The concert had been exceptionally enjoyable, even for Story- or at least Jacob, who decided he needed to give classical music a fair shake when he got home- and the group was making their way back through the city, weaving through the early-evening crowd. Dinky was seated on his back, and Rumble had perched on Noteworthy's; the two young foals were already tired out from the day's activities. “Maybe we should put the little ones down for a nap for a while,” Amethyst said, “and group back up later tonight for the pre-festival expo.”

Story stifled a yawn with his hoof. “Yeah, a nap's sounding kind of good to me at the moment,” he murmured.

“Heh. Nopony's gonna say you don't deserve it, hero,” First said. “So, that sounds like a plan. Let's regroup at Equinox Square at, let's say, eight-thirty or so? That'll give the foals- and Story- a little while to rest up, and we'll be fresh to look around and do a little shopping. How's that sound?”

The others agreed, and walked back together to the hotels and inns that each was staying in. Story carefully levitated a now-snoozing Dinky onto Derpy's back, and she gave him a light nuzzle. “Thanks a lot,” she told him. “You're really a good stallion, Story.”

He could actually feel himself blushing a little, much to the amusement of the others. “I try,” he said, habitually adjusting his glasses.

Derpy escorted Dinky and Sparkler into the hotel, and the others moved on. Noteworthy dropped back a bit to talk to Story. “Hey, listen, I kind of feel the need to apologize,” the earth pony- I still think that's a strange name to call the wingless, hornless ones, but whatever- said quietly.

Story blinked. “About what?”

“Well, I know you caught me giving you a dirty look when we first met....”

“Oh, yeah. I kind of wondered about that, but you seemed mellow afterwards so I just sort of put it aside.”

“Well, that's good of you. But still.” Noteworthy sighed. “I'd thought you were Amethyst's old coltfriend. I swear, aside from the cutie mark- and the apparent love for vests- you're practically his spitting image.”

“Huh. Well, I don't have any identical twins I'm aware of.” Story chuckled. “Though with the look you gave, I'm certainly glad I'm not him.”

“He was... not a good pony. In fact, he was an abusive, drunken pile of horseflesh. Thankfully Amethyst has gotten past that point in her life, and I thought I had too, but....” Noteworthy sighed and looked away, an expression of shame crossing his face. “Maybe not quite so much, I guess.”

Damn. I guess some things are the same everywhere. “Well, I understand the reaction, then. No offense taken.”

The other stallion gave him a look of relief. “Heh. You're nothing like him, seriously; you already proved that today. That jerk would've thrown Dinky under a falling scaffold if he could get something out of it.”

“Oh, doesn't he sound like a winner,” Story murmured.

“Yeah, you don't know the half of it....” Noteworthy seemed set to continue on, but Amethyst's voice caught his attention. “What are you two doing back there?” she called.

“Probably that 'male bonding' thing,” First snickered.

“Har, har.” Noteworthy trotted back up to them. “Just settling a misconception, that's all.”

First was obviously confused, but Amethyst understood. “That's big of you, Note,” she said quietly, giving him a gentle nuzzle.

Eventually Story had to split away from the rest of the group to return to his own hotel, and the others wished him a good rest before the night's activities. Wearily, he trudged up to his room and practically threw himself onto the bed. “Ugh, barely half a day spent in this place and I'm beat,” he groaned into his pillow. “Who would've guessed that being a pony is so damn hard? You wouldn't know it by looking at them!” He let out a deep sigh. “Well, I'm learning things about this place, but nothing that'll help figure out what destroyed it. I can't be a tourist forever.” He laid there for a moment longer, trying to sort through all that had happened in the last ten or so hours, before a yawn broke his concentration. “Screw it. A nap sounds good. Hour and a half, that'll help me feel better.”

His magic took hold of the wind-up alarm clock on the end table and set the alarm for eight, to give himself time to freshen up and get to the Square. It seemed as though he'd barely put his head down on the pillow when he felt sleep encroach; with a quiet sigh, he let it overtake him.

Fear.

No, not just fear. Blood-freezing, heart-stopping terror. It overwhelmed him, destroyed all rational thought, leaving only one impetus: Flee. Flee for everything he was worth, as fast as he could.

