Twilight accidentally turns herself invisible and, as a result, slowly begins to lose her mind.
While researching the properties of light, Twilight realizes that she might be able to unlock the secrets of invisibility. However, being invisible has its consequences. She will soon learn that losing the ability to see oneself is a great way to lose one's mind.
(a loose adaptation of The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells)
~~~ my first published story, so feel free to tear it apart.
Twilight was up late, studying as usual. Textbooks and old tomes, alongside scrolls filled with notes covered her desk and a good portion of the library floor. Owlowiscious was sitting on his perch, ever vigilant and at the ready, should his friend call upon him. Twilight had decided that claiming that she “owned” another conscious living thing seemed wrong, although she was unsure why. Ponies had been keeping pets for thousands of years. Maybe it was just Fluttershy’s views wearing off on her. She quickly pushed those thoughts aside. Philosophy had never been her strong suit: she preferred researching things that could be measured and observed.
No. Over the past few days, she was studying light and its various properties. It had started innocently enough: she had overheard Scootaloo gushing over Rainbow Dash, again, and wanting to know absolutely everything there was to know about the Sonic Rainboom. Rainbow was all too willing to enthrall her number-one-fan and the other two crusaders with her harrowing tale of how she had swooped in at the last second to save Rarity and the Wonderbolts who had made the first attempt at rescuing the flailing unicorn.
Even though it seemed like Rainbow had decided to turn a simple question about how a Sonic Rainboom worked into a fascinating account, which the Crusaders had most definitely heard before, she managed to get most of the science and information behind the Sonic Rainboom correct. Twilight was almost taken aback by that, but then again, ever since Rainbow Dash had admitted to herself and her friends that she loved reading, she had been spending more time in the library. It only made sense that she was bound to find her way out of the Action and Adventure section.
The second event was while visiting Rarity. Being the fashionista that she was, Rarity always seemed to have access to every type of precious stone a pony could imagine. Twilight had gone in asking about getting a scratch buffed out of a lens to one of her many telescopes. She had tried the glass and window store but had found that the glass smith had just left for vacation only minutes prior. As it turned out, polishing a telescope lens was very similar to polishing and carving any gem, or in this case, crystal. Rarity’s fine eye for detail actually found some imperfections in the lens that even Twilight had never noticed before. It seemed that jewels and diamonds were not just supposed to look pretty on an outfit but, depending on the event, as well as the ensemble itself, were supposed to reflect the light in just the right way to give off its beauty without blinding anypony’s eyes.
All these things seemed to add up to one decision: that Twilight needed to brush-up on her studies regarding light. For several days and nights, she studied. She began with the introductory digests to light and prisms before moving onto the more advanced tomes. Over the course of the next few days, she made sure to schedule free time for her friends, to get her mind onto other things. She had figured out that taking a break and coming back with a fresh mind could often lead to a better understanding, or even a new discovery.
“Well, I think that’s enough for tonight,” she managed through a long yawn and stretch. “Goodnight, Owlowiscious.”
“Who.”
Twilight smiled to herself as she headed for the stairs to the library’s upper levels and her bedroom. She noted Owlowiscious flying over to the bookshelves and pulling out one of the Daring Do novels before flying over and setting it onto the reading table.
So Rainbow’s got him hooked onto that series now, she thought to herself as she headed to bed.
~~~
She would rather have not taken a break from her studies, but she knew she needed to avoid burning herself out, as she was frequent to do. She had met Rarity and Rainbow Dash outside one of their favorite cafés. While Rarity preferred it for the “exquisite imported teas”, Rainbow liked the hot chocolate; although, she was careful not to let Pinkie know that she preferred it to Sugarcube Corner’s version. Twilight still could not help but feel like she was closing in on something: she just wished she knew what that something was.
“You must have given it at least some thought?” Rarity had brought up that subject again. She really could not leave her alone about it could she. “I mean even Rainbow has given it some thought; and you know how she only ever seems to be thinking about the Wonderbolts.” she added.
Rainbow began nodding before pausing, and then glaring at the white unicorn, “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”
Rarity looked taken aback, “Why I didn’t mean anything by it. I was simply trying to make the point that even though you only seem to express interest in joining the Wonderbolts, you have given thought to other professions.”
“But, I like working in the library; it gives me quick access to all the information I need for my research,” Twilight began to protest, “Why would I give that up?”
“We aren’t asking you to gi-,” Rarity began, before the sky-blue pegasus interrupted her.
“It’s pretend! What would you do if you weren’t the… the,” Rainbow paused a moment trying to think of what Twilight’s job title was, “the pony who ran the library?” she finished.
“The word you were looking for was ‘librarian’,” Rarity corrected, “And it’s rude to interrupt,” Rarity turned to face Twilight again, “So? Out of every option in Ponyville, what would you do?”
Twilight thought a moment, looking around at all the sights, trying to picture herself in place of any of the other ponies in town. “I suppose,” she began, still deep in her thoughts, “I think I might like government work,” she concluded, though sounding hesitant.
She had been the Princess’s personal student for most of her life and had gotten accustomed to how Equestria was run. If she remembered her lessons on various types of governments, Equestria was considered a Republic. Ponyville was relatively small so it only needed a mayor, who would also act as the town’s representative to Canterlot, should they need to request anything from the Princesses. Larger towns and cities might have an elected council alongside a designated representative. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea of maybe running for mayor someday.
“I hope you aren’t planning on running against me next term,”
Twilight nearly jumped out of her seat. “Oh, hello Mayor,” she began, still flustered, and just a bit red in the face, “No, I don’t think I’ll be trying to take your place anytime soon, if at all. It’s just…” she looked toward her friends for some help.
“We were merely discussing alternative occupations,” Rarity added, saving Twilight, “simply speculations, I assure you.”
“Well that’s great to hear!” the mayor seemed chipper than usual; but not unusually chipper, “you know when I was a foal I always wanted to be a rodeo clown.”
“That explains why you went into politics... and every Nightmare Night costume you wear,” Rainbow muttered under her breath.
Mayor Mare glanced at her for a moment; sure, that she had heard the pegasus say something, but quickly dropped the thought before turning back to the two unicorns.
~~~
After saying their farewells, the three friends each went back to their factual occupation; although Twilight was almost positive that Rainbow Dash had just sped off to take a nap, rather than weather patrol. As she approached the library, thoughts of what she would do if she was elected, bubbled in the cog-works of her mind, alongside her current research of course. She quickly shook her head in an attempt to bring her study of light back to the forefront. It was an interesting thing: light. It seemed to have the properties of both a particle and a wave. Could it be both or something else entirely? Moreover, what about the refractive index of various objects?
The refractive index! That was it! That is what had been on the back of her mind for so long. She hated that feeling of having the right word on the tip of her tong, yet not being able to say it. Water was transparent in small quantities, yet opaque in larger amounts. And what of rainbows? The liquid at the Rainbow Factory was very opaque, yet when spread out into the sky the substance became almost transparent; even more so if you could find a naturally occurring rainbow, or use a prism to split pure light.
She would need to research even more now. What about the celestial beasts like the Ursa Minor? You could see through it. Those daring enough had found that they had the various organs and systems that most creatures had: circulatory, respiratory, and the like. These systems were just invisible.
Invisible.
The word seemed alien, almost impossible to comprehend.
“Invisible.” She said it just loud enough that only she could hear it.
As soon as she entered the library, she began gathering her notes and books; anything that she had used in her research on light over the past week was brought down into her lab in the library’s basement.
“Invisible.” she tasted every syllable, every letter of the word. Excitement and adrenaline began to flow through her veins. She quickly recalled the basics of her anatomy and imagined her adrenal glands releasing Epinephrine, forcing her body into the “fight-or-flight response”.
She knew of various illusion spells that would cause a pony’s coat to blend in with its surroundings, like what most ponies thought chameleons did. She chuckled to herself, remembering when she had tried to explain to Pinkie Pie that they mainly changed color to express emotions, and that Cephalopods were the true masters of disguise.
Great, now she was thinking about semi-transparent sea creatures. Why would she think of that? Octopi and squid were not related to jellyfish. They were not even medusa shaped. She shook her head again.
“Stay focused Twilight,” she began talking aloud, in hopes that it would keep her on track, “If something like an Ursa can be transparent, then why not a pony.” By now, most of her notes were spread out on her various desks and workstations and she had begun writing notes and equations onto one of her blackboards.
She was not just looking at light now, or a simple illusion spell to give the appearance of invisibility: she wanted the real thing.
“Just think of the possibilities,” she continued to think aloud. She would not have to worry about being heard down here. Even so, Spike was helping Rarity hunt for gems today, and Owlowiscious was sleeping in a nest he had built for himself in the darkest part of the library’s branches outside. “The Royal guard could watch for suspicious activity without having to worry as much about stealth,” she paused remembering her own attempt at breaking into the Royal Archives, and how nopony seemed to care, “It could be used to hide important documents, or treasures,” she finally added.
Her list seemed short, but that was fine. She would let others figure out what to do with her discovery. She would be way to busy accepting praise from Princess Celestia for such a great discovery. She was flipping through her notes and books even more ferociously. She was sure that her discovery would make her just as memorable as Star Swirl the Bearded. Maybe she would be given own section in the Royal Archives.
It had been nearly another week before any of her friends saw her again. When she walked through the doors of Sugarcube Corner, all they could do was blink as they took in her appearance. Rainbow nearly fell over as she lost control, laughing and holding her sides in agony.
Applejack gave her a hard look out of the corner of her eye before turning back to the purple unicorn that had just walked through the door, “Y'all right Twi?” her calming accent seemed to awaken Twilight from her resolve.
She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she had barely registered her surroundings. Applejack’s honest eyes told her that something was wrong and finalized her awakening from her trance. It could also have been the sound of Rarity’s jaw hitting the floor, but she chose to go with the former.
“I’ve been great!” she managed with, perhaps, to much enthusiasm, “I just got caught up in my research and lost track of time.” she looked down, afraid that she had disappointed her friends.
“It’s fine Twilight,” a small voice seemed to whisper through the air, “We know how distracted you can get sometimes.”
“Ya! You remember that time you thought you were going to be tardy and then get sent back to magic-kindergarten and then never get to see us again! But then you did see us again because we told the Princess that it was our fault for not realizing that you were the one with the problem only we didn’t realize it until after you made everypony fall in love with your stuffed toy. You aren’t going to make everypony fall in love with a toy again are you? Cause I think you should make us fall in love with cupcakes this time; although, come to think of it, I already love cupcakes."
Just listening to Pinkie made her want to take a breath, but Twilight smiled anyway. Her friend could be… odd at times… but she sure knew how to make a pony smile. “No, I don’t plan on using the Want-it-Need-it spell again,” she paused to process her thoughts again. All that research: I'm so close. She shook her head clear. She knew that if her friends looked concerned then she probably should take a break even from her thoughts. “Why would you think of that anyway?” she added.
“Well…,” Rarity had finally picked her jaw up and had recomposed herself… somewhat, “it’s just that you look…”
“Yes,” Twilight asked expectedly.
“It’s just,” Rarity continued, finally finding the correct words, “When was the last time you brushed your mane?” It figured Rarity would be concerned with her looks. Come to think of it: when was the last time she brushed her hair; or looked at herself in a mirror for that matter?
Twilight was at a crossroads: telling Rarity would probably make her faint, but she did not want to lie either. “I don’t remember,” she tried. Smooth Twilight, she thought to herself. That twitch below Rarity’s eye was not a good sign.
In an instant, a small mirror appeared in front of her. “For mirror related emergencies,” smiled Pinkie, as she took it in her magic.
The pony staring back was most certainly her; but the disheveled mane, unkempt coat, and baggy eyes all pointed toward her current obsession. Her friends might not know what that obsession was, but they knew it was there. If she were not careful, they would find out her secret. It was not that she did not trust them; she just did not want anypony finding out about her research until she felt it was ready to be unveiled. She quickly decided that when it was time, they would be the first to know.
She immediately dropped the mirror, her irises becoming pinpricks: something did not feel right.
“Come along Fluttershy, you know what this calls for,” a glowing ethereal blue aura had surrounded Rarity’s horn as she walked out the door to the confectionary.
“I’m really sorry Twilight.” Fluttershy sadly apologized as she followed Twilight out the door.
Followed her?! She realized too late that she had been encased in Rarity’s magic and was being levitated, out onto the streets of Ponyville.
“Wait,” A cry erupted from the doorway, “You just got here!”
“I am sorry we had to cut this reunion so short, but we really must get Twilight to the spa at once,” Rarity called back without missing a step, “We will be back later, I assure you. This simply cannot wait.”
~~~
After the trip to the spa, the three returned to Sugarcube Corner, just as promised. The spa had been an ordeal for Twilight. Normally she would only go about once a month. Even then, she would only get the basic treatments, or, at the very least, soak in one of the relaxation tubs. Rarity had insisted on one of the higher-end treatments, all while trying to figure out if her appearance was really do to a lack of attention and not something more serious.
“So, find out what’s got her so worked up this time?” Rainbow had quickly looked around to make sure Twilight could not hear them before questioning Fluttershy.
“No,” she began, looking downtrodden, “She does seem to be a lot better now though,” she paused a moment, “Rarity I mean,” she finished with an ever-so small smile.
Rainbow nodded in reply. It was typical for Twilight to become drawn into her work, but she would usually at least mention what it was in passing. Maybe it was still that nonsense about how light worked. She was just about to ask about it when Pinkie beat her to the punch: literally and figuratively. Wait: had Fluttershy just told her a joke?
“So what ya been working on? Huh? Huh? Huh?” Pinkie repeatedly bounced up and down in front of the punchbowl. She was, somehow, holding a cup of punch in her hoof and not spilling a drop, despite all the jumping. She was just centimeters inside Twilight’s personal space: not enough to be considered too close, but close enough that it could be considered an invasion.
“Well...” Twilight quickly searched through the recesses of her mind for some response as all her friends looked on expectantly. She always shared her research with them. Occasionally they could even bring new insight.
She took a deep breath before continuing, “As you know, I’ve been looking into the properties of light,” so far she felt she was doing well. All she had to do was give just enough information that they would understand why she had been hidden away for the past week. She also needed to ensure that it explained her scruffy appearance: they normally only saw her like that when she was being driven mad by some great uncertainty: like when she had tried to understand Pinkie’s “Pinkie Sense”, or had thought that she was never going to see them again.
“I think I’m close to discovering why you are able to see through an Ursa, yet you can’t see what it has eaten,” she concluded. That should be good enough. Although, I really should look into that more than I have. What is the point in being invisible if someone could see my breakfast?
“Somthin’ I always wondered myself,” Applejack thought aloud, “I mean, when you stopped that rampaging Ursa Minor Ah did think it a might peculiar that his teeth could only be seen once he opened those jaws o' his.” She bristled at the memory.
The rest of her friends seemed to accept her slight deviation from the actual truth, and were more than eager to hear all that she knew regarding Ursa Minors and Majors, and all the celestial beasts. She also made sure to express concerns about maybe having to study them up close: hence her appearance. As the day went on though, she could not help but feel two light-blue eyes watching her intently.
~~~
It was long after all her friends had departed and Luna's moon had taken the sun's place in the sky. Pinkie knew that she should be asleep: it was really-late and she would not be able to spread very many smiles if she was over-tired in the morning. Something just kept bugging her; or, maybe it was bugging one of her friends. She quickly deduced using her expert skill of deducing things to deduce that whatever the bugging was, involved Twilight.
Pinkie knew that she should have no reason to doubt her friend, and she could tell that she was not lying about anything. Something just did not sit right in her stomach. She knew it could not have been all those cupcakes (or that hot sauce): she had made sure to bounce around enough that everything was equally distributed in her tummy. So then why was it feeling like that?
Something not sitting right in my tummy is not on my list of Pinkie Senses, but then my “Shudder” hadn’t been on it either.
Pinkie would need to do some more investigating, and maybe even some more deducing; but that could wait until morning. Oh! First, I should go get another slice of key-lime-pie, she jumped out of bed with a smile, careful not to wake anyone, that usually always helps me get to sleep without fail.
