Cold mud splashes up Apple Bloom's legs as she follows the Fellowship to their destination. Night has fallen faster than she expected, but the good news is that the full moon has no clouds blocking it, so the path is easy to see. Twilight and Spike are also by her side, so she fees marginally safer than with just her Foaling companions. Not that she has anything against them, but they really are no match for any real threat, as her throbbing wounds remind her.

Apple Bloom scans the area nervously with baggy eyes, observing each gnarled tree, every vine covered statue, and every patch of soggy dirt as though an agent of Sombra will pop out and butcher the team. From the looks of it, the rest of the group holds similar views, with Rarity masking it with muttered complaints about the mud and Blueblood looking less than pleased about the mess clinging to his attire. Pinkie Pie is the only one who does not appear to be nervous, for her steps are light enough for her to bounce, bringing her assortment of lethal and nonlethal items to clang against her.

How she is able to carry all her gear and move like a filly is a mystery to Apple Bloom, but if her limited knowledge of Pinkie Pie points to anything, it is don't question her antics. She is probably clueless about her behavior, anyway.

“When we reach the Ammolite Mines let me do the talking,” says Pinkie Pie.

“You don't know how to stop, anyway,” says Rainbow Dash.

“Hey, I haven't talked for four hours.”

“Liar,” grumbles Davenport.

“Well, maybe not four hours at once, but it adds up.”

“What can we expect in the Mines? Aside from the bad ending,” says Braeburn.

“Well,” begins Pinkie Pie, grinning eagerly as she turns to walk backwards. “After I talk to Maud you can expect baths, food, cider, comfy beds and a free trip on the Ammolite tracks.”

She then hops her way to Shining Armor and Spike and wraps her arms around their necks, using them as support for her walk and completely ignoring the unicorn's glare and the drake's puzzled look.

“There's also mares that will give you a lot of comfort if you ask for it,” says Pinkie Pie. “Hint hint. Wink wink.”

Shining Armor scowls and forcefully removes Pinkie Pie from his neck while Spike hums and rubs his chin.

“What kind of mares?” asks Spike.

“SPIKE!” scolds Twilight, her eyes and tone as sharp as a fresh blade.

Spike tenses and stammers as he slides away from Pinkie Pie. “I mean, shame on you... You heathen person.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle crack a smile, but the other Foalings do not seem to be impressed. Pinkie Pie then hugs Spike again, squishing her body against his and puckering her lips at Twilight while tracing her fingers along the drake's cheek.

“Don't worry, Twilight, I will keep Spike safe from the big bad mares,” says Pinkie Pie.

Spike gulps and his face heats up as he looks at Twilight -who is losing her patience- and he tries to pull away, but Pinkie Pie tightens her hug on him, leading to his quick submission. During this, Rainbow Dash casually makes her way to Pinkie Pie, and that includes her forcing Apple Bloom out of her way and nearly running over Twist and Pipsqueak.

“When you said cider, what kind of cider were you talking about?” asks Rainbow Dash when she is next to Pinkie Pie.

“The good kind,” says Pinkie Pie.

“Specifics. I need specifics.”

“Like drinking the blood of your enemies from the skulls of their children.”

“...Awesome.”

“I knew you licked yourself clean from blood!” blurts Sweetie Belle.

Rainbow Dash turns around, snarling with her wings unfurled and her eyes narrowed on the unicorn foaling. “You stupid wench! That never happened!”

“Uh huh. Tell that to their family, fiend.”

Rainbow Dash growls and grabs her blade, but Fluttershy grabs her wrist and shakes her head.

“It's not worth it,” says Fluttershy.

“I hate her,” says Rainbow Dash, glaring at Sweetie Belle.

“I know.”

“No, you don't understand. I really hate her.”

“Okay, we can move up front away from her. How does that sound?”

“Can't I cut her head off, instead?”

Fluttershy starts leading Rainbow Dash to the front. “No, you can't. That's a really mean thing to do.”

“She's the mean one!”

