters to you. This is the day when all of your plans are put to an end. But before I send you to your dearly beloved sister, I want to tell you something.” The Sun Princess couldn’t hold her face in front of the draconequus’s evil smile.

“Remember that day you and your sister lock me away all those years ago?” he started swinging the magical sword around to get use to the weight of the blade, “The last thing I saw was you disapproving glare. For countless years, all I had was that hateful gaze of yours as company. I remembered every feature you had that day as if it was burned into my eyes. So while I might not know where you’re going next, Tia, but I hope. Oooohhhh how I hope, that you will remember my face like I did yours.” With that he raised the sword high above his head, and smiled.

******

Spike stood in front of the statue of Twilight and her friends alone as the sun continue to set on the small town of Ponyville. He was letting his tears flow freely as he brushed his arm across his nose. Gazing up at the six ponies with uncertainty in his heart, he said, “Twi, I need help here. I know what she has to do has to be done but, I- *sigh* I just wish that Nyx could understand my point of view. You remember how she was always gung-ho about learning about new things. I just think she is a little too devoted to her work as she was with learning. What am I saying, she takes after you.

“Speaking of taking after you, it looks like your granddaughter, Starlight, has been sneaking around late at night, not sure why though,” the dragon gave himself a slight slap over the head. “Focus Spike, you came to talk about Nyx. *sigh* Nyx, right now, is on her way to help the princesses fight Discord. Yes, Discord is loose again. I’m worried Twilight. I’m worried that she might not get there in time to save them. I’m worried that she might not be able to stop Discord. I’m worried what could happen if they fail.

“I know I shouldn’t think such thoughts but they just come without warning. It feels like I’m falling into a pattern of over thinking these things. I got into another fight with her just seconds after… after Fluttershy pasted. It seems that I just can’t deal with the fact that she is putting herself in danger every day for everypony.” Spike fell to his knees as more tears continued to run down his face, “I don’t want to lose her, Twilight. I need someone around that I can always remember. I’ve seen too many funerals to date and each one I can barely keep myself from crying all out. But… but if Nyx is the next one in that coffin, I don’t know what I’m going do.”

“Cheer her on,” said a voice behind the crying dragon. Spike looked up to see Nurse Wide Heart walking up to him.

“And encourage to continue to put her life in danger for our sake?” he countered. “I know that she’s an alicorn but that doesn’t mean she’s immortal,” he looked back at the statue. “Nothing is.”

“You want her to understand your point of view,” the nurse pegasus said walking up to him. “But you haven’t fully understood hers.”

“Oh, I know it,” Spike stated with a snort. “She has the power to help protect Equestria and she is using it save others.”

Heart brought the dragon’s face around to look at her, “But have you ever thought where she draws that power from?” The dragon looked off to the side at her question, “She draws her power from us. Knowing that we’re safe helps her focus and put everything she got into stopping whatever wanted us hurt. It’s our cheers and our smiling faces that give Nyx the confidence and strength to do what she must.”

Removing her hold on his head, he stood up and said, “Heart, please listen, Nyx and I will live much longer than you and your daughter and everypony here in Ponyville. And when everypony we know is gone, we will only have each other. We would be the only family either of us would have left, and I don’t want to lose her just because it’s her duty.”

“Then cheer her on,” Heart said giving Spike a determined look. “Show her that you support her and nothing will come to harm her. Give her the strength she needs to defeat anything that is thrown at her.”

Spike was about to object when a loud cry could be heard. Looking up, the dragon and pegasus saw a trail of red fly just above their heads. “Pee Wee!” Spike shouted out to the phoenix. The fire bird replied with another cried before landing on an arm the librarian offered.

“I bet even Pee Wee think we need to cheer her on,” the nurse said. Looking up the bird she added, “So, Pee Wee, do think what I said about cheering Nyx on.” The firebird lifted a wing to its beak as it thought. After a bit he nodded and replied with a sweet chirp.

The dragon looked at his pet, hoping the phoenix had really thought the answer. He slowly reeled back before shrugging with his wings. Sighing, the librarian said, “Nyx sure had spoiled you when you were nothing but a hatchling.” Pee Wee started rubbing his head up against the purple scales of his owners check, cooing in affection.

Using a claw to push his loving pet’s beak away for a minute, Spike looked back up at the statue once again, “Alright, for everypony’s sake, I’ll try. I’ll try to show her my support.”

******

A burst of lightning out of nowhere came zooming in and shattered the blade has it was still above Discord’s head.  First, looking at the now bladeless hilt he now wielded then at the source of the spell. His eyes found himself staring at the cloud where his meteor strike landed on Luna just seconds earlier. The area was still generating black smog, but with a sudden gust of wind, the smoke clear to reveal a black bubble surrounded by the smoking remains of the falling rock.

Both Celestia and Discord looked on in shock as the bubble dispersed to reveal Luna, perfectly unharmed by the meteor strike, and a pure black alicorn with magical shield and lance at her side. Celestia couldn’t help but cry at the safety of her sister.

Looking up from her position on the ground, Luna muttered to her savoir, “Nyx?”

“Nyx,” Celestia said with a harsh voice and tears streaming down her face. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Who in Equestria are you, alicorn?” Discord asked pointing at Nyx with the remainder of the magical blade as it started to fade away.

Nyx brought her head up to address the draconequus in a loud voice, “I find that it is rather tiresome to tell you who I am Discord. But if will amuse you then I will; I am Midnight Nyx, defender of Equestria. And you, draconequus, have threatened the Royal Sister’s lives and therefore I will defeat you.”

Discord bent over in laughter, “AHAHHAHAHAHA! You must be joking. Take a look around you; I’ve defeated both of you princesses by myself. You sure are amusing me. What makes you think you can defeat me?”

The black alicorn snorted, “I rather not get into a wagon pulling contest here.”

“Ahahahaha,” Discord laughed once more. “You truly think you can beat me? Oh you are a riot Nyx!” His mirth ended as he added with a serious tone, “But truthfully, do you think you can stand a chance to defeat me. I have more power than you could muster in my toe. I’ve fought legions of you alicorns and won.”

He toss his hands up into the air, “Whatever, I’ll entertain you, but I’m warning you, I know every alicorn trick in the-” In a blink of an eye, Nyx had crossed the distance to Discord and rammed her shield into his chest. Her momentum kept both of them flying just above the ground until they ran into a tree.

Nyx smiled at the chaotic beast who was trying to catch his breath and said, “Was that in your book?” Recovering, Discord blinked away from the alicorn only to have the broken trunk of the tree he crashed into thrown at him.

The tree crashed mere inches away from him, sending up a spray of broken twigs and splitters forcing him to cover his face. Peeking from his shield, he saw the protector of Equestria charging at him with lance pointed right at his head. Dodging to the side, he reached out to the alicorn and got her by the throat. Nyx grinned at him as her body shifted into her smoky form, whipped around to his blind side and reformed with lance already in a swinging motion.

Blinking away as the lance went for his head; the draconequus reappeared out of swinging range of Nyx’s lance reached for a nearby tree. Picking it up and placing it on his shoulder, he snapped his fingers making huge apples appear on the branches. The alicorn was about the charge him when the apples started to fly off at her.

Taking her lance, she made it spin around in front of her slicing every apple that dared to attack her. Once the hail of fruit ended, the alicorn knight lowered her lance to see the tree Discord had use flying right here. Raising her shield, the black bubble reappeared and engulfed her. The tree trunk exploded on impact in a hail of chaotic smoke and splinters.

Lowering her shield and dismissing the protective bubble, the alicorn charged him once more. He maneuvered off to the side and reached for her hind leg. Once he made contact, she shifted into her cloud form and flew above him. Reappearing, she dropped from the sky with lance point aimed at him.

Backstepping, Discord reel a fist back to counter but his face made contact with a pair of metal boots as the defender bucked. Flying backwards, he recovered on the ground just in time to shift his head to the side as the black lance flew past him. Before he could comment, he leaned back to dodge a bolt of lightning as it soared at him. From his position, he saw the lance make its return from the other direction. Using his tail as a springboard, he jumped over the lance as it flew back to Nyx.

Landing, Discord looked at his foe and taunted, “Is that the best you got, my dear? I bet Cadence has more talent than you.”

Nyx snorted as she replied with a sly grin, “You’re right, I’ve been holding back.” Discord stood and watch in shock as the number of Nyxes increased by two. Each one was a carbon copy of the original with matching weapons and armor.

Before he could say anything, Discord was under attack from three different lances and was forced to flee. He took the skies with the three Nyxes firing off lightning bolts after him. Making a pink cloud in his hand, the chaotic ruler tossed it behind himself. The center alicorn sliced the cotton candy cloud before sending a bolt of lightning after him.

The fierce strike stunned the draconequus chasing him to slow a bit in his flight. The slight decrease in speed was enough for the alicorns to reach him. The flanking alicorns tossed their lances at Discord who barely snaked around them. He was about to counter when the center Nyx rammed him with her shield raised. She pushed her foe upward for a brief second before using her lance to bat him back toward the ground. The draconequus recover mid fall only to find himself under bombardment as the Nyxes sent lightning bolts after him as they gave chase.

Discord soon found himself flanked by two of them as he skimmed above the ground. One brought up her lance and charged him from the side. He flew up slightly to dodge the attack but was hit hard as the other flanker rammed her shield against him. Teleporting behind her before he was forced in the ground, he opened a portal in front of the third alicorn who was hanging in the back of the group. She flared her wings slowing herself as she went into the portal.

The exit portal opened facing the ground, yet nothing appeared from the exit. “Hey, Discord,” he heard the alicorn shout to him. Turning around he was greeted with two steel boots into the face once again. After clearing the stars from his eyes, he looked up to see the two clones standing over him while the third slowly exited the portal. Each one prepared her lance to finish him off but, with a snap of his fingers he blinked away.

“Well, well, well it seems you have talent, Nyx,” He started gathering magic to his claws. He acted tough despite the hint of panic in his voice as he added, “But you're nothing compared to-” Without warning, two strands of magical energy shot up from the ground and ensnared his hands. Looking around, he saw the two sisters, still wearing the brushes of the fight, standing together with horns aglow. Before he could shout an insult, more strands of golden and indigo energy shot out around him. They flew up over his shoulders and landing back into the ground, pinning him to the earth.

Nyx, returning to one being, walked up to the sisters and said, “Are you ready to lock him away for good?”

Watching as the unicorn guard from before reappeared with the box containing the Elements of Harmony, Celestia replied, “Indeed, Nyx, let’s put an end to him once and for all.” The three alicorns took two elements apiece. While Nyx turned and faced the trapped draconequus, the Princesses stood in shock.

“Impossible,” the Moon princess said, “The power is gone from the elements!” The defender whipped around as Discord’s ear’s perked up?

“How can that be? Haven’t you used the elements before?” she asked with worry on her face.

The Sun Princess’s horn glowed brighter, adding more strands to the binding trap that Discord was held in, “We have over the years, but every time we used it, we succeeded in dealing with the problem in the first shot. It seems that the power of all of the elements combined can only be used once a day.”

Nyx sighed before turning back to Discord with magical lance at her side, “Then we’ll just have to finish him the old fashion way.” She walked up to him and raised her lance to behead him, “To ensure nopony is ever harmed by you again, I bid you farewell.” Discord snapped his lion fingers right before Nyx’s lance sliced at his neck and disappeared. He reappeared just feet away from the black alicorn and took her lance before blinking away again.

Hearing a scream, the knight of Equestria turned around to see Discord holding the unicorn guard in his arm with her lance point up to her throat. Nyx tried to dispel her lance, but it fell under the chaotic control too fast.

“Nopony move or she gets it,” He barked stopping all of them dead in their tracks. Grinning at the sudden change of power, the draconequus’s voice returned to a more confident tone, “Give me the Elements of Harmony, now.”

“You would go as low as ponynapping,” the solar regent barked. “You sicken me Discord.”

“Oh, don’t tell me how to play fair, Celestia,” the draconequus barked back. “You’re the one that got back up when you needed it the most. I’m just evening out the playing field. Now, give me the elements.” Holding back from saying anything, the three alicorns gave up the elements each one of them carried until all six where floating behind the spirit of chaos.

Looking at his hostage, he added, “Since you all behaved nicely, I promise that nothing will happen to this sweet little pony.” His gaze returned to the three unicorns, “But I promise this; I will be back when the time is just right. Until then, make sense of my riddle. What do you get when; buffalo tramples apples, fire rains from the clouds, darkness controls the city of lights, claws met ivory, dreams are never reached, and a back stab becomes your best friend?” With another snap of his fingers, Discord vanished completely from Canterlot.

Nyx stomped at the ground in anger, “Horse feathers.”

“Nyx calm down,” Luna said reaching a wing over her fellow alicorn’s shoulder. “We’ll get him.”

Tears fell out of the black alicorn’s eyes as she muttered, “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. I let him get away.”

*********

“I didn’t know you had a pet phoenix, Uncle,” Starlight said looking up at the beautiful firebird. Pee Wee cooed as he hid behind a fiery wing, his yellow beak turning red. Iago puffed his chest up from his seat on her horn.

Chuckling, the dragon commented on the sparrow’s actions, “It seems that someone has his feathers ruffled with our fiery friend here.” He carried his pet over to a perch near the kitchen door where he hopped off, “But yeah, Pee Wee here was of on migration the whole winter.”

“It’s a shame Fluttershy didn’t get to see him come home,” the unicorn said sitting down at the table.

The phoenix place a wing on the dragon’s shoulder as he mumble out, “Yeah, it is.” Pulling himself out his sober mood, he walked over to the shelves, “So what did you want to read again?”

Starlight helped the little sparrow off her head as she replied, “I’m just wondering if there was anypony in the past that had a similar problem like me.”

Thinking hard, the dragon said, “I’m not sure if there was any. But your best bet is this book.” He reached up and pulled down a tome. “Unicorns Master of Unheard Unusual Abilities, not a bad read despite its length.” He tossed the book onto the table letting it slide across its surface. Iago hopped out of the way as it stopped in front of Starlight. “I suggest the section on Star-Swirl the Bearded. He had the biggest amount of unusual magic.”

“Thanks Spike,” the unicorn replied. She opened it and began to read.

Spike, seeing this on his way to the stairs, asked, “What are you doing? It’s 9:30.”

“So?” she replied without looking up. “I want to see if there is any spells in here that I want tryout.”

“Oh, no,” Spike said walking over to her. He picked her up in his arm. “Your mother would have my hide if you stayed up all night.”

“You could lock me in my room and I still wouldn’t fall asleep,” Starlight replied as she tried to break free of the dragon’s hold.

“Well then,” the dragon replied. “Let’s try that-” he dropped Starlight as he doubled over. His cheeks swelled up before belching. From the green flame a trail of smoke swirled up and transformed into a scroll.

Catching the scroll, Spike grinned as he started to unroll it, “How much do you bet that this is Nyx saying that Discord is defeated and the Princesses are holding a party in Canterlot?”

“Let me go get Coco and the gang,” Starlight joked as the dragon’s eyes scanned the paper. The grin slowly flattened out before turning into a full blow frown. Spike lowered the letter and stared off into space before looking over it again.

“What does it say?” Starlight inquired. She was answered by Spike’s claw implanting itself in the nearby shelf. The unicorn mare duck as a book was randomly tossed over the dragon’s shoulder as he ripped books of the shelf. Iago dove into Starlight’s mane as she back stepped past the table while Pee Wee took when for cover through an open window. Hiding behind the table, the unicorn watched as he nearly trashed the first floor of the library by himself before finally taking a seat in his chair.

Brushing his claws through his head spikes, the dragon cried out in frustration, “ARGH! I can’t believe it. That fiend got away. And they were so close, ARGH!” He sat in silence as he let his anger subside within himself before saying anything else.

“Discord,” he started with a claw pressing his temples. “Discord got away. He got away just as the Princesses and Nyx were about to rid Equestria of him once and for all. He took the elements and a hostage too. Not only is he free somewhere where only he knows, he has the one thing that can beat him short of beheading the prick.” Starlight took a step back in shock at her Uncle’s use of words. The phoenix risked re-entering the library.

Spike finally looked at his niece and said, “Sorry about, Starlight. I’m just so… argh!”

The unicorn placed a hoof on his shoulder, “I understand, Spike. I’ve read the book so I kind of know what’s going to happen.” Her hoof was joined by the phoenix’s wing as the dragon’s pet tried to cheer up its master.

Looking back at the purple scaled lizards, she asked, “May I ask though, what did rest of the letter say?” This caused the dragon to look back at the letter still tightly held in his claw.

Brushing over the text once again, he replied, “The princesses will be sending out groups of her guard to each city to conduct a massive search for Discord. Each team will contain two pegasi and a unicorn who will act as a massager to the princesses if anything is found. Nyx will be joining in the search.”

“That means she is going to miss the funeral,” Starlight said reeling back. “She can’t miss that.”

“Nyx is a mare of her word,” Spike interrupted getting up, pushing aside the hoof and making the phoenix to fly off. “She’ll be there or I will give her a piece of my mind.”

“I hope so,” Starlight looking back at the mess. “Do you need help cleaning this mess?”

Forcing a chuckle, the dragon replied, “Yeah, it could use a touch up.” He looked around to see Starlight picking up a book and started to place it on the shelf. Walking over to her, he picked the pony up and carried her over to the staircase, “Oh, no, you’re going to bed.” The sparrow hopped out of her mane on to the dragon’s shoulder.

Starlight sat down on the stairs and crossed her fore hooves as she replied, “Spike, I’m old enough to decide when I’m going to bed. You’re not going to tell me what to do.”

Matching her stare, the dragon replied, “I’ve seen what happens to ponies that haven’t slept in days, Starlight. They lose focus and make huge mistakes. I advise that you get some rest if you ever want to use your magic properly.”

“What has sleeping got to do with me and using my magic properly?” Starlight asked looking at him with frustration.

Spike counter by saying, “I just said that they lose focus and make mistakes. Think what would happen if you tried a spell on an apple but it instead it affected another pony?” Starlight just stared back at the dragon. Without a word but with a disgusted face, the unicorn marched up the stairs and disappeared through the threshold at the top.

Sighing, the dragon looked back at the letter in his hand. Crumpling it up, he tossed it into a nearby basket and picked up a gift-wrapped up book. Looking at Iago who was looking up at him in a questioning manner, he shrugged while asking the sparrow, “What do you think I should do with this?” The bird chirped as it hopped onto an open claw the dragon was offering.

Walking over to the bird’s bed, he replied, “I disagree.” With that he tossed it into the basket with the letter. Pee Wee cried out to him at his action.

“What?” the dragon asked as the sparrow went to bed, “She probably wouldn’t accept it now after this fiasco. Remember what happen during your molting period the first year was with us?” The fire bird glared at his owner in the eye. He took off, grabbed the book from the trash bin and expertly shelved it on an out of reach of the dragon.

“Fine,” he said walking up the stair chase, “We’ll keep it. Though I doubt she’ll ever look at it.”

********

Starlight pushed the second story window open quietly. Looking about the moonlit town, the unicorn whispered to herself, “If I’m not allowed to study, then I’ll practice.” Stepping out onto the little balcony, the mare checked the ground underneath her. Seeing no pony or a window to the first floor, she jumped.

Landing with a small hrmp, Starlight looked around to see if anypony was coming. Smiling at the silent streets, she bolted down the road to her training hill.

She reach the little knoll outside of town with little problem. Looking around she found a small pile of leaves resting at the base of a tree. Grinning wildly, the unicorn’s horn lit up as one of small leaves floated up, coated in her aura of magic.

“Three, two… one,” she released the leaf only to have it burst into green confetti. Frowning, the unicorn processed to levitate a second leaf; and a third and a fourth and so on. When the pile was mostly reduced to mulch, the sound of rustling drifted into her ears.

Standing up with a look of terror in her eyes, Starlight scanned the area around her. Nothing could be seen, only heard. The rustling sound grew and grew with each passing second as the she started to walk backwards to town. “St-stay back,” she threatened, “my magic is unstable and I don’t want to harm anypony.”

“Starlight?” a voice returned the unicorn’s threat. “What you doing out here so late?” The tension fled as the unicorn sighed at the familiar voice. Nyx appeared from the underbrush, her eyes betrayed a hint of worry and fear for her niece.

“I was…” Starlight started, “Practicing.”

The black alicorn shook her head as she replied, “Now is neither the time nor the place to try that.”

“But this where I’ve been practicing this past week,” Starlight countered stomping the dirt underneath her hoof. The protector of ponies gave her a stare of worry as she thought of her counter argument. But before she replied, her niece looked down at the soil, “You fear Discord might get me, right?”

Her aunt bit her lip, “You were there when Spike got the letter I take it?” She knew the answer but asked anyways.

“Yeah,” the unicorn answered with a roll of her eyes. “And now he won’t let me stay up at night to study that book he offered to me.”

The older mare glared at the unicorn who took a step back, “Are you trying to become your grandmother?”

Sitting down before shrugging, Starlight replied, “Well, it’s kind of hard to sleep when you know that your whole world is still being threatened.” The alicorn sighed before lying down on the hill next to her niece. Using her hoof, she started to rub her aunt’s backside, “So why are you here? I thought you were looking for Discord.”

“I figured that Discord might go to someplace out of the way,” Nyx started looking up at the starry night, “But even if I get the slightest feeling that he may be near, I can’t find him. I mean he gave us this stupid riddle that the princesses think might give the location of where Discord is hiding.”

“That would be dumb of him,” Starlight interrupted getting a glare from her aunt.

Once she was sure the unicorn wouldn’t speak up again, she continued, “Indeed it would. That is why I’m exploring Ponyville and nearby areas this late at night.”

“Then why don’t you spend the night at the library since you’re so close to town?” the grey mare asked standing up.

Looking away, a distance tone leaked out of her mouth, “I’m… not ready to face your Uncle yet. Not after failing this hard.”

Starlight slapped her head with a hoof before sighing, “Okay, I’m the not pony to be saying this but, has anypony ever told you that it’s okay to make mistakes.”

Nyx gave a weak laugh as she responded, “Yes, I’ve had this talk earlier these days.”

She pushed on her aunt’s shoulder, “Then why are you beating yourself over this.”

The black knight closed her eyes before replying, “The last mistake I made of this size nearly cost your grandmother’s life.” The unicorn reeled back at the sudden revelation. “As of right now, more ponies will be caught in the crossfire and so many innocents are going to be hurt and-” Snapping back from the truth, Starlight gave her aunt a slap across the face with her hoof.

“Will you stop being such a Mary-Hoof and realized what your Cutie mark means?” She snapped with unseen resolve. “A shield is a tool to protect the bearer, but it doesn’t protect the bearer from everything. But what it doesn’t block, it reduces. Yes, with Discord is still on the loose, ponies will be hurt. But as long as you are there fighting him every step of the way, protecting the ponies of Equestria, the amount of damage done to them will be at its minimum.”

“You’re a contradiction, you know that,” the alicorn laughed as she stood up. It was a whole hearty and wasn’t forced.

Raising an eyebrow, her niece asked, “Come again?”

“Here you are,” She started as she looked at her niece, “stopping me from beating myself up over a mistake, when you do it to yourself every day,”

“I’m a special case, Nyx,” the unicorn said pointing at her horn. “I have reasons to get mad at myself.”

Chuckling, Nyx started back down the hill toward the town, “Well then Miss Special Case, how about we get you back to the library before Spike checks on your room, hmm?”

Walking alongside her, the unicorn replied, “I can get back up there myself.”

“Trust me when I say,” Nyx started, “The last time you tried to climb back to the second story window, you woke me up. At least teleportation is a lot quieter, right?” Starlight stopped in to tracks before kicking the dirt is frustration.


> Chapter 5: Plotting and Planning
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Chapter 5: Plotting and Planning

Deep within a tunnel network, a small creature with a leather coat pull a rusty wagon along behind him. Stopping in an open chasm, he sniffed a nearby wall. Liking what he smelled, he started digging at the wall until a grapefruit size emerald popped out. Picking it up, he tossed it into his wagon and grinned, “What a good find it seems.” He started pulling his wagon as he talked to himself in a raspy tone, “Those silly ponies left such big amount of gems behind. It’s too fun hunting them.”

As he rounded the bend that left the large room, a loud pop entered his ears from behind him. Looking behind himself, he saw an oversized creature with a pony under its arm. The miner hid behind his gem filled wagon as the creature tossed the unicorn off to the side.

“Unbelievable! I so close to having Equestria back under my rule,” the beast whined as he snapped his fingers. A throne of considerable value appeared as he fell into it. “No matter, my plans for a new Equestria have just been prolonged.”

The dark grey unicorn with golden armor stood up and shouted at it capturer, “Equestria will never be yours, Discord!” The draconequus sighed and snapped his fingers making a cage of blue light around the unicorn.

“You know,” he said casting his gaze from his prisoner, “I rather not listen to you right now. I have better things to do right such as how to get rid of this problem known as Midnight Nyx.”

“Ha!” he heard a mare reply to his statement, “I thought you were all about making little defenseless ponies suffer.”

The draconequus gave a chuckle, “Oh, you have it all wrong my sweet; I enjoy making everypony the subject to my pranks.” He took the six jeweled artifacts that floated nearby him and tossed them to the ground and encased them in a similar cage of light.

The spy’s eye’s shine in whole hearted greed as the gems sat there on the ground. Turning to floor beneath him, he started digging.

Unaware to the eyes on him, the ruler of chaos summon a black and white checkered board in front of him, “Let’s see, the first time I was imprisoned, it was just the princesses.” Three little clouds popped over the board, two on one side and one of the opposite sides. From the solo cloud’s side, a miniature statue of the draconequus stood facing the two replicas of the alicorn rulers on the other.

“They were able to beat me because they fought with everything they had and had nothing to lose and so much to gain,” he continued to speak to himself as the statues charged each other only to have his replica get knocked over. Snapping his fingers again, the statues righted themselves and return to their starting positions.

Six little clouds appeared, flanking the alicorn sister’s. When these clouds faded away, six statues of ponies stood in their place. “The last time I was free,” he said gazing back at the elements to find them unmoved. “The princesses had Twilight and her little pony friends to protect them.” He watched as the six mare tokens move in front of his as he charged them. “At first I had won but, it seems that they were able to rebuild their friendship before I could take on Celestia and Luna.” The statues moved forward and knocked Discord down for a second time.

After resetting the board again, the statues of the bearers disappeared but left behind a statue of Nyx in their wake, “Now I have this knight in my way. And she will hunt me down, I’m sure of it.” He thought hard has the statues dance on the board.

“Hey, keep your dirty claws off those,” he heard his prisoner whisper something; “Those belong to the Princesses of Equestria.” Looking around, he saw a furry paw reach out of a hole and ensnare one of the remaining four elements.

Catching the claw with as it dove back into the hole, he said, “Well, well. It seems that we have a little thief in our mists.” Pulling the on the claw, a creature was pulled out of the whole and through the light cage. In its free claw hung the two missing necklaces that started to slip free as it cowered under the gaze of the draconequus.

