It was night, the midnight fog rolled through the low lining clouds, as the incoming air ship broke through. Above deck, several sailor ponies ran about, orders shouted to prepare the ship to land by the incoming city. Among these sailors was an orange Earth mare with a long, blonde mane, who leaned against the edge of the deck and saw the approaching city.

"I have sailed the world, beheld its wonders." The mare couldn't help but almost sing with her joy. "From the Badlands, to the Frozen North. But there's no place like Canterlot!"

"No, there's no place like Canterlot..." A lavender Unicorn with a blue and violet mane interrupted.

"Mr. Shine?" The Earth mare said.

"You are young...Life has been kind to you..." The Unicorn explained. "You will learn...There's a hole in the world like a great black pit and the vermin of the world inhabit it and its morals aren't worth what a pig can shit; and it goes by the name of Canterlot..."

The mare remained silent, but could feel the subtle sorrowful anger in Shine's voice.

"At the top of the hole sit the privileged few." Shine continued. "Making mock of the vermin in the lonely zoo. Turning beauty to filth and greed...I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders, for the cruelty of ponies is as Frozen as the North...but there's no place like Canterlot!"

The ship landed at the docks, located near the bottom area of the mountain the city of Canterlot rested on. All travelers and sailors exited the ship, carrying luggage of some kind. But Shine carried nothing, he had neither bags nor anything on him. The mare from earlier came off the ship with him.

"I must thank you Applejack." Shine said. "I would've been lost at sea without your aid."

"Twas nothing Mr. Shine." Applejack smiled. "What kinda good pony would I be without helping a fellow in need." But then she saw an almost spaced expression on Shine's face. "Mr.Shine? Are you alright?"

Shine was silent, almost staring off into nothing. Nothing was ahead of him but an empty, dark street. But then he realized the mare said something to him.

"I beg your indulgence, Applejack." Shine apologized. "But my mind is far from easy. And these very streets are filled with shadows...Every last one of 'em."

"Shadows?" Applejack asked.

"Ghosts." Shine answered, his tone was filled with sorrow. "There was a barber and her wife and she was beautiful...a foolish barber and her wife. She was her reason for her life...and she was beautiful,and she was virtuous. And she was naive."

"What happened sir?" Applejack asked.

"There was another mare who saw that she was beautiful..." Shine answered with disgust and sadness. "A pious vulture of the law who, with a gesture of her claw, 'removed the barber from his plate! Then there was nothing but to wait!' And she would fall!...So soft!...So young!...So lost and oh, so beautiful!..."

"Oh!" Applejack replied. "The lady sir, did she...succumb?"

"Ah, that was many years ago..." Shine replied, his hooves covering his eye as if to cover tears but no tears were shed. "I doubt if anyone would know." Shine then looked back at Applejack. "I'd like to thank you, Applejack....If you hadn't spotted me, I'd be lost in the ocean still."

"Will I see you again?" Applejack asked.

"You may find me...If you like." Shine answered. "Around Fleet Street. I wouldn't wander..."

"Till then, my friend." Applejack let out her hoof for a hoofshake but Shine ignored it.

Before the two could separate, they heard the low shrill sound of a mare.

"Bits! Bits! For a miserable pony!" The mare, covered from head to hoof in rags called out, her voice was shrill and almost half mad in tone. "On a miserable chilly-" But then the ragged mare looked at both Applejack and Shine. "Oh would you like a little rump rut, a little bushing, a little fun in the-"

"AWAY WITH YOU!!" Shine shouted. "And may Nightmare Moon take you and your madness away!"

"WAAAHHH!!!!NNOOOO!!!!" The mare screeched and galloped away.

"Away for fifteen years." Shine mumbled to himself. "And the mad still roam the streets as the rich get fat."

There were no more words, Shine left his companion and made his way into Canterlot. As Shine made his stern way down the dark, murky streets. He continued to mumble a bit:

"There's a hole in the world like a great black pit and it's filled with people who are filled with shit, And the vermin of the world inhabit it.."

Shine made his way, through memory, reached his old home. But something was different; the barber shop he once ran was still atop the building, but the lower parts, once his home, was now a bakery. Pie's Bakery it was called. Shine walked into the store, having a quick look around. The place was dusty and dirty, as if it had nopony around for weeks, if not months. The sound the door made opening was silent but when the door closed, there was a bit of a bang.

