Smokestack and Coppermane sat across from each other in their home, eating dinner in relative silence. Mostly because they were processing everything that happened today. Eventually, Coppermane broke the silence.

“Hey, Smoke. Can I ask you something?” Coppermane asked.

“Sure. What’s up?”

“I remembered Jet Set saying something really strange when he attacked us last night.” Coppermane said. “He said he was friends with you, or something.”

Coppermane saw Smokestack's eyes go completely wide, and sit completely still.

“Smoke? You alright?” Coppermane asked. “Did I say something?”

He sighed heavily, almost shakily.

“No, you’re fine,” Smoke said.

“Do you know why Jet would say that?” Coppermane asked. “He has to be full of crap. Right?”

Smokestack bit his lip. “Well…”

“Wait… were you really…?”

“...friends with him?” Smokestack finished. “I hate to admit it but… yes. Jet, Upper, Royal, Suri, Fleur, Trenderhoof, and even Neon Lights. We were all friends at one point way back when I was at Crystal Prep.”

Coppermane pursed his lips. “Wow. Well, why do they hate you so much now?”

Smokestack clenched his fists, biting his lip hard. "I’d rather not talk about it.”

“It can’t be that bad,” Coppermane coaxed. “Right?”

“I said I don’t want to talk about it!” Smokestack snapped, slamming his hand on the table. He noticed Coppermane’s shocked face, and took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Sorry. I-I didn’t mean to snap like that. It’s just… it’s a sensitive topic for me.”

Coppermane bit his lip. “I see. Sorry for triggering you.”

“No worries,” Smokestack said. “You didn’t know. I shouldn’t have snapped. But… why does he go after you? What’s his problem with you?”

“I have no idea,” Coppermane said, sighing. “I wish I knew. I mean, he bullied me a lot in the past, and I lashed out one day and beat him up in front of everyone. I regret that every day. I guess he’s been hell-bent on ruining my life since then.”

“So… pretty much just to be a prick?”

“There’s probably more to it,” Coppermane said. “I just wish he wouldn’t try to hurt Fluttershy. I wish I could date her without putting her in danger.”

“Hey, Coppermane?” Smokestack said. “Can we maybe… change the subject? I’d rather not worry about Neon if we don’t have to.”

“Oh, yeah of course,” Coppermane said.

Suddenly, Coppermane’s phone buzzed. He opened up his phone, and Smoke chuckled when he saw a big smile appear on his face.

“Who texted you?” Smokestack asked.

“Fluttershy,” Coppermane said. “She just sent me an ‘I love you’ text with a picture of her blowing a kiss.”

Smokestack chuckled. “She’s a sweetheart.”

“The sweetest sweetheart in the world,” Coppermane said. “We send each other ‘I love you’ texts randomly all the time.”

“That’s really nice,” Smokestack replied.

Coppermane texted Fluttershy back, saying he loved her too, and put his phone back down.

“She’s the best,” Coppermane said. “Oh, that reminds me. Anything planned for Sunset now that you’re back?”

Smoke smiled at the thought of Sunset.

“I did have a few things in mind,” Smokestack said. “Mostly I just want to spend time with her. Play games with her, go on romantic dates, walks, treat her to nice places, go to the movies with her, heck, I never got a chance to cuddle with her. Heck, I never even asked her out. Didn’t you say there’s a Halloween Ball coming up?”

Coppermane nodded. “Maybe you can ask her out to that?”

“You know what? I think I will."

“Do you know what you’re go as?” Coppermane asked.

Smoke bit his lip. “I’m actually not sure. Admittedly, I’ve never actually been to a real Halloween party before. I’ve heard what they’re about, but I think I may have a distorted view from the Crystal Prep parties. They throw poor excuses for parties over there.”

“Because they don’t have Pinkie Pie,” Coppermane said.

Smokestack chuckled. “I just don’t know what I should go as. I don’t want to look stupid. I mean, I just don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean?” Coppermane asked.

“Well… when you guys do Halloween, what do you do?”

“I don’t know about everyone else, but I know what I do,” Coppermane said. “I go full-on geek. It’s really all based on personal preference.”

“I see... “ Smokestack said. “Well, that’s not my focus now. I need to ask Sunset to the dance first before I do anything. I just don’t know how, though. The moment needs to be perfect.”

“I’m sure it will come eventually.” Coppermane replied.

“I guess you’re right. But… what if Sunset doesn’t want to talk to me?”

“What do you mean?” Coppermane asked. “I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you.”

“But I abandoned her,” Smokestack said. "I--

“Smokie, don’t worry,” Coppermane said. “If she’s still mad, just explain what happened. If she really cares about you, she’ll understand.”

Smokestack sighed. “I just hope I haven’t completely lost her.”

“It’ll be fine,” Coppermane said.

“I hope you’re right, Coppermane.

With that, Smokestack and Coppermane continued eating and chatting the night away.

---

Midnight struck, and the house was sound asleep. And in Smokestack's room, he grunted and gasped as he rolled around in bed. Something within his dreamland stirred him up...

Smokestack ound himself in the void again. But it didn’t last long. Sudden heat radiated from behind him, making his body feel like night and day. He turned around, and gasped.

Canterlot High was ablaze. The structure crumbled under the roaring heat of the flames. Burned bodies were laid out across the front. Some were still alive, groaning with sheer pain as their flesh smoldered.

“No!” Smokestack cried. “How?! How did this happen?!”

An evil laugh from behind answered his question. He turned around, and was faced with bright, demonic green eyes on a chitin, equine body.

“You!” Smokestack said. “Stop this! Why? Leave me alone! Why won’t you leave me alone!?”

“We are of one mind. I course through your veins. I AM you. You and me are one, Smokestack. You can't escape me.”

Smokestack's head suddenly began ringing, pounding against his skull. He screamed, clenching his head and falling to his knees.

“What do you want from me?” Smokestack pleaded. “Make it stop!"

Smokestack managed to open his eyes long enough to see the changeling queen lunge at him with her fangs.

“No!!! Stop!!!” Smokestack cried. The pounding… it stopped. His eyes were wide open. His heart pounded against his chest. He looked around, and realized he was at Coppermane’s still.

Tears began streaming down his face. These nightmares. They were unbearable. Chrysalis was still alive… she had to be. Why else would she continue to cloud his mind? She had to be... within him. As long as he lived, she lived. They were one. She was inescapable… and hidden.

He couldn’t take this anymore.

He got out of bed and wandered downstairs to the kitchen. In the window, he could see his reflection. He looked at himself, and saw a strange green glow in his eyes, prompting him to look away immediately. A tear ran down his cheek.

He reached down and opened a drawer. “I won’t let her,” he said, retrieving something from the drawer. “You can’t have me. I won’t let you hurt my friends. I won’t let you hurt my Shimmercakes. I don't care what it takes... even if it means I have to die to keep you dead forever.”

Out of the drawer, he drew a sharp knife. His hands trembled as tears stained his cheek. He lifted it up, pointing the blade towards him. Directly over his heart.

“I won’t let you…”

Next Chapter: Chapter 12: Reconcile Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 2 Minutes