An explosion of Red and purple smoke burst forth with a cacophonous sound from the test-tube and had enveloped the entire lab within seconds. Twilight coughed, clearing the fumes from her lungs as her horn began to glow. With scarcely a thought, she had cleared the room and was observing the test-tube with a suspicious eye, as if it were just waiting to attack with its obnoxious fumes again. Once sure that the compound was stable, she began double-checking her notes and equations. If everything had gone to plan, then she would be one-step closer to her goal.
“Twilight!” Spike was at the top of the basement staircase, looking down over the small balcony. He knew that Twilight hated to be disturbed when she was down there, but the explosion had shaken the entire library, and possibly several of the neighboring buildings. “Are you okay? I heard a loud explosion and thought you might be hurt.”
She quickly made sure that her most important notes were out of site before looking up the stairs, “I’m fine. I just miscalculated the proportions of several unstable compounds.”
“That’s not like you, usually you’re more careful than that,” Spike called back, obviously concerned. He was normally Twilight’s number-one-assistant, yet she had not wanted him involved with this latest research project. Whatever she was doing was probably really important: maybe even orders from Princess Celestia; he however, could not remember getting any letters from the Princesses recently.
“I know. It’s just that I’m so close to a new discovery that I’ve been spending more time than I probably should thinking about it.”
“Well, if you’re sure that you’re alright, I’ll just go back up here and finish dusting off the Equestrian History shelves.”
“I’m fine,” Twilight confirmed again before calling back up to him, “and as soon as you are done up there, you can head out to Sugarcube Corner and pick yourself up a cupcake. Just tell them to put it on my tab.”
Spike seemed overjoyed with the prospects of a break from his duties and a tasty treat.
~~~
She was a lot closer than she had realized only hours before. She held the roll of parchment in her magic as she examined it from every angle. The only evidence that she was holding anything was a purple glow; within the aura of her magic, however, seemed to be nothing but air. Many would more than likely argue that she was just forming her magic into the outline of a scroll. She knew the truth though.
“Prank shops might have invisible ink,” she chuckled to herself, “but I have invisible paper!” She held it high above her head in triumph.
She had done what many believed to be impossible: she had created a spell that could turn things invisible. She looked around, as if waiting for applause and cheering from some unseen audience.
“Well,” she thought aloud, “I only have one thing left to do.”
With those words, she set the roll of parchment down and relit her horn. Nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to experience: it was not pain, nor was it pleasure. It was both, yet neither, and everything in between. Her coat and mane faded into pure white as she poured more magic into her spell. More and more she glowed. Her own appearance was so bright that she was forced to shut her eyes. The tingling sensation that was every feeling at once intensified. Even so, she continued.
She knew from the scroll that the spell only took less than a second, yet it seemed as if minutes were passing by.
More pain was flowing through her body than she had ever known possible.
Those minutes were now turning into hours.
More pleasure than even when she was wielding the Elements of Harmony.
Hours rolled into days.
Everything was quiet.
~~~
She sat, exhausted at her kitchen table. A steaming cup of tea sat in front of her as she rested her head upon her forelegs. The night seemed to, almost eternal for her. She barely remembered anything beyond making a scroll seem to vanish right before her eyes. All she really knew at this moment was that her brain hurt, her horn hurt, her eyes hurt: her everything hurt.
She took a sip of her tea. The sight of it disappearing as it approached a space not too far from her eyes no longer amused her. Had the miraculous ability to make tea disappear from a cup by drinking it ever been amusing; and why did the moon have to be so bright? She groaned as she tried to drag herself away from the table and upstairs to her bed. She often thought it funny when Spike talked about being able to hear his bed calling him. She no longer found such thoughts to be crazy.
As she was finally able to pick herself up and slink toward the kitchen door, Spike entered. She froze. She really did not want to be seen in her current condition. She assumed that she probably looked worse than when Rarity had taken her to the spa earlier that day.
“Twilight?”
If she were just half as away as she was now, she would have been able to give some kind of answer. It might not have been intelligible, or even identifiable as what one could consider a language, but it would have been a response.
“Huh. Thought you were down here,” he seemed to say to himself with a shrug, before noticing the half-empty teacup. "She must have forgotten to put that away," he paused a moment, "I have really got to stop talking to myself. Guess that means it's time for bed." He gave a little shrug before seeking out his bed.
Twilight was needless to say, confused. She was standing right in front of him. He even looked right at her. How could he not have seen her? Her head was buzzing even more now than it had before.
I must be hallucinating, she thought, there is no other logical explanation. I must be more fatigued than I thought.
~~~
As Twilight arose from her much needed rest, she grabbed her hairbrush and began untangling her mane as she trotted toward her bedroom mirror. Although well rested, she was still a bit groggy. The memories of the previous night were still a bit blurry, and she could have sworn she had a dream about Spike being a hallucination.
She thought over the day’s schedule, while watching her hairbrush float around the mirror. It was almost mesmerizing: it danced around like a conductor’s baton guiding an orchestra. As it moved and swayed about the mirror, the reddish-purple glow of her magic illuminated nothing.
She paused a moment. Still being a tad bit groggy, she was having trouble processing the image before her. Normally the magical glow that surrounded her brush and horn would reflect of at least a few strands of hair. She studied the brush's reflection in bewilderment. She could see the brush, the glow around the brush, and the glow around her horn. What did not appear visible was her horn or that mane she was supposedly brushing.
Now that she was thinking about it, she did not see anything in the mirror. Immediately her mind snapped to attention. Now fully awake mentally, the image being reflected back from the mirror began to sink in.
"I'm invisible," she whispered to herself. She began to smile, and before she could stop herself, she was jumping in circles around her room chanting, "I did it! I'm invisible!"
Her celebration would not last long. She saw the corner of her bed; what she did not see was her shin: pain ensued.
~~~
Ensuring that Spike had left to go complete the weekly ritual of restocking the library's quill and parchment supplies, she carefully trotted back down into her lab, magically locking the door behind her. She slowly and carefully took one-step at a time, remembering how she nearly fell down the staircase from her bedroom down to the main floor. She closed her eyes and was moving primarily by feel. After that incident with her shin, and then her other shin, and then her hoof, she came to the conclusion that seeing everything but herself was messing with her kinesthetic sense, and could only tell were all her limbs were by removing her sense of sight.
When she made it to her desk, she looked over her notes once more. Her spell seemed to work just as planned: the only flaw was that the magical aura around her horn could still be seen whenever she used magic. She looked over her final notes and performed the spell again, this time just focusing on her horn and magic. Once complete she levitated a book to test the results.
"Horse-feathers," she mumbled to herself, having failed. She checked her reflection using the dome she used to study brain waves to see if her horn still gave off its ethereal glow as well.
It did.
She would need to research a bit more on how to fix that, "But what if I can't fix it," she cried out, "What if a pony's magical glow can't be turned invisible?"
She was flustered to have come so far, only to be thwarted by the tiniest thing. Something she had not even thought about up until now.
"No, I can fix this," she was filled with a new resolve, determined to find a solution.
She looked up at her horn and at the book levitating beside her, both still glowing with her magic. She began retracing her experiments in her mind; back to when she had first began looking into the possibilities of true invisibility.
"Illusion spells." That was it! All she would have to do would be to cast a simple "Chameleon-spell" on her magic. It would not be perfect, but the chances of a pony noticing it without knowing to look were slim. She frowned at the spell's title. I really need to write a letter to somepony about that name. She filed that thought away for later as she began to cast the spell.
~~~
"We aRe the CUtiE MarK CrUsaDerS! On a QueSt to fiNd oUt whO we Are!"
Birds flew away; squirrels hid in the deepest parts of the trees, shutters were closed and locked. A pony could only take so much awesome singing of an epic rock ballad before she was driven mad.
Scootaloo and her scooter zipped around Ponyville at break-neck speeds, pulling the cart Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were riding behind it. She was careful to avoid damaging anything… too much. She launched them off improvised ramps, and careened around corners.
Sweetie Belle clung to Apple Bloom for dear life. She knew that there was no reason to be afraid. She just preferred when they were not heading straight for buildings. I should probably say something, she thought, that house is getting really close. "You can see that building can't you," That was not very hard.
Scootaloo grinned maniacally as they raced toward the building. She waited until the last second before turning, hard. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom held on as the cart leaned onto two wheels before slamming back onto all four with a jolt. The two riding along, let out a breath neither knew she was holding. When everything seemed fine and they felt safe, they were thrown forward through the air and skidded several feet.
"Who in tarnation did you hit this time?" Apple Bloom's eyes were rolling around in her head as she tried to shake them strait again.
"It wasn't my fault," Scootaloo replied defensively, having landed beside the other two, "my scooter just stopped."
"Maybe you hit a rock?" Sweetie Belle offered, trying to hold back tears causer by this latest round of bruises.
"Do you see a rock?" Scootaloo shot back.
"Well, no, but," before she could continue, all three paused. It almost sounded like another pony was there.
As they perked their ears, they heard the unmistakable sounds of a pony breathing heavily, as if she had just bashed her shin into a corner really hard.
"Solar-flaring invisible shins!" If they were not mistaken the mysterious breathing had muttered, ever so quietly, under its breath.
There was only one reasonable explanation for a bodiless voice whimpering just out of earshot. It popped into each of the fillies' young minds at the same instant:
"Ghost!"
All three did the only thing a pony could do when one rammed a ghost with a scooter at full speed: they ran around in circles screaming. After several seconds of that, they quickly picked up the scooter and the cart and sped away.
If anypony could have seen the "ghost", they would have seen a pony with a blank expression blinking in bewilderment and confusion, before going back to cursing all four of its now thoroughly bruised shins.
~~~
After her recent meeting with the Crusaders, Twilight considered her experiment a complete success. She teleported back into her lab unnoticed. She quickly went to work on undoing the spell. She felt like she had stubbed her hooves and smashed her shins enough today, if not for the rest of her life.
After undoing the spell, she walked up the basement steps to the landing and the library door. While undoing the magical lock she had put on it, she noticed that her magic was still disguised. Without another thought, that spell too was undone. It was not until she lifted her hoof to push open the door that she noticed that she still had no hoof.
She stood there on the landing; invisible hoof still raised up to push open the door a few moments, before rushing to reapply the locking spell. She did not want anypony seeing her like this. She attempted to undo her invisibility spell again, and again. Each time she was met with failure.
Great, she mused to herself, rolling her invisible eyes, The one time I don't mess-up a spell I created and put all of Ponyville in danger, and I can't undo it.
It took some time, but Twilight eventually came to grips with her current predicament. She did not know how long she would remain in her current state, but it would probably last long enough that her disappearance would be noticed by at least Spike. If she could not figure out an answer then she would probably have to ask the Princess for help.
I can't do that, she countered her own thoughts, She'll probably be upset that I couldn't find a solution on my own.
While she made it her resolve to not tell anyone, not even the pony who was almost like a second mother, she still had the problem of her friends noticing her disappearance. Against her better judgment, she got to work on a note for Spike and placed it on the central table next to the Alicorn statuette. She also made sure to gather her bedroll and sleeping bag, along with some food, before returning to the basement, making sure to add a soundproofing spell to the door in addition to the locking enchantments.
She knew that Spike would share the letter with her friends: she just hoped they did not think her excuse was to out of character.
~~~
Spike,
I will be away in Canterlot visiting the Royal Archives and Library: our library is lacking some information that I need for my current research. I am sorry that I had to leave in such a rush and could not tell you this myself, but I did not want to miss the train. Take care of the library for me.
Twilight Sparkle
p.s. Do NOT let Pinkie throw any parties while I am gone. I expect the library to still be standing when I get back.
~~~
As soon as Spike found Twilight's letter, he ran to the train station in hopes of seeing her before she left. By the time he got there though, the train was already leaving the station. All he could do was stand on the platform, gasping for breath. He gained a second wind when he saw a purple unicorn waving from one of the windows, and waved back enthusiastically.
After seeing who he believed to be Twilight off, he knew that he should probably make sure that her friends saw the letter as well. He reasoned that if she had been in such a rush that she did not even have time to say goodbye to him, then she probably also had missed saying farewell to them as well. He would hate for her to come back home only to find that her friends had been worried sick thinking she had disappeared. As he walked the streets of Ponyville, he could not help but think that the pony he had waved to was a lighter shade of purple, and that her mane was not styled like Twilight's either.
He shook the thought loose, I was out of breath, I could just be remembering Twilight and some other pony from the train at the same time, he reasoned. As he continued to attempt to convince himself, a familiar growling rudely interrupted him, "Well, that could also explain it," he said aloud, looking around.
He found himself near the center of town, looking at several vendor stalls. As his stomach gave another low rumble, he moved purposefully toward an apple stall.
"Well, hey there Spike," Applejack called as she pocketed the bits from her latest customers, "what can I do ya for?"
Spike nearly forgot about telling Applejack about Twilight as he drooled over the offerings in the applecart, "They all look so good."
"The granny smith and golden delicious were just picked this morning," Applejack offered, "bucked 'em myself."
"I liked the granny smith: it's sweeter than usual, and not all that sour."
Spike, grasping one of the green apples, let it catch the sun's rays, giving off a golden hue. He took a large bite, nearly forgetting to chew. The angelic voice of the food angel was right: it was sweet, but still had that unmistakable tartness.
"Food angel?" Fluttershy blinked in confusion.
"Oh, hey Fluttershy," Spike chuckled to himself trying to hide his embarrassment, "When did you get here?"
"I've been here the whole time."
Spike quickly tried to recover, apologizing profusely, "I'm so sorry Fluttershy. I got this letter from Twilight, and then ran to the station but then came here because I knew you guys would want to read the letter too. But then I got hungry, and you know how I can lose track of things when I don’t eat, or even sleep for that matter," Spike rambled.
Fluttershy gave a soft smile, letting him know that it was all right.
"So, what's this about a letter now?" Applejack cut-in.
Spike handed her the letter and some bits as he took a second apple. He tried to judge the pegasus and earth pony's reactions as he looked on while devouring the second apple.
Fluttershy looked downtrodden, "I guess she was more concerned with her studies than we thought."
"Well better her running off for the Canterlot library than the Everfree Forrest," Applejack added. Something seemed off about the letter, but decided not to say anything unless she had any evidence, No use worrying Fluttershy, or anypony else for that matter, about nothing. Now what was it Pinkie was goin' on about yesterday? Something about wanting to know if I thought Twi was hiding somethin? She pushed the thoughts back, knowing that Twilight would not hide anything from them without a reason, Maybe she was just concerned 'bout Twi running off into the Everfree after those Celestial beasts.
Applejack and Fluttershy decided to split-up to make sure that their other friends knew about Twilight's departure as well. Fluttershy volunteered to tell Rarity: they had been friends since she moved to Ponyville from Cloudsdale. Besides, she feared that the unicorn might take offense and think that Twilight's leaving was their fault for forcing her to go to the spa. Applejack had needed to calm the jittery pegasus, claiming that Rarity would not think it was her fault, and that she shouldn't either.
~~~
Unknown to anyone but her, Twilight had been following Spike all day. She had hoped to see how he, and her friends reacted to the letter. She had been worried when she saw that Fluttershy was among the first to find out: a pony had to be delicate around her. Twilight had hoped that Spike would have shown the letter to one of her other friends, and then let them be the one to explain it to Fluttershy. Spike meant well, but could be a little blunt at times. Luckily, the shy pegasus seemed to handle it better than she had expected.
After her friends had gone their separate ways, she teleported back to her lab to begin the arduous task of researching how to reverse the spell. Upon her arrival, she noticed that she had a halve-eaten apple in her magical grip, and juice running down her lips. Her eyes went wide with the realization that she had just stolen an apple from her friend.
But I'm not a thieve, she panicked, and I stole this from my own friend. If lying is the fastest way to lose a friend, then what does stealing from one do?
She was nearly hyperventilating now, as her thoughts started to become audible, "What do I do?"
"Keep it together Twilight," she told her refection in her lab equipment, "Applejack often gives you a couple apples for free."
"But I did not have permission: that is theft. Ponies who steal get locked away!"
"You won't get locked away; you are Celestia's prized student and have saved Equestria numerous times."
"You're right I won't get locked away in jail," she seemed to calm down for a second, before becoming even more terrified and agitated, "I'll be sent to the Royal Dungeons and tried for Treason!"
