Conspiracy

by LoneWolf

Chapters

• Prologue (Updated as of 11/28/15)
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9

Prologue (Updated as of 11/28/15)

1 week after Starlight’s Village Incident

Starlight Glimmer, was sitting in the left furthest left bar stool in Manehattan’s own Wild Hunt Bar, with loud Bebop Jazz playing on stage, and smell of tobacco permeating the air like a midnights fog in the cities olden docks.

“Damn Twilight and her “friends”. Someday I will have my revenge!” She said before downing her eight shot of bourbon that evening, hoping that the alcohol would numb away the stinging pain of defeat, it wasn’t working.

Just then a white pony wearing black suit, a black worn-down fedora hat and brown pleather suitcase revealed himself from behind the thick fog  of tobacco smoke trotting past through the tables to reach the bar and finally sit in the stool to the right of Starlight Glimmer.   “You’re Starlight Glimmer, correct?” he asked

“I don’t know how you know my name or what you want pal, but I’m not in the mood of dealing with an arrogant flirt. “ She said before downing her ninth shot of bourbon that evening.  

“Sorry to disappoint then. But I’m here under less than social circumstances, you see Miss Glimmer we have intersecting interests.” He said before putting the case down on the table.

This caught Starlight’s attention as she looked and he open a case to reveal folder on Twilight and her friends with several pictures of them going through their daily lives.

“For professional reasons I can’t reveal my employer, and for my own safety I will withdraw my own identity from this conversation, but this all the info you need to know about Twilight and her friends.”  He said, “But it isn’t enough we don’t know specifically all of the vulnerabilities of Princess Sparkles little entourage.”

She gave a sardonic smile she looked through the files that have been laid before her.  She then turned her head towards the suited stallion. “And you want me to spy on them? I can sign up for that, but what do I get in turn?” She asked putting down the folder waiting for the suited stallion to reply. “We possess an artifact that my employer would like to see in action, and he believes that you have the right amount of magical moxie to use it.” He told her

“How will—“ She just blinked, only once and noticed the suited stallion was gone.

~

Shortly after the timeloop incident

Twilight and her friends were discussing Starlight’s fate when Spike went out to get her. Spike was shock what he saw.

“Uh, girls?”, she said calling them

They went to see where Starlight was and she was gone and her place was a letter

“Dear Twilight

By the time you get this letter, I would have long have left Ponyville. I thank you for opening my eyes, but I do need to think this over, and I also need to rethink my life and all that. You guys are truly something special. I will see around.

Yours

Starlight Glimmer”

“I thought she could be my student.” Twilight said in disbelief

“And break into song, lame.” Rainbow Dash said with outmost disapproval.

“I guess she does need some time.” Twilight said looking at the letter. “I just hope she’ll be all right.”

“I am sorry Twilight maybe there are some ponies that are beyond redemption.” Applejack said with an ominous tone. She then decided to leave the castle along with her friends.

~ 2 days later~

Starlight arrived in Appleloosa and noticed the black suited pony she contacted before waiting for her in the desert and went towards him.

“I did your dirty work” Starlight Glimmer said with a rising temper. “That spell allowed me to travel through time.  I saw what would have happened have I succeeded.  So tell me, just who in Tartarus is your employer? Because not just any pony has access to the Starswirl wing of the Royal Canterlot Library. And the fact that I don’t even have a clue of who it could be greatly disturbs me.” She said increasing her tone of voice ever so slightly.

Just then brown duster wearing unicorn stallion raised a gun at her. They were in the middle of the Equestrian Desert, only ten kilometers from Appleloosa. Not that it mattered, only a second after Starlight Glimmer said that to her contact a pistol shot rang thought the vast Equestrian San Palomino Desert. Leaving a sense of dread that only a few ponies could ever feel without actually being there…  

5  years later...(March 15)

Rainbow Dash had awoken to find herself still living a nightmare.  She laid in her cell of stone and mildew.  It was worse than the dark and dank dungeons the diamond dogs had.  How many times had she counted the number of stones that contained her?  She gritted her teeth as she stretched her wings.  The lack of use and the torture she’d been through had left them weak and bruised. A low grumble emanated from her stomach.  A reminder that her own body had taken away a bit of her pride.

How long had it been since she’d eaten all the moss in the cell for nourishment? Was it really yesterday she caught and ate a rat?  Her mind wandered to her close friends.  She could imagine Fluttershy frozen with shock and appall, staring in wide eyed bewilderment.  Rainbow let out a soft sob.  She would imagine that Rarity would clean her on the spot, while Applejack would be torn between comforting her and rushing of in rage to pummel whoever had done this to her friend.  Rainbow’s sob turned into an uncontrollable cry.  A ghostly visage of her friends surrounded her.  The one of Twilight came forward and wrapped her arms around Rainbow Dash.

Amongst the soothing whispers of her imagination, she heard “Where are you Rainbow?”  Dash choked up.

“I’m here.”  She said in between sobs.  “I’m here Fluttershy.”

The mirages faded away as Rainbow crumpled on the floor.  From the sobs came a renewed fire. Determination burned in her eyes as she glared at the iron bars of her cell. “I’ll find a way back.  I swear it.”

 Her friends, her source of hope and motivation in this. The hope she might see them again fueled her mutilated and weakened body.  With that motivation, that desire, she chiseled away at the cell bit by bit, ever so slowly the bars weakened and the stone around the gate grew smaller.

Her determination was also fueled by the rage towards the ones that had tricked and mutilated her body. She would expose them for everything they had done to her.  It all started with that damn recruiter, promising an adventure worthy of Daring Do. Promises of staying young forever and never slowing down.  She should have known that something was wrong with that smile and the silver tongue of lies.  She’d forgotten why she agreed. Faint memories of a half-baked contingency plan of running off and telling the authorities danced in her head. 

She was experimented on and tortured. They took a horn, from Celestia knows where, and grafted it to her forehead. From there they did everything they could to try and make it work. Electroshock therapy, magical manipulation, forcing magic through it into her, you name it they tried it and then some. One such incident the pony tried to get it to work via controller of some sort, but ended up with her coughing up bloody black vile. They had her blind folded, shackled, gaged and drugged for every experiment.  She had fought long and hard during the first experiment that they subdued her every retaliation with practiced ease.  They had fed her from time to time. But rare were those times now that the experiments were over. After countless failed attempts, the pony researchers just gave up. Locked her back in her cell and left her to rot in that prison, alone.

It was time.  Time to run home and expose this horror to the world, one final chip one final shove and bars came crashing down.  A sharp pain shot through her left foreleg when she landed.  She stood still in the hallway, looking left, then right and waiting for the guards who must have surely heard the crash.

The walls here were different, vines and roots crept between the stones and the occasional plip of water echoed up and down the hall. With a limp she began to move, favoring her right foreleg.

She barely heard the click before she dove sideways.  Bullets whizzed by her side.  One left a new bright red line along her coat just under the wing. Flaring her wings she took off at a gallop, the pain in her ankle forgotten as she reached takeoff speed and made for a nearby door. She reached the door, but barely.  She noticed it was solid steel and screamed in frustration and looked towards the ground.

“You can do this Dashie”, she told herself. Lifting head she looked about and saw no other way. Taking a deep breath she mustered her strength and thought of Fluttershy. All those trees they had bucked together, the time spent in friendly competition could have been more.

Flipping around, she flung her back legs out and was rewarded with the screech of metal tearing free from stone and light flooded the hall around. Smiling to herself she turned and bolted out the door, raising one hoof as she took off into the air to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight.

“Good. That hasn’t change”, she thought as she looked around at the jungle under her.

She rolled over in the sky, the wind under her wings bringing a smile to her lips. She was free at last, she would get to see her friends again. Turning away from the prison she put on a burst of speed.

Pain rocketed through her right wing.  She felt something in her wing tear as she spiraled out of control. The smell of burnt feathers and flesh reached her nose as she watched a tree approach her quickly. Rolling so her shoulder hit first, she plummeted through the canopy and skidded to a halt.  Dash moaned in pain and fought to get back to her hooves.  Her breath got caught when she looked up.  A deep blue finely dressed earth pony stallion stared down at her and smiled wickedly.

“Perhaps I underestimated you Miss Dash.  Think you still have enough fight to sing a few more songs for me?”  The stallion pulled a device from his sleeve.  Before Rainbow had a chance to react her vision was blinded by a bright flash of light.  She slumped to the jungle floor, suddenly feeling very tired.  “I eagerly await to see what becomes of you. How far will your wings of loyalty fly, I wonder.”

Dash’s world faded in and out as the tromping of hooves through the forest echoed around her. All she could see was the earth pony above her and the device he held. A strange mechanical pen by the looks of it. She wondered what shot her before the stallion disappeared and after what seemed like hours another stallion or dragon appeared, she couldn't tell, as she faded into unconsciousness.

~

Twilight watched the scenery fly by as she gazed out of the train car window.  Her thoughts were dwelling in the past.  While four of her friends were happily conversing with themselves behind her, it felt wrong that the cyan pegasus wasn’t with them.  It had been feeling wrong for the past five years.

After the events of Tirek, something had struck the multi chromed pegasus deeply.    That feeling of helplessness when someone else controlled your fate and there was nothing you could do to stop or save yourself came at a lofty mental price.  She had put up the air of confidence for a while, but all her friends could see the truth behind the act.  Just before the group decided to intervene with Dash’s problem, she disappeared without a trace and never told anyone where or why.

Twilight immediately began searching for her close friend.  She used every possible means and searched every possible and improbable place.  With the help of the solar diarchy and the Crystal Kingdom they searched for weeks.  Weeks turned into months and the months into a year.  The governments had to stopped their search and turn back to governing the ponies.  Twilight thanked them for their time and effort before continuing her own search of another year.  She held faith that she was still alive.  Even after she stopped searching, she would wait in Ponyville and gaze into the sky for any trace of her cyan coat.

It wasn’t till she received a letter from Spitfire three years later did she find out her fate.  She had found her in a jungle island dead and mutilated. Twilight was so distraught with grief that she took it out on Spike.  She drew elaborate equations saying Dash was still alive.  Twilight did not attend the funeral.

In the privacy of their home, Twilight yelled, screamed and begged Spike for the truth.  In her broken mind she hurled insults and accusations at her foster younger brother.  Spike, for his part, knew Twilight needed to vent her stress, but after one insult to many, he stormed out of her life.

“Twilight darling.  Are you alright?”  Rarity’s voice snapped Twilight back to the present.

            She felt the tears rolling down her cheeks.  She whipped them away with her hoof before responding, “Yes.  Everything is just… fine.”  Every time she thought about that day brought tears to her eyes and Rarity knew it.

            “If you say so.  By the way Twilight, are you looking forward to my sister’s performance?” Rarity asked.

Twilight’s gaze shifted from the royal blimp in the distance to her friend.  On board was the Princesses and her 5 year old niece being taking to her first ever Equestrian Games, and other government officials who wanted her to come along. Twilight, on the other hand, decided to use the Ponyville Express because she wanted to spend time with her friends. The chatter of the nobles and the press would just ruin the moment. “Yes I am Rarity and this her first really big performance too.” Twilight added. The funeral and spike departure had hurt Rarity as well.  She saw the beginnings of old age in her friend.  The subtly hidden wrinkles under the eyes and her mane had few hints of gray.

Sweetie Belle was the talk of Equestria, even further more she was referred to as the next Sapphire Shores. Twilight would agree that she was talented singer and she did enjoy hearing her.

“Oh I am so nervous for her.” Rarity said dramatically while falling back into the car’s padded bench.

“Don't worry Rarity she’ll do fine”, Twilight assured her and put her hoof around her friend’s shoulder.

“Your right”, Rarity said, “But I can’t help but feel proud of her.  So soon after finding her special talent and she’s singing in front of the whole nation.”

Twilight nodded and watched her other friends converse.  Pinkie had never slowed down her antics while Fluttershy had watched in quiet fascination.  She was getting better at opening up to others.  Twilight even heard a rumor that she had a colt friend now, but had yet to figure out who.  No stuffy noble blimp could compare to the warm reception of her friends.

 ~

It was the 100th Annual Equestrian Games held in the grand city of Manehattan.  Ponies and griffons came from all corners of the country.  The air felt somehow subdued.  What normally was an exciting event filled with cheerful boasting and pleasant competition felt more like a routine tradition.

They got off at the Grand Central Terminal, it had been years since they had came to Manehattan.  The crowd was far larger now than it was back then. As they walked outside, they were taking in the changes the city had made since the last time they came here, together….. Oh, Rainbow. No matter how many times Twilight tried to move-on after the funeral, she always looked back on that day. How did this happen? She always thought that somewhere, Rainbow must have tried to comeback. But… whatever happened to her….. As she kept losing herself in the sea of thought. Applejack figured this was the best time to snap her out of it.

“Twilight!”

“Wha.. huh!?” Twilight sputtered out of her thoughts.

“Is everything all-right sugarcube?”  Applejack asked with concern.

“I…” Twilight knew she had been caught and could not lie her way out of it.  “No.”  She said sadly.

“Care to share?”

“It feels, empty.”

“Come again?”

“Rainbow, then Spike. Without them….. it isn’t the same Applejack. I just can’t help this feeling.”

“Twi, we all miss them. But….. We have to face facts. Rainbow is gone. Whatever took her….”

“Stop it!”   Applejack stepped back at the outburst.   “Applejack, it doesn’t feel like Rainbow Dash just, died.” Twilight drew up one of her many theories from memory, “If that happened, then her magic would have been dissolved instantly.”

“What are you getting at?” Applejack asked carefully.  She knew that given the chance, Twilight would go off on a tangent and spiral down into a maniac depression.

“That her cloud home, it’s still there, back at Ponyville.”

Applejack wondered at how a cloud home had any significance to a ponies demise, but decided to let Twilight explain it, “And that means….”

“It means that she may still be alive.  Cloud homes are magically tied to their owners!”

“Hold on sugar cube.  Or, maybe the new owners have been maintaining it. Maybe she died sometime afterthey sold her property.”

Twilight shook her head. “Then, explain to me why the magical charge feels the same as Rainbow’s and not Scootaloo’s.”

“You know I can’t answer that. So you’re sayin’ that Rainbow is…”

“Twilight! There you are.” A familiar voice called out.  Sparkle and her friends saw Princess Miamore Cadenza waving ecstatically towards the group while Princess Celestia and Princess Luna gave a curt nod behind her.

            Before any other pleasantries were given, Cadence and Twilight rushed to each other to perform their special greeting ritual.  Both princesses burst into laughter soon afterwards.  “I'm so glad you could make it.  I haven't seen you in a long time.”

            “I'm sorry Cadence. I've been busy reviewing my friendship notes and adventures and hadn't time to hang out with my little niece.  And Discord has been missing  recently.  I think Fluttershy is starting to worry .”  Twilight paused to look around for her brother. Normally he'd be right by her sister-in-law's side.  “Where's Shining and Skyla?”