With Rainbow Dash being forced up front, Flash silently follows the two up, shaking his head, and Braeburn taps on Davenport's shoulder and jabs his thumb to the back of the line. Davenport stares at him defiantly, but after having the wrong end of the crossbow being aimed at him, he moves to the back with Applejack and Braeburn close by.

“I really think it will take a miracle to keep this fellowship together,” says Pipsqueak.

“We'll be fine. My dad used to do this all the time to me and my mom, but we came out all right,” says Button Mash.

Apple Bloom raises a brow critically.

“Your dad used to threaten to cut off your head?” says Scootaloo skeptically.

“Yeah, he did that a lot before he ran away,” says Button Mash. He sighs whimsically and looks up at the stars. “Good times.”

Apple Bloom's lips curl to a disturbed sneer, and she and the other Foalings exchange odd looks that Button Mash does not notice.

“Do you really want to go into the Mines?” asks the Shadow Foaling.

Apple Bloom jumps and looks to the voice, and sees the Shadow Foaling walking next to Pipsqueak, her hands behind her back and her torn dress dragging in the mud. The Shadow Foaling swivels her way in front of Apple Bloom and leans close so that their noses are almost touching, forcing her to crane her head back a bit, but despite how close the entity is, Apple Bloom cannot see herself in its large eyes.

“Will the Mines help you find me? Will it free us? Do you know of the terrors that claw in its darkness?” continues the Shadow Foaling. “What Nightmare lurks in the tunnels of Ammolite? What shadows bind the Ammolites to the Never Ending Winter? You don't know, but I do, and I am telling you there is no safety there. Turn back now.”

Apple Bloom closes her eyes and shakes her head, and when she opens them again she sees Pinkie Pie is back up front, pestering Twilight about something that is most likely irrelevant.

“Are you okay?” asks Pipsqueak.

Apple Bloom nods and smiles nervously at him. “I'm fine.”

“You were just looking at me weird, is all.”

“I'm fine, really. Maybe a bit tired, but that ain't new.”

“And if you'll look to your right you will see a statue of what is supposed to be King Luminous Stone, the last king of the House of Stone,” says Pinkie Pie, her bubbly voice echoing in the desolate scenery and her hand pointed off to the side.

Apple Bloom and the rest of the Fellowship looks to where Pinkie Pie is pointing, but all she sees is a pair of legs covered in vines and roots.

“Luminous Stone was born and raised in the Ammolite Mines and was notorious for breaking the norms of the nobility class,” says Pinkie Pie. “Starting with allowing the commoners to party at the Lookout Palace when he was crowned High Lord of the Kingdoms of Lookout Mountain, cutting all personal taxes to nothing and replacing them with what he called 'Tariffs', and making military service voluntary instead of mandatory.”

The group starts going down a set of stairs by a lake that is covered in algae and twisted roots. Small waves of water bounce off of a submerged statue with its head and tip of a staff above the grave. At the edge of the lake stands a double door that towers above the group and is decorated with five circles around a pair of bars, which are surrounded by a series of jagged lines that hold no distinct pattern.

“Rumor has it that he also created a secret group that eliminated rivals inside the Kingdoms and abroad, before he was brutally murdered by Nidhogg when Lookout Mountain fell to the dragons, thus resulting in the fracturing of the Kingdoms until the House of Igneous reunited them. The end,” says Pinkie Pie.

“That was impressive,” says Twilight. “But Luminous Stone was not murdered by Nidhogg. He choked to death on rock candy.”

Pinkie Pie stops in midstep, swivels on the ball of her foot and leans close to Twilight with eyes narrowed to slits and her ears splayed against her deflating mane. This forces Twilight to stop, as well as the Fellowship, and give her apprehensive looks.

“Are you saying that I don't know the history of my people, Princess?” says Pinkie Pie.

“I'm saying that you got a detail wrong,” says Twilight. “And technically Ammolites aren't your people since the Kingdoms of Lookout Mountain is more of a union of smaller kingdoms. Your people would be, in a more accurate sense, Marigoldens.”

