Zephyr Breeze, Marble Pie and Snips set themselves on their friends and family after receiving greatly enhanced abilities from an unknown Unicorn.
Ponyville is filled with ponies who know their place and have clear and bright futures, but that is not true for all. Zephyr Breeze, Marble Pie and Snips are all ponies whose lives are far from what they wished they were; filed with unsatisfied desires and lingering worries. They remain in the background of Equestrian life until a mysterious Unicorn offers them the ability to become what they could never be on their own and sets them loose to confront all the pain, anger and fear that secretly surrounds their hearts. Everything inside them comes boiling to the surface as they use their newfound power to make sure that the world finally sees them.
Rainbow Dash hurried through Ponyville, trying to finish some shopping before heading to the Wonderbolt Compound back in Cloudsdale. Her rapid pace was brought to a grinding halt at the sound of an unwelcomed voice.
"Hey there, RD." Zephyr Breeze stepped from the doorway of the barbershop.
"Ugh, hey... Zephyr." Rainbow Dash let out a long sigh as he walked in front of her, impeding her path.
"What's up?" He asked cheerfully. "Haven't seen you in a while." His hoof motioned back towards the barbershop. "Got a little part time gig here now; you know... putting those styling skills to use."
"That's great, Zephyr." She tried to sidestep but he followed her over.
"Wanna little snip snip?" He tried to reach out to her mane but she backed her head away. "First ones' free." He leaned in. "Just for you though, don't go spreading that around."
"Can't, in a hurry." She stepped to the opposite side, but again he followed.
"You're always in a hurry, Dash." He swam his foreleg in a wave motion. "You need to slow down and enjoy the ride of life every once in a while. Maybe... grab a bite to eat?" He grinned with a not so subtle wink. "I can take a little break."
"Tell you what." Rainbow Dash flew up over his head. "Grab one for both of us, I need to get back; really busy today." She sped off and left him in her dust cloud.
"Ha ha… okay, RD." He waved with a disheartened sigh. "Maybe next time."
"Excuse me?" A rich voice came from behind him.
Zephyr whipped around, taken by the striking Unicorn before him. "Oh, hello there." He laughed nervously. "Can I... help you?"
"You style manes, correct?" She asked.
"Absolutely." He smiled. "Uh... did you overhear that free thing? Because that's not..."
"I assure you I can pay." She stepped inside.
"Awesome." He followed after her. "So, what kind of magic can I work for you today, miss...?"
"Renaissance." She tipped her head. "And you are?"
"Zephyr Breeze, at your service." He gestured to an open chair. "How can I craft your coif today?"
"Hmm, surprise me." Renaissance sat in the chair and stared into his eyes through the reflection of the mirror.
"No problem." He chuckled, a bit unnerved at the intensity of her gaze.
"I couldn't help but notice your exchange outside." She began as he started his work. "That was Rainbow Dash of the Wonderbolts, correct?"
"Sure was." He confirmed.
"Are you two close?"
Her questioned staggered him inside. "Well... I'd like to think so. We've known each other for years, she's like best friends with my sis." His mind wandered throughout the years. "I've watched her go from a plucky filly to hero of Equestria; she's... really amazing."
"Your tone suggests you care for her greatly." She smiled. "She must be important to you, although... she seemed rather dismissive of you."
"Well." He let out a dry laugh. "You know, all part of the... strategy." He shimmied his shoulders. "The dance of love, as they say."
The smile faded from Renaissance's face and her tone darkened. "Is it fun lying to yourself?"
"Huh?" He paused, his eyes returning to her piecing stare in the glass. "I'm not..."
"Stop." She shook her head. "You are like many others I have seen; you cling to hope as if somehow fate will swoop in and alter the world to give you what you desire."
"Look." He backed away from the chair. "No offense, but you're creeping me out; can we not talk about me anymore?"
"That right there, that instinct to accept that you are not worth discussion is what the world has given you." She magically fixed her mane and stood from the chair, turning to him with the same burning gaze. "Let me tell you something; the world does not notice the meek and mild."
"My sister would beg to differ." He muttered, looking away from her.
"Really?" She cocked her head. "Why is that?"
He looked back into her eyes, seeing that they had softened. In spite of the topic, looking into her eyes made him feel like he could trust her; even with his deepest thoughts."Be… because she's always been quiet and shy but everypony always loves her." A hint of bitterness manifested in his voice. "She doesn't even try... I try my tail off to stand out and all it ever gets me is pushed aside."
Her smile returned. "There, finally some truth." She commended. "Doesn't that feel better?"
"No." He huffed. "Why would it be fun to admit that I'm…"
"What?"
"Ju... just a loser." His eyes went downcast.
"Why do you think that?" She continued.
"Because it's true!" He finally answered with a strong stamp of his hoof. "My parents always help me, but I know deep down they're embarrassed of me... even my sister." He tossed his hoof out to the side. "And Rainbow Dash just thinks I'm a joke; I've thought the world of her since we were young and she treats me like dirt. She doesn't even give me a chance."
"It's easy to wind up playing a part that is repeatedly thrust upon us." She went to him, setting her hoof under his chin and holding his head up. "Listen, I did not come here for mane care. I live to help ponies like you, ponies that have so much to say and yet no voice to say it with; and my magic led me to you which means that you need my help."
"You... you can help?" He asked timidly. "How?"
"I can remake you, give you what you need to not only have that voice that you lack but ensure that the world finally sees you."
Zephyr's mind struggled with such an offer, but could not deny how enticing it sounded. "That sounds cool, but what do you..."
"Nothing." Renaissance smiled. "As I said, I live to help ponies like you." Her horn began to glow. "Now, let me work my magic on you."
Morning saw Limestone and Marble engaged in the same lockstep routine that every morning brought with it; although lately the pair had been working more than usual since their father had broken his leg following an accident the week prior. The sisters ate their breakfast and headed out to begin the day's work, although Marble had a noticeable pep in her trot. They labored until noon, when they returned to the house for the lunch their mother had prepared. The duo ate by themselves while their mother returned to the upstairs to feed their father.
"Eat fast." Limestone grumbled. "Still got a lot to get done before the sun goes down."
"Mm, hm." Marble nodded. Doing as instructed, she was quick to leave the table and hurry to her room when finished. She retuned with a flyer held in her mouth, offering it to Limestone with smiling eyes.
"Huh, what's this?" Limestone took the paper and laid it on the table. "Harvest Faire?"
"Mm, hm." Marble nodded again.
"Come on, Marble." Limestone let out a hard sigh. "You know there's no time for stuff like this, especially now." She grimaced as Marble's smile faded. "With mom taking care of pop it's down to just you and me, the farm needs us at 120%." Marble's eyes soured in response. "Don't give me that look, you know I'm right."
"B...bu..." Marble began.
"No buts." Limestone stood. "Look, let's just get through this month. When pop is back up on his feet I'll find some time to let you go do whatever, but right now it's just out of the question."
Marble sulked as Limestone headed back outside, calling for her to follow. She quietly obeyed and finished out the day, having lost the pep she had started it with. Limestone offered her more logic to defend her position and as always Marble simply nodded, accepting her elder sister's will. After another quiet dinner, Marble returned to the field to be alone and think; she sat atop a cold rock with the chilled night air rolling over her.
"Hello, child." A mysterious new voice called. Marble whipped her head up to see an unfamiliar Unicorn and a Pegasus she vaguely recalled. "I am sorry to have startled you." Marble shook her head to signify that it was alright. "My, you are quite the silent one, aren't you? Why is that, I wonder." She sat beside Marble. "Do you not like to speak?"
"Um..." Marble mumbled, ultimately shaking her head.
"Why ever not?" Renaissance asked. "Surely you have things you wish to say."
Marble looked into the stranger's eyes and felt an overwhelming comfort wash over her, more comfort than she found in even her own mother's typically stern gaze. "Mm, hm." She slowly nodded in response.
"Not much of a conversationalist." Zephyr noted.
"That is not her fault." Renaissance reached up and petted her cheek. "This is what the world has done to her, she suffers as you do; such suffering can manifest in all manner of ways." She smiled reassuringly. "Since you are short on words, allow me my own; my name is Renaissance and my magic has led me to you." She explained. "My life's work is to help ponies like you, ones that have their identity and voice suppressed by the world around them because they are seen as lesser." Marble's eyes belied her timid nature, great uncertainty at the Unicorn's words swirling within them. "It is true." Renaissance assured. "You may feel alone in the world, but I promise you there are so many like you; I aid them by giving them what they need to make their voices heard." A light laugh left her. "Something you seem to need more than any other I've come across."
"It's true." Zephyr stepped over with a confident smile. "She's helped me already and I feel like a new pony." His eyes suddenly began to glow blue. "When the time is right, I'm going to make my grand entrance and things are going to change."
"Don't you want to be heard?" Renaissance continued. "Are you happy remaining silent and at the behest of all around you?"
Marble shook her head. "N..n...no..." She finally uttered.
"Then will you allow me to help you?"
"Y... yes." Marble answered with a bit more volume.
"You have made the first and most important step in ensuring that the world will finally see the full potential of..." She looked at her expectantly.
"M..Marble." She answered, her lips forming a small smile. "Marble Pie."
Outside the Buckball Stadium, Snips had quietly set up his merchandise display, looking to make some quick bits while he waited for Snails to wrap up his practice game. His bored mind wandered as he dealt with the occasional customer until he jumped at the sharp call of one of the stadium's security. He looked over to see Applebloom pointing at him, the officer quickly heading over.
"You again." The stallion groaned. "How many times do I have to chase you off? I told you, no soliciting on the stadium grounds."
"Hey, all my merchandise is in support of the team with fifty... well, forty percent being donated." Snips defended, staring up at the stallion. "I'm doing you a favor here."
"You want to do me a favor?" He asked in return. "Quit causing trouble before I have to haul you in and have all this stuff confiscated."
"Fine." Snips began packing up. "Always trying to keep a business pony down." He muttered.
"Don't let me catch you out here again." The officer headed off as Applebloom approached.
"Why'd you rat me out?" Snips eyed her.
"Because you're little business schemes just ain't honest." She shook her head. "My family operates a business and we don't take kindly to stuff like this; it's just so... Flim and Flam. Seriously, when did you become such a bit hungry grifter?"
"What else is there?" He asked back, folding up his table. "We can't all be famous and popular."
"I ain't all those things."
"Sister to a hero of Equestria." Snips began. "Part of the famous CMC and tutor at Twilight's school of friendship." He shook his head in frustration. "Go be perfect somewhere else and leave me alone."
"Hey." She huffed. "Don't get mad at me because you got caught doing something you weren't supposed to be doing."
"Whoa there." Scootaloo halted them as she raced up on her scooter, Sweetie Belle right behind her. "What's going on?"
"Snips is hawking this junk again." Applebloom explained.
"Really?" Sweetie Belle raised her brow at him.
"It isn't junk." Snips grumbled. "I make quality souvenirs." He whipped a pennet out of his pack, unfortunately with so much speed it snapped in half.
"Uh huh." Applebloom toned judgmentally.
"Alright now." Scootaloo waved them down. "Let's not fight about this."
"Snips." Sweetie Belle looked at him with concern. "I have to admit, you've been taking these business plans a little far lately. You never used to be like this."
Snips genuinely angered at that. "You know, it's bad enough that I barely see my only real friend anymore; I don't need a lecture from you three." He pushed through them and started off.
"Maybe you do." Applebloom continued. "You..."
"Yeah, I suck! I get it!" He glared back at them.
"Snips, that's not what we're saying." Scootaloo assured.
"Just leave me alone!" He barked, heading off again.
"Whoa." Sweetie Belle looked to her friends. "Where did that come from?"
Snips stewed in his anger until the game ended, as ponies began to file out he cheered at the sight of Snails as he emerged with his basket. "Finally." He galloped over to meet him.
"Oh, hey Snips." Snails smiled. "How'd the sale go?"
"Could have been better." Snips walked along side him. "So, what do you want to do today?"
"Sorry, Snips." Snails apologized. "I have an actual meeting to go to."
