Night had fallen. Everypony had descended into the realm of dreams. Everypony except for Emerald. She watched over them in the library. Even Navi had fallen asleep. Emerald watched carefully, even as Epona started to stir. When she came fully to, Emerald greeted, "First to rise. Even if it is nighttime."

Epona looked out of the window and saw the stars in all their majesty. "So it is..." She looked at Emerald. "And you're still awake."

"Tea helps with that for me." She held out a cup of hot tea. "What's left of the Luna Bay." Her eyes are...

"I don't drink tea," Epona replied plainly. There was a certain dullness in her tone. "Thank you for the offer though." She gathered her bags together and started for the door, expertly freeing herself from Link's embrace.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"To see my parents." Epona opened and walked out the door, leaving Emmy confused.

Emerald walked to the open door and whisper-shouted "It's 9:30! Can't you wait until tomorrow?!" Epona didn't even turn around to acknowledge her. "Alright, fine. But Link will hear of this when he wakes up."

Hours passed, and Emmy had grown tired. But the owner of the library had yet to awake. With the tea supply drained of Luna Bay, Emerald was bound for the land of dreams herself. Until finally, Twilight moved. "Twilight?" Emmy asked through half opened eyes.

"Emerald. You're still awake?" Emmy nodded, slowly. "I see. Well, good. I need you to watch the library for just one more day."

"Why's that?" Emmy's eyes open further upon seeing Twilight's eyes match Epona's. Something's definitely wrong.

"I need to go to Canterlot immediately. It's an emergency." She levitated her bags back to her and strapped them on. "Actually, it's so urgent, I need to leave now."

"Now? But the trains aren-"

"I'm going to wait at the station for the first one, or I'll be too late getting there. I've slept enough, Emerald. The library is in good hooves with you in charge. I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it." Twilight started for the door. "By the way, have you seen my copy of battle spells?"

"Sounds intense..." Silence, and a serious look on Twilight's face. "Third shelf, eighth from the left..."

Twilight moved the book into her bag. "Thank you. I will be back by lunch. Dinner at latest." She left the library.

"Epona... and now Twilight... I'm sure she knows what time it is. Oh!" As before, she walked to the opened door. "Don't forget: this weekend is your tournament!" Twilight didn't reply and vanished into the night. "Link's not gonna be happy. I wonder if it happened to Ruby as well..."

Emmy had finally fallen asleep on Twilight's chair. She was peaceful. Link woke up at long last and stretched. Then, his eyes opened. "Wait... Where's Epona?" He looked around. "Where's her bags? Where's Twilight and her bags?!" Link walked to Emmy and pushed the chair heavily, forcing Emmy to wake up.

"Hey Link!" she shouted in surprise. "What the hay?! Ah'd finally got some sleep, and ya come wakin' me up! The nerve!"

"I guess you're from the south then." Link waited and watched as Emmy covered her mouth. "Epona and Twilight are both gone and so are their bags. What happened?"

Carefully, Emmy lowered her hooves. "Twilight and Epona left last night. The former went to Canterlot on 'urgent business' and Epona went to see her parents."

"Out of nowhere?" Emmy nodded. "Navi." Navi came out of her sleeping place and greeted them with a good morning. "I need you to draw a hot bath for me." He gave her the colored ball from Zecora. "And put this in there too." Navi took the ball and flew off up the stairs.

"What's that for?"

"For turning me back into my most familiar self. Flying's great and all, but... Holding a sword's tough."

"I managed to hold yours."

"And you've been a pony your whole life. I've been one for a couple days. And I cannot wait until this thing wears off." Link sat down and opened his wings. "But be honest, how do I look?"

Emmy walked around him and thought. Then she sat in front of him. "You look like you've been a pony your whole life too."

Link smiled a little. "Thanks. Maybe I'll see about getting this situation recreated when this is over." He started for the stairs. "But for now, I have to be human again." Twelve minutes later, he returned in his human form. "Alright! Ruby probably got hit with this spell as well, and Zecora might know about that. She lives in the woods, and there's a path that leads there. Be careful, it's his domain. My ocarina didn't sound quite right after I called for Epona, so she's somewhere out there. And Twilight's at Canterlot by now."

"I know where Epona is going, and you've helped me get on Ruby's trail. I'll teleport with you to the castle, then head out for the other two on my own. You can count on me."

"Good. Before we go, did you notice anything strange about them?"

"Hmm. Well, their eyes were black, and they were insistent on leaving at nighttime. Epona first, then Twilight."

"Hard to say for sure, but I think our encounter with that alicorn had something to do with this."

"Are you sure?" Emmy asked. "They both seemed pretty cognitive. Not to disbelieve you, but still."

"A testament to his power." He held out his hand. "Come. We're burning daylight." Emmy took it and watched as Navi landed on it. The three of them disappeared. At Canterlot, Link and Navi were dropped off before Emmy disappeared once more.

Far to the southwest was a massive desert. Epona stood at the gate leading into it, having just paid her access fee. With her change in her bag, she set out into the endless sands. Part way in, she found a single wooden post with a mess of colored cloths tied to it, all waving in different directions. Below it was a sign. "Let's see... 'Silver Tear', 'Red Fruit', 'White Fang'."

