The Crusaders couldn't stop marveling as they watched from the bow of The Break of Dawn as she began her descent to the Canterlot airfield, and seeing the many other airships coming and going.
"So cool!" cheered Rumble.
"Amazing!" Sweetie Belle agreed.
"Ah cain't believe Blueblood's takin' us t' Miss Rara's campaign concert!" Apple bloom brought up.
"I guess she took up Showstopper's idea to run for a seat on the Council," added Twinken.
"And don't forget the opening act for Rara's concert," Scootaloo brought up, "he's... DJ Pon-3's big brother, what's his name, Button? Button?"

...

...

...

"Button Mash?" The Crusaders looked around, seeing that their joy-boy-playing buddy wasn't with them at the bow... until they noticed him down the starboard bow, groaning as he slumped at the safety-railing, looking a little green around the gills.

"Button Mash!" Sweetie Belle hurried to her friend, the others following, as Sweetie gently rubbed Button's back, "Are you okay?"

"Ulp... Yeah, Sweetie, I'm... ugh!" Button Mash moaned as he tried to look chipper and failed miserably, which was how he was feeling at that moment as he felt his stomach rebel at the breakfast he'd had earlier before they'd disembarked.

"Aw, poor guy's looking a little airsick," Rumble surmised. "Maybe Blueblood has something on the Dawn that could help?"

"Something wrong, Cutie-Mark Crusaders?"

They six foals looked to see Blueblood, wearing a pilot's jacket and aviator goggles on his brow as he came over, "I was coming to tell you all to come below deck; we'll be docking in five minutes and we need to get buckled in for safety."

"Blueblood, Button's airsick," Sweetie Belle looked up at her big brother and then at Button, "Do you have anything that can make him feel better?"

"Not to worry, my dear little Sweetie," Blueblood chuckled as he carefully levitated Button onto his back, "I've had passengers with this same problem. A tsp of my mother's homemade cure for airsickness and he'll be good to go. Come along, Crusaders."

Meanwhile...

In an unknown location somewhere in Canterlot, two stallions approached a large mirror. One was a tall unicorn clad horn to hoof in armor, the other an earth pony, wearing a hooded robe, lowering his hood to reveal the nemes crown he wore. The mirror before them rippled as an image of Catrina soon looked back at them from the looking glass.

"My lady..." spoke the earth pony, "we have entered the city undetected, as you instructed, and now we are ready to begin our mission."

"Very well, Pharaoh Phetlock," purred Catrina with amused anticipation, "Destrier has already been armed with the blades I enchanted. Await the opening act of Coloratura's concert tonight, and then proceed... Destrier has his orders, you have yours, Pharaoh."

"Understood," Phetlock nodded respectfully, "it will be as you designed, my lady."

"I look forward to hearing of your success..." Catrina narrowed her eyes, which glowed a fearsome green as her image in the mirror rippled and faded away, leaving the two stallions to stare at their reflections yet again.

"You know... You may accomplish your side of this mission more effectively, if you discarded your armor. It's liable to slow you down..."

But the way Destrier slowly turned his face, completely concealed inside his helm, towards Phetlock sent a chill up his spine and he held his nerve as he acquiesced, "Or not. I simply want for this mission to go as smoothly as possible. Just remember: Keep casualties to a minimum. Living victims will send a far clearer message than corpses..."

Destrier didn't respond as he turned to leave, "Wait!"

He paused but said nothing as Phetlock moved to stand in front of him... offering a necklace with the moon-shaped amulet carved from lapis lazuli, "This may make your end more efficient. The Amulet of Khonsu can provide its wearer with the power of Invisibility."

Destrier's horn lit up, a burning red aura enshrouding the amulet as it was slipped over Destrier's helm and rested around his neck, Phetlock nodding, "But be warned: Though the amulet with make you invisible once you invoke its power, your magic will not be afforded that same luxury. It can conceal your body and whatever you have on your person, but while you actively use magic, your horn, alit with mana, will be visible. Somewhat of an inconvenience, yes, but every magic has some kind of limit. Even if your position is given away, you can still use the amulet to cover your escape.

"It goes without saying, however, that I want that back once this is over and done with. Agreed?"

Destrier nodded as his horn lit up and levitated six comma-shaped blades from a bandoleer around his barrel, and raised them around himself in foreboding rotation as each blade's edge glowed an eerie green.

Arriving in the castle, Blueblood and the Cutie-Mark Crusaders were received by the Triarchs in a cozy parlor.

"Cutie-Mark Crusaders," Celestia welcomed them warmly, "I trust your searches for your cutie-marks are proving to be learning experiences?"

"Well, Princess, we keep tryin' n' tryin'," Apple Bloom answered as she, Button Mash, Rumble, and Sweetie Belle showed slightly dispirited looks, "but it feels like wer' jus' gettin' nowhere."

"Take heart, Crusaders," Sombra encouraged, "each attempt is not failure but rather a point in the right direction, leading you closer and closer to your goal. Besides, as Twinken and Scootaloo have certainly learned, sometimes we find what we're looking for without even searching for it, for rather it finds us instead."

Twinken and Scootaloo shared a proud smile as they high-hooved when Luna spoke up, "Speaking of finding what one isn't searching for... Twinken! While you are here in Canterlot, I would love to have you for a surprise lesson, one that is better done in person than in the dream realm."

"Really?" Twinken looked excited, and then reluctant, "But... what about the concert tonight?"

"Worry not, this lesson won't take very long, and though there is a practical side to it, I intend for this to be an introductory lesson to this new topic. Shall we, my pupil?" Luna stood up.

"...Okay! Let's go!" Twinken followed his teacher to the door before looking to his friends, "I'll see you tonight at the concert!"

"Bye Twinken!" The Crusaders waved at their friend as he and Luna exited the parlor, right as a maid pony hurried in and rushed to Celestia's side and whispered something to her.

"Oh? Well, I'd better go see my little taskmaster," she giggled before looking to the Crusaders, "I apologize, children, but a mother's work is never finished."

"Is it the Little Prince?" Sweetie Belle sounded concerned, "Is he okay?"

"He's fine, Sweetie Belle," Celestia assured, "he's just woken up from his afternoon nap, and he's always hungry when he does. My little Sol is so fussy, he won't eat unless I'm the one who feeds him."

"Luna and I have both tried to feed him, but while Sol loves to play with his daddy and auntie," Sombra sighed as he shrugged in a 'what're you gonna do' manner, "he only accepts food from his mommy."

"Could we see him?" Sweetie Belle looked up at them hopefully, "We've only seen his picture in the newspaper and on the news."

Almost immediately, the other Crusaders began asking and pleading to see the Little Prince as well, and Celestia laughed softly, "I don't see why not? As long as you are all quiet, you can meet my son. Shall we, Crusaders?"

The Crusaders all smiled as they followed Princess Celestia out the door.

