Act I Chapter I

'I hear those reeds, those cattails, rustling in the wind. As far as the eye can see.'

A lowly stallion stood alone in the darkness, stripped clean of every possession on his back. Battered and bruised, lined with cuts, lacerations, and scabbed wounds trying to heal. His wings remained featherless, and his fur was left in rough patches. The pegasus stared at the undergrowth, trying to make headway.

'Howlin' like Timberwolves... The wall ahead of me just gets thicker with time. It never shows me mercy, not once.'

He looked at himself and admired the state of his body. Admiring how much his small body endured all the hardship and pain to end up a walking skeleton. And he would gladly do it over, just to have a chance at breaking through.

'Blowing through the ruins—I think I can hear them calling my name. Wanting me to come back anew.'

He tried to muscle through, but the reeds acted as rods of steel and the leaves were as thin as razors. Worst of all, she was not far.

The embodiment of primordial evil

The forest was quiet to the extent that all life could be heard. The gentle song of songbirds tweeted their tune through the brambles and treetops. The gentle gush of wind caused the semi-barren branches to groan as golden leaves of autumn fluttered to the ground. Rabbits, squirrels, even a few grazing deer were collecting food for the winter.

The gentle patter of rain on the leaves and its revitalizing feeling cooled the air, and perhaps too much. Puddles of water filled the holes in the dead and abandoned muddy paths around the forest. All seemed well in the forest, much like the rest of the land.

There was a sound, though. A sound that was rhythmic and unlike anything belonging to a forest. The birds stopped chirping and the wildlife around ceased movement as the stamp of hooves echoed through the undergrowth.

Trudging through the muck with a soggy squelch, a pony crept along on the small path. The stallion skirted along the darkness nipping at his heels as daylight was nearing its end.

The stallion knew that he needed to set up camp for the night, looking around and searching for someplace to hopefully dry off. But the thick overgrowth of the forest around him was too dark and everything he touched was drenched, including himself.

"Dammit!" Cloud Strider cursed under his breath with chattering teeth.

"I d-didn't expect it to be so c-cold," Cloud said. After realizing that he was closing in on his destination, Cloud ditched some of his equipment a few days earlier.

Cloud Strider was miserable: he was hungry, wet, cold, and giving into the early stages of hypothermia. His preserved rations were gone and he was unprepared for the home stretch.

He sat down on a recently felled tree, collecting his scattered thoughts to the best of his abilities. Cloud breathed in a shaky manner as the cold got to him.

"Get it together, Cloud,"—shaking his head—"this is nothing compared to the winters in Norway; in Bug Bear Territory."

Breathing in once again, he opened one of his saddlebags. Cloud Strider plucked out his rolled up map and compass with it. The raindrops dripping off of the leaves and skies above made quick work of his map, blotting out some of the areas of the Equestrian map in his hooves.

'Ok,' Cloud thought as he noticed his horrible shaking, 'from the looks of this, I'm in the—Everfree Forest.' Cloud moved his numbed hoof towards the mountain capital of Equestria.

'There's—Canterlot. Maybe within a days' worth of travel.' He really began to notice just how bad his shaking was getting. Needing to rewire his mind for survival, Cloud Strider put the map away and headed north on the current path. He went into a gallop in an attempt to warm his body up.

The tinkling of his minimalist gear bobbed up and down in tandem with each step. Cloud cared little how dirty or wet he was getting, mainly because it really could not get any worse.

'I gotta' get out of this damn forest, it'll be the death of me,' Cloud continued to repeat the words in his mind as large puddles of water washed his body clean. He could see the abrupt end of the forest's edge seemingly come out of nowhere. His morale definitely went up a notch.

"Yes!" Cloud let out as the forest was finally behind him. He came to a complete stop as he stood at the fringe of green plains and rolling hills on the deepening horizon. The scenery stretched on as far as he could see before the dark of night blanketed the land beyond.

'Ok-ok, focus,' Cloud Strider did a 360 around his surroundings, spotting a small cottage fashioned into a massive tree. The place was covered with birdhouses, burrow holes, and a small pond in the front. The lights were off and it looked quite empty to him as his eyes scanned for any sign of life.

He trotted towards the cottage, fixated on the naturalistic architecture of the place. The wind howled through the leaves and branches of the tree with a low moan.

The wind went right through him, sapping away his energy. Cloud almost toppled over before catching himself but continued forward. He walked over the small stone bridge and up the sodden steps.

The door was split horizontally to open in two parts as he stood level with it. Cloud Strider looked through the window embedded in the door, knocking loudly and haphazardly.

"Hello...! Hello?" Cloud yelled into the doorway as he knocked once more. He did not see anything inside move an inch, nor did he see anything new. Now he debated on whether to break in and risk committing a crime or respectfully stay outside.

'I just won't touch anything,' he thought, justifying his reasons for breaking and entering. Although he had a basic understanding of lock picking with his lockpicks, he was extremely terrible at it from the get-go. And with the amount of shaking his body was going through, it would barely get him anywhere.

Cloud took a step back, breathed, and stomped forward. The concussive whack on the door felt like it hurt him more as he bashed his shoulder. He grunted loudly with every charge, but the door gave no signs of failure or budging.

Panting, he stumbled back and propped up against the wooden wall of the house. The wind was broken by the cottage at his back and gave him some semblance of warmth, however faint it was. Cloud Strider went up to a stream of water falling from the gutters and drank, getting more than his fill. He sat back down and curled up slowly, conserving what little warmth he had. Cloud felt himself sigh, shaking himself awake from time-to-time.

Cloud Strider looked towards the rain-wrapped and fogged over mountains to the north. And for just a moment, the clouds that sequestered the city of Canterlot parted just enough for him to see the city for the first time. Even if it lasted for a moment, he was captivated by its effervescent glow and beauty for the second it revealed itself.

"It looks... beautiful," Cloud murmured, "nothing like the pictures and stories I've seen."

The storm clouds hid the city well, but the lights were able to beam through and color the clouds just enough. Cloud Strider continued to stare at the location of Canterlot on the mountainside, still drawn in by its closeness.

'How could something be so close, but just out of my reach? I'm this close... and I'm going to freeze to—' Cloud stopped thinking, speaking, and breathing. A light next to him turned on.

"—huh?!" Cloud looked over to see the door slowly open and he met eyes with a shaking pony.

"H-Hello?" the mare said as she looked directly at him. Her voice was soft and calming to him, even if she looked completely scared of his presence. He just continued to stare at her, dumbfounded. The mare stepped closer to him upon closer inspection.

"Oh—oh dear, you're shaking!" whoever the mare was, she opened the door completely before taking hold of his leg.

He resisted at first, showing just how confused and reluctant he was. Cloud's eyes were wide open and albeit frightened at the turn of events. Cloud could see her really thick, pink mane and soft yellow fur beyond the light. She was face-to-face with him for just a moment before tugging at his leg again.

"Come on, please. Come inside! You need to get warm," the mare said. Cloud Strider heard the words and how caring they sounded, saying the first thing that came to his mind.

"Inside?"

"Yes," the mare said. She felt Cloud finally stand up and step into the cottage, closing the door behind him.

Cloud Strider found himself standing in the middle of the cottage, taking in the place while sopping wet. A lot of wooden furniture and other trinkets were scattered everywhere his eyes landed. The cobblestone fireplace was ablaze and a warm glow was cast through the living room. He found it strange how every little thing in the cottage somehow flowed into each other, even the cushioned furniture and its floral patterns.

He looked towards the kind mare and stepped forward. To Cloud's surprise, she heard him move and look him straight in the eyes.

"O-Oh, sorry. Just give me a few seconds," but he continued to study her. She sounded and acted so kind, but looked so timid and even reserved. Watching as she dug into a closet and pulled out some towels.

Still shaking rather severely, Cloud expected the girl to give him the towels, but she went to his side instead.

"Um... c-can you, take your things off, please?" she asked as Cloud detached his sword and round shield. He felt uncomfortable removing his only means of protection just for a mare, but she did not sound like she had any ill-intentions. In fact, she was more calming than anything. Cloud Strider removed his fur collar and saddlebags with a big thud.

"Thank you," she wrapped him in towels and guided him next to the fire, stacking his gear against the wall. He stood frozen at the spot, the fact that this mare dried him off herself was very strange to him, let alone guiding him to the fireplace.

"Now, you get warm while I finish making dinner, ok?" she said, but Cloud Strider grabbed her foreleg as gentle as he could.

"What are you doing?" Cloud stared into her eyes and waited for her to answer, "I don't even know how I'll pay you."

Nothing escaped her muzzle other than a simple smile.

She studied the pegasus with his navy blue coat and bluish-gray eyes. His mane of dark and light blue, white, and yellow, including his tail. Both his mane and tail were long and unkempt, terribly filthy too. A short, bushy beard growing around his muzzle that had recently been trimmed somewhat. Her eyes drifted down towards his hindquarters where the most prominent feature of his body was: a very strange cutie mark. It was unlike anything she had seen before. Eight lines all met in a central point in a circular pattern. The individual ends of each line had a different set of prongs and trident-like symbols, something very alien to her.

"Oh—um. No, that's okay... you can call me, um, Fluttershy," she looked down at Cloud's hoof just as he released her. Fluttershy turned around and trotted to the kitchen, leaving him be.

Cloud used his time to properly dry off with the towels, ruining them in the process. Only a few seconds of drying off were enough to calm his jitters and perk up his coat.

'That's much better,' he thought to himself as he stood up, looking around in awe. It had been awhile since he had been in proper homesteading, a strange one at that. Looking at all the birdhouses both inside and outside made him wonder if they were all being used until he was greeted. A small, yellow bird poked its head out and landed on Cloud's outstretched hoof before flying away, "Wow..."

It was hard to force himself to move on, but he managed. His attention drifted to the few things on Fluttershy's mantle.

Almost every picture from what he assumed was her childhood, there was another pony always there. A myriad of colors that honestly made his eyes hurt. Cloud Strider moved on and saw others join in not long after.

'They must mean a lot,' he smirked at some of the silly pictures until he stared at a certain one toward the end.

"That's... strange," Cloud leaned in and noticed the date was one or two days after he began his journey to Canterlot. The group photo also had something of interest as Canterlot could be seen in the background.

His insides felt queasy and his heart raced for no good reason. The random turn of events had him going, even if it had nothing to do with him.

"Excuse me-" Fluttershy spoke.

"Gah!—Jeez," Cloud Strider stumbled back onto his haunches, holding onto his chest.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy trotted over and helped him back to his hooves, "I didn't mean to scare you!"

"Hey, no worries. Didn't think a mare like you would be able to scare me so easily, hehe!" he stood back up and stared with a nervous smile.

"Um... I forgot to, uh, ask, but what's your name, sir?"

Cloud began to chuckle, "I never told you, huh? My name's Cloud Strider. Uh—Fl-Fluttershy, right?"

Fluttershy nodded, stepping back as he stood up a couple inches taller than her. She cleared her throat after a few moments of silence, "W-Well I'd be a terrible host if I didn't ask you to uh, eat with me? You look hungry."

He squinted at Fluttershy and, still in a state of mild confusion, "But, you didn't have to help me, Fluttershy. I'm a complete stranger that you know nothin' about. Why did you—"

"I—I know, but you looked like you needed some help. Now come and sit with me," Fluttershy asked, leaving Cloud Strider with no other choice but to have dinner.

"Ah, It does smell pretty good," He admitted as he sat across from her. "I just want to know why you let me into your home."

"I just... like helping others, and—you just looked like you really needed it after hitting my door."

"Sorry... I was desperate. I didn't know anyone was home," he said.

"No-no! That's ok," Fluttershy poured him a bowl of the soup. "You can have as much as you want, alright?"

"Y-Yes ma'am," Cloud hinted with obedience, taking the opportunity to rekindle his spirits. He scarfed down the first bowl of the mystery soup, caring little of its contents. Normally, he would have been on high alert if someone let him into their home and gave him food. But at this point, he was willing to take a chance. And he was not going to pass down a free meal from such a nice mare.

'Well, I'll find out if this is drugged soon enough,' Cloud Strider watched Fluttershy eat some of the same soup, 'or, maybe not.'

"Oh my, you must really be starving!" Fluttershy was even kind enough to fix him another bowl.

"Aye, thanks," Cloud looked down at the bowl and ate at a slower pace than before. His eyes began to wander until he was looking out the window again. It was completely dark and raining even harder. The pitter-patter of raindrops touched the windows in glossy streaks. The wood around him groaned and creaked by the moderate winds blowing outside.

Even from inside, Cloud could see the city of Canterlot high above the land and poking through the clouds. The white blur it produced simply mocked him on a personal note. Fluttershy caught on and looked out the window, seeing what he saw.

"Are you, looking at Canterlot?" Fluttershy fixed her gaze on him. She was curious who the stallion was, showing up at her house without notice. Not only was Fluttershy curious, but she was downright captivated by him.

Cloud nodded, "Yeah..."

"Oh I'm—I'm sorry, Cloud Strider, but I wanna' ask you something. If that's ok with you?" Fluttershy watched him turn towards his food.

"Uh, Cloud Strider, sir?" Fluttershy asked again.

"Please, you can call me Cloud," he said.

"Oh, ok. Well, I wanted to ask if you're from around here. I-I've never seen you around and I've lived here for years," Fluttershy asked, still studying the enigmatic pegasus. She knew for sure that he was not native to Equestria, and his thick but fluent accent was a clear indicator of that.

"No... No, I'm not."

"I see. Can I ask where? Or, why you're here?" Fluttershy asked. She was expecting some story about being kicked out into the streets or being some aimless vagabond, "I-I'm only asking because you don't sound like you live... You know, around here."

Cloud put his empty bowl on the table and stared down.

"N—" Cloud Strider stopped, thinking about his arduous and unforgiving journey.

"—Norway," his scratchy voice convoluted his words, clearing his throat in the process, "I came from Norway."

"What?! Why are you so far away from home, Cloud? Don't you have family that's worried sick or-or, oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to invade your privacy!"

"Hey-hey, you're alright, Fluttershy! Don't worry so much, girl! But I don't think you'd understand... It isn't something to talk about."

"Then, I assume you're heading for Canterlot?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yeah," he remained still and watched the steam rise from the pot.

"Well, uh—whatever your reason is, I'm sure it's important, Cloud," Fluttershy knew it was time to stop asking questions. Fluttershy squeezed in a smile as Cloud Strider looked up at her. He nodded in a glazed over state of mind.

"Thanks."

Cloud Strider sat in silence for awhile as Fluttershy ate. He would sometimes take glances at her as she looked in the other direction, trying to study her further. Cloud was stunned beyond belief. Fluttershy had the kindness of an elderly mare paired with undeniable goodness in her heart. And every time she apologized for "speaking out of line", he found it cute in an innocent way. The more he thought about it, the more he began to think about home where everyone acted like Fluttershy.

He pushed away from the table with care and stood up.

"Thank you, Fluttershy, for your hospitality. But, I'd better get goin'," Cloud Strider turned and began to grab his gear against the wall.

"Wait, what? Don't go!" Fluttershy got up and trotted over.

"It's for the best, Fluttershy."

"But, you could get sick, Cloud. Or-or even hurt!" Fluttershy tried to reason with him.

"Hehe, I appreciate that, but I'll take my chances."

"Please? Please, don't go right now, It's gonna' rain all night! You can sleep here until morning. I mean, you were about to get very sick if I didn't come out and let you in." Fluttershy had to lean her head back to make eye contact.

"That's—kind of you, Fluttershy. But I'm not gonna' let a little rain beat me again," Cloud Strider put his equipment down once he noticed Fluttershy was blocking the doorway on purpose.

"I can't let you leave, Cloud, I'm very sorry. I just wouldn't be able to sleep tonight sending you out into the rain." Fluttershy locked the door and put the key under her wing.

Cloud raised an eyebrow, "You're really serious about this, huh?"

Stepping back and rolling his eyes, he sighs heavily in the process. Cloud Strider looked at how defiant she was. It surprised him that such a shy mare could act so righteous and hard-headed when someone needed help.

"Yes, I am, m-mister. You're staying," Fluttershy said.

Cloud sighed once again and played along.

"Alright Fluttershy, you're the boss," he proceeded to doff his saddlebags and fur collar back into the corner.

"Ok then... good," Fluttershy stepped away from the door once she knew anything was in order.

"Thank you. I hope you're not mad at me," Fluttershy trotted past him and began to gather up some blankets and pillows.

"Hahaha! You're way too nice for someone to stay mad at you! Who in the right mind could?"

"Oh, hehe! You'd be surprised," Fluttershy sounded out a timid giggle before blushing, turning away before vanishing behind a wall. "How about you take a little shower, hmm? You look like you could use one."

"Uh, alright. That'd be pretty great... Are you sure though, Fluttershy? You don't have to do that. I mean, I ruined those towels you gave me, I don't want to be a pain in the ass."

"No! No-no, it's ok! You're more than welcome! And watch that mouth, mister. Or I'll get the soap out," something about her face told Cloud she was half-serious, stuck in between transit.

"I'll be more careful next time, sorry."

"Thank you, Cloud. I'm just not a fan of swearing. My longtime friend has a habit of it, so it's nothing against you," the sounds of running water and clanking dishes erupted from the kitchen as Fluttershy filled the sink. "Try not to use it too much, ok? I understand if it slips out."

"Fluttershy, I-I get it."

"I just wanted to make sure. Follow me," Fluttershy led him up the steps near the kitchen, opening a door that revealed a bathtub and shower head. There were shampoo products and many other things to revitalize the body after a day's work, scattered around the bathroom sink. She put a few towels out on the rack and shampoo that was not too feminine for him.

"There, just call downstairs if you need something," Fluttershy said. Cloud was about to ask her how to turn it on, but she closed the door.

'Well, It's been awhile since I've used one of these,' Cloud Strider studied the faucet and the knobs sticking out of the wall. He noticed that one of the knobs had blue accents and the other one was red. Putting two and two together, Cloud figured that the red and blue controlled hot and cold water.

“Ok,” He turned the red knob and felt the water that spurted out. It was already warm on his hooves.

“What does this plunger thing do?” Cloud Strider pulled on it and was assailed by water all over his face. He quickly pulled back and fumbled with the cold knob, finding a perfect medium.

The warmth of the shower was blissful on his coat and mane, making sure his tail was spotless as well. The hairs on his body tried to stand, but the water kept everything down.

"Dammit, this feels great..." Cloud Strider sat down in the bathtub letting the water rain down. Looking up into the spray, the warm water streamed down his face and beard. He looked down at the bottoms of his hooves and realized just how filthy he was in general. Cloud scrubbed his hooves clean and slathered his entire body in shampoo, working it deep into his fur. It cleansed his body of dirt which turned the runoff into a soupy mixture of mud. Before long, the water running off his body turned clear once again.

After a few minutes of breathing in the steam and heat, Cloud Strider reached for the knobs. He stepped out of the shower and used some of the towels to dry off, only taking a few minutes to get his mane and tail dry. Looking into the mirror made his eyes widen.

Cloud did not realize how full his mane and tail were. He had ways of dealing with his hair, but with on a time crunch in all, his methods were, unorthodox, to say the least. Cloud grabbed a brush carelessly from the counter and got to work flattening his long hair.

"That's lookin' better," Cloud Strider inspected his own work, seeing no more frizz or major volume. The only discernable trait his hair had was that it was straight, but he had not seen his hair as straight as it was in years. Most of the time he wore it up in strange hairstyles, which required a well-needed and specific haircut.

But there was a knock at the door that piqued Cloud's interest more than his hair, one that came from downstairs.

"'Hey, Fluttershy? Ye' in there, sugarcube?"

"Oh, uh-just a minute!" Fluttershy continued to gather up some items for her guest, somewhat trying to ignore the constant knocking.

"Shy! It can wait, hurry up!" another voice chimed in. It was sort of raspy and energetic in Cloud Strider's ears.

"O-Ok, Rainbow Dash, I'm coming," Fluttershy obeyed the mares at the door without a second thought. Cloud found it careless, but that name "Rainbow Dash" seemed to oddly roll off the tongue.

'Rainbow Dash...' he looked down at the picture that had Fluttershy in it and found a pony quite befitting of the name.

'Rainbow mane and tail, really fuckin' colorful. That has to be her, right?' Cloud thought, not really knowing if Rainbow Dash was a stallion or mare.

"Well, leave the mind to its imagination, I guess," Cloud Strider muttered under his breath. He quietly spread his wings and fluttered to the ground floor, letting his curiosity take control as he listened in.

"Rainbow? What's wrong? T-Twilight? Applejack?" Fluttershy's face contorted, finding their presence a little unsettling. "Is something happening?"

"Fluttershy?! A-Are you ok?!"

Cloud Strider managed to look around Fluttershy, seeing a yellow mane and brown hat. The mare had freckles like no other and deep green eyes filled with anxiety.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What is it?" Fluttershy said.

"I've been feeling some significant magic signatures traveling across Equestria for the past few months. And whatever is giving off this magic is somewhere around here," Twilight bobbed her head around as she stared into the darkened landscape.

He could see a purple glow light up the doorway, along with the familiar shimmering noise that unicorn magic created.

"You feelin' somethin', Twilight?"

Cloud noticed the pony named Applejack was talking to someone named Twilight.

"You sure you haven't seen anything strange, Fluttershy?" The rainbow-haired pony said. By the process of elimination, he was positive she was Rainbow Dash. Not a pre-pubescent stallion, but a mare.

"Oh—" Fluttershy tipped her head down slowly and hid behind the volume of her mane. Cloud finally began to see her true reserved side shine through. Something was going on, and Cloud Strider did not like it, "—Um..."

"Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash said, "I've seen that look. We all have."

"I, um-"

"Sugarcube, you gotta' tell us," Applejack said, "Twi' says it's dark magic she's been feelin'. We don't know what ta' expect."

"Fuck... I gotta' get out, now," Cloud felt his stomach churn in disgust.

'Whoever this Twilight is, she knows what she's talkin' about,' he thought. Fluttershy was already crumbling under the pressure. He reached his saddlebags and silently strapped the treated leather belts around his hindquarters.

"You alright, Fluttershy? You're lookin' a little, I don't know, terrified?" Applejack added in. Fluttershy knew she was not going to last much longer, and her friends could easily see through her guise.

"I-I'm, f-fine..."

Cloud wrapped his fur collar around his neck in loops.

"Fluttershy, who's inside?" Twilight lowered her voice. Cloud Strider froze in place, petrified by the amount of gall in her voice.

'Did she see me?' his heart started to beat faster as his leg fit into the handle of his shield.

'C'mon, plan B! They're here for me, I just know it!' he was working up a genuine sweat for fear of being apprehended. Cloud was so close to his target and nothing was going to quell his resolve.

No sooner was Fluttershy forced to the side carefully by Applejack, "What in tarnation is goin' on!"

Cloud lunged for his scabbard and sword.

"H-Hey! Stop that!" Applejack started towards him. Cloud Strider was so close he could feel the object within his grasp. It was now or never for him; everything depended on his plan of escape.

'I saw a back door! It's my only chance!' Cloud spread his feathery wings in preparation for his getaway. The odds were stacked against Cloud at the moment, but trying anything was better than nothing.

Without warning, a booming voice of authority shook the cottage's very foundation.

"Stop!" Twilight's eyes bored right through Cloud. It rattled him to the core, making him listen to the voice. His head snapped up to see the source of the voice. His hoof was mere inches from the handle of his blade. Cloud could see the one named Twilight, and her overall purple coloration was a good indicator. What struck him blind was the fact that she was not a unicorn as originally anticipated. He felt his eyes bulge, his blade so close but her horn was frothing with magic at the ready.

"An... An alicorn?!" Cloud murmured under his breath in total disbelief.

'No, no-no! This isn't good. I'm totally screwed! An alicorn?!' Cloud Strider panicked, having never seen a real alicorn in his life. The scowl on her face did not bode well, either.

"Who are you?!" Twilight demanded. Cloud looked at Rainbow Dash who was ready to knock his lights out.

"Did you hurt Fluttershy? Huh?!" Rainbow Dash said with Applejack restraining her.

"W-Wait, stop! He didn't do anything!" Fluttershy stepped in front of her friends.

"I said, who are you?!" Twilight demanded once more for an answer. Cloud Strider looked into her eyes with a cold gaze.

"I... I'm, Cloud St-rider," he touched his sword and received even more backlash.

"Uh-uh! I swear I'll use force! Don't test me!" Twilight said and lowered her horn slightly. "Slide it over, now!"

Cloud Strider was not sure if he could obey her request. His sword was his most prized possession that he could always rely on. It was always on his body when he needed the thing most. Whether he used it for protection or to simply fiddle around with, it was his piece of artwork that he respected. Cloud glanced at the sword and bit his cheek.

"I can't."

"Cloud," Fluttershy said, "please, listen to her."

"He'd fuckin' better or else," Rainbow Dash spat.

"C'mon, um, Cloud. Don't do anythin' stupid, ok? We can work this out," Applejack seemed like a voice of reason. He looked at his sword, touching the object before pushing it away. Even that made him feel powerless.

Just as he started to push his weapon, Twilight used her magic to yank the sword away without a care in the world. Cloud Strider audibly growled as she handled his weapon improperly.

"Oh, looks like the freak is angry," Rainbow Dash made her snide remark with a smug smile. Why Twilight gave Rainbow Dash the weapon was beyond his reasoning.

"Want it back?" Rainbow Dash added.

"Rainbow! Stop it!" Fluttershy said, "I don't know why you all think he's a threat. I talked to him and he's really, really nice!"

Cloud forced himself to stay quiet, resentful as all hell.

"Oh yeah?! Well, if he isn't some evil monster, he shouldn't have anythin' to hide, now should he?!" Rainbow Dash replied, successfully eliciting a low growl from Cloud. "Unless he's a freak that hurts other ponies with this sword!"

"Rainbow Dash! Stop that right now!" Fluttershy broke her voice threshold, surprising even herself in the act.

Suddenly, in his fit of rage, Cloud Strider let his anger boil over. His breathing thickened and his irises narrowed. Twilight Sparkle caught on as the two pegasi squabbled behind her, she was horrified by the sight before her.

"What is that?" Twilight watched as a metal ring around Cloud's left foreleg began to glow a vaporous white and blue.

'H-How did I not see that!?' Twilight frantically felt her eyes dart around. What used to be a harmless legband of polished steel now hummed with a magical radiance.

'What is he doing?' Twilight leaned in and peered closely. She noticed his attention was focused on Rainbow Dash. She could see deep blue hues of magic spark off and form a magic cloud around the steel band. Twilight lost her ability to speak clearly.

"M—Magic?!" She said, completely paralyzed by what she was seeing. But upon realizing her friend was in danger, Twilight threw herself from captivation.

"Rainbow!" Twilight Sparkle stopped after seeing a bolt of blue energy surge past and pull the sword away from Rainbow Dash. Abrupt silence coursed through the cottage in an instant after seeing what happened. Every ounce of magic that Twilight was ready to use went directly back into her magic reserves. She whipped around as quick as she could, "Rainbow! Are you ok?!"

Rainbow Dash, who was laying on her side and panting hard, looked up at Twilight, "What the fuck was that?!"

"You're ok... Good," Twilight patted Rainbow on the neck as she turned around towards Cloud Strider. She noticed that he assumed a fighting stance. He stood on his hind legs with his sword and shield in a defensive stance. Cloud rested his sword on his shoulder, ready to take a mighty swipe if need be. The pair of wings on his body was spread wide to stabilize his rearing.

'Ok, Twilight, be reasonable. Diffuse the situation as a leader would,' Twilight helped Rainbow Dash up to her hooves.

"Rainbow Dash, don't say a word, got it?" Twilight proceeded to push Rainbow towards Applejack.

"Foalsit her," Twilight Sparkle told Applejack and received a sly nod, even in the heated moment. Fluttershy was already walking up to Cloud and trying to stop him while Twilight encroached towards him. He was quick to notice Twilight under his watchful eye.

"I won't hesitate to hurt you, alicorn. If I have to fight an uphill battle, I will!" Cloud tightened his grip as Fluttershy flew up to eye-level with him.

"Fl-Fluttershy! Get away from 'em!" Applejack said.

"Cloud, no! She can help you, ok?" Fluttershy was a brave mare given the circumstances. She floated directly in front of his sword's sweeping range.

"Please, I-I mean you no harm... I just want to know what's—all of this?" Twilight gestured to his entire body and pulled Fluttershy away with her purple magic. "I didn't mean to come on so strong, alright? I apologize."

"Well, neither did I. But I'm not afraid to fight back," Cloud Strider said, 'Even if I'm screwed.'

"No! No, there's no need for violence. Your energy... it makes my skin crawl," Twilight shivered, showing how overloaded her senses were. After a momentary reprieve, she tapped her muzzle, "I have so many questions already..."

"Listen, Fluttershy is right, I can help you. You just gotta' put the sword away, alright?" Twilight offered her compromise to simply gauge his reactions. He looked at the four mares in front of him and received four different expressions. Rainbow Dash was furious, Applejack was tentative, Fluttershy felt concerned, and Twilight was forced to balance all their feelings into understanding how to deal with the situation.

"Why should I trust you?" Cloud responded in turn as Twilight stepped a little closer to him.

She held out his sword's scabbard, "I am an alicorn princess. It's my duty to protect and help others."

Twilight acted professionally given the situation. Secretly, she trembled due to the lack of information she had. Being easily within his sword's striking distance and not knowing his skill with a sword was unsettling, to say the least. Even Cloud Strider was uneasy. Openly defying an alicorn was serious business, and to threaten her afterward added a whole new level of unease.

The seconds ticked by and no one said a single word. Cloud told himself to stay strong and not lack conviction. Strangely enough, he looked at himself and felt his eyes wander to everyone in the room.

'What am I doing? If she's a princess, she can take me to see her.' He felt his limbs grow weak as he relaxed. Cloud Strider's guard opened up, allowing his sword to carefully slide from the rawhide rim of his shield. He was not sure whether he should be thankful or untrusting of the alicorn in front of him. Much like her friends, she was untested and capable of anything.

With his weapons down at his sides, he reached out with his shielded hoof and quickly grabbed the sheath. Cloud was not about to take his eyes off of the group as he planted all four hooves on the ground. Sheathing his blade took the edge off for everyone confined in the small space as he fixed the scabbard onto his back.

"I see you're willing to cooperate," Twilight Sparkle took another step of faith, just to have Cloud step back. She ceased her intrusion after feeling more tension build.

"I am..." Cloud Strider said.

"Alright-ok," Twilight looked directly at Cloud Strider and held a hoof out. It came out of nowhere, but Twilight thought it was important to take the chance.

"I am Princess Twilight Sparkle and these are my friends: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and, uh—well, you've already met Fluttershy."

Applejack gave Cloud a hardy nod while Rainbow Dash growled. Fluttershy lowered her head in a sheepish manner. Avoiding eye contact seemed to be common with her personality, Cloud noted.

"Please, it's a pleasure to meet you-" Twilight hoped he would at least respond. Cloud looked at her hoof and stepped forward, exchanging a firm hoofshake.

"Cloud Strider," he noticed Twilight lag in her reaction when she began to shake his hoof in return. "What are you going to do with me, then? Arrest me?"

"N-No, sir. I won't do anything like that as long as we keep the peace. I just want to know why a pegasus can use magic and why it's dark magic for that matter," Twilight nodded her head at Fluttershy, thanking her for keeping things away from violence. "Let's just sit and talk, ok? Surely this is just a misunderstanding."

"Surely," Cloud said.

"I'll, uh, move some things around," Fluttershy trotted to her furniture and tried to move a few chairs around. Twilight noticed her struggling and easily moved the chairs around the couch. Everyone sat down and waited for Cloud Strider to sit.

"Please, sit," Twilight Sparkle pointed towards the couch as she magically synthesized a notebook with a quill and inkwell. Cloud quietly sat down and drank some water from his canteen. He waited for Twilight to speak, but she sighed instead. Rainbow Dash continued to stand her ground.

"Rainbow, sit down," Twilight said, noticing that the only spot left was next to Cloud.

"No! I refuse to sit down with that asshole, that-that pegasi freak!" Rainbow Dash sat on the ground and crossed her hooves.

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy grabbed Rainbow by the ear and turned her around

"H-Hey, ow!"

"Don't call ponies bad names! You don't even know him and it's very, very rude!" Fluttershy let go of Rainbow Dash's ear and thumped her muzzle.

"Whatever..." Rainbow Dash stepped away and Twilight rolled her eyes, and Twilight's ears perked up when Cloud began to snicker. Even she admitted that seeing Fluttershy parent Rainbow Dash like a child was amusing.

"Alright, come back and sit," Twilight looked at Applejack, "you mind sitting with him?"

Cloud Strider looked to Applejack and soon met eyes with Rainbow Dash. Twilight was not entirely sure why she found this problem laughable in her mind. In fact, Twilight would have been extremely frustrated and angered beyond her understanding if Rainbow repeated her act someplace else. Something about the way Cloud laughed made her realize that he might feel more welcomed if someone else thought it was funny. Twilight Sparkle felt that if laughing would help ease some pressure, then it must be fine to think it is funny as well.

Applejack got up and trotted over to the couch, "Well, long as ya' don't give me any of that magic mumbo jumbo."

"It's not contagious, believe me," Cloud said.

Applejack nodded and sat down next to him. She still felt off about Cloud Strider, but she tried to hide her feelings of modest concerns. Twilight scribbled something down onto her paper post-haste; Cloud figured that she wrote down what he said not moments ago. Rainbow Dash paced by and glanced at him, and he returned the favor and looked back at her with a blank, dead stare.

"Aren't you a bucket of sunshine," Cloud Strider said to Rainbow Dash, giving her a snide remark in return. "You know, for a pony as visually colorful as you, I thought you'd be happier. Fuck, you make me look like the happiest stallion alive."

"Put a fuckin' sock in it," Rainbow plopped down in the chair and sulked.

"That's enough—both of you," Twilight looked at both of the ponies," I want to know why you're here, where you're going, and how you can use magic as a pegasus."

"Um, Twilight? Don't ask too many questions. I don't think he, um, likes that," Fluttershy said. Twilight respectfully nodded her head.

"Alright, let's start with why you're here then," Twilight eagerly readied her quill blotched with ink. Cloud looked at the ground and debated on whether to tell the truth or lie to a princess. He knew that by telling them the truth they would either help or try to attack him again, and lying would get him nowhere. It all just depended on how Cloud Strider relayed his information. He needed to establish his credentials, but not reveal too much to the girls around him.

"I... I'm traveling to Canterlot," he said.

"Oh, really? You mind telling me what for?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she wrote down the information. Cloud gave out a prolonged sigh and leaned forward. He rested his forelegs on his wooden round shield. There was a large symbol painted yellow, white, and black on the front.

"I came to find a pony... a pony named Luna," He replied. Twilight and Applejack looked at each other and raised an eyebrow. "I-I heard she lives somewhere in Canterlot."

"Princess Luna? That Luna?" Twilight tilted her head and carefully squinted at him.

Cloud nodded, "I think so. I-I hope so."

"I see..." She bit her lip.

"Is that bad?" Cloud asked, Twilight raised her head and shook.

"Oh! Nonono! It's just she's, eh-reclusive. It's rare to see her is what I'm trying to say," she fumbled over the professionalism of her words, finding it increasingly difficult to keep her cool. 'What in the world? Does he even know who Luna is?'

"To Ginnungagap with that, she will see me, she has to!"

"But why is—wait, what is that?" Twilight retorted.

"Er, nothing. I don't think you'd understand," Cloud Strider said. Twilight caught glimpses of his figure and frowned at what he just said.

'What does he mean by that? I wouldn't be able to understand what a word meant? I think he underestimates my understanding of things.' Twilight wrote down the word "Ginnungagap" to the best of her abilities and tapped her notepad. "As I was saying, why is seeing Princess Luna so important?"

"I can't tell you," he said.

"And why's that, huh?!" Rainbow Dash glared at Cloud Strider while Twilight put her hoof on Rainbow's foreleg.

"Because you'd all want to probably kill me for it. You wouldn't be the first to try," the unnerving words alone caught their undivided attention after his statement.

"Wh-" Twilight broke the momentary silence, "why would we hurt you, Cloud Strider? You seem, nice?"

"It doesn't have to do anythin' with how nice I am. It's the reason I'm able to use magic is what makes ponies tick," Cloud Strider said in order to keep his secret. Only, it raised more questions than answers. "So I can't tell you, I'm sorry."

Twilight scratched her head and tried to remain calm as the situation tensed. In disappointment, she shook her head and reflected hard. "You know how that sounds, right? You want to see Princess Luna, but you won't even say why? None of us know what you're planning."

"Yeah, well. I didn't come here to make friends, Did I?" Cloud stood up and paced towards the door, "if you're tryin' to stop me from gettin' to Canterlot, It's not gonna' work."

"There, that! Why do you think we threaten to "stop" whatever you're doing?" Twilight quietly raised herself from her chair, feeling her insides churn, "we agreed to be cooperative, Cloud... Don't do this, please. Don't make me arrest you."

Cloud stopped moving as the door turned purple, "Do it then..."

Twilight stepped forward, "what did you say?"

"Do it, arrest me."

"Cloud Strider, I'm being serious! Disobeying a princess' orders is punishable by law!" Twilight remarked.

"I'm gettin' to Canterlot..." he tugged on the hilt of his blade with his estranged magic. Cloud soon heard everyone else in the room stir.

"If anything, I'll be sent there anyway..." Cloud Strider said. Something in his tone of voice made Twilight uneasy as Cloud stood still, ready to draw his blade once more.

"Oh, come on Twilight! Let me beat 'em up! He's not so tough!" Rainbow Dash said.

"No! He could hurt you!"

"Oh yeah?!"

