"Excuse me kind sir, but I was wondering if you knew where the market was located." The red earth pony with an orange mane tied up in a bun smiled at the guard. "I'm terribly afraid this is my first time in Canterlot, and I'm just so dreadfully lost."

"Hm? Oh, if you follow the main road and take a right turn at the Whispering Willows you'll be right there. It's a ten minute walk or so," he said absentmindedly before his head suddenly snapped up. "Why is your friend gagged?"

The red pony removed the gag and a torrent of words immediately spilled out from the white pony's mouth. So fast was her mouth moving that it was impossible to tell the difference between open mouth and closed mouth. After a couple seconds, the gag was back in place and there was a look of fear in the guard's eyes.

"I travelled from Manehatten with this pony, and after a day of her incessant talking I just had to do something about it. I hope you understand." She gave the guard a bat of her eyelids and handed him an orange from the trailer. "Also, take this orange for thanks. It's the best orange you'll ever taste and nothing is juicer."

Before she could take a step though, the guardspony asked, "Do you have a place to stay?"

"I do. A friend of mine living by Quills and Coats has offered us a room to spend the night and a place to store our oranges. Thank you for your concern though."

"Very well. But please be careful. That area has seen riots since Queen Moon took her position, and I would hate to see a lady such as yourself hurt."

"Thank you for your concern, but I will be perfectly fine." A tinge of annoyance crept into the pony's voice and the guard seemed to get the hint. Without a backward look, the two ponies trotted down the road and took an immediate left. Glancing over at her companion, an apologetic smile was given. "Sorry P-Surprise, but you're hyper-activeness is far too distinct."

The rest of the journey was made in silence with the occasional sale. With the darkness, it was difficult to make out the rubble on the ground and the buildings, but they managed well enough. The precise instructions given to them ensured that they knew exactly where they were going and, to their surprise, the guards were exceptionally helpful. More than once, they came across a poster with the picture of five ponies and their cuties marks, saying how they were dangerous and there would be a fifty thousand bit reward for the capture of one of them.

Eventually though, they came to a single story, run down little house with a hole for a door. Knocking gently on the plank of wood that covered up the hole, it opened a crack, revealing a pair of blue eyes. After a moment, multiple locks and chains were undone, letting the duo and cart enter. Inside was split into four rooms – a dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. With the door back in place and locked up, the ponies visibly relaxed and exchanged hugs.

“‘Miss Moonlight,' it is simply a delight to finally meet you, the Oranges’ have spoken so highly of you." Applejack smiled at the way Rarity's jaw dropped to the ground at her posh voice. "I simply must thank you for putting up with us for the next couple of days."

"Ah'd be lying if Ah said I wasn’t surprised. Ah never expected such a... a..." Rarity gestured at Applejack before turning her attention to Pinkie Pie. "And why in tarnation is she tied up?"

It took all of Applejack's willpower to not crack up laughing. "Well 'Surprise' here has quiet the motor mouth on her, and I was afraid of offending the guards. They seemed to think it was a public service to keep her gagged."

Pinkie Pie huffed with her arms folded, giving her two friends a flat look. Chuckling, Rarity walked over and removed the gag.

"OhmygoshIneverrealizedhowhorribleitwouldbetonottalkIlovetalkingtalkingissomuchfunhowdopeoplenottalkImeandon'tyoualldieIknowIfeltlikeIwasdying-"

"P-Surprise, please breathe and let's unload our goods." Applejack moved to the back of the cart,reached down to the underside, and pulled out three wooden bars. With Rarity's help, they managed to slowly lower the bottom down, revealing two pegasi. "How was the trip?"

"I think I died and went to heaven," said Rapidfire. "Why else would I be surrounded by gorgeous mares?"

Rolling her eyes, Applejack smacked the back of his head. "RD warned me you were a massive flirt. Now focus."

"Don't be like that de-" Rarity cleared her throat. "Ah mean, he was merely complimentin' us sugarcube."

"So when do we leave? I want to party already! I've got streamers and balloons and gifts and wraps and everypony here is so down and frowny and a party will cheer them right up."

Applejack gave the unicorn a flat look. "This is why I gagged her. I'm sorry Surprise darling, I love you, but you will have to turn down the hyper-activeness and the craziness and everything else. Please?"

Pinkie Pie nodded with a smile. "Don't worry miss, I know what I'm doing and what I need to do. I still say all of you should be there for the party, but I'm certain I'll be able to make some friends. I can be responsible you know."

"We know Surprise," said Fluttershy. "That's why you get to start the party. Remember?"

"I thought I was going to start the party," said Applejack.

