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The Saga of Frostburn

by Fire Gazer the Alchemist

Chapters

The Ultimate Party

Thursday Morning

Chapter 1 – Pinkie Pie

It was another beautiful Thursday morning in Ponyville. The pegasi had made unusually quick work clearing the clouds, making everything look as bright and cheery as if felt. To Pinkie Pie, this Thursday morning was also very important. Only once a month did the trains have extra storage carts with them to accommodate ponies who were in the middle of moving and this Friday was her "100th Party" spectacular extravaganza and she wanted to invite all the new ponies to her most ultimate celebration yet. Today was also her one chance to greet every new pony resident and be the first to welcome them to Ponyville. In fact it was so important to her, that Pinkie Pie woke up early every third Thursday of every month to be at the train station before the moving train even arrived. Only this morning she overslept.

"Oh Gummy, this is just terrible!" Pinkie said as she rushed through her morning hygiene. Her toothless alligator sat in his bed, teething on a cushion as he watched the pink mare scramble. "I mean, just think about it," Pinkie continued. "What if I'm late to the train station today? What if I miss saying hi to somepony when they arrive? What if they get sad that nopony was there to greet them? What if they think it means nopony wants to be their friend? Ooooohhhh!" she gasped, hysterically. "What if they don't like Ponyville at all and decide to move away because I wasn't there?" Gummy blinked in response. "You're absolutely right, Gummy." Pinkie said with renewed determination. "I must be there to say hello and give them a smile! I simply must!" And with that, Pinkie dashed out of her room, and through the front door of the bakery. Gummy stared confused at the blank spot where Pinkie Pie used to be, and then continued to teeth on the pillows.

As she dashed through Ponyville, Pinkie made sure to wave hello to all of her friends, which was, well… everypony. Even though Pinkie had to hurry, she never ever forgot to make her friends smile. When she turned her head for an over-the-shoulder-smile-and-wave to Vinyl Scratch, Pinkie ended up colliding with Twilight Sparkle.

"Oh Pinkie, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there," Twilight said. Pinkie steadied herself before responding.

"Twilightsorryi'vegottogettothetrainstationandmeetsomenewfriendsotherwisetheywontlikeponyvilleandbesadandmoveawayandtheniwontgettobetheirfriendeverandtheywillmissmyonehundrethpartyextravaganzaandicantletthathappen!" she exclaimed in a single shout.

"Whoa, Pinkie calm down…" Twilight started.

Pinkie vigorously shook her head before yelling, "I'M ALREADY LATE!" and then she took off. Twilight stood with a look of concern on her face as the pink mare became a blur. She hadn't understood a word of that conversation, but felt as if it didn't really concern her.

Meanwhile an exhausted Pinkie Pie finally made it to the train station, mere minutes before the train was due to arrive. Elated that she hadn't missed anyone, Pinkie trotted up to the gate and displayed the biggest smile she possibly could. The train clanked along shortly and released dozens of ponies, soon to take up residency in Ponyville. Pinkie ran down the line, introducing herself to each new mare and stallion, shaking their hooves, and making sure each one had a smile on their face and an invitation to her party as they went to unload.

It took all of four minutes for Pinkie Pie to meet and befriend the forty-two ponies on the train, tying her personal record of friends made in a single day. Pinkie felt fantastic as she chalked this day up as another good Thursday. Nearly ready to head back into town, the corner of her eye caught one last pony stepping off the train near the very end.

He was an exceptionally ordinary stallion at first glance. An icy coat covered him while a fiery red, tattered mane hung down his head. Heavy, bronze-tinted eyes, one partly covered with hair, marked him as weary traveler, though he didn't seem more than a year older that Pinkie. His Cutie Mark was an icicle surrounded by orange flames, which was a little odd, but the party pony didn't focus on it. Pinkie also caught a pair of wings at his side that were almost hidden by a saddle bag he wore. Upon second glance, the wings were unlike any she'd seen before. Instead of being a single color, these wings started out as a chilling blue like his coat, and then faded to the redish shade of his mane. Pinkie got a wild grin as she realized she was about to set a new record.

She sprang up in front of the pegasus as he stepped off the train, catching him by surprise. "Hello, number 43!" she said giddily to the pony.

He blinked, confused, and said. "Excuse me?"

Pinkie giggled a little. "43, that's the number of friends I've made today, including you. You're the forty-third!" The pegasus still looked taken aback. Pinkie decided to break the ice some more. "I'm Pinkie Pie, your new best friend, and you are?"

The snowy blue pegasus replied curtly, "Frostburn." Then he made as if he were about to move past Pinkie. She stepped in his path, dead set on getting at least one smile.

"So do your friends call you Frosty, or Burny?" She asked.

Frostburn sighed, and then retorted, "I don't really have any friends." Pinkie Pie was stunned by this to say the least. Before she could recover, Frostburn walked around her and made for the exit.

He didn't get far before Pinkie caught up to him. "B-but how can you not have friends?" She sputtered. "Everypony needs friends." Frostburn pretended that he hadn't heard her and kept moving. Pinkie matched his pace. "Well, don't worry Frosty. I'll be your friend."

"Thanks for the offer, Pinkie Pie. But no thanks." Pinkie's eyes widened. Was it possible that this pony didn't want friends? The very thought was simply ridiculous. And not the good kind of ridiculous where you got hopped up on sugar and giggled until you passed out. "Well, at least come to this party I'm throwing tomorrow. It'll be so much fun and then you'll definitely want to make some friends!" Pinkie offered.

Frostburn shook his head. "Parties aren't exactly my scene."

"How can you say that parties aren't your scene? Parties are everyone's scene!" The pegasus just kept walking. "Okay, Frosty, that's it. I'm going to be your friend, and you can't stop me."

"Watch me," Frostburn replied.

Pinkie gave a wry smile and said, "See, we're already having some friendly banter right here! You can't deny that." Frostburn lowered his head and kept walking.

Pinkie stepped in front of the stubborn pegasus, stopping him completely. "I'm not letting you pass until you admit that I'm your friend." Frostburn attempt to move around, but Pinkie blocked him at every attempt. After the twentieth escape try, Pinkie got really frustrated. "You can't possibly expect to live in Ponyville without making any friends. You know that right?"

"I don't plan on staying in Ponyville," Frostburn spoke calmly. "So I guess I don't need to make any friends here." This really confused Pinkie. Who would come to town on moving day, and not plan to stay? She wondered. Turning back, she saw Frostburn already walking away. "Wait up Frosty!" Pinkie cried, galloping after him. It was a challenge for sure, but Pinkie was determined to make Frostburn her friend, and break her record.

A Small Victory

Chapter Two – Twilight Sparkle

Twilight vowed never again to eat three dandelion sandwiches in a row. Her stomach already cramped up as she began to walk home. Hopefully I have a book with a cure for tummy aches. She thought, trudging through town. If not, I won't be able to make it to Pinkie Pie's "100th Party" party tomorrow. The thought of Pinkie throwing a party to celebrate reaching a 100 party total was a little excessive in Twilight's mind, but the purple mare was not about to miss something so important to her friend.

"Hey Frosty, slow down for a sec!" A familiar voice cried out. Twilight turned her head just in time to see Pinkie Pie chasing a blue stallion through town square.

"Well this can't be good," Twilight mumbled. She galloped to intercept Pinkie, ignoring the stomach pain it caused. She managed block her friend, but the other pony was too fast. Charging her horn quickly, Twilight levitated the surprised stallion back towards her. "Alright you two, what is the problem?" she demanded.

Both ponies simultaneously began yelling what had happened. It dissolved into a shouting match between Pinkie and the red-haired pony, and before Twilight knew what was happening she had a headache to match her upset stomach.

"Enough!" she shouted over their bickering. The two quieted down. Twilight point a hoof at her friend. "Pinkie, what in Equestria is going on here?"

Pinkie took in a deep breath then exclaimed so hurriedly that Twilight almost couldn't keep up, "I was at the train station this morning to meet all the new ponies who were moving into Ponyville, and I made friends with all of them, until I got to Frostburn here who didn't want to be my friend. He didn't even smile Twilight! So I was trying to convince him to open up and come to my party. Only he didn't. So when I tried one more time he took off running, so I had to chase him Twilight, I just had too." As Pinkie finished her explanation, breathing very heavily, both Twilight and the other pony could simply stare.

Coming out of shock, Twilight turned to the stallion. "Frostburn was it?" He nodded. "Why don't you want to be Pinkie's friend?" She asked him.

The blue-and-red pony sighed as if he had to deal with that sort of question all the time. "It's not just her," he said. "I don't want to be friends with anypony."

"But why not?" Twilight said. She couldn't think of anything to make this pony not want friends.

Frostburn turned his head. "I've got... reasons."  To Twilight it looked like he staring at his wings forlornly.

"There isn't a reason not to want friends!" Pinkie jumped in, aggressively.

Frostburn stepped back. "Look, I'm not the type of pony that wants, or needs friends. I do just fine by myself and anypony else would only get in the way." With that Frostburn turned away. Pinkie leaped in front of him, and forced Frostburn to back up.

"Friends never get in the way! You just don't know because you've got none!" Pinkie accused. Fearing the worst, Twilight stepped between the two and tried to calm Pinkie down. "Twilight get out of my way!" Pinkie said. "Frosty has to make friends, and the best place to do that will be at my party tomorrow. I'm sure of it!"

"Just leave me alone!" Frostburn cried as he turned and galloped off. Pinkie tried to follow, but Twilight wouldn't let her.

"Pinkie just let him go! He doesn't to be friends with you or anypony." She said.

Pinkie softened slightly, then said, "But Twilight, he just doesn't know what he's missing. Surely you remember how much worse being friendless is." Twilight had to agree, recalling a time when she too hadn't wanted friendship without knowing the joys it came with.

"You're right Pinkie. But you can't just force Frostburn to be your friend. He needs to accept it like I did."

Pinkie calmed down fully upon hearing that. "But how is he supposed to accept my friendship if he never wants to have friends?"

Twilight thought about Pinkies question before answering. "Well, I accepted your friendship after an apocalyptic event forced us to work together, but I don't think something like that will happen again."  Pinkie nodded.  

"I just want to help," she said.

"I know you do," Twilight told her.  "But maybe right now you should give Frostburn a chance to cool off.  I'm sure once he's warmed up to Ponyville and sees how friendly everypony here is, then he'll want to befriend you."

"Okay, sure," Pinkie replied, her happiness returning.  Seeing that her work was done, Twilight waved goodbye and walked off.

-/-

She finally made it back to her home at the library. After making sure that Pinkie Pie would no longer stalk Frostburn, the stomach cramps had made themselves present again. Though not immobilizing, they were painful and she wanted them gone as soon as possible. She went straight to the section on home remedies. After several levitation spells she began flipping through books.

With her expert skimming skills, Twilight found that one of the best remedies for a stomach ache was tea. Settling for that idea, she sent Spike out for tea leaves, while she prepared to boil water. Twilight began to theorize how long it would take the tea to cut through the cramps. Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn't hear the knock at the door. Twilight just about dismissed it as a trick of the mind when it happened a second time. Louder, and more impatient, yet it was the unmistakable hoof-on-oakwood knock.

Grudgingly getting up, Twilight thought about who it could be. None of her friends needed to knock for her permission to enter, and she wasn't expecting a visit today. When she reached the door, Twilight gave up on guessing and decided to see exactly who it was.

She opened the door slowly, and found herself staring at a familiar red and blue pony. Frostburn blinked before saying, "Oh uh, you… sorry. Look, I wasn't following you or anything, I just didn't know you worked here."

"Umm, that's okay. What did you need?" She replied, surprised by his awkwardness.

"I just need to borrow a book," he replied. Twilight looked at Frostburn with curiosity. While ponies did come to her asking for books, this pegasus didn't seem like the type to read a lot.

"Sure," she said tentatively. "Which one?"

Frostburn looked away for a bit, as if he was embarrassed to ask for the book. Kicking at the ground a bit, he mumbled. "Curiosities and Oddities in Equestria History. Do you have it?"

"Yeah, absolutely. Let me grab it for you." Twilight walked around the library and began levitating books and checking titles. As she searched, she pondered why Frostburn would need such an obscure and unusual text. By the tenth check, she'd found his request. Before handing it over, Twilight remembered Pinkie's desire to befriend Frostburn. "If I loan you this book," Twilight began. "Will you come to Pinkie's party?"

The ice-blue pegasus was taken aback by Twilight's demand. "Why would you care if I show up or not?" He asked.

"It's important to Pinkie that everyone in Ponyville shows up," Twilight said, disguising the true intention of finding a friend for this lonely stallion.

Frostburn didn't seem very willing, however. "I wasn't planning on being in town that long," he said, attempting a dodge. Twilight refused to let him.

"Well plan on it," she said firmly, while keeping the book out of reach. There was an intense silence that followed. It seemed to last forever with Frostburn's angry scowl facing Twilight's determined glare. But Twilight saw that Frostburn needed that book, so she held her ground. Eventually, Frostburn sighed. Twilight was victorious.

"I'll be there," he said, taking the book. "But I doubt I'll like it."

As he walked away, Twilight called after him. "You've just never been to a Pinkie Pie party!" And shut the door.

At the Edge of Everfree

Chapter Three – Rainbow Dash

Nothing in Equestria could compare to the feeling of flying. Soaring over the heads of ponies below, with the wind racing passed you. It was a rush beyond anything capable of Earth ponies and unicorns, there was just nothing like it. That's why Rainbow Dash loved flying.

As the wind whipped through her rainbow-colored mane, she executed a perfect backwards double barrel roll, and landed expertly on a nearby cloud. "Woohoo!" she cried, hoof-pumping into the air. Another trick completed.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!" a voice called out. Dash recognized the voice instantly. Poking her head around the drifting cloud she was on, Dash spotted a pink mare directly below.

"Hey Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash said. "What's up?"

Pinkie giggled slightly before answering. "You are apparently. That was an amazing trick!"

"If you liked that one, then stick around. I got plenty more for you," the cyan pegasus got herself prepared to takeoff.

"Oh, I can't," Pinkie Pie said, stopping Dash in mid leap. "Gotta get back to Sugar Cube Corner and set up for the party."

"Isn't that tomorrow, though?" Dash asked, puzzled.

The pink mare giggled wildly. "I have a lot of decorations," she explained. "And I have to prepare food for everypony in town. Plus the 43 new ponies that arrived today." Pinkie cringed inwardly, and then corrected herself. "Uh, make that 42 ponies."

"Wait a minute. Is somepony not coming to your party?" Rainbow asked, incredulous. Pinkie gave a squeamish look then nodded. "Somepony isn't coming to YOUR party?!" Dash practically shouted.

"Rainbow calm down. I'm sure my 100th party spectacular extravaganza won't need everypony in Ponyville to show up for it to be super fun," but even as she said the words, Pinkie got visibly sadder.

"Pinkie Pie, I'm going to hunt down this pony and make them come to your party! Who is it?"

"Dash, don't worry about. He doesn't want to show up…"

Rainbow Dash wasn't the least bit swayed. In fact, she seemed even more determined. "Oh he's gonna want to, Pinkie. Trust me."

Pinkie Pie, oblivious to the threatening tone in her pegasus friend's voice, perked up when she heard Dash's promise. "Well if that's the case," she said. "He's this pegasus that just came into town, red hair, blue coat, wings that have two colors… Anyway his name's Frostburn." Pinkie spilled out. "But he really seemed like he didn't want to go, Dash."

"Don't you worry about that, Pinkie. He'll be there," Rainbow assured. Whether he wants to or not.

-/-

Her conversation with Pinkie Pie had been four hours ago, and Rainbow Dash still hadn't found the pegasus known as Frostburn. Let alone convince him to go to Pinkie's party.

Thinking a pegasus would be in the clouds, Dash had scoured the skies, looking for anyone who would match the description her friend gave her. No luck there. So then she flew around town, passing over every road and building without seeing a hint of the pegasus.

Frustrated, Dash flew by one last building, which she doubted very much that Frostburn would show up at. Fluttershy's cottage.

Flying swiftly to the door, Rainbow gave it two concise knocks. A high-pitched peep came from inside the house. No doubt Fluttershy was startled by the sudden house call.

"W-who is it?" The yellow pegasus whispered from inside.

"It's me," Rainbow said.

The door to the house opened slowly to reveal Fluttershy, giving her famous shy smile. "Oh, hi Rainbow Dash. What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for this pegasus. He's got a blue coat and red hair. I don't think you would've seen him." Fluttershy opened her mouth as if she were about to speak. Rainbow, unaware, cut her off. "I mean, I fly all over town, and nopony anywhere has seen him yet. It's like he's invisible or something."

"Rainbow…" Fluttershy said, meekly, not wanting to interrupt.

"How somepony can go through town completely unseen is beyond me. It's like he's trying to not be noticed. You know?"

"Yes, I see your point but Rainbow Dash…"

"He must be trying to be incognito. How else do you explain that?"

"Rainbow Dash, LISTEN!" Fluttershy said in her loudest voice. Even so, Rainbow Dash only just heard her.

"What, Fluttershy?" She asked.

"Is that him over there?" Fluttershy said, pointing off to the side. Following her hoof, Rainbow looked over in the direction of the Everfree Forest. To her surprise, a pony matching Frostburn's exact description was sitting on an old tree stump, just by the entrance.

It was strange now that Rainbow Dash could see him. She had built up in her head this angry, almost villainous pony that would be so low as to hurt Pinkie Pie's feelings. But this pegasus just looked so, normal.

"What the?!" The cyan pegasus said, so shocked she stopped hovering. "How long has he been there?"

Fluttershy blushed, embarrassed. "Oh, um… a couple of hours. He showed up and started reading this book. I didn't approach or anything because I didn't want to be rude."

Rainbow gave a determined, and slightly victorious, grin. "Finally," she said. "I've been hunting him for hours!"

"W-why?" Fluttershy asked.

"He's the only pony in the entire town that doesn't want to show up at Pinkie Pie's party!" Dash said angrily. "And I'm going to change his mind."

"Oh my. Maybe he has a good reason for…"

"Don't defend him Fluttershy!" Dash exclaimed, cutting her off.

"Oh, sorry Rainbow," Fluttershy said, feeling guilty. Dash didn't notice it.

"He's going Pinkie's party; he just doesn't know it yet."

"Oh my, that doesn't sound good. Maybe I shouldn't get involved. Sorry Rainbow." And with that, Fluttershy shut her door and refused to open it again.

Whatever. Dash thought. I can do this without Fluttershy. Dash began racing up to the unsuspecting Frostburn. "Hey you!" She called out. The pegasus looked up from his book, startled. Great, another Egghead. Rainbow thought. She continued yelling. "Yeah, you. I've got a bone to pick with you!"

Frostburn looked terrified. And he should be, thought Rainbow. Instead of facing the oncoming pegasus, he shoved his book crookedly in his saddlebag, and ran. Opening her wings for a chase, Rainbow Dash took off. Flying parallel to the Everfree forest, Dash easily caught up to the running Frostburn.

Passing over his head, and landing in front of him, Dash blocked his path to run. Frostburn skidded to a halt, then turned and ran in the opposite direction. Narrowing her eyes, Dash flew up, and prepared to block his path again. As if he was prepared, Frostburn sped up again, though surprisingly didn't try to fly away. When Dash moved down to block him, Frostburn dug his hind legs into the ground, and swung them in a wide semi-circle. Dirt and dust flew into Rainbow Dash's face, temporarily blinding her.

Frostburn seized the advantage and ran… straight into the Everfree Forest! As the dust cleared Dash hesitated in following him; not quite as eager to venture into the most dangerous place in all of Equestria alone. It was too daring even for her, which is why she wondered why Frostburn did it.

About to turn around and leave, a book caught the corner of Rainbow's eye. It was the very same book that Frostburn had been reading. Likely it had been thrown out of his saddlebag during the escape. Dash picked it off and brushed off the dirt, hoping for a clue about Frostburn. The title caught her off guard.

"Curiosities and Oddities in Equestria History?" Rainbow read, confused. That didn't sound like anything anypony would read. Opening up the cover, Rainbow saw a familiar stamp on the inside.

Property of the Ponyville Library. If found please return.

The Library? Rainbow thought. What does Twilight know about this?

Let the Shouting Commence

Thursday Night

Chapter Four – Twilight Sparkle

"Thank Celestia those infernal cramps are gone," Twilight said, sipping some more tea, and turning a page in her old magical studies textbook.

"Yeah, your groaning was becoming unbearable," Spike replied, setting down three more books on the desk next to Twilight. She smiled at his remark. "I mean, they could probably hear it all the way in Manehattan, it was so loud!" The purple dragon chuckled at his own joke.

"Okay Spike, that's enough," Twilight told him, not quite as amused. That only seemed to make Spike laugh more.

When he did calm down, he asked. "Are you sure that's all you need for tonight?"

Twilight surveyed all the books, parchments, inkwells, and quills in front of her. "This'll be fine. I plan to just finish a few more books tonight then turn in."

Spike yawned, a tad overdramatically. "Well, I think I'll hit the hay." He said, making for the stairs. "See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Spike," Twilight called as he vanished upstairs. The purple mare found a comfortable position in her chair and prepared to sit for the next few hours with her books, and some peace.

Two seconds later that ended.

Rainbow Dash came bursting through the door in a huff, looking really peeved. "Twilight!" she said loudly.

"Rainbow," Twilight said, irked her quiet night just tanked. "You know you're always welcome here, but it's a little late for…"

"Twilight, what is the meaning, of this!" Rainbow held something up, clearly angry about it.

"It's a book Dash."

Looking annoyed, the cyan pegasus removed her hoof so Twilight could see the title.

"Wait a minute," Twilight said, standing. "That's the book I loaned to…"

"Frostburn. I know," Rainbow said, looking somewhat guilty.

"What happened?" Twilight asked. Rainbow Dash told her everything that had happened since Pinkie Pie met up with her earlier in the day. She spared no details, and by the time she reached the end, Twilight was shocked to say the least.

"You chased him into the EVERFREE FOREST!" She screamed. "WHY IN EQUESTRIA WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"

Dash yelled right back. "BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T COME TO PINKIE PIE'S PARTY, THAT'S WHY!"

Twilight answered with an equal amount of rage. "YOU CAN'T JUST CHASE PONIES INTO THE EVERFREE FOREST! BESIDES, I CONVINCED HIM TO GO TO THE PARTY WHEN HE BORROWED THE BOOK!"

Suddenly Pinkie Pie was bounding into the library. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS ARE HAVING A SHOUTING PARTY WITHOUT ME!" The pink mare was not quite angry; it was more like she was excited to be a part of the screaming hysteria.

"Pinkie!" Twilight said. "What are you doing here?"

Pinkie gave Twilight a look and said. "You guys woke up half of Ponyville with your shouting. See!" Pinkie gestured to the door to reveal many of the local residents had been woken by the argument. Lights were on in every building, and some ponies had wandered in the streets to find out what was going on.

Sheepishly, both Twilight and Rainbow Dash shrunk back inside, embarrassed.

"Wait a minute," Pinkie said, coming to terms with what she'd just heard. "You held a book hostage to get Frostburn to come to my party?" She accused, turning to Twilight.

"Well… yes," Twilight said, fearing the wrath of Pinkie Pie.

Turning to Rainbow Dash, Pinkie said. "And you chased him to the Everfree Forest, for the same reason?"

"Uh, kind of. I might've done something like that," Rainbow mumbled, with an equal amount of fear.

Moving against both ponies, Pinkie Pie backed them up against the wall, seemingly ready to give them both hell. At the last possible second, though, a smile broke out on her face.

"You guys are such great friends!" She exclaimed, embracing the two of them.

"Heh, thanks Pinkie," Rainbow said a little unnerved.

"Yeah, no problem," Twilight said, feeling the same way. "But Frostburn's still trapped in the Everfree Forest because of it."

Releasing her friends from the hug, the realization dawned on Pinkie Pie. She gasped. "We have to save him! Being trapped in the Everfree Forest means he won't be able to come to my party!" Both Rainbow and Twilight were surprised by Pinkie's priorities. "Oh, right, yeah." She said. "The whole imminent death thing is a bummer too." With that she galloped out of the library.

"Alright then. Let's go save Frostburn," Rainbow declared, flying out after her friend.

Twilight followed them, completely frazzled by the direction her evening went.

The entrance to the Everfree Forest looked even more haunting at nightfall. The eerie sounds of rough wilderness reverberated through the night. Without time to round up the rest of the Mane Six, Twilight felt even more nervous about their effort to save Frostburn.

"Right about here," Rainbow said, pointing her hoof. "This is where he galloped into the forest."

"Don't worry Frosty, we'll save you!" Pinkie yelled into the bleak expanse.

Twilight nodded "Alright girls, let's go."

The three ponies galloped into the forest, determined to find the missing stallion. Darkness quickly loomed in, but Twilight created purple light with her horn so they could see. Even with her illumination spell, Twilight still couldn't see too far ahead.

The search started horribly. For nearly twenty minutes the trio of mares stumbled around, calling Frostburn's name, and looking around aimlessly. Twilight tried widening her beam of light as they went on, but in the moment it took her to concentrate, her hoof was ensnared by a root, and she fell over.

"Ahh!" she said, hitting the ground, her light flicking off.

"Hey, who turned out the lights?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Sorry Pinkie," Twilight said. She lit up her horn again. Before standing up, Twilight noticed some irregular marks on the ground. The realization quickly dawned on her. "Girls, look! Hoofprints!" She called out. Pinkie and Rainbow ran over to her.

Pinkie's eyes became glued to the ground, following the prints. "These have to be Frostburn's!" She said. "Either that or some other pony got lost in the forest. But that would mean we'd have to find two ponies now, which is a lot more work."

"I'm pretty sure they belong to Frostburn," Rainbow Dash said, helping Twilight up.

"Oh, okay." Pinkie said. "Good thing you know what his hooves look like," Not waiting for a response, the party pony began to follow the prints.

"Hey, I wasn't staring at his hooves, if that's what you're implying!" Rainbow protested, but Pinkie was already on the move. Instead, Rainbow turned back to Twilight. "I wasn't." The cyan pegasus clarified. The pink mare laughed a little at the remark, then trotted to keep up with Pinkie. "I wasn't staring at his hooves!" Rainbow protested, following.

"Hey girls, look at this!" Pinkie shouted from up ahead. Twilight and Rainbow Dash hurried to catch up to Pinkie. When they found her, the pink mare was pointing at more hoofprints. "I was just following them until I came across something really weird! And not the good kind of weird either, more like the kind that makes you want to…"

"Pinkie Pie! Just tell us already," Twilight said.

Pinkie laughed. "Why tell you, when I can show you." She said, indicating where the hoofprints led to. Twilight couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the trail of Frostburn led to the most unexpected place in the entire Everfree Forest.

Zecorah's hut.

Who's Behind the Door?

Chapter Five – Pinkie Pie

Crazy was usually a good thing. Pinkie got called crazy on a daily bases. She never took it as an insult, because she loved being crazy. The best part was when even she didn't know what was she was going to do next.

Tonight was not the good kind of crazy. And Pinkie Pie certainly did not like not knowing what was going to happen next. If only she had convinced Frostburn to come to her party earlier in the day, she wouldn't have dragged her friends into this big mess.

Zecorah's hut sat in the distance. The very presence of the hoofprints raised a thousand questions for Pinkie. She sincerely hoped Frosty was there to clarify.

"You think he just wandered to Zecorah's place?" Rainbow Dash asked, breaking the silence.

Twilight shook her head. "His footprints were a clear path here. Frostburn knew where he was going."

"That pegasus told me he didn't have any friends." Pinkie said, irked. "Now I find out he's known Zecorah this whole time!"

"Slow down Pinkie." Twilight said. "They may not even know each other. But then…" She trailed off lost in thought. Somewhere nearby timber wolves howled. "We should go inside and see Zecorah."

"You scared?" Rainbow asked with a smirk.

"Aren't you?" Pinkie asked. Her Pinkie sense kicked in. An all over shudder.

"Oh no." Twilight said. Rainbow looked shocked. All three knew what a shudder meant.

Something completely unexpected was about to happen. A real dosey.

"Let's get inside." Rainbow suggested.

Allowing herself a smirk, Twilight replied, "You scared?" Pinkie shuddered again. Dash actually nodded.

Without anymore hesitation, the three trotted up to the door to the hut of their zebra friend. Zecorah was still awake, a faint glow from inside told them that much. Pinkie raised a hoof, and knocked on the door, hoping Zecorah would answer. Movement was heard from the other side of the mahogany.

"Who is there, knocking so late? A housecall at this hour is not great!" The familiar rhyming voice called from the inside.

"Zecorah, its Pinkie! And I'm here with Rainbow and Twilight. Can we please come in?" Pinkie said.

The door was quickly unlatched and opened. "Ah, my friends from Ponyville. Let you in, of course I will!" Zecorah stepped aside to allow the three ponies in. Pinkie zoomed right by Zecorah, expecting to see Frostburn somewhere inside. Rainbow Dash was just as fast. Twilight was more reserved, and walked in politely.

Zecorah's hut was everything they remembered it to be. The exotic decorations hung on the walls, symbols in the zebra's native language covered the scrolls she kept open, tonics lined the shelves and the smell of mahogany was powerful.

Surprised to say the least, Zecorah spoke as Pinkie rummaged around looking for Frostburn. "I am glad to see you three here, but visiting in the middle of the night is a little queer."

"Sorry Zecorah, but we've been looking for a pony that's gone missing in the Everfree forest, and then we found hoofprints leading to your hut." Twilight explained, looking around. "We were kind of hoping he'd be here."

"I haven't given up yet." Pinkie declared, poking her head into some of Zecorah's pottery. "Frostburn! You in here?"

"You won't find Frostburn in this place." Zecorah told Pinkie as her head came out of the pottery. "He left with a great haste."

All three ponies were stunned by Zecorah's revelation. "What do you mean, he left?" Rainbow asked, peeved. "Did we seriously miss him?"

"The pony of ice and flames stopped by. Then left, almost as soon as he said hi."

"Pony of ice and flames?" Twilight repeated, confused.

"Zecorah, do you know Frostburn?" Pinkie asked.

"He and I met in years past. Sadly a friendship would not last." Zecorah admitted.

"Zecorah, we have to find him. Can you tell us what you know?" Twilight said.

"My old acquaintance asked for the direction, to leave this forest's lack of protection. I pointed him to the west and told him that way is best. You may catch up to him soon, with the light from the moon." The zebra relayed.

"Then let's go!" Pinkie cried. The three turned to leave. "Thank you Zecorah!" the party pony called back.

