There are poisons to the peaceful mind.

Hatred and Obsession are two of them.

For those who are powerful, ordinary creatures can transform into savage monsters.

I wonder.

Can friendship offer a viable cure?

Gilda wondered along a mountain trail lost and alone. Being shunned by her friend over the crazy earth pony had filled her with hate every step she now took. She had hoped to keep it a secret from the other Griffins. Unfortunately, word reached her home. Her other friends found out she got shown up by a 'stupid, pink earth pony' and rejected her, saying she was weak. She ran away, attempting to escape the ridicule everyone gave her. She wondered along the mountain's path, trying to find her way.

Stupid Pinkie Pie. I hate that dweeb. Rainbow Dash wants to have a weird, stupid... PINKIE PIE for a friend then me then FINE! I don't need her... I don't need any them...

She recoiled at her thoughts. Reminded of the loneliness she was now subject to. She had continually ranted over her loss with Rainbow Dash only to feel the same anguish. Anger began to well up within her, causing her to  give a loud roar out of sheer hatred for her former friend. The sound seemed to echo off the mountains that she had traversed.

"YOU STUPID PEGASUS! YOU LEFT ME A FOR A STUPID PONY THAT CAN'T EVEN FLY!" She screamed. She turned to face the rocks and began punching them with her talons. The sharp rocks began to leave marks on her but she was blind with rage as she continually smashed through rock after rock, her anger refusing to vent. She began to speak with each blow.

"How. Could. You. Do. That.To. ME!" She yelled, smashing through the rocks.

She smashed through it leaving chunks of rock scattered around where it once stood. She stood looking at the rocks wishing they had been the pink earth pony she had come to despise. Resenting the fact that she had lost all her friends because of what had happen in Ponyville.

"How could you do it to me Dash? How could you just leave me like that?" She asked aloud. The response she received caught her off guard.

"Sounds to me like she doesn't care about you." A voice spoke from above. The griffon looked up to see an unfamiliar black and white alicorn. She gave an unwelcoming glare, not thinking to question the strange physical nature of this alicorn. She didn't care.

"What's it to you!? Why do you care so much about it!?" Gilda called with agitation. The alicorn lowered himself to the ground in front of her.

"Hard not to notice how much it bothers you. You wouldn't happen to be referring to a light blue pegasus with a multicolored mane named Rainbow Dash now would you?"

Gilda hesitated at his response before she responded. She felt curious but she wasn't about to care about it. She refused to care about it.

"What if I am? She's just a stupid pegasus." The griffon replied turning her head to look the other way.

"I agree."

Gilda turned back to face the alicorn. She was a little surprised. She hadn't expected such words to come from a pony. Clearly whoever this was different from the others. He didn't seem to show the same care that they typically carried in there speech. Last time she talked to a pony about her past events, they acted like what she did was foolish and that was coming from random loners that just seem to wonder.

"You... do? I mean, of course you do. I'm right aren't I?"

"Yes. I do. Whatever it is must make you feel infuriated." He replied.

Gilda looked down. Thinking back to the events that took place in Ponyville and her losing her other friends.

"Yeah. But it's not so much her. It's more her friend Pinkie Pie."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. That stupid pink pony turned Dash against me. Dash thinks I'm uncool because of her and all my other friends just treat me like I'm a joke because of what she did."

"And you're all alone now?" He asked. Gilda shot her head back up attempting to counter.

"NO! I have friends! They just...don't..."

"Don't care anymore?" The alicorn asked.

Gilda didn't respond she looked back at the ground and paused, remorsing in what she knew was the truth. She shook her head of her thoughts and looked back up at him. It bothered her to look so low.

"Why do you even care anyway? And who are you?"

"I am Void and if you ask me, she should be punished for what she did to you."

"Punished?"

"Yes. She should have known that this would be the result of her actions. She obviously knew this was going to happen to you. I'm sure her friend Pinkie knew it as well if she had did what she has done to you."

Gilda pondered this. The thought that this was all intended to ruin her life had never once crossed her mind. Now taking into consideration what Void was telling her, it seemed to make sense. She immediately felt her rage return to her.

"Dash... that backstaber! I'll show them I don't need friends! I'll be fine all on my own!"

"Is that really how you intend to go about making it better? That won't fix anything. Judging from how your acting, I'd say they've pretty much ended your happiness. I say you should do the same to them. Don't you think?"

"Yeah! I'll give her a prank that she'll never forget! One that will-" She was interrupted by the Void as he gave a loud, audible sigh as he shook his head.