"Wait," Twilight blinked a few times, returning to reality, "I could just pay her back when I get back to normal." She smiled as a new plan formed in her mind, "Yes, I'll pay her a few bits extra the next time I see her."
As she thought about it though, she began to realize something she had never thought of before: while she had intended for the spell to be used for "good", she now feared that it could be used for "evil". The creator of the "Chameleon-spell" had, probably, nothing but the best intentions for his spell too. It was mostly used by the Royal Guard and police forces around Equestria, and sometimes for fashion. Nevertheless, occasionally, it was the tool of pranksters, vandals, and thieves.
She shuddered at the thought of her spell being used for crime; but then, that is what she had just done. The only reason academies still taught the "Chameleon-spell" was because there were ways of detecting it, and tracing the castor.
"Perhaps, I should hold off on finding a solution," she smirked to herself, "Yes! I'll just keep this up and find flaws and exploits. That way nopony can use it for nefarious deeds and if they do, they'll be caught." The list of exploits and paying anypony she stole from back seemed like a fair trade-off for any crimes she committed in the name of helping prevent future crimes committed by real criminals.
She cast her invisibility spell on her saddlebags as her thoughts changed, "I still need to talk to somepony about that name," she mumbled to herself, her mind having gone back to thoughts about the "Chameleon-spells" moniker. "I supposed 'Cephalopod-spell' would fit better; although, my spell is a superior version, so maybe I could call it that." The name of her spell, and the "Chameleon-spell" would wait until after she found any exploitable flaws that would assist the law. Without another thought, she teleported out of her lab and outside amongst the unsuspecting populace of Ponyville.
~~~
Pinkie was watching over Sugarcube Corner, alone. The Cake's had decided, after seeing how well she could watch over the twins, to give her more responsibilities around the shop. Pinkie was more than over joyed when they told her, and not because she would be getting a raise: which meant she could afford more candy from Bon Bon's candy shop.
Today is just a normal day, she thought to herself from behind the counter, the sun is shining, ponies are walking around enjoying themselves, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are running around barricading the entrances. Yeps! Perfectly normal… although, I should probably figure out why they don't want anypony to come-in.
"So why don't you want anypony to come-in?" she asked as she bounced over to them and their growing wall of tables and chairs, topped with a potted plant. "Don’t you think it would be more funerific if more ponies could join us," she gasped loudly as she was struck with enlightenment, "You girls are planning a surprise party and don’t want the suprisee to find out until you're ready! Ooo! Can I help Can I help Can I Can I!" she smiled even wider having figured out what they were doing.
The three terrified fillies glanced at one another. As they were too busy silently trying to figure out who would be the one to explain everything, they failed to notice that Pinkie had stopped bouncing and was looking at her twitching tail.
"Ahh!" Apple Bloom screamed as the precariously placed flowerpot fell onto her head with a crash, "It's the ghost! Everypony for herself!"
The Crusaders then began the time-honored tradition of running around in circles screaming; because as everypony knows, nothing can harm you if you just keep running in circles screaming… especially like a little girl if you are a manly-man macho stallion.
They stopped only when Sugarcube Corner erupted into an endless explosion of color. They turned to see Pinkie in a combat ready position, holding something in her hooves. It appeared to be a tube with a hose connecting it to a box shaped canister on her back. Apple Bloom was about to ask about it, when Sweetie Belle brought up something that only the sister of Rarity would notice before Pinkie's odd contraption.
"Why are we covered in silly-string?"
Pinkie smirked while, at the same time, looking slightly depressed, "Nope, no ghosts here."
The Crusaders gave each other quizzical glances out of the corners of their eyes, before turning their attention back toward the pink earth pony with what they now believed to be some kind of mini silly-string cannon. Sweetie was going to ask about everything being covered in silly-string again, but was quickly silenced by Pinkie pulling three smaller, filly-sized versions of her own contraption out of seemingly nowhere.
So they are being chased by ghost it seems, "Are you three sure there is a ghost in Ponyville?" she asked, contemplating the three contraptions sitting at her hooves.
"Yea! It hit my scooter, then said something about its shins," Scootaloo replied, trying to act as if it were an everyday occurrence for her.
"How'd you know there was a ghost in Ponyville?" Sweetie tried to ask, before Apple Bloom silenced her.
"Shush, I think she might be able to help us."
Sweetie Belle was going to protest, but quickly stopped herself. She should really listen to her sister more about not questioning Pinkie Pie unless you absolutely had to; although, she was curious as to how she was now wearing one of the three smaller versions of Pinkie's contraption.
"In that case," Pinkie's tone became serious, "suit-up," as she said this she put on a pair of all black sunglasses and added, "And don’t cross the streams."
A high-pitched extended "yeah" seemed to come from the universe itself.
Twilight did not know where to begin. At first, she thought about sneaking into the theater, but kids already did that. She knew the true test would be to go up against somepony with a keen eye for detail. If she truly wanted to push her stealth to its limits, then she would need to go up against Rarity. If anypony would notice her, it would be the fashionista. What she was most concerned about was her magic. It was still camouflaged, as she had not figured out how to make it invisible. She knew that Rarity had made a few dresses using the "Chameleon-spell" before, and would probably notice the faint shimmer without even looking for it.
As she trotted along the streets of Ponyville, she tried to think of a valid experiment. As she looked up into the bright blue sky, she saw a lone cloud.
"I thought the weather team had planned a clear day," she muttered to herself so that no one else could hear. As she took a second look, she noticed a rainbow streak hanging over one side. The single cloud made sense to her now as she watched Rainbow's tail sway over the edge: she usually liked to keep one cloud around for her naps.
As Twilight looked on, she began to think of all the times Rainbow Dash and Pinkie had pranked her. At times, it had seemed like they could enter and leave a room without her noticing. She grinned devilishly as she began to devise a plan. After visiting Rarity, she would have to think of a way to get them back; only this time, they would not see her coming: but how?
She thought over all of their pranks until one particular event from earlier that day made her grin even more, "Those three fillies thought I was a ghost, so I will become a ghost. Ponyville will not know what hit it." She chuckled darkly as she snuck inside the Carousel Boutique, careful to hold the chime in her magic so that it would not alert the shop's owner to her arrival.
She found Rarity in her "inspiration room", sitting at her drawing board, sketching out several new designs. Twilight looked over her friend's shoulder and watcher her work for a few minutes. She never how Rarity designed all her outfits, usually all her friends were shown were the final sketches, never the drafts.
Perhaps I could study ponies in their natural habitats, she thought as she watched her friend repeatedly erase and redraw different parts of the outfit repeatedly. Then again, I have a more important mission.
Her maniacal grin turned into a dark smirk as she tried to compose herself and gently whispered as to not spook her prey, "Hiss."
Rarity's ears perked as Twilight began again, a little louder this time, "Hisssss."
She now had Rarity's attention. The white unicorn began looking around, trying to figure out if she had actually heard anything, or if her imagination was just running wild. She glanced at the window, ensuring that it was closed, before shrugging and returning back to her designs.
Twilight could not help herself as she hissed even louder, before igniting her horn, releasing an explosive burst of magic that threw paper and fabric everywhere and giving off the sound of a crate full of fireworks all going off simultaneously. Twilight watched in amusement as Rarity jolted several feet in the air, screaming in surprise.
Once her heart rate dropped enough, she looked around angrily, hoping to find the culprits: probably her sister and her friends. When she did not see anything, she got up and stormed out of the room with Twilight following not far behind.
"Sweetie Belle! I know that was you! If you come out right now I won't destroy you," after a brief moment she added, "too much."
Rarity paused in confusion. She had searched every square inch of her home and shop, and had not found a trace of her sister or her friends. Usually she could hear their giggling, or one of the doors opening as they made their escape. She had once even caught them trying to sneak out one of the windows.
When Twilight felt Rarity's guard had lowered enough, she stepped in front of her, gave an extended "hiss", and "exploded" again.
Rarity nearly passed out from the surprise attack, but managed to catch a glimpse of something shimmering in front of her before she fell over like a fainting goat. Twilight left the room and quietly teleported away. Only once she was back in her lab did she explode with devious maniacal laughter. She now knew why Pinkie and Rainbow always seemed to be pranking everypony: it was fun.
"No," she said darkly, "It is power."
~~~
"So, what's this ghost look like?"
Pinkie Pie was lurking around buildings, and rolling into cover as she and the Cutie Mark Crusaders patrolled the streets.
"Thought we already told ya? It was invisible. We couldn't see it at all: just heard it," Apple Bloom replied, rolled her eyes as Scootaloo started ninja-rolling behind Pinkie.
Pinkie suddenly stopped dodging, ducking, dipping, diving, and dodging and held her hoof up, halting the three fillies.
"Okay troops," Pinkie marched back-and-forth in front of the lined up Crusaders as they stood at attention, "you have in you hooves the only sure-fire way to deal with a mean ol' ghostie."
"I thought you were supposed to giggle at them to make them disappear?" Sweetie Belle quietly asked.
Pinkie was instantly looking the young filly eye-to-eye, "Did I give you permission to reference the transcripts Private Belle?"
"Umm... no…?" Sweetie guessed. She tried looking to her friends for help but they both just shrugged.
"Rightie-tightie," Pinkie began pacing before them again, "The Proton-String-Pak is more than just a silly string-cannon: the silly-string is a highly concentrated mixture of cotton candy, frosting, and a bunch of random ingredients and spices I found in the kitchen. In a pinch, it can be used to decorate cake; but its primary use is to re-visible-ize invisible ghosts. You fire it by aiming it at the ghostie and pulling this trigger."
Pinkie then pulled the trigger, covering an entire park bench in silly-string.
Hmmm, nopony's there, Pinkie shrugged, I guess Lyra and Bon Bon are sitting at another bench today.
"How are we supposed to find an invisible ghost," Scootaloo asked, standing firmly at attention, "mam?"
"Hmm," Pinkie rubber her chin in thought, "I guess we could use my Pinkie-sense." Maybe that’s what something not sitting right in my tummy means. Maybe it didn't have anything to do with Twilight after all, and has everything to do with ghosts invading Ponyville.
Pinkie found herself almost lost in her thoughts and quickly clamored out, less she got really lost. She remembered the last time that happened it had taken seemingly forever to get unlost. She escaped the labyrinth of her mind just in time to hear a hissing coming from behind her. Her eyes went wide as her pupils became pinpricks. She quickly pounced on top of the Crusaders just in time to shield them from the massive explosion.
She quickly looked around, looks like he's gone for now. "You forgot to mention that the invisible ghost was also a creeper."
"We had no idea it could do that. We swear." Apple Bloom tried to respond, still trying to recover from the disorientation caused by the blast.
"That was awesome!" shouted Scootaloo, "It was like a Sonic Rainboom! Only not as epic," she amended.
So, we have an invisible ghost that is also a creeper. We might need a new strategy.
~~~
"Phase two is a success," Twilight muttered to herself, pleased with her work. First, she had gotten past Rarity's keen eye, and now Pinkie's Pinkie-ness. "If I could get past those two then nopony will be able to stop me!" Her grin let up, "well, not stop a criminal," she quickly added. She was not a criminal; she was just trying to find a way to prevent criminals from using her spell for wrongdoing.
As Twilight walked along the streets, she watched the ponies of Ponyville going about their daily routines. Nothing seemed amiss to them. Twilight knew otherwise. She could see it everywhere she looked: chaos and disorder were running rampant in the small friendly town. As she approached the park, it became even clearer to her that the ponies here were woefully doomed. She saw colts and fillies chasing each other, laughing, and young lovers enjoying each other's company, and a grey pegasus was littering.
A pony was littering! In her town no less. She quickly cantered over to the grey mare. Twilight observed her throwing small mini nut-muffins from her saddlebags onto the ground near some of the trees for a few moments. The saddlebags bore the logo of Equestria's Postal and Packaging Services.
"It's a disgrace to the Princesses," she sneered to herself, "She pledged to work for them, and repays them by breaking the law."
Without another thought, she grabbed all the muffins on the ground in her magic, and angrily threw them all into a garbage bin along the walking path. She disregarded the ponies nearby as they immediately took notice of the flying barrage of muffins: some ponies seemed concerned, having not seen a magical aura around them.
She then wrenched the saddlebags off the confused pegasus and made sure to send the remaining muffins to join the others. As Twilight began to trot away, she felt something pull on her magic. She looked on with bemusement, as the grey mare attempted to wrestle the floating saddlebags out of the air.
"You are a disgrace to the uniform," she told the mare defiantly as she shook her loose, "I will not allow such actions in my town."
Once she had teleported herself and the saddlebags back to her lab she began looking around, still disgruntled about the mail-mare's disgraceful disobedience to the law. "Where is my clock?"
She blinked, remembering that she still had yet to get one for the lab. She unceremoniously shoved the mail-mare's saddlebags into her own, double-checking that they were still invisible and that the mailbag could not be seen before teleporting away again.
~~~
"Mayor," the mayor's secretary gently nocked at her door, "There is a Mr. Time Turner here to see you. He says that it's urgent."
"You can send him in."
The secretary opened the door, allowing a brown-coated earth pony and, unknown to all three, an invisible unicorn, into the mayor's office.
"Timey Wimey! So good to see you," the mayor stood up from her desk and hugged him as the Secretary left them alone.
"I really wish you would stop calling me that," he sighed, returning the mayor's embrace.
"You know I can tell when something is troubling you, and you really looked like you needed a hug today. Unless you need money, I know the town could always use more. Please sit down and tell me all about it."
Time Turner hesitated; he did not know where to begin. Being the town's official timekeeper, and the younger brother of the mayor, the town "elected" him to be the one to tell her about whatever catastrophe was threatening the town that week. Usually, it was just a couple of kids doing something ridiculous in a futile attempt to get their cutie marks. Everypony went through that phase, so as long as none of the foals got their hooves on a cannon or explosives, there was no reason to worry.
"A ghost, or a thief… or something," Time Turner began, after collecting his thoughts, "is rampaging through Ponyville."
Mayor Mare blinked a few times before beginning to chuckle, "Have you been hanging around Pinkie Pie again," she asked light-heartedly. She stopped laughing when she saw the seriousness in his eyes.
"Someone is breaking into ponies' homes, spooking them, and stealing things. It even attacked Derpy and stole her mailbag, making it vanish." His tone was filled with resentment for whomever, or whatever, had harmed his mare-friend.
Twilight watched the events unfold before her with amusement as Time Turner explained the events of the day. She could not help but smile as he went into detail about each of her actions. What she found most interesting was that apparently, Pinkie Pie had recruited the Cutie Mark Crusaders and was trying to find her. They were even calling themselves "Cutie Mark Crusader GhostFacers".
"How cute," Twilight whispered to herself.
As Time Turner left, Twilight could not help but frown as she felt the extra weight in her saddlebags alongside Derpy's mailbag: apparently, he had been told about everything she had barrowed: books, magazines, food, non-safety scissors from the schoolhouse. However, he had yet to notice that she had borrowed a clock from his shop.
She waited a few moments more to ensure that she was alone with mayor.
"So Miss Mayor Mare, what do you think of my test so far," she asked in a cocky, brazen tone.
The mayor jumped out of her seat, standing with her back to the window overlooking Ponyville behind her, "Who's there?"
"That doesn’t' matter right now," Twilight replied, "What I need from you is information as to why Equestria would hire a criminal to deliver the mail?"
"I, I, I," Mayor Mare stammered, "I don’t know what you are talking about."
"Derpy Hooves," she snapped.
"From what I was told you just attacked her, that makes you the criminal here," the mayor countered, attempting to sound braver and less afraid than she really was.
"What the good clock doctor failed to tell you was, that at the time I found her, she was littering."
The mayor looked on with a mixture of shock and amazement as the mail-mare's saddlebags appeared before her.
"From what I've heard, she likes to feed the squirrels the left-over stale nut-muffins from Suga-"
"She was littering!" Twilight breathed deeply, trying to calm herself from the outburst, "Now there are going to be some changes around here. First, I am in charge now: you will not sign any new proposals, or attend any meetings without my consent."
"And why should I listen to you?"
"Because you and every other pony in this town are weak," she retorted, "With my help it will become a shining example for all of Equestria. I will rule over Ponyville; and be revered by the Princesses. Don't worry though," she added, "I will make sure that you are rewarded for your efforts as well."