"What?"
"Yeah, how about that?" Snails laughed. "A pony from an athletics club came to see me and offered me a job coaching their junior Buckball program for the rest of the season. I need to go there and meet with the program director." A wide smile crossed him. "Who'd have thought, huh?"
"B...but we were supposed to hang out today." Snips whined. "We haven't hung out in over a week."
"I'm sorry." Snails rubbed the back of his head. "This whole Buckball thing has been a real rollercoaster, I never thought it would get this big but... I really like it, you know." He set his hoof to Snip's shoulder. "Once I'm done with the season we'll catch up."
"The whole season?" Snips asked with disheartened eyes.
"It's only three months till off-season." Snails casually detailed. "It'll fly by." He quickened his pace. "See you later, buddy!" He called back.
"Yeah... later." Snips sighed as he watched him off.
Snips sat in the empty bleachers, his pack of souvenirs at his side as he stared down at the field. Between his argument with the CMC and the knowledge that he would be without his best friend for another three months his mind and heart were heavy.
"The game is over." An elegant voice noted. "Why do you continue to sit here?"
Snips glanced over to see a Unicorn seated beside him. "Where the heck did you come from?"
"I am here because I need to be." She answered. "Why are you?"
"Nowhere else to be." He answered sullenly.
"I see." She nodded. "I am sorry to hear that, even more so that you feel that way."
"Who are you, lady?" He asked.
"Oh, forgive me." She chortled. "My name is Renaissance, and my magic led me here... to you."
"To me?" Snips eyed her suspiciously.
"Yes, you see I am drawn to ponies whom the world brushes aside; so I already know that you suffer inside." She looked into his eyes.
Snips found himself transfixed by her gaze. "I don't know about suffer."
"The world moves on outside and yet you sit here, alone in this empty stadium." She pointed out. "Is it happiness that led you to this moment?"
"Well... no." He admitted.
"I cannot help unless you speak." She smiled comfortingly. "Tell me what is the matter? What has this world done to lead you to this spot at this time?"
Snips felt a wall crumble within him as he continued to look into her eyes, in a mere instant he felt as if this stranger was closer to him than any pony else. "It's just... I feel like I'm losing my friend."
"To what?"
"To... to this!" He gestured down to the field. "This stupid game! We used to be together all the time because we didn't have any pony else; but ever since he discovered he was good at Buckball we've been spending less and less time together." He picked up a cap from his pack. "I even started selling this stuff so we could stay close." He threw the cap out over the seats. "But now... this stuff is all I have." His body slumped. "I just sell it to make bits because bits are the only friend I've got."
"You poor dear." Renaissance laid her hoof to his head. "You deserve to have your feelings made clear and your voice heard. I can remake you, give you what you need to make that happen."
"You can?" He looked up at her.
"Yes, if that is your wish."
Snips took little time to consider, quickly nodding. "Yeah, it is."
"Very well, then come with us." She stood.
"Us?" Snips looked beyond her, seeing Zephyr and Marble down the row of seats.
"Hey there, short stack." Zephyr waved. "Welcome to the party."
"Don't worry." Marble said, her voice as clear as the sky. "You won't have to feel alone anymore."
Pinkie Pie worked diligently over her station at Sugar Cube Corner. Humming as she combined ingredients, her ears detected the ringing of the bell atop the front door.
"Just a minute!" She called out to the main floor, dusting the flour from her hooves and licking the errant frosting from her lips. As she trotted out to the front her eyes widened in delight at the sight of her sister. "Limestone!?"
"Hey, Pin..." Limestone choked as Pinkie rushed over and hugged her fiercely. "Hey!"
"Wow, what a great surprise!" Pinkie shook her back and forth. "You never come to visit me." She paused mid swing, her face twisted in thought. "Come to think of it, you never come to visit any pony."
"Let me go already!" Limestone wrenched herself free. "This is important."
"What's up?"
"It's Marble, have you seen her?" She asked.
"Marble?" Pinkie sat back. "No, she never comes to visit either."
"Well she didn't come back home the other night and we can't find her." Limestone informed, her rough voice laced with worry. "She never just disappears and I think something might have happened to her."
"Oh no." Pinkie washed over with concern. "Did you check with Maud?"
"No, not yet."
"Well, let's head over and see if she's there." Pinkie ran into the back, calling to the upstairs apartment where the Cakes resided. "Mrs. Cake! I have to run out, it's an emergency!"
"Okay dear, I'll head down and cover things!" Mrs. Cake's voice called back. "Be careful!"
"Will do." Pinkie rushed back and grabbed her sister's leg. "Come on, let's get moving."
"Wait a sec!" Limestone yelped as she was dragged out the door.
Pinkie led her to Maud's cavern home. The stoic sibling heard them galloping through the tunnels and went to meet her visitors at the mouth of the cave.
"Pinkie, Limestone?" She saw the harried look in their eyes. "What's going on?"
"Is Marble here?" Pinkie asked through a tired breath.
"No, is she missing?" Maud asked in return.
"Yeah." Limestone nodded. "She just vanished off the farm and I have no idea what happened to her. She was upset at me about not being able to go to some party so I thought she might have run off to see you two." Her eyes grew heavy as more disconcerting thoughts began to run through her mind. "If she isn't with you two, then she must be in trouble."
"Don't panic." Maud set her hoof to Limestone's shoulder. "We don't know that for certain. I'll help you find her."
"Thanks, Maud." Pinkie smiled.
Up in the clouds at the Wonderbolt Compound, Rainbow Dash trained with the rest of the team on their latest routines. With expert speed and precision, the group sailed around the training field under the instruction of Spitfire.
"Alright Wonderbolts!" Spitfire shouted up into the sky. "Pattern 7, and make sure the formation is tight this time!"
"You got it!" Rainbow Dash called back, rallying the others behind her. The team held a close knit formation and began to accelerate; as they readied to move into the next part of the routine a formless blur sped right through them and scattered them in the sky.
"What in the world." Spitfire flew up as her team tumbled from the air, barely recovering before they hit the ground. "What happened!"
"I don't know." Soarin looked around the field. "Something hit us."
"Hit you?" Spitfire repeated.
"Yoo hoo!" A voice hailed from above.
Rainbow Dash looked up, her mouth agape at what she saw. "Zephyr!?"
"That's right my little sky flower." He bowed. "Not to shabby, huh?"
"Who the heck is that?" Spitfire demanded.
"Fluttershy's brother." Rainbow Dash answered. "But... he's never been fast, like ever."
"All part of the brand new me." Zephyr patted his chest proudly. "You likey?"
"I don't care who he is!" Spitfire pointed her hoof at him. "Civilians are not permitted on the premises without clearance. You need to leave, now!"
"Well I don't care who you are." Zephyr's eyes began to shine blue. "I only came here to chase the Rainbow... or maybe it'll be the other way around this time."
Rainbow Dash saw his eyes and realized something was amiss. "Zephyr." She ascended to his level. "What happened to you? What did you do?"
"Tell you what, RD." He grinned. "If you catch me, I'll tell you everything." He took off with amazing speed and Rainbow Dash instinctively began to chase after him. The pair flew from the compound and began blazing trails in the sky over Cloudsdale. Try as she might, Rainbow Dash was unable to fully catch up to him and her confusion at the situation wasn't helping her any. "Ha ha!" Zephyr looked back. "She was totally right! First day out and I've already got you hot on my tail!"
"She!?" Rainbow Dash huffed. "Who are you talking about!?"
"Ah ah ahhh!" He returned his eyes to the front. "You know the deal, RD!" He amazingly began to speed up even more.
"No way!" Rainbow Dash grit her teeth and pushed her body to its limit. Zephyr rounded the city and returned to the compound where his pursuer finally gave out. He watched as she hung in the air, completely out of breath and dripping with sweat.
"Oops, looks like you lose." Zephyr mocked. "But, I've got a consolation prize for you."
"Hey!" Soarin shouted as he and the other bolts rose to her side. "That's enough, what are you trying to prove?"
"Not trying to prove anything." Zephyr folded his forelegs. "Just wanted to show-off the new and improved Zephyr Breeze to Rainbow Dash."
"Well if you're trying to show off what a jerk you are then mission accomplished." Soarin said sourly.
"What's the matter?" Zephyr asked. "Mad because your little club isn't the fastest anymore?"
"If you think speed is all we're about then you're denser than you look." Spitfire came in. "The Wonderbolts represent the best the best; in speed, character, discipline, honor and respect. You may be fast, but if that's all you have to claim then I'm not impressed."
"Yeah." Soarin nodded. "And showing off just to impress doesn't make you a winner; only desperate losers stoop to that kind of thing."
"L...loser?" Zephyr's eyes began to glow with more intensity and his body started to radiate energy. "You know..." He shot forward and plucked Soarin from the sky; in the blink of an eye he was pinned against the wall of the compound with Zephyr's hoof tight against his neck. "I'm getting real tired of ponies calling me that."
"Zephyr!" Rainbow Dash regained her strength and flew down to him, yanking on his shoulder to get him to let go. "What the hay has gotten into you!?"
Zephyr's glow subsided and he released Soarin, turning back to her with a recovering smile. "Oh... sorry about that." He laughed casually.
"Zephyr, you need to tell me what's going on with you." Rainbow Dash insisted. "This isn't like you."
"That's the point." He eyed her harshly. "I'm better now, better than I've ever been." Zephyr leapt into the air and looked down at her. "But I'm just giving you a taste for right now; still getting used to being this cool, after all." He winked. "I'll be seeing you real soon, Rainbow." With that, he flew off into the clouds and vanished.
"Soarin." Rainbow Dash helped him up as he choked. "You alright?"
"Y...yeah." He nodded, his voice rough.
"Rainbow Dash." Spitfire descended to their side. "What is going on?"
"I don't know." She admitted. "But I'm going to find out... I need to get to Twilight, something weird is happeing with Zephyr and I have a feeling it's magic based." She headed up into the air. "I'll be back later!" She called back as she made course for Ponyville.
Sugar Belle baked away as she always did; using the fresh apples brought to her by Big Mac. Her mind drifted to him as she peeled them, giggling to herself in excitement in thought of the time she would see him again. Once finished, she stepped out onto the street to check her display racks and found a familiar face sitting before her shop.
"Oh." Sugar Belle held her hoof to her chest, a tad startled. "Marble? Well, this is a surprise. I haven't seen you since the holidays." She smiled but Marble merely stared at her with unblinking intensity. "What... brings you by? Is everything alright?"
"No." Marble finally spoke.
"Is there... something I can do?" Sugar Belle asked, starting to feel a bit unnerved.
"Yes." Marble nodded. "You can break up with Big Mac."
"What?" Her eyes widened.
"I know you can hear me this time." Marble stepped forward. "I want you to break up with him."
"Marble, what's going on?" Sugar Belle backed away. "Why would I do that?"
"Because he was supposed to be with ME!" Her final syllable thundered at an intense volume, the windows of Sugar Belle's shop blowing out. Every Pony in the area halted and turned towards the scene in fright, their worried mutterings filling the street.
"Marble!" Sugar Belle laid her hoof to her ringing ear. "What are you talking about?"
"I liked Big Mac first!" Marble shouted. "Then you came along and STOLE HIM FROM ME!" Her scream knocked Sugar Belle to the ground as she clutched her ears, the walls of the nearby structures rattling and cracking. By now, the panicked crowd began to flee and Sugar Belle could hardly stand. She managed to look up, seeing Marble coming closer with burning blue eyes.
"Marble... please." She begged. "I... didn't even know you had feelings for him. Big Mac never said anything about it to me."
"What?" Marble paused. "He... he knew I liked him... he..." She grew angry inside.
"Marble, what's happened to you?" Sugar Belle struggled to her hooves. "Your eyes... they're glowing."
"Miss?" A stallion's voice came from behind. "Please, you need to calm down." Marble turned to see the town's sheriff behind her. "I don't know what's going on, but you're causing a disturbance and distressing every pony."
