“Are you both okay?” asked Rainbow.

Applejack and Fluttershy were in Applejack’s room at Sweet Apple Acres, laying on beds to rest. Rarity was already there with the Cutie Mark Crusaders by the time Pinkie, Twilight, Rainbow, and the two princesses arrived.

“We’re okay,” said Fluttershy.

“You brought the princesses?” asked Applejack. “Pinkie, what did ya tell them? We were fine when you found us!”

“It’s not my fault!” said Pinkie. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were already there when I got to the library!”

“Oh?” asked Rarity. “What brings you here, your highnesses?”

“We thought you’d just send a book or something in response to Twilight,” said Applejack.

“Apparently things are more serious than that,” said Twilight.

“Serious enough that they both dueled us so we could get Signer marks,” said Rainbow, showing off the crimson wings that had appeared on her flank.

“You’re a Signer?” asked Applejack. “Darn, and here Ah was hopin’ to get to brag about something.” She sat up in the bed, and pulled back the covers to show the hind claw of the Crimson Dragon.

“So four of us have Signer Marks, huh?” said Twilight, glancing back at her own mark.

“What are Signers, anyway?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Oh, that reminds me,” said Rarity, before angrily turning towards the Crusaders. “What were you three doing out in town so late!?”

“They were out late?” asked Applejack.

Rarity nodded. “I couldn’t find them here at the farm, at the clubhouse, or even at my Boutique. Apparently they were snooping around the wrecked street where Fluttershy dueled Mayor Mare.”

“What!?” gasped Applejack. “What were you three thinkin’!? Didn’t the damage tip you off it was dangerous?”

“We just wanted to help!” said Scootaloo. “We were investigating the Dark Signers that the mayor mentioned for you girls!”

“Wait, you even saw the duel?” asked Rarity. “And you still did something this dangerous?”

“Fluttershy helped us before,” said Apple Bloom. “Why couldn’t we help her in return?”

“I wish you wouldn’t risk your lives to help me all things considered,” mumbled Fluttershy.

“Okay,” said Applejack, “the three of you are safe, and that’s all that matters.”

“However, you’re all still grounded,” said Rarity. “None of you are to leave the farm, until we have a full grasp on this situation.”

“What!?” gasped Sweetie Belle.

“But that’s not fair!” said Apple Bloom.

“No buts,” said Applejack.

“You can’t ground me!” said Scootaloo. “I’m not related to any of you!”

“We’re still responsible for you, right now,” said Rarity. “So we can still punish you. Go with the others to Apple Bloom’s room.”

“Rainbow Dash!” pleaded Scootaloo. “You won’t let them ground us, will you?”

Rainbow looked Scootaloo in the eyes. “As a matter of fact, I will. You’re to stay in Apple Bloom’s room, and I want you to forget all about the Dark Signers.”

Scootaloo seemed too stunned to speak, before the Cutie Mark Crusaders sulked off to Apple Bloom’s room. Celestia closed the door behind them, and she and Luna sat down by the window.

“I’m surprised, Rainbow Dash,” said Rarity. “Didn’t expect you to take responsibility like that.”

“If you knew what Princess Celestia and Princess Luna told us about the Dark Signers, then you would understand.”

“Perhaps we should fill everypony in,” said Celestia.

“And you could tell us about the events at the hospital last night,” said Luna. “The Dark Signers attacked you, correct?”

“Can you hear what they’re saying?” Sweetie Belle whispered.

“Yeah,” said Apple Bloom. “These Dark Signer guys took over the mayor and Nurse Redheart to attack Fluttershy and mah sister.”

“What else?” asked Scootaloo. “What are Signers? What are Dark Signers?”

“Ah don’t know about that first part,” said Apple Bloom. “But I think they said Dark Signers are… dead ponies?”

“Dark Signers are zombies, then?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“That sounds scary, yeah,” said Scootaloo. “But zombies aren’t really that effective, are they? They’ll just sort of rot and fall to pieces if you think about it.”

“They can’t be very effective as duelists, either,” said Apple Bloom. “Especially if we don’t have decks, if ya catch mah drift.”

“We gonna investigate?” asked Scootaloo.

“Of course!” said Apple Bloom. “To the crime scene, Crusaders!”

"We'll investigate these Dark Signer jerks," said Sweetie Belle, "and save my sister and her Signer friends!"

“Cutie Mark Crusaders, Signer Saviors! Yay!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders successfully snuck out of Sweet Apple Acres, and rode Scootaloo’s scooter to the hospital. Their success was short lived, however, as they found the police had barricaded the hospital for investigation.

“We can’t go in?” asked Scootaloo.

“Sorry, but they won’t let anypony in without permission while they investigate.”

“Only hospital staff, and reporters.”

“Reporters?” asked Apple Bloom. “Why, that’s what we are! Reporters for the Foal Free Press!”

“That’s nice,” the guard said. “Unfortunately, you’re too young. Come back with your teacher, why don’t you?”