Following his mistress, Twinken was led into a gloomy chamber with stone floor and walls, their hoofsteps echoing eerily around them. The only source of light was a distant beam above them cascading down directly onto the middle of the chamber floor. Luna skirted the shaded edges of the light as she spoke, "I've noticed you are no longer wearing the talisman I enchanted for you. I take it that means you have been doing the mental exercises I taught you?"

"Yes, Mistress," Twinken said respectfully, "My telepathy doesn't bother me much anymore. I can keep my mind closed off from the thoughts of those around me, it's become second-nature, like you said it would. Although... sometimes I still hear a stray thought, some so loud I can't help but hear them in my head."

"That is good, your progress is coming along well," Luna nodded, satisfied to hear her pupil was following her lessons. "But as to why I've brought you here... Twinken, I must ask: Have you noticed anything new about yourself ever since your lunar pony traits and telepathy made themselves known? Anything at all?"

"Well... I have been eating meat every once in a while, like you said," Twinken confessed, sounding just a little uncomfortable, "Mistress, I'm... kinda troubled."

"Then please, apprentice," Luna bade, "share them with me."

"Eating meat..." Twinken sat down, the stone floor hard on his little plot but the cold felt a little nice, as he looked conflicted, "I like it, but I don't like that I like it. Meat... it tastes so... so good! When it's cooked... when it's raw! Mom and Applejack don't know it, but... the rats and mice around Sweet Apple Acres. I hear them. I smell them. Then my mouth gets all watery and I look for them... I like the crunch of their bones in my mouth, slurping up their tails!

"I avoid the chicken coop and the pig sty. I don't trust myself around them. Midnight brings me meat he imported from Griffonstone. He's tried to talk to me about eating meat, hunting... but I always tell him the meat he gives me is enough. But I feel this..."

"Instinct," Luna answered for her troubled protégé, "the predatory instinct that drives you to feed when your hunger for meat becomes unbearable. What you are feeling, Twinken... I know it is difficult to accept, but it is a part of your heritage and a sign that your lunar pony nature is growing stronger. Your brother and I will help you through this transition, but I must know more. What else have you noticed about yourself?"

"...The moon," Twinken replied, "sometimes, after the sun goes down, I look up at the moon. Sometimes I just... stare at it for hours, even after my bedtime. I feel something as I watch it. Like, I dunno, refreshed? Like I don't need to sleep. But then... my head, or-or my mind... I just... drift away and I sleep all the same."

"You have developed the power to draw strength from the moon," Luna confirmed, sounding pleased. "It is the gift shared by all my Children of the Night. Basking in the moonlight works, but gazing at it directly is more efficient to enjoy the energy it provides. However, if you gaze at the moon too much, you can be overwhelmed by it. A bucket can contain only so much water before it overflows, so to protect you from absorbing too much energy, your mind closes itself off to the waking world, allowing you to sleep.

"The energy the moon provides can boost your strength, senses, your stamina, even your mana, enabling you to cast even stronger spells. But the mind still needs rest after being conscious for too long. I will teach you how to manage this power so that you can maintain a proper sleep cycle. Anything else?"

"...Sometimes," Twinken sounded troubled yet again, but this time he seemed... intrigued, "when I'm in my room, in the middle of the night. I... I feel things. Even when I'm asleep, i-I'm aware of- I dunno, like... One night, I felt something while I was dreamwalking. It wasn't from a dream or anything in the dream realm, it was... some kind of sensation I felt as though something I'd been poked.

"I woke up, afraid somepony was in my bedroom and that I might be in trouble. But then I realized... I could see in the dark! And then, I felt that same sensation, only... it wasn't the same. It wasn't something I felt, like a touch more like... just something I suddenly became aware of! It wasn't in my bedroom, it was in the hall. I got out of bed, opened my door, and I saw Applejack going downstairs. I heard her hoofsteps, only they were muffled. When she came back up, I saw it was because she was wearing slippers. But I-I was feeling her, somehow! Like, I was aware of how she moved and when she moved, and where she moved inside the house!"

"Hmm, Twinken, do you know why spiders make webs?" asked Luna, all of a sudden.

"Huh? Uh..." The question caught Twinken off-guard, leaving him momentarily confused, before he answered, "To catch flies and insects to eat, right?"

"Yes, but when a spider weaves her web, what does she do afterwards?" Luna pressed.

Twinken sat there, feeling dumb for a moment before trying, "She... she just sits there, she waits for the flies to come to her, get stuck in her web."

"And when they eventually do, they try to escape," Luna went on, "but they only entangle themselves worse, all the while they are disturbing the web, alerting the spider that her meal has arrived. Now Twinken, another question: Have you ever held your hoof up to a speaker while it played music?"

"Yeah, a few times," Twinken nodded, "sometimes Pinkie Pie or Cheese Sandwich have big music acts during their parties."

"And when you did, you felt something, didn't you?" Luna pressed. "Speakers, especially when they're playing loud music, when you're close to them, you can feel the beat of the rhythm without touching the speaker. It's a sensation of touch without actually touching something. The closest one could come to physically feeling a rhythm. After all, sounds are just vibrations passing through the air that we detect with our sense of hearing and interpret it in some way that's unique to the source of the sound. Our voices, the sounds made by different musical instruments, but forgive me, I'm getting off-track.

"You see, Twinken, what you just described to me, is very similar to a spider's web and the sensation of feeling something that your natural senses do not perceive. My pupil... you are becoming sensitive to darkness!"

"Darkness?" At first, Twinken felt nervous but the look on his mistress's face implied this was good.

"You've seen your brother wield shadows, have you not, Twinken?" When Twinken nodded yes, Luna went on, "Lunar Ponies are born with the power to make Darkness their ally, their tool, their shield, their weapon! What you've been experiencing, as you described it to me, is something akin to a spider's web. Lunar Ponies can use the darkness around them in a similar fashion, as an extension of themselves - They can detect movements made by anything moving within the darkness of the Lunar Pony's position to a certain range, much like how the spider can detect vibrations made in her web.

"This allows Lunar Ponies to sense their allies' positions or enemies attempting to sneak up on them though it takes practice to tell the difference. Imagine it, my dear pupil: You could wield this power to defend yourself, to defend your family and your friends. I want for you to speak with your brother the next time you see him; he will help you learn to master this new power. For now, I shall help you to better get a feel for it. You've only just scratched the surface, but under my guidance and your brother's, you shall one day master this power. Who knows? You might give the Lunobi a gallop for their bits."

"Lunobi?" echoed Twinken, the word sounding familiar, but he couldn't remember where he'd heard it.

Chuckling softly, Lunar assured, "I shall answer your questions as we proceed. Come, my protégé."

Luna turned towards some stone stairs that ran along the wall of the tower, and Twinken couldn't help but feel both nervous and excited as he followed his Mistress upward.

The Crusaders 'aww'd as softly as they could while watching Princess Celestia spoon-feed her little Sol some banana pudding, the tiny alicorn colt enjoying every dollop in his highchair.

