Special Note: Sorry for the loooong delay. Like I mentioned in my post, mental problems have been keeping me sidelined a bit..... but this is it.... the last chapter before the EWREC.
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As the chariot dropped Josh and Rainbow Dash at the entrance to their cloud castle home, the teen finally felt it was time to give the answer to what the pegasus had been asking the entire ride up.

"What's the big surprise? What's the big surprise?!?"

Every time he'd replied for her to just be patient and now, as they opened the doors to the castle, he felt it was time for her curiosity to be satiated. Sitting on the stoop of the door, Josh patted the seat next for him and watched as his lover sat her large rump down. As soon as she was seated, Josh took her hoof in his hand and looked her in the eyes.

"Before I show you what I got for you.... I need to know something, Dashie."

"What's that?"

"Everything in your journal..... is every word of every entry in their 100% true? None of it was just you joking or goofing around?"

The pegasus looked at him and nodded. "Every word of entry is from my heart.... even all...", she turned away ashamed, "Even the really disgusting parts."

Josh just smiled and stroked her wing. "I just had to know... otherwise I'd feel like a real dum-dum for what I did for you. C'mon. Follow me into the training room."

Getting up, the teen took her by the hoof and gently led her into the castle and down the hall into the large exercise room the pegasus used to practice her aerial moves and keep herself in prime condition. There were gymnastic rings, weight benches, trampolines and springboards, even a mini-fridge on the ceiling full of bottles of water and juice to help her stay hydrated after her workouts. Altogether, even as he looked at it now, the teen was very impressed at the level of devotion Dash put into trying to get into the Wonderbolts. But right now he was gonna help her lose weight through a method other than exercise.

"Dash, when I was reading through your diary... the day of our date.... I came across an entry that made me triple-take at how crazy it was. I think you MAY know which one."

The cyan pegasus looked down sadly, having a very strong feeling she knew which entry. "Which one?", she asked, her voice wavering.

The teen started to open his mouth, but a knock at the door cut him off. The teen just groaned in exasperation.

"For crying out loud, what now???", Josh asked as he approached the door. But when he opened it... he saw Meowth standing there, a distraught look on his face.

"Meowth? I thought you---"

"Dey're here... Dey're here for you...", the pokemon trembled, "Police ponies... dey're here for you..."

Before Meowth could say anything, a pair of gray pegasus ponies, both in matching policepony outfits entered the gym and approached Dash and Josh, solemn looks on their faces.

"Joshua Rocket....", the one on the left said, "I'm Cuffs and this is my partner Badge.... I'm sorry to have to inform you, but you're under arrest for breaking and entering and theft at the Equestrian Wings Cemetery."

Meowth and Dash just looked in horror at the teen, his head down and softly nodding. "The tapes... they were confiscated... weren't they?"

"Just an hour ago. Luna is also being indicted with theft. Even as a Goddess, she's still bound by Equestrian Law."

Rainbow Dash thought her heart was going to stop right there, Meowth just looking at his best friend mortified. But the teen didn't even try to fight.

"I'm being sent back to my world for trial, aren't I?", he whispered.

Badge gave a solemn nod. "We need to take you to the castle first to get your wing spell removed.... Meowth will be allowed to keep his since he had no part in the crime."

The cyan pegasus just bit her lip and trembled out a single question.

"Champagne set up the warrant... didn't he?"

Cuffs nodded in reply. "Graves, the caretaker of the cemetery, gave him a security tape and Champagne contacted us..."

"Dis is a joke, right?" Meowth asked, feeling sick to his stomach at hearing all this, "My best friend... he ain't going home!!!!"

"I'm sorry..... Josh, come with us....."

The teen just stood there solemnly and held out his hands. But as the cops went to place the cuffs on his hands, the teen spoke.

"May I ask one question? Does Celestia know about any of this?"

At this, the cops went silent and Josh, Meowth, and Dash looked at them bewildered.

