Avatar: The Last Alicorn. Book 4: Alicorn

by Jeweled Pen

First published 23rd of February, 2015

Book four of the Avatar series, with Discord free and the story under his control, what danger awaits our heroes?

The story is done, the battle lost. With Discord free to run rampant, will Twilight and the others be able to stop him? What cruel and twisted plots does he have in mind for them and, more importantly, what does he have in store for the elements themselves? The final book in the Avatar series starts now!
Special thanks to Angel_Bunny for editing the chapters for me
Please enjoy!

Full collection:
Avatar the Last Alicorn:
Book 1.
Book 2.
Book 3.
Book 4.

Legend of Diamond Tiara:
Book 1.
Book 2.
Book 3.
Book 4.

Disclaimer: "Avatar: the Last Airbender" and all associated characters, storylines, and materials belong to Nickelodeon and were created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino.
Artwork is by me editing the error message from Fimfiction.

Chapter 1: My Little Pony

“Ah hah hah hah hah!” The laughter echoed through the ruins and wreckage of the once proud capital. The dust hung in the air for a few moments, before suddenly sprouting wings and fluttering off, revealing the creature within.

His head was horse-like, with a goat and reindeer horn protruding from his forehead. A single long fang, a goat beard and thick, bushy eyebrows. His right arm was thick and furred, like that of a lion while his left was the claw like that of a griffon's. His right leg was like a dragon's, and the left leg of a goat. His right wing was like a bats, while his left wing was that of a pegasi. His body was long and serpentine, going from gray to brown to red at the tip, that was scaled and had a little tuft of white fur.

Twilight, the purple alicorn with a dual colored purple mane, stared at him with wide, frightened eyes. “D-discord,” she said weakly. “N-no, it... how? W-we couldn't... how did you... Trixie! How could you?” she screamed at the blue unicorn across the room.

“Win? Quite easily,” the mare said, chuckling. “Thanks to the help from the little princess over there.” She gestured to a white unicorn with a purple mane.

The princess, Rarity, groaned as she looked down. Around her neck a golden necklace glittered. However, the gem inside it was now cracked and oozing black smoke. “What did you do to my element, what--”

“Now now, there's no need to fight,” the creature said as he stepped off the remains of the stone pillar he had been standing on. He looked around at the unconscious unicorns that were strewn across the floor. “My my, Avatar, you sure do like to make a mess of things, don't you?” He shook his head and tut-tutted.

“Discord! I don't know... how you did all this, but... but... yah!” She threw her head forward and fire shot out at the creature. It engulfed the creature and for a few seconds she held the flame going. When it died, the creature was nowhere in sight. “I... I did it,” she said softly. “That was so... easy? How--”

“Really, you must be more careful with that fire,” Discord said from behind her with a shake of his head as he ate a small melted graham cracker between chunks of chocolate. “You could hurt someone. Or somepony.”

“Enough of this!” a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane yelled. She surged forward. Discord disappeared, leaving only his chocolate behind. It exploded on the mare, leaving her coated in it as she crashed to the floor, though the chocolate poofed out to cushion the fall. Discord stood over her and shook his head.

“My my. Rainbow. Always so quick to charge in, aren't you?” He reached down and picked her up by her wing, making her yelp. “The loyal one, correct? Though, I can't help but wonder how loyal you'd be if your friends didn't react the same.” He paused and then let her go. “Blind, too? See, this is why you must be more careful. Why, I--” A rock slammed into his face, making him stumble back and hold his nose. “Now that wasn't very nice, Applejack.”

The earth pony with an orange mane glared back at him. “Ah wasn't tryin' tah be nice. Get away from mah friend.” She lifted her hoof up as... Discord popped out of the ground under her hoof instead of a rock.

“What is it with you hot headed types? All about fighting and throwing things.” He grinned slowly. “Element of honesty, are you not? Kind of a waste, isn't it? Since when has a little lie ever caused any harm?”

Applejack stared down at the creature, before driving her hoof down. His head burst, filling the air with balloons. A small pink earth pony with a wild, darker pink mane giggled wildly at the trick. One of the balloons hovered over. “See? Now this pony gets it. Isn't that right, Pinkie? After all, there's just soooo much in this world to laugh about. Almost makes it too easy.”

“What... what have you done to my element, you monster?” Rarity asked, looked down at the gem. “It was...”

“Done to it? Why, nothing you need to worry about.” The darkness spilling from it took the form of Discord's head and left arm as he gently patted her head. “And generosity. You've had to give up so much to join Twilight, haven't you? Then again, it's not hard to give up things when they aren't how you want them, is it?”

“Leave her alone!” Twilight yelled before charging him. He disappeared, making her run into the princess. “Ahhh! S-sorry!” she said as she fell back on her flank.

Rarity stumbled back, before shaking her head. “I-it's quite alright. Look!” She held up her element, the darkness gone. “I-I think it's fixed. Your element must have done it when we crashed into each other!”

“Oh dear,” Discord said, before smiling to the last member of their group, a small yellow pegasus with a pink mane. “I guess this means it's time we fight, isn't that right, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy gulped and took a step back.

He chuckled. “Come along, my dear. What good is kindness without the courage to use it?”

“Discord!” Twilight yelled before turning on him. “It's time for you to pay for what you've done. All those lives you've destroyed, all those-- AHHH!” She let out a yelp as suddenly two unicorns dropped on her. A dark blue one with a clear, flowing mane and an older, larger white one with a clear flowing mane.

“Sister!” the two said in unison, confusion etched on their faces.

“Sorry, my apologies,” Discord said with a wave of his hand. “It just didn't feel right with just the seven of us here. I had to bring the princesses, for old times sake.”

“Niece, what's going on?” the white unicorn, Celestia, asked.

“Auntie, this... this is Discord. He's...” Rarity struggled to find the right word. “Something else.”

“GET OFF ME!” Twilight yelled, her frustration growing. Everything was just so... weird. She could feel herself being sucked up into his... whatever he was. Throwing her off.

“What? Avatar? Oh! My apologies!” Celestia said before climbing off the alicorn.

“... I have won!” the other mare, Luna, said. She pinned the mare down, before being yanked off by her tail.

“Mother. Now is NOT the time,” Rarity hissed, glaring down at the dark coated unicorn.

“But... I... a-apologies...”

“Ugh, really?” Discord shook his head. “Where's that fire, that spunk? That 'take what I want' attitude? I thought--”

“DISCORD!” Trixie yelled, stomping a hoof. “You're forgetting something.” She spread out her dark, clear purple wings in emphasis.

“Ugh. Always so pushy, this one. I see why you drove her out of town that time,” Discord said before snapping his fingers.

Trixie let out a loud scream and fell to the ground, rolling around in pain. From her sides, dark purple wings, true wings, began to grow out and replace the ones of magic. She laid there for a few moments once it was done, whimpering. “T-there, s-see? I-I totally... h-have all the power... I-I want now... Oh hoh... hoh hoh... ow...” Her horn glowed and a little puff of fire shot out. “W-what? Discord! We had a deal!”

He chuckled. “What? I said I'd give you the avatar's power. If you want to learn how to use it, you'll just have to practice.”

“That's, that's not fair!”

The spirit shrugged and looked back to the eight ponies that now opposed him. “You were saying?”

Twilight just stared, her mouth hanging open. This... creature was just... there were no words. She had no idea what was going on anymore, did he really just GIVE Trixie those kinds of powers? With a snap of his fingers? That didn't even, how could he? He wasn't even being actively hostile. Rude, yes. But hostile? She then glanced to Luna. She thought about all those ponies who had died. Who were still dying. The fight that was going on not that far from them. Everything. It all boiled down to this creature.

Behind it's jokes, strange behavior and... oddly comedic movements, beat a heart of pure darkness. She would not allow it to destroy any more lives. “Girls, to me!” she said swiftly. Her friends quickly gathered around her. “Discord. For all your crimes, for all those lives you destroyed, we'll end you.”

He chuckled softly and held out his hands in a peaceful manner. “Whatever for? I'm completely innocent. It wasn't I who killed and enslaved the Fire Tribes. In fact, I find murder to be so boring. Not my style at all, once someone dies, the fun ends. I didn't try to wipe out all those other nations, or capture your little friends, or even summon an ursa minor to destroy Cloudsdale. Oh, you must tell me what you thought of them. I was going to go animal crackers, but I felt gummy bears suited them so much better.”

Twilight stared at the creature, opening and closing her mouth a few times. This wasn't at all how she imagined this fight would go. Though, frankly, she'd never imagined this fight would happen at all. “No. You've twisted and turned these poor ponies into monsters. Made them cruel and--”

“Objection!” Discord said, suddenly appearing in a black suit, thick rimmed glasses and with his hair slicked back. “I did nothing of the sort.” He picked up Luna and dangled her in the air.

“Unhand me you-- mmph!” Her mouth was suddenly zipped shut.

“Just look at this poor, defenseless pony. All she ever wanted to do was be as powerful and loved as her big sister. It wasn't her fault that everypony wanted her sister to rule. Why, such a thing can drive a pony to madness.” He grinned, his eyes turning purple. “Why, all I did was give her the drive to pursue her goals. How she went about it was her choice.” He dropped the unicorn dismissively. He then grabbed Celestia, pulling her into the air. “Now, if you want to see me change a pony into some kind of monster...” A dark, purple glow enveloped the unicorn as she screamed.

Twilight surged forward, sending a gust of wind out as she head butted the creature. He bounced back into place like rubber, sending the alicorn toppling back through the air with a shriek. He did, however, drop Celestia. “Really? You could have just asked nicely.”

The avatar laid on the ground, confusion on her face before slowly getting up. “Enough, Discord. No more games, no more excuses. This ends now. We will-- GET BACK HERE!” she yelled. She just stared in disbelief as the creature ran away. He was actually running away! From them! She could hardly believe this was the evil, wicked, impossibly mighty creature they'd spent the last year trying to stop. None the less, she knew appearances had to be deceiving. It kept throwing her off. She knew she should be angry and chasing after him, but--

“Ack! He's getting away! Come on, girls!” She couldn't allow herself to be distracted. If Discord won now, who knew what would happen to the world? She paused again before galloping after him, her friends following after. She just wished she couldn't notice that he was skating barefoot on the grass. And that Pinkie was somehow doing the same. One thing at a time.

“Ugh, this story has been so boring lately, hasn't it? So dark and moody? Bleh,” Discord said as he came to a stop, glancing back to the ponies. “Don't you think it's time for a bit more fun?” He chuckled darkly before snapping his fingers.

The ground began to shake, making the ponies struggle to stand as they dug their hooves into the ground. Behind Discord, the dirt and mud began to rise up and be shoved aside. A strange black star, shaped like Twilight's cutie mark, began to rise from the ground. It took the ponies a few seconds to realize it was chocolate. It was attached to a building made of graham crackers, which was in turn attached to a tree made of crystallized sugar. Discord chuckled softly. “Come, come, let's play,” he said with another wicked grin. “I think you'll find you know the way.” He opened the graham cracker door and disappeared inside.

Twilight stopped and stared at the castle, gulping. “Let's... not do that.” She shoved her hoof out and a boulder slammed out, crashing into the castle. It bounced off harmlessly. She tried fire next, to similar effect. “Oh. That's...”

“Don't... don't forget about me, ow,” Trixie said as she limped towards them. “F-fear my new bending powers, yah!” She flung her head forward and a little ball of fire fell to the ground. She stomp her foot and a small piece of dirt bounced a few feet towards them.

“Now that's jus' sad,” Applejack said with a shake of her head, before stomping a hoof and burying the mare in mud. “Ah don't think we have much choice. He's got the power tah give that wind bag fire bendin', ah think he'll be able tah make his lil fort impervious tah anything we can do.”

Twilight gulped and slowly nodded. She pulled the door open and stepped inside. The walls and floor were made of candy as well. She held out her hoof and tried to bend the earth through it. There was no reaction. “I... think he's trying to cut us off from our bending. Girls, stick close.” They gave a swift nod and, together, they stepped into the candy palace.

The door slammed shut behind them, making them jump. A moment later torches lined across the hall came alight. “Welcome, welcome! If you wish to find me, well, I'll be on your precious little throne. I even brought your friend,” Discord's voice echoed through the castle.

“AHHHHH!” Spike screamed.

“SPIKE!” Twilight yelled before trying to gallop off. She was pulled to a stop by her tail.

“Easy there, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a shake of her head, her hoof pinning the alicorn's tail down. “We go rushin' off, we're gonna run inta trouble. As long as we're together, we got the elements. We'll be fine.”

“I just don't understand what happened,” Rarity said as she looked down at her cracked element. “It was so... but now it's just...”

“He's more powerful than anything we've ever faced,” Twilight said softly, before nodding to her friends. “Applejack's right. We need to go together, no rushing into things.” She took a deep breath. “Spike, I'm sorry. I swear I'm on the way. Just... be brave for a little longer.”

The friends walked through the castle and, to Twilight's surprise, nothing happened. The candy was harmless, the torches lit the way. In fact, the place seemed almost... normal. As normal as a castle made of candy could be, at least. Discord didn't even taunt them or anything. It was all so... strange. They kept close together as they walked and looked through the rooms.

“Is this really all he wants to do?” Rainbow finally snapped, shaking her head. “Some kind of all powerful and evil spirit, and he just wants to play hide and seek? This is a waste of time, we--”

“Don't underestimate him,” Twilight said quickly. “He's a spirit, yes. But look at how powerful he is. He's in our realm now, but look how easily he alters it. He's only just returned, too. If this is him while weakened... I don't want to imagine him at full power.”

The group hesitated for a moment with that thought, before walking faster.

They soon came to a room with seven thrones, six of them pony sized with their cutie marks emblazoned on the backs. Discord was sitting on the one with Twilight's cutie mark, besides the last throne, a tiny one, holding Spike. It was actually holding him to it with its arms. They seemed to be made of candy as well, jawbreakers.

“This is the end, Discord,” Twilight said as she looked back and forth, searching for some trap, some hidden... something. Anything. This was all too easy.

“Really? So you'd just like to surrender? That would make things quicker,” Discord said dismissively as he waved a hand and continued nailing his files.

“No, we're going to end you. What is this place? Why did you make us come here? Why did you bring Spike?”

“Why? Well, my dear,” a grin formed on his lips as he tossed the nails back against the wall. “What fun is winning without an audience? I'd have preferred something... bigger, but time is of the essence. Now, if you'll wait a few weeks we could--”

“ENOUGH!” Twilight said, stomping her hoof down.

“Oh dear, I do believe you are getting quite angry,” he said with a shake of his head. “Now, is that any way to act in front of your friends? After all, what good would you be without them?”

“That don't matter one lick,” Applejack said. “Cause we're about tah send yah packin' back where yah came from.”

Discord nodded and leaned back in his chair. “Oh, very well. You've come this far. I do believe I should at least offer you the privilege of the first shot. If you would be so kind?” He pulled out a bucket of popping corn, tossing them into his mouth as they sparkled. “Oh, that tickles.”

Twilight blinked a few times. How could this thing possibly be a threat? No matter. She shook her head as her element began to glow. “Very well. Goodbye, Discord!”

The other elements began to glow as well as the group was enveloped in a purple, magic orb. They began to rise from the ground, the magical energies surrounding them. Twilight's crown glowed brilliantly as she pulled her head back.

“Oh, as if it would be THAT easy,” Discord said before holding out his hand.

Rarity screamed, darkness erupting from her element again. The purple magic around them began to darken and shake as the element bearers were assaulted by its foul magics. Twilight struggled to control the magic, her horn flickering and her element shimmering. She held out her hoof and tried to send out the blast at Discord.

Then the spirit was there, directly in front of them. “I win.” The remaining five elements cracked.

“NO!” Twilight screamed, gathering the magic in her horn. They'd come too far, worked too hard. Slowly, she pushed the darkness back. “You don't win!” Her friends power joined with hers as, inch by inch they drove the evil away. “Today the world is saved!” She gave a mighty battle cry before thrusting her head forward. The magic shot out, enveloping Discord in a rainbow of magic.

“NO! Impossible!” he screamed, struggling to shake off the power. “You can't! You mustn't!” The magic swirled faster and faster, enveloping the creature. The group fell to the ground, exhaustion enveloping them. Then the rainbow dispersed.

Discord lay on the ground, a stone statue staring with a horrified expression.

“W-we did it,” Twilight whispered, a triumphant grin on her face. “We finally did it. We've won!”

“A little help?” Spike asked, looking up at them.

“Huh? Oh! Right!” the alicorn said as she stepped towards the chair.

There was a rumble. She froze. “What... was that?”

“Sugarcube, what exactly was holding this here castle together?” Applejack asked nervously.

“Discord. His magic was... oh.” Twilight ran to Spike and gave the chair a mighty buck. It crumbled under the attack and she picked the dragon up in her magic and tossed him on her back. “Come on girls, we're leaving!”

There was no objection as the group ran out the way they came, galloping down the halls as the building collapsed around them. They made it down to the ground floor, when suddenly the tunnel ahead of them collapsed, blocking them in. Twilight stepped back and turned to the stairs. “We'll go back up, we can try escaping out a win--” There was a crash as the stairs began falling apart., raining jagged shards of candy down on them. “Come on!” She turned and galloped towards the nearest door, her friends following behind. They barely made it into the room as the stairway collapsed behind them. Unfortunately, they were now trapped, with the roof beginning to crack. “Oh no, oh no no no no!” the alicorn said as she looked around.

“Twilight, calm down,” Rainbow yelled.

“What are we going to do? I can't--”

“Teleport us out of here! Remember? Use the elements!”

Twilight froze and stared. How could she miss that? The BLIND could literally see it. She shook her head. “Okay, everypony get ready!” she ordered. Their elements crackled, but refused to come to life. “Come on, come on!” she yelled, pacing in a small circle around her friends. “Activate, work! Please!” she begged as a small tile fell down besides her. She struggled desperately to get it to work, but her magic refused. There was a terrible crack from above and she looked up.