“I may have stolen them myself,” he started looking proud of himself, “But I do hate when others steal from me.”

“S-s-sorry,” The creature stumbled over his words. “H-h-hornclaw d-didn’t k-know th-the jewels b-belonged t-t-to you.” He dropped the gems on the chessboard that he floated over.

“No harm done,” Discord said using his magic to move the rest of his stolen loot off the ground and onto the chess board with the others. “But if I see you snooping around and trying to take these again, I’ll make sure that getting fixed will be the last of your problems.” The treasure hunter cringed in fear at those last words. He was then tossed to the hole he dug through, but rather than going down the hole, he ran over to his wagon and started pulling it away.

The chaotic being went back to thinking when he saw the gemstone shaped as a purple diamond covering the space next to his statue. Grinning at the idea that appeared in his mind, he shouted back, “Diamond Dog, how about coming over here for a second.” The hound flinched at the call. Turning around he brought his wagon back into the cave.

“Ok, mutt,” Discord began eyeing the gem filled wagon that the dog protected.

“H-hornclaw,” the dog corrected him.

“Hornclaw,” he restarted, “I take it you really like gems, am I right?”

“Oh, yes, yes, the precious gems Hornclaw likes very much,” the dog said nodded at the mention of his collection. He looked down at his small horde as the draconequus moved toward him.

“What you planning you fiend?” The guard asked but was merely waved off by her captor.

Snaking his arm around the dog’s shoulder, the being of chaos said, “Well, I know a place where you can get twice the amount of gems you would find here and get them without all the trouble of digging them up.” He took a look into the glowing eyes as the hound prospected the huge pile of gems in his mind.

“Where is this place you speak off?” Hornclaw asked as he fiercely grasped the draconequus’s shoulders.

He grinned at the eagerness in the beast, “Oh, I’ll share its location, on one condition.”

“YES! YES!” the dog pleaded, “TELL ME WHERE ME PRETTY GEMS SLEEP!”

Picking the dog up, the draconequus return to his throne and chessboard, “You must do whatever I ask you to do until I release you from your duty.”

“AGREED,” the hound replied without giving it a thought, “NOW TELL ME WHERE HORNCLAW CAN FIND THE PRECIOUS GEMS?”

“Why they’re in the Canterlot Royal treasure hold of course,” This seemed to give the dog some pause. Snapping his fingers, the ruler of chaos continued, “Shoot, right. You would have to find a way in there for you to get them. Don’t worry, I’ll think of something.” The purple jeweled necklace floated up and wrapped itself around the dog’s neck like a collar, “Until then, how about holding onto this for me. Think of it like a sign of my promise.”

“Discord, you fiend,” the unicorn snapped, “How dare you give the elements away like some sort of party gift.”

The draconequus paid no attention to his captive pony as he placed the dog down on the ground and patted his head, “Now you go run along and start working on your hoard of gems and I’ll start thinking on how to get you into Canterlot.” Hornclaw, acting like the dog he was, followed orders and ran down the hallway grinning like a fool. Once the dog was out of sight, he turned to look at his captive pony. He was taken aback slightly when he saw the once dark grey unicorn stallion was now an azure mare with silver mane and tail.

“Well, you’re not what I expected from the usual guard stereotype,” he stated before recovering and walking over to the cage where his prisoner was taking off her armor.

Disgusted, the unicorn tilted her nose up and commented, “Hrmp. Aren’t mares not allow to be part of the Royal Guard?”

“Of course they are,” he stated as he switched to a more charming voice, “But never has a mare so beautiful such as you, ever put their looks at risk by being part of the guard.”

Refusing to look at the draconequus, she spilled her reasons, “It’s only a temporary job until I can get enough money to sustain myself for year or so.”

“Ah,” Discord said snaking around the cage, “So you aren’t a guard at heart; figured as much. Your beauty should be on display on the stage.” He caught one of the mare’s eyes opening and allowed the corners of his mouth to turn up. “Yes, the roar of the crowd as they shout out your name, cheering you on as your prepare for your next trick. But alas, being part of the guard is no way a valid approach as it ruins one’s… talents.”

“HA,” the unicorn snapped at him, “You think I’m all talk and no walk. Well, release me from this magic draining prison and I’ll show you how magical I truly am.” A little voice in the chaotic ruler’s head shouted in victory as he snapped way the cage of light.

The unicorn’s horn shined brightly as she waved around like a wand. “Listen closely, my draconequus captor, as I transport you to a far off place while you don’t move an inch. Close your eyes and picture what I say.” Discord grinned as his eyes closed. “You’re on a white sandy beach, where the smell of the salty ocean tickles your nose and the sound of the crashing waves. Their rhythmic beating could put you to sleep like a lullaby. You’re in lawn chair on this beach, soaking in the rays of the sun and drinking the milk of a coconut from its open shell.”

Within the draconequus’s ears, he heard the crashing of the waves. The smell of the salty brine tickled his nostrils as he felt the comfort of plastic brush against his backside. “Now, open,” he heard his travel guide tell him. Opening one eye before the other, he was greeted by the beach his captive spoke of and found himself relaxing on a chair with his drink in hand.

“I must say, this is not bad,” he said before adding, “but it would be so much better if the sea was made of melted fudge and the beach was ice cream.” Before he could add more to his world, the sky turned pink and crazy as his suggestions were added to the imaginary world. Taking a scoop of the ice cream sand, he feasted on it, “Much better.”

After his treat he felt the world around him shuddered before disappearing all together. Looking around he saw his prisoner standing right where he left her with the soil dug up a bit. The unicorn herself was breathing slightly as she smiled, “That’s not all.” She waved her horn around once making it shine once more. Her coat darkened into a reddish black tone while her mane went a forest green. Her body grew to the size of her captor and wings appeared from her sides.

“See,” she said breathing heavily, “I can make myself appear to be want ever comes to mind.” The alicorn shifted into a large dragon that filled the room around Discord who look on in approval. But with shudder from the beast, it vanished leaving the unicorn out of breath.

“I see,” he said clapping his hands in approval. He then took a knee in front of her, “You have a fondness for illusionary magic. That’s quite a fantastic ability and it can be used for both combat and performing.” He picked her up in both hands, “But there are two flaws in your bag of tricks I see. One, you can’t move while the magic is in play and two, you can’t hold it for long.”

Smirking, the unicorn guard remarked, “Just long enough to make money in shows.” The draconequus looked back over to the chessboard where the remaining five elements sat.

“I like you,” he stated as he returned his gaze to her. With a poke of her belly, he added, “What’s your name again.”

Cringing at the abuse of her body, she replied, “Trick Mirror, my stage name will be Master of Illusions.”

“Trick Mirror, huh? Ahh, such a fine name for a Master of Illusions,” he said dropping her. “But alas, your talents are nothing next to mine.” This seemed to insult the unicorn’s pride, as intended, “I could perform all of that with just a snap of fingers. I can hold it for any desirable amount of time. The best part,” he floated over to her face, “I can move around while using it.”

“Oh yeah,” she shouted back with rising confidence, “give me some time and I’ll have you stuck in a dream for the rest of your life!”

“That’s even if you have the power to keep it up,” he counter summoning an apple and taking a bite from it. This hit the unicorn hard as she stood wide eye in truth of the subject. Grinning at his pending victory over the mare, he tossed the apple over his shoulder. It hit the cage of light that surrounded the elements and both apple and cage exploded in a small puff of smoke. “How about we make a deal, you work for me now and I’ll give you the power to truly become the ‘Master of Illusions’ you want to be,” he summoned another element off the his chessboard as he spoke.

“You wish for me to commit treason? Absurd,” the unicorn said sticking her nose in the air.

Walking away with the necklace floating next to him, he said, “Then you’ll have to wait until your term as a guard is up.” The unicorn opened her eyes, “You’ll have to deal without sold out shows that last into the night.” She lowered her head, “You’ll have to-”

“Ok, I’ll do it,” Trick Mirrored caved in. Discord turned around and picked the pony back up, “But we have one problem. How are you going to deal with Nyx?” This question got her dropped down on her flank, again.

The draconequus started think hard once more as he return to his throne, “Right, I got this knight in my way and I can see she is the type that would never back down. If there was only some sort of weakness I could exploit, then I can get rid of her.”

“I think I may know that weakness?” the traitor said. The chaotic ruler looked around his chair at her. “Family.”

“Well of course its family, everypony has a- WHAT?” he replied with a shocked look on his face.

Trick Mirror nodded, “Just like the princesses have nieces and nephews, Nyx has a brother and sisters. In fact, about a week ago, her brother-in-law told the princesses that his wife was meeting her in Ponyville for a party.”

This little news about his foe got the draconequus interest as he dived deeper, “What else do you know about Nyx?”

“Little in fact,” the unicorn replied kicking a bit of dirt up. But her ears perked back up as she added, “But I know who would.”

“Then seek the pony out,” he said waving his hand as he return his gaze to his chess board.

“One problem,” his new minion pointed out, “If I go out there, ponies will recognize me and start questioning me. I can’t cast my magic and move at the same time.”

Discords looked at the floating red gem beside him and said, “Then take this. It holds the power that I promised you. Give it a tap, and all of your dreams will come true.”

******

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Rolling out of bed, Spike lazily looked up at the clock on the wall. 5:21am is what it said as the rhythmic ticking carried on as he shook his head, “Who in Equestria could be here this early. It’s not even sunlight yet. Autumn doesn’t even get up this early and she always wakes me up.”

KNOCK! KNOCK!KNOCK!

“Coming!” he shouted back. Lowering his voice he continued, “Please don’t tell me Nyx is just pulling a fast one on me with whole Discord thing. I already ruined the library floor last night. I don’t need the whole tree to burn down.” As he walked through the first floor of the library, he was greeted by the angry chipping of both the sparrow and phoenix as they were awakened by the knocking as well.

“Yeah, yeah, I know guys, just give me a second,” the dragon said to the birds as he reached the door. Opening it, he was greeted by a white pegasus wearing golden armor. Behind the guard were another pegasus and a unicorn unloading a chariot.

“Mister Spike?” the pony in front of him asked. With a nod of his sleepy head, the leader of the trio of visitors removed his helmet. The illusionary magic disappeared as the white coat shifted into a rusty orange and the mane and tail was a white hue with traces of cyan streaking threw it. The stallion appearance also shifted into a more female body type as she continued, “I do believe you received your sister’s report on the situation at hoof?”

Tossing his head back, he said, “So it was all true.” He gave the door a kick in anger before looking back at his guest, “So you’re the group that is searching Ponyville and the surrounding area?”

“Indeed we are, sir,” she looked back at her company. “Ash Shield, Ebony Wing, front and center you two.” The two soldiers stood at attention and marched over to introduce themselves. Both stallions bowed to their host before turning back to their packs. “Would you mind if we use your establishment for our time here?”

“Don’t you have a place here already?” the dragon asked, “I swear, you look familiar to somepony I used to know?

“Just because my mother grew up here with your sister,” the aged flyer said as she put her helmet back on, allowing the magic to change her back, “that doesn’t mean my family still has the old house.”

Gesturing for them to enter, the dragon headed for the stairs, “Alright then, I got plenty of room. Just allow me to get the attic window open so you can get that chariot inside before the townsfolk start wondering what is going on.” Turning to the chariot, the lead mare took some supplies in her wings and teeth and marched through the portal with Ebony Wing right behind her. The unicorn, Ash Shield, started to levitate the chariot up into the air as the attic window opened up. Standing to the side, the dragon watch as the unicorn skillfully placed the vehicle of sky travel among the boxes of old books.

When he reached the first floor again he was greeted by the sight of the three guards removing their armor as the family pets started to get back to sleep. As his named suggested, Ebony Wing was a pitch black stallion with matching mane. “Come on, private,” the mare said pointing at the unicorn, “Remove the helmet. This is an undercover assignment.”

“Leave Ash alone, Commander,” other pegasus in the room said defending his fellow member, “He doesn’t like his mane color.”

Opening her wings to make herself threatening, the commander of the squad replied, “I don’t care if it’s a zebra mane or as magical as the princesses’, remove that helmet now, private.” Doing as he was told the golden helmet fell off revealing a curly mane of swirling pink and purple with a strand of white while his straight tail was a solid royal purple.

Unable to hold his mirth in, the dragon fell down the remaining steps in laughter. Sighing, the unicorn stated, “Blame my grandmother for such coloring.” From his pack he took out a small purple beret and did his best to cover the embarrassing hair with it.

“So be it, your highness,” Ebony joked as he trotted over to kitchen, “Moring cup of coco anyone? I brought some Zebra mixes.”

Getting back to his feet, the dragon called to the stallion, “I would like one, but use the mix I have in the cupboard over the sink for mine.” Taking his seat in the chair, he took in a deep breath before letting his tone became serious, “Who was the one?”

“Hmm?” the mare replied looking back around to the dragon.

“The unicorn that Discord took?” the dragon said closing an open book that was left there from his rampage last night. He let his tail place it on a stack of books near his stand.

“A mare by the name of Trick Mirror,” she stated taking a seat by the table, “Expert at spellcasting and a wizard at illusion spells. Despite only signing up for a single term, I can say without a doubt that if anypony can get out of that draconequus’s grip, it would be her.”

“I don’t know,” Spike replied as the hot chocolate was brought out. He took hold of his mug and quickly tasted it, “Discord has ways of changing a pony.”

Ebony started to shake as he placed the tray down on the table, “Don’t say things like that. It’s not wishfully thinking.” Spike casted a questioning glance from the black pegasus to the leader of the squad in hopes of getting an answer.

“You’ll have to excuse the green horn, sir,” she said giving the nervous guard a slight kick to the leg with her own hind leg. “I had received reports on his… involvement with the mare that was taken captive just before we left.”

Taking another drink from his coco, the dragon asked, “Isn’t that against the rules of the guard?”

With a nod, the mare pegasus stated, “It is, but right now we need every stallion and mare if we want to find Discord before he causes anymore trouble.” With a shrug the dragon downed his drink. He looked at the pot as it gave off an exotic smell. Sighing a bit, he filled his mug with the foreign brew.

“Uncle?” he heard hoofsteps coming down the stairs. “Why are you so loud this morn-” Starlight stood at the threshold to the second floor looking down at the scene below. Her sleepy eyes tried to focus through the sand in them as she continued, “Oh visitors, I’ll get the water started.”

“No need to, Starlight,” her uncle called out as she slowly made her way to kitchen, “It was already taken care of. Come sit down.” Doing as she was told, the unicorn marched her way over to the table, sat down and planted her face in an open book.

“So, sleepy,” she muttered before the sounds of soft snoring leaked out of her muzzle.

Taking a blanket from her pack, the leader of the guards spoke quietly, “It seems our conversation will have to continue later today.” Looking at her fellow guards, she added, “Wing, take our stuff and have Spike here show us to some rooms. Ash, when shops start opening, go get us some supplies. There are more mouths to feed here now so we are going to need to pitch in on the food. I’ll take first shift.” With a salute and a ‘Yes ma’am,’ the squad began to carry out their duties. The commander draped the blanket over the sleeping mare before leaving the library and taking flight.

Spike looked at his niece before taking a sip from his mug, “I hope this situation won’t get out of hand.” He recoiled from his the taste of the exotic mix, “Nothing like Zecora’s brew.”

******

Spectrum Storm started his normal flight route along a trail of prepared clouds. Flaring his wings with the rising sun, he took off. He smashed into each cloud, making the puffs of condensed water disappeared behind him. Shifting his wingspan a bit, he did a hard right turn into another cloud before nose diving on another one about twenty or so feet above the ground. Pulling up mere inches away he zoomed across the surface of the ground as he raced toward a hill.

Focusing in, he increased his speed as he stayed a mere feather width above the soil. Using the slope as a ramp, he fired off the ground and into a row of three clouds that were place in zigzag formation. Wheeling around he approached the final cloud on his run.

He was about to turn the cloud into vapor when a rusty color pegasus landed on it. Halting, he flew idling was stating, “Excuse me ma’am, but your interfering with my training and my job.”

The mare looked over her shoulder at him. At first, neither flyer said a thing as she sized him up. Her eyes grew as she suddenly blurted out, “Spectrum?”

Remembering the voice, the white pegasus’s body went rigid aside from the wings as he gave the mare a salute, “Commander Cloud Chaser.”

“There is no need to salute me now, Storm,” the pegasus guard responded. “You’re a civilian now. Unless, you were planning to sign back up with the guard?”

“No, ma’am,” the weather patrol stallion replied. “Just old habits die hard.”

“Yet it’s always the young ones that die first right,” she replied. The stallion looked off to the side, “I take it I got the nail on its head? Come on, Storm are you really beating yourself up over that even after a whole winter to cool off. No pony is blaming you for what happen in Cloudsdale. It could of happen to anyone of us an-”

“But it didn’t happen to just anyone of us, ma’am,” he interrupted looking back at her with fierce blue eyes, “It happen to me.”

“Didn’t you think you were going too far with withdrawing from the force,” the guard pleaded with him.

“Have you ever looked into the eyes of somepony who you tried so hard to save, but failed in the end?” he replied giving her his glare. Unmoved by the frightening appearance, the pegasus shook her head in reply. “Then you don’t know what I felt that day when I brought that filly’s body to her parents.” He looked toward the rising sun to his right.

Trying to get in the pegasus’s face, the Cloud Chaser countered, “What about supporting your family, Sergeant? Are you sure about leaving the guard after what you told me last year?”

“I’ve been sending money to them each week with my job here on the weather patrol,” he said kicking the cloud that the commander had left, “and step-mother’s eldest should be starting a job at the weather factory anytime soon.”

“So you’re just going to sit in this town for the rest of your life? Working at a dead end job?” she asked as he started to fly away, “So much for the great Rainbow Dash family name.” The comment did nothing to slow the leaving pegasus. Taking off after him, the elder mare added, “Look Storm, I could use a buck like you for this assignment. The guard has too many green horns these days and we could all use your talents right now.”

The white pegasus stopped and looked at her, “So you’re not here to convince me to sign back up with the guard?”

“No,” Cloud Chaser replied, “In fact, I didn’t even have a clue you were here until now.” Storm started flying away. “Think about my offer, Sergeant. I know you could do a lot of good for Equestria.” The white pegasus looked over his shoulder once before heading over to deal with another patch of clouds. The guardsmare watched as he disappeared before taking flight heading away from a large pile of ruins, unaware of the mare that walked away from the rubble and disappeared in a flash of light.

*******

It was midday when the pegasus finished his task and flew over to a small hill and waited. He stood there taking in deep breaths, allowing the smell of the grass creep up into his nose. He flexed his wings as he gave his neck a slight twist. Reaching down, his wings flared up once more before he started flying again. The second his hoofs left the ground an orange streak flew past him.

Looking at his former commander as she carried out her assignment, he finally put together the answer to the question he removed from his mind earlier that morning. Taking off, he flew over the large library tree. Landing at the door, he gave it rap.

“Come in,” he heard through a sea of laughter. Pushing the door open he saw not only Iris Drop, Autumn Gold and Starlight with the dragon but two stallions he knew right off the bat. They recognized him as well.

“Well stick a horn on me and call me an alicorn,” the black buck said waving a hoof at him, “If it isn’t Spectrum Storm! I thought you went back home to your family.”

Autumn interrupted with a hoof pointing across the table at the stallion, “Hold up fer a second, are ya telling me that ya know Storm?”

“Know him?” Ebony laughed. He picked up an empty cup and held it up to the white stallion, stating, “Shoot, this guy was top of his class back at Junior Speedsters Flight Camp. Nearly broke the record for fastest lap time his senior year.”

“Have you been hitting the cider early, freshman?” the white pegasus said taking a seat next to Iris who started fixing her mane.

The stallion held up both fore hooves as he defended himself, “I haven’t touched the stuff.”

Ash spoke up, “Aside from last night. Personally, I don’t know how you manage to fly straight on the way here.”

The pegasus tapped his chest before saying, “I got Wonderbolt blood in me, Ash. I could fly straight in my sleep.”

Storm stood up and countered, “So do I, yet I haven’t even seen a Wonderbolt to that. And why did you hit the cider?”

The black stallion rubbed a hoof on the back of his head as he gave a weak laugh, “Mare troubles.”

“Speaking of which,” Ash interrupted as Autumn was about to point something out, “Cousin, could you do something about your friend.” He shifted his eyes toward the yellow unicorn as she and the brown prankster walked out of the kitchen with a tray full of sweets between them. Coco greeted the newcomer with a cheery wave.

Using her magic the unicorn floated the tray down in front of the guard unicorn and flashed him a charming smile. He returned the smile with a nod and a grin which made the mare blush as she returned to her baking partner. Ash leaned over to his cousin and whispered, “She is starting to make me feel uncomfortable.”

“Well, don’t tell her who your grandmother is then,” his second cousin whispered back. “Or you’ll never get her off your back. Trust me these ponies can get pretty crazy.” The mere thought of it gave the stallion a chill down his spine. He looked up in time to see the brown mare push her friend over to him and made her sit down.

“Hehehe,” she laughed weakly, “So, Ash Shield, what are you doing here in Ponyville?” Sweat beads started leak from her forehead but was quickly damped away with a tablecloth.

Clearing his throat, the unicorn replied politely, “Well, madam, my friend and I had gotten some vacation time. He was having some troubles with his mare friend and I found out that my cousin was staying here. So, I figured on bringing him here for some rest and relaxation while I spent some time with my favorite cousin.” Autumn looked at him with an unbelieving glare.

Storm spoke out, “Stop shoveling the fertilizer, Ash. You two aren’t on leave.”

Everypony in the room gave him a stare as the black stallion spoke up, “And what makes you think that, huh? Is this another one of your wild guesses?”

The weather patrol pony glared at him as he stated with a rising temper, “I had a talk with Cloud Chaser this morning. Your commanding officer slipped the word ‘assignment’ by accident.” Ebony gulped as the stallion turned his gaze to the dragon, “What happen in Canterlot, sir?”

Tension shifted in the room as everypony that knew of the coming of Discord remained silent. Spike leaned forward in his chair and placed his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his interlocking claws.

Coco was the first one to speak, “Let me go get the butter knives.” She slowly walked to the kitchen door as if to follow through with her plan.

*******

The city of Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, stood proudly from the mountain side it was carved into. Its shining ivory towers gave off a beautiful glow to the streets below as one mare walked through the busy streets.

She weaved through hordes of merchants hawking their wares. She walked around a group of foals as their toured the streets on a field trip. She ducked under a levitated couch on its way across a street. She was a mare on a mission.

Walking down familiar streets, she approached a doorway. On the wooden door was a craving a Six pointed star with several other stars imprinted around it. Adjusting her outfit, and withdrawing a small notepad and pen, she knocked gently on the door.

“Can you get that, dear?” the mare heard from the other side of the portal, “I’ve almost got these reports finally graded.

A stallion much closer to the door replied, “Sure thing!” The visitor watched as magic took hold of the door and pulled it open. Standing in the doorway was a slender stallion with a book floating at his side.

Lowering his reading glasses, he asked the visitor, “Can I help you, miss?”

“I have come to talk with zhe sister of Midnight Nyx,” she stated with a flick of her head.

Looking over his shoulder he shouted, “Dawn, somepony is here for you.” He was responded by the sounds of hoof steps hastily coming across the wooden flooring. Looking at the stairs, both ponies watched as Morning Dawn came running down the stairs with saddle bags floating to her sides.

“Erebus, have you looked at the time?” she asked magical tossing the bags to him.

Catching them in his own magic, he replied, “I have the day off dear, no need to worry about it.”

Dawn gave him a quizzical looked, “What about that meeting with Luna?”

The stallion thought for a bit before hitting himself just underneath the horn, “Sweet Supernova, your right.” With that he placed his bags on his shoulders and was out the door before the guest could say otherwise.

Dawn started to turn back to the stairs we she caught the visitor with the corner of her eye, “Oh, hello. Umm, may I ask, who are you?”

“I?” she replied recovering from the crazy scene before her, “I am zhe writer, Zap Notes. My book company haz started an endeavor worthy of my talentz.”

“What kind of endeavor,” the mare said as she gestured her visitor into her home.

Accepting the invite, Zap Notes made her pen dance upon the note pad, “Zhe History of Midnight Nyx.”

“Isn’t there a book already about her?” the hostess asked as she offered a tray of refreshments.

“Bah,” the unicorn said waving a cyan hoof at her, “zhat poor excuse of a story iz not what zhe poniez want. Zhey want the true history of zheir heroine.”

“I’m not sure I can give it to you?” the mare asked taking a seat herself.

The unicorn gave her head a slight toss to the side, making her golden mane fly out of her eyes as she asked, “Are you not zhe sister of Nyx?”

Morning Dawn nodded, “Yes, I am. But I made a promise with her not to share her past with journalist.”

She tapped the red gem around her neck before slightly increasing the glow on her horn. The lightning bolt jewel gave off a shallow glow that was hard to see, “Bah, we’ll just zay zhat we got the information from other pony. No one haz to know.”

Looking up at a picture sitting on the mantle as she felt a change in thought process, Dawn gazed as her alicorn sister who was sharing the moment with the rest of her family at her daughter’s birth, she sighed, “As long as no pony is hurt from the release of this information.”

“Trust me when I zay, not a zingle one,” Zap said grinning wickedly as she rubbed the red lightning bolt necklace around her neck again.

Dawn could feel a strange comfort as she started, “Well it began one night…”

********

“Th-this is just awful,” Luminance spoke up after another cloud of silence settled into the library. Everypony had just heard with pained expressions as the dragon recapped the report he got from his sister. The undercover guards (now uncovered) filled in the remaining gaps of the report he left out.

“It can’t be all that bad,” Coco said with a forced smile, “I mean Nyx nearly had him beat. All we need to do is find him and she’ll be there to send him right back to stone.”

“Finding him isn’t going to be as easy as it sound,” the dragon said with his claws still interlaced.

Ebony stood up, “And why not? He is the only being in all of Equestria that would have a hard time hiding. Guardsponies are everywhere now.”

“I’m just running off a theory Twilight had going a while back,” everypony went silent at the mare’s name the dragon had spoken. He got up from his chair over to where Pee Wee was watching. Pulling a hoof-made book with spiral rings as its spine, he returned to the table and flipped through its pages. “I find it strange that Twilight was running this theory before this crisis ever became apparent,” he placed the notebook on the table open on a page with tons of notes written on it. “But it could provide something of worth.”

“What is all of this, Spike?” Autumn asked as she stared at the list of notes.

The dragon started reading as he replied, “Research notes Twilight started taking before… before she got sick.” Starlight casted a small glance at the dragon who quickly brushed aside a tear.

He hummed as he read in silence, thinking over what his caretaker had wrote on the pages long ago. The others sat and watched with baited breath as he thought. Then with a sudden movement of his tail, he picked up the writing quill and flipped the pages to an empty one. “Thank you Twilight for being such an egghead, cause you write everything down,” the dragon said as he started marking the blank page, “I just wish you used easier words.”