Twilight encapsulated Rainbow Dash in a ball of purple magic.

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash said with Twilight's eyes beading down on her.

"You need to learn restraint, Rainbow! Pick your fights wisely because you are not winning this one!" as always, Rainbow Dash gave no thought to Twilight's words and pouted silently.

"Now, you're coming with me!" Twilight stepped up to Cloud well-defended. She abrasively grabbed his shoulder and used her magic to hold his leg where she wanted it. Twilight Sparkle noticed that he was not budging. Rather, he was clearly resisting her magic somehow.

"Wh-What?" Twilight felt the magic around his leg absorb into the legband, turning the energy blue. Cloud Strider grabbed her hoof that was touching him and slowly turned to her.

'No—no! Did he connect to my magic?! I-I don't know! If he did, I can't do anything!' Twilight tried prying her leg away from the blue magic.

"Sugarcube, don't move, ya' hear?"

Twilight completely ignored Applejack and continued to pull.

"H-How? How can you use magic?!" Twilight Sparkle said. She gasped for air as a lump formed in her throat. After puzzling together piece after piece of Cloud's mysterious affliction, Twilight realized that his magic was something she had felt before. She detested and ceased her movements to make sense of whose magic it was. Her short-lived anger soon turned into overwhelming fear after giving it some thought.

"Th—no... How? That's not possible!" Twilight leaned back with a vigorous shiver running through her body. At the mercy of his unknown abilities, she was helpless.

"Pl-Please, don't hurt me!" she recognized the possibility of being killed; her last moments. Cloud Strider looked at her with shallow breath as she began to snivel. With her eyes practically glued shut, Twilight felt her leg shift around. She opened her eyes after moments of waiting in anguish and looked at her leg. She watched as he released her hoof onto the wooden floor with such delicacy. Although relieved that she was free, the amount of fear still caused her to tremble.

"I'm not going t—"

"Don't hurt my friend you fuckin' freak!" out of thin air, Rainbow Dash managed to escape her imprisonment and tackled Cloud Strider. He could do nothing but accept the full brunt of the attack after being completely taken off guard.

Cloud slammed into the wooden wall and let a punch hook right into his snout. The initial attack left him breathless, but the punch left him jarred as well. He quickly noticed Rainbow Dash throwing out another punch, Cloud Strider managed to stop her assault and slammed her against the wall instead.

"What's happening?" all the fighting and loud noises startled Twilight as her vision blurred, forcing her to act on the spot. She felt the energy in her horn return to full force as magic bubbled out.

"Tch!" Twilight Sparkle tried to control her energy, but her alicorn magic proved to be too much for her. Blindsighted and unfocused, her lavender magic lashed out at the two ponies hashing it out. "Ah-whoa!"

A bright flash of white and purple erupted through the cottage before silence ensued thereafter. Twilight wiped her eyes, going into a complete stupor.

"Twilight?! Whaddya' do?!" Applejack scrambled over towards Twilight. Not even a trace of Rainbow Dash or Cloud Strider was seen, actually vanishing into thin air.

"I-don't know-I-I—"

Fluttershy helped Twilight to her hooves, "—I... teleported them somewhere."

"Where?!" Applejack held Twilight's head upright.

"Calm down, Applejack, y-you're scaring her!" Fluttershy tried to calm the situation down, but the three mares were absolutely frightened. Twilight squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed the sides of her head. She tried to recall what she was thinking right before teleporting the two ponies.

"Ech," Twilight's head throbbed the more she thought. Applejack—having taken a deep breath—did better to think calmly. At least, more so than previously.

"What is it, Twilight? Where are they?" Applejack noticed Twilight tense up just enough to make her do the same.

"Applejack, get everyone else, now!"

Applejack tilted her head to the side.

"I... I think they're in Canterlot!"

Act I Chapter II

View Online

'Oh shit,'

The only thing that raced through Cloud's mind were those two simple words. Cloud Strider had never experienced what teleportation was like, nor did he expect how it affected him. After pinning Rainbow Dash to a wooden wall, he felt himself roll across smooth flooring. Rainbow Dash blurred in and out, going through the same process as he was. He grappled onto the slick floor as best as possible and found his footing.

Rainbow Dash managed to stand up on all fours, just seconds before him. She stood her ground firmly and watched Cloud shake his head. He managed to put his pain on hold to address the problem standing only feet away from him. Her mad growling and stamping hooves on the ground signaled a fight. With no one to hold her back, she was free.

"You don't wanna' do this, Rainbow," Cloud Strider looked up at Rainbow Dash slowly. Her hoof dragged across the marble floor as if digging into the dirt.

"Watch me."

Failing to recuperate in time earned him another tackle and a punch to the face.

"Ahh!-Dammit!" Cloud Strider tried peeling Rainbow Dash off of his torso.

"Told ya' you're not so tough-whoa!" Rainbow lost her grip and was flung to the ground, exchanging glares of static lightning.

'Shit, she's fast!' Cloud Strider studied her body desperately for any sign of movement. Feeling his sword and shield so close pained him inside, biding his time. 'Faster than me, too fuckin' fast! I gotta' wait for an opportunity.'

Cloud Strider picked up the sword and sheathed his weapon securely to his back. His shield easily slid off of his scabbard once he grabbed the handle. Rainbow Dash looked at his patterned shield and squinted at the pieces of wood and linen.

'What is he up to?!' Rainbow Dash peered even closer. Cloud's eyes peeked from behind the shield, rising above the rim just enough to see the fight progress. His shielded hoof caused him to coil back like a metal spring while on three legs. The pacing of Rainbow's gait signaled an injury.

"Kom igjen!" Cloud Strider called out.

"What did you call me?!" Rainbow Dash let her anger rekindle while he thumped the front of his shield to the sound of his pounding heart. "No one hurts my friends and gets away with it!" Rainbow bolted straight into him, again and again.

'Fucking hell!' his eyes widened. She flew through the air so fast and with such energy that he slid back and nearly let his body upend. The shield bashed against his head as Rainbow Dash crashed into him.

"Gah!" Cloud pushed back in a sudden burst forward. Both of his hind legs strained against the pressure once Cloud grabbed his shield completely. Rainbow Dash tried to pry the wooden shield away instead.

"Let—go!" Rainbow Dash glowered at him just behind his defenses. Cloud Strider ignored her demands as she continued to thrash. He struggled in the fight of brawn but continued to hold fast. Rainbow Dash slipped to the side and pulled Cloud into the marble wall. Guttural yells from the two ponies echoed throughout the white halls. Both crashed into the wall forcefully, but Cloud Strider had his back against the wall.

'Push, damn you! Push!' he gave his hind legs everything he had and finally managed to make it back into the middle of the hallway. Cloud felt Rainbow Dash subtly jerk and breathe deeply; he prepared himself. Her breath clung to his fur she was so close. He waited on edge until suddenly she pushed back at full force.

'Now!' Cloud Strider reached around his shield, grabbing Rainbow.

"Huh?! H-Hey!"

Cloud charged under her center mass and hoisted her up on his shield. With his momentum at its peak, he slid under and flipped her over to the ground. Rainbow Dash hit the floor hard and felt a sharp pain run through her body. He pinned her down and held her muzzle against the floor while on her side. She moved her legs but she was barely able to do anything but wheeze in discomfort.

"Let me go! Get off me!" Rainbow Dash flared her nostrils, locking heads with him.

"Calm down, then."

"N-No! Gah-ow! Stop, stop! S-Stop!" Rainbow felt the pain intensify.

"If you calm down, you'll breathe better," Cloud Strider added.

"Ok...! ok," Rainbow began to slow her breathing slightly, "just—please stop!"

"Do you promise to relax and not attack me?" he asked and waited in gaps of silence. But without a response, he pushed down harder, "do you promise?!"

"Yes! Yes! Stop!" Rainbow Dash said much to her dismay. Noticing the shield lift up was a great feeling until his leg brushed up against hers. "Tch! Ow!"

Cloud moved his hoof down next to her wing, letting Rainbow Dash stumble back to her hooves. The two ponies were still panting for their next fix of wind. A faint trickle of blood dripped down from Cloud's forehead as the structures around him began to settle in. Looking out and beyond, he examined the ornate and gilded walls around him. Monolithic archways above stood firm and tapestries hung from anchors. Crystal torches lining the walls gave the never-ending hallways an inviting yellow warmth.

'Where—What is this place? It looks so familiar.' Cloud Strider stopped and turned back around, remembering that he was not alone. He gave off such a subtle air of confusion."I woulda' thought you'd run off..." he said.

"I know that, idiot!"

"Well, why didn't you?" he strapped his shield to his back once he found a quiet moment, standing over her. She failed to respond, but Cloud studied her leg. "Your leg, l-let me help you."

"Don't touch me!"

Cloud Strider sighed, taking in a few more deep, shaky breaths. He heard Rainbow Dash continue to suppress her breathing and twinges of pain.

"It's ok to accept help, you know?" Cloud said.

"Yeah, for weaklings. I'm not weak," Rainbow Dash curled up, "and I don't want help from a magic using—weirdo, like you."

Cloud Strider snorted in silence and smirked, annoying her further. Before long, nothing could stop his small outbursts of laughter.

"What so funny, huh?!" Rainbow Dash snapped.

"I wouldn't call you weak. Hehe, I don't think anyone would. You're a pretty tough son of a bitch. Anyone who'd call you weak is even more of a fool..."

Rainbow Dash turned around, albeit slowly. She glanced away and studied the ground below her forelegs. Rainbow shifted her body and sat up away from the walls. Gritting her teeth and scratching her neck, she stammered out, "I—could use, you know, some help... But only because you popped my leg outta' place! You owe me, that's it!"

"On second thought, why should I even trust you?! I saw you use magic. And-and you made Twilight cry... What did she see in you? Why'd you make her cry, huh?!" Rainbow's chest puffed out. The stark expression lining his muzzle was enough to make her ears curl.

"I'll tell you, I'll show you a-anything I know, Rainbow Dash. But I need your help, too. She's the only one—that I think can help me."

Rainbow Dash pulled her head back after hearing Cloud almost beg her to get him to his destination. A sensible rush of mistrust and anxiety caused the tips of her hooves to tingle.

"O-Ok, I... I will," Rainbow replied, feeling a fraction of her anger strangely melt away. Giant hallways filled in the space around Cloud, taking her mind off of the pain temporarily, 'I'm gonna' regret this. I just know it.'

"Stay still," Cloud Strider went behind her with Rainbow's bum leg in his grasp. He sat down and placed his other foreleg on the nape of her neck.

"Hey! Wh-"

"Relax," he said.

"I know how this works, you don't need to tell me!" Rainbow Dash breathed in once her forelegs became limp. Cloud lifted her injured leg up towards her head, pushing lightly on her neck.

"On three, alright?" Cloud said and received a timid nod. "Ok, one... two!" He quickly pulled up and felt her leg roll back into place with a resounding, sharp thud.

"Ah! The fuck is your problem! Why'd you do that?!" Rainbow Dash pushed him back and held her leg. After a moment, she experimented a little by twisting and stretching. Rainbow stood up and paced around the hallway, making sure the job was done.

'Well... I hate to say it, but that little stunt fuckin' worked. Which is why I'm not gonna' say it out loud.' Rainbow Dash turned towards him half-assed with a sullen expression.

"Th-Thanks, I guess," even with a scowl on her face, he felt that her expression was genuine. "And I'm not sure you know, but we're already in Canterlot."

"R—Really? You're kidding. H-How do you know?"

"Well, this isn't my first time here," Rainbow Dash said, flexing her leg.

'Things like this, they only exist in fairy tales. But this is actually real,' the walls around Cloud Strider were not safe from her touch. He touched everything: from the fine engravings to stained glass windows—every detail he touched had a story.

"Well, come on. You said you needed me to find Princess Luna," Rainbow Dash mustered up the energy to face him, but his response was delayed by the stunning scenes before him. 'Looks like someone's never been to Canterlot...'

"Aye, uh, yeah—yes," he nodded.

"And just because I'm being nice, doesn't mean we're friends, by the way. I just always deliver on my promises, got it?!" Rainbow Dash was already down the hall, with or without Cloud. But he caught up without much of a problem.

"That's—respectable," Cloud Strider bobbed his head, "besides, we'll probably never see each other again, anyway."

"Good," Rainbow Dash replied, continuing down the pristine hallways with Cloud Strider following close behind. The two ponies remained silent which put Rainbow on edge thinking about what he was plotting.

'This-this fuck is going to kill Princess Luna or somethin'. Well, he's got another thing comin'!' Succeeding in angering herself again, she let out a low growl. Rainbow Dash continued to let her thoughts fester, feeling more and more as if she needed to act. She looked back at him with glancing eyes, making sure he did not catch onto her actions. She squinted at him but received a different answer to her innate questioning. Cloud was oblivious to her staring and gazed around the halls in captivation.

'Hmm...' Rainbow frowned and grimaced at the sight after a few more moments of wracking her mind. 'Maybe he's really tellin' the truth. The way he's acting doesn't seem, I don't know, bad. A-Almost like he's not really capable of hurting anyone.'

'No. No-he's capable of killing! He could have easily killed me... He's got me beat,' Rainbow continued to sour over both her personal and collective ordeals. Fighting between reason and hasty conclusions.

'But, he didn't try to—just, keep an eye on him, Rainbow,' she shook her head, 'don't let him trick you!'

"Ugh, dammit," Rainbow Dash stared down the converging hallways in front of her.

"Lost?"

"What do you think, huh?!"

Cloud Strider took her offense and shrugged it off. A pony acting such as Rainbow Dash was not uncommon to him. Instead, he moved on to ask the next question. "You live here?"

"No," Rainbow Dash said in return.

"But, isn't Canterlot part of your hold? Or clan?"

"W-What?! No!" Rainbow Dash looked at him in disbelief for a brief moment.

"Well, who's the jarl of this land?" Cloud asked.

"What are you talking about? There's no 'jarl' or 'clan' or, whatever you're fuckin' saying. Just shut up," Rainbow Dash shook her head at Cloud's unintelligible mind. To her surprise, he listened.

"This castle is massive..." Rainbow Dash said. Another flight of stairs led up to another floor and the hallway before cut both ways. She trotted up to the very instance of another forked path, growling in agony. "No, No! Are you kidding me?!"

Cloud Strider brought up the rear, stopping well behind her. He watched her look both ways and pound the floor with her hoof, stepping a little bit closer after a few moments of serious thinking.

"Go right," he said, gaining Rainbow's utmost attention.

"And what made you the expert all of a sudden?"

"Nothing," Cloud stayed still, "you just gotta' guess sometimes."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and growled some more, "fine, we'll do it your way."

She marched down the right lane. Being alone with Cloud made Rainbow have feelings of distress, which caused her muscles to tighten. She soon began to trot instead, hoping to alleviate her stress. ''You just gotta' guess sometimes', huh?Who made you King Philosopher...? Well, I guess he's not entirely wrong about that. Something's better than nothing.'

"Keep up," she said, having him trot after her. Rainbow Dash scanned the halls, looking for any sign that she was on the right path.

"Do you know where she might be? Like, a throne room or livin' area?" Cloud Strider asked. Rainbow Dash pinched the top of her muzzle.

"Why would I keep track of that?"

Cloud shrugged, "dunno', just thought it might help us find her."

"Princess Luna?" Rainbow Dash looked at him and received a nod in return. Rainbow slowly turned away and continued to guide him through the maze of hallways.

"Um..." she scratched the back of her head, "Princess Luna isn't really someone ponies know a lotta' 'bout."

"So, she's reclusive," Cloud replied, "like what your friend Twilight said?"

"Y-Yeah, she is," Rainbow Dash said. What came next threw her out of her tizzy.

"What does she look like?"

Rainbow Dash soon raised her head and slowed down to a complete stop. Baffled; enthralled—encompassed by an array of odd astonishment.

"I-I have an idea of what she looks like, but—my ideas and my culture are, different, to put it lightly," Cloud Strider tilted his head, eager for an answer but unwilling to show it. He stared at the back of her neck until she locked eyes with him.

"What do you see?" Rainbow peered deep into his searching eyes.

"When I close my eyes... when I dream, I see a black horse. Her eyes sharper than steel, and her jaw is lined with teeth like a hoof saw. She changes shape I think, turning into all forms of evil and sin. She tries taking over my body sometimes, and other times she tortures me to strike a nerve, tempting me with things I want back in life," Cloud Strider watched Rainbow go through a cycle of intrigue to horror.

"Luna isn't—" Rainbow Dash forced her eyes away, "—like that. S-She's very different, but also very kind too... Are you sure you're talkin' about the right pony?"

"I know that Luna's the better half—the part I don't see at night. I see flashes and glimpses of her looks, but they're never long enough to see any features... What does she look like to you, Rainbow Dash?"

"Uh, her mane and tail are filled with little stars. And she's... she's dark blue, kinda' like you," Rainbow Dash nodded her head, fighting off the image of who Cloud had just described. "But most of all, she's just—a very brave pony."

"I see," Cloud said, "I can't wait to finally meet her in the real world."

"This way," Rainbow Dash turned left; it was the only way to go. She slowed her speedy trot and stopped. In front of her lay the foundation of an open hall. One with pillars spearing into the ceiling and with all the grandeur of the castle flowing into it. Rainbow immediately recognized the place and felt an aggressive beating in her chest. 'Shit, this is all happening so fast!'

Cloud Strider nearly passed her by before noticing she stopped, "hmm? Something wrong?"

"Easy," Rainbow Dash put her hoof in front of him and paced ahead of him. She crept up to the mouth of the large room and studied the grandiose regal court.

"What do you-"

"Shh," Rainbow Dash put her hoof to her muzzle gently before glancing around the corner. The room was so clean and polished that some of the surfaces mimicked mirrors.

'Ok, no guards,' she further examined the room, seeing no activity.

'Strange, I—' Rainbow Dash spotted Twilight and the rest of her friends. Her subconscious made her lean forward and walk, wanting to go hug each of her friends. But her troubling thoughts of Cloud Strider and who he was infested her mind. She made a promise to show him to Princess Luna, and so Rainbow stopped and looked back at Cloud with trouble in her heart; his heart too. She clenched her eyes shut and soon stared at the ground.

'—I could make a break for it! I can outrun this bastard and make it over to everyone right now and he'd be in trouble!' Rainbow Dash glanced up at him desperately. Cloud Strider depended on Rainbow Dash, he needed her to bring him deliverance and it showed. It showed like no other.

"What's the plan, Rainbow Dash?"

With every passing second, Rainbow's ears throbbed painfully with a racing heart. It was her choice whether to double cross him or stay true to her word.

'Dammit... Damn you and your loud mouth, Rainbow! Why do you have to be so damn stupid?!' she covered her sealed lips and glazed over in the head, letting her mind become a victim of her own scorn. Rainbow Dash stared up at her friends, oblivious of her current existence. She noticed the gentle waver and flare of an airy mane, seeing Princess Celestia tower over them.

"Princess Celestia!" Rainbow Dash whispered.

"Who?" Cloud whispered back but she never responded.

'If Twilight's here, then it's too late. She's told her everything,' Rainbow made sure her body was hidden from anyone looking her direction.

'What do I do?' without even thinking about it, Rainbow Dash fled deeper into the shadows next to Cloud.

'Why am I helpin' him? W-Why am I doing this?!' she edged closer to the lip of the connecting hallway. Once again, her subconscious took over. Rainbow Dash breathed deeply, subduing her uneasy thoughts for what she was about to do. Turning her head, she pushed him against the wall with her two front legs and looked him straight in the eyes without making a sound.

"Listen up and listen good. You follow my lead and don't say anything stupid, hear me? I'm stickin' my neck out for you and you'll know what's good for you if you don't act like an idiot. And don't try anything because you'll sure as hell regret it, understand?" Rainbow Dash said, inches away from his face.

"Yes, ma'am," Cloud Strider's eyes widened from Rainbow's unanticipated but quiet outburst. He knew just by her gait and the way she carried herself that this was really important to her. Cloud noticed it right as she started pacing down the halls beforehand, and how much being forcefully pacified impacted her self-esteem.

"Good... N-No sudden movements, ok?"

Cloud Strider nodded. Rainbow Dash tried to relax before going out on a limb but was overwhelmed by genuine fear. She carefully stepped out towards the giant pillar and motioned him to stay.

'Ok... Ok, here goes,' Rainbow's legs trembled, not knowing what was going to happen to her or Cloud Strider. Her vision coned and she could see every pulse of her heart, her fur stood straight on end. Rainbow Dash paced out and looked at everyone.

"You're a brave pony for doin' this for me," Cloud said, hearing gasps and cries of joy. He knew well that she was far beyond earshot, but Cloud did not care. "I hope you understand that."

"Rainbow Dash!" almost everyone she looked at said her name in perfect unison. Charging down the steps, her friends rushed to her side.

"Wait! Wait, stop!" Rainbow Dash waved her hoof, getting her friends to stop. They seemed confused and looked at one another. Rainbow Dash looked to her side and beckoned Cloud to come out of the shadows.

'Nice and easy, Cloud Strider,' Cloud paced into the lights. His breathing and the pulse of his heart was on par with Rainbow Dash's, maybe even faster. He saw Twilight and a couple new faces mix in with the crowd. But nothing came close once he found his eyes transfixed on the pure entity of white fur before him.

"Twilight, don't!" Rainbow Dash wedged herself between Twilight and Cloud. Twilight was ready, more than ready, to charge over with a raging scowl on her face and blast him. All the while, Cloud gazed at the wonderous body rising far above all the other ponies. The white alicorn emblazoned in gold stared directly into his eyes, intrigued. Her mane flowed like the wind, giving off an infinity of sparkles in the changing flow of colors. Even her presence before her loyal subjects radiated with otherworldly traits in the likes he had never seen before.

The alicorn stared directly into his eyes with curiosity and studied him. Cloud Strider watched the pony stand tall, making his legs go numb with inspiration.

"Rainbow, what are you doing?! Get away from him!" Twilight said, "You saw what he did! He's dangerous!"

"But—why is he though?" Rainbow Dash stepped towards Twilight, "I know he's dangerous, but-"

"Rainbow, he's Nightmare Moon!"

"What?" Rainbow's ears pointed to the ceiling. Hearing that name forced shivers down her spine and through her tail.

'The—Is that, true? N-No, it can't be. That's just... impossible!'

"Don't you dare compare me that piece of shit, Twilight! I share nothing in common with her!" Cloud said.

"What did I say about talking, you idiot?!" Rainbow Dash reminded him of his place. Twilight Sparkle squinted at Rainbow after seeing what she did. Twilight wanted to help her but feared the worst for her friend.

"You liar! R-Release Rainbow from your-your, mind control! She would never side with a monster like y—" Twilight felt a large hoof across her chest, making her look up.

"What? Aheh, you can't be serious, Twilight!" Rainbow's head turned.

"—Shining Armor, what are you doing here?"

"Step back, Twilight. All of you!" he said. Cloud Strider tensed up more and stepped back. Rainbow Dash followed him, standing neck and neck with one another.

'Fuck,' Rainbow looked back and forth at Cloud and Shining Armor. 'I'm caught in the crossfire! They think I'm under his control!'

Rainbow Dash and Cloud Strider watched more guards filter in and bolster the ranks on both sides of the throne.

"Oh fuck me," Cloud pulled out his sword and shield. The rawhide lining the rim of his shield moaned under his body weight.

"Let her go, now! Or you're not getting outta' this alive!" Shining Armor said, his spearhead pointed directly at Cloud's head. Cloud Strider glared at Shining Armor, the leather-wrapped handle of his sword now taut.

"Rainbow," Cloud let his sword reach out towards her neck. Rainbow Dash looked down at the steel and backed up towards Cloud. "Rainbow Dash, don't. They think you're under a spell of mine."

"Well? What are you gonna' do? You got me in this mess, get me out!" Rainbow Dash forced a whisper of annoyance from her throat, "and don't put that sword up to my neck!"

Rainbow Dash felt a wave of exasperation wash over her, noticing just how deep she was in. "Are you going to fight them?!"

"Allfather, I hope not."

"This is your last chance! Surrender now or face the consequences!" Shining Armor said once more.

"Think of somethin', idiot!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Shut your mouth, dammit!" Cloud Strider replied.

'I'm kinda' up shit creek without a paddle here,' Cloud darted his eyes every which way, looking for a sign. Things were looking grim staring at the guards, they were as ready as everyone else, if not more. He stared at the alicorns, and he soon stared at Rainbow Dash. Her face of trepidation rooted itself in the back of his mind, anxious as to what he was going to do.

"D-Do you think I'm afraid of you? I have a sword, a shield, and a mare willing to do anything for me!" Cloud said.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Rainbow Dash went to push him but was suddenly stopped by his look, leaving Rainbow to her own devices.

"Just play along," he soon heard some of the ponies in the crowd bark in disgust. Cloud Strider studied his surroundings more and eventually gazed upon the white alicorn. Her manner of gestures and body language towards the guards looked promising. Something about the overgrown stallion that called the shots made Cloud think he was more than just a grunt or lackey. The alicorn made some rather apparent gestures that made Shining Armor cower. Cloud reared his head back once he noticed the white alicorn directed her attention to him.

She stepped down from her throne, giving him her undivided attention. No one in the room dared to speak, allowing Princess Celestia to fringe closer to the intruder.

"I can tell quite clearly that she is not under any spell you may have..." her voice was unable to fall short of her grace. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rainbow Dash move away from him a few steps.

"Please, sir. I would like for this—farce, to end. And perhaps work out this misunderstanding."

"Who... Who are you?" Cloud asked.

"Pardon me, I am Princess Celestia. But as for your name, that still remains to be seen. Princess Twilight failed to mention yours," she continued to step down until her hooves planted firmly on the main floor. Celestia could tell by his transfixed gaze that he was overloaded by her prestige.

"That's quite a unique sword you have there. And that symbol on your shield does not quite fit in around these parts," Princess Celestia commented. "You're not from Equestria, are you?"

"His name is Cloud Strider, Princess," Rainbow Dash bowed her head.

"My thanks, Rainbow Dash," Celestia immediately looked back to Cloud Strider, "is this true?"

"Yes," he glanced at Rainbow, mildly vexed, "it is."

Princess Celestia fell silent for a few moments and studied him even more.

"Hmm... Cloud Strider, might you stand down? We can talk further in confidence, but you need to prove that you can quell any hostility you may have," Celestia said. Cloud Strider breathed in the mountain scent and exhaled his sticky breath in return.

"Please, no one needs to get hurt," Princess Celestia added. Cloud Strider licked his chapped lips.

'What do I do now?' he did not realize his heavy breathing until he glanced down at his sword and shield. Cloud tried to snap himself out of his lethargic haze and met eyes with Princess Celestia. He noticed a pale smile on her face.

'I'm not going to let anything stop me. I need to see this pony, now. I can't, can't do it,' Cloud Strider stopped ogling at Celestia and squinted at Twilight.

"What the—?"

Twilight struggled against Shining Armor who seemed to be unjustifiable in his fury. Sporadic ramblings came out of Twilight's mouth, telling him to stop. Shining Armor's partisan whirled around his head carelessly, causing the guards to back away. He easily muscled past Twilight who continued to grab his leg in vain.

"Twily, get-off!" Shining Armor shook her off and grabbed his weapon. He moved forward with loud, boisterous steps. Cloud watched Twilight slip off and lay frozen where she was, looking up at Shining Armor. He inspected his partisan and suddenly held the shaft backward. His stare of senselessness and a miasma of spite met Cloud's eyes.

'I know what you're doin'! Just don't even think about it!' Cloud Strider watched as Shining Armor's partisan hefted over his shoulder and all the way back.

"Shit...!" By the sight and his stirring emotions, time itself shifted. Shining Armor did not stop, even after Cloud Strider shook his head. Princess Celestia had only just enough time to watch the large projectile fly through the air. She gasped, noticing Shining Armor had nearly tipped over after exerting so much energy and being pushed by Twilight.

"Shit!" Cloud Strider dropped his sword, letting the polished steel crash to the ground. The partisan veered off its intended course and all Rainbow Dash could do was stay still, frozen. She continued to remain unresponsive to the danger, helpless to do anything. Cloud had abandoned his weapon and his objective, rushing to her with his shield tightly strapped to his leg. His wings launched him full-bore at Rainbow Dash while galloping in long, adrenaline-fueled strokes. Time was of the essence and Cloud Strider knew he was scraping by with milliseconds remaining. He pounced forward with every ounce of energy in his hind legs and held his shield close. Rainbow barely turned her body before receiving the full force of his charge.

'I gotta' save this girl...' Cloud Strider clinched his eyes shut, 'I don't know why but I just gotta' do it...! Something about her feels—close.'

"Move, move, move, Rainbow!" he pushed Rainbow Dash out of harm's way, latching on around her back. But the undaunting force behind the partisan's impact peeled him off with little effort. His shield bashed into his head with a terrific thud, jarring him into darkness. The weapon's energy surged through every inch of his body and paralyzed him. Cloud barreled away from Rainbow Dash, powerless to stop from smashing against a colossal pillar across from her.

Everyone fell into total shock and disbelief at what had just happened before their eyes. Rainbow Dash sluggishly rose from the floor and spotted Cloud Strider convulsing, twitching on the ground. The wooden shield around his leg caught the partisan between its fibers and a giant wooden shaft protruded out.

"H-Holy shit!" Rainbow Dash skidded back into the wall and stared. She tried looking away, but her eyes were glued to his body.

'Shit, shit! Is he dead?!' Rainbow Dash whimpered, unable to control her words and actions. The sight of his body and seeing her life nearly end, it made her curl up against the marble walls. She heard her friends call out her name, their hooves grew louder with every step. Rainbow Dash looked up, breathing without a pace. Princess Celestia wasted no time turning into the kind, mother-like figure ponies knew her for.

"Are you alright, Rainbow Dash?" Celestia leaned down and put a hoof on her shoulder, taking glimpses of Cloud Strider on her right. Celestia patted Rainbow's back, but nothing was enough to elicit a response out of her.

"Guards! Get Shining Armor out of this court, right now!" Celestia spoke and took a deep, calming breath. The guards saluted and followed her demands, escorting Shining Armor and themselves out of the room. She knew Shining Armor would have to be dealt with later, the situation in front of her had priority over everything.

"Rainbow Dash, are you ok?!" Fluttershy and every one of Rainbow's friends crowded around her. Rainbow Dash simply nodded, lost for words.

"Girls, girls! Give her some space," Twilight sat down in front of Rainbow and managed to lead her towards the steps of the throne. She stared back, searching Cloud's body for any movement. 'I'd never wish that on anyone, no matter how bad they are... Please, please! Be ok!'

"C-Cloud Strider? Can you hear me?" Princess Celestia carefully moved the shield and partisan out of the way, but his grasp on the shield's handle was tight. She touched the partisan and began to pull with deficient understanding, confused whether to leave it in or not. Celestia peeked behind his shield and felt relief once she realized the weapon did not go all the way through his leg.

'Well, here's hoping,' Celestia felt his head and ran her hoof along his back for any abnormalities. The golden horseshoe she had was blotched faintly with blood.

"He certainly did get hit hard..." Celestia knew Shining Armor had power, but even she was shocked at how hard Cloud Strider flew off of Rainbow Dash.

"Twilight, is Rainbow Dash injured?" Celestia massaged the sides of her head, forcing herself to step back from the situation.

"She's ok, Princess. Just a little startled," Twilight replied, holding Rainbow Dash close.

"Thank goodness," Celestia turned completely, "I... I don't think that'd be the—"

Twilight nodded, but her gaze shifted beyond Celestia. Twilight's diverted attention forced Celestia to look back too.

"Nnh, uhh..." Celestia's ears moved toward the noise behind her.

Cloud Strider struggled to get up but was finally able to sit on his flank. He ignored their presence, looking ahead of him with a thousand-yard stare and a weak scowl. His breath hung heavy and in long strokes, feeling the tightness of muscle around his pierced skin. Cloud bared his teeth and grabbed the wooden handle of the partisan.

"Ach!" he pulled back and forth, allowing the pain to surge through his skin.

"—hey, hey! Stop that! Relax, you're ok," Celestia grabbed his raging hoof, but he did not stop. No sooner did she speak, he popped the weapon out of his leg and shield. She took a mighty step back now that he was armed. Everyone stared at him as he peeled the shield off of his leg. Parts of his head were mildly caked in both dry and fresh blood. Cloud Strider dropped the shield and stared back at his audience. He looked at the partisan he held onto, now standing in front of them, and dropped the weapon.

"Just, relax," Celestia's soft words did well to put him at ease.

"Are you ok? Do you feel any pain anywhere else? Please, you need to tell me," she motioned for everyone behind her to be on guard. Cloud looked down at his injured leg. The wound was small and just by glancing at the weapon, his cut was no more than half an inch deep.

'Damn, that stings though!' Cloud Strider wiped the blood away and smeared it around in his fur. He applied pressure to his leg in a sloppy manner, fighting the urge to black out again, "I'm ok."

"You need medical attention, Cloud Strider. Take a moment to breathe," Princess Celestia said.

"Is the girl ok?" Cloud stepped past Celestia and set his sights on his abandoned sword. In all honesty, Celestia felt somewhat betrayed and offended that he gave her the cold shoulder. "Is Rainbow Dash ok?!

"She's fine," Celestia tried getting him to stop.

"Cloud, stop moving," Twilight interjected, "you've got to stop. We can help you! You're obviously concussed right now, don't make it worse!"

"No... No, you can't help me. Luna can."

"Do not pick up that sword. I will detain you without any hesitation whatsoever!" Princess Celestia's voice carried her grave tone, enough to make Cloud stop cold in his tracks. He put his injured hoof firmly to the ground and met her venomous glare.

"I can't leave my sword," he stepped directly over his weapon and stopped.

"Hey, stupid!" Rainbow Dash said to the room's surprise, "she's givin' you a chance!"

She was right. Somewhere in Cloud's mind, it clicked that Rainbow Dash was only trying to help; that Celestia was trying to help. 'Maybe I'm not thinking straight like Twilight said. The past few minutes—I can't remember well.'

"If I step away from my weapon and let you do away with me, will you let me see Luna? I need to see her."

Celestia swallowed and glanced away stiffly, "I shall think about it."

"No!" Cloud said to her face. Everyone behind Celestia gasped as a single unit.

"A definite answer dammit! Yes or no!" everything he staked had come down to the wire. It was a pivotal moment for him and the fate of his future self. Princess Celestia raised her head and stared down at him.

"No, Cloud."

Cloud wasted no time and slammed his hoof down on his sword, quickly picking it up. But with the odds stacked against him and moments fleeting, his reunition with his weapon was short-lived. His entire body went stiff but Cloud tried to fight it. Celestia bound him in golden magic and pushed him to the ground. He glowed and sparkled in the soft gold aura, unable to do anything.

"How dare you pull a sword on me! Give me your brandished weapon!" Celestia disarmed him of everything strapped to his body without much effort. Powerful grunts slithered from his muzzle.

"You—bitch! You fucking monster!" words continued to spew out of his gullet until all of the air in his lungs escaped. Celestia ignored him and turned towards everyone else.

"Do not touch any of that, understand? I need to imprison this heretic in chains for doing something as stupid as threatening a princess!" Celestia said, her sense of regality vanished with a sentence. Ponies thought she was incapable of projecting such a hateful voice of disbelief. But when she did, it was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Act I Chapter III

View Online

It did not take Celestia long to take care of her business, but the issues ahead of her were far from over. Even her pace and the resonance of her hooves gave fair warning to any who crossed her path.

'This is not good,' Princess Celestia trotted down the hall back to the throne room. Guards and other ponies having heard the rumors spread like a virus, they gathered faster than she anticipated. 'Not good at all.'

"Your Highness, what will you have us do?" one guard from Shining Armor's unit spoke. She looked beyond the guards and already there were ponies from the press asking questions about the rumors. Lost in a tired confusion of words and questions she did not want to answer.

"Are the rumors true?"

"We've heard that Nightmare Moon has somehow returned. How is that possible?"

"What are you gonna' do about this?"

"Does Nightmare Moon threaten your spot on the throne?"

Each question made her head shake more.

'The damned press! Who let them in?!' she gritted her teeth, swallowing her pride. Celestia had never been fond of the press and how the media worked. Taking every bit of information from the lips of nobility and taking it out of context just to make a convincing story always rubbed her the wrong way. 'It's just a rumor!'

"Get these tabloid makers out of the castle this instant! As of right now, the castle is under lockdown. Return to your positions and spread the word to the other guards, please."

The guards saluted simultaneously, "And what about Shining Armor, ma'am?"

"What have you done with him?"

"He's being held in contempt by the rest of his guard; uh, the rest of us, I mean. We've taken him to an unused bedroom under close watch," the guard said.

"Excellent. Keep him there until I can speak with him," Celestia bowed her head, "you are dismissed."

"Very good, Your Highness," the guards turned and impeded on the reporters' march, stopping the ponies in their tracks.

Princess Celestia sighed momentary relief in her time of solace. She never imagined that this nightmare would come true whether she believed her senses or not.

"Twilight Sparkle!" Celestia trotted into the room, using her magic to pick up Cloud's gear. "All of you girls need to follow me, please."

"What's all that noise back there? It doesn't sound very happy," Pinkie Pie asked.

"You're right. Word spreads fast around this castle," Princess Celestia waved the group to follow.

"Are you—we, going to talk to him?" Twilight said, following Celestia close by.

"We're going to try..." Celestia cleared her throat, "he wasn't very happy when I left."

"Well, he shouldn't have acted like a brute, he had it coming!" Rarity said with a flip of her hair.

"But, but he saved Dashie's life, Rarity!" Fluttershy said, "besides, you haven't even met him!"