Mayor Mare's eyes enlarged and glowed as a large bag of bits manifested itself before her, "I have one question?"
"What is it?"
"What should I call you?"
Twilight grinned. Sure, she had robbed the bank, but she could easily pay it, and all the ponies she had borrowed from back ten-fold once the Princesses thanked her for her report on invisibility, and for turning Ponyville into utopia.
Pinkie looked out over Ponyville from Sugarcube Corner's rooftop, looking for anything that looked out of the ordinary. Pinkie continued her ever-vigilant watch, her eyes briefly locking onto Mayor Mare. Her mane appeared frazzled; stands of pink waved through it where her hair-dye was running thin. She was muttering to herself, jumpy and on edge, ever alert, as if being watched.
The Crusaders looked up thinking that Pinkie had said something. They shook the idea away as nothing before returning to their binoculars. Over the past few days, things had kept getting stranger, or at least they thought things were getting stranger. Following Pinkie Pie for several days was probably not the Crusader's greatest idea. Considering the fact that there was a ghost running rampant robbing banks and terrorizing citizens, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were surprised to find themselves still sane.
As Pinkie and the Crusaders continued to monitor Ponyville from atop the confectionary, a rainbow streak swiftly blazed overhead. The ribbon of color burst through several clouds, causing them to dissipate with a puff before it looped around, forming a figure-eight pattern in the now clear blue sky. The source of the colorful rainbow streak halted overhead the awestruck young ponies.
With her wings spread wide, Rainbow Dash struck a heroic pose, ensuring that it was at least twenty-percent cooler than her average pose, knowing that her number-one-fan was among the four ponies gawking up at her.
"Hey, squirt," Rainbow nodded to the young pegasus wearing what looked to be night-vision goggles strapped to her forehead. She had plenty of questions as to why they were all on the roof (and why they all had strange contraption strapped to their backs) but quickly chalked the location and odd equipment to having to do with the pink earth-pony.
Scootaloo nearly squealed before quickly recollecting herself, "Nothing much." Her attempt at being nonchalant was dangerously close to failing miserably. "I can hover for almost 10 full seconds now!" She could not hold back any more and excitedly burst forth her latest accomplishment; although, she may have over exaggerated just a bit. She may have also neglected to mention that she could only hover about three-feet off the ground, but her idol's quick nod made her young heart flutter with pride.
"So," Pinkie cut-in trying to get the plot back on track, "why have you been in such a rush today? I know you usually zip around really fast to clear the sky and everything but it looks like you were going faster than usual? Are you trying to beat your old record?"
"I wish." The sky-blue pegasus dropped down onto the roof in a slump. "It's these new rules the Mayor keeps making," she added with a mixture of anger and depression.
"New rules? Since when did the weather team have rules? I though y'all just followed whatever schedule you're given," Apple Bloom questioned skeptically.
"I think I heard that the Mayor past some new regulations because the weather team always seemed to be late, and wanted to motivate them to be more productive," Sweetie Belle chimed.
"We're never late with getting the weather organized," Dash shot back.
"What about that time we had that huge-humongous-storm because you failed to get a lite sprinkle the previous week? I mean really, how does a storm with winds strong enough to put a tree in Twilight's tree supposed to make up for a light-sprinkle anyway?"
Rainbow stared at Pinkie as if the answer was painfully obvious, before rolling her eyes to explain it, for the kid's sake at least, "First off, we only failed that scheduled rain because we got the schedule later than usual and didn't have enough time to get it ready. Second, it was only supposed to be an extended rain to ensure that no crops and flowers around town dried out or something. Thirdly, we had nothing to do with that tree."
Scootaloo seemed to accept her response, but Sweetie Belle just blinked while Apple Bloom tilted her head in confused.
"Okey-dokey-lokey," Pinkie beamed.
Suddenly Rainbow's eyes went wide as she glanced at the time on her watch and shot up into the air, "Gotta go! Need to meet up with the rest of the weather team to discuss the shifts for the week. No way am I getting a pay deduction for being late. I need to be able to afford my own set of Daring Do novels: I’m tired of having to always barrow Twilight’s." As the vibrant ribbon of colors streaked across the sky, Pinkie and the Crusaders could have sworn they heard something about how a lack of afternoon naps was not a good thing.
As the four ponies resumed their vigilant watch over the picturesque town, their attention was once again drawn to the mayor. Her disheveled state seemed to have somehow gotten worse in the short time. She was now talking to her new friend, and potentially her new advisor (at least that's who Pinkie assumed she was).
Let's see, Pinkie thought to herself, what kind of party would a miss mysterious advisor friend want?
Pinkie's thoughts were soon broken by Apple Bloom, "What's that she's wearing? A bit odd don’t ya think?"
Sweetie Belle just nodded her head as the two Crusaders turned to look toward Scootaloo as she pulled her night-vision goggles over her eyes and fiddled with some switches. After finding the right settings, she responded darkly, "I think she's up to something. What kind of pony goes around in a long black cloak, while wearing a mask and goggles in the middle of the day?"
Her friends looked back and forth between Scootaloo, in her stealth outfit and night-vision goggles (which apparently could also be used as binoculars), and the mysterious stranger, before looking back at each other with a shrug.
"I think she looks awesome!" Pinkie countered Scootaloo's dark tone with her own bubbly one. "She reminds me of the time I was a superhero."
"Yea, but did you go around in a mask with curved-beak," Scootaloo shot back, "She looks like some kind-of bird thing." Her ears twitched as she prepared for her friends to turn that back on her. She was a little surprised, but mostly relieved that they did not. Those jokes had gotten way to old anyway.
"Well, time for us to go patrol the streets."
"I though the whole reason we were up here was so that we could watch out for signs of the ghost without having to only look at one street at a time," Sweetie questioned solemnly.
"Don't you worry your lavender mane about it," Pinkie chirped, "You needn't be afraid of the invisible creeper ghostie."
"I'm not afraid, I just thought that…"
"Doesn't it make more sense to be in a position where ya can watch over multiple streets, rather than just go investigatin' one at a time," Apple Bloom interrupted.
"Probably," Pinkie called from down below, having (somehow) gotten down from the roof without any of the three fillies noticing.
"How do ya reckon she does that?"
"I don't know, but I could really be a secret spy agent for the government with that skill," Scootaloo marveled as the three climbed into Pinkie's bedroom and began their decent into Sugarcube Corner.
"Too bad being a spy isn't your special talent," Sweetie Belle added, "those skills could probably help us a lot right now."
"Well maybe it's like a secondary special-talent," Apple Bloom offered.
"That doesn’t even make any sense."
"Yea," Scootaloo seconded, "everyone knows a pony can only have one special-talent."
"What about Pinkie Pie?"
"Your argument for why being a spy is my second talent is Pinkie Pie?" Scootaloo looked dumbfounded. "I think we're done here."
"Just hear me out. Pinkie's talent is parties, but she’s also good at makin' other ponies smile. And, she's also good at baking and seems to run the store just fine."
"I think I know what you're saying," Sweetie lit-up.
"I'm still confused."
"No, it makes sense. My sister is really good at sewing, and designing clothing, but she can also find and shape diamonds and jewels and other precious stones."
Scootaloo just looked at her
"Okay well," she paused in thought a moment, "What about Rainbow Dash?"
This seemed to get the orange pegasus's attention. It was Apple Bloom’s turn to be confused, but she thought she knew were her friend was going.
"Well… Rainbow's talent has to do with her love of racing and flying, but she is also good at things that involve the weather. Oh! And she's a master of martial arts," she looked at Apple Bloom who nodded in agreement. "So, yea. It is possible to be really good at several things, but they might not necessarily be what your cutie-mark represents."
Scootaloo seemed to glow as she began to understand. She still checked her flanks just to be sure a super-secret-government-spy-agent cutie-mark had not appeared while they were on the roof.
"So girls, where do you think we should begin first?"
The three Crusaders had not even noticed that they had gone through the confectionary's front entrance. The sudden appearance of a smiling pink earth pony standing beside them nearly made them jump out of their skins while Sweetie Belle gave off a quiet squeak.
"I say we go this way," Scootaloo said with determination, looking as serious as she could manage.
"Why do ya think we should head that way?" Apple Bloom responded, bemused.
"Don’t know. Gut-feeling?"
"Works for me," Pinkie said briskly walking in the direction Scootaloo had suggested.
Sweetie Belle followed suite, albeit with some skepticism, while Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and followed despite her lack of enthusiasm.
~~~
Twilight looked on with indifference as Mayor Mare slumped into her chair behind her desk. So far, her plan seemed to be taking shape. At first, she had thought that maybe she had jumped to far: going from trying to see if anyone in town would notice odd happenings, to bribing the mayor and taking over the town seemed like a large jump in logic. She knew now that is would be the true test of her true power.
Celestia's teachings on politics and history had shown her that, more often than not, true change came from behind the scenes: from those who were invisible to the common citizen. While her initial reaction to witnessing the impurities and imperfections of the hamlet in the shadows of Canterlot and the Everfree Forrest could have been handled better (and with a little more forethought), she knew that if she was going to make Ponyville a shining example for all of Equestria then she would have to get her hooves dirty.
"So... um... Master," the mayor trembled, awakening her out of her reprieve. "What do you think of Ponyville now that I have implemented these new regulations?
She glared at the mayor out of the corner of her eye from beneath her mask. "Do you fear me?"
"No, why ever would you think that? We are both trying to achieve the same goal, right. If anything, that makes us partners."
Twilight grinned to herself as the mayor continued to shift nervously in her chair. "We might have the same goals," she began, "but, a soldier and his commanding officer also share the same goals. What of an employer and her employees?"
Mayor Mare gaped as she was now at a loss of words.
"No, Miss Mayor, I do not care if you fear me or not, but you need to understand that I wished you to call me Master more than just to keep my identity a secret. As for your question: you cannot expect results immediately, and on a weekend no less. Tomorrow, when everypony returns to work and school, we shall have to first true results, starting with Rainbow Dash and her weather team."
"Yes, of course! I believe the weather pegasi will be getting out of their planning meeting within the hour."
"Perhaps they will be more prompt with their objectives from now on.” Twilight paused to collect herself before letting her know about her next objective. “I do have one final job for you before we part ways for the day." The mayor cringed as her advisor began removing her boots, making it appear as though she were levitating. "I have arranged for Cheerilee to meet with you this afternoon." Next, she removed her mask.
"The school teacher? Why would I need to see her?"
"You are to inform her that she is to select two students who are to act as, hmm…" she paused in thought a moment, "observers. They are to report to this office on how ponies are reacting to the various changes that I have planned."
"You want to recruit students as spies!? That seems highly unethical."
Twilight began removing her black cloak, placing it along with the other articles into her saddlebags, disappearing completely. "You are questioning me on ethics," she shot back. "You, who have taken bribes and cares solely about being reelected every term?
“I am not doing anything unethical. I am merely requesting that they report to us on whether or not the ponies around them think that the changes are bettering the town, and if not, what changes should be implemented. If it helps, thing of them as secret survey takers.”
She stealthily trotted around the office until she was standing behind the mayor's chair. She leaned forward, her muzzle inches from the mayor's ear, and whispered, "Do not let me down." Silently, she teleported back to her lab.
Twilight smiled devilishly to herself as she removed her invisible saddlebags and carefully placed them in the far corner of her lab, imagining the look that must have graced Mayor Mare's face after her departure.
It all seemed to be happening so fast. When the idea for making the perfect civilization first popped into her mind, she initially had thought herself mad. During her initial wanderings about the simple town, however, she soon had realized that it very well could be done. It could be done very easily: especially, in an already humble little town like Ponyville. Everypony was happy, and led a carefree-life. It would not take much too truly make it her ideal Equestrian town.
Although the already perfect town needed some improvement. That litterer was the first flaw that she had noticed. It was also, what had led her to her current utopian plans. While at first, she had considered returning the mail-mare's saddlebags; after walking through town she began to realize that, while her initial reaction and actions could have been… nicer… it did not excuse the, now former, mail-mare's actions.
After that, her mind began to process all of the other flaws that needed to be mended. She knew that she was now in a position to fix them.
No.
She was the only one who could. Even if another unicorn had somehow become invisible, she would not possess Twilight's knowledge, or her connections to the Princesses.
"It is hard to believe that in only a short weekend, I have already uncovered the secrets of invisibility and have taken the first steps in turning Ponyville into the shining star of Equestria," she said aloud with stars in her eyes. "Princess Celestia will be so proud of me, I'll be sure to get my own wing in the Canterlot library. Oooh, possibly even my own wing right next to Star Swirl the Bearded's." She clapped her hooves in excitement.
"Is that all that really matters? Some silly wing in the Royal archives?"
Twilight looked around in confusion and anger. Nopony knew she was down here, and her soundproofing spell was still active.
"I am acting selfish. This experiment was about trying to unlock the secrets of invisibility and to prevent it from being used by transgressors and criminals."
She looked back at her reflection in the clock face, "I am not being selfish. I saw an opportunity to fix some of thing flaws that I have seen, and I took it."
"What would Princess Celestia think about what I have become? I'm a criminal," the reflection sobbed.
"No," she spat out, filled with rage and confidence. "She will forgive me for those crimes. They were small and petty in comparison to the good I am doing."
"I've bribed a city official into giving me control of the town; I've assault kind and gently ponies. I may create an ideal town for all of Equestria to look up to, but I could have ruined my relationship with my mentor. She was like a second mother to me, and I betrayed her."
"I have not betrayed her, I will do everything in my power to make things right!" She was filled with a newfound resolve that practically beamed forth from within her. "I can achieve all that I have set out to do and I will make Celestia proud of me."
She went to sleep with an ever so slight smile, knowing that the next day would put her doubts to rest.
Twilight trotted through the sleepy early morning, glad to be out of her costume, having only donned her invisible saddlebags. (She had only adopted the disguise because the idea of somepony finding Mayor Mare speaking to herself, although funny, could potentially disrupt her plans.) The bottom halve of the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as ponies began to slowly start their day. Not very many were on the streets yet: only a few shopkeepers and stall vendors were seen as they lulled about, getting ready to open for their first customers.
She made a mental note to add an early morning stroll to her daily routine more often. There was something relaxing about being up and about before everyone else. Watching the sun awaken the world gave off a calming, serene feeling.
She breathed in the cool air deeply and held it for a few moments, letting the crispness of the air blending with the smell of dew and flowers cleanse and focus her mind. She would need to be focused today. She had decided to see how Cheerilee handled the idea of observers. She could have stayed in the mayor's office and watched how that conversation had gone. She had realized early on that if she were quiet enough, nopony would know if she had entered or left a room. While that seemed make Mayor Mare uneasy and restless, it allowed Twilight to keep her in check. She would not dare disobey or tell anyone about her for fear that her "Master" was standing right behind her.
While school would not start for a few more hours, her excitement toward seeing her new Ponyville's first day was almost overwhelming. As she continued trotting through town, observing it slowly awaken and fill with life, she did not see a single thing out of place. The weather team was actually on schedule. They had the sky overhead clear, with the exception of a few puffy white cumulus scattered about.
No, nothing was out of place or order.
She arrived at the schoolyard, and waited. She watched as the first students began to arrive, some more sluggish than others. Some happily greeted their friends near the playground, while others followed each other into the schoolhouse. After some time, Cheerilee happily popped her head outside to remind those still there that class would begin soon. One or two groaned at the thought before slowly trailing inside. Twilight entered with them, ensuring to enter fist, as not to bump into any of them, or to have the door slammed on her… again.
Class appeared to go smoothly; however, Twilight could not help but notice that the curriculum seemed to be behind were she would have expected it to be.
“Perhaps I should look into some educational reforms as well,” Twilight quietly mumbled to herself.
Cheerilee looked away from the blackboard, thinking that she had heard some students talking with each other, while Twilight mentally scolded herself. She really needed to get that under control. How could she be stealthy if she kept talking to herself?
“Twist, Pipsqueak, Silver Spoon,” she seemed to pick three names at random. “How about you three come up to the board and show us how to work out these math problems.”
Twilight watched as a cream-colored earth pony eagerly hopped out of her desk at the front of the class, while the other two followed (the gray-mare more slowly than the others). She smiled to herself as she could not help but see a little bit of herself, and her own eagerness to learn when she was that age. Perhaps, she did not need to be worried about Ponyville’s youth after all.