The roof collapsed in as her element came alive, blinding everypony. When she could see again, she was outside. “We... we did it! We're out!” She had only a moment to see the castle before it collapsed into a small pile of destroyed candy. But it didn't matter, they'd won. “Girls, we--”

The words caught in her throat as she looked around. None of them were with her. She was all alone. Spike wasn't even on her back. It took many seconds before her horrified mind could process what happened. She turned towards the rubble, her eyes widening. “No. No no. No please no.” She galloped towards it, tears forming in her eyes as she galloped over the shards of candy. Her horn glowed as she began picking up and throwing every chunk she could, before jumping back. She stomped a hoof down and the ground began lifting up, tossing aside huge chunks of the debris. “No no no no!”

She stopped when her world fell apart around her. A small blue hoof stuck out from the rubble, covered in blood and crushed from the collapsed building.

Twilight fell on her flank, staring at the destruction ahead of her. Every ounce of energy drained from her. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be.

“Ah hah, I've done it!” Trixie yelled as she jumped. “Prepare for the might of--” Her wings didn't hold her for long as she face planted into the ground. “Ow...”

Author's Notes:

For those who are curious about the descriptions of ponies, instead of names: It's the first chapter, so I tried to give a little bit. I tried to keep it down though. Hope you all are looking forward to the new book.

Chapter 2: I used to wonder

Twilight stared, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. She'd been staring at it for so very, very long. There were now hundreds, thousands of ponies surrounding the laid out bodies of her friends.

They looked so peaceful, aside from the blood. It had likely been a quick, if brutal death. Even Spike was laying there, his scales cracked and broken. The gem in the necklace around his throat shattered. The elements themselves were still on her friends, though the collapsed roof had bent most of them.

She just stared at the bodies and the soldiers stared at her. She'd won. Nightmare Moon was no more. There were still soldiers, but there was nopony to lead them. Luna had submitted to the will of her elder sister, and now Celestia was directing the troops. The dismantling of the Water Nation forces. The end. It was all over, everything she'd worked for. Now it was just like before she had disappeared.

Yet, she felt so empty. She'd managed to unbury her friends, but they were long gone. Nothing remaining in their wracked bodies.

Rainbow Dash had been the first to be unburied. Their fastest member, a true fighter. She'd been with her since the beginning. Always first into a fight, the best air bender she'd ever known. In many ways, she was the second in command of the group. Someone Twilight could trust to take charge if anything happened to her. She'd have probably thought it was funny, in a dark way, that she was found first. Always there for her friends, no matter what. Even with the loss of her sight, she'd refused to give up.

Fluttershy had been second. It had been the second cruelest of all. Seeing her once kind, loving friend on the ground, broken and battered. The mare who had, for the longest time, taken care of them. Every cut or scrape was tended by her with the gentlest of care. It didn't matter how much they whined or complained, or how tired they were. She was always there to give a gentle, caring word. Always there to support them. Seeing her broken in such a brutal fashion was a cruel joke from the universe. Even when she had been frightened, she'd still gather up the courage to fight any of their enemies, even a massive dragon.

The third had been Pinkie. That had been when her tears had run out. There was only so many she could give. But there was no longer a release for her grief at that point. The joker, the funny mare. The one who always found a way to make them laugh, but knew when to take things seriously. Twilight didn't know if they would have made it this far without her. Even if Pinkie wasn't the best fighter, she was always there to encourage them. Always motivate them. Make the darkness and pain a little more bearable.

Applejack had been the fourth. One of her newest friends, it didn't make the pain any less. Her earth bending master, the only pony to have ever performed metal bending. Just as stubborn, if not more so, than Rainbow. Level headed and able to focus under pressure. She helped keep the group in line, from pushing too far. From going too wild. She had been another pillar for them. A great cook, too.

Rarity had been fifth. An old enemy turned friend. Twilight knew she'd never have another like her. The journey would have been impossible if not for her occasional help. When she became an ally, even with the problems and enemies she'd brought, it had been wondrous. They'd finally succeeded. Managed to rescue everypony, end this war. Save her mother from Discord's control. Now she'd never get a chance to really know her family again.

Spike had been the last. He had been the worst. He wasn't supposed to be here. She left him behind, where it was safe. He was supposed to be safe. He was just a BABY! He'd been with her since near the beginning, but how long had she practically ignored him? Half the time it was her, her friends and Spike. She'd even forgotten he was part of the group sometimes. Just her little assistant, not a part of this war. Then she'd lost him once. It had been Rarity who'd found him. She'd had a second chance and she meant to use it well. To keep him safe. But she'd failed. There wouldn't be a third chance.

The war was over, this was supposed to be a time for celebration. For cheering. But she couldn't, not now. How many had died? How many more would still die from the smaller skirmishes? She thought those had hurt, knowing all the nameless, faceless ponies were dying and she couldn't stop them. But they were like a tiny pinch on the hoof compared to this stab in the heart.

Some of the soldiers tried to talk with her, she ignored them. One pony tried to touch her friends, she sent them hurtling through the ranks with a wave of her hoof. She nearly did the same to Luna and Celestia, before she realized who they were. Their daughter, their niece. Gone forever.

The war was over. But there was still much that had to be done. So much pain that had to be mended. There would be no celebration. No relaxation. She had so much work to do, things she had to do. Ponies needed her to do.

But they would wait. For now she just starred at their corpses. Her friends. And wished she'd had the good fortune to have teleported them out instead.

------

Twilight nodded slowly as she looked over the reports laid in front of her. She merely nodded in place, only giving them the smallest of glances. She couldn't even read them if she wanted to. Her eyes were blurry and tired and she knew she should be in bed. But sleep led to dreams and dreams sometimes led to her friends.

“Avatar,” one of the ponies at the table asked. She barely even registered which one it was. Ember? Ashmane? Pebble? They all seemed the same to her now. It was as if the world had lost all color. Everything seemed muted and gray. Without her friends, there was no more life. “You look tired. Are you sure you want to be here for this meeting?”

“I'm fine, continue,” she said on auto pilot, trying to focus on the words. Everything was going so... well. It was perfect. In fact, it was exactly how she dreamed it would be. The Water Nation was defeated and there was peace. Ponies were being friends again. The countries were working together, helping each other. The Water Nation was doing what it could to repair the damage it caused, but even it was suffering from so much destruction over the last hundred years that it was struggling to maintain some semblance of normalcy as civil war raced across its borders.

At first she'd tried to help there, but that was when the worst had hit her. Everypony congratulated her, called her their savior. As if it was she alone who had saved the world. She'd merely smiled and waved, hoping the ponies would go away. Then Celestia had talked with her.

The ruler asked her to leave, at first she didn't understand why. She pushed. Oh, how she wished she hadn't pushed. Celestia told her, with tears in her eyes, that seeing Twilight alive and well was like having Rarity die a second time in front of her. The words had startled her, but she understood.

She hadn't expected the same words to come from Applejack's family. From Fluttershy's. From Pinkie's. From Rainbow's. She had to go in person, to tell them. To let them know. The anger, the hurt, the betrayal. Why had Twilight survived when none of them had?

They were hurting though. Loss hurt. She understood it. She deserved it. Her magic was what failed, she was the only pony who could have teleported them. Maybe if she'd spent less time focusing on bending and more time on magic, she would have been able to teleport without the elements. But she hadn't and now they were gone.

“Twilight? Did you hear me?”

“Huh?” she asked, looking up.

“I said we're going to pack up for today. We're finished.”

“Oh... right. Carry on. I'll be... resting,” she lied as she turned and walked out from the room.

Now she was 'home'. Manehatten. The fire benders were back and rebuilding. But they were rebuilding without her. There was no point for her to be here. She was a tool for war, but there was no more war. There was no more fighting. There was no more need for a master bender. Now she had to be a diplomat in a world she didn't know, didn't understand. There were no more big enemies. Even Trixie was imprisoned now. It was over. It was all over.

Maybe it was time she went to the other countries. It had been a month, at least, since she'd returned to Manehatten. Maybe she would be more useful there.

------

Twilight dug her hoof into the ground as she walked forward. The ground cracked and broke under her steps, though she didn't care. Before the world had seemed to be in nothing but shades of gray. Now she'd found the color red.

Her rage bubbled within her, echoing through ever fiber in her being. Some earth benders tried to block her way, but she waved a hoof and sent them back with a wave of wind. She made it to the courtyard outside Fillydelphia's palace before stopping.

“Avatar! What a pleasant surprise,” a white earth pony with a light gray mane said.

“Fancy Pants!” she roared, stomping a hoof and making the ground shake. “I know what you're doing. Call back your soldiers.”

He paused and looked taken aback. “A-avatar? I don't know--”

“I saw the invasion force. I saw what they did to that city. The war is over.” She stepped forward as more soldiers moved to block her path, but they were stopped by a wave of his hoof.

“Please, Avatar. You misunderstand,” he shook his head. “We are in a time of peace. But, the Water Nation has... transgressed. Horribly. How many have died? How much was destroyed? All the nations are vulnerable now, more than ever. I am merely ensuring that this... travesty cannot occur again.”

She growled and dug her hooves into the ground. “So you admit it?”

“I am protecting everypony! It is better for us to watch over them. Help them. Guide them. Do we really need another Water Nation war? This way they'll be under our eyes and--”

“ENOUGH!” Twilight yelled, her mane erupting into flame. She stomped her hooves once and the building shook. “Too many ponies died to put an end to this war.” She stepped forward and put her face near his. “There will not be another.”

“Of course not, Avatar. This is merely a preventa--”

She silenced him with a wave of her hoof. “You miss understand. There will not be. Another.”

He stared at her for a few moments before the realization dawned on him. He glared and took a step forward. “I will not be threatened in my own kingdom, Avatar. My soldiers will remain where I see--”

Her hoof was suddenly on his mouth and she stared into his eyes. “Allow me to stop being subtle, then. You will remove your soldiers. Or I will remove you. Do not test me on this, emperor. The war is over and it will remain over.”

He stepped back, his eyes going wide. “A-avatar, you cannot... this...” He lowered his eyes and turned away. “Very well. I will have my soldiers... return.”

“Without any of their prisoners or... 'protected' ponies.”

“Of course,” he said with a bow of his head.

Twilight turned and walked out. The guards watched her, but quickly turned their gazes away when she looked back. She focused on the anger, letting it boil within her. The war had only just ended less than a year ago. Yet these ponies already tried to start a new war. Enslaving those who opposed them, using might to try and make them obey. Her friends hadn't died for ponies like this.

There was nothing that could be said for it anymore. The ponies here were... beyond her aid. They didn't want her help. Most didn't need her help. But she would be damned if she'd allow them to take what her friends had fought and died for away.

------

Sweat glimmered across the mare's coat. She stared at the massive tower of stone in front of her. It was impressive, she knew. Applejack would have been proud. Of course, she still had to get furniture and carpets, not to mention store some food. But for now, her stone tower would do.

The door swung open and she walked inside. It closed behind her, echoing through the wide, open halls. She was alone now. Her own personal tower where nopony would ever bother her again. She'd put it between the border of the Water Nation and the Earth Kingdom, so she could keep an eye on both of them. Ponies could find her if they needed her. It was good.

She walked through the halls, stopping when she realized the tears were starting again. She wiped them off and kept going. Her friends should have been here. They should have been walking through these halls besides her, talking, laughing. They were good, kind ponies. They wanted to end this war. They wanted her to be a part of their life.

Now all that was left were the worst kinds. Ponies who wanted to wage war. Ponies who wanted to start over everything they had worked to stop. But Twilight wouldn't let them, not this time. She'd shatter their kingdoms like glass if she had to, but there would be no more wars. There would be no more fighting.

She looked around as she traveled the stone halls. There was an echo with each step and the light came in through the many windows she'd put in. She wondered if she should add glass later, or leave them open. Maybe she could fill the drab, gray halls with books instead of furniture. Yes, that's what she'd do. Study. She'd always liked to study. Books were comfortable. Books were gentle. Books wouldn't die. Books wouldn't leave her alone.

------

Twilight hurtled the book through the window, letting out another scream of rage. For a moment she paused, confused and angry. But why was she angry? Why was she upset?

Of course. The magic book. Teleportation magic. It was so easy. She could have done it. If she'd just looked, just tried. A child could have done it. A child WOULD have done it. To save her friends. If she hadn't been such a fool. She collapsed onto the gray rug, letting out another sob. She looked to the nearby bookshelves and let out another angry growl. She picked up the nearest one and hurtled it against the room, splintering the wood and sending books flying. For a moment, red returned to her world and she began gripping more books and furniture, shattering them against the wall, the floor, everything.

It wasn't fair. Why did it still hurt so much? It wasn't lessening, it wasn't going away. It had been years since they died. But the pain still hovered around her heart, gnawing away at her as if it was alive. As if it was feeding on her, draining her. If anything, she felt the pain getting stronger.

She rested her head on her hooves and began to cry. She wanted her friends. She wanted to hear their voices. She wanted somepony to tell her what to do, to help her. To tell her it would be alright. There weren't any ponies still out there, though. They were all... bad. All wrong. All...

All in danger of her. That's what being the friend to the Avatar meant, after all. It meant they'd die, while she'd live. A hundred lives, a thousand lives. Until all that was left was her.

The pain gnawed at her, choked her. She needed something, anything. There was no pony she could turn to. No pony came to her tower, not anymore. She was...

She was not alone. It had been so long since she'd used this spell. So long since she'd called on them. Before even Discord. Before she'd lost her friends.

Her horn began to glow as she closed her eyes and slowly entered a trance. There was still somepony she could turn to. “Starswirl...” she said softly as a white light began to form in front of her.

Chapter 3: What is friendship all about?

A gray pony with a long, flowing beard appeared in front of Twilight. He was wearing a gray cape and hat, with images of the stars and moon across it. Little bells dangled all over his outfit. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled. “Starswirl...”

The stallion nodded. “Indeed, young Avatar. It has been... long since we last spoke. I can... tell you require my aid. What is it you need?”

She took a slow, deep breath. “Starswirl. I... I need to know how you did it. When you lost everything. When Discord took everything from you. How did you... how did you go on? In this... like this. How? Losing friends. Family. All those...”

The spirit paused for a moment before sighing. “You can never ask easy questions, can you young Avatar?” She shook her head. “Of course not. I... will admit. Losing everypony I cared for like that hurt. Losing my friend and having her turn on me was like having a knife through my heart. Even though I passed on soon after, in the moment... it was horrible. It still hurts.”

She nodded slowly. “I... I need to know more.”

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “As you wish. My friends were... my training was long, but wondrous. There were no great conflicts until the end of my reign. When Discord appeared, there was quite a bit of difficulty... getting everypony together. But defeating him was simple. Or so I thought.” The sadness began to tinge his voice. “I... made a mistake. I never realized how my friend felt, how I was overshadowing her. It never even dawned on me that that kind, sweet mare was so...” A few tears formed in his eyes. “Not a day goes by I don't regret my failures. Even now, as this spirit, I still feel the pain of that loss. If I had been a better avatar, perhaps none of this would have happened. In nearly every sense of the word, I was a failure. It shames me to know that I have led you down this path.”

She nodded. “How... can I cope? After--”

“You must stop what you are doing now.”

“W-what?”

“Locking yourself away from the world. The pain is strong, I know. But this... is not how it should be dealt with. Not how you should act. You are the Avatar. The light of the world, a beacon for all. Hiding in a tower from ponies is not what you should do.”

“I-I've saved the world, I've given e-everything for them. H-how can I give more? How can they expect me to give more? I have nothing left to give!”

“And yet you must,” Starswirl said with a shake of his head. “The world depends on you. This loss is powerful, but you, and you alone, must deal with it and continue. It is your duty.”

“H-how?” she asked softly, a sob breaking from her throat. “H-how can I possibly deal with this? How can... how can anypony possibly deal with this? The pain, they... they depended on me. I let them down. I-I left them to die. It should have been me who died, not them!”

Starswirl looked down. “I do not know. All I can tell you... is you must. Look deeper, if you desire. There are others who suffered. Who lost. Talk with them.”

She closed her eyes and he faded away. How could he possibly understand? She'd lost everything and had to go on living. He'd at least had the good fortune to die soon after his betrayal. To join his friends. She focused, delving deeper within herself.

A new pony appeared, a light gray one with streaked dark and light gray mane. “Cadence,” Twilight said softly, staring at her.

“Hello, Twilight,” the mare said softly.

“I... I need to know. When you lost--”

“I know,” Cadence said softly, shaking her head. “I... know all to well what you feel. When... when I lost my Shining, it was the worst thing I'd ever experienced. I had other friends, but he was the light of my life. He was the color. Everything was better with him there. Without him, the world was a dark and awful place.”

Twilight nodded. “Exactly. It's... it feels so hopeless. So empty.”

“It did. Not having him there in the morning was... awful. Every day I would wake up, and half expect him to be there. Waiting for me. Smiling. With a piece of toast or some haybacon. That he'd ask me how I slept and I'd tell him I had some awful dream. But... it never happened. I finally couldn't take it. The pain. The loss. It was... too much. All those ponies telling me how they needed me. How I had to be there. Telling me of my responsibility. I finally ran and hid away, to grieve in peace.”

Twilight nodded. “Exactly.”

“I was wrong. I... ran away from my responsibilities. I hated them, hated all of them for my loss. But that was never what Shining would have wanted. He loved me, but he loved me for what I was. Who I was. He would have fought besides me no matter the cost. When I lost him, I fell apart. It would have killed him a second time to see me like that. Avatar, you must not do what I did. You... cannot allow your grief to control you. To enslave you. Do not do it for yourself, but do it for them. Do it for your friends. For they would never have wanted you to be like this because of them. I... cannot tell you how to continue. But... perhaps the previous avatar can. Go, ask him.”

With those parting words, the alicorn disappeared. Twilight stared for a few moments before letting out a sob. Why was it okay for that avatar to grieve and fall apart, but not her? She'd saved the world, she'd done her duty. All she wanted now was to grieve and fall apart in peace. But the hope of somepony who could help her, who could take away the pain was too much. She dug deeper.

Next, a white alicorn with light gray arrow tattoos across his body appeared. As opposed to the others, he was smiling. “Hey, Twilight. What's up?”

“I... don't think we've talked. I... I need to know how to--”

“It'll never stop hurting,” the pony said, the grin disappearing.

“W-what?”

