“I've got you now you evil backstabber! I knew it was you, I JUST KNEW IT! Do you want to
deny it? Oh yeah I bet you do! But I tell you what, it's over! Oh yes you got that darn right
MIS-TER! ANSWER ME FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!” I knew that voice well that echoed through the Canterlot garden, which was blessed with a wonderful white snowy carpet of nature.
I followed this voice through the maze, the rose garden and right into the sculpture garden. I walked down the small path along some statues, each telling a different story of Canterlot if not even whole Equestria. They were staring at me with their cold lifeless eyes, piercing the souls of the ones who knew their stories. Fallen heroes, foes and even friends who followed the wrong way. It didn't bother me anymore, even though I knew every of their stories and every sad detail of their passing. Who knows... maybe even my statue might stand there someday.
“AAAANSWER ME! ANSWERANSWERANSWER!” The voice got louder and I knew that she was waiting behind the next hedge. I slowly walked around it and saw my faithful student Twilight Sparkle, desperately screaming and kicking against the statue of the greatest enemy she faced by now. I saw small transparent orbs gliding through the air, silently sparkling while falling down to the grass. She cried, maybe out of anger, maybe out of something else.
“... please... answer me! ANSWER ME DISCORD!” She whimpered.
“Hey there Twilight.” She turned around and fell against the statue of Discord. Heavily breathing
and with big eyes filled with tears, she looked at me.
“P- princess Celestia!” She turned her head aside and tried to wipe away her tears.
“It's okay Twilight. Sometimes crying is the only way to prevent desperation.” I went closer and laid my hoof ever so gently on her head. She looked up into my eyes while one tear was still slowly rolling down her violet cheek.
“What is it Twilight?”
“Oh princess, I don't know what to do! For the first time in my life, I just don't know what I shall do!” She whimpered. With a lowered head, she silently continued.
“Everypony in Ponyville seems to be changed out! They act like... strangers! Applejack hates me, probably my other friends too and Spike and Owliscious didn't return by now either! I just... just-”
“Twilight, it's not a shame to feel helpless from time to time. Your friends are still your friends and they always will be. At the moment something terrible is going on in Equestria and even your friends can feel it. They lost someone they love, just like you. Maybe they're angry, but it won't change their deep binding to you, your friendship or the elements of harmony.” I gently said. She still whimpered, but I could feel that she became calmer. Poor Twilight, I knew how you felt.
“It wasn't Discord, wasn't he?” She asked while still looking to the ground.
“Discord is sealed in stone again and won't be able to harm any other pony for a long time.”
“But it's Discord after all. The spirit of chaos and disharmony, maybe he's somehow involved in the events occurring in Ponyville!” Should I tell her the truth? Should I tell her what happened 200 years ago? Should I tell her what will happen tonight? Twilight was a very talented and intelligent mare and I knew she and her friends could handle this threat... I already made my choice that day and couldn't just turn away now. I looked back down at my most faithful student who was eagerly watching me and waiting for an answer.
“Discord may be the greatest evil and threat that ever afflicted Equestria, but there's something out there that is even worse. Something you can't defeat.” Twilight looked shocked, yet very excited.
She always used to love everything that's new and unknown to her, but maybe this should have stayed a secret.
“Something even worse? What do you mean by that princess?” She asked as expected.
“Do you remember what I told you that day when you wiped away Appleblooms memory?”
She knit her brow and covered her mouth with her hoof, suddenly her eyes began to sparkle.
“You mean about that story? That book you gave me that day?” I silently nodded.
“Wait, that would mean... the forest, the Everfree Forest is the source of evil! How could I forget that? How could I let it slide like that?” Twilight began to sweat, started gnashing her teeth and walked in circles. That somehow reminded me at the day when she thought I would send her back to the magical kindergarten. I somehow enjoyed that sight and couldn't deny a slight smile, but I knew that it wasn't the time to walk down memory lane nor enjoy something that desperate.
“I have to fix this! I have to go to the Everfree Forest! Thank you princess!” She grinned brightly and just wanted to ran away, but I couldn't let that happen.
“Twilight!” I yelled after her. She stopped immediately and turned around.
“What is it princess?” She asked in puzzlement. I couldn't let her go into the forest, couldn't let her run into the hooves of the enemy. In her current mentally state, without her friends aiding her, that would have been her doom. I walked over to the statue of Discord and sat myself right in front of him, looking up into his cold eyes of stone. I had to do something, I couldn't risk to lose her, too.
“Princess?” I could hear the grass rustling because of her hooves, slowly getting nearer.
“Is everything alright princess?” She hesitantly asked.
“Twilight, my most faithful student... my friend. I have to ask you something.”
“Princess?”
“How far would you go in order to save your friends... your family?”
“I would do everything!”
“Everything?”
“Yes!” She answered very confident.
“Even though it would mean to make a sacrifice?” Twilight remained quiet for a couple of minutes.
“... yes, I guess I would. I would give my mane, my cutie mark, my horn and magic yes even-”
“Your life?” She numbed. Minutes were passing by, the wind began to blow through the garden, letting a cool winter breeze flowing over the meadows. This was probably the hardest question I ever asked and it would be the hardest task she had to deal with.
“I... I...” She stuttered, then she took a deep breath and tried to answer again.