"A CUSTOMER!!" A mare's voice loudly shouted.

Running into the room was a pink Earth mare with a darker pink mane that lay straight over the side of her face. But her grin was the most disturbing. Shine went to turn and leave but the mare caught him.

"Wait! What's your rush? What's your hurry?" The mare cheered. "You gave me such a fright I thought you was a ghost. Half a minute can't you sit, sit you down, sit!" The mare forced Shine to sit at the closest, dusty table."All I meant is that I haven't seen a customer for weeks."

The mare then leaped over the counter towards her cooking station, if you could call it that.

"Did you come in for a cupcake?" The mare asked, completely ignoring Shine's attempt to interrupt her. "Do forgive me if my head's a little vague. What was that?"

She then smashed a cockroach with her hoof.  "But you'd think we had the plague. From the way that ponies keep avoiding! No you don't!" She then smashed another roach. "Heaven knows I try, sir! But there's no one comes in even to inhale!"

She then dusted of a mug and slid it to Shine. "Right you are, sir, would you like a drop of cider? Mind you I can hardly blame them! These are probably the worst cupcakes in Canterlot. I know why nobody cares to take them! I should know! I make them! But good? No...The worst cupcakes in Canterlot...Even that's polite! The worst cupcakes in Canterlot! If you doubt it take a bite!"

Despite his best judgement, Shine took a bite of the oddly colored cupcake. Hopefully the green was a dye and not mold.

"Is that just disgusting? You have to concede it! It's nothing but crusting!" The mare poured another mug of cider. "Here drink this, you'll need it. The worst cupcakes in Canterlot.  And no wonder with the price of flour, what it is, when you get it. Never thought I'd live to see the day. Pony'd think it was a treat findin' poor animals that are dyin' in the street."

The mare leaped back behind the counter and started mixing batter.

"Mrs. Cake has a pie shop." Her voice sounded a mix of jealousy and irritation. "Does a business, but I notice something weird. Lately, all her neighbors cats have disappeared. Have to hand it to her! What a course, enterprise! Poppin' kitties into pies!"

Her tone now became one of more pride. "Wouldn't do in my shop! Just the thought of it's enough to make you sick! And I'm telling you them kitty cats is quick."

She then poured her mixed batter into dirty cupcake pans and popped them in the large, rusty oven. "No denying times is hard, sir! Even harder than the worst cupcakes in Canterlot. Only lard and nothing more- Is that just revolting? All greasy and gritty? It looks like it's molting! And tastes like...well pity. A mare all alone...with limited wind. And the worst cupcakes in Canterlot!...Ah, sir..Times is hard....Times is hard!" She then smashed a large roach that had the misfortune to go across the counter.

"Here you go." The mare suggested. "It'll take more than that to wash the taste out." She then lifted Shine up. "Let's go get a shot of Gin."

After a few shots, the mare was in a tipsy state. Her mane looked like it was getting lighter in color and looked like it was getting curlier. But...it was still a dark, straight state.

"You look like you're not from here." The mare said, noticing that the stallion customer drank as much as she did but looked unaffected. "What's your name?"

"......" Shine remained quiet and lost in thoughts.

"Well I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie." Pinkamena said. "But call me Pinkamena, or Pinkie if you like."

"What happened to this place?" Shine asked openly, supposedly to himself but Pinkie heard him.

"This used to be a house." Pinkie answered. "Years ago, a barber lived here and his shop was upstairs."

"What happened?" Shine asked.

"There was a barber and her wife. And she was beautiful..." Pinkie answered, telling the story. "A proper artist with a knife, but they transported her for life. And she was beautiful...Sparkle her name was. Twilight Sparkle."

"What was her crime?" Shine asked.

"Foolishness..." Pinkie said. "She had this wife, ya see. Pretty little thing, silly little nit. Had her chance for the Moon on a string...Poor thing! Poor thing!" Pinkie took another shot, her tone became sadder. "There was this judge, ya see...Wanted her like mad! Everyday she sent her a flower But did she come down from her tower? Sat up there and sulked by the hour....Poor fool!"

"What befell her?" Shine asked.

"Ah, but there was worse yet to come...Poor thing!" Pinkie took a sigh. "Well, Spike calls on her all polite...Poor thing! Poor thing! The judge, she tells her, is all contrite. She blames himself for her dreadful plight. She must come straight to her house tonight!...Poor thing!...Poor thing!"

