"Are you sure?" the shopkeeper asked.

There was something about this customer he didn't like. Ever since he had moved to Canterlot, all sorts had gone through his shop - adventurers, treasure seekers, ponies set on revenge. Each had something they sought, and in most cases they found it. However, never before there been something like this. Or maybe the shopkeeper was just getting old?

"This is the last of the set, my friend," the stallion said, closing the box. "Very rare, very expensive. Are you sure you want to play with something as powerful?"

The customer just nodded, then dragged a golden scepter onto the counter.

"Ah, the Golden Twilight Scepter," the shopkeeper took it, then slid a hoof along it, carefully examining the craftsmanship. "One of a kind, very unique, very very expensive. How did you come by it?"

A loud cough indicated he wasn't going to get an answer.

"Very well," the shopkeeper placed the scepter on the shelf behind him. "The Exampler is yours. But be warned! If you don't make use of it properly, it will cause much suffering and discomfort. Should you wish to return it, you know where to find me. That is, if you are still capable of doing so..."

* * *

Spike yawned. Mornings were his least favourite time of day. There was nothing he would enjoy better than spending a few more hours curled up in his warm bed. Leave it to Twilight to ruin things! Every morning she would wake him up exactly three times - once so he could refuse to get up, a second - to ensure he could no longer fall asleep, and, finally, a third to drag him up on his feet. It was really annoying, to the point that Spike would wake up on his own so as to avoid the torture.

"I'm awake, Twilight," he said, eyes half closed, as he went into the kitchen. "What sort of..." He suddenly stopped.

Twilight was nowhere to be seen. Usually she would be here by now, waiting for Spike to prepare breakfast. After her last attempt at cooking both had decided to never speak of it again and leave all domestic chores to the dragon.

"Oh, not again!" Spike slid a hand over his face. The only times Twilight wasn't here or taking care of princessy things, was when she was reading in the library. "Guess I might as well bring her breakfast there," he shrugged and started cooking.

Today's breakfast was going to be fried toast with salad - easy and quick to make, just as Spike liked it. He himself had a few emeralds in the meantime. Come to think of it, his gem supply was getting low. A perfect excuse to visit Rarity later. With luck they could go gem hunting again.

"Would you like anything special to drink, Twilight?" the dragon shouted as he arranged her food on a tray. No answer. She probably was too captivated by her book to hear him. "Grape juice it is then," he poured a cup.

Perfect! Everything was neatly arranged, as it should be. Now the hard part - making sure Twilight didn't flip the tray. She could be quite startlish while reading, often resulting in him having to clean up and prepare breakfast again.

"I'm here with breakfast, Twilight," he shouted upon reaching the library door. "So don't cast any spells on me!"

The dragon placed an ear to the door. No response. This wasn't good. Taking a deep break he gently opened the door and peered inside. Books messily scattered about cluttering the table - check. Waxy remains of fully burnt candles - check. Twilight... No Twilight? Now this was new. If she wasn't in the kitchen or the library, where could she be? The thought of the map sending her across Equestria came to mind, but he would have noticed that. At the very least she would leave a note explaining things so he could inform princess Celestia. Maybe she was sick?

Tray in hand, the dragon went up Twilight's bedroom on the second floor and knocked on the door.

"Come on, Twilight," he said trying to sound annoyed, but the truth was he was worried, very worried. Slowly he opened the door and peered inside. "Twilight?"

"Spike, blessings," a very unusual Twilight said in a slow and relaxed manner. Her hair was all braided, a crown of flowers was on her head, and most concerning of all - for the first time Spike had known her, she appeared completely calm.

"Are you still in bed?" The dragon asked disapprovingly. "Do you know what time it is? Actually what exactly are you doing?"

"Aligning my chakras," she replied, eyes closed, forehooves lifted in the air. "Maybe you can too. Your vines seem tense."

"Vibes? Chakras?" he arched a brow. "Are you feeling alright, Twilight? Maybe you spent all night reading and got another brain cramp?"

"Everything's groovy, Spike," Twilight inhaled and exhaled deeply. "I just needed to unlock my past live experiences to become one with nature."

"What?" Spike was really confused. "You sure, you're ok?"

"Like, totally. The breeze is my mane, sunlight is my body."

"Ooookay," Spike slowly moved backwards. "I'll leave your breakfast here then- " he placed the tray on the floor, " -and go talk to nurse Redheart... about her aura!"

"Radical," Twilight replied and took another deep breath.

Not willing to see more, Spike rushed outside, closing the door behind him. What, by Celestia, had happened to her? Twilight would never behave like this. Something must have gone wrong, but what? It did't seem like Discord, or any villain that had attacked Ponyville in the past. Whatever it was, Spike was going to need help, and more than a nurse or doctor could offer. Rushing through the castle, he quickly grabbed a quill and some scrolls, and went outside. A few steps later, he stopped and looked at the sky in horror - it was all covered in rainbows.

"What happened?" he asked in shock. And the sky was not the worst of it. Everywhere around were ponies transformed in the very same way Twilight had been - braided manes, flower crowns and bracelets, weird clothes. It was as if he was in a dream.

"Alright, Princess Luna, if this is a dream, please wake me up," Spike closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A dream would really explain everything.

"Radical!" The comment told him, this was no dream. "Writing down what you see as you transcend your mortal coil and become one with all."

Now that was too much! Opening his eyes, Spike had a mind to grab the pony who had said that by the mane and demand answers. The only thing that stopped him was it turning out to be a pony he knew quite well.

"Rainbow Dash?" he asked in disbelief.

Her mane might have remained the same, but he would have never recognized her from a distance. The blue pegasus had a brown vest, covered all in heart-shaped badges, a pair of purple circular shades, and a lily-patterned hoofkerchief on her head. And if that was not enough her entire wings had daisies in them.

"You look ridiculous," he frowned.

"Nah, it's just, like, radical," Raindow said, tucking a flower in his spikes. "Only I can achieve oneness to such a level."

At least one thing hadn't changed. Even in this state Rainbow's ego had remained intact.

"I was, like, going to check on Twiflower. Fluttershy is going to grace us with her presence and teach us to become one with all creatures."

"Fluttershy?" There were so many things wrong with that statement, that Spike head hurt. "You're talking about Fluttershy?"

"She is, like, the greatest. Her aura is so bright that she can talk to animals."

"You know, that's what she usually does?" Spike tried to interrupt, but wasn't given a chance.

"Everypony in Poneyvill will be there to listen to her words of wisdom," Rainbow continued completely oblivious. "And she will lead us into the Age of Butterflies, where all will be one, and live with nature as it was intended. Our Princess of Butterflies."

Fluttershy a leader? Spike never thought he would hear those words. The notion was completely absurd. From a pony that was always ignored, to the princess of Butterflies was quite the jump. For the life of him, Spike couldn't imagine her leading anypony. What would her first decree be? Be kind to animals? The notion itself was laughable. But at least nothing bad could happen with her in charge.

"And when the Princess of Butterflies shows us the way, we will tear down everything stone, crystal and metal," Rainbow Dash went on. "Once more we shall return to nature, where we belong, and remove any building and object that has kept us chained for so long, preventing us from entering the Age of Butterflies. First in Ponyville, then in all of Equestria, until everypony everywhere is free!"

Spike swallowed. He was wrong. Very bad things were going to happen. Unless he found a way to return everything to what it was, this could mark the end of Equestria as he knew it.