“What have you discovered, sir?” the white pegasus said.

The dragon paid little attention to him as his claw worked furiously on the paper. Once he finally dropped the quill in its inkwell for good, he held up his work, “Ok, what Twilight theorized is that Discord’s mind, chaotic as it maybe, is rather quite orderly. If this theory proves right though, we won’t be seeing Discord until he is ready to strike.”

“How can ya be so sure?” the farm pony asked.

“Think about this for a moment,” he started point to his work, “Discord was imprisoned for a thousand years in stone before he escaped a hundred years ago only to be placed back into stone by your grandmothers. What Twilight’s theory is, that while he was trapped in stone, his mind started thinking over and over and over on how things will turn out during the next time he gets out. He ran every possible scenario in his mind and built countermeasures to get around them. That is why he was able to cause so much devastation the first time he was loose because he knew how to get around each possible obstacle that came at him.”

“But you just said he was encased in stone by our grandmothers,” Iris spoke up with a raised hoof.

“Yes,” the librarian said pointing a free claw at her before taking the quill, “Because something got added to his system of possible scenarios that he didn’t have time to counter.” He started drawing a line on the massive network of spider webs that he made earlier, “Discord’s had planned the whole thing out up to the point when Celestia sent all these letters that Twilight was sending to her over our time here in Ponyville,” His line continued down a preset path until it broke off, “This new problem he face was one he didn’t see coming and so he was unprepared to face it. Thus he was turned to stone.”

“Now what has this have ta do with now?” the orange mare said. Luminance nodded in agreement.

The dragon started another line that took a different path, “Unlike last time, where the princesses didn’t react fast enough to his return, Discord was tossed into a fight right off the bat with them. This was a fight he knew he could win because of the fact they were no longer bound to the elements which they used against him when he was first imprisoned. But like last time, something was added that he didn’t prepare for.”

“Nyx,” his unicorn niece said for him.

With a nod, the dragon continued, “So, since Nyx was a new element to his plans, he might just wait until he has all possible countermeasures to her planed out.”

“And with the elements under his control,” Autumn said out loud, “that means that our only way to beat him is Nyx.”

“So in other words,” the black stallion said, “We need to find him fast before he can counter Nyx.”

“Well then,” came a mare’s voice. The gathered ponies looked around to see Cloud Chaser walking in, “I suggest you get flying, private.” Without another word, Ebony was off through the nearest window as his commander walked up to the table. She looked at the dragon who was sitting down, “I take it you have informed them about the problem at hoof.”

“They are,” the dragon’s niece replied for him, “And they knew about it before hoof as well. I figured that they should be involved as well.”

The commander gave her a stare that made the mare back down, “Citizens should not worry about such matters at this time.”

“It does matter, ma’am,” the pegasus stallion still in the room interrupted, “For not only are you addressing the grandchildren of the bearers but every pony should know about the risk that Discord proposes.”

“And cause wide spread fear across Equestria?” the commander countered giving him a glare yet he didn’t back down, “Storm, you should know what happens to ponies when they hear about something dangerous. Chaos will be rampant all across the land and he wouldn’t have to lift a hoof to make it.”

“Wouldn’t it be claw?” Coco asked raising a hoof. Her friends gave her a strange look, “What? Discord has claws right?”

Getting back to the commander, Storm countered, “Spike just said that Discord won’t come out of hiding until he is ready to act, ma’am. We can prepare the populace before he makes his move. Preparedness is the key; you should know that since you’ve work with my father before, ma’am.”

“And I wish I still was working with him and you sergeant. I’ve told you before, I need good flyers. And prepare the populace for what? The end of harmony? There is no way to prepare anypony for that.”

“JUST LIKE THERE IS NO WAY TO PREPARE A PONY FOR DEATH!” Storm barked back at his ex-commander. The whole room went silent at the outburst. Iris reached out to comfort her friend but he marched out the door and took flight.

She followed him to the portal before looking back and saying, “He is just thinking about everypony’s safety. He truly is. I just… don’t think he can express it the why he wants to.” She took off after him.

Sighing, Cloud Chaser walked over to the table and sat down, “That colt is more fragile than he looks.”

Spike was the first to speak up, “I take it there was a reason why Storm arrived here before last winter?”

“Yes,” he was answered, “yes there is.”

*********

Luna’s moon graced Ponyville that night with its radiance, giving one mare enough light to move through the night. She walked up the hill that overlooked the village, stopping only once to grin at the lights below. Hearing wings, she ducked underneath a tree and waited as a pegasus flew overhead. She waited for the sounds of the flapping wings to pass by before continuing her hike. From a grassy knoll to dirty soil, the unicorn marched on, humming a tune as if she was on cloud nine.

Rounding a bend she stopped and looked her destination. In front of her was marble stones tossed about as if a tornado had passed through. Columns, both broken and fully intact, laid about in a pick-up sticks game. The cyan mare took a deep breath and grinned wickedly as she marched into the ruins.

Walking about, she gazed at the destruction that took place. Not a single wall was untouched as where one section stood, another was impaled on it. Burn marks dance a crossed a wide collection of masonry. Hearing a crunching sound, she stopped and looked down. Underneath her hoof was a section of a glass window that looked similar to the night sky.

The sound of wings made the unicorn duck underneath a piece of marble that had fallen over on a broken pillar, making a small lean-to. The sound of wing beats got louder as it passed overhead. She released her breath she held when she heard the hooting of a barn owl before it took a nosedive. The sound of a crying rat revealed its successful hunt.

Tapping the lightning bolt necklace under her dress, she started casting her magic. Moments later a face appeared on the marble above her. “You rang?” he said with a gentlemanly tone.

Looking up the unicorn spoke, “Discord, hurry up with zhe portal. I don’t wantz anyponiez to zee me.” The draconequus rolled his eyes before snapping his fingers to make a portal appear under her. She reappeared within his lair while the beast of chaos was feasting on a cotton candy cloud.

Whipping off pieces of the sticky sweet from his face, he greeted his guest, “Well my dear how was your trip to Canterlot? What did you learn?”

The unicorn flicked her horn as her cyan coat shifted into an azure tone and her golden mane went sliver, “It was wonderful and as for the information I received, well…”she chuckled before finishing, “I’ve learn so much that it would make you horns curl.”

Discord placed a lion finger to his lips, displaying his interest, “Oh, I like this already. Begin please.”

Trick Mirror pulled out her notebook from earlier and flip through the pages before beginning,” Well, I have one question before we begin, do you happen to know the name, Nightmare Moon?”

The draconequus thought hard before replying, “Yes, I do believe so. She is what Luna turned into after I was imprisoned for the first time.”

“Yes,” the unicorn interrupted, “But she was reverted back to her old self when Twilight Sparkle and her friends used the Elements on her the day she returned back to Equestria from her thousand year long imprisonment on the moon.”

“She turns me to stone and banishes her own sister to the moon,” the king of chaos said off to the side, “and Celestia calls me a fiend.” He returned his attention to the mare in front of him, “But how does Nightmare Moon relate to Nyx?”

The unicorn flipped to the next page and smiled wryly at him, “After you were turned to stone for a second time, a cult of ponies rose up. These cultists were called ‘The Children of Nightmare’ and they performed a ritual to bring Nightmare Moon back in a body of her own.  Celestia was able to stop Nightmare Moon from returning that night, but failed to stop it from creating something. What was created was Nyx.”

“An alicorn, born from a spell,” he tossed the thought around in his mind. “That’s a new one. I must say I can see the resemblance between the two.”

The unicorn continued to flip through her notes, “I got an idea on how you can defeat Nyx during my little chat with my ‘contact’.”

He looked at her before picking her up, “You must be mistaken. I’m the mastermind here so allow me to think of the plans.”

“Oh,” she flashed him slight pout. “This has to do with the element you gave me.” He looked at her before looking down at the element.

Bringing his eyes in contact with her, he stated, “There is more to this tale then you let on, my dear Trick Mirror.”

Smiling back, she said, “Indeed…”
> Chapter 6: Tears and Traitors
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6: Tears and Traitors

The sun rose over the of huge apple orchard nestled by a riverside. Farmer ponies were busy harvesting the ripe red fruit while being watched by a young stallion from the ridge above. Chewing on an apple held in his hoof, he scanned the field from his post with lazy eyes. He was about to doze off when he caught the sight of a filly trying to buck a tree to no avail. He chuckled to himself as he hopped down and trotted over to the tree from the foal’s blind spot. He tossed the apple core off to the side before preparing to buck the tree himself. Timing it right, he helped shake the apples from their branches and into the buckets station around the trunk.

The filly looked around at the fallen fruit around her with glee as her helper hid behind the trunk and smiled. “Mama, look!” she foal cried out running over her parent, “Ah did it!”

He chuckled to himself as he heard the mare praise her child. Trotting off, he withdrew a freshly picked apple from underneath his hat and took a bite.

Heading into town, he munched on the juicy fruit as wagons rolled back and forth through the dusty streets. Passing the saloon, he watched as bartender pulled a past out pony through the doorway by his tail. “Need some help, Mr. Salt?” he asked the finely dress stallion.

Releasing his hold, Mr. Salt looked over his shoulder, “I have no need for you. He just decided to stay after hours.”

“That there is an offence, ya know that, right?” the stallion said placing the half eaten apple under his hat.

“I made sure to lock up anything of importance,” the bartender pony replied before dragging his unwanted house guest around to an alley where he left him. Walking back into his bar, he added, “I also double checked to make sure he didn’t steal anything, so don’t think about falsely accusing him.” The stallion kicked up some dust in disappointment. Watching Mr. Salt retreat back into his bar, he took the apple back out and took another bite.

He continued down the road, stopping only to chew his apple, greeting everypony that he passed along the way. Stopping in front of town hall he looked around for anything thing out of place. Ponies were busy making food from the pre-harvesting season crop. A couple of donkeys were talking by the train station as ponies climbed aboard for a trip to Dodge Junction before heading to Canterlot. A pegasus he seen around town for about a week now flew overhead at full speed. Everything was normal to him; the same old boring normal routine that his slow life on the Equestria border city of Appleloosa has given him. And he hated every second of it.

Turning around, he heard the whistle blow as the train departed right on time. But he heard something different underneath the noise of the rolling tracks of as the train picked up speed. “Wait!” a mare cried, “Wait for me!”

He watched as a scarlet red unicorn he never laid eyes in town before come storming down the street after the train. “I need to get to Canterlot!” she cried once more before tripping over the dress she wore and went face first into the dusty road and her baggage that floated next to her flew ahead of her.  Looking up she saw the train roll away.

The stallion looked the mare up and down, taking notice at the unusual shine covering from underneath her collar of the clothes she wore. Throwing away the apple core, he walked up to the mare and asked, “What’s tha matter miss?”

She looked at him with hope in her eyes. “As you can see, I just missed my train. I have a party in Canterlot that I must attend.” She looked at her dress and added, “And now I look just absolutely horrid.”

Looking up at the clock embedded on the steeple of the town hall, the stallion said, “Yeep, ya going to be late to yer party cause tha next trains leaves at eight tonight.” His words seemed to act as an anvil to her as she lowered her head and sadness.

Putting on his best convincing face, he made attempt to cheer her up, “Ya know Dodge has a heaping amount of trains going through it; heading to Canterlot and Manehattan and the like. So, Ah would say the next best thing would be getting a train there.”

Getting up the mare asked, “But how will I get there in time for the next train?”

“Then Ah reckon yer gonna need tha best wagon team in town,” the stallion stated, “And Ah know where ta find them.”

The mare’s eyes filled with hope as she asked, “Can you take me to them, Mister…?”

“Call me Sliver,” the stallion replied, “And sure, why not?” Taking one of her bags, he led the mare through the streets.

“You have my thanks, Mister Sliver,” the mare said giving him a sly glare to his backside, “You may call me Trick Mirror.”

“Trick Mirror,” Silver pondered the name, “That’s a might pertty name if ya ask me.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” the undercover unicorn replied while touching the necklace around her neck.

The two walked through town toward a barn on the edge of town. The red paint was covered in dust and was in desperate need of a touch up as in some parts the paint was flaking off.

“Quite the rather grizzly place to hangout,” the unicorn commented as she adjusted her dress to cover up a speck of gold showing around her neck.

Her earth pony guide looked the barn over and replied, “Sure it may look like nothin’, but this here barn is one of tha oldest buildings since tha time this town was founded.”

“Then why does this say-” the mare began to say as she looked at a sign that hung off to the side of the barn’s huge doors. The stallion quickly moved around her to stop her from reading the rest of it.

“How about I go and get the boys so you can get on your merry way,” he hastily said as he pushed on the door. He gave a quick peek inside before rapidly withdrawing his head and slamming the door shut.

“What’s the matter?” the unicorn asked as she gave a flick of her horn.

Without looking at her, Silver replied, “They’re ahh… asleep.”

“You’re a bad liar, my good sir,” he heard Trick Mirror counter with a different tone.

“Only when Ah’m nervous,” Sliver started, “And I said call me Sliver.”

A sharp kick to his hindquarters lead into another harsh voice from the mare behind the stallion, “Oh please cut it out with the whole ‘sound like the local’ deal. I know you’re not from around here.”

Turning around, the stallion started, “How in Equestria do you know-HOLY HORSEAPPLES!” In front of him wasn’t the same unicorn mare he guided through the town. With a flick of her azure horn, she levitated him up into the air. “Wh-what are you doing, Trick?!”

“I didn’t really need a team of carriage pullers, really,” she replied calmly as she pushed the door back open, “But my employer could use a team of able body ponies.”

“Don’t go in there!” he barked at the mare carrying him, “There is a malformed beast of horror in there!”

“Well, that’s not a very nice way to talk about your future employer,” he heard somepony address him, looking around during mid-levitation, he looked upon his mentioned ‘beast’ as it sipped from a wine glass filled with chocolate milk. “Oh, Trick, my dear, would you be so kind to drop our guess? Or do you like the view?”

“I was enjoying it as much as you enjoy being encased in stone,” she countered as she ended her magical hold on the stallion. “Keep in mind I can still stab you in the back. So watch what you say to me.”

The draconequus laughed before replying, “Are you sure you want to risk your dream over a little harmless fun.” The ex-guard thought it over before giving him a shrug.

“Umm, Excuse me for a sec,” Sliver interrupted, “But who the hay are you guys?” he pointed to the unicorn before the being of chaos, “You somehow change coat colors and you look like something I dreamed up on Nightmare Night.”

“Who am I?” the draconequus asked, “I just so happen to be Discord, the spirit of chaos and disharmony. While I’m flattered that you saw my likeness before, I’m not here to give idle chit chat. I’ve got chaos to enjoy brewing elsewhere and I rather not have the pot boil over.”

“Well,” Silver stated while as he removed another apple from underneath his hat, “I hate not giving you my name when you give me yours. My name is-”

Sliver was cut off with a wave of an azure hoof in his face, “We know your name. There is no need to give us you silly cover name of Silver Tongue.”

The busted buck stared at her, “And how do you know that?”

Trick Mirror revealed a large scroll, “This happens to be your record from Fillydelphia. The real one might I add,” he gulped much to her amusement. “’Thirteen times you have misused the law for you own gain and herd of charges from Baltimare ranging from counterfeiting and forgery.”

Discord whistled as she rolled the scroll back up, “My dear, when I asked for a bad apple and you said you knew one. I figure you had some petty thief from the streets of Canterlot,” he gestured to the stallion, “But this colt is the most rotten apple in the barrel.”

“How the hay did you know about me?” he asked pointing a hoof at the unicorn.

She looked at him and replied, “Call it a ‘perk’ of my previous employment. What gets me more is why no one recognized you?”

“Granted I’ve changed my appearance since the last time I was charged,” Sliver then patted his waste, “not to mention gained a few pounds in the past three years. Also getting a tattoo job to edit my Cutie mark helped. But I’ve be straight ever since I arrived here.”

“Sure,” the ex-guard countered, “and I’m the Princess of the Night.”

Discord laughed at the bickering pair, pulling them from each other, “My, this day has started it out just perfectly,” the spirit of disharmony whipped a tear from his eye.”

“Get on with what you want,” the colt asked, “Or I’m walking out of here.”

“I wanted to make a deal with you,” the ruler of chaos stated as he gestured the table.

The stallion eyed both mare and draconequus before replying, “I heard someponies that arrived about a week ago pitch the name ‘Discord’ before and I’m lying when they weren’t using it in friendly tones either. What makes you two think I won’t turn spill the beans to them?”

“Oh, but this deal would benefit you far greater than turning me in would,” he countered, grinning wildly as he strung the pony along.

“Plus, even if you do tell,” the mare added, “we’ll be so far gone that you’ll only get another black mark on your record.”

“Right that,” the stallion flinched, total taken back by the threat. He recovered and started for the doorway, “Like I said, I been keeping it clean for the past three years. I don’t want any kind of involvement with this ‘business’ of yours.”

The scroll with his record floated in front of him as Trick Mirror threatened, “We could always blackmail you.”

“We aren’t that desperate, my dear,” the king of chaos scolded his employee before looking back at Sliver, “At least hear me my offer before you go?  I truly think we can split a deal; one that can benefit us both. So take a seat at my table, and we’ll take about it. Afterwards you can accept it or you can walk out of here and act like none of this ever happened.”

*******

Starlight was chewing on her meager breakfast with Iago. Her early morning sleepiness wasn’t being helped as she looked over at the black dress that hung by the fireplace. The outfit’s depressing appearance kept reminding her that this was the day Fluttershy would join her grandmother and their friends underneath the large bust in the cemetery.

“Hurry up, Starlight,” her uncle said as he walked down stairs, towel in claw. “The ceremony starts in two hours and you still need to take a bath.”

“Can I not go?” she asked looking up pleadingly. She received a stare from the dragon as he dried the scales on his neck. “I’m not sure how I would handle a funeral and I haven’t got to know Fluttershy as well as you.”

Spike took the time to pet the phoenix who cooed in response before replying, “I know that but, since your mother is busy in Canterlot, I personally think Wide Heart and Iris Drop would enjoy having someone from her side of our family around.”

The unicorn stood up from her meal and said, “But we haven’t heard a word from Nyx this past week. You said yourself that she would be here and-”

“I know that,” he interrupted with annoyance. He looked out a nearby window hoping to see a sign of the black alicorn’s return, “But I trust her word on this one.” He heard a quiet high pitch repetition of his last words and chuckled.

Turning around to face his niece, he added, “Now get up there or I’ll drag you up there myself.”

With a sigh the mare took her dress with her teeth and went up the stairs. What has gotten into that mare? He asked himself.

A gentle rap at the door brought the dragon’s attention toward his doorway. “Be there in a minute,” he shouted as he crossed the floor. Upon opening the door, his eye meet those of his yellow unicorn friend.

“Morning, Spike,” Luminance greeted though she took was feeling the weight of the ceremony later that day. “Mother finished the tailored adjustments to your suit that night.” She brought forth the black outfit that was custom fitted for the dragon’s frame.

“Thank you, once again, Luminance” the dragon replied taking the black suit from her magical hold, “How is Bliss holding up?”

The unicorn casted her glance to the ground, “Well, aside from the increase of adjustments much like your own, she’s trying to hold on.”

“I understand,” Spike acknowledged before joining the unicorn in a ground staring contest, “Both your and Fluttershy’s families have been such close friend over the years, I can only imagine what your mother thinking about this funeral.”

“Do keep in mind that all of our families were so close to each other,” the yellow unicorn stated bringing her head up, “Some of us are taking this a bit differently.”

“Very true,” the librarian agreed. He looked up to see tears starting to form under her cyan eyes.

“Make sure to bring a box of tissue with you then,” he jested as he brushed the tears from her eyes.

“I bought two this morning,” she joked back pushing the claw away, “see you later.”

Closing the door with his tail, the dragon slowly withdrew the suit from the hanger and started to put it on. “Let’s hope the next time I have to wear this is when somepony gets married,” he spoke to himself, “I think this has had enough tears of sorrow soaked into it.”

Hoof steps from the floor above signaled him of an approaching pony. Looking up his saw the guard ponies that have been staying with him marched down the stairs in a formal manner. “Alright colts,” the lead mare said, “let’s make sure this funeral is carried out without any problems.”

“What’s with the armor?” the dragon questioned her, “What happen to the whole ‘undercover assignment’?”

The pegasus mare look at him and replied, “Princess Celestia will be coming down from Canterlot for the funeral with a large detachment of the guards still in Canterlot. We’ll be able to blend in with the rest of the guard during that time.”

“Right,” he said straightening his shelves, “Celestia came to the other funerals as well. I take the additional guard is for protection?”

“Correct, sir,” Cloud Chaser replied before looking at her charge, “Ok you two, head out and prepare to welcome the Princess before she arrives. Keep an eye out for Discord.”

“Yes ma’am,” she was replied before the stallions bolted out the door.

Twisting his body to get use to the feel of the suit, the librarian asked, “So what’s the plan?”

The guard gave a look at him as she walked for the door herself, “The Princess’s detail is none of your concern, Spike.”

He chuckled as he sat down, “I was referring to after the funeral. What is your plan? You knew Fluttershy as well.”

She looked over at him with a hoof on the doorknob. “Aside from returning to my mission?” he nodded, “Probably going to the reception at Sweet Apple Acres. I guess I could do something for her family. Hopefully though I was plan-” the door opened on her. Walking through the portal was a tried, dirty, black alicorn with her magical mane flowing weakly.

“Nyx!” Spike shouted as he leapt from his seat over to her. Catching her as she started to collapse on his floor he added, “What happen?”

She looked up at him and smiled, “I made it…”

“You sure did, you silly mare,” he praised her as he inspected her tired body, “What happen? Did you find and fight Discord?”

The Defender of Equestria laughed weakly as she replied, “Nothing of the sort,” the dragon’s claws tighten in frustration but offered a seat by the table. She allowed herself to be leaded to the table by her brother, “I… got into a fight with a Hydra near Las Pegasi. I was up all night before the fight so-”

“For lack of better words,” the dragon cut her off as he examined her hide, “You were unprepared for the fight, right?” his eyes locked on the scratch just above her shield Cutie Mark.

The alicorn nodded as stood up on her own in response, “Yeah, unprepared. Then I had to fly all night to get here in time.”

Pee Wee flew from his stand and landed on the alicorn’s back and cooed. “It’s good to see you too, Pee Wee,” Nyx replied to the affection she got from the family phoenix, “I forgot to get you something.” The bird just continued to show its love.

She looked back at her brother who was heading into the kitchen with his towel from earlier. She was about to say something when the pegasus commander spoke up, cutting her off completely, “What was the reports from everyone the other cities?”

“Umm…” she started, “No traces of Discord have been seen anywhere when I did a scan over every town. The other guards report nothing from their in depth search.”

“So he is truly hiding…” Cloud Chaser replied with a kick on the wooden surface.

The alicorn shook her head, “No, I’ll flush him one way or another. Even if I have to- AHHHHH!” she whipped her head around to see the dragon had walked around to her flank and press a hot towel on the scar.

“Starlight!” he called up the stairs, “Bring the first aid kit when you come down, ok?” Flinching away, the alicorn glared at him for bit.

“That hurt’s Spike,” she barked out in pain.

The twin sets of dragon eyes locked onto one another as he replied, “That’s because it’s infected.” He turned his head away as he added, “How it got that way when you could’ve just healed it, I’ll never know?”

“Ok, I forgot about that one,” Nyx snapped before seeing the dragon’s arm brush alongside his face. Seeing the gleam of smeared water on his arm, the alicorn lowered her voice, “I’m still tired after all.”

“If that is all you have to report,” the pegasus commander said pulling the odd brother and sister pair away from each other for a brief moment, “I’ll take my leave. See you both at the cemetery.” With a slight bow, she left the library in silence.

Standing up from his work, the dragon tossed the wet towel on the back of his chair. Nyx looked over her shoulder to check out her scar as he took a seat. Sending her magic to it, she watch as the wound slowly closed up.

The sounds of hoof beats brought her attention to her unicorn niece as she appeared with a first aid kit. Upon seeing her aunt, Starlight jumped the rest of the steps and placed the small box on the table before embracing her. “Nyx, it’s so good to see you again.”

Reaching her neck down around the unicorn’s neck, she replied, “It’s good to see you, too. How has your magic training been coming along?” She could feel  the unicorn shiver through her dress, “Not well I take it?”

Stepping away, the unicorn answered, “No such luck on levitation.”

“Have you tried any other spells?” the alicorn questioned. When the unicorn replied with a shake of her head, Nyx sighed and added, “You really need to try other spells.”

“I know, but if I can’t use levitation,” Starlight said getting huffy, “Then what’s the point of knowing all these others spells.” She marched over the table and grabbed a book. Her aunt walked over as the student flip through the pages.

“Look at this,” she finally said getting to her desired page, “Most of the more common spells unicorn’s use these days, like teleportation, uses the same methods as levitation as a base.” Much to her surprise, both alicorn and dragon looked over the spells that were displayed in the book.

“I never knew about that,” the defender said turning the page with her magic.

Taking the book in his claws, the dragon added, “You were always brimming with magic, even when you first try lifting a tea cup.” Nyx gave a sheepish grin as she thought back to that time.

“Umm, Nyx?” Starlight asked changing topics, “How long are you going to stay?”

Feeling the dragon’s eyes fall on her, the alicorn sighed, “I’ll be leaving after the funeral…”

“That’s it? Just for the funeral?” Spike asked before he placed his head into his claws and sighed.

The unicorn student just stared at her, “Why? I know you need to find Discord but what about us.”

“I’m thinking about you guys,” Nyx pleaded, “I would just sleep better knowing that Discord is dealt with.”

“You haven’t been sleeping at all,” the librarian stated with an accusing claw.

“I know, but I need to keep a constant vigilance.”

“Nyx!” her niece shouted, “Discord is hiding!”

Nyx looked down at the mare trying to keep a calm face, “I’m going to flush him out and stop him.”

“WILL YOU STOP BEING AHOOF!” the unicorn shouted as she took an apple and magical threw it at her aunt. The fruit exploded in her face as the mare ran out. After removing the applesauce, Nyx stared out the doorway where her niece escaped.

“She’s right you know,” Spike said standing up.

“About Ahoof or Discord hiding?” his sister questioned without removing her gaze from the doorway.

“Both,” the librarian replied before gesturing to both birds. They landed on his tail as he walked out, “Go clean up. I would like to talk to you later today… if you’re still around,” with that he closed the door behind him.

Alone the Nyx finally remove her eyes from the repeating mental image of the unicorn running out on her and focused them elsewhere. Locking her dragon eyes with those of the still image of her mother, the alicorn said with a pleading tone, “Mom, I-I-I don’t understand. I’m trying to help them the best that I can. I want to be there for them but… all I’m really doing it seems that I’m pushing them away.” She wiped tears from her eyes as she continued, “Twilight? What did I do wrong? Why… why are they getting further away from me? Please help… please?”

