Waking Nightmares

by Jonathan "KnightMysterio" Spires

Chapter 19: Crusades

The disclaimer about copyrights from the last chapter will apply to this and all future chapters. This story starts one day after the events of Chapter 19. Note about my tumblr: If something happens there that looks like a scene instead of a question answered, then unless I say otherwise it's canon to the story. Also, I would appreciate any help in keeping the TV Tropes page for Waking Nightmares updated and edited. Thanks in advance.

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Canterlot...

Throne room...

Midday...

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"...And that's the story, my lady," Harbinger said, kneeling before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as he finished his update of the situation.

Celestia scowled. "Why didn't any of you do anything about Slendermane when you saw it?" she snapped.

Barricade and Harbinger traded uneasy looks.

"My lady..." Barricade said, "We realized it was there, yes, but... it just..."

"At the time it just didn't seem important until much later," Harbinger finished. "We all literally just didn't care about it until long after we had left the hive."

Princess Celestia frowned, uneasy. A thoughtful look was on Princess Luna's face.

"A perception filter spell?" Luna suggested.

"That's all too believable, I'm afraid," Celestia said, sighing. "Too many times I've seen Slendermane, KNOWING it was there, and no one else could see it... It having the ability to focus your interest in other directions except to itself makes too much sense."

Luna frowned, and nuzzled her sister. "We'll find it and we'll stop it, Tia," she said. "Don't worry."

Celestia managed a smile, and asked, "What of Captain Shining Armor, Twilight and her friends, and the mercenaries?"

"Shining Armor is with Princess Cadence, your majesty," Barricade said. "She still hasn't fully recovered from her brief stint as Queen Sombra, and needs more time to rest."

"As for Twilight and the others, they're fine as well. Rainbow Dash, according to Zecora, is making good progress in recovering from her blindness," Harbinger added. "The BLUs, for their part, are planning to talk to the Mayor and city council to try and organize a defense league in Ponyville, to train the citizens to help aid in the defense."

Celestia nodded. "The trade agreements are not urgent. She can take all the time she needs to recover," she said. "I do wish to speak with both Cadence and Shining Armor when they are available, though."

"Yes, my lady," Barricade and Harbinger said.

"A defense league in Ponyville sounds like an excellent idea as well," Celestia added. "I do not like to think of such things, but with the influx of Nightmare-level monsters..."

"We must look on the brighter side of things, I think," Luna said. "We were able to recover the Elements of Love without incident, and have unlocked the Dark Element of Kindness. We have proven the Rainbow of Light can be summoned with the returned Elements. Princess Cadence was completely purged of the magical corruption that turned her into Queen Sombra. Queen Chrysalis has been neutralized as a threat and made into an ally. And we have a better idea of what the Slendermane can do."

"Small comforts, but best to take any we can get," Celestia said. "Although I am disappointed that Slendermane escaped this time, we can consider this a victory. Well done, Captains."

Harbinger and Barricade both smiled and bowed. "Thank you, your majesty," they said.

Princess Luna smiled. Harbinger found himself blushing, silently grateful his helmet covered his cheeks. "What of the Elements themselves, and the BLUs? Are they doing well?" Luna asked.

Barricade grinned. "They seem to be in good spirits. My little Flutters is especially proud of herself for managing to get through that infiltration mission."

Celestia smiled benevolently. "Her courage when it counts is a match for your own, noble Barricade."

Barricade snickered. "She's also proclaimed 'NEVER EVER AGAIN' to the idea of a repeat run."

Harbinger, Celestia, and Luna chuckled at that. All of them knew of Fluttershy's bravery when it counted, and wouldn't hold her anxiety over recent events against her.

Celestia sighed. "Very well," she said. "I suppose we shall just have to keep our investigation going. Barricade, you are to return to Ponyville and continue to protect the Elements of Harmony. Harbinger, you will be in charge of security here. Try to find a suitable replacement for Shining Armor soon, so he is not torn between his duty to Equestria and to the Crystal Empire."

The two captains bowed to her. "As you wish, my lady," they chorused.

"And keep up your investigations into Slendermane. If we're to thwart me, we MUST know more about me to fight..." Celestia's eyes widened in alarm as she realized what she said.

Harbinger, Barricade, and Luna stared at her in shock, not quite sure they understood what they had heard.

Celestia coughed. "I mean... I... We must find a way of stopping me before I... No..." she stammered.

"Tia... Tia, what's wrong?" Luna asked, standing up.

"I... I don't KNOW, I'm trying to refer to me but I keep talking about me as if I were me why can't I stop referring to me as if I were actually ME," Celestia said, her eyes growing wider as fear took hold of her. "NO! I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about ME, we have to find ME and KILL ME before I hurt anypony else oh dear mother please I didn't mean to say it like that I meant to say we must KILL ME no not me KILL ME HELP ME HELP ME!"

Celestia dissolved into a full panic, rearing up and whinnying in fright. She took to the air, Luna leaping up after her.

"KILL ME NO NOT ME KILL ME NO NOT ME!" Celestia screamed, trying to force the words she wanted out, trying to stop talking as if she were referring to herself. But with every failure, panic overtook her more and more. She flapped her wings fiercely, tears flowing down her face as she screamed in terror.

"TIA!" Luna shouted, grabbing her sister's face. She gently touched her horn to Celestia's, a flash of light emanating from it. Celestia slowly started to calm down, eventually dropping in Luna's grasp and falling asleep. Luna gently lowered her to the ground, Celestia twitching and whimpering softly. She called for the guards, having them gently escort her back to her room.

"What in Tartarus was that!?" Barricade shouted once Celestia was out of the room.

"She kept referring to Slendermane in the first person, as if she herself was Slendermane," Harbinger said softly. "By the ancestors... How is it capable of doing this to the sun goddess?"

Luna snarled, her eyes glowing angrily. "We must find this creature and slay it," she said, her voice low but still carrying the rumble of the Royal Canterlot Tone. "None shall dare harm my sister, not while I still draw breath."

"I'm not sure how, Mistress," Barricade said. "This thing can prevent you from even giving a damn about it until it's too late and there's a monster that used to be a friend chewing on your face."

Luna frowned, the glow from her eyes fading as she sighed. "...You say that Chrysalis called Slendermane a Child of Krastos?"

Both Barricade and Harbinger shuddered. "Yes, my lady, but please do not say the name..." Harbinger said.

Luna sighed again, her voice taking its normal tone. "The Glue Maker... The Ponybane... It is said that the Smooze is his blood, Evil's Glue..." she said. "I will conduct my own research into the matter. Perhaps in the old records of that Devil's children..." She shook her head. "There has to be a way to stop this creature, to harm it..."

"Be wary, my lady," Harbinger said. "It is my belief that Slendermane is haunting her because of that journal she has been reading... Should it decide to start haunting you as well..." He silently cursed himself for being unable to find it, wondering if it was just because Celestia was hiding it too well or because it had a perception filter over it like the one Slendermane used to divert everypony's attention to Chrysalis.

Luna scowled. "But that is the question, isn't it? Why did it NOT start haunting me, since I had the dream about it and not Celestia?" she said. "I do not like the idea that this monster used me as a conduit to attack my sister. Bad enough to hear that my dark side has returned as its own entity. I must find a way to best these threats to my home. I will not let this creature go without punishment."

"Yes, my lady," Barricade and Harbinger chorused, bowing again.

Luna sighed. "Barricade, return to your duties. Harbinger, walk with me for a bit," she said.

Barricade nodded and bowed once more, flying out a window and heading to the train station. Harbinger stood up and began to walk with Luna as she went out to a balcony, staring out at the sky.

