~~~~~Sweet Apple Acres~~~~~

Scootaloo woke up on the floor, and wondered idly why her mouth tasted like old apples. She pushed herself up, slightly muzzy headed and feeling like the time that she'd epically crashed into a building. She was definitely sore, but her head didn't hurt too much at least. So much for liquor. Ugh, I need a glass of water. she thought grumpily, peering curiously around for her friends.

She didn't see them at first - until she heard a gentle gasp coming from the bed. It was an odd sound, and at first she didn't recognize it - until the sound came again, much more vivid than the first. All at once, Scootaloo felt her cheeks blush a bright red. Why is Applebloom doing th-th-that!? Now of all times! At least she could do was wait till Scoots had left. Then Sweetie Belle's voice spoke from the same bed. "Mmh, you really do taste like apples.."

Scoots froze, not daring to move from her place on the floor - not daring to speak or make a single noise. She had only the vaguest of ideas of what was going on up there, but her fiery imagination was filling in the details very quickly. A thousand ideas ran through her head, but only one stuck. Gotta get outta here, quietly. She would deal with the aftermath later, right now she had to get out of the room.

Her eyes quickly scanned the room, even as her heart raced faster than Rainbow Dash could. Her options were limited though - Door or a window? The choice became easier - when she spotted one of the windows open. Her wings might not be up to a lot, but she could manage that far. Move Scoots! her brain commanded her legs, and in spite of her soreness they got her up and moving tip-hoof to the window....

"Where you goin... Ahn~! Scootalooo..." Applebloom's voice dripped with an emotion Scoots could not entirely identify. She froze in place, not daring to turn around - fearing what she might see her two best friends up to. "C'mon back scoots... We've got a new - Mmh~! - game to show you." came that sweet southern twang again. Scootaloo looked up to see Applebloom leaning over the edge of the bed, her eyes filled with a smoky black flame.

That was more than enough to break the ice in Scoots' legs. I dunno what's going on here, but something creepy is up! And she wasn't gonna stick around to find out. Gotta get help! Her wings began buzzing to life - and a moment later her body went skyward up and through the window. A voice cried out behind her, "Scoots, wait!" - That was Sweetie Belle, but Scootaloo wasn't going to wait around.

Staying airborne for longer than a minute was still beyond her young wings - but that got her out of the window and onto the ground. Ten seconds later, she was on her scooter and flying down the road at her top speed. She could hear faint voices crying out behind her but paid them no mind, pouring on the speed to put as much distance as she could between herself and Sweet Apple Acres.

Something had happened to Sweetie and Applebloom, even though Scoots only barely knew what. Who can I go to!? Twilight's living in the freakin' Everfree, Applejack'll think I've lost it, and no telling what Rarity'd say about this! Normally, that would mean going straight to Rainbow Dash... but Scoots hadn't seen the coolest pony in days.

That left her with limited options when it came to 'reliable' ponies that might be able to help. Cheerliee was a thought, but Scootaloo didn't know where she lived. And then there was... Scootaloo's mind lit up, a bright smile crossing her face. Of course! Why didn't she think of her in the first place? Wasn't nopony in town who knew about this weird stuff better than she did!

Scootaloo buzzed down the road at her top speed, heading into town. She only hoped that she could find a way to help her friends before it was too late. Think like Rainbow Dash, Scoots! She forced more energy into her wings and felt the wind rushing through them and her face. Hang on girls, help is on the way!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun shone brightly in the skies above Sweet Apple Acres, and slowly began to stream in to the barn where three very close friends slept. Twilight merely turned over and muttered nonsense in her sleep, but a pair of ponies lay not too far from her that did not. Applejack's eyes opened to a brand new world, one filled with something that she just couldn't put her hoof on at first.

That is, until she looked into the bright eyes of Rainbow Dash. "Mornin' AJ." Dash said softly, a look of gentle love and concern on her face. Applejack's heart and mind flooded with a mix of emotions she had no name for, and none of it mattered one whit. If the sun wasn't making her eyes water a little, if the rough feel of the straw under the blanket wasn't so pronounced Applejack would have sworn she was dreaming.

Half scared that even the slightest touch would cause the whole thing to vanish before her eyes, Applejack found her voice amidst the lump in her throat. "Mornin' Dash..." The words came out all hoarse and soft, and Applejack blushed a little. She felt like a schoolfilly in front of her playground crush, and couldn't find another blasted word to say. So she didn't, she just kissed her, scrunching her eyes shut and hoping - really. really hoping this wasn't just a dream.

Soft lips met one another and the gentle touch of cheek against cheek. Applejacks tongue gently folded up against Dash's and a soft breathy moan escaped into the kiss. A moment later they were separate, and the dream was still in front of her. Dash had a merry, devil-may-care sort of smile on her fact that inspired one on Applejack's face. "Well, that was certainly a nice good morning." Dash quipped saucily, and chuckled brightly. "Maybe you can elaborate on that after breakfast."