“Our teacher?” asked Sweetie Belle, as they trotted away. “Great. How are we going to convince Miss Cheerilee to help us investigate?”

“I have a plan,” said Scootaloo. “Sweetie Belle, you’re going to need to be adorable.”

“Done and done.”

“We best return to Canterlot, sister,” said Luna, stifling a yawn.

“Yes, we should,” said Celestia. “If you have any further questions, feel free to write to us.”

“Thank you, Princess,” said Twilight. “But I think we’ve got it from here.”

Celestia and Luna nodded, before opening and flying out the window, teleporting once they cleared the farm.

“So, the Dark Signers are dead, huh?” said Applejack.

“Who could have a grudge against Fluttershy?” asked Rarity.

“I don’t know if I can bring myself to fight dead ponies,” said Fluttershy.

“I’ll handle them for you, then,” said Rainbow. “We can’t let them destroy the world or us.”

“I’ve been thinking,” said Pinkie.

“You have?” asked Rainbow.

“What if the Dark Signer didn’t have a grudge against Fluttershy,” said Pinkie, “but was trying to attack her as payback to somepony else?”

“Yeah, good point,” said Rainbow. “I doubt Fluttershy has any enemies.”

“But who were they trying to get to, then?” asked Fluttershy.

“I think we have a bigger problem,” said Rarity. “If you think about it, the Dark Signers aren’t likely to just limit their attack to fellow Signers to get to you. They might go after anypony we know.”

“That’s what makes what the Crusaders did last night so much more dangerous,” said Applejack.

“Speaking of the Crusaders,” said Twilight, “they’ve been surprisingly quiet.”

“Yeah,” said Applejack. “Too quiet…”

“Oh no,” said Rarity, darting down the hall. “Sweetie Belle! Apple Bloom! Scootaloo! Open the door!”

The other ponies trotted after Rarity, as she magically picked the lock. “You’re a bit too good at that, Rare.”

“Quiet, Applejack,” Rarity replied, shoving the door open. “They’re gone!”

“What!?” gasped Applejack.

“They probably snuck out,” said Pinkie.

“We’ve got to find them!” said Rainbow.

“Before something terrible happens!” added Applejack.

The cloaked griffon strode down the street, slipping through the crowd, when she noticed she was being followed. As discreetly as she could, she ducked into a side alley. And stood waiting.

“You know, Chief,” she said, “griffons don’t really enjoy having stalkers.” She turned around to face the one following her. “So, what’s our egotistical leader want now?”

“This wasn’t her idea,” he said. “I decided to follow you on my own accord. She’s confident everything will go well, but I fear you may ruin things.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” the griffon muttered, “but I know what I’m doing.”

“A cloaked griffon isn’t very subtle,” he said.

The griffon let out a sharp, short laugh. “And a giant buffalo lumbering around is? You’d have to look real carefully at me to see something’s up, but you they can spot from Canterlot!”

“It’s a good thing Celestia and Luna are preoccupied with last night, then. They’ve awakened Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash as Signers.”

“Super,” said the griffon. “So the number of active Signers currently outnumber us Dark Signers? We’ll just have to fix that…”

Before the buffalo could respond, they heard the sound of a scooter speeding past the end of the alley, closely followed by an earth pony mare.

“Wait up, girls!” Cheerilee called.

“Hurry, Miss Cheerilee!” called Apple Bloom.

“I understand your plan,” the buffalo said, once the four ponies had passed.

“Took you long enough,” said the griffon. "Wait for us at HQ." She began to follow the Crusaders, when she stopped. "Oh, and one more thing. Stop stalking me!"

“I talked to the doctor,” said Scootaloo. “Nurse Redheart stayed late to clean a spider web, or something, and that’s the last he saw her.”

“Spider, huh?” said Apple Bloom. “The janitor said he never saw a spider web when he cleaned the night before, so it must’ve shown up after Fluttershy was brought in.”

“We saw a spider mark, didn’t we?” asked Sweetie Belle. “When the mayor was dueling Fluttershy?”

“Think there’s a connection?” asked Scootaloo.

“Girls,” said Cheerilee, “are you sure we should be investigating this? It’s starting to sound awfully dangerous.”

“We’re sure,” said Scootaloo.

“My sister and her friends want as much info on the Dark Signers as possible!” said Apple Bloom.

“Dark Signers?” repeated Cheerilee. “I had just told Twilight about the Signers yesterday.”

“You know something about this?” asked Scootaloo.

“Tell us about the Signers, please,” said Apple Bloom.

“We can talk as we go back to the schoolhouse,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Well,” said Cheerilee, “since Twilight and her friends say its okay…”

“It’s fine,” said Scootaloo. “Besides, with you here, we’ll be fine, right?”

Cheerilee smiled. “I suppose so. Okay, girls, let’s go!”

“They’re not at the clubhouse,” said Fluttershy, as she met with the others in front of town hall.

“I checked the library,” said Twilight.

“Sugarcube Corner is clear of Crusaders,” said Pinkie. "Only pony there was Cheerilee, buying a tray of cupcakes."