            Some of the mirth in Cadence's face faded. “There were some... urgent matters that he had to take care of.”   She saw concern suddenly envelop Twilight and her friends.  “Nothing bad, I assure you.  Just something that was unavoidable. On the other hoof, Skyla is waiting for you in the seats already, Luna is looking after her.”

            “Come on you two.  The games are about to start.  We mustn't be late for the opening ceremony”, Celestia said to them.  The group nodded in agreement and walked, or in Pinkie’s case hopped, to where the royalty and honorable guests would preside.

~

The subdued atmosphere from before erupted into unconstrained excitement once the opening ceremony began.  Each event, race and competition was met with fierce determination from all the athletes.  All the fans of Poniville cheered louder for Scootaloo when she got silver in flying competition than winners fan base. For once in a long time, Twilight was enjoying herself as she watched her hometown play.  She didn't care if they won or lost. It only matter if they were having fun. Then came the halftime song

A pony with grey fur and darker grey mane with business suit on came on stage

“We are pleased to present for the last time on stage Sapphire Shores and first time here, Sweetie Belle!”, he announced.  He was followed by a thunderous cacophony of cheer which didn’t quiet down till the lights dimmed. Two spot lights shined upon the musical diva and her protégé.  The song was about drums and their voice filled the stage making sure no one was exempt from hearing them.

            The stadium was buzzing with commotion. It was a performance beyond anyponies expectations.  Rarity was shedding liquid pride.  “That’s my sister!” she shouted over the crowd, much to everyone’s surprise.

The games continued on its agenda.  The next competition was the flyers relay race.  Twilight was wondering how well the new wonderbolts would do against the griffon kingdoms best.  She found herself staring at the attention grabbing eagle/lion hybrids when one of them looked at her.  She felt a rush of air and juice blow over her when a sudden shock of sound ripped the air to her left.  Her ears pinned back from the sudden ringing in her head, trying to recover from the two bangs she just heard.  She turned to where Cadence and Skyla had sat and  Twilight’s eyes shank to pin pricks; they were both shot and killed the assassin.

The short silence after the bangs exploded into screams of terror and freight. All sense of reason was thrown away as thousands of ponies ran in a panicked frenzy out of the stadium.  The guards tried to maintain order but were overwhelmed by the masses. Twilight looked at her old mentor and was frightened to see the fury burning in her eyes.  Her expression was shared by her sister Luna who took command of the guards to escort the ponies to safety.

Twilight felt her heart tear into more pieces.  Someone had just taken a dear friend of hers away right in front of her.  Soon, she felt rage boil to the forefront of her mind.  I won’t let this go unsolved like the full story Rainbow Dash.  There’s still a chance to catch the murderer.  Blinking back the tears in her eyes, she quickly scanned the chaotic scene before her and cast tracing spells over Cadence’s body.

Despite how well hidden the assassin was when committing the act, the griffon was now exposed as he hastily tried to pack his gear.  Twilight spied him on the rooftops outside the stadium and teleported to him in an instant.  

Twilight charged her telekinesis spell, “Hey!  Where do you…”  Her magic gripped the griffon as he spun around and attempted to knock her out with a punch.  However, he was slammed into the ground before he could. “Think you’re going!?”  Twilight finished.  “Do you know what you took from me?”  She lifted him into the air and slammed him harder into the ground.  His body crushed over his right wing as his head banged against the floor. “How could do it!?  Why did you do it!?”  Twilight was screaming through her tears.  Sorrow, rage and battled in her head until finally she let him go from her magical grip.

Blood spilled from the griffons wounds where bone and broken through.  Despite the pain, the assassin glared at the small princess.  Ever so slowly, a cruel smile crept upon his beak.  He reached under one of his wings and pulled out a small contraption that had a barrel and trigger.  The assassin raised it to his head.

“May the Master guide us all!”,

“What are you--?” Twilight was cut off when the griffon assassin pulled the trigger.  A loud crack rang in her ears as the griffon’s body slumped to the floor.  Twilight stood there in wide eyed bewilderment.  She was shocked, confused, terrified, and angry even.  But none of what she felt gave her the answers she wanted.  Amidst the chorus of screams below in Manehattan, Twilight could swear she heard a low chuckle.

Chapter 1

3 days after Cadence’s Death (March 18) :

           The mourning bells rang across the country.  The news of Cadence’s and her daughter's death spread faster than wild fire in a dry forest. Every citizen in the country was shocked.  While death was not uncommon in the world, to take a life purposefully was simply unheard of.

            The streets of Canterlot were packed with ponies from all corners of Equestria.  From the palace balcony stood a  dark green pony with a black  mane with midnight blue eyes.  Prime Minster Sliver Swirl watched the equestrian guard do their best to keep order among the masses from his perch.  It was like watching water breaking out of a dam.  The minister stepped closer to the edge of the balcony.  A deathly silence filled the air as all eyes gazed upon him.  The Prime Minister had new found respect for the celestial princesses.  Every word he would speak would go down in history.  Every action he’d make would change the future.  It was empowering as it was frightening.  

            “Citizens of Equestria.”  Sliver Swirl poke softly, yet spells in place made it so that the ponies outside the capital walls heard. “I stand before you in name of the princesses.”  He paused for a moment.  For such an important announcement to be made by him and not the princesses gave testament that they were still distraught over Cadence’s and Skyla's death.  “Three days ago, a tragedy struck Equestria.  I cannot begin to describe to you the horror I felt as I watched Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s and her daughter's life be taken away from us too soon.  Our neighbors to the north, The Crystal Empire, will never be the same without them.  Both of them brought much happiness and love to everypony they met, especially Cadence  .  I’m sure that while Candace would appreciate our mourning, she would rather us be happy at her passing. Princess Twilight Sparkle and her brother, Shining Armor, were closer to Cadence and her daughter than anypony.  I ask that you pray for them in their time of grief. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and I will look into assassin’s background and bring closure behind the reason of their deaths.  This is a dark time for Equestria and may princesses guide us all.”

            Sliver Swirl stepped back from the edge and gave a solemn bow to the masses.  The funeral procession would happen in the coming days.  With the nation coming to pay its respects, it was hard to organize a proper funeral burial where everypony was satisfied.  He would be there every step of the way to ensure everything goes according to plan.

            ~~~

            On the last funeral day, the day of the burial, Celestia made an appearance.  Celestia let her tears fall with no regard for her regal façade.  Twilight saw Celestia cry before when she was a filly, but she never saw her this sad.  Seeing her mentor and second mother brought to tears let loose the torrent of emotional build up in Twilight. While the two were not alone in their remorse, their sobbing was heard over everyone’s cries as Cadence’s and Skyla's caskets was lowered into the ground.

            Prime Minister Sliver Swirl stood close by the royal sisters and gave the princesses comforting words of remorse.  He assured them to take as long as they needed to vent their sorrows as he would hold official duties for them.  His eye caught Twilight being comforted by her friends, but he could see that her pain ran much deeper.  Sliver dismissed himself from Celestia and Luna and interjected himself into Twilight’s circle.

            “I know this will be a trying time for you Princess Twilight Sparkle.  I want you to know that if you have need of anything, anything at all, I will be there for you.  Just like your friends here.”

            “Yes darling.  You always have us.”  Rarity cooed.

            “That’s right sugar cube.”  Applejack joined in.  “We’re bonded together like an apple pie.”  Applejack wrapped her foreleg around Twilight in a comforting hug.

            “Yeah!  And friends are always there for you!”

            Twilight burst into tears and rushed out of the funeral reception, leaving behind her confused friends. She bumped into other ponies as she ran, knocking over one in the process, but didn’t stop even after she got outside.

            “What happened?  Was it something I said?”

            “I think,” Sliver Swirl said, “that you reminded her of Rainbow Dash.  You girls should be with her.  Tell her everything will be alright.”

            ~~~

             Twilight escaped into the solitude of her castle.  The construction of the library was still in progress since Tirek’s attempt at world domination.  She closed and locked every entrance and window.  Then reinforced them with a magical repellent.  She couldn’t bear to see or be seen by anyone right now.  Her overworked mind gently slipped into exhaustion as her actions became sluggish and monotonous.  How she wished her number one apprentice was here to make her tea.  Listen to her cry.  Guide her to bed with concerned grace.  Despite being so young, Spike was quite adept at making her feel better.  He knew how she liked everything to be, and made it so, to ease her burden.