"She doesn't, sir."

"Then how did you get permission to arrest Luna... her own SISTER?"

The air went so silent if somepony had dropped a pin, it would have echoed all around the training room.

"Champagne... he's MAKING you do this, ain't he?", Meowth asked.

The policeponies just looked at each other in stark realization before they looked back at the three flyers.

"......We were set up..... weren't we?", Badge uttered.

The human just nodded. "The final piece to the puzzle has just been put in. Cops, I think there IS someone needing to be arrested.... that gravedigger... for helping allow a false warrant of arrest to be created. Don't bother with Champagne... Tomorrow will be shown all."

"But he's got the ta---"

Josh cut him off with a smirk, and reaching into his jacket and pulling out a single blank tape with EVE OF ENDING scrawled on it, a half-hearted smile creeping onto his face. "He's got duplicates... Funny thing about cloning... even with magic it's impossible to perfect. Worthless tape and plastic...."

At this Rainbow Dash covered her mouth, remembering how Pinkie Pie had attempted to clone herself and all those clones had self-destructed.

"The real deals are with me... Celestia had me take them back here... she thought something like this would happen. So please... get the fuck out of here and do your fucking job instead of bothering us..."

The two pegasi looked at each other and tore out of the castle like their hooves were on fire. The human just shook his head and slipped the tapes back into the long coat before turning back to Dash and Meowth, the latter having walked into the gym, a shocked look on his pudgy face.

"Josh..... dat was..... dat was......" Meowth gasped out before Dash finished the sentence for him.

"Incredible...."

The human looked at both Dash and Meowth.. and turned towards the door without a word.

"Josh, where are you goi---", Rainbow Dash started to ask, only to get an abrupt reply.

"Out.."

"But what about..."

"Forget it..... it was a stupid idea anyway..... Just get some sleep.. You've got a big day tomorrow...."

Before she could say anything else, the human vanished out the door and left, tears starting to well in their eyes... it was then they knew....

The spark in Josh's heart had been put out for good, knowing that even the Ponyville cops were stupid enough to believe Champagne's lies.

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As he landed on the ground outside of Sweet Apple Acres, his wings retracting to his sides, Josh just looked at Big Mac and Applebloom busy with the end of the days harvest. As he looked away, he could see Applebloom turn to him and wave, but he just walked off without a word.

He had nothing left in his heart to say, nothing left to do... He'd been lying to those cops and now... the one piece of evidence that could have put Champagne away had likely been destroyed. The only choice now was for him to do something he hoped wouldn't become the last choice of action.....

Killing him.

He knew that there was no other way of setting the Hareis family at peace... Champagne had to die. The only other hope was that Celestia and Luna HAD managed somehow to duplicate the tapes and he seriously doubted there was enough time before those brainless cops came for Luna.

As he walked through the shrubs and into the main of Ponyville, a cold chill filled his veins and he started to sing to himself as he looked up at the buildings and booths and stage all being set up for the next day's big festival... a stage that by the next days end... he knew would be coated in blood.

I'm not like them
But I can pretend
The sun is gone
But I have a light
The day is done
But I'm having fun
I think I'm dumb
Or maybe just happy

He ran his hand along the wooden planks of the main stage and climbed up, walking around and still singing his song to himself.

Think I'm just happy
Think I'm just happy
Think I'm just happy

My heart is broke
But I have some glue
Help me inhale
And mend it with you
We'll float around
And hang out on clouds
Then we'll come down
And have a hangover ...
Have a hangover
Have a hangover...
Have a hangover...

Looking up, he could see a cloth banner reading 10TH ANNUAL EQUESTRIA-WIDE ROYAL EATERS CHAMPIONSHIP and a faint smile flashed on his worn face. He became to wonder if the contest would even take place... if there'd be death even before the ceremony began.... and somehow... the thought of being able to slay Champagne... and spill his tainted blood... gave him a sense of happiness....