*********

A haze drifted onto an abandoned pier. The hooded figure carefully pressed his hoofs on the rotting wood as it breathed in the water vapour around him. Letting his eyes wander, the stallion thought back to when he first came this this board walk. Every last detail leaked into his vision; the bright colors of the stalls, the smell of the numerous meals being offered, the chattering of crowd. Even down to every last freckle a small filly had as she handed him a serving of cotton candy. With a blink of his eyes the memory faded away.

“Ahh, alas, my breath is cleared, no longer am I clouded with a seasonal cold,” he stated as he removed his hood, allowing his mane to stand up with vigor, “For once a year the sniffs do troubles me, and prevents me from earning my hold.”

Trotting over to a nearby stall, the stallion viewed the remaining goods that were left with it years ago. One item caught his eye as it gave off a slight gleam. Looking closely at it, he was shocked at his reflection on the little mirror prize.

He exclaimed to himself, “By my stripes I look dreadful; my eyes are still filled with sand. I appear to have cross some distance, true I came from a distant land. I must remedy that soon, or else my wage will drop. I could scare away others easily, and risk losing my shop.”

Hoofsteps behind him made him slightly jump. Turning around, he saw two figures appearing among the midday fog, deep in conversation among each other. Without word, he placed his hood back on and trotted around to the other side of the booth.

“Please tell me you not pulling my tail on this one,” he heard an aged mare snap at the other, “I could be at the spa right now getting a facial.”

“Why would I ever do such a thing?” the other mare replied, this one much younger, “I told you I can get you the biggest scoop on the streets and trust me, nothing is bigger than this.”

“Oh sure, Trick Mirror,” the aged mare said with, what the eavesdropper guessed without looking, a roll of the eyes, “I’m supposed to believe the mare that changed coat and mane colors in my office.”

Trick Mirrored gave off a whole hearted laugh, “It’s true that I use magic to sneak in, but when you’re supposed to be a captured mare, you must do whatever it takes to blend in. I’m sure you’ve done some undercover work yourself, right Miss Notes?”

“You will address me as Diamond Notes,” Notes replied harshly, “I won’t have somepony I have little knowledge about address me in such a friendly matter. And since we’re on the topic of knowing somepony, I don’t even know why you come to me with this? We are complete strangers and I haven’t done any reporting since my divorce.”

“But you, my dear where requested,” ex-guard answered with a sly tone. The eavesdropper dared a peek from his hiding spot to get a closer look at the two mares. The elder supported reading glasses on her bright green nose. She fiddled with her creamy pink mane as it tried to block her sight. The youngest of the pair used her horn to adjust a golden object around her azure neck.

“Who requested me then,” the elder barked bring her eyes closer to the unicorn’s eyes, “Because I haven’t seen a speck of anypony on this rotten corpse.”

“Patience is a virtue,” the unicorn said, unmoved by the verbal beat down she was receiving.

Diamond Notes gave a hrmp in annoyance before countering, “That maybe so, but dragging somepony out into the middle of Nowwheresville is not.”

“I should leave here before I am spotted, to risk the chance of the mares’ wrath,” the stallion whispered to himself before looking around, “I might have to take a swim, for I don’t see any other path.”

Without warning, a bright flash appeared alongside the two mares. The green mare jumped back at the sudden appearance of a chaotic figure. The spy withdrew his head with haste with the fear of being spotted dance in his mind.

“Sorry I’m late ladies,” the stallion heard the best speak in a charming manner, “I had to stop the dog from digging to Canterlot.”

“Any later and you would of missed your chance to convince her,” the younger mare said in a rough yet still friendly matter.

“Alas Trick Mirror, if that would of happen, then all our work would be for nothing,” the magical being stated, “But here I am in time to save the day.”

The watcher tilted his head around to see a creature he thought he would only met in his dreams. The dragon-like tail swished around the azure mare rolled her eyes in response, “Save the day, yeah when have we been planning that, Discord?”

The spirit of disharmony gave his helper an un-amused stare before saying, “Trick, if you’re not going to be helpful here, I suggest you go ahead to where you are needed. No need to be disguised though, it’s out of country.

He received a death glare, “Oh, please tell me you’re not dropping me in dragon country?”

Batting the away the comment, the fiend returned to his friendly tone, “Oh no, I wouldn’t risk your career there. No, but while you might face some risk, the pony I have in mind for the next element will save you.”

“I’m starting to dislike this plan,” the unicorn mare replied as a pit of black nothingness open beneath her. She slipped into it peacefully.

“What has my eyes seen, could what I have seen be real?” the spy whispered to himself as retreated behind his hiding stop, “Demons walk the earth like a friend, and even some have come to it to deal.” Chancing another look, he saw Diamond Notes recovering from her stupor.

“Yo-yo-your Discord!?” she blurted out holding a accusing hoof at him.

The king of chaos threw his arms up in the air, shouting, “The one and only.”

Stuttering over her words, the mare questioned, “You’re supposed to be in stone. I mean you were a statue last time I saw you. Ho-How are you here before me?”

“That, Diamond,” Discord stated, “is the juiciest story in Equestria. And the best part is, it’s not done yet,” with a snap of his fingers, a golden necklace appeared floating in his hand. “And I want you to be part of it.”

Looking at the neck-ware with glowing eyes, Notes asked, “What are you asking me to do? I’m against killing a pony.”

He waved it off like a bad smell, “I wouldn’t even dream of having you kill another pony. I just need a little chaos to be made. In return you can have anything you want.”

“Do you think I was born yesterday?” Diamond snapped back harshly. He reeled his claw back as if she had the plague but offered it shortly afterwards.

“I don’t think you were born yesterday,” he tried to charm her, “But a mare such as yourself doesn’t need to work so hard day after day. This here can grant you any wish you want.”

She touched the gem embedded on it in suspicion. Reeling back with it gave off a magical light, she questioned, “What has this been enchanted with? I’m no unicorn but I can tell that is full of power.”

“Enough power to grant a mare, like yourself, anything you want,” Discord poured his silver laced words down Diamond’s ear.”

Hearing enough of the draconequus’s chaotic words, the watcher stepped out from his hiding spot and shouted. “Stop my fellow hoofed friend, the beast lies through his teeth! I can see that he won’t help you when you ask, and all you’ll do is helping him make this place a heath.” Before neither draconequus nor earth pony could react, the watcher dove off the pier into the water below. Fearing he would be chased, the stallion swam below the water level to hide his appearance from the conversing pair.

*******

Starlight sat next to her uncle in the front row, staring at the coffin that lay in front of the statue of her grandmother and friends. The oak casing was littered with small animals as they piled on tiny leaves and flowers at its base. A gray spotted hare climb on top of the coffin and started stomping on the lid. Iris looked up from her tear soaked seat to trot over and removed the abrasive bunny.

“Grandma Flu-Fluttershy can’t feed you anymore, Pepper,” she attempted to calm the critter down, but to no avail as he jumped out of her hoofs and back over to the coffin. Angrily, he started to kick the side of the coffin, only to be removed once more. Iris tried her best to cradle the energetic hare as tears continue to leak out.

“Gr-grandma can feed anypony anymore,” she whimpered as she held the hare up and looked into its eyes. Pepper continued to struggle as the rabbit looked at her pleading eyes, “She’s t-taking a long n-nap, Pepper. S-she can’t wake up.” After a bit longer, the hare finally settled down.

Watching the pegasus take her seat, Starlight shifted her sight to the others as they sat and listened to the string orchestra proceeded in their somber tune. To her immediate right sat the brown coated prankster with her father. She was still beaming happily but the unicorn with streams of tears leaking down checks. She quietly fixed the black shawl that tied her single braided hair down. To the other side of the prankster, the interior designer and her mother sat cleaning their faces from tears with tissues from one of the two boxes.

Sitting in the row behind the mare was the entire Apple family. While each Apple was busy talking silently among themselves, Autumn just sat quietly and listen to music. The unicorn looked at the earth pony closely taking notice of the tears dropping on her hat. The orange mare caught her staring at her and waved back with a weak smile.

Nodded gently, Starlight shifted her gaze back to Iris and her family, locking her eyes on the white pegasus sitting still. The stone like expression Storm wore was twisted with hopelessness as he stared at the coffin and the three guardponies that stood by it.

“A bit for your thoughts?” the dragon asked placing a claw on her shoulder.

“Do I really need to explain what’s on my mind?” she snapped harshly as she shrugged the claw off.

The librarian sighed, “Nyx is trying her best to keep you safe.”

“But I don’t feel safe,” the student stated added her hooves for affect, “This obsession of her is going to be the death of her.”

Spike winched at the thought of losing his sister. Shaking his mind free and asked, “What makes you think this is an obsession?”

“I called her Ahoof,” she deadpanned, “you know, the sailor pony who hunted the great whale and risked his entire crew’s life for vengeance on said whale? Can you not see the difference?”

Trying to reassure the critical mare, Spike said, “But she’s not out for revenge.”

“No, she’s not,” the unicorn agreed before bring up her counterpoint, “But she is still hunting Discord down like it was. Did you not hear what she said back there?”

“I did,” he answered, “I even called her out on the Ahoof part after you left. But that doesn’t mean you have to give her the cold shoulder treatment just because of some similarities. She got enough of that when she was young and by ponies her own age and adults. She doesn’t need this from her own family.”

“Well she’s going to get it; like it or not,” she tilted her head away and stuck her nose up to finished all talk between the two. The dragon merely sighed before looking around for his alicorn sister.

He caught her as she tried sneaking in from the back. Luckily, he was the only one to notice her as the rest continued to listen to the music and morn. Redness still filled the alicorn’s eyes, but the grime from her travels was fully removed from her jet black coat.

When she finally reached them in the front, Nyx sat down next to her librarian brother. Starlight caught her out of the eye and processed to get up and move herself over to the seats on the other side Luminance. The action caused a rock to form in her aunt’s throat.

“The cold shoulder treatment it is then,” the Defender of Equestria sighed dragging the dragon’s eyes to her, “I hope this doesn’t continue.”

“It will only continue as long as you keep this up hunt for Discord,” the dragon commented. He place a claw on her shoulder and looked into her dagger pupils and added, “You know as well as I do that trails go cold as time goes on. For all we know, he could be outside of Equestria, plotting his next move.”

“Or he could be right under our noses and we haven’t tried sniffing him out,” the alicorn countered trying to hold back her anger. The dragon could say nothing as he pulled his claw of his sister and supported his head with it.

With the given time to think, the knight realized what she has said and hung her head in shame, “I am becoming Ahoof, right?” Spike looked back at her without moving his head and nodded.

“Try to fix that please Nyx,” he replied, “You’ve changed once before, and I know you can do it again but, this change is not for the better for everypony. Not even yourself.”

The black coated mare sat quietly with her eyes closed, deep in thought. With a deep breath, she re-opened them and said, “After the ceremony, I’ll fly to Canterlot and have a talk with Celestia. Hopefully she can give me a bit of guidance on how to approach this.”

Placing a claw on his forehead once again, the dragon replied, “You don’t need guidance, you know what you need to do,” he brought his head around to the direction of ivory city, encased in a glowing force field much like the one Twilight’s brother had made during the Royal Wedding, “As for talking with the Princess, you won’t have to travel far.”

The alicorn joined him in looking back spotting an airship floating down with a score of pegasi flanking its sides. Whispers started spreading as more and more of the gathered crowd turned to watch the procession land outside the graveyard.

Princess Celestia and a score of unicorn guards unloaded from the airship. The Co-Ruler of Equestria wore a dark dress that expressed her full feelings for the unavoidable event starting soon. After a slight debate with a guard, the Princess entered the grounds alone while her guard stationed themselves outside the graveyard along the perimeter. Nyx and Spike stood up and greeted the monarch as everypony else bowed as low as they could.

“It’s good to see you well, Nyx,” she addressed her knight, “I heard about the fight you had with the Hydra near Las Pegasi. I do hope things went well.”

Remembering her scar when she arrived at the library, the alicorn replied, “It could have gone better, your highness. How is your sister?”

Adding to the question, Spike interrupted, “Where is Luna? She was here for the others.”

The solar regent looked up at the looming city in the distance, “She’s like me, just in worse condition. As we speak, Luna is locked in her chambers where she has been for the last week. Only opening the door to retrieve her food or set the dishes out.”

Both dragon and his sister joined the princess as she continued to stare at the grand city in the distance. “She’s that nervous about Discord?” Spike said speaking up while keeping his tone down so the rest of the guests wouldn’t hear him. He waited for Celestia to nod before added, “Have you tried to talk to her?”

“I had to push myself into her room in order to speak with her into coming to this,” the sun princess stated shifting her gaze to the librarian, “I wish not to describe what I saw, but I will say that I’ve never seen her in such a state since we were foals.”

“How are you holding up Celestia?” Nyx asked focusing the topic to the white alicorn.

With a heavy sigh, the solar regent admitted, “I feel like I’m reliving the time when you had your…” she casted her glance to the gathered citizens without directing attention to them, “moment as Luna’s shadow.” Nyx could feel the pain she had done during her time in power resurface in her heart and mind.

Breaking both alicorns out of flashback with a slight clearing of his throat, Spike gestured to the empty seats that were left open by them moments earlier. As the sun princess sat down she brought her regal gaze to the unicorn standing guard by the coffin.

“Commander,” she said getting the pegasus leader’s attention. Cloud Chaser walked down from her post to her and saluted once she was standing in front of her, “First, I would like to thank you and your charge for watching over Ponyville this past week. Secondly, would the unicorn under you care happen to be my niece’s grandson?”

Nodding, the guard answered, “Yes, your highness, he is. Would you like me to call him over?”

“No need for that, Commander,” the princess said waving a hoof to her, “I would just like to know why he is here and not with his family safely outside the country.”

“I asked that question myself on the way here, your highness,” Cloud Chaser stated, “His reply was that he is a guard first and foremost, like his grandfather. He would rather defend Equestria rather than take shelter in elsewhere.”

“Thank you, that is all I wanted to hear,” the princess said looking back up to the mention guard, “Past to word to him that his family sends their love.” With a nod the guard returned to her post.

“Where is Cadance anyways?” Spike asked quietly as he watched Cloud Chaser relayed the message to Ash Shield. The Unicorn stallion expression gave a slight shift from the normal guard’s statue like glares to one that would have been accompanied with a sigh in frustration.

“I asked her to travel to Dragon country,” the monarch whispered back, “There she and her family will be safe. Discord only cares about Equestria right now.”

A clearing of the throat brought the attention to a stallion, dressed in a black robe as he came walking past the front isles and stood in front of the coffin. “Are we ready to begin,” he asked as a book that was lifted by his magic opened as he began to silently read the text.

“We gathered here today,” the stallion said without looking up from his book, “to remember Fluttershy, the Bearer of the Element of Kindness. She was dear to all who knew her. Her caring heart for the weak and wounded animals of our town has open our own to accept love from one another and has dispelled any hatred that we could bare. Today we send her off to where her dearest friends wait for her.” Looking up from his book, the stallion added, “Does anypony have any last words for our dear friend?”

To no surprise, Iris was the first to the coffin, eyes pouring tears, “Please come back grandma! Th-the animals love you so.*sniff* P-P-Pepper won’t let me feed him, an-*sniff* and Snowdrop wants you to sing her your lullaby every night still. *sniff* An-*sniff* and I still love listening to your stories so much. Everyone in Ponyville loves you grandma, *sniff* p-p-please come back to us.” The pegasus was left crying at the wooden casket as her mother stepped forward.

Her strength lasted a bit longer, but as she brushed her daughter’s mane and listen to her sobbing voice, the nurse couldn’t stop the tears as they slowly started to form, “Mom, please take care. You had the widest heart in this town. You’ve cared for so many others. You may have hated the attention, but to us, you’ve been our hero.” Nurse Wide Heart picked up her weeping daughter and guided her back to her set.

Nyx was the next one up to the coffin. Silently she stared at the woodwork, trying to picture the sleeping pegasus trapped in it. Finally she spoke up, “You were one of the first ponies that I met when I came into this world. You helped me come out of the shell of fear that I had built around myself like I was a hibernating animal right after winter wrap up. You- you were willing to stand by me when things got rough and even saved me once. Thank you, Fluttershy. Tell everypony that I love them now as much I did back then.” The alicorn sat down as others from the crowd got up and said their thanks.

When the last of the Ponyville residents had their say, the princess stood and walked up to the coffin, “My dear Fluttershy, I wish to thank you one last time for being a close friend to Luna, Twilight and myself. All of Equestria wouldn’t be the loving country without you.” Withdrawing a bright red feather from her dress, Celestia laid it on the coffin, “Philomeena sends her love as well with this feather of hers. May you find peace, my little pony.” She returned to her seat as the signal was given to levitate the casket into the hole at the base of the statute.

********

Flying above foreign land, a scarlet red pegasus flew violently against the flow of wind through the a valley pass. His head rotated helping his scanning eyes for any signs of trouble. A cross breeze caught him by surprise and pushed him off course. Recovering swiftly, he returned to his search. His satchel fought against him as it made more drag for him to face.

Catching a sudden shift of smell in the air, he inhaled deeply before speaking out loud, “So that is the smell of Equestria?” Shifting his weight, he dove for the base of the valley, “I’m almost there-”

“HEEEEEELLLLPPPP!!”  A cry went out beneath him. Tilting a wing, the flyer circled around to see several bulks of brown and white feathers dive into a clearing of the woods. Know all too well these sounds; he increased his speed to the opening in the tree line.

In the clearing, he saw an azure mare encircled by four creatures armed with talons. “GRIFFINS!” he barked into the clearing. The half bird half lion creatures looked at him as the stallion continued, “LOOKING FOR ME!?” Taking his bag off his back side, the pegasus threw it down on top of one of them, knocking it out. The other three shot off the ground as the pegasus lead them on a chase through the cloud banks.

Cutting around a big puffy one, the flyer waited for his pursuers to catch up. The first two flew by without paying attention to the sides of the bank. When the third one came by, the pegasus flew himself at it. Attacking with his fore hooves to the griffin’s skull, he managed to knock it out and left it to fall to the ground.

The other two griffins came back around and charged him with rage for their unconscious companions. He spun around in mid-air and bucked the two in the beaks, breaking one of them in process. Giving the hurt predator time to recover, he spun back around and tackled the one not dealing with the broken beak and pushed it back to the ground.

Smashing through the canopy, he started to deal blow after blow to the griffin’s face in hopes to break his beak as well. “Stop! Stop! I surrender!” the wounded creature shouted at him.

“SURE YOU DO!” the pegasus barked back, rage poured from his lips, “AND WHEN I RELEASE YOU, YOU’LL JUST COME BACK AT NIGHT AND-”

“That will be enough,” a mare’s voice said behind the two. Turning around, the flyer stared at the mare he just saved.

“ARE YOU MAD!?” he shouted at her, “THESE THINGS HAVE DONE WORSE TO PONIES I KNOW THAN THIS!”

The unicorn’s horn lit up and lifted the viscous pony off the griffin, “I said that’s enough.” She looked at the beast that lay on its back with a talon holding a wing riddled with branches, “Take your friends and leave.” Not willing to stay near the hot headed pegasus any longer, the griffin ran through the trees.

“So,” the pegasus said as the mare set him down on the ground, “You’re a griffin kisser like every other Equestrian dirt digger. Wonderful.”

Offended, the unicorn walked right to his face and said, “I demand you take your words back right now. I would never engage myself in such kind of behavior with those foul characters.”

“Pfff,” he snorted, meeting her gaze, “That’s not what I meant little miss horn wielder. I saying you go soft on the griffins. It’s one reason why I hate Equestrian’s whole ‘love and tolerance’ policies.”

“Then why are you traveling to Equestria?” she asked hitting the nail on the head.

The pegasus looked off to the side before staring at the way he came from, “I’m just passing through to get to as far as possible from griffin lands.”

“Why’s that?” the unicorn queried, “It seems you liked teaching those feathered fools a lesson.”

Spitting at the ground, he flared his wings and stated, “I would rather rip those feather brained power hungry foals that have their own tails down their throats wings off than teach them a lesson.”

The unicorn smirked. While the words would normally make her lose her lunch, she enjoyed the rage leaking off every word the pegasus spoke, “If you want, I could give you the power you need to do just that.”

Snorting again, the pegasus replied, “Sure, and I’ll be shooting rainbows from my rear.”

“Oh, but what she says is true my friend,” the cheery voice answered, “to some extent.”

Wheeling around on his fore hooves, he shouted out to the new voice, “Show yourself!”

From the behind a thick oak tree, the ruler of chaos step out and threw his arms wide open, “Here I am!” he snapped his fingers and reappeared next to the pegasus, “Now I’m here.”

“Who are you and what do you want!” the flyer fighter shouted to the king of chaos, flaring his wings.

“You don’t who I am?” Discord said sounding hurt, “You wound me so. But I guess I shouldn’t make my offer with giving you my name. I’m Discord, a please sure met you. And you are?”

“I don’t why you care about it,” the pegasus commented before saying, “It’s Feather Burner.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Discord said happily as he offered his eagle claw.

“Don’t offer me that fiendish hand,” the scarlet flyer snapped as he batted the claw away with a hoof.

The unicorn walked up to the draconequus and whispered into his ear, “I think it reminds him of griffins.”

“You don’t say,” he replied rubbing his bruised claw, “No matter, while my assistant can’t really give you the power you need-”

“You don’t say?” Feather Burner interrupted with a slight tilt of the head.

“Quite a rude one this is,” Discord whispered to Trick Mirror. Raising his voice, he continued to address the pegasus, “Anyways, I can give that which you want.” He opened his paw to reveal a golden necklace. The stallion could feel the magic radiating from it that he took a step back before approaching it.

Right when he was about to touch it, the ruler of chaos pulled his paw back and said, “Now wait a moment. I can’t just give this anyway. Oh nononono. No, I make deals.”

The pegasus stared at the paw the held the jeweled necklace, “You said you can give me whatever I want?”

“Anything in world!”

“Then you have a deal.”

********

“To Fluttershy!” cheered the gathered ponies as they raised their mugs filled with sweet crisp apple cider. Starlight quietly set her mug down after finishing off the refreshing drink. To either side of her, the ponies that she spent the last week with where talking about the great many tales they had with the shy pony.

“Oh, remember that time when we were in the Crusaders and Fluttershy took us on that hike along the edge of the Everfree?” Coconut pointed out with her mug viciously, nearly spilling the contents within.

“Remember it?” Autumn replied as she dodged the mug as it was approached her face, “Shoot, Ah swear one of us soiled themselves when she used the Stare on us ta keep us quiet.” Off to the side the unicorn caught Storm trying to support his crying roommate as the violet pegasus shed tears into her mug of cider.

“I don’t remember that one,” Luminance said with a hoof under her chin.

“Well duh, you were in Canterlot at that time,” Coconut Pop said taking another drink.

Putting the puzzle pieces together, she exclaimed, “Oh, that’s right. I was visiting Grandmother at that time.”

“And ya came back with yer cutie mark,” the farmer added.

Setting her mug down after taking a sip, the interior designer nodded and replied, “Indeed I did. Though now that I think about it, I can’t really remember my time in the Crusaders.”

Refilling her mug at a nearby barrel, Coco stated, “That’s because you never were in the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”

“I was too,” the yellow unicorn said putting a hoof on the table, “I even have one of the capes in my room.”

Placing a smug grin on her face, Autumn countered, “That’s Sweetie Belle’s isn’t it?” The unicorn held her ground for a minute before sitting back down and nodded in submission. The other three cheerfully giggled at her.

At the other end of the table, Crab Apple was laughing gleefully as he overheard the conversation. “Woowee,” he exclaimed to no one, “Ah bet that girl could see through a changeling’s disguise.”

“That would be a very useful skill to have in the guard,” a mare’s voice said behind him. Turning around he saw the undercover guard commander taking a seat next to him.

“Well dip me in sugar and call me a Candy Apple,” he exclaimed, “It’s good to see you again Cloud Chaser.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t seen me earlier,” the pegasus replied, “I’ve been here for about a week now.”

“Really?” the stallion asked, “Well that explains why Ah haven’t seen ya in Canterlot for a while.”

Chuckling, the pegasus clinked her mug of cider against his, “Speaking of seeing ponies, I finally got a letter from Melody.”

“Really?” he exclaimed before starting to take a sip, “What is our rising star doing these days?”

“Well instead of rising, she is more raising a star of her own,” the commander answered making Crab paused before the sweet liquid touched his lips.

“Mind repeating that, miss?” he asked seating the mug down.

Cloud Chaser gave him a puzzled glance before bursting out into a fit of laughter, “You’re telling me that you didn’t know that Melody had a child for seven years?”

The wagon puller slammed a hoof down on the table, “Gosh darn it, she beat us again. First it was tha Cutie Marks, and then came to getting a job, and now she has a family? Darn it, where does tha time go?”

“It’s not we tried to start a family,” the pegasus said sampling her drink again, “Though I haven’t met the perfect stallion for me yet.”

Raising his mug up, the stallion shouted to his old friend, “Well, here’s to us single folk.” The commander chuckled and banged her mug against his.

Back at her end of the table, Starlight sighed as she took another drink while the prankster drove off on another story. Finishing her drink off, she got up and walked away, tired of the long tales of deeds Fluttershy had done with them.

She had somepony else that needed talking too, one that was still crying herself dry. Placing a hoof on the violet pegasus’s shoulder she asked, “You want to talk about it?”

Looking up, the pegasus murmured out, “I-I am fine. Storm is keeping *sniff* me company.” The grey unicorn looked up at the white flyer before taking a seat.

“No offence to him or anything,” she started, feeling unsure about what she was doing, “But while is a great friend to talk to… it’s more like talking to a wall than another pony.” She looked back at the ex-guard who gave the slightest shrug with his wings.

“O-okay,” Iris Drop said as she looked up at the unicorn addressing her. The two sat in uneasy silence as the merriment from the pegasus mare’s friend continued.

Fed up with the quiet mare, Starlight asked, “So any stories about Fluttershy that you want to share?”

Iris looked out to the apple field nearby. Wiping a tear, she began, “One time, when I was small, I *sniff* I broke my wing. After I got it fixed, Fluttershy always came over with an animal or two and they *sniff* would always play with me.” The pegasus wiped another tear from her eyes as her voice started regain its strength, “One time she brought over this ferret that just rested on my neck all day. It even managed to stay on when I was walking around the Hospital. That day we check on the newborn foals and read this nice story about this little duckling that was really a swan.”

“Aww, the tale of the ‘Ugly Duckling,’” Luminace said over hearing the story, “It’s such a classic story.”

Starlight cast a glare at the yellow unicorn for eavesdropping before looking back at Iris and asking, “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” she said finally realizing the her own voice’s renewed vigor, “I don’t know why though?”

“Shoot,” Autumn pitched in, “That’s what we been doing this whole time. Talking about tha good, forgetting tha bad. We all love Fluttershy, and talking about her helps us remember her and keeps her close to our hearts.”

Iris thought about that before nodding agreement, “You’re right, thank you everypony.”