"Wha—I, well! Calling Princess Celestia a, well, you know what is outlandish! No offense, Princess Celestia," Rarity said. Celestia looked down at her and smiled.

"Well, you wouldn't be the first to call me that, that much is certain. But I care little about that. All I care about is the safety of my ponies and reasoning with this stranger."

"Are ya' mad at 'em, Princess?" Applejack asked.

"Yes, but I'm very forgiving, I—" Celestia's eyes boggled as the sound of Rainbow Dash yelling erupted from behind her.

"Pinkie Pie! I'm not in the mood, just leave me alone, ok?!" Rainbow Dash pushed Pinkie Pie away but did it in a way that seemed restrained and gentle.

'I don't blame her for being on edge like that. She stared at the face of Death and lived to tell the tale... I mean, if it was not for that stallion, I don't think she'd be here now,' Celestia continued her march around a sharp corner.

"Sorry, D-Dashie," Pinkie Pie said, her ears pinned down.

"—Rainbow Dash, I know you're frightened right now but try to keep your head high. It'll be ok, hun," Celestia said.

"It's alright, Pinkie. Just—not now, alright? And thanks, Princess." Rainbow Dash continued to try and keep her breathing under control.

"He saved your life, that much is clear. But that does not give him any right to pull a weapon on an officer or leader of any rank," Celestia said.

"What?" Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as far as it would go, receiving a look from Celestia.

"He committed treason, Rainbow Dash."

"Well, no offense but—I doubt he was goin' to use that sword on you. He might be dangerous but I don't really think he wants to hurt anyone," the sound of her swallowing cleared the air, seeing Celestia's unamused glare made Rainbow Dash feel petty.

"How do you know of this, Rainbow Dash?"

"Rainbow! Be polite!" Rarity jabbed Rainbow's side.

"He told me," Rainbow Dash replied.

"He told you? Is that it? He could have been lying to get what he wanted," Princess Celestia suppressed her heinous laugh. Rainbow's preposterous claims and her defiance filled Celestia with anticipation.

"You weren't there... Princess."

"What have you done with the real Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked and turned Rainbow around, "You hated his guts for no reason. Now you're defending him? What's the big deal?"

"He saved and spared my blue ass, Twilight! I know more about him than any of you at this point." Rainbow Dash glared into each set of eyes glued to hers.

"S-Spared, what do you mean?"

"He coulda' killed me if he wanted to, back before the whole courtroom bullshit. After you teleported us, we fought each other hard until one of us broke. I got a few blows in, but he used his shield to flip me over and pinned me to the ground. He coulda' used that sword to stab me when I was pinned, but he never pulled it out. I thought he was going to kill me. Instead, he asked for my help before releasing me. Even though I didn't have any other choice but to help him, somethin' about the way he said it really meant a lot to him. I mean, he even helped pop my leg back into place when he displaced it. What do you want me to say Twilight? That I'm just a predictable pony to be mad all the time and admit when I'm wrong like a good filly?"

"Woah there, sugarcube! She didn't mean it like that." Applejack pulled Rainbow Dash away.

"S-Sorry, Rainbow. I was just saying that it isn't like you to act like this. I didn't mean to make you mad." Twilight's eyes were wide and for good reason. An angry Rainbow Dash was a force to be reckoned with.

"Yeah, well, have your brother throw a spear at your fuckin' throat and see how you feel afterward. I'm pissed, I don't want to hear fuckin' jokes! Let me get this off my chest, " Rainbow Dash looked up at Celestia. "If I were him, I'd be so pissed—no, devastated, like I am right now, Princess Celestia!"

"Rainbow! Look, I'm sorry. But watch your mouth! You're talking to Princess Celestia?!" Twilight Sparkle put her hoof over Rainbow's mouth, just for her to get the message. Rainbow Dash pushed Twilight's hoof away in an instant.

"What you did to him was terrible! You crushed his hopes and everything he came here for! Seeing your sister must of been really, really important to him because I told him that I'd let him see Princess Luna if he'd show me why it's so damn important! You have any idea what you did?!" Rainbow Dash felt her head whip around from Twilight vicious grab.

"What did I just say?! This isn't a joke when I said you're badmouthing Princess Celestia!" Twilight snapped. Rainbow Dash looked at all of her friends and received horrific stares.

Rainbow Dash bobbed her head as a wave of lightheaded feelings washed over her, 'What d-did I just do?'

"No, Twilight. Let her speak freely," Celestia said, watching Twilight look right back and move slowly from Rainbow Dash.

"It takes a lot of courage to speak up against a princess' beliefs," Celestia slowed her pace and took Rainbow Dash's side. Her pent up anger and anxiety oozing from her mouth for everyone to see.

"Rainbow Dash," Princess Celestia tapped Rainbow's chest softly, "Rainbow Dash, look at me."

"What...?" Rainbow's voice was almost inaudible.

"Do you believe that I was wrong to do that to him?" Celestia asked and still was able to guide everyone to their objective. Rainbow Dash could not look Celestia in the eyes and stared back to the ground.

"Yes," Rainbow Dash winced, preparing for whatever Princess Celestia had in store for her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The partisan flashed before her and she watched it drive through her chest. No matter how much she tried, she could not get the image from her mind so finely ingrained now. Rainbow Dash made herself jump into Celestia's fur and she opened her eyes wide.

"Whoa there! Relax..." Celestia ran her royal hoof under Rainbow's muzzle. Rainbow Dash did not enjoy the feeling of how delicate Celestia comforted her, but it still felt rather pleasant to know she supported her regardless.

"You're right, Rainbow Dash... He is here for something important. I just want to keep my younger sister safe; I want to keep all of you girls safe," Celestia observed everyone standing short of her towering stature. "I think all of you girls know that I am protective of my sister—and I'm trying to change that about myself, I really am."

Rainbow Dash silently paced back into her group of friends. Feeling outcast from her friends over a dumb fight she never wanted to have.

"It's alright, Princess Celestia. I probably would act just like you in this situation," Twilight said.

"Yeah, I mean, your sister was gone for a thousand years! I think we can at least try to understand," Fluttershy spoke. Celestia could not hold back her winsome smile any longer and bowed her head.

"Thank you, you two," Princess Celestia started off down the hall once more and spotted Cloud's temporary prison cell. With the door locked, she waited for everyone to gather around and addressed the situation.

"Alright, wait here and don't touch his stuff. I'll be right back," Princess Celestia said, but impeded on Rainbow Dash's and Twilight's path.

"You two, follow me," She led the two ponies away from the rest of the group, setting Rainbow and Twilight down further in the halls. The two girls quickly lined up side-by-side and eagerly listened to Celestia.

"I wanted to talk to you both regarding the earlier incident. The two of you have experienced many things today. But I want to make sure you're ok before preceding forth," Celestia leaned her head down slightly. "I am concerned about your brother, Twilight Sparkle. I don't know what has gotten into him."

"I... I'll be fine, Princess Celestia. I just-ugh! He almost killed Rainbow Dash. He almost—killed you," Twilight shifted her gaze towards Rainbow Dash and gave her a hug.

"I'm so glad you're ok," Twilight said before she over-welcomed her stay.

"You're not mad at me for yellin' at you?" Rainbow Dash asked, still feeling frustrated and precarious. Any amount of Twilight's resentment, hate, or fear had vanished.

"What?! Pfft! Of course I'm not mad. That's just you being you... You tell things how they are," Twilight smiled. Rainbow Dash nodded but remained listless.

"I think we're both mad at Shining Armor right now..." Rainbow addressed Princess Celestia.

"I just can't get the thought out of my head, what if Cloud hadn't, you know, did that..." Rainbow Dash wiped her muzzle repeatedly as unsettling thoughts sunk deeper.

'Fuck! I feel so gross inside,' She held her stomach.

"Shh, you're safe now, alright? If—are you feeling nauseous? I can take you to the restroom," Celestia offered.

"No, I'm ok. I'll be fine," Rainbow Dash respectfully declined her offer.

"Ok then, but do not hesitate to excuse yourself if need be. I really need you for what we're about to do," Celestia raised her head fully.

"What? What do you mean, Princess?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"He made a promise to you. So, perhaps he trusts you in some ways, yes?"

"Well, I promised to take him to Princess Luna. But I think—even though I treated him like, well, shit—he trusts me. Just, something about standing next to him and facing all of you developed a sorta' mutual trust, I think... don't quote me on that," Rainbow Dash received a gracious nod from Celestia.

"Uh, Princess Celestia?" Twilight waited for Celestia. "Do you believe what I saw in him? What I felt? I mean-I could feel Nightmare Moon inside of him." She said. Celestia's smile faded.

"I trust you, Twilight Sparkle. But even I am a little skeptical of this. A pegasus becoming Nightmare Moon is, quite frankly, unheard of. Impossible, really," Princess Celestia watched Rainbow Dash control her breathing and steel herself.

'I know Twilight can feel what I'm feeling right now... But I can't do that in front of her and her friends. Not yet,' Celestia thought.

"Maybe you're right. I was really scared at the time. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time my mind played tricks on me," Twilight tapped her hoof against her muzzle. "But, that doesn't explain how he can use magic."

Rainbow Dash continued to gaze back and forth at the two talking princesses right next door. Hearing the lies ooze out from between their lips, only to comfort themselves into ignorance.

'They know; I know too. I can't shake the feelin' of him. I know exactly what he described back there before the courtroom brawl. I understand their confusion, it's easy to wonder. Why would Nightmare Moon save my life? Why would she talk to me like a—like a friend?'

"I'll come back out when I need you two," Celestia said. She quietly unlocked the door and stepped inside, closing it behind her without making a peep. She stood silently ill in the dimly lit room filled with nothing but a large bed fitted with various locks and mechanisms. Having used everything Celestia had at her disposal, she left no room for error. She could just make out Cloud Strider's image laying limp on the bed. Encased in golden magic and chains, Celestia was unsure if he was aware of her current existence.

"Cloud Strider?" Princess Celestia waited for a few moments. She paced up to the side of the bed, laying his equipment down next to the bedpost.

"Say something, a-anything at all. I don't like putting others in this kind of situation."

Cloud Strider tried to move but only just so. Celestia looked down at the first sign of struggling and sat down on a cushion beneath her. She pinched her muzzle and sighed.

"I'm giving you a chance..." Celestia sighed, "just say anything if you're willing to work this out."

Cloud ceased his movements and carefully listened to her honest pleas.

'She really wants this to work, but how can I trust her now? She can't be interested, there's no way...' Cloud tried to look behind him, only to be interfered by his bindings once more. He closed his eyes and rattled the chains somewhat. Celestia's hope fleeted fast and she sat in her own disappointment. She headed for the door.

"My leg... it's still bleedin' some. I think you should d-do that first."

Celestia whipped her body around and trotted back.

"Oh, crud, I'm so sorry, I forgot!" Princess Celestia mumbled under her breath, "and who are you to decide those things?"

Celestia concentrated and visualized a spare first-aid kit from some designated location in the castle and into her hooves. The room instantly illuminated in yellow for just a split second. She cleared his left foreleg just enough to fix him up.

"Do not try anything, do you understand me?" Celestia even raised her voice.

"Aye. And my rightful self," Cloud stared dead into Celestia's eyes with a voice just audible enough for her to hear.

"What do you mean by that?" Princess Celestia quickly cleaned the wound with disinfectant and wiped most of the blood away. She spread antibiotic ointment all over the cut and wrapped his leg.

"I needed to see Luna, but you fucked my opportunity up. Now, you won't fuckin' let me get near her," Cloud Strider pulled his hoof away once he knew Celestia was finished. "You owe me."

"You're lucky to even be alive right now. And you're lucky that your wounds don't appear to be serious. I'm trying to take care of you and all you can do is talk ill of me," Celestia turned his head over and looked for wounds dug into his fur. "Yeah, you keep on playing the ungrateful brat."

"What is it then, hmm? Who is Luna and why is she so damn important to you? You put the screws on me and you're hiding her under wraps?" Cloud Strider waited.

"Well, what is it then?! Do you think I'm going to hurt her?! Maim her?!" he watched Celestia take a step back to breathe deeply.

"She is my sister. And if you want to have even a chance of an audience with her, you had best knock this shit off, now. Choose your next words carefully," Princess Celestia's full stature did well to both impress and terrify, but Cloud felt the latter after hearing her loud and clear.

"Do you understand me?" she said. Cloud swallowed his pride and nodded.

"Good," Princess Celestia confirmed. The side of his head was not as bloody, only swollen and most likely concussed. She placed a gauze bandage on his minor head wound and stepped back.

"There, does that feel better?" Celestia wiped her hooves clean and packed up the items from her kit. Cloud Strider noticed his leg and the side of his head were numb, but not at a complete loss of feeling. What Princess Celestia had done to his wounds made them almost non-existent.

"Yeah, it... It feels great, actually. How did you do that?" he looked into her soft and dull purple irises again, waiting for what was next. She looked back in the scant lamplight in a perplexed state of mind.

"Just a little spell I concocted." Princess Celestia closed the first-aid kit, snapping the latches into place. "Are you going to cooperate now, Cloud Strider? Neither of us wants this divide to get any bigger than it has to."

He flared his nostrils with caution. "Hmph. Why would I want to negotiate after you broke my trust? If I can't speak to Luna, then my journey ends here."

"That's Princess Luna, mind you."

"Yeah, well, I'm not sayin' that, Celestia. Noble titles don't really do shit when death breathes down your neck, do they?" Cloud Strider said.

"Well, I guess not. But we've all got an expiration date. You may not approve of titles such as mine and that's ok. But understand that ponies will undoubtedly think ill of you. And it's respectful and obligatory for you to treat me, my sister, and Twilight Sparkle, with some form of humility," Celestia replied.

"From where I grew up, we didn't say things like that. One exception would maybe be a jarl, and that's a big maybe," Cloud Strider said.

"Then think of me as a jarl," Princess Celestia said.

"Like you know what that is," Cloud Strider took moderate offense to her words, however brazen they were.

"I am not the doltish filly you make me out to be. I know more than you might think. Your knowledge may be enigmatic, but it is not lost to me," Celestia edged closer to him and spoke soft words into his ear.

"What do you know about me?" Cloud asked.

"Enough to know why you're here, and where you came from," Princess Celestia leaned in a smidgen closer, "enough to know what that symbol on your shield means. A valknut, is it?"

Cloud remained perfectly still and kept his eyes away from her gaze. Celestia leaned out and put a warming smile on her face.

"But, I digress, Cloud Strider," she sat straight up, "do you think I am stupid now?"

He turned his head and studied her body language. A sly but humorous chuckle passed through the room, perhaps even the walls.

"That's pretty impressive. But I never said you were an idiot, Celestia," Cloud Strider stopped his laughing but had a sharp smile on his face. "I'm still not callin' you a princess."

Then, Celestia was the one who found the situation funny. She giggled and looked down at the marble floors beneath her.

"I admire our conflicting views on each other's cultures. It's—unconventional, but I like it," Celestia nodded, "very well, call me Celestia. May I call you Cloud?"

"Go ahead, Your Grace," he responded. Celestia contemplated and hummed to herself.

"You know, it's been a long time since a stranger such as yourself has openly ignored the crown on my head. As for calling my sister, Luna? I'm not sure how that one will fare out," Celestia stood up and paced around a little bit.

I'll cut you a deal, Cloud. You tell me more about yourself and why you want to see my little sister, and I shall bring her here to discuss what you want, sound fair?" Celestia bargained.

"Don't... don't fuckin' joke about that."

"Joking? Who's joking?" Celestia said, "I'm certainly not."

Cloud Strider felt like the weight of the world was hefted from his shoulders. He could finally breathe once again after a long time's arduous journey. He sat up against the head of the bed after Celestia was kind enough to let him move some more.

"Sounds like I'm gettin' the better deal here. That's more than fair." Cloud said.

"Very good, but I need to let a few familiar faces in first," Celestia stopped by the door. Quickly, she opened the door and let the light beam into the room in long streams.

"Come on you two. We're ready," Celestia's words perked Cloud's body up and he sat up even further. Unexpectedly, his ears flopped tightly to the side of his head. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash anxiously entered the room. Rainbow Dash was not the problem; seeing Twilight pace in with a magic barrier around her did not help. He felt his smile die off and sneered towards Twilight. Celestia closed the door and lit the room up a bit more.

"Twilight, magic," Princess Celestia put her hoof on Twilight's back.

"But—what if-"

"He does not need an angry princess pointing magic at him. Put it away," Celestia lowered her gaze. Cloud could hear Twilight growl, followed by the unmistakable mumblings of her doing. Twilight's magic was dispersed and soon faded.

"Why don't you call her a princess, Celestia?" he asked.

"Oh, why you little-" Twilight sealed her lips once Celestia's hooves wrapped around her without warning.

"Well, she has not been a princess for more than a year. And for good reason, it would seem," Princess Celestia exchanged her gaze for a demeaning glare instead.

"I'm very sorry, I thought my former student would have better manners. I seem to be mistaken," She said, letting Twilight go with something to think about.

Cloud looked over to Rainbow Dash and also found that something was bothering her as well. "For fuck sake, I wanna' talk to someone that isn't... nevermind."

"I'm just mad at the stallion that nearly killed me," Rainbow Dash said.

"Me?! What did I-"

"No—No! Not you, you idiot! Shining Armor, that big stallion that threw the—" Rainbow Dash said. She closed the distance between him with every word.

"O-Oh, right," Cloud said.

"Easy, Rainbow Dash," Celestia coaxed her to calm down.

"—sorry,"

"Ok," Princess Celestia puffed her chest as she addressed the situation. She laid out his items in front of her.

"Where are you from, Cloud?" Celestia picked up his saddlebags which were almost falling apart. The leather straps supporting his bags were dried and cracking.

'Leather? It's been a long time since I've touched this material,' Celestia carefully handled the foreign and forbidden animal skin.

"I thought you already knew?" he asked.

"I don't think so," Celestia chirped back.

'What is she poking at? Did she lie to me? Maybe there's more to her I didn't realize,' something about her tone put him on edge. 'Be patient, Cloud. Time will tell.'

"I'm from Norway," he replied.

"A Norwegian? So far from home?" Celestia inspected his bags again, "do you mind if I check your bags, Cloud?"

"I do, but I don't really have any choice, do I?"

"I guess you're right," Celestia opened his saddlebags and mixed the contents around. She found nothing of interest in the first bag other than a magnesium stick and assorted junk with no observable purpose.

"Is... Is that, leather?" Rainbow Dash asked, taking a step back.

"N—No, Rainbow Dash," Princess Celestia watched Cloud but did not hear a word exit his mouth. She riffled through the other bag and something caught her eye. In front of her were two straight sticks stained golden brown. The bark had been peeled off of the wood and hollowed out.

"Ah, that is my seljefløyte. A willow flute," Cloud Strider said just out of her view. Celestia looked up at him.

"A willow flute?"

"What's a willow flute?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Some call it a shepherd's flute or uh, a sallow flute. Many ponies like shepherds use them in the hills when herding, but most ponies use a cow's horn for that. I had to cut it in half, sort of made a collapsible version so it would fit in my bags," Cloud said.

"That is—interesting, for lack of a better word," Celestia inspected the two rods and laid them down next to him. She sighed with doubt filling her heart, but she needed to at least seem more approachable and even beyond that.

"If I take off a few of your cuffs, do you promise not to lash out?" Celestia stood patiently, but Cloud responded faster than expected.

"As long as you keep Twilight under control. She's already getting-" Cloud did not even finish talking when his metal cuffs were opened with golden bursts of light. Celestia gave Twilight a little chat, all of it was inaudible to him.

"Everything in your bags seem to check out. I just wanted to make sure you had no weapons or anything of the sort. That can be concealed, that is," Celestia looked at his sword and shield but found her gaze locked on him for a moment. Princess Celestia pulled out a necklace made of wood. A charm hanged off of the string and was shaped like a hammer but had an odd shape to it. Metal wire wrapped tightly around the intersection of the charm.

"That's my necklace of Mjölner," Cloud said.

"Thor's Hammer?" Celestia responded.

"Yeah, how did you know that?" Cloud rolled his eyes.

Celestia studied the ornament closer.

"I only know a little about Norse Mythology. But this is a symbol that reoccurs a lot in stories and tales," she levitated the trinket to him, laying it atop the disassembled flute. He picked it up and rubbed some of the dust off of it.

"I, uh," Cloud Strider looked intensely at the symbols and played with his beard somewhat. A symbol of pride before his journey, something he took to heart day-by-day; something he wore every day, years ago. 'Now, it just sits at the bottom of my saddlebags.'

"Damn..." Cloud Strider came crashing back to reality, fearing his journey was for a different purpose than he sought.

"Rainbow Dash," Cloud stared at her, admiring her, "come here, please."

Rainbow Dash's eyes darted around his body, having not found her absolute feelings about him. She turned her head and looked at Celestia, even she gave off an air of mistrust despite Cloud's selfless actions. Princess Celestia dipped her head and tried to remain professional.

"Go ahead."

Rainbow Dash stepped up to him. He shifted his gaze onto his forelegs and bit his lip, the bandages lightly shifted with him. Full of regrets and haunting recollections, he showed Rainbow the necklace.

"You nearly died, I-I'm not gonna' sugarcoat it. And I'm sorry that I nearly caused that. It isn't much but—it's been with me for years and-and I think it needs someone else to wear it with more pride than I ever will have again," he reached out further. "I don't know if you believe in gods—Norse legends and sagas n' all. This symbol stands for protection and integrity in my family. H-Hopefully it brings you that."

'He saves your fuckin' life and you still have bad thoughts about him?! W-Why do I still not trust him? You should be ashamed of yourself!' Rainbow Dash thought.

'It's the least I could do right now. I'll-I'll find a way to make it up to him,' Rainbow willingly put the necklace on and let it dangle on her chest freely. 'That's another promise I plan to keep.'

"Th-Thanks, Cloud."

Celestia watched from behind with a strange feeling well up from within.

'How could this be? I refuse to believe it! There has got to be something at work here. He's just—he's too kind, even for his hard shell. He's broken, aimless... If he's truly from Norway, I can't even imagine what he's been through just to get here,' distressed by her predicament, Celestia felt sick to her stomach.

"Cloud, let me go find my sister. I think I've seen enough," Celestia bowed her head and looked at Twilight, "Twilight, please behave, ok?"

"Yes, Celestia." Twilight felt Celestia nuzzle her on the neck, having the encumbrance on her back lifted off. Princess Celestia stood and was gone in a golden flash. Leaving the two girls in charge with a powerful darkness clinging to the air.

"Princess Celestia! Are you alright?" Celestia had not opened her eyes before a few guards came to her aid. Her thoughts and emotions fogged up her concentration and caused her to teleport awkwardly. She was laying down on her side, immediately provoking the guards into action.

"I'm fine, but I need to see my sister right away," Celestia said after getting back up. Guards trotted at her side to ensure her safety.

"Of course, Your Highness. She's still in her room as requested. Although, she does not like being cooped up like that," one guard from the bunch explained. The door to Luna's room was surrounded by at least twenty well-armored guards.

"Well, that was only a matter of time," Celestia stated, "have you received my orders that the castle is under lockdown?"

"Yes, Your Highness. May I ask why?"

Celestia shook her head but wanted to give the guard an answer, "Unfortunately, I have yet to understand the current situation. I'm sure you've heard the rumors by now?"

"Someone from Shining Armor's unit said something about Nightmare Moon and some stallion. We've also heard that Shining Armor lost it and threw his weapon at ponies," The guards slowly moved for Celestia to enter the protected room. "What in Equestria was he thinking?"

"He did throw his weapon, but no one was injured. I'm here to take Princess Luna to meet the mystery pony, personally," Celestia stopped at the door, "and before you ask, I will not be needing an escort." She tapped on the door. The guards bowed and returned to their positions.

"Uh, yes—yes ma'am."

"Luna? I'm coming in," Celestia waited a few seconds before opening the door and stepping inside. The lights were on their dimmest setting and the room's dark colors did not help. She closed the door behind her.

"Luna?" She spotted subtle movement on the bed. Without warning, Luna popped up from the bed and paced towards Celestia. "Oh—Geez...! Don't scare me like that! You blend in a little too well."

"What is going on, dear sister? Why have me locked in this room?" Luna stopped just short of Celestia's hooves.

"Luna, someone has traveled here from Norway to see you. He claims to have, well, something of great interest that only you have knowledge of... And I'm sure you've been feeling it, too," Celestia first greeted her sister with a quick hug before talking.

"Celestia, your ability to feel other ponies' magic surpasses mine by a long shot. But to answer your question—yes, I have been feeling something strange. But then again, we feel these things all the time," Luna explained.

"I'm not lying, Luna. And I don't think he's lying either. There is something seriously wrong about him! Can you not connect the dots here?"

"I mean, I feel that the energy is dark and vaguely, vaguely familiar, but I do not know what it is. Also, what gives you the right to treat me like a filly and locking me in my damned room?" Luna said.

Celestia leaned her head down to level with Luna.

"This stallion won't tell me why he wants to see you, but I damn well know why he's here, ok? Luna, he's a pegasus that is giving off your magic, how hard is it for you to feel that? I just wanted to keep you safe because I feared that I'd lose you again," Celestia raised her head back to normal, letting it all sink in.

"How is that, possible? My magic? It-It doesn't even feel like my magic," Luna grasped the side of her head.

"I don't know, I'm just as confused as you are... Are—are you going to be ok?" Celestia sat down and put both of her hooves on Luna's shoulders. Luna lifted her head quickly and stopped thinking.

"We mustn't tarry long, Celestia. We can address this afterward, but now we must speak to him immediately!" Luna darted to the door. Celestia enchanted the door and teleported directly in front of her.

"Calm down, Luna. Keep a level head about yourself. We'll both get to the bottom of this."

"Right, my bad," Luna watched the door open behind Celestia.

"Come on then. And, sorry I yelled just then," Celestia said. Luna knew something was awry when even Celestia acted up.

"Your heart is in the right place, I understand. But I am not a filly anymore. You don't need to protect me as much as you used to," Luna explained. Celestia opened the door and held it without a word, watching as Luna noticed just how many guards there were. "I see your insecurity is poking through..." she grumbled.

"I know, and I'm sorry about that too. But you're still my little sis. I'm really trying to correct that about—" Celestia felt Luna jab her in the side, "—hey! What was that for?!"

"For locking me up," Luna smirked, "and for you being too hard on yourself. I don't want you turning into my mopey self."

"Alright, alright, I deserved that. We had better hurry though. I left Twilight in charge and she doesn't exactly trust him," Celestia said, pacing well ahead of Luna.

"Does that mean I don't have court duties tonight?" Luna looked up at Celestia who rolled her eyes.

"Yes, Luna. The castle is under lockdown for the night."

"Yes!" Luna said.

"But that doesn't mean," Celestia was abruptly cut off.

"Yes-yes, Celestia. 'That doesn't mean I can slack off', I've heard it before," Luna brushed Celestia's words off.

"Well, in this case, yes. But watch your tone, miss," Celestia poked Luna's side instead, "now we're even."

"Oh, shut up. Far from," Luna said.

Celestia laughed for only a moment before quieting down, "Alright, just save the jokes for now. This is supposed to be serious." Celestia patted her sister's back and turned a corner.

"If you are serious, then it must be a grave issue. You never look distraught as you are now." Luna lost her smile and returned to normalcy in earnest tones.

"I'm concerned that he may pose a critical danger to others, even though he does not show major signs of aggression as I currently know of." Celestia passed yet another colossal window and stared out into the clear night. The clouds below the city covered the lowlands and cast its rain across the landscape.

"Well, has this pony actually shown any signs of aggression you have seen?" Luna asked.

"Yes," Celestia nodded, "but he has shown restraint and has only used non-lethal combat as a means of either fighting or protecting himself. From what Rainbow Dash has told me, he could have killed her. The strange thing is, he never drew his sword. On top of that, he even shielded her from a certainly lethal attack from Shining Armor."

"Wait, what?! What did Shining Armor do?!" Luna eyes flickered wide and stared at Celestia.

"I regret to inform you, but yes. He threw his partisan at Cloud—I mean, the pony I was talking about. But I think his anger caused him to miss and it went towards Rainbow Dash instead." Celestia cleared her throat as much as it pained her to talk. Luna shook her head in a fury.

"This is unacceptable, sister! Words cannot describe my fury!"

"Luna, stop. I understand your frustration but you need to breathe. Rainbow Dash is ok, she's just very... eh, delicate, after what happened."

"Well? What will you have him do to pay for his transgressions?" Luna expelled her fiery breath through her gaping nostrils. Celestia bit down on her cheek.

"He's one of our best guards and is married to Cadance. What should be expected from that? I mean, I can't exactly do much."

"Back then, he would have been discharged forthright! Strike while the iron is hot and act upon your punishment. The number of ideas running through my head, Celestia, is too much even for me," Luna lost herself in thought, thinking of what wicked punishment would best suit Shining Armor.

"Luna, dial it back a little," Celestia nudged her on the side, "times have changed since then. You're enjoying this a little too much."

She stole glances at Celestia's demeanor but avoided eye contact mostly. Luna put her thoughts on hold.

"I think suspending him from duty for some time would—somewhat suffice for a punishment. Maybe even paying retributions for his actions?" Luna said.

"Hmm," Celestia did not put much thought into it and mused to herself. "Very well. I think that's a fair compromise. That would discipline him to think about what he did after all. At least, I hope."

"So, we are going with my plan?" Luna said.

"Yes, Luna. If it sounds fair to you, it is for me as well," Celestia pointed to the girls gathered around a closed door. She noticed, though, that their ears were pressed against the door. Their expressions transfixed by something that caught Celestia's ears and Luna's.

"What in the world?" Celestia's ears convulsed. She heard a woody sound fill the air with its mellow, lush tone. It felt soft to the ears but not without a sense of mystery and illusion.

"Whatever it is, it is enchanting," Luna followed her sister closer. Celestia quietly tapped on their backs, getting them to move one at a time.

"Can we come inside, please? We won't say anything!" Pinkie Pie begged Celestia, making her smile.

"I'm sorry, Pinkie Pie. Not this time," Celestia watched Pinkie Pie deflate and fall face-first onto the marble flooring. She inwardly chuckled and put her magic to good use.

"Stay behind me," Celestia shifted her tail around to see Luna poke out from behind. She tipped her head and watched Celestia open the door. The music traveled through their ears, drawing them closer. Princess Celestia looked at Cloud Strider who put his instrument down from his muzzle. She peered closely at Twilight who appeared to be more well-behaved. No signs of a fight as far as she could tell.

"Cloud?" Princess Celestia formally announced and paced forward. She closed the door once Luna entered. He tried looking beyond Celestia to see who was hiding.

"Is that—Is that her?"

'Is this... actually happening? Is that really her?' Cloud Strider deliberated over her features. Her unmistakable midnight blue colors and flourishing blue mane dotted with breathing stars. He leaned forward, having never seen what Princess Luna truly looked like.

"Luna, this is Cloud Strider. He's the one who wants to speak to you," Celestia motioned her hoof and stepped to the side. Luna silently went beside Celestia and bowed her head. His thirst for eye contact and captivation continued to rise.

"G-Greetings, Cloud Strider," she said, "I am Princess Luna. It's, a pleasure," Luna felt her muscles rattle. She began to feel the sinister magic lingering in the room.

'I feel it now, sister. You warned me,' Luna took a small step back. Cloud Strider was absolutely enthralled by her presence and only wanted to be closer.

"I... I can't believe it. It's—It's you," Cloud gawked.

"Well, everyone tells me that you came here to see me."

"I did, I-yes." Cloud Strider nodded. Luna stared back in perplexed silence. She cocked her back and looked at Celestia.

"Ok..." Princess Luna forced herself to the bedside and sat down. "Where are you from?"

"Norway, Luna," Cloud watched her head build height.

"Hmm," Luna heard hoofsteps closing in behind her, "Cloud Strider, I would appreciate it if you called me Princess Luna."

"Good luck getting that through his head," Twilight replied.

"Luna, he doesn't mean anything by that. He doesn't understand our ways," Princess Celestia said as Luna began to back up slowly.

"I can feel that—damned forsaken magic now. W-Why does he-he feel like that, thing?!" Princess Luna struggled against Celestia's grasp, forcing her to hold fast.

"I know, I-Luna? Luna! You need to calm down. Have some faith," Celestia said.

"Ah—Alright-alright! I'll call you Princess Luna! Just please help me, that's all I'm askin'!" Cloud Strider's dense breath mixed profoundly well with Luna's. Celestia glanced up at him and inched Luna closer.

"He's not going to hurt you, he needs your help," she said, "It's alright, Luna. It's ok."

"Ok... Ok, yes. It will be alright," Luna finally released herself from Celestia's hold and looked at Cloud. "Well, I know why you were looking for me, hehe. That much is damn certain!" Luna's maddening chuckle only expressed a fraction of her grief.

'Why, is it back?! I thought that chapter of my life was over!' Luna's mind went onto the defensive. She turned and stared Celestia in the face. "Celestia, I do not want this to happen again. Whether it is me or him." Luna held onto her royal demeanor in a losing battle.

"I know, Luna. I know," Celestia watched her sister look down at Cloud's shield. She reached down and studied the image on the front. Some parts of wood were splintered and separated by some pointed object.

"What happened?" Princess Luna brushed the slivered opening in the shield, "what is this symbol?"

"That's where Shining Armor's weapon pierced through," Celestia said.

"It's a valknut. The—The three triangles represent life, death, and rebirth," Cloud Strider looked into Luna's eyes as she laid the shield down. "I can tell you more if you want. Anything at all!"

"You... you really did save her? Rainbow Dash?" Luna turned to Rainbow Dash who bobbed her head silently.

"That does not add up," Luna said.

"What are you talking about, Princess Luna?" Twilight walked over to Rainbow Dash's side.

"Nightmare Moon does not save ponies..." Luna closed her eyes.

"I'm not like her, you gotta' believe me," Cloud Strider asked, "please, you gotta'!"

"You did not come here to tell me all about this, Cloud Strider. Or whoever you really are..." Luna said.

"Luna!" Princess Celestia lashed out.

"Do you think I wanna' be like this? A fuckin' monster?!" Cloud pulled on his chains as far as he could go, snapping taught. "I'll make you believe me! I'll show you that she isn't in control!"

"Cloud Strider, stop!" Princess Celestia reached her hoof out.

"I can look like her. I can control her, don't you understand that?!" Cloud Strider struck his head hard.

"Hey! Stop that! Remember what?!" Celestia asked.

"There are lapses in my mind, but they are full of anger... I can do this."

"D-Do what? Cloud?" Celestia watched his leg band ignite with energy and grow in intensity. "What are you doing?!"

The swelling of his magic engulfed his body, mimicking the glow of Luna. Princess Luna found herself dumbfounded by his ability, so much that her skin felt alive and moving. Feeling her magic on someone else twisted her stomach into a knot.

"Tch! Don't be afraid," Cloud rolled with the piercing dark infection spreading through his body.

"Girls, behind me right now," Princess Celestia put a hoof in front of Rainbow and Twilight, leaving herself and Luna to defend. The aura spread and shrouded his body in black. The malicious radiation sent him into a frenzy; he knew it was too late to back out. His body grew and changed shapes into something abhorrent. An abysmal figure of ebony black emerged in Cloud Strider place.

"Nightmare Moon..." what Luna expected was far from her thoughts. Catching similarities in Cloud's body of a monster, she questioned if he really was Nightmare Moon. His body was black and his eyes were distinctly colored bluish-green, even sharp like a predator. Cloud's mane did not move. Rather, it was touched by the infectious black at its roots and tapered off. A horn spired from his left wither towards the ceiling, surrounded by a multitude of scaly, inferior horns. Borne of grotesque evil, he became the image of a genetic failure.

Luna reared her head backward, disturbed at the sight before her. Celestia could not fall short of the same reaction.

"It's still me, ok? I'm still Cloud Strider," his voice remained the same as it was previously.

"Star Swirl's Beard, what are you?!" Princess Luna tried to back peddle into the wall behind her, but Celestia had stopped her.

"I'm supposed to be Nightmare Moon. Fuckin' hell! What am I?!" Cloud Strider scared even himself, he stood up from his subconscious actions after taking a good look at himself.

"Hey, hey!" Celestia charged her horn. Cloud looked down and noticed his chains had slid off.

"Oh, s-shit!" He fell back onto his hindquarters and tried putting the shackles on, but they would not fit. Instead, he flung the chains to his side and stayed still. Celestia and Luna exchanged confused but guarded looks. "I just need your help! I promise if you help me, I'll leave this place forever. You'll never see me again!"

Celestia put her hoof on Luna's shoulder, "Please, sister. You can do it."

"I am not ok with this, Celestia. It makes me bring back horrible memories," Luna avoided all eye contact. Twilight and Rainbow Dash re-emerged back into view and looked at Cloud.

"Holy shit," Rainbow Dash's face contorted. "Is that a unicorn horn? O-On his shoulder?"

"I think so," Twilight said.

"Luna, you can't leave him like this! He could die!" Celestia forced Luna's head up in order to look at her.

"You've already broken me down, I'm at my wits end!" He looked at Twilight, "Twilight, surely you can do something, anything!"

Twilight gulped at what he said. Seeing a malformed version of Nightmare Moon sent shivers down his spine. But the pained look on his face made Twilight flinch.

"I'm sorry. I don't know how," Twilight responded. The words were hard, but it was the truth. "I can't help you."

Cloud Strider's gaze lazily drifted elsewhere once he slumped down.

'That's it, then...'

"Cloud Strider." Celestia cleared her throat. He did not hesitate to give her his attention, clinging onto some amount of hope.

"We would all feel much more comfortable if you do not look like that. Can you change back?" Celestia asked by Luna's side.

"No, I don't know how to."