"He's just so cute!" Sweetie Belle was starry-eyed, "Maybe when he's a little older, we can help Sol find his cutie-mark!"

Chuckling, Sombra nodded as he sat behind the Crusaders while loving this simple moment, watching his wife and son, "Who knows, Crusaders? Sol just might require a little guidance from some experienced searchers of destiny. That won't be for a while, however. Celestia and I just want to enjoy these precious moments with him."

"Oop! Got a little something here..." Celestia said playfully as she gently wiped a bit of pudding that had dripped down Sol's chin and made sure it got into his mouth, "There we go!"

Sol's happy giggles were just too adorable as he smiled at his mommy, who couldn't take her eyes off of her beautiful baby boy. The Crusaders couldn't help but notice the joy on the princess's face, warm and deep.

Apple Bloom wondered, if her own mother used to smile like that, as did Rumble. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Button Mash had seen smiles like that on their own mothers and were already thinking of giving their moms a big hug the next time they saw them... when some grumbly sounds caught everypony's ear and noticed it was coming from the Crusaders' tummies, spurring a kind chuckle from Celestia and Sombra.

"It appears Sol isn't the only hungry pony here," Sombra commented.
"So then why don't we all have a nice lunch," suggested Celestia, "and then afterwards, Blueblood will take you all to the concert this evening."

"What about Twinken?" asked Rumble. "He's still with Princess Luna."

"I'll send word to let them know we're having lunch," assured Sombra, "I'm sure Luna will want Twinken not to miss out. Even if they can't make it, Luna will be sure to have Twinken fed before she brings him to meet with you before you go."

At that moment, Luna watched as her pupil was struggling. She'd given him instruction and an explanation of what to do and now waited for him to finish his first attempt as Twinken was focusing his magic while trying not to let it concentrate into his horn, which was far easier said than done.

After leading Twinken up the stairs to the top of the tower, she'd closed all the windows' curtains and turned off the electric lights, leaving the room they were in cast in shadowy gloom. At her instruction, Twinken was trying to concentrate his magic, not to his horn, but to the shadows around him, cast from what little light managed to peer in around the curtains covering the windows.

"Focus, Twinken," Luna instructed, "concentrate on extending your mana to the shadows around you."

"I... can't!" Twinken gritted his teeth, finding it very difficult as his mana kept wanting to go towards his horn, "I feel the shadows, but... my mana won't do what I... want it to!"

"That's fine, Twinken," Luna said gently, "you may stop now."

"Oh!" Twinken sighed in relief as he released his mana, feeling it retreat back within him, and looked apologetically at his Mistress.

"It's alright, Twinken, this is only your first attempt," Luna assured, "I didn't expect you to perform shadow-forming on your first try. That would have been extraordinary."

"Why can't I do it...?" Twinken felt disappointed in himself. "I mean, I wasn't even trying when I felt the darkness telling me where Applejack was in the house!"

"That is a passive way of using your shadow powers, Twinken, at least at first," Luna explained, "Even though it is a power many lunar ponies share, it is still a learned skill, much like studying a spell and practicing to perfect your ability to cast it. It's easier to shadow-form in actual shadows rather than total darkness because light gives shadows a definite shape whereas darkness does not.

"What you're trying to do is focus your mana outwards, but not from your horn, in order to imbue your mana into any surrounding shadows. This allows you to give shadow substance and physical form, and it is your will that moves and shapes the shadow into what you want. Think of it as... stretching or squashing rubber, but the elasticity depends on the mana you are providing to the shadow."

"Is it that easy?" asked a bewildered Twinken.

"It is not," Luna shook her head no, "As I just said, it is a magical skill, and skills take practice to master. In time, with practice and dedication, you will learn to wield shadows and make them an extension of yourself."

Twinken nodded in understanding, feeling a subtle excitement and looking forward to master his new powers, when a paper bird flew into room, chirping like the real thing, as it flapped around Luna.
"What's that, Mistress?"

Luna held out her hoof and the paper bird landed on it before it unfolded, "It is a message... Ah, My Sister and Brother are treating your friends to lunch before Blueblood escorts you to the concert this evening. I think lunch would do us both some good right now, so we'll finish our lesson here."

"but what about-" Twinken tried to bring up, only for Luna to raise her free hoof.

"It is fine, Twinken. Remember, this is only your first practical lesson in learning how to wield Shadows. Perhaps later tonight, we'll continue. If not, then when you go home, speak with your brother about what we've discussed and ask him to help you."

"Okay," Twinken nodded respectfully.

"Very good. Now... hold onto your hooves!" Luna smirked as she lit up her horn and teleported herself and Twinken off to the dining room.

As evening fell, a Royal Guard-drawn carriage carried Blueblood and his six young charges towards the Cultural District of Canterlot, known for its theaters, both live and cinematic, museums, dance halls, and even sports arenas and arcades. Their destination was set in a public Canterlot park called Rock n' Rolling Pasture, famous for hosting numerous concerts and music festivals, just like the one tonight for Coluratura.

"Here we are!" announced Blueblood as they felt the carriage come to a halt and then the door opened, revealing the park was already teeming with music fans of Coloratura, along with stands selling food & drinks, glow sticks, souvenirs, and even merchandise of famous celebrity musicians and their records, some of which had been signed by the singers and songwriters themselves.

"WOW!!!" the Crusaders were all starry-eyed as they took it in and breathed in the excitement in the air, Blueblood chuckling as he instructed the carriage to pick them up later in a few hours.

"What should we do first?" asked Rumble.

"I wanna check out the music vendors," Button Mash brought up. "I've heard of these chiptune and techno music cartridges that were released recently. They can be played on JoyBoys!"

"I wanna get a glow stick necklace!" Scootaloo hopped up and down.

"Hey look!" Apple Bloom pointed to several posters and banners displaying Coloratura, reading 'Rara for Councilor of Media and Entertainment: Your Support Means A Lot!'

"I hope she wins the election," said Sweetie Belle, "Rara's famous an' all, but after seeing and getting to know her back when she performed in Ponyville, I think she's the pony for the job."

"She is the favorite to win," Blueblood nodded, "but other celebrities are running for the same seat on the Council as she. Sapphire Shores, Songbird Serenade, Neon Lights, some casino owner from Las Pegasus named Gladmane, even the actress Chestnut Magnifico!"

"Oh yeah, she stars in the Daring Do movies!" Twinken pointed out. "I hear besides being an actress, she founded an organization to help animals."

"Sounds like she'd have Fluttershy's vote," commented Button Mash.

"Politics aside, let's enjoy ourselves before the opening act," Blueblood led the Crusaders onward, "there's still half an hour before the concert starts."

The half-hour passed and everypony had gathered before the sound stage that had been set up in the middle of the local park of the Cultural District, marveling at the lights and speaker systems set up, and the acoustics weren't bad either. The Crusaders stuck close to Blueblood, who'd allowed Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom onto his back for a better view while Rumble flapped aloft, holding Scootaloo and Twinken and Button Mash stood straight in front of Blueblood as they all gazed up at the stage alongside all the other music fans as everypony couldn't keep still because of the growing anticipation.