“That’s what friends are for!” Coco shouted grabbing Autumn and Luminance in her forelegs.

On the far side of the table, the dragon librarian sat listening while staring into the cider. Speaking quietly, Spike said, “It’s what friends are for alright… and what family is for too.”

********

“Ow,” cried a stallion as a box dropped on his hoof, “What’cha put in that, rocks?”

An aged unicorn looked down at him, “Parts for that airship engine that needs to be finished by next Monday.”

Treating his injured limb, the stallion barked back, “Oh, come on! I got only two days to finish this project and that engine will take me till Wednesday to build.”

“Then why are you sitting around here for?” the unicorn turning his back to the complaining stallion, “Get to work.”

The stallion mocked the final words spoken to him as he turned back to the train that was being built. Picking up a blow torch in his mouth, he trotted over to the mass of steel. After spitting the torch into a hoof, he lowered the metal visor and processed to conduct his work.

A surge of pain in his forehead caused him to drop his tool midway through his wielding. The massive headache continued to swell as he saw a unicorn walk up to him. “Can you please kill whatever magic you’re using?” he cried out. The mare was startled as she was addressed.

“And why should I?” she asked all high and mighty.

With another surge of pain, the stallion cried out, “It’s giving me a splitting headache!”

Right then the aged unicorn came marching, “Why are you making that ratchet?” He looked at the mare then back at him, “She isn’t even using any magic!”

“Oh, is that is what’s putting the colt in such pain?” the mare asked looking down at the stallion.

“Yeah, he get these headaches whenever magic is used around him,” the elder unicorn said.

The mare sighed and gave a flick of her horn, “If that is the cause then I shall remove my magic from here.” Her coat and mane rapidly changed colors to much of the other unicorn’s surprise.

The stallion got up on his hooves still rubbing his head as the pain slowly faded away. “Thank Celestia for your understanding,” he said politely before added, “I thought my head was going to explode at any second.”

“Even without a head,” his employer barked to him, “I want that engine done by Monday!” the stallion sighed and returned to his work.

Looking back at the unicorn mare, the elder asked, “How may I be of your service today?”

The azure mare looked around and said loud enough for the wielding pony to overhear, “Nothing really, just browsing your products, seeing how your employees are doing.”

The aged unicorn jumped back, “Are you saying that you’re an inspector?”

The wielder lowered his torch and shouted back, “If you are, then please give this place a bad rating. I could use a new job.”

“Get back you work,” the second unicorn barked at his employee, “I’m not paying you to talk to a customer.”

The mare waved a hoof in front of her, “Oh no, I’m nothing of the sort,” she threw a glance to the stallion, “But I am willing to offer you a new job if you would like?”

The stallion stood up, tossed the torch to the ground and asked, “How much are you paying?”

The mare smiled and replied, “Twice as much as he is paying you.”

The elder unicorn took a step back at the mare’s offer before turning his gaze at the stallion, “If you stay working with me, I’ll triple your pay.” The stallion chuckled as he undid the work jacket he had on and let it slid to the floor as he removed the welding helmet.

“You treat me like dirt,” he said walking to a locker. He opened it and removed a blue hat that he placed on his head, “and you pay me with dirt. Good day and good luck with those orders without a laborer to do all the hard work for ya.” With that, the stallion marched out of the building with the unicorn mare behind him.

“So what kind of work do you need me to do?” the stallion asked as the pair walked down the middle of a crowded market street. The mare had taken the lead as they had entered the ocean of shoppers.

“Not much really,” she replied as she ducked underneath a low flying pegasus. She looked around and saw multiple unicorns using magic freely. “I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“Why aren’t you crying out in pain,” she asked looking over her shoulder. What she saw was the stallion’s eye was twitching madly.

He gave a weak chuckle, “Simple spells like levitation don’t hurt as much. But what you were using back there must have been really complex, or at least had a lot of power behind it.”

She laughed back, “It was a bit of both, I’m afraid. But my employer should have a cure for your pains.”

The stallion gave a cheery laugh, “Shoot, if that was what you’re offering back there instead of double pay, I would of worked for ya for free.”

“That’s reassuring,” the mare said taking a left turn down an alleyway. She casted a small spell that created a ball of light to brighten up the soot covered passageway.

“Hrrg,” she heard the stallion flinch in pain. Looking behind her, the unicorn mare saw his eyelids twitching madly as he tried to keep his head away as possible. “Too… much… magic… in… it…” the unicorn nodded and dimmed the light as much as could without losing the spell itself.

“I never knew earth ponies could react so poorly to magic,” she said as they left the other end of the alley way. She dismissed the ball of light.

“Did I look like an earth pony when I put my hat on?!” he shouted in offence as they approached a train yard.

The unicorn mare thought over the first time seeing him. Once she plucked out the right memory she gasped, “How did that happen?”

“Short version, I got to meet the side of a railway cart when I was young,” the stallion explained kicking up a small pile of rocks onto the train tracks. He stared out over to the train yard, giving the lines of both new and old trains a distanced gaze.

When he finally turned back to her, he asked, “So where is this cure for my condition.” He was answered with a sharp spike of magic induced suffering that caused him to collapse as something teleported in. Recovering from the sudden pain, the stallion stared at the mismatched legs of the creature in front of him.

“I do believe this will help,” the creature spoke as he placed something on the engineer’s head. A sudden rush purged his mind of every bit of magical pains he was forced to suffer with. Standing up, the now pain-free stallion gazed up at his savior.

“The pain?” he whispered to the draconequus’s face, “It’s gone? It’s gone. It’s gone! IT’S GONE!” he nearly knocked the unicorn down as he leapt for joy.

“So I take it you accept my offer?” Discord asked as he eyes the prancing pony.

He stopped after several more bounces and replied, “Hay, as long as I can keep whatever this thing is, I’ll send the princesses to the sun and moon on rockets.”

The chaotic king burst out into laughter, “Hahaha, I like this guy already, hahaha.”

*********

“You okay, cousin?” Ash Shield asked at the two unicorns walked up to the library.

“Wha?” Starlight said coming out of her thoughts. The two of them had remained silent during the whole walk back from Sweet Apple Acres.

The guard trotting around so he could face her, “You seemed out of it.”

She shook her head, “No, I just said something that I shouldn’t have.”

The stallion rolled his eyes, “Haven’t we all.”

“But I said things to Nyx, my aunt,” the mare countered, hoping to make a difference between them.

Ash stood and stared at her while saying, “So? What’s your point? We all regret things we say or do. I say the best way to recover to that kind of stuff is apologize.”

She returned the stare back at him, “But truth is, Nyx kind of deserved what I said to her since.”

Putting a hoof on his face, the unicorn guard sighed and said, “Just give me the whole story.” Upon request, his cousin relayed the events that happen earlier that morning and during the funeral. He stood and thought over every last point that was said.

With a nod of his head, the stallion came to his conclusion, “You’re a contradiction.”

“Why am I not surprised to hear that,” Starlight replied with a sigh and a face-hoof.

“Well look at what you said, cousin,” Ash started holding out a hoof, “You said that Nyx was going on about how she was still going to search for Discord, right?” the mare nodded, “And you followed up with your Ahoof bit and a cold shoulder treatment,” Starlight nodded again, “The way I see it is, Nyx is already seeing the effects of what she said. And based on the look she had before ceremony, she’s already trying to make up.”

“They why wasn’t she at the reception?” Starlight countered, “I know why, she took off after Discord again like she said she would. And I bet you, the next time I will hear about her, it will be when she saves Equestria from Discord.”

The stallion place a hoof on her shoulder which was shrugged off, “I wouldn’t be sure about that. Nyx has a hundred years behind her. I can guarantee that she has said or done things that she still regrets to this day.”

Starlight about it for a bit as she began walking again, “Yeah, but it still doesn’t change the fact that she isn’t here.” She pushed the wooden door to the library open. Her eyes shrank as the first thing she saw was a black alicorn sitting at the table reading from a book entitled, Ponyville and the Surrounding Area.

“Starlight!” the alicorn said standing up. The unicorn started to back step away only to be push through the doorway by the much stronger Ash Shield. Once the mare was fully through the threshold, the stallion stepped out of the library and forced the door close on her with magic.

“Ash, let me out!” Starlight started barking as she kicked the door.

“What did we just talk about?” she heard him through the wooden door, “Here is your chance to make amends.”

“I’m not ready!” the mare replied ramming the door this time. The hard frame bounced the student off and set her back a fair distance.

The stallion chuckled at the statement making his second cousin stare at the doorway in confusion, “Sometimes you can’t prepare for everything, Starlight! Now go!” Before Starlight could say anything else, a bright light engulfed her. Reopening her eyes, the grey unicorn met turquoise eyes as they gazed at her in disappointment.

“I ummm, want to say-” Starlight began lowering her gaze to the table below.

“I’m sorry,” Nyx said her voice in a sadden tone. Starlight looked up to see the dragon eyes were no longer disappointed but instead upset. “I know that I need to keep looking for Discord. But, I forgot one thing that was just as important; my family.”

“I-I-I,” her niece stuttered.

“That is while I’ll be looking for Discord around Ponyville, and Ponyville alone,” the alicorn said, her voice rising, “This way I can defend my family first.”

“Umm,” the student started, “But what if Discord is elsewhere?”

Her aunt nodded her head, “True he could be, but I can fly faster than most pegasi while in my smoke cloud. I was able to track my times throughout the years. I can reach the furthest town in under a hour from Ponyville.”

The grey unicorn sat stunned as Nyx continued, “I know what I said made you upset and I’m sorry for that. Do you forgive me?”

Starlight sat for a moment before looking back at the door, “That son of an alicorn…” she mumbled.

“More like grandson of an alicorn,” Nyx said chuckling.

Pointing a hoof at her, Starlight barely manage to say, “Don’t get technical with me, Aunt,” before bursting out with laughter. As if that was the queue, Ash Shield walked back through the doorway chuckling at the joke.

“So now that everything is better,” she started before looking at his cousin, “What do need to say.”

The unicorn pushed her blue mane out of her eyes as she got up. Looking at the alicorn, the student took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry I called you Ahoof. I’m sorry for keeping my distance. It’s just your allowing me to fully use my magic, despite the horde of failures and yet it’s not overbearing me. I just wish I could get the same from my mother.”

“It’s okay, Starlight,” the black alicorn replied, “I said things just like Ahoof. And to go along with the story, Discord is much like that whale. But I’m going to change that. I can trust the guards in the other towns to look for him. Ponyville needs me. You need me.”

“Thank you, Nyx,” her niece said stepping closer to the alicorn so the two embraced each other.

“And that is what family is for,” Ash said as he join the two the hug.

Outside the library, leaning next to an open window, Spike looked at his mug of cider he brought from the farm. Giving it a shake, he said quietly, “Now I just need to tell her how I feel. But I got time now that she is here in Ponyville for a while.” With that he finished the cider and went to the library’s front door.


> Chapter 7: The Rematch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 7: The Rematch.

Sounds of glee from a foal outside the window brought the attention of those inside the library one evening. The alicorn within shifted her eyes to the nearby window where the cries of joy poured in from. “Oh, I can’t believe that I got a leading part!” said a filly as she hopped alongside her mother.

“Now settle down sweetie,” her mother attempted to calm her child. The foal gave her an ‘ok’ as their voices drifted off into the night. Nyx peaked out of the window to see a two unicorns walking towards the center of town. The filly was an unnatural white with her mane dyed a stunning dark purple. Nyx thought for a moment before looking back inside the building.

“Does anypony know what’s going on tonight?” Nyx asked those inside hoping to get some answers.

“Not a clue,” Starlight shrugged before turning to the cast on Iago’s wing. “Hold still you silly bird or you could end up ruining it forever.” The sparrow chirped out furiously from his restraints.

“Why not ask your brother?” Ebony Wing questioned as he laid a card on the table in front of fellow guard, “He should know more about this town than me.”

The Defender of Equestria watch as Ash dropped a card on top of the pegasus’s, “Where is he anyways? I haven’t seen him since dinner.”

“Upstairs last time I knew,” the pony playing doctor answered again before inching a hoof near the wing. With vigor, Iago attacked the hoof once it was in ranged. With a cry of pain she withdrew her hoof with lightning speed. “Iago, I’m trying to help. Do you want to remain flightless?”

With another crossed chirp, the feathered pet made another peck at her despite the distance between the two. The alicorn started her ascent as she spoke to the unicorn deep in his game, “Ash could you give your cousin a hoof?” For a short moment, the royal guardspony looked away from his game and allowed his horn to glow.

Starlight gave his horn a tap that broke his focus, “I don’t need any help with this ungrateful little feather-bag.” Iago returned the insult with a fury of chirps. With a sigh, the alicon passed through the threshold.

As she approached Spike’s door, she overheard the dragon talking. Unable to make out what he was saying, she moved closer to his door only for her to hear the squawking of Pee Wee. She planted her ear on the door hoping to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“I told you, I’m not ready,” The dragon said only to be counter with another squawk. “I know she’ll be looking for it. In fact she asked for it last week.” Nyx leaned more on the door making creak. Flinching at her mistake, the alicorn pushed the door the rest of the way. Inside, she saw the dragon standing front of his bed and his pet perched on his shoulder.

“Oh, Nyx,” Spike said as he gave his pet a quick glance before making eye contact. “Can I help you with anything?”

“I was wondering about something,” the alicorn said catching something moving out of sight. She shook her head slightly to bring her focus back to what she wanted to ask about. “I saw this filly walking by the library just now-”

“We live in the middle of town remember,” the dragon pointed out in a slight nervous tone as he made a gesture to the window, “Ponies and foals walk by here all the time.”

Nyx stared at him, “This filly had her coat and mane dyed to look like Rarity.”

The librarian stood and stared at his sister in pure confusion. He was about to open his mouth when Pee Wee attacked his head. He looked up at the phoenix and said, “What was that for?” The bird chirped at him while motioning out the window.

Following the fire bird’s direction, both dragon and alicorn walked over and gazed through the glass. There sitting by town hall was a stage with lights shining on it from every direction. It was seconds before the librarian made the connection between the two.

“It must be for the play that the school is doing,” he said as he stepped away from the window.

The alicorn continued to stare through the glass letting the words sink in. Finally, she asked, “I thought the spring festival was later this year?”

“It is,” Spike replied as he took the time to move something from underneath the bed to a more hidden location, “But the new teacher is bit of theater lover and has the kids perform the play that they will be doing during the festival early. Why? Don’t ask me.”

Nyx looked up from the window as several loud knocks came from downstairs. There was a brief silence before the brother and sister heard their niece call up, “Uncle! Coco is here to see you!”

“Be down in a second!” he shouted back down before looking back at Nyx, “That must be Coco coming to tell me to come to the play. And I’ll bet that she’ll ask you to come as well.”

“I guess that will fine,” the alicorn said as she allow her brother lead her down the stairs. As they reached the base of the stairwell, the mare gave the doorway a glance to see the prankster’s braids following her in the up and down motion.

Shifting her huge grin to them, Coco shouted, “Spike, Nyx, you guys got to come to this year’s play. This year, the kids are doing my personal favorite. I’m so ecstatic that I’m elastic!”

Starlight was standing off to the side with a face of total confusion. Shifting her gaze to her relatives, the mare said, “I got a feeling this play involves Pinkie Pie in some way, shape or form.” The prankster nodded viciously.

“What play involves a Rarity look-a-like and Pinkie Pie?” the alicorn asked.

“Well come and see!” Coco interrupted all thought process by grabbing Starlight and started dragging her through the door.

The unlucky mare cried out as she tried to fight the iron grip, “Coco! Let go of me! Let go of meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

Sighing, the librarian made for the door, “Well let’s see what’s got Coco so excited that she ponynapping others to come watch it.” He eyes the two guards, “You two wanna come?”

The pegasus place another card onto the pile before both stallions rushed to hit the top of the pile with their hooves. While Ebony was the faster of the two, Ash’s slap carried more power making the pegasus flinch in pain.

While the flyer treated his limb, the unicorn replied, “I think the commander will let us enjoy some free time.”

“Ash, that hurt!” his guard friend shouted at him.

With a chuckle, the stallion replied, “That comes with the game.”

With a shake of her head, Nyx turned and left the tree building. No more than two hoofsteps out the door, a mare ran into her.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she replied picking herself up. The mare looked up into the dragon eyes of the Equestria’s Knight and froze.

“No worries,” the alicorn said looking down at her as the unicorn stared at her. “Is there something wrong?”

The mare snapped back into focus and used her magic to adjust her dress, “N-nothing at all. I was just in hurry.”

“Hey there, cutie,” Wing spoke out from behind the alicorn. The mare’s knees locked up as he trotted by. “What is a beautiful mare like you doing that you need to be in a hurry?”

“I-I-I was-” the mare stuttered as she diverted her eyes and blushed.

“Ebony, what happened to what you promised Trick before she was ponynapped?” the unicorn guard asked walking between the two of them.

Flaring his wings, the pegasus shouted back, “Hey, don’t accuse me of cheating on her. Can’t you see I was trying to set you up?”

The mare looked up at them with mixed emotions as the unicorn started to walk away, “I know you want to help me find a mare but I can do find by myself.”

“Says the stallion who has to have his cousin to deal with a mare that is flirting with him,” The flyer said following his fellow guardspony.

Nyx looked from the two stallions back to the mare that ran into her, “You’ll have to excuse my friends. Anyways, I wish you a good evening.” With that, the alicorn restarted her trek to the center of town. The dragon followed close behind with both birds on his shoulders. The unicorn watched as the odd group made their way to the town’s center. Sighing at a stroke of luck, she smiled wickedly at them before trotting out of town.

*******

As she approached the castle ruins, Trick Mirror’s coat and mane colors shifted back to normal as she tapped a marble wall. As if on cue, a portal opened up underneath her hooves and she slowly sunk in.

Reappearing deep in the gemstone mines, she tossed her saddlebags off. They were quickly tackled by the diamond dog that was moments before relaxing next to his master.

“Were you successful?” Discord asked from his summoned throne. “It took you longer than you expected.”

The ex-guard gave her report, “Due to the amount of guards in other towns the schedules was changed up a lot. It took me awhile to get the timing right.”

“No gems,” Hornclaw stated with disgust. “Just silly necklace.” From his claw, a pale band was thrown from the bag. As if something was controlling her, Trick Mirror dove for it. With luck she caught it in her teeth before it could land on the ground.

The draconequus reached down and took the band from the unicorn’s mouth and looked at closely at it. “You’re sure that this will help defeat Nyx? It doesn’t look like it will even fit.”

“Trust me on this one,” Trick Mirror replied as she stood.

A stallion snorted, “Says the mare that is all about mistrust.” The unicorn turned around as a pegasus marched up to her.

“Truth is, Feathers,” another stallion said walking up to the two of them, “I do believe that one of the bad apples not with us is the distrustful one.”

“Why is that, Discord?” Trick Mirror questioned moving her gaze away from the stallions as Feather Burner started talking down to the other.

The king of chaos took the unicorn in his arm, “Well, my dear assistant, the others are busy elsewhere, because, after tonight, the fun begins.”

The diamond dog ran over to him and asked gleefully, “And I gets mine gems?”

With a pat on Hornclaw’s head, Discord replied, “Yes…”

******

“Fillies and Gentlecolts!” shouted the school teacher in a booming voice, “I want to thank you all for coming this fine evening. Tonight is the thirteenth anniversary of the Ponyville Elementary School Pageant.” There was a huge round of hoof stomping coming from the crowd as Coco lead Nyx and the others to the rest of her friend in the far back.

“This better be good if it’s got Coco this energized,” Starlight commented as she took a seat next Autumn Gold.

Autumn gave her a nudged in the shoulder as she replied, “It better be since this here is tha only show Ah willing to go freely to.”

“I’m guessing you not a fan of the theater,” the unicorn pointed out.

With a shake of her hoof the farmer shot down the guess, “Nah, Ah enjoy a good show as much as the next pony. Ah just prefer to be home working most of tha time.”

“Says the pony who has a hard time bucking apples,” The student deadpanned. Autumn just sighed and rolled her eyes.

“As most of you may already know,” the stallion continued bring all eyes up to him, “the production done here this evening will be performed during the spring festival later this season. Tonight’s production, in honor of its one hundredth year as one of Equestria’s most popular plays, I give you… The Reunion of the Royal Pony Sisters.” There was another round of hoof stomping as the lights began to dim.

“Of course,” Spike exclaimed with a slap of his head. “How could I forget?”

“I would like to ask myself that very same question,” Nyx added as she spotted smoke drifting onto the stage. “I came up with this play in the first place.”

“SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Coco hushed from her seat. She gave the two of them a stern glare before returning her eyes to the stage where a hooded stallion came walking through the fog.

“Beware...” he began in a deep voice, “Beware you pony folk, for the tale I am about to tell is no joke. A story begun in days, months, and years gone by, about the pony sisters who, in harmony, ruled the sky.”

Nyx watched as the set pieces were moved on to stage. The lights shifted to reveal two fillies standing on top of them. “The eldest did guide the sun when it woke, raising up at the dawn,” the narrator said keeping up with the rhyming bit, “The other brought the moon when the day had ended, and the sun to had gone.”

“The pony they have to play Zecora’s part is not half bad,” she commented on the performance so far.

“I agree,” her dragon brother whispered back, “But he is forcing it big time. You can just tell it when somepony is truly a custom to-”

“SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Coco hushed the two of them once again. With a roll of her eyes the defender continued to watch the fillies and colts react the story she once did herself.

*******

Above the stage, the guard commander sat looking over the entire town hoping to spot any signs of trouble. Chancing a look down she watch as the two fillies acting as her princesses tried their best to play their parts.

“I am tired of no pony seeing my night,” the young Luna look-a-like stated adding a hoof stop to bring out the anger in her voice. “I work so hard on it and all they do is sleep through it. It’s beautiful but nopony ever sees it but me.”

Cloud Chaser took in deep breath; bring her vision back up to the skyline. The sound of a passing nightingale completely covered up the actor below. Her eyes followed the noise to catch sight the night bird. But instead of getting a glimpse of the feather flyer, she spotted a red stallion sharing her cloud.

“Hello, griffin kisser,” he said before the guard’s vision went black.

******

Down in the crowd, a scream broke the tranquility of the theater production. Everypony looked up to where the mare that cried out was pointing. Every pony saw an orange form fall down onto the stage.

“Commander!” both guards shouted out. They rushed over to the flyer as she made a dull thud on the stage. Panic started to rise among the gathered ponies, bringing more chaos to the once peaceful show.

Calming, Nyx stood up onto her hoofs and lighted up her horn. “Everypony settle down,” she said in a booming voice. At once the crowd froze from the power in her voice.

Reducing the volume the alicorn started to give commands, “Everypony needs to remain calm. Parents please gather your children and return home. Mayor, I would like you to organize a search party for the one who did this.” As if relaxed by the presence of their knight, the populace of Ponyville began to organize by her command.

But the sailing soon became rough once again as a disembodied voice called out, “Awwww, no fair, right when the show was getting good to watch.”

The alicorn’s blood went cold as fog started to roll on to stage. The smell of hot fudge drifted into her nostrils causing a shiver to pass over her. A glance to her side show that her friends were suffering from the presence of absolute chaos as well. Autumn was furiously chewing at her bottom lip while Iris was practically filled with jumping beans. Strom went rigid so fast that his locked knees were starting to take a toll on him. Both unicorns cowered under the looming force that hung over them while Coconut tried her best to give a weak smile while holding down the bouncing pegasus.

Shifting her gaze to the dragon, she met his eyes as he spoke two words, “He’s here.”

As if on cue, the fog turn a stunning hue of orange as it started to swirl around the three guards. Then in a blinding light, the three of were gone and standing in their place was none other than the King of Chaos himself.

“Good evening, Ponyville!” he said in his usual tone. “Wow, it’s been what? A hundred years since I laid eyes on this place and not a thing has changed.”

“Discord!” Nyx shouted from where she stood. “Why is it now that you choose to come and face me?”

“I stand corrected;” the draconequus said finally spotting the alicorn “One thing has changed. Ponyville has accepted one of their greatest enemies as a friend, oh how sweet it is.”

“Answer the question,” the defender of pony kind stated marching up to the stage.

“I’m here because you’re here,” the chaotic being replied gesturing a claw to the alicorn.

“What the heck is he talking about?” Coconut Pop asked the unicorn student.

Stunned at sudden appearance of her Aunt’s foe, Starlight mumble out a replied, “I-I-I have no clue.”

“Ah think he’s ah saying that Discord was looking for Nyx,” Autumn clear up the riddle for the prankster.

“We don’t have to chat about what he is talking about, ma’am,” Storm stated as he broke into the conversation. “We got to get everypony away from here A.S.A.P.”

Before the stallion could take off, Luminance butted in, “That would be a nice idea, but we are kind of trapped!” Sure to her words, the entire stage area was encased by a tall combination of hedge, dirt and buildings. Ponies who weren’t too stunned at the fiend’s appearance were desperately trying to dig through the mess.

Looking up at the top of the wall, Storm flared his wings, “Then we’ll fly them over.” With those words, he took off for the nearest wall.

Iris took several deep breaths before saying, “I’ll go help,” and took off after the rainbow trail.

“Pee Wee,” Spike said turning to his pet, “Go home, get a quill, some ink and paper.” With a chirp and a nod the fire birds took flight.

“Why in Equestria would dare come looking for me?” Nyx asked as he started circling. The draconequus merely stood in the center of her circle and kept eye contact.

“What else would I want ask Equestria’s most vigilant defender about?” he replied shrugging.

The alicorn’s nostrils flared as she barked, “Quit dancing around the topic.”

“It’s seems to me that you’re the one that is dancing,” he joked cheerfully. This jive didn’t settle with the alicorn as her magic lance appear from nowhere and flung itself at his feet.

“Tch, tch,” the chaotic best sighed, “What are you in such a mood to fight. I came here to talk and chat for a while.”

Nyx stomped her hoof down on the wooden stage, “Then explain why you knocked out Cloud Chaser and I know you did something to those three ponies that were up here when you showed your face.”

“The pegasus’s fall was not of my doing,” Discord stated with a claw on his chest. “In fact that was no in plan at all. I was willing to wait till the end of show. As for the three ‘guardsponies’ that I sent away, they’re outside of Canterlot taking a nice nap. Celestia should get the news in about ten minutes which is more than enough time to have our little chat without interruption.”

“Talk in for those who know they have lost,” the alicorn pointed out lowering her head.

The king of chaos gave a dramatic pose of injury, “Alas, it’s true. I’m no match for you.” He mouth curled up into a smile, “But keep in mind, there are other ponies nearby if we do have to come to blows.

The black knight chanced a look over her shoulder to see the pegasi carrying foals up and over the tall hedges. With a sigh she admitted the truth that was laid out before her. “Fine, I allow you to speak what is on your mind, but I assure you that nothing will change the outcome.”