Applejack's ears perked at the thought of breakfast with her, and then blushed when she realized what she was inferring. Normally, she might have thoroughly denied such a possibility in the most explicit of terms... but that didn't seem proper any longer. "That sounds nice..." Consarn it, that sounds silly. "Um, that sounds mighty fine.." She blinked a little and shook her head once in consternation. "Ah horsefeathers, that don't sound right either." she blushed brightly, as she continued to speak. "Ah don't have the words..." She said, looking around for her hat and wondering where it had gotten off to.

Dash laughed softly and reached around the pile of hay to extract Applejack's famous hat, gently seating it onto her messy-haired head. "It's okay AJ... It was kind of weird for me too." Dash kissed her cheek again and it sent a thrill of excitement through Applejack. Why was ah ever worried about this? Applejack thought softly, tightening her hooves around Dash's sleek muscled form. This is real nice. Not strange at all... Dash had on that roguish smile, her hard muscled bodies rubbing lovingly against Applejack's was... very nice indeed.

Applejack lifted a hoof to resettle her hat then took a deep breath. "Breakfast first." She proclaimed quietly, taking strength from the routine. "Granny Smith is prolly lookin' for us already." She winced softly at that thought and tried to wiggle herself into a standing position - even though she really didn't want to leave Dash's arms just then. "Better git in there and.." She blinked and blushed softly. "I guess, talk t'her?"

Applejack wasn't entirely sure why she was feeling so... unsure right now. It was like something important was missing, some vital thing she couldn't quite remember. Dash smiled in understanding at her, and gently turned her to face to the window of the barn.

There Applejack laid eyes on somepony she thought she'd known, and now understood she'd only begun to know. Twilight stood in the window, staring out over the apple orchards - she was... something more than beautiful. It was like when Applejack looked at Celestia, like looking at something more than just a pony. Her shadow melted into the room around her, and her mane dripped like liquid darkness. A flash of desire to serve this glorious creature ran through her bones.

Applejack didn't even realize she was trembling until Dash gently touched her hoof, Applejack's head whipping to look confusedly at Dash. Dash whispered softly. "It's alright." She gently spoke, squeezing AJ's hoof softly. "She understands." Applejack swallowed and nodded, and the two of them walked hoof and hoof up towards Twilight...

Again, Applejack was struck with that awe like feeling she had around the Princesses... only it was far, far stronger. Twilight turned silently, as though she had heard them approach and turned a gentle and loving smile upon her. "Good morning, Applejack. It's good to see you're well." Applejack felt the tension drain out of her, to be replaced by deep warmth that bathed her entire body. That lack of surety suddenly vanished under her gaze, in her presence - as though the whole world suddenly made perfect sense.

Applejack felt a brilliant smile cross her face, and saw that Dash had one of her own. Applejack felt a little blush in her cheeks, and heard Twilight chuckle softly as she spoke. "Good to see you two getting along. I heard something about breakfast?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many curious eyes watched Scootaloo's scooter blazing across town, but most ponies simply dismissed it. Just the little filly trying to be like her mentor and idol as always. Had they known the terrified purpose that drove her, they might have paid a little more attention. Of course, they also might be running around like the flower girls screaming about doom.

For her part, Scootaloo didn't care what they thought. She had friends in peril, and that took precedence even overlooking cool in front of other ponies. Fortunately for her quickly tiring wings, her chosen destination wasn't too far. Not long ago, it had been the town's liquor shop - owned and operated by Berry Punch. But now...

The shop had been distinctive before, with its golden goblets and wine grapes motif - now the place stood out like a pegasus amidst a flock of southern birds. A great big smiling mask adorned the front door, and colorful beads had been strewn above the wine-filled goblets and fake wooden grapes. It was an odd aesthetic, but it worked somehow - the shop had been more popular than ever.

Scootaloo took a moment to catch her breath outside, then walked as quickly as she could over to the door, shoving it open with her shoulder. "Zecora!" she cried out, running through the slightly darkened shop - It was still too early in the day for it to be patronized by most ponies. "Zecora, I need your help!" Scootaloo fought to keep the panic out of her voice, and pretty much failed miserably at it.

There was only a minor pause, and the rustling of cloth before one of the doors to the back room swung open, revealing the mohawked zebra with a concerned look on her face. She spotted the panicking filly and quickly leapt over the counter powerfully, just in time for Scootaloo to throw herself at Zecora's hooves. "Something’s really really wrong with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom!"

Zecora frowned at her for a moment, then placed her hoof atop Scootaloo's head - Scoot felt funny for a moment, then she felt really funny, like she'd just gotten super dizzy again. Then the feeling cleared away, and Zecora had a powerfully serious gaze on her face. "Tell me your tale little one, and leave nothing out until you are done."