But it was already too late. He could see it now, that wall of pure nothingness- beyond destruction, nullification- coming towards him as swiftly and unstoppably as a wall of water in a flash-flood. He tried to scream, to cry out for mercy, to warn others to run, but nothing would come out from his throat.

Others did not have that problem. He could hear them, shouting in panic, calling for help, even praying, even though their paired deities were just as terrified as them. Through the pounding of his heart in his ears, he could just make out voices- some familiar, others not.

“...cannot hold it back... you must all flee, my ponies...!”

“...ceremony is sacred; what could have caused this...?”

“...help us! Please! Make it stop...!”

“...Mama! Mama, where are you?! I'm so scared...!”

“...so sorry, this isn't what I meant to happen...!”

And then the glowing wall reached him, touched him, and twisting, unbearable agony coursed through him as he felt himself being undone, obliterated, removed....

“...aaaaahhhh!”

He found himself reflexively kicking his legs out, scrabbling for purchase in order to run, before he remembered where he was. He was covered in sweat, shivering, panting for breath, half-tangled in the covers he'd managed to kick loose. “...the fuck was that....” he rasped, needing to gather himself before he could hop down out of bed- almost to have his legs almost give out on him as he landed, all four limbs feeling like jelly beneath him. It was all he could to do get his sweat-soaked shirt and vest off and then stumble into the bathroom for a shower.

As he waited for the hot water to start flowing, he spared himself a glance in the mirror. The haunted-looking visage that greeted him there made him take a step back and close his eyes, shaking his head to clear it. I can't even convince myself it was just a dream, he thought morosely, stepping into the tub and letting the warm water spray across his hide. Not after all this. But then what was it? Was that what happened to this place?

Dammit, if I hear from those sisters again, I've got a goddamn boatload of questions for them to answer.

The alarm clock went off just as he was stepping out of the shower, and he rushed to shut it off. Once he'd gotten himself dried and dressed, and his mane brushed, he decided to go ahead back out into the streets early- sitting around the hotel room would only leave him dwelling on the dream, and at the moment he wanted nothing more than a distraction.

He found himself instinctively melding into the crowds as they trotted along, content to follow the herd as his mind ran itself in circles. When he found himself bumping into other ponies due to being distracted, he decided to take a seat on a random bench instead, watching them mill by with only part of his attention.

“...Story?”

He shook his head to clear it and turned towards the voice, to find First Response sitting next to him with a worried expression on her face. “Oh, good, you've come back to Equestria,” she said with a halfhearted chuckle. “I was getting ready to check you for a concussion.”

He let out a sigh and looked away. “Sorry. Lost in my own head.”

“Worse places to be lost. Want to talk about it?”

“Just... a bad dream during that nap.”

“It must have been one heck of a bad dream to make you look like that.”

“Still shows, huh?” He sighed again.

“Seriously, I was worried you'd gotten bad news about a family member or something.” She lightly rubbed his shoulder with a hoof, and he found himself leaning into it. “Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?”

He nodded. “...yeah. I just need a little time to sort myself out, that's all.” He looked up and gave her a slight smile. “But I appreciate the concern.”

“Oh, well....” A blush crossed her face, and she suddenly gave the armrest of the bench her complete attention. “Just... y'know, what I do for a living....”

He chuckled. “I still appreciate it anyway. So how did you just happen upon me sitting here?”

“I was on my way to gather up everypony. Just random luck I ended up trotting by you, sitting on this bench, staring out into space and looking like a lost puppy.”

“...you're such a balm for a stallion's ego, First.” He stuck his tongue out at her, making her laugh. “Well. I suppose we should go ahead and rendezvous with the others?”

“Oh, you make it sound so romantic with your Fancy speech.” She gave him a playful wink as she slid off of the bench with him.

Reconnecting with the rest of the group was a simple enough affair- though all of them noticed and commented on Story's still-somber expression- and they made their way to Equinox Square for what Story had learned was the 508th annual Canterlot Spring Market Expo. “So they moved this whole thing up a month to take advantage of the traffic for the Renewal?” he asked.