“Very confident that my tongue is unable to sway your thought,” Discord said before snapping his fingers. At his command, instrument appeared floating on the stage. With his lion paw, he flicked it four times in the air before music started playing from the unattended musical tools.

“I so hope you have an ear for this since I spent weeks preparing it,” he started as the music gave him his intro.

“Well I’ve all about you my dear Nyx,” he started to sing while wrapping his arm around the alicorn’s neck, “from here to Baltimare. But have you ever thought, ‘just for kicks, I’ll show these ponies I don’t care.’”

The draconequus leapt away from evil glare he was getting. With an outward push gesture, the instruments were pushed to the sides of the stage while still play their tune, “You got the power to clean a room.” He jumped back to the knight and gave her horn a slight flick. “It’s all up here in this magic gun.”

From there he step up to front stage and pointed at several random ponies, “With a bzzt, zap, bipbai-boom, it’s time to have a little fun.” The ponies who he pointed at went rigid as their eyes went crazy and their coats lost their color. Being told of this before, Nyx dove off stage to the nearest affected pony and slowly tapped his head with her horn.

Meanwhile, Discord started dancing on the stage while pointing at other ponies. “Cause I say, I’m the King of chaos; your one and only ally. Just send the word to let the fun begin, when you give chaos a try.”

Nyx heard him laugh like a jolly fat buck before the draconequus was on her backside with two silver platters. “Try a cotton cloud, or even some sweet hay fry!” Without warning a white sheet flew over her face.  “There’s no need to hide behind a shroud when you give chaos a try.”

The moment she remove the offending fabric, the defender of Equestria found herself laying on top of several of the hypnotized ponies while other started giving her a hooficure. “Yes ma’am, you can even get free service. You could be on top, the boss, the queen.” She was about to start her spell on the nearest pony she was forcefully relaxing on when she saw Starlight brushing her mane. “Give the word, we’ll rule the world and turn all the ponies greeeeeeeen!” As she focused on trying to cure her niece from the mind spell, she was blinded as the stage lights shifted on to the sea of bright neon green ponies.

Refocusing she started up the spell once again when Discord appeared on top of her. “Get rid of this silly act. Stop being the good guy. Time to fill the banks with all your pranks when you give chaos a try.”  The draconequus gave a slight push on her horn, breaking the connection between her, Starlight and the spell.

As if to add salt on the wound, the chaotic being started dancing on her backside as the hypnotized ponies joined in on the song.

Kicking off her spine, Discord started zapping more and more ponies as he continued singing. “Let your magic loose. Set yourself free.”  He landed between two un-expecting mares and wrapped his arms around them. “You can these two into a treeeeeeee! All you gotta do is POOF! And here ya go haha!”  He snapped his fingers before a huge cloud of smoke erupted between three of them. When the cloud was gone, a sick, gnarled oak was reaching for the sky.

The king of chaos came walking around it still singing, “Didn’t you want to say, ‘I had enough I QUIT! It’s time for me shine and glow!’”

He blinked over to the alicorn as she stood staring at the twisted oak and started poking her. “So don’t sit there think, ‘I don’t wanna.’ That urge is hidden down deep deep inside. So why doncha release all that mana, Discord is here to be your guide.”  In another flash of blinding light both beings of supernatural power were back on the stage. “I know what it takes to have some real fun. It’s call chaos so give it a chance.” He took her by the forehoofs and started spinning her around madly. “Let go of the burden that weighs a ton and take my hand for a spin and dance!”

He released her from the whirlwind spin and sent her into the airspace above the stage. “Madam Nyx my dear, stop living a lie. Together we can rule the world when you give chaos, give chaos, give chaos.” He started snapping his fingers making random things happen. “When you give chaos, give chaos, give chaos. When. You. Give. Chaos. Aaaaaaaaaaaaa liittlee trrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! HAHAHA. HAHAHA. When you give chaos a try. HAH!” With one final snap, the music ended swiftly.

“ENOUGH!” the alicorn shouted out in panic. Summoning everything to her horn, a massive bubble formed around here before expanding. As the bubble touch a pony, their coat and mane return to their natural coloring and anything else the draconequus did to them was expelled.

On the stage, the King of Chaos looked up at the alicorn as she glared at him. “I will never betray my country. I will never betray my friends. And I swear on my name that I will. Never. Betray. My family.”

“So,” he started. He voice was weak and he wiped away a tear, “This is how it will end then huh? You will finish me off and Equestria will remain a boring county with all these happy little ponies. And they’ll have you to thank for keeping the harmony in balance.”

The Knight stared him down, “That is what I promised the day I-“

“Yes, yes I know,” he interrupted before making his voice mimic his foe, “’The day you got your Cutie Mark.’ Bleh, I’m sick of those boring lines about ‘friendship and harmony.’”

The draconequus started walking toward the back of the stage before adding, “How about this Nyx? You and I leave here and fight it out somewhere private. Somewhere where it will be just the two of us. Ummmm. Let’s see… how about… the old ruins out in the Everfree? I do believe you know the place… Nightmare Moon.” With those last words the draconequus vanished in bright light. The tall hedge walls that had encased the stage disappeared as well.

Seeing the way open for them, the town’s ponies hastily grabbed their property and vacated the area leaving only Nyx, Spike, their niece, Autumn and her friends. With a cry, Pee Wee flew in with the writing equipment the librarian had asked for earlier.

Catching the items as they fell from the fire bird’s claws, Spike asked, “It’s a trap you know.”

The alicorn landed next to him. “Don’t you think I already know that,” she replied fighting to keep her anger under controlled. “He wants me to fight him where he can use some dirty trick and turn the tables on me. But I have to go.”

“Don’t you think I already know that,” the dragon stated as his writing claw worked its way along the parchment.

The sound of moaning brought the ears around to where Starlight was supporting her head. Walking over, her aunt asked, “Starlight, are you okay?”

Shaking her head violently, the unicorn stated bluntly, “No, I feel like somepony just took an egg beater to my brains.

“Hold still,” Nyx said as she lowered her horn on top of her niece’s head. A soft warm glow emanated from as the unicorn’s scrunched up eyes relaxed.

“Ahhhhh,” she sighed once the black knight lifted her head away, “Much better. Thanks.”

With a warm smile, alicorn looked to where the forest loomed. “Starlight,” she said after giving herself time to debate, “I want you to head back to library.”

“But Nyx,” the student started to protest, “you know as well everypony else that this just scream ‘trap’.”

Bringing her eyes back down, the alicorn replied, “It may be a trap. But this is a good of a chance as any to get Discord trapped as well.”

“Come again?” Starlight asked with a tilt of her head.

“She means that as long as she is keeping tha fella busy for a spell,” Autumn said as she and her fellow ponies walked up to the two, “tha princesses should be able to drop in and end this game of cat and mouse.”

“Well put, Autumn,” the taller mare complemented. The farmer gave a shrug before stepping aside to give her nurse friend a clear path to Starlight.”

“Hey,” she said as the pegasus shoved a juice box at her.

“Drink,” Iris commanded urging the straw to the unicorn’s month, “You’ll feel much better.”

Gently pushing aside the box, the student mare stated, “Nyx used a spell to clear my head.”

The pegasus gave the soil a slight kick as she voiced counter, “That may be the case, but what if the headache comes back.”

The librarian’s niece stared, unconvinced by the argument. Hopingly, the nurse gave a weak smile as she gently re-offered the drink. With a sigh, Starlight submitted and took the drink. She downed the drink quickly before looking back at her aunt.

“Aunt Nyx, you can’t possibly think you can keep Discord busy long enough without him triggering his trap.”

“She does think that,” the librarian interrupted as he rolled up the scroll. “But I think she can’t.”

“Now Spike,” the alicorn started as she turned around to face him.

“You are not going there alone Nyx,” the dragon stated while pointing at her with the scroll. “Even if flying is faster, it’s still a far distance to actually get from Canterlot to here. It’s even further to the ruins.”

“Discord said it was a private fight,” Nyx tried to counter.

“He isn’t alone,” Spike deadpanned. Everyponies’ eyes were now focused on the librarian as he cleared his throat.

“First off, he said it himself; he wasn’t the one that knocked Cloud Chaser out. That must mean he must have had somepony else that can fly go up there and knock her out there.”

Autumn scratched her chin, “He was mighty sure it wasn’t him. He also said that he wanted for tha show to end before appearing.”

Pointing the scroll as her, the dragon continued, “Correct. It means he wanted to share something with everypony. And he still did have a chance to say it just before he left.”

Her dragon eye shrank as the realization struck hammer on nail. “You’re sure about that?” she asked weakly, hoping he didn’t come to same realization.

“Not only did he say that Ponyville has accepted an enemy as a friend,” Spike stated with utmost honesty, “he also called you Nightmare Moon. If he knows that name, then knows your history.” Stunned Nyx sat down and thought over the problem at hoof. Starlight, Iris and Luminance all traded glances of worry. Strom closed his eyes while the two earth ponies try to piece the puzzle together.

“Hold on fer a sec,” Autumn said butting in, “How the heck are Nightmare Moon and Nyx connected?”

“Yeah?!” the prankster agreed.

Iris started from what she remember from her a month ago, “Well you see, this cult made up of ponies performed this ritual to bring back Nightmare Moon-”

“But Princess Celestia interrupted the spell for it come be completed,” Luminance interrupted. “While the spell was stop from bring back that hateful mare it did create something...”

“It created Nyx,” Starlight finished the introduction to Nyx’s history. “And that’s the not worst of it.”

“There’s more?” both unicorn and pegasus exclaimed. The student nodded before looking up at her aunt for guidance.

With a nod the pony who was the center of the conversation spoke up, “There was once a time where I did refer to myself as Nightmare Moon. That time was the darkest for, if not Equestria’s history, my history; both figuratively and literally.”

“I think Granny Pie mention something about this before,” Coco said taking a seat. “Does it have anything to do with those ruins by that gem mine?”

“That,” Nyx stated as she fought back tears, “is where I ruled over Equestria for a while. Two of those weeks were an endless night.”

“Hold on fer a sec,” the farm mare interrupted once again, “’rule over Equestria’ are ya saying what I’m thinking yer saying.”

The alicorn stood up and faced the ponies around her, “Yes, I defeated both Princess Celetia and Luna and imprisoned them in the sun and moon.” She paused to let her words struck home on their head. “But that’s just a piece of the horror I brought to our country. I denied the sun’s warmth for two weeks. In that time, the land became cold and crops soon became unable to grow. I had not only imprisoned my three closest friends and Twilight, but… if I had not seen it or was not fast enough that one day… Starlight wouldn’t be standing here with you.” Everypony shivered as they casted a look over to the unicorn as she let the thought dance in her mind. Iago gave a supportive chirp from his seat in her mane.

After letting the moment past, Nyx turned to the forest and began walking. “I must be going or I may never get the chance to face him again.”

“We know,” Spike said bringing the rolled up scroll to his month. He took a deep breath before igniting the parchment. The flames burned down quickly leaving behind only the smoky remains that drifted off toward the capital. “That’s why I’m coming with you.” Both of his relatives turned and gazed at him.

“What?”

“Uncle?”

“I’m not letting you get involved, Spike,” Nyx said walking around and looking at him in the face.

“I’m not going to get involved unless Discord’s helper does,” the dragon said pushing his sister out of his sight. He started to walk down the road before stopping to shout over his shoulder.

“Think of me as your second,” he added. A loud call from his shoulder made him chuckle. “And think of Pee Wee as your third.” With that he bolted down the path toward the forest edge with the phoenix riding his shoulder. Standing with the smaller ponies, the alicorn thought it over before looking down at her niece.

“Starlight,” she stated as she opened her wings, “I would like it if you and your friends could try to help bring order back to here.”

“What do you want me to say?” the unicorn started in a forced humor tone. “The knight of Equestria is going to engage the loony old goat in combat and not to worry about any and all explosions coming from the Everfree? I think that will settle everpony’s nerves.”

“It would settle mine,” the prankster mare said with a raised hoof.

“Wasn’t asking you,” the student snapped before a black wing embraced her.

“Starlight,” Nyx said taking a deep breath, “I’m going to give it my all-”

“That line is way overused,” her niece joked hoping lighten her aunt’s mood, “and don’t try to use ‘I’ll do my best’ ether.”

Taking the humor, the alicorn continued, “I just wanted to say that I wish that I could have figured out what your problem is.”

“Aunt Nyx,” Starlight said looking into her aunt’s eyes, “Don’t make this sound like good bye.” The two embrace one another before the unicorn continued, “Now get going. I can see Spike waving for you to hurry up.” With a relaxed smile, they broke contact allowing the alicorn to take flight.

The six friends stood and watched as the odd brother and sister pair ran off into the night.

“Well,” Luminance started as she turned around, “I guess that we can best start our task given to us post haste.”

“Ah couldn’t agree with ya more,” the farmer hooted as she wheeled on her hind leg before trotting off.

“I guess there’s nothing else we can do,” Iris agreed as she took to the air.

“Personally, ma’am” Spectrum Storm said as he joined his roommate, “I rather have the elements used against Discord rather than try to finish him off for good.”

Autumn looked over her shoulder and counter, “Ah wished they did have tha element too. But we haven’t a clue where to start looking for them. But Ah’m sure as rain that with those, Discord and whatever bad apples that joined him are in for a beating.”

Starlight watch the spot where her uncle and aunt disappeared as she let Autumn’s sink in. Bad apples. Ha. Leave to a member of the Apple family to use that one. Bad apples. Apples…… apples……. Buffalo trample apples…..Sweet Supernova!

“Hold onto your hooves everypony,” she shouted causing them to turn around. The sparrow took flight from surprise. “I think I know where the Elements might be.”

In a heartbeat, Storm was standing in front of the unicorn with a face that somehow displayed disbelief. “How can you be sure certain, ma’am?” he asked.

The student quickly diverted attention to the farmer, “Autumn, how many towns that you have relatives in that lives near any buffalo?”

The quick shift of attention caught the farmer by surprise. “Ah… ummmm… tha only one Ah know of is Appleloosa. What does it have to do with the Elements?”

Starlight ran off the energy from her realization as she walked her friends closer to the forest edge. “Before he chickened out in Canterlot, Discord gave my Aunt and the Princesses a riddle. ‘What do you get when; buffalo tramples apples, fire rains from the clouds, darkness controls the city of lights, claws met ivory, dreams are never reached, and a back stab becomes your best friend?’ At first I thought this was nothing more than a stupid riddle that would act like a false trade. But now I see it. Something must really be happening at those locations.”

“Umm, Starlight?” Coconut interrupted, “We really only got about one, maybe two locations from that riddle.”

“And how can you be sure that the Elements are there, ma’am?” the ex-guard asked.

“I. Don’t. Know,” she replied bluntly. “I just have this nagging feeling in the back of my head that the elements are where those things are happening.” The unicorn then broke into a run down the road with her pet on her heels. “And isn’t better to have a Plan B?” The others continues to walk behind her as she ran after her aunt and uncle.

With a sigh, Autumn fixed her hat placement while saying, “Come on ya’ll. Let’s make sure she doesn’t go and hurt herself.”

*******

Deep in the Everfree forest, Discord sat and watched the doorway from his throne. He casted a glance to either side while letting his finger tap rhythmically on the arm rest. The ivy that crawled along the ancient stone told the true age of the ruins. He sighed before getting up from his seat. “Where is she?”

On cue, the rotten door blew open. The draconequus side step as the largest piece of lumber implanted itself into the chair. “Discord,” his challenger called out to him, “it’s time to finish this!”

“I would have to agree with you on that,” he replied as he faced the alicorn. His eyes shot toward the dragon and fire bird that was standing next to her.

“This was supposed to be a private fight Nyx!” he stated while pointing a finger at the librarian.

“I’m only here to make sure you play fair,” the dragon replied as he returned the pointing finger. Pee Wee chirped in agreement.

The chaotic master faked an injured look, “Me? Not play fair? You hurt me so Rainbow Dash.”

The nickname brought a little anger to the dragon as he prepared to shout out another reply. But before a word could leave his snout, his sister spoke up. “We know you have an ally who knocked out our friend, Discord,” she addressed him. “It would be better if you reveal whoever is helping you, now.”

“I guess you’re right,” he replied with a shrug. He raised a claw to his lips and whistled. Once the long whistle ended, a loud crashing of tree poured into the ruins. Before the alicorn could zero in on its location, another loud crash came booming in followed by a loud roar. The four of them looked up to see a fully grown dragon ring itself over the crumbling wall.

“That can’t be the thing that knocked Cloud Chaser out,” Spike whispered to his sister.

The alicorn nodded before adding, “He must have more allies then. But right now we just have to stall him.”

“I’ll take care of that dragon if it interferes,” her brother said before the both of them looked back at their opponents.

“I guess you done talking?” the draconequus asked.

With a quick flash of her horn, the Knight’s armor and weapon appeared. “Indeed we are,” she said before launching a lightning bolt at him. He dodged incoming electric energy by using his serpent like body to maneuver around it. The alicorn continued her assault as she started to fly forward.

Bolt after bolt Discord dodged until his foe was on top of him waving her lance. He caught the floating weapon only to find himself open for a pair of rear hooves to his side. He went flying into the closet wall sending shards of stone to the ground in front of him.

The alicorn charged again. Thinking quick, the King of Chaos snapped his fingers changing ever shard in front of him into marbles. Seeing the slippery stones in her path, Nyx opened her wings and took to the air.

She angled her shield and lance to prepare for a dive went a giant claw flew into her vision. Seeing no other option, her body shifted into smoke that the huge dragon’s claw came crashing down threw. Seeing the elder dragon make the first move, Spike singaled his bird to fly before taking off himself. He started launching fireballs at his much bigger foe.  The first of the green flames did little to draw the attention of the hulking scaled giant but a well play shot sent the beast screaming in pain as it covered its eyes.

The librarian smirked as he did want he wanted to do but that smile soon turned into panic the adult looked down at him. Flames started to leak from its mouth singling the immature drake of the pending blast of flame. Relying on his foot speed, he took cover behind a pillar as the jet of angry flame scorched the area around him.

Once the blast of flame ended, the dragon rolled away as the dragon smashed the pillar. Looking up, the younger dragon saw Pee Wee trying to annoy the great beast. Picking himself up he gave a shout to his bird to back off. He was replied as the firebird was tackled in mid-air.

Crying out, the librarian tried to give support to his pet. “Hang on!” he cried as he started to climb a nearby wall. His assent though was stopped by the older dragon’s tail as it smashed down on the wall.

Meanwhile the duel between the beings of power raged on as Nyx sliced through her third manitcore made from the walls around her. She brought up her shield in time to protect herself from the falling wall. Once the pile of rubble settled she launched herself at her foe. He swiftly ducked underneath and grabbed one of her hind legs, tossing her toward another wall still standing. The alicorn flared her wings preventing the painful impact and landed safely only to find her hooves warm and sticky.

Looking down she saw hot fudge leaking from the cracks in the floor stones. Taking off once again, she readied another attack when a blast of pink energy stuck her side. The surprise attack caught the knight completely off guard and sent her crashing back down into the melted chocolate.

With a snap of his finger the sea of fudge froze over leaving the alicorn trapped helplessly on the floor. Once she was sure she couldn’t move the alicorn took a deep breath before raising her shield to block the next attack Discord sent at her.

The pink cloud disintegrated harmlessly on the black bubble that surrounded her. Seeing no opening, Discord gave another whistle. At the sound of the call, three more rounds of pink energy came flying in. Each one bounced off leaving a trail of smoke in their wake. Smiling he called down another barrage of attack onto the shield. These rounds however failed to send similar wisps of smoke as those before.

Disappointed from lack of progress, the chaotic master resorted to taunting. “What’s the matter Nyxie?” he called. “Afraid to come out of your shell? Why call yourself Equestria’s defender if you can’t come out of your protective bubble?”

Before he continued his rant, he felt two weights drop on top of him bringing his body into the frozen chocolate. Looking up he glared into the dragon eyes of two black alicorns. “Great, this again,” he muttered before blinking away from them.

Free from their combined body weight, Discord watched as the Nyx within the shield emerged from her frozen tomb. All three of the alicorns started to chase the draconequus. Dodging bolts of lightning, he started to use the environment around him.

With a snap the vines sprang to life and launched themselves at the closest alicorn. The targeted Nyx brought her lance in front of and had it spin at a high rate. As the vines touched the magical weapon, they were diced up into tiny vegetation.

Seeing them ran into his feint, the chaotic ruler snapped his fingers once more. The small bits of green plant shuddered before turning into a twisted hybrid of tree and vine. Unaware to the trick he pulled from his sleeve, the triplets were caught in complete surprise as a dense rainforest exploded from underneath their hoofs.

Grinning at seeing his foe trapped for a fair amount of time, the draconequus prepare to snap his fingers once more when a cloaked stallion teleported down to the base of the trees. “Discord!” he shouted with panic pouring out of his voice. “There’s still one more!” The buck glanced over his shoulder before teleport away once again.

Looking over where his minion had chanced a look, the beast saw a fourth Nyx charging through the forest with her black bubble already increasing her body. Thinking quickly, he opened a portal in front of him in hopes it would cause the mare to fly into the mess of vegetation and alicorn. But as she screamed out her rage-filled attack, he realized he opened the portal too soon. He gave the charging knight another glance and saw she wasn’t changing her course. “She’s mad,” he mumbled under his breath. “It’s an obvious trap and she’s running right into it.”

Sure enough, Nyx blazed a trail through the woods and ruin right into the open portal. The gateway shattered like a baseball hitting glass as she plowed herself right into Discord. Still filled with momentum, the two went through a wall, sending old mortar every direction, and flew over the canyon that separated the ruins from the Everfree before finally resting in the middle of a sturdy oak. The hardwood shattered, sending shards of sappy wood across his body. While the impact was painful to say the least the shower of splinters did nothing to his coat. The tree however buckled and fell into the canyon below.

Knowing his position was bad, Discord tried to escape once more but failed when he saw the alicorn’s hoofs pinning both of his claws in an open position and unable to snap. To increase he worries, a Diamond Dog came running down the road, panic leaking off his body.

“D-D-Discord!” he stuttered not even looking forward. “Ponies coming.” Out of breath the hound dove for a bush to hide.

“You brought more allies?” the helpless draconequus asked the alicorn as she loomed over him.

“Spike can send letters to the Princesses a lot faster than a pegasus,” she replied as a victorious smile grew on her face. “Now Discord, time to face your-”

“Nyx!”

The mere call from her niece caused the alicorn to lose all focus. Looking up she saw the unicorn and her friends running up to the bridge that spanned the gap between the ruins and forest. Feeling pressure lifting from a claw, the draconequus took advantage and pushed the hoof off before snapping his eagle like claw. He reappeared just behind the gang and snapped his fingers once more before disappearing again.

Sensing him back in the ruins, the alicorn turned to her niece and said, “Starlight, I thought I told you to stay-”

“I know I disobeyed but you to listen to this,” the unicorn interrupted. “I think an Element maybe in Appleloosa.”

Nyx looked down at her relative in disbelief. “I know it sounds crazy but remember his riddle. Maybe he was talking about events that are happening now, or will be happening soon. Right now I only got Appleloosa marked down as one of those places where business is going down. I don’t know if I’m right or if I’m wrong but it just seem to fit together.”

“Starlight, I can’t be sure if this was such a wise move you made,” the alicorn stated before turning back to ruins. She felt the release of her other three selves and their battle with Discord was still raging. “But I’m glad that you made such a risk to bring me this news.” Iago chirped angry at the mare as if he wanted some credit.

Giving off a laugh, the alicorn continued, “I guess I should thank you for bringing her here safely.” The sparrow puffed out his plumage in pride as she looked down to the others. “I want to thank you all for bringing her here safely to bring me the news. Unfortunately, I can’t act upon this new yet. Discord still loose and the Princesses haven’t arrived to finish this fight off.”

With a struck of quick thinking, Nyx waved her horn once and said, “This shields will help defect any debris that my fly loose but, a direct attack will break it, so be careful.” She watched as each one of her friend received a small translucent black bubble.

“Wait,” Luminance asked, “you want us to stay here?”

With a nod the alicorn turned around and began a slow walk back to the fight. “I don’t know how long I can keep this up. He’s learned from our last fight. I need to guys to watch for the Princesses to show up. Okay?” Everypony nodded with mixed thoughts. Unable to urge them to help out, Nyx sighed before taking off back into the fight.

Once the alicorn had disappeared into the ruins, the six ponies heard a cried for help. Looking up they saw the phoenix fall down among them. Panic swept over the student as she cried out, “Pee Wee! Pee Wee!”

Looking over the injured bird, Iris gave a sigh of relief. “He’s going to be okay,” she reassured the hysterical unicorn.

“You griffin kissers won’t be though,” said a gruff voice. Looking around they saw a deep red pegasus and the diamond dog standing between them and the ruins. From behind, them a pink flash brought attention to the woods as they came to life.

The trees moaned in pain as they shambled toward the outnumbered force. “What are we goin’ to do?” Autumn asked as she sized up the two blocking the path to the bridge.

Spectrum body relaxed for once in his life as he snorted and flared his wings. “Fight ‘em, ma’am,” he said before charging at the opposing pegasus.

Meanwhile inside the ruins, the duel between the four Nyxies and Discord escalated to the point where the master of chaos’s power shifted the entire environment around them. The floor turned into a series of pink and purple tiles. This terrain imposed further problems for both the air capable alicorns and the land-locked Spike as each tile floated to odd height. The array of variable floors did little to impede the snake like Draconequus and the hulking dragon as they continued to fight.

The drake leapt from a platform as the bigger beast’s fore claw smashed down on it. Taking a hold of tile that floated nearby, the librarian did his best to throw it like a Frisbee. The spinning piece of chaotic stone zoomed along the dragon’s face scarring it. Spike went wide eyes as it cried out in pain before knocking him against a wall. Stunned by becoming part of the wall, the dragon took its advantage and fired another jet of fire on him.

Discord on the other hand was under complete bombardment with running his only choice of action. Using his body structure and powers of utter randomness, he was able to dodge every blast of lightning and every single lance thrust made against him. Diving into a portal, he reappeared to only have a lance go for his head. Snapping his fingers with haste, he was able to flatten his face as he tilted his head back. The black weapon went a mere hair’s length from his eyes as he continued to pass through the wormhole.

Leaning to the side, his head inflated before bashing it into the armored skull of the alicorn that attacked him. The strike did more to his head than hers as she recovered first and tried to bring it her lance back around to attack him again. But she was a tad slow as he blinked away from her completely.

Totally out of options, he glanced to see a backup plan forming without his knowledge. While each pony fighting across the canyon did their best, the continuous assault of hardwood creatures to it toll on the defenders. Out of the members group, Starlight was surprisingly the one that was making the biggest dent into the horde of lumber. Making use of her chaotic misfires, the unicorn student was picking up the animated trees with her levitation, she pushed them back way into the underbrush where a resounding snap of shattering wood rewarded her efforts.

