Kyuubey bounded in at a hustled pace from the southern avenue,
earpendages flailing about from the hurried movements. He came to a
stop near the fountain, looking around possibly for someone specific.

Oddly, the cart that the unicornista runs was quiet, with dresses
hidden beneath a tarp. It's perhaps for good reason, though, as Rarity
was slowly... FLYING around?

Echo was passing by the fountain, humming a soft tune to herself. Ever
since her last meeting with Kyuubey she seemed to be on witch patrol;
glancing down often to check for any change other than its soft glow.
.
Kyuubey looked up at Rarity's flighty form, though not with a face of
approval. Instead, he glanced between the two girls, simply seeming
glad they both happened to be in one place. "Fortunate happenstance,
this seems to be. Both of you have to come with me, right away."
Without even waiting for a chance at response, he turned and headed
back south, just as hurriedly.

Kyuubey's request had Rarity turning mid-flight, and gliding south on
the impossibly oversized - and THIN - butterfly wings, leaving the
covered cart behind.

Echo tilted her head to the side and nodded. Hiding the bracelet with
her soul gem back under her sleeve and taking off after the creature.

***

Sulfataska Mountains - Trail
Entering a narrow valley between the mountains to the southeast and
southwest, the road begins to grade upwards somewhat. Dusty gravel and
shallow cart ruts make up most of the road surface. To either side of the
road, dirt gives way to grasses and thick mountainous underbrush. The road
curves into the mountains to the south, while some kind of wooden gate lies
to the north.

Kyuubey came to a halt beyond the border station, scanning the area
for a moment. He seemed to be sniffing as his whiskers twitch, much
like a cat's would.

After a bit of southward flight, Rarity's horn and Soul Gem began to
pulsate simultaneously, even while she descends from the sky and folds
her wings closed upon landing. "...this is rather ominous, if how my
horn's reacting is any indication..."

Echo lifted her arm up, allowing her sleeve to slide down. "Looks like
you found her for us Kyuubaloo!" She said with a slight nod as her
soul gem is now pulsing at her wrist. She turned now to Rarity,
grinning a wide grin, " I've got your back! We'll figure this out
together."

Kyuubey turned, his red-eyed gaze coming to rest on an outcropping of
rock just a ways off the trail, where a shimmering black portal, small
in size as compared to some, is radiating corrupted energies. The
cat-creature sat himself down at that point, curling his tail around
himself. "She appears to be going south. I don't know what her
motives are, but they seem to revolve around that boy, for some
reason. I believe it necessary to prevent her from actually reaching
her destination, even if the boy in question is no longer there."

"I appreciate it, dear. Now... Let's outwit this ruffian! I would
imagine a line has been crossed." In spite of her ladylike tendencies,
Rarity wass snorting in disdain and determination, pawing the ground
with her right forehoof and focusing magic to her horn all at once.

Rarity says 'It. Is. ON!'

Echos' face looked serious for a moment as she looked southward.
"Right." She clenched her fists, then peered about the area looking
for anyone else who might be nearby. "I guess now would be a good time
to transform."
.
Kyuubey looked on expectantly, not saying anything further. It seemed
unlikely that he needed to, after all.

Echo took a hop forward and turned a graceful pirouette, sending a
flurry of glowing pink petals into the air. With a couple quick turns
they completely swallowed her, melting together into one giant Tulip
that sprungs up from the ground on a twisting golden stem.

The petals opened, revealing Echo at its center cast in bright light,
and wearing a ruffled white blouse. With the sweep of her hands the
petals fell down into a puffy dress at her waist. She then reached
upward as golden vines wove and climbd their way up her arms and legs
creating delicate gloves and stockings. Her hair was pulled up as
though taken hold of by unseen hands, and quickly braided and twisted
into a bun adorned with a net of gold and tiny white flowers. At her
shoulder, where the vines converged, a white rose opened, revealing a
pink soul gem at its center.

Echo lastly held out her hand, and a golden staff adorned with leaves
of the same color sprang from her palm. She took a hold of it with her
other hand, spuns it, and the glow about her and her clothing faded.