“The pain you're feeling. Trust me, I know. It never stops hurting.” The pony took a deep breath. “I... was alive during a very short conflict. The Fire Tribes, attacked us. There was war and my home was wiped out. Everypony I ever knew. Parents, brother, cousins, neighbors. All dead in one day. I was the only survivor.”

She stared, her mouth falling open. “I... I'm so sorry. My people are--”

“It's not you're people. That's the thing so many ponies forget. It's not 'my people' and 'your people'. It's ponies. We're all ponies. Some of us have magic, some of us have different magic. But in the end, we're all ponies.” He sighed. “I... was young when that happened. They were coming after me, trying to eliminate me before I was a threat. They almost succeeded, but I was taken to Cloudsdale right before the attack. From there, I trained. I learned. I made friends.” He leaned back. “My water bending teacher? She was a great mare. Always talking about hope and how she believed in ponies. Very kind and loving, but... so very strong.” He gave a soft sigh. “I ended up marrying her, actually. Her brother tried to beat me with his boomerang at the wedding. Heh. Half surprised he wasn't in the dress, let me tell you, he ended up cross dressing a lot during our adventures.”

Twilight stared for a few moments, her mouth falling open. She then shook her head. “How does... this help?”

He smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I lost everypony important to me. I... wanted to make them hurt for the longest time. I couldn't trust anypony. Only... well, I could only trust a few. I... almost killed the fire bender who did it. He'd taken up the name Fire Lord and... when we fought, I nearly killed him. But I couldn't.” He put a hoof over his heart. “The pain doesn't go away. Hiding from others, grieving, anger. None of those will ever stop it. It's... not something you can bear alone. Even now the loss hurts. But... they make it better. Every friend I made. My wife. My children. The pain was never gone, it weighed on me. But I always had those who could help me carry it. Who... held me up, even though I wanted to fall. If you're hoping that one day you'll wake up and boom, stop caring? That won't happen. Time will heal it, slowly. But you couldn't save the world alone, what makes you think you can bear this weight alone?”

She trembled and threw her head down, sobbing. Her horn flickered and the tattood pony disappeared. “H-how can I? F-friends... a-all that will happen is they'll get hurt. I-I can't. All I ever did was hurt them. I-I pulled them away f-from their homes, their f-families and they died for it! T-they didn't... didn't deserve this...”

She laid there and wallowed in her misery, sobbing softly. Then, slowly, she began to open her eyes and stare ahead. There was... still one last pony. One more avatar she could turn to. One who would understand exactly how she felt. Every pain filled second. She closed her eyes and, slowly, the last alicorn began to appear in front of her.

She was a light, almost white gray, with a dark gray mane. “Twilight,” she said softly.

“C-Clover,” the avatar said softly. “I... I...”

“You wish to be alone. You want to know how I did it, how I lasted so long without friends? You want to be like me?” the mare snorted and sighed. “Then you're a fool.”

Twilight was taken aback, her mouth falling open. “But... but you... you were...”

“I was a coward. Did you think I was hiding for the sake of others? No. I was terrified. I knew what pain would come for me if I had friends. I knew I was a target and I knew that... if I had ponies close to me, they would be in danger.” She took a deep sigh. “I never... I was lonely. Alone. I had... two friends. My little dragon, Sparkie. And my sister,” Clover said with a gentle sigh. “She should have been the avatar, not I. She was always the... one good at making friends. She probably would have befriended every enemy I had to eliminate.”

“B-but it worked, didn't it? Y-you kept ponies safe. You never had to--”

“I lived a blank, empty life. I hid away, while my family moved on. I was an aunt, but I only met my nieces and nephews once. I cowered, like a foal in my tower.” She looked around. “Is this what you want? You've felt the touch of your friends on your heart. Can you really look around at these books and say they replace them? That they can be as good?”

Twilight shivered and shook her head. “N-no. I... But... t-they're gone. They died and--”

“So? Is this what you want, now? Is this what they would have wanted?” Clover stood up and walked to the nearby window and looked out through it. “An empty world, with just your books, forever? No pony to care about you? No pony to talk with?” She turned around and glared. “Do what you wish, Avatar. This is your decision now. But do not use my cowardice as an excuse for your own.” She stepped forward. “You dishonor not only me, but the memories of your fallen comrades.”

Twilight just stared, her mouth hanging open. “My... my friends were... I can't... I...”

“Is this what they would have wanted?” Clover asked as she took a step closer, to look into the alicorn's eyes. “Their friend to have become this... sniveling, terrified creature? Would they have wanted their passing to do this?” She leaned in ever closer. “Do you wish you had never met them? Does the grief of having lost them so eclipse the joy that they brought you?”

Tears formed in Twilight's eyes as she slowly shook her head. “N-no. They... they were... they were everything.” Memories flashed through her mind. One year. It had been less than a year. Such a short time to know a pony. But she had learned so much. Experienced so much. More than books had ever taught her. She slowly stood up and dried her eyes. “No. Nothing could eclipse what they showed me. What I... experienced with them. Everything... everything was so...”

“Then stop hiding. Don't be a coward, like I was. Friendship can hurt. Just like everything else. But that is no reason to hide from it.” With those parting words, the pony disappeared.

Twilight stood there in silence, before turning and walking away.

------

The alicorn stood on the edge of the tower, looking out over the world. She'd lost so much. In a way, she'd lost everything. Her friends who had become so dear to her, in such a short time. But they had given their lives, given their everything, to stand by her. Even though they knew death could take them. She stared intently over the world.

Her friends were gone in body. But their spirit would never be. Pieces of them would dwell in her heart forever. Helping her. Guiding her. Watching over her. Just as she would have them. She spread her wings and slowly rose into the air.

“The war is over,” she said softly. “For that, my friends, I thank you. For everything you have taught me, for everything you did for me. I... will never forget you.” She slammed her hoof down and the tower crumbled, splitting down the middle as stones and rocks fell apart. She watched the tower fall apart, her tower. Her pillar of loneliness and grief. Soon nothing remained but a pile of rocks.

“But I will move on. I will make new friends. New bonds. I will take everything you have given me and continue. Goodbye.” She slowly lowered herself to the ground as color began to return to her world. The pain began to melt away, though it still gnawed at her heart, struggling to get a grip. But there was nowhere for it anymore. Her friends were gone, but she would no longer let their memory be of sadness and pain. Their bond would remain no matter what. Now, she would remember all the joy and pleasure they brought her. The smiles. The laughter. The life.

She knew exactly where she would spread it first, too.

------

“Avatar, such a pleasant surprise,” Luna said, giving the alicorn a warm smile. Twilight was a little taken aback by the kindness from her, but it was refreshing.

“I... wish to apologize. For... for Rarity. I never... I never did that. When I was here. I just... threw myself into everything.” Twilight took a deep breath. “I know you tried to talk with me then, but I couldn't bear it.”

The once Nightmare Moon stared at her for a moment before lowering her gaze. “I... I understand. Twilight, please. What happened then... it was not your fault. My daughter died, but she didn't die an empty death. She died so all ponies, everywhere, could be safe. She knew what she was getting into when this happened. I know she would never have blamed you for this.”

The avatar slowly looked away, watching over the slow rebuilding of Canterlot. “How can you forgive me? I... if I hadn't failed--”

“Rarity would have forgiven you. All of your friends would have. They loved you, fought with you. They would never have blamed you for what happened.” Luna slowly looked away as well. “It was Discord who is to blame, and I. But never, ever you.”

Twilight nodded and smiled. “I... I'd like to help. This world is still hurting and... my friends gave everything they had to try to fix it. I'm done hiding away. I want to get back to work.”

Luna nodded. “Thank you, Avatar. Your help will be much appreciated.”

Twilight smiled and felt a small twang in her heart. This Luna wasn't so bad. Her friends were gone, but there would be no more letting her life slide by. She would make new friends, new allies. She would make a new world they would be proud of.

“What are you doing here?” Celestia asked, making the alicorn jump.

“Ahhh! Your highness!” Twilight said as she turned around and took a step back. Her friend's aunt looked horrible, her mane ruffled, her eyes bloodshot. Her gaze was cold and hard. “I was merely here to--”

“I know exactly why you are here. Begone. I have no desire to deal with you. After you killed my niece and all your other little friends.”

Twilight's mouth fell open and she stared at the mare. “Ex... excuse me?”

“You shouldn't have been the one to survive, Rarity should have. You're the one to blame, the one at fault. All you ever do is ruin everything for those ponies unfortunate enough to be your friends!”

The alicorn couldn't respond, the shock and pain rolling over her.

“Just leave. None of us want you here, none of us. Just go back to your tower and leave the rest of us alone.” The unicorn stared down at her, her chest heaving.

Twilight watched her for a few more moments as the words rang through her. They sounded so... so... hollow. But they were the same words she had told herself not long ago. Her eyes slowly narrowed and she took a step forward. “Who are you?”

“What?”

“You. Who are you? I... know Celestia. I know the kind of mare she was. She was kind and caring...” She took another step forward as she felt another twang in her heart. “It's... not right, is it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Everything. It all... everything is just...” She looked around again. There was color now. Everything was colorful. But darker. Different than it should have been. It had been gray, as well. She remembered. She thought it had just been her, but everything. She tried to imagine what life had been like the last few years, but she couldn't. It all went by so fast. In fact, everything seemed to be happening in a blur.

Her eyes went wider. She didn't even remember coming here. She had decided to come to Luna, and then she had been here. It had made sense, but now... she felt it began to melt away from her mind. To melt away from her. Cracks started to form in reality as she stomped her hoof again.

“Discord,” she whispered softly.

“You're making no sense, Avatar. Just--”

“NO!” Twilight yelled, stomping both hooves again. “Discord, you haven't won! You don't win!” She lifted her head and turned to Celestia. “This is over. I will not be controlled by you any longer.”

Celestia stared before growling. “Very well. If you won't relinquish your control...” A black wing struck out from her side. “Then I will just have you beat you and your element down.” The world disappeared.

Twilight stood, floating high above in blackness. No, not floating. There was nothing there, no up or down. There was just her, Celestia and Luna. Celestia began to change, her skin melting away to reveal a black alicorn with red, glowing eyes. It charged towards her.

Twilight shrieked and her horn glowed, but there was no magic. It barreled into her, but then darted away as Luna stepped forward. The once ruler smiled and her skin began to melt away as well, revealing a white alicorn with a cutie mark shaped like her element. The mare smiled at her and held out a hoof. The Avatar eyed it for a moment before reaching out and taking the mare's hoof. There was a flash, and the other alicorn was gone, replaced by her crown.

“This is over,” Twilight whispered before turning towards the black alicorn. It hissed, long black fangs flashing. She put the element on her head and stared at it. “You don't win.” Light erupted from the element.

The world exploded and she crashed to the ground, letting out a yelp. “Owwww...” she groaned. Her element landed a few feet away, the cracked gem glimmering in the light. She looked around, her eyes widening.

She was laying in front of a pillar with the word's 'Twilight Sparkle' written on the bottom. Rocks covered the floor. She was in some kind of stone chamber.

There was yelling and galloping hooves coming towards her. She looked around before grabbing her element, galloping towards the back wall, opening it with her earth bending and jumping through, arriving outside. She closed it behind her and turned back, just making a small peephole into the other room.

Where was she? What was going on? More importantly, if she was in there, where were her friends?

Chapter 4: When I was young

Twilight looked through the small hole in the wall, staring at the ponies as they entered the chamber. Her heart started beating rapidly when she recognized the blue alicorn that followed two of the soldiers.

“Where is she? Who did this?” Trixie yelled, looking around angrily. “Find whoever took the statue and have them brought to me! I'll kill them myself!” She stomped her hooves angrily. The alicorn amulet was still hung around her neck and her eyes glowed with a dark, purple light. She paced back and forth before stomping a hoof again. The pillar exploded, coating the room with dust. “NOW!” The guards turned tail and ran.

“Twilight, don't yell,” a voice said near her ear. She barely managed to avoid screaming as she whipped around.

A red coated pegasus, wearing the Water Nation's armor, smiled at her. “I want to help you,” he whispered.

She stared for a few moments before looking back towards the hole in the wall, then him. “What's going on? Who are you?”

He looked very tired, but the smile didn't leave his face. “You've been gone for a long time, Avatar. There's a lot I'll have to explain. My name is Hornclipper and I'm a member of the resistance.”

“Resistance?” she asked softly. They'd won, hadn't they? No. Of course not. Something... weird was going on.

“HAVE DISCORD SUMMONED IMMEDIATELY!” Trixie's voice echoed from the hall, making Twilight gasp.

“It's not safe here, follow me,” Hornclipper said quickly before turning and trotting away. With no other option, she followed after him as they headed around the buildings, quickly leaving the chamber behind. They were in a city, she imagined a slowly being restored Canterlot. Most of the buildings were made of stone and had a very... bendy look to them.

“I need to know what's happening. Where are my friends?”

He took a deep breath. “I only know where a few of them are. Once you were all defeated and turned to stone--”

“Turned to stone?” Twilight asked softly, her eyes widening.

“Yes. All of you were. You were left here while the others were... sent away. I don't know where Princess Rarity was sent, but the element of laughter was sent to the Fire Tribe lands under the watch of Discord. Your other earth pony friend stands in Fillydelphia. The two pegasi were sent to the air nomads, though I can't tell you where. I believe one is in Cloudsdale.”

Twilight nodded, her head spinning slightly. “But... they're alive?”

“As alive as you were. We...” He took a slow, weak breath. “We thought you were gone. There are still ponies opposing him but... well...”

“But what?”

He let out another sigh. “It's, frankly, hopeless. Discord, quite literally, pops up in half our secret meetings. It's... infuriating. He'll just come in, steal our snacks and recline. He even judges our plans! He gave one of mine a yellow plus!”

“Yellow plus?”

“I... think it's better than a singing duck, but worse than a see-em-see table.”

“You're making absolutely no sense,” Twilight said with a shake of her head. “Where are you taking me?”

“There are some ponies you'll want to see here.” There was a pause. “I'll admit, my... desire to stay here wasn't only for the proximity to you. Trixie now rules the Water Nation and has... kept the most dangerous threats to her reign under close watch.” He stopped and looked down. “Could you bend the earth, here?” He said, stopping near the walls that surrounded the city. “Going down, not out. The dungeons should be below us.”

“The dungeons? I thought you--”

“Your companion, Spike is housed there. As are Princess Sweetie Belle and her... friends.” Perhaps it was the darkness of the night, but she swore he was blushing. If only-- The sun suddenly rose, making it easier to see. He was definitely blushing.

“Spike is here? Wait, Princess Sweetie? Does that mean Celestia and Luna are, as well?”

“No. They haven't been seen since your defeat. It... is believed that Trixie executed them, or Discord has them. Either way, the ruler would not allow them to remain as threats.”

Twilight nodded. She then tapped the ground and they began to sink down into the dirt as the world closed up overhead. They kept sinking and she reached out with her bending, feeling as they went. There were definitely ponies down below, far below. “I need more information,” she said softly.

“We have no time. You need to take them and flee. There are ponies who... hate Trixie. But there are many who would still fight you. You're our last hope. When Trixie realizes you've escaped, she'll come here. If you're caught now, we're all doomed.”

Twilight gave a slow nod. The ground opened under them and she gently glided down to the ground. Hornclipper yelped and fell. “Ow... a little warning would have been nice.”

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. She looked around the dungeon, her eyes widening. There were three young mares asleep in one of the many cells, but they didn't interest her. What interested her was the cell furthest from the entrance, a tiny little thing with just a small bed. And a tiny, little baby dragon laying on top of it. She ran to the bars and let out a little squeal of delight. “Spike! SPIKE! Wake up!”

The dragon grumbled and rolled over, his back to her. She rolled her eyes before gripping him in her magic and yanking him out of his bed. He let out a startled yelp. “HEY! Put me down! What do you think-- Twilight?”

She pulled him to the bars and wrapped a hoof around him through the metal rods. Tears began to flow down her face as she held the dragon as close as she could. “O-oh, Spike. You wonderful, wonderful l-little dragon. I thought... I thought I'd never see you again.”

“S-same here,” he said softly.

Twilight just held the dragon, her entire body shaking. The last time she had seen him he had been a corpse on the ground, his scales shattered and broken. Now though, he was whole. He was alive. She took a deep breath. “Okay, let's get you out of here, okay? This is a jail break.”

“Avatar?” a voice said, making her turn around. The three mares were up now, staring at her. One was a small white unicorn with a light pink mane, Sweetie Belle. Princess of the Water Nation and younger sister to Rarity. The next was an earth pony with a yellow coat and a bright red mane, Applebloom. Long lost little sister to Applejack and an earth bender. The last was an orange pegasus with a light purple mane, Scootaloo. The three stared at her with a mix of awe and horror. She couldn't help but notice they were all covered in bruises and scrapes.

“She's real,” Hornclipper said softly. “Come on, it's time to get out of here.”

“Y-you came back,” Scootaloo said softly.

The stallion nodded. “Of... of course. What you said was true. I had no...” He shook his head. “There's no time. You need to go. Avatar, try to get them out. I'll delay the guards and try to send the search off in the wrong direction. Head north.”

“Hornclipper, wait!” Scootaloo called after him. “What I said before, I didn't mean--” The door closed behind the stallion, drowning out her words.

Twilight turned to the bars. Spike was first, she lightly pushed him away and walked to the lock on his door. Fire formed on the tip of her horn and she pushed it forward gently. The flame seared out, slowly melting the lock as the dragon watch.

“Wish my flame was that strong,” he mumbled softly.

Twilight smiled, though she kept focusing. The lock was still very durable and was melting very slowly, but sure enough it soon gave into the heat. She pushed the door open with a smile and the dragon leaped into her arms.

“I can't believe you came! Where have you been? I saw the statue but--”

“There's no time for that,” she whispered before looking towards the door. “We need to go, come on.”

“What about them?” he asked, pointing to the three mares.

Twilight looked back to them. On the one hoof, they had spent the last year trying to kill her. Well, her last year. But that was under Discord's influence. Hornclipper had helped her here, too. Without him, she wouldn't have Spike. She moved to the bars and slowly began searing through the lock.