"Emerald Storm..." Emmy said behind her. "You're a hard mare to track down."

"I didn't want to be found, yet here you are. Offering me more tea are you? Or do you always stalk other ponies like this?"

"Harsh, even for you. And here I came all this way to help. See what it got me." Emmy walked to the sign. "If only Link were here... He has a thing for signs."

"Go home, Emerald. You are neither needed nor wanted." Epona looked at the sign, not really reading it.

"Oh come on. Don't be like that, Epona. We're friends aren't we? I've got your back, 100%." Emmy flashed a smile and leaned on the sign. "So whaddya say?"

"I say..." Her stomach grumbled. "I say stay out of my way. This is something I can do on my own."

"As you wish." She returned to Epona's side. "So, what one are you looking for?"

"I'll know it when I see it..." White Fang, Green Leaf, Gray Fox, Blue Moon, Crimson Sky... Azure Reflection, Amber Sunrise... "Gaaaah!" She headbutted the sign, and a flash of memory came back to her from her time in the alicorn's realm. "That one!" Epona pointed forcefully at the sign where it said Green Leaf.

"And you're sure?" Epona nodded and looked up at the ribboned post.

"Looking for... deep green. Ah, that one. So, it's this way." With her head at its proper angle, Epona walked into the sands, following the green marker as it got more and more active with the growing wind.

At least 2 hours later, after following the markers, the two arrived at a little oasis several miles into the desert. Exhausted, Emmy fell to the ground. "It would have been.. so much less trouble and.. tiring if you... had let me tele... port..."

Epona rolled her eyes and walked on. "You wanted to follow me, so your exhaustion is self-inflicted."

"Wow, no sympathy?" Emmy righted herself and walked quickly to catch up. "You know, I thought traveling with you would be more fun, but you're just as much of a shut-in as when I first met you." Emmy turned and looked at Epona's solid black eyes. She's not herself, clearly...

"And I thought having a travel companion who could hold her own would be a lot less stressful, but here you are." Epona was stopped by a cloaked stallion. "Oh, so it's you. I don't have time for your nonsense."

"N-nonsense? I'm here to welcome you. With your bags, I assumed that you-"

"I'm a long way from home. No, I'm not returning home. And I don't care what kind of bladed weapon you have." Epona started to walk by him. "So good bye."

"Wait, take this with you!" He reached into his cloak, and was attacked by Emmy. Easily, the stallion fell into a lock, scattering his brochures over the ground. "Ooooooowwwwwwww, get offa me ya crazy-"

"Emerald!" Emmy looked up at her friend. "Let the stallion go. It's clear he was telling the truth." Emmy squeezed him one more time, then let him go. "You were honest. Thank you, and I'm sorry for not trusting you." The stallion waved his hoof. "But, I would like some help, if you're willing to give it still."

"Of course!" He picked up his brochures and held one out to her. "Please, take this. On the house."

"Wait," Emmy asked, "you charge for these?"

"Well, no. But saying they're 'on the house' makes visitors more likely to take one." Epona took the offered paper and opened it. "Case in point."

Epona looked through the pages and found the oasis she was in, as well as a list of buildings within. "Where are the restaurants?"

The stallion pointed to a strip of buildings just beyond the water. "That loooooong stretch of rock there. Each one a restaurant."

"Thank you for your time." Epona walked once more, and Emmy followed.

"Sorry for bringing him down like that. He was reaching into his cloak, I thought he had a weapon."

Epona just shook her head.

Inside the first restaurant she guessed, Epona found a table and sat down. Just as before, a mare came over and asked if she wanted anything. "Evenin' ma'am. Take your order?"

"Mighty bananas," she responded quickly. "I hear they grow larger here than anywhere else. Grilled. I'm sure you have a few chefs what know how to fix 'em?" Epona adopted the mare's accent. "Oh, an' I'm not your dear."

"Be right back, de-... ma'am...." The mare walked away surprised.

"Have you been here before?" Emmy asked. "Because you seem to know a lot about this place."

"I've only been once. In a dream. But everything is so very similar, it's scary how accurate it is. Let's see..." She looked around the restaurant as before. However, she was met with a very different sight. Adults rolling dice made of clay, children playing cards with each other, a couple who were lost in each other's eyes, and a few other patrons. Epona looked closer at the couple. "They look familiar... Wait!" She turned around to the booth behind her and saw...

Nothing...

"What was that about?"

"Nothing... Just... I could swear I heard a voice behind me. It... He said, 'They should look familiar. Sure their manes grew, but their faces are the same.' Then..."

The waitress mare from before approached with a plate of grilled bananas over leaves. "Straight from the trees just yonder. Eat up~"

"Oh, um..."

Emmy fished out a few bits and placed them on the counter. "Go ahead and keep one, sweetie." Emmy winked.

"Thanks, dear," she replied, pocketing the bits.

As the mare walked away, Epona looked at Emmy. "Do you have to flirt with everypony?"

"Nope. Just the mares. I'll tell you why later. Eat up, so we can go say hi." She watched and joined in the meal.

Once finished, Epona stood up and sighed, showing her flank to Emmy. "Alright. How do I look?"