Twilight felt so tired.  She reached the balcony before collapsing on the floor.  She laid there and gazed into the sky as the daylight slowly faded and darkness enveloped her vision.  The stars were especially bright tonight. She could swear that there was a new constellation next to the moon.  He mind slipped further into unconsciousness until finally she was sleeping.

~~~

A few weeks past and no one had seen Twilight leave her castle.  Her friends started to worry and came to the conclusion that intervention was needed.  Pinkie Pie jumped on the opportunity.  She couldn’t stand anypony being sad in Ponyville.  Least of all one of her friends.  She also felt responsible for letting her down.  Fluttershy had offered to help but Applejack knew that kindness alone would not get through Twilight’s hard egghead.  They needed somepony with blunt honesty to break down the walls she built around herself.  Plus knowing Fluttershy, she would be all too compliant to leave Twilight alone.

As the two approached the castle, Applejack couldn’t help be nervous.   A stark contrast of Pinkie Pie who wasbouncing all happy like.

“What you all excited about Pinkie?”  She asked her eyeballs following every other bounce.

“We get see Twilight all happy again!”  She said with a big smile. “I can feel it!”

“I suppose we’ll see Pinkie.”  AJ said with confident smile.  If her pinkie sense was any indication, then there was nothing to worry about.  The pair reached their destination and were now beneath the balcony.

“Hey Twilight, come out you mopey pants!”  Pinkie shouted.

“GO AWAY!”  Twilight shouted using the Canterlot Royal Voice.

“I swear to year Pinks ever since she learned that voice thingy from Luna she’s almost as loud as you in the mornings,” Applejack stated bluntly. Then she looked towards the balcony. “Come on Twi, you been alone for far too long and you have been stuck in that castle close for a whole week,” she shouted back.

“I…Just… Please…”   Twilight tried to object.

“You need to come out and see your friends,” Pinkie added.  ”I can Pinkie Promise you we can make you smile again.”

“How can you promise that?  Do you know what it’s like Pinkie?”

Applejack voice trembled as an old dull pain throbbed in her heart.  ”I understand how it’s like to lose somepony you knew your entire life.  I know how hard it is Twilight.   Please Twi.  Don’t shut us out.”

There was an awkward silence for about five minutes. Applejack glanced over to Pinkie Pie.  She looked torn between happy and hurt.  Twilight’s barb might have struck a touchy subject no one knew about.  She admired how Pinkie still smiled for the sake of her friend.  She also looked expectant.  As if she knew Twilight would be opening the door any moment now.  Applejack was about to shout back up to the balcony when she felt the magical ward dissipate and the large castle doors opened.  Twilight then came out the house and her friends were shocked. Twilight looked like she was hit by a herd of cows and her eyes had bags under them like an oldmares.

“I’m sorry.”  She fought the tears that were threatening to fall with a strained smile. “It’s just so hard.”

“I know sugar cube.  I know.  Some things just happen and there’s nothing you can do about it.  But think of it this way.  You now have something else to live for.  Enjoy life for two.  Will you?”

Pinkie Pie bounded over and gave Twilight a tight hug.  “Everyone misses you.  I’m gonna have to throw tons of parties to get everyone happy again.  But the first one is for you.”

            Twilight hugged Pinkie back as her smile turned more genuine.  “Okay.”  She let go of the bubbly pony and locked eyes with both her friends.  “Thank you.  For everything.”

            “Ah, shucks.  Don’t mention it sugar cube.  Now let’s get going.”

Twilight, AJ, and Pinkie went to Sugar Cube and Rarity came shortly after along with some other ponies from Ponyville also to cheer up the Princess. For once out of the week, she smiled and Pinkie and her other smiled too. The party was very good and went on for hours.  It wasn’t until the moon was high in the sky before it was over.

Twilight arrived back her castle and she sighed and told herself everything is going to be fine.  She then turned on the castle lights, and immediately went to her library to read, as she always had.  

            ~~~

Rainbow Dash moaned.  Her body ached all over.  She weakly kicked her limbs around as she slowly awoke from a nightmare.  Her movements became tangled in something and she snapped awake in a panic.  She madly flailed her legs and wings to get whatever was restraining her off.  A soft blanket unwrapped itself from her and was thrown violently off the bed she laid in. she launched herself into the air.  A sharp pain shot through her wing and she fell back into the bed.

Dash rolled back into an upright position and immediately scanned the room she was in. Half her vision revealed a dimly lit, barren room except of the bed and doorway.  The other half was completely black. She groaned again, still feeling very sore.

 “Where I am?”

Dash was still on edge.  She warily got off the bed and shuffled quietly to the door.  She tested the door handle, expecting it to be locked, but the knob easily turned and the door cracked open.  She peeked through with her good eye for a second before opening it fully.  Her eyes widened in surprise. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, a dark hallway, and mad science lab, another torture chamber.  Certainly not a massive library.

Her knees shook from lack of use.  How long has she been out? She didn’t even feel this way after being in the hospital for a few weeks. That thought made her even more nervous.  She burst into the library anyways hoping to quickly find a way out.  As she ran, she pivoted her head left and right, attempting to correct her lack of depth and find an escape route.

“Come on, come on, come on! Where’s the door?  A window? Anything? Where’s the exit!?”  Her mind raced as fast as her legs were sprinting.  Had she been recaptured? Was she in another building now!? No, she wasn’t going to go through that ordeal again. She was going to escape! Or die trying!

The library was impossibly large.  Aisle upon aisle. Row upon row. Bookcase upon bookcase.  Towering impossibly high like sky scrapers.  A fleeting humor escaped her throat.

“Wow. Twilight eat your heart out.” she muttered.

            She found another door and crashed through it as well.  Her desire for freedom burned like the sun. Yet the room she burst into and was shocked.  A spacious circular room with strangely textured walls. In the middle room was what looked like a control panel of sorts with buttons, switches, indicators, dials, nick, knacks and paddy whacks. A glass pump looking thing in the center of that. The room was orangish brown and made of some sort of metal.

"It can't be", she thought simply stunned

A door opened on the other side where the cheer from a party could be heard.  She saw a blue pony unicorn,  with a dark blue mane and tail with a black coat and white t-shirt underneath, enter the door with his back turned to Dash.  

“Thank you everypony.  Have a fantastic night.” he bid farewell and turned around.  The goofy grin on his face dropped when he saw Dash.

“Doctor?", she asked

His eyes widened with a glint of happiness in them.  “Hold that thought”, he cheerfully replied and ran out through another set of doors.

“Hey!  Don’t ignore me!”  She growled angrily, stomping after the colt. When Dash reached the door, a purple and green blur burst out of the doorway and glomped her.

“You’re alright!  Thank Twilight you’re alright!”  The scaled lizard blurted out between his tight squeezing hug and nuzzling of his head against her neck.

Dash’s thoughts were completely derailed by the unexpectedly friendly lizard and the mention of her best friend’s name. Her revenge seeking rage dissipated and was replaced with confusion.  She couldn’t remember where she had met a tall, lanky, purple-green lizard wearing a light-brown trench coat before.

“Uh.  Have we met?”  She asked.  There was a hint of nostalgia when she looked into the reptile’s eyes. Before she could identify him, the light brown colt from before returned.

“Oh splendid! I love moments like these.  Long lost friends reunited after ages of being separated.”  He trotted merrily to Rainbow Dash, who shot him a questioning look before gazing back at the scaled dragon attached to her.

“S-Spike?” Her eyes widened when it dawned on her.  The scenarios that played in her head while she was behind locked doors did not result in the one she was in now. The tension in her body finally relaxed in her friend’s embrace.

After a minute the dragon let go of Dash and stayed close by her, almost afraid that she’d disappear if he left her. He guided her to a chair where she acceptingly took.

The colt waited patiently for Rainbow to be comfortable before finally introducing himself.  “To answer your question earlier, I am The Doctor, well not how you exactly remember me. You see, I regenerated into a new face. You see us timelords have this little trick that allows us to be 'immortal' and escape death. So yeah, hi Dash. How's Fluttershy?"

"She was doing pretty great , finally moved on from her mother and all that, nothing a little therapy could fix", she explained to him

Spike was stunned at the scene in front of him

“First of all you two know each other and Fluttershy?", he asked

"Short version, Spike", he said looking at him, "Yes mainly through their parents,but both fine now right?"

"Yep", Dash said gleefully, "We  were in the talks about getting married ."

"Oh excellent I love weddings", The Doctor  replied with a smile on his face

"I hate to interpret, but a lot has happened while you were gone Dash.”  Spike interjected solemnly.  His right hand holding on to Dash’s shoulder.

Dash was in shock of how much he grew and how voice got deeper as well.  She looked and saw The Doctor was looking at her with frown and looked back at Spike; his smile was replaced with a frown

“How long was I gone?” she asked.

 “About five years Dash.” he revealed to her with a serious look, "We all thought you were dead including Fluttershy. " Dash shook her head in disbelief.  Was that really how long she spent in that prison?

“It’s true.” The Doctor confirmed sadly.  His voice tinged with regret.  Dash stared off into space, trying to make sense of everything that had happened to her.  Her gaze drifted down to her hooves.  Somehow, it felt disorienting.  Like the depth was wrong.  She hadn’t paid attention to it before since escaping was her priority at the time.

“Hey Doc, I think she also doesn't know about… you know”, he said with nug of his voice.  

“Rainbow,” the Doctor paused, as if unsure how to proceed, “by any chance, have you looked at yourself?”

She looked up from her hooves and stared at the doctor with dread. “N-no”, she managed to answer.

The Doctor went to grab a mirror from chest stashed away to the side. He grabbed it and brought it back to Dash.  He frowned as he turned the reflective part towards her.  Her body had recovered from the scrapes and burns of her escape.  Even her fur was back to normal with no broken patched or scars. Yet the mirror was pointing directly towards Rainbow’s head.  “The healing room can heal anything…” The Doctor begun to explain, before Dash interrupted angrily.

“If can heal anything then why didn’t heal my eye?!” she yelled at him, tears forming under her only eye.

“It didn't heal because it was completely burnt out, Dash.” He said calmly.  He set the mirror down, the damage already done.

Dash was left speechless.  She couldn’t identify the loss she was feeling.  There was no dull ache or a sharp pain.  Just, nothing.   The Doctor went to the controls. His sudden movement broke Dash out of her daze. “What are you doing?” She asked.

“Taking you back to your time”, The Doctor replied while flipping switches, twisting knobs and thumping paddy whacks.

“But Doc”, Spike said, “You said yourself just finding Dashie was lucky because you couldn't get to that time because it was--”

“Time-locked?” The Doctor answered, “Yes, but it was a soft spot and I bet it’s still there.”  He flipped and other switch and The TARDIS spun out of control in the time vortex. This made Spike and The Doctor hang into the control, while Dash was thrown back into the chair.

“Doctor!  What’s happening?” Dash screamed in surprise.

The Doctor grabbed a screen with dozens of numbers on it.  “Where going back in time!” The Doctor exclaimed dramatically.

“When?” Spike asked.

The Doctor grinned manically, “Starswirl’s time!”

Chapter 2

3 months 2 days after Cadence’s Death  (June 20)

Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac sat on top of a hill on Sweet Apple Acres, looking at three gravestones. Applejack wanted to cry, but wouldn't because she was too stubborn to let them fall. She and Big Mac had agreed that the three of them would visit their parents' graves, as well as their grandmother's, on their birthdays and on the anniversary of their deaths.

“Hello Ma, Pa, and Granny,” Applejack greeted, looking at them.

“I wish I could remember you two,” Apple Bloom said, “You would have loved my cutie mark and been proud of me.”

She then looked at Granny Smith's grave. Granny Smith had died in her sleep. It was a big loss for the Apple family and for Ponyville. Everyone, including all the princesses and the Apple family members, had gone to her funeral. Applejack had never seen her younger sister cry so much, not since she was a newborn. She had been depressed herself for about three weeks and the one thing that had gotten her out of that depression was Apple Bloom getting her cutie mark.

“You would be too,” Apple Bloom added, looking at Granny Smith’s grave for a moment longer before looking down on the ground sadly, “I miss her.”

Applejack wrapped her hoof around the youngest of them all and held her tight. “Me too,” she agreed, shedding her the first tear over it since her parents had died.

“We all do,” Big Mac said, wrapping them both in a sibling's embrace.

They went to Sugar Cube Corner a short time later. Since Granny Smith's death, Pinkie and AJ had arranged that on that day they could get a free tub of ice cream or free ice cream in general.  Applejack was eating some and saw Twilight hanging around the town with Mayor Mare.  

On this depressing day, she thought, at least Twilight is out and about. Probably discussing politics with her.

Once they were done eating, Big Mac and Apple Bloom had deliveries to make to other cities. Applejack stayed for a little while longer and thought about her life, in general, running the Apple family. Her work consisted of managing and running affairs of the extended family. This was originally Granny’s job, but since her death it had become AJ's burden. It was hard at first, but thanks to Twilight, Rarity, and some help from the Cakes she got a hold on it. She was pretty fortunate that she wasn't running the Apple family alone. Each city has their family member in charge of their extended branch: the Oranges in Manehattan, the Fritters in Fillydelphia, and so on. The main trouble is that there was no Apple family member in Canterlot and the ponies there didn't like AJ's family because apparently they were “second rate.” Applejack and her family had gotten mad to say the least when they'd heard that; that was until Prime Minister Iskandar offered to be the head of the Apple family a couple  years ago in Canterlot. That had been good for business since it allowed the Apples to advertise themselves in Equestria's capital, but business hadn't been the best. Over the years, Sliver Swirl had become good friends with AJ and better friends after Granny died.

Applejack decided to head back to the farm and saw a couple of royal guards – one lunar royal guard, bat pony by the looks of it, and one royal unicorn guard. She was  curious about what was going on and ventured over to the gathering where she saw Sliver looking at an Apple tree.

“Mind if I have one?” he asked when he took notice of the orange earth mare.

“I see no problem,” she replied with a shrug.

Iskandar then bucked the tree in order to get an apple down and started eating one of the red ones that had fallen.

“I take it this visit isn't social?” Applejack asked in order to break a silence that had fallen around them all.

“No,” he replied between bites.

They went inside the barn and that's when she saw it: A scale model of a redesign of Ponyville – the houses now fit the design of the castle. All of them were made from crystals of varying shades – some purple, some were blue, others orange, some a variation of pink, some yellow, and some being other colors from the rainbow no doubt.  In the middle where the events and Mayor Mare's office were, it was replaced with statutes of AJ and her friends. Twilight and Mare decided on the fact it would be taken down since it had no further use since the castle replaced it.

“This again,” Applejack said, “I missed it.”

Applejack has seen this design of town about five years after they had defeated Tirek. It was Twilight’s idea not making the castle stick out like a sore hoof. She was all for this idea, but part of the design required some new housing near Sweet Apple Acres. It up a six way vote for Spike and the others. Rarity and Mayor Mare said yes. While Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Granny Smith, and herself said no. It was revised again a year later and most of them had said yes, but it was a tied vote and it was up to Applejack and Granny to decide and both said no.  Now with Granny gone, she knew there was only one outcome.

“I missed the voting, apologizes,” she said putting her hat down, “I'm guessing it passed?”

“Yes,” Sliver Swirl revealed. Applejack lowered her head more, and he rested a hoof around her shoulder. “Its fine AJ, everyone understood why you weren’t there. Even if you had been it would have still passed.”

“I see,” Applejack responded before turning to leave.

“I didn't come to deliver bad news,” Iskandar said.

This caught Applejack's attention, and she stopped in order to look back at the prime Minister. “What do ya mean?” she asked.

“The farm will remain untouched altogether,” Iskandar announced.

“Why do I hear a 'but' incoming?” she asked incredulously.

“There is none,” he assured, “Sweet Apple Acres will be reminded untouched until you pass and the next kin will decide.”

Applejack remained motionless for a short time to the point one might have though a cockatrice had frozen her with its stony gaze. A moment later, however, the mare hugged Iskandar. “Thank you, Sliver. You are a true Apple.”

“Yes, I am. Oh, and I want to let you know next week the mayor is retiring and moving to Fillydelphia,” Sliver Swirl told her with some regret in his voice.

“So it's now her time,” AJ said, “Thank you for letting me know.”

Sliver was about to leave the Apple farm just as Twilight was arriving.

“Twilight, I haven't talked to you properly since the funeral,” he said with sympathetic smile, “How are you holding up?”

“Im doing much better,” she replied with a smile of her own, “I admit I will miss them, a lot, but  Cadence and my niece will always be   alive in my memories and heart.”

“Touching,” he said. He then looked both Applejack and Twilight. “It was nice talking, but I have urgent matters to attend to in Canterlot. I think you know what I mean Twilight.” After speaking, Sliver looking at her and leaving with his guards

“What was that about?” AJ asked with a confused look on her face.

“Well that was what I want to talk to you about,” she said with a serious look, “Can we talk about inside the barn?”

“Sure.”

Once they got the barn Twilight got a look of nervous glee on her face. “Princess Celestia and Sliver Swirl are talking about getting me my very own guard.”

“That's good news Twilight,” AJ replied.

“But how am I going to lead them? Who am I going to choose to be the head guard--”, she panicked, flying upwards into nervous frenzy.

“Twilight!” Applejack yelled after her.

