Rainbow Dash glared at Twilight, dripping coconut milk that had been spewn in a stream at her face.

"I'm sorry, did you just say, 'Starswirl'?"

Firefly stared at her in bewilderment. "Um, yes?"

"Would his namesake happen to be Starswirl the Bearded?"

Firefly looked up at Torch for help. He shrugged, equally confused. "I'm sorry, who?"

"Starswirl the Bearded: the Great Mage, ultimate spellcaster, genius alchemist, the single most powerful Unicorn in recorded history, tutor of Princess Celestia herself?" Twilight elaborated, her eyes glowing with excitement. "I've kind of studied him my entire life."

"N-No," Firefly stammered. "I named him after my mother, Stardust, and my grandfather, Cirrus Swirl. Star-swirl."

Rainbow Dash wiped her face. "You know, there is such a thing as coincidence." She jabbed at Twilight.

Twilight shuffled awkwardly. "Well, what's wrong with him, if you don't mind me asking?"

Firefly bit her lip. "At first he was just acting up. Saying phrases in a different language, and using his magic to make things move at random."

Twilight choked. "He's a Unicorn, too?"

"My father was a Unicorn." Torch explained.

Firefly nodded. "But then things got worse. He started making incantations. Threatening the villagers. And for the past week or so, he's been transforming completely."

"How do you mean?" Twilight asked, absorbing everything.

"I think you would understand better if you saw for yourselves."

~~~

Twilight followed the trail to where the cell was supposed to be. Torch gave them directions before returning to his berry-picking duties. Twilight didn't blame Firefly for not wanting to come. Seeing her son in such a state as she had described must be traumatizing.

She hoped Rainbow Dash's visit with Firefly went well. Rainbow looked a tiny bit distressed when Twilight left.

~~~

"Dad never so much as looked at another mare after you left us."

Rainbow Dash had waited several minutes to speak up. When they were alone, Firefly had tried to touch her cheek, but Rainbow Dash had dodged it. Firefly sat across from her, looking hesitant. And now, to Rainbow's satisfaction, ashamed.

"I didn't leave you, Rainbow Dash." Firefly said as her voice cracked.

"Oh no, of course not." Rainbow Dash drawled sarcastically. "You just bedded some island hunk for years while we mourned for you."

Firefly stared at Rainbow Dash, pain reflecting in her eyes. "Rainbow Dash, please. That's not how it happened."

"How did it happen, then?" Rainbow Dash began to shake. "Were we not as important to you?"

"Of course you are."

Rainbow Dash snorted. "You're just a doe-eyed fawn fallen in love with your dear rescuer, aren't you?" Her burning gaze tore into Firefly. "And now the stupid map sends me to clean up your mess and fix your happy little family that you chose over me!"

Firefly's eyes threatened to spill tears. "Rainbow Dash, I understand that you're angry. Please don't take it out on Torch or your brothers."

"Half-brothers." Rainbow Dash spat.

That word seemed to have more effect on Firefly than anything else Rainbow Dash said. She flinched as if she had just been slapped, her heartbroken eyes receiving no sympathy.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll fix whatever's wrong with your precious little angel. But then I'm leaving, and never coming back." Rainbow Dash jabbed a hoof at Firefly. "And you'd better not show up back home, either. I don't know what Dad saw in you, but he doesn't deserve to have you hurt him, too."

"I never wanted to hurt you," Firefly sobbed. "You have to understand, Dash."

"No," Rainbow Dash stood up, whipping her tail. "No I don't."

~~~

"Hi there."

Starswirl looked up. There was a stranger in his cell. How she had gotten in was a complete mystery.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Twilight Sparkle." The purple pony said with a smile. "And you must be Starswirl."

Starswirl nodded. "What are you? I have never seen a pony with the wings of a Pegasus and the horn of a Unicorn."

The pony hybrid coughed. "Well, I'm something that's called an Alicorn. But we're not here to talk about me. We're here to talk about you."

Starswirl shrank back in fear. "I knew it, I'm in trouble."

"Not the trouble you're thinking of." Twilight shook her head. "I hear that there have been some supernatural occurrences happening to you as of late."

Starswirl lowered his gaze.

"...Can you tell me anything about them?"

Starswirl pawed at the ground. "I dunno. Whenever I try to use my magic for anything, or when I get real scared, I just kinda grow cold. Then things move when I don't want them to. Then everything goes black, and I feel like someone else... holds the reins."

Twilight sat down next to Starswirl. "Can you explain that to me?"

Starswirl shook his head, silvery blue curls mopping over his eyes. "I don't know. It just feels like someone pushes me aside and takes over my body. Sometimes I can watch. Every time I come back, I'm tired, hungry, and I hurt."

Twilight tapped her chin, eyes narrowing in thought. "When did this all start?"

Starswirl shrank a little more. "When I, um... when I went into the Old Hermit's Cave."

"A hermit's cave? Why did you go inside?"

"It's abandoned." Starswirl added quickly. "Everypony says that it's dangerous because it's all unstable inside it. I bet my brothers that I was braver than them, so they dared me to go inside."

Twilight decided that this mysterious cave would have to be her next stop in her little investigation. "What happened? What was in the cave?"

"I couldn't really tell. It was really dark. But I could hear something like... whispers. They brought me to a stone table." Starswirl shuddered and curled up. "I-I touched it... and I was so cold."

Starswirl squeezed his eyes shut. Twilight came closer to pat his back. "It's okay, Starswirl. We don’t have to talk about it anymore if you don't want to. I have enough information, I think."

Starswirl stopped shaking. In fact, his whole body went rigid. Then he opened his eyes, filling the cell with green light.

"You." Twilight jumped back at the otherworldly voice. "You are a powerful sorceress." Starswirl's face twisted in rage. "They brought you here to vanquish me!"

The colt growled, leaping at Twilight. She disappeared with a flash of light, and he swiped at air where she had just been standing. Starswirl stood back up, peering into the slit in the cell door. Twilight stood on the other side, looking ghostly pale.

"Run while you can, sorceress."

The Alicorn gave him one last scared look, before turning and briskly trotting away. Starswirl hammered the door with both hooves.

"Run!"