"Spike?" Shine asked.

"The judge's right hand." Pinkie answered. "Of course when she goes there...Poor thing! Poor thing! They're having this ball all in masks. There's no one she knows there! Poor dear! Poor thing! She wonders, tormented and drinks! Poor thing! The judge has repented, she thinks. Poor thing! 'Oh where is Judge Rarity?' she asks..."

"Poor thing." Shine mumbled, taking another shot, still unaffected by the alcohol.

"He was there, alright! Only not so contrite!" Pinkie continued.  "She wasn't no match for such craft, ya see. And everyone thought it so droll. They figured she had to be daft, ya see. So all of them stood there and laughed, ya see! Poor soul!...Poor thing!"

"NO!" Shine shouted. "Would no one have mercy on her?"

"So it is you." Pinkie's eyes sparkled. "Twilight Sparkle."

"No! Not Sparkle. She died in that cell." Shine said. "It's Shine now - Dusk Shine. And he will have his revenge."

"So long and so much change." Pinkamena said.

"Where is my wife? Where is my Rainbow Dash?" Dusk asked.

"Dead." Pinkie said remorsefully. "Poisoned herself. "And the judge has your daughter."

"My little Fluttershy is all grown." Dusk said. "Fifteen years, sweating and rotting on a trumped charge. I had hoped that I could come home to a loving wife and child. But it can never be. I will have him!"

"Go after judge Rarity." Pinkie almost chuckled. "A 'stallion' with no bit to his name in a broken down cupcake shop, get the eye of the judge, don't make me laugh."

"I will." Dusk stated, very determined. "Even if I must sweat and bleed again, I WILL HAVE THEM!!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

A yellow Pegasus with the most beautiful, flowing pink mane, sat sadly by the window. She often gazed out into the world and watched the ponies in the streets. As far back as she could remember, all she's known was looking out the window but never being allowed to leave. But in her sorrow, he beautiful voice could be heard.

"Green finch, and linnet bird, Nightingale, blackbird, How is it you sing? How can you jubilate sitting in cages never taking wing? Outside the sky waits beckoning! Beckoning!"

Several ponies were crossing in front of her home today. It must be a busy day. But the more she saw, the more sorrow and loneliness she felt.

"Just beyond the bars... How can you remain staring at the rain maddened by the stars? How is it you sing anything? How is it you sing? Green finch. and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird How is it you sing?"

It seems her voice attracted the attention of one pony. In the streets, Applejack, with a small saddle bag was wondering the streets lost, when she hear the most beautiful of voices. Looking up, she saw the goddess-like beauty of this yellow pony. This pony, in turn, saw Applejack and was immediately captivated as well. Her spirit was now a tad lifted, she has never beheld a mare that made her heart go so fast. But her voice also attracted another gaze. Behind the wall, two white hooves removed a nearby painting, revealing a tiny peep hole to which the mystery pony stared into it, gazing upon the sweet sounding pony. The Pegasus and Applejack stared at each other. Although they have just met, it is as if they have always known each other. But this was interrupted when the Pegasus turned her gaze into the room as if being called away from it.

"Bits , bits for a miserable pony!" A ragged covered pony walked up to Applejack, her blue hoof extended. "On a miserable chilly morning."

Applejack pulled out a few bits and gave it to the ragged pony.

"Thank ya, thank ya kindly...." The beggar pony thanked as she began to walk away."

"One moment, madam." Applejack stopped the pony. "Perhaps you know whose house this is?"

"That? That's the great Judge Rarity's house, that is." The pony replied.

"And the young mare who resides there?" Applejack asked.

"Oh her? That's Fluttershy, her pretty little ward...but don't you go trespassin' there, young pony!" She warned, her voice almost sounded like a mad mare. "Not if you value your hide! Go there, and it's a good whippin' for ya, or any other youth with mischief on their mind!"

Applejack, though worried about what might befall her, stepped towards the house, her thoughts became words.

"I feel you, Fluttershy, I feel you. I was half convinced I'd waken, Satisfied enough to dream you. Happily I was mistaken, Fluttershy. I'll steal you, Fluttershy, I'll steal you."

The door of the house opened. A white Unicorn mare with a rather beautiful and well kept purple mane stood there.

"Come in my dear." The mare said, beckoning to Applejack.

Applejack nodded politely and walked in. The house was well furnished and the walls and shelves were lined with old and fancy looking books and other strange nic-nacs.