Twilight looked at earth pony mare before descending back toward the ground. “Yes?”

“First clam up, and secondly I'm sure either Luna, Celestia, and/or your brother will willing to help,” Applejack pointed out.

“That's going to be a problem,” she said.

Applejack looked confused.

“Well you see,” Twilight explained, “Celestia may be willing to help, but she’s busy will a whole lot of things including running Equestria. Luna has gone completely silent since Cadence’s death and doesn't talk anypony except the guards; paranoid if you ask me. My BBBFF has not answered any my letters in weeks, now has cut off all contact with Equestria and I quote ‘Not allowing anypony in or out of the Empire.’”

Applejack was in shock for a couple minutes, looking for words to say before they finally came and she put a hoof around her friend. “You have every reason to be nervous Twi, but don't…go into a frenzy about it. Can I ask what your plan is?”

“Well Celestia has sent me books to confiscate for her being busy,” Twilight said with a sigh, “I guess will just study up on it.”

Applejack looked down on the ground. “Well good luck Twi; ya’ll need it,” she with a hopeful look on her eye

“Thank you, Applejack,” Twilight said.

Moments later Twilight left the barn and took off toward her castle, but couldn’t shake a feeling of foreboding from her mind. It was a feeling that everything was going to change, but not in her favor.

Chapter 3

5 months  Cadence’s death (August 15)

        Applejack walked into the local Ponyville bar and saw Twilight drinking like a mad horse, having already gone through ten hard ciders. Along with her was Fluttershy, who had become much more of a recluse in the time following Cadence's and Skyla's death. She'd already gotten more shy after Dash had died, but with them gone, the yellow pegasus had all but fallen mute.

        “Are you sure that you haven't had enough already your highness?” the bartender asked.

        “I’ll tell you when I've had enough...” she drunkenly slurred.

        “Hey Twi,” AJ greeted, ordering a drink.

        “Hey Applejack,” the princess returned, hanging her head down.

        Applejack nodded in response to the greeting, soon taking notice of Fluttershy of all ponies in the bar nearby. “Did you invite Fluttershy?” the orange earth pony asked to Twilight.

        “No, but she must be here for the same reason I am,” she said taking another swig of her drink.

        “Which is, what?” Applejack asked sitting down in the free chair on Twilight's other side.

        The princess looked utterly exhausted, but that wasn't the reason why she was depressed and it wasn't the time to ask. She didn't answer AJ.

        “Rarity and Pinkie Pie are leaving Ponyville,” Fluttershy finally answered quietly in Twilight's stead, taking another drink.

        “I'm sorry?” Applejack asked, bewildered.

        “You heard her,” Twilight said looking at her.

        “Care to explain?” the orange pony asked as she took a drink.

        “I'm sorry, yes,” Twilight replied, taking one last shot and ordering another, “Rarity is leaving Ponyville permanently to focus more on her business and plus to micromanage her company now   .”

        “How did that happen?” Applejack asked.

        “Well, believe it or not Sliver  managed to find a home for Rarity in Canterlot that is nearby her store,” the alicorn replied

        “And he told her this…” Applejack stated, nearly turning it into a question.

        “Yesterday,” she said, “and before you ask, it's because he wanted the shop ready for her when it was to going to tell her. He wanted to surprise her.”

        “And Pinkie?”

        “She has decided to go on a 'world tour party,' as she calls it,” Twilight explained, “She didn't want Ponyville to be the only town in Equestria to experience the happiness her parties provide and decided to go to every town, city, and so on that she could in order to give others the chance to experience her parties.”

        “That's actually very nice of her,” Applejack replied.

        Twilight managed a smile. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

        “On top of that,”  Fluttershy added quietly, “Pinkie has kind of been mellowing down and getting more and more sad. I think it good for her to get out of Ponyville and go on the tour she's planning.”

        “But that's not what I'm upset about,” Twilight said taking another drink, Applejack following her, “Pinkie Pie is going back to the rock farm after the tour's over.”

        Applejack almost spat out her drink. “What in tarnation?” she almost shouted.

        “I had the same reaction,” Fluttershy said softly.

        “I know,” Twilight said with a sigh, taking another drink along with Fluttershy.

        “Why?” Applejack asked.

        “Well, she said something along the lines of family being important and all that,” Twilight said looking down at her drink, “I would ask her about it in her going away party in a couple weeks.”

        “I see,” Applejack responded.

        Twilight paid for her drinks and started wobble a little bit after she got up from the chair. Paying for her own, Applejack noticed the princess stumbling badly toward the door and helped her toward it by putting a hoof around her and supporting Twilight's weight.

        “Cya Fluttershy,” AJ said quickly.

        “Bye,” Fluttershy replied, paying for another drink.

        Once they left, Applejack felt it was the right time to ask the question she'd wanted to earlier. “Why do you look so tired Twi?”

        “I'm just s-so worried about everything lately,” Twilight hiccuped almost falling asleep, “Shining hasn't replied to any my letters, I've being worried about you guys and…and the meeting with Griffin King. I've barely slept at all lately.”

        In an ironic twist, Twilight fell asleep right after saying that. Applejack carried the alicorn on her back to the crystalline palace in which she lived, opening the door. The interior felt lonely and hollow as the farm pony traversed its many corridors to get her purple friend to her room.

        Each of us feels as empty as this place does in some way now, Applejack thought. She put Twilight in her bed with a sigh, shaking her head. “I wish things were better Twilight, but ever since RD’s death things have slowly been going downhill, but I know things get better, sooner or later. I'll be here for ya Twi...until I die.”

        She began to walk out the room until Twilight muttered something in her sleep while cuddling her blanket. “Thank you…”

        Applejack smiled and closed the door. She was beginning to head for the exit to the castle when she noticed that Twilight’s library was locked up tight.

        “Weird,” the mare said, approaching it. When she tried to open it, it shocked her. “Ouch,” Applejack said rubbing her hoof, “That's one way to keep ponies out.” She then left the castle then, but a new thought took form in her mind as her curiosity began to grow regarding the library. I should ask Twilight about that sometime when she isn't too busy. What’s so important in the library that she would purposely try to keep ponies out when she'd always had an open door policy about it before since the castle had sprung up?

Chapter 4

       5 months and 3 weeks after Cadence’s Death ( September 5)

        Applejack woke up early and did some of the taxes for the Apple family and also paid some of the bills. She, however, didn't know that just last week Iskandar and the rest of the damn system had all agreed to increase the tax on all Apple family products by 7 bits. This didn't help her family at all. She wrote and letter to Iskandar explaining why. All he'd said in response was:

        My dearest Applejack,

        The parliament had increased the tax on Apple family products because the price of the bit went up and thus as a collective decision by all of us and Celestia. Luna and I did disagree with it though. Anyway, I had to increase the price of pretty much everything including Apple family related products. I wish I could otherwise help you and give you what you all want, but it's simple economics and very impossible to make everypony happy.  If I were you, I'd save every bit you can Applejack and hopefully you can all make out of this okay and I do hope the price can go down soon.

        Yours.

        Prime Minister Sliver Swirl

        She threw away the letter shortly after she read it out of frustration. Applejack had a good rant afterward that Big Mac patiently listened to, about how it would leave the Apple family bankrupt and out looking for other jobs, or even second jobs – which she was considering due to the news. AJ let out a depressed sigh and got up. Today wasn't a day to be depressed. It was a day to be happy because it was going to have Pinkie’s biggest party ever in it.  She put on the biggest smile she could and headed out to the party.

        When she got there she saw that there was a symphony playing some songs. She found it weird that Octavia wasn't there, though the word was she was on vacation with her family in Zebrica.  She sighed as she looked at the festivities and decoration; there were balloons and games for everypony. The fillies were having the time of their lives, while their parents were too.  Applejack couldn't find a genuine smile when she saw Ponyville celebrating Pinkie's going-away, so she wore one plastered on her face. Apple Bloom was already there, setting up shop for the Apples before Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came to her.

        Sweetie and Scootaloo looked overjoyed.

        “Can Ah ask what's with y'all?” Apple Bloom wondered.

        “I'm going to sing onstage!” Sweetie said, “I have a new song I wrote that I'm gonna use.”

        “Well my news is better,” Scootaloo with her wings up confidently.

        “How so?” Apple Bloom asked.

        The next moment they hugged in joy and Applejack was curious as to what they were so happy about. “What're y’all so jovial about?” Applejack asked

        “I got a letter of acceptance in the mail for the Wonderbolt Academy!” the young pegasus exclaimed excitedly. Once Dash had died, Scoots had been in shock and had slipped into a deep depression at such a huge blow. At one point she had actually contemplated suicide, but after considering it she'd realized that would've never been what her unofficial sister would've wanted. So instead she decided to better her life, becoming an excellent flier and even applying to the academy.

        “Ah'm proud o' ya, Scoots, and your sister would've been proud too...very proud,” Applejack said with joyful look on her face, hugging Scootaloo.

        “I'm sure Dash would be too,” she replied, looking up at the sky with a tear in her eye.

        “Go an' celebrate,” Applejack told her. Scootaloo nodded and ran off.

        “Well I better go on and get up on stage,” Sweetie said with a sigh.

        “Ah’ll be walkin' 'round if ya need anything Apple Bloom,” Applejack told her before trotting off.

        The orange mare walked around and saw there was a hat making station and the local Ponyville restaurants were busier than apple-bucking season.  She then saw Twi and Sliver talking and the alicorn looked really sad.

        “Cheer up Twilight, please,” Sliver Swirl said with sincerity, putting his hoof under her chin, “If I were to make the call I would have you  travel to the Empire. Plus, do you really want Pinkie to see you down?”

        “No,” Twilight admitted while wiping her tears away, “I just hope Celestia was making the right decision.”

        “I hope so too,” he agreed, smiling, “Now I didn't come here to bring work with me. I came here to enjoy a party, if you'll excuse me.”

        Applejack wanted to talk to Twilight, but she wanted to speak with her friend more privately, so she decided to wait and shrugged it off for the moment in order to enjoy the party. Soon the music began. Fluttershy appeared and AJ and Twi were happy to see her out of her cottage and socializing. Apple cider was soon on sale at the party and Iskandar was generous enough to pay for cider for himself and the three mares. The party wore on through the entire night and wrapped up by the beginning of the next day.

        ~

        The next week was when Rarity and Pinkie were leaving Ponyville for good. Applejack and Twilight been dreading the day for months, but it was time to face it head on. It appeared that it was scheduled to rain for that day; fitting in Applejack's opinion.  Rarity was going to be the first to leave because the grand opening of her new Canterlot boutique was in two days. Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, and her parents were there to say to goodbye to her.

        “Are you sure, you can't stay in Ponyville?” Twilight asked her.

        “I'm sure darling. This town is too sad for me to stay and I have more opportunity in Canterlot,” Rarity replied with a faint smile, "And plus the work load is getting too much to handle."

        Sweetie Belle gave her a long hug and started crying.

        “Don't worry Sweetie, I’ll invite you to the Gala and you can visit me anytime, when you have the chance to,” Rarity assured.

        “You're right,” Sweetie Belle replied, sniffling before wiping at her eyes.

        Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack hugged her goodbye and Twilight shed a few tears along with Fluttershy.

        “Will I see you all at the Gala this year?” Rarity asked.

        “You bet,” Applejack replied.

        “You can count on it,” Twilight agreed.

        “Yes,” Fluttershy said softly, nodding.

        After Rarity's parents said goodbye, Twilight helped the white unicorn get her things on the train and gave her one last hug before they parted ways. They waved goodbye to her up until Rarity disappeared out of sight. Pinkie was next up and the Cakes were crying non-stop. Pinkie's mane was dark and deflated from its usual bouncy curls.

        “Ya don't have t' leave Pinkie, you still have them,” Applejack said, gesturing to the Cakes.

        “Its fine,” Pinkie said with a faint smile, “They'll survive without me. Thanks to Dash’s death, among other things, I don't want the happiness my parties bring to be only here in Ponyville, but across all of Equestria. But it's only a one-time deal.”

        “But you could come back here,” Fluttershy assured.

        “I’m sorry, Fluttershy, but AJ and Maud made realize that I miss my real family. It's also getting sad staying in Ponyville without thinking about Dashie,” Pinkie said.

        So, that's what she meant, Applejack thought, remembering what Twilight had told her in the bar a couple of months ago.

        Pinkie then hugged all the Cakes one last time along with the girls as they helped her with her stuff. After that, they waved goodbye and the pink earth pony was on her way to Manehattan. Applejack looked at Twilight who was walking away for the train station with her head down, Applejack saw her and she understand what she was going through and complaining if she should hug her or not. She decided to and she did  

"I'm goin' to miss them to Twi", she said hugging her tight as she cried in her arms

"First Dash, now them", she said in tears as she buried her face in AJ's chest

"Its mighty fine Twi, you still got me and Fluttershy", she said stroking her mane  

She wiped away her tears and looked up at Applejack

"You're right", she with a faint smile

        ~

        A day later, Twilight looked  exhausted than before and some of Ponyville's residents started to take notice, so AJ decided to ask her what was wrong.

        “What's up Twi?” she asked.

        “Just everything that's happened is crashing down on me I think; that, and it also has do to with a lot stress,” Twilight replied with a slightly irritated sigh.

        “Stress from what?”

        “I have a meeting coming up with the Griffin King in a couple of weeks. It was my one opportunity to meet my brother again, but Celestia said no because I could be influenced by him.”

        “Well that don't make a lick o' sense. But why are you meeting the king in the first place?”

        Twilight exhaled wryly. “Apparently he hasn't been the same since Cadence's and Skyla's death. He took it much harder than any of us initially thought. According to Sliver, Shining is getting ready to go to war with the griffins. The meetings will take place at the same time and it all rests with me talking to the King and for the other princesses to calm Shining Armor down.”

Chapter 5

        6 Months, 1 Day After Cadence’s Death 

        Applejack woke up and saw it was raining. Well, at least I don't have to buck apples, today, she thought as she got up and got ready for the day. After she did her usual routine, she called for her siblings. “Big Mac? Applebloom?” she shouted.

        The mare went looking for them, searching around the house for her brother and sister but finding no trace of them. She then looked outside for them in the pouring rain to see if they might be bucking apples, but neither Apple Bloom nor Big Mac were anywhere to be found. She headed to town and saw all the shops were seemingly abandoned as well. She even checked in several windows but couldn't find a trace of any ponies inside or out.

        “Where the hay is everypony?” Applejack wondered aloud.

        After a little more searching, she eventually turned toward the castle and saw that the entire town there. Something was very wrong, so Applejack went towards the crowd. As she worked her way through the tight cluster, she saw some ponies like Roseluck horrified at the scene ahead, and others like Cheerilee shedding tears. As she approached the front of the crowd she saw Celestia’s and Luna's guards patrolling the castle’s perimeter and saw Fluttershy was crying, but not blinking. She then turned and saw a high ranking sun guard coming to her and he looked down as if he were trying to form words. AJ saw a body bag was being carried out by magic by two more Solar Guards.

        “Applejack, I will be blunt,” the officer said with a serious face, “Your friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle, died  last night at midnight by poison we found in her drink .”

        Applejack laughed in response. “You're jokin' right?” she asked while catching her breath, “And what ya really have in that there bag is a griffon.”

        The griffin king, having shown up as well, stepped forward and they looked at each other and he mouthed to her over the crowd of ponies. “Sorry.”

        That reality hit hard like a moving cart hitting her at high speed. She ground her teeth and sighed. “Thank you, officer,” Applejack said before walking toward her sister, “Applebloom, I  want you go to stay Manehattan and stay with your cousin, her parents will understand .”

        “Fine, I will pack my things up,” the filly replied and walking away

        The older pony walked away from the scene as it started to rain harder. When Applejack got home she started bucking trees; she didn't care if it was raining or not, it was her way to deal with this anger. When Big Mac saw that Applejack was bucking trees so hard there were dents in the trunks, he shook his head. He went to her and pulled the mare into a tight a hug where she started to cry.

        “Wh-hh...why am Ah cryin'?” she wondered between the sobs that wracked her body, “Ah should be used to this.”

        “Nopony ever gets use to it, AJ,” Big Mac said petting her mane.

        She buried her face in Mac’s chest and after awhile she looked up at him. “Ah've come to realize that death is startin' to become my companion.”

        Big Mac suddenly slapped her in response and asked her a raised voice “That is nonsense Applejack, and y'know that right?”

        The mare felt her cheek after the smack, but she thought and realized that Big Mac was right: she was acting foolish. “You’re right,” she admitted hugging her brother tight.

        “Come on,” Mac said, “Now let's getcha inside before you get a cold.”

        ~