"THEY'RE DISTRRESSED!?" Marble boomed, the shockwave from her voice sending him flying. "What about ME!" She stamped her hoof. "It's MY turn to talk!" Her chest heaved as she breathed, body beginning to glow with magical energy. "I need to see Big Mac." She looked back at Sugar Belle bitterly but just continued on her way without another word.
Sugar Belle watched her off, her heart racing from the encounter. She looked around at the damage but knew that it needed to wait. "I've got to get to Big Mac and Pinkie Pie, they need to know what's going on." She abandoned her store and hurried off towards Ponyville, taking an alternate and shorter route than the one Marble had embarked on.
The Buckball stadium was as lively as ever. The next game scheduled for tomorrow, the grounds were abuzz with teams of workers and employees getting the place ready for the game. The CMC were in attendance as well, Scootaloo having volunteered them to help out with their reward being free tickets.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the game." Applebloom noted as she pulled along a cart of ice cream. "But would y'all mind asking before signing us up for stuff?"
"I was on the spot." Scootaloo defended. "And I couldn't do all this by myself."
"It's fine." Sweetie Belle smiled. "It'll be worth it when we're sitting field side."
"Speaking of which..." Scootaloo began, halting at the sound of a massive explosion from the opposite end of the stadium.
"Sweet Celestia!" Applebloom yelled. "What was that!?"
Sweetie Belle could hear the panicked screams of the other workers. "Something big, let's go!"
The three fearless fillies left their work and galloped around the interior of the stadium. They exited one of the main throughways and onto the field, discovering a gigantic hole in the stadium wall. Ponies scattered as the dust continued to settle, a small but familiar form stepping from the debris.
"Attention every pony!" Snips announced. "The game has been cancelled!"
"Snips!" Applebloom staggered in shock.
"He did that?" Scootaloo asked.
"His magic is even weaker than mine." Sweetie Belle added. "That's impossible."
Snips observed the fleeing workers with a proud smile; he strolled out onto the field and set his eyes on the scoreboard. "Better change the score." He began, his eyes aglow. "Snips one, Buckball zero!"
"Hey!" Applebloom's voice echoed around the empty stadium.
Snips looked back to see the three girls headed for him. "Ugh, you're here again?" He turned to face them.
"What are you doing?" Applejack asked. "More importantly, how?"
"I guess I'm taking your advice." He retorted. "I'm not going to be selling merchandise anymore, I won't need to after I get rid of this stupid field."
"What's gotten into you?" Sweetie Belle noticed the ominous energy coming off of him. "Why would you want to destroy the stadium?"
Snips' eyes narrowed in frustrated anger. "I didn't have much, but I had my best friend." He looked around. "Until Buckball came around."
"Snails?" Scootaloo clarified. "Is that what this is about?"
"This is about a lot of things." Snips laid his hoof to his chest. "Buckball was just the last straw. I'm going to make sure no pony plays this lame game again and get my friend back!" His horn flared and he began to grow in size.
"No way!" Applebloom gasped as they watched him enlarge.
"Ha ha!" Snips laughed gleefully. "Not looking down on me now, are you Ms. perfect!" He glared down at them. "You'd better run now, unless you want to be flattened like haycakes!" He turned and galloped towards the scoreboard, his massive body shattering it like glass as he made contact.
"Something is wrong with him." Sweetie Belle grabbed her friends' shoulders. "Can you see that weird blue aura?"
"Yeah." Applebloom nodded. "He's got some kind of magical whammy on him."
"We need to get Twilight and the others." Scootaloo noted. "This is way out of our league." The three of them fled the scene and headed for Ponyville as Snips carried on his rampage unopposed.
Twilight was spending her day as she spent most, her nose in a book as the afternoon quietly drifted by; the book flew from her hooves at the sound of her front door bursting open followed by a piercing call of her name.
"What in the world?" Twilight stood and teleported herself downstairs, finding Rainbow Dash awaiting her. "Rainbow Dash, what's the matter?"
"Believe it or not, it's Zephyr." She began.
"What?" Twilight giggled. "Need another excuse to get out of a..."
"No." Rainbow Dash cut her off. "This is serious."
Twilight's smile faded as she saw the urgency in her friend's eyes. "What's going on?"
"I don't know." Rainbow Dash shook her head. "He showed up at the Wonderbolt Compound earlier, flying faster than anything I've ever seen."
"Even you?" Twilight asked in surprise. "How is that possible?"
"Something is wrong with him... or, some pony did something to him." She detailed. "His eyes were all glowy and he was giving off a weird magical aura. He flew circles around me, bragging about how 'she' was right."
"Did you get a name?"
"No, he clammed up after that. But it wasn't just speed, he got really violent when Soarin insulted him." Rainbow Dash sighed. "He may be annoying, be he's never been a bully. I think he's under some kind of spell."
"Okay." Twilight laid her hoof to her. "Do you know where he went?"
"No, but he said he'd be back to see me soon." She informed.
"First thing is first then, we need to find out what kind of magic is affecting him." Twilight began leading her to the library. "What can you tell me about what you saw?"
"Well, his eyes and body were glowing blue." Rainbow Dash worked to recall the encounter in full detail. "And it flared up the more agitated he got."
"It sounds like the spell is reacting to his emotional state." Twilight thought hard. "Plus, there are only certain kinds of magic that can enhance a pony like that." She gave Rainbow Dash a knowing look. "We're going to have to do some research."
"Normally, that would make my stomach churn." Rainbow Dash admitted. "But this time, I'm all for it."
"Does Fluttershy know?" Twilight asked.
"Not yet. I didn't want to go to her without some kind of explanation."
"Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this." Twilight vowed as they entered the library.
Not two hours into their work, more voices began ringing out for Twilight. Stepping out into the hall, the pair saw the CMC galloping towards them.
"Twilight!" Applebloom shouted as the trio skidded to a halt. "We've got a big problem."
"Literally." Scootaloo added.
"Rainbow Dash and I are looking into something very urgent." Twilight began. "Can this wait a while?"
"No way." Sweetie Belle shook her head. "The Buckball stadium was just wrecked."
"What!?" Rainbow Dash gasped. "Who could possibly have anything against Buckball?"
"Snips." Applebloom informed.
"Huh?" Twilight cocked her head in confusion.
"It's true." Sweetie Belle continued. "He grew to like twenty times his normal height and started smashing the place."
"Hold on." Twilight waved her hooves to calm them. "You're telling us Snips did this?"
"Uh huh." Scootaloo confirmed. "He was acting really weird; eyes glowing and everything."
"Wait, glowing eyes?" Rainbow Dash came in. "Blue?"
"Yeah." Scootaloo nodded. "How did you know."
"Oh no." Twilight looked to her grimly. "Whatever this is, it isn't just affecting Zephyr." She paused in thought. "I think you need to get the others, this is starting to sound like a real threat."
"On it." Rainbow Dash nodded. "Be back in a flash!" She blew past the girls and out of the castle.
"What's going on, Twilight?" Applebloom asked
"I don't know, girls." She admitted. "I think something or some pony is causing this; how or why though, I have no clue." She gestured for them to follow. "While we're waiting, tell me everything that happened."
"Okay." Applebloom led her friends as they returned to the library with Twilight.
Sugar Belle hurried down the back roads and into Sweet Apple Acres. Her eyes rapidly panned around in search of Big Mac, ultimately seeing him loading feed grain into the silo.
"Big Macintosh!" She called his attention as she finally neared the end of her long run.
"Sugar Belle?" He let his cart fall and accepted her into his forelegs as she was upon him, he could feel the cold sweat on her body as he held her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." She panted. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked.
"It's Marble." She pulled away from him with frightened eyes. "Something has happened to her and she's looking for you."
"Marble?" Big Mac repeated. "What happened?"
"She showed up at my store." Sugar Belle began. "She said she wanted me to break up with you because she has feelings for you."
"What now?" The already shy stallion was taken aback by the dramatic news. "Sugar Belle... nothing has ever happened between Marble and I."
"I was surprised to hear her say such a thing." She admitted. "That isn't the problem though. The more upset she got she... started glowing. There was some kind of really powerful magic coming off of her."
"But... she's an Earth Pony." Big Mac noted.
"I know, and her voice... it was so loud... she was cracking the walls with it." Sugar Belle recalled. "She was so angry, especially when I mentioned that I had never heard about any history between the two of you. She said that you knew she liked you." Concerned curiosity filled her eyes. "Is there truly nothing between you two?"
"I swear." Big Mac said hurriedly. "I mean... when we first met I admit I was a little interested; but she talks even less than I do and nothing happened by the time we left. I only see her around the holidays and she's never said anything to me about liking me any." He looked down at her worriedly. "You believe me, right?"
"Of course I do." Sugar Belle rested her hoof to his cheek. "But she said she was on her way here to see you; I don't know what's happened but Marble is dangerous right now and we need to tell Pinkie Pie and the others."
"Okay." He laid his hooves to her shoulders. "I'll get Applejack and we'll get this sorted." He hugged her. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"Big Mac!" Applejack's voice reverberated around the barn; she came galloping around with Rainbow Dash above her. "There you... Sugar Belle?" She paused as they came to a stop.
"We were just coming to look for you." Big Mac went to them.
"I was coming to tell y'all we're heading out. " Applejack continued. "Twilight says we've got a heck of a problem on the horizon and she needs our help."
"We've got a problem of our own." He countered. "Sugar Belle says that Marble is on her way here and something is wrong with her."
"Marble?" Applejack thought back to the shy little Pie sister. "What's wrong with her?"
"It's some kind of magic." Sugar Belle detailed. "It's..."
"Blue eyes, magic aura, weird powers?" Rainbow Dash rattled off. "Great, another one. That explains what Pinkie and her sisters were talking about."
"Another one?" Big Mac looked to her questioningly.
"Zephyr and Snips and apparently under the same spell." She carried on.
"What's causing this?" Sugar Belle asked.
"We don't know, but you'd better come too if you've got info." Rainbow Dash pointed back. "Let's get back to Ponyville."
Rainbow Dash led them all back to Twilight where the rest of their friends were already gathered. Once assembled, everyone shared what information they had gathered. Sugar Belle recounted her encounter with Marble once again, the Pie sisters taking the news hard.
"I can't believe our sweet little sis could do something like that." Pinkie sighed with heavy eyes.
"We need to find her." Limestone insisted.
"And do what?" Maud added. "We don't know what we're dealing with."
"Maud is right." Twilight scratched her horn. "We need to track down this mystery mare that Zephyr mentioned, but we don't have anything to go on."
"I can check around town." Rarity offered. "Surely some pony has seen a new face out and about."
"That's a start." Twilight nodded in agreement to her idea. "But we need to be careful, if she is powerful enough to give others those kinds of abilities then there is no telling what she can do herself."
"You know what I want to know." Applejack came in. "Why Marble, Zephyr and Snips? What the hay do they have to do with each other. They hardly even know one another."
"That's true." Fluttershy concurred. "Zephyr tends to keep to himself. I can't imagine him just joining up with some stranger."
"Same with Marble." Pinkie added.
"I think the answer to that question is going to be the key to all this." Twilight surmised. "They must have something in common, I don't believe our perpetrator is just picking ponies at random."
"Yeah." Rainbow Dash gestured around the group. "I mean, if she wanted strong ponies to fight for her or something, any of us would have been a better target."
"Well... maybe that's the thing they have in common." Sweetie Belle spoke up.
"Whatever do you mean?" Rarity asked.
"Maybe she's looking for ponies who aren't strong and making them that way." She elaborated.
"Zephyr is pretty naïve." Twilight pondered the idea. "Marble is so innocent and Snips is young, that may make them easier to manipulate than ponies like us."
"But why?" Limestone inquired. "What would she have to gain? If Marble went after Sugar Belle, Zephyr went after Rainbow Dash and Snips after the stadium... that all sounds like personal stuff, not some pony's agenda."