Zecorah called out, "My pony friends don't yet go. There is one more thing you need to know!"

The three friends skidded to a halt, crashing into one another at the doorway.

"Well what is it then?" Rainbow asked disentangling herself.

"Long ago, Frostburn warned me he was under a curse and for ponies who stayed around him, the danger became worse!"

"A curse?" Twilight said, skeptical. She had dealt with supposed curses before, and ruled them out as illogical.  She began wondering what could be afflicting Frostburn, and why he considered it a curse.

"That must be why he doesn't want friends." Pinkie said. "That's just horrible! We've got to help him."

"What exactly was this curse?" Twilight said, still in denial.

"That was a topic he never talked about. It's up to you three to draw it out. Do not fear being too rough, that pegasus' guard is very tough." Zecorah said.

"Rough, got it." Rainbow said.

Pinkie was hit with another shudder, her sixth sense warning her of impending unexpectedness. This time it lasted longer, giving Pinkie more information. When it ended, Rainbow and Twilight eyed her, eager for an update. "Girls, I think know where the dosey is going to happen. Sweet Apple Acres!" Pinkie said.

"Frostburn must be headed in that direction." Twilight deduced.

"I'll see you there!" Rainbow Dash said, and launched herself into flight to chase after Frostburn.

"Rainbow, wait!" Twilight yelled too late. The cyan pegasus was gone before anypony in the room had blinked. "We have to go." Twilight told Pinkie. As they ran out, Pinkie turned to Zecorah one last time.

"Thanks for everything." She said.

"It was not trouble, my friend. Now find Frostburn, and put this mystery to an end." The zebra said, waving.

Pinkie nodded, shuddered again, and ran out.

Don't Buck with My Apples

Chapter Six – Applejack

Sleep had eluded Applejack for the past few hours. She tossed and turned in her bed, with little to do but think. Not enough on the farm had been that day, so she and Big Mac would have to clear the entire southern field tomorrow. Not a pleasant thought.

The farmer rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. It was rare that she was kept awake at night. It seemed the impending deadline was enough to give her insomnia, but she doubted it. It was more of a weird feeling that something was wrong.

Her blankets felt hot, so she kicked them off, and then rolled on her side, facing her open window. There wasn't any wind tonight, so noise wasn't keeping her up. AJ felt cold again and covered herself with the blankets.

Then Applejack noticed movement in between the trees. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Nothing. About to dismiss it, she noticed the movement again. "Couldn't be the wind." She whispered. "It's just about as still as it can be."

The movement happened again, this time Applejack could see it was a figure moving between the apple trees. "Trespassers." She growled. "And probably apple thieves too." Standing, Applejack grabbed the hat she set on her night stand and put it on.

Moving fast, she ran right by Big Mac's room, the noise rousing him from sleep. Mac decided to see what his little sister was up too, and got out of bed as well. Applebloom and Granny Smith were spared an awakening.

As for AJ, she was downstairs, ready to burst out the door when she remembered her lasso. Stopping to grab it allowed Big Mac to catch up to her. He didn't need to say anything; he just gave the orange pony an inquisitive look.

"Trespassers." Applejack said, tightening her lasso. "You gonna help me?" she asked him, no clarification needed.

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh said eyes narrowed as he began stretching out for a fight. The two siblings made their way out of the farmhouse and into the orchard. Applejack started galloping to the spot she last saw the figure. Big Mac followed close behind.

Scanning for even the slightest movement among the trees, Applejack saw the figure running up ahead.

"There he is!" Applejack told Big Mac. The figure turned its head, then sprinted off. Big Mac ran right after it. "Chase him around back." Applejack yelled, keeping pace. "We'll corner 'im in the south field!" Her brother nodded, then turned to outflank the intruder.

It didn't take long to chase the figure into the south fields. Now how to stop him became the real challenge.

Mac maneuvered to the left side of the figure, now obviously a pony, and slammed his body into him. The trespassing pony fell back, but smoothly stood up again to face Big Mac. The red stallion turned, and used his hind legs for a powerful buck aimed at the intruder's head. The pony was too fast and ducked.

The force from the buck pulled Big Mac over, slamming his legs into a nearby tree. The entire trunk shook, and apples fell down, pelting both ponies. Recovering quickly, the strange figure raised a hoof, ready to attack Big Mac.

Applejack twirled her lasso and threw. It sailed through the air and hooked onto the intruder's front hoof. AJ pulled, bringing the pony down. Big Mac prepared another buck, aimed at the head. Again the trespasser dodged it, using Applejack's pull with his own leap to practically fly over and slam into the orange mare.

When she recovered, Applejack got her first good look at the intruder. Wings marked him as a pegasus, and the blue coat made Applejack assume it was Rainbow Dash trying to stir up trouble. The red tips of the wing, and similarly colored mane disproved her theory.

Acting on impulse, Applejack slammed the pegasus into a tree and held him with her hoof. "Alright you, Ah'm gonna make ya wish you'd never been born."

Moonlight broke through the trees, lighting up the pegasus' face. His teeth were clenched, and his bronze-tinted eyes looked pretty scared. But that wasn't all. This stallion looked like he had a way out, but he didn't want to use it.

Applejack wasn't sure what that really meant.

"Just let me go now, I don't want to have to hurt you." He said, sounding sincere, yet not threatening.

Applejack didn't care either way. "I'd like to see you try." She dared him. "It doesn't seem like you'll be hurting anypony at the moment, seeing how Ah have the upper hoof." To prove her point, AJ pressed the stallion into the tree harder, eliciting a grunt of pain.

The pegasus pinned to the tree looked around. Big Mac was coming back, ready to assist Applejack. The pegasus weighed his options. But Applejack was pretty sure he'd surrender given the odds. She raised her hoof ready to finish the fight.

That's when the pegasus whispered, "Celestia forgive me."

Above the fight, Rainbow Dash had been flying frantically fast over Sweet Apple Acres. Looking down, she watched as three ponies fought. One was clearly Big Mac due to his size alone. Another one suddenly threw a lasso. It had to be Applejack.

-\-

Rainbow was also pretty sure about the third one too, but it wasn't until Applejack pushed him against a tree, and moonlight revealed his face that his identity was confirmed. Frostburn. Applejack raised her hoof ready to strike the red-maned stallion.

Without even thinking, she cried out. "AJ, stop!"

-\-

"Celestia forgive me." Had Applejack heard right? That wasn't at all what crooks said when they got caught. They made threats, or begged to be let go. Praying for forgiveness made no sense to the simple farmer.

The pegasus she held gave a face of regret. Faintly Applejack heard someone screaming for her to stop. Wait just an apple bucking minute. She thought. Is that…

Just then, the pegasus snapped his wings out…

And the world exploded.

Through the Fire and Flames

Chapter Seven – Rainbow Dash

Fire engulfed Sweet Apple Acres. And all Rainbow Dash could do was watch in horror.

Down below, Applejack was thrown back by the sheer force of the inferno, which left burns covering her entire body. Big Mac fared no better. Apple trees were incinerated by the fire ball that now engulfed Frostburn.

Barely avoiding the explosion unscathed, Rainbow hovered in awe at the destruction. The raging inferno had reached its peak, and now grew smaller by the second. It was still the size of a house though.

The cyan pegasus immediately swooped down to check on AJ and Big Macintosh. They looked severely burned, AJ's favorite hat was ashy and soot covered, her mane, though still existent, was singed black in most places. Her usual orange coat was covered in red and pink burn marks. Her left, hind leg had puss coming out of it.

Rainbow nearly threw up. Upon glancing at Big Mac, she did throw up.

The stallion looked far worse than his sister. One leg was completely bent out of shape, on account of being slammed into a tree. His coat was burnt and charred, mane smoking and covered in ash. One eye was swollen shut, and he wheezed with every breath.

At least he's breathing. Dash thought. The fireball beside her was almost burnt out, but heat was still radiating from it, causing the cyan pegasus to sweat. Ignoring the heat, she cradled Applejack's head, unsure of what to do.

"Rainbow! What in Equestria happened?" Twilight and Pinkie rushed forward, after finally catching up to Rainbow Dash. Only they were all too late.

"What happened to Applejack and Big Mac?" Pinkie cried.

"We need to get them to Ponyville Hospital, now!" Twilight said.

Rainbow nodded, and noticed that the blaze was finally gone. Expecting to see the charred body of Frostburn, if there was any body at all; Rainbow looked as the smoked cleared.

Instead what the ponies saw shocked them all.

Frostburn was standing on the scorched earth, wings extended, body ignited in flames, eyes glowing a fierce red.

"That's not possible." Dash said. Twilight didn't know what to say.

"Uh, Frostburn…" Pinkie attempted to say. The glowing red eyes of Frostburn flickered back to bronze irises. He gripped his head as if in extreme pain. A sharp shriek of agony rang out. Then the red glow returned. A fireball formed in his hoof, which Frostburn flung directly at Pinkie.

She shrieked, but at the last moment Twilight threw up a force field. The flames smashed into the shield, leaving the ponies it guarded unharmed.

"Twilight, Pinkie, you have to get these two to safety." Rainbow said, indicating the wounded farmer ponies.

"What are you going to do?" Pinkie asked, terrified.

Dash looked her pink friend dead in the eye. "I'm going to stop him." She said.

"But Rainbow you can't…" Pinkie started. Twilight stopped her by teleporting the four of them away in a blinding flash of light. They were out of the farm, and hopefully at the hospital.

Dash turned to stare at Frostburn, or rather, what used to be Frostburn. His red eyes held her gaze.

Time stood still.

Then a fire ball was hurled at Rainbow Dash.

The force field was long gone, causing Dash to duck to the side, just missing the blaze. "That all you got?" She cried at the burning pegasus. He prepared another fireball.

Knowing she couldn't dodge forever, Dash opened her wings and flew off. The wisp of flames in Frostburn's hoof died down. His eyes followed Rainbow Dash's flying, before using his own wings to take off in pursuit.

-\-

Twilight, Pinkie, and the Apple siblings flashed into Ponyville Hospital. A nearby nurse whinnied in shock. Twilight, exhausted after teleporting four ponies a great distance, collapsed on the floor. Only Pinkie could speak.

"What? Where are we Twilight?" She asked.

"Hospital…teleport…uhh.." Twilight passed out. Pinkie looked at the startled nurse.

"Please you have to help my friends." She pleaded. The nurse, upon taking a single look, knew all three of the unconscious ponies needed medical attention. She immediately called some nearby doctors, and the carefully moved the injured into the urgent care unit. Pinkie unfortunately could not follow. Instead she was forced to pace around the tiled floor of the waiting room, hoping her friends would pull through.

She also couldn't help but wonder what had become of Rainbow Dash and Frostburn. Had the snow blue pegasus caused that fire somehow? Most likely, given what he seemed capable of now, but how was it possible? Would Rainbow be okay left alone with him? What was with those glowing red eyes that seemed to breathe hatred?

The worst part was, Pinkie couldn't help but think that it was all her fault.

-\-

Rainbow soared through the night, the blazing pegasus close behind her. So close in fact, that Rainbow could smell the singing hair of her tail.

Two more fire balls whizzed past Dash's head. Risking a glance, she saw another coming right for her. Twisting in mid-air, she narrowly evaded it, and the fire smashed into a drifting cloud.

Dash needed to be more careful, while she was in front of Frostburn, she had no way of knowing when his attacks would come. What she needed was a rain cloud.

Scanning the sky, while simultaneously dodging the onslaught of fire, Dash mercifully found a small cluster of clouds up ahead.

Zooming forward, she gathered them up and pressed them into a single raincloud. Just then, Frostburn was gaining on her, nearly ready to collide. Hoping her impromptu plan would work, Dash unleashed as much rainwater from the cloud and sent it at the attacking pegasus.

It did no good. Frostburn's fire was so hot that it evaporated the rain water before it got even got close. He simply kept flying toward Rainbow. To buy time, she hurled what remained of the raincloud at her attacker and flew off.

Frostburn sliced through the cloud without a problem and accelerated toward Dash. Even going as fast as she could, Rainbow Dash could still not outpace Frostburn as he pulled up alongside her.

He crashed into the cyan pegasus repeatedly, attempting to knock her out of the sky. Even with the flaming body repeatedly hitting her, giving her burn marks of her own, Dash held firm.

She banked right, and grabbed the nearest cloud she could. This time, she slammed her hooves into the cloud causing lighting to shoot out. Frostburn avoided every bolt that came his way. Then he formed another fireball and took aim at Rainbow.

Without much time, Rainbow Dash hurled the cloud at the oncoming fireball. The two collided in mid air and exploded. Frostburn flew right through the explosion, unfazed. Dash flew off. The chase resumed.

Below, the citizens of Ponyville watched in alarm and confusion at the aerial battle taking place above their heads. Some panicked and fled. Others stood frozen in horror. The rest passed out in shock or fear.

Realizing he needed a new approach, the fire pegasus launched ahead with tremendous speed, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. Dash had no hope of catching up, but she tried anyway, pushing her limit.

Suddenly, Frostburn began to circle Dash in mid-air. Before she even knew what was happening, Dash was caught in a violent, flaming cyclone. Thrown back and forth by the force of Frostburn's cyclone, Dash felt powerless. Her back became scorched, and the feathers on her wings slowly began to burn into nothing. If she didn't fly out soon, Dash was likely not to have any wings to fly with.

Without warning, Frostburn slammed into her, this time sending her falling back down to Ponyville, which by that time they were directly over.

Dash had only one thought before slamming into the ground. This is all my fault.

Keep the Fire Burnin' (Or Not)

Chapter Eight – Pinkie Pie

Twilight had finally woken up. The nurse had told Pinkie that, moments ago. Without even asking for permission, Pinkie had galloped right through the ER and found Twilight lying down in a hospital bed. She looked very tired, and her usually lavender coat was very pale. Even so, she managed to smile when Pinkie came in her room.

"Hey Pinkie…" Was all Twilight could manage before the pink mare cut her off with a bear hug.

"Oh Twilight I'm so glad your okay!" Pinkie practically sobbed.

"Thanks…Pinkie…now please….stop hugging me!" Twilight got out. Pinkie released her friend, blushing a little.

"I'm sorry Twilight." then, "This is all my fault." She said, on the brink of tears.

Twilight looked at her friend. "Pinkie, you can't possibly blame all this on yourself." She said.

"But it's true." Pinkie said. "None of this would have happened if I hadn't tried so hard to be Frostburn's friend."

Twilight shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense, Pinkie."

"Of course it doesn't. I'm Pinkie!" She cried. Twilight might've laughed if the situation had been better.

"Pinkie, don't feel bad about this. We had no idea what could have possibly come from trying to get Frostburn to your party."

Pinkie didn't look the least bit consoled. "I can't even have the party now. Not with so many of my friends in the hospital. And how could we have left Rainbow Dash to fight that…that…" Pinkie, for once in her life, was at a loss for words.

"Frostburn." Twilight said. The name sounded heinous as she said it. An unknown entity, unlike anything they had fought before. And Dash was facing it all by herself. "Without AJ, we can't hope to try the Elements of Harmony."

"I don't even know where Rarity and Fluttershy might be." Pinkie said, dismal. "This isn't good Twilight. I can't find one positive spin on this. Not one." Her hair straightened as guilt weighed down heavily on the party pony.

Sitting up, still a tad dizzy, Twilight put her hoof around Pinkie's shoulder. "We'll figure this out. Besides, Dash is tough, I'm sure she'll…"

Before the purple unicorn could console her friend further, an explosion from outside rocked the hospital. Turning to the window, Pinkie saw a storm of fire above Ponyville. In the center of the burning torrent, a cyan pegasus seemed to be constantly thrown back and forth. Twilight got a worried look on her face. "Rainbow…" she said, trailing off.

Suddenly, Pinkie felt her tail twitch. Then, to the misfortune of both ponies, they saw Rainbow Dash thrown from cyclone, and slam into the ground as Pinkie's tail had predicted.

"We have to help her!" Pinkie screamed. Almost as fast as she arrived, Pinkie left the hospital. Twilight left too, but she hadn't yet gotten her energy back and was lagging behind.

By now all of Ponyville was awake, and outside, causing a panic. Pinkie Pie didn't stop for anyone. She had to get to Rainbow. Above her head, Frostburn was turning his cyclone into a full-blown tornado. The inferno hit the town hard, incinerating three houses when it touched down. Half of Ponyville was running away, while others tried to fight the fire with anything they could. Not that garden hoses and watering pails would be very effective.

Pinkie finally reached her pegasus friend. Rainbow had yet to climb out of the small crater her fall had caused. Fearing the worst, Pinkie went to her friend. After a moment, Rainbow Dash coughed, and sat up, looking very defeated.

"Pinkie…" She coughed out. "I'm so sorry…It's all my fault"

"It's more my fault than yours." Pinkie argued. "I shouldn't have tried so hard to get Frostburn to come to my party."

"And I chased him into the Everfree Forest." Dash said.

The flaming tornado was raging in a path towards the two ponies. Already Pinkie could feel the heat on her face. They wouldn't have enough time to get away.

"I guess now where both going to die because of it." She said. Looking up, she saw that the tornado was about to hit them. Both mares shut their eyes and waited for the inevitable.

But it didn't come.

Opening their eyes, Pinkie and Rainbow saw Twilight standing above them, holding a force field to keep the torching twister at bay. The lavender mare struggled to hold her magic together, still a little weak, but no less determined. Pinkie's hair poofed out as she realized they may still have a chance.

The tornado dissipated into thin air. Surprised, the three ponies saw Frostburn drifting down in front of the force field.

"Frostburn!" Pinkie cried at him. "You stop this right now! Friends do not burn down other friends' towns!" If the fire pegasus heard Pinkie, he made no move to acknowledge it. Instead, pelted the forced field with a barrage of flames.

"Pinkie! Don't do that, you'll just make him angrier!" Said Twilight as she desperately tried to hold the shield together. "Listen, I have an idea. Can you keep Frostburn on the ground for a few minutes?"

Looking from the struggling Twilight to the beaten down Rainbow Dash, Pinkie thought carefully. "Yes." She said, unsure if she could, but knowing she couldn't fail.

"Alright, get ready." Twilight said. At that moment, the fiery assault let up for just a moment. Twilight dropped the shield and moved off to the side, preparing a new spell. Pinkie jumped into Frostburn's line of sight.

"Hey, Frosty!" She yelled. "Consider yourself uninvited to my party!" The glowing red eyes held no expression, but Frostburn shot fire in her direction.

With her Pinkie Sense, she had already known his intentions and dodged with plenty of time. "Missed me Frosty!" she teased. Again the fire shot at Pinkie. This time she merely side stepped it.

Glancing at Twilight, Pinkie could see the unicorn producing massive amounts of magic in her horn. Before Pinkie could wonder what the plan was, the Ponyville water tower floated into view. Pinkie got a grin as she realized Twilight's plan. That water tower had already vanquished an Ursa Minor, surely it could extinguish Frostburn.

The fire pegasus had also noticed the water tower as it was levitated into view. He shot a beam of fire at it, in an attempt to stop its course. At that moment, Twilight released the water inside. The gallons of ice cold liquid rushed free from its container, vanquishing the en route fire blast, and dousing Frostburn.

As the steam cleared, Frostburn swayed slightly, his flames completely extinguished. Slowly his wings folded back into his sides, and his eyes once again flickered back to their bronze tinting. Then he slumped over, unconscious.

Twilight set the water tower down gently. Pinkie rushed over to her, keeping her from falling down.

"You did it!" Pinkie said. Twilight grinned, and steadied herself. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike suddenly came running over to them, happy to see that their friends were still alive.

"Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike, I'm so glad you guys are okay!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Twilight that was amazing!" Spike said ecstatically.

"Yes, I thought so too." Rarity said. "But I am curious as to what happened here."

"Yeah," Spike said. "What's been going on?"

"It's a long story." Rainbow Dash said, still in the crater. Rarity and Fluttershy both turned to her. "A really long story."

"Oh my, Rainbow do you need help?" Fluttershy asked concerned. Dash nodded, relieved that this whole mess seemed to be over with.

"Definitely, just don't go spreading it around that I couldn't beat that pegasus. I don't need something like that wreaking my rep."

"There's no shame in it." Twilight said. "Did you see his command of fire? It was at an unreal level."

"Why do I seem to miss all the excitement around here?" Rarity complained. "I at least hope somepony can vividly tell me what in Equestria has been going on."

"Look, we'll have plenty of time to explain everything." Twilight said, exhausted from the fight. "But I think right now, we should go back to the hospital."

"Okie Dokie Lokie!" Pinkie Pie said, feeling a little happier now that the crisis was averted. "But what are we going to do about him?" She said, indicating the unconscious Frostburn.

The ponies all looked at each other, none really sure what to do with the dangerous pegasus. Clearly he couldn't be allowed to leave after the things he'd done, but Ponyville didn't exactly have a penitentiary, what with the lack of crime and all.

"I have an idea." Twilight said.

Awakening

Friday Morning

Chapter Nine – Frostburn

He woke up, but did not open his eyes. It was a habit of his to explore surroundings without his sight, mainly because he was used to waking up in dark gutters, and the occasional lightless dungeon. Just like he assumed he was in now.

His sense of touch sprang into action first. Restraints, cast iron chains to be exact, were clamped down on each hoof. His wings had been tied so he couldn't open them. That part he didn't mind. In fact if he could just walk around with his wings permanently tied down, without the slightest chance of them opening, that'd be great. But it drew too much attention.

What Frostburn found odd- no not odd, very weird- was that he seemed to be on a bed. A comfortable spring mattress, sheets included. Probably the most comfortable dungeon he'd ever been in. Maybe it wasn't so bad this time. He thought. Maybe no one got hurt. Though he very much doubted it.

When his sense of smell kicked in, he was sure that he was not in a prison cell. The air smelled clean, not quite so fresh, more like it was sterilized. Hospital, he deduced. It had to be. But why was he in a hospital?  Had he hurt himself when it happened? No part of him seemed in pain though.  Very curious.

His ears began functioning at this point. Muffled voices were coming from outside his room. Approximately five or six ponies, none of them too sounding too happy. Focusing his attention, he could just barely make out what they were saying.

"It's a mess out there!" An angry mare's voice shouted. "Half the town has been burned to the ground and you want to let him talk?"

So it had been fire last night. Fire was always the worst. Frostburn's memories of the previous night got very hazy after leaving the Everfree forest. He decided to listen some more, hoping the information would fill the gaps in his mind.  He wasn't sure he would like what he was about to hear.

"Ah hafta agree with Rainbow, Twi. The farm's southern fields are nothin but ash, and Big Mac still ain't awake yet."

A farm. Yes, he remembered a farm. That's where the Zecorah had pointed him too. He also remembered an encounter with two Earth ponies there. He assumed one of them was currently outside. That must have been when I went off.  Frostburn thought.  That's the last memory that isn't fuzzy.

"I know it's bad, but he deserves a chance to explain himself." That voice. It was the voice of the librarian who gave him the book of Equestrian oddities. What did she have to do with this? He thought back to last night again, trying to remember. There was something, a purple unicorn maybe. The librarian was a purple unicorn. In his memories he saw her using magic. He continued listening. "I've contacted Princess Celestia." The Librarian said. "She's on her way, but she wrote that Frostburn deserves a trial with due process."

His eyes snapped open when he heard that. The Princess is coming here? He thought. That wasn't good. He had already had a run in with the Princess a long time ago, and that had ended horribly… Well, there wouldn't be a trial or a dungeon if he was still here upon her arrival.

"I still think it's a bad idea, Twilight." A voice which he linked to the name Rainbow said. "He could go berserk again and do even more damage!"

It seemed to Frostburn that there would be two outcomes. The majority would convince the librarian to have him executed; or the princess would arrive, recognize him, and she would have him executed.

Time to go. He thought. Looking down at his chains, he could see they were old, and rarely used, which had caused lots of rust. From experience, he knew rusty chains were the easiest to break out of. With his front hooves, Frostburn gripped the chains and twisted them back and forth. The rusty links snapped open without too much difficulty. Wincing slightly at the noise it had made, he began prying off the cuffs as the conversation continued.

"Maybe he, umm, had a good reason for… well…" A timid voice said in his defense.

"Well I simply cannot fathom what reason gave him the right to lay waste to our town." Another voice said.

Frostburn moved on to the next set of chains. They were slightly tougher, and didn't succumb to his twisting technique.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure we'll find out when he wakes up." The Librarian said.

Biting down on the chains, Frostburn yanked and twisted them with great ferocity. They broke this time, and slid right off his hooves.

"Ah don't care what reason he had. He burnt down Sweet Apple Acres! Applebloom and Granny Smith weren't even sure we were still alive! They showed up this morning certain Big Mac and me were dead."

Biting through the ropes on his back, Frostburn freed his wings, but didn't dare open them despite their soreness. He moved off the hospital bed slowly, careful not to alert the ponies just outside.  The spring mattress creaked as his weight left it.

"Don't worry AJ. Big Mac will get better. And besides, I'm sure Frosty will want to make right what he's done." That cheery voice belonged to Pinkie Pie, Frostburn remembered. She had been at the train station when he arrived the other day. It didn't matter though, he had to get out of the town and quickly. Looking around, he saw a window at the back of the room.

"He better," The voice that belonged to Rainbow said. "And if not, I'm ready for round two!"

Round two? He thought. Had he fought Rainbow last night? His head hurt as he struggled to remember. There was something about flying through the air. Another pony was there too. A blue pegasus. In his memories they did appear to be fighting. He sighed. No round two. I never wanted a round one.

Frostburn made it to the window. He tried to open it, but it was locked.

"We should probably check on him anyway." The Librarian said. The icy blue pegasus fumbled with the lock, but it wouldn't budge. There was no hope to escape. The door knob turned, as Frostburn sat down and prepared for a lot of explaining.

As the door opened, the six ponies gasped as they saw Frostburn's empty bed and broken cuffs.

"The chains were a little unnecessary." He said, ad-libbing. Six shocked heads turned to him. "And really ineffective."

Background Check

Chapter Ten – Twilight Sparkle

"Umm, apparently." Twilight said, shocked. She couldn't believe that Frostburn had broken out of the restraints they'd set up. The blue pegasus smiled innocently, enjoying control of the situation. He looked about as unprepared as Twilight felt, but he was attempting to come off as arrogant. Twilight was unsure of what to do. A potentially dangerous pony was now loose, and could probably overpower all six of them if things went bad.

"Why you little…" Rainbow Dash prepared to charge the pegasus. Coming to her senses, Twilight put a hoof in Dash's path to block her.

"We have to wait." Twilight reminded her. "We're listening to what he has to say, remember?"

Frostburn nodded. "That's right, Celestia's orders." He said, almost mockingly. Twilight was shocked again.

"Now how in tar nation did you know that?" Applejack exclaimed from her wheelchair. Her bandaged leg prevented her from walking or standing, so when she was well enough to be moved the doctor insisted on the rolling contraption. Twilight knew that Applejack hated it.

Aside from the leg, bandages decorated the better part of AJ's body, covering every burn, and making movement difficult, but staying still uncomfortable.

"Well you were talking pretty loud." Frostburn said. "Now, I assume you have questions."

"Well yeah," Twilight said. In fact she had hundreds. She just hadn't had the time to organize them into a list, so she wasn't sure were to start. Her friends were.

"Why did you burn down Sweet Apple Acres?" AJ started.

"What's with the freaky eyeball glowy thingy?" Pinkie followed up.

"Why did you attack us?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"And why did you invoke an onslaught on Ponyville?" Rarity finished.

Fluttershy looked like she wanted to add something, but was too shy to speak over her friends. Instead she just backed up, afraid of what Frostburn might do.

"And what about the fire?" Twilight managed. "Since when do pegasi have such control over fire?"

Frostburn waited, making sure there were no more questions. Then he spoke.

"It's a very long story." He said. The Mane Six leaned in, prepared to have all their questions answered. Twilight was anxious to learn everything.

"My father was late to my birth…"

Rainbow Dash groaned, unwilling to sit through Frostburn's entire life story which was apparently coming.

"…which was probably what started it all." Frostburn said, annoyed by Rainbow. "You see, my mother… had an affair. I wasn't born a pegasus like my mother or her husband. I was born a unicorn."

Scattered cries of disbelieve and shock rippled through the Mane Six.

"It's true." Frostburn said when they had calmed down. "My real father was a unicorn surgeon from the hospital I was born at. Since my mom's husband wasn't at the hospital when I was born, she and my biological father began to panic. They were probably worried about his temper, and uh… more violent tendencies. As a temporary solution, they did this…" To indicate what "this" was Frostburn moved the hair form his mane out of the way, revealing a stump that used to be a unicorn horn. It had been sliced off at an angle, but it was still there. Surprisingly it didn't look as if it had been cut off at birth, but Twilight figured the remnants of the horn grew despite being sliced up.

The eyes of everypony in the room widened. Before anypony could comment, Frostburn set his hair back and kept talking.

"Using his magic, my biological father sawed off my horn and converted it into a pair of wings, which he grafted on my back. It was a heinous process, and being a newborn, I almost didn't survive. Whenever my wings are open, you can see the scars it left." Twilight shivered at the thought of something like that happening.

"Can we see them?" Pinkie asked, mesmerized. It was an odd request, but it was Pinkie after all.

Frostburn shook his head. "That would be a horrible idea, and you'll see why in a minute." He continued where he left off. "When my mother's husband finally arrived, I looked like the pegasus son he expected to have. My mother kept up the charade for years and he never knew. Then one day when I was little, like six or seven, I found the sawed off horn on my head. He saw it, and confronted my mother. It was the loudest, most enraged argument I'd ever seen. My would-have-been father lost control, and attacked my mother. He… he just kept hitting her over and over." Everypony sat, transfixed by the story. No one interrupted.

"A divorce soon followed, and my mother got custody of me. I never saw that pegasus that should have been my father ever again. Then the freakiness began."

Dash interrupted. "It began?" She exclaimed. "This is already sounding pretty freaky."

Frostburn nodded solemnly, but continued. "When I started flying later that year, my mother began to notice some really odd things that happened with my wings. Every time I opened them, my natural unicorn magic used them as a channel instead of a horn."

Twilight's eyes widened. She had never heard of wings that conducted magic before.

"Whenever I opened my wings, magic just came flooding out of me. It wasn't in the usual fashion either. Sometimes I made the temperature rise, or created small fires. Other times I'd freeze water solid, or made it so cold my mother couldn't help but shiver. When I got older, it got worse. Once I burned down the house. Another time I made winter come early. It seemed my magic took the form of fire or ice, and would happen whenever I flew or even opened my wings."