Pinkie Pie slams her hands on Twilight's shoulders, hissing and digging her fingers into the unicorn, bringing out a wince from her.

“Twilight, I like you,” says Pinkie Pie. “I like you a lot, but please, please, please, please do not pretend to know more about my home than I do just because you went on a quest to liberate Lookout Mountain. It is annoying, rude, and above all else, insulting.” She grabs Twilight's cheeks and squeezes them together while pressing her nose against hers. “Rozumiem?”

“Pinkie, that's enough!” says Blueblood.

Pinkie Pie's eyes snap to Blueblood, and she steps back, chuckling and patting Twilight's cheek.

“Relax, Blue, no harm was coming,” says Pinkie Pie.

She then runs her fingers through her mane, which results in it puffing out, twirls around and skips on away, returning to her bright tone.

“Anyway, this area used to be traveled a lot for trade and stuff, but then Vassal Lord Pick Ax was dumb and did stupid things,” says Pinkie Pie.

The Fellowship continues walking, but Apple Bloom, Spike and Shining Armor stop by Twilight, who has become quite stiff.

“That was weird,” says Apple Bloom.

“Are you okay?” asks Shining Armor, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I'm fine,” says Twilight. She grabs Shining Armor's hand and offers a small smile. “I guess I am just taken back by her reaction to criticism.”

“If she touches you like that again I'm cutting her hand off,” says Shining Armor.

Apple Bloom's eyes grow wide, as does Twilight's and Spike's, and Shining Armor moves ahead, keeping his hand on his hilt and his eyes focused on Pinkie Pie. Seconds later, Twilight nudges Apple Bloom forward and the three quietly follow the group down the path. Another moment passes and Spike leans close to Twilight.

“Is it wrong of me to think that Pinkie could kill all of us if she wanted to?” says Spike quietly.

Twilight shakes her head and hugs Apple Bloom closer to her while watching Shining Armor warily. “No, Spike. Not in the slightest.”

“Hey, Princess! Time to work your magic!” says Pinkie Pie.

The three put their focus on Pinkie Pie and see her grinning and patting the door. Twilight shakes her head and walks forward with Spike in tow. From what Apple Bloom can see, Twilight really wants to say something, but is keeping her mouth shut and while the rest of the Fellowship is dumbfounded by the insane number of lines that form no coherent pattern, Rarity's face is locked in a studious frame.

In regards to Twilight, when she is at the door she takes a moment to study it. A long moment. A long moment of humming and scratching her mane.

“What's taking so long?” says Rainbow Dash.

“What are you complaining about? You don't want to be here,” says Braeburn.

Rainbow Dash folds her arms across her chest and turns away from Braeburn. “I'm giving this place the benefit of the doubt.”

“I think I got it,” says Twilight.

She stretches out her fingers, takes a deep breath, and then places her palm on the door. Her horn and hand then lights up in a purple haze and the outline of the door glows... and then Twilight is blown backwards by a burst of bright blue energy.

The Fellowship curses and leaps back, and Twilight bounces and rolls across the ground, coming to a stop when she lands in the water, splashing Applejack and Davenport. Davenport swears again and leaps back, and after a moment of cringing, Applejack rushes in to help Twilight up.

Water pours off of Twilight. Her clothes sag, her mane hangs in front of her eyes, and her horn and palm smokes. She coughs and wheezes and clamps tightly on Applejack's arm as she is escorted to a log, for her wobbling legs can barely keep her up.

The Fellowship rushes to her side, save for Rainbow Dash who is laughing so hard that her face is red and is having to use the stone wall for support. And while the group bombards Twilight with questions, Apple Bloom looks at the door and sees jagged runes fading into the mountainside.

“What the hell was that!?” says Shining Armor, his eyes burning hate directed towards Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie holds up her hands defensively and steps back. “Hey, don't look at me. I didn't put that there.”

“You knew about that! I know you know! And you better stop laughing, Witch!”

Rainbow Dash sucks in air and wipes tears from her eyes. “That was hilarious. Man, I wish I could have seen your faces. They were definitely priceless.”

