"Sometimes...we may think we know the answers to everything...that we've solved all the variables...

But we're really quite stupid when it comes to knowledge in the long run...

I guess what some ponies don't understand is that...sometimes the truth is too much to handle...

Yet we go looking for it anyway...like some dumb, ignorant animal scavenging for food.

....Maddening...isn't it?"

-Starswirl the Bearded

For a length of time unknown, Twilight slept more peacefully then she had in ages. Sleep and warmth wafted over her, cradling her, cooing to her, nuzzling and hugging her as the world went on without her. No nightmares plagued her this night, none since she fell asleep in the cradling hooves of a pony she could only assume was Big Macintosh. All it took was for him to say that she and Catie were safe, and the sleep came.

She still couldn't believe it, the more she thought about it. She had ferried herself and the young filly across a street of Afflicted....Afflicted that by the rule's standards shouldn't have even BEEN there in the first place. They were active, they were mobile, and they were attacking...at night. What's worse is that they even narrowed down Twilight's method of escape...they had tracked her from the market to the Library. And if they tracked her to the Library...then...

Twilight sat up quickly, her eyes snapping open and her head looking around in every direction. Racks of wine and cider bottles lined two of the walls, with a few sets of tools and a wheel barrow lining another. All around, crates and boxes were stacked up near a staircase leading upwards, and from the musty smell, Twilight could only assume she was in some kind of cellar or basement, her bed being an old sort of table. A dimly lit lantern sat upon a small nightstand to her left, gently flickering light across her lavender fur.

Panic had started to set in for the weary Unicorn, her heart thudding as the possibility of danger flooded her mind. If they tracked her escape to the Library, they could most certainly track her escape to the house across the street. She hopped off the table and quickly made her way to the stairs, praying to Luna that everything was still ok, that Catie was safe as well as her friends. Just as her hoof hit the first step however...the door at the top of the staircase opened. Twilight let out a tiny gasp and quickly hid behind the stairs, holding her breath as she heard the small pattering of hooves above her head.

She heard a creak just above her horn, and her breath caught. Whatever was descending the staircase...had stopped. The next few seconds were utterly maddening for Twilight, her heart pounding and her heartbeat thudding in her ears. There was a few more awkward moments of silence until...

"Oh really, where could she have gone? It's probably all this dreadful cellar air...I told Macintosh that the bedroom was more suited for a lady...not this drafty (and not to mention dirty...) little cellar. Ugh, how barbaric!"

Twilight had to suppress her urge to scream in joy, scrambling out from under the stairs and gasping out "Rarity!"

Rarity looked as she always had, but her mane seemed to be in a bit of an unkempt state like Twilight's, and a long white bandage covered her side. The diva let out a little squeak of fright as Twilight emerged from her hiding place, her voice that of a scolding manner "Oh Twilight please! Do you really think this is the time for hide and seek!? I think all that loneliness was really starting to drive you insane!"

Twilight wept tears of joy as she threw her front hooves around Rarity and squeezed her into a tight hug. "R..Rarity!" Twilight whimpered, sobbing into her neck "Thank Luna...oh thank the stars you're ok!"

Rarity smiled, giving her friend a gentle hug back and running a hoof up and down her spine "Of course dear, we're all ok. Macintosh cut the rope with your basket on it after those dreadful monsters left. You had us all in a fright, Spike most of all...I can't even begin to describe what we all felt when we saw them crashing into your Library and heard you and the little one's screams..."

"I know..." Twilight whispered, her sobs quieting after a moment "I know and I'm so sorry...I shouldn't have gone outside...but Rarity she's just a filly. She was attacked and she didn't have a choice!"

Rarity nodded slightly, pulling back to look her weeping friend in the eye "I know darling...there's nothing to apologize for. I would have done the same were it Sweetie Belle out there..." She felt tears well up in her eyes at the mention of her sister's name. "Sweetie...oh I hope she's ok..."

Twilight smiled, putting a reassuring hoof on Rarity's shoulder and whispering "She will be...she's got Fluttershy and the other Crusader's with her."

"Oh Twilight," whimpered Rarity, a tear rolling down her cheek "Can you imagine if I hadn't allowed Sweetie Belle to go to that slumber party? If I had made her stay and clean her room like I told her countless times to do..."