"I—I see..." Celestia frowned.

"I go back to normal when I pass out or go to sleep, that's all I know. I-I use up all my energy 'til I black out." Cloud Strider said. Princess Celestia motioned with her head for Luna to go to him.

"Try," She said. Princess Luna stared back and finally paced forward.

"What about your magic? H-How capable are you at using it?" Luna asked with trembling lips.

"Not much. Other than pickin' things up and a few fighting spells... Why? And-even those tire me out quickly." He said.

"Show me a teleportation spell, now."

Cloud channeled all his energy and cast what he knew of the spell. He tried and tried but ultimately nothing came out but sparks and the faint sound of teleportation. Luna already knew by his breathing that his fatigue was spiking.

"Uh, cast light?" Luna sheepishly cringed.

'Is this for real? Now I'm starting to feel bad for him.'

"That's a lot easier." Cloud Strider cast out an illuminated mass of bright blue.

"How long can you hold it?" Twilight asked.

"Ha-Half an hour or so... Normally less." Cloud Strider was surrounded by magic using professionals, making his incompetence well up inside of him. Luna raised an eyebrow. The more she thought about it, the more harmless he seemed.

"That does not make any sense either, big sister." Luna scratched her head. Celestia looked at her much in the same way.

"I see what you mean,"

"Cloud Strider, you do not realize how much raw energy you have that you cannot even use." Luna said.

"Yes, Cloud. Surely you would have some innate ability to tap into that energy? The magic you demonstrated pales to Nightmare Moon's actual power." Celestia added.

"But, you are a pegasus. And a pegasus using any magic at all is extraordinary. Not only that, you have somehow not let this darkness consume you completely." Celestia and Luna stood next to the bed and looked at him. "Unfortunately, all that energy seems to have destroyed your image, to be frank."

"You're not wrong," Cloud studied his body.

"Well, let us get this over with." Luna sharply exhaled.

'Maybe I can change the way he looks.'

"Do what she says, Cloud. Understand?" Princess Celestia said, "I trust you can do this, Luna."

"I hope so," Princess Luna motioned with her hoof, "Lean to me, slowly."

Twilight stepped next to Celestia, still somewhat reluctant of Cloud's new form. She left Rainbow Dash alone in the middle of the dim room, without a direction to go to.

"You can step outside if you want to, Rainbow Dash." Princess Celestia told her, but Rainbow shook her head.

"I'm staying. I promised to help him." She went to the foot of the bed and waited.

"Lower your head," Luna told Cloud, he complied shamelessly. Her ears throbbed madly, if not her entire face.

"I am putting my trust into you, do not betray me." Luna concentrated her magic and began the process.

"I won't," Cloud closed his eyes and took control of his breathing. Even he was scared out of his mind once he heard it was not a sure fire opportunity. But the positives outweighed the negatives in his mind and he threw caution to the wind. So focused on seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but not the void around him.

Luna's magic flowed over her horn and released a fine tendril of wispy magic that snaked its way toward Cloud. He recoiled slightly but felt everyone's gaze like an inferno.

"It won't hurt." Celestia pushed him in the right direction. He slipped ever closer until it finally hit him.

Luna linked into his despot of magic. A rushing cascade of dark memories and magic hazed over in a convoluted mess. The malicious energy that tried melding to her was thwarted by Luna's perseverance and the shred of Nightmare Moon that still resided deep within her body. She struggled as Nightmare Moon's evil seemingly recognized the intruder.

"Sister! Do you need my help?!" Celestia held onto Luna and charged up her magic as well.

"No!" Luna whipped her head back. Her magic acted as a lasso as she pulled, trying to remove the dark energy. Cloud could feel the energy trying to leave him and accepted it with complete openness. The horns on his wither gushed magic into her beam, but there was obvious resistance.

"Relax!" Luna pulled harder.

"I'm givin' her all I've got!" He sunk all of his magic into his abilities as much as he could. With a massive pull from Luna, everything slipped in a matter of moments. She flew back against the wall, taking Cloud Strider with her in a darkened mass that absorbed the two.

"Luna!" Celestia had let go and looked through the cloud of black. Cloud Strider's head was buried in Luna's lap and she massaged her head lightly.

"Ow... I am ok." She said, looking down at Cloud Strider. "Ah! Shit!"

"Eh, sorry 'bout that." Cloud Strider rubbed his muzzle and ears, looking at where his face was.

"N-No! Your body!" Luna said. Cloud stepped back and looked at everyone.

"Is it, fixed?" Cloud Strider's feedback was not positive.

"No?" He felt something from the crown of his head jutting outwards, tapering off into a fine point. He knew it was a horn but that was nothing new to him. He looked to his side and finally got to look into a mirror.

"Oh, oh! Holy shit!" Cloud scrambled back into Celestia who stopped him from proceding any further.

"Calm down, Cloud! It's not as bad as you think... Is this bad, sister?" Celestia asked.

"Wait, you don't know?!" Cloud looked identical to Nightmare Moon without the armor and trinkets. His slender body captured the fact Nightmare Moon was a mare, but there were some obvious features missing to prove it.

"Cloud, get a fuckin' grip!" Rainbow Dash went past Twilight who grabbed Rainbow's hoof.

"Stay here! Let them handle it, Dashie." Twilight Sparkle said. Rainbow knew she was right and stayed put.

"Fine!"

"Hold him, sister." Princess Luna moved toward him again. She quickly ramped up her magic and touched horns with him, casting a spell as soon as possible. He noticed her eyes turn blistering white as his vision also whited out. The two ponies were surrounded by a cloud of energy, only now it was pure white. The light show ended as soon as it started.

"There uh- That's better." Luna slid back and breathed in. "That is much better."

Cloud Strider looked past Luna at the mirror. The visage of Nightmare Moon was gone and he was back to his normal self.

"Did... Did you fix me? Am I just a pegasus again?"

"Not necessarily, I am afraid." Luna stood up and looked down at him.

"Wasn't all that for helpin' me though?" Cloud asked.

"I gave you the ability to transform freely, but you have to learn how to do it. I also made it so you do not look like a, *ahem* malformed beast." Princess Luna said.

"Luna..."

"Oh come on, you cannot deny that, Celestia." Luna pulled Cloud Strider up and pointed him to the bed.

"We-Well, what are you going to do about my problem?" Cloud Strider sat on the edge of the bed. Luna let his words sink in, the whole point of his visit was to make him better, not suppress it. She winced and shook her head.

"Well, uh..." Luna scratched the back of her head. "Cloud Strider, there is really no way to sugarcoat this, but, as of this moment, I cannot deliver thee succor. I-I mean, I cannot help you."

"What?"

"My apologies." An eerie tension hung thick between the two ponies. Everyone looked at Luna and Cloud, seeing their faces.

"I see, then..." Cloud Strider's voice became viscous.

"D-Don't give up hope, Cloud." Celestia placed her hoof on his back. He batted it away with secret animosity. Luna eyed her sister and bit her lip.

"Cloud Strider, please listen to us. There are reasons why we cannot help you in the here and now." Luna said as Cloud Strider stared at her.

"For one, Princess Celesta and I have never in our lives seen this before. Nightmare Moon should not be able to find new hosts like this, and even more puzzling is why Nightmare Moon still exists in her primordial form inside of you. She has not taken hold of your body completely. You still function and seem like a normal pony, but you are not. It is a gray area that we have not recollection of." Princess Luna explained.

"And another thing, Cloud. Our country is still recovering from an attack that left us without our powers. The evil that is Tirek forced us into giving Twilight all of our energy in hopes of defeating him. Although she succeeded in her duty with her friends, she was forced to give Tirek her power and he used it. Alicorn magic is very sensitive when transferred, and it may take us months or years in order to fully recover. Tirek did not use much, but it was enough to show how delicate our magic is. Especially when it's a literal part of you." Celestia said.

"Th-Then-then please take mine! If it'll help, just take it!" Cloud Strider looked into Celestia's eyes.

"That leads me to the third reason. The only way it's safely possible to separate you and Nightmare Moon is to use The Elements of Harmony. But they had to be used in order to save The Tree of Harmony, keeping the world in balance. Any other way may result in a catastrophic failure."

"Do it, then. I'm willing to chance anything at this point!" Cloud stood directly in Celestia's face. "I've traveled for four years to get here. I didn't come here to be a coward about it! I bet my life on this just for some fuckin' help! I'm not askin' for much from you, but it means the world to me!"

He grabbed Celestia and shook her for a moment, "I don't have anything left, you understand that?!"

Princess Celestia pulled Cloud off of her torso and sent him back further.

"Cloud Strider, please stop shaking my sister." Luna said.

"It's ok, I expected as much." Celestia let him go, letting him sit between her and Luna.

"Breathe, Cloud Strider." Luna watched him hang his head and lean back onto the bed.

"By the Gods! Thou canst not possibly expect immediate absolution!" Luna lifted his muzzle while she cleared her throat. Everyone gave her startled looks as she blushed lightly.

"What I mean is, you cannot expect me to have an immediate answer to your problem." Luna stated.

"What are you sayin'? That—" Cloud Strider felt her hooves against his. She helped him up on all fours again and made him look her in the eye.

"These things take time, ok?" Luna let him go and stepped back to Celestia. Cloud's face showed confusion, feeling like the tables had turned.

"My sincerest apologies for your expecta—I truly am sorry." She looked up to Celestia, "what now? Where will he go?"

"Well," Celestia received his attention, "that depends on whether he wants to stay for treatment or go on his merry way."

"I want the treatment more than anythin'. Please let me stay or whatever you want me to do." Cloud Strider stood in between the four ponies.

"I see," Princess Celestia tapped her cheek, "I see I see..."

She let her eyes wander until they landed on Twilight.

'Ahh!'

"Hmm, Twilight?" Celestia said, "It's not fair of me to ask, but may he stay with you?"

Twilight looked at him, thinking of the all the things he did and what it might entail.

"I have no idea if I can trust him or not, or if he wants to stay with me. You did save my friend after all." Twilight said to him, "you didn't hurt her and I'm thankful for that."

"But—I don't know..." Twilight said.

"Please, Twilight? It isn't polite of me to say, but perhaps I could make it worth your while?" Celestia asked.

"No, no." Twilight sighed, "you don't have to do that."

"Of course he can stay."

Celestia smiled and bowed her head, "Thank you, Twilight. I appreciate that."

Cloud Strider slowly inclined his head and studied his foreleg. Each scuff and bite out of his hoof that had accumulated over the years made him think clearly. A chance meeting of royal power before his worn hooves. Even turning his hoof revealed more of his memories, some wishing to have never come to fruition. He felt Celestia's hoof bring his head up as she spoke, but Cloud did not listen. Relieved that his voyage had ended but furious that another one began.

'Is this the right way?' Cloud thought, letting his eyes met with Celestia's.

"I'm sorry, I... uh," Cloud Strider scratched his beard.

"Behave yourself and listen to Twilight. I realize this must be hard for you, but you must stay strong, Cloud." Princess Celestia felt his gaze reach a climax as she smiled back in a motherly act.

"I will," He did not have a say in the matter, but it was something he needed to hear.

He went to pick up his gear, but Celestia stopped him once more. Cloud did not even get the chance to look up before feeling her embrace curl around his neck. Paralyzed by the sudden kindness bestowed upon him, he looked straight and felt his lips dry. She let him go before he could protest, not even caring if her royal standing looked diminished in front of her peers. He was baffled by her beauty and rivaled grace in any task of hers. His beliefs of her being the offspring of deities did not faulter for Celestia and for Luna.

Cloud Strider strapped down his saddlebags and put his belongings back. His shield and sword haplessly laying next to each other. He fixed the scabbard to his back with his sword and fitted the shield snugly around it. The fur collar lightly shifted with the air as he loosely wrapped it around the base of his neck. Rainbow Dash peeked up at him while holding his necklace into view, focusing on him in the background. She noticed his cutie mark, making her straighten her eyebrows.

"What kind of cutie mark is that, Cloud?" Rainbow Dash said.

"A compass." He said.

"It is certainly unlike any normal compass, uh, Cloud. Very unique." Princess Luna softly spoke, even though it barely peeked through. She watched his head agree for him.

'I know what you're going through, I've been in your hooves before. If I could show you it's ok.' Luna walked towards him but forced herself to stop. She was ready to show her other side, to show he was was not the only one.

'No, let him think.'

"Sister, we've best get to it." Luna said. Celestia asked Twilight to let her friends in and turned to Luna.

"Sorry, Luna. What did you say?"

"We need to start finding solutions, now." Luna specified.

"I want you all to be nice to Cloud Strider. I don't know how long he'll be staying with me at the castle, but he doesn't need ponies stressing him out." Twilight announced to all of her friends and continued to brief everyone.

"I have my work cut out for me. If I am to help Cloud Strider, I must undergo some intensive research that will cut into our schedules indefinitely." Celestia nodded at Luna's words.

"Yes, I've already been thinking about that. We should gather as many applicable books and sources as possible and begin research immediately. I'll try to find anything useful and pass it onto you, but It's going to come down to you doing pretty much all of the work. The only thing I'll be useful for is being an errand mare and telling you things you already know." Celestia said.

"I understand. The night is much less occupied by demands. It shall give me time to find a way to help him." Luna looked over and watched Twilight talk to her friends, seeing Cloud Strider in a trance. She could feel the density in the air.

"Ah, yes, Luna. I'll try to help as much as I can. It's just you know more about Nightmare Moon than I will ever understand. I-I'm asking a lot from you and I hope it isn't too much." Celestia felt the words in her mind melt. She looked down at her sister's hoof square on her golden necklace.

"Do not fret, dear sister, it's ok. You already do so much during the day. Now, it is my time to pick up the slack." Luna strode back a single step. Celestia bowed her head and gave Luna a small pat on her neck.

"Twilight, things seem to be getting a little heated out there. So, I feel that it would be safer to teleport everyone to Ponyville instead." Celestia made sure the door was closed.

"Includin' Cloud Strider there, Princess Celestia?" Applejack asked, "yer' just lettin' him go?"

"Yes, Applejack." She knew Applejack was not a fan, hearing Twilight speak peculiarly caught Celestia's attention.

"And before you start asking... He is Nightmare Moon, b-but in a strangely unique way-" Twilight said post-haste. The look on everyone's face put her into distress.

"Uh, y-yes. I know that everyone doesn't want to believe it, but Cloud Strider does house Nightmare Moon's essence. Best you learn the truth now than later." Celestia piped in, covering for Twilight.

"Wha-How? How do you know?!" Fluttershy's eyes shrank.

"Whoa, really?" Pinkie Pie said, "That is so, cool!"

"He turned into her..." Rainbow Dash said, "and he doesn't think it's 'cool'."

"Ok, hahaha Pinkie Pie, maybe not right now, hmm?" Twilight forced a smile on her face and made Pinkie Pie stop. Cloud Strider noticed the other white pony had yet to even talk to him. The arrogance lining her face was a good indicator of why.

"He came to us asking for help, but even we failed him." Princess Luna effectively made the room silent.

"He shall stay with Princess Twilight until we can find a cure. I ask that his secret be kept no more than a rumor amongst ponies and nothing else. The last thing we need are ponies learning about his Nightmare Moon ability. I can only imagine what their reactions would be." Luna said.

"Yes, and I cannot stress that enough. Twilight, don't let anyone you don't trust into the castle." Celestia added.

"Don't worry, Princess. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly. He is under our protection." Twilight bowed her head. Celestia leaned down and nuzzled Twilight affectionately.

"Thank you, Twilight. It'll be just fine." She raised her body back to regal standards, "group up, please. This will be much safer than taking the train home."

Cloud heard the shift of Twilight and every one of her friends, but he was edged out of the circle. He glanced over at Rainbow Dash, the closest pony to him. She waved her hoof over and grabbed his leg soon after.

"Come on,"

He paced closer but felt something wrap around him. He suddenly noticed Celestia was casting the teleportation spell and disappeared from the scene midstep.

———

The group of ponies felt the warming comfort in their bodies evaporate in the cool night air. Another flash hazed the group's vision and the evening darkness loomed. The rain pelted their bodies with cold splotches that quickly accumulated. Cloud Strider stumbled into Rainbow Dash almost immediately.

"Oh-whoa! Shit!"Cloud tripped over his hooves, pushing Rainbow Dash to the ground. He landed right on top of her in a big 'x'. She coughed as all of the air in her lungs was forced out abruptly.

"Hey! you fiendish monster, get off of her!" Rarity stamped her hooves and trotted over to Cloud Strider. Twilight stepped in between her and Cloud, looking at Rarity with a moment's thought.

"Cloud! Get offa' me!" Rainbow Dash strained against his weight, trying to get him off.

"Shit, didn't mean to." Cloud pushed hard and bolted his entire body up in moments. She rolled to her side and breathed deeply.

"Aye, lemme' help."

Rainbow Dash looked up at his offer and up to his face, the image of Nightmare Moon flashed leaving her mind. She rubbed her eyes and finally reached up with a tight grip. He was no stranger to a firm grasp and gladly gave it back. Cloud pulled back and noticed just how filthy Rainbow was once she stood up.

"Ugh, now I'm all fuckin' dirty." Rainbow Dash inspected her body covered in mud, "thanks a lot."

"Sorry,"

"Eh, it's ok. Shit happens." Rainbow said.

"Probably didn't help rollin' in it, huh?" Applejack said.

"Shut up, AJ." Rainbow stared at the growing smile on Applejack's face. Cloud leaned in closer, noticing what Rainbow Dash was up to.

"Don't listen to her, Rainbow Dash. She's tryin' to get under your skin."

Rainbow Dash ironically smiled, "uh oh..."

"Say that again to my face you-" Applejack's muzzle was covered by Twilight's hoof.

"Stop it, you two!" Twilight said before pointing at Cloud Strider, "Cloud, behave like you promised. Not even a minute together and we're already acting up."

"Twilight? Do you need us to come with you?" Fluttershy spoke.

"If it isn't too much trouble, Fluttershy. I'm sorry, it's getting late, I know." Twilight began leading the group through the town.

"It's ok. I'm glad to help." Fluttershy said.

"And you should be apologizing to Rainbow, Applejack. Give her a break, ok?" Twilight went around the group as a scornful mother figure with something to say.

"Right..."

Twilight cast a spell that absolved the group from the rain. The purple dome effortlessly shed the rain off of its surface in long, wavy streaks.

"Oh, thank you, darling! That rain was absolutely ruining my coiffure!" Rarity fluffed her hair.

"So, these are the ponies in all those pictures, Fluttershy?" Cloud Strider asked.

"Oh! Uh—Yes, they are. I've known Rainbow Dash since I was only a filly." She replied.

"Yeah, she seemed to be the star of a lot of 'em." Cloud said.

"Is that bad?" Rainbow Dash stared into his eyes.

"No, not really. Just shows how much you've been through together." Cloud stared back at her. "I mean, I owe her a debt for taking me into her home."

"N-No, no, that's ok. It was just the right thing to do." Fluttershy smiled.

Rainbow Dash soon broke off her gaze and looked elsewhere. He noticed how preoccupied and timid she looked after.

"How about you introduce yourselves you two," Twilight said. Pinkie Pie did not waste any time.

"Oh-oh! Me, me-me! I'm Pinkie Pie! I love making friends, throwing parties, making ponies smile, laugh, have fun, and to make sure ponies have a superific, extraordinary, spectacular day! And I love throwing parties! What do you like, Cloud?!" Pinkie Pie threw confetti in the air out of nowhere.

"Peace and quiet," He said, hearing Rainbow Dash giggle under her hoof.

"And, how did-"

"Just don't think about it," Rainbow Dash said. "And good luck with that peace and quiet thing."

"Yeah, seriously. Let's just say Pinkie Pie can do things that should not be possible. Like, they mess with 'the laws of time-space' kind of things. It can be called Pinkie Sense, Pinkie Logic, it's just Pinkie being, well, Pinkie." Twilight explained with a shrug.

"Noted..." Cloud nodded absentmindedly, the new scenery around him was the only thing that caught his attention. In the negligible lamp light radiating from homes and street lamps, the town looked cozy already. Many of the homes and buildings were made of wooden frames and gray brick covered in creamy white mortar. The steep gradient of each roof lined with wooden shingles and thatching bundled together. The wooden skeleton of every home cut through the mortar covered walls, giving the homes a beige trim. Almost all of the buildings were subtly overlaid with a variety of small, heart-shaped patterns.

'This is amazing! It's so much different than the homes I grew up 'round.' Cloud turned around completely before aiming forward again.

"What is this place called again?" Cloud Strider said.

"Ponyville, silly!" Pinkie Pie replied. She had a habit of bouncing up and down as her method of walking. He noticed just how second nature it was for her to be upbeat, no matter what was happening.

"Rarity, introduce yourself." Fluttershy said. Rarity looked at Fluttershy, causing her to recoil.

"My name is Rarity, that is all." She tilted her muzzle up in the air.

"Don't let 'er get under yer' skin, Cloud." Applejack replied.

"Feel good about that one? Too stupid to think for yourself?" Cloud Strider looked to his side as he felt Rainbow Dash float next to him. The tip of her wing constantly brushed up against his.

"Cloud Strider, that isn't nice..." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah, that really hurts ma' feelin's, Cloud. Say yer' sorry." Applejack frowned.

"Whatever gets you off at night." He replied.

"Damn," Rainbow Dash said.

"Ugh! Please, Cloud. Kinda' inappropriate." Twilight shook her head and everyone became silent after his comment. Cloud preoccupied himself seeing the blacked out town. The streets of mud kept Rarity busy by whining and complaining every step of the way. He was not fond of her acting out and neither did Applejack care for it. The lights dotting the street and the minimalistic thoroughfare nearly disappeared. The few ponies that braved the weather vanished long ago, now surrounded by darkness.

"Where are we goin'? Celestia said you live in a castle?" Cloud asked.

"Princess—Celestia. Not, 'Celestia'. Princess Celestia. Learn proper manners you animal." Rarity lectured, but Cloud found it important to stay quiet.

"He's from Norway, Rarity. He doesn't see the point in it and doesn't care." Rainbow Dash looked down at the necklace.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Rarity said.

"His culture is different than ours in Equestria, Rarity. It may be disrespectful to us, but it is really hurting anyone?" Twilight said.

"Besides, if you're so proper, then why don't you treat him with proper manners? What did he do to you again?" Rainbow Dash smirked.

"Damn, Rainbow."

"Well! I see where I stand in my group of so-called 'friends'. Hmph!" Rarity declared.

"Rarity, they're just bustin' your bal—I mean, chops. Even I can tell you that." Cloud said as he looked up at Rainbow Dash. She noticed his prying eyes after a few moments and started to fluster.

"Well, handle your own fights then, idiot."

Cloud Strider squeezed out a smile, "I guess you're gonna' call me that a lot, eh?"

"Of course, idiot." Rainbow Dash broke it in.

"And to finally answer your question, Cloud. I do live in a castle. Have you not noticed that enormous crystal tree?" Twilight said.

Cloud peered beyond the slithering path and was greeted with a grandiose display of inviting colors and lights. A looming tower of crystal shafts and entombed structures within the splendid wealth of beauty. Many flags and standards high above the roofs and turrets were emblazoned with Twilight's crest. Even the highest point on the castle had the unmistakable six-pointed star of Twilight's cutie mark.

As the path drawn to a close, the steps into the castle beckoned their arrival. Cloud Strider shuttered at the thought of the castle. He stopped and looked up high, feeling just how insignificant he felt compared to the marvel in front of him. Twilight's refined stride up the set of stairs pushed him to follow, her silhouette stopped before the door. What was once mundane turned into something of unparalleled grace standing afore her castle.

"Come on in, everyone." Twilight opened the doors, revealing the grand halls of her home. The inside matched the outside in beauty and everyone still reveled in its magnificence, if not more so.

"Every time I come here, Twilight. I always find something even more beautiful." Fluttershy said. Her voice echoed through the open, yet empty halls. He noticed that this castle had a more natural and inviting interior compared to the castle in Canterlot. The soft blue undertones and crystal pillars that uniformly set the place whole. Banners, window drapes, even the color of the sconces added to the serenity.

"Uh, thanks, Fluttershy. I mean, I'm still exploring the place too." Twilight closed the doors and locked them shut. He noticed Pinkie Pie whispering into Twilight's quivering ear, but he simply ignored it. Cloud felt the ground quake next to him. Rainbow Dash landed curtly and furled her wings as she bounced her eyebrows at him once. His gaze banked forward again as he stared at the luxurious foyer. The balcony that encased the open room above him was connected by an enormous single staircase barreling upwards. Just about everywhere he turned, another unending hallway was there.

"Here it is, Cloud. My new home." Twilight directed her words.

"Er-what did you say?"

"A little overwhelmed? Captivated?" Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes.

"You're stayin' here for now, Cloud." Rainbow Dash poked him in the side.

"I thought I was an idiot?" He replied.

"Yeah, but I think you should be The Idiot."

"Enough you two." Twilight knowingly said.

"So, you live here by yourself?" Cloud Strider asked.

"Well, you live here now too. And not to mention my dragon, Spike." Twilight genuinely smiled.

"Holy shit! Why do you have a dragon in your castle?!"

"Cloud, calm down! He's about the size of your head, hehe!" Twilight said. He heard her group of friends snickering at his expense, even Fluttershy was a little guilty.

"Hahahahaha! The look on your face. You're so embarrassed!" Rainbow Dash was nearly on the ground, hoof to her sides.

"Oh, that makes, uh, sense..." Cloud Strider said.

"Alright, come on," Twilight said.

"You're just ok with me staying here?" Cloud Strider's head was almost spinning.

'Fuck, what a day. Never thought I'd be livin' in a castle by days' end.'

"As long as you are generally good and listen to me, you're welcome to stay. I was going to list some ground rules but I think you're old enough to know right from wrong."

"I'm 24 if that's anythin'," Cloud replied.

"Wow, you look older than that." Rainbow Dash said.

"What?" Everyone looked at her silently, "what?! I'm just sayin'..."

"Thanks, Rainbow Dash. What a great compliment." He flicked his eyebrows.

"Well, let me show you to your room. If everyone could stay here for a second, I'd like to have a small meeting." Twilight received shallow nods in return.

"C'mon, follow me." Twilight looked behind her and noticed Cloud was glancing back at everyone.

"You're awfully quiet," She said.

"This is a lot of talkin' by my standards." Cloud Strider said.

"No, I mean you're sneaky. I didn't know you were this close to me." Twilight tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows.

"I'm not the most built pony there is. I gotta' use stealth to have a fighting chance." He responded, "lots of practice goes into that sorta' thing when the loudest objects on your body are your hooves."

'I wish he would smile more often than not. He has that look in his eye that tells ponies off, and I don't think he knows. Or he just doesn't care.' Twilight followed along and simply nodded.

"Almost there, it's the next right."

"So, I get a room? Like, my own room?" Cloud brought up the rear and closed the gap.

"Of course. You sound surprised," Twilight said.

"I haven't had my own 'anything' ever since I left Norway." He said.

"Ah, well I hope I can try to change that." Twilight knew that making a big decision such as that would weigh heavy on her too. She forced herself to take little steps in establishing a relationship and not overlooking anything.

'Little by little, Twilight. Level yourself.'

"Honestly, you just give me a bed to sleep on, I'd be just fine." Cloud snorted through his nose softly.

"Well, it's more than just a bed. I can tell you that right now." Twilight clicked the door open and turned on the lights.

"Yeah, you—uh, it's more than just a fuckin' bed alright. Holy shit." Cloud Strider walked past and entered the spacious room. The place was almost identical to the hallways just outside. The effortless flow of crystal mixed with the marble and the colors. He noticed how the crystal branches from the exterior snaked through the walls before giving way to the normal interior structure. Cloud peeked through the fissures and could just barely see the outside world beyond the crystal veins. A small balcony on the outside building was separated by a towering glass door. Each window was paired with small, banner-like curtains dyed burgundy and gold. There was a wall fitted with books that Twilight had no use for, along with a large stone desk. Therein lied his king-sized bed and his personal bathroom.

"Do you like it?" Twilight paced up behind him. Cloud swung around and finally looked at her.

Do I like it? For fuck sakes! Am I a king?! This place might as well be a house for some important pony." Cloud Strider backed up into the center of the room and stared about the place.

"Is it, comfortable? For you that is?"

"Yeah, it's great... Doesn't this just seem a little over the top? This had to be expensive." Cloud asked, "who lived in here before?"

"I was given this castle only a few months ago, everything you see was already here. And you're the first to stay in his room."

"Given?" He said.

"Y-Yeah, it has to do with all that Tirek business and whatnot. It's nothing, really..." Twilight studied the room with him.

"Doesn't sound like nothin', but I ain't gonna' pass judgment. That's your call." Cloud Strider unbuckled his saddlebags and started a pile next to the bed.

"Th-Thanks, I think." Twilight cleared her throat.

"Are you sure I get to stay in here?" Cloud Strider asked once more.

"Yes."

"What do I owe you?"

"Nothing... Well, I hope you can offer me one thing that is. And perhaps I can offer you something in return." Twilight shrugged and intently gazed.

"Hang on, there. Is that why you've been acting nicer to me?" Cloud Strider smirked, which made Twilight snigger back.

"Well, I-" She scratched the back of her head.

"To be honest? I really thought you were some villain trying to incite something before. But after what's happened in these past couple of hours, I don't really know if I can trust myself at the moment. You seem like a nice pony and I'm sure you are, but I personally think you look a little fragmented from reality. Not that I blame you. What happened to you is-is staggering and not many ponies in the world have gone through what you have. So, I apologize for myself and for my friends for treating you like an evil monster."

Cloud Strider leaned against the nearest bedpost and stared into her eyes.

"Don't worry about it, you wouldn't be the first or the last. I wouldn't blame you if you still hated me for somethin'. I've done some things, you know?"

"If saving one of my best friends is deplorable, then I think nothing you've done can top that, Cloud Strider." Twilight said.

"You can call me Cloud, remember? If we're goin' to be livin' together, might as well make it easier on ourselves." He answered.

"But, thanks for trying to make Rainbow feel better. You don't know how much that means to me. I'm sure she'll like the necklace." She gave Cloud Strider a respectful bow.

"Bowing to me now, huh?"

"It's the least I owe you. I can tell she appreciates it too. In fact, she's taken quite a shine to you. Out of all of us, she protects your own interests openly." Twilight replied.

"She's probably tryin' to make it up to me for doin' that stupid stunt." Cloud's mouth was dry after what he heard.

"Tusen takk," Cloud Strider nodded his head. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, but as I said before about owing me? You don't owe me for anything, understand that. But I was hoping you'd tell me more about yourself and where you came from. Your practices and beliefs, stuff like that. For example, the significance of that necklace you gave Rainbow Dash or that willow flute you played. I'd be willing to trade you knowledge for knowledge. Maybe teach you how to use magic?"

"You'd teach me for teachin' you? I mean, I'm not a fan of my magic." Cloud said, "I'll think about the magic thing."

"Of course, but just know that I can always teach you how to use it for good." Twilight watched him pull his shield off of his back. She stepped back a little once he pulled his sword out and flicked it in his grasp around his leg.

"Oh! geez..." Twilight tucked a foreleg to her chest and reared onto her hindquarters.

"Are you still afraid because of my sword?"

"It makes me a little uncomfortable, yes. Please, put it away?" Twilight hurriedly asked as he approached. Cloud turned the weapon around and held his sword by the blade, pointing the hilt at her.

"It's just a sword, hold it. It's only as dangerous as its wielder."

She slowly reached out with a shaking hoof and grabbed it, pulling it out of his hoof.

"Ahh! Dammit!" Cloud grabbed his hoof, speaking through his teeth.

"Oh, oh! I'm so sorry! Let me-" Twilight carefully laid the sword down. He held his hoof up and smiled.

"That's not funny! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Twilight paced away and rolled her eyes. Cloud picked his sword up and sheathed it properly.

"Just tryin' to ease some tension between all of you mares. I don't know how long I'll be here anyways." Cloud responded.

"Try to keep the jokes harmless? A mare like Fluttershy is super sensitive to those things." Twilight notably thought about what he said.

"And about that. You were expecting to get cured today, or hopefully in this case. What were you going to do if Princess Luna refused to help and didn't send you to live here?" Twilight noticed Cloud bit down on his lip.

"Uh, I was goin'-" He cleared his throat, "I was goin' to, uh."

"I'd—rather not say." Cloud Strider pulled his fur collar off and tossed it with his bags.

"I think I understand." Twilight was more than happy to stop him, "and what if you were cured?"

"Then I'd go home. Put this nasty business behind me and move on." He said, "but I'm not so good at forgetting or forgiving things to put it nicely. I hold grudges."

"You're just eatin' this shit up, huh? I've talked more today than I have in a long ass time."

"That's good though. It's stuff that's interesting and personal." Twilight stood in the doorway.

"Anyway, I've got to go and talk to everyone like I promised. I'll give you some privacy to move in, so... Good night then. Big day tomorrow." Twilight nodded rashly and nearly galloped down the hall. Her hooves faded out and he was bombarded by the sounds of silence.

"I thought she'd be a strict downer, but she's pretty fuckin' nice compared to some of her friends." Cloud slowly walked over to the door and looked both ways.

"I'm goin' to do some explorin' instead." He fiddled with the lights and finally switched them off. Setting out in the opposite direction as the door filtered into the dark room behind him.

Act I Chapter IV

View Online

Every time Cloud Strider roused himself from his slumber, he had to convince himself that reality was ever present. And every time he awoke, he stared up at the tapering ceiling with silence all around. He did not want to believe he was sleeping in a giant bed inside of an even bigger castle. He even tried tricking himself into thinking that everything was just a big dream planted firmly in his mind. Exonerated from his functions, Cloud laid in his bed without a purpose. Even if for only a few passing minutes to himself.

'Ech,' he looked outside through the looming balcony door.

"Rise and shine, idiot..." Cloud Strider slowly rolled out of bed and stretched. Getting from his bed and to the bathroom already became routine once he forced himself awake every day. His hoof scraped down his face as he wiped his eyes to see the toilet bowl and relieved himself.

"Eh-mmh." He glanced in the mirror and finished his business in the bathroom.

"I can trim later." Cloud paced out and towards the room door, knowing Twilight was already up and ready for the day. He glanced down at his hooves and noticed there was an envelope with a wax seal stamped onto it.

"Huh?" Cloud Strider picked up the letter quietly and looked around his bedroom.

"How didn't I notice these?" His eyes led him to an elegantly wrapped box nestled up against his nightstand as well. The letter seemed more important to him as the words "To Cloud" were beautifully written on the front.

Dear Cloud Strider,

How are you doing in Ponyville with Princess Twilight? I can only hope you have found time to relax and reflect upon your experiences, perhaps making a few new ones as well. Princess Twilight has kept my sister up to date every day by simply writing letters of you. My dear sister tells me what an interesting stallion you are and wishes to know more about you. Well, Princess Twilight's words, not Celestia's—but she is interested, if not more so. As for me, I am deep in study and I believe I am on the precipice of a discovery. A discovery that will determine what your path to being whole will be. It has also come to my attention that you have been remote and not exactly living up to Princess Twilight's standards. I understand this must be overwhelming for you, but try to talk to her about it. You are a foreigner to Equestria and it may be hard for Princess Twilight to see that, but consider the possibility. I must also confess my sincerities to how I treated you when we met. My standards sank once I came into contact with Nightmare Moon and I'm sure you know why. And before I forget, enclosed in the box is something that Celestia wrapped up for you. May it bring you good fortune, Cloud Strider.

With anticipation,
Princess Luna

Luna was not wrong.

"Well, I guess she's not a big fan of me snoopin' around the castle. Twilight really wasn't happy when I went in her room and rifled through everything. I didn't know it was hers for fuck sake, geez!" Cloud Strider had a laugh at himself. He folded the letter up and tossed it onto the nightstand. The letter was aesthetically pleasing, coupled with the dignified writing; something he wanted to keep.

'Wonder what's inside?' He sat down and tore apart the wrapping paper. The one thing that made him wonder was why the box was wrapped up nicely too.

"Hmm," his hooves lifted the flaps and he peered inside. "Woah..."

Cloud Strider pulled up a new set of saddlebags and a sword harness. They looked so new and unused, as if fresh from the artisan who created the equipment. He noticed there was a note at the bottom of the box.

'Synthetic leather traveling gear.' The note read. He turned it around and read the back.

'I noticed your bags were pretty well roached. Equestria has difficult views on the use of animal products and leather is considered a taboo in this country. They are yours to do with as you please, Cloud. We shall keep in touch.

—Princess Celestia'

"Damn, I must be pretty popular. Everyone's writing to me." Cloud Strider inspected the dyed leather and how it almost matched his coat. Metal buckles and loops attached to the saddlebags shone brightly in his eyes. The stitching was uniform and contrasted well with its white hue against the dark.

'I'll break 'em in later.' He set his present aside and trotted to the door, grabbing the finely written letter with him. The door closed fluidly behind him once he stepped out, hearing the echo bound across walls. He was accustomed to the silence and how it made him feel solitary. Twilight Sparkle tried to keep him updated, but she knew that word would travel fast across the land. He was forced into hiding; cloistered from the outside for the time being.

"Glad they don't know where I am..." He said. Cloud continued to trot along, not knowing where Twilight or Spike was in the castle. The foyer crested in front of him and the instant aroma of baked goods wafted through his muzzle. He changed his course and headed for the dining room. Long beams of sunlight cut through the halls, the windows without a scratch on them. Cloud could hear the unmistakable chatter of ponies fill the cool air.

"Definitely got company," Cloud twisted his head to the left and peeked into the room. A crystal table lined all of Twilight's friends and plates of food for anyone to dig in. Twilight ate peacefully and Spike waltzed in with a large platter of pancakes from the kitchen. He quickly noticed a new face suited with crown and adoration as he slowly stepped in. Twilight looked up and leaned forward, causing a stir in the room.