The lock fell far faster and she smiled at the mares. “Come on. We're going.” She held out her hoof towards the wall and tried to bend it open. It didn't move.

“It's not actual stone,” Applebloom said with a sigh. “She knew better than tah surround me with rock. Only actual rock is the roof.” She glanced to Scootaloo. “Ah... think she found it funny tah have our only method of escape unreachable.”

Twilight blinked and looked up at the roof. She let out a slow groan, before flying up and bending it. “Fine, I'll carry you each up, one by one. But we need to do this fast.”

------

When they finally got up to the roof and back outside, this time outside the wall, the ringing of large bells filled the air. She froze and looked around, but there was no sign of them having been noticed.

“Is it Hornclipper?” Twilight asked softly.

“He did say he'd distract them for us,” Spike said softly.

“That foal,” Scootaloo said softly. “He's an idiot, he's going to end up getting himself killed.”

Sweetie gently reached out and patted her friend's back. “It's okay. He's lasted this long here, he'll be fine. He knows what he's doing.”

“Yeah,” Applebloom said with a nod of her head. “We need ta get outta here. The longer we loligag about, the longer he'll need tah lead 'em in circles.”

Twilight nodded. “Come on. Let's go.” She looked around before pushing her hooves down and the ground swallowed them up. She pushed out her hoof and a tunnel formed. “Everypony stay close.” Her horn glowed with a small flame, giving them a little light. “We'll go back out once we're under the cover of trees.”

They slowly walked forwards. Spike coughed after a few minutes. “So, uhhhh, did anypony else see... well, I mean. The trees. Did anypony notice anything... a little odd about them?”

“Like the fact they were gingerbread trees?” Twilight asked softly.

The other mares let out sighs of relief. “I was afraid I'd gone insane!” Scootaloo said quickly.

“Ah was startin' tah think all that prison food had finally gotten tah me.”

“It's Discord,” Twilight said softly. “He's... there's no telling what he's done to this world. I'm going to have to stop it, though.” She looked back. “I need information though, now. What do you all know about what's going on here?”

“Not much,” Sweetie said softly. “Hornclipper told us things, but it's all just... different now. Everything is so weird. Some days it's as if gravity turns off, other days the clouds replace the ground, or the world is turned upside down or... there's no telling what happens. We only got a small bit of it, being locked away, but Hornclipper told us all he could.”

The alicorn nodded. “I saw the bruises and... marks across you. Did Trixie do that?”

There was a moment as the three mares froze in place, before letting out a collective groan. “Actually, we did that to each other,” Applebloom said softly, her voice filled with shame.

“We've been... fighting a lot,” Sweetie said softly, coughing a little. “Some things were said...”

“A lot of things were said,” Scootaloo mumbled gently.

“I had to listen to all of it,” Spike muttered. “It was like listening to three angry fillies. You'd think they hated each other half the time.”

“I thought you three were great friends, though?” Twilight asked, glancing back. “Discord doesn't have any more influence over you, does he?” Their eyes weren't glowing at least.

“We were! We are! He doesn't!” Sweetie said, shaking her head. “With your defeat and all our losses and... I guess it just got to us. We... just felt so mad at each other. We... didn't actually-- oof!” She ran into Twilight, who had come to a stop.

The alicorn turned and sat down. “Apologize to each other.”

“W-what?” Applebloom asked, staring at the mare as if she'd lost her mind. “We needta go. There's a--”

“The world has lasted this long without me. It will last a while longer. Apologize to each other. You... never know when you won't get another chance.”

The three mares looked nervously between each other, shuffling their hooves and squirming in place. Finally, Scootaloo shook her head. “I'm sorry. I didn't... Sweetie, I didn't mean what I said about your mother or aunt. I think your water bending is great and none of this is your fault. I know what Discord did to you, how he changed you. I'm sorry I blamed it on you. Applebloom, what I said about your sister and your family, I'm so, so sorry. None of it was true. And... Hornclipper...” She looked back towards the way they came. “I'm sorry I called you useless. You were... I'm so sorry.”

The other two took their queue and within a few moments apologies were flying through the air as the ponies leaped into each other's hooves and hugged out the pain and torment from their harsh words. Finally, once it was over, Sweetie turned to Spike. “Spike. I... am so sorry for everything I did to you and to your kind. I was... I was desperate to have my sister all to myself. But what I did to you was just cruel and unfair. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I hope you'll find it in your heart to one day forgive me.”

Spike blinked and gave a little shrug. “Yeah, whatever. We need to keep going,” he mumbled as he turned away. “Come on.”

Twilight sighed softly. It would take time for all the pain to go away, but at least he wasn't yelling at her.. “That was very good, girls. Now, we need to know where to go next. Hornclipper mentioned Fluttershy and Rainbow are both being held in the Air Nomad lands. Do either of you know where?”

“I do know that one of them is in Cloudsdale, under watch of the Wonderbolts. I don't know where--”

“Wait, the wonderbolts?” Twilight asked, hope filling her. “Then they're still around? The other countries are still fighting? They haven't lost yet?”

There was a momentary pause before the young princess let out another sigh. “Oh, they've lost. They've all lost. It's... not as good as it sounds.”

Twilight sighed. “Explain, please.”

“The nations have fallen apart. All of them answer to Trixie now. But... I think she answers to Discord. He's... I don't know what he's doing. He's in the Fire Tribe lands, doing something... big. According to the rumors. No pony knows what.”

Twilight nodded before looking up. She opened the ground and peered out. It was night time again. The trees were surrounding them. They were covered in icing and decorated with a few candy rocks. “Come on, we'll travel this way,” she whispered before helping them out and then closing the hole.

“Won't it be better for us tah hide underground?” Applebloom asked.

“That'll be slow, tiring and we'll have to keep coming up for air anyway,” Twilight said with a shake of her head. “We'll travel on hoof. If we notice anypony coming, we'll hide underground.” She started trotting, glancing towards the city. She paused as some chocolate bunnies hopped by. They barely had time to get under cover as the sun came up. “The other kingdoms then, are they enslaved? Does Trixie have her forces there?”

“As far as we know, she doesn't,” Sweetie said softly. “It's... Discord. Ponies tried fighting him but there's no point. Bending doesn't work on him, nothing seems to hurt him. He just... laughs it off. He can alter a kingdom with a snap of his fingers. Now it's just all about survival.”

Twilight nodded again. “Is he... killing ponies?”

“Not that we know of. But he's... changing them. Altering them. We don't know the full effects. But I imagine we'll see it before long,” Sweetie said softly. “You've returned though, I'm sure you'll be able to beat him, and Trixie.”

The alicorn looked out over the world ahead of them, where the grass had turned purple and very wet. “I can, maybe. But I'll need my friends help. Cloudsdale and somewhere else. Did... you by any chance here any information about where the other is?”

Scootaloo coughed and raised a wing. “Well, Hornclipper did mention it was somewhere up in the mountains. Some small village, though they didn't know which one.”

Twilight froze for a moment, before a grin formed on her lips. “Ponyville. Of course. Right where all this began.” She gave a light chuckle. “Discord, if you're going to make it so easy, well...” She trailed off. Something told her it wasn't going to be as easy as all that. That monster wouldn't let it.

------

Hornclipper struggled to keep his head low as he surged with the other soldiers, on a wild goose chase south. He prayed his distraction would be enough as he glanced towards Trixie, the alicorn leading the charge from the sky.

He struggled to keep calm, even as he swore he heard an evil, cruel laughter echoing from the distance.

Chapter 5: Was too busy

Twilight walked forward, her eyes focused on what was ahead of them. Only on what was ahead of them. There was NOTHING aside from what was ahead of them. Nope. The ground was totally not red, slimy and the exact consistency of a giant tongue covering the land. Not at all. It most definitely did not squish with every step they took. Spike was riding on her back because he was tired, there was no other reason.

“Ew ew ew ewwwww,” Sweetie whined.

“We'll be out soon, look,” the alicorn said as she motioned ahead. “It looks like we'll be going through a bunch of snow though.”

“I think that's actually mashed potatoes,” Scootaloo said softly.

“I hate Discord,” Twilight muttered as they walked. It had been... she didn't know how long since they'd left. Sometimes it was daytime, then a little bit later it would be night, then later it could be anything inbetween. The lands were completely messed up. They'd been through a chocolate hurricane, a cottage cheese storm and a brier patch avalanche. The last one had actually hurt a bit. But, there was good news, they were almost to the border. They hadn't encountered much resistance at all. In the entire trip they had only seen one airship. It had fortunately been busier trying to repair the side where a giant pelican-trout had slammed into it. She really hated Discord.

The others hadn't talked much, even amongst themselves they were being quiet. There was a little good news though. “I think we're almost to the border.”

“Why do you say that?” Sweetie asked before looking forward. They looked ahead and there was a collective sigh.

The 'border' was just that. There were little tornadoes the size of ponies swirling around while rain fell up. They'd have to be blind to not know that was the border.

“What do you think he did to the Earth Kingdom border?” Scootaloo asked softly.

Twilight shivered and shook her head. “I don't want to think about it. I hope the Fire Nomad border isn't killing anypony.” She doubted it was, though. Discord didn't seem the sort, now that she'd spent more time watching his handiwork. He was sick and twisted, but he wasn't a killer. Oh no, he'd more be the type to push others to kill for him, so he could watch the way it hurt them. Everything was just a game to him, it didn't matter what he destroyed or hurt. So long as somepony was around to see it, he was happy.

It did give her a little peace of mind. At least ponies wouldn't be dying while they fought. They'd just have their lives destroyed, everything they worked for ruined and possibly have their entire personalities shifted and ruined on a whim from the sadistic monster. But hey, no deaths. They stepped through the border, the little tiny twisters ruffling their manes and the cold water coating their underbellies. The ground was now checkered, but at least it was solid and didn't squish underhoof. As they walked, they trailed mashed potatoes over the ground.

It was going to be a long walk and she only had the vaguest idea of where Ponyville was, but they were going there first. She didn't know how the Wonderbolts had been affected and she wanted to have a little extra help when she arrived. But that also meant they would be walking for a long, long time. She glanced back to the others. “So... how about we do a bit of getting to know each other? I ummm... know it's been quite a while.” She paused. “Well, that and the fact the last time I saw most of you, you were trying to kill me.”

Sweetie sighed and lowered her head. “That was my fault. They were following my commands and let's just say... I wasn't the easiest to argue with at the time. In fact, many who did argue with me had a tendency to come over with a case of being... dead.”

Twilight nodded. “I know. Discord has... ways of messing with a pony. Changing who they are. I--”

“No, it's not just that,” Sweetie said gently. “I'll admit, yes he had changed me. But a lot of that was me. It was... what I wanted to do. I... always looked up to my sister, even before Discord touched me. But after that, she was my main focus. All I wanted was to make her happy, to make her at my side. It... drove me. It wasn't long before I was using it as... an excuse to do whatever I felt had to be done. Regardless of who I hurt, or if I... killed anypony.”

There was an awkward pause as the group kept walking, pausing momentarily as some golden sheep pranced by.

“That wasn't you,” Applebloom said softly. “Ah know yah. Ah'll admit yah always been a bit obsessed, but Discord... he changed yah. That pony yah became wasn't anything like mah friend.”

Sweetie nodded. “No, it was. It was... so very much what I was capable of. In the end I might not have approved of those things, but somewhere deep in me, I was capable of that.”

“But--” Scootaloo started.

“No, she's right,” Twilight said with a shake of her head. “That seems to be what he does. He... twists and corrupts you to suit his needs. With a creature like him, you can't give any ground.” She thought about her time as a statue. How close she had been to being... trapped forever. If she hadn't been able to call on the previous avatars, who knew what would have happened? “But he's not something you can fight alone. You've done some horrible things, Sweetie. But that doesn't mean that's all you'll ever do. You're making up for it now. Or at least trying to.”

Sweetie nodded, her head hanging. “I... am sorry about all I've done. I never... no, I did mean for things to happen. But I wish I hadn't.”

Twilight nodded and smiled. “It's fine. I... understand. You were with your aunt before, correct? What did you two talk about?”

Sweetie paused and smiled. “She was... it was very nice. Having my aunt to talk with.” She took a deep breath. “While I was imprisoned, she made sure to stay near me whenever she could. She wanted to make sure I was safe, of course. But, she was also very... interested. I think that's the right word? She was so happy to have her nieces back. Have them as they were.” She made a small pouting face. “She told me she had given up on me! I mean, that was so harsh. I know I was corrupted but I might have...” She trailed off and glanced to Twilight. “But you were powerful. Are powerful. You saved me.”

Twilight nodded. “Indeed. But for that to happen again, I'd have to wait almost a whole year, if that. Discord might be messing with the sun in such a way that the Summer Sun Celebration won't even happen. He-- OH COME ON!” The sun had been turned into a great disco ball, sending white glimmers of light across the land. “I don't think I'll be able to count on that particular power boost. My friends are the only way.”

Sweetie nodded. “Do you think they're after us? Know where we're going?”

Twilight looked to the sky. Cotton candy clouds hovered overhead. “To be honest, I wonder if they're trying and failing.”

“What? Why?”

“All this weird weather. If he's doing this to that, imagine what he's doing to the magical lines in the land. Extended flight and air ships... well, who knows what difficulties are occurring? But there's no telling when it'll clear up and allow them to catch up.” The group went silent again, before starting to walk a little faster.

------

“DISCORD!” Trixie screamed, stomping her hooves. “I know you can hear me! COME OUT!” She stomped back and forth across her courtyard, shaking her mane. Her soldiers nervously shuffled from hoof to hoof, hoping the rage of their ruler wouldn't descend on them.

“You called?” the spirit of chaos asked, popping out of her horn.

“Get out of my horn!” the alicorn snapped, red forming in her cheeks.

Discord rolled his eyes and appeared in front of her, lounging on a small cloud. He tore off a piece and tossed it in his mouth, before blowing it out in a small bubble. It flew off like a blimp. “Whatever is the matter?”

“You know what's the matter! Twilight has escaped, I want her now! Find her, bring her back!”

The spirit of chaos shrugged. “No.”

“What? What do you mean, 'no'? Bring her! She's--”

“She's your responsibility. If you want her so bad, get her yourself.” He pulled out a margarita and started drinking the straw.

“But... but I've tried. I've had my soldiers searching the skies, but your weather... things keep ruining everything. Tell me where she is! I demand it!”

The spirit merely chuckled before crushing the glass in his hands. “I think you're forgetting something.” He turned to her, his eyes glowing green. “Who exactly is it who gave you this power?”

Trixie's survival instincts kicked in and she let out a small gulp. “Err... I merely meant, please help me find the Avatar. If she escapes, she'll ruin everything.”

He sighed and then snapped his fingers. Two cages appeared. One held Luna, the other Celestia. “I'll help you. But I'm not going to ruin all the fun. So I'll just give you a little bit of help and you'll have to work out the rest on your own.” He paused for a second before turning towards the reader. “Now now, I think you've heard enough.

Trixie cocked an eye as the spirit raised a hand. “What are you tal--” Snap.

------

Twilight's shrieked as she tried to not fall on her butt. The ground had suddenly turned to soap and they were, unfortunately, walking through a sideways rain storm. She and the others skidded helplessly across the soap before finally getting to the safety of the grass. “I hate you Discord!” she shrieked, before managing to climb to her hooves.

“You know, this isn't so bad!” Scootaloo said as she skated around on the soap, chuckling. The others just glared at her.

“Come on, girls. Let's just keep going before something else happens,” Twilight muttered. At least it was better than the tongue ground. She glanced back to Applebloom and Scootaloo. “You know... I never really had much chance to ask you two. How did you end up getting involved in the resistance? I mean, it's not as if you two were... members of the Fire Tribes when I last saw you. In fact, you were trying to kill me.”

Scootaloo and Applebloom shared a look, before the earth pony sighed. “Ah'll go first. Yah see how... well, ah was a member of the Water Nation cause mah parents... found me when ah was young. Ah was tryin' tah find mah family in the Earth Kingdom when ah ended up gettin' captured. Ah told 'em mah story an', well, it turned out some of the ponies there were actually parta mah family. Ah didn't really have much choice at that point.” She glanced to Sweetie. “Ah... knew mah friend was in danger. Ah was pretty sure Nightmare Moon wanted me dead. So... ah joined them an' tried helpin', usin' mah earth bendin''.” She took a deep breath. “Honestly, ah was really lucky. More'n a few of 'em wanted me dead.”

Twilight nodded and glanced back to the mare. “How did... I mean, you didn't get attacked, did you?”

Applebloom grinned. “Only once. Well, mah big brother popped up an'... let's jus' say they didn't try again. Whoa nelly. Ah almost felt bad for 'em. Almost. They jus' wanted tah scare me off, though. The ones that wanted me dead, well, they never tried. Ah think they were too afraid a mah big brother.”

Twilight thought back to when she'd first met Applejack's brother, Big Mac. He was truly a mighty stallion, towering over them all. She could well imagine him being a bit intimidating. Especially if he was protective of his little sister. “Yeah, I can see why. Well, Scootaloo, what about you? How did you get involved?”

The pegasus sighed. “Well, an assassin tried to kill me, claiming Nightmare Moon sent him. I don't know if it's true, but considering her state of mind at the time it was very possible. I didn't realize there was a double-agent working for us, Hornclipper. The uhhh, stallion who helped us out. He... well, he helped us save the fire benders who were still being held prisoner. I didn't... well, they wanted us to kill the foals, rather than risking them having their bending when they grew up. We refused. He was a traitor and he helped their forces get in and take the foals back.” She coughed. “I... am sorry for my part in all that. I assure you, I didn't want the fire benders to be dehorned. I didn't have much choice and--”

“Don't,” Twilight said with a sigh. “I know how the Water Nation worked. How so many ponies didn't have any choice but to follow their orders. I'm not happy with what happened, but I'm happy you knew better than to... cared enough not to follow those orders.”

Scootaloo nodded. “Yes. Once the foals were saved, I had no choice, really. If I went back to the Water Nation, chances were I'd be executed. As a traitor at worst, by a hidden assassin at best.” She glanced to Sweetie. “So... I joined them. I began teaching them the special arts of disabling bending. It wasn't easy, let me tell you. There were a lot of ponies who were scared of it, as they thought it might be permanent. But Hornclipper never wavered from my side and stood up to all those who argued against me. I had my own little squad of trained ponies in the end, too. It was... very nice.” She took another soft, gentle breath. “Then I found out Applebloom was with the resistance as well. We set out a plan then.”