Finally, a spotlight shined as a familiar face trotted merrily out onto the stage and everypony cheered to see it was a pegasus with a dappled silver coat, bubblegum pink mane styled into a topknot secured by several glow sticks with curly bangs over a pair of vibrant red eyes, her cutie-mark a spotlight lighting up multiple multi-colored stars, and she wore a designer electric indigo jacket with various accessories. The former Duchess of Media and Entertainment, Showstopper!

Whipping out a microphone, Showstopper's voice was magnified by the speakers as she said, "Hey everypony! How're y'all doin' tonight?!"

Again she received an excited applause and cheer and stomps from the audience, and Showstopper responded, "Aw, c'mon, you can do better than that! Can I get a whoop-whoop?!"

She made a show of holding her hoof behind her ear, which she turned towards the audience who all obliged with a hearty, "WHOOP-WHOOP!"

"That's better! Now, I suppose you all wanna get this party started, am I right?!" Again she was answered with a rousing cheer, that sounded just a little impatient this time.
"Awesome-possum! So then, my little ponies! Lemme start by saying thanks for coming to Coloratura's Campaign Concert to show your support! But before we bring the Countess out, let's start things off with the awesome musical stylings of one of the coolest ponies in the music business! He's the big brother of DJ Pon-3 herself and taught her everything she knows in being a disc jockey! Fillies and gentlecolts, please give it up for the one! The only...

Showstopper disappeared in an explosion of confetti and glitter as a fog-machine breathed out thick vaporous fog and neon lights started off slow as a beepy tune began to play with a techno beat. As the rhythm got faster, the lights flashed and flickered and beamed in bright patterns of neon colors as so very slowly did a figure arise from out of the fog onstage, standing before a turntable, expertly scratching dics, adding an exotic remix to the melody playing as he nodded his head to the beat.

He was a unicorn stallion with a white coat, a wild mane of reddish-brown streaked vermilion and his cutie-mark was a vinyl record with a musical note over it. He wore a headset microphone, covering his right ear while his left ear, pierced with a gold earring, was perked to hear his music, and as the song began to swell, his eyes opened wide and bright, revealing them to be a brilliant yet pale cerulean as he sang:

"WHAT UP, PART-AY PON-AYZ?!" 33⅓-LP called out, using a voice-amplification spell, and was answered with a lively cheer across the audience as several pegasi flew up to dance overhead while the rest stamped their hooves on the ground or waved them in the air as they danced while various lights of neon colors beamed and flashed and lit up and lit out in accordance to the rhythm and beats of the song.

"Tonight is about... Family, Love, and Music!!" 33⅓-LP declared, getting shout-outs of excited agreement and joy so the disc-jokey unicorn slid his hooves across a touchscreen on his turntable, inputting a specific series of commands as he yelled, "C'mon, lemme hear you stomp! ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR!!!"

The earth ponies and unicorns and pegasi that hadn't taken to the air all reared up and brought their hooves down, which caused burst of sparkling colors from every point of impact, driving them wild as those sparks of color caught onto their coats and manes, adding splashes of shining neon, turning the crowd into a living rainbow of dance and good times!

"AND GET READY FOR THE DROP!" 33⅓-LP happily announced as he set things up on his turntable and then called out, "Wait for it...!"

"C'mon...!!" called out Button Mash from the crowd as his eyes widened.

"Wait for it..." 33⅓-LP repeated, only softer.

"Yeah!" responded Apple Bloom as she was riling up.

"Wait for it!" 33⅓-LP said again as he popped up in the crowd, Sweetie Belle on his head, before he teleported back behind his turntable and said it again, "Wait for it!!!"

Then he reared up on his hind legs and rotated around, saying "Wait - for... - it!!" one word at a time when he turned to face the crowd as his music and light show was building the tension towards the breaking point!

"C'mon, mane, hit us!" shouted Rumble.
"Just do it already...!!!" urged Scootaloo as though she were in pain.

The music swelled and the strobe lights flickered on and off in pace with it... as 33⅓-LP rose up, a determined smirk on his face as he raised his hoof...!

...and he brought it down onto a big red button on his turntable, triggering an EXPLOSION of music and light so loud and bright that for a moment it was almost as though all of Canterlot were in the middle of the day before it dimmed and the music lowered its volume just a little and pixelated magic spread throughout the crowd as ponies were floating in ecstasy of the release.

The music and the song continued and everypony danced and cheered and waved their hooves in the air. Everypony was having the time of their lives, dancing to the techno beat with nary a care in the world. So it felt most startling to Twinken as he felt a chilling sense of foreboding wash over his withers, causing him to stop joining in on all the excitement.

Something was wrong... and that became obvious when all of a sudden, the lights went out and the music stopped, casting the whole concert and the audience in darkness apart from the unicorns lighting up their horns, only to find it a struggle to keep their horns lit as if the darkness were pushing down on them. Ponies cried out in alarm, shouting questions and other things like 'What happened', 'What's going on?', 'I can't see!', 'Is this part of the concert?', and already ponies were beginning to get scared, bumping into each other and trying to avoid it.

"Uh- Don't worry, everypony!" called out 33⅓-LP using his voice-amp spell, "I'm sure it's just some... technical fritz. We'll get back to the party in a minute, just let us take care of this real quick."

"What's going on here?" "Who turned out th' lights?!" "Sweetie Belle?! Apple Bloom? Crusaders, stay close to me. Everypony here? Rumble? Scootaloo? Button Mash? Twinken?" "I'm here!" "So am I." "Me too!"

...

...

...

"Twinken? Are you still here?" Blueblood struggled to light up his horn, but something wasn't right. He struggled to cast the Illumination spell, but it wasn't working very well, almost like blowing a very stuffy nose but there was too much mucus. Only in this situation, Blueblood was certain there was some kind of magical interference.
"Twinken, answer me!"

"I'm here!" answered Twinken, but he sounded scared, evident when Blueblood felt the colt hug his foreleg.

"It's all right, Crusaders, just... stick close to me," Blueblood instructed. "I don't want to lose you in all this madness."

"Blueblood... I think something's wrong," Twinken spoke up, "I-"

Time to get started...

Twinken felt such a chill run up his spine, from tail to the tip of his horn. Whoever that was, he hadn't heard their voice, but rather their thoughts. It alarmed him further! He'd been using his mental exercises to block out all the thoughts of the audience members, knowing full well that being surrounded by so many ponies, especially in this situation, could lead to another telepathic overload and he certainly didn't want to go through that again.

And yet... despite closing off his mind, and through all these ponies and their thoughts doubtlessly being all over the place, Twinken heard this particular individual's thoughts as clearly as though they were his own. Only, the mental voice he heard was... hollow yet the underlying tone of that mental voice. Twinken had never heard- No... he'd never felt such rage!!