Twilight shook her head, giving her friend another hug and whispering "No...no I can't imagine, and I think it's best if we don't. What you should think about and be grateful for is that you did let her go...and she's safe because of it."

The diva nodded as Twilight pulled away, motion upwards with her head "I suppose you'll want to get out of this dreadful little cellar...I know I would." With a quick nod from Twilight, the two of them begun to make their way up the stairs. "You'll be pleased to know" Rarity whispered, in a noticeably quieter voice, "That we're all still here. Big Macintosh is here, as is Carrot Top, Spike to...who snuck down here to see you. Had to pull the poor dear off of you after her fell asleep on your belly. Catie's been fine as well...always asks if you're ok."

"How long have I been asleep?" Twilight whispered, the two of them reaching the top of the staircase.

Rarity turned her head back a moment, staring at Twilight with a half worried look on her face "Um...two days, actually..."

Twilight blinked in surprise, her voice one of disbelief "Two...days?" Rarity nodded, her eyes filling with a look of guilt which forced her to look away. "Well...what's wrong? I've slept for days before...back when I did some power-studying."

"I know that Twilight...it's just...well you were running a fever and...well...we thought that-" Rarity whimpered, unable to look at Twilight.

"That I was infected..." Twilight whispered, a frown passing over her face.

"Well...sort of," Answered Rarity, a sullen frown forming on her own face "I've checked on you constantly though...because I know the symptoms and such. I knew you weren't one of them after a good ten minutes had passed, but still Macintosh kept you in the basement. You were tossing and turning so much...he thought you might roll off a bed and make noise that would...you know..."

Twilight sighed, a small smile creeping up on her face "I understand. It makes sense....thank you Rarity."

"Of course dear" Rarity returned, smiling as well as she pushed open the cellar door quietly with a hoof and stepped up into the house. Twilight followed close behind, looking around and taking in her surroundings. The first floor of the house looked to be one of classical decor, with artistically designed wooden cabinets and chairs in the living room. Pictures that hung on the walls showed the same mare, in different stages of her life or settings. Some featured her standing with trophies or ribbons, while others displayed her playing her Cello with perfect stature, a close-eyed, calm expression on her face. Her grey coat seemed to gleam as she posed for her pictures, her purple treble-clef of a cutie mark displayed perfectly for the shot. "I heard she got out..." Rarity whispered, breaking Twilight's train of thought and causing her to look over at the diva. She was staring at one of the pictures with a sad expression on her face, her hoof running down the glass that held the shot in place "I don't know if her mare-friend made it out...but I believe in hope so...I can only assume she did as well."

Twilight nodded, following Rarity into the living room. Two couches and a few reclining chairs all surrounded an unlit fireplace, a large basket of apples resting on the coffee table in the center. It was here that Twilight had to suppress tears in her eyes...as she caught sight of Spike and Catie sleeping next to one another in a chair. Catie was curled up into a tiny ball, her tiny chest raising and lowering in time with Spike, who rested on his back. Carrot top was curled up in her own chair, cheek pressed up against the cushioned arm rest, drool leaking out of her mouth slightly. The only one awake, was Big Macintosh, his flank resting on one of the couches.

The work horse looked like he had seen better days. His eyes were weary, filled with worry...but determination. Bandages were wrapped around his belly and side, as well as his front right leg. He looked over as his right eye caught side of the two mares, his voice a deep whisper "Miss Sparkle..."

Twilight nodded, walking around Carrot Top's chair and taking a seat on the couch across of Macintosh. She took a moment to get settled before she whispered "Catie sleeping ok? How's Spike been?"

"She's been fine" Macintosh answered, taking a quick look over towards the two little ones "So has Spike. Been mighty worried bout ya Miss Sparkle...took a lot to keep the boy quiet. Have to say it took a bit of restraint to keep me from goin' on over and collectin' ya'll mahself."

"It's alright," Twilight whispered, "I'm just glad you were there to let us in..."

Macintosh shrugged, looking over towards the fireplace "Twern't nothing, yer a friend o' the family Miss Sparkle. It's mah job to make sure ya'll are safe n' sound." Twilight smiled as Macintosh looked back over to her, smiling as well before whispering "Ya still tired?"