“Oh?” Twilight asked, before cringing as marshmallows began to rain on them. At least they were soft and not too squishy.

“Yeah,” Applebloom said with a grin. “We were gonna save Sweetie Belle. We didn't know yah'd done all the work. We were gonna stay with the resistance an' try tah separate her from her mom. But then when we finally got the chance, she'd already made the right choice. Kinda made all our plans moot. From there we jus' stuck to her side, made sure none of the Fire Tribe decided tah get... well... errr...”

Twilight nodded. “Vengeance? Don't be afraid to speak your mind. I'm not so blind as to think my own ponies are completely innocent of any cruel or evil thoughts. I'm sure there are ponies in my home who... would be thrilled to see the Water Nation crushed down to a speck. But that wouldn't be right. There are good ponies, just as there are bad ponies, in all the nations. That's why we must work so hard to achieve peace.” She glanced off in the distance and cringed. “Oh... oh dear.”

“What is it?” Sweetie asked before looking and turning pale.

“Ah think we'd better go around,” Applebloom said softly. The group quickly started moving to the left, moving at a brisk trot. A caramel ice cream volcano was smoking from above and small lines of caramel were slowly dripping down the side. “Why does everythin' he does have tah be candy related?”

“It's not all,” Twilight said with a sigh. “Maybe he wants all the children of the world to like him?”

Scootaloo yelped and shook her head. “Oh. I-I think you're on the right line of thought, but it might be worse than that. I think he wants all the kids in the world hopped up on sugar.”

The group stumbled a little as that thought flowed through their heads. Thousands, possibly millions of foals with unlimited access to easy sugary treats where ever they went.

“I hate Discord so much,” Twilight said with a moan.

Chapter 6: To make any friends

Twilight let out a sigh of relief at the sight of the town in the distance. Civilization. Finally. “Come on girls, just a little more.”

“Hold it!” Sweetie said, pulling the alicorn back by her tail.

Twilight sighed and glared at her. “What? I don't see any problem.”

“You don't?” the unicorn asked before motioning to her wings. “How about the fact we're still on the run and we don't want Trixie to know where we are?”

There was a momentary pause, before the alicorn nodded. “Right. I guess... yeah.” She glanced back towards the small town mournfully. “But... but civilization.”

“Don't worry, I've got an idea,” Sweetie said before grinning. “Just trust me.”

------

Twilight glared at the three ponies who were struggling, in vain, to suppress their laughter. “Really? This is the best you could come up with?”

“Well, y-your wings are hidden a-at least,” Scootaloo said as she held a hoof over her mouth.

“I look like an idiot!” Twilight snapped. “And I'm all... sticky! It's gross!” She was covered in one of the cotton candy clouds, which was wrapped around her torso. A smaller one was now resting on her head. Every step made chocolate milk splash down.

“Yah know, considering some of the things we've s-seen the last few days, y-yah don't look h-half bad,” Flowerbloom managed to say, her hoof barely managing to suppress her giggles.

“I look like a giant pink marshmallow,” she said with a growl.

“But you know what you don't look like?” Scootaloo asked with a grin.

“What?”

“An alicorn.”

Twilight blinked a few times before letting out a sigh. “Fine. Just... just fine. Come on, let's go.” She started walking towards the town. After a few seconds she realized the others weren't following her. She glanced back. “What's wrong?”

“Well, errr, Twilight,” Sweetie said with a nervous grin. “You know we respect you a lot, right?”

“Yes,” she said suspiciously.

“And we think you're really amazing and awesome, right?”

“Well, I didn't but I do appreciate the sentiment.”

The princess nodded. “Knowing that, please don't get mad. We just think, well... you should be following us.”

“What?” Twilight asked, taken aback. But she was the leader, how could she be following them?

“It's just, well... you're wearing a cotton candy cloud and covered in chocolate rain. I think it might be best if you just kind of... seem like our strange friend who follows us around. If we look like we're taking orders from you, well, ponies might get suspicious.”

Twilight opened her mouth to object, but slowly let out a sigh. “No. No no. You're right. It makes... complete sense.” She gritted her teeth and glared. “But I do want you three to know. As of this moment, I swear. I will get you back for this. Mark my words.”

The three chuckled nervously before walking forward.

Twilight started to follow before pausing. “Spike?” She glanced back. The dragon was sitting by a candycorn tree. “Aren't you coming?”

“Dragon. If you think an alicorn will draw notice, a dragon is almost as bad.”

She paused for a few seconds before giving a nod. “Fine. We'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere, okay?”

He rolled his eyes. “Where would I go?”

She nodded before turning after the others and galloping after them.

The town was small and, unfortunately, quite damaged. There were ruins from where some homes had been burned or torn apart. Almost all of the standing buildings seemed to be new or, if not, had plenty of new parts attached to them. It was very confusing to the alicorn.

Then she saw a deep hole in the ground, shaped like a mighty paw. It was filled in with water now and starting to grow over with grass. She shivered and looked to the right, towards the mountains. A little over a year ago, Trixie had led her army through this small town. With her great ursa minor leading the charge. The ponies here couldn't have stood a chance. How many died? How many were imprisoned? How many lost everything? How ma--

Her trail of thought was blown off course as a little cinnamon tornado suddenly sprang to life besides them and started swirling against them. The ponies shrieked and tried covering their faces, but it was too late. The smell and taste of cinnamon was all around them, making them hack and cough, shaking their manes. At least the cotton candy now had an extra seasoning.

“You'd best be careful,” a voice called out. “Those things like to spring up around here all the time. Makes repairs a mighty big problem.”

Twilight finally cleared her vision and looked up, seeing the source of the sound. A stallion was standing outside one of the houses, holding a spear. He didn't look pleased to see them at all.

“Err, hello,” Sweetie said quickly, bowing her head politely. “We're travelers looking for--”

“If you're looking for food or shelter, you won't find any here,” the stallion interrupted. “We don't have much, but we aren't about to lose what we have.”

The unicorn gulped and shook her head. “N-no, not at all.” She was all too aware that other ponies were staring at them from the few windows in the town. He was the only one openly armed, but who knew how many arrows or spears were aimed at them now? She didn't want to find out. “We're merely looking for directions. We don't mean you any harm.”

“Directions? Follow the road. Leads straight out of town. Best directions you'll be getting for a while.”

Sweetie nodded. “Please, we're merely looking for a town. It's called Ponyville. We've lost our map.”

The stallion paused and rubbed his chin. “Ponyville?” It took a few moments before his eyes went wide and he took a step back. “Y-you mean that blasted place?” His gaze turned to Twilight. “D-do you work for Discord? For the Water Nation?” The terror was heavy in his voice and he quickly tossed down his spear. “L-listen, we don't want any trouble. We're just trying to make ends meet, you know? Lots of ponies trying to steal these days, we're looking out for ourselves. Didn't mean to threaten you or anything.”

The ponies shared looks, before Sweetie nodded. “All we want is directions to Ponyville. That's it.”

“That way!” he said, pointing east, towards the mountains. “There's an old road. It's faded a lot, but it has been used a few times in the last year. If you keep an eye out for it, you'll find it easily.”

Sweetie nodded before turning back the way they came. “Thank you. That's all we need. Come along,” she said quickly before they started quickly trotting. The group felt the eyes on them the entire way.

“That was... strange,” Scootaloo said softly once they were out of the town.

“They were terrified,” Twilight mumbled. “Did you see the look he made when he saw me?”

Scootaloo nodded. “Yeah. You look like... well, you look really silly. I've seen more intimidating baby bunnies. But he looked as if he was staring at a manticore.”

Twilight took a slow, deep breath before walking faster. “Let's go. Things are... things are a lot worse than I'd feared.” She looked ahead and stumbled, her eyes widening. “Spike? SPIKE! Where are you!” She galloped forward, panic rising within her. They were only gone a few minutes, where was he, they couldn't lose him already! She'd only--

“I'm right here,” the dragon said from behind a tree, glancing up. He let out a yelp as he was pulled into the air and brought to the avatar's waiting hooves.

“Don't do that! I was worried sick, I thought you'd... well...”

“I didn't do anything,” the dragon objected.

“Just don't do it again,” Twilight said firmly before letting the confused dragon down. “And ummm, stay hidden by me. We'll be heading east towards the road and I don't want anypony seeing you. As terrified as they are of Discord, there's no telling what they'll do if they think we're... his enemies.” She glanced back sadly. “Look at how small it is, they must have suffered greatly in the last few years.”

“I think everypony has,” Scootaloo mumbled softly.

“I suppose that's true,” Twilight said softly. “But there is no way a town of that size could have supported them for the last hundred years during the cold. How many more of them must there have been before my return? Before... everything that happened?”

There was a moment of silence as the ponies looked over at the town. A few miniature cinnamon tornadoes gently moved across the road.

“Come on, let's go. Next stop, Ponyville,” Twilight mumbled before they started walking yet again.

------

Discord frowned as he looked over the field of--

“Oh no you don't. No hints.” Snap.

------

Twilight gaped, staring at the... well... she was just in awe.

“That's a LOT of cotton candy,” Spike muttered. “I mean, wow. I don't even think Pinkie could eat that.”

“I think that could EAT Pinkie,” Scootaloo mumbled as she stared at it.

Finding the road to Ponyville hadn't been difficult. In fact, finding the mountain holding it had been almost as easy, as it was one of the few that didn't appear to be made of ice cream. It stood beside one made of nougat. What they didn't expect, however, was the giant mass of cotton candy clouds that they assumed was keeping it safe.

“I mean, they had one during the eternal night,” Twilight said softly. “Well, not quite one like this. But they had a lot of cloud cover. Maybe it's something similar?” Her eyes widened. “W-what if they... what if they're trapped inside it?” She started to charge forward.

“Wait, your disguise!” Sweetie yelled.

The alicorn paused, before shaking her head. “No. I won't need it here. I know these ponies, trust these ponies. They were there when I first arrived and...” She paused. “Well... I guess they aren't the best. But my friends grew up here. They'll help us.”

“Are yah sure?” Flowerbloom asked. “Ah mean, Discord has been runnin' amok.”

Twilight nodded slowly, before sighing. “Well, I can't hide forever. I... don't want these ponies to be afraid too. So this time, I'm going to show myself.”

They slowly nodded before walking forward. She used her air bending to push the candy aside and it quickly spread out. They trotted through a wide, dark tunnel of pink. It began to harden soon enough, but still gave way to her air bending.

Then they were through. Behind the shell of cotton candy was darkness, the sun unable to penetrate through the thick barrier of sugary treat. The air was stuffy and the shell was hard. However, there were torches lit all around. More importantly, the buildings were still there. But, most important of all, were the ponies. There were a few dozen of them. She didn't know many of their names, but they were there. Turning to her and looking shocked. A wide grin formed on her face.

“Citizens of Ponyville, I--” Her words were cut off as a stone smacked into her face. “Ow! Hey, who threw that!”

“Get out of here, stranger! We don't want your kind near us! This is our city, ours! Find your own!”

Twilight took a step back, her mouth falling open. “But, I, I'm not a stranger. It's... it's me! Twilight! The Avatar! I'm here for--”

More stones started raining on them, though Flowerbloom waved her hoof and they started flying to the side. “Get out of here!”

“We don't want no stinkin' Avatar here!”

“Leave us alone!”

Twilight's mouth fell open. “But I, I didn't—” Then her eyes fell on it. Near the center of the courtyard. Fluttershy. Her statue was resting on its side. But it was covered in filth. Trash, paint, rotten vegetables. It was filthy. Abused. “What... what have you done to Fluttershy's statue?” Her friend was here. These... these ponies had defaced it.

“GO AWAY!” The ponies had gotten smarter and started throwing sticks and a few had gotten clubs from their homes. Twilight shrieked and motioned back the way they came.

“Go go go!” she yelled. The others took one look at the mob before turning and running out. The mob stopped before the cloud cover, closing the cotton candy behind.

The ponies and dragon ran through the tunnel, skidding to a stop once outside the mass. Gasping for air, they dropped to the ground and looked between each other. “T-that was, they were NOT friendly!” Scootaloo said quickly.

“I-I noticed,” Twilight said gently. “They were just, they... did you see what they did to Fluttershy's statue? She was born there and they just defaced her. How could those ponies do that? She was one of them!”

“I don't know, Discord must have... done something,” Sweetie said softly, before looking back. “What do we do? How do we get to her if those ponies just attack us the moment we get near?” She gave a nervous smile. “We... could try fighting them off? I mean, they—”

“No,” Twilight said with a shake of her head. “Bending might work, but we could hurt them. Those ponies, well, Discord is controlling them, they've suffered enough. I don't want to have to hurt them.”

“So what do yah wanna do?” Flowerbloom asked.

“I'll have to... lure them off somehow, I guess. Maybe? I could try... do you think you'd be able to get the statue if I drew their attention?”

Sweetie rolled her eyes. “We'll draw their attention, yah can get the statue.”

“But it could be dangerous! If they attack--”

“There's three of us,” Flowerbloom interrupted. “An' we all know how tah take care of ourselves. Yah get the statue an' we'll lead 'em on a wild goose chase. Easy as pie.”

Twilight shuffled from hoof to hoof. “But I don't--”

“We're here to help you,” Scootaloo said firmly. “You need to work on rescuing your friend anyway. Just leave the distraction to us. A couple of civilians with stones and sticks aren't going to do any real damage to us.”

The alicorn let out a slow sigh, before nodding. “Very well. I... trust you. Thank you.”

The ponies nodded before turning to the mass of cotton candy. “Well then, girls, got any plans?” Sweetie asked.

“Well, ah've got one idea on how tah get their attention,” Flowerbloom said with a grin. “Ah think we'd better get ready tah run though, if we do.”

Sweetie nodded and pulled out her small canteen of water. “Then I suppose we'd best get to work.” She glanced to Twilight. “Make a cave or something you can hide in, where they won't see you.”

------

The cocoon of cotton candy stood thick and strong, towering over the small town and keeping it very warm thanks to the torches and the very low amount of air circulation. It had been standing strong for months, every since the new clouds had appeared.

So it was cause of great alarm when the cocoon suddenly had a long, narrow slit cross across it from one end to the other. A moment later the ground began to rumble and then shot up around them. When it lowered again, the great cocoon of cotton candy was sailing through the air, breaking apart and billowing lightly in the wind, while some of the harder parts rained down and mildly bruised the occasional ponies. The sudden rush of fresh air surged through the town, extinguishing the torches.

The citizens of Ponyville stood in horror, looking around at the strange world. Once again they were vulnerable and exposed. Their eyes fell on the three mares who stood down the road, grins on their face.

“Hey! You Ponyville losers! Ummm... your teams suck!” Scootaloo yelled.

“Teams?” Sweetie asked, cocking an eye.

“I don't know. Armies? Fighters? Do they even have anything here? It's not really big.”

“Well, maybe they have some kind of... mining thing? There has to be some reason for a town to be up in these mountains. It wouldn't just appear here for the sake of being here.”

“It's in the mountains, so they probably have a lot of fliers,” Scootaloo offered. “That probably means they have a team of them or something.”

“I don't think competitive flying has been done here in years,” Sweetie said with a shake of her head. “The weather hasn't exactly good for it. Some of the larger cities--”

“Girls, not to interrupt, but it might be time tah run,” Flowerbloom said as she furiously motioned forward. The ponies were getting over their surprise and were now gathering whatever they had available. Sticks, stones, pitchforks(because all small towns have them) and extinguished torches.

The three stared for a moment as the herd of gathered ponies grabbed whatever they could, before surging forward. “AHHHHHH!” they screamed as they ran from the angry rioting crowd.

Twilight stared for a moment, her mouth falling open. She was in a small cave she'd bent into the mountain, standing besides Spike. The crowd soon disappeared down the path and she rolled her eyes. “They said they had it under control.”

“They do,” Spike said with a shrug. “Come on, let's go.”

She nodded and they trotted towards the abandoned town. The sound of hooves suddenly made her eyes widen and she grabbed Spike, dragging him back behind the cover of one of the houses. She peered around the corner and soon saw another pony, standing with her back to them.

“It's only one pony,” Spike mumbled. “Just grab the statue and go.”

“But, they'll chase and...” Twilight trailed off and looked back. She then shook her head. She waved a hoof and the pony was suddenly trapped in a small done of earth, complete with a few air holes. “Sorry!” It wouldn't last long, but it would last long enough. She galloped to the statue and looked down at it. She wiped a bit of the mess off, but there was just so much of it.

“Come on, let's go,” Spike whispered. “They can't keep them distracted forever.”

“Right, hold on,” she said before leaning forward. She was tugged back.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm trying to form a bond with her. If I can talk with her, I can--”

“What if they come back while you're still doing that?” Spike asked, glaring at her.

She paused and slowly nodded. “Oh. Right.”

“Yes, right. Let's grab it and go.”

Twilight nodded. She could hear the imprisoned pony trying to break free. She pushed a hoof forward and the ground under the statue began to roll forward. She paused for a second. “Wait, where's Angel?”

“Who?”

“Her baby bunny. Shouldn't it be with her?” But there were no other statues. Just Fluttershy's.

“Maybe? I don't know! Let's go!” Spike said quickly.

Twilight nodded and pushed the statue. The ground rolled with it and, quickly, they drew the statue away from the town. She pulled it into the cave she'd made and set it upright, staring at her friend.

The statue still had her element around her neck, though it was stone as well as cracked. They truly had lost. But fortunately, they had a do over. She pushed a hoof and the cave's entrance closed behind them. Her horn lit up, giving them light. “Are you going to be okay?” she asked, glancing to the dragon.

“I'll be fine. Just try to make it quick.”

Twilight nodded and looked at her friend. She'd managed to break free of Discord's control, but only thanks to the previous avatars. Without them, she'd have been stuck, possibly forever. Such powerful magic wasn't something that could be easily repelled alone. But, they were friends. That meant they never had to be alone.