"NO! Pranks can be forgotten and she will just continue to hate you. You're friends will still think you are weak. We need to show them that no one messes with you. And they deserve to suffer for their actions. You need to do something that will make them regret what they did forever. Something that will show your friends that you are tougher then they let on."

Void whispered into her ear his instructions. Upon hearing them, Gilda's expression slowly turned into a maniacal evil smile. She began to imagine all the things she was going to do to Pinkie. All the things she had been fantasizing about doing ever since she lost her friends. Void interrupted her daydreams.

"As an added bonus. I'll make it more... enjoyable." He said with a smile as he began to charge the energy at his horn. The energy grew into a glowing blue ball that engulfed Gilda.

"I'm sure you'll like this."

Trixie sat in her room inside of her stage wagon looking herself in the mirror. She sighed heavily as she gazed into her reflection, overcome with depression at what she saw. Her life had gone downhill since the incident in Ponyville. She was forced to retreat to Fillydelphia.

Just look at you Trixie. Your pathetic. You used to be the greatest unicorn in Equestria and now look at you. Sitting here in Fillydelphia, spending your time working for kids birthday parties. No pony respects you. Your just a mare who knows a few tricks. Not even the kids see you as at least cool.

She became filled with resentment at the memory of the unicorn that had taken away her fame and her glory.

"To think that you were out matched by a mere librarian."

Trixie resented the thought of being shown up by the lavender unicorn. She was was practically chased out of Ponyville in shame over what had happened. Being forced to rebuild her stage wagon hadn't made things any easier. She continued her grief as she combed her hair. As she finished, she looked the body she saw in the reflection.

"Well, at least Trixie still looks the part of being the great and powerful." She said to herself with a smirk.

"Is that really enough to make you happy though?" Called a male voice from within her reflection.

The image in the mirror began to distort and morph. Twisting as the colors shifted. After swirling a few times, the reflection realigned itself, revealing the image of a small butterfly-winged alicorn. Trixie was taken aback by the sight.

"W-who are you? Trixie demands to know why you have invaded her private space!"

"Now, now Trixie. I mean no threat to you. I promise. My name is Void and I've noticed the suffering you've been forced to endure." The image replied.

He began to move towards her in the image. The reflection rippled with warped colors as the form of the small alicorn began to pass through it. Trixie began to step back from the anomaly she was now witnessing. After passing through the mirror the reflection of both her and the alicorn had appeared leaving the image to look normal once more. She looked cautiously at the small form that was now floating before her. He seemed small enough for her to fit in her hoof.

"You... have?"

"Yes. I bet you must feel very angry at Twilight."

Trixie didn't think to question how Void knew about Twilight. She was too caught up in thought that anyone cared about it. It felt nice to have someone that cared enough to sympathies her. Everyone else seemed to barely regard her ever since what happened. It had actually started to make it difficult for her to find work.

"Yes. Trixie greatly despises that unicorn."

"Then why don't you try to get back at her?" Void asked. Trixie gave him an annoyed looked.

"What can I do? Trixie is but a show pony. Twilight has seriously powerful magic."

"But if you could do something about it. What would you do."

"Um... well. Trixie would show her that she is better."

"But she would just grow stronger and come back to face you again and crush you once more. You'd try again and the process would repeat forever."

"Who side are you on? Anyway? Trixie thinks your just trying to make her angry. She doesn't need this."

"I'm on your side. I'm just stating what I know will happen. If you had powers then you should just..." Void moved to her ear and spoke into it. Trixie became surprised at his suggestion but her hope gave in as her depressive thoughts returned to her.

"But I don't have the kind of power to do that now do I? Trixie has had enough of this." The blue unicorn said as she turned her back. Void proceeded to appearing in front of her. Giving the show pony a slight startle.

"Now who said you weren't going to get more powerful?" Void said as a sphere of red light began to expand from his tiny horn. Engulfing Trixie's body.

"Think of this as your second chance. You will be not be alone in you quest however. Someone else will be joining you."

The day after Rainbow Dash was healed, the princess had arranged for Twilight and her friends to stay in a small camp operated by her guards. The camp was meant to help the residents of the now destroyed city of Cloudsdale and aid in its reconstruction. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew along side the chariot that carried the other four. Pinkie stuck her tongue out as they flew, letting it flap in the wind. The saliva trickling offer tongue landed on Rarities face.

"Pinkie, what in Equestria are you doing? That's so... disgusting. Honestly Pinkie! Your getting your spit in my in my mane."

"Whath? Th' Air Tasths goooooths!" She replied, her tongue still dangling in the wind. Rainbow Dash chuckled.

"Pinkie you are so random." she stated, hovering along side the pink mare as she hung over the edge of the chariot.