"I am frightened, Harbinger," she said softly. "I see my sister deteriorating, and I know not what to do to stop it."

"We can save her, your majesty," Harbinger insisted. "We have almost all of the Light Elements of Harmony, and are missing naught but four of the Dark Elements. The BLUs are capable soldiers, and we know how well Twilight Sparkle and her comrades can perform in a crisis."

"Still..." Luna said. "I am worried. Even back in the olden days, before I accepted the corruption and became Nightmare Moon, Tia never acted like this. Always, she showed everypony a calm, stoic face. A shining light that my moon could only reflect. Even at our mother's death, even in the face of Discord, her murderer, she never broke... To see her like this..." Luna closed her eyes, shivering. "She was always the rock on which I could brace myself."

"Everypony has their limits," Harbinger said. "Even the mountains can be broken down by the waves. But that is why you gather others around you. To catch you when you fall."

Luna looked at him with a mix of gratitude and amusement. "...Do you always speak in such philosophical platitudes, noble Harbinger?"

Harbinger blushed, grinning. "A habit I picked up that I have been unable to break," he admitted. "Barricade and Shining Armor have both teased me about it before."

Luna smiled. "Still... It is a good thought. I will be there for my sister, no matter what," she said.

"As will I," Harbinger said. "I have been unwaveringly loyal to your sister since before your return, as I am unwavering loyal to you."

To Harbinger's surprise, Luna leaned up against him and nuzzled him. He blushed brightly, feeling her luxuriously soft coat nuzzling up against his coarser one. Luna sighed. "It is good that there are people I know I can count on, Harbinger. It has been so difficult since my return..."

"I-I... I will always be there to ease the burden for you, my lady," Harbinger said. Oh this is foolish. You're a war veteran, loyal to Princess Celestia for years. And now you find yourself flustered before her little sister?!

Luna smiled at him. "Your cheeks have taken on an interesting shade, Captain," she said.

"Forgive me, my lady," he said. "But you are quite the comely mare. Of course, you must be used to hearing such things."

Luna chuckled, a trace of bitterness in the sound. "With a sister like Celestia, shining golden like the sun and twice as graceful, one tends to ignore the dark little filly with the macabre tastes."

"Ponies like what they like," Harbinger said. "I have a nephew in Barricade's forces that has similar tastes as you, your Grace. As I recall, when you returned, he jumped at the chance to join your Night Guard."

Luna smiled. "I think I know who you mean. Bluish coat before accepting the transformation into a Night Guardsman, constant dopey grin on his face?"

Harbinger chuckled. "That's him."

Luna giggled, the sound melodic. "...Jealousy of the attention my shining sister received was part of the reason I gave in and drank the Smooze. But I have moved passed it. Still, I treasure any kind word I receive. After a thousand years... even a moon goddess can get lonely."

Harbinger frowned. "There are many who treasure you, my lady," he said.

"Not at first," Luna said. "It has been a struggle. I am a thousand years out of date, and only recently have begun to catch up. Even now, I still have trouble with several modern habits." She nuzzled him again, Harbinger blushing brightly. "You are attracted to me," she said simply.

Harbinger meeped. "I... My lady, name me one pony who would not be attracted to you and I'll have Twilight Sparkle point out what book in the Fiction section of the Canterlot Royal Library they're in," he managed after a moment.

Luna chuckled sadly, and said, "I... I am not as strong as my sister. I have made so many mistakes, that I am no longer as confident of my judgment as I was a thousand years ago. I would ask of you to be there for me, to comfort me in times of need. But only if you are willing."

Harbinger gulped hard. "'C-Comfort,' my lady?"

Luna smirked at him. "I am Mistress of the Night, and all that title implies. It means exactly what you think it means, dear Harbinger. But as I said, I would only call on you if you are willing."

Harbinger blushed, trying to keep himself from grinning foolishly. "Princess, I cannot imagine anypony who would NOT be willing..." he said.

Luna smiled gratefully, and kissed him. Harbinger meeped, his tail going stock straight briefly. Luna held the kiss for a long moment before breaking it. "Thank you, noble Harbinger. I assure you that this is a decision you will not regret."

Harbinger nodded, not trusting himself to say anything more. Luna nodded, and turned to leave. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must check on Celestia, and see if I can convince her to let me attend to her duties this day" she said. "We will talk later."

She slowly trotted out of the room, Harbinger watching her leave and trying to convince himself he wasn't staring at her rump. Once she had left, he let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in and sighed.

"Bah, foolishness," he said. "Has it really been so long?" He shook his head. "If nothing else, I'm glad Barricade had already left. I couldn't stand her teasing me about this..."

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Meanwhile...

Ponyville...

City hall...

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"Mayor, the town is woefully under-defended," Soldier insisted.

Spy nodded in agreement. "Bad enough zere's all ze monsters in Everfree, we now have to worry about Maskies flitting about and poisoning random ponies and turning zem into Nightmares."

"And it's escalating," Engineer added. "Nightmare Doctor and Nightmare Grave were bad enough, but it just took one fusion to defeat them. Nightmare Dubstep and Harmonic cast that song that threatened all of Equestria, and it took two fusions, a Wonderbolt, and a newly minted alicorn superhero to defeat them. And Nightmare Juggernaut would have killed us all if Princess Luna hadn't shown up. We need to have some sort of system to at least give people a chance to respond with somethin' other than runnin' around and screaming!"

"We cannae do everything, lassie," Demoman insisted. "The town needs te be able to sustain itself in a crisis, and 'get Twilight and the others to fix it' won't always be a viable solution."

"And if nothin' else, it'll help morale," Scout said. "Folks who think they can fight back are always in a better mood."

Mayor Mare sighed. "Believe me, if it were up to me alone, I'd implement your idea immediately. But I have to run this by the town council, and they're so set in their ways it's difficult to get them to agree to things, especially drastic changes like this."

"You have to convince them, Mayor," Sniper said. "This is too important."

Mayor Mare sighed, facehoofing in irritation. "...What would this training consist of?"

"Scout would be teaching mobility and agility, fast movement and relay. Soldier would be teaching hoof-to-hoof combat. Pyro would be teaching how to use fire in battle, as well as fire safety. Demoman would be teaching explosives, hazard safety, and demolitions. Heavy would be teaching how to build, maintain, and use heavy weapons. Ah'd be teaching battlefield engineering, strategic placement of defense buildings, and supply line maintenance. Medic would be teaching battlefield medicine, and has already requisitioned supplies to make Mediguns for every healer in town. Sniper would teach trapping, wilderness survival, and sharpshooting. And Spah would be handling infiltration, disguise, camouflage and information acquisition," Engineer said.

Mayor Mare hesitated, and sighed. "I'll talk to them," she said.

Scout smirked, gesturing to the pipe laying in the corner of her office. "And in case y'can't get those assholes to see reason... well, sometimes the right tool can make negotiating a 'lead pipe cinch.'"

Medic groaned softly at the pun.

Mayor Mare smirked. "You and my father would have gotten along well," she said.

Scout just grinned lazily.

Mayor Mare sighed. "In all seriousness, though, I'll do what I can to convince them."

Engineer frowned. "Ah suppose that's all we can ask for, ah guess," he said. "Thank y'kindly."

Mayor Mare nodded, and the BLUs slowly filed out of the room. "We've done all we can for now," Heavy said. "Perhaps we should be heading back to our various jobs?"

Soldier nodded, looking up at the clock. "Yeah... My lunch break's about over, I should be getting back to school, the teachers have that conference in the afternoon..."

Demoman frowned. Soldier had been oddly quiet ever since the Chrysalis mess. "You okay, laddie?"