“So, does that mean we aren't going in the creepy mines?” asks Fluttershy.

Apple Bloom gives Twilight a piece of bread, which she is quick to thank her and munch on the treat, and while this happens Rarity approaches the door.

“Oh, door versus unicorns, round two!” says Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie Pie slides next to Rainbow Dash, holding a piece of bark that looks strangely like a megaphone.

“So far the door remains the undisputed champion, but will Rarity prevail?” says Pinkie Pie with a large smile.

She tilts the bark to Rainbow Dash.

“Definitely not. That door is a beast,” says Rainbow Dash. “Unless Rarity has a trick hiding in her Unicornian prissyness I see no victory for Team Unicorn.”

Pinkie Pie turns the bark back to her. “There you have it folks. Victory for the door is a sure thing!”

“So, no creepy mines, then?” says Fluttershy, now in the back, hiding behind Flash.

Pinkie Pie turns to Fluttershy. “There's always time for creepy mines.”

“Are you done?” says Twilight sourly.

“Oh, the defeated has something to say!” says Pinkie Pie.

In a flash of rainbow and pink, Apple Bloom and Spike have been replaced by Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, leaving Twilight squished between them. Her annoyance goes unnoticed, and when Pinkie Pie sits next to her, leg draped over the other and shoulder digging into her, the unicorn sighs heavily.

“How does it feel to be beaten by a door?” says Pinkie Pie.

“You're having way too much fun with this,” pouts Twilight.

“Typical unicorn. Always hating fun,” says Rainbow Dash.

“I don't know, me and Twilight had some fun in the pool that one time,” says Pinkie Pie.

“Give me that!” snarls Twilight, her face and ears burning into a deep purple.

She yanks the bark from Pinkie Pie's hand and throws it into the water, and Rainbow Dash hums and strokes her chin while Spike awkwardly clears his throat and turns to look at Rarity. Said unicorn is still studying the door, only now the Foalings are by her side, including Apple Bloom.

“How much fun are we talking about?” says Rainbow Dash with a wolfish grin and leaning forward so her face is in Twilight's line of sight.

“A victory party's worth,” says Pinkie Pie, mirroring Rainbow Dash. “Or, we would have if she didn't call it quits before the main event.”

“What!” says Twilight, now perked and balking at Pinkie Pie. “No, that's not what happened! You called it quits before I could finish!”

Twilight immediately clamps her hands over her mouth with her ears drooped, smoke rising from her now red face, and Pinkie Pie laughs and lays on Twilight's legs so she is looking up at the stars.

“We can have another go if you'd like,” says Pinkie Pie. “You, me, Spike, Shining-”

Pinkie Pie suddenly disappears in a flash of purple, reappears ten feet above the lake, still positioned as if she is laying on Twilight's lap, and remains in position as she crashes into the water, creating an impressive splash. Seeing this, Rainbow Dash falls off the log, laughing, and Twilight groans and covers her face with her hands.

And off to the side where the stallions are, Shining Armor watches Pinkie Pie waddle out of the water with an intense fire of loathing burning away his senses.

“You must really hate her,” says Flash.

“That's too nice of a word,” says Shining Armor.

“So, is Twilight really a pervert?” asks Braeburn.

Shining Armor turns his glare to him, and he immediately starts walking towards Rarity.

“I think I'll go over here for a bit,” says Braeburn. Once at Rarity's side, he smiles at her. “Having fun?”

“I haven't had fun since this trip started,” says Rarity. “But I think I figured out the door. Rather simple, actually.”

“Really?”

Rarity nods and approaches the door, and after a deep breath and a wiggle of her fingers she grabs the first knob and turns it until the meaningless lines connect to a point in the center, which leads to something behind the door popping in place. Then she moves to the next knob and repeats the process. She does this three more times, and when fifth knob is turned, five stars are displayed and five lines connect to a grooved circle. A series of snaps and clicks echo, and with a strained grunt Rarity turns the center circle, using both of her hands and digging her feet into the ground for support. The collection of stars turn in unison until the exiting lines connect to the other grooves, and then there is a deafening pop and a powerful burst of dust that covers the group as the circle pops out to form handles.