"Good Morning, Cloud. You hungry?" Twilight studied his frown but thought nothing of it. She knew his emotionless face was quite normal for him. Everyone looked at Cloud and put him on the spot, but he was more enthralled by the soft pink mare with a certain smile on her face.

"Uh... Yeah." Cloud Strider said.

"Sit down where ever you'd like." Twilight replied, "we need someone like you to eat all this food."

"Heh, thanks." He figured his sure-fire bet was with Rainbow Dash and sat next to her. A plate settled in front of him with pancakes and assorted fruits, it all looked delicious to him. He tipped his head to Twilight.

"Here." Rainbow Dash slid the pitcher of orange juice and a cup to him.

"Aye, thanks." Cloud poured himself a tall glass and dug into his pancakes methodically. Rainbow looked at him, as did everyone else still. He figured something was not right.

"Somethin' wrong?"

"No, Cloud." Twilight Sparkle signaled most of her friends to stop staring. "Cloud, I'd like for you to meet Princess Cadance. She's my sister-in-law."

Princess Cadance bowed her head with her gracious smile from before.

"It's so nice to meet you, Cloud Strider... That's correct, right?"

"Yeah, call me Cloud."

"A-And you can call me Cadance. Twilight and the princesses told me that you were defiant about calling ponies by title, but I won't mind. Even though it seems a bit rude, I'm not one for being treated with a higher respect than others." Cadance gave her full attention and nodded her head.

"Well-eh, thanks, Cadance. I assume you've been told a lot more than that though." He said as he drank his orange juice.

"Like you wouldn't believe. All these rumors going around about you being Nightmare Moon and whether ponies give you credence to the stories. I'm shocked that it's only been, what, five days? It's a good thing that ponies don't know exactly what you look like, so we think you're safe as of right now." Cadance swabbed a forkful of pancake into some maple syrup.

"So long as you don't do anything that will catch the attention of ponies," Twilight said.

"Yes, Twilight filled me in on a lot of who you are. At least, as much as she could squeeze out of you." Cadance laughed.

"Oh, haha..." Cloud rolled his eyes with a smirk, "just about every day."

"Well, speakin' of which. Tell us more about yourself, idiot." Rainbow Dash said.

"Rainbow Dash," Cadance looked at her.

"Nah, don't worry about it, that's just the nickname she gave me. I wish it was more clever though." Cloud Strider glanced at Rainbow Dash.

"Alright, I'll think of something "clever". Just you wait."

"Counting on it," Cloud said.

"But, could you please tell us?" Twilight tilted her head.

"Yeah, but I have a question."

"What might that be?"

"Why are you here, Cadance?" Cloud Strider watched her smile fade.

"Ah, well. I'm not sure if you know, but I wanted to come and apologize personally to you all for Shining Armor's mistake. I'm his wife and Shining is Twilight's big brother. So, I came here to try and clear things up." Cadance stated formally.

"Yeah, he's pretty lucky he didn't hurt anyone..." Cloud replied.

"I know, and I just feel awful about it. Even I can't help getting mad at him for that..." She furrowed her plucked eyebrows, "it will not happen again."

Cloud drank the last of his juice and blankly stared at the half-full plate in front of him.

"He's being punished I hope. I don't fuckin' tolerate criminals or mutiny, contrary to what you might think of me."

"Cloud! Language please." Twilight pointed to Spike who stared back at Cloud.

"Yes, Cloud. He's on home arrest for a month and he has to take a few training courses on subservience. After that, I'm going to force him to personally apologize to everyone involved." Princess Cadance listed off Shining Armor's punishments on behalf of his absence. Cloud nodded and noticed Rainbow Dash wearing the necklace.

"Alright, enough of this aggravating topic. Cloud, you promised to tell us more about yourself." Twilight said.

"I did, yeah. What do you wanna' know?" He prepared himself for an intense line of questioning as everyone began to look at him.

"Well, um. You said you're from Norway, but where did you live uh-exactly in Norway?" Fluttershy spoke among her group.

"In a village called Auvåg. Sorta' near the coast and on a flat plain of grasslands and forests. There were fjords everywhere and the mountains at our backs."

"How many ponies live there?" Spike asked.

"About 200 or so, everyone knew each other there. So if one pony had a problem, everyone had their back. Doesn't seem to be the case around here in this country."

"Give it some time, Cloud. All this just needs to blow over." Twilight said.

"I have a question. What did ya' do in Norway that made ya' come to Equestria?"

"Applejack, quit that." Twilight Sparkle kept the peace, "he came here to get help."

"Yeah..."

"Oh! What did ya' really do in Norway? Like, did you have a job or somethin'?" Rainbow Dash blurted just after finishing her stack of pancakes.

"Also, do you have anything in mind for a job or hobby around here?" Twilight added.

"One question at a time you two." Cadance put her hoof on Twilight's back, she being to the closest to her. Cloud Strider looked up at everyone and began to lean back in his chair.

"Doesn' even look like he's lifted ah hoof in his life." Applejack inwardly chuckled.

"In the long winters, I'd be on weather patrol. In the summer, I'd also work as a blacksmith's apprentice. You know, as much as I love smithing and learnin' what it has to offer, I can't tolerate heat worth a-uh, crap. Bein' around a white-hot forge all day is awful. You're angry, tired, covered in soot from head to hoof, it's great." Cloud filled his glass with more orange juice.

"Also, Luna and Celestia sent me some things." Cloud swiped the letter to Twilight. She picked it up and began reading.

"Weather patrol, eh?" Rainbow raised her eyebrows and simpered, "I'm the captain of the weather patrol around here."

"Really? Well, judging by the way you move, you must be really good at it, Rainbow."

"And how do ya' know that? Whata' you two been doin' together?!" Applejack crossed her hooves.

"'Cause I'm faster than him and more agile? Calm down, Applejack. Hehe, what were you really thinkin' over there, hmm?" Rainbow Dash glanced at Applejack wantonly. Applejack sat back in her chair, tongue in her cheek.

"Alright foals, that is quite enough. I'm trying to act polite for the scenario, but it's rather annoying." Rarity said. "And quite frankly, I'm surprised that Pinkie Pie hasn't done anything since we've arrived."

"Oh well, I just got a big appetite is all!" Pinkie Pie inhaled all of the food on her plate and the plate itself. "How else do you think I keep up all my energy?"

"What? I'm only the fastest pony in Equestria, don't ya' know?" Rainbow Dash stoked the coals a little more.

"Yes, Rainbow... You're the fastest pony in Equestria. I know; we all know. Well, except for Cloud because he hasn't been around long enough."

"Wow. Th-Princess Luna wrote this? And-and sent it to you?"

"Yeah? You look surprised?" Cloud Strider looked at Twilight. "Don't you get letters from them all the time?"

"She's never gotten a letter from her before. Uh, I think." Spike hopped up onto his small pedestal.

"Yeah, you should feel honored. She must've sent it without my understanding somehow. She may have given it to you while you were asleep." Twilight Sparkle carefully handed the letter back.

"Huh?"

"Princess Luna rules over the night and watches all who sleep. She probably read your dreams and delivered it personally." Princess Cadance said.

"Read my—is that why my dreams last night felt kinda' cozy, I guess?" Cloud folded the letter back up and tucked it under his wing.

"Hmm, possibly. But everyone experiences it differently. She makes sure that you have pleasant dreams when you rest deservingly. It's an elusive art that only she knows about."

"Ach, that gives me the creeps a little bit." He visually shuttered.

"Hehehe, I assure you she only has good intentions for it." Twilight mentioned, "what did she give you?"

"Well, I think Celestia gave me the present, but it doesn't really matter. She gave me some new saddlebags and a sword harness. Like, brand new too."

"That's great, Cloud." Cadance said.

"Looked like you needed it too. Those things were falling apart before." Twilight pulled over some pancakes for Spike to slaver over. She just laughed once he swallowed his food whole without even suffering any repercussions. Cloud Strider found the opportunity to eat the rest of his food and then some.

"How's that necklace treatin' you?" He looked over at Rainbow Dash who slowly realized he was talking.

"Oh, uh. Good." She looked down at her neck, "It's-ok, you know?"

"Take good care of it, yeah?" Cloud watched her nod.

"I will."

"Cloud Strider? You said you worked in weather patrols?" Cadance asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, Norway is farther north than most countries. Are the winters really dark or what?" She straightened her back and watched him.

Ye-Yeah. I didn't live that far up, but there was always a week or so that the sun would never rise. If you go further up north in the northern tip of Norway, you can experience the midnight sun and polar night. Seein' the sun in the dead of night is pretty cool if ya' ask me."

"I'd bet it is. I live north, but not far enough to see that certain phenomenon occur." Princess Cadance heard Twilight speak up.

"I don't mean to interrupt, Cloud. But have you thought about what you want to do here?" She said in hopes of receiving a clear, concise answer once again.

"Maybe we should wait until Luna has an answer, Twilight," Cadance affirmed.

"I know, I just want an idea is all."

"I could try to squeeze you into workin' with me." Rainbow Dash tapped her fork on her plate. "But I gotta' see what you can do first."

"Sounds fun, but I kinda' want to work on my blacksmithing ability. I've been wanting to make some things since I left home."

"Hmm." Twilight pursed her lips, "well, here's my concern. What Cadance said is true, we still don't know how long you'll be here. And how will you get the stuff and equipment to start doing those things?"

"I think joining the weather patrol is best, Cloud. It would not incur any risk or problems." Cadance declared.

"We'll see when Luna decides. Don't want to rush things along." Cloud Strider lowered his head slightly. Hearing everyone else share conversations in the background freely and without care.

"That's fair, but may we ask more questions?" Twilight asked.

"Hit me."

"Uh, Norse descendants. Are you from a family of Norseponies, Cloud?" Her quill and notepad came out of nowhere.

"What does "Norse" mean?" Spike blurted out.

"Yeah, you lost me there, Twilight." Rainbow Dash added. Cloud looked at them but did not mind. He knew they were eager to learn about him as a foreigner.

"A lot of ponies don't know." He said.

"Well, Norse is pretty much the language we use in Scandinavia, especially in Norway, obviously. So, yes, Twilight. My bloodline is full of Norseponies like most of the village I came from. They were Vikings from Iceland and migrated to Norway about a century or two ago."

"Amazing..." Twilight's mouth was agape, "Do you consider yourself one? A Viking?"

"Hard to say. We don't pirate like we used to back then or hold onto as many prolific beliefs because ponies change. It comes down to what you think and how you devote your life. There are-"

"Girls? Please. Could you at least listen?" Twilight's hoof rapped the table.

"Sure, silly." Pinkie said.

"I have been..." Rarity spoke up. "Please, continue oh barbarian."

"Stop that, Rarity." Twilight demanded.

"Like I said, There are times where I feel like I'm stayin' true to my roots, but I remember that there are some things that I do that go against it. But I don't want to go into that." Cloud said.

"That's ok," Cadance said.

"Also, that sword you have doesn't look like any sword I've seen. What is it?" Twilight asked.

"It's a Viking sword. It doesn't have a pronounced tip because it's typically used for slashin' due to its heavier weight, but it can still thrust effectively. It's not an Ulfberht, but it gets the job done."

"Ulfberht?" Twilight continued to write.

"They're these Viking swords with the name inlaid in the fuller. No one knows exactly who made them so they remain a mystery to this day. In fact, these things are so valuable and well-made that one intact could buy you a nice house and then some." Cloud Strider looked around at everyone in the circle. Twilight flicked her eyebrows.

"Wow, that's new."

"That much? R-Really? For a sword?"

"Not kidding."

"Geez, that's an expensive sword!" Pinkie Pie let her jaw drop, netting a few laughs.

"Well, that gives me some more material to research. Thank you, Cloud." Twilight Sparkle made her notes disappear away to someplace else. She glanced up at the clock and nodded.

"Alright, well. Guess I'll make myself scarce. You all probably want some mare time or somethin'."

"W-Whoa, hey. Where do you think you're going, Cloud?" Twilight stood up.

"Uh-"

"You're coming with us to the spa, Bonehead... How's that one?"

"Good one, Rainbow." Cloud stepped back into the dining room, "better than the last one at least."

"Also, what spa?"

"The spa in town. I figured that this would be a good time to test and see if ponies recognize you." Twilight helped Cadance gather the plates.

"And what would I even do there?"

"Well, you could get that haircut for starters. It's a little long for a stallion." Rainbow Dash stood, as did everyone else before her.

"Oh c'mon, Cloud. It'll be fun." Cadance trotted to the kitchen, putting the dirty dishes in a sink. He knew she was poking fun but really wanted him to relax.

"Not like I have a choice. Never even been in a spa before." He immediately heard Rarity gasp. It was no surprise to him given the circumstances of how much she valued beauty. She whispered into Applejack's ear and they started laughing.

'Cowards...'

"Well, don't keep me waiting."

———

"Ugh..." Cloud Strider adjusted his eyes to the newfound brightness and unrelenting heat, "always so damn hot in Equestria?"

"Just a big heat wave." Rainbow Dash took flight and hovered above everyone, "believe me, I'm not a fan of it either."

"Alright, let's hurry, then. Twilight? Where's the spa in Ponyville?"

He watched Cadance slow down and let Twilight lead instead. The group seemed scattered around the path into town, something he did not expect. Cloud caught glimpses of Cadance and Twilight happily talking to each other. He knew the two mares had history but his knowledge remained inadequate. The way they spoke to one another, their giggly and modestly animated attitudes forced him to wonder what they had. He looked up at Rainbow, but her tail kept brushing against his muzzle.

"Hey," Rainbow Dash noticed Cloud Strider follow her example. "Glad to see someone actually using their wings 'round here..."

"Yeah-yeah, I'm just not as conditioned as you. Call me an egghead or whatever you want." Twilight simpered at Rainbow Dash.

"And you don't get out much, either."

"I know, Cloud. But I prefer to work on my studies. Mmm, I probably should work on my flying though... But, I hope this trip to the spa makes up for it." Twilight caressed her muzzle. She tried to treat Cloud respectfully when possible, her jokes and playful banter were put on hold mostly.

'I feel like he'd take a joke seriously, I just need to play it safe right now.'

"Yeah, me too, Twilight. Being in The Crystal Empire all day really makes you forget a lot of things."

"It'll be fun, Twilight! You need some well-deserved R&R for working so hard recently. I'm sure dealing with him is rather taxing."

"Well, Rarity. Other than a few mishaps, he's been very well-behaved, mind you." She covered her mouth and giggled.

"Heh, hehe. Sorry again 'bout that. I didn't know that was your room."

"Don't worry, no harm done. It was kinda' funny when I walked in."

"I like funny things." Pinkie Pie jumped in front of Twilight.

"Sorry, Pinkie. It's a secret."

The road before them soon widened, and the tromp of their hooves caused a stir amongst the ponies on the sun-parched dirt. Cloud Strider noticed that townsfolk gracefully bowing upon their hallowed grounds. Groups stopped and secretly spoke, some starred vehemently and could not break their gazes. Many had never seen Princess Cadance personally and in public.

"Alright, act like a princess..." Cadance and Twilight forced smiles on their muzzles and gentle waves back. Rainbow and Cloud landed next to them, he did not want to draw attention to himself either.

"Keep on marchin'." Rainbow fanned her wings one last time.

'No kiddin'. These ponies look so brainwashed.'

"Don't worry, the spa is just around this corner." Twilight glanced about and directed the party down another walkway on the right. She then trotted to the left, pointing to a one-story building with a wooden sign reading "Ponyville Day Spa" in calligraphic writing. After losing most of the attention, they entered the spa with a feeling of relief. The cool air and relaxing aromas surrounded their bodies effectively. The inside was surprisingly formal but had a few country accents that made the place cozy in the small town.

"What a relief," Cadance moved to the side and let everyone group in.

"Hello?" Twilight rang a bell on the receptionist's desk. No sooner a pony's hoofsteps were heard.

"I'm so sorry, I had to check some-" The light brown mare immediately went wide-eyed.

"O—Oh! My apologies, Your Highnesses." She bowed deeply.

"Don't worry about it, you're fine."

"Wh-What kind of treatment would you like today? Are you all together?" The mare asked.

"Yes, we are." Cadance looked over at Twilight's friends, receiving mixed emotions. But her smile remained most genuine nonetheless.

"Cloud? Do you want to get your haircut or not?"

"Yeah, but it's kind of specific."

"That's fine, just try to explain it as best as possible." Twilight acknowledged the receptionist once again. "I think I can speak for everyone here that we'd like the daily special. He'll need a haircut on top of that."

"Alright, 97 bits please."

"Oh shit, I forgot my bits, Twilight." Rainbow Dash furiously shook her head.

"It's alright, Rainbow Dash. I've got everyone covered." Cadance pulled a large bag of bits from her magic and set it down on the desk.

"Uh, thanks, Princess." Rainbow bowed her head gratefully. He watched how she bowed and looked up at Cadance in her charitable mood.

"Thanks..."

'Feels good to be poor, doesn't it? Good thing Twilight is exchanging some of my kroner into bits.'

"Follow me, Your Highnesses." The mare happily smiled and led the group down a short hallway. There were plenty of spa amenities that came with the short walk. The main attraction was the open room with a large hot tub and sprawling chairs for relaxation. A few rooms were devoted to saunas and personal pedicures of the sort. Cloud Strider did not understand most of it, but he had been in plenty of saunas before.

"Here you are, ladies." The mare left the group in the open room, "and you... are right in here."

Cloud was led down a few doors and finally ended up on the right.

"Someone will be with you shortly. Just pick a chair and get cozy." Cloud looked at the earth pony and nodded.

"Thanks, miss." Cloud watched the mare trot out, leaving him in silence. He paced around the room and looked out of the window, seeing ponies go about their day. With friendly faces and cheer, they seemed to have no regard for a present danger just beyond the glass.

"Maybe this Nightmare Moon business blew over already... or maybe ponies just don't wanna' think about it." He shifted his attention towards the reclining chairs and sat down in one. Staring at the mirror revealed to him a side of his personality, but he knew it was no easy feat to express. He knew his limits; being a reserved, observant, and stubborn pony. Although he acted practical, he wanted to believe in sentimental values. Values that grew to become his crutch.

Unexpectedly, the door gently creaked open and Cloud's ears directed towards the only entrance. He whipped his head around and saw another mare walk in. Only this time she was a light cream color with a wavy, frosty white mane and tail. The unicorn picked up a pair of scissors, much like the pair that made up her cutie mark.

"Hi there, I'm Flawless Cut and I'll be cutting your hair." Her voice was uplifting and singsong the entire time she spoke.

"H-Hey, I'm Cloud Strider-" Cloud instantly stopped.

'Can anyone connect my name to Nightmare Moon?!'

"Oh! Well, glad to meet you. Uh, anyways, have you got an idea for what you want?"

"Eh-a little."

"Need some guidance? I've a few ideas, but I'll let you think while I get your hair ready." Flawless Cut turned the chair around skillfully and lowered his head into a washing basin.

"Woah," He felt his mane get combed through as well as his tail.

"Relax, you're already a little tense."

"No one's ever combed my hair—O-Other than my parents, that is."

"Well, now. I guess that includes me too, eh?" Her citrusy magic grabbed the shower nozzle and unleashed the full torrent of warm water into Cloud's mane. He let his body actually relax, breaking down his ever-present guard for someone.

"Now you're gettin' it."

"I didn't expect a haircut to be, relaxin'. I'm not one for luxury, I guess. But it feels good as much as I hate to admit it." Cloud looked directly at Flawless Cut.

"Nothin' to be ashamed of, hehe. You think the spa is only for mares?"

"I mean, yeah, a little."

"Oh don't worry. There are plenty of stallions that come here to get pedicures. Yeah, surprised?"

"Yeah, but what is a pedicure?" Cloud Strider inwardly laughed.

"Wow, you're really new, huh?"

"Yeah, no joke about that." Cloud Strider felt the chair swivel back around as he faced the mirror once again.

"Now, about your hair." She tapped her muzzle.

"I want my mane to be undercut with a small bit of hair left on the sides. And I know this is asking a lot, but could you braid my mane and tail? I-I want it in a tight, thick braid right up against my scalp for a little under halfway and let the rest of the braid move freely."

"Uh, I mean-"

"It's ok if you don't want to, I could probably braid it myself."

"No-no, I'll do it. So you want that tail to be a single braid and the mane too?" She watched Cloud nod.

"I've never had such a strange request before, hehe. I think it has potential." Flawless Cut gently pushed his head straight and began cutting. After gliding through and making his mane more workable, she grabbed the shears.

"Where did you grow up? I've never thought of a haircut like this."

"Nor—Finland."

"Whoa! You're far from home. Isn't Norway around there?"

"Yeah?..."

"All these rumors are going around about someone that came from Norway as Nightmare Moon or something. I don't believe any of it, but isn't that strange?"

"Yeah, it is." Cloud Strider avoided her gaze. She continued to shear through his mane, but she stopped. Cloud controlled his breathing and looked at her through the mirror. He was ready to act if need be.

"Wow." She gawked at the side of his head. Cloud noticed the sides of his mane were cut just right, leaving just a little more than just stubble.

"This scar, w-what happened?"

Cloud turned his head to see it, "oh, right."

"I was attacked by a manticore about seven or eight years ago." He studied the unsightly scare that ran along the side of his scalp partially.

"Ouch..." She continued to make a few final adjustments, lifting his mane up and back to his neck. She quickly dried his mane and began braiding it against his head.

"That good?"

"Yeah, just right." He watched her tactile hooves lay the foundation for her magic to complete the repetitions. It was thick like he requested and it soon detached and dangled freely.

"Alright, I left a little on the end with no braid. I'll put something on to keep it from unraveling." Once she did, she moved onto his tail and began replicating the same thing.

"Aye, long as it get's the job done, it's fine with me."

"I don't have a problem with that, but I want to make sure its good for ya' at least." Flawless Cut pulled his tail taught and continued to create tight coils.

"Almost done here." He nodded at her words and looked at the gray band twisted around the end of his braids.

"There, all done." She stood back, "like it?"

"It's great. It's-it's just like how it used to be..." He played with his braided ponytail somewhat and smiled. He rested it on the right side of his neck and stood up.

"I have to say, it's startin' to grow on me. That's the first time someone wanted their hair like that."

"There's a first for everything." Cloud diverted his gaze towards the door, seeing another pony walk in.

"Well, thanks, miss. Puttin' up with me isn't easy, I know."

"Hehe, no problem. Come back if you need another cut or somethin'..." She cleaned up some of the mess and gave him a winsome smile in return. He exited the room at his own pace, going back the way he came from.

'I hope they're still in the same place.' Cloud Strider took a few more bounds and peeped around a corner. He did not hear anything in the open room and eavesdropped in on a few closed rooms, but he turned up nothing.

"Damn, that feels great." He felt the air sweep over his mane and partially exposed scalp. Cloud sighed in relief once he was able to see everyone in the large room resting on the chairs.

'What the fuck? Are they awake?' He stepped up closer and momentarily looked at them before sitting down. There were a few ponies tending to their hooves, but some were just sitting and now chatting somewhat. He did not lay down as they did, finding the idea a little odd to him.

'Relaxing doesn't come second nature to me. How can you be so carefree?'

One of the ponies noticed him and walked towards him.

"Are you here for a pedicure?" The timid silence was broken as everyone looked.

"Uh, no, no thanks."

"Who-o-oa. Nice hair, dude. Hahaha!" Rainbow Dash did not even try to hide it. He looked up with confusion.

"Don't like it?"

"It's weird. But, you know, you're pretty fuckin' weird already."

"Rainbow..." Twilight prodded Rainbow's sides, "you could at least pretend to be nice."

"Don't sweat it, Twilight. This is how I did my hair back home all my life. Feel's good to have it going again."

"Point taken, Bonehead."

"Well, I didn't expect to see that at all, hehe!" Cadance chuckled, "I—I'm so sorry, I can't help it."

"Don't worry, Cloud. You look good." Fluttershy looked at Rarity in the corner of her eye, silently laughing. Applejack steadily remained speechless upon seeing his hairstyle, not exactly caring all that much.

"I wasn't sayin' it's bad, it's just a strange haircut is all." Rainbow smiled by design, getting a rise out of Twilight. "It... fits."

He smirked, abstaining himself from ruining the best compliment she had for him.

"Relax, Cloud. It's a spa for a reason, you know?" Cadance closed her eyes.

"Hehe, letting my guard down is hard for me nowadays."

"You'll be ok, Cloud. No one's gonna' hurt you, I Pinkie Pie Promise!" Pinkie began to cross her chest, but the lack of coordination in her muscles caused her movements to slur into some jumbled up mess. Cloud Strider tipped forward and glided his hoof over his head. He grumbled, and once he finally began to lean back, he was stopped.

"Holy shit, Cloud. What's that on your head?!" Rainbow Dash stirred everyone up again.

"Huh? The scar?"

"How long have you had that?" Twilight's voice seemed somewhat concerned, revealing something potentially crucial to his identity.

"I was attacked by a manticore about eight years ago. Bastard dug its stinger in me right before I sliced the damn thing off. Oh man, I chased that thing for a mile when he ran off before realizin' how bad the gash was. I was barely able to make it home before passin' out from the venom and loss of blood."

"Well, uh, you're here now. So you must have done something right..." Twilight cleared her throat and looked back at Fluttershy to see if she was reacting negatively. Fluttershy bided her tongue and let it go, seeing Twilight looking at her.

"Surprised you're even still standin'..." Rainbow Dash was shocked.

"Uh, Cloud?" Fluttershy spoke up, "how are your wounds from, Canterlot? A-Are they ok?"

"Yeah, they're all pretty much healed up. I think there was somethin' that Celestia did, who knows."

"Ok, good." Fluttershy watched Cloud Strider get up and wander around the room. He examined the pieces of abstract art and wall decals before pacing up a small set of stairs. A frothing hot tub lay in the center of the marbled platform puzzled together in an effective pattern. He carefully dipped his foreleg into the water, feeling the steam and bubbles surround his leg.

'It's too fuckin' hot outside for this right now, but it feels kinda' nice to the touch.'

"You can go in there, Cloud. If you want to."

"Oh! Yeah, go ahead." Twilight waved him in as she inspected her hooves, "I think most of us are about to get in anyway."

Cloud looked over and slowly stepped in, letting the water inch up his legs and body soon after. He leaned back against the molded seat in the shell and abandoned his pursuit of vigilance. The perfect mix of heat and the tingling sensation to come after it forced him to relax, if only for that insignificant moment in his stunted existence.

"I'll... I'll only be in for a few," Cloud Strider forced himself to stop yawning.

"Uh huh,"

"Don't worry about it, Rainbow." Cloud left his head on the marble stage, closing his eyes. The water ungulated around his body and the surreality of the situation settled into its place. His reality shattered once he quickly opened his eyes, propping his head back up.

"Huh?"

"Wake up, sleepy head." Cadance's voice cooed as she smiled.

"Did I seriously pass out?"

"For about five, six minutes." Twilight stood above him and grinned, "We didn't want to wake you, you looked so peaceful."

"You were sleepin' away like a little foal." Pinkie Pie beamed.

Cloud Strider got to his hooves as everyone began sitting in the water. He climbed out and wiped his eyes.

"Wait, wait! Don't shake yourself dry." Twilight grabbed a towel, "c'mon, Cloud. It's ok, really."

"I'm just disappointed in myself for letting my guard down." Cloud dried himself with the towel.

"Letting your—there's nothing wrong with that, you're alright. Even if something tried coming in to get you, we wouldn't just let it happen."

"Where's the bathroom? I just need to clear my head, ok?" Cloud looked to the ground and sighed.

"Calm down, Cloud. Breathe." He listened to Twilight's words.

"You need to realize that you don't just have yourself anymore, ok? You don't have to take all of the burden like you used to."

"I know, alright?!... It's just, old habits die hard for me, I can't help it." Cloud Strider stepped down from the stage.

"You'll get there, I promise—The restroom is the first left right there." Twilight watched him walk away lethargically, putting the underside of her hoof over her mouth and gently shaking her head.

"I'm worried about him. He-He needs to learn to get back into society." Twilight turned around and sat down in the water.

"But how can he get back to normal if I have to keep him in the castle because of his Nightmare Moon thing? On top of that, I'm afraid of what he can do and what he can do to others." Twilight scanned the room for anyone lingering about.

"Don't worry, Twilight. I think I can tell he's tougher than most," Cadance patted Twilight's back. "He will find a way. Just think about Princess Luna and how she had to adjust back into society again after all those years. I mean, she still struggles with a few things to this day even. You're doing an excellent job. Just tell him or try to connect with something he feels personal about, give him a push in the right direction."

"I just... I don't know. Maybe this is something I can't control for once."

"Don' know why you'd think you can control pure evil, Twi. He's bad news."

"I must agree with Applejack, I do not fraternize with ponies that have something to hide." Rarity crossed her hooves.

"Why? W-Why are you two so stuck up your own asses? I'm pretty sure everyone has their own secrets." Rainbow Dash leaned forward and stared right through their acts. She was drawn a blank, stupefied by the words oozing from their gullets.

"Rainbow... come on."

"What? You're criticizing me for calling out their bullshit?! Seriously, Twilight?!"

"Rainbow Dash, that's not at all what she meant." Cadance tugged her back prudently. Rainbow Dash subserviently complied without ease.

"Why are ya' protectin' him? You of all ponies."

"You damn well know why! What did he ever do to you?!"

"He's puttin' my friends in jeopardy, that's what. Ah can tell what a fat, disgustin' liar he is!"

"Girls! Stop!" Twilight grabbed both of them with her magic and forced them to sit back down. Waves of water splashed out of the tub, alerting the workers at the spa.

"I'm sorry, I'll clean that up soon." She proceeded by casting a spell around the platform, bubbling everyone inside of a sound-proof transparent sphere.

"You two need to keep your voices down! We're trying to keep his identity a secret and you two blowing your tops doesn't help! Applejack, I don't understand your hatred; the same goes for Rarity. Rainbow Dash, I know you're trying to make it up to him, but blindly protecting him isn't the answer." Twilight's sudden bout of anger caused the bubble to disintegrate almost immediately as she began to speak. She felt that it was not even worth it at that point.

"Wha- Wow, don't even start with that shit, Twilight. You're not the one who was on the receiving end. You seriously couldn't stop your brother from being a complete donkey?! You were right there and you watched him throw that fuckin' spear at me..." Rainbow Dash could not be redder in the face than she was at that moment.

"He pushed me down and it really threw my magic off! I didn't know what he would do if I stopped him!"

"Welp, there it is. Keep strokin' that ego of yours, Twilight."

"That has to be the most hypocritical thing I've heard come out of your mouth, Rainbow."

"See this? He know's he doesn't have to do anythin'. He can just rip us apart by bein' 'round!" Applejack hysterically flung her hooves around.

"Oh Geez, everyone's mad, huh?" Pinkie Pie received no response.

"Please, everyone. Please stop this senseless bickering!" Rarity stood up from the water and dried off. "Obviously, I will not be doing any relaxing today. My apologies."

"Rainbow, do you have something to say? Anger like this doesn't come out of nowhere for you." Twilight Sparkle forced herself to think carefully. She could read Rainbow Dash easily given previous experiences with her. Crossed hooves, no eye-contact, crimped ears, the hurt frown; they all came together.

"No..."

"I want to know what's wrong, ok? Look, I'm sorry for taking the high road. But I know you have something on your mind, please tell me." Twilight looked beyond her previous words but knew that Rainbow Dash was not acting normally. Rainbow clumsily hugged herself, now visibly shaking.

"N-No..."

"Dashie, you don't look so good." Fluttershy messaged Rainbow's neck.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not, spill it." Twilight barely squinted at her. Rainbow slumped and rid her lungs of breath in one motion.

"I—I just." Rainbow Dash wiped her eyes, "I can't sleep at night..."

"'Why not?"

"I'm... I'm scared, ok?..."

"Scared of what, sweetheart?" Cadance held her still.

"Because, because-I nearly died. I've only slept a few hours a night, a-and I can't fucking stop thinking about what woulda' happened if he wasn't there... I keep havin' flashbacks with the-the spear h-hitting me. There, ha-happy now?"

All of her friends were dead silent. No one wanted to move but they wanted to comfort her as much as possible.

"No, Rainbow! I'm not happy! That's, that's just—terrible!" Twilight left her mouth gaped just enough.

"Why didn't you tell us, Dashie?" Fluttershy carelessly hugged Rainbow Dash.

"I wanted-to be a r-role model for everyone..." Rainbow avoided contact at all costs but found herself and everyone else dragging themselves from the water.

"He's not a-as bad as you th-think," Rainbow Dash's words carried weight.

Cloud Strider pulled his ear away from the painted white wall, letting it flop. The words in his mind could not formulate clearly into expression as he sat against the wall.

"Huh..." His eyes drifted down as he bit hard on his lip until it was raw. He wanted, needed to remind himself of pain in his stale body. Sequestered by law and the will of the world. He was a muddy hoofprint on the pristine bathroom tile. Cloud mindlessly put his ear back up against the wall.

"Rainbow, please don't cry."

"You're a great role model; the bravest of us all."

"Uh, s-sorry for yellin', Rainbow."

He heard everything just to cheer her up. He heard what he was doing and he knew. The thoughts of them were filled with trepidation in his ailing mind. Cloud watched the casting shadow of ponies walking by, making him stare up at the window. He got from his haunches and walked over, finding the latches unlocked. His head stuck out as his wings lifted him down to the ground. A few ponies stared at him, gawking at either what he did or the estranged hairstyle he bore. He walked along the street, making sure nobody was around him. In front of him, merchant carts lined the street with almost nobody around. Casually, he strode by behind a merchant stall and slipped two bottles of mystery booze with him.

'Jeg kommer til å trenge dette.' He spread his wings and propelled himself high in the air with one stroke. His listing eyes glared at the castle, beating his wings feverishly towards his goal with the necks of bottles in his maw. Cloud Strider landed hard but did not feel it at the moment, grabbing the door handle and pulling it open.

The sounds of his own hooves filled his ears as he climbed to the top, making quick work of closing the distance. He watched Spike ogle at him but soon realized something was wrong.

"Hey, Cloud? Where you goin'?" Spike scuttled to the mouth of the hallway and watched him keep going. Cloud walked into his room and grasped the first thing he saw. He dumped the contents of his bags on the ground, picking up his prized possessions, even if they had no value to others. The bags flung across the room, items shoveled into his new bags for keepsake.

'They're at my beck and call.' Cloud strapped down, tightening the harness around his underbelly and chest. He stuffed his collar into his bag and trotted out of the room, even closing the door behind him out of courtesy.

"Whoa!" Cloud Strider felt something strike his hooves. He dipped his head and saw Spike frightened, looking up at him directly with a cowering set of claws in front of him. He stepped back exchanging direct stares, trying to gauge and analyze each other in still beating moments. The only thing he thought was how much of a monster he was to everyone, and it showed on both of their faces. Both stark and terrified.

"Hey..." Cloud gingerly helped Spike up, letting him bound back some. Cloud Strider paced by Spike but stopped halfway down the hall.

"Tell Twilight I'm goin' away for a little bit." Pulling taught his sword harness ruptured the clunking and clinking of his gear.

"Whe-Where are you, going?" Spike slowly fell behind, hearing Cloud Strider go down a few steps. He walked to the door and closed it behind him, now back in the boiling fields abound and seeing no signs of Twilight or anyone else. Cloud forced himself to slow down, feeling that his previous actions were hastened too much. Trotting over an embankment and towards the copse of trees he scoured ahead methodically. He wanted to beat his wings and soar into the air but was even denied that comfort.

He brushed past the low-lying shrubbery and scattered trees, passing the village by and surrounded by hills and frosted mountains beyond. But oddly enough, he was drawn to the Everfree Forest. Something knawed inside of him, telling him to go there and find what he was seeking. It was inborn once it called to him, at his ropes end he had nothing better to do and heeded the call.

Cloud Strider pulled his legs up another hill. The smell of breathing woods and the comforting stemming creek rested at the foot of the hilltop. He immediately recognized where he was once Fluttershy's cottage revealed itself to him. He trotted down the hill, keeping his balance in check if he needed to slide instead. Cloud crossed the dirt path, eyeing Fluttershy's house and how different it looked in the sun's light. It looked alive.

Cloud stopped and stared ahead, feeling a certain chill permeating from the forest. Trees croaked and shed their leaves for the coming fall, shutting down more as days went by. Letting his eyes see into the forest, he found a crack in the shell. He trotted and parted a few branches blocking his entry, watching the snaking path wind through the forest. Hoofprints deeply gouged into the dirt and faced the opposite direction from him, forcing him to examine what was ahead of him. What was still missing.

"These are mine..."

———

"Is that better, Rainbow?"

Fluttershy, much like everyone else, sat around Rainbow Dash. They all wanted to make sure she felt safe and comfortable in her time of need. Rarity just came back with a warm towel in her magic and draped it over Rainbow Dash, but she shook her head no, only to thank Rarity. Applejack came back with a glass of water as requested and gave it to Rainbow. She guzzled it down before Applejack could even sit. Once she looked cared for, Twilight stepped away and cleaned up the water on the floor. She thought and thought but could not come to a conclusion, getting mad at herself for losing the battle against her emotions.

"Need anything else?"

"No, I'm f-fine." Rainbow Dash felt chagrinned for how she was acting in front of everyone. She buckled down and forced her emotions back inside of her. Twilight glanced at her after quickly cleaning the mess and shook her head sympathetically. She jumped and swiveled her body around.

"Hey, Twil-whoa!" Cadance raised her brows and stepped back.

"Sorry-sorry, Cadance."