Soldier shook his head. "Later..."

Demoman gave his friend a worried look and nodded. The others chatted for a bit and then went their separate ways, heading back to the jobs they had acquired, Heavy and Medic going off to the Doctor's, citing a task they promised to help him with. All of them wandered off to their various destinations.

Save for Spy, who realized, to his irritation, that he still had no form of employment.

"Well, zis is moderately embarrassing," he muttered. "How could I have let it go zis long?" With all the attacks, he had been relying on the stipend he had been getting from the Princesses to fund himself. But he knew he needed to find some form of employment if he wanted to fully adjust to this place. Even Soldier and Pyro, of all people, had found decent jobs.

"Well, I simply cannot foist myself off on Rarity or Zecora any longer," he decided. "Our base is almost completed anyway, so I will just have to find employment zat will suit my talents." Perhaps a private detective, or a journalist. Certainly a half-changeling with ze ability to turn invisible can find a story.

Spy took to the air and began flying towards the town newspaper. He paused, hearing a gentle singing voice coming from nearby. He turned, listening for the lovely sound, and spotted Sweetie Belle by a river, apparently practicing a song.

Interested, Spy floated over to listen, instinctively turning invisible as he perched on a nearby tree.

"We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders, on a quest to see who we are," Sweetie Belle sang. "Every day is a new quest, taking us to every star..."

She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Yeah, that works," she muttered, and began to sing again, her voice melodic and strong. "Our Cutie Marks define who we are. We'll seek out ours, no matter how far we have to go, we'll never say no, to try something new, to each other true... Together forever, and never apart, we..." She shook her head. "No, that last bit's been used."

She shrugged. "Well, the old song's still good," she said. "I'll finish the new one later."

"Indeed it was, my dear," Spy said, appearing in a swirl of smoke. Sweetie Belle eeped, whirling towards him, and relaxed when she saw who it was. "Oh! Hi there, Spy! How you feeling?"

"Better zan I have been," he admitted. "I still hear Chrysalis in my head, but since she's switched sides, it's no longer an invasive sound."

"That's good," she said, smiling cutely.

Spy grinned at her, and glided down beside her. "What's good, my dear child, is your singing. Tres bon," he said.

Sweetie Belle blushed. "Aww, it's not that good," she said.

Spy chuckled. "You underestimate yourself, my dear," he said. "Where did you learn how to sing so well?"

Sweetie Belle shrugged. "I've just always been able to, I guess. It's just something I do," she said.

Spy nodded. "Perhaps your talent for music is your Cutie Mark talent?" he suggested.

Sweetie Belle hesitated, frowning.

"...You suspected zis already," Spy said, realizing.

Sweetie Belle nodded. "...Part of it is that I'm scared to death of singing alone in front of large crowds. And if I'm meant to be a singer, then that's what I'd have to do. And the other..." she trailed off.

Spy nodded, realizing again what she meant. "You are afraid of what will happen if you get your Cutie Mark before your friends do."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "I mean, what will happen to us? Will they get mad at me, or jealous? And if we all get our Cutie Marks, will we stop being the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"

Spy chuckled, shaking his head. "Sweetie Belle, how did you react when you thought Apple Bloom had gotten her Cutie Mark during ze Cutie Pox fiasco?"

"I was proud of her, glad for her," Sweetie Belle said, confused. "But what does that have to do with anythi..."

"How did Scootaloo react?" Spy interrupted.

"Same way," she said. "Why?"

"Well zere you go," Spy said. "Zat's one thing you don't have to worry about. And I'm sure Apple Bloom would react ze same. A true friend, Sweetie Belle, will support you no matter what. And from what I've seen of you three together, you are true friends indeed."

Sweetie Belle smiled, feeling a little better about things.

"As for whezzer or not you will be Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore, I see no reason why ze Crusaders cannot continue after you all get your Cutie Marks. If nothing else, you can help ozzer foals on their quests to identify zere own talents," Spy said.

Sweetie Belle grinned, liking the idea. "We could, couldn't we?"

Spy nodded. "Indeed," he said.

Sweetie Belle giggled. "And who knows? Maybe something else my talent, too!" she said.

Spy blinked. "Such as?"

"Well," Sweetie Belle said, "Singing's good and all, but I'm hoping to take after my big sister and become a fashion designer!"

Spy stared at her, and frowned. "...Sometimes one's life choices takes you in directions you'd rather not go."

Sweetie Belle blinked. "What do you mean?"

Spy looked at the backstab symbol on his flank. "...I wanted to be a singer," he said. "But zen this happened..."

Sweetie Belle frowned. "...What does your Cutie Mark stand for?"

"I am an assassin, child," he said softly. "A killer. I can tell you ze EXACT moment my Cutie Mark would have appeared had I been born a pony razzer than a human..."

Sweetie Belle sat down next to him, curious. She had never even thought that some Cutie Mark stories could be sad...

Spy, sensing that she wanted to know, shook his head and sighed. "...My fazzer was... unpleasant," he started. He then thought for a moment, and shook his head. "No, let's not pussyfoot around. He was an abusive boor who took great pleasure in causing my mozzer and I great pain. He wasn't taking out frustration with life on us, he simply was a brute. On my seventh birthday, my mozzer gave me my balisong." He took out his knife with his tail and began playing with it, twirling it around his hoof. "My fazzer took offense, and broke my mozzer's arm, and tried to take it from me. I ran and hid, not wanting to give it up. He followed, of course, but he never found me. Never noticed me. Not until I got behind him and stabbed him in the back of ze neck with it, killing him instantly."

Sweetie Belle's eyes went wide, her ears laid back against her head.

Spy sighed. "Zat is what my Cutie Mark means, child," he said. "It is a showcase of my talents as a stealth killer. A skill I have refined into pure artwork over years of practice." He gave Sweetie Belle a pointed look. "Which is why I'm so very concerned about your tactic of trying every talent until something sticks. Something you may not want may end up being what causes your Mark to appear."

Sweetie Belle frowned. "I... never really thought about it like that."

"It took me years of practice to get my singing ability to where I wanted it," Spy said. "The killing... just came far more naturally..." He gave Sweetie Belle an apologetic look. "I do not mean to fill your head with such unpleasant images. I am simply burdened with ze need to be realistic. Nor do I mean to discourage having fun and adventures with your fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders. I am simply asking you to focus on the talents you KNOW you have. Refine your musical skills. Overcome your fear of singing alone in front of large crowds. I'll even help you learn songs to sing. And just let your games with the Crusaders be that – games."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "I will. ...And I guess you don't want me to spread around that story about your father, either," she said.

Spy nodded, smiling softly. "Indeed," he said.

Sweetie Belle smiled, and nuzzled him, surprising Spy. "Don't worry. I can keep a secret," she said.

"I appreciate it greatly, dear Sweetie Belle," Spy said.

Sweetie Belle nodded, and began to stroll down the riverbank, humming to herself.

"That was a very kind thing you did, to give advice to that sweet little kid," Zecora said, startling Spy, who reflexively turned invisible. The zebra chuckled as Spy reappeared, an amused look on his face.

"And here I thought I was supposed to be ze stealthy one," Spy said, coming up to her and nuzzling her. "What brings you to town today?"

"I was concerned about your plight, and wished to see if you were still all right," Zecora said. "I remember it was that you said, that you still have Chrysalis inside your head."

Spy nodded. "But she's not actively attempting to control me anymore," he assured her. "I hear a low sound at ze back of my thoughts zat I know is her, but it's not invasive." He grinned, and added, "And I assure you, my thoughts are dominated at zis moment by a much lovelier mare."