She put her horn against her friend's forehead and closed her eyes. There was a gentle glow of magic before she felt herself be pulled slowly in.

She had only a second before the darkness devoured her, muffling her screams of fright.

Author's Notes:

For those curious why it's taking so long: No my writing hasn't slowed. In fact, I am writing just as fast as ever. I just haven't had time to do my editing, since I've been kind of loaded with homework/etc. I have about 5 more chapters done and they should, hopefully, be going up soon. Sorry for delay. Fortunately my editor is much faster at editing than my own personal editing.

Chapter 7: Kindness never in short supply

The Chosen One. The hero of ages. The Savior of the realm. Fluttershy was known as all these things. She was one of a kind, special. But, right now she didn't feel like it.

She hugged her small bunny, Angel, to her chest and stared into the darkness. Oh, there was so much darkness. Her back was to a wall, sitting on her large, fluffy bed. The only source of light was a small, glowing pole that illuminated her bed.

But only a few feet away from her bed, the darkness covered all. Nearby was another such pole, though it didn't glow. All she had to do was touch it and it would begin to glow as well, fighting back some of the darkness. But to do that, she'd have to come closer to the darkness. It was there. Watching her. Waiting for her. She didn't know what was in it, but it was evil. She could feel it.

It didn't matter though. Her bed was comfortable. Soft. Safe. She gently hugged Angel closer, watching the darkness and peering at the pole. It had never gone out, but all the others had. She took another deep sigh and looked down to Angel. “Should... I-I try again?” she asked weakly.

The bunny shook his head. She gulped and slowly put him down. “I... but...” She glanced to the small table besides the bed. There was an empty plate and a small empty bowl. “They're late. I'll just... it'll be fine. Just... just need to g-go forward. T-that's it.” The pegasus slowly slid from her bed, her hooves clicking against the tile floor.

She nervously made her way towards the second pole. She put a hoof against it and it began to slowly glow. It's light slowly drove back the shadows, revealing more of the chamber. The small space she occupied was more like a tiny room, but this light revealed a wide, open stone chamber. It also revealed that... things were in the darkness, disappearing from the light before she could get a real look at them. She didn't know what they were or even if they really existed. For all she knew, they were part of her imagination. But she swore they were always there. Always waiting for her. In the darkness. Watching her.

Her breathing began to quicken as fear pushed into her heart. They were there, watching. Waiting. Whatever they were, they wanted her. She knew that. They wanted to... destroy her? Maybe? They'd been there forever. Ever since she was brought to this place. The lights kept her safe. If not for them, they'd have gotten her so very, very long ago.

The next light was just a little farther away. Not much, but just a few inches closer to the darkness. The one after that was closer still, making her heart begin to beat faster. The darkness was only slowly driven back, each light giving off just a little less light, revealing a little less of the chamber. The fourth one was the one she hated the most.

She pushed it and revealed more of the chamber. It split off into three paths. Two had long since collapsed, however. There were lights by them, but pushing those didn't work anymore. There were small tunnels through the rubble though. The size of a pony. Tunnels she could go through. But that required her to go through the darkness. To be in the darkness. Just the thought made her want to cry out. She kept her head forward and moved to the next.

The next one was on a corner, where the tunnels veered to the right. She held her breath as she inched forward. This one was in the light. Technically. But since it was around the corner, the shadows were right there. Touching against the pole from the other end. The things were right there. Waiting for her. Watching her. Unseen, but still seeing.

She pushed her hoof to it and, for a second, it didn't come on. Terror began to fill her as she was certain this one was broken too. She shrunk back, watching the darkness, waiting for it to come alive. Then the light glow came alive and began to push the darkness away.

She let out a sigh of relief before she started trotting again. She'd been eight the first time she'd made it this far. Barely beyond a filly. But the things had been there, even then. It was still not easy. The fear still gripped her heart as she walked.

The wall's stones were getting older now, more decrepit. The next few lights were easy, compared to the one on the corner. The stone floors gave way to a small, lush field of grass along with a small, gentle stream. But as nice and gentle as they looked, there were signs of the darkness that enveloped them. The grass was a far darker color than grass was supposed to be. The water was tinted purple. She'd drunk from it once, she remembered it suddenly. It had made her sick. So very sick. She stopped at the edge of the stream, looking down into it. It was only a few inches across, so easy. So simple. But it flowed like a small, bubbling wall of danger. She looked to the right, where it had come from.

The stones had melted away, no longer did the light surround her on all sides. Just the darkness. Above, to the sides, ahead. The only sign of safety were the little rods of summoned light. Each one a little closer to the darkness. To those things.

She took another deep, slow breath. She could do this. She had to do this. The darkness was just that, darkness. Something moved out of the corner of her sight and she quickly turned to look, but there was nothing there. The darkness just looked, somehow, blacker. She turned back ahead and started walking.

There were sounds now. Gentle sounds. Off in the distance. Soft rustles, gentle clipping. She told herself it was just the echo of her own hooves and the spring from before. But no, she knew in her heart that wasn't true. That it wasn't the case. Her breathing was getting faster as she touched the next few. She was getting further. She came to a small bridge and stopped. This was the farthest she'd ever been. She pushed the light and whimpered.

Ahead, the bridge disappeared into the darkness. There was another one of the rods a few feet in, but she'd never made it that far. She chewed on her lips nervously and took a step on the bridge. It dipped, just a little bit into the water. There was a light snapping sound off in the distance. She took another step and the bridge creaked underhoof. She could feel the darkness under her. Watching. It surrounded her on all sides now. Just the light keeping her safe. But she was almost there, she thought. Probably. Maybe. She just had to make it a few feet to the next light.

But she couldn't get her back hooves to do it. They refused to go any further. She whimpered and tried to go, but she was too paralyzed by fear. She nudged her body forward, thrusting her chest out. But nothing. Her legs refused to go.

There was a light splash off to the right. She screamed and turned, galloping back the way she came. Behind her, the darkness seemed to grow as the lights she activated began to turn off. It was slow, but steady. They dimmed until completely going out. The shadows rushed in to fill the void the light left behind, almost hungrily.

She galloped down the halls, looking back into the darkness. She could see it, whatever it was. Rushing forward impatiently, as if it was pushing back against the light. She jumped into her bed and pulled the covers tight, whimpering softly as she stared into the halls. The last activated light went out and the darkness crashed against the last light, the one that never went out. For a second she worried that even it would succumb as she held Angel close. The light did seem to collapse, just a bit, before pushing the darkness away. “I-it's okay. I can... I-I can try again tomorrow,” she whispered softly. Yes. She could get farther. Just a little bit. She had time. She had plenty of time. There wasn't a need for her, not yet. They'd tell her if there was.

------

“Holy one!” a voice said, making her look up from the darkness. A small earth pony stepped out from the shadows, holding a hayburger on a plate, alongside a small salad. Like all the ponies in this world, his body was completely black and he had no mane. They were all earth ponies, touched by the darkness. Torn asunder by it. She was yet untouched, that was why they had to protect her. She was their hope.

She nodded slowly and smiled. “I-I... right. T-thank you. S-sorry. I tried coming to get you, but... I-I couldn't g-get past the bridge.” She slowly pulled the hayburger and salad to her, gently putting the salad besides Angel. “Here darling.” The bunny happily went at it.

“Oh, Chosen One. You shouldn't have done that!” the pony scolded. “It is dangerous to go into the darkness. You are our hope, our future. You must stay here, where it's safe. If the darkness was to get you... who knows what would happen? Only you can light the posts. Only you can bring light to the world.” He shook his head. “It was very selfish of you to risk yourself like that.”

She looked down at the floor and sighed. “I'm sorry, I just... I didn't want to be a bother. I didn't want to--”

“You are not a bother. You are our hope. We can bring you food and everything you need. You must remain here, where it's safe. For the good of everypony. You care about us, yes? You wish to keep everypony safe? That means you must not risk yourself like that! If we were to lose you, we'd all be doomed. There would be no more hope for any of us. Is that what you want?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “N-no, of course not. I just... I didn't want to... I thought if I--”

“No, Chosen One. You are our healer. We need you. You must stay safe, here. Where nothing can harm you. If you die, we are all doomed. It will be your fault. Is that what you want?”

Fluttershy shook her head and looked back out into the darkness. It just... stood there. Watching her. The things held within it stuck at bay, the light of the post the only thing keeping her safe. “I'm so sorry. I just thought I could go further this time. That I'd... be okay.”

“You must not, Savior,” the pony said, before gently giving her a hug. It was warm and comforting. “Besides, if you were to go into darkness, the last of the light would fade.” He looked down to Angel. “Your bunny would be lost as well. Is that what you want?” The same warning she'd heard a thousand times.

Fluttershy glanced down to Angel and gave an apologetic smile. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so selfish. It won't happen again.”

The pony nodded and slowly pulled away. “Of course. Thank you, Chosen One. Now, you must remain here, safe. I have to venture back into the darkness, but I will return soon.”

She nodded softly and gulped, watching him leave. The darkness seemed to swallow him whole. She slowly picked up Angel and held him to her chest. “It's okay. It's all going to be okay.”

Angel nodded and gave her a little nuzzle. She laid down on her bed and pulled the covers close. She didn't need the warmth, in fact it never seemed to get cold or hot here. But it was comforting. As if the blanket could keep her safe from the darkness.

She let out a yelp as she heard a voice suddenly spill out from the shadows. It was low, only a whisper. She couldn't make out what it said. “D-did you hear that?” she asked her bunny.

Angel looked up at her, confusion on his face, before shrugging.

She gulped and closed her eyes, straining her hearing. But there was nothing, not a single peep. Just the same sounds of the shadows and the things that lived in them.

Chapter 8: Once smitten twice Fluttershy

Fluttershy gulped and looked out into the darkness. She gave a look down to Angel and smiled. “It'll be okay. I'll be fine,” she told him gently. She then got to her hooves and made her way forward, pushing the first post.

She knew she shouldn't, they told her not to. She was practically forbidden. She'd already eaten so it wasn't like she needed anything from the ponies in the darkness. But something deep within her told her she had to go. That there was something waiting for her at the end of this long, dark road. Even though it terrified her.

She made it to the second light before she felt a tug on her tail. She screamed and whipped around, expecting to see something from the darkness. Instead, it was just Angel, pulling on her. She let out a soft sigh of relief. “It's okay. I'll be fine, I promise. I just... I'm just going to the bridge. I'll be fine.” She repeated, more to herself than to her pet. He kept tugging, making her sigh. She turned around, grabbed him and carried him back to the bed. “Rest. I'll be back soon, I promise.”

The bunny tried objecting, but she put a hoof to his face. “Sleep. Do what I say.”

The bunny gulped and slowly nodded. She turned around and walked back down the path, lighting the posts as she went. Step after step she took, the fear growing in her as the darkness seemed to encircle her. Not knowing was what made it worse. She thought if she could just see what these creatures were, just once, she could learn to not fear them. But, on the other hoof, she was so terrified they would jump out from the darkness at any moment that each step made her want to turn around and gallop away.

“I should just go back,” she whispered as she crossed over the little stream again. “There's no reason for me to be here. None at all. They don't want me to be. I'm risking everything. I don't need to.” Her fear told her to turn around, but once again she pushed on.

She came to the bridge and once again it gently bobbed. She took a deep, slow breath and pushed out. Her back hooves made it over and she let out a little sigh of relief. She was on it. She took a few steps forward and made it to the post. Her hoof touched it and it began to flicker.

She froze. The light flickered again and again, going off and on. It then glowed dimly, illuminating only a few feet away. She could see the next post. It stood in the darkness, just an inch. But it was inside the darkness. Fluttershy's heart began to beat faster, but she took another step forward.

The bridge shook hard to the side and there was the sound of cracking wood. She let out a scream and lunged to the lit post, wrapping her hooves around it as true horror embraced her. Around the edges of her vision she could see them, moving around, just keeping out of sight so she couldn't see what they were. Down the way she had come, one by one, the previous lamps all began to flicker and then go out. Soon the only light in a world of darkness came from the one she held her hooves tightly around.

Her heart pounded in her chest so hard she was sure it would burst. Then the light flickered. Just for a second. Then it began to dim. She pulled her body closer to it, nearly wrapping herself around the pole as the bridge shook under her. The darkness came every close, a small inch at a time. Soon it was so close she couldn't move without touching it, the things out there. Waiting. Something brushed against her leg and she screamed.

The light came back, slowly expanding and pushing back the darkness. The moment the post on land was enshrouded in light she galloped back, pushing it and lighting the darkness. Post by post she made her way back, her breathing rapid and heart pounding. Small tears formed in her eyes, but she didn't release them until she was finally back in her bed. When she could, she collapsed onto the mattress and hugged Angel close. “I-I'm never going out there again,” she whispered, sobbing into his fur. “It just, it was... it...” She slowly looked up. She wasn't sure, but she swore the darkness around her bed had come closer. It was almost on her.

The lamp by her bed flickered again and she screamed. She pushed back, away from it and molding against the wall. Her screams echoed through the halls as she held Angel as tight as she could, icy terror gripping her heart.

“Chosen one! What's wrong?” a pony asked as he stepped from the darkness. He was the same as all the others, maneless and dark.

“T-the light, it flickered. I-I went down to the bridge, but it flickered, a-and there were things, and they were moving the bridge, a-and I screamed and the d-darkness almost touched me and I could feel them and hear them and they almost had me!” Fluttershy screamed, the tears streaking down her face. She sobbed into her hooves, falling down on her side. “T-they almost had me. I-I just, I tried going too far. I didn't know. I didn't think they'd, but, but I--”

There was a gentle cooing sound as the pony moved over, touching her shoulder and rubbing it. “There there. It's okay,” the pony said. “You're safe. You're in the light. It can't hurt you, not now. As long as you stay here, in the light, you'll be safe.”

“I-it flickered. I-it's never done that!”

“You must have gone too far. You spread your power too thin. You must never, ever do that again. The things in the darkness are waiting, chosen one. If you give them the opportunity, they will take you.”

She sobbed and slowly raised her head. “T-they, it's... but...”

“It's okay,” he whispered. “It's going to be okay. The darkness can't hurt you. You're safe so long as you stay in your light.”

She nodded and, slowly, began to relax. Her eyes watched the darkness though. It was still there, watching her. Waiting for her. Trying to envelop her. All it would take was the light to go out and it would have her. “T-they went out. For a second. All of them but the one I held onto.”

He nodded. “It is dangerous to go out that far. Remember this lesson, chosen one. For your safety and our future. Now promise me you won't go out again.”

“I... I won't,” she whispered. She laid in the bed, the covers around her and the pony gently stroking her mane. Before she knew it, a different kind of darkness enveloped her and she fell asleep.

------

Fluttershy nibbled her food, laying back against the wall. She'd meant it this time, she'd never go into the darkness again. Not after that. She still felt the gentle urge to go out there, to find what was at the end of the road. But she couldn't, not now. It was too dangerous. She couldn't risk it, not again. Just the thought of the lights going out again made her want to fall down and burst into tears.

No, she was safe where she was. Happy, too. She had Angel, her bed, food. She didn't want anything else. The ponies even came and talked to her sometimes. Life was good.

“....hy....” a soft voice called out, soft as a gentle breeze.

Fluttershy's ears perked and she looked around. “Did you hear that?” she asked Angel.

He shook his head. She shrugged and went back to her meal. She was hearing things, the darkness was playing tricks on her.

“... lp...”

She perked her ears again. She was sure she heard it that time. Something was out there, calling. She slowly stood up. Angel pulled on her tail. “Quiet,” she said firmly. He refused and started hopping around on the bed, squeaking angrily. She ignored him and walked a little closer, pushing the first pole. She wouldn't go any further, she promised. She just had to hear it.

“...shy...” the voice called out again.

She looked around before yelling out. “Who's there? Are you the darkness?”

There was another soft cry before new words sprang forward. “Help!” They were soft and weak, but they were clear. Even over Angel she could hear them. She paused and raised a hoof to her chest. No, it was different than that. It wasn't that she could hear it, it was more that she could feel it. Even with Angel making noise behind her, she could feel it. Somepony was calling out to her. Somepony needed her.

She eyed the darkness for a few moments before trotting forward. Angel tried pulling on her tail, but she sighed and gave him a little tug, before flinging him onto her back. She then glared. “I'm just going to see what it is. That's it. Keep calm.”

Fluttershy turned back towards the shadows and walked. Post by post she lit them. She was still terrified, the things in the darkness pushing against the edge. But she just couldn't ignore it. She heard the cry, again and again. Calling her by name, the voice weak and hurt. Angel hopped on her back and tugged, squeaking wildly as he tried to stop her. But she refused. She could feel it in her heart, somepony needed her. She couldn't ignore them. She wouldn't. No matter how scared she was.

She made it to the bridge when she found her way suddenly blocked. Three of the ponies were there, watching and waiting. “Chosen one, you shouldn't be here.”

The voice called out to her again. “Somepony needs me. They're calling for help. They--”

“It's a trick,” one of them said, shaking their head. “The darkness is trying to lure you to it. To spread your magic. To trap you. You must resist, you must fight it. Please. If you go, we are all doomed.”

Fluttershy gulped and looked to the bridge. It made sense. A trap would probably be easy. Making a pony's voice call out to her. The voice called again. It called her name. It was still weak, but she was closer. She could feel it in her heart. Even more important, she knew the voice. She couldn't ignore this pony. “No. I have to go. Whoever they are, they need me. I have to help them.”

“You can't!” the nearest pony yelled, shaking her head. “Please, return to your bed. To safety. You put yourself and us all in grave danger.”

The voice called again. Her eyes widened slightly and she took another step forward. “No. I will face the darkness if need be. But that pony needs me. I must help them. Stand aside.”

“Chosen one, please, see reason,” the pony said as the three refused to budge. She tried stepping forward again, but they held firm. “We won't move. The darkness will take you if we do, we cannot allow that. We won't allow that. Go back.”

Fluttershy gulped and then shook her head. “NO!” She charged forward. The ponies tried to block her way, but she found herself able to push through them easily. She galloped forward, the next post coming alight. She kept galloping, hitting the next right after. The lights struggled to keep up, not slowly lighting this time. They came alight instantly. Angel held on tightly, squeaking. The voice called out again, she was closer.

