Chapter 9: Date Night!

"So, we're stuck with them, aren't we?" Rainbow asked nopony in particular as she lazily flew above her friends, who were each talking to somepony else, separately. Rarity and Spike were lagging behind the group, talking idly to each each other, probably about their relationship guessing by how red Spike's face was. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were talking happily, with Pinkie occasionally saying something that would make Fluttershy blush, so it was probably inappropriate. Applejack and Twilight were leading the pack, talking about what made their stallions good, so Rainbow decided to join their conversation.

"...Soarin has an amazing flight speed" Twilight said, remembering a chart she had read in a book about the Wonderbolts.

"That isn't going to help with harvests Twi" Applejack said tiredly. From what Rainbow could tell from the tiny bit of their conversation that she heard, Twilight was listing off things about Soarin that she had read in a book.

"He also has a wide wingspan, so he sh-" Twilight started to say, but was cut off by Rainbow's hoof getting stuck in her mouth.

"She doesn't need to know about his wingspan Twilight" Rainbow said, shaking her head slightly as Applejack smiled at her, "I think she cares more about his personality". Twilight looked over to Applejack, and saw her happy smile, which confirmed what Rainbow had said. She let out an embarrassed giggle before Applejack could turn the table on her.

"So, how about Midnight?" Applejack asked, giving Twilight a sly look.

"What about him?" Twilight asked, not understanding what Applejack was asking.

"Is he good?" Rainbow asked, making Twilight step back in surprise. She mumbled to herself for a few minutes before Applejack and Rainbow started laughing, making her look at the two of them.

"What?" Twilight asked, looking at them worriedly.

"We were just messing with you Twi" Applejack said, still giggling to herself, "I'm sure he's a good stallion"

"Yeah, like Buttercream!" Pinkie shouted from behind, making everypony jump.

"Pinkie!" Twilight said angrily, but she was ignored by the bouncing pink mare as she spotted something coming towards them.

"Ooh, look!" Pinkie said happily as she pointed off into the distance. Everypony looked and saw a group of carriages coming towards them, one empty, the rest filled with their stallions. As they landed the guards that were pulling the empty carriage unhitched themselves and stepped forwards.

"By Royal decree, each of you mares will be spending tonight on a date with your stallions" the guard said, coughing to clear his throat before continuing, "Please step into your assigned carriages". The mares all looked at each other worriedly before walking towards their stallions. Applejack was greeted with a nervous hug from Soarin. Fluttershy and Summer just looked at each other, both blushing so much that they were as red as Big Mac. Pinkie met Buttercream with an amorous hug, which he was not entirely expecting, so they both ended up in a heap inside the carriage. Rainbow flew over to Big Mac, who surprised her with his hair being groomed, along with a certain pendant around his neck. Twilight and Midnight met on their carriage in silence, each of them looking at everypony else inquisitively.

"Oh, why thank you for the offer, but me and Spikey Wikey are going to go find fun on our own" Rarity said cheerfully as she pulled a blushing dragon away from the carriages. A few mumbled words could be heard from her as she dragged him away, complimented by a groan from Spike.

"Can't we just go for dinner?" Spike whined, but was ignored by Rarity, who had spotted a nearby clothing store. The rest of the ponies laughed as Spike was dragged towards it, whining helplessly as they got closer. After a few minutes of laughter the remaining ponies said their goodbyes and were each taken to a destination of the stallions choice. Meanwhile up in the towers of the castle, Celestia and Cadance were watching.

"Do you think they'll still go along with it?" Cadance asked, receiving a quick nod from Celestia.

"They have to," Celestia said firmly, "these threats are no laughing matter"

"Who is threatening us Auntie?" Cadance asked, making Celestia look at her quickly.

"Not us Cadance," Celestia said, shooting a glance out the window as the final carriage disappeared from sight, "them"

"But who is it?" Cadance urged, making Celestia sigh before looking at Cadance again.

"You remember the tale of King Sombra, correct?" Celestia asked, her question being answered by a sarcastic look from Cadance, "Well, someone had to have given him the power he possessed. Who do you think it was?"

"Discord?" Cadance asked innocently.

"Discord? No of course not, he was imprisoned at this time," Celestia said, almost laughing at the absurdity of it being Discord that caused this, "No, it was an old friend of me and Luna, who was tempted by the power of hate"

"Then who is it, it can't be Sombra, we defeated him completely, and Chrysalis wasn't around at that time, so..." Cadance said, trailing off as she continued to think about who could have done it. Celestia watched as Cadance thought about every major threat to Equestria in the past thousand years, but was unable to think of anypony other than Sombra who had harnessed the power of hate.

"Can't figure it out?" Celestia asked, almost mockingly.

"No" Cadance replied, sounding like a defeated child.

"It is understandable, the only ponies who ever knew of her were me, Luna, and Starswirl the Bearded," Celestia said, dating the original appearance of this threat back to the early days of Equestria, "Her name is Hysteria"

"I've never heard of her before..." Cadance said slowly, her thoughts trailing off as she tried to think of that name, but nothing came up, "What did she do?"

"After defeating Discord, me, Luna, and her, had to decide how we would control the land," Celestia explained, "It was proposed that me and Luna do as we do now, and Hysteria would be in charge of the weather"

"So, what happened to make her harness hatred against you and Auntie Lulu?" Cadance asked innocently.

"She despised us for giving her such a menial task, and hated the ponies of the land due to their angry thoughts during her winters" Celestia continued, using her horn to create a magical image of a dark blue Alicorn with a wavy brown mane, "She began to make the winters harsher, and had them last longer, she even gave Sombra the power he needed to take over the Crystal Empire. Eventually we had to banish her using the elements, but now she has returned". Cadance watched in slight horror as the Alicorn changed, her features becoming more fearsome and dangerous. Celestia quickly destroyed the image, as it had begun to bring back horrid memories of the past.

"How can we stop her?" Cadance asked worriedly.

"We have to use the elements, which is why they need to stay safe" Celestia said as she turned to look out the window again at Equestria as it entered the twilight hours. Cadance slowly trotted up next to her and looked outside as well, the thought of it in an eternal winter, filled with hatred and anger, terrifying her. The two Alicorns silently prayed for the success of their plans before heading to their bed chambers, each of them tired from the events of the day.