Storm the other hoof, was not fairing so well. His melee with the other flyer cause several welps to litter his body. He could even smell burnt hair whenever the red stallion made contact with him. Leaping forward again, his effort was rewarded with a hoof to his lower jaw. Being sent upward a bit, the ex-guard was taken a hold of and lifted higher into the air before being thrown back down to the ground.

Seeing her fellow flyer land harshly, Iris dove for him and reach for her saddle bag only to realize that she forgot them at home. With panic and fear for her friend settling in, she dove for the underbrush. Reappearing with docleaves clenched tightly in her mouth, she scooped up a bit of the soil moisten by the midnight dew and placed both onto Storm’s injuries.

“Aww, isn’t that little griffin kisser being cute,” the scornful flyer taunted. “She’s being so brave.” Iris moved herself between her patient and the one who injured him and opened her wings to act out in defiance. Her act of bravery didn’t last though as the white flyer stood back up and let healing plant dirt fall off. He took to the air and glared down at his opponent.

Finally seeing the pieces fall into place, the chaotic ruler shouted out to his opponent, “It looks like your little friends are in trouble!” The alicorns halted in mid flight before a unison nodding motion was passed among themselves. Then as one, three of the mares shifted into their smoky forms and flew toward the third fight across the bridge while the fourth contemplated her next move.

Autumn ducked underneath a claw swipe as the diamond dog swung wildly. “Hold still stupid pony,” he said before getting bucked in the gut.

“And why should Ah?” the mare taunted as she turned to the hound.

“That’s why!” he replied pointed behind her. The farmer turned around to see another tree reach down to grabbed her. A bolt of electric energy struck the wooded monster and it burst into a shower of splinters. Looking up both pony and dog saw the black alicorn hovering over them. Hornclaw panicked and started digging as the defender of pony kind summoned a well of energy to her.

Back in the ruins the lone Nyx still engaged with Discord attacked with a wide swing of her lance. He ducked underneath the blade and tried to land an uppercut to her gut. The blow missed as she vaporized into her black mist and flew around him.

Turning around he caught the lance as it swung again at him. Channeling his chaotic energy into the weapon, he broke with a snap of his wrist. Seeing her tool broken, she used the shield to bash the draconequus. The side was ram attack worked in stagger him. Summoning a sword to her this time around she changed her attack pattern and started to make quick thrust of her blade.

While still being able to dodge the smaller weapon, the king of chaos took note it the increase attack rate the blade had. Blinking away he snapped his fingers. Two hands formed out of the randomly floating tiles and took positions to either side. Using the disembodied boxing gloves, he took several swings at her only to have them sliced into two.

The alicorn took the offensive once more bringing herself closer into range and attacked with great fury. Her assault though ended quickly when she heard a pained gasp from her left. Looking toward its source, she saw her brother being thrown into a wall. The stonework crumbled under his impact and the added help of the much larger dragon.

The alicorn’s eyes shrank as she saw the rubble remained still. “No,” she muttered before Discord planted a fist into her. The draconequus caught the alicorn completely off guard and didn’t hesitate to jump to opportunity. Blow after blow landed on the alicorn before he took the magical blade that still floated near her and rammed the black metal into her.

She let out a small gasp of air before her body shifted into a cloud of smoke that whisked back over the canyon.

The real Nyx who was guarding her friend heard both Spike’s cry of pain and her double’s last breath through the mental link she made between the two. Seeing no other choice she landed in the middle of the six ponies and brought all of her magic to her. The wisp that once was the clone rushed back into her body and a surge of pain rushed into the alicorn’s body before all seven of them teleported away.

******

Reappearing by a river side, the smaller ponies quickly collapsed aside from Starlight. Seeing her aunt kneel by the water’s edge, the unicorn rushed over to inspect any damage she took. Sure enough, she was a fresh opening form over the area above her heart. The blood nearly drained from her body as she placed the pieces together.

“Nyx, hang on!” she screamed. “Iris, help!” Panicking would be an understated as the unicorn grabbed hold of anything she thought could stem the stream of crimson that leaked from the open wound.

The nurse mare rushed around getting more plants she knew would have some sort of effect on such a scar while the remaining four ponies stood and watch their newest friend shatter.

“S-s-s-stay w-with m-m-me, N-N-Nyx,” her voice trembled as the pegasus quickly started to turn the plants she gathered into a fine paste.

“Starlight,” the alicorn moaned.

“S-s-save your b-b-breath,” the unicorn tried to hush her injured aunt.

“This won’t kill me, ngh,” the wounded warrior flinched under the sting of the healing salve. “You need to find the elements.”

“B-b-but we o-only know w-wh-where one is,” Starlight countered.

“And what about you?” Luminance asked finally taking a chance to approach the taller mare.

Nyx knew what she was about to say wasn’t going to please any of them. So as she spoke, her magic worked its way around all six ponies. “While I can live through this wound, I cannot fight Discord and those who sided with him for long. While you go and find the elements, I’ll hold them off.”

“Nooooooooo!” Starlight cried as she tried to embrace her aunt once more but found herself floating among the others.

“Good bye,” was the last words she said to them as they vanished in a flash of light. Turning around she saw the draconequus appear over the treeline.

Standing up once more, the alicorn summoned every inch of magic her leylines could find among the trees. “COME ON!” she howled as four pillars of light emerged around her.

*******

Celestia’s eyes gazed over the ruins of that once many years ago was her home. She could still feel the power that had destroyed what was left of the old castle hang in the air. This is not good she thought.

“Sister,” The moon princesses said flying up to her, “I can sense more than Discord and Nyx here.”

“I feel it too, Luna,” the elder sister replied. “I do believe Spike was also here.”

“There were more than just your old friend sister,” the younger princess countered. Celestia glanced over to see the concerned look the night ruler had. “I counted up to ten different sources of energy aside from the three we knew would be present. But aside from a trail that leads to the river all traces vanished.”

“Vanished?” the sun princess asked with complete worry for her close friends. “They can’t be-?”

“I’m not sure,” Luna admitted as a shadow hung over her. “For all we know, they could.”
> Chapter 8: Spoiling the Barrel
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8: Spoiling the barrel.

Darkness. Pure black nothingness enveloped Autumn as her mind finally began to focus. Everywhere her eye wandered, the landscape remained the same. “So,” a stallion that she didn’t recognized said, “what you’re saying, Storm, is Discord hid one of the elements somewhere here in Appleloosa, right?”

“That is correct, Lieutenant,” Spectrum’s voice responded.

“Yet,” a mare spoke up a hint of disbelief in her voice, “you don’t have a single clue on where this element is exactly.”

“That is also correct, Pepper,” the farmer’s friend replied once more.

‘Pepper’ sighed, “Just great, for all we know, the element could be hung around a dragon’s neck.”

“Awwww do be like that, sis,” another mare spoke up. “Think it like a treasure hunt. We’ll be looking for an ancient artifact that holds untold power. Fight off the forces of evil-”

“You read too many Daring-Do books,” Pepper stated with flatly.

“But there’s classics,” Pepper’s sister replied.

“Pepper, Mint,” the Lieutenant’s voice re-entered the conversation. “One of you, go on patrol while the other sees to the Storm’s friends..”

“I’ll take this shift, sir,” the more mature of the two mares spoke up first as hoof-steps echoed into Autumn’s ears. The hoof steps soon faded into another set. This set though was getting louder.

“Yay!” Mint cheered as she skipped closer to Autumn. “I’m wake up duty. Oh, this one ah stirring.” The steady beat stopped suddenly.

Control of her body began to flow into the farmer as she rolled onto her back. She started to open her eyes slowly. What she saw was a failing pegasus right above her. Her eyelids blasted open as the sudden weight rammed air out her lungs. Recoiling from the sudden pain, Autumn flung herself off her bed sending her attacker flying back up into the air.

Sucking in fresh air, the small mare barked, “Wha’cha doin’ dropping on ponies like that? Ain’t  nice ya know.”

“’Ain’t’,” ‘Mint’ mimicked with a chuckle. “Are you really from Ponyville? You sound a lot like the locals here.”

Grabbing her hat, the mare of Sweet Apple Acres glared at her tormentor. “Ah am too from Ponyville. My family been living at Sweet Apple Acres since tha town’s founding,” she said.

The flyer ignored her as she flew over to other earth pony in the room. Fluttering over her, she tickled the waking Coconut Pop. Unable to protect herself, the prankster blurted out into a torrent of laughs as the pegasus’s hooves assaulted her.

“Pleeeease, hahahaha,” she laughed rolling around in the bed. “Stooooop, hahahhaha. I got to hahahahaha, goooooo!” With that she completely rolled off the bed onto the floor where she proceeded to bolt out the closest door.

The white coated flyer laughed as she did a back flip in the air. Despite the small room, the mare managed to perform the acrobatic stunt without hitting anything. “Boy, you guys are hilarious,” she said once her mirth died down.

A series of angry chirps brought the attention of everypony in the room to Iago. Landing, the pranking guard silently approached the bed where Starlight laid with the sparrow perched on the her horn.

“Calm down you little feather fighter,” she said as she placed a hoof over her victim's nose. “I’m just helping you guys wake up.”

“Violently might I add,” Luminance commented only to have Mint wave it of with a wing.

In response to a blocked airway, Starlight started breathing out her mouth. Frustrated at her failed attempt, the prankster used her other hoof and closed her mouth. When she saw the Starlight’s cheeks swell up with air, the flyer grin madly waiting for her to wake.

*Snnnooooorre*

“Oh, come on!” Mint shouted as she removed her hooves off of Starlight’s face and started tickling her. Nothing came out the unicorn’s mouth aside another snore fueling the tiny bird’s amused cries of glee that filled the air. Anger rising, the pegasus took off and drop on top of her target of torment. She bounced off without even stirring the sleeping mare.

“No fair,” she complained a she floated out of the room. The three mares watch she disappeared before turning their attention to their friend.

Iris gently pushed on her gray coat, “Please wakeup, Starlight.”

“Do you think something happen when Nyx teleported us here?” Luminance ask coming around the other side of the bed. She hushed Iago’s laughter with a hoof.

“Ah don’t get it,” the farmer stated. “She’s always up before I visited tha library.”

“Wait, where’s Nyx and Spike?” Nurse Iris asked looking around the room. Both of her friends join in searching the bedroom only to find the last sleeping pony was Starlight.

“Could it be that they’re downstairs?” Luminance queried as she trotted to the exit.

Shaking her head as she joined the interior designer, Autumn replied, “Ah doubt it. Spectrum was a talkin’ ta someponies downstairs. For all Ah know, they could still be in the Everfree.”

“With those fiends?!” The designer couldn’t help but place a hoof over her mouth in shock. “Do you think they’re going to be alright?”

The earth pony was about shake her head when Iris interrupted, “Well, dragons are the toughest creatures in Equestria so, Spike should be fine.”

“But Alicorns like the Princesses and Nyx are quite resilient as well,” the yellow coated mare stated. “Why do you think Nyx is call the ‘Knight of Equestria?’ Surely it can’t be because she charismatic.”

Autumn interrupted with a wave of a hoof, “Ah know, Ah know. But we can’t just go and assumin’ things like this. Look at tha facts; we never saw Spike fightin’ and when Nyx first telaported us, she was wounded here.” The farmer tapped her chest with her last words.

The pegasus bit her lips as she mumbled, “You don’t think they...?”

Tilting her hat over her eyes and sighing, she replied “Like ah said, Ah rather not assume, but Ah think so.”

Luminance wiped a tear quickly from her eye before clearing her throat, “I’ll be the one to tell Starlight.”

“Tell Starlight what?” Coconut Pop asked trotting up to them. “That the pies are going to burn?” The farmer put on a weak smile at the jest before it flipped back down.

Tilting her head, the earth pony poked her friend in the shoulder, “Hey, why the long face? I’m only joking. Come on Autumn put a smile on!”

“This isn’t the time to smile dear,” the designer pointed out.

This didn’t settle with the prankster as she still manage to a wear smile through her pouting face. “What are you talking about? Every time is a time to smile.”

A sniff brought attention to Iris as she attempted to dry her eyes, “Not every time is a time to smile.”

The gears clicked in the usually cheery mare’s head. With a long ‘Oh’ of understanding she asked, “Like Fluttershy?” Everypony nodded.

“Crab!” an elderly voice echoed up into the room. “Did ya burn ma pies again?”

Everypony looked down the hallway to where the stairs where. “Wow I was right about the pies,” Coco stated taking a whiff of charred aroma floating up the stairwell.

“Sorry, ma,” came the wagon puller’s response through the floorboards.

With a sniff of her own, Autumn’s ears perked up. “Pardon me girls,” she calmly said to her friends.

“We’ll be down once we gotten Starlight up,” the designer replied through her bit lip as her friend disappeared around the corner.

Carefully trotting down the steps and letting the smell of food guide her, she soon found herself staring into a kitchen where an elderly mare confined to a wheelchair sat looking into a stove. She pulled her rose red mane out with a tray of burnt pastries. Setting the tray down, she mumbled to herself, “That boy is worse than Ah was aroun’ his age. When Ah first made them they were at least gooey on tha insides.”

“Have ya tried telling him to follow the recipe for once, Gran-Auntie?” the farmer said leaning up against the door frame.

“Ah told him twice alre-,” the cook grumbled before recognizing the voice. Looking over her shoulder, she gave warm smile as Autumn trotted over gave her a hug. “Ah’m glad to see ya visit, Autumn Gold.”

“Same here, Gran-Auntie Bloom,” the small mare replied before adding, “Granted, Ah wish Ah could of let ya know Ah was coming.”

“Don’t fret nothin’ Autumn,” Applebloom said pulling out of the embrace. “Just wish ya coulda showed up sooner. Ma son burnt tha last three batches of pies. Ah’m worried Ah might run out of vittles for ya and yer friends.”

“Ya know ma,” Crab’s voice said breaking up the moment, “Ah’m right here.”

Autumn Gold could help but chuckle at the statement. “We know Uncle Crab, but she’s right ya know.”

“Ah know,” the assistant baker replied before his voice dipped into deeper tones, “but what Ah don’t know is why ya and yer friends were found miles outside of town?”

Rubbing her neck, the young Apple replied, “Well, Nyx kinda of telaported us out there.”

“Nyx?” the baker asked with break in her voice. She leaned back in her chair as her eyes gazed up at the fan spinning lazily.“Ah haven’t seen her in a... in a really long time. Ah was a thinkin’ on visiting Ponyville ta see her after tha buffalo show up tomorrow.”

“Umm... Gran-Auntie,” Autumn said looking at the floorboards, “Ah don’t think Nyx is in Ponyville anymore.” She began to fill her family in on the current events all leading up the fight the night before. Applebloom sat and listen as her sister’s granddaughter even went as far as admitting her fears.

As she told her story, Spectrum and the stallion he had referred to as Lieutenant entered the kitchen followed closely by a still upset Mint. They stood and listen to the farmer’s retelling.

“Ah just don’t know what Ah’ suppose ta do Gran-Auntie,” Autumn pleaded from her seat next to the sink, her own waterworks finally opening up. “Spike was a good friend of mine and Ah’m just startin’ to accept tha fact that I might not see his face again. Nyx was tha closest friend Starlight ever had and they’re related ta boot! Ah can hardly think of what will happen with she finds out.

“Find out what?” the mentioned pony said rounded the doorway with her friends in tow. The student looked to each one of the ponies in the room and saw their face shadow over. Casting a glance back, she saw the others ponies she come to know wearing the same gloomy expression with their own hint of other emotions.

Lifting her head, Applebloom stated, “Let’s have breakfast first, then we talk.”

*******

The meal was carried out in silence with the only sounds being that of silverware scratching the inside of bowls. Looking up from her small portion of oatmeal, Starlight took note of her friend expressions. Iris Drop’s eyes were slightly red with matted fur running streaks down her cheeks. Coconut’s face was half buried in her bowl only to come out sighing heavily while her neighbor Luminance sampled her meal gingerly like it was her last and wanted to remember the flavor.

Across the table, Autumn attempted distract herself of her half eaten food make making small talk to her uncle while a certain ex-guard had left the table with his bowl full. Shifting a look to last unicorn at the table she asked, “Excuse me, mister...”

The guard lowered his spoon before replying, “Lieutenant Glasshorn, Miss Starlight.”

“Glasshorn got it,” she repeated to herself. “Umm, do you know what’s going on? It’s like somepony...” Starlight’s word drifted off as everyone looked across the table at her. The Canterlot pony reeled back as her thoughts hit home.

With a chill crawling up her spine, she asked, “I-i-is there a-a-any word on N-N-Nyx or S-S-S-Spike?”

“Starlight, dear...” Luminance started before clearing her throat, “We’re just going along with the facts given to us but... we think they may have been-”

“NO!” the student said rage dripping from her mouth. “I can’t- no, I won’t accept that. They can’t be dead. Nyx may have used herself to protect us but she just won’t... She survived fighting a horde of monsters from the Everfree. THE EVERFREE! Hydras, Ursa, Lupins, and even a chimera and some manticores. I was told that all of those beast nearly put Nyx at death’s door. That one wound is nothing compared to that.”

“Yes,” the interior designer replied trying to quell the verbal storm that was brewing, “but all of that is nothing compare to Discord, dear. That’s like trying to compare enough tiny pebbles to fill every house in Ponyville to a boulder.”

“I don’t care!” the rage induced mare shouted before slamming a hoof onto the table and bolting out of the building with a tear soaked face. Moments after she left, Spectrum Strom trotted in and inspected the varied faces of his friends.

“I assume she took the news poorly.”

********

Autumn sat looking out the window as her shadow slowly creeped closer to her. For the past hour, the farmer sat with the others as they watched the their rage fueled friend rip through the old workshop behind the inn that Appplebloom took over decades ago. The sound of screaming and exploding equipment were muffled by the thick walls keeping the rest of the town oblivious to the meltdown Starlight was having.

“This is worse than I would expected,” Iris mumbled as her eyes envisioned the self harm the Canterlotian was doing to herself.

“Each pony handles death in their own way, ma’am,” Spectrum Storm commented as he walked by. “Some are explosive, while others bottle it up.”

Autumn was about to ask the stallion a question with the Prankster of Ponyville stuck a hoof at the window, “She’s coming out!” Sure enough, with her mane and tail covered in splinters and several large cuts on her flank, the grey unicorn trotted out and collapsed.

The nurse mare was out the door and hovering over the wounded pony in seconds. Flinching as the healing slave as applied, Starlight let out one last cry of anger.

“I hope she gets better soon,” Luminance said watching Starlight stand back up and was lead into the house.

“Me too,” the farmer agreed with a nod. “We goin’ ta need her if we want ta find tha Elements of Harmony.”

“Speaking of which,” Glasshorn said joining the group, Mint fluttering close behind him. The orange pony could tell where this was going but allow him to continue. “On behalf of the Royal Guard, I want to thank you all for personally bringing this information to us. But, if from what I could understand with my conversation early with Storm, Discord has hidden the elements most likely in places that will pose too much of a threat to you. I advise that the six of you return to Ponyville or even head to Canterlot and inform the Princess directly as soon as possible.”

“Hold on there a sec, Glasshorn,” Autumn Gold said holding up a hoof. “How come we have to be movin’ along?”

“I apologized, ma’am,” the unicorn guard replied, “but aside from Storm, none of you have received formal training. I don’t want to risk innocents looking for the elements if we have to enter places like a dragon’s den.”

“Anyways,” Mint added rolling her eyes, “you’re way too shrimpy to be doing the stuff we do. You’re better off kicking your apple trees than help us.”

“Hold on there a sec,” Applebloom interrupted rolling her chair up to them. “Autumn may not be as strong as my sister Applejack, but the Apple family has just as much reason to be looking for the elements as you folks, if not more.”

“I’m going to have to agree with her, sir,” Spectrum Storm spoke up from the open doorway as Starlight came limping in with her nurse close by for support.

“Sergeant…” the officer started when Pepper came blasting through the open doorway and landing mere inches away from him.

“Lieutenant… *huff* we have *huff* a problem,” she said not giving herself time to breath.

“I’ll say,” her sister spoke up first, “you’re redder than normal. That’s not healthy.”

Inhaling deeply, the mare glared while saying, “This is not time for your jokes, Mint.”

“What’s happen, Corporal?” Glasshorn said taking note of the condition the guard was in.

“While I was on patrol,” she started, “I was unable to spot any of the townsfolk. Nopony was in the orchard, saloon or even town hall.”

“Where did everypony go?” Applebloom asked keeping her voice calm.

The questioned mare took a look over her shoulder before pointing out the door. “Believe it or not but, they’re on their way here.” Everypony got up went from one side of the inn to other as they filled the threshold. Sure enough there was a small cloud of dust as a swarm of color ponies came marching down the street.

“Well,” Glasshorn said calmly, “Let’s go see what they want.” Following the guard, the party cantered out to the front porch. As the mob got closer, they slowed down to a mere trot before halting all together.

Several stallions stepped forth. The leader wore a silver star on his coat. The followers wore similar stars.

“Sheriff,” Applebloom spoke up first, “What’s yer reason for marchin’ up to ma property like ya wanted to burn it down?”

“Ma’am,” the earth pony replied, “Ah here to tell ya that yer harboring criminals.” Reactions varied among the group but old mare remained strong as she allowed the town’s law enforcer continue. “We have solid proof that Glasshorn and tha two pegasi with him ruined tha town’s reserved food supplies. While we normally would have them work off the damages, tha next harvest won’t be till next month.”

“Not to mention tha buffalo will arrive tomorrow and tha peace between us have been uneasy as of late,” one of deputies added flicking his hat up.

“What proof do you have that points to us?” Mint shouted with disgust.

The stallion looked back and gesture one of his deputies to step forward. In the colt’s mouth was a bag of red feathers. The color drained out of Pepper’s face aside from the blush that danced on her cheeks. “These feathers were spotted everywhere around tha storehouse and there was a set of hoof prints that matches the unicorn’s leading into tha building,” the lead stallion stated looking back at them.

“That’s impossible,” the white mare shouted once more. “None of us where near the storehouse the entire night. We were busy outside of town.”

“Shut up!” a stallion called from the mob in the distance. The rest of townsfolk agreed as shouts of anger and hatred were fired at the three guard’s direction.

“Ya doom this town and its ponies!”

“We barely have ‘nough to last us a week!”

“Ah say we lock them in jail for tha rest of their lives!”

“Naaa, Ah say we give them to tha buffalo and let them deal with them!”

“Yeah let tha buffalo deal with them. Let it be our offing to keep the peace!”

The mob slowly marched up to the party with murderous intent. Their shouts of anger and distrust continuing as panic settled in.

“You just had to start molting didn’t you, sis?” Mint questioned looking at the red mare.

“What are we going to do, Lieutenant?” Pepper asked not bothering to answer the angry pegasus’s question.

Glasshorn looked back at his followers and mumbled, “We have orders not to reveal ourselves unless compromised. But the evidence is too conclusive.”

“Now hold on there just a min,” Applebloom surprisingly shouted, halting the crowd. “Ya’ll are just acting uncivilized. Don’t we have methods to prove one’s innocence?”

“We just gave you all of the proof we need!” a deputy counter.

“Silence, Wild Star,” the Sheriff barked. “She’s right. We’ll hold court. Ah’ll be tha one doing the persecutin’. Who’s going to be defendin’ them?” Everypony took a back step in response.

Silence drifted through the town as Autumn Gold looked at the three guards. “They couldn’t have done it,” She whispered to herself. “They’re guardsponies. But ah got to help find the elements.”

“I’ll do it, Sheriff,” a stallion said walking forward.

The lawcolt turned around and stared at the speaker with distrust. “Ah wounln’ trust ya with my saddle let alone this case, Silver. Won’t somepony else speak up.”

The farm mare sized up the stallion that stood up. His body betrayed the lack of exercise as he flinched at the Sheriff’s words. Casting a glance at to her friends, she saw Storm tensed up beyond belief.

“Come on, sir,” the stallion pleaded before flinching. “Nonepony else is going to do it.”

Autumn glanced back at this ‘Silver’ pony before returning her stare to Storm whom was staring daggers at the outspoken pony. Storm seems ta think something’s funny bout Silver, her mind raced. Come on, Autumn, think, think, think. Ah ponyfeathers.

“I’ll do it!” she shouted while raising her hoof. Opening her eyes, she was greeted by a swarm of stares in return. Iago slowly chirped.

“Autumn, what are you doing?” Starlight asked limping to the farmer’s right.

“Ah can’t just let good ponies get blame for what they didn’t do,” she stated low enough that only her friend could hear while adjusting her hat. “Ah also got that naggin’ feelin’ just beggin’ for me to take a closer look.”

The Sheriff turned to his deputies and said, “Alright boy, take them back to tha jailhouse.” As ordered the three guardponies were quickly detained.

“One minute, sir,” Glasshorn said causing the ponies around him and his friends to halt.

Looking over his shoulder up at the young mare, he asked, “I hope you know what you’re doing, Miss Autumn Gold.” The guard’s new defence attorney replied with a silent nod before he was guided to the jailhouse with his pegasi companions.

Letting her gaze drift away from the departing townsfolk, Autumn turned around to face her friends and family. Storm was still staring off into the distance where the deputies took his once fellow guards. Coco and her other two friends from town gave her reassuring smiles though completely confused. Crab Apple was caught between disapproval and pride while Applebloom beamed strongly at her like she just earned her Cutie Mark all over again. When the mare’s gazed finally rested on the grey unicorn, she flinched at the hateful glare that tempted to burn holes through her hide.

“I hope you know what to do, Autumn,” Starlight stated before setting her face on her hoof. “The facts are against you; the townsponies are more likely to give you a mouth full of bull instead of useful facts and the only thing we have going for us is that they did save us from being eaten in the middle of dessert.”

“Ah’m pretty sure tha ponyfolk around here are whilin’ to spill tha beans with tha right questions,” the farmer countered heading back into the house with the others in tow. “Also, Storm looked might too tensed when that young’n name was said.”

“Really?” the student asked as she looked up to the sturdy flyer.

“Indeed, ma’am,” he replied taking another look over his shoulder. “As you all know, I was once a guard like the rest of them. During my time, we were instructed to be on the lookout for any criminals still loose. While I’m not totally sure if he is still at large these days, there is one stallion that used the cover name of Silver Tongue.”

“Ah see where ya goin’ with this,” the farmer said making her way up the stairs. Pausing, she turned around once more and looked down at those following her. “Alright, everypony, listen up. Storm, ya and Uncle Crab go track down this ‘Silver’ fella and see if ya right about him. Don’t ruffle any feathers though. Luminance and Iris go talk to those around town and try to see what they got to say about last night. Coco and Ah will go check the crime scene out, see if we can’t pick out anything.”

“What about me?” Starlight asked looking at the farmer still ticked off with annoyance while her pet sparrow chirped with energy.

“Ya can help me do some baking,” the oldest mare in the room said wheeling herself to the kitchen.

“Ummm, Ma?” Crab asked following the mare to the kitchen. “Don’t cha think it would be better if Ah helped instead?”