Then she made it to the last post and the end of the bridge. There was nothing but an empty void. The bridge was latched onto... something. But there didn't seem to be anything. The shadows completely covered whatever ground was there and the post showed nothing. She stopped and stared.

“Fluttershy! Help me! I can't do this alone!”

The voice had never been so clear. Angel was shrieking now, tugging on her tail as best he could. The other three ponies had galloped up behind her, making the bridge shake. “Chosen one, please, stop. You'll doom us all!”

“What's out there?” Fluttershy asked, staring into the void.

“The darkness, it swallows all. If you go there, we'll all be doomed. You're our only hope. We need--”

“She needs me,” Fluttershy said softly, staring into the void.

“It's a trick!”

“No, it's not,” the pegasus said slowly as she looked around. “I can feel it.” Her wings spread. The ponies jumped after her. She ignored them and leaped into the void.

The darkness swallowed her. Her heart began to beat faster as it molded around her, enveloping her. It was... warm. Soft. Comforting. She frowned and looked around, but there was nothing to see. Just the darkness.

“Fluttershy! Closer! Please!”

The pegasus flapped her wings and kept moving, though she had the grim feeling that she wasn't flying by her own power. She just wanted to go there and it was pulling her closer. There was no pain, no hurts, nothing but the darkness.

Then the darkness began to pull apart, turning to light around her and expanding outward. Her eyes widened as she saw the world again. She turned back towards the bridge and gasped. The world she had come from was nothing but shadows and darkness, a thick, purple darkness. The light enveloped her, wrapping the mare in its embrace. The world that had once been so frightening was now beautiful and warm, the sky light blue overhead and the air fresh and warm.

“Fluttershy!” the voice called again. “Behind you!”

The pegasus turned and shrieked. Angel was growling, his entire body wrapped in a dark, purple haze. His eyes glowed a violent red. She shook him off and jumped away. His body began to shift and change, turning into a black, maneless pegasus. A few yards behind him a purple alicorn was laying on the ground, panting for air. Twilight. She knew that mare. That was her friend.

The thing that Angel had become was not. “W-who are you?” she asked softly.

The pegasus didn't answer. Instead, a dark, sick smile formed on its lips and it took a step forward. She shrieked and took a step back. Sensing her fear, it kept advancing, driving her back towards the bridge and the purple darkness.

“Fluttershy! Don't, you have to fight it!” the alicorn yelled. “If you don't, we'll both be trapped here! Our friends need our help, and I need you!”

The pegasus paused for a second and looked back at the creature. She was scared. Terrified even. This... thing was horrifying and, worst of all, she was sure it could hurt her.

But that didn't matter. She felt a small light forming in her heart. Her friends needed her. Words slowly spilled into her mind as she took a step forward. “It doesn't matter how scared I am. I'll still fight,” she whispered softly.

A ball of light formed besides her. A white pegasus appeared, with a golden necklace holding a pink butterfly jewel for a cutie mark. The pony smiled at her before erupting into light. The necklace formed in the air, before floating to Fluttershy's neck. She turned to the creature as thoughts and memories locked away began to flow freely. “Discord...” she whispered. Her hoof stomped down. “You won't win, you big, big meany!” A pink light erupted from the necklace, making the creature shrink back with an angry roar. The light spread out, enveloping the world and everything in it.

Chapter 9: Such silliness

Twilight and Fluttershy let out eeks as they were sent flying back to the ground, swirls in their eyes. Spike was a few feet away, his eyes wide and little chunks of stone and rock embedded into the wall by him. “You could have warned me she was going to do that!” he snapped.

Twilight groaned and looked around. She had a few bruises, but was okay. She then turned to the pegasus. “Are you okay?”

Fluttershy slowly nodded and got to her hooves. She shook her head. “What... what was that? It felt so... it was so weird. So strange. It felt like a dream. A very weird, but powerful dream.”

“I think it was. At least, one of sorts.” She glanced down to her friend's element. The crack was still there. “Whatever he did to damage our elements... well, he trapped us in those dreams at the same time.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Who was that pony? She became the element...” The pegasus gently rubbed the necklace.

“I think it was your element. Kind of like how Discord's power took the form of that creature.” She pushed her hoof out and the cave wall opened. “Come on. We need to find the others and get out of here.” She then glanced to Spike. “And, errr, sorry about that. I didn't know she'd... well, explode.”

“Others? They're okay? They're here?” Fluttershy's eyes widened and a smile formed on her lips.

“No. You're the first I rescued. The others are... well... Sweetie Belle, Flowerbloom and Scootaloo.”

Fluttershy stared for a few moments before her mouth fell open. She slowly closed it, only to open it again. “What?”

“Yeah. I ummm, they're good though. I mean, they were already good. But they're definitely not under Discord's control or anything like that. And they're kind of the only help we have right now.”

The pegasus stared for a few more moments before nodding. “Well, okay then. If you're sure you can trust them, I will too.” She then trotted after the alicorn.

There was a lot of yelling coming from the town and Twilight's eyes widened. “They're in trouble!” she yelled before galloping towards it.

Fluttershy slowly followed, confusion etched on her face. The cave had been a mess, all those rocks had been covered in rotten vegetables and marks. Just what had she been missing?

Twilight galloped into the town, looking around frantically. The three mares were surrounded on all sides by... apologizing villagers. “What?”

“We're so, so, so sorry! I can't imagine what came over us.”

“I never meant to throw that tomato, I swear. It just, I don't know why I felt so angry, so mean.”

“We never treat visitors like that, we're so sorry.”

“It's, it's quite okay,” Sweetie said nervously as she looked around at the encircling ponies. “I uhhh, I can understand. Discord has a powerful influence. Uhhh, nopony expects you to have been able to fight it off. Really, it's okay.”

The apologies didn't stop, however. Twilight stepped forward, looking around. “Sweetie? Flowerbloom? Scootaloo? Is everything okay?”

The ponies turned around and then every eye seemed to level on Fluttershy. The apologetic herd erupted then. They swarmed the startled pegasus, yelling and screaming their apologies. None of them could be even made out over the din and the pegasus just stood in horror, her entire body locked up from all the attention. Twilight was brushed aside, her mouth falling open. Finally, she had enough. “HEY!” she yelled, stomping a hoof down and making the ground shake. “BACKUP! Give her some space!”

There was a momentary pause before the herd began to back up, leaving a terrified pegasus in their wake. “Good. Now, one at a time,” the alicorn said with a stomp of her hoof.

There was a small pause as the group looked around nervously, their eyes downcast. Finally, one piped up. “I'm so sorry I tossed a tomato at you!”

“I'm sorry I doodled on your mane!”

“I'm sorry I threw that mud clump at your face!”

“I'm sorry about what I did to your pet bunny!”

“I'm sorry about--”

“WHAT?!” Fluttershy yelled out, her eyes widening. “Where's Angel? What happened to him? Is he okay?” The panic flooded in her voice.

The crowd looked shocked for a moment, before there was a lot of nervous shuffling. A sense of dread flooded off the ponies. “Where's the bunny?” Twilight asked, her voice gripped with fear.

One of the ponies slowly shuffled off, before returning with a small cage. Inside was Angel. Except, it wasn't the Angel they knew and... well, tolerated. That Fluttershy loved. He was tiny, malnourished, pieces of his fur missing. One of his paws was even bleeding. Fluttershy stared for a moment before surging forward. She shoved the pony aside and tore the cage apart. Actually tore the metal away and reached for the bunny.

Angel recoiled from her touch, but she kept pushing. Her hooves grabbed him and pulled him to her chest. He fought, thrashing about and biting, but she ignored it. Gently, she held his tiny body in her legs. “It's okay. It's going to be okay. I'm here now. I'm so, so sorry,” she whispered. “I'll never let you go again, I promise. I'm so sorry.”

She gently began to hum a soft lullaby and soothingly rocked the baby bunny back and forth. He stopped gnawing on her hoof and began to relax, looking up at her. She gave a gentle smile and then slowly looked up at the villagers. Her gaze turned harsh and cold. “I can forgive whatever you did to me. But... this? I don't know if I can ever forgive this.” She then looked back down, smiling to her pet. “Now, let's get you something to eat, okay?” The bunny gave a weak squeak and she flew off.

The ponies just watched her go, before turning to Twilight. “A-Avatar,” a gray mare said as she stepped forward. “You must understand, before when you came, we weren't ourselves, we--”

“I know exactly what,” Twilight said with a shake of her head. “Discord is powerful. A normal pony can't oppose him.” She smiled as her element formed on her head. “But we're not normal ponies. With my friends at my side, there is nothing we cannot do. We will get everypony back together and defeat him. Of that I give my word.”

There was a moment of silence before the ponies erupted in cheer. “We must celebrate!” the gray pony yelled. “A feast, a tremendous feast, the likes of which have never been--”

“No!” Twilight said with another shake of her head. “We're leaving as soon as we have supplies.”

“But, but you just got here,” the mare said. There was a few grumbles of agreement from behind her.

“Maybe. But the world has waited long enough.” Her hoof pointed towards the nearby ice cream mountains. “The damage he's doing is immeasurable. I have to stop it as fast as I can. That means no parties, no feasts, nothing. We're going to rescue my friends, save the world and then we can relax.”

There was another few grumbles from the crowd before the mare nodded. “Very well. Allow us to prepare what we can.”

Twilight nodded. “Thank you.”

------

The five mares, baby dragon and a bunny made their way down the path from the village, the ponies watching and cheering them as they went. Fluttershy was too busy ignoring them, her focus on the poor abused bunny of hers. He at least was warming up to her and didn't try to escape when she let him go. They'd even gotten a small cart to hold everything.

Once they were out of sight of the town, Scootaloo glanced back. “So... that was awesome.”

“Huh?” Twilight asked.

“The whole pillar of light thing? Parting the clouds, everything?”

Twilight looked back to Spike, who shrugged. “All I saw was an explosion and suddenly a bunch of rocks flying at my face at fifty miles an hour.”

Sweetie giggled. “You missed it? That sucks. It was awesome. All of a sudden this great wave of light just flowed out, enveloping the villagers. They really started calming down after that.”

Twilight nodded. “I see. Maybe it was Fluttershy's element?” She glanced back to the pegasus. “I think there was this explosion of light, but I was still stuck in the other... place at the time.”

“What was it like?” Flowerbloom asked. “Ah mean, was it all... weird an' stuff?”

Fluttershy blinked and looked overhead as a couple clocks flew by. “Compared to out here? Not that weird. It just felt... well, it was like being in a dream. I feel like I've just woken up. Things didn't always make sense now that I look back at it, but at the time it seemed normal. Even things I didn't know I suddenly started to know. I... I don't know anymore.” She gently held out a carrot to Angel. The bunny quickly took it and started nibbling. “I wouldn't have come out though, if not for Twilight. I was so... scared,” she whispered.

Twilight nodded. “I don't blame you. When I first arrived, it was pretty scary. The darkness surrounded me on all sides and I didn't think I could breath. But... it felt normal, after a bit. Familiar. It didn't hurt me, but it refused to let me go. I didn't realize it was your element though. I just knew I needed your help, since it was your dream.” She gave a soft sigh. “If you hadn't come to save me, I might still be stuck there. Helpless and trying to get free.”

Fluttershy nodded. “If you hadn't come to save me, I know I would still be trapped there. Completely unaware of what was going on around me. Thank you.”

“If you had warned me there was going to be an explosion, I could have hid,” Spike muttered.

Twilight chuckled and gave a little nod. “I'm sorry.” She looked down the road. “I think we can get to Cloudsdale from here. It... won't be a short trip, though.”

Fluttershy nodded. “I... I know the way. I think. But it's, well, err...”

“What?” Twilight asked, glancing back.

“Cloudsdale can move,” Fluttershy mumbled softly.

“Well, of course it can. But it has the ground city, too. They--”

“They were probably only by that ground city because of the night and the war,” Fluttershy interrupted. “Now they could be anywhere.”

Twilight looked back towards the road. “O-oh. That's... not going to make things easy. Is it?”

The five mares let out soft, annoyed sighs. “It can never just be easy, can it?” Scootaloo asked with a grumble.

------

The days slowly melted into each other. At least, the group assumed it took days. The sun going up and down every half hour was really starting to get annoying, though the other occasional changes were mildly entertaining. Sometimes they were just weird. The time he turned the sun into a giant glowing foal's face was just creepy.

But, after time traveling across the great road, the group could now see a town off in the distance. “Okay girls, you know the drill. We've prepared for this.” She pulled out a small cloak and wrapped it around herself, hiding her wings. Spike laid down in the cart and pulled the covering over himself with a sigh. “Remember. Get in, find out where Cloudsdale is, get out. Nothing else. Simple and easy.”

“Of course,” Sweetie said with a chuckle. “I don't think we'll have many troubles this time.” She glanced back. “Hopefully.”

Twilight nodded. The town was at least in slightly better condition than the first one they'd encountered in these lands. The houses were all put together and the destroyed ones appeared to have already been torn apart, leaving nothing but dirt patches. The ponies in the streets gave them nervous skeptical looks, but didn't appear actively hostile. They did stay close to their homes though and watched for any sudden movements.

The alicorn gave a nervous smile towards the first pony that came close enough. “Err, would you be willing to answer some questions for me?”

The pony glared. “Whaddaya wanna know?”

“Where Cloudsdale is?” Twilight asked nervously, giving him a gentle smile. “We're traveling and we don't know when the last time it moved.”

The pony's eyes widened. “You want to... don't go there, trust me,” he shook his head. “The place is a mess. Horrible. Ponies go there and... well, they get tossed right out, or beaten up pretty bad. The wonderbolts are... they're... some say they've turned completely evil. That they're attacking anypony that doesn't have wings. For your own good, stay away.”

Twilight gulped and chewed on her lower lip. “I... I don't have a choice. Our friend is there, we have to rescue her.”

The pony sighed and then pointed west. “Fine. Keep following this road and head north at the fork. Keep an eye out. Last I heard it was holding up over a lake and they were using it to grow the clouds out more. If you're lucky, you might make it before they finish.”

Twilight nodded and bowed her head. “Thank you. That's all I wanted to know.” She paused and looked around. “This is going to sound strange, but the last town we were at, they were a lot more... hostile. How uhhhh, how are you all holding up in... this new world?”

The pony glared. “Go. Just go.”

“But--”

“I said go, unless you'd rather be chased out of here on the end of a blade,” he said, his eyes turning angry as he glared.

She shook her head and started trotting quickly. “No! Sorry to bother you! Have a nice day!” The others quickly followed after her.

They walked in silence until the town was finally out of view. “At least we didn't leave everypony in a panic this time,” Flowerbloom said softly.

“Why can't we just tell them who we are?” Fluttershy asked softly.

“A few reasons. We don't know how much Discord has changed them, for one,” the alicorn muttered. “Especially considering after Ponyville. If he turned those ponies into... that, there's no telling what else he's done. Another is I'm trying to keep where we're going quiet. After I got you out of the statue, there's no way I could keep it hidden. But I'd rather Trixie not have anyway to know where we've been until after we're gone. There's no telling what she could send after us.”

“That useless, arrogant wretch? Oh, I don't think you have to worry about her,” a voice as cold as ice said. Chills went down the group's back as they looked around. Stepping out from behind one of the nearby plastic trees, Nightmare Moon gave them a low smile. “I've been looking for you, Avatar.”

“M-mother!” Sweetie said, taking a step forward before stopping. She quickly took a step back. “Y-you... but Twilight fixed you. You aren't supposed to... be like this anymore.”

The former ruler grinned even wider as drops of water slowly began to flow around her head. “Oh my dear, foalish child. I am like nothing but myself. Come, join me at my side. It is time for the Avatar to perish.”

Sweetie shook her head. “Not a chance. Mother, you must fight his control! He's an evil, sick creature and needs to be stopped. Twilight is the only pony who-- eep!” She took a step back after shards of ice landed just outside her hoof.

The former ruler slowly stepped forward. “I will not take betrayal lightly, daughter. I will give you one last chance. Either come to my side, or perish like your sister.”

Sweetie glared and the ice rose into the air. “Thank you, mother. This could have been a very difficult choice, but now you've made it so simple. If we have to go through you to save the world, so be it.”

“Sweetie, she's your mother,” Twilight said softly. “You don't have to fight with--”

“Rarity fought her. So can I. Come on!” She ran forward, Scootaloo and Flowerbloom following close behind. Twilight gave a soft sigh before galloping after.

“Fluttershy, Scootaloo, take the cart and get out of here!” she called back.

Scootaloo paused in her charge. “But I can--”

“Just do it! This is a bending fight!”

The two pegasi shared looks, before slowly galloping down the road. Scootaloo gave a worried look back at the others, thoughts of all the stories she'd heard of their one time ruler flashing through her mind. Nightmare Moon merely chuckled. “What interest would I have in your little cart? Avatar, you are my prey.” Shards of ice formed around her head. “And you will fall by my hoof.

Chapter 10: Not worth the effort it expends

Discord gazed at hi-- “Oh no you don't.” Snap.

------

Flowerbloom thrust a hoof down and the ground rumbled under Nightmare Moon. The unicorn didn't even flinch, she just turned her head and three spikes of ice shot at the earth pony. Sweetie held out a hoof and stopped the shards of ice for a few seconds, before they rocketed out again. The earth pony barely ducked in time, the shards cutting a chunk from her ribbon.

“You think to test your water bending against mine, child?” Nightmare Moon asked, glaring at her daughter.

“Y-yes I do!” the mare said before stepping to the side and sending a small batch of ice shards at the elder mare. The ruler merely snorted and the ice turned to water and swirled around her. She then ducked, barely in time as a ball of flame shot overhead.

“You aren't just fighting an earth or water bender, Nightmare Moon,” Twilight said, her horn glowing red hot as fire swirled around. “You're fighting us all.”

The ruler chuckled. “Then you will all fall.”

“Get her!” Twilight said, thrusting her horn forward as fire surged out. Flowerbloom stomped her hooves and sent a ripple through the ground, before spikes of earth rose up and tried to hit the mare. Sweetie gathered what water she could, struggling to strike and trip up the ruler when she was distracted.