"Thry It." she replied, spraying Rarity's face with spit. Applejack chuckled, at which she immediately received a glare from the now soaked unicorn. Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out and let it hang in the wind briefly to see if there was a taste.

"I don't taste anything." the pegasus replied. Pinkie put her tongue back in her mouth.

"I think it tastes sour and sweet at the same time. Kinda like gummy horseshoes."

Twilight and Fluttershy turned to face the party pony.

"Gummy horseshoes?"

"Yeah! You know. Those little candies that are shaped like horseshoes that come in different colors that taste sweet and sour. I gotta figure out how they make candy taste like that. Making stuff taste two ways at the same time. Do you know the kind treats I could make knowing how to make stuff taste like that?" The party pony said, shaking Applejack by the shoulders.

"Well, I'm sure ya could make somethin' with it Pinkie." The cowpony replied.

Twilight turned her attention to the guards.

"Hey how far are we from the camp Aero?" She asked

"We are coming up on it now Ms. Sparkle." The guard on the right replied.

They saw a clearing in the forest off in the distance. As the the chariot slowly lowered, they notices the mass number of large, colored tents that had been set up in the clearing. Ponies could be seen moving along ground and floating in the air. There were a few large machines that stood out from the field of tents that seemed to be giving off clouds into the sky. Large, white platforms and columns could be seen lifting up from the other areas of the camp into the sky very slowly, each seemed to be glowing different colors as the slowly drifted upwards. Twilight looked up to see their destination. Many scattered clouds varying in size that that were floating over the camp. Some of them were darker and seemed to pass small bolts through to the other clouds.

"That must be Cloudsdale." She spoke.

"Or what's left of it..." Rainbow Dash added with a sigh.

"Don't worry Rainbow Dash. We'll have Cloudsdale fixed up in no time." Fluttershy offered. Rainbow Dash turned to her friend and gave a smile. Losing her hometown seemed to become easier knowing her friends wanted to help her fix it.

The chariot reached the clearing and began to slow down as it hovered over the tents. Ponies could be seen and heard talking and moving about with papers in their mouths and carrying crates around. There was a group of pegasus guards pulling a large wagon full of boxes that crossed the path of their chariot. The six of them looked back up to the clouds now noticing the large masses that were being levitated to the clouds being formed in the sky. The chariot slowed to a stop and began to lower before a large white tent that stood out from the others. A group of both unicorn guards was waiting for them. A black unicorn guard with blood red tail began to walk towards them. His helmet bore three ruby gemstones along either side of the top of his helmet and four larger ones along the sides of his armor.

"You must be six that were sent by the princess. I give you my welcome." The guard said in a stern tone as he bowed to them. His voice was deep and it sounded as though it demanded authority. Twilight was first to speak up.

"Thank you Mister..."

"Maelstrom. Commander Maelstrom of the Royal Unicorn Guard. I along with pegasus commander Cyclone and earth pony commander Quake have been assigned by Celestia herself to run operations here and I have been informed that you were been personally sent here by her. Please follow me." He said as he began to turn towards the tent, motioning with his hoof for the them to follow. A silver aura appeared at the tents entrance and opened it.

"Hole on for just a second." Rarity said as she levitated a comb from the chariot. Applejack gave her a deadpan look.

"Ya just had to bring that didn't ya?"

"Well of course. I always want to look my best. You should try it sometime Applejack. I think it would do you wonders." The white unicorn replied as she had finished giving her mane its curl.

"Well ah think-"

"Can we please get moving? There are things we need to discuss." Maelstrom interrupted, giving them an annoyed look.

The two looked at each other before turning back to face him.

"Sorry." Applejack said.

"Just come along." He said with a sigh as he began to walk into the tent. The six of them following behind him.

Inside there were a several filing cabinets on each side of the tent. Some of them were open and some them had files lying on top of them. In it center was a desk with several blue papers, charts and a few maps lying on it. Maelstrom levitated the papers on his desks into various cabinets as he walked towards it. He sat on behind in and faced them.

"Alright." He began, giving a heavy sigh.

"I already know your names and that you are the bearers of the elements of harmony. Other then that, the only documentation I have of any of you is a little bit about the two of you that used to live in Cloudsdale which is outdated and at this point useless to me. From the letter I received from the princess, I have a rough idea of your talents and abilities. I was not expecting you and could not prepare any jobs for you so the only job I can give you is helping to get the compressed cloud panels into the city. Do you want to get started on it now?"

They all nodded.

"Alright then. We can begin."

