----- "I still can't believe I had it in me," said Blast, who was trotting with Ruby on his way home.
"You were amazing Blast! I'm so proud of you!!!" Ruby happily proclaimed before kissing Blast on the cheek.
----- A young stallion, about Blast's age, stood in front of a grave. He had a golden yellow coat and a yellow mane, and on his flank was an equal sign. He wore a hooded burlap cloak. "Mother," he said, "I wish you could see how much the town has grown." All around him were wooden buildings, and trotting around him were ponies with similar haircuts and terrifying grins, all of whom had equal signs on their flanks. They were empty shells of their former selves, all of them having any and all individuality forcibly removed by brainwashing. "I think my proudest achievement was the conversion of one of the ponies who bested you before your death." Trotting to his left was a cyan mare with a rainbow-colored mane. "But I promise you, I will finish what you started. Your death will not be in vain, or my name isn't Golden Glitter." ----- When Blast came home, Circuit was terrified. "Your mother disappeared," he said panickedly, "I couldn't find her anywhere." "Oh..." said Blast, eyes wide, scared out of his wits.
Meanwhile, Ruby had gone home for the night for the night to her house. But upon opening the door, she found the front of her home completely trashed. Pictures were smashed, tables were flipped and glass along with various other items were completely trashed. "Mom? Dad?" Ruby eyes widened as she took a step into the home. There was no response as she looked about in a panic, side stepping to avoid the damage. She was starting to get very worried. What happened to her parents?
Circuit opened the door to the master bedroom, only to find it completely trashed. All the portraits with Rainbow Dash in them were crossed out with what looked like equal signs. Just then, the phone rang. Circuit picked it up and said, "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for ponies like you. If you let my wife go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you." There was a pause, until the silence broke. A young male voice said, "Good luck." The call ended.
Ruby headed to her parents bedroom, only to find Sunset tied up with Rope and duct tape in the closet. Sunset's pained expression had shown that a strugle had taken place, and she was hurt. But she had also been crying for a long time. Ruby slowly took the duct tape of her mothers mouth, as she took a deep breath of air. "Your father!" Sunset said in shock. "They are going after your father!"
"Who could have done this?" asked Blast. Just then, they were both knocked out. ----- They awoke some time later in a wooden room with no windows.
