Made in Neighpon, Part 2-2

Rainbow Dash and Firecracker gasp in horror as they look down from high above Neighpon still, before them where the Sweet Tea Jamboree once stood, now replaced by large flames shooting up into the air. A large crowd of ponies standing nearby watching things.

"The restaurant," says Rainbow Dash in disbelief. "My friends…"

"Do not loose hope yet, Rainbow Dash," says Firecracker. "They may have escaped before this happened."

"I…I hope so," says Rainbow Dash as she then slowly descends towards the scene.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to be sure, that's all."

"We might get caught you know," says Firecracker as she follows Rainbow Dash.

"A risk I'm willing to take for my friends."

"So you do have some nobility in you," says Firecracker with a chuckle.

The two pegasus then hover down and quickly hide behind a nearby tree and watch the mob as the flames engulfing what was once the Sweet Tea Jamboree restaurant finally begins to dissipate. Yonaguni then steps forward to look around.

"It's that jerk pony from the palace Twilight mentioned," growls Rainbow Dash in anger.

"Prime Minister Yonaguni," says Firecracker, equally annoyed. "Yeah, jerk is the nicest thing you can call him."

"Where are they?" asks Yonaguni annoyed as the guards enter the ruins and search.

"Sir, there's a secret entrance over here!" yells out one of the guards, finding the basement exit in what used to Cinnamon Swirl's bedroom.

"What!?"

"Way to go guys," says Rainbow Dash with relief.

"I want them all found," says Yonaguni as he motions to the exit. "All of them, including the princess. If you fail to find them, don't bother coming back to the palace. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" say the guards before they all descend into the basement depths.

The mob slowly then begins to disperse as Yonaguni exit's the ruins and then looks on at town in the distance. Rainbow Dash and Firecracker continue to watch from behind the tree.

"We have to help the others," says Rainbow Dash as she is about to take off when Firecracker stops her to motion towards Yonaguni.

Yonaguni's eyes suddenly begin to glow red and he laughs to himself, startling the two pegasus.

"So much hate… So much anguish… I can feel my powers growing stronger with each passing second of anger the Neighpon ponies have for those pathetic 'agents of Princess Celestia'…"

"What the hay?" gasps Rainbow Dash in shock. "So this all really was a set-up?"

"And Aurora's feeling of Yonaguni not being a normal pony, too," adds Firecracker.

Rainbow Dash and Firecracker then notice Yonaguni begin to hover and suddenly become enveloped in a black mist and vanish off back towards the palace, them ducking back behind the tree one more time just to be on the safe side.

"Great, now I really know we need to get to the others!" says Rainbow Dash as she takes off into the ruins of the Sweet Tea Jamboree and down into the basement exit.

"Wait, Rainbow Dash!" yells out Firecracker as she follows.

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What started as a narrow escape path down from Cinnamon Swirl's restaurant and away from the threat above, soon turns into a vast cavern with a steady underground river flowing through it. Many beautiful gems decorate the walls as well, illuminating things for the ponies. Spike looks on from atop Twilight's back and drools at the sight of the jewels as everyone walks further into the expansive cavern.

"So, Cinnamon Swirl," says Twilight, as she looks around concerned. "Where is the exit out of this place?"

"It's somewhere ahead," replies the unicorn cheerfully. "Normally I don't use this way out when I come down here."

"What exactly do you do down here?" asks Rarity curiously. "With all these jewels, you could make yourself quite comfortable."

"I'll say," chimes in Spike, still drooling over the sight.

"Jewels?" asks Cinnamon Swirl confused. "Oh, no, no, no… I come down here to find shiitake."

All the ponies look at each other puzzled; they remember Cinnamon speaking of this back at the palace, but to hear it again. They wonder if they should even ask when finally…

"Ah, Cinnamon," says Twilight. "What exactly is a…shiitake?"

"Mushrooms!" says Cinnamon Swirl as she points to the ground where a number of mushrooms growing along one of the cave walls' bottoms. "I can use them for quite a lot of different dishes that aren't treats, but they're really hard to find outside of caves around here."

"O-Oh!" says Twilight with relief as the other ponies let out their own feelings on this. "Mushrooms, right. What a relief."

"What do you mean? What'd you think I was talking about?"

"N-Nothing. Nothing at all."

"Guys!" yells out a voice behind the ponies, whom then turn to see Rainbow Dash approaching them at top speed before screeching to a halt right next to them.