“Only if Ah wanna feed the buffalo burnt pies!” she retorted.

Shaking her head, Autumn let out a sigh, “Personally I had nothing else for ya ta do aside from some walkin’. But seeing how ya hurt yerself pretty badly, Ya better off just staying here.”

Sighing, the newly appointed assistant chef made her way toward the kitchen saying, “I would’ve probably taken her offer anyways then.”

Looking at her uncle, the farm mare said, “Once ya n’ Storm are done following that lead, would ya mind checking how long it takes to where they found us. If we can figure out how long it took them to go get us, we might be able to prove their innocence.”

“Sounds fine to me,” the wagon puller replied.

“Alrighty then,” Autumn Gold shouted, “Let’s do this everypony!”

******

“So, Storm,” Crab asked as the two stallions trotted down the central street of town, “What make ya think that boy Silver is tha same Silver Tongue yer talkin’ bout?”

Spectrum kept his eyes forward as he allowed the wagon puller to lead him past the saloon. “A lot of things, sir. Silver Tongue, or Viper Bite as he was known before hoof, was once an officer of the law back in Fillydelphia. But a hoof full of bits had him locking up ponies for crimes that they didn’t commit. He was quickly expelled from the force. He then moved to Baltimare where things got worse. After building a record too big for his flanks, he went under and has been missing for more than three years.”

“A stallion that big should be recognized that easily,” the older stallion stated as they rounded a corner into an alleyway.

“One would think that, sir,” the ex-guard started, “but the only reason why they were able to connect both of his records together was because someponies spilled the beans. Some ponies have talents in changing another’s appearance. They’re a dime a dozen though.”

“Ya saying someponies can do that? Golly,” the Apple replied with a look of disbelief. The continued on in peace as they reach their destination. Walking through the door, the two stallions were greeted by their suspect.

“Mr. Apple,” he asked holding an ice pack to his head, oblivious to the look they were giving him, “what can Ah do for ya and yer friend?”

“Ma friend Storm here wants ta ask ya some questions,” the earth pony said pointing to the pegasus.

“What kind of questions?” Silver asked as he led his guest into his home.

“First of all, sir,” Spectrum Strom said turning sharply on a fore hoof, “what’s your full name?”

“Silver Star,” he replied quickly and proudly before clutching tightly onto the ice pack. “Ah named after ma great-grandpa. He was sheriff here in town when it was starting out. Ah’m kinda was hoping to become the same.”

“What’s wrong, Silver?” Crab asked pointing to the bag of frozen water.

“Headache,” he replied tossing the packed onto a nearby dresser. “Nothin’ ta worry about.”

Storm started walking around the pony as he asked his next question, “Where have you been in the past ten years?”

“Well,” the colt started, “Ah’ve been living Baltimare for most of ma life until two years ago? Didn’t do much though aside from schooling is law.”

The interrogator came around and looked his suspect in the eye, “You’ve been in school for law?”

“It’s not like Ah’m a lawyer,” the stallion said cantering over to a dresser. Opening it up, he rumbled through it. Finding what he wanted, he withdrew his head and revealed a framed paper. “Ah’m at least able to count myself a deputy.” Both inspector ponies walked up and read the paper.

“Golly,” Crab Apple said have stunned, “I didn’t know they hoof over these kinds of things. Did ya, Storm?”

The rainbow mane flyer marched back to the open door, “Officers in the guard are required to have one, sir.” He then stopped, rotated back to look at the young stallion and pointed at the star that the earth pony supported on his flank. “What does your cutie mark mean?”

“Oh, this?” Star checked to where the ex-guard was looking. “This is because Ah have a superior sense of justice. Ah mean Ah wanted to defend those ponies that were locked up because everypony else was being so hard on ‘em.”

“Do you think they did it?” Stormed asked giving him a hard glare.

“Pfff!” Silver snorted making both stallions take a step back, “Ah have a better chance of stealing a kiss from one of those mares than all three of them actually committing that crime. They’re honest folk they are.”

“Ah have to agree with that,” The eldest pony in the room replied.

“So why are ya asking questions?” Silver Star inquired. “Does it have to do those folks that got locked up?”

With a look of his shoulder, Storm replied, “Yes, sir, it does.”

******

“Thank you very much, darling” Luminance said trotting out of the general store. She hung her face low as she waited for her friend to return.

“What a waste,” she mumbled to herself. “Mr. Salt was sure it was Cookie hanging out by the storehouse last night. But his wife just sunk that boat. Ohh, I hope Iris is doing better with that lead.”

Looking around she caught sight of a stallion trotting past to her. “Should I interview another pony about last night before Iris comes back?” she asked nopony in particular. “It’s better than just waiting. Excuse me, my good sir! Could I borrow some of your time?”

Her called pulled him out of a fog that he seemed to be in. Shaking his head, he replied, “Howdy, Ma’am. Ya won’t happen ta be new in town?”

Putting on the best charm she could muster, she began her questioning off, “Why yes, indeed I am new here. My friends and I came here from Ponyville and its my friend Autumn who’s defending those ponies.”

“Really now?” the earth pony replied, “That’s ah kind of funny seein’ how the sheriff has me helping him with that case. I don’t get it though”

The unicorn gave him a queer look, “What do you mean, Mister…?”

“Hogtie, ma’am,” he said tilting his hat.

“Mr. Hogtie,” she corrected. “Your rudely loud friend already said that you have all the evidence that you need. Why should the sheriff need an extra hoof?”

“Personally, ah don’t see how they did‘it,” the stallion replied shifting the jacket he wore. “Silver Star was on night watch. That foal been tryin’ to prove he’s sheriff material. He should’da seen who did it.”

Tapping her chin, the interior designer pondered the information given to her. “Why would Appleoosa need a night watch?” she queried. “It’s a pretty quiet town to need such petty things.”

The deputy scratched his head. “It was his idea in tha first place. Like Ah said though, he’s ah brown-noser.”

“So…” the mare said leading the stallion to a nearby bench, “what were you doing last night?”

“Ahh…” Hogtie started with another scratch of his head. The tilt in the mare’s head made him blush a bit before looking to his right. “I was drinking with Wild Star the whole night, though ah turned in around ten that night.”

“Awfully late to get some rest isn’t it?” Luminance said taking a seat.

Shaking his head, he took the seat next to her. “Not fer last night. There was a big party last night. Anyways, Wild Star turned in later that night.”

“How do you know?”

Motioning to a sore shoulder, the deputy replied with a chuckle, “Cause he had pushed me outta his bed.” The mare could help but burst out laughing. “Yeah, ah went ta sleep in his room instead his own. Welp, Sheriff will be needing ta see me, ya have a nice day.”

“You too,” she replied waving the stallion off. Now left alone, the interior designer re-took a seat on the bench. “I guess Spectrum was right to suspect that Mr. Silver Star. It sounds like he was unaccounted for the whole night.”

Before she could continue her train of thought, the violet pegasus floated up. “Oh, Iris, how did it go?”

Touching down, the herbalist took a moment to recollect her thoughts. “Well, things don’t look good for our friends.”

Motioning to the bench, the unicorn asked, “What do you mean?”

“It really was a unicorn that entered the storehouse,” the flyer said taking the seat.

Watching her friend fix her mane, Luminance added, “And with Cookie accounted for, yes, it does seem like Glasshorn was there. We really need to inform the others.”

*******

“Pfff, go ahead,” Wild Star said sharply, “it’s not like yer going ta find anythin’ that we already haven’t.”

“Thank ya kindly,” Autumn replied with a tip of her hat before leading her fellow earth pony toward the crime scene.

“Gesh,” the prankster exclaimed once they entered the trashed building. “That Wild Star sure is a meany.”

“Don’t start pranking him yet, Coco,” the farmer said throwing a wrench into the mare’s thought process. “We need ta make sure those guardponies are out of jail first.”

“Okay,” her cheery friend replied before looking around the interior, “so what are we looking for?”

“Anything that can prove they didn’t make this mess,” she said before pulling out a notepad and pencil.

“Anything?”

“Anything.” Autumn confirmed before inspecting the storehouse. Looking into a barrel, she saw mashed apples and cores plied halfway up. “Well, it looked like whoevera did this not only ruined the food but also ate a bit of it.” Turning her gaze to the ruined shelves, she started scribbling her thoughts down.

“These lower shelves are broken,” she mumbled through her writing utensil. “Why would they?”

“Maybe somepony climbed on top of them?” Coconut Pop piped in.

The farm mare shifted her gaze to reply when a pie crust smacked her in the face. “Coco, watch were ya throwin’ things”

“Sorry,” the prankster apologized removing the offending baked good.

“Anyhow,” Autumn said with a shrug, “Ah figure that much. But why would Glasshorn need to climb on tha shelves when he had help from pegasi?”

“He just wanna make more work for us, that’s why,” The stallion outside shouted.

“He’s also an unicorn, ya rock fer brains,” Autumn countered. “He could just magick the stuff on the shelves.”

“Maybe he’s like Starlight?” her fellow mare questioned as she checked another barrel.

The farmer shook her head as she turned back to the scene, “Ah don’t think so, Coco. He was using it mighty fine back at Gran-Auntie Bloom’s house.”

“Hey!” the prankster said pulling her head out of the tipped barrel. In her mouth was a white feather. “Does this help prove their innocence?”

The earth pony inspected it closely. “This doesn’t help us a bit, Ah’m afraid. There not a whole lot of pegasi in town.”

“Well how many are in town?”

“Including Storm and Iris, 4.”

The realization hit the pony hard making her drop the feather, “Ohhhhhhhh.”

With a sigh, Autumn reached down for the feather. “Yeah, this can pin Mint here as well,” she said in a hushed tone.

“Then we got to do more looking!” Coco shouted before jumping around.

“Ah like yer thinkin’,” the farmer said before slapping her forehead with a hoof. “Coco, why are ya lookin’ at the dirt?”

“Hoof prints!” the brown coated mare said pointing at the tracks that lead in and out of the storehouse. The defense attorney joined her helper in staring at the hoof prints.

“Well dip me in sugar and call me a candy apple,” she said after a long moment of silence, “Coco, Ah think you found something useful.”

“YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!” she cheered and bounced deeper into the storehouse.

The farmer could help but chuckled along with the prankster before a realization hit her. “But this doesn’t make sense…”

“Waaaa!” the prankster cried out, breaking the farmer’s concentration.

Sighing, she rotated on a hoof. “What in tarnation did ya doooOOOOOO! Holy Horseapples!” Instead of her braided mane friend sitting among discarded baked goods, there was a green zebra with wings. Autumn just stared as the mare checked out her new body.

“This is sooooooooooo weird,” the zebra said flexing her wings.

“What happen?” Wild Star said trotting up to entrance. The two mares watched as stallion’s eyes exploded.

“CHANGELING!” he screamed before bolting away from them leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

“Wait!” the pair of them shouted after him. They were barely out the door when all traces of the deputy were just a trail of hoof prints leading into town.

“Just great,” the farmer sighed and removed her hat, “now we have two things ta deal with.”

“Hey!” her friend shouted. “I’m back to normal!” Sure enough the prankster was back to her usual brown coat and white mane.

“What in Equestria happen back there?” the farmer asked putting her hat back on.

“I don’t know. I slipped on pie plate and next thing I know, I had wings. What’s really weird is it felt like I couldn’t fly with them.”

“Ah’m more surprised that you couldn’t,” Autumn said leading her friend back into the storehouse. “For a minute I thought that buck was right bout ya being a changeling. Now let’s check out where ya landed.”

The two spent hours sweeping through the storehouse. They flipped over pie trays, checked under piles of crumbs, dived back into barrels of mushed apple cores. The farmer even had her assistant repeat her fall yet no attempt could yield anything.

“This is getting us nowhere,” Autumn finally said fixing her hat. “Let’s get back to tha others and see what they found.”

“Autumn…” a mare nervously called out from behind her. “I got that weird feeling again.” Turning around to the source of the voice, the young mare found herself staring up at black alicorn with a frighten look plastered on her face.

Jaw hanging, she could only mutter, “Nyx… I thought you were-”

“Wait!” Coco’s voice came from the winged unicorn. “I’m Nyx? Strange I was just thinking what she would do in this kind of situation.”

“Don’t move!” the farmer shouted making the alicorn freeze up. “Lift each hoof one atta time, slowly.” The alicorn lifted her left foreleg with the earth pony staring closely at the ground below. Nothing but pie crumbs on the black hoof. Autumn’s eyes darted over the next hoof once the other one was lowered. A large chunk of frosting was dangling from the hoof.

Trusting her instincts, she reached out and pulled the mass of. Once she had it off she looked back up at her friend to stare right into her cherry red eyes.

“Sooo… did it work?” the prankster asked without moving her eyes. With a nod from the farmer, she whipped her head around to inspect her backside.

“Let’s get back to everypony,” Autumn said tossing her evidence and notes back into her back. “They’re gonna flip with what we found.”

******

“Careful now, Star,” Applebloom said as she guided her apprentice in pulling a hot pie from the oven. Even through the oven mitt in her mouth, the searing heat brought tears to the unicorn’s eyes. From his seat in the aged pony’s mane, Iago cheered her on with a combination of chirps and flipping wings.

“You could help cool me off, Iago,” Starlight said through the mitt. Fighting against the pain, she found a open countertop for her to drop the tray as gently as she could. After the sound of metal being drop from two hoof lengths died down, the young cook threw herself at the sink.

Wheeling her chair around to watch her assistant drink straight from the tap, the original Cutie Mark Crusader place a hoof on the student’s shoulder. “Their alive, ya know?”

Pulling her face out of the sink, the grey mare replied, “Huh?” Her dripping muzzle adding to the confused look she gave off.

“Nyx and Spike, Ah know ya be worryin’ bout her,” the cream coated pony answered leaning back in her wheelchair. “It’s ah written all over yer face like ah book.”

Turning back to the sink, the unicorn leaned in and took another drink. “Ah’ve know both fer ma whole life. Ah doubt they’re going to let Discord bet them.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Starlight snapped pulling her face away once more while turning the water flow off. “Did you not hear me yelling about it at breakfast? Did you not see me turn the inside of that workshop into a pile of wood chips? I’ve will not believe that their dead. Both mean a lot to my mother and while I won’t say it to her, I care about how she feels. If she knew that both her of her older siblings died on the same night would... just... just... just ruin her. I’m even sure that my father won’t be able to make her happy.” She looked at her hooves, “I bet the only thing that would make her happy if that happen would if I learned how to bring ponies back from the dead.”

Bringing her head back and to look into the handicapped mare’s eyes, she said, “That’s why I can’t accept- no that’s why I know for a fact that they're not gone.”

The Apple pony brought a hoof up and pointed it right at the sadden mare. “That there is why Ah know they aren't dead. Ya have faith in them. Just like yer grandmother had faith in her friends long ago. Never lose that faith and gain new faith in those who count ya as their friends. That will help ya do what needs to be done. Ah would join ya if Ah could move my hindquarters without this chair.”

The young mare couldn’t help but smile to the old crusader. Returning the smile, Applebloom gestured toward the doorway. “Now go get anotha basket of apple from ma store while Ah start tha next batch.”

With spirits lifted, Starlight motioned for her pet to hop onto her horn. Accepting the offer, Iago gave a happy chirp as it flutter the distance between the two ponies’ head. Picking the basket up in her teeth, the two of them left the inn and ventured toward the rear of the building.

“You know, Iago,” Starlight looking up at the sparrow resting on her horn, “I think things are starting to look up.” The tiny bird chirped angrily at her as they approached the small shed nestle right behind the inn.. “What, did you think I jinxed it?”

“How are things going on the desert front?” a familiar voice said from the other side of the shack. The unicorn and bird froze in their tracks. “I heard that getting dirt stuck in between your horseshoes and hooves is quite painful.”

“Things are goings well, Discord,” a stallion replied to the chaotic voice. “Those guard ponies you pointed out for me are in jail. Everypony wants their tails. The buffalo are due in the morning and from what I learn from the townsfolk is right, I pretty sure they’ll have this town turned to pancakes before the end of week.”

The eavesdropper inched around the building to hear better. “Discord does have a hoof in this mess,” she whispered to her sparrow, “My assumption was right. I need to tell the others now.” The tiny bird couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

“I think that’s not all you’re telling me Viper,” Discord stated bringing the unicorn and sparrow’s attention.

‘Viper’ sighed. “That old mare that runs in the inn convinced the whole town to put them on trial. While I planted enough evidence to have them guilty, I think they might have a chance to find them not guilty. I already had a backup plan in place though, so even those six ponies that showed up last night and took the chase won’t even suspect me.”

“Six ponies?” Discord questioned. “Are most of them mares?”

“All but one,” the stallion replied. “Big pegasus colt with a white coat and the most strangest mane and tail color I’ve ever seen.” A long silence forced the unicorn eavesdropper to peak around the corner. Standing over a barrel of water was the suspected stallion with apple in his hoof.

Discord voice emerged from the barrel. “Do whatever you need to keep them from getting to court. Even the best laid plans of mice and ponies can go astray if there is even a string is left loose.” The stallion nodded. “Now deal with those eavesdroppers.”

“Run Starlight!” another voice screamed from the barrel as Viper looked up and stared into Starlight’s eyes before the unicorn and sparrow took off leaving the empty basket behind

“Shoot, shoot, shoot,” she panted as she dashed toward the open streets. Iago chirped out encouragement as they reach the alleyway that gapped the distance. “Iago, if anything happens to me tell my mother I love her even after all the… WHY AM I TELLING A BIRD THIS?!” A large weight fell on top of her bringing her down off her hooves.

Looking at what had tackled her, her eyes were greeted with a devilish grin. “Who woulda thought the perfect plan would fall right into my lap.

*******

Luminance and Iris followed their tall shadows up to the inn as they converged with the others from their information gathering missions.

“So let’s recap shall we?” the unicorn asked nudging her nurse friend. “We know that a unicorn was spotted entering the storehouse around eleven-thirty.”

“Yes,” the pegasus nodded, “but there are only two unicorns in town aside from you and Starlight. And we confirmed that Cookie was home last night with his wife during that time.”

“Which places Glasshorn at the time of the crime,” the interior designer pointed out as she mounted the steps. “Unless it’s an earth pony with an ice cream cone on his head, but it could very well be since it was crescent moon out last night. What else do we know?”

“Ummm,” Iris paused in her steps to place a hoof on her chin, “I heard there was a party last night on the other side of town that most of the town attended.”

The unicorn nodded her head as she sat down at the top of the steps. “That accounts for the whole town really aside from Mrs. Applebloom, Mr. Silver Star, the guardsponies, Cookie, his wife, Mr. Salt and Mr. Tootall. Out of all of them the only one that wasn’t accounted by other means is Silver Star. He does have a motive because he wants to prove himself.”

“But why would he want to defend the guards?” the nurse asked deflating that theory.

The unicorn brushed a hoof through her hair. “That sure does ruin that motive, but he’s the only one that could possibly have done it.”

“Ya saying that ya figured out who did it?” their farmer friend said trotting up with the prankster in tow.

“I have little doubt who could have done it, is I’m implying,” the interior designer. “The problem is figuring out why he did it.”

“And how,” the nurse mare added.

“We figure that out!” Coco beamed before digging into Autumn’s bag.

The unicorn stood up. “Well you unless you found the cone he had on his head, I doubt anything can explain it so simply.”

“Then getta load of this,” the farmer said as the frosted covered objected was tossed in from of them.

Both mares new to this piece of evidence stared at it. “What is it?” Iris asked poking it. The farmer picked it up and hurried inside. Her fellow earth pony ushered the others to follow.

Ignoring the alluring smell of home cooking, Autumn rushed over to the dining table. She tossed her find on the wooden surface with a thunk before attacking it. When her friends entered the room, they found her hooves holding up a star with the smallest bits of frosting still clinging to it.

“That’s a deputy star,” Luminance stated.

The farmer tossed the star over her the prankster, “We found it in tha store house and it has tha crazy of magic on it. Show them Coco.” Beaming at the prospect of trying out the device once more, the mare slapped the star on her.

The three mares watched as their friend’s coat and mane went a stunningly bright pink. Luminance dared to inch closer when the prankster gone pink tackled her. “Neato isn’t it?” she said hugging the unicorn. “I can change my appearance as long I have a clear mental image of somepony.”

“But if she loses focus,” Autumn continued to explain as the badge wearing pony began to shift once more to a mare with wings, “she changes inta some random combination. While she may have a horn or wings, she can’t use them.”

“Which means it must have been Silver Star who did it,” Iris said helping her unicorn friend out of the shape shifting pony’s grasp.

“Indeed it does,” the interior designer replied once the energetic mare released her hold. “He’s an earth pony like Coco, he wasn’t at the party last night-”

“And wasn’t anywhere near the storehouse last night, ma’am,” a stern voice interrupted the unicorn’s train of thought. Looking toward the source, the mares saw Spectrum Storm and Crab Apple entering both breathing slightly harder than normally.

“But Storm,” Coco stated as her body shifted to that of the pegasus, “you suspected Silver from the beginning.”

“That suspicion I had was destroyed when I had a talk with him, ma’am,” the stallion said cantering over to the mare and removing the badge. He inspected it closer as he continued, “He may want to prove himself, but he wouldn’t go through this just to do it.”

“How can you be so sure?” Luminance asked as there was a knock on the door. Excusing himself, Crab went to greet the visitor. “From what you said of his cover name ‘Silver Tounge,’ one would figure he is very charismatic. I say, Silver Star could have wanted to be the defender in order to frame yet another pony all together making even more chaos.”

“It’s what I would do if I was in his horseshoes,” the chipper mare pointed out.

Shaking his head, the stallion tossed the coat-changing star on to the nearby table much to the prankster’s delight as she took it. “There are too many ‘what if’s’ in such a setup ma’am,” he countered. “As it is now, there is a lot of ‘what if’s’ in this case as we speak. But, unlike the complex motive you’ve set up he can manage the ones he has now. Besides, going that deep isn’t his style.”

“Has anypony seen ya grey unicorn friend?” Grand-Auntie Bloom asked wheeling herself slowly into the room. There was a unanimous shake of the head. “Ah sent her outback 20 min’s ago. Where did that youngster run off to?”

“Do you think she had another outburst?” Iris questioned as she started digging medical supplies.

The old mare’s son came trotting up with a letter in his mouth. “Ah don’t think so,” he said through the paper.  Spitting it on to the table, the others gathered around and read the message.


To: The Guest at Applebloom’s Inn.

If you want to see your friend alive,

Do not go to court tomorrow.

From: Viper Bite.


*******

“Ohohohohohohohoh!” Discord laughed as he watched a pair of stallions in suits tackled each other in the middle of a packed street. He tossed cotton candy into his mouth as he gazed through the glowing portal. One of the stallions slammed a hoof across his opponent’s face before the police pulled him off. “Oooooooooooooooh, this can’t get any better. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes Discord, Hornclaw thinks these ponies are dumber than other Diamond Dogs,” the gem hunter said from his master’s side.

“You’re disgusting,” an angry mare said from behind the two.

“Ditto,” a deeper voice chimed in.

With a pleading face, the spirit of disharmony looked around as his visitors. “Ahh, come now. You must admit this is better than that ‘professional wrestling.’ At least here they’re trying to kill each other.”

A small burst of green flame landed on the draconequus’s face. “There’s what I think of your ‘fun’, Discord,” the sender said before sending another burst of flame toward them. The puff of fire landed square on top of the other blast.

“Spike, stop it,” the dragon fellow prisoner said before letting out a goan.

Waving away smoke and snapping away the small fire that started on his beard, the draconequus said, “You should listen to your dear sister, Spikey-Wikey. Nyxie is not feeling so good and things could get worse if you don’t behave.”

“You think keep me this cage and hiding behind my sister is going to save you?” Spike snorted sending a puff of smoke from his nostrils.

Discord grinned, “Even if you were fully grown, you wouldn’t stand a minute against me.” Turning around he started walking back to his chair.

Taking in a deep breath, his serpentine like belly swelled. Channeling the energy from waist to cheeks, he launched his largest blast yet. The pillar of flame slammed right into the backside of the chaotic being bringing him to the floor.

For minutes the dragon continued his barrage of energy draining heat storm until he lost his breath. Collapsing onto the side of his cage he shouted, “There’s more where that comes from, you minotaur-kissing crazy!”

There was no reply. Not even a word from Nyx scolding him. Looking toward the other cage on the ground, his eyes shrank. Standing back up, he looked to where his fire blast had landed. Sitting in the middle of superheated soil, was the wounded alicorn.

Her coat was a deep grey from the dragon fire but was slowly returning to normal. The once magical mane had returned to a form he hadn’t seen in decades. What really sent the young drake into panic was her still chest and tightly closed eyelids.

Crying reached Spike’s ear. “Bohoho, it’s so sad,” Discord said wiping tears from his eyes. “You’ve killed your very own sister. How would Princess look upon such act? How would your family? How would Twilight?”

The panic turned to rage as Spike turned and blasted the area that the draconequus once was. Discord continued to taunted the librarian as he blew fire everywhere. The Diamond Dog even had to dive behind the chair as one of the random blast landed mere inches away.

“Stop it, Discord!” said a pained voice catching the attention of raged fuel beast. Spike stared as Nyx attempted to stand. She was able to get three legs before one that was burnt gave away sending her back to floor.

The being of chaos floated over to look into the knight's eyes. “But I’m having fun,” he whined, throwing a quivering lip for extra effect. “Plus, I bet you’re even getting a kick out of watch.” If stares were weapons, Nyx’s was worth an entire army’s worth of spears.

“I’ve mastered the pleading face when I was one,” she stated bluntly as she lifted her head..

Crossing his arms, Discord gave a snap of his fingers. Nyx reappeared in her cell next to Spike, completely unharmed from the dragon fire.

“Why are you keeping us alive when we’re the biggest threat to you?” the Knight of Equestria asked getting back up on her hooves. “I’m magic-less in here and not just by your little light cage.” She tapped the silver band of metal clutching tightly around her neck.

“I’ve got plans for you,” he replied reaching through the alicorn’s cell and brushing his claw through her thick purple mane. “Both of you in fact. You’re going to help me bring chaos to everypony.”  

“Over my scaly body,” the dragon snorted letting out tiny puffs of flame from his nose. Laughing madly, the draconequus left the two alone as he return to his chair where Hornclaw waited.

“Are you okay, Nyx?” the dragon whispered low enough so Discord couldn’t hear.

Nodding her head she replied, “Yes, but I don’t know for how long.” She tapped the call’s cage, sending ripples of magic along the bars of light. “This is cell is doing more than prevent me from using magic.”

“I can see that,” the librarian stated. “You haven’t had that mane since you went to tutor under the princesses.”

“Yes,” Nyx said inspecting her matching tail, “I’m being drain of my magic.”

The realization struck Spike, “Do you think you could die if you in there too long?”

“I- I don’t know,” she replied honestly. “If so though, I pray that Starlight was able to get away and find the elements.”