Skin the sun
Fall asleep
Wish away
The soul is cheap
Lesson learned
Wish me luck
Soothe the burn
Wake me up

Sitting on the stage and laying back, his arms behind his head, he kept singing as his eyes looked at the darkening sky. He knew he'd hurt Dash and Meowth and by now... he was wondering how much longer Dash would be standing by him... and almost thinking he deserved his pain.

I'm not like them
But I can pretend
The sun is gone
But I have a light
The day is done
But I'm having fun
I think I'm dumb

I think I'm just happy...
I think I'm just happy...
I think I'm just happy...
I think I'm just happy...

Sadly, he just murmured the last few last words to himself as he rested his head against the cold boards and shut his eyes, waiting for sleep to come.

I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..
I think I'm dumb..

But an hour went by and dreamland never came for him. It wasn't until he heard a blaring blast of music that his thoughts were brought back to the present. Sitting up and looking around, he noticed a set of multicolored lights shining in the sky only a little ways away from the stage in what looked like a white-walled building, similar to Rarity's boutique.. but as he got up and approached it, he noticed a set of neon letters flashing above the entrance.

DJ-PON3'S DANCE AFTER DARK

The closer he got, the louder the music got... A techno-esque beat pounding throughout the structure and nearly making the walls themselves vibrate and when he stepped inside the entryway, his breath was taken away by both what he was looking at and by the dulcet words ringing out from the lone occupant of the building.. a white unicorn with a pair of dark red shades on the turntables before her, a shocking-blue mane, and a set of magenta eyes almost as deep as those of Rainbow Dashs.

High dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain, it was worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash 'cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'til it breaks your glass and I drown in you again

'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

As he listened to the unicorn sing, he just sat back and let her words wash over him. The mare was so entranced in her music she didn't even notice the human sitting at the doorway.

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

His mind began to flow, reflecting on all the struggling and fighting that him and Dash had done due to all the complications resulting from his head trauma and the possible brain damage that had been done. The look in her eyes as he threw that barrel of cider across the hayloft, as he screamed at her how he was nothing more than a freak and a joke, as he hung from the cross with blood oozing from his mouth his legs half-incinerated... From all the havoc that had been wrought onto them... it was like she was genuinely frightened for the first time in her life... yet.. she refused to leave... no matter what he did, what he tried to do to himself, all the misery they'd gone through... she refused to abandon him.

Walk on through a red parade and refuse to make amends
It cuts deep through our ground and makes us forget all common sense
Don't speak as I try to leave 'cause we both know what we'll choose
If you pull then I'll push too deep and I'll fall right back to you

'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why

As much as he'd struggled with his emotional and physical pain, as much as he'd shed his own blood and that of Dev and all the other attackers, as much as he'd become almost unrecognizable from the innocent human that first came to Ponyville.. her love for him was undiminished... Almost like he was a poison and she refused to quit drinking it... Wanting his pain to be her pain for eternity... He was so lost in thought that he nearly jumped when he heard a second voice sing... right behind him.

"If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?"

As he turned around, he saw Rainbow Dash looking back at him, a gentle gaze in her orbs, one of understanding and hope.

"Dash...", Josh gasped, "How... how did---"

"Josh, when two are in love... a bond forms between them... almost like a sonar... I just.. had a hunch you were down here, thinking things through."

The teen just fell to his knees, sitting back on the soles of his feet and looking into the pegasi's eyes, his own crestfallen windows just gazing back at her as the song continued. "How do we stop him..... He's coming ahead at every turn... He got the tapes destroyed, he's got the media under his hooves...."

Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?

"We'll figure something out....", Dash replied, brushing a tuft of his hair with her hoof, "Tomorrow's our day.. the chance for me and Applejack to take him down fair and square... even if..."