"Ah remember!" AJ said. "The fire only started when your wings opened up."

"Is that why you asked for the book?" Twilight asked. "Curiosities and Oddities in Equestria History."

Frostburn nodded. "I was trying to see if there have been any other cases like mine. I just wanted answers. Maybe even a cure, or some way to stop it." Twilight nodded, sympathetic to a quest for knowledge.

"I can't control the magic, or what I do when it happens. It's like another part of me that has its own mind. When I finally calm down, I don't remember anything of what happened or what I'd done. That's why I went crazy and burned down your town."

Twilight forgave Frostburn then and there for what he'd done; only she didn't say anything out loud because he kept talking.

"I ran away when I was twelve, but I never could get control of the magic. Nearly every town I visited somepony got hurt. I was doing my best to live in isolation when I met Zecorah."

Twilight nodded, remembering her conversation with Zecorah the previous night. Dash and Pinkie clearly remembered judging by their facial expressions.

"Most of the time I was antisocial, because anypony who came near me wound up hurt. Zecorah was different though. She never fell for my fake introveresy act. After a while I began to open up to her, though I never told her what I was capable of. I didn't stay around her too long either because I was afraid I'd end up harming her.

"After a while, I started going back to civilization. That's when I really messed up. Two years ago in Vanhoover, Princess Celestia was visiting for the Summer Sun Celebration. Things went bad. Like, really bad. I ended up starting a fire in the city. And this time it was the worst yet. I've completely blanked on what happened. A faint memory of my wings opening and that's it. I do know that ponies died that time." He paused, a look of sheer grief on his face.

"I remember that!" Twilight said. "Security was increased because they were worried it was an assassination attempt."

"Right." Frostburn said. "My face ended up on wanted posters around Equestria. Ever since then, I've stuck to small towns, trying not to be noticed. Until yesterday." He said, looking at Pinkie. She smiled sheepishly.

"You all know the rest."

"So you've been on the run from soldiers for two years now?" Rarity asked. Frostburn nodded.

"And now that I've called Princess Celestia here…" Twilight started.

"I'm likely to be executed." Frostburn finished for her.

Each member of the Mane Six looked at each other. After hearing Frostburn's story, most of the bitterness they had felt for him had dissipated. Only AJ, stuck in a wheelchair, with a brother about to undergo surgery and a farm in ruins - all of which caused by Frostburn - still felt some resentment.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we can convince the Princess that none of this was your fault." Twilight said. "We still have some time before she arrives, so…"

"Uhmm, Ms. Sparkle?" A doctor's voice called from the doorway. Everypony turned to face him. "Princess Celestia is outside waiting for you."

High Treason with Justifications

Chapter Eleven – Rarity

"Well now what?" Pinkie asked. No pony answered for a moment. Rarity was in the right mood to panic. They couldn't turn over Frostburn to the Princess, but they'd get in trouble for harboring a wanted criminal. The stallion himself looked like he was about ready to jump out the window. Everypony turned to Twilight for answers.

The purple unicorn was at a loss for words. Rarity could only imagine the panic Twilight must be feeling. Would she choose to defy her teacher, the ruler of Equestria, for a pegasus who'd torched the town and told them his life story afterwards?

Twilight's eyes darted back and forth. She was clearly thinking fast given the pressure. "Okay," She told the doctor waiting at the door. "Tell her I'll be right out." The doctor pony nodded and left.

"Twi, what's the plan?" AJ asked.

Twilight looked around at her friends. "Applejack, Fluttershy, you two come with me. We've got to stall Princess Celestia as long as possible." The two ponies nodded. "Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, you three need to take Frostburn out another way and hide him. I wish we didn't have to, but there isn't enough time to think of something else."

"There must be a better solution." Frostburn said. "I don't want you getting in trouble because of me."

"This isn't up for debate." Twilight responded. "We're helping you." He smiled a little, and Rarity thought to herself that this must be the first time anypony had ever helped him.

Twilight's idea had already been excepted by most of the Mane Six. Dash was nodding in approval, and Pinkie bounced up and down, happy a plan was in motion. Rarity wasn't as happy. Just as she was about to tell Twilight that she'd prefer to stall the Princess and not escape with the pyromaniac pony, the purple unicorn was already running out. Fluttershy followed, wheeling out Applejack with her.

"Alright, let's move out." Rainbow Dash said.

"Umm, to where?" Rarity asked. "The entire town knows Frostburn now, and what he's done." The icy blue pegasus cringed at the mention of his dark deed.

"We'll keep a low profile." Rainbow said, flying to the door. "Besides, everypony's a little distracted between the fire and Celestia right now. I'm sure they won't notice us."

Pinkie and Frostburn walked behind Rainbow as she left. Rarity was still unsure about Dash's plan. Trotting after them, she said. "Well we still need a place to lay low." She said. "And who exactly will take us in with him?" She said pointing at Frostburn. The stallion frowned as Rarity spoke. She knew that she was being unfair to him. It wasn't his fault overall, but the fashionista simply couldn't bring herself to condone what had happened.

"Well… uh." Rainbow thought for a moment. Then Pinkie interjected.

"We could go to Zecorah's!" She said.

"That's actually not a bad idea." Rainbow Dash said. "Alright guys, let's go to Zecorah's."

The three ponies began to pick up their pace, spurred by the destination in mind. Rarity once again was skeptical. She held her tongue this time, sensing Rainbow was getting tired of her constant derision. She began to trot to catch up.

Outside, the sun was already shining brightly. The town of Ponyville did not have quite a happy glow to it though. The smell of charred wood still hung in the air. Buildings around the hospital, where the battle took place, wore black scorch marks. Anything else was piles of debris.

Not many ponies were around, but the ones that were seemed to be shifting through the rubble, probably looking for possessions that may have survived. It seemed to Rarity that Rainbow's theory had been right. Even so, the four moved carefully, without wanting to attract attention. As she looked around at the devastation, Rarity saw Frostburn also taking in the destruction. He looked guilty, and uncomfortable.

Rarity also looked beyond his expression. For the first time, she really looked at him. He had rugged features, and his eyes were soft despite everything they had seen. His hair was long and shaggy, likely to cover his mutilated horn, but Rarity was sure with some proper styling it would serve its purpose and work towards his appearance. His body was muscular, and his wings... Well, to him they may be a curse, but Rarity found their unique coloring very appealing.

The unicorn blushed as she realized she was thinking about Frostburn in "that way". She hastily looked away, desperate to find something else to focus on. At that time, the group reached the corner of some less burnt buildings. Rainbow peered over the edge, then motioned for the rest to move.

"We're still pretty far from the Everfree forest." Rainbow said. "At this rate, somepony will see us."

"What we need is a disguise." Pinkie said, pulling out the fake mustache that she carried everywhere. She nudged it towards Frostburn, who turned to Dash for assistance.

Dash groaned. "Put it away, Pinkie. No pony in their right mind would buy that disguise." Pinkie grudgingly put the mustache away. Frostburn looked relieved.

Rarity suddenly formed an idea in her head. "Well, the mustache may not work." She said. "But I know a place where there is something better."

-\-

"Princess Celestia," Twilight said, bowing respectfully. "Thank you for arriving so quickly." Fluttershy bowed in a similar fashion to Twilight. Applejack, in her current state, managed an awkward half-bow.

"It was no problem, Twilight." The Princess said. "This matter is very important on the level of national security." The large contingent of guards that Celestia brought with her bolstered the claim. It seemed as if the Princess had brought the entire Royal Guard.

"I see," Twilight said, getting back up. "I trust your trip here was pleasant?" Applejack gave her an is-that's-the-best-you-can-do kind of look. Hoping to sell it further, Twilight smiled. Judging by the Princess's reaction, it looked more awkward than casual.

"Very much so," Celestia said slowly while moving toward the hospital with a few guards. "Now, if we could get to…"

"Oh, right, the uhh, erhem, the prisoner." Twilight said, moving in front of her teacher. "Maybe you should send some guards ahead to get him for you."

Celestia gave her pupil an odd look. Applejack jumped in to help. "Ah would be happy to show them the room we're holding him in." She said, motioning for the nearest guards to follow her.

"Alright then. Grey Spear, take five soldiers with you to get the prisoner." Celestia told her nearest guard. He nodded, bringing five soldiers with him to follow Applejack. The orange pony winked at Twilight and began wheeling her chair back inside. If all went as planned then AJ would be leading those guards in circles for at least an hour or so.

"Well," Twilight said, turning back to the Princess. "Is there anything else you needed while in Ponyville?"

Celestia frowned, curious as to why her star student was asking such an odd question. Realizing that her friend was out of ideas, Fluttershy meekly added, "Perhaps, umm, we should get a full report on the damage that was caused."

"Right," Twilight agreed hastily, "For evidence purposes?" she suggested.

Still not convinced her student was acting normal, The Princess took a moment to confer with some of her guards. "I suppose it would be appropriate." She replied.

"Great, then uh, let me direct your attention to the gruesome destruction over here." Twilight said, leading the Princess and company away from the hospital.

"Umm, it's also very extensive on the other side of town." Fluttershy said.

"Right, yeah, we'll go there next." Twilight said, praying they wouldn't run into Rainbow's group down there.

-\-

"Geese Rarity, are you sure this is going to work?" Rainbow said. The unicorn smiled at her friend, knowingly.

"Oh course it is, Rainbow Dash. Do you doubt me?" It had only taken a few minutes to make it to Carousel Boutique. They'd nearly been spotted, twice. Once by Berry Punch who was running around town searching for her friend Daisy who'd been separated from her at the start of the fire. The purple pony hadn't stopped as she ran right passed their group. The other time, Derpy had actually seen them, but luckily had not seen Frostburn yet. After declaring that she "did not know what went wrong last night" the grey pegasus wandered off to find some banana nut muffins, which she claimed were the best to eat when rebuilding towns.

As for Carousel Boutique itself, the building had miraculously been untouched by the wild fire. Though Rarity had been in a massive panic last night, the flames had long died down before getting close to her shop and home.

Now the four ponies where hiding out in the dress shop as Rarity tried to piece together something to blend Frostburn into a crowd. "Here," She said, tossing a cloak at the pegasus while avoiding meeting his eyes. "Try this one." He nodded, and began to awkwardly put on the cloak.

"What if somepony recognizes him?" Rainbow persisted.

Rarity tsked. "I know I usually make clothes to help ponies stand out, but I am just as capable at hiding them too."

"Well, what do you think?" Frostburn said, the cloak donned. It fit him awkwardly, too short on his front legs, yet far too long in the back. It seemed loose around his neck, but the hood was so tight it couldn't move passed the back of his head. Just before Rainbow could make a snide comment, Rarity jumped in.

"Marvelous, but you should go see what Pinkie Pie thinks." The Earth pony was set up near the top of Carousel Boutique, on the lookout for Celestia, the guards, or any random pony that may be wandering by. Frostburn nodded, and went to find the pink mare.

When he was out of the room, Rainbow turned to Rarity. "Okay, even I could tell that it looked bad. What's going on Rarity?"

"I needed a moment to think." Rarity responded. "This whole thing has been going so fast, and I'm not sure if we're really doing the right thing. Just last night you were fighting him above Ponyville, and now were disobeying Celestia to help him?"

Rainbow rubbed her shoulder, still sore from her bad landing. "I know. I mean… I saw him last night. I know what he's capable of. But the stallion wearing that ridiculously fitting cloak is not the pegasus I fought last night. I can't explain it Rarity."

The white unicorn was not convinced. "How do we know he didn't lie? He could have done this in the other towns he mentioned. Just fool some innocent ponies into helping him escape the law. Wouldn't be too hard with the story he told."

"He couldn't be lying." Rainbow said, but she herself didn't sound as sure as she wanted to.

Rarity felt a little guilty swaying trust away from Frostburn. She wanted to believe his story, and the struggle he was going through, but admitting that would mean she would have to open up to Frostburn as a friend. Only, she didn't think that she would ever be satisfied being just friends with a stallion like that…

Then again, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Just then Frostburn came into the room looking embarrassed. "She took one look at me and wouldn't stop laughing." He said.

"Don't feel too bad, it is her element after all." Rainbow said.

"Yes, and now that I get a better look at you I realize how handso… uh, er, horrid it appears." Rarity said, blushing at her slip. "Let me just see if I have something better suited for you." She turned away, hoping that neither of them would realize what she almost had said, but also to hide her now slightly red face.

As Rarity turned away, and Frostburn distracted himself with removing the cloak, Rainbow allowed herself a frown. Because she had realized what Rarity had nearly said. And she did not like it.

Inconvenient Tirade

Chapter Twelve – Rainbow Dash

It took Rarity three more tries to get the cloak right. The entire time, she would not stop talking. She rambled on about Frostburn's "physique" and how it was so uniquely built that she couldn't seem to get the right size. She prattled on about making sure the fabric would work to his movement while still keeping him modest. She even fussed on about the color. Rainbow had heard more about making a cloak than she cared to know. It was unbearable.

She also couldn't stop thinking about the comment Rarity had almost made about Frostburn. Rainbow Dash didn't like the idea of Rarity being attracted to Frostburn. She tried to convince herself that it was because he was dangerous, or it might jeopardize their escape from Ponyville, but Dash couldn't hide from it. She liked Frostburn too.

It was crazy, she knew. Liking a pony that had nearly killed her was ridiculous, but it was true. Dash had felt something when they had fought last night. She normally felt on top of everything, unable to be beaten. Invincible even.

And Frostburn had taken that away last night. The security that Dash had held onto was gone. She was no longer invincible. Now she felt as if the only one who could make her feel that way again was him.

But if Rarity liked him too, wouldn't that hurt their friendship? How would Rarity react if she knew how Dash felt?

Rarity mercifully settled on a disguise that she was happy with, allowing Dash to push away her confusing thoughts. The four ponies prepared to depart. Frostburn pulled the hood over his head as Pinkie opened the door. She looked in every thinkable direction before happily declaring it to be clear.

Dash hurried through the door, followed by an anxious Frostburn, and Rarity who took the time to lock up the Boutique. Now the four's only problem was getting to the Everfree forest before they would consider being safe, which was ironic.

Rainbow Dash took the lead, eager to be on the front lines if trouble appeared. Pinkie happily bounced in the middle of the group, not making much of an attempt to be sneaky. Rarity walked alongside Frostburn, Rainbow noticed she was close, but trying to be nonchalant about it. It made her feel... jealous. Dash turned her focus away.

It seemed the town was deserted on this side, until Cloud Kicker came running by, stopping in front of Dash. Frostburn was prepared to duck away, until he saw that Cloud Kicker wasn't even close to looking at him.

"Rainbow Dash, what are you and your friends doing out here?" She asked. "Don't you know Princess Celestia has called an emergency meeting in town square?"

This caught Rainbow Dash off guard. "Oh, well I…" She stumbled trying to think of an excuse.

Cloud Kicker hardly noticed. "Come on, we're already late." She began to trot off.

Rarity allowed herself a smile, and nudged Frostburn. "It seems my disguise worked out pretty good." Dash rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but what happens when somepony actually looks at him?" Rarity frowned at her.

"You guys should go to the meeting to avoid suspicion." Frostburn said. "I'll go ahead to Zecorah's". Before anypony could agree, Cloud Kicker reappeared.

"Well come on you four." She said. Trapped, Rainbow looked back at Frostburn, who had now been roped into coming along.

"Okay then." Rainbow agreed. The ponies reluctantly followed Cloud Kicker to town square, Frostburn visibly tense the entire time. Dash herself was sweating with nervousness.

Upon reaching town square, they saw there was a mass of ponies gathered, all crowding around to get a better look at the Princess. Celestia herself was at the podium, flanked by several of her guards. To her right, Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy were all present, looking fairly nervous.

"Citizens of Ponyville." The Princess of the Sun spoke loudly. "It has recently been confirmed that the pony responsible for the destruction of your town has escaped from our custody." The audience neighed and whinnied very unhappily, some mad and other's surprised at what the Princess said. Dash wondered how the Princess had already found that out. Surely Twilight had come up with some plan. The Princess silenced everypony with the next part of her speech. "It has also been confirmed that this pegasus was responsible for an attempted assassination..."

"Accident," muttered Frostburn.

"… that occurred in years past. A search party has been sent out to find and apprehend this criminal. However I ask that each one of you do your part to bring him down." Celestia continued. "If anyone has knowledge of a blue pegasus with a red mane, please report it to a soldier immediately."

Twilight looked out into the crowd, and saw Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Rarity, and Frostburn stuck between the masses. Her eyes widened in surprise and she motioned for them to move away. Rainbow gritted her teeth, unsure of how to get away from the crowd unnoticed. Ponies surrounded them on all sides, blocking a quick getaway. Of course she could fly out, but Frostburn was grounded unless they wanted another freak out.

"What do we do?" She asked the group. Pinkie Pie shrugged while Rarity put on a slightly overdramatic thinking face. Frostburn winced, coming up with nothing.

"I think I should just run for it." He said.

"No, that's ridiculous darling. Then they'll know it's you for certain." Rarity said.

"Well what do you suggest?" Rainbow asked her. Rarity bit her lip.

"I've got it!" Pinkie said. Before anypony could ask her what her plan was, Pinkie suddenly shouted over the Princess and the crowd. "Hey everypony!" She screamed. "I just saw the pegasus downtown making a run for it! Get him!"

The crowd reacted violently, beginning to run downtown in mob formation, shouting indecipherable threats. Celestia's guards split, half going with the mob to make an arrest, and half moving with the Princess as she left the stage.

"Go, get to Zecorah's!" Pinkie shrieked over the mob's cries. Ponies ran past Dash's field of vision, but she could clearly see that Pinkie was being swept up in the crowd. "I lead them out of here!" The pink mare yelled.

"But Pinkie," Rarity yelled. "This is mass hysteria! How will you lead them anywhere?"

"I specialize in the hysterical." Pinkie said. Dash watched stunned as her friend slapped on her fake mustache and disappeared into the crowd of raging ponies. The mob was passed its height now; only the late reactors were left, chasing after the crowd.

"We're doomed." Frostburn said.

Dash turned to him. "Hey, have a little faith in her." She said. "She's Pinkie Pie for pony's sake. She'll be fine." Frostburn did not look any surer. Fluttershy and Applejack came up when the mob died down.

"Twilight was swept away with the Princess." AJ said. "She told us to go ahead to Zecorah's place."

Fluttershy looked around. "Where's Pinkie?" She asked. Dash pointed toward the mob in the distance. "Oh my, will she be okay?"

"Yeah." Dash said. "But we should get moving." The group nodded, and everypony began a made break for the Everfree Forest.

Or We Shall All Hang Separately

Chapter Thirteen – Fluttershy

Fluttershy's heart was pounding at such a high rate, she genuinely afraid of going into cardiac arrest. The excitement on this day simply wouldn't stop, or at least slow down. First the Princess discovering that Frostburn was gone, and now an angry mob tearing through the town. If nothing else happened today, it would be too much for her.

Frostburn had taken the lead, the hood of his cloak flapping behind him. The pegasus was running faster than anypony else, even though they all were pushing maximum speed. Briefly Fluttershy wondered if he had lots of practice in these types of situations.

Rainbow Dash was the only one in the air, neck and neck to the ice and fire stallion. Followed by Rarity, and she was tailed by Fluttershy herself. Applejack brought up the rear, wheeling her chair as fast a physically possible. She obviously hated the fact that she was slowing them down, but there was little to be done about it.

The outskirts of Ponyville were coming into view. Fluttershy allowed herself to hope that they would make it. The fact that they were heading into the Everfree Forest was not to pleasing, but it beat getting trampled by an angry mob.  Or arrested for harboring a known criminal.

Their hopes were deflated however. Several guards suddenly clamored out from behind nearby houses, blocking the group's path. Everypony skidded to a halt, realizing that it was an ambush. Rarity gasped. Fluttershy squeaked in concern.

Frostburn tried course correction, attempting to turn around, but Celestia suddenly materialized in front of him. He backed up.

"P-princess Celestia…" Rarity stammered. The Princess of the Sun looked down in great upset on the ponies. Her face was creased into an angry frown.

"Where's Twilight?" Rainbow demanded. As if on cue a guard pushed the purple unicorn into view. Twilight avoided meeting the eyes of her friends. She looked defeated. Celestia must have dragged information out of her, and it did not look like it was fun on Twilight's end. Fluttershy didn't blame her for giving them up, she found Princess Celestia very intimidating right now.

"I'm very disappointed in all of you." The Princess began. "Especially you, Twilight Sparkle."

"Princess, if you'd let me explain..." Twilight started.

"The time for explanations is over." Celestia declared. "This pegasus is a threat to Equestria." She said, pointing out Frostburn. He glared. "And I do not take threats lightly."

"Neither do I." Frostburn said. "And that sounded like a threat."

"I hope it does not anger you too much." The Princess said with obvious sarcasm.

"Oh, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry." Frostburn retorted.

"Maybe we can all calm down and talk about this rationally." Fluttershy said.

"Enough!" Celestia cried. Fluttershy squeaked in shock. "You five, and Pinkie Pie as well, have disobeyed me today. I will deal with you all later."

"If y'all would just listen to what he had to say." Applejack said from her wheelchair. "You'd know the truth."

"That's right." Rarity said. "Frostburn doesn't deserve execution."

"He's our friend." Fluttershy chimed in.

"And we won't abandon him!" Rainbow added. At the time, it looked like she was blushing, but Fluttershy couldn't be sure.

"Princess Celestia." Twilight said, stepping forward. "You have to believe me when I say that…"

"No." The Princess said firmly. "No, I don't have to believe you Twilight. No matter what it is you have to say, it won't change the fact that Frostburn is a menace. Honestly, I don't see how you ponies can stand with him after what has happened here."

"We will not move!" Fluttershy said, surprising herself. Frostburn had done terrible things, yes. But she couldn't hate him for it. Fluttershy's friends all shouted encouragement. Fluttershy turned to face Celestia, who towered above her with an angry scowl.

"No." Frostburn said. Everypony turned to him in shock. The blue pegasus stepped forward. "I've never had friends until today, and I certainly didn't expect to find friends here, in Ponyville, but it happened. I only wish it had been under better circumstances." He turned facing the ponies he now called friends. "I am sorry for everything I did. I never meant for it to happen, but I can't allow you all to fall with me. You should not have to choose between me and her. So what I do here is my choice from now on." Nopony spoke, Fluttershy held her breath.

Frostburn turned back to the Princess. "This is my fault, not all of it though, and I know no matter what I say, you'll never believe that. But believe this; my friends don't deserve to take the blame for what's happened here today." His voice softened. "I can only hope that they will forgive me."

Fluttershy was confused for a moment. Then she realized what he meant. Everypony did. Frostburn had no plans to go quietly.

"No!" She cried. Applejack realized it to, and moved her wheelchair to block Fluttershy from running up. Rainbow Dash did rush forward, dodging Rarity's block. Twilight let out a panicked scream.

The soldiers surrounding the ponies had no idea what was about to happen. Some attempted to charge forward, unsure exactly what it was they need to charge at. Celestia was just as confused as they were, her head tilted to one side and eyebrow raised. Frostburn lowered his head.

Fluttershy shut her eyes and put her hooves up to protect herself. She braced her body to be burned.

Frostburn's wings flew open.

Cold as Ice

Chapter Fourteen – Twilight Sparkle

She expected to be burned by hellish fire. Instead, Twilight felt an ice cold wind smack her in the face. Fluttershy yelped in surprise, along with practically every other pony. So this is the other kind of magic he can do. She thought, realizing what was going on. Frostburn hadn't moved from where he stood, but so much else had changed about him.

His eyes were glowing again, not the fiery red of last time, but an even icier blue than his coat. A layer of mist surrounded him, and frost covered the ground around him. The gray-blue cloak he wore was flapping violently on his back, tossed back and forth by winds. Twilight noticed that the temperature got exceedingly colder as well, stepping back she felt herself warm up a little. But only slightly

Frostburn was also shaking, though not from the freezing temperatures. It was not doubt the internal struggle he was facing to control himself. This time his eyes flicked back and forth from the steely cold of blue to the bronze they should be. Eventually they settled on the blue glow as the struggle ended.

His hoof tapped the ground, and suddenly the frost that coated the ground transformed into pure ice, much like the lakes of Ponyville in winter. Twilight slipped and fell on the new slippery surface soon enough. Following her were Applejack, whose wheelchair was sliding around on the near frictionless ground, Rarity, and the majority of Celestia's guards. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stayed aloft, avoiding the ice covered ground.

Only Celestia was unfazed by the new ice rink the ponies found themselves on. The white alicorn cleared her throat. "Frostburn, you have caused enough damage here. Do not make me force you back into custody." The unblinking, blue eyes never wavered as they stared back at Celestia. "Very well then." She said, resigned to fight.

"Princess, please wait!" Twilight pleaded. The Princess of the Sun paid her student no heed. She charged up her horn and fired a large beam of energy right at Frostburn. He made no move to dodge it. He merely stood there in cold stillness.

Then, as the beam was halfway towards him, he raised his hoof in the air, and a massive wall of ice sprang from the frozen ground to shield him. The magical burst slammed into the chilled shield and got no further. As Celestia's spell ended, the pegasus lowered his hoof again, and the ice shrunk back into the ground.

Twilight gaped in awe. She knew his command of fire spells was amazing, but Frostburn seemed to have an equal, if not greater, command of ice. Even for a unicorn this would be near impossible, yet he didn't seem to be trying. The cold mist surrounding Frostburn produced three sharp spears of ice. He hurled them all at extreme speed with a nod of his head.

They shattered upon impacting Celestia's force field, which she only just managed to conjure in time. The Princess then used her command of the sun to call forth a heat wave. The ice began melting around them. In response, Frostburn made the temperature drop even lower to counteract the heat and refreeze the ground.

Celestia's eyes narrowed as she planned her next move. Rainbow Dash acted faster. She swooped down and landed right in front of Frostburn. Her shivering increased dramatically as she stood face to face with the stallion.

"Snap out of it!" She screamed at the ice pony. He summoned an icy wind that through Dash back into the air and away from him. Celestia used this extra time to cast a powerful lightning bolt spell. It cracked through the air so fast, it managed to hit Frostburn.

He took a half-step back. A half-step. It seemed as if he did that to deliberately insult the Princess's power. He then raised a hoof diagonally.

The ice mirrored his movement, and frozen shards jutted out of the ground next to Celestia. She managed a weak block with her wing, but the force still sent her reeling over on her side. The pegasus took the opportunity to freeze her legs to the ground. The white alicorn struggled but could not break free.

"We hafta stop 'im" Applejack said, still attempting to stabilize her wheel chair.

"B-but h-how?" Fluttershy said, shivering through the words. Twilight ran through all of her combat spells in an instant but came up with nothing effective enough. Rainbow Dash recovered off to her side. The cyan pegasus gave a determined look, as if she had some kind of plan. Twilight had no idea what that might be.

Frostburn prepared another ice spell to cast on the princess. Snow and ice began to swirl together in front of him. The frozen mix circled around in mid-air as it prepared to launch itself at Celestia. Her lower half was freezing at a fast rate. The Princess of the Sun cast several spells attempting to break the ice. They did not work. Instead, Frostburn's menacing ice spell reached full power, and he threw it at Celestia.

As the frozen attack sailed through the air, Rainbow Dash leaped in front of it, acting as a shield for the Princess. The ice-snow pelted Rainbow Dash and she screamed. The attack stopped abruptly.

Twilight looked to see that the glowing eyes of Frostburn had dimmed back to his regular coloring. The iciness did not die. He ran to Rainbow Dash, mortified with what he had just done.

The cyan pegasus had not fared very well. Her left wing and side legs were completely frozen in ice. She attempted to stand without much success. Frostburn helped her up.

"I lost control again, didn't I?" He said. When Rainbow did not reply, he turned to the Twilight and the others. "Didn't I?" He screamed at them. They all hastily nodded. Frostburn's face fell. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

"Come on Frost, it was one little accident." Dash said, trying to console him.

"That's a lie. It'll never be just one little accident." He cried solemnly. "I'm a monster! I'll never be able to have friends if all I do is hurt them."

"Darling you mustn't blame yourself for this." Rarity said. "And you are not a monster." Frostburn shook his head, unconvinced.

"We can figure something out," Twilight said, hopeful. "A cure, a way to control it, or…"

"NO!" He yelled, eyes flicking back to a bluish glow before returning to bronze. She retreated a little. Realizing he lost his temper, Frostburn lowered his head. "I'm so sorry." He whispered one last time.

With that, he used his wings to fly up and away. Deterring shouts rang up from the ponies, especially Rainbow and Rarity, but none worked. He was soon a speck in the sky travelling north, and the only pegasus that could catch him would be Dash, but she was temporarily disabled.

Guards flocked to the Princess to help her up and out of the ice, still coating the ground after Frostburn's hasty departure. Twilight walked over to a grim looking Rainbow Dash. "I lost him." The cyan pegasus said with a sniffle.

"We all did." Twilight reminded her, casting a spell to thaw her frozen limbs. "But we'll find him again Dash, don't worry."

"Of course." Rarity said. "I...eh…We haven't lost him forever."

"We'll get 'im back Rainbow." Applejack said, wheeling up.

"Frostburn just needs some time to cool off." Fluttershy said. Her unintentional pun lightened the mood a little bit, eliciting nervous laughs all around. Twilight's spell ended, freeing all of Rainbow's limbs. She moved them around a little, making sure they were okay.

"I'm sure we'll find a way to stop his unicorn magic from flooding out of his wings." Twilight said in an effort to cheer up her friends. The four looked at her, with not much hope, but hope nonetheless. She for one was eager to learn more about this mysterious magic that Frostburn displayed. The lavender unicorn had meant to ask questions earlier at the hospital, but there had not been time for it.

"Excuse me Twilight." The Princess said, freed from her icy fetters. "Did you say that the pegasus has unicorn magic?" She walked up to the group slowly, face in a nervous expression.

Realizing that Celestia now knew the truth, or at least partial truth, Twilight could only nod. "It's a long story." She said, ready to go into detail of the events of the past few days.

Celestia sighed with the weight of a heavy burden. "Yes, and I have a longer one. We must go to the Canterlot library if you all are to fully understand it though." The five ponies looked at their princess, and subsequently each other, in confusion. At that moment, Pinkie Pie trotted up finished with her work on the angry mob.

"Hey girls!" She said cheerily. "What did I miss?"