        Over the course the next couple of days, Applejack calmed down somewhat, but there was one thought going throughout her mind. How was Twilight killed? Were there any guards on duty? If so, why were the guards lacking on their job?

        She learned from Lyra that there were a good number of night guards, but very few Sun Guards posted that night and she finally had somepony to blame. She also learned from Sliver Swirl that the funeral was in a couple of days and would start at the tracks of the Crystal Empire and go to Canterlot. During the wait, Applejack considered what she was going to say to honor her best friend.

        ~

        6 Months, 1 Week After Cadence’s Death

        Today was the funeral and the plan was to take the train up to the Crystal Empire and take it back all the way to Canterlot where the princesses would be waiting. Applejack thought it was redundant, but it was an effective way to keep up security. She and Fluttershy would walk the casket with Shining Armor to the cart designated for her, Fluttershy, and the casket. Before she got on the cart, Big Mac wished her luck.

        When she got on the train she tried to talk to Fluttershy, but had no luck. She learned from Nurse Red Heart that Fluttershy had been in a state of shock for about a week. It was thanks to AJ and a few of her friends around Ponyville that she'd gotten out of it, but it was a hollow success. Red Heart had told her that due to the emotional ordeal that Twilight's death had caused, Fluttershy was now completely mute. Many had tried everything to get to the butter yellow pegasus to speak, but without success. She'd stayed at Sweet Apple Acres for a couple of days, but didn't speak one word to anypony.

        As they were reaching the Empire, AJ heard some guards talking about a rumored revolution happening in Fillydelphia and in some parts of Manehattan, which angered the earth pony. When they got to the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor was at the train station. Applejack and Fluttershy both noticed the cold look in his eyes and didn't want to say a word to him, instead standing off to either side of him as the cart unloaded full of ponies.

        “My dear civilians,” Shining Armor started to say, “This past week has been hard for all of us, but especially on me. You see, when Luna told me someone died  in Twily’s castle had been, I thought Twily killed the King.” Shining then shed a couple tears. “But then when Celestia herself told me that my little sister died I was dumbstruck and shocked. I then...I broke down in tears. She was my world especially in the months following my beloved's death; she was the reason I got my cutie mark. I miss her so much right now and I blame myself for not being there when she needed me the most.” There was a long pause when his words started to shake, so the unicorn king look the moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. “I didn't even answer her letters, I'm more sorry than any of you.”

        Shining then left the stage. Fluttershy looked at AJ and her eyes were wondering if she should go to see Shining.

        “No,” Applejack replied, “It'll only make the situation worse.”

        Then all the guards, AJ and Fluttershy loaded into the train. It started to head towards Canterlot, detouring through Ponyville first. AJ and Fluttershy looked out the window and were amazed at how many ponies, and even hooffuls of griffins and zebras, were in line for the funeral. All of them wore sorrowful expressions on their faces. AJ and Fluttershy could easily agree that they'd never seen the town this sad before; even Pinkie would have hard time cheering them up.

        I wonder how well Pinkie Pie is handling this, the orange earth pony thought.

         The train headed up the mountainside and AJ heard some guards talking, but they stuck to  one-sided conversation at best, leaving one question: “What now?” and the usual answer: “I don't know.”

        Those were AJ thoughts on the matter too: a very uncertain future for her, her family, and all of Equestria.

        The train approached Canterlot. AJ and Fluttershy saw one side of the impressive capital city, as well as citizens and the other Lunar and Solar Guards. Greeting them at the door was Rarity, who hugged AJ. Here mane was completely faded and AJ swore she had some new bangs, but that could have been from the tears.

        “It's good t' see ya too Rarity,” Applejack said.

        “I was just worried you did something rash,” Rarity said. The white unicorn then hugged Fluttershy. ”Have have been holding up darling?”

        “Sorry Rarity, but Fluttershy took Twilight’s death pretty bad. Y'see, she was in shock for about a week and when she come 'round she was completely silent. Red Heart tried everything she could t' get her t' talk again,” Applejack explained.

        “I'm sorry, Fluttershy,” the unicorn said, hugging the pegasus.

        A solar guard coughed in their direction and they looked at him. He and another were levitating Twilight’s Coffin. This was first time they saw it. It was standard brown, but it had Twilight’s cutie mark on the top of it and along the front side as well.

         “Right...” Rarity said.

        They all took the lead as they were directed toward the Canterlot Cemetery where the princesses were waiting. As they walked Applejack noticed fillies crying and adults looking sad, but she felt as if it were a hollow sadness. She knew the elite cared about no pony except themselves or ponies within their circles.

        They reached the cemetery and saw that Celestia was having a hard time keeping her eyes from welling up with tears. Applejack sat down next to Rarity and Fluttershy to the left of Celestia and to the right of her was Luna and Sliver.

        It was Luna's and Sliver’s turn to speak first. They spoke of how little time they'd known Twilight, but knew how much she meant to everypony and thanked her and her friends for saving Equestria numerous times, including from Luna herself. After they were done, it was Rarity's turn to speak.

        “Hello everypony,” she said with a long sad sigh, “Losing Twilight was like losing a best friend, which we were. She helped out with many of my designs in Ponyville and was major influence on my work. She was a dear friend to me and I never thought that seeing her at the train station would be the last time I would ever see her.”

        “Well everypony, what Ah can say about Twi?” Applejack continued after Rarity finished speaking, “She helped me and mah family so many times; Ah lost track after about twenty or so. Ah was there for her and vice versa. To say losin' Twilight Sparkle is a huge blow not just for me, but to mah family – heck all of Equestria – is an understatement. Ah know some ponies in Manehattan who looked up to Twilight and Ah understand how they feel. Ah promised her Ah would be there for her until she died, and Ah wasn't.

        “Maybe Ah'm fulfillin' that right now. Twilight, wherever ya are right now, we'll miss ya, and Ah will be guided by your lessons of friendship. Goodbye.”

        It was then Celestia's turn. Applejack looked at her when she spoke and was surprised to see the princess of the sun crying so freely. No pony had seen Celestia so depressed before, at least not in front of everypony.

        “My dear citizens, today is a dark day in Equestria’s history. Another princess was lost recently, a pony I hold very dear to my heart. You see, Princess Twilight Sparkle was like a daughter to me, and she looked up to me for answers and guidance like any daughter would. I taught her everything I could about magic and mostly every day she was with me since her entry exam. To lose her with my guards being there to help her, I can't help but blame myself for her death. To me this is like losing Luna all over again, but this time, the one I lost isn't coming back. I miss you dearly Twilight Sparkle, more than you could ever know. Goodbye.”

        Everypony rose and lowered their heads. Applejack held her hat against her chest as a sign of great respect as the casket was being lowered into the dirt. After, everypony left for the food and drink and to collect themselves and to talk. Sliver approached AJ as she was having some apple fritters.

        “I'm sorry for your loss, Applejack,” he said sorrowfully, putting his hoof around her shoulder, “I think it's going to be a while before Equestria truly heals from these tragedies, if ever.”

        “Thank you, Sliver. It truly means a lot that ya said that and that ya came to the funeral,” Applejack replied, “But Ah do have one question: Why wasn't the Twilight Guard thingy not passed?”

        “Well you Applejack it takes time and resources to do that and we'd just gotten the resource part taken care of when Twilight kicked the bucket. So if anything, blame time for not saving the princess,” Sliver Swirl explained.

        Applejack then went to Celestia and tapped on her wing. “'Scuse me princess, but can Ah talk to ya somewhere more private?”

        “Will The Hall of Elements do?” Celestia asked. Applejack nodded.

        They headed to the Hall of Elements with some the princess's top guards following them. As Applejack suspected the elite were just going about their everyday lives as if nothing had happened. The orange earth pony lowered her head and shook it in disgust.

        As they approached the doors Celestia asked the guards to wait outside as AJ entered first. After Celestia entered and shut the doors, Applejack hit the princess as hard as she could and actually managed to get her on the ground.

        “I guess I had that coming for a while,” she said gathering herself.

        “You bring her back and or so help me-”

        “So help you what? Are you going to try and kill me?” Celestia asked, standing up and looking at the mare with a cold expression, “Wake up Applejack, I don't think Equestria can lose two princesses in the same month. On top of that, you think you’re the first who has threatened me? Since Twilight’s death I've been getting death threats by the hoofful and there is even talk of a revolution with the ponies in Fillydelphia and Manehattan.”

        Applejack was in shock. Her instincts told her to run, but she stood still. She didn't know why; it either from courage, fear, or maybe both. Celestia stepped a little forward as AJ stood there.

        “I've thought of a thousand different ways to bring back Twilight, including the darkest of spells. Star Swirl tried a spell to bring Clover the Clever back from the dead, but what came back wasn’t her. There's a reason why necromancy is a forbidden art,” the princess continued, “So, anything else to say, Applejack?”

        The orange mare slowly sunk to the ground and started to cry despite herself. “Ah'm sorry Princess, it's just Twilight’s death is hittin' me harder than Ah thought. Ah understand that bringin' something back to life ain't natural. Ah guess it was my fault that Ah got desperate.”

        “It's okay Applejack, I understand how you feel,” Celestia replied, tilting the mare's head up gently so their eyes could meet, “I've been there myself, the best thing you can do is hangout with her friends,mourn her loss, and move on. Listen, I will set up a private room for you here in the castle  then go it to ,relax, and relieve some stress you have  .”

        Applejack hugged her. “Thank you, princess.”

        “For what?” Celestia asked her.

        “For making it so Ah can finally start movin' on,” she said with a smile, looking up at the princess.

        “It was my pleasure,” Celestia said with a smile, “Now go on.”

        Applejack left the Hall of Elements and the castle altogether, heading to the sweet shop and got an ice cream of her choice. After she was done with it she headed up to her quarters and when she got there she went to bed and slipped into a peaceful slumber.

        ~

        1 week later

        Applejack was sleeping peacefully in her own bed now that she was back home, but was her dream was interrupted by a hard knock on the front door.

        “Gosh darn it, do ya know what time it is?” Applejack complained, approaching the door, “The sun ain't even up yet.” She opened it and saw Lyra was standing holding a folder with her magic with papers inside of it.

        “Good you're up. Applejack I have no time, but you need to evaluate Ponyville right away,” the minty green unicorn urged, looking paranoid looking all round, “I just hope no pony of his followed me here.”

        “What in tarnation are ya talkin' about?” the earth pony mare demanded.

        Lyra shoved the folder into her hooves. “It should all be explained in that folder AJ. The one behind Cadence’s death, who exterminated the changelings; everything bad that's been happening these past couple of years in that folder. Listen to Luna’s tapes; it should explain everything. I'm sorry Applejack, but me and Bon Bon need go to the safe zone.”

        “Wait a minute what–” she started but was cut off as Lyra galloped off into the night. “Gosh darn it.” She put the folder in a safe location where nopony else could find it until morning.

        ~

        In the morning, the first thing Applejack did was go to where she had stashed the folder and pull it out. She checked all around her room, making sure the door and windows of her room were locked and the curtains were drawn before she dared to open the folder marked 'confidential'.

        “What so important about this here folder?” she asked herself out loud as she looked at it in her hoof, “Well, let's take a look.”

        She opened the folder and noticed one pony's face sticking out. The shot was of a pony she recognized, but the label read “The Master” beneath the picture.

        “What's this about?” she asked herself, “Ah don't believe it.”

        Applejack then saw a device marked Audio Tape #1 after digging some more through the folder. Lyra had also dropped off a player along with the folder, so the earth pony stuck the tape in and pressed play. Luna spoke from it:

        “Dearest Applejack, you probably have thousands of question right now, but what matters in the here and now is that you read the contents of this folder and see the situation I'm stuck in, or rather that all of Equestria is stuck in. You see Applejack, the Master has fooled all of Equestria, including you. If you want to understand how, which I’ll be surprised if you don't, please listen to these tapes and read the files I've gathered up on him over the years. I don't know what will happen because he knows that I'm onto him and he doesn't like that at all. I'm positive I'm the next one his hit list. Please Applejack, read the files and listen to the tapes. Good luck.”

        “Good luck to you too Princess Luna,” she said taking the tape out and pulling out the first of many files, “Well lets get started...”

Chapter 6

        2 years after the Tirek Event (10 years Before Cadence’s Death)

        June 3 

        “After the defeat of Tirek, some ponies of Equestria waited for the next big bad entity to come, but it never did – well, until a few months ago. There's talk and rumors amongst Canterlot elite and our top spies that there was going to be another attack from the Changeling Empire.  From there, it reached word to Twilight. To say she got paranoid would be an understatement, but she did manage to create a new spell. The spell allows unicorns to scan underneath a pony's skin to check if a pony was a changeling or not. The guards used this spell to scan ponies during events, and the public became even more paranoid as a side effect. This is Luna log on Changeling Scare, over and out,” Luna recorded, clicking the cassette player and replacing the current the tape with a new one.

        She looked up at the night sky. There was a chance that she was biased, but she'd always found the stars in the night sky beautiful even as a little filly. She was the one that helped out astronomers in the early days of her rule with her sister. She smiled at the fact. Luna then sighed as her top Lunar guard, a bat pony, entered the room.

        “My princess,” she greeted as she bowed.

        “We talked about this Osiris; bat ponies don't need bow to me. You are one of my children and I will treat you as such,” the alicorn stated, “and call me Luna, please.”

        “Right sorry,” Osiris apologized, blushing in embarrassment.

        “It's alright,” the princess assured.

        “Well Luna as you requested my cousin, Echo Gliese, and Star Pinch have been relocated to spy on the Changeling Empire along with Sidereal and Brightlight.”

        “Good. Now return to your post please.”

        “Yes, ma’am.” Osiris saluted and left Luna's company.

        1 month later…

        The spies had been reporting the changeling training and had been successful on their reports.  The changelings had been running drills and weren organized into ranks. All the princesses were waiting on the guards through a private radio broadcast, but nothing came; just silence. Celestia suggested waiting a day, but still nothing came of it. Celestia, Twilight, and Cadence got paranoid and upped security in every public building. Luna then sent some of her guard ponies to the Empire during the night and they returned in the morning just before Luna was going to bed.

        “Luna,” one of them called, almost of breath, “You need to see this…”

        Luna took the chariot with Osiris and was yawning the entire way, but when she eventually got to the scene she was wide awake because what she saw was horrifying. “Oh my…” she said, trying not to throw up. The spies that were sent to the empire had had their hooves cut off. “I want more spies, a detective, and my sister here right way.”

        “Yes, ma’am,” the female guard replied.

        As Luna and her guards walked to the empire and through it, some of them threw up or fainted, but neither Luna nor Osiris could blame them. They saw that changeling bodies were either sliced in half, heads were cut off, or both. The cocoons made even more of a mess of the place, being sliced opened with dead changeling infants or squashed from falling through a hole above.  After a little while the detective, Night Light, and spies got the scene.

        “Where is my sister?” Luna asked her guard.

        “She couldn't make it. She was in a meeting with the new prime minster,” the guards informed her.

        Luna went back to looking around the mess that was the Changeling Empire as Night Light was taking pictures and inspecting the bodies. The bodies are either sliced in half or heads were sliced clean off, Luna thought.

        Osiris came to the princess. “Luna, I went looking around, and there is no body or any hint of Chrysalis,” she informed, “She's just gone.”

        “I see,” Luna said and went to Night Light, “What's the cause of death?”

        “I can't tell if it was magical without taking one of these back to my lab, but I can tell it wasn't by a blunt instrument of any kind; it's all too clean of a slice,” he explained.

        “I see,” Luna said, “You may proceed.”

        Night lifted a changeling a body and took to the chariot. Luna ventured further into the hive to investigate, eventually making her way to the second floor. When she got there, she noticed some of the cocoons were intact and arranged in a pattern. She ran back to Night. “My I borrow your camera?” she asked.

        “Sure,” he said handing her over the camera.

        She teleported back to the spot she'd been previously and took several pictures of it and teleported back to Night. “Give me those pictures as soon as you can get them developed,” she ordered.

        “I will Luna,” he said.

        They all left the scene two hours later.

        24 hours later…

        Night Light approached Luna’s throne and noticed she had books and desks around the throne room along with her many spies. “What's this all about?” he asked.

        “I decided that I'm going take the matter of the changeling army’s extermination into my own hooves because my sister has been very busy as of late, plus this would be a good way to pass the time for me,” she said with a smile, “and I told my sister about it.”