“Yes... I would.” Oh Twilight, I could feel the warmth inside of your heart. The tension and confidence to risk everything, just to save and protect your friends, but sometimes this isn't enough.
She was like me and she would probably even take our place on the throne some day. Dealing with the same kind of decisions, sorrows and this sense of sacrificing yourself for the good of all.
But this day was still far. Your way shouldn't end right here, not like this.
“Why do you ask princess? What do you want to say?” She asked worried.
“I'm not longer your mentor. Furthermore, I want you to leave Ponyville and head to Manehatten instead.” I could hear how her heart fell apart, even though she didn't made a single noise.
“I- WHY? Please princess, please don't send me away! I'm so sorry I forgot that book, I'm so sorry for failing my duties and studies! I promise I'll fix this! I will go to the Everfree forest and-”
“NO! ... no, Twilight. I want you to leave till sunset.” I had to cut her short. The sun had to be lowered in a very few hours, so there wasn't much time left.
“Princess... please!” She whimpered. Even though she stood right next to me, I couldn't look into her eyes. The feel of guilt was way to strong.
“It's settled. Please leave, I'll handle everything from here.”
“B- but...”
“Believe me Twilight, it's the best for you.” She lowered her head again and began to cry. My heart was bleeding, but it really was the best for her. She turned around and ran away. I didn't looked back, I didn't watch after her because I couldn't. It was my fault all that happened in the first place
so I had to deal with this problem on my own. I didn't wanted to lose her like I lost my dear sister
1000 years ago.
“I'm so sorry Luna... Twilight.” After all these years I felt something cold and wet running down my cheeks again. So, even I was still able to cry... heh, kind of ironic.
“Gahahaha, oh that was heartbreaking dear Celestia. I have to admit, you really know how to break the spirits of those you like the most! Could you maybe tell me how you do that?”
“Discord, please... just shut up.”

“Aaaaaaaaalright CMC Monster-Catcher-Squad, report!” I yelled through our club house, uhm, Monster-Catcher-Squad headquarters. Everything was decorated like a real secret headquarters in these monster movies on tv. We had hightech computer... thingies, lamps, many brown desks aaaaand cages for the monsters of course! With all that stuff inside, there wasn't that much room left to move, but everything was very important and absolutely essential for our mission!
“Uhm Scootaloo, what is all this junk doing here?” Sweetie Belle asked while slowly walking down the small passage between the junk, erm, the valuable equipment.
“Sweetie Belle, that's no junk! It's very expensive and high class-”
“Is that the candy boy I threw away yesterday?” She pointed at one of the smaller computer-thingies.
“No it's not!” Yes it was.
“Are you sure? It looks like it... I can still see the sign of the company shining through the thick grey color and-”
“Let's get back to the point Sweetie Belle! REPORT!” I yelled. Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and jumped in front of my chiefs desk, opposite of the entrance door. She sighed and saluted.
“Sir! Private Sweetie Belle! Reporting for duty, Sir!” She squeaked... what a soldier.
“Aaaaaalright!” I took my pencil into my mouth and put a tick right next to Sweetie Belles face on the clipboard. I also made a tick next to my picture, too.
“Applebloom?” I yelled, but got no response.
“She's not here yet Scootaloo.” Sweetie said. I coughed slightly and starred at her with a frown.
“Hmpf... Sir, Applebloom is not here yet, Sir!” She saluted again. Maybe it was pretty mean or rough, but hey these soldiers had to know who's their leader.
“What do you mean by that private Belle?”
“Private Belle?”
“Yeah, you're a private and your name's Sweetie Belle... get it?” I thought it was a great idea to combine the soldiers rank with their name, according to Sweetie Belles frown though, I guess she wasn't the same opinion.
“Oooooh I get it. So you're private Scootaloo then?”
“Heh, no no no Sweetie Belle. I AM-” I jumped on the table for a more dramatic pose.
“The Boss!” While I remained in my outstanding hero pose, Sweetie Belle just continued starring at me with this 'Oh boy-ish' stare. Meh, I didn't expect anything else from a soldier rookie like her at all. I jumped down again and put my hoof around her neck.
“Down worry Sweetie, you're still superior to Applebloom. She's just a under-rookie.”
“Is this even a real rank?” She asked.
“You should watch more monster movies on tv Sweetie Belle! Shesh!” I turned around again and tried to squeeze through the narrow slit between my big brown chiefs desk and one of the cardbox- uhm, computer-thingies.
“Yeeaaah... sure. Whatever, we should go and look for Applebloom! I mean, we can't start without her, right?” Sweetie asked worried while I was still trying to get through the slit.
“R- right! Hng, we, uff... should really-”
“... you stuck?” She sighed. Though I hated to admit it...
“... maybe...” That was pretty embarrassing, luckily it was only Sweetie Belle who saw me in that weird state, but that was already enough. I could feel her teeth sinking into my tail, followed by a slight pain in my... I guess we all know. A quick and strong pull and I fell backwards, landing directly onto Sweetie Belle.
“Thanks for saving your superior officer chief boss, private! I will leave a note for the general saying he should give you a very special medal. The brave and-”
“JUST GET OFF ME!” She gasped and kicked me off of her.