"A little on edge, huh?"

"Yeah, how can I help it right now of all times?" Twilight sat down in a chair and massaged her temples. Cadance looked up at Rainbow Dash and how ragged she was. It took her a verbal fight and argument to finally see that Rainbow Dash was not well.

"Did you know about this, Twily? A-About Rainbow's problem?" Cadance turned back.

"No... I didn't have a clue."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the only time she was acting out was right after the incident. Other than that, she's been fine. Acting fine that is... This isn't something I feel will go away in a few days, it's really messing with her. Everyone faces death in a different way."

"Twilight, I know you're telling yourself that it's somehow your fault. The way you're talking and the way you look right now. You couldn't have done anything—I know you were capable of stopping him, but you didn't want to hurt your brother. Oh, th-that came out wrong, uh-"

"No-I, I understand what you're trying to say... Don't worry." Twilight peeked up at Cadance after she tenderly rubbed her back.

"Listen, you just worry about making her forget this nasty business. And I'll make sure no one knows what's going on with this whole Nightmare Moon stuff, yeah?" Cadance winked and suggestively pointed her horn towards the spa staff.

"Thanks, Cadance. Sorry for this trip being ruined for you."

"We still have the entire day to spend time together, things happen." Cadance stood up and nudged Twilight to follow through. Twilight Sparkle walked away apprehensively, only worrying about pleasing Rainbow to feel better. There was a brilliant flash behind her, but no one seemed to notice what happened or who it was. Twilight sat down after almost everyone began to give Rainbow her space back. She dropped right next to her, slowly looking up into her voided eyes and giving Rainbow a short-lived nuzzle.

"Rainbow, if there's anything you want that'll make you feel better, tell me."

"Twilight... I'm fine, ok?"

"No, Rainbow. I want you to try and move on. I know you're hurting but you have all your friends here to help you get better. You shouldn't have to hide your feelings from everyone because you think it's a sign of weakness."

"But-I,"

"Shhh, no, Rainbow Dash. It shows that you're alive. You're not weak because you would never allow that for yourself." Twilight turned her head completely, waiting for Rainbow to respond.

"I guess so... I don't feel like it though." Rainbow Dash hung her head low. She had stopped her rogue tears and tried to look more masculine in front of her peers.

"Oh, come on. That's not the proud Rainbow Dash we all know. Besides, I know you'll bounce back. You always do." Rarity remained chipper in everyone's trying times.

"Yeah, I mean. You've done lots of dangerous stuff. More than I can count!" Pinkie Pie cheerfully smiled, "you're a thrillseeker. It's what you do."

"I-I know Pinkie. It's just this time felt, different. My life was in someone else's hooves other than mine. I think that's why I'm freakin' out. I didn't have a choice or control."

"And it's natural to feel that way." Twilight chuckled. "You know? Cloud Strider told me something about you a few days ago."

"What'd he say?"

"He told me how stubborn you were after you two had that fight in Canterlot. He said you were hardheaded and self-deprecating just like him. But he also said that it doesn't matter if you're weak or strong, the only thing that matters is how much heart you put into your purpose. And that you have fire running through your damn veins. His words, not mine."

"He said that about, me?"

"He really said that, Twi?" Applejack seemed somewhat skeptical, but no one else questioned her after all.

"Uh, yeah? Of course, Rainbow." Twilight nodded happily, seeing Rainbow Dash slowly coming back.

"Th-Thanks, I remember he said somethin' almost similar after that too." She raised her head and glanced around briefly.

"Where is he?"

Everyone inclined their heads, looking around sharply for any signs of him.

"Now that you mention it, he's been gone for an awfully long time... I hope nothing's wrong." Fluttershy stood up and addressed the group fully. Cadance flicked her ears and confirmed her new objective, pacing to the bathroom doors and putting her ear up to the stallion restroom.

"Cloud?" Cadance knocked a few times, "are you in there?"

She waited for nearly a minute and still did not get any response. Cadance opened the door and walked inside; she immediately noticed the window was wide open.

'Crap.' Her stomach twisted and wretched as she scrambled to the window, looking both ways outside. Cadance spotted a group of mares standing at the corner of a building just across from the spa.

"Uh, hello? Excuse me." The mares automatically gave Cadance their complete attention.

"Of course, any—anything you need, Princess!" Each mare spoke over one another.

"Did you ladies see a pegasus with dark blue fur and a mane with a large braid?"

"Was it a stallion with a strange cutie mark, Your Majesty?" One of the mares became the voice.

"Bingo."

"He went that way towards the castle, looked like he was in a hurry."

"Thank you very much." Cadance heard them abide but did not have the time to bow her head and wait as she was already out of the bathroom.

'Well, this can't be good. Not at all can this be good.'

"Hey, did you find him?" Twilight stood up and stepped closer to Cadance.

"He's gone, Twilight. I asked some ponies where he went and they said he went to the castle!" Cadance made sure that her voice was on a lower volume.

"What?! When?!"

"I didn't ask. We should get there now."

"M-Maybe he's not feeling well?" Fluttershy simply asked.

"Y-Yes. C'mon everyone, let's get to it." Twilight pumped energy into the group as everyone affluently stood ready at the charge.

"I'll teleport us there, we shouldn't waste any time." Cadance seamlessly cast the spell in a matter of moments, no one could even recollect that it even happened. The group barged through the entrance door, rushing up the steps and into the grand foyer.

"Spike! Spike?!" No one responded.

"Why did he leave the spa?" Rainbow Dash puckered her brow, "he wouldn't just hop up and leave like that."

"That is rather strange, Rainbow. Even if I don't exactly mind it, it is discerning." Rarity flaunted her mane with a gentle flick while Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

"What, you know 'em so well or what?" Applejack gave out a mellow sneer.

"Ugh, whatever. I don't know him that much..."

"Rainbow, you've been talking to him every day you get the chance to," Twilight smirked with a knowing face plastered on. "It's like your new favorite pass time."

"Nuh uh..." Rainbow Dash watched each set of eyes dig into her.

"Ok. Maybe I have been talking to him. But if you think we're like, really good friends now or whatever, that's a bunch of hooey."

"Well, you know him better than us. Any ideas where he went?"

"I told you, I don't know. He keeps a lotta' things to himself."

"Don't we all..." Cadance shallowly phrased. The group continued to call out Spike's name while Rainbow Dash suddenly got an idea. She slipped away from the clamoring and trotted down a hall.

"Rainbow Dash? Where are you going?" Twilight paced forward.

"To his room."

"Ok, then. Just look for anything." Twilight heard Spike's voice bellow in from behind her.

"Spike! You're ok!"

"Yeah-eh. H-Hey! Cut it out!" Spike protested against everyone hugging him.

"Did he do anything to you?" Rarity frowned deeply.

"I assume "he" means Cloud, right?" Spike politely brushed his scales and inspected his claws, receiving a wide range of agreements.

"Uh, no. He did push me down, but it was an accident and he helped me up. He looked like he was in some big hurry."

"Is he here? Did-Did he say anything or-" Twilight felt someone silence her pointless ramblings.

"He said to tell you that he's going away for a while?" Spike clicked his claws on his mouth and studied their individual faces. Everyone had a subtle freight mingled in their eyes and mouth.

"Something tells me that's... bad? He was kinda' freakin' me out, the way he was acting."

"We don' know yet, sugarcube."

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash turned the knob on Cloud's door and pushed in hard.

"You have some fuckin' nerve to-huh?" The sudden gust of air and pressure change blew the curtains around, along with the letter that Luna had written to him. She picked it up and set it down where it was, looking at the room right after. Rainbow left the door wide open as her hooves idly paced deeper inside.

"All of his stuff, is gone?" She unraveled the bedspread, hoping to find his sword or anything she could go on, telling her that he wasn't gone. In the corner of the room, Rainbow Dash spotted his old saddlebags and quickly opened them.

"What the-" Rainbow reached in after giving it a foolhardy search, finding a small journal bound in flax linen and cord. She only glanced at the book and deliberated the worn saddlebags further.

"Ah!" The bag thumped to a dead stop further away from her. Rainbow jolted back and wiped her hooves on the floor.

"Shit... That's leather." Her sudden panic attack also caused the book to fall at her hooves, landing on the pages. Her eyes caught wind of something peeking out of the parchment. Deft hooves swiped the small booklet in her grasp and she turned it over.

"I don't think he'd want me to," With prying eyes, she had already taken enough looks from the corner of her eye to break an unexpressed oath. "I mean, maybe he won't mind?"

Rainbow Dash did not know what she was looking at, looking a few pages ahead of the severely creased center page with a noticeable gap. She could not read a single word; everything was written in Old Norse. Even trying to phonetically sound out anything notable came out plain idiotic and silly, even by her standards. Rainbow was glad no one could hear her talk all by herself.

"I wonder what he's writing about?" she decided to look into the folds and opened the middle. There were no words, no explanations or anything that she did not have to understand. The two pages both had a drawing. The left page had the drawing of a village steeped in tradition, surrounded by mountains and abundant pines, alders, and ash. But the other had only the sights with no charcoal village in the center. Although it was not expertly drawn, the latter looked smudged and dashed with flecks of water damage.

Rainbow Dash carefully handled the piece of cardstock barely hanging from the pages now. She flipped it over, not exactly expecting much from it. She wanted something to clarify what was before her hungry eyes and strange thirst for knowledge. What she was greeted by was far beyond what she expected and prepared for. Unknowing of what was going on with her emotions and the warmth running the course of her spine, Rainbow scrutinized with the faintest hint of approbation staining her muzzle.

A light purple unicorn stood jovial on the right pane. No cares in the world in the very moment, captured in a permanent stasis of memory. A light blue pegasus stood proudly on the left with his large hoof atop a third pony's head who beamed with delight and exuberance. The adult stallion had various symbols of consecration looped in his knotted mane and tail, more than Rainbow could count. The purple mare had her hoof wrapped around the stallion maddeningly while he had a sharp eye on the excited colt below him.

Rainbow Dash allowed her mouth to hang on its boney hinges.

"Is that?—"

"Rainbow Dash?! What is taking so long?!"

Rainbow Dash heard Twilight's voice cut through the air, along with the sounds of hooves drawing near. She darted her eyes around, looking for something to hide the booklet. Without exactly thinking quickly, she stowed it under her preened feathers and locked up tight, just as Twilight entered.

"Rainbow, I called your name like ten times? Are you ok?" Twilight went up close to her, ready to console if need be.

"Uh... yeah. I'm just confused why he left."

"Oh, don't worry. I think it's in his nature to have a lot of alone time. Cadance is trying to locate where he is right now because, you know, all that dark magic that's going on." Twilight gave Rainbow a hug, she shifted her wings around, making sure Twilight did not feel what was under them.

"He's a tough bastard, y-you're right. I'm sure he's fine but it doesn't really answer my question." Rainbow Dash stepped away from Twilight and signaled her hoof around the room.

"Why did he pack up and leave?"

"We'll find him, Rainbow. Now c'mon." She paced to the doorway but stopped, "are you coming?"

"Why do you need me?"

"Are you crazy? Rainbow Dash, I know you're not feeling confident in your abilities right now, but we need you more than you realize."

"I'm not well, Twilight. That experience really fucked my head up."

"Stop that, ok? I can see you're hurting and I'm sorry. Please, we need someone who knows him to try and talk to him. He trusts you more than any of us as far as I'm concerned." Twilight clenched her teeth and sighed deeply.

"You're a leader, Rainbow Dash. I may be an alicorn and a figure of power, but you're the greatest leader out of all of us." She noticed Rainbow's ears perk up.

"You have aspirations that I would be afraid to even think about."

"Don't bullshit me, Twilight."

"Why would I do that? I'm serious, everything I know about leadership and bravery comes from you... I know this isn't going to bring you down, not that easily." Twilight Sparkle watched as Rainbow Dash pecked the ground with her hooves. She thought for the answers to the questions ringing in her mind without end in her conscience.

"You really mean it?" Rainbow Dash roughed her neck and dawdled her head around. "You really learned all that from me?"

"Well, yeah. I'm pretty sure everyone here does."

Rainbow lowered her head with an endearing smile, wiping her eyes nonchalantly as her legs motivated her to move.

"You egghead, you're makin' me act up." Twilight rolled her eyes and smirked, her eyebrows leveled and suggestive.

"Let's both agree that today's been really crummy, yeah?"

"Yeah, what a crappy day..." Rainbow closed in, feeling the book snuggly resting in her wing. Twilight closed the door behind Rainbow and started down the inordinate passage of crystal. The silence made Rainbow think about how she acted before in front of everyone.

"Twilight?"

"Yes, Rainbow?" She glanced back at her.

"Did you mean what you said?"

"Yes, I said that already."

"N-no-no. At the spa. You said I was tryin' too hard to make it up to him and gettin' my priorities mixed up in all." Rainbow Dash caught up and paced by Twilight's side. "Did you mean all that?"

"Well... I can't just lie to you like that, Rainbow. It looks a little shallow of me to say that, but yes."

"I didn't know what I was doin' was bad. I just thought-"

"Rainbow, that's just my opinion, ok? I feel like you're trying too hard is what I want you to think about."

"H-How else can I ever repay him? I owe him a life debt, Twilight. I'm not a pony who goes and doesn't pay what I owe. I really don't see any other way I can make it up to him." Rainbow and Twilight neared the junction point of all of the stemming hallways, hearing ponies talking amongst themselves in mixed confusion.

"I know, I know, believe me. But have you even talked to him about the incident ever since that night?"

"Well, I, n-no, not at all..."

"Talk to him about it, tell him how you feel and what you can do to thank him. Alright? I mean, you should know him better than me, but he isn't all that he's cracked up to be, right?"

"Yeah, o-once you get to know him, he isn't that bad of a pony. Others might disagree. Fuck, lotsa' ponies would definitely say no. I mean, don't tell anyone about this, but I think he's kinda' cool. Seriously, not a word to anyone, Twilight."

"Hehehehe, your secret's safe." Twilight masked her muzzle as she giggled. She steered ahead and noticed Cadance sitting down at the bottom of the staircase.

"Sit tight, let me see if she knows where Cloud is yet."

"Alright, we really gotta' get moving though." Rainbow Dash entered her group of friends continuously speaking about something she cared little to understand. Twilight tipped her head and stepped across the rug.

"Any luck?" Twilight nudged Spike to the side, he went to the other side of Cadance hurridly.

"He's near, it's just really hard on my love magic, you know?"

"Just give me a general location of where he might be. We'll find him, Cadance. He doesn't have a firm grasp on advanced magic that I know of, so he won't get far."

"Yeah, his dark energy doesn't really keep him hidden quite well, does it? Hehe."

"Ugh, you think it's bad now? All that energy sometimes wakes me up in the middle of the night when it intensifies. Well, either that or Spike's obnoxious snoring."

"Hey! You know I can't help it." He felt Cadance's warm touch cross his scales with an almost condescending pat on the head.

"Oh, you know I'm kidding. Gotta' try to keep spirits high one way or the other... I only wish that we can find him as soon as possible."

"If dark magic was not so fickle, I'd of found him by now." Cadance felt herself shiver. "Speaking of which,"

Twilight leaned in and crooked her ears forward.

"He's in the Everfree Forest somewhere, there's a lot of energy centered inside." Cadance shook her head and stood up quietly, allowing Twilight to help.

"Why is he going there of all places?" Spike anxiously tapped his head.

"Everyone, come here and get ready. I need you all to be on alert." Twilight beckoned her friends to come forth.

"I guess we will just find out, won't we?" Cadance replied behind Twilight's back who addressed the situation.

"What's the matter, Twilight? Did you find him?" Fluttershy poked through between Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

"Sort of. Cadance says he's somewhere in the Everfree Forest, so I need everyone here to be on the lookout for each other. We all know just how dangerous of a place it can be, but we need to find him before he does something."

"Like what, Twi? What would he do out there other than gettin' himself hurt?"

"Well, you just took the words out of my mouth, Applejack. Think of this like a search party because that's exactly what it is: a search party. C'mon, I'll explain to you what needs to be done on the way there. Spike? Hold down the fort while we're gone, please?" Twilight was not joking either, and teleportation seemed to be her best quality. Before anyone in the group knew what had just happened, the callous heat suddenly altered their sentiment of pleasant warmth. And the outskirts of the thick forest wavered in the winds only a stone's throw away. Spike did not even get a chance to say anything.

"Really, Twi. You gotta' warn us before ya' go teleportin' us someplace."

"Sorry, but there isn't time to waste."

"Twilight, you gotta' calm down. He can handle his own, you know?" Rainbow Dash looked around the forest's edge and how it stretched on.

"No, I'm worried about what he's doing."

"So, you don't—trust him?"

Twilight chewed on the inside of her cheek, "I guess so. I don't know what he's capable of, none of us do. I'm sorry if that upsets you, Rainbow."

"That's fine, it's not like you're the only one. I think everyone has their 'ifs' about him." Rainbow Dash simultaneously searched for a clearing to enter. "We should hurry like you said, Twilight"

"Right, right. My bad. Fluttershy? Do you know the forest well? Could you show us spots Cloud might have gone to?" Twilight watched Fluttershy turn her head and nod.

"Rainbow Dash, can you fly over and scan the forest from above? I know how good you are at aerial reconnaissance and we really need someone on the front."

"Uh, yeah, sure." Rainbow tensed her wing muscles tremulously of the task given to her. The book smothered even deeper into her down feathers and blue fur.

'What if they see me take the book out? Are they gonna' question me?'

"Alright, I'll just—go stretch real quick." Rainbow Dash picked her hooves high as she trotted behind the group, waiting for everyone to look forward or talk idly. The moment presented itself surprisingly fast and she professionally put the book between the teeth, making sure she was not getting saliva over it. Her friends noticed Rainbow's shadow soar over as she flew high above the trees.

"Rainbow Dash! If you don't know where we are, yell for us!" Rainbow Dash heard Twilight hollering at her, making her stop with a book in her mouth. She nodded without turning around.

"I'll give out signals every now and then, stay safe!" Twilight Sparkle continued to yell, even when Rainbow Dash was out of sight and fleeing over the treetops.

"Alright, let's go."

———

'Ah, shit...'

Cloud Strider breathed in his surroundings and could not make any sense of it all. Everything around him looked so familiar that he started to develop a mild headache. If he really was lost, he knew what had to be done to get himself out of his hole. A myriad of insects croaked and chirped in the stagnant, sultry air. His very steps echoed through the brambles and thorny vines that grappled onto anything sturdy. The path that lay ahead had opened up rather well; the coarse grounds were printed with hoofmarks that were definitely not his. In fact, they looked deformed and different than what a pony would leave behind.

He noticed the trees ahead of him began to open and splinter in the sun's rays, forcing him to trot to the edge of a steep inclined cliff. More trees covered the bottoms of the land as he followed his eyes up to the horizon. Withdrawn from the living world and detached by a merciless and bottomless glen, he could see where his path was taking him. It definitely piqued his interest far beyond his expectations. The ruins of an old chateau or castle now completely overgrown and rotting away. He knew it in his mind that he had to check it out.

With a watchful eye behind him, he prepared himself for a little flight once more. Adjusting the fake leather straps of his equipment and rolling his wings, the skies looked clear for take-off. Cloud Strider gained some momentum and galloped towards the edge.

Without so much as a warning, something flew over in a colorful streak, bolstered by the sharp cutting of the air that grew in decibels.

"Rainbow Dash." Cloud dug his hooves in the dirt and stopped himself from jumping off. He frantically looked behind him, backing up to the edge of the clearing. It was not hard to know who was leaving those contrails once he followed their path.

'Fuck, she's comin' in for another pass!' Cloud watched the prismatic colors dig left over the outskirts of the forest. His wings spread naturally as he forced himself to leave, sliding down the inclined rockface. He controlled his descent, sending loose rock down with him. And with a leap of faith, he pushed against the surface with his powerful hind legs, gliding speedily through the path well below the taller trees. Rainbow Dash deathly flew over, as silent as the night itself and scanned the precipice now behind him.

'I reckon their already tracking my movements, no way they could've figured it out without their magic.' Cloud Strider knew he was not going to make it to the ruins and seamlessly landed with a gallop. The trail slithered around bends and small embankments until an old rickety bridge impeded on his progress. Its state of dilapidation—much like the ruins right after—egded on imminent collapse.

Testing the bridge proved daunting as his hoof caused a board to slip from its knot. Cloud glanced back at his equipment and knew that his weapons hindered his ability to actually flap his wings for flight.

"Rainbow Dash! Where did you go?" Cloud Strider flicked his ears back. Twilight's voice ricocheted from the various surfaces.

"Right here, haven't seen him yet." Their voices were far, but not far enough. Most of their conversation was murky right after. He turned towards the bridge.

"No reason to worry now..." He pushed himself to go for it, stepping onto a few solid planks with a boisterous creak. As the ropes pulled taut, so did his nerves. He hopped to another plank and stepped across another gap. The glen below his hooves looked absolutely desolate; filled with chilling fog and a bottomless existence.

A loud snap came from behind him, causing Cloud to swivel around carelessly. The bridge continued to crackle and threads of rope frayed and separated. Cloud continued to stare at the path behind him, waiting for someone to emerge from the shadows and see the sorry state he got himself into. He took in a deep breath and carefully unfastened his shield, throwing it towards the trail just barely. He buckled and slipped on the bridge, hearing another vicious snap as the ground quickly ascended.

"Ugh!" Cloud Strider tried prying his hoof from two planks pinching his leg tightly. "C'mon, loosen up for fuck sake!"

Finally, the ropes went slack and he freed his hoof. But he collided with the side of the small canyon, blurring his vision with the impact and debris. He was able to lurch away from the sides and fly down slowly, not being able to see anything in front of him clearly in the process. Hearing came into play. And fortunately, he had acute hearing from his years alone on the road. The gentle swaying of his wings and the air gave him guidance.

"So it does have a floor." Cloud's hooves reached for the ground and landed with an immediate stop. After clearing his eyes and head, he finally had the chance to look around. There was something close, something that glowed and shimmered with luminescence under an overhang. The ruins hung dreadfully near the ledge with bunches of low-hanging moss clinging to the sides. But the giant glowing object was too much to ignore.

The fog began to clear up around him, beating his wings as he pulled out his sword. He instantly sheathed his sword as a giant crystal tree came into his view. Surrounded by razed stalagmites with scattered rosy blossoms resting on top. The sparkling lights and brilliance showed on his face, eagerly stunned with captivation. He nearly tripped over one of the roots, but he quickly trotted up close to the bulbous tree trunk. The markings were clear and finely chiseled into the crystal shafts. All of the fine hues of blue and purple attributed to the sun and moon markings seemingly without their natural colors: they were dull. But he stepped back.

At the center was a giant six-pointed star colored in purple, sprouting other large branches around it.

"Wha-What is this..." He pointed out five other colored stones on the tips of the branches. They felt familiar, yet, unsettling to his stomach. "How-"

Cloud Strider retreated back into the fog, feeling the scathing beauty of the tree burrow itself deep in his mind.

'That feeling... It's, It's gettin' stronger than before.' He looked above and spired up to the ruins, landing inside of a large hall. The roof collapsed slowly over the years as a lot of the stone piles were covered with moss and lichens.

'I wonder how old this is. Why is it hidden away from the world?' Cloud Strider mindlessly walked deeper into the crusty ruins filled with corridors and balconies. Everything was faded and lackluster compared to its speculative days of old. 'Or who lived here...'

The rooms began to slur into darkness away from the heat and sun as a wave of cool air washed over him. Incessant dripping of shadowy water and the stout echo that followed suit felt almost claustrophobic. He gazed up at the standards hanging stalely and started to put the pieces together. One side of the grand hall bore the colors of the sun and the other side basked in the colors of the moon. Two thrones cemented in time were crumbling and without leaders, the dual colored rug was torn and partly missing. He looked to his left and sat down on the throne with the blue banners, finding it only fitting. Cloud was amazed, the castle had to be centuries of years old at it still retained a certain serenity anywhere his eyes landed.

He continued on his exploration, resorting to his magic to create a ball of light around his leg. The hallways could go on forever and there were so many doors, but he continued to trudge. A doorway presented itself on his left with a small trickle of sunlight at the end. He trotted down the hall and entered a vast courtyard overgrown by nature. Small saplings, grasses, piles of washed up leaves, and a felled tree propped haphazardly against a busted turret and crumbling wall. Something else caught his eye as he went along the stones. There was some roofed structure connected to the courtyard, lying beneath a few stone steps. It had no walls, but the view was rapturous.

Cloud Strider could see for as far as his eyes could muster. The castle ruins were situated on a grassy plateau separated from the forest. He looked to the east, seeing a glittering river run through the lowlands and grassy fields cover the vast expanse. Railroad tracks cut across a line of trees on the river and a road traveled due south closer by.

"Hey..." He lightly stepped down into the room and found all sort of tools he knew too well. It was a smithy packed with everything he needed to work with. He picked up a peening hammer and looked at the rusted anvil and lonely forge. He simply nodded and gently put the hammer back, leaving the courtyard back to its natural state.

"Cloud?! Please! If you can hear me, say something!" Twilight's voice carried over the ruins once more.

'They probably thought I fell. Good.' Blackened hallways greeted him once again. There was a set of steps leading up into the lofts of the castle, feeling the sensation grow deeper. But as luck would have it, he was sidetracked again by another discovery. Entire bricks were strewn across the staircase as someone had dug a way through the wall on his right. It looked recent as well with a pickaxe laying nearby. A narrow crevice descended into the ground with wet steps carved into the stone. He could barely fit through the pathway it was so narrow. It did not take long to squeeze into a small room somewhere under the castle. There was a black pedestal in the exact center where on an object would have fit snuggly inside of the basin.

Cloud Strider slowly looked down. He could see through the floor and the crystal tree was right under him. Cloud even leaned down and noticed there was a small shard of something sparkling on the floor; a sliver of what was once whole. Even in the absence of light and movement, the shard glimmered on its own. He put it into a pouch in his bag, still staring at the large tree situated right below the pedestal.

'What is this for?' He decided it was time to get out. He threw the pickaxe inside and piled the bricks into the hole, creating a large pile that could barely stay up.

The staircase soon began to spiral upwards instead and he knew his path was true. His immutable heartbeat and adrenaline pumped hard, his twitchy ears throbbed painfully.

"Dammit..." The light near his body began to flicker terribly, even after he channeled more of his concentration to keep his only light source alive. His motives were taxing on his body, reaching his limits of how long he could hold a simple spell. With a static discharge, the spell collapsed in on itself, forcing Cloud Strider to glaze over. His vision wavered as did his legs. He sat down on the steps just to catch a moment's respite; passing out was not an option, especially when he felt something surging through his body.

"Don't turn... calm down." Cloud breathed but the energy welling up inside of him tried to coax it out.

"Nice try, bitch." He took out his canteen right next to one of his pilfered drinks and only drank a few sips, enough to moisten his throat as he closed his eyes tight. Pushing himself over the top in both his condition and the weather would only spell disaster for him. He put his water away and uncapped the mystery bottle, tasting its liquid contents with a few big gulps. It was smooth and buttery, it tasted of his favorite candy that he could consume religiously: toffee.

"Savin' that scotch for better times then..." Cloud sat up against the central pillar for the staircase, feeling the cool and humid air hash it out on the steps. He looked up the steps in the darkness, hearing something echo somewhere around his figure. Whatever he heard sounded rhythmic and hollow. Deciding it was time to keep moving, his satchel bag clicked securely as he faced the source of his irrationality. His steps spread out, hearing just how slow he was moving. Any amount of his of previous methods of "calming down" were instantly forgotten. Light peeked through at the top, seeing a large doorway bathed in light. He lightly poked his head around the corner, but there wasn't anything or anyone in the broken room.

Pillars, rubble, broken windows, the smell of mildew filled his nostrils. The room bellowed and catcalled as the wind carefully blew in from the shattered windows. Parts of the stone wall were missing and filled with gaps, most of the building was not structurally sound. Layered plinths were set at the end of the rectangular room, they were largely round and short. Cloud stepped inside, avoiding the glass and loose bricks as he studied the walls. He flew into the air and wiped off layers of dirt on a fraction of the wall, finding elegant etchings like the ones he saw in Canterlot.

But he quickly took notice that there was something more to the room. The floor was different, but not just different, there was a unique shape scorched into the stones. Certain portions of the floor were lighter and colored a dull white while the rest of the floor was grayed out. Cloud landed hard and stood in the middle of the white ring bleached into the floor. There were six nodes evenly spaced out in the circlet and absolutely no deviations in its form. A double helix shot out from the ring and ended its twisting motion into a starburst effect. It lashed against the ground in ribbons, leaving a gray silhouette of a body in a submissive position.

"What happened here..." He took a big step back, taking in the full picture. The very spot where the silhouette lay stunted his nerves. It was cold and devoid of humanity, whispering to him in forlorn wisps of black. Cloud Strider sat down next to the burned figure and simply stared at it, actually feeling, seeing his eyes blur. He rubbed his hoof on the marking, finding that the bottom was covered in a black residue that clung onto him easily. And it reeked of malice.

Cloud slowly looked to his left at the doorway, his hoof stayed suspended in the air. Rainbow Dash appeared from the darkness, not knowing he was looking directly at her for a few moments. He noticed a book in her mouth, seeing her jolt in place when she noticed him. Rainbow dipped her head and cautiously approached him, she knew what this place was and shuttered to think why he was there. Confused and frustrated, he coupled his hoof to the ground with a low growl.

"Leave me alone." Cloud suddenly heard her stop.

"W-Why did you leave?"

"Because I wanted to, what's it to you?"

"Uh, because we're worried about you? Don't be an asshole about it." Rainbow Dash walked closer. "Why did you leave? Give me an answer."

"Hehe, you wanna' bet on that?" Cloud stared into her eyes, but she was not afraid to push back. "You and your friends are just out for themselves."

"Why are you so fuckin' mad, huh? Why did you ditch everyone? I'm not gonna' play around with your bullshit, Cloud!"

"I was bored and left, big fuckin' deal. Why do you even care?" Cloud stood up and faced her.

"Eheh, excuse me? Nice little stunt at that bridge there. We only thought you fell and got hurt. No, no big deal. Packing up and going out here by yourself without even sayin' anything? Nah, no big fucking deal!" Rainbow pushed the book into his chest, making him stagger backward.

"You forgot something you dense fuck. I kept it hidden from everyone so they wouldn't want to see what was inside. I figured, "hey, Cloud values his privacy, I'll show him what a good friend I am!" Guess I was wrong about you giving any shit about me... I looked inside, I'm sorry. I'll forget everything I saw..."

Cloud gazed down at his booklet, seeing Rainbow's teeth marks printed deeply into the cover.

"Tell me somethin', was going out of my way to talk to you every day and hang out with you enough to make it up to you? Because all I wanted to do was repay you and be your friend."

Cloud Strider watched her walk away slowly, actually stunned over what she did to him. Nonetheless, he was not surprised in the least bit possible. He felt his face glow red hot and tried to shake it off.

"Rainbow-"

"Piss off."

"Rainbow Dash, just listen-"

"You wanted to be left alone, so shut the fuck up and be alone." She shook her head now hanging low. Cloud ground his teeth sharply and furiously closed his eyes. He felt his magic spark up, welling up in his mind with the overwhelming feeling of trepidancy.

"Rainbow Dash!" His magic peaked and he was sent directly in front of her in a bright blue flash of crackling light. "Just listen to me for a fuckin' minute, ok?!"

She fell back onto her haunches, clutching a hoof to her chest in a mild state of perturbation. Cloud looked at his hooves and body, wondering if what happened had actually just happened.

"Did I just-"

"Yeah..." Rainbow Dash inspected his front side, "I'm listening."

"Ok, just... You're barking up the wrong tree, Rainbow. Whatever your tryin' to gain from this; a friendship or "repaying me" like you said? It isn't worth your time and effort. If you don't believe anythin' I say, believe this one shred of advice I'm givin' you."

"Is it too much just to be your friend to talk to, Cloud?! That's all I wanted! I think you're... you know, kinda' c-"

"Cloud?"

"Shit..." He turned his head and watched the rest of the group shuffle in. But the look on Twilight's face made his stomach churn dreadfully. A mix of anger, fear, and confusion overloaded her senses, showing as a malformed mess on her face.

"Cloud Strider, what are you doing here?" Cadance had lost her warm tidings and projected pure contempt towards him. She glanced around the room and felt her heart go into overdrive.

'Why here of all places?'

"It called to me, I don't know why." It became apparent that there was something about the room that freaked everyone out. He could see it their eyes.

"This isn't a time for jokes! Ya' had no right ta' runoff like that ya' varmint." Applejack appeared behind Twilight and paced directly up into his face.

"Don't do anything you'll regret... Just because you're a mare, doesn't mean I won't swing back." Cloud barely leaned in and lifelessly glared into her irises. "Tread carefully."

"Applejack, ease off." Reluctantly, Rainbow Dash stepped in front of him with a whisper and guided Applejack back to the group. "He's not kidding."

"There you go again! Protectin' 'em for no—damn reason! Wake up, Rainbow! We talked about this!" Applejack felt Twilight's grasp pull her back just a little more. She grabbed Rainbow Dash and pulled on her leg bruskly.

"Hey! Don't fuckin' touch her!" Cloud ripped Applejack's hoof away. "At least she's kind enough do what you can't!"

"I'm still pissed off at you, Cloud. If you think this is an apology, you're way off base."

"You may be mad at me, Rainbow. But I'm not mad at you. Take it as it is." Cloud Strider stepped away from the group slowly. "The truth is? You all have the right to be furious with me right now. I'm only here to tear you all apart like Applejack said."

Everyone exchanged worried looks at each other in mass confusion. Something felt strange as a litany of questions quietly edged into their minds.

"Did you, did you hear?-"

"Those walls are paper thin. I heard everything you guys said. From Rainbow Dash crying about how I nearly costed her life and Applejack's talk of how I'm separating your friendships. Are you really afraid of me like that, Twilight?" Cloud Strider addressed the group that now seemed somewhat embarrassed.

"Oh, oh Cloud, I-w-we didn't-" Twilight tried to explain on behalf of her friends but Cloud Strider stopped her.

"You don't have to explain yourselves. Applejack has truth in what she says, you know? I'm a fuckin' shallow jackass who is inconsiderate of others like yourselves. But you don't understand why I'm like this! It-It's not like I want to act like this because it's the only line of defense I have left! It's the only way I can protect myself from getting hurt again. No one matters to me because no one cares enough about me, that's why I don't care about anything. And as far as I'm concerned? It'll be that way until I leave this world where no one knows I still exist... I wish I could explain what makes me like this, but I just don't have it in me to do that anymore. My life is tired. I-It just needs to stop." Cloud Strider looked at Rainbow Dash, immediately looking at each other.

"This is why I said you shouldn't try to be my friend, Rainbow. I'm unpredictable and I don't give a shit about what happens to me. And if we are friends? Don't be surprised to find that I've packed up and moved on one day. A friendship makes that ten times harder for the one putting in the effort." Cloud's breath shuttered with anxiety as he tranced off outside beyond the broken glass.

"So were you p-planning on leaving, now?" Rainbow paced only inch closer.

"Yes... I can't be responsible for ruining more lives."

"But, but-but, Cloud. Your treatment! If you leave, you'll never get better! Y-You'll only get worse! You're not going to ruin lives."

"You're right, but the more I think about it, I more I think that I was forced into undying fidelity with Nightmare Moon for a reason."

"Cloud, think about what you're doing. You're throwing away your life if you leave." Twilight desperately tried to reach out to him.

"There have to be some in the world to do this, Twilight. Maybe I'm supposed to be the one that suffers so no else has to."

"You haven't even been here a week! You can't just walk out now!"

"Sorry..."

"I don't believe that for a second, Cloud. I believe that no one should have to suffer for something so horrible like that." Cadance spoke up. "You need to stay, ok?"

"Please, today's been rough on everyone. Give it another chance." Twilight heard a few voices timidly speak in subtle agreement.

"But I'm worried that I'll do something bad. What if I turn into her? It's h-happened before and I don't know what comes after." He was greeted with cold silence for only a few moments.

"Uh, d-don't worry about that. We've all had our fair share of saving Equestria. I think we can do it for you too." Twilight put on a brave face.

"I'm not kidding. If I turn without control, don't be afraid to use everything you have to stop me. Even if killing me is the only option."

"Killing you is not an option because it will never come down to that." Cadance went up to him and held her hoof out. "I think you dropped this."

Cloud Strider drifted down at the shield he dropped. He flipped it over and inspected the integrity of it, bashing it against the ground with just enough force. He quietly snorted and smirked slightly. "I guess you're right."

"We thought you fell into the ravine, Cloud. We thought you got hurt."

"Yeah, I heard you yelling, Twilight. Rainbow told me too. W-When she was yellin' at me, though." Cloud slowly fixed his shield to his back, his purpose quickly coming into question. Cloud Strider walked towards the end of the room, knowing that prying eyes were ever vigilant upon him. Scouring the crusted stone at his hooves, he examined the white objects burned into the ground and its end product.

"Cloud? W-What are you doing?" He ignored the question and examined the compliant figure within the purity. "Please, just come back here."

"Why is this spot... bitter? And cold? It just feels so unnatural." Cloud Strider looked at the group of ponies with fearful expressions. As if they expected something bad to happen at that very instance.

"Uh-uhh. Twilight made some s-sorta' spell there."

"Yeah! Yeah, it kinda' got a little out of control, and-"

"And I had to, use my alicorn magic to help her."

"It got really bad, I was lucky to even come out alive! Hehe. Shows how much I need to be careful." Twilight made a shit-eating grin on her muzzle, trying to seem somewhat embarrassed in the process.

"Then why do you all look like, oh I don't know, like you're shitting bricks?"