There was a flash of silver energy and the seven of them found themselves outside in another part of the camp. Ponies seemed to pause briefly at their appearance at which Maelstrom grew annoyed. With one glare from him, they continued there work. Applejack looked on at this in awe.

"Jus' one look from ya and they jus' keep on workin'?" The cowpony asked.

"I have the power to take away their rations for the day. They don't work. They don't get a meal. Simple as that." Maelstrom said as he began walking up to a pile of massive white square panels.

"Here's your job. You need to get these panel up into the clouds. You'll need magic to lift them. This group of panels is suppose to go through a whole into the clouds there." The commander said pointing to one of the larger clouds above.

"Um... Maelstrom. If you don't mind me asking. What are these panels made of?" The shy yellow pegasus asked.

"Special clouds condensed to a solid mass by magic and compressed by stamping. It works sort of like molding clay and its the only thing that will stay on the clouds without falling through. I recommend making a hole for the platforms to move up through. That's usually pegasus work. When you get them up there. Commander Cyclone will give you orders as to where to put them. I'll let him know your coming. Now I have work to-" The commander said as he began to turn to leave.

"Hold on a minute. What are me an' Pinkie suppose to do?" Applejack asked. At which Maelstrom just shrugs.

"I'm going to let Cyclone figure that one out. Until I can get another place for you to work arranged, you're just going to have to make do with what ever he assigns. But before I go, you'll need this." Maelstroms horn began to glow its silver aura. This same aura now around Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack. His horn gave a flash and the aura went away.

"You four can now walk on clouds. That spell is temporary and only lasts a day so make sure you have it cast on you again."

"I know that spell. I can cast it so you won't have to." Twilight offered.

"Alright fine. Now, to get up there you can either take a chariot or ride the clouds that fly up there. I'd say just tha-"

Pinkie gave a loud audible gasp before running to to the machine that Maelstrom had started pointing at. She immediately climbed the few flights of stairs leading to its top and looked over its edge. She peering into the dark pit, waiting for something to happen. The machine started to make a small whistling sound that grew louder and Pinkie made out movement. She jumped in and was thrust upwards as the machine fired a cloud into the sky. The others looked on in horror.

"Pinkie what are you doing!?" Twilight called out.

"Relax. She's got the right idea. I'd say you should follow her." Maelstrom said just before teleporting.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash took to the sky as Twilight, Applejack, and rarity followed after Pinkie. Climbing up the stairs they heard the machine make a sound again and took note of it. They reached the top and waited. Upon hearing the sound once more. They all jumped in together and flew up with the cloud.

"YEEEE HAAAA!" Applejack called out as they drifted upwards.

Twilight turned back to face the panels. She began to focus her magic around them and slowly levitate them. She could feel the weight pushing against her power. It was slightly heavier than she had anticipated but still nothing she couldn't handle. She began to lift it upwards to her level along side the cloud. Rainbow Dash flew to the spot in the clouds above them and proceeded to buck through it to make a whole. Everything was going smoothly as Pinkie was about to reach the top.

"Hey! Dashie I see y-" She was cut off as a blue beam streaked through the cloud causing it to vanish. Pinkie began to plummet.

"PINKIE! HOLD ON!" Rainbow Dashed called out as she darted downwards after her friend. She managed position the her front arms beneath Pinkies and slowed her to a stop.

"Thanks Dash-"

The same force that hit the cloud slammed into them, knocking Rainbow Dash away. It grabbed hold of Pinkie began flying at the panel. With ferocious strength, it chucked Pinkie straight at the panel. She struck it head on, breaking it into chunks on impact. She fell along with the pieces of the panel towards that ground. The glowing blue entity sped towards her once more, extending its talons. It was knocked aside by an extremely angry Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus turned and bolted after her friend who was now falling once more in panic. She manage to catch up to the pink pony who was screaming. Rainbow Dash brought her to a stop just before she hit the ground. Twilight teleported the other beside them.

"Pinkie are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine thanks to Rainbow Dash here. I would thank her if somepony didn't keep interrupting me!" Pinkie yelled in annoyance turning to face the creature that landed several feet from them.

Rainbow Dash, now getting a better look at the creature, looked at it in horror over what she saw. Standing several feet away from her was a Griffon who's body had a was covered in radiant electric blue streaks like bolts of electricity that shined through its fur and feathers. Its eyes glowed blue as well and gave off small sparks. The tips of its talons were transparent like crystals and glowed with the same radiance that adorned its body. It gave an evil smile.

"Hey Dash, how you been?" It called out. Rainbow Dash felt petrified at who this was. She knew that voice all too well as the voice of her first friend. The griffon that ruined the party back in Ponyville. Her former friend.

