The most fantastical realm in the sky I'd ever seen - perhaps beyond the pinnacle that any pony's imagination could ever produce - was laid out above me. Legions of clouds of all sizes rose up into an endless expanse of twinkling stars directly above me, each one painted the most magnificent shades of purple, pink, blue, and all of the colors of the twilight. Though I fully perceived it's majesty it didn't seem as though I was truly present in this place, and adding to the mystery was that on many of these clouds there were translucent equine beings that glowed with their own unique light. The most unsettling element of this scene however was that all of them were staring directly at me, each one as still as the world they lived in.

On one of the smallest clouds - the one closest to me, just above where I was - were two horses that especially commanded my attention. I had seen them before. They seemed to appear to me in this valley when I was barely conscious, which somewhere in my subconscious I realized this meant that something must have happened to me again. Despite my limitations I looked hard at the two closest to me - they were just beyond my ability to comprehend a more intimate description of their features, though they had a strange feeling of familiarity. Who... who are you? In response the two of them spread giant wings and lifted effortlessly into the sky onto a higher cloud where they could once again continue their devoted gazing, as though to do so further away from me where I could not see them so clearly.

Suddenly I felt my eyes open and my snow-covered limbs were much more real and vivid than any strange dream, as was the bitter cold that raged throughout my body. I looked up and beheld an opening in the mountain that stood alone in the snowy night and lit only by a dim light barely coming out from the valley within in. My memories flooded back; after Thunderlane and Blossomforth had left to get the others I decided to take a risk and fly into the vortex to get an idea of how strong it was in case flying out in it was a worthwhile consideration. That turned out to be mistake as it had been totally out of control; I was able to fly somewhat under my own power if I stayed in it's rotation, but any attempt to fly out of it was nearly impossible and eventually when I tried to escape towards the cave entrance it slammed me into the snow right at the mouth where I was now.

I was out of the tornado's reach as it was virtually stationary and as I stood myself up I knew there was nothing stopping me from entering the mountain where the children were being kept. I took a deep breath. I had no idea how long I was knocked out, hopefully not long. I looked behind to the top of the cliff to for any sign of my team but didn't see any. Mentally and emotionally I was in a totally different place than I was a few moments ago with my friends. Whereas then I was fired up and inspired at Rainbow's incitement and ready to conquer the world for her - and further aided by the presence of Thunderlane and Blossomforth - here alone at the entrance after that brief knockout I was much calmer but much more afraid. I wish I had the stars to draw courage from, but they couldn't be found above the towering mountains or cloud cover.

I was having second thoughts about coming in here without them. I had come to depend on them so much that now that I stood here alone without them every bone and fiber in my body told me not to go into that cave. I knew I was about to meet the one solely responsible for this entire situation. But thinking about all that we'd been through - the wolves, the ice dragons, the bitter cold - not to mention the internal pain we all felt at all times - I knew I owed it to them to enter. Just as I owed it to those kids and to Rainbow who was at that very moment pulling four of them through the snow, the wind and the darkness back to their families. Scootaloo is in there... they all are, scared, afraid - just like me. I've got to get my mind in the right place, I told myself.

Everything - from the fate of the children, their entire families, Rainbow, myself, my team - all hung in the balance. I wasn't sure what I was going to find in there or what I was going to do but I concentrated all of my thoughts on Rainbow, the team, and the kids and as much as I could I lit my heart for them. Then I entered.

I walked as slowly as I could, as quietly as I could. My body was getting sore and it was getting harder and harder to lift a hoof - since we entered the valley energy came in waves followed by a crash, and each wave seemed to be getting weaker and each crash stronger. The more I wandered in, the more fear seemed to strengthen it's death grip and an overwhelming dark presence seemed to envelop me on all sides. The first passage was like a narrow tunnel, similar to the ice dragon cave - the lighting was weak and the only sounds I heard the first few minutes into the cave were what seemed like distant drips, ghostly whispers, and the unrelenting winds outside in the valley. I tried to concentrate on deep breaths. Running in here like Pinkie Pie on four cups of coffee wasn't going to do anyone other than the perpetrator any good, I thought to myself.

