Thinking about it… I think the shadowponies belong to Hasbros, you know the comics they release? Except, all but Sombra is dead. Hm. So, the RACE belongs to Hasbros, but they're still my little minions! (Slow Mocking Laugh.) Oh yeah, 10th Chapter! Woooo hoo! It's almost been a year, I don't know if that's bad, lol.

I had a lot of reviews asking me where's somebody in Chapter 4. Okay, Discord and Luna and everypony in the prison else was released, when Rarity was teleported out of the castle. They fell on Pinkie and squashed her, haha, that was originally suppose to be in. I thought it was better off without. Sorry for the misunderstanding! Anyways, back to the story!

The next morning, Rarity's face was on the floor, squished against the iron door. Her hind-legs were hanging awkwardly in the air, a blanket on the left hoof. Her case and right ear twitched as she rubbed her nose.

Meanwhile, Zippy was knocking rapidly on the door. He was originally going to open it and declare "Good morning, sunshine!" The problem was, he couldn't open it.

"M-miss Rarity? Breakfast?" He looked around, adding: "Hello? Help? Someshadow help me open this door? It's not locked. Hello? Why is everypony ignoring me?!" Zip glared at the solitude shadow, which was walking by casually. He grinned awkwardly and hasted away into the bucket's shadow. "Why does everypony hate me?" Zip sulked, pushing Rarity's pancakes away. He quickly sat up when his ears alerted him of another pony coming by.

"Hello, Zippy." Blacky greeted.

"Oh, hi! Please help me?" Zip begged.

Black came to him, "Of course, what seems to be the problem?"

"This stupid door wouldn't open! I swear, there's a tree blocking it!" his friend ranted, kicking the door in progress. "I can't slip through the walls because of the pancakes! Syrup, blueberries, butter, strawberries, my hoof! Let's not forget the whipped cream, sprinkles, on a used-to-be-hot chocolate! Pooh! Kill me somepony, but -oh no-oo-oo-oh, we can't 'cause we're freaking already dead!"

"Okay, okay, calm down. We'll just shove this door open by force." Blacky assured, "Now, let's get Screa down here." Some moments later after Blacky left, the said returned with a flying shadow pony.

"'ove the pancapes aside! Tet's 'et dis door o-pen!" Screa rubbed his hooves eagerly.

"On three!" Blacky shouted as he shoved the pancakes to a corner. "Zippy, please do the honors?"

"Hye I can'd do it?" Screa complained.

"You're terrible at counting." Zippy snorted.

"No 'Am nod! One, Fity, Balizzon, Two." Screa attempted.

"Please don't ask again." Zip sighed, "One! Twoooooo-"

Meanwhile Rarity was just arising from a deep sleep. "What? Huh?"

"THREE!" Zippy roared, and the three shadows slammed their shoulders against the door. It was too much for the steel hinges. It squealed as Rarity was thrown across the room, blanket flying, as the three servants charged in.

"Breaaaaaaaak-fast!" Screa hollered, bucking around the room. The other two watched Rarity, which was sprawling on the ground, her blanket settling down on her head. "Um, ow?" She squeaked. Zippy chuckled nervously while Blacky face-hoofed. Rarity torn the blanket off of her and squinted at them.

"Honestly, how did you toss me off my bed?!" she asked, stretching.

"I dink woo were by dat moor." Screa answered, calming down.

Rarity heaved a long sigh. Ever since the journey to the Crystal Empire, she ended up in odd places because of her nightmares.

She realized something terrifying… "Eep! How dare you look at me when I just woke up?!" and pulled the blanket upward, her face burning scarlet. The stallions (except for Screa, whom was drooling at her glorious bed hair) quickly looked at random objects, and whistled.

"Shad up, e're monies. Anyway…. Breaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak-fast!" Screa repeated, whipping out pancakes and a cup of cold, melted whipped cream, hot chocolate.

"Thank you," Rarity awkwardly wrapped herself in her cover and levitated the pancakes towards her.

"Our pleasures miss." Zippy continued to stare at the brush as he walked through the walls.

"You know, when I meant sleep well, I didn't mean fall asleep on the door." Blacky said drily.

"Uh-h-hhh-I, err…. It was comfortable?" the mare stammered, embarrassed.

Blacky rolled his eyes and bowed, "Enjoy your day off." Then he closed the door. The white unicorn was grateful that he didn't question it further.