“Yep,” Derpy answered. “And it's not usually here in the Square, either, but since this is what everything centers around during the ceremony, it's the best spot to be!”

“And since this is the first Renewal we've had with Princess Luna in, well, a thousand years, and Princess Cadence is present... it's gonna be one to remember!” Thunderlane flexed his wings in anticipation.

Story slowed. “One to remember....” Unless no one's left to remember anything at all....

A rough bump against his side brought him back to reality; First had brushed against him. “You're doing it again,” she said, her tone teasing but her eyes worried.

“Gah....” He shook his head to clear it. “I really need to quit that. Sorry.”

“Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure.” He managed a smile. “Look, I don't want to be a damper on anypony's night.” Well, at least I'm getting the local vernacular right. “Let's go ahead. I promise to be less mopey.”

“It's okay, Story!” Derpy gave him a cheerful grin. “We can get a muffin in you, and you'll feel right as rain.”

“Again with the muffins, Derpy?”

“Muffins are better comfort food than eclairs, Amethyst!”

“Okay, you two.” Thunderlane stepped between the two mares, using his forelegs to separate them. “Bickering isn't going to help Story any, now, is it? Let the stallion decide what he wants.” The pegasus gave him a pained glance. “Mares, sometimes, huh?”

“Hey, I know better than to say anything to that,” Story shot back with a smirk.

“Smart stallion.” First giggled. “Come on, colts and fillies, we're burning moonlight and there's bargains to be had!”

He hadn't been sure what to expect at the Spring Market Expo. What he found was at once familiar and strange- countless stalls and displays of all kinds, organized neatly in a grid pattern all along the square and along the roads leading away from it, with hundreds of ponies moving through in a steady stream or stopping in front of whatever tables interested them. But it was what was being sold that caught his attention- an almost ridiculous range of goods, from basic foodstuffs to strange, retro-looking technological constructions that would've looked perfectly at home in a 50's science-fiction movie. Apparently these ponies were more advanced than he'd thought, and the spread of their technology was spotty for reasons he didn't know about.

He was learning quite a bit as they walked along, just by listening to conversations and reading what he could along the way. The Renewal of the Covenant wasn't just a simple ceremony- it was an actual renewal, conducted once a century, of the bond between the Princesses and their corresponding celestial bodies. Besides being the first one in a millennium to have Luna participate- all he could find out was that she'd been banished for some transgression- it was also the first in four hundred years to involve something called the Elements of Harmony, carried by six ponies who were low-profile celebrities living in Ponyville. No one seemed sure as to just what the ceremony would be like, but excitement was high.

One thing he didn't learn, though, was the status of the investigation into the accident that had almost claimed Dinky. Not once, but twice the guards politely but firmly rebuffed any questions about it, only saying that they couldn't speak about any ongoing investigations, and that the Royal Guard would contact them with any important information. Eventually, First and Derpy decided it would be best to just let the matter drop for the time being and enjoy the night, and the others agreed.

The group gradually broke up as they wandered through the Square, remembering their previous agreement to meet back up at the entrance at 9PM. Story, First, and Derpy and her daughters had stayed together for the time being, and were wandering around the food section when Derpy stopped short. “Oohhh, Story, I know what'll cheer you up,” she said, grabbing his mane in her mouth and practically dragging him towards one of the stalls.

“Well, howdy, Derpy!” came a cheerful, country-accented voice. “Nice t' see y' could make it after all!”

“Heya, AJ!” Derpy brought Story up to a wide applewood stall festooned with apples. Behind it stood an orange-coated mare, her blond mane done up in- oh, I can't even pretend to be surprised- a ponytail, and a brown Stetson perched atop her head. “How's sales?” Derpy asked.

“Doin' pretty good!” The cowpony glanced down at the the counter, upon which sat all manner of apple products- from plain apples themselves, to baked goods, even to carved applewood trinkets and knick-knacks. “Hey there, girls!” she said to Dinky and Sparkler, getting smiles from both of them. “Enjoyin' yerselves t'night?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Sparkler said.

“We sure are!” Dinky chimed in.