The sides started to open up and the path widened - the ceiling was pitch black though there twinkles all across resembling an artificial night sky. There was no telling how high it actually was, though it had to be at least ten times higher than myself. Now along the way there were large crystals of all different shapes and sizes (most of them icy blue in color though a few them were more white) all around that turned the cave into a sort of dark maze, with many of them acting like mirrors that turned your reflection's proportions into absurd sizes - in one of them my eyes bulged out in either direction, and in another my midsection appeared to be disproportionately round and fat. Where are the kids?

I listened for the sound of foals but I hadn't heard anything thus far. I picked up my pace and started thinking about this mysterious creature responsible. What kind of creature could do such a thing? I realized I hadn't given him nearly as much thought as I would have liked. Horrible thoughts started to run through my mind... had he found out four of them had escaped and retaliated against the rest of them? Were they locked up somewhere? Who was he, and more importantly, *where* was he? With every glance I took in every direction the faster my eyes moved on, growing more and more desperate for some validation - the more I raced to conclusions the more I lost my calmness. Where are you? Where? WHERE?

"Well... hello there."

I stopped dead in my tracks and gasped. I couldn't tell exactly where the voice came from. It was the voice of an adult male, a rich and youthful voice - it sounded like a stallion that could easily be my age if not just a little older. Filled with terror I crouched down low in the hopes of hiding below the crystals though I knew it wouldn't do me much good. I had given up my cover, and the implications of that were way too much for me to comprehend all at once. Why did I come here alone? I lamented to the point of crying.

"My... you are a frightened little fawn aren't you?" he continued as though amused. "Is Celestia trying to appeal to my empathy or something? I don't suppose it would do much for you to tell you to calm down... and I can assure you there is no need to crouch down and hide like that, as endearing as it may be."

What I am doing??? This was so stupid!!!! Clearly an extremely powerful creature... did I really just walk in here without a plan and hope for the best?? I thought to myself, and waves of regret washed over. Now that he knew I was here I wasn't sure what options I had. To make matters worse, he could apparently see me but I couldn't see him. But then he said something that really shook me to the core.

"Hmmm. Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

"W-what?" I muttered, in complete shock as I turned my head in all directions looking for him. Seen me before?

"It'll come to me soon. Anyhow... It's nice to finally meet a full grown adult. Well, you're hardly an adult I suppose. What are you, about twenty?"

I stayed where I was. I had no idea what to do or where to go from here, which was terrifying. I breathed hard and tried to run through some potential ideas, but none of them had any promise. Rainbow... I wished so passionately that she was there as she would know what to do. I closed my eyes and begged heaven, Just let the kids be ok...

"You know, I understand these are different circumstances than I'm sure both of us are used to... but I think the conversation will be more interesting if we engage each other, don't you?" he remarked.

I didn't like his voice. On one hoof it was strangely charismatic and seductive, but on the other it came with an arrogance and dark undertones. Though it sounded like he could be roughly my age, the tone suggested an intelligence and life experience that far surpassed an average young stallion and I suspected he was much much older. This guy has to be kidding... I thought to myself. He kidnapped a bunch of foals. I didn't want to talk to him or want anything to do with him, but I started to wonder if I had no other choice but to engage. "You're just a little fawn in need of his doe, aren't you? What is her name? Rainbow?"

I gasped again. How did he know that? I didn't think I said her name out loud, but I must have. Kids, Sonic... Kids!

"Don't worry about the foals... for right now anyway," he commented. The more I thought about it, the more that I was going to have to play his game, at least for the immediate time being. "Talking to me isn't going to do anything to prevent you from saving them - on the contrary, I think you'll find it could help you. Oh my... I can feel your concern for them from here. Is there any compassion in that heart of yours for me, I wonder? Do you think I'm beyond all hope? I promise I'm not evil. Just natural."