“Where could they be?” asked Applejack.

“They’re at the schoolhouse!” called Rarity, galloping up.

“How did you find that out?” asked Rainbow.

“I used my brain,” said Rarity. “I figured they must be investigating the Dark Signers, so I went to the hospital. They told me that Cheerilee and the Crusaders were there earlier asking questions, before going back to the school.”

"I thought that was a lot of cupcakes for one pony," Pinkie said, as the group galloped off towards the school.

Cheerilee trotted up the path to the schoolhouse, a tray of cupcakes balanced on her back, when she spotted a cloaked figure walking around the outside of the schoolhouse.

“Hey!” she called. “Who are-”

“Cheerilee!” Twilight’s voice interrupted her.

“Twilight?” asked Cheerilee, turning around in time to see Twilight and the others galloping up. “What brings you here?”

“Where is Apple Bloom and the others?” asked Applejack.

“Inside,” Cheerilee answered. “Why do you ask? Is something wrong?”

As if in answer to her question the seven ponies were knocked off their hooves by a large explosion from the schoolhouse. Smoke rose up towards the sky, blending with the gray clouds. Shouts could be heard nearby, as ponies began gathering nearby.

“Scootaloo!” cried Rainbow.

“What just happened?” Applejack asked, eyes wide in shock. “A-Apple Bloom… Did she just…?”

“No,” said Rarity, before running towards the wreck. “Sweetie Belle! Please be okay! Sweetie Belle!”

“I’m afraid you’re wasting your breath calling her name,” said a voice, as the cloaked figure from before walked out from behind the rubble.

“That voice…” mumbled Rainbow. “It can’t be… Gilda?”

Gilda lowered her hood, giving a small smirk. “Long time no see, Rainbow Crash.” The sclera of her eyes were pitch black, giving them a sunken, dead look.

“Gilda?” asked Pinkie. “What are you doing here?”

“Tell me,” said Rarity, “did you do this? Did you… kill Sweetie Belle.”

“No,” said Gilda, “the explosion did that.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes!” snapped Applejack. “What did you do?”

Gilda sighed. “Geez, you guys are wound up way too tight. Yeah, I killed them.”

“Why?” asked Rainbow. “Why would you do this? Gilda, you may be a jerk, but you’re not evil.”

“It’s really taking a long time to occur to you, isn’t it?” said Gilda. “Why don’t you ask the teacher there what the three fillies were researching and see if that give you a hint?”

“Cheerilee,” said Applejack, trembling in anger. “You let Apple Bloom investigate the Dark Signers? Did the fact that they have ‘Dark’ in their title not tip you off that their a threat!?”

“I-I’m sorry,” Cheerilee stuttered. “I didn’t know they were-”

“Dangerous?” Rainbow finished. “They attacked Fluttershy, and nearly destroyed a hospital! That didn’t set off any alarms in your head?”

“I…”

“Cheerilee?” Fluttershy cut in. “I don’t mean to be rude, but… I think you should go. For safety, if anything.”

Cheerilee nodded, before galloping away. Rarity didn’t pay her a second glance, as her gaze was focused on Gilda. “So that means, you’re-”

“A Dark Signer?” Gilda finished. “Bingo!” She turned around to show off the spider mark on her right flank, the purple glow shining through her cloak.

“What!?” gasped Pinkie. “But the princesses said the Dark Signers are ponies that died! And Gilda didn’t die! Did she?”

“I did,” said Gilda. “But even the underworld can’t stand between me and vengeance on you six losers!”

“Gilda…” Rainbow mumbled.

“On the subject of vengeance,” Rarity muttered, her eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down her face “I’m in the mood for that right now. Duel me, Gilda! I’ve seen the damage a duel of darkness can do, and I intend to use that power to send you right back to the afterlife where you belong!”

“Oh my,” laughed Gilda, sitting down and examining her talons, “you sure are angry, aren’t you? Are you sure you can handle me? You don’t even have a Signer mark!”

“I don’t care about that,” spat Rarity, shaking with rage. “For daring to harm, to kill Sweetie Belle, I’ll KILL YOU!”

“Killing something that’s already dead isn’t as easy as it sounds,” said Gilda, “but if you insist, then I accept! Watch closely, everypony! Watch as I show you a true duel of darkness! The power of a true Dark Signer!”

The ground trembled, as bursts of purple flames shot out of the ground. Applejack, Rainbow, and the others leapt back in shock, as the flames weaved around the ground, extending far beyond the reaches of the schoolhouse, and stretching into nearby streets in neighborhoods.

The ponies that had come to investigate the earlier explosion, were now screaming and scrambling to find a way out as the flames trapped them inside. Reflecting on the clouds above revealed the burning geoglyph had taken the shape of the spider mark on Gilda’s flank.

“Watch closely, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie!” laughed Gilda. “Watch helplessly as your friend perishes before the might of the underworld!”

“The only one that will die today is you!” spat Rarity. She took a deep breath, and readied her Duel Disk. "For Sweetie Belle…"

“Duel!”