“That's stupid Scootaloo! I mean... all this isn't helping. I mean, sure it looks awesome, but without Applebloom, we can't be a real Monster-Catcher-Squad.” She squeaked, which was kinda correct by the way. So we had to find, or furthermore get Applebloom and bring her into the headquarters...
but how?
“Hey girls, sorry ahm late!” Applebloom gasped while running through the door behind us.
“Well, that was easy.”
“Oh my Applebloom, what happened? You look terrible!” Sweetie gasped. Applebloom was covered in sweat and heavily breathing. Was she running away from something?
“Oh uhm, ah was just in a hurry and... yeah, that's basically all.” She nervously answered.
She walked down the small clubhouse, curiously looking around. According to her expression and stare, she was probably about to ask me the same question Sweetie Belle did before
“What is all this stuff?” Told ya'.
“That's our Monster-Catcher gear.” Sweetie Belle grinned slightly. Applebloom remained silent and kept looking around, changing her confused tare into a more and more excited one.
“Awesome! We even have computer... uhm, thingies?”
“Yeah, isn't that awesome?” I agreed happily. At least one of my soldiers appreciated my effort.
“Yeah! Do they really work?”
“Well, uhm... you know basically-” I tried to explain their very complex nature to Applebloom, which wasn't easy since there wasn't a complex nature at all.
“They're just painted boxes.” Basically she was right... but it was still a bummer.
“Heh, ah already thought so, but they're still awesome. Uuh, especially those cages.” Applebloom walked towards the giant wall of cages, barely a few inches to the left of the door. There were about
4 small cages stacked in that corner, each one about 20 x 20 inches, for little monsters.
On the opposite side, to the right of the door to be certain, there were 2 more cages, BIGGER cages.
They were about as high as an ordinary average pony. Celestia wouldn't probably fit in, neither would Discord or a dragon... except for Spike maybe. It was about, let's say, 35 inches high and 14 inches wide, for the normal sized monster. Yeah I know we just had 6 cages in total, but finding them, let alone getting them inside of this club house was a darn load of work! Even with one of Applejacks barrows, it was still nearly impossible to get them in here.
“Wow they're pretty amazing... and actually real and not made out of cardboards.”
Sweetie Belle said amazed.
“Indeed. Say Scoots, where did ya get these huge iron cages?”
“Oh, I found them.” I could see their confusion growing inside of their faces when telling them that I actually just found them. That wasn't even a lie. I really found them standing behind some bushes a few meters north from here. I didn't knew if it was luck or just a funny coincidence, but I DID knew that they were very important for our plans.
“Oooookay? Whatever, now we have everythin' we need for our mission!” Applebloom yelled in excitement.
“Yay! Let's catch some evil monsters!” Sweetie Belle joined.
“Woah girls hold on! This isn't our real equipment.” Everypony was staring at me in puzzlement.
I mean, yeah it was true that everything in this clubhouse WAS part of our actual gear, but not our very VERY important part of it. I put some various objects and tools into separate bags, one for each member.
“What do ya mean Scootaloo?” Applebloom asked.
“Our REAL gear is over there.” I pointed over to the big cages. There were three bags leaning against the second cage, right next to a pile of unpainted boxes. I was too tired after painting the other 4 boxes, so I just decided to stack them up near the middle of the room. Since they were about as big as us, they could've been perfect hideouts in case a monster would get near our headquarters.
“Here, follow me girls. Uff, and watch your steps!” Summing up everything that was inside of the small club house, we had 6 big cages, 4 big compu- uh, painted boxes, a stack of 4 unpainted big boxes, 3 large brown desks, a brown Podium next to my desk and many posters hanging at the walls... well they actally didn't took away that much space, but the rest did. There were only 15% moving space left, which meant that only one filly at a time could walk through all that stuff without getting stuck. Jepp, that was the problem we had.
“Ouch! I said 'watch were you're going Sweetie Belle!”
“I try, I try! Ou! Stop pushing me Applebloom!”
“Ah ain't doin' anythin' here! YOU're the one who's pushin' ME!” We got stuck pretty fast.
After a few minutes of squeezing, yelling, kicking and nagging, we finally made it to get to the other end of the room where the cages and bags were standing.
“Hah, hah... finally! Here, everypony grab her bag.” I threw the hoofsewn bags into the hooves of the girls. Everypony had their own special bag with their own specific colors. For example, Appleblooms bag was red like an apple, Sweetie Belles bag was slightly violet like the color of her mane and mine was the most awesome one of course.
“Let me guess Scootaloo, this one's yours?” Applebloom grinned and pointed at the light blue one with rainbow colors on it.
“Yes it is, pretty awesome huh?” It was the Rainbow Dash design! Every very awesome boss needed a very awesome bag, right? The best part at the bag was the Rainbow Dash fan-club button right at its front side. Wait, did they started to giggle?
“What?”
“N- nothing Scoots. Everythin's fine.” Applebloom grinned. I didn't knew why they giggled, but I kinda felt embarrassed. While I turned around and tried to calm myself down, the other two were starting to examine their bags.
“What is all that stuff? A hammer, a rope, chalks?”
“These bags are filled with a lot of random things. For what do we need that for?”
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle asked.
“Oh don't worry girls, this isn't just random stuff!” I opened my bag and picked a scrolled blueprint out.