"Rainbow Dash!" exclaims Twilight excitedly. "You're okay!"

"Yeah, yeah, listen you guys, there's something you should know."

"Not now, Rainbow," says Twilight as she continues on with the others. "We need to get out of this cave first."

"No, it's really important! Something that can't wait!" says Rainbow Dash irritated as Firecracker comes flying up as well to the group, looking around for something. "You have to listen as we passed by a whole bunch of guards to tell you about Yonaguni, he--"

"Wait," speaks up Twilight in surprise. "Did you say 'guards'?"

A quick 'Ahem' from behind the ponies causes them to turn their attention to see a large contingency of guards standing before them. They offer awkward smiles to the guards then followed by a brief moment of silence…

"RUN!!!!" yells out Twilight as the ponies do just that and move, the guards quickly following.

The cave's expansive area made it quite daunting for the ponies to escape, the sounds of the guards thundering hoofs echoing all around them.

"We have to loose them," says Twilight.

"How?" asks Applejack. "This here cave doesn't exactly seem ta end!"

"Follow the river," says Twilight, motioning to the others. "It has to lead out somewhere."

The ponies do as told and follow the river around a bit and then turn a corner to find there is indeed an exit to the cave, but it is right down a waterfall.

"Oh, yeah, this is the exit I spoke of," says Cinnamon Swirl gleefully. "I should use it more often as it's the fun way out of the caves."

"Fun!?" gasps Rarity alarmed as equally as the rest of the ponies. "This is fun?"

However, the sounds of the guards getting closer leaves them not many options to chose from. Twilight looks down the rushing water flowing downward and below into the darkness of the night. She then steps back and looks at the others.

"We either let ourselves get caught…or jump."

"Are you mad?" asks Rarity annoyed. "Jump off a waterfall? Do you have any idea what this might do to my beautiful mane?"

"I agree," speaks up Velvet Breeze. "As much as I love a good dip now and then, this is not the kind I would think of doing!"

"Well, you can take yer chances with the guards," says Applejack as she steps back. "Ah'm gonna take my chances elsewhere!"

Applejack then runs and leaps off, down into the darkness as the others look on for a moment and then Apricotta steps back as well.

"Ah ain't come this far to stop now!"

Apricotta then jumps down as well disappearing from everyone's view.

Pinkie Pie and Cinnamon Swirl then step up and jump off with a loud "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" as they fall.

"No, no, no!" says Rarity as she attempts to step back from the waterfall alongside Velvet Breeze. "I refuse to do this!"

"Nor do I," agrees Velvet Breeze. "I'll accept the consequences over this."

"Agreed. Twilight, darling, it's been fun, but I--"

Rarity and Velvet Breeze are suddenly pushed off the ledge by Rainbow Dash and Firecracker whom look on pleased with themselves.

"Rainbow Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaash!!!"

"It was just too good to pass up," says Rainbow Dash to Twilight who looks at her in disbelief at what the two pegasus just did before they take off down after the rest of the ponies.

Fluttershy is about to use her wings to fly down, but sees Mint Tulip cowering as she looks down from the waterfall and then walks over to her.

"Do you want me to drop with you?"

"I-I'm scared, Fluttershy," says Mint Tulip as she cowers back. "I've never done something like this before."

"Neither have I," says Fluttershy in an assuring tone. "However, if it makes you feel any better, I'm scared, too."

"Y-You are?"

"Oh, yes, but I'll go with you if it makes you feel better."

"Th-Thank you…" says Mint Tulip as she slowly walks up to the yellow pegasus and then two look down for a second, close their eyes and jump down.

"Okay, it's just us now," says Twilight to Aurora and Spike.

"T-Twilight, are you sure we'll be okay?" asks Spike nervously.

"No, but hopefully everyone is alright," says Twilight as she turns to Aurora. "See you at the bottom."

With that, Twilight leaps off, Spike clutching to her neck for dear life and then they are gone. Aurora looks down for a moment, and then fixes her gaze upon the darkened horizon. She spreads her wings out and talks to herself.

"Take a leap of faith… Let myself go…"

Aurora steps back a bit from the waterfall edge and closes her eyes as she spreads her wings. As she does this, the guards catch up to see her and come to a halt.

"Princess Aurora, stop at once!" yells one as she then starts to run to the edge.

With a powerful leap, Aurora jumps over the ledge. Everything seems to move in slow motion as she starts to move her wings, flapping repeatedly. She opens her eyes to see herself briefly hovering over things, a look of joy crossing her face. Things quickly change though when she suddenly notices she is descending…fast.