"Every bit as-"

"Please, just be honest."

"... You look great."

Epona sighed again and walked over to the couple's table. "Hello? Mom and dad?"

The couple turned to look at her and tilted their heads. "I'm sorry," said the stallion. "You are..."

"It's me... It's Epona... Your daughter, remember me?"

After a long look, he leaned back. "Sugar plum?"

Emmy hopped in. "She actually doesn't like names like that."

"They are the only exceptions, Emerald." She sat opposite them at the table. "It's so great to see you after all this time."

"Our dearest darling Epona has always loved those names, right sugar lump?" the father asked.

Epona nodded her head with a smile. "Only they can call me that. It's a rule I enforced when they left the village. I'm so glad I found you!"

Her mother replied, "We've been here since that last letter we sent you. We'd have sent you more, but... postal service in the desert is..."

"...Rather difficult..." the father finished.

"I came to tell you both that I finally got my cutie mark!" She stood up and showed off...

Her blank flank.

"I don't see anything, honey clove. Are you alright?" the mother asked.

"Well, what will you do now?" the alicorn asked. He was standing in front of the illusion mirror opened up to Epona's situation. "Your flank is blank, and nopony believes you that it isn't." He put his hoof on the surface. "But, as much fun as it would be to see you argue with them, I'd rather see you in panic mode."

"I didn't see anything earlier either, Epona," Emmy added.

Epona looked at her flank. "But it's right-" Just like that, the image on her flank, that only she could see, vanished and her eyes returned to their original color. She shook her head a couple times and blinked, thinking it would come back. "But... where am..." Carefully, Epona turned. "Mom? Dad?" Panic setting in, Epona started breathing heavily.

"Alright, well!" Emmy said, standing up. "We paid for our food, met you lovely folks, but I'm gonna get her out of here before she faints. It was nice to meet the parents, and I hope to see you again someday." Emmy reached out and grabbed Epona's hoof, disappearing into thin air.

Back at the library, Emmy appeared with Epona. The former helped the latter find a seat on the couch. Epona was still in shock.

"Deep breaths, Epona. Deep breaths..."

"They were right there..." Epona said, getting her breathing under control. "I can't believe it..."

"It's alright..." Emmy comforted, rubbing Epona's shoulders.

"They're alive... Good." Epona looked at her barren flank. "Still plain..." She hit the cushion. "Curse that stallion!"

"Stallion?" Emerald asked. Then, she hit one hoof with the other. "Oh, you mean that alicorn Link talked about. He thinks you were under some sort of illusion spell or something. He's off chasing Twilight right now. Not sure if I told you that..."

"I don't think so... I don't remember anything from..." Epona tried to remember last night, but only remembered falling asleep. "Anything from... after the time I fell asleep..."

"Oh, I get it. Your mind wasn't in your control, so the memories aren't for you to remember." Emerald smiled. "This is good news! I can pass this on to Link when I get the chance. But for now, you get some rest. I need to go out and rescue your other party member Ruby. Link believes she was hit with it too."

"She probably was. We all went through the portals he made. But, in case I don't have control again... Keep an eye on Link and Navi. They passed through same as me. He might control them, too."

Emmy smiled and hit her chest fluff. "You have my word. I'll see you later... Oh, by the way... do you like tea?"

"That's an... odd question. No, I don't. Why?"

"Just curious. Well, I'm off." Just like that, she disappeared.

Under her breath, Epona said, "Be careful out there..."

At Canterlot, Link and Navi appeared with Emmy's help, before she disappeared once more. Quickly, he ran toward the castle walls. Inside, he was met with a guard that nearly begged for his help. "Calm down! What happened here?"

"It's Twilight! She's on a war path to the throne room!"

"And you didn't stop her?"

"I didn't know what to do! She's the protege of the princess, and a force besides. One of me isn't gonna be enough to subdue her."

Link paused, then answered, "So she's going to the throne room. If nopony got in her way, it'd be easy to get there. Don't suppose she said why?"

"No, sir. She didn't. But her eyes were unnaturally black. Like she was possessed or something." He watched as Link walked calmly toward the throne room. "Where are you going?"

"To assess the situation myself. And if necessary, restrain the intruder." Link continued his path.

Out of earshot, Link sighed. Navi asked, "'Restrain the intruder'? She's your sister!"

"I know that. Honesty, I had to tell him something to let me go. Odds are Saber's by their side. And with her talent, she put me to shame. I doubt Twilight could be effective against her, so I'm not worried in the slightest."

"Shouldn't you be, though? It's Twilight. And she's been training to take on the tournament."

"So she'll be drained and be that much easier to restrain. I seriously doubt Princess Celestia will allow Saber to actually hurt Twilight."

The two got to the doors and saw they were cracked open a little. "Gentlecolts," Link said. "Twilight must be inside, yes?" They both nodded. "Good. Keep up the good work." He sneaked inside and left the doors open. Quietly, he hid behind the pillars all the way to the thrones. The princesses were focused on Twilight, and didn't see him at all.

"Twilight Sparkle?" Princess Celestia asked. "Had I been made to know of your arrival, I'd have set aside some free time."