Zecora blushed. Spy waggled his eyebrows at her. "I have some free time, Zecora my dear. Would you like to join me for lunch?"

Zecora nodded. "Oh yes, it is true, I would greatly love to," she said, she and Spy walking off together. As they did, Spy thought, to his amusement, that he may have found his line of work after all.

Me, a singing teacher, he thought. How delightful.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Across town...

Dentist's office...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Minuette finished with her latest patient, admonishing her to brush more often. She sighed, temporarily closing up shop to take a lunch break, when she heard a knocking on the door.

"Sorry, I'm closed for lunch," she said. "If you come back in an hour, I can set up an appointment for you."

"Good day, madame!" said a voice the unicorn knew, "I'm here with the Cloudsdale Encounters society. We've heard that you've encountered a strange, sexy beast before and would like to get your opinions on how handsome he is."

Minuette chuckled, turning to see the dark blue coated pegasus with the constellation Cutie Mark standing in her doorway. He grinned, waggling his eyebrows at her.

Minuette smiled gratefully. "Good to see you, Orion," she said.

The pegasus chuckled. "Good to see you, gorgeous," he said. "We really need to talk more often. I haven't seen you since I moved to Cloudsdale after the tornado fiasco. And speaking of things we need to do more often, how's the Doc?"

Minuette frowned. "That's why I needed to have you here, Orion," she said. "Something's come up."

Orion quirked an eyebrow. "Must be something big," he said. "I saw those mercenary guys around town today. That big one, Heavy, is a real cutie. Can't they or the Elements handle it?"

"It's major, Orion," she said. "I'd just... feel better if we all were here... Jack..."

Orion blinked, becoming visibly worried. "...You wanted me as Jack Harkness, not Orion," he said softly.

"And I need to be River Song instead of Minuette..." she said. "Jack, things are starting to go very wrong." She explained what's happened.

"Geez..." Orion said, looking visibly shaken. "And you say these things KNEW the Doctor and everything he did? And they weren't afraid?"

Minuette nodded. "I'm worried they may know the truth, Jack..."

Orion blinked. "The truth? What are you..." he started, trailing off as a horrible realization came to him. "This Slender thing... he's asked The Question, hasn't he?"

"Maybe it's best if I just showed you," Minuette said.

Orion nodded. Minuette led him to the Doctor's laboratory. Medic and Heavy were there, which wasn't surprising, as the Doctor had decided to start talking strategies with the various BLUs since yesterday.

What was surprising were the recent additions to the décor.

"My God..." Minuette said. "This wasn't there yesterday!"

"Holy..." Orion said softly, looking around at the words DOCTOR WHO? painted all over the walls. "Please tell me that's not blood..."

The Doctor, noticing them both for the first time, nodded. "I'm afraid so. Found all this when I woke up... Medic and Heavy are going to help me determine WHO'S blood this is."

"Geez..." Orion said. "Well, I'm here to help any way I can."

Heavy rumbled at him irritatedly. "And who are you, tiny blue thing?"

Orion blinked. "Oh! Sorry, sorry," he said, coming up to Heavy and smiling his charming smile, making the big Earth pony blush. "Name's Captain Jack Harkness. And I must say you are even more gorgeous up close."

Heavy blinked, blushing and grinning, pleased at the compliment.

"Jack, quit it," the Doctor muttered, rolling his eyes.

Heavy grinned. "Not really complaining, Doctor," he said.

"Oh for Heaven's sakes," Minuette said, exasperated. "We are on a bit of a task here!"

"Well, I can't help it," Orion said, smirking. "This big hunk of Russian beefcake here is amazing."

Heavy found himself at a bit of a happy loss. He had never had someone just flat out come onto him like this.

Medic coughed, trying to get everyone back on task (and finding himself baffled by the fact that he was feeling jealous of Orion). "Ve vill take ze samples of blood back to ze hospital und do some cross-matching. Ve should have results soon."

"Thank you again," the Doctor said, starting to clean up. "This is most embarrassing..."

"You were right to call me in on this, River," Orion said softly to Minuette after Medic and Heavy left.

"Indeed," Minuette agreed. "Because if the Doctor finds out the REAL answer to that question, the answer that we know and he doesn't, then all three of us are done for..."

None of them noticed Slendermane silently watching them from a nearby rooftop.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Elsewhere in town...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Scout camly flew about his mail route, delivering the daily mail to everypony. He whistled to himself, silently glad he had such a short route today. Derpy may be a klutz in almost everything else, but she was absurdly efficient when it came to getting the mail delivered on time.

As he finished delivering the last of his packages, a large pair of parcels meant for Filthy Rich's estate, he noticed Scootaloo at the park, zipping and darting about on her scooter. He quickly delivered the packages and headed back, watching Scootaloo play.

She didn't know much about the kid, save for the fact that she was Rainbow Dash's biggest fan and had been assisting her during the whole 'blindness' problem. Rainbow Dash herself had nothing but glowing things to say about Scootaloo, which had piqued his interest into learning more about her.

Once he was done, he came back to see her readying up for a trick. He hovered above her as she revved up her wings and took off like a shot. She leaped up onto a stair railing, grinding down it and gracefully twirling off of it. She skidded underneath a low bench, tucking her wings in to avoid hurting herself, and flipped up onto a ramp.

Scout watched, impressed, as she went up the ramp, doing a graceful aerial spin while twirling her scooter, and landing with a perfect pirouette.

"NICE!" Scout said, applauding. "That was friggin' awesome!"

Scootaloo meeped, surprised, and then blushed when she realized she was being praised. "Thanks. Scout, right?"

Scout nodded. "Yeah. Sorry I never introduced m'self before now," he said. "Never been the type to sit still for very long, so I ain't at Dash's house that much."

Scootaloo nodded. "That's okay. You and that Sniper guy are helping Rainbow Dash, so you're okay by me," she said, grinning widely.

Scout shook his head, chuckling. "You're really a fan of Dasher, huh?"

Scootaloo nodded vigorously. "Oh yeah, she's the best! The fastest, most awesome pegasus in all Equestria, in all the WORLD!" she gushed. "And I'm gonna be just like her when I grow up! I just gotta find out what my Cutie Mark is, and then I'll be all set to start training for the Wonderbolts!"

"Easy there," Scout said. "Gotta let yourself be a kid first."

"I..." Scootaloo stopped herself, and blushed. "Sorry... Rainbow Dash said that to me too, I guess it just didn't stick."

Scout chuckled. "Yeah, sometimes things gotta be pounded in before ya actually get them. My ma had to do that with me and my seven older brothers. What about your ma? She ever have to thump a lesson into you?"

Scootaloo's face fell, and she pawed the grand nervously. "I... um... I don't have a mother, or any family..."

Scout cringed. "Ah..."

Scootaloo gave him a pleading look. "Don't... don't tell Rainbow Dash or anyone else... I live in the orphanage outside of town. I get enough flak from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon about being a blank flank, I don't need that added in... Plus, Rainbow Dash wouldn't want to be seen with a loser orphan... She wouldn't have taken me under her wing like she did. Only reason I'm as close to flying on my own as I am now is because she's been teaching me..."

Scout just quirked an eyebrow. "Well, you never know. She may surprise you. But let's focus on the good. Like that wicked stunt you just pulled," he said.

Scootaloo grinned again, grateful for the change of subject. "Thanks! And that wasn't anything special, just something basic I do for practice."

Scout went wide-eyed. "Pretty awesome frickin' practice," he said. "It's a helluva lot more than I can do, even in my real body."

Scootaloo blushed, giggling at the praise. "Thanks..."