"N-No!" she screams out. "No, no, no! Please! Nooooooooooo!!!"

Aurora then plummets down into the darkness, the guards standing by the waterfall ledge now looking down where the ponies jumped unsure on whether to follow them down into the unknown or not.

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Darkness surrounds Aurora Mist, the sound of rushing water loudly roaring nearby, the feeling of wet ground underneath her. A voice then calls out.

"Princess! Hey, Princess! Wake up!"

Aurora slowly opens her eyes and finds Firecracker hovering over her.

"Good, you're okay," says Firecracker as she gives off a sigh of relief. "I know we never really talked earlier, but I'm Firecracker."

"Firecracker," repeats Aurora as she stands up on weak legs. "Yes, I have heard of you. You're one of our best flyers in Equestria."

"No, just Neighpon," corrects Firecracker. "Look, we have to move now."

"What of Twilight and the others?"

"She and all of her friends somehow got swept further down from the waterfall than the rest of us," says Firecracker as she motions to the group behind her consisting of all the Neighpon ponies and Spike. "The little dragon friend of theirs though is still with us."

"Oh, no," gasps Aurora as she walks over to the others with Firecracker floating behind. "We have to find them!"

"How? This river looks like it's ridiculously long.," says Firecracker. "There's no telling where they might have ended up."

"They couldn't have gotten far. Twilight and her friends seem to be the resourceful sort."

"Th-They are!" says Spike excitedly before becoming worried. "I mean…usually."

"We will find them, Spike," says Aurora as she consoles the obviously worried baby dragon.

"So what are we waiting for?" asks Cinnamon Swirl as she starts down an old dirt trail nearby. "Let's go find those ponies!"

The other Neighpon ponies exchange briefly glances before they then follow along, Aurora allowing Spike to hop on her back to ride along.

"Ah wonder," says Apricotta thinking on things. "Twilight said my cousin and her friends were the ones to defeat that Nightmare Moon gal some time ago…"

"Yes, Rarity spoke it of this while were at my shop as well," says Velvet Breeze. "The Elements of Harmony were what they used to defeat her."

"Yeah, except that they was the Elements themselves."

"I-It all sounds so amazing," says Mint Tulip as she continues to keep her distance a bit from the other ponies. "I c-could never d-do something as amazing as they d-did..."

"Don't say that," says Aurora towards the scared pony. "I'm sure Twilight and her friends never expected they would end doing something as great as stop somepony as powerful as Nightmare Moon. Let alone do the things they did."

"Unless you asked Rainbow Dash," says Firecracker with a shrug. "I never heard so much boasting before in my life until she showed up."

"Ya almost seem ta sound jealous," says Apricotta to Firecracker with a chuckle. "You maybe want ta be fighting some kind of evil or something?"

"N-No, I just get annoyed when others say how much better they are to most other ponies," says Firecracker as she flies up next to Apricotta annoyed. "When I say I can do something, it's because I know I can."

"And how's that not boasting?"

"How?" asks Firecracker, surprised at the foreign pony in shock. "I don't make claims on things I can and can't do, I prove them."

"Ugh, it's like watching two fillies fighting," groans Velvet Breeze. "Aurora, as much as things with the Prime Minister have become, is all this really worth it?"

"You saw what he's turned Neighpon into, Velvet," says Aurora turning to the red mare. "I don't believe he has its best interests in mind as much as he says."

"Still, Twilight's friends did trash a sizeable amount of Neighpon you have to admit that."

"B-But it was an accident," speaks up Mint Tulip, surprising the others. "Fluttershy w-wanted to see some animals, and I… I screwed up. T-That's why the nues attacked."

"Yeah, it kind of sort of wasn't Rainbow Dash's fault either," says Firecracker embarrassed. "I kinda challenged her and riled her up just as much as she did to me, and we got carried away."

"I suppose then I'm equally at fault for things then as well," says Velvet Breeze with a sigh. "After all, I did want to see designs from Rarity and what they wear outside of Neighpon. I just didn't think it would create such a frenzy as it did."

"Regardless of things now, Twilight and her friends have been falsely made to look like something they're not," says Aurora as she glances back at Spike. "This prejudice towards them due to a legend is not fair."

"Oh, crap, that reminds me," speaks up Firecracker as she remembers something. "Aurora, we were trying to tell you and Twilight earlier about this!"

"About what?"