"Let me guess. Mentally mapping your timetable for tomorrow?"

"Well.. Yes, actually. How did you know that?"

Twilight turned to Princess Luna's side guard and saw she was exactly the same as the attacker in her test. Then to Princess Celestia's side guard and saw she was identical to the killer's first victim. "Polaris, and Steel Saber, right?" She looked up at Celestia. "Why are Uniques here instead of Uniforms?"

"Have caution, Sister. She may have caught on to our-" Luna stopped mid-sentence to see Twilight grab Saber in her magic and throw her against the wall on the side, between a pair of windows. "Twilight Sparkle!!"

"I've got this, Princesses. Easily, she took both swords from Saber's hips and let them clang to the floor as she approached. "How many of you invasive rats are there?!"

"I don't know what you're on about!!" Saber shouted, struggling against her grip.

Twilight tightened her grip, nearly indenting the armor. "Don't lie to me!"

Saber glanced at Celestia, who gave a frightened look back to her. Slowly, she nodded her head. Looking at Twilight, Saber lifted her sword from the ground and flung it at Twilight, who deflected it to the side, breaking her hold of Saber. She fell to the ground and rolled forward, collecting the nearest fallen blade. Twilight picked up the first one and went in. What is this mare's malfunction?!

"She's an assassin!" Twilight shouted between clangs. "Here for the crown!"

"I am not!" Saber argued, defending herself for all she's worth. "I put myself through Tartarus to be here! I earned my post!"

"She's right!" Polaris shouted. "We both did!"

"More lies!" Twilight fought on with no reasoning to slow her down.

Saber could see the blackness of her eyes, and offered a solution. "Permission to restrain?!"

"Granted! Stop her now!" Luna shouted.

Easily and quickly, Saber switched gears and went on the attack, with one swing, she knocked Twilight's sword into the air and into the ceiling. Stunned, Saber took full advantage and swept Twilight's legs from under her. As she hit the ground, Saber dropped her sword, got on top of her and pushed her horn to the floor with her hoof. "Princess! Little help please?!"

Celestia got up. "Don't!" Twilight yelled. "It's a trap!" All the same, Celestia approached and saw Twilight's eyes.

"Oh," was all she could say.

"Yeah. Dark magic has clouded her eyes into believing what isn't real." Against Twilight's struggle, Saber did manage to hold her down.

"Princess! Get back! She'll kill you all! I've seen it!" Twilight cried.

Celestia's horn lit up, then she bent over and met her tip with Twilight's.

"Very interesting. You're trying to free her from my control. However, it won't work. She's too precious a piece on my board to relinquish control this early in the game." The alicorn tapped his chin. "But, I suppose I can take a backseat to her strategy for now."

Twilight's eyes returned to their natural color as she regained control. Immediately snapping out of it, she asked, "Why are you on top of me?"

Saber slowly got off of her and helped her to her hooves. "Good to see you back, Twilight."

"How'd I get here?"

"You trained it here," Link answered, making his presence known.

"You were there the whole time, and you didn't help me?!" Saber asked loudly.

"It was either fight against you, or fight against Twilight. And if you ask me, neither of those options would have ended well."

Twilight rubbed her head. "Well, I've got a head ache. What happened?"

"You and Saber duked it out. And, you lost," Polaris answered.

Shocked, Twilight faced Saber and lowered her head. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know what I was doing! Please forgive me!"

Saber just looked at her, then to the princesses. Celestia nodded slowly. "A-alright. Forgiven?"

Twilight sighed in relief. "Thank you." She watched as Saber put one of her swords away. "Hey, where's your other one? I see two sheathes but only one sword..."

Link pointed at the ceiling. "It's waaay up there."

"Huh?" Saber looked and squinted upward. "Aw come on! I just had it sharpened!" She pulled on the handle with her magic and freed it, sheathing it as soon as it got down. "Well, I know what my next request is for..."

Twilight looked at Saber, then Polaris. "Hey, uhh... If you don't mind my asking... Why do you have Uniques protecting you?" The others looked at her in surprise. "... What? I'm curious."

"We pulled these two from their barracks to handle the encroaching threat: you." Princess Luna interjected.

It would have been easier to say they were your bodyguards, Link thought. "Hey, do you know about any alicorn who might live in the Everfree Forest?"

"No... Why?" Celestia answered, a bit hesitantly.

"Because he's the reason Twilight was made to come out here. He got into her mind, working theory, as well as Ruby's and Epona's. They all went separate ways last night through this morning. I seem to be the only one who has yet to be affected."

"Hmm..." Luna started. "Does this alicorn have a name?"

"I'm sure he does, but he hasn't told us it yet. He did give us a riddle though." Link looked at Twilight, who already had it ready when he said riddle. "If you would."

"'The stone you seek is indeed colored green. A bond newly forged, a path newly seen. With support from Azure, Shamrock does fight. Together, onward, into endless night.' That's all."

Link stepped forward and knelt. Then put his other knee beside the first and pressed his forehead against the floor. "Princess. I beg of you. Bring Sapphire Prism here. She is who the riddle talks about. If I'm Shamrock, my green color, then she would be Azure, the pigment of her armor. The stone in the riddle is green, same as the one I'm missing. He has the stone, and he won't give it to me unless I abide by his every rule. Please..."