Twilight slowly stood from her seat. "We just keep winding up with more questions. At the most, we know that whatever has happened to them, they're posing a danger to others. Rarity and I will try to track down whoever is behind this. Fluttershy, you and Rainbow Dash go back to Cloudsdale and try to locate Zephyr. Big Mac and Sugar Belle, take the Pies and go after Marble. Applejack, take the CMC and find Snips. If you find them, see if you can talk to them... worst case scenario try to contain them."
"Right." Applejack nodded. "Y'all heard the Princess, let's get a move on."
Having traveled to the farm and finding no pony, Marble angrily skulked back towards the outskirts of the Everfree Forest where a large tent had been constructed.
"Ah, Marble." Renaissance greeted. "Did your first excursion go as planned?"
"No." Marble sat beside Zephyr and Snips. "I went to talk to Big Mac but he wasn't home... Sugar Belle must have beat me there." She grit her teeth. "She makes me so MAD!" The tent puffed up from the shock of her yell.
"Whoa." Zephyr twisted his hoof in his ear. "Indoor voice, girl."
"It is alright, child." Renaissance assured. "The important thing is that you were able to express yourself and confront one of the sources of your angst." She smiled in a motherly manner. "I am so proud of you, all of you."
"Today felt great." Snips grinned. "I feel like a new pony."
"Yeah, you should have seen the look on Rainbow Dash's face." Zephyr said proudly. "Needless to say, she was stunned." He put his foreleg around Marble. "You'll get yours, little lady."
"Thanks." Marble smiled lightly. "That's more encouragement than I usually get."
"Never forget." Renaissance looked them over. "You not only have your new confidence, you also have each other. The three of you understand each other's pains more then any pony else." Her calm eyes shimmered in the fading sunlight that seeped into the tent. "Now though, you should rest." She advised. "Your bodies are still adjusting to your new ability and pushing too hard is not a sound idea."
Snips yawned. "I am kind of tired."
"You may remain here." Renaissance offered as she stood. "I will return later." Her three proteges settled as she left, making her way into the depths of the forest.
Having split up the next day to try and gain some ground in the situation, Twilight and her friends spread out to see to their given missions. Under Sweetie Belle's direction, Applejack and the CMC began travelling towards the Buckball Museum where she imagined Snips would strike next.
"I hope y'all are right about this." Applejack eyed the long road ahead.
"I may not know how Snips is doing this." Sweetie Belle began. "But we do know the why."
"That's right." Applebloom nodded. "Snips feels that Buckball is stealing his friend away. He destroyed the stadium, the next likely place is the museum."
"What the heck are we supposed to do when we find him." Scootaloo asked. "How can we stop him?"
"Y'all leave that to me." Applejack looked down at her confidently. "I've wrangled critters big and small."
"Maybe I should have been easier on him the other day." Applebloom pondered. "I wasn't trying to make him feel bad, I just wanted him to stop all the sale shenanigans."
"I can understand why he's upset, but that doesn't make anything he did right." Sweetie Belle defended. "You did the right thing, right Scootaloo?"
"Yeah." Scootaloo answered after a long pause.
"But..." Applebloom eyed her.
"I just know how he feels." She continued. "When things in life are already hard enough, sometimes the last thing you need is some pony telling you you're not handling it right." She looked across at Applebloom. "It's just like with my wings. I... know I can't fly, probably never will... and only I know how that feels. Hearing others tell me to hang in there or to look on the bright side doesn't always have the affect they think it does; sometimes I don't want help, I just want some pony to understand." She returned her eyes to the road. "I think maybe he feels the same way."
Applebloom considered her friend's words carefully, her sister saw this and patted her head reassuringly. "Don't worry." Applejack smiled. "There's never always a clear right or wrong when it comes to being there for others, all we can do is try. I'm sure you had his best interest in mind, heck... I'm sure Snips knows that too." She saw her sister's smile return as they continued on.
The feeling of being right didn't sit well within them as they neared the museum grounds; the same panic the CMC had heard at the stadium registered in their ears. With Applejack at the lead, they hurried to the scene as many others ran past them in the opposite direction. Snips' head rose from the horizon as they made it up to the museum; with methodical step he lumbered towards his target as ponies watched helplessly.
"Whoa boy." Applejack raised her hat. "Ain't wasting any time, is he?"
"We have to stop him." Applebloom ran ahead.
"Wait up!" Scootaloo shouted as they galloped after her.
"Snips!" Sweetie Belle called as they ran alongside him. "Snips! Stop!"
"Huh?" Snips halted and looked down at the girls. "You again?"
"Yes, us again!" Applebloom said firmly.
"Don't do this, Snips!" Scootaloo called up to him. "Let's just talk!"
"What a coincidence." Snips glared down at them, his eyes igniting once more. "Now that the world has to take me seriously, all of the sudden some pony want's to hear what I have to say." He stomped the ground, causing the girls to stumble. "Forget it! I'm doing things my way now!"
"Hold it!" Applejack ran in front of him as he moved to continue. "The girls said you were doing this to try and get Snails back, right!? Well, how do you think he would feel if he saw you stomping all over something he enjoys and cares about!?" She noticed him pause at the question. "We know some pony is making you do these things, probably feeding you all kinds of nonsense about how this will make things better! But it won't!" She readied her lasso. "Y'all need to tell us who did this to you so we can stop them!"
"You're wrong!" Snips' mysterious aura intensified and his voice began to distort. "Renaissance isn't making me do anything! I wanted her help, she made me strong and gave me what I needed to finally make every pony stop treating me like a joke!"
"No pony thinks of you like that!" Sweetie Belle tried to assure him.
"Really?" Snips finally began to turn from the museum and back to the CMC. "I'm not as dumb as every pony thinks I am. I know I'm short." He stepped towards them, forcing them to fall back. "I know I'm fat." He took another step. "I know I have weak magic." His aura began to flare even more. "I've never been popular; always laughed at, looked down on by other colts and avoided like the pony pox by fillies." In spite of his anger, his eyes began to grow damp and the glow about his body started to fade. "The only pony that ever wanted to be my friend, ever understood and accepted me... knew what it was like to be me... was Snails." He raised his foreleg. "I'm not going to lose him too!"
"Oh no you don't!" Applejack threw out her rope and lassoed his raised hoof before he had a chance to bring it down, she yanked with all her strength and pulled Snips around to face her again.
"Let me go!" Snips pulled back, dragging Applejack closer to him.
"Not gonna happen!" Applejack galloped towards him, the sudden slack in the rope causing him to go off balance.
"Watch out!" Applebloom pushed Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to the side as he began to topple towards them. The three girls jumped and were tossed a dozen feet as Snips hit the ground; the concrete walkway cracking under the impact.
"I'm gonna hog tie you till you decide to act right!" Applejack ran in, attempting to weave her rope between his legs.
"Hog tie?" Snips growled. "Because I look like a pig, right!?" He bucked his hind legs, catching the rope and sending Applejack flying back into the wall of the museum.
"Applejack!" The girls cried in unison, running to her aid.
"That's what you get for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!" Snips rolled and got back to his hooves. "Now I..." He stopped at the sound of tandem galloping; he looked back down the path and saw a series of royal guards heading his way. "Aw man, lost too much time." He quickly turned and began to run in the opposite direction, his immense gait making it impossible for the guards to follow.
As Snips made his escape, the guards rushed over to Applejack who roused herself from her impact. "We got here as soon as we could." The lead guard explained. "Shall we get medical aid?"
"Nah, I'm fine." Applejack dusted herself off and fixed her hat.
"You... are?" He looked her over in shock.
"That wasn't nothing but a love tap." She assured. "Bessie has kicked me harder than that."
"He got away again." Scootaloo noted.
"It's alright." Applejack wound her lasso and returned it to her side, stepping by the confused guard. "We stopped him from damaging the museum, and we've got a name to work with."
"Renaissance, right?" Sweetie Belle recalled.
"Right." Applejack nodded. "Let's head back, hopefully the others had some luck." She patted one of the guard's shoulders. "We'll leave the rest to you."
"Uh, alright." The guard watched them as they headed off.
Rainbow Dash figured the easiest way to lure Zephyr out was to simply lay herself out as bait. She flew high, coasting above the city of Cloudsdale with Fluttershy keeping an eye on her from below. As she made her fourth round of the city, a familiar blur blew by her and skidded to a halt atop a cloud.
"There you are." Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs as she hovered.
"Oh, actually looking for me?" Zephyr smiled wide. "Wow, times are changing."
"Can it." She pointed her hoof at him. "Just listen. We know something is up and we know some pony is behind this; you need to cough up a name so we can stop them and get you and the others back to normal."
"You want me to go back to how I was?" He asked, anger flowing into his voice. "Back to the stallion you wouldn't give the time of day to?"
"Zephyr, this isn't about me." She insisted.
"It kind of is, Dash." He retorted. "I know that the two things you respect are speed and skill; now I have both... and it still isn't enough?" His eyes began to glow. "What do I have to do, Dash!?"
"Zephyr Breeze!" Fluttershy's voice sounded above the clouds. "That is enough!" She rose to Rainbow Dash's side.
"Oh, great." Zephyr sighed. "What do you want, sis?"
"I want to help you, Zephyr." She gestured to him. "Listen to you, this isn't the brother I know."
"You mean the failure you could always use to prop yourself up?" He asked bitterly.
"What?" Fluttershy felt genuinely hurt by his words.
"We're not doing this again, sis." He shook his head. "Because nothing is wrong this time. I like the new me, for the first time I... I like myself." His face soured. "So of course, that just isn't going to fly with every pony else." He looked back to Rainbow Dash. "You know, I thought making myself stronger would finally get you to give me a chance, but now you resent me for being even greater than you." He laughed. "There's just no winning with you, is there Dash; just the way you like it."
"Zephyr." Rainbow Dash calmed her tone. "Please, whatever you think I think... you're wrong."
"We want to help you, Zephyr." Fluttershy continued. "Whatever magic is influencing you is..."
"You just don't get it, do you?" He stopped her. "All Renaissance did was give me new strength, and with that strength I'm finally able to be open and honest with myself; finally have the confidence to stop being walked on and speak my mind." A moment of sorrowful honestly entered his voice. "Finally be seen and heard instead of just pushed to the side like... like I don't even matter." His aura began to calm.
"Zephyr." Fluttershy was struck hard by the realization that he wasn't being manipulated, only speaking from his heart.
"Renaissance, huh?" Rainbow Dash sternly repeated the name. "Is that who've I've got to knock senseless to get you back to yours?"
"Crap." Zephyr realized he said her name. "She's going to be peeved."
"She?" Fluttershy repeated.
"Aw c'mon!" He punched himself in the head. "I'm outta here, we'll settle this next time!?" The cloud he was on shredded into atoms from the speed at which he took off.
"I'd chase after him, unfortunately even I can't catch him." Rainbow Dash painfully admitted. "But we've got some info to go on at least."
"Yeah." Fluttershy stared out into the empty sky where he had vanished.
"Don't worry, Shy." She laid her hoof around her neck. "We'll stop this Renaissance character and get your brother back."
"That isn't what I'm worried about." Fluttershy sighed heavily.
"Huh?"
"Nevermind, let's just get back to the others." She turned and headed back for Ponyville.
"Hey, hold up." Rainbow Dash doubled back and followed after.
Knowing that Marble had zeroed in on Big Mac, the group headed back to Sweet Apple Acres; sure that she would return once more to seek him out. The sight of the side of the Apple Family home blown out made their hearts sink; they hurried inside to find a disoriented Granny Smith working to clean up the damage.
"Granny!" Big Mac ran to her. "What happened?"
"Huh?" She rubbed her hoof in her ear. "You're going to have to speak up, can't hear a darn thing after that girl's hollering."
"Marble?" Pinkie Pie asked loudly.
"Yeah, don't know what got into her." Granny Smith set her broom aside. "Said she was looking for Big Mac, told her he wasn't here and she started getting angry... blue too, now that I think about it." The old mare sighed. "Started yelling so loud she literally brought the house down."
"Oh no." Limestone looked at the massive hole. "I'm sorry Granny Smith; don't worry, we'll stop her."
"Do you know which way she went?" Sugar Belle asked.
"Headed off into the orchards." Granny pointed outside.