~~~~~~~~

Rarity trotted up the path to Sweet Apple Acres, towing a small cart full of boxes behind her and hovering a checklist in front of her face. Let’s see. Got all of my makeup, my travel sewing kit, and a few dresses just in case. Just need to arrange for Sweetie belle to stay here for a few days while I make the trip. She hadn't wanted to lean on Applejack like this, but there was really nopony else who could keep an eye on her sister. Of course, I'll have to tell her why I'm going in the first place. That might get a touch awkward.

She'd face that particular bugbear once she got there, however. Her checklist fully filled out, Twilight really is right about these things. Organization shall set you free! she decided to try and enjoy the clean morning breeze, picking up the pace a bit to get a little of it into her mane. Not too much, she didn't wish to upset her morning styling, but a little fresh air did wonders.

Still. Something distinctly odd was on the air today, and she couldn't quite put her hoof on it. It had to be concern over this dreadful business with Filthy Rich. Hmph. I'm certain his ill deeds simply finally caught up with him. Still, I can’t imagine Twilight ordering the death of anypony. The months had undoubtedly changed her, and her closest friends had not been as close as they ought to have been. Short distance or not - distance is still distance. Well, that was going to come to an end. Rarity refused to allow it any longer! If I have to pack up the boutique and move to that city myself, I'll do so.

With a firm plan of action in mind, Rarity lifted her nose into the air - to catch the smell of fried applecakes. Cinnamon, sugar and sweet fresh apple scent danced along the air to the tune of sizzling oil. It was intoxicating and Rarity picked up her pace a bit more - flyaway mane be damned, she was not going to miss a chance to snatch just a bite of the treat.

Unhitching herself from the little cart in front of the house, Rarity rapped on the door gently with her hoof in her best ladylike manner - only to have the door swing open a moment later to reveal... a very startled looking Rainbow Dash. "Wha- Rarity? What're you doing here this early?" She asked, her voice squeaking a little in surprise. She looked... ruffled, but not in her usual way. There was an odd glow about her, something Rarity didn't immediately fathom.