"Yonaguni! We saw him after everypony left while you guys were in that cave! His eyes, they were all glowing and he was all gloating about some kind of powers through hate thing, and how he--"

"Slow down, slow down! What are you trying to say, Firecracker?"

"You were right about Yonaguni, that's what! He isn't a normal pony!"

"I coulda figured that with him having a ninja army," scoffs Apricotta.

"No! He's got some kind of creepy powers or something! He turned into some kind of black mist as he left when we were watching even!"

"Black mist!?" gasps Aurora in horror as she recalls something. "No…then it's truly happened."

"Uh, what happened?" asks Apricotta as the Neighpon ponies stop to look at the ex-princess.

"The prophecy," says Aurora. "When foreigners once again set foot in Neighpon, they would cause the destruction of Neighpon, and then the demon lord would be freed once again to spread his chaos across the world. Tirak…is loose."

"Uh, yeah, we heard that part, but we still ain't seen a demon around, Aurora."

"What if he was just hidden, Apricotta?"

"Say what?"

"What if he took on an appearance to disguise himself?"

"Wait, wait, wait! Are you sayin'?"

"…We have to get to Twilight and her friends now!" says Aurora as she quickly runs down the trail past the others.

"H-Hey! Wait fer us!" yells out Apricotta as she follows.

"I-I don't want to be left alone in the dark!" squeals Mint Tulip in fright as she too follows.

"Woo-hoo! A race!" says Cinnamon Swirl as she too, then takes off.

Velvet Breeze and Firecracker just look on briefly at the other ponies running off, then each other.

"So you still feel like coming along on this?" asks Firecracker curiously.

"As much as it worries me how this will all end up, I somehow feel I should," says Velvet Breeze with a sigh. "I don't know why, but it just feels like this is right."

"Weird, I kind of feel that way, too."

With that, the two ponies take off after the others just as some of the palace guards fly by looking for them, narrowly missing spotting them by sheer seconds.
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Not to far down the river from where the Neighpon ponies with Spike washed ashore, Twilight Sparkle and her friends move on down a similar dirt trail with a similar mission in mind, finding the other ponies.

"We're lost aren't we?" asks Rarity with a groan as she walks along with Twilight and her friends. "We're lost out the middle of a land we have no idea of where we are, pursued by guards and ninjas alike, and for what?"

"Rarity, ah swear if ya'd just quit yer whining for just one moment," says Applejack, turning to the white mare annoyed.

"This isn't whining," says Rarity aghast at Applejack's accusation. "If you want whining…"

"No, no! Ah'm good."

"So anyway," says Rainbow Dash as she hovers alongside Twilight as they move on. "Firecracker and I were racing, and then we got back to the restaurant to meet up with guys, and then--"

"Rainbow Dash, is there a point to this story?" asks Twilight with a raised eyebrow. "We have to find the others before those guards or possibly Yonaguni's ninja ponies do."

"Uh…duh. Of course, there's a point. I'm getting to that. Anyway, we were coming back and we saw that the Neighpon ponies burnt the place down and Firecracker was all like 'Oh no, our friends', but I was all 'They're fine', and then--"

"Rainbow Dash, could ya maybe just say whatcha need ta say rather then spoutin' off a lot of hooey?" asks Applejack. "We ain't got all night."

"Right, right, it's about that Yonaguni pony," says Rainbow Dash continuing. "We watched as the other ponies left and then he was all talking some weird stuff about 'powers growing', and had glowing eyes, and turned into some weird dark mist even--"

"What?" asks Twilight surprised. "Are you kidding, Rainbow Dash?"

"Why would I kid about something like this?"

"Didn't Aurora say something about Yonaguni wasn't normal?" asks Fluttershy curiously.

"She did, Fluttershy," says Twilight as she ponders this. "I wonder…"

"Ya think Yonaguni's part of that there prophecy thing Aurora mentioned?" asks Applejack. "Ain't natural fer a pony to have glowing eyes and turn into a mist like Rainbow Dash here is sayin' unless there's something weird going on."

"It isn't natural for any pony to have those things," says Twilight. "I have a real bad feeling about all of this."

"I thought you were feeling really positive about things, Twilight," says Pinkie Pie as she hops up next to the purple unicorn. "You said if we got that thingie Princess Celestia had us bring back we'd fix things up all hunky-dory."

"I never said it would fix things, Pinkie Pie. Just that we need to try and get it back."

"Okay, say we get it back," says Rainbow Dash as she flies up next to Twilight. "What then?"