Twinken started looking around. Though it was dark and none of the unicorns could light up their horns for more than a few brief flickers before their horns went out, Twinken was a lunar pony. He saw far better than anypony else present but he noticed that instead of seeing everypony as though they were in a dimly lit room (where even regular ponies could see another and make out their colors), Twinken only saw shapes and silhouettes and barely any color from anypony's form at all, despite the rainbow colors from the earlier special effect.

He looked in the direction where he'd heard that frighteningly incensed thought, hardly able to distinguish anypony in this strange darkness. Remembering the lesson he'd had from his Mistress earlier, Twinken concentrated. He focused his mana outwards but not with the intention of controlling the darkness, but rather to use the darkness to extend his awareness. It was disorienting, feeling and sensing the movements of perhaps hundreds of ponies around him, almost overwhelming that he wanted to stop! But something drove him to keep it up, as he focused upon the thought he'd felt and had his telepathy work in concert with his darkness-enhanced awareness...

There!

Standing perhaps a dozen pony-lengths to his 5 o'clock, Twinken found him! His mind... it was filled with such rage yet it was disturbingly focused, like the blue flame of a cutting torch. Then... the intent behind that focus made itself known in Twinken's mind as he heard the individual's next thought:

Time for some screaming!!

Gasping, Twinken inhaled and screamed with all his might, "LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!"

It did no good, as the villain focused, his horn lighting up and briefly revealing his position even though his form could not truly be seen, and six blades shaped like commas appeared, the single curved spike on each one giving off a disturbing green glow... as they lashed out!

Immediately, there were cries of alarm and pain as random ponies felt themselves suddenly cut. On their faces, their necks, their shoulders, their flanks, their barrels, it mattered not, because the assailant wasn't really aiming. His only intention was to cut as many victims as he could possibly cut with his blades within a short amount of time. Panic and terror quickly spread as ponies tried to force their way through each other in a vain attempt to escape whatever this unseeable threat was.

It got worse when the pegasi tried to fly away... only for something to ensnare their hind fetlocks or around their barrels and yank them downwards, crashing down onto the panicking masses. The darkness gave way just a little bit, making it slightly easier to see, and a mare slipped on something and was horrified to find it was blood she'd stepped in, pooling around the neck of a pony who already lay dying from bloodloss.

Unicorns tried casting spells, only for some strange shadowy strips of fabric to suddenly enwrap their horns, rendering them powerless. They weren't the only ones. Not many noticed it, but the ponies who'd felt themselves get cut suddenly became lethargic and tired, as one moment they were alert and worked up and then felt as though their strength suddenly fade away while their minds became sluggish and unable to focus.

"IT'S POISON!!!" "SOMEPONY'S ATTACKING WITH POISONED BLADES!!!" "SOMEPONY CALL THE ROYAL GUARD!!!"

"Crusaders! Stay by me!" Blueblood ordered, and was glad to feel all six of them sticking close, "We've got to get away from here!"

"The attacker, Blueblood!" Twinken pointed with his hoof and Blueblood looked.

Though he couldn't see the attacker directly, every now and then he saw what might have been a unicorn's horn flaring with a burning red mana and immediately after some strange blade glowing a sickly green lashed out and struck a victim. Deciding to forget lighting his horn, Blueblood concentrated and chanted, "Navi Polaris..."

He'd already had the sense of it, but his spell confirmed which way was true north when he felt his horn being tugged in that direction by the magic of the spell. To his relief, it wasn't in the direction of whoever this scoundrel was. Very carefully, he led the Crusaders away and towards the edge of the panicking crowd while using another spell he'd learned from Shining Armor, a Ward that repelled living things if they were outside the area of effect, which was centered on the caster, repelling the terrified ponies who got too close to Blueblood and the Crusaders with a subtle force.

As they neared the edge of the mass panic however, the violence seemed to stop... and the lights came back on!

Screams of horror and disbelief filled the air when at first, everypony focused on the seven ponies lying dead from cuts that had struck vital arteries or from ponies who'd fallen and couldn't get up because they'd been trampled from the panic. But then... a disturbing silence befell the whole crowd as ponies started gaping at one another with shock, horror, but most of all, disbelief.

"What happened to you?!" "Your cutie-mark!" "What happened to my cutie-mark?!" "It's gone!" "My cutie-mark is gone!!" "What's going on here?!?!" "This can't be happening!!!!"

Dozens and dozens of ponies among the crowd... their coats and manes had dulled and their sluggish expressions quickly lit up with horrified realization as they looked at their flanks! All these ponies, who everypony quickly noticed were bleeding from some cut or cuts somewhere on their bodies!

Their cutie-marks were gone!

...And the screams that followed announced a new kind of horror.

Somewhere in a dark alley in downtown Canterlot, Destrier removed the Amulet of Khonsu, becoming visible again, and then sat in the shadows to wait. He didn't wait long as he heard hoofsteps coming from the other end of the alley and looked to see it was Pharaoh Phetlock, holding the Staff of Anubis, with a grim smirk of satisfaction on his face.

"Fine work, Destrier," congratulated Phetlock, "and I'm glad my staff's spells were of help keeping the situation under control. You'll be satisfied to hear I completed my side of the mission, so... I think we can call it a night."

Destrier nodded as he sat up and offered the amulet back, which Phetlock accepted and nodded his thanks for returning his property before he used his staff to levitate out a piece of parchment with a magic circle drawn upon it. Setting it down on the ground, Phetlock whispered the appropriate words, causing the magic circle on the parchment to light up before the parchment burned away and the circle itself remained yet expanded along the ground until both stallions stood in its radius. A moment after, it shrank inwards, causing the stallions to disappear as the circle shrank itself out of existence.

Sweetie Belle woke up screaming and almost instantly felt somepony embrace her, "Sweetie Belle! Little sister, it's okay!"

"Th- I- Wha...?" The warmth of the hug brought comfort to Sweetie Belle, but it was the voice of her big sister that calmed her, and when she looked up into Rarity's deep blue eyes, she knew it was real.
"R-Rarity...?"

"Shhh, it's alright," Rarity said as gently and reassuringly as she could, gently stroking her little sister's head, "It was just a bad dream."

"It was horrible!" Sweetie Belle cried, burying her face into Rarity's shoulder, and Rarity sat there, holding the filly for as long as it would take. She didn't even care when Sweetie Belle accidentally got a little snot into her fur. She'd had worse when Sweetie Belle had been a baby. She rubbed Sweetie Belle's back and soon the heaving sobs calmed down and Sweetie Belle hiccuped a little as she pulled away and rubbed her teary eyes.
"Wh-what happened? Rarity, what happened at the concert, do you know?"

"Hush now," Rarity levitated a hanky to Sweetie Belle, letting the filly wipe away her tears and then blow her nose. "I think you could do with a little breakfast. Come, your friends will be happy to see you."