Rat-tat-rat-tat!

"King Sombra, let us in and let us see Rarity!" Twilight Sparkle hollered, and continued to knock on the invisible glass shield.

"Let me try," Apple Jack turned and bucked the force. The shield protested with a loud BOOM!

Moments later, Rarity appeared out of the castle. She awkwardly walked towards them, because of her injured hoof. "Girls? What are you doing here?" the white unicorn questioned her two friends and her sister.

Sweetie Belle gave out a gasp, "So it is true! You did hurt your hoof!"

"Aw, you came to visit me?" Sweetie's older sister feelings were touched. Her friends grinned and nodded eagerly.

"So, can we come in or no?" Apple Jack asked.

"There you guys are!" Pinkie galloped to the mares, gasping.

"I was wondering when you would come, Pinkie Pie!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Things were busy at the Sugar Cube Corner, but no worries! Gummy has it all in control!" she explained.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Cube was in chaos as Gummy sat motionless at the casher. Stoves roaring and spitting fire, the toddlers of the owner were stuffing their faces with goodies. Many customers were complaining and a few were shrieking at the rapidly rising sponge cake. One of the Pegasus's tail caught on fire, causing the victim to flying around screaming for water. A unicorn dared to steal a candy and hurried out. Pinkie Pie was left in charge since the Cakes were going on their wedding anniversary vacation. Somehow, the building wasn't catching flames.

"I'm pretty sure the ponies are impressed with him. He's so responsible, too! After all, how could I miss a chance to see my friends?" Pinkie babbled on.

"How can we go through this?" Sweetie Bell asked, and poked the boundary. Her poking hoof shot straight up in the air.

"It's eeeeasy! Just walk straight through it!" the pink pony declared, marching straight to Rarity. "Ta dah!"

"Intruder!" a shadow pony roared and rose out of the ground, charging at Pinkie Pie. Sweetie Belle screamed and the two other mares jumped back.

"Hi!" Pinkie chirped, grinning boldly and waving. The moment the shadowpony hits Pinkie's shadow (the morning sun was behind her), Pinkie was thrown off balance. "Hey! Is that how you greet guests?!" she screeched, tugging away from the shadow's clutch.

"Hey, she's a friend!" Rartiy protested, struggling to push the captor away.

"I don't care! I catch intruders! Bee-do-bee-do-bee-do-" he said, sitting down onto his prey's tail. He continued to wail while Apple Jack, Sweetie Belle, and Twilight Sparkle protested.

Soon, a furious king stormed out of the castle, in his shadow form. "What is this racket's about?!" King Sombra growled.

"Intruder, sir! Bee-do-bee-do-bee!" the wailer was instantly muted as the king death-stared him.

"Thanks for shutting him up," Rarity's sister piped up, rubbing her ears, "he was annoying."

"Visitors?" he growled, his face covered half way by his shadow-hoof.

"E-yup, now let us in!" Apple Jack demanded, knocking.

King Sombra sneered down at them, "Don't forget whose boundary you're threading onto, Princess Twilight Sparkle." With that, the guard, king, and boundary vanished. The five ponies rushed in (or in some cases, limped) for a group hug.

"We've missed you when we weren't busy!" Sweetie Belle said.

"Good, dear sister, because if you didn't you'd be dead by now!" Rarity joked.

"Aww, shad up." Apple Jack laughed, "We'd be ghosts."

"Kind of spooky for a castle," the purple pony remarked.

"Speak for yerself at that scourge castle," Apple Jack nudged Twilight, smirking.

"Yeah, because you guys ran scared for every key I played!" Pinkie taunted.

"Sure gave everypony a fright," Rarity agreed.

Sweetie Belle looked at them in awe. "You guys got to write a book of your adventures, I swear." She said, shaking her head.

"I'm amazed of the interior design and how clean this place is." Twilight noted, "It's also dark, though."

"It's clean because I did most of the work, dear." Rarity told them.

"No wonder you look tired, sis!" Belle added, sympatric.

"I think ya mean exuhasted," Apple Jack corrected.

"I woke up on the floor this morning!" Rarity bragged.

Twilight ohhed, "That's why your neck looks stiff!"

"Oui, oui, I must be an old mare now," Rarity joked.