It was not until close to the end of class that Cheerilee finally brought up her discussion with the mayor, much to Twilight’s chagrin.
“Ok, class, I have one more item for the day,” she began in her trademark cheerfulness. Her class dutifully sat up straighter at the prospect of only one more thing; each hoping that if they completed it quickly, they would be let out early.
“Yesterday, I spoke with the mayor and she would like some helpers. Schools in larger cities, like Manehatten and Fillydelphia, have more students that move from one classroom to another. As you can imagine, having large groups of students running around can get a bit… messy. To fix this they have what are called hall-monitors.” At this, she produced several orange belts with an attached shoulder strap.
“The mayor would like a couple of you to act as town hall-monitors. We think that it will be a great opportunity to learn leadership and responsibly.”
Hall monitors. Why didn’t I think of that? Twilight thought to herself, pleased that her pet had come up with a better idea and title than observers and spies. She would have to remember to complement her.
~~~
Scootaloo awoke from her daydream. She knew that class was almost over, but still couldn’t stop her head from bobbing. Now fully alert, her thoughts went back to her discussion with her friends about having secondary talents and interests.
I could probably be a hall-monitor, she thought to herself. It would allow me to practice my spying and, maybe, get noticed by the Equestrian Secret Services. I would make Rainbow Dash so proud! She nearly squeed aloud at the thought of impressing her idol, and maybe using the training she would receive to join the Wonderbolts as well. The thought of using the position to investigate the invisible ghost creeper also crossed her mind.
~~~
Twilight’s attention was brought to the back of the room were a familiar orange pegasus seemed to be more giddy about the idea than some of her fellow students were. Her foreleg shot up almost instantaneously once Cheerilee asked if anypony was interested. A few other hooves rose, albeit with less enthusiasm.
Silver Spoon, the gray earth pony from earlier, was giggling and muttering with her friend. They grinned at each other, before joining their hooves with the others.
~~~
The rest of class had not gone as smoothly as Scootaloo had planned. Because she was one of seven ponies who volunteered, Miss Cheerilee had decided to turn it into an election. She would have thought that with nopony in school caring for the class bullies, she would have had a shot. While she had won, those two were selected as well, so it still felt like she lost.
“Ah still don’t see how those two could of won like that,” Apple Bloom pondered aloud. “I didn’t think anypony in class liked them.”
“Well at least we now have a connection to the mayor’s office. Maybe there’s some information there that can help us catch this ghost,” Sweetie Belle tried to offer, shivering at the thought of actually having to confront the invisible menace.
“Yea! We have to look on the bright side,” Scootaloo cheered, trying to cheer herself up over having to, possibly, work with two of the meanest fillies in school. “Plus, maybe I’ll be able to get in contact with Twilight.”
“Since when do you need help? From Twilight?” Apple Bloom looked over to her friend skeptically.
“It’s all about using what we have to our advantage right?” Her two friends nodded in agreement. “Well, the way I see it: Twilight is the smartest pony in Ponyville, and if anypony knew about invisible creepers it would be her. Plus, I have a feeling we might need her if we have to hang out with Pinkie any longer.” She then quickly added, “And every good spy has to have a smart pony on her side who can come up with cool gadgets.”
Apple Bloom seemed to accept part of that. “Even if you could get in contact with her, ya still need to know where she is.”
It was true. Scootaloo’s ears flopped down, recalling how Pinkie had mentioned to them that Twilight was going to be out of town for a while.
“We could always hop on the next train and meet her at the library in Canterlot. I think I can remember my way around from when she had us play hide-and-seek with the guards; although, they won last time.” Pinkie frowned before cheering back up, “I think it’s time for a rematch anyway,” she gasped audibly, “but then who would be here to combat the invisible creeper?”
“Wha-huh!?” Scootaloo had to do a double take. Pinkie seemed to have appeared behind them… again. Apple Bloom appeared to look mostly annoyed, while Sweetie Belle appeared to be attempting to relearn how to breathe.
“So are you three ready for some investiga...” Pinkie was eyeing Scootaloo’s orange belted-sash. “Ooooh, what’s that!”
Scootaloo beamed with pride, “It designates me as a monitor. I… um... monitor the town… I think.” In truth, she really did not know what she was supposed to do. She was actually on her way to Mayor Mare’s office to talk with her about that.
“YAY! I’m going to throw the biggest bestest ‘Scootaloo is Ponyville’s best monitor-pony’ party ever!”
As Pinkie blurred forward out of site in a streak of pink, Scootaloo couldn’t help but smile: no matter how weird the pink party pony might seem, she was always could make a pony smile.
A millisecond after she had left, Pinkie appeared next to the three friends again. “Sorry, but the party will have to wait until after we stop that invisible ghost creeper.” Despite being down about not being able to throw a party, she was filled with a new resolve: no creeper, ghost, or invisible ghost creeper was going to stop her from throwing a party.
Scootaloo quivered a little as she thought to herself, Note to self: do not prevent Pinkie from throwing a party.
~~~
Twilight had followed the Crusaders since school had let out. There was no reason, she could have just as easily have followed the other two newly appointed monitors. Learning that they had teamed up with Pinkie Pie to track her down was well worth it, however. She probably did not have to worry about the Crusaders, but Pinkie could be problematic. She just had to make sure not to set of her “Pinkie Sense”, but even then, she knew that her friend would make for a formidable opponent.
“Why didn’t I think of her first,” she mumbled, scolding herself. “Why was I worried about Rarity noticing me when I should have thought about the one pony I know with extrasensory perception.”
She had followed Scootaloo to the mayor’s reception area. Her two friends, and Pinkie, had followed her to the town hall’s main lobby, before Pinkie told her that they would meet up at “HQ”. Twilight could only assume that their headquarters was probably Sugarcube Corner. She discreetly looked over the receptionist’s copy of the mayor’s daily schedule, ensuring that she was currently alone and teleported inside her office.
Twilight found the mayor relaxing behind her desk, reclining in her chair looking out the window. Every afternoon she tried to schedule a small break from all the stress that came with keeping Ponyville organized. She took a sip of her tea as she heard a pony clear her throat.
Mayor Mare turned around, yet saw nopony around. She blinked a few times, before blanching. “Oh… um… hello. I didn’t hear you come in,” she stuttered.
“I thought I said I wanted two observers?”
“I must have accidentally told her to assign a few by mistake.” The bristling mayor seemed frightened. “How many do we have?”
“Three.”
The mayor seemed to relax at that, as Master’s tone seemed to soften. If she was not mistaken, she could have sworn that she was smiling beneath her invisible coat.
“I take it, that you came up with the ‘hall-monitor’ idea? It was very good, probably a better name than ‘observers’.”
At this, the mayor became completely relaxed, as if she was talking to a normal visible pony, and not some invisible-one, that was potentially also a ghost if what she was hearing around town was correct.
“Yes, I thought Miss Cheerilee would be more likely to agree to an idea that could be used as part of a lesson plan.”
Twilight smiled again before bidding the mayor farewell. She was sure to be much more polite about it this time. The mayor was like a pet: if Twilight treated her with respect, she would be more willing to do a trick than if she were to ignore and forget to feed her.
“Do I really need to worry about a bunch of kids?” Twilight thought that everything was going smoothly. She knew that Pinkie could foil her plans; but, what about Scootaloo and the Crusaders? She grinned devilishly to herself, “They do say to keep your enemies close. I just need to prevent them from trying to get into contact with me.” She quickly looked around, realizing that she was talking to herself again. Luckily, nopony on the crowded street seemed to notice.
It had been a little over a week since she had assumed control over Ponyville. So far, everything seemed to be in order. It had taken some time, but Mayor Mare was now fully cooperative and enthusiastic about Master’s plans. While she may have gone a little overboard and terrified the mayor in the beginning, Twilight had now gained her trust by treating her like a friend.
“Who knows; perhaps, we will become good friends when this was all over.” Twilight smiled at the thought. She shook her head, chuckling at how she was still talking aloud.
Everypony in town was happy, although a few were nervously looking over their shoulders. As far as they were concerned, the new regulations being signed by the mayor’s office were meant either to ease their fears over the spreading rumors about a ghost, or some kind of mysterious vandal that was running amuck throughout Ponyville, or (more likely) to try and motivate some the lazier ponies in town. Mayor Mare had been able to keep many of the robberies from the public’s attention, so most believed that it was just some prankster running about, while others truly believed that there was something nefarious going on.
“Eeep!” Twilight squeaked in fear as a stallion looked over his shoulder, right into her eyes. She caught her breath and let out a long exhale of relief when she realized that his attention was drawn to an acquaintance, and not to her.
She chuckled quietly to herself, “Why have I been so jumpy lately? It’s not like anypony can see me, or even knows that I’m here.” While not being seen was one thing, she could still be heard; although, she was getting better at keeping her voice below a whisper whenever she talked to herself.
Her attention was soon diverted to the very ponies that she was thinking about. Drifting through town all day, she had almost lost track of time. School had let out at least halve-an-hour ago; it made sense that the Crusaders would resume their patrol with Pinkie. She decided, against her better judgment, to follow them. If anything, she hoped to learn more about the strange packs that they always seemed to be wearing.
As she followed them, she could not help but wonder if she could somehow convert Scootaloo into working for her. “She is already one of our ‘observers’. What would it take to get her to give up information on what they are doing, and how close they are to discovering my secret?” She froze, stock-still. She could have sworn she saw Pinkie’s ear twitch. Not a “Pinkie sense” ear-flop, but a “Pinkie may have just heard her” ear twitch.
She let out a breath that she did not know she was holding as the pink mare continued to bounce happily along. It was apparent to Twilight that either she was seeing things, or her friend did not seem to care that she was potentially being followed by an invisible ghost creeper… whatever that was.
As they approached the construction site for the new hotel, a nagging thought caused Twilight to grow weary. She nearly tripped and fell as her hooves refused to listen and froze beneath her. Her mind raced through her memories. Pinkie had known that she was secretly following her when she first began investigating the Pinkie sense. Her heart raced as she noticed a sly grin on her friend’s reflection in a newly installed window.
This. Was. Not. Good.
If Pinkie caught her, she would find out that she had lied to her and their friends about being in Canterlot, and that she was the one causing all the chaos in Ponyville. She was not ready to explain it to them just yet; not when there was so much work that still needed to be done.
Sweetie Belle and the other two Crusaders seemed to notice Pinkie’s strange grin as well, “What is it?”
“Shh. The invisible ghost creeper is right behind us,” she whispered at a normal speaking volume.
“Oh horse-apples,” Twilight muttered under her breath before turning-tail.
To her surprise, it did not look as though Pinkie was giving chase. Just to be safe she ducked inside the first building she came to. She gasped for breath; sprinting was definitely not her strong suite. After sufficiently catching her breath, she immediately lost it again. Somehow, she had run into Sugarcube Corner.
“I have got to have the worst luck in all Equestria,” she mumbled as she slowly walked to the far corner of the eatery with her head hung low in disappointment. “Wait!” she immediately perked up. “There’s no such thing as luck! I just ran to the closest safe place my subconscious could think of. And, under normal circumstances, that would be here.” She clapped her forehooves together in joy.
“And the best hiding spot is right under your enemies nose,” she added darkly, the tips of her hooves drumming together in front of her muzzle.
“Are ya sure it was followin’ us?”
Twilight looked up from her hiding spot. She was sitting in one of the booths in the back, knowing that most that chose to eat at the store preferred to stay more towards the front, or sit outside.
“Why have you been so cynical lately,” Sweetie Belle asked.
“I’ve not been sine-ic…whatever you said,” Apple Bloom countered. “I’m just curious. I mean she didn’t even have a Pinkie sense or nothin’.”
“I think the real problem we have is that it was following us. Right, Pinkie Pie?” Scootaloo asked, seeming like she was trying to avoid a confrontation with her friends.
“Right-y-o”
“Right. So, we should form a plan.”
Twilight watched as they approached her booth, worried for a moment that one of them would accidentally sit down on her. To her relieve, they did not choose her booth. Instead, they sat down in the booth right next to hers; Pinkie then somehow procured a tray of cupcakes and fruit punch. She thanked the stars that they had not noticed she was there, before quietly getting up to leave.
“Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!” Pinkie was practically jumping up and down in her seat, a forearm extended, waving wildly.
The three fillies looked to each other, before silently selecting who would acknowledge Pinkie this time. To the casual observer it looked like they had just glanced at one another for a brief second. In reality, it was a fierce battle of wits and cunning, and would have been on par with some of the greatest battles of all time. Even Daring Do, if she were not fictitious, would have been amazed and awestruck. Unfortunately, every great battle, even ones that would spawn epic ballads from traveling minstrels, has to have a looser. Today, that was Sweetie Belle.
“Umm, yes Pinkie,” She asked, hesitantly. “Do you have a question, or an idea on what we should do next?”
Pinkie had to take a moment to recollect herself from witnessing the greatest battle she had ever seen. She had to admit that Sweetie had fought valiantly, and did not mind that she now owed Gummy one bit. “Yes, I have a plan,” she began. “FIRE!!!11!”
Twilight watched in horror from several tables away as Pinkie Pie grabbed a nozzle, connected by a hose to the strange contraption on her back, and began shooting (what looked like silly-string) wildly. Scootaloo was the first to join her, and was soon followed by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Sugarcube Corner quickly erupted into pandemonium as patrons ran outside screaming. Tasty treats were flung to the walls and floors, tables were overturned, Mr. and Mrs. Cake huddled with their foals in the kitchen.
“Pinkie! What have I said about shooting those things inside,” Mrs. Cake attempted to scream over the cacophony of noise.
Twilight quickly jumped behind an overturned table. “Phew.” she breathed a sigh of relieve before scanning where her body would be. “I don’t think I was hit… Okay, maybe I was.” One of them had gotten a clean hit on her left hind leg. Her leg was cold as the string began to expand into airy foam. She perked her ears as she listened; she would not be able to escape until she first dealt with her “wounded” leg. Luckily, her attackers were still laying down suppressive-fire.
Confident that she had enough time, she inspected the foaming substance that was slowly forming what looked like a hollow cast. She tilted her head. On second thought, it looked a lot like frosting. She quizzically sniffed at it, quickly touching it with the very tip of her tongue. Her eyes lit up. It was frosting! And, not just any old regular frosting either (this was primo stuff): Pinkie Pie’s famous strawberry-cocoa-vanilla frosting. She quickly devoured it, almost squealing in pain as she accidentally bit down on her invisible hind leg.
She leaned back against her cover, letting the decadent flavor wash over her taste buds. Everything was calm and at peace. She was in a state of nirvana that only the perfect blend of fruit and sugar could create. She felt like she was flying through cotton candy and marshmallow clouds. Each was softer and fluffier than the last. She could almost taste each one. This was serenity.
Calm and at peace!?
Twilight bolted upright, the gears in her mind turning feverishly. It was quiet…too quiet. Quickly, and as carefully as she could, she peeked over the upturned table. The coast looked clear: Pinkie and the young fillies were busy looking over their handiwork; no doubt looking for frosting in the shape of a pony.
She stood up and began to work her way through the mess toward the door, careful not to leave any hoofprints in the frosting that blanketed the floor.
“And that’s why you should never cross the streams.”
“Because it will cover everything in frosting,” she heard Scootaloo retort.
“At least it isn’t tree sap this time. Rarity always has a fit whenever I come home covered in the stuff after one of our crusades.”
Twilight was almost to the door. She was confident that with the four remaining ponies preoccupied with their conversation, she would easily escape. She would have teleported, but had gotten a stomachache from eating too much frosting. (Being invisible and claiming that you don’t know where your frosting covered leg is makes for a great excuse to start eating frosting from the floor).
As she crept silently toward the door, a sharp pang surged from her front right shin, down into her hoof, and up into her shoulder. At first, she thought that she had been shot again. Looking down she noticed that she had slammed her shin into an overturned stool.
“Solar-flaring empty-sky filled with horse-feathers,” she squeaked.
“There it is!” cried Apple Bloom.
Quickly, Twilight threw open the front door with a burst of her magic. As she heard the first sounds of clopping hooves begin to bolt toward her, she surged forward as fast as her limping pain infused leg would carry her. Within moments, she realized that running immediately after bashing your shin with a stomachache from too much frosting (and being in a slight sugar-coma) was not a very good idea.