There's a brief flicker, as the wings extending from her back
gradually faded in a shower of magic particles, before - in a rare
move for her – Rarity was levitating a book, much like another unicorn
would. She turned to watch the henshin, however, opting to take the
path of simplicity by levitating mineral spears up from the ground.
"Oh, very FLASHY, dear. If this was a fashion show, and not a fight...
I'd most certainly be applauding you."

One of Kyuubey's ears twitched, and he nodded somewhat. "Make haste,
dears. 'Lest she escape once again!"

Echo giggled at Rarity's reaction, smile returning to her face, "Your
turn!" She said. "Looks like we have to hurry."

Simultaneously, there was a shimmer of magic around Rarity's neck as
her Element of Harmony appeared, though it served to trigger a rather
unusual change in her physiological 'makeup' this time around,
starting with the dual change of her sleeved forelegs turning into
arms, and culminating with the disappearance of her horn, Cutie Mark,
and tail.

Even though she was now considerably taller, Rarity's still had the
Element of Generosity secured firmly around her neck, as ribbons of
fabric swirled around her in response to her right hand's movements,
before solidifying into a form-fitting deep purple bodysuit and mask,
leaving only her eyes, mouth, and fingertips exposed.

The black portal pulsed nearby somewhat, expanding just a little bit
toward the south in what looked almost like a gelatinous sort of
manner.

Echo applauded Rarity's transformation, eyes wide in amazement. "Oh
wow! You can be human too? That’s amazing!" She turned, placing her
hand on her hip and pointing in the direction of the witch's portal,
"Your moment of doom has arrived Ms. Witch! With our combined powers
we are unstoppable!" With that, and a small nod to Kyuubey and Rarity
she stepped into the portal.

"It's certainly interesting that my Element managed a complete genetic
change, and somewhat unsettling..." With a shake of her now-hornless
head, though, Rarity was moving after Echo. "No time to worry about
that. Let's do this!"

Shadow Labyrinth - Heart of Abandonment
In a peculiar transition, the darkness disperses from the doorway as
you enter this 'room', which is actually a huge backyard filled with vivid
greenery and blooming flowers. Behind you, the doorway simply hangs in
the air, the gloomy atmosphere of the hallway visible on the other side of
it. A fancy, two-person swing is nestled in the grassy center of the
yard, decorated at each top corner with a cute pink bow, the ribbon of which
trails down the support beams on either end.

The young teenage girl slowly halted her swinging as Rarity and Echo
emerge into the labyrinth, eyes closed despite her face raising itself
to 'look' in their direction. "Oh, you're back..? And you brought a
new friend! But where's that metal-man who was with you? Did he
already give up and go home crying?" She smiled, and though her tone
was somewhat malevolent, it is soft and gentle in tone. An odd
contrast, to be sure.

"But it looks like you figured some things out... no doubt with the
help of your friend, here. I doubt you could have done it by
yourself, given your sloppy performance last time we were together."
The girl still smiled, sitting quietly on the bench-swing.

Echo looks at the girl and sticks out her tongue slightly, a goofy
grin on her face. "Oh boy, a talker. And still holding a human form
too. Pretty rare for one to hold on to enough sanity for that. She'll
make you try to feel bad in an attempt to corrupt you." She said with
a nod, "Witches are Tricky tricky, but if you can figure them out they
can easily fall, isn't that right Witchywitchy?"

The girl stood up, smoothing out her dress somewhat. Her movements
were graceful and elegant as if from refined practice. "You talk a
lot yourself, sweetie. But you know, I was like you, once. The world
is a wonderful place to live in, isn't it? All full of butterflies,
and candy, and people who love you... except that it isn't, is it?
That boy understands! He shares my pain! I'm only helping him along,
that's all! Then we can be together, once he's gotten rid of everyone
else."

"If I have to be alone... so should everyone else! It's fair that
way!" Her face was obviously angered by now, but her eyes remained
closed; she looked kind of cute when she pouted, actually.

Oddly, there was no flare of magic to mark the now-human Rarity's
presence, though she remained calm. "While it is true that there is
pain in the world... There's just as much beauty in it, that you
couldn't hope to understand as you are now. Even before I took this
duty... I learned to appreciate the beauty in everything surrounding
me, including the lives - and love - others possess."