"Ehh… you don't look like one-yet!" the country pony teased.

"Oh, phoo." Apple's nearly-white friend waved in dismissal.

"You'll never be one to me, sister!" Rarity's sister declared, hugging to the said pony.

Pinkie Pie face was drained, "I… I can't even picture myself old," she stammered. The party pony sat down and started rubbing her head.

"Pinkie Pie, Granny's hair, those 'ittle glasses… no." Apple Jack pictured, and Pinkie Pie shuddered.

"Why are we talking about grumpy ol' mares?" Twilight questioned.

"Hey, we should talk about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or how about that red puppet, and Big Mac is probably a secret large macaroni meal or… or…" Pinkie trailed off, her eyes flying off to nowhere. Her friends stared as she drooled, mumbling random stuff, such as "cherries," "Link," et cetera.

"Well, she's being Pinkie Pie." Twilight stated, shrugging. They nodded (except for Pinkie) and continued walking (limping) around the halls.

"Hey! Wait up!" Pinkie Pie called out when she snapped back to reality.

"What else do you have to show?" Sweetie Belle asked Rarity.

"There's the Dining room, the 'laundry' room, there's also King Sombra's bedroom, Private room, and King's chamber, but we're steering clear of that. There's also a library and servant's room, and uh…" Rarity recalled the Castle's rooms in her head.

Twilight gasped; "A library?!"

"Quick, gang, after 'er!" Apple Jack hollered as Twilight spreaded her wings and flew down the halls. They hasted up their tour and chased their purple friend as she looked around for a certain label.

"Oh! No-no-no-no-no-no-no!" Rarity shouted as she turned a corner.

"What?!" Sweetie Belle demanded.

"Wrong way! Wrong way, darling!" the white unicorn ignored her. Rarity sighed as Twilight turned around and flew down another path. Rarity groaned and shook her injured hoof. After Rarity's hoof stopped throbbing, they continued chasing.

"Twilie! Over here!" Pinkie struck her head from a corner.

"Ya have your own library, you apple-brain!" Apple Jack shouted furiously.

"I thought you were an apple brain!" Rarity said, smirking and nudging Apple Jack.

"Shad-up." The latter grumbled.

"You just admitted it!" Rarity yelled in triumph, sticking her muzzle in the air as she continued on half running, half limping.

When they finally found and caught up with Twilight (and Pinkie), she was spinning circles in the air, her eyes full of awe.

"Twilight Sparkle and her libraries, eh? Eh?" Sweetie Belle spoke up. She earned a cuff to the ear and a furious look on her sister's face.

There were books in every direction, scrolls near the doors, a cabinet near the covered windows. The torches were flickering warmly around the room, on the tables were new books enchanted to copy the author's writing as new words were marked.

"I didn't know King Sombra was a book worm," Twilight squeaked, still turning around.

"Meh, he acts like a colt." Rarity dismissed.

"Maybe… because he was trapped in ice for eternity!" Pinkie Pie theorized. They continued to observe the room, when Twilight finally broke the silence.

"Oh my Celestia! There's a new Daring Do book being written right here!" Twilight squealed. "Must look away! Must not spoil the hype!"

"This room is a lot more friendlier than da rest of da castle." Apple Jack said.

Twilight flew over, "That's because you can't enjoy a thrilling book fully, without being comfortable!"

"Who is this stallion?" Rarity whispered in wonder, looking at the ancient scrolls. Sweetie Belle heard her whisper.

"A very, very rich king." Sweetie Belle estimated.

"That sounds a bit right," Rarity agreed. Twilight flew to a bean bag with a green book, and curled up. She flipped the covers over, exposing the white paper and black scribbles. Pinkie Pie was closely examining a shelf, while the rest just looked on.

"Ooo-kay, we're just finish the tour without you, Princess Twilight." Rarity broke the long awkward silence. The princess just simply waved without looking up from her book. Apple Jack shrugged and followed the leaving sisters and Pinkie Pie.

"Sorry, Ah didn't know dat Twilight would react like t'is." The country mare apologized to her sophisticated friend.

"I did!" Pinkie spoke up, humming a merry tune.

"That's all right, dear. So, up here is the balcony, or the roof. Another stairs down, is currently under construction, I don't know what. Sweetie Belle, darling, don't get too close to those armors." Rarity pointed out the said objects. Sweetie Belle chuckled nervously and struck to Rarity's side.