"No!" Rarity paused and looked at her sister as the filly pleaded, "Just... just hold me?"

Rarity crawled into the bed with Sweetie Belle and did just that, and the filly held onto her sister like she'd never let her go.

It was late into the morning after the incident, but the news medias were already abuzz on the terrifying events that had happened, along with the aftermath. The Royal Guard had arrived as quickly as possible to secure the scene and search for the assailant, along with numerous medics to tend to the injured. And the coroner to see to the murdered. Though seven ponies had lost their lives, it was the surviving victims who got the attention because their cutie-marks were gone!

Then of course the news medias were reporting the incident faster than the Triarchs or the Canterlot authorities could stop them and revealing to Equestria that the victims had lost their cutie-marks. The whole of the nation would learn of this terrible tragedy and what had resulted of it before day's end, and already ponies were demanding to be received in Royal Court to find out how this was possible, what was being done, and if the cutie-marks could be restored.

Sombra and Luna summoned Midnight, Twilight, Starlight, and Sunburst to aid in this dilemma, and the rest of the Council of Friendship (not including Macintosh and Fluttershy) came with them, partly to offer their help as well, but also because the Crusaders were still in Canterlot with Blueblood.

At the dining table where the Crusaders had eaten with the Triarchs yesterday, the alicorns convened, along with Spike, Starlight, and Sunburst. Celestia held Little Sol close as he sucked on his mother's hoof and Sombra sat protectively next to them, his wring around his wife's withers, while Luna was having a quick word with one of her Lunar Guards when Celestia said, "We must get ahead of this, somehow! We need to research this condition the victims are in and find a way to reverse it. Starlight Glimmer."

Starlight looked directly at Celestia who inquired, "Have you made any progress since the first victim?"

"Are we certain this is the same thing, Princess?" asked Starlight.

"It is," Luna interjected, "Just like the first case, the guard whose cutie-mark was destroyed by Catrina, these victims' cutie-marks have been destroyed as well. Our best medical and magical experts examined them closely and determined they are in the same condition as Sergeant Spearhead."

"Then we must accelerate the research and find a way to restore the cutie-marks," stated Twilight before looking to Starlight, "You're in charge of this research Starlight, and you'll have all the resources and aid you need to find a cure."

"What about the attacker?" asked Sunburst. "Did anypony see the assailant who did this and how?"

"Nopony saw the attacker," Luna reported, "but Twinken told me he sensed the attacker's thoughts. Also, the victims were all cut by some kind of blade and our best enchanters examined them and found residue of a malevolent mana that matches the same mana that was left on Spearhead when he was struck by Catrina..."

"Then she is behind this," Midnight spoke up with furrowed brows, "Is there any chance she was the one who carried out the attack?"

"Twinken told me the thoughts of the assailant felt like that of a violent stallion," Luna answered, "and he was a unicorn. Multiple witnesses reported seeing what looked like the shape of a horn lighting up with a burning red mana but nopony there; he was likely using some kind of invisibility."

"We have our guardsponies investigating all over Canterlot and Mount Canterhorn for any signs of the assailant," added Sombra who didn't sound hopeful, "but given what happened with Catrina, I doubt they're going to find a tangible lead."

"I contacted Shadow Lock before we arrived and ordered him to assign any available Hoods to aid in this investigation," added Midnight. "They might not find where the assailant went after the attack, but there's always a chance they might find something else."

"Meanwhile, I asked Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, and Soarin to aid the pegasus guards in aerial patrols," Twilight noted, "Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich went to the hospital to try and cheer up the afflicted ponies, and Applejack, Rarity, and Blueblood are looking after the Cutie-Mark Crusaders. As for us..."

Twilight, Midnight, Starlight, and Sunburst all stood up from the table, "We'll concentrate on researching this condition and hopefully we'll determine a way to restore the victims' cutie-marks. By any chance is Doctor Miracle Cure still in Canterlot?"

"She and one of my best magical researchers, Astral Ink, are focused on the research into this condition," Celestia answered, "but I'm sure with all of you working together you can find a way to resolve this crisis."

"Astral Ink? That name sounds familiar to me..." Twilight touched her chin with her hoof, trying to remember.

"He's a magic scholar, one of the top graduates of his final year in my magic school," answered Celestia. "If you had not become my personal protégée, Twilight, Astral Ink most likely would have."

"He sounds like an impressive magic expert," Twilight had to admit, hearing of the pony that might have assumed the destiny she undertook was rather humbling.

"Yes, he is..." agreed Luna with a sigh as she got a faraway starry look in her eyes, "The way he can name the constellations with but a glance...!"

It was then Luna noticed the looks everypony was giving her, especially her sister and brother-in-law. Clearing her throat as she gathered herself, Luna added, "It may also interest you to know that Astral Ink is also running for a seat on the Council, and well he should! There are other candidates, but he's the most promising for the seat he's running for and has qualities the others are lacking."

"We'll take your word for it, Luna," Midnight chuckled as he stood up from the the table, "C'mon, everypony. We've got work to do."

In one of the castle suites, Sweetie Belle lay upon a sofa built into a bay window, giving her the perfect view of the citizens outside, some of which were mouthing off to the Royal Guardsponies, most likely demanding answers about what happened last night, who was responsible, and if the ponies who'd lost their cutie-marks were going to be alright. Otherwise, the citizens of Canterlot all looked afraid and anxious, avoiding each other, uncertain of whom to trust.

The door to the suite opened and she looked to see her sister, Rarity, arrive with a meal on a silver platter.

"It's time for brunch, little sister! I figured since you didn't want to go earlier this morning, well..." Rarity cleared her throat as she held out the platter in her magic, "Strawberry crepes?"

"I'm not hungry," Sweetie Belle replied dolefully, looking out the window again to watch the infection of fear and paranoia slowly but surely spreading.

Sighing, Rarity set the platter down onto a coffee table and said, "Sweetie Belle, it would be a good idea to eat something. You'll feel better after, especially once we get you home-"

"What?!" Sweetie Belle turned to Rarity, her spring green eyes wide with disbelief. "We can't go! We have to stay and help!"

"Oh, Sweetie Belle, it's kind of you to be worried for the ponies who... well, I'm afraid it's better if I take you and your friends back to Ponyville," Rarity said with gentle firmness.

"No! Rarity, those ponies, they- They... They lost their cutie-marks!" Sweetie Belle sounded so upset that Rarity knew she had better listen as she sat down beside her little sister and lay a foreleg around the filly's withers as Sweetie Belle took a moment to gather herself, before saying, "...Ever since my friends and I started the Cutie-Mark Crusaders, we've done everything we can think of to get ours. We still do... Twinken got his, then Scootaloo, and it just made the rest of us so happy for them, and-and all the more determined to find out what it is that makes each of us... us!

"I haven't found mine yet, but what I saw last night?"

Sweetie Belle looked up at Rarity, who felt her heart sink to see her little sister's eyes tear up again as Sweetie Belle pressed her face into Rarity's shoulder, and Rarity held her sister close.