Echo swung her staff around to the front of her, holding it in both of
her hands, though whether she was preparing to defend herself, or just
simply relaxing was any one's guess. Her smile remained ever present
and she still seemed as relaxed as ever. "That’s right, and life is
very rarely fair you know." She tilted her head slightly, studying the
young girl.

Echo chewed lightly on her lip for a moment, "And you know, it’s kind
of funny what you said just now." Her head tilted to the other side
now, "If that boy truly was alone then there shouldn't be any people
to get rid of in the first place."

The girl was quiet for a moment; just long enough to slowly open her
eyes, revealing vertical crimson irises that narrowed in contempt
between the both of them. "As I am now? As I am now?! You'll be
like this someday, too! What 'beauty' is there in leaving your own
daughter home by herself for days at a time? Mommy and daddy were
always so busy! Important jobs, meetings, interviews, clients! What
about me?" Her glare turned cold, as a large butcher knife suddenly
levitated into view, directly behind and over her head. "The world's
not normally fair, you say? You don't even know the HALF of it. That
boy certainly does. All I did was help him along. The pain in his
heart was so great, so wonderful. He TRULY felt abandoned. We're two
of a kind! I only wanted someone, anyway! A friend! But you had to
go and RUIN IT!" With that, the knife went flying over her head,
magically splitting off into five separate butcher knives that sailed
in a line toward the two Magical Girls!

Even as one of the knives found itself a home in her upper left arm,
Rarity was shaking her head and ignoring the urge to wince. "...I was
doing exactly what you are now, but out of kindness and generosity,
instead of jealousy and hatred for the world. I could have easily left
him to fend for himself, but I'm not that kind of person. If
anything..."

Rarity said 'I would've even done everything I could to ease that
loneliness YOU were feeling, without consideration for myself.'

Echo dodged just in time to avoid the knives, feeling the whoosh of
air as one passed uncomfortably close to her head. "Meep! We made her
grumpy." She quickly stepped close to her companion, spinning her
staff, "Such terrible treatment of guests! Queens Sanctuary!" With
that she jabbed the staff into the ground with enough force for it to
stand on its own. From nowhere clusters of tiny white flowers faded
into existence and began drifting around them, spinning in an
interweaving dance. A dull glow of light emanating from each of them
as they leave a lace like trail in the form of a dome around them.

It's just as well that this happened, actually, as at least three
dozen more knives suddenly began to levitate into sight and rapidly
fire off at them, whisking across the yard for the ones that miss and
clink-clanking off the protective ward that impact, occasionally being
sent off to embed themselves in random spots all around the yard. The
Witch's eyes remain narrowed, even after the last knife is flung.

"Left him?" She turned her attention on Rarity, her expression
lightening, but only in a malevolent fashion. "You take me for a
fool? I saw the whole thing. It was HE who offered YOU solace! A
place to stay! You talk big about your own doings and livelihood, but
what of it? Just so you can come here and LIE to me? You're a
disgrace to the Wishborn cause! I'm glad I gave in, just so I don't
have to be in the same ranks as charlatans like you!"

"We would've been good together. It's all I ever wanted, was
somebody! Anybody!" A hint of sadness was creeping into her voice,
despite the inherent rage that was obvious.

Despite the lack of her horn in her current form, Rarity was
reinforcing the shield with a spell of her own as she kept trying to
outwit the witch, while pulling the butcher knife from her arm and
wincing. "If I had known... I surely would've been your friend as
well, were this duty not in the way. And even if he felt that way... I
was going to show him he wasn't truly alone."

Rarity said '...it isn't the first time I've been called insincere,
but I can assure you that's the farthest thing from my mind.'

Rarity said 'I wouldn't think of you as a fool, however.'

Echo looked between Rarity and the witch, "Dear," The smile lightened
a little on her face and she shook her head, "You must realize that
despite your wishes, that boy will never truly be your friend holding
him as you are."

