Black. The orb of hovering magic was simply empty. No picture came into view. Only the faint sound of yelling was audible. I put my ear to our "crystal ball" and listened. Rarity pursed her lips and looked at me, concerned. As my ear got closer, I started to fall through the orb. Only then did I realize the magic wasn't solidified. With an oompf I smacked my face into Rarity's foreleg.

"Are you alright, darling?" She helped me up.

I'm an idiot.

"Y-yes! Sorry. I just can't make out the words they're saying." I furrowed my brow. "Why can't we see anything?"

She examined the window to the outside. With all the grace of a high-society unicorn, she tip-toed around it,
concentrating. A frown. "The necklace is lying, face down, on the concrete. I think you've taken it off."

I held my mouth open for a moment. "I didn't take it off! It should still be fastened around my neck!" I paced, quickly.

I forced my ears to perk, straining them to listen harder. The voices were still muffled. For a split second, I picked out my voice over the others. It was my voice, but it wasn't my voice. It should have been clearer, closer even, but it sounded just as distant as the rest. I did take it off! Rather, whatever was controlling me had taken it off.

My rump hit the floor. "What the hell am I going to do?! I'm really trapped in here, now!" I looked to Rarity for a small glimmer of hope. "Right?"

I could almost see the wheels turning in her brain. "Maybe..." She trailed off. I waited (impatiently, I might add) for her to finish that sentence. "If somepony were to get the necklace around your neck, your soul could reunite with your body." She thought some more, then shook her head. "But we have to find a way to communicate with the outside." She pointed to the orb.

I sighed. "That is impossible." I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. Who would have thought I would be trapped in a gem stone for the rest of this miserable eternity? At least I wouldn't be in any danger. Maybe. Rarity would always be here, too.

The beautiful unicorn sat next to me and placed a hoof around my shoulders. "Not all is lost, dear. There must be a way. Your friends are still out there! We just have to get their attention."

"How, though? Not to hurt your feelings in any way, but we are ghosts inside of a rock!" I threw my hooves up.

She looked away, wincing at my remark. I instantly regretted what I said. Me and my big mouth. "Rarity, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it."

She held her composure, but the hurt was still there. "No, you're absolutely right. I am a ghost. My skeleton is probably still fused to the Ministry of Peace building in Canterlot. I helped create this blasted wasteland. I deserve to be nothing more than a ghost. My friends are gone. I let them down." She looked at me, half smiling. "But, I will not let you down, Sia. Whatever it takes, we will get you through this."

I hugged her. "No, you don't deserve this. Nopony deserves to be alone. I promise, after all of this is over, I'm going to help set you free from this curse."

She smiled, sadly. "Thank you, my friend." It was all she said before her horn ignited and an extremely bright glow illuminated around us. It was so blinding, I had to cover my eyes.

Nico's hooves pounded the floor as he tried to reach Sienna. She hovered over them, screaming in pain as her eyes shot open. The colors changed, similar to a rainbow. He grit his teeth, stopping just under her. Mixer followed him.

"What the hell is going on?!" Mixer yelled.

He ignored him, focusing on his horn. It sparked and popped, dying down.

Damn it! Those fucking drugs! He thought.

"Look!" Mixer pointed a wing to the necklace.

Nico always thought the necklace looked beautiful on her. This time, though, it was darker. The black hole hovered slightly off of her chest, forcing her to still. She stopped screaming. Mixer called for her, but didn't get an answer. Her color began to drain, seeping toward the blackened gem. He knew something wasn't right about it.

The change happened so fast. Sienna's once-bright mane and tail were now duller in comparison. Her white coat, now gray. The burns she had were almost completely healed, including the sudden growth in feathers and fur. She flapped her wings once, twice. Hovering on her own accord, she finally glanced down.

"S-Sia?" Nico whispered.

She smiled, grabbed the necklace, and threw it. It clinked as it landed, sliding to a stop at Pepper's unconscious body. Both Nico and Mixer simultaneously stared back up at her, shocked that she attempted to break such a treasure. They watched as she cracked her neck and admired herself. The chuckle she gave didn't sound like hers. She had a sweet laugh. This one was cold.

"That's better." She purred, smiling back at the two stallions. "Oh, Nico! 'Daddy'. I was wondering-"

"You're not her." Nico growled.

Mixer drilled him. "What do you mean? What happened to her?"

"Whatever is in that necklace, it took her. The real her."

The entity laughed. "I guess you caught me. I'm not her; I'm better. However, that little gemstone didn't do this all on its own." She looked at her hooves, grin growing wider. "I can feel the power of the pearls. With this swift body, I'll be able to find them so much quicker."

"You're Hope." Nico glared.