"Nope! I'm the party pony, so I start the party!" Pinkie nodded. "I'll head on over right now and start setting up." The planks were put back in place and the entire thing was reassembled. "And don't worry, I'll be careful and make lots of money too."

"Should we leave now?" asked Rapidfire. "The sooner we leave, the faster this gets done."

Rarity shook her head. "Ah need to see your cutie mark first."

"If you wanted to gaze at my flank that badly, you could have just asked you know," he said with a wink. For that comment, he got another slap to the back of the head, courtesy of Rarity. "You know, if you all keep this up, I'll end up with brain damage."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," commented Applejack.

"Ah ha!Got it. Please stand still, Ah'd be so very sad if I made a mistake with the spell Ah'm about ta cast." Grinning at Rapidfire's sudden nervousness, Rarity closed her eyes and focused on the image she had in her mind. A pale green fur with white mane and two white wings for a cutie mark. With that firmly in mind, she let the image flow out onto Rapidfire.

"Whoa. This feels weird... And kinda nice."

"Such uncouth behavior. I should hit you again," threatened Applejack.

Opening her eyes, Rarity beamed at the illusion. "Perfect. Ah've also made an extra one for y'all. So please hold still." Closing her eyes once more, she focused on the images she had created over the past few days. It was a simple color change and a slight alteration to the cutie marks. Applejack's became three sticks, Fluttershy's became three worms and Rarity's became three stars.

"That took more outta me than Ah expected. Give me a minute or two." Panting from the exertion, she leaned against Fluttershy for support. "Alright, I should be alright now." Rarity stood up shakily, giving the others a reassuring smile.

The group exchanged a concerned look, but when Rarity walked out with all her usual strength and vigor, they relented and quickly followed. Tracking their way back through the streets, they eventually made it to the market district where Pinkie was busy selling oranges. Even Applejack had to grudgingly admit that Pinkie was doing a fine job – although not as good as she would have done of course.

Strolling up to the castle, they walked in without the guards even batting an eye. "Night Court is in session," explained Rarity. "Queen Nightmare still holds open court to hear complaints from the general public. The current one being discussed is the lack of sunlight and plants. Rumor has it that she's bought in the smartest and most magically inclined unicorns from all over Equestria to deal with the problem."

"Well she could-" Rarity silenced Applejack with a shake of her head.

"Rumors are just that, rumors." The group stared at Fluttershy in surprise at how she had snapped at them. "Come, we're here for a reason. The longer we take the longer we'll be stuck in line."

Rapidfire gave an appreciative whistle while staring at Fluttershy's flank. "Now that's an attitude I like. Excuse me ladies."

The remaining two ponies glanced at each other nervously before racing off after the colt before he could get into any serious trouble. There was a sense of determination – no, not determination exactly, it was closer to a drive – Fluttershy was driven in her task. Her whole body language was different. She walked with her head held high, looking everypony directly in the eyes, and the way she moved conveyed a sense of authority. It reminded Rarity of how nobles would walk. That sense of supreme confidence.

"You there, which way to the royal gardens." Three jaws dropped as Fluttershy commanded the guard.

"Down the hall, second left ma'am."

"Very well. Keep up the good work." And just like that, Fluttershy dismissed the guard.

"Yes ma'am!" The guard saluted and continued on his rounds.

Once more, Applejack and Rarity exchanged a look. Just what was going on with Fluttershy? Rarity wanted to ask, she wanted to ask so very badly, but within these halls she didn't dare. Was it a side effect of her spell? That thought sent a shiver down Rarity's spine. Hopefully not.

Walking out into the cool night air, a bird immediately descended to land on Fluttershy's mane. There were a couple soft chirps as the bird said something before Fluttershy replied in a whisper. For those couple of seconds, she was back to normal, back to the Fluttershy Rarity knew so well. Then the bird flew away and Fluttershy was back to acting weirdly. After a minute of wandering the garden aimlessly, she led them out through the northern stairs. As soon as their hooves hit stone, everypony tensed up and began scanning the area while trying to look as if they belonged. The only pony that really managed to pull it off was the pink maned pegasus. She walked as if she owned the castle.

Every time they passed a guard, Rarity unconsciously held her breath, and every single time they passed without a hitch. Fluttershy had said the first floor was open to every single pony, but that didn't soothe Rarity's nerves. Not by much at any rate.

Turning the corner, the stairs came into view and there were two guards standing there. Two unicorn guards. Fluttershy though did not seem put off at all, instead she walked up to them with a smile. The group had no choice, but to follow. Before they were even half way down the corridor, the guards' horns lit up and their legs spread apart with the front slightly lowered. It was an offensive stance.