Now this was a strange question that I wasn't sure how to take. Part of me wondered if he actually wasn't beyond saving. I had no idea who he was or why he did any of this, but if I offered my love and friendship... would he take it? Or was this was just an attempt to manipulate me? I really wanted the former true, but I searched my heart and it seemed to be trending strongly towards the latter. He was willing to talk to me though, and I realized I had only knowledge to gain from talking to him which could only help me. I stood back up and looked around once more.

"I will talk to you," I answered, "but let me at least see you."

"I was afraid you'd say that, but I suppose it's a reasonable request," he chuckled. "Look to your right... do you see the large crystal shaped like an hourglass about 5 pony lengths from you?"

Reluctantly turning my head that way I nervously scanned the path for what he described and quickly spotted what he had to be talking about. Assuming he wanted to me walk towards it, I started in that direction though my body and spirit begged me not to. I barely had any time to remember the description of his appearance from the four foals that were now in Rainbow's care. Head of a pony... white eyes... As the for the details, I was about to find out.

I approached the icy blue crystal shaped like a giant hourglass. At first I saw a reflection of my own scared expression on the bottom part, but as I got closer the reflection began to disappear upwards, drawing my eyes to the top half. A few more steps, my eyes locked on the top part, and suddenly with a gasp...

The head of a pony indeed it was... a youthful stallion's head and mane of pure purple, and quite handsome with a well-defined bone structure. Two distinct features however were unmistakable and one in particular commanded attention; first, unlike any pony I'd ever seen he had two small white fangs on either side of his snout coming down from his top jaw. Second - and much more disturbing - the children were right; his eyes were an unnaturally cloudy white with no other pupils or coloring. They seemed to be devoid of life and evoked the most uncomfortable feeling of indifference one could possibly imagine. I took several steps back in recoil, to which his face and eyebrows seemed to suggest a roll of the eyes though he had no pupils to roll.

"I'm only mildly offended as I had a feeling that might be too intimate for you. Turn around to your left... see that large crystal?"

I did as he said, and there appeared in a tall crystal a slightly further away version of himself which left me wondering if he was actually there in it or if he was behind me utilizing the reflections of the crystals - in this reflection I could see his whole body now instead of just a close up of his face. He stood upright on two legs and wore a dark cloak very similar to mine, though sticking out of each arm sleeve were two furry white claws. His cloak extended all the way down his body though two large paws - also furry and white - stuck out on the bottom. He had what appeared to be white leathery and featherless wings sticking out of his back.

Having to look into those eyes is what I hated most of all, though almost everything about his appearance made me extremely uncomfortable. As if to make up for his eyes the rest of his facial features and emotions seemed to be enhanced, almost like a comic book character or something that allowed one to pick up on his expressions easier. I didn't look away though I wanted to at all times... his face was eerily calm with an unsettling smirk.

"I don't think it's any secret why I'm here," I started, coming to some kind of grips with the situation. "I want the kids. Alive and unharmed. What do you need from me to make that happen?"

One of his eyebrows rose curiously and his head turned ever so slightly, though the underlying smirk remained. Something very scary happened next. I heard his voice clearly in my head, but his mouth never moved. It was completely shut. You really don't want to get to know me at all? Am I really just another antagonist in your life story? I gasped again and recoiled even further back. I realized he was never speaking out loud to begin with. It was all in my mind. Yes, I can hear your thoughts and read your mind... Sonic. I'm also willing to forgive your unflattering opinions on my voice and appearance, though personally I'm quite fond of both if I must say so myself. I will tell you Princess Celestia was quite fond of this face...

"You know the Princess?" I whispered, utterly horrified at the realization that I he had heard everything I had thought about him.

There was barely time to fully understand all of the bad things this meant. If he could hear my thoughts, I couldn't hide *anything* from him. My mind had been my only sanctuary. He would know immediately about everything I learned about him and any plan I could conceive to lead the children out. What else was he capable of? Well this is awkward... said his voice in my head in response to all of these revelations. It's not as bad as you might think... just think of it like a completely honest conversation. For the sake of fairness and trust I will also tell you plainly that I can only read your mind if I can see you. If I can't see you I can't hear thoughts. Does that comfort you?