"A little...yes." Twilight answered, drawing a nod out of the work horse who watched Rarity hop up into the last empty chair and curl up.

"You go ahead n' get some sleep then. Ah'll wake ya when the morn' comes round." Macintosh spoke, looking back towards the fireplace with a blank expression on his face.

Twilight nodded slowly, her tiredness starting to take hold again. She laid her head back on the soft cushions, and stared up at the ceiling. She stared upwards for a long while...thinking about everything that had transpired over the last two months. What was she supposed to do now? All her research and notes were stuck back in the library! What was she supposed to do from here?! Fade into the same continuous monotony that had nearly driven her bat-shit insane?! What was she supposed to do, what did she expect to happen, how would she-

"Macintosh?" Twilight whispered, looking over towards the stallion who in turn looked back and whispered "Eeyup?"

"Do you have any place in this house that gets any sunlight?"

"....Eeyup."

Sleep was beautiful once again, her mind free of nightmare's and worry. It was like it was almost too good to be true...

And then...there was silence.

Twilight opened her eyes, staring up at what she immediately knew could not be the ceiling of the house she was just in. Instead...the clouds and the blue of the sky met her gaze. She gasped, sitting up and looking around quickly, adrenaline pumping through her veins. "H...Hello!?" she cried, getting to her hooves and looking about the fields she had found herself on. Her head darted to the left and right, taking in the sights of the Everfree Forest in the distance, and the town of Ponyville to her right. The town...her gasp was loud as she beheld the yellowish shield covering the entire town of Ponyville, extending to the right towards what she knew was Sweet Apple Acres. A large stone wall surrounded the entire perimeter...and trapped in the raging fire that billowed and roared inside. Ponyville was burning to the ground.

"RARITY! MACINTOSH!" she cried, galloping towards the fiery town "SPIKE!? CATIE!!!! SOMEPONY!? ANYPONY!!!!"

Her cries started to turn to wails, tears spilling from her eyes. She continued to gallop towards the town until her hoof caught a rock, sending her tumbling forward onto the ground. She wept openly, her hooves covering her eyes and her mind screaming that it couldn't be true...they couldn't all be dead! It wasn't until a savage growl from behind her made her slowly look up and turn her head...her eyes settling on.......

Her coat was soaked in blood...but she could still see the orange...a beautiful, dazzling orange that she had at some times been jealous of. The firm legs...the right front one savagely bitten into. Her stetson was missing...showing off the entirety of her straw-colored hair. And those eyes...the eyes she had often marveled as the perfect color of emerald...were now a gleaming color of rubies.

"Applejack...." Twilight whispered, looking towards her ravaged friend...while Applejack stared right back, a look of rage etched upon her face. "Applejack...it's me....it's Twilight." she whimpered, watching as Applejack pawed at the ground in front of her, saliva and blood spittering from her lips and mouth. Before Twilight could say more, Applejack bounded forward, launching herself at her at a speed that was almost alien. Twilight grunted as Applejack tackled her, and she did not resist. Why should she...? Everypony she knew was dead...and it wasn't like there was help coming anyway. Perhaps the unknown void of death was better then this...better then the pain and misery that made up the remainder of what this world was.

She only winced slightly as Applejack bit into her shoulder, pushing her on her back and tearing her teeth into the unicorn's flesh. Twilight had a calm expression on her face as she stared up into the clouds, hearing the snarling and growling of her once happy and peaceful friend as she drooled and bled into her wound...galloping off only moments later.

For several moments Twilight remained motionless......and then.....she felt it. A bubbling feeling rising up through her chest...her body...her brain. She started to feel...angry, furious even. Her rage bubbled and fumed in her mind like the fire that ravaged Ponyville. DAMN Celestia, she thought! Damn everything! I hate it, I HATE IT ALL! How could this have happened!? It SHOULDN'T have happened! How could such a weak and worthless princess EVER allow this to happen!? "I'm going to kill you Celestia!" she wanted to scream...but all that came from her lips was a savage growl and a furious screech. She writhed on the ground as she felt her insides squirm and burn as if they were on fire, her vision slowly filling with the color of red, as if somepony was pouring it over her eyes from a bucket. Anger and hate continued to seer and well up in her heart, drawing her to take rasping breaths of air.