Celestia looked at her sister, then Polaris. "Granted. However, it will take some time to write the request, then send it, then teleport her here. And a suitable replacement needs to be found. In short, this will take time. Please, return to your room and await her arrival." Link got up and walked out with Twilight.

Nearly an hour later, they got a knock on their door. Just outside was the Second Commander. "Link. So good to see you again."

"You're actually here?" he responded. "I didn't think it'd be so quickly filled."

"The princesses are miracle workers. They can make anything happen. Even drag me here from the frozen north." She walked in and closed the door. "So, how have you been?"

"I'll get straight to the point, if you don't mind," Link stated. "There's an enemy in the woods, and he has one of three stones I need. With your one, and the one I got after, I can open a door to get a sword, and complete my main objective. We leave as soon as you are ready."

"Calm down, Link," Twilight advised. "You're rushing this. I know this is important, but we need to go at this with an unhastened mind."

"I know that. But I'm so close."

"And that's fine," Prism said. "I am ready now."

"Where's your sword?" Link asked, looking at her carefully.

"I don't carry one. You know that." Prism returned the look. "Is that all? Can we be going now?"

Twilight sighed and fired up her teleport spell. "Alright. Ponyville, here we come."

"Link said Zecora lives in the woods..." Emerald said, just at the edge of the forest. "And that there's a path leading to her house..." She looked all up and down the tree line. "But there aren't any openings..." Then, she extended her gaze upward. "I really don't want to fly over it... but... what choice do I have right now?" Emmy opened her wings as soon as she heard rustling from beyond the tree line. "Hm?" Peering inside carefully, she saw a pair of eyes. "Hello?"

"Hello," the voice replied.

"Hmm... Are you that strange black alicorn that warped everypony's minds?"

"No, of course not. Who would do such a thing?" the voice answered. "Looking for your friends, are you?"

"Well, sort of... Why?" Emmy cautioned. Link warned me about this stallion. And I know he likes to play tricks. If I give him so much as an inch, he'll take the entire mile.

"Do you really want to know?" No reply from Emmy; she stood near motionless gazing into the woods. "I'm here to be your guide through the woods. I know my way around the trees better than anypony. I'll prove it." Just as the voice spoke, the brambles and trees shifted out of the way to reveal a clear dirt path into the forest. "Come. Surely two are better than one when looking for somepony."

Emmy looked down the path and saw the eyes had gone. "Well, while I trust in your guiding ability, the fact remains we're strangers, and mama always told me never to talk to strangers." Silence from the woods. If I can get a name, I can finally be of actual help...

"You were raised well. But let me lay it out for you. You need entry into the woods, and I can make it happen. It's either that, or risk being dragged in for trying to fly over. So you have a choice to make: believe that I'm trying to really help you here and accept what I'm offering, or don't, and attempt the journey alone, where nopony would hear your screams as the woods warp your mind, bend you to their will, corrupt your soul, turn your mortal husk into a puppet of their design and use your empty vessel to lure in your friends and family to repeat the process!!" Emmy started to retreat a little, until a soothing voice overcame the growl of the one before. "But, don't worry. I wouldn't let that happen, even if you were to go it alone. I'm the good guy here. My only request, should you accept or refuse my help, is this: don't get lost in the Everfree."

Emerald stood in absolute silence as the voice repeated the last line until it tapered out. The entrance to the path started closing as a faint "tick tock" sound started in the woods. Help or not, this guy's scarier than having a dream about a zeppelin crashing into you. But if I don't, I could get lost way easier... "Alright, alright!! You win!" She ran into the open path just before it closed her in.

"Good choice, Emerald." A pony appeared from the darkness of the woods, almost like it came up from the ground. It had a black cloak on, and a horn coming out of its head. The forest brightened a little, and revealed the pony was a stallion. "Welcome to my woods, Emerald."

"You said you weren't the illusiony pony!" Emmy accused.

"And you believed that illusion, which makes you being in here your fault. Now, before we mince words further, don't you have a friend to speak with about another friend?"

Emmy's jaw hung open, but nodded all the same. She followed him down the path, which was revealed as he walked. "So... What do I call you?"

"You mean a name?" Emmy nodded. "Hmm..." He looked to the canopy. "It's strange. I can't quite remember what it was. It's been so long, nopony's called me anything. But I guess if you were to start calling me something, you could start with Lord, or King. I'd even take Master at this point."

"Ha ha, very funny..." Emerald tried to make light of the situation. "Wait, you're serious?"

"Incredibly. Everypony stays out of the woods, except Zecora and Ruby, so I don't get many visitors. I get a lot of Timberwolves, and Zus, and Ursa, and Scorpios, and the like, but no ponies. They all know better than to come into the dark woods of Everfree without a guiding light." He warped a huge tree out of the path. "So yes, Master is preferred."

"Master, huh? You know, Masters have students. Would that make me your student?" Emmy asked, trying to figure out his personality.