"Let's go." Maud said calmly, climbing out through the wall and heading for the farm lands.
They fanned out and scouted the fields for Marble. With the knowledge of what was going on, Big Mac was hesitant to confront her as he honestly didn't know what to say. A part of him hoped that her sisters would find her first, a hope that faded as he and Sugar Belle finally came upon the little Pie in the western orchard.
"There she is." Sugar Belle whispered.
"Yeah." Big Mac held her back. "Let me, I don't want you getting hurt." He stepped out into the clearing, his heavy hoof steps catching Marble's ear.
"Big Mac." She smiled. "I knew you'd come back eventually."
Big Mac was taken aback by how clearly and naturally she was talking, nothing like the overly shy and demure mare he had first met. "Marble. I know you've been looking for me, but that doesn't excuse what you did to my home."
She saddened as his disapproval. "I'm... sorry; I didn't mean to do that." She promised. "I was just... upset." She approached him. "I need to talk to you."
"Sugar Belle told me what's been going on." He nodded.
"She..." Her eyes immediately grew angry. "Whatever she said... she doesn't know what she's talking about."
"Marble." Sugar Belle emerged from the tree line.
"Sugar Belle, I told you to stay back." Big Mac glanced back at her worriedly.
"YOU!" Marble boomed, the trees around her rattling. "I thought I told you to STAY AWAY!" She lurched forward as she screamed, Big Mac moving in front of Sugar Belle and taking the brunt of the shockwave. "Big Mac." She raised her hoof. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Marble!" Pinkie's voice came from the trees as she and her sisters leapt out into the field.
"Pinkie?" Marble observed them. "Maud, Limestone... what are you doing here?"
"We came for you, silly." Pinkie sped in and wrapped her forelegs around her.
"You..." Marble stuttered.
"Thank goodness you're okay." Pinkie carried on. "We were worried about you."
"Yeah, why'd you just up and disappear like that?" Limestone asked. "Is it true that some pony used some kind of magic on you? What's the creep's name?"
"I..." Marble began to grow agitated, trying to pull herself free of Pinkie's hug.
"You've caused some real damage." Maud noted. "But we know it wasn't your fault."
"Yeah." Pinkie nodded, rubbing her cheek against Marble's. "Now that we're all together, we can..."
"Back OFF!" Marble roared, sending her sisters flying across the grass.
"Oh no." Sugar Belle saw her start to radiate energy again.
"Owie." Pinkie rubbed her head. "Marble... what's wrong with you?"
"Yeah, what's the big idea?" Limestone stood. "We're trying to help you. You don't know..."
"NOOOOOOO!" Marble raged. "Stop TALKING for me. Stop putting WORDS IN MY MOUTH!" Everyone covered their ears and hunkered down, the trees in the path of her voice beginning to uproot. "I came here to talk to Big Mac, not you and not SUGAR BELLE!" Again, Big Mac stepped up to shield Sugar Belle as Marble's anger was directed towards her.
"Marble!" He shouted back. "Stop this, now!"
Marble's aura faded as she shrunk under his anger at her. "Please... just listen to me."
"I already know." He said firmly, bravely approaching her. "Sugar Belle told me that you confessed feelings for me."
"We connected." Marble looked to him with heartfelt eyes. "I know we did, but she said you never even mentioned me before?"
"We did." He admitted. "But, I never heard anything from you about it. Not a letter, or a visit or anything." He sighed. "Look, I'm a lot different now then I was back then. I've learned to speak up and share my feelings... but that's only because of Sugar Belle."
"That's what Renaissance did for me." Marble held her hoof to her chest. "I wanted to speak up back then... but I couldn't. But now I can, now I am." She stepped towards him. "I really like you Big Mac, I think you're wonderful and now that I'm better than before we can have something."
"I'm... sorry, Marble." He apologized. "Whatever could have happened just didn't, it isn't any pony's fault." He gestured back to Sugar Belle. "I love Sugar Belle and I'm not willing to give that up for anything or any pony." He held his hoof out to her. "And this... this isn't better, Marble. Look what you're doing?"
"He's right, sis." Limestone staggered towards her. "This isn't you."
"And who am I, Limestone!" Marble turned back to her. "Huh? TELL ME!" She stomped the ground, her voice launching Limestone back.
"That's enough!" Maud commanded in a rare moment of outrage. "We know you're angry and upset, we know..."
"You don't know ANYTHING about HOW I FEEL!" Marble turned her voice to Maud, sending her to her knees. "NONE of you do... you NEVER HAVE!"
"Marble." Pinkie tried to get closer.
"NO!" Marble turned her head to Pinkie and sent her into the ground. "All my life I've been the little sister, I never spoke because none of you would ever let me!" Her eyes began to tear up. "Always deciding what I wanted, always telling me how I should feel and act... I'm SICK OF IT!" The ground beneath her collapsed into a crater at her impassioned shout. "I began to rely on you for everything because I was convinced I was nothing on my own; and then... then you all just started to leave me behind." Her tears fell free as her heart emptied. "Pinkie left to live her life and became a hero, Maud left to go to college and even found a boyfriend, Limestone was always the pick to take over the farm... WHAT ABOUT ME!?" She looked back to Big Mac. "I couldn't even tell Big Mac how I felt and now... I don't have ANYTHING!"
"Marble..." Limestone pushed herself up. "I'm... I'm sorry... I didn't know you felt that way." She limped towards her sister. "I was just trying to do what was right and keep everything together. Let's... let's just go home and..."
"That farm isn't a home to me... It's A PRISON!" Frustrated and overwhelmed with emotion, Marble raised her head to the sky and wailed with such force that the clouds high above were blown apart. "It all started there..." She muttered as she stared up at the sky. "I'm never going to be free until that place is GONE!" She started to run off, the group too battered to give chase.
"No... she's going after… mom and dad." Limestone managed.
"We have to... stop her." Maud forced herself to walk.
"How?" Sugar Belle asked as she and Big Mac helped them along.
"Twilight will know." Pinkie assured.
"I have to stay and make sure Granny is OK." Big Mac looked back to the house.
"We understand." Sugar Belle took his cheek. "We'll meet up again when we can."
Pinkie saw Limestone fall to her butt with a helpless look in her eyes. "Limestone?"
"This is all my fault." Limestone struggled not to cry. "I pushed her too hard...I..."
"This is on all of us." Pinkie laid her head to Limestone's. "Our little sister has been in so much pain for so long and we didn't even know... what kind of sisters are we?"
Maud patted their heads with a light smile. "The kind that makes it right."
By the time Sugar Belle and the Pies made it back to Twilight's castle, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were already there and debriefing their encounter.
"Oh my!" Rarity noticed the beat down group make their way in, her gasp halting the conversation.
"Girls!" Twilight hurried over to them. "What happened?"
"Sis really packs a punch now." Limestone answered with an empty chuckle. "Who'd have thought, right?"
"This is bad, Twilight." Pinkie looked over her kin. "Marble is heading for the farm to confront our parents, please tell me you know something?"
"Barely." She looked back to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow and Fluttershy were able to find out a bit from Zephyr, the pony we're dealing with is named..."
"Renaissance." Maud finished for her. "We got that much as well."
"Were you able to find out anything in town?" Sugar Belle asked.
"She's making as little contact as possible." Twilight informed. "We were able to piece together a description of her from what the ponies that interacted with her remember, but she isn't staying anywhere in Ponyville or Canterlot."
"Not even Celestia has heard the name before." Rarity added.
Pinkie wandered over to Fluttershy. "I guess you didn't have any luck with Zephyr."
"No." Fluttershy shook her head. "But, I'm starting to think there is more to this than just Renaissance's magic." She let out a pained sigh. "I don't think Renaissance is controlling them, everything Zephyr said... that was all him. I had no idea he was hiding that kind of pain."
"Fluttershy, we can't rule out some type of influence." Twilight tried to comfort her. "We still don't know exactly how Renaissance's magic functions."
"No, Twilight; Fluttershy is right." Pinkie frowned. "All that anger that was coming out of Marble was from things she's been keeping inside for who knows how long now."
"She feels like she was shoved aside and left behind." Limestone added.
"That's basically what Zephyr said." Rainbow Dash nodded.
"I think we've found our link as to why they were targeted." Rarity concluded. "I'm sure little Snips' story is much the same."
"So what now?" Limestone looked around the room. "Knowing all that doesn't give us the most important answer, how do we stop them?"
"I noticed something back there." Sugar Belle spoke up. "I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but that bizarre magical aura around Marble died down when Big Mac yelled at her. It's like it snapped her out of her anger."
"I saw that too." Pinkie tapped her temple. "Kind of like it goes up and down with her mood."
"Hey, something like that happened to Zephyr." Rainbow Dash recalled. "When he stopped acting all cocky and started talking about himself, that glow started to disappear."
"It's possible the magic is linked to their emotional state." Twilight's mind began to run through her vast knowledge of magic. "That would make sense based on what we can surmise about Renaissance's motives. The power of her enchantments increase along with the pony's level of emotional distress, and when used on pony's who are suffering from heavy amounts of repressed anger and upset... it would make them immensely powerful as they gave in to those emotions."
"So we have to calm her down to cut off her power?" Maud asked.
"We can't just fight them." Fluttershy noted. "Fighting will only make the situation worse. We need to talk to them, let them know that we hear them and want to be there for them."
Their discussion was interrupted as Applejack and her team made their entrance.
"Looks like we showed up late." Applejack removed her hat and wiped her brow.
"Thank goodness." Rarity sighed as Sweetie Belle ran to her. "I was getting worried."
"Were you able to do anything about Snips?" Twilight asked.
"Well, we stopped him from stomping a mudhole in the Buckball museum." Applejack shrugged. "But he wound up slipping through our hooves after that. Did y'all have any better luck?"
"We're starting to piece this all together." Rarity nodded. "I'll get you up to speed."
Spike flew into the room from the adjacent hallway. "Hey everypony, I've got some snacks whipped up."
"Thank you, Spike." Twilight motioned for everyone to follow. "Let's recharge and decide our next moves." With muddled spirits, her friends followed after for a much needed break.
Marble wiped her eyes as she sat in the empty campsite. Renaissance was nowhere to be found and she struggled with Big Mac's rejection of her feelings. As the sun began to wain, a shadow briefly blocked the light above her; she quickly looked up to see Zephyr descending with Snips on his back.
"Hey, girl." He touched down, his passenger jumping from his back. "You okay?" He asked, noticing her damp eyes.
"Big Mac doesn't want me." She shook her head longingly. "My sisters showed up too and made it even more complicated."
"Ooh." Snips hissed.
Zephyr sat beside her and laid his hoof to her leg. "Hey, I know how you feel, my sis showed up too."
"Applejack was with her sister and her friends." Snips added. "I think they're teaming up to try and shut us down."
"That figures." Zephyr shrugged with a laugh. "They always stick together."
Marble looked around the campsite. "Where is Renaissance?"
"She isn't here?" Zephyr checked the area. "Don't know then... I wound up meeting with Snips and headed back here." He jostled her leg. "But hey, it's like she said, we've got each other now. If they want to team up, then so should we."
"Yeah, that's a great idea." Snips said excitedly. "We aren't going to get anywhere as long as they keep trying to keep us down."
"Okay." Marble nodded with a sniffle. "Will you guys help me then?"
"Of course, babe." Zephyr smiled. "What do you want us to do?"
"I want you to come home with me." She said firmly.
Zephyr laughed nervously. "Uh... okay; moving a little fast but that's..."
"Not for that!" Marble eyed him sternly. "My 'home' is where all of this started. I need to go there and finally tell my parents how I feel... I want to be free of that farm." Her eyes began to glow.
"We can do that." Snips said surely. "And if they show up again, we can face them together." He held his hoof out, his own eyes firing up. "They won't beat us again."
"Yeah." Zephyr laid his hoof atop Snips', eyes sharing the same burning light. "Just like all that friendship stuff they're always going on about."
"Thanks, guys." Marble set her own on theirs.