"My beautiful...beautiful Twilight...." whispered a voice...a voice Twilight could only recognize...and snarl at...as Princess Celestia's.

She turned her head quickly towards the voice, watching as the princess slowly walked towards her...the same evil grin plastered on her face, the same twinkle of madness and hate in her eyes. Twilight wanted nothing more then to leap to her hooves, bite into that stupid alicorn and make her share her misery, her hate! Make her pay for all the madness and chaos she had strewn about the world! Alas...she could not...an unseen force pinning her down as Celestia slowly dropped to her belly beside her. She lowered her head towards Twilight's and gently pushed her cheek against her student's, nuzzling her as she whispered

Welcome...to the herd.

And then...it started to rain.

Twilight sat up with a gasp as thunder crackled and echoed from above, the sounds of torrential rain pattering loudly on the roof. She whipped her head about...noticing that only Carrot Top remained in the living room. She was staring towards coffee table, and had only moved to look over at Twilight and speak in a regular toned voice "Hello."

"H...hi?" Twilight asked, her chest still partially heaving and her lungs out of breath.

"You were having a nightmare" Carrot Top said, looking at her with concern "You alright?"

Twilight nodded after a moment, sliding off the couch and getting to her hooves "Yes...I'm fine."

"Macintosh and the others are in the kitchen...I'm not really hungry" Carrot Top shrugged, leaning back in the reclining chair and sighing. "You go ahead...I'm gonna relax for awhile..."

Twilight nodded again, moving past the chair and out into the main hall. Above, the storm continued to rage and crash about....which made Twilight stop. A...storm? Where did...how did...what!? She galloped to the window down the hall, angling her neck and head in a way that would allow her to look up through the cracks of the boards. The sky was for the most part...black. Rain passed through the shield like it was nothing, pouring down onto the entire town. "How...is that possible?" she whispered in wonder, staring up at the storm.

The weather was managed by the Weather Team...it wasn't natural. No weather was natural...which meant... "We are not alone..." she whispered in awe, moving away from the window and towards the kitchen. As she entered, a shout made her jump slightly

"Twilight!!!!"

Spike rushed over, jumping and hugging Twilight tightly. "Oh Spike!" Twilight whispered, using a hoof to hug him back. "Are you ok?! I missed you so much!"

Spike nodded, his green eyes staring up into hers as he spoke "I'm fine! The storm above is letting us move a little bit more freely and speak louder. When the rain started, all the zombies outside started panicking, they were running all over the place and finally went down the street!"

Twilight chuckled, nuzzling the baby dragon as she said "They're not zombies Spike...zombies don't exist!"

"Well, ya'll are awake ah see." Macintosh said from nearby, drawing Twilight to look up. Big Macintosh, Rarity, even a smiling and waving Catie, were situated at a long wooden table that rested in the center of the room.

"Yes, but...where did this storm come from? Is it from the Weather team? Are we finally getting help!?"

Macintosh frowned for a moment and shook his head, looking across to Rarity and speaking "That's what ah was just tellin' Rarity. The storm's settled outside the little shield thingy, meanin' somepony put it there. It's been stormin' for the past three hours...and doesn't look like it's going to be letting up anytime soon. It seems to be doing the trick and driving away the monsters outside, so we can be at least thankful for that.

"I think it may be more then that..." Carrot Top said from behind Twilight, causing the lavender mare to turn her head and stare towards her.

"What do you mean?" she asked, noticing Carrot Top's mane and her front legs were slightly wet, and that she carried a covered basket in her mouth.

"I went to go check up on the basket that led over to Rose's place. There's a note at the bottom of the basket I found after I sifted through all the apples to make sure they're good....and it's for Twilight." she said, walking forward and placing the basket on the table.

The ponies quickly uncovered the basket, digging through the apples until Twilight found the note "Got it!"

"Well?" Rarity spoke "What's it say?"

Twilight placed the note down on the table and read it...her eyes widening as she took in the few words that were written there. Her body numbed as the words echoed in her brain...her mind imagining them being spoken by the voice of a Pegasus she knew and missed.

There was no mistaking it...she recognized the scrawl, the messy hoof-writing, all of it.

She had created a camouflage for Ponyville...

A temporary escape from the madness...

A furious clashing in the skies with a bit of that 'Rainbow' touch to it.

A Storm.