        “So that's why I saw it in the newspaper this morning,” Night said.

        “Yes, do have the pictures?” Luna asked.

        “Yes.” He levitated them to the princess after pulling them out with his magic.

        Luna took the pictures with her magic put them on a portable chalkboard and began looking through some books. After a short time, she spoke. “Ah-ha I got it!” she announced proudly.

        “What?” he asked.

        “These cocoons were arranged in a pattern,” Luna informed, “In binary code.”

        “Don't you think you're overthinking this?” Night asked.

        “Nay, for I saw that all the cocoons were smashed except for these. I inspected it and consulted a few other ponies including Osiris, and realized it was patterned in binary.”

        As they decoded the message and matched each cocoon with an assigned letter. Luna asked about the bodies and if Night was able to find a cause of death yet, he said no. After a little the message was decoded, and read one single sentence:

        “So this Master character is the one behind the extermination of both the spies and an entire hive,” Night thought out loud.

        “Detective, I want you to put anything you're currently working on off the side. This is your main project now because this is a villain that is truly dangerous and you’ll help me bring them down,” the night princess ordered.

        “Right away,” Night assured before taking his leave.

        Luna grabbed her cassette tape and started to record something new. “This is Luna on June 4. It seems we have a new enemy rising, and they go by the name of ‘The Master’. The entity exterminated all changelings and spies Celestia and I sent, and if there is any sort of silver lining, it's that there won't be a war with the changelings anytime soon. I don't know whether to praise it or to be in fear of it. I’ll dub this project as Project Hidden Enemy and will investigate this Master and if it's a new enemy or old one. I don't know why, but I'm hoping it's a new threat. Luna out.”

Chapter 7

        5 years and 6 Months Before Cadence’s Death (October 10)

        Luna was walking to a part of Equestria unknown to all but those of the Royal Family, which included Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor and Cadence, Celestia, and herself. Ahead of her was a large metal gate that measured at least twelve by twelve feet, if not more. Luna muttered something in Ancient Equestrian and the gate opened. It was in fact an entrance into Tartarus and Luna gulped before she inhaled a calming breath and stepped within. The gates closed behind her with the sound of metal creaking loudly before they closed entirely. Ahead of her, the princess of the night saw Cerberus shaking in fear, though whether it was of her or something else was unknown.

        I wonder who could have made Cerberus of all creatures scared, she thought.

        She turned and trotted to a nearby mountain, an expression of serious determination on her face. As she approached the top she saw a prison. At first she froze in her tracks as she observed it, but remembered why she'd come to this place to begin with and so continued her approach. Recently a pattern had been forming; Chrysalis disappearing , followed by Discord's disappearance a month  poir. Her informant in Ponyville also noted that a Starlight Glimmer that Twilight had faced in battle, also vanished, but she had something with her in the battle, Star Swirl's time spell which she thought was under lock and key . From this, Luna suspected somepony or something was gathering all the past big villains that the Elements of Harmony had faced and had a hunch her trip would confirm her suspicions.

        When she finally reached the prison, she saw Tirek’s robes and when she looked under them there was only a pile of ashes remaining. She then noticed a stretched out writing on the floor of the cage that read “The Master” and saw another on the ceiling of the cell reading “Obey The Master”.

        Luna took a camera out and started to take pictures of the scene. When she got back to Canterlot and got her pictures ready she took out her cassette and started to record an entry.

        “Today, I learned that I was wrong about one suspicion: the villains aren’t banding together to take over Equestria, because today I've found out that Tirek was reduced ashes with writing left behind in his former cage. Whoever this ‘Master’ character is, they scared Tirek. It appears to me that he may have possibly worshipped 'The Master' as a god of some type.”

        After she was done recording her entry she put the pictures on a bulletin board of all the evidence and research that she, Night Light, and few other had gathered so far.

        ~

        2 weeks later

        As Luna was walking along her usual route through the castle, she noticed her Night Guard commander was scrambling her soldiers and answering some serious questions. The princess trotted up to to them.

        “I'd like to know what is going on here,” she said.

        “Sorry Luna, but we just heard from your sister that Rainbow Dash, the former holder the of the Element of Loyalty, has disappeared,” the commander reported.

        “And what are you doing about this?” she asked.

        “I've sent messengers out to retrieve some other soldier stationed around the city to meet up with me so we can formulate a search and possibly rescue party,” she explained.

        “Very well then,” Luna replied, “Carry on.”

        She walked away after that, heading to the throne room. The fact that Dash was missing weighed heavily on the princess's mind. It was a disturbing revelation.

        “Why would Rainbow Dash disappear without notice?” she contemplated as walked through the castle, “She represented the Element of Loyalty for a reason. She wouldn't just abandon everypony that she cared about without cause.” Luna recalled the dreams she traversed the nights before as she thought about the cause of the disappearance. “She had no obvious intentions or thoughts patterns about running away that I could glean. If they do find Rainbow Dash, I’ll need to ask some questions.”

        ~

        5 months later

        After months of searching, a pair of pegasi had found Rainbow Dash on an island, but wasn’t good news. They found her dead with severe burn marks on her chest. It was a sad day for Twilight, and it was a first for her as well. She'd never been to funeral in her life nor had anypony close to her ever died. Luna felt sorry for her, so later that night she'd planned to travel into Twilight’s dreams to help ease her mind, but was interrupted by the young alicorn's father when he suddenly came running in to see her unannounced.

        “I'm sorry your highness, but you need to see this...” he panted.

        Luna and Night Light hurried to the forensics lab and when they arrived there Luna was confused at the sight of a changeling on the autopsy table.

        “I'm confused detective,” Luna said, “Please explain why there's a dead changeling on the table.”

        “Well I, uh...” he said with a nervous laugh, rubbing his head, “I...dug up Rainbow Dash’s grave.”

        “Why?” Luna asked.

        “Well the whole thing is odd. Dash found on an island with no inhibits and no ancient ruins?” Night Light, “She wouldn't have stayed there long even if it's true. From what we know she likes to brag about her accomplishments and there was reportedly nothing noteworthy there.”

        “Not we know of,” Luna replied, “But I've been meaning to investigate that island myself. Rainbow Dash's body actually being that of a changeling means that Equestria was fooled.”

        “Could it be Queen Chrysalis who did this?” Night Light asked.

        “Not likely,” Luna replied, “This isn't her style.”

        “Then who could have put a changeling decoy on that island?”

        “I'm betting the same thing that killed Triek and the Changelings.”

        “Wait Tirek is dead? How do you know?”

        “I went to his cell a while ago and found his body reduced to nothing but ash, with the Master’s name written out on the cage's floor and ceiling.”

        “So the Master, whoever it is, faked Dash’s death? Why though? Should I tell my daughter that her friend is alive, maybe?”

        “Why indeed Night Light?” Luna asked, “But no, not until this mystery is solved. If and when that happens then maybe we might find Rainbow Dash alive and then we can tell your daughter.”

        “I'll continue to investigate this Rainbow Dash imposter and why something or somepony would want to bury a decoy then. While I do that, it should give you some time to investigate the island they were on.”

        “Agreed. I'll round up some ponies to take with me there.”

        “Good Luck.”

        “Likewise,” Luna replied with a nod.

        ~

        The following morning, Luna had a couple of chariots prepared for the trip. She rounded up the ponies she planned to have accompany her, totaling about thirty overall.

        “Thank you for taking me, I mean us,” River Fang, one of Lunar Highest Guard, said.

        “You’re very welcome,” Luna replied, “Ponies from your group are the ones who found Rainbow Dash. You have more experience on that island then anypony, including myself.”

        “I found the island a bit creepy your highness,” Sliver Fang admitted, getting on the carriage with Luna, “I felt like I was being watched.”

        “I’ll take note of that,” Luna assured before she gave the signal for take off.

        The trip took about a few hours or so. River Fang went on about how his daughter was the biggest fan of the princess and they shared a few laughs. When the island was in sight, Luna saw that Sliver Fang took a deep breath, but was shaking. She too felt a sense of dread at the sight of the place.

        “What is it Luna?” a bat pony by the name of Ether Night asked.

        “It’s just as Sliver Fang said, but I also sense despair and terrible suffering here,” Luna said, “Come on, as old friend of my fine once said: Allons-y; but keep an eye out.”

        “What does that mean?”  River Fang asked.

        “It's fancy way of saying 'Let’s go.'”

        They moved forward into the island jungle. The group hiked for a good while until they found a building of some sort. It look fairly new, despite some growth slowly creeping along its walls.

        “This looks recently built,” Ether Night observed.

        “Which worries me the most,” Luna said, approaching the entrance, “How and when did this get built?”

        They entered the building only to find it completely abandoned.

        “This makes no sense Luna, why abandon a building that was just built?” another bat pony by the name of Night Sky questioned.

        “Night Sky, Ether, take a squad of my guards with you,” Luna ordered.

        Night Sky took a small squad of her guards with him and so did Ether. They went in opposite directions of one another – left and right respectively – while Luna and the remaining ponies went straight. They searched carefully with every step, but even while they did Luna couldn't shake the feelings of great torture and sadness that seemed to permeate the very air. They reached some stairs and proceeded upwards. Luna used her magic to open a door at the top and noticed they entered an observatory room on research subjects, or possibly a control room; it was hard to tell due to everything looking burned and papers scattered and charred too much to read. She looked around on a desk for anything that might shed light on what had happened, but heard a clicking sound behind her and turned around. She saw that her guards, including River Fang, pulled out a crossbows on her with some having dark magic spells imbued on the bolts or at the ready crackling from horns.

        “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.

        “Well you see Luna this is a trap,” River Fang stated moving forward, “As of right now my fellow guards are about to kill your 'children.'”

        “Why are you doing this Silver Fang? What about your daughter?” she asked.

        “All a lie, a cover,” he stated, “I'm the Master’s top spy, a mole if you will, that's been posing in the Lunar guard.”

        So it’s a he, Luna thought before she spoke aloud, “I'm guessing he has at least one in the Solar Guard as well?”

        “Yes, and there are plenty of ponies who worship him, more than you and your sister,” Sliver explained with a malicious grin, “and he knows about your little investigation into him. Before you ask, he’s pony like you or me, but you’ll never guess who he is.”

        “You’ll pay for this treachery,” Luna replied, “But I have one question: why?”

        “Orders from the Master; he wanted to lure you here. How else would you know of this island’s location?”  River Fang moved to the control panel in the room and unlocked a hidden button using key, “He has big plans on the way and you two are getting too close, so the best way to stop you is to separate you all as far as possible and take you out.”

        River Fang pressed the button, which caused a large explosion somewhere and made the entire building heave, throwing everypony off their hooves. In the confusion, Luna blasted a few of the ponies with magic to get them out of her way and started to run as the building was beginning to fall. She heard Sliver yell at his followers to stop her and kill her. She ran as fast as she could and got out of the building while her own guards – defected now – were firing at her with dark magic and enchanted crossbow bolts. Barely escaping, it didn't take her long to notice that the surrounding vegetation was engulfed in flames. There was an opening however, a cliff that overlooked a drop into the sea several yards below. Luna galloped for it as fast as she could and dove off. On the way down she spread her large wings, using the velocity of the fall to boost her flight speed as she pulled out of the dive further below. She flew away from the island, her wings carrying her swiftly to Canterlot.

        Despite her fast flying, Luna still didn't arrive until after sunset. The moon had already been risen, probably courtesy of her sister. The night princess landed to catch her breath, but she noticed a thick column of smoke rising in her peripheral vision. It was coming from the forensics lab where she'd left Night Light to do the autopsy on the changeling's body.

        “No, no!” Luna cried, running to it because her wings were too tired to get her airborne again.

        When she got there, she noticed several ponies in shock, and faces awash in horror. There was a conversation going between some of the guards as the alicorn approached.

        “We found their bodies,” one of them said.

        “Who was it?” another asked.

        “Night Light and Twilight Velvet,” a third replied.

        Luna arrived on the scene then and the conversation ceased altogether. Though the entrance was barred off by police tape, there was no disguising the grisly scene within; two ponies wholly slaughtered in what appeared to be some sort of struggle. The bodies were in separate body bags now as police and investigators gathered evidence from the scene, but blood still painted the floor and other surfaces crimson, and the stench of death lingered in the stagnant air.

        Luna hurried away from the scene and went to her quarters. She was thankful to find her chalkboard, files and cassette tapes remained intact, but it did look somepony had started ransacking her room searching for something, perhaps the records of her findings, but had probably hurried out before they could get very far, which explained why only a portion of the large bed chamber was in chaotic disarray. She decided only a few trusted individuals should know about her investigations. If she'd told Twilight that Dash might be alive out there somewhere as Night Light has suggested, it would have jeopardized everything she'd been working for and possibly put Twilight in danger as well. Luna took out her cassette tape recorder and started a new entry.

        “Myself and Night Light were set up tonight and paid a heavy price for it. He found out that Rainbow Dash's death had been staged, and a changeling was buried in her grave. Because of this, I left with ponies I assumed to be trustworthy on an expedition to the island where she'd supposedly been found. On the island, I was betrayed by one of my best guards in a seemingly abandoned building that had appeared to have been recently built: Silver Fang, an agent of a male pony known only as 'The Master'. He revealed that ponies on both the night and day guards, and I suspect possibly others outside the military, worship him. As I stand here right now thinking and recording this entry, I'm left to wonder if Night Light had already figured out who the Master was. If so that would explained why he was murdered, along with his wife who was working in the lab at the time. If Night Light did figure something out, that information is lost to the grave. I do swear on my own life however, that I will figure who the Master is, and bring him to justice.”

        She stopped the recording and walked to the bulletin board she had set up. Pictures attached to it formed of spiderweb or criss-crossing strings tied around tacks connecting everything on some way. On a card, Luna scrawled out the words 'The Master' in the center. In the spider web pictures of Changelings, of the island, the fake Rainbow Dash, and Tirek’s ashes surrounded it. With her magic she also added cards with the words 'Solar and Lunar Guards' connecting to a few key names as well as questions like 'Betrayal?' and 'More possible spies?' and also 'Night Light and Twilight Velvet' along with the word 'murdered' and 'possibly figured out 'Master's' identity' and used some more yarn in the spider web connecting them to the name at the web's center; the poisonous spider at the heart of it all.

        Who are you? she thought to herself, looking at the board.

        ~

        The funeral was the following weekend. It was for both of them and Luna had never seen Twilight or Shining Armor so upset before. She couldn’t blame them however; they had every single right in existence to be so miserable. The night princess gave her words of condolence during the funeral but had to leave soon after due to a prior engagement. After a while, a small number of bat pony guards entered the room she'd set up for the meeting.

        “You summoned us, Luna?” one of them asked.

        “Yes, I did,” she replied, inviting them in to sit down, “I was nearly killed about a week ago on trip to the island where Dash was found dead, and by those whom I thought to be trusted guards no less.”

        The faces of the other ponies ranged from disgust to horror, with some a mixture of both.

        “The reason why I was betrayed was because I believe Night Light and I were getting to close to finding out the identity of the Master,” Luna continued, “I also learned from the traitor that there are spies in Celestia's daytime guard as well.”

        “So what’s to be done?” another of the bat ponies asked, clearly frightened.

        “Was Night Light killed because he went insane as the rumors say?” a third asked.

        “As I've already said, no, he wasn't killed because of his insanity. That is a blatant lie and I highly suggest you banish such notions from your minds. The Master is covering it up somehow by either brainwashing the guards and/or press. The Master wants me to stop my investigation according to what one of the traitors told me. Night Light's and Twilight Velvet's deaths shall not be in vain however, and I will not let them go unpunished. The investigation into the identity of the Master is still ongoing and only between us. Understood?”

        “Yes, Luna,” they all replied.

        “Dismissed,” she ordered.

        As they left, she then went to look outside at the ponies below through the window. Even with such a pledge she knew she had to keep her guard up at all times.

        “I can’t trust anypony now it seems,” she whispered to herself.

Chapter 8