“These are our tools for the probably most awesome plan ever created!” I threw it on the ground and enrolled it. The girls walked next to, curiously and speechlessly staring at the drawings on the blueprint.
“Can we actually do that?” Sweetie Belle stuttered with sparkly eyes.
“Don't worry girls, THIS will be our greatest adventure EVER!”
“YAAAAY! CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS MONSTER CATCHER SQUAD GO!” We shouted while slamming our hooves together over the blueprint.
“Oh by the way Applebloom, you'll get degraded cause you're too late.”
“Ah- uh, what?”

It was too much... everythin' was just-
“... too much. Ah don't know how long ah can go on like that.” Ah was sittin' downstairs in the kitchen, mah head sunk onto the dinin' table, starin' at the old pictures of mah family. They looked so happy, watchin' me from the other side of the room. Granny Smith, BigMac, Winona... where did ya go?
Ah could remember the day when they disappeared, the day ah ran around town searchin' for them for hours. First there was Winona who disappeared, followed by mah big brother and lastly Granny Smith... who would've been next? Mah lil' sister? Heh, not as long as ah was still 'round. Ah made sure nopony would get in here, neither gettin' back out without me noticin' it. Blockin' every window and door was the last option ah had left. Leavin' Ponyville might've been an option too... but ah was still optimistic, thinkin' they would come back, thinkin' mah friends would aid me somehow... but neither of that happened. Everythin' just went crazy. Ah didn't knew what was goin' on in Ponyville and to be honest... ah didn't even cared anymore. All ah wanted was to protect mah lil' sister and waitin' that everythin' would get better again.
“C'mon sugarcube... you have to distract youself somehow. Bein' sad won't neither help you, nor your sister.” Ah took a deep breath and turned mah head around, facin' the blocked windows.
Dust was flyin' through the room, made visible only because of small beams of light, shinin' through the narrow slits of the barricades. Everythin' was so quite.
“Soo quite...” Back then when Granny and BigMac were here, there was always somethin' to do,
to talk and to laugh about. Now everythin' felt so empty, cold and sad. Not even Applebloom laughed as much as she did before. Ah can't blame her though... ah mean, ah trapped her inside of her own home like a lil' hamster inside of a cage. Ah told her not to talk to her friends anymore, takin' away her last resort of havin' fun... ah just didn't wanted to lose her, too. She was the only one ah had left, so was ah for her. Did she understand the reason? Was ah actin' right? Ah didn't knew and ah didn't care...
“Hm?” Something' was slightly sparklin' on the ground, somethin' purple to be certain.
“That's... Twilights-” It was one of Twilights strains, she must've lost it when ah... when ah knocked her out... one of mah best friends...
“Twilight...” Ah didn't knew ah could feel even more bad than ah already did, but this was the
prove. Ah treated her like a stranger... like a villain!
“What have ah done? Darn it, she just wanted to help!” Ah slammed mah hoof onto the table as strong as possible, hatin' mahself so much for what ah did. Ah had to go after her, ah had to apologize somehow! But what about Applebloom? Ah couldn't let her alone!
“... guess ah have to take her with me then!” Ah jumped off the chair and ran up the stairs, down the corridor and through the door leadin' to Appleblooms room.
“Hey sis, come on and let's take a small walk to-” Mah heart and breath stopped while mah world around me started to shatter. Ah froze, could feel mah heart and mind fallin' apart while mah eyes
kept starin' into the empty room and at the broken window barricade.
“... no... NO! APPLEBLOOM!” The adrenaline that shot through mah body made me dash to the opened window.
“APPLEBLOOM! APPLEBLOOOOOOM!” Ah shouted as loud a ah could, doesn't matter how much mah throat started to hurt. There was nothin' outside but snow, not even hoofprints were visible! Without noticin' ah slowly began to shake mah head, lots of tears were rollin' down mah cheeks and ah kept repeatin' the same words inside of mah head over and over again.
“Nonononono...” Now there was only one option left- I had to find mah sister!
“APPLEBLOOM!” Another adrenaline shot ran through mah body, makin' me ran down the stairs again and jumpin' against the entrance door with mah whole body. The door gave in like warm butter and flew out of it's hinges while ah started to look around for Applebloom.
“APPLEBLOOM! WHERE ARE YA? PLEASE, ANSWER ME!” Ah shouted and shouted, but got no resonse. Mah stomach already started to twist and ah just wanted to shout out of rage and sorrow, but ah couldn't! Now it was for sure, ah couldn't protect her on mah own, ah needed help...
“Twilight!” With all of mah remainen' strength ah turned around and made mah way to Ponyville as fast as ah could. The snow flew through the air like sand, gettin' blown away by a tornado when my hooves started to rush through the white landscape. The trees were zoomin' by while the cold wind started to whip mah face, without leavin' any kinds of pain. Ah just wanted to have mah lil' sister at mah side again. She was all ah could think of, ah had to find her! AH HAD TO-
“Please!” That voice!
“Twilight?” It was Twilights voice, there was no doubt 'bout it! Ah turned around, checked the surroundin' area, but ah couldn't see her. There was nothin' but more bald trees and rocks and- wait... there! She was standin' at a podium near the entrance of Ponyville! Ah ran towards her when a suddenly noticed that the other girls were standin' right in front of her too, though they seemed to be very unpleased. Ah snaked up behind a bush near Twilight and watched the whole scenery from there. Twilight looked very desperate, was nervously trottin' back and forth several times.