"Not really," I remarked out loud, still reeling from shock and glancing over my shoulder fearfully as I had been looking at reflection. Any strategy I had come up had to be completely rethought. In reality it did actually comfort me that it was only when he could see me, provided he was telling the truth.

To answer your question - yes. Celestia and I go far back. But I was thinking you and I could play a little game. I will ask you a question that you will answer truthfully - I suppose that goes without saying. For every question I ask I will let you ask one as well and I give you my word that I will be honest. What do you say?

"Hm," I replied, asking what choice I had. I found it deeply disturbing that he was so interested in me. "If I play this game with you, will you let me leave with the kids?"

Based on facial cues he seemed slightly irritated at this question, though he quickly tried to hide it; but I quickly picked up on that too, and he knew it instantly. Wow... I see you are highly perceptive of my body language. It's rather off-putting if I may be so bold, but then again I suppose I'm not one to talk with the ability to read minds and all, am I? A taste of my own medicine perhaps. This could be more interesting than I thought.

"Please answer the question," I whispered to myself.

I may well let you leave this cave with them, provided you cooperate with me now.

"That is... not reassuring at all."

So may I ask away?

"Yes."

Good. My first question... What can you tell me about the elements of harmony and do you plan to use them against me here?

Another gasp. Oh no... I thought to myself. There were so many bad ways to take that, and I couldn't lie about it. I first wondered if I should hide so he couldn't read my mind. That would not be a prudent or productive decision, believe me... just a waste of time, he told me. I looked desperately for a way out of this, but came up with nothing. I was so scared of him. I actually started to question his mind reading abilities, wondering what exactly that entailed. Could he only hear my thoughts, while not having access to images and feelings? If that were the case, if I thought of one thing - a small blue feather, for instance - would that shield him from my mind? Those are some remarkable questions you ask... it is rare that I've met ponies who have asked this. Having said that though my dear fawn, playing those games is not going to help you save the children and I strongly suggest you stop and answer my question. Now.

His expression was now frozen in some kind of serious and emotionless stare, lacking a smirk; his eyebrows and mouth remained completely still. I wasn't sure what was more intimidating or made me more uncomfortable - this or the sly smile that was always just barely visible right up until this point. Now he seemed intensely focused on what I had to say - or rather to think. I understood that he held all the cards at that this moment, and if I did try experimenting with some new strategy to test his abilities, I feared retaliation against the foals based on the tone in his voice that sounded as though it was quickly losing patience. So with no other choice, I sighed reluctantly.

"The elements of harmony are not here. I am here with five of my friends. We're going to fly the foals back out of the valley where the Princesses are waiting for us with a host of doctors, guards, and the grieving families of those you kidnapped."

His face remained unchanged for a moment, though it almost appeared as though he was reacting internally and trying to prevent his face muscles from moving in kind of poker face. Eventually though he turned his head sideways and raised an eyebrow while his mouth curled into a curious and creepy smile. How on earth do you plan to each carry three foals on your backs through the snow, wind, and darkness? Did the princess really only send six of you? Immediately the question of whether or not he knew about the four escapees had been answered; he hadn't known, as his math plainly showed. And when he heard my thoughts and found out, his smile faded. What do you mean only fourteen? So four of them have escaped? Is that how you knew the others were in here?

He looked away in thought with his white claw on his chin, which was the slightest bit relieving if only now that his white eyes weren't squarely on me. But it didn't last long enough. Hmmm, now that is very interesting. Still though, carrying two foals on your back all the way back through the valley at night - that is no small order. And two of you will have to carry three. Do you really believe that's possible? How did that figure into your plan? Why wouldn't she send more of you? .... Ah, I see. You were abandoned by most of them.

I hadn't actually used that word, but he heard my thoughts on them leaving and came to his own conclusions. Tell me, are the elements waiting for me back at this camp? I inevitably thought about what Rainbow had told me about them, how they were each the pony embodiments of the elements. But I thought I heard they needed to be present together, which was not the case as many of them were scattered across the world before this mission came underway.