Rarity leaps back, coughing and waving the dust away while the rest of the Fellowship covers their noses. After that, she turns around and smiles smugly at Twilight, who is glaring at her enviously while the rest of the Fellowship meets her smug with looks of praise.

“The door's unlocked,” says Rarity.

“Wow, that was easy,” says Scootaloo.

“I didn't even think about turning those things,” says Pinkie Pie lightly. She shrugs and rests her hammer on her shoulder and hops forward. “Oh, well. The more you know.”

Pinkie Pie then walks to the door, and during her short walk she pats Rarity on the shoulder and congratulates her for her contribution to the team. Once at the door, she puts her hammer down and waves towards Shining Armor.

“Hey, Sprinkles, want to give me a hand?” asks Pinkie Pie.

“No,” says Shining Armor flatly.

“Really?” scoffs Braeburn.

“She's always got a trick up her sleeve. I'd rather not be a victim again.”

Pinkie Pie rolls her eyes impatiently, but says nothing, and Braeburn shakes his head and goes forward.

“Davenport, its time to be a stallion,” says Braeburn.

“She looks like she's got it,” says Davenport.

“Now, Dilbert.”

Davenport grumbles to himself and reluctantly follows Braeburn. When the two are at the door Blueblood motions Apple Bloom and the other foalings to get behind him and orders the rest of the Fellowship to keep their weapons at the ready.

Rainbow Dash is more than happy to draw her blades, whereas Fluttershy hides behind her shield with her spear wobbling in her hand, still staying behind Flash. Shining Armor and Spike stand in front of Twilight and Applejack, and Twilight charges her horn while Pinkie Pie coolly leans against her hammer, eagerly anticipating what is to come.

After Braeburn and Davenport have good grips on the door they tug it open, both grunting and straining their muscles as their feet dig into the dirt. The stone door scrapes against the ground, and when it opens a stench of decay that spills out like the guts of a rotted corpse, and Pinkie Pie's smile drops.

“Faust! It smells like a tomb,” says Braeburn between his coughs.

“This isn't right. We're supposed to smell torches and body odor,” says Pinkie Pie.

She grips her hammer tight and bolts through the doorway, her body disappearing completely in the darkness.

“Pinkie!” cries Twilight, her hand extended, but her feet keep her firmly planted in place.

The Fellowship remains in place, too stunned to move. Even Shining Armor's rugged expression breaks to concern, and when a mortified shriek breaks the darkness Spike curses and rushes inside, soon to disappear in the dark, as well.

Twilight calls after Spike and rushes after him, which leads to Shining Armor, Blueblood and Rarity giving chase.

Apple Bloom then runs after the group. She does not know why exactly. Her feet just moved on their own, and every step she takes brings louder thumps into her ears, and out of the corner of her eye she sees the Shadow Foaling standing near.

“Don't go in!” orders the Shadow Foaling. “Stay out! The Nightmare is there!”

Apple Bloom's speed slows, but she still enters and the Shadow Foaling disappears from sight. The barrier between the two worlds is marked by a sharp drop in temperature, and in the darkness she sees a ball of purple light coming from Twilight's horn and hand. Around her, Spike, Shining Armor, Blueblood and Rarity crowd around Pinkie Pie. She is hunched over, rocking back and forth, holding something to her head that Apple Bloom cannot make out.

Her steps slow to a trudge, and her breathing becomes slow and heavy as her eyes adjust to the dark, revealing bodies. Lots and lots of bodies. Dozens upon dozens of mutilated bodies. Limbs here, heads there, bodies chopped in half, layers of sticky blood on the floor and pillars. Arrows and spears are impaled in armored corpses, and when Apple Bloom looks up, all she sees are feet dangling from the ceiling. The rest of the bodies have been swallowed by darkness, but the tortured creaking chains speak for them.