“Listen girls, I'm sorry okay? I didn't knew it was that serious I-”
“Oh it wasn't THAT serious huh?” Pinkie hissed at her.
“You knew EXACTLY how much Gummy means to me AND YOU STILL TOLD ME I'M OVERREACTING!” Woah nelly, Pinkie was more than angry for some reason.
“I know and I'm sorry Pinkie, really! We can go and search for Gummy after we-” Twilight tried to explain before Rainbow cut her short.
“After, after, after! It's ALWAYS AFTER doing your own stuff, isn't it? What about our stuff? What about our pets? Why do WE have to wait?” She yelled.
“Please, try to understand I-”
“No! I can't believe I'm the same opinion as her, but she's right! Ever thought about OUR feelings first? About OUR sorrows and problems? All YOU always want to do is doing your STUPID STUDIES!” Rarity shouted with a deep glare.
“HEY! I ALWAYS helped you girls out when you had problems! What about the time when I saved you from Nightmare Moon?”
“Bah! Without OUR help you wouldn't have been able to defeat her in the first place!” Rainbow grumped.
“Maybe... but what about Cerberus? Or when Spike became a giant dragon? Or.. or... Discord! Remember when I saved you from Discords evil magic?” Well she had a good point there.
The other girls were silently watchin' each other, they probably ran out of arguments. Twilight walked down the podium and went to Pinkie.
“Pinkie, you know I would never let you down. I always tried my best to help you, even though you, well, annoyed me sometimes.” Twilight said softly. Pinkie lowered her ears and looked away.
“Well... I can be a little itsy bitsy hyper from time to time... I guess.”
“And you Rarity. Me and Spike always helped you out as best as we could whenever you needed our help, remember?” She said while walkin' to Rarity.
“... yes, that's true. And I have to admit I miss my Spikey-wikey.” She sighed with a sad expression.
“Rainbow... you said I'm egoistic huh? You know, I always tried to help you, remember when I made this fly-thing so your little turtle could fly with you? Or when I showed you the wonderful world of Daring Do?” Rainbow Dash crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked away, still slightly frownin'.
“... tortoise.” She mumbled.
“And Flutter-” She started. Suddenly Fluttershy began to cry and fell down to the ground.
“OH I'M SO SORRY TWILIIIIIIGHT!” Ah had to admit, it kinda made me smile seein' the girls again. In the end, they haven't changed a bit.
“So what do you say girls? Do you want to help me helping you?” She asked with a desperate smile. The other girls remained silent, lookin' around, onto each other again and finally back to Twilight.
“Hold it!” Huh? That voice seemed familiar...
“Leafs? What are you-” Twilight asked startled, but got cut off immediately.
“Be silent you traitor!” She hissed at Twi! That little green pile of-
“WHAT?!” Twilight gasped.
“Listen to me my friends! This mare over there is a liar! A traitor!”
“Leafs! What are you talking about?”
“Shut up miss Sparkle! Can't you see ponies of Ponyville? She tries to blind you! Just think for a second, who brought Cerberus to Ponyville after all?” She continued. The girls were watchin' her in confusion, while Twilight just stood there with her mouth wide opened.
“That's right! It was HERE! And how come Twilight's ALWAYS the only mare who isn't effected by anything? She saved you from Discord, how was that possible? She turned back? Just like that? Come on everypony. Everything that happens in Ponyville is somehow related to that mare, isn't it?” That green mare was probably the greatest piece of dirt ah've ever seen! The other ponies began to knit their brows. Were they actually believin' her?
“T- that's not true!”
“Oh yes it IS! Remember the times when she was in Canterlot? Remember the peaceful time when there was no Twilight in this town?” Everypony was silent, even Twilight was just standin' there.
“Another question... how come, Twilight is the ONLY mare in this town who hasn't lost somepony she loves?”
“HEY! I don't know what you're trying to do here, BUT I lost somepony too! Spike and Owliscious are gone!” They were really gone? Darn.... Everypony gasped and began to argue with each others.
“Maybe they ran away? Do you remember how cruel you've treated your little dragon from time to time? He even ran away twice! So why not again? You used him for your dirty work, nothing more!” That little-
“Wha-? N- no I- I mean.... Were do you know all that anyway?” Poor Twilight began to stutter.
“Your friends told me.” She grinned. Twilight looked at her friends, who were brightly blushin' in embarrassment, lookin' to the ground like cowards.
“Seriously... he was just a baby dragon!”
“Hey! Rarity might have used him from time to time, but not me!”
“What? How can you say that Twilight?” Rarity gasped.
“See? She HATES you!”
“NO!” Twilights voice got more and more shaky while her big purple eyes slowly began to fill with tears. Ah couldn't believe that darn Leafs betrayed her like that!
“ENOUGH!” Ah shouted. Ah couldn't just stand there lettin' Twilight get butchered like that.
“Applejack?” Twilight said surprised.
“What are-” Leafs started, but now it was mah time to cut HER off.
“You better be quiet you poisonous rattlesnake!” Ah hissed back while getting' closer to that snake.