"It's my turn to ask a question," I demanded, shifting my focus away from the elements hoping he didn't get all of the last part. He looked me seriously for a short moment before one eyebrow raised slightly and he returned to his familiar smirk, happy with his new information. Ask away. I was a little surprised he said yes, but I thought for a moment what the best wording would be for a question to get the most useful answer, wanting to pull the trigger quickly. "Why did you kidnap these foals?"

He stared silently at me for a long moment, mulling his options and thinking of what exactly to tell me. I took this to be bad, and to expect lies and half truths. It's complicated, he responded. Then he was silent, as though that was all there was.

"Is it really?" I asked. "You gave me your word that you would be honest with me. You got a whole lot out of me on your question, I think I deserve more than 'it's complicated'."

I heard his quiet chuckle in my head. Finally... a little grit from the little fawn. I will begin to answer this question with a question of my own. Tell me something. If you knew something about the world that so few else did - if you met somebody that lived inconsistently with reality, wouldn't you feel it is your responsibility to point this out to them?

"Not necessarily," I remarked, thinking to myself his response was strange. I wasn't sure where he was going with it - did he plan to reeducate the foals or something to turn them evil? Raise them like soldiers? "Context is important," I continued. "It could depend, I would think, on whether or not telling them would be good for them... or good for the others. And what makes you so sure in the first place?"

'Good'... that's where you and I diverge... I do not think there is good and evil.

"Again, what does this have to kidnapping?" I responded, refusing some philosophical debate bait and trying to stay on track.

His face shifted sideways once more in thought. I will answer that question in full... and who knows, I may just let you leave with this cave with them. All I ask is for something in return. My heart sank.

"Which is?" I asked quietly, deeply afraid of the condition.

I want you to look into my white eyes. Directly - not through a reflection.

"Why?"

I can read your mind under these circumstances, but I cannot see your soul in its truest form. You see, I want to know who you really are. If you look directly into my eyes, I can gaze upon your heart as plainly and simply as it is. In turn, you may come into a deeper understanding of me and learn something you are desperately seeking to help you serve those you profess 'to love'.

"W-what?" I whispered. "Why would you want to see that?"

I'm curious, Sonic, for one. I find you rather interesting so far and I'd like to see just how interesting you are. This way I will be able to see your life in a way that I cannot now.

"Do I have any alternatives?" I asked, shaking my head as my spirits nosedived.

I suppose that's something you would have to tell me. Don't worry... I'm listening.

I started to think about what his proposal might mean, taking it with a grain of salt, but sadness and other negative feelings were taking over. Feeling increasingly trapped and out of options I was growing extremely frustrated and quickly going to a very dark place. I'm so tired and sick of trying, I thought to myself. If Rainbow were here, she would know what to do, as would probably the rest of my team members. I longed to see those kids back safe and sound with their families, and myself back safe and sound with my team - my beloved friends - and Rainbow, my very best freind. My heart is on fire and I want so badly to make it better for you all... I thought to myself. But I had nowhere to go. I broke down and started to cry right in front of him.

"For the sake of sport, please... just let me go with those kids," I said, covering my eyes with my hooves. "I'll do anything."

Turn around...

His reflection in the crystal had disappeared. My head turned ever so slowly over my shoulder. He had moved out into the path and was standing there as himself about three pony lengths in front of me. He was tall, almost twice as tall as me maybe, with broad shoulders. Without really consciously thinking about it, I made the eye contact with him he desperately wanted and immediately I was fixed on the lifeless white circles on his face.

Time seemed to stop. I was placed in some kind of trance - unable to move or do anything on my own power. Just look. And look. And look. As if two things existed... white and death. At first he just stood there intensely studying me in some strange trance of his own. But the more time went on, the closer he seemingly got. The last image I had of him in my head he appeared to be losing himself and overwhelmed if that was possible. His mouth dropped open slightly and both eyebrows raised up as though in awe. I had a sense that he could see everything... the abandonment, the feather, the romance, the mission... the deepening friendship...

