Rarity and Luna stood on the edge of Ponyville, the cold wind whipping through their manes. The night was very dark, Luna had used her magic to dim the moon's light so they could hide better. Luna did not control, however, the biting cold. it was the beginning of winter, and snowflakes fell lazily from the sky. Rarity looked up, a breif thought flitting through her mind. I hope my mane doesn't get ruined in this weather She soon turned her mind on the current situation, though.

"Luna, where are we going?"

Princess Luna sighed. "Somewhere far away, Rarity, love."

Rarity was not quite sure if she was okay with Luna's obvious affection for her, but she didn't say a word. She wouldn't dare set off the princess again, she had learned her lesson. The permanent scars that flawed her body were a constant reminder. The unicorn shivered and wrapped the scarf more securely around her neck.

Luna stared off into the two paths ahead. One steered into the Everfree Forest. While it was a wonderful place to keep hidden, she wasn't sure if it was safe for the two mares. They were both strong unicorn with trained and skilled magical abilities, but in the end, a manticore would kill them with one swipe of a gigantic paw. The other path was a rolling plain, with a small dirt path, that led to the nearest city, Manehatten. There wasn't much cover that way, but it was much safer. Once the two got to Manehatten, they would be safe among the crowd.

The princess frowned. Her decision could lead to her and Rarity's death, or lead to the avoidance of such. At times like this, Luna really wished her mother was around. She was the only one of her family who really appreciated her. She understood Luna when she was engulfed with rage, and tried to stop Celestia. The princess of the sun responded with her usual tactics, which was the murder of her own mother. Luna's father was never of real royal blood, and had long ago fled her mother and herself. The king, Galixor, didn't care for Luna. She was alone, and had always been alone sense then.

Rarity suddenly spoke up, "If we travel by night, we shouldn't come across any pony. Even if we did, what would be the odds that it was Twilight, or Spike, or the princess herself? I think Manehatten isn't that far away, we should take the path, don't you agree?"

Luna was surprised, but understood Rarity's way of thinking. She nodded. "Let's go."

The two unicorns set off onto the dirt path. Luna expected Rarity to whine about the conditions, but surprisingly she kept quiet. When the wind took up and whipped the two around in the freezing cold, Luna held Rarity close with her wings, giving her all her warmth. She had spent a thousand years on the moon, she was used to cold like this.

Rarity was grateful for the warmth, but in truth she felt very awkward. She had searched her heart, but found no loving feelings to return Luna's with. She was fearful of her, and didn't she her as anymore than a moody ruler. She might have thought of her as a friend, if it wasn't for the abuse.

---

Well into the night, Rarity collapsed to the ground. The moon was nearing the horizon, so it was actually early in the morning. Luna, heart filled with panic, frantically asked Rarity was was the matter.

"I'm fine," Rarity yawned. "Just... really... sleep...yzzzz" Rarity dozed off, face first into the dirt. Luna used her magic to lay Rarity in the grass, and pulled a blanket out of the bag she had slung over her back. She set it gently on Rarity, and sat down beside her. The princess of night found that even she was a little drowsy, and lied down to take a short lap beside Rarity.

---

"Wake up! The Great and Powerful Trixie demands it! Wake up!"

The two unicorns were awoken to the sound of very loud talking. They grumbled and looked around, confused and angry.

"Is that the princess?" a slow, deep voice almost lulled the two back to sleep.

"Who's this pony she's with?" a shrill one pierced their ears and had them almost sitting straight up.

"Be quiet, you two! Hey, they're getting up. Hello? About time. The Great and Powerful Trixie hates to be kept waiting."

Luna frowned at the trio in front of her. "Who are you?" She asked.

The blue unicorn rolled her eyes. "The Great and Powerful Trixie, of course!"

"The most magical--" Snips started.

"--Most beautiful--" Snails continued.

"Unicorn in Equestia!" The two finished together, gesturing toward Trixie.

"Ok..." Luna drawed, staring at them. "What do you want, then?"

"You are princess Luna, right?" Trixie asked, dodging the question with another.

"Um, yes." Luna answered, cautious.

"Oh, then you're not an impostor, right?" The Great and Powerful Trixie leaned it, staring princess Luna down.

"No..."