“Ah don't know WHO you are or at least who do you THINK you are, BUT if you don't apologize, turn around and leave, ah promise you ah'll show ya a world of pain sugarcube!” Ah glared deep into her eyes. She didn't move, instead she just began to laugh.
“Oh how sweet, the traitor has a friend!”
“Woah hold it girl!” Rainbow flew in between us.
“Applejack has enough problems already, besides, she's the element of honesty! She would never betray or lie to anypony! Neither would Twilight!” The other girls were agreeing with a loud 'yeah'.
But Leafs seemed to be unimpressed, in fact she just walked up to Rainbow and grinned.
“Have you already forgot what she said about you? About all of you?” What the hay was she talkin' about? The girls suddenly numbed again.
“That's right! What a friend would do something like that? We wouldn't Rainbow... we wouldn't.”
She turned around and smiled into the group.
“Who helped you in your times of need? It was us, a bunch of strangers. We tried the best we could to help you, be with you all. What have they did? Nothing!”
“ENOUGH!” Ah jumped at that dirty liar and gave her a little taste of mah right hoof. It was a very pleasin' feelin', but short-lived. Rainbow kicked me off of her and helped her up!
“What are-”
“She's right Applejack! She and her friends were the ONLY ones who helped us!”
“Indeed!”
“Yeah!”
“... that's true...” They all agreed. Leafs stood right in front of me, grinning down at me with her black eye.
“You see? They won't fall for your lies again! You should leave and let these ponies alone!”
“You little...”
“She's right!” Rainbow Dash said, makin' a frown but without the guts to look into mah eyes.
“You can't be serious... girls?” they looked away like cowards... unbelievable.
“Come on Applejack.” Twilight helped me up with lowered ears and tear coverin' her cheeks. She then turned around and slowly walked away, right out of Ponyville. Ah turned around and looked at our former 'friends' while they just looked away. Then ah looked at Leafs who was grinnin' and starin' at me with her poisonous and stabbin' green eyes.
“Fine!” Ah turned around again and followed mah only remainin' friend Twilight... far away from Ponyville.

“Sister?” We didn't knew what was going on in the castle. Everypony was nervously running around, bumping into each other or even leaving! So we thought we could ask our dear sister if she might knew what was going on here. We walked into the giant throne room, which was stuffed with hundreds of armed royal guards and barricades along the doors and windows.
“Your highness? Princess Luna?” One of the guards gasped when he saw us entering through the main door.
“What is going on her?” We asked.
“I- I thought the princess already told you.” He stuttered nervously.
“Told us? Told us what?”
“Luna?” Celestias voice echoed through the room. We looked around the guard and to the end of the large room, where Tia was sitting on her throne, wearing her... royal armor? That was weird in more than one way. The royal armor was only used by the royal family in times of war or worse.
Was there something we've missed? We walked down the red carped, directly facing the throne.
“No, wait your highness! I can't-” He probably tried to say something, but we didn't care, we just wanted to get answers. The whole castle was crawling with guards, so was the town and even the train station. We looked around and saw shiny golden armors all around us, colts and mares with spears and swords. In there eyes we could clearly see fear and misgiving. Many were heavily breathing and gasping. What ever was about to happen, it would have been very horrible it seems.
“Tia? Wha-”
“I told you to leave, didn't I?” She asked worried yet very serious.
“We, uhm, I thought it was just a joke. I mean, why would you want me to leave all of the sudden?”
She closed her eyes and sighed.
“Tia? Is there something you want to tell me?” We asked. We never saw her like that before... well,
actually we did, but that was another story...
“Luna... my dear sister. It's not safe here anymore, you got to leave.”
“B- but why? Is there a war coming up? Or an invasion? Tell me! I can help, I-”
“NO!” Her royal voice echoed through the entire room, making the guards cringe and mute. They were all staring at us now with wide eyes.
“... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be that loud, but... you got to understand Luna that you can't help here. It's the best for you to leave and head to Manehatten as fast as possible!” She said with a soft smile, but still with a sad expression in her eyes. Our sister never used the royal voice, never!
This was the first time we ever heard it out of her mouth.
“You... used the royal voice...”
“Yeah, I'm sorry. Please sister-” She opened her wing and wrapped it around me.
“I don't want to lose you again.” She smiled sadly.
“Why do you send me away then? What if I lose you instead?” Tia closed her yes again and leaned her horn next to mine.
“Don't worry, everything will be fine. Trust me.” Our heart began to feel much heavier all of the sudden. Thinking of leaving Canterlot, maybe even forever without even knowing what was about to happen was... we can't explain. Suddenly something wet hit our cheek, making us look up.
“Tia? Are you crying?” Indeed, it was one of her tears which were slowly running over face.
“You should go now.” She smiled softly and removed her wing from my back.
“Tia...” Our heart felt even heavier than before and we knew for certain Tia wouldn't jst start to cry without a good reason. In fact, the only other time we saw her crying was when we returned from the slavery of Nightmare Moon.
“I will always love you Luna. Please... take care okay?” She said and moved her head back to the main door. We turned around and walked back the red carpet. head and ears lowered and with our eyes staring to the ground. When we've reached the door, we looked back at our beloved sister one last time
“I love you too, Tia...” We've whispered. Then we slowly closed the door and made our
way outside.