Next thing Rarity knew, both guards were faceplanted in the ground with Fluttershy standing next to them. A blink and Rarity would have missed what happened. She had seen it, but she didn't believe it. Fluttershy just took down two unicorn guards in less than a second. They didn't have time to stare though, they had to move quickly. They had ten minutes before the next pair of guards would come through and notice what had happened.

“‘Shy, you alright?" whispered Rarity as they ran down the stairs two at a time.

Fluttershy grinned an adrenaline fueled smirk. "Never felt better. Now come on, we've got some flank to kick."

Before Rarity could rebuke her friend for using such language – no doubt picked up from Rainbow Dash – they met a pair of guards. Without a second thought Fluttershy rammed into the closest one with her shoulder, before delivering a shift punch to the head that knocked him out. At the same time, Rapidfire took out the other guard with a single punch to the face. In both cases they were gently lowered to the ground by Rarity.

The entire sequence took less than ten seconds. Not once did their stride falter or change and they raced on as though nothing had happened. Making a sharp right turn, they came face to face with two unicorns and acting on pure instinct, Rarity threw up a barrier. A second slower and they would have been deep fried ponies. The blast sent Rarity stumbling, but she recovered within the second and launched two white beams designed to knock ponies unconscious. Both were deflected.

The brutality of their reply was unprecedented. Waves of flame and force slammed into the shield Rarity had up. Every time a spell slammed against it, Rarity was forced further on to her knees. They could feel the intense heat even through the barrier, beads of sweat littered their brows. Even now it was singing the tips of their tail.

Suddenly, the two guardsfaceplanted on the ground and the flames died down. Behind them stood Spitfire – dirty and bruised, but otherwise perfectly healthy.

"You're here. Good." Rapidfire grabbed Spitfire's mane in his teeth and tugged. "Now come on, we're got to run."

"Rapidfire?"

"Yes darling, I love you too, but we need to start running."

Spitfire merely rolled her eyes, but otherwise quickly followed. Retracing their steps, there was a sense of grim satisfaction at how well they had done so far. Getting out though, would be a completely different matter. Racing back up the stairs, sweat dripped through their fur, but the adrenaline pumping through their veins was more than enough to banish any fatigue.

Bursting through the archway at the end, they breezed past the surprised guards tending to those they had knocked out earlier. The effect was immediate. There was shouting, spells, and a chase. No longer were they trying to be silent, their hooves slammed against the ground as they pushed themselves harder than ever. They followed Fluttershy blindly, taking twist after twist, turn after turn. Rarity's heart pounded, her legs ached and her breathing came in short gasps. Already she could feel her pace slipping. Ahead of her though, she could see the balcony, the end of their mad dash.

Fluttershy glanced back and gave a nod to Rarity. Almost immediately the shield protecting them exploded out in a kinetic wave, followed by a large cloud of smoke. Under the cover, they jumped off the balcony and streamlined their bodies. It took all of Rarity's willpower to not scream. The ground was rushing up at them far faster than she expected and all she could see was her splattered all over the ground with blood and entrails everywhere. Already she could feel her bones shattering from impact.

Then she felt hooves grabbing her just below the shoulder joint and together they glided into a dark alley. Once her hooves touched the ground, she let the breath she was holding escape. Activating her bracelet, it overrode the illusion she had cast and she quickly turned to the two Wonderbolts. Rapidfire was easy, a quick change in mane color followed by a new cutie mark she had prepared in advance. Spitfire was a completely different matter. Her mane changed to black, her fur to white and her cutie mark ended up being a mishmash of color as if Pinkie had splattered paint over it randomly.

And then Rarity collapsed.

"I'm fine. Really.Just used a bit too much magic." Rarity managed a weak smile as she leaned against Applejack. "Come on, we're not out of the woods just yet."

"Surprise is already waiting for us outside the gates," said Fluttershy as she stroked the bird on her shoulder. "I think it'd be best for us to split up for they'll be looking for a group of five ponies."

"I'll go with Spitfire." When Applejack opened her mouth, Rarity silenced it with a hoof to her lips. "Don't worry about me. We'll be perfectly fine."

"Alright. Just be careful, y'all hear?"

"Of course darling.Since when I have been anything, but careful?" Applejack snorted and even Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "See you in ten, and remember to pick up the others!"

As the trio walked out the alley, Rarity turned to Spitfire. "Tell me, do you know any bars in the location?"

"Heh, drinking at this time?"

"More like bathing in it," grumbled Rarity. Her mane was a mess and she didn't have enough magic to clean it up one bit. "Easiest way to explain why I'm so wobbly on my feet, and my appearance. Oh and my name is Moonlight."

