One month later…

Scootaloo and Chrysalis looked out at the mostly earth pony army from their vantage point on top of the clock tower while Braeburn put them through some drills. “It’s better,” Chrysalis said, “but they still have a long way to go.”

“What do you expect, the Royal Guard?” Scootaloo asked. “You asked me to train an army, and that’s what I did.”

“I asked you to train an army that could stand beside my hive as its equal,” Chrysalis said. “Until that happens, I will not risk my kind.”

“We don’t have time for that, your highness,” Apple Bloom said, making both the queen and the pegasus jump. “Nightmare Moon’s up to something. We have to strike soon.”

“What is it?” Scootaloo asked. “What’s wrong?”

“I went to Canterlot, like you asked me to,” Apple Bloom explained between pants. “The good news is she’s been hurt by somethin’. I didn’t get a good look, but whatever it is, it’s taking its toll.”

“Perhaps with a little more time, her wounds will render her all but defenseless,” Chrysalis suggested.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Apple Bloom replied. “She’s found somethin’ that cures her for a short time. It’s only a matter of time before she comes up with somethin’ permanent.”

“And what’s the bad news?” Scootaloo asked.

“Shadowbolts,” Apple Bloom replied. “She’s been conjurin’ up shadow ponies to do her bidding. I’ve seen her use that spell before, but never like this. I could barely get to the palace without one o’ them spottin’ me.”

“So she has an army as well,” Chrysalis concluded. “All the more reason to train your ponies properly.”

“What does it mean, Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo asked. “What’s she up to?”

“I’m not sure,” Apple Bloom said. “She wouldn’t tell me. I think she’s starting to suspect I’m spyin’ on her. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s planning an attack.”

Scootaloo let Apple Bloom’s words sink in. Her life had been nothing but drills and exercises for the past month, and though it had been difficult to adapt griffon training techniques to earth pony soldiers, she felt she’d done her job well, despite what Chrysalis said. “Any idea where she plans to strike?”

“With the army she’s buildin’ up, I’d say either the Nest or here,” Apple Bloom answered.

Scootaloo nodded. “We should send word to the Nest to warn them that Nightmare Moon may be on her way. Where’s Zecora?”

“If you want to send a message, you need Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom replied. “She’s the one who’s been sendin’ and recievin’ all the messages from the Nest.”

“Find her,” Scootaloo ordered. Apple Bloom nodded and began climbing down the clock tower. She moved quickly through New Appleloosa, keeping an eye out for her white-coated friend. She’d only been gone a couple weeks, but the town felt very different from how she remembered it. Aside from the drills in the square, many of the shops had been converted to smiths, and the sound of hammers banging on metal followed her wherever she went. Many of the ponies she met were covered in soot, and almost all of them wore grim expressions. Apple Bloom didn’t blame them. She knew better than they what they were up against.

Apple Bloom came to a stop at an intersection and looked around. She caught a glimpse of Zecora walking towards the jungle and decided to follow. The zebra didn’t seem to notice her as Apple Bloom followed her to her hut, but the yellow mare wasn’t surprised when Zecora said, “Quiet as a mouse, you are, for one who’s traveled oh so far.”

“I’m lookin’ for Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said. “Scootaloo needs to send a message to the Nest right away.”

“You will find her in the glade, meditating in the shade,” Zecora replied.

“Meditating?” Apple Bloom repeated. “What for?”

“Sweetie Belle wanted to find a way to leave the past behind,” Zecora said.

“Really?” Apple Bloom knew her friend had tried meditation before, but it never seemed to help. “How’s it going?”

“Her mind is shadowed in such murk, I do not know if it will work,” Zecora replied. “I have told you all I know. She will not tell me how it goes.”

Apple Bloom sighed. Sweetie’s reclusive behavior was nothing new. “All right, I’ll see if I can help her.”

“I wish you the best of luck,” Zecora said. “I cannot get her unstuck.”

Apple Bloom moved quickly through the jungle, trying to look on the bright side of things. At least she’s in the glade, she told herself. Last time she tried meditation, no one saw her for a month. She hoped the fact that Sweetie Belle had chosen their usual meeting spot this time meant she wasn’t trying to isolate herself from ponykind—the last time she tried that, New Appleloosa had found itself terrorized by specters and strange noises for a week.