As they celebrated their comradery, Renaissance watched them from a hefty distance. She smiled to herself as the sounds of their excitement wafted over to her position. "Well done." She muttered. "Your journeys are almost complete and soon your lives will be forever changed... your rebirths will be spectacular."
Twilight's friends tried to rest and recuperate but little of either was had. Their minds and hearts were heavy with the weight of this conflict between family and friends that had come on so suddenly and struck deep chords in them all. Twilight, while not having as personal a stake as some, was instead consumed with thought of the mastermind behind all of this; the mysterious Renaissance who's motives were the greatest unknown in this situation. She meandered the halls of her castle, only stopping at the sounds of voices coming from the great room. Poking her head in, she saw Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy sitting before the fireplace.
"Girls?" Twilight gently called.
"Oh, Twilight." Fluttershy smiled, although Twilight could see it was forced. "Not sleeping either?"
"Not really." Twilight joined them. "How are you two holding up?"
"Like ice cream in the sun." Pinkie said half jokingly. "I can't stop thinking about how Marble must be feeling right now."
You two are getting hit by this the hardest, huh?" Twilight guessed.
"I've gotten used to going against monsters and villains." Fluttershy said with a sigh. "But this is our family... I don't want to fight Zephyr."
"I know." Twilight nodded. "None of us are looking forward to this, but if we don't stop them there is no telling what kind of damage they'll cause."
"It isn't just that, Twilight." Pinkie shook her head. "I can't be mad at Marble for what she's doing, not after finding out how she's felt all this time. This wouldn't be happening at all if we had been there for her when she needed us."
"You didn't know, Pinkie." Twilight tried to console her.
"That's the point... I should have known." Pinkie looked at her with teary eyes. "How could I not know what my own sister was going through?" She took a deep sniff to stay her runny nose. "She was right, our lives got so full that we grew more apart than we realized and we left her behind. I'm not going to forgive myself for that."
"I'm just as guilty." Fluttershy said shallowly. "Zephyr has always struggled socially, I thought we had helped him work through his flaky tendencies before; but that was just a bandage we wrapped around a wound that went so much deeper than we could have even imagined. I didn't bother to look deeper, I thought it was just Zephyr being Zephyr."
Twilight let out a hard breath. "I know you'll be able to get through to them." She said confidently. "And I'm going to make sure Renaissance answers for what she's done."
After a relatively restless night, everyone struggled to fully awake the next morning. Applejack and Spike saw to breakfast, making something hearty to refuel their friends. Twilight worked her way to the front door after a stream of heavy knocks, opening up to find Big Mac with an envelope in his mouth.
"Big Mac, what is that?" Twilight asked as she levitated it from his mouth.
"It was on your doorstep." Big Mac detailed as he came in. "Are Sugar Belle and my sisters ok?"
"Yes, every pony is in the dining room." As Big Mac headed off, she opened the envelope and removed a letter. Her eyes widened as she read, finding the name 'Renaissance' penned at the end. "Girls!" She began running back through the castle; her startled friends stopped eating as she galloped in.
"What's the matter, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.
"This is from Renaissance." She held the letter out before them.
"What?" Rainbow Dash stood from the table. "What's it say?"
"She knows I'm looking for her." Twilight explained. "She wants me to come alone to the Everfree Forest."
"Like hay you are." Applejack shook her head.
"It's clearly a trap." Rarity added.
"Maybe, but I'll have to chance it." Twilight said surely. "You've got to go after Marble and the others. This says they're headed for the Pie farm."
"All three of them?" Limestone asked in shock. "We're having a hard enough time just dealing with Marble."
"What do we do?" Applebloom looked around the room.
"We stick to our plan." Twilight said surely. "Just remember, the more you fight them the more powerful and unstable their magic enchantments will become."
"Leave it to us." Pinkie Pie nodded soundly.
"We'll leave Marble to you then." Sugar Belle laid her hoof to Pinkie. "If it's true that distress flares their magic, then Big Mac and I being there won't help you. You three are her sisters, if any pony is going to reach her it's you."
"We will." Maud vowed.
"Sweetie Belle." Rarity went to her sister. "You, Applebloom and Scootaloo should remain as well. With all three of them there, this could become dangerous and you've more than done your part."
"Forget it." Sweetie Belle fervently declined. "We have to be there to help Snips."
"Yeah, and we're going to bring backup this time." Scootaloo added as the three girls headed out.
"We'll meet you there!" Applebloom called back.
"Wait a minute now!" Applejack called after them but they had already vanished.
"They'll be okay." Rainbow Dash assured. "Those girls can handle themselves. We need to get moving."
"Big Mac and I will watch the castle until you get back." Sugar Belle promised. "Good luck."
"Thank you." Twilight nodded as she headed for the door.
"Twilight." Applejack halted her. "Y'all be careful now, don't let that snake get the drop on you."
"I won't." She smiled confidently.
The eight of them scattered from the castle; Twilight heading to the forest while the Pie sisters led the others back to their home for what they all knew would be an emotional confrontation.
Twilight soared high above the area as she left town, heading for the Everfree forest. Her eyes darted around as she neared the edge of the dense tree line until she scouted a colorful tent about 3 miles out from the main road. Twilight circled the area, making sure there were no surprises hidden about before she landed at the campsite. The sound of her touchdown stirred noise from the tent and Twilight held a guarded stance as the flap opened.
"Ah, Princess Twilight." Renaissance eyed her with a gentle smile. "How nice to finally meet you."
"I wish I could feel the same." Twilight held an unblinking gaze on the unicorn. "Renaissance, I take it?"
"Yes." She nodded, calmly approaching.
"Stay back." Twilight warned.
"I didn't ask you here to fight, Princess." Renaissance assured. "Honestly, it wouldn't even be a contest."
"That sure of yourself?"
"Not of myself, of you, Princess. I would have no chance against you." She admitted.
Twilight's guard fell at the atypical response. "What?"
"My magic has the ability to unlock great power in others." Renaissance began. "However, I cannot use it on myself. I exist only to help others."
"Help?" Twilight asked harshly. "You call what you're doing help?"
"Absolutely." She said plainly. "I have helped so many over the course of my travels."
"You're crazy."
"That's rather harsh, considering we've just met." Renaissance sighed. "You do not even know me."
"You lured in our friends and family, gave them dangerous powers and turned them loose with their heads filled with whatever venomous ideology you carry." Twilight pointed her hoof at her. "I think I know enough."
"Then you know nothing." Her eyes narrowed. "I expected better from the Princess of Friendship."
"Really?" Twilight took a few steps closer. "Fine then, let's hear it. Tell me your reason for doing this and how it is possibly helping my friends; who are heading into a battle with each other as we speak."
"Gladly." Renaissance sat. "First of all, I did not lure them; my magic led me to them. You see, my abilities are unique and that was something my father sought to take advantage of; I used to be just like those I've helped... voiceless and helplessly adrift in the tides of the world around me. I was denied a life, kept hidden and chained; only allowed to move and speak when my father permitted. I was made to use my magic to grant power to his wealthy friends in exchange for large sums of bits; but you see, I have no control over what powers are granted. The abilities my magic grants are based on the buried desires of those I imbue." Her light smile faded and she looked towards the ground. "One day, my magic turned a particularly cruel stallion into a destructive monster with no self control. He rampaged, killing my father and the others in the room at the time. I was badly injured, but somehow survived the encounter. The local guard were forced to fell the stallion and I was taken to the hospital and ultimately placed in the care of an orphanage." She raised her head once more, smile returning. "I was surrounded by others like myself and I discovered a new aspect of my magic; just as my magic plays off of the wills and desires of others I found out I could sense those wills through concentration. As I looked around at the other fillies and colts who were as alone as I, I could feel their want... their pain."
"Empathetic attunement." Twilight spoke. "Typically, a unicorn's magic is directly tied to its thoughts and emotions; but yours is attuned to the thoughts and emotions of others. That's why your magic isn't capable of affecting you."
"Precisely." Renaissance's smile widened. "Perhaps you are more capable of understanding than I thought." She stood. "I was spared a grisly fate and was reborn with a new purpose. I could seek out and be there for those whom society passed by; grant power and voice to those who truly needed it instead of those who greedily desired it... give them what they need to finally be seen."
Twilight quietly absorbed the bizarre tale. "Your intentions may seem pure, but you're doing more harm than good."
"Am I?" Renaissance cocked her head. "Had I not intervened in your 'friends' lives, they would still be quietly suffering while the world carried on without care. I was there to listen to what they wanted to say, see the pain they kept hidden." She pointed at Twilight. "They sat, surrounded by so called family and friends who claim to know them and yet failed to bother taking that deeper look below their surfaces."
"If they had said anything to any of us, we would have been there for them in a heartbeat." Twilight defended.
"They felt they couldn't say anything." Renaissance countered. "Why do you think that is? Or did you ever stop to wonder how something like that could be?" She shook her head. "If not, then let me tell you. In this world there are ponies that stand out and ponies that do not; the lives of the ponies that stand out always overshadow the latter and they ever end up feeling that their thoughts and emotions just aren't as important. They lose their voice and live in fear that speaking up or out of turn will only make their lives even worse than they already feel they are." She gestured to Twilight. "You, as a Princess, as some pony so special the world itself reacts to your movements, have no idea what that feels like and hence have no ability to be there for ponies who suffer so."
Twilight processed the accusation. "Maybe you're right." She finally managed. "My friends have all been hurt by this, hurt in the knowledge that those they cared about were in pain that they didn't know about. Even so, what you've done has placed them in a position where they have to hurt each other even more. The abilities you grant are unstable and you yourself have seen what can happen."
"Very true." Renaissance nodded. "However, this conflict is necessary to complete their rebirth. This fight will be the cathartic finale that will either renew their bonds or bring them to an end." She laid her hoof to her chest. "I was placed in the same mortal moment and was given rebirth; if it is meant for them then they will survive as well."
"And if not?" Twilight asked angrily. "You're willing to risk that?"
"Is an empty life better than a meaningful death?" Renaissance asked. "It all depends on how we answer that question."
"No life is empty, that's my answer." Twilight encased Renaissance in magic and anchored the bubble to the ground. "We'll save our friends, then I'm taking you to Princess Celestia." Twilight spread her wings and headed off after the others, Renaissance watching her off with the same quiet smile.
Knowing that Zephyr, Marble and Snips already had a significant lead, Pinkie and the others had boarded the train in order to reach their destination as fast as possible. The ride was quiet and tense as they could do nothing but hope they'd intercept them before anything bad happened. Rushing past every pony to disembark, they sped out into the rural region and towards the Pie family farm. As the homestead came into view, Limestone's heart began to race even more as she saw her parents on the porch, face to face with the empowered trio. The could hear the conversation that was already in progress, the elders' faces astonished at the bold and angry voice of their typically silent daughter.
"Marble!" Limestone shouted as they neared.
"Here comes the cavalry." Zephyr chuckled as he looked back at the assembled friends.
"Limestone." Marble turned to face them. "Stay out of this."
"Forget it, sis." Limestone refuted. "I know you're hurting, I know you're angry, but there is no way we're letting you hurt mom and dad."
"This needs to stop." Pinkie pleaded. "We can talk about this, as much as you need to; but no more fighting."
"She's right, Zephyr." Fluttershy stepped in. "Last time we spoke, I saw a glimpse of what's going on inside you. Just calm down and let's go back home."
"You keep talking like I'm out of control." Zephyr patted his chest. "I am in control, more than ever."
"Yeah, this just shows how little you understand." Snips snorted. "But we get each other and we're sticking together."
"If you want to try and keep us down." Marble reared back. "Then BRING IT ON!" The ground upheaved as she screamed into the dirt, sending every pony scattering.
"We'll deal with sis!" Limestone shouted as she rallied her sisters.
"Then leave Zephyr to us!" Rainbow Dash grabbed Fluttershy's foreleg and headed into the air.
"C'mon, Rarity." Applejack headed around the debris. "Let's wrangle Snips."