Rarity blinked at her for a few moments, her mind racing with all of the possibilities...settling, of course, on the only one that possibly made sense to her. By Celestia! She finally did it! Rarity nearly squee'd in joy, a sparkle popping up in her eye and her hooves clapping together excitedly. "Oh, Rainbow Dash! I'm so happy for you two!" She nearly glomped the poor pegasus, embracing her firmly. "I was wondering if Applejack would ever get up the courage!"

Dash stared blankly at Rarity, like she'd grown another head or something. Rarity simply giggled, clapping her hooves together again. "Dear me, did you really think I wouldn't see through you two?" She tossed her mane and winked coyly as she trotted into the house. "Now, where is the lucky Apple?" She asked brightly, peering about as she trotted into the kitchen to the sputtering words of Rainbow Dash...

Only to walk into the kitchen, and see Twilight sitting at one end of the table with her mane a waterfall of melting shadow power. Applejack looked up at her from the stove in surprise, her eyes subtly off from their normal bright green - as though some shadow had fallen upon them. The strangest thing was the sight of Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, both of them cuddled very close together in one of the larger chairs, their eyes distinctly darker then they should be. Twilight stared at Rarity with dragon-shaped eyes, sparkling in a bright violet - in total and complete shock at her sudden arrival.

Rarity was not what one would call a mare of action. That did not mean that she didn't have a well-honed sense of danger, and she immediately felt as though she had just walked in to the den of some very powerful creature that could devour her in a moment. She did not hesitate even for that moment. She bolted through the room past Twilight at top speed, rounded a corner and was out the back door of the Apple House before you could say 'boo!'.

Back in the Kitchen, a single voice spoke from the stunned tableau. It was Pinkie Pie, who had walked into the room just in time to see Rarity bolt. "Uh oh." she said softly, and every mind in the room echoed that sentiment.

~~~~~~~~~~

Zecora held the weeping pegasus filly in her hooves, with a surprisingly sober Berry Punch gently stroking Scootaloo's bright mane. The little one had cried herself nearly to sleep recounting her tale and terror, and it took only a touch from Zecora's hoof to send the little one into dreamland. "How bad is this, Zeccy?" asked Berry Punch - using the nickname that often amused her zebra counterpart.

Zecora shook her head slowly. "How bad it may be, I do not yet know. Many evils exist that dark seeds sow." she gently transferred the filly to Berry's hooves. "Go write down this filly's tale, and send to Celestia by express mail!" Berry nodded solemnly, gently cradling the filly as though she were Berry's own daughter.

Zecora stood up and quickly began to gather a number of phials and potions from her side of the shop. "What are you going to do, Zecora?" Berry asked as she stood, quietly moving towards the back rooms that held their shared apartment.

Zecora paused and pulled her satchel over her neck. "Go see for myself from where this shadow came, and see if others are affected the same." She grasped her walking stave and moved quickly to the door, pausing for but a moment. "There is a red potion there on the shelf." She pointed to one of the lower shelves in the shop. "It will ensure that when I return, I am myself."

Berry nodded again as Zecora quickly slipped out of the shop and began to gallop down the street. She looked down to the poor tired filly in her arms and spoke softly. "Poor little one... I hope your friends are alright." Pina would be thrilled to have a filly around as a guest though, and that brought a gentle smile to the earth pony's face as she closed the door behind her.

~~~~~~Twilight City~~~~~~

"Heya Heya! Welcome Ta' Pony Joes!"

The voice rang proudly through the shop, as two winged figures breezed through the front door. Pony Joe blinked at them, and began to feel a cold sweat travel down his spine. Uh oh. He thought grimly, thinking about his two secret visitors in his apartment above the shop. The bright white pegasus walked silently into the store, with all of the grace of a trained acrobat evident in every movement she made. She was silent as ever, the polar opposite to her ever-present companion - the blue coated thestral with the sexy smile.