"Hmm... That depends... What's your schedule like?" He suddenly chuckled and moved a boulder from the path. "I joke. I don't take on students who have no medium with which to learn." He turned his head and pointed at his horn. "That's not to say you are without talent. Having looked through the memories of the four of them, I've seen that you can teleport with great ease."

"You can look into people's memories?"

"Of course I can. Be sure and remember that part. It'll be on the test." He cleared out a large fallen tree. "But that's not all. I can also make anypony believe anything I want them to believe. For instance: you see me, and hear me, but am I really here?" Emmy looked confused. "I am, but that's not the point. You think I'm here, because you see and hear me. What if I told you I was able to convince your mind that it hears and sees me? It hears a voice that has to belong to somepony, and there's a shadowy figure you've put together in your mind. Your creativity would give rise to a fake pony, and you'd believe it to be real."

"Is that how it works?"

"Sure does. Like this path here. I'm making the woods believe that there's been a path here this whole time, by parting the brambles. There's gotta be a reason, so the logical step is to make one up. Therefore, if the woods are parting, there's gotta be a path, so the woods make the path for me, and all I'm doing is... moving the brambles. Of course, it goes deeper than that, and I don't have the time to explain it all. Besides..." The path opened to Zecora's hut. "We're here. Don't worry, I'll stay outside. I have a feeling I'm unwelcome into her adobe abode."

Emmy walked on and knocked on the door. He's certainly got a way with words... But he hasn't even cast a single spell. "Hello? Is there a 'Zecora' here?" Without an answer, Emmy walked in and overheard the zebra's thought process.

"No no! That's all wrong! Her mind is not her own. Perhaps instead of saving Ruby, I have to use a potion for stone..."

"Uh-uh!" Emmy narrowed her eyebrows. "Don't you even think of petrifying her! She's a blood and bone pony for Celestia's sake!"

Zecora turned her head and saw her visitor. "Ah, company. A welcome sight. As you can see, I am not all right. Ruby tried to leave yesterday, and I tried to make her stay. She got angry at me, which is most strange. Since then, I've been trying to make potions to help her change."

"Potions won't help her now..." Emmy admitted, lowering her head. "Her mind's not hers, you're right about that. The alicorn from that rescue team got to all of them somehow. Made them all see, think, and believe things that aren't really there. Rewiring the magically altered mind with a potion just isn't possible. You want your friend back just as much as I do, trust me on that. And I will find her, and help her see reality. But first: I need to know where she went..."

Zecora hesitated, and set one bottle down beside another. "Before she left me here last night, I knew something wasn't quite right. She told me about where she was raised, and how, while there, she was never praised. Then she turned around and her eyes turned black and demanded that she needed to go back! Her village lies in the northeast, just beyond the mountain range. And do be careful... for within her, I feel something strange..."

"Don't you worry at all, Zecora. You can count on me. Thank you for your help, by the way. It means a lot." Emmy walked out of the house and looked to her side. "Any chance you can take me northeast?"

The hooded figure appeared with a smile. "Oh, so you're asking for my help now?"

"Well, you are the master. Isn't it your duty to help those below you?" Wait, what?

"Hmm... It is, huh? Very well. I will help you find your way through the woods." He started walking, then turned around. "Despite what you were made to believe, I'm not as bad as your friends made me out to be."

"Then why would you-"

He turned his whole body and started walking around Emmy. "I'm not the bad guy. I'm trying to help. I am a master, and that's what I do, right? You trust me completely, and would defend my innocence with your very being." He stopped in front of her and turned down the clear path. "Prove it to yourself."

Emmy walked at his side. "So... Are you going to lead me the whole way?"

"I mean, I can. I have nothing better to do. I do have plans later, but... That's not for a long while yet. Actually, I wanna show you something." He opened up a black circle in the pathway. "This will take you straight out of the woods as close as I can get you to where you're going."

"Wait, seriously? You can do that?" Emmy smiled and walked up to the swirling black misty portal. "That's cool!"

"Go on. Step through. You'll save a ton of time, which I hear you don't have much of."

"You're absolutely right. Thanks for your help, Master. I hope we meet again~" She trotted through the mist and vanished along with it.

Out the other side, she found herself beside outside the forest. Way to the north, in fact. She found the edge of the trees met the base of the mountain perfectly. Just beyond, she saw a dirt road that led to a bunch of houses in the distance.

"That's gotta be it." Emmy flew up and toward the village, seeing a red moving object just near the gates. Immediately, she vanished and appeared several feet behind Ruby. "You, are a hard mare to track down, you know that?"

"Maybe I didn't want to be followed."

I need to work on different lines... "Shouldn't have told Zecora your destination then."

"Didn't think it mattered. She stays in the woods. Besides, I doubt she wanted to make this trip with me. She wanted to stop me, can you believe that?"

"I can. And I won't bother trying to. I'm actually here on Link's behalf. See, you and Epona and Twilight all got hit with some illusion spell." Emmy paused. "Although, I can't help but think he had some good reason to do it."

"Spell, huh? I find that hard to believe. He's an evil stallion, and his words are poison." Ruby opened the gate to her old village.

"And yet here you are, believing in his 'poisonous' words." Emerald walked beside her and looked around. "So, tell me about this place."