In the sky above the farm, Zephyr easily kept ahead of his pursuers, going so far as to fly backwards. "Really, sis? If Dash can't keep up, what chance do you have?" He asked mockingly.
"I don't want to chase you Zephyr!" Fluttershy panted as she endeavored to keep up. "I want you to come to us!"
"That would imply going back!" Zephyr called back. "I'm all about moving forward now!"
"Zephyr!" Rainbow Dash pushed to gain on him. "You want to hear that you win, then fine! You win! We don't want to fight you! You're not a villain and you're not our enemy!"
"Then what am I, Dash!" His aura increased and he suddenly flew at them, sending them in opposite directions as he careened between them. "It's kind of a big coincidence that all of the sudden you want to be civil!"
"You're right." Rainbow Dash admitted as hovered before him. "And I'm sorry."
"We both are." Fluttershy joined her. "You're my brother, the only one I have. I don't want you to resent me, I want to be there for you." She looked to him with sorrowful eyes. "All of us have realized that you three are right. Life has been changing so fast for all of us and it's affected you just as much as us; you're our family and friends and we're sorry that the things you've felt have gone unnoticed for so long. We admit that and want to make everything right, but at the same time you need to realize that whatever Renaissance did to you isn't helping, it's making it worse."
"I'm confident in myself now." He said surely. "I used to need others to tell me I was worth something because I didn't believe that I was... but now I can see my own worth and that's only because of Renaissance. You call that making it worse?"
"No, I call this overcorrection worse." Fluttershy held her hoof out to him. "What you three are doing now isn't creating a dialogue, it's revenge for the way you were treated. I know it feels good to tip the scale in the other direction, but that's not going to make things better in the long run." Zephyr's aura faded as he considered her synopsis.
Down below, the Pie siblings fought to avoid their sister's sonic blasts. Their words were drowned out by her loud shouts and they were beginning to tire from the constant dodging.
"This isn't getting us anywhere!" Limestone called.
"Yes it is!" Maud noted through a huge leap.
"How!?" Pinkie asked as she somersaulted away.
"We can't keep this up!" Limestone galloped around the field.
"Neither can she!" Maud pointed out. "Look!" She pointed at Marble; their sister's eyes were watering and her breath was labored due to the consecutive yells. "Tire her out so we can get close!"
"Okay!" Pinkie whipped out a heavily frosted cupcake from her mane. "I only use these in emergencies."
"A cupcake!" Limestone growled. "Really!?"
"This is the sugar rush!" Pinkie proclaimed. "The sweetest, sugariest treat I've ever created! Great for when you need a boost of energy!" She swallowed the entire confection and her pupils immediately dilated. "Ooh!" She began bouncing in place. "Okay Marble! You want to play tag, let's play!" Limestone and Maud rested as Pinkie zoomed in with amazing speed.
"This isn't a GAME!" Marble shouted at her but missed by a mile. "Stop PLAYING AROUND and TAKE ME SERIOUSLY!" The farm grounds began to shred as Marble panned around in an attempt to hit Pinkie.
"I am, silly!" Pinkie said as she bounded about. "I'm super serious about helping you and getting the little sister we love back!"
"I'm not your meek little sister ANYMORE!" Marble cried out. "I can TALK FOR MYSELF! Make my OWN CHOICES!" She began to huff erratically. "I'm done BEING IN YOUR SHADOWS!"
"Marble!" Limestone braved re-entry into the battle. "We weren't trying to keep you down! We never saw you as less than the rest of us!"
"LIAR!" Marble shrieked. "You might as well have chained me down! You never let me do ANYTHING! Never CARED ABOUT WHAT I WANTED!"
"We didn't know what you wanted!" Maud explained as she jumped back in. "But we do now! You can tell us in your own voice and we'll listen to you!"
"Yeah!" Pinkie hopped over her head, pulling her away from her sisters. "We're happy you're confident now, but you need to talk to us... not yell your head off!"
"I..." Marble's head lowered as her voice began to give out.
Across the way, Snips had grown to full size and was trying to stomp out Applejack and Rarity. While strong, his slow movements made it difficult to pin down the mares as they darted about his hooves.
"Snips dear, not to sound judgmental but this isn't a healthy way to deal with your anger." Rarity galloped along his side.
"It's working for me!" Snips bellowed as he scanned the ground.
"Getting even isn't the same as making it right!" Applejack shouted up at him. "We want to help, but we can't if you keep trying to step on us!"
"I've already been helped!" He noted.
"Renaissance has given you a short term fix, not a long term solution." Rarity pointed out as she narrowly avoided his hoof.
"This isn't working." Applejack scooped her up and ran to his back. "He won't listen to us." They looked up as Snips located them.
"There you are." He grinned as he raised his hoof.
"Snips!" Applebloom's voice sailed over the area. "Stop!"
Snips angered at the all too familiar shout. "Why won't you just leave..." He turned to face her, pausing greatly as he saw Snails in their company. "Snails?"
"What are you doing here?" Snips wandered over and looked down at him.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo showed up at my training and told me what was happening." He sat before his friend as the girls snuck around to his back. "This isn't like you, pal."
"What do you care?" He asked curtly. "All you care about now is Buckball."
"Aw... that isn't true." Snails said simply. "You know that."
"No I don't!" He shouted. "All you do now is blow me off. You're a popular Buckball star now, don't need to hang out with the loser anymore."
Snails sighed at the realization of what Snips was feeling. "How come you never said anything?" He asked plainly.
"I... what was I supposed to say?" Snips asked in return. "Me or Buckball? Pretty obvious choice huh?"
"Yeah." Snails nodded with a smile. "You."
"Huh?" Snips' aura waned. "You... you'd pick me over Buckball?"
"Of course." Snails nodded. "Buckball is awesome, but not as awesome as my best friend." He nodded soundly. "I'm sorry though, I didn't mean to hurt you."
Snips started to tear up. "Thanks..." He sniffled.
"No problem, buddy." Snails waved. "I'll see you when you wake up."
"When I..." He quickly looked down and noticed Applejack's lasso around his rear leg. "What the..." He looked back to see the girls yank the rope; he toppled forward, head rebounding off the granite covered ground. As he lapsed into unconsciousness he began to shrink back to normal size.
Back in the air, Zephyr struggled with what to do as his sister's words made him waver.
"I want to believe you, sis. I really do." He said apologetically. "But I'm scared that if I go back to being who I was.. then everything else will come back with it. I just can't take that chance." His aura returned.
"Don't make us do this, Zephyr." Rainbow Dash readied herself.
"If you two really mean what you say, then we have to." He shot up into the sky and rolled in the air, barreling back down at them.
"Move, Shy!" Rainbow Dash pushed her back as he rocketed by.
"Zephyr!" Fluttershy called after him.
"Forget it, he wants this." Rainbow Dash flew in front of her. "We need to show him we mean what we say and the only way to do that is to beat him. I have an idea, but I need your help."
"Okay." Fluttershy nodded.
Rainbow Dash led her in another chase after her brother. They blazed the sky around the farm but remained in the same situation as last time, unable to fully catch up to her magically enhanced sibling. As they moved along, Rainbow Dash explained her idea and with Fluttershy on board she prepared herself.
"Hey Zephyr!" Shouted. "Being fast is great isn't it! Makes you real good at running away!"
"What!?" Zephyr looked back over his shoulder.
"You heard me!" She continued. "As a Wonderbolt I fly towards a problem, not from it! If you have a problem with us then stallion up and do something about it!"
Zephyr doubled back at the insult. "You asked for it, Dash!" He flew at her full speed.
"Now!" Rainbow Dash locked hooves with Fluttershy and they flew up above his attack, beginning to spin together like a centrifuge. As Zephyr went past them, Fluttershy hurled Rainbow Dash at him, the built up momentum giving her just enough to make it up to him; she wrapped her hooves around him in a tight hug and held on with all her strength.
"Hey!" Zephyr tried to pry her off. "Let go!"
"No!" She grimaced. "I'm not letting you go this time!"
"I can't stay in control... you're going to make us crash!" He said in a panic as they began to flop around.
"Then I'll crash with you!" She pressed her cheek to his chest. "I owe you that much!"
"Dash!" They began to fall from the sky and slammed through the side of the barn. The wood shattered as they went through one wall and out the other, hitting the ground hard and rolling across the rocky landscape.
"Oh no!" Flutterhsy flew after them, landing roughly and stumbling to their side. "Dash! Zephyr!" She checked them both, finding them still breathing but unconscious.
Marble's voice grew hoarse as her sisters continued to draw her fire in all directions. Her legs wobbled and vision grew hazy as her body reached the point of complete exhaustion.
"I think she's out of gas." Limestone noted cautiously.
"Marble!?" Pinkie called out. "Can we stop now!? This isn't fun!"
"It isn't... supposed... to be..." Marble huffed. "Why won't... you... go down?"
"Because that would mean we gave up on you." Limestone explained. "And we'll never do that."
"We love you, Marble." Pinkie gave her a tired smile. "We're sorry we made you doubt that."
Maud noticed Marble's aura finally beginning to subside. "No matter how much our lives change, we'll always be sisters. Nothing is ever going to change that, not even this."
Marble began to cry as she staggered in place. "You don't get to just say sorry."
"We know." Pinkie nodded. "Things need to change and they will. Pinkie Promise."
Marble glanced over at Pinkie, a gray blur forming in her peripheral; she quickly looked back and let out a dull grunt as Maud's hoof landed in her stomach. She looked up at her sister with fading consciousness to see her smiling.
"Pie promise." Maud nodded as she grabbed ahold of her collapsing sister.
Twilight arrived on the scene after the battle was over and used her magic to bubble up the trio. She took them and her friends to Canterlot general to have their injuries treated; she also contacted Princess Celestia, informed her of the situation and asked that she come and use her magic to remove the enchantments placed on their friends. Fluttershy took the time to return home and tell her parents the whole story of what had happened and Applejack returned to the castle to let Spike, Sugar Belle and Big Mac know that all was well. Once the situation was under control, Twilight traveled back to the makeshift campsite to collect Renaissance; her heart jumping as she found her magical bubble as well as the mare gone.
"That's impossible." Twilight swooped down and landed. "How in Equestria did she get out?" Her head whipped towards the tent as a pair of unicorns stepped out. They halted at the sight of the Princess and quickly raised their hooves in innocence.
"P... Princess Twilight?" One of them spoke. "We aren't stealing anything... she said we could have what we wanted."
"She?" Twilight eyed them. "Did you let that unicorn out?"
"Yes." The other nodded. "We met her the other day in the reagent shop and got to know her a little. She asked us to meet her here today and we found her trapped. She said she accidentally trapped herself while practicing a spell so we let her out."
"Where is she?" Twilight quickly asked.
"Oh, she left." The first answered. "Said she needed to keep on her way and that we could help ourselves to anything useful she had in her tent. That's the truth, we swear."
Twilight punched the ground. "She set this up knowing I'd trap her."
"Huh?" The unicorns looked to each other in confusion.
"Nothing." Twilight shook her head and returned to the sky, doubling back towards the hospital.
Zephyr was the first to wake. His eyes struggled to open as he made out a series of shapes around him.
"Wh...where am I?" He asked.
"You're in the hospital." Fluttershy quickly laid her hoof on his.
"Sis?" He forced his eyes open, gasping as he finally made out the other forms. "Mom... dad?"
"Yes, we're here son." His father stepped around the bed.
"Oh, you had us so worried." His mother smiled in relief. "Fluttershy told us everything."
"She... she did?" He quickly looked over at her.
"Of course." Fluttershy nodded as she took his hoof. "Zephyr, I'm so sorry."
"So are we." His mother rubbed his cheek. "When your sister told us what you had said and how you truly felt, we realized that we failed to look deeper too."
"Wh...no..." Zephyr shook his head. "I'm the one who's sorry. I was just... so angry, and everything Renaissance said made so much sense and... I... I didn't mean those things I said."
"Zephyr." Fluttershy stopped him. "You did mean them... and that's okay." She assured. "You had so much inside of you and you felt that you couldn't tell any pony, not even your own family. That isn't right."