"Welcome, to the kitchen, girls." Rarity said as she pushed the doors open.

Pinkie's eyes budged, "Look at all of the desserts!"

"Hey, Pinkie, I don't think those are your normal cupcakes… never mind." Sweetie Belle said. Pinkie Pie was chewing on one of the cupcakes with crystal sprinkles. There were a loud crunch with every bite she took.

"So… King Sombra heats crystals?" Apple Jack poked at one of the cakes. A nearby shadow pony smacked her hooves.

"Yes, and it's eats, not heats." He corrected.

"That's what ah said!" Apple exclaimed. Another shadow smacked Pinkie away with a wooden spoon. The party mare started to pout and added puppy eyes. The cooks simply ignored the expressions and scolded when she gotten too close.

"Pink, Pink, Pink, those aren't for you, crazy mare." One finally pushed her away, scrowling.

"But-but!" Pinkie Pie cried.

"Noooo buts. Miss Rarity, please escort your companionship out." He continued, the sink eyes still on his face.

"Fine, we're going." Sweetie Belle swiftly left.

"Noo!" the pink pony wailed as two of her friends dragged her out. "I'm gunna diee! Only sweets will save mee!" She continued, going limp.

"Hon, you're not going to pass away." Rarity corrected.

"But I waaaaaaant them!" Pinkie countered, putting a hoof to the head.

"Okay, ya died. Now you can't have candies." Apple Jack finished, dropping her.

"Nooooo!" Pinkie gasped, "I came back to life!"

"Wouldn't that make you a zombie?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

"I'm a sweet-eating zombie!" the party pony groaned, "Caaaaaandy!"

"Send help," Apple Jack said sarcastically.

"Caaaaaaaaaaa-ndy!" Pinkie repeated.

"Sis? She's scaring me." Belle squeaked, hugging Rarity's tail.

"Let's go find Twilight," Rarity said, " and Sweetie, please stop pulling on my tail."

"Caaaandy… Frostings, cake… pie… sugaaaar.." Pinkie Pie drooled.

"Feed 'er broccoli!" Apple Jack declared.

"Noo! Not the vegetables! Not the broccoli!"

"Ya like tomatoes!" the country mare pointed out.

"But, Apple Jack! They're a fruuuuit!"

"Not!" the orange pony snapped.

"Are too!"

"Not!"

"Quick! Get away from the bickering!" Sweeite Belle yelped, running to the direction of the library.

"Yeah, but potatoes aren't a vegetable too!" Pinkie taunted.

"Oh ya? How so?" Apple snapped back.

"They're starches!" Pinkie declared, "Strawberries aren't even a berry! Mind explosion!"

"Shad up! Lies!"

"Facts!" Pinkie hollered.

"N-ope!"

"Hey, where did they go?" Pinkie paused the argument.

"What were we fightin' about?" Apple Jack asked.

"Something about food," she responded.

"Dat's dumb."

"I know right! We should hug!" Pinkie Pie gasped, tossing an arm around Apple Jack's neck.

"We really need to find the other mares, though." Apple pointed out.

"Look no farther! They're at the library!" The pink mare bounced on the path to the said room. Her friend followed, but trotted like a regular pony. After a few steps down the halls, they heard snoring.

"Psst, is that who I think it is?" Pinkie whispered.

"Umm, yep?" Apple Jack said.

"We should totally prank him," Pinkie snickered, rubbing her hooves.

"Don't ya dare, Pinkie!" Apple warned.

"Oh come on, you're looking at the pranks master!" her friend protested.

"Ya can, but I'm not." The orange pony stalked away.

"Fine! I don't need you anyway!" Pinkie hollered after her.

"Dine!" Apple Jack yelled back.

"Fine!"

"Dine!"

"Fine!"

"Ah'm going!" Apple Jack left.

Pinkie giggled in a sinister way and pulled out whipped cream out of her mane.

Sombra mumbled as he tossed over in his sleep, dreaming of flying crystal sandwiches and slowly falling pieces of candy rocks. He felt something cool fall on his nose, and his brain translated it that there was a heart crystal on his muzzle, instead.

His nose started to itch, interrupting his dream. He growled and rubbed his muzzle. King Sombra did not know there was whipped cream layered on his face. When he reached up to rub his muzzle, now it was smeared all over his lower face and his hoof.