"Well, we just don't like being, uh, reminded of it." Cloud played along and hummed to himself, looking back down at the marking.

"But, that didn't-" Fluttershy's muzzle was instantly covered by Twilight's leg, keeping her hangdog facade up and running.

"Ok..." Cloud walked back begrudgingly without being fully satiated in his quest for answers. They were acting strange and he knew getting a concise answer from them would prove impossible.

"Soo?..."

"So what?"

"Are you goin' to stay or not, dumbass?" Rainbow Dash carefully raised an eyebrow.

"Depends. If I have to stay outta' everyone's way and walk around on hot coals, I don't see the point in staying."

"No, no, no. You don't have to do that." Twilight lamented Applejack and Rarity for their recent behavior with a flashy but subtle glance. "Besides, If you can handle Rainbow, I think you're more than capable of staying around with us. There's so much more about everyone you're looking at that you haven't seen yet. And I know it's a daunting task to be in a different land you're not used to, and I'm sorry I cannot relate."

Cloud Strider went even closer to Twilight's bipolar ego. One minute, she was terrified out of her mind, and now she was consoling with uplifting undertones. She kept going on about what all this could mean for him and how things can change in an instant, only for the better.

"Twilight?"

"I promise th—huh?"

"Shut up." He held his inclined crooked hoof out, "don't break this Norsepony's promise."

"Uh, oh!-"

"There's an Old Norse Proverb that comes to my mind: 'No better burden can a man carry on the road than a store of common sense.' Going back out there is a nightmare in itself. It's—uncertain. Frankly, it really, really sucks to put it nicely. You think you could give me another chance then?" Cloud scratched his bearded muzzle and tilted his head. Twilight politely shook his hoof at an awkward angle.

"No, your-doing it wrong..." Cloud rolled his eyes and smirked. "It'll have to do."

"Of course we will. Just a little mess up, it's ok." She mirrored his expression quite well. "C'mon, I think we're all tired of this weather."

"Alright, I just need a minute. You go ahead." Cloud Strider watched Twilight nod and enter the freshly sprouted gaggle of her friends.

"Don't stay long, Cloud. Please." Cloud Strider went along with Twilight's simple plea of minute urgency. Cadance curtly bowed her head. "Thank you, Cloud."

"Uh, Don't mention it..." Cloud Strider chugged down more of his canteen and barely gasped for air. "Uh... Rainbow? Can I talk? T-To you?"

She stopped, turning around with speed on her side. "What?"

"What you did, with the whole book thing, that was really nice, so. Thanks. If I left, I probably woulda' never realized until it was too late."

"Eh..." Rainbow dropped her head with a coalescing sigh. "You're welcome."

"Ech, I know you're mad at me for all the right reasons. But you never had to do all that stuff to make it up to me. You woulda' done the same, right?"

Rainbow Dash looked back at him but did not open her mouth.

"It didn't occur to me until you called me out on it just now, but. I never expected us to be, ermmh... friends?" Cloud sheepishly pursed his lips.

"Cloud, I-"

"The truth is, I like talking to you. I like that you don't have a filter and you tell it how it is."

"Cloud, let me-"

"So, if you're so invested in being around me in all. It's a dick move for me to just-"

"Bonehead!" Rainbow Dash forced her hoof to close his muzzle manually for a split second. "I get it... I get it."

"We're not touchy-feely, let's just leave it at that, eh? Now, come on you idiot."

"Rainbow Dash, are you coming?" Twilight shouted through the spirals. Cloud stared behind at the pony figure within the star of white, he knew it bore some importance. But the altitude of its importance still remained to be seen. He promised to himself that he would return.

"On my way, egghead."

"Ok... Thanks, I guess." Twilight quietly chuckled at herself as Cadance nudged her on the side. 'Glad Rainbow's acting better, at least.'

"Twilight?"

"Yes, Cadance?" Twilight felt Cadance lean in closely.

"How long can you keep up this lie?"

"I... don't know. I know can't lie about it forever. That's painfully obvious." Twilight Sparkle entered the main foyer and effortlessly made for the main entrance.

"I'm not calling you ignorant, but you know he's not an idiot."

"I know you're not, and you're right. His ability to learn and adapt fast scares me." Twilight gazed upon the ground ahead, making sure her voice did not carry. "How do I even begin to tell him this is where it all began? And that we were responsible?!"

"I don't know the answer myself. But I'm terribly afraid of what his reaction will be. I think you just need to drag him out here someday and tell him face-to-face." Cadance wrapped her wing around her back. "Or someone he really trusts has to."

"No, I can't do that to Rainbow. Now is not the time to tell him, he's still in a delicate state. I'll be sure to tell the princesses to keep it a secret, hopefully. Maybe they can break the news?"

"Tell them what has happened here today because today seemed tantamount."

"Tantamount? How so?"

"He saw a lot of things here and shared a lot about himself. And worse yet, all of these things can easily be found with a little bit of research. Whatever happens next could be what decides his fate. You six girls quite honestly have his life in your hooves. You need to make sure that the only outcome is the best possible option. He needs a win." Cadance let go with a tight hug, letting Twilight reflect on her words.

"That's heavy... I wish this day had never happened. Everything took a turn for the worse."

"Well, we've got to make due with what we are given now. There's no changing that."

Cadance was right, but Twilight knew the mind is easily swayed. Cloud Strider seemed to be an exception, though. All those years of travel had netted him a stoic attitude and a hardened internal frame. His mind was a battlefield with such a disturbing refinement.

"I'll make this right, Cloud. Just hang in there."

Act I Chapter V

View Online

"Hey,"

Twilight Sparkle felt the tips of her ears flicker towards the sound. She raised her hoof and continued to be face deep in her thick, unprepossessing tome. The dreary misty afternoon outside showered the fields well-deservingly from the scorching heat. And the wet atmosphere was expected to stay true. All the while, Twilight sat in her padded chair behind her authoritative desk, surrounded by her vast expanse of scholarly knowledge.

"Twilight,"

"Hold on, Cloud." She stopped scouring her books and wrote in her notes of disarray. Cloud planted down against the open doorway of the library and obstructed the path, slowly sliding down with his head pressed hard against the frame.

'For fuck sake,' He lifted his head and stared blankly at the maddening wealth of knowledge. Each book bestowed with the intelligence of authors and scholars alike. Cloud was amazed at the size of Twilight's library and the archival plethora hidden deep within the walls. It was her domain and he knew it.

"Hey," Twilight tapped her hoof on the table multiple times. "Come back to me, daydreamer."

Cloud Strider turned his head and opened his eyes fully, "hmm?"

"What?" She quickly noticed that his mane and tail was not in knots, letting it down without any additives. "What did you do to your hair?"

"Eh, it's not like I have it in a braid all the time. Although, it's a pain in the ass to do it again." He brushed his hair with one swipe.

"Well, is there something you wanted, Cloud?"

"How long did all this take you to get?"

Twilight looked around and studied every shelf in alphabetical order right before her eyes. "My books?"

Cloud nodded. Twilight looked him over and gave him the stink-eye and a half-assed laugh to follow suit. She felt her lips waver from humor to skepticism in a constant battle between the two.

"Ok, why are you really here, huh?"

"What other reason do I have? I'm bored and I can't leave unless you come with me or something. Out of respect for your wishes, Your Highness."

"Oh! Finally turning a new leaf, are you? Well, I could teach you how to be even more polite to someone of royal stature if you want."

"Hehe, I'm good." Cloud Strider felt relief run through his body, "I'll take my chances at face value."

"So, you're bored, huh? Trying to find something to do?"

"I—guess?"

Twilight suspiciously looked at him. Trying to read him over as she did with her current book. "Ok, seriously. What is up with you today?"

"Nothing. Just bored like you said."

"Tell me, please." She grew stern.

"Just-tryin' to be more uh, open. Er, friendly, or whatever." He watched Twilight look up at him. "Rainbow's been tellin' me the same thing, like you. Where is she, anyways?"

"Oh? So you really are turning a new leaf?" Twilight put her book down fully. "You're asking me? I would've thought she'd be visiting you daily like she has been."

"Yeah, I guess so. And no, I haven't seen her in a few days."

"Well, I'm glad you're giving it a chance, Cloud. Tell me if you like being enjoyable to be around finally." She shot him a smug glance and began reading once more.

"Ouch..."

"I'm just teasing. I mean, you're used to it by now, seeing as how you deal with Rainbow... I'm sure she'll come around."

"What?" Cloud Strider sat up partially, afflicted with mild disbelief. "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?! You're never so joking with me."

"Well, I've been trying to treat you respectfully. But If I feel you're in a good mood? You know, that might change. I just want to make sure you feel comfortable around me or anyone else." Twilight remembered everything that Cadance had said to her when they left the ruins. She wanted to allow him the feeling of being involved and accepted. But the fear of his other side was too much to just overlook.

"Mmmh." Cloud looked down the hall, hearing the unnatural knell of silence occupying every inch. "Seriously, how long did it take you to get all these books?"

"Well, some of them I have had for many years. But most of them are all pretty much new. Something, uh... Happened to most of my belongings where I used to live before."

"Like what?"

"I uh, I used to live in a library not too long ago. You know, before I had this castle in all. I don't know if you remember, but remember when the princesses talked about Tirek a little?"

"I think so? I still don't know who that is though."

"It-It doesn't really matter. But he was looking for me and he... blew up my house. Razed it to the ground..." Twilight inwardly puckered her lips. The sound of laughter filled her ears as she pulled her head up, overwhelmed by what she did not want to hear.

"O-o-ok, nice fuckin' joke. Hahaha, you really got me with that one, Twilight!"

"Are you l-laughing?"

"Well—yeah?" Cloud noticed she was not so jovial with a withered pain forcefully strained on her face. He stopped and could almost feel that her happiness was butchered. "Oh shit..."

"It's not a joke you deadbeat!" A single pound of her hoof striking the desk echoed sharply in the dead halls.

'Good fucking job, Cloud. You just couldn't take something seriously for once?!'

"I just thought you were still uh, kiddin' around in all..." Cloud Strider put his hoof to his forehead and scorned himself for his own undoing.

"No! Why would I joke around about something like that?!" Twilight's head went to a canted angle, "Do you have a moral compass anymore?"

Cloud Strider dropped his leg, staring up at the ceiling of both the resplendent hallway and library being cut in two. He twisted his head and stayed transfixed to her contorted starkness.

"Not really."

"Ugh... It's just—I-I had some of the best times of my life there... And now it's just, gone. Don't you understand how that would make you feel?" Twilight Sparkle rubbed her forehead, oddly ashamed of either herself or Cloud Strider.

"Yeah... It's a shitty feeling. It's like a part of you died." Cloud quietly stated. "My house burned down years ago."

"Then why did you laugh?"

"I've been desensitized to things like that, Twilight. To the point where I can find it funny."

"That isn't good, Cloud."

"You think I don't know that? Once you fuck your mind, it's kinda' fucked permanently." Cloud Strider just shrugged, "what can you do?"

"Try to make it better." A bookmark nestled deeply into her book as it magically closed dully. The chair swiveled around to face his monsters, sliding closer to him.

"Look, I apologize for being out of line like that. But I would have thought that you'd know what was ok and what's not." Twilight stopped the chair next to him. "What happened? I'm sure there's something in you that is still innocent and pure."

"I could think for days on end, but the answer would be nothing."

"Come on, don't be like that."

"Nightmare Moon destroyed all I enjoyed so she could live inside of me. Anything "innocent" would tear her to pieces. The worst part is, she didn't have to do anything personally. She just let my experiences and the journey here do all the work." His lifeless eyes pierced into her very being. "Twilight, you don't know what I've seen..."

She swallowed loudly, not so much as even blinking her petrified eyes. "What... If she were here now, wh-what would you do to her?"

"I'd make her suffer and beg for mercy. I'd watch the life leak from her wounds. I'd take a jagged blade and-and-" Cloud Strider stopped talking and glared at the ground. "Sorry..."

"Don't let her win, Cloud. I can tell you're better than this." Twilight went so much as to put her hoof on his neck. "I'm sorry I even brought it up. But sometimes it's just best to put everything on the table."

"Why are you apologizing?" Cloud raised an eyebrow with much disdain.

"What do you mean? I brought up something bad and yelled at you. It's just respectful to say sorry when you mess up."

"I wouldn't of said sorry, so why say it to me?"

"Uh, because I was taught properly as a filly? I don't know, Cloud." She leaned back slightly, "did your parents not teach you or—may I ask?"

"It's not that, eh... My dad says "speak your mind" and my mom says "speak from your heart"." Cloud Strider wiped his mouth. "Don't apologize for the truth, I guess."

"You're not a deadbeat, Cloud. I'm just under a lot of pressure."

"Yeah, because of me, I know."

"Well—yes, Cloud. Because of you. But-but not in a bad way, alright? Some of us really care and I think you realize that."

"What confuses me is why you care about a self-centered and vindictive cunt." He heard her feathers quiver and rustle.

"Ech, gross! Stop saying stuff like that, geez!"

"Why? I mean, you're a mare after all. We're both mature, grown-"

"Please, enough, ok? You're not talking to Rainbow Dash here! Maybe she'd be more comfortable with that, but I'm not." Twilight covered her mouth, even gagging ever so slightly.

"Alright, I'll stop. Wow, that really gets to you, huh?"

"You know? Maybe if you'd stop being so vulgar and hard on yourself, more ponies would care."

"Long as Nightmare Moon is with me, that won't change."

Twilight lightly ground her molars, "maybe you're right—"

"Of course I'm right." He crossed his hooves.

"—or, maybe that can change."

"I thought that before, but I was mistaken in that comfort."

"Oh, come on. I'm sure the ponies around here will be more understanding once they find out. Granted, I don't think they're ready just yet." Twilight leaned in somewhat closer. She truly was eager to hear his words but could only find the worst in what he had.

"Ponies are fickle, Twilight. They change like the fucking wind at any given time. You'd be surprised by what happens to good ponies when they're way of life is threatened. If you pose a threat to someone? Guess what? Your friend will have no problem turning on you. I've heard of a saying: "What beasts that lie within the frames of ponies and the innocent". It happens, Twilight."

Twilight rolled her eyes, "yes, coming from the asinine stallion—asinine meaning extremely-"

"I know what it means you cunt."

"I said stop staying that!" Twilight uncovered her ears after a few moments of silence. "Look, Cloud. Trust me, ok? That will not happen here because this land-this, country, is different than the places you had to go through. Ponies tend to see the good in everyone, not the worst."

"Then why does it feel like tensions are thickening?" Cloud Strider dubiously asked Twilight.

"I understand where you're coming from... I can feel it too." Twilight felt that her grasp on the real world was under attack and eroding steadily. "I can understand why. Your condition has never happened to anyone but Princess Luna."

Twilight lowered her head and squinted, "If... If you know all this. Are you like a bookworm, or-or something? I'm not saying you are, but you a have a hold on knowledge that is, um, underestimated."

"My mom used to say it was important to be well-read in terms of being a well-rounded pony. So, I'd like to think I know more than the average pony... Or, I hope it at least shows."

"I can see it, Cloud. Your mother must be proud of you being here."

"I hope so..." Cloud Strider weighed his options, both heavy on his feeble mind. He stole glances at Twilight, trying to piece the puzzle together in her head desperately for the answer. She knew something was up but did not have the courage to ask, whether out of respect or fear.

"I, uhmm. I'm not like you but I respect those who are realistic about things."

Twilight grabbed something to write with and to write on. "Realistic?"

"Well, you're an intelligent mare clearly. So you don't believe in karma or the best in every situation, right?" Cloud Strider watched her flush red in the cheeks, obviously flattered but trying her modesty.

"Ye-Yeah? I believe in science, not science fiction." Twilight grimaced just slightly, "where a-are you going with this?"

Cloud looked away and bobbed his head, "are you a religious type?"

"I... I really can't answer that, Cloud. Whether or not we go to a higher place or rot in Tartarus is out of my power and judgment." Twilight reared her head in intense thought. "Uh—Are you religious?"

"Hmm... I believed in Norse Paganism. But-uh... I guess we're not so different. Once I grew up, I didn't have time for far-fetched fairytales or things like that." He nodded with an ironic simper smile which disappeared faster than it was created.

"But... even still. I find myself going back to those ideas and hoping it will all be better. Like the ones who die gloriously in battle are sent to Valhalla or Fólkvangr. And ponies who die in other ways are sent to Hel in the afterlife. Ponies have their own ideas of Hel, saying that it's really Helheim or possibly located in Nilfheim, but it really doesn't matter, huh? Dead is dead." He clicked the tip of his hoof on the floor.

"I've heard of Valhalla. And-and I've been researching what Yggdrasil is. But what is Fólkvangr and Nilfheim, or even Hel exactly?" Twilight continued to clutch close her writing utensils.

"What do you know about The Great Ash?"

"Ash—Tree?"

"Yeah, Yggdrasil is an enormous ash tree that-"

"-connects the nine worlds." Twilight finished his sentence ardently and with a touch of pride.

"Oh, look at you." Cloud looked at her directly and snickered, "doing your homework, I see. What are the nine worlds, then?"

"Uh, I haven't gotten that far yet. Maybe you can enlighten me some?"

He steadily nodded, looking at the doorframe around his body. "The nine worlds are Asgard, Nilfheim, Jotunheim, Helheim, Midgard, Muspelheim, Vanaheim, Svartalheim, and Alfheim. These worlds makeup Yggdrasil and are connected by it."

Twilight's eyes lit up as she scratched down the wealth of knowledge. "Incredible..."

"This world that we live on is considered Midgard. Asgard-eh, is that enough already?"

"No, no! Please continue!" Twilight enchanted her quill to write while her other free hoof continued to scribble down anything noteworthy of research.

"Asgard is the world of Aesir gods and goddesses. The Bifröst is more commonly known as the rainbow bridge that connects Midgard to Asgard." Cloud Strider cleared his throat. "I think that's enough to keep you busy for awhile, eh?"

"Ok, y-yeah. You gave me a lot to go on. Thank you, Cloud. F-For sharing all that about-"

"Twilight!"

"What is it, Spike?" Twilight was mildly vexed after being cut-off on her sentence. But it was almost undetectable and insignificant once she replaced it with a singsong response. Spike scrambled into the library after Cloud lifted his hind legs in the air.

I got a letter from Pinkie Pie. Eh, well, it was taped to the entrance door, but whatever." Spike reached his claws upwards and Twilight softly plucked it with her magic aura.

"A letter?" Twilight opened the folden cardstock without any regard to the possibilities. A shower of confetti rained down and covered her with shimmering colors. Spike was thrown to the ground in hysterics while Cloud Strider stared at her out of confusion.

"I should have known Pinkie would do something like this... It's my fault for letting that one slide, hehehe." Twilight rolled her eyes smiling. "O-ok, Spike. You don't want to clean this up, do you, mister?"

I-I'm sorry I! I really didn't see that coming! I should've known better too!" He wiped away a tear while Twilight rid her body of the fleecy scraps of paper.

"Is this an example of Pinkie Pie defying the laws of logic or whatever? Because how did all those streamers and confetti fit into that?" Cloud seemed suspect but did not exactly care too much.

"Yep. Just Pinkie doing what she does best. Hehe, even when she's not around she makes us laugh." Twilight tossed the card to the side, "she was reminding me about the get-together in an hour. Good thing she sent this because I honestly forgot... and I haven't even prepared for it, either."

"That's not like you to forget shi- I mean, stuff." Cloud felt Twilight's ire directed at him. 'Not around Spike.'

"I've just been busy lately, I'm bound to forget something here and there." Twilight Sparkle fluttered her wings and stretched everything she could in her body. Spike graciously returned the skepticism back to her.

"Really? You write everything you need in 'to-do lists'. You never forget anything." Spike even pulled out a scrolled up list out of thin air. He unraveled the parchment and cleared his throat respectfully. "First thing: pick up the cupcakes at Sugarcube Corner."

Twilight nodded and began for the exit, "then let's hurry. We don't have much time."

"But there are only three things-whoa!" Spike was hoisted up square on Twilight's back. She looked at Cloud who was already beginning to leave the library.

"Want to come along, Cloud? As long as you don't run off again?" She teased, but her meaning remained true. "You said you wanted something to do."

"S-Sure, whatever."

"Great! Let's go." Twilight trotted past with a prideful and upbringing gait. He followed closely behind and flew down the stairs, staying airborne afterward. She opened a door and pulled out a few articles of clothing, wrapping scarves around both their necks. Twilight offered Cloud one, but he declined her offer with a hint of respect. Cloud Strider started pushing the door open, but Twilight opened it for him in a cool magenta aura. She stepped through, letting him close the door behind them. The foggy atmosphere had turned into both mist and cooling drips of water spurting from the skies above. The clouds were heavy and gray, overlapping and swirling into one another endlessly in the gentle breeze.

"Man, I love this weather." Cloud felt a sharp smile forming on his muzzle, even though it was short-lived.

"Rain? And the cold?" Twilight shimmied from the rather brisk chill running through her body.

"Both. Really brings me home." Cloud Strider let the rain fall in his mane and coat. He cared little about his personal worries and tried to enjoy his here and now.

"Why would you love cold and wet days?" Spike raised the question, beginning to shake.

"Like I said, it reminds of Norway. But it also reminds me that it's time to start harvesting for the winter. Chopping wood, gathering, hunting, fishing. Smelling the greasy pines, birches, and the maple trees with the golden autumn. I'm not a fan of autumn, but it's probably my favorite when it feels lazy and misty like today."

"My favorite season is probably Springtime. What's yours?" Spike bounced up and down on Twilight's back as he looked up at Cloud still flying.

"Winter."

"Mine's Autumn. I just like the colored leaves and comfortable temperatures. Makes everything feel cozy," Twilight said.

"I take that back. Autumn is one of my favorites." Cloud revoked his previous opinion.

"What's it like around this time in Norway, Cloud? Like this?" Twilight cocked her head back.

"The days get shorter very fast and it becomes really wet and rainy all the time. I lived sort of near the coast, too. So the coast is hammered by violent seas as storms move in almost always. It's actually quite the sight to see that. This would be about the time I'd go pick these mushrooms called chanterelles from the forests and cook them in butter and garlic. It would fill up the house and make my parents come running."

All Twilight did was listen and study just how reflective a pony like him really was. His eyes slowly faded in life but his face remained astute in his own situation.

"I wish I was still home..." Cloud Strider landed in the glistening grass and continued to walk only a few feet away from Twilight.

"I can see it. But I'm sure they're waiting for you back home."

"I'm not going back until it's over... I'm doing this for them." He looked up to the mountainside. Canterlot was nowhere to be found as the sparkling gem of a city. A place where deities fostered an intense beauty and power to rule with peace on their side.

'I'll put an end to all of this...' Cloud noticed the patter of rain against his body suddenly ceased. He looked over, seeing Twilight surround the immediate area in the spell he had seen on his first night in Ponyville. The rain slicked off of the dome in soft purple streaks.

"There, it's really starting to come down now." She peeked up at the barrier. Cloud stepped closer to Twilight, trying to keep the spell running over a minimal amount of space.

"Thanks..."

"Of course, Cloud. I wouldn't want to keep you in the rain." Buildings from the town began to slur into their sights and Ponyville no sooner enclosed upon the trio.

'Just act normal... Just act completely normal.' Despite the rain and chill, ponies still braved muddied streets with recourse. Bundled up just to buy their produce for dinner. A few ponies who past the trio looked at Twilight, making room for royalty to pass effortlessly. Others glanced at Cloud and gave him no such amenities, only avoiding the bubble of Twilight's creation. Cloud Strider did not care for their priorities; it was wholly below him.

"Spike, what's next on the list?" Twilight spotted Sugarcube Corner and hastened her speed.

"Uh-mmm, go to Rainbow's house. Then go back to the castle and set up the social."

"W-Why are you goin' to her house?" Cloud's ears twitched upright.

"Well, just to make sure she's doing ok. You said you haven't seen her in a few days, right?" she looked to her side.

"Yeah?"

"She's been having troubles dealing with the, well—you know."

"Yeah, I know..." Cloud felt hopeless about her situation. "I wish there was some way I could make it up to the poor girl, but I've done all I can do."

"Just being there for her would be enough, Cloud. It may not seem like it, but she talks about her feelings to ponies she trusts." Twilight smirked, "even if she absolutely despises it."

Cloud scratched his neck and drifted to his muzzle. "I got a taste of it. I know exactly what you're talkin' about."

"You're helping her plenty, just trust me on that," Twilight tipped her head.

"I hope so."

"Yeah, I mean. She's pretty tough for a pegasus." Spike unconsciously wound up the scroll. Cloud snickered to himself and stared up at the sky.

"I hope I never have to make anythin' up to you, Twilight."

"Uh, hehe, ok? Why?"

"You're a princess, what exactly does a street urchin like me have to give you in return? You've got everythin' you need to live a good life. Fortune, knowledge, friends, really important connections with higher-ups. I don't know how I'd ever make anythin' up to you, not to mention someone like Celestia for that matter. Like, letting me stay with you, for example. "

Twilight allowed herself to smile endearingly and touched his shoulder, "Cloud, letting you stay in my castle is my choice, you don't owe me anything for that. And I don't think someone like me or Celestia would be interested in material goods as a means of payment."

"Really?"

"No, not at all." She nodded and glanced back at Spike, "Spike? Let's go off schedule for a few minutes, ok?"

"Uh, ok. Why?"

"I think it's important for Cloud to see this. And I think it's time we face it ourselves, too." Twilight directed the group away from the bakery. She could feel an immense power rise up from the ground below, not knowing if now was the time to look upon her ruins in such a calamitous state.

———

For the few minutes that Twilight diverged the group, the rain began to pour even harder. Cloud heard the viscous undulating of the beating drops against the barrier, rippling across the field in waves. He tore his gaze from the stunning ripples, seeing jagged pieces of charred wood and overgrowth in an empty lot.

"Is this it?" Cloud stopped a few feet where the entrance would have been. Shafts of grass delicately bowed and stuttered when the rain graced it with its presence.

"Yeah," Twilight sighed, "this is it."

He rubbed his hoof across what was left of the wood grain and parted some of the tufts of grass. "Damn, you weren't kidding about it being razed to the ground."

Cloud expected to hear Twilight get on him about swearing in front of her little brother, but she did not speak, not for some time. Cloud Strider abruptly felt the rain pelting his body, making him look to his side. She remained without any sense of happiness in her looks. He could easily see that the remnants of her old stead meant everything in the world to her. She stepped into the imaginary tree, letting her mind reconstruct every living detail to make herself feel at home once more. Spike shielded himself from the elements, but Twilight welcomed the cleansing rain.

'Was I wrong to come here? I can't tear myself away from it.'

"Twilight?" Spike softly tugged on her mane. She lowered her head and rested her hoof on the largest splinter of wood. Rubbing back and forth in a caressing motion, she finally looked up. Whether or not she had tears in her eyes remained to be seen; the rain played tricks on Cloud's gaze. But she smiled through it, no less.

"I became a princess here. It's where I learned everything I know about friendship and my purpose as an alicorn. It's where I made my friends and new ones. Long nights studying anything I could get my hooves on. All those weird things that happened in this town. And I still can't believe it's, gone."

"They still happen, Twilight." Spike chuckled in the moment, hearing her do the same. Cloud Strider stood on the edge of the home now sopping wet. So involved in the scene that he tried to imagine the place himself in its prime, there were so many possibilities. Watching a tender moment between the two made him yearn for something equivalent. Twilight wrapped her hooves around Spike and kissed him on the forehead.

"I wouldn't get too bummed out about it. At least you have all those good memories of this place... I might' not of been here to see it standin', but if it meant a lot to you? It must've been a great place to be." Cloud did not even turn before he was pulled into another rain bubble with such a tenderness. He let Twilight wipe her eyes before apprehensively patting her neck. That feeling was alien to him; consoling someone who needed it did not come second nature to him.

"Thanks, Cloud. That means a-a lot."

"Yeah, don't mention it. Seriously." He heard a sharp, but small laugh come from her mouth.

"You really are not good at this, huh?" She heard him unironically chuckle at himself.

"Hehe, no I'm not." Cloud Strider motioned his head, "come on, let's get outta' here before you start gettin' bad kinds of emotional."

"Sounds good." Twilight held her head high, bravely venturing away from her old house without so much as looking back. It was in the past and she knew that things would get better as they always did.

"Are you ok?" Spike raised his voice over the rain.

"Yeah, don't you worry, I'll be just fine." She nuzzled Spike with a family's affection. "Let's go see Rainbow first."

"Aye, lead the way." Cloud trotted after Twilight who seemed a great deal happier.

"Hey, Cloud?"

"Hmm."

"Do you think that Rarity and Applejack will ever, uh. Kinda' accept you, I guess?" Spike rubbed his scales, "I mean, I really think they dislike you."

"You think? Haha!... Oh, who knows. They might come 'round, maybe they won't. I can't speak for them because it's really their choice."

"Oh... I just really want everyone to get along. It's bad enough that ponies are talking about you without really knowing it's you. I don't want anyone to find out."

"I don't think anyone of us wants that, Spike. His identity being revealed would spell disaster."

"No kiddin'. Everyone in town would react, b-badly, let just say." Spike smiled embarrassingly, almost saying that the ponies of Ponyville would fear and resent him.

"They can think what they want. Ignorance is bliss."

"C'mon, let's not talk about this right now. Rainbow's house is just up here." Twilight pointed forward. Cloud Strider looked beyond her figure but only saw the rolling grass fields in the expanse of his eyes.

"I don't see shit, captain."

"Cloud... language," Twilight glanced at him, "literally, look up."

He wasted no time to look up into the rainy sky, seeing wispy curls of white and grey swirling with one another but somehow staying in one place. Small rainbow streams fell from the indents and disappeared almost immediately into the thick air. A single pillar rose from the base and spired upwards beyond the mists that obscured his vision. It was filled with windows and ionic pillars lining the sides, most likely for cosmetic properties only. Puffy clouds hugged the building and swirled around the house slowly. The illusory rainbow arched above and came down, disappearing behind the brilliant clouds of the house.

'How did I not see this?' Cloud wracked his mind. "Should've known she lived with her head in the clouds. Hehehe, literally."

"It's a pretty nice house, like, upper class nice. Definitely fits her style of comfort," Twilight spread her wings and stared up. "Hang on, Spike."

Cloud stayed back, seeing Spike hold on when Twilight ascended like a filly learning to fly. It made him smile slyly and he did not know why. He fanned his wings before shooting up, passing Twilight as an inky shadow. Landing delicately on top of the pristine clouds, he watched Twilight poke through the clouds and land with wobbly knees.

"Not used to walking all over me?" he raised an eyebrow.

"What are you-oh... Oh, zip it!" Twilight giggled lightly, "no wonder Rainbow calls you Bonehead."

"Are you a strong flyer, then?" She added.

"Yeah, enough to get me where I need to be. I'm not sayin' I'm the fastest because I know Rainbow Dash is ten times as fast. I've seen her in action, so she's got me beat there. I-I actually condition and practice flying, so I'm probably better than most... Probably."

"I see you're not a braggart, either."

"Well, what about you? You don't seem to be in tip-top shape for flying strong. Not one of my strong suits." Cloud let her flap her wings, furling them up just like he did.

"Sort of... I'm new to this alicorn thing, so it's taking a little bit for me to adjust to all these new things I can do." Twilight made sure Spike was not going to slip off through the clouds and stepped up to the yellow door. Rainbow's giant cutie mark spread above the entry, the tip of the lightning bolt stemmed off and tapered down the column base.

*knock-knock-knock* Twilight tripled her hoof against the door, waiting for any response to come back. She felt the bubble ripple, noticing that Cloud stepped out onto the cloud's edge.

"Well, it's not raining hard right now. That's a plus." The village was shrouded in mist, nearly gone from his cone of vision even when it was just below.

"Rainbow Dash? Are you home?" Twilight unleashed another series of knocks. The door clicked and slowly swung inwards.

"Fluttershy?" The words from Twilight caused him to twist back around. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, um, hi—just helping around Rainbow's house."

"Shouldn't she be helping? Where is she at?" Twilight managed to look past Fluttershy, catching a glimpse of the sparkling interior.

"Well, she went to the castle early. She actually just left a couple minutes ago. I'm surprised you didn't see her." Fluttershy watched Cloud step next to Twilight and looked inside Rainbow's house. "H-Hi, Cloud."

"Oh, hey. So, you live here with Rainbow now or what? I thought that other place was your home."

"Oh, heavens no! I've just been coming by to check up on her every day. Wh-Whenever possible, that is. Sometimes she's working or just out of town." Fluttershy turned and grabbed an umbrella, "I think we should probably catch her then."

"No need for an umbrella, I've already made one." Twilight pointed up with content strewn on her muzzle. Fluttershy tipped her head and shut off the lights in the house, stepping onto the clouds with an astounding clunk of the door at her tail.

"Cloud, what happened to your braids?"

"Eh, I didn't really feel like leavin' it in right now. It's kinda' annoying to maintain." He stared at the ground below the clouds and mist.

"We still need to get something else, Fluttershy. You can either go to my castle or come along, it's your choice."

"I-I think I'll come along with you if that's ok."

"Of course it is." Twilight carefully descended from the cloudy platform back to the ground. Even Fluttershy past her with seconds to spare. The checklist was pulled back out and updated, jumping around from task to task, unlike Twilight at all. But Cloud brushed it off with no direction of concern. He barely flapped his wings on his approach and landed with a deep thud coursing through his body.

"Where are you going, then?" Fluttershy practically nested against Twilight.

"We were heading to Sugarcube Corner but went on a little detour. We wanted to get some confections to eat for hanging out with everyone." Twilight prattled on about her current state, as did Fluttershy. Cloud simply let them talk it out, knowing that Twilight can get a little chatty when her friends were around doing the same thing. What struck him forthright was how Spike was able to join in on the conversation.

'Good on him. I can't even understand half the time what they're talking about when they're in their talking moods.' Another thing struck him, though. He heard the word "Discord" mentioned as an entity a lot from Fluttershy and it really seemed to make Twilight uneasy to talk about it. Wondering what she was referencing to but not enough to push him into affirmation. His ears twitched, adjusting to their conversation from his skewed position in the group as he scanned the grey horizons. Trees, houses, and mountains cut through the doldrums, only to be wrapped in a shadowy cape, unlike its natural color. A lot could be learned from a little eavesdropping, and even more questions than answers. It was not until he saw a building pass through his vision that he was finally thrown from his trance.

"Um, Cloud? Are you ok?" He looked to see Fluttershy stricken with slight concern.

"Rain's comin' in."

"How do you know?" Twilight watched him point up and away to the sky. She saw her castle swathed in a miserable grey that seemed to be moving. "Oh... Good thing we still have our shield."

Cloud moved in a little closer, making sure to stay within its confines. Fluttershy went to his side instead, now genuinely worried about the way he felt. He could feel the warmth radiating from her body, both emotionally and physically.

"He's fine, Fluttershy. It's alight. He's just not much of a talker... or smiler." Twilight tried to guide her away from him, knowing how clingy Fluttershy could get.

"I'm fine. Don't worry too much."

"Ok... Just don't keep it in if you need to talk about it. That's not good for you."

"I will." Cloud traversed around the corner with the rest of the group, narrowly missing it altogether. There was no chance in hell that he could miss such a place. The building was made up of gingerbread roofs and was covered in white frosting in all the right places. The rest had the same makeup as all of the other buildings in the area, just definitely not the roof in any way possible. A lone tower with the shape of a cupcake sprouted from the middle and shot up and above the building, all colored in white, pink, and soft marigold. No one was entering or leaving, but from the state of the streets, it was more than expected.

He entered with warmth relinquishing him of his heavy mind. The smell of food and baked goods made his mouth tremble with delightful inclusions. A counter and shelves laid out all of the various sweets to offer for the common pony. Child-like images of confectionaries and pieces of candy danced along the woodworks above him with fine engravings of white stencil etched in as well.

"Hello?" Twilight rang the small bell on the cashier counter and looked around the corner slightly. "I wonder if Pinkie Pie is still here... Or if she just left like Rainbow Dash."

"I have a feeling it's the latter."

"Just a minute!" A different voice carried to the lobby.

"I guess she did leave." Twilight shook her head, trying to make sense of the logic behind it.

"Oh! Hello, Princess Twilight. You—here for your order?" Mrs. Cake sharply glanced at Cloud's subtly sinister malaise. 'It's that new stallion in town. What's he doing with Princess Twilight?'

'Why did she stop?' He watched her smile and eye contact studiously.

"Yes, I believe I already paid you?"

"Uh huh, got it tacked on the box. Let me go grab that for you, excuse me." Mrs. Cake disappeared into the bakery, leaving them with the sounds of her hoofsteps. Even in her hurried reality, she seemed to be dynamic, though business was slow at the time. Surely there were many orders in the coming days. The steps got closer again until the blue mare revealed herself with a box in her hoof.

Cloud felt something was aloof. something did not seem right when the box began to shift and falter in her grasp. Sure enough, he watched her trip on her hooves, jolting the box up and away from her reach. Without so much as thinking, Cloud Strider reached out for the box but knew he was still far away. Then, like the spark that ignited within his chest, a lash of chaotic blue magic zig-zagged its way to the box. Twilight retreated a few steps after seeing the box stop right in her face. Her ears cowered from the angry hum his magic exuded in the charged air. He carefully laid it down on the counter and felt regret grow in the reaches of his stomach.

'Oh, you fucking moron!' Cloud noticed how panicked the blue mare acted, now up against the wall just behind her. The magic crackled one last time before the room went utterly silent. He lifted his leg and harrowingly glared at the vibrating leg band bound to him. Fluttershy went to him and tried to hold him still; he did not expect his magic to come out that easily and unpredictably.