"Good! Oh dear, where are my manners. Hello, princess." Trixie bowed down in front of Luna. Luna was shocked, no pony ever bowed down to her. Trixie straightened up. "Dear princess," she said. "I ask of you a favor. A simple favor, one that I'm sure a princess of your raw beauty and talent could pull off."

Rarity gawked at the blue unicorn. She remembered Trixie quite clearly as being a stuck up snob who thought she was the best at everything. Why was she acting so... submissive?

Luna stamered. "A... I... um... ah, ok..."

"I wish for you to teach me your magic, princess." Trixie said, leaning close to Luna. "You are obviously the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, being able to cast eternal night, even if it was only for a few days, and taking over the princess like that! Even now that you're good and all, you can raise the moon. The moon! I want to be powerful like that."

Luna stuttered "Ah, um... But..."

Rarity glared at Trixie. "Oh, stop being such a kiss up. Luna, she's a very rude and bratty pony, don't listen to her."

Trixie rounded on Rarity. "Oh you shut up! I'm not kissing up, I'm merely paying respect to the most wonderful and beautiful unicorn in Equestria!"

Rarity sniffed. "Oh, psh. Suck up."

Trixie stuck her tongue out. "Prick."

"Oh, you take that--!"

"Enough!" Luna shouted. She turned to the trio before her. "Yes, I am powerful. No, I will not teach you any magic. The situation we are in is much to urgent to stop and do things like such. My friend and I must get going, and I would prefer you leave us alone."

The Great and Powerful Trixie ignored Luna's indirect order. She followed behind the two ponies as they set off for Manehatten. "Where are you going? Why can't you teach me magic?" She asked.

"Why are you following me?" Luna mumbled, ignoring her questions.

"Because, if you can't teach me magic I could at least keep you company and help you out!" trixie answered.

"Kiss flank." Rarity murmered angrily.

Trixie frowned at her. "Anyway, where are you going?"

"Manehatten." Luna told her.

"Why?"

"We can't stay where we are."

"Why is that?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because, we just can't."

"Does it have something to do with those Ponyville murders going on?"

"Maybe."

"Are you going on an adventure?"

"I guess. Not really."

"Can I come?"

"No. Go away."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pleeeeeease?"

"No. I just said no."

"PLLLEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE?"

"No!"

"PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEE!!??"

"NO!"

"Pretty please with cherries and sparkles on top?"

"Of fine, just shut up."

"Yay! So, what's your favorite color?"

The rest of the way down the path was filled with never ending questions. At one point, Luna asked why Trixie was asking so many questions.

"Because all I've had to talk to for the past six months are these dorks." she answered, gesturing toward Snips and Snails, who followed lovingly and loyally behind the unicorn, completely oblivious to her distaste for them. Luna sighed. She understood what Trixie felt, sort of. When one hasn't talk to anypony or anything interesting for a long while, she craves the conversation of somepony new.

Rarity mumbled angry things toward the Great and Powerful Trixie, but never really directed them aloud to her. Luna frowned. On one side of her, was the mare she loved, who didn't love her back. On the other side, was a mare who adored her and her conversation, and whom she could relate to, but she also found a tad bit annoying, and was hated by the pony she loved.

Just my luck.

---

Meanwhile, Twilight was very angry.

"She's gone! She's up and disappeared! Oh my stars, she knows! Do you understand what is happening, Spike? Rarity knows! She's run away, and now I'll never find her. Celestia is going to kill me! Ohh..."

Twilight Sparkle paced in a circle around Spike, who sat down, staring worriedly at her. "You know, Twilight," She said, "You could just go looking for her. I mean, you know a lot of magic, right? Maybe you could use it."

"Spike! that's a horrible... wait. No. That's a great idea!" Twilight turned and around and hugged Spike tightly. "Oooh, thank you! You're the best! Now, let's see if I can find a tracking spell..."

The next few hours were spent looking for the right spell. Finally, a few hours before sunset, they found it. The library was a mess, books covered the floor. Twilight read the chant quickly, and held up a brush that belonged to Rarity with her magic. The spell quickly pointed her in the direction of where Rarity should be, and Twilight Sparkle followed her horn.

Spike, holding on for dear life on Twilight's back as she galloped out of town, tried to keep the bag of supplies steady. Inside there were several different types of blades (Twilight wasn't sure what kind of blade would cut through a horn, so she brought all of them) a long string of rope, a gag, chloroform, and a few different types of liquid drugs kept safe in small bottles.