The two of them stalked silently across the room, until they reached the counter. The white one peered her head from side to side - before speaking in the most beautiful voice that Joe had heard in a long, long time. "They're upstairs." was all she had to say, and Pony Joe felt a dagger of ice plunge into his back. She then turned her head towards her dark blue companion and said softly. "Be gentle. He is a good soul, and we are not here to cause trouble."

The thestral stuck her tongue out at the white one, and Shadow Dancer spoke next. "Don't bother trying to stall us, Joe. We know who's hiding here, we know where they are, and we don't want trouble." She held up her hoof. "Any more than you do. So here's your choices - you go up there - to tell them we want to talk to them - and we'll leave after with neither hide nor mane touched. We'll even give you a little cash reward for your co-operation." She lifted a jingling bag of bits, which Joe's eyes focused on a moment later.

Dancer smiled lazily. "Of course, if you try to stop us - I'll have to go round up a few Shadowbolts and come force a search of the place. Then word might get back to the Captain about who you were hiding in your shop, and maybe some of the other things you'd rather she didn't find out about. Choice is yours of course." She leaned on his countertop, folding her hooves under her chin and smiling in that confident way of hers. If she wasn't so damn creepy, Joe would probably have found her attractive.

He eyed the bits. He eyed the two females watching him unnervingly. He thought about his shop, and what sort of damage a squadron of Shadowbolts could do to it. He sighed. "Just... hang on a second, alright?" He turned and walked up his back stairwell, wondering how in the name of Celestia he'd gotten tied up in this.

The two winged creatures were not kept waiting long. Pony Joe returned a few minutes later, tossing the bits into his register, he glared at them. "You've got until the evening rush. " he said softly, then stalked out the front door - swinging the sign to 'Closed' as he passed, and drawing the front curtains before exiting the shop.

Minutes later, two pairs of hooves descended the stairs - one heavy, one light. Shining Armor came first, turning to face the pair first with a hard look in his bright blue eyes. He stalked across the floor in the silence - his eyes never leaving the winged pair of ponies. He paused for a moment in front of them. "I want your word that there won’t be any violence." He said, quietly and intensely.

Silent Moon lifted her hoof. "You have my sworn word, Sir Knight. And the word of my companion." Her melodious voice was calm, and justly assured. Shining glared at Dancer, who shrugged at him in a manner very similar to one cyan pegasus, before he nodded at them both. He stomped his hoof three times, and Princess Cadence appeared from seemingly nowhere next to him.

Dancer's eyes went wide at that little trick - and Cadence touched Shining Armor's shoulder. "My love, we can trust them." She said gently, walking around the counter with her eyes never leaving Silent Moon. Oddly enough, Moon's own eyes followed Cadence as she moved - and there was a strange look on her face.

Shining Armor frowned at Dancer again, then nodded and walked around in his wife's wake. "What makes you say that?" He growled, not bothering to do much but watch Cadence's blind spots and then sit himself down at the table she had claimed.

Cadence chuckled softly, her eyes shining with pleasure. "They have True Love for one another, Shiny. Much as we do." Her eyes twinkled with mischief as Shadow Dancer let out a soft, disbelieving gasp. "Though I would suspect few others know about it." Cadence continued, and Shining felt some of his mistrust melt away at that. "Come now." Said Cadence, her tone saucy. "Did you really believe the Alicorn of Love would not know?"

Silent Moon's face transformed into a beautiful smile, and she curled her hoof around Dancer's foreleg, dragging her towards the table. "I had heard tales, M'lady. Yet I did scarce believe them." she spoke softly, with Dancer looking at her in surprise. Moments later, they were all seated at the table. "There is much we need to discuss, M'lady, M'lord." She bowed to both of them, and Dancer crossed her hooves grumpily.

Cadence looked between them, and spoke softly. "Yes, it would seem that way - wouldn't it." she said softly, wondering when her heart would stop sinking into her horseshoes.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the wait guys. Trying to write with a migrane isn't easy. Things might be going slow for the next couple of days or so.

Will keep y'all informed.