Her smile faded, leaving a cold deadly stare. Then, like a bolt of lightning, she zoomed towards him. "How dare you compare me one of your kind! I am above you! You each hold a part of me inside of you. I am the embodiment of rage, hate, greed, and everything you pathetic ponies find 'immoral'. I have this body to myself. While I may be but a pony, now, I'll be the most powerful being in the universe once I find the pearls! The dark nature of ponykind will reign!"

"You're wrong! Equestria has always had at least some virtue. Evil can't rule over all of it." Nico argued.

She waved a hoof behind her towards the open wasteland beyond the window. The rain poured down, again. "Look at what you all have done for me, already." She cackled, again.

Nico charged at her. He planned to restrain her until he could figure out how to get Sienna back. His Sienna. As he galloped, a slurry of emotions hit. The realization had overcome him: I hurt her.

She dodged, sending him skidding into a large conveyor belt. "You did, Nico. You caused this. I see your guilt. I see it all!"

A wave of magic rippled from her forehead. Though she had no horn, she managed to harness energy as if she did. The shockwave brought agony to everypony in the large factory. Nico held his head, grunting at the pain. Sadness, anger, an overwhelming sense of disappointment clouded his thoughts. He couldn't think straight, he just... wanted to die. He wanted to kill himself for being so worthless. He let Pepper down. She never really even loved him like he loved her. In truth, she hated him. He made others hate him. He was an alcoholic, drugged up, worthless excuse for a stallion.

I hurt Sienna.

The only pony who ever truly loved him. He took the dagger and pierced her heart. She hated him. Now, he lost her and couldn't do anything about it. He hid his feelings from everyone, but this time, tears streamed from his face. The cold floor met his stare as he whimpered. Nico never cried. The dam was as sturdy as he once was.

Now, I'm nothing. He thought.

Soft sobbing broke through to him. He slowly glanced over to see that awful entity in Sia's body, grinning. She was weakened without the pearls, but still brought crippling emotions to them. The power she could have would undoubtedly control the average pony. Nico's ear swiveled towards the crying. Mixer.

"M-my family. I... I left them. They're dead because of me! I didn't protect them because I'm fucking stupid!" He was lying a few hooves away from Pepper, who also whimpered even in unconsciousness.

"I would love to watch you all writher in your emotional wreckage, but I have a too much to do." She sang.

"Wh-who are you, really?" Nico asked, even with a sore throat

Her hoof tapped the wall as she stared at the horizon. "I think Blight would be fitting. At least until I have my title as queen." She craned her neck with a smile. "Yes, I like the name."

She zoomed out the window, giggling into the distance.

Turning his head back towards the floor, he squeezed his eyes shut. His heart was breaking. He deserved it. All the broken hearts he had left in his wake were building the guilt. Suicide, he thought, is the only answer. His thoughts had become foggy. Happiness, joy. It had all disappeared.

But, why?

Mixer still wept. Nico looked back, studying him. He thought about speaking, but decided against it. It would just make the depression worse. Why did they suddenly start feeling like this? The more he tried to figure it out, the more he wanted to cry. The way his brain jumbled up his train of thought was strange, like it was deliberately forcing him to stay down.

Blight.

"Mixer..." He called. "It was Blight. She did this. Her magic manipulates our emotions. To control us." He stared at the window. "Even if she isn't here..."

A glow caught his attention. Dim at first, but it brightened. Nico and Mixer turned to the light. The necklace. Its gemstone shone bright green, lighting the murky interior. None moved at first. It hadn't done that before, so it took them by surprise.

Finally, Mixer broke the silence. "I ask this a lot, but... What the hell is going on?"

Nico wiped his eyes and hesitated before inching towards it. It was a little mesmerizing. He wasn't even feeling bad about himself anymore! "I don't know."

"Careful." The orange pegasus said, quietly. "Don't touch it."

The other stallion stopped, keeping a little distance between him and the gem. His eyes were glued to it. Strange as it seemed, it was like it was trying to tell him something. He realized his hoof was reaching towards it without him knowing. Snatching it back, he continued his attempt to decipher what was happening. The longer he stared, the more it whispered to him.

'I'm here...'

What?

'Nico, help! It's me!'

"Sienna..."

Mixer jumped. "What did you say?"

"It's her! She's trapped in there!" Nico threw himself at the ground next to the necklace. Fighting back the urge to pick it up, he scooted as close as he could to it.

"Can you hear me?" He asked, trying to be as clear as possible.

No answer.

"Sia, I know you're in there!" A little louder this time.

Quiet.

"Baby?!" Mixer screamed at the object.

Next to them, Pepper stirred. She looked around, then rubbed her throat. "I feel like horse shit." Her eyes widened and she frantically looked left and right. "Where is that bitch? She almost killed me! That bitch almost killed me!"

"Do not speak about my daughter that way!" Mixer stomped. Then, he shrunk back. "She was just..."