"Fluttershy is right." His father nodded. "I'm ashamed to admit that at a certain point we simply accepted how you were acting as who you were."
"If you can't talk to us, then who can you talk to." His mother continued. "We're not angry with you, sweetie. We're just glad you're okay."
Zephyr looked up into her comforting eyes and started to cry. "I'm sorry... sorry I'm such a mess."
"Oh honey." His mother leaned across the bed and hugged him as he sobbed. "The hard part is over. You can talk to us as much as you need to about whatever you want to; don't ever feel like you or what you have to say doesn't matter."
Fluttershy too began to cry as she watched her family come together in a way she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Awww." Pinkie watched the scene from her vantage at Marble's bedside.
"Hey, look." Limestone slapped her shoulder and pointed to the bed.
"She's waking up." Maud noted.
Marble opened her eyes to the sight of Pinkie's enourmous grin. "Pinkie?" She muttered in a rasp.
"About time, sleepy head." Pinkie patted the top of her head. "We were starting to think you'd never wake up."
Marble's head panned around. "Limestone... Maud..."
"How ya feeling, slugger?" Limestone asked.
"My... throat hurts..." She whispered.
"The doctor said your vocal chords are enflamed." Maud informed. "You'll be okay once it subsides." She laid her hoof atop hers. "Sorry for the gut punch."
Marble saw the bandages on their bodies. "I did that?"
"We're fine." Pinkie waved it off. "I get banged up like this all the time when the girls and I are on a mission."
"I... I'm sorry..." Marble managed. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just..."
"Easy." Limestone calmed her. "You've got nothing to apologize for; we're the ones who are sorry."
"Yeah." Pinkie nodded. "You were hurting and we weren't there."
"Life has been moving faster than we're used to these last few years." Maud carried on. "We didn't mean to make you feel abandoned."
"I'm sorry too, Marble." Limestone's head lowered. "Pinkie left home, then Maud... mom and dad started to get older; it was a lot of pressure on me knowing that the farm was resting more and more on my shoulders. I started treating you like a farm hand instead of a sister and I'm so sorry for doing that to you." A rare tear left her eye and fell onto Marble. "I was only trying to do what was best, trying to hold everything together; and I dragged you down that road with me without even asking how you felt or what you wanted." She tilted her head to look into her sister's eyes. "That farm is not your responsibility. You need to live the life you want and from now on, I'm going to make sure you get to."
Marble's eyes spilled over with tears as Limestone hugged her. Maud stepped away and left the room, returning soon with more visitors. The sisters moved aside as their parents took a spot beside the bed.
"Mom, dad." Mable looked up at them shamefully. "You came?"
"Of course, my daughter." Igneous set his hoof to her head. "What happened was quite a shock, but your sisters have explained all."
"I'm sorry." Marble said meekly. "I said so many horrible things."
Cloudy looked down at her, stern eyes turning soft as she rested her hoof on her chest. "My little Marble. I often forget that you girls are not from the same cloth as your father and I. I always did what I could to offer what comforts we could afford on our farm and yet I failed to offer comfort where you needed it most." She patted above her heart. "In here." A deep sigh left her. "You found the comfort that you should have been able to find in me in this Renaissance. That fact alone speaks much; I am sorry for being so blind to the hurt and weight you carried inside."
"And we are sorry for placing the burden of our farm onto you." Igneous continued. "While at first it was difficult to watch our daughters leave, we soon saw how great they were able to become." He looked to Limestone. "You as well, you have worked so hard to ensure the prosperity of our home. You have both done more than enough. We want you to have the same freedom to grow that your sisters claimed; so we've decided to reorganize and take on outside help to work the farm."
"What?" Limestone asked in shock.
"You two are free to live your lives as you wish." Cloudy explained. "The burden of the farm will no longer be yours. I wish to be your mother again, not your employer." She removed her glasses as her eyes teared.
"Thank you." Marble smiled as she reached up to them. They each took one of her hooves as their daughters gathered around them.
Across the way, in the third bed, Snails smiled as he noticed Snips finally coming around as well.
"Hey buddy." Snails grinned down at him.
"Snails?" Snips glanced over to see Applejack and the CMC at his opposite side. "What happened."
"You got bonked on the head." Snails noted. "It was a pretty big fall considering... you know, how big you were."
"How do you feel?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Lousy." He admitted. "But not because of the fall."
"It's okay." Applebloom assured. "So do we." She stood on her hind legs and rested her forelegs on the bedside. "I'm sorry I was being so hard on you. You needed a friend, not a guidance counselor; and I'm sorry we didn't see what was really going on with you until it was too late."
"Same here." Snails added. "This Buckball thing has been moving so fast and I was so wrapped up in it that I almost lost my best friend."
"No." Snips shook his head. "I'm... actually happy for you. I think its awesome that you're a sports star now, it's just... seeing you succeed just reminded me of what a loser I am. I was angry and I took it out on Buckball instead of just being honest with you... and myself."
"Snips." Sweetie Belle came in. "I know things are usually rocky between us all, but we are your friends. You should have been able to talk to us if you needed, but we get why you felt you couldn't."
"Yeah." Scootaloo nodded. "We had no idea how bad you actually felt inside."
"Well, just take it to heart." Applejack patted her head. "It's easy to get used to treating some pony a certain way, even if you don't mean to." She looked to Snips. "What's worse, it's even easier for some pony to accept being treated a certain way."
"You're not a loser, Snips." Applebloom smiled. "We're sorry if we made you feel that way."
"Thanks." Snips quietly nodded.
"And don't worry, buddy." Snails patted his foreleg. "Even if we are a little lame, we'll always be lame together. That's what best friends are for, right?"
"Right." Snips hoof bumped him with a huge smile.
"That's not..." Applejack sighed with a shrug. "Close enough."
Twilight returned to the Hospital and bore the bad news of Renaissance's escape. In turn, she was relieved to see that every pony was on their way to recovery. Everyone took shifts coming and going from the recovery room to keep the patients company and by the next day they were able to get out of bed and move around. The three of them took some time to walk the greenery of the rear grounds, all of their spirits lifted high by the reconciliation with their family and friends.
"Huh." Zephyr looked up at the sky. "It's funny how a nice a day can feel after being trapped in a hospital bed for so long."
"Yeah." Snips stretched. "Who would have thought lying around all day would get old." He laughed.
Marble looked between them. "Listen, I know what brought us together wasn't exactly... healthy." She began. "But, I'm glad we got to become friends."
"Same here." Zephyr halted. "You guys are pretty cool."
"Does this mean we can keep hanging out?" Snips asked. "I mean, with Snails so much busier now it would be nice to have other ponies to do stuff with."
"You read my mind, smalls." Zephyr smiled.
"I'd... like that." Marble nodded.
"Cool, we can..." Zephyr stopped as he saw a nurse approaching with Rainbow Dash. "Oh... hey, give me a minute."
"Sure." Snips nodded as he and Marble continued on.
"Hey, Dash." Zephyr walked over as the nurse left them.
"Hey." Rainbow Dash smiled. "How you doing? That was a pretty nasty crash."
"I'm good... better actually." He nodded.
"Sorry I didn't come by yesterday but I figured your family should come first." She rubbed the back of her head. "That... and I have concussion."
"It's cool." He sighed, soon realizing he was trying to put on an act again. "I'm sorry, Rainbow." He hung his head. "Not just for the fight, for everything."
"I'm sorry too." Rainbow Dash took a deep breath to swallow her pride. "Look, I know haven't treated you as well as I should and it's partly my fault. I should have just been up front with you a long time ago." She looked into his eyes sincerely. "Zephyr, you're just not my type. It has nothing to do with who you are as a stallion, I just... don't have those feelings for you and I never will." She felt the sting as his face saddened. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about you or don't want to be your friend. I just can't when you're constantly hitting on me, but like I said... I never just gave you the 'no' I should have." She stepped closer and took his shoulder. "I'm sorry for not being honest with you when I needed to; I have a bad habit of hurting others in the long run by trying to spare their feelings in the moment."
Zephyr slowly nodded. "Okay." A small smile formed on his lips. "Thanks for being up front. I won't bother you anymore."
"I don't want you to just disappear." Rainbow Dash added. "Let's just... start over; as friends."
He let out a short, approving laugh. "Sounds good." He was taken by surprise when she hugged him, he gently hugged her back; suppressing the urge to try and say something cool and simply taking the moment for what it was.
Down the path, Marble and Snips stopped short as they came across Big Mac and Sugar Belle. The couple approached them with cautious smiles.
"I should... take off." Snips began to leave.
"No, it's okay." Marble stopped him as they neared. "Hi." She smiled timidly.
"Hi, Marble." Big Mac looked her over. "How are you?"
"I'm okay now." She nodded.
"We're glad to hear." Sugar Belle noted. "Applejack caught us up on everything but we wanted to come see you ourselves."
"Thank you." Marble said graciously. "I'm glad you did, I owe you an apology; both of you." She looked up at Big Mac. "I was angry about so many things, but that didn't give me the right to try and break what you two have made together. You're an amazing stallion, Big Mac; and I'm glad you've got some pony so right for you."
"Thank you." Big Mac went to her and sat. "I'm sorry too. When we first met, I wasn't good at speaking up either and honestly the only reason I am now is because of Sugar Belle. I didn't know what to say to you, or if I should say anything... and as usual I chose to say nothing. I'm sorry I hurt you like that, Marble. I can't undo it, but I hope that we can we can remain close."
"Thank you." Marble smiled. "I want us to be able to too." She looked over at Sugar Belle. "All of us."
"Of course." Sugar Belle went to her. "No hard feelings?"
"No." Marble shook her head and hugged her. "I'm done with all that."
From the distance, Twilight watched the scenes from the second story window of the hospital. Her mind twisted with conflicted thought as she stared blankly through the glass pane.
"Twilight, darling." Rarity called as she and Applejack joined her. "Are you alright?"
"I don't know." Twilight responded blandly.
"What's the matter, Sugarcube." Applejack asked. "All in all, I'd say things have turned out pretty well."
"That's just it, they did."
"I'm sorry." Rarity cocked her head with a puzzled look. "Is that a bad thing?"
"She was right." Twilight walked past them.
"Who?" Applejack followed after her.
"Renaissance." Twilight clarified.
"Oh don't be silly, darling." Rarity scoffed. "We stopped her plan."
"No, we didn't." Twilight looked back at them. "This was her plan. She told me that she was there for them when no pony else would be, gave them what they needed to have their voices heard and when all was said and done it would lead to their rebirth." She detailed. "That's exactly what happened. Zephyr reconciled his feelings with his family and even had an honest talk with Rainbow Dash. Snips did the same with Snails and the CMC. Marble was finally able to let her family know how she felt and they're closer than ever... they're all doing so much better now in spite of the dangerous battle."
"I see what you mean." Rarity admitted.
"Is she right?" Twilight asked. "Is her warped method really better than what we've been doing? I know what she is doing in dangerous and wrong but... she succeeded." A heavy sigh escaped her. "I don't know what to think now."
"Twilight." Applejack saw how harried she was over this and quickly went to her side. "You're some pony who is used to having an answer for everything, but honestly... I don't think there is an answer this time. I think this time we just need to be happy that everything turned out okay and not fret about who is right or wrong or who did or didn't do what."
"We understand how you feel, Twilight." Rarity joined them. "Renaissance is a unique creature that doesn't walk the black and white lines of good and evil; she truly seems to exist in the grey between genuine compassion and malicious intent."
"But we know where you stand, Twilight. Applejack said surely. "You're the Princess of Friendship for a reason, don't go doubting yourself."
"Right." Twilight collected herself. "Thanks, girls." She walked back over to the window and looked out over the grounds again. "I've definitely learned a lot from this encounter. I know we'll cross paths with her again; and when we do, I'll be ready to face her philosophy." She could see Zephyr, Marble and Snips together from her vantage. Even as Princess, she learned a powerful friendship lesson that opened up an entirely new perspective for her. A lesson that she vowed never to forget as she moved closer to the day when she would take the reigns of Equestria.