Stereotypical Rhythmic Prophecy

Friday Evening

Chapter Fifteen – Rarity

Normally a trip to Canterlot would have delighted and excited Rarity. This trip was not a normal trip though. She took her time in preparing to leave, the anxiety building a knot in her stomach. It took everypony else less than an hour to say their goodbyes and get ready to leave.

Applejack had gone to check up on Big Mac, recently out of surgery and doing quite well. After saying goodbye to him and the rest of the Apple family, she shed the wheelchair—much to the upset of the doctors—as well as stripping away the oppressive bandages. To the surprise of the doctors, the majority of the burns had healed, leaving only faded pink scars. AJ chalked it up to the fast healing genes of the Apple family, and declared herself ready for the trip. Her bandaged leg gave her a limp, but it was better than the cumbersome wheelchair, Rarity thought.

Fluttershy was the most reluctant to leave, but after Spike assured her he would watch after her animals, she accepted it. Pinkie Pie beat everyone to the station, with nothing to prepare other than saying goodbye to Gummy and the Cakes.

Twilight grabbed a few reference books from her library and she too was at the train station early. Rainbow Dash packed next to nothing, and determinedly paced around the train station waiting for the last arrival. Rarity herself.

Of course Rarity knew the importance of getting to Canterlot, but she still took her time packing. She needed a moment to think with the constant chatter of her friends. The whole Frostburn ordeal was making her head spin. It was obvious, a little too obvious, that Rainbow Dash liked this pegasus. Rarity noticed that Rainbow had been on the brink of sobbing when the ice-blue stallion fled Ponyville. Sure, Rarity felt abandoned too, but nowhere near what her friend was facing. Did that mean that Rainbow felt a greater attraction than her? Should she back down from pursuing Frostburn? The last thing she wanted was to hurt Rainbow, but what she felt for Frostburn was more than a crush to her.

Placing the last of her supplies in a saddlebag, Rarity viewed what she was bringing to Canterlot. She was traveling light for a fashionista, only bringing a saddle bag full of accessories to the capitol of Equestria. Rarity decided it would be enough, and strapped her bag on her back. Petting Opal goodbye, she trotted to the train station.

Rainbow, flying above the train, was the first to spot her. "Hurry up Rarity!" The pegasus said almost too anxiously. "We've got to go now!"

"I'm coming!" Rarity's high pitched voice rang out. Dash didn't seem appeased, and continued doing the equivalent of pacing in mid-air. She came down as Rarity approached the train, greeted by the rest of her friends.

"Okay girls," Twilight said. "Princess Celestia is already on her way back to Canterlot. We'll arrive hopefully around the time she does."

"Great, now let's get a move on." Rainbow said, rushing forward into the train.

"She's a might anxious to get to Canterlot, ain't she?" Applejack asked the group. Rarity bit her lip, not willing to spill the beans about Dash's, or her own, secret crush to the rest of the group.

"Oh she's just excited." Pinkie said. "I'm sure she'll be acting her old self once were in Canterlot." The pink mare and the farmer made their way to the train.

"Ah suppose you could be right." Applejack said. Twilight followed them, while Fluttershy slowed down to speak with Rarity.

"What do you suppose will happen when we get to Canterlot?" She asked as the two moved into the train.

"I don't know." Was all Rarity could say. The train whistled as it began chugging out of the station. The ponies of the Mane Six each felt nervous as they drew nearer to Canterlot. No pony knew exactly what was going to happen when they would see Celestia again. Pinkie Pie asked one question that seemed to have eluded everypony's mind.

"So, is the Princess going to like, arrest us for what happened?" She asked.

Twilight blinked a few times in surprise. "Uh, no I don't think so. I think she just wants us in Canterlot for something to do with Frostburn."

"Oh good" Pinkie said. "Because they don't serve dessert in prison, which is just terrible. Think about all the glorious snacks we wouldn't get!" The rest of the trip was Pinkie Pie listing off all of the sweet treats that they would miss should they have been arrested. For Rarity, the train couldn't pull into Canterlot soon enough. When it finally did, she was the first one off.

Celestia was waiting for them at the station. "It's good that you are finally here." She told the ponies as they left the train. "Now quickly, we must get to the Canterlot library."

"Princess, please you have to explain everything." Twilight said.

"Soon enough" The Princess replied. "But not now."

"Why not?" Rainbow shouted angrily, forgetting herself. Rarity held her breath, fearing Celestia would become irate with her friend.

"The explanation is in the library." Celestia responded, warmly. "Or rather, underneath it."

-\-

It was very cold out, but he did not feel it. The cursed pegasus wandered aimlessly in the woods he landed in, unsure whether he would ever make it out.

Probably for the best. Frostburn thought. At least here I can't hurt anypony. His wings had not yet been tucked in, so his icy spell still lingered around his body. He did not feel the cold though. The mist did not blind him.

The former unicorn wondered why it was, that this time, he was conscious while casting the spell. That never happened before. Normally it was another part of him that wrestled away control forcing him to hurt ponies. That never alleviated his guilt, but it was true. So what was different this time?

Rainbow Dash.

The name had come up several times already. He dismissed the thought every time, but now was different. Frostburn had played over the scenario dozens of times already, and so far it was the only thing that made sense. The memories of what happened were still hazy, but this one was very clear. It had been her. The cyan pegasus with the rainbow mane— the beautiful rainbow mane, he amended—had jumped in front of his attack. It had been her screams of pain that snapped him out of it.

The reason he had rejected the idea so many times before was that it wasn't rational. Plenty of ponies screamed in terror and pain when he lost control. So what was different about Rainbow Dash?

Could he... like her?

Emotions like this were pretty foreign to Frostburn. Spending most of his years of puberty alone and isolated, he never had a marefriend before. Years ago when he was fourteen, in Hoofston, he saw a really pretty unicorn. It had caused his wing to pop out upon seeing her. Of course, that led to an early winter for Hoofston.

But Rainbow was different. Beautiful without a doubt, but it wasn't just that. She was brave, and fierce. His memories from the previous night were returning as well, and all they seemed to be was of Rainbow Dash. He really felt that he liked her.

Then the look on her face when he told her he was leaving. That hurt him, on the inside. And she definitely was hurt as well. Was it possible that she liked him too?

"Ridiculous." He said aloud. "Even if she did, they way you just left her there? She'll never like you now. I doubt you could even be friends with her after that. Or any of those ponies. Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, or…"

Rarity.

The thought of her name made him grasp the cloak she made him. He couldn't shake a weird feeling about the white unicorn. She had been a little too nice to him. Frostburn wasn't sure what that meant. At least the others had been more distant at first, but she had just jumped right into friendship with him. Making him a cloak, walking close beside him, and that compliment she almost gave him. Rarity was the only one besides Rainbow Dash who seemed like she really wanted him to stay. It was all so confusing.

He continued his walking his steps forming a layer of ice on the ground. His mist shrouded nearby trees, coating their leaves with dew. Flowers retracted as he passed, warned off by the cold. The worst part was that the dense forest showed no signs of letting up. Then all of a sudden, it did.

The trees gave way to a glittering city. It was massive, maybe as big as Manehatten. Or bigger. Either way it was glittering, quite literally. The material of the buildings was reflecting the setting sun's rays in a dazzling display. For the first time, he tucked his wings into his body in awe. The spelled faded instantly. He looked more closely at the materials.

Are those, crystals?

-\-

"The Starswirled the Bearded section?" Twilight asked. "Why did you take us here?"

"For answers." Celestia said. With no warning she charged up her horn rapidly with the familiar emerald glow. She fired a small ray of sunshine at the nearest window. The beam magnified and reflected across the room. The Mane six stared in awe. The beam then bounced of a mirror, and polished silver globe, and a violet crystal in strategic locations around the room. The ray grew more powerful with each bounce, and changed its color to purple after contacting the crystal.

The sunbeam finally came to rest on a rune, carved upon one of the few bare walls in the library. The room shook as the brick structure of the wall parted to reveal a staircase. Twilight inhaled loudly.

"Amazing." Rarity breathed.

"Well Ah'll be darned." Applejack said with a low whistle. The Princess of the Sun stepped forward, motioning for the ponies to follow. They did. As they descended, Celestia spoke.

"As you are aware Twilight," the white alicorn said. "Starswirled the Bearded had one student with a unique ability to predict the future."

"Yes, that's right. Amethyst the Seer." Twilight said, recalling her books.

"Was it anything like my Pinkie Sense?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"No, Amethyst did not predict immediate occurrences. She could see years into the future."

"Well okay, but what does that have to do with this secret tunnel?" Rarity asked.

Celestia returned to her story. "A few short years before his passing, Starswirled realized that Amethyst was seeing future events far beyond any of their years. So he compiled as many of her prophecies as he could, and locked them away in this vault, fearing what they could mean. Over the years, several of these prophecies have come to pass. But now I fear a new one is unfolding before us."

"Frostburn…" Rainbow whispered. Celestia nodded as they came out from the stairs into a room barely able to hold the seven of them. The room had boxes and shelves overflowing with old parchment scrolls. Rarity assumed each held its own prophecy, and the ponies marveled at the amount. The Princess used her magic to brush some scrolls aside, and levitate one in particular to the Mane Six. It wasn't brown parchment like the rest. It was painted swirls of red and blue.

"This one, I believe has something to do with Frostburn." Twilight used her magic to take the scroll and unravel it so they could all read it. Rarity's eyes widened at the words.

A soul trapped by its owner.

A curse making the pony a loaner.

Magic where it does not belong.

Resulting in power far too strong.

Fire rages on the inside

Ice will cover those who hide

A dark one speaks out among other things

While the well of light has two springs.

A war ignites, ravaging the land.

Life to ash, water to sand.

A choice to make, by a twice moon's peak,

To save or condemn his voice must speak.

"What does that mean?" Fluttershy asked when everypony finished reading.

"The first part is definitely about Frostburn." Twilight said. "Magic where it doesn't belong is pretty accurate."

"It's the part about war that's confusing me." AJ said. "Equestria doesn't have any enemies. Right?" Nopony responded. Rarity thought about the changelings they had vanquished at the royal wedding. They could easily return. Or Sombra. And the truce with the Griffons was shaky enough at the moment.

"Life to ash, water to sand?" The white unicorn asked. "That doesn't sound good at all."

"But what about the twice moon's peak?" Pinkie asked, genuinely confused. "What the hay is a twice moon?"

Celestia listened to the ponies comments on the prophecy silently. Then she spoke, "I have read every prophecy in this room at least ten times over. Most do not predict apocalypses or doomsday. I believe that this one does. And worse yet, as Twilight said, it is already coming true."

"This is crazy." Pinkie stated. "Can Frostburn really turn water into sand?" Rarity considered that possibility, reflecting on everything he was capable of.

"Life to ash." Twilight whispered. "That can't be good. If Frostburn's power manifests itself to greater levels, could he end up burning all of Equestria?"

"It also talked about a choice." Rarity said hopeful. "Perhaps Frostburn will just choose not to destroy Equestria?"

"A prophecy can never be that simple." Twilight said. "What do you think Rain… Ah!" Twilight had turned to head to see Rainbow Dash, and noticed that she wasn't there. The ponies looked around the room frantically but didn't see her.

"Where did she go?" Fluttershy asked.

"She must have gone after Frostburn alone!" Rarity realized, silently kicking herself for not doing the same.

"We have to find her, it's too dangerous for her to go by herself!" Twilight said. Everypony, including Princess Celestia, rushed up the stairs to find Rainbow Dash.

Nothing Else Matters

Chapter Sixteen – Rainbow Dash

Dash was glad to be out from underground. Pegasi were not meant to be kept beneath the dirt. Her place was the sky, flying. That was exactly where she intended to be.

Sure, Dash felt a little guilty about leaving her friends behind, but after she heard the prophecy she knew it was about Frostburn. There was no point in discussing it. She needed to find him, immediately.

Dash bounded out of the doors of the Starswirled the Bearded section, looking left and right for the library's exit.

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called from the stairwell. Rainbow chose the right path and ran down it. She had hoped for more of a head start than this. Dashing through the labyrinthine library, Rainbow heard her friend's hooves clopping right behind her.

She snorted and ran harder. She needed to be outside to take off and fly. It was too narrow in the hallway. Her friends galloping grew louder as they came closer.

They'll understand. She thought. After I've found him. The door was just ahead, propped open ever so slightly. Moonlight peaked in, letting Dash know this was the exit. Her friends where directly behind her, shouting.

"Rainbow, what are you doing?"

"Stop!"

"Get back 'ere!"

She threw herself at the door, wings extended. The door gave way and she was out. Before her body could take off, however; a mysterious force stopped her mid-air.

Still trying to fly off, Rainbow Dash turned her head to see what was stopping her. Applejack had grabbed her tail.

"Let go!" The cyan pegasus yelled.

"Ah ain't. Not till you calm down!" The orange farmer said through her teeth. Dash flapped her wings harder in a last chance to get away. AJ held firm, leading to Dash's inevitable defeat. She stopped flapping her wings, landing on the ground in silence. For a while nopony spoke. Dash avoided eye contact.

"Dash…" Twilight said breaking the awkward silence. "What were you thinking?" The cyan pegasus looked at her friend, all of her friends, and sighed.

"I have to find him." She whispered.

Fluttershy was the first to give her sympathy. "We all want to find Frostburn." She said. "But we'll do it together."

"I know." Dash responded.

"Sugar cube, you don't hafta do these things on yer own." AJ said.

"We are here for you." Said Pinkie Pie.

"I know, I know!" Dash yelled. "But I couldn't wait for you guys! You were all focusing on that stupid prophecy junk, that you forgot that Frostburn, our friend, is still out there somewhere."

Rarity took a step closer to Rainbow Dash. The normally rough and tumble pegasus felt like she was on the verge of tears. "It hurts." She whispered to where only Rarity could here. "It hurts when he's not here."

The white unicorn put her hoof on Dash's shoulder. "I know." She said.

"Look, Rainbow." Twilight said. "I know you want to find Frostburn, but we don't even know where to start searching. He could be anywhere in Equestria by now. Blindly looking for him will do nopony any good." Dash nodded, afraid if she spoke that only sobs would come out.

"We should probably get some rest." Applejack said. "It's late enough as it is."

Rarity lay awake in the dual bedroom she was sharing with Fluttershy for the night. It was awfully nice of the Princess to accommodate them with rooms before they left to search for Frostburn in the morning all things considered. But the hospitality of the Princess was not Rarity's main reason for still being awake.

Dash's outburst had rattled her. The poor pegasus practically declared feelings for Frostburn in front of all their friends. Now Rarity was starting to doubt herself because of it.

Dash clearly liked Frostburn, anypony with eyes could see it. But Rarity was still attracted to him as well. What should she do? On one hoof, she could back off and help Dash, her friend, with her emotional turmoil and simply suffer in silence herself. On the other hoof, Rarity didn't want to give up on a possible relationship with Frostburn. He was something different. Special. A jewel unlike any Rarity had seen before.

But she couldn't do that to Rainbow Dash. Their friendship could really suffer from this, which Rarity hoped to avoid at all cost. When, if at all, they found Frostburn she would have to ask him what he felt. She just wasn't sure she would like the answer.

"Umm, Rarity?" Fluttershy said from the other side of the room. The white unicorn was surprised to hear her voice, assuming her pegasus friend had drifted off hours ago.

"Yes Fluttershy, what is it?" She asked.

"I was just thinking about that prophecy. It said so many horrible things that I… I…"

"Yes, it was dreadful." Rarity said. "But don't you worry. Well figure this out. We always do, don't we?" Fluttershy nodded.

"You like him, don't you?" the yellow pegasus asked suddenly.

"What? Darling, don't be ridiculous. I could never… I just… uh…" Rarity's shocked and uneasy demeanor no doubt confirmed and answer for Fluttershy.

"It's okay Rarity, I won't tell anypony." Fluttershy said. "Not even Rainbow…"

Dash was way too anxious to sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about her emotional outburst earlier. What was I thinking? She thought. If there had been any hope of concealing her feelings about Frostburn they were gone now. All her friends must think she was in love with him or something. The truth was that Dash wasn't sure. She stunk at dealing with deep down emotional gunk. But now that it was happening to her…

"Hey Dashie…" Pinkie Pie said from her bed across the room. The pink mare had been so quiet lately, that Dash had forgotten they were sharing a room, which was weird.

"What Pinkie?" she asked.

"Does this mean that you really were staring at Frostburn's hooves?" The party pony asked. Dash almost did not recognize that Pinkie was referring to their conversation from the Everfree Forest. That sure felt like a lifetime ago.

"No… I just… Dang it Pinkie I don't know what it all means." The cyan pegasus responded.

"It's okay. I was only asking because you made such a big scene about it before and…"

"I know what happened, Pinkie." Dash said loudly. "Can we just drop it?"

"Fine." The pink mare said. "I didn't think you would freak out so much about Frostburn's hooves." Rainbow Dash was stunned that that was what Pinkie really thought everything was about.

"It's not just his hooves Pinkie. I can't stop thinking about him." Rainbow conceded.

"Ohh." Pinkie said. "And here I thought you just liked hooves. You were really just in love with him. That makes loads more sense."

"I am not in love with Frostburn." Dash growled.

"Well you're in something with Frostburn." Pinkie said. "Not even Rarity was as concerned about him as you were."

"Drop it Pinkie Pie! Just forget I said anything." Rainbow snapped. She rolled over to the other side of her bed, signifying the end of their conversation.

But not Rainbow Dash's internal struggles.

I know.

Rarity's words rang in her ears. What did she know? How it felt when Frostburn wasn't around? That couldn't be it. Rainbow was hurting deep down in her chest. When Frostburn left, he took with him Dash's security. She had lost her edge after their fight, but with him around things just felt like they wouldn't go wrong.

Ironic given the facts. But it didn't stop Rainbow Dash from knowing in her gut it was true.

How could Rarity possibly know what that was like? She knew that the unicorn seamstress thought he was handsome. Rarity had practically said it to his face. But could she feel an attraction to him, the way Rainbow did?

Life was just getting too complicated. Dash rolled over again, trying to avoid those thoughts, yet thinking of them all the same. Sleep did not come fast enough, but Dash was just grateful it came at all.

Guilty as Charged

Saturday Morning

Chapter Seventeen – Pinkie Pie

Pinkie was without a doubt, a morning pony. And technically a night pony too. The point was that she was active at all times.

Just not this time.

It was a groggy start to Pinkie's day. Once Celestia had raised the sun, the early beams of light shown through the window of her suite and came to rest upon her face. She blinked in resistance to the light upon awaking, and turned her head to a slightly less bright corner of the room.

Her head hurt. A lot. She guessed it was due to all the events of the past two days. It all came back to her. She frowned, remembering that she still blamed herself for dragging all of her friends into this mess.

"I should've just left him alone." Pinkie said.

"What was that, Pinkie?" Dash said from the other side of the room. The pink mare turned to her friend, who had apparently been up and alert for a while.

"Oh, umm… nothing Dash." Pinkie said.

"It sounded like you said 'I should have left him alone'." Rainbow said. Pinkie managed a weak smile.

"Yeah, I did." Pinkie admitted. "If I hadn't tried so hard to befriend Frostburn, then we wouldn't be here now, Ponyville wouldn't be nearly as destroyed as it is now, and you wouldn't have had your heart broken." She said.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Dash said. "First of all, my heart is not broken. I just felt a little abandoned by Frostburn is all. But that's not the point." The cyan pegasus blushed a little, and tried to hide it from Pinkie. "Second of all, none of this is your fault… It's mine."

Pinkie bolted awake in shock at Dash's last statement. "How in Equestria is this mess your fault?" She asked.

"I chased Frostburn into the Everfree Forest. And that set in motion everything else."

"But Dash that's silly. You can't blame everything bad that's on yourself! Pinkie said. Her pegasus friend smiled at her.

"And neither should you." She said. Pinkie held her breath as she realized Rainbow Dash was right. Nearly all of the guilt that had been weighing down the pink mare had suddenly fled. Nearly. Guilt was hard to completely get rid of.

At that moment there was a knock on the door. Twilight peeked in not a moment later. "Hey girls." She said. "The Princess needs all of us in the throne room."

"Okay Twilight." Pinkie said, her usual pluckiness restored. "We better get going then."

The Crystal Empire, as he learned it was called, was unlike anything Frostburn had ever seen before. He had been all over Equestria, but had never come across a city made of crystals. And that wasn't the only mind blowing thing. The ponies were also different, looking as if their coats were pure gemstones.

His regular blue coat made him stick out like a sore hoof. The native ponies stared at the new comer to their city, obviously having gone without visitors for a long time. Some younger colts and fillies even pointed at him and whispered to each other.

His introverted self naturally wanted to run and hide, avoid all contact with these crystal ponies. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Frostburn had to return their stares, because he was just as amazed as they were. No pony spoke to him though, seemingly waiting for him to come up to one of them and start a conversation. He couldn't bring himself to do it though. Years of isolation held him back. He wouldn't know the first thing about conversing.

Instead the crystal ponies were content to watch him explore, just as he was content to walk around and not break anything. It was a fragile peace, until one little colt broke away from his mother and ran up to him. His mother followed him, determined to keep him safe.

"Excuse me, mister." The young crystal colt said. "Are you a pegasus?" The young kid had probably gone his whole life so far without seeing a different kind of pony, so Frostburn simply took the question as curiosity.

"Yes." He said. "Yes I am." Quickly he tucked his wings behind his cloak.

"Could you fly now? I'd really like to see it." He said.

"That's not a good idea." Frostburn responded. The young colt's mother came by, leading her child away with an apologetic glance. The kid seemed pretty upset that Frostburn had said no.

"You know, if I had wings, I'd never stop flying." The colt said as his mother led him off.

Frostburn only stared, without coming up with a response. He eventually just turned and walked away.

If I could give you these wings, I would in a heartbeat kid. He thought.

The throne room was just as Pinkie remembered it, outrageously large. She had always wanted to through a party in here. Maybe after the whole apocalyptic prophecy snafu was over she would get her chance.

That thought brought up another memory for Pinkie. Her 100th party spectacular extravaganza. It was supposed to have gone up yesterday. With everything else going on, it had slipped her mind. At first, she was upset, but then she got excited when realized that she still had a chance to throw her hundredth party spectacular.

"Ah, there you ponies are." Celestia said from the center of the throne room. Normally the Princess would sit on her throne when addressing the Mane Six, but today a large map of Equestria had been laid out in the center of the room. Princess Celestia, Luna, and a handful of guards were all studying the map.

"What are y'all doing?" Applejack said, walking towards the map.

In a gruff voice, the nearest guard responded, "Attempting to determine the location of the outlaw, ma'am."

"Outlaw?" Rainbow said distantly.

"Y'all don't hafta refer to me as Ma'am. Applejack suits me just fine." AJ said. The guard nodded, but his attention was really on the map. Pinkie looked over the shoulder of a guard with a darkened coat, and saw many towns and landmarks scratched out.

"Hey, you crossed out Ponyville." She noticed. "Did the town disappear or something when since we last saw it?" The guard looked back at Pinkie with a startled expression on his face, like he couldn't believe somepony had actually asked that question.

The other guard – who had called Applejack ma'am – answered her. "Ponyville is one of the towns we have determined the outlaw not to be at, ma'am." Pinkie chortled when he said that.

"You don't need to call me ma'am either." She said amongst her laughter.

"What exactly did you mean by outlaw?" Dash said, bringing the subject back up. "He has a name you know."

The guard gave a stare down at Rainbow. "I am well aware of that. I prefer not to use it. Outlaw is what he is, and what he is called." Rainbow looked like she was about to fling an insult at the guard. Pinkie stopped laughing when she saw all the tension. Thankfully Princess Luna stepped in.

"You can calm down, Swift Sword. And Rainbow, I am sure the Sergeant did not mean what he said." Both ponies lowered their gazes, accepting the compromise offered by the Princess of the night.

Pinkie on the other hoof, tried not to laugh again, thinking about the tongue twister of a name that Sergeant Swift Sword had. Twilight spoke before she got the chance to blurt it out.

"Have you narrowed down Frostburn's whereabouts?" The purple mare asked.

Princess Celestia stared down at the map. "Not very much." She said. "We've dispatched scouts throughout Equestria to keep an eye out for him. So far, we don't believe he's flown since we last saw him. But since then he could be anywhere."

"Not anywhere." Rarity said, stepping forward to look at the map. "He wouldn't set a hoof in Vanhoover. Not after his last experience there." Swift Sword looked to the Princess for confirmation. She nodded, and the Sergeant proceeded to cross of Vanhoover with a red marker.

"Anything from your Pinkie Sense?" Fluttershy asked, looking to Pinkie. The other members of the Mane Six also turned to her. Knowing her ability would not reveal itself under all the pressure, Pinkie shook her head.

"You simply must try Pinkie." Rarity said.

"The Pinkie sense doesn't work like that." The party pony responded. "I can't force something from it. It just happens."

"Well when it happens, I would like to be the first to know." Rarity said. Rainbow glared at her.

"I think I should be the first to know when Pinkie senses something." Dash said.

"Oh really?" Rarity said. "Because I feel that I would be more generous with that information than someone who would just jet off and leave her friends at the first chance of finding her coltfriend!" Rainbow's face turned a shade of dark crimson, as the two shifted into a heated argument.

"Oh yeah? Well I would at least find him! Unlike you, a unicorn who can't do anything for herself except sew a dress!" Rainbow angrily declared. Rarity's face contorted in anger. The two began yelling at each other loudly. Twilight and Applejack were too stunned at this sudden development to do anything, and Fluttershy looked around sheepishly; undoubtedly blaming herself for even bringing up the subject of the Pinkie sense.

"That is quite enough out of both of you!" Princess Celestia said firmly. The two mares quieted down after the order was given. "Pinkie, if you do pick up something, tell us all at once instead of individually." Pinkie absently nodded, contemplating on the fact that she would likely be the first to know Frostburn's whereabouts, given that it was her Pinkie Sense.

As the group returned attention to the map, Pinkie walked up to Rarity. "What was that all about?" She asked. The white unicorn bore a look of shock.

"I really don't know Pinkie." She said. "I have no idea what came over me." Looking at Rainbow Dash, Pinkie could see the pegasus was still burning up over Rarity's words, and faintly Pinkie wondered if they could have been true.

Just Bucking Leave Canterlot Already!

Chapter Eighteen – Twilight Sparkle

Twilight tried to focus every thought she had on the map and Frostburn's possible location. It was just a little too hard to transition after the fight she had just seen. What could have possibly cause Rarity to say those things? Or Rainbow Dash's heated reply?

The white unicorn had been reluctantly silent after her outburst, but she and Rainbow still glared daggers at each other from across the room. No pony mentioned the dispute, but it was clearly on their minds.

Applejack gave wary glances at Rainbow Dash, afraid the feisty pegasus could start up again. Fluttershy kept her head down, eyes darting between the two. Pinkie was, for once, silent. Occasionally the pink mare would shift uncomfortably. Only the guards and the Princesses seemed unfazed.

"Now we haven't ruled out Las Pegasus or Saddle Arabia." Princess Luna said, continuing the discussion of Frostburn's whereabouts. "But so far we've been entertaining the possibility that Frostburn is in the north."

Swift Sword and the other guard – Twilight thought his name was Grey Spear but she was not sure – nodded. "It would make sense, based on the reports from the battle." The presumably named Grey Spear said. The Mane Six nodded, following along. Twilight did remember Frostburn flying off in that direction. She wondered who reported it, because neither she, nor her friends had been debriefed. There had been guards, but they had been preoccupied with trying to stand on the frozen ice rink.

"None of our northern scouts have managed to report back, so for the time being we can only guess." Sergeant Sword said, interrupting the purple mare's thoughts. "We fear that the outlaw may be planning attacks on some of our most valuable cites there." Rainbow Dash grunted when she heard him. The Sergeant turned to her. "Is there a problem with my theory?" He asked her.

Fluttershy gave Dash a pleading look not to argue, but the cyan pegasus ignored it. "Yeah there's a problem." The cyan pegasus responded hotly. "Frostburn wouldn't plan on attacking anypony. Let alone a huge city."

Swift Sword narrowed his eyes. "Well, he may not plan on it, but we can just as well assume he will. You don't know him all that well, that much we all know. So there is no way you can know what he will or will not do. Besides, he's already burned down your town, what other proof do you need?"

Sensing an impending explosion from Dash, Twilight stepped in. "Ponyville was an accident." She said. "That has been established, Sergeant. Why don't you focus on the where, and let us worry about the why and the how. Okay?" Clearly angry about Twilight's condescension, but unable to retort with the Princesses in the room, Swift Sword nodded through clenched teeth and turned back to the map. Twilight had the feeling that the Sergeant wasn't going to let it go, however.

Rainbow looked pretty smug as she settled down as well, no doubt happy the defense of Frostburn won out. Twilight allowed herself to breathe, with one more disaster averted. The big picture became the problem again. She knew just staring at the map and speculating was not going to find Frostburn or return the status quo of the Mane Six's friendship. But they couldn't do anything until a report came in.

At that moment, the door to the throne room burst open, and the royal messenger excitedly ran in, levitating some parchment in front of him. "Princess Celestia, news from the north has just come in. News from the north!"

The Princess was clearly happy, but didn't allow for it to rile her up. "Thank you." She said accepting the letter. The messenger left as quickly as he arrived. The Princess unrolled the scroll and read it silently. Her eyes darted back and forth in a quickening pace. Her face contorted into a worried expression.

"What is it Princess?" Twilight asked, fearing the worst. Celestia levitated the letter to Luna, who scanned it quickly and passed it to Twilight.

"It's an eye witness account by Princess Cadence. Apparently some sort of comet fell last night." Princess Celestia answered. Twilight's eyes ran along the lines of the paper. It was brief, but had a clear style to it that belonged to her old foal sitter.

"Well Ah don't see wat's so worrisome 'bout that." Applejack said.

"Apparently the comet froze the majority of the Gemstone Forrest." The Princess said.

"Froze?" Rarity said in shock.

"But that's right outside of..." Pinkie said.

"Does that mean…" Fluttershy trailed off.

"Yes." Princess Luna said. "By now Frostburn is in the Crystal Empire."

-\-

Seconds went by feeling like hours. The Mane Six had all been sent out of the throne room so the Princess could confer with her guards. Twilight knew that a battalion was likely to be sent to the Empire. Just because Celestia sympathized Frostburn's situation, did not mean she was going in unprepared this time. As for Swift Sword, he wasn't likely to sympathize with Frostburn at all.