Apparently, it started to rain fairy dust in his sleep and now he was grumpy. All the crystals and diamonds were gone. Plus there was a really fluffy pony walking on rainbow towards him, he did not like it one bit. "It" was smiling and its tongue was rolling out, like a dog running toward its master. "It" stopped in front of him and blew a raspberry.

He, was mortified, not to mention that disgust and horror was all over his face.

Now… he tasted… whipped cream? This was too much for King Sombra. He freaked out, and started running away from all the cuteness, towards the dark. What stopped him, was a sign with a fish. It read: "Crappie Bait (Fish) Minnows." To his horror, the fish's head turned to him and winked.

Sombra woke up, choking on the whipped cream and scrambling off the kings-sized bed. He pulled out a hidden mirror (as he did not like looking at himself,) and it revealed a mess of whipped cream all over his face and also on his side burn. From behind the door, he could hear snickering and giggling.

Rolling his eyes, he called out; "Wetsup!"

A shadow pony popped out of the wall. "Yes, master?" he froze as he saw the mess on his king's face.

"Take the mares outside-don't you dare laugh at me or I'll eat your soul-and bring a bucket of water!" Sombra ordered. Wetsup bowed, and went through the door. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Mares."

Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Twilight Sparkle, and Apple Jack were lying on the grass, satisfied with their hay-burgers. Pinkie was still eating, so she was standing up. The ones on the ground were laying in a circle, back to the grass. The stars were just beginning to come out, and the sun trekked slowly over the mountain, painting the clouds and skies.

"I've never seen anything so beautiful," Sweetie Belle sighed.

"Shame we have to leave so soon," Twilight agreed. Rarity sighed in agreement, staring at the colorful stray clouds.

"It's just everythin' changing so fast," Apple Jack teared up, putting her hat on her belly.

"I know, I wish I could just slow down time," Sweeite Bell sniffed.

"-but we can't!" Pinkie chirped, joining in the circle. "It's just life!"

"For now, let's just enjoy the sunset." Twilight sighed.

"I feel like I can reach it," Rarity claimed, stretching her non-injured hoof to the sky, "but I know I can't. I feel like the sky's the limit."

"Unless yar a Pegasus." Apple chuckled.

"True!" Pinkie giggled. Her friends quickly joined in laughing.

"Hey guys? Sun's down, now we have to get going.' Sweetie whispered.

"Thanks for ev'rything, Rarity," Apple Jack pushed her hat on her head as she rolled over.

"Thanks for coming, everypony." Rarity stayed on the cool grass, looking around at the ponies getting up and were close with.

"It was a fabulous party!" Pinkie agreed.

"Goodbye!" Rarity friends chorused as they slipped through the boundaries. Pinkie was a bit slow, so she was knocked off and sent flying, with a loud whoop. Rarity pulled herself up and watched her friends and sister gallop out of sight. The moon was gradually climbing, stars shining meerily, and the cooling wind softly running past her. She shuddered as the sun's light left the sky, and then she limped her way back towards her bed.

Life was, indeed changing quickly.

Author's Note: This must be the longest chapter I've ever wrote or typed for. Maybe that'll change in the future, who knows? It was going to be a summer special, but I was either lazy or busy with family parties, reunion, etc. In a way, this chapter IS a special! Not to mention now I have summer homework and some AP homework I need to do before the end of July. This has been developing since May. (Idea to Writing to Typing.) Oh yeah, scourge means "a cause of great suffering or destruction." I picked it up in the Odyssey. It isn't exactly a CAUSE, but destruction. Just clearing that up for you that don't understand and bother to bring up a dictionary.

My birthday is coming up in 2 days! Cheers! ~~~

This chapter was also going to be a Wizard of OZ reference originally, but most of the ideas were boring. I'm satisfied with this chapter now. There was also a song involved, but no- TOO LONG! There needs to be more words than music, this isn't Broadway! Well, MLP has a lot of music if you noticed…

Right now, it feels like life is just, rushing. Like it felt LONG as a child, but when you enter Junior High/Middle School/Secondary school, it's gets like, so. Freaking. SHORT! Like, wow, seriously?

I love the reviews guys! My new upcoming story is being updated right now as I type. Thanks for following, favorite, or/and reading. Constructive criticism is welcome!

~Rosie