"I… I don't know just yet," says Twilight worried. "We were trying to come up with a plan when that mob showed up at the restaurant."

"Ah wonder what coulda possibly gave away our location," says Applejack sarcastically towards Rainbow Dash.

"Hey. Don't blame this on me," says Rainbow Dash defensively. "I didn't lead them there."

"No? You and that Firecracker gal went out flying. Somepony musta saw ya coming from the Sweet Tea Jamboree and told the town."

"Ugh, well, it wasn't like they probably wouldn't have found where we were hiding eventually anyway." says Rainbow Dash as she crosses her arms and turns away from th other ponies. "Some trip this has been…"

The ponies then arrive at what appears to be an abandoned farm at the end of the trail, it obviously has seen better days as much of the fenced off gate to the farm is falling apart or badly in need of repair. There are many trees about the land that look to be fruit bearing, though no fruit is on them. A farmhouse sits off in the distance next to some mountains.

"Ya think maybe the other ponies mighta came here, Twilight?" asks Applejack as she looks around cautiously.

"Ugh, I should hope not," says Rarity as she lifts a hoof up in disgust. "This place looks like it hasn't seen any work on it in quite some time."

"We should keep moving," says Twilight as she looks to the sky. "So long as it's night out we have a better chance of not being spotted by guards looking for us."

"Twilight, wait a second," says Applejack as she approaches a ruined sign next to the gate and reads it. "'Apricot Acres'!? This here was my Aunt and Uncle's farm!"

"Oh, looks like it fell on hard times," observes Pinkie Pie as she taps the fence, only to have in crumble to pieces afterwards.

"Ah have to look, Twilight," says Applejack pleadingly. "Please. Just a quick look around."

Twilight sighs. She knows they should keep moving, but at the same time knows her friends are tired. She's tired. It's been a long day with many stressful things happening.

Yet, Aurora and the other ponies are still out there. Spike was still out there. She didn't want to stop searching for them, but where would they look? Would they be able to even find them?

She turns to her friends and looks at them concerned. They've been thru quite a lot of things together in the short time they've known each other. This situation though was beginning to make the whole incident with Nightmare Moon feel tame in comparison. She finally decides…

"Alright, Applejack, we can look, but we shouldn't be here for too long. Who knows when we'll be found again."

"Ah, Thank ya, Twilight," says Applejack relieved. "Ah promise it won't take long at all."

Applejack then gallops over towards the farmhouse, the other ponies staying by Twilight's side briefly.

"You sure about this?" asks Rainbow Dash.

"No, but maybe with this being Applejack's cousin's farm, her cousin and the others might head here, too," says Twilight as she motions towards the farmhouse. "Let's at least take a quick rest."

"In there?" asks Rarity towards the farmhouse frightfully. "Certainly not."

"Well, you can always stay out here in the dark by yourself then," says Rainbow Dash teasingly. "I'm sure the animals out here will love your company."

As Rainbow Dash says this, an owl hoots and scares the already on edge Rarity, causing her to jump up shrieking and running towards the farmhouse, leaving the other ponies stunned for a moment before turning to Rainbow Dash whom simply chuckles and shrugs. The ponies then make their way to the farmhouse as well…

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Velvet Breeze suddenly jumps in fright, leaping into Cinnamon Swirl's arms nearby, looking around for signs of something.

"Did you hear that?" she asks nervously.

"Hear what?" asks Apricotta. "Ah don't hear a thing."

"Neither do I, Velvet," says Aurora as she turns to the red unicorn.

"How could you not?" asks Velvet annoyed as she has Cinnamon Swirl let her down. "A lady shouldn't be out here at this time of night, let alone out here with who knows what."

"I-It's just the animals that are a-awake at night," says Mint Tulip. "They're n-not harmful."

"What about those nues you encountered earlier?" asks Velvet unimpressed by the scared pony's words. "They seemed to want to harm you and the yellow pegasus you were with."

"F-Fluttershy…"

"Yes, that's her name. So if the little woodland creatures are so harmless around here…"

"Ya lived here all your life haven't ya?" asks Apricotta in an effort to help Mint Tulip with Velvet Breeze.

"Of course," says Velvet proudly. "However, I have never needed to travel so far out of town before given my specialty is making outfits for ponies."

"Well, ah'll let you in on something. Ah've lived out around these parts and while there's a lot of different animals out here. They generally don't mean no harm. Out here... Ya just have to be willin' ta let go of yerself and take it all in."