As she gagged slightly and stuck her tongue out in disgust, the teen just nodded in acknowledgement, knowing she was referring to that sick form of training Gilda had subjected them to. Big Mac had told him all about it back at the hospital after Rainbow Dash left and the teen, as angry as he was at Gilda for such a cruel stunt, could see the method to her madness. "Those Balutes... those were the worst of all, weren't they?"

"They tasted like how I felt when I saw you die..... cold and unclean... It was like eating a corpse..."

Josh just nodded and placed his hands on his lap, looking Rainbow Dash square in the eyes. "If.. if he wins this contest..... What's going to happen to Ponyville.. to the Elements... to us?"

The cyan pony shook her head furtively. "He won't... I swear on my life as a future Wonderbolt he won't get away with all he's done..."

"How I would love nothing more than to just be able to shred that bastard!", Josh growled... before another voice caught them both by surprise.

"We all would like that..."

Looking over Dash's shoulder, the couple found themselves looking at the Moon Goddess herself, her ice-blue eyes looking at them in anger.. and they had the feeling it wasn't anger at them.. but at what she had probably gone through.

"That... that subject thought he could have a Goddess like ME arrested like a common criminal???", Luna growled, "I've never been so humiliated in my entire life..."

"I can't imagine what that was like...", Rainbow Dash admitted sadly.

"The feel of those cuffs around my hooves... the way they were calling me a disgrace..... taking those copies...... It was as if I was nothing more than worthless trash to them....... Being fired was too lenient on them......."

"How could he convince them to do that to someone like you?! Someone with such power and grace!?", Josh asked.

Luna huffed before she gave her succinct reply. "Corruption and Greed are not just enemies in your world, Joshua. It is very much a part of life here as well...... We may be the guardians of the Moon and the Sun... but wave the right amount of bits around and you can get anypony to do whatever you please...."

The human just shook his head in disgust. "And now those tapes....... the one piece of evidence linking him to the murders.... are gone....."

The Goddess of the Moon nodded sadly. "My sister said she made copies of them, but she's not 100% sure which of us had the real deals and which the imperfection. Hopefully tomorrow... you and Dash can be the ones who expose him......."

At hearing Luna's words, something clicked in the teen's head. He didn't know if it was his depression or his lethargy that had blocked it out... but as he felt inside he jacket, his hand brushed against cold plastic... and he remembered it all... the evidence... it was still with him...

"I...... I remember....... Dash.... Luna... I... have them........."

Josh reached into his jacket and pulled out a small tape cassette with the words EVE OF ENDING on it and immediately Dash and Luna's eyes shot open.

"I THOUGHT YOU SAID THOSE WERE FAKES!", the Cyan pony yelped.

"Celestia made multiple copies and gave Meowth the originals, since she figured no one would think to search him. That was why he wasn't disturbed by all the commotion... he was never there in the first place. I... I remember now!"

The dark blue alicorn just looked at the human in genuine awe at the gambit he'd just pulled off.

"As soon as we're done here.... I'm heading back to our home and giving them back to Meowth for safety....... But..... she said you had a tape you were holding yourself..."

The guardian of shadow nodded and turned to Rainbow Dash. "Dash... I know you've.... put on quite a bit.... but do you think your wings can take you back up to Dash's cloud castle one more time..... I want...... no...... I HAVE to show you something......"

The two pegasi nodded as Luna turned and flew up into the night, Dash turning to her lover with a look of curiosity.

"Go on ahead, I'll be up in a moment..."

Rainbow Dash nodded and, after giving him a kiss on the cheek, took to the air, her wings slightly more sluggish thanks to her extra girth, but still helping her ascend at a decent speed.

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

As Josh watched her take to the sky, he just shook his head before cricking his neck and, with a running start, taking off after them....

All 3 of them unaware that a white DJ pony.... had seen and heard everything... and was just staring at the open doorway with a look of amazement on her face.