The Witch looked -slightly- less malevolent, but her face still belied
her intentions. "I let his inner self free. All that power was
bursting to get out, to set the world to rights! To make things FAIR!
If I wasn't helping, then what was I doing? It was what he was too
afraid to do! I was... helping..." She looked considerably sadder
no, and actually began to tremble. "Why? Why are you here? Why are
you doing this to me?"

"Why can't you just let me suffer in peace, instead of drawing it all
out? This is ALL YOUR FAULT!" She swiftly sidestepped, as the entire
swing set, bars and all, suddenly uprooted itself from the ground and
went flying at the two of them, barrier or otherwise!

The girl screamed, "I'll destroy everyone, everything, until the world
is put to rights! That boy will be the hand of God that delivers
justice to the world! Justice which nobody else has the courage to
deliver!"

Closing her eyes with a surprisingly tranquil expression, Rarity was
summoning her Element of Harmony into existence, and stepping forward
within a barrier conjured by the enchanted necklace, even while
turning to Echo. "If it is justice you seek to deliver... Then perhaps
justice shall be done. I will give freely of myself, to end your
suffering, and give you the peace you seek."

Rarity says 'Go.'

Echo took a hold of the staff, pulling it from the ground with a hard
jerk and dashing out of the way of the swing as soon as Rarity was
clear of it. As for what her fellow Magical Girl said after she could
only stare blankly at her for a moment, her focus on the battle
slightly thrown off "Erm?" She clenched her dress with her free hand
bunching up the fabric as she called after Rarity, "That’s not going
to work! Your sacrifice would be meaningless! She already wants to
destroy everything, your self included!" She pointed her staff at the
witch and gaves a shout, "Guardian Gladiolus!" With those words, her
staff morphed into a sharp, glowing pink sword with a decorative leaf
cup. She dartted forward after Rarity seeking to protect her. Rarity
was a new wishborn, she didn't need to be dying at the hands of a
witch just yet.

"You misunderstand. I'm not offering you the peace you sought to end
all the anguish I've been dealing with, at all. I still have friends,
family, and innocent people to protect, even if doing that costs me my
life." As she spoke, Rarity's Element begins humming faintly, and
glowing a soft white. "I get happiness from giving to others, without
asking for anything in return."

Rarity said 'Why did you really think I was so unafraid of meeting
death so easily? Were you thinking of me as too shallow, and fickle,
to understand the danger I put myself in by doing this? Being generous
is how I've always lived, and that extends to the battlefield now.'

Rarity said 'But, in this situation... I defer to those who possess
more experience than I do, in dealing with those who have fallen.'

Echo stepped into a guarding position between Rarity and the witch,
her voice however was kind despite her threatening stance, “I protect
her because she is just like I was once. She is my kin in fate. And my
friend if she would like to be mine. You were once one of us. And
although you have fallen you are a sister to me too. You told us you
held off from turning for a long time. I don’t believe you wanted to
become like this. There is no hope of restoring you to your former
self, so allow us to end your suffering now, dear sister, so that you
may escape this nightmare and rest peacefully.” With that, she
attacked. Stepping forward and swinging her sword in a downward arc
towards the witches left shoulder.

The Witch looked sullen for a moment as Rarity and Echo both
tag-teamed her with simple notions about the passion between friends
and fate, and the good the laid between them. She even went so far as
to look accepting when she was told of what she was, and how she can
never be the same person again. However, when Echo attacked, her
expression flashed into one of surprise; was she expecting something
else..?

It didn’t deter her an action, however. Her palm raised swiftly,
open, as she deflected the strike to one side, her hand bloodying from
the blade's edge but also eliciting a shriek of steel against
something else metallic from the impact, and she looked down at her
bloodied hand, as her expression darkened. "You... you..."

"You try to explain to me... the joys of friendship, of protecting the
greenhorns. Protecting those in trouble, who can not help themselves.
And then, you.. attack me? You ATTACKED ME?" Her voice rose to a
shrieking scream, as pieces of the yard suddenly began to tear free,
rising into the air!

"All I wanted was to know what it actually MEANT to have someone
close. Even my parents were a lost cause! What did I ever do to
them? What WRONG have I wrought upon the world, that I deserved
something like.. this?!"

