"Are you okay Fluttershy?" Applejack asked, extending a hand. She pulled my up to my feet and I wiped away my tears.

"I'm fine.." I said.

"Are you sure? Your eye looks pretty bruised." Rarity said.

"Really, I'm okay.." I replied, "It was an accident. I know he didn't mean it."

"Fluttershy.." Twilight said in a concerned tone.

"No really! I know how it sounds.. Listen, there's something I have to tell you about Nicholas.." I said, taking a seat.

---------------------------------------------------------

"So.. What you're saying is that... Nicholas put the curse on Cecil?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"And that it was Nicholas that caused the storm?" Red asked confused.

"I know it's hard to believe.." I started, "But it's true."

Everyone paused, thinking about what I had just told them.

"I believe you." Red said.

"You do?" I asked.

"The short time I've known Cecil, he hasn't shown one inch of hostility. He's kind, and wouldn't resort to violence unless he had too. So I believe you." He said.

"If Red believes you, then so do I." Rainbow Dash said, putting an arm around me.

"Well I think you know where this is going." Twilight said, "If Dash does, then we all do too."

"Well.." Rarity said, "The first thing we should do.. Is try to convince everyone that Cecil isn't what they believe him to be."

"Yeah!" Pinkie said, jumping in the air. "He's a gentle cuddley huggable lovey dovey romantic AWESOME PARTY throwing guy!"

"Uh... What she said." Applejack said.

"You guys get to work on that. I'm going to go check on Cecil." I said, receiving a nod from everyone.

----------------------------------------------
ONE HOUR LATER:

"So how are you doing?" I asked Rainbow Dash, holding her close.

"Pretty good..." She said, looking down.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Well... Red.... The thing is.." She mumbled.

"What is it? You can tell me." I said, running my hand through her hair.

"It's about the surgery..." She said, giving me a nervous look.

"You're scared.. I am too." I said.

"I want my wings back, and I know this is probably the last thing that can really give them back to me." She said.

"Dash listen to me. I know how much this means to you, and we are going to find the money. I know you'll pull through. You always do." I said, kissing her on the cheek. Then I noticed something.. Something glimmering out of the corner of my eye.

"HEY!" I screamed.

"What?!" Dash said in surprise. I saw the man with the mechanical wing from the other day. I jumped up and bolted towards him. I was about to deck this guy when..

"What.." He said, turning to me. I could see his face stained with tears. He wasn't angry like before, he was sad..

"I..." I said in surprise.

"I'm sorry.." He said, putting his head in his hands. He was shaking.. I sat next to him, Dash following in turn.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my empathy taking hold.

"Why do you care?" He said with a returning hostility, "You don't even know me."

"Do I need too?" I said. He paused, looking away from me.

"Your name is Patric right?" I asked.

"Yeah.." He said.

"And where's your friend? Colin was it?" I asked, looking around for him. "You were his friend right? Why isn't he with you."

He looked at me angrily,

"He's dead."

---------------------------------

"Cecil?" I shouted as I walked through the front door. One of the hands approached me.

"Oh hello. Do you know where Cecil is?" I asked it. It turned and pointed to the basement.

"Thank you." I said, walking past it and into the basement.

"Cecil?" I shouted down the hall, walking to the bookcase. "That's strange.. Why is it closed?" I reached up to the book and pulled it back, the shelf moved and revealed the hidden door. I pulled it open and walked in. It was dark.. Why were the lights off?

"Cecil?" I yelled into the room. I reached for the light switch and flipped it on. My heart sank, my hands trembling as I saw Cecil sitting at his desk, his head resting on it motionless, one arm on the desk next to his head, the other hanging limply to the side... And next to the chair on the floor, sat the revolver...