The Crystal Express chugged along the tracks, making its way towards the capital of Canterlot. On the way there, Flurry grew more steadily worried as the sky began changing from its normal crystal blue to an evil orange and finally to a revolting green. Midnight had taken complete control over the elements of Equestria, and it was very apparent. Still, Flurry knew they had to try and take her out. They had to bring her to justice. She had enslaved Equestria and was most likely killing ponies as they traveled.

"Do you think she's the one responsible for Sharpshooter's hit list?" She asked Sunlight.

Sunlight nodded. "I have no doubt of it. She wanted to try and kill all of our parents' friends before she went after our mothers. But we stopped Sharpshooter mid-assault, and Midnight's plan was wrecked before it could reach an apex."

"I guess you're right. But if she's that malicious and malevolent, how the hay are we gonna stop her?! We're just fillies!"

"You're not exactly a filly anymore, Flurry," Sunlight said with a smirk. She pointed to Flurry's newly disguised body. Her yellow coat glistened, and her blue eyes glowed. Still, she was nervous about her part in Sunlight's operation. She didn't know how to distract ponies.

"So…to recap, I distract Iron Wing while you break into the palace and take care of Midnight for good, right?"

"Right."

"But…how am I supposed to do that?"

"You know, be flirtatious and seductive. In other words, do what you see your Mommy do to your Daddy sometimes."

Flurry thought long and hard, but she didn't think she had ever seen her mother and father behave in that fashion. True, they shared the appropriate public displays between spouses, but other than that, they never committed any form of debauchery. They just hugged and kissed. They were never overbearing or disgusting about it.

"So…I should kiss Iron Wing? If so, then I am out! That's disgusting!"

"I never said you had to kiss him, Flurry! Just wiggle your backside and bat your eyes at him. He's sure to come after you."

"But he said he loves Midnight."

"And you believe him?"

Flurry realized that her cousin made an excellent point. Iron Wing was the most untrustworthy pony in the history of Equestria. She couldn't see him having the same love for Midnight that her mother did for her father or her Aunt Twilight did for her Uncle Flash. She had seen true love demonstrated between the two couples, and she had dreams of experiencing it for herself one day. In that moment, she determined in her heart that she would do whatever it took to distract Iron Wing.

"OK, Sunlight, I think I'm ready."

"Good, because we're just about to Canterlot."

"I did have one more thing I wanted to discuss with you," Flurry said, looking downward. Sunlight noticed her friend's voice change from one of confidence and determination to one of sadness and depression. That was the last thing she needed to be feeling right now.

"Flurry, you've got to remain confident! We're almost ready to launch our attack!"

"I'm confident in that, but…I'm just not confident my Mom and Dad love me as much as they did."

"What?! Flurry, that's crazy!"

"But, they threw me in my room and grounded me!"

"So? Flurry, that's called a punishment, and they do it because they love you. If they didn't love you, they would never set any rules or put up any boundaries for you. They just don't want you getting hurt. Come on. You should know better than to think like that!"

"Yeah…I guess I lost my head."

"I know what it feels like to want to blame your parents for something, but the truth is that the fault lies with you. The sooner you learn to accept the blame and forgive yourself for it, the happier you'll be. Trust me."

Flurry looked at her cousin with pride. She had grown into such a wise young filly, and she still wasn't fully grown. If she continued on this trajectory, then she could find herself as one of the smartest and most compassionate mares in Equestria. She had all the makings of a wonderful Princess of Friendship one day.

The fillies had their conversation cut short when The Crystal Express's brakes squealed and they pulled into the Canterlot Station. They disembarked and ran through the streets of the royal city towards the castle. When they got there, they both stopped short. The castle had been completely transformed, and not in a good way. Vines and thorns hung from the sides. A horrible mixture of black, green, purple, and grey covered the outside. A thick layer of slime ran from holes in the sides.

The two fillies gulped and looked at each other. They nodded, silently determining to force their way through the external ugliness. "Now, you're sure this disguise is gonna work," Flurry said, gauging her cousin's reaction. Sunlight nodded furiously. "Of course I'm sure! Look, you're disguised as a hot, sexy young mare! Iron Wing's gonna flip over you! All the young stallions do!"

"Alright…" Flurry said. She still wasn't too sure she could pull off the disguise, but she was definitely going to try her hardest. "So…I just walk up to Iron Wing and wiggle my backside and bat my eyes a bit?"

"Act like you've lost your way and need help finding where to go. Oh, and mention your support of Midnight's regime! He'll eat that up!"

So Flurry, in her Sunset Shimmer disguise, walked over to the front doors of the castle. She knocked and Iron Wing opened it in a huff. "Yeah, what is it?! Come on, I don't got all day!" He said in his thickly accented Manehattan voice.

Flurry immediately turned the charm up to a thousand. "Why, you're Iron Wing! My stars, how I've wanted to meet you. But, alas…I am lost. I was trying to find my way to the meeting of the 'Midnight is the best thing ever to happen in the history of Equestria' Convention, and I got lost along Midnight Street. Do you know the way to Midnight Street #4?"

Good grief! Sunlight thought from her hiding spot in the bushes nearby, Midnight's really named the streets after herself? All of them? Every single one? Wow, that's…remarkably stupid.

Flurry kept working the disguise, batting her bright blue eyes at Iron Wing and wiggling herself. True to Sunlight's word, Iron Wing's eyes bugged out of his head and a huge smile appeared on his face. He leered at Flurry with a suggestive look on his face. "Maybe I can help you find it," he said with great huskiness evident in his voice. He advanced on her in a threatening way. She tried to talk her way out of it, but to no avail.

Sunlight realized that he wanted to take her somewhere and do something with her, and she could bet it wasn't going out for ice cream. She tried to stop him from kidnapping her, but it was too late. He grabbed Flurry and drug her screaming back into the castle. "NO!" Sunlight yelled as she charged from her hiding spot. But she ran right into the front doors of the castle.

Now, Sunlight knew she would have to carry on the rest of the plan by herself. "Alright," she said out loud, "I'm not a scared little filly. I'm a determined little filly. I'm going to find Midnight, and she will pay for this."

With that, she cast a spell on her legs to be able to jump three times as high as the average pony. She leapt from her position and landed on a balcony. She quickly located the nearest air duct and wiggled her way inside, being very careful not to alert the two guards who were standing watch up there. I will get to Midnight, rescue my family, and give control Equestria back to the princesses! I swear it!