"You appear to be a sailor." The unicorn inquired.

"Yes ma'am." Applejack said as politely as she could. "I was looking for Fleet street, but became lost. Rather embarrassing a sailor lose their way actually."

"As a sailor I assume you have seen the world?" The mare asked, ignoring Applejack's words.

"I have seen some ways of the world." Applejack responded.

"The brothels of Greece, the courtesans of Saddle Arabia, the geisha of the East." The mare said. "I have them you know. Pictures. Would you like to see them."

"I'm afraid there has been a misunderstanding." Applejack tried to remain polite.

"Clearly." The mare said, approaching Applejack, you could now feel a sense of anger and insult. "You gandered at my ward, you gandered at my Fluttershy."

"I'm sorry ma'am." Applejack said, unaware of a third figure entering the room. "I meant no offense."

"Now you lie?" The mare said, if her eyes were daggers, Applejack would be dead. "Mark me. If I ever see you on this street, you will rue the day you were born."

The mare looked up and gestured another figure, who turns out was a small dragon with a fancy top hat, cape and cane. The dragon took a hold of Applejack and next thing she knew, Applejack was quite violently thrown out the back of the house.

"Looking for Fleet street are you?" The dragon said. "Well you take a right, then a left that way." The dragon noticed Applejack was groaning a bit, maybe throwing her hurt her a tad. "Move along then!" The dragon began lashing at Applejack with his cane in a violent manner, leaving Applejack bleeding a bit on the ground. "You heard Judge Rarity, if we spy you here again; it will be your pretty brains along the pavement."

Leaving her in her pain and blood, Applejack struggled to get up. But this threat didn't deter her like so many. Applejack was more and more infatuated by the beautiful Fluttershy.

"I'll steal you, Fluttershy, I'll steal you. Do they think that walls could hide you? Even now, I'm at your window. I am in the dark beside you, Buried sweetly in your pink mane! I feel you, Fluttershy, And one day I'll steal you! Til I'm with you then, I'm with you there, Sweetly buried in your pink mane!"

Applejack was now concocting a plan to steal away with Fluttershy, but she would need help.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

"You wouldn't believe how long I kept these." Pinkamena said, pulling at the floor board.

Dusk looked around the upstairs barber shop Pinkamena brought him to. Back when he called himself Twilight, this room was his barber shop and his home. The room looked almost run down, a rusty carriage, peeling walls, dusty tables and counters, and a large cracked mirror.

"Ah here it is." Pinkamena said with a delighted smile, pulling a small dusty box out of the hold in the floor. "Times were tough and almost sold these. Glad I didn't."

Dusk looked over and his eyes almost gleamed as he recognized the box. "Those are."

"Recognize them you do?" Pinkamena stated. "Your old razors. The silver still shines." Pinkamena handed one razor to Dusk.

"Silver." Dusk said. "These are my friends. See how they glisten. See this one shine... How he smiles in the light. My friend. My faithful friend..."

Dusk placed the razor close to his ear. "Speak to me friend. Whisper...I'll listen. I know, I know you've been locked out of sight all these years, like me My friend... well I've come home to find you waiting home,  and we're together! And we'll do wonders. Won't we? You there, my friend?"

You there my friend

I'm your friend too, Mr. Shine

Come let me hold you.

If you only knew, Mr. Shine. Ooh, Mr. Shine

Now, with a sigh, you grow warm in my hoof.

You're warm in my hoof.

My friend!

You've come home!

My clever friend...

Always had a fondness for you, I did.

Rest now, my friends.

Never you fear, Mr. Shine

Soon, I'll unfold you.

You can move in here, Mr. Shine

Soon you'll know splendors

Mr. Shine, splendors.

You never have dreamed all your days

You never have dreamed all you days,

will be yours!

my lucky friends

I'm your friend and you're mine!

Don't they shine beautiful?

'Til now your shine was merely silver.

Silver's good enough for me, Mr. Shine.

Friends, you shall drip rubies, you'll soon drip precious... rubies

"Leave us." Dusk told Pinkamena to which she left.

After all those long, painful years suffering in that cell, Dusk was able to get one thing back from Twilight. Now was the time for her revenge. Rainbow Dash was lost and Fluttershy would never recognize him.

Dusk raised the razor in his hoof, extending it towards the window. "AT LAST! MY HOOF IS COMPLETE AGAIN!"