"I don't want this nightmare to end... because it's only just
beginning! For you, and all the rest of the world!" With those
words, pieces of the up heaved yard began flying toward them, one
after the other after the other!

There was a heavy sigh from the humanized fashionista, punctuated with
a sorrow-filled expression as she withdrew a pink-purplish revolver
from a pouch attached to her hip. "I do this with a heavy heart...
Forgive me..." With little more than a click of the safety, Rarit was
firing her sidearm repeatedly until the ammunition was spent. "I had
such hope that I could show you the wonder of friendship... I see it's
no longer possible. Farewell..."

"You foolish girl..!" As pieces of earth flew everywhere, she took the
bullets without flinching, riddled with each shot. Even as blood
began to pour down her front from the wounds, she laughed sharp and
shrilly, not seeming injured in the least! "You imbecile! Do you not
yet understand?"

"You don't have what it takes! Your heart, your soul! Your
insincerity! Look at what it gets you! I'll enjoy making you become
like me! Then I'll finally have a friend!" A large piece of the
backyard wrenches itself free, and in so doing, a white light was
revealed underneath; the fabric of the labyrinth was apparently
beginning to destabilize as the world is being ripped apart!

Rarity said 'It's clear I don't. I've never quite had Twilight's
intelligence, even for being a unicorn.'

Echo pulled her sword free and stumbled backwards a couple of steps.
As the sound of gunshots rang out in her ears and the bullets struke
their target, she wiped her face, brushing away tears that came
pouring from her eyes the moment she had swung her weapon. She lunged
forward, thrusting her sword into the witch, pushing the blade in as
her reaches up with her left hand and wrapped her arm around her, "I'm
sorry. I wish we could have met before this. I wish we could have been
there to save you and keep
you from this. But at least this way you will have someone by your
side as you go. We are here with you, you are not facing your end
alone." Echo hugged the girl tightly, sobbing quietly.

The Witch snarled in further anger as Echo's sword pierced her flesh,
going through and out the back of her lean frame with little apparent
effect. However, before she can react further, she is stunned from
the hug that follows right afterward; as she stopped in her tracks, so
too does everything else. Pieces of earth hung in the air, completely
suspended and devoid of further animation.

"I... this.. what are you.. doing?" Her voice skipped as she speaks,
looking down at Echo with absolute amazement. Then, apparently unable
to control herself, she hugged Echo back, tightly and fully, despite
the sword between them, impaling her fully. "I.. this is.. so warm.."
Around her, debris and earth fell to the ground with a clatter and
thud, as the backyard grows silent.

In the "sky" above, a disintegration effect began to occur, taking out
the world form the top piece by piece. However, this does not have a
malevolent feel to it. It seems plainly obvious that, this time,
there would be no running.

By this point, there were tears falling from Rarity's eyes, and
smearing her eyeshadow, though she pays it no mind as she moved close
for a tender hug. "I was being very sincere with you when I told you
all that... I didn't hate you for a second, despite everything you've
had to go through... I had compassion for you, even when I was
attacking you. Go, and rest in peace now..."

Rarity said 'I couldn't bring myself to hate you, no matter how angry I was...'
Echo nodded, "We did this with no malice in our hearts." she says with
a chocking sob, "Go with happier thoughts. Go knowing that you weren't
alone." She said with a choked sob.

The Witch trembled visibly, and her form darkened as the energy that
composes her began to wane. In the same process, the disintegration
effect picked up in pace, disseminating the world as they knew it into
a blur of white that blinds the senses-!

Guardia - A Dirt Road
Cows can be seen to the far sides of both fences marking the sides of the
road. They chew fresh grass and their cud alike, grazing outdoors
regardless of the weather, seeming to belong to one in particular. Existing
as a change to the scenery, a dirt path branches off toward the south. It
also leads north toward a large city.

The world dimmed and regained its shape after several moments, coming
to rest on a familiar dirt road. Out of the sky fells a small black
crystal, glinting ominously as it embeded itself in the dirt nearby:
the last remnant of what no longer is, or will ever be.