“Glad t' hear it.” The orange pony looked up. “Who's yer friends, Derpy?”

“Oh! This is an old friend of mine, First Response, and her friend Story Seeker. Guys, this is Applejack; she lives at Sweet Apple Acres over in Ponyville.”

“Huh. Story Seeker?” Applejack scratched her head. “Think I've heard that name before.”

“You probably heard how this action hero here pulled Dinky out from under a collapsing scaffold over near the clock shop,” First said, ruffling Story's mane again.

“That was you? Well, lemme congratulate ya, pardner!” She grabbed his hoof and shook it, with enough force to almost shake him off of the ground. “From what I heard, that was some right quick thinkin' and movin' ya did!”

He rubbed his fetlock against his other foreleg in hopes of getting some feeling back into it. “It, uh... it was just what needed to be done, and I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.”

Applejack grinned. “Modest sort, huh? I respect that! Y'seem like a right good feller, Story, and anypony who helps a friend of mine is a friend of mine too. So lemme give ya a little somethin' by way of thanks.” She nimbly seized up a plate of apple fritters and held it out for her; he took hold of it with his magic and lifted a fritter to his mouth, taking an experimental bite.

“...oh, wow. Oh, wow.” He would understand completely if his taste buds decided to stay here. This mare's cooking was as far above his previous meals in Equestria as they had been above everything else he'd ever experienced. The rest of the fritter went into his mouth as quickly as he could levitate it. “Heh!” Applejack chuckled. “I'm proud'a mah cookin', but it ain't often I see a reaction quite like that.”

“He's from Hobitken,” First said with a smirk.

“Ohhh. Say no more.” AJ grinned. “Those'r all yours, Story, on th' house.”

He had to finish swallowing the fritter before he could speak. “Thanks, Applejack, but I'm afraid if I eat all of these I'll spoil my taste buds for everything else.” He grinned. “But if my friends here would like some....”

The rest of the fritters very quickly disappeared from the plate and into the mouths of four very grateful mares and fillies, and AJ smiled. “Right good of ya, Story,” she said, taking the plate back to set it down on the counter. “Y'all stayin' around fer th' Renewal?”

“You bet,” First said.

“Good t' hear! Y'all oughta come find me an' th' family tomorrow- I can introduce ya t' them and mah other friends. I bet it'd be a load'a fun.”

Derpy snickered. “Oh, that'll be something. AJ's friends are... um... interesting.”

“An' by that y'mean we're a crazy bunch and weird stuff always happens around us,” Applejack amended with a laugh. “It's true, I won't deny it. But we sure as hay ain't borin'!”

“Well, we didn't come all the way to Canterlot to stick with the usual!” First laughed. “We could meet up in front of where Story is staying; he's over at the Apricot Inn. It's a bit off the beaten path, so it'll be less crowded and noisy. What do you say to 1 in the afternoon?”

“Sounds like a plan! See you ponies then.” Applejack waved, and Story and the others returned it before heading off. “Derpy, you never told me you knew one of the Bearers!” First exclaimed.

“Well, I got to know a few of them over the years delivering mail in Ponyville,” the pegasus replied. “But Applejack and I became friends after I... uh, sort of wrecked City Hall.”

“You what.” First's voice was as flat as her expression.

“Well, you know I'm a bit of a klutz sometimes when I'm in the air... and I may have accidentally knocked the spire off the top of the building....” She blushed at First's disbelieving stare.

“Mom, that building was termite leftovers,” Sparkler interjected. “The Mayor should've had the place condemned years ago. Instead she ended up suckering you and Applejack into doing fundraising to replace the entire top half of the building.”

“Well, I did accidentally hit the place with a few lightning bolts beforehand, too....”

“Which means the Mayor skimped on proper lightning protection too.”

“Aw, c'mon,” Dinky complained, glancing between her sister and her mother. “Do we have to have this argument here? I wanna go see some more stuff!”

Sparkler and Derpy glanced down at the filly, then back up at each other, and shared a mutual sigh. “You're right, Dink,” Sparkler said. “Sorry, Mom.”

“I can't be mad at my big muffin.” Derpy mussed her elder daughter's mane with a hoof. “Consider it all forgotten. Now let's go do some shopping!”