"I never thought that a pony could lose their cutie-mark, Rarity... it scares me! Scares me more than I ever felt by anything!" Sweetie Belle sniffled, the comfort of Rarity's hug helping. Just a little.
"To have a part of yourself taken away like that? It's horrible to even think of, and it happened to a whole bunch of ponies who didn't deserve it. I want to help them somehow, even if it's only a little."

Again the sisters held each other's gaze as the little one asked, "Please, Rarity... I know I can't do much, but if there's anything at all I can do to help those ponies, please! Let me try?"

"Oh Sweetie Belle..." Rarity felt her heart swell and ache at the same time as she pulled Sweetie Belle into the warmest, snuggest hug she'd ever given her.

Unbeknownst to the sisters, Blueblood stood outside the suite, watching them through the creak between the frame and the door. He sighed woefully, feeling responsible somehow for the way his little sister-in-law felt. Even before he had married Rarity, Sweetie Belle had easily found a place in Blueblood's heart that it hurt so much to see her this way. He was uncertain of what he himself could do, but perhaps the research team into this terrible condition might give him a push in the right direction and he hurried off through the castle.

As he approached the castle hospital wing, where some of the afflicted ponies had been transferred for medical study, Blueblood was surprised to see Midnight exit, followed by Twilight, Starlight, Sunburst, Doctor Miracle Cure, Twilight's old friend Moondancer, and a unicorn stallion who looked familiar to Blueblood but couldn't remember who he was. He had a grayish-blue coat that made Blueblood think of the evening, a mane and tail as white as starlight, a pair of soft blue eyes behind a small pair of reading glasses, and his cutie-marks was a purple galaxy drawn by a feather quill.

"Blueblood?" Midnight was surprised to see his friend.

"Midnight, have you uncovered anything about the victims and the loss of their cutie-marks?" asked Blueblood.

"We were all just on our way to inform your aunts and uncle on our findings," answered Midnight.

"You're welcome to join us, Blueblood," invited Twilight and Blueblood nodded in appreciation as he followed.

"So, here's the thing..." Starlight started off the presentation with a projector and screen that Moondancer operated for her. "The victims are just the same as Sergeant Spearhead, the first pony, that we know of, to be afflicted with this unique and awful condition: The destruction of a Cutie-Mark. The loss of a pony's mark results in the loss of the talent the cutie-mark symbolizes. Not only that, it weakens the afflicted pony's magic, evident by how their coat, mane, and eyes dull in color, which correlates to their depression and even a feeling akin to the pain of loss."

"Not only that, we spoke with several of the victims," Sunburst spoke up, "and what they all said is disturbing. They told us... that they find it difficult to remember exactly how they got their cutie-marks and why! Upon further conversation, we determined the ponies' memories regarding their cutie-marks and their talents to be foggy, muddled, or worse, they can't remember their talents at all, or even the occasions they made use of their talents."

"We discussed it with Doctor Miracle Cure, Astral Ink, and Moondancer" Midnight stepped up, "and we agree that despite the wound that was inflicted upon them this is not a physical ailment, but a magical one. Something so powerful it affects these ponies' minds, spirits, and magic. After considerable debate, we're uncertain of how we can help these victims."

"What about the cutie-mark memory spell Twilight used to help the others after they'd been changed by Discord?" asked Celestia.

"In that situation, the cutie-marks weren't destroyed," answered Twilight with a despondent shake of her head. "Without them, the spell wouldn't help these ponies. If anything, it might just depress them further by reminding them more clearly of what they've lost."

"There's still so much about this new magic that we just don't know," Moondancer added while glancing at some notes she'd taken. "There's even a chance the next method we try could be counterproductive or simply make things worse."

"There is something I would like to point out," spoke up Doctor Miracle Cure, "The victims all carry within their thaumaturgical systems trace elements of Catrina's mana, which is hard evidence that she is indeed behind this horrific incident. However, the traces of Catrina's mana have not left the victims' systems, which leads me to believe that if we could purge the infectious mana, it could alleviate some of the symptoms of this condition."

"On a side-note," interjected Astral Ink, levitating a notebook as he looked at some notes he'd taken before saying, "The first pony to fall victim to this malevolent magic, Spearhead, has shown a slight improvement in his condition ever since he was struck by Catrina and lost his cutie-mark. A bit of his color came back and his mood has improved a little, but he's still far from recovered. It seems that emotional support was the factor to his improved condition, after he was visited by friends and family, and he even said his memories regarding his cutie-mark were a little clearer though he still can't make use of the talent his cutie-mark symbolized."

"Then perhaps the victims' own conditions would improve if something was done to... raise their spirits, up their morale,. In other words, maybe a good place to start would be to do something to help the victims by cheering them up," suggested Luna while she shared a private look with Astral Ink, and the both of them hid their slight blushes.

"That's an excellent idea, sister," Celestia agreed. "If she is still willing, we'll arrange for Coloratura to perform her concert for the victims, as well as the rest of Canterlot."

Having been listening and taking this all in, Blueblood suddenly had an idea. Recalling a time when he'd overheard Sweetie Belle enjoying a bath, he spoke up, "If you don't mind, Auntie..."

All eyes turned to him as he said, "I'd like to make a suggestion."

Evening fell, and the castle courtyard had been prepared with a stage, and many citizens had arrived while the victims had been given the best seats in the crowd to enjoy. Although enjoying the concert seemed to be the furthest thing on anypony's minds. Indeed, there was a depressive air in the courtyard and not much conversation going on and anypony who was talking did so in hushed and subdued voices. There was no excitement, no anticipation, no good vibes of any kind amongst the crowd.

Only anxiety, distrust, and a want to get this over with and go home.

Peering through the curtains, Twilight moaned fretfully as she turned and said, "I'm starting to think perhaps this wasn't the best idea..."

"We have to start somewhere, Twily," shrugged Midnight though he held his own doubts and worries as well. "But if Blueblood's idea works... perhaps it'll be just what the victims- Hell, all of Canterlot or even Equestria needs in light of what's happened! We just have to have faith."

Sighing, Twilight gazed into her husband's eyes, finding strength in the love they held for her as she asked, "How do you find the courage to hold to faith? With no guarantees or real assurances?"

"Because that's what faith is, Twi," Midnight pulled his wife into a tender embrace while holding her gaze, loving those amethyst eyes as they always reflected the best of himself in them.
"To have faith is to hope that no matter what, things will work out, that things'll turn out okay. Especially if you have faith in those around you."

Twilight smiled a little as she reached up to caress Midnight's cheek before taking another breath and saying, "Let's hope Blueblood's faith is in the right pony."

"I can't do it! I'm- I'm terrified!" Sweetie Belle was on the verge of hyperventilating and feeling rather hot in her dress, which Rarity had provided her. A demure yet sweet-looking slip of candlelight yellow silk with a transparent gown of gossamer, a maneband held her curly bangs back with a pink poppy tucked behind her ear, if it weren't for the anxiety she was having she'd appear an adorable and soft-spoken filly on her way to an event classy yet casual.