“..... farewell, little sister...”

“Come on now Fluttershy darling, please stop crying.”
“Noooooo! That wasn't right! We have to bring them back!” I shouted.
“Oh Fluttershy...”
“I can't believe Twilight and Applejack left Ponyville! On the other hoof... after all the things we said to them, I'd probably ran off too!” I whimpered, laying on the cold snow, covering my face with my hooves so nopony could see my tears. I felt so embarrassed, I hated myself so much, I... I...
“Oh please Fluttershy! Twilight and Applejack gave a darn thing about our problems and feelings! So why shall WE have the bad conscience?” Rainbow Dash snorted.
“Well, maybe it was a tiny little bit harsh... but Rainbow's still right. I mean, Twilight really hurt me
with her disinterest for my sorrow.” Pinkie added.
“You hear? Even Pinkie says that they've deserved it!”
“Getting thrown out of their hometown? I don't know Rainbow darling, maybe it really was a little bit too harsh.” Rarity sighed while stroking my back gently with her hoof. It felt very nice, but it couldn't stop me from crying. The river of tears that ran down my face was even more worse this time, thinking that besides Angel and my other animal friends now even Twilight and Applejack left me.... My heart felt like it got torn apart very slowly.
“Oh please Rarity, don't say you're on Fluttershys side now!”
“Excuse me? I'm pretty sad and deeply hurt too, but they are STILL our friends!”
“Hmpf, I doubt that!” Rainbow snorted again. Why was Rainbow so cold all of the sudden? Applejack was her best friend... she even liked her more than me. I couldn't believe she said something like that!
“Why... are you so cold Rainbow?” I hesitantly whimpered.
“HEY! I'm NOT cold! They're the ones who are cold, not me!”
“B- but...”
“STOP being so naive Fluttershy!” She shouted at me... why was she so cruel?
“I- I'm...” I squeaked silently, still drowning in my own tears. My eyes already began to hurt, such as my throat, but I had to cry. Oh I wished I could just wake up already!
“Stop it Rainbow! Don't you think she's already sad enough? Maybe she's right and YOU'RE the cold hearted mare here!” Rarity hissed at her.
“Oh yeah? Well maybe I-”
“Enough you four!” Wasn't that Roneos voice? My heart made a joyful leap, hearing that sweet calming voice of Reneo behind me. Suddenly I felt another hoof running over my back, gently stroking over my shoulders while his soft voice ran into my ears again.
“You okay Fluttershy?” His voice made me smile again... and blush slightly. Good thing nopony saw my face, that would've been very embarrassing.
“Hey, how about you mind your own frigging business!” Rainbow glared.
“No he's right! Stop it Rainbow.” A deeper voice appeared in front of me. I looked up a bit and saw a tall, strong looking brown colt walking towards Rainbow. Wasn't that her new friend, uhm, Gladstone?
“Gladstone, what are you doing here?”
“I saw what happened from the distance, but I guess I'm too late. What's with the yellow one?” Yellow one? Oh, he probably meant me.
“She was bullying on her!” Roneo said, running with his hoof through my mane.
“Really Dash? I thought you're friends?”
“W- well... yeah, b- but-” Was Rainbow stuttering? I looked up again and saw her pout. I never ever saw her pout before in my entire life!
“Hey, what's going on here?” A gray colt with black mane bounced around the corner, followed by a white mare with a long red mane.
“GRAAAAY!” Pinkie squeaked with opened arms.
“PINKIIIIIE!” He jumped into her arms, making them fall down into the snow while both began to giggle very delightful. At least Pinkie was happy. It felt very nice seeing her laugh again like that.
“Rarity my dear, I was waiting for you for about an hour. Where did- Oh my, is everything alright? You all look like you're under a strain.” The white mare said with a very worried expression. She walked right next to me and Rarity.
“I'm sorry Starlet, but we've been through a very unhappy event here. Your friend Leafs over there made two of our best friends to run away. The worst of all, neither one of us tried to help them.”
“Is that so?” Starlet looked over at Leafs who was still sitting next to the podium, looking after Twilight and Applejack.
“Yes... I feel so pathetic.” Rarity sighed.
“Don't worry my dear, everything will be fine again soon.”
“That's right~ Besides, we're still here to cheer you up. You'll see, after a little party and some of my special Gray-Cupcakes you'll start to smile again!”
“THAT sounds like a great idea!” Pinkie grinned brightly.
“Could you all please calm down again? We don't have time for a party, or chit-chat! The sun's almost gone and we still have work to do!”
That was Three Leafs, was it? She turned around and jumped off the podium,slowly walking to our small group. I hated her so much... I could never forgive her for what she did to Twilight and Applejack!
“Hey Leafs, say was it really necessary to freeze them out like that?” Gladstone asked worried.
“Of course! After all I've heard from her friends and other native ponies, she really was a source of evil. And since everypony was so nice to us, I just had to free them from this disease.”
D- disease? How could she call MY friends a disease? No, I couldn't just lay there and cry like a filly, I had to at least try to be brave and stand up for my friends. I mean, that was the very least I could do after betraying them like that!
“How dare you calling Twilight and Applejack a disease?”