There was plenty to look at and buy, and Story found himself getting a pair of tinted spectacles that matched the prescription of his glasses, as well as a nice baseball cap-style hat and a set of saddlebags just in case he wanted to carry something too big for his pockets. “The specs are a good look for you,” First commented. “They make you look a lot less... um, how can I put this....”

“Stuffy?” Derpy offered.

First laughed. “Well, if we're going to call a spade a spade....”

“Sure, pick on the poor academic.” He chuckled. “Well... nothing wrong with updating your look once in a while, I suppose. Like you said, First- why come all the way here just to stick with the usual?”

“That's the spirit.” She glanced up at the clock tower that loomed over Equinox Square as the bell began to chime. “Nine o'clock. Let's go catch up with the others.”

As they passed a section dealing with magical items and other goods specifically for unicorns, Story's ears picked up something of a heated discussion in front of a stall selling wands and other secondary magical transduction tools. One of the two ponies doing the arguing- a light-blue mare with a white mane- was speaking in a low, angry voice, but something about it struck Story as familiar. Probably just my imagination, he thought. C'mon, Story. Time to go find the rest of our merry band of misfits.

Doing so was easy enough; at some point Thunderlane had purchased a ludicrously-oversized straw hat, and at the moment when Story and his group found him, Rumble was standing atop his head “wearing” it- with only his lower legs visible beneath it. “Where in sweet Celestia's name did you get that thing?!” First laughed.

“There's a stall that has novelty and gag gifts,” Thunderlane answered. “I saw this and just had to get it. It'll be great for the apartment.”

“It's a good thing he bought that and not you,” Amethyst told Noteworthy with a smirk. “If you brought that ridiculous thing home, you'd be sleeping in it.”

Noteworthy snickered. “Pssh. If you kicked me out of the house, I could go live in it!”

The night wore on as the group made one more tour of the Expo to see everything they'd missed. Eventually the clock struck 10:30, and the foals- not to mention some of the adults- were yawning, so they agreed to call it a night and head off for some well-deserved sleep. With his increased familiarity with the roads, Story opted to see First off to her hotel before heading back to his. He had to admit to being impressed with where she was staying; the Golden Trails Inn was a ten-story building with long marble columns running up the front. True, he'd seen bigger and grander buildings back home- but for ponies, this was a pretty swank building.

“Glad to see you're feeling better now,” First said, interrupting his thoughts. “You really did have me worried earlier. Are you sure you don't want to tell me about that dream?”

Yes, First, I'm sure I don't want to tell you about that dream where your species is scrubbed from existence. Especially since I know it'll come true if I don't figure out how it happens. “Yeah, I'm sure. Just ramblings of the mind, you know.”

“Mmmh. Alright, if you're sure. You're a grown pony, after all.” She gave him a smile. “Be sure to get plenty of rest- tomorrow there'll be a lot of performances, and there may be singing and even dancing!”

Heh, I can't even dance on two legs, let alone four. “We'll see about the dancing,” he replied, “but I might be persuaded to sing a little. I might even-”

crack-kssshhhhnk

“...huh. Did you hear that?” He glanced around. “Sounded like a rock skipping-”

“Move!” First's foreleg slammed into his neck as she pulled him towards her. His gasp of surprise became a cry of pain as something sliced across his right side before thudding against the ground. “Gyah-!” he yelped.

“Oh sweet Celestia! Hold still, Story.” She pulled his vest and shirt up slightly, and he hissed between clenched teeth. “Wow. You're fortunate you like to wear tweed, hon... would've been looking at a serious laceration here otherwise.”

“What...?” He craned his head to look. His clothing had been sliced cleanly by whatever had hit him, along with his hide beneath, just behind the saddlebags he was still wearing- but the cut was shallow, only bleeding a little. It stung like hell, though. “Where did that come from?!” he groaned.

“Above.” First glanced up. “Looks like it broke off of one of the columns. I am going to give the manager a piece of my mind....” She looked back down at him and shook her head. “...later. Right now we need to get this treated. Come on inside.”