"No, seriously," Scout insisted. "That was friggin' awesome. All graceful and stuff. You ever think you could be a dancer?"

Scootaloo gagged. "Dancer? No way. That's not cool."

Scout blinked. "Why not? I took dance lessons."

Scootaloo stared, visibly shocked.

Scout nodded. "It's true! My ma insisted, and I took the lessons seriously for her sake. Never thought I'd need it, but they turned out to be pretty handy."

Scootaloo frowned, trying to process this. "...You're a mercenary. That knows how to... dance?" She shook her head. "How does dancing translate at all to fighting?"

Scout chuckled. "Not so much the dancing as it was having the footwork I gained from the dancing lessons. Lemme tell you about my first day on the job. I was the fifth to be hired, after Heavy, Soldier, Engineer, and Demoman in that order. Hired after me were, in order, Sniper, Spy, Medic, and Pyro. We had just gathered together for our first war game, a Capture the Flag match..."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The past...

Human world...

2Fort...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Anyone else weirded out by the fact that the RED team has the same faces as us?" Scout said, idly chewing some bubble gum. "I'm just sayin,' is all.."

"QUIET maggot!" Soldier barked as he paced around the table, adjusting a map that had what looked to Scout like random scribbles all over it. "No talking in ranks!"

Scout just rolled his eyes, leaning up against the nearby wall, looking around at the others. Pyro stood apart from everyone, looking standoffish and nervous, idly fiddling with his (her? He couldn't tell) flamethrower. Heavy had his arms folded, glaring down at Soldier, who was cackling evilly as he looked over his notes and map. Demoman was sitting at the table, sipping from a bottle of scrumpy, while Spy idly played with his knife in another corner, shrouded by cigarette smoke. Sniper sat at the table next to Demoman, sipping a cup of coffee, while Medic and Engineer sat in a corner. From the way the two geniuses were amiably chatting, he guessed it was about science stuff he didn't understand.

"All right, maggots," he said. "As Scout pointed out so whiningly earlier..."

"Hey hey!" Scout protested.

Soldier ignored him. "...the RED team is a bunch of worthless baby copycats. This is to their DISADVANTAGE! Their base is an exact replica of ours in every way, save they use inferior materials! Which obviously means their WEAPONS will be inferior as well!"

"Except zat zey aren't," Spy muttered. "Any fool could see zat zey have ze same equipment we do."

"Ahah! But I am not just ANY fool!" Soldier said proudly.

"Well, you can't argue with that logic," Scout cackled.

Engineer had to look away and cover his mouth to hide his laughter. The others didn't do as well in hiding it, save for Pyro, who just stared at Soldier curiously.

"ATTEN-SHUN!" Soldier barked. "We have a WAR GAME to win, people! I will not accept anything other than the TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF OUR ENEMIES!"

"And gettin' the briefcase three times, of course," Engineer said.

Soldier stared at him blankly.

"Laddie, ye DO remember what we're supposed te be doin' for this game, right?" Demoman said.

Soldier snorted. "OF COURSE I DO!" he said. "I remember it well! JUST LIKE I REMEMBER ALL THE GREAT BATTLES OF HISTORY! Such as when the invincible Achilles Hale fought at the Battle of Troy, but used his legendary Shockwave Heel Kick too much and made it vulnerable for just that one moment!"

Sniper rolled his eyes. "Mind addin' a nip of that to my coffee, mate?" he said to Demoman. "This is gonna be a long day..."

Demoman obligingly poured some scrumpy into Sniper's cup. Soldier growled. "Pay attention, maggots! I have thought this out thoroughly and have come up with a plan that is both BRILLIANT and SUBTLE."

"This ought to be good," Medic muttered.

Soldier grinned evilly. "Oh, it will be! Now listen. Heavy, I want you to execute a Delta Thirty Nine charging maneuver. Spy, you'll be going for a Spirit of Seventy Six with a Side of Fries, while Scout supports you with a Twenty-Three Skidoo! Demoman, I need you to do a Eighty-Eight Keys play while Sniper advances with a Whop-Bop-A-Loo-Op. Pyro, you're on the Whop-Bam-Boom, while Engineer does a Sixty-Niner Ocean Liner. Medic, your job is to perform a Cookie Time Chimichanga," he said, complimenting his explanations with rather absurd hand gestures.

Everyone stared at him incredulously.

"...What," Spy said.

Soldier grinned, clearly proud of how 'clever' he was. "I had to disguise our maneuvers with code names! You never know if the RED Spy is here or not!"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ponyville...

Now...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"You're making this up!" Scootaloo said, grinning. "No way Soldier made up those stupid names for such a stupid reason!"

"I kid you not, kiddo! Solly wasn't anywhere near as stable back then as he is now," Scout said. "Having friends did him a world of good, I think."

"They usually do," Scootaloo said, nodding.

"Anyway, lemme finish," Scout said, chuckling.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

2Fort...

Then...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The other BLUs just stared at Soldier, unsure of what to make of his plans. It was later agreed that Pyro said it best.

"Yrr slly," she said.

"Silly with BRILLIANCE!" Soldier said. "Our first match as a team is in twenty minutes! Be ready! DIIIIISMISSED!"

Only Scout and Spy saluted, Spy mocking him by giving an upturned palm British salute instead.

"Is good plan, Soldier," Heavy said, giving a fake smile, "And I assure you that we will give careful consideration to using plan next week."

"Good!" Soldier said. "You'll all see my tactical genius soon enough!" And with that declaration, he marched out of the room. Heavy rolled his eyes.

"Vell, I feel dumber just for listening to zat," Medic muttered.

Heavy looked at the map, pondering something, and nodded. "Da, this will work," he said. "I have better plan."

"At this point, laddie, we'd take anything," Demoman said.

Heavy nodded. "Soldier will obviously be advancing across bridge towards intelligence room, or at very least trying to kill every RED he sees. Demoman and I will do the same, only we will actually try pushing forward for intelligence," he said. "Medic, you will focus on healing the three of us with medical gun."

"I vouldn't rely on it," Medic said. "It's still a prototype. At best, it can give you a quick fix by healing you up to full health. Engineer is helping me develop an improved version."

"Still, is best bet for battlefield health right now," Heavy said. "Engineer, you and Pyro will take position in intelligence room."

"Whht?!" Pyro protested. "Why stck mhh in thh bhhsemhhnt?"

"Engineer's defense buildings are too important and must be maintained, since they cannot be moved once placed. You must watch for RED Spy and set him on fire if he tries for them," Heavy explained.

"That still won't do me much good if their Demoman starts chuckin' bombs," Engineer said, frowning, clearly not wanting to be in the same room as the Pyro. Plus, what Heavy mentioned made him realize that not being able to move his buildings once placed was a severe weakness. He needed to adjust his build tool's settings so he could deactivate and fold up his buildings on the fly...

"Shoot bombs before they blow up," Heavy said. "Is best I can think of right now."

Pyro frowned, and looked at her flamethrower. Maybe if she modified it so it could shoot blasts of compressed oxygen from her tank, blow the bombs away...

"Sniper," Heavy continued. "You will take position on upper deck and cover people going over bridge. Is obvious tactic, so is most likely that RED Sniper will do the same."

"Obvious yes, but it's still a good one, mate," Sniper said, nodding in approval.

"Spy and Scout will be our best options for getting intelligence from enemy base," Heavy continued. "Scout, you will advance through bridge with rest of us, and we will give you covering fire. Spy, you will advance through sewers to enemy intelligence. Base layout is mirror of ours, so it should be easy to find."

"Wonderful," Spy muttered. "Sewer water all over my suit."

"Does tiny baby Spy have better plan?" Heavy teased, smirking.