"Rainbow Dash told me something like that," says Aurora in surprise.

"What fer, Aurora?"

"W-Well… I asked her and Firecracker to help me to fly."

"Oh, uh, yeah," speaks Firecracker as she tries to shy away from the conversation. "Y-Yeah, that…"

"You two didn't help her, did you?" observes Velvet. "So like a pegasus…"

"What?" snaps Firecracker in surprise. "It's not like that. We didn't help because… Well, because neither of us would be good teachers on that. It's just something you kind of pick up on over time and with practice. Really."

"I see," says Velvet unimpressed. "So you leave the princess to try on her own? You couldn't at least try?"

"Well, we could have I guess…," says Firecracker somberly as she turns to Aurora. "Sorry, Aurora…"

"No, I should apologize," says Aurora as she shakes her head. "I put you and Rainbow Dash on the pot asking you to do something you were unsure you could do."

"Yay! Everyone is feeling sorry for themselves!" chimes in Cinnamon Swirl. "Group hug!"

Before any of the Neighpon ponies and Spike can object, Cinnamon Swirl has wrapped her arms somehow completely around all of them, using her horn's magical power to bring the timid Mint Tulip in as well.

"C-Cinnamon!" says Aurora as she struggles to break free from being crushed. "We appreciate the gesture, but…"

"Surprising she is so full of joy after everything that's happened," adds Velvet as equally strained.

"If we let the little things get to us then we'll become controlled by them, silly," says Cinnamon with a giggle. "Friendships cannot be replaced once broken unlike a home, a toy, or a recipe for a new treat."

"Her words seem somehow…logical," says Velvet in surprise.

"Um, guys," speaks up Spike, crushed right between Cinnamon Swirl and the others. "We are still looking for Twilight and the others, right?"

"Oh, right," says Cinnamon Swirl surprised as she drops everyone like sacks of potatoes, hitting the ground with one loud 'thud'. "Now where could they have gotten off to?"

"Maybe they got to my family's farm," says Apricotta as she picks herself up off the ground. "It's not far from here."

"It's possible," adds Aurora, brushing off her behind. "If anything it's a good place to start."

"Then what are we waiting for?" asks Firecracker confidently. "Let's go!"

Spike jumps back onto Aurora's back and she and Firecracker start to head off while Velvet Breeze looks on in disbelief.

"Seriously? More walking?" she moans before she is suddenly pushed from behind.

"Come on now, it's not that far," says Apricotta. "We'll be there lickety-split."

"Is that a dessert back where you come from, Apricotta?" asks Cinnamon Swirl curiously, as she hops along.

Mint Tulip then looks around briefly in the darkness and then up at the moon shining in the night sky. She's scared of being out in the dark so late at night, but at the same time, she finds herself scared to be alone. Normally, the animals of the forest keep her company, but tonight feels different. She longs for the company of the other ponies. Somehow, it feels right.

Suddenly, something starts to cover the moonlit sky above her, startling her. She looks up to see a creepy dark mist enveloping things. It is unnatural as it moves slowly along. An almost eerie laughter emits from with in it.

"G-g-g-g-g-uys!" shrieks Mint Tulip as she then runs towards the others just as the dark mist envelops where she once stood.

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The creak of the farmhouse front door does little to soothe Twilight and her friends' nerves as they prepare to enter. The building has obviously seen better days, looking as though it was ransacked by a few different groups, leaving only the pieces of furniture and other decorations too heavy or much work to take.

"How long has it been since Uncle and Aunt Apricot were kidnapped?" asks Applejack surprised as she looks around what used to be the living room, finding a photo of her relatives on a nearby counter.

"This place is simply dreadful," says Rarity aghast at the site. "It needs a total remodel for it to ever look even remotely descent again."

"Well, it doesn't look like Aurora and the others are here yet," says Twilight as she and the other ponies continue to look around. "Still, for now we should take a rest."

"I'm up for that," says Rainbow Dash as she floats over to a couch and settles in.

"Why would you be up if you're going down, silly?" asks Pinkie Pie suddenly from out under the couch pillows, scaring Rainbow Dash and causing her to jump up to the ceiling and clutching a lamppost.

"P-Pinkie Pie!" snaps Rainbow Dash annoyed before she notices a cracking noise and looks up to see the lamp break off the ceiling and she goes crashing down the floor along with it.

The ponies all cough from the kick up of dust from the impact, Twilight waves it away with her hoof when she notices where the lamppost and Rainbow Dash had crashed, is now an opening in the living room floor.