The pony at the counter was understandably shocked at the sight of a bleeding pony being brought into his hotel- but snapped to attention as First barked out a demand for a first-aid kit. While she treated Story's wound, she demanded the presence of, and then chewed out, the manager. To her credit, the manager was extremely apologetic, calming First down enough to at least get her to stop shouting. Within the space of a couple minutes, she had his wound cleaned, treated and bandaged so expertly that he didn't even feel restrained by the gauze wrapped around his midsection. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Stings like you wouldn't believe, but....” He shook his head. “I think you just saved my life, First.”

She gave him a warm smile. “I want to have another look at that stone, if that's okay with you, Story.”

“Yeah, sure.” They went back outside, tailed closely by the manager. The shattered shard of marble lay in pieces around the deep groove it had dug into the cobblestone; Story let his breath out slowly. “...I'd have been shish-kebabed if you hadn't pulled me away, First,” he murmured.

“Well, I just....” Her voice trailed off as she looked down at the shards. “This is weird,” she commented, nudging one with her hoof. “This side is all blackened and rough, like it was eaten away by something.”

“That's strange.” The manager knelt down to take a closer look. “We have a craftspony look over the structure twice a year to check for any sort of damage. He told us he didn't find anything on the last visit, and that was two months ago.”

“I think you need to have a talk with him. This rock looks like it's been rotted away or something.”

Story froze for a moment. Okay, something weird is going on with this. But what? I think I have an idea or two on how to find out... after I go to sleep.

The manager headed back inside, and First gently put her hoof on Story's withers. “Are you going to be alright?” she asked.

“Ought to be.” He twisted his midsection a bit to test it. “I think that salve you used is working already.”

“Good. Um... I know this'll sound a little forward, but what room are you staying in at the Apricot? I can stop by tomorrow morning to have a look at it.”

He couldn't help but laugh, even though it hurt to do. “331. If you're early, knock loudly- I'm a heavy sleeper.”

She chuckled. “331. Got it. Will you be okay to walk back?”

“Yeah.” On an impulse he didn't entirely understand, he leaned forward to nuzzle her cheek; when he moved back, she was blushing. “Thanks again, First,” he told her. “That... phew. I... I need to get some rest.”

“You certainly do.” She lightly patted his neck. “Sleep well, Story. See you in the morning- I'll try to stop by at about eight or so.”

“That'll work. Thanks.” He carefully made his way back to the Apricot Inn, getting no small number of concerned stares from the ponies still out on the streets over his torn and bloodied clothing and bandaged side. Once he made it into his room, he pulled off his shirt, vest and saddlebags and unceremoniously dumped them in a corner, then pulled himself into bed with a soft groan. “These working vacations are rough,” he murmured, burying his head in the pillow.

Despite the ache in his side, sleep was quick to catch up to him.

(-)

Sister, he returns! He... oh no. Oh no. This cannot be.

What is it?

His connection has been compromised! Something infests it! It could gain entry into the Ethereal Plane!

But what could... no. You are right. It should be impossible, but... we may wonder about that later. Friend, I know you have questions, and we ache to answer them- but this is not the time. You must be returned to your own form immediately so that we may cleanse this infestation safely. When next we meet- if we are able- we will gladly answer all that you would ask of us, to the best of our ability. But in the meantime....

(-)

“...well, that was disappointing.” Jacob let out a soft groan as he came to his senses. The first thing he noticed was that he was alive, and not an overcooked slab of meat roasted in a building-sized, sun-baked oven. In fact, he felt amazingly well-rested. And despite having not eaten last night before going to sleep, he didn't feel the least bit hungry- or thirsty, for that matter.

“Okay, hopefully it's night now,” he murmured, reaching over to turn on his flashlight before sitting up. “And I know just the place I need to find, right after I- agh!”

A jolt of pain shot through his side as he sat up, matched by a thrill of fear as realization struck a moment later. “Oh, fuck no,” he said quietly. “No. No no no. You can't tell me....”

As quickly as he could manage, he pulled up his shirt and brought his flashlight up to shine on his torso. There on his right side, surrounded by an angry-looking bruise, was the thin red line of a partially-healed laceration.