She panted for breath as she weaved through the crowd that had formed outside Sugarcube Corner, curious about the sounds of warfare being waged inside. She knew that Pinkie was right on her tail but was confident that, even in her disadvantaged weakened state, she could still escape.
“I hate irony!” The chase had brought them back to the construction site, where it had initially began.
“This isn’t irony,” she heard Sweetie Belle call back from behind her. “If you spent more time haunting the library maybe you’d know that.”
Twilight stopped in her tracks, her brain feeling as if it had broken. She barely noticed her pursuers continue to run past her into the construction site. In a stupor, she slowly turned around and walked back home.
~~~
Pinkie Pie came to a sudden and unexpected stop. She barely noticed the three young fillies colliding into her. She looked around, seemingly unfazed, for any sign of the invisible creeper.
Now where did you go this time Mr. Creeper? She looked down at the three Crusaders piled up behind her.
“Why did you stop?” Scootaloo groaned, disentangling herself from her friends.
“And how’d ya know that the ghost was inside,” Apple Bloom added, straitening her bow.
Pinkie radiated, “I heard it.”
“That works for me,” Sweetie Belle dusted herself off as best she could. “But, why did we have to stop so suddenly?”
“I found creeper tracks!”
The Crusaders saw fresh tracks in what would eventually be a sidewalk. Now, it was just a path of wet cement, with what appeared to be hoofprints embedded in what was otherwise a smooth gray sheet.
“We have you now invisible creeper ghostie.” Pinkie marched forward determinedly, following the strange tracks.
Hmm…, Pinkie thought to herself. They had been traversing the construction site for some time, and had still not found any other sign of the invisible creeper. We should have found something by now. Maybe it went back to its cave. Wait? Do creepers even live in caves? I wonder where creepers live. Maybe I’ll ask Twilight sometime.
“We’re going in circles,” Scootaloo complained noisily.
Pinkie Pie’s thought-bubble popped. She tilted her head, much like an adorable puppy. She waited patiently for several moments: primarily, for Scootaloo to explain; and secondly, for the author to recover from picturing such cuteness in his mind.
“And I’m pretty sure we’ve been following your own hoofprints.” she added, a touch annoyed.
Pinkie looked down. She squished her hooves deeper into the cool wet substance as she looked around. Her hoofs were firmly planted in the cement, while the Crusaders had chosen to walk alongside the future sidewalk. Pinkie could not help but think that the trail of hoofprints reminded her of making fresh prints after a new snowfall. Looking back the way they had come, she noticed a construction worker waving frantically at her.
Enthusiastically and with a bright smile, she waved back.
~~~
Once her mind felt like it had mended itself, Twilight teleported into Mayor Mare’s office. Taking note that it was empty, aside from just the two of them, she carefully let the mayor know of her presence before quickly donning her disguise. She knew that it was only a matter of time before their observers came in with a report on the days other events. Being chased around had prevented her from doing any observing herself.
“Miss Mayor Mare,” the intercom on the mayor’s desk lit up, “there are three fillies here to see you.”
The mayor looked to Twilight, who nodded, before responding. “You may send them in.”
Twilight watched from a far corner as the three observers trotted in. Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, she recalled, and Scootaloo. She grinned invisibly beneath her mask as they looked warily at her.
Mayor Mare smiled at the three fillies before her as she gestured to the three chairs before her desk. “So, anything new today?” she asked with her singsong like inflection voice.
“We almost caught the ghost!” Scootaloo nearly hopped out of her seat.
The mayor raised an eyebrow and quickly glanced at Master. Certain that Master was not going to respond, she continued, “What do you mean almost?”
Scootaloo settled down into the chair, as deep as she could bury herself and looked at the floor as she lazily swung her hooves. She explained the events of the day: how Pinkie had heard the ghost mutter something before beginning the chase, and of how they had tried to shoot her with their Proton-String-Paks, before chasing her back to the construction site.
“I think that might be where she’s living,” she added.
“Hmm-,” she sat back, thinking about what had been said, “-so how did Pinkie know that the ghost was inside Sugarcube Corner?”
“Oh, we asked her that on our way back. She said that she had heard it bump against the table as it was trying to get up from the booth next to ours.”
Twilight blinked. In truth, she was curious about that as well. Perhaps, she needed to work on her stealth abilities. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind as she listened to the other observers’ accounts of what they had seen throughout the day.
“Our job is to report on ponies reactions to the new rules, right?” The pinkish earth pony’s question almost seemed to come from nowhere. Twilight was not sure she liked the look on her face that she was sharing with her gray friend. It seemed dark. She shivered as a chill ran down her spine.
“That is correct,” Twilight responded, trying to shake the foreboding feeling.
“Wouldn’t ponies not following the rules count as a reaction?” Silver Spoon asked, before turning to her friend and sharing an ominous giggle.
Twilight looked to the mayor. As far as she was concerned, they were just two fillies acting like fillies. Twilight knew better. She had seen her far share of bullies during her own school days, and knew that these two were up to something.
“Yes, that would count as a reaction.” Her voice was cool and under control, carefully hiding her uncertainties about their line of questioning.
“Well, then, judging by the blank-flank’s story, Pinkie Pie is guilty of vandalism. And trespassing.” She added the second-point almost as an afterthought.
“What!” Scootaloo shouted, masking Twilight’s own cry of surprise.
“That site is private property,” Diamond Tiara began. “Only authorized ponies are allowed inside. That means she was trespassing.” Diamond Tiara looked smug; her friend seemed to be copying her expression.
“I suppose that is true-” Twilight began, having to mentally remind herself that she was Master here, not Twilight “-but she was hunting down a wanted vandal and miscreant. Furthermore,” she added, “she had an observer with her.”
“Being observers gives us special privileges?” Silver Spoon’s eyes were wide at the prospect. Her friend’s became darker and more mischievous.
“It would appear so,” Mayor Mare replied, studying Master out of the corner of her eye.
“Within certain parameters,” Twilight was quick to add. “No breaking the law and you do not have authority to order other ponies around.”
“What about the ghost?” Scootaloo questioned.
“I would think it wise for you three to leave that to the proper authorities.” The Mayor was quick to respond. Twilight nodded in agreement.
“But, what about that crazy pony vandalizing the sidewalk?” Diamond Tiara complained, rather loudly. “My daddy is the one financing it, and when he hears that you’re allowing ponies to ignore private property, he’ll never finance one of your reelection campaigns again.”
Twilight chuckled to herself at the threat. She had already convinced the mayor that going through with her plan had the potential to make her a powerful player in Canterlot. She knew that she would not give into such an idle threat. But, still…
“I never said that her actions were going to be swept under the rug.” She turned to Scootaloo. “I have heard that you and your friends have been following her trying to track down this… ghost, as you call it, ever since it first arrived.”
Scootaloo nodded in reply, “yep.”
“You will give Miss Pie this warning.” She began filling out a form from her invisible saddlebags hidden beneath her cloak. Before Diamond Tiara could protest she added, “It will also require her to pay a fine of twenty bits.” She had the mayor look it over and sign it, before levitating it over to Scootaloo.
As the three fillies were sent on their way, Twilight held Scootaloo back. “One more thing: I wish for you and your friends to write a report detailing everything you know about this ghost.”
Scootaloo nodded and left for home.
“I have determined a new rule for you to decree.” Twilight said calmly, turning back to face the mayor after the door had closed behind the filly. “If somepony wishes to hold a gathering of more than ten ponies in one place, then she must first petition this office.”
“Master, I don’t mean to be rude, but that is already part of the town’s ordinance.”
“Oh.” That was surprising. “Why does it seem Miss Pink… amena is able to throw one at random, then?”
“That’s easy,” Mayor Mare chuckled, “She registers a set number of parties early every year. All she has to do is come to my office before setting-up to make sure that there are no conflicts.”
“Well… umm… good. Carry on.” With that, she teleported back to her lab.
“Well that throws a wrench into that plan.” She told herself. Now that she was back to being shielded by her soundproofing, she was free to talk aloud to herself again; she was starting to find it therapeutic. “I was hoping that the passing of that new rule would…” what was she hopping it would do? Maybe it was to try to prevent that pink filly from going after her friend.
“No,” she had finally decided, “I think I was trying to show that I am not connected to her. Besides, even if we were to make the ordinance stricter, she would still find a way around it.” The thought of her friend being able to find a loophole to any law made her smile, yet also seemed terrifying. Although, anyone who knew Pinkie Pie knew that she would only use a loophole to spread cheer and happiness, never evil.
“Not, like you are doing right now.”
Twilight shook that voice from her head. She was working for the greater good. With that last thought, she laid down on her sleeping mat for the night.
~~~
Scootaloo looked on, trying to judge Pinkie’s reaction. She had met up with her friends after the meeting with at the mayor’s office to go crusading before bed. She had promised herself that she would deliver the message after class.
“It looks like we have to be extra sneaky now.” Pinkie Pie did not seem to be reacting in the way Scootaloo would have hoped.
“We can’t go after the ghost! If we get caught, I’ll be in big trouble.”
“If you get caught,” she emphasized. “The letter doesn’t say anything about the rest of us looking for the invisible creeper.”
“They told us that they only want the proper authorities to look for it, and gave us strict orders not to go after it.” Scootaloo countered.
“Hmm.” Pinkie Pie sat down on her hind legs, rubbing her chin in thought. “That changes things. Wait. They?”
“Yea, the mayor and her new assistant.”
“She have a name?” Apple Bloom asked.
“No, I didn’t ask. I was too busy trying to figure out why she was dressed the way she was, and protect Pinkie from Diamond Tiara.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
Scootaloo seemed to ignore Pinkie’s comment, “I think she wants to remain anonymous.”
“Why? Ponyville is a nice town with caring ponies.” Sweetie Belle asked. “I’m sure if she knew that we were friendly, she’d be more open.”
“Maybe she’s horribly scarred from a science experiment gone wrong.” Scootaloo stood on her back legs, waving her forelimbs about, trying to look creepy.
“It could be that she don’t want to be known as a pony who works for the government.” Apple Bloom offered. “Applejack says, that in some cities like Manehatten, the government officials are viewed as untrustworthy. It could just be that she doesn’t want her friends to think of her like that.”
“All I can say is that she’s a unicorn.”
“Really? How do you know that? Did you see her horn? Oh! What color is her aura? I bet I can figure out who she is by her aura.”
“Umm-” Scootaloo tried to follow Pinkie’s questions, but they came at her so fast, she almost forgot what a question was, “-she levitated the warning to me. I really didn’t see her horn.”
As Scootaloo recalled the previous day’s encounter, she became more perplexed, not by what she remembered, but by what she could not recall seeing. “I don’t think she had an aura.”
“That’s just silly: a unicorn without an aura.” Apple Bloom looked astounded.
“Apple Bloom’s right, I’ve never heard of a pony with an invisible aura before. I don’t think its natural.”
“Ooh” –this time it was Pinkie Pies turn wave her forelimbs spookily- “maybe she’s supernatural.” Pinkie paused, her forearms still in the air. “What if she is supernatural?”
Scootaloo blinked, looking from the pink mare with her forearms in the air (she did not seem to care), to her friends, and back to the pink mare.
The word echoed around Scootaloo’s mind. How could a pony be supernatural? What did that even mean?
“I think we need to investigate this further.” Pinkie Pie seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“But we aren’t allowed to search for the ghost anymore,” Sweetie Belle reminded them.
“We aren’t going after the Invisible Creeper… well, not directly.”
“Well than what are we investigatin’?” Apple Bloom asked.
“They didn’t say anything about investigating that mysterious advisor pony!” Pinkie bounced happily.
“I guess she’s right,” Scootaloo shrugged. “Technically,” she added, disheartened. “But, I could have been mistaken. I mean, how often do you pay attention to a unicorn’s aura?”
“All the time!”
Scootaloo ignored Pinkie as she turned to her friend who shook their heads.
“Well, we’ll know more when I meet up with her later today.” Uh-oh. I completely forgot about that. “We should probably get started on our report.”
“What report?” Apple Bloom was giving her that suspicious eye of hers.
Scootaloo winced. “Well -” she tried to give it to them gently “- she may have told me that she wants us to write a report on everything we know about the ghost.” She ended with a small chuckle as she scratched the back of her head.
“When, exactly, do you have to go over there?” Sweetie Belle asked slowly.
Scootaloo looked away. “About an hour.” She spoke as fast as she could, hoping that if she spoke fast enough it would somehow change the fact.
Her friends stared at her, blinking in bewilderment.
“So, let me get this straight: we got an hour to write a report on everything we know about this ghost?”
“He-he,” she put on a fake smile and tried to sound jovial. “Yea, I guess so.”
~~~
Twilight was sitting at Mayor Mare’s desk, reviewing the report presented to her by the three fillies sitting before her. She had previously told the mayor to take the rest of the day off and that she deserved a break. She had even suggested she even treat herself to a session at the local spa.
Almost expectedly, the Crusaders had brought Pinkie with them. (She was currently waiting in the reception room just behind the ornate double office doors). Even with her Master disguise, she was still a bit hesitant about having her friend so close, yet she knew that she might want to question the odd pony as well. It would after all, allow her to keep appearances.
The report sitting before her was nothing special. It appeared to have been rushed, with sentences and words occasionally scribbled over amongst poor wording, sentence structure, and grammar. There were even a few lines written in what looked like crayon. Overall, it revealed that the Crusaders did not know much of anything. The only things of real note were that they thought the ghost resided near the construction site and the mention of a “Proton-String-Pak”.
“This is certainly -” She tried to find the best word to describe the report “-interesting,” she decided. “Tell me more about these Proton-String-Paks that you mention. How can silly-string defeat a ghost?”
“They don’t actually defeat the ghosts,” Apple Bloom began. “It’s really more ‘bout targeting were ya think it is, and then making it visible.”
“And then what?” This was something that Twilight had been curious about since her encounter the previous day.
“I don’t think Pinkie ever told us that,” Sweetie Belle admitted. “Honestly, I don’t think even she knows.”
Twilight leaned back in the chair, deep in thought, still keeping a close eye on the three fillies. Either, they are telling the truth or they don’t trust me enough to reveal their strategies. I had better assume the worse, just to be safe. “So Miss Pie might have a plan then?”
The three fillies looked at each other briefly.
She waited several moments for a response before letting out an annoyed sigh. “Scootaloo, please go ask Miss Pie to join us.”
Scootaloo nodded, hopping out of her seat, and trotted over to the door. As she began to open the door, Pinkie Pie hopped passed her, into the room. The bouncing pink earth pony bounced once more, doing several somersaults and flips in midair, before landing in an empty seat alongside the Crusaders.
The disguised invisible mare watched in amazement. No matter how many times she saw her accomplish acrobatic feats with ease, Pinkie Pie always amazed her.
“So, Miss Pie,” - she started after recomposing herself back into a professional mindset - “I assume that you already know what is in this report. Do you have anything else to add?”
“You can call me Pinkie Pie; all my friends do.” she smiled brightly. For a moment, Twilight feared she had been discovered. “Unless you want to remain formal? You can informally call me by my formal full name. It’s Pinkamena! Pinkamena Diane Pie.” Pinkie sat there smiling with her eyes closed. After several moments of silence, she opened her eyes, looking expectantly at the oddly dressed pony and gestured. “Now you say your name.”
“Yes, well then,” she cleared her throat. “You can call me Master. Now, do you have anything else to add Miss Pinkamena?”
“Nope, I don’t think so,” she shook her head. “Ooh, can I see your screwdriver!”
Twilight ignored the question, “Then, perhaps you can elaborate on any plans you may have had about catching the vandal, or ghost, as these girls seem to think it is.”
“It’s an invisible creeper.”
She blinked at that. She could understand all the names the townsfolk had given her: ghost, phantom, vandal, and even spy. Invisible creeper: she still did not fully understand that one. Then again, this was Pinkie.
“Didn’t they tell you about the Proton-String-Pak?” She did not recall Pinkie bringing one in with her, but she now held one of the strange devises in her hooves. “You just shoot the invisible creeper by pulling this trigger, and then it’s visible again.”