Spy rubbed his temples. "No, and zat's part of ze problem."

"Hey, at least you ain't runnin' through bullets and bombs ta get to the briefcase," Scout said.

"Just be ready to go in zere when I give ze signal," Spy said, glaring at him. "Heavy's plan is good, but ze placement for ze Sentry is an obvious one. I'll most likely have to sabotage their Sentry and kill ze RED Engineer."

Scout snorted. "Whatever," he said.

Heavy nodded. "Engineer, is respawn device functional?"

Engineer shook his head, sighing. "We'll find out soon, won't we?" he said softly.

Heavy scowled. "It will have to do," he said. "Get ready."

Everyone headed out to check their weapons, and headed to the supply room, gathering there with Soldier, who looked absurdly eager to fight. Scout rolled his eyes and checked the reload system Engineer had set up for his scattergun, which allowed him to reload it simply by just ejecting the used up shells. Sensing everything was in order, he nodded, and got ready to fight.

The Administrator called the opening to the fight, and Scout charged out with the others, immediately heading for the front.

\ Almost immediately he found himself with a rocket flying at his face. "WHOA!" Scout shouted, knee-sliding underneath the rocket and scrambling back as RED Heavy opened fire with his minigun. Scout skittered backwards as his own team's artillery line came out, firing rockets, bombs, and bullets, the RED team responding in kind.

Scout saw his RED counterpart starting to advance, saw the waters in the sewers below stirring as Spy swam invisibly through them, and knew he had to go. He pulled his ballcap down slightly, and nodded, charging down the center of the bridge. Moving quickly, he dodged around rockets and bombs being shot his way, skipping back a step and leaning back to avoid the RED Sniper's attempt to shoot his head off, and leaped over RED Heavy's head as he shot at him, thrusting downward hard with his legs in mid-air, forcing himself upward to do a double jump.

Scout ran into the building, RED Demoman snarling and following after him. Scout leaped and spun around, avoiding the bombs being shot his way, either dodging the blasts completely or only catching the edges of them. He ran towards the intelligence room, spinning and firing away at RED Demoman with his Scattergun, catching him with a point blank burst and killing him as he was reloading his launchers.

"Oh yeah," he said, preparing to charge into the intelligence room. As he went in, though, he had another encounter. This time with RED Pyro.

"Aw crap," he muttered.

RED Pyro giggled, and turned her flames on Scout, running towards him and sweeping her flamethrower in every direction. Scout jumped and dodged and twirled around Pyro's attacks, shooting her over and over with his pistol until she collapsed, bleeding from her injuries. Scout twirled his pistol and holstered it, preparing to make his way into the intelligence room. As he did, though, he heard the RED Engineer call out in pain, his equipment shorting out. Scout cautiously peered in, seeing Spy standing over RED Engineer's body, his Sentry and Dispenser rendered inert by his sappers.

Spy adjusted his tie. "Get the briefcase," he said. "I will stay here and keep their Engineer from rebuilding."

Scout nodded. He grabbed the briefcase off of the table, and dashed up the nearby stairs, leaping his way past RED Sniper and dashing across the bridge back to his own base.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ponyville...

Now...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Cool!" Scootaloo said, visibly impressed.

Scout nodded. "Yeah. I got the briefcase back no problem, in some cases literally dancin' around them mooks the whole time. I got it the other two times as well, only dyin' once to RED Engie's Sentry. I remember, after just barely managing to avoid gettin' blown up by RED Demoman that first time, I was thinkin' 'Thank you Mom, thank you Mom' over and over again. If I didn't have the steps, I wouldn't have lasted anywhere near as long as I did that first day."

"I guess so!" Scootaloo said, nodding.

"Y'know, I actually went to see a Wonderbolts show a little while back. Great fliers, the lot of them. But here's the thing," Scout said. "There's LOTS of different kinds of fliers. Fast ones, powerful ones, agile ones that danced around the sky, and fliers that make the sky dance around them. You, Scoots? You got the makings of one of the finest dancers I've ever seen in my life. And that's pretty dang cool in my book. You got moves at your age that took me years to learn and I still ain't perfected."

Scootaloo looked thoughtful. "...You really think so?"

"I know so," Scout said, poking her in the chest. "You just gotta find the right teacher."

Scootaloo bit her lip nervously. "...You really think that Rainbow Dash would think it's cool?"

Scout chuckled. "Kiddo, everything Dash has ever said about you has been nothin' but good. She'd stand by you all the way, just like you been standin' by her since that Masky piece o' crap blinded her."

A thoughtful look crossed Scootaloo's face . "...Never really even considered it before."

"You're a natural, kiddo," Scout said, smiling warmly. "And Dasher's more likely to stand behind you than you're givin' her credit for. Give it a try sometime."

Scootaloo nodded, grinning. "I will, then. Thanks for talking with me, Scout!"

Scout chuckled. "Hey, no problem," he said, taking to the air and flying off.

Scootaloo, meanwhile, just stared at the ground, pondering what Scout had told her. Slowly, she stood up on her hind legs, maintaining perfect balance, and did a graceful pirouette.

"Huh..." Scootaloo said as she went back down on all fours. She smiled. "Well... maybe."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Sweet Apple Acres...

Later that day...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Apple Bloom, wearing a saddlebag with some blueprints in them, went up to Engineer, who was busily typing away at a computer that was attached to his Gem Sentry, his goggles and hardhat laying nearby. The design had been refined greatly, resembling a beautiful, sapphire-colored alicorn mare with a long, crystalline horn, large, elegant wings, shining white eyes, and a glistening, flowing mane and tail made of wires, the effect making it seem that the Sentry's mane and tail were bound in slender locks. When Apple Bloom looked closer, she saw that at the end of each 'strand' of hair had a device of some kind on the end of it with a small gem bound in it.

"Well howdy, little darlin,'" Engineer said, looking up from the computer. "What brings you here?"

Apple Bloom smiled. "School's out 'cause of some teacher's meeting this afternoon, so ah figured ah'd look in on y'all."

Engineer chuckled. "Mighty neighborly of you," he said. "I was just writin' up an operating system for Gem Sentry here. Your idea about makin' the solar collector on her back more naturally curved helped me come up with some ideas for makin' her seem more natural-lookin.' Ah even added some extra energy collectors on her hair. I've finished designin' her body, I just need to make her mind."

"Is that what all those numbers are for?" Apple Bloom said, looking at Engineer's computer screen.

Engineer nodded. "Math's pretty much universal, wherever you go. Twilight's notes on magic are helpin' me out a lot in designin' an AI program for her," he said. "And this... Ah made her because ah didn't feel right without a Sentry, but ah'm startin' to think she can be more than just a weapon. Ah can make her an actual person."

Apple Bloom grinned widely. "That's pretty neat," she said.

Engineer smirked. "Ah think so, yeah," he said.

"You ever think about makin' your other Sentries actual people?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Oh sometimes..." Engineer said. "Heck, ah kinda think of them as mah kids anyway. Especially after mah ex-wife Irene took mah daughter Krista from me."

Apple Bloom blinked. "Yer daughter?" she asked. "Why'd she do that?"

Engineer sighed, stopping his typing. "Irene... was ambitious. She had a specific lifestyle she wanted and only married me because she thought mah genius could bring her that lifestyle. Ah invented mah Sentries first, but only because a weapon was easiest to make. When she took offense to the fact that ah wouldn't sell the design for mah turrets to the military, she divorced me and went about doin' whatever and WHOMEVER she could to get custody of our daughter, whom she didn't even want in the first place, just to punish me for not doin' things the way she wanted."