"Girls, look!" says Twilight as she points at the opening.

"What in tarnation?" asks Applejack surprised. "Another secret door? Ah swear, what is up with this place and secret doors?"

"Do you think we should take a look, Twilight?" asks Fluttershy in an unsure tone. "It looks awfully dark down there."

"It also might give us some more answers to everything," says Twilight sternly. "One thing being perhaps why Yonaguni wanted this land from Applejack's family."

Twilight then causes her unicorn horn to glow to create light and she jumps down the hole, the others reluctantly following.

Upon landing, Twilight and her friends finds themselves in what appears to be a tomb, Rainbow Dash nearby rubbing her backside in pain.

"Are you okay, Rainbow?" asks Twilight as she approaches.

"Y-Yeah, nothing I can't handle," says Rainbow Dash before she looks around at things thanks to Twilight's light. "Whoa… Did I just say nothing?"

The ponies begin to walk further into the tomb, finding many stone columns with writing set up about the ground.

"Ya ever get the feeling we shouldn't be here?" asks Applejack concerned.

"I've had that feeling ever since we got here," scoffs Rainbow Dash. "They should change this whole land's name to 'Unwelcome'."

"No, Applejack's right," says Twilight motioning to the stone columns. "Something about this place in particular… It feels like this was a place to keep ponies out."

"Or ta keep somethin' in," adds Applejack.

"Tirak," suddenly speaks up Fluttershy, surprising the others.

"What was that, Fluttershy?" asks Twilight surprised.

"This place to keep the demon lord Tirak sealed away."

"How do you know that, Fluttershy?" asks Rarity curiously. "I mean yes, the whole place screams 'evil', but to say it's actually where this demon we've heard came from…"

"But it says so right on that big statue there," says Fluttershy pointing upwards at a large imposing statue where a plague and busted urn sits underneath.

The ponies gasp as they look at the statue before them briefly. A large hideous looking being somehow with the lower body of a horse and yet the upper body of something else they are unfamiliar with. It seems to have appendages sticking out of what might be it's neck, but then it has a smaller neck just above that with head attached.

"Is that…really Tirak?" asks Twilight to herself in disbelief.

"I'd sure hate to be caught between a wall and him," says Applejack.

"Funny you should say that," says a voice from behind the ponies, startling them.

The ponies turn to see Yonaguni standing behind them in the tomb entrance with several guards.

"It's that Yonaguni jerk!" says Rainbow Dash.

"No, it's not," says Twilight worried.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"This is where Princesses Celestia and Luna sealed you away, isn't it, Tirak?"

"What?" gasps the others at Twilight, then look to Yonaguni.

"Clever girl," chuckles Yonaguni. "I suppose I should not have expected anything less from Princess Celestia's 'prize pupil', should I?"

"It had to be you," says Twilight angered. "What Aurora said about the prophecy, your convenient timing showing up to 'help' the Emperor, not to mention what Rainbow Dash told us about seeing you doing strange things no ordinary pony could do. Then finding this tomb…"

"Ah, yes, this tomb," says Yonaguni. "This tomb that had kept me imprisoned for so many centuries. It was nice of the foreign ponies that came to live here to release me."

"What?" gasps Applejack in shock. "My family let you out!?"

"Not on purpose mind you, but I believe the pony with the little cone hat on would be able to explain things best."

"A-Apricotta, let Tirak loose? It can't be…"

"So what are you really planning, Tirak?" asks Twilight annoyed. "Or should I still call you Yonaguni? Obviously you aren't planning simply to close off Neighpon and expel all foreigners."

"It does not matter what you call me, Pupil of Celestia," chuckles Yonaguni. "Thanks to your friends' destruction of most of Neighpon, I have enough hatred, sorrow, and anguish among the populace to bring my real plan to fruition."

"Which is?"

"Oh, you are such a curious little mare, aren't you? Surely, you can guess already can't you?"

"Spreading the power of darkness over all of Equestria."

"Of course, and to do that, I need help as any great and powerful demon would. I need minions to help do my bidding of course. Do you know how that is done?"

"Oh! You put out job applications, right?" asks Pinkie Pie cheerfully as the other ponies shake their heads.

"I create them using the very corruption in ponies!" says Yonaguni as he motions to the guards behind him. "The very darkness in their hearts. All ponies have some part of them that is easily manipulated and can be twisted as I so desire, turning them to into more demons for my army to march over all of Equestria and fulfill my plans."