Master ducked behind the desk, fearing that the crazy pony was going to actually pull the trigger with the nozzle pointed right at her mask. Before Pinkie could however, Scootaloo had grabbed it, aiming it toward the floor.
“I think what she wants to know is what we would do after it’s visible again.”
“Oh.” Pinkie rubbed her chin in thought. “I supposed we would have locked all the doors so it couldn’t escape first, then we would know where it was so that we would know where to look when we talked to it.”
“You plan on covering an invisible being with frosting, just so you can talk to it!?” Master could feel her blood heating up as it pumped through her circulatory system.
“Umm…”
“And then what? Are you going to just throw it a party?” She took several deep, calming breaths. Where does this anger keep coming from? It also became clear to her that she had been thinking of herself as “Master” ever since the Crusaders had first arrived at her office.
“How did you know the silly-string was frosting?”
She was taken aback. She could not call the voice quiet. It was… soft. She had no idea Pinkie’s voice could be that soft. It was almost as disturbing as the skeptical glare in her friend’s inquisitive eye.
“How did I know the silly-string was frosting?” Master repeated the question. You shot me! “I heard it from one of the witnesses of yesterday’s confrontation.”
Master and Pinkamena continued to stare at one another, trying to size the other one up. Pinkamena’s expression had returned to its trademark grin, while Master’s remained hidden beneath her beaked mask. She was now certain that Pinkamena Diane Pie fully suspected her. She continued her staring contest with the pink mare. Pinkamena’s unwavering blue eyes stared through her mask and into her very being. Determined, she stared back; attempting to find her opponent’s weakness. If she had one, Master was confident she would find it, and break it.
“Why don’t we work together?” Sweetie Belle could not take the silence and building tension any longer and had to break it. The silence following, however, was even more deafening.
Apple Bloom quickly nodded her head in agreement. “Yea, that’s a great idea Sweetie Belle. With Master’s resources here in the mayor’s office and Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie, I’m sure we’ll get this ghost caught in no time.”
Scootaloo agreed, as they turned back to the two ponies still staring at each other, “What do you say Master? You could have us observers looking out for any signs of the ghost, and relay them back to you, so that you and Pinkie can go after it.”
“You are not very good at listening are you my pet?” Master still had not refrained from staring at her opponent. “I thought I told you to leave that to the proper authorities.”
“Pet?” Scootaloo was confused by the title. Her friends had nothing to offer, and were just as perplexed.
“All inferiors are my pets.” She finally broke her eye contact with the pink mare and glared down at the three fillies.
Hidden by the mask and goggles, her eyes appeared to be empty black holes. No light could escape, not even the glare that reflected off them.
“So, Miss Master? Or should I say Miss Invisible Creeper!” Pinkie had lunged across the desk, attempting to grab hold of the mask.
Master quickly teleported; her disguise, now without a pony inside to hold it up, slumped to the ground. Pinkie pushed the cloak around with her hoof, searching for any sign of its owner and occupant. She silently reappeared at the other end of the office. She watched with curiosity and amusement as her pets began to twist their heads, looking around the room in confusion.
She began to quietly chuckle. That chuckle soon crescendoed into full demonic laughter.
The four ponies looking over her previous location jumped, facing the general area they heard the laughter coming from. Master laughed even harder at how the area they were looking was nowhere near where she was currently standing.
“Why are you now referring to us as pets?” Pinkie stood her ground, undaunted by the bodiless dark laughter filling the room. The three fillies huddled behind her, reacting in the opposite manner.
“Because, I see the truth now!” She began to creep across the room, like a predator stalking its cornered prey. “There was a time when I was opposed to even referring to my own pet as a pet.” She paused, blinking at the awkwardness of the phrase, but continued. “I believed that calling him a pet sounded like I owned another conscious living thing. I now realize how foolish that seemed.”
“You want to turn ponies into your slaves?” Scootaloo stammered, her eyes wide with fear.
Twilight tilted her head at that. “No! Good heavens no.” She was genuinely shocked. She could not imagine anypony doing such a thing. “I am trying to explain that a pet is a lesser being: one that should bow down and worship you. You feed it. You give it shelter. Without you it would probably not be able to survive, for they are dependent upon you.”
“And why should we bow down and worship you? You don’t seem all that great: all you are is an invisible meany who runs around scaring everypony and causing a fracas.” Pinkie shot back.
“I am doing what is necessary to create a utopia. Once Princess Celestia sees what I have done here in Ponyville, we will implement the system throughout all of Equestria. She will reward me, and I will be revered by all.”
“How is vandalism going to make Equestria a better place? I’m guessing your thinking it will help make it safer. And, I bet you were behind those new rules. Well, guess what Master, those rules are stupid… Well, okay, some of them are kind of useful. But, Ponyville didn’t need them. We already followed them.
“Our weather team might not always be as punctual as you would like, but they get the job done. We don’t have a littering problem, so there was no need to post a rule saying that there would be a pay a fine if you did. If you were to just walk around town you would see that most everypony gets along and tries to help each other out.”
Master squinted, trying to stare a hole into her friend. Pinkamena clearly did not see what Twilight had seen. “I have walked around. I have seen the ponies. It is why I chose Ponyville as my test subject. With it already being so close to perfection, I knew not much work would need to be done. I would carry it those few small steps remaining toward perfection, with me ruling as its Goddess!”
“Goddess?” Apple Bloom asked from the safety of Pinkie’s shadow.
“With my connections plus the power of invisibility I have transcended.”
“That’s blasphemousios!”
“You mean blasphemous.” Sweetie Belle whispered, cowering behind her friends.
“That’s what I said.” Apple Bloom argued.
Master rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Enough!” Her pets stopped their bickering and stood still, facing forward, still hiding behind a defiant Pinkie.
“What makes you think Celestia will crown you supreme-ruler of Ponyville?” She noted that Pinkamena was careful to avoid calling her a Goddess. That was somewhat upsetting.
“I do not deny that I have -” she had to choose her next words carefully “- broken a few minor rules. Nothing I cannot fix. I will be sure to repay any debts when this is over and Celestia will look at all the work I have done and forgive me for engaging is such childish pranks. She will see that it was all done for the greater good. All of Equestria will see.” Pride consumed her, for she knew her cause was just. Equestria would be the epitome of utopia.
“Forgive me, Master.” Scootaloo had bravely stepped out from behind Pinkie’s shadow, quivering and her voice shaky. Master smiled to herself as the small pegasus bowed.
“Finally. A pet who knows how to show some respect; you may speak.”
Scootaloo and Pinkie shared a quick glance before turning back to face the empty room. “You mentioned having connections? What does that mean?”
Master ceased her circling to address the one pet who seemed to possess some intellect. She noted a large grin on Pinkie’s face, but thought nothing of it. So what if she liked the child’s question, it was meaningless. Once Celestia saw her work they would know exactly what she meant by it. Knowing would certainly not help them stop her, but just to be safe, she decided not to be fully forthcoming. Her identity would remain a secret. “I have connections to the Royal Court and have held private meetings with both of the Princesses. Both of them know and respect me; as does the Court. They will all see my greatness, my potential, and will know that only the Princesses stand above me as we lead Equestria into a new better and brighter age.”
Pinkie’s grin grew even wider. “You stopped moving.”
“Your point?” She loathed how this one pet could be so defiant. Why couldn’t Pinkamena see that she only wanted what was best for Equestria? Why couldn’t she show respect like the small orange pegasus. The pink pony was driving more hatred into her veins.
“I know where you are,” Pinkamena sung.
Master had little time to react. Within an eye-blink, the defiant pink mare had acquired, aimed, and fired her Proton-String-Pak. Master quickly levitated the four chairs that her pets had been occupying earlier, and used them to shield herself from the incoming blast. At the same time, she began to gallop around the room, hoping to find a secure location.
The silly-string collided with the chairs, covering them completely in the slowly foaming frosting as they clattered to the ground. The explosive sound of Pinkamena’s weapon nocking miscellaneous items from shelves and the mayor’s desk reverberated throughout the office. The chairs were hit again, forcing them into a wall with a thud.
Master stopped before the lavish double-doors. She heard the clopping of hooves running up the stairs beyond the reception area behind her. She grinned, laughing as she flung the doors open with a burst of magic. Two security guards halted in surprise as they ran into the reception room. Quickly, she ran past them, toward the stairs. She heard Pinkamena give chase. As she came to the bottom of the stairs and entered into the town hall’s lobby, she teleported away.
Master did not want the rebellious pet to know she could teleport. She may have revealed too much about herself already.
She vowed to let nothing get in her way. She would not allow it. Pinkamena would be shown the light, or be denied the pleasure of knowing the greatness of an Equestria under Master’s rule.
She looked into the mirror in her lab and saw Twilight curled into a ball, tears streaming down her eyes. “Hah! You cry for my pet? She is getting in the way of my goals; I will stop her. Equestria will become utopia, and I will be worshipped as its Goddess.”
The image sniffled, “These tears are for me. For you. Not, my friends.”
“Friends?” Master’s tone was spiteful and cold. “They are my pets. All who are below me are. Were you not listening? That pink-one might be onto me now, but I will crush her and take over this town. It shall be the first to witness the utopia that only I can promise it!” She laughed once more, darkly.
Within the mirror, Twilight curled tighter into herself, unsure of what she was doing anymore. It almost felt as though she was no longer in control: like she had not been in control for a long time.
Her invisible body was now Master, and she was helpless.
It did not take long for news of what had happened in the Mayor’s office to circulate throughout the small, close-knit town. Gossip traveled fast, especially when it concerned guards rushing out of town hall on high alert. While many took the three fillies’ claims as the ramblings of young children unable to process the stress, others were more willing to believe their tale of a ghost mind controlling the mayor and attempting to take over Ponyville. (Well, maybe not the part about it being a ghost).
After several days, things had gotten out of control. Ponyville’s police and guard were on nearly every street corner. Despite everypony looking over her or his shoulder, the unknown invisible mare had continued her work. Through her inner dealings with the mayor, she had already legally gained control of Ponyville. Even if the guards knew who she was or where she was hiding, they could do nothing about it. They continued their patrol of the streets as a means to keep everypony calm and feeling safe.
Her first official decree had been to declare Pinkie Pie a wanted fugitive. The posters that had been ordered to be posted offered a substantial reward and title (after the formation of her new Equestria) to whoever captured her.
While nopony paid any attention the wanted posters, they followed the curfew without question. One pony who stayed outside to late was marked as an example. The invisible pony had followed her into her home and lectured her on the importance of maintaining a proper sleep schedule.
Pinkie had invited all of her friends to a secret meeting in her room. She had tried to convince Fluttershy to join them, thinking that her expertise in animals would be useful against the Invisible Creeper. She had been staying close to her home ever since the rumors about a ghost had first reached her ears. At first, she allowed herself to go outside, but only to the edge of her property. After the more recent event, she barricaded herself inside. However, it worked out in the end: both Applejack and Rarity had decided that the Crusaders would not be allowed anywhere near the vandal.
At first, they had thought that their sisters were joking about ghost hunting, until they had heard the gossip about what had happened at town hall and later the exact details from Pinkie Pie. Since the young fillies always seemed to listen to Fluttershy, they decided that she would be the best candidate to watch over them and keep them safe while they planned their next course of action.
“I believe that this pony we are dealing with is under the protection of the Chameleon-spell.” Rarity sipped her tea less ladylike than usual; not that any of her friends would notice. She could not give any respect to somebody who assaulted her friend and her little sister.
“Karma coma what?” Rainbow gazed blankly.
“The Chameleon-spell,” Rarity sighed. “It’s a spell that allows an object to blend in with its surroundings.”
“Oh, okay. So what’s this got to do with the ghost?”
“I think what she’s tryin’ to say is that it’s not a ghost at all. She’s sayin’ it’s a pony that just disguised herself as a ghost so she can sneak around town causing all kinds of mischief.” Applejack turned toward Rarity for confirmation, “Ain’t that right?”
“Yes; although, I cannot figure out why anyone would go through all that trouble only to end up wearing such a dreary outfit.”
“Because, she didn’t want to draw attention by having Mayor Mare be seen talking to herself.” Pinkie answered from her bed as if the answer had been obvious.
“Makes since to me,” Rainbow said after a few moments. “But how do we stop her if we can’t see her?”
“We can,” Rarity started before trailing off, “sort of. The Chameleon-spell has a telltale shimmer. In addition, every unicorn has a unique magical signature; although, that would only tell us who the vandal is, not where she is. Nonetheless, by looking for that shimmer, we can track her down and stop her before she hurts someone.”
“Okay, so how do we go ‘bout lookin’ for this shimmer?”
“I can see it.” Her friends stared back blankly. “It is an aesthetic spell, so I have had some practice with it. That and when she… visited me, I saw it before she disappear -”
“She can teleport!” Pinkie jumped off her bed to the floor.
“I didn’t say that, Pinkie,” Rarity gasped. “Plus, it is rude to interrupt.”
“Sorry,” she looked down and scrapped her hoof along the floor. She looked up, beaming again, “Wouldn’t that explain it though. After she fled the offices yesterday, I chased her, but then she disappeared.”
“She could have just run outside,” Rainbow countered.
Pinkie shook her head, “Nope, the doors to the outside never opened.”
“Horse-feathers,” Applejack swore under her breath. “So, not only do we gotta chase after a pony we can’t see, but she can teleport now too.”
“I normally would take anything you say with a grain of salt, dear, but you have had the most experience with dealing with this invisible pony.”
“Wait,” Rainbow Dash was struck with an idea, “why don’t we just talk with the mayor? She was practically working for her.”
“Miss Mare is dealing with allot of stress right now. I would think it best if we just let her be for a few more days before talking with her.” Rarity hesitated before continuing, “Maybe it would be best to wait until this whole thing blows over.”
“So then what’s the plan? I can’t just sit here and wait for some crazy pony who wants to take over Ponyville to just stop and turn herself in! We’ve saved all of Equestria from worse threats at least three times now; one of which involved going hoof-to-hoof with an entire army.”
Pinkie pulled out four Proton-String-Paks
Rarity backed away, fearful of getting any of the weaponized silly-string on her coat as Rainbow quickly grabbed one, looking it over.
“This is awesome! You finally built it?”
“Yeps,” Pinkie beamed with pride.
“So what is it?” Applejack approached one of the devises cautiously.
“Imagine a silly-string shooter, only bigger, and better, and cooler.” Rainbow through on the saddle pack and was eyeing sights of the nozzle.
“So y’all plan on shooting the invisible vandal, who could be dangerous, with silly-string?”
“No,” Pinkie shook her head, “we plan on making the invisible creeper visible so you can lasso it.” Pinkie paused a moment, rubbing a hoof against her chin. “Yea that should work! Me and Rainbow -” she saw Rarity shake her head “- Rainbow and I will make the invisible creeper visible after Rarity finds it, then you come galloping in with your lasso” – she swung an imaginary lasso above her head – “and tie it up so it can’t get away. Afterword we all walk into the sunset, possibly to get ice-cream.”
“Are you not forgetting something, darling?”
“That it can teleport?”
“Yes. How do you plan on dealing with that?”
“I have no idea.”
“Maybe we should contact Twi. Thought I heard the Crusaders say somthin’ about tryin’ that,” Applejack thought aloud.
“By then it could be too late. I say we act now!” Rainbow’s voice was determined.
“And, how do you plan on stopping a teleporting invisible unicorn? Hmm?” Rarity countered.
“We use magical rope?” Rainbow offered the first idea from the top of her head.
“I don’t got any.” Applejack harrumphed.
“So then let’s just capture her. From what Pinkie’s told us, she likes to talk about how great her plan is. Get her talking about that and she won’t teleport.”
“Rainbow Dash, that just might work.”
“Pardon?”
“Yay!” Pinkie began bouncing around the room, “The invisible creeper’s rain of terror is about to end!” She stopper her bouncing, looking apologetically at her friends. “I meant reign. Silly Pinkie. Could you imagine if she made it rain terror? That would be really super bad. Ooh! But first, we need to talk to Spike. I’ve got a feeling we should send a letter after all.”
Her friends just blinked at their odd friend. Pinkie Pie was being Pinkie Pie again.
