CHAPTER 7: GHOSTS AT OUR GRAVES

Princess Solar Flare while accompanied by Nightmare Moon, Princess Cadence, and of course Shining Armor; were each assorted in different chariots led by large manticores. They halted on a barren dirt road surrounded only by a forest of dead trees. The land was obviously charred from scars of past events while the skies were a bloody red shade mixed in with black clouds. Princess Solar Flare didn't pay any mind to these things, and she departed from her chariot only to suddenly be greeted by a band of large dragons who touched upon the ground only a moment later. The dragons immediately bowed their heads before the princess.

Princess Solar Flare squinted up however at one particular dragon whose mouth was still stained with blood, and it caused her to scowl sternly at the reptilian beasts. "It seems you all have been doing more than laying waste to the lands I've given you."

The dragon's eyes widened as one looked down at princess hesitantly. "W-Well you see Princess; that's only because-"

Princess Solar Flare raised a hoof in annoyance, immediately cutting off the dragon as she began to trot down the dirt path herself. "Enough. Lie to me and that's a whole other issue you savage. I care little what happens to ponies in these parts, they offer little in the grand scheme of things. An alliance with you beasts is far more useful to me." She glanced about silently at the barren wastes; squinting a bit. She then glanced back at one of the dragons again. "Tell me, where has she run off to? I wish to make quick work of this child before she's caused us any more trouble. Because obviously massive creatures such as yourselves can't seem to take care of one young rebel unicorn. Unless, there was some other reason you were unable to best her?" Solar Flare only glared from then on, as if being certain her assumptions were correct. .

One dragon snapped, "Y-Yes! There was one! GRAAH!! One such pony who was there!"

Another dragon replied in suit. "Quick! Dangerous! Very strong! Very small! Yes yes!" He growled; huffing smoke afterwords.

To such words Solar Flare's eyes grew wider with anticipation and excitement. "Oho, this is interesting. So there was another pony accompanying the little nuisance known as Twilight Sparkle. Quick and dangerous you say? I know of one who fits such a description. My student Sunset Shimmer must be here as well. Perhaps they were in cahoots all along. This is very pleasing news to me." She glanced back at her sister in particular, "Two birds with one stone if I do say so myself. I would pleasantly enjoy a chat with my dear and precious student before we're forced to, part ways." Solar Flare chuckled lightly before looking ahead again and glancing up at the dragons. "Where did they run off to? Did you all keep tabs on their scents; I'll be fairly disappointed if we came out here for nothing."

And soon touching upon the ground almost immediately behind the princesses would be a dragon much larger and bulkier than the rest. He bore purple and green scales and a stern expression as he immediately lowered his entire frame, bowing to the princesses and Shining Armor with his eyes closed. "M-My princesses! I'm very sorry! I no find evil pony...she be gone." He glanced up, "She run north, toward mountains. I am sure she is still there, somewhere, but she too small, I cannot see her, smell her, find her, gone..." He frowned yet again.

Princess Solar Flare smirked softly, turning towards the mountainous region in the north. "It is fine, I will lure them out myself."

There was a looming silence from the others, as well as Shining Armor who only appeared nervous by the princess' words. They all knew the capabilities of Princess Solar Flare, the flame was her world, as was the sun; these fillies didn't stand a chance. It was as Order had said, what they were doing now, was simply overkill. All Princess Solar Flare needed was their general direction, the rest was child's play.

Princess Solar Flare spread her wings as she glanced back at her fellows. "Let us go finish this..." And with that she rose to the skies, soaring towards ashen clouds as flames emitted from her bright fiery wings, and she coursed along towards the northern regions.

Nightmare Moon glanced back as well as she cackled lightly, before rising to the skies to join her sister.

Shining Armor at that point showed a slight hesitance, before glancing to his lower right then sighing. He made his way atop the back of one of the dragons before patting its head with a hoof, then looking to Cadence and commenting, "Let's join them then."

Princess Cadence however appeared quite troubled and upset. "I saw a sliver of weakness in your eyes Shining, hesitance in your heart. It displeases me my love. The armor and resolve for which I find so fond of you is cracking, why might that be?"

Shining Armor remained silent as his nose wrinkled up a bit, he just ignored the question, rising to the skies with the dragon afterwords.