"It's where I grew up... If you want to call it that. It was more of a prison than anything. The best day of my life so far was when they threw me out." Ruby waked up to the midtown fountain. "This is where it all started for me..."

Emmy looked at the functioning fountain. "Right here? What happened?"

"My first fight... Some schoolkids wanted a piece of me. And they took all they could get. I was so angry at myself for not having the strength to defend myself. It was over something so stupid, that I can't even remember what it was." Ruby put a hoof on the side of the fountain. "When they were walking away, I found that strength in anger and in hate. It erupted as a burning fire and I used it to fight back. They got out of the way of course, but boy were they terrified. I was too, obviously. I had a power that nopony else had."

"Once a hot-head always one, huh?" Emmy smiled and looked at the water. "Wait, that didn't come out right."

"No no, say it again.." Ruby looked closely at Emmy with a slightly tilted head. "Go ahead."

"Uhh.... I'm not sure I should..."

"You called me a hot-head didn't you..." Ruby asked. Emmy slowly nodded her head, and opened her mouth to defend herself. "That's what I thought you said." Slowly, Ruby smiled and looked at the water as well. "After all that, I started getting less threats from the kids, and more from the adults. Eventually they came to fear my 'lack of control' and tossed me out into the world. Been working for Princess Celestia since."

"I like that backstory. Mine's nowhere near as good." Emerald looked around at the houses. "Say... Where is everypony, anyway? It's not a holiday, is it?"

"No. They're just avoiding me..." With Emmy, Ruby walked up to one of the doors and knocked. "Hello? Anypony? I've come back home!"

No answer. Emmy looked through the window and saw movement. Hmm. Somepony's definitely in there... What bothers me more is that Ruby should have blown up at me for calling her that... but she took it so lightly... "I'm gonna be right back real quick." Emmy disappeared.

Inside the house, there was some screaming, then some shouting, and some crashing before quiet. Ruby felt a little nervous. Then she heard some normal talking, before the door unlocked and opened. "W-welcome h-h-home... Ruby..." the stallion stepped to the side. "W-won't you come in?"

"Is he always like this?" Emmy asked, joining her friend outside.

"Yes, actually. The chief of the village has a stutter. Always has." Ruby felt a tap on her back. When she turned around, she felt a strong hoof strike her face. She fell to the ground bleeding.

"What the-!" Emmy's eyes lit up as she got extremely defensive. "Who do you think you are!?!"

"This is no home of yours, firestarter! I told you if you ever returned, it would be your last day alive." The stallion was bigger than most of the other ponies who had come to watch.

"He was right..." Ruby said, getting to her hooves. "If even you are this nice to me, then the others shouldn't be much different than you, right?" She spat out blood and smiled through it. "Glad to be accepted finally."

Oh my Celestia, she's a masochist... "Look, Ruby... You guys have some twisted welcomes and goodbyes, but don't you find it strange that he didn't hold back? I wanna tear him to shreds for laying a hoof on you."

"What can you do, huh little birdie?" the stallion asked. "You're just a mare. You think you can dent me?"

Emmy twinged hatred at the stallion. "And you're a sexist and a racist. Why did we come back here again?"

"Because this is where I belong." Ruby looked at the villagers. "Hello everypony."

Everypony started throwing things at her, causing minor damage, until they got into throwing rocks. "This is getting out of hoof..." Emmy said. She put a hoof on Ruby and vanished, reappearing beside the fountain. "You all are sick and disturbed if this is the kind of welcome you give a family member!"

The entire village turned to look at the pair of them in almost horror. "Oh no! Not another one!" "Why are you demons haunting us?!" "You're no better than she is!" the villagers cried, readying more ammo.

"Well, look at that. She defends her friend, despite the odds. Glad she's on my side... But the firestarter... She's of more use to me alive. And I didn't even predict that punch." His horn lit up and eased his hold over Ruby. "That should give you your sanity back. Stay alive, Ruby. I have more work for you, yet."

With Emmy blocking most of the thrown things, she almost didn't notice Ruby's eyes return to their normal color. "What... where am I?" She saw Emerald deflect all the projectiles with quick movements. "Emerald?"

"You awake now?" Emmy asked, glancing back. At the wrong time. A rock came and hit her beside her eye.

"Nailed it!" the stallion triumphed.

Ruby watched Emerald fall into the water, almost in slow-motion. The former looked stunned as the latter adopted a borderline unconscious expression. Then, Ruby turned back to the villagers and revved up the heat around her. "What. Are. You. Doing." With one flex of her power, she put out an intense wave of fire energy, forcing everypony to back up. Ruby stepped off the fountain and walked toward them. "I'm back in my village, yeah. I have full control over my power, and right now, I want nothing more than to burn your village to the ground!!" With a second flex, she created a pillar of flame that shot into the sky at blazing speed. Ruby added a yell to her efforts.

Emmy had woken up and crawled out of the fountain. She was dried completely before she even got close to Ruby. Well, she's back to herself again... "Ruby!!" she shouted. Using as much effort as she could, she weathered the flames and got close enough to touch her hind leg.

Ruby looked down at Emerald and started calming down. "But you... !!" She saw Emmy's fur start to burn away and cooled off quickly. "Emerald!"