“Fluttershy?” I slowly stood up and wiped away most of my tears, trying to stare into her mean green eyes.
“F-Fluttershy... maybe you shouldn't-” Roneo tried to hold me back, but I couldn't fall back now.
I walked up to her, still staring and glaring while my heart started to beat faster and faster.
“Maybe Twilight made some mistakes, but who didn't? You're not perfect either!”
“F- Fluttershy, you should really-”
“No Roneo! She has to know that she's nothing more than a mean, unfriendly and-” Suddenly I could feel a dull pain spreading through my head while the rest of my body started to fly to the ground. Snow flew through the air, the cold hard ground distracted me from the burning pain in my face when I finally hit it ruggedly.
“Be quite you little filly!”
“Fluttershy!” Roneo shouted. I didn't move, I just lay there without any kind of reaction. All I could feel and hear was Roneos warm embrace and his heartbeat.
“FLUTTERSHY!” Rainbow shouted. Gladstone tried to hold her back as best as he could. Even though he looked pretty strong, he really had his problems keeping her in place.
“LET ME GO! I WANT TO BEAT THE LIVING HAY OUT OF HER!”
“No! Calm down Rainbow!”
“How could you do that you mean MEANIE!” Pinkie yelled. Soon everypony began to argue and shout. Everything I heard was muffled, my vision was blurry and my right eye was burning like fire.
A pulsating pain ran across my body, starting in my head and running down the left shoulder and into my left side. The icy snow was calming me down a bit... but it couldn't stop the tears from rolling down. I looked down at the snow, saw how it slowly turned red.
... but I didn't care... I deserved it...
“YOU SCUUUUM!” Rainbow shouted at the top of her voice.
“Gladstone, Scarlet and Gray you bring the elements to the Sugarcube Corner and do what has to
be done! And Roneo...” Another dull pain shook my body. It was Leafs hoof that kicked into my belly several times.
“You bring this miserable piece of a pony into the warehouse over there. Oh and since you seem to like her much more than your own girlfriend Scarlet... well, ease her pain.” What? What did she...
“R.... Roneo?” I stuttered in pain and whining. Roneo closed her eyes and just looked away. My heart broke apart, numbing all of my pain in a second. While I could still hear Rainbow Dash screaming and struggling, they put me onto Roneos back and walked away. I didn't knew what would happen, or what the others were doing... I just knew that I was a moron. How could I ever believe somepony would fall in love with me? Rainbow's right, I'm just a naïve filly...
“You okay Fluttershy?” Roneo asked worried while walking through the snow.
“Hey... I'm sorry I didn't tell you about... that I'm...” He couldn't end his sentence. He shook his head and sighed. Nopony said a word on the way to the warehouse, at the most northern part of Ponyville. These few minutes I was laying on his back, flinching in pain and coldness, I remembered the words my friends said that one day at the lake....

“Hey girls...”
“Sup' Fluttershy?”
“Do you... well, do you think that friendship lasts forever?”
“Hihihi, oh you silly~ Of course it does!”
“Yes of course darling! I would never forget a good friend.”
“Me neither, you betcha'!”
“I see... what do you think Rainbow Dash?”
“C'mon Rainbow, talk to us.”
“Yeah, yeah okay! Uhm, well I think... I would never forget a friend. Never!”
“What if-”
“What darling?”
“Oh, it's nothing.”
“C,mon Fluttershy, spit it out.”
“Yeah let us hear.”
“Well...”
“... what if... we have to go some day?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if, we have to pass on some day? Do you believe... friendship will-”
“It will! It will keep existing... no matter what happens, friendship won't go away. Never!”
“Don't worry darling, we'll stay with you whatever happens!”
“Rainbow.”
“Huh?”
“Let's join our friends.”
“Fine, If you insist it...”

“Fluttershy?” His voice soon dragged me back into the real world. I lay on a pile of hay inside of the old and barely illuminated warehouse. Barrles and crates were stacked in the corners of this big room, the only light source was a small lamp hanging from the ceiling. It smelled like old wood and dust was covering most parts of the floor like a carpet. I saw the snowy hoofsteps of Roneo, leading from the wooden door directly into the middle of the room where small puddles of water were replacing them. My right eye was covered by something soft and white and the smell of medicine was slightly flying through the air.
“I'm... so sorry Fluttershy... this is all I can do for you.” Roneo whimpered. I looked at him. He was sitting right next to me with a small first aid kit in his hooves. He shed a few tears and shook his head again.
“All of this... it's getting out of hoof... but we have no choice.”
“R.... Roneo?” I tried to stutter.
“Fluttershy?”
“What if... we have to pass on some day? Do you... do you believe friendship will... last forever?”
Roneo remained silent. He just kept staring at me with his wonderful big blue eyes.
“I... I'm not sure... maybe.”
“Well... I hope so...” I slightly smiled. He closed his eyes and began to sob, letting more tears falling down onto the dirty ground.
“... I will die... right?”
“No! ... no you won't. I won't let that happen...” He stood up and put his hoof gently onto my head, running it slowly through my mare.
“Rest a bit Fluttershy... I promise I'll take away all of your pain.”
“..... thank you... Roneo....” I closed my eye and went back into my perfect world... a world, where friendship is like an unbreakable bound.

“So it begins...”