Nightmare Moon moved with perfect precision. Even with the ground rumbling she was easily able to avoid their attacks, swirling the water around her head and deflecting them with perfected grace. No matter how they struck, the mare was always just out of range, barely avoiding the attack. She only used the barest amount of water to try and deflect the assaults she couldn't dodge. Within a few minutes the three were exhausted, panting and on their knees. Nightmare merely chuckled, shaking her head. “Your bending is weak and expends too much energy. Perhaps I should show you how a true master fights?” Her eyes began to glow green.

Flowerbloom wheezed and stepped back. “W-we need tah run!”

Shards of poisonous ice skewered through the air, making the ponies shriek and roll back, struggling to get away from the attacks. Twilight flapped her wings and sent a sudden burst of wind racing at the mare, as strong as she could. Nightmare Moon growled and narrowed her eyes, a leg moving up to cover her face. When she lowered them, the three were already running.

“Go go go!” Twilight yelled, galloping just behind the other two.

Nightmare Moon chuckled and shook her head. “Foals. Flee all you want, I'll catch you anyw--” She let out a yelp as her hooves refused to move. She looked down at the ground where it had managed to not only turn to quick sand, the moisture in it had frozen solid. “FOALS! I WILL FIND YOU!” she roared. She yanked on her hooves, her magic turning the ice to water.

Twilight ran at the head of the pack, panting for air. They soon came back upon the others, their chests heaving and barely able to stand. Scootaloo took one look at them and motioned into the cart. “Get in. Come on.” They were too tired to object.

“Ah knew she was good, but... ah didn't think she was... like that,” Flowerbloom mumbled.

Twilight nodded, before glancing to Sweetie. The mare just stared at the ground, still breathing heavy. “It doesn't help that none of us really want to hurt her. But... I think she was just toying with us,” she said softly.

“Why?” Scootaloo asked softly, glancing back they way they had come.

“She didn't attack much. She spent more time just avoiding our attacks. And the attacks she launched, well, she sent a bunch of little spikes. Last time I fought her she was more about... well, striking you or disabling you with one small strike. But that was...” She shivered. “I don't know. I just have a bad feeling. We'd best keep going as fast as we can.”

“What if she knows we're headed tah Cloudsdale?” Flowerbloom asked with a nervous chuckle.

Twilight stared back at the ground and shivered. “I... don't know what, then. I think we'll just need to be... careful.” She closed her eyes and buried her head in her hooves. “I'm sorry, Sweetie. I didn't--”

“It's not your fault.”

“But you finally got your mother back and now she's--”

“We'll just rescue her again,” she said softly. “It doesn't matter. You've saved her once, you can save her again. Once all this is over.” Sweetie looked towards the horizon. “Are you two going to be okay pulling the cart?”

“We're fine,” Scootaloo said with a chuckle. “I've trained my whole life, and . It's a shame this isn't an air cart. We could make a lot more time then.”

Twilight nodded and glanced down the road. They were going at a fairly fast pace, but she was a little surprised that Nightmare Moon wasn't catching up with them. Though, that just made her more nervous.

The ruler probably did know where they were headed if she ambushed them on this road. So why wasn't she following them?

------

Nightmare Moon growled, stomping her hooves to the ground. She had to chase after them, she had to. Her eyes glowed a dark, malevolent green.

But she didn't want to. She resisted as hard as she could. Bad enough she was being forced to take orders from that airbag Trixie and that other creature. That it was her daughter she had to fight, her other one. But no, she was nopony's slave. If she caught the avatar it would be her doing, after Discord was returned to stone.

She growled and closed her eyes tightly, trying to suppress the commands that echoed in her mind. That told her to do these things. That said she had to find and capture them. She refused. But still her hoof lifted and slowly went back down, drawing her after them.

She was Nightmare Moon, ruler of the Water Nation. She was nopony's servant. If only her body would listen to that.

------

Twilight let out a yawn before glancing towards the giant orb of cheese in the sky. “Does that mean it's day or night?” she asked softly.

“Well... I think the moon is supposed tah be made of cheese,” Flowerbloom said with a shrug. “But it's yellow like the sun and it is pretty bright out. So... day?”

Twilight stared up at the bright, orange sky. “I hate Discord so much.” Her new mantra was, sadly, starting to lose its spark. She gave another gentle sigh and looked to the others. “I think we're almost there.”

“Do you hear that?” Fluttershy asked softly before glancing up, still holding Angel in her hooves and feeding him a small carrot.

“Hmmm? Hear what?” Twilight asked, though she listened closely. Sure enough, she soon heard yelling off in the distance. Angry yelling. People were screaming and fighting. She gulped. “I think there might be a battle going on.”

Sweetie nodded. “Should we go around?”

Twilight thought for a moment before shaking her head. “No. We have to at least see what it's about.” She jumped from the cart and pulled her cloak back over herself. “But maybe I should go alone. Keep our numbers smaller and--”

“Buck no. I'm coming with you,” Scootaloo said as she dropped down.

“What? But--”

“I'm a pegasus so I'll blend in here,” the mare said with a smile. “Besides, I had to sit out the last fight. If there's another, I'm going to be right there with you. Got it?”

The alicorn sighed again before giving a nod. “Fine. The rest of you, hide. If we come running... well, Flowerbloom, go underground. I don't think many air benders will be able to follow that.” She then started trotting forward.

As they climbed over the next hill, the scene was clear for them to see. Twilight's eyes widened and a hoof covered her mouth. “W-what in blazes... what are they doing?”

“Burn the traitor! You will perish for your crimes!” a pegasus in a blue flightsuit with a yellow thunderbolt yelled. She had an orange and yellow mane. Twilight recognized her as Spitfire.

There was another pony, tied to a post, struggling against it. He was wearing the same uniform and had a dark blue mane. She recognized him as Soarin. She also recognized that there were other ponies in the same getup, flying about and putting kindling under him. “Spitfire, please. I'm not a traitor! You know me, we're friends. Partners. Let me go!”

“You are a traitorous scum, no friend of mine. You will perish along with those other foals!”

Twilight just stared, her mouth falling open. A match was tossed onto the kindling and the flames started as the stallion shrieked.

“Aren't those the Wonderbolts? Shouldn't we do something?” Scootaloo asked.

“What? OH! Yes!” She stomped her hooves down and sent a batch of dirt and rocks over the flames, snuffing them out. The ponies around the flames looked around, before focusing on her. “What's the meaning of this? What are you doing to Soarin?”

“He is a traitor and will pay for his crimes, earth po--” Spitfire paused for a second, before her eyes went wide. “Wait a moment. You're... a unicorn. How did you earth bend?”

Twilight gulped and stepped forward, shaking the cloak off. Too late for disguises now. “Spitfire, it's me, Twilight. What's the meaning of this?”

Spitfire growled. “Avatar. Of course, you're a member of those traitors too, aren't you?”

“Traitors? What traitors? What are you talking about!”

“Don't act like you don't know,” the mare said with a snort.

“She probably doesn't! I still don't!” Soarin yelled, shaking in his binds. “Avatar, please, help me! They've gone mad! They keep talking about the--”

“Silence, traitor! You've already sealed your fate with your crimes against the sky lords!” She then turned to Twilight. “Avatar, you are strong. I will give you one chance. Abandon your loyalties to those... ground walkers and join our side. Together, we will purge this land of all those lesser beings!”

Twilight just stared. “Purge... this land? Ground walkers? What are you talking about?”

“They've gone mad, Twilight!” Soarin yelled as he struggled in his bindings. “It's Discord's magic, whatever he's done!”

“Ignore him! Twilight, join us!” the mare held out a hoof. “You're either for us, or against us.”

The alicorn looked around for a moment before narrowing her eyes. “I think I know exactly what's going on here. You're trying to start another war.” She slid her hoof forward and the ground began to rumble. “The answer is no. I will not join you or help you in whatever foalish dreams of conquest you have.”

“Then you will die!” Spitfire roared before charging forward. Or rather, she tried to. The ground now had a firm grip on her hooves and refused to let go. “Hey! What trickery is this? Avatar! You think to defeat us with-- GUHHH!” Suddenly Scootaloo was on the mare and a few quick taps made her drop like a rock.

“Sorry,” Scootaloo said with a grin as she galloped towards the ones closest to Soarin. “I'm not much for war, either!” A few quick taps and the pony went limp, who she then threw into the next one. She jumped onto the pile of kindling and started working on the binds.

“Stop her! Stop them!” Spitfire yelled into the ground, her voice muffled by the dirt.

“That's not going to happen,” Twilight said as she stomped her hoof again. The ground erupted, peppering the other Wonderbolts in rocks as she took the chance to fly forward, joining the other two. Her wings spread out. “Don't think I won't crush you if I have to!”

Spitfire growled and tried moving, before letting out a sigh. “Get me, you foals! Help me up! We're pulling back!”

The Wonderbolts gave each other worried looks, before quickly flying over to grab their fallen comrades. Twilight watched and waited for an attack, but it didn't come. They were soon flying off as she watched, letting them escape. “Well, that was... definitely something. Do you mind explaining what was going on, Soarin?”

The stallion let out a yelp when he was untied, collapsing onto Scootaloo. “S-sorry. I've been tied up and hauled around for quite a while now.”

The mare shrugged. “It's cool, come on.” She helped him sit down and tried rubbing feeling back into his limbs. “Tell us what happened.”

“Wait, hold on,” Twilight said. “I'm going to get the others. This way you only have to tell us once.” She jumped into the air and flew off.

------

The group was soon gathered, with Soarin sitting in the cart and rubbing his hooves. “I'm not completely sure what happened. Just... well. I was late arriving back home. I had things to attend to, ponies I had to help. I sent them off ahead. Then when I got back, I found out Discord had been there and dropped off a statue of Rainbow.”

Twilight nodded. “That would be what we're after. How did you end up there?”

“It was... well... ummm...” He sighed and shook his head. “It doesn't make any sense. I knew these ponies, I had for years. They were, are, good ponies. I trusted almost any of them with my life. But then... bad things started happening. The sun was back in its place, so Cloudsdale was going from city to town, offering aid and helping each of our settlements re-expand. At least, that's what we had been doing. But when I got back they were talking about the pegasus master race and how all the ground ponies didn't deserve what they had. That only the air benders deserved anything. They'd dropped off all non-pegasi weeks before I got back, fortunately. By the time I arrived they were getting ready to toss any non-pegasi they found out of the clouds. I tried asking Spitfire what was going on.” He took a slow, deep breath. “She betrayed me, said I was becoming one of them, next thing I know I'm being questioned and ponies are demanding to know where my loyalties lie. I eventually managed to convince them that I was with them, but everything was wrong. I couldn't trust any of the ponies. Then... Trixie arrived.”

Twilight's eyes widened. “Wait, Trixie is there?”

“Oh, yes. She arrived yesterday. But, well... I asked what was going on, why we would trust them. They were talking about... purging all the non-benders. Starting there before the rest of the non-pegasi. I tried to talk with Spitfire, to make her see what she was doing was wrong. But it was like she was a completely different pony. Not my friend at all. She just... turned on me. Next thing I know I'm being swarmed by my one time friends and they're threatening to burn me at the stake for being a ground walker sympathizer. You should have seen them chanting for my head. It was... horrifying. And not just because it was my head they wanted.”

Twilight nodded and glanced off in the distance. “If Trixie is here, that's going to make everything a bit harder. But we need to get into Cloudsdale.” She smiled down at him. “The same thing happened at Ponyville. The ponies there had completely changed. They were... just, well, mean. Angry. But once we rescued Fluttershy, they returned to normal.” She paused. “Sadly, the rest of the world didn't. But if we can save Rainbow, I think it will return Cloudsdale to normal.”

“If it doesn't?” Soarin asked nervously.

“Rainbow fly real good,” Twilight said with a nod, before pausing. “Err, I mean we'll run away. I swear that was Discord's influence. Probably.”

“You can't go there yourself, though,” Soarin muttered. “The moment you show your head, they'll be all over you. You can't hope to fight off that many air benders. Especially now that they're expecting you. That's not even including the fleet Trixie has.”

Twilight nodded. “I know. I'll have to think of something, though. I can't just leave Rainbow trapped there. She--”

“I... may have an idea,” Sweetie said nervously. The ponies turned to her. “Well, they're after Twilight, right? They know she's on the way? What if we gave her to them?”

“WHAT?” many voices asked in unison.

“I don't mean like imprisoning her! I mean, letting them see her, so they chase her.”

“How can I get to Rainbow's statue if I have half a fleet chasing me, not to mention the Wonderbolts?” Twilight asked with a sigh.

“Easy, it won't be you. I still know the spells I used in Fillydelphia, afterall,” Sweetie said before her horn began to glow. There was a flash and she was gone, in her place Twilight stood. “This spell isn't too hard, though it won't hold up to much damage. As long as we're just running, it'll be easy.”

Twilight shook her head. “Not a chance, I'm not risking--”

“I'll do it,” Soarin said quickly.

“Me too,” Scootaloo said with a nod.

“Ah'm in,” Flowerbloom added, grinning from ear to ear. “Yah might need an earth bender, afta all.”

Twilight glared. “No! Absolutely not! It's too dangerous, you could all get hurt, or worse! What if Trixie caught you? They--”

“I'm one of the fastest fliers in the Wonderbolts,” Soarin said with a shake of his head. “And a master air bender. I won't be fighting, I'll just be running. They'll have no chance.”

“On the ground they'll have no chance of matching us,” Sweetie said as she stood besides her two friends. “With my water bending, Flowerbloom's earth bending and Scootaloo's anti-bending, they won't come close. We'll be in and out before they have any idea what's going on.”

Twilight gave another sigh and shook her head. “But... but what if you get hurt?”

“You're going to have to fight off Discord, aren't you?” Soarin asked. “I think that's a lot more dangerous than this. So don't worry so much, we'll be fine.”

The alicorn sighed again, before slowly nodding. “Fine. Just... be careful.”

“Of course,” the ponies said in unison.

------

Riftwing grumbled as she laid on the edge of the clouds. Guard duty again, she couldn't believe it. She was an amazing flier, she shouldn't be stuck doing this lousy, useless watch duty. They were wasting her talents. She bunched up a bit of the cloud cover and made a pillow.

She was a Wonderbolt for goodness sake. But did any of them even notice how amazing she was? She should just join the Water Nation. Yeah, they paid really well. Then she'd get the respect she deserved. The Wonderbolts were just holding her back, jealous of how--

Something blurred by and she looked up, confusion on her face. She lifted a hoof up to call the alarm, but shrugged. If it was nothing, she'd just get grief for it. If it was something, well, it served them right for wasting her up here.

Her eyes caught sight of something else below and she gasped. A purple pony was slowly sneaking across the landscape. She pulled out her binoculars and grinned.

A purple alicorn. It was the avatar. She kicked her hoof out, gonging the nearby bell before diving after the avatar. This was her catch, her prize!

Sweetie yelped and looked up as the first bell went off. One pony was already diving off the clouds, but she could already see others following close behind. More bells filled the air and she knew it would be only moments before the full fleet was gathered and pursuing her. She barely managed to keep her smile back before she turned tail and ran towards the tree cover.

Twilight looked down from her position directly under Cloudsdale. She was wrapped entirely in a, thankfully normal, cloud and hovering just a few feet under the edge. A small hole allowed her to see out. The hiding spot was stuffy, but it gave her all the camouflage she needed to watch and wait. It started off as a trickle of ponies leaping from the city, but before long there were dozens of them flying off, straight towards where the 'Avatar' had fled. Then there were airships and she swore she even saw Trixie, struggling to keep up with the better fliers.

The alicorn held her breath and just watched, waiting for them to slowly trickle down to only a fraction of their numbers. She shook her head. “Wow, they really do want me. Do you think they'll be okay?”

Fluttershy nodded. “I-I think so. Ummmm... Will... Spike and Angel be okay, do you think?”

“Spike is very mature for his age, he'll be fine. Besides, they shouldn't be going anywhere near them. I'm more worried about the others. Now, give me a hoof.” Their wings pushed out from the cloud and, slowly, they began flapping about towards the center of the cloud, pulling to a slow stop. “He said it's at the center of the town, right?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy said softly.

“Okay, keep the cloud here, I'm going up,” Twilight whispered as she slowly pushed open the top of their cloud and began digging into the bottom of Cloudsdale. Inch by inch she broke through the white, puffy surface.

“Is it there?” Fluttershy called up softly.

“I don't know yet. The clouds are getting thicker, though. I think I'm almost there. I think--” She pushed open the final layer, revealing the stone pedestal. It wobbled on what little cloud cover it had. “Oh bu--” It then fell through, crashing into Twilight and sending them bother flying down the hole. Twilight landed first, the cloud cushioning her fall. Unfortunately, the pedestal landed a second later on her chest.

Fluttershy eeked, her eyes going wide. “A-are, are you okay?”

“F-fine,” Twilight said with a whimper, clutching her chest. “N-never... b-better. Wwie...” She rolled onto her side and held her chest. “N-never... a-again...” she groaned.

“You got it,” Fluttershy said happily as she looked up. “Should we close the hole?”

“Y-yes. Go do that. I-I'll keep... a-an eye on the statue,” Twilight said from her position on the bottom of the cloud. All her world was pain. It didn't help that Rainbow's statue was right by her head, with that big, confident grin on her face. As always. “I-I bet you find this funny, don't you?”

“What was that?” Fluttershy called down.

“Nothing! Just let me know when you're done!”

After a few minutes the hole was once again cleared and the two fliers slowly drew the cloud down towards the ground. Twilight kept an eye out, but as far as she could see, there were still no signs of them being noticed. She just hoped the others were faring as well. When the ground finally touched down she spread out her hooves and the ground covered them, wrapping the cloud in complete darkness. She tapped her hoof again and small air holes formed throughout the wall. She then glanced to Fluttershy with a nervous smile. “This... well, this'll be dangerous. There's no telling what'll happen. Are you sure you want to come with me and risk it?”

Fluttershy gave a small nod. “Of course. I'm...” She looked to the statue of Rainbow. “She'd do the same for me. I can't leave it for you to do alone.”

Twilight nodded and took her friend's hoof. She put her horn to the statue and it began to glow. After a moment the world disappeared yet again.