Princess Cadence however didn't ignore this, as she just smirked before chuckling in amusement. "Hah, such assertion. I love it as well..."

Sitting huddled around a campfire would be the three fillies, as Sunset Shimmer wore a grumpy expression as she gave a looming yet silent stare in Trixie's direction. She soon spoke. "So, how long were you following us?" Her brows furrowed, "Trixie..."

Trixie bore a smile herself as she regarded Sunset Shimmer with amusement. "Trixie isn't inclined to say."

Twilight glanced back and forth between them, silently and nervously as she gulped.

Sunset Shimmer continued, "Well I think a good thing to establish between the three of us if we're to stick this out is trust. I might be young, but I know a talented illusionist when I see one. How long were you trained and who trained you?" Sunset Shimmer raised a brow.

Trixie glanced to the lower right as she frowned and repeated herself. "Trixie, isn't inclined to say."

Sunset Shimmer sighed as she stood to all fours, "Fine, do whatever you want Trixie." She looked down at the two, "But listen you two, if anything happens to me; I want you both to continue on with the scrolls. Make sure Princess Solar Flare never gets her hooves on them."

Twilight raised a brow "W-What do you mean if something happens to you Sunset Shimmer? Y-You'll be with us the entire time right?"

Sunset Shimmer regarded Twilight with a soft hopeful smile and half closed eyes. "I hope so Twilight, I hope so."

Twilight looked to Sunset Shimmer with a saddened expression then. "W-Why, Why do you sound like that all of a sudden?"

Sunset Shimmer gave Twilight a crooked smile. "Because I know what's after me Twilight, and I know that she wants me far more than she wants both of you no less." Sunset Shimmer made her way over to Twilight before placing a hoof on top of her head, she appeared almost nostalgic with the way she looked upon her. "You're a sweet filly Twilight, I hope you escape." She paused, "And please, don't change."

Trixie suddenly called out to the two in a panic, "S-Sunset Shimmer! T-Twilight Sparkle! Look! Over there, in the sky!"

Sunset Shimmer immediately gave an intense glare in the opposing direction as Twilight looked on with fear. Further off in the sky, an intense black and red mist began covering the entirety of the region, and it only steadily progressed forward.

Twilight began to tremble as she looked upon the sky in confusion, unsure what was happening.

Trixie however began to panic, as she turned, covering her head. "I-It's happening again!" She practically crumpled up into a ball as she was trembling fiercely, muttering like a mad mare beneath her breath. "The nightmares, T-Trixie doesn't want any more! NOT anymore!"

Twilight gasped as she hurried over to Trixie, lowering her frame in order to comfort the mare. "T-Trixie!? Trixie are you okay!?" But Trixie continued to mutter like mad, as Twilight called Sunset Shimmer. "S-Sunset! Sunset something's wrong with Trixie!" However when she didn't get a reply, she repeated herself. "Sunset!?" Twilight then looked over at Sunset Shimmer, "S-SUNSET!" But what Twilight saw caused her to pause, for since she met Sunset she'd never seen the mare wear that expression. Sunset's eyes were wide, her face blank, as she only looked up at the sky not saying a word. A bright light soon graced her face as Sunset glanced over at Twilight in absolute silence.

S-SUNSET! SUNSET SHIMMER!!!!

Violet's eyes snapped wide open as her heart raced. She laid in a bed and overhead she could only see a wooden ceiling as she was planted on her back. She  leaned up, only to find herself covered in white bandages as she muttered. "I..I have been healed? By what aid?" And to her left at the bedside, she saw a familiar white mare passed out, laying halfway atop the blankets. "Mistress Rarity?"

"Y-You're awake!"

Violet's eyes immediately widened further as her horn immediately lit with a purple flame as she glared angrily in that voice's direction. It was none other than Princess Twilight as Violet wore a look of both fear and caution, immediately pulling herself a bit further back in bed.

Princess Twilight immediately raised her hooves, "W-Wait! Wait wait wait! Let's not do this again please!"

"Twi!? What's going on up there!? Ya okay Sugarcube!?"

Violet growled as she glared towards the staircase then. "You've brought allies!"