Nico interrupted. "It wasn't her, Pepper." He gazed back at the jewelry. "Something else did."

Pepper scoffed. "Right. Like some god-like entity just so happened to snatch her soul and her zombified body just attacked me." She snorted at that last part.

Nico clenched his jaw.

Pepper's eyes grew. "You can't be serious."

"I think she's inside the necklace." He stared.

She looked at the emerald, still glowing. It was pulsating.

And she burst into laughter.

Mixer and Nico jumped at her snorts. She rolled onto her side before going into a coughing fit and grabbing at her throat. When she was done, she grimaced. "There is no fucking way she was sucked into that thing. It's probably not even a real gem."

"Then how do you explain the creepy glow?" Mixer countered.

She shook her head and picked it up, despite Nico's pleas to stop. "It's a reflection, obviously. Look at it! It's not hot to the touch or anything."

"Put it down." Nico commanded.

Pepper narrowed her eyes. "Why? Don't want your girlfriend's jewels to get scratched? You just think I'm destructive, don't you?" Her demeanor changed. "My sweet Nico. I would never do such a thing. Don't you still love me?"

He folded his ears. "Yes. B-but we still don't know how it works. It's probably best to not mess with it until-"

"Oh, hush." She waved him off. "It's fine. It's pretty, actually. Maybe I should wear it until she comes back. Or her 'body' comes back." She snorted, again.

When she snapped the chain around her neck with her magic, she smiled. She didn't feel any different. Her lips curved into a smile as she admired the piece. The gift from Fleece hadn't been scuffed despite everything they'd been through. Pepper held the gem in her magic just in front of her face. "See? Nothing to worry ab-"

A sudden flash of light from her chest sent the stallions moving. They scurried over to Pepper, who's eyes were now doing the same thing Sienna's were. Nico tried to throw his hooves around her to get it off, but the barrier of magic forced him to bounce back. He tried to use his magic, again, but his horn would still be useless. The main part of the neckwear had fallen from her aura and the glow became slightly brighter as it hit the light on her heart. Pepper twitched and grunted, making Nico worry even more.

Not again. Why does this happen?! He thought.

This time, though, the gemstone wasn't blackened. It was almost white as the magic poured from it and into her chest. However, it happened fast. With a final pulse of illumination, the gem had died down, back to its normal state. Pepper fell onto the floor, unconscious again for a few seconds. Nico rushed back to her, picking her head up in his hooves.

"Pepper." He shook her gently. She groaned, slowly lifting a hoof to her chest. He sighed in relief. "Thank Celestia. I told you not to mess with it."

"Nico?" She whispered, hoarsely. He stiffened. Her voice had changed. It could have been from the earlier trauma, but he swore it was different. When her lashes fluttered open, he swallowed hard. Pepper had royal blue eyes, and it was still that way. For half of them. A green iris replaced the blue on her left eye. He focused his attention on it. Something was familiar about it. Memories of the Wild Formal flashed through his mind as he thought about where he had seen the color.

"Pepper?"

She looked around, then at him, confused.

His suspicions were correct. "S-Sia."

The light had blinded me, giving me a headache. It was like being asleep, then waking from a dream. My throat was hurting, as well. There was no telling what that thing had done to me. I picked my hoof up, feeling for the necklace. Nico must have gotten it back to me! I exhaled, trying not to move too quickly.

"-you not to mess with it." I heard his voice. It was recognized, immediately.

"Nico?" I said, weakly. I opened my eyes to see him staring at me.

There was a mix of worry and relief on his features. "Pepper?"

Oh, no.

I twisted to see if I could see her. My stomach turned at the thought. I hoped I hadn't...

"S-Sia." I felt his hooves loosen.

I smiled, grabbing him in a hug. "Oh, Nico! I-I thought I was going to be stuck in there forever! Rarity... She helped me escape!" I dug my muzzle into his neck. Yep. Still smells good. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry for hurting Pepper! For hurting you... I don't know what happened! I couldn't stop! It wasn’t me! Something took over my body, but I'm back! I'm back and I'm sorry! I really did miss you..."

Quickly letting go, I fell back onto my haunches. I let the tears go, then.

He's upset. He's so angry at all the things I said. Oh goddesses, why am I so ignorant?

He didn't say a word, just stared at me. It didn't look like anger. More like bafflement. I spotted my dad slowly stepping next to me. I sobbed loudly, throwing myself at him, too. "Daddy, please forgive me. I didn't mean anything I said. I swear! I know I let you down. I-I'm.." He didn't say anything either.

I stepped back, shooting looks between them. "Why are you guys looking at me that way?" I tried to look for Pepper. "Where's Pepper?" My heart stopped. "I-I... She's..." My legs trembled.

Did I kill her?

I sobbed some more, not noticing Nico cautiously lifting a hoof to me. "Pe-Sia. Do you realize... uhm.."