Twilight stopped, panting, at the top of a hill. the dirt path that led to Manehatten was very long, and streched out almost endlessly before them. A tiny glimmer in the distance was the only thing they could see besides dirt and grass. According to her spell, Rarity was already within the city. How did Applejack walk all the way to there when she was a FILLY? Twilight wondered.

"Shit," She cursed. "I'll never get her alone there! There's too many ponies around. And, it'd going to take forever to even get to the city! Hrumph." Twilight sat down heavily and angrily in the dirt, hooves folded across her chest.

Spike climbed off Twilight Sparkle's back. "Maybe we should rest for the night. Celestia can wait a couple more days, can't she?"

Twilight nodded, gingerly following Spike to the bottom of the hill. The two set up a makeshift camp a few yards away from the path. As they settled down, Twilight sighed. "Today went by pretty fast, huh?" she stated, snuggling close to her dragon to keep him warm in the cold wind.

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm kind of excited to see Manehatten, though. I've never been there." Spike yawned widely, his eyes drooping. Twilight smiled at him.

"You get some sleep, ok?" But she needn't say anything, Spike was already drifting off into slumber. Twilight carefully set a blanket over him, whispering "Sweet dreams," into his ear.

The unicorn walked a few feet from the camp, staring up at the dark sky. The moon is not usually this dark, and there should be much more stars out, she realized. Obviously Luna's work. Twilight sighed.

"I really don't want to kill her," she said aloud, to no pony in particular. "But I have to follow the princess's orders, right?" Twilight stared up at the few stars that were out, wishing they could talk back to her, tell her the right thing to do. "The princess told me that the only way to keep rule over Equestria is through violence. She has to be right, she's the princess! The princess is never wrong... right?" The young unicorn shivered as the snow began to fall more heavily, covering the ground in a shallow dust.

As she sat there, staring up at the sky, a thought slipped into her mind. I could just ignore the princess, and not kill her...

Instantly, Twilight shook her head. "No! I can't go against the princess!" she said aloud. "Equestria must be ruled by a killer to keep them under control, and the Elements must be destroyed so they aren't a threat to the Princess." she reassured herself. "Yeah, the princess knows what she's doing. I just have to follow her and ask no questions, and I'll turn out fine."

As she stood there, she suddenly felt how exhausted she was. Yawning, Twilight walked over and snuggled next to Spike, who subconsciously buried his face into her warm fur. She smiled. "Just one more," she said. "Then you won't have to help me anymore."

---

Gilda was pressing heavily against the bars of her cell, grinding huge gashes into her feathers and skin. She grunted and pushed as hard as she could, but they didn't give way to her weight. She flapped her wings is desperation, yet the bars held strong. Gilda cried out and fell, blood leaking from her arm and sides. "Let me out!" she screamed, crying loudly. "I'll do anything, just let me go."

She crawled into the corner, crying pathetically. Her back paw was broken and infected, and she was horribly sick with some kind of flu. She coughed up blood several times a day, and each day she grew weaker. She new she would be going soon, if Celestia didn't kill her first.

Turning to the carving of Rainbow Dash in the wall, Gilda sighed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I never meant to be so mean to you. You're not a flip flop, you're the most talented and beautiful pegasus I've ever known. I love you, Rainbow Dash. I wish I could have at least told you that before you died." Smiling sadly, she rubbed a claw over the drawing, feeling the bumps and curves. Suddenly, a surge of heavy emotion filled Gilda. She felt hate for Celestia, sadness for herself, love for Dash, and disgrace for her family. She didn't want to live int his torture for any longer, she wnated to be with Rainbow again.

Celestia told her that if she killed herself, she would make sure her body was treated with no respect. She would violate it and destroy it beyond recognition, and let it rot in a far off forest. The griffons have always had a thing about treating the dead with care. They preserved their bodies and they were buried in beautiful coffins, lined with velvet. So, this was the worst of threats to give to Gilda.

But, at this point, she just didn't care. As she stared into the eyes of her one and only love, Gilda brought her claw to her neck. She dug it in, screaming with pain, and drug it across her neck. Blood poured out of the wound, dripping down and soaking her belly. Gilda never looked away from Rainbow Dash as her life leaked form her body. The longer she stared, the more real the drawing looked. As Gilda slipped into the darkness, Rainbow Dash was there, smiling down at Gilda with love in her eyes.

"See you soon,"