"It's ok... You didn't mean it."

"I... I-don't, please don't." He looked up at the terrified mare.

"Get out, please—just go."

"Oh no, oh nonono-Mrs. Cake, don't. I beg of you, do not mention this to anyone." Twilight looked back and forth at Cloud and Mrs. Cake, anxiously trotting in place for a few moments.

"Get him out, please, Princess. I don't know what's going on, but I don't want this turning into another Zecora incident. He needs to leave." Twilight nodded to her words.

"Cloud, please? I'm sorry. Fluttershy? Can you wait outside with him?" Fluttershy also nodded, "you too, Spike. I won't be long."

After only a few seconds, Twilight heard the door close soundly behind her. "Mrs. Cake, please."

"Why is that pegasus using magic?! What have you been doing to him in your castle?!"

"W-What? Nothing, I haven't done anything to him!" Twilight knew that a lot was riding on this pivotal moment. The moment she loathed to face but knew it was bound to happen. "He's just been living with me for a few weeks. Me and the princesses have been trying to fix his magic issue, not cause it."

"Wait..."

"Please, he isn't evil or bad! He's just misunderstood and lost his way."

"Evil? What do you mean evil?" Mrs. Cake tapped her hoof on her muzzle repeatedly.

'Why did I say evil?!'

"Oh my—Oh my god! Don't tell me-" Mrs. Cake leaned in and lowered her voice an octave. "Is he that pony everyone's been talking about?!"

Twilight kept her face low and silenced by the truth.

"Then it's true! She's back!"

"No! No, don't! Please, you need to keep this to yourself! Under all circumstances, do not tell anyone what you saw! It's different—it's way different and more confusing than you think!" Twilight Sparkle helplessly stood by, not in control of the situation or outcome in any way. Mrs. Cake shook her head.

"You... You know what ponies will do around here, right? Or possibly even the country?"

"Yes, I know. I also know that they're not ready for the truth yet... He doesn't need ponies at his back with death threats. You're the first pony to find out, please, don't say-"

"Ok! Ok!... I trust you. I won't bring it up. But I don't know how long you can keep a secret in Ponyville. Once someone finds out, they'll be all over it."

"I understand, thank you so much. I owe you." Twilight grabbed her box of cupcakes and quickly made for the door.

"Hurry, before anyone else in town finds out. They won't be so cooperative."

"Thanks again, goodbye." She closed the door and was back out in the rain. The first thing she did was look around with paranoia controlling her mind.

'What if other ponies saw it?! What if they were inside of there houses and saw the magic through the window or just happened to walk by?! Are they looking right now?!' Twilight glanced towards her side after snapping herself out of fright.

"Twilight? What happened?" Spike hastily went up to her. She picked him up and set him on her back again.

"It's ok, I think I bought us some time."

"What do you mean?"

"I got her to agree to stay quiet, Fluttershy. That's what I mean." Twilight stamped up to Cloud, "as for you. I would rather get pummeled by some cupcakes than to be spared a bad hair day by your magic. What exactly were you thinking?!"

"T-Twilight, don't yell at him like that." Fluttershy put her hoof on Twilight's rapid chest.

"Fluttershy, don't fight for me, please. I didn't know I would use magic, I just let it come out without really thinking about it."

"You nearly threw away your secrecy!"

"Like I said, alicorn magic and pegasi don't fucking mix! Saying sorry won't fix anything now because I fucked everything up for everyone."

"Cloud Strider, watch your mouth!" Fluttershy wagged her hoof with a still forgiveness in her voice. Twilight hurriedly led the group out of town and back home.

"Cloud, whether you like it or not. I'm going to teach you how to use your magic, that's final."

"Yes, go ahead and teach me how to use my murderous magic."

"Is he, being serious? Is his magic used to hurt ponies?" Spike began to wither as Twilight comforted him.

"What? No, Spike. That's not it at all." She glared at Cloud Strider. "You're scaring him, stop with that talk."

"Ok, Cloud, ok. Let's take a little step back, alright?" He watched Fluttershy get in between Twilight. Both gentle in nature and trying times, Fluttershy cooly attempted to defuse the situation.

"It was just an accident, it's not your fault, just a little scare is all. I'm sure you two are saying some things you don't mean."

"You might as well be rubbing my muzzle in a puddle of my piss because it sounds like you're talkin' to a dog." He heard Twilight angerly clear her throat.

"Uh, well. You're not a dog. You're a bright stallion with a lot to offer."

"I'm flattered." Cloud Strider let out a deep laugh for her righteous innocence. "But I'll deal with my problems with ways I've always done."

"Oh no. No, Cloud! You're not going to get drunk again. You're too loud and happily obnoxious."

"I'm not goin' to do that, Twilight. Don't get your knickers in a twist."

"I don't wear-"

"I know, it's just a phrase." He stepped past Twilight and opened the door. It was happening again. He was not angry at Twilight, only at himself for slipping up and putting his one sole duty in jeopardy.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the room you lent me out of pity." Cloud forged ahead and into the grand foyer, leaving Twilight to pick up the pieces once again.

"Hey, Cloud. Uh-you ok?" Rainbow's state of disinterest suddenly melted once he walked by.

"Hey, Rainbow..." Cloud Strider exited the room as soon as he entered, acknowledging Rainbow Dash brusquely and even without looking at her. "It's calm before the rage."

Rainbow Dash stared down the hall with a questionable look smeared on her face. She let the feather she was balancing on her nose delicately float to the ground, "Uh, ok..."

"Hi, Rainbow. You're a little early, don't you think?" Twilight did not hesitate to give her a friendly hug.

"Eh, I got bored. Hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Anyone else show up?"

"Nope, just me. A-And all of you." Rainbow turned her head towards the hall Cloud walked down. "He looks a little on edge, what's up his?"

"Uh, it's hard to explain."

"It's actually pretty easy." Spike rolled his eyes. "Cloud used his magic by accident and Twilight yelled at him for it. That's pretty much it."

"You're making it sound like I'm the bad guy, Spike." Twilight lifted him back down to the castle grounds.

"Oh, come on, Twilight. I think you know he didn't mean to use it. He was looking out for you if you think about it. I mean, he scared me and I'm defending him," Spike said.

"Spike, I said I'd rather be hit by this box instead. You do realize the gravity of this situation, right?"

"Wait, so you yelled at him for using his magic? What's the big deal with him doin' that?" Rainbow Dash picked up the feather, she gained a few mellow giggles after realizing her nose was blotted with quill ink. Twilight searched the reaches of her castle and brought back a wet cloth with her magic, giving it to Rainbow.

"He used it when Mrs. Cake was looking, if not others."

"Oh... now I see why. So you're worried that this'll ruin the whole secret of him bein' here?"

"Yes... You look like you don't care. Why?" Twilight grabbed Rainbow by her forelegs but Rainbow Dash calmly backed off and brushed Twilight away.

"Uh, because I was expectin' it to happen sometime soon. Did you really think he'd be kept from the world forever?"

"Rainbow Dash! Think about what ponies will do once they realize Nightmare Moon has come back from the dead! It would cause panic and hysteria in the country! What they'll be scared over is the fact that it's in the body of a non-alicorn!" Twilight tried finding all of the conclusions at once.

"Wow, you really need a break from all these uh... Oh! I just learned this: clandestine actions."

"Good word, Rainbow... I know, but I can't stop myself from panicking over these things. They're really serious."

"Yeah, please, Twilight? I think you're overthinking all of this right now." Fluttershy took the box of cupcakes so Twilight did not have to worry. "Come on, let's set up the party area before anyone else shows up, ok?"

"Y-Yeah, and I thought I was losing it." Rainbow Dash let out a snicker of temporary reprieve. Only, Twilight remained silent at Rainbow's joke.

"You're doing great, Rainbow. You've been sleeping better at night and haven't been relying on me to come over and help you sle-"

"Oh, whoa! H-Hey there, let's not get too carried away, yeah?" Rainbow's hoof lapped over Fluttershy's talkative mouth. "All that matters is I'm getting over it."

"It's just up here..." Twilight opened the door to an unused room resembling a sort of study or lounge. "I really don't know where to go."

"Oh..."

"I've just been so busy and out of my head that I didn't even have time to set things up. Sorry about that. I always find some way to ruin the mood."

"Oh, don't say that. Everything's gonna' be fine after all this crap goes away for good. What's got you all moody anyway? Well, before the magic thing." Rainbow Dash threw herself in the spacious halls, her fur still clammy after braving the storms.

"It probably didn't help that she insisted visiting the old library." Spike crossed his arms.

"Why would you do that, Twilight?" She felt Fluttershy go right up next her.

"Because I learned that Cloud's house burned down a long time ago and I wanted to show him mine. I don't know, I thought I was ready to see all those cherished memories."

"Bonehead's house burned down, really?"

"Yeah, I learned a lot of other stuff. But it's not appropriate or something you want to hear."

"I can only imagine what kind of things you're talkin' about." Rainbow landed down with a rather surprising and energetic flip. The scene and the sentiment made Twilight smile, knowing something was going right in her favor.

"Don't sweat it, I'm sure Pinkie has some strange contraption that can turn a room into something more... party-ier. I mean-one box of cupcakes? That won't fly with her... By the way. Uh, you want me to go check on him? Before he gets the bright idea to run away and face my wrath again?"

"Well, t-those were more for myself, I realize. Besides, I'm sure he wants to talk with his best friend right now." Twilight waved her hoof out, "go ahead... Just, be careful."

"Whaddya' mean?"

"Well, blame my stupid intuition and me overthinking, but I keep thinking about how the essence of Nightmare Moon was able to find him as a host. I mean, does it go after pegasi? Or does it find someone who is the most similar to her? I-I don't know, I'm just speculating."

"Oh pfft! That's nonsense. I don't think it goes after pegasi, Twilight."

"What if it does though?"

"But... it's not going to." Rainbow Dash knowingly smiled. "Twilight, nothin' bad's gonna' happen. Today's supposed to be a day of relaxation for everyone. I don't think he should be excluded."

"I know, I'm only looking after my friends, you know that. If I were to lose you to this thing he has, I don't know what I'd do with myself."

"Once again, that's complete nonsense... He might have evil in him, but he's not gonna' to do anything bad." She flipped her rainbow mane condescendingly. "Especially to me."

"Well, I'm glad you're back." Although Twilight seemed a tad bit dejected, there was radiance in her voice no doubt. She watched Rainbow Dash walk out into the halls, her gait full of surprising cheer. A shock to her, knowing Rainbow Dash was bouncing back from her traumatic experience with such pride and bravery made Twilight envious of her strong mind. Rainbow's steps disappeared in the extravagance and not a minute had even passed.

"Fluttershy?" Twilight reached down and picked up a cupcake. It was a triple chocolate recipe: chocolate cupcake, chocolate frosting, and obviously, large chocolate chunks either in the batter or dotted on top. A perfect treat for such a gloomy day.

"What is it?"

"I uh... Was it wrong to, y-yell at him like that?"

"I think you know the answer to that." Fluttershy looked at Spike reflectively.

"Ok. I'm mature enough to take responsibility for my mistakes. But I really need to calm down first." Twilight was rewarded with silent nods of agreement. "R-Right, all this is simply me overdoing it. I'll close my eyes and not think about anything but myself."

"You need to remember to give yourself breaks. You can get a little too hard on yourself over small things. Heh, I think me and Fluttershy can tell you that much, if not all of your friends and family."

"I... Know, Spike. Thank you for being there to remind me. There are a lotta' things I can't really stop myself from doing. Eheh, I'm a little impulsive sometimes."

"That's just how the pony mind works—uh, and dragons, of course. We all have something in our heads that make us different." Fluttershy sat down in a padded chair next to Twilight.

"Yeah... I've heard it all, Fluttershy. But thanks for reminding me. Even princesses need to be reminded of the basics here and there." Twilight emptied the spongy cake inside the wax paper cup. She heard Fluttershy sigh and the room went silent once Spike told of his temporary leave. A brassy trill of the clock managed to partially fill the desperate space that only grew staler.

"Hey, Fluttershy?"

"Hmm?"

"What was he like at first?"

"Who?"

"Cloud Strider. He found your house before we came to see what was happening, right?"

"Yeah, he did. Are you asking how he acted?" Fluttershy watched Twilight turn her head and nod. There was no notepad or extrinsic motivation to record her words. No scribbling of ink or keywords for a dictionary and texts to devour. All Twilight did was lean in and listen.

"You know? It's kinda' fuzzy for me, but I remember a lot. It was on that rainy night awhile back and I was starting to settle in for the night. I sipped on my tea in my room upstairs, my lights were out and all of a sudden I hear this loud banging on my door. It obviously scared me straight, but I was working on my bravery and the next thing I know, I'm walking up to the door. Whatever was banging had stopped and I turned the lights on downstairs. I saw him sitting against the house curled in the ball, actually shivering a little. At this point, I opened the door and looked at him long after he was staring back at me. I didn't even think about what he was capable of or what he would do to me, and I grabbed his leg, finally leading him inside."

"What did he think about some mare pulling him inside of her house?"

"Oh my, he was so confused and surprised about what I did. The first thing he asked me was how he didn't have anything to pay me back with, hehehe! At that moment, the way he said it and how thin and cold he looked, I just had this strange feeling that he just needed a little help is all. I didn't even know about the Nightmare Moon thing after we went to Canterlot. He was nice; I let him eat with me and let him take a shower, he called me "ma'am", he kept his distance from things because he knew he was dirty, not to mention respectful and reserved. Hmm, well, I guess we also learned his fascination with Canterlot too. He didn't want to say much, but he said he was going there. Then you guys showed up and you know the rest."

"Hmm, thanks. That's good to know. It really puts my mind at ease."

"Why's that?"

"In my experience, reading all these legends and stories of how ponies are consumed by darkness—and how it's impossible to fight it alone in all. He's managed to keep himself planted in reality and determined as, well, all hell. He's still redeemable and is still good, it seems... I know he can come back from this, I can see it when he looks me straight in the eyes, that small little flicker becomes more luminous than ever. Even if for that faint moment it happens."

"Wow, you can get that by just looking at him?"

"He's willing to do anything to get his prize. Although he may second-guess himself or lose hope, we'll be there to remind him of his goal."

"Twilight? Are you ready, silly?!" The two mares instantly looked at each other and gave out a cooperative laugh. Seeing that the room and the friendly get-together environment was enveloped in copious amounts of normalcy and blandness.

"I really hope Rainbow was right about Pinkie having something up her sleeves."

———

Big places tend to appeal to the imaginative mind, whether it appealed to the fear or the aspirations of wonderment was wholly dependent on the mind. And in Rainbow Dash's mind, the hollow iridescent halls of the castle did not fall short of instilling a smattering of both emotions. Looking back and forth, the restroom door warmly clunked closed behind her. Rainbow Dash leaned forward and backward, stretching every appendage of her body with a delighted buzzing of her wings.

"Mmmhmm." Her eyes listed towards the left and started down the hall at an eager trot. All the pillars and oddities passed her by without even acknowledging her strange affinity for optimism and newfound sensibility. But the new things she felt left only room for improvement. Rainbow did little to care about being courtly or—in this case—simply having proper manners and entered Cloud Strider's room. It was in her nature to challenge the bounds of her friend's personal preferences and comforts.

"Cloud?" Rainbow's ears instantly pricked up. She recognized the sounds from the night in Canterlot but could not remember what he called it. The flush curtains carefully moved in a wavy flare, rolling down to the very tips. Her hooves parted the drapes and revealed the ajar door. Cloud Strider leaned hard against the railing. His sword rested to his right with a whetstone and scabbard in all, his flute within his clutches looking out across the deep fields. Playing away a light and thoughtful piece with many inclinations and protracted notes. Rainbow Dash opened the door and stealthily walked towards him, which only took a few steps for her. She tapped him on the back; seeing him jolt just ever so slightly forced an accomplished smile on her face.

"Oh, Rainbow. Hey... I didn't expect you to come out here."

"You kiddin'? I work in this weather. Fuck, I create it."

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Well, I used to I mean."

"Given it any thought? We could still use a flyer. The guy-girl ratio is sorta'—lopsided, if you know what I mean."

"Gah hah!" Cloud Strider dipped his head and gave her a cocky grin, "isn't this whole town lopsided? More mares here than a damn brothel."

"Broth-oh, nevermind, heheh."

"So... you came out here to see what my problem is? Am I right or am I right?"

"Screw you, Bonehead."

"Did the party or whatever start?"

"No? I don't think so. Why?"

"Eh, I saw Pinkie Pie down there going inside. She waved at me playing my flute so I had to wave back. She might be full of pent-up energy but at least she's really nice." His gaze steered back at Rainbow, sharing the rail with her as her figure mimicked his.

"What is it then, Rainbow?"

"Well, did you ever consider that I only want to talk?" Rainbow Dash shrugged, "and, y-you know. Maybe to talk about why Twilight got mad, just a tiny little bit."

"Yeah, thought so. What did she say?"

"She told me what you did with your magic in front of Mrs. Cake. And I told her that you couldn't be kept a secret forever."

"Oh, she wasn't happy about that, I bet."

"I mean, yeah, it got her blood pressure up a little more. But I think she knows it's true." Rainbow Dash somberly shrugged it all off. "Just not the best time for it to happen."

"Wait, you're blamin' this on me?"

"What? No! That's not it at all. But why did you use your magic?"

"I didn't know it would happen, Rainbow. I held my hoof out when the box started fallin' and it just jumped out of my leg. To be honest, it's happened on more than just this occasion."

"I heard her say that she wants to teach you how to control it. I think-"

"Yeah, I know, I know. I probably do need to find the cause of why it just happens. But I'm afraid of even my own power. Lots of it is still beyond my understanding." The flute tapped against the gilded rails. It's hollow, woody clunk against the metallic thump of golden rail nearly quaked the air given how soft the vibrations carried.

"Now I've gone and probably ruined her reputation when the truth gets out."

"Ok, don't start with that waterworks bullshit. You didn't ruin anything. You're only being hard on yourself again you big idiot."

"Of course. It's my method of telling myself what I did and how to improve."

"That's not a good "method", Cloud. That's... That isn't good at all, even by my standards. Putting yourself down on purpose?"

"What do you have in mind then, smartass?"

"Oh, I don't know, channel that failure or criticism into something productive. Something you can be proud of."

Cloud Strider tore off a piece of his outer lip in the process of mulling over her words. He did not have control of his own head and mindlessly nodded. "I don't know what I'd do for that though."

She carefully looked Cloud over, trying to think of something that he had either said or was on his person.

"Uh, what about your cutie mark? What did you do to get that?" Rainbow Dash watched him look at his flank.

"It was kind of a traumatic experience; I'd rather not right now."

"Whatever, it can't be that bad."

"Just like you, Rainbow. I nearly died for somethin'. Although your experience was way more recent... Let's just say that big cliffs and not knowing how to fly yet don't mix."

"Yeah... those definitely don't mix." She fell into a small fit of snickering and half-meaningful chuckles. "I guess both of us know the feeling, Ke-he-he!"

"What?"

"Near-death."

"Doesn't feel too good, huh?" Cloud stared at her but she neglected to answer.

"As soon as that happened to you, I could feel it. I immediately knew how you felt that instant... even though I don't remember what happened for a few minutes after that. But I know you're having problems still. And maybe they're startin' to go away and everything's going back to the way it was before I was here. And I've said this so many fucking times I can't count, but I can't help but feel responsible." He stood back and away from the rim, picking up his sword and scabbard with a tightened grip. Without a single purpose, he found it in his hooves and playing with the setup. Rainbow showed concern and recoil all over her body, forcing his hooves and weapon back on the ground.

"If you ever get the need to talk about it? Come talk to me. I don't want you to let it consume you like it almost did to me. I mean, you're too cool for that shit."

"A-Alright, thanks, Bonehead. You're lucky to have someone as cool as me around anyway."

"That's more like it." Cloud watched more sheets of rain move into the area. The torrent swallowed lines of trees and grasses just beyond Ponyville's city limits. "C'mon, we should probably go check up on Twilight, see how this "get-together" is going."

"Yeah... maybe."

"Or, we can stay here a little longer? Whatever you want to do, Rainbow. I'm all in."

"Nah. I see the rain too, you big idiot."

"Oh, that's how it's gonna' be, eh?" Cloud smirk as he leaned forward.

"Yeah, get used-oh shit, no way. Look." Cloud looked where Rainbow Dash pointed to on the trail. Just beyond the next hill, the two ponies could see Applejack and Rarity completely oblivious to the wall of water silently creeping up on them.

"Put a pep in your step, get trottin'!" She cupped her hooves, hoping her words would reach their ears.

'Hope they like rain.' His thoughts differed vastly from Rainbow's preferences about those two mares. It did not matter what he did, Applejack and Rarity were not interested in giving him a chance to redeem himself. Whatever act he committed could not save him from their blind reprisal.

"Alright, we can go now." She walked past, letting him pick his own stuff up into his hooves.

"Thanks," he laid this flute and sword next to his bags.

"Hey, I closed the door at least. You're welcome." With her eyes closely locked, she turned wherever he paced. "Where are you goin'?"

"Bathroom, want a towel to dry off?"

"Yeah, actually." A towel came whizzing out of the restroom, landing at her hooves. The door closed shut in front of her face.

"Thanks..."

"Hey! I closed the door, you're welcome."

"Think you're funny, Bonehead?"

"I mean, I make you laugh about stupid shit. So yeah?"

Rainbow Dash quickly patted dry her coat and feathers, wadding the towel into the tight ball. She peeked around the room, looking for things she missed or were added.

"Oh, hello." She grabbed a bottle of malt whiskey. "When did you get a handle of scotch? Also, you drink?"

"Of course I drink! What kind of stallion you think I am?"

"I don't know... a douche?"

"Oh. That makes sense." Cloud washed his hooves after a loud flush filtered through the door.

"We should get a drink sometime. Bet I could drink you under the table."

"Yeah, I'd like to see how that one plays out. I thought you heard Twilight talk about how I got drunk about a week ago or somethin'."

"Really? Hahaha! Was she mad?"

"The next morning she was. She said she locked me in my room too." Cloud Strider dried his hooves and slowly walked out. "Yeah, she was plenty pissed."

Rainbow aimed and threw the towel with all her might in the piston leg she had. It hit him straight on his muzzle with a considerable force. "Wring that out in your mouth."

"Your sweat, dirt, and stewing rainwater? I'll pass."

"Alright, but we're gettin' a drink sometime within the next few weeks, k?"

"Sounds fun."

"Hehe, sounds fun. Yeah, sounds fun to lose a bet." That simple comment from her mouth made him inwardly chuckle. A sly, but wanting smirk rose unknowingly behind her back. Rainbow Dash paced out and waved her hoof to follow.

"Dammit, Rainbow... Goddammit."

———

"Uh, It's just down here. I can hear Pinkie Pie talking, do you?" Rainbow Dash pointed the rounded tip of her hoof towards an open door at the far ends of the hallway.

"Of course I do." Cloud closed his eyes triumphantly.

"Ok... alright, so you have good hearing then."

"Aren't all pegasi supposed to have good hearing and sight?"

"Well—most of them do... just wondering if you were one of the few."

"Thanks. What do you take me for? A doddering old stallion? I'm still in my prime time, baby." Cloud questioned himself without warning. Wondering if he really just said something as strange as that.

'Baby? What the fuck is happening to you?' He even went to the lengths of covering his oozing mouth for a moment's respite. Rainbow Dash's hoof prodded him in the sides and chest, injecting a mild shock through his nerves.

"Ah, uh. What?"

"I said, prove it old timer."

"What do you want me to do?" The dull shuffle of his hooves quickly died. He stepped back once Rainbow jumped in front of him, her face full of muddled envy and vanity in a deadly couple.

"Race me. Unless you're scared of losing to a mare."

"Not at all. Hehehe, I think I can give you a run for your money, Rainbow. Don't you worry your pretty little head... But if it involves flying against you, then I'm screwed."

"A run for my money? Ok, you want to make it interesting, huh? And don't you worry your pretty little fuckin' head because I've decided to be good to you." Rainbow Dash did not let up on the genuine act, which thoroughly impressed Cloud as he returned the confident attitude.

"What are the terms?"

"A hoof race to the open door, starting right... here." She scuffed an invisible line into the floor which followed a certain askew gradient. "If I win, you gotta' buy the first drinks and join the weather patrol."

"Geez, what else do you want? And If I win?"

"Whatever you want—Eh, I mean, w-within reason, though. Luna only knows what goes on in your head, you depraved fuck."

"Wow, you're being an ass today. Not saying you're never full of yourself, but hey."

"Yeah, I know I'm actin' up right now. I don't know why I'm being all, ugh, you know, open and stupid, or whatever... Just tell me what you want already, Bonehead!"

"I don't know yet." He polished the underside of his muzzle and crooned to himself. "What do you even have that I'd want?"

"Anytime today, please."

"Yeah, yeah." Cloud Strider glanced over at Rainbow's quick crumbling patience. The truth be told, when push came to shove, he had nothing of interest on his mind.

"Decided?"

"I don't want anything."

Rainbow Dash was completely thrown for a loop, perplexed by his cloy and rather empty sentiment.

"Cloud, that isn't exactly fair."

"Why not?"

"Well, for starters, it's retarded. Another thing is why you're even racing. I have all the cards and you don't, what exactly are you trying to fight for then?"

"Proving myself."

"Uh... ok. But you don't gotta' prove anything."

"Remember when we were fightin' each other in Canterlot? That was the only time I've really shown you what I can do. I just want to put my skills to the test against someone who thinks the same."

"Hey, I already said I believe what you're capable of, ok? I'm not callin' your bluff." She stretched her wings and slender legs. "If you win, I'll give you a hundred bits. How's that?"

"Aye, your choice."

"Nah, It'll make it even more interesting." She exchanged looks of sheer confidence with him as each pony stretched. Cloud Strider rubbed his hooves against the fine stone, lining up on the imaginary line with frictional warmth in his hooves. Rainbow Dash popped her neck and leaned low towards the ground, both had their eyes set on the cursory prize of thin air and lofty incentives.

"Do you hear the clock?" Rainbow drew her legs back even further.

"I can hear everything you can, maybe even more..." Cloud leveled his eyes with her's, staring coldly down the hallway without blinking his eyes.

"Hehe, as soon as it hits five ticks, go. Starting now." Her ears crooked towards the incessant ticking, each count built up more and more energy in their little competition.

*Tick... tick... tick... tick... tick.* The last monumental tick had unquestionable power behind it, as a concussive blast would wave the air and thump against their chests in excitement. Just as their lungs let out their guttural and sharp exhales and inhales. Each step filled with a drive more than the last. Every movement and every complete set of gallops fueled the race. The weight their hooves carried sent the haunting sound easily through the castle's nooks and crannies.

Cloud Strider looked over at the rare occurrence when both were transiently floating out of pure instinct, when silence was the only sound in their ears. She was fast and he knew only the surface of what he faced: a freakishly toned pegasus. The very thought made him mad with envy and worth. How she worked in one motion and how everything to her was only a reflex to her design, all from a simple race. Cloud pushed harder with each step driven to the ground. Both pulled ahead one after another but the game did not change.

He gave everything he could offer but Rainbow Dash looked so calm about it, as if she was not even trying her hardest. The thought and the feeling left an unsatiable pit in his gut; he had a good reason for it.

'Shit! The finish line!' Cloud Strider looked at the door only four doors down. At the speed he was going, the race was already over. Something had to change either now or never. He did not have to wait a moment too soon. Cloud carefully watched how she galloped with a refined stride, she was not oblivious to her surroundings as well. The finish line now only feet from their muzzles and hooves, scraping by the skin of their teeth. with every muscle straining to its very limits, screaming in exasperation. He witnessed, in a last-ditch effort, as Rainbow Dash leaped forward with striking speed, becoming as slender as a loosed arrow drilling through the air.

Cloud Strider was absolutely dumbstruck, he did not even need to try anymore. She catapulted ahead with the few precious moments that were left. Charged with momentum, Cloud Strider dug deep to his side and scraped across the hard ground, nearly falling over just to the venomous sound it made. Rainbow Dash, however, suffered the repercussions and slid belly first into the crystal wall right after.

"Rainbow?! Shit, you alright?" Cloud slid until he stopped right next to her and leaned down. The heat in his hooves had actually caused a slight burning to occur; smelling it in the air was not a first for him. She did little to vocally respond coherently, but nodded her head, nonetheless. All while face down and panting for every bit of air with gluttony on her pride-soaked mind.

"What in Celestia's name is happening out here?!" Cloud Strider looked over, seeing Twilight extremely cross with Rainbow Dash and himself. Most of her friends slowly shuffled out of the room moments later, a wide mix of feelings and emotions towards the ones on trial.

'Here comes the ball-bustin' brigade...' He listened to Rarity gasp and trot up to him without fear.

"What did you do to her?! Did you hurt her you outlandish knuckle-dragger?!" Rarity pushed him away from Rainbow and back against the wall. Cloud forced his hooves to stay down, letting her vent all of her anger.

"Rarity, no." Her body slowly peeled away from Cloud. Twilight continued to hold her back without hesitation. "Not now."

He did not find it funny. Seeing Rarity get red in her cheeks and making a foul out of herself in front of her peers. It was none of his concern, nor did he care. "Show your true colors, Rarity."

"Excuse me?"

"I think you heard me the first time, so don't pull that shit with me."

"O-o-oh, you must know everything, huh? Such a hypocritical thing to say you dirty heathen! Don't forget about yourself in that matter." Rarity hurdled over modesty and lady-like temperament. She was ready to jump into the fray.

"At least I try to hide it... you could never relate, anyways. If I turned right here, you'd probably piss yourself on the spot."

"Both of ya', knock-it-off!" To Cloud's complete surprise, Applejack's voice rose above the horn and crown. "Just, quit it."

"I would have thought you would have my back on this one, Applejack. Why not now?!" Rarity went slack-jawed.

"Ah know, Rarity. But he wasn't tryin' to beat up on 'er. They were-"

"We were just racin' each other! Calm down!" Rainbow Dash stared back at her congregation of friends.

'Ouch.' He wanted to smile and bellow a laugh full of smug arrogance. But even by his standards, he found it very difficult. No point in proving her's after all. Applejack and Rarity slowly escaped the situation and back into the previous room. Unquestionable mumblings carefully floated out, no doubt about him and what Rarity just did to herself.

"Hey, nice slide there." Cloud offered his foreleg and she grappled tight with no hesitation.

"Thanks," Rainbow Dash felt his other hoof touch her underside and immediately winced. "Ech!"

"Oh, bit of a friction burn, huh?"

"Y-Yeah, just a little bit." Rainbow Dash saw Fluttershy come over and started inspecting without Rainbow's approval.

"What were you thinking, hmm? You didn't have to do that, Dashie."

"What was I thinkin'? Winning the race is what I was thinkin'."

"Hehe, well damn." Cloud Strider shook his head, "a deal's a deal, Rainbow."

"Wait, I won?!" Her eyes frantically beaded back and forth. Cloud nodded while Twilight rolled her eyes. "Twilight? Is that true? Did you see it?"

"Yes, I saw you shoot by barely before him. But why were-"

"Yes! So it was worth it after all!" Rainbow Dash joyfully celebrated her personal victory. "Man! You almost had me there, Cloud. But, obviously, you can't beat the best."

"Hahaha, uh huh."

"Seriously though, good fuckin' race. You're pretty good." Rainbow and Cloud bumped hooves with a powerful thud.

"So when do I start, boss?"

"Heh. I'll keep you up to date, Bonehead."

"Aye, good."

"Excuse me, Rainbow and Cloud. Would you like to explain?" Twilight checked herself before treading to a point of no return. Their grounds were uneasy, on the verge of another quake. Even her fake smile showed how irritated but conversed she had to be.

"I think Rainbow explained it in a sentence."

"Yeah, we both made a bet on who would win. And I won." Rainbow Dash grinned as Twilight let out a low growl.

"Why?"

"Because it was fun?... I really don't understand why you have a stick up your ass. It's kinda' annoying."

"Cloud Strider, do not undermine me like that. Not in front of everyone."

"Cloud. That's not appropriate to say that to her... Twilight?" She hers shot towards Fluttershy, "remember what we talked about."

"I'm only saying, Twilight. We were just tryin' to liven things up a little. I don't want all this stupid shit going on gettin' to us, not right now." He paused for her rebuttal. Twilight crunched her teeth and forced herself to maintain composure.

"Ok... Alright. I understand. I hope it's out of both of your systems."

"Yeah, hehehe, I think so." Rainbow Dash prodded the burns purposefully.

"Aye."

"Good. I know you two are getting to be really close friends, but try to keep it someplace that it won't bother others, ok? It's bad enough to deal with one Rainbow Dash."

"Twilight, are you sayin' I act like Rainbow Dash?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Twilight vigorously nodded with a newfound resplendence by the looks she received from Rainbow Dash.

"Thanks a lot, egghead. I thought there was only room for one of me."

"Well, he acts like you, eh—occasionally. Not all the time." Twilight Sparkle walked up to Rainbow Dash, offering to help. Rainbow simply passed it off as another "necessary sacrifice" for her own personal greater-good. "Go sit down then, please?"

"Ok, I think I deserve it for my big win." Rainbow let Fluttershy walk next to her, just in case, as she always seemed to do for the injured. Cloud Strider brushed himself off. The after effects of their race really repleted him with a lust for torpor and, strangely enough, an openness to relaxation.

"Ah, fuck me. I'm out of another bet." He swore under his pale breath, pacing by Twilight.

"Stop,"

Cloud did as he was told as the door glimmered shut, "hmm."

"Let's talk for a second. About what happened earlier."

"Uh huh." He did nothing but sigh beforehand, knowing where this conversation was steering towards.

"Well—I shouldn't have yelled at you and filled your head with a bunch of my own insecurities. I know you were just looking out for me, you know, with your magic?"

Ok? Twilight-"

"I'm serious, Cloud. I've told you this a million times. I'm really picky about keeping things in place and when something goes wrong, I have a hard time dealing with it. All this cloak-and-dagger is something I haven't dealt with on such a grand-scale... And I'm just now starting to realize what's happening and how you must feel. Sorry for snapping at you."

"Eh-heh, Twilight? Didn't I tell you earlier not to apologize for everything that happens? I'm causin' you enough problems just by standin' around here as is. If anything, I should be the one kissing your purebred hooves."

"No, nono! There's not going to be any kissing of hooves. I know you're joking, so don't even start. And purebred? Really? I might be a princess and my family does have connections, but come on now. I'm not some snob thinking I'm above others... A-Am I?"

"No, you're pretty humble about it. Although you've never mentioned your parents and relatives in great detail, so I'll take your word for it."

"Ok, good. Rainbow told me that this secret won't last forever, and sooner or later, ponies will find out about you. She was so calm and collected about it, considering all the bad stuff she's dealing with. Extremely well, might I add."

"Yeah, she's gotta' good head on her. I wouldn't doubt it for a second."

"I just hope that everyone will have a "good head" soon. Regarding the feelings towards you." Twilight snickered in the heat of the moment. "I'm dating myself, but I feel like I need to say sorry on their behalf again. I really don't understand Rarity's and Applejack's, uh, displeasure, I guess, against you. It's just not like them to act out."

"Don't worry about it. They're just bustin' my balls-er, I mean, giving me a hard time."

"Much better, thank you."

"But, Rarity did pretty much call me a disgusting foreigner just now. So maybe I'm wrong about that?"

"I'm sure they'll warm up to you. They'll see something about you that they like and maybe talk to you about it. Time will tell."

"I can't force their leg. Let them see what they want to see. If they don't come around? Then they were a lost cause in the first place."

"They are not a lost cause, Cloud. I think they don't trust you because you haven't done anything to impress them or catch their attention. Although, saving Rainbow from certain death should have been that one thing... I'll have to sit those two down and talk to them because this needs to stop. It's been far too long that this trivial rivalry has been going on."

"Yeah." Cloud Strider swallowed and leaned against the wall in silence. Twilight followed closely by but could not contain her brimming mind for too long, perhaps not long enough for him.

"Can I ask you something personal, well, two things? Y-You don't have to answer them if it makes you feel uncomfortable." Twilight asked, netting a silent nod. She had no reason to second guess herself, no reason to be afraid.

"Do you hate them, Cloud?" Twilight Sparkle gulped surprisingly loud.

"They're blind, nothing more."

'Thanks for speaking in cryptic verses...' She hastily followed up, "elaborate."

"They're fucking idiotic, is that better? I don't pose a danger to them so why all this anger? Besides, I've told you this plenty of times, just in different ways. But, to answer your question, I don't hate them."

"Uh, yeah. I understand. And the second question?"

"Go ahead."

"What was the worst thing you had to face when you were traveling to Equestria?"

Cloud Strider strayed away from the question for what seemed like ages in his aching mind. So many answers to such a question deceptively simple. So many things scored into his brain, stains that plagued his mind constantly. Visions entered his head, rendering his grasp of reality into a stasis of time.

"Cloud?"

He felt someone jostling his shoulder but ignored it. Seeing faint smatterings of Nightmare Moon and everything he remembered on his journey floating to and fro, statically and painfully.

"Cloud, stop it. Come back."

The patting on his shoulder turned into a frantic punch, constantly growing in applied force. But with one last punch, the sound and impact hit a perfect equilibrium that thudded deep into his chest and the hallway. Like striking the perfect note inside of him, his body went into overdrive. His eyes dilated and his ears went stiff, shoving his burdened thoughts back down within the deepest recesses. Twilight continued to ask if he was ok, but he gave her a look that made her stop and shrink.

"Sanity..."

The Forlorn Moon

by Doctor Blizzard

Act I Chapter I

Act I Chapter II

Act I Chapter III

Act I Chapter IV

Act I Chapter V