Apple Bloom hears the rest of the Fellowship enter, and she carefully steps over the corpses, covering her mouth to keep bile down when she passes a crushed skull. Her whole body shivers and when she reaches Pinkie Pie she sees her holding a bloodied helmet to her forehead, sniffling with her mane flat and cheeks drenched in tears, with more splattering on the floor. The tears look bloody to her, and Pinkie Pie's wide eyes are lifeless, despite Spike's hand on her shoulder trying to give her a lifeline.

“What happened here?” asks Rarity.

“I have no idea,” says Blueblood, his hand on his sword and his eyes scanning the area. “There was no word of this attack.”

“How can there not be word of this? This is a massacre!” says Braeburn. He is keeping his crossbow up and swiveling around, aiming at everything the dark is touching.

“Easy,” says Rainbow Dash while walking closer to Flash and Fluttershy. “Whoever did this blocked the exits to make sure nopony got out to find help. But with no damage on that door I'm willing to bet that somepony on the inside helped whoever was responsible infiltrate and wipe out the dwellers. Its going to get worse the further we go in, I can promise you that.”

With those words, Applejack's features darken and her hold on her ax tightens.

“This is terrible,” gasps Fluttershy. “Who would betray their own?”

“Somepony vile,” says Applejack. Her steps become heavier and she drops to her knees next to a corpse with a spear through their heart. Their rotting eyes are still wide open, and she swallows and looks away. “There ain't an appropriate place in Hell for traitors of their kin.”

“This isn't right. They aren't supposed to be dead,” sniffles Pinkie Pie. She closes her eyes and curls until her head is touching the filthy floor, her hands balling into tight fists. “Nopony's supposed to be dead. There's not supposed to be death, here. Nopony can be dead. This can't be happening this can't be happening this isn't right. No no no no, this isn't right. There's survivors somewhere. There's got to be survivors. Survivors got to be somewhere. They got to be they got to be they got to be.”

“We have to get out of here,” says Davenport over Pinkie's whimpers. “This isn't safe.”

“I agree with you for once,” says Braeburn.

Applejack puts her hand on Pinkie Pie's shoulder and tries to get her up.

“Come on, Pinkie. There ain't nopony left,” says Applejack.

“How do you know?” says Pinkie Pie.

“I just know.”

Pinkie Pie snaps up and grabs Applejack's arm, staring into her eyes with bloodshot eyes and unfocused eyes, screaming: “How do you know!”

“I just know!” yells Applejack. Tears flow from her reddening eyes and she collapses to her knees in front of Pinkie Pie with trembling lips, choking for air and holding her companion's cheek. “I just know... Please, trust me. There ain't nothing left of your kin... I'm sorry, but they're gone... They're all gone.”

Applejack bows her head against Pinkie Pie's and holds the back of her head, but remains silent while Pinkie Pie whimpers into her, shaking her head. And off to the side, Davenport averts his eyes and sulks towards the door, but when he looks up his eyes expand, he stops cold and lifts a finger.

“Uh... Fellowship,” says Davenport slowly.

Apple Bloom is the first to look, and when she sees what Davenport is pointing at, her very soul freezes and her body becomes stiff, and as the others have a look, they too meet similar fates. The shadow growls, shaking loose rubble and the bodies of the Fellowship, and Rainbow Dash is the first to break her shocked state, for she snarls and draws her blades.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” says Rainbow Dash.

The dark above the door burns away with the illuminations of jagged crystals protruding from the body of a pitch black beast. Each glowing crystal reveals patches of black fur, scars and chains; and six sets of eyes open up in a ghostly blue, and when it opens it maw, thick ooze drips from his curved, glowing fangs and a pale blue haze spills from its mouth. Its bulging limbs fade into the abyss that shrouds the ceiling, but its movements break off pieces from above, raining down chunks of rocks and corpses that do no damage simply because Shining Armor puts a shield up.

“Oh, my gosh,” squeaks Twist, hiding behind Apple Bloom.

“Everypony,” begins Twilight with narrowed eyes. She draws her sword and with a burst of light it is encased in an aura of fire, her coat turns white and her mane, tail and hands becomes engulfed in golden flames. “Run.”