I on the other hand felt the deepest pain taking me over the longer I looked into this wholly indifferent white abyss, as if they were directly feeding me darkness, depression, and sucking the right life out of me. The longer I stared, the more I seemed to be leaving this life and entering some other dimension where there was literally nothing but misery. All vision of this world left and I entered a world nothing but dull and endless white.

I tried to move or look away, but couldn't. It just got worse and worse. As though Rainbow never gave me the feather, my friends never loved me, and I never loved them. I tried so hard to break from this. Not wanting to fail them with my last bit of strength I fought back with all of my will and screamed.

Both of our spells were abruptly broken. At once I was back to full consciousness and found I was lying on the ground - he was as well, on his back with his white claw on his purple stallion head. He was silent and still at first, but then he groaned and growled. I stood up quickly with a shot of energy (and knowing this was my chance to escape) I instinctually galloped away through the crystal maze and got low to the ground so he couldn't see me. I was relieved to have been knocked out of that terrible experience but now I was desperately trying to think of my next move. I wondered what kind of power he might use to find me, what he actually felt or saw when he looked into my eyes, or if he really couldn't read my mind unless he saw me directly.

"I saw it!" I heard his voice declare from a distance. Now his voice seemed to be distinctly physical as though he was actually speaking, not talking to me in my head. "I saw that burning white flame! You were abandoned by your parents... repeatedly dismissed and falsely accused... how are you able to justify yourself?"

If he was speaking generally to the cave, and he wasn't in my head then I figured he really he must not have known where I was. What do I do now?!?I asked myself repeatedly, bracing for something horrible again. What would Rainbow do? I figured she'd probably fight him head on, but knew I wasn't capable of that. Please help me! I decided to just stay where I was for the time being. I wanted to look for the kids, but I didn't to risk giving my position away either.

"Well... a deal is a deal," he muttered menacingly over the crystals. His voice had lost its seductive fakeness to it. He seemed to speak now with a genuine annoyance and it was truly intimidating. "I will tell you my plan for those children. You see, I've slept right here in this mountain for nearly a thousand years. At the dawn of the world I dwelled among the lands with Celestia and Luna, but eventually I started asking the wrong questions and they refused to face reality. So I stalked the northern villages and whispered to many a ponies the reality of their miserable existence, after which I sucked the life out of their eyes."

I bit down hard on my right front to leg to prevent myself from screaming.

"I take on the face of my latest liberation. This one belonged to the Captain of the Royal Guard... you should ask Celestia what she thought of him. Understand if you will, that I can steal magic and power from others when I liberate them, and I've built up quite a storage so I'm almost ready to begin my mission to liberate the world, but I needed a little bit more - that's where your foals come in. Of course my problem is I've been so lonely that I was wanting to keep them around for a time... plus I could learn about the state of the modern world from several trips into their simple minds."

His voice seemed to be on the move now, though I was still frozen in place. I couldn't believe he just revealed so much to me. It was *so* much to take in and so hard to manage emotionally. I entertained the idea that it could be a lie, but it didn't seem to be. The games and the facade were over. As unbelievably horrible and evil as he was though, he wasn't all powerful... I wondered if he was reluctant to use his power as once he used it he could never get it back.

"So the Princess thinks she can spite me by sending you... is that it?" he called into the maize. He seemed to be getting angrier and angrier the more every second went by, though I gathered he really didn't know where I was as his voice now appeared to be moving away as though he was looking for me in the wrong direction. So I started to move deeper into the cave to find the kids and get the heck out of there. It was getting to where I could hardly hear him, though I heard his last taunts.

"If I had you here but a few days ago I would have convinced you that you are worthless... a few simple observations and I would've seen you give up but now I see you would just deflect it with that stupid feather... your 'love' for your team, for those animal children and that *special* rainbow mare you want to marry so badly... huge mistake, Princess. I will show you how worthless this all is. You see, I won't hurt you; I'll just find someone you love and hurt them instead. Since Rainbow and Thunderlane aren't here, where's that orange filly with the purple mane?"

Now I really did gasp. Not only because of what he said. But right on cue... right in front of me... the wide, shocked eyes of a totally unharmed Scootaloo.