Twilight herself was very worried. Partly because she expected Rainbow Dash to bolt out and fly to the Crystal Empire all by herself. The cyan pegasus definitely looked the most anxious out of all of them. Also Twilight was worried for the Crystal Empire.

She knew of course that Frostburn would never deliberately harm the Empire, but so far he had inadvertently burned down Ponyville and nearly froze Celestia solid. The odds were definitely not in his favor. Or theirs.

Rainbow Dash was tapping her hoof incessantly out of anxiety. Rarity glanced at her in annoyance, but it was clear the white unicorn was just as anxious as Rainbow Dash. The two had yet to speak to each other since the fight. Twilight was beginning to worry they wouldn't make up anytime soon.

"What do you girls think would be the best color streamer?" Pinkie Pie suddenly asked. Everypony stared at her in confusion.

"Wh-What?" Twilight stammered.

"Streamer." Pinkie Pie said. "What color do you think would be best?" Without really having any questions answered, Applejack spoke.

"Now what in the hay would ya'll need streamers for Pinkie?" The orange farmer asked. Pinkie giggled hysterically, as if she couldn't believe AJ didn't know what she meant.

"For Frostburn's "Welcome Back" Party. Which also will be doubling as my 100th Party Extravaganza, seeing as how I haven't thrown it yet. So I need advice on the color streamers. Typically I would do a red and blue mix to match Frostburn's hair and coat, but since this is a two-way party I suppose anything goes." The pink mare happily stared at her friends, awaiting an answer obliviously.

"Uhh…" Rainbow started, but struggled to find the right words. "You know we haven't found Frostburn, right?"

Pinkie laughed again. "Well yeah silly. But when it comes to party planning, you've got to plan ahead. Now, will somepony please answer my question?"

Nopony got the chance, for at that moment Princess Celestia walked out the doors of her throne room. Everypony turned to face her, eager to her what the princess had to say. "Pack your things." The white alicorn said. "We are preparing a battalion to take an airship to the Crystal Empire. I assume each of you wants to be on board."

"Yes." Both Rainbow and Rarity said at the same time. They glared at each other, then looked away. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Applejack were also nodding to Celestia's question, but seemed to feel a little uneasy about Rainbow and Rarity's feud.

"When do we leave?" Twilight asked.

"Immediately." Was the response of the Princess.

The King and I

Chapter Nineteen – Frostburn

Things in the Crystal Empire had not improved for Frostburn. Lacking a place to sleep the previous night, he had slept on a hard bench in a public park. Not a real smart move, because now his back was aching. Luckily he still had Rarity's cloak, or he would have been freezing. He was hungry too, but that feeling was not new to him.

Wandering aimlessly on the city streets, Frostburn felt more eyes locked on him. It seemed each pony was attempting to drill holes into his head by staring in his general direction. The blue pegasus felt like if one more set of eyes looked at him, he'd drill in the hole himself. Rounding a corner, he touched the stunted horn on the top of his head. It was something his mother had always done, claiming it brought her good fortune. He really needed some of that right about now.

The alluring scent of freshly baked bread caught his attention. Not far from him, a bakery sat, recently baked goods sitting in display. The pegasus felt his mouth water and heard his stomach growl. Wishing he could have bought some bread, Frostburn merely turned away and walked another direction.

You know you could always steal some. Part of him thought. It was a tempting idea, and his stomach argued in favor of it. No, stealing is wrong. You're better than that. Another part thought. He sighed inwardly, because he knew he really wasn't better than that. Frostburn thought back to all the times he taken food or money from other ponies just to get by. Then he got depressed as he realized that the list was longer that he would have liked. But food and bits didn't matter on the grand scale of things, lives did. And he had taken those too.

~Three Years ago~

He splashed through the rain soaked streets, desperate to flee. His light blue hooves were soaked in muddy water, leaving tracks on the littered streets. He needed somewhere to hide. Somewhere to be safe. But in Manehatten, nowhere was really safe enough.

The two stallions, underlings for a local gang lord, pursued him vigorously. Neither would let him escape – or live – if they caught up to him. Sure Frostburn was fast, but days without food and only rainwater to drink hadn't exactly done wonders for his health. He stumbled along, barely able to keep ahead of the two. His breaths became more ragged as his lungs burned for a respite. The muscles in his legs ached, demanding the same thing.

Hoping for a moment to breath, he ducked into an alleyway, of which Manehatten had more than the city knew what to do with.

Huffing shortly, and much too loudly, Frostburn stopped only for a moment. But it was a moment too long.

A powerful hoof slammed into his back, sending him down to the ground. Villainous laughter rang out between the two stallions. As he tried to stand, another kicked in his ribs.

"Well Switchblade," One underling said. "You want to kill him, or should I?"

"You got the last one, Trench. It's my turn." Switchblade, a dark blue pony with a Cutie Mark to match his name, said. Frostburn stumbled further down the alley, reeling in pain. Trench grabbed him and slammed his entire body into the nearest brick wall.

"Not so fast there, buddy." The pale brown stallion sneered. "We can't let you leave just yet. You see, when you steal from the boss, and it don't end well for you."

"I'll… I'll give it back." He whimpered. Reaching into his saddlebag he yanked out a small sack filled to the brim with bits. He tossed it on the ground. "Just leave me alone."

"No can do." Switchblade said. "You see, the boss can't just let something like this slide. He has to make an example out of you." Indicating himself and Trench he said, "And we are the guys he sends in order to make examples." Trench threw Frostburn to the ground. Switchblade drew out an impeccably long knife.

"You… You don't want to do this. Just turn around, walk away." Frostburn tried. The two stallions laughed manically and advanced. "Please… I don't want to hurt you." He said desperately.

"Oh, I think the hurt will be on the other hoof, buddy." Trench sneered.

"Alright, you forced me to do this." Frostburn said. His wings opened. The last thing he heard before blacking out was the unearthly screams of two ponies drenched in flames.

~The Present~

He shuddered at the memory. Even years later those two stallions could still haunt him. He was far from terrified of them, instead he felt grief. After he had regained control he saw their charred bodies, or rather, charred remains. They were nothing but ashes. Though they were the first, they had not been the last.

Seven ponies total had been victims of Frostburn. Seven. He was a monster. Each face still haunted him, nightmares about them plagued his dreams. All seven had a different story, but it all ended the same. Always fire. Always ash.

Removing himself from those horrific thoughts, Frostburn found himself in an alleyway. "I hate irony." He breathed.

"It is truly despicable." Something said.

"What? Who's there?" Frostburn turned around, and saw nopony.

"I am not there… not physically." The voice said again. It was a deep, booming voice. The kind you would expect from some regal pony. A pony with real power.

"Who are you?" Frostburn yelled. "What are you?"

"I have been many things. A beggar, a thief, a student, a phantom. But most recently I have been a king."

"This doesn't make any sense." The ice blue pegasus said, searching around for whatever it was that was contacting him.

"I cannot talk much now. My body lies in a weakened state and must be tended to. But trust me when I say that I would like to help you."

"Help me." Frostburn repeated. "How can you help me? You're just some freaky voice. I'm more inclined right now to believe I'm schizophrenic."

"I know much about you, Frostburn." The pegasus froze upon hearing his name. "I sense your fear of yourself, what you are capable of."

"Great, even the freaky voice in my head knows my curse." The pegasus moaned. He heard chuckling, as if what he had just said was the punch line of a joke.

"Your unique abilities are not a curse, but a gift. A gift I can teach you to control." The voice of the king said.

"Wait, control? You mean I'll be able to keep from going crazy... From hurting ponies?" The red-haired stallion asked.

"Indeed. You'll never hurt anypony unintentionally ever again. For instance, a certain rainbow-haired pegasus you know. Or white unicorn perhaps."

Frostburn didn't speak. This was insane, he knew. The king seemed to know everything about him. But if he could help him…

"I'm still not convinced." Frostburn said, narrowing his eyes, though he very much doubted the king could see him.

"Oh I did not expect you to decide now, but dote on what I have said. And let's keep this little conversation between us."

"Who would I tell?" He asked. "Anypony would think I'm insane." The voice did not respond. The supposed King was gone. Frostburn hoped that he had imagined what just happened. Yet a part of him didn't. A chance to finally control his power was a dream come true. It meant he could finally be friends with ponies. Or something more…

Still unsure whether or not he could trust the mysterious voice, Frostburn threw the hood of his cloak over his head and touched the tip of his severed horn once more. Then he walked back into the sparkling daylight of the Crystal Empire.

Solitary Refinement

Saturday Evening

Chapter Twenty – Rarity

A white unicorn was lying face up on her bed feeling awful. It wasn't because of what Rainbow Dash had said to her. It also was not because she regretted yelling at the cyan pegasus – she did in fact regret it but that was not the point. She felt awful right now because she was lonely.

Nopony, not even Pinkie Pie, had spoken to her since the fight. Dash had also found herself excluded as Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy all more or less shut them out of the group whenever they spoke among themselves about the airship, or the Crystal Empire, or anything else. It seemed that the group as a whole had come to the consensus to shun the feuding friends in hopes they would make up.

It hadn't worked though.

The entire flight to the Crystal Empire Rarity had pondered what to say to Rainbow Dash. She just didn't know what could be said in order to make things right again. Twice already she tried to communicate with Rainbow Dash. Once was at lunch time, when everypony had been jammed into the mess hall to eat substandard food. It was just her luck that as she walked over to Rainbow that she tripped and food flew off her tray and into the pegasus' face.

Rainbow accused her of doing it on purpose and Rarity, out of a defense for herself, had screamed right back that she had not. Dash had stormed out of the mess hall, leaving things worse than they already had been.

Her second try was during the fifth hour on the airship. Dash was pacing on the front deck, anxious without a doubt to stretch her wings, or for the ship to land. Rarity had tentatively approached her, and managed three words. "Umm… Rainbow Dash?" The cyan pegasus shot daggers at her when she had spoke, and so Rarity merely slinked out of view, ashamed she hadn't done anything else.

Now she sat, alone, in a cabin in the hull of the airship. The flight had totaled seven hours, and she desperately hoped they would land soon. If loneliness didn't get her, then claustrophobia would. A knock came at her door. Rarity sprang up instantly, elated that somepony wanted to see her. Briefly she hoped it was Rainbow Dash, but upon opening the door she saw a lavender face stare back at her.

"Hello Rarity." Twilight said casually.

"Oh Twilight, hello." Rarity responded. "Did you um, need something?"

"I just wanted to let you know the ship's going to be landing soon." The purple unicorn said. Rarity saddened at the thought that her friend, all of her friends, still weren't talking to her.

"Oh, thank you darling." Rarity managed to say.

Twilight turned, as if to leave, but she stopped for a moment and looked back at Rarity. "Is everything okay, Rarity?" She asked.

"Oh, umm… Yes darling, everything is fine. I just…" Rarity paused, feeling all the emotions she'd been trying to bottle up suddenly swell over. Tears welled up in her eyes as she broke down sobbing right there. Twilight looked around awkwardly, unsure of how to handle the situation.

"Uhh… It'll... be okay." Twilight said, patting Rarity's back. The white unicorn sniffled, trying to regain her composure.

"I'm sorry Twilight." She said. "I don't know what came over me. I just feel so lonely right now."

"I'm sorry about that Rarity. The girls and I just thought you needed some space since the... uh... incident back at Canterlot."

"It was a little too much space." Rarity said, only half-joking. "We should probably get up to the main deck if the ship is about to land." The white unicorn said, eager to change the subject. Twilight nodded and the two made their way to the upper levels of the ship.

Seeing Twilight come out of the lower levels with Rarity had seemed to throw a switch for the rest of the group. Pinkie had run up to her joyously, exclaiming about the amazing view of the Crystal Empire that you could get over the side of the ship. Applejack and Fluttershy had followed her lead, now willing to include Rarity in their conversations. It seemed to the white unicorn that the incident from the throne room was forgotten by all.

Well, except by Rainbow Dash.

The cyan pegasus stood off to the side by the railings, looking down at the Crystal Empire. Fluttershy tried to draw her into conversation, but met fierce resistance on Dash's end. Eventually the yellow pegasus decided to leave Rainbow Dash alone.

There was a clamor, as the soldiers and crewman moved to formation suddenly. Looking around, Rarity saw that Sergeant Swift Sword – who unfortunately was the ranking officer on the ship and therefore in charge of everypony on it – had moved onto the deck. Upon noticing him, Dash appeared to be more on edge than before. Rarity too was unnerved by his presence on the ship. His cold demeanor coupled with the rude way he talked about Frostburn did not serve in favor of the Sergeant in her eyes.

"Alright." Swift Sword said, addressing the crowd along with the Mane Six. "We're not wasting any time here, ponies. We've got a threat to neutralize." Rarity noticed Rainbow glaring lividly at the Sergeant as he spoke. "Princess Cadence already has as many guards as she can spare searching, but it's our job make sure this outlaw doesn't escape. Each of you have groups you've been assigned to for search parties, so the second we land, fan out and comb the streets."

Rarity was puzzled by this, seeing as how she hadn't been put into any group to help find Frostburn. She looked to Twilight and found the purple mare to appear just as confused as Rarity felt. Before she or anypony could speak up, there was a lurching motion as the ship landed on the ground. While many of the soldiers hardly reacted, Rarity struggled to stay upright.

"Are you okay, Rarity?" asked Twilight when she steadied herself again.

"Yes, darling. I'm fine. Just not used to the landing I suppose." The white unicorn answered. Twilight nodded, having experienced the same thing. Every one of her friends seemed to have experienced some discomfort in the landing.

"Ah'm glad y'all are alright." Said Applejack. "But what was that whole thing about assigned groups?"

"I had no idea there were any assignments." Twilight said. "We'd better talk to the Sergeant."

"Fabulous." Rarity said in a sardonic tone. Any time spent around that pony was a waste as far as she was considered. Twilight seemed not to realize Rarity was being sarcastic, or she just didn't care. Either way she trotted right up to the Sergeant, followed closely by the majority of the Mane Six. Rainbow Dash had hung back, clearly not eager to talk to Swift Sword. She still paid attention though.

"Excuse me, Sergeant?" Twilight asked.

"What?" He responded. Only one word, but Rarity detected his annoyed tone in it.

"My friends and I didn't get assigned in any groups. Was there a problem or something?"

The Sergeant narrowed his eyes. "I'm just not sure I can trust you ponies to look for the outlaw."

"Why? Because we're his friends?" Applejack accused. Swift responded with a you-said-it-not-me kind of look.

"B-but that's ridiculous!" Rarity stammered. Her friends, even Dash, nodded in agreement.

"Fine." Swift Sword said. The dark brown stallion looked them over shortly, then said. "You can search. But at the first sight of the outlaw you report it to my soldiers so they can take him down."

"Agreed." Twilight said, though clearly she hated it.

"What?!" Rainbow shouted, now finally joining the group. "That's stupid. I'm not…"

"Rainbow." Twilight cut her off. The lavender mare stared down her cyan friend. Clearly the message got through because Rainbow did not continue her tirade.

"Alright then." The Sergeant said slowly, likely doubting them all. He then pointed at Fluttershy and Twilight. "You two will be a group." Then he pointed at Applejack and Pinkie Pie. "You two will be a group."

"Whoopee!" An enthusiastic response from Pinkie rang out. She put her foreleg around Applejack and began joyously rambling about all the fun they were about to have. Doubtlessly though she would have reacted like that had she been paired with any of her friends. Suddenly Rarity wasn't focusing on the party pony's outburst, because she had a horrible realization.

Sergeant Swift Sword pointed at the shocked white unicorn and an angry rainbow-haired pegasus before saying the condemning words. "And you two will be a group."

Method to my Madness

Chapter Twenty-One – Pinkie Pie

"She was paired with Rainbow Dash. That's what it will say on my tombstone!" A dismayed white unicorn cried.

Pinkie felt like giggling at Rarity's overdramatic display. She knew she shouldn't but it was almost too tempting. The seamstress was banging her against the side of the airship for pony's sake!

"Sugar cube, there ain't no need to get so worked up about it." Applejack said, putting a hoof on the unicorn's shoulder.

"Oh of all the worst things that could happen, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!" Rarity screamed. Applejack retreated a little after that outburst.

"Calm down Rarity." Twilight said. "Being on a search party with Rainbow Dash won't kill you."

Pinkie thought about that. Right now, Rainbow Dash was yelling at Sergeant Swift Sword about being paired up with Rarity. The cyan pegasus was definitely not happy about it, that was for sure. But unhappy enough to kill Rarity? Not likely, the pink mare decided.

"Easy for you to say, Twilight." Rarity countered. "Rainbow Dash doesn't hate you!"

Aside from Rainbow Dash, the only other pony missing from the Mane Six was Fluttershy, who had stayed behind in a vain attempt to calm down the cyan pegasus. That thought brought Pinkie around to the topic at hoof. Why had Twilight asked everypony to meet her outside the airship before going off to search? Finding Frosty should probably be on the top of the lavender mare's to do list.

Her thoughts got interrupted by the grumbling complaints of a pegasus. Rainbow Dash had flown down and landed right beside Twilight. Fluttershy came not long after.

"How did it go?" Pinkie Pie asked. Rainbow Dash grunted angrily.

"He said his decision was final." Fluttershy answered.

"Well, that's the censored version anyways." Rainbow said, not looking at anypony in particular.

"Well, you'll just have to make the best of it. Both of you." Twilight said while looking at Rainbow Dash and Rarity. The white unicorn pouted. The cyan pegasus snorted and looked away. "Look, girls. It's clear we can't just hand Frostburn over to Sergeant Swift Sword." Twilight continued. Nods came from everypony. "If you do find him, get him to the Crystal Palace immediately. I know Shining Armor and Princess Cadence will understand if we bring Frostburn there. Then we can wait out the search party, and we'll…" The purple mare trailed off.

"We'll what?" Rainbow asked.

"I… I don't know. Let's just focus on finding Frostburn and figure out the rest later. We still don't even understand the whole prophecy yet." Twilight levitated the painted scroll out from her saddlebag, which apparently she managed to smuggle out of Canterlot. As she unraveled it, everypony else grouped around her. "We can try to decode it at the palace."

"Alright then, we'd better get to it." AJ said. Twilight rerolled up the scroll and stuck it back in her saddlebag. Rainbow and Rarity exchanged some uneasy looks. The Mane Six was about to go their separate ways when Pinkie Pie remembered something.

"Wait girls!" She cried frantically. All five halted, curious as to what their pink friend had to say. "If you see Frosty, make sure to ask what color streamers he wants at his party. Oh, but don't let him know that the party is for him, it has to be a surprise!"

"O-okay." Fluttershy said. Twilight rolled her violet eyes and the two sped off away from the airship and towards the Crystal Palace.

"We'd better get going, Pinkie." Applejack said.

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie said. She turned to Rainbow and Rarity who were both looking pretty unhappy. "Good luck!" She said, and then followed an already moving AJ into the streets of the Crystal Empire.

"Ah'm startn' to think that he ain't here, Sugar cube." Applejack said. Pinkie's head swiveled around, away from the street corner she was inspecting.

"How can you say that until we've searched every inch of this place?" The party pony asked. She proceeded to shimmy up a lamp post and inspect it for any clues to Frostburn's whereabouts. Around them, crystal ponies stared in a mix of disbelieve and disapproval. The farmer was slightly embarrassed to be around Pinkie at that moment. She shoved her head in her hat, though the party pony didn't see it. Pinkie was occupied with the light bulb in the post.

"Now Ah highly doubt Frostburn would be in a lamp post, Pinkie Pie." Applejack called up. Pinkie reluctantly slid down the post.

"Fine," said the pink mare. "Where do you think he might be?" Not prepared for such a question, Applejack looked around for inspiration, but found none.

Pinkie looked as well. The sun was setting slowly over the Crystal Empire, bathing the gemstone city in a golden light that sparkled off the buildings. Crystal ponies milled about, finishing their daily routines and likely heading home. Outnumbering the crystal ponies were the soldiers – either crystal or regular – roaming streets. Their eyes darted back and forth, searching for the same pony Pinkie and AJ were.

"Ah doubt he'll be around here. Too many ponies are looking for 'im, and Ah don't think he wants to be found."

Pinkie inhaled loudly, an idea had just bloomed in her mind. "That's it!" She cried happily, bouncing up and down while attracting more attention. Applejack stopped her with an outstretched hoof.

"What is?" The orange mare asked.

"I know how we can find Frosty! We just have to not look for him!" Pinkie exclaimed giddily.

There was a moment of silence. Then Applejack said, "What the hay?" Pinkie sighed like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Listen Applejack," Pinkie said as the two mares began walking. "Everypony who is trying find Frosty has had no luck so far, right?"

"Uh… right." AJ said, still unsure of Pinkie Pie's plan.

"Then if we try not to find him, then it stands to reason that we would find him. Right?" Pinkie Pie beamed with pride about her plan. Applejack clearly still had doubts.

"It's madness, Sugarcube!"

"It could work." Pinkie protested. AJ sighed.

"Ah suppose we could give it a go around." She said slowly. Pinkie took that for an enthusiastic yes, and leaped with joy.

"Great!" She cried. "Now all we have to do is find Frosty, without attempting to find him. Simple." The two walked on for a brief, awkward moment as neither of them knew what to do. Pinkie kept a smile plastered on her face, while Applejack desperately fought the urge to glance around.

At first it seemed as though Pinkie's plan wasn't working. After several minutes passed, she became confused as to why they hadn't already bumped into Frosty. There had been several good chances for it to happen, yet it hadn't. She toiled in her mind why her plan was failing. Glancing over at her friend, Pinkie noticed that the farmer's eyes darting around.

"Applejack!" She cried. AJ flinched. "You're not even trying!"

Applejack guiltily sighed. "Ah'm sorry, Sugar cube. Ah just don't see how we're supposed to find Frostburn if we ain't lookin' for 'im." The orange pony justified.

"We'll you could at least…" Pinkie Pie never finished that sentence, because both she and Applejack collided with a pony who had also not been paying attention. The three fell onto the ground in a pile.

Disentangling herself from her friend and the stranger, Pinkie took a moment to see who it was they had collided with. He saw her first.

"Pinkie? Applejack?" He asked as if unsure if this was real.

"Frostburn?" AJ responded, equally taken back.

Pinkie Pie wasted no time. Turning to her farmer friend she said, "I told you so, Applejack!"

"But I don't underst—" Applejack began to say.

"Hey Frosty, what's your favorite color for streamers?" Pinkie asked, cutting off her farmer friend. Frostburn looked like he was about to pass out. Pinkie really didn't care. She was just extremely happy her method had worked.

Right Up Your Alley

Chapter Twenty-Two – Applejack

Applejack kind of hated to admit it, but Pinkie's plan had worked. Staring in shock at the equally stunned face of Frostburn, AJ admitted that much. The only one talking at the moment was the pink mare. Frostburn still seemed to be in a state of disbelief. He was coming out of it faster that Applejack though. She had probably been standing stone still with an open mouth for over a minute now. Then the orange mare's leg throbbed. She suddenly remembered all the reasons why she wanted to punch him in the jaw.

She didn't though. Partly this was due to the still lasting surprise, but also she didn't want to risk sending him on another rampage. That would be a disaster. Also, she had kind of forgiven him by now. With everything else that had been happening, a few acres of burnt farmland and a trip to the hospital seemed insignificant. Vaguely she was aware that time was passing and that Pinkie was rambling.

"...andafteryoulefteveryponywassosadespeciallyRainbowDashandRaritysowehoppedonatraintogettoCanterlotandthenwefoundoutyouwereheresoweflewahugeairshiptogetto…"

"Pinkie Pie!" Frostburn said loudly, cutting her off. The pink mare quieted down. Applejack was unsure of what the icy pegasus might do.

"It's good to see you too." He said after a moment. Pinkie hugged him. After a stunned second, he returned her embrace.

"We should get to the Crystal Palace. The others are gonna hafta see you to." Applejack said, snapping everypony back to reality. Frostburn got a wary look.

"Applejack, I can't go there." He said. Pinkie broke off the hug, which was not a promising sign.

"What?!" She said, sounding both angry and confused – never a good combination when Pinkie was involved. Applejack felt just the same way. Both mares stared at Frostburn demanding an answer.

"I can't be around anypony, Pinkie. That much is obvious." He said solemnly. "I left so I wouldn't hurt you girls anymore." Pinkie softened when she heard his reason, but AJ was unsatisfied with it.

"Now wait just an apple bucking minute." Applejack said. "Do you have any idea what your absence has done to the group? Leaving was the worst thing ya coulda done. Besides, there's more to it now. We need ya to come to the palace"

"W-what do you mean?" Frostburn asked. Applejack pointed toward the Crystal Palace.

"If ya want answers, they're over there." She said. Frostburn looked at the shining palace with uncertainty. Clearly, he regretted his decision of leaving but had felt it was the best option. Now, presented with this choice… well, Applejack could practically see the wheels turning in his head.

Finally the blue pegasus said, "Okay."

"Yippee!" Pinkie Pie cried, leaping with joy. Applejack hurriedly shushed her friend, wary that there were still soldiers around. Glancing around she saw that most had left, and the ones that still remained weren't focusing on them. For now.

"We're goin' need to move real stealth like." She said quietly. "We gotta avoid all the guards if we're goin' get ta the palace in one piece."

"I guess we could take the alleyways." Frostburn said, indicating one that he had recently come out of. "Ever since the guards started patrolling I've been using them to get around unseen."

"Alleys? Why didn't I think of that?" Pinkie said facing hoofing herself.

"Cause ya were too busy with the lamp post." Applejack said.

"Lamp post?" Frostburn said, his mouth curving into the faintest smile.

"Yeah, that was pretty silly of me." Pinkie said laughing. "Oh, I just remembered!" She became serious quickly. "Rainbow and Rarity are still looking for you. I better go find them and say the search is over."

"You do that." AJ agreed. "Ah'll make sure Frostburn here gets to the palace alive."

Pinkie nodded, and bounced off to find their remaining friends. Applejack looked back at Frostburn, who was now staring at the alley lost in thought.

"There a problem?" She asked. Frostburn blinked, coming out of his trance.

"I've just haven't had the most pleasant experiences in alleys recently." He said with a slight shiver. "So what did you mean when you said my absence has affected the group?" the ice blue pegasus asked, attempting to change the subject. The two began walking down the alley, Applejack taking the lead.

"Well, Rainbow's become angrier than a corn snake in a tomato field, and she and Rarity have bin at each other's throats since Canterlot." Applejack recalled, careful to leave out any specifics until they reached the palace. It wasn't dishonesty she argued with herself. Just selective truth. The duo rounded a corner, and Frostburn got a look of dismay.

"Great," he said. "Even when I'm not around I still manage to screw things up."

"That's not what Ah meant." AJ told him. He didn't seem reassured.

"It's the truth though, isn't it?" The pegasus asked. The two walked in silence for a minute, Applejack being unsure of what to say. Telling him it was his fault wouldn't help at all. But she couldn't lie and say it had nothing to do with him. The orange mare held her mouth shut, hoping to avoid either response. They rounded three more corners and walked the distance of several blocks before either spoke again. Frostburn broke the silence. "I'm sorry about your farm."

AJ looked at him. "That's okay…"

"No it's not." He said, shaking his head. "I really am sorry. For the farm, for your brother, and for your leg."

"Now Sugar cube, there ain't no need to get all worked up about it. Ma leg is fine, ya see?" Applejack kicked the air to demonstrate just how fine it was. "And Big Mac will be fine to. Besides, he ain't one to hold a grudge. As for the farm…" she waved her hoof as if to dismiss it. "That was only about an acre or so. And those apples were too ripe anyways."

Frostburn looked a little less guilty seeing that Applejack had forgiven him. It was the truth too; Applejack wasn't really holding it against Frostburn anymore. Recent developments had seen to that.

The Crystal Palace grew bigger as the two ponies got closer. The sun had almost set too, making it harder to see in the dimly lit alley. Applejack hoped they got there soon; otherwise she wouldn't be able to see two feet in front of her.

"Am I going to be executed?" Frostburn suddenly asked. Applejack realized that had probably been on his mind for a while.

"Nah." She said. "Princess Celestia has moved passed that. Like I said earlier, there's more to it now. Don't worry, everything will be explained once we're at the Palace."

"I hope so, things have been getting weird lately."

"Weird how?" Applejack asked, curious as to the developments on Frostburn's end. She hoped that no more parts of the prophecy had come true.

Frostburn suddenly stopped walking, and didn't respond to her. At first Applejack thought something was wrong, but then she realized that they had made it to the Crystal Palace. How had she not noticed the massive Crystal building? Not willing to answer that question, Applejack and Frostburn slinked along the edge of the palace until they came across the entrance. The orange farmer knocked, hoping Twilight or somepony friendly would answer the door. Inside, there were hoofsteps, indicating that somepony had heard them. There was a slight creaking noise as the crystal door swung open revealing Shining Armor on the other side. When he saw Applejack, he smiled. Then he turned his head.

"You." He hissed upon seeing Frostburn.

Before AJ knew what was happening, Shining Armor had grabbed a spear and was pointing it directly at Frostburn's neck.

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

Chapter Twenty-Three – Twilight Sparkle

Twilight had managed to remain calm during many situations. She had walked into and out of the Everfree Forest without so much as a single scratch. She had led Cerberus back to his home in Tartarus, returning with only a single scratch. She'd fought hydras, and manticores, and Nightmare Moon. But when she saw her brother point a weapon with intent to kill at one of her friends, she found it hard to keep calm.

"Shining, STOP!" She screamed. The white stallion flinched when he heard her screams. The spear was slowly lowered, but stayed pointed at the blue pegasus.

"You're fantastic at first impressions." Frostburn said nervously and sarcastically. His eyes were still wide with fear. Shining gave him a nasty glare, but Twilight was sure that comment came more from social ineptitude than hostility.

"Twily, this is the same pegasus who burned down Ponyville, right? The one everypony is looking for?" Shining still hadn't released his grip on the weapon. Earlier Twilight had tried explaining the situation to both him and Princess Cadence. After her description of the hellfire, Shining Armor had kind of stopped listening. He did start to listen again, right in time to hear about Frostburn's attack on Princess Celestia.

"Just calm down big fella." Applejack said. "Frostburn's alright once ya get to know 'im."

"It's true Shining. But you have to give Frostburn a chance, none of this was his fault." Twilight said, wary that her brother still had his weapon aimed somewhat at the red maned pegasus. "Will you put the spear down?" The lavender unicorn asked him.