Spitfire nodded. "Call me Torch. Just what is my cutie mark meant to be anyways?"

With Rarity half draped over Spitfire, the two mares walked out into the busy street, the sound of the food fight echoing through the buzzing city. "It's you exploding."

"Exploding?"

"Yep."

Spitfire gave a bark of laughter, patting Rarity on the back. "I like it! Now, to the bar."

My eyes roamed over the sight below me and a smile crept its way onto my lips. I had missed this. This sight, this smell, this silence. Taking a deep breath, I let the musky smell of the library fill my senses and, against my willpower, my eyelids dropped until they were half closed. The Royal Canterlot Library.Shelf after shelf of well-loved books, touched by the hooves of numerous ponies in their quest for knowledge. A small part of me liked to think the very book I had cradled in the crock of my arm was the very same book Clover the Clever wrote in all those years ago, and that it wasn't a transcribed copy. It was a silly thought.

I ran my hoof over the spine lovingly before caressing the words on the page. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, like reading a book. With a sigh, the book snapped shut. Today, the words were blurs on the page. It might as well be written in Ancient Draconian for all I cared. The words just didn't jump out at me – they didn't capture my attention, didn't draw me in, didn't speak to me like a lover. They rang hollow like a badly concealed lie.

Closing my eyes fully, I tried to forget about the guards behind me, or the ones posted outside my room, or the ones posted outside the library. This used to be my last refuge, the one place I could hide away and let my imagination roam. Now? Now it was defiled by all these ponies watching my ever last move.

Eyes snapping open, I stood up and walked over to my small lab, trying my hardest to ignore the sound of ringing armor as the guards followed me. I missed the basement in the Ponyville Library. I had planned on turning it into a lab to run experiments in. Diagrams had already been drawn, and I was planning on ordering the equipment for it. And now this.

No. Focus.

"You." I pointed to a random unicorn guard following me around. "What's the change in temperature of the rock?"

"The... the rock?"

A growl escaped my throat. "Yes. The rock.Temperature. You do know basic measurement spells right? Or do you-"

"Hey." An earth pony guard stood forward, and shoved me back. "Watch what you're saying and who you're saying it to."

Something within me snapped. "Excuse me?" My face was inches from his. "No. You watch who you're talking to. You're just a guard employed by Nightmare Moon. A pony employed to look intimidating. You're for show. Do you really think Nightmare Moon requires guards? Are you that stupid!?"

"Watch your-"

"No!" I was too far gone to care anymore. "You watch yours. Do you know who I am? I'm Lady Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's personal protégé, strongest unicorn in all Equestria, and I'm the only one working on saving Equestria and your Celestia forsaken life from a dead Equestria where plants don't grow and winters are eternal. So you watch your mouth and DO WHAT YOU’RE BUCKING TOLD!"

The guard raised a hoof, but I stared straight into his eyes, daring him to do it. I could see the fear and uncertainty in his eyes. "That's what I thought," I snarled before turning back to the unicorn. "So what's the temperature change?"

"Ten degrees change Lady Sparkle."

"Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes!" I jumped up and down on the spot before whirling and pointing at a random guard. "You! I need five angiosperms of the same species immediately. You! I need four crystals set to a magic discharge rates of ten, twenty, thirty, and forty, as well as four lead plates."

The door crashed open as a guard came stumbling in. "Sir! Spitfire has escaped."

Commander Windrift opened an eye from his location in the corner. "Go inform Queen Moon. Unfortunately we're stuck here babysitting Lady Twilight Sparkle, personal protégé of Princess Celestia, strongest unicorn in Equestria, and now savior of our world."

"Yes sir!" The guard saluted and zipped out the room and I was right on his heels.

Exiting my room, I ran down the library steps and zoomed out the door. "I need to see Nightmare Moon immediately."

Without waiting for a response, I began running, chasing the guard who burst into my room a couple seconds ago. There was no doubt in my mind that those rescuing Spitfire were my friends, and if Nightmare Moon was informed of the breakout, she'd step in personally. If she did that, Equestria would be forever lost. A quick glance over my shoulder told me both guards were following, rather than sending one to inform Commander Windrift. So far so good.

"-orry, but I bring important and grave-"

I slammed the doors open and skidded to a stop beside the guardspony. There was no bow from me, no acknowledgement of her status being above mine. More importantly, I didn't let the guard finish his words and simply spoke over him. "I believe I have found the solution to the plant problem, as well as how to keep Equestria warm without a sun."