~~~3 days after Cadence’s Death~~~

A batpony with dark blue eyes and mane, and tail with silver fur  flew towards Twilight’s Castle and entered through an open window.

“Twilight Sparkle?” she called out.

 She wandered throughout the castle and called her name. Luna would have come in her stead, but with some of her fellow colleagues and the solar guards watching her every move, she couldn’t. She had asked to come because she was one of  the heads of the investigation into both Cadence’s death and The Master, so she had a perfect cover.

“You wanted to speak to me ?” She asked exiting the library. “Why are you here? I told Celestia and Luna to leave me be.”

The batpony turned around and was somewhat startled to see Twilight. Twilight looked a complete mess with her mane in every direction, she swore a tornado went through her hair. She also noticed the bags under her eyes and it seemed that sleep hadn’t been on the Princess's Agenda for quite a while. The batpony wanted to ask about it, but now wasn’t the time.

  “I’m here to ask you a follow-up question about Princess Cadence’s death,” she said

“Of course,” Twilight said, “But can’t this wait?”

“No, I’m afraid it can’t, your highness. We want to find the killer as soon as possible.”

“Of course, you’re right, can we talk about this in the hall?” Twilight asked her.

The batpony nodded and they walked to the main hall with the chairs and sat down. Lunar sneakily pressed the button on a cassette tape recorder Luna gave her.

“Witnesses said that you went after the assassin,” Lunar began.

“Yes,” said Twilight impatiently, “What is your question?”

“Did the assassin say anything to you before he died?” She asked.

“Yes, I remember, he said ‘May the Master guide us all’,” she told her and then hung her head low, “I still have no idea what it means.”

 The batpony turned off the recorder and walked over to Twilight, she saw she was in the verge of crying.

“Get out please,” Twilight said still looking the ground, “You got the info you need, now go.”

Lunar wanted to tell her everything would be alright, but she was right: she had no reason to stay. Leaving Twilight without a word she flew off towards Canterlot and went into Luna’s bedroom

“You got the tape?” She asked.

“Yes, Luna,” she said, putting the tape down on the ground.

“You may leave,” Luna ordered.

The batpony left the bedroom and Luna started to listen to the tape. After it was done, a smile appeared on her face.

“I should have known he was behind this”, she whispered to herself.

She gathered the photos from the crime scene, that she was given to her by her allies inside of the guard.  She then put them on the chalkboard of what she dubbed “The Web.”

“He’s stepping up his game, which means something bad is going to happen... and soon”, she whispered to herself as she looked at it.

~3 hours after Twilight’s Death~

The king of the griffons  was being dragged in chains while the ponies yelled at him, blaming him for taking Cadence.

“I’m not the culprit”, he shouted at them, fury at this injustice burning in his eyes.

They didn’t listen and continued to accuse him of the crime. He was dragged to the interrogation room inside the royal chambers in Canterlot, where Celestia  and some Solar and Lunar guards stood before him

“Tell me, how you did it?”, she asked calmly.

“I didn’t do it”, The King insisted, “I checked every one of my guards three times. No one was carrying any poison.”

“You’re lying!”, she howled, losing her temper with him almost instantly

“What intention would I have to lie to you, Celestia?”, he beseeched, “We are friends.”

Celestia was about to yell at him but bit her lip. After a few moments of silence, she ordered her guards to take him to the dungeons.

When the King fell asleep that night, dreaming of his kingdom, Luna was waiting for him in his dreams.

“Your majesty,” she said, walking to him,

“Hello Luna, where are you?”, he asked, “I didn’t see you with Celestia.”

“That was because my guards and  sister’s are watching every move I make. On top of that, I always have paperwork to fill out ”, she explained

“Looks like we are both pawns in somepony’s elaborate game”, The king said  looking at her

“The Master”,  she identified.

“Correct”, she nodded,

She then brought up a representation of her chalkboard of her investigation of the Master,   which the King eagerly examined.

“Wow, Luna, quite the investigation you’ve got here”, he said, scanning the board,“But I have been doing some digging myself, and there is one piece of information I have, but you don’t.”

“What is that... and before you continue, may I ask you how were you able to investigate this matter?”, she asked

“Fair enough -I’ll answer both questions.”

The dreamscape began to take form, and, under the king’s control, a series of images of past events appeared next to Luna’s board. Luna examined them closely, spending several minutes looking at each one.

“You see, it started when Cadence was assassinated and when I saw one of my subjects was the assassin. I ordered my top spies to investigate this matter. They learned the assassin was hired by a mysterious pony whom no one remembers much about, expect the he was a stallion  and paid tons of  bits for the assassin. I had my spies sent to Manehattan, as you know it’s where the assassination took place  We also  found  out that guards of Equestria - you and your sister’s guards - were worshipping this Master fellow. We kidnapped and interrogated one and  it turns out, this Master goes back further than anyone knew.”

Luna wanted to be angry, but they were not her guards. She then turned to him, slowly and asked, “How long?”

“About 1,000 years”, he revealed

“But how is that possible that he goes back that long?”, Luna asked in surprise

“That is the million bit  question Luna”, The King said with a smirk and disappeared from the dreamscape.

Luna opened her eyes. Getting up quickly, she went back to filing paper and looking over laws for the next couple of hours. After a while, there  came a knock at the door - it was Silver Swirl.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, your majesty, but the train that has Twilight has arrived. The funeral is to be held immediately,” he informed her, doing his best to keep his face neutral.

“Very well,” Luna said, getting up from her desk.

As she was with Silver, her thoughts wandered to who The Master could be. Her suspects were now down to two, The new captain in the Solar Guard or her butler. She felt that both had an equal chance of being The Master.  She wondered how she was going to confront these two suspects, but she put that to the back of her mind for now.  As she approached the cemetery, she saw her sister standing amongst the assembled mourners, and when she reached her, Celestia hugged her.

“I tried so hard to keep her safe , Luna, but I failed,” she said in between her sniffles and  tears rolling down her cheeks.

They continued to hug for another good minute. Luna let go once she saw Twilight’s coffin approaching, borne on the shoulders of six black-clad stallions, grim expressions on their faces. Luna unsteadily sat down on the wet grass and heard her sister’s speech. She did feel real sorrow for her sister, for her quest to find a pony to spend forever with was still in vain. It was Luna and Silver Swirl turn next. Silver spoke for both of them, which she found a little rude  because  the ponies in Canterlot trusted him more and Luna didn't feel like speaking. After everypony’s speech’s Luna went to the reception and hung with some guards. Glancing at Sliver, she was taken by a peculiar feeling that there was something off about him. She then walked over to Rarity who was taking with some fashion designers and having red wine.  

“Excuse me, Rarity, ” she called to her

“Yes Luna?” she turned around responded

“I want to talk to you in private”, Luna told her

“Of course, your majesty,” she said. Shen then put down her wine glass and excused herself from the conversation.

A flash of light from Luna’s horn enveloped them both, teleporting them to her room. She crossed quickly to  a filing cabinet and found a folder labeled “Sliver Swirl”.

“Rarity, can I trust you?” she asked.

“Well, of course,” he responded immediately, a little hurt.

“Because this is a top secret mission”, she informed, “So I ask again, can I trust you?”

“Yes. I would rather die than betray you Luna”, she told her

“I want  you and a few others you assign to thoroughly check out Sliver Swirl’s background. Check his references, education, family, and so on,” she explained. She passed him the folder on Silver Swirl and adding, “And tell no pony, besides the ones you assign for the task, of this.”

“Before we continue Luna, why Sliver and what has been going on with you? Ponies from all around said you locked yourself up?”, she asked with a concern looked on her face

“Well, my dear Rarity I have a hunch he’s the Master”, Luna told her with a serious look on her face

“Master who?”, she asked rolling her hooves

“Right getting ahead of ourselves”, she with embarrassed blush and coughed, “Right.”

She then told Rarity what has been happening over the past couple of  years and showed her the web Rarity's reactions  went from disgust to anger as Luna told her story and her findings

“So do you think this Master fellow is behind Twilight death as well?”, Rarity asked Luna going through Sliver’s folder

“Indeed Rarity”, Luna answered, “But I suspect he wanted to break her first which explains why he also killed Twilight Velvet and not just Night Light.”

“So he wanted Twilight to commit suicide?”, Rarity guessed

“Correct”, she said

“This Master must be stopped”, Rarity said  stomping her hoof  on the floor

Luna nodded in agreement with her

“So back to Silver, if I may be so bold, Luna”, she said trying to not get angry  while looking first at the folder, then at her, “Why didn’t you check out his background  before? Isn’t a requirement to check it before admitting a new member into the government.”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, almost spacing out, “It’s almost as though we trusted him the moment we met him.”

“So you never checked out his background?”, she asked.

“No,” she said, shaking her head, “I now think that we have been tricked. I asked you specifically to investigate this  mainly  for your eye for details and in this case, it's need, now go.”

After Rarity had left the room, Luna went back to her papers,while looking at her conspiracy web. Later that day, Celestia knocked on her door.

“You may come in,” Luna said, quickly using her magic to hide the board.

“Luna, I may have a suspect on who killed Twily and her parents,” said Celestia. She gestured towards a folder which she was holding with her magic.

“Who?” she asked, doing her best to hide her sorrow behind interest.

“Her name is Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia revealed, lowering the folder onto Luna’s desk. Inside was a picture of a unicorn with a flame-colored mane and dark yellow fur.

“Who is she?” Luna asked tilting her head to one side.

“She was my personal student   before Twilight. About a year ago, before I encountered Twilight, she and I had an argument  and she ran away from me. I tried tracing her movements across Equestria using my guards, but she  seemed to have vanished into thin air” she explained, “My hunch tells me that she was at Twilight’s coronation and that was the straw to break the camel’s back, so to speak.”

“That would explain motivation, but how was she able to poison Twilight?” Luna asked.

“There are some poisons out there, Luna, that harm ponies only,” Celestia reminded her.

“Of course,” Luna said, opening the folder, and examining the contents.“Unfortunately, I have  reached a dead end,” Celestia said, “And I know of your private investigation, but If I had the time I would help you but..”

“Say no more sister,” Luna said putting her hoof on Celestia’s shoulder, “I understand.”

~1 week later~

Luna was busy meditating in her dream world, as duty during the night to do so. She heard a knock on the door, exited the dream world and opened her eyes

“Come in”, she said

Rarity came into the door and she looked  as if she seen the ghost of her dead friends

“What is it?”, Luna asked and getting up, “What did you find?”

“The truth”, Rarity said handing Luna the folder she once gave him and Luna looked inside its content. Luna then handed her another folder

“Inside this folder is every batpony involved in The Master case. Find them and bring them here”, Luna asked Rarity

Rarity nodded and went to get them. After about a couple of hours, Luna’s room filled with every bat pony she knew who was one point another involved The Master’s investigation.

“For a while now, you know I have been investigating The Master case. Rarity and few  here  finally creaked the case”, she said  looking at them

“You finally found out who The Master is?”,one female bat pony asked

“Yes”, she said slowly, “This may be a lot to taken in.”

She in took out her board and the center  of it was Silver Swirl with words The Master be

“You’re kidding right?”, one bat pony asked

“At first, I didn’t believe it myself when Luan suspected him. I, along with few of you, found out that everything is Silver’s past is a lie”, Rarity begun to explain while looking at each of them, “His education, family, friends,  all of it is  a lie. One example, if you're curious, is that the house  the he grew up in was owned by a whole different family, they didn’t even personally know the stallion.”

“Then I asked for some  of you to ask some of the guards where The Prime Minster some said dates. Those dates were of specific events: The Changeling Genocide, Triek and Night’s life and his wife’s  Deaths, and every date on this board here”,  Rarity said looking board for a second and turning back to them, “You found out that he wasn’t around on those said time frames.”

  “From there I pieced everything together and I found out he is mostly working with Sunset, a former student of my sister wanting nothing more power and I believe that share a common goal. I came to the conclusion he is now working his way up the food chain and I'm next, most likely next. He’s working towards an endgame, but I don’t know what it is. I even tried looking into the future, but all I say was blackness or even sometimes fog”, Luna closing her eyes for second then opening them to see Bat ponies that were terrified ,some even shaking their hooves

“What should we  do Luna?”, one bat pony asked

“I want you and all your families to hide”, she instructed, “An event, I have a feeling,  is coming and Equestria will not  be prepared for it, I will confront the Master myself.  I pray for the safety of you all, dismiss.”

They left the room and Luna sighed

“Princess you don’t have to do this”, Rarity said

“I know, Rarity, but I have to”, she said

  “Here I want you to take this to bat pony waiting for you  by Starswirl the Bearded archives, so he can give it  Lyra in Ponyville, from tell her after she is done reading it to give it to AJ”, she said levitating a folder to Night and letting go of him

“Why Applejack?”, she asked grabbing  the folder  and putting a bag around him

“Because Rarity you know as well as I, she is the last hope in Equestria and the only one of two of the former elements that is out of the Master’s reach”, she explained as Rarity put the folder in the bag

“I understand, Luna, good luck”, she said, leaving  the room

She then took walk out to the hall of castles and went to two of her guards guarding the prime minister’s room

“Go get Sliver,  and tell him I knew who he is”, she told them

They at each other and left, after few moments she was knocked out from behind. The Master then came from the shadows  and he  looked at her with two unicorn guards with him

“So you figured it out”, he said with a smirk looking at Luna  and he then looked at the guards

Just then, two other guards, one pegasus from the solar guard and the other being an earth pony from the Lunar guard,  came to him

“We have captured Rarity”, they told him putting Rarity's unconsciousness body to the ground

“I was planning to...nevermind, but I need to know why?”, he asked

“We have been following her since she left Luna’s room and turns that she had a  folder. Its contents may most likely expose you”, the Lunar guard told him

“And she gave it to a bat pony”, the solar guard told him, “We tried following said bat pony, but he vanished.”

The Master wanted them to hunt down this bat pony, but instead he take a deep breath.

“Doesn’t matter”, he said, “I will expose myself soon anyway I want you to take Rarity to my TARDIS and get her ready for my ruling ”

“Yes, Master”, they said unison said grabbing Rarity  and walking away

“You two”, he said looking at the unicorn guards, “Lift Luna up and follow me.”