Shining Armor snorted, but graciously set the spear off to the side. Frostburn gave a smile that was somewhere between awkward and innocent. Twilight felt a lot of tension that still needed to be diffused. Hoping a change of subject would help she asked, "Where's Pinkie Pie? I could have sworn you were partnered with her."

Applejack allowed herself into the palace along with –much to Shining Armor's dislike – Frostburn. "She went off to tell Rarity and Rainbow that the searchin' was over." Twilight cringed at that. She was pretty sure those two would be at each other's throats by now, despite her best wishes that they would reconcile.

"Small talk aside," Frostburn said. "Applejack promised me answers when I agreed to come here."

Twilight eyed Applejack, curious about just how much information had been shared already. The orange farmer gave a nonchalant shrug that told her absolutely nothing. "You deserve to know what's going on." She said, motioning them both to follow her. They did, and the four of them made their way to the parlor in the next room. Shining Armor continued his death stare at Frostburn the entire time, making the blue pegasus visibly nervous. At least he had left the spear by the door.

Inside the parlor, Twilight saw Fluttershy had dosed off by the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket. Princess Cadence was sitting in a chair, also by the fireplace, sipping a cup of hot chocolate. When the four came in, the Princess looked up.

"Hello everypony. Is this the pegasus you were telling us about, Twilight?" Cadence asked getting up from her seat.

"Yes, it's him." Twilight said. Cadence walked over and inspected Frostburn.

"Careful, Cadence." Shining Armor said. "I still don't trust him." Princess Cadence laughed innocently.

"Oh you." She said playfully tousling Shining's mane as if he were just a colt. He grunted disapproval, but blushed all the same. "I don't think you look all that dangerous." The Princess said, turning to Frostburn.

"Thanks." He said, smiling. He was probably happy that a stranger finally trusted him. Twilight nudged Fluttershy awake, the yellow pegasus' eyes fluttering open before she sat up quickly and alert. She yelped out of surprise when she saw Frostburn, but settled down before he noticed her.

"Frostburn I know you want answers, but I think we should wait for everypony else before I tell you everything." Twilight said.

"Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity already know the prophecy." Applejack said. Frostburn – along with Shining Armor and Princess Cadence who were equally caught unaware – turned to AJ in confusion.

"Prophecy?" Shining asked. "Twily you didn't mention a…"

"I was waiting until we found Frostburn before I said anything." Twilight said quickly. She didn't want her brother any angrier than he already was due to Frostburn's presence. "But I suppose I can go ahead and tell you all everything now." Frostburn found a comfortable spot on the ground and prepared to listen. Shining Armor and Princess Cadence chose to stand. The purple mare launched straight into telling everything that had happened after Frostburn had flown off, which was convenient because that was where she had left off from her explanation to Shining and Cadence. Using her expert descriptive skills and memory, Twilight managed to get in every detail. So much detail, that Applejack and Fluttershy didn't feel the need to interject anything.

Frostburn's face transformed into shock, disbelief, and finally horror as he was told the prophecy by Twilight. To prove it was true, Twilight produced the prophetic scroll she had "borrowed" from the Canterlot library. Frostburn, Shining, and Cadence each took a turn at scouring the scroll.

Twilight had left out the parts about Rainbow Dash running off to find him, or the cyan pegasus' fight with Rarity from her recounting. She just got a look from Fluttershy when those points in the plot came up that told her to skip over them.

As the story caught up to the present, Frostburn looked like he might throw up. Cadence and Shining seemed to have handled it better though. Twilight ended with the airship landing in the Empire and the Sergeant's hunt for the icy-blue pegasus.

"I… I…" Frostburn struggled to say something.

"You're not going to run away again, are you?" Fluttershy asked him suddenly. He shook his head. "Good. I don't think Rarity would have liked that."

Rarity? Twilight thought. Doesn't she mean Rainbow Dash? The purple mare asked herself.

"But if I don't leave, won't you eventually have to take me to that Sergeant guy?" Frostburn asked. It was a legitimate question, but even Twilight didn't have an answer for it. In fact, she had been putting it off, because she was worried that an answer would never come. There was silence for a while. Frostburn shifted nervously.

"I'll write to Princess Celestia." Cadence said. "I'll just say that Frostburn isn't in the Crystal Empire, and likely went south. We'll work on decoding the prophecy in the mean time." Applejack, Fluttershy, and Frostburn seemed to think it was a good idea. Twilight wasn't so sure. The last time they had kept her teacher in the dark, things hadn't turned out so well.

Before she could voice her contempt about the idea, she saw that Cadence had already wordlessly left the room. Applejack yawned loudly.

"It's gettin' kinda late. Ah'm goin' ta hit the hay." She declared. Shining Armor indicated the door to the nearest guest room, and the orange mare tiredly walked to it.

"I hope the others are okay." Fluttershy said. Twilight realized she hadn't even been worrying about the absence of her other friends. She stared wistfully out the window, which by now could only show inky darkness of Luna's night.

"They'll be fine." She assured Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus smiled with relief. "In the mean time, I want to work on this cryptic prophecy." Twilight levitated the scroll up to her, and unrolled it. Her brother joined her, looking at the rhyming lines of the apocalypse with only mild interest.

Frostburn clearly looked uneasy being in the scroll's presence, but Twilight wasn't looking at his mannerisms. She was only focused on the blue and red scroll in front of her, which is probably why she didn't hear the opening sound of the palace's front doors. It was probably also the reason why she only looked up when a cyan pegasus kicked open the parlor doors.

"Dashie, don't be rude… at least knock first." A pink mare said. The cyan pegasus didn't acknowledge her.

"Frostburn!" Rainbow Dash screamed with a mixture of giddiness and anger. Before Frostburn could react, Dash had tackled him to the floor.

And that's when Rarity walked in.

Ghost in a Crowded Room

Saturday Night

Chapter Twenty-Four – Rarity

She burned with jealousy, but held her resentment in. Seeing Frostburn for the first time in what felt like ages was great. Seeing him completely ignore her… not so much.

Rarity did concede that fact that Rainbow Dash had just tackled him to the ground was part of that, but it really didn't ease her jealousy.

"Rainbow, stop!" Fluttershy said, at the scene unfolding before her.

"Get off of him!" Twilight yelled. The two pried the cyan pegasus off Frostburn.

"Sorry." Rainbow said, her cheeks burning red. It was the first time she had spoken in hours. During the entire search, Rainbow had remained distant. She ignored every one of Rarity's attempts to apologize (and there had been many). By the time Pinkie Pie had come around, Rarity was starving for interaction. Even the incomprehensible chatter that Pinkie had happily screamed at the two had been enough.

When Rarity finally realized that Pinkie was telling them the search was over, Dash had snapped back to reality. The cyan pegasus had then bolted through the Empire to make it to the palace. Rarity and Pinkie just barely caught up with her before she knocked open the parlor doors.

Rarity expected – and sort of hoped—that Dash's outburst would have repelled Frostburn. There didn't seem to be much a chance of that. He actually was smiling as Shining Armor helped him stand up.

"Hi Rainbow." He managed, the wind still knocked out of him. He hadn't even noticed Rarity yet. She resisted the urge to scream.

Rainbow calmed down enough that Twilight and Fluttershy felt it was safe enough to stop restraining her. That's when Rainbow Dash started shouting.

"How could you just leave me like that?" the cyan pegasus screamed at him. "Uh… I mean us." She added meekly after.

Frostburn blinked. "I… I couldn't stand hurting you. What I did…" He turned away. "You were probably safer without me there."

Rainbow looked like she was about to shout again and then paused, as if she was just now considering that fact. There was silence. Then a rather tired looking orange mare walked into the room.

"What the hay is going on in here?" Applejack said in between yawns. It took her only a moment to digest the situation. "Glad to see y'all made it here." She said. However, Rarity couldn't help but notice that AJ had said that more or less to Pinkie and Rainbow. Not even Applejack had noticed her yet. It was infuriating. The white unicorn was about to say something, when Pinkie Pie spoke.

"Applejack! You won't believe what just happened! The second we get here, Rainbow Dash kicks open the door and—"

"I think that's enough, Pinkie." Rainbow Dash interjected, looking embarrassed over her own outburst.

It was actually Shining Armor who spoke next. "It's late." He said. "Everypony should really get some sleep."

As if she were helping to prove his point, Pinkie gave an over the top yawn. Everypony in the room suddenly looked much more tired, and Rarity felt it.

"Okay, we can go to sleep." Dash said. She looked at Frostburn. "But I'm not done with you."

Shining began shuffling everypony out of the parlor and towards the door Applejack had come out of, leaving Rarity behind.

Fabulous. Ignored again. She thought. Rarity waited a moment to see if any of her friends would suddenly remember that she had been left out in the parlor. Apparently none did. The white unicorn began walking in the direction her friends had gone off. As she pushed open the door into a hallway, she saw Frostburn standing forlornly outside of a door. He sighed, still not noticing Rarity. The white mare took a single step forward, and her hoof managed to find the loudest, squeakiest board into the entire palace.

She cringed slightly, and Frostburn's head snapped in her direction, all guards up. His face softened when he saw her. "Hey Rarity." He whispered.

"Hello, Frostburn." She barely breathed. Rarity had wanted a moment alone with Frostburn for so long, and now that she had it, she wasn't quite sure what to do.

"Sorry I uh, didn't really talk to you back there." Frostburn said.

"I forgive you darling, after all, you had just been tackled to the ground." Rarity said. "Besides, we can talk now… if you want."

"Sure, what do you want to talk about?" Frostburn asked, giving a smile that made Rarity feel like melting.

"H-how do you like the Crystal Empire so far?" She asked. Small talk, Rarity? She chided herself. You can do better than that.

"It's, uh… very bad actually." He said. "I've been kicking myself for leaving everypony behind, and now with the whole prophecy thing..."

"Oh, you've heard of that now." She said. Rarity realized that a lot of conflicting forces were haunting Frostburn right now. He probably didn't need another one. But she also didn't want to stop talking to him.

"I can't believe that it's really about me. And all the stuff it says I'll do… I don't want to destroy Equestria." He said.

"You won't." Rarity said. "I know you won't. You're too good of a pony to do that." He smiled.

"Thanks Rarity. I needed that." Rarity blushed. Frostburn looked around, embarrassed. He toiled with the fabric of his cloak for a bit. Then Rarity realized which cloak it was.

"Darling, you… you kept the cloak I gave you?" She asked, touched.

"Yeah." Frostburn smiled his blue cheeks now red. "It's been the one good thing about this whole catastrophe. That and you girls." He added. "I can't thank you all enough for being my friends."

Rarity's heart sank a little, as she noted he used the word friend when she wanted to be so much more. "It's nothing." She said. "I mean, it's something, to you. Obviously. But really we do this kind of thing all the time. Being friends I mean. Not that what we've done for you isn't special, darling. We don't go all around the world for just anypony. Not that it's too much trouble, really" The white mare stumbled over her sentences, but moved closer to him, just a little.

"Well, it means a lot to me." He said. "Friendship's not something I've had a lot of experience with."

"I assure you darling," Rarity said. "It's magical."

He took a step closer to her. They were a snouts distance between each other now. "You'll have to teach me about it." He said, his light breathing caressing her. "I'm not exactly the best with magic." The blue stallion said, referring to his unique powers.

"You just need somepony to help you control it." Rarity said leaning in. Frostburn's entire demeanor changed when she said that. His body completely stiffened, and he backed away.

"Is something wrong, Frostburn?" She asked, worried she had ruined a perfect moment.

"I… I'm sorry Rarity. I just need some time to think." He hastily opened his bedroom door and rushed in. The door shut quickly behind him, leaving Rarity alone in the hallway.

She didn't know whether to be stunned or offended. Was it something I said? She asked herself walking away. It couldn't have been. Going over what she had said in her head, Rarity assured herself that it was not what had killed mood. At least not for her. Reviewing the conversation in her head again, the white unicorn could only determine that something on Frostburn's end had cause the shift.

But what could it have been? Rarity thought, but nothing really made sense. Except one excuse that was very possible, just she did not want to believe it.

Frostburn was hiding something from her. From all of them. Rarity became determined to find out what it was.

Turning down the hall, Rarity saw an open door that led to an unclaimed bedroom. She closed the door and lied down on the soft bed, asleep in moments.

Across the hall, a cyan pegasus who had been listening through the walls also went to bed. Only sleep did not come as quickly for the brooding Rainbow Dash.

The Phantom Menace

Sunday Morning

Chapter Twenty-Five – Rainbow Dash

Normally Dash would wake up late, and then stay in her bed for countless minutes before actually getting up. It was usually her lazy time before she had to go to work. This time she only woke up late.

The cyan pegasus rocketed out of bed, realizing she had slept later than she meant too. This morning was too important. She had to talk to Frostburn. She just didn't know what to say to him yet. Last night had been… awkward. Now was her chance for some redemption.

She left her room without even bothering to brush her mane, which looked like it had been wrestling her pillow all night. She ran her hoof through it and hoped that would be enough. Rainbow distantly wondered when she had begun caring about her looks as she walked through the palace.

As far as she could guess, all of her friends were eating breakfast. This fact was registered first by her nose when it came to contact with the smell of maple syrup. She followed the scent to the palace dining area, where everypony was enjoying a pancake breakfast. It seemed that Dash was the last one to arrive.

"Hey Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie said. Just in case nopony heard her, the pink mare followed up with, "Hey everypony, Rainbow Dash is here!"

Everypony turned, smiled, and waved at her. Except Rarity who avoided looking at her. That was fine though, Rainbow was still not ready to forgive the white unicorn. Frostburn however, waved her over to an open seat right next to him. She gladly accepted and grabbed some pancakes.

"Now that we're all here," Twilight said. "We should determine what to do next."

"Gettin' back to Canterlot should be our first priority." Applejack said. Rainbow poured some syrup on her pancakes, listening only partially to her farmer friend. Instead, Rainbow was sideways glancing at Frostburn. Which caused her to pour syrup right off the plate and on to the table. She set the syrup bottle down, hoping nopony had seen that.

"Yes, but we can't take the airship." Twilight said. "I have a feeling that Sergeant Swift Sword doesn't care about the current situation." She turned to Frostburn. "He views you as a criminal. I don't think we'll be able to change that image." Frostburn nodded, but looked melancholy. Clearly being labeled a criminal didn't sit well with him.

"So how do we get back?" Pinkie asked. "The soldiers are probably still all over the city so we're kind of stuck here. Ooo what if we throw a huge party and invite them all to it, then we can slip away with no problem."

"No offense, Sugarcube but Ah don't think that will work." Applejack said.

"We could take the train." Fluttershy suggested meekly. Everypony looked at her for a moment, and the poor yellow pegasus sunk back in her seat. Rarity spoke up.

"It could work, if we can make it to the station." There was another pause as everypony considered this. Dash had to admit it was a good idea, but even she couldn't think of a way to get to the train station undetected. She wanted to interject something about that into the conversation, but her mouth was full of pancakes. Instead, a lavender unicorn did.

"We could try it." Twilight said. "And I think I know just the way to pull it off."

-\-

A dark, shadowy mist swept across the arid plateau of the Badlands. It flew above the ground, unfazed by the jagged rocks and twisted chasms that plagued the surface. In fact, it began accelerating. The cloud of dark energy was speeding towards a bleak, dilapidated castle that hung in the dead center of the Badlands.

Two guards at the door to the castle noticed the dark cloud long before it reached the gateway. They watched it pass, but made no move to hinder it or even touch it. Both of them had a horrifying suspicion that if they tried, their worst fears would be inflicted upon them.

The mass of shadows drifted through the castle with a clear direction in mind. Each move it made was precise, and everypony it came near would immediately move away. Soon it arrived at the throne room, greeted by a black mare with an unkempt, teal mane and holes in her legs.

"It has been a long time, Sombra." Her venomous voice said to the shadow. She watched as the dark mass bulged and morphed, forming the front half of the Crystal King. His back remained shrouded in the dark haze.

"I agree." King Sombra spoke. "It is good to see you again, Chrysalis."

"Formalities are pointless." The Queen of the Changelings said. "Let's move on. Why are you here?"

Sombra chuckled darkly. "Ever the impatient one you are. Very well, I am here because I require some assistance."

"Oh?" Chrysalis asked sardonicly. "And what reason could there possibly be for the high and mighty King Sombra to beg for help from a lowly changeling?"

"Six wretched mares, of whom I've heard you're very familiar with." Sombra's deep voice said, undeterred by Chrysalis' taunts.

The changeling spat in a manner very unbecoming of a Queen. "Bah! Those whelps?" She cried. "What about them?"

"It seems I overestimated their power the last time we fought. My physical form has been so badly damaged that I may never recover it again. What you see before you," He gestured to himself. "Is merely the best projection I could conjure up."

"I've heard of your encounter with them. Not your finest moment, Sombra." The Changeling Queen condescended.

"If I remember correctly, you were defeated by the power of love. Quite humiliating if you ask me." The Dark King angrily said.

"Enough of this childish jesting!" Chysalis demanded. "Why are you here?"

"I am here," Sombra said. "For an army of changelings."

Queen Chrysalis's cackling could be heard from all halls of the castle.

"You and an army of changelings." The Queen mocked. "That is certainly the best joke I have heard in the last thousand years or so."

"I am dead serious." Sombra replied. "There is a way for me to recover my strength and my kingdom, but I need your vile creatures to help me do it."

"Bah! You and you're schemes." The Queen snapped. "They've never really gone that well for you, Shadow King."

"Oh, I am quite certain that this one will succeed. You simply supply the changelings, and the rest shall fall into place."

"And what, pray tell, would be in it for me?" Hissed Chrysalis. "You get your power and your throne back, and leave me with what? My children are starving, Sombra!" She slammed her hoof down when she finished, the sound reverberating throughout the chamber.

Undaunted, Sombra looked deep into Chrysalis' eyes before speaking. "Love." He said. Her ears perked up when she heard this. "I can get you love. Granted, it is not strong yet and very young, but if you can be patient it will grow so big that it will feed your children for years. This I swear."

The Queen's fanged teeth swung into a wicked smile. "King Sombra, we have a deal."

-\-

An hour after Twilight had explained her big plan, Rainbow Dash still had not decided if it was crazy good, or just crazy. The idea was that Twilight would use a cloaking spell she had been patenting to hide the Mane Six and Frostburn until they got to the train station. Assuming that worked, they would avoid any guards at the train station, hop on a train, and take it all the way back to Canterlot.

But there were a lot of "ifs" in this plan. If Twilight could make the spell work, if they could all get to the train, if they avoided the guards at the station.

Rainbow thought the plan would work. It had to. But if it went wrong the last thing she wanted was Frostburn getting captured. Or worse.

Speaking of the stallion, Dash remembered she still hadn't gotten a moment alone with him. Currently she was wandering the Crystal Palace aimlessly, trying to kill time before the plan was put in motion. What better way to kill time than talking to Frostburn? She reasoned.

She turned back the way she came and moved quickly back to the parlor. For the most part her friends had not strayed far from that area. Hoping for the best, Dash found her way back to the door to the parlor and walked right in. There was one pony in there, but it wasn't Frostburn.

Two blue eyes looked at a slightly stunned Dash. Rarity didn't move out of earnest surprise. Eventually she spoke. "Hello, Rainbow Dash." The white unicorn said nervously.

"Hi Rarity." Dash said, saying her first words to the seamstress in nearly a full day. Unfortunately they came out slightly slurred. Too much syrup had made Rainbow Dash's tongue stick to the roof of her mouth too long when speaking. There was an awkward silence following this. The cyan pegasus was still angry at Rarity for the scene caused in the Canterlot throne room, and listening in on her conversation with Frostburn last night hadn't exactly done wonders to improve her attitude.

"Well, I assume you didn't come here to talk to me." Rarity said finally.

"No, I didn't." Dash said. Rarity got a downtrodden look for just a second. Dash almost felt a little guilty about shutting her off for the past twenty-four hours. Then she remembered all of her reasons to shut her off.

"I see." The white unicorn said. "I was sort of hoping we could talk though."

"I don't have anything to say to you." Dash heatedly said.

"Well then you can listen." Rarity said, becoming more aggressive. "Rainbow Dash I am exceedingly sorry for what I said to you back at Canterlot. It was uncouth, unbecoming, and uncalled for."

"Then why did you say it?" Dash inquired, her voice rising. "What could have possibly possessed you to humiliate me in front of everypony like that?"

Rarity dejectedly looked at the floor. "I was intimidated." She admitted softly.

Rainbow hadn't expected that. "Wh-what?" the cyan pegasus finally managed.

Rarity sighed. "You just clearly had feelings for Frostburn, and the way he acts around you, well… I was intimidated… and a little jealous."

"How he acts around me... Really? I would have thought after that talk you two had last night that—"

"You were listening?!" Rarity cried. Dash realized her slip up. Now it was her turn to feel awkward.

"Yeah, kinda." She admitted. Rarity looked angry for a moment, but then calmed down.

"All right, I forgive you Rainbow Dash, because that's what friends do." Rarity said.

"I get it." Dash said. "I can take a hint. I forgive you too." Their reconciliation complete, both friends smiled warmly at each other, but didn't feel up to the obligatory hug that normally came with these types apologies.

"What do we do about Frostburn?" Rainbow asked.

"What do you… Oh right. I don't know. I still like him." Rarity admitted.

"Me too. A lot." Rainbow Dash said. Another silence, this time longer than the last. It was neither Rarity nor Rainbow who broke this one.

"Hey girls," Frostburn said, stepping into the room. "Twilight says it's time to go."

Attack of the Clones

Chapter Twenty-Six – Frostburn

Twilight was running through the plan for the umpteenth time, but Frostburn was hardly listening. With so much on his mind, he really didn't need something to try to focus on.

Mainly he was thinking of the voice. The so called "king".

Frostburn did not want to just jump into an offer from a voice in his head that he met in an alleyway. Yet, part of him yearned to accept the offer. If the voice was legitimate, this might be his one chance to control his powers. Then he would finally be able to be friends with the ponies currently around him.

"Frostburn!" Twilight said, interrupting his thoughts.

"What?" He asked.

"Where you even listening?" Twilight reprimanded. Her violet eyes glared at him, demanding an answer.

He sighed. "No. But I already know the plan forwards and back."

Twilight didn't seem happy about being ignored, but she decided to let it go. Shining Armor and Princess Cadence came into the room at that time to say goodbye. They would not be joining the Mane Six on their quest back to Canterlot.

Looking around, Frostburn analyzed his friends. Pinkie Pie was excited as always. Applejack appeared well rested and determined. Frostburn also noticed the last of her scars had faded, and her leg seemed back to normal as well. Fluttershy looked nervous to say the least. She was practically shaking, probably running through every scenario in her head of the plan going wrong. Twilight was talking to her brother and sister-in-law. She seemed hopeful.

Rarity kept a happy face, and every now and then glanced at him sideways. Their eyes met briefly but she turned away, hiding a grin. Frostburn also smiled.

Rainbow Dash seemed the least focused out of all of them, which was weird. Even in the short time he had known her, Frostburn had never seen Dash without a focused determination in her eye. Now she looked… conflicted.

"Okay everypony," Princess Cadence said. "Best of luck getting back to Canterlot. Shining and I will do everything we can here to keep the soldiers off your backs."

"And be careful." Shining Armor said, mainly to his sister. She smiled as he rubbed her head. Then she joined the rest of the group.

"Are ya ready for this, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked her. She nodded.

"As ready as I can be." Before she began the spell, Twilight looked around. "Okay everypony, once I start the spell you can't break formation or else you'll become visible again, got it?"

"We know Twilight." Pinkie Pie said. "You don't have to worry."

"Okay then, here I go." Twilight began to build up magic in her horn. It glowed a brilliant purple, and got brighter as the unicorn added more power. A lavender mist sprang out and encircled Twilight. The cloud expanded to encompass the rest of the Mane Six and Frostburn. He held his breath, not quite eager to breathe in the purple smoke. As the mist reached its apex, it solidified into a bubble like substance. Her spell complete, Twilight wobbled slightly, overtaxed.

"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked. Twilight nodded.

"I'm fine, it just took a little more energy than I thought." The purple mare examined at her spell. "Looks good."

Frostburn looked over at Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. They still looked in the general direction of the ponies, but they couldn't seem to focus on any of them. He smiled, realizing they were now invisible.

"Okay, let's go." Applejack said. They moved in a formation, Twilight was in the center, because the cloaking spell moved as she did. Fluttershy was on her right, and Pinkie on her left. Applejack took the lead, having memorized a route to the train station. Frostburn was towards the back, between Rainbow Dash and Rarity.

Out the door of the Crystal Palace, Frostburn instantly began to worry that the cloaking spell would fail. Looking around, he realized that none of the crystal ponies, or patrolling soldiers, were taking notice of them.

"Oh boy, this is so cool!" Pinkie Pie practically screamed. A couple of crystal ponies turned their heads in their direction, confused.

"Shhhh!" Twilight said. "Invisible doesn't mean silent!" She whispered sternly.

"Sorry."

The purple mare led her friends at a quicker pace, attempting to get to the train station before they were compromised. Frostburn did his best to keep pace. Suddenly he got a weird feeling in the base of his skull.

"Frostburn!" The voice practically shouted in his head. He stumbled and nearly fell down in shock. Rarity and Rainbow Dash both looked him quizzically.

"I'm fine." He whispered lowly to them. They both returned their focus to navigating the Empire.

This isn't a good time. Frostburn thought inside his head. Apparently the king had heard him because he responded.

"You're in danger, Frostburn. You have to run now." The voice told him.

Don't worry, I know the guards are looking for me. I'm leaving now. He reassured the voice.

"It's not the guards you have to worry about." The voice warned him. "There are changelings coming."

Frostburn nearly did a double take. He had heard about the time the changelings had attempted to take over Canterlot. He had also heard rumors about them too. Fanged beast that resembled ponies, but bore insect-like wings, distorted heads, and bug eyes. The ice-blue pegasus shuddered at the thought of them.

How do you know there are changelings coming? Frostburn thought.

"I know everything that happens to the Crystal Empire. You need to run, now." Frostburn looked at the purple, bubble spell around him.

But I'm in a cloaking spell right now. They won't see me. He told the voice.

"They don't need to. Changelings have worse eyesight than bugs. They've adapted with an acute sense of smell, and I'm afraid these changelings have picked up your scent."

"What?!" He said out loud. Everypony turned to him.

"Frostburn, we need to be quiet!" Twilight said.

"Darling, what has gotten into you?" Rarity asked. The pressure in his skull faded quickly. The voice of the king was no longer with him. Six pairs of eyes were still staring at him though, demanding answers.

"I'm fine." He said. "But—"

"Ya don't look fine." Applejack said, cutting him off. He opened his mouth to respond, but before Frostburn could explain to them the danger, Pinkie Pie interjected.

"Hey, why are those ponies looking at us?" Everypony, including Frostburn turned forward and saw three crystal ponies in front of them. Their faces were twisted into angry scowls, and they were staring down the Mane Six and Frostburn. Right through the cloaking spell.

"They can see us?" Twilight asked incredulous.

"H-how?" Fluttershy stammered.

"There after me." Frostburn said. Before anyone could react, he leapt through the cloaking spell, the barrier shattering into purple dust when he made contact. He did not stop to wait for the Mane Six's reaction, instead Frostburn bolted for the nearest alley. Out of the corner of his eye, Frostburn saw two of the crystal ponies leap after him. One stayed behind to stall his friends.

Almost immediately the crystal ponies were at his heels. They hissed as he accelerated, keeping himself just out of their reach. From behind he heard shouts from the mares.

"Frostburn! What's going on?"

"Frosty wait!"

"Don't leave again!"

He shut his eyes and pressed forward, knowing that he had again abandoned his friends. It was worth it though; the majority of the changelings were after him. They could handle the one that chose to stay behind.

With the two changeling-crystal ponies right behind him, he sped into the alley and didn't look back.

-\-

"Frostburn!" Twilight called one last time before he vanished around the dark corner. The two crystal ponies were right behind them.

"What's going on!" Applejack called out. Twilight did not know what to say. She turned to the crystal pony in front of her.

"Why— " She began to ask. It cut her off with a vicious hiss noise. Twilight recoiled and backed up.

"Forget about that!" Rainbow Dash said. She launched herself into the air. "I'm going after Frostburn." She declared. Rainbow soared to the alleyway. Instantly, the crystal pony maneuvered in front of Dash. Twilight's eyes widened at the speed with which it moved. Dash halted in midflight before ramming into the crystal pony. To show its gratitude, the crystal pony smacked Dash across the face with its hoof. Twilight heard a cracking noise even from where she was standing. Fluttershy squeaked in fear.

"Hey!" Pinkie Pie said. "That wasn't very nice!" As a response, the crystal pony hissed again. Then an almost blinding flash of green light erupted from its body. Twilight along with her friends shielded their eyes with their hooves. The light died down a second later, revealing a snarling yet familiar gray fiend.

"Changeling!" Fluttershy cried in fear. Applejack reacted first. The orange farmer ran up to tackle the creature. The changeling sidestepped her easily and delivered an elbow jab to her side. AJ went down and mumbled something incoherent. Twilight gasped.

"You brute!" Rarity screamed. "I have had enough of you!"

"And I will never invite you to one of my parties!" Pinkie Pie added. The gray changeling hissed and charged at both of them.

The white unicorn's horn ignited to a soft blue hue and fired a magical bolt of energy at the changeling. It hadn't foreseen that and the bolt struck him across the face. The gray fiend slumped down unconscious. Rarity immediately ran to help Applejack up, while Pinkie did the same with Rainbow Dash.

"Twilight, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked her. The lavender mare realized she had been frozen in place during the entire scuffle, and had done nothing to help.

"I-I'm fine Fluttershy. It's just that…" Twilight tried to put her thoughts to words. "Frostburn seemed to know that it was a changeling, or at least seemed to have some idea of what's going on." The violet unicorn said, indicating the unconscious beast.

Rainbow Dash and Rarity had not heard her. The two were already neck and neck, running towards the alley Frostburn had disappeared behind. Applejack looked at her. "Ah guess will hafta ask 'im 'bout it when we catch up to 'im." The orange farmer said. Twilight nodded and the four all ran to catch up to the cyan pegasus and the white unicorn.

-\-

As Frostburn rounded another corner in the alleyway, the two changelings behind him, he flashed back to that night three years ago. Manehatten. Switchblade and Trench right behind him. He blinked and the memories vanished. The present however was still occurring, and he had to escape yet again. Only this time, he was determined not to use his power.