Conversation exploded all around me, drowning out everyone and everything. For a second, I could hear an explosion going off in the distance, but with the noise from the crowd, I seemed to be the only one. Not even Nightmare Moon heard it. Instead she regarded with me cool indifference.

Her hoof came down on the floor, silencing all conversation. "Explain."

"Radiation of pure magical energy is naturally converted by objects, flora, and fauna into other forms of energy. Using crystal resonance, I have demonstrated that magical radiation targeted at rocks results in thermal radiation. As we speak I have set up a controlled experiment using angiosperm from the garden. A positive result would be the flowers blooming under treatment. Furthermore, the output is unlikely to exceed 40mpb and as demonstrated by Doctor Redheart, such levels aid in the regeneration process, therefore it is completely safe to ponies. Effects on small animals are unknown at this stage, but testing that is a matter of setting up a crystal resonance field. It was your own torture spell that gave me the inspiration to use the natural magical conversion inherent in all creatures and objects in an attempt to fix this little issue."

That last sentence was an obvious jab at Nightmare Moon herself and everypony knew it. All eyes turned to Nightmare Moon who merely gazed at me with an indescribable expression. The seconds ticked by. As the silence stretched, murmurs rose once more amongst the court. Hushed whispers of barely contained hope and joy. Every so often I'd hear the words "Lady Twilight Sparkle" or "Princess Celestia's student" filter through. Always spoken softly and with fear, but they knew. It wasn't Nightmare Moon or one of her lackeys who came up with the solution. It was me.

And that'd make the next couple of minutes even sweeter.

"You have done well pet." My jaws clenched as she called me that. "I shall personally review the experiment, but what you've said theoretically makes sense and you apparently have the physical evidence to back it up. Well done."

The court doors opened once more and in strolled Captain Windrift. "Queen Nightmare Moon, please excuse this interruption."

"What is it Captain?"

"Spitfire has managed to escape."

"You!" Nightmare Moon's face was plastered against mine, but I stood my ground and gave her a smug smile. "You did this. You knew, and that's why you came in when you did. You knew I would prevent the escape myself and so you distracted me. If it weren't for your development, you'd be dead right now. Pray to your dear Princess, for if your experiment with the plants fail, I will bring you to a whole new level of pain."

There was a flash of white and I found myself back in the stone prison, but not even that could wipe the smile from my face. I had openly defied Nightmare Moon in the heart of her court. Few things were better than that.

I looked around the room sadly. Less than a minute and I was already missing the warmth, the soft beds, the sounds of other ponies, the books and... and... I blinked back the tears and steeled myself. So this was her game. Of course it was, how could I have been so stupid!? Constant torture results in ponies retreating into themselves, creating a mental barrier to everything around them. They become numb to it all. So what better way to draw them out than to give them joy – a fleeting glimpse of what they had and what they could have if they just gave in.Psychological warfare.

Closing my eyes, the image of the blue blade through my gut came to mind and my eyes immediately snapped back open. Great. I sat there, staring out the small window for who knows how long. Eventually though, I started stretching out my limbs and walking around the room to warm them up. Physical exercise was never my strong suit, but without my magic I only had my mind and my body left. I had to be strong enough to enact any plans I may think up.

Lowering myself towards the ground, I began doing press ups, and as I struggled to push myself back up, I could hear the phantom laughter from my memory bubbling to the surface. I kept my eyes focused on the ground even as the laughter grew due to my struggles. Limbs shaking, I finally finished the first one and I immediately went back down for another, almost collapsing as I tried to get back up. The laughter grew, but that merely caused my eyes to narrow.

I will not be beaten.

Closing my eyes, I could see that cursed blue blade Nightmare Moon uses. I could feel its magic crackling over my body, seeping into my body. Already I could smell singed fur. Fixing that image in my mind, I went back down for my third push up. Then a fourth.Then a fifth. With that image, that pain constantly looming over me, I pushed myself as far as I could do. I pushed until I collapsed on the ground into my own perspiration. My body burned, but for once it was a pleasurable burn and not the I-want-to-die-please-kill-me-now type of burn.

Crawling over to the two bowls, I mixed their contents together and downed it without a second thought. After three days of living in the castle and eating their food, I had forgotten how rancid the ‘food’ here was. Just another facet of Nightmare Moon's psychological warfare. She couldn't infiltrate my dreams so she'd break me this way instead. Oh how I hate her.

A sigh escaped and I shook my head. Fluttershy would berate me for thinking that, I just know she would have. Sure, I didn't know her well, but there wasn't a single mean bone in her body. Just imagining her saying the word 'hate' felt as though I was defiling something pure and innocent.

I really, really, really, really, really dislike Nightmare Moon then.

...

...

...

It's just not the same.