~~~
The invisible unicorn trotted casually through her town. She quietly observed her pets as they went about their day. She noted that not as many shops were open, and that not as many stalls were set up in the farmer’s market. The ponies that she did see moving throughout town did so quickly, with a fearful darting eye scanning their surroundings. She knew that she was the one they were looking for. It gave her a perverse pleasure to see her utopian town taking shape: nopony dared to even think about littering or loitering, and there were no arguments over the price of goods. The dark cloak of peace had fallen over the quaint town. It would not be long until word spread to the Princesses.
Her confrontation with her reflection the night after her confrontation with Pinkamena had made her realize her true-identity: she was Master. Her previous self was gone. The very thought of who she once was made her snicker darkly. As far as she was concerned, Twilight was weak and incompetent.
Twilight’s goals were to find a weakness in the greatest spell she had ever devised to prevent it from being used for wrongdoing. It did not take long for her to realize that her gift would allow her to become so much more than Princess Celestia’s most favored pupil. Master was the result. What was at first an alias was now her identity.
She had tossed and turned the night before, as sleep did not come easily. She had reasoned that if she were going to finish what she had started, she would need a new objective. The fires of passion and hatred now consumed her. In order to make the town hers, and bring order to her pets, she would need to make an example of the pink mare that stood in her way. If Pinkamena was not removed, she could recruit others to her cause, instigating a rebellion.
“A rebellion against me is a rebellion against the Princesses,” she spat. She no longer cared if anyone could hear her. They all now had confirmation that she existed; it was only a matter of time before they bowed before her.
As she approached the center of town she defiantly called out to her enemy, “Pinkamena! It is time we finished this.”
She was almost taken aback when the pink mare appeared before her at the end of the street. Her pets that were still in the streets made themselves scarce, locking themselves into their homes.
A lite chuckle slowly worked its way up her throat before rising up into a roar of nefarious laughter. Her opponent carried her silly-string gun again. “Didn’t you learn anything the last time my pet? That foolish devise is useless against me.” Her voice echoed around the now silent town. She noted that even the birds had known to flee from her unlimited power. “What use do you think that toy will be against a Goddess?”
“A lot actually,” she replied sternly. “I’m glad you called me, because otherwise I would have had to try to find your home at that construction site.”
“You are determined. What happened to the smiling pony who only wanted to spread cheer and happiness? Or, have you realized that I will stop you from destroying my dreams of utopia and with your treachery against the Princesses.”
“That is only for good ponies, and you are the opposite of good.”
Master felt as though those words had been plunged into her heart like a knife through cake. She pushed the feeling away, her anger and hatred targeted toward the pink mare filling the void. “Opposite of good!? I am fighting for all of Equestria. I am fighting for peace, for love, for all ponykind! I possess more power than you could possibly imagine. Make it easy for yourself and just accept my utopia. There will be plenty of sunshine and rainbows, cupcakes, and muffins for all my pets.”
“You might have more power, but I have the strongerest power.”
“And what is that,” she called back, sounding bored.
“Friendship!”
Master looked up and dogged just as a rainbow streaked from behind her. Rainbow Dash flared her wings and landed. She stood defiantly next to her pink friend. Applejack and Rarity rushed in from the sides to join them.
Master blinked. “So you have already recruited others to join your rebellion against Equestria. Tell me, where are those three kids you had with you before? Or did their pegasus friend convince them that you were standing in the way of progress?”
“Ya ain’t laying a hoof on my sister! Ya’ hear me?”
Master rolled her eyes. “I have no plans of harming anypony who bows before me.”
“You remind me of Trixie. She was a show mare who showed up one day and boasted about being the best. Those who boast usually have nothing to show for it,” Rarity called back.
“Trixie? I assure that I am not Trixie, and that when I boast, I can back it up.” She lit her horn, grabbing Pinkamena and Rainbow’s Proton-String-Paks, and turned them on the four ponies standing before her. She unleashed a torrent of silly-string upon the hapless ponies until they were sufficiently covered in the foaming frosting.
Rarity screamed in horror, wiping her eyes clean with one sweep of a hoof. “It. Is. On.”
Master absentmindedly teleported out of the way as the formally white unicorn rushed toward her. “I thought you liked strawberry-cocoa-vanilla frosting?”
“You have made a grievous mistake.”
“And what is that?”
“You showed me your aura.”
“I what?” It took her a moment to realize that she was staring right into her eyes. “How -”
She felt the cold blast as Rainbow dash and Pinkie Pie unloaded on her. Rarity had distracted her long enough for them to grab the nozzles and open fire on her. She looked down at herself in shock. She was completely covered with the now foaming string of frosting. With her advantage now gone, she began to panic. She readied her teleportation spell, hoping to escape, clean herself off, and prepare her next assault. Her spell imploded as her concentration was broken.
She found herself on the ground looking up at Applejack, a rope taught between her teeth.
“Sorry sugar cube, but we can’t let ya get away again.”
She was dragged behind, struggling to free herself as they moved quickly down several side streets, and out of sight of anyone who might be watching. She did not know where they were taking her. After some time she drew in several calming breaths. She needed a clear mind if she was going to escape. Looking around, she realized that they were in the library. Her library. They might have her tied up, be she had the home field advantage. It would not take much power to teleport into the safety of her lab.
“Would you care for a towel?” She looked up, as Rarity gently cleaned her face, leaving her covered from the neck down. “I am dreadfully sorry about that, but it was the only way we could get you to talk to us.”
“Talk?” She looked around. She had been gently placed on one of the reading pillows. The Proton-String-Paks were sitting by the center table, next to Rainbow Dash. Applejack was standing across from her and Rarity next to another set of reading pillows. These ones holding a tied up Pinkie Pie.
“What is going on?” she asked carefully.
“We are not on Pinkie’s side, nor your side. We are simply interested in what it is you hope to accomplish. I’m sure you can imagine that Pinkie has a tendency to… exaggerate at times.”
She nodded in response, before remembering that with her head now clean, they probably would not see. “Yes, she does seem to have an active imagination.”
Rainbow shifted uneasily. “I am guessing that they chose you to be the moderator for my surrender then.”
Rarity looked back at the jittery pegasus. “Far from it. As I said, we are just interested in your goals. We want to hear them from the source, before picking a side.”
Master was cautious. On one hoof, that would explain why Pinkamena is also tied up: it shows that they could be on my side. On the other, I am still tied up as well. Then again, they only know what Pinkamena told them. And she thought I was an invisible creeper.
“Very well,” she replied after taking another calming breath, “where do you want me to begin.”
Over the course of the hour, she explained her goals of creating a utopian town that would act as the model for all of Equestria and of how with her great power, her invisibility, and connections, she was the perfect candidate to rule under the Princesses. Rarity listened intently, and politely. Rainbow Dash was surprisingly even able to remain quiet, despite her obvious uneasiness. It was as if she was waiting for something to happen.
“I can certainly understand your philosophy of viewing anything lesser than yourself as being your pet.” Rarity finally commented. “Despite all ponies being equal, there are still those that are far more powerful, stronger, faster,” – Rainbow Dash’s ears perked up - “or more beautiful than the others.
“So you have decided to join me?” she asked slowly.
“I am open to your ideas about creating an ideal Equestria; however, I must decline on grounds that I do not agree that anypony has the right to stand above all others. Yes, there are those with a higher pedigree, but that does not give them the right to mistreat and abuse others.”
“We have instilled a philosophy of equality amongst all ponies.” Rarity stepped quickly aside, lowering her head reverently. For the first time, Master noticed that the air almost seemed to ripple in two places: the tell-tale-sign of the Chameleon-spell. The rippling air shimmered and sparked as it took the form of two ponies. “Even we wish to be viewed as equals, and not as rulers or tyrants.” The larger form spread and extended her white feathered wings.
“It is for this reason,” the smaller of the two, yet still larger than average, added, “that we have continuously denied the title of Queen or Monarch.”
“Princess Celestia.” Master’s eyes grew wide. “Princess Luna.” She bowed, for the first time not minding being visible do to the frosting coating she wore.
“My little pony, we have much to discuss.” Celestia’s voice was calm, soothing Master’s darkened heart. She pictured it as being a soft wintery snowfall somehow occurring during a bright summer’s day.
“H-how much have you heard,” she stammered, slowly rising up into a sitting position again after the elder Princess motioned for her to rise.
“We have been following your friends all day. They had Spike send me a letter asking us about anypony we knew who might want to form Equestria into her vision of a utopian society, before finding and bringing you here.” Princess Celestia seemed almost saddened. Her eyes gleamed with a dull wetness, as opposed to the brightness of the sun that was characteristic for them.
“What do you mean my friends?” The four other ponies in the room looked at each other, asking themselves the same question.
“Is it not obvious,” Luna responded. “You are Twilight Sparkle. Or at least a version of her.”
“No!” Her anger began to rise again as she stood up, turning the rope binding her into ash. “I am Master!”
“Very well.” Luna approached her in several strides, and then touched Master’s horn with her own.
She felt the lunar magic flow into her horn and down through every part of her body. Her outline began to glow a soft blue, as her form began to fill with the spectrum of night. The constellations began to swirl inside the outline, glowing brighter and brighter. They swirled into galaxies before subsiding and fading away into purple. She could once again see her legs and body, as could those watching awestruck before her.
Darkness extended into her peripheral, and soon overtook her.
~~~
She awoke slowly. She could not make out the details of where she was. There was no shape, no form. Reality had become a blur. She thought… no, sensed, that if reality had become a blur it would have somehow been clearer than what she was currently experiencing.
No shape.
No color.
No thought.
Slowly, she felt herself slowly take form. She could feel her physical body morph and stretch around a forming circulatory and nervous systems. Muscles began to tighten and loosen around her skeleton. Her mind began to awaken.
Now with, to some extent, thought and awareness, she began to assess who she was. Part of her said Twilight, while another, darker part, responded Master.
“Do not be frightened.”
She looked around the formless and shapeless realm for the source of the mysterious voice. It was almost soothing, yet at the same time commanding and regal. Before her, a dark form began to manifest. The shadow began to take form, growing legs and wings as it slowly floated closer to her.
“Luna?” Twilight, or was it Master (she still was unsure as to who she was), did not know how she knew the name of the being before her. Nor did she comprehend why she now found herself bowing; and, why did her eyes feel wet?
“Be still. You are in the realm of dreams. You have been through a lot; although, you may not realize what it is you have done just yet.”
She looked up to the Princess of the Night (?), “I let a darkness into my heart.” She tried to look anywhere but the regal alicorn before her, but could not bring herself to look away from the understanding and comforting ruler. She continued, “A darkness that tried to go against everything I believed in.”
Princess Luna looked taken aback for a moment, before resuming her royal demeanor. “It should not surprise me that my sister’s most prized pupil in centuries would be able to recover so quickly.” She allowed a small smile to grace her face, “You truly are as remarkable as she has suggested. Perhaps I should not doubt her in regards to you -” she stopped herself short.
“Why am I here and why does everything look… blurry?” Twilight quietly asked, looking around. The name felt right to her. Master felt cold and evil: it frightened her.
“A pony’s dreams can cast a reflection of her thoughts,” Luna began. “It can represent your hopes, your dreams, your fears. Right now, yours is casting a reflection of your confusion and uncertainty.”
Images began to take shape around them: scenes of an invisible pony attacking a cross-eyes mail-mare, scaring ponies, stealing, bribing, enslaving. “Wha-what are you showing me?” She shuddered as she realized the truth even as she asked.
“I cannot control a pony’s dreams. I can observe and interact with them. Sometimes, even guide them, if the dreamer allows it. These are your memories. You are beginning to remember.” The Princess of the Night sat beside Twilight, draping one of her large wings over the saddened unicorn in an embrace as they watched the events of the past several weeks unfold.
When the memories seemed to fade away, she tearfully looked into the saddened eyes of Luna, “I… I did this. Why?”
“A pony cannot function if she cannot see herself. Not only did you lose track of your body, you lost track of your mind. A blind pony does not suffer this, as her other senses take over. Being blind to only oneself, however…”
“So by turning my body invisible, I lost my mind?”
“You did not turn your body invisible. You turned yourself invisible.” Luna let that hang between them, giving the young mare time to process what she had said.
Something about that clicked inside Twilight’s mind. “Then who, or what became visible.”
“You did.” Seeing the mixture of shock and confusion stretch across the young mare’s face she continued, “Your negative anyway. It feeds upon your deepest desires and turns them against you. For instance, I wanted ponies to enjoy the beauty of the night, just as much as they enjoyed the day. I went forth, visiting the ponies of Equestria after raising the moon and discovered that many seemed to not fully embrace my night. Many seemed to fear it. I wished only for them to see that day and night were equals; that both could be safe.
“My negative form twisted that around into a drive to overthrow my sister and bring forth an eternal night and take over Equestria for herself. She believed that the only way they would respect the night, is if they learned to worship it out of fear.”
“Master, is my Nightmare Moon.” Twilight whispered, looking down to her hooves and the nonexistent floor.
Luna sat silently.
“She wanted to bring forth peace to Equestria,” she continued after attempting to compose herself, “by turning everypony below her into her pets. She wanted to be a Goddess to them: an equal to you and Celestia.” The words tasted of vile poison. She did not realize that she was capable of such things.
“You were lucky.”
“How?” She finally looked up.
“Your friends were able to catch Master in time. Perhaps in another day or two she would have had complete control as her mind fully pushed yours out. Your presence prevented Master from doing any more harm than a few minor offenses. Once she gained full control, there is no telling how she would have twisted your mind.”
“Even if she had full control, it would still have been me who committed those crimes. I was the one who set out to try and turn Ponyville into my vision of utopia.”
“You might not forgive yourself, but I know that your friends will. The citizens that you affected directly might take some time to sway, but I am certain, that with time, they too will learn to forgive your actions. I have you to thank for helping me see that they do not truly believe me to be Nightmare Moon. I know that we can say the same for you and Master.” She gave Twilight a soft smile, before leaning down and whispering. “Do you really think I would risk being seen when I was watching over those sleeping ponies, wondering why they did not love the night over one thousand years ago?”
It has been almost a month since I turned myself invisible. I did things that I am not proud of, and sometimes cannot help but wonder how far I would have gone if she took over completely. I originally wanted to deliver the spell, its reversal, and any of its flaws to you in hopes of gaining a stronger favor.
It was my greed that started this whole thing. It was my greed that awoke Master.
When I had originally realized that I could not undo the spell, I felt ashamed. I thought that if I asked for help, then it would somehow lesson my accomplishments. I now realize that I can ask for help. It doesn’t lesson your accomplishments, it strengthens them. There are problems that without help, without something to hold onto, could consume you.
After returning from my dream world, my friends were there for me. They have always been there for me. I lost sight of that. They reassured me that no matter what situation I get myself into, they would be there to help me. They will always be something that I can hold onto: something to grasp for if I am ever to be consumed again; just as I will always be there for them.
A true friend will look past your flaws and sins. A true friend will help you overcome any obstacle.
All you need to do is ask.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
p.s. Attached is my recommendation to retitle the Chameleon-spell.
“Perhaps, it is time we retrieved Star Swirl’s old journal.” Celestia passed the letter on to her sister.
Luna enveloped the parchment in her blue starlit aura, eyeing her older sister. “Why? Do you really think that she is ready for such a task?”
“No, she is not ready yet. She still has much to learn. She now knows to believe in her friends, and that she can always count on them. We now just need to wait and see if she can put it into practice. It will be the only way to be certain that she can reverse the spell.”
Celestia suppressed a chuckle as her sister almost dropped the scroll she had passed to her as she became aware of the second, much longer scroll that had accompanied Twilight’s latest friendship report.
“What is wrong with the Chameleon-spell’s title? I thought it was rather fitting.” She looked to her sister quizzically after skimming the curious attachment.
“She seems to think that it is misleading and promotes the belief that chameleons change color to match their surroundings.”
“That is why I liked it: it was funny. Everypony got a chuckle out of it.”
“That is another thing that that has changed over the years, Lu-Lu,” the older sister answered with a smile.
“They no longer think it funny, Tia.” The younger asked, jovially using her own pet name for her sister.
“They take it as fact.”
“Oh. Then, perhaps we should consider reevaluating the education system. I am finding that not many ponies know how to use an abacus anymore either. More ponies should know how to use an abacus.”
Both sisters laughed as one moved her orb, giving the sky to the other.