"So it's all true......."
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As the three of them gathered around in Dash's living room, Dash and Josh couldn't help but wonder what Luna, the Moon Goddess of Equestria, wanted to show them. The fact she was even in Dash's HOME was nothing short of outstanding. Meowth had insisted on sticking around to see what was going on and it had taken little persuasion for Luna to agree to let the feline stick and watch. But as Dash and Meowth sat on the couch, Josh taking a seat on the floor, they all noticed the eerie silence ebbing from the alicorn.

"Miss Luna?", Meowth asked, "Are ya ok?"

A shake of her head as she magicked a ball of energy out of her amulet and shut her eyes, melding it into a small tape cassette, was all Meowth got as an answer. The pain inside Luna's heart at what she was about to show them... it left her mute and barely able to even hear the world around her.

"Miss Luna...", Rainbow Dash quivered, her voice unusually soft, "Please say something...."

"Miss Luna... ma'am?", Josh offered.

But Luna's only reply was to insert the tape in and trot back to the couch, in between the pegasus and the cat-pokemon, and rest her forelegs across her chest as if holding herself for warmth as the tape started.

It looked like a home video recording, although the quality was deteriorated from, what they could assume was from the equipment used to capture the moments... but even with all the scratches... with all the snow... they could all make out clear as day what was being shown....

2 small fillies..... one bright orange with an unruly mane... and one..... pure white as snow with ruby red spread all along her back and tail.....
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"Pedal...."

"Scooty...."

"Pedal.. promise me we'll be friends forever......"

"Forever and ever, Scooty!"

As the two fillies hugged each other, a third voice spoke up.

"Now now! C'mon you girls.. Pedal's got a big day tomorrow! The EWREC's gonna come to town!"

At this, the orange filly grinned. "I bet you're excited as all get out!"

Pedal just nodded and squealed. "Daddy said it's gonna make our town famous and he knows Ironguts can win this! If anyone can take down the champion, he can!"

"I envy you, Pedal.... I wish my family was that happy..."

"Now now, Scooty, you know you'll always be my bestest friend and sister!"

"But Pedal, I'm NOT your sister yet!"

"But after this contest ends, Daddy'll be able to adopt you and we can be sisters forevery-ever!"

Scoots just chuckled and shook her head. "Just rest up, Pedal. Know that I'll be their in spirit, rooting for you and Ironguts!"

"You always are, Scoots!"

With that, the white filly took off... and before the tape ended..... the third voice spoke out one more time.

"Soon Scootaloo.... you will have a home... and my family and town will be in better shape than ever before.... Thank you Celestia... for this bounty of fortune."
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As Luna took the tape out, she heard the sound of stifled sobs and looked, seeing Dash covering her mouth in horror.

"The next day, Ironguts was beaten by Champagne... and 2 days later... Pedal, Maria, and Ace.... were killed... and a week later... Mayor Elbert Haresis took his life amid the accusations that he killed them. We sealed Scootaloo's memories of Pedal out of a fear she wouldn't be able to take the loss of her best friend... and her one chance for a new home.... When Celestia found out they were dead, she grew hysterical with grief and her howls and wails echoed through the castle for days.... to this day, she still has nightmares over causing the deaths of her friends. She's never forgiven herself for not only putting them in danger, but for taking away Scootaloo's last chance for a home. Now the chance for them to finally be at peace is at hoof... Dash... if you and Applejack aren't successful... I fear my sister will tear herself apart...."

Dash couldn't say anything, she couldn't think or even breathe. It made sense now... it all made sense the cold that ran through that demon's black heart... the depths he would go just to attain his wants. This was no longer just an eating contest to defend honor....... it was a battle to allow a ghost to finally rest in peace.

It wasn't until Josh got up and went to the window that a voice broke the silence.

"So it is....... I see it all now..... That darkness I saw when I looked in Champagne's eyes right before..... It was the remnants of the wreck that could be considered his twisted soul. Defeat isn't enough anymore, Dashie... Luna.... You and Applejack.... we all....... we need to eradicate him...."