The unicorns then lifted Luna with their magic and followed him to a stone pillar and they went inside of it. The Master and guards took her to a  room that was completely made out of metal with two fans along the side walls, ceiling fan lighting up the room and with a semi long  brown table in the center. At the center of the table was a radio. The Master then pressed a button on the chair that Luna was placed in and it  her wings and limbs to the chair were locked down  by metal clamps. He  then turned on the radio and took a drink of the red wine on his side of the table. After a while, Luna came around as The Master was pouring some wine that was on his end of the table and she struggled a little bit.

“It's about time”, he said taking a drink and turning  down the radio, “And don’t try to do magic the fans in this room are sucking out all magic out if this room,  so you can’t use it. If you did you’ll be exhausted in a matter of minutes ”

“I see, should I call you Sliver or Master?”, she asked with a sour face

“Master should do nicely”, he said with a smile and sitting down, “Sliver was my cover name using  a  perception filter which, fogged your senses in order for you all to trust me and plus those papers about my background where all blank as well, physic paper. Anyway, It's about time you found me, I was getting bored of just leaving clues. Loved the music?  It comes from my own dimension .”

Luna looked unimpressed as a response, and instead asked him, “Why did you hire an assassin to kill Candace and Skyla?”,

“Because, my dear, I wanted a shift in power”, he said taking another sip, “in my direction because you princesses hold way too much power and there too many of you. I did my research and found some griffons and zebras  think that too.”

“And Night Light?”, she asked

 “Well to Equestria and your sister,  he went insane from witnessing  the aftermath of the first genocide in  Equestria”, he said with an evil smirk, “To your sister, she did some investigating on her own I made it seem that Sunset killed her. Just between you and me, I did kill them with my own hooves.”

“So you did her dirty work. So, what about the changelings, Triek, Discord, and Starlight?”, she asked with a disgusted look on her face

“Loose ends”, he said taking another sip a wine, “I have Discord in a quantum locked state in a room full of mirrors, so he’s stuck in stone for an eternity. Starlight was shot and killed, pity she could have been a worthy ally. Anyway, right now my ponies are going through your room and talking all the evidence and burning it, so  Tia will be unprepared for our takeover .”

“So that it then taking over Equestria is your endgame?”, she asked with an unimpressed look  

He then laughed, almost insanely, “No, no my endgame is the universe, not just this small world. I am timelord, not some centaur or bug; they are batch compared to me.”

He then put his wine glass down and walked over to Luna  slowly and said to her, “I know something you don’t Luna.  I made the Nightmare”

Luan was shocked, “You're lying.”

“Why would I lie to you now, when there is no pony in here expect you and me. Plus, who else would have been whispering in ear all those years, your own shadow?  Please . On a related matter, do you know why I choose the name Sliver Swirl?”

There was fear in Luna’s eyes as he whispered the answer into her ear. After he was  done whispering Luna’s face  went from complete shock to that of terror while the Master’s went into an evil grin.

“No, it can't be”, she said starting to struggle again

The Master then  walked over to his end of the table, put on a gas mask, and pressed a button underneath the table.

  “What are you doing?”, she then saw the room being filled with gas and she started to cough and started to feel dizzy and managed to say , “You’ll lose.”

“Not this time”, he said with playful smile

Luna at that point hit her head on the table and went into unconsciousness. After the gas dissipated, the Master pressed another button his table and two unicorns entered the room.  

“Take her to the torture room I have prepared for her”, he said, “I want to see her suffer as she watches her whole world burn.”

The unicorns then dragged Luna out of the room.The Master then turn the radio back up and took another sip of wine.

Chapter 9

Spike and The Doctor were being tosses around the TARDIS control like ragdolls. The Doctor grabbed onto the control the panel, used his magic to lock his hooves to the ground and looked at Dash who had a smile on her face

“Oh you just have to be flying”, he said with sarcastic tone to her

“Well watching you two getting thrown around is pretty fun”, she said with gleeful smile

He then looked at the monitor and saw that they were about to crash into a building.

“Oh course we are about to hit something; I’ll try to prepare for emergency materialization. So we don’t crash”, he told them

He then used his magic and hooves to pull and press a couple of levers and before he could press the last lever, they crashed through the building causing the TARDIS to landsides. On the inside, Dash and Spike land on top one another against the door.

         “Ok let me fix that”, he told them

He pressed a switch and lever casing the TARDIS to materializing vertically, like it should. This caused Spike and Dash to get off out of each other

“You don’t know how to drive this thing do you?”, she asked reengaging her balance and saw  The Doctor and Spike holding on to the console

“You know your mother said to me too once”, he said to Dash , “And you know what I said to her?”

“What?”, she asked with a faint smile of curiosity

“Shut it”, he said going towards her and collecting himself and Spike did the same, “But enough of being rude here.”

 “I welcome you Dash to the past, but first let say this first your cover name is Rainbow Cloud”, The Doctor as Spike approached them, “And Spike your is Thrones.”

“This is going to be awesome”, she said throwing a hoof in the air and Spike nodded in agreement with the Doctor, “But why are we getting aliases?”

“Because if you tell Celestia anything that happens in her future, your time, it will cause I’ll sort catastrophes.”

“Like?”, Dash asked

“Time itself being unravel for one”, he told her, “So ladies first.”

The gang looked around upon the doors and looked around; they arrived in Luna’s throne. The room was almost dark and light from the daytime shaded some the room and there were dust particles in the air. There was also dark blue with moons symbols all around and a throne room and the windows were painted with some Luna’s accomplishments such as getting her cutie mark .

“Oh this is not good”, Spike said closing the TARDIS’ door

“What, it’s just Luna’s room”, Rainbow said

“Exactly, if my TARDIS landed where I think we landed were in the era where Luna is still banished on the moon and by deduction this  room is locked down”, The Doctor explained to them

“Which means”, Spike said as doors slammed open, “Right on que.”

Moments later they were surrounded by Solar Guards

“Halt Intruder”, said one of them

Moments later, the captain of the solar guard went to him

“State who you three are, your intention, and why you broke into a forbidden room in the castle”, he ordered them

“Doctor, Thrones, and Rainbow Cloud ”, he told them and taking out a bag from his pocket, “Fun, by accident, sorry  and can offer you some chocolate?”

“Doctor?”, he said with a surprising look and taking chocolate from his bag  

“Yes, I do believe the princess knows me”, he told him and eating one himself

“Indeed she has mentioned you and few others if you are to arrive, the highest guard, being me, is to escort you and your companion or companions to her ASAP”, he  explained finishing off the chocolate ball and then looked the guards, “Leave us.”

The guards then left the room and he looked at The Doctor and the rest and told them to follow him. As they were walking, The Doctor then thought about the last time he talked to Celestia.

~

50 years earlier

Celestia was crying in her room in the ruins of her castle, it was a little over week since Canterlot was built by her and her mentor, Starswirl. She made sure to build a room for Luna, if she did decide to come back and she did find a way for her to be reformed from that monster.

She then heard a familiar sound she hadn’t heard since before this whole mess begun. She heard this sound, her feelings went from sadness to anger. She turned around and saw a Blue Box not far from where she was laying down. A brown pony then came out of it with a sorrow look on his face as he closed the doors

“You”, she standing up and pinned The Doctor against the wall with her magic, “You could have stopped all of this from happening.”

“I tried”, he said looking at her

“No you didn’t”,she with cold tone in her voice

“I did!”, he shouted with a cold look in his eyes

A knock then came the doors

“Is everything alright in in there, princess?”, a guard asked

“Yes!”, she answered back and then she looked back at the the Doctor “Care to explain?”

“I tried my best to prevent Nightmare Moon from coming into being, even though it was fixed point in time. You see, one year before the Nightmare came I said to check your ego and I kept warning you every week”, he explains, “But you didn’t listen to me and went ahead and ignored her. You, her own flesh and blood.”

She and The Doctor remained in silence for quite some time.

“I’m sorry, but I was caught in my duties and teachings with Starswirl”, she said almost starting to cry , “I should have listened.”

The Doctor then hugged Celestia and she began to cry in his fur  

“You’re the closest thing I have had to sibling”, he said, “Don’t forget that.”

~

The Doctor, Spike and Rainbow Dash entered the throne room. Celestia glanced up from her paperwork and saw them

“Metal Armor”, she said, “Who are these ponies?”

He took his helmet to reveal a gray mane

“Your highness, the dragon’s name is Thrones and the two ponies are Rainbow Cloud and The Doctor”, he explained

“Doctor?”, she asked looking at the blue stallion

“Hello sis”, he said with a smile

Celestia hugged the Doctor while Spike and Dash looked at each other in confused. The Doctor coughed and looked at them

“I should explain, since we are both very old and practically immortal by all means, we look to each other as metaphorical siblings”, he explained

 “But why do you look different?”, she asked with a confused look

“Your highness”, the captain said with a cough

“Right that has to wait until tonight”, she said, “Follow me.”

The Doctor and his companions walked with Celestia to local Canterlot hospital. Where guards were stationed outside on the entrance of the room.  They then entered the bedroom and Doctor and Spike were shocked at who they saw on the bed; Starswirl the Bearded.

“Doctor, I need your help”, she said, “Starswirl is dying.”  

The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and scanned him . The sonic  a foot long and was golden and lighted with alot sorts of colors, it represented that close to a rainbow.

“He’s alive”, he said looking at he said looking at his screwdriver, “But barely. A spell is keeping him alive.”

“Correct,Doctor”, Celestia nodded in approval , “Starswirl discovered this life support spell when I was just filly and that spell is the only keeping him from dying.”

Celestia looked down at him and at the Doctor who had stone cold frown on his face

        “I want to save him Doctor”, she bagged

        “I can’t”, he told her

        “Cant or wont?”, Celestia questioned with a growl

        In response to this Spike singled Dash to leave the room

        “Can’t”, he said

        “Doctor”, she growled

        “I’m sorry Celestia as friend once told me, Everything, no matter world or relationship, ends”, he told with cold look in his eyes

        Celestia then stomped her hoof on the ground and she started to cry and the Doctor hugged

        “I’m sorry”, he said to her, “I wish I could do something, but I cant.”

        “I will set up rooms for all three of you”, she quietly, “Now get out!”

The Doctor stopped hugging and  looked at Starswirl and narrowed his eyes and  then left the room. As he was leaving he had his head down and he approached Dash and Spike.

“We need talk,” he said, “In private.  follow me.”

Spike and Dash walked to the castle. As they were walking the building was being watched by couple of hooded ponies in an abandoned house across the street

“Sir when should go in?”, one of them asked

“Shortly”, another one said , “Once our spy signals us I will get back my body because its time.”

The Doctor and others reached the room Celestia rented for them and opened it. The room had 3 beds in from in a circle. Each bed had a white blanket with Celestia cutie mark on it. To left of the rooms was a hallway to the bathroom and to the right of another near the entrance was bookcase with some books nicely organized. Across from the entrance lead into a balcony. The Doctor was about to go onto the balcony.

“Since now we are alone”, Dash thought

“What happen to you Doctor?”, she asked , “Last time we meet you’re a brown earth pony with Derpy now you’re a Blue Unicorn who loves chocolate and is traveling with Spike.”

“It's a long story”, he said looking down

Dash sat down and cross her hooves

“We have the  time”, she said

The Doctor looked at Spike and he nodded and shrugged

“You see me, Dinky …”

“Who’s Dinky?”, Dash asked

“My and Derpy’s artificially created daughter, which another long story, but that’s not the point now. The point is Derpy and Dinky were sent back into the past about 50,000 years ago before your time Dash; they were shopping before all that happen. You see, it was trap made the Dalek who started the Time War, The Time Controller, who  escaped  to this universe . They then went to war with the alicorns.”

         “So what happen to the alicorns?”, she asked as sat down along with Spike.

“As I said, Dinky and Derpy were abducted from their own times to the last year of the Alicorn-Dalek on Aesir.”

“I arrived in the last week of the war and well they changed. Derpy looked like old mare who had seen too much and Dinky well she no longer my daughter, she was now a product of the war;  I meet with last alicorns which included a filly Celestia and a newborn Luna. Their plan was to get to shuttle and take to this planet.”

“So what happen?”, Dash asked

“Our plan was pretty simple, get alicorns off the planet using the shuttle and blow the planet using the bomb that was delivered to the core but there were a couple problems. Somepony need to distract the Daleks. Dinky offered, but Derpy and I refused her offer . The plan in the beginning  was to lure  all the Daleks of the promise of a device that can transformed  any species into anything.”

Spike rolled his eyes as Dash did too

“Yeah I would even pick out it was a lie but the alicorns pulled off it pretty well. There was one problem, the bomb that was planted into the core, it was never delivered, which was the second problem.”

“Why didn’t it get delivered?”, Dash asked

“Short and simple: They were betrayed by a mad alicorn  who worshiped the Daleks. So Derpy offered to take it and I said no because I didn’t want her to leave me and I forced her to stay. The next thing, I knew she left behind my back halfway between the drop zone and the bomb.”

Dash was still interested while Spike went into the hallways to explore for a bit. The Doctor took a minute to collect himself.

“This is where things went from bad to worse. In order for the remaining alicorns to get to the ship. Somepony need to distract the Dalek waiting at the ship. So I offered myself up and they took my to their leader, the Time Controller.  Unknowingly, the there was trap set for my daughter and the alicorns ,it was ambush and there were waiting by the ship. I watched them helplessly defend themselves and Dinky getting everyone aboard. Dinky was shot,but as she was going to regenerate, but  she was shot again. Luckily she bought enough time for them to get aboard the ship getting away from the planet was another matter entirely. This when Derpy took a ship with the bomb on it and told me to get out of there and I ran for the teleport. I got to the teleporter and managed to teleport a mile within my TARDIS. I looked up and saw her ship exploded, and cried so hard and then I was knocked out. I woke up and saw the world around me exploding and I knew I had no time as the toxic fumes and the radiation from the bomb was killing me and it  was painful getting to my TARDIS. I barely managed to get to her and I told her to get out me of here, I passed out, and then I regenerated.”

“I can take it from here”, Spike said

“A couple of ponies found you in the outskirts of Vanhoover and well you woke up, told me you who are, and we went adventures and here we are Dash.”

Dash yawed

“Was the story boring?”, The Doctor ask with bewildered look on his face

“No, but I am mentally exhausted from today”, she said getting to a bed

“Okay good ni—“Spike said, but before he could finish Dash was out and snoring

“My goodness she snores louder than Derpy ”, The Doctor said

Spike chuckled, “Yep. One time when the girls a had a sleepover in the tree house. I had to go down to the lab in order to sleep because of  Dash’s snores."

The Doctor gave serious look on his face

“What are you thinking?”, Spike asked him in a quiet voice

“Last time we were in Canterlot we dug his grave.... ”, The Doctor replied in a similar tone

“And found nothing", Spike finished

“Correct”, he said

“So you suggest that we should investigate Starswirl?”, Spike asked

“Prosaically and maybe will get some answers to who he actually  is”, The Doctor said with an inquisitive look on his face