Spring, June 23rd, 1253 C.R.

I saw the envoy out the window. To be honest, I found them quite terrifying as they were clad in strange clothing and carrying weapons. They took out several monsters, each of them once familiar faces.

Lucky Strike

Floral Fragrance

Apple Fritter

Ginger Honey

Their names deserve to be remembered. They were ponies once too, even if they died monsters.

There was also a familiar face among the envoy. It was Infernal Dusk, Glittering Moon's elder brother. I never trusted him, but with my beloved only here in my dreams, should I have called out to him? He saw the flag Opal Clouds had tied outside my window, but walked right past. I peeked from the window, but I don't think they saw me. They did, however, see Carrot Cake. I had no idea she was alive just diagonal the cafe, but that is no longer so. Infernal Dusk killed her. The Princesses did NOT send these ponies. Not to murder those of us still alive. That's impossible. As little as my life might mean now, I do not wish to give it to him. I promised Glittering Moon I would continue living until it was time to find her again. I will find her again.

Spring, June 24th, 1253 C.R.

Infernal Dusk visited me last night. He came to my window, tapping lightly. I did not let him in, but he stood on my balcony. He was alone, or so he promised, but I saw a pegasis watching us from the building across the street. I believe that was how he got to my balcony to begin with. He said that they were cleansing Hayven of the monsters, but when I asked about Carrot Cake, he ignored me. He confirmed that Glittering Moon had become one too, but he promised he killed her as painlessly as he could. He also promised her that he would help me. He wants me to join his group. Says that'll they'll accept me if he vouches for me. They're a group that call themselves the "New Dawning" and they are going to fight the monsters.

I declined. I cannot fight them. I am a coward. He said if I don't go with him when he comes back tonight, then he'll have to either kill me or leave me for dead. I'd rather he have never come at all. His smile was bitter when I told him as such. We never did get along. If this is my last entry, know that he has ended my life prematurely. Know that HE has become the real monster, for I aim to keep my promise.

But, if it must be so that I am killed by his hoof, then let me be with Glittering Moon. And let him live with my blood on his hooves as he must with his sister's.

To Infernal Dusk: should you see this, I hope you understand what you've done. Your father would be so disappointed in you.

Sunburst turns the page, but finds no other entries. He knows for certain that Sugar Bean is alive, but the time between her final entry and when they found her alone in the forest upon their first contact, he has no idea what happened. No one does, really, except her. The group in question, The New Dawning, was a radical group of ponies, mostly stallions, that had cropped up a few months into the infection. They guised themselves as an envoy from the princesses, but directly defied any royal decrees. They killed indiscriminately and took the lives of ponies that could have helped rebuild and push back against the infection. Infernal Dusk had been their leader. When the real envoy, consisting of Sunburst and his accompaniment of friends, had arrived, however, their entire fortress had been overrun with monsters. There were no surviors.

"Unless," Sunburst mumbles, glancing out into the night, then back to Starlight. "I think there was more to the story than we ever could have known. I think Sugar Bean was involved in taking down the New Dawning."

Starlight chewed on her lip. It was a big 'what if' for a pony as quiet and sweet as Sugar Bean had been. That didn't make her incapable of such things, though. Anyone could be pushed to extremes, regardless of temperament. "I think she'll want to talk when we get back," Starlight tells him. "Lets take a quick glance at these files. The sun will rise soon, then we can go back and see what she has to say."

"Yeah," Sunburst agrees, "This just keeps getting more and more interesting. Its almost like reading through a horror story."