"G-g-gilda!?" The terrified pegasus called back.

"What's happened to you?"

"A lot has happened to me Dash, but you already knew that now DIDN'T YOU!" The griffon yelled as she charged them. Rainbow Dash flew up with Pinkie as everyone else jumped to the side. They all just barely dodged the attack. Gilda swooped past them and stopped, turning back to give a loud roar.

"I'm going to END YOU LOSERS!" She screamed before charging once more. She was stopped in mid air as she was held in place by a telekinetic grasp. Purple aura emulated around her as she struggled in the grasp of the lavender unicorn's magic.

"I'm not going to let you hurt my friends Gilda." Twilight stated.

"Trixie is not going to let you get away with that!" Called another voice from above.

As Twilight looked up to see its source, she was blasted by a beam of energy, plowing her against the ground where she stood. She couldn't focus. She was blinded by the pain. She could feel her body grind against the rock. An alarm sounded as Ponies began to gallop past her towards her foe. Her vision was null. She felt someone levitate her upwards and onto there back. She could feel herself bouncing as the pony galloped past her. She heard a voice call out to her. She recognized it as Rarity's.

"Twilight! Twilight Darling are you alright! We need to get you out of here." Rarity called out

"Trixie?" Twilight asked. Rarity only replied with a frown as she looked back. Twilight followed her glance, seeing the floating blue unicorn in the distance, her body surrounded in a blood red aura as she blasted away at the guards attempting to swarm her. Twilight looked on in fear over what she was witnessing.

Celestia help us...

Rainbow Dash flew through the tent areas holding on to her pink friend desperate to get away from the raging Griffon that pursued her. She flew through low to the ground in the camp to avoid being seen. Dodging the guards and ponies who were running about frantically. She kept swerving randomly desperate to get away but found it was to no avail as she could hear ponies calling out in pain as each was knocked to the side by the force that pursued them. Rainbow Dash didn't bother to look back, she was too focused on getting her friend to safety. Part of her began to wonder why Gilda was so upset.

Does she seriously want to kill us just because she got rejected as a friend? No. I know Gilda. She may be bad but she wouldn't go that low without a reason. Her thoughts were interrupted as the griffon called out to them.

"COME BACK HERE DWEEBS!" Gilda yelled from behind, her voice was filled with anger and frustration.

Rainbow Dash pushed herself harder to get away. She managed to get far enough away that Gilda could barely see them. She looked back briefly to make sure the griffon was out of view. She was barely insight as they swerved around the tents of the camp. Rainbow Dash bolted to the side and hid behind them. She looked back up to see the griffon zoom past them. She looked in the direction to make sure Gilda was gone and sighed with relief.

"That was close Pinkie?" She asked turning to face her pink friend.

"Pinkie?" The pegasus asked noticing that the party pony was beginning to tear up. She was clearly

"Why is Gilda acting this way Dashie?"

"I wish I knew Pinkie."

"Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash! It's me Cyclone! Common we got to go!" A deep masculine voice called out.

The two turned to see an silver pegasus guard with a black tail. His armor looked identical to that of Commander Maelstrom with the exception of the blades lined along the edge of his wings. He was motioning for them to follow. The two of them came beside him as they began to gallop. Bolts of lightning started to streak across the sky over the sky and boom over the camp. Smoke began to rise in various areas around them. Ponies could be heard screaming and running in panic.

"Those monsters are tearing apart the camp. We need to get you out of here! Come on we need to get to the chariots!" The commander yelled over the loud noises of screams and explosions.

"What about our friends!?" Rainbow Dash.

"The others will take care of them! You need to get out of here."

"No! I'm not leaving unless I know my friends are safe."

"Are you insane? Do you not see the destruction those things are causing. Do you want to get killed?"

Rainbow Dash never wanted to let her friends down. She didn't wanted not even this time of crisis to be an exception to that. She stopped following. Pinkie and the guard turned back to face the pegasus.

"I never leave my friends down. I will give my life if it means I can help them." The cyan pegasus stated firmly. Cylcone looked hesitantly before giving a smile.

"You've got the heart of a true soldier kid. I've got to make sure everyone gets out in one piece so I have to go. Pinkie you should come with me."

"But I want to help Rainbo-" Pinkie stopped as the cyan pegasus placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"Pinkie I want you to be safe. Go with him. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Pinkie stared at her with worry before giving a smile and turning back to face the guard and the two of them began running off. Rainbow Dash turned back in the direction of the chaos. She could see lights flashing in the direction of it. She gathered all the bravery she could muster from within herself before charging in its direction.

Alright Gilda. You want me? Here I come!