Despite her tear-streaked face, Rarity bent down to pick the crystal
up, retrieving her Soul Gem even as her body finally reverted to
normal. "A long ordeal finally comes to a close... We finally did it,
Twilight, where ever you are..."

Echo stood up, and with a sudden strong wind Echo's clothes and sword
were whisked away into a cloud of flower petals leaving her behind in
the clothes she had worn prior to her transformation. She wiped her
face with her arm then turned to rarity, a bright smile upon her face
despite the wet tears clinging at the edges of her eyes, "Well, I
think this calls for a sundae! Good job Ms. Ponyperson!"

Rarity said, 'Yes, I think so too...'

Echo grinned, rocking back and forth on her heels, "Great! After we
cleanse ourselves, it will be my treat!"

"I see you two were successful, after all. Perhaps I need to reassess
things, here." From the southern road, Kyuubey came walking on up,
seemingly without a care in the world. "I must admit I had my doubts
I'd see you both back in one piece, even with you involved, Echo."

Nodding once, Rarity's used a small bit of magic to tighten the
bandage covering her injured left foreleg. "I did have a poor
performance to make up for."

Echo's mouth hanged agape at Kyuubey, then she straightened up,
placing her hands on her hips, "Well, take that as a lesson then Mr.
Kyuupadoo. One should never doubt the Extra Magnificant Witch Hunter
Echo and the the Great uh... Erm I don't think you've given me you
name." She peered confusedly at Rarity.

Kyuubey just seated himself nearby, tail curling about his feet.

Rarity sighed. "I'd rather not be reminded of that showboating ruffian
Trixie... My name is Rarity."

Rarity said, 'I'm hardly 'Great' at anything besides dress-making.'

"Greatness is a trait that is earned, to my understanding. And even
then, its meaning is subjective. For now, we should be glad that you
are still alive. I had expected much differently, but in the end, I
was mistaken. I therefore thank you both for what you have done, both
for her, and the boy she had possessed." Kyuubey stared at them
without so much as a blink. Typical Kyuubey.

With a 'hm,' Echo cleared her throat, not deterred at all by their
talk, "The Super Stichin’ Sewing Magical Machine Pony Rarity!" She
said, throwing an arm into the air.

Simultaneously, Rarity was raising an eyebrow, and sweat-dropping at
the nickname. "...that sounds even worse than 'The Great and Powerful'
title Trixie gives herself. You can use it, but I won't be referring
to myself so ostentatiously.”

Kyuubey got to his feet after a moment, and walked over to Echo.
Despite her parading, and with apparently-practiced ease, he leapt up
high next to her, landing on her shoulder and allowing himself to
settle there, looking back toward Rarity without a word.

Echo reached up and scratched idly behind Kyuubey's ears, slightly
more serious despite the unchanging expression "Well, we best not keep
Kyuu waiting for that grief seed, or that ice cream waiting either for
that matter." She said with a wink.

Rarity nodded, levitating her Soul Gem out and preparing to use the
Seed with it. "I would think it'd be impolite."

Kyuubey merely waved his tail, not opting to do much, and say even
less. If he were waiting for something, he wasn't being obvious about
it.

Echo waited for Rarity to finish cleansing her gem, pulling out her
own and studying it in her hand.

Rarity levitated the seed over, once she's sure her own Gem's been
fully purified.

The Grief seed resonated with the Soul Gems gently, restoring light to
Rarity's jewel easily enough, and sparkling with intent to do the same
for Echo.

Echo took the levitating grief seed and touched it to her soul gem,
the darkness fading away so that it was once more pristine and
glittering.

Echo looked down at the grief seed and smiled "Whoops! Still some life
in this one. No gem for you Kyuucat! Not yet anyway." She tossed it to
Rarity, "Hold on to it. You might need it or you might run into
someone else does. Now if you'll excuse me, a sweet sugary delight
back in Truce is calling my name and I simply must respond!" She
turned and started skipping down the road back towards the city,
humming an upbeat tune to herself.

After catching the grief seed with her magic, Rarity is stowed it in
her armored saddlebag before slowly trotting north, causing her mane
to bounce slightly. "I do think I'll join you."