Behind him, hisses from the changelings, still in their crystal pony form, were running just as fast as he was. His lead was shrinking rather rapidly. Up ahead, there was a choice of two alleyways to go down. It was coming up fast, so Frostburn made a split second decision and turned left.

It was a dead end.

A bucking dead end.

Frostburn screamed in frustration. Behind him, the sound of hoofsteps came and then stopped. He turned and saw the crystal ponies right in front of him. His wings twitched, but he held them firmly in place. "Well?" He asked, breathing heavily. "Aren't you going to show me what you really look like?" They emitted a low growling sound. The changeling that had taken the form of a red crystal mare suddenly spoke in a rasping voice.

"Prepare to die." It said. The red mare charged at him, but Frostburn was ready. He had lived on the streets for years, and had been in enough scraps to know how to fight.

As the red mare raised a hoof to strike him, he blocked the attack with his foreleg and delivered a quick blow to its stomach. The changeling stumbled back in shock. The other crystal pony – an indigo stallion that was twice his size – brought his hoof around for a haymaker. Frostburn was faster with an uppercut to its jaw. The changeling recoiled. Seizing the advantage, the blue pegasus kicked the changeling onto the ground.

Leaning over the changeling, Frostburn prepared to punch it in the face. Suddenly, there was a burst of green light. It lasted a single instant, and then Frostburn could see again. Now, instead of an indigo colored, crystal stallion, lying on the ground below Frostburn was a scared looking Rainbow Dash. The red-maned pegasus froze up. He knew it was a changeling he was facing, not the real Dash, but he couldn't help it. Frostburn lowered his hoof.

The changeling gave an evil grin with Dash's face, and then punched him in the stomach. He reeled to the side, before a white hoof crashed into his face. He looked and saw the other changeling now wore Rarity's face. How did they know? He thought.

The Rarity and Rainbow Dash changelings both began to attack him. One aimed high, the other low. Frostburn backed up as their hooves went flying. Occasionally he could block one or two blows but the majority struck him in the face and body. The changelings spoke during the barrage.

"We never did like you, Frostburn." The Rarity changeling said, with her voice! It punched him in the stomach.

"Nopony did. We only pretended so you wouldn't roast us alive!" The Rainbow changeling said, mimicking the cyan pegasus' voice. It delivered a haymaker across his face. Frostburn blocked the next attack, but then felt two hooves slam into his ribs. He couldn't bring himself to fight back. Not while they looked like…

Frostburn felt his back on the wall. There was no room left to go, he was cornered. Both smiled villainously. "I'm going to enjoy eradicating you, darling." Rarity/changeling said.

"We're actually doing Equestria a favor." Rainbow/changeling said. Both raised their hooves. Frostburn shut his eyes and braced for the worst.

"Don't listen to them Frostburn!" Rainbow Dash's voice said. His eyes snapped open. At the alley's opening he saw Rainbow Dash and Rarity. The real Rainbow Dash and Rarity. He hoped. The changeling duplicates looked very surprised.

The real Rainbow Dash flew forward so fast, she left a rainbow trail behind her. She slammed into the Rarity changeling and drove it into the wall. The real Rarity fired a melee of magical bolts, all hitting the Rainbow Dash changeling. Frostburn would have been impressed, if his two friends didn't appear to be enjoying it.

Finally, the two changelings slumped down unconscious. They were also no longer able to hold their false forms, and zapped back to their real selves. For the first time, Frostburn got to see them for who they were. The fiends were everything he thought they would be and worse.

"Thanks girls." He said.

"Are you—" Rainbow started. Twilight Sparkle cut her off.

"Guys!" She screamed from the fringes of the alley entrance, along with the remainder of the Mane Six.

"Don't worry darling, we took care of the changelings, see?" Rarity said.

"It's not that!" Fluttershy said, shaking. "Look in the sky." All three craned their heads upward.

The sky was filled with hundreds of little black specks. Observing them closer Frostburn realized what they were. Changelings. And they were all heading straight for the Crystal Empire.

The Empire Strikes Back

Chapter Twenty-Seven – Rarity

The white unicorn stared up into the sky in blatant horror. There wasn't much else on her mind. Just. Blatant. Horror.

Rainbow Dash and Frostburn had the same idea as her. Dash had allowed her jaw to go slack. Frostburn's eyes were extremely wide.

"We need to go, now." The blue pegasus said. Quickly, but not quick enough, the Mane Six began to snap out of their trances.

"We can't just leave." Applejack said. "The Crystal ponies could need our help!"

"I think Frostburn is right." Rarity said, taking his side. "Besides, there are lots of guards in the Empire right now, everypony should be fine."

High-pitched screaming from the panic of hundreds of ponies suddenly rang out, amplified by the narrow alleys. The Mane Six, along with Frostburn, all immediately began running. Though they hadn't yet decided what to do, they all knew that staying in the alleys was not the best idea.

Unlike Rarity's journey into the alleyways, which was full of twists and turns just trying to keep up with Rainbow Dash, this was a straight beeline for the streets. While it was much quicker, Rarity and her friends arrived almost too late.

The changelings that were in the skies had already landed and begun terrorizing the crystal ponies. Instead of merely attacking ponies like they had during the invasion at the Canterlot Wedding, these changelings seemed to be targeting property as well. The greyish, bug-like beasts had begun ransacking homes and business, as well as attacking innocent ponies. It was horrid.

Not far away, there was a group of crystal guards fending off several of the invading changelings. They were putting up a valiant effort, but were soon overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the changelings. One of the changelings noticed the Mane Six and Frostburn. It screeched and charged at them.

Applejack reacted faster than anypony else, turning and kicking the changeling in a way she would normally buck apple trees. Her hooves struck the changeling across the face and it tumbled down on the ground.

"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked the orange Earth pony.

"Ah'm fine." Applejack said. She looked towards the guards, still trying to fend off the onslaught of monsters. "Ah still think we should help them!" AJ declared.

"Look, I don't want to leave the Crystal Empire to fight off this invasion itself, but we won't make much of a difference without the Elements of Harmony, and those are back in Canterlot." Twilight said, wearily. Applejack grunted, but seemingly admitted defeat.

"Maybe we should split up." Rainbow Dash said, hovering herself closer to Frostburn. "If we walk around like this then we're a huge target."

"That might–" Twilight started. She was cut off by two more changelings rushing towards them, each releasing hellish screams. Everypony dove out of the way.

One changeling went directly for AJ, trying to pin her to the ground. The orange farmer struggled against the strength of the beast, until Twilight managed a purple magical bolt at the changeling, managing to knock it off her friend.

As they grappled with that changeling, the other turned its focus to Frostburn's direction. Fluttershy shrunk back in fear as the changeling charged. While Frostburn looked ready to attack, Rarity thought it would be a good time to impress him, and struck the changeling mid-rush with a magical bolt of her own. The monster flew back and crashed into Rainbow Dash, who had ended up further away from Frostburn.

"Hey, watch it!" Rainbow called. Rarity cringed, realizing that she had probably stretched their already tenuous relationship.

"Sorry!" She called as Dash wrestled with the changeling. Frostburn looked at her.

"Thanks." He whispered. Rarity felt herself blush slightly. Dash finished knocking the changeling unconscious. AJ had also finished up with hers.

"We can't stay out in the open like this!" Twilight said. "Let's go now!"

"We've got company!" Pinkie said, probably utilizing her Pinkie Sense, because Rarity couldn't see what the party pony was indicating. Suddenly, a large number of changelings began pouring out from buildings, alleys, and around corners. They were heading for the Mane Six and Frostburn.

"Split up!" Twilight called out. She and Applejack ran off to the right, continuing on the path to the train station. Several changelings went after them.

Frostburn suddenly grabbed Rarity's hoof – making her blush even more – and began running out of the path of the changeling mob. Rarity glanced back and saw Rainbow Dash looking at her somewhat angrily as she was led the other way by Pinkie and Fluttershy. As much as Rarity wanted everything to be normal between them, she couldn't resist a wry smile in the cyan pegasus' direction.

"Do you know where we're going?" Rarity asked Frostburn, while at the same time picking up her pace so he didn't have to drag her.

"No." Frostburn replied worriedly. "I have no idea where the train station is!"

They raced through the Crystal Empire aimlessly, and Rarity noticed that even though he didn't have to, Frostburn still held onto her hoof.

-\-

"Twilight, look out!" AJ said. The purple unicorn barely had enough time to duck before a changeling leapt out from the nearby alley. Applejack gave it a swift kick to the face before it could do any damage.

"Ya'll all right?" the orange farmer asked her friend. Twilight nodded, breathing very heavily. Applejack furrowed her eyebrows, wondering why Twilight would be breathing so heavily when they had only been running for a little while. She couldn't ask that question though, the two friends had to keep moving.

As they ran through the battlefield that was once the Crystal Empire, Applejack saw countless crystal ponies being terrorized by changelings. She had to fight off the urge to help each one of them, though her stubborn nature was getting the better of her.

"Twi, Ah can't keep doin' this." Applejack said to her friend. An exhausted looking Twilight glanced at her.

"Doing what?" She said, each breath labored.

"Ah can't keep ignorin' the crystal ponies. They need our help!" AJ stated.

"Applejack… I know you want to help, but… we have to… we have to…" Twilight collapsed on the ground.

"Twilight!" Applejack exclaimed. She bent down to pick up her friend. Twilight's lavender coat was very pale. "Somethings wrong with ya, Ah know it."

"I'm just… so tired…" Twilight said. "That cloaking spell was… more than I should have tried to do." Applejack lifted up the frail unicorn, placing her gently so she was lying down on the farmer's back.

"Ah'll get ya to the train, don't worry." Applejack said. She began to move through the Crystal Empire, slower and more cautious than before. The farmer was wary one of her best friends was on her back, and not doing so well.

Having to move slower through Empire, occasionally needing to dodge the vision of changelings, Applejack was forced to take in even more of the destruction on a more detailed level. It sickened her that she could do nothing to help.

A sienna-colored crystal pony came running up to AJ. The orange farmer almost didn't see her in time and nearly knocked her down.

"Sorry ma'm, Ah…" Applejack started.

"Please, you have to help me!" The crystal mare screamed. "They have my baby!"

"What?" Applejack said in a dull rage. She gave a quick look around to make sure the coast was relatively clear. "Ma'm, Ah'll do whatever Ah can to help ya." She said, ignoring the protesting moans from Twilight, who was slipping out of consciousness.

"Thank you!" The sienna mare said. She led Applejack to a nearby building. "They have him in there!" She said. Applejack straightened her hat, and barged through the door, knocking it off its hinges in the process.

The building was poorly lit only a single gas lamp burning in the center. Applejack could tell the entire place was empty.

"Uh, Ma'm?" She said, turning back to the doorway. The sienna mare was blocking the exit, flanked by two changelings. In a blinding flash of light the crystal pony transformed into an monster identical to the ones on it's sides.

"You aren't all that smart, are you?" The changeling cackled.

"Shoot." Applejack said, realizing the trickery too late. The changelings began to move on her, keeping her from reaching the door at the same time. She backed up as the changelings slowly walked forward, savoring their apparent victory.

"Hold on Twi." Applejack said, unsure if her friend was still awake or if she had passed out. Applejack reached the middle of the room. Faster than the changelings could react, she grabbed the gas lamp and smashed it into the nearest one's face.

It screamed as the lamp broke open, and the fire sprang free onto his coat. The other two were surprised, and Applejack wasted no time. She ran right passed the changeling she had set on fire and out the open doorway.

Applejack ran right for the train station, not even looking at the bloodbath around her. She didn't stop to help again.

-\-

Fluttershy covered her eyes with her hoof as Rainbow Dash snapped the foreleg of yet another changeling. She wished she could also cover her ears as it screamed in pain. When the yellow pegasus heard it's body hit the ground, she opened her eyes again. The changeling was crying from sheer pain.

"Come on Fluttershy, we've got to go." Dash said with trace amounts of annoyance in her tone.

"Sorry." She whispered and picked up the pace to catch Rainbow and Pinkie. Fluttershy knew that the situation was dire, but it seemed as if Rainbow Dash was being unnecessarily cruel to the changelings. Fluttershy was well aware that the changelings were evil, but she couldn't condone that much violence towards them. At every opportunity she got, Dash would break the bones of the changelings or some other form of long-term damage.

They stayed close to the buildings, practically hugging the structures as they maneuvered through the Empire.

"My knees are pinchy." Pinkie said, using her sixth sense to locate surprise changelings.

"Where's it coming from?" Dash asked. Pinkie pointed to the window of the house in front of them. The cyan pegasus calmly walked up to the window, and a changeling burst right through. Dash, with the help of Pinkie premonition, anticipated it, and clocked the changeling in its windpipe.

Fluttershy squeaked in fear. Dash put the changeling in a headlock and prepared to snap its neck. Fluttershy couldn't take it anymore.

"Dash stop!" She said firmly. Rainbow Dash looked up for a moment, confused.

"What are you talking about, Fluttershy? These things are the enemy!" Dash declared, tightening her headlock on the changeling, making the poor creature squeak in pain.

"I know he's not innocent, but you shouldn't kill him." Fluttershy said.

"Him? It's an it, Fluttershy." Dash stated. The changeling whimpered.

"I'm going to side with Fluttershy on this one." Pinkie Pie said, stepping closer to the yellow pegasus. "You are being a tinsey winsey bit mean, Dashie."

"I don't care." Dash said, her eyes screaming hatred. "These things need to be dealt with." Her muscles tensed as she prepared to rip off it's head.

"No!" Fluttershy said. Then, the yellow pegasus did something even she didn't expect. She used The Stare on Rainbow Dash.

The effect was immediate. Rainbow fell into a deep trance. Her body relaxed, all tension fading. Her forelegs, a moment earlier ready to snap the neck of the changeling, went limp. The poor changeling seized his opportunity and ran off, whimpering.

Fluttershy released her hold on Dash when she noticed the changeling was gone. The yellow pegasus was appalled at what she had just done.

"R-Rainbow?" She asked tentatively, unsure how her friend would react to what just happened. The cyan pegasus shook her head, trying to collect herself after being on the receiving end of a Stare.

"Fluttershy, what did you do to me?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.

The yellow pegasus felt tears well up in her eyes. "Oh Rainbow, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just… I couldn't stand to see anypony hurt, even if it was a changeling."

Rainbow Dash was silent for a moment. "It's okay Fluttershy. I forgive you."

"Really?" Fluttershy asked, the tears receding.

"Yeah. I shouldn't have done that. Or tried to anyways." The rainbow-maned pegasus mumbled.

"Okie Dokie Lokie!" Pinkie Pie said, drawing both friends into a sort of awkward hug. Any leftover tension was quickly diffused as both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash returned the hug.

"Come on, we've still got to get to the train station." Dash said. She started trotting down the same path they had been taking, Pinkie and Fluttershy close behind.

Despite their reconciliation, the yellow pegasus was still uneasy. Something had changed in Rainbow Dash recently. It seemed whenever she was away from Frostburn, she was angrier and more distant. It was like the real Rainbow Dash had left and the cyan pony they had been talking to was somepony else entirely. Fluttershy hoped her friend would come back soon.

-\-

As best Rarity could tell, the train station was only two blocks away from them. The only foreseeable problem is that the path to the train station was blocked by the largest battle in the Crystal Empire.

The white unicorn, along with the blue pegasus, stood several feet away from the battle. Rarity was temporarily stunned as she watched what was unfolding before her.

Guards from both the Crystal Empire and Canterlot were wildly swinging their weapons at the oncoming changelings. It was almost like a sea of those monsters had set forth against the soldiers. Their swords and spears made little impact in during the battle. For every changeling they defeated, three more rose up to continue the fight. The guards themselves had no reinforcements.

"We have to help them." Rarity said. As much as she wanted to get on the train and to safety, she couldn't ignore the massacre in front of her.

"What can we do?" Frostburn asked with a note of hopelessness. "The only way to take all of them out would for me to…"

"Right." Rarity said, wordlessly filling in the blank. That was not an option, no matter what.

"You!" A voice rang out over the shouts. Turning around to face the voice, Rarity saw the last pony she wanted to see. Sergeant Swift Sword.

The soldier pony looked like he had seen more than his share of the battle. Specks of blood dotted his light brown mane, while there were scrapes and cuts on any part of him that wasn't armored.

"You know that guy?" Frostburn whispered to her.

"Hardly. That's Swift Sword." She whispered back.

"Oh buck."

The Sergeant ran forward at them, his sword pointed at Frostburn. The blue pegasus' eyes widened in fear.

"Wait!" Rarity screamed, stepping in front of the Sergeant.

"Move out of my way." Swift Sword said angrily. "This outlaw needs to be dealt with."

"That's really what your concerned about?" Rarity screamed at him. The dark brown pony blinked.

Coming to her aid, Frostburn added. "They need your help right now, Sarge." He pointed to the ponies being overwhelmed by changelings. There was a tense pause. Then the Sergeant lowered his sword out of Rarity's direction. The white unicorn allowed herself to breathe again.

"All right." Swift Sword. He stared down Frostburn. "But this isn't over."

"Didn't think so." He responded. The Sergeant pushed passed the two of them, and released a war cry – Rarity guessed it was supposed to be fierce but it came out as ridiculous – and ran toward the melee to help the soldiers.

"Come on!" Frostburn said, grabbing Rarity's hoof again. She blushed, but kept his pace as they circled around the brutal brawl. The train station was in view now. The two ran without looking back.

Strangers on a Train

Chapter Twenty-Eight – Rainbow Dash

The glass doors to the train station were locked. Of course they would be. An army of shape-shifting bug beasts invades the entire Crystal Empire, and Dash had assumed the doors to the station would be unlocked.

She grabbed the nearest piece of debris she could find and threw it through the door. The glass gave a satisfying shatter, and she stepped inside with Fluttershy and Pinkie not far behind.

There was a mint-green crystal mare hiding behind the ticket counter. Undoubtly startled by the break-in, she screamed, "Oh sweet Celestia! Don't hurt me please! Y-you can have anything you want just don't hurt me!"

"Relax." Rainbow Dash said. "We're not changelings." The crystal pony gave a dubious look. Then Pinkie Pie bounded up to the counter.

"Can I please have seven tickets to Canterlot?" She happily asked the terrified green pony.

"W-what?" The middle-aged mare asked, confused and fearful now.

Fluttershy meekly walked up to the counter. "We… um… need seven train tickets to get to Canterlot. If it isn't too much trouble." She clarified.

"Aw great. What else did y'all break coming in 'ere?" A southern accent accused. Turning to face Applejack – who was doing her best to avoid all of the broken glass – Rainbow smiled. Then she had a horrifying thought.

"Applejack, it's great to see you! We're just about to get the tickets to go to—"

Dash held up a hoof to stop Pinkie Pie's excited talking.

"What's the matter, Dash?" Applejack asked.

"I need to be sure you're really AJ, and not some changeling imposter." Dash said, her eyes narrowed. "What city did I grow up in?"

"Cloudsdale." The orange farmer said with no hesitation. Dash smiled, knowing for sure this was the Applejack. Then she noticed the purple mare on AJ's back.

"What happened to Twilight?" She asked urgently. Upon hearing this, Fluttershy and Pinkie ran up to them, concerned.

"She's just tired is all." Applejack said before anypony else could voice their worries. While Fluttershy and Pinkie breathed sighs of reliefs, Dash helped Applejack move Twilight and set her on the ground.

"Will she be able to get herself on the train?" Rainbow asked AJ. Suddenly Twilight groaned and her eyelids fluttered open.

"I reckon so." The orange farmer said.

"Thank goodness." Fluttershy whispered. Twilight groggily sat up.

"W-where am I?" She muttered.

"Your at the train station, silly. Where else would you be?" Pinkie told her. The lavender mare looked around.

"Where's Rarity and Frostburn?" She asked.

"I don't know." Dash glumly answered. She helped Twilight get up and steady herself. "Will you be okay?" The cyan pegasus asked her friend.

"Yeah. I probably shouldn't use magic for a while though. I could pass out again." The lavender unicorn said.

"Ah'll keep a lookout fer Rarity and Frost. Ya'll go see about gettin' us on a train." Applejack said. While Fluttershy helped to keep Twilight standing, Rainbow and Pinkie trotted back over to the green crystal mare. The train station clerk at this point looked like she was going to freak out and run away at even the slightest noise, so Rainbow thought it was best to stay calm.

Pinkie did not share that thought.

"Do you have the tickets ready?" She blatantly asked.

"Uh… no." Was the response.

"Why not?" Dash asked, a little too angrily.

"T-the trains aren't currently running." The crystal mare said, shaking.

"What do you mean?" Dash asked, feeling her pulse quicken. Without the train, they would be stuck at the blood bath that was once called the Crystal Empire.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but the conductor sort of… ran away screaming." The green mare said.

"Great." Rainbow muttered. "Now what are we supposed to…"

"They're commin'!" Applejack shouted from the door.

Rainbow turned, knowing immediately what her friend was talking about. Outside, she saw Frostburn and Rarity hoofing it to the train station door.

"Hey, they brought company!" Pinkie exclaimed. Dash looked and saw that Pinkie was right. Their friends were being pursued by two changelings. The cyan pegasus flew towards the broken door. Frostburn led Rarity inside at the same time Rainbow reached it. The first changeling tried to break in, but Dash uppercutted it. The beast was knocked away, but the second one came up too fast for Dash.

Luckily, Frostburn had the sense to kick it with both his hind legs. The changeling was out cold before it hit the floor. Dash smiled at Frostburn, thankful for the help. She noticed he was blushing. So was Rarity. Then the rainbow-maned pegasus saw the two were holding hoofs. Dash's blood boiled.

Before she could put words to her anger, Applejack spoke. "Now that we're all here, we need to commandeer a train ta Canterlot." The orange farmer, along with everypony else, went back to the station clerk. The crystal mare was panicking now, having seen changelings try to break in.

"Ma'am, we need ta get ta Canterlot." AJ said to her.

The green mare, on the verge of hyperventilating, said "B-but there isn't anypony to conduct the train."

"Can't you do it?" Pinkie asked. The bluntness of the question made the mare calm down some.

"I'd like to, but I'm just a clerk. It's against protocol for me to just assume that job–"

"Well guess what." Frostburn said. "You've been promoted."

-\-

Ashen Clover, the former clerk at the Crystal Empire train station, giddily said the words she had dreamed of saying since she was a foal. "All aboard!"

The Mane Six and Frostburn all hopped on the train as the whistle blared and the wheels began to spin. Dash was grateful to be leaving the Empire, but also grateful that Frostburn and Rarity had stopped holding hoofs. She hoped that it was a heat of the moment, escaping-from-changelings type of hoof holding.

They had all packed into the train car right behind the engine, Twilight the only one sitting down. Or lying down, rather than sitting. The purple unicorn must have really over expended herself in the past few hours with the cloaking spell. As for everypony else, they were all too anxious to sit.

"How long will it take to get to Canterlot?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't know, darling." Rarity responded. "The airship took hours, but it's not as fast as a train."

"An hour and a half. Maybe two." Twilight wearily said from her seat.

Suddenly, Dash heard a light thumping sound a few cars down. Applejack's ear twitched. She heard it too.

"What was that?" She asked.

"Maybe a visitor?" Pinkie suggested. The thumping sound was heard again, and again.

"Not one visitor." Dash said.

"Probably changelings, and Ah don't think they're friendly." AJ said. She moved toward the door at the end of the train car. "Ah'm goin' ta go check it out."

"I'll come with you." Dash volunteered

"Me too." Frostburn said, surprising everypony. Rarity looked like she wanted to protest, but held her tongue. AJ nodded, accepting their offers. She opened the train car door and they made their way into the next one.

Nopony was in it. They heard the thumping noise again.

"Whoever they are," Frostburn said. "I think they're on the caboose."

"Great." AJ said. They all knew the caboose was another five or six train cars down.

"I fly ahead and see." Dash said, opening her wings. "Meet you guys there." Before Frostburn or Applejack could say anything, the cyan pegasus was zooming through the train car, a rainbow trail behind her.

She broke through the door into the next car within the second, and repeated the process each time, finding no changelings in the carts ahead of her. Finally, Dash came to the last car. She was surprised to find it just as empty as the last ones.

"What the hay?" She asked the emptiness. The cyan pegasus was confused for a moment, then she heard another thumping noise. The realization kicked in that the changelings were on the roof of the train.

Rainbow crossed to the nearest window and yanked it open. She poked her head out, the wind whipping her hair across her field of vision. Brushing it aside, Dash caught a glimpse of several changelings on the roof of the train. In the distance, more of those monsters were flying closer and closer to the train. The locomotive was fast, but apparently not fast enough to keep ahead of all of the changelings. There seemed to be at least two dozen, maybe more.

"Rainbow, what's going on?" A voice asked her. Bringing her head in, Dash saw Frostburn and AJ had caught up with her.

"They're on the roof." She said grimly. Frostburn's expression changed to worry.

"What're they doin' up there?" Applejack asks.

"I don't–" Dash began. She was interrupted when a grey hoof smashed through a nearby window, sending glass everywhere. Dash backed away from the side as a changeling let itself inside.

It hissed at them, but that was all it could managed before a powerful kick from AJ sent it right back out the window. The orange mare turned around, revealing the glass had cut her cheek and front legs.

"Y'all okay?" she asked. Dash and Frostburn nodded. Another window, towards the end of the car, was shattered open.

"Great, they're just going to keep coming." Rainbow said. Then she got an idea. "I'm going to go outside." She said.

"What?!" Frostburn said, punching the newest changeling in the face. It fell to the floor, unconscious.

"Don't worry." Dash said, though she was glad Frostburn cared. "I'll be fine. We just can't let them get beyond this train car."

"I still don't think—" Frostburn started to say. He was cut off when two more changelings lept into the train. One had to punch its way through, but the other had found the window Rainbow Dash had left open. The cyan pegasus grabbed both and slammed their heads together. They slumped onto the floor, out cold.

Rainbow then climbed out the window, and jumped. Using her wings to propel her up to the roof of the train, Dash saw that already more changelings were starting to land on top. She realized she should have thought of something else, but it was too late for that now.

Screeching, a changeling lunged at her. She sidestepped it and kicked it clean off the train. It tumbled when it hit the ground.

Already Dash noticed one heading in through the window. It wasn't the worst thing though. If she could handle most of the ones up here, than AJ and Frost would be able to take down whoever snuck by her.

Another couple of shape shifters landed in front of her, both snarling.

"Alright you pathetic, little bugs." She said. "Bring it on."

The Ninth Circle of Hell

Chapter Twenty-Nine – Frostburn

Before the changeling could squeeze through the window, Applejack shoved him right back out. The black bug-like monster let out a pitiful squeak, unable to open its wings as it fell to the ground. Frostburn saw it take a bone-crunching tumble through one of the few unbroken windows. Then the speed of the train left it behind.

"How do you think she's doing?" Frostburn said. Two blurs – that were undoubtedly changelings – passed by the window heading straight for the ground.

"She's fine." Applejack said. Another changeling broke through the window by Frostburn, hissing incoherent threats.

"I still feel like I shouldn't have let her go alone." Frostburn replied, upper cutting the changeling. It slumped down, unconscious.

"Ah wouldn't worry 'bout Rainbow Dash, Sugarcube. She can handle herself." Two more changelings weaseled through the windows of the train. Frostburn moved to strike them, but immediately they released a blinding green light. When he could see again, Frostburn found himself looking at two identical Applejacks.

The false AJs instantly tackled the original, who had been surprised enough by the sudden transformation.

"Uh oh." He muttered. Quickly, the blue pegasus lost track of who the real Applejack was, as all three wrestled on the floor of the train car, bumping into unconscious changelings while doing so. Frostburn wanted to help his friend, but at the moment, he wasn't exactly sure which one was his friend.

"Hey!" He called out. All three Applejacks stopped grappling and looked at him. Looking closely at their faces, Frostburn managed to find one subtle difference. The two changelings had forgot to mimic the cut Applejack had received from the broken glass.

The changelings, as he could now clearly identify them, were both on their knees, their heads just barely above the real Applejack's who was lying down. Seeing an opportunity, Frostburn leaped forward with ferocious speed. Neither changeling expected that, and before they knew it he had clocked them both across the face.

Their true forms zapped into view as they recoiled and fell over. Frostburn extended a hoof to help the real Applejack up. The orange farmer gratefully took it.

"Thanks." She said. "But how did ya know Ah was the real one?" Frostburn grinned a little and pointed at the spot on his cheek that mirrored her cut. Sensing his meaning, AJ touched her hoof to that spot on her cheek, coming away with a dab of red liquid. That seemed to be enough of an answer for her.

"Seems like we've caught a break." She observed. Glancing around, Frostburn saw she was right. No changelings appeared to be coming through the windows anymore. They were still clearly visible though. Dropping passed the window on their trip to the ground. It was clear Rainbow Dash was doing more than her fair share of work.

"I guess so." He responded. The pegasus did not allow himself to relax though. He kept every muscle tense, just in case another monster tried to break in. Applejack appeared to have a similar idea.

The problem was, there were no more changelings. Aside from the bug-beast ironically dropping like flies right outside the window, nothing happened. It was just some awkward silence.

Applejack looked around a bit, probably hoping for a changeling to pop through the window, or something to fill the void. Nothing came. Frostburn coughed a little bit, in an attempt to keep things from getting even more painfully awkward. It didn't work.

"So…" Applejack said, drawing out the word as if she was thinking of something else to say.

"So…" Frostburn reiterated. "You think Rainbow Dash is doing okay?"

With a score of changelings dropping by the window, Applejack nodded. "Ah'm sure yer marefriend is doin' just fine."

"Whoa, wait a minute." Frostburn said, his cheeks immediately flushed with red. "What made you think… she's not my… I mean, I never… how did you…"

AJ's laughter cut into Frostburn stumbling over his own words. "Ah was just jokin' with ya, Sugarcube." He sighed in relief, though Applejack wasn't quite done with him yet.

"It is pretty obvious that Rainbow likes ya though." She said. Blood again rushed to Frostburn's cheeks as he tried not to stumble over his next sentence.

"Y-you think so?" He asked, voice a little shaky.

"Ah know so, an' so does everypony else. Gosh Sugarcube, ya mean ya really didn't realize it?" The orange farmer asked, staring at his shocked expression.

"Really, she does? You aren't lying to me?" Frostburn asked, voice rising in genuine surprise.

"Yer talkin' to the Element of Honesty here." AJ responded, grinning a little at the blue pegasus' sudden realization. "And Ah honestly can't believe ya were that blind. How did that happen?"