Princess Twilight kept her hoof raised as she shook her head in frustration. "NO! ALRIGHT! Just- GAAAH!" Twilight glanced towards the staircase. "Applejack, you and the others stay down there for a second!" She then looked back towards Violet with a heavy sigh and a look of desperation as she cautiously approached her second self. "J-Just....Just take it easy alright? I'm not going to hurt you, none of us are. We just want to know more about you, we're worried about you. We're trying to figure out how we can help you."

Violet was still horribly cautious, and it was apparent she was even trembling yet still baring that angry and defensive expression. She shook her head as she crawled out of the bed, falling to the floorboards. "S-Stay away from me! I don't want your help you alicorn!"

Princess Twilight appeared offended by that, as she cocked a brow. "What's with you and alicorns?"

Violet snapped back, practically snarling from the floor as she roared at Twilight. "YOU'RE ALL MONSTERS! Just because you're so gifted, stronger than everypony else! You think you can pick on us! Control us! Dominate us! Destroy us! Whatever you like!" She huffed, obviously aware she lost her cool. "I-I, I am not one of you. I am me, a unicorn. I will always be a unicorn." She appeared to be traumatized as she faded further into her thoughts and a look of fear overcame her. "I-I, I am a unicorn. A unicorn. A unicorn.."

"Yes, and a brilliant one at that darling."

Violet's eyes widened as her trembling halted in that moment, and she glanced to her upper left to see Rarity. "M-Mistress Rarity?"

Rarity was currently cautiously planted on the bed, as she made her way towards Violet, attempting to crawl to her, to reach her. She bore a nervous yet caring smile. "Y-You trust me? Don't you Violet? You're not afraid of me, because you know I wouldn't hurt you." Rarity remained focused on Violet's glowing horn, still ignited with magic, as she gulped and continuously tried to make her way closer.

Twilight kept her focus on Rarity as well, worried for her friends well-being. She looked to Violet as she gave her an intense glare.

Violet appeared hesitant still with Rarity's presence as she remained focused on the mare. "I-I, I do trust you."

Rarity gave her a caring smile. "Good, that's good. It's good to build trust between friends, isn't it?"

Violet's eyes widened, as in that moment she saw a flash of Sunset Shimmer in Rarity's being. She however was knocked back to reality before she began to tremble yet again, and nodded before covering her eyes with her hooves. "Y-Yes, Yes, Mistress Rarity, it is." Suddenly, once again Violet began to sob softly to herself as she kept her head lowered, trembling before Rarity as her horn's magic faded away.

And Rarity hurriedly took this chance to embrace the mare, as she sighed patting Violet's head. "There there, it's alright Twi-" She cringed before continuing, "I mean, Violet Autumn." Rarity glanced over at Twilight, giving her a silent approving nod with a worried expression.

Twilight nodded back to Rarity before winking at her and smiling, impressed by her friends' actions.

Rarity sat there, as she continued to comfort the duplicate mare for some time, continuing to calm her down.

Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Rainbow Dash all sat at a table in a sealed off room, along with Rainbow's duplicate.

This second Rainbow continued to wear an amused smile as she looked upon the three. "Is something the matter, your highness?"

Princess Celestia focused on this Rainbow Dash's horn, as well as her wings. She frowned heavily as she just continued to look at her in discomfort. "How did you manage to ascend into an alicorn Rainbow Dash? This doesn't often happen, at least not here."

The duplicate Rainbow Dash leaned her head back with a heavy sigh. "Hard work and proving myself your highness. I rose through the ranks and did what you asked me to," Her eyes suddenly ran cold, "Whatever you asked me to." And then she leaned forward yet again with a cheerful smile and chuckle. "Then after proving my worth, you yourself decided I was fit to be an alicorn in the guard!"

Princess Celestia's brows only furrowed further in disappointment. "I see. Tell me, Rainbow Dash, what did I ask you to do for me?"

The duplicate Rainbow Dash appeared confused, "Eh? I already told you-"

Princess Celestia interrupted. "No I mean, in the broad aspect. What did I have you do, from time to time?"

Princess Luna spoke out, putting a hoof to her sister's side, "C-Celestia, you don't have to-"

The second Rainbow Dash however continued with a wide smirk. "I was a part of the cleanup sector for awhile."

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened as she wore a bored look. "Cleanup? Like cloud cleanup?"

The duplicate continued. "Sort of." She paused as she glanced down with saddened eyes, "But I don't really consider ash the same thing."