"Eradicate???", Meowth gasped.

Josh nodded as he held his hands behind his back and looked out the window at the starry night.

"Champagne....... he is nothing more than a cancer. He is pure evil. Just beating him in this contest won't be enough.... even IF he's defeated at his game.... he'll just find another way to try and get what he wants. He has.... to be purged from this world if we want a sembalance of victory at all......"

The human placed his hand against the window and looked downwards before turning back to Luna.

"Sing it, Luna."

At this Luna just looked at the teen bewildered what he meant.

"Pedal... she told me on the way to the cemetery that Celestia used to sing her to sleep... a song she used with you as well.... Tell me.... so when Champagne's dead..... I can sing it one more time at Pedal's grave and help her finally rest."

Nodding her head sadly, Luna opened her mouth and began to sing... her words filling the ears of Josh, Dash, and Meowth, and instilling a sense of uneasy calm in all of them....

Come Little Children

I'll Take Thee Away, Into A Land

Of Enchantment

Come Little Children

The Time's Come To Play

Here In My Garden

Of Magic

Follow Sweet Children

I'll Show Thee The Way

Through All The Pain And

The Sorrows

Weep Not Poor Children

For Life Is This Way

Murdering Beauty And

Passions

Hush Now Dear Children

It Must Be This Way

To Weary Of Life And

Deceptions

Rest Now My Children

For Soon We'll Away

into The Calm And

The Quiet

As she sang her lullaby, Josh's mind flashed back to Pedal's gravesite and his thoughts began to wander as he imagined the life her and Scootaloo must have once had.

Tears began to well in his eyes as he pictured her spirit among the stars. He could feel her soul was far from at rest, her brutal and undeserved demise preventing her from reaching into the hereafter.

"5....... she was only 5 years old............"

The words came out sotto and hollow, a light rain beginning to pound against the window.

"Taken....... all for...... for nothing........."

He understood it so clearly now. He understood how deep not just this contest, but this underbelly..... How far into Equestria's entrails it was sown.

He wanted it all to be over....... For their lives to go back to normal or whatever facade could be attained. He even wanted to put that secret room to good use... the entry from her diary still fresh in his mind. It was from a month before he had even arrived in Equestria and it strayed far from all her other jottings.

3/1

Dear diary,
I just got back from dinner with Pinkie Pie and her family. Not the cakes, her actual family... those rock farmers...
They treated me like i was one of their own. It felt wonderful.
I know I'm away from my own family... I know I wanted to put my time more into becoming a Wonderbolt and was willing to leave....... to leave them behind. Even if they gave me their blessing.......
I....... I love them so much....... Sometimes it hurts.........
I hide my tears behind my stunts. It's not easy to just focus on my practice all the time.... Sometimes.... the feelings...... They get worse.....
The day I become a Wonderbolt..... I want to bring them here to Equestria. I want to thank them for everything.
Maybe........ even by then........ I'll have somepony special to introduce them to...... I'd love for Scootalo to have a new friend.... Somepony I could raise to become a Wonderbolt in my hoofsteps.

He'd thought he was hiding pain of his own.... Pain that none of the other ponies even had a clue about.... But Dash....... She was concealing terrors of her own... and his indecisions over leaving or staying..... he knew......... he had only exacerbated her fears. He hated Champange for awakening the thoughts of darkness that ran through his head....... he didn't know how to make it up to her........

But he knew the first step..... He knew what they all had to do...

Come Little Children

I'll Take Thee Away, Into A Land

Of Enchantment

Come Little Children

The Time's Come To Play

Here In My Garden

Of Shadows

And even as the night passed and the sun finally rose up....... not a single one of them slept a wink...

Almost as if scared of what their dreams would have brought.
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Songs used are
Dumb by Nirvana from the album In Utero
Clarity by Zedd ft. Foxes
Come Little Children by Kate Covington