"What'd ya do to my Aunt and Uncle!" snaps Applejack as Fluttershy and Rarity try to hold her back suddenly.

"Ah, yes, the apricot farmers," chuckles Yonaguni. "They've become quite useful to me actually."

"WHERE ARE THEY?"

"Perhaps you should worry about yourself and your friends' first, little pony," laughs Yonaguni as he steps forth and an eerie glow surrounds him and the guards.

The ponies back away in fright as Yonaguni suddenly transformers into a massive being just like the statue behind them, but wearing armor similar to the guards with a much more frightening look. A pair of red glowing eyes emerge from behind a demonic mask with a helmet with a huge crest across it resembling a bull's horns.

The guards then transform as well, turning into deformed looking creatures standing atop two feet, still wearing the armor they did as ponies, though now also becoming much more warped and twisted. They make grunts and groans as they shuffle back around Yonaguni, now Tirak, ready to do his bidding.

"Y-You don't scare us," says Twilight, aiming her glowing horn at Tirak. "I see now the real reason why we were sent here by the Princess, and it obviously was to stop you, just like we did Nightmare Moon!"

"Nightmare Moon!?" laughs Tirak. "Please, that mare was small-time compared to me, wanting simply to keep the night going forever. As you already heard, my plans are much, much more productive."

"He…knows about Nightmare Moon?" gasps Rarity in shock.

"Who do you think help give Princess Luna that hint of jealousy against her sister? What could have corrupted her thoughts so? All it takes is one hint of jealousy, one hint of anger, and a pony no matter how powerful, can be twisted by it, turned against even their most loved ones."

Tirak then paces back and forth a bit thinking on things amusingly.

"I had been sealed by both Princesses, but my mark was left on the poor little Princess Luna… A shame she was unable to complete her plans as obviously Princess Celestia proved herself to be stronger than I had thought. And then there's you ponies."

"We stopped her," says Twilight as Tirak nods.

"Yes, I knew the Princess would have something in mind just for that, and I know she believes she has something in mind here as well. She is quite sharp of mind with these things."

"Of course she is," says Twilight proudly. "And that's why we will stop you."

"With what? Your Elements of Harmony?" scoffs Tirak. "You think what worked on Nightmare Moon would do the same to me?"

"The prophecy of the 'Rainbow of Light', Tirak," says Twilight with a smile. "It has something to do with what we brought to Neighpon, isn't it? You're afraid of it, so you had it switched on us back at the palace. That is why, isn't it?"

Tirak looks at the purple unicorn irritated. She reminds him so much of Princess Celestia. How smug she was when she bested him, and yet here was a lowly unicorn actually trying to be the same way, this unicorn that the Princess took in and trained as a star pupil. How ironic it would be if he could twist her mind against her beloved Princess and send her to deal with her, but then he tried that with her own sister and that failed.

"I have decided something," says Tirak as he motions to his minions, whom suddenly head for the entrance to the tomb and leap out. "Since you seem to love studying the past so much, you can join it."

"What?" asks Twilight in shock as Tirak suddenly turns into black mist and quickly flies up and out of the tomb before the ponies can react.

The entryway is suddenly blown up as rock comes tumbling down into the tomb, sealing the ponies in. As it does, the entire farmhouse outside then collapses downward atop of things as well.

As the dust clears, Tirak steps forth and looks down at the grave he has created for Twilight and her friends and then to the sky as the black mist continues to envelop the land overhead. He laughs and raises his arms.

"The hour of darkness is at hand, my minions. It is time to change this wretched land into something far more appropriate…"

Tirak's hands then glow red and the black mist begins to gather around him and the minions and then shoots outward. Turning all the land dark, trees wither under the mist, building fall apart, water turns black, and the sky gray.

The mist then approaches Neighpon Palace and swirls around the palace transforming it from its once beautiful unique spender to a twisted tall black tower of spikes and columns, several large dragon-like creatures suddenly appear and swirl around the base.

"With all of Neighpon's ponies soon to be bent to my whim, Princess Celestia's ponies dealt with, and my Chariot of Darkness nearly ready to ride, there will be nothing the Princess or any pony can do to stop me from spreading darkness forever across all of Equestria! Now, onward to my Castle of Darkness!"


Tirak laughs again, then transforms into mist along with his minions, and flies off towards his newly formed castle in the distance, the fates of Twilight and her friends as well as Aurora and the others, unknown…


To Be Continued…