"Years of practice." Frostburn said, bringing up the subject of his isolation while trying to play it off as a joke. It seemed to bode well with AJ, and elicited a grin from her.

Above them, a loud clamor was heard. Even through the roof of the train, Frostburn could make out the sounds of Rainbow Dash struggling.

"She needs help!" He cried, immediately rushing over to the window.

"Whoa there, partner." Applejack said, stopping him. "What do ya think yer doin'?"

"I have to help her, and I might be the only one who can." Frostburn said. The orange farmer knew what he was implying. Wings would almost be a requirement to get to the roof.

"But Sugarcube, ya can't open them!" Applejack shouted. He paused for a moment, before shrugging off her logic.

"Don't worry Applejack, I've got a plan." He said.

"Ya sure?" Applejack asked, raising her eyebrow.

"I'm sure." Frostburn insisted. "Give me a boost."

Reluctantly, Applejack cupped her hooves together, and allowed Frostburn to use the extra height to climb up to the window's ledge and duck through. Immediately the speed caused him to be nearly thrown from the train. The pegasus had to grip the side of the train car to keep from flying off. Steadying himself so that his hind legs were standing on the outside of the window ledge, and his fore legs were braced against the side of the train, he put his plan in motion.

Well, Frostburn didn't actually have a plan at all. It was really more of an idea. A potentially bad one.

"Hey, voice!" He screamed out. The wind swallowed his words. Frostburn saw above him the massive amounts of changelings all clamoring to restrain a cyan figure. Rainbow Dash was fighting tooth and nail to keep the monsters away from her. As they tried to overwhelm her, she lashed out with all four hooves and even her wings, striking changelings as they swarmed her. It wouldn't be enough though.

Hey, Voice! Frostburn screamed inside his head. The same pressure in the base of his skull returned.

"What is it, Frostburn?" The voice spoke in it's commanding regal tone.

You said you could help me control my powers. Well I need that help now! He said.

"Then you've excepted my generous offer." The voice deduced.

Yes, now help me. I have to control my powers right now!

"That will not work. It will take years of focus and discipline before you are ready."

I don't have years! Do you not know what's going on right now?

"I'm aware." The voice said calmly, despite Frostburn's angry tone. "You need to control your powers to save the one you care for. Rainbow Dash." The voice said – or was it thought? – that in a weird tone. As if he was spitting, disgustedly as he spoke her name. Frostburn didn't dwell on it.

"Sadly, there is no way I can help you right now." The voice said.

You're lying! Frostburn thought. There must be something!

"Well… there is one thing. But it's not a really safe idea. You have to let me into your mind." The voice said.

Aren't you already there?

"This is merely a telepathic link. We can only communicate. If you were to let me into your mind, then I could see everything you see, feel everything you feel, and know everything you think. In theory, I would be able to help you manage your power, but I don't recommend we try–"

"I don't care!" Frostburn said aloud. "I'll do anything to save Rainbow!" The voice made a noise that resembled a reluctant sigh.

"All right. But you will not enjoy this process."

Before Frostburn could respond, the pressure in his skull turned to outright pain. It suddenly felt as though a knife had been thrust into his brain. He cried out, and let go of the train.

Instead of hitting the ground, Frostburn felt his wings snap open and begin to flap. The magic spell coursed out of them, but for once, there was no struggle for consciousness. He blinked in pure confusion as it slowly dawned on him that the voice had prevented whatever force from dominating his mind.

He started to notice what was happening around him again. The train was speeding away, but now that he could fly, Frostburn maneuvered to catch up to it. With wings that almost never got any practice or exercise, it was difficult to push them to do it. The blue pegasus managed to touch down on the roof of the train in only a few seconds.

The metal roof of the train was coated in a heavy mist, and Frostburn realized his spell was taking affect. As a test, he willed the mist to form into ice. It did, creating a nice rink around him. Then he looked to the changelings, which had nearly finished defeating Rainbow Dash.

"Hey!" He barked at them. Nearly twenty gray bug heads turned to face him, along with one head that was cyan. Dash's magenta eyes widened at what she was seeing. The changelings eyes only narrowed.

It was a tense moment of silence. Then a single changeling rushed him.

Frostburn outstretched both his hooves, and the ice sensed his intentions. A flurry of hail and sleet shot out form the cool mist that surrounded him, aimed directly at the changeling's face. Within seconds, the head was completely frozen.

The changeling stumbled in pure surprise, wings flapping wildly, hooves kicking randomly. He swatted it to the side and sent it spiraling off the train. It was at that time Frostburn became aware that the train was passing over a bridge of tracks, with nothing on either side of it. The changeling plunged down what looked like hundreds of feet, before barely hovering with its insect wings.

He turned to face the rest of the changelings. They seemed only slightly deterred. One of the changelings shouted out several hisses in succession. The other changeling's immediately reacted and charged Frostburn. Some ran straight to him along the roof of the train. Others opened their bug wings and flew out on all sides to surround him.

He raised one foreleg swiftly, and saw the ice mirror his movements, creating a sturdy wall between him and some changelings. The bug-beast's poor eyesight did them no favors as they slammed into his wall. The ones that went around the wall of ice fared no better.

Frostburn's mist created several small sickles of ice, each of which he knew he could hurl at amazing speeds. The first one he threw went through the hole in the leg of one of the changelings. His aim only improved after that. On both sides, he fired the ice-sickles at changelings, hitting them in their insect wings and sending them spiraling to the ground. The beasts were coming faster than his bolts of ice could take them out, causing him to retreat slightly.

The changelings in front of him had taken to trying to smash open the ice wall by repeatedly crashing into it, like flies attacking a window. There efforts were in vain.

Only a few more of the other changelings were left. In an attempt to end the battle quickly, he summoned two more walls of ice on his left and right. Then with all of his strength, he threw them at the changelings. Not able to see his attack coming, the changelings each fell victim to the large sheets of ice as it pushed them down into the ground.

Admiring his work for longer than a moment, Frostburn heard a crash as his original wall of ice toppled over. Five seething changelings now stood between him and Rainbow Dash.

"Oh come on." He said arrogantly. "This is hardly a fair fight… for you." Calling upon his powers of ice, Frostburn pulled a staff of frozen water right out of the mist. It was just in time too, for the first of five changelings had begun rushing him.

He swung the staff in a wide arc, striking the changeling across the cheek. It flew out of sight, but at the same time the force of the blow shattered the front end of his staff.

The second changeling wasn't far behind. Frostburn barely had enough time to swing the good end of the staff back around to strike the changeling in its midsection. The beast doubled over, clutching its side. Frostburn brought up his hind leg, and kicked the shape-shifter off the side of the train.

With next to nothing left of his staff, he didn't even have time to think. The third changeling was almost upon him. He tossed the remaining bit of staff, and it cracked and split open on the changeling's face, digging pieces of ice into its skin and eyes. The changeling bellowed in pain, causing it to carelessly slip on the frosted ground, and tumbled off the edge of the train.

Changeling number four had leapt into the air and was sailing down, fangs ablaze. Frostburn put up his hooves in defense and closed his eyes. The changeling didn't land on him though. Peeking open his eyes, Frostburn saw that he wouldn't have to worry about the fourth changeling.

Somehow, his ice powers had reacted, sending three large spires of ice directly through the changeling. One went through its stomach. One went through its chest. One went through its neck. Each spire was coated in blood. The changeling gurgled something incoherent, before the life drained from it's eyes.

Frostburn lowered his hooves slowly, and the spires each receded. The blue pegasus looked at the dead changeling, mortified with what he had done. He watched, disgusted with himself, as thedead body slowly rolled off the side of the roof.

That makes eight. Frostburn thought. He looked to the final changeling. It had wrapped its forelegs around Dash's neck, choking her slowly.

"Put up your hooves, slowly." The changeling hissed at him. Frostburn did so. It was sort of difficult to tell, but this looked like the changeling that had been hissing orders not long ago.

"You kill one of ours, we kill one of yours." The monster tightened its hold on Dash as she struggled.

"Frostburn, take it down!" She screamed out.

"Silence." The changeling hissed. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go!" It screamed at him. Frostburn slowly concentrated the mist on the back of his hoof.

"How was it supposed to go?" He asked, stalling.

"We were supposed to kill you!" The changeling said, angrily. The mist around Frostburn's hoof slowly formed a single blade of ice. "The queen said it would be easy. She promised us no one would get hurt this time. She promised!" The blade of ice was nearly complete.

"Then came along this bitch–" Frostburn hurled the blade at the changeling. It struck him on his hoof, and he released Dash in pain. Frostburn flew forward, both hooves outstretched, and collided with the changeling, knocking it down. He struck it in the face, causing blood to spew out of its nose. He drove his hoof into the changeling once more, knocking it unconscious. Then he slammed it onto the metal roof of the train.

"Don't you dare call her that." He said, though the changeling couldn't hear him anymore. Rainbow Dash stood up, recovering from being choked.

"Frostburn," She said. "How are you…?" The cyan pegasus gestured to his wings. He folded them back into his sides, canceling his ice spell.

"Remember," The voice spoke in his head. "Do not tell anypony about me." Then the pressure and pain his skull was gone in an instant, and Frostburn was alone with Rainbow Dash. Her eyes were looking deep into his, expecting an answer.

"You were in trouble." Frostburn whispered. "I had to do something." In response, Rainbow grabbed hold of him in an embrace. He immediately returned the hug, pressing his muzzle into her mane.

The train let out a whistle, and slowed down before coming to a complete stop. Both Frostburn and Rainbow Dash opened their eyes, yet did not stop the embrace. What they saw was a relief. They had arrived in Canterlot.

Everypony Wants to Rule the World

Sunday Evening

Chapter the last

Shining Armor

The white unicorn trekked through the alleys of the Crystal Empire, one hoof wrapped around his wife, the other using his spear as a walking stick. His hind leg had been badly cut when fending invading changelings. Puss was leaking out of the nasty gash on it. Luckily that was the worst of his wounds. Sure, there were a few cuts and bruises covering the rest of his body, but it was a small price to pay to escape the Crystal Palace; which had been at the forefront of the changeling attack.

Cadence limped beside him, not faring any better. She could only walk by bracing herself on Shining Armor, and he could only walk thanks to his spear. Early into the afternoon – when the change changeling strike had begun – the bug-like monsters had broken into the throne room, and managed to get in two crippling blows to the Princess. One long cut ran down from her hip to bottom of her hind leg. The wound seeped open whenever she moved, and had even cut right through her Cutie Mark. The other was what Shining assumed to be a cracked rib cage. He could only tell because the pink alicorn wheezed painfully with every breath she took.

It could have been far worse though. Fifty changelings had entered that throne room, and only Cadence had walked out.

"Shining… I need a… break." Cadence wheezed out. The white unicorn examined the area, and determined it to be safe enough.

"Okay, we can rest for a little while." Shining decided. They both stopped their intertwined walk, and Shining set Cadence down, back against the wall of a nearby building. These breaks were slowing them down immensely, for the two should have left the Empire hours ago. Shining didn't mention it to Cadence though, she had enough to worry about. In fact, they both did.

The Empire and its citizens were conquered.

Defeated.

Crushed.

Even with the extra contingency of guards Princess Celestia had sent, they hadn't stood a chance. And things were not going well for the ruler's of the Crystal Empire either. Cadence's breaks were becoming longer and more frequent. She needed medical attention. They both did. And if they didn't get it soon… Shining feared the worst.

"Tell… Tell me we're going to make… it out of this. That we'll… be okay." Cadence said, voice raspy and weary.

Shining Armor gave her a courageous, comforting smile and said, "Of course we will. We've survived worse, haven't we? At least we don't have to worry about Sombra anymore."

Weakly, the Princess smiled back. "You're… right. Maybe we will… survive this after all."

Not far off, Shining Armor heard a clatter. Jerking his head down the alleyway, he saw that a changeling had been attempting to sneak up on them, only to knock over a trashcan lying overturned in the alley. His eyes widened as it hissed and sprang forward.

Acting purely on instinct, he gripped his spear and threw it at the oncoming threat. It spliced through the creature's abdomen, halting halfway through. The changeling's whole body snapped back and went ridged.

A stunned Cadence allowed herself to breath again. Shining stumbled over to collect his weapon. The spear's point and shaft had been coated in the sickly blue blood of the now dead changeling. He pried it out of the bug, and limped back over to his wife.

"It's time to go." He said. Cadence weakly shook her head.

"I don't… know if I can." She hoarsely whispered. The white unicorn grew concerned. If they had any hope of getting out of the Empire alive, Cadence had to get up and keep moving. Unless…

Shining did not bother to ask for Cadence's permission first. He wrapped his forelegs around her, and lifted her up. Pain coursed through the wound on his leg, but he ignored it and began slowly and carefully down the alley.

While she was surprised at first, the pink alicorn did not protest Shining's actions, knowing him well enough at this point to know that protesting would do no good. She didn't say anything, probably because speaking itself was painful. Merely, she wrapped her hooves around Shining to hug his neck, and buried her muzzle into the side of his face to show her thanks.

Shining Armor did not stop walking until he passed out from exhaustion and pain at the entrance to the Gemstone Forest a mere three feet from a dark brown pony with a sword on his back.

King Sombra

He had finally managed to hold his cup of tea. Being a projection of shadows was a massive impairment, especially when one was trying to enjoy a hot beverage. In fact, he had only just managed to be able to sit in his chair. Not to mention figure out how to grasp the cup without his hoof going through the table. He moved the tea to his mouth and took a long sip.

He didn't taste it. But he did feel it slide right through his projection of a jaw and stain the floor.

"Damn." He whispered angrily. Sure, he could use magic to accomplish this task, but that would expend him even further than he was now. That was not an option.

King Sombra was about to try again, when two palace servants opened the doors to his chambers. Queen Chrysalis walked into the room, looking decidedly unhappy. Actually, he couldn't really tell. A millennium as a conscious cluster of shadows immured in a desolate tundra had seemed to take away his ability to match expressions and emotions.

"Leave us." She told the changelings. The respectfully bowed to her, and shut the doors as they left. "We are going to have a little discussion, Sombra." The large, black changeling declared.

The King of Shadows set his cup of tea on the table. "What would you like to talk about?" He asked in a blasé tone.

"Hmm… let's see. What would I like to talk about…" Suddenly the changeling queen flipped over the table, sending Sombra's cup flying.

"My tea!" He accused.

"How about we talk about the fact that you lied to me!" Chrysalis declared in an angry tone. "You sent my army to the Crystal bucking Empire, and not Canterlot, like we had discussed. Was the Fallen King to focused on reclaiming his old throne to remember that I am the one in charge here?"

"We had discussed attacking Canterlot." Sombra said calmly. "But circumstances changed. And while you failed to realize it, I did not. And now we are closer to victory than ever because of it." Sombra chuckled. "So I expect you'll be apologizing to me now."

The contorted horn on Chrysalis's head came alight with a green glow. The table she had flipped over came levitating back, and she set it just as it had been before. Sombra smiled, assuming the Queen had calmed down.

Then Chrysalis made a big show of flipping the table over again.

"Do you have any idea how much further we are from victory now?" She demanded. Sombra raised an eyebrow. "I read the battle debriefings. Nearly five hundred of my subjects were killed, or injured in that battle. FIVE HUNDRED. Damn you, Sombra. I was promised that it would be a swift victory, with minimal casualties. I promised my subjects that! Do you not realize that each life lost kills their moral? Do you not realize what it does to me to lose my children?!"

During the Queen's tirade, Sombra couldn't help but notice the tear that rolled down her cheek as she spoke of her subjects with such compassion. The thought of caring for one's subjects actually made him shudder.

"I read the debrief as well. You subjects took more than three lives for every one that the soldiers took. We've captured the Crystal Empire, and with it, that blasted Crystal heart." Sombra stood, or rather, stood the best he could with two legs and a dark cloud for a back.

"We can spread fear and hatred throughout all of Equestria with it. Not to mention that that fool Celestia sent nearly her entire guard to the Empire, which has crippled Canterlot's defenses. You could practically march right up to the city and take it over." Sombra informed the queen. Her expression was unreadable, as though she was now torn between her thoughts of an agonizing loss, and the obvious victory Sombra had laid out for her.

"I was promised love." She said. "You promised me enough love to feed all of my children for generations. And yet, surprise surprise! The King of Darkness lied to me, again." The queen of the changelings, in a fit of rage, walked right through Sombra's shadow projection. It was an unpleasant experience for the both of them, but Sombra more so because the projection was very fragile. He re-solidified the mass of shadows, and turned to face Chrysalis.

"Listen to yourself." King Sombra said. "Do you not remember who Celestia had appointed to rule the Crystal Empire in my absence?"

"I recollect all too well." Chrysalis hissed. "But they escaped." Sombra raised his eyebrow at that.

"Well, this is news to me. I ordered fifty changeling to apprehend Princess Cadence just for you."

"And she slaughtered them all!" Chrysalis wailed. "Now she and her lover are not among the dead or the captured. I can only assume they escaped." She pointed at him. "And who do you suppose there is to blame for that?"

"Fine." Sombra said. "But I doubt Cadence could have escaped that many changelings without some wounds. In fact, I believe her husband would have some as well."

"What are you saying?" The Bug Queen asked.

"Send out a search party." He said in return. "They couldn't have gotten very far, very fast. Find them, and bring them back here. Then my end of the bargain is upheld."

"Hardly." Chrysalis barked. "Do you believe me to be an idiot? Or some silly little mare that only cares about smiles and parties?" She stamped her hoof on the ground. "Well I'm not, Sombra! Those two had a powerful love, but not nearly enough to be what you promised me!"

"You are correct." Sombra admitted. "Do you remember the pegasus I ordered some changelings to apprehend?"

"Yes." Chrysalis replied. "He got away. Another one of your plans gone awry."

"Hardly." Sombra chuckled. "I let him escape."

"What?"

"I even helped him."

"YOU DID WHAT NOW?!" Chrysalis levitated the table in front of her a third time. Instead of flipping it over, she smashed it to pieces.

"Oh, Chryssi." He tutted.

"DON'T YOU DARE BUCKING CALL ME THAT!"

"Don't you realize that this was my plan all along?" Sombra asked.

The queen was breathing heavily, seething rage. "I'm going to give you one chance – ONE CHANCE, SOMBRA! – to explain to me what the buck you are talking about."

Sombra chuckled at the Queen's fit of anger. She could do nothing to harm him and she knew it. All of her threats were empty. "That pegasus has more power than even he realizes." Sombra said. "Power that could help me… erhem, us… conquer not just Equestria, but the entire world."

Chrysalis's eye twitched. She was still fairly enraged. Sombra continued his explanation. "When he escaped, the fool did something desperate. He let me into his mind, Chrysalis. On my own, I could never fully crush somepony's defenses and strip them of their free will, but this pony was fool enough to invite me to do it. I entered his mind, and I am still there."

"I still don't see how this gets me any closer to the love you promised me." Chrysalis accused.

"But it does." Sombra said. "Through the actions I caused, this pegasus is now closer than ever to creating the love I promised you. He has developed an attachment to the Element of Loyalty. And she is returning his affections. Before long, their love will be twentyfold what Shining Armor and Cadence have."

Chrysalis licked her chapped lips. There was a brief pause, but Sombra knew he had won.

"It will be acceptable." The Queen of the Changelings said. "If you can make it happen." She turned to leave, stopping only momentarily at the doorway to look back.

"You know, even the love between these two pegasi will be nothing compared to…"

"I don't want to hear it." Sombra said. "You cannot fix what has already been ruined. The past is over." The queen of the changelings collected herself, and finally left.

"However the future," Sombra whispered to nothing. "Is just ripe for ruining."

Fluttershy

Gingerly, the yellow pegasus descended the stairway to the dungeon. Dangling from her mouth was a basket filled with a fresh loaf of bread from the Canterlot kitchens. It had finished baking nearly the moment she and her friends had arrived in Canterlot, so it was barely an hour old.

She reached the bottom step, and saw a single guard standing in front of the doorway to he dungeon. Fluttershy set the loaf of bread down, and summoned all of her courage to speak.

"Umm… excuse me?" She squeaked out. The guard looked at her dubiously. "I'm just bringing some food for the… uh… prisoner." She said, softly, but at least understandable. The guard nodded, and stepped aside.

"No more than ten minutes." He spoke. His voice was much lighter than she had expected for a Royal Canterlot Guard. She retrieved her basket, and pushed open the decrepit wooden door. It creaked open gently. Quietly, Fluttershy walked inside.

There were many old cells in the Canterlot dungeons, but almost none were ever occupied, save the occasional star spider. Today was an exception, however. The first cell on the left had a new resident.

When Frostburn and Rainbow Dash informed everypony that there was still one changeling left, Fluttershy had thought it cruel to lock him down in the dungeon. She still felt it to be a bad idea, but she quickly realized that nopony else shared her feelings on the matter. Now Fluttershy had decided that she would at least try to be kind to the changeling. He had been completely silent since the guards had taken him away, but she felt she could convince him to open up to her.

Upon noticing the yellow mare enter, the incarcerated changeling growled. Fluttershy squeaked in fear, dropping the basket. When the changeling saw that Fluttershy wasn't a guard, he quieted down.

"I… uh… thought you would be hungry." Fluttershy revealed the contents of the basket to the changeling. It walked up to the edge of the cell, and sniffed at the loaf. Then it turned away disgusted.

"Oh my." Fluttershy whispered, her feelings dented. The changeling seemed to sense this, and looked back at her.

"I'm sorry." Fluttershy said to it. "I didn't know you don't like bread." The changeling pondered her words.

"It's not that I don't like it." The changeling said, in a darkened tone. "I just can't digest it. Or any food."

"Oh, right. Changelings feed on the feeling of love." Fluttershy recalled. "Sorry, I just didn't remember" The changeling nodded in understanding. They sat in silence, Fluttershy unsure of what to do.

"W-what's your name?" Fluttershy finally asked. The changeling spat on the floor.

"You don't care about that." The changeling hissed at her. Fluttershy winced.

"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I care?"

The changeling paced through his cell. "No ponies ever care about us. We are pest to them. Parasites." He sighed. "Ponies only care about you as long as you are part of their perfect world. A world of sweetness and happiness. What could my place be in a world like that?"

"I'm not sure." Fluttershy spoke. "But I promise you I'll find a place."

The changeling stopped pacing and put his hoof up to the cell. "Really?" He asked.

Fluttershy put her hoof up to match his, so that they would have been touching had the bars of the cell not blocked them. "I promise." She said.

The changeling actually smiled at her. "You're… very kind." He said. There was suddenly a knock at the door. The guard opened it and poked his head in. Fluttershy's hoof retracted as he spoke.

"Ma'am, your time is up." He said. Fluttershy nodded, getting up to leave. As she left the changeling spoke up one last time.

"My name is Smoking Dagger." He said.

"I'm Fluttershy." The yellow pegasus replied. As the guard shut the door, Fluttershy thought she saw Smoking Dagger smile.

Frostburn

The ice-blue pegasus was pacing in the guest chambers of Canterlot Castle. Princess Celestia hadn't ordered anypony else to a confined space while Twilight sorted out the details of what happened at the Crystal Empire. Just him. The Princess of the Sun still clearly did not trust Frostburn. And why should she? The changelings came to the Crystal Empire looking for him for some reason. He even led one back to Canterlot. Not to mention he managed to get her star student to continually lie to her and keep her in the dark.

Yeah, he was kind of screwed.

A lack of windows in his room only stood to confirm his theory. If Princess Celestia had sent him to a room with windows in it, he could have easily escaped. Besides windowless walls, there was only a bed, and another door leading to a small bathroom. Frostburn paced a little bit more, fearing that he might get claustrophobic. His face was even breaking out in a cold sweat. He walked to the bathroom sink, turned it on, and splashed some water in his face to calm down. Coming up to breath, he saw his reflection in the bathroom's mirror.

"This is not good." He whispered to his mirrored image.

"I can't imagine how it could get worse." The Voice said inside his mind. Strange, he hadn't felt any pressure in the base of his skull this time.

"Voice, you have impeccable timing." He said, while facing his mirror self.

"I try." Was the response.

"Well how about you try and answer a few of my questions?" Frostburn asked.

"…Very well then. What do you want to know?"

"How were you able to help me control my powers?" The pegasus asked first.

"I thought you would ask something harder. When you allowed me into your mind, all I did was block the part of you that takes over when your powers were active. Nothing difficult. You should be able to do it yourself in a few years of practice."

"Right. Okay. Next question, how exactly did I 'allow you into my mind?' All I did was say you could, no freaky magic stuff or anything."

"Ah, now there's a fun question. It's not really what you said, but what you did. Unconsciously that is."

"Excuse me?"

"When you said you would do anything for that… Rainbow Dash… all of your mind's defenses came down. Basically, you unlocked the door and opened it. I merely stepped through."

"Alright, next ques–"

"Somepony is coming." The voice interrupted.

"Wait, what?" Frostburn asked, stunned that the voice could know something like that.

"I have to go now."

"Wait, just tell me what your name is. I'm getting sick of calling you 'the Voice' is all." There was a sudden knock at the door. The Voice hadn't been wrong.

"… My name is Sombra." There was silence after that. Even without the pressure in his skull, Frostburn could tell the Voi– Sombra had left him alone. The knock at the door rang out again, this time seemingly demanding him to answer the door.

For luck, Frostburn touched the tip of his lopped off unicorn horn, and sighed.

The knock came again. Frostburn slowly walked toward the door, contemplating who it could possibly be. His thoughts jumped first to Rainbow Dash. Then Rarity. Setting those unlikely possibilities aside, Frostburn accepted the fact that it was probably a handful of guards prepared to escort him to the dungeons to join the changeling.

As he opened the door, a pink mare refuted all of his theories in a single glance.

"Hi, Frosty!" Pinkie Pie said energetically.

"Hey Pinkie." Frostburn said, glancing around. "What brings you up here?" A pink hoof rose up to his face, holding a blindfold.

"Put in on." Pinkie said, happily.

"Uh, Pinkie I don't think..."

"Put it on." Pinkie said, less happy more forceful. Allowing himself to be coerced by the pink party pony, Frostburn accepted the blindfold and tied it around his head. His vision was immediately cut off.

"All right, now follow me!" Pinkie said. Frostburn was about to point out his lack of actual sight, but Pinkie apparently already knew that. She grabbed his hoof, and began leading him throughout the castle.

After a few steps, Frostburn asked. "Can you tell me where we're going?"

"Nope." Was the jovial response.

"Can you tell me why I'm wearing a blindfold?"

"Nope."

"… You're leading me to my execution, aren't you?" Frostburn asked, only half-joking.

After a fit of giggles, Pinkie replied with, "No way, silly. Just trust me."

"Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"

After several more minutes of blindly following Pinkie's lead – along with several more unanswered questions – the pink pony finally stopped and let go of Frostburn's hoof.

"You can take off the blindfold now." She said. Frostburn did, gratefully. A quick survey of the area told him he was standing in front of the closed doors to the Princess's throne room.

"Okay, why did you bring me here?" Frostburn asked. Pinkie Pie giggled again, and the blue pegasus got a little nervous. With no warning, Pinkie pushed open the doors, and on the other side, dozens of ponies all cried out in unison.

"SURPRISE!" They all shouted. Frostburn nearly jumped out of his coat in surprise. Calming down, and inspecting the crowd, Frostburn saw all of his friends, a handful of guards, both royal sisters, and even Ashen Clover from the train station. They were all decked out in colorful pointed hats, and the whole room looked like a confetti canon threw up in it.

"W-What is this?" Frostburn asked in awe.

"It's a party, darling." Rarity declared.

"For me?" He asked. Pinkie Pie snorted with more laughter.

"Well duh, silly. Why else would we all yell surprise at you when you walked in? Sorry that we had to keep you locked in that room while we set everything up. Couldn't afford ruin the surprise." The pink mare bounded around the room in glee, before stopping right in front of Frostburn.

"Let me be the first to welcome you to your Welcome to Ponyville Party slash Happy First Party Ever, Frostburn slash Hooray For Surviving Another Cataclysmic Event By The Skin Of Our Teeth Party slash 100th Party Spectacular Extravaganza!" Pinkie was huffing after saying so many words in fast succession, but she still managed to produce one of the pink colored, pointed hats and slap it on his head before he could protest.

"And now you're wearing your first party hat, and your first party ever!" Pinkie joyously exclaimed. Princess Celestia walked up to them, and he saw that she was also wearing a party hat of her own.

"So, I'm not about to be arrested or executed?" Frostburn asked, the confusion lingering.

"No, of course not." Princess Celestia said. "Twilight explained to me everything that's been going on." Then the Princess's mood darkened. "However, I suggest you enjoy your first party, because tomorrow we prepare for war with the changelings." The Princess levitated three glasses of punch over to Pinkie, Frostburn and herself. She raised her cup up.

"To your first party, Frostburn. May it not be your last." Pinkie raised her glass to clink with Princess Celestia's and Frostburn followed suit. They all drank the punch in a single sip, and the Princess went off to mingle. Pinkie disappeared to, claiming she had to put on some music. The last comment he heard from her for the rest of the night was how she wished a certain blue-haired DJ could have been here to handle all the "wubs".

For a while, Frostburn wandered the party unsure of how act. A few guards nodded hellos in his direction, and raised their punch glasses to him. He ran into Rarity, who tried and failed to coax him onto the dance floor.

"Come on and dance with me, darling." She had asked him. He really wanted to, but couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Sorry, Rarity. Maybe later." Frostburn left the disappointed unicorn, and continued to aimlessly wander the party.

Eventually he found himself slumped in the far corner of the room, with some loud noise he supposed was music blared all around. The room was dimly lit, save the dance floor, so it was understandable that he didn't see one of his friends walk up to him.

"Are you doing okay?" Rainbow Dash yelled just over the music.

"Not really." He replied. Dash looked around.

"Let's head outside. I can barely hear you." She shouted, extending her hoof. Frostburn took it and she pulled him up. The two walked out onto the balcony, which was far enough away from the music that they could hear eachother.

"So what's got you down?" Rainbow asked. "It's your first party, and it doesn't seem like you're having any fun."

"It's just…" Frostburn side. "I appreciate Pinkie's effort, I really do. But I'm so conflicted right now. I keep thinking about everything that's happened and all the lives I've ruined. And now the future's so uncertain that I–"

"Shhh." Rainbow Dash said, lightly touching her hoof to his muzzle. "You can worry about all that stuff later, but tonight… just live in the moment." Unsure of what to do, Frostburn allowed Dash to wrap his foreleg around her waist and bury her head in his chest. Then the two of them slow danced while the wubs blasted in the background.

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