"She stole yer daughter... just to hurt you?" Apple Bloom said, stunned. She was so used to having a loving family that the very idea of it was strange to her.

Engineer nodded. "Oh, ah get visitation rights now and then," he said. "But she has full legal custody. And as much as ah'd like to, if ah did send... let's say Spah after her, custody would just go to her parents, who are just as bad as her..."

"...That's messed up," Apple Bloom said.

Engineer chuckled. "Yeah, that's pretty much the whole situation in a nutshell," he said. "Ah'm just hopin' to get back to see her again someday..."

"Or maybe she could come here?" Apple Bloom suggested.

Engineer sighed. "She would love it here..." he said softly. "Anyway. Whatcha need, Apple Bloom?"

Apple Bloom blinked and nodded. "Oh yeah!" she said, pulling out the blueprints and unrolling them. "Ah was thinkin' on buildin' up the clubhouse, makin' in bigger, give us s'more room to play in. Since you're the builder, ah figured ah'd get you t'help me come up with the design. Ah got some starter stuff right here..."

Engineer picked up the plans and looked them over. They were a simple expansion, adding two more rooms to the clubhouse, but to Engineer's surprise, he saw that Apple Bloom had pretty much covered all the design elements needed, including bracers to support the new additions.

"Ah... wow, Apple Bloom. Ah cain't see anythin' that needs to be added," Engineer said, visibly impressed.

Apple Bloom grinned. "Y'really think so?" she said, looking over her plans. "Ah mean, ah just put what ah thought was needed and all, but..."

"But nothing," Engineer said. "Apple Bloom, most design students couldn't come up with somethin' this advanced until their second year of college. Y'all have a real knack for designin.'"

Apple Bloom blushed. "Well, ah guess it's always been easy fer me..."

"Apple Bloom, ah'm honestly surprised you don't have your Cutie Mark right now. You've got a real knack for this," he said.

Apple Bloom frowned. "Well..."

Engineer chuckled, understanding her sudden hesitation. "But y'all were kinda hopin' to do somethin' else with your life."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Mah big sister and big brother, they're totally awesome! They're great farmers, and the best athletes in Equestria. Ah really wanna be like them some day!" she said.

Engineer quirked an eyebrow. "Even with all the stuff you, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are doing as the Crusaders?"

Apple Bloom bit her lip. "Honestly? At this point, ah sorta know what ah WANT to do. Ah just like playin' with the others."

Engineer nodded. "All right then, lemme ask you a few questions," he said. "First, are y'any good at applebucking?"

"...No," she admitted. "But that's just 'cause ah'm small! Ah had an idea for a gizmo that could help knock them apples right off the trees, ah just cain't find all the material ah need for it..."

Engineer just grinned, a fatherly expression on his face. "How about sellin' apples? Can y'do that?" he asked.

Apple Bloom cringed. "Ah... no. Mah one attempt at it made Applejack forbid me from helpin' her with apple sellin' ever again."

"How about the business end of things? Farming itself?" Engineer pressed.

Apple Bloom pouted. "Ah can learn..."

"Yes, but do you find them fun?" Engineer asked.

Apple Bloom hesitated, and sighed, shaking her head. "No..."

"But you do find building and designing to be fun," Engineer said. "That it comes easily for you."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Yeah, I guess..."

Engineer smiled, mussing her mane playfully. "Darlin,' it's like ah said before. The buildin,' the engineerin,' that's gotta be your talent. All you gotta do is accept it, and you'll have that Cutie Mark."

Apple Bloom still looked doubtful. Engineer chuckled.

"Listen. Why don't you try buildin' that apple-buckin' machine you mentioned WITHOUT blueprints? As a self-imposed challenge," he suggested.

Apple Bloom looked stunned by the suggestion. "No blueprints? But without a design..."

"Consider it mah way of helpin' you test to see if engineerin' is your special talent," Engineer said.

"But..." Apple Bloom started. But even as she said it, she found the idea appealing to her. "Well... okay..." Apple Bloom said. She smiled and picked up her blueprints, heading off, already making plans in her head.

As she left, Rarity entered the barn, telekinetically carrying a picnic basket. "That was a very nice thing you just did for her," she said.

Engineer chuckled. "Sometimes all y'all need is a little push in the right direction," he said.

Rarity nodded. "And sometimes that push has to come from outside your own family..." she said. "I overheard Spy talking to Sweetie Belle earlier about her singing. I've always told her she has a lovely voice, but she may have just been dismissing it as sisterly affection..."

Engineer smiled. "Spah's good to talk to when you need somethin' straightened out in y'head," he said.

Rarity nodded. "So it would seem," she said. "Dell... I wanted to talk to you..."

Engineer sighed. "About that memory that Queen Sombra drudged up," he guessed.

Rarity nodded. "To see, to FEEL what that... that HARRIDAN did to you..."

Engineer smiled wearily. "Rarity, ma'am, ah appreciate what you're tryin' to do. But that ain't exactly the easiest thing for me to talk about."

"Fair enough," she said. "Then may we just sit and chat for a while?"

Engineer nodded, telekinetically pulling over another hay bale for Rarity to sit on. She hopped up to join him, looking over at Gem Sentry.

"She looks magnificent," Rarity said.

Engineer chuckled, and tapped his head. "A little bit of your design aesthetic got copied over to me when we merged that first time," he said. "First time in m'life ah decide to combine form AND function. And if ah get this AI program complete, she'll be her own person as much as she is a weapon."

"I look forward to meeting her, then," Rarity said, smiling. She sighed, and said, "Did you ever wonder if sometimes you're not as good a pony as you should be?"

Engineer blinked. "What brought this on?"

Rarity grimaced. "Oh... I had been holding an order for someone, letting them make periodic payments on it... I called them, ever so polite, to remind them that the time we agreed upon for a payment was coming up... And they called me a greedy money-grubber."

Engineer frowned. "Well, that ain't right," he said. "Y'all have to pay your own bills, too."

"I know, I know, but sometimes..." Rarity said. "Oh, it's silly really..."

Engineer smiled. "You know you can always talk to me, Miss Rarity," he said.

Rarity sighed. "I just... sometimes wonder... I do love money, love gems... I love the idea of having status, of being a socialite... I wonder, though, if I'm worthy of my Element of Harmony." She chuckled weakly. "It's silly. I just... doubt myself sometimes... and it helps to vent to somepony..."

Engineer looked thoughtful for a moment. "...Rarity, let me show you something," he said. He concentrated, his horn glowing, generating a holographic image of a lovely, buxom human woman with long blonde hair. "This? This is Irene, my ex-wife. Built like a goddess and just as lovely. She's also evil, cruel, manipulative, heartless, and a whore." His horn flashed, and the imaged changed, becoming an image of a pudgy human woman with a harsh face, covered head to toe in burn scars, her face and hands scarred the worst of all. "That's what Pyro looks like when she ain't wearin' her fireproof suit. She's a big ol' pile of frump and ugly, and there's that whole 'dangerously psychotic' thing... She's also sweet, kind to her friends, loving, and the most optimistic gal y'ever did meet."

"Good grief," Rarity said, chuckling. "To think she looks so cute now, especially with that bow Fluttershy gave her..."

Engineer chuckled. "She's one of the best things ever t'happen to me, ah admit that freely," he said. "But you, Miss Rarity?" Engineer's horn flashed, the image changing to Rarity. "You're that rare, wonderful combination of as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside."

Rarity blushed. "Thank you Dell..."

Engineer smiled warmly. "Ah mean it," he said. "Ah've seen into your head, just like you've seen into mine."

Rarity nuzzled him. "You're a good person, Dell Conagher," she said.

