Sunset and Adagio just stared at their TV screens in disbelief. Discord - dead? She had just seen him on Wednesday. The day he might have been murdered.

"I can't . . .," Sunset stammered, "I saw him on Wednesday. He was alive. And we got the papers on Thursday!"

"But not from him directly, remember. One of his guys dropped it off to us," Adagio said. She was equally in shock. She knew this was Chrysalis' doing. She felt conflicted. Part of her wanted to tell Sunset and to see if she could actually stop Chrysalis. The other part, seeing exactly what she was capable of, made her want to remain silent and just do what it was Chrysalis asked her to do.

"This, this is horrible. We can't keep sitting around. We have to do something. Maybe we can move up the sleep over."

"Sleep over?" Adagio asked confused.

Sunset shook here surprised she forgot to say anything to Adagio. "Yes. Next, or I guess, this Saturday night, we were all going to try and get together at Rarity's to see if we could use magic to find out what was doing this. It's not certain yet. I guess that's why I forgot to tell you. But if it happens, which now I think it should, I want you there."

"Me? With you? And the others? I don't think so," Adagio said with a laugh. "Besides, how can you use magic? This realm has no magic."

Sunset walked over and stood in front of Adagio. "It does. A little. Through us. When we came over, we brought some of our magic here. You should know."

"Very little. We struggle for centuries here; just barely hanging on. That's why we were so excited to see you gals here."

"But it's more than that. It turns out that we've tapped into something greater. Everyone has new powers, new names. When whatever it is crossed over, it set the stage for something big. Myself, Twilight, all of us." Sunset was nearly breathless with excitement. Gone was the fear and shock of earlier. Now she felt an energy pulse through her.

This is all information Chrysalis will want to have, Adagio thought to herself. "Ok, you have, but I haven't. What good would I be there?"

"Well, from what I understand, all the girls will bring their boyfriends. Try to at least. And I'm guessing Pinkie will bring Sonata. You haven't seen her since you came back here. It's a reason at least."

"I don't know." Adagio said with a mixture of uncertainty, annoyance, and curiosity. "I don't think . . ."

Sunset got down on one knee and took Adagio's hand. "Adagio, please. I want, I need you there. I've seen what's inside you. Despite all you've done, all you were, I see the person you really are, who you could be. Please come. As my friend, as one of my best friends."

You know nothing Sunset Shimmer, she bitterly thought. Still, you could report back to Chrysalis what she would see. Also part of her was really touched by what she had said. Fact was she did care for Sunset. It's why she talked to human Sunset. It was clear that Shimmer was into her. Adagio could act out her feelings for Sunset with Shimmer. But it still wasn't the same.

"Fine. For you," Adagio said reluctantly.

Sunset hugged Adagio and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you," she said.

*************************************************

Luna was in the middle of packing when the news had come on. So when the phone rang ten minutes later, she knew exactly who it was without looking.

"Hi Tia," she answered emotionlessly.

"You've seen then?" Celestia asked apprehensively from the other end.

"Yes," she simply said.

"Do you think he knew? He must have known something was coming. That's probably why he made the disk for you." Celestia was reaching. She couldn't get a read on what her sister was feeling.

"I don't care Tia. That man help make my life a living hell. And considering everything else he's done; I can't feel sorry. I can't. I'm grateful for what he did in finding my daughter but I can't forgive him for everything else he's done."

Celestia was quiet for a while. "Ok Luna. I wasn't sure. I'm here if you need me. You can even spend the night."

"It's ok Tia. I'm ok. And I know. I've always known you are there for me." Luna took a deep breath. "I think I might come over."

*********************************************************

Rarity looked at Fluttershy whose mouth was just hanging open in surprise and terror. She reached over and put her hand on her shoulder. The two were in Rarity's room. They had been talking and Rarity was showing off some of her new design ideas when the news had come on.

"Darling, we knew this was going to be bad. It's killed twice already." Rarity tried to sound reassuring. As reassuring as possible at least.

"It's, it's horrible. Four people in a week. Rarity, I'm scared. Nothing we've faced has been like this. Even with our new powers . . "

"We'll defeat it together. That's what we do." Rarity brushed some of Fluttershy's hair back from her face. "We're meeting Saturday. We'll find it. We'll face it. We'll defeat it."

*****************************************************

Rainbow's father turned the TV off. He couldn't believe what he had just seen. Cannibalism, here, in America in 2014. He looked at his wife who was in shocked silence. He then looked at his daughter who was sitting on the floor with Soarin and Scootaloo. Soarin and Scootaloo both looked to be in various degrees of shock and horror. Rainbow, however, had a look of grim determination on her face.

Rainbow turned to her father and said, "Dad, can we go to the basement to work out?"

"Sure honey," he answered softly; thinking this was merely her coping mechanism.

Rainbow got up and the others dutifully followed. As soon as the got down to the basement, Rainbow turned around and said, "This is war. If it can kill a crime boss, it can get to anyone. Scoot, I'm sorry, but until this is over, we can't hang out. I can't, I won't risk you. Understood?"

Scootaloo just nodded her head. She had no desire to fight this battle with Rainbow.

"Soarin, this isn't your fight. You don't have to stay if you want. But if you're still in, you're going to have to train for it. I need you fit and ready to fight. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Dash are you sure you can do this? I saw what you're capable of and that symbol that night. But still?"

"In or out Soarin. Those are your only two options."

"In."

*************************************************

Pinkie and Sonata looked at each other.

"This is bad Sonie," Pinkie said with true fear for the first time.

Sonata hugged her. She had seen far worse in her days. She had been the cause of some of it. Pinkie had not though.

"Don't worry Pinkie; I'm here and I'm a Siren."

"Were Sonie; you were a Siren."

"It doesn't matter. I've lost my magic but I still have my dark side and I'll use every bit of it to protect you."

"It's not me I'm worried about; it's you."

"Well, you can protect me then," Sonata said with a smile.

**************************************************************

Chip and Apple Jack had been up in here room studying when she had heard Apple Bloom call out for them. They both had watched the news report in horror. Things had been going so well for them, they had almost forgotten that there was an evil monster on the loose.

Shortly after, Chip's mother called. She wanted him home right away. Chip kissed Apple goodnight and promised to call as soon as he got home. Half a hour later he called.

"How are you doing?" he asked quietly.

"Thinkin'. This ain't gonna be good Chip. This ain't like nuthin' we've faced before. I'm scared. I ain't even gonna lie. I am plum scared."

"Me too. But you and the others, you have the power in you to defeat this. I believe in you. All of you."

"Thanks Chippy. I love you."

"I love you too Jennifer."

Author's Notes:

In case you hadn't guessed this is a turning point in the story. Things will lighten up a little bit but it's going to be down hill for our group for a while. This chapter is all about the principles being reminded (an me as well) that there is a big, bad monster out there and it's not going down easy.