"Realize what?" I asked.

"Sweetheart, you're not... you." Daddy spoke up.

I looked down. "I-I know.. I don't know what's gotten into me lately.." The tears, again.

"No, Sia. What he means is... Pepper is alive... She's just... you." Nico rubbed his mane.

I wiped my eyes. Now, I was confused. "What are you talking about?"

Nico looked around. He trotted to a dusty, broken piece of glass and waved me over. I slowly followed, afraid of what I might see. He rubbed the grime off the glass with his elbow. With one more reassuring glance, I hung my head over the reflective surface.

My hide was not white. It was magenta. My mane and tail? Not orange with yellow streaks. It was gray and white. I had one green eye and one blue eye. I had also gained a new appendage. There, on my forehead, sat a horn. I raised my hoof to touch it. The more I focused on it, the more it began to glow. I shook my head. I didn't want to even try any magic. After all, I wasn't a unicorn, I was a...

The force of my neck twisting almost broke it. My wings!

"My wings are gone! I have a horn! I'm... I'm Pepper!" I began to hyperventilate. "Where. Is. ME?!"

My terrible grammar was the last thing on my mind. Mostly, because that's all I had; my mind. That, and a boatload of questions. How will I get my body back? Who has it? Is Pepper in the necklace? It was only a few of the many questions I had. I felt a panic attack come on. I managed to fight it off. Either Pepper's body was stronger than mine, or I was just getting used to them.

Nico sighed. "I told her not to touch that necklace."

My eyes darted to the necklace, then back to him. "What?! She put it on?!"

Mixer swallowed. "Well, it was glowing. Did you make it do that?"

"No! I mean, I didn't. Rarity did. She must have figured out a way to get you guys' attention."

"Rarity, as in... the dead ministry mare?" My father said, worried. Probably because he thought I was insane.

"It's a long story." I said, sheepishly. "I'll explain later. For now, I have to find out what happened to me."

"We know some 'embodiment of rage and sadness' took your body. What we don't know is how." Nico said. "She named herself Blight."

I rubbed the horn on my head. It was freaking weird.

"Sienna, are you listening?" He scowled.

I snapped my attention back to him. "Yes! This horn... It's just hard to concentrate."

He rolled his eyes, gesturing to his forehead. "They're not uncommon, you know. Now, can you tell me how you think this happened?"

I thought for moment. I began to tell Nico about the voice in my head and the episodic anger I've been feeling. "It's like my conscious has separated itself from me."

"Blight mentioned the pearls, but that's impossible. You haven't even found them, yet." Nico snuck a glance to me. "Have you?"

"Of course not!" I exhaled. "There's no way that could be it."

The three of us brainstormed for a few more minutes. How could Blight have personified? The pearls were nowhere near. Unless...

I touched the necklace with my hoof. "The necklace. It has a connection with the pearls, somehow. Rarity said so, herself! If I can find the connection, I can get my body back, deal with Hope, and destroy those damned pearls!"

"Nice plan. How are you going to do that?" Nico said with a hint of sarcasm.

Asshole.

"I need to get to Rarity, again." I cringed a little. I dreaded that unpleasant sensation of being ripped apart.

"So, do it. You've done it before, right?" He asked.

"Yes, but not by choice. It just sort of... happens."

He came closer and examined my (Pepper's) horn. "I hate to suggest this, but maybe you should try magic."

I stared. Yep, the drugs have messed his brain up. "Are you crazy? I can barely keep my sanity in check, much less use magic."

"It's not that hard. Just focus on the gem. Imagine you're picking it up." He made it sound so easy.

With another "are you fucking kidding me" glance, I finally decided to try. I closed my eyes, focusing my thoughts on the emerald. What it looked like, how it felt. I imagined my hoof grabbing it, too. When I didn't feel anything happening, I tried harder. Sweat started to form as I bit my tongue. It felt like pushing a boulder from my forehead.

"Nothing is happening." Mixer whispered to Nico.

I was getting a little frustrated. The strain was giving me another headache. I forced my concentration on my horn. Finally, a tiny spark came from it. I stopped, breathing heavily. All that effort for this? I shook it off and closed my eyes, again. This time, I focused on both the necklace and my horn. I felt another spark, followed by another.

I'm doing it!

"Like hell you are!"

Strength: +3
Perception: -1

New Perk!

Two Souls In One - Now that you and Pepper share a body, you can use magic! If you can focus, that is.

Author's Notes:

Thank you to Kkat for this awesome universe!

I know, I know! I'm slow at uploading! Sorry! Now, I've got a little more time on my hands, I can write a little more though! If this chapter seems rushed, my only excuse is that I haven't written in a while!
Thank you all so much for your patience! And thank you for reading! I have more support than I thought I did!
-AP