Engineer grinned. "Ah try," he said.

The two unicorns chatted amiably for a good long time afterward, enjoying the sandwiches Rarity brought, the two of them talking well into the evening. They eventually bid farewell to one another, Rarity heading back to her home, while Heavy joined Engineer in the barn.

"Sentry is almost ready?" he rumbled, smiling widely.

Engineer nodded. "Just gotta finish up writing her AI program," he said.

Heavy blinked. "Engineer is making Sentry autonomous?" he asked.

Engineer nodded. "Ah've always wanted to make a real artificial intelligence, one that could learn and grow on its own. And with the notes on magic, specifically animation spells, that Twilight's given me, ah might just be able to make her real, not just some creation. Heck, she might even earn her own Cutie Mark."

Heavy grinned widely. "Engineer is credit to team. Engineer will do amazing job," he said.

Engineer quirked an eyebrow. "You're in a good mood," he said.

Heavy chuckled. "Met friend of Doctor Hooves today. Captain Jack Harkness. He LIKES me," he rumbled.

Engineer smiled warmly. "Well I'll be," he said. "How's Medic taking it?"

Heavy grinned. "Doctor is so cute when he's pretending he's not jealous. Still, I am considering Captain Jack's offer. He is very handsome stallion..." he rumbled, yawning.

Engineer shook his head and yawned as well. He saved his work on the computer, and laid down to sleep as well. A few minutes later, though, his eyes popped open again. And they were glowing black.

"The fifth gate is opening..." he said softly in a voice not is own.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Human world...

2Fort...

RED Barracks...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Wake up!" Merasmus insisted, shaking RED Demoman.

"Merasmus," the Scottish demolitions expert muttered, "if I open me eye and yuir there, I'm gonna pull yuir eyeballs out through yuir nostrils and keep one o'them for meself."

"Demoman, please," he said. "Something very bad is happening, I can sense it."

"So go sense it in yuir own bloody room," RED Demoman muttered, putting a pillow over his head. "We nearly got perma-killed at bloody Bigrock today... Damned clever Engineer robots tryin' te find the respawn device..."

A scream echoed throughout the base, startling RED Demoman fully awake.

"Too late..." Merasmus said softly.

RED Demoman shoved him aside, pulling on a kilt to cover himself, grabbing his stickybomb launcher, and running in the direction the scream came from. He headed down to the intelligence room, joined soon after by the rest of the REDs, all armed, save for RED Engineer.

They found him huddled in the corner of the room, hiding behind a pair of level three Sentries, four Mini-Sentries, and a Dispenser, sobbing and clutching a wrench to his chest.

RED Pyro slowly moved towards him, setting her flamethrower down. "Engie?" she said. "Engie, what's wrong?"

"She's getting stronger..." RED Engineer whimpered. His goggles were off, his eyes glowing black. "The madness is growing... The fifth gate is opening, and I can't protect her from it... It opens in her, and in me, oh God help me, don't let it open, please help me!"

RED Pyro was visibly rattled. This was hitting way too close to home for her. "Engie... Protect who? What gate?"

Merasmus began chanting a spell, trying to track the source of what was affecting him. But as he did, RED Engineer suddenly jumped up, moving with inhuman speed and tackling the wizard, wrapping his hands around his throat and cackling. His eyes became catlike, glowing a deep, dark blue. The other REDs tried to pull him off, but RED Engineer swatted them aside as if they were nothing, keeping his grip on Merasmus's throat.

"No no no, wizard," RED Engineer said, his voice overlapping with a that of woman, one that reeked of evil and hatred. "You aren't going to do anything to stop this. I've already claimed four of the nine, and am in the process of claiming the fifth. The Elements of Harmony will belong to ME! NIGHTMARE MOON!"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Carousel Boutique...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Rarity, as she prepared to bed down for the night, calmly brushed out her luxurious mane. She hummed softly, a gentle, tuneless song. She sighed, looking herself over, and shaking her head.

"Almost ready for bed, then, yes?" she said. "Time for a little fun first, though..."

She looked around, and slowly closed the door to her room. She then went back to her dresser, setting up a vinyl cloth on the surface of the dresser, opening a certain drawer and pulling out a small object.

A razor.

"Just a few cuts tonight, I think," she said. "Then a quick healing spell to remove the scars, and no harm done," she said. She close one eye, and drew the slim blade across her cheek, a slim trail of blood flowing as she shuddered in pleasure. She made another cut in her cheek, a slender stab of pain that made her moan softly in delight as warm blood flowed from the wound.

She licked her lips, and drew the razor across her muzzle, letting her blood flow down into her mouth. "Mmmm, oh yess..." she said. "Mommy becomes prettier every night..."

"Rarity?" said a soft voice from behind her.

Rarity eeped, whirling at the sound, spotting a sleepy-looking Sweetie Belle in the doorway.

Sweetie Belle looked alarmed at the sight of Rarity's injuries. "Rarity, are you hurt?"

Rarity nodded. "Oh yes, dearest sister," she said. "And loving every minute of it."

"Wha?" Sweetie Belle asked, confused. "Rarity, what are you talking about?"

Rarity grinned, closing the door behind Sweetie Belle and pulling her into the room. "Dearest sister," she said. "I'm SO glad you decided to stay the night tonight. I've been wanting to share something with you. Something I discovered long ago, that brings me EXQUISITE pleasure."

Sweetie Belle gulped nervously, trying to pull away as Rarity pulled her closer and closer. "What... What do you mean?"

Once Sweetie Belle was in range, Rarity grabbed her and held her tightly. "R-Rarity, you're scaring me," Sweetie Belle said, shivering in fright as she tried to squirm out of her sister's grasp.

"Don't worry, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said, grinning wickedly and licking her lips. "Mommy's got you... And she'll never let you go." And with a quick gesture, she drew the razor blade across Sweetie Belle's cheek.

The younger unicorn yelped in pain, her eyes tearing up. "Rarity, that hurts! Why did you do that?" she whimpered.

"Because the bleeding..." Rarity almost hissed, licking her lips, "it feels fantastic. The pain, an exquisite pleasure like no other. And the copper taste of your own blood..." She moaned softly, cutting Sweetie Belle's other cheek, making her cry out again. "Delicious..."

"Rarity, stop it please!" Sweetie Belle pleaded, whimpering and trying to wipe the blood from her cheeks. Rarity dug the razor into Sweetie Belle's chest and began to carve, Sweetie Belle sobbing in agony as Rarity drew her Cutie Mark on her sister's chest.

Rarity moaned. "Oh, you'll soon learn, Sweetie Belle... You'll soon how good it feels to hurt... to bleed..."

Sweetie Belle lay limply in Rarity's grasp, sobbing. And then Rarity brought the razor up to the younger unicorn's eyes.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Carousel Boutique...

The REAL one...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Rarity screamed as she came awake, falling out of her bed. She looked up, tears in her frightened eyes as she looked around the room, panting in fright. She ran over to the mirror, checking for cuts, when another thought occurred to her.

"Sweetie Belle..." she said softly. She ran over to where her sister was sleeping in the guest room, and nearly fainted from relief when she saw her sleeping peacefully away, no injuries in sight. She carefully crept in, wanting to make sure she was all right yet not wanting to wake her. Rarity shivered in relief, seeing none of the injuries inflicted in the dream, and kissed her lovingly, moving back out of the room and closing the door behind her.

She got about four steps in before she collapsed, sobbing. The very idea that she could do something like that to her sister... it was too much...

She didn't even notice when Engineer, in tears himself, began knocking frantically on the door.

Somewhere, Nightmare Moon was laughing...

TO BE CONTINUED...