Apple Bloom found her friend sitting in the center of the glade, moving several small rocks in a circle around her with her magic. The yellow mare stood at the edge of the clearing while she tried to decide whether to wait for Sweetie to emerge from her trance or interrupt her. She knew Scootaloo’s message was urgent, but she knew from experience that startling Sweetie Belle was a terrible course of action.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long. Sweetie Belle lowered the rocks to the ground, and the dark aura that surrounded them and her horn faded away. Sweetie took several deep breaths before opening her eyes and meeting Apple Bloom’s curious stare. “Hello,” Sweetie said. “How was your trip to Canterlot?”

“As uneventful as it could be,” Apple Bloom replied as she stepped into the glade. “It looks like you’re getting better,” she remarked.

“I guess,” Sweetie replied, rubbing a hoof against her foreleg. “I… I feel a little more in control.”

“That’s great!” Apple Bloom said with a smile.

“Yeah, well, it’s not the first time,” Sweetie said with a sigh. “What brings you out here?”

“Scootaloo’s looking for you,” Apple Bloom answered. “Nightmare Moon’s buildin’ up an army, and we don’t know if she’s comin’ here or goin’ after the Nest. Scootaloo wants you to send a message to the Nest so they can be ready if she shows up.”

“All right,” Sweetie said. “I think I can handle that.” The two made their way back to New Appleloosa. “Hey, Apple Bloom, do you have a cape or a hood or something?”

“No, why?”

“Well…” Sweetie Belle slowed to a stop. The first buildings were just visible through the vines. “It’s just… I never come to town without a hood.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Apple Bloom said. “I’m sure the New Appleloosans will welcome you in without a problem.”

“You mean like how Ponyville welcomed in Zecora when she first came to Equestria?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I’ve seen the way they react when I come into town. They all think I’m weird.”

“Well, you haven’t exactly done much to change that opinion,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “Come on, Sweetie Belle. It’ll be fine. Just stick with me.”

Sweetie kept her head down as the two walked through New Appleloosa towards the clock tower. “They’re all staring at me,” she whispered.

“No, they’re not,” Apple Bloom said. “Well, okay, some of them are, but they’re just curious.”

“They know, don’t they?”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Know what?”

“That it was me who made all those specters appear.”

“That was almost a year ago,” Apple Bloom said. “Relax. No one here’s out to get you.”

The two made it to the square, where Scootaloo was busy barking orders at her army. “We still have a long way to go if we’re going to beat Nightmare Moon,” she shouted. “I need every pony to work twice as hard so we can be ready to strike before she does!”

“General, we’re workin’ as hard as we can,” Braeburn told her. The gathered ponies were breathing deeply, and some of them looked ready to pass out.

“We need more, Colonel,” Scootaloo replied. The stallion stood a full head taller than her, but he still recoiled a little at her words. “Time is of the essence.”

“Is she always this angry?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Apple Bloom shook her head. A glance at the clock tower told her everything she needed to know. “Come on,” she said, leading Sweetie Belle towards the tower.

“I thought you said Scootaloo wanted to see me,” Sweetie Belle said.

“She does.”

Sweetie’s confusion quickly gave way to revelation. “You mean this one’s a changeling?”

“Probably Chrysalis,” Apple Bloom muttered as the two entered the tower and began to ascend. “Not sure why Scootaloo decided to let her run drills for the day.”

Sure enough, the real Scootaloo was still waiting for them at the top of the tower, observing her doppelganger’s progress with a scowl. “She’s not much for motivation,” she muttered.

“I’m back,” Apple Bloom said, drawing the pegasus’ attention from the training below.

“Thanks,” Scootaloo said. “How’re you doing, Sweetie Belle?”

“Well enough,” the unicorn replied. “Apple Bloom said you wanted me to send a message to the nest.”

“Yes,” Scootaloo said as she grabbed a sealed scroll with her hoof. “I need to warn the Nest that Nightmare Moon might be on her way. I need you to send this letter to them immediately.”

Sweetie Belle took the scroll in her magic and closed her eyes. “All right,” she said. “You might want to stand back.”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom backed away as the dark aura around Sweetie Belle’s horn grew darker. A moment later, a green flash of light burst from the letter, and it disappeared into thin air. “There,” Sweetie said. “Your letter is on its—”

There was another green flash, and a scroll reappeared in the air in front of Sweetie Belle. “That was fast,” Scootaloo remarked.

“Too fast.” Sweetie Belle tore the scroll open and read its contents. “It’s the same scroll. It came back to me.”

“Came back?” Scootaloo repeated. “Why’s that? Did you get the spell wrong?”

“No,” Sweetie Belle replied. “It means the dragon in the Nest can’t receive my messages.”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom exchanged nervous glances. “What do you mean, can’t?”

Sweetie Belle let the letter fall to the ground. “I mean, he’s dead.”