Emmy grabbed Ruby's hindleg and whispered, "I'm alright..." With that, the two disappeared.

They reappeared in the library, and Epona reeled back from the excess heat that followed. "Hey!" she shouted.

"Sorry, Epona... Things happened... Is there a first aid here?" Epona got up and ran to the bathroom, returning with a kit. "Thanks. I threw the biggest tantrum ever, and she burned herself, trying to calm me down..."

"I'll ask questions later. For now though..." She got to work wrapping Emmy's hooves in cloth after applying burn cream to the skin under the fur. "You need to start flying places now, no hooves for at least two hours. Glad it wasn't serious, but still..."

"I'm sorry, Emerald. I really am... But seeing you fall like that..." She saw Epona notice the wound on Emmy's head and get to patching it up. "You're pretty good at this whole... medical stuff..."

"Thanks. I traveled a lot, so I had to learn. But, this is just a patch until Twilight comes back. She's got healy power." She looked up at Ruby. "So, what did he make you do?"

"He made me go home. Back to my village, where this happened. I got there, and apparently they still hate me, like I knew they would. But... Before I knew where I was... I don't remember anything. I do know this: if I ever see him again, he'll end up in worse condition than Emerald, here."

"I keep telling you, he's not a bad guy. He actually helped me get to you." Emmy sat up and looked at her. "So please stop hating him so much."

Two ponies... with different views of the illusioner... I wonder if he's still inside their heads somehow... "Girls, let's just... Let's wait for Twilight to come back. Who wants tea?"

"We ran out this morning..." Emmy said. "But, I wouldn't mind hitting up the store... At least... Twilight did ask me to keep an eye on the place while she was gone, and sane or not, it was an order."

Ruby stood up. "I guess I'll field this one then." She headed for the door.

Link, Navi, Twilight and Prism appeared in town square as the result of Twilight's teleport spell. "I admit, that's getting way easier."

"Glad to hear it, Twilight." Link started walking toward the library. "I miss being human."

"What do you mean? When weren't you a human?" Prism asked.

"Oh, right. You didn't hear about that. I stumbled into a patch of flowers in the woods and they turned me into a pegasus." He held up his hand. "Oh, and Twilight. You fought Saber, right?"

"Twice, actually. Once in the path the stallion had us go into, and once in the throne room. I lost both times, too."

"That scar you saw on her face, just under her eye. That was me." Link said proudly. "I... don't remember that... But I know it was me, 'cause she told me."

"Impressive. You never cease to amaze me," Prism commended.

"Speaking of which... I have a fire power now."

"Courtesy of Ruby?"

"Nope. She tried and failed. But, I learned it all the same." He walked ahead and turned around, walking backward. "Who'd they replace you with at the northern outpost?"

"Northern tundra outpost. And they found a stallion with similar abilities to my own. I'm sure the both of you know him as Captain Shining Armor." The two were surprised to hear the name of their big brother.

Link walked forward normally. "I see. Well, he is well versed in barrier spells, like you are."

"And, an officer is his replacement at the training facility so he can be my replacement in the outpost so I can be here for you. Anything else?"

The other two were quiet as they approached the door. Inside, they heard talking. "I guess I'll field this one then." There was walking sounds, then the door opened outward.

"Surprise!" Link shouted, causing Ruby to fall backward. "Ha ha ha!"

"Link... Why am I not surprised."

Emmy hovered over. "You looked pretty surprised to me. Welcome home."

Twilight looked at her bandaged foreleg and head wrap. "What happened to you?" Emmy merely pointed to Ruby, who hung her head. "Fighting again?"

"Well... Not in the way you think. And it's kinda her fault, but she didn't mean it, so we're good. If you could heal me though, that'd be pretty hot of you."

Ruby turned her head away from the joke. "Glad you're back. Who's the armor-clad warrior?"

"Second Commander Sapphire Prism. Here on mission to assist Link in whatever way he requires."

"Heh, don't do anything I wouldn't do. Ow!" Twilight poked the burn mark which developed from when it was wrapped. "I'm sorry, yeesh."

"Sit still and it won't hurt as much..." Twilight forced her to sit on the chair. "Now, continue."

Link walked to the couch and sat as well, beside Epona. "Well, I need to bring her with me into the woods. The riddle we obtained specified that 'Shamrock' fights while 'Azure' supports. Azure referring to the pigment of her armor, and green to my holding of the Triforce of Courage. He has the stone we need, and we have to head out at nighttime."

"I'm Emerald Storm, by the way. Thanks for asking."

"Ruby Inferno."

"Twilight Sparkle."

"Navi," the fairy introduced, flying out from under his hat.

"Epona." She raised her hoof.

"You already know me," Link said. "Now, we can get started."

"Started on what, exactly?" Prism asked.

"You gave me something in the northern tundra outpost. Well, there was another like it in the mountains, and this stallion, the one who got to all of us, has the third I need. I need all three to open a door to get a sword, so I can finally complete the mission I was given when Princess Luna returned to power."

"Wow..." Prism said. "That's a lot to process when you say it in one breath."

At long last! Finished! There was a lot of back-tracking to do in this one, surprisingly. Hope you all enjoy it~