Rarity and Blueblood shared a troubled look, not sure of what to say to Sweetie Belle in case they said the wrong thing and make her feel worse than she already did. It was at that moment they heard somepony clear their throat and looked to see it was Coloratura.
"Rarity and Blueblood? Would it be alright if I had a word with Sweetie Belle?"

The husband and wife shared a look and both nodded in agreement and they stepped aside, allowing Coloratura to approach the filly, who'd noticed the celebrity singer's presence, that her fanfilly side helped a little to assuage her anxiety but did nothing to loosen up how uptight she felt. Coloratura invited Sweetie Belle to sit down with her onto some cushioned folding chairs before taking a deep breath, "Sweetie Belle, I know what you're feeling right now, but all the same, I think you're a very brave and generous soul for agreeing to do this in the first place."

Sweetie Belle looked up at Coloratura, her heart still beating hard in her chest but she started to feel a little cooler in her dress. So Coloratura went on.
"It's a scary thing, to face a large audience in order to perform, whether you're singing, dancing, acting... Even after all this time being a famous singer, I still get scared or nervous sometimes before I perform. It wasn't easy getting over my stage fright when I was your age, and I wouldn't say I'm completely over it, because I care about my fans and want to be a good example for them.

"It was the reason I took up Showstopper's suggestion of running for a seat on the Council of Equestria, but..."

Sweetie Belle was stunned to see a tear run down Coloratura's face as the mare softly cried, "The horrible things that happened last night... maybe it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been using my popularity to garner support and votes from my fans and other ponies in Canterlot. Maybe that's a little silly to say, but I can't help but feel responsible somehow for what happened to those ponies..."

"Hold on, Rara!" Sweetie Belle spoke up, using the nickname Applejack had given this much-beloved celebrity singer to reach her in a more sincere way, "What happened wasn't your fault at all! It was done by horrible ponies or creatures or whatever, and if it hadn't been your concert it would have just been another time and place! But that's not important right now! It's the ponies out there who..."

It was then Sweetie Belle noticed the rising brow and subtle smirk on Coloratura's face and she got the picture: It wasn't about her; it was about them! And deep down in her heart of hearts she felt the sincere desire to give them something to help them feel better. Coloratura saw it in this little filly's eyes and let out a proud chuckle as she pulled Sweetie Belle into an encouraging hug before gently nudging her towards the stage as she said, "Break a leg!"

Sweetie Belle looked out towards the stage and the lights dimmed, causing the audience to hush in response to the signal that the performance was about to start, as a spotlight shined upon a microphone stand center stage. Although her heart was still thumping in her chest, determination and a sheer desire to help these ponies somehow spurred Sweetie Belle on. As she ventured out onto the stage, she walked as she felt Rarity might, with poise, her head held high, betraying no lack of confidence, even though nopony could clearly see her yet knew she was there from the sounds of her hoofsteps as she made her way to the microphone.

Stepping into the spotlight, Sweetie Belle's view of the audience was somewhat obscured by the light although knowing that hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of eyes were now all focused upon her caused her perseverance to falter and she struggled to keep her breathing steady. Nervously, she looked back the way she came and saw Coloratura, Rarity, and Blueblood giving her warm smiles, of love, of encouragement, and... to look the other way?

She looked to the other end of the stage and gasped! Standing on the other side were her friends, her fellow Cutie-Mark Crusaders... and her parents! Hondo and Cookie gave her smiles that told her exactly what she needed in that moment: That no matter what, they were proud of her.

And just like that, the fear and anxiety floated away so subtly she didn't even notice it as she calmed down, not all at once, but after taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out. She looked back to Rarity, Blueblood, and Coloratura as she nodded to them and stood before the microphone... and a tender melody began.

The ponies of the audience watched in gloom though several among them were impressed by the voice of this young filly.

Rarity and Blueblood watched in awe of their little sister, having always known Sweetie Belle had a fine set of pipes, but this... This was beyond whatever they'd expected.

Sweetie Belle took another deep breath and began to pour her soul into it...

...and slowly but surely did something come over the audience, almost like an infectious spread of smiling joy. One after the other did the ponies in the crowd feel their hearts stir at the voice of this little filly and perhaps a faint tingling in their backsides, especially in the afflicted ponies who'd lost their marks.

Behind Sweetie Belle, the curtain lit up from a light shining behind it to show the silhouettes of the musicians playing their instruments for Sweetie Belle's song.

A large projection screen slowly lowered down above Sweetie Belle as her image was cast upon it, giving the audience a better look of this surprising talent.

The ponies in the crowd all smiled, some of their eyes welling up with tears as their hearts swelled...

Behind the curtains, a silhouette of backup singers could be seen as they made themselves heard, lending their voices to add to Sweetie Belle's performance!

As Sweetie Belle shed tears of soul and passion, everypony watched in awe as her flank shined underneath the gossamer gown, as destiny left its mark upon the filly!

Sweetie Belle wasn't even done or aware of what had just happened, but the crowd was cheering in barely-controlled excitement as the ponies whod' lost their cutie-marks felt a warmth touch each and every one of them in a way that seemed so familiar, like a half-forgotten dream... and their manes and coats and eyes lit up with their true colors!

The lights behind the curtains dimmed, causing the silhouettes to disappear as Sweetie Belle's friends and family all shed tears of joy and pride.

Not a tear n all the audience was dry as Sweetie Belle received a standing ovation, and she felt just a little overwhelmed by applause... that she was startled to feel somepony hug her and saw that it was Button Mash, giving her a teary-eyed smile with just a bit of snot dribbling from his nose, which he quickly SNRRK'd and said something, but his voice was drowned out by the applause still going. Then they were joined by the rest of the Crusaders, then Sweetie Belle's parents, and then Rarity and Blueblood. And then... Blueblood and Hondo both raised Sweetie Belle up high and proud for all to see and cheer.

Sweetie Belle couldn't help but shed tears of joy as she saw the ponies who'd lost their cutie-marks had gotten their colors back. Their marks may not have returned, but she'd done what she'd wanted to do.

She'd helped them, and wouldn't realize till later that she'd been rewarded.

I wanted to show off that despite her slow-&-steady approach, Catrina isn't just lying in wait and quietly scheming. I also have to confess, this chapter was a bit of a mistake; I had a planned order of which Crusaders earned their cutie-marks, but when the ideas for this chapter came to me, I forgot that planned order and didn't remember until I had made too much progress to stop.

Button Mash was supposed to get his cutie-mark next, and then Sweetie Belle

Sweetie Belle's Cutie-Mark commissioned by Hoodwink MCShelster

Disclaimer:

Astral Ink is an OC belonging to Scribe of the Nightwings

"One More Time" by Daft Punk

"A Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson