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Tales of the Oppressed

119. The Everwinter Crisis

Exchanging glances with Rainbow and the others, we do as we're directed and move into the dining room to wait for Mist. Inside the room is a large circular table, with fancy table mats set up in front of each of the chairs. Some other undead are already sitting at the table, including that one undead that Mist named back in the streets. They hardly stir at our arrival; all they're doing is just sitting there listlessly, waiting for their master to return. There are several Oppressed guards standing at the doors and windows, making me wince. There's too many of them for me to fight while dealing with Mist at the same time. Ideally, Swift, Applejack, and Rainbow could help me take care of them, but there's only three of them, and six Oppressed. Okay, so we'll bide our time. We'll sit through this twisted tea party or whatever, and then attack her when she's on her own, or when there's a manageable number of Oppressed around. I sit down at the table across from a more decorated chair, where I assume Mist is going to sit. Rainbow and Applejack sit on either side of me, with Swift and Trixie on the exterior. With our, arrival, the table is filled, apart from Mist's empty seat. "Here I am. I'm sorry I took so long." Mist soon enters the room, carrying a steaming kettle filled with tea in her magic. She sets it on the table, and then retrieves a fancy set of teacups, passing one to each of us around the table. Naturally though, the other undead don't make a move to accept it; instead they just stare blankly at the table. That's what undead do. So we five emulate those undead, staring at the teacups without actually making a move to accept them. "Let's get started! I brewed a rare brew of Everwinter tea. Did you know that this town makes a living by exporting this tea?" As Mist sits down across from me, I remember what Rainbow said about how Mist had been pacing around in here, talking to someone. Heh, I guess she really was talking to herself. Just looking at her, she has this fragile smile on her face that's fake as fake can be, and she doesn't seem to care that the undead can't answer her back. Mist directs the kettle around the table, filling each cup with a decent amount of hot tea. When my cup is filled, I catch a hint of a balmy herbal fragrance...which then causes me to get a little thirsty. "This might be our last tea party together," Mist declares sadly to us, setting the kettle back down on the tabletop, though she makes sure to place it on a cloth so as to not harm the wood. "The Equestrians will be here soon...and then it will be over...for all of us." What the hell...? I'd say she was being cocky, but that's not a confident voice. She sounds resigned, almost defeated.. She sounds like she's already given up. Mist gives an unsettling giggle at that. "I can't wait. This nightmare will finally be over, and then we can have all the tea parties we want, up in the sky." She then takes a delicate sip from her cup, while I process the words coming out of her mouth. The more she talks, the more uncertain I feel. At this point...killing her would make me feel like shit, especially if these are her true feelings. "Emmie...we'll finally be able to go on those walks together, that we always dreamed about," Mist says to that undead pony, using her magic to lift its teacup to its mouth, forcing it to drink. Of course, it doesn't have any control over its swallowing reflex, some of the tea dribbles out of its mouth and patters onto the table. Mist giggles and cleans up the mess with a cloth. "You're so messy. But it's okay. I'm here." On the other hand...she's fucking crazy. Being this close to her, it's easy to see the way her eyes are darting around. It makes me wonder how she can focus on any one thing for too long. Mist goes around the table, addressing the different undead as if they're her close friends, calling each one of them by a name. However, interestingly enough, when she's at the point on the table where there's an Oppressed, nearby, she glares at the monster balefully. "You don't get any tea, monster. You're not my friends," Mist snaps at the Oppressed. The undead human of course, doesn't give a single fuck about Mist's words, because it's dead and can't process words that aren't commands. Eventually, Mist reaches Trixie. Now, Mist actually gets up from her seat and climbs on top of the table, flopping herself down on her belly in front of Trixie. "Hm, but you're a new face to me. I don't think you're one of my friends...but that can change," Mist addresses her. Trixie, bless her, is likely uncomfortable as hell right now, but she manages to keep from showing it, knowing how important it is that we don't get caught. "Are you one of Hawke's creations? Or maybe Earthen's? Or...are you Silent's?" Interestingly enough, Mist doesn't seem too fond of any of those names, especially Shatter's. Then again, Shatter's a bit of a disloyal fuck, so I can't blame her for hating him. "No matter. You're with me now, so you can rest easy. I can take care of you," Mist croons, lifting the teacup to Trixie's mouth. Trixie, having not expected to drink just yet, coughs and expels some of the tea, causing Mist to raise an eyebrow. I freeze in my seat, watching with baited breath to see Mist's reaction. "Oh, is there something in your throat? Let me help you." Before anyone can stop her, Mist reaches for Trixie with her hoof. Trixie tries to retreat, but it's too late. Mist presses her hoof to Trixie's jaw and levers her mouth open. "There, and now we can..." Mist starts to say, but just as she's lifting the teacup, she pauses...her eyes widening. "Fur? But...you're dead, you shouldn't..." Mist's eyes narrow, and she tosses the teacup aside, where it shatters on the floor, its contents soaking into the rug. "You shouldn't have fur," Mist states, her tone turning from that of a doting mother to a cold general once again. To my horror, Mist's horn lights up, and she orients a ray of white light over Trixie's body. Trixie's illusion shifts and withers away like sand in a stream, revealing a very nervous and panicking blue unicorn, now exposed to Mist's scrutiny. Mist freezes, looking honestly surprised to see something living here. "Uh...Trixie can explain," Trixie says hastily, laughing nervously. To her credit, she manages to keep the rest of our illusions up, even though hers has been dispelled. Mist's expression turns into an angry glare, and she bares her teeth, grinding them audibly. "You...how dare you...!?" Mist growls, her voice rising. My mind races, trying to think of a way to handle this situation without getting any of us killed. Mist's horn lights up, and this time I notice a slight pressure in the air, telling me that Mist is getting ready to kill Trixie. "You're not going to be my friend....you're a filthy liar! I'll hurt..." "Fuck it," I grunt, shooting up in my seat and shedding the illusion with a powerful burst of emerald magic that incinerates the chair beneath me. Before Mist can react, I lunge forward and plant my blazing fist into her cheek. Mist yelps and hurtles right off of the table, slamming into the wall. "Okay, everypony, plan B. Take them all down!" "You got it!" Rainbow declares, her illusion fading as well. Even the camouflage spell from before is gone, revealing her in her true technicolor glory. As one of the Oppressed roars and charges her, she wheels around its attack and rams both forehooves into the back of its neck, such that a resounding crack fills the air. "Yes, commander!" Swift acknowledges, hefting her lance. All of our illusions fade away at once, and the room quickly devolves into a frantic melee. Applejack and Swift stand together and intercept the undead heading for them, laying them low with vicious punches and ruthless jabs of a lance. "You....you're all....after I was going to do for you...and you're Equestrian...?" Mist expresses, getting to her hooves and glaring at me. Her snowy white aura explodes up from around her, standing in stark contrast to my green aura and Trixie's blue aura. Her horn flashes, and she unleashes a powerful beam of white magic towards me...but I'm already powering up even further. I bat her magic aside like it's nothing, causing it to drill right through the wall on the other side of the room. "You're all liars..." "You're fucking insane," I express to her face. God, it feels so good to finally say that to her after listening to all of this crap. Mist's mouth opens, offended, and she gets even angrier than before. "You're just like Shatter! Who are you to judge how I feel!?" Mist screams, and then she rushes me head on, using her magic to propel her entire body into my torso. Taken by surprise, I'm knocked right off of the table and into a group of undead, slightly winded. I quickly turn and slice the undead to pieces with a combination of magic and swordplay. When I turn to face Mist again, that one pony that she called Emmie is now rushing towards me with a snarl. Mist sees that and her mouth opens in horror. "Emmie, wait!" Right in front of Mist's eyes, I pivot on one hell and slam the flat of my palm into Emmie's face. My magic is so strong, it completely obliterates the undead pony, bits of its body scattering across the table. Mist's scream of anguish is so pronounced that I almost want to cover my ears. To my shock, Mist gets even stronger, her aura widening in radius and erupting further upwards, rupturing the stony ceiling. Rubble falls down around her, and snow from the outside starts to fall within, a chill filling the air. Mist turns and intercepts Trixie, who has been trying to attack her. With one quick sweep of her hooves, she knocks Trixie aside, and then fires a beam of magic after her. Trixie thankfully manages to land on her hooves in time to block the attack, but she's pressing a hoof to the place where Mist hit her, a bruise already forming. However, Mist is already turning her attention back towards me. "You were going to be my friend!" Mist shrieks at me, and then the two of us meet on top of the table in a roiling melee of hooves and fists, the sturdy furniture crumbling beneath us. "I thought you were like me...but you lied! Lied, lied, LIED!" Mist punctuates each of her repetitions with a powerful blast of magic from her horn, which courses of my aura and stings my skin. However, she's hardly stronger than Twilight, even as enraged as she is. "Who gives a shit!?" I finally shout back at her, blocking one of her punches on my arm and then pounding her downwards into the table with a fist to the top of her head. Mist recovers quickly and rolls over to dodge my follow up attack. The table shatters entirely beneath my fists, sending Mist tumbling to the ground. She can't fly like I can. "Give up! We've outsmarted you, and now you've nowhere to run." Mist snarls and reveals another amulet similar to what Shatter wore back during Cloudsdale...which causes me to panic. "Oh no, you fucking don't!" I yell, moving towards her. Time seems to move in slow motion, as Mist's hoof moves towards her amulet, and I try my best to reach her before she activates it. Mist's lip turns up in a smirk as the amulet starts to glow... "Not this time! Hyaaaah!" Swift's yell fills the room, and her lance soars across the room and nails Mist right in the throat, piercing the amulet and shattering it before its teleportation spell can activate. Mist yells and is borne to the wall by the impact, but the lance doesn't actually hurt her, due to her magical protection. "You're staying right here!" Mist looks around at all of in panic and anguish, deprived of her only escape. She watches as my team systematically finishes off the other undead in the room. Swift, her lance broken against Mist's protection, is now using a smaller javelin to deadly effect. It isn't long before the five of us are surrounding her, closing in on her with our respective weapons pointing directly at her. "Trixie suggests you surrender. You have lost," Trixie advises the fallen general, a confident little half smirk on her muzzle. I have to mirror her expression, because my sword is pointing at Mist too. "She is sure the princesses will treat you well." Mist is silent, her eyes widened and filled with tears over the loss of her undead "friends." Remembering her earlier words, I wonder if it would be better to kill her. It seems to be what she wants, after all. "No...I won't let it be over," Mist growls, her sadness quickly turning to rage. She gets back up again, her magic far from depleted. "Not until you pay for the deaths of my friends!" "They were already dead, you fucking psycho!" I snap back at her. I take a step towards, her, but then to our shock and horror, her horn flashes, and she disappears from the room with a pop. "What? Are you fucking kidding me? How did she...?" "She must have teleported! I can sense her nearby!" Swift informs me, whirling around and storming towards the door. We follow her as quickly as we can in an attempt to catch Mist before she can escape...but just as we open the door, we are greeted by the growls of hundreds upon hundreds of undead, swarming through the streets towards us. And most of them are Oppressed. "Commander, we're in trouble!" "There's so many of 'em! How can we take 'em all on our own?" Applejack yells, backing away from the door and shutting it. With that, we're trapped in here, surrounded by thirteen hundred undead, most of whom are immune to magic. Shit, we went from victory to almost certain defeat...and it's all my goddamn fault for thinking I could take down Mist so easily. "Seth, what do we do?" Rainbow demands. Fuck, there's no way out. There has to be something we can do...I'm not going to die here if I can help it. There's always a way out. "Barricade the door! We might be able to hold here if we can keep them from swarming us!" I command, motioning towards Applejack and Swift. The two of them nod and move to grab every piece of rubble and furniture that they can. "Rainbow, look for other exits. We might be able to slip out and make a break for it if we're lucky." "What should Trixie do?" Trixie asks frantically, looking panicked now that she's in a true life or death situation for the first time. I look around the room and notice a rack of weapons on the wall. I grab a shortsword and toss it to her. Trixie catches it out of reflex in her magic. "What...? Trixie doesn't know how to use this!" "Maybe not, but it's better than flailing your hooves at the Oppressed!" I snap at her. Trixie blanches, but nods in understanding. "Get ready. The most we can do is hold here until we find an opportunity to escape." Just after Applejack and Swift push a heavy dresser against the front doors, the first wave of Oppressed slam against it, the resulting crash resounding through the room. Some of the Oppressed are throwing themselves against the windows as well, and it isn't long before one of them shatters and an undead manages to slip its way inside. "I don't think so!" Rainbow declares, swooping out of the sky and flooring the creature with a swift uppercut. She finishes it off by slamming its head several times into the wall until it stops struggling. "Seth, we've got the windows and the front door. There's no other way out!" "You've got to be kidding me!" I groan, tangling with an Oppressed over by another of the windows. They broke this one quickly as well, so now it's taking everything I have to keep them from piling through in droves. "This door ain't gonna hold!" Applejack warns me, just as the door starts to splinter beneath the Oppressed's assault. Fuck, everything is going to hell fast. Come on, Seth, think. There has to be some way I can get us all out of here. I won't be able to live with myself if I get one of these ponies killed because of my poor decision. "Seth, they're comin' through!" "I know!" I yell, slicing apart another Oppressed that's climbing in through the window. Behind me, Swift jabs her javelin through a hole opened in the front door, taking out an undead's eye in the process...though that does little more than slow it down. Trixie is at the window on the opposite side of the room, flailing around with her new shortsword in an attempt to fend off the undead coming in through that side. We're surrounded, and it's only a matter of time before we're overwhelmed. As I blast the head of an undead away, an idea comes to me. This one is possibly foolish and could possibly fail, but it's better than standing here and waiting to get killed by magic-immune zombies. "Rainbow, can you lift Applejack?" I demand. Applejack blinks at that. "Can she what now?" Applejack questions, but I ignore her, staring at Rainbow. Rainbow looks over at Applejack. "Yeah, definitely. She's not that heavy," Rainbow responds. "Why? Do you have an idea? Please tell me you do. I don't want to be dinner for these things." "I think so. It's dumb, but it shouldn't be dumber than getting ourselves trapped in here in the first place," I answer her, and then I wince when the front door splinters further, and the upper half of the doors crumbles away, such that the Oppressed are starting to claw their way through. Applejack and Swift meet their assault, punching and stabbing away to buy as much time as possible. "I'm going to blow up the building. When I do, grab Applejack and escape through the rubble. I'll take Trixie and Swift and we'll fly for the walls. With luck, we might be able to escape to the Islanders for backup." "You're sure you can lift two ponies?" Swift questions me uncertainly. I give her an askance look, and then nod. I've lifted three before. Granted, one of them was a filly and I didn't last very long, it was at least something. With all my power now, I should be able to do this. Swift nods slowly and moves towards me, as does Trixie. "Okay. It's the best chance we've got, I suppose." "Trixie will not forgive you if you drop her," Trixie asserts, backing away from the window. As an Oppressed starts to climb through, she tosses her shortsword at it, impaling it through the skull. "Well? What are we waiting for?" "For them to get inside. I want to catch some of them in the destruction," I say. The moment after I say that, the front door shatters into pieces and the Oppressed swarm through, tearing apart the dresser in their way with their razor sharp claws. "Fuck it, here goes! Get in the air!" I power up one last time and slam the ground with a magically empowered fist. Lines of destructive emerald magic arcs out from the point of impact in a star like pattern, gouging through the ground and demolishing the walls and ceiling in one massive explosion. Grabbing Swift and Trixie, I take to the skies beside Rainbow and Applejack. I hold the two ponies close to my with my arms hooked around their barrels. It's not ideal and they're no doubt uncomfortable, but it'll have to do for now. We manage to escape the rubble, the building collapsing beneath its own weight now that it has been destabilized so much. Any undead in the building are crushed by the debris. A cloud of dust and debris is thrown into the air, which we use as short term cover long enough to put some distance between us and the building. "This is just crazy!" Applejack wails from her position in Rainbow's grip. Trixie is similarly crying out in panic as her hind legs dangle several scores of feet above the ground, promising imminent death should I drop her. But I won't drop her. "Make for the mountains! We've got to get to the Islanders!" I order, flying as fast as I can while carrying the weight of two ponies. If it weren't for my magic, I'd never be able to carry these two for a long distance, much less fly with them. Rainbow nods, and the five of us fly as fast as we can towards the gates, with several undead pegasus in hot pursuit. The walls loom closer and closer, and I start to believe that we'll get out of this... "You will not escape!" Mist shrieks from far below. Before any of us know what's happening, a beam of lethal white magic lances up from below...and hits Rainbow right beneath her right wingjoint. Rainbow cries out in pain and her flight pattern spirals out of control, taking her and Applejack down towards the ground. "No!" I yell, and then I whirl around, looking for Mist. I find her standing atop the ruins of her old chambers, her white aura licking up around her like flames. Ignoring her angry expression, I immediately fly down towards Rainbow, as she can't seem to control her downward flight. Rainbow slams into the ground, and she and Applejack tumble over one another, yelling out in pain as they do so. I land right beside them, setting down Trixie and Swift. "Rainbow! Are you okay? I swear to god, you better be okay, or I'll..." I start to say, my mouth running out of sheer worry and fright. "Ow...I'm fine...but my wing..." Rainbow moans, managing to hoist herself to her hooves. She shows me her wing, and it's bent at an awkward angle, in addition to the burned fur and skin where Mist shot her. "Darn it, we were so close!" "Applejack, are you hurt? Can you stand?" Swift expresses anxiously, extending a hoof to the farmer pony. Applejack groans and accepts the hoof. "Yeah, but ah reckon ah'll be feelin' that in the morning," Applejack grunts, rubbing at her bruised ribs. She moves to comfort Rainbow once she's standing again. "Hang in there, sugarcube. We can't do this without ya. Can you fly?" Rainbow tries, but yells out in agony and falls back to the ground. She looks down at the snowy ground, looking dejected. "No, I can't. I'm useless now," Rainbow moans. "Why did this have to happen now!?" We were...the gates are right there. Literally all we needed was a few more seconds, and we would have been home free. Now, we're trapped inside the walls, with the undead quickly moving to surround us once more. This time, there's no structures nearby other than the gatehouse to hide in...the gatehouse. "No time to stand around, the undead are coming!" I shout at the rest of them, indicating the hordes of undead charging towards us, even as we speak. "Get in the gatehouse, now!" None of the other ponies argue with that. Swift immediately throws open the reinforced door to the gatehouse and slips inside, holding the portal open so the rest of us can follow her. Once we're all inside, she slams the door shut and slides the bolt closed, locking it for now. "That should buy us a few moments, at least," Swift determines. "Commander, what are your orders? We won't be able to hold out here forever." "We won't have to," I say, looking at the back of the room. Out of all the places we could have landed, this was probably the best. At the back of the room is a complicated apparatus, consisting of a large spool of chains that looks to be turned by a valve connected to the top of it. The chains feed up the wall into a slot high up on the wall, in the general direction of the gates. "This is our objective. If we can get those gates open, the Islanders can get in. If we can just hold out long enough for them to get here, we'll win." "What luck!" Trixie exclaims, moving over to the spool. I quickly join her, figuring that it'll take at least two of us to get this thing moving. She and I stand on either side of the wheel and grasp the handles together. "Let's get those gates open, Seth!" Just then, the door shudders and cracks as the Oppressed throw themselves against it. We dont' have much time to do this. "Sounds good to me. Swift! Barricade that door with whatever you can find! Buy us as much time as you can!" I order her, and then Trixie and I start to strain, the wheel only turning slowly despite our combined efforts. "Ugh....it's moving so slow...come on!" "Trixie feels like...this gate...weighs at least a ton..." Trixie grunts, starting to use her magic to help turn the wheel. As the wheel slowly turns, I can feel something shifting in the walls. There's the sound of wood and and metal groaning from outside, telling me that the gates are opening at an agonizing pace. Swift and Applejack are throwing everything can in front of the doors. Chairs, tables, and even end tables are being piled up at the base of the door in an attempt to put as much matter between the Oppressed and us. Thankfully, there's only one window that opens to the outside, and Rainbow is standing in front of it. She's grounded, but she doesn't look like she's going to be giving up any time soon. The door splinters under repeated impacts, making it clear that it's not going to hold out for very long. However, Trixie and I are in full form right now. The wheel is steadily turning. I can't see the outside, but I'm sure the gates are partially open now. Pterax, I pray that you made it to the Islanders. I hope they can make it here in time. Suddenly, there's the sound of magic sparking in the air from the far side of the room, opposite the door. I quickly turn my head. To my horror, a very angry Mist is standing there, having just teleported in. I then curse, remembering that the window was probably what allowed her to get in. Unicorns need a line of sight to teleport. "Step away from that wheel," Mist growls, her muzzle screwed into an expression of intense sorrow and hate. She summons her magic, cracking the floor beneath her. "You killed Emmie...and now I'm going to kill you." "Trixie, I'm gonna need you to keep turning the wheel," I whisper to the blue unicorn, stepping away. Trixie groans in complaint at the extra weight she has to turn all on her own, but she doggedly keeps turning it. I turn my gaze onto Mist, summoning my own magic, such that the room is awash with white and green light. "You shouldn't have come here all on your own, general. You can't stand up to me." "I didn't come here on my own," Mist replies ominously. As if on cue, the wall just in front of her explodes inwards with a thunderous crash. Chunks of debris and dust briefly flood the room...and then a powerful, hulking Mega Oppressed charges into the room, releasing a roar of challenge. My bravado evaporates instantly, my eyes widening with terror. Mist's horn flashes, and the monster orients on us, flexing its unnaturally swollen muscles. "Tear them apart!" "Fuck! Fuck fuck!" I immediately, curse, throwing myself away from the Mega Oppressed's charge, narrowly avoiding it to the point where I can feel the disturbance in the air left in its wake. "Everypony scatter right now, or we're all screwed!" Trixie yelps and dashes forward in time to avoid the monster's thick fingers as it reached out for her, intent to squeeze the life from her. Making a split second decision, I turn to the wheel and slice through the chain with my sword, effectively breaking the mechanism. Now, they won't be able to close the gates, no matter what happens. Even if we die, the battle will still be won. "What in tarnation...!? Oh no, not one of these critters!" Applejack exclaims in horror as the Mega Oppressed charges right into the middle of us. There's no room to dodge, so one of its flailing arms rams into my stomach, knocking me into the wall. Shrugging off Swift and Applejack's combined attacks, it knocks the both of them aside with vicious punches. "Back off, ugly!" Rainbow charges the creature bravely and foolishly, shoulder rushing its legs in an attempt to unbalance it. When Rainbow reaches it, it clamps its fingers around her barrel and starts to squeeze mercilessly, causing the pegasus to scream in agony. The sight causes me to see red, and I hurtle into the fight, slicing into the creature's fingers with my blade repeatedly until a finger is severed, loosening its grip long enough for me to pry Rainbow out. Immediately afterward, the Mega Oppressed roars in rage and rams the both of us with its mangled fist, causing us both to roll across the ground painfully. "It's tearing us apart, commander! We have to flee!" Swift yells frantically, evading the monster's next charge and vainly attempting to inflict some kind of damage with her javelin. On the other side of the room, Trixie is engaging with Mist in an intense magical confrontation. The both of them seem to be evenly matched; with every collision between their magically enhanced hooves, an ethereal wind surges up from around them, and the room is further damaged. The floor boards are torn up and the surrounding furniture is disintegrated. "There's nowhere to go! This fucker's in here, and the Oppressed are outside!" I lament. The moment I see the Mega Oppressed going for Applejack, I lunge forward and knock her out of the way, only to take the hit myself, which nearly sends me right through the barricade. I hold my no doubt broken ribs, panting and groaning from the pain. Through the splintered remains of the continuously degrading door, I can see the masses of undead outside...and the halfway opened gates just nearby. "We have to take our chances! We can't fight this thang!" Applejack expresses, getting up from the ground. "Rainbow's hurt too! We gotta make a run fer the gates!" "I guess we have no other choice. Let's go!" I order. With a nod, Swift knocks aside the barricade and bucks the door down, bowling over a few undead that were beating against the door not too long ago. She dashes outside and works to clear a way for us. Applejack joins her outside, quickly followed by Rainbow. "Trixie! Get your little blue ass over here!" "Little...busy!" Trixie manages to get out as she ducks beneath Mist's hoof. She then stamps the ground with both hooves, releasing a wave of cyan light forward. Mist nimbly leaps out of the way and counterattacks with a destructive orb of snowy magic, which is then blocked by a hastily erected cyan barrier. "Fucking...we don't have time!" I dive beneath the Mega Oppressed flailing fists and fire several blasts of magic towards Mist, forcing the general to back away from Trixie. "Come on! Get moving! I'll keep the big guy distracted!" Trixie nods and dashes past the hulking Oppressed. It tries to swipe at her, but I step in front of its fist and block it on my forearm....but the force behind the attack is so great that I'm knocked clear through the front wall. If it weren't for my magic, that would have broken my back, no doubt. I land right in the middle of a chaotic melee between my team and the undead. We're completely surrounded on three sides by the small fry, and behind us is a rampaging Mega Oppressed and general Mist herself. Because of my bad call, this has quickly gone from bad to worse. "We can make it! Come on, fight harder!" Rainbow urges us on as she punches an Oppressed into the ground. Now that we're all together, we let out a collective battle cry and charge the undead lines that are blocking us from getting to the gates. Panic and adrenaline fuel my tired muscles as I cut my way into the wall of dead flesh between us and safety. At first, it seems like we're going to make it. Swift is doing a marvelous job at watching our backs, despite the fact that we're all getting collectively overwhelmed by the sheer amount of enemies that we're fighting. More than once, I miss my guard, and an Oppressed claw slices into my skin painfully, leaving behind bleeding cuts on my arms and legs. I'm not the only one taking hits either. Applejack is favoring her left foreleg, and Trixie is sporting a cut on her forehead that's steadily oozing blood. However, as we get closer, I notice with horror that the gates are starting to slowly close. What? How is that possible? I broke the mechanism myself, there's no way they should be able to close! I whirl around to look at the destroyed wall of the gatehouse, where the Mega Oppressed is steadily approaching us. However, what I see causes my hopes to sink like a stone. Mist is standing beside the broken mechanism, using her magic to control the severed chain and close the gates. Oh fuck...magic. I completely forgot about magic. If she closes the gates, we're all screwed. We'll be completely annihilated here by all of these undead, and it will have been all my goddamn fault. I had to be so confident that we could win the battle without losing anypony. Because of that, we're going to lose everything.

Tales of the Oppressed

120. The Fall of Everwinter

My sword flickers around me like a deadly steel hornet, slicing through any Oppressed unlucky enough to be near me. They're starting to group up and swarm us, just like they always do, quickly limited the space in which we have to move, and cutting us off from reaching the rapidly closing gates. "Seth! That big guys comin'!" Applejack warns me frantically while bucking an Oppressed apart to keep it away from the wounded Rainbow. She flinches when a claw scrapes across her shoulder, but she doesn't give in, retaliating swiftly against the offending undead. The Mega Oppressed is charging towards us at a high speed , bowling aside its fellow undead without any concern for their wellbeing. Its eyes are fixed on us...and Swift is the closest one to it. When the monster reaches them, Swift hunches down and gets ready to assault it. Trixie quickly moves to join her, slicing up Oppressed on her way. "Trixie will assist....aah!" Trixie and Swift then both have to throw themselves to the ground to avoid a deadly sweep of the monster's swollen arm that could have easily broken their necks. Shit, I need to help. I turn to face the Mega Oppressed, recognizing it as the biggest threat on this field. However, as I'm turning to do so, a burst of white magic buffets my face, singing my skin and pushing me back. I grunt and clasp a hand to my face, one eye gazing out at General Mist, who has taken to the battlefield herself now that the gates are once again closed. "Coming to face me yourself, General?" I say with a sense of calm falling over me. I recognize that I made a bad call...but now I'm starting to see a way to pull us out of this. Mist doesn't respond, glaring at me with her magic swirling over her form like a raging whirlwind. I plant my feet and hold out my sword before me, noting how the area around me is clear of undead. Mist must want to take care of me herself. "Come on then. I'll help you with the release you seek." "There's no hope for you," Mist states in a wavering voice. Her expression turns pained, as if her statement was spoken with sorrow and despair rather than any sense of gloating. It's almost as if she wanted us to win. "You cannot defeat him. It's...it's pointless to even try." "Defeat who?" I ask, even though I have an idea what the answer is going to be. Mist starts to look fearful, even as she speaks the name. "King Sombra. He is the one truth of this world....he is undeniable," Mist reveals, her body shaking. Her muscles tense, and she starts to approach me. "But now, you are trapped in these walls with me. I will do you a favor, and put you to rest, so that you never feel the pain as your last hope is crushed." I scoff, and then stand up straight, seemingly lowering my guard. Mist pauses, wondering what I'm planning. Honestly, I should have done this before, to the point where my previous panic seems a little foolish to me. It may not have been the best idea to do this before, but now, it's a matter of life or death. "Trapped?" I repeat. As Mist watches, I let my magical energy explode from my body, forming a small crater beneath me. Before she can stop me, I pivot on my heel and channel my magic into the blade. A surprising, yet familiar sensation passes through me. Instead of questioning it, I seize upon it, and magic rushes through the blade, transforming it into greenish crystal, with the luster and richness of emerald. With my powered sword in hand, I hold it in both hands and sweep forwards in front of me twice in an X pattern. Green waves of slicing magic emanate from the blade and surge towards the gates. The magical waves collide with the gate and are briefly halted by a white barrier, telling me that Mist must have warded the door against magical assault. However...she's not anywhere near my level. I lower my sword and lift a hand, which flashes green with power. The shockwaves struggling against the barrier receive the extra power and slice right through the opposition, chopping right through the wooden gates. "Trapped? I think not." I restate, smirking. Mist's jaw drops as she sees her barrier broken so easily. She watches the gates fall apart, revealing the snowy wasteland outside. I'm not even looking at the gates anymore, because I know I can't make a run for it until my team is safe. "No...you won't escape! You won't!" Mist screeches, and then she charges at me, firing beams from her horn as she does so. I stick my sword into the ground and meet her charge head on, her beams impacting my body and leaving burns. Mist cries out when my fist hits her right in the chest, halting her charge and pushing her back. However, she quickly turns around and rams a hoof upwards into my chin painfully. What the hell...I should be a lot stronger than her. It then dawns on me. I am stronger than her...but right now, in my current form, we're at relatively the same level. I think I'm still higher, but for all intents and purposes, we're even right now. No...I only become alicorn levels of strong once I transform. I grunt and get smart, dodging her next few attacks and retaliating with a burst of magic emanating from both palms. Mist deftly blocks it with a barrier and turns on her forehooves, her hind legs lashing out in a powerful buck. Getting hit by a buck would hurt, so I sidestep and then grab her by a hind leg. Using it as leverage, I hurl her around into the ranks of her undead, near where Rainbow is fighting. That'll buy me a little time to take the heat off my team... "Waaah!" "Commander!" Both Swift and Trixie go hurtling backwards into the walls on either side of the gate, both of them completely overwhelmed by the indestructible nature of the Mega Oppressed. It's more than a match for any of us like this, and we know it. Applejack and Rainbow move to guard the two as they rise, joining me. The three of us meet the wave of rushing Oppressed, preparing ourselves as the Mega readies itself for another charge. "Seth! Let's make a run for it. Ya opened the gates; there's nuthin' stoppin' us!" Applejack yells out to me as she lifts an Oppressed with her two front hooves and then throws it to the ground into a group of its fellow undead. "Yes, we need to retreat!" Swift agrees, getting to her hooves and lifting her javelin. I nod in agreement. I can't fight Mist and the Mega Oppressed at the same time...and that's not even counting the hundreds of undead still left in the fort, all rushing towards us at once. "Agreed. Let's get the hell out of dodge!" I confirm, and then the five of us make a break for the gates...only to stop at what we see on the other side. Shock crosses my face...and then a grin slowly forms. "Hold your ground, valiant warriors," Salamul's deep voice rumbles from outside the gates. The warlord, dressed in his imposing crimson armor and armed with that monster axe, stands on the other side, flanked by Iron and Pterax...and backed by the entirety of the Bleak Island elite forces. Salamul sweeps his axe down to his side with his magic, a snarl forming on his lips. "There will be no defeat this day! Islanders! With me!" A rallying battle cry rises from the Bleak Island ranks, and they all follow Salamul as the warlord breaks into a gallop, charging right for the open gate and the ranks of undead on the other side. Mist, upon seeing the enemies outside, snarls in frustration and sends a thick and concentrated beam of snowy magic directly towards him... Salamul roars and slices right through the beam with his axe, cutting it into two smaller beams that harmlessly impact the snow on either side of him. His charge isn't even slowed. When he passes through the gate, he leaps all the way over my head and lands right in the middle of the undead, annihilating a whole circle of them with a single sweep of his axe. Iron is right behind him, and it isn't long before the entire Bleak Island force meets the ranks of the undead in a clash of epic proportions. The Islanders cut their way through the undead like a knife through butter, at last showing their true prowess in battle. It's almost laughable how easy they're beating the Oppressed, sweeping aside their clumsy claw attacks and slicing them apart with ease. In fact, some of the soldiers are even laughing in delight. With a guttural battle cry, Salamul raises his axe...and then a fucking lightning bolt as thick as a tree slams down from the clouds above, striking his axe and causing it to resonate with electrical power.. Oh, so that weapon is magical? Well, good for him, but that's not going to do a thing against... Salamul spins his axe in the air, the weapon releasing a whirlwind so strong that the air visibly dilates around him. Much to my utter shock, the Oppressed are knocked aside like ninepins, and that's not even counting what happens to the poor fuckers that get hit by his electrically charged axe. The one Oppressed unlucky enough to get hit is blasted to pieces by the electricity. Oh my god. I look over at Rainbow and Applejack, who are equally as shocked as I am. Hope returns to me, and I lift my sword back out of the ground. "We can't give up now, team! You heard the guy! Let's stand our ground and bring the fight to the enemy!" I call to my team. As battered as we all are, I can see them nodding, morale surging among us now that a monster like Salamul is here with us. "Geez, you numbskulls," Pterax joins us with a scoff as all six of us charge back into the ranks of the enemy. He quickly turns into my form, wielding a weapon to deadly effect among the magically immune Oppressed. "I'm away for not even half an hour, and you manage to get the entire fort up in arms against you. How did you even manage that?" "It was my fault," I answer shortly as he and I fight alongside one another. "I make a stupid decision and nearly got us all killed. You can all yell at me later." "I should have known," Pterax remarks, much to my annoyance. "Ah told ya it was a mistake...but what's more important..." Applejack grunts while tangling with two Oppressed at once. "...is that we all git out o' this alive." "Commander Iron! Watch out!" Swift calls to where Iron is fighting with his trident and shield. He's currently combating Mist in a tense head to head skirmish, but Mist is obviously overwhelmed. Not only is Iron outfighting her, but she can't touch him with her magic. Every time she tries, her power is sucked into Iron's shield and sent right back at her through his trident. "It's coming!" Mist steps aside and lets the Mega Oppressed charge past her, using it as a shield to buy herself time to lick her wounds. I start to move to help Iron, but a light red hoof stops me from going any further. "Nuh-uh. You stand right there, you stupid spindly thing," Crimson Flare cautions me, a grin on her face. As I start to protest, she indicates Salamul, who's now at Iron's side, getting ready to fight the huge monster charging right towards them. "Watch. These are the two that brought our country together as one." "You ready, brother?" Iron asks Salamul grimly as the Mega Oppressed charges towards him. Salamul gives an amused grunt, hefting his electrified axe and waving it through the air threateningly, such that the very air hummed and crackled with its power. "Please...this is nothing compared to what we went through. Let's show them what we are capable of..." Salamul returns, his expression stoic as ever. Iron nods, and then the two of them gallop directly towards the Mega Oppressed, meeting its charge head on. The two brothers split right around the monster's charge, sweeping their weapons in a low arc and slicing right into the creature's legs, using its momentum against it to inflict enough damage to cause the creature to slow to a stop, staggering as it tries to keep its footing. As the Mega Oppressed turns around, Salamul and Iron are ready for it. They easily weave their way in and out of its frenzied attacks and simultaneously slice up its torso with their weapons. Salamul's supercharged axe leaves a deep gash in its chest, electricity sparking from the point of impact and causing the monster to jerk spasmodically, as if the power is running through its limbs. My jaw slowly drops as Iron and Salamul weave around the monster, slicing it to ribbons with their combined assaults. They are cooperating and coordinating with one another without even exchanging any words or glances, and the Mega Oppressed doesn't even stand a chance. The monster is now on its hands and knees, as its legs are all but sliced to pieces and its torso is hacked to ribbons. It attempts to rise again, but its end is near. Salamul and Iron stand together a few meters away, their weapons crossed and touching. The metal of the two weapons seem to be connected by arcs of dancing electricity that gets more and more intense with every passing second. With simultaneous roars, Salamul and Iron bring their weapons down to the ground at the same time. A shockwave of electrical power surges forward across the ground, tearing up the stone of the street and annihilating everything in its way. Despite its seemingly magical nature, it reaches the Mega Oppressed and slices it to bloody chunks, defeating it once and for all. "All hail the warlords!" the Islanders cheer at their leaders' victory, even as they utterly overwhelm any undead in their way. From where I'm standing, I don't see a single fallen Islander among the dead. No kidding....400 Islanders is more than enough. It's almost like these are the pony versions of Spartans. Jesus Christ. Mist reappears atop a building, looking fully charged and ready for battle. She looks as shocked as I feel to see the Mega Oppressed lying in pieces on the street, and even more shocked to see the Islanders utterly carving up her forces, while each individual laughs and jokes as they do it. She growls and starts powering up...but I won't let her. "Stay here with the Islanders. I'm going to deal with Mist," I order my team. Without waiting for acknowledgment from them, I take to the skies and charge right towards the general, emerald flame wreathing my form. "We're not finished, you and I!" Mist quickly turns and meets my charge with a magically empowered guard, causing the building's ceiling to crack beneath the impact. She glares into my eyes, and then locks her hooves around my shoulders, bashing my forehead with hers. I yelp as her horn cuts into the skin of my forehead, and I then kick her in the barrel viciously. She doesn't let go, and as such we both go tumbling off of the building into a crowd of Oppressed...who soon spread out to give us room to fight. I'm guessing that's Mist's command. "Why...why are you fighting so hard...?" Mist demands, dodging several slicing shockwaves of magic from my sword. "You can't win...it doesn't matter how hard you flail...how many battles you win...he'll kill you..." "The better question is....why the hell aren't YOU fighting?" I shoot right back, meeting her punches with open palms. As we strain against one another, we glare into one another's eyes. "I heard about you from Shatter. You're crystal pony slave, aren't you? Sombra has enslaved and tortured your kind to the point where I don't even want to think about it! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" "Stop acting like you understand!" Mist cries, punching me in the nose and causing me to recoil. She goes on the offensive, forming orbs of magic and throwing them at me in an endless barrage. "It doesn't matter what I do...there's no escape. Every last hope, extinguished...every rebellion...snuffed out...it's too much!" "So what, you're just going to give up!? I demand incredulously, powering through her assault and planting my hand into her face, hurling her across the street and through a house. I quickly pursue her into the building, where the two of us exchange swift punches and kicks. "What about all of your friends? Your countryponies? You're okay with them living in slavery like this?" "No...no...! But there's nothing I can do...I'll just die...." Mist expresses. She's starting to cry, tears welling up in her already reddened eyes. "It's better to just accept it...please, I just want the pain to stop..." "So stop it yourself, you coward!" I snap at her, using my hands to propel myself away from the floor seconds before Mist detonates a magical rune there. "There's no excuse for what you're doing. You think you can live in this twisted little fantasy with your undead 'friends,' all while your real friends are suffering and dying?" "You don't know what it's like! How dare you lecture me!" Mist screeches. She and I meet in the middle of the room, blowing out the rest of the building in the resulting explosion. Her words anger me, because on the contrary... "I do know what it's like, you idiot! My race went through the same damn thing!" I tell her, causing her eyes to widen in shock. I grab her by the shoulders and lift her up so that she's forced to look at me. "My people went through worse, actually! Sombra's top general, Vanta, tortured and killed my kind with sick and twisted experiments to make the very same troops you're using right now! And do you know what I did? I blew that fucker to ash and made him pay." "I can't do that...it's not possible. No one can defeat Sombra...he's the one thing that will last forever..." Mist returns weakly. I throw her to the ground painfully, my disgust showing in my curled lip. "Last forever? I don't think so. Nothing lasts forever...certainly not tyrants like him," I snap back at her. I glare at her, only one thing left for me to say. "Mist, I'll defeat Sombra." My resolute statement causes Mist to look at me in utter shock and disbelief. I plant my feet and tap into my innermost wells of magical power, releasing the strength that I've almost never used. Mist watches in awe as my magical power rises by several fold. My aura circles up around me, filled with flowing ribbons of archaic cuneiform glyphs. My hair flows up around me, and those same glyphs climb up my body, glowing with an ethereal emerald light. Once my transformation is complete, I let out a wordless cry and plant my feet, sending out a shockwave that completely demolishes whatever is left of the house around me. "I'll defeat him," I repeat to her, lifting up a rune covered hand and clenching it into a fist. "If you want to make it up to your friends...you'll help me." Mist lies there with an air of shocked silence for a several seconds. For the first time, a little bit of hope seems to enter her expression. "Maybe...maybe with your power...we can..." Mist starts to say aloud...to the point where I think she's about to give in. But then, she clenches her eyes shut and shakes her head vigorously. "No...NO!" Mist stands up, closing her eyes shut tight. When they next open, there's nothing but darkness coming from beneath her eyelids. A whispering fills the air, along with a feeling of eerie magic that's very similar to how Vanta's magic felt. She's using some powerful necromancy right now. "How dare you....instill this kind of hope in me...!" Mist starts to yell, her voice now sounding distorted and unearthly. "There is no escape for me....except death!" Around her, Oppressed and other undead gather to her, clinging to her body. Bile rises in my throat in disgust as their skin and bones start to crack and merge together in a grotesque amalgamation of bodies. A twisted flesh construct not unlike a Mega Oppressed starts to form with Mist as the center of its torso. Once it's complete, white fur sprouts from the undead bodies, and sharp teeth and claws form from the "head" and "hands." "I will kill you, and show you the same despair that I feel!" Mist utters ominously from her position in the center of her construct's torso. I lift my sword once more and hold it out before me. I know full well that with the Oppressed that are a part of that construct, there are likely to be parts of it that are immune to magic. But that's okay. I need to show her that no matter the odds, it's always worth fighting back. "Come on. I'll break this despair of yours," I challenge her, beckoning to her with my hand. Mist grits her teeth, and then the construct charges at me, with its thick claws held high. However, in this form of mine, I start to see things the same way I did when I fought Vanta. Mist blinks when her claws slam onto the empty ground where I used to be. She turns, but is hardly able to follow me with her eyes as I circle around her with the speed given to me by this form. Doing what feels natural, I grasp one of the lines of glyphs in my aura and sling it out like a whip. The other end coils around the flesh construct's arm. From there, it's easy to upend the whole thing, dropping it on its back, earning a yowl of frustration from Mist. I land in front of Mist and dash past her created body as it rises, dragging my sword across her arm, cutting a deep gash into it, to the point where it's only hanging on by a few strands of muscle and tendon. Before she can even retaliate, my sword stretches and lengthens into a length of chain, with a dagger attached to the other end. "There is always hope!" I shout at her, flicking the chain out at her and slicing into her body with the dagger. I whip it at her again and again, tearing into her constructed body and slicing the surface into ribbons. "I learned that from ponies very close to me...ponies that I never would have met if I'd let myself fall to despair like you have!" "Don't lie to me....I hate liars!" Mist reaches out with a massive arm and grabs onto the chain..but it dissipates in her hand before she can tug me in. "Friends die...and all I'm left with is a hole that I can never fill!" Her unharmed fist shoots forward towards me...only to be blocked by one hand. It pains my hand to block it, but I can handle it. It seems like the merging of Oppressed and normal undead diluted that magical immunity, such that its only resistance now. "I know how that feels...god do I know," I return calmly, feeling a little melancholy as memories of Amaryllis fill my mind. Even now there's a hole in my heart where she should be, but it's only through accepting it and moving on can I keep it from taking me over. I feel sorry for Mist, that she never learned how to do that. With a grunt, I tear her construct's arm completely off and toss it aside. "But I'll never let it keep me from fighting back...and neither should you." Mist looks at me with terror as I power up even further. She takes several steps back as I approach her, as if that could save her. I hunch down, and then propel myself forward with an explosion of magic behind my feet. "No...don't....I'm not ready....!" Mist yells as I streak through the air towards her...and then I rip right through the center of her construct, wrapping my arms around her middle and taking her with me. Mist screams as I land on the ground several meters away from her destroyed construct, which even now starts to turn to dust now that she's no longer supplying it with necromancy. I hold Mist tightly, my arms wrapped around her, almost like an embrace. Mist trembles in my grasp, hyperventilating and struggling weakly. "And there's your answer," I whisper in her ear. Mist tries to wriggle free...but when the meaning of my words sink in, she slowly settles down, looking up at me not with the cold dead eyes of Sombra's general, but with the frightened and confused eyes of a filly that never got to grow up. "You're not ready to die. Not yet. You still have friends out there, waiting for you to rescue them." Mist blinks as tears start to pour from her cheeks. All magical output ceases from her, and she throws her hooves around me, hugging me as she starts to sob loudly. I flinch a little from her sudden affection...and then I realize that I just managed to fight and talk down one of Sombra's generals. Holy shit, when did I get so persuasive? All around us, the battle starts to die down. The moment Mist started to cry, the undead start to slow down. Eventually, they start to shut down entirely, the life draining from their bodies. Eventually, the rest of the undead army is just standing still, easy targets for the Islanders to wipe out. That means...she's relinquished control of her army. This means...the battle is over. I let my magic peter out, the runes disappearing from the air, my aura dissipating, and my hair flopping down to my shoulders. Sure enough, a chorus of cheers rise up from the Bleak Islanders once they realize that none of the undead are fighting back. Now, instead of an invasion, it's become a cleanup mission. Of course, now I have to figure out what to do with the sobbing general in my arms. "Your name...it's Seth, right?" Mist questions me, looking up at me tearfully. I nod solemnly. She sniffs and wipes her eyes with a battered hoof. "What...what do I do now? How can I rescue my friends?" "You can come with us," I tell her, pulling away from her so she has room to stand up. "However, you'll likely have to talk with the princesses. You were our enemy, so I doubt many of the ponies here will trust you." "I know...you can lock me up if you want. It's nothing that I haven't dealt with before," Mist replies sadly, lowering her head. I shrug, not really knowing what to say to that. My species may have had it worse than hers, but I've never gone through anything close to what she has. "Can...I come with you?" "Yeah, come on. The others are going to want to know," I tell her, getting to my feet. I wince a little as all of my wounds start to ache at once. It really sucks that we don't have a healer like Celestia, Luna, or Chrysalis around. I guess I'll have to get treated the normal way. I look behind me to make sure Mist is walking with me, and then I step towards the Islanders, with whom my team is celebrating now as well. I meet up with Iron and Salamul on the way, the both of them approaching me purposefully. They both take note of the timid Mist standing behind me. "I see you have captured their general," Salamul observes. "A shame. I was actually beginning to enjoy myself." Iron shakes his head, giving Salamul an exasperated expression. "Are you alright, Seth? How are your injuries?" Iron questions me, his words betraying his concern, despite the fact that his expression is as neutral as always. "I'm fine, more or less. I am really glad you got here when you did," I express to him. Iron nods, accepting my gratitude stoically. "Next time, you lead the infiltration. I fucked this up something fierce." "You made a mistake," Iron tells me sternly, causing me to scratch the back of my neck awkwardly. I don't think he even knows the details, but I guess he doesn't really have to. His next words are spoken with fervor."You were lucky. Now, learn from this experience, and do not make the same mistakes again." I nod. I remember him saying something very similar back on the airship. I guess I should have paid more attention to him then. "General Mist." Iron then turns to the unicorn behind me, who attempts to hide behind my form again. Of course, you can't exactly hide from Iron, so it isn't long before he's staring at her in the eyes. "Do I have your surrender?" Mist nods silently and timidly, unsure how to react in the presence of somepony that used to be her enemy. Iron nods and produces a set of shackles, no doubt given to him by one of the other Islanders. Mist quails a little, but then obediently presents her forehooves. Wordlessly, Iron snaps the shackles in place around her legs, and then slides an odd ring over her horn...which leaves a white web behind on her horn that quickly soaks into it. Oh shit, that's a really small nullification device. Smart. Now she can't use her magic even if she wanted to. "Good job capturing her alive. We'll present her to the princess when we have established a base of operations here," Iron says to me. "Indeed. No doubt we be discussing our next course of action," Salamul adds, placing his axe in a slot on him armor. That reminds me. I have a question to ask that really needs an answer. "Okay, before we do anything, what the fuck is that axe, Salamul?" I demand, jabbing a finger at the weapon in question. "The Oppressed are completely immune to magic, but that didn't seem to stop you any!" Salamul stares down at me for a few seconds, as if deciding whether or not he wants to explain. Eventually, he lifts the axe back out and presents it to me. "This is one of the two Storm Regalia. It does not use magic in the standard sense of the term," Salamul explains. I reach out to touch the axe...and then of course get shocked by it because I forgot about that. "Its power stems from the fury of nature." "That's still magic, isn't it? I'm confused," I point out. "You can't just say that 'it's empowered by nature.' That is magic!" "It's a bit of a long story," Iron rejoins before Salamul can answer. "Suffice to say, these are weapons with unique attributes that stem from...sources other than magic." "That's fucking cryptic," I mutter, but drop it. I'm not going to look a gift pony in the mouth, I suppose. That axe could shoot rainbows and butterflies, but if it can hurt the Oppressed, I'm happy as hell that it's on our side. "Now what?" "My brother and I will set up a command center in one of these buildings," Iron explains. "We'll take care of settling our troops into the fortress. You can relax in the meantime. Go and speak with your team, and then report for medical treatment." "Got it. What about Mist? You're not going to hurt her, are you?" I question, uncertain as to whether or not I want to leave her with somepony like Salamul. I wouldn't put it past him to torture somepony for information. "She will be safe in my custody. I do not hurt my prisoners," Iron assures me. Okay, if he's looking after her, that'll be fine. I can trust Iron, I think. "Now go. Your team is waiting for you." "Yeah, I bet. They probably want to kill me," I mutter, and then I take my leave of the two of them, conscious of Mist's soulful eyes watching me as I go. I'll have to check on her later to make sure she doesn't lose her mind again. That would be a little inconvenient. Rainbow, Pterax, Trixie, Swift, and Applejack are all waiting for me together by one of the more intact buildings. Rainbow is sitting down next to an Islander nurse pony, who is treating and dressing her wing. They all look up at my appearance, displaying various levels of relief. I notice Applejack and Swift staring at me rather intently when I arrive, causing me to raise an eyebrow. "Uh...what?" I ask hesitantly. "Ah told ya so," is Applejack's pertinent response. Swift nods emphatically. The whole scene is a little comical...or at least it would be, if it had been anypony other than me that fucked up, and in a less severe manner. "Your original plan was better," Swift agrees, making me even more regretful. "Yeah, you're right. Honestly, if I'd have known that it was just Mist here and no one else more dangerous, I'd have blown up the gates sooner," I confess. I move to join Rainbow, sitting down at her side, reaching out to brush her back. I'd hug her, but the nurse is in the way, and I don't want to hurt Rainbow. "Sorry about your wing. No doubt you wouldn't be hurt if we'd have just left Mist alone." "What? Nah, I was just too slow. Applejack's fat butt was weighing me down!" Rainbow remarks in good humour. Immediately, Applejack's ears perk up and she turns around with a glare. "Hey! You talkin' smack, Rainbow Dash?" Applejack exclaims indignantly, earning a snicker from Rainbow. "Ah'll have Seth hold you down while ah give ya a good whuppin'!" I shake my head at their antics, trying not to laugh too. Rainbow can make light of it, but I feel like I'm always getting her hurt in one way or another. "Seriously though," I tell Rainbow. "No, seriously yourself. You're stupid, we get it," Rainbow interrupts me before I can say anything else. "I've always known you're stupid. But everything turned out fine, so I'm not mad." As much as I want to protest that I'm not always stupid, that argument would fall rather flat here, so I just nod. "Okay, thanks. You're sure you're not mad?" "Nah...but...there is something you could do to make it up to me," Rainbow muses, rubbing at her chin. I watch her expectantly, willing to do pretty much anything at this point. Rainbow soon adopts a grin. "You have to make me meals, whenever I ask, for a month when we get back." "Wha...." I can't even form a proper response to that for a good several seconds. Around us, Applejack is snickering, while Swift is just shaking her head. Trixie isn't even paying attention, instead whining to the nurse about her aching hooves. "Wait, before or after the trip we take around Equestria?" Rainbow thinks about that for a moment before responding. "...Yes," Rainbow decides, causing me to roll my eyes and rub my forehead in exasperation. Her dumb bullshit aside, I'm glad she's not angry at me. Heh, I remember when I used to not give a shit whether she was mad at me or not. "There, that should do it for now," the nurse says, finishing up with Rainbow's wounds. "You won't be doing any flying for a while, however." "Aw, c'mon..." Rainbow complains. She'll be fine. No doubt we'll be meeting up with the princesses at some point. She can get healed then. "Commander, if you would come here?" the nurse beckons to me next. I try to protest and say that she should treat another pony first, but then both Applejack and Rainbow get up and force me to sit down next to the nurse and get treated. "There. This won't take too long. I just need to dress these cuts. Just lie back and relax." While the nurse bandages me up, I look up at the snowy white sky, reflecting over the events of this past mission. It shouldn't be long now, before we take the fight to the capital.

Tales of the Oppressed

121. A Time for Rest

With the undead taken care of, Everwinter soon falls under our complete control. The walls are almost entirely unharmed, so the only real repairs that need to be made are for the gates. It takes the cooperation of several unicorns and mechanics to get a working gate set back up. Though I suppose it's mostly for cosmetics, because I just proved not too long ago that gates are woefully inadequate against any decent unicorn. After clearing away the debris in the center of the village, Iron and Salamul quickly get a command center set up, consisting of several large tents in which tables, maps, and other strategic equipment is arranged. Other Islanders are busy gathering materials and supplies from the untouched houses. No doubt the poor ponies who originally owned them don't have much use for them now. My only hope is that we can get to them before Sombra can hurt them too much. As for me...well, I don't really have much to be doing now that our mission is over with. The first thing we do is get a fucking good night's sleep for the first time since Trotsdale. The one at the Bleak Island camp didn't count because that was only a few hours. So, holing ourselves up in one of the houses, it feel really fucking good to just rest for a full eight hours. When we next wake up, it's about noontime the next day. My team and I, after getting washed up in the frankly frigid showers, are now sitting in one of the larger houses that's been turned into a mess hall of sorts, eating our breakfast. I think it used to be a tavern, due to the presence of the bar like structure on one side of the room, as well as the multitudes of tables scattered across the the first floor. "So yer tellin' me that you managed to get that Mist character to join us?" Applejack questions me in disbelief, an apple clutched in her hoof. Before I can even reply, Mist, who is sitting on the other side of Applejack, starts to look rather uppity. "Like...not just capture her, but actually join us?" "But of course he did! You see, I was just faking it this whole time to get on Sombra's good side, so that I could..." she starts to declare, but soon peters out as all of our heads slowly turn to look at her, none too amused. "...what?" "You stop that," I tell her. Mist adopts a grin, even as her form disappears in a flash of green light to reveal a snickering Pterax. "You weren't even here, so you don't know. Besides, that's just so goddamn cliche." "I thought it was pretty good," Pterax returns smugly, crossing his front hooves on the table. Unlike the rest of us, he's not eating, due to his changeling nature. "Still though. Who knew you could say anything apart from random expletives and sarcastic comments?" "Fuck off, Pterax. As if you actually know me," I retort irritably...realizing a second later that I pretty much proved his point. Even Rainbow is laughing at my expense. "I don't know why, but after seeing her in the streets and in her dining room, the idea of killing her didn't really sit well with me." "Honestly, it didn't sit well with me none either," Applejack agrees. "To begin with ah ain't never gonna be alright with the idea of takin' another thinkin' pony's life, no matter what she done." "Yeah...me neither. I kinda just wanted to knock her around a bit, but that's it," Rainbow agrees uncomfortably. "So I didn't like the idea of us going to 'take her down,' like you said." "You do know we're in the middle of a war, right? We're lucky in that the majority of our enemies are already dead, but these generals are alive and willing to kill us," I point out to the two of them, sipping my drink as soon as I finish talking. Swift nods in agreement, understanding that sentiment from a soldier's standpoint. "Still, she seemed mighty pitiful. So ah'm glad ya managed to do somethin' for her," Applejack persists. I nod. It's a little funny, actually. When I'd first come to Equestria, I likely would have chosen to kill Mist, no matter what her situation. I notice Applejack looking at me rather strangely. "If ya don't mind me askin', what about that other human?" "Hawke? What about him?" I ask curiously. This subject came right out of left field, so I don't quite get her motives. "What are ya gonna do about him? He's yer kind too, right?" Applejack inquires. I freeze, and then sigh, setting down my sandwich and resting my hand on my fist. "I don't know. I don't know anything about him, really, except that he doesn't seem to give a shit that Sombra is the reason our race is dead," I admit after a few moments. Unlike Mist, I already feel strongly towards Hawke...and I only know one thing. "Between his betrayal and what he did to Twilight and Rainbow, he needs to pay." "He didn't hit me that hard," Rainbow mutters, flushing a little. I scoff at that. Yeah right, he sent you hurtling into a building with just one hit of his arm. It wasn't even his fist, either. "Anyway, can we talk about something more cheerful?" "Trixie scuffed her hoof..." Just completely out of the blue, our conversation is interrupted by an complaining whine from the blue unicorn sitting beside me. We all turn to look at her in disbelief and amusement. Trixie sits there, hardly paying attention to any of us. Instead, she's peering closely at one hoof that looks like it's seen better days. She looks up and notices us all looking. "What?" Applejack is the first to lose her composure, letting out a loud guffaw that quickly turns into full blown laughter. From the darkness of our last conversation, hearing something so innocent and typical of her out of the blue like that just makes it twenty times funnier. "Stop laughing at me! It looks horrible!" Trixie whines as Rainbow and I start to laugh as well. Swift lets her head hit the table out of exasperation as our professional facade disappears in an instant. Even Pterax joins in on this, turning into another Trixie with a similarly marred hoof, mimicking her whine perfectly. That sight makes us laugh even harder. "Stop that! I do not sound like that!" "Oh look, I'm the Great and Powerful Trixie, look how pretentious I sound!" Pterax mocks her, to the point where the real Trixie throws a spoon at him with her magic. Rainbow finds that incredibly humorous. "Pterax, that's just great! Do somepony else!" Rainbow requests. She thinks for a second, and then grins. "Do Applejack!" "Say what now?" Applejack demands, but before she can protest any further, Pterax obliging turns into the farmer pony, albeit without the hat. Applejack stares at herself with a strange expression on her face, which Pterax mirrors. Suddenly, the changeling steals her hat and puts it on. "Hey!" "Howdy, everypony! Ah'm Applejack. Buy some apples!" Pterax declares in a perfect rendition of Applejack's voice. I almost choke on my sandwich at how fucking hilarious Applejack's expression is right now. Pterax looks at the rest of us with a cheeky grin. "That's it. That's her personality." While all of us chortle at her expense, Applejack tackles Pterax to the ground, scattering dishes everywhere. "That ain't true and y'all know it! And gimme mah hat back!" Applejack protests. Yeah, of course it's not true. We know her better than that. It's still fucking funny. "Wait, what the...!" Rainbow exclaims, once Pterax and Applejack get back up from the ground. Pterax is now in Rainbow's form, which causes my right eye to twitch. "Pterax..." I say in a dangerously soft voice, reminding him of the last time he took Rainbow's form. "I'm Rainbow Dash! I like going fast and I have a fetish for humans! Look at the muscles on that Se..." Before Pterax can even finish his declaration, both Rainbow and I set aside our meals and pounce upon him at the same time, knocking him out of his chair and back onto the ground. "I regret nothing!" "Dear Celestia...it's like I'm looking after a group of foals," Swift complains, her head still resting on the table out of exasperation. Our merriment is interrupted by the sound of somepony clearing his throat in front of us. We all freeze in position, with Rainbow and I on top of Pterax, and Applejack trying to keep water from going out her nose. "Enjoying ourselves, I see," Iron observes dryly. Well, if he's here, then it must be for business. I get up off of the changeling and return to my seat, giving Iron my full attention. Rainbow and Pterax hop up onto their seats as well, the latter reverting to his original form. "Seth, your presence is requested for a meeting in the command tent." "Okay, I guess," I respond. I quickly stuff the rest of my meal in my mouth and get up from the table. "I'm coming too," Rainbow insists, hopping off of her seat and walking up to the two of us. It's weird, seeing her walk everywhere instead of hover like she always does. I can't wait until I can see one of the alicorns and get her healed. It'll make the both of us feel better. "As you wish. Follow me," Iron directs us. With that, he turns and leads us out of the tavern building and into the snowy streets. I wrinkle my nose at the stench in the air, no doubt coming from the piles of burning undead bodies situated in the streets every so often. I'm guessing that's an Islander tradition, but it's certainly not a pleasant one. "Any word from the other teams?" I question curiously as I walk alongside the warlord. I doubt we're the only one who's succeeded. "Very little, unfortunately. All we have heard as of right now is that Princess Celestia has captured her designated settlement," Iron reveals. "Of course she has," I remark under my breath to Rainbow, who chuckles. Please, Celestia was the one I was least worried about. Like I said before, she's fucking unstoppable, even on her own. I mean, was there ever any doubt? "Nothing else?" Iron shakes his head. Okay, now I'm wondering whether or not the others are alright. I know Chrysalis will be fine, because she's really fucking smart and wouldn't make a mistake like I did. Same goes for Luna. I'm not sure about the others. Though I guess in a wartime situation, no news is good news. When we reach the command tent, I hear Salamul talking with somepony, who is replying to him in soft female tones. I recognize that voice in an instant, and I actually start to feel a little embarrassed. I hope to hell she doesn't already know how I messed up yet again. Oh, who am I kidding. She always knows. "Perhaps another time, Salamul. Considering the current state of affairs, it would be hardly be conducive to proper morale, don't you think?" Celestia replies to something the warlord said. Iron, Rainbow, and I join them in the tent, gaining their attention. Celestia isn't actually here, but is instead present in the form of a hologram emanating from a communication orb much like the one I used back at the changeling hive. Salamul looks rather disappointed for some reason or another. "Perhaps. Nevertheless, I will expect a match once there is adequate time," Salamul insists. Wait, a match? Is he trying to fight Celestia? What, is he nuts? "But now, it seems, we have company." "Welcome back, commander," Celestia addresses Iron, who nods reverently at her greeting. She then faces the two of us. "Good to see you two are alright. I heard your infiltration was a success?" "More or less," I respond hastily, hoping she doesn't inquire much further. And...shit. Celestia is giving me the look. It's the one she always wears when she's figuring someone out. In this case, it's me. Yeah no. I cross my arms and gaze at her. "I assume you just curbstomped everything in your own mission?"" "The Oppressed, as you call them, are a dangerous foe. However, they are no match for an experienced warrior," Celestia assures me. So yeah, basically that's a yes. "More to the point, I assume you did not contact me to exchange pleasantries?" "That's correct. We've captured one of the enemy generals," Iron reveals. He stomps the ground with a hoof, signaling the guards to bring in the chained up Mist. The former general sees Celestia and cowers, lowering her gaze. Celestia's expression, although surprised at first, turns stern, telling me that she's definitely not forgotten what Mist said to her on the fields of Trotsdale. "There are some...extenuating circumstances. I believed it would be best to seek your judgment." "I see," Celestia replies shortly, gazing down at Mist with a searching gaze. "What sort of circumstances are you referring to?" "Rather than being defeated, she..." Iron starts to explain, but then I interrupt, stepping in front of him and approaching Mist. "How about we let her speak for herself?" I cut across Iron, causing him to close his mouth and look at me with a raised brow. Mist notices my approach and gets a little calmer, though she still trembles before Celestia's intimidating presence. I don't envy Mist right now. I don't ever want to be on the receiving end of Celestia's fury. "Mist, this was your decision. Don't let somebody else speak for you." "What...? But...I..." Mist stammers, looking between me and Celestia. I sit down on the ground beside her, shoving away the guard that's looking after her. Celestia's expression changes, turning to mild surprise briefly before becoming thoughtful. Just in this one exchange, I think she has a basic idea of what's happened. "I rather like that idea. Well then, General Mist. Is there anything you wish to say to me?" Celestia addresses the former general. Mist quails beneath Celestia's stare, but just by my presence next to her, she gathers the courage to speak. "I...I want to help," Mist manages to get out. Rainbow and Iron both look surprised by this, because they weren't there when I talked her into surrendering. No doubt the last thing she wants is to remain in chains for the rest of the war. "Excuse me?" Celestia utters. From her facial expression, it looks like that was the last thing she expected to hear. Mist's tone gets a little stronger now that's she's already said it once. "It's...it's him. King Sombra," Mist begins, doing her best to keep eye contact with Celestia, despite the trembling in her knees. "He's invincible. He's always been this pillar of unstoppable might in the middle of the empire. It didn't matter what we did, or what was done to us. He would never look at us..." "'Us?'" Celestia repeats, looking as if she's starting to figure it out. "Ah, of course. I didn't see it before, on the battlefield, but you're a crystal pony, aren't you?" "I was...a mother of three..." Mist continues, her voice catching. Okay, what? This part I never heard her mention. Even Celestia gets that the story she's about to hear isn't going to be a pretty one, considering how she's starting to look a little pained. "Winter Rain, Soft Dreams, and...Emerald Horizon." I think I understand a little better now. When she said she wanted the pain to stop, I guessed she was talking about the torture they must have inflicted on her. But...I'm guessing she was referring to the torture and loss of her family. I guess when she called some of those undead her "children," she really meant it. And now....I remember that I pretty much killed one of her children right in front of her face. Well, re-killed, but still. "They're gone now. I wanted to avenge them, but...King Sombra promised me that by embracing necromancy, I could get them back," Mist admits. Celestia closes her eyes and sighs, nodding as if she had expected something like that. "But when I realized he was lying...I couldn't go back. The other crystal ponies...they would never accept me back after the things I did." "Then what changed your mind?" Celestia asks softly. Mist spares me a momentary glance before answering her; it's a glance that Celestia easily catches. "I want to have faith in you all...please, bring him down and set the other crystal ponies free. I can't go back to them, but if I can help them in any way, I'll do it," Mist finishes, sounding determined. "Just please...let me help." All of us watch Celestia closely. It's rare that I get to see her put in a situation like this, and despite my obvious bias for one side, I'm a little interested to see how she handles this. "This is quite the difficult situation that you have put me in, Mist," Celestia says truthfully. "As I have come to care for many ponies as if they were my own, I can understand your feelings, and I sympathize with them. But I simply cannot just ignore the pain you have inflicted upon my subjects." "I...understand..." Mist whispers weakly, looking crushed despite the fact that she no doubt expected this outcome. Still...I'm not satisfied with this. What, so after all that shit I said to her, she's just going to get screwed anyway? "If you want to kill me...I'd understand." "Flowing Mist," Celestia snaps, using the general's full name. For some reason, the princess looks angry. Mist looks up in surprise at the sudden change in Celestia's tone. "After all that you just said to me, are you truly willing to accept a punishment as harsh as death so easily? Do your friends and family mean so little to you?" "What!? No!" Mist protests, stiffening at Celestia's harsh words. "I want to help them! I do!" "Good. Then you can start by never using your necromancy ever again," Celestia asserts, stamping the ground. Mist blinks at that. "I have witnessed first hoof what happens to the souls of those enslaved through death. If your feelings are indeed sincere, then you will never put another living soul through that agony, for as long as you live. Promise me." Did...did Celestia just...she did. Mist and the others likely don't understand what she meant by that, but I do. I was down there in the ruins of my old school with her when we saw the spirits of the ones we freed from the slavery of undeath. I didn't think the experience truly affected her as it did me. "I...I promise. I no longer want any part of King Sombra's magic," Mist agrees readily, starting to shake a little. She freezes, and she looks down at her trembling hooves. "I can't believe that I...oh no...Emmie..." "Secondly, when the time comes, I want you to tell us everything you know about Sombra and his operations," Celestia orders her. Mist nods, and once again I'm blown away by Celestia. It's like, on one hand, she's a normal mare like anypony else. On the other, nothing ever seems to faze her. "Okay...I'll tell you everything you want to know...or as much as I do know. King Sombra never held counsel with any of us...except for Hawke. He's the only one Sombra ever spoke to directly. All of our orders came from him," Mist reveals. Wait what? Goddamn, what the hell did Hawke and Sombra go through together, to the point where even the evil king himself trusts him? Looking over at Celestia, she's nodding to say that she understands. "Lastly and most importantly, I absolutely forbid you to die," Celestia tells Mist commandingly. The former general looks at her in shock, as do Iron, Salamul, and Rainbow. Even I do, because that's an odd command to give to someone, especially somepony who used to be your enemy not too long ago. "If you want to make up for the things you've done...if you truly regret them...then you shall repent by continuing to live. Live and struggle, or I will never forgive you." There's a short silence after that, as Celestia stares intensely at Mist, who seems truly taken aback. "I...I will. I'll keep living! Thank you, princess!" Mist finally exclaims. "I've never met anypony quite like you." "Hah. Preaching to the choir on that one," I retort, giving Celestia a cheeky expression. Celestia's response is to quickly and discreetly stick her tongue out at me, which almost makes me lose my shit right here, despite the heartfelt conversation that just went on. "So what now? Do we just sit around on our asses out here in Everwinter?" "Not quite. I have been receiving reports from the other teams. So far, our invasion seems to be going well," Celestia reveals, much to our relief. "We have met heavy resistance in the different settlements, but it seems as if they are more disorganized than before." "How is that possible? They nearly screwed us over several times, what with the nested traps and all," I demand. That was Sombra, right? "What's changed?" "I am not sure. Sombra has not moved from the capital, and Hawke's position remains a mystery," Celestia admits. "This should have been far more difficult." "You are suspecting a trap?" Salamul asks, joining the conversation once more. Wait, you have got to be fucking kidding me. This whole invasion might be a trap? God, this is why I'm glad I'm not a goddamn tactician. Why is everything a trap? "It is possible. For instance, that blind spot greatly concerns me," Celestia continues, no doubt referring to the blizzard. "Queen Chrysalis has already completed her objective, and is scouting that area as we speak. Hopefully we will know more soon." "When can we expect to hear from the other teams?" Iron questions. Yeah, that's what I want to know. I want to know if the others are okay. "Our job here is mostly complete." "In the morning, I expect to receive a report from Cadance and Zythe. After that, we will hold a meeting with all of the team leaders to determine our next course of action," Celestia answers. Oh boy, and here I thought we'd actually get more than a day to rest and recover. I guess not. We are in the middle of a war I guess. "To reiterate, have your communication crystal ready for contact early tomorrow morning." "Understood, princess. Any last orders?" Iron responds with a quick salute. Celestia turns to Mist one last time. "Yes. Mist, you are under Commander Iron's supervision for the duration of this war. You are to follow his commands as if they were mine. Do I make myself clear?" Celestia orders her. Mist nods meekly, looking over at Iron hesitantly. "Iron, I am leaving it at your discretion when to return the use of magic to her. I trust you will make the right decision. Now then, I will see you bright and early the next morning." Celestia's image disappears from the room, leaving us in silence for several moments. Iron then turns to Mist. "You heard her. You're with me from now on," the commander tells her. Mist nods timidly. "In any other case, I'd want to fight you to understand your strength, but we've already done that." "And she didn't stand much of a chance, considering your Storm Regalia or whatever are plain broken," I quip. Iron shakes his head, mostly ignoring me. "Until tomorrow's meeting, I'll want you to accompany me as my brother and I finish shoring up the defenses in case of attack," Iron finishes. "Okay. I can help with that. I know where all the weak points are," Mist suggests. Iron nods with satisfaction, and then turns to his brother. "Brother, I'll leave you to look over the other Islanders," Iron states. Salamul nods, plodding out of the room without another word. Iron looks to me next. "Seth, you and your team are on standby until the next morning. Take some time to recover from your injuries. We'll need you at your best for the upcoming battles." "Standby. Got it," I reply, sighing with relief. This means I can rest some more and just hang with my friends...though that's probably irresponsible. "Iron, can you find me later? I want to train some more." "I'll see if I can find the time," Iron responds and moves for the exit. "Now then, I have work to do. Mist, come with me." Mist hesitates before following him. She approaches me real quick, pressing her muzzle to my leg in a quick show of affection, causing me to shift uncomfortably. "Thank you," she whispers to me. She quickly retreats and follows Iron out of the tent. "What's she doing, nuzzling you?" Rainbow remarks, watching Mist closely until the former general is out of sight. I raise a brow at Rainbow. "What?" "Oh, don't be jealous. Come on, the others are waiting for us." Even as I turn for the exit as well, Rainbow follows behind, spluttering indignantly. "I'm not jealous...what are you talking about?" "Of course you are. You're always jealous when somepony else nuzzles me," I point out. "Remember when Lyra did it? I thought you were gonna put a little sign on me that said 'property of Rainbow.'" "You did not! You were still oblivious at the time, you dolt!" Rainbow snaps back at me, causing me to laugh uproariously. "Still funny," I tease her, causing her to nudge me roughly. It isn't long before we're back with the team, though we find them in a rather awkward situation. Applejack is laughing uproariously while watching Pterax shift into different forms to make Trixie even more uncomfortable. I happen to walk in at the exact moment as Pterax shifts into Twilight's form and makes Trixie fall right off the bench in panic. Next to them, Swift is repeatedly banging her head into the table, no doubt wishing she hadn't been picked for this team. "You know I could add clothes to this too," Pterax remarks, noting Trixie flushing in embarrassment as she picks herself up off of the ground. She raises an eyebrow at Pterax's comment...and then she squeaks as Pterax flashes again, and Twilight's form is now wearing lacy purple socks. Trixie blushes furiously, as does Applejack and Rainbow. "What, too much?" "Pterax, quit fucking with the ponies," I admonish him, as entertaining as I'm finding this. A little interesting to see how ponies react to socks. Maybe I should ask Rarity about that later. It might be hilarious to see Rainbow react to a set of socks. "But it's so much fun though!" Pterax protests, though he does return to his original form. He then looks between Rainbow and I, a smirk forming on his face. "Besides, like you're one to talk." "If you mean what I think you mean, we're having roasted changeling for dinner," I tell him pointedly, cracking my knuckles. I find it hard to keep from laughing as I see Applejack's disgusted face at the thought of eating Pterax. "Anyway, it turns out we're all on standby until tomorrow morning." "What's happening tomorrow morning?" Trixie questions. "I'm going to a meeting with Celestia and the others. Turns out things are going well in other areas of the invasion," I reveal to them. Swift lifts her head up from the table and looks at me curiously. "Really? Just like that? We're attacking the largest and most dangerous army to ever exist, and things are going without a hitch?" Swift questions, suspicious. I nod understandingly. "Yeah, you and Celestia are both thinking the same thing. She thinks it might be a trap," I answer her. Applejack groans beside her. "What? How is it a trap this time?" Applejack asks in exasperation. Yeah, I understand how she's feeling. We've dealt with nothing but traps since this war has begun. "That's what I'd like to know. We're just worried about how easy it's been to complete every one of our objectives so far," I reply. Rainbow scoffs. "Easy? How has this been easy? I hurt my wing!" Rainbow complains, showing us her bandaged wing. "Sure the others did okay, but they probably had a hard time like we did. I mean, where's that Shatter guy? Or Hawke?" "Yeah, we have no idea where Hawke is right now. It's actually a little worrying," I add. That reminds me. I look down to my sword, reminding me of how I managed to rediscover my ability to absorb it into my magic just like my old rifle and scythe. I wonder what other abilities I can rediscover if I were to actually put my mind to it. "Well, ain't no sense worryin' about it now. Leave all them fancy tactics to the princesses," Applejack suggests sensibly. Her expression darkens. "Ah'm just hopin' we get to the capital soon. There's some ponies I want to rescue." "I think that goes for all of us," I say. I can't help but remember those two crystal ponies Applejack and I spoke to, back in the Crystal Empire. I feel like shit every time I picture their faces, and then how they must be faring under Sombra's rule. Applejack must be feeling even worse about it. "Anyway, I should probably go." "What? Where are you going?" Rainbow asks me as I make for the door. Technically I should be resting, but I don't really have time for that. Standby is the best time for figuring out my magic. "An open place. I don't remember most of my abilities from before I got this new magic. I figure I should take some time to train and get myself back up to par. I haven't had time before now," I explain. Swift nods approvingly. "That's a good idea. In fact, do you mind if I join you?" Swift asks. I blink at her. Did she just ask to train with me? "What? Join me? How would that even work?" I ask with a raised brow. "I mean, could you even take a single hit from me?" "Obviously I'm not going to train with you...just near you. I just need to work on my lance techniques," Swift retorts, rolling her eyes. "Ah okay. That makes more sense. But do you even have a lance anymore? Didn't you break it on Mist's neck?" I recall. As if she had been waiting for this very moment, Crimson Flare walks into the room, looking irritated as usual. We all watch her as she carries a brand new lance over to Swift, who flinches at her approach. "Oh shit." "Here's your stupid lance. Do you have any idea how many repairs I have to do? Do me a favor and don't add to them!" Crimson shrieks at Swift, dropping the lance unceremoniously on the table in front of her face. Swift nods timidly in response. Crimson nods in satisfaction and leaves the room, leaving the rest of us who haven't encountered Crimson before to look bemused. It figures she'd be the one to fix Swift's lance. She's the only smith around as far as I know. I wonder where she's set up shop? "That mare...scares me," Swift admits, much to my amusement. She lifts up her lance and hooks it to her armor, and then she joins me at the door. "Anyway, if that answers your question, let's get to training. In fact, we should all take this time to get some training done." "Sounds like a good idea. Ah never did like just sittin' around all day," Applejack agrees. She takes a moment to finish her drink before joining Swift and I near the door. "C'mon, Trixie. You too." "Wait, why does Trixie have to train with you all?" Trixie demands, looking none too pleased about the prospect. "She has always done just fine on her own." "Yeah, but if you want to get any better, maybe you should train with someone who can withstand your might. Unless you want to go ask Iron or Salamul for help, training with me is your only option," I suggest to her. I plan on taking most of this time to train myself, but I don't mind knocking her around a bit for the sake of making her stronger. Trixie gulps, remembering Iron and Salamul's skill. They did fucking take apart a Mega Oppressed like it was made of paper mache. She quickly gets up from her seat and follows to rest of us. "Eh, guess I might as well follow. If only to watch you all flailing around," Pterax grumbles, annoyed that we're all leaving at once. "Aw yeah, group training time!" Rainbow declares. She pulls out a hat from nowhere and puts it on with a grin. "Tell you what! I'll get you all running laps around the city in no time! Call me Coach Dash!" "No, we're not doing that," I retort, taking the hat off her head and tossing it away, much to Rainbow's annoyance. "You can certainly do that if you want, but it's the magic I'm worried about." "How you guys get such ridiculous amounts of magic is beyond me," Swift grumbles, glaring at Trixie and I. Of course, that statement causes Trixie's ego to shoot through the roof, considering how uppity she's looking right now. Trixie yelps as I poke her in the side of the head. She rubs the affected portion and gives me a disturbed expression. "What was that for?" she demands. "Just deflating your overly swollen head," I answer, much to her annoyance. Trixie pouts and starts grumbling something under her breath, even as Rainbow starts laughing at her. "Oh sure, laugh it up Rainbow. Your head gets so big I have to use one of Rarity's sewing needles." With that, the six of us leave the mess hall and roam through the streets, looking for a decent place to settle and start training. It isn't long before we find one near the edge of town, in the snowy space between the walls and the outer residences. Once we're there, we split up and start to train on our own. After all, who knows what's going to come next. But for better or worse, it's almost over.

Tales of the Oppressed

122. The Final Obstacle

The rest of that day we spend training, each of us doing our own thing. I spend some time meditating as Rose taught me, attempting to familiarize myself with this new magic. Thanks to how crazy things have been, I've never been able to truly understand the composition of this magic. It's difficult to explain, but it feels as though I'm afloat in myself. It doesn't make sense, but this magic feels like me. Swift is at another end of the clearing, practicing her technique with the lance. She spends her time perfecting her form, using her magic to jab forward at a practice dummy with her lance. Applejack and Rainbow are exercising together, though both of them assert that they're practicing on their own. Essentially, they're running laps around the village...though I feel like it eventually turns a race. I say that because they're running faster every time they pass through the clearing. Surprisingly, Trixie seems to be doing the same thing I am, sitting down on her haunches with her eyes closed and a serene expression on her face. It's a nice change, because she's always looking stressed or awkward whenever she's with us. Nevertheless, it's good to know she knows proper technique for training herself. I wonder where she learned that from? She never really seemed like the meditating type. As for Pterax, he's not doing much of anything except lying curled up on the ground in the form of a polar bear, keeping warm and watching us, though he only looks half interested. As time passes, I eventually get up from the ground and flare my magic, melting the snow around my feet. From there, I unsheathe my sword and transform it like I did during the fight with Mist, until the blade becomes emerald once more. Now that I have a chance to look at it, this sword actually looks really cool like this. For several hours, I practice with my magic, attempting to rediscover old techniques. Should an old ability prove particularly hard to recreate, I attempt to create new ones instead, to limited success. That dashing ability I had with Sombra's magic was invaluable to me in battle, but I can't seem to recreate it. Every time I try, the most I get is a substantial increase in movement speed. In other words, it's slower than the dash, but faster than I can ever move on my own. It also has an advantage in that I don't have to use it in bursts like the dash ability. Rainbow and Applejack suddenly yelp as I swiftly catch up to them, moving so fast that my magic leaves behind multiple emerald shadows of myself. The fact that I' using magic isn't what's surprising them...it's that they're galloping as fast as they can in an attempt to beat one another, and I caught up so quickly. "Yo, mind if I join you?" I call, cheekily waving at them. Applejack and Rainbow look at one another, and then back at me, a competitive gleam forming in their eyes. Without another word, Applejack and Rainbow lower their heads and pick up their speed. Imagine the faces of the soldiers as the three of us zoom right by them at a speed that they can hardly follow. As I am, I'm faster than Rainbow, but relatively even with Applejack in terms of overall speed. No doubt if Rainbow was able to fly, she'd kick my ass pretty quick. I could probably beat Applejack in maneuverability, considering that when I concentrate my magic like this, it affects all of my movement. My point is proven when the three of us turn a corner, and I easily take the lead due to my heightened maneuverability. However, they quickly catch up to me on the long straightaways in the village, showing me that ponies...and especially earth ponies, are extremely fast runners. These two could outrun me any day of the week without this magic. Eventually, after several laps around the town, I come to a halt back in the clearing, my legs starting to get tired. I've also gotten used to the way it feels to speed myself up like this. I wonder how much faster I'll be able to go when I power up to the next level. Then, while Rainbow and Applejack start working on exercising their legs, I focus on trying to shift the shape of my sword, much like I did with the rifle. It's difficult, but I do manage to recreate the chain knife that I used against Mist. The feel of the magic is different, so it's a little difficult to get it to do what I want, but it's definitely responding easier than Sombra's magic ever did. You know, and it also helps that there's not that little voice in my head, constantly telling me to give in and lay waste to Equestria. We don't stop training for the rest of the day, except for short breaks to eat and rest. Once the sun starts to set, we pair up and start training together to improve our skills. Applejack and Swift go head to head on one side of the clearing, grappling one another vigorously. Swift is a soldier, so she's drilling proper fighting techniques into Applejack so that she isn't just bucking things all the time. Rainbow eventually joins them, and Swift takes the both of them on at once, showing her superior training. As for me, well... "What the hell was that, Trixie?" I demand, catching her hoof easily on my arm. From there, it's easy to grab her hoof and press down on her barrel with my free hand, pinning her to the ground. "Your magical technique is good, but you literally just tossed yourself at me." "It's not Trixie's fault you're so much stronger than she is!" Trixie protests, getting up from the snow once I release her. She's wearing an adorable pout as she glares at me. She flares her magic once more and charges into the attack. "What? No, I'm not using any more magic than you are," I correct her, blocking or evading each of her vicious magical attacks. Every time her hooves hit my guard, a small shockwave emanates from the point of impact, caused by the collision of our magical energies. A large round area of melted slush forms around the two of us, our magic superheating the ground. "You've just got to be less predictable about your moves. You had trouble against Mist because of that." "Then how do you like...this!?" Trixie rears up on her hind legs and kicks her forehooves in the air. Magical bursts of color and light fill the air around me in tandem with her flourish. I wince as my eyes are assaulted by that sensory overload. There are so many colors and lights blending together in my vision that it physically hurts. I have to close my watering eyes....and then Trixie attacks me a second later. Her hoof rams into my side painfully before I can gather much magic to that area, knocking me back several feet from the impact. I can feel a bruise already forming from her attack, and I can't help but feel impressed. However, even with my eyes closed, I'm able to intercept her follow up attack with a kick of my own. Basically, I'm assuming that she's going to attack from the same direction, so I'm lashing out and hoping I hit her. Sure enough, my gamble pays off and feel my foot connect. Trixie yelps, and then I hear the sound of her falling into a snow drift. "Okay, that was a better, if a little over the top from a training session," I tell her, rubbing my eyes and holding my side with my hand. It stings, but it's not serious. "The illusions was a nice touch, but you have to move around a bit more than that if you want to keep your advantage. Now, let's go again." Trixie grumbles something under her breath as I finally manage to open my eyes again. My vision is a little funky at first, but eventually she and I get back to sparring. As the day comes to a close, we all start to get tired. Iron shows up at one point to help me out with training, but it only lasts for a little while before the others start to retire. "Whoo-ee!Ah'm plain tuckered out," Applejack sighs, wiping the copious amounts of sweat beading on her forehead away. Her mane is damp as well, as is Rainbow's. Swift has been easily handling the both of them, despite Applejack's obvious strength advantage and Rainbow's speed advantage. However, Applejack doesn't seen annoyed at all, unlike Rainbow. "Thanks fer the help, Swift. Ah feel like ah really learned somethin' today." "That's good to hear. Even the littlest bit helps on the battlefield," Swift returns amicably. She then gives the grumpy looking Rainbow a small smile. "Don't take it too hard, Rainbow. I've been in the guard for a long time. It's only natural that I'd be more skilled than you." "I don't care! I hate losing..." Rainbow grumbles. Oh my god, she really is salty. This is too funny. "Just you wait. Next time, I'll get you." "I look forward to it," Swift retorts, lifting her lance off of the ground and hooking it back into her armor. She looks up towards the heavens, where the moon is starting to rise in the darkening sky. "It's getting late. Perhaps we should all rest up for tomorrow." "Why, what's happening tomorrow?" Trixie asks, looking up from her position on the ground. It looks like she'd been inspecting herself for bruises. "We're not going to stay in Everwinter forever, you know," Swift reminds her, offering her a hoof. Trixie takes it and gets to her hooves, dusting herself off. "It's best to be in good condition for whatever may come." "Precisely," Iron agrees. The commander and I had been training hard together, but I've had enough for now. Iron is a ridiculously hard opponent to face, even though we're just training. "I'll be taking my leave. Seth, do not forget about the meeting in the morning." "I won't," I promise him. Satisfied, Iron retrieves his equipment and leaves the area. I notice the curious faces on the other ponies and figure I'd better explain. "We're having a strategy meeting with the other leaders tomorrow. Chances are, we're making our next move tomorrow." "And there you go. It would be prudent of us to prepare ourselves for tomorrow's events," Swift adds, sounding vindicated. "Shall we return to our barracks?" "It's not a barracks, Swift. It's just the house where we chose to sleep," I remind her, just to be annoying. Swift scowls and ignores me, looking instead to the others. "Yeah, I guess I could use a nap," Rainbow answers with a yawn. Applejack, who is next to her, looks down at the both of them, their fur streaked with sweat, and wrinkles her nose. "Not before we git a shower. Ah feel like ah just came out of a hard day at the farm," Applejack expresses, picking at her fur uncomfortably. Heh, I guess that's the closest she'll ever get to complaining. "Are we leaving now?" Pterax asks, shifting back to his normal form. He blinks his eyes several times, as if trying to wake himself up. I guess he took a nap while the rest of us were all training. I don't know changeling physiology, so I don't know if training would have even benefited him. "It's about time." "Trixie didn't see you doing any training," Trixie accuses him as the rest of us start to walk back through the streets towards our chosen house. "She thinks she even saw you napping." "Pterax doesn't exactly care what Trixie thinks," Pterax retorts, mimicking Trixie's voice mannerisms, much to the unicorn's annoyance. "Besides, if I wanted more muscle, I'd just give myself more muscle." "Right, except it doesn't work like that," I remind him. Every time I try to make sense of the fact that even by taking the form of a dragon, he won't have the strength of a dragon, I start getting caught up in physics and my head starts to hurt, so generally I just don't question it. Magic is bullshit. "Now quit instigating, Pterax." "Not my fault she makes it so easy," Pterax replies, though he doesn't say anything else after that to irritate Trixie. After that, it only takes us a few minutes to reach our chosen house. Inside, there's two separate bedrooms with three beds in each. According to Iron, every house is crammed with soldiers, so it's not like we could all choose our own house. We have to make do with what little space we have. So unfortunately, that means that Rainbow won't want to sleep in my bed, because there'll be another pony in the room. It's funny...it used to feel really awkward that Rainbow would be that close to me when I sleep, but now I've gotten used to it. It feels weird not to have her there now, as fucked up as that is for me to admit. The moment we step in through the door, Rainbow streaks up the stairs. "First two to the bathroom get the shower first!" she declares. Applejack immediately bolts up the stairs behind her, not willing to let Rainbow get the shower to herself. Swift and Trixie look at one another, and then shrug. "Well, sure, they can have it first. I doubt the heating crystals are charged with magic, so it won't be fun for them," Swift remarks. Trixie giggles next to her, looking incredibly mischeivous. Wait, what are they talking about? Heating crystal? Is that what they use to... A startled screech emanates from upstairs, and I hear something hit the ground hard. I raise a brow, wondering what the hell their problem is. "This water is so cold it's like bathing in liquid ice!" Rainbow screams, causing Swift and Trixie to snicker at her expense. "Swift! Come heat this up for me!" The four of us move upstairs. Swift and Trixie look at one another, nod, and then walk into the bathroom. "Sure, Trixie'll heat it for you..." Trixie begins mockingly. Seconds later, Applejack and Rainbow are simultaneously thrown out of the bathroom by Trixie and Swift's magical auras. "...but only if she gets the shower first!" The door shuts in Rainbow's face, causing the pegasus to start banging on it furiously. "Hey, that's not fair!" Rainbow then turns to me for help...only to find me laughing my ass off at her misfortune. "Seth, he...oh, you're no help!" "Not my fault you jumped the gun. This works for me. The unicorns go first, and then the rest of us get hot water. Win-win, as far as I'm concerned," I say with a shrug, resting my back against the wall. Rainbow grumbles, but she knows I'm right. "Anyway, I'm gonna lay down while I'm waiting for my turn. Who's in my room tonight? Besides Rainbow, I already know that." I had to mention Rainbow because the moment I asked, she had already been opening her mouth. A sinking feeling comes over me as I see a smirk form on Applejack's face. "Ya know, ah'm thinkin' ah should stay out tonight. Ah don't think ah wanna be aroun' when ya start makin' it up to Dash about her busted wing," she teases us. I groan, even as Rainbow turns nine shades of red next to me. I should have figured this would happen the moment I opened my mouth. "Ah'll go sleep with Trixie." "You most certainly will not!" Trixie yells from inside the shower, causing the rest of us to start laughing, despite the joke that just happened. Of course, I'm not going to let it go. The moment Applejack lets down her guard, I tackle her to the ground, aiming to hoist her up off of the ground. Of course, I've never wrestled her before, so I'm completely unprepared for her strength. Applejack manages to resist me, grabbing my arms and forcing the both of us to the ground. While Rainbow is laughing her ass off, Applejack and I roll over the floor into the bedroom, until she finally manages to pin me down. "Y'all gonna have to train for another thirty years before you can wrassle this earth pony," Applejack teases me, her powerful hooves keeping me from moving at all. Gah, and I thought I could handle her after my minor victories with Rainbow. Applejack sees me grin and my eyes start to glow, so she puts a hoof on my nose. "No, stop that. Magic ain't fair." "Alright, fine, you win. Now get off of me so I can lay down," I admit. I could easily best her with magic, but then that wouldn't count. Applejack chuckles and climbs off of me, heading back out to the hallway to wait for her turn in the shower. Once I'm free, I hop onto my bed and lay my head back on the pillow with a sigh. Today's been fun for the most part. That's good, because I really needed it to help relieve some of this stress that's been present ever since the war began. Of course, it's just going to come back tomorrow, but for now, any relief will do. Once we've all showered, it isn't long before the three of us get to bed, choosing to head to sleep immediately to get as much rest as possible before the morning. My alarm wakes me up before any of the others, a little after dawn. I blink the sleep out of my eyes and get to my feet, adrenaline helping me wake up when I realize that I should be at a meeting. I let Rainbow and Applejack sleep, leaving the room and walking down the stairs. I grab my sword and scabbard on the way out, because I don't really want to be without it in case of attack. The first thing I notice after I step outside is that it's fucking cold as shit. Right, it's dawn in the frozen north. I don't know what I expected. Tightening my jacket, I step into the snow and head for the command tent. As I'm walking, I happen to glance up into the sky and notice dark shapes flitting through the air. Alarmed, I almost release my magic. However, I soon relax when I hear the sound of hissing an buzzing insect wings, rather than the growling of undead. Okay, for some reason, the changelings are here. Aren't they were supposed to be to the northwest, scouting the blizzard? When I walk into the command tent at last, I find Iron, Salamul, and Mist gathered together at one end of the room, and surprisingly, Chrysalis is here as well, standing on her own with Mantis by her side. "My, my, Seth. You are starting to build up quite a track record," Chrysalis comments when she notices my presence in the tent. Even though I'm choosing to stand by Iron and the others, she moves to join me, much to my annoyance. "It appears I am not the only enemy you've turned to your cause." "Talking about Mist?" I reply tiredly, rubbing my forehead. Mist looks up at the sound of her name, but she quickly goes back to hiding behind Iron when she realizes how much closer Chrysalis is to her. "But of course! I'm a little surprised; I had no idea you could be such a bleeding heart," Chrysalis remarks, her expression a mixture of surprise and disgust. "I remember you being much too dark to bother saving an ailing mother." "That's because you weren't down in the ruins with me when I killed one of Sombra's generals, months ago," I shoot back, quickly losing my patience with this conversation. I'm not a fucking bleeding heart...I'm not going to go out of my way to save the enemy. Mist just didn't seem like an enemy. Chrysalis gives me a questioning look at my answer. "And no, I'm not going to explain it to you. Besides, why are you here, anyway?" "Because when I left the blizzard, this town was the closest," Chrysalis answers uncaringly, looking miffed at my refusal to explain my change of heart to her. Please, out of everypony I know, she's the last one that I'd ever tell about that. "I have a report to give concerning what I found...whenever Celestia decides she's ready to talk to the rest of us." Iron walks to the center of the room, where the table is. He places a communications crystal on the table and activates it, causing the orb to flash at regular intervals. "Let's get ready. I've let the others know we're ready to receive communications," Iron announces. Chrysalis scoffs and moves back over to Mantis. Moments later, the crystal starts to glow, and Celestia appears on the side of the room opposite Chrysalis. But that's not all. The crystal flashes several times, and more figures appear in the room. Luna appears next to Celestia, followed by Blades, Cadance, and Zythe. With this, all of the team leaders are present. "Is everypony present?" Celestia asks, looking around the room at the other holograms. She smiles happily at the sight of her sister and niece, and then nods when she notices the others. "I trust all of your missions went well?" "It was too easy, if you ask me. Immune to magic or not, there's simply no beating my intelligence," Chrysalis boasts shamelessly, lifting one of her hooves and glancing at it nonchalantly. "We ran into one of the generals, but we managed to complete our objective," Blades reveals, causing me to look curiously at him. "A real nasty one, he was. None of our magic could hurt him, and he was a particularly skilled fighter." Oh great, so Blades and Twilight ran into Shatter. I sure hope they killed him. "So what, you shoved a knife in his gullet?" Zythe joins with a bloodthirsty grin, agreeing with my mental thoughts. "You ponies rely too much on this magic of yours." "No, unfortunately. Just like that mare at Trotsdale, he had an escape plan ready in case he got cornered," Blades admits, much to my disappointment. Damn, so Shatter is still out there. Blades then looks at Celestia. "You should be real proud of your student, but the way. She's the one who took him down." "Really?" Celestia looks honestly surprised by that. "You said he was immune to magic, correct?" "That's true. He was takin' on all of us by himself with ease, but she had the bright idea to knock him right outta the sky with a boulder. Turns out magic won't hurt him, but debris propelled by magic does," Blades explains. Celestia nods, looking impressed. Damn, too bad I couldn't have done that. I can't use telekinesis like unicorns can. Neither can I teleport, for that matter. "Anyway, he took off after she broke his wing." "Lucky you. All we had was a bunch of lousy undead to fight," Zythe grumbles, clicking his beak irritably. "But we're not here to discuss war stories, are we? Come on, point me at my next target!" "No, the purpose of this meeting is to discuss our findings in the blizzard, and to choose what our next course of action will be," Celestia rejoins, gathering all attention back to her once again. "As planned, Queen Chrysalis and her changelings infiltrated the veil of snow and discovered what lies beyond. If you will?" "You will be very interested to hear what I've found." Chrysalis steps forward to the table, her horn lighting up and striking the wooden surface. All of us lean forward with interest as a small green hologram appears, much like the one Luna used back during the changeling invasion. This time, it depicts a large mountain with a faint trail of smoke emanating from the crater up top. Shit, that's the dormant volcano that Gale mentioned. However, it's the large complex built right into the side of the mountain that draws our attention. "The blizzard is a danger, but once you are within its veil, it is clear. As you can see, the enemy has a sizable base of operations here. It is guarded by a large horde of undead, but there doesn't seem to be anypony there to sustain them." "I see. Perhaps another necromantic heart," Celestia muses. "'Tis a threat we cannot ignore. Should we march upon the Crystal Empire, they could flank us while we are occupied," Luna decides. Chrysalis nods in agreement. "However, 'tis a mystery. That architecture is unlike anything we have ever seen." After a few minutes of looking at the structure, my eyes widen. "That's because it's human architecture," I reveal, much to everyone's shock. I can't believe this, but that is very clearly a power plant of some sort. It's a very large one, making me wonder why the hell Sombra needs that much electrical power. "Art thou certain?" Luna questions me curiously. I nod and point at different locations on the hologram. "Yeah, look at these lights. Those are clearly electrical. Plus, if I'm thinking about this right, that's a geothermal plant," I point out. "What it does is makes electricity from the heat released by radioactive decay...though I doubt that means much to you. What worries me is that you don't have this technology...and neither should Sombra." "You told us that Sombra went back to your time, did you not? Perhaps he picked up this technology from there?" Celestia suggests. "It's possible, but I doubt Sombra could have learned how to harness geothermal energy in only a single year," I return. Comically enough, some of the other ponies look completely lost at the implications of this. "I have no idea what he could be using all this power for, or how he managed to build a complex that large in such a short time. Even with magic, electricity is not a simple concept to grasp." "I....I can help with that," Mist speaks up timidly, making her presence known for the first time since the meeting began. Celestia smiles at her appearance, though the others that didn't know about her defection stare at her in confusion and anger. "I've been to that base before...I know what it's being used for, and how it was built." "Hey, ain't that the mare that led the attack on Trotsdale?" Blades asks curiously, jabbing a hoof in her direction. Luna's eyes narrow as she recognizes Mist as well. Chrysalis doesn't look like she cares one way of the other, of course. "You mean the coward who turned tail and ran the moment she got faced by griffon cannons?" Zythe brags, though he doesn't seem angry, just amused. "So how much did they torture you to get you to spill this information?" "Viceroy, if you please," Celestia chides Zythe gently, giving him a meaningful expression. Zythe scoffs, but he does fall silent. "Yes, this is Flowing Mist. To put a long story short, she was a slave to the Crystal Empire, but is now determined to see us succeed. Now, let her speak. Mist, can you tell us what you know?" "Yes, I can. It's an electrical plant like Seth said it was, but it has nothing to do with Sombra," Mist reveals. I blink. Wait what? If it's not Sombra, then... "That plant is where Governor General Hawke has been living." "King Sombra's second in command, huh..." Zythe comments, rubbing the feathers at his neck absentmindedly. "And how does he have this 'hooman' technology?" "Because he's a human himself," I reply, taken aback by Mist's revelation. That actually makes a lot of sense. If he knew enough, he could definitely build a plant like that if he had the time and resources. It's a long shot, but it makes more sense than Sombra building it in less than a month. "What is Hawke using it for?" "There's a weapon that he's been working on...one that channels all of this electrical energy and fires it in the form of a piercing beam," Mist answers. She moves up to the hologram and indicates a large construct on the roof of one of the protruding buildings of the complex. It looks like a massive cannon of some sort, though I've never seen anything like that, even for humans. "It's not complete, but right now it could still very easily devastate any armies sent towards it." "Cunning. Erect a barrier in the form of a raging blizzard, and then blast to oblivion anything that manages to get through," Chrysalis comments, rubbing her chin. "That aside, I am very interested in this other human..." "Chrysalis, no. He's our enemy," I tell her immediately. I can practically see the wheels in her mind turning. She has a fixation with humans, so I don't doubt that she'd try to possess Hawke too if she had the chance. Chrysalis just gives a toothy grin. "So were you," she reminds me, not looking dissuaded in the least. She turns to Mist eagerly. "So, little Mist...is Hawke there now? I do remember sensing someone's presence while I was there." "Yes. Or at least he should be. He never leaves unless explicitly ordered by King Sombra himself," Mist replies. Well shit. We've just been presented with the biggest threat apart from Sombra himself. And apparently he's building one epic weapon capable of devastating armies. "I see. Then the solution is plain to see. We must divert our forces to crush this base and deal with Hawke before attacking the Crystal Empire," Celestia decides. She looks about as grim as I feel right now. "Queen Chrysalis and the changelings are an obvious choice, as they can get through the blizzard with ease." "Don't forget my airships. They're so well insulated that a smaller force can easily get through, if they all huddle near the engines," Zythe reminds her. Celestia nods understandingly. "But I doubt the big bad's just gonna sit around in the capital while we crush his second in command." "That is true, I suppose. Sister, do you have any ideas?" Celestia says, turning to Luna. Luna ponders for several moments. She soon perks up, and looks over to Chrysalis. "Chrysalis, couldst thou taketh thy forces into the blizzard and hit the undead in a head on assault?" Luna questions. I sigh, knowing that Chrysalis is going to object to something that's so blatantly dangerous. "I see...you and I appear to think alike," Chrysalis agrees pensively, much to my surprise. Wait, they do what? "You know as well as I do that we are the only ones that can attack that base in bulk. So, if I use my changelings as a diversion, you can send a smaller force in on the airships and tackle the complex directly." "Precisely. That weapon Mist spoke of must be eliminated. However, if Hawke is indeed there, he will need to be dealt with. It will take one of our strongest magic users to do so," Luna agrees, showing me once more that she and Chrysalis are incredibly smart when collaborating together. Luna turns to her sister, who nods. "Very well. I shall travel aboard the airships and confront Hawke directly, while a smaller force disables the weapon," Celestia determines. Oh shit, if Celestia goes herself, Hawke is screwed. However...this doesn't sit right with me. "The rest of you will..." "Celestia," I interrupt suddenly. Celestia closes her mouth and regards me curiously, even as some of the others raise a brow at my rudeness. "I don't like this plan." "Oh, and I suppose you have a better idea? Considering you nearly got yourself killed fighting this pitiful thing, pardon me if I don't have much faith in your tactical ability!" Chrysalis snaps, irritated. It's partly her plan too, so I guess saying that offended her. As for how she knows about Mist, Pterax was there, so that's probably why. "Seth, what are you saying?" Celestia asks me calmly, lifting a hoof to stave off Chrysalis's anger for now. "Let me go in the airships," I tell her. I don't know if this is the smart thing to do or not, but I have to do this. "Let me take care of Hawke myself." The looks of shock and scorn pass across the assorted leaders' faces. Celestia starts looking at me oddly, no doubt trying to figure out my motives for such a gutsy move. "Seth," she says softly. "You remember that Hawke is one of our most dangerous enemies? He is likely stronger and more skilled than you. It would be safer if I were to take care of him." Before answering, I walk forward and stand in front of Celestia's hologram so that I can look directly into her eyes."I know that. Trust me, I really do. But this is something I have to do," I tell her firmly. "He's human, just like me. He and I are the only humans left in the world. He's my responsibility." Celestia's eyes soften when she realizes what I'm trying to tell her. "I believe I understand," she responds softly. "Believe me, if he were just any other pony, I'd let you take care of him, no problem." I try to justify my feelings to her, but even despite all this, part of my knows this is crazy. There's a chance that Hawke will manage to defeat me...but I just can't stomach the idea of Celestia crushing him before I have a chance to talk to him again. "Please, Celestia. I need to do this." "Are you sure you can defeat him, Seth?" Celestia asks me, her eyes filled with concern for me. I close my eyes and sigh, remembering something Celestia said to me a while back, at that cliff in Trotsdale. "It doesn't matter whether or not I think I can defeat him," I begin, clenching one hand into a fist. Celestia's eyes widen almost imperceptibly when she realizes what I'm trying to say. "I only know that I must defeat him, for the sake of the human race." Celestia looks surprised that I echoed her own words back to her for several seconds. Finally, she gives me a genuinely happy smile. "You've come so far, Seth," she says to me sincerely. I flush a little, not really sure how to deal with praise like that. Celestia then looks back to the rest of the leaders, who have been watching with interest. "Very well. Seth will lead his team aboard the airships and deal with Hawke and his weapon. The rest of us will solidify our positions and defend against possible counterattacks from the capital. Is this acceptable to the rest of you?" "I hope thou knows what thou dost," Luna warns me, her voice filled with veiled concern as well. "This Hawke is no pushover." "You're going to get yourself killed," Chrysalis grunts, though I can't help but notice that she looks a little impressed. Zythe and Salamul do as well. "You've got guts, monkey. I can't wait to see whether or not you end up in a pool of your own blood," Zythe expresses to me, shrugging his feathery shoulders. "But I'll get you there, for better or worse." "Then that is that. Now, there are a few last details to cover, and then we can adjourn this meeting in preparation for the battles to come," Celestia decides. I step away from her, back towards Iron and Mist. Celestia turns to Zythe, and the discussion of the finer details begins. While they talk, I zone out a bit, and start thinking to myself. Soon, I'll be facing Hawke again...and this time it's of my own choosing, and I have the power to stand up to him. We are the last humans. I have to be the one that takes care of him, once and for all.

Tales of the Oppressed

123. I'll Face Myself

It's going to take several days for Zythe and his other airships to get here to Everwinter, so we can't yet begin our assault on Hawke's geothermal plant. Now that the plan's been determined, there's nothing left for me to do except get ready for the upcoming confrontation. In the meantime, Chrysalis and her entire changeling horde has already left. According to her, she's going to use this time to position her troops outside of the blizzard in preparation for our assault. Before she left, I managed to convince Chrysalis to heal Rainbow's wing. Yeah...and it wasn't exactly easy. Chrysalis despises Rainbow, and it's obvious that helping her is the last thing she wants to do. However, she did it in the end, because I'm sure she knows that this war is too important for grudges. Or at least I hope she does. The waiting has started to really get to me. There's absolutely nothing I can do to make it go by faster. I've tried helping with the defenses, staying on lookout duty, or even just plain sleeping, but I can never focus on anything. My thoughts always turn to what lays on the horizon, and it always makes me restless. Eventually, I find solace in training. Dedicated to making myself stronger and bolstering my magical core as much as I can, I push myself harder than ever before. I spend countless hours doing that, hardly paying attention to anything else going on around me. Sometimes my team comes to join me, but they always end up leaving before I do. More often than not, I only stop training when I'm too tired to continue. Finally, on the second day of this routine, Rainbow comes to find me. In spite of the setting sun and the sounds of the soldiers moving to rest, I'm still in the clearing we've chosen to train in. The snow in this area is entirely melted, leaving the hard ground covered in a fine layer of moisture instead. "Hey, the rest of us are making food. C'mon in!" Rainbow offers, walking up behind me. She winces as my fist collides with a training dummy, obliterating it with a cacophonous crash. I curse and look at the wreckage ruefully. I hadn't meant to hit it that hard. "Hey, Equestria to Seth?" "Nah, don't worry about me. Go ahead and eat. I'll be back in later," I tell her impatiently, anxious to get back to my training. I hear a frustrated huff behind me. I'm forced to lower my magical aura to accommodate her as she trots up next to me. "That's the opposite of leaving, Rainbow." "That's because I didn't come out here just to leave, dummy," Rainbow retorts, stubbornly planting her ass on the ground next to me. "You need to take a break. You've been out here hitting things for hours." "I can't take a break. The battle is coming soon, and I need to be ready," I snap back, not in the mood to have an argument like this. Even the slightest bit of magical power could influence the outcome of the upcoming battle with Hawke. "I can't just wait around." "Look, you are ready. A few hours of training isn't going to make a difference when you're this strong already," Rainbow points out obstinately. "Besides, if you push yourself too hard, you're gonna be sore when it's time to move out, and then that Hawke guy will easily mop the floor with you." "But..." "Trust me, I'm an athlete, and there's nothing worse than the soreness you get after a workout," Rainbow cuts across my protest before it's even left my mouth. "I'll be fine," I grunt stubbornly, turning back away from her in the attempt to get back to training. Rainbow is quiet behind me, and for a moment I start to think that she left. Eventually, she sighs. "Well, there goes my chance at convincing you with logic," Rainbow says with a shrug. I don't really pay attention to her until I feel her hooves on my shoulders. With one quick jerk, she spins me around and clasps around my neck before I can react. As I'm opening my mouth to express my annoyance, Rainbow kisses me. It's been a long time since the last time she kissed me, so it takes me completely by surprise and causes any and all rational thought to promptly cease. Despite the frigid air, my cheeks start to feel warm, and soon I start kissing her back, my magical aura dissipating and my arms wrapping around her back. It's over too quick, and Rainbow pulls her head back to look at me smugly, a little blush of her own on her face. "So how about now? Want to go inside now?" Rainbow asks. "You know...kissing me isn't exactly a feasible argument," I feel the need to point out to her. Still, just feeling a little affection has me thinking more clearly...which helps me realize that I really do hurt from training so hard. How I ignored it up until now is beyond me. "Yeah, but is it working?" Rainbow retorts hopefully, her hind legs gently dangling in the air. I give her a scrutinizing stare. "Of course not...okay, I'm lying. It's working a little," I admit, much to her happiness. But I don't want to give in so easily, so feel like being a little difficult. "But I might need a little more persuasion." "Sure...if you come back inside with the rest of us," Rainbow replies, nuzzling my face with her own. I chuckle and roll my eyes. I might as well. I can't say no when she's being so fucking cute. "Alright, fine. Let's go then, I guess," I relent. Rainbow grins and lets go of my neck, choosing to celebrate by flying in a circle around me. "Alright, don't gloat." "What can I say? I am a master at the art of kiss-uasion!" Rainbow jokes as we start walking back towards the house. I slowly turn my head towards her with a deadpan stare. "That was awful." "Eh, bite me." Shaking my head and chuckling, I walk with her back to the others. It was a good thing that she stopped me, because I was indeed sore the next morning, and the airships arrived not long after that. The group of armored airships glide purposefully through the cold wintry air. At the head of the formation is Zythe's personal airship, which is distinguishable by the royal golden accents decorating the dark armored plates along the hull. It is this airship that my team and I are aboard. The mission has begun, and it won't be long before we reach the blizzard. I stand on the forecastle of the ship with Rainbow and Applejack, the three of us standing together in silence. My eyes are set straight ahead into the distance, where I can see the whirling white blur of the blizzard. I may be on the deck now, but by the time we reach that unnatural storm, standing up here will be tantamount to suicide. "Hey, Seth?" Applejack addresses me, her voice breaking the long silence that's been stretched across the deck. When she sees that she has my attention, she continues. "You thought about how you gonna handle this any?" "All the time. But I'm not any closer to having an answer for you," I tell her honestly. She's referring to our discussion on Hawke the other day. Even though I fought to have the chance to confront Hawke myself, I still don't know what I'm going to do. "I don't know anything about him, except that he's human, like me." "And that he's a bad guy," Rainbow chimes in helpfully. "I mean, to build a weapon like the one we're going to smash? That has 'bad guy' written all over it." "I know. Either way, when everything's all said and done, I know what I have to do. I have to stop him," I reply softly. I take a deep breath. "Heh. You all probably think I'm crazy. I mean, going on this mission myself instead of Celestia? How dumb is that?" "It ain't dumb. Even a blind mule could see that this ain't no ordinary villain we're dealin' with," Applejack assures me, placing a hoof on my leg. "He's yer kind, and that makes this yer fight. We're all gonna support you on this." "That's right, commander." To my surprise, Swift steps up to join us as well, having overheard the conversation herself. "I'll do whatever it takes to see you to that human. I know you won't steer us wrong." "Well...Trixie doesn't exactly know you as well as the others...but she knows what it's like to have someone that she has to measure up to." Trixie makes her presence known as well, walking up beside Swift and Applejack. "We know how important this is to you," Rainbow adds, nudging me slightly. "After coming this far with you, we're gonna do all we can to see you succeed." "Jesus...you know how weird this is?" I say after a pause, giving out another little chuckle. "Knowing that individuals like you exist makes me really realize what a dumb fuck I was before meeting you." "Oh don't worry, you're still a dummy. Just now, you're our dummy," Rainbow jokes affectionately, rubbing up against my side. My right eye twitches and I give her a mock glare. I'm just about to give her snappy retort when Zythe's voice rings loud and clear from the stern. "Everyone below deck, on the double! That blizzard's coming up fast, and unless you want to be an icicle, get moving!" Zythe lands on the main deck himself, opening the door that leads down into the ship and ushering every griffon that's nearby. Besides us, the other members of the assault force are griffons. "Pterax! Get your tail up to the wheel and keep this baby on course! Don't mess it up, you hear?" "Sure, whatever," Pterax remarks, emerging from below decks himself. He flies up to the ship's wheel and transforms into a polar bear, with his paws resting on the handles. Due to their ability to keep warm in the blizzard, changelings are being used at the helms of each of the other airships. "I'll be up here...in the snow." The wind howls nearby, growing louder with the increasing proximity of the raging blizzard. Taking that as the cue to get moving, the five of us join the throng of griffons heading below deck. As we're moving through the cramped inner corridors of the airship, I notice a certain pony staring at me shyly from one of the outlying rooms. "The rest of you go on ahead. I'll meet you down by the engines," I say to the rest of my team, and then I break off to confront the pony I just mentioned. "So you look like you want to say something to me." "Oh...I...yes," Mist responds, a little startled by my sudden approach. For this battle, Iron chose to send her with the airships to make use of her considerable magic power. Due to that, the ring on her horn is gone now, as are the shackles. The others didn't trust her as much, but I know she won't betray us. "It's just...are you going to kill Hawke?" "I don't know. If I have to, I guess," I answer, raising a brow at that question. "Why? What does it matter to you?" Mist shuffles her hooves, lowering her gaze. "Hawke never leaves this plant...and only takes orders from King Sombra himself. But whenever I visited on business...he was always kind to me," she reveals. Now that confuses me. Hawke didn't seem like the kind type at all on the battlefield. There, he fought without care for the crystal ponies that may have been in his way. "I was a slave...so weak compared to him...but he never treated me like the others did. So I guess what I'm trying to say is...I don't want him to die." I look back at Mist for a long time, uncertain how to even respond to that. Eventually, I nod my head. "I'll do what I can then...but don't expect anything. I don't think he's going to back down," I promise her. Mist nods, sniffling a bit. "Anyway, come down to the engines where it's warmer. It's about to drop to forty below out there." With that, the rest of the crew and me take shelter by the engines, just as the airship moves into the blizzard. We can tell, because the sound of the wind and snow beating against the hull can be heard even through the hull. The temperature drops noticeably, but we manage to avoid freezing thanks to everyone huddling together and getting warm from the heat of the engines. "It won't be long now. Everyone get suited up for battle," Zythe orders, walking among the huddled griffons and ponies. He comes to a stop in front of me, his eyes hardened in preparation for the battle to come. He produces a communications crystal from his armor and presents it to me. "Power this baby up for me, monkey." "What for?" I ask, a little annoyed by his repetition of that offensive nickname. We shouldn't need communications crystals now anyway. We've already discussed the plan, right? "The bug queen has to know when to move sometime, dullbrain. Now hurry and fire it up," Zythe reminds me, clicking his beak impatiently. He holds out the orb to me once more. "It's time to start the attack." At long last, the flagship of the griffon fleet emerges from the veil of snow, parting the falling white curtain like water. Immediately, my team and I head out from below deck and head to the forecastle of the ship. Following us are the scores of griffons that have been hiding below with us, as well as Mist. Zythe flies up to the wheel and callously shoves Pterax out of the way, taking his rightful position at the helm. "Griffons! Prepare to take flight!" Zythe roars from the stern, spreading his wings wide. A cheer rises from the ranks of the griffons. The sound of metal grinding against metal fills the air as the gunports on the hull of the ship open up, and the black barrels of lethal cannons emerge. "Roll out the cannons! We're taking the fight to the enemy!" Standing on the prow of the ship, I look forward at the horizon. A wide open valley presents itself before us, an untouched carpet of snow stretching out all the way towards the still smoking dormant volcano, where Hawke's facility is nestled up against its side. Chrysalis and the changelings are already embroiled in a massive conflict with the undead hordes. Even from here, the battle is clearly visible. Explosions of emerald magic dot the air like deadly fireworks as the changelings give it everything they've got. With Chrysalis at their head, they press the attack in an attempt hold the enemy's attention for as long as possible. The Oppressed charge against their lines, tanking everything magical sent at them, which forces the changelings on the ground to transform into other forms to contend with them on a physical basis. Chrysalis herself is dominating the field, her magic spiraling up around her like a tornado as she tears apart any undead that even look at her funny. Not even the Oppressed can stand up to her exceptional physical strength. It isn't long before our encroaching fleet is noticed by the enemy. Undead fliers reveal themselves from the nooks and crevices of the geothermal plant, taking off in a swarm of black dots and heading directly for us. "Fire the forward cannons!" Zythe orders as he takes to the air. At the front of each airship are two smaller guns in the style of swivel cannons, the type that you'd see on old 18th century ships. They are quickly manned by separate griffons and oriented upon the approaching undead. The air soon fills with the booming sound of firing cannons as the swivel guns unload into the undead, shredding anything unlucky enough to be hit. Zythe grins at the carnage and looks back at the other griffons."First division, flock to me and prepare to intercept! I'm ready to shed some blood!" I continue to stand on the front of the ship with my team, waiting for the moment when it's safe enough to disembark with my team. Judging from the undead on the edges of the complex, there's some Oppressed there waiting for us. I don't want to go down there without backup. I wince and watch as Zythe's forces intercept the flying undead in a cacophony of screeching and roaring. The griffons rend through the enemy's flesh with metal claws attached to the end of their talons and their beaks, proving their prowess in battle. Everything seems to be going well, but I'm starting to worry. Hawke is here, right? If his home is under attack, why the hell isn't he out there defending it? My eyes shoot open with shock as the giant barrel of the electrical cannon on the top of the plant slowly starts to turn. In panic, I turn over to Mist, who is standing with us. "Wait, fuck! I thought you said that thing was incomplete!" I demand frantically. "It is! It doesn't have anywhere near the amount of power Hawke said it should...but that doesn't mean it's inactive!" Mist yells back over the sound of the roaring cannons. Shit shit...that weapon is orienting on us...whoever's controlling it knows we're coming. "Commander, we've got to move! If we're targeted, we'll be completely destroyed!" Swift screams, standing there and panicking. "Trixie can't believe she's saying this, but can you carry her again? And the rest of us?" Trixie suggests hastily. "Yes...but...!" I start to say, but then the sound of something clicking into place echoes through the valley. The cannon is pointed directly at our fleet...and I doubt that humming I'm hearing is coming from our engines. "Oh shit, it's firing!" The weapon hums louder and starts to glow from the base. Lines of lights along the rims of the barrel start to light up red, green and yellow, eventually reaching up to the mouth. The mouth starts to glow a bright white light...seconds before it fires. All of a sudden, our vision turns completely white as the cannon fires, but it only lasts for a split second. The next thing we all hear is a menacing fizzing zap, and then what looks like a massive lightning bolt streaks from the mouth of the weapon and strikes the bow of the airship that's flying right beside ours. My mouth drops as the lightning cuts right through the armor of the ship and blasts it to pieces, causing the engine to explode violently and hurl debris in every direction. Even that's not enough; the lightning streaks right through the wreckage and destroys the airship behind that as well, before finally dissipating. "What in tarnation!?" Applejack cries out. "Aaah, what's going on!?" Rainbow screams. "Trixie didn't sign on for this!" "Jesus fuck!" I shout with my hands clapped to my ears. All of us throw ourselves to the deck as debris rains down on our ship, consisting of shards of metal and burning wood. When I feel like it's safe enough to move, I turn to Mist. "How fast can that thing reload?" "I'm not sure...Hawke said it depended on how much energy he had stored up!" Mist answers. "Come on, give me an estimate!" "Anywhere from one to ten minutes if there's a decent stockpile of electricity!" Mist throws out, causing me to panic further. "If we're going to fly away, we'll have to do it now!" "One minute!? That's total bullshit. Alright, Swift, we're going with your plan. Trixie, Swift, come here, right now!" I order them. I can carry two at the most, Rainbow can carry one, and I'm not sure about Pterax. As Trixie and Swift nod and approach me, I turn to Pterax. "How many can you carry?" Pterax shifts into his dragon form, with a decent amount of space on his back. "Two, at the most. Mist, if you're coming, get on my back!" Pterax roars. Mist nods and clambers up on Pterax's back. "Wait, where are you going!" Before I can give another order, a griffon comes out of the airship. "Wait, you're leaving? But if that cannon fires again, we'll be defenseless!" "The sooner we get to it, to sooner we take it down!" I shout back at him. I hook my arms under Swift and Trixie, getting ready to move. "But there's at least fifty griffons below deck, keeping the ship running!" the griffon insists. The stress starts to build up at me, and I hesitate, even though I know I have to make a decision now. "Please!" "Seth, that cannon is getting ready to fire again!" Rainbow cries out, jabbing her hoof down towards the colossal weapon, which is already starting to hum. I stand there agonizing over what to do, until finally the cannon lights up the sky with a piercing white again, and this time the bolt of destructive lightning is heading directly towards us. "Seth! We need to...!" "Fuck!" I yell out. There's nothing else I can do. I toss Trixie and Swift aside and dash towards the front of the airship, leaping over the gunwale and sprinting up the prow. I hear the sounds of the ponies and griffons yelling at me with panic and worry, but I ignore them. At this point, there's only one thing I can do if I want to save both ourselves and the helpless griffons below deck. I power myself up as high as I can and shoot my left hand forward in front of my face, catching the bolt of lightning directly on my palm. My eyes widen and water with pain as my hand goes numb and I'm nearly knocked right off of my feet. I focus every drop of magic that I can put out at once into that one hand and dig my feet into the deck, splintering the wood beneath me. My hand is still there, holding back the massive beam with everything that I have. "Aaaaah...hyah!" With a final yell, I jerk my hand over to the left, completely redirecting the lightning bolt up and overhead, leaving the ship safe, as well as the rest of our fleet. The beam surges through the air and impacts a mountain top far away from the battle. A massive explosion ensues, forming a mushroom debris cloud that rises high in the air. The mountain is so destabilized by the blast that an avalanche of snow and rock cascades down the mountainside, making me so glad that it's nowhere near the fight. When I turn around, everyone on deck is staring at me in dumbfounded awe. Even Mist, the one who told us all about the weapon, is taken completely by surprise by my completely last second maneuver that should by all rights have killed me. I look down at my hand, which is singed and burnt, but I can move it just fine. I rest my hands on my knees, panting."Oh my god...I can't fucking believe that worked." "You utter imbecile!" Swift screeches at me, looking as if she wants to smack me silly right now. Rainbow looks similar, except I can see a lot of relief in her expression. The griffon that had been yelling at me has promptly passed out on the deck, no doubt thinking he was going to die. "What if you had died there!? What is Equestria going to do without you!?" "Okay, fine, whatever. Yell at me later. But if that thing has enough juice for another shot, I'm not waiting around to let it charge up," I cut across her grimly, looking down at the cannon. "Pterax, Rainbow, behind me. We're going in ahead." "What about the rest of us?" Applejack demands, nodding her head in acceptance of this plan. "Tell the griffon at the wheel to bring the ship down as soon as possible. Then, join us the second your hooves touch the ground, got it?" I order. At this point, sheer adrenaline is keeping my mind running. Applejack nods in assent. Trixie does as well, followed by Swift, despite the latter's anger at my stupidity. Honestly, I should be dead right now. I am so goddamn lucky. "Now, let's go!" Without another word, I run back up the splintered prow of the ship and leap off of the top in a swan dive, using magic to orient myself directly on the cannon. The weapon is starting to hum again, letting me know that I have only seconds left before that fucker fires again. But at this speed...I'm not gonna make it. I'm even feeling the sound barrier tugging on my body, but there's no way I'm going to be able to break it. "I gotcha! Let's do this!" Rainbow declares, grabbing onto my back and accelerating as fast as she can. Together, we combine our power and push as hard as we can against the sound barrier...until finally, I feel it give way before us. A sound like thunder erupts from around us, and my vision is filled with all colors of the rainbow tearing through the air around us. "Yeah, Sonic Rainboom! Here we come, you overgrown tin can!" There's no way I can destroy a metal construct that large. But I can stop it from firing again. With the help of Rainbow's speed, I power up and reach the cannon just before it fires. I turn my body in midair and slam both feet on the barrel of the weapon. The sheer force behind a mass as large as me moving at the speed of sound causes the thick metal to crumple and dent inwards, blocking off the mouth of the cannon. It's a good thing I have magic, or my body would be jelly right now. "Move!" I cry out to Rainbow, wrapping my arms around her and bearing her to the ground, just as the cannon tears itself apart violently from the feedback of its own electrical surge. I wince as the flame from the explosion passes over my back, singing my jacket and my hair. I refuse to move though. There's no way I'm going to let any of that heat touch my Rainbow. Not for the first time, I praise my magic for keeping the skin off of my back from being roasted. The moment the dust clears, I hear the growling of the undead as they start to close in to investigate the destruction of their weapon. When they catch sight of us, they roar and charge towards us. I leap off of Rainbow and draw my sword, noticing that some of them are Oppressed. Rainbow gets up as well, panting and wiping the sweat from her brow. She notices the undead approaching and hunches down, scuffing at the ground threateningly. Together, we charge into the enemy, hacking and punching them to pieces, fighting our way through them. Near the wreckage of the weapon we just destroyed is what looks an entrance into the complex. That's where I need to go, but I can't go anywhere with all of these undead everywhere. Suddenly, Applejack and Swift are there, landing in the midst of the enemy and carving a circle of destruction around them with a combination of vicious punches and lance thrusts. Flying just above us is the flagship of the griffon fleet. The griffon behind the helm has taken the flagship extremely low, below safe levels, the engines blowing away the snow behind it. Trixie joins the two of them as well, followed by Pterax and Mist, who had been left behind by our sonic boom. "We're all here! What's next, Seth?" Applejack demands, flooring an Oppressed that got too close. She ducks another undead's bite and proceeds to fend off three others that target her. She ends up back to back with Swift, helping to defend Trixie from the magically immune Oppressed. "I've got to get inside...but there's too many undead out here. I can't get past them..." I grunt, embroiled in combat. I slice apart a minotaur easily and then bash the hilt on top of an Oppressed's head, smashing it in. Before anypony can answer, a volley of cannon fire smashes into the undead lines, coming from the low flying flagship above us. It's so loud it hurts my ears, but it demolishes any undead between the door and me. I look up in surprise, and then the griffon who had been at the helm pokes his head over the gunwale. "This is your show from here on out, human!" the griffon shouts down to me. "Leave the undead out here to us and the viceroy. Get inside and take out their commander!" "What? Just leave you all here? Are you sure?" I ask, not liking the idea of leaving my team behind to fight the undead without me. Swift and Applejack close in front of me, easily holding back the Oppressed and leaving my path clear. Their training is clearly paying off, because neither of them have taken any injuries yet. "Remember what we talked about up on the ship?" Applejack reminds me, her teeth gritted as she tangles with a vicious minotaur. "This is what we've come to do. From here, it's up to you." "The sooner you take him down, the sooner these undead will stop functioning!" Swift reminds me. Her lance is doing a marvelous job at ripping into the undead. "Go, we'll hold them all off!" "Please, a bunch of weak undead, taking us down? Go, Seth. Get inside, and show that guy what for!" Rainbow urges me, wearing a reassuring grin. "Just make sure you come back. I won't forgive you if you don't." "I was lying before. This is what I signed up for. If holding here will bring us a step closer to bringing this war to an end..." Trixie expresses to me as well, dropping the third person mannerisms. She slams the ground and sends out a cyan blue shockwave of magic, demolishing any undead nearby that aren't Oppressed. "Then I'll hold here as long as I need to." "This is nothing to me," Mist growls, her eyes narrowing. Her snowy white aura erupts around her for the first time since her defeat. She lifts up shards of debris with her magic and hurls them into the nearest group of Oppressed, impaling them and pinning them to the ground. "This is my chance to show King Sombra that I will not give in again!" "I'm here. Quit standing around and kick their leader's tail," Pterax adds as well, sweeping his spiked dragon's tail around the field, knocking nearby undead off of their feet. "You guys..." I say, unable to think of anything else. They're right. I can't stand around and waste time out here. The longer I wait, the more of our forces that could get hurt. I nod. "Alright. I'm going in. Be here when I get back, or I swear to god I'll kick your asses." Without another word, I turn my back and enter the facility, blasting the locked doors off of their hinges with minimal effort. My magic is near full, despite my exertion earlier. To keep from wasting any more, I power myself down and walk normally through the empty halls. There's no sign of any undead inside. It's just eerily quiet, the silence only broken by the increasingly faint sounds of battle outside. Instead, as I descend deeper into the depths of the plant, another sound starts to become prevalent. It's the sound of magma running beneath my feet, complete with the sound of the liquid bubbling up and popping. Yes, I can't see it, but I know I'm getting deeper into the volcano with every step. The path is mostly straightforward. It looks like it was built to be as simple to understand as possible, complete with several maps pinned to the metallic walls and signs labeling each branching corridor. However, it's clear that whoever made this knew exactly what he was doing. It doesn't look like it was rushed at all, as if the designer had all the time he needed to make everything perfect. Using the maps and signs to my advantage, I head directly towards the center of the complex, where there's apparently a larger room further up the mountain. Where I am right now, there are several rooms that are housing massive electrical machines and structures. No doubt there's superheated water running through those pipes that are being fed into one large construct, no doubt meant for refining the steam into electricity. Once I'm at the very lowest portion of the complex, I walk into a wide open room holding hundreds of pipes, each one color coded and coiling around one another. Other large mechanical structures are in the room, from which the pipes feed in and out of. Looking down, I notice that the floor is made of thick glass...and there's nothing below us except for a long drop into a pool of magma at the bottom. I shudder involuntarily. I've never seen magma before in my life. I mean, there were no volcanoes near where I lived back in my time, so why would I? The sight of the magma flowing slowly and bubbling far below me is an entrancing and deadly one. Once I've moved through this room, the path starts to lead me back upwards again, through several sets of stairs. With the map as my guide, it isn't long before I find myself at the center of the complex. There's a set of double doors, but they seem to have a lot of security. I see not only a fingerprint sensor, but also what looks like a retina scanner and a code lock. No doubt this is where Hawke is hiding. I'm just about to power up and knock the door down, but then I notice that the doors are open slightly. That can only mean one thing. Hawke knows we're coming. If anything, this is an invitation to come and find him. I push open the doors and step inside. I find myself in what looks to be a large observation area. There are rows of computer terminals on either side of the room, each one looking to be fully operational and well maintained. On the far side of the room is Hawke. Hawke is standing with his back to me, his hands clasped behind his back. He looks much the same as I remember him, even down to the dark military coat that he's wearing. Beside him, leaning against the wall, is my rifle and Vanta's scythe. Even though I'm certain he knows I'm here now, he doesn't turn, continuing to stare out the line of windows towards where the battle is raging fiercely between the changelings and the undead. "So...you have come," Hawke finally emits, his accented voice evoking unpleasant memories of the Crystal Empire. Even now, my body feels like it's aching in the places where he'd injured me. Hawke turns his head to look over his shoulder at me, nothing but firm resolve in his dark eyes. "I knew you would not be able to resist coming for me yourself, Seth Rogers." "Hawke," I respond in a calm voice. Now that I'm here, my trepidation and dread seems like it's slipping away. I know what I have to do. My choice is set, and there's no running away now that I've come this far. "I bet you're getting a kick out of being called 'governor general,' huh?" "If the king wishes to refer to me as such, I will not refute him," Hawke replies. He swiftly turns around and faces me fully, the hate evident in his expression. "In the end, it does not matter what I am called. I am here for one singular purpose: exterminating you, the last of the human race." "So you've said. But I still don't understand why you find that necessary. You were too busy beating in my face to explain," I return wryly. Hawke shakes his head, his expression cold and constantly unchanging. "You do not need to understand," he asserts, frustrating me. He lifts his hands into a combat stance, his arms held out before him with his wrists crossed over one another. His fingers spread out into claw-like shapes. "A question, before we begin. For what reason do you fight? Is it a vain attempt to redeem yourself for your last defeat? Or perhaps vengeance, for the race you cared nothing for?" "You know, for being so damn smart, you're just so fucking stupid," I snap back at him, causing him to blink. I get into a defensive stance myself, knowing full well that this is likely to be the most difficult fight I've ever been in. "Why would I risk my life for something so petty?" "Petty? You believe that getting revenge for the human race is petty?" Hawke repeats, raising a brow at my words. "What would revenge accomplish? They're long gone, and nothing is going to bring them back. No, I chose to live for them...to remember them as best as I can," I tell him fervently, even though I know he likely won't understand. "No, I'm here to fight for my friends, the ones who have saved my life, in more ways than one. If I can pay them back by risking my life, I'll gladly do it." Hawke scoffs, looking disgusted at that explanation. "Friends? You mean these ponies?" he repeats incredulously. I don't respond, but I don't really need to. Hawke scoffs. "Ridiculous. They are but animals. They have not the propensity to exhibit deeper emotion. If that is your reason, I am disappointed." "Now that is what's ridiculous. They are ponies. They are as much animals as we are." I correct him, narrowing my eyes. Hawke doesn't appear convinced in the slightest. "I see...so rather than waiting for the end like the tool that you were, you chose to play around with these creatures," Hawke surmised. "Did you enjoy your little farce?" "Yes, I've enjoyed myself, but it was no farce. I've lived more in Equestria than I ever have in our time, and it's all thanks to them," I assert. Hawke appears to finally lose his patience at my response. "I tire of this meaningless conversation. You disgust me," Hawke spits, his jaw tightening. I see his body moving ever so slightly, and I realize that it's about to begin. "It's time I finished what I started, three thousand years ago!" "And it's time I brought this vendetta of yours to an end!" I grunt, clenching my fists. At the same time, Hawke and I both power up, causing the whole building to start shaking. Hawke's black shadowy aura erupts from around his feet, sparking with green electricity. His eyes turn green and trail purple, reminding me all too well of what I used to look like. My emerald aura flares up from around me as well, standing in stark contrast to Hawke's. Hawke and I both plant our feet onto the metallic floor and dash forward at the same time, our magic propelling us forward at an incredible speed. I swing my right fist forward, my hand wreathed in emerald magic. My fist collides with his left fist, the impact halting us entirely. The collision of our magics causes air to flow outwards at high speeds, blowing our hair backwards. A star of white light forms at the point where our magical auras meet, slowly growing until finally, the entire ceiling of the room is completely blown away in a massive black and emerald explosion. Through the dust and debris, I see a cloud of black smoke zooming through the air, barely visible. Locking eyes on it, I take to the air and surge upwards, turning my body just in time to meet Hawke as he materializes just in front of me. I swing my fist forward towards him, only to be blocked by his arm and counterattacked with his free hand. Blocking that is easy; I catch it on my free arm and attempt to retaliate with a swift thrust of my knee, but he's too clever to fall for that. He backs away and turns to smoke again, flying upwards in the air. He's not going to get away. I fly up after him, spiraling around until I can fly at him head on. Hawke does the same thing, reforming just as I reach him. The two of us lash out at one another, though neither of our attacks get past the other's guard. Again and again, Hawke and I spiral upwards, flying high above the battlefield and clashing with one another viciously. Finally, Hawke slams his elbow into my jaw, knocking my head back. However, his momentary victory gives me time to kick him in the side. Hawke grunts, but recovers quickly, grabbing my leg and hurling me all the way back down to the observation room. I grunt and flip in midair, landing on my feet and raising my guard just as Hawke appears in front of me, using that dash ability that I used to use back when I had that magic. Hawke clenches his hands together and brings them both down on me, aiming for my head. "You're not going to break me so easily this time," I growl, pushing aside his attack with my left arm and then slamming my fist into his chest, causing Hawke to gasp and cough. Seizing my advantage, I hook an arm around his chest and hurl him into one of the remaining walls, shattering it. "It does not matter. You will fall," Hawke asserts, climbing out of the rubble and facing me once more. He lifts his right hand, the tips of his fingers starting to glow. Remembering that attack, I immediately start moving, just as beams of shadowy darkness shoot forth from his fingertips. "Humanity ends today." "Like hell it does!" I snap back, dancing in and out of his beams with ease thanks to my enhanced speed. I maneuver across the ground towards him until I'm within his effective range. However, my fist shoots through smoky darkness as Hawke fades away. Immediately, I fend off his follow up attack by whipping my hands behind me just in time to receive a blast of magic. Wincing, I kick him away to give me a little breathing room. "I've had it with your shit about humanity! You're going to tell me what the hell we did to you, right now!" "I told you once. It appears you didn't understand," Hawke shoots back, meeting me head on in another charge. We exchange vicious punches and kicks, but neither of us are able to get past the other's guard. The ground shatters and crumples beneath the sheer amount of magical power emanating from each collision of our fists. "Your sin is..." "...turning my eyes away from the injustices of our world," I complete for him, remembering what he said back in the Crystal Empire. I sweep Hawke's legs out from under him and then swing my fists downwards while he's on the ground, but he quickly rolls away, such that my fists slam into the ground and form a crater. "But that's bullshit. No one man can be held accountable for the entirety of mankind. What about you? Did you do a damn thing to help humanity? No, you chose to kill them. How dare you talk to me about injustice!?" Hawke weaves around me arms as I rush forward at him, my fists swinging for his gut and stomach. He grabs one of my arms and yanks me forward, planting his fist into my stomach instead, causing me to choke as the air whooshes out of my lungs. "I brought their suffering to an end. Killing them was a mercy and a necessity," Hawke argues. He knocks me backwards with a swift uppercut to my jaw, causing my teeth to slice into my lips painfully. "What suffering? Were you blind? There were good people out there...people that you helped kill!" I spit out blood from my mouth, wincing at the metallic taste. Hawke isn't letting up. It looks as though he's starting to use his magic more now. I suddenly notice a rune of glowing green magic appear beneath my feet. Immediately, I toss myself out of the way, just as Hawke closes his fist and causes the rune to detonate violently with green electricity. Despite my quick maneuver, I feel my side burn painfully. "You were deluding yourself," Hawke counters, appearing nearby the moment I dodge and kicking me into the wall. I quickly hop out of the rubble and retaliate by sending several orbs of explosive emerald magic towards him. I soon stop when I see that he is easily able to dodge them by turning to smoke and weaving through them. I cross my arms together and raise my guard as Hawke reforms in front of me and lashes out with a magically empowered fist. "There are no good people. They steal, murder, and lie, pretending to stand for the cause of righteousness, when in the end, all that mattered to them was furthering themselves." As Hawke and I exchange a lightning fast flurry of punches and kicks, I can't help but draw similarities to his words and the way I used to think. I too, believed that the majority of mankind was worthless, doing good deeds only when it was convenient for them, and profiting off of the suffering of others. "King Sombra gave me the power to fight back...and I will always be grateful to him for that," Hawke continues...and then my fist rams right into his face, knocking him clear across the room towards the only untouched wall left...the one that's built into the mountainside itself. "Now who's deluding himself? You are nothing but a backup plan for him, just as I was. Don't you see? He turned you against your own race is using you as his own personal weapon!" I remind him, hardly able to believe that he doesn't see that for himself. "He turned you into the very thing you hated!" "I am well aware. But the difference between you and I is that I chose to become his tool. You see, I was already an enemy to my own race long before he arrived!" Hawke roars, propelling himself off of the wall and towards me. I meet him halfway and roll under his guard, ramming him with my shoulder and reversing his momentum. Hawke grunts and wraps his arms around my middle, flipping in midair and hurling me into the remaining wall, going right through it. The first thing I notice is the sudden increase in temperature, and then the red glowing light coming from far below me. Panicking, I right myself and land on the only stable ground in this new chamber. Looking around, I find that I'm now in the very crater of the volcano, standing on a singular large platform made of rock. There's a narrow walkway leading back out onto the mountainside on the far end of the platform, and directly below, a score of meters below, is nothing but a roiling pit of bubbling hot magma. Pipes thread in and out of the rock walls, some of them even dipping into the magma. Hawke flips through the air, landing on the walkway across from me. He turns to face me with that same cold expression, not even slightly out of breath. I'm in good shape too, only a little bit bruised and not in the least tired. No, I'm just getting warmed up. But then again, neither of us are going all out, and we both know that. "I fought back because I was tired of the constant exploitation and corruption that ran rampant in my home country!" Hawke continues fervently, stepping towards me across the rocky platform. He stops a few meters away, clenching his fists together. "If I couldn't fix it, I would bring it to an end entirely, with their deaths! I will no longer be controlled through lies disguised as happiness!" Suddenly, I freeze, his words striking a chord within me. That sounds...very familiar. It's almost as if...I have to know. "Hawke...what about the times people would help you? Did you not appreciate it, when you received their kindness?" I ask. His answer will determine whether or not my hypothesis is right. Hawke's face contorts with hate at my words. "They would never help me. They never helped her. The only time they saw fit to help me is when they could use it to control me! And I wouldn't have it!" "I'm so damn sick of you ponies always trying to sucker me in with these favors of yours. I won't have it, you hear me? I WON'T HAVE IT!" I close my eyes and sigh, nodding my head. I never thought that this would be the case. He doesn't just sound like me. He's me...the me that I would have become without the friends that I've made here. I can't help but ask myself...if I had lost Amaryllis...would I have gone to Sombra willingly, as he had? "I see...so you're like me then," I tell him calmly. Hawke pauses and looks at me in confusion. "No, you are me. Or rather, me as I used to be." "What are you talking about?" Hawke demands. I smile, finally seeing a different expression on his face other than hate. However, this leaves only one conclusion in my mind. The talking part of this is over. "But if you are like me, no amount of words will convince you of the truth," I say sadly. I reach up towards the edge of my burned jacket and slide it off, tossing it aside. Beneath, all I'm wearing is a sleeveless green shirt to match my eyes. I clench my fists and start to power up, my aura towering even higher than before. "Come on, Hawke. Enough feeling each other out. I'm going to show you what I've learned myself." Hawke's eyes narrow, and then he nods. He slides off his white gloves, one by one, and drops them to the rocky ground. Then, he reaches up to the collar of his coat and starts to unbutton it. Once it's fully unbuttoned, he takes off the garment and lets it fall atop his gloves. Beneath, he's wearing similar clothing to me: a sleeveless tight fitting black shirt. His corded muscles clearly stand out, now revealed from the long sleeves of his coat. "As you wish. I'll bring humanity to an end, here and now," Hawke growls. He clenches his fists and thrusts his arms by his side, power erupting further from his body. The two of us power up as much as we can, and then we both transform at the same time, the sound of our magic rising in volume until it reaches a low roar. Hawke's fingers elongate and taper to points, forming vicious claws. A line of a black substance shoots through his right eye, causing flakes of skin to crumble and peel away. As for me, emerald cuneiform runes form in structured lines around my body and flow through my aura. Lastly our hair rises upwards, flowing through the air as if suspended in water. Now, I can feel his magic pressing down on me in the air, and I determine to my surprise that he and I are even in terms of overall magical power. Hawke thrusts out his hand, and then Vanta's scythe soars through the hole in the wall and lands securely in his palm. Dark magic runs through it, converting the weapon to black crystal, such that it looks exactly like it used to when I used it before. He clasps it with both hands and holds it out before him, green electricity crackling from the blade. I reach out my hand as well and summon my emerald blade, the weapon coalescing in my palm with a flash of green light. If he's going to fight with a weapon I'm going to do the same. I can't afford to give him any kind of advantage in this fight. I can't look away. I can't get distracted. I can't let my guard down, even for a second, or he'll kill me. And I'm not about to let that happen. Without another word, Hawke and I charge towards one another a speed that puts our previous fight to shame. Blade meets scythe with a clash of metal on metal. We push against each other's weapons while staring into one another's eyes, sparks showering the ground beneath us from the point where the blades meet. We both step back at the same time, and then Hawke goes on the offensive, spinning his scythe around expertly and lashing out at me repeatedly with the blade. He's so fast, but I'm equally fast. Remembering my training, I step lightly around, using a small amount of effort to redirect each swipe with the flat of my blade. With a straight blade like this, it's easy to hook it into the blade of a scythe and knock it away. Hawke grunts and brings the scythe hurtling down from overhead, slamming the blade into the rock. I flip backwards repeatedly, narrowly avoiding the resulting shockwave of dark magic by letting it pass underneath me. The moment I'm on my feet, Hawke hurls the scythe towards me, relentless in his attempts to kill me. He soon retrieves it through magic once I block it, and in the short moment before he attacks again, I'm dashing forward. It's my turn to attack. Using my increased speed from my newly discovered technique, I run up to him and swing my sword upwards, aiming for his chest. Hawke is just as good, so he blocks my blade and attempts to punch me with a free hand, but I'm not there anymore. With my speed, I'm running circles around him, unleashing a series of furious swipes in an attempt to hit him at least once. Hawke, to my surprise, reforms the scythe into a katana much like my own technique, and it uses it to fend off my assaults at close range, using his dash technique to keep up with my speed. With a yelp, I move my head out of the way to avoid his counterattack, the blade of the katana swishing right in the spot between my head and shoulder. My blade clashes with his several times, and once I find an opening, I swing down from overhead. However, I'm suddenly tasting blood again when Hawke forms the scythe again and repels me by slamming the haft into my face. I distance myself with several flips back, just in time to avoid a curtain of dark magic released by Hawke's fist. The wave passes over my head, and I swear I could feel the tip of my nose burning. The moment I land on my feet again, I grasp the coils of runes in my aura and lash all four of them out at once, snapping them like whips at Hawke. He's fast, dodging around the whips expertly. Each time one of the whips collides with the ground, it gouges out a cleft in the rocky ground. Hawke snarls and swings his scythe multiple times, sending arcs of slicing magic through the air. One of the arcs cuts through a whip, causing it to dissipate, so I call them back and slice my sword through the arcs, keeping myself safe. This is crazy. We're so even, neither of us can land a hit on the other. Keeping my distance, I form my sword into the chain dagger and lash it out at him, preventing Hawke from moving towards me any faster. He weaves in and out of the attacks, and eventually lets the chain wrap around the heft of his scythe. He tries to pull me in with it, but I clench my fist and cause the chain to break apart into individual links. Hawke looks around at the links, but doesn't have any time to find a way out before I make a slashing motion with my arm, and cause all of the links to converge upon him at once and explode. I sigh in relief, thinking that I finally dealt some real damage to the guy. It doesn't last long. Hawke dashes out of the explosion, burns and cuts on his body. He throws his scythe forward, but it's easy for me to dodge. However, I get suspicious when the scythe circles completely around me, leaving a sparking ring of green electricity behind. With a grunt, Hawke thrusts out a claw, which flashes ominously. I scream in pain as the ring of electricity constricts around me and burns my skin ruthlessly. With a yell, I repulse the ring with a shockwave of magic and move to counterattack, but Hawke is already here. With his scythe in hand, he whirls it around and jabs repeatedly at me with the blunt end of the weapon. Now, it's my turn to step backwards, dodging each of the jabs with some difficulty. As I do so, I can feel the ground rumbling beneath me. The pipes in the walls are groaning and creaking ominously. My sword flicks up and blocks one of his jabs, allowing me to slide the blade down the haft of his scythe and get close to him. The tip of my blade flicks up and cuts at Hawke's skin, earning a grunt of pain from him. However, I soon regret it, because his scythe soon reforms into a combat knife and slices into my shoulder, leaving a bloody gash behind. The two of us distance ourselves from one another, taking a moment to check the damage of our wounds and catch our breath. Now that we're going all out, it's starting to take a toll on us. The both of us are breathing a little harder now. Once again, the ground rumbles ominously beneath us, and I swear I see the orange glow from the magma below get a little brighter. It doesn't matter. I'm not going anywhere until Hawke's defeated. Hefting my sword, I dash back into the attack, my blade arcing through the air and aiming towards Hawke's vital areas. Hawke reforms his weapon into the katana and meets me head on, our blades clashing repeatedly and showering the area with sparks. Holding my sword with both hands, my blade flickers in once, twice. Each time, Hawke expertly diverts the attacks, and then he counterattacks, his blade flashing past my side, missing only because of a last minute dodge from me. We swing our swords and clash at the same time, our arms shaking from the vibration of the impact. Again and again we slash at one another. Every few strikes, one of us will find an opening and slice into the other, spattering the shaking ground with our blood. We're tearing each other to pieces, and it's not giving either of us an advantage. Pushing against one another, we retreat to the edges of the arena to gain some distance. Using my enhanced speed, I run forward as fast as I can with my sword at the ready, gaining as much momentum as possible. Hawke does the same, forming into smoke and zooming forward at me. Yelling wordless battle cries, the two of us meet in the center, our swords swinging forward with all of that momentum behind them. As the blades meet, they halt for only a second...and then they shatter completely. Hawke and I look at our now useless weapons, the shards littering the ground around us. Hawke doesn't even hesitate. He tosses his weapon aside and swings his fist forward, punching me in the chest and shoving me back. He presses the attack, but I block his assault, having tossed away my weapon myself. If blades are rendered useless by our strength, then we'll have to do this the old fashioned way. I redirect his punch and sidestep within his effective range. Seizing the opportunity, I ram my elbow into his ribs and push him back. I follow up with a vicious hammer punch from my left hand, but Hawke blocks it by whipping up his right arm and catching it just above his elbow. The impact sends out a shockwave that ruptures the ground beneath us...and then the whole platform starts to rumble again. "You're tough..." Hawke grunts, wiping away the sweat pouring from his brow. I do the same, because it's hotter than hell in here. Now that I look, I can tell that the magma is definitely rising. We're putting out so much power, this place is taking a real beating. Around us, some of the pipes break off from the walls and splash into the magma below. "Amazing what someone can do when they have something to fight for," I return, not bothering to thank him for his acknowledgment of my strength. "Unlike you, I don't use this power for myself." Hawke growls and leaps upwards, intending to hit me from above. However, I leap up to meet him, and we exchange a flurry of punches...only this time we find openings in one another's guard. My fist slams into Hawke's cheek, and then his rams into mine, snapping my head back. His fist arcs up from underneath and punches me in the ribs, but then my hand locks around his arm and holds him there while I lever my knee into his stomach once, and then twice. Hawke chokes and coughs, but then he headbutts me back to the ground. I chuckle dryly and wipe a streak of blood away from my nose, panting. He and I are completely and totally even. Every time we manage to get a hit in, the other hits back with equal force. My arms are aching and bruising, but so are his. My face is a mess with blood and sweat, but his is as well. Hawke dashes down in front of me, but I see him coming, and I thrust my fist upwards into his jaw, knocking him back to the other side of the platform. It isn't long before he and I are charging at one another once again. His left fist streaks forward, but I catch it in my left. I attempt to retaliate with my free hand, but he catches it as well. The two of us headbutt one another, my eyes glaring into his, and we push against one another's grip in a battle of strength. Behind us, the rising magma flares upwards, spewing in the air around the platform and bathing the whole platform in a sweltering orange light. Magma rains down on the platform around us, but neither of us pay any attention, far too focused on defeating the other. Hawke kicks me repeatedly before I let go, and then he kicks me one last time to knock me backwards, and I swear I feel my ribs crack. I suck in air painfully, but I'm not willing to give up just yet. Hawke stands still, rotating his arms in a circular fashion. His hands seem to tear through the air, forming a trail of darkness. That looks bad. Even while he prepares his technique, I start to do something similar, a transparent wall of runes appearing in front of me. Hawke forms a circle with the darkness, and then he places his hands in the center, positioning them such that it looks like he's holding an invisible crystal ball. The circle suddenly fills in, forming what looks like a portal to endless darkness. With a yell, Hawke jams his hands into the circle. A veritable storm of shadowy projectiles shoot forward in such number that even despite my attempts to weave through them, I'm eventually overwhelmed by them. I cry out in agony as the blasts of magic pound into my body and scorch my skin and clothes. "It's over, Seth Rogers," Hawke growls at me, panting. He lets the attack dissipate when I fall to my knees in pain, blood seeping from the burns in my skin. "Not just yet," I tell him, snapping my head back up. My hand shoots out and flashes before he can react. Hawke yelps in surprise as several transparent walls of runes form around him in the pattern of an octagon. Countless whips of runes emanate from the walls and coil around his every limb and torso, holding him in place despite his frantic attempts to get free. In the time that he had been setting up his own attack, I set up my own. This never would have hit without that opportunity. "Not until I show you what I've learned." I clasp my hands together, a pulsing emerald ball of magic forming in the gap between my palms. A massive sword made of green flame forms in the air high above Hawke, suspended only by my magic. With a grunt, I clap my hands together, snuffing out the ball that was there. Hawke screams in agony himself as the massive blade slams down upon him and explodes violently, taking a whole portion of the platform with it. When the explosion and debris clears, Hawke is revealed standing on a safe part of the platform, his shirt burned away and his skin just as damaged and burnt as mine. We're both panting hard at this point, knowing that it won't be much longer before neither of us are able to fight anymore. "Why...why won't you just fall...and let my burden end?!" Hawke growls, stepping towards me inexorably. The platform around us is starting to fall apart, slowly cracking and crumbling away at the edges. The debris falls into the steadily rising magma. One quick glance lets me know that we're almost out of time. "There is no burden, Hawke. The only burden you feel is the one you have created for yourself," I tell him fervently. Hawke grows furious, and his aura explodes around him and whirls up into the air in a furious tornado. He seems to be tapping into the last vestiges of his strength. "What would you know about it? What knowledge do you believe you have that allows you to understand my feelings!?" Hawke demands angrily, dashing towards me. I sidestep his assault and latch onto his arm. Using his own momentum against him, I spin around on one heel and hurl Hawke up into the air far above me. "I lived it!" I yell with every last bit of feeling, placing my hand on my chest. "I lived the pain you feel! I believed everyone was just as worthless as you did...but in the end, it was just my own pain that I allowed to cloud my vision of the world. I could not escape it, and I allowed myself to live in further pain, just as you have!" "No...you're....you're wrong. Mankind is worthless, and I was justified in my actions! You cannot convince me otherwise!" Hawke snarls viciously. He powers up all the way to his limit, his aura appearing as a black cloud of shadow around him. I reciprocate his motions, pulling out every last drop of power that I have left and exerting it into my body. My aura becomes as large as Hawke's, lime green magic casting a glow around my feet, even as the platform further falls apart. "I'm going to kill you, and bring humanity to an end..." "I'm going to show you the error of your ways..." I propel myself off of the ground with as much force as I can muster, aiming directly for Hawke. Hawke does the same, aiming directly down towards me. He and I thrust our fists our forward, each of us intending to end the fight in one last, desperate attack. "SEEEETH!" "HAAWKE!" The two of us fly past one another. Agony shoots through my chest as I feel the brunt of his power spread across me...but Hawke has taken even more damage. My fist had hit him directly on his face, and he looked close to unconsciousness. "Ah..." I cry to myself, holding my aching ribcage. It takes me everything I have not to collapse and fall unconscious...but then I see Hawke falling down towards the roiling magma. If he falls there...he'll die horribly, and the battle will be over. But yet...knowing that he was just another me that didn't get the intervention that I did...I won't let that happen. Immediately, I'm moving, running as fast I can to reach Hawke before he can fall past the platform. Despite my broken ribs, I throw myself to the ground chest first and manage to grab onto Hawke's wrist just before he falls out of my reach. I almost want to cry in the agony I feel from my impact with the ground combined with the utter strain of holding someone as big as Hawke from falling down to his death. "You're safe now...I've got you," I tell him fervently, not even knowing whether or not he's conscious. Hawke slowly turns his head up. His eyes widen in shock when he sees that I've saved him, and for the first time, I see a look of pure and utter shock and confusion on his face. "What...? What are you doing!? I'm your enemy!" Hawke demands furiously. I gaze back at him wordlessly, knowing that this is my one chance...my one chance to prove to him that humans are not all like the ones that hurt him. "You've defeated me...let me go!" "No. I won't. You're the last human, other than me. It doesn't matter what you've done or what you say...I'm not going to let you die," I tell him, my brow wrinkling in determination. The pain in my chest is getting harder and harder to bear, but I'm not going to give in. I won't let him go. "You're my responsibility." "What...but that's absurd. You have no reason to save me You should have every reason to kill me!" Hawke yells at me. Despite his words, he looks frightened, his eyes wide and darting this way and that. He starts to tear up slightly, much to my surprise. "Let me go, Seth! You've won! Just...just let it be over!" I remember those words. Those are the words of a person who's given up on all hope a long time ago...given up on life. Those are the words of a person who chooses to die, rather than face the hardship of living onward. Those are the same words that passed through my mind, a very long time ago, on top of that cliff. Using every last bit of my strength that I have left, I raise Hawke just high enough so that his face is gazing into mine. Lifting my free hand, I slap him hard across the face, earning a pained yelp of surprise from him. "You are a fucking idiot," I snap at him, feeling just as angry as Rainbow did, when she had to save me. "How dare you? How dare you suggest that I let you kill yourself?" "I've killed...and stolen...and I nearly did the same to you. You have defeated me...this is an ending that I can accept...the end to my darkness...my struggle," Hawke tells me. From then on, I stop seeing Hawke as the governor general, but instead as just another broken man that couldn't handle the pain. "I am nothing but a mass of hate and revenge...let me go." "You're wrong," I tell him flatly. "I know there's more than that inside of you. I heard about you from Mist, you know. I know you have the ability to be a decent guy, if given the choice." "What does it matter!? I've wrought so much pain and suffering...this is what I deserve!" Hawke snaps, trying to wring free from my grip. I don't let him, grasping onto his wrist with my other hand. "No, you're just too afraid to face the consequences of your own actions. Killing you would solve nothing. It wouldn't bring back the human race, nor would it make them happy," I correct him, remembering everything I've ever learned over the course of my time in Equestria. "If any part of you feels regret for the things you've done...then live. Live, and find happiness." "Wha..." Hawke is rendered completely speechless by my words. His eyes slowly widen as he soon comes to a realization. "That is the most unique and selfless thing any human has ever said to me...if...if there were people like you...three thousand years ago...then...oh gods...what have I done?" "Come on...let's get out of here before this whole place falls apart," I tell him with a smile, knowing exactly the feelings he's experiencing right now. They are the same feelings I felt during the events in the ruins, when I discovered that humanity was so much more than what I believed them to be. I regretted that I never had the chance to be kinder to them. I'd bet my life that Hawke is now feeling the same thing as well. Hawke looks down at the magma that's steadily getting closer and closer to his dangling feet, and then back to my encouraging smile. He does this several more times, and then with a grunt of determination, he swings his dangling hand up to me, which I catch with my other hand. Now that we're both trying, it's easy to get him back up on the platform. He almost collapses once his feet are on solid ground, but I keep him upright, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and helping him stay upright. Part of me is still reeling in disbelief that things have turned out as they have, but the other is oddly happy. Together, we limp as fast as we can across the crumbling walkway. The platform where we had our fight is now completely falling apart, large chunks breaking away and splashing into the magma below. Just after we reach the exit out onto the snowy mountainside, magma sweeps over the remains of the platform and the walkway, devouring it all with an angry hiss. Outside, the battle is coming to an end, because the undead are all standing and milling around listlessly. Taking down Hawke has removed his connection to them, so now they are nothing but sheep before the slaughter. Chrysalis looks like she's having way too much fun, blowing apart the now defenseless undead. It's over. We've defeated Hawke, and brought down his weapon. Not only that, but he's with me right now, and he's finally open to the same lessons I have. I have to get him to the airships...agh...it feels like my body is on fire... "Seth!? Is that you?" Applejack's concerned voice cries out when she catches sight of us limping down from the mountainside entrance. Hawke has already fallen unconscious, so all of his weight is bearing down on me, and the pain is getting to be too much. I hear the other ponies from my team rushing over to me, calling out my name and expressing their relief at my return. I also hear concern at Hawke's presence, but I can't really make it all out. Instead it takes all of my remaining energy to respond to Applejack's call. "No...shit...it's me..." I grunt, and then I fall forward, hitting the ground painfully. Knowing that the battle is over, I allow myself to lose consciousness. After everything that's happened today...I think I deserve a rest.

Tales of the Oppressed

124. Rest and Recovery

Awareness comes back to me a little at a time. The first thing I feel is a cool and damp cloth gently brushing across my forehead. With the pounding headache that I'm feeling right now, it feels really good. I give a soft sigh, slowly opening my eyes. It's difficult; my eyelids feel like lead, but eventually I get them open. My vision is blurry, but as my eyes focus, I can get a basic view of my surroundings. "Oh my...! You're awake," a soft, gentle voice sounds with surprise. I try to get up, but a hoof firmly pushes me back down. I obediently remain still, as my body still aches. My body feels like it's been wrapped in bandages, if that constricting feeling on my skin is anything to go by. Blinking away the blurriness in my eyes, I turn my head slightly to see a familiar butter yellow pegasus gazing down at me with concern. Fluttershy? What is she doing here? I try to talk, but my throat is sore and dry for some reason, such that it hurts when I try to say something. "Please don't talk. You've been through a lot," Fluttershy ushers me. She presents a cup of water to my lips. "Here. Drink. Queen Chrysalis is on her way." I gratefully drink from the cup she's holding up for me. So I haven't been healed yet. That explains why I feel like shit. I can still feel the cuts all over my body stinging, and my broken ribs throbbing. My body is swathed in carefully treated bandages, no doubt to keep the burns on my skin under control. Other than that, I'm wearing a haphazardly stitched sheet of white fabric for a shirt and my old torn pants. "What are you doing here?" I manage to get out once I've drained the cup. My throat feels a little better now. I guess it was dried out from how fucking hot that volcano was. Oh god, that's right. The whole thing with Hawke that went down...did I really save him? Is he here somewhere? "I thought you were left behind in another settlement along with Cadance?" "Um...yes, but the princess suggested we join you all here at Everwinter. She thought that...with the battle and all...you could use another pony to take care of the injured," Fluttershy explains, going back to brushing my forehead with the cloth. Huh...I guess that makes sense. It's not like Celestia can come all the way here to do the healing herself. That, and Chrysalis doesn't go out of her way to heal anyone other than the ones she actually likes. You know, like me. My next thoughts turn to Rainbow and the others. "I'm glad I came. You're hurt so much...it's hard to look at. Poor Rainbow was so worried...she never left your side." Wait, is she here now? I turn my head, and sure enough, Rainbow is fast asleep in the bed next to me, having taken a beating herself during the battle. That's good. I'm glad she made it out in one piece. She looks a little cut and bruised, but that's nothing Chrysalis won't fix. She hates Rainbow, but she'll do it if I bat my eyelashes a bit, so to speak. "Stubborn pony," I grunt. I feel like shit, but I don't think I was in danger of dying...well, actually I was bleeding quite a lot, so I might have. I feel a little guilty for making her worry that much (even though she'll never admit it), but I'm also grateful she stayed here for me. "So I'm back in Everwinter?" "Yes. Applejack and the others brought you back in the airships with the Viceroy," Fluttershy answers. She takes a moment to dunk the cloth back in a basin of cool water. After wringing it out gently, she returns to keeping my forehead cool. Man, that really feels nice against this fucking headache from hell. Fluttershy shudders a bit. "But...I didn't expect...that other scary human...to be here too." "So Hawke is here somewhere?" I question her, my thoughts now turning to him. I don't know how the other ponies are going to treat him if I'm not around. None of them know what went down between him and I. For all they know, he's one of our worst enemies who beat the absolute shit out of me the last time we saw him. "Do you know where he is?" "Yes...he...they're keeping him locked up in another building. Commander Iron and Warlord Salamul are both there, guarding him in case he wakes up," Fluttershy answers. "I heard Princess Celestia is on her way." "He won't be a problem, I don't think," I assure her. Fluttershy doesn't look any less scared...not that I blame her. Despite the fact that I think he's willing to listen to me now, he's a terrifying guy. "Anyway, where are the others?" "You mean Applejack and the rest of your friends?" Fluttershy inquires. I nod. No doubt they took their fair share of injuries themselves. "They weren't hurt that badly. I helped patch them up, and now they're in your house, preparing a meal. I told them I'd send you to them when you were healed." "Yeah, that would be nice. I could use a meal before I pay a visit to Hawke," I muse, suddenly realizing how hungry I am. "Of course, I can't go anywhere until that freaky bug bitch gets her tail over here." "That 'freaky bug bitch,' as you so eloquently put it, will take as long as she pleases, if you don't mind." I freeze, mortified, as Chrysalis steps into the room at the exact wrong moment, looking none too pleased at the way I just referred to her. Fluttershy yelps and promptly dives under the bed where Chrysalis can't see her. Chrysalis ignores her, instead staring pointedly at me. "In fact, unless you change your tone right this instant, I think I'll take my healing magic somewhere else." "You've gotta be fucking kidding...." I curse, realizing that she's got the upper hoof here. For the first time in my life, my vulgar words are coming back to bite me in the ass. Maybe I should cut back on the cursing. Chrysalis's lips curl into a smug smirk, because she knows she has all the power in this situation. "Alright, fine. I'm sorry, okay?" "Mm...that's not good enough," Chrysalis responds, infuriating me even further. "I think you should be a little more complimentary. Unless you'd rather stay in this infirmary for another day or so until Celestia gets here." "You little...!" I start to say, but her eyes narrow, such that I cut off and sigh in frustration. I groan and rub my forehead, before finally looking back at Chrysalis. Every fiber of my being wants to die before saying this, but it's either this or sit around completely unable to move. "Okay, fine. Please heal me, oh most esteemed Queen Chrysalis, she who is more beautiful and intelligent than Celestia." Chrysalis beams, enjoying the praise despite the fact that she knows I'm lying through my teeth. "That's much better. You see, was that so hard?" she gloats, approaching me. She lowers her head, touching her horn to my arm. I shift uncomfortably, feeling her mane against my arm. "Now hold still." Her horn starts to glow, and I do my best not to squirm as her healing magic works its way through my body. My ribs reconnect and fuse, my skin knits together beneath the bandages, and my burns are soothed. It doesn't feel as warm and comforting as Celestia's does...but instead like a curtain of insects are crawling across my skin. When she's finished, Chrysalis steps back, giving me room to move. I take off the cloth from my forehead and place it on the end table next to my bed. Thus freed, I leap out of the bed and land on my feet. There. As disconcerting as her healing spell is, I'm back at full strength. I take a quick moment to stretch my arms and legs out. "Thanks. Think you can touch up Rainbow, too?" I ask, knowing full well that Chrysalis is going to be annoyed. Sure enough, Chrysalis scoffs. The glare she gives the sleeping Rainbow clearly says what she thinks about that request. "Ugh. It was already a stretch for me to heal her the first time. Now you want me to do it again?" Chrysalis grumbles. She turns back to me with a defiant expression. "No. She can suffer for all I care." "Oh, don't be petty. Just fucking heal her, please. It'll take you less than a second," I snap at her, annoyed. "I think not. That's less than a second that I could be using doing something other than healing the pony I hate," Chrysalis hisses stubbornly. God, this is annoying. "Now, I do believe I'm done here. I think I want to take a look at this other human." "Yeah, good luck getting past Iron and Salamul," I remind her. I don't know how the two of them would fare against her if the two of them tried to keep her out, but I think they'd stand a chance with the strange weapons they have. "Tell you what. Heal Rainbow, and I'll go with you after I eat dinner. I've been meaning to talk to him anyway." "Fine, for the love of...I don't want to heal her," Chrysalis relents with bad grace, turning to the sleeping pony on the bed. Her horn lights up with magic, and Rainbow's bruises and cuts quickly heal. Chrysalis soon finishes and moves away hastily. "She wasn't even that hurt that badly. You really have become a bleeding heart. It's really off-putting. I think I liked you better when you were dark." "That's just too damn bad," I retort. Even though she's trying to insult me, I actually feel good about myself, hearing her tell me that she doesn't like me as much anymore. She's a sadistic motherfucker, so if she can't relate to me anymore, that's a good thing. "Now get out of here so I can get Fluttershy out from under the bed. I'll meet you wherever Hawke is after I eat." "It isn't my fault the pony has no backbone," Chrysalis grunts, referring to Fluttershy. I know better, bitch. She's a strong pony when she needs to be. Besides, I wouldn't blame anybody for being scared of Chrysalis. "I'm leaving now. Don't take too long, or I'll come to fetch you." Once Chrysalis is gone, I peek under my bed to see the hiding Fluttershy. "You can come out now, she's gone," I assure her. Fluttershy nods timidly and gets out from under the bed, looking a little sheepish. "Sorry about that. I swear, she's more trouble than she's worth sometimes." "It's okay...I guess I can't blame her," Fluttershy responds, dusting herself off. And as usual, Fluttershy is being too nice, despite the fact that she'd been scared enough to hide from Chrysalis. "Now, I should tend to Rain...wait, Seth!" In the middle of her sentence, I grab the basin of cool water from the floor. Disregarding Fluttershy's calls, I promptly upend the vessel over Rainbow. "Waaah! Bleh...pfeh!" Rainbow sputters, lurching out of the bed and spitting out jets of water. She's completely soaked now, as is her bed. She shakes herself vigorously, sending water every which way. She doesn't even need to ask to know what happened to her. She gives me a disbelieving stare, ignoring the fact that I'm laughing hard at the noises she just made. "Of course. It would be you. No, we get out of one of the toughest battles of our lives, and what happens? You empty a bucket of water on my face the second you wake up. You blasted...c'mere!" Rainbow launches herself at me without any warning. She closes her hooves around my chest and bears me to the ground, the two of us rolling over the floor and laughing together. Fluttershy smiles at our antics, already moving to clean up the mess I made. At this point, I'm just happy that the both of us are okay. "Now, you two should really be careful..." Fluttershy tries to tell us. She continues heedlessly as the two of us knock one of the beds over behind her, the structure hitting the floor with a loud crash. She proceeds to duck as an end table flies over her head. As if nothing had happened, she keeps talking. "I wouldn't want you two to get hurt again. If you would please settle...down?" Fluttershy trails off when she sees me dripping and annoyed, having just had my head dunked into a basin of water. Rainbow and I gaze innocently back at Fluttershy, the former's hoof still tangled in the back of my hair. "Oh...you two," Fluttershy emits with a giggle. She thoughtfully places a folded towel on my head. "Thanks," I deadpan, shoving Rainbow off of me. I use the towel to quickly dry my face and hair. "Is there a comb around here? I'd like to brush my hair so I don't look like an idiot in front of my team. Of course, that wouldn't even be necessary if Rainbow here hadn't dunked my head in a bucket!" Rainbow sticks her tongue out at me shamelessly. "Hey, not my fault you can't take what you dish out," she teases. I scowl, and then gratefully accept the brush Fluttershy brings to me a few moments later. With it, I get my hair looking relatively normal again. I'd like to use a blowdryer, but we don't get any luxuries in the middle of a war. I wince as my stomach growls again. I place a hand on it and gesture to Rainbow. "Whatever. Come on, let's go eat. I'm starving," I urge her. I notice some clothes hanging from a hook near the door, consisting mostly of just lengths of thick fabric meant for wintry weather. I shrug and grab them, wrapping them around my body. As I do so, I remember Fluttershy. "You coming, Fluttershy?" "Oh, thank you for offering, but I should really stay here and attend to the other patients," Fluttershy responds regretfully. I look around, raising an eyebrow. Other patients? Are there even...wait, of course there are. There were others out there besides just us. I guess they're just not in this room. Fluttershy looks down sadly. "I'm sorry. Go on ahead. I'm not that hungry anyway." "Nah, don't worry about it. You do what you gotta do," I tell her, accepting that explanation. Seconds later, I hear Fluttershy's stomach let out a telltale growl as well. She immediately turns a light shade of red and claps a hoof to her belly. There's a silence as both Rainbow and I give her deadpan stares. "Okay, come with us," Rainbow states flatly, her tone clearly letting us know she isn't going to brook any argument. "But...I should..." Fluttershy tries to protest, tapping the tips of her two front hooves together uncertainly. She yelps with surprise as Rainbow grabs her shoulders and steadily hauls her out the door with us. "Rainbow!" "You've been working ever since the battle began. I'm pretty sure no one will blame you if you take a food break," Rainbow reasons as the three of us leave the building and step into the snow. Fluttershy stammers incoherently as she tries to form a meaningful protest. She looks up at us with uncertain eyes...only to see both Rainbow and I smiling back at her. "Come on. You've been taking care of us all this whole time. It's high time you come and take care of yourself," I tell her reassuringly. Fluttershy blinks with what looks to be shock, and then she nods meekly. "Okay," Fluttershy relents, giving the building one last guilty look before following us. She shouldn't feel that bad though. I mean, if anyone was in dire need of her help, she'd be there right now instead of looking over me. I look up at the sky, noticing the fresh snowflakes falling from the cloudy skies. Even though it seems like all of our lives have been put on hold because of this damn war, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy one another's company. I walk up the steps leading to basically what we've started referring to as our house. I can see smoke rising from the fireplace, and a mouthwatering aroma reaches my nostrils. Wow, that smells like stir fry. A vegetarian stir fry of course, but that doesn't mean it won't be delicious. I open the door and stride unsuspectingly into the house...and then my vision is suddenly comprised completely of the brightest pink. I let out a startled cry as my arms are suddenly filled with by a happily giggling Pinkie Pie. "Sethie! You're here you're here!" she squeals excitedly. Still in shock, I try to keep my balance, but I end up falling backwards onto my ass. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever, even though I totally did a few weeks ago, but then you got hurt and I was worried but now you're fine and here and I'm sooo glad you could make it because I...!" "Pinkie!" I yell, cutting across her stream of babble before it can get much worse. Pinkie closes her mouth with a snap when she remembers who she's talking to. She looks down at how she knocked me over again and looks at me in momentary horror, as if scared I'm going to yell at her. "Yes...yes, nice to see you too...but give a guy some warning. You seem to have this fixation with knocking me over." "Oh, you're not mad?" Pinkie asks me in surprise, stepping off of me. She offers a hoof to help me up, which I accept. "Nah. Just hungry," I reply, brushing pony fur off of my chest. Pinkie immediately becomes all smiles again, bouncing around me with barely contained excitement. It's only now that I notice the others sitting at the table nearby. They're all watching us, smiling. Well, except for Pterax, but with those teeth he's got, I have no idea what face he's making. "So why are you here? Did you come with Fluttershy?" "Yup yup! I was going to throw a 'we're halfway there' party, but the princess said I shouldn't, so I came here to make sure Fluttershy kept smiling!" Pinkie explains in her own ridiculous way. Fluttershy walks in the room beside Rainbow and I, looking happy at Pinkie's explanation. She then leans in closer, poking my leg with a forehoof. "And now that I'm here, I'm going to make the rest of you smile!" "You don't even need to try, sugarcube!" Applejack calls from where she's standing at the stove, grinning broadly. I shake my head as Pinkie whoops. In the end, that explained practically nothing. Heh, it doesn't matter that we're in the middle of a war that could end with Equestria being annihilated. She's still the same. That's actually a little reassuring, in some weird way. "Now c'mon over everyone! Dinner's about done!" With the addition of Pinkie and Fluttershy, I join my team at the table for a succulent stir fry meal. The food tastes a lot better than the typical military rations that we've been using. According to Applejack, Mist had a store of food for herself back when she was the general here. Now that she's on our side, the food in storage has been distributed to the rest of us. So basically, we can have one meal of luxury. "Speaking of Mist," I comment, changing the subject away from Pinkie's discussion on the expert naming convention of a particular kind of cake. I don't know, halfway through I stopped paying attention. However, at my words, the conversation ceases, recognizing the change in subject. "Where is she now?" "With the bad guy, no doubt," Rainbow remarks, looking none too happy about that. "She's been with him the whole time." "I still can't believe you took him down," Pterax joins, referring to Hawke. I shrug. It was probably one of the hardest fights of my life. "He was supposed to be top notch. Like, of the type only our queen could handle." "Ah'm just glad everythin' turned out alright," Applejack expresses gratefully. She looks at me with concern. "Ah thought you might kill him. Which leads me to ask: what happened in there? Nopony knows a thing cuz you two have been conked out since the battle ended." Well, I didn't really want to talk about this right now, especially in front of everyone, but I suppose it should be done sooner rather than later. I know Rainbow particularly won't be happy. I look around, noticing that all of them look as curious as Applejack is, including Pterax and Trixie. I set down my drink and sigh. "It was tough. He's every bit as good as I am. The whole battle, I couldn't get even a single hit on him without taking one myself," I admit. "But you kicked his butt in the end, right? Because now we have him!" Rainbow exclaims with triumph. "I bet Princess Celestia's gonna banish him right to Tartarus." "Oh, I hope not...that place sounds awful," Fluttershy protests weakly. I raise a brow. I've heard them use Tartarus as an expletive before, but never thought it was an actual place. "Trixie doesn't even know who this Hawke is," Trixie comments with a shrug. "I wouldn't say that. We could have just as easily taken each other out. It was that close," I stress, responding to Rainbow's words. If Hawke had moved his fist a little to the left, he'd have hit me in the face too, and I'd have fallen into the magma with him. I still shudder to think about how close to death I was. "But basically...Hawke is really similar to me." "What? No he's not! He's evil!" Rainbow protests hotly. "He's not even close to being as awesome as you!" "How so, Seth?" Applejack addresses me directly, ignoring Rainbow. "He's like...hm, how to explain this..." I muse aloud. "He's like...what I might have been if I never met Rainbow." "No, he's n...wait what?" Rainbow pauses in the middle of her pre-prepared protest and cocks her head. "Wait, but then he'd be...or...I'm confused." "You're talking like you understand him," Swift surmises accurately. That's close, but not really right. I don't understand his particular circumstances that caused him to hate humanity, but I understand the way he was and is thinking. Swift notices I don't deny her, and then she freezes. "Wait, you didn't talk him into surrendering too, did you?" I notice the other members of my team who were there to see Mist join us are now looking at me accusingly. I raise my hands up innocently. "Oh no...well, not quite. We still beat the shit out of each other. I just told him to keep living. I don't know what he's going to do next," I admit. Rainbow in particular gives me an unreadable expression. "What? I wasn't going to let the last human other than me...especially one that thinks like I used to...just kill himself. I hate him, but that doesn't mean I'd just let him die." Rainbow looks like she's going to protest further, but then her jaw drops when she realizes what I just said. Her eyes slowly widen, and then her expression turns into a happy smile. At first I don't understand her expression, but then I realize I pretty much just said the very same things that Rainbow said to me, way back when at the cliff. Holy shit, this pony...this one fucking technicolor pony...has changed my entire outlook on life. Suddenly, the moment is thoroughly ruined by the sound of two cannons firing confetti and streamers into the air from behind the table. Pinkie throws up her two front hooves, holding a pennant in each one. One of them has my face on it, and the other has Hawke's. "Whee! We're gonna have a human party to celebrate having two humans on the same team! I'll bring the cake, and you and him can learn to be best friends!" "Wait, are you serious?" I respond, a little shocked that Pinkie is so willing to forgive Hawke just like that. "You'd really throw a party for Hawke of all people? Don't you remember what he was going to do to us?" Pinkie sets down the pennants. There's a smile on her face, but her eyes are uncharacteristically serious. "Don't be silly. Of course I'd throw him a party! If he thinks like you did, then if anyone needs a smile, it's him!" she asserts. I blink, dumbfounded by her logic. "Aaand...that's not all. He's never actually hurt any of us." "He hurt me. Nearly bashed my face in, if you remember," I point out. However, I recognize that she has a point. Hawke has never really hurt anypony seriously, as far as I remember. I don't know how many humans he's killed, but as for ponies, he's stayed mostly out of their way. Even when Rainbow was getting in his way, he just knocked her out so she couldn't interfere. "Of course I remember, silly! I was there!" Pinkie reminds me, poking my nose from across the table with her hoof. "But if you told him to hang in there, then you must have forgiven him a little. And if you can forgive him, why shouldn't I?" I gaze at Pinkie, floored by that response. She really finds it that easy to forgive what was...and may still be...one of Equestria's greatest enemies? All because I understand him now? I can't help but smile. Pinkie...as annoying as you can be...you've more depth there than meets than eye. Why I didn't see that so early on is... Pinkie suddenly gasps incredibly loudly, and then she squeals equally as loud, standing up on the table and pointing at me emphatically with her hoof. Everyone in the room is taken by surprise at her suddenly exclamation as well, considering they're all staring at her. "I did it! I did it I did it I did it...!" Pinkie starts bouncing around the table, repeating that phrase over and over again until I manage to grab her by the shoulders and keep her in one place. "Pinkie, calm down! You did what?" I demand. "Made you smile!" Pinkie proclaims. The way she's beaming at me, you'd think she just won the lottery or something. "A real one this time! I mean, I know you're always smiling with Rainbow because she's your marefriend and stuff but this time it was all me! I have kept my Pinkie promise to myself!" "Wha...I mean I guess you did, but is it really that big of a deal?" I finally manage to say, blinking. Applejack is chuckling from her seat, as is Rainbow and Fluttershy. Pinkie looks at me as if I just told her that parties were stupid. "That big of a...," Pinkie stammers incredulously. Before I can stop her, she yanks my face forward, her hooves resting on my cheeks. She brings her face up close to mine. "YES!" I splutter when she releases me, and then I can't help but laugh at the whole situation along with Applejack, Rainbow, and Fluttershy. Swift is rolling her eyes at the whole exchange, while Trixie and Pterax are just watching blankly. "Sheesh, alright," I say, sitting back in my seat. I sip from my drink and watch Pinkie proceed to celebrate for several more seconds. "Gee, better throw another party." "Ohmigosh, you're right! The two human party can come later; first, I need to throw an I made Seth smile party!" Pinkie exclaims the second I realize my mistake. I groan and let my head fall to the table's surface as Pinkie starts rapidly listing aloud the types of supplies that she'd bring to such a party. Sooner or later I'll learn to keep my dumb mouth shut. After that, it isn't long before I finish my meal. I lean back, satisfied. Unfortunately, I know it can't last. Now that I'm done, I have someplace to be. I stand up from the table and stretch, wishing I could stay longer. "Okay, I should be leaving now. There's something I have to do," I tell the others reluctantly. Fluttershy nods; she already knows what I'm going to do. "Wait where are you going?" Rainbow demands. I think she'd been asleep when Chrysalis came around, so she didn't hear any of that. "I've got to go see Hawke. I'm the one that brought him in, so I should be present when Celestia gets here," I explain. Applejack and Swift nod understandingly at that. "Besides...somebody needs to be there to keep Chrysalis from getting her hooves all over him." "Yuck," Rainbow agrees, sticking her tongue out in disgust. I wonder if she's referring to Chrysalis or Hawke with that statement. She starts to get out of her chair. "Should I come too?" "No. This is something I should do on my own. I'm the only one that was there in the volcano with him, after all," I tell her. Rainbow looks put out, but sits back down. "Stay here. I'll let you all know what happens when I get back." "Good luck, sugarcube," Applejack calls to me as I leave the room. Okay, back out into the cold again. I've really got to thank whoever made these thick clothes I'm wearing. They don't fit me of course, but that just means I can wrap them tighter around me. I step out into the snow, shivering at the change in temperature. Okay, I don't know where Hawke's being kept, but I'm guessing it's in the same place Mist was kept before she was brought in to talk to Celestia. I'll head there first. I don't get very far before I hear Rainbow call my name behind me. Goddammit, I told her to stay behind. She reaches me just as I turn around to tell her exactly that. "What? I told you I have to do this on my own." "It's not about that. It's about what you said during dinner," Rainbow assures me. She coughs nervously and looks up at me. "About Hawke and how you didn't want him to die." "Oh. Okay, I guess I can take a moment," I say, kneeling down. Honestly, I should have expected her to want to talk to me about that. "I meant what I said though." "That's what I'm talking about. Ugh, this is going to sound really sappy, but...you sound so different now," Rainbow tells me. "It's like...you look at things completely different from when I saved you on the cliff." "That's because I do. If it hadn't been for you, I meant have ended up like Hawke," I tell her, choosing to respond to her seriously rather than tease her about her sappiness comment. "I couldn't let the only human other than me to do the same thing." "And there, that's it! I don't like Hawke at all, but I never thought you would...ugh, I don't even know what I want to say!" Rainbow groans in frustration, rubbing at her head with her hooves. I think I get what she's trying to say though. "I think I understand. I've used the lessons you've taught me to save the life of another," I supply for her. Rainbow looks up and nods. "That's right. You've come so far since then...it's a little mind blowing to think about the person you used to be," Rainbow exhibits. She presses her muzzle against my cheek affectionately...a gesture that I return by running a hand through her mane. "And now you're the man I lo...gah, that's so cheesy! How do ponies say this stuff?" I snort with laughter, finding it hilarious how she cut off her sentence before she even finished it. "Do I need to say it for you?" I tease her, earning a nudge for my efforts. Once I steady myself, I gently grasp her cheeks and kiss her briefly. "You changed my life and saved me from myself. I love you, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow blushes furiously, but smiles despite herself. She kisses me back. "You know, I feel like I need to go get some crackers to go with this cheese," she whispers, and I promptly burst out laughing. Well, the moment's passed. The final battle is coming soon, so I'm glad I had a chance to say that, in case things take a turn for the worse. "But seriously, keep complimenting me. I'm starting to feel really good about myself." "Please, like you need my help to do that," I retort, earning another nudge. I stand up, getting ready to move. "Anyway, you should probably go back inside to the others. The sooner I go deal with Hawke, the sooner I can come back and chill with you all before we have to march on the empire." "Oh yeah, that's coming soon, isn't it?" Rainbow responds. I nod, feeling apprehensive about the battle to come. If I thought fighting Chrysalis or Hawke was hard, Sombra is going to make all of that look like a cakewalk. "Alright, I'll head in. Don't take too long, or I'll come in there and get you." "I'll keep that in mind. Be back soon," I tell her with a wry grin. With that, Rainbow turns back to the house, and I continue walking down the street. Before I even get halfway there, Chrysalis alights on the street right next to me, her wings making barely any noise apart from a faint buzzing. I almost jump out of my skin at her sudden appearance, but I do my best not to show it. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you were being distracted by that accursed rainbow pony," she complains, clicking her tongue. The way she said that lets me know exactly what context she was referring to, causing me to wince. "Don't be stupid. Like we'd do that in the middle of a war," I snap viciously at her. Chrysalis shrugs, taking my insult in stride. "What are you talking about? That's the best time to do it. You never know when your last day is going to be," Chrysalis responds nonchalantly. "Right...changing the subject now," I tell her uncomfortably, wanting nothing to do with this particular topic. Chrysalis snickers at my discomfort. "We're almost there. Any changes since the last time we spoke?" "Yes, in fact. He's awake, for one, and speaking with that other general," Chrysalis informs me. Oh, Hawke's awake now. I guess it's a good thing that he's not blasting his way out of the building. "I left an agent to keep an eye on them. It's not smart to leave two enemy prisoners... even more so with generals...in the same room together unsupervised." "I don't think there'll be a problem," I assure her despite the uncertainty I'm feeling. Chrysalis hums, but doesn't object. Together, the two of us approach the building where Hawke is being guarded by both Iron and Salamul. I convinced Hawke to keep living...but I have no clue what he's going to do now. The only way to find out is to talk to him myself.

Tales of the Oppressed

125. The Last Humans

Iron and Salamul both emerge from the building on our approach and meet us halfway, falling into step beside us. Iron walks on my left, while Salamul strides alongside Chrysalis's right. "It's good you're here," Iron expresses, his armor clanking with every step. "The prisoner has been asking about you." "I figured he would be," I retort. In truth, I'm a little surprised that Hawke wants to see me so soon after waking up. If he's really going through the same revelations as me, I would have thought he'd want some time to himself. "Has he caused you any trouble?" "No. He's been very quiet ever since waking up," Iron answers. He lowers his head and orients his magic on the door. There's the sound of locks disengaging, and then the door opens, letting us inside. "Flowing Mist went in to speak with him, but she hasn't gotten much out of him." "At least he isn't trying to blast his way out," I say with a shrug, counting my blessings. No doubt Mist's perception of Hawke is colored by her previous experiences with him. There's no way she could understand him enough to get him to say anything of substance to her. Looking around the interior of the building, I make a guess that this place used to be a sheriff's office or something to that degree. There's a set of offices on the far side of the room with a counter just in front of them. Each office door is labeled with the name of the previous occupants...who are no doubt in the capital by now. On the left side is a set of stairs that leads underground, where the jail cells are located. That's actually a smart idea. Considering it's impossible as far as I know to seal off both Hawke's and my magic, placing him underground makes it so that he can't just blast his way out. The only way out is the staircase, and that's guarded by all four of us. Not even Hawke can handle all of us at once. "How long until Celestia gets here?" I ask the remaining question on my mind. I don't know how far away Celestia is, but I doubt it'll take her that long to get here. Chrysalis said a day, but that's bullshit, considering how fast I can go when I fly...and she's way stronger than me. "A day at the most. Perhaps sooner if she exerts herself," Iron responds, matching my estimates. Okay, so basically she'll be here sooner rather than later. Hopefully I have time to have a meaningful conversation with this guy before she gets here. "Come on...I'll take you to him." The four of us descend the staircase into the dank prison, whose cells have long since been emptied. The only cell that is occupied is the one at the far end of the dungeon, which also happens to be the largest and lowest one. Hawke is lying shackled to the lone bed with his back propped up with pillows. He hasn't been healed like me, so his body is wrapped in bandages and poultices to ease the pain of his cuts and magical burns. One eye is covered by bandages that obscure the ugly black mark that was the result of the attack that took him down. The other eye is open and staring blankly at the wall ahead. He doesn't even seem to notice our approach. Beside him is Mist, the former general sitting on the floor with her front hooves propped up on the edge of the bed. Her horn is alight, casting her aura upon a wet cloth, which she's using to help keep Hawke cool. The man doesn't thank her or show any kind of reaction to her efforts, but neither does he try to stop her. A shimmering transparent wall of magic covers the cell door like an ethereal curtain, letting me know that the cell is warded with magic. I don't know how well it could stand up to Hawke, but it's not a bad idea. At the very least, it could buy some time. "Can he hear us in there?" I ask, leaning over to Iron. I probably have to pull something with Chrysalis so I can talk to Hawke alone, and I'd rather not do that where he can hear me. "He shouldn't be able to. The ward is designed to be one way," Iron answers. Huh, so a bit like a one-way mirror, except with sound. That's pretty useful. "He shouldn't even know that we're out here." "Good," Chrysalis expresses, and then she brazenly walks up to the wall, craning her head as close to it as she can without actually touching it. She stares for a few moments, her lips turning upwards into a toothed smirk. "Ooh, he's not bad to look at. Seth, he hardly looks anything like you." "Oh thanks, I guess that means I'm just not as attractive as he is. Fucking sue me," I snap back at her, her comment not sitting well with me. Of course, I'm not the only one who's disapproving of this situation. Salamul seems none too happy about this either. "I am beginning to wonder how his strength compares to that of a warlord's," Salamul muses. His axe shifts threateningly from its position against the wall nearby. "I just didn't expect there to be that much of a difference in body structure between two different members of your species," Chrysalis responds with interest, craning her head to get a look at other angles. "Your noses are shaped differently...and his jaw is broader than yours. That's not even counting his overall build. I wonder if he'd take my offer...?" "No, he wouldn't. If I'm not okay with living underground all my life fucking a bug horse, he definitely won't be," I answer her bluntly, crossing my arms. Chrysalis whips around and hisses at me, looking genuinely insulted by that. I take a step back when faced with her glare. "I agree. Let the spindly things be, Chrysalis," Salamul inserts, boldly taking my side. Unlike me, he doesn't even flinch when she turns her intense gaze onto him. "One should prove their worth by individual prowess and judgment, rather than by species." Chrysalis looks like she's about to argue back...but then she does a double take, raising a brow at Salamul. I look between the two of them, confused. Why is she giving him a look like that? What Salamul said makes perfect sense to me. "Huh...perhaps," Chrysalis finally says, turning away from Salamul with a thoughtful expression. "I'm interested to see your definition of worth, Salamul. Despite all your talk, I doubt your combat ability truly approaches mine..." Salamul's axe flies to his side and slams into the ground blade first, cracking the floor. The corners of Salamul's mouth turn up ever so slightly and his brow tightens. Oh shit, Chrysalis just issued a challenge, and Salamul doesn't look like he's one to back down. "Okay, can we focus please? We need to determine what the hell we're going to do with Hawke," I step in, wanting literally anything other than to be caught in the middle of a fight between these two. Seriously...Salamul is nuts, considering he's even trying to pick a fight with Celestia. Next to me, Iron is shaking his head, but otherwise not trying to get between them. Chrysalis and Salamul gaze at one another a little while longer, before finally the former turns back to look at the cell. "You're right, of course," Chrysalis comments, giving a little giggle at frustrated huff she hears from Salamul. "I am very interested in speaking to this human." "Not before I do. Didn't you hear Iron? Hawke's been asking for me," I remind her. "You can talk to him after I get some time alone with him." "What? So you can poison his mind against me before he even meets me? I don't think so," Chrysalis snaps, standing squarely in between the cell and me. Oh god, I just knew she was going to be difficult. "What the fuck does it matter? He's not your kind, he's mine!" I react angrily. "So that just gives you a free ticket to do as you please with him?" Chrysalis argues. "I could say the same thing to you! All you want to do is go in there and just...!" "That's enough. Both of you!" Iron interrupts sharply, finally losing his patience. He steps in between Chrysalis and I, glaring at us in turn. "You are acting like foals fighting over the next meal!" Chrysalis and I both look over at him, surprised by his sudden interjection. Chrysalis in particular looks shocked and annoyed by the way she's being addressed. "A foal...!?" she hisses, but Iron doesn't let her continue. "Seth, you will speak to the prisoner first. Queen Chrysalis, you may remain and listen in to the conversation, and intervene if he chooses to speak ill of you," Iron directs the both of us. "It's a simple conclusion. I know the two of you don't get along, but this argument is unseemly and unnecessary." Chrysalis releases a low hiss, steaming mad from being talked down to like that. For a second, I feel a hint of magic, and I freak out and wonder if she's about to attack him. Much to my relief, Chrysalis backs away and releases an angry huff. "Fine, whatever. Talk to your new pet all you want," Chrysalis spits. She stalks away from Iron and I, moving to Salamul instead, who shifts to give her some room. "You're lucky I want Sombra dead as much as the rest of you." I sigh in relief. That wasn't handled that well. Still, at least now I'm free to talk to Hawke without interruption. I nod in thanks to Iron and walk steadily forward. It's then that I remember that Chrysalis stated that she left an agent here. However, I don't see anything inside...until a small mouse scurries across the cell floor. It lifts its head briefly, its eyes flashing green momentarily. Then it dashes back into the shadows. Huh. Well, that answers that question. Iron's horn glows, and a hole just large enough to admit me opens in the magical wall. Once I'm inside, it shuts behind me. Out of curiosity, I give the wall a glance once I'm behind it. Sure enough, I'm looking at an opaque shimmering wall that shows me a faint reflection of the room in front of me. Hawke finally shows signs of life as I walk into the room. His eye, which had been fixed on the wall, shoots to me in an instant. I guess had been alert this whole time. Mist notices me soon after that. The former general gives me a weak smile, but not much more than that. Most of her attention is focused on keeping Hawke comfortable. "Hey. Uh...how are you doing?" I say awkwardly, unable to think of any other way to start this conversation. Seconds later I curse myself for starting with something so goddamn generic. Hawke stares back at me in silence for a few seconds. "Dispose with the pointless pleasantries," Hawke grunts, shifting on the bed to get a better look at me. In the process, he winces in pain, causing him to press a hand to his chest. "You are here to determine what to do with me. Don't waste my time." "Well gee, fault me for not knowing how to speak normally to my own kind. It's almost like I haven't been around them for months," I respond, the sarcasm practically dripping from my voice. Hawke scoffs, unamused. I get serious, sitting down on a stool across from the bed. Mist wisely stays out of the conversation, though she keeps tending to Hawke. "Honestly, I haven't a clue on what to do with you. I'm no leader. I don't know what the ponies do with their prisoners of war. All I know is I don't want you to die." "So you've said. I am still struggling to understand why that is," Hawke replies truthfully. He looks like he's about to explain, so I sit back and cross my arms patiently. "Do you not understand? I've hurt you and your friends. How can you forgive me so easily? It is just because you don't want to be alone?" "Don't get me wrong. I haven't forgiven you. Not entirely," I tell him flatly. Hawke blinks at that, perplexed. "I still remember what you did to Twilight and Spike. I can forgive you beating up on me; I'm used to that kind of thing. But Twilight? She was an innocent pony who'd never felt that kind of pain before." Hawke closes his eyes, sighing. He's quiet for several moments. "It was one of the few explicit orders I was given. 'Seize the Element of Magic through any means necessary,'" he reveals to me. I nod. That does make sense. Without even one of the Elements of Harmony, we're without our primary hope of victory. "I hold no ill will towards these...ponies. However, for the sake of my king, I did whatever was necessary to ensure his return." "'Twilight,' as you call her, sealed the Element of Magic within her own magic once she determined my intent. Thus, the only method of retrieval was through force, until her magic was too depleted to keep it sealed," Hawke explains. His tone holds no emotion in it as he explains the situation methodically and logically. "The dragon was collateral damage. I would not have harmed him without a reason." "Don't you feel guilty about hurting her?" I demand, not liking any of what I just heard. He sounds like a robot when he's talking about hurting somepony like that. "I regret the necessity, perhaps," Hawke admits. His eyes harden when he looks at me. "I don't expect you to understand. Just don't expect me to suddenly gain your viewpoint simply because you helped me determine that some of my race may have been worth saving." "I don't. I'm just trying to hear your story here, so I can figure out what to do about all of this," I confess with a sigh. As I expected, this isn't going to be easy. I have to determine where his attachment to Sombra came from in the first place. "You regret what you did to humanity?" "That depends," Hawke says, surprising me. When he sees me look alarmed, he explains. "If you and I are truly similar, then there may have been good people out there. That I am beginning to understand..." Hawke's eyes narrow. "But I do not regret the few humans I have killed personally. They believed they controlled me, as if I were some tool to be used," he asserts firmly, causing a chill to run down my spine. "When I met her...when I believed I had some chance to exert my own free will...they removed her." "Her...so you had someone too?" I ask softly, starting to understand. He and I are very similar, but fundamentally different, in that he actually chose to kill those that oppressed him. However, hearing about him talk about a girl...reminds me way too much of myself. Hawke is silent at my question, as if he thinks he's revealed too much already. "I had someone too. Her name was Amaryllis, and she taught me that I was actually worth something." "Yes...her name was Klara," Hawke reveals. Suddenly, he sits up straight, despite the pain that it causes him. Mist gasps and tries her best to get him to lay back down. Hawke's hands clutch at the sheets as he stares at me. "Tell me then, Seth. If this Amaryllis of yours were to die in front of you...how would you have reacted!?" That...there it is. Even as Mist manages to coax Hawke into relaxing, I think his words over. That's the diverging point. His friend...Klara...must have died. I can understand how that must have felt, considering I felt the very same when I woke up in those ruins. "Like I'd want to make whoever did it to her pay," I admit, unable to deny that much. In fact, I wanted to kill Sombra so badly when I first discovered it was his fault. However, I had to give up that revenge, because he was gone...or sealed. If my friend's killer was right in front of me like Hawke's was...oh god..I'd have killed them. "Oh god, that's why you...?" "Now you begin to understand. Tell me then...if King Sombra had appeared before you with the means to get stronger, would you not have taken it?" Hawke demands fervently. He doesn't wait for an answer this time. "So yes, I went to him. Yes, I did whatever he willed of me. Perhaps...I was misguided, but if the situation were the same, I would do it again." "You would kill your own race again, knowing what you know now?" I ask, troubled by all that he's telling me. I can't say that I would have been able to do any different in his situation. Hawke pauses, and then looks down at his hands. "Perhaps not. What I am trying to say is that I couldn't let Klara's killers live," he confesses. "You must understand something. Apart from the humans I killed myself, I did not participate in the extermination. That task was given to Governor-General Vanta." "That doesn't make you any less responsible. Allowing it to happen is the same thing as taking part in it yourself. Trust me. I know," I tell him firmly. His words, as well as my own, remind me an awful lot of the changeling invasion. Even though I didn't hurt any of the ponies themselves, I pretty much allowed it to happen. The only difference between us is that I fought back. "I suppose you are right. Don't worry. I'm under no illusions that I'm bereft of guilt," Hawke responds, his eyes falling. I'm quiet for a while after that...until suddenly, something about what he said before strikes me as odd. "Hold on a second. How could you have participated in the extermination, anyway? Doesn't accepting Sombra's power zap you into the future?" I interrupt, confused. If he knew Vanta...but that's impossible, considering Vanta was left behind in the past. "Only if a stasis spell is bundled into the transfer," Hawke answers. "All I received was the transfer. Unlike yourself, I stayed in the past with Vanta." "That's impossible. That would mean you'd have to be over..." "Three thousand years old," Hawke completes for me, looking dead serious. But...that would mean...he's immortal. But he's human like me, so how could that be true? Upon seeing my blank face, Hawke elaborates. "I believe it was intended for me to die and become undead with Vanta...but King Sombra taught me a great deal of necromancy, more so than he ever did with Vanta. With a great deal of study, I was able to determine a method of keeping my cells alive and fresh." "You discovered immortality. You're...older than the princesses. Holy shit." It's a good thing I'm sitting down right now, otherwise I'd have to do that now. The fact that Hawke is extremely fucking old explains so much. That's how the geothermal plant was built. Hawke had all the time in the world to study human technology and recreate it for himself. With the help of undead as free labor, he could do whatever he wanted. "My orders were to wait for your arrival in Equestria," Hawke continues. "Then I was to steal the Alicorn Amulet and prepare an army for my king's eventual return." Hawke falls silent after that, letting out another deep breath. He lets Mist brush his brow with the cloth. I don't say anything either, taking a moment to sort all this information in my head. Once again, I'm taken aback with Sombra's incredible planning. So if I'm understanding this right, Sombra used his time spell to come to my era the moment he learned of the Elements existing. He stored a portion of his power within me and brought me to this time as a backup plan. Then, he discovered Hawke, and stored more power within him, as a fallback in case I did not arrive or died before he managed to unseal himself. While Vanta built an army of Oppressed and exterminated mankind, Hawke kept to himself and built up a horde over thousands of years...and that's where all these undead are coming from. Sometime after the news came out about my existence in Equestria, Hawke must have heard of it...and that's when he moved to take that amulet and then meet with Vanta...only to find that I had just killed him. "Okay, I think I get it now," I say, rubbing my forehead. God, my life has gotten complicated. "But I guess the most important question right now is...what do you plan to do now? Are you going to go back to Sombra, knowing what he did to our kind?" "I don't know," Hawke answers truthfully, shaking his head. "It hurts, Seth. To think that three thousand years went by, and I never stopped thinking for an instant that mankind was scum that deserved its fate." "I know how that feels. I wish I could go back and smack my past self in the face. Like, there are good people out there...if I'd have just gotten my head out of my ass and quit clinging to only Amaryllis," I agree. "How could I have thought that, when there were people such as you...and Klara...? Gods, she would be disappointed in me," Hawke continues, resting his face in his hands. "But now...I still feel grateful to the king for giving me the power to break free from society. That much hasn't changed." "Don't you feel angry though, knowing that the whole time, he was just using you, just like the people in your past?" I press. Hawke's jaw tightens at that, anger flaring in his eyes. "Yes. Now that you have stripped my end goal from me...it seems there was indeed a time in my future when he would take my power away from me and toss me aside, just as he did for you," Hawke answers, much to my relief. "Nevertheless, I find myself at a loss. Without the goal of killing you, I do not know what my purpose here is. Tell me how I should act, Seth. You seem to have found a purpose for yourself." "Hah well, it wasn't easy. But I can't tell you how to act. As similar as you are to me, you're not me," I tell him. From that response, Hawke seems to be at a loss, a frown on his face. "But you could always try starting over." "Starting over? That's impossible. There are no humans left but you," Hawke snaps back. "Where would I start?" "Um, hello? There's an entire country out here whose fate is in the balance," I point out to him. "What? You mean these ponies?" Hawke asks in surprise, scoffing at the thought. "I told you before what I think about them." "Then you're a dumb ass. I told you before, they are as much animals as you and I. They have the ability to process deeper emotions, despite what you might think. In fact..." I trail off. Even as Hawke listens to me with a disbelieving expression, I lower my gaze to Mist, who has been tending to Hawke this whole time. Hawke follows me gaze, until he eventually locks eyes with Mist. Mist smiles at him in response. Hawke looks back to me, suddenly understanding. Remembering what Celestia said to me so long ago, I look Hawke dead in the eyes. "Give them a chance. They're not all perfect, but I believe they're genuinely good individuals. I believe that given enough time, you could make some good friends, much like I have," I request, standing up. Once again, I find myself echoing the sentiments once given to me by others. Just more evidence about how much this place has changed me. Hawke stares at me for a long while, mulling my words over in my mind. "I see. However, I will not fight in your battle," he expresses. "I cannot fight King Sombra. Speaking from both an emotional and logical standpoint, it would be unfeasible for me." "What do you mean?" I ask him curiously. "I owe him for the strength I have now, and for my revenge in the past. I cannot bring myself to fight him because of that, even knowing what he had in store for me," Hawke explains. "However, it is folly for me to fight him; all it would do is make him stronger." "That's true. You wouldn't even be able to hurt him anyway; it's his magic," I recall, remembering how even though I was leagues above his current power when I gave in to the insanity back at the Crystal Empire, I didn't even scratch him. "Plus, you'd be signing our death warrant. He'd just take your power too and become even more of a god." "Therefore, I will stay behind and recover. I will try to help you indirectly, but that is all I can offer," Hawke promises me. I sigh in relief. So this whole talk was worth something after all. Hawke's eyes harden once more. "But I will not be judged by your pony princess." "What? You're talking about Celestia?" I ask, taken aback by the sudden venom in his voice. "What are you talking about? "I stayed in this prison because I wished to speak with you. I will not be held, nor will I accept her authority," Hawke clarifies, clenching his fist. To prove his point, his eyes turn green and he easily breaks one fist out of its shackle, shattering the metal like paper. He lets his magic die away, even as he winces from the pain in his arm from the exertion. "Well said!" Before I can say anything to that, Chrysalis walks through the barrier, smirking in satisfaction at hearing Hawke's words. Hawke falls silent and his face turns stone cold again at the presence of someone here other than me. "Now, if only there were more like you willing to stand up to her." I don't miss the pointed stare that Chrysalis gives me, nor do I particularly care. That's just her being salty that we defeated her last time. No, but I do care about being interrupted. "Chrysalis, it wasn't your turn yet. Get out of here," I tell her firmly. "No, I don't think I will. You've had long enough," Chrysalis asserts, pushing past me. She approaches Hawke, attempting to make herself look as presentable as possible. "Besides, all we needed to hear was that he'd help us, correct?" "Chrysalis, stop..." I try to tell her before it's too late. Chrysalis ignores me, instead pushing aside Mist roughly and lowering her horn to Hawke. "Out of my way, slave pony. As if there's any need for your ministrations now that I am here," Chrysalis proclaims, her horn lighting up. Hawke winces and turn his head curiously at Chrysalis as his body starts to heal itself. Oh shit, she's healing him before Celestia even gets here. I sure hope Hawke really is on our side, otherwise he could do some real damage now that he's in full form. "I always find your kind so fascinating..." When Chrysalis finishes, Hawke easily breaks the rest of his shackles. Without a word, he gets to his feet and starts unraveling his bandages, letting them fall to the floor. Apart from his shorts, Hawke isn't wearing anything in the way of clothing, leaving him shirtless in front of the rest of us. Chrysalis noticeably traces her eyes across his defined muscles, much to my disgust. "Now, perhaps you wouldn't mind accompanying me to someplace with less prying ears?" Chrysalis requests of Hawke, giving him a rather sultry expression. God, she isn't wasting any time. Giving up immediately on me, she goes to the nearest human. As I expected, she just wants to possess one of us. "I believe you and I have much to discuss." Hawke ignores Chrysalis at first, instead moving past her and helping Mist up from the floor. Then he turns back to the queen with a cold expression. "You have my thanks for healing me," he states calmly. "But I have no interest in you. Begone." Chrysalis's jaw drops at the outright rejection before she even had a chance to make her intentions truly clear. I choke and nearly explode with mirth, but when Chrysalis hears me I quickly disguise it as a coughing fit. Oh my god, that's just fucking brilliant. Everything with Chrysalis up to this point is worth it just to see her rejected so fucking quickly. "Hmph...perhaps I should have left you to suffer after all," Chrysalis growls, a hiss emanating from her throat. Gathering what's left of her dignity, she whirls around and strides out of the room pridefully. "Ungrateful humans...waste of my time..." I'm practically crying at this point with the effort of keeping my laughter in check. This has to be the most priceless thing I've ever seen. Get fucking owned, Chrysalis. In front of me, Hawke summons his magic, pulling out fresh clothes from seemingly nowhere with his magic. Wait, you can do that? I thought you could only store weapons and stuff in it and...my thoughts are immediately cut off as Hawke pulls out a plain t-shirt and transforms it into another military coat exactly like the one he'd always worn. Holy shit. I need to learn how to do that. Before long, Hawke is fully clothed. He turns to me not long after that, looking as imposing as ever. "Where are your...friends?" Hawke asks, much to my surprise. "Back at the house. Why?" I ask suspiciously. "I intend to test whether or not these ponies are capable of higher emotions as you claim," Hawke answers ominously. "The best way to do this is to speak with individuals that still view me as an enemy." "More like ponies that'll still swing a punch at you if you get close," I retort, thinking of Rainbow first and foremost. I'm not sure I want him near my friends. First of all, I have no idea how the others will even react to his presence...but Rainbow's reaction is a given. "I'm not sure it's a good idea. They might seriously try to hurt you." "They won't be able to," Hawke assures me, moving for the barrier. When I still look reluctant, he reassures me. "If you're concerned for their safety, then come with me." I follow him helplessly, knowing that without a significant amount of effort, I can't stop him from going. I don't like the idea of letting him anywhere near my friends. When Hawke nears the barrier, he places a gloved hand on it, testing its strength. Part of me wonders what Iron and Salamul are thinking right now. Of course, it looks like I'm going to get a chance to find out, because Hawke punches a fucking hole right in the barrier, shattering it. He was right...we really can't hold him. "Go no further!" Iron and Salamul both meet us on the other side, their weapons at the ready. "Seth, you should be more cautious," Iron warns me, blocking Hawke's path. "It is not wise to trust the enemy so soon," Salamul agrees. "Though I would love a chance to test my strength." "Move. I do not intend to harm you or your cause any further," Hawke tells them flatly. Just as he starts to move, something catches his eye. He pauses and looks at Iron. "I've seen you. You're the one that damaged King Sombra." Iron remains silent, instead hefting his shield, as if reminding Hawke of its power. Hawke regards the shield with great interest. Eventually, he turns away and attempts to move past the both of them...only to be blocked by both weapons. "Desist. You will remain here until Princess Celestia arrives," Iron warns Hawke. At that, Hawke raises a fist and clenches it, magical power visibly rippling from it. "Under whose authority? Yours?" Hawke demands. "I will repeat: I will not be held. I am here for my own reasons. Block me at your peril." Before this situation can get any worse, I step in between them. "Okay, two things. First, Hawke, I get where you're coming from. You're so old it's basically like children telling you what to do, right?" "I will not be controlled again. I am my own man," Hawke asserts, basically answering my question. "Second, Iron, I get that letting Hawke roam around unattended is a bad idea," I say, turning to Iron next. "So let me escort him. The last thing we need is to blow up the city trying to stop him." Iron hesitates, understanding my reasoning, but battling with his sense of duty. Eventually, it's Salamul that makes the final choice. "Brother, let them go. I will accompany them to ensure there is no mischief," the warlord rumbles. I give the warlord a stare. He probably just wants to fight Hawke in case there is mischief. "Very well. I'll relay the situation to Princess Celestia when she arrives," Iron finally agrees, though he doesn't look happy about it. His gaze meets mine. I feel like he's trying to communicate to me that it's on my head if Hawke goes rogue or tries to escape. Yeah, I got that. But Salamul and I should be able to take him down if he tries anything. "If we're done here," Hawke states impatiently. Without another word, he strides past Iron and Salamul, heading for the door. Salamul and I fall into step behind him...and it seems like Mist is coming too. Sheesh. There's going to be so many of us in the house at once I'm hardly going to be able to keep track of what's going on. Once we're outside, I turn to Hawke. "You know, you should really lighten up," I advise him, even though I know it's probably not going to have much affect. Sure enough, all I get out of Hawke is a scoff. "I get that you don't want to be controlled, but that doesn't mean you have to be antagonistic, either." "Whatever," is Hawke's simple response. I can't help but sigh. This is going to be more difficult than I thought. We eventually approach the house, where my team is still relaxing and getting ready for the next battle. As we get up to the front door, I try to catch up with Hawke. "You should probably..." I start to say, but Hawke doesn't slow his stride even a little. Without waiting for me to finish talking, he walks in through the front door, right where the others are sitting. "...let me go first. Ugh, here we go." Immediately after Hawke's entrance, all sound from inside dies away. I get inside as soon as I can. Hawke is standing in the center of the entry hall, with Rainbow, Trixie, Applejack, and the others all staring at him in shock at his sudden appearance. Swift is up and out of her chair, her lance hovering in the air beside her. Pterax has already taken the form of bear, his hackles raised. I notice that Pinkie is oddly absent for some reason. It's so dead quiet, I feel like I could hear a pin drop. No one makes a move. Hawke is wearing an emotionless expression, not flinching even a little from all of their gazes resting upon him. "Uh...Seth...?" Applejack is the first to break the awkward silence, turning her head away from Hawke to look at me. "You!" Rainbow is the next. She immediately throws herself out of her seat and soars towards Hawke before I can say anything to stop her. In a fit of rage, Rainbow recklessly swings her hoof forwards at Hawke's face. To my surprise, Hawke lets the punch land, though it clearly does absolutely nothing to him. I freeze in horror, as do some of the others. Antagonizing Hawke is a really bad idea, especially since there's so many here that he could easily annihilate. "That was your free shot," Hawke finally tells the surprised mare calmly. "...What?" is all Rainbow can say. "Seth informed me that should I venture here, there would be some of you that would attempt to harm me. I assumed he meant you," Hawke explains to her, keeping himself composed despite the fact that he just got punched in the face. "I will not fault you if you wish to hit me further. It is only fair, as I previously did the same to you." "What the...are you...is this your way of apologizing?" Rainbow exclaims incredulously. She looks to me with a dumbfounded expression, and then back to Hawke again. Hawke remains completely silent, letting his actions speak for him. "Well, ah'll be," Applejack echoes, taking off her hat. She gets up as well and approaches us. "It's much appreciated, Mr...uh...Hawke. But ah don't think any of us is gonna really forgive ya until ya apologize to Twilight too." And there's Applejack, being as utterly sensible as always. You can't help but respect that. Hawke looks down at Applejack as well. "She is not here," Hawke replies. "However, I do wish to speak with her." "Good. Now ah won't pry, but have you two come to an understanding?" Applejack questions warily, looking to me for an answer. "Of sorts. I'll have to tell you the situation sometime later," I say with a shrug. Unlike Mist, Hawke isn't joining us. He's just agreeing to stay out of the fight. However, there is one thing I need to know. "Are you satisfied, Hawke?" "Perhaps...they do act similar," Hawke answers reluctantly, knowing immediately what question I was asking. He gives me a peculiar look, which I understand immediately. We're so similar, I feel like I can predict what he's thinking right now. Right now, he's drawing the comparison between ponies and humans, much like I did. "However, I am not sure. I will need some time to adj..." "Aaah! Hawkie! You're here!" Pinkie suddenly streaks out of the kitchen like a bolt of pink lightning, carrying a tray of cupcakes on one hoof. She skids to a stop in front of Hawke. "You have to try this! It's delicious! Now open wide!" Before any of us can stop her, she bounces up like a pogostick and shoves a cupcake into Hawke's mouth. All of us collectively freeze in horror at Pinkie's brazen actions, and then we all look at Hawke and slightly back away. I start getting ready to save Pinkie if necessary. Hawke's eyes are filled with confusion, even as he instinctively starts to chew the cupcake. He lifts up a hand to prevent crumbs from falling on his coat until he finishes eating it. He conjures a handkerchief from nowhere and wipes his mouth with it. Once he's finished, he tosses the handkerchief upwards, where it disappears back into his magic. "Well? Tell me what you think, silly!" Pinkie exclaims, bouncing up and down in place. That same action causes the cupcakes to act similarly, yet none of them fall over or get smashed for some physics defying reason. When we can see Hawke's face again, his expression is one of complete and utter confusion, to the point of being completely dumbfounded. I've never seen an expression like this on him before. Finally, he opens his mouth to respond. "...Hawkie?"

Tales of the Oppressed

126. Hawke's Decision

Hawke's face is so perfect right now. For a man who's been alive for over three thousand years, I doubt anything could have prepared him for the ridiculousness that is Pinkie Pie. Despite his dark and imposing appearance, as well as the knowledge we all have of the things that he's done to us, Pinkie is treating him just like the rest of us. Hawke attempts to keep the hyperactive pink pony in his view, but ultimately gives up, because Pinkie is bouncing around him relentlessly. "Did I hear you right? Did you truly call me...Hawkie?" Hawke repeats in a level voice. I'm still a little tense, because despite how he hasn't taken any hostile actions yet, I don't know him that well. Hawke exhales with irritation, unable to follow Pinkie's movement. "And can you please remain still?" "Whoops! Sorry!" Pinkie skids to a stop in front of Hawke, somehow still carrying the tray of cupcakes. I can't help but notice Hawke's eyes dart down to the fresh confections. Pinkie gives him a bright and happy smile. "So how was the cupcake? I made these to celebrate your arrival, because now Sethie can have another friend just like him! I hope you like strawberry and vanilla, because those are his favorite flavors! You see, he didn't tell me at first, but I found out through dumb luck!" Hawke lets a disbelieving exhale, seemingly unable to comprehend the words coming out of Pinkie's mouth. It's true that she's being very welcoming to him...just like she was to me back when she first met me. I don't blame him for not knowing how to react. Instead of answering her question, Hawke leaned down and reached a gloved hand towards the tray. He hesitates before taking one. "May I have another?" Hawke asks simply, and my jaw drops, as do several of the others. He's actually going for it? Goddamn, Pinkie. If Pinkie's smile gets any wider, I feel like the corners of her mouth will right off of her face. "Take as many as you want, silly! I made them for us all to share! Cupcakes for everyone!" Pinkie exclaims happily. After Hawke picks up another of her cupcakes, she bounces back towards the dining table. "Don't just stand there! Come sit down and join us for dessert!" "I can't believe this is happening," Rainbow whispers to me, having joined me at some point while I'd been watching Hawke. "That makes two of us. I'm about to sit down for dessert with someone I thought to be one of my greatest enemies," I reply back, keeping my voice low. We look back to Hawke to see him standing there hesitantly, unsure if he should follow or not. "Well, you comin'?" Applejack addresses the still shell-shocked Hawke. She lets a small smile show on her face when Hawke gives her a confused expression. "Pinkie'll be upset if ya don't join us, and that ain't good. She went all out on dessert this time 'round." "They're really nice, Governor General," Mist adds from her position beside Hawke, still addressing him by his former title. "Even to individuals like you and I." "Very well. If you are inviting me, I shall accept," Hawke finally says after a while, much to Mist's relief. He looks at me next. "It seems there is some truth to what you've said. I have never been greeted in such a way." "Oh trust me. The second you think you have these ponies figured out, they always surprise you," I assure him with a half grin. I've said that very same thing to myself several times since getting to Equestria. "Now come on. I'm getting a bit of a craving for sweets myself." Soon, the dining room is completely filled. With the additions of Salamul, Mist, and Hawke, this makes eleven of us sitting around the wooden table. Well, currently, there's only ten of us, what with Salamul standing in the doorway. His armor practically fills the whole hall. "I made cake!" Pinkie trills. She zips in and out of the kitchen at a speed I can barely follow, quickly filling the tables with a variety of sweets There's so many of them I feel like she could open a bakery just with this spread here. "Where did you find the materials for these?" Hawke questions curiously from his position in the seat beside me. He's still holding the cupcake he'd taken from Pinkie's tray in his hand. "It should not be possible to obtain such refined ingredients this far north." "Oh Hawkie, I never leave home without all the ingredients I need to make dessert!" Pinkie exclaims nonsensically, producing a large platter filled with bags of sugar, flour, and other assorted baking materials. Hawke's eyes bug out at the spread that suddenly appeared from nowhere. "But where were you keeping them? To make even a single dish, a great many ingredients are necessary," Hawke demands, even more confused. I chuckle under my breath and shake my head. He hasn't learned yet that you don't question how Pinkie works. She just does. Even somepony as analytical as Twilight has accepted that fact. "In my mane, silly!" Pinkie explains as if it should have been obvious. I have to physically try not to burst out laughing at this point. Hawke looks like he's going to have an aneurism or something if Pinkie says even one more thing he can't understand. "In your..." Hawke starts to repeat, but cuts off halfway through and just sighs, holding his head in one hand. Around the table, some of the ponies start snickering and giggling, like Applejack and Rainbow. "I don't understand." "You get used to it," I assure him, reaching for a plate myself. That cake looks particularly delicious. "Thanks for the food, Pinkie. I could really use a sweet fix right now." "That's what I'm here for!" Pinkie replies with a beaming smile. Her head quickly turns to Salamul, who has been standing silently behind us all the whole time. "Why are you standing there all frowny? Come join us, Sally!" Salamul's eyebrow visibly rises at that. "That's a mare's name," he deadpans. Despite that, he does move to join us without further complaint. "Oh, so it is. Hm, Salad? Muley? Salamander?" Pinkie starts listing off an array of possible nicknames, each one more ridiculous than the last. "Salamul?" Salamul suggests wryly, the whole table shaking as he sits down at the last remaining seat. Pinkie puts on a shocked face, as if calling the warlord by his actual name never actually occurred to her. With that, the eleven of us start to dig into our desert with gusto. All except for Hawke of course. He's still holding the cupcake, staring at it with an unreadable expression. Eventually, Applejack calls him out on it. "Somethin' wrong, sugarcube? Yer lookin' at that cupcake like you never seen one before," Applejack observes. "You wouldn't be wrong. I have not seen such foods for hundreds of years," Hawke admits, much to everyone's shock. "What!? How have you not seen a cupcake!?" Pinkie cries out as if such a thing was a heinous crime. "There were no more bakeries in my time," Hawke answers, gently peeling the paper away from the bottom of the cupcake. "My only thoughts were of survival, rather than luxury. I suppose it would have been a simple matter to farm and produce the materials myself, but there were far more important studies to occupy my time." "That...sounds...miserable!" Pinkie whines, her bottom lip poking out. "What about cakes? Pies? Turnovers? Cookies? Brownies? Eclairs? Pastries? Doughnuts? Muffins?!" Hawke shook his head one last time, and I swear Pinkie looks like she's about to cry. She suddenly shoves the whole tray of cupcakes over to Hawke. "Eat them all! We have three thousand years of not eating sweets to make up for!" Hawke shrugs, but doesn't protest, biting into the cupcake in his hand in a proper manner. I shake my head and continue eating. It's a bit surreal to think about Hawke sitting here with the rest of us, sharing dessert. I'm glad that my talk with him seems to have had an effect. Now the only thing I have to worry about is how he'll react to Celestia when she arrives. Eventually, the day comes to an end. After finishing dessert, my friends and I start up a conversation about the different things that we'd do when the whole war is over. Hawke and Salamul pointedly stay out of the conversation, remaining silent. "I'm going to throw a party the likes of which Equestria's never seen! I'll make it as large as a whole castle! No, a whole city!" Pinkie proclaims to absolutely no one's surprise. At this point, that's one party I'd go to in a heartbeat. "I'll invite the whole country! I'll invite other countries! Worldwide party!" "I just want to go back to my animals and make sure they're okay. They must be so worried without me there to look after them," Fluttershy expresses quietly, looking more than worried herself. "Poor Angel...he gets so mad if he's not fed his favorite foods." "Trixie thinks she'll start touring again. It's been so long since her last show," Trixie decides, looking a little uncertain. "After all, the whole of Equestria must hear about our victory!" "Just make sure to keep things a little more truthful this time, sugarcube," Applejack teases her lightly. Trixie flushes and tosses a marshmallow at the farm pony...who then catches it in her mouth and eats it. "As for me, ah ain't gonna do nuthin special. Just gonna go relax with mah family in Ponyville an' take care of the farm. How 'bout you, Dash?" "Oh, Seth and I already know what we're doing!" Rainbow chimes in eagerly. She's about to continue when she notices the expressions on Applejack and Pinkie. "Both of you, stop smirking! We're just going on a trip around Equestria for a little while, to see the sights!" "Oh, how romantic! Then the both of you will be alone all you want!" Pinkie trills, causing Rainbow to blush. "That's not what I...aaagh!" Rainbow groans, causing the other ponies to laugh at her expense. "That aside, there's a lot of places in Equestria I haven't seen yet. I want to know a little more about the land I'm living in," I add on with a smile. Pinkie can tease all she wants, but I'm really looking forward to it. "I'm looking forward to some simple monster extermination missions," Swift adds, joining the conversation. "I used to wish for something serious to happen, but now I'm perfectly happy to go back to doing nothing. This is all too much." "Yeah, lucky for the rest of you. No doubt it's going to be crazy for us changelings," Pterax put in bitterly. "You guys know where our hive is now. We can't exactly hide right now without taking the whole hive and running." "Yer helpin' us now, right? We don't need to fight after this, do we?" Applejack asks in alarm. Pterax shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe not, but that doesn't mean it's not going to be busy for us. If we get recognition from the International Committee, we're going to have our work cut out for us," Pterax explains. Yeah, I guess that's true. I'm not sure what kind of role Pterax will have in it all, but Chrysalis for sure is going to be really busy. "For me too," Mist joins in softly. "I want to put the Crystal Empire back to the way it was...even if the other crystal ponies never forgive me." The room falls silent after that. Mist has it pretty tough after everything is said and done. Who knows if the other crystal ponies will accept her back? "This conversation is pointless," Hawke interjects, setting down his glass of water. All eyes turn upon him at his sudden interruption. "You are but distracting yourself from the battle to come. Should you not be spending this time preparing yourselves?" "What are you talkin' about?" Applejack questions. Hawke shakes his head in disbelief. "Your plans for the future are meaningless if you are defeated," he asserts. "You realize that you are walking into a battle where the chances of success are very slim?" "I refuse to believe that. We haven't come this far to lose now!" Rainbow snaps at Hawke, pounding the table with her hoof. Applejack and Swift nod in agreement at that point. Hawke's eyes narrow. "It does not matter how far you have come. King Sombra's plans leave very little room for error. With the addition of Seth's evolved power and the Alicorn Amulet, his strength is nigh insurmountable," Hawke tells us firmly. At this point, he's starting to sound a lot like Mist...and a lot like me, back when I nearly lost hope in Trotsdale. "Should your princesses fall, he will crush you and your army, and then you will have no future." "That's enough," I cut across Hawke before he can say anything else negative. "We know exactly what we're walking into. We know how strong he is, and what will happen if we fail." "Seth's right. We're not going to give up hope for the future just because our enemy is strong," Rainbow agrees fervently, standing up on her chair and leaning over the table. "I'm going to have faith in Seth and the princesses...they'll take down the big bad and save everyone! Just you wait!" "That's right. Ah ain't gonna give up as long as we still got each other," Applejack joins in as well. She sees how skeptical Hawke is starting to look and leans in closer. "Call us naïve if ya want. But this is what we believe. Equestria ain't never gonna fall to this Sombra. Ain't that right, everypony?" Swift, Trixie, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Pinkie all chorus in agreement at that. Hawke is quiet, his hands clasped together on top of the table. "Hm...your unity is evident, if nothing else," Hawke concedes. "I look forward to seeing if you succeed." "Where are you going?" Salamul demands when Hawke rises from the table. The warlord gets up as well, ready to intercept if necessary. "I wish to return to my cell. The hour is late, and I grow tired," Hawke answers shortly. He moves for the door without waiting for an answer, his coat flapping in the air behind him as he walks. Salamul and Mist move to follow him. "Do I need to come too?" I ask Salamul as he passes me. The warlord shakes his head tersely, so I sit back down. I guess he's okay with Hawke going back to his cell. Celestia should be here soon, and then Hawke won't pose much more of a threat. "Alright, I'll be here if you need me." There's a silence after Hawke and the others are gone. "He's...scary," Fluttershy whispers. Some of the others nod. "Aww, he's not so bad. He just really really needs a friend!" Pinkie proclaims. Right, well, good luck with that. He's probably going to be more difficult on that front than I was, and I was pretty bad myself. "He's right about one thing though," Applejack says. She yawns widely, showing the exhaustion in her face. "Ah'm tired. Thinkin' we should call it a night." "That's a good idea. The princess is getting here tomorrow, so it won't be much longer before it's time to march again," Swift agrees. The others let out various murmurs of agreement, and we all start getting up from the table. "For better or worse, it's almost over." The sound of scraping chairs fill the room as the table is abandoned in favor of more comfortable demesnes. I stretch out my limbs and yawn, starting to feel a little tired myself. Rainbow rubs against my side as she moves for the stairs. She looks back and beckons to me with a quick head motion. I smile wryly and follow her. "Good night, everyone," Fluttershy says to all of us as she retreats into her room. She's answered with reciprocating murmurs from everypony else as we all split into our separate rooms. After I take a moment to strip off all the heavy clothes I'm wearing, Rainbow and I hop into the bed together. It's funny how comfortable I've gotten laying with her like this, even though I'm wearing practically nothing. It's a nice feeling, the way her warm fur brushes up against my bare skin. "Good night, Seth," Rainbow murmurs to me tiredly, kissing me gently on the cheek. I chuckle faintly and wrap an arm around her shoulder, pressing her closer to me. "Good night, Rainbow." Wrapped once again in thick winter clothes, I stand just outside the police station, accompanied by a few other guards. Iron is here as well. Salamul would be here too, but he is inside guarding Hawke. I rub my aching eyes with one hand. I woke up pretty early, thanks to a guard coming to get me. Celestia's going to be here really soon, so It was best to get an early start. The sun is just starting to peek over the horizon, casting daylight's first rays over the town of Everwinter. From the northwest, hundreds of changelings are arriving, called here by Chrysalis. With her are the Pegasus Corps, led by Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts. From either side of us, airships steadily fly in, carrying the Equestrian and Griffon forces. According to Chrysalis, who was here not too long ago, the final assault is going to be launched from here. We don't have enough troops to surround the capital, so we're hitting it head on. Cadance, Shining Armor, and Luna have already arrived, and are coordinating the troops that arrive in preparation for the final battle. No doubt the other commanders will arrive soon. Now that our flanks are secure, there's nothing stopping us from taking the fight to Sombra. I cast my gaze upwards as I hear the fluttering of wings. Celestia herself descends from the skies and gracefully lands on the icy ground not too far from Iron and I. When her eyes alight upon us, she smiles briefly, but that expression is soon replaced with stern determination. "It's good to see the both of you," Celestia greets us, dipping her head slightly. Iron bows his head in respect as well, but I remain still. "I wish I had the time to exchange pleasantries, but we have more pressing matters to deal with. Where is the other human?" "Just inside with my brother, your Highness," Iron answers smartly. "He has proven to be rather difficult. He refuses to be confined, and renders any attempts to do so ineffective. We have settled with escorting him from place to place." "I see. Has he caused any trouble?" Celestia questions, looking troubled. Iron shakes his head wordlessly. Celestia sighs, glancing towards the police station briefly before turning her gaze to me. She gives me a small smile. "I'm glad to see that things have turned out for the best. I was worried that he might prove too tough of an opponent for you to overcome, Seth." "Oh geez, don't get me started. I was convinced that I was in hell the whole time. Have you ever been inside a volcano?" I grunt, wincing at the memory of the intense heat that I fought through. "Which then started to erupt while you were in it?" "I can't say that I have," Celestia returns, giggling a little at my words. "Nevertheless, I know that defeating him meant a lot to you. How do you think I should deal with him?" "What? You're asking me?" I reply in shock. Celestia nods solemnly. "I can't make a decision like that. You're the one who knows all about how to judge people and stuff, and I can't even handle a simple combat mission." "He is your kind, Seth. If anyone should have a say in this, it is you," she explains to me firmly. "You don't have the make the decision if you don't feel you can, but I will welcome any insight you have to share." I close my eyes and sigh. She has a point, but...I guess it'll be fine if I just tell her what I've found out from my conversations with Hawke. "He's...a difficult case. He's very similar to me, in that we had very limited independence in our lives," I try to explain as best as I can. "He's different in that his..well...the thing that kept him sane...was taken." "I see. So you believe you understand his actions," Celestia responds. I nod reluctantly. "However, he has taken direct action against Equestria. He has opposed us for a long time. While his circumstances may be tragic, we cannot ignore that it is his actions that have given Sombra this army." "Yeah...I know that. But you might have to force him to accept any judgment from you. He was very clear that he doesn't respect your authority," I explain to her. "He's been living alone for...well...he's far older than you." "Is he? Was he not transferred here in the same fashion as yourself?" Celestia questions, visibly surprised. I shake my head solemnly. Celestia looks very interested at that. "Intriguing...the only immortals that I have met have been my sister...and Discord. I suppose I can understand why he would find it difficult to accept my decisions." "You can? Then what do you intend to do?" I ask curiously. Celestia sighs, suddenly looking very serious. "This leaves me with very few options. I will attempt to speak with him and determine a course of action from there. However, if he intends to remain our enemy, I will be forced to banish him," Celestia answers. I raise an eyebrow. "You really think he would care about being exiled? He's proven that he can hide from you," I remind her. "No, Seth. I am not referring to exile. I am referring to Tartarus," Celestia answers. I freeze. I remember hearing that word several times, as a place where only the worst criminals are taken. "Short of killing him, that would be the best method of nullifying the threat." "Jesus...well, I hope it doesn't come to that," I respond. "The guy's had it pretty rough." "I hope so as well, Seth. It is not a course of action that I would ever willingly take. It is a hellish place," Celestia answers sadly. "I will do the best I can, but I make no..." Celestia suddenly cuts off as the both of us become aware of another presence in the clearing. Our heads turn to see Hawke standing just in front of the police station, having appeared from seemingly nowhere. He's staring directly at Celestia, his expression as cold and emotionless as always. "You are Celestia," Hawke addresses her directly, striding purposefully forward. Celestia turns to face him, summoning enough magic such that I can feel it, but not enough that we can see it just yet. Nevertheless, she's clearly ready to fight if she needs to. "I have heard much about you from many sources. You have made quite the name for yourself over the past two thousand years. It is high time the two of us have a chance to speak." "I agree completely. Your name is Hawke, is it not?" Celestia responds, equally as seriously. I step away, moving to stand beside Iron. I'll step in if I need to, but it looks like this is a conversation for Hawke and Celestia only. "It is. I sensed your presence immediately upon your arrival," Hawke answers. He grits his teeth. "I know you intend to pass judgment upon me like some petty prisoner of war. I will tell you now that I will not stand for it." "So I have been told," Celestia responds tactfully. At this point, I feel like Hawke is playing with fire. She can crush him easily, and everyone here knows it. I'm just not sure that he does. "What then, do you intend to gain from this conversation?" Hawke is quiet for a few seconds. He then sighs. "I do not intend to harm you, if that is your concern," he assures her. "I am here to come to an understanding between us, from one immortal to another." "I see. As for me, I am here to ensure that you do not bring harm to me or my dear ponies," Celestia returns. "You have aided King Sombra, Equestria's worst enemy. You understand that it brings me no small amount of unease to have you amongst my subjects." "King Sombra gave my life back to me. All I have done, I did to repay him," Hawke answers. "Yet, as Seth helped me to understand, I have only allowed myself to be used once more. To be honest, I find myself at a loss. I have no purpose now." "So you mean to tell me that all you have done has been out of a sense of gratitude, rather than malicious intent?" Celestia asks curiously. Hawke nods solemnly. "Hm...will you share your story with me?" "No. My tale is my own," Hawke's answer is damn quick. "I did what I did in order to get revenge on those who wronged me. I would do it again, if given the choice." Celestia's expression darkens, and I start to wonder if she really is going to send him to Tartarus. "What was your friend's name?" Celestia asks simply. Hawke's eyes widen, taken by surprise. "I can tell you are not being entirely truthful with me. Revenge is usually done for the sake of another. Am I correct?" "You are...perceptive," Hawke responds after a pause. I can tell he too is taken aback by Celestia. Without even trying, she managed to draw out the root cause of his darkness...just like she did to me. "Her name was Klara." "And do you think she would approve of the lengths to which you've gone to avenge her?" Celestia continues without missing a beat. Hawke's eyes narrow, his brow wrinkling in growing anger. "I understand your feelings, but killing those humans did nothing but lead you down the wrong path. Revenge will not bring back the dead, nor will it give you happiness. Do you not agree?" "You believe you understand? Don't presume to lecture me with your pointless pre-rehearsed admonitions, pony. I have lived far longer than..." Hawke starts to snap at her, but he doesn't get a chance to go further. "No, Hawke. You may have endured for all of the long years of your life, but you have not lived," Celestia asserts, her face set into a frown. Just that one line causes me to get chills that have nothing to do with the cold weather. Even Hawke is taken aback by that one line. "Do you truly believe that all you have done truly makes up for the tragic death of your friend?" "You..." Hawke tries to say, but he can't seem to form a coherent response. "I am very sorry for your loss...but all you have done is added more sadness to the world, in an attempt to fill that hole left by her absence," Celestia continues to berate him. "I understand how that feels. I have lost many friends over the years...and nothing can make the pain of their loss go away. But I will never lose myself to it as you have." "You want a purpose?" Celestia walks towards him determinedly. "Break free from your past. Atone for what you've done by persevering and working to make this world a better place. Settle down someplace, make friends, and live your life the way it should have been. Make your friend proud of the man you are." Hawke is quiet for a long time in the face of Celestia's words, as if thinking them over. Eventually he sighs. "You have a way with words, princess," Hawke admits, crossing his arms. Finally, he meets Celestia's gaze. "Very well. Celestia, I request to withdraw from this conflict." "What will you do?" Celestia asks. "I will give you all of the information I have concerning the Crystal Empire," Hawke answers, much to my delight. That'll make the final assault much easier if we know more about what to expect. "After that I intend to return to my home in the Crystal Mountains. You have given me much to think about. You are...not like anyone I've ever met." "Damn straight," I whisper under my breath. Hawke may have lived longer than her, but he's nowhere near as wise and experienced as she is. She's just incredible. "Very well. I welcome your assistance," Celestia agrees. "If you would meet me in the central building, I will receive your information there. I have some matters to take care of first." Hawke nods, and starts to walk away, as composed as ever despite the tongue lashing he just received. However, before he leaves the clearing, he stops, as if remembering something. He clicks his fingers, and a very familiar object forms in his hands. "Seth, this belongs to you," he says, and then he tosses it to me before I can respond. I catch the slender object in both hands, its weight taking me by surprise. In shock, I look down to see my old rifle in its standard form, looking as good as it ever has. "No fucking way," I utter, wrapping my fingers around the handle out of habit. "Goddamn, I have missed you. How did you get this out of the volcano before it erupted?" "Items bound to your magic can never be separated from you. With the right technique, it is easy to call them back to you," Hawke explains. Wait, really? I never knew that...that's really useful. Hawke surprises me further by forming Vanta's scythe once more. "Nor can they truly break. They will eventually reform themselves, given enough time." To test his theory, I pass the rifle to my other hand and open my newly freed hand. Sure enough, with a little focus, my sword reappears there, looking as good as new. Holy shit, I learn more about this magic every day. "Now, if you'll excuse me," Hawke says, and then his body dissolves into smoke, eerily streaking through the streets and out of sight. Now, it's just Celestia, Iron, and I in the clearing...not counting the other soldiers. "You sure it's a good idea to let him go? What if he goes back to Sombra?" I ask Celestia once Hawke is out of view. "I do not think he will. You were right about him. There is pain in those eyes, even if he hides it very well," Celestia answers me. You know, just once I wish I could see the world through her eyes. She always seems to know just the right things to say or do. "However, I am not without caution. I will devise a way to keep an eye on him, despite his ability to hide himself." "That's good," I reply, even though I have no idea how to remotely spy on someone who can hide himself so well. I guess I should just trust her. Celestia has never steered us wrong before and...wow, I think this is the first time I've had so much faith in one pony. This country couldn't have a better ruler. "So what's the plan? I know we're all forming up here for the attack, but when should I get ready? What's my role?" "You will receive your assignment once I have gathered as much information as possible on the capital's defenses. At the least, I can tell you that I intend to keep you away from the front lines as much as possible. I need you at full power for the fight against King Sombra," Celestia answers me. She then turns and gives me a warm smile, as if she can tell how nervous I am about the battle to come. "We will not be marching for several hours at the least. Get some rest and spend time with your friends." "That's an order I can get behind," I respond wryly. I move to stand beside Celestia, crossing my arms. I heave a sigh as I stare up at the sky. "I guess it's almost over, huh?" "Are you nervous?" Celestia asks softly, brushing her side up against me. I let out an incredulous scoff at that. That should have been self-evident. Still, if anypony understands how I feel right now, it's Celestia. "Terrified. I mean, to be honest, your power scares me, and he's even stronger than you," I admit to her. "I don't know if we'll all get out of this in one piece." "Sombra is indeed strong, but I am confident we will succeed," Celestia assures me. "Just do your best and remember what you are fighting to protect. Stay strong, Seth. Have faith in your friends, just as I have faith in you." "Thanks," is all I can say in response. Honestly, her words do help, but I can't shake this feeling of unease. I know just who I'm going to be fighting: King Sombra...the strongest magical being I've ever seen. After a silence, I sigh and step away. "Alright, I'm going to take your advice and get some more sleep. I'll be ready by the time we march." "Alright. Sleep well. You and I will need all the rest we can get," Celestia responds. She leans her nose forward and gently nuzzles my cheek. I awkwardly attempt to reciprocate, though I'm sure that I messed up. Celestia chuckles, but clearly appreciates the effort. She steps away and lets me go, turning the other way herself. No doubt she has much more important things to take care of. I take my leave of her not long after that. My feet crunch on the icy ground as I make my way back to the house. I look up at the sky. It's still early...but I haven't really had a good night's sleep since this whole war began. Today's no exception, considering it's barely past dawn. I really need some rest. I heave a sigh, noticing the airships flying in. I'm looking forward to seeing the others. My breath catches in my throat as I near my house. I don't know how in the hell I'll be able to sleep now, knowing what's in store for me. This really is it, isn't it? Only a matter of hours before we're marching on the empire...where the final battle awaits.

Tales of the Oppressed

127. March on the Crystal Empire

The sun rises high above the frozen hills surrounding the Crystal Empire, shedding its rays upon the glistening snow drifts. In the distance, the twisted and blackened spires of what used to be beautiful crystal buildings are clearly visible, towering over the surrounding landscapes. Any grass that used to be there has long since died away, to be replaced with by sick, blackened ground. It's as if Sombra's magic tainted the very land around the city. I, along with the rest of my team, am standing atop a large hill. From here, we can see the whole city, as well as the imposing black walls that have been erected around its perimeter. Even all the way over here, I can tell that the city is teeming with a massive amount of undead, consisting of Oppressed and other undead of multiple species; such as wolves, manticores, and normal ponies. I even see the occasional Mega Oppressed prowling among their ranks. We have our work cut out for us. The entirety of the Equestrian forces are situated around me. They are arranged into orderly ranks, with the unicorns and earth ponies forming the bulk of the army. At the head of the First Regiment, near where I'm positioned, Shining Armor and Cadance are standing, each of them armored and ready for battle. Pinkie is here as well, wielding a variety of ridiculous weapons that don't make a lick a sense...as per usual. Blades and Rose are with the Second Division on the leftmost flank of our army, accompanied by Princess Luna, Mist, and Twilight. All of them are fully armored in preparation for the hard battle to come, determined expressions stamped on their faces. Luna is wielding her sickle sword, spinning the lethal weapon occasionally to test its balance. Flying high in the air above us are the Griffon and Equestrian airships, teeming with griffon technicians. The cannons of the armored airships are extended, armed, and manned by griffons. I can tell that anything on the receiving end of a volley from a broadside by one of those things won't last for very long. Gilded Skies has his own fleet of airships. Surprisingly, despite the fact that he isn't military and therefore not obligated to help us, he's here as well with everything he has. The ballistae are oiled and loaded, and Gilded Skies himself is at the wheel of the flagship with his crossbow close beside him. Spitfire and the Wonderbolts are flying in the air at the head of the Pegasus Corps, along with Gale and the Stealth Corps. Hundreds of pegasi fly in the air around us, the sound of their wings filling the air. Formed up on the right flank of our army are the Bleak Island forces, led by Warlords Salamul and Iron. Even Crimson is amongst them, wielding a hammer in one of her hooves. Considering my proximity to the right flank, they're actually not that far away from us. Lastly, arrayed behind the Equestrian forces in orderly ranks is the changeling horde, consisting of hundreds upon hundreds of drones and infiltrators. Chrysalis herself is flying in the air high above them, her jaw set with determination and her eyes fixed upon the city ahead. Princess Celestia stands at the head of the army, fully suited up in her red and golden armor and wielding her shield and sword. Standing beside her is a soldier carrying the Equestrian flag, which waves proudly in the breeze, raising the morale of all who gaze upon it. The princess stares grimly at the Crystal Empire. Once, the Crystal Tower used to be a beautiful building, the highlight of a once glorious empire. But now, it looks nothing like it used to. Gone are the serene crystalline colors and smooth angles, to be replaced with sick and twisted black crystal. The edges are jagged and sharp like a guillotine, and its spires jutting up into the air like twisted pikes, their tops burning with a sickly purple fire. The spire itself shoots up into the air like a pillar of darkness, widening out into a platform up top. Dark clouds swirl around the top of the tower, covering the land in darkness. Lightning flashes from within the clouds, causing faint thunder to peal through the air. If King Sombra's going to be anywhere, it's up there. I can just feel it. Celestia turns around, meeting the eyes of each and every one of her soldiers assembled before her. This is the final battle, and everypony knows it. "My dear and most loyal subjects," Celestia begins, somehow projecting her voice loud enough so that the whole army can hear it. I can hear her loud and clear even from where I'm standing. "Sombra, usurper king of the Crystal Empire, lies in wait ahead. He and his army of undead pose the greatest threat to Equestria; greater than any crisis that we have ever faced before." Celestia starts to stride purposefully past the ranks of the Equestrian forces so that it seems like she's addressing each one of us individually. "I know how you all must be feeling. These creatures are unlike anything that you have ever faced. You have trained to fight monsters and to keep Equestria safe, but never did you expect to handle a threat of this nature. I understand," Celestia assures them all. "That is why King Sombra takes us lightly; he believes that because we value peace, harmony, and friendship above all else, he can brush us aside as though we pose no threat to him. He has not taken Equestria seriously from the moment he set hoof in our time!" Around me, I can hear the sounds of the soldiers' ire rising. The different ponies are snorting and pounding their weapons against the ground. Even I am a little angry; I feel Celestia has nailed Sombra's thoughts exactly. While we were fighting to save our home, he has been holding goddamn banquets and other frivolous shit, as if we didn't even matter. I open my hand, allowing my sword to materialize and fall into my grasp. I waste no time in allowing my magic to course through it, turning the blade to emerald. "This complacency will be his downfall! No matter our ideals, we are willing to stand up and fight for the sake of the peace that we have fought so hard to maintain for hundreds of years! It matters not what manner of creatures attempt to keep us from this goal...we will not stop until the land is safe once more!" Celestia continues, her eyes narrowing. She gives a smile after that. "I am proud of each and every one of you for coming this far with me. In our fight to keep Equestria free from those who would oppress it, we have lost friends...loved ones...family members. We all feel the pain of these losses. Hold them close to your hearts, everypony, and remember just what it is we are fighting for." "Will you let King Sombra inflict the pain we have felt upon other innocent ponies? Will you let the sacrifices of all of those ponies that have fallen so far be in vain?" Celestia calls out to the allied forces. From the ponies surrounding us, a chorus of angry shouts and cries rise up. Her words make me think about those that have died in the fight against Sombra. My family...Amaryllis...Maka...the human race...this is the one thing that I can still do for them. With that in mind, I can't help but shout out myself, my blood starting to boil. "Come with me, ponies of Equestria! Come with me, Griffons of Griffonstone! Come with me, soldiers of Bleak Island! Come with me, changelings! Come with me, Seth Rogers!" Chills run down my spine as Celestia utters my name personally, turning to gaze directly at me. Lastly, she regards her army one more time. "Come with me, my dear friends. Let us bring peace to Equestria once and for all...and freedom to all those King Sombra has enslaved! For Equestria!" Without another word, Celestia turns around and breaks into a gallop, heading directly for the Crystal Empire. Her horn lights up with a bright golden light, and with an almighty crash, a colossal beam of powerful magic blows a hole in the black gates of the capital. With a rousing battle cry, the front ranks of the army start their final charge. I break into a run myself, forming my rifle into a pistol form in my remaining hand. Beside me is Rainbow Dash and Applejack, each one of them easily keeping up with the front lines. Pterax and Trixie are just behind us, as well as Swift. "I didn't realize I was suddenly your friend, princess," Chrysalis spits from her position in the air above us. She shakes her head in exasperation, and then she grins wolfishly. "You certainly talk a good game, though, I'll give you that. Let's go, my changelings. Let's show these ponies what we're really capable of." The air fills with the sound of buzzing insectoid wings as the entire changeling horde lifts off of the ground and takes to the skies alongside the pegasus corps. There are so many of them that they form a black cloud of swarming changelings that seemingly block out the sun. "Open fire!" Gilded Skies roars out from above. Ballista bolts fire from the Equestrian airships repeatedly, raining down into the ranks of undead that are now streaming out of the hole in the wall. Not long after their assault begins, Zythe's voice cracks out like a whip, and the sound of booming cannons fills the air. The fleet of airships advances on the city, firing relentlessly into the enemy. The undead are mobilizing now, forming themselves up into organized ranks as well and flowing across the plains like the tide. From the city itself, trebuchets located on the ramparts and on some of the buildings inside unload volleys of flaming boulders over at our lines. One of the Equestrian airships is hit head on by a boulder, tearing it right in half and detonating the engine. I can see the Oppressed and the other normal undead getting closer and closer. We're on the front lines, so it's me that's going to meet them first, along with the ponies on either side of me. I lift my left hand and squeeze the trigger of my pistol, firing several shots into the enemy ranks. My shots dissipate harmlessly against any Oppressed they hit, but any normal undead are obliterated when the crystalline bullets explode violently with magic and shrapnel, tearing their bodies apart. Above us, the pegasi and changelings fire down upon the enemy with arrows and beams of emerald magic. Chrysalis herself charges ahead, meeting the enemy head on and plowing them aside like a bulldozer. The whole time, she's laughing happily. "Come to me, wretched creatures! Let the Queen of the Changelings show you her true power!" Chrysalis taunts, tearing an Oppressed limb from limb with her bare hooves. With a yell, our lines reach the undead. I let my pistol disappear and duck underneath the first rank of undead as they leap towards us. Holding the hilt of my blade tightly, I cut through a whole line of them, using my magic to boost my movement speed and momentum. Now that I've mastered the ability, it's easy to weave around the undead's attacks and slice them to pieces. Shining Armor and Cadance soon join me, laying waste with their weapons and magical prowess. Shining Armor's bardiche dances in and out of the enemy like a deadly hornet, prioritizing the Oppressed. Any normal undead that get too close to the captain are incinerated by Cadance's powerful magic. Applejack and Rainbow tear into the enemy themselves, letting out cries of their own as they lay flat any undead in their way with their powerful hooves. Together, the two of them easily intercept an undead manticore and beat it into submission with their superior speed. "Let's see if ah kin take down more o' these varmints than you, Rainbow Dash!" Applejack challenges her friend as the two fight side by side. "Oh, you're so on!" Rainbow shoots back with a grin. Behind them, Swift Lance and Trixie wade into the fray themselves. "Watch my back, Trixie. If your illusions can help keep the enemy off of my flank, I'll be very grateful," Swift requests. She grunts and points her lance forward, halting a large undead pony's assault by using its own momentum against it. "Trixie will protect you; have no fear!" Trixie proclaims. With her illusions, she distracts the undead by forming false images of herself and several soldiers around her. This causes the undead to flail harmlessly at the images and allow the other soldiers and I to mop them up without much trouble at all. "I'll fight with you," Pterax says from his position beside me. He transforms into another version of me and unsheathes a sword similar to mine. He envelops the sword in his own sickly green magic, and then the two of us slice into the enemy, fighting side by side to deadly effect. Despite the sheer amount of undead pouring out of the gates, we're killing them faster them they can emerge. With all of us fighting together, we're slowly but surely pushing them back towards the gates. Celestia is at the front of the battle, annihilating anything to stand in her way. Not even the Oppressed are a match for her; a single punch from her hooves causes their entire bodies to buckle inwards. "Remember the plan, Rogers!" Shining Armor reminds me as he and I work together to take down a particularly nasty wave of Oppressed, supplemented by wolves. More often than not, I find his barriers helping to keep the undead from latching onto me. If they're not Oppressed, they can't harm me, but they can immobilize me, and that would spell the end for me. "As soon as we reach the walls, get moving!" "I haven't forgotten," I grunt in response. I hold out my free hand and reform my sword into a set of large shurikens, a new weapon that I've learned to make since the last time I was in battle. Using my magic to control them, I send them both out into the enemy lines. Even the Oppressed are eviscerated by the very physical objects. I'm taking a page out of Twilight's book. I remember how I was told that she helped fight Shatter with magic propelled rocks...and the shurikens here are using the same concept. "Stay close to me, team! It's about time for us to split off!" "Understood, commander!" Swift responds. "You got it, sugarcube!" Applejack chimes in as well. My team forms up around me not long after that. Supported by the soldiers around us as well as the Islanders attacking from the right flank, we're practically unstoppable. As our forces near the wall, we start to put the plan in motion. I hear an explosion from the left flank that shakes the ground, letting me know that Luna has destroyed the wall on her side, making two holes in the enemy defenses. "My turn," I grunt. Pterax and Swift move in to cover me as I call back my shurikens and dismiss them, replacing them with a new form of my rifle. The weapon thickens and elongates into the unmistakeable form of a rocket launcher. I rest it on my shoulder and aim briefly down the scope just long enough to ensure that the wall is firmly within my sights. "Take this, motherfuckers!" The rocket launcher roars to life and fires a green crystalline rocket that trails behind a plume of white smoke. The backdraft scatters the earth behind me as I fire it. Damn, I need to be careful firing this around my allies. The rocket soars through the air in a spiral pattern, zooming over the heads of undead and soldiers alike. It slams into the wall a moment later and blows a huge hole it in, sending pieces of black stone raining down into the twisted black streets of the capital. Cracks spider away from the hole, and eventually the whole thing comes down, leaving a huge opening for our forces to exploit. "Good job, Roge...oh ponyfeathers," Shining Armor starts to compliment me, but then he looks beyond the hole to see a Mega Oppressed climbing over the rubble and shoving its way through its undead allies. "Incoming! Spread out and surround it! Don't let it break our formation!" "Son of a bitch," I curse, reforming my shurikens and letting the rocket launcher disappear. I look around at my team. "You heard him...spread out so it can't charge us as effectively!" Just as my team starts to do as I commanded, the Mega Oppressed charges, roaring loudly and clenching its thick hands into fists. Our soldiers attempt to meet it, but it bowls them aside easily, laying several of them low. Before it can go any further, Shining Armor and I are there. Shining Armor hurls his bardiche and slams a powerful barrier against one side of the weapon to propel it right into the monster's torso, impaling it. Despite that, the monster keeps coming. I step ahead and hurl my shurikens at it one at a time, using as much magic as I can get away with to keep the Mega Oppressed at bay. At first it seems to be working, as the shurikens cut deeply into its skin and hold it back. However, after each hit, it takes a step forward, pushing forward against the assault. Just as it's about to reach me, a deafening boom fills the air, and the entire right arm of the monster is blown clean off by a steel cannonball. "Indestructible my tail! Nothing stands up after a round of griffon cannons!" Zythe boasts from the top of his flagship. He grins viciously and hurls a javelin down at the undead, skewering one of the Oppressed. "Let em' have it, griffons!" The flagships's cannons roar to life, obliterating the Mega Oppressed in a few well placed shots, leaving our path open. Now that the path is clear, our forces surge forward towards the hole in the wall. "Get going, Rogers! You know what you have to do," Shining Armor orders me, retrieving his bardiche and wading back into the fray. "Cadance and I will support the right flank with the Islanders!" "You got it. Let's go everypony!" I call to my team. Applejack, Rainbow, and the others nod and trail after me as I leap over the bodies of fallen Oppressed and infiltrate the city. I look around cautiously, my feet clicking on the black crystalline streets. It feels surreal to be inside the city now that it's been transformed. At the same time, it disgusts me, because I know how beautiful it used to look. "Stick to the ground, everypony. Don't fly too high, or you'll just come hurtling back down." "Ugh, these defenses are a pain," Rainbow complains, landing on the street. She gazes up at the skies, where the dark clouds are slowly rotating about the spire of the tower. As revealed by Hawke, Sombra has an airborne defense system to keep anyone from approaching the tower from the air, in the form of high speed winds. No, the only way to reach the top of the tower is from within. I lead my team through the streets, cutting around the right side of the main conflict. Behind us are a separate division of soldiers that have been assigned to my command for the time being. With them behind us, we move as far as we can towards the Crystal Tower. It isn't long before we meet heavy resistance. Undead swarm out from the gaps between buildings, breaking away from the main horde in an attempt to keep them from being flanked. Whoever is controlling the undead seems to have a good measure of tactics. "Here they come!" I alert the soldiers following us. A chorus of acknowledgment rises from their ranks not long after that. Thus assured, I clench my hands around the grip of my sword and charge right into the enemy lines. With my new magical prowess, I dash through them like a whirlwind, carving up any enemy in my way. I work from within to disrupt their ranks and create gaps for my team and the other soldiers to exploit. I grin and tear an Oppressed to pieces by running around it in a circle. It's attacks seem sluggish and predictable compared to before, and as such it doesn't even pose a slight threat to me. Immune to magic they may be, but it doesn't mean anything if they can't hit me. Together, we deal so much damage that the undead are forced to send more and more of their troops to intercept us, exactly as we'd planned. With Luna and the Second Division's efforts on the left flank, we're forcing the undead to spread out and battle us on our terms. We're essentially using their own walls against them and taking away their advantage in clustered groups. "There's just so darn many of 'em!" Applejack exclaims, narrowly dodging the attacks of a minotaur and its Oppressed followers. She bucks one of the Oppressed backwards into the undead ranks, knocking several of them over. Seconds later, she's forced to throw herself to the side to avoid the minotaur's fist, which cracks the street right in the spot where she used to be. I curse under my breath, realizing that she's right. I can't let the enemy hold us here, otherwise I'll be too drained of magic to fight Sombra when the time comes. Moving through the battlefield with ease, I zip through the enemy and target any undead that are pressuring my soldiers. I make sure to use as little magic as I can get away with, using it only to boost my speed. "What about the airships? Can we get some air support?" Trixie demands, her horn glowing bright blue as she struggles to maintain the illusions protecting us. "They can't come into the city, or they'll be pushed around by the winds!" Swift responds, as she's the closest to the blue unicorn. She's right too. Even if their sturdier ships can withstand the wind, it'll be impossible to fire accurately, which would raise the risk of friendly fire. "This is so annoying! Quit trying, I'll just beat you!" Rainbow groans. She's flying circles around a group of undead predators such as manticores, wolves, and tigers, laying flat any of them that leave themselves open. However, she eventually makes a misjudgment, giving one of them an opening to counterattack. Despite a last minute dodge, Rainbow winces as one of the tigers rakes its claws down her side, scratching her painfully. "Yowch!" "Careful, idiot! Be patient and don't get yourself hurt, or I swear to god I'll kill you!" I snap at her. Forming my sword into a chain knife, I flick my wrist and wrap the chain around the offending tiger. The knife cuts deeply into the tiger's belly, anchoring itself there. With the tiger attached to that end, I swing the chain around in a vicious arc, knocking over a swath of undead unlucky enough to take a hit from the tiger or the chain itself. "Oh, calm down. It's just a scratch! I'm fine!" Rainbow retorts, shrugging off the injury and re-entering the fray. I do notice that she is being a little more cautious now. "Where's my illusions, Trixie?" "Trixie is doing the best she can!" Trixie whines, wiping the sweat away from her brow. Keeping illusions up for the front lines is clearly tiring her out. "She is not sure she can keep this up!" "Don't tire yourself out! If you need to take a rest, do it! We'll manage!" I tell her fervently, zooming past her in time to dispatch the undead unicorns menacing her. Trixie nods and lets some of the illusions dissipate. She lets out a sigh of relief now that she's not expending so much power at once. Despite the amount of undead opposing us, our superior tactics and strength are starting to show. As we fight, we're steadily moving forward. None of the enemy prove capable enough to push past my team's excellent defense. Even as outnumbered as we are, we synergize so well together that it's difficult for the enemies to get close. With the addition of the soldiers supporting us, we're slowly making progress. All around us, the sounds of battle can be heard. Multicolored explosions of magic rock the city and rise above the buildings, to the point where even we can see them. The most visible ones are the white gold of Celestia, the starry black of Luna, and the sickly green of Chrysalis. In addition, lightning strikes down from the heavens towards the streets on our left, where Salamul and Iron are destroying anything in their way without much trouble at all. As for us, we're now in the region of the city where Applejack and I once walked through in search of information. "We've got incoming, Seth! Two big guys, coming in from ahead!" Rainbow warns us with a panicked tone, zooming away from the enemy lines. I immediately look ahead to see two Mega Oppressed barreling through the undead lines to reach us, their roars audible even over the sounds of combat. "What do we do?" "Everypony spread out! Surround them and work together! Remember, no magic!" I call out to the other soldiers. I immediately flip out of the way of the first Mega to reach us. With my new speed, it's much easier to anticipate its moves...which means... "Focus on the second one! This one is mine!" Remembering what I saw of Iron and Salamul, I tempt the monster into attacking me directly with its fists. The monster's fists slam into the crystalline ground, but I'm not there anymore. I'm running alongside the monster's legs, slicing into them with my blade. The monster whirls to counterattack, but it simply can't keep up with me anymore. As the astonished soldiers nearby watch, I dash around the Mega Oppressed's body. My blade strikes out again and again in a deadly dance of emerald, tearing the tendons in its legs until they physically can't support its weight anymore. The Mega Oppressed roars loudly and topples over, giving me room to leap onto its back and stab its head and torso repeatedly. Eventually, the monster's body can't take anymore and it falls limp, its body a mangled mess. With a grunt, I hop off of the monster's back and into the fray once more. Holy shit, I can't believe I just took one of those things down on my own. It wasn't elegant, but it got the job done. Over on the other side of the field, the rest of my team as well as several soldiers have surrounded the second Mega Oppressed and are taking it slower, baiting the monster's attacks and retaliating from its blind spot. Their individual attacks aren't doing much of anything, but they're slowly wearing the monster down. Once the Mega is distracted with Applejack and Swift, Pterax transforms into a powerful grizzly bear and attacks the monster from behind. Wielding a sword in one paw, he uses all of that extra strength and mass to bring down the weapon on the Oppressed's left arm, chopping right through it. Without its arm, the soldiers move in on that side and step up their attacks, aiming for the legs and torso now. With Pterax's help, it isn't long before that Mega Oppressed falls as well, taken down by the combined efforts of my team and the soldiers. With their absence, our group is given enough room to push forward down the street. The Crystal Tower is just ahead, several meters forward. If we can break through this line of undead, we can rush right there and set up a defensive position while we wait for Celestia and the others to get there. "Almost...almost...!" I grunt, carving through an Oppressed that lunges at me. There's a gap ahead of me, so I press my advantage, taking to the air and keeping low. If I can get around their lines and hit them from behind, we can crush them between us. Just as I start to reach the other side, I hear Applejack cry out from behind me. "Seth, watch out!" That's the only warning I get before something slams right into me, completely halting my momentum. I cry out in pain as hooves latch around me, one of them hammering into my face and completely cutting through my magical protection as if it isn't even there. My eyes narrow. That only means one thing. Rallying my magic, I tussle with the limber pegasus pony that is no doubt General Silent Shatter, one of our most fearsome enemies due to his ability to negate all magic. I grab onto his next hoof before he can hit me again, and then I lash out with my free hand, managing to catch the general on his cheek. The two of us hurtle backwards through the air, refusing to let go of one another. Shatter's one visible crimson eye glares into mine, determination evident in his gaze. With a grunt, he lifts up a hind hoof and kicks me in the stomach, winding me and giving him an opportunity and lever me into a building. The crystal shatters beneath the impact and I'm sent into the upper floor of some poor pony's house. Shatter flies in the air above the hole, staring down at me with his lips curled into a sneer. I can't help but notice that the degradation of his body seems to be more extensive than before. The dead and furless skin now stretches down the left side of his neck. "You won't get farther than here, human," Shatter hisses at me, raising his hooves in a combat stance. "There will be no mistakes this time. Here, you die." "Not this time, you son of a bitch," I snap at him, despite the fact that I'm very worried now that he's here. I'm nowhere near as good a fighter as he is, and I'm told he fought off Blades, Rose, and Twilight all at the same time. However, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I immediately whip out my sword and reform it into double shurikens. Shatter immediately understands the threat behind my new weapon and lithely twists his body to narrowly avoid the shurikens as I throw them one at a time at him. He lets out a mocking laugh as they both miss him...but he cuts off as I twist my arm back and bring the shurikens flying right back towards me...and he's right in their path. "Annoying," Shatter grunts, turning his body to face the oncoming weapons. With his metal braces, he fends the weapons off one at a time, giving me the opening I need. Seizing the opportunity, I leap up out of the building and grab hold of his neck, carrying him across the air. I keep going until I ram him into a building on the other side of the street. The general isn't idle for long. The moment he hits the building, he grunts in pain and twists up his hind legs, levering them both into my chin and knocking me to the street behind the undead lines. "Not bad...you've learned a few new tricks," Shatter compliments me in that silky smooth voice of his. Goddammit, he's still acting smug. "But you won't hit me like that again." Right after Shatter finishes speaking, beams of magic shoot up from the ground from the Equestrian forces. Some of them are from Trixie and Swift, judging from the color. However, none of them even leave a mark. The magic splashes across his skin like water, leaving him completely unharmed. Shatter's grin grows. "Don't waste your magic! You can't hurt him with it!" I call down to the ponies...but that one moment of distraction gives Shatter enough time to unleash a furious assault of punches on me. One barrels into my jaw, and another hits my gut, almost causing me to double over. By the third attack, I get my shit straight and boost my movement speed once more. With it, I weave in and out of his attacks with some difficulty until I see an opening. I immediately seize it and attack him head on with furious punches as well, but he's just as fast as I am. His grin never disappears as he easily dodges my attacks. Shatter catches one of my attacks on his cannon bone and redirects my fist, giving him room to slip in and ram his shoulder into my chest. He doesn't let up. I gasp and choke as he continues his attack, raining punches on my stomach and chest. "You're still not good enough!" Shatter berates me in that condescending tone of his. He grasps my arm and hurls me right across the street into another building, my body breaking its supports and causing the whole thing to collapse down on me. "Goddamn," I curse under my breath, bursting out of the rubble and checking myself. I'm still mostly fine, but if I can't land any hits on him, it won't matter. I reform my shurikens and send them both at him, using my magic to control them in a never ending rain of attacks. "Useless!" Shatter scoffs, using his braces to fend them off as before. It's like trying to hit smoke. His body twists around in ways that don't seem possible to dodge any shurikens I send at him, and those that he can't dodge, he just blocks with those braces of his. "Don't tell me this is all you've learned since...wha!?" Shatter has to immediately distance himself from me in order to avoid Swift's lance as it soars through the air where he used to be. I turn my head to see that my team has broken through the enemy lines and is now moving to support me. Swift curses and takes out a javelin from where it's hooked into the other side of her armor. "He's not alone this time, buster!" Rainbow yells, zooming through the air to meet Shatter in combat. Shatter scowls and doesn't hesitate, easily avoiding Rainbow's attack and bringing both forehooves upwards...only for them to pass right through Rainbow's image. "Wait, wha...?" is all Shatter has time to say before the real Rainbow knocks Shatter to the ground with a somersault kick. On the ground, Trixie grins and flips back her mane egotistically, her horn shining with her unique magic. "Let's do this, Seth! Leave the undead to the soldiers...this is the real threat!" Pterax says he flies past me in his original form. I nod, and together the three of us rush to assault Shatter all at once. Shatter leaps to his feet and meets us without hesitation. When I reach him first, he weaves around my punches and knocks me away with his hoof just in time to fend off Pterax and Rainbow's attacks. Shatter easily avoids their punches and kicks, dealing out heavy punishing blows to both of them whenever he sees the opportunity. I grunt in frustration, joining the assault once more. Even with the three of us here, how can we not land a single hit on him? I've said this before, but it's like trying to catch smoke. "Now, allow Trixie to help!" Trixie announces, her horn lighting up again. Shatter hears her and knocks the three of us away by spinning in midair, all four of his hooves lashing out at once. I rub my aching jaw and curse, chasing him. Shatter flies up and around us, heading right for Trixie. Thankfully, Applejack is there to protect her. "Oh no ya don't!" Applejack retorts, lashing out with her two hind legs. Shatter rolls his eyes, easily moving around the attack and tripping her up with a forehoof, causing the farm pony to land on her belly hard. "Oof!" "Stay away from...aah!" Trixie cries out in pain as Shatter reaches her next, his hooves ramming in her face and shoulders. Her spells are disrupted as she's sent skidding across the street due to Shatter hurling her away. She slams into a building and groans in agony. "What does it take to stop you!?" Rainbow yells in frustration, meeting Shatter head on once more. The general's smirk returns and he redirects Rainbow's punches, knocking her right to the ground with a hard punch to the top of her head. "Gah!" Pterax and I reach him at the same time, but Shatter is more than ready for us. He blocks a punch from Pterax on one of his braces and easily does the same to me with his remaining hoof. However, Shatter soon notices that I don't have my sword. He moves back the second I move my knee up, a shuriken attached to the join. Luckily, the tip of the shuriken skids across one of his legs, drawing blood. "Ggh! Annoying," Shatter grunts, retreating from us and landing on the crystalline street a few meters away from us. We land on the ground not too far from him. I'm still fine as far as fatigue goes, but I can see a few of the others panting. Shatter's one of the worst opponents we could have possibly run into...and judging from that necklace he's wearing, there's a very good chance that even if we do outsmart him, he'll just retreat to the tower. "He's tough," Pterax grunts, watching Shatter closely for signs of another offensive. Swift is over with Trixie, helping the poor unicorn get back on her hooves. "Even with all of us, we can't hit him," Rainbow pants, disbelief evident in his voice. "How is he so good?" "We've got to defeat him. We can't be held here," I express determinedly. The Crystal Tower is so close, but with Shatter here, we'll never reach it. Where's Celestia or Chrysalis? We really need their help right now. "We've just got to keep trying. He'll slip up eventually." "I think not," Shatter responds, looking as confident as ever. He takes a moment to inspect his leg where I cut him. Unfortunately, I can see that it's a shallow wound. It won't do much other than annoy him. "Foals such as you should stick to less violent pursuits and leave the fighting to your superiors. Perhaps, if you surrender now, King Sombra will find a use for you in the mines." "Yeah, right. I'm going to beat you down and then take him down next," I snap at the general, cracking my knuckles. "That's right! You're toast, buddy!" Rainbow yells back at the general. Shatter reacts by bursting out into incredulous laughter. "You? Take down Sombra? When you can't even land a hit on me? What a joke." Shatter retorts, running a hoof through his mane. From here, I can see the eerie red glow of his dead eye from under his mane. He sighs, as if tired of this whole thing. He starts to walk towards one of the nearby buildings...which looks a little familiar to me for some reason. "I grow tired of this. I want to see your eyes as your last hopes are extinguished." "What are you...?" I try to ask, but then, just as Shatter slams open the door of the house, I recognize whose house that is. A squeak of fright sounds from inside, and my blood runs cold. "Don't! Stay away from them!" Shatter emerges from the house carrying a very familiar crying crystal pony filly in one of his legs. He lifts up his other hoof, and a sharp dagger shoots out from one of his bracers, extending dangerously close to the poor filly's neck. "Now then...wouldn't you like to see me kill this poor filly? I think it would be fun, to see your faces when her life ebbs dry in front of you. What do you think?" Clutched in Shatter's arms is none other than Amber, the frightened filly that Applejack and I encountered here not too long ago. And he's going to kill her unless one of us does something fast.

Tales of the Oppressed

128. Final Resolve

All around us, the Equestrian soldiers are still fighting hard, thankfully keeping the undead from approaching us and getting in the middle of the situation currently unfolding. Goddammit, I should have thought of something like this! There was never any guarantee that Sombra would do the smart thing and pull out all the civilians. In fact, why did I think that there wouldn't be any of the crystal ponies around? "P-Please don't...hurt me! Please!" Amber cries helplessly, squirming in Shatters grip. Next to me, the other members of my team are stock still as well, helpless to do anything, lest he kill the filly. It's even a filly that I know...making this ten times more painful for me. I can't even imagine how Applejack is feeling right now. Amber squeaks again as Shatter brings the blade closer to her throat. "Eep!" "Put my sister down!" Rubella shrieks, galloping out of the house. She looks as drab and lifeless as she did the first time we met her, as does Amber. Her expression is one of desperation and fear for her younger sister's life. Bravely, she lunges at Shatter, but he easily maneuvers out of the way and kicks her to the ground viciously. "No! Please, general!" "Keep quiet, slave. You should be grateful that it was your sister that I chose to take instead of you. Praise your luck and run, and maybe I won't kill you next," Shatter scolds Rubella harshly. Rubella starts to sob helplessly, knowing that she can't do anything to save her sister. "That's just...put her down, you twisted ass! You can fight us head on, can't you? Why do you need to bring in ponies that have nothing to do with this!?" I demand furiously, taking a step forward. Shatter, brings the blade up against Amber, making her cry out in terror. I freeze, cursing Shatter with every breath. "Of course I can. It would be easy...but considering how special everypony else seems to think you are, I want to have a little fun with you," Shatter answers, shrugging. Even as I grit my teeth with rage, I notice Applejack next to me, standing stock still, as if in shock. Her eyes are wide and fixed on Rubella and Amber, unable to look away. "I wonder how long you'll be willing to fight once I cut this little filly's throat? There's nothing I'd like more than to see you scream in despair about all the ponies you can't save." Applejack starts to shake next to me, her teeth grinding together audibly. She grows even more and more unsettled with every word Shatter says. I'm hardly paying attention though; my mind is running through scenario after scenario, trying to find a way to save Amber and take down Shatter at the same time. No matter how hard I try, I can't come up with anything. He's just too good. "Dammit!" I yell, slamming my fist against a wall, almost shattering it. "Don't do it, Shatter! Leave her alone!" "I think not...already your expression is absolutely thrilling," Shatter responds, his grin widening at my rage. He brings the blade closer, the tip scratching against the crying Amber's neck, drawing blood. "Now, say goodbye to this precious little...wha..!" I don't even know what just happened. One second Shatter is about to cut Amber's throat...and then suddenly Applejack has vanished from next to me. Now, she's several meters ahead, holding Amber with one hoof, while Shatter is down on the ground, nursing his jaw. "Ah've had it!" Applejack shouts, sounding angrier than I've ever heard her. "How did...?" Shatter stammers, gaping at how incredibly fast Applejack had just moved to reach him. His astonishment fades away, to be replaced by anger. He rises to his hooves, glaring at Applejack. "Now you've done it, little pony. I'm going to kill you first." "Go back to yer sister, Amber, and don't y'all worry 'bout a thing. Ah'll keep y'all safe...ah promise," Applejack says softly to Amber, lowering her to the ground. The filly nods thankfully, rushing back to the crying Rubella and tearfully uniting with her. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" Rubella sobs, hugging her sister closely and gazing gratefully at Applejack. "She did it! Come on, let's take him down!" I assert, stepping forward. However, Applejack's voice cracks through the air like a whip, causing me to freeze in place. "Don't y'all take another step, ya hear? Ah've gotta bone ta pick with this one," Applejack snaps at us all. Applejack glares at Shatter and cracks her neck and hooves threateningly. My eyes widen when I hear that she basically wants to fight Shatter by herself. "Are you crazy!?" I demand, but Applejack and Shatter are already moving to attack one another. "Stop! You can't take him on your own!" Shatter and Applejack meet head on in the middle of the street. Applejack swings viciously at Shatter, but as before, the general easily dodges them. He soon retaliates with his free hoof...and hits Applejac right in the face. He laughs in triumph, but the grin drops from his face when Applejack doesn't seem fazed by it at all. With Shatter's hoof still in her face, she cranes her head forward and slams a hoof right into the general's jaw, knocking him upwards. Applejack chases him, leaping up and propelling herself off of the wall. Shatter grunts and rights himself in midair...only to yell out in shock when Applejack is suddenly hurtling through the air towards him. The general lashes out with a hoof, but the farmer pony just takes it without budging. Instead, she grabs onto the hoof that hit her and uses her weight to bear Shatter to the ground, her hooves forcing him painfully against the ground. My jaw slowly drops at the fight unfolding before me. Shatter rolls over and lashes out with his blade, but Applejack turns her body so the weapon skids off of her golden armor. He curses and stabs at her again and again, finally hitting her shoulder and leaving a bleeding gash behind...but Applejack uses that against him. When Shatter's hoof zooms past her, Applejack uses a hoof to slam down on Shatter and pin the bladed hoof down to the ground. A split second later, she uses her free hoof to stomp down on the blade, snapping it off at the handle and leaving Shatter weaponless once more. "How is this happening!? Accursed earth pony!" Shatter growls, and then he lifts up his hind legs and wraps them around Applejack, flipping her around and hurling her over his head. Shatter leaps to his hooves as Applejack slams into the wall of a nearby building. He immediately chases after her, intent on eliminating her before she can rise. Applejack isn't down for long. She meets Shatter halfway and just fucking tanks any punch he throws at her, using that to get close to him and grab onto one of his hooves. Shatter's eyes widen, and then he cries out with pain as Applejack levers a hoof into his face. She doesn't stop. She hits him again and again, causing blood to trickle from his mouth. "No!" Shatter snarls, and then he hits Applejack right back, but she shrugs it off just like every other hit that she's taken so far. What the hell is that pony made of? Shatter growls in frustration and kicks the farmer pony in the belly, causing the air to leave her lungs. She can no longer hold onto him when he uses her grip to toss her away from him. "You won't be able to stop me from the air, foolish earth pony!" Shatter takes to the air and swoops down upon Applejack, lashing out with his hooves every time he gets close. Applejack dodges several of his attacks, but is hit by several others, knocking her around and bruising her skin. Oh to hell with it. I start to move towards her to assist. "Ah told y'all to stay back, didn't ah, Seth?" Applejack snaps at me the moment I start moving. I freeze again, unable to believe that this is happening. Why is she being so goddamn stupid and fighting someone as fearsome as Shatter on her own? Her body can't hold out forever and...what the hell is she doing? Shatter flies a large circle through the air, gathering momentum for another assault. When he turns back around...he yelps as the loop of a lasso flies over him and fastens around his middle. The end of the lasso is held in Applejack's mouth, who had skillfully managed to loop him all the way from the ground. With a jerk of her head, Applejack brings Shatter hurtling down to the street, where she lets go of the rope and grabs Shatter with both of her front hooves. She lets out a shout and slams him right into the ground...and then she stomps a hoof down hard on Shatter's outstretched wing joint. Shatter's cry of agony fills the street as the sound of cracking bones fills the air. I don't believe it...Applejack just grounded Shatter. I'm with the general on this one...how the hell is this happening? "You won't be flyin' no more, ya hear? Now yer gonna pay for raisin' a hoof to those poor innocent ponies!" Applejack yells, bringing her hooves back down to stomp on Shatter again. The general grunts and rolls out of the way. He swiftly bites through the rope to free himself, and then he gets up to glare at Applejack. "You...you broke my wing...I'm going to kill you..." Shatter hisses, truly angry for the first time since I've met him. He breaks into a gallop, charging towards Applejack with pure murder in his eyes. Applejack doesn't hesitate in galloping back towards him, showing no fear of any kind. When Shatter reaches Applejack, he executes skilled combat maneuvers that I've never seen him use before, telling me that he feels backed into a corner and that he's pulling out all the stops. He easily deflects Applejack's attacks, allowing him to rain down relentless punches down on the farmer pony. Applejack takes every one, forced back under the momentum behind Swift's hooves. Shatter grins and kicks her across the street. "Now, that should take care of..." Shatter starts to say, but then his eyes bug out as he sees Applejack rise again, even as battered as she is. "You...what are you!?" I find myself thinking the same thing now as I watch the fight unfold. Applejack is fighting Shatter all by herself, and seemingly coming out on top. I've never seen Shatter this flustered before. I can't believe what I'm seeing. "A mare...who knows what she's fightin' for..." Applejack forces out, despite how unsteady on her hooves she is. She zooms towards Shatter without any further words. Shatter growls and prepares his stance again. Shatter shows off his skills once again, hitting Applejack repeatedly...but it doesn't matter. Applejack pushes her way through the pain and hooves, getting all the way to Shatter. She turns on one hoof and bucks Shatter hard in the chest with all of the power possessed by an earth pony. Shatter flies across the street and crashes into a building. When he next rises from the rubble, he's breathing heavily. He hacks and coughs, spitting out blood, which lets me know that Applejack hit something important in there. "I can't believe this..." Shatter splutters, his own blood dripping onto the street. His hoof reaches for his necklace...but he doesn't even get to touch it before Applejack is already there. "No! Yer not runnin' away again!" She yells, and she rolls forward under one of Shatter's punches and bites the necklace right off of his chest. She jerks her neck and hurls the necklace over to where we are...and Trixie quickly blasts it with her magic, rendering it useless. The general tries to hit Applejack, but the mare is already ready for him. His eyes widen as he's hit directly in the side with another powerful buck, knocking him across the ground towards where Rubella and Amber are. When the general gets back to his hooves, he holds a hoof to his side. Some of his ribs must have broken. He won't be able to fight much longer, but neither will Applejack. Shatter looks up at the advancing Applejack, panic evident in his eyes. He looks between her, and then I see his gaze pass over to Rubella and Amber again. I immediately jump into action, dashing across the street. Oh no you fucking don't... Rubella and Amber scream as the general makes a beeline for them, no doubt intending to use them as hostages again. However, just as his hooves reach out for the crystal ponies, I appear in front of them just in time to kick Shatter down away from his last hope. The general skids across the street. When he comes to a halt, he looks up...right into Applejack's eyes. She's glaring down at him with a terrifying expression on her face, promising pain to the one who dared point his weapon at a filly. Shatter starts to back away, fear filling his eyes. "No...no...this can't be happening..." Shatter whimpers, unable to comprehend that he had just been defeated by a simple farmer earth pony. He backs away across the street faster, but Applejack gets closer and closer, no mercy in her eyes. "You're just an earth pony! Who do you think you are!?" "The name's Applejack," is all she says, before she stomps down both hooves onto Shatter's chest. Shatter's mouth opens wide, blood and saliva spraying into the air as the wind whooshes out of his lungs. At last, he falls limp, unconscious. There's a silence as my team and I look at Shatter's defeated form. None of us can believe what we just saw. "Holy shit, Applejack!" I finally manage to say, unable to come up with any other words to express how I'm feeling right now. At a loss for further words, I rush over to the battered Applejack, as do the other members of my team. "Applejack!" Rainbow cries out anxiously, zooming to her friend's side. "I've never...wow," Swift emits breathlessly. Swift is a skilled fighter, and she had been training Applejack back in Everwinter...and soundly beat her. This...this is beyond anything any of us could have expected from her. "It's okay now, Applejack." Despite how all of are approaching her, Applejack walks unsteadily over to Rubella and Amber. It's clear she's having trouble staying upright...not that any of us blame her. She took one hell of a beating from Shatter....it's a miracle she's still conscious. "Applejack...thank you," Rubella stammers, reaching out a hoof to brush the farmer pony's cheek. She sniffs, tears rolling down her cheeks."You...why did you get yourself so beat up for us? We're nothing special..." "Don't y'all ever say that..." Applejack pants with fervor, lowering herself down to face the both of them. "Ah wasn't gonna leave y'all behind again...no way, no how." "What are you saying? None of that was your...?" Rubella asks in confusion. "It was! Ah talked all 'bout how it was over and you were safe...only ta turn tail an' run when things got hairy," Applejack cuts across her vehemently. She gasps in pain and collapses forward, unable to keep her footing anymore. Rubella yelps and catches her in her forelegs, keeping her from hitting the ground. Applejack pants weakly, gazing up at the crystal pony. "Ah can't imagine how y'all must have felt...ah'm so sorry." "Applejack..." Rainbow emits softly from next to me. The five of us are standing around Applejack and the two crystal ponies, unsure of what to do. Behind us, the soldiers are steadily pushing their way through the enemy lines, making quick work of any undead in their way. With Shatter out of the way, there's nothing standing between us and the Crystal Tower. Rubella sniffs and hugs Applejack closely, her muzzle pressing into the latter's neck. "Don't be sorry...you're here now. You came when we needed you...I can't ever repay you for the gift of my sister's life," she assures Applejack. The farmer pony smiles weakly, starting to lose consciousness. "Commander, we've broken through the enemy lines," a soldier informs me, running up to the rest of us with the rest of my task force behind him. "What are your orders?" I look between Applejack and the soldiers. There's only one thing on my mind right now. "Send some troops and get Applejack back to the rear camp. She needs treatment immediately. Then, take Shatter back as well and secure him," I order the soldier. "After that, get the troops ready to march on the Crystal Tower before the enemy can muster reinforcements." The soldier salutes and moves to carry out my orders. With that handled, I approach the two crystal ponies, kneeling down so as not to frighten them. "You two should get yourself someplace safe. If you go back with Applejack to the rear camp, we'll protect you," I advise them. Rubella nods and joins Applejack as some soldiers lift her up off of the ground. Amber follows along closely behind her. I turn towards the Crystal Tower, the sight of it filling me with dread. According to Captain Gale, Sombra's chambers are near the top...and that's where he'll be. Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't come out to fight us already. We're right on his doorstep; you'd think he'd take notice. "Okay we should get moving," I say to Rainbow and the others. I know they're still a little in shock from the events that just transpired. I say that because I am too. If Applejack had that kind of potential in her this whole time...it just boggles my mind. "There's not much farther to go." "Right behind you, Commander," Swift acknowledges. The others form up behind me as well, the sound of armor plating clanking echoing throughout the now empty streets. The battle is raging hard elsewhere, but it seems we've got a lull for now. Suddenly, from behind me, I hear the sound of fighting. One of the soldiers assigned to taking Shatter grunts as he's thrown aside by the suddenly reawakened general. The second one is promptly punched multiple times and thrown across the street, giving Shatter a direct line to me. "I'm not going down alone!" Shatter roars, and the general leaps through the air, another blade extending from his remaining leg brace. Immediately, I switch my sword to a reverse grip and pivot on my left heel, the blade sweeping through the air...and slicing right through Shatter's middle. Shatter's eyes widen...and then glaze over for the last time as he separates into two bloody halves. Shatter's remains scatter across the ground on either side of me, unmoving. I pant from the feeling of the adrenaline pumping through my body. In his desperation, Shatter had relied only on the element of surprise...and that gave me the opportunity to take him down once and for all. And it is over...he's dead. I flick the general's blood off of my sword and step away from his body. "Good riddance...now he'll never hurt another pony again." "Good reflexes, commander," Swift compliments me, purposefully averting her eyes away from Shatter's body. "Oh dear Celestia, I'm gonna be sick," Rainbow chokes, moving away from Shatter. Trixie exhibits a similar reaction, joining Rainbow in a nearby alley. I sigh and stare at the body, realizing that I basically just killed my first living and breathing pony. I mean, Vanta and Frozen don't count, because they died long before I met them. This is a little more real. However...I don't feel that bad about it. Shatter was the worst kind of pony. He held no loyalty to anyone and was willing to sacrifice innocent lives just to see his enemy's despair. "Alright, come on, everypony. We can't stay here for too long," I finally say. Once my team forms up once more, I lead the task force down the street towards the Crystal Tower. It's oddly quiet once we reach the underside of the tower. I can hear the sounds of battle fading away as our forces easily dispatch the undead between them and the tower. It seems like the first part of the battle is going as planned...which is just odd to me. Sombra sprung all those traps on us in the very beginning of the war...but ever since we made our counterattack, it's like he stopped caring. I'm starting to get a little anxious. I turn my head as Salamul, Iron, Shining Armor, and Cadance enter the clearing at the same time, crushing the last wave of undead in their way. Behind them is the rest of the Bleak Islanders and the First Division. On the other side of the area, Luna, Blades, Rose, Twilight, and Rarity arrive with the Second Division, all of them looking no worse for wear. All of us meet up in the middle. Twilight and Rarity rush up to us anxiously, meeting up with Rainbow Dash and embracing her in relief. I stand back and smile, as this is the first time that I've seen those two since we left Trotsdale. "Thank goodness you're all okay. Where's Applejack?" Twilight asks Rainbow, who then animatedly starts to tell the story of how Applejack took down Shatter by herself. Twilight looks incredibly shocked by that, because she fought Shatter once before as well. "'Tis good to see thou hast arrived unharmed," Luna greets Cadance and I, walking over to meet us. "How fares thy magic?" "I've been holding back as instructed, so I should be okay. I have plenty left," Cadance reassures her. The both of them look at me next, looking for confirmation. "I'm good. Got into a bit of a tussle with a general, but overall my magic is running high," I add. I look around the clearing, searching for the other two. "Where's Celestia and Chrysalis? We can't do this without them." "Celestia's force looks to have met the most resistance, but it shouldn't be long before they get here. Nothing can take her down," Cadance assures me. As if on cue, I hear Celestia's soldiers striding into the clearing, accompanied by the Wonderbolts, Pinkie, and a hell of a lot of changelings. Chrysalis and Celestia walk in together, the former looking as smug as ever. Celestia doesn't even have a scratch on her, to no one's surprise. With their arrival, the entirety of our combat force has arrived. There's no sign of any undead. But if there's no more of them, does that mean we've taken the city? That can't be right. There has to be more. "It appears we have all arrived," Celestia observes, walking to the center of the clearing. Without waiting for any response, she immediately starts giving out orders. "Shining Armor, work with Captain Blades and set up a defensive perimeter. Expect enemy reinforcements. Everypony, focus on holding this area above all else!" A chorus of acknowledgments rise up from the allied forces, followed by a loud hissing as Chrysalis gives her horde orders as well. All five of what I've started referring to as the "Sombra team" then gather in the center of the clearing, so I join them as well. There's not much time left before what's going to be the hardest fight of my life. "I'm looking forward to this," Chrysalis expresses, nonchalantly running a hoof through her webbed mane. I look at her as though she's gone crazy, as does Cadance. "I've been fighting all this time without even seeing what my enemy looks like." None of us answer her. Each of us is busy steeling ourselves for the fight to come. None of us hold any illusions about Sombra's strength. I've seen it first hand when he took my magic from me, so I know just what we're up against. "Are you all prepared?" Celestia asks us softly, facing all of us with concern evident in her eyes. "This will not be an easy fight." "Of course. I'm anxious to see his power for myself," Chrysalis responds first. I give a quiet scoff. I don't think she has any idea what she's getting into. "Honestly, I think taking all five of us is overkill." "I will stand by thee, sister. This time, let us make sure to put him down permanently," Luna answers, using magic to clean her sickle blade. "There are hundreds of ponies out there counting on us to free them. We can't fail," Cadance adds next, as serious as the rest of us. "Still...he's so strong. I'm a little frightened." "Hah, I don't blame you on that one. To be completely honest, I'm not prepared for this," I admit, my arms crossed. "I'm not prepared for any of this. I'm not a soldier. I just want to go home to Ponyville and live there with my friends." "I understand. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that we share similar goals," Celestia responds, her eyes softening. Luna and Cadance nod in agreement. Chrysalis rolls her eyes at that, but otherwise remains silent. "But we must fight, Seth. There is no other course of action available to us." "I know that. I know what's at stake. I'll fight with the rest of you, don't worry about that," I return softly. "I'm just tired of all this. I want it to be over." "Hey. We'll be fine," Cadance assures me, rubbing up against my side. "We all have things to come back to...I have Shining Armor, and you have Rainbow, right? Just remember that, and you'll be okay." "Oh spare me. What, do you want me to spill my heart out to you now?" Chrysalis grunts, unamused by the exchange taking place. She pointedly ignores the disapproving stare that Celestia gives her. "You take too long. Let's just get in there and fight." Any further conversation is cut off when Captain Gale flies in from the northern sectors of the city, accompanied by several others of the Stealth Corps. "Princess! We've got enemy reinforcements inbound!" Gale announces in a clear voice, such that the whole clearing can hear it. "How many, captain?" Celestia demands immediately. "Too many to count. We'll be hard pressed to hold the tower!" Gale warns us. Oh shit, there's the other foot. I figured it wouldn't be that easy. We didn't fight anywhere near enough undead to account for his whole army. "Don't pay attention to her, princess!" Shining Armor calls back from where he's been constructing barricades. "We can hold here while you take care of King Sombra!" "Are you sure?" Celestia asks uncertainly. "Ma'am, I'd be ashamed to call myself a captain if we couldn't even do that," Blades calls in next, joining Shining Armor by the barricade. "Trust us. You do what you need to do, and we'll make sure nothing gets in to bother you." "You heard the stallion! We've got this, princesses," Spitfire adds confidently. She and the rest of the Wonderbolts are hovering above the ground with the Pegasus Corps, prepared to provide fire support for the ground forces. "Very well. Thank you, all of you," Celestia finally responds with a smile. Determination fills her eyes, and she looks at us. "Let's go, everyone. It's up to us now." As we all nod and follow Equestria towards the entrance to the tower, cheers rise up from the allied forces. "All hail the princesses!" "We're depending on you all!" "Take that mongrel down!" The soldiers cheer, raising their weapons into the air. As for me...I see all of the ponies that I've known ever since getting to Equestria standing in a line and gazing at me. The only one not there is Applejack and Fluttershy, as they're in the rear camp. "Make sure you come back, or I'll come up there myself!" Rainbow threatens me, jabbing her hoof in my direction. "You know I will!" "Be careful, darling. Know that all of us are rooting for you!" Rarity calls. Even as dirty and mussed up as she is now, her usual complains are absent, replaced with only concern for our safety. "Make that mean meanie-pants take a time-out! That'll teach him a lesson!" Pinkie adds as well, sounding as nonsensical as ever. "I wish I could be there with you all...but I'll hold here with the rest. Just come back to us, okay? There's so many things I wanted to share with you!" Twilight calls, focusing the last part of her comment on me. "Trixie...uh...I am proud to call you my friend, Seth!" Trixie even adds, showing a great deal more emotion than she usually does. She immediately goes back to her usual demeanor, making me chuckle a little. "And I don't say that lightly! Be grateful of my generosity!" "We'll keep them off of you, commander. You have my word!" Swift affirms, clutching her lance tightly in her magic. "Just make sure to do your part!" Hearing all of their cries of support to us makes me tear up slightly, to the point where I'm at a loss for words. All I can do is turn and give them all a short two-fingered wave...and then I follow the others into the tower itself. The inside of the tower looks so different from what it used to be. The halls are dark and menacing, and with the angled crystal and crystalline spikes extending from the walls, it looks like we're walking through the mouth of some twisted beast. The only lights come from the torch sconces lining the wall, each one burning with an ethereal purple and green flame. It's absolutely quiet; even the cheers of the soldiers outside have been completely shut out by the thick crystal walls. The only sound comes from the clip clopping of the others' hooves on the floor....and from my own heartbeat that I'm painfully aware of. "This way. If I remember correctly, the staircase was hidden before Twilight uncovered it," Celestia directs us, changing paths down another hall. Eventually the area leads out into the main central part of the tower, which I remember walking through before it was corrupted. The moment we near the other side of the room, one of the hallways erupts with the sound of guttural roaring, as well as pounding hoofbeats that seem to shake the floor beneath us. I immediately take out my sword, knowing exactly what's making that growling. "Steady...it appears the tower is not without resistance of its own," Celestia states. Taking her advice, we put some distance between ourselves and the hallway. Seconds later, a Mega Oppressed barrels out of the corridor...followed by another, and another, until there are a total of five Mega Oppressed in the room with us. My eyes bug out, having never seen that many of them in one place before. "Each of you take one and dispatch it as quickly as you can! Do not use your magic against them; it is ineffective!" "Shut up, Celestia. We all know the drill at this point," Chrysalis hisses back impatiently. She rears up on her hind legs and kicks at the air. "If you think you can take me down, come give it your best shot!" The Mega Oppressed roar and charge all of us at once. The first thing we do is scatter apart to make it so that they can't group up on us. When I see two of them heading for Cadance, I form my blade into shurikens again and get one's attention by slicing into its flesh repeatedly. While I'm contending with my own, Celestia is making short work of hers. With her superior speed, Celestia easily outmaneuvers it and bucks it hard into the wall. Her strength is so great, the monster's chest buckles in so far that some of its rib bones puncture the skin on its back. As for Chrysalis, she smirks and transforms into a massive dragon that makes Pterax's look like nothing. With the added physical strength that it affords her, she lifts her Mega Oppressed clear off the ground and impales it on one of the larger spikes coming up from the floor, taking it out in no time at all. She then reverts to her original form, dusting off her hooves smugly. "And you all say these things are a threat. Adorable," she emits confidently. Remembering my tactics with the last one I faced, I aim for the creature's legs first, because it's pretty much helpless to stop you from getting behind it if it can't maneuver anymore. Just like before, I run circles around it until it falls, and then take it out from behind with my sword. Celestia joins Cadance in dealing with hers, while Chrysalis and I move to assist Luna. With all of us working together, dealing with them is no trouble at all, especially considering how skilled all of us are. When the last one falls, we immediately start moving again, traveling through the corridor from where the undead emerged. From here, it isn't long before we find the hidden staircase of which Celestia spoke. The doorway is hanging ajar, for some reason. Either it was left open since the last time we were here...wait no, that's unlikely. Sombra must have left it open, as if inviting us up to see him. His arrogance causes me to grit my teeth in anger. "Not much further. Be ready," Celestia advises us all as we step into the stairwell. As we climb higher, we eventually exit out into the open air high above the battlefield. Around us, we can hear the winds whipping around the tower not too far from us, keeping anypony from flying up here to join us. That's why we don't just fly to the top. Below us, we see the massive amount of undead bearing down on the tower, putting pressure on our defenses. I only hope the allied forces are doing well. "Remember the plan, everyone. When I retreat to build up my magical energy, you must keep him from searching for me. If I am interrupted, we are lost." "I'm telling you, that's not going to be necessary. There's so many of us, one pony can't possibly stand a chance," Chrysalis expresses. However, she's ignored by the rest of us, who aren't as stupid as she is right now and know how much of a threat Sombra is to us. "We will not let him find thee, sister," Luna assures her. Cadance and I nod in agreement, as there's nothing more to be said. There's nothing standing between us, and the king. At the top of the tower, the staircase opens out onto a wide platform...the very summit of the Crystal Tower. We're so high off the ground at this point, we're above the dark clouds that swirl around the tower. On the edges of the platform are several pillars, casting shadows over the crystal and giving the area an ominous look. In the center of the platform is a construct of black crystals. Floating a few feet above the top of the construct is the Crystal Heart itself, looking black and corrupted just like the rest of the city. So it was up here the whole time. However, that's not what truly draws our attention. Standing just in front of the crystal construct with his back to us...is King Sombra.

Tales of the Oppressed

129. The Last Night of the Kings

The night drags on. Shadows dance among the summit of the tower, upon which the final battle is to take place. The five of us spread out, each one of us moving with caution, in case Sombra decides to attack us all at once. I take a position between Cadance and Chrysalis and immediately get into a defensive stance. I'm armed with my rifle and sword, knowing fully well that I'm going to have to use every technique and ability that I've ever learned in order to keep up with the monster before us. King Sombra doesn't move an inch, even though I'm sure he's fully aware of our presence. The wind, much calmer up here than down below, blows across the tower summit. Sombra's shadowy mane and cape gently flutters in the breeze. It's dead silent. Not a single one of us makes a sound. Sombra is gazing silently into the tranquil surface of the twisted Crystal Heart. From what I can see of his reflection, he's wearing a stoic and unreadable expression. I can't even imagine the thoughts that might be running through his head right now. Sombra closes his eyes briefly, and an invisible wave of magic flows over the summit. It's so dense I can physically feel it passing over my skin, causing goosebumps to form. When Sombra opens his eyes again, his sclera have turned a vivid green, and streams of purple magic trail back from the corners of his eyes. The Crystal Heart sinks down into the floor with the rest of the crystal construct, leaving us all standing atop a bare crystal platform. The king turns his head ever so slightly, gazing back at the five of us with one malevolent eye. Dread fills me up inside, and I almost step back under the intensity of his gaze. He's hardly using any magic...but I can feel his evil power...and it unsettles me, even more than when I faced Chrysalis the first time. "Thou art most tenacious, princesses," Sombra observes in his deep, unearthly voice. His eye turns to focus on only Celestia and Luna. I suppose that's because they're the only ones he knows personally, besides me. "Despite every obstacle ye hast faced...here ye stand, at the summit of mine tower." Sombra turns slowly, his armored hooves clanking on the smooth crystal floor. When he's facing us, I can see the amulet that Hawke gave to him...the Alicorn Amulet...pinned to his chestplate. The gem in the center of the amulet is pulsing an ominous red. Remembering Hawke's words...that amulet enhances his power even further past its natural limits. I can't help but gulp with trepidation. "Thou hast not changed, in the past millennia. Thou never wouldst give up in the face of hopeless adversity," Sombra addresses the two princesses again. I'm a little confused; it seems like he's complimenting them. "I admire thy determination. What drives thee, that thou feels thou must rail against thy fate?" "I would not expect you to understand, King Sombra." Celestia is the one who answers him, the princess stepping closer to him. "There is far more at stake here than a simple grudge between you and I. You have never understood the pain you inflict upon those whom you oppress, those whom you enslave, and even those who serve you." "Ah yes...thou believest that thy unprovoked assault on my kingdom was for the sake of justice, if I recall correctly," King Sombra returns, his eyes narrowing. "As I explained to thee during thy attempts at diplomacy, the fates of mine servants art not thy concern. The task of any king is to create a lasting empire to span the ages. To accomplish this, they art given resources...tools...in the form of ponies, capital, and natural resources. I have done nothing but use what was given to me...surely thou understands?" "That...King Sombra...is why we declared war on you," Celestia responds without missing a beat. She stomps her hoof on the floor, the impact causing a thunderous sound. "Ponies are not tools to be used; they are wondrous creatures, each one with the ability to laugh, love, and cry. They are to be nurtured and cherished. To enslave and torture them as you have is the highest of moral crimes." "Thou was not given any resources to utilize, tyrant! Everything that thou hast, thou hast stolen from the innocent crystal ponies! Thou hast no room to speak of royal duties, knave. Thou art no true king!" Luna accuses him, moving to stand beside her sister. "And that's not all!" I suddenly find my voice again, the words I've been dying to say coming to me in a flood that I can't control. I step up beside Celestia and Luna, earning Sombra's attention for the first time. Despite the way his glowing eyes bore into mine, I force myself to keep talking. "You weren't satisfied with just taking over the Crystal Empire and treating them like shit. No, just because you saw the possibility that it would be you that lost, you decided to come to my time, ruin my life, and kill off my entire race! What about us!? Were we just tools to be used, all for the sake of creating some pointless empire that isn't even yours!?" King Sombra is silent in the wake of our combined denouncements. I'd like to say that he showed at least some form of reaction to our words, but I would be lying. His expression is as stoic as ever. If he's unsettled by anything we've said, he's not showing it. "Ye know nothing, all of thee. Ye believe that my kingdom ought to belong to you, solely because ye disapprove of the way I govern...such audacity," Sombra returns, closing his eyes briefly. "All I have done is for the sake of showing the world an eternal empire ruled by true power...my power. Laughter, love, and tears...these feelings are fickle and fleeting, disappearing into the sands of time in the blink of an eye. They are but trappings, holding one back from attaining true strength...the strength to endure time itself." "Thou claimest to love and cherish thy subjects, princesses, but they are but tools to you as well. Every kingdom is built upon the shoulders of its citizens. How these citizens are used and treated is up to the discretion of its ruler...yet in the end, their nature as tools is unchanging," Sombra criticizes the two princesses harshly. His eyes shoot to me again. "Seth Rogers...I see thou continuest to endure. Despite all expectations, thy species is a hardy one. Art thou here to exact revenge upon me?" "No, I'm not," I tell him flatly. Sombra raises a brow, obviously taken by surprise at that response. "Don't get me wrong. You do need to answer for all of the crimes you've committed...against my race...and the ponies. There's no doubt about that. But that's not why I'm here." "I have a future waiting for me back home...a happy future, of the likes that I've never had the chance to pursue before...and that's why I'm fighting you," I finish, cracking my knuckles. Celestia and Luna both give me approving glances at my words. Sombra's lips turn downwards into a snarl. "What a disappointment. 'Tis good thou accomplished thy purpose before losing thine individuality to these Equestrians. Perhaps thou wouldst have made a better tool if thou had shared my goals...like my Governor-General," he derides me harshly, looking genuinely disgusted at my response. He straightens up, angling his head towards the sky. "'Tis time thou art dealt with. Hawke, attend to me." Nobody moves as Sombra's command peters out into the clouded sky. Sombra's brow wrinkles in confusion as there is no response to his call. He repeats his command, only to be ignored once more. I can't help but smirk at his expression. "That won't be happening, Sombra. The human race isn't going to be ruled by you anymore," I snap at him confidently. "Hawke's with us now, and you're without your last backup plan. You won't be powering up any further." Sombra, for the first time, looks truly surprised. "Hawke hast betrayed me?" His question seems almost innocent in the way that he phrases it, as if this outcome had been the last thing that he had ever expected. Anger fills the king's face, and then he slams his hoof into the surface of the tower, shadowy magic erupting from his hoof. The force of impact is so great, I feel the entire tower shake beneath me, once again letting me know just how strong he is. "This was unforeseen. Nevertheless, he hath served his purpose. I shall simply have to deal with thee myself." "This is pointless," Chrysalis finally interrupts impatiently. The queen had been standing there quietly, taking in Sombra's features, but at this point it looks like she's had enough. "All we're doing is standing around. It's obvious that none of us are going to change our minds, so let's just get on with it and crush him now!" Chrysalis stares back confidently as Sombra turns his gaze onto her for the first time. She doesn't show any kind of fear, though I can't tell if that's because of true confidence or just ignorance. "Who art thou, creature?" Sombra demands curiously. "I have not seen thy kind during mine experiences." "You wouldn't have, of course. My name is Queen Chrysalis, sovereign of the changeling race," Chrysalis introduces herself with a bow. "Usually, I'd be offering you an alliance, because I don't really care one way or another whether Equestria falls or not. But...I can't exactly feed off of undead, so as it stands, I'm here to kill you." "Indeed. It's time to bring this whole war to an end, and give the crystal ponies back their home!" Cadance joins in next, glaring at Sombra fiercely. "We've overcome each and every one of your strategies and traps; you can't stop us now!" "My strategies?" Sombra repeats, a slight smile appearing. "Thou art mistaken. Beyond the formal declaration of war, I had no involvement with thy war." That gets all of us to stop and look at him in shock. I mean, I thought it was odd how he held a banquet while we were marching on his kingdom...but...to think that he didn't take part at all? That can't be right. What about all those traps we were caught in? "You mean to tell us that you were not coordinating the assaults on Equestria?" Celestia questions, as surprised as the rest of us. Sombra shakes his head firmly. "I was certain you intended to take revenge for your defeat in the past. If you were not in charge of the war effort, then what were you doing for all this time?" "I was waiting...waiting for thee. I knew that I need not act personally against thee, as given enough time, thou wouldst return to challenge me thyself," Sombra explains. "I left the war in the capable hooves of General Shatter and Governor-General Hawke. 'Twas they who maneuvered thy armies into a trap." Sombra's magic slowly starts to rise, the king's eyes narrowing. All of us react by taking defensive stances, watching Sombra closely. "No, thou wouldst approach me. Thy misguided sense of justice made this meeting inevitable..." The very floor beneath us begins to shake, making it harder to keep my footing. "'Tis now that I will test my newly acquired strength...the strength which I hath endured a millennia of imprisonment to attain..." King Sombra plants his hooves firmly on the floor and begins gathering an incredible amount of magical energy around his body. The very air twists and dilates around him, forming tendrils of utter darkness that stream to his body. "Here he comes....get ready," Cadance whispers to me. I nod and ready my rifle, transforming it into a drummed machine gun. I'll let Celestia and Luna handle him up close. I'll fight from a distance at first and deal as much damage as I can. "Prepare thyselves..." Sombra's horn becomes shrouded with reddish black magic, green electricity sparking from the tip ominously. His muscles tense and his teeth bare, and then magic explodes from around his body, releasing a shockwave across the entire summit of the tower. I hold my arms in front of my face, warding off what looks like an ocean of reddish blackness as it washes over us. When my vision clears, Sombra is revealed, tongues of shadow licking up his body like flame. Like before, I can't feel the entirety of his magical might. It's too far out of my comprehension as I am right now. When Sombra next speaks, it's in an guttural roar. "Thy fate is at hoof!" Immediately, all five of us power up at once. Pillars of magical energy erupt from each of us and shoot up into the air. Celestia's white golden energy is the largest of us all, surging up from around her in a torrent of sheer power, causing her mane to rise in an ethereal wind. On either side of her are Cadance, with her light pink aura engulfing her; and Luna, with a wave of starry black magic shooting up into the sky. Beside me, Chrysalis's sickly green energy makes itself evident as she powers herself up all the way for the first time since I saw her at the royal wedding. She wasn't lying about training; she's definitely stronger than she was before. As for me, I'm going all out from the very beginning. At my current level, I won't even be able to put a scratch on Sombra. I break past the mental barrier in my mind and push myself to the limit, moving directly into my transformation. My hair flows upwards as if suspended in water, and cuneiform runes streak over my body like ethereal chains. Luna and Celestia, with their weapons held high, charge at King Sombra at the same time, followed closely by Cadance and Chrysalis. The first thing I do is leap forward in a roll and level my machine gun at Sombra. I immediately squeeze the trigger and unload a stream of deadly magical bullets into Sombra's general direction. The king turns his head to glare at me. Seconds before my bullets, Celestia, and Luna reach him, he explodes into a thick cloud of black smoke. Weaving through all of us, the smoke streaks around us in a circle and swiftly forms a tornado of darkness that encloses all of us in. Sombra's menacing laughter seems to echo from everywhere at once. Before I can process what's happening, something slams into my upper back, knocking me right off of my feet. I yelp and hit the floor hard, rolling over and over several times until Cadance lowers herself down and stops me with a hoof. As she's helping me up, I look back to where I was standing, but I don't see anything that could have hit me. Nothing...except the whirling black wall of smoke that's holding us in. "Stay away from the smoke!" Celestia warns us all. Immediately after she says that, Sombra appears out of the smoke behind her with his front hooves wreathed in darkness. She immediately notices and whirls around, lifting her shield just in time to intercept the king's vicious attacks. Each hit sends Celestia skidding backwards. "What a cheap tactic!" Chrysalis scoffs. She gallops to intercept Sombra and Celestia, swinging a hoof directly at the king. Her hoof passes through nothing but shadow as Sombra dissipates into the smoke once more. Chrysalis hisses in frustration. "He's closing in!" Cadance alerts us. My eyes shoot to the smoke...and see that the walls are indeed closing in. Luna cries out from her position as she's forced to intercept Sombra as the king appears and strikes at her without warning. She manages to block his hoof with her sword just in time, but can't counterattack in time before he retreats into the smoke again. This happens repeatedly as Sombra appears all around us, attacking us repeatedly at increasingly intervals as the walls close in. Unable to focus on anything other than defense, the five of us group close together, fending off the king's fast and relentless assault. Above us, a dark cloud of magic starts to form, green electricity sparking from inside the cloud. Chrysalis is the first one to spot it. "He's trying to group us together!" she warns us. Seconds later, lightning bolts of Sombra's magic shoot down from the cloud, forcing us to dodge in every direction to keep from getting shocked. The moment I near the wall, Sombra appears from within and attacks me, his hoof slamming into my side and knocking me back towards the center of the vortex...right in the path of one of the lightning bolts. Celestia immediately shoves me down with her side, lifting her shield in time to block to the lightning bolt. The metal on the shield dents and cracks from the collision with Sombra's incredible magic power. "Everyone fly! Get up above the clouds!" Luna calls out frantically, flying up into the air. I break into a run, distancing myself from Celestia and taking to the air, narrowly dodging another bolt in the process. Together with Chrysalis and Cadance, we force our way out of Sombra's magical trap. Down below, Celestia and Luna stand in the center of the whirling tornado of smoke. Celestia narrows her eyes and stomps both hooves on the floor, releasing a burst of golden magic in all directions. The smoke dissipates like fog in the morning sun before her power...except for one streak of darkness that whirls through the air up towards us. I cry out in surprise as Sombra appears in midair right in the middle of Chrysalis, Cadance, and I. The bottom half of his body is obscured in a wisp of shadow that trails down behind him. Despite the fact that he's not an alicorn, he is flying just like us. Wielding my sword once more, I join Chrysalis and Cadance in attacking him all at once. I grunt and swing my sword in a vertical slice, aiming for his head. Sombra, his face stoic and focused, lifts up a gauntleted hoof and redirects my attack, a shower of sparks falling to the floor below from the impact. He immediately turns and fends off Chrysalis and Cadance's punches with just his hooves, handling them with practiced skill. From below, Luna waits until she sees an opportunity, and then she fires bolts of starry magic from her horn up at the king. When Sombra is dodging Luna's magic, I attempt to seize the opening and unleash a series of attacks with my sword, making sure to angle the blade towards the weak points in his armor. I immediately have to halt my assault when Sombra ducks beneath my weapon, which puts Cadance right in my way. Sombra's hoof barrels into my unprotected stomach, sending unbelievable pain running through my body as well as winding me at the same time. As I'm keeled over, coughing, the king grasps my neck and hurls me over his shoulder into Cadance. Cadance and I both hit the floor together painfully, leaving Chrysalis up there to fight Sombra on her own. "I have to thank you for getting them out of my way," Chrysalis confidently says to Sombra as the two of them exchange a furious array of punches. Her right hoof slams into his cannon bone, and then his left hoof collides with hers. It's not that evident, but I can see Chrysalis wince with pain. Even she is starting to feel Sombra's raw power. "Now I can take you down on my own." "Is that so?" Sombra responds. He takes a moment to back away from Chrysalis and avoid Luna's attacks once more...and now Celestia is starting to return to the fight. His horn flares with magic, and the air seems to crack open behind him in the shape of a horizontal crevice. Hundreds of razor edged crystals fire from the crevice in a seemingly endless torrent, raining down on Luna and Celestia and keeping them busy defending themselves. Chrysalis smirks and takes his moment of distraction to attack head on with a double hoofed strike...only for her hooves to pass through the empty air where Sombra used to be. The king's shadowy form surges beneath Chrysalis and up around her, reforming on her right. Before Chrysalis can react, his hoof snakes out and collides directly with her cheek. Chrysalis gasps in shock and pain as her head is snapped to the side, saliva and blood flying from her mouth. Reforming his legs, Sombra uses gravity as well as his own momentum to perform a skilled flip, levering his hind hooves unto Chrysalis's body and sending her crashing down onto the ground just beside Cadance and I. "Come on...we've got to get back into it," Cadance says to me, offering me a hoof. I take it and get back to my feet, still panting a little from how hard Sombra hit me. I nod and run with Cadance back towards where Luna and Celestia are fighting Sombra at the same time. Sombra summons a black crystal from nothing and uses his magic to shape it. The crystal thins and elongates, one end tapering to a point. The edge of an axe forms on that same end, until the crystal has become a halberd. With it, he blocks both Celestia and Luna's blades at the same time. The impact creates a sound like that of thunder, and the floor cracks and shatters around them. High speed winds gust out from the point of impact, blowing across my face and hair as Cadance and I rush to join them. With Luna on one side and Celestia on the other, they both swing their weapons again and again at Sombra. The king's halberd whips through the air faster than what seems physically possible, blocking every strike that comes his way. Each impact causes similar shockwaves as the first...a testament to the insane amount of magical power being released. King Sombra never moves. Even as Celestia and Luna circle around him in an attempt to find a blind spot, he does not move a single inch. His body spins in place in the blink of an eye as he rotates to fend off the two princesses, but that is the extent of his movement. Cadance rushes ahead of me as I kneel down and aim a long ranged rifle at Sombra from several meters away. Putting my eye to the scope, I maneuver the sights on him, waiting for a moment to fire. With the three princesses attacking him at once, Sombra appears to be occupied, giving me the perfect opportunity. I squeeze the trigger, which fires a thin beam of piercing magic through the air towards the king's head. Sombra's eyes narrow. When he brings up his halberd to clash against Luna's blade, he brings it down to the ground and uses his free hoof to bat Luna aside like she's nothing, sending her tumbling across the ground. He immediately turns in place to block both Cadance and Celestia's attacks with very little effort, his halberd flicking around like a hornet. He easily ducks beneath Cadance's hooves and rams his shoulder upwards into her chest, knocking her into the air. A split second later, his weapon collides with Celestia's. With a burst of magic, he repulses her away just in time to turn and slice my shot right in half, if that's even possible. That whole exchange took place in the short amount of time it took for my shot to reach him. "That's enough of this...I will not be humiliated...!" Chrysalis growls furiously from behind me. I turn my head slightly to see her rising from the floor, her horn flaring with her magic. My eyes widen as her magical power exerts itself on the air around me, indicating that she's about to use an incredibly powerful attack. "Know despair, false king!" She lowers her head and her spell fires, forming a beam larger than my standard rifle blast. It surges towards Sombra with the promise of imminent destruction to anything caught in its way. Celestia immediately moves out of the way, as does Cadance. Sombra remains still, turning his head slowly to gaze at the incoming beam of magic. His face is tinted with the green light of the powerful magic heading his direction. "It appears it is time to begin taking this seriously," Sombra observes. Just before the beam reaches him, he leaps up and completely deflects the beam up and away from him with a single sweep of a darkness covered hoof. "B-But...what...? That was...I..." Chrysalis stammers, taking a few steps back as King Sombra starts to approach her. Cursing, I step in front of the shell shocked queen and form a chain dagger in my hand. "Don't just stand there! Keep moving, and don't waste your magic!" I criticize her. In an attempt to keep Sombra away from her, I shoot out the chain knife with a flick of my wrist. Sombra avoids the first one, but when the second lashes out at him, he lifts a hoof and lets the chain wrap around it. Even though I realize what he's about to do, I don't have time to react before I'm tugged right off of the floor and hurled through the air. I cry out with pain as my back slams into one of the pillars surrounding the summit, the structure giving way before my momentum. I hurtle backwards through the air for several seconds before I gain my bearings. Immediately, I fly back towards the battlefield, firing a pistol towards Sombra, who is now contending with Celestia, Luna, and Cadance again. Luna leaps back and sticks her sword into the floor. A glowing circle of blueish magic forms there...seconds before a larger one forms in the air above Sombra. Several points of white light form in the larger circle, forming the outline of a familiar constellation....Orion. Sombra immediately moves to get out of the circle, but he's met by Celestia, who turns her body and lashes out at him with both hind legs. Sombra blocks the attack with his halberd, but it's enough to force him back into the circle. When he tries to move the other way, Cadance blasts him back with a blast of her own pink magic. "Taste the fury of the night skies! Orion!" Luna shouts, her horn flaring with starry black magic. A bright white line connects the stars of the constellation, and then the whole thing slams down on Sombra. The king manages to catch it with one hoof, and is starting to repulse it...when another constellation falls from the circle. "Aquarius! Cancer! Gemini!" Sombra grunts and buckles beneath the weight of each different constellation as they fly through the air and surround him in a web of pulsing white light. The shining light intensifies, and then they all explode violently around him. Luna's triumph doesn't last long. The cloud of crystalline dust and rubble from the explosion is suddenly blown away by Sombra's magic. His aura seems to have doubled in size...much to my horror. He's already taking everything we throw at him without any real damage...how much stronger can he get!? "Allow me to show thee..." Sombra growls. When Celestia, Cadance, and I move to attack him head on, he leaps above us, using his mastery over shadow to fly through the air. Once he's high above us, he shoots bolts of green electricity down to the floor...though he's not aiming at us. He fires four bolts, each of which land on a separate point on the summit corresponding to the four cardinal directions. Walls of electricity shoot across the floor to connect each point, forcing all of us to dodge frantically to avoid getting fried. "Don't let him fire off that technique!" Celestia orders us all. Nodding, I form my standard rifle and fire pillars of emerald light up towards him. My shots are accompanied by beams of magic from everypony else as all of us shoot up at him at once. Sombra forms a large ball of roiling shadow in his forehooves. With a shout, he hurls the orb down at the center of the cross formed by the electricity. The ball of magic comes into contact with all of our attacks, absorbing and negating them. "Brace thyselves!" Luna yells to the rest of us. Seconds before the ball hits the floor, I break into a run, intending to get as far away from the blast as I can. In the end, it's pointless. When the ball collides with the floor, it combines with the electricity and causes the entire summit to explode with a pillar of darkness that surges up into the air and evaporates the clouds in its way. The explosion is so loud it deafens me, and is so destructive that it destroys all of the pillars surrounding us. I'm blown completely off of my feet and right off the edge of the tower. I'm not the only one falling through the air. Chrysalis, Cadance, and Luna are hurtling end over end with me. Just as we're starting to slow our fall, Sombra zooms through the air and appears in the middle of us. I cry out in surprise and right myself just in time to block Sombra's hoof on my forearm. It hurts like hell, but I power through the pain and block several other of his attacks. However, the last one is a double hoofed strike that powers right through my block and sends me shooting down to the snowy ground outside the Crystal Empire itself. Groaning, I open my eye and look upwards to see Chrysalis, Cadance, and Luna fighting Sombra all at once, their hooves striking out at him again and again, their bodies wreathed in magic. Sombra is just too much for them. He dashes between them in a wave of shadow, unleashing volleys of darkness and onslaughts of punishing punches and kicks. As I'm rising from my position on the ground, Luna slams into the ground next to me, groaning in agony. Cadance follows soon afterward. "Ggh...you're not that tough! I'll...!" Chrysalis grunts as she contends with Sombra on her own. She and the king land on the snowy ground not far from us and engage in a vicious melee with one another. Each impact of their hooves on the other's guard sends out a black and sickly green shockwave that rushes over me, blowing back my hair and clothes. Sombra smirks at her determination. He catches one of her punches with no effort, holding her in place. He turns and bucks her backwards through the air, causing the queen to cough up greenish blood. However, he's not finished with her. He streaks around her like a comet and appears behind her. He punches her right in the barrel, completely halting her momentum. He punches her again and again, overwhelming any defense she might have attempted to mount and beating her into submission. "It seems thou hast misconceptions of thine own power...a delusion to be pitied," Sombra criticizes Chrysalis as he slams her into the ground with a single hoof. He presses her head into the snow as she chokes in agony. "This is no place for thee, changeling. Thou art nothing but a foal, playing in the arena of kings." "Get off of her!" I yell out, getting to my feet and charging Sombra before he can deal any more damage to her. We can't let her fall here...we still need her! Sombra's head jerks up at my approach, and his eyes narrow. "Seth..." Sombra rumbles. He moves away from Chrysalis and meets me head on, ducking underneath my blade as it whistles overhead. I choke as he uppercuts me into the air...only to reappear above me and flip kick me right back into the snow. "So...strong.." I grunt, leaping to my feet just in time to block his follow up attack with the flat of my blade. I can feel my sword straining under his sheer physical strength. It won't last long if I try to use it as a shield. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Luna moving to heal Chrysalis. Cadance seems to be moving to support me. Okay, I just need to buy time for Chrysalis to get back in the fight. I push Sombra away with the flat of my blade and then quickly reform the weapon into an archaic arm cannon, consisting of a bladed barrel and a single handle upon which my hand is clenched. I pull the trigger and fire blasts of runed magic up through the air. Sombra blocks each and every one with his hooves, but he is forced back into the air. Sombra deflects another shot and retaliates with a beam of his own from his horn, forcing me to frantically dodge in order to avoid getting incinerated. Now that he's free to breathe, the king lifts one hoof and starts gathering magic there, the limb seeming to ignite with sparking shadowy fire. With a yell, Sombra turns in midair and plummets to the earth, aiming directly for me. I look up in panic, forming a pistol. I won't be able to block that...I can tell from the immense magical pressure emanating from his hoof. In a last ditch effort to fend him off, I point my pistol at him and squeeze off shot after shot. Each bullet just bounces off of his breastplate, causing me to panic further. If that hits me...I'm fucking toast. Just before Sombra reaches me, Celestia appears in front of me, her armor damaged and her weapon missing. She raises a blazing white hoof just in time to block his shadowy hoof. The collision sends out a dull rumble through the air and ground at first...and then a bright light flares out from where their two hooves are connected. I cry out and throw myself to the snowy ground seconds before a massive explosion ensues, melting the snow nearby and blowing all of us away. I land over by Luna and Chrysalis, the latter of whom is back on her hooves, albeit shaken. Upon my appearance beside them, Luna helps me back to my feet. "Art thou injured, Seth?" Luna asks me worriedly. "Yes...but nothing for you to waste your magic on," I grunt in response, nursing my aching limbs. I feel like I'm hurting all over. I don't think we've hurt him at all yet...and I'm already winded. When the explosion dissipates, Sombra and Celestia are revealed, the two of them exchanging destructive blows with one another. Snow rains down around them, having been thrown into the air from the explosion. As the strongest amongst us, Celestia is managing to hold her own against Sombra's immense strength, but it's clear that she's losing ground. Every so often, Sombra will power past her defenses and deal her a nasty blow to her face or chest. Celestia grunts and grabs Sombra's hoof as he moves to punch her again. She spins around and hurls Sombra right back up into the air, following up by firing a beam of golden magic after him. Sombra rights himself...but he's too late to guard himself from Celestia's attack. Sombra blows away the magic after a moment, revealing that his armor has been singed and his body is slightly burned in a few places. However, it doesn't stop him from charging up an incredible amount of magic in his horn. With a roar, he fires a massive beam of destruction down at her. Celestia immediately turns to the ground and draws something in the snow around her with the tips of her hooves. Just before the beam of darkness reaches her, she turns and gives us all a meaningful look. Seconds later, the beam collides with the ground. The explosion that ensues is so large, a mushroom cloud forms from the point of impact. Celestia's form is completely obscured...and for a moment I start to fear the worst. If she's taken down...we're all screwed, because she's the one around which our entire plan hinges. When the smoke clears...Celestia is nowhere to be seen. Sombra lands nearby and looks at the crater formed by his attack, searching for any sign of his foe. "Strange...that should not have been enough power to vaporize her..." Sombra doesn't appear convinced that his attack worked. As he starts to look around for Celestia, I realize what just happened. "Come on! We've got to stop him!" I tell the other three. Understanding dawns in their eyes as they reach the same conclusion that I did. Celestia must have used a spell to teleport away...and now she's charging up the attack that will hopefully bring us victory. Now...all that's left is for us to buy time for her and damage Sombra as much as we can. Sombra turns his head to us as we run towards him. He is clearly more skilled than I am in close quarters combat, so I hang back and run in a wide circle around him, tossing shurikens and firing rifle shots every time I see a opening. Chrysalis gallops ahead of the other two, her eyes alight with fury. She reaches the king first and fires a blast of magic at point blank range. "How dare you call me a foal!?" Despite the fact that Sombra emerges from her blast practically unharmed, she presses her attack. "I have lived for hundreds of years...I am no foal!" Goddammit, Chrysalis is letting him get to her. Sombra knows this, as he's now grinning wolfishly. Despite how much magical power Chrysalis is putting into her attacks, he easily matches her and blocks or avoids everything she sends at him. "Queen Chrysalis, calm thyself!" Luna warns her as as she and Cadance join Chrysalis in attacking Sombra. Sombra shows off his skill with magic as he uses his hooves to combat Cadance and Chrysalis, and his halberd to block Luna's sickle sword, all at the same time. As for my shurikens and bullets, I can't seem to damage him at all. He dodges my shurikens and just lets my bullets hit him; they just bounce off of his skin and armor. Never once does his concentration falter. I grunt in frustration. His magical protection is ridiculously strong...even Vanta took damage when I shot him. "I will not be made a fool of by some smug tyrant!" Chrysalis rages, swinging her hoof wildly at Sombra. The king moves his head to one side, letting the queen's hoof zoom past him. Using the opening, he steps forward and knocks Chrysalis's head up with a swift uppercut to her chin. Then, he blasts her right off of her hooves with an explosion of shadow right to her chest. Goddammit, she keeps getting herself hurt for no reason! I rush in with my sword to keep the pressure on Sombra, but it isn't long before my blade clashes with his halberd. Every time I swing down at him, my blade collides with his halberd. One thing I notice is that his weapon has split into two smaller versions of itself, and he's now using the both of them to fight Luna and myself, hardly even needing to move his own body. Beside me, Luna and Cadance cease their onslaught and clasp hooves together. Recognizing what they're trying to do, I dash around Sombra using my increased movement and attempt to occupy his attention. I try to zoom around him like I did to the Mega Oppressed...only to find that Sombra is just as fast as I am. He and I run alongside one another, our weapons clashing together and showering sparks on the ground. Eventually Sombra skids across the ground and cuts me off, his halberd ramming against my sword. He moves forward and viciously headbutts me, his horn cutting a gash into my forehead. My vision flashes red and I swear I see stars. Finally, Luna comes to help me before Sombra can take advantage of my disoriented state. She kicks the king in the side and then brings her sickle sword to bear...only it looks very different compared to its usual appearance. The blade is shining a bright white, and is outlined by a telltale pink light that trails behind it. Sombra eyes the blade suspiciously and immediately blocks Luna's uppercut with a halberd. Sombra grunts as Luna's blade explodes with a mixture of pink and starry black magic. Taken by surprise, Sombra is hurled upwards into the air...where Cadance is waiting for him. She lets out a yell and blasts the king all the way back into the ground with a pink beam of magic that's tipped with a crescent moon. "I remember..." Chrysalis's voice grunts out from beside me. I look over to see her next to me, battered and burnt from all the hits she's taken from Sombra. "You and Luna used that same method to damage me...how would one do this?" "You want to combine magic with one of us?" I ask in surprise. Chrysalis seemed like the type who would be too proud to resort to combination attacks. "What I want...is to make that Sombra eat his words! I don't care how I do it!" Chrysalis hisses at me furiously. Not far from us, Sombra emerges from the cloud of snow thrown up from the explosion. His cape is burnt to rags, and his armor is singed black in several places. His skin is mostly uninjured, but if we can keep catching him off guard, we might be able to deal some actual damage. "Now tell me how!" I nod and hold out my hand to her, remembering Iron's description of combination spells. "Just give me your hoof, and channel your magic to me. You'll know what to do after that," I explain to her. Chrysalis nods and thrusts her hoof into my grasp. My fingers close around her, and I focus on channeling magic to her. A moment later, I feel her magic running through me...and god, it feels fucking weird. It's like there's tiny insects running through my skin. It makes me shudder. "Okay. Now let's go help Cadance and Luna before Sombra counterattacks!" King Sombra is looking between Luna and Cadance, no doubt putting two and two together. Therefore, the moment his eyes fall upon Chrysalis and I with her hoof in mine, his eyes narrow and he zooms toward us, propelling himself forward in a cloud of shadowy magic. Oh shit, he knows what we're up to. Luna and Cadance throw themselves in front of him, lashing out at him with their hooves. Sombra bats Cadance aside with a single hoof, knocking her into the snow and gouging out a trench in the land. Luna's sword flicks towards Sombra in a flash of dark metal, only to be blocked by Sombra's halberd. To Luna's horror, Sombra reveals his other halberd and brings it around. Luna attempts to dodge, but isn't fast enough. She cries out as the axe blade slices through her armor and leaves a bleeding gash behind. "Dammit, come here!" I meet Sombra next, my sword engulfed in sickly green flame. The king appears to recognize the threat, and as such he leaps and dances around me, his halberds flashing in. Each time, Chrysalis's magic running through my core helps me keep up with him. Every time my blade clashes with one of his, Sombra leaps away in case the sword explodes. However, that's not what I'm planning. He and I trade blows again and again, until finally Sombra fuses his two halberds together and knocks my sword right out of my hand with a swift flick of the shaft. The green flame dies away from the blade as it falls, which causes Sombra to grin again. His grin disappears when I leap into the air, Chrysalis's magic running through my right arm. As I raise my fist to strike him, the skin on my arm blackens and solidifies, forming a chitinous shell with holes running through it, looking very similar to one of Chrysalis's limbs. Small bulbous green orbs are embedded in my skin and claws extend from the tips of my fingers, giving my arm a demonic appearance. Time seems to move in slow motion as Sombra brings his halberd up to block. Finally, my transformed fist collides with the halberd...and completely shatters it to pieces. "Down you go!" I yell. Sombra's eyes widen, but there's nothing he can do to stop my fist from plowing right into his side. The king slams into the ground with a grunt of pain. The ground ruptures and forms a crater beneath his body. When he rises from the ground, I notice a bruise forming where I hit him. I doubt I pierced his magical protection, but perhaps he hadn't expected me to get past his halberd, and as such didn't bother to focus magic in that spot. Sombra growls and flares out his magical aura, melting the snow around him. "Hey!" Chrysalis calls out to the king, just as he starts to head for me. Sombra turns around to see the queen standing at the top of a hill, her horn alight with two different shades of green. Cuneiform runes much like the ones running across my body and in my aura now snake across her body, giving her an otherworldly appearance. "Talk tough after you take this!" Chrysalis lowers her head and fires all of our magic together at once in the form of a dense beam of magic. Accompanying the initial beam is what looks like a volley of gunfire emanating from her horn as if it were a rifle. Sombra leaps to face the incoming attack, his aura growing larger. "Enough of this!" Sombra growls in frustration, and then he fires a beam of magic even larger than Chrysalis's from his horn as well, meeting the emerald beam halfway. For a moment, both beams halt in place, neither one able to gain any ground. The air shudders with the raw magical energy, such that I can feel it blowing across my skin and bearing down on me. At last, the two beams merge and explode in a roiling pillar of emerald and dark energy. The explosion tears up the ground in a large area, blowing droplets of half-melted snow and rock outwards. King Sombra reveals himself by blowing away the debris near him with a wave of his own power. Glaring at Chrysalis, he brings one hoof up emphatically. The ground beneath Chrysalis cracks, causing her to look down. A split second later, a colossal black crystal erupts out of the rock at an incredible speed, knocking Chrysalis high into the air. Chrysalis yelps and rights herself, but the moment her flight stabilizes, Sombra appears behind her and hammers both of his hooves down on her head. I curse and run sideways until I can catch Chrysalis before she can hit the ground. There's so much momentum behind her flight that it sends the both of us skidding several meters backwards; I can feel the soles of my feet gouging into the rock beneath me. "This...this is ridiculous! Nopony should possess this much strength! It's unreal!" Chrysalis curses, the reality of the situation starting to dawn on her at long last. Sickly green blood is trickling from her nose and from the top of her head. Luna and Cadance walk up along side us. The gash in Luna's side is closed now thanks to Cadance's healing, but the both of them still look beaten and battered. The fur on Cadance's face is matted and stained with blood that's trickling from her mouth and nose, where she's taken the most hits. "Come on...we can do it. Let's work together and deal as much damage as we can!" Cadance attempts to encourage us. We all gaze towards Sombra, who is glaring at the four of us with annoyance stamped on his face. We haven't really done anything to him apart from a few lucky hits...but I'm hoping we've at least managed to drain his magic a little. "All together!" Luna calls to us, and then the four of us simultaneously break into a run, charging across the cratered and torn landscape towards the king. Forming two drummed machine guns, I open fire at Sombra's hovering form. "'Tis time ye understand...ye are outmatched!" Sombra asserts, letting himself fall to the ground. The muscles in his body visibly tighten as he calls upon his innermost reserves. His hooves dig into the rock, and I swear I can feel something in the air change. He's preparing something truly powerful. With a grunt, Sombra lifts a hoof and jabs it at the air in our direction. My eyes widen in shock and horror as the entire landscape shifts around us. The ground beneath my feet becomes soft and muddy as the structure of the rock itself alters to Sombra's whims. Ridges form on either side of us, growing larger and larger until they tower over us. Suddenly, the tops of the ridges form streams of black spiky crystal that spiral through the air towards us. There are so many of them, they form what looks like a wall of black thorns. Unable to halt my momentum, several of them hit me directly. Pure agony ripples through my body as thorns covered with Sombra's magic break through my protection and slice into my skin all over my body. Judging from the screams I hear from the other three, all of us have been caught up in this monstrously powerful attack. Powering through the pain, I summon up my magic and release a shockwave, breaking free of the crystalline vines. I leap to the nearest strand of crystal and run along its edge, hoping to find the others and break them free as well. Sombra appears beside me without any warning. I immediately propel myself from the strand of crystal...just as the king shatters it to pieces with an explosion of shadowy magic. Even though I avoided the main attack, the blast knocks me off course, causing me to slam into another strand of crystal near where Luna is imprisoned. Luna grunts and breaks free from the thorns, followed by Cadance and Chrysalis. As I'm kneeling on a strand and nursing my wounds, the three of them confront Sombra directly. It looks almost like a deadly dance as the three of them clash with him, leaping from strand to strand to avoid one another's attacks. Sombra charges directly towards Luna as the princess brings her sword down to him. Without even bothering to summon a halberd, Sombra swings his hoof at the weapon. To Luna's shock, his hoof shatters her blade as if it were made of glass. She quickly attempts to block his next attack, but it doesn't matter. There's so much force behind his strike that it powers through her guard and sends her hurtling downwards...where her side collides with one of the strands of crystal and breaks through it. As Chrysalis attacks Sombra head on, Cadance flies above him, charging a blast of pink magic on her horn. She yells and jerks her head downwards, hurling the bolt down at the king while he's distracted. Thankfully, the bolt hits him head on, causing him to grunt and back away from Chrysalis. King Sombra looks up and swipes his hoof to the right. Cadance yelps as a strand of crystal comes to life and rams her right in the side, carrying her away. Chrysalis, who is caught behind the strand, snarls and shatters it with her hoof. She rears up on her hind legs and spins rapidly in place, her forehooves trailing behind blades of sickly green magic. Sombra lifts his hooves and blocks the blades as they reach him, not even budging an inch. However, Chrysalis isn't finished. Chrysalis leaps into the air and lifts her forehooves, a ball of green magic forming there. I recognize the attack and force myself to my feet. I've had enough time to rest...and she needs some time. As Sombra moves towards her, the air around Chrysalis erupts with a ring of emerald explosions, forcing him back momentarily. Before Sombra can power through them, I land agilely on the strand of crystal behind him, my sword forming in my hand despite the fact that it was knocked away from me earlier. I swing it down over my head in an attempt to take him by surprise, but he turns in a blink of an eye and shoves my blade aside with one hoof. The other hoof rams into my chin with such force that my bottom teeth ram up into the roof of my mouth, splitting the skin and drawing blood. I recover as fast as I can and exchange several vicious blows with him, my blade clashing with his gauntleted hooves. He's so strong that each impact is jarring and painful, vibrations running down the blade into my arms. Sombra moves to one side, my sword whistling past his head. He swiftly pins the blade to the crystal beneath us with one hoof, and then his free hoof shoots out and flashes with magical energy. From the crystal strands surrounding me, spikes of black crystal shoot outwards, all of them hitting me simultaneously. The razor sharp tips snap off thanks to my magical protection, but the impacts themselves bruise me badly, to the point where I can't help screaming in pain. Sombra wastes no time in following up with an incredibly powerful blast of magic to my torso. I focus as much magic there as possible, but it's still powerful enough to shatter the spikes and carry me all the way down to the ground, where I fall prone with an intensely stinging burn on my chest. "Good work, Seth. Nice to see that you can be useful for something," Chrysalis compliments me. The orb of magic that she's been charging up is now at full size. She wastes no time and bringing her hooves forward and tossing the formidable ball of magic down towards King Sombra. "Beg for mercy, Sombra!" Sombra whirls around immediately, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the large ball of magic heading right for him. He reaches up a single hoof and stops the orb there, keeping it from hitting him. For a moment, I start to think that he's just going to deflect that too. However, as Sombra's hooves dig into the crystal, he starts to realize otherwise. He lifts the other hoof, holding the deadly orb back with both of them now. "Having trouble!? Have some more!" Chrysalis flies forward and shoots a stream of smaller balls of green flame into the main orb. Sombra's eyes widen, and the strand of crystal shatters beneath him. He lets out a low growl as the orb carries him further and further down to the ground, forcing him through any strand of crystal that gets in his way. As Sombra nears the ground, I realize that I might be caught in the explosion if I keep lying here. I start to get up, but it's really hard. Pain shoots through my body, making it slow going. Panic spurs me on as I start to think that I won't get out of here in time. "I've got you!" Cadance shouts, galloping past me and lifting me into the air with her magic. Luna is right beside her, and together the three of us get out of range just as Sombra hits the ground and the orb of green flame detonates. The explosion forms a pillar of searing green flame that rises high into the air, completely engulfing Sombra's form. The strands of crystal are all incinerated in the blast, leaving the area beaten, torn, and empty. Cadance stands in front of me, covering her eyes with her hooves and my body with her own as the shockwave from the blast rushes over us. Luna is just in front of me, applying what little healing magic she can spare to me to take the edge off of my pain. Chrysalis lands just in front of us, a smug grin on her face. She's as worn and beaten as the rest of us, her mane matted and her body pockmarked with cracks, each one oozing greenish blood. She watches the conflagration of her magic, until it finally starts to dissipate. What she sees in the clearing causes her jaw to drop in disbelief. Sombra stands in the center of the area, his cape burnt to shreds and his armor seared partially black. His mane is slightly singed and his body has trace burns on it, but other than that, he looks fine. I start to lose hope at the sight. Even with an attack as strong as that, he's taking only minimal damage. In comparison, I'm not sure how much longer I can keep fighting. With Luna's healing, I'm able to stand back up, but my body is battered and I'm running out of magic. Sombra takes several steps forward, and then he seemingly disappears. Before I can attempt to pinpoint his location, he appears directly in front of Chrysalis. The queen hardly has time to lift her guard before he's upon her. With one hoof, he wrenches her guard aside with a painful sounding crack, earning a shriek of agony from Chrysalis. Then, he grabs the queen by the neck and lifts her clear off the ground before slamming her into the ground hard enough to form a crater. Luna, Cadance, and I rush him next, attempting to get him away from Chrysalis. We don't even get close. Sombra rears up on his hind legs, his horn lighting up. The ground beneath us writhes and rumbles, forcing us to slow down or risk losing our footing. Jagged black crystals of various sizes rupture the ground from below and shoot upwards. I leap upward into the air to avoid them, but they're rising faster than I can, and there's practically no space between them. One of them catches me on the side, traveling at what feels like the speed of a train. My body is knocked upwards, turning end over end. Lightning bolts of pain shoot through my chest from what are no doubt broken ribs. The others don't fare much better. Each of them, including Chrysalis, are caught by the massive circle of crystals emerging from the ground and knocked into the air. Sombra appears beside Luna and kicks her towards the center of the circle. She attempts to counterattack, but he's already moving. He dashes to Cadance and bats away her attempts to stave him off, and then he lowers his head and rams her with his shoulders. With his head, he hurls her forward until she collides with Luna. Chrysalis grunts and turns her body, but Sombra's already in front of her, no mercy in his cold red eyes. With a spin of his body, he knocks her towards the center as well. Just as I'm starting to piece together what he's doing, he zooms through the air and forms beside me in a burst of shadowy energy. I lift my sword to block, but his hoof snaps the weapon right in half before ramming into my sternum. I collide with the other three in the center of the circle of crystals. "We need to move...he...!" I try to warn them, but it's too late. Sombra flies through the air until he's directly above us. He lifts both hooves and forms an orb of darkness between them. Before we can scatter, he throws it straight down...and it hits us all at once. I gasp and wheeze as I hit the ground on my stomach, winding me completely. My mouth fills with the iron taste of blood, until I can't help but cough it out onto the snow. Around me, Chrysalis, Luna, and Cadance land nearby, each of us badly damaged from that attack. "Have...have to get up..." I tell myself, steadily attempting to rise. I cry out pitifully with pain as I slowly rise. I crane my head up to look around...only to stare directly into Sombra's cold eyes. The words "oh shit" pass through my mind seconds before he wrenches me right off the ground by my arm and slams me into the ground again. My screams intensify as I feel my arm bone pop out of its socket, dislocated by the force of Sombra's throw. "I'll...I'll help! Seth!" Cadance manages to rise and rush Sombra as well...only for the king to bat her aside without much effort, sending her tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll. This is bad. It's not even a fight anymore...we're all so badly hurt it's becoming an effort just to stand. Celestia...where are you? We need you...now more than ever. Chrysalis forces herself to her feet, firing a blast of sickly green magic towards Sombra. "Enough..." Sombra says calmly, batting the blast aside. He lowers his head, charging a blast of magic that will no doubt wipe Chrysalis out if it hits her. "'Tis over. Thy struggle has ended." Chrysalis, one eye lid swollen and drooping over her eye, hardly has the strength to stand. All she is doing is staring helplessly as Sombra orients his horn on her. Recognizing what's about to happen, I force myself to my feet and break into a run. "CHRYSALIS!" I yell out hoarsely, throwing out my own working arm just as Sombra fires his attack. Realizing that I'm not going to make it, I throw my body forward, ramming into Chrysalis' side and carrying us both to the ground. Chrysalis squeaks with pain as we both skid across the snow, but it's worth it. The beam of magic passes right over us, searing the skin on my back in the process. I have to physically try not to cry with pain when I land on my dislocated shoulder. "You...idiot...you should...have let me die...and hit him instead..." Chrysalis criticizes me weakly, but I'm too out of it to answer. "Heh...we can't win...who'd have thought...I'd die here...with you..." The battlefield is quiet, save for the sound of the wind whistling eerily through the destroyed wasteland. The sounds of the battle in the Crystal Empire carry faintly over the wind. Cadance is lying on her side not far from us, groaning and struggling to move. "C-Can't move...it hurts..." she whines. Luna is similarly affected. She's lying on her knees, her body burnt and damaged. Her armor is in pieces, falling off of her body bit by bit. "I...sister...I cannot..." As for me...my body feels like it's on fire. My ribs are broken...I think some of my insides are damaged too, if this blood coming up my throat is anything to go by. My right arm is useless, my sword is broken...and I can hardly move. I guess we did...the best we could. King Sombra stands in the middle of us all, gazing down upon us with an unreadable expression. He's breathing a little harder than before. "Ye were worthy opponents...I shall afford ye that compliment," Sombra expresses. He closes his eyes and shakes his head. "But ye cannot stand in my way. I must attain more power...until I stand above the gods themselves." Sombra suddenly pauses, as if sensing something strange. He turns his head to look around. "Thy princess...Celestia. Her absence begins to trouble me," he expresses. He starts to walk away from us, not even bothering to finish us off. "Rest where ye lie...I shall return to finish ye once thy princess is dealt with." A bolt of adrenaline runs through my body as I remember Celestia's words. The one thing that she told us to do...the one hope that any of us would get out of this alive. "Remember the plan, everyone. When I retreat to build up my magical energy, you must keep him from searching for me. If I am interrupted, we are lost." I press my bleeding and cut hand onto the ground, pushing myself upright slowly. My eyes are fixed upon Sombra's retreating form. I can't...I won't let him leave. "Everypony...we have to...we need to stop him..." I grunt out, taking a step forward. "We can't give up here...all of our struggles...up to this point...will mean nothing....if we can't stop him here..." "You're right...I have somepony I have to go back to...I promised...I promised!" Cadance forces herself to her hooves and flares her magic. "Get up, everyone! I'm not ready to give up yet!" "Indeed...as long as I draw breath...I will never stop fighting," Luna asserts weakly. With Cadance's help, Luna gets back to her hooves as well. "I do this for my sister...and for the Equestria that we have built together." "I have a future waiting for me...one that I'm not going to give up on just yet...I too, have somepony waiting for me...and I won't disappoint her!" I assert, stepping unsteadily towards Cadance and Luna. I don't know how I'm going to fight with only one arm, but I'm with Luna. I'm not going to stop fighting until I'm dead. I've come too far just to let Sombra end everything here. "Easy...for you all to say..." Chrysalis chokes out, still lying prone. I turn back to face her, noticing how beaten she is. I've only seen her badly hurt once before, back at the Royal Wedding. She's much worse than that now...I don't even know how she's still conscious. "I don't have anyone waiting for me...no friends to welcome me back..." "Don't be fucking stupid," I snap at her, stopping just in front of her Chrysalis looks up at me sharply at my scathing words. "You have an entire hive waiting for you to come back and help them. Hell, you can hear what they're thinking all the time, right? Listen to them, Chrysalis. What are they saying?" Chrysalis freezes, her eyes going blank for a moment as she does what I suggest. When her eyes refocus, there's new vitality and strength there. "Heh, I guess you're right. They'd be utterly useless without me..." Chrysalis admits as she struggles to rise. She blinks as I offer my hand to her. "You...what are you doing?" "Let's stop Sombra, Queen Chrysalis. We've got your back," I say to her, hardly realizing the significance of my words until they're already out of my mouth. Chrysalis looks up at me, her jaw slightly falling open. She takes my hand and I help her to her hooves, albeit painfully. "Let's do this." Chrysalis gives me an appreciative glance. Her eyes trail down to my arm...and then she slams a hoof directly into my shoulder. I howl with pain as a sickening crack emanates from my joint. I almost fall back over from the pain, but she holds me up, unwilling to let me fall. Seconds later...I realize I can move my arm now. It hurts like a bitch....but I can move it. She helped set my shoulder back in place. "Are ye ready, everyone?" Luna yells out, starting to move towards the form of Sombra in the distance. "All together! Let us show King Sombra our true might!" "Yeah!" "Damn straight!" "For my changelings!" With that, we all break into a sprint, ignoring the immense pain in our bodies. King Sombra casts his gaze around the clearing as he follows Celestia's magical signature. So intent is he on his search, that the last thing he expects is for all four of us to appear around him in a circle. "What?" he emits in shock, seconds before Luna and Chrysalis knock him clear off his feet with a magical combination attack between the two of them. The king rights himself in midair and blows away the magic that just hit him. He powers up once more, his oppressive aura flaring into existence. Before he can counterattack, Cadance is running alongside him, firing laser after laser from her horn into his side. Sombra winces and moves his head to orient his horn on her. "Don't even think about it, bastard!" I run directly towards him, firing my pistol again and again. Sombra glares at me fiercely with one eye, not even bothering to block the bullets as they bounce off of his armor and skin. When I reach him, I leap into the air and bring my knee forward, the limb wreathed in emerald flame. Sombra raises a hoof and blocks it, repulsing me backwards with hardly any effort. "Gah!" "Have at thee, fiend!" Just as he's turning to fight me, a beam of starry magic slams into his side, sending him skidding back a few feet. Luna gallops directly towards him, her hooves lashing out, aiming for his head. Sombra spins in place and kicks her away. He starts to charge up another bolt of magic...but then Chrysalis's hoof barrels into his chin, snapping his head to one side. "I. Won't. Fall. Here!" Chrysalis yells, punctuating every word with two swift punches to Sombra's face and neck. Sombra growls, starting to get frustrated. However, the moment he repels Chrysalis with a vicious punch of his own, Cadance's blasts impact with his body once more. Cadance lets out a yell that rises in volume as scores of magical beams fire up into the air from her horn. Each one arcs down upon Sombra and explodes violently around him, causing him to grunt and retreat in an attempt to avoid them. "Don't give him a chance to fight back!" I yell to the others, attacking Sombra directly from behind. My magic coalesces around my hands, forming a set of emerald gauntlets with lethal spikes extending from each knuckle. As Sombra retreats from Cadance's assault, my fists catch him right from behind. My first punch manages to get through to him before he can focus magic in that area, leaving four bleeding gashes in his back. We attack Sombra relentlessly, each one of us dashing in and dealing as much damage as we can before he drives us away with his overwhelming strength. Every time he repulses one of us, another is in there to harass him. "Ye are most obstinate! Perish!" Sombra roars, and he blasts us all back with a shadowy shockwave, green electricity sparking from his body. Now that we're distanced from him, he lifts his hoof and sweeps it to one side. A wave of green electricity surges across the ground around us, knocking us all off balance and throwing us away. Sombra straightens up, expecting to have some room to breathe after that. To his shock, Chrysalis and Luna dash out of the smoke to combat him. We all are bleeding, battered, and burned almost beyond recognition, but we won't fall. Not yet. "Aaaaaaah!" Luna roars, her magic enshrouded hooves swinging forward to ram into Sombra's side. Chrysalis screeches out her battle cry, attacking from the other side with her entire body wreathed in sickly green flame. Sombra redirects Luna's hoof and rams his own into her midsection. A burst of shadowy magic explodes on impact, sending Luna's smoking form tumbling across the snow. He swiftly turns and blocks Chrysalis' next punch. Much to his surprise, Chrysalis grins, and green traces of her magic start to slither down Sombra's hoof. Sombra kicks Chrysalis away viciously and retreats, looking suspiciously at Chrysalis. "What are thy plans, insect?" the king demands. He attempts to step forward...only to find that he can't. Letting out a cry of alarm, he looks down to see four emerald whips of changeling magic wrapped around his hooves, holding him down. He strains against his bonds, slowly starting to break free. "A pointless endeavour. Thou canst hold me for long with such feeble magic." "I won't have to," Chrysalis informs him with a toothy grin. The resulting look of understanding on Sombra's face causes her grin to grow wider. "Let him have it, you two!" The dust cloud thrown up from Sombra's previous electrical attack finally dissipates, revealing Cadance and I, her hoof clasped in my hand. I let go of her and hold my left hand back, an emerald green orb forming at the tip of my finger. Cadance throws her right hoof back, a similarly sized pink orb forming there. The two orbs meet and merge together, forming a pulsing pink and green orb that steadily grows larger and larger in size, until it's the size of a watermelon. Sombra's eyes widen and he doubles his efforts to get free, but it's too late. "I'll give it everything I've got! Hyaah!" Cadance and I yell out and bring our assorted limbs forward at the same time, bringing the orb with us. With a sound unlike anything I've ever heard, the orb shoots forth into a beam that's easily twice the thickness of a redwood tree. Sombra isn't able to get free before the beam plows right into him and engulfs his form with an explosion that shoots into the air in a pillar of roiling pink and green light. The magic twists around itself within the blast, forming a vortex at the base of the pillar that tears up the ground in a large radius. Cadance and I slump down after that, breathing hard. I barely have any magic left...my transformed state is starting to fade. Cadance looks pretty winded herself...I only hope she can stay conscious a little while longer. We both know that was nowhere near enough to kill him. When the magical explosion dissipates, Sombra walks out of the crater left behind, free from his bonds. His cape is completely gone, and his armor is starting to fall apart. His body is more noticeably burned, to the point where it actually looks like we've really damaged him. He's breathing noticeably harder now, but he still looks very capable of fighting further. "Very well...ye has pushed me far enough. It is time I bring an end to this struggle...my kingdom awaits," Sombra says in a dangerously calm voice. Even with the trouble we're giving him, he's still keeping his cool. Despite everything, I have to admire that about him. His horn starts to spark dangerously with black lightning, something that I've never seen him do. "Ye shall bear witness to my most powerful technique..." "And you shall bear witness to mine!" The air fills with the sound of flapping wings as Celestia descends from the skies above, revealing herself at last. Behind her, the light of the dawn shines down upon us, giving her an air of true majesty. The four of us look up at her in exhilaration. She's here! With luck, we can bring everything to an end right here and now! Sombra lifts his head and glares up at the princess, one hoof scuffing at the ground. "Your end is at hoof, King Sombra! It is now that you answer for your crimes against ponykind...and humankind! Face the fury of the unbridled sun!" Celestia closes her eyes briefly. When she reopens them, her entire body seems to ignite. Her mane and tail physically catch fire, turning from their natural cool colors to a blazing red. Her eyes have gone pure white, tongues of flame trailing back from her corneas. Behind her, a small orb of flame appears. However...just by looking at it, I can tell it's no ordinary fireball. It seems much more pure...more primal. As the ball grows larger, I can see what looks like magma roiling across its surface...except it's not magma. My eyes widen as the ball surpasses Celestia in size and continues to grow at an incredibly rapid speed. I know what that is...that's not just a ball of flame. It's almost as if...that's a true sun behind her. That's impossible on so many levels...but I have no other explanation for what I'm seeing. Sombra takes a step back, fear filling his eyes at the sight of so much power accumulated before him. No doubt he truly understands now why we were fighting so hard to keep him from finding her....but it's too late for him to do anything about it. The sun, if that's what is is...is now so large, it makes Celestia look tiny in comparison. Celestia lets out a chilling battle cry, pure wrath evident in her voice. She flaps her wings forward, and the sun slowly starts to move forward, the very air dilating around it from the sheer heat emanating from its surface. Celestia flies around behind it and kicks it forward, sending it hurtling down towards the king. "Thou underestimates my power! I am the king!" Sombra roars. The black lightning sparking around his horn increases in intensity. He plants his hooves firmly on the ground and thrusts his head upwards, firing a beam of pure shadow so strong, that waves of black electricity form rings around it. As the two attacks meet in midair, the entire landscape beneath us shatters and ruptures. Any debris thrown up from the turbulence in the air is disintegrated by the waves of incredible magic power emanating from the struggle above. Sombra grunts and pours more power into the beam, causing the sun's momentum to slow to a halt. He grins and steps forward, slowly starting to push the sun back up, despite Celestia's efforts to push it down upon him. However...his grin disappears when he sees what's happening above them. Chrysalis, Luna, Cadance, and I are standing in a circle high in the air behind the sun. We are all linked together...them with their hooves intertwined, and me with my hands holding onto their hooves. Together, as our unique individual magics channel between us, our will becomes as one. We break apart and turn to face the struggle below, our bodies filled with the combined magic of one another. "This is for all the suffering you've caused...to my friends, my family, and to all those you enslaved! Hah!" Cadance lowers her head and fires a brilliant beam of pure rose forward. "My hive will not fall to the likes of you, scum! This is payback!" Chrysalis adds her power to the mix, firing a beam of brilliant emerald down towards the sun. "We shall never fade! Not while tyrants such as thee exist! Fall, King Sombra!" Luna jerks her head forward and fires a beam of brilliant navy blue, pinpricks of stars forming within the deadly magic. Without a word, I lunge forward, using the combined magic given to me by the others to propel myself forward. I fly forward directly into the point where the three beams mix, merging my entire body with them. Together, the magics merge together into a single pillar of destruction, colored a bright sparkling gold. Like a golden comet, I surge through the air down towards the sun. "Let's end this!" I cry out. I pull my fist back, and then just as I reach the sun, I slam it forward, right into the roiling maelstrom of sweltering heat. The surface of the sun seems to press inwards beneath my punch. It gives me resistance, but I use every last drop of magic in my body to overpower the force of Sombra's magical beam. Down below, Sombra's eyes widen with horror as the sun slowly overcomes his magical might. "What? No! My power...my power cannot be overwhelmed! Not by this!" Sombra's yells of denial turn into a cry of pain as the sun presses into his skin and pushes him right into the ground, the rock melting on contact with the sun. I hover there in midair, my transformed state fading away, leaving me void of all magic. Even the amount that I'm using to stay afloat is leaving me, my body wobbling in the air. I don't move, though. Instead, I watch the sun pressing down against Sombra's body, disintegrating his flesh and tearing apart his body. "Come away with me, Seth!" Celestia's hooves close around me, her appearance back to normal. As the last of my magic runs out, she carries me away from the battlefield...just as the sun explodes. "CELESTIAAAAAA!" Sombra's roar of utter agony echoes across the landscape as the resulting detonation obscures my vision with pure white. I have to cover my eyes to keep from being blinded...because all I can see is white. If I had to describe the scale of the explosion...the only word that comes to mind...is a supernova. Celestia holds me tight and keeps me safe from the tumultuous shockwaves that rush across the landscape, completely obliterating any natural formations nearby. The explosion sounds as if hundreds of speeding trains are zooming past my ears at every given moment. The winds that pass over us are akin to that of a hurricane's...and if it weren't for Celestia's strong hooves holding me close, I'd be blown away like a leaf in a storm. It seems like an eternity before the world finally comes back to normal, the light fading away and the shockwaves dissipating. When I open my eyes, my jaw drops. The landscape for a large radius is now a blackened wasteland, flat and devoid of life. In the center of it all is a dark and wide crater; the center of the explosion. Celestia lowers me to the ground beside the others, who are as spent as I am. She looks down at all of us, a proud smile on her face. "I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am to see that you are all okay," Celestia expresses to all of us fervently. Heh...that's subjective. I'm pretty sure that most of me is broken right now...or at least that's how I feel. Celestia lowers her head, her horn lighting up. "I only possess a small amount of magic, but I will do my best to soothe your pain." Celestia stands over us all, a faint stream of golden magic descending upon each of us. I can feel it trying to ease my burns and fix my broken bones...but it's going extremely slowly. At best, she's treating the most life-threatening injuries...but it's clear we'll all need medical treatment soon. "Is...is he gone?" Cadance rasps from where she's lying on the ground a short distance away. "I believe so. I have never concentrated so much magic into a single technique before. It...was quite taxing," Celestia reveals, sweat beading on her brow from her healing efforts. Her words cause me to remember my lessons with Twilight. According to her, our cores are generally capable of holding much more magic that we can put out at once. However...if one of us were to spend a great deal of time continuously releasing magic and concentrating it into a single technique...we would be capable of producing an attack far above our current ability. "However, I believe it would be prudent of us to make sure of that." "That would be best..." Luna grunts, starting to stir now that she's slightly healed. Celestia's spell soon peters out. My whole body is still burnt and battered...but I can at least move. "I will...join thee..." "Me too...I need to see for myself," I agree. Celestia gazes at us all soulfully, and nods. She helps her sister stand, and then proceeds to do the same to the rest of us. "I won't relax until I see him in a pile of ash." I try to take a step forward, but one of my legs gives out. Before I can hit the ground, a hoof grasps me by the arm painfully, earning a cry from me. "Oh, quit complaining and lean on me..." Chrysalis grumbles, placing my arm around her shoulders. She staggers a bit herself, but with the two of us supporting one another, we manage to stay upright. She colors a bit when she sees me looking at her. "Don't look at me like that! You're an utter fool...but you did save my life, for whatever reason." Similarly Celestia supports both her sister and Cadance, despite her own visible signs of fatigue. Together, the five of us slowly approach the dark crater where King Sombra supposedly met his end. In the distance, we can still hear the sounds of battle raging in the Crystal Empire. Despite Sombra's apparent defeat...there's still one general left. There's no way to know for sure whether or not Sombra is truly gone. I curse softly as Chrysalis and I nearly slip into the crater. The lip is precarious and the angle of descent is steep. If we aren't careful, we could tumble all the way to the bottom and further injure ourselves. I let out a low groan of agony as I have to put weight on my legs to keep from falling as we descend into the crater. "There is no need to push yourselves...travel at your own pace," Celestia assures us as she navigates Luna and Cadance down into the crater with her. Right...that's easy for her to say. It feels more painful if I move too slowly...but I can't speed up either. It feels like forever before we reach the bottom with the other three. The ground we're walking on is completely changed in composition from before. Well, I say that, but I don't really know what it used to be. I'm just sure there wasn't obsidian involved before. Celestia's attack must have melted the ground, which then quickly froze back over. It's a bit scientifically farfetched, but whatever. At the very bottom of the crater, there's a fine layer of ash...and what looks like blackened bits of warped metal. If I assume that's what's left of Sombra's armor...then...I start to think we may have succeeded after all. Something glints in the ash pile, catching my eye. "Let me down for a second..." I grunt at Chrysalis. She wordlessly releases me, almost causing me to fall over. I get down on my hands and knees, conscious of the others watching me. "I see something in here...aha!" I pull out an ash covered Alicorn Amulet from the pile. Surprisingly enough, the thing is not only in one piece, but it also looks completely untouched. Celestia approaches me as I dust off the ash from the amulet, revealing the ominous red gemstone, which shines with a pristine brilliance. "The Alicorn Amulet...it is said that it cannot be removed by anyone other than its bearer," Celestia observes, lowering herself down beside me. She lets out a soft exhale. "If you have found it...then perhaps we may assume that we are victorious." Sighs of relief sound from each one of us. Cadance promptly falls unconscious in Luna's grip, carrying the both of them to the ground. Chrysalis just lets out a low hiss, too exhausted to say anything. A small smile crosses my face. We did it...he's gone. Now I can go back to Rainbow...and Ponyville. I have never missed that town more than I do right now. "What of the battle?" Luna questions weakly. "The undead still press upon the city...yet none of us possess the magic to fight them." "Perhaps not...but I will return and assume command of the defense. We may be outnumbered, but I have faith in our allies. We shall not lose to the remnants of his army," Celestia assures us all. She spreads her wings in preparation for take off. "Let us go. I shall escort you to the rear camp for treatment." "That sounds amazing. Let's go already..." I say, forcing myself to my feet. My legs wobble beneath me, causing me to reach out a hand to Chrysalis's back to steady myself. The other hand is still holding the Alicorn Amulet. As I walk with Chrysalis towards the edge of the crater, I lift up the amulet to look at it. I've never really had a close look at this thing...but apparently it's supposed to make you really strong, at the cost of corrupting you. I guess Sombra was corrupt to begin with...so it never affected him that much. I peer closer at it, the gem winking up at me invitingly. The way the light reflects from its surface is fascinating...it kinda makes me want to try it on myself. The second that thought runs through my mind...the amulet comes to life in my hand. The amulet releases a deep thrum that sounds eerily like a heartbeat. A small wave of air dilates away from the center of the device...and something in my body starts to feel very wrong. "Ga...aaagh!" I choke, pain running through my whole body. It feels as if my very insides are rebelling against me, pressing against my outer skin in every direction. "Seth? What is it?" Chrysalis demands. A look of alarm crosses her face as I fall forward onto my knees. I can't look away from the amulet. The central gem seems to be pulling me in like a black hole. I try to let go of the amulet, but my fingers won't loosen around its frame. "Celestia! Something's wrong!" My vision blurs and unfocuses as the feeling of my insides roiling inside me intensifies. I blink to attempt to clear my vision...and the first thing I see denies all explanation. Something is coming out of my body...shimmering and undulating as it tugs fiercely against me in an attempt to get free. The Alicorn Amulet is glowing brightly now, drawing the shimmering apparition forward towards the central gem. As my vision grows even more unfocused, I realize with a shock that the apparition is a ghostly reflection of myself. As soon as I realize that, the central gem appears to grow larger and larger in my perception, until the image of glimmering red crystal is all I can see. A rushing sound fills my ears, growing rapidly louder in volume until it overwhelms my every sensation...and then everything goes dark as my consciousness fades. The last thing I hear is the sound of Celestia and the others frantically calling out my name. When consciousness returns to me, I become aware that I'm lying on a cool, smooth surface. I lie there for a while...until I realize that I don't feel any pain. My eyes open in alarm as I remember what happened before I passed out, and I quickly lurch upwards and look around. The first thing I see is the color red. There's so much red around me, it's hard to make out anything else. The smooth, reflective surface of the floor is colored that same red, as are the walls and faceted ceiling. Wait, facets? Looking up at the ceiling, I confirm my initial findings. The ceiling is indeed faceted like that of a gemstone, and made of the same red material as everything else. However, it's slightly translucent, as I can see up through it to an empty blue sky, far away in the heavens. Where the hell am I? Getting to my feet, I start to walk. The clicking of my burned boots across the crystalline floor echoes eerily throughout the expansive room. Come to think of it...I can't tell how big this place is. I see the walls supporting the ceiling all around me, but they don't seem to be getting any closer, no matter how far I walk. I'm completely and utterly confused. We defeated Sombra, didn't we? So what happened? "Shall I explain it to you?" the deep, unearthly voice echoes eerily in the wide open space, coming from behind me. I whirl around immediately...and then freeze in shock and horror. King Sombra is standing several meters away from me, alive and completely unharmed. The king takes several steps forward. Unlike before, he's not wearing anything at all. There's no crown, no armor, no cape, no nothing. There's just a dark gray stallion before me, his shadowy mane falling to either side of his face now that there's no crown to hold it back. "It seems that my destiny is tied to thine own, Seth Rogers," Sombra addresses me solemnly. He clicks his tongue, his eyes closing momentarily. "That it would be thy hand that clasps the amulet...Fate's whims are fickle, indeed." I finally find my voice, dread sinking into the pit of my stomach just at the very sight of this stallion. "What...what's going on? How are you still alive?" I demand, a hint of despair in my voice. I don't know where or how he brought me...but if it's just him and me...I'm beyond screwed. "We watched you die!" Sombra inclines his head in agreement. "You are correct. I was outwitted and outmaneuvered by thy clever plan. To think that Princess Celestia would feign destruction in order to build up an attack of such magnitude...my body is no more," he reveals, shaking his head as if disappointed in himself. His expression turns into a hard stare. "But I never enter a battle without a plan. As it was one thousand years ago...the same holds true now." "What are you talking about?" I ask him, not liking what I'm hearing. "There was another reason I requested Hawke to retrieve the Alicorn Amulet," Sombra begins calmly. "This gemstone is of a particularly unique strain...as it is one of the few gems that can house a living soul." "You mean...!" Everything starts to make sense...and I think I'm starting to realize what I'm doing here. "Thou art standing within the amulet itself," Sombra reveals, lifting a hoof and sweeping it through the air, indicating our surroundings. "I enchanted it to receive my soul should my body retain irreparable damage...and to steal the soul of the first to lay hoof upon its surface." "You stole my...you...you took me down with you?" I step forward, fury running through my body. It overpowers my despair and seems to run through me like an electrical current. Every part of me rebels against what I was just told. "You couldn't just die, could you!? You couldn't just let go of your ill-gained empire and this ridiculous quest for power!? I had something to live for, you son of a bitch!" "Destroying thee is indeed the goal...but I will not be destroyed with thee," Sombra corrects me, ignoring my outburst entirely. "We are both trapped within the amulet...but it is enchanted to expel its contents when only one soul remains. Let me make mine intentions clear to thee, Seth. The only nearby vessel capable of sustaining a soul...is thy body." "I can't believe this. So let me get this straight. You want to kill me here...and then take my body?" I repeat in disbelief. It looks like I'm going to have to fight after all. I don't understand how one soul fights another...but I'll be damned if I'll let him have my body. "It would never work. You'll be found out immediately! If not by Celestia, then by anypony else who even remotely knows me!" "The aftermath does not concern thee...for thy tale ends here, Seth Rogers," Sombra tells me threateningly. He starts to walk forward, shadowy power swirling up from the floor around his hooves. "I will not die. I will crush thy soul and continue to live, so that I may attain even more power." "Not if I have anything to say about it," I retort, lifting a hand. I try to flare my aura...only to find that my core is completely absent. Wait what? How is that possible? This isn't like before, when my magic was stolen. Then, I could feel my core...but it was devoid of all magic. Now, it's just gone. "What the hell? My magic!" "Thy core is embedded in thy body. Thou wilst not be able to access it from within the amulet," Sombra explains. That doesn't make sense...if I can't access my magical core, how is he doing it? "As a soul, thy strength is a manifestation of thine own will. This is a battle of minds; thou hast no need of magic." I become completely still after that explanation. A strange feeling of calm rushes over me as I truly understand the situation for the first time. Nothing matters here, in the amulet. My friends, the battle, my home...nothing exists here except for myself...and King Sombra. None of us can leave until the other is defeated. "A battle of will?" I say softly, walking across the crystalline floor towards the king. I briefly close my eyes, picturing for just one second what would happen if I fell here. My eyes shoot open...and they're blazing with emerald magic. "You made a mistake." Sombra takes a step back, his eyes widening as I seemingly disappear from his vision. "How...?" is all Sombra has time to say before I appear in front of him. My fist streaks forward and barrels into his chest, and then my forehead smashes into his savagely. My blazing eyes glare into his surprised red pupils...and then I spin on one foot and kick him ruthlessly away from me. Emerald light explodes outwards from the impact. Sombra hurtles through the air, smoking from the burns he just sustained. Just as he rights himself, I appear above him in midair. "You made a mistake, Sombra!" My body spins like a top, gaining momentum until I kick him right back down into the ground. "You won't be taking my body. You won't even destroy my soul." Sombra growls and meets me head on when I appear in front of him. His shadowy hooves collide with my fists, a shockwave shooting outwards from the impact. For once...King Sombra and I are on an even playing field...no, this isn't even. This isn't even at all. The king's eyes are wide with shock and disbelief as I easily overpower his guard and bring my fist down from overhead, plowing him into the floor. "What are you fighting for, King Sombra?" I demand, dashing across the floor in a streak of emerald light. "Power...and recognition. I will gain power to rival that of the gods! I will not be stopped by thee or thy allies!" Sombra responds fervently. He slides across the floor and leaps to his hooves. He thrusts his horn forward, and hundreds of emerald lightning bolts streak through the air with a fizzing zap. "Are you serious? That's it!?" I reply angrily. Everything seems to just come naturally to me...my movements...and the "spells" that I'm using. I know that none of this is true magic...but it doesn't matter. The magical aura around me turns from emerald to a blazing white. I sweep my hand in front of my face, causing a massive white circle of magic to appear in front of my body...its inner workings dotted with thousands of cuneiform runes. When Sombra's lightning bolts collide with the circle, I thrust out my palm, causing the circle to flare brightly and redirect each and every one of the bolts, changing them to the color of my own power. "Power, power, power! That's all you ever say! Is that the only reason you fight? There has to be more!" "I...aaagh!" Sombra roars with pain as every single bolt slams into his body, engulfing him in an explosion. He blows it away with a shockwave of his own power and slams his hooves on the ground. Two shadowy circles of his own power form in the air behind him. Sparks of green electricity gather together in the center of each one and shoot forth in the form of two solid beams of dark magic. "It is of no concern to thee...I will crush thy soul with my will alone!" "What will!?" I shout back at him, catching both beams on each of my palms. I'm forced back several feet from the force...but the skin on my hands aren't hurt. They don't hurt at all. With a yell, I redirect the both of them to either side, where they detonate harmlessly. I zip forward at speeds I never once thought I was capable of before...but come easily to me now. I appear above Sombra and somersault through the air, bringing my fists down on his guard. He and I are strain against one another, neither of us giving any ground. "The will to get stronger, no matter who you hurt in the process; and the will not to die!? Did you really think your will was strong enough to triumph!?" "What then, dost thou suggest, impudent human?" Sombra grunts and forces me back, spinning in place and bucking me back several meters. I quickly land on my feet and dash back to meet him. "Dost thou think thy will is stronger than mine own?" "You're goddamn right I do! In fact, I have to thank you." He and I clash together once more, exchanging vicious and thunderous blows that visibly distort the air around us. "If it weren't for you...I likely never would have come to understand the things I do now. People aren't the scum I thought they were..." I twist and swing my foot in a kick, which he blocks on one hoof. "They're capable of pushing past the surface to see who we truly are..." Ducking beneath Sombra's punches, I swiftly stand back up and uppercut him in the chin. "They're capable of kindness...laughter...generosity...honesty...loyalty...and so much more!" Sombra skids backwards across the floor after receiving a fierce kick from me. He's breathing heavily now...and his body is starting to waver in form. He looks panicked, his last plan failing no matter how hard he's fighting back. "It's a magic I never thought I'd be able to understand...so for that...I have to thank you," I tell him, slowly walking across the floor to him. I crack my knuckles threateningly. I'm not going to stop until I've destroyed him. Only one of us is getting out of this alive. "But you...do you even know how many people you've hurt? How many ponies?" "It...it dost not matter...they wert..." Sombra attempts to say, but I'm not having any of it. I raise my fist and clench it, white flame erupting around it. "Do you even know their names!?" I shout viscerally. Sombra doesn't respond, instead backing away from me. I don't let him get any farther, dashing to him and knocking him high into the air with an explosive punch. "I'll tell you..." I circle in the air around him, zooming in and punching him mercilessly. I don't even let him fly backwards; I fly around him so fast that I hit him right back into the air. I punch him again and again, shouting each and every name that I remember back at him. Sombra's mouth is open in a scream of pain as he takes my relentless attacks. I yell the names of the princesses, the Islanders, the changelings, the crystal ponies, the soldiers...everything that I can remember. At last, I come to the most important ponies to me. "Celestia!" "Twilight Sparkle!" "Pinkie Pie! "Fluttershy!" Each name I yell, punctuate with several vicious punches. Sombra never even reaches the ground, due to the sheer amount of hits he's taking. As I continue to shout out more names, I speed up faster and faster. "Rarity! Applejack! Rainbow Dash!" I slug him right into the ground, which shatters beneath his body. Sombra grunts and coughs, getting to his hooves slowly. His body is beaten and battered...and it won't stay in focus. I land in front of him. "And that's just the ponies...I wish I could tell you the names of each and every human you ordered killed...but I don't know them myself." I slide forward and slam my elbow into him before he can raise his guard. "But I do know Amaryllis! I do know my mother, Elaine! I do know my father, Gerome! My brother, Adam!" My assault never lets up, to the point where my fists are starting to sting from all of the times I've hit him. I kick him up high into the air. "I know Hawke, the one you manipulated! And this is for making my life a living hell!" Sombra flips in midair and grunts, fury overtaking him. "Cease thine endless prattle! I care not for these names...they mean nothing to me! Only power!" Sombra's horn lights up like a lightning rod, channeling an immense amount of power. A massive runed circle appears in the air in front of him, colored pure black. Hundreds of smaller circles spread out from the central circle, forming a curved arc...with me at the focus point. "I will not die!" "You won't stop me here!" I propel myself off of the ground at the speed of a rocket, my fist arcing back and igniting with power. My energy spreads out from my body, sweeping across the entirety of open space in the amulet behind me. Everything becomes awash in white. Around me, shapes form in the white flame...coalescing into the likeness of Amaryllis, my family, Hawke, Celestia, Rainbow, and every single other individual that I'm fighting for...manifestations of my will. My fist collides with Sombra's magic with a colossal crash. My power washes over his...crashing together like a tidal wave against the shore. An array of concentric circles emanate from the point of impact, trailing back over my body and drilling in the floor far below me. His power holds me back...but I won't let it stop me. Sombra's eyes open wide with horror as his will only slows me, rather than stopping me outright. With a rising yell, my fist shatters his magic like glass...and then my arm shoots right through Sombra's middle. Our magic merges together and explodes around us...but I can't feel any of it. All I can see is the shocked face of Sombra in front of me...and the sight of him impaled on my arm. "That one...is for all of the humans and ponies whose names I don't know," I whisper to him softly. I rip my arm out of his chest, leaving behind a gaping hole that shines with a bright white light. "What...what is this..." Sombra lands on the ground and presses a hoof to the blazing hole in his chest. Already, cracks are starting to form in his body, white light leaking through from within. He squeezes his eyes shut as he attempts to keep his body together...but to no avail. "No...I cannot die...I will not die...I need..power...more power! This...isn't enough!" I stand there and watch calmly, breathing hard, as Sombra nears his end. The king's body fragments and starts to crumble. "I...need more power!" Sombra roars. Suddenly...he pauses, as if accepting his end. "Why...why did I...desire power? What...was I fighting for? Can't...recall..." Sombra's eyes suddenly open. His pupils...instead of being dark red as they always are...are now a calm shade of green. Understanding dawns in his face as his body falls apart. "Ah...yes...now I remember...the Crystal Fair..." With that, I have to cover my eyes as Sombra's body detonates, a bright white light filling the entire area. It gets so bright to the point where I can't see anything else. My senses are soon overcome by that blinding light...until nothing is left. I suddenly jerk awake, familiar pain filling my body from all of the wounds I sustained in the battle. I open my eyes to see a canvas ceiling. In the background, I can hear the soft tones of Fluttershy soothing a wounded soldier, telling me exactly where I am. The moment I grunt in an attempt to rise, I hear the sound of scores of hoofbeats galloping towards me. The first thing I see is a cyan pony poking her head in my face. "He's awake! Everypony look! He's back!" Rainbow exclaims happily. The whole room explodes into chatter, the loudest of whom is Pinkie. "Oh, thank goodness!" Rarity gasps from somewhere around. "Somepony get Fluttershy!" "I'm here...it'll be okay." I wince as I feel a wet cloth brushing against my burns. Despite their protests, I force myself into a sitting position...to see everyone looking at me. I mean everyone. Everyone from Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and her friends; to Iron, Salamul and the Islanders; to Chrysalis, Pterax, and the changelings; to Trixie and Swift from my team; to Celestia, Luna, and Cadance, each of them still badly injured, but forcing themselves to stand. "Seth...are you alright?" Celestia asks me anxiously, rushing to my side. I nod, and she gives a small sigh of relief. "Is it over?" I look down at my hand, where I've apparently been holding the Alicorn Amulet so hard that it has cut into my palm. The gem, once so lively and bright...is now dull as a stone. As I watch, a crack runs through the center of it. "Yeah," I say with a sigh, true relief settling upon me for the first time since this whole war began. "It's over."

Tales of the Oppressed

130. The End of the War

The room fills with the sound of happy cheers at my words. The different ponies around me, even as battered as they are, hug one another with joy. Cadance allows herself to slump to the floor, tears of happiness and exhaustion trailing down her cheeks. Beside her is Luna, a smile on relief on her usually composed face. Rainbow leaps onto the bed and nearly hugs my neck out of excitement, but she instead settled for resting at my side and nuzzling me affectionately once she remembers how hurt I am. Applejack is awake in the bed next to me, with Rubella standing and Amber resting in the sheets next to her. Applejack is smiling broadly, as relieved as all of us to hear that the war has finally ended. "It's finally over...I almost can't believe it," Rarity admits, her hooves wrapped around Twilight in a happy hug. Even the other wounded soldiers filling the beds here are smiling, lifting their hooves and cheering with the rest of us. "I thought it would never end." "At long last..." Celestia finally says with a sigh. Her knees buckle beneath her from exhaustion...and she would have fallen right to the floor if there hadn't been several other soldiers there to catch her. "Oh...oh dear...I am more drained than I thought..." "Oh no, bring her here please. I'll do my best to make her comfortable," Fluttershy insists, quickly setting up another bed to accommodate the princess. Celestia smiles gratefully as her soldiers help her to the bed. "That goes for the rest of you...none of you are in any condition to be standing." "Please, I'll be fine. I certainly don't need a pathetic pony like you to look over me," Chrysalis hisses softly, even as Luna and Cadance obediently move to the nearest open beds. Despite her words, she's hardly standing. The only reason she hasn't fallen yet is because she's leaning against a pile of crates. Fluttershy bites her lip in fright, but bravely attempts to approach Chrysalis anyway. She promptly flees under the bed when Chrysalis hisses at her. "I mean it...I can handle mysel...wha!?" Chrysalis lets out a screech of utter shock as a brown hoof snakes beneath her belly, hoisting directly into the air. The ponies nearby scatter in every direction as the queen kicks and flails in the grip of the Warlord Salamul. "Put me down! I will not be handled in such a familiar fashion!" Chrysalis protests hotly. "You are being stubborn..." Salamul rumbles, refusing to loosen his grip. Compared to Chrysalis, his body is much better shape; there's no way she's going to get free from him right now. She eventually realizes that and stops struggling, hanging limply from the warlord's grasp. "You need to rest, else you run the risk of injuring yourself further." "What do you care?" Chrysalis retorts as the warlord lays her into one of the beds. Salamul doesn't answer, instead turning back around and approaching his fellow Islanders. She's left watching him with a confused and embarrassed expression. Despite all of the celebration around me, I'm a little confused as to what happened while I was out. I look at Rainbow. "What happened to the undead? Wasn't there another general out there controlling them?" I ask her softly. "What? Oh yeah, we totally kicked their tails!" Rainbow responds enthusiastically. "You should have seen me out there. I was like a whirlwind of color, beating down any nasties that got close. There was this one minotaur that..." "Rainbow," I interrupt wryly "What?" Rainbow stops in the middle of acting out her encounter with the aforementioned minotaur. "The general. What happened?" "Oh, the general. Well, he fell pretty quick, to be honest," Rainbow continues. "He got up close...and I just have to say, he was REALLY frustrated. The two Islander guys...uh...Salamul and Iron...took him down in the blink of an eye!" "Not surprising," I remark, looking over to the two warlords. Despite having fought with a general, neither of them look all that injured. I wish one of them had been around when we fought Shatter. Then Applejack wouldn't have needed to get herself beaten to near death. "What about you? The princess said you were soulless or something! We were freaking out!" Rainbow demands. "Well, that's a long story. Suffice to say, Sombra didn't go down so easily," I admit to her. Rainbow looks even more curious, unsatisfied with that little of an answer. "I'll have to tell you later, once I'm not in a million pieces." The celebration doesn't get any quieter. In fact, as word spreads out of the room to the soldiers outside, it isn't long before the whole army is letting out victory cries and shaking their hooves and weapons in the air. I can't help but smile, listening to it all. It makes me feel really warm, knowing that I helped make this happen. However, there's one thing that still bothers me. When Rainbow goes to speak with one of the others, I turn my head over to my right. "Celestia," I say to the princess in the bed on the other side of me. Celestia turns her head to meet my gaze curiously. "What's the Crystal Fair?" "Hm...it sounds familiar, but I am not quite sure," Celestia admits. "Oh! I can answer that!" Twilight zips between us almost faster than I can follow, excitement evident in her voice. Celestia chuckles at her enthusiasm. "I read it in the same book that taught me about the Crystal Heart!" "Speaking of the Crystal Heart..." I say, interrupting Twilight and turning back to the princess. "Do not worry. The Crystal Heart has been secured, as has the Element of Magic. All is well," Celestia assures me. I sigh in relief. I didn't see the Element of Magic among Sombra's remains, so I'd been worried. I'm guessing he actually stored them someplace away from the battle. "You were saying, Twilight?" Twilight straightens up proudly. "Yes, the Crystal Fair. It's an annual event that was held by the Crystal Ponies before King Sombra's reign. There were games, refreshments, and other attractions, like jousting! It was all meant to lift their spirits and power up the Crystal Heart!" she explained. For some reason, during her explanation, Pinkie had somehow arrived without any of us noticing. She immediately leaps into the air and gasps over-dramatically. "Ohmigosh, it's like a huge party! How have I not heard of this before? Princess, we need to do it! It would make all the Crystal Ponies so happy!" Pinkie asserts loudly. "Please, can we do it? Please please, can we? Oh, princess, please... "What would?" Rubella approaches us timidly as Pinkie continues to bounce up and down, pleading with Celestia. She had apparently heard Pinkie mention her kind. Celestia chooses not to immediately respond to her, instead rubbing her chin with a hoof, contemplating Pinkie's words. "That is a good idea, Pinkie Pie. How would you like to be in charge of planning it?" Celestia offers after several seconds, her lips curving into a knowing smile. Pinkie's eyes go as wide as dinner plates. "YEEESSS!" Pinkie squeals extremely loudly, causing me to wince and cover my ears. She looks a little sheepish when she sees us all wincing. "I mean, me, planning the first party the Crystal Ponies have seen in over a thousand years? Count me in! We'll invite all of Equestria!" "Party?" Rubella questions, her head lifting a little with hopeful curiosity. "Very well. Once I have enough time to heal, I will set the army to work clearing the rubble and repairing the damage to the Crystal Empire...and then you and I can see about making preparations for the Crystal Fair. Does that sound good, Pinkie Pie?" "Yessiree, Princess Celestia!" Pinkie responds enthusiastically. However, it's Rubella's reaction that's the most telling. Rubella's jaw drops, her eyes widening with disbelief. "The...the Crystal Fair? We're going to have the fair again!?" she asks, unsuccessfully trying to keep her hope in check. Celestia doesn't respond, instead smiling at the crystal pony reassuringly. "I...I don't believe it...is it really over? You even have the Crystal Heart?" Pinkie hops beside Rubella and wraps a hoof around her in a loving manner. "Of course! I'm gonna make it the best Crystal Fair you've ever had!" she assures the crystal mare. "The princesses have the heart! Right, princess?" "Indeed. It is kept under lock and key at the spire...ready to be retrieved when needed," Celestia affirms. "Rest assured, little one. We will not allow your kingdom to fall into ruin...not while we still breathe." Rubella gasps softly. She closes her eyes briefly, tears squeezing out from beneath her eyelids. When she opens her eyes once more, her body flashes and undergoes a transformation. Her mane and tail style themselves, life returning to her twinkling coat. She gallops over to Amber and scoops her little sister into a hug, excitedly telling her the good news. It isn't long before Amber too is shining with a crystalline light, matching her sister. "Wow...that's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" Rarity exclaims, seeing the way the two ponies shine and reflect the light as if they were actually made out of crystal. She soon joins Pinkie and Twilight, looking interested in our conversation. "So...for this Crystal Fair...will there be decorations?" Rarity puts on her most winning smile at Celestia, even batting her eyes a bit in an attempt to look as adorable as possible. I sigh and rub my forehead. Even I can tell what she wants in this situation. Celestia obviously can as well. "Yes, you may assist in the decor, Rarity," Celestia obliges her. Rarity does her best to hold in her joy at that response, instead bowing formally and thanking the princesses politely. However, the moment Rarity turns to leave, she giggles and then squeals with glee. "I am quite liking this idea of a party in the Crystal Empire, now that we have claimed victory." "Me too! All the crystal ponies will love it! We just have to get this right!" Twilight agrees. She turns and starts to trot away. "I have to go read up on the fair! The more we know, the more authentic we can make it! This'll be so much fun!" "I am curious, however, how the topic of the fair came to be on your mind, Seth," Celestia addresses me personally now that the others have left us and we're relatively alone. "It's...just something Sombra said, right before he died," I reveal to her, earning her interest. "He looked...different...and he said that the reason he wanted power was for the Crystal Fair. But I don't get it." "Neither do I...but I will assume that it isn't a happy story," Celestia responds solemnly. "Do you remember what I told you about the dangers of dark magic?" "As if I could forget, considering you beat me into a mountain," I remark, though my tone is more teasing than accusatory. Celestia looks a little sheepish at that, but giggles nonetheless. She soon grows serious once more. "Those who delve too deeply into the search for power...tend to lose themselves to the very power they strove to obtain," Celestia explains. "I do not think even Sombra remembered why he set out to gain power...not until the very end." "Yeah...you're probably right. Still, I'm glad he's gone," I return, crossing my arms. Celestia nods understandingly. "As am I. Now, I suggest you get some rest," Celestia suggests. "I have a few orders to give, and then I will do the same. I will need several hours before I have enough magical energy to heal us all." "Sounds good," I respond, turning back over to face the ceiling. My eyelids soon start to droop, reminding me just how exhausted I really am. Even though I was unconscious, my mind wasn't...as it was in the amulet with Sombra. This will be the first decent rest since the initial assault. And god, I can tell it's going to feel really good. From then on, the process of the Crystal Empire's restoration begins. Not long after I fall asleep, Celestia regains enough magic to get us back on our feet. From there, we're assigned to the city to help clean up; there's a lot of work to do. Between the cracked streets, the destroyed buildings, and the bodies of the undead all over the place, we have our work cut out for us. In the mines deep below the city, we find the hundreds of crystal ponies enslaved by King Sombra, as well as the fewer number of northern ponies that lived in the settlements such as Everwinter. The northern ponies thank us, but make it pretty clear that they want to be pretty much anywhere other than here. Escorted by some of the First Regiment, they depart the city. As for the crystal ponies, they want nothing more than to help us rebuild their city. With the help of some of the freed crystal ponies, we start to put the city back together. They know their own architecture better than we do. As happy as they are to be freed, it doesn't take much convincing to get them all working together with us to put everything back the way it was. The streets are smoothed out, the buildings are slowly repaired, and the undead are dragged out of the city and set alight atop large bonfires, purging their taint from existence. I'm assigned to all sorts of jobs. Unlike the last time I helped repair a city, this time the atmosphere is much lighter. Now, whenever I work with Shining Armor or one of the other soldiers, they treat me amiably rather than with suspicion. It's a huge difference from the changeling invasion. Speaking of the changelings, Chrysalis actually stays to help rebuild with the rest of us. I'm really shocked by that, because she doesn't seem the type. I usually see her together with Salamul and the other Islanders doing the heavy jobs, such as lifting a reconstructed beam of solid crystal to its new resting place, and keeping it there until the crystal can be fused together. Her changelings are a huge help; there's so many of them, we're never short on labor. However, the griffons soon take their leave. "I did my job. Consider us even, Cadance! I'll want something more solid next time...like money!" Zythe says sharply from his position on the gangplank of his flagship, jabbing a claw at the princess in question. I pause my work on the window in front of me and listen in curiously. "Oh, you're not staying for the Crystal Fair?" Cadance asks in surprise. Zythe grimaces and feigns throwing up. "No, I don't do pony parties. Maybe if you can stock foods and games that we griffons would like, I might change my mind," Zythe retorts. Cadance winces, knowing as well as I do that that would never fly amongst the other ponies. Griffons are carnivores, and nopony would be comfortable having them eating meat around them. Not to mention their games are no doubt more violent. "That's what I thought. I'm outta here." "Wait, just one moment," Cadance inists, and then she shocks Zythe by giving him a friendly hug. "Thanks for coming to our aid. We couldn't have done it without you, friend." "Yeah yeah," Zythe grunts, barely tolerating her affection. Eventually he extricates himself and hightails it up the gangplank, embarrassed and conscious of the griffons snickering at him from the deck. "You touchy feely ponies. I feel like I'll go soft if I hang around you ponies for too long." Giggling, Cadance watches Zythe return to the airship's wheel and retract the gangplank. With a roar of engines, it isn't long before the Viceroy and his fleet sails through the air and out of sight. The Islanders stay as well, though I think that's mostly because Salamul refuses to leave his brother just yet. I often see him and Iron in an alley, discussing something fervently in low tones as I pass by. I shrug. I'm not going to butt in on their business. I'm just happy they're staying for the fair. In fact, not many ponies are actually leaving. Even the ponies that have no obligation to be here now that the war is over, like Trixie, are sticking around to help rebuild. The only ponies that aren't usually in town are Captain Gale and Stealth Force. They've been ordered to keep an eye on the surrounding landscape, in case any further undead are wandering around. So far, I don't think they've found anything. As we continue to work on rebuilding the city, the darkness slowly recedes from the buildings. While the city was black and twisted due to Sombra's magic, now it is slowly starting to return to its former glory. Many of the crystal ponies I come across cheer whenever they see the darkness receding, more than a few of them reverting to their crystalline appearance like Rubella and Amber. Then, as I was helping to repair a house near the edge of town, something rather interesting occurred. I squint one eye and slowly ease the window pane inside the hardening putty. Once it's in place, I gently press down on the edges. "Okay, that just leaves the frame, and then this window is done," I say to myself. I take a moment to take off the gloves that I'm wearing (Rarity is a sewing wizard, I swear) and wipe my forehead free of sweat. It's really cold up here, but considering that I'm always moving, I can hardly tell. "Working hard?" Shining Armor joins me on the scaffolding, carrying a set of wooden window frames with him. He's wearing a hard helmet as well as a simple set of wintry clothes to keep himself warm. I make room for him to join me. "Yeah...but I don't think I ever want to see another window after this is through," I grunt, glaring at the offending glassware. Shining Armor chuckles and passes me one of the frames. "What about you? Haven't seen you around much." "I've been working with the crystal ponies. Some of them used to be guards, but their military fell apart after the occupation," Shining Armor explains, sitting beside me and working on the other window. "I'm helping to get them set back up in their barracks. We can't keep our troops here forever." "Oh yeah...I guess that since Sombra's gone, Celestia's moving forward with the whole protectorate plan," I recall. Huh, so technically this place will become part of Equestria...except not really, at the same time. Shining Armor nods in confirmation. Suddenly, I remember something. "Hold on a minute. Cadance is going to be in charge, so that means she has to stay here. What are you going to do?" "Stay here with her, of course. I can't leave my wife," Shining Armor responds with a smile. "I'll be helping her rule as her steward." "What about Equestria? What about the First Regiment? You can't just leave them without their Captain of the Guard," I point out, turning to face him now that I've fixed the frame to the window. "Don't worry, we've thought of that," Shining Armor reassures me. "I'm essentially getting promoted, so somepony's gotta step up and fill my spot. I'm thinking of recommending Stalwart Iron for my old position." "Huh...yeah, okay," I respond, actually pleased with that. Iron's one hell of a soldier; I have no doubt he'd make a great captain. "I wonder what his brother will think of that." Before Shining Armor can answer, an explosion tears through the air, originating from the snow fields outside of the city. I drop my tools and leap to my feet, preparing to use my magic if necessary. The first thing I see is a sickly green plume of magical flame spiraling up through the air in the distance. "What the fuck?" I demand, recognizing that as Chrysalis's magic. Seconds later, lightning rains down from the sky, coming from black clouds that seemingly formed from nowhere. Another massive explosion ensues, and this time wind rushes over me, blowing my hair back. "You've got to be kidding me," Shining Armor groans, facehoofing in exasperation. "You can relax...it's not the enemy." "What's going on?" I ask, watching as green magic clashes against pure electricity, far in the distance. I can see two small figures clashing against one another, but I can't really make them out. "It's Warlord Salamul and the changeling queen. I was working with them in the tower just a few minutes before I left to come here, and she said something about how he was just posing, and that he didn't have anywhere near her level of power," Shining Armor explains. I blink, and then I groan too, getting the gist of what's going on. "I told them to take it outside...but I didn't think they actually would." "I should've seen that coming," I say, sitting down on the scaffolding now that I know that there isn't a threat. It's just Salamul and Chrysalis beating the shit out of each other to satisfy their own egos. "At least they had the sense not to do it in the middle of the city." "Thank Celestia for small favors, right?" Shining Armor responds with a chuckle. The two of us get back to work on the windows, aiming to complete this wall before tonight. In the distance, the sounds of the fight between Salamul and Chrysalis can be heard, but neither of us pay them much attention. As for Shining Armor and I, ever since that battle in Trotsdale, he's been more amiable towards me. I actually confronted him about it recently, when I had a free moment. "Look, I still do not and will not approve of the decision you made during the changeling invasion. You nearly cost hundreds of ponies their lives, all for your selfish desires," Shining Armor had told me bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat his words. "But I acknowledge that you have been making every effort to make up for your mistakes...and that's what I respect." I'm grateful that he told me like that. I was an idiot back then...I'm still angry at myself for even considering Chrysalis's offer, so it would be ridiculous of Shining Armor to just forgive me so easily. Time passes, and eventually the sounds of the battle taking place outside the city cease entirely. I guess the battle ended. "You think we should send somepony out to make sure they didn't beat each other to death?" I ask Shining Armor wryly. "They'll be fine. I doubt either of them were truly being serious," Shining Armor assures me. "Besides, the princesses must not think it anything to worry about either, otherwise they'd have put a stop to it already." "That's fair," I respond with a shrug. "Anyway, let's get this window done so we can go get something to eat. You still owe me a meal, remember?" "I haven't forgotten," Shining Armor assures me with a friendly smile. The two of us continuing working, branching away from the windows and eventually shoring up the walls. Later, one of the crystal ponies will come by and reinforce them with crystal. Eventually, we finish this particular building, and then we descend the scaffolding into the streets. "There. Now, I need to report back to the First Regiment. As for you, I think that Blades was asking for..." Shining Armor starts to say. He trails off, staring past me. Confused, I follow his gaze to one of the streets that leads out of the city. Salamul and Chrysalis, the both of them bruised and burnt, walk slowly into the city. The warlord is dragging his axe behind him with a hoof, seemingly devoid of the magic necessary to carry it telekinetically. Chrysalis doesn't look much better, as her chitinous plates are battered and her mane is matted with sweat. They stop when they see us, the both of them looking very surprised to see us here. Wait, hold on a minute. They're just getting back into the city now? It's been a full hour since the sounds of battle died away...so what the hell were they doing for all that time? Beside me, Shining Armor blinks, and then sniffs the air. Strangely enough, he picks up the scent of something that causes his eyes to grow wide with shock, his cheeks blushing a deep red. He stares between Chrysalis and Salamul with disbelief. "What the devil are you two looking at?" Chrysalis hisses at us defensively. Together with Salamul, she makes her way past us. "I'll thank you to mind your own business!" I stand in silence with Shining Armor for several seconds as I try to figure out what the hell I just witnessed. "What...just happened?" I ask dumbly. Shining Armor shakes his head, the blush remaining. "You don't want to know." Days pass over the course of the reconstruction. Every day, I work my ass off with the others until my wintry clothes are soaked with sweat. Every night, I retire with Rainbow to our old room in the Crystal Tower and sleep until the next morning. Over time, the city slowly starts to resemble its previous glory. However, just as things are settling down, the last general, Earthen Glass, escapes from the dungeons, where he's been confined until the princesses determine what to do with him. "What happened, soldier?" Celestia demands. Together with Luna and I, the three of us are standing outside the dungeon. The doors have been ripped right off of their hinges and strewn across the street, telling us that whatever knocked them down had a great deal of physical strength. "He busted his way out, your highness. We're not sure how, but all we heard was the door slamming open, and then he just plowed right through us," the soldier responded, holding an ice pack up against the nasty bruises on his face. "He's really strong, even for an earth pony." "Did he happen to mention his objective?" Celestia continues. Honestly, if it came to a fight, we could probably take Glass down pretty quick, since he has no magic like we do. However, I'm just worried about who he'll hurt while we're running around trying to find him. "No, he wasn't really making much sense," the soldier replies ruefully. He rubs his chin with his free hoof, trying to recall the incident. "He seemed very frustrated for some reason." "Frustrated?" Celestia repeats with bemusement. Before the soldier can respond, we hear the sound of hooves clacking against the crystal street behind us. We quickly turn to see Earthen Glass himself landing on the street, revealing himself brazenly. I've never seen him before, but I know it's him...because he's a massive earth pony. His face is contorted with rage, his teeth bared and grinding together. "There you are, you worthless old princesses!" Glass snarls at the two of them, scuffing his hoof against the street. I blink in surprise. I certainly didn't expect him to show himself so easily. What, is he stupid? The general lifts a hoof and jabs it at us. "Stay where you are, and hold your tongues! I am talking now!" "Um...you do realize you're pretty much screwed now, right?" I tell him, regardless of his request for silence. I cross my arms, meeting his gaze. "The princesses are going to wreck you." "Wreck me? Me?! I am Earthen Glass! The very gods themselves fear my name! My skill in combat is peerless! And if I want this kingdom, then this kingdom I shall have!" Glass snaps back at me, his voice rising. "That will not be happening," Celestia warns him, her horn starting to glow with a hint of magic. "My sister and I will never let you enslave these ponies again." "Graagh! Miserable princesses! I care nothing for you! If you won't get out of my way, I'll tear this kingdom down stone by stone! None of you have a chance against me!" Glass roars, rearing up and kicking at the air. He breaks into a gallop, charging directly at Celestia with the intent to kill in his eyes. He lifts up a hoof to strike her...and then Celestia simply bats him to the ground with a magically empowered hoof. Glass yelps and hits the street so hard, he shatters the crystal around the point of impact. The three of us just stare at the now unconscious pony. Did this...really just happen? "I...what the..." I try to say, practically speechless at the stupidity of the scene I just watched. Finally, I understand what the others meant. "Rainbow was right...he was really frustrated." "Snrk..." one of the soldiers who had been behind us suddenly starts to chuckle despite the situation. The other soldiers start to laugh as well, until the entire squad in charge of watching the dungeon is laughing hard at the event that just unfolded. "Oh dear, he just...and then the princess just...ahahaha!" "...'tis a little funny," Luna admits, starting to chuckle a little herself. My shock and confusion soon gives way to mirth as well. I can't help but double over with laughter. He was so frustrated...I've never seen a pony so frustrated...and then Celestia just...in one hit...! "I suppose his foolishness is indeed amusing," Celestia admits, smiling with relief. "We are lucky that he chose to confront me directly instead of harming my subjects, else this could have...none of you are listening, are you?" At that point, the clearing is filled with the sounds of laughter from Luna, myself, and the guards. Celestia shakes her head and chuckles a bit herself. After that, Glass is taken to a more secure location, to ensure that he will not escape again. Though given how stupid he was to attack Celestia head on, I don't think he'd be a threat even if he did get out. Honestly, I wonder why the hell Sombra ever recruited him as a general, if he's that stupid? It's only a few more days before the city starts to look as normal once again. With that being said, construction work started to slow down, and preparations for the Crystal Fair started to begin. "Cyan, burgundy, a deep blue..." Rarity muses to herself from the center of the clearing. She paces from house to house, carrying a small color wheel with magic. Every so often, she'll walk up to one of the houses and hold up the color wheel, turning it to see which colors would work best. "Perhaps ruby red? Wait, no, Rarity, what are you thinking? Such colors would only clash with the burgundy! But perhaps...considering the cyan and deep blue seem to mesh well together...it might fit the color scheme...but then..." Applejack huffs from her position at the table. "Rarity, we're on break right now. Get off yer hooves and come join us for a bite!" She calls over to the muttering mare. "Ah made some apple pie!" "In a moment, dear. I'm quite busy, you see," Rarity responds absentmindedly. Applejack just shakes her head, and then takes a bite out of her own pie. The seven of us are hanging out in a clearing just outside of an old cafe that only just recently reopened. By seven of us, I mean Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Spike, and myself. While we're supposed to be taking a break from all the work, more than half of us are still working. Twilight flips through a thick history book beside me, her muzzle practically pressed up against the pages. Every so often she'll make a noise and write something down in a notepad beside her. "Rarity, did you know they have their own unique banners that they fly at the fair?" Twilight speaks up, getting the fashionista's attention. Rarity doesn't waste any time in zipping over to Twilight and peering in the book as well. "See here? Do you think we can get a set of these?" "Of course, darling! I would be remiss if I couldn't get everything just right for these poor crystal ponies!" Rarity exclaims, looking hurt, as if Twilight had just implied that she couldn't. "Just look at that design! I must say, the crystal ponies have good taste. Now if only I can get my hooves on a decent material this far north..." Beside Twilight, sitting on top of the table, is Spike. The little guy has been chomping on generously donated gems this whole time now. I think he's just relieved that everything is going back to normal. Not that I blame him. The feeling of there being nothing on the horizon for me to worry about is very freeing. I'm happier than I've been in a while. As for me, I'm working on transcribing the Anthem of the Crystal Empire down on paper. We haven't been able to find any copies of it in the library, so myself and an older crystal pony (who is also a musician) are working together on recreating it. "No, it's got to be a flat there, son," the older musician corrects me. "You did hear me, didn't you?" "Yeah I did, but it that just doesn't sound right in my head," I retort in annoyance. I can sightread and sound notes out in my head to an extent, and no matter what this guy says, a flat note right there makes a very discordant sound when combined with the other parts. "That's a fourth right there, and if it isn't structured right, it just won't sound good." "It won't sound good if you hold it for too long, perhaps, but the intent is to take the audience by surprise with its unusual sound, before blending the two discordant notes into a perfect third," the musician instructs me. "Trust me...I used to play this piece all the time, before...before all of that ended." There's a short silence. I understand what he was about to say there...and I certainly don't expect him to be over Sombra's enslavement just yet. It's just a miracle that he's managing to remember as much as he is, considering his age. Still, his words do make sense. I reluctantly add a flat symbol to the note, trusting that he knows what he's doing. "What are the...what do you call those things again?" I ask, pointing at the page where the musician had drawn the image of a weird looking trumpet. "Flugelhorns, son," he reminds me. Across the table from us, Pinkie lifts her head and pulls one of the crystalline horns out of her mane and blows on it obnoxiously, just because she can. "Yes, like that, pink one." I roll my eyes as Pinkie giggles and goes back to the papers in front of her. She's filling out several hundreds of invitations, and she's doing it really fast, too. The completed invitations start to pile up on one side of her, to the point where Spike has to grab a bag and catch them before they fall onto the street. Sheesh, I think she's actually inviting ponies from all over Equestria to this thing. "Right, flugelhorns. Freakin' weird name. Anyway, what are they doing in the measure here, where the strings are doing those ascending triplets?" I question him next, pointing the pen at the blank measure in question. The musician hums the tune softly as he attempts to remember. "I believe...here, let me see that pen," he grabs the pen in his hoof somehow and lightly sketches down several notes on a spare sheet of paper. "Hm...yes, that seems right." "Seems right, or is right?" I press him with a raised brow. The musician harrumphs and passes me the paper so I can transcribe the notes. "Don't be difficult. Don't worry, we're going to pass this to the other musicians to get it reviewed before rehearsing it," he admonishes me. I sigh and do as I'm told, writing the notes in the flugelhorn measures. "Are you two done yet?" Rainbow interrupts for the umpteenth time. She's lying on her back on the seat across from me, eating some of Applejack's pie and lazily kicking at the air. "No," the musician and I both say at the same time, annoying her. "Ugh, I'm so bored!" Rainbow complains, sitting up straight. "I need something to do." "Oh, you can help me," Twilight suggests. Rainbow puts on a less than enthused face at the prospect. "Don't make that face; I'm not going to make you research with me. Did you know the crystal ponies like jousting?" "Wait what? Jousting?" I ask, looking up from the music for one second. "Seriously? We had jousting back in my time too...though it was usually humans riding horses that did it. How the hell do ponies joust?" "Well, according to what I read here, they strap the lances to the sides of their armor and aim to knock the other over first," Twilight reads. She lifts the book and shows me a picture. I can't help but scoff. Ponies jousting. That's just so wrong on so many different levels. "Rainbow, do you think you can find a smith to make us some blunt lances?" "That I can get behind. Maybe I'll ask that one Islander mare!" Rainbow takes off from the table and zooms away, causing the table's surface to rock. Papers go everywhere from the disturbance, causing me to groan. "Really!?" I yell up after her in frustration. Of course, she's too far to hear me now, so there's nothing I can do except reorganize the sheet music. Thank god I had the foresight to number the pages. "That mare sometimes." The others chuckle at the faces I'm making, and then we all get back to work. That's generally how the preparations go. Rainbow never wants to sit still, so Twilight is always sending her on errands. Twilight and Pinkie are generally the ones organizing the preparations for the fair, as the former has a talent for fishing out useful information on previous fairs, while the latter is one of the best party planners that I know. As for Pinkie, she really is inviting everypony. I know that, because I accompanied her when she gave them all to a member of the Pegasus Corps to mail. Most of these names I don't recognize, but I do notice several of them are going to Ponyville. That gets me excited for this party as well, because maybe even my friends that I haven't seen in what feels like forever will show up too. I can't believe I'm admitting it, but damn, I really miss Vinyl....and even Lyra. I just miss that town. I can't wait to see all of them here. I don't see much of Swift or Trixie, either. Swift is working with her regiment once more, so I usually only see her in the presence of other soldiers. As for Trixie, I think she left not long after the city repairs finished. She said she had to bring her home up here, whatever that means. Still, it makes me feel a little sad. Now that the war's over, I'm guessing my team is disbanded now. Sure enough, Celestia approaches me one day. It's time for me to give up my rank as commander. I'm not all that attached to it, but I am fond of my team. Even Pterax, despite the fact that he's a smartass. I haven't seen him since the war ended. I think he's with the hive. Anyway, I guess I'm back to being a normal civilian. I'm perfectly fine with that. In fact, the moment I get home, I'm hanging up my sword and rifle on the wall. I have no intentions of ever using them again. I plan on living the rest of my life in Ponyville with Rainbow, Vinyl, and the others. As preparations come along, areas in the street are marked off and reserved for tents and market stalls. The idea of having market stalls came from Celestia, who suggested it would be a good chance to get the Crystal Empire's economy up and running again. Given how many invitations I saw Pinkie send out, I'm inclined to agree with the princess on that point. Areas are set aside for the jousting arena and other events, most of which I'm not sure of just yet. According to Twilight, there's apparently a petting zoo as well. Fluttershy is working on that one, so I'm guessing that's going to turn out just fine. A musical arena is in the middle of construction as well. Considering my interests, I spend a lot of time with the crystal pony musicians. It's actually a lot of fun for me; all of them appreciate music as much as I do. After I get past the initial awkwardness, it's easy to get into an enjoyable conversation with them while we work. And there's definitely a lot of work to do. Once the sheet music has been transcribed and reviewed, it's time to start finding instruments for the crystal ponies to use. The flugelhorns have to be physically cut out of crystal, but the rest we have to ship in from Equestria. They invited me to play with them, but I respectfully decline. As much fun as it would be to perform with them all, it would mean that I would have to play the whole fair, and miss out on interacting with my friends. There's also a few things I want to take care of as well, and that requires mingling with the crowds. Finally, Celestia appoints an actual date for the fair to take place. Excitement among the crystal ponies and the Equestrians quickly starts to rise after the announcement, and our efforts are invigorated. As for me, the date can't come soon enough. I've been working hard for every single day since the war ended, and it's starting to get really tiring. There always seems to be something else to do. I never seem to be able to get to bed before midnight. As the day draws closer, ponies start to filter in early from all over Equestria, occupying the recently reopened hotels. Some of the Canterlot ponies arrive first...and I can tell that's where they're from due to their dress and demeanor. No doubt they're expecting this to be a formal affair...hah, I can't wait to see their faces when they find out that Pinkie planned the whole thing. At last, I lurch up in bed on the day of the Crystal Fair. Rubbing my eyes, I push Rainbow over the edge to wake her up, and then gaze out the window towards the rising sun. I can't help but feel that this is going to be the greatest party ever.

Tales of the Oppressed

131. The Crystal Fair

"Darn it, Seth, I was having an awesome dream!" Rainbow complains, sprawled on the floor from where I shoved her. She rolls over and looks up at the window, noticing the small amount of light coming in through the window. "What the...the sun's not even up yet! I'm going back to sleep." "No you're not," I say. The second she leaps up to the bed, I yank her right back down by the scruff of her neck. She yelps and struggles, flipping and somehow managing to smack me in the face with a hoof. I wince and wrestle her for a moment, finding it difficult to keep her still. Finally, Rainbow lets out a stubborn huff and curls up in my arms. "Would you relax? Today's the Crystal Fair! I mean, unless you want to sleep through the biggest party ever. In which case, be my guest." "Oh yeah, it is the Fair today, isn't it? Why couldn't you have just said that in the first place?" Rainbow confronts me, shifting in my grasps so that she's looking up at me. "I did, you idiot," I say, pressing a finger against her nose, causing her to snuffle. I quickly have to withdraw said finger as Rainbow snaps her teeth at it. "Don't bite me...we're up so early because the Fair lasts all day." "An all day party! This is going to be so great. I'm totally getting in on that jousting tournament! I'll knock 'em all flat!" Rainbow exclaims, leaping out of my grasp. She leaps to the window and swiftly unfastens it. Just after opening it, she looks back at me. "You're gonna come watch, right?" "Might as well, if only so I can laugh when somepony knocks you flat," I retort. Rainbow immaturely blows a raspberry at me and climbs out the window. "Hold up, dammit! I gotta get dressed first. Would you close the window and quit letting all the warm air out?" "Ugh, quit being so slow! You humans and needing clothes," Rainbow grumbles, but she does slide inside and close the window while I search around for a set of warm clothes. She adopts a sly expression, turning her head slightly. "...would you go faster if I helped you?" I straighten up and give her a pointed stare, a shirt held in my hands. "You are not helping me dress," I tell her flatly, causing Rainbow to burst out laughing. I shake my head and get the rest of the way dressed, wrapping a set of scarves around my neck and shoulders. "Okay, I'm ready." "Finally. Come on!" Rainbow throws open the window and again slithers out through it. I quickly follow her outside, flaring my magic to keep myself airborne. I leap out into the open air high above the city, the wind whistling through my clothes. Down below us, we can see the decorative multicolored lights of the Fair flickering on, revealing the lines of tents, stalls, decorations, and other plazas that have been set up for Crystal Fair events. I can see a stage for entertainment, the arena for the jousting, the amphitheater for musical and drama performances, and many others. Heh, I guess this is what happened when you put Pinkie in charge and throw money at her. "There's another reason we got up this early," I tell Rainbow, raising my voice over the howl of the rushing wind. "I want to be at the station when the first train rolls in." "Oh yeah! I wonder how many of the ponies from Ponyville are coming! I can't wait!" Rainbow speeds up out of excitement, forcing me to output a little more magic to keep up with her. As we pass over the city, I notice the windows lighting up in the different houses. Ponies filter into the streets, consisting of both Equestrian and crystal ponies. They're all walking towards the Crystal Tower, where the opening ceremonies are going to take place. I know that because I had a hand in helping to set everything up. It isn't long before we reach the edge of town, where the newly constructed station is located. Over the course of the long period of time it took for us to fully repair the city and set up for the Fair, Celestia saw to it that there was a connection built between the Crystal Empire and Canterlot. Now, one could ride here by train...which means there's no need to ride the airships back, and now the city is accessible to everyone. "You see this? I helped build this! Look at my awesome hoofwork!" Rainbow brags. As I land with a click on the crystal street, she flies over to the doorway and indicates it with an egotistical flourish of her hooves. I roll my eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure that it's all you. Good job at learning how to cut and mold crystal into the shapes you need in such a short time," I congratulate her, even giving her a thumbs up. The sarcasm is practically dripping from every pore in my body. I immediately duck as Rainbow hurls a broom at me. Looking at the thrown object, I raise an eyebrow at her. "Where did you even get that?" "Inside. Somepony had to get rid of any snow that got in while we were building," Rainbow reveals. Just after she finishes speaking, I hear the the train whistle blaring in the distance. Rainbow puts on a happy grin, practically bouncing with anticipation as the light from the front of the train shines on the platform. "Here it comes!" The train rolls into the station, looking very different than the brightly colored trains that we're used to. It's colored and styled in the same fashion as the Crystal Empire, each car constructed of crystal and colored a shade of blue or pink. Yeah, we got a lot done over the past month and a half. With all the crystal ponies and the changelings willing to give us an endless amount of labor, our only limits were our budget. The train gently glides to a halt, the machinery chugging softly. I can hear the sound of many ponies talking excitedly from within as the doors open. I don't know who's going to be on this first train, so I guess I'll just stand here and wait. I might be waiting a while, after all. I'm taken completely by surprise as a mint green streak of color zooms out of the train like a thunderbolt. The pony somersaults multiple times in midair before stretching out her forehooves. I have less than a seconds notice before I'm knocked entirely off my feet by a flying hug. "SETHIE!" "SON OF A..!" Lyra and I tumble across the platform, knocking down the door to the station and rolling inside. Rainbow's head follows us comically the whole time. Lyra hugs my neck tightly the whole time, squeeing with happiness. I'm too dizzy to react at first, but eventually, I manage to grab her by the shoulders and wrench her free, just as the two of us slam into the back wall. I pant softly, lying on my back and holding the shamelessly grinning Lyra in the air above me. She closes her eyes and beams at me innocently. "Hi!" Lyra squeaks excitedly. "It's been like...so long since you disappeared and now you're here...and...eep!" I can't help but bring her forward and hug her properly, my arms slipping beneath her hooves and lifting her up with me. Lyra squeaks in surprise at the unprecedented show of affection, before happily reciprocating. "Goddamn...you have no idea how much I've missed your bullshit," I tell her softly. Lyra's smile falters slightly. She pulls back her head and looks at me with a soft expression. "It's been hell...I'm sure you've heard." "Well...none of us knew anything at first. You just disappeared with the others, and it was only a few days later that we heard about the war," Lyra responds seriously after I set her down in front of me. "We were so worried...especially when refugees from Trotsdale started coming in from Canterlot." "You okay in there?" Rainbow pokes her head in with a grin, shaking her head. Next to her is Bon Bon, the mare rubbing her forehead with a hoof out of exasperation. Lyra and I look at one another, and then I gesture to the door with my head. She nods and her smile returns, and then the two of us walk back out onto the platform. "It's so good to see you two!" Lyra squeals, her cheer returning like a switch had been flipped. She hugs both Rainbow and I at the same time, rearing up on her hind legs to do so. "Yeah, you all sorta disappeared on us, and then we all heard about the war," Bon Bon adds, adjusting her mane. "I'm glad none of you are hurt. We could hardly sleep, knowing you all were up here fighting for us." "That's sweet, but you shouldn't have worried. Seth and I kicked total flank up here! None of those undead nasties stood a chance!" Rainbow responds, taking their sentiments in stride. She even starts boxing with the air. I notice that Lyra and Bon Bon look slightly reassured by that. Huh...well, I guess that even though Rainbow is totally understating how difficult it was, the two of them don't really need to know the darker details. "And you should have seen the princesses! They're invincible!" As Rainbow starts regaling the two with highly exaggerated tales of her exploits, I look at Lyra with a soft smile. I never thought I would miss her as much as I did...but she really is like a little sister that I can mess with. I guess I'll cut her a little more slack from here on out. From the train, scores of ponies are exiting. I recognize tons of them from all over the place. Some of them are clearly from Canterlot due to their dress, while others I remember seeing from Ponyville. Many others that I don't know are departing as well. And this is just the first train. I've been told this train is going to be running all day, bringing ponies to and from the Fair. I catch a flash of electric blue from within the sea of departing ponies. I straighten up and move forward, leaving Lyra and Bon Bon with Rainbow. I wade through the ponies as best I can, trying not to disturb them overmuch. Some of them even call to me, recognizing me from Ponyville. Finally, I reach the pony I'm looking for. She doesn't notice at me at first, as she's facing the train and hauling out a cart filled with all her mixing equipment. Behind her is Octavia, dressed in relatively formal attire. When she catches sight of me, her eyes brighten and she opens her mouth...but then closes it in confusion after I place a single finger on my lips. I reach my hands forward...and then lift Vinyl entirely off the ground without even a word of greeting. "Whoa, what the hay!? Waaah, put me down!" Vinyl yells, her tomboyish voice practically music to my ears after not seeing her for such a long time. I turn Vinyl around in my grip and press her to my chest, embracing her roughly as well, one hand mussing up her mane. "What the...Seth? Is that you, bro?" "You're damn right it's me," I return. Vinyl's hooves scrabble against me for several seconds before she hangs them over my shoulder. She uses one to keep her shades from falling off, and then she stares at me. "Wow, it's been forever, dude. It's really good to see you...but...why are you hugging me?" Vinyl remarks, her voice sounding more amused than annoyed. "Because shut up. I haven't seen you in ages, and I nearly died more times than I can count. Cut me some slack," I respond, , holding her tightly. Vinyl nods, her smile falling as she starts to understand. Of course, that doesn't last long, because soon a grin forms. "I'm just saying, you might want to hold off on the affection. You don't want to make your marefriend jealous, do you?" Vinyl teases me, tweaking my nose. And there's the relationship joke. I have missed those so much...though no doubt they'll get annoying again after a while. I see a flash of cyan from the corner of my eye. I grin, and then instead of replying, I turn in place, just as Rainbow is flying towards us. "Whoa, you'll make me dizzy!" "Vinyl sandwich!" Rainbow declares obnoxiously, and then she too flies to hug Vinyl from the other side, her hooves wrapping around Vinyl's shoulders and resting on either side of my neck. Vinyl lets out a surprised grunt, and then all three of us unbalance, falling to the floor in a mess of hugging ponies. "Aw yeah!" "Rainbow? Awesome, the gang's all..." Vinyl doesn't get to finish, because then Lyra sees what's going on and decides to investigate. Lyra only takes one look before hurling herself on top of us all. "Group hug!" Lyra squeals, landing on top of Rainbow, Vinyl, and I. The three of us grunt, but I can't keep from laughing. It's so good to see all my stupid friends again. "Bon Bon, come on!" Bon Bon rolls her eyes, but smiles and steps forward, joining the hug as well. At this point,Vinyl and I are at the center of a mass of ponies with assorted legs wrapping around our shoulders. Octavia stands on the outside not far away, chuckling softly at our antics. "Tavi! Come join in!" Lyra calls to her. "Um...thanks, but I must decline. You see, I'm wearing..." Octavia tries to excuse herself, but then she's latched onto by several pairs of hooves and dragged into the rest of us. "Waaah! No, stop!" The other ponies coming from the train walk a wide berth around us, giving us mixed reactions. The Canterlot ponies turn their noses up of course, but the more rustic ponies smile and laugh before moving on. "Now that's what I call a reunion!" Rainbow proclaims as we finally get untangled from one another. "I'm glad you all could make it! "Are you kidding me, Dash? I'd never miss it! The chance to see all you guys again in like, the biggest party in Equestria?" Vinyl agrees, one hoof wrapped around Rainbow's shoulders. "I'm totally here!" "We're not in Equestria, in case you hadn't noticed," I point out to her. Vinyl sighs and stares at me for a second through her shades. "It's even good to see this guy's dumb sarcastic face," Vinyl responds without missing a beat. "Speaking of dumb, Tavi's a little mad at you." "Wait, why?" I ask, turning to look at Octavia, who is pointedly staring at me. She comes up to me, and then rears up on her hind legs to smack me lightly on the shoulder. "You locked my cello in your house the night you disappeared!" Octavia accuses me hotly. At first I'm confused...but then I remember that Octavia had been visiting at the time I was called in to Canterlot. Oh...shit. "I had to get Big MacIntosh to kick the door down!" "Yeah...now that you mention it, I did lock...wait, you kicked the door down!?" I quickly demand, worried about the thought of my door being broken with all that expensive musical equipment inside. "I had a rehearsal to attend, and I simply couldn't miss it! I had to take drastic measures!" Octavia defends herself. "You couldn't have tried opening a window?" "Well...the door was the most direct route! Besides, glass is more expensive to replace than a simple door," Octavia reasons. My brow flattens at that response. "Okay, maybe by like, five bits, but you didn't even check the windows first, did you?" "No...but that's not the point! I needed my cello!" Octavia whines. Finally, Rainbow gets bored and gets between us. "Oh for the love of Celestia, who yells at a party?! Calm down and let's get going! I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm dying to hit that Crystal Fair!" "Seth used to yell at parties," Lyra points out, much to Vinyl's amusement and Rainbow's exasperation. Even I give her a stare at that. I mean, she's right...but that's not helping matters any. "Let's just move, already!" Bon Bon interjects impatiently. With a chorus of laughs coming from all of us, we group together and join the growing crowd of ponies heading towards the Crystal Tower. The plaza is absolutely crowded. The six of us are hard pressed to stay together, but somehow we manage to get a spot in a relatively close location to the tower. I look around, whistling in awe. There are hundreds of crystal ponies here in front of us, and that's not even counting the ponies that are coming from Equestria, or the changelings that are still here with Chrysalis. Some of the crystal ponies in front of us are transforming to their crystalline state in flashes of light, smiles forming on their faces to see their traditional fair taking place in front of them. Looking up, I see Cadance and Shining Armor stepping out onto the balcony of the Crystal Tower that hangs above the central square. Cadance is wearing a regal dress as well as her crown, letting everypony know that this is a formal occasion. Not only is this the first Crystal Fair for over a thousand years, but this is also Cadance's first appearance as the Crystal Princess. "Greetings, mares and gentlecolts, crystal ponies, Equestrians, and changelings all!" Cadance begins, her voice magically amplified to project to everypony in the plaza. Everypony quiets down around me, recognizing the start of the event. "For those of you unfamiliar with me, my name is Princess Cadance, the Equestrian Princess of Love...and now the newly crowned Princess of the Crystal Empire!" The crystal ponies cheer loudly, recognizing Cadance's authority. All around us, the sound of applause erupts from the audience. I shrug and clap as well; I respect Cadance too, considering what she and I have gone through together. "I am delighted to welcome you all to the Crystal Empire's first Crystal Fair in over a thousand years! I cordially invite you all to partake in the festivities, share in the love and comfort of your fellow ponies, and celebrate our victory over the dark King Sombra!" Cadance continues, smiling broadly as she addresses the crowd. I notice that she phrases it as celebrating our victory rather than celebrating his defeat. "But first, we must not forget the centerpiece of the whole event. Allow me to present to you Princess Celestia!" Celestia walks out onto the balcony to the absolute adulation of all of us. Every single one of us shows our respect for she who made all of this possible. I don't think I've cheered for anything for years, but hell, I'll cheer for her. She views the crowd with a warm smile, and then she lifts up the Crystal Heart for all to see. Even more crystal ponies return to their former selves as the cheers intensify. Celestia spreads her wings and leaps from the balcony, gliding gracefully down to the streets with the Crystal Heart held in her magic. I'm glad I'm taller than the average pony, because I can actually look over them to see what's going on. As we all watch, the princess approaches the strange apparatus beneath the tower. It appears to come to life at her approach, rising up and extending several spikes in which to hold the heart. I start to feel an incredible latent magic fill the air as the apparatus starts to glow. With a swift toss, Celestia places the Crystal Heart in the apparatus where it belongs. Around us, the crystal ponies start lowering their heads, bowing in reverence to the object. As if acting in response, the Crystal Heart shines brightly and starts to spin. The faster the heart spins, the more the magic I feel intensifies. Finally, the heart releases a sphere of gentle blue magic that rapidly grows in size, passing over each and every pony in the crowd. Even though I know it won't hurt me, I can't help but wince as it passes over me. All I feel is a slight tingle, and then a gentle sense of warmness passes over me. The wave travels further, encompassing the entire city. That's not all though. The heart sends even more power straight up through the tower itself as if it were some sort of transmitter. The top of the tower sparks with incredible magic, and then releases it in the form of multiple multicolored streams of light that travel in every direction. The snow clouds overhead are completely blown away to reveal a bright blue morning sky, the sun shining down on the city. The snow on the ground and streets melt and evaporates, and grass grows beneath the streets and beyond just like it was before. Cadance views the crowd once more, and to my shock, her body is suffused with a crystalline appearance, just like the crystal ponies. Is that something the heart did? It has to be, because even Shining Armor has been "crystallized," for lack of a better phrase. "And now, everypony, I declare that the Crystal Fair has begun!" Cadance announces, and the applause and cheers start up anew. With that, Cadance and Shining Armor retreat inside the building, no doubt coming to join the festivities themselves. "Whoa..." Vinyl remarks, causing me to turn to look at her. She's staring at herself in one of the more reflective surfaces of a building, taken aback by her new appearance. My jaw drops in shock at what I see. Vinyl has been crystallized as well, and her mane is actually styled and tied in a way that actually rather flatters her. Lengths of white twine have tied themselves into her mane and tail, seemingly coming from nowhere. "Dude, if I'd have known this was going to happen, I wouldn't have brushed my mane this morning." "Bullshit, you don't brush your mane in the first place," I retort, crossing my arms. That response gets my friends to look at me...and then they too start to stare. I freeze, the realization coming over me. If everypony has been crystallized...then...I lift my hand up to where I can see it...and sure enough, I can see crystalline waves of magic running through my skin. Wow...that's...I don't even know what to say. "Okay, move aside Vinyl. I need a mirror." I stand beside Vinyl and peer at the reflective surface. Just like Vinyl, my hair has seemingly been styled for me as well. My hair has been straightened and smoothed to the point where it shines and cascades down my back. My bangs have been pulled aside and tied back behind my head in a miniature ponytail with a piece of white twine. To top that all off, two locks of hair have been braided and hang down my cheeks. "Looking good, Seth!" Rainbow compliments me. I lift one of the braids, surprisingly okay with the way this looks. As weird as it is to look like a crystal pony, I don't look half bad. I turn to Rainbow...only to snort with laughter. Rainbow proceeds to look indignant. "What? What's so funny?" "What's up with your mane?" I ask her, as that's the first thing I notice. Her mane, while usually messy, is now styled as well. The ends of her mane are curled up over her head, and her mane itself is fastened with a length of golden twine. In fact, this is the neatest I've ever seen her mane. One lock of her mane hangs down behind her ear, the ends fastened with a single pink bead. Even her tail looks groomed and tidy. "Wow...you...actually don't look bad." "Of course I don't! I look better than the rest of you when I actually try!" Rainbow retorts as if that fact should have been obvious. The funny part is that she didn't actually try. The Crystal Heart did it all for her. "No, the title of most stylish crystal mare goes to me of course," Lyra interrupts, drawing attention to her. And...wow, that doesn't look bad either. Her mane, which is usually hanging free and messy, is now tidied and bunched up in a stylish manner, held in place with a silver headband and a silver hairpin shaped like her lyre. Noticing the flat-browed expression she's getting from Bon Bon, she giggles and hugs her marefriend. "Of course, Bon Bon also looks adorable." "This is...odd, to say the least," Octavia comments, standing beside Vinyl to peer into the reflective mirror. "I was not expecting a crystal makeover, as it were." "Pfft, a crystal makeover. That's perfect," Vinyl chortles, dragging Octavia over to her with a hoof and then indicating the reflection. "Look at this! Picture perfect. And then there's Seth." "Hey, fuck you too, Vinyl," I retort, crossing my arms again. "Luv ya, best buddy! Tell you all what, we should totally get a group picture while we're all crysta...crystalled. Crystallied?" Vinyl tries to say, but it isn't coming out right. "Crystified?" Rainbow supplies. "Crystanized!" Lyra inserts. "Crystmogrofied?" Vinyl tries again. "I believe the correct term is crystallized," Octavia inputs sensibly, putting an end to...whatever those three were doing. Slowly, the three of them turn to look at her. Vinyl puts on an uppity expression. "Well...hoity-toity miss bookworm smartypants," she remarks, wrinkling her nose. Octavia blinks, utterly confused by that response. "I'm not wearing pants," Octavia points out, indicating the formal outfit she's wearing that only covers the front half of her body. Vinyl groans and chuckles, reaching out a hoof to muss Octavia's mane. The cellist swiftly hisses and bats Vinyl's hoof away, causing us all to look at her strangely, and then start laughing. "What? I happen to like the way I look now!" "Either way, we need a group shot. How's that sound?" Vinyl repeats, grinning at the rest of us. Lyra looks down for it, but Bon Bon and Octavia look at one another with a rather pensive expression. "I mean, I doubt this crystmogrification will last forever." "Crystallized!" Octavia corrects her again, but no one pays her any attention. "Yeah totally! Where's a camera? I totally want to get an awesome picture of us all looking crystified!" Rainbow agrees. Octavia groans and rubs her face with her hooves. Rainbow looks around wildly, though I don't know what she's expecting to find. I slowly draw out my phone. Despite everything, I've managed to keep this thing in one piece. For one, I never bring it with me into battle. I can't afford to lose it. Rainbow notices it in my hand. "Wait, does that thing have a camera?" "Yeah, it does. Only problem is, you'll never be able to get it off my phone without some extra work," I say with a shrug. Apart from my charger cable, there's not a thing in this world that can interface with my phone. "Still, as long as we're taking pictures, I kinda want one for my phone." "What about that mare over there? She has a camera," Lyra suggests, drawing our attention to the mare in question. I turn to look at her...noticing her sky blue coat and ridiculously large shades. Hold on, I think I've seen her somewhere before. Wasn't she at the royal wedding? "Let's get her to take a picture." "Do we have to?" Bon Bon asks, but it's too late. The photographer pony eventually spots me, and makes a beeline over to us, no doubt because of how unique I look compared to the other ponies. It doesn't take much convincing to get her to take a group picture of us, but it does cost us some bits to get a set of copies for each of us. Thankfully, Octavia suggested that we all pitch in, so it doesn't cost us that much in total. "Stay close togezer now," the photographer directs us with a rather strange accent. "Tall one in ze back. Quickly now!" "What if I do this?" I ask, sitting down behind the other ponies. The photographer holds her chin, letting out a hum. "No, no no! Zat will never do. Ve need to show off your friendship! Get intimate!" The photographer demands, though she is wearing an amused smile. I huff, confused, and try getting on my knees instead, such that I'm slightly higher than the heads of the other ponies. "Much better! Now, I said closer! Pretend zat you actually like each other, no?" "Like these idiots? Not bloody likely," I retort, causing Vinyl and Rainbow to both slap me with their hooves playfully. Nevertheless, we group together as directed. I'm in the center of them, kneeling down with Vinyl and Rainbow on either side of me, my arms draped over their shoulders. Lyra and Bon Bon are nuzzling together in front of us, and Octavia is laying down at the very front. Then, with a satisfied click of her tongue, the photographer snaps a picture. "Magnificent!" she declares. After she passes the developing copies to us, I pass my phone to the photographer, as I paid her extra to get a shot on my phone. After a hilarious moment where she fumbles around with the controls, she manages to get a decent picture on my phone as well...by booping the shutter button with her nose. Once the photographer departs, I look around to see that all of the ponies are starting to branch off to the different stalls, vendors, restaurants, and events that are just now starting to kick off. Hell, this isn't a party. If anything, I would compare this to a convention, because that's what this feels like. "Hm...I'm interested in visiting this event called 'an analysis of crystal music,'" Octavia suggests, pointing down at the corresponding event on the brochure she's carrying. Yeah, Pinkie was giving this away on the way up to the tower before the ceremony. On it is listed all the events, when they take place, and where they are. "Would anyone care to join me? It's in twenty minutes." "What the hell, I'll go. I love music," I insert, standing beside Octavia. Vinyl joins us as well, being a musician herself. Even Lyra looks interested. "I'm more interested in this Crystal Empire candies and treats," Bon Bon says, showing Lyra. "Look, there's even free samples!" "But what about this awesome group sports event going on? That's where I want to go. I bet Applejack will be there too!" Rainbow interjects. I look between the three of them , quickly understanding that this is basically going to be like a convention. We all want to go to different events. "I guess we could meet up later?" I suggest, getting their attention. "We have all day. Everypony should go and do what they want." "Good idea. Is that alright with you all?" Octavia agrees. "Sounds good. I'mma go join that sports event," Rainbow confirms. She gives me a pointed stare afterward "But you and I gotta hit that dance floor later tonight! Got it?" "Yes, yes," I assure her. Unlike the other events, the dance floor takes place in the clearing around the Crystal Heart, and is open the whole day. Already the first set of musical entertainment is being set up, in the form of three ponies. Huh, I think I recognize them. Yeah, I messed with that dark furred pony guitarist way back when. Who knew she'd be entertainment here? "Alright, let's get moving. I want to get some good seats at that music event." With that, the six of us split into three groups. I'm going with Vinyl and Octavia, because Lyra seems to have elected to stay with Bon Bon. Rainbow zooms off in a flash, leaving the rest of us behind pretty quick. Just as we're walking past the dance floor, I notice a particular pony walking timidly towards Princess Celestia. I suddenly stop. I want to be there for this. "You two go on ahead of me," I say to Vinyl and Octavia. They give me questioning looks, but I'm already moving. "I want to see this." Celestia looks different as well, the crystalline magic running through her body giving her an ethereal appearance. If anything, it makes her look even more regal than before, if such a thing were even possible. A proper looking stallion is behind her, talking in a prim tone to her while carrying a clipboard. I'm assuming he's one of the council, if that badge is anything to go by. The former general Flowing Mist approaches Celestia, her head held low. Unlike the other crystal ponies, her coat is still dull and lifeless, as is her mane and tail. When Celestia sees her coming, she forestalls the councilpony's words, much to his annoyance. "Um...princess..?" Mist asks shyly. "Hello, Mist. I was wondering when you would come to speak with me," Celestia responds warmly, revealing that she had expected this encounter. Mist doesn't know Celestia like I do, so she looks surprised by that. "You are wondering what is to become of you, now that the war is over and the construction is complete." "Y...Yes! That's exactly how I feel," Mist responds. She looks around at all the crystal ponies. "I fought hard and helped with everything I could...but now...I don't think I should stay here. I'm...I'm thinking of leaving the Crystal Empire...and Equestria as well." "Flowing Mist. Why do you believe that this course of action is the only one available to you?" Celestia questions, using the general's full name. She gazes intently at Mist, who is averting her eyes. "Please, lift your head and look at me as you speak." Mist gulps and does so, trembling a little. "Because...I was your enemy. I betrayed my own country...my friends...so why should I be allowed to stay? Exile is the punishment I deserve." "That's quite enough. Mist, do not forget the words I gave to you before, after your capture," Celestia asserts, her eyes hardening. "I told you to live, and to make up for the things you have done through hard work and perseverance. But, if you choose to elect for exile, how is that any different than running away from your deeds?" Mist's eyes widen at that, Celestia's words again striking home. "But...how can I...you're going to let me stay?" she asks timidly, hardly daring to hope. "The Crystal Empire needs you, Mist. There are hard times to come in its future. It has been thrust into a brand new world, and essentially has to rebuild its society from nothing once more," Celestia continues, resting a hoof on Mist's shoulder. "I want you to be there to help them. In fact, I am assigning you to the command of Princess Cadance. After the Fair, you will report to her. Am I understood?" "Yes! Thank you, princess...I really don't deserve your kindness," Mist murmurs, dipping her head in respect. Instead of departing, Mist remains there for several seconds, fidgeting awkwardly. "Is there something else?" Celestia prompts, tilting her head. Mist nods, starting to blush a little. "I...I don't know what to do now. I...don't know how to...have fun," Mist admits, shuffling her hooves. Understanding dawns on Celestia's face, a soft smile forming. "Especially because...there's all these crystal ponies...I can't interact with them. They all hate..." "Mist?" the sound of another voice calling her name causes Mist to stiffen with fright. She turns slowly to see a group of three crystal ponies, all of them staring at her in shock. "Flowing Mist? Is that you?" "I...yes..." Mist says timidly, shifting so that she's hiding behind her mane. "I'm sorry...I..." "Oh thank heavens, you're alright!" a crystal mare responds, trotting up to her with a relieved smile. Mist goes completely still, a look of utter confusion on her face. "You're alive! I never would have thought!" a crystal stallion walks up to join her, such that the three of them are gathered around her. "What with all they did to you..." "I can't imagine how you stayed sane!" the third crystal pony expresses happily. She reaches forward and briefly hugs Mist. "We thought we had it bad...but nopony should have had to endure what you did. Nopony blames you...we've all done terrible things to escape the pain..." "I...I..." Mist can't even form a coherent statement. "But that's all over now. Come join us! We're free again, and the Crystal Heart is even in its rightful place! Let's go have some fun!" The first mare advises her. "After all of this...I think we've earned it, don't you think?" the stallion remarks. Mist is utterly speechless in the face of the three ponies and their openly displayed care for her. Her mouth hanging open, she turns back to look at Celestia. "Go on," Celestia urges her, gesturing with her head. Mist can't take any more. She lowers her head and releases a choking sob, tears rolling down her cheeks. She leaps forward and hugs all three of the crystal ponies at once...and then it happens. Just like that, her body lights up with crystalline magic for the first time. Her mane and tail style themselves before our eyes, giving her a truly elegant appearance. For the first time, Mist appears to come to life. "Thank you so much..." Mist cries, squeezing the ponies tightly. "I'm home...everypony." When I rejoin Vinyl and Octavia, it's with a broad smile. I guess, every once in a while, happy endings do occur. For once in my life, I feel like I honestly made a difference. If I had just killed her like I did to Shatter...she would have never had this experience. She would never have known happiness again...and dammit, I'm getting a little teary eyed. I really have gone soft...but I don't mind at all. Anyway, the three of us attend the musical analysis event, managing to get into the back rows of the amphitheater where the event was taking place. There, some of the older musicians, including the one I worked with, explain to us all the differing styles that appear in their music. This includes the flugelhorn, as well as its history and impact on their musical style. Suffice to say, Octavia and I find it very interesting. But as for Vinyl... "Is she really?" I whisper, making sure to keep my voice low enough so as not to disturb the other ponies. Over on the other side of Octavia, Vinyl is fast asleep, snoring loud enough to cause the surrounding ponies to give her strange looks. "It seems she is...this mare is simply incorrigible," Octavia responds, uncomfortably shifting. Vinyl's head is resting on her shoulder shamelessly, making Octavia rather annoyed. "It seems she simply doesn't appreciate the finer points of the very art in which she claims to profess." I reach over Octavia and gently close Vinyl's mouth with my index finger and thumb. However, the second I take my hand away, Vinyl's mouth falls open again to release another obnoxious snore. I sigh and rub my forehead, a sentiment that Octavia echoes. "There's no helping this mare," I say, and then the both of us turn our attention back to the event. After the event ends, I end up splitting up with the two of them, as they both want to go to separate events. I wave to the both of them and make my way through the streets. I have a bit of time before the next event I want to see, so I think I'll take a moment to browse the different stalls to see what's being sold. They're really good with shaping crystal, as if that hadn't been made clear to me already. In one of the stalls, I see these gorgeous figurines of dragons shaped entirely out of different shades of crystals. Not surprisingly, I see Spike there, gazing up at the dragon figurines with awe. He's accompanied by Twilight, who has her nose buried in a book that looks recently bought. Hm, I feel the need to talk to her, so I direct my path over to that stall. Twilight isn't completely absorbed in her reading; she lowers the book and smiles when she notices me coming. "Hello, Seth. Did you come to look at the dragons too?" Twilight asks. "Not really. I came over to talk to you," I tell her flat out. Ever since all of this has happened, I've felt like there are some things between Twilight and I that have been left unsaid. After all, I haven't really interacted with her much on a personal level. Twilight looks surprised by that. She closes the book and sets it into a set of saddlebags that she's wearing, giving me her full attention. I notice that like the rest of us, she's been crystallized as well, her mane done up with shining silver ribbon. "Oh okay. Shall we move elsewhere then?" Twilight offers. Wordlessly, I accompany her away from the stalls and into a calmer street, where there aren't as many ponies due to the lack of any attractions nearby. Twilight studies my face, starting to look worried. "Is something wrong?" "Sort of," I admit. I sit down against the side of a building, and gesture for her to join me. She does so, watching me quietly and waiting patiently for me to continue. "My time in Equestria...it's been pretty crazy." Twilight giggles at that. "I'll say. I don't regret any of it, though. Equestria is safe now, all thanks to us," she responds. She gestures to the Crystal Fair. "All of this is only possible because we fought so hard." "I know that, and I'm not debating that. What I do regret is the way that I've treated you, when you never really deserved it," I admit, choosing to just tell her bluntly how I feel. Twilight's expression abruptly changes, her eyes widening slightly. I chuckle drily. "The first time I met you, I kicked Spike and treated you like shit." "No, Seth, please. I don't blame you," Twilight tries to assure me. "You just lost your entire race and found out you were in a whole new world...who wouldn't be a little upset?" "Except I didn't give a shit about my race at the time," I correct her, causing her to recoil. "Yes, I lost the few I cared about, but that didn't mean I had to be a total ass to you." Twilight is quiet, her eyes softening. But I'm still not finished. "Let's be honest. If it weren't for you, I probably would have just wandered around senselessly until somepony decided to lay me flat for being an ass," I continue. "I guess the point I'm trying to say is...thank you. You've been a really good friend." "Oh, Seth," Twilight whispers, her eyes sparkling with tears. She leans forward and wraps her forelegs around my neck, her mane brushing against my cheek. I chuckle and hug her back, feeling a little better now that I've said that to her. "It really means a lot to hear you say that. I thought I messed up with you so many times...I thought I wasn't cut out for making friends. Thank you..." "You idiot...why are you thanking me? I'm trying to thank you," I mutter in her ear dryly, earning a soft chuckle from her. Eventually we pull apart...and the first thing we notice is Spike standing about a foot away from us. "You guys done being all huggy? Because I can keep looking at the dragons if you're not," Spike remarks. Twilight and I both give him a flat-browed stare...and then I push him over with a light finger to his forehead. "Whoa!" "Yes, we're done," I retort, standing back up. Twilight does as well, looking much happier than before. "Anyway, I'm going to head off to the next event. Some 'Great and Powerful Magic Act?'" "I'm going to see that too! Come on, let's go see it together!" Twilight suggests. Spike hops up on Twilight's back, and then the three of us walk back into the Fair, on our way to the next event. Twilight and I sit side by side inside an auditorium, located inside one of the larger buildings. Sitting around us are several scores of ponies, crystal, changeling, and Equestrian alike. In front of us, where a stage should have been, is a seemingly nondescript wagon about the size of one of the smallest houses. There's nothing special about it...it's just made out of wood. Suddenly, the wagon comes to life, the front half of it unfolding in an impressive display of magic and engineering. The sides fold outwards to become a backdrop, complete with a hanging curtain. The top opens up to reveal a lighting system as well as a headboard upon which several flashy decorations are engraved. The bottom rolls forward to form the shape of a stage, complete with automated instruments that play a majestic fanfare. Trixie steps out on stage from behind the curtain, wearing a lavender hat and cape adorned with a starry pattern. Two colored spotlights shine down upon her, giving her a mystical appearance. Heralding her appearance are several beautiful displays of fireworks and light shows, all emanating from her glowing horn. "Come one, come all, and witness the showstopping magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie announces, her voice easily projecting through the building. The ponies around us express their awe with oo's and ah's, each of them impressed by the complex patterns being formed in the air through her magic. "Watch in awe as her story is revealed; she who held armies at bay until the evil King himself toppled from his gilded throne!" "She's bragging again," Twilight whispers to me with a knowing smile. On her back, Spike is resting his face in a claw. "I mean...she's not wrong," I whisper back with a shrug. "She did fight with you and the others while we fought the king. Besides, it's for the sake of the show." "That's true...maybe this will be fun after all," Twilight admits, and then the two of us sit back and watch as Trixie retells the story for us all to hear, accompanied by magically created illustrations. The Fair continues, and I think it's safe to say that I'm having the time of my life. I go from event to event, each one serving to entertain or educate me. Every so often I'll meet up with one of my friends, and I'll end up seeing the next event with them. I don't really buy anything; I don't have the bits with me. I left them all back at my home in Ponyville. After all, there's no point in keeping money on hand when you're in the middle of a war. However, just browsing the selection is fun as well. There's all these neat little gadgets on sale, along with some gorgeous artwork. I find myself regretting that I didn't bring any money. Some of the paintings I see are amazing, and would look really good on the walls of my house. I don't have anything to personalize my house yet, after all. I end up meeting with all of my friends at a cafe for lunch, and that turns out to be a blast...especially when Rainbow started messing with Lyra over her choice of meal. I just sit back and laugh, feeling happier than I've been in a long time. After lunch, we end up parting again. I take a moment to rest against the side of one of the buildings. Sheesh, I forgot how exhausting these kinds of events can be. I look up at the sky, noticing that it's already well past noon. Time has been flying, to the point where I feel like it needs to slow down a bit so I can enjoy everything this Fair has to offer....yep, this is definitely like a convention. "Let's see, what's next?" I say to myself, looking down at the brochure. My eyes scan over the list of events, searching for one that I might like to attend next. No, I'm not interested in that one...and the musical performance of the anthem I helped transcribe isn't until later tonight. Oh yeah, there's that jousting event that Rainbow is going to compete in. I'm not that interested, but she wants to me see her, so I guess I'll be hitting that one next. Except it's not until an hour later, so I have some time to kill. I think I've mostly looked over the marketplace, so I guess I'll hit the dance floor. "Who is that I see resting to catch his breath? My, if it isn't the human, Seth!" My eyes flick up from the brochure at the sound of the very familiar voice that's now addressing me. Wow, I did not think she would be here. "Zecora?" I reply, pleasantly surprised. Sure enough, the foreign zebra is standing just in front of me, looking surprised as well. She's looking well, her mane done up with green ribbon, and crystal magic dancing through her just like the rest of us. "Holy hell, I haven't seen you in forever!" "Indeed, a long time it has been. It is very nice to see you again," Zecora responds happily, trotting over to me. Heh, and her rhymes are just as strong as ever. I remember when I first met her...I thought she was some kind of freaky rhyming alien. She was the first living creature that I met in Equestria that didn't want to murder me. "Much have I heard of your adventures in this nation. I am quite curious to hear your own narration." "Yeah, that's a story that'll take a lot longer than we have time for," I admit with a sheepish grin. Zecora nods understandingly at that. "Suffice to say, it's been crazy. You know, I'm actually glad I ran into you here. I haven't really spoken much to you since you helped me out in the forest." Zecora tilts her head to one side, pleasantly surprised by the positive way I'm speaking to her. "Through all of your trials, you have not faltered. Yet I find your tone seems to have altered," she observes accurately. "Yeah...basically, you were right," I admit, referring to the parting words she gave me, right before I entered Ponyville for the first time. "I wasn't able to be an island. Honestly, I should have listened to you in the first place. I would have had a much easier time of it." Zecora nods solemnly, understanding immediately what I'm trying to say. "You know, I don't think I ever properly thanked you. I mean, I sorta did, in my own pissed off way, but if you hadn't been there, I'd be dead," I confess to her. "But now, I have friends that are practically family, and I even have my own relationship. If you think about it, that's all because you were there to save me." Zecora colors a bit, ducking her head modestly. "Now, you do this humble zebra too much praise. It was your own perseverance that carried you through the days," she responds, though she does look genuinely appreciative of my words. "It was your will, burning brightly ablaze, that allowed you to embrace the sunlight's first rays." "You're being modest...just take the damn compliment already," I retort, though it's not in a nasty way. Zecora understands that, as she's now chuckling. "Still, it was good to see you here." "Indeed, it is nice to see you have made a fresh start," Zecora responds with a nod. She then indicates the brochure that she's holding in one hoof. "However, I'm afraid it is time we must part. There is a showing of quite interesting art; an event in which I feel I must take part." "Makes sense. I'm headed to the dance floor later. I'll drop by your hut sometime after this is over when I'm free of work," I promise her, waving as she leaves. Well, that was a pleasant surprise. Anyway, now that I'm on my own again, I fold up the brochure and stash it in my pocket. Then, I head back into the streets, making my way back to the Crystal Tower. The dance floor itself is pretty crowded, but nopony is really dancing just yet. It looks like the previous entertainment has just finished, and now the next musician is setting up. I join the crowd, looking to see who's going to be playing next. Oh, I should have known. Vinyl is bent beneath her tables, which are partially set up on the far side of the clearing. Her speakers have been set up all over the dance floor, such that everyone will be able to hear the music at it's highest intensity. Of course she's playing for a bit. Being a DJ is what she does, and I'd have been surprised if she hadn't played at the Fair at least once. "Hurry up, pony, you've got ponies waiting to dance down here!" I yell up at her, my hands cupped around my mouth. Vinyl promptly hits her head on the top of the tables, and then she emerges, glaring down at me. Hilariously enough, some of the ponies around cheer at my words, their enthusiasm running high. "Hey, at least I'm taking my time to complete this elementary job!" Vinyl retorts. My right eye starts to twitch at Vinyl's reference to my fuck up with the equipment a long time ago. "Unless you're offering to help?" "I don't know am I getting paid for it?" I call back up to her, earning laughter from the surrounding ponies. "Not this time. I've practically done everything myself!" Vinyl answers, adjusting her shades. I cross my arms and shake my head. "Then no, I'm not helping." "Well, then don't complain! It's taking longer because I'm yelling at you!" Vinyl replies with a grin, and then she gets back beneath her tables as the ponies all laugh at the exchange. Chuckling to myself, I merge with the crowd and search for a suitable place to dance. I notice Celestia standing at one side of the area at the very edge, accompanied by the council pony from before. She's looking rather annoyed right now, for whatever reason. I then notice that the council pony is still talking to her, showing her something on his clipboard. Seriously, is the council not going to leave her alone for the whole Fair? "Awright, I got this all ready to go! You ponies want to dance!?" Vinyl calls to the crowd, her speakers turning on. The resulting cheer is enough to make me grin and cover my ears. I can practically feel the enthusiasm in the air. "Then let's do this!" Vinyl puts a disc on the tables, and upbeat electronic music blares from the speakers. As if on cue, the dance floor comes to life once more as ponies start moving their bodies to the beat. "Ooh, this seems to be a rather charming little song," Celestia comments in the middle of the councilpony's sentence, cutting him off. He huffs and glares at her in frustration. "Your highness, there is still the matter of trade rights to consider," the stallion reminds her with a clipped tone. Celestia huffs and gives him an askance look. "Perhaps, but I believe that can wait until after the Fair, can it not?" Celestia attempts to reason with him. At that, the stallion looks like he's going to have an aneurism. "Your highness, this is the fate of an entire nation we're thinking of. You simply cannot take time off at such an important junction. Now, if you'll please focus on the policies I have prepared..." the stallion responds in an uppity fashion that makes me want to just punch him in the face. "You know what? I do not think so," Celestia finally says, giving the stallion a pointed stare. She starts to step towards the dance floor, much to his shock. "I believe I am going to let my mane down and have a little fun. Perhaps you should do the same." "Princess, there are Canterlot nobles and lesser royalty here as well! You simply cannot be seen dancing to such an absurd performance!" the stallion insists. Celestia pauses, and then she turns her head, giving the stallion a frankly intimidatingly calm stare. He quails under her gaze. "First, this 'absurd performance' as you so rudely put it...is the product of many hours of hard work. I will not tolerate any further insults against this performance which stems from her passion for music," Celestia warns him calmly. The stallion nods vigorously in response. Then to his absolute horror, she gives him a knowing smile, and then she removes her crown and every last piece of her regalia with her magic, much to the councilpony's utter horror. "Second, stop fussing and have some fun. Matters of business can wait until after the Fair." The stallion is completely helpless to stop her from joining the throng of dancing ponies. Hilariously enough, Celestia even joins a set of crystal ponies, letting out an enthusiastic "ow!" in the process. I shake my head, grinning. Celestia is going to do what she wants...and I pity the poor pony who thinks they can convince her otherwise. As the song kicks up, I make my way onto the dance floor as well, eager to let off the rest of this stress. What's even better is that I run into Rainbow and Pinkie in the process. "Hey, you made it! Good, I was just about to go looking for you!" Rainbow exclaims, joining me on the dance floor. "Now, step it up! You're looking a little rusty!" "Well excuse me for not dancing in months," I retort, making room for her as best I can. Pinkie makes her way to us as well. I get a bad feeling the second she opens her mouth. "Hey Sethie, how are you doing? Do you like the party that I helped plan? Was the food okay? Oh, did you see Trixie's show? She was so good and it was all true and the lights were...wait, ohmigosh...did you visit the sweets panel!? There was..." Pinkie immediately starts spouting off, much as I'd expected. She keeps going and going, bouncing up and down again and again. Eventually, I just reach out a hand and hold it gently over her head, pressing down to keep her from bouncing. Pinkie pauses, looking up at my hand. With a giggle, she slides her head up and licks my hand. "Aah! God, I forgot you do that!" I yelp, frantically wiping pony saliva off on my pants. Pinkie just giggles and snorts, proud of her small victory. "Your fault for trying to stop Pinkie," Rainbow reminds me. I shake my head and go back to dancing. Yeah, don't I know it. I'll eventually learn my lesson as far as that goes. "Now come on! Move that body!" The dancing continues, with each of us taking breaks every now and then. Unless you're Pinkie, because then she just keeps going, seemingly having unlimited energy. It's a lot of fun though, and any stress I might have had just melts away into the music. Eventually, a slow song plays, causing Rainbow to lose interest and rest at the other side of the room. We don't have much time before the jousting event starts anyway. Pinkie goes and does her own thing, of course, somehow managing to make dancing by herself look somewhat graceful. As for me, I take a break as well, finding the nearest wall to rest against. Looking up at the gently rotating Crystal Heart, I let out a sigh of happiness. Things really couldn't get any better. I cast my gaze idly around the clearing...and I happen to catch a slight glance of a dark cloud moving in an alleyway between two buildings. Immediately suspicious, I start walking towards the alley. My mind immediately goes to the worst case scenario...but when I get close enough to see what it was, I relax somewhat. Standing still in the alley with his back against the wall is Hawke. He's gazing blankly at the wall, though occasionally he'll flick his gaze over to the festivities with an unreadable expression. Ever since he left for the mountains, there's been no sign of this guy, making me wonder what had brought him down here for the Fair. Before I can approach him, I see Fluttershy of all ponies walking into the alley and approaching him. Taken by surprise, I press my back against the wall, waiting to see what's going to happen. "H...Hello?" Fluttershy calls to Hawke's dark form shyly. Hawke turns his head slightly, fixing Fluttershy with one dark eye. She quails and almost steps away, but somehow she forces herself to step closer. "Why are you hiding in a dark place like this? Um...if you don't mind me asking, that is..." "I...dislike events such as this," Hawke admits in that deep accented voice of his. He turns fully to face Fluttershy. "Your name is Fluttershy, one of the Elements of Harmony, is it not?" "Yes, that's right. It's nice to meet you, mister Hawke," Fluttershy bravely answers him. She squeaks a bit under Hawke's intimidating stare, but stands firm. "I came to investigate the outflux of power. I see now that it was caused by the return of the Crystal Heart," Hawke explains, not bothering to return her greeting. He turns around and starts to walk away, his form starting to waver, letting me know he's about to dissolve into smoke. "My business here is concluded. I will take my leave now." "Wait!" Fluttershy calls after him, causing him to pause and look back at her. "Everyone's having a good time. Don't you want to come and join us? I mean...if you want...I think it would be nice..." Hawke gazes at her for a long time. "I think not. I doubt I would be welcome, considering my former affiliation to King Sombra," he replies softly. "That's not true! This is a party for us all...even for you. Even Flowing Mist has been accepted," Fluttershy argues. In a much softer tone, she continues. "...she's been asking about you. I think you should go see her." Hawke lets out a quiet sigh, and then he turns all the way around, walking up and past Fluttershy. "Very well. I suppose I can join you, momentarily at least," he responds. Fluttershy smiles brightly and walks beside him. "I'll take you to her," she states, breaking into a trot. There's a happy spring in her step now. "Huh," I whisper to myself, seeing Hawke and Fluttershy walk together to the dance floor. Mist, who's in the crowd as well, immediately makes her way to Hawke upon seeing him, a bright smile forming on her face. "How about that?" I walk back to the dance floor, still surprised at Fluttershy for managing to convince Hawke to join the Crystal Fair with us. Fluttershy is smiling to see the two of them together. "Fluttershy," Commander Rose walks out of the crowd, approaching Fluttershy with a small smile. She's wearing a very nice dress, though the style looks very familiar. "I was looking for you." "Oh, hello, miss Rose. Your dress is very pretty," Fluttershy compliments her, moving with Rose to the dance floor for a slow dance. "You like it? Rarity made it for me," Rose responds with a beaming smile. She gets a little more serious. "So, I was thinking of sending a letter to my parents like you suggested..." After that, I can't hear them anymore. As for me, I'm thinking of going back to my break...but then I see Celestia just getting up from a short rest of her own. A thought strikes my mind, and I know it won't go away until I talk to her about it. I sigh in annoyance. God, giving a damn about other ponies is really a hassle at times. When she catches sight of me approaching her, the words that I pre-rehearsed in my head die away. Goddamn, I don't know how she manages to do that with just her gaze. Fuck it, I'll just say the first thing that comes to mind. "Want to dance, princess?" I end up saying, and then I immediately kick myself for how dumb that sounds. "Oh? Well, it would be my pleasure," Celestia takes the offer in stride, dipping her head. After that, I freeze a little, because I don't fucking ask immortal beings to dance everyday. Thankfully, she picks up on that and leads me to the dance floor herself. Remembering how I did it at the royal wedding, I lift one hand and accept the hoof that she extends to me, and then gently place my other hand on her back, close to her neck. I let Celestia take the lead due to her experience. Together, the two of us slowly move ourselves to the soft and slow beat. "Is there something on your mind, Seth?" Celestia asks me softly, picking up immediately on why I asked for the dance in the first place. Of course, reading my mind as always. Hopefully I can at least get a thought out before she completes it for me. "Yeah...I wanted to thank you," I manage to get out. It's so much harder finding the words to say to Celestia, as opposed to Zecora or Twilight. "Whatever for?" Celestia responds. I make a small shrug. "Everything. For helping and putting up with me ever since we met. You went well out of your way to help me, even though I'm just a small guy in the grand scheme of your kingdom," I express to her, my voice getting stronger and more confident as I speak. "It's like...even I would have given up on myself back then." Celestia looks at me softly, her eyes filled with warmth and compassion. "Everyone is important, Seth. Even the smallest filly is as important to me as family," she replies. "You were an individual in need of love and guidance. Ever since you snapped at me in Twilight's home, I wanted to help you to realize all the happiness and warmth there is in this world...to help you reach your full potential. I could not bear to see you facing such pain alone." "Celestia..." I can only say. I didn't expect her to respond this passionately to my words. If anything, she sounds like a compassionate mother, speaking to her accomplished child. "My only regret is that I could not help you further," Celestia admits. She lifts her hoof and brushes my cheek with it softly. "Seth, I could not be more proud of the growth you have shown, over the time we have known one another. I feel..as if you have at last reached your full potential, through the combined efforts of your friends...no, your family." Her words seem to touch my very soul, as dumb as that feels. A shiver runs through me, and I once again look at Celestia with true respect. I have never respected an individual as much as I have her. I think I can say that for sure. "But it does not end here. Life is a grand journey, and you will never stop growing as an individual," Celestia assures me, her smile widening. "And I will always be here for you, whenever you need me. Whether it be for help, advice, or even something as simple as a night out with a friend, I will assist you." "Dammit, Celestia," I say, using my free hand to rub the forming tears from my eyes. "I wasn't expecting to cry tonight..." I then straighten up, meeting her gaze. "But thank you. I cannot put into words how that makes me feel. All I can just say is thank you. Thank you so goddamn much." Celestia beams, reaching her head down to nuzzle me. "You are welcome, little one." I sit in the bleachers with Vinyl, Lyra, and Bon Bon, having met up with them just as Rainbow and I were heading to the jousting arena. Together, the three of us are eating popcorn and drinking soft drinks, waiting anxiously to see Rainbow compete. The arena itself isn't anything special. It's just a dirt rectangular area with a crystal railing running through the center. Not far from the jousting arena is the judges panel, where three crystal ponies are sitting. The contestants would start on either side, wearing a suit of light armor with the lance strapped to the side nearest their opponent. Then, the two of them charge at one another and attempt to knock the other over. The contestant who won two out of three times would be declared the winner, and would move up on the rankings. So far, the matches have been pretty uneventful, at least as far as I'm concerned. I don't know most of the ponies that are competing, so I don't feel like cheering one way or the other. However, I do know Applejack, and when she walks out onto the field, I sit up, suddenly interested. "Yeah, it's Applejack! Go Applejack!" Lyra cheers loudly. Vinyl does the same, while Bon Bon just looks mildly interested. Oh boy, this means that Applejack and Rainbow will have to go up against one another eventually. Applejack puts on a competitive expression, grinning at her opponent. When she breaks into a charge, it's like, not even fair for the poor pegasi she's competing against. Applejack is like a juggernaut, practically tanking the lance from the other contestant...and then hurling the pegasi through the air with the blunt tip of her own lance. The next round ends much the same, letting Applejack through to the next set of matches. Rainbow similarly dominates her opponent, not even getting hit by the other's lance. As we watch, both Rainbow and Applejack power their way through the tournament, laying flat all those who dare to stand before them. At last, it's the finals. Applejack and Rainbow step out into the arena, equipped with fresh lances and armor. They both see one another and glare at each other with competitive spirit, grins on their faces. Both of them look incredibly sure of themselves. "I don't know who to cheer for," Lyra admits, shuffling her hooves. "I'm just not going to cheer. Or if I do, it'll be wordless. Honestly, I'm just thrilled to see this, because either way it'll be awesome," I tell my friends. "If Applejack wins, I get to laugh at Rainbow getting knocked down a peg or two. If Rainbow wins, then my marefriend is awesome." "That's one way of looking at it," Vinyl agrees with a snicker. The bell rings, signaling the start of the first round. Applejack and Rainbow break into a gallop, charging towards one another with determination etched into their faces. As they get close to one another, time seems to slow down. I watch closely...and Rainbow turns her body ever so slightly, causing Applejack's lance to whistle past her. Then, Rainbow's lance plows into Applejack's chest, knocking the farmer pony off of her hooves. "Yeah! Take that, Applejack!" Rainbow boasts as the bell rings, awarding her the first round. "Don't get too cocky, Rainbow Dash. Ah ain't gonna underestimate ya again," Applejack retorts, and then the two of them set up at either end of the arena once more. The bell rings once more, and again the two gallop towards one another as fast as they can. This time, Applejack anticipates Rainbow's dodge, and hits her head on with her earth pony strength. Rainbow yelps and is hurled to the ground, where she skids for several feet. "Gah! How!?" Rainbow cried out in frustration. "Yeehaw! Got ya good, Dash!" Applejack boasts. "This is intense," Bon Bon admits, popping a cluster of popcorn into her mouth. Lyra nods wordlessly, sipping from her soft drink. When the third round begins, I lean forward in my seat, wanting to see every second of this. Applejack and Rainbow get closer and closer to one another...and then everything ends in a split second. Rainbow leaps upwards, slamming her lance downward on Applejack...but the farmer pony anticipates, and her lance shoots upwards as well. Their lances slam into one another at the same time, sending the both of them sprawling across the dirt. The bell rings, but there's silence from the judges. "Uh...they both fell over. What now?" one judge remarks. "We didn't think this much through." "Uh...it's a draw! We have two winners this time around!" Another judge decides The others soon agree, finding that to be the easiest solution. "What? That's lame, I totally beat Applejack," Rainbow complains, getting up and giving her lance to an attendant. "You did not! You were usin' yer wings!" Applejack accuses. The of them then proceed to bicker with one another like foals. Heh, at this point, I half expect one of them to say something infantile like "NO U!" "Er...ahem," one of the judges interrupts. Once she has Rainbow and Applejack's attention, she continues. "Considering that the final match of the tournament is a draw, we will give the both of you a prize as well as the chance to go a few rounds against the champion from the previous tournament that we had earlier in the day!" "Um...who's the winner of the last tournament?" Applejack questions curiously. There's the sound of clanking armor, and then a familiar figure walks out into the arena. Applejack and Rainbow both turn around to see Swift Lance, carrying a blunted version of her trademark weapon and decked out in a full military uniform. Applejack and Rainbow look at one another, and then back at Swift. "Oh...ponyfeathers," they both curse simultaneously. Applejack, Swift, and Rainbow come out to meet us outside the event area after their rounds are over, each of them carrying their winnings. However, Rainbow and Applejack are both muttering under their breath, shooting glances at Swift. "No fair...you have a cutie mark in lances," Applejack mutters. "I'll get you next time...smug military pony," Rainbow mutters as well. Their complaints just serve to amuse her, as well as the four of us. When Swift sees me, she salutes smartly. "Commander," she greets me. I raise an eyebrow. "You're not supposed to call me that, remember? I'm just a civilian now," I remind her. Swift gives me a smile. "Not supposed to salute you either, but there it is," she admits, causing me to chuckle. "I'm glad you got to see me giving these newbies a thrashing." Applejack and Rainbow both grumble at that, hilariously enough. "Hah, maybe now their heads won't get so big," I remark, causing them both to shove me at the same time. After that, our little group gets together and starts to wander throughout the streets, talking about nothing in particular. I laugh and smile more than I have in months. Suddenly, we all come to a stop. Chrysalis emerges from an alley, walking right in front of us. She turns to face us, halting in place. Her eyes fall upon me. Right, I forgot she was still here as well. "There you are, Seth. I've been looking for you," she addresses me directly, stepping closer to us. "I want to talk to you." "We're talking right now, aren't we?" I point out, crossing my arms. My friends gather around me, though I can't help but notice that they don't look that angry to see Chrysalis. Chrysalis's eyes narrow. "Let me rephrase that. I want to talk to you alone, without your pesky friends interfering," she snaps. Okay, now that just pisses me off. "No. anything you have to say, you can say in front of my friends," I tell her flatly. Chrysalis lets out a frustrated huff, as do a few of my friends, for some reason. What? "Just do it! It's about the royal wedding, you imbecile!" Chrysalis elaborates. My eyes widen at that admission. I give an apologetic look at my friends, and then I step away from them, moving to join Chrysalis. "Finally. Come with me." "I'll be back, you guys. Don't worry," I assure my friends, though they don't seem like they want to follow me. In fact, some of them are smiling, confusing me. Whatever, I guess I'll find out in a moment. I follow Chrysalis back through the streets, heading in the general direction of the Crystal Tower. Once we're relatively alone, I address her. "So what do you want? I mean, I doubt it's to apologize for nearly ruining my life." "Don't be stupid," Chrysalis scoffs. Then, to my surprise, she starts to look a little uncomfortable. "Do you remember the reward I promised you, if you stayed out of my business?" "How could I forget?" I respond coldly, getting angry just at the memory. I don't know why she's bringing this up now, all of a sudden. "What about it? Cut to the chase." "I couldn't have actually followed through," Chrysalis confesses. I immediately stop walking, a cold chill running through my body. Chrysalis notices, and she turns around to face me. "What are you talking about?" I ask her, my voice dangerously calm. My hands clench into fists, my nails digging into my palms. Complicated emotions run through my mind all at once, causing me to tremble slightly. "The time spell I used does have the capability of transporting you back in time. I was not lying about that," Chrysalis explains. "However, it is not an efficient spell. even using all of my magical power, I could only send you back a thousand years...and only for a few moments. I never had the ability to send you all the way home." I'm completely quiet for several seconds, unsure of how to process all of emotions sparked by this confession. That whole time...I was twisted into a knot by a simple lie...I can't believe this...she... "You!" I growl, unable to hold back my fury any longer. I close the distance between us in less than a second. My arm seems to move on its own. Chrysalis's head snaps to one side with a burst of emerald magic, hit directly on the jaw by my swinging fist. "That whole time...you were lying..." Chrysalis turns her head back to me with an angry glare, her face burnt slightly at the point of impact. "You're lucky you saved my life, human...else I would make you pay for that," she hisses. She and I glare at one another for several seconds. She eventually sighs. "But if you're quite finished acting self-righteous, I didn't call you here to fight with you. I did what was necessary for me back then. I was Equestria's enemy, and you were going to be my trophy...but this is about now, rather than then." Chrysalis starts walking again. I follow close behind her, still furious. She made my life a living hell for that whole wedding...and it was all for a lie. I should have just gone with the ponies in the first place then! Goddammit! I'm so angry right now, I can hardly see straight. "You saved my life, and I do not forget my debts," Chrysalis continues, leading me to the dance floor. She circumvents the crowd entirely and takes me to the entrance to the Crystal Tower. In the process, I notice that Celestia is no longer at the dance floor. "I will do you this one favor...and then we will be even for everything." "What favor?" I ask, forcing myself to stay calm. The two of us climb the stairs into the main body of the tower. Chrysalis takes a breath. "Would you like to see your friends and family one last time?" she asks. My eyes widen in shock. "It would only be temporary, but it is the best I can do. This is the only time I will make this offer, so consider your choice carefully." "Why the hell would you even ask that!?" I demand as we walk into the main central chamber, my anger rising once more. Don't fucking ask me things like that...you're just giving me false hope, and that hurts like hell. "You just said that you don't have the power to take me back that far!" "Maybe alone she doesn't..." I hear Cadance's voice in front of me, so I turn to look at the center of the room...and then take a step back in shock. Standing in the center of the room is every magically adept pony that I've ever interacted with. Celestia, Luna, and Cadance are standing at the center of the group, each of them smiling warmly at me. Beside them is Twilight, Trixie, and Rarity, and that's not even counting the military ponies. Rose is here now, as is Shining Armor, Iron, Salamul, Mist, and Blades. In addition I spot Pterax and Mantis, along with several other changelings. Even Hawke is here, standing at the back of the room with his arms crossed. "...but together, we do."

Tales of the Oppressed

End of Story Special

The camera slowly pans into the filming studio, revealing it to be as tidy and organized as would be expected. Sitting in the director's chair is Terran34, looking much worse than he did before. His skin is pale from lack of sunlight, and his eyes puffy from lack of sleep. As the camera focuses on his face, he jerks awake. "Whoa, what? Oh, we're starting the special already?" he exclaimed. He quickly scrambled in the seat, sitting upright and straightening the wrinkles in his suit. "Ahem. Yes. I trust you'll edit this part out? Okay." Terran34 faced the camera calmly, putting on a smile. "Hello, readers! Welcome back to the end of the story special...and don't give me that face. You'll get the final chapter soon. Besides, if I didn't post this first, you guys wouldn't even read it, because why stick around after the final chapter?" He addressed the camera. The sound of groans echoes from the audience, causing a vein to twitch in the author's head. "I've got to do some research first! Cut me some slack!" "Now then, I wanted to relay to you all how I feel about writing this story..." Terran34 starts to explain. As the author rants about crap you probably don't care about, Brave-Hooves walks tiredly into the studio, wearing a set of Applejack pajamas. He heaves a yawn...and then catches sight of the camera. He quickly scrambles away to go get changed. "And now, I'd like the thank the many people that have supported me since the..." "Thank you for your patience, everypony!" Spike suddenly leaps in front of the camera, wearing a formal suit and tie, a microphone clasped tightly in one claw. Terran34 blinks at the interruption. "Here on SpikeTV, we're dedicated to delivering you the highest quality of entertaining and original TV series!" "Spike..." Terran34 says flatly. "And now we're back, to today's all new episode of Pony Fiction Investigated!" Spike continues heedlessly. He starts walking through the studio, the camera dutifully following him, such that the author is completely panned out of the shot. "Today, we're going behind the scenes of Tales of the Oppressed, to see what the original actors had to say about being part of this story!" "Spike!" Terran34 repeats, raising his voice. Without another word, the camera pans back over to the author just long enough for Spike to shove him in a sack and tie the mouth closed. Wordlessly, Spike hands the yelling and struggling bag to Brave-Hooves, who obligingly takes it off screen. "We offer our apologies for that pointless and distracting interruption, but now we can return to the program at hoof!" Spike continues to walk towards the edge of the studio. "Today, we have a very special gift for you all! We are here to offer you exclusive footage of the first time our favorite ponies set foot on stage, found only on SpikeTV!" The First Audition: The sound of clunking metal and squeaky audio can be heard as someone handles the camera horribly. This goes on for several seconds before the static on the screen gives way to actual video...of the ground. Finally, the camera lifts up into an uncomfortable close up of Spike. "Okay, is this thing on?" Spike asks aloud, tapping the audio input to the point where it causes a loud scratching. "I see a red light. So I think it's on. Alright, let's do this. It's gonna be so great." Spike begins to walk with the camera down the studio hallway, snickering to himself under his breath as he does so. When he reaches the door at the end of the hallway, he opens it up and steps inside. Inside is a small room that clearly serves as storage for several movie-making materials, such as camera tripods, badly constructed props, and other such things that should never see the light of day. In the center of the room are a series of chairs arranged in an arc. Each chair is filled by one of the six main characters of the show. "There you are, Spike. Maybe now you can tell us what's going on?" Twilight addresses Spike, setting aside the book that she'd been reading. "Why have we been called here?" "Yeah! I can't stand just sitting around, doing nothing. I could be practicing my new trick right now," Rainbow complains, rocking in her chair back and forth. "Especially in a place that desperately needs a makeover. I don't even see wallpaper on these walls!" Rarity agrees. "Alright, settle down. Basically you've all been called here today because you are going to be participating in yet another fanfiction!" Spike announces proudly. All six of them stop talking immediately...and then they all release various sighs and groans of annoyance. "Okay...so who am ah having sex with this time? Am I going with Rainbow again? My brother? Or heaven forbid, Apple Bloom?" Applejack asks resignedly. She suddenly becomes aware of all the others giving her strange looks. Applejack looks defensive. "What? Fanfiction writers are really weird." "Spike, can you tell the author we simply don't have time to sit through another shipfic?" Twilight asks hopefully. "I mean, that's all they usually are....besides, it's always Trixie, Celestia, or my brother. It's really awkward!" "Actually, that last one was my fanfiction!" Pinkie admits gleefully. "That explains a lot," Applejack quips. "Nope, he's super determined about doing this!" Spike answers cheerfully, enjoying this far more than he should. "But don't worry, I think you'll like this. It's called Tales of the Oppressed, and it's a human in Equestria story!" There's another chorus of groans. Fluttershy, however, bursts into tears. "It's going to be me, isn't it? It's always me in these human stories...curse my own popularity..." she moans with despair. "At least you have admirers. It's never me. I don't get shipfics. At least with anything normal! Why, the majority of my stories are with Sweetie Belle! The horror! The scandal!" Rarity exclaims. "Um...hello? Rarijack! One of the most popular pairings ever!" Pinkie reminds her. Rarity and Applejack look at one another, visibly coloring as they recall their various shipfic escapades together. "No, you want to know who's unpopular in shipfics, it's me!" "That's because your character is so...complex," Rainbow responds tactfully. "No seriously, Spike, who's the love interest? There's ALWAYS a love interest in these human stories...and stop crying, Fluttershy!" "Hm, let's see here," Spike flips through a sheaf of papers that he has in his free claw. "Huh...it's you, Rainbow." "Oh thank Celestia!" Fluttershy gasps in relief, while Rainbow just sits there with a twitching right eye. "Oh you've got to be kidding," Rainbow emits, facehoofing. The others adopt relieved expression as well...Applejack in particular starts snickering at Rainbow's misfortune. Resigned, she looks at Spike again. "So...who's the lucky guy huh? Is he at least hot?" "Okay, once second." Spike turns around to view the door, opening it once more. "Okay, come on in, Seth. They're ready to meet you now!" Seth, dressed in his early college outfit, steps inside, peering around at the ponies with a pensive expression. Rainbow hops up from the chair and hovers up to him to get a closer look. "...he looks like a girl," Rainbow observes...and then immediately ducks when Seth swings a fist at her. "Fuck you! Everybody says that! Why!?" Seth starts to cry, triggered through his bullshit anime character backstory. "Oh come now, dear, there's nothing wrong with looking a little on the effeminate side," Rarity attempts to reassure him. "This just means a wider variety of clothes will look good on you. I mean, I'm assuming I'm the one making the clothes? That's how these human in Equestria stories usually work, right?" "Make sure ya make him something good for hard work. Cuz of course he's gonna be workin' on the farm. Ah mean, the humans always work on the farm in these stories," Applejack advises Rarity. "Oh, I can just hear the author steaming with every word you all say. This is so awesome," Spike gloats, gleefully rubbing his claws together. "So what do you think, Rainbow? Is he good-looking enough for you?" Rainbow peers closely at Seth, who shifts uncomfortably under her stare. She tilts her head to one side. "Meh. I guess it could be worse," she admits at last. "Meh? I thought you were into mares, Rainbow?" Applejack quips with a dirty grin. Rainbow slowly turns her head to glare at the farmer pony. "Okay, first off, he's not a mare, he's just a very effeminate stallion. Second off, that rumor came from fanfiction! It's not my fault I keep getting paired with you! Or Twilight...or Fluttershy...or Scootaloo...or...the kitchen sink. Don't ask about that one. I think the only straight pairing I have is Soarin!" Rainbow laments. "I mean, come on, all he does is make awkward pie jokes! I can never take it seriously!" "Now then, moving right along, Seth," Spike takes the camera and orients it on the thoroughly unamused human. "How do you feel about being the main character of the best human in Equestria story to ever exist?" "Like everyone I know and love is dead," Seth responds without missing a beat. "Ah don't be that way, Seth. After all, you're being paired with me, and everypony knows I'm the coolest mare on this show," Rainbow proclaims, to the annoyance of her friends. She then turns to the camera. "So is the author going to see this, or what?" "Oh yeah...I'm gonna play it back to him after he starts writing the last chapter. I'll tie him down for it too," Spike responds with an evil grin. "Why, something you want to say to him?" "Yeah, there is. So, mister author guy. Since you've made me the love interest, your story just got..." Rainbow gets up close to the camera. She whips out a pair of dark tinted shades from nowhere and slips them on. "...twenty percent cooler." The room erupts into a chorus of groans, complete with Twilight beating her head with her book. "Must...erase...horrible...meme..." "Oh come on, Rainbow!" "Dash!" The last thing that's heard before the camera goes blank is Rainbow questioning, "...wait, he's going to make me tsundere, isn't he?" The camera goes blank again, until finally the studio is revealed again back in the current time. Just behind the suited Spike is the author tied up and gagged, forced to watch the interviews where the main characters made fun of story tropes. "Thank you all for watching today's captivating episode of Pony Fictions Investigated! Make sure to tune back in for more thrilling episodes, all here on SpikeTV!" Spike finishes with a flourish and a bow. Seth walks into the shot, sitting the chair next to the author. "That was a complete waste of time!" he lamented, as Brave-Hooves chuckled in the background. Eventually the cast gets ready for the filming of the final scenes in the fic. Terran34 stands in the studio with Brave-Hooves, rubbing his forehead as he tries not to think about how badly this could go. "Alright, everyone, we've just got a little bit more until the end of the story. Put in your best effort, and this'll be over before you know it!" the author calls to Seth and the others as they fill the room. He then turns to Brave-Hooves. "You did set up the speaker system properly, right? We need the soundtrack, otherwise the scene loses half the impact." "Calm your shit, I took care of it," Brave-Hooves assures Terran34, holding the remote in his hoof. He starts to snicker under his breath. "I got this under control." "Okay, then let's start with the attack on Hawke's base. Remember your lines, ponies!" Terran34 calls, and then the first screening begins. Attack on Hawke's Base: (Inspired by Brave-Hooves) Music: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Endor Chase My mouth drops as the lightning cuts right through the armor of the ship and blasts it to pieces, causing the engine to explode violently and hurl debris in every direction. Even that's not enough; the lightning streaks right through the wreckage and destroys the airship behind that as well, before finally dissipating. "What in tarnation!?" Applejack cries out. "Aaah, what's going on!?" Rainbow screams. "Trixie didn't sign on for this!" "Jesus fuck!" I shout with my hands clapped to my ears. All of us throw ourselves to the deck as debris rains down on our ship, consisting of shards of metal and burning wood. When I feel like it's safe enough to move, I turn to Mist. "Hold on a minute, that shot came from the cannon! That thing's operational?!" "Seth, that cannon is getting ready to fire again!" Rainbow cries out, jabbing her hoof down towards the colossal weapon, which is already starting to hum. "What do we do!" "Take evasive action!" Swift yells up to the griffon at the helm. He immediately jerks the wheel in an attempt to get the airship far away from that cannon. Finally the cannon lights up the sky with a piercing white again, and this time the bolt of destructive lightning is heading directly towards us. "It's a trap!" Seth calls... ...and then the soundtrack ends, courtesy of an annoyed author. Seth turns towards the backdrop grinning. "What? You wrote trap after trap into this thing, and you didn't expect one of us to make that joke?" "I did...but I was holding out hope that you guys would actually act professional for once. Sue me for being wrong," Terran34 retorts. A Different Soundtrack Take 1: Music: Ride of the Valkyries At long last, the flagship of the griffon fleet emerges from the veil of snow, parting the falling white curtain like water. Immediately, my team and I head out from below deck and head to the forecastle of the ship. Following us are the scores of griffons that have been hiding below with us, as well as Mist. Zythe flies up to the wheel and callously shoves Pterax out of the way, taking his rightful position at the helm. "Griffons! Prepare to take flight!" Zythe roars from the stern, spreading his wings wide. A cheer rises from the ranks of the griffons. The sound of metal grinding against metal fills the air as the gunports on the hull of the ship open up, and the black barrels of lethal cannons emerge. "Roll out the cannons! We're taking the fight to the enemy!" Standing on the prow of the ship, I look forward at the horizon. A wide open valley presents itself before us, an untouched carpet of snow stretching out all the way towards the still smoking dormant volcano, where Hawke's facility is nestled up against its side. It isn't long before our encroaching fleet is noticed by the enemy. Undead fliers reveal themselves from the nooks and crevices of the geothermal plant, taking off in a swarm of black dots and heading directly for us. "Fire the forward cannons!" Zythe orders as he takes to the air. At the front of each airship are two smaller guns in the style of swivel cannons, the type that you'd see on old 18th century ships. They are quickly manned by separate griffons and oriented upon the approaching undead. The air soon fills with the booming sound of firing cannons as the swivel guns unload into the undead, shredding anything unlucky enough to be hit. Zythe grins at the carnage and looks back at the other griffons."First division, flock to me and prepare to intercept! I'm ready to shed some blood!" Brave-Hooves turns in his seat over to Terran34, grinning and holding the remote. "I notice you haven't called cut yet. It works, doesn't it?" "Yes it does...but there's no way I can use it, because nobody would take this scene seriously," Terran34 admits with a dry smile. Eventually he stands up. "Cut!" The sound of groans and complaints fills the room. "Oh come on! I know it's a good song, but there are some songs I just can't use! It's like using the Fairy Tail Main Theme, everybody knows what it's from and what it stands for, so it doesn't have the same impact!" "Nobody cares about the music as much as you do, idiot!" Somepony calls from offscreen, causing Terran34 to run out of the shot in search of the speaker, while Brave-Hooves laughs. "I think the music is an integral part of the experience," Octavia's voice inputs from somewhere. "You're not even in the scene!" The rest of the audience yells back at her. A Different Soundtrack Take 2: "But if you are like me, no amount of words will convince you of the truth," I say sadly. I reach up towards the edge of my burned jacket and slide it off, tossing it aside. Beneath, all I'm wearing is a sleeveless green shirt to match my eyes. I clench my fists and start to power up, my aura towering even higher than before. "Come on, Hawke. Enough feeling each other out. I'm going to show you what I've learned myself." Hawke's eyes narrow, and then he nods. He slides off his white gloves, one by one, and drops them to the rocky ground. Then, he reaches up to the collar of his coat and starts to unbutton it. Once it's fully unbuttoned, he takes off the garment and lets it fall atop his gloves. Beneath, he's wearing similar clothing to me: a sleeveless tight fitting black shirt. His corded muscles clearly stand out, now revealed from the long sleeves of his coat. Suddenly, he pauses and looks up towards the ceiling where the music is coming from. "Excuse me! Do I look like the personified anger of some super-dimensional being?" "That game sucks!" Seth agrees, hurling his sword up to the speaker, breaking it. "I mean, what happened to the awesome thing we were going to do, where you use my old theme song for the fight? You know, mirror of myself?" "But...but...there's lava...and the atmosphere is similar...so I thought," Terran34 weakly tries to explain from backstage. "That is the weakest argument I've ever heard," Seth states flatly. "Hawke, screw our fight. Let's just beat the crap out of the writer." "Agreed," Hawke responds, cracking his knuckles. Terran34 immediately bolts from his chair and leaves the studio with the two in hot pursuit. Brave-Hooves sits in silence, unmoving, for several seconds. "So...what, am I the writer now?" he asks aloud. There's no answer, as the room is completely empty. A grin crosses his face, and then he pulls out a laptop. He opens a new document and labels it Chapter 133: Seth's Desires. Brave-Hooves starts to type, echoing the words aloud to himself. "Rainbow Dash and Applejack descend upon Seth's naked body..." The Chapter Title Gave This Joke Away: Hawke's face contorts with hate at my words. "They would never help me. They never helped her. The only time they saw fit to help me is when they could use it to control me! And I wouldn't have it!" "I'm so damn sick of you ponies always trying to sucker me in with these favors of yours. I won't have it, you hear me? I WON'T HAVE IT!" I close my eyes and sigh, nodding my head. I never thought that this would be the case. He doesn't just sound like me. He's me...the me that I would have become without the friends that I've made here. I can't help but ask myself...if I had lost Amaryllis...would I have gone to Sombra willingly, as he had? Wait, hold on a minute....is this supposed to be me? How I was back then? Would I have become this murderous? No...no, I refuse to accept this. "I....you need to listen to yourself...Hawke," I try to tell him. "No. You need to stop deluding yourself, Seth. You hated everyone...and everything...all because of some stupid girl that wouldn't let you go," Hawke sneers, his tone suddenly changing. His voice becomes eerily distorted, and his eyes start to glow yellow. "Even people that didn't really deserve it...and even people that just annoyed you were utter trash." "No...that's not true...I didn't feel that way..." I try to argue, but Hawke won't let me finish. He steps ever closer to me. "Did you ever stop to realize that maybe it wasn't them that was the problem? Did you ever consider that maybe it was you that was a whiny, unlikable, worthless little bitch?" Hawke accuses, jabbing his finger at me. "Stop!" I cry out, unable to take it. "All in all...despite your so called hatred for the world, you clung to your brother and that girl...all because you really didn't want to be alone after all," Hawke declares, coming to a halt. "I know how you feel; I know what you're thinking. It's because I am you..." "Screw that!" I yell out angrily. "You're...." "Uh oh..." a voice utters from off screen, a slight bit of panic in his voice. "No...stop it, Seth. Don't..." "You're...!" I growl, trying as hard as I can to get the words out. "Don't you do it! I mean it!" the voice called again. "You're not...!" "BRO DON'T YOU DO IT!" "You're not me!" I yell as loud as I can, powering up to the max, even powering to my transformed state. "Oh, son of a bitch. I haven't grinded enough for this..." "You're right...I am a shadow...I am the true self!" Hawke's fingers elongate and taper to points, forming vicious claws. A line of a black substance shoots through his right eye, causing flakes of skin to crumble and peel away. "Okay, STOP! CUT!" Terran34 calls, his eyebrow twitching. "That was way off script, but it was actually pretty good...until I realized you were ripping off Persona 4 the whole time! The fuck, guys!?" "Dude, you're the one who named the chapter 'I'll Face Myself.' I don't know what you expected," Brave-Hooves points out. Terran34's response is to just let his head fall forward onto his desk. Healing Rainbow Take 1: (was actually going to be canon before I realized how stupid it was) "Thanks. Think you can touch up Rainbow, too?" I ask, knowing full well that Chrysalis is going to be annoyed. Sure enough, Chrysalis scoffs. The glare she gives the sleeping Rainbow clearly says what she thinks about that request. "Ugh. It was already a stretch for me to heal her the first time. Now you want me to do it again?" Chrysalis grumbles. She turns back to me with a defiant expression. "No. She can suffer for all I care." "Oh, don't be petty. Just fucking heal her, please. It'll take you less than a second," I snap at her, annoyed. "I think not. That's less than a second that I could be using doing something other than healing the pony I hate," Chrysalis hisses stubbornly. God, this is annoying. "Now, I do believe I'm done here. I think I want to take a look at this other human." Just as Chrysalis is walking away, a dumb idea comes to mind. Deciding to act on it, I step forward, catching up to Chrysalis in a few large strides. Before she realizes what I'm doing, I reach out my hand up to her head...and lightly start scratching behind her ears. "What the devil are you...ooh," Chrysalis reacts angrily at first, but soon lets out a contented moan. She leans her head up into my fingers, a silly smile on her face. "Ooh, that's amazing...yes, I'll heal whoever you want if you just keep doing that..." "I can't believe that worked," I whisper to myself. Healing Rainbow Take 2: "Mm...that's not good enough," Chrysalis responds, infuriating me even further. "I think you should be a little more complimentary. Unless you'd rather stay in this infirmary for another day or so until Celestia gets here." "You little...!" I start to say, but her eyes narrow, such that I cut off and sigh in frustration. I groan and rub my forehead, before finally looking back at Chrysalis. Every fiber of my being wants to die before saying this, but it's either this or sit around completely unable to move. "Okay, fine. Please heal me, oh most esteemed Queen Chrysalis, she who is more beautiful and intelligent than Celestia." "I beg your pardon?!" Celestia demands, walking through the door with an affronted expression on her face. I freeze in place, my blood turning to ice. Her power starts to swirl up from around her hooves, promising impending pain. "Oh fuck me," I groan helplessly, as Chrysalis snickers and leaps out the window. Limited Options: (inspired by TwiAmeliaSparkle) Hawke and Seth stand in the cell together, completely alone and away from prying eyes. Hawke is looking down at the ground, his hands clasped behind his back. Seth looks somewhat uncomfortable from the unending silence, as neither of them seem to know what to say. "I think it will be some time before I'm used to this world," Hawke admits, breaking the silence. "You mean because of all the magic and stuff?" Seth asks, glad that they can talk about something relatively normal. Hawke shakes his head solemnly. "I am referring to the lack of options when it comes to...well...romance," Hawke explains. Seth blinks, flushing a little. "Have you ever..." "What? I...that's hardly any of your business!" Seth stammers, his face turning nine different shades of red. "I've seen how you look at the one with the rainbow mane," Hawke continues, his eyes fixated on Seth's. "I mean, I won't judge you. It's not like there's anything left." "No! I am not having this conversation! Just stop!" Seth wails, growing even more embarrassed. There's a short silence. "So does their fur tickle when you..." Hawke starts to say, but Seth interrupts him with an anguished yell. "I mean...we are very sensitive in that area..." "I swear upon all that is holy, if you don't shut the hell up, I'm going to find another pool of lava to drop you in," Seth tells him flatly. "What was the slang phrase that we humans used to use?" Hawke attempts to recall, oblivious to the magically powering up Seth. "I believe it was...dat flank, yo." "THAT'S IT!" Seth lunges across the room, swinging a punch directly for Hawke's face. Hawke lifts up an arm and blocks the attack easily, his face unfazed. "Of course, if you wish to restrict yourself to other members of the species, there's always you and I." "What!?" Seth's voice goes up several pitches at that very suggestion. Hawke remains unblinking. "...the fangirls would like it." In the studio, Terran34 and Brave-Hooves are laughing so hard, that they're practically crying. "I don't think any of them realize that we were rolling the whole time!" Terran34 howls with merriment, holding his ribs. "Oh god, my sides!" "This shit is going right on YouTube!" Brave-Hooves agrees. Hawke's Secret: (inspired by Brave-Hooves) The four of us descend the staircase into the dank prison, whose cells have long since been emptied. The only cell that is occupied is the one at the far end of the dungeon, which also happens to be the largest and lowest one. A shimmering opaque wall of magic covers the cell door like an ethereal curtain, letting me know that the cell is warded with magic. I don't know how well it could stand up to Hawke, but it's not a bad idea. At the very least, it could buy some time. "Can he hear us in there?" I ask, leaning over to Iron. "He shouldn't be able to. The ward is designed to block sound and light in all directions," Iron answers. Huh, so a bit like a one-way mirror, except with sound. That's pretty useful. "He shouldn't even know that we're out here." "Huh. Okay then. Guess I'm going in," I say with a shrug. Without another word, I walk through the barrier, wondering what I'm going to see on the other side. Out of everything I expected, it certainly wasn't this. The first thing I see upon walking inside is Hawke dancing as though he were at a rock concert, bobbing his head to the beat of a...very girly sounding song that's blaring from the boombox next to this bed. The second Hawke notices my presence, he freezes completely still, as though he were a statue. He and look at one another, completely speechless, the song playing in the background. Hawke straightens up and glares. "You saw...nothing." Hawke's Proposal: (inspired by Cereal-killer) Hawke's eyes are filled with confusion, even as he instinctively starts to chew the cupcake. He lifts up a hand to prevent crumbs from falling on his coat until he finishes eating it. He conjures a handkerchief from nowhere and wipes his mouth with it. Once he's finished, he tosses the handkerchief upwards, where it disappears back into his magic. "Well? Tell me what you think, silly!" Pinkie exclaims, bouncing up and down in place. That same action causes the cupcakes to act similarly, yet none of them fall over or get smashed for some physics defying reason. When we can see Hawke's face again, his expression is one of complete and utter happiness, tears streaming down his face. He approaches Pinkie unsteadily, and then he goes down on one knee, pulling a rock out of the air with his magic. He rushes his hands over it, forming it into coal...and then he crushes it in his hands. When he reveals it, a diamond ring is clasped between his fingertips. "Pinkie Pie...will you marry me?" Hawke proposes, causing everyone in the room to complete scatter their jaws across the floor from utter shock. "I can't live without this sugary goodness any longer! I need you in my life!" "Ohmigosh! Yes! Look at this! Someone wants to be shipped with me for once! Take it down on record!" Pinkie squeals in shock and happiness. "Pinkie Pie is best housewife!" Spike sidles into the room, a grin on his face. "Don't you mean...horsewife?" Immediately, Spike is kicked out of the room by Seth. "I regret nothing!" "By the way," Brave-Hooves leans over to Terran34 in the studio, completely straight-faced. "By 'sugary goodness,' do you think he meant the cupcake, or..." Terran34 immediately slams Brave-Hooves into the ground with a single fist, knocking him unconscious. "Don't you even think about making that joke," he asserted. Hawke then leaned into the studio. "I meant both." "Goddammit!" Terran34 raged. Because Why Not: "Now, perhaps you wouldn't mind accompanying me to someplace with less prying ears?" Chrysalis requests of Hawke, giving him a rather sultry expression. She isn't wasting any time. Giving up immediately on Seth, she goes to the nearest human. As Seth expected, she just wants to possess one of them. "I believe you and I have much to discuss." Hawke ignores Chrysalis at first, instead moving past her and helping Mist up from the floor. Then he turns back to the queen with a cold expression. "You have my thanks for healing me," he states calmly. "But I have no interest in you. Begone." The record immediately screeches to a halt as everybody immediately reacts to that statement. "OOOOOH!" Seth calls out, his hands cupped around his mouth. A crowd of fans bursts in through the studio, crowding into the set and jeering at Chrysalis. Even Terran34 and Brave-Hooves burst through the backdrop, joining their voices to the chorus of jeers. "BURN!" "ZING!" "GET REKT!" "OOOOOH!" "YOU JUST GOT TOLD!" Chrysalis just stands there with a very annoyed expression. "You realize this is just my script, right?" she points out, but nobody is listening to her. She sighs and blows the entire set away with her magic. "You know what, to Tartarus with all of you." Attack on the Crystal Empire Take 1: General Shatter paces back and forth on the battlements of the constructed walls. Nearby are several undead, as well as General Glass. Shatter peers over the ramparts, gazing at the horizon. However, there's no sign of the enemy forces just yet. "Remember the plan, Glass," Shatter says to the larger earth pony. Glass was a bit...dumb, for lack of a better phrase, so Shatter knew he had to reiterate the plan several times until it stuck. "When the enemy appears, retreat and hide with the second half of the force, and then wait for them to get inside before crushing them with a pincer attack. I'll handle the heavy hitters." "Plans!? I have no need of plans! I am Glass! The..." Glass starts to proclaim. "...gods themselves fear your name, right," Shatter finishes for him, rolling his eyes. He'd heard this sermon over and over again, so he had it memorized. "You'll tear down Canterlot stone by stone, and blah blah blah. Just do your job, for Sombra's sake." "Hey...what is that?" Glass suddenly asks, pointing a hoof over the ramparts. Shatter blinks and turns to look as well...and then his eyes widen with shock. In the distance, just coming from over the mountains, is a storm system larger than any he'd ever seen before. The blackening, threatening clouds surge over the skyline towards the Crystal Empire, lightning sparking within their interiors. "That's not a thunderstorm...that's not a gale...and that's certainly not even a hurricane! What...is...that, what IS THAT!?" Shatter demands shrilly, his voice rising in panic. The storm grew ever and ever closer...and then the wind slams against the walls with an immense force. Shatter could even see multiple funnel clouds forming at the base of the storm system. "What's causing that?! Wait...is that..." Shatter suddenly cuts off as he sees the cause behind it all. At the very forefront of the storm system...is the city of Cloudsdale, its weather factory tasked to capacity as it adds to the storm that's now so large, Shatter was wondering if he needed to go make a second Ark. Suddenly, as the storm reaches the city, lightning arcs through the air, striking both Shatter and Glass, rendering them screaming and twitching on the ground. On top of Cloudsdale, heading up the storm front, is Rainbow and Seth, the both of them dressed in black outfits, complete with metal studded bracelets and collars, as well as headbands with devil horns on them. "I guess you've been..." Seth begins, sliding on sunglasses. All of Cloudsdale's residents appear behind him, similarly dressed, just as the storm's tornadoes touch down and obliterate the walls and undead in the way. "THUNDERSTRUCK!" Attack on the Crystal Empire Take 2: (inspired by TwiAmeliaSparkle and Brave-Hooves) Seth and the other main characters stand on the top deck of the flagship, on their way with the rest of the allied forces to the Crystal Empire; it all comes down to this one battle, and everyone knew it. The stress was starting to set in. "Don't just stand there, you numbskulls! Do something productive!" Zythe yells from the helm, glaring at the seven of them. "Batten down the hatches! Tend to the burner! Just don't stand around! It sets a bad example for my griffons!" "Aye aye, captain!" Seth and the others chorus...except for Rainbow. At our response, she raises an eyebrow. "'Aye aye?' What are we, pirates?" Rainbow asks wryly. She watches her friends all look between one another, shifty looks on their faces. Rainbow suddenly comes to a realization. She looks at the way the airship is structured, at the way the balloon is colored and designed similar to sails, and then at the grizzled captain. "Oh dear Celestia, we are pirates." Seth snickers under his breath. "Oh my god, and we're even going to raid a city. Pirate ponies. What next?" he jokes. The others laugh at that. There's a short silence, and then Seth starts to sing quiet. "My little pirate~" Twilight giggles, and then she follows up. "I used to wonder how raiding could be~" she sings, a bit louder. As if they'd been preparing for this, the usual orchestra for the original song starts to play in the background. Rarity grins widely, and then she dashes into the cabin for half a second before returning. In a split second, she dresses all seven of them up in pirate outfits, complete with cutlasses, hats, and a parrot for Rainbow....just in time for the next time. "Until you all shared it's plunder with me!" "Big adventure..." Rainbow joins in. "Tons of fun~!" Pinkie trills. "A beautiful ship..." Rarity begins. "...with lots of sails!" Applejack continues. "Sharing treasure..." Fluttershy swings sweetly. Suddenly, there's the sound of a record screeching to a halt, the orchestra dying down. Fluttershy quails as all of her friends stare at her at once. "What the...no, Fluttershy, we don't do that; we're pirates!" Rainbow corrects her friend with exasperation. "Oh...um...sorry," Fluttershy apologies, dipping her head. After a short silence, the record slowly winds back up, the music fading back in. "My little pirate~" they all sing together. "Because you know you're all my very best crew~!" "STOP SINGING AND GET TO WORK!" Zythe screeches down upon them. One Does Not Simply Charge into the Crystal Empire: (inspired by Nitrous Rainbows) Princess Celestia stands at the head of the army, fully suited up in her red and golden armor and wielding her shield and sword. Standing beside her is a soldier carrying the Equestrian flag, which waves proudly in the breeze, raising the morale of all who gaze upon it. The princess stares grimly at the Crystal Empire. Once, the Crystal Tower used to be a beautiful building, the highlight of a once glorious empire. But now, it looks nothing like it used to. Gone are the serene crystalline colors and smooth angles, to be replaced with sick and twisted black crystal. The edges are jagged and sharp like a guillotine, and its spires jutting up into the air like twisted pikes, their tops burning with a sickly purple fire. The spire itself shoots up into the air like a pillar of darkness, widening out into a platform up top. Dark clouds swirl around the top of the tower, covering the land in darkness. Lightning flashes from within the clouds, causing faint thunder to peal through the air. If King Sombra's going to be anywhere, it's up there. I can just feel it. Celestia turns around, meeting the eyes of each and every one of her soldiers assembled before her. This is the final battle, and everypony knows it. "My dear and most loyal subjects," Celestia begins...but then she's suddenly cut off as Seth front flips out of the ranks of the army and lands right on her back. Unlike before, now Seth is wearing a full set of plate mail armor, complete with a white gold crown resting atop his head. In one hand is a shining regal longsword, the likes of which only kings would wield. Celestia turns her head slowly. "Seth...may I ask what it is that you are doing?" "Shhh, Celestia, I'm borrowing your back for a second. It'll be great," Seth whispers to her. Celestia looks less than amused. Seth yelps as he feels her getting ready to buck him. He gives her a pleading expression. "Please, just give me this." Celestia sighs. "Fine...but don't take too long," she relents. She can't help but smile when Seth practically squees with happiness. Seth then lightly spurs Celestia into motion. Galloping across the field in front of their army, Seth puts on a serious expression. "Hold your ground! Sons and daughters of Equestria!" Seth yells out loud enough to be heard by the whole army. "Of Bleak Island! My brothers and sisters!" Seth slows down, peering forward to meet the gazes of everypony he comes across. "I see it in your eyes...the same fear that would take the heart of me!" he declares fervently. Terran34 blinks, and then he and Brave-Hooves look at one another. "Hold on a minute, this seems familiar." the author comments. "A day may come when the courage of ponies fails...when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of harmony!" Seth admits...but then he turns around, lifting his sword. "But it is not this day!" "He's really doing this, isn't he?" Brave-Hooves deadpans, rubbing his forehead. "Ah, cut him some slack. It's the only motivational speech he knows," Rainbow remarks. Instead of standing with the army with the others, she's sitting next to Terran34. "An hour of timberwolves...and shattered shields...when the age of ponies comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight!" Seth shamelessly continues to rip off the popular speech...but the ponies are loving it because most of them have no idea. "By all that you hold dear...on this good land...I bid you stand, ponies of Equestria!" Seth turns and leads the charge, Celestia galloping beneath him with a very unamused expression on her face. Behind him, the fooled ponies cheer loudly and thunder along the ground behind him as the allied forces begin their charge. "Heh...Seth one, bucket list zero," he whispers to himself triumphantly. "I think I just died a little inside," Terran34 groans. "Cut!" "No, fuck you! It was going to be great!" Seth yells harshly with anguish. "I spent weeks on this cosplay!" More Lord of the Rings References: Applejack and Rainbow tear into the enemy themselves, letting out cries of their own as they lay flat any undead in their way with their powerful hooves. Together, the two of them easily intercept an undead manticore and beat it into submission with their superior speed. "Let's see if ah kin take down more o' these varmints than you, Rainbow Dash!" Applejack challenges her friend as the two fight side by side. "Oh, you're so on!" Rainbow shoots back with a grin. The general skids across the street. When he comes to a halt, he looks up...right into Applejack's eyes. She's glaring down at him with a terrifying expression on her face, promising pain to the one who dared point his weapon at a filly. Shatter starts to back away, fear filling his eyes. "No...no...this can't be happening..." Shatter whimpers, unable to comprehend that he had just been defeated by a simple farmer earth pony. He backs away across the street faster, but Applejack gets closer and closer, no mercy in her eyes. "You're just an earth pony! Who do you think you are!?" "The name's Applejack," is all she says, before she stomps down both hooves onto Shatter's chest. Shatter's mouth opens wide, blood and saliva spraying into the air as the wind whooshes out of his lungs. At last, he falls limp, unconscious. There's a silence as my team and I look at Shatter's defeated form. None of us can believe what we just saw. Applejack walks up to Rainbow Dash, who is standing there, utterly dumbfounded. Finally, she finds her voice. "THAT STILL ONLY COUNTS AS ONE!" Rainbow shouts. Seth's Worst Nightmare: "If I remember correctly, this should be it," Seth states, looking down at the map in his hands. Next to him is Rainbow, the mare wearing her armor. The sounds of the raging battle for the Crystal Empire still filter in through the windows faintly. Seth looks up to see the singular crystalline door in front of him. "Alright, here goes I guess." Seth reaches forward and grasps the handle. When he pulls open the door, he squints as a bright light streams out from the crack. It eventually overtakes him, forcing him to shut his eyes. A rushing sound fills the air, and he starts to feel dizzy. When he next opens his eyes, he blinks. For some reason, he's wearing nothing other than his boxers, and he's lying in his bed back at his house in Ponyville. "What the hell?" he remarks, looking around. "I...I finished cleaning the living room like you asked..." Seth looks up to see the absolute most terrifying thing he's ever seen. Rainbow walks into the room, blushing up a storm and wearing a formfitting maid outfit, complete with an awkward set of white panties that have a hole just for the tail. Rainbow looks down at the ground, her rump swaying from side to side. "Did I do good, goshujinsama?" "What the fuck!?" Seth demands, his eyes widening and his heart rate quickening. Rainbow gets closer, her expression becoming seductive and a small smile forming on her muzzle. "No...stay away!" "Is there anything else I can do for you, Seth-goshujinsama?" Rainbow climbs on top of the bed, pressing a hoof on his belly, which then starts to droop lower. "Maybe...some other desires I can fulfill?" "No! Nooo! NOOO!" Seth wails piteously...until suddenly he jerks awake to find himself back in the Crystal Tower, his body trembling. Beside him is Rainbow, who seems to have been shaking him. "Wait, wha...?" "Seth, are you okay? You just opened that door and starting screaming," Rainbow asks anxiously. Seth turns to look at her...and even though she's not wearing it, he can't help but picture her in that outfit again. He chokes and looks away. "Seth?" "Oh god, I can't even look at you," he moans, as Rainbow stands there in confusion. Seth's Worst Nightmare (continued): (inspired by Brave-Hooves) Rainbow yawns and hops up out of bed, having slept in her house that night because she had to get up extremely early. Just as she is starting to get ready for work that day, her window opens. She turns to see a bemused looking Princess Luna fly in through the window. "Princess Luna? What are you doing here?" Rainbow inquires, walking up to the princess. Luna looks rather uncomfortable for whatever reason. "Something wrong?" "Not necessarily...we were...slightly confused about something. We hoped thou wouldst clarify for us," Luna expresses to Rainbow. "Sure. What's up?" Rainbow responds amicably. "'Tis about Seth. Ever since that day at the Crystal Tower, when he opened that enchanted door, Seth has been having...bizarre nightmares, to say the least. We have been spending many nights on him," Luna reveals. Rainbow starts to look a little worried at the thought of her coltfriend suffering. "There is one...particular phrase that keeps reappearing." "What is it?" Rainbow asks anxiously. "Dost thou know what...'onii-chan' means?" #WhyDidIStartWatchingThisAnime Take 1: (inspired by Brave-Hooves) Rainbow barges into Seth's room with a grin, not even caring that the door was shut. Seth looks up from his reading in annoyance, as he had shut that door on purpose to keep other ponies out. "Hey Seth, I gotta show you something!" Rainbow declares happily. "Rainbow, I wanted to be left alone so I could finish this book! Don't you know what a shut door means?" Seth demands irritably. Rainbow ignores him, instead hopping up and grabbing him by the scruff of his shirt. "Hey!" "Be angry later, it's time to be amazed right now," Rainbow tells him excitedly, hurling him to the bed. "So you know how all ponies have innate magic, right?" "Yeah, so what?" Seth grunts, half curious despite himself. "Check this out!" Rainbow declares. She makes a series of strange motions with her hooves, and then claps them together. "Transformation no Jutsu!" Seth's jaw drops as Rainbow disappears in a puff of smoke...to be replaced by a very attractive human woman...who is completely naked. Her unblemished skin is a gentle shade of cyan, and her multicolored hair is short and curls at the neck. Her eyes are a round, liquid magenta, and are set in a cute tomboyish face, with a small nose and pert lips. Rainbow straightens up quickly, causing her bust to bounce in the process, and spreads her legs slightly. "So...you ready to give up that book now?" Rainbow questions him, her voice unchanged from before. She climbs on top of the bed, approaching Seth on all fours. "Yes...yes please..." Seth murmurs, causing Rainbow to grin. "Well, I guess I have to start praying, because there is a god." Offscreen in the studio, Terran34 is staring blatantly at the scene that he just called cut on...though no one was in a hurry to usher them off the set. He slowly turns to Brave-Hooves. "Where the hell did Rainbow figure out how to do the fucking Sexy Jutsu, of all things?" Brave-Hooves stealthily returns the flash drive containing the entire Naruto series to his pocket. "I have no idea. So you gonna break them up, or what?" he responds. "I guess I have to. Go get me paper towels. I need something to stem the blood flow when Rainbow breaks my nose," Terran34 mutters, sighing in resignation as he gets to his feet. #MySenseOfHumorConsistsOfSexJokesReferencesAndUnnecessaryHashtags: "There are hundreds of ponies out there counting on us to free them. We can't fail," Cadance adds next, as serious as the rest of us. "Still...he's so strong. I'm a little frightened." "Hah, I don't blame you on that one. To be completely honest, I'm not prepared for this," I admit, my arms crossed. "I'm not prepared for any of this. I'm not a soldier. I just want to go home to Ponyville and live there with my friends." "I understand. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that we share similar goals," Celestia responds, her eyes softening. Luna and Cadance nod in agreement. Chrysalis rolls her eyes at that, but otherwise remains silent. "But we must fight, Seth. There is no other course of action available to us." "I know that. I know what's at stake. I'll fight with the rest of you, don't worry about that," I return softly. "I'm just tired of all this. I want it to be over." Celestia walks up to me with a solemn expression, understanding filling her eyes. "I know how hard this must be for you..." she whispers. Slowly, she starts to pull something out of her mane with a hoof. "Listen up, Seth. Don't believe in yourself." "Wait what? Isn't that like, the total opposite of what you've been telling me to do for the whole time?" I demand, confused. Celestia grins, and then she slides on the set of orange spiky shades that she'd just produced from her mane. "Believe in me! Believe in the Celestia that believes in you!" Celestia declares. I immediately get the reference, groaning and rubbing my forehead. "What? Isn't this the right context for that quote?" "How did you even learn about that!?" Terran34 yells from offscreen. Celestia then produces my laptop from her mane, the thing now equipped with a charger that works for magic. "What the...!?" "I borrowed Seth's laptop. I must say, there is quite a lot of decent material on this device," Celestia comments, the laptop floating in front of me tantalizingly. I try to reach for it, but she yanks it away from me. "Not just yet. I am still perusing your stores of anime." "Look through his porn folder!" Brave-Hooves yells from offscreen. I immediately form a rocket launcher with my rifle and fire a piercing rocket through the backdrop. "I don't HAVE a porn folder!" I roar as the studio explodes violently with lime green magic. The Search for Decent Songs: Just before the final battle, Terran34 calls a lunch break, and all the actors, ponies and otherwise, split in all directions to eat and socialize. As for the author, he spends this time searching through his vast library of music disk, muttering under his breath. "No...no...definitely not...epic, but doesn't fit..." Terran34 mutters, tossing rejected cds over his shoulder. Brave-Hooves walks into the room with a tray of food. He blinks and bats away a flying disk, confused. "Uh...what are you doing?" he asks curiously, stepping over to the author and peering over his shoulder. "Wait, these are music disks. I thought you had all your music ready to go?" "I did, but then I had second thoughts about the final battle theme, so I've been searching and searching! I'm running out of time and music!" Terran34 rages, pulling at his hair in frustration. "I can't even tell you how many disks I've gone through, looking for the right song!" "How do you keep track of which disks you've already been through?" Brave-Hooves inquires, picking up one of the disks to inspect. "Hm, not bad." Terran34 points ambiguously over his shoulder. "I put all the rejected disks in that back closet over there," he explains vaguely. Now curious, Brave-Hooves sets aside the disk he's holding and walks over to the closet. He clasps the door and pulls it open...only to scream in alarm as a huge stack of disks flows out of the closet like an avalanche, completely burying him from view. "Dude, I got this. I've got the perfect song for your final battle!" Vinyl Scratch trots into the room, carrying a disk with her magic. Terran34 looks up and over his shoulder, the mare having gained his attention. Behind Vinyl is Octavia and Lyra, the both of them carrying disks as well."I just mixed this up for you. Pop this sucker in and tell me what you think!" "Sure, why not. Can't be any worse than what I'm dealing with." Terran34 obligingly takes the disk and pops it in. He soon adopts a flatbrowed expression as an upbeat dubstep battle theme pounds out of the speakers. "I don't know what I expected." "Try mine." Octavia passes him her disk next. Terran34 sighs and slides it in next. Once again, he nods, having expected to hear the rousing orchestra theme that comes out next. "Ooh ooh! Mine! Pick mine!" Lyra shoves Octavia out of the way next, bypassing the author entirely and plugging it in herself. She giggles mischievously, rubbing her front hooves together. "You'll love this, I just know it!" Terran34 raises an eyebrow as soft lyrics, sung by no doubt Lyra herself, started coming out of the speakers. He liked it at first...but then he could hear what the lyrics actually were. "The human from times long past, and the king whose deeds set his foes aghast, destined to be together forever in the endless flow of passionate love~..." The camera suddenly shows the outside of the studio, seconds before Lyra and her disk fly out of the door, dropkicked by an irate author. "Oh my god, get out!" "Worth it just for that face!" Lyra squeals, even as she tumbles head over hooves through the air. Battle Against The King Take 1: "Prepare thyselves..." Sombra's horn becomes shrouded with reddish black magic, green electricity sparking from the tip ominously. His muscles tense and his teeth bare, and then magic explodes from around his body, releasing a shockwave across the entire summit of the tower. Seth holds his arms in front of his face, warding off what looks like an ocean of reddish blackness as it washes over them. When my vision clears, Sombra is revealed, tongues of shadow licking up his body like flame. Like before, Seth can't feel the entirety of his magical might. It's too far out of his comprehension as he is right now. When Sombra next speaks, it's in an guttural roar. "Thy fate is at hoof!" Seth lifts up a hand, signaling the others not to attack just yet. They all look at him in confusion...only to see him grinning. "Let's do this, Hawke!" He announces, powering up. Hawke appears out of midair just beside him, coalescing in a cloud of black smoke. Celestia's jaw drops in horror; if Hawke is here, then Sombra will just drain him and get even more power! Seth and Hawke suddenly lift their hands in a strange pose, their arms held out straight. "FUUU..." they both say loudly while sidling towards one another. "Oh no..." Terran34 facepalms so hard there's a mark left on his face. "...SION!" Seth and Hawke then flip the other way. Sombra watches them, perplexed. Then, they turn the opposite way, the index fingers of each hand meeting. "HAAA!" A massive burst of light ensues, and then a wave of magical power rushes outwards, reaching heights so great, that even Sombra starts to look a little worried. When the light dissipates, a new being stands in the center of the platform. His hair is past shoulder length, one side being ivory white while the other is ebony black. One eye is dark while the other is green, and his outfit is a strange vest with white formfitting pants. "I am neither Seth nor Hawke! I am the man who will defeat you!" Sawke declares, jabbing a finger a Sombra. Brave-Hooves turns his head slightly to see the author banging his head against the desk repeatedly. "That should not even be possible...magic isn't ki...I don't even..." Battle Against the King Take 2: (inspired by Nitrous Rainbows and Kichi) "Prepare thyselves..." Sombra's horn becomes shrouded with reddish black magic, green electricity sparking from the tip ominously. His muscles tense and his teeth bare, and then magic explodes from around his body, releasing a shockwave across the entire summit of the tower. Seth holds his arms in front of his face, warding off what looks like an ocean of reddish blackness as it washes over them. When my vision clears, Sombra is revealed, tongues of shadow licking up his body like flame. Like before, Seth can't feel the entirety of his magical might. It's too far out of his comprehension as he is right now. When Sombra next speaks, it's in an guttural roar. "Thy fate is at hoof!" Seth lifts up a hand, signaling the others not to attack just yet. They all look at him in confusion...only to see him grinning. "Let's do this, Hawke!" He announces, powering up. Hawke appears out of midair just beside him, coalescing in a cloud of black smoke. Celestia's jaw drops in horror; if Hawke is here, then Sombra will just drain him and get even more power! Seth and Hawke suddenly lift their hands in a strange pose, their arms held out straight. "FUUU..." they both say loudly while sidling towards one another. "What? Not again! We just did this!" Terran34 yells, his head bruised badly from the last time his characters' stupidity made him lose his cool. "...SION!" Seth and Hawke then flip the other way. Sombra watches them, perplexed. Then, they turn the opposite way, the index fingers of each hand meeting. "HAAA!" A massive burst of light ensues, and then a wave of magical power rushes outwards, reaching heights so great, that even Sombra starts to look a little worried. When the light dissipates, a new being stands in the center of the platform. Sombra blinks...and then his eyes widen at the creature standing before him. A wolfish grin appears on his face, and then he produces a pokeball in a burst of dark magic. "Thy power is mine!" Sombra declares triumphantly. Sawke yelps, and then he is sucked into the pokeball in a flash of light. The ball hits the ground and lies still, before starting to twitch. Sombra's eyes are transfixed on the orb as it twitches once, then twice, and then a third time...and then the pokeball explodes outwards to reveal the powerful Sawke once more. Sombra's face contorts with fury, and he lets out a guttural roar. "DAMNATION! 'TWAS ON THE THIRD BOUNCE!" "Cut, cut for the love of god! Make it stop, Brave, make it stop!" Terran34 wails as he rolls back and forth in his chair, hugging his knees close to his chest. "I'm having too much fun to stop this," Brave-Hooves admits, chuckling. Battle Against the King Take 3: (inspired by NeonWarrior) Sombra stood above the beaten and broken bodies of his enemies, his overwhelming power licking up and down his body. He walked purposefully over to the body of Celestia. "Thy plans were not nearly enough to forestall thy end, princess," Sombra rumbled in his unearthly deep voice. "Choosing to rely upon thine allies was thy downfall." The king turned back towards the kingdom, summoning up his magical reserves. He started to fly through the air towards the battle, intending to bring everything to an end himself. Without their leaders, the Equestrians would fall before him like ninepins... "Wait a moment," Sombra said, noticing something strange. He turned in midair, gazing towards the horizon, where the sun had just been starting to rise...an hour ago. He began to understand when he realized that the sun hadn't risen any higher over the course of the past hour. He looked back down at the bodies of Celestia and Luna. "Well, it seems I did not think this through..." Battle Against the King Take 4: (inspired by Cereal-killer) Sombra stood above the beaten and broken bodies of his enemies, his overwhelming power licking up and down his body. He walked purposefully over to the body of Celestia. "Thy plans were not nearly enough to forestall thy end, princess," Sombra rumbled in his unearthly deep voice. "Choosing to rely upon thine allies was thy downfall." The king turned back towards the kingdom, summoning up his magical reserves. He knew he could trust the outcome of the battle to his overwhelming, limitless forces. As foolish as Glass could be, such a simple clean up job would be well within his capabilities. Sombra clicked his tongue. In the end, it didn't matter what happened to this kingdom. With all of this power, he knew exactly what he was going to do next. The crystal ponies all yelp in surprise as King Sombra steps out of a stabilized time portal. When his hooves clicked upon the crystalline streets, he cast his gaze over the pristine, untouched skyline of his home city. Unlike the city he had just left from, this one was from over a thousand years ago, which he had reached due to his perfected time spell. "At last..." Sombra whispered to himself as he strode through the crowd of happy crystal ponies as they enjoyed this year's Crystal Fair, earning curious stares from them, as they didn't recognize him when he looked like this. He could feel the power of the Crystal Heart tugging upon him, but with his current strength, such a trifling amount of power couldn't touch him. "I have returned...and I possess true power...I will accomplish my true desires for the first time..." Sombra walked down the street, not even bothering to look at the other attractions. No, there was only one that he cared to see. At the base of the Crystal Tower was a very familiar carnival attraction, consisting of a large red button placed at the bottom of a pillar. The pillar stretched all the way to the top of the Crystal Tower...and at the very top was a large bell. This game, where the object was to hit the button and get the ringer as far up the scale as possible, was a favorite among the crystal ponies. Even now, there was a decently sized line for it. Sombra joined the back of the line, waiting excitedly for his turn. This game was well known for being impossible to complete, as nopony had ever risen the ringer all the way to the bell. In fact, nopony had ever even made it halfway, as the Crystal Tower was impossibly high. The prize for hitting the bell, a massive soft plushie of the Crystal Princess, was worth over a billion bits, and had never been won. Sombra intended to change that today. "Come one, come all, to the Crystal Bell Tower! Come up and test your strength, and even win a prize!" the crystal pony attendant announced, passing the hammer to the next contestant. Sombra watched in contempt as the ponies that tried their hoof at it couldn't even get it more than a few meters up. The fillies giggled and walked away with little candy prizes, while the stronger ones managed to win a few bits. "The high score for today is fifteen meters! Can anypony beat this score!?" "I can," Sombra declared confidently as he reached the front of the line. The attendant beamed at his confidence and passed him the hammer, but the king simply batted it aside callously. "I have no need of thy useless tools. Gaze upon the power of the true king!" Sombra flared his magic intensely, blowing back any poor ponies that happened to be nearby. The attendant's face is blown back by the sheer force, to the point where he has to grab a nearby post to keep from flying away. With a grin, Sombra leaped high into the air, flipping several times. At the peak of his flight, Sombra turned so that he was facing downwards, and then he fell straight down in a powerful piledriver, hitting the button with both hooves. An explosion obscured the base of the contraption, and the ringer shot up the pillar like a rocket, easily passing ten, then twenty, then thirty meters, and it still wasn't slowing down. All the ponies watched in dumbstruck awe as the ringer zooms far up and up. Not only did the ringer hit the bell, it broke the thing clear off, carrying both the bell and the ringer high into the stratosphere. The ponies watched in silence, and then they all broke out in thunderous applause, having never seen such strength before. The attendant, once he cleaned the debris from his mane, cautiously stepped up to the expectant king. "Right...so, after that amazing feat of strength, I am proud to present you not only with the new Crystal Empire Record, but also with the exclusive...one billion bit...Crystal Princess Plushie!" Sombra grinned wolfishly as the attendant's horn lit up. With a burst of light, a huge meter tall plushie of Cadance appeared, even though she was not even alive at this point. Fuck you, this is a joke sequence. Sombra's eyes light up, and then he leapt forward, hugging the plushie close and letting out a very uncharacteristic squee. "YEES!" he roars triumphantly. "It's beautiful! I will treasure and take care of it with everything I have! I will love it and brush its mane everyday, and hug it to me close while I sleep..." The camera pans back to Terran34 and the real Princess Cadance, the latter wearing a very disturbed expression. "Uh...I don't know how to feel about this," she comments uncomfortably. "What's even going ON right now!? THERE'S NO SCRIPT FOR THIS!" Terran34 shrieks. Battle Against the King Take 5: "Very well...ye has pushed me far enough. It is time I bring an end to this struggle...my kingdom awaits," Sombra says in a dangerously calm voice. Even with the trouble they're giving him, he's still keeping his cool. Despite everything, Seth has to admire that about him. His horn starts to spark dangerously with black lightning, something that Seth has never seen him do. "Ye shall bear witness to my most powerful technique..." Suddenly, a knife slings across the field, landing in the ground pointfirst not far away from King Sombra. The king pauses, looking at the knife with confusion. "DYNAMIC...." Celestia streaks in front the far side of the field, coming from Sombra's blind side now that his attention is focused on the knife. She swings out one hoof, a miniature sun formed on the flat surface of the appendage. Sombra turns his head in shock, but it's too late. All he can get out is one panicked, "Celestia...!?" before her hoof slams into the side of his face, the sun exploding violently and practically taking the king's head off. "...ENTRY!" Celestia skids to a stop, standing over Sombra's defeated body with a giant grin on her face. Seth stares at her, an incredulous expression his face, even as Terran34 frantically yells cut offscreen somewhere. "...Celestia, you REALLY need to stay out of my anime folder." "I cannot help it. There are so many wonderful stories held within!" Celestia responds shamelessly, taking off the Leaf headband on her head. "What was that other power the main character used? Transformation no..." "STOOOOP!" Terran34 leaps onto the set and slides in front of Celestia before she can finish the hoof motions. "No no no NO! We're not doing that jutsu on stage anymore, okay!? We've learned our lesson from Rainbow!" "You mean you learned your lesson, when Rainbow decked you in the face," Seth retorts, crossing his arms. "I dunno about you, but I wouldn't mind seeing Celestia naked." "Seth, I am always naked," Celestia informs him with a perplexed expression. Terran34 and Seth both stare at her, both annoyed and pleased at the fact that she's actually clueless about something for once. "Is it different for humans? I am afraid I am not quite familiar with your customs." "No, it's not different at all," Seth tells her. "It's totally different! Don't do it!" Terran34 tells her at the same time. Celestia blinks, further confused. "Well, which is it? I am getting mixed responses here." "It isn't." "It is." Once again, Seth and Terran34 comment at the same time. The both glare at one another, and then Seth tackles the author, the both of them descending the ground, beating the crap out of each other. "I feel I am missing some important context here," Celestia comments. Rainbow quickly trots on stage and hovers beside Celestia, whispering the details in her ear. Celestia smiles. "Oh, is that all? Are humans that bothered by something as trivial as bare skin? Life is too short for them to be caught up on such things, is it not?" "Hear hear!" Seth yells, only to get clobbered by the author. Brave-Hooves sits in the studio, eating popcorn with Applejack. "Is it just me, or are half of these jokes sex related?" he comments. I Have Sunk to a New Low of References: Behind her is Octavia, dressed in relatively formal attire. When she catches sight of me, her eyes brighten and she opens her mouth...but then closes it in confusion after I place a single finger on my lips. I reach my hands forward...and then lift Vinyl entirely off the ground without even a word of greeting. "Whoa, what the hay!? Waaah, put me down!" Vinyl yells, her tomboyish voice practically music to my ears after not seeing her for such a long time. I turn Vinyl around in my grip and hoist her up into the air, starting to sing a long high note, followed by a long string of foreign words that would be completely gibberish to any pony, but instantly recognizable by any self respecting human. Vinyl looks around, hanging from my grip and looking utterly bemused. "Uh...what is he doing?" "Seth, stop referencing old Disney movies and put Vinyl down already!" Terran34 shrieks from offscreen. "Seriously, it's been twenty years! It's not funny anymore!" Morning Ritual: (inspired by Brave-Hooves) The morning sun slowly rose above the horizon, shining its first gentle rays upon the Crystal Empire. It was a peaceful morning for the recently freed city; one of the many to come ever since King Sombra's defeat. The earliest rising crystal ponies began to emerge from their houses, eager to begin the day. Shining Armor and Cadance, the two rulers of the empire, slumbered gently together in the royal chambers of the Crystal Tower. The two of them cuddled with one another lovingly between the sheets of their lavish bed, content to lie there and get some extra sleep before beginning the day themselves. At least, that was the plan. Shining Armor's eyes blinked as something soft and white scatters against the window with a light pattering sound. He huddled closer to his wife, content to ignore it. However, another one hit the window, followed by several more. Shining Armor groaned and opened his eyes, knowing immediately what was going on. "Honey, he's doing it again..." Shining Armor growled. Cadance woke up as well, groaning. "Oh for the...again? How many times do we have to throw him back in jail before he stays there?" Cadance complained, hopping out of bed and walking over the window. Just as she expected, a snowball hits the window, bursting into a shower of soft white snowflakes upon impact. "Have you forgotten? We stopped throwing him in jail, because there's no point. He just escapes every time through some incredibly impossible means," Shining Armor reminded his wife, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. His eye twitched as another snowball scatters against the window. "Remember the time we locked him in a secure dungeon on an island in the center of an icy lake, complete with deadly pikes that could live in such temperatures? It was supposed to be impenetrable!" "Right...and then he picked the lock with one of his teeth that he tore out himself, fought off the guards all by himself, and then proceeded to swim for over a mile across the lake, beating into submission any of the pikes that tried to bite him," Cadance recalled. "Yes, I remember. This is ridiculous...let me put a stop to this." Cadance opened the window with her magic, just in time for a snowball to come sailing over her head to land on her bed. She let out an annoyed groan and stuck her head outside to regard their assailant. Earthen Glass sat upon a rooftop at the base of the tower, a huge pile of snowballs lined up next to him. Every few seconds, he would pick one up and hurl it up at their window with incredible strength and precision. "I shall have this kingdom! I shall begin from the bottom up: by disrupting your sleep schedules, I will prevent you from ruling properly! Then, your your lack of skill will cause the crystal ponies to revolt, and I shall be there at their head, ready to take over the Crystal Empire! Ahahahahaha!" Glass cackled, hurling snowball after snowball at the princess. "Ugh! This is the fifteenth time!" Cadance screamed down at him, using her magic to blow away the snowballs. "Go home!" "Never!" Glass howled, shaking a hoof at them. Just as he started to reach for another snowball, the guards leaped up onto the roof with spears. Glass spotted them and hopped from roof to roof to avoid them. "You'll never take me alive!" The Wrong Soundtrack: "Who is that I see resting to catch his breath? My, if it isn't the human, Seth!" My eyes flick up from the brochure at the sound of the very familiar voice that's now addressing me. Wow, I did not think she would be here. "Zecora?" I reply, pleasantly surprised. Sure enough, the foreign zebra is standing just in front of me, looking surprised as well. She's looking well, her mane done up with green ribbon, and crystal magic dancing through her just like the rest of us. "Holy hell, I haven't seen you in forever!" "Indeed, a long time it has been. It is very nice to see you again," Zecora responds happily, trotting over to me. Heh, and her rhymes are just as strong as ever. I remember when I first met her...I thought she was some kind of freaky rhyming alien. She was the first living creature that I met in Equestria that didn't want to murder me. Suddenly, Zecora pauses, starting to look very annoyed. She looks up at the sky, where the soundtrack is currently playing down to the give the scene emphasis. Now that she's drawn attention to it, I notice it as well. Zecora huffs. "What is this soundtrack you claim to have mastered?" Zecora demands of the author, lifting her hoof up into the air, such that her bracelets rattle. "You, my good author, are a racist bastard!" "What the...I am not! What's wrong with this music!? It suits your kind perfectly!" Terran34 demands, enraged at the interruption to the scene. He strides onscreen, surprising the crystal ponies. "Don't all zebras like this kind of music?" "That's what Zecora is talking about," Chrysalis remarks, walking into the area as well, accompanied by Salamul. "Oh, she has these masks in her hut and talks in a strange accent; she must like outlandish music!" "And what do you even care?" Terran34 retorts, turning to Chrysalis next. "You shut up. I mean, I gave you good music." "You mean you gave me something with percussion that sounded like buzzing wings. Because I look like an insect to you, clearly my music must have insect themes. You need to face it, Terran34," Chrysalis says firmly, stepping up to the author and jabbing a hoof at him. "You. Are. Racist." "I...I am not...I'm just..." Terran34 stammered, trying to do something to convince the glaring ponies around him of his innocence. Finally, he gives you. "You know what? Fuck you, Chrysalis." "Too late," Salamul rumbles. Epilogue: Terran34 groans, rubbing his forehead clean of sweat with a handkerchief. Behind him, the different actors and other important staff are cleaning up the set in preparation for the final set of scenes: which were to take place on earth, during the time when the humans were still alive. "Oh god, I'm so done with this story. Considering everyone seems to be picking on me today for some reason, I need some rest before I put my ideas together for the final chapter," Terran34 mutters to himself, walking through the corridors on the way to his work room. "I have so many loose ends to tie up...and if it isn't just right, the readers will kill me. Amaryllis is a fan favorite for some reason, despite her grand total of maybe ten lines in this whole fic." "Maybe it's because she's so much like me!" Rainbow declares, stepping out of one of the side rooms. She starts to trot alongside Terran34. "And, of course, I am the coolest pony on this show, so of course Amaryllis is a fan favorite!" "If you can really call it a fan favorite. Ah mean, do ya really have fans? Yer still some obscure writer that nobody knows about," Applejack jokes, joining the two of them. Terran34 glares at her. "What? Jus' being honest. Ya know, when it's all over, this story's gonna sink into obscurity, right?" "Okay, first off, shut up, Applejack, you're making me sad," Terran34 grumbles. "Second off, Rainbow, she's not that much like you." Rainbow's expression clearly tells Terran34 what she thinks about that. "That's a load of horseapples. Hello, remember the whole scene where you had me repeat one of her lines to make Seth dance?" "Yeah, I guess..." Terran34 harrumphed. He grew calm and silent after that. "It'll be a shame to be done with this story. I feel like I've been working on this thing forever. There is a short silence after that...until a mischievous expression appears on Rainbow's face. "...So, when's the clop scene?" she asks boldly. Terran34 nearly falls over. "The what!?" Terran34 exclaims. "The clop scene! Hello, it's an HiE! There's always clop in these things! Just ask Fluttershy," Rainbow points out...and the sound of Fluttershy sobbing can be heard in the distance. "I mean, I know we don't actually do anything in the sex scenes, courtesy of sneaky camera work, but still...I want to have one." "I thought Seth was 'meh?'" Applejack questions. "Eh, he grows on you," Rainbow admits with a small smile. She turns back to Terran. "So when's the clop scene?" "There's not going to be a clop scene! I'm not comfortable writing that stuff!" Terran34 complains. Rainbow adopts a coy expression, leaning in closer. "Not comfortable? Or are you just afraid of finding out that you're secretly really good at them?" Rainbow teases him. Terran34 flushes and starts walking faster. "Good at what?" a guy pokes his head out of another room, wearing a pony t-shirt with the label "generic commenter" on it. "Clop scenes! Terran34 said he's going to do one!" Rainbow declares, causing the commenter to grin happily, and Terran34 to gasp. "Right, author dude?" "It's not happening!" Terran34 shrieks. "Guys, Terran34's gonna write clop with Seth and Rainbow!" the commenter yells. At that, other doors start opening, revealing other commenters familiar with the story, each of them looking way too happy. "Clop!" "Clop?" a commenter asks. Others start to repeat that word over and over, streaming out into the corridor and mobbing Terran34. "Clop? Clop? Clop? ClopClopClopClopCl...." "Aaaah! They're everywhere!" Terran34 yells, breaking into a run and zooming down the hallway away from the mob of clop-crazed commenters, each of them still chanting at him. "I can't, my family reads this!" As the mob chases Terran34, other people and ponies poke their heads out of their doors, repeating that word again and again. Even at one point, a strangely cartoony looking seagull pokes its head out of a door, followed by several others. "Clop?" Scooby Doo style, Terran34 starts running into doors and out of others, being chased around by the mob of commenter, ponies, and apparently a flock of seagulls. Finally, the author makes his way to the room at the end of the corridor. He zooms inside and shuts it behind him, bolting it several times over. "Dude, what the hell is going on out there?" Brave-Hooves comments, trotting away from his computer to see Terran34 cowering on the floor with his back pressed against the door. "It sounds like a mob is after you." "There is! They want me to write clop for them! Help me!" Terran34 wails as the mobs slams against the door on the other side. "I won't do it! I won't!" "Aw, is that all? That just means that they respect your writing style," Brave-Hooves attempts to reassure the author. Then, a sneaking smile crosses his face. "Besides...I wouldn't object to a nice little session of cute, vanilla clop." Terran34's jaw drops, and he starts to look betrayed. "Brave! You were supposed to be my friend! How could you betray me like this!?" The door starts to crack despite his efforts. "Fuck this! I'm out! Screw you guys!" Terran34 gets up and sprints away from the door just as it bursts open. Then, before he can be caught, the author wails and hurls himself out through a window, the glass shattering beneath his weight. "Yaaahaahaa! Goodbye cruel world!" Brave-Hooves watches as the mob follows Terran34 out the window, his head craning to watch them. When they've all passed, the room is empty except for Applejack, Rainbow, and Spike. "So, is the special over, or what?" Brave-Hooves asks, completely clueless. The three of them look between one another and shrug. "So who's idea was the clop mob?" "Mine. Heh, I don't even want a clop scene. I just wanted to make his life miserable," Rainbow snickers, rubbing her hooves together. "Golly, you are evil, Rainbow Dash," Applejack comments, chuckling herself. "Anyway, this story has been really fun. Much funner than ah expected." "Yeah, it really has been. Might be nice to move onto something new though. Provided Terran34 even has any more plans for us," Rainbow admits. "Darn it...I'm gonna miss this." "Hey!" Terran34 pokes his head in through the window, his hair all messed up with twigs stuck in it. "Don't be getting all sappy on me! I still have the final chapter to write...though none of you are actually in it." "Yeah, exactly," Rainbow points out. "Don't be sad, everyone," Twilight walks into the room, using her magic to help Terran34 get back into the room as well. Behind her, Rarity, Pinkie, Seth, and Fluttershy are standing, making all of the main characters present. "It may be over, but we all had fun together, and that's what matters." "That's right! It was like one big huge nine hundred thousand word long journey of fun!" Pinkie exclaims. "I made a bunch of new friends! Like Terran34 here and his friend Brave! Isn't that right, Terry? Bravy?" "Bravy...?" Brave-Hooves states dryly "Terry?" Terran34 asks, but then he smiles. "Hey, I actually like that. Terry. Sounds like a badass character's name." "To get back on track, I believe the experience was worthwhile, but all things must end. But that doesn't mean our friendship has to," Rarity explains to the others. Everyone starts to smile, seeing the truth in Rarity's words. "I think we should have a group hug to celebrate!" Pinkie trills happily, and then she starts to drag everyone together, until everyone is huddled close together, their arms and legs wrapped around one another. "Friends!" "Yeah..." Terran34 says softly, hugging Seth and Brave-Hooves, with the ponies clustered all around them, their hooves resting on their shoulders. "Friends."

Tales of the Oppressed

Final Chapter: Seth's Story

I don't move for a long time. My feet seem to be rooted in place; all I can do for the first half a minute is just stand there, looking at the crowd of magically adept individuals in the room. I've already been thrown for a loop by Chrysalis's admission concerning the royal wedding. Thus, the implication of Cadance's words render me utterly speechless. "Are you serious? You're all in on this?" is the first thing I can say. Chrysalis walks past me and turn around once she reaches the others, standing at the forefront of the group. She smirks at my incredulous expression. "I don't...this..." "It was Queen Chrysalis's idea," Celestia informs me. Behind her, Rose and Blades are weaving through the other ponies, applying some magical spells to the floor, though I have no idea what they could be. "She approached me with the idea a week or so after the battle ended. The spell is impossible to perform to that extent alone, so I agreed to lend my power. I felt it was the least I could do for you." "I heard about it not long afterward," Twilight adds before I can even finish processing what Celestia said. Her eyes are shining with happiness. "You've gone through so much with us...I wanted to help too." "She let the rest of us know about it...apart from the other princesses, of course," Iron continues, his face as stern as always. "It's no trouble to lend my magic to the endeavor. There's no reason why I wouldn't." "Precisely! It's something any friend would do," Rarity finishes. The others nod and voice their agreement as well. I release an exhale of disbelief and wonder. Confronted with the reality of the situation before me, a little niggling hope has started to worm its way into my head...as if I could really see my family...and Amaryllis...again. "Do you really think you can do it?" I ask softly. "Fool...I would not have called you here if I wasn't certain," Chrysalis retorts, running a hoof through her webbed mane. "Reaching the time period is foal's play with this much magic. Keeping you there for a long period of time is what will take the most effort." I have to sit down. I move around the corner and sit on the bench just to the left of where I came in. "I...I was not prepared for this. I'm not sure if I...what do I even say? I didn't expect you all to go so far out of your way for me," I stammer. I rest my face into my hands, as if doing that would stem the tide of possibilities that is now rushing through my head. I'm silent for several moments...and then my heart starts to feel heavy. If I'm not dreaming...if this is really happening...then I have a chance to temporarily go back to my time. While I would have jumped at the chance forever ago...now...it's more of a difficult decision. I've come to terms with their deaths...or at least I think I have. Can I really survive overturning all of that after seeing them only for a short amount of time? "Well now, shall we get started?" Chrysalis suggests impatiently, turning to stare at Blades and Rose. "Yes, I know I'm the nicest of individuals, and blah blah blah. I don't want to stand here all day." "Seth?" Celestia addresses me, moving out of the crowd to approach me. "I'm not sure if I should," I admit, much to the surprise of Twilight and a few others. As for Celestia, she pauses and waits for me to continue. "I don't think I could handle having them back after all this time...only to lose them again. It would be cruel to myself." "That is a very good point," Rose comments, looking up from her work momentarily. "However, it is your decision." "Don't get me wrong, I really want to see them again," I clarify, lifting up my head and gazing at Celestia. I just hope that she can understand how I feel about this. I feel like total shit for even considering turning this offer down. However, even as much as I'm protesting, I also want to accept. This is a really hard decision for me to make. "But I've accepted that they're long gone. I've done my grieving. Going back would just start that process all over again...and I hardly made it through the first time." "I guess I can understand that," Cadance states sadly, looking down at the floor. "It was just something nice that we wanted to do for you." "And I appreciate that, but..." I'm just about to decline their offer when Twilight interrupts me. "Wait, Seth! Don't turn us down just yet," she says. She walks up to the bench, climbs up on top of it, and then sits down just next to me. She sets a hoof on my leg. "I understand what you're saying but...you were wrenched away from your time by King Sombra, right?" "Yeah, so?" I ask, confused. "That means that at the time, you had no idea you were never going to see them again. Wouldn't you have wanted to do some things differently, if you had known that was your last day in that time?" Twilight attempts to persuade me. I pause and look at her. She's...actually right, and I'm starting to inwardly groan because of it. Deciding to turn down this offer in the first place was hard as hell...and now she's making me want to change my mind. Basically...if I had known that I was going to run into Sombra...I'd have wanted to say goodbye. I never did get that chance. But still... Twilight moves closer, her expression turning pained. "But don't just think about how you feel...what about your family?" she beseeches me. "Think about how they must have felt to hear about your disappearance...and how they must have felt, never knowing what happened to you. Don't you want to spare them that pain?" My eyes widen...I'd never thought about it from that angle before. I hardly remember the last thing Amaryllis ever said to me, as it was over to the phone and I was already succumbing to the stasis spell, but she sounded panicked. Holy shit...if I nearly lost myself after losing her...how would she have felt? She didn't have other friends to fall back upon. And that's not even counting my family. "Twilight's right...I think I would just die if you or another of my friends were to just disappear forever without any warning," Rarity agrees, joining Twilight and I on the bench. "All we're asking is that you consider it...I think it would help both you and your family in the long run." "Hah...you don't know them, so you're basically just guessing," I reply, though it's a weak retort at best. They're right. My family and I had a strained relationship for most of my life...and I can't even imagine how they must have felt to lose me, just as things were starting to get better. I wave off their forming protests before they can voice them. "But you do have a point...dammit, I didn't need you all to make this harder for me." I take the next minute to collect my thoughts, sitting in silence. The others wait patiently for me...except for Chrysalis, who just sighs in annoyance and paces back and forth. I still have misgivings, but the opportunity to see my friend and family again is proving to be increasingly harder to give up. I already gave up that opportunity once...so the idea of giving that up again is becoming too hard to bear. "Okay, so let's say I accept. How would this work?" I finally ask, clasping my hands together and gazing up at Chrysalis. She's the one casting the spell, so I'm assuming she knows all the details. "I'm assuming there's some logistical constraints about all of this." "Of course there is. This is a very complex spell to execute," Chrysalis sniffs, stopping her pacing and showing interest once more. "For instance, I can only send you back to your time. So get rid of any half-baked ideas of introducing your little pony mate to your family." "I...hadn't even thought of that, but okay. I guess that's good to know," I respond, blinking. Now that she mentioned it, it might have actually been nice to take Rainbow back with me...but I guess that would have just complicated things in the end...especially if she met Amaryllis. But it seems there's no possibility of that happening to begin with. "What else?" "As I said, this spell is temporary. Given how far back in time I have to send you, as well as the amount of magic available for me to use, I doubt I can keep you there for more than forty eight hours," Chrysalis explains. Wow...even that's more than I expected. Two whole days? "After that, you'll flash right back here. So it's best that you take care of whatever you need to by then." "Okay, that makes sense. But what's stopping you from just sending me back repeatedly after you've had time to recharge?" I ask curiously. I really hope she has an answer other than the fact that she's not that nice. "That way, I can have all the time I need." Chrysalis scoffs. "Don't be a moron. Assuming that was possible, I doubt you'd ever leave if you had that much time," she hisses. She then narrows her eyes at me as I start to form a protest. "Don't get any ideas. It's not actually possible. I've done some experimenting with this spell myself, and it has very precise constraints preventing its exploitation." "What do you mean?" I inquire, honestly interested. "If it were that easy to simply keep returning to the same timeline, I'd never have lost against you all during my...previous invasion. I'd simply have kept returning to the past until I won." Chrysalis reveals. She has a point. "This will probably be too much for your simple mind, but this reality as we know it is based upon a singular timeline." "Oh god, we're going into multiple timeline theory, aren't we?" I say with a groan. I rub my forehead in preparation for the inevitable headache. "It is only possible to access this timeline at this particular time...once. After that, the spell prevents us from crossing our own timeline a second time. Do you understand that?" Chrysalis attempts to explain. My expression strains as I try to make sense of her explanation in my head. My face tells her everything she needs to know, causing her to groan. "All you need to know is that it only works once. After that, your loved ones won't remember the previous attempts, as it did not occur in that timeline." "My head hurts," Rarity comments, causing me to smile a bit. Twilight looks like she's starting to understand...but she's a lot smarter than I am, so that's not too surprising. "To put it simply, this is a one time deal. I won't be helping you again," Chrysalis reiterates coldly. "Now, are you going to do it or not? I'm out of patience." All eyes turn to me in expectation of my final answer. The magnitude of this decision causes my emotions to roil up inside me, making it very hard to choose one way or the other. However, in the end, I realize that this really isn't a choice. There's no point in trying to resist it. I have to do this. "Yeah...yeah I am. I can't give up this chance a second time," I admit. Twilight and Rarity smile on either side of me, and then they hop up off of the bench and return to the others. Rose and Blades seem to have finished whatever preparations they were making, as they're now standing still with the rest, watching me expectantly. I get up and walk towards them, a little hesitant. "Let's do this. I don't have to do anything special, right?" "Just stand in the circle with the rest of us," Chrysalis directs me. Circle? Taking a second look, I notice that all of them are standing in a closely clustered group in the vague shape of a circle, despite the fact that the room is much larger. Chrysalis looks at Celestia. "Your turn, Celestia." "Wait, hold on a second. When you used this spell on me before, my physical location didn't change. Canterlot wasn't there in the past, so I appeared several hundred feet in the air," I suddenly remember. "If you send me back now..." "Do not worry. Queen Chrysalis informed me of that particular detail. I have taken steps to ensure that you arrive in the proper location," Celestia assures me. Oh. With a shrug, I decide to trust her and step inside the circle with the others. "Is everyone ready? This will be a little jarring for those of you that have not experienced it before." Once Celestia is assured by the others, she nods and summons up her magic, her horn glowing brightly. "Very well. Mass Teleportation Rune, Mark VI..." Celestia utters, lifting her two front hooves up off of the ground. Recognizing the name of that spell, I look down at the ground to the see the familiar magical rune inscribing itself upon the floor, formed from bright white lines of magic. Every single one of us are encompassed in the center of the rune. A moment later, Celestia stomps her hooves down on the floor. "Activate!" The rune's glow grows in brilliance, engulfing all of us in a blinding light. I feel myself slipping away into the other dimension, a sensation I've felt only once before. However, the question remains...where are we going? When the light finally dissipates enough, I open my eyes. At first my vision is blurred from the contrast in lighting, so several seconds pass before I can see well enough to observe my surroundings. At first, I don't recognize the place, because the debris has been cleared and the area is well lit. "Wait, is this...?" I emit, stepping away from the others. Sure enough, I am standing in the depths of my old college, in the large room that adjoins the math and science buildings. I haven't been here since the expedition. I know Opal and the others stayed after I left, so that explains why this room is much tidier now. That aside, it now makes sense how Chrysalis is going to send me back. "Holy shit, you really planned this out, didn't you?" "Will this suffice?" Celestia asks warmly. The others start to spread out as well now that the teleportation is over and they don't need to stand together anymore. "Yes...this'll work. I should appear right back in the middle of my college if things go like before," I say, looking around at the ruined buildings. There's none of the other archaeologists or workers down here right now; I guess Celestia made sure to keep this area clear. "Wait, but that's a problem in and of itself. I can't exactly appear out of thin air in the middle of a school day." "Ugh...then go someplace where you'll have reasonable privacy," Chrysalis groans. Despite her impatience, she looks very interested in her surroundings. While I think of a place, she stalks around the room, regarding the architecture and layout of the area. "Interesting...this is the most intact human ruin that I've ever seen." "This way. If I remember right, there's a courtyard out back that's well concealed," I decide, interrupting the others as they explore the room. Rarity seems to be complaining about some dust that got on her hooves, though Hawke just looks utterly uninterested. I walk through the room and step over the line of broken glass where the dividing wall used to be. I look around the room, remembering how students used to stay in this common area and study together before class. I could always tell when there was a test that day; the room would be cram packed. Unlike the last time I was here, the courtyard I mentioned has been excavated. The fountain that used to be there is well preserved, though obviously it's thoroughly clogged with dirt. The area hasn't been completely cleared of packed dirt, but there's just enough room to fit all of us inside. "Here. This should work," I say at last, standing in the center of the courtyard next to the fountain. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, the reality of the situation falling upon me. "Okay...I think I'm ready." "Finally," Chrysalis grunts. She approaches me purposefully, coming to a halt just a few feet away from me. She turns her head back to Celestia. "Celestia, I'm going to need you to channel me your power. Everyone else...be ready to do the same once she runs out of power. My magical energy will drain fast, so there won't be much waiting involved." "I understand," Celestia responds. She walks up to Chrysalis and rests a hoof upon the queen's back. "I am ready." "You're sure you can get me to the right time?" I ask anxiously. I'd hate for this to go wrong and I'd end up way off course. "It's around three thousand and eighty years, if I'm not mistaken. Expect some discrepancies. However, I can assure you I will put you within a reasonable time frame of your disappearance." Chrysalis assures me. She plants her hooves on the ground, her horn starting to glow. I have to stop myself from taking a step back as I feel the air fill with an ancient, powerful magic. Oh shit, this is really happening now, isn't it? Come to think of it, I have no idea what I'm even going to say to my family, or if they'll even believe me. The magic in the air feels much stronger than before, now that Celestia's magic is traveling through Chrysalis's body. Ethereal runes of an arcane nature fade into existence around her, each one pulsing gently. They rotate around her in a series of concentric circles, the very air thrumming before them. The humming green glyph forms on the ground around me, complete with a series of equestrian numbers rapidly counting down. The other ponies watch in silence and awe as multiple clock faces coalesce around my body. Each one strikes the hour all at the same time, filling the air with a chorus of discordant chimes. It's so loud, it causes me to flinch. Chrysalis opens her eyes, revealing a glowing green void where her corneas should be. Magic surges into the air from around us...and then she finishes her chant with a thunderous cry, her mane flying upwards in the current of disturbed air. The rune's glow intensifies one hundred fold, forcing me to cover my eyes as it engulfs me and obscures the others from sight. I feel the wind whipping around my body as if I'm hurtling backwards through the air at a high speed, even though my feet have never left the ground. Eventually, the air stills around me, and a whole new rush of sensations overcome me. The air is filled with the sound of chatter and birdsong. Sunlight bleeds through my eyelids and warms my skin, a welcome change from the arctic weather of the frozen north. I open my eyes, feeling breathless now that it's come to this. The first thing I see is the small fountain in the courtyard, the water gurgling and flowing down into the pool at the bottom once more. As I take in my surroundings, a rush of nostalgia overtakes me. It's my college. I let out a disbelieving laugh. It's my fucking college. I look around at the restored walls, intact windows, and the green blades of grass growing tenaciously through the cracks in the concrete walkway beneath my feet. A small gasp gets my attention, snapping me out of my reverie. My eyes snap to its source...and then widen. Standing before me is a single, very surprised human. He seems to have frozen mid-stride, his jaw hanging open in shock. Heh, I've almost forgotten what we look like. The man standing before me looks young enough to be a freshman or a sophomore. With the button covered messenger bag slung over his shoulder, the way he's dressed in simple loose clothes, and the glasses on his face, everything about him just serves to show me that I'm definitely looking at a college student. I know I've been seen. There's no hiding that. So, deciding the make the most of it, I put on a smile and wave at him with two fingers. "Hey! Sorry about dropping in like that," I apologize to him. The student blinks repeatedly, unsure what to make of what he's seeing. However, I know full well that's he's just one guy. Nobody's going to believe him. I turn the other direction, heading back towards the study hall. However, just before I do, I briefly look back. My eyes trace down to his shirt, upon which an image of a popular anime character is emblazoned. "Heh. Nice shirt, by the way." Deciding to leave it at that, I hoist open the glass door and stride into the study hall. Just like I remember, there's at least a score of students in here, sitting at the desks with their laptops and bags. The only difference is that I don't recognize any of the faces. I get a few odd looks due to the way I'm dressed, considering I'm wearing a set of royal blue clothes that were made for me to wear to the fair. Thankfully I'm not crystallized, otherwise I'd be getting a lot more than odd looks. Apart from that though, none of them really give me a second glance. It's college. They're all focused with their own work. The smile stays on my face as I make my way out of the study hall and towards the front entrance of the science building. It's pretty crowded; It seems like people are heading to and from their evening classes. Unlike how I usually handled the crowds before, this time I carefully pick my way through them, making sure not to jostle anyone too much. I don't want to get in their way. As I go, I take out my phone and navigate to the clock application. From there, I set a timer for forty eight hours. That way, I'll have an idea of how much time I have left. In the process, I also notice that I'm getting service. Well, that makes things a lot easier, even if it doesn't make much sense. Did my mother keep me on the plan? Okay, next order of business. I need to find out when I am. Chrysalis said that there might be some discrepancies, so I need to make sure she's not too far off. With that in mind, I descend the staircase towards the front entrance. On the right side of the hall is a bulletin board. If I remember right, that's where they hang up the calendar for academic events. Sure enough, the calendar is still there. I walk up to it, joining another student that's looking at it as well. He turns his head curiously as I stand up beside him. "Hey. Nice outfit," the student compliments me, indicating my jacket. "Who made that? Doesn't look like it's from any company I know of." I meet his gaze. The old me would have told him to mind his own goddamn business without missing a beat...but things have changed since then. I smile at the compliment gratefully. "Thanks. You wouldn't recognize it; a friend made it for me." Yeah, a fashionista pony with a bright purple mane. Might not be a good idea to mention that. "Custom made? Wow. That's really cool," the student responds amicably. He turns back to the board, where flyers advertising various events have been posted. "You going to that music concert today too?" "Huh?" I cast my gaze over the board, until eventually my eyes land upon a flyer advertising a performance at the auditorium. My eyes widen slightly when I see that the date has been set for March...2022. Damn...so there was some discrepancy after all. I disappeared in 2014...so it's been eight years since then. No wonder I don't recognize any of the faces here. Anyway, I should respond. "I would, but I'm busy with other plans today. What about you? Are you going?" "Oh nah. It sucks, but I can't afford to spare the cash for it," the student responds regretfully, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I gotta get my textbooks soon, after all." One quick look at the flyer tells me that there is an admission price. Heh, I know his pain. Textbooks are expensive, so it's no wonder he's trying to save his money. Actually, hold on. The student watches me curiously as I fish out my wallet and retrieve the required amount of paper money. I almost got rid of this stuff because it was worthless in Equestria...but I held onto it for sentimental reasons. The student's eyes go wide with shock when I hold out the money to him. "Wha...dude, that's a lot of money to just hand out to a guy you don't even know," he exclaims. He hesitates to take the money from me. "I'm not sure I should accept this." Keeping a smile on my face, I gently grab his hand and press the money into it. "Go ahead. I have no use for it anyway. Go and have yourself a good time on me," I assure him. With a wave, I confidently turn away from him and head towards the exit. "Wait! I never even caught your name!" the student calls after me, just as I'm leaving the school building. I turn my head back and flash him a grin. "It's Seth. Seth Rogers." The campus has really changed since I was here last. The open lot over there that was never used before is now a recreation center from the looks of it. The little copse of trees by the music building is gone now, to be replaced by an expansion. Heh, so I guess the professor finally got that extra space he'd been lobbying for. I make my way to the student center, where there's now an outdoor study area beneath an overhang. There are wire chairs and tables there with outlets nearby, making it a very convenient place to sit and get some work done. That goes double for if you're working with a group. As of right now, it's mostly empty. However, that's not what I'm here for. If I remember right...yes, it's still here. Just through the study area, there's a small area hidden in an obscure corner. It's mostly used by the maintenance team to store their equipment when they're working, but it's usually empty. Luckily, it's empty right now. There's a single chair back here. I remember I used to sit in it when I wanted to be outside, but also away from people. So basically, I was here a lot. Or at least I was, before I met Amaryllis. It's fitting that I should be here now. Okay, I guess I can't waste any time. I don't have that long to be in this time, so I need to make the most of it. I flip out my phone and navigate to my contacts page. Immediately, I hit the number of the first person to come to my mind. I hold the phone to my ear as it starts to ring. At that moment, the reality of what I'm about to do hits me, and I start to breathe a little harder, my heart seeming to jump in my chest. It's painful, so I force myself to breathe long and slow in an attempt to slow my heart rate. My first attempt goes to voicemail, unsurprisingly. I guess I'll have to try a few more times. She can stop whatever the fuck she's doing and talk to me. I don't even care if she has a job or whatever. I dial her again, getting the same result. Unperturbed, I continue to call her again and again...until finally I hear someone pick up on the end of the other line. "Is this some kind of sick fucking joke!?" Amaryllis's angry voice shoots out of the speaker all of a sudden, causing me to reel my head back, wincing. Still...I can't help but smile. That's definitely her voice. "Do you think you're funny, calling me at this number!? Are you trying to get a laugh out of exploiting someone else's misery!?" I hold the phone a short distance away from me, able to hear Amaryllis's furious tirade even like this. Hoho, she's pissed. I can't say that I blame her either. "Do you think you're some kind of big shot, spitting on my friend's memory like this?! Now, you listen here, whoever you are. You better explain yourself right fucking now, or I swear no law on this green earth will protect you from me!" Amaryllis stops talking, breathing heavily on the other line. I have to shake my head knowingly, suppressing a chuckle in the process. Honestly, there's no other way she could react at something like this. It's good to see she hasn't changed, at least. I'm quiet for several moments, trying to think of something to say. Fuck it, I give up. I've never had to think about my words with her before. I bring the phone slowly back to my ear. "Hey, Amaryllis," I say simply. I hear her breathing skip a beat, and then a light rattling sound comes through the speaker, as if her phone is actually shaking in her hand. She doesn't say anything, her breath quickening. I figure I should say something else. "Is now a bad time, or...?" There's an agonizing silence on the other end of the line. The only way I can tell that she's still on the line is the sound of her breath quietly blowing against the microphone. I can feel my pulse quickening in my chest, my heart seemingly moving up into my throat. "...Seth?" Amaryllis finally says, any trace of anger gone, to be replaced with a hesitant hope. I have to resist letting out a sigh as I'm filled with relief. "Is...how...what the fuck?" "Yeah, so..." I trail off awkwardly, not really sure how to breach the crazy subject of my past absence to her. There's so much to say, and I don't know how to say any of it. "I don't suppose you're free right now?" "I'm...I'm at work for another three hours," Amaryllis responds breathlessly. "Wait, what the hell am I saying? What the fuck Seth!? Are you alright? Where are you?" "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's a bit of a long story...a really long story," I admit, sitting down on the chair behind me. "Don't you give me that shit! You've been gone for...it's been eight years, asshole! I thought you were dead!" Amaryllis shouts furiously, deafening me. "No, you're not allowed to hang up the phone until you give me an explanation!" "Tell you what. Fuck your work and come down to the old Rainier University," I tell her, not surprised at all by her vehemence. I don't give a shit about her job...she needs to come see me. "I'll tell you the whole thing once you get here. That sound good?" "...Yeah, to hell with work. I'm leaving right now." I hear the sound of Amaryllis's footsteps across concrete. A few moments later, I hear a car door open. "Where do I meet you?" "You remember where my dorm is, right? Just go there," I answer, already getting up to head back there myself. "Okay. But you better not fucking disappear again before I get there, you hear me!?" Amaryllis commands me. I hear her sniff, and then let out a short sigh. Holy shit...is she actually crying? She never cries. "You better have a good fucking reason for this...or I swear to god I'll kill you." "Heh. Well, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I'll see you in a bit," I reply with a chuckle, and then I end the call. I look up into the sky as I walk and sigh. Goddamn, it's really good to hear her voice again. You know, even though I only have a short time here, I'm going to make the most of it and cherish the time I have left. After this, it really is goodbye. My room key still works, thankfully. With a click, I walk back into my dorm, propping the door open in the process. It's still my room, because of the crazy idea my mom had to pay the rent for fifty years. I don't know if there's a guy living in the other room in here, but there doesn't seem to be anyone home at the moment. As for my family, I should call them next...but I want to try and talk things over with Amaryllis first and gauge her reaction before I do anything else. Only after that will I call my family and get them to come see me. It's been eight years...I really hope they're doing alright. It only takes half an hour before I hear a car pull up in the parking lot outside. Immediately, my phone goes back to my pocket and I get up from the couch, suddenly nervous for no good reason. Actually, scratch that, there is a good reason. I determined that I was in love with her before I disappeared...and judging from the stereotypical fluttering feeling in my stomach, I think I still am. A door slams, and keys rattle just outside. I don't even get a moment to mentally prepare myself before Amaryllis herself steps through the front doorway, still wearing her work uniform. I recognize her immediately by that distinctive red hair of hers. Amaryllis comes to a halt upon seeing me, her cold expression melting into one that I can't really describe, her lips slightly parted as if in awe. She still looks much the same, but even I can notice the differences. She's aged noticeably, now looking a good eight years older than when I disappeared. If I estimated, she's in her late twenties, approaching thirty. She's aged well,as the only sign of the years is in the form of barely noticeable lines on her face. Her hair, to my surprise, is cut much shorter than it used to be, falling only slightly past her shoulders. But the most noticeable thing about her are the incredibly well defined muscles rippling through her body. She's about as well built as I am. After only a moment of standing, Amaryllis's eyes harden and she closes the distance between us with a few long strides. Her fist flashes forward in the blink of an eye. I grunt as her knuckles barrel into my jaw, snapping my head back. Fuck...she didn't hold back at all. It feels like my jaw just got hit by a truck...but I guess I should have expected that. "Goddamn...you hit as hard as ever...and.." I cut off as Amaryllis suddenly embraces me, the total opposite of her first reaction. I don't have a clue how to react to this. Just as I try to hug her in return, she's already pulling back. "Fuck, I can't believe this. I can't believe you. I want to hug you and beat the shit out of you at the same time," Amaryllis emits. Her hands reach up to my face, surprise and confusion filling her eyes. "What the hell? It doesn't look like you've aged at all. There's not even a single line on your face." "Yeah, that's a part of the long story I..." I try to say, but then Amaryllis's hands move down to my arms, her eyes widening. "And what the hell are these? You don't work out. Ever. You were a computer geek..." Amaryllis's hands start to trace my own muscles, which I've gained over long periods of hard work and training. I start to get a little uncomfortable when one of her hands lowers to my abdomen...and then I let out a small yelp when she hits it to test the firmness of the muscles. Satisfied, she returns her eyes to mine, a hard glare forming there. "Now you're going to tell me what the hell happened to you. Right now." "Okay. I guess you should sit down then. It might take a while to explain the whole thing," I admit, indicating the couch to her. Amaryllis does so, crossing her arms and watching me expectantly. "Start talking," she states, showing a little hostility. "It better be good; I haven't forgiven you for leaving me on my own. You were my only friend; you know that, right?" I sit down next to her, heaving a sigh. I have no idea how I'm going to explain ponies to her. There's no way that I can phrase this without it sounding completely crazy. "You were my only friend too. Trust me, I wouldn't have left you if I had the choice." "So quit beating around the fucking bush already. What happened that day?" Amaryllis demands. "The last time we spoke, you were going on about some guy with a crown." I take a breath and decide to start from the beginning. "He's the one that did it all. If you're going to blame anyone, blame him. He's the reason I disappeared," I reveal to her. Amaryllis blinks, confused. "That doesn't make sense. I saw this guy you were talking about," Amaryllis replies. I freeze and regard her with shock. Wait, she ran into Sombra? Then why didn't he zap her too? Or was I enough for him? "He looked fucking creepy, I'll give you that. But you weren't with him, nor were you in the stairwell where you said you were. Who was he? And what exactly did he do to you?" "Here comes the unbelievable part. Trust me, this is all going to sound insane," I warn her. "I don't give a shit. What...did he do to you?" Amaryllis repeats, her eyes narrowing and her voice lowering to a threatening tone. Heh...at least Sombra is dead. Otherwise Amaryllis might want to go kill him herself. "His name was Sombra. He...well...the best way to describe him is as a sorcerer king from the future..." I can tell from the moment I start explaining that I sound like a complete lunatic. Amaryllis picks right up on that. The second the first sentence gets out of my mouth, her expression changes to one of incredulity. Despite that, she waits for me to finish. Knowing that I just sound crazier with every word out of my mouth, I force my way through the tale, giving her the brief rundown of how everything went down. I focus on the conflict with Sombra, as I don't feel the need to tell her everything about my time there. The moment I mention that practically everyone I interacted with was a pony, Amaryllis loses her patience. "Okay, that's enough," Amaryllis interrupts, lifting a hand. She's starting to look furious now. "What kind of crap are you spewing now? Princesses? Sorcerers? Magic? Ponies?" "Uh...yeah, I did say that this would sound crazy," I remind her. Amaryllis shakes her head vigorously. "Uh-uh. No. 'Crazy' is if he had kidnapped you and took you to another country to use in like, a drug operation or something. That would be difficult to grasp, but would still be in the realm of possibility," Amaryllis corrects me. "No, what you just said...that's just utter lunacy. It sounds more to me like the guy tied you down in his basement and force-administered LSD or some shit to you for all this time." "You know, I actually thought that exact thing at one point," I admit with a hint of amusement in my voice. I jump when Amaryllis's palm slams down on the table. "Or, what happened to you was so horrible that you'd rather come up with some ridiculous story then tell me the truth? You know how I feel when people fucking lie to me, Seth!" Amaryllis is yelling at me now. Sheesh, this is harder than I thought. "Do you just not want me to hunt down and kill whoever took you?" "Okay, if everything I said is false, then why haven't I aged?" I remind her, standing up. I still have one trick up my sleeve that should utterly convince her. "There's a ton of ways to look younger. I don't know, Seth, but I refuse to believe that you were missing for eight years because you were off frolicking in a land of magical fucking unicorns!" Amaryllis retorts, her eyes following me as I move to stand just across the room from her. I sigh and close my eyes, reaching deep within myself for the one thing that I know will convince her. "I thought better of you! Why won't you just tell me what...what...the fuck is happening to you?" Amaryllis trails off when she sees the thin tendrils of lime green magic snaking up from the carpet and twisting themselves around my legs. I clench my hands into fists and lift them slightly, the magic engulfing my body and filling the room with a green light. With a grunt, my aura explodes to life, burning the carpet beneath my feet. I open my eyes to see Amaryllis standing up now, her face awash with green light. Her jaw is hanging open at the sight of the raw magical power that I've gained over my time in Equestria. I could go further than this, but I'd rather not damage my dorm. Besides, I think this small display is enough to convince her. When I release the magic and let myself return to normal, Amaryllis releases a short exhale of utter disbelief. She's forced to sit down to deal with the rush of realizations that are running through her head. She's quiet for a full minute after that. "...Ponies?" Amaryllis finally repeats, one eye twitching. "Seriously? The human race is replaced by talking ponies? Ponies. Like, I didn't hear you wrong, did I? Bright, colorful little ponies?" "I know... I felt the exact same way when I first saw one myself," I say with a chuckle, happy that she's accepted my explanation now. I take out my phone and pull up one of the pictures of Rainbow that I took. Amaryllis glances at it curiously when I pass it to her...and then her expression changes to one that lets me know I practically just broke her. "I don't know whether I should be laughing or crying," Amaryllis sighs, letting her face fall into her hands. "Bright rainbow haired ponies with fucking massive eyes. And you lived there for months? How did you not grow a pussy?" "By constantly hitting things and surrounding myself with tomboys," I admit with a small grin. She's just as foul-mouthed as ever. Amaryllis pauses, and then she gives an accepting shrug. "Fair enough. Hold on, I need to process this. So if everything you said was true...then...I need to change my world view," Amaryllis confesses. After a short pause, she starts to chuckle. "What?" I ask curiously as her chuckle turns into a laugh. "Is something funny?" "Did you make friends with the colorful little ponies? Did you have tea parties and wear dresses?" she teases me, forcing her words through her growing laughter. I lift a finger and attempt to protest...but then I realize that she pretty much nailed it. "...Yes," I admit. Amaryllis completely loses it there, laughing so hard she nearly falls off the couch. "And for your information, it was a suit, thank you very much." "I can't believe this!" Amaryllis is practically crying, taking short breaks to breathe heavily before dissolving into laughter again. "Seth, the asshole, made friends with cute little ponies! I knew I should have bought you that dress!" "Fuck you, it was a suit," I retort, though I can't help smiling with her. At least she's not yelling at me anymore. "It's not that funny...quit laughing." "You have got to tell me the full story," Amaryllis says, wiping a tear from her eye. "I'm assuming you beat this Sombra guy into a bloody pulp, right? So now you're back for good?" "Yes and no," I reply, my face falling. Amaryllis's smile disappears in a split second. "We did defeat Sombra, though he kicked our asses from here to the moon before we could. But no, the time spell I'm using to see you only lasts for two days." "What!?" Amaryllis shrieks and stands up. "You're leaving again so soon? But you've been gone for eight years! Why can't you stay!?" "It's just the way that this spell works," I answer, hating the situation that I'm in. "After this, I can't come back here again. I'm here to let you all know what happened...and to say goodbye." "That's...that's bullshit!" Amaryllis shouts, grabbing the nearest object (which happened to be a glass) and hurling it against the far wall, where it shatters to pieces. The next thing she does is punch down on the table with her fist, splitting the skin on her knuckles in the process. She sits down, sighing and looking utterly miserable. I remain silent, because there's really nothing I can say to make this situation any better. Finally, Amaryllis stands back up. "Fuck it. If you only have two days, then let's not waste time standing around and talking," she decides sensibly. She grabs my arm and guides me towards the door, not even bothering to ask permission. "We're going to see your family...and then we're going to make the most of this time." "That's...probably the best way to look at it," I admit, letting myself be guided. It's been forever since the last time Amaryllis bossed me around...I never realized how much I actually liked that until now. "I was actually planning on seeing my family after talking to you." "Good. Because you only have two days, and you have a family that would probably like to know you're alive," Amaryllis returns. She leads me out of the dorm and into the parking lot, where there's a single dark red truck that I'm assuming is hers. "You know, I can walk on my own," I remind her, tugging a little against her grip. I yelp as her fingers tighten around my arm. "Clearly not, considering the last time I let you walk on your own, you ended up in the fucking future," Amaryllis snaps. Well, I guess I can't argue with that logic. "I still can't believe that's even a thing. Our world becomes a fairy tale in the future. Ugh...just get in the damn truck." "Why did I just know you would get a truck?" I remark. I leap up onto the ledge and open the passenger side door, slipping into the seat a moment later. The interior of the car is rather cramped, but the seats are comfortable. It even smells like Amaryllis in here. I can't help but trace my fingers over the dashboard; I haven't seen the inside of a car for a long time. "Probably for the same reason I figured you'd get a Prius," Amaryllis returns without missing a beat, climbing into the driver's seat. I can't help but wince at that. "Ouch...so is that how this is going to be?" I respond with mock anger. Amaryllis doesn't respond with anything other than a grin. "Eight years, and you're still a bitch." "Eight years, and you're still a pussy," Amaryllis returns, once again causing me to wince. I forgot just how fast she could be with the comebacks. "I'll have you know I've done a lot of fighting," I try to defend myself, but honestly, I don't really care if she wants to insult me or not. It's just like before...and I don't think I could ask for anything more than that. "I'll have you know I still don't give a shit. You haven't changed at all. You're still my pussy..." Amaryllis retorts. I blink, and then slowly turn my head over to her, wondering if she realized what she just said. Judging from the look on her face, she did. She places a hand on the wheel. "That came out wrong." I can't help it. I burst out laughing as Amaryllis flushes red at her mix up. My merriment only lasts for a few seconds before she promptly punches me in the stomach, slightly winding me. "You know, you're gonna have to hit me a lot harder now," I remind her. "I noticed," Amaryllis grunts, rubbing her hand. She shakes her head, smiling despite herself. "Anyway, enough sitting around. I'm going to call your mother and set something up. Two days...I can't believe this is all the time we have." "I'm lucky I could even get this much," I tell her with a regretful shrug. Amaryllis grunts noncommittally, pulling out her phone. Oh so she really is calling my mom. God, she's going to kill me too. Amaryllis plugs in the phone to the car's audio system and dials the number. She turns the key in the ignition and pulls out of the parking space. The phone continues to ring over the speaker system, even as we roll out of the parking lot and get onto the road. "Come on, pick up the phone," Amaryllis complains, smacking the dashboard. She ends up having to redial the phone twice more before Elaine answers the phone. "Hey, Amaryllis, I can't really talk right now. We're working on a project, so I'm constantly busy," Elaine answers quickly, the sound of her voice filling the car. I can hear the sounds of fingers tapping on a keyboard in the background. "Can I call you back later?" "No, you can leave work, because I'm coming over," Amaryllis responds sharply. "Excuse me? I'm sorry, but this is an important contract. I only have a few more hours to work on this, and my only teammate is off today," Elaine reasons, sounding a little incredulous at Amaryllis's blunt request. "Oh quit being difficult and make an exception," I urge her, forgetting for a moment that I'm not supposed to speak. There's a short moment of silence, and then Elaine promptly drops the phone, causing a deafening clatter to reverberate through the car. I notice Amaryllis is giving me stare. "What, was I supposed to stay quiet?" "Is...is that my son!?I...oh..." Elaine is taken completely by surprise. I hear a scrape as she picks the phone back up. "Seth? Is it...you're alive? Oh...yes, I'm leaving work. I'll get my teammate to cover for me. If he won't, then management can screw off." "Yeah, I'm okay now...though I do have one hell of a story," I respond, smiling at her words. "Can you be home in an hour? You still live in the same place, right?" "I'll be home in half that time. Don't worry, we haven't moved," Elaine reassures me. Amaryllis pulls onto the ramp leading to the highway, having memorized the route between the campus and my parents' house. "I...how have you...where...I have so many questions, and...I need to call your dad and your brother!" "Dad's not on duty, is he?" I ask anxiously. I know we had a bit of tense situation as far as military matters went eight years ago, but I don't know if that's still happening now. Still, it would suck a lot if dad was on active duty elsewhere and couldn't get home. "No, but he is just past the state border. But he travels in your uncle's old one-seater plane, so he should be back by the time you get here," Elaine answers, excitement making its way into her voice. "I'm so happy...you still like pizza, right? I'll order three extra larges for us while you tell us all about where you've been....wait, you're not in any trouble, are you? Is that why..." "Elaine!" Amaryllis interrupts. "Mom!" I cut across her at the same time. Elaine sheepishly falls silent, giggling a little nervously. "Pizza sounds incredible. But I am not explaining things to you over the phone. I've already explained myself to Amaryllis once, and I'd rather only do it one more time." "I understand. I'm just so happy to hear you're alive and well...we all fell apart after you disappeared," Elaine admits, sniffing. "Just...come home safe, Seth. I've got to call the others." "I'll see you soon then," I reply. After a few more parting words, my mother hangs up the phone. I look over at Amaryllis with a guilty expression. "God...I hate that I'm only here for two days. She's going to flip." "I'm still pissed off about that. If your so called friends are gonna give you a time travel spell or whatever the fuck you're calling it, make it last longer than that!" Amaryllis snaps. I open my mouth and start to explain why it only lasts thing long, but she doesn't let me. "Don't bother. You're not going to make me any less pissed." "I'm sorry, but this is the best I could get. Magic isn't exactly the easiest thing to use," I weakly say. "Whatever," Amaryllis grumbles. For a few minutes, the only sounds come from the rumbling of the tires on the highway and the cars whizzing by on either side of us. Eventually, curiosity gets the better of her. "So...what kinds of things can you do with magic?" That leads into a long discussion for the remainder of the trip. Unfortunately, I have to disappoint her because I only know how to do one spell that isn't combat related, and that's the teleportation circle that doesn't even work right unless it's set up beforehand, with two different circles serving as gateways. Apart from that, Amaryllis continuously asks me questions about my life in Equestria. Like, what did I eat, or what the technology level was like, or what I did with myself in my free time. I actually end up telling her a little about the ponies I spent time with the most, though I make sure to steer clear of too many details involving Rainbow. That's just something I don't need to bring up. "So you're telling me there's a bright fucking pink pony that has hammerspace in her mane?" Amaryllis asks in between laughs as we pull into the suburb where my parents live. She seems to be finding the things I'm telling her to be really stupid or silly...though I can't really blame her, considering I find Pinkie stupid and silly at times. "How does that make sense?" "It doesn't. It really doesn't. It's not like I didn't try to understand how she worked...it's just that every time I tried, the others would just give me this look and say 'we don't get it either, stop trying,'" I confess with a sheepish grin. "Literally not even the ponies understand how Pinkie works." Amaryllis shakes her head. "Ponies...every time you say that I wonder what the hell happened that caused ponies to take our place," she marvels. Suddenly, she does a double take. "Wait, what did happen to us? There weren't any other humans?" I freeze, remembering what happens to this world. It's been eight years out of the eighty that humanity lasted...I wonder if Vanta is already strategically taking down targets. Still...I doubt I should drop that bombshell just yet. "No, there weren't any others. Well, there was one other, but he got there the same way I did. As for the rest of us...well, I'll tell you that at the same time as the others. You won't like it," I warn her. Amaryllis blinks, but doesn't say anything more. At long last, Amaryllis pulls into my driveway...and I can see Elaine's car there, as well as my dad's and brother's. Wow, I thought my dad was a state over. I mean, I know the border isn't that far off, but he got here freakishly fast. From here, I can see someone sitting on the front doorstep, dressed in casual jeans and a t-shirt. The moment we pull in, he stands up and swiftly approaches us. I can tell immediately who it is by the man's broad shoulders and messy blond hair. Holy shit, I can't even put into words how much I've missed this guy's stupid face. I don't even wait for the car to fully stop before I throw open the door and leap out. Adam quickly spots me and lets out a happy shout, vaulting over the front of Elaine's car. He and I meet in the middle of the driveway. I stop just in front of him, but he goes further than that and pulls me into a rough hug. "I have no words...no words, little brother," Adam expresses vehemently, his arms tightly wrapped around my middle. "Except that it's really good to see you're alive." "Yeah...I've missed you guys a lot....and did you get bigger, or is it just me?" I comment when he pulls back, looking at his muscles. My brother has always been sturdily built due to his interest in sports, but over the past eight years, it seems like he's grown even stronger. "I could ask you the same question. Since when do you work out?" Adam points out, punching my shoulder lightly. He puts on a grin. "I mean, at least now you look like you're related to me." "Since shit happened and I had to work," I reply with a shrug. "What do you mean? Where were you for the past eight years?" Adam asks, wearing a concerned expression. "I mean, all I got from Mom is that you were back and Amaryllis had you." "I'll tell you guys everything. Just wait a bit until we get inside and I can explain it to all of you at once," I tell him. Adam sighs impatiently, but nods. Behind us, Amaryllis locks up her truck and joins us down here, greeting Adam with a polite nod. The front door to my house opens and both Elaine and Gerome come out at the same time, having heard the dialog between my brother and I. Looking at them, it's easy to see how the years have affected them. They're both clearly showing the past eight years. While I'm assuming Elaine is still coloring her hair, Gerome's is streaked with gray and his face has hard lines on it. In just a few short moments, I'm being practically suffocated in my mother's embrace, the poor woman crying shamelessly. Gerome stands a bit further back, a faint smile on his face. He's still wearing his military uniform, so I guess he had been at a base before traveling down here to see me. The moment I get free of my mother, she and Adam start bombarding me with questions. Gerome has always been the quiet one of the family, so he stands back and regards me with concern. Finally, I have to raise my voice to be heard over them. "Come on, I get it. I'm back all of sudden, and you want answers," I interrupt, getting them to quiet down and listen. "Let's go inside. I'm going to explain everything to you all at once." "Okay...yes, you're right. Let's go inside and settle down," Elaine agrees, seeing the sense in that. "Are you thirsty? Should I get you something to drink? The pizza won't be here for another half hour." "That does sound nice actually," I admit. The five of us weave through the cars and enter the house. There, I navigate to the living room and head towards the sole armchair there. It looks like the same one from eight years ago...I guess it was designed pretty well to last this long. I quickly orient the chair so that it's facing the sofa, and then I place myself on it with a sigh. All of the memories of my parent's house coming rushing back to me...though not all of them were necessarily happy. But then again, the bad memories were my fault. "You guys are not going to believe this shit," Amaryllis warns my family with an exasperated shake of her head. She sits down on the couch across from me. It's an L-shaped couch, so there's enough room for everyone to sit down on it. "It's utter lunacy...but it's somehow true." "Now I'm even more worried," Elaine admits from her position in the kitchen. It looks like she's making drinks for all of us. I notice the alcohol with a wince. I hope she knows not to make a drink like that for me. "Hm, I know Seth wants water because he always does, but Amaryllis, what would you like?" "Something strong please. God knows I need it," Amaryllis answers back with a sigh. I give a smile, glad that Elaine still remembers my preferences. After a short wait, Elaine returns with drinks for all of us, consisting of wine for her and Gerome, a strong beer for Amaryllis, and just plain ice water for me. "Now, this time I get the full story, right?" "More or less. There's a lot to cover," I admit. I danced around a lot of it with Amaryllis, so I suppose I should go more in depth. However, I should still avoid talking overmuch about the combat. My mother will flip even more than she already is. "I should probably handle this a little differently this time and skip the angry disbelief part." "Oh don't give me that! Even you said it sounds like an acid trip!" Amaryllis protests, amusing me and further confusing my clueless family. "What exactly are you referring to?" Gerome inquires, talking for the first time since I've seen him. He's always been quiet though, so I'm not too worried. I take a breath. "I'm going to start by showing you something unbelievable," I begin. As they all watch, I lift one hand and concentrate until a gentle magical aura forms in my flattened palm. The aura flickers and dances like an emerald flame. My family gazes at it with surprise, unsure what to make of it. "What...is that?" Elaine questions, her eyes alight with awe. She leans forward to get a closer look. "How are you doing that?" "This is magic. I'm showing this to you because you'll know that everything I say after this is true," I reveal to them. To further prove my point, I allow the magical flame to grow, engulf my hand, and course down the length of my arm. "Magic? No way...that's some Fairy Tail crap right there," Adam marvels. Surprisingly, he doesn't look as surprised as I might have expected. Instead, he looks...jealous. "That's so cool. How do you do that? Can I do that?" "I see. While I'm not sure it should be referred to as magic, I concede that this is a force I'm unfamiliar with," Gerome observes. "Is it dangerous?" "Never mind that...what exactly happened that you learned how to do...whatever that is?" Elaine interrupts. I sigh and let the magic dissipate. "Just sit back. This is going to be a long story," I remind them, and then I begin my retelling. I go through nearly everything I've experienced since the my meeting with Sombra. I start with how I was transported to a ruined version of the school and emerge into a completely changed landscape. I make sure to leave out the ultimate fate of mankind; I'm going to leave that to the very end. Even then, I'm sure as hell not going to tell them everything about it. I'm certainly not telling Adam how his daughter dies. Their faces are priceless when I move on to explain how the world I appeared in was populated mostly by bright multicolored ponies. Just like before, Amaryllis can hardly keep herself from laughing. Again like before, I mention nothing of my relationship with Rainbow, but I do relate how I made friends with them (again, to Amaryllis's amusement). The story continues into the night, my family's attention fixed on me and my wild fantastical tale. Before long, the pizza my mother ordered gets here, and we all dig into it as I continue. Though I do get odd looks when I stop and emit a moan of happiness as my teeth sink into meat for the first time in months. I ordered a sausage and pepperoni pizza for that very same reason. Then, skipping past the Royal Wedding, I move on to detail my interactions with Sombra, and how ultimately that ended up in our victory. AT the very end I tell them all the clincher...I'm only here because of a time spell that only works once...and lasts for two days only. Suffice to say, their reactions are completely negative. "What? I finally get to see both of my sons in the same room for the first time in eight years, and I'm just going to lose you all over again?" Elaine promptly yells, the poor woman starting to cry again. Gerome holds her close to him, his own expression nearly unreadable as it usually is; the only reason I know he's not responding well is because he's closing his eyes and sighing. "I know! It's complete bullshit! I mean, if you have magic anyway, how is it so hard to make it so you can stay longer?" Amaryllis snaps, agreeing with my mother's protest. "Isn't magic supposed to defy all reason?" "This is just not cool...even though you being able to go Super Saiyan is totally awesome," Adam adds as well. Despite their protests, I can't help but smile. Even now, he can't not reference an anime in a simple conversation. Their protests escalate from there, to the point where I have my mother clinging on to me from one side, and Amaryllis is just venting her fury. As difficult as this tale is for them to swallow, now I'm hitting them with the solid fact that I can't stay. In the wake of all this raw emotion from my family, I feel like my heart is steadily getting heavier. I knew this would be hard...but I guess I underestimated just how hard. "Is there truly no other way?" Gerome asks. His words, while they are usually few, are generally spoken with firmness and purpose. Therefore, the others force themselves to calm down and listen. "I asked, but it seems there isn't. It has something to do with how timelines work. I'm not sure about the details, but Chrysalis was quite firm that I would only have these two days," I admit to them. "After that, I'll be returning to Equestria." "You're...you're returning? You're not disappearing?" Elaine asks, surprised and confused. When I give her a questioning look, she elaborates. "When you said that you would disappear after two days, I thought you meant for good...like, gone forever. But you're going back to the...the pony place?" "Yeah, it's a time spell. Think of it like a bungee cord stretched to its limits. When time runs out, I rebound back to its origin," I explain. Elaine doesn't look any less sad that her time with me is limited, but she seems relieved to hear me say that. "I won't be dying, if that's what you thought." "Oh..okay," Elaine sniffs. She closes her eyes and shudders, attempting to calm herself. She takes a step back...and then she reopens her eyes and transfixes me with a solemn expression. "Can I ask you a serious question?" "Yeah, of course." "Are you happy there?" Elaine asks simply. I blink, taken aback by the question. "As a mother...I want the world for you. I wanted you to make lots of friends, settle down with a nice girl, and live the rest of your life in happiness. I know...I haven't done the best job of parenting you. I know our relationship has been rough...but you're still my son, and I love you. So I want you to tell me truthfully...will you be happy living in Equestria for the rest of your life?" Everyone is watching me now for a response, now that my mother has poured her heart out to me. My mind flashes back to the many arguments I've had with my family. I've kept my inner feelings close to my heart, and I've always just done what was necessary to give me a stable life. One time...I told my parents that they had no business caring about my personal feelings, as long as I was doing what needed to be done in order to live a productive life. I have never regretted saying that to them as much as I do right now. The least I can do is be just as sincere back. I stand up and approach Elaine steadily. "I know that now...and you have absolutely nothing to blame yourself for. The troubles that we went through were because of me...and my inability to recover from an unfortunate encounter. My regret is that I didn't see that sooner," I reassure her. Elaine's eyes widen...because the last she saw of me, I was still as bad as I've ever been. Even Amaryllis is shocked, judging from the way she's looking at me as if I've grown a second head. "You guys have been supporting me no matter what I put you through...the least I could have said is 'thank you.' I don't know how you did it." "We're your family, bro. That's what we're here for," Adam joins in, punching my shoulder lightly. "You could yell and curse at us all you want, but we'd never leave you out to dry." "Thank you. I know it's a little too late for me to say that now...but at the very least, I can finally bring myself to say...I love you too, Mom," I say. The words are hard to say...but this is the first time that I've ever returned that sentence to her in years...not counting the eight years I've been gone. Elaine stares at me, and then she brings me in for another rib shattering hug. I gasp as the air leaves my lungs, and then I chuckle. "To answer your question...yes. I will be happy in Equestria. Amaryllis may laugh, but I made lots of good friends who've stood beside me even during the bleakest of situations. I have my own home and a stable job in a nice town...the only thing I was missing was the chance to see you all like this one more time." "I...I need another beer," Amaryllis groans, ruining the moment thoroughly. She shakes her head and stalks into the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge for another drink. "I never thought I'd see the day. Seth's gone soft." "I have not 'gone soft,'" I snap at her in annoyance. That's probably the nastiest thing she could have said regarding the lessons I've learned."It's not soft to realize that it's okay to trust others, and to be myself. I'm not as naïve as I was before...but neither am I going to stay closed up in myself, either." "Yeah, okay. Make that two beers," Amaryllis replies, frustrating me further. I don't think she's even listening to me. I wonder if this is how Twilight and the others felt when talking to me early on. Amaryllis walks back into the room with two bottles of beer and sits down on the couch next to my mother...who is gazing at me with shining eyes. "I have never been more proud of you than I am right now," Elaine expresses happily. She sniffs and clasps Gerome's hand tightly...though for some reason, my father is staring at me intently with a rather intense expression. Elaine lets out a deep breath. "Okay. If there's no way that you can stay longer than two days....then I'm just going to make these two days with you the happiest that we've ever shared." "I'm down with that. Seth, you've totally got to meet my wife," Adam agrees. I freeze. My eyes slowly widen as the meaning of that one invitation sinks in. Adam misinterprets my expression as surprise, and he laughs uproariously. "Yeah, I got married! Even have myself a little baby girl! How cool is that?" "Daughter...huh?" I repeat softly, a small smile curving across my lips. If Adam got married...then that means his daughter is...Maka. At that, another realization strikes me like a freight train, Vanta's words from long ago coming to mind. "Did you know she kept a diary? What a delightful girl she was. She wanted so much to meet you again." His words made no sense back then...but now...my coming back here at this particular point in time must have been part of the original timeline...but I never realized it because I hadn't yet experienced it. So now...if I take Adam up on his offer...I will finally get to meet her, and make Vanta's words true. "Yeah, I think I'd like that," I say to Adam, making him beam. "I mean, I'm interested to see who you ended up marrying. I bet she's as crazy as you." "She really is...you have no idea," Amaryllis quips, proceeding to take a gulp of her beer. "They practically live in a weeb cave." "Hey, you know I hate that word!" Adam throws back at her, but his protest only serves to amuse her. I actually hate that word too, but Amaryllis is just fucking with him like she always does. "I'm going to use my vacation savings to take us out and do something fun with all of us," Elaine suggests. "Maybe not a movie because that takes too much time, but definitely something hands on. Maybe like a park trail?" "Before we do any of that," Gerome interrupts solemnly, his deep voice again causing everyone to quiet down. "There is one detail that you failed to mention during your story." "What's that?" I ask curiously. Gerome's eyes narrow. "Humanity has been existing on the planet for nearly two hundred millennia. It strikes me as odd that in only another three thousand years, humanity is replaced by another sentient species. I understand that this being called Discord is responsible for the majority of the discrepancies, but the question remains: where did humanity go?" Everyone's eyes return to me at Gerome's rather astute observation. Being military minded, I guess I should have expected him to pick up on this. I heave a sigh. "You're pretty sharp. You're right; after all this time that we've endured, three thousand years shouldn't mean much," I respond reluctantly. "I didn't really want to bring this up just yet, but I guess you deserve to know." "What happens?" Elaine asks hesitantly. Even Amaryllis sets down her drink, suddenly interested. I remain silent for several seconds...and then I drop the bombshell. "King Sombra didn't just kidnap me and return home. Before leaving, he invaded the world with his forces. Humanity only lasts for another eighty years," I reveal with a heavy heart. The silence in the room after that is palpable. "That's impossible," Amaryllis responds first, holding her head in one hand. "How can one ridiculous pony king take out the whole human race? With our technology, we'd last a hell of a lot longer than eighty years." "Well, he said he had undead, right? What can we do against monsters that can swarm us and not die when you shoot them?" Adam puts in, equally shocked. "Holy shit...this means my daughter won't even live to be eighty...goddamn, I wish you hadn't said anything." "I...see," Gerome responds, pausing a moment. He closes his eyes and sighs through his nose, somehow managing to keep his composure. "I'm afraid I must believe you." "Wait, what? Why do you say that?" Elaine questions. I watch my father as well, interested in what he's going to say next. "According to intelligence reports, small rural towns over in Russia are going dark," Gerome reveals seriously. Huh, no kidding. I guess Vanta has been busy...and it makes sense that they would start in Russia. After all, Sombra recruited Hawke sometime after me, and he's Russian. "If what you say is true, then perhaps it has already started." I sit back in my chair, massaging my temples. It's gone quiet after Gerome's confirmation. Considering that humanity only lasts for another eighty years, they're now confronted with a very harsh reality. I'm not sure how long it'll take for Vanta and his undead to reach the United States, but I do know that Maka ends up commanding a group of soldiers stationed in my college. I doubt that she was the only group to bunker down, but she definitely dealt Vanta a crushing defeat. Amaryllis finishes her second beer, but it doesn't look like it's helping her any. She looks at the empty bottle with a lamenting sigh. She sets it down and gets up. "I'm just gonna get the whole case," she decides, returning to the kitchen. "Suddenly, I've lost my appetite," Elaine confesses, setting her unfinished plate on the coffee table. "Not only do I find out that my son is alive and trapped in a land of ponies, but also that we're going to die to a bunch of unliving monsters." "That's not necessarily true," Gerome reassures her. "The last of humanity, according to Seth, is extinguished by the end of eighty years. It is unlikely that you or I will live to see the danger reach our country." "Lucky for you," Amaryllis retorts, walking back into the room with the entire case of beer with her. She sets it on the table and takes another bottle from it, as does Adam. "Though come to think of it, I doubt I'll live that long either. I'm already thirty," "Same here. Our generation likely won't be the one to encounter the undead," Adam agrees. His face starts to look pained. "But the next...that's a different story." "Nevertheless, there's no use worrying about it now," Gerome advises us sensibly. "It is troubling, but it likely won't directly affect us." "So we're just going to ignore it?" Elaine demands. "Of course not. But Seth's time is limited, isn't it?" Gerome responds, showing once again his ability to keep a cool head even when faced with such dire news. "Let us leave that revelation for later, and instead focus on spending as much time as possible with our son." "Yeah, I don't know about you, but I'd like to have some fun now," Amaryllis agrees, already halfway through her next bottle. I give her an askance look. "Aren't you already? How many of those have you had now?" I remark, pulling the case further away from her. I yelp and duck beneath the bottle cap that she throws at me in response. "Try not to get too drunk before we even do anything." "I've only had a few; shut your damn mouth," Amaryllis retorts, throwing another cap at me. "It takes more than this to get me drunk. There's hardly any alcohol in this crap." "I'm sorry that our beer doesn't fit your taste," Elaine responds sarcastically, taking one of them herself now that she's finished her glass of wine. "Anyway, so what should we do for tonight? A movie? It is too late to go anywhere after all." "Oh, I got one! It came out forever ago, but I still have it on my portable drive," Adam pipes up enthusiastically. He dives into his bag, rummaging through whatever is inside of it in search of his drive. "Get this: it's called Summer Wars, and it's totally self-contained. You'll get a kick out of this, bro." "Not that anime crap again," Amaryllis groans. "I mean, that's what it is, isn't it? It's always anime with you, Adam." "Heh, well, I'm sure it can't be that bad," Elaine expresses with a carefree shrug. "I mean, it's all about Seth right now, so if he wants to watch it, I'll sit here with you all." "Seth, please..." Amaryllis starts to say, but then she sees the grin on my face. She lets her head fall into her free hand. "Ugh, here we go. It's a good thing I'm already drinking." "I'll make some popcorn so we can all get settled," Elaine decides. All the while, Adam is plugging in his hard drive into the media player hooked into the large TV. Once the movie starts, all of us sit back together on the sofa with bowls of popcorn and our respective drinks. I don't think I've ever just watched a movie with the whole family like this...at least not for a long, long time. I'm sitting between Amaryllis and my mother, with Adam and Gerome sitting on either side of us. Gerome is more or less disinterested in what's happening in the movie, so he spends most of his time on his laptop. However, he does look up every once in a while when something major is going on. As for Elaine, she gets curious halfway through and asks in a whisper if I'd taken any pictures while I was in Equestria. When I tell her I did, she asks to see them. I shrug and hand her my phone so she can look through them at her leisure. "Ooh, they're so cute!" is her first reaction to seeing a pony. Hah, I guess that's worlds better than my first reaction. The first time I saw a pony, my first thought was "...the fuck is that!?" I almost burst out laughing when Elaine turns to Gerome and whispers, "I want one. Gerry, can you get me a pony?" My dad's reaction is to roll his eyes and ignore her, focusing instead on his computer. By the time the movie ends, it's past midnight, and all of us are tired. Amaryllis is definitely a little tipsy by the end of it, hilariously enough. Even though she denies it, her face is a little flushed and she keeps giving me these weird looks. After that, my mother handles the dishes while the rest of us head off to our rooms. According to my family, my room is still the same as it ever was, open and free for me to use. Amaryllis takes the guest room, and my brother goes to his own room. Laying back in my bed, I let out a satisfied sigh. This is just like I remember it...no, better than I remember it. Now, I'm actually going out of my way to be a part of the family...the way I should have been doing it in the first place. The only thing that feels off is that everyone is much older than before, while I haven't aged all that much. Amaryllis is eight years older than me now, for example. Nevertheless, I'm going to make the most of this time. The door to my room slams open without warning, startling me awake. I lurch up in bed to see the blurry form of Amaryllis standing in the doorway. "Wake up! Food's almost done and I'm tired of waiting," she demands. She leaves before I can respond, leaving me wondering what the hell is going on. Seconds later, I fully wake up with a start, remembering exactly what situation I'm in. I reach over to my phone and quickly check the timer. I still have plenty of time; there's still thirty six hours left before I have to go back. I sniff the air curiously, smelling a delicious odor from downstairs. That smells like eggs, potatoes...and...is that fucking bacon!? Oh my god; all of my yes. I excitedly leap out of bed...and soon remember that the only set of clothes I have are the ones I brought with me. On a whim, I throw open my old closet. Sure enough, my mother hasn't gotten rid of anything. I haven't aged or grown much compared to the others, so I'm sure they'll still fit me. Then again, I think I can get away with wearing Rarity's clothes for one more day....except my parents would complain. I give in with a sigh and take some clothes out of my dresser and closet and quickly get dressed. I'll just have to make sure to be wearing Rarity's clothes when it's time for me to leave. That pony will kill me if I lose another one of her outfits. "Oh my god, I could not love you more right now," I say to announce my presence when I walk downstairs. Elaine looks up from where she's frying the bacon in the pan, smiling brightly at my appearance. "I've been a vegetarian for months...and now you're giving me bacon." "I remember you used to love this meal...so I thought I'd make it for you," Elaine explains, beaming. "Have a seat. I'll get everything for you." The dining table is in the kitchen for ease of access, so after getting myself a cup of water, I sit down with Amaryllis and Adam. Gerome is pacing in the living room, speaking to someone over the phone in low hushed tones. A few minutes later, we're all seated around the table with plates of food and assorted drinks. Hilariously enough, we had to take the alcohol away from Amaryllis, who insisted that she should be allowed to drink it to help her cope with the fact that the future is basically ponies. "So...tell me about your friends, Seth. I remember seeing that winged pony with the rainbow hair a lot in the pictures you've taken. Who is she?" Elaine asks after we start eating. I choke a bit on my eggs, put rather on the spot. I can't exactly tell them that I'm technically together with said pony. "There are ponies with wings?" Adam inquires with evident interest. "Are there unicorns?" "Yes, actually," I answer him wryly. "That's just awesome," Adam comments. Amaryllis just shakes her head and gazes longingly towards the refrigerator. "It's not even nine in the morning and I already need a drink," she complains. "Unicorns...I mean really?" "To answer your question, mom...her name is Rainbow Dash. So named because her mane is rainbow, and she can fly really fast. Totally counter-intuitive, right?" I reveal, taking the moment to poke fun at my marefriend. If this was an anime, she'd be sneezing right now. "She's also got an ego like you wouldn't believe." "I thought you hated people with egos," Amaryllis points out. I shrug. "Well, I did peg her as a worthless jock the moment I met her...but that was way immature of me. She's actually a lot of fun, and I've couldn't had a more loyal friend....current company not included, of course," I retell, the others listening with varying degrees of interest. As for Elaine, I doubt she could look happier than she is right now. "Granted, that ego of hers makes it really easy to mess with her." "I still can't believe you made friends with it," Amaryllis expresses. The way she said that doesn't sit well with me. "With her," I correct her sharply. "Whatever." Amaryllis just rolls her eyes. Heh, I guess that's no way I can really convince her that they're anything more than animals. That took me a while to get over, after all. "She sounds wonderful. I wish I could see more of her," Elaine responds. She pauses, and then brightens up. "Did you take any videos? I didn't get all the way through your photos last night." "I have a few, yeah." I navigate to one of the first videos I ever took and pass it to her, turning the volume up to high. I don't mind sharing my experiences with her. At least she's being open-minded about all of this. Elaine takes the phone and sets it against the basket in the center of the table, where all the napkins are held. The phone is set up in such a way that it can stand up on its own at an angle that she can see it well. She taps the screen, and the video starts to play. "Would you quit playing with that?" My voice comes out of the phone, sounding irritated and tired after a hard day of working in Canterlot. This particular video took place right after the changeling invasion, when we were working on reconstructing the city. Needless to say, Rainbow and I had a lot of time together in her suite at the end of the work day. "You don't even know what half that shit does." "That's the point!" Rainbow's scratchy voice comes out from the speaker. The mare has her face up close to the camera...if I remember right, she accidentally hit the record button with her nose. "This thing is awesome...ooh, I can see myself now." Elaine chuckles at the sight of Rainbow posing ridiculously in front of the phone. "What the...how did you turn on the front camera if you can't even read English?" I had complained, stomping over to her. "I dunno. I just started hitting buttons," Rainbow admitted. "Um, the little figures keep changing for some reason. Should it be doing that?" "You turned on the video, didn't you? Turn it off, I don't have that much space," I directed her. "This thing takes video?! Wow, Seth, you've totally gotta get me doing a Sonic Rainboom on video!" Rainbow asserted excitedly. "Also, how do you turn this off?" "Give me this." I step into the picture, taking the phone and halting the video there. Elaine passes me the phone back, still laughing. "She's so adorable," Elaine squeals. Adam takes the phone next, insisting on watching it for himself. I start to get a little embarrassed as they all laugh at Rainbow being silly. "Gerome, I want one!" "Talking ponies," Amaryllis laments with a shake of her head. "What has happened to my reality?" "So where exactly are we going?" I ask Adam as the five of us move towards the family car, our each of us carrying our swimming outfits. I glance at the car...which surprisingly is not the same one I remember us having. I guess the old thing broke down over eight years. It wouldn't surprise me, considering it had been a twenty year old car. "I'm driving, mom. I know the way." Adam leaps into the driver's seat and shuts the door before answering. "We gotta drop by my house real quick and grab my other key ring. Then we're gonna head up to my boat at the lake!" "You have a boat?" I question in surprise. I remember Adam had always liked the idea of driving around on boats, but I didn't think he'd actually make enough money to get one. Okay, changing my thought. He was an engineer...of course he made enough money. I'm just surprised he actually managed it well enough to buy a boat. "It's actually a really nice boat," Amaryllis inputs. She ends up crawling to the back of the car with me, considering my parents are going to be sitting up front. "You could seriously live in it for several days, provided you had the supplies." "It's great for when I get days off. Like now," Adam concurs. With a turn of the keys in the ignition, the car rumbles to life. "Anyway, it's about a thirty minute drive to my house, so I'm gonna put on some music. Any requests?" "Only that if you put on even a single anime opening, I'm coming up there," Amaryllis warns him from her position beside me. Adam cranes his head back to look at her, a stupid grin on his face. "Got it. One Lucky Star opening coming right up!" he responds in his most troll-like voice. Amaryllis just groans miserably. "That's just cruel and unusual punishment!" I complain, bracing myself for the incredibly girly theme. How my brother can watch that stuff is beyond me. "At least give me something I like!" "I have the weirdest family," Elaine comments. Adam rushes up the porch steps without waiting for the rest of us, a noticeable spring in his step. His keys jingle as he unlocks the door, and then he sticks his head inside. "Hey! Lena, we've got company!" Adam announces, gesturing for the rest of us to follow him. I notice as I get closer that I can hear soft music coming from somewhere deeper in the house. "What!? Company?" A faint female voice calls back, the music pausing. A series of bumps and thuds emanate from further in. I look at Amaryllis with a perplexed expression. She just rolls her eyes upon meeting my gaze. "What company?" "I may or may not have brought my whole family," Adam admits sheepishly. Following that is the sound of blankets rustling and drawers opening. "Yah! Give a girl some warning first! I'm not even presentable!" Lena complains loudly. Adam chuckles and shuts the door behind us once we're all inside. "One second!" "Your wife sounds...interesting," I remark. The front door opens out into a small foyer, from which there's two small staircases heading up and down, respectively. The one heading down no doubt leads to a basement. I give an appreciative nod and stride up the small staircase into the living room. From there, I start looking around in order to take in the features of my brother's house. "Huh...it almost looks...presentable in here." "That's just so they can entertain professional company if they have to. Just wait, you haven't seen the room they actually live in," Amaryllis inputs before Adam can say anything. "Hey, it's an awesome room. I'm sure Seth will agree," Adam retorts. He heads further into the room towards an end table. He rifles through the drawer for a moment before returning with a separate keyring. "Okay, that takes care of that. Now I just gotta introduce you to my family. Wait here, I'll be right back." Adam retreats into the hallway that offshoots from the main living area. I do as I'm told and lean against the railing overlooking the foyer. I hardly get a moment to think before a woman walks out of the hallway, dressed in clean and presentable clothes. Noticing her, I stand up straight and approach her. So, this is my brother's wife, Lena. She looks younger than I expected, so I'm guessing she's only in her late twenties or early thirties. Despite the nice clothes she's wearing, I can tell that she just got out of bed. Her hair is brown and tied up in a bun, and she's wearing glasses to complete her image. She's decent looking I suppose...I can see why my brother would like her. Lena pauses when she sees me, not really recognizing me. Yeah, there's not much of a family resemblance. That goes double, considering I haven't aged compared to everyone else. When I see her, I look her up and down and put on a smile. "I guess you're my sister-in-law, then," I greet her politely, though on the inside I feel a little awkward. "Sister? Then that would make you...Seth?" Lena suddenly looks interested. When I nod, she beams at me. She and I shake hands firmly."No wonder Adam took off in the middle of the day yesterday. We all thought you were missing!" "I went on an adventure. That is literally the simplest way I can express the crazy things I've been through over the past eight years," I respond wryly. It hasn't been eight years for me, but I don't feel like explaining that again. "I come back, my brother has a wife. Nice to meet you, Lena. How ever do you tolerate my brother?" Lena giggles, adjusting her glasses. "It's been a challenge, but he's so much fun, so it makes up for it," she replies. She then gives me an odd look. "You should be around my age, right? Because you certainly don't look it. How did you do that?" "I...uh...went on an adventure," I repeat lamely, much to her confusion. Before she can ask further questions, my brother returns from the hallway, carrying a small child of about four years with him. My attention turns to her immediately, my interest captured. "Is that...?" "Yeah, here's my baby Maka," Adam proclaims proudly, holding the girl in such a way that she can look out at us. Glancing at her, I recognize her almost immediately. With those green eyes and long blonde hair...she looks a lot like I remember from the video...except a hell of a lot younger. Granted, the Maka I saw there was in her later years. Seeing all these people causes Maka to hug her father's neck shyly. "Aw, don't be shy. This here is your Uncle Seth. I've told you about him, remember?" Maka peers at me with a sudden interest, and all of a sudden I feel rather strange. Even though I knew of her existence, I've never actually met her...and it's really weird to hear myself addressed as an uncle. "He's him?" Maka whispers in a small voice. Adam nods in confirmation. She smiles brightly and innocently. "He's pretty." Behind me, Amaryllis chokes and claps a hand to her mouth in order to stifle her prompt laughter. She fails miserably to the point where she has to turn around and bite her lip. All the while, I stand there with a deadpan expression. That would be the first fucking thing she said to me. God. Dammit. "Uncle!" Maka reaches out her arms to me, still smiling. She leans forward and almost falls, but I quickly step forward to catch her. I stumble and nearly unbalance, unused to the weight of a child in my arms. She giggles the whole time, her little arms wrapping around my neck. She coos happily, her face snuggling into my neck. "Oh sheesh; she's adorable," I have to admit, a sheepish grin on my face. Lena and Adam both beam at the sight of their daughter snuggling with me in my arms. She's surprisingly well behaved for a child her age...I guess she's been parented well. I never pegged Adam for a good father, but then again, he did have a knack for surprising me. I then glance at Adam pointedly. "Good thing she takes after her mother." "Hey, what's that supposed to mean!?" Adam exclaims indignantly, much to the amusement of his wife. He walks up and lifts up a strand of his daughter's hair. "She has my hair! And my eyes! Look! Green!" "But she has my face," Lena points out smugly. I guess she does...the rather elderly Maka in the video did look like an older version of the woman in front of me. After that, I hand her back to Adam, and then my mother spends a little time fussing over her. It's only a short while longer before Adam shoos us all out of the house. Together with Lena and Maka, we all pile together in the car. According to my brother, we're going to spend the whole day at the lake, and maybe even visit the water park that's there. I can't help but be excited as well. "Holy...um...wow! You weren't kidding," I gasp aloud at the sight of the boat moored at the end of the dock. I have to bite my tongue to keep from cursing, due to the presence of Maka in Lena's arms. She's much younger than Apple Bloom, and she's actually family, so probably should watch my mouth. The lake extends out before us, being of such size that it stretches as far as the eye can see. I've never actually been to this lake before, so all I know about it is that it's a popular tourist spot, as well as the reservoir for most of the state's freshwater. To capitalize on the tourist industry, there's scores of restaurants, hotels, and other attractions lining the shores. There's even a water park at one end. "There she is! My pride and joy!" Adam proclaims, gesturing emphatically at the boat. I think the best way to describe it is as a yacht. Complete with tinted windows, antennas on the roof, and even a rather extensive deck open to the air, it looks the very picture of luxury. "Exactly how long did you save up for this?" I ask wryly as we all walk towards the yacht. Adam steps on deck first, the keys jingling in his hand. At my words, Lena gives Adam a hilarious annoyed expression, causing him to look rather embarrassed. "...A long time. I mean a really long time," Adam admits with a rueful grin. He heads over to a ladder that leads up to the helm. "But I don't regret it for a moment! I take this baby out with my family as much as I can!" Once Adam reaches the top, he sticks his head over the railing. "Okay, now all of you ditch those clothes and get into your swimsuits! We're lucky; it's gorgeous out today!" "Sounds like a plan!" Amaryllis responds, immediately moving into the yacht's interior, no doubt heading for the bathroom. "You guys are too slow. I'm getting changed first!" "What the..." "Amaryllis!" We finally take the yacht out into the lake, each of us taking turns driving the yacht. Together with my family, the hours seem to fly, the sun traveling relentlessly over the horizon. However, I am determined to push the time out of my mind and just cherish this time without thinking about the future. Due to it being the middle of the week, the lake is mostly devoid of tourists, much to my relief. That way, we don't have to worry as much about running into other boats or people. More than once, Adam brings the boat to a stop and we spend some time dipping in the lake. Thanks to the sun beating down on us from above, the water is relatively warm. Just as expected, our true destination is the water park at the other end of the lake. Due to owning a mooring place for his boat (which requires a monthly fee I'm assuming), Adam doesn't have to pay for entry into the park. However, there are too many of us to get in completely free, so I spend the rest of my money to get us all in. My parents try to protest, of course. "Look, what good is this money gonna do me in Equestria? I might as well get rid of it now while I can," I say to them with a shrug, passing the money to the ticket-taker before my parents can stop me. The water park itself is rather extensive and populated despite the time of week. Just from the entrance, I can see towering waterslides, a wave pool, and even a slowly trickling stream where other people are lazily floating along on inner tubes. From there, we all split off into groups to do our own thing. At first, Adam and Lena take Maka off on their own, while my parents come with Amaryllis and I. With them, we visit the water slides together. I can't stop smiling. This is more fun than I've ever had with my family, especially now that I truly appreciate them for who they are and what they mean to me. At one point, Amaryllis and I plummet together down a twin waterslide, the two of us whooping and laughing all the way down through the open air tube. I also go out of my way to spend time with Maka in particular, tagging along to different rides and attractions to make sure that I can show as much love to her as possible. I always regretted never being able to love her as family...so this is a chance I can't pass up. It'll never be enough, of course, but this is all I can do. Clutching the giggling girl in my arms, she and I slide down into the whirlpool ride together, where we're swirled around the great pool and out through the slide at the bottom. As the sun starts to set, Amaryllis and I split off from the others and visit the tubing stream. My mother looks like she wants to come with us, but Gerome thankfully doesn't let her, recognizing the fact that the two of us want some time to ourselves. She and I have a petty little squabble over what color of tube we should go down the stream with. "Red is my color! Look, it matches my epic hair. You should have black, not red like me!" Amaryllis points out with an adorable pout, holding the red tube close. "But what if I want red too? You gonna tell me I can't have that color?" I tease her, my hands moving for a red tube as well. Near us, the park attendant in charge of the stream glances between us with a perplexed expression. "It's my color!" Amaryllis repeats, buffeting me with the tube. Snickering, I duck beneath her next "assault" and grab another red tube. Before she can catch me, I leap into the river with it. "Hey! Come back here!" She and I travel down the stream, splashing one another multiple times until the both of us are lying back on the tubes, panting. My hand falls limply into the water close to Amaryllis's tube as I take this moment to relax with my best friend. I start to move ahead of Amaryllis without realizing it, a gap widening between us. A fork approaches, tubers heading in either direction randomly. I don't even realize what's happening before Amaryllis grabs my hand, dragging me closer to her just before we reach the fork, so that we travel down it together. "Whoa, thanks," I say, looking back at the fork. Why is there even a fork there? Suddenly, I realize with a start that Amaryllis is still holding my hand. I attempt to extricate myself from her grip, but her fingers only tighten around me. I look over at her in shock. "Amaryllis...?" "Quit looking at me like that. It's only because you're too damn oblivious to notice the stream ahead," Amaryllis snaps with a light blush, pulling my tube up against hers. "What's the point of going on a ride together if we don't stay together?" "Heh, I guess you have a point," I admit, relenting and letting her hold me. Admittedly, I don't try very hard to get free. The two of us drift down the stream together, closing our eyes and delighting in one another's presence. Honestly, I couldn't picture a better way to spend this time with her. Eventually, the park has to close, and the rest of us meet up and eat dinner at a burger joint. And oh my God I can't even express in words how amazing it is to have a cheeseburger after all this time eating vegetables. Eventually we return to the yacht. However, the fun doesn't stop there. As the sun droops towards the horizon, Adam emerges from the interior of the yacht with a long and thick cord...as well as a large inflatable tube. "What are those for?" I ask curiously. I seem to be the only one that doesn't know, considering the others are starting to look excited. "Tubing, doofus! We're going tubing! Have you never been tubing before?" Adam explains while he rummages through a cupboard. With a little "aha!" Adam pulls an air pump out and starts to pump up the tube. "No...I honestly didn't even know that was a thing," I admit, a little apprehensive at the thought of what we're about to do. "You're sure this is entirely safe?" "Oh, don't be such a..." Amaryllis starts to say, but then her gaze falls on little Maka, the girl looking up at her innocently. Amaryllis sighs, an eye twitching. "...such a crybaby. It's a total blast! Especially when you fall off!" "What do you mean, 'when...?'" I repeat, but Amaryllis isn't having any of it. She ends up dragging me onto the tube once it's fully inflated and hooked up to the back of the yacht. She and I are the first to go out...and it's the most exhilarating and heart-pounding experience. What happens is that Adam speeds the boat up greatly and drags the tube we're in behind at such speeds that the thing practically skips across the water. The whole time, I'm yelling and clinging to the handles for dear life, all while Amaryllis is laughing on the tube next to me. Every single time, we only last for maybe five minutes before Adam pulls some crazy turn that causes the tube to fly up into the air...which more often than not hurls us into the water. At one embarrassing moment, I attempt to hold onto the handle even as Amaryllis is hurled away...causing me to skid across the water at a near parallel angle. The result is that my bathing suit is tugged right off of me. My suit ends up floating in the water several meters away, leading to me swimming frantically after it in a sort of awkward dog paddle so that I don't end up exposing myself. Of course, the whole time, Amaryllis is laughing so hard she almost pees herself. Later, as the sun vanishes and the sky grows dark, we all start to dry off and change into pajamas. There's enough room onboard for us all to sleep, so Adam insisted we all stay here for the night rather than bothering to head back to shore. I'm sitting on the prow of the yacht, dressed in a comfortable set of pajamas. It's gorgeous outside, with the only light coming from the rising moon and the countless stars shining down from above. A soft breeze rustles through my hair and clothes. While I'm waiting out here for the others to finish getting dressed, Adam comes to find me. I hear him stepping out onto the prow with me by the sound of his feet on the deck. Without a word, he sits beside me, our legs hanging over the edge. "You were really great with my daughter, by the way," Adam says to me softly, breaking the silence. He looks genuinely appreciative of that, as well as a little relieved. I wonder if he thought I would disapprove? "Thanks for that." "She's a sweet girl. You should be proud," I tell him, my voice firm and unwavering. There's no way I can tell him about her true fate. That would be cruel of me. Nevertheless, I know she grows up to be the kind of daughter that any parent would be proud of. She looked to be in her sixties in the video, so I know she lived a relatively long life...and even despite the tragedy of her death, she went out with a bang, trapping Vanta and the entirety of his undead underground. "Heh, yeah," Adam responds. A look of sadness forms on his face moments later...and it doesn't take a genius to realize what he's thinking about. "I really hate that I can't see you again after this. I wanted to watch more shows with you...I wanted you to be a part of Maka's life." Adam looks at me with surprise when I lay a hand comfortingly on his shoulder. I meet his gaze , a confident smile on my face. "Hey, it's not like I'll be dead. Just think of it like I'm going away on a long trip. I'll be happy, surrounded by my new friends...and I'll constantly be thinking about you all," I reassure him. Respect shows in his eyes at my words. "You really have changed, Seth," Adam observes. His lips curve into a sad smile. "Whatever those ponies did, I really want to thank them. They gave me my brother back...even if it's just for this short time." "It wasn't easy for them either," I admit with a rueful chuckle. "Yeah, I don't imagine it was," Adam laughs, understandingly fully what I mean. Despite my overall positive relationship with him, he knew very well that I had a lot of issues that he couldn't do anything about. After a short silence, Adam looks back at me, an inquisitive expression on his face. "By the way...I've been meaning to ask. What kinds of things can you do with that magic? Are there like, spells?" he inquires. I form a small ball of gently glowing magic in my hand, showing it to him. The light casts shadows on my brother's face as he looks at it with awe. "There are, but I don't know that many of them. I mostly just used it for combat," I confess. Adam looks at me with a raised brow. "I skimmed over it because I knew our parents would freak, but I did a lot of fighting. King Sombra was not one to let me live in peace." "At least you got through it...wait, hold on. You used it for combat? Does that mean you can make beams?" Adam suddenly asks, an expression forming on his face that promises trouble. Then his eyes light up. "Like a Kamehameha?" I stare at him incredulously, and then groan, facepalming. I should have known I'd get this question; my brother and I spent a lot of time watching that show. Despite its flaws, it was always one of our favorites. "Goddammit, Adam. I mean, I guess I could...but..." I try to say. "Oh my god. You have to show me," Adam demands, leaping to his feet. I look up at him skeptically, wondering if he's really serious. "Come on, there's no one around. Do it. Do a Kamehameha." "That's not...it's not actually that attack, it just..." I try to protest, but judging from the look on his face, nothing I'm saying is getting through to him. He looks like an excited child...to the point where I half expect him to start bouncing up and down like Pinkie. "Seriously? You really want me to do it?" "Of course I'm serious! The chance to see one of the greatest and most iconic attacks in all of anime history in person? How could any self-respecting anime fan turn that down!?" Adam demands. I sigh and get to my feet. Knowing my brother, he won't shut up until I do it. "Fine," I relent. I'll only do a small one, because no doubt the light from my attack will shine brightly in the night. That, and I don't want to accidentally swamp the boat with massive waves caused by a big one. I certainly have the power to do that if I go all the way. I let the small emerald ball of magic grow larger in my hand, attempting to do a one handed beam, but my brother grabs my wrist. "No, you gotta do it right! With the hand motions and everything!" Adam insists. I let the magic fade away, groaning. "Ugh, fine. I can't believe I'm doing this," I mutter. Feeling like a total nerd, I stand in a combat ready position and even put my hands by my side, my palms only a short distance apart. I form a small pulsing ball of magic there that grows steadily larger. Finally, I thrust my hands out forward, releasing a thin beam of green light forward towards the water several meters away. "Kamehameha!" "Yes!" Adam cheers, squealing like a damn kid. The beam hits the water and explodes in a bright flash of light, but it's only violent enough to cause sizable ripples in the water, gently rocking the yacht. "That was awesome! Now do a bigger one! This time with the aura!" "I'm not doing a bigger one! You want me to capsize the boat?" I snap back at him with exasperation. Adam and I proceed to squabble like petty siblings for several minutes, until our family comes out to fetch us. Adam ends up relenting, much to my relief. Together, we join our family and play board games until we get tired, and then we retire to separate rooms. We all wake up early the next morning and get dressed. Because this is the last day I have with them, I make sure to get back into the clothes Rarity made for me. I've already been yelled at several times for losing her other outfits...not an experience I'd like to repeat. Adam drives the yacht back to the dock, moors it, and locks everything up. We all disembark and load back up in the car, on our way back to town. While we're in the car, we toss around different ideas on what to do next. Lena suggests a movie, but everyone pretty much agrees that would take too much time. In the end, it turns out to be Maka who comes up with a solution. While sitting in my lap, she raises a hand and suggests, "Bowling!" in an adorably cute voice. After laughing, we decide that's actually a rather decent idea. If I remember right, there's a bowling alley and arcade not far into town...and that would give us a variety of things to do while still being able to interact with one another. After getting breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, we travel to the bowling alley. Elaine assures us that she's going to buy the full experience, no matter how expensive it is. I feel bad that I'm cutting into her vacation funds like this, but nothing I say will convince her otherwise. My mother is very stubborn when she wants to do something. Again, considering it's the middle of the week, the bowling alley isn't as crowded as normal. That works well for us; we pretty much have free reign to do whatever we want. The full experience, as it turns out, happens to be a set amount of tokens per person for the arcade, a bowling lane for our exclusive use, and a reserved time for the laser tag room. From there, we once more split off to enjoy our time in the arcade, intending to meet up at the bowling lane later. Adam and I team up to play one of those retro shooter games with the pistol shaped controllers. Even though we fail miserably, we both have a lot of fun doing it. I do a lot better than Adam due to my reflexes being much better honed than his; combat tends to do that to you. I also help Maka complete a few games to win her some extra tickets for the rewards. With the two of us working together, I manage to win her a prize of her choice...and she chooses a cute unicorn plushie. The irony isn't lost on me of course. It certainly isn't lost on my brother, who keeps laughing and teasing me about it. The bowling itself is a lot of fun too, though Amaryllis is clearly better than the rest of us for some reason. Gerome is rather good at it as well; he and Amaryllis are commonly getting strikes. It's a good thing we split into two teams, so the two of them can compete. Honestly, I stop paying attention to the score halfway through. In between bowls, I sit with the others, exchanging quips and answering questions about my life in Equestria. That's how I spend my time until lunch, when we purchase food from the complementary concession area. It's not that great of course, but the desserts were good. They're not at Pinkie's level, but it's hard to fuck up sweets. Then comes the best part of the day...the laser tag. We split into two teams and wear these vests that register hits, and then grab our weapons and enter the dark room that's lit only by neon lights. The teams consist of Amaryllis, Elaine, Maka, and myself; and Lena, Gerome, and Adam. The teams are uneven because Maka is on my team, and she's likely not going to be that good. Somehow we convinced my dad to join in as well. In the tag area, I end up dominating the field, nailing shots on Lena and my brother and easily dodging their counterattacks. It's not really fair to use my battle experience here, but hey, it's not my fault I'm so good. Of course, that all goes out the window when Gerome actually decides to get serious. His military training is much better than my own, and before I know it, my vest is lighting up like a Christmas tree as I take hits from god knows where. He's much better with a gun than I am, it seems. When our time runs out, we leave the bowling alley and head to a dinner place. While I'm there, I glance down at the timer...and sure enough, time is running out. I only have two hours left here. It feels like it hasn't been that long yet...but I guess that's how it goes. By the time I arrive home and get clean...there's only ten minutes remaining. "I wish you didn't have to go," Elaine cries as she hugs my neck tightly. Every single one of us has gathered outside in the front yard of the house, ready to send me off. The poor woman has started crying again, and her grip is so tight I feel like she'll never let me go. "I know you'll be happy there...but I'll miss you terribly." "I know that. But I'm glad that I at least had this chance to see you all one last time," I respond softly, somehow managing to keep myself from crying as well. "That's true. I'm forever grateful to this Chrysalis person. Without her, I'd never have known what happened to you," Elaine reveals. I can't help but snort in amusement. Clearly she has no idea how much of a bitch Chrysalis really is...but I don't see the need to let her know about that. That would just make her worry. "I love you, Seth. You'll always be my little boy." "I love you too, mom," I say, flushing a little in embarrassment at her words. She doesn't let me go just yet. "I hope you make lots of friends in Equestria. I hope you find a stable job with a steady income...and I daresay even find a nice mare to settle down with," Elaine says warmly. Her words cause me to jerk back and look at her oddly. "Wait, what the hell? Mom!?" I say, utterly shocked by that statement. For one heart pounding moment, I start to think that she somehow figured out my relationship with Ranbow. "They're ponies and you...what?" "You said yourself: there's no humans left in the future...and as far as I've seen, they're as intelligent as you and I. I would hate for you to live your life without finding someone. Love, in all of its forms, is truly a blessing. It doesn't matter what they look like on the outside, as long as you can love and understand one another," Elaine explains to me with a smile. "I can't believe you're okay with that...but I see what you mean," I say, looking a little uncomfortable. With one last squeeze, Elaine giggles and releases me. I then step over to Gerome. He and I stare at one another in silence for a few seconds. He's not really the hugging type. I've always known that. Despite that, he reaches his hands forward and places them on both of my shoulders. He manages to show one of his rare smiles. "Go...and live well, son. I'm proud of you...and the progress you've made," Gerome reveals, squeezing my shoulders. "Don't worry about us. I'll keep everyone safe." "I'll leave them to you then. Love you, dad," I return. Gerome's a man of few words...so even his short statement is enough to move me. When he says something, he means it. "Yeah, go and find yourself a mare, Seth," Adam teases me, snickering shamelessly as I move to him next. I promptly shove him in response, which just makes him laugh harder. After a moment, he gets serious and hugs me as well. "Kick some...what, is it flank now? Yeah, kick some flank." I move on to Lena and Maka next. I don't know them anywhere near as well as the others, and judging from Lena's face, she doesn't know what to make of this situation either. Without warning, I hug her, causing her to tense up. "Oh, stop being awkward. You're my sister now...it's only right I treat you as such," I assure her with a grin. Lena lets out a small chuckle and hugs me back. "I don't really get what's going on...but I appreciate that. Your acceptance means a lot to me," Lena expresses. I never really explained the situation to her as in-depth as I did to the others, but we managed to get her to realize my situation after showing her my magic. "I hope you'll be happy, wherever you're going." I lean down to Maka next, the young girl looking innocent and blissfully ignorant of what's going on. I embrace her gently as well, causing her to giggle and hug my neck. Heh, she really is adorable. "You're going to grow up to be a total...totally awesome," I whisper to her. I almost said badass, but then I corrected myself. "Goodbye, Maka. It was an honor meeting you." Maka just blinks. I chuckle and stand back up. My heart feels like it's traveling up my throat as I move to the last member of the group. Amaryllis. She stands there with her arms crossed, looking none to happy about me leaving. "What, is this the part where we hug and cry?" Amaryllis remarks before I can even say anything. "Please...I hate goodbyes. I'm fine, really. I'll just be laughing because you're going back to frolic with all the colorful little ponies." "Heh," I chuckle. When I look back at her, my breath seems to catch in my throat. I'm having a lot of trouble coming up with the courage to say this...but I have to do it. I'll never get another chance. "Actually, I had something I wanted to say to you...in private. Do you mind stepping away with me real quick?" "Huh? I mean, sure, but what's so important that you can't say it here?" Amaryllis responds, suddenly confused. I don't respond, instead motioning for her to follow me. With a perplexed expression, she follows me to the far end of the flat driveway. In the distance, the setting sun shines down on us, giving our skin an orange coloration. "Well, it's..." I start to say, but then stop, words failing me. I have so many emotions running through my head right now; it's hard to find a way to put them into words. Amaryllis notices my pause and gets a little impatient. "Come on, spit it out. We don't have all night," Amaryllis demands. Her eyes suddenly widen, green light reflecting off of her pupils. I give a start and look down at my skin to see that it is starting to glow green. The timer on my phone has just hit the three minute mark. I'm running out of time. "No, it seems we don't," I say softly, gazing at my glowing hand with my lips set in a thin line. Gathering my resolve, I turn to look her in the eyes. It's funny how I've fought life or death battles more times than I can count...but this still frightens me more than any undead. I let out a sigh. "I'll be blunt. I've always admired you." "What?" Amaryllis says, raising a brow. "I'm serious. You went through the same stuff as me...but somehow managed to stay strong. You were always snapping off insults at me...but when it counted, you pushed past your cynicism and reached out to me...even when I couldn't do that for you." The words come easier to me as I go, my confidence rising as well. Amaryllis watches me in silence. "You are my best friend...and without you, my life might have taken a much darker turn. In part, I owe everything to you...and I wanted to say how grateful I am to you for that." I take a breath. "It's more than that, though. You and I were always together. You were the only one I could go to when I needed help or someone to rant at. You've never told me what I wanted to hear...you were honest, and I really appreciated that." I make sure to hold her gaze as I get to the hardest part of all of this. "I guess what I'm trying to say is...you were...and are...the most important person in my life." "Wait, Seth, are you...?" Amaryllis starts to say, her eyes widening in shock. I've gotten this far...I can't back out now. I have to say it. My body is starting to dissolve slowly into the air, particles of green light trailing behind me. "Yes, Amaryllis. Here, before I go...I wanted to tell you," I tell her fervently. "I never really understood how I felt until now, but...I've always...always loved you." There. I fucking said it. Holy shit that was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. It feels like a weight has lifted from my chest. Despite that, I'm filled with tense anticipation as I gaze at her. Her eyes are wide, but apart from that, I can't read her. I have no idea how she's feeling right now. Amaryllis's eyes harden, and then she abruptly smacks me across the face hard. I'm not prepared for it, so my head jerks to one side. I let out a gasp and hold my stinging cheek, looking back at her. I see her glaring at me furiously. "Fuck you! I can't believe you!" She snaps at me. My spirits start to plummet...but then I hear her sniff...tears forming in her eyes. "Do you have any earthly idea how long I'd been waiting for you to say that!?" "You mean you...?" I emit breathlessly, but Amaryllis doesn't let me finish. She steps forward and pulls me close. Before I realize what's happening, her face comes up to mine...and I feel her silken lips pressing up against mine. My every sensation is blown away by this new feeling. All of my trepidation and fear of rejection is washed away like sand in the waves. All I can think about is that the girl I only recently figured out that I loved is now kissing me furiously, her hands planted firmly around my face. "Yes, idiot!" Amaryllis snaps again when we finally have to break apart to breathe. She's actually crying shamelessly now, the tears flowing down her cheeks without end. "Of course I felt the same damn way! You think those dates I used to go on ever satisfied me? No...each one only made me more certain...that the only one I wanted was you." "Amaryllis..." is all I can say in response to this. My composure is finally starting to slip, tears welling up in my eyes as well. I can't believe she felt the same way that whole time. Time is running out. My body is dissolving faster now as the timer dips below thirty seconds. "Of course I loved you, Seth. Why do you think I put so much effort in staying with you?" Amaryllis demands. She pulls me forward and hugs me tightly. "But...thank you for finally telling me...even if it took you this fucking long. Now...now I can be satisfied." "Are you sure?" I ask her, hugging her back. Together, even as my body fades away, she and I hold one another close, refusing to let go. "As satisfied as I can be...considering I won't ever see you again," Amaryllis retorts. She rests her head on my shoulder. "But at least I know you'll be alright. Go be happy with your pony friends...and tell the rainbow one I'll kick her little ass if she doesn't take care of you." "Don't worry...I will," I promise her. My body is finally shrouded in green light, my vision of Amaryllis disappearing. "Goodbye, Seth," Amaryllis whispers as I finally dissipate completely. "Goodbye, Amaryllis." I reappear in the ruins of the college, staggering slightly as the spell releases me. The first thing I hear is the sound of multiple ponies panting hard. It takes me several seconds for my eyes to adjust to the darkness...and then they widen when I see the state of the others. Chrysalis's mane is damp and her body is damp with sweat, the strain of holding the spell clearly showing in her face. Behind her are the other ponies in various states of exhaustion, looking completely bereft of magic. Twilight and Rarity are lying flat on the ground, panting hard, while Salamul and Iron are leaning on their weapons. Celestia is resting on her haunches, looking a little sweaty herself. The only one still standing is Hawke, his hand resting on Chrysalis's body. No doubt he was the last one to contribute his magic to the spell. When he sees me appear in front of Chrysalis, he retracts his hand and slips it back into his pocket. "You have returned," Hawke states as he steps away from Chrysalis. "Finally...hah...I'm completely out of magic," Chrysalis huffs, standing up straight again. When she sees me, she glares. "I hope you're happy. That was the hardest and most strenuous spell I've ever cast." "I am happy," I reply, wiping my cheeks dry. "Thank you, Chrysalis. Thank you all for doing this for me. I can't thank you enough." Celestia gets up and approaches me, nuzzling me comfortingly. "I hope you were able to make peace with your family," she says when she draws back. "Yeah...I was. I think I'm satisfied...though it still hurts," I have to admit. There's no way I can hide that sort of thing from Celestia. She seems to have picked up on that as well. She's nodding understandingly. "I expect that it does. It's not easy, saying goodbye to your loved ones," Celestia says with a sad sigh. "Living as long as I have, I have had to say goodbye to many dear friends...and it never gets easier." "I can't even imagine. I'm not immortal," I respond, earning a smile from Celestia. I wouldn't even want to be immortal. No, I want to grow old with Rainbow Dash. That much is for certain. I'm actually itching to see her...but that brings up another point. "Also, have any of you saved enough magic to get back to the Crystal Empire?" "I believe I have enough," Hawke answers, clenching his fist. "Is it time to return?" "If Seth is ready," Celestia affirms. She looks to me for confirmation. Behind her, the other ponies start to congregate in the teleportation glyph. Twilight and Rarity in particular look ready to return to the fair. If this works like I think it did, hardly any time has passed here in comparison to the two days I spent in the past. "Yeah, I'm ready to go back. There's still some time left in the day, isn't there?" I ask, joining the others in the circle. "I want to go hang with the others some more." "That sounds like fun. I can think of a certain pony who might be very impatient right now," Rarity insinuates, nudging me. Yeah, I bet. Even though Rainbow might have been in on it, she's not one to sit around and wait. I hope she hasn't stirred up too much trouble. "Let's go," Hawke interrupts. Once the last pony is in the circle, he claps his palms together with a grunt, summoning up his remaining magic. It isn't long before we reappear in the central room of the Crystal Tower once more. I can hear the sounds of the fair still going on outside...all of them oblivious to what I just went through. But that's okay. I prefer it that way. "Now then, shall we return to the festivities?" Celestia suggests with a bright smile, approaching the doorway leading outside. I hear various sounds of agreement coming from the others. "Provided you don't need time to rest, Seth." "No, I should be fine. To be alone is the last thing I want right now," I confess. That gets Twilight and Rarity to walk up beside me, the both of them giving me support with their very presence. "Yes, let's go! I'm sure the others are waiting for you," Twilight encourages me enthusiastically. I smile appreciatively at the both of them, once again feeling grateful to have such good friends. "Go on, Seth. We'll be right behind you," Celestia urges me gently. I don't need any further persuasion. I let out a content sigh. All things considered, I'm left with a happy, full life ahead of me, with plenty to look forward to. With Twilight and Rarity flanking me on either side, I walk forward, climb down the staircase, and walk out the front door... ...to where my Rainbow and my friends are waiting for me. Epilogue: Stalwart Iron: Despite his brother's wishes, Iron chose not to return to Bleak Island, and instead accepted Celestia's offer to fill the position of Captain of the Canterlot Royal Unicorn First Division left open in the wake of Shining Armor's move to the Crystal Empire. Despite all he had been through, both during the civil war and the battle against Sombra's forces, he still remained strong and became one of the best captains the force had ever seen. Warlord Salamul: Once the war was over, Salamul tried and failed to convince his brother to return to Bleak Island with him. Afterwards, he challenged Celestia to a duel, only to be defeated soundly. Respecting his brother's decision, he returned to Bleak Island to rule as the sole Warlord. However, as a result of the war, relations with Equestria had improved. Due to his newfound respect for Celestia, Salamul chose to open his borders to Equestria, allowing travel between the two. Relations between Bleak Island and the changelings were especially tight. Ever since their battle in the Crystal Empire, Salamul often visits the changeling hive for another rematch. He was witnessed vowing to Chrysalis that one day, he would take her back to see his homeland. Queen Chrysalis: In the wake of the war, Chrysalis was glad to see Celestia follow through on her promises. At the next meeting of the International Committee, Chrysalis and the changelings were acknowledged as their own independent nation. Immediately afterward, Chrysalis formed a strong alliance with Bleak Island. Relations between her and Equestria remained strained, but with the addition of the neutral ground near Dodge Junction, ponies began to interact with changelings on a regular basis. Over time, with the sincerity of Pterax and Mantis, they became less afraid of the strange black creatures. Captain Blades: After the war, Blades retired from his position as Captain of the Canterlot Royal Unicorn Second Division, passing the role onto his capable commander. He went on record saying that "he was too old for international throw-downs like that." Rather than leaving the force entirely, Blades remained in Canterlot to train the newer recruits, regaling them with tales of his exploits. He became a father figure to many, and an inspiration to the troops. Commander Rose "The Blossom Wind": In the wake of Blades's retirement, Rose took his place as captain of the Canterlot Royal Unicorn Second Division. However, despite the worries of the ponies below her, she was a much kinder captain than expected. Her friendship with Fluttershy had proven to be a strong influence on her, causing her to lighten up and even get back in touch with her family, who were delighted to hear from her. Every so often, Rose could be seen visiting Ponyville to spend time with Fluttershy, their friendship never fading. Swift Lance: After Iron's promotion to Captain of the First Division, she was elevated to the rank of Commander for her actions in the war against the Crystal Empire. She always complained about how she was given more duties than usual, but it was said that she never let her rank go to her head. She maintained a friendship with Seth and the other members of her former team, often visiting them when she had spare time. Trixie: Trixie's fame spread like wildfire after her performance in the Crystal Empire. Before long, Trixie found herself swamped with requests from all over Equestria, asking for her to come and perform for them. Trixie went on record as saying, "Trixie supposes she can grace your cities with her presence." However, the smile she wore upon saying that was one of genuine happiness. In the end, everypony that went to see her shows proclaimed once more that Trixie was truly great and powerful. Former General Flowing Mist: She remained in the Crystal Empire long after the war, helping to rebuild their society and put things back to the way they used to. Despite her misgivings, the crystal ponies accepted her readily. Mist once stated that without their help, she never would have made it as far as she did. She remained forever grateful to Seth and Princess Celestia for their help in turning her life around. Hawke: The dark enigmatic immortal that had once served Sombra kept mostly to himself in the frozen north, taking refuge in his mountain base. He rarely ever left...though on occasion, he could be seen visiting Mist in the Crystal Empire or Fluttershy down in Ponyville. The Elements of Harmony: After returning home to Ponyville, the six friends were heralded as heroes. The news of their roles in attaining victory for Equestria had spread like wildfire after the Crystal Fair. Pinkie in particular kept throwing so many parties that ponies had to practically beg her to give them a break. Seth and Rainbow Dash: After the war, the two returned home to Ponyville for a few weeks to enjoy some rest and relaxation with their friends. After the fiasco with Pinkie's spree of parties, the two of them gathered supplies and bid goodbye to their friends. They left Ponyvillle together, fulfilling the promise that they'd made together before the battle of Cloudsdale. It would be quite some time before they returned. The discoveries they make along the way, however, is another story. END

In The Company of The Sun

pre

"I... I don't remember. I remember the climb up the stairs, and him telling me something important... but this time all I heard was his aging body. This memory feels... hollow." I admitted. She took her time with this insight. She must have known how such and event vexed my conscious. The idolization of my father's words, erased from my mind. "There might yet be a lesson in what you saw, yet I do not know of you needed the answer again. Your mind will guide you farther in dreams and thoughts than mine could travel." She smiled softly, until her mind wondered. "Since your visit here in the castle, have you seen other distorted memories?" She asked worriedly. "This is the first to distort." I replied. "Thank you Celestia." We both shared a relieved smile and continued our walk.

In The Company of The Sun

Ch 13: Doubts (v.1)

Celestia's demeanor darkened as she opened Luna's bedroom doors. Luna was curled on her pillows, groans of mercy shook her regal frame. All my thoughts froze, as I focused only to Luna's aid. The Crystal Queen, Mora Ninna was resting beside Luna, humming her sweetest lullaby. It did not seem to do much for little Luna as I reached Luna's view she hesitated, forcing herself still enough to talk. The pain she felt sapped any trace of cordiality from her tone "Wh-what did you see yesterday?" she ordered. '"Yesterday... in your thoughts?" Her eyes narrowed menacingly. "Of course then." I winced as a warily chuckle escaped my lips, and I tried to string my words to her thirsty ears. Her eyes were darkening as I stalled. "Recently my dreamstate has been rather sensitive to Luna's mind... the only time It wasn't-" "I don't care about then!" Luna spat as she lunged angrily towards me, Celestia and Mora restrained her back to her pillows with their magic. "This is important Luna, I promise." I assured her. "When my dreamscape didn't hone onto Luna... I entered a dream void. Dream void's aren't like my visions, they are created when a person is either consumed with too much emotion, or are void of any. I believe someone in the castle is afflicted with a Dream void." "Is this "Dream void" contagious?" Celestia asked. "It depends on who the afflicted is. If it is someone like me, a seer, then only others seers should be affected, But if it happens to be Luna... we may all be affected, since she is the gatekeeper of our dreams." I replied. "I've yet to feel any evils, or nightmares...I don't think the curse is within the sight, But I wouldn't blame dear Luna either. In the North there are many evils that could mystify or entrance one's mind. They fed off fear or disharmony... there could be monsters that feed off dreams." Mora said. "Have you slept well recently Celestia?" I asked. "It's nothing I'd blame any ancient monster on." She rebutted. "I need my sister well enough to sit within the treaty's commune. I'm sure we are all apprehensive and nervous for the meeting. Maybe this Dream void isn't from one being but all of us." Celestia thought a loud. Her voice distorted as she talked, I tried my best to stay focused on her, but the deepening pitch was too jarring for my ears. She took her eyes off me as I felt my face cringe. "Why a gathering like this has not happened in Equestria for over 500 years. " Her tone slowed uncomfortably as she spoke, my glance drifted slowly towards Luna as the very air chilled and time crawled. Visions rippled through my core. This treaty will seal your fate. No longer as prince, nor king but as spirit to the realm of your choice! You'll choose pettiness over me? Destruction over our time, our memories? No one is outside your rule of judgement, your air of balance will rain chocolate or snow bubbles... if you decree. Nothing will be gray when you take upon this crown. "It's getting worse!" Mora held onto Luna in a hug as she forced her magic into her song. It echoed within the halls of our ears and I felt my muscles bow, and give out as she sang her melody.

In The Company of The Sun

Ch. 14: Absense (v.1)

I awoke within another memory. My first visit to Canterlot. My father stood beside me as we walked within the white castle's grand hall. I remember this moment being potent, even pivotal to who I was then. This was the moment where my father gave one of his greatest speeches. Yet... as I gazed up to him he was silent. Another corrupted memory. As his lips moved I gave up lip-reading. The memory was off pace with his words, as if someone was pushing me along. There I heard a voice, it was of King Din, Celestia's father. He was singing a song that I never fully heard... until then. Someone had altered my memory, for this? A simple ballad of the late king... Originally my father and I had arrived in time for the King's last stanza. I remember my father giving a hearty chuckle as he complimented King Din on his singing. The two exchanged a hug and my father and I were seated to the right of him. I grinned. I was sitting beside none other than Prince Umbra. That's how he knew my face, and princehood. My father's speech resumed, piercing the muffle sounds around me. I shook to his rough voice. "There's a lot you can gleam within the charity sitting here today son. Just remember to keep you attention to their brows. Conviction is a good sign of passion, but a stiff brow is merely a jest of admiration. People are will to say anything to make their thoughts your own, sometimes that is required. Your memories and powers are always tools to mold within the company of strangers, do you know what you must do then my son?" My voice cracked. "Become F-riends with them?" He gave a soft smile as he humored my answer. "Friendship is a nice start, but sometimes it is better not to befriend everyone you meet. It's better to understand their needs to your own. Take for instance the Crystal King's emissary, he's the King's brother. The Crystal Empire is looking for a trading partner of their magic crystals, and healing salves. Do we have any business with them?" "Healing salves would help our wounded... but we haven't had a major plague or war in years, and not all goats can use magic... I guess we don't." I thought a loud. My father grinned. "Exactly, In that respect we have no business with the Crystal ponies. However Emperor Onyx has sent King Baritone here for a reason... can you guess why?" "He's here to keep good standings with the commune." I said eagerly. My father's lesson was coming to a close. "Exactly my son, He is here to represent his empire, and listen to what other countries and delegates are inquiring about. This knowledge is vital for a healthy relationship." My heart sank as I remembered how the future played out for the Empire. Lord Baritone had remained silent to his brother, most importantly he hadn't told the commune about the Windigo attacks. It had left their utopian north a bitter wasteland, and with only a fraction of survivors reported... the counsel was left broken after such a loss. With no warning of the Windigos they swept much of Equestria into a blizzard. This severed the tribe's trust within one another, until King Din rallied the tribes back together,but the birth of his twins solidified Equestria's union. Zebrican legend revered the two as a signs of The Sacred Tree's awakening. This legend alone bound the pony tribes to the King's trust. How I had wish I knew all of this then, Though I still believe my actions have prolonged our era of peace. I digress... where were we again? Ahh yes... Mora's lullaby, just five hours until the commune would join. I could still hear the most alluring call. Voices only the nearly dying or purest soul should be blessed to hear, or so I thought then. My pacing was staggered as I found the will to follow wherever these voices desired. Everyone else laid in their slumber as I hobbled ungracefully through the castle. My gait was regaining it's regality as I left the castle's door, atleast I was allowed some dignity to remain. The voices leaded me into the thorny gnarls just outside of town. Some distance into the forest their verses became audible, and for the first time in my life I wished I wasn't magically attuned. "Not too proud to shed a tear, but to scared to share his fears..." a deep voice rang. "How has your father guided you?" A softer voice whispered. "Have you lost what you once knew?" A honeyed voice chimed. "Your creed instills you should not feel..." The deep voice hissed "Yet emotions are what bind you here." The soft voice sang. "Enough!" I barked. In unison they giggled around me. "I'm needed at the castle, so if you're done lamenting about my past." I spat. They only giggled more. "Such... rage in one so calm." An orange pony flashed in front of me behind green smoke. "Where's that balance I-" "It doesn't rest with you. I may pride myself on balance, but I'm no fool to wickedary. Keep whatever filth you call magic to yourselves." I protested. As I turned back the forest turned dark. I gave a small gulp. I may had contested the wrong evil force. A sharp pain crept up my leg, and as I looked at my pained leg vigorous thorns was spiralled around my leg. My... My blood had not even quenched the root's thirst as it bound to my leg tighter. A cry shot out of me. "Shall. I. Take your peep as I sign of submission, or merely an instinct. Of. Your. Misery?" A deep throated voice asked in faked wonder. "I-" I cried, I wasn't given a chance to speak, as the root lifted me. Drops of blood dripped past my eyes. "A. Fragile. Husk, such as you does not hold the. Power. Of. Intimidation." It cackled within my core. "Such. Pride. Indeed... It does not know to whom it offends, to Whom. It. Commands!" The voice shook within me. "I will spare your thread of life, for the life water you have shed for me. Not out of mercy... but of pity." The root unwound from my leg leaving me to fall to the grass below.When I awoke three pony-like forms grinned around me. "I... I have nothing f-urther to speak to you." I fumbled out in my daze. "You will not write your treaty... it is not meant for your scribe." the orange one attested. I sighed as I tried to collect whatever bearings and wisps of dignity I had left. "It's not because your writing is bad, it is because you won't want to sign it." The blue one added quickly, much to the disdain if the purple one. "Ladies, as much as you enjoy telling me who I am, I think I'm better off being the judge of that." I assured them calmly as I limped away. The orange one drifted in front of me, sliding her hoof up my chin. She harped "Your heart is cold yet it beats ever on... How have you endured on?" I seethed my anger out with a long rolling sigh. The blue one hooked her arm around my neck. "She meant no harm, but it is hard to see you limping on..." She coyly sang. "I... The three of you, please. Just let me get back to the castle." I sighed. One by one they drifted away into the forest. The castle bell rung the Evening feast. I stumbled out of the brush and over the fence back into civilization. The pain in my leg was weak in comparison for my eagerness to eat. Never had I felt such a craving, such hunger. The crowds parted as I made my way through the commons, the stationed guard's eyes grew as they shouted words I cared little to hear. Scents of foods assaulted my senses as I was almost in full gallop to the mess hall. The griffons turned immediately to me, Finchelstein stumbled in horror to the floor. Mora lifted a hoof to her lips, and heart as she gasped. "What is all this... blood?" Luna hesitantly asked. "Blessed Sun! Norm!" Celestia cried. Even with the silence of the crowd, and the screams of my best friend I pillaged the feast I piled in front of me. Berries, petals and all manner of confections flung into my jaw, not even the touch of Celestia's hoof snapped me out of my greed, only her whispered words did. "Your bloodied leg... it... it's a dragon's."

In The Company of The Sun

Song: All Are Welcome

Welcome, welcome all around, We're just around the bend, All are welcome, welcome, We're across the sea, Waiting to be friends. All are welcome to my land, Equestria, I Welcome, welcome every heart, To hear my word, To witness my song, We have food you never heard of like cherries, oranges, pears, and pies, Flowers to adorn you with from vivid, vibrant, bloomed and shy. Let our hearts welcome you in, If you're setting sail from home, Please do not let the name deter you, If you're feeling bold. Equestria is for all kind, From feathered, finned and clawed. We hold dear the teachings of The Tree, Let us show you all. Our honesty and loyalty, will glisten in the night. As you make your way across the sea. And when you arrive, You will find kindness in kind, With our generous minds. From our singing do we spread or joy, That all may feel our laughter, And from our heart to yours, You'll see our magic in store. Friendship is what I decree, What I prescribe, What I shall trade. If you so desire change, I smile to thee, And I say. Welcome, welcome to my land, We're just around the bend, Across the sea, Waiting to be your friends!

In The Company of The Sun

Ch. 15: Writings of Red Ink (v.1)

my arms were roped tightly around me as I cried pitifully. No being should eat that much food. Celestia, Luna and Mora were levitating me to the hospice. I didn't argue, something was violating my very essence. What could change my leg into another species? "There's no doubt about this." Mora protested. "This is dark magics..." "I'm afraid Somber has done something to prince Norm."Luna protested. "Somber?!" Mora's eyes shined momentarily. "Are you sure, positive that he did this?" her voice waivered, the first time I had heard her honeyed cords dull in seriousness. I shook my head, as did Luna. "I witnessed a rather despairing dream last night... one any normal pony would call a nightmare." Luna admitted. "There's is no doubt that he is among us. I would not doubt his intentions pure of malice." "Then we shall find him!" Celestia boomed. "If only to figure his intentions." she reasoned. I gingerly drifted down to one of the beds. Luna give a firm tug to the supply room's door. "What do you need Mora?" "For this type of affliction... Pegasus feathers, Aether root, Lover's Lily... and one of my crystals." Mora lamented. "Aether... root?" I weakly moaned. "It's a special plant that grows in the mountains, where the clouds cover... The griffon's gift is Aether root." Celestia said. She called for some nurses to me as she left in a half gallop. The nurses tightened a tourniquet around my leg, until now I hadn't felt the pain of my thorn-punctured leg. The very nature of my wounds baffled the mares. Soon all of the nurses were throwing back and forth ideas for how to clean scales, how to cast my leg, and what solution of salve would be most likely to seep into reptilian skin. Then the room grew silent. A slow clop echoed on the stone. "Pardon me... pardon, pardon ol' me." mumbled through the crowd. The nurses broke away in a line for the pony to shuffled through. I winced, trying to make out a face within the pony's curled facial hairs. He reminded me more of a saint bernard than any pony,in fact the only reason I could tell that he was a pony was his ears sticking out from his eerily pointed hat. "Crystal Empress... would you please lend me your dark purple crystal?" "O... of course." she stammered. Who was he to make the most tranquil pony I had known shake? The air felt so familiar around him, it felt of home. It felt... like father. His voice was cordial yet rang with authority. This was a pony? "I haven't seen a goat since colthood. Judging by your horn... you're someone important. I'm pleased to meet you." "Norm... Normalcy De Parnce."I fumbled. "Interesting ekename." He mused. "I am going to be your healer today, you may call me Star Swirl." The hairless valley on his muzzle curled, but with my, and the rest of the rooms stillness he let out a lax bellowing chuckle to break through the tension. Cupping the dark purple stone from Mora's unweaved braid, he laid it on my leg. My eyelids pressed firmly together as the crystal gave a hissing crack. "Norm." He whispered haphazardly. "You are the victim of a curse. A very powerful one." He leaned in closer "This curse aims to change your nature, and in the process... reinvent you." He shot back up as he exclaimed "But there is no need for worry, this curse is self contained." Luna pressed through the nurses next to Mora. "Are you sure of this?" "Has there been other symptoms?" Star Swirl inquired. "Night terrors." I spat. "My-my memories are getting distorted." I bit my lip, as I bottled in my pain. Luna levitated the crystal off of my leg. "Why is crystal hurting him?!" She pressed. "The crystal embodies the opposing force." Mora stated. Star Swirl gave a content nod. "He acted with greed, so the curse reflected this. This crystal holds the energy of Generosity. I do not know whom you angered Normalcy, but they've taken an interest in your emotions." He extended his hoof to Luna "The effects can be hindered though." Luna slowly placed the jewel onto me. His magic flared wildly. Streams of purple ribbon bound to my leg vicing to the scales like tacky sap. With a quick flash the gem disappeared, and so did my dragon hide. more steps headed our way as the nurses went back to their other patients. Celestia had arrived with a wispy thin leafed plant floating in a glass bottle. "Do we. still need... the aether root?" Celestia panted. Star Swirl turned curiously around to her. "Aether root? Why in shining stars would we need that?" As his eye met hers he chuckled softly. "No princess, He should be fine now." Celestia floated her wild hairs back into her mane. "oh." She sighed, panting softer. "Thank you Star Swirl, I did not know you would be back from your expedition." The two of them shared a smile. "Care to explain everything over lunch?" "I would be honored dear princess." Star Swirl mused. Mora joined them as well. I awoke to see Luna reading beside me.The room was faintly lit with candles and Luna's magic atop her horn. "What time is it Luna?" I sighed. She smiled eagerly at me. "Do not worry over the time. Are you feeling better?" "I will once we sign that treaty." I mumbled. "...you're rather eager to leave." She sighed. "My country is without a leader... and the closest thing to an advisor are relatives that can not use magic." "Is magic so important to rule?" Luna asked. "It is how it been done for ages, even before Parnce was name so. My uncle, father, and their father before them. My other relatives... they come from my mother's side." I explained. "What is wrong with your mother's side?" "She wasn't native to Parnce... or even pre-Parnce. My uncle brought her back with him during the chaos wars. Father didn't trust her at first,but-" "Norm..." She softly hushed me. "I'm asking why you don't like her." I pressed my head deep into my pillow. I wanted to pretend to be awake, to mask the ire I harbored for my own mother. Luna out of all the ponies I had met, why did I confide solely to you? "She doesn't believe in the sacred tree. She thinks every being is born with good and bad in them, and only they can make themselves purely good." I felt my skin hotten as I held back my tears. "She doesn't believe you, or me or even Celestia can achieve such purity though... Because we are all flawed, we will always give in to our darkest needs because our darkness needs stem from just that. What we need. I needed answers, and I was too greedy with my power it seems. I treasured everything my father whispered, only see his memories fade away." Luna's eyelids were on the brink of overflowing her sympathies. She clung to me tightly humming a calming melody. "Night will be kind to thee, rock like the endless sea. Dream off into the fields, flowing with golden reeds. Sun shining peacefully, as stars fade out blissfully. Welcome the new day here~ With. Me." My mind rocked comfortably back into serenity. "My mother always sang that to my sister and I." Luna said. This moment of peace wouldn't last of course. Mora would peek in and tell us they were gathering in another hour. Luna and I went about our business. The following hour was nothing but the most grueling hour of my princedom.

In The Company of The Sun

Ch 16: Epiphany (v.3)

Each of us had our own desires. Each of us wanted our words bold, underlined and affixed in memory. We would not leave until we were heard, we would scream until we were heard. I felt something grow within me as we fought, churning like a festering scar. A resolute notion, a ringing truth that no lie could veil from my eyes. There is no harmony here, at home, or within nature. She is as mal tempered as the souls in front of me today. She is as spiteful as the lies we wrote down. There is only silence when she allows, and storms when she desires. Nature herself is disorderly, she has no favors to hold, nor favorites she protects. She does not ward away evils, nor does she promote her defenders. They are as timeless as her mercy. Pegasi claimed mastery of her weather, Earth-ponies thought their strength could tame her... Unicorns believed all would bow to their arcane puppetry. Even worse, Crystal-ponies could only pretend to manipulate her will, but my secluded kind thought nothing of her physical form, we sought only to harness the astral. We each held our sights of conquest to an entity that would age on without us. We are merely here for the adventure, along for the ride. Burred-paw's words were thick with a passion I could have mistakened as my own. Not a single jib from my father's reserved wisdom could rebut, nor anyone else in the hall. The room was still, frighteningly so. Not a whisper pierced through my ears. My heart beat was erratic, and quaked like a waking volcano. What was this feeling? Was it anger? Was it suspicion? These words that Griffon belted had stringed tightly to the other ailments I was blighted with. My heightened senses, my growing pride, my inability to sleep. I had, for moment agreed to his words, and it had left my whole psyche shaken. He did not believe harmony was the absolute of justice. The Sacred Tree to him was merely an entity that corrected what it deemed impure. I refused to make eye contact with him, even though I knew my efforts were fruitless. He knew I agreed. I couldn't stop smiling. As each of the delegates posed their questions and Burred-paw laid them down effortlessly. His kind relished in the spotlight, and rallied to the unquestionable. "If The Sacred tree is just a free roaming entity, then how does she connect to me?" Mora canted. "The Tree is connected to us all Mora... Your craft is merely an illusion of progeny. All of us could wield the crystals you covet, and all of us could be empowered by them." He stated. "Yet through the ages and scripts only ponykind has harnessed her knowledge, and has heard her wisdom." Luna added. "With respect Ser-" Burred paw cleared his throat. "Luna, that simply isn't so. We are all guided by it. Today it told me to go outside and enjoy the spring blossoms. How? By gifting us with a warm day, the melody of songbirds and the aroma of pollen. I did not need to hear it tell me to, The tree sent its invitation without words... Maybe it has been forced to speak, because you haven't been willing to listen otherwise? My writ will not be added to this treaty, if the ponies at this commune are unable to accept these truths... so now I wonder about house Girgentana." My heart slowed to that name. I glimpsed back to the griffon. His features were weathered by time. The small ropes of braided hair began to recede as I envisioned him younger, young enough to know that name. In truth I shouldn't have known it either, it was only through my meditative training with my father did I hear the name whisper from his guarded mind. Yet another sign of the ignorance that was unwilling to see him as anything but flawed. I could see him now, Burred-paw. He looked eager, ambitious, traits that would never leave him... but more importantly, his face was recognizable. My father had seen him before, had talked to him, had... had traded herbs for magic crystals. The crystals late king Baritone was selling at my first commune. "Aether root, Lover's Lily, and griffin feathers." I whispered. "Who could they possibly aid..." Burred-paw narrowed his eyes, slowly sitting back to his chair. Within a room of attention seekers, I knew he would hear me. "Prince de Parnce?" Mora asked. I turned to her and slyly slid my hoof over hers. She flashed pale briefly and with the added grip of my hoof held her secret knowledge. "Your thoughts Prince?" I heard Finchelstein apprehensively peep. The fury of Burred-paw's coercing gaze had helped the modern griffon from simply spectating. "I think we have heard enough from the griffons to know that our views are different. Yet I'm not worried over such conflicting views. My father once told me that it is unwise to befriend everyone you meet. I stand by his lesson... You do not have to believe the Sacred Tree is sacred, or that she is the entity of justice and balance. Those are our beliefs... you merely have to believe in what she represents to us. She is the elements of harmony, do you know what harmony requires?" "of course-" chirped Finchelstein. His voice waned as my eyes were locked on Burred-paws. "What are the elements of harmony?" I repeated. Burred-paw gazed to the princesses unamused. "Is this a serious request, King Din would sing of the elements in every commune. I am insulted by the very thought, the very notion that I am being accused of!" Celestia furrowed her brows. "Why are you insulted... Norm is only solidifying your seat here. He is not asking you to name each element, just that you know what the elements are Burred-Paw. If you do, than you know what is required to be apart of this commune. You must be loyal to your citizens, as well as the members of this table." "Honesty and generosity should also factor in there-" Finchelstein tweeted as Burred-Paw silence him with a glance. "Yes, yes..." cawed Burred-Paw " Kindness, laughter and magic. We all know harmony's elements here." "Then what keeps your writ from our treaty Burred-Paw?" Luna inquired. "That was Prince de Parnce's base request... I require that you all agree that that tree is nothing but a lone entity. That tree does nothing as my kind,"- his eyes flashed to Mora. " your kind suffer. There is darkness in Equestria, and its smoke is billowing over the mountains... my people's mountains. Do you all not sense it? Or do you need this too be spelled out for you?! " "I have felt more than just sensing it." Luna cried. "I have seen it, felt it... It's growing within our dreams. It's attacking us." her hoof pointed quickly to me. "Whatever this darkness is, it fears our union." "Yes." Mora agreed. "Such an alliance is unheard of. Griffon, Goat and all the pony realms. This treaty also unifies my kingdom as part of Equestria's." "No." Burred-Paw crowed. "My mountains rest between your land... Griffons may live within the same space, but we will never be Equestrians." "You live in Equestria... you are Equestrian." Mora stated. "I am not Equestrian!" He roared. "I am Lion and Eagle, I am Griffon!" I sighed slowly. "What goat prince?" He growled. "Bur-" Finchelstein tried to scold the chieftain, but another furious glare silenced him. "Your race will still remain. Your culture with still be yours. We are not asking you to change, or become something new."I ranted. Lifting from my chair. "I am sure I speak for everyone here at this commune that we require nothing more than your pardons. We are not asking you to refute your beliefs, and yet you claim that we should abolish ours? We do not wish to steal your home and heritage yet you claim what we have loved and cherished is but old sentiments... Parnce may be an ocean away, yet even I know... You did not come here to write, or to reason. Chieftain Burred-Paw came here to curse me." I stated. "Of all the baseless accusations!" He cawed. Celestia and Luna rose from their seats. "The day my mother was ill you were there! The day of my father's passing... You were there! Guess what my pillows have in them Burred-Paw?" "Somepony please control this kid's rambling before I deem all of Equestria off limits to my citizens." The chieftain roared. "Again... it has happened again." Mora mournfully sighed. "Griffon feathers! Aether root is native to your land...You took the crystals from my father."I badgered. "I did no such thing!" he roared in protest. I was close. Yet I didn't consider the lengths some would go to keep secrets hidden, or the promises others would die to keep, even in death. There was a secret hidden within the counsel, but it had nothing to do with me, at least not today. "Hush, Everyone!" Mora commanded. Everyone turned their attention to her, then slowly to me. My fore-hooves shook as they twisted and gnarled. Digits protruded out of them slowly, my fur lighted on the right, and it fell out in clumps on my left fore-hoof. "I-I'm changing..." A knot of anxiety festered within my throat. No matter how much I tried to gulp or move the muscle it only tightened more. In bated breath I moaned "again?" I fainted.

In The Company of The Sun

Ch. 17: Imponderable (v.1)

I held little sympathy for whatever distress Finchelstein harbored under the chieftain's piercing gaze. I had more urgent matters prying at me. Like how I felt such spiteful revenge in the first place. An inching notion twisted within the recesses of my brain, like starved fangs piercing into raw flesh. That tainted thought was coaxing the rest of me that such feelings were natural, even acceptable. But I was not tempted, even as I drifted into the aphotic abyss of the dreamless... and nothing bothered me more than to drift alone in the silence. A small quip echoed with the last remnants of my father's morals. 'Do not be afraid to question all around you, but take care with what company you ask, and solace with what you learn.' My eyelids felt swollen as I faded in and out of sleep. Comforting sounds of voices followed me; from the present and the past. "You trust the the hircine?" "It would be wise of you not to doubt his knowledge." "How can I judge someone without the hairs of age in their beard, and the lack of emotion in their heart." "Do you doubt the Royal sisters as well?" "I do not doubt the wisdom of King Din. He was an honorable ally... nor do I doubt the keenness of his queen. I have seen their prowess, I have not witnessed his." "Do you trust in me?" "As a scholar?" "As a friend." "I do, You will vouch for him?" "As will you when the time comes. He is vital to our alliance. You will witness his prowess... he is keen to rule, and eager to believe." I wanted to assume that it was about me, but the pitch of the voices clarified that it was not only about me, but possibly my father. I knew then that it was Burred-paw and Star Swirl speaking. I sighed deeply as I felt my mutated forearms had been tightly bound. The feeling in my arms was almost nonexistent, the weight was still there but any tangible movement wasn't felt. The quick shuffle in the room removed my second-guessing. "Prince?" Star Swirl warmly called out. "Yes?" I bleated. My head was lifted as the sounds of unraveling cloth and the blinding flash of light from Star Swirl's horn came into view. "How is your sight?" He asked. I looked around me. Plants of various sizes were resting in decorative pots. Herbs hung upside down by the open window giving the room a pleasant herbal breeze. I rose myself up slowly to look beside me. A slow-burning baelfire was being nursed by a baby phoenix in the fireplace. I stretched a forehoof, as it lifted I smiled slowly. My cot was a mixture of pampas grass and weaved cotton, just like the healing beds in Parnce. "We're in the apothecary...?"I stated. "The commune has ended, and the night watch has been doubled." Burred-Paw answered. "What happened to me?" I waivered. The two raise their eyebrows. "Your-" Star Swirl gave a booming wheeze over the chieftain. "You started to change form. Reflecting our dear friend here in appearance. Star Swirl gave a jesting pat to the Griffon. Queen Mora assisted us in applying the ointment, hence the wrappings. You need to keep these wrappings on, they will repel the curse's effects until we can localize the source." Star Swirl assured me. "Now I want verbatim of your voyage to Equestria." I told them only what I thought they should hear. It was that tainted thought in me, I questioned their motives, their loyalties to my well being. A moment ago the chieftain wouldn't find common ground with me, and Star Swirl professed curing me. So I told them about Umbra, or Somber as Queen Mora called him, losing the prince, having my thoughts read, and the unicorn in the alley way. As they listened they expressed their concerns facially, losing their will to talk with me. I was fine with their silence. I just wanted to hear my father's voice again. What kind of leader could i be without his teachings. I wasn't well enough to stay in Equestria, yet again. They wrapped the linens back over my eyes, bid me to try and dream once more. I did dream; back to my youth. *** King Par slowly closes the door of his son's room. His eyes gaze over to his wife. Her bloodshot eyes cause the king to embrace tightly in a passionate hug. "He almost didn't make it." King Par waveringly whispered, as his held his own tears back. "It was Equestria... The magics there are effecting him." She sullenly reasoned. King Par raises his lady's chin. His sadness hidden within his words. "I was a fool to think my magic was strong enough to protect him. I promise my love, it will not happen again." He promised. "I must make arrangements with King Din. He and I will find a way to keep Norm and the commune safe." As King Din turned resolute. His lady hooked a forehoof to her lord's, stopping him. "Pareil... How long will this voyage be?" she asked worriedly. "As long as it must Lady Girgentana." He calmly replied.

In The Company of The Sun

Ch.18: Din, Dark and Dreary (v.1)

A fierce caw stirred me from my lingering memory. It was from the phoenix. Its glowing claws scraped at the pit's embers, trying to reignite bits of charred wood. As I moved in my cot my muscles were eager to stretch as far as they could. Such peasantry pleasure felt divine in that moment. To feel my legs filled with vigor, and my senses renewed. I didn't believe he could, but maybe the wizard had healed me. My mind bitter-sweetly chimed Star Swirl's warning to me, and I gave a lackluster sigh. He had not cured me, he and Mora had only entrapped the curse. My hooves slid the gauze strips from my eyes, and I fell further into an uneasy gloom. Thick cloth bands with woven crystals and ancient symbols had been sown snugly to each of my legs. Under each band were damp wrappings that smelled of a hot summer's rain, with a hint of earth. No doubt the ointment. I laid my head back down. With a quick breath in, and a slow exhale I forced myself to focus. Where were the facts, the purpose... the reasons for the past few days? Typically I started a bit too far back. I was a Goat, a rare breed of goat from a land once part of The Ashlands. Father always cautioned that the sea was calmer than the soil growing up. The ponies, more specifically; Lord Baritone, King Din and their father, Emperor Carillon fought against the evil that had cursed The Ashlands, and allied the inland goat nomads to colonize Parnce. When the ponies left the nomads fought over who deserved the throne. This fighting lasted until the ponies came back, and chose who should be the king as well as providing my grandfather with a modified version of their Tenets of Harmony. King Baritone stayed in Parnce to assist my grandfather. In this time my Uncle had defected from the tenets and practiced dark magic. I say practiced but there are tomes that pre-date the first dragon war that claim the nomadic tribes used "dark magic". That's about 100 years before a Pony set hoof onto The Ashlands. My father had witnessed this dark magic in use, and pleaded with him to follow the new tenets. But my uncle was anything if not stubborn. There wasn't a time I could recall when my father spoke of my Uncle without malice or forewarning. With little choice my grandfather was forced to choose my father as king, and subsequently banish my Uncle. The darkest time for Parnce in both literal and figurative aspects would soon follow. Uncle had called upon the remaining dragons for aid, asking for them to sleep in the nearby caverns. Their soot-ridden breath left the inland inhabitable and forced Parnce to migrate closer to the ocean. Unknowingly My uncle had helped my parents find each other. Mother was part of another nomadic goat tribe. Her name was Girgentana, and she and my father battled my uncle various times for the right of the throne. It was in the last battle when King Baritone revealed that he had aided my Uncle and crafted him a special bell made of crystal. My uncle had devised a way to use the bell without King Baritone's voice and promised to imprison any doubter's into another dimension. Of course my father stopped him, and my mother was beside him. However just because he was defeated, didn't mean he was any less dangerous. To be out-shined by his younger brother left a lingering magic. My uncle's last words,was a curse filled with all the bitterness and jealousy he had harbored since his youth. He wished with all the magic he had that my father's features reflect any inharmonious desire. A faint breeze brushed past me as I forced myself to remember. The facts where becoming hazy, as if covered in a mountain's fog. Have you ever tried to remember a moment you knew was important, yet you couldn't remember exactly why? My heart was set on the severity yet my mind seemed less concerned. I didn't know if it was from the curse, the ointment, or just my own stubbornness. He cast the curse straight at my father... but the spell missed. I remember being told that the curse ricocheted off his crystal bell, and my mother was cursed instead. In mourning my uncle renounced his dark magic, and offered his services to making my mother's remaining hours as comfortable as possible. I do not know if was because of me, or because my uncle also loved my mother. The murkiness in these details bothered more-so than ever before. Though that at doesn't help you how I ended up here. My mother closed herself off from Parnce, and this left her tribe worried, and her new subjects isolated. My father assured them it was merely an act of motherly protection, but even after my birth she was resistant to go outside, or socialize with anyone. One night, concerned and a little bitter he asked her why she had become so shy. She told him she had been honing her magic through meditation. This magic wasn't "dark" in nature, it merely enhanced her memories. She explained that this magic was passed down from elder to elder. This served in two sacred ideals to her tribe; to honor their ancestors, and to continue to learn from them. Relieved that she wasn't deathly-ill my father asked her to teach him this magic. Girgentana unaware of my father's sincerity chuckled at the notion. Her tribe had special curved horns that helped tune into this magic, while my father had a single horn. Yet this didn't deter her from honoring his wishes, and she tried to teach him the best that she could. In the end she was unable to share her memories to him, and they both where convinced that it was impossible for my father's tribe to use such magic... until I was born. The first lie my father told was that I was a single-horn, or ali-horned goat just like my father, and all his fathers before him. I had two horns. In my youth I'm sure it was hard to discern my father's type when my mother's light blue horn twisted like bittersweet around the other budding horn. It became more obvious in my kidhood when my magic seemed heightened in comparison to my father's. I remember I spent hours wandering through my mother's memories. Watching her first word, first spell, first dream, even the moment when she met my father. But she was very protective over the memories with my uncle. She reasoned that the curse had lingered on his memories as well, and remembering him made her ill. She was always amused when we would talk of arcane or spiritual things. I took a capricious stance on either accounts. I just couldn't fathom the arcane like she could, and I had similar trouble when father spoke of the spirit. She lamented on how ' I had all the skill of a painter, yet no bearings on how to make the paint'. Time with her seemed ever fleeting, there just wasn't enough hours of sunlight to be with her. In the coming hours if my crowning I pleaded with her to see the sacred tree, believing that it could somehow mystically cure her. How could anyone as pure as she fall to such a selfish curse? She tried to calm me as best she could, saying that I always had her memories. Some days after her passing my father had signs of the curse. I noticed that he was becoming secretive with me, and once I witnessed him trading strange ingredients with griffons and shimmering ponies. Now I knew it was to make these ointment bands... for me. The revelation pierced slowly into me. There was no controlling the stream of tears. I had killed my parents.

In The Company of The Sun

Ch. 19: Reflection (V. 1)

How is one to move on after such a plaguing revelation? I didn't move alone. The honeyed chanting of those sirens coaxed my body forward. Past the castle, the city gates, and past my better judgement for another sad story the world had too few violins to serenade. Yet I wasn't mindlessly compelled to follow their lullaby, instead I was hunting them out. Anything to distract myself from the uncertainty of emotions I was not taught to quell. If only father could see how I had strayed. How these hoof-falls poured the very foundation to my truest fears. Yet I didn't know then, then again neither did you... These Sirens sang until they saw the light glistening from my eyes with such conviction maybe they, for a split second second-guessed their victim. "Here he comes, the Billy King!" jested the blue siren in poor taste. I huffed a depreciate breathe, then doubled back my gaze to them. "How do you know me by that title?" I commanded coldly. "Things have a way of trickling down, and down the grape vine." The orange one slyly answered. "We have a very reliable source when it comes to neigh-sayers, and ill-rumor." This, I did not doubt from such a despicable creature. The purple one slithered close to me, eyeing my vagabond-like bands as if they glistened with gold. "He's in the company of a Crystal-pony!" She bellowed. The others followed, wisping over to my hooves like beggars to crumbs. "How is that so?" The blue one whispered. "I do not know!" The orange one innocently rhymed, threatening her sisters with a wild snarl to prevent them from giggling at her mishap. "There's a summit." I huffed. "It's a peace treaty, along with rewriting the Prancian agreement. You three haven't been keeping me up at night have you?" "He blames us for his woes!" The purple one spat menacingly. "Typical." The hummed in unison. "Give a king a crown..." The orange one lamented mournfully. I pressed a fore hoof firmly to my temple, why I had actively tortured myself with this? I not sure any parental issues where so dire to resort to this magnitude of sadism. Yet here I was, listening to these three squawk like mindless hens. Then I noticed something more disturbing, I was slipping faster. Hate was building within me, but not from the sirens but because of them. Fragmented images flashed through my mind until they formed a vague memory. It was void of color, though my instincts assured me that these sirens before me were a part of my past. I could remember them in my youth... Yes they seemed similar in form minus their aquarian tails. Ponies? Slowly color leaked into the looping memory, gaining validity as the memory focused. As the image fleshed out before me I felt more lost than before. These three, they where once close Umbra. More pieces to solve. The Sacred Tree had expected much more from me than a treaty. She wanted me to mend emotions. Luna's , maybe Umbra's as well? What of my people? almost a week of my absence, surely my viceroy was able. Yet something in me compelled me back to my home, maybe I was merely homesick. Or perhaps I was feeling the weight of responsibility pressing a bit too keenly to my shoulders. A time would come where I would have to choose what I held more important; My wishes or Parnce's , and I would have to be sure not to blur this line. But... as you know I failed to do just that. With Burred-paw the treaty was a nightmare in itself to pass, never mind the nightmares that followed. *** Discord lifted his head weakly to the swan colored princess before him. His eyes were blood-shot and the constant stream of tears kept his vision murky at best. "I just wasn't ready for that much stress, old friend." He admitted mournfully. "I was so selfish back then... If I had been a good guy like you and your protege... Do you think our world would be so-" Her hoof patted at his lion shoulder. In that moment he truly felt Celestia, if not forgiven him, had at least understood his past mistakes. A giant salt-less tear welled up in his right eye. "Thank you Celest'. I don't think I could ever make up for my faults. I-I'm trying though. I think I've found something special with that sweet friend of Twilight's." He continued his mood becoming more and more eager as he proved his efforts. As the hoof patted his shoulder again Discord felt his worthiness was pointless unless Celestia truly knew his struggle. "Star Swirl ended up having to banish the Sirens as you remember. It turns out though that they wanted my bands... the cloth bands that held the curse at bay. The same magic that was helping me could've helped the sirens... or so they said. They could fashion a fable out of mere hearsay. But as witness to their power, you'll have to trust me. In their youth they were just like us. Misguided to a fault. Discord sneered as he gave a quick chuckle. Isn't that always the case? all our faults come from being misguided... from the very idols whom we searched for guidance. Maybe they are as guided as us?"

In The Company of The Sun

Ch. 20: Black Ice

The three of them banded close together as their hooves touched the ground. I could feel the ground beneath me pulse in agony. As my eyes strayed down I watched as the soil began to crack and the patches of grass frizzled into perfect tinder. As one lunged at me menacingly, I dodged and with the heat of my pained hip taking over I fell to the dusty earth. The cuts on my fore-legs throbbed as the sirens looked over me. "This is who is going to help us? Hmph! I bet he can't even tell the different between the Light of the Sun and the Light of Harmony." The purple one seethed. "Yeah sis' How is this guy our helper?" The blue one chimed in. The orange one nickered through her snout as a small plume of smoke exited. "Our king must be from another castle." "What are you spirits whispering about?" I dryly asked. "You've been in contact with our father." The blue one nonchalantly blurted. "Big, stern pony?" she added. The other two jabbed their hoof into either side of her ribs scoldingly. "What?" she huffed, obviously tired of their passive-aggressive stance. "Yes." I answered. All their eyes glowed with a moment of long awaited joy, all but the orange one. She was looking for something a bit more tangible than my word, or her sight. The earth began to shake around me as the trees moaned, and rocked to my answer. No doubt the ringleader to the circus in front of me. I chuckled under my breath, clasping my hoof before the alien humor escaped me. Pony sarcasm? This would've been a more troubling malady if the rumbling hadn't coaxed the ill-thoughts from me with ease. " If he cared for you would he not be looking for you? By manners alone, it is no wonder he left such a pitiful disguise of royalty to linger." The Sirens gasped, hurt at this new-found venom. Then, slowly... they subtly smirked. Each paraded a menagerie of fuax pained faces as my rage continued. "Where do you three even have the nerve to question my right to the throne... you do not even have a kingdom of your own! Unless this rumbling dust is your dominion... " "Our home is bitter, much like the malice you speak." They began to sing. "Our home... Our home," They chanted, gospelling their calamity. And as they twirled around me, my fervor rose, and my tactility eluded me. The three had cast a whirlwind at my hooves clasping onto me as they wailed and chanted. After their trite lament I could feel their magic had faded from me. Now, not even a peak of interest to their caws tempted me to stay. I had overcome them. Finally I was free of them... or so I thought then. As their voices and bodies faded I felt the last wisps of bitter air release me. When my body grounded and my senses recovered I felt something malign focus my attention. It sweetly tugged at my center, the festering darkness. Odorless plumes of purple smoke erupted from the cracked earth, thirsty for miles below me, much like the barrens of The Ashlands. There was an unnerving heat billowing from below me. A red light so bright I shielded my eyes... Then, he was there. The shadow of my father. Red eyes that twisted his tender demeanor into a piercing spear full of judgement. His eyes effortlessly cut through mine, I could feel his disgust in me. What I had done. What I was becoming. My mind was silenced... his wrath was just, he was my father. His word was just. He had no equal, he was Nonpareil. Who was I to question his word... Normalcy, a state of equilibrium. His eyes narrowed as I felt his... his... I couldn't place the word, but I knew I felt so small within his menacing eyes, so fractured within his presence. This wasn't the father I idolized, not even his wrinkled scowl could warp my validity in my youth. But now in his gaze, I couldn't distinguish if the curse was an ailment, or an abnormality. The murkiness of my past... of that first day in Equestria. I had lost all pretense of places and things. All that remained was my feelings. There was such warmth in that memory it could only have been kindness and love. What else could calm me so sweetly as those emotions? Not the delicate rainfall of sadness, nor the rocking ebbs of serenity. It had to be love... it had to be Celestia's kindness. Yet the more I reasoned the hotter my limp hip became. Warmth. It was where my father stuck me years ago. I remember that I had hurt him, yet I did not know how. I only asked him if I would remember mother like I remembered him... In hindsight I can see why this could... could upset him. I didn't know my mother's magic. Back then, I didn't know what magic was. I was told that magic was a tool that cruel creatures used. Yet knowing this conflicted with what I knew of my parents. They were always rather forthcoming with their magical use, even training me without issue. Maybe they did that to shield me from the unknown as a kid. The oppressive look on my father's phantom disagreed, and the searing pain from my hip helped to cement his wisdom. Everything about my past felt wrong, his gazed assured me it was. I could hear its whispers creeping into me. It ringed within my temples with words as true as ever. "Till the soil of its-weeds. Sow the-seeds." It said to me. I Remembered. My grandfather would always use that phase. It was his motto for everything. Unruliness in the commonwealth? Till the weeds. Not enough food to feed the people? Sow the seeds. Dragons are attacking at noon? Till the weeds, then you shall sow the seeds. Come to think if it the phrase was rather versatile. With so many meanings to his phrase no wonder King Din preferred my father as ruler. The glaring teeth of the phantom shook me from my thoughts. I was onto something. I was remembering things long past my creation, and by the growing smirk I could tell this is what it sought. How he had judged others with either capricious malice, or wistful empathy, now it defined him. Criterion, my father's father. He had passed long before my birth. Father never spoke of him, mother only hinted at his existance. From what I remembered my grandfather never respected my father, but he trusted him enough to give him his crown. What my uncle had done surely couldn't have costed him his birthright, his very family. He had hurt mother, that was true. He had threaten to take his kingdom back by force, that was also true. Yet when mother was hurt, he dropped his sword, he surrendered... didn't he? The ever glooming eyes of the phantom knew as well as I. This was not true. The narrowing of its deathly gaze shook my thoughts off of the distant, and to its origin. The unicorn from the alley. He had whispered the same phrase, and I had thought nothing of it.

In The Company of The Sun

Song: Our Domain

[Sirens together] You ask us where we are from, Yet you know quite well Our kingdom is under snow sun scorned, desolate and dreary~ Yet the fire in you eye shows you're not weary~ So, sure we will explain~ to you prince our domain~ We are the frog within your throat, the budding rhythm in a joke a serenade for the snow even in its bitter glow [Aria] We are the ire of his desire [Adagio] The lament of his repent [Sonata] The sullen. sheepish. secret. [Sirens together] Everyone keeps. But to you prince We're just a lock to your key. You've got whispers all round you. We've heard the rumors all about you. Yet, your training keeps you all the~ naive. You've got friends in low and high places Yet you still can't place their faces, yes We know you can see- yet it's all just a big blur~ We are the frog within your throat The budding rhythm in a joke A serenade for the eternal snow, even in its bitter glow [Adagio] Even though he will not show [Aria] We are the ire of his desire [Adagio] the lament of his repent [Sonata] the sullen. sheepish. secret. [Sirens together] everyone keeps.

Luna's Student

pre

"Who are you!" I shouted, or at least that's what I meant to shout, the scotch tape over my mouth made it come out more like, "Whooph phar phew!" The creature just doubled over laughing; I took the time while it was distracted to tear the scotch tape off my mouth. "Who are you and what did you do with Luna!?" With the scotch tape no longer in the way, my discourse was much more articulate. Unfortunately, it seems I would have to wait a bit for a reply, she didn't seem to be finished laughing at her juvenile gag. I mean it may have sounded familiar and nice, but I was still getting tired of it. Eventually she stopped, "I have done nothing to her; Take a good look at me. Don't you recognize me my student? MAYBE THIS WILL HELP YOU REMEMBER!" I had to cover my ears from the sheer pain that voice produced, but it also brought to mind the only person who generally used such a thing. I still needed a little more proof; anyone with a fair bit of magic could use the Royal Voice and this one was an Alicorn to boot. "Really, like I'm going to believe that. Tell me something only Luna would know." She looked thoughtful, honestly she was rather convincing, if this wasn't Luna than I was in some freaking trouble. It's likely that at the rate she was going I would end up believing her and she would be able to trick me into helping her. However, so far she hadn't attacked me and was acting just like Luna, but it was still worrying me, I needed more proof. "Oh, I believe I have just the thing." She walked over to me and I stood prepared for an attack, pushing magic into my horn, but she stopped right next to me and began to whisper into my ear. The accumulated magic in my horn guttered out. Back when I was only ten years old, and had only been Luna's apprentice for four years, I was sometimes given a night off from my studies. Often on these nights I was forced outside to go and play, I actually rather enjoyed reading. I didn't mind much though. Diamond unfortunately wasn't available to play now; it was too late in the day. So I was outside in the garden with absolutely nothing to do. So I just began to gallop around, looking up at the stars. It was exhilarating, the feeling of freedom from my troubles for just a short while, but I really should have paid the ground more attention; it likely would have saved me a lot of trouble. I tripped over a hole near one of the trees. Like many of the other times that this has happened to me, that wasn't the end of it. A vine hanging off a nearby tree got in my way as I tripped, the other end of which had somehow become attached to a stick in the ground. I must have had more momentum than I thought because the vine ended up firing me out of it like I was an arrow. Seriously, that one moment completely defied physics, but I'm kind of used to that sort of thing. When I finally landed, I was on top of the flagpole in front of the castle. This was a fairly embarrassing position for me to be in, especially because it would likely taking me awhile to get down. I was just glad that nopony else was around to see this. That was when I heard giggling below me. Looking down, I saw Luna lying on her back laughing at my expense. I was fairly embarrassed about it, especially when I realized that my fur was covered in bramble. At least it was only my teacher who saw me, I wonder if she had been involved at all, I wouldn't put it past her. I began to blush, that was one memory I thought I'd never have to relive again. It may not have been the most embarrassing of my little tales, but it was at one that no one else would know about. "So it really is you teacher?" She nodded, but there was still one thing I was confused about, "Why do you look so different?" I knew it had to be Luna, she knew about the memory and the scotch tape gag was just pure Luna. Honestly, in a lot of ways it was pure me too; I'd need to get her back for that. "It has been a thousand years you know, Alicorns such as I do mature," Now that I had time to look and more light from Luna's light ball, I could find several traces of my teacher, her coat and horn were actually more of a dark blue than the black I had thought them to be and as I said earlier her magic and bearing still appeared the same, "I just happened to hit my next growth period while I was on the moon." "Wait, what were you doing on the moon!?" I was surprised, why would she have left me just to visit the moon, particularly for a thousand years. I mean even if she had, there was no reason for her not to take me with her. I've been there before anyway. "I was in exile," She seemed surprised by my outburst; I was surprised that she had been put in exile, "Where did you think I had gone; to buy a bottle of milk?" "I had no idea, all I knew was that one day you left and didn't return until tonight. I've been waiting for you to return since you left." I was concerned about this. Who would, let alone could, put my teacher into exile? My teacher interrupted my thoughts, "That reminds me, not to sound like I didn't miss you, because I did, but how is it you are still alive?" I was flabbergasted; I hadn't planned to hold it against her, but did this mean that she hadn't even know about that portion of the spell. Something was wrong here. "I was placed in stone by The Spell, I've was trapped in there until you returned." "What! Who placed you in such a state!?" Seriously, either she was the greatest actor in Equastria or she truly did not know about that part of the spell. Since I knew all her tells, my teacher hadn't been able to lie to me for quite a long time. Which really made no sense; I mean why would Celestia know about it, but not Luna? "I don't who cast the spell, but they are long dead anyway, but do you remember the spell that was cast on Diamond and myself when we foals," She nodded, "Well turns out one of its functions is to place the student in stone should the teacher be unable to perform her duties." She looked shocked, which led me to believe that she had no part in that portion of the spell, but just to make sure... "Teacher, would you give me a Pie Promise that you had no part in the creation of the stone portion of the spell?" I knew I might be pushing it a bit, but I had to be sure. "Of course! I would never do such a thing," I think she might have felt a little cross at my accusation, but she did the promise anyway, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eyOWWW!" Like everybody else, she had poked herself in the eye. Maybe I could find a way to redesign the ritual a little, just enough so that when it was performed, people didn't leave with so many eye problems. "Thank you teacher, that really takes a load off my mind, you have no idea what it is like to be placed in stone for that long; being able to see the world, but not interact with it. To learn about someone while they knew nothing about you and one day realize that the person would never come back." I suddenly broke, I must have been running on the adrenalin from trying to find my teacher. Now that I had actually found her, it was like a dam had broken and all my emotions from the last thousand years just flooded out. I began to cry, I know it isn't something that males are supposed to do, but I'm not ashamed of it. I felt myself encircled in a hug, I hugged back. "Student, Dawn, believe me I would never dream that I know the full extent of what you have felt, but I do know that I will be willing to listen to anything that you wish to tell me. I have also seen loved ones die, but I have never known people who have never known me. I am truly sorry that you had to live through such a thing." My crying just increased, I don't know how I hadn't realized all this right after my release, but it all came out now. For at least a few minutes, but it felt like hours, I just cried into my teachers embrace. Soon enough, my feelings just stopped and I backed away. "I'm sorry about that." "There is no need to be, I am glad that I was able to help you. You are my student, which means that I help you learn about many more things than just magic." She would never know how truly grateful I was for her. My eyes were still puffy from all the crying, and I felt emotionally spent, but there was still one more thing I needed to ask before I went and took a nap. "Who exiled you?" "Well that certainly came out of left field, but if you must know it was my sister." When she said that I felt both the tiredness and sadness fly away from me, it seems that there hadn't been enough fuel on the fire yet. My anger might be slow to come, but when it did it erupted like a volcano and I had a thousand years to stew on it. I was more than ready to erupt. "Why would your own sister exile you to the moon!?" "I really do not wish to talk about it; it was an entirely ridiculous reason in any case." That didn't really help me feel any better, but I believed my teacher. At the very least I now had a much larger target on Celestia, she deserved quite a bit for her transgressions. Luna must have seen the look on my face because gave me a grin, "I've been working on a plan to get back at Celestia for her part in my exile, would you like to help?" Did she really need to ask? "Of course." My voice was rather flat, I was having difficulty keeping my anger in check, but with Luna's help this would be fun. Luna trotted over to me and began to whisper in my ear. My anger levels began to drop and a devious smile appeared on my lips. Luna had backed away after finishing her explanation, the same smile upon her lips. This was going to be glorious! But first I'm going to take a nap.

Luna's Student

Elements of a Good Prank

Disclaimer: Hello to all, I would just like to say that I do not own any characters within the story; they all belong to Hasbro and Lauren Faust. Dawn waved his hands if front of the Dislaimer's nonexistent face, "Hey what about me?" Oh right, all OC's including Dawn Pie are owned by the author. "That's better." It was hard! I know I said that it would be glorious; well that was before I fully realized what the plan entailed. The first part of the plan involves me going into a several millennia old dungeon to find a set of millennium old artifacts known as the Elements of Harmony; whatever they are. I didn't have enough time to ask her about what they looked like or anything. All I know is that they are going to be the power force for our little plan. I did have time to find out a little bit more about why Luna had been in the dungeon, even if it didn't make that much sense. "So Luna, why are you here?" "Well a couple billion years ago my parents decided that they wanted to have a second child... " I should have known, never give Luna a lead. "You know what I mean Luna," I could hear my exasperation leaking into my voice, "Why are you here in this dungeon." I punctuated my point by pounding my hoof against the floor. She sighed, "I just know that I'm going to be getting a lecture for this," It feels good to know that I can frighten millennia old beings, "to tell the truth it's all part of the prank. When I first returned to Equestria, I was planning to reintroduce myself into the community starting with a small town called Ponyville. It appeared to be small enough for me to use it as a test run to see how larger places would react to me. Strangely, my sister had decided to come to the same town and we got into an argument." Luna actually looked a little hurt when she said that, like she couldn't believe it had happened; well that was another tick against Celestia. "What were you arguing about Luna?" I was curious; I hadn't seen them arguing before, generally they hid it fairly well. "She was telling me that I should still be on the moon; that my exile wasn't over yet. I didn't think that I should have been up there in the first place. We couldn't reach an agreement and she left in a huff." Luna seemed sad that it had to go that way, Celestia really was trying me. Even a thousand years later she couldn't be nice to Luna. "However, during our argument she let slip that she had promised a 'Royal Presence' in the town of Ponyville for Summer Solstice and since I'm the only other Royal around I believed it was my duty to take over the position for my sister." She looked proud of her decision, not that I could really understand why, "However, upon my appearance a purple Unicorn stood out from the crowd and screamed that I was 'Nightmare Moon'" She paused for a breath; it was interesting that the only purple Unicorn I knew was Twilight and that she had been in Ponyville; well it wasn't conclusive evidence yet. "You remember the tale of 'Nightmare Moon' don't you?" Of course I remembered that tale; it was one of my favorite from when I was a foal. The book was actually titled the Mare in the Moon. It was the story about a mystical pony that was sent to the moon for a thousand years because she wanted to bring about some vague evil plan; many ponies believed she wanted to bring about eternal night. She later returned to Equestria to try again a thousand years later; where she is defeated by a set of six magical artifacts. It was also complete hogwash; Luna had written the thing in her spare time and I was the one who came up with the name of 'Nightmare Moon' for the rewrite. What kind of name did you expect out of a foal? "Yes I remember the tale quite well." "That makes this easier; that story has seemingly become something of a myth rather than the foal's tale it used to be. Since I'm a prankster at heart and my greeting had already gone down the toilet, what with everypony running around in a panic, I decided to go along with the story." That was one of the least intelligent things I can remember my teacher ever doing and she's had some doozies. I must have displayed my feeling on my face because Luna decided to roll her eyes and continue. "Unfortunately, it seems that some people can't take a joke; they followed me into the forest. I tried dissuading them with a few harmless pranks, but they just ignored them and kept following me. Since I couldn't get rid of them, I added them to my plan; it is in fact one hundred percent more interesting now." This whole thing sounded like the comedy of errors that usually only happened to me. I had to wonder why people always jump to the oddest conclusions. Right after that she had informed me that I needed to go and retrieve the Elements of Harmony while she distracted what seemed to be Twilight's group. She was purple Unicorn and I had already seen her in the forest; it just seemed logical. I felt pretty bad about this, but my need for revenge against Celestia overrode my other feelings. The first thing I'd need to make on my little trip was to reach a stairwell that Luna had informed me about. If Luna's knowledge of this place was correct, the Elements should be located in a safe at the bottom of the stairs. I didn't have whole lot of time; no matter how good a distraction Luna made, I doubted she'd be able to keep that determined a group busy for too long without keeping them from this place permanently; determination is often the perfect way to overcome magic. I was going to have to hurry, but already I had reached my first obstacle. It was just a simple metal door, but being that I couldn't be sure that whoever had put these Elements down there hadn't put a spell on it, I felt it was better to be safe than sorry. I shaped my magic into the form of a bar and tried to force the door open; the door however, remained unmoved. I forced more power into the spell, trying to brute force my way past whatever spell was on the door. Strangely though I couldn't see a lick of magic on the door; the one who had cast the spell must have been a master at hiding it. The door still refused to be moved; it seemed to be stuck. Since I couldn't see the spell to simply pull it apart, I kept pushing more power into until my spell until I fell over from exhaustion. I couldn't believe that the spell was that powerful; I may not be a power Unicorn, but I can generally force a door open. I closed my eyes to give myself a chance to regain my energy, it wouldn't take too long. A creaking noise caused me to open my eyes in surprise. The first thing I saw was the door swung open, outwards; that was not funny. I could feel my eye twitching up a storm and I felt like breaking something. I didn't have time for though, so I just gathered the few shreds of my shattered dignity that I had left and proceeded to trot towards the open door. My last thought before crossing the threshold was that when I build a house, I'm going to make sure all the door swing both ways. The first thing that I felt when I entered the room was overwhelmed. The sheer power radiating below me was ridiculous. I almost fell over in shock and needed a moment to regain my bearings. Soon though, I noticed the power was actually coming in two distinct flavors; one like a holy shining light and the other like something spawned from a pit of Tarterous, which most ponies simply call Hell or the bad place. The majority of the power felt holy, which I could only hope meant that it wasn't evil. With my luck the holy energy was actually evil and keeping the good evil energy hostage. Well, I wouldn't have to deal with that power for a little bit, but hopefully I'll have a plan once I know a little bit more about it. Now that I wasn't distracted by the sheer overwhelming power hitting me straight in the face, I could take in my surrounding. Honestly, it was in pretty bad shape; the walls were cracked and covered in spider webs; the floor was damp and musty. The only thing that gave the room any feeling of class were the candelabras that covered the walls. The stairs were in the worst shape of all; they looked like they were about to fall apart. Several of the steps were even missing, large gaps were located frequently between the steps. There was absolutely no way I was going to try putting my entire weight on that thing, but unless I did there was no way I was going to be getting down there. This was the only pathway down there, who ever heard of creating a safe room with more than one entrance; it would just be bad architectural decision. So against my better judgment, I was going to have to figure out a way down that stairwell. I took a closer look at the stairwell; now that I was actually looking closer, the gaps appeared much smaller than I had first thought; they appeared crossable if one was very careful. It would be better if I could just fly down, but even if I knew how the lack of lighting from my spell would have made it impossible to see where I was going. I came to the realization that there was one thing I needed to know before I put any more thought into this idea; I needed to see if the steps could even support my weight. I raised my hoof off the ground and put a little bit of my weight onto the first step. I felt the step give way to air and nearly fell forward into the new opening in surprise. I scrambled backwards with my hind less, trying to pull most of weight back onto the platform. I could feel myself falling forward; I was getting closer and closer to the edge, until my tail decided to help out. It grabbed something that I couldn't see and pulled me back onto the platform. I don't want to see any abyss that closely again, it was the second time in one day. I was going to learn how to fly after this, there was no if ands or buts about it; it honestly seemed that it would be a necessity considering how often I seem to be falling into holes. Well simply climbing down the steps was clearly out, there was no way that I could possibly survive the trip. It was time for me to move onto the next option in my arsenal, magic. I had already thrown out my idea of turning myself into a Pegasus, I simply couldn't fly; I could use my magic to create a stairwell, but I doubt that I would be able to hold it long enough to actually reach the bottom floor and falling again didn't seem like the greatest idea. Maybe short term platforms would work instead? No, that would take even more power to create and dispel each one. Teleporting of course wouldn't work because the anti-teleportation barrier was still up. I couldn't think of anything else I knew that would fit this situation; meaning that my magic was useless for this task. Since I wasn't able to come up with any great ideas, I took another look at the stairwell. This time I was looking a little harder for anything that I could use to get down there, something that most ponies would just ignore. There wasn't much there; only a pair of candelabras on the walls every few feet. Actually, I could work with that; it gave me an idea; an utterly stupid, insane, dangerous, and nearly suicidal one, but an idea. I could utilize the candelabra as hoofholds and use myself as a fulcrum; by building up enough momentum I could 'jump' between the candelabra and move all the way down. There was a high likelihood that I would fall, but it was the only option I seemed to have; I know that I just said that I didn't want to see another abyss, but I didn't have many other options. I had seen someone do this before, even if I had never done it myself; she had been one crazy mare. I had been very excited; Luna told me the day before that Diamond and I were going to see something that would be truly exciting. We were going to meet the famous explorer Daring Doo. Personally I always was more of a fan of her Diamond Dog companion Scooby Doo, but you couldn't have everything; maybe I'd get to meet him some other time. Now we were waiting in one of the deepest rooms of the castle, which was often seen as some of the most dangerous places to be; what with all the traps that proliferated it. Apparently, the princesses felt that we should learn how to escape incredibly dangerous traps; I really have no idea what goes through their heads some times. It wasn't long before Daring Doo herself entered the room. She was a tan Pegasus mare; her flank marking of a compass rose always seemed rather common, but so many ponies used it differently; I'd once seen a painter use it to paint gardens perfectly. She was dressed in her famous green vest and white fedora. Honestly, she looked like she had just stepped off a book cover. "Welcome class to Traps 101!" Diamond and I had huge smiles on our faces, how many foals got to meet a living legend, "Today I will be showing you how to escape some of the most dastardly traps ever devised." I had no idea when I would use such knowledge, but she sounded so enthused that I couldn't help but feel my own excitement rise. "The first trap that I'm going to show you is the basic pit trap," She pointed at a bit of floor, how that was a pit I don't know, "these traps are often cleverly disguised by a variety of different materials. When ponies have to make them quickly they most often utilize materials like leaves and twigs to cover it up. When ponies have more time available, they will often utilize magic or stone to hide them instead." We must have looked like we were fading out, not that we were, because she gave a small smile and slammed her hoof against the ground. The sound of rocks falling several meters to the ground shocked us out of any stupor she had thought us to be in. She turned towards us and continued as if nothing had happened, "Now that you've seen how the trap works; you did see that right?" We both nodded our heads, "Good, now that you've seen it go off, it's time I showed you how to escape it." She faced away from us towards the long, but fairly narrow hole in the ground. "There is no way she's going to be able to make that." I whispered to Diamond. I simply couldn't believe that anyone would be willing to do something this dangerous. "Oh really? Ten bits says she makes it." Diamond was smiling at me; whether I won or lost that was worth ten bits. "You're on." We bumped our hooves and turned to watch Daring. She jumped into the air, grabbing the two candelabras that lined the walls and swung herself like a fulcrum, using her momentum to swing onto the next one. She did this again and again. I wasn't ashamed to say that I was flabbergasted by the sight, Diamond just continued to smile. I'd known that she was a famous for her explorations, but I hadn't realized that this was part of her portfolio. When Daring had landed on the other side of the gap she turned towards us. "Now it's your turn!" I fell over onto my side. Diamond turned to look at me. "You owe me ten bits." I still thought that it was a great deal. That was one of my better memories, but I can't stay in the past for too long. It was time to do run with this idea before my brain decided it would overwhelm my gut. I jumped off the ground with as much force as I could muster, pushing both of my fore hooves out sideways to grab hold of the two candelabra. For a second I felt like I had missed them before I felt the sudden impact; it was a lot stronger than I thought it was going to be. It almost felt like my shoulder had been dragged out of alignment, but I needed to continue. I pushed my back-hooves forward and backwards, setting myself to swinging. Once I felt that I had enough momentum I pushed down and back, forcing my body to fly forward to the next one. The force was again incredibly jarring; I'd be in a lot of pain tomorrow. It was almost enough to make me want to head back, but even if I had wanted to I couldn't do that; the only reason I was still going forward at this point was my determination to reach the bottom. Well that and the fact that the stairwell only went down. I swung myself through three more jumps. I was about to start my fourth jump when I heard the sound of metal straining...that was not good. The candelabrum holding up my left hoof was starting pull away from the wall; I felt fear grip my heart. I simply didn't have enough time to make my next jump. After a thousand years in stone, and several near death experiences, I was going to die because I was collecting an artifact for a prank. I tried to force the candelabra back into place with my hoof, but it didn't have any noticeable effect. I tried my magic, but I couldn't make it wrap around it; my fear was making it hard to concentrate. I heard a final crack and could only watch as it began its descent. I had less than a second to try and save myself. I focused all my attention on my horn, trying to force the candelabra back into position; but it still failed. I could feel as it fell off my hoof and wait to join its descent. Strangely though, I didn't feel any of things that I tended to associate with falling; there was no wind rushing past me or my stomach floating into my throat. In fact it didn't feel like I was moving at all. I released a bit of focus from my horn and tried to take in what was going on around me. I didn't seem to be falling; in fact I seemed to be in the same position that I had been when I had first begun to fall, excepting the fact that only one of my arms was on a candelabra. This was really rather strange. I could still feel myself sitting on top of something, so I took a quick look below me. I have to say it again, this is really strange. I was sitting on top of a floating candelabrum; I just can't believe it, I'm sitting on top of a candelabra. This made absolutely no sense, this kind of things just... not going to say it, I know my luck; coincidences like this only work when I don't question them. I'm not going to look this gift tree in its branches. Well, now I just have to see if I can move forward or if it just lets me float in place. I pushed my hoof against the wall and could feel myself moving forward; this was absolutely perfect. Now I just had to ride this thing, I felt a lot safer now; even if I still had no idea how it worked. I also felt like my flank was going to hurt something awful in the morning, candelabras did not make comfortable seats. I pushed my hoof against the wall again, moving myself forward and down a little. I did this every time I lost momentum. I only had a little control over this trip; once I had given it momentum I wasn't able to change direction until it ran out. A short while later, I heard a click behind me; I was still moving forward so I wasn't able to take a look behind me just yet, but as soon as I stopped I turned my head to look behind me; I did not like what I was. The bit of wall that I had just passed had slid out and blocked any possibility of using this as the way back; not that I had ever really held it as likely that this would be the way that I escaped. It was rather disconcerting though; I didn't even have any possible escape routes left. I decided to ignore the thought for the moment and instead focus on simply getting to the bottom. Once I had retrieved the Elements, I could worry about how I was going to escape. About ten minutes later, I had reached the lowest level. I was honestly glad that I finally got down here, I'm not sure my flank could have handled any more of riding on that floating disaster. I quickly dismounted my makeshift ride and watched as it fell to ground and broke apart; I was glad that hadn't happened while I was riding it. I really have no idea what had been holding it up, my own horn had remained almost entirely unutilized; I was only using enough power to keep my lighting spell active. Now that I was down here, both that holy power and the dark power I had felt earlier were magnified a thousand fold. It seemed that I would need to get past one or the other to reach my goal; one of them had to be the elements. I took a look around the room that I was in; just like when I was upstairs the walls were cracked and the floor was wet. It was even worse down here; the lack of flowing air meant that the smells had been trapped down here, it smelt like rotting bodies. Overall the room was a mess and looked fairly uniform in design. The only spot that appeared any different from the others was the door. It stood in stark contrast to the rest of the room, both because it was made of a heavy metal and because it seemed to have easily withstood the tests of time. I could feel the dark power flowing in large waves from right behind it; the sheer amount was overwhelming me. I needed to go in there, the holy power that I was looking for was also behind that door, but I wasn't going in there without preparing myself first. I was determined, not a dullard. I would be the first to admit that I'm not a combat expert; it wasn't one of the lessons taught to me, but one doesn't live for long in the world of the aristocrat or the princess's student without gaining at least a few combat related spells, mainly to deal with the sheer number of assassination attempts. I'd focused on defense, mostly to give me enough time to cast those few attack spells that I knew or to sound the alarm. The one that I had spent the most time on was a rather specialized shield, it could stop most physical attacks and magical attacks for at least a few minutes, but it took a quite a while to cast and couldn't exactly be instantly cast. I usually prepared a few in the form of amulets and kept them on my person, but I hadn't had any on me when I'd been turned to stone. Luckily, I did have the time to cast it now; there was good possiblity that I would need it. I began to cast the spell, imagining the spells shape in my mind and drawing its form around me. I tried to place as much power into it as I could spare; I would be in need of rest for a few minutes, but I'd rather that then die because it decided to disappear too early. With a large flash of light I finished the shield and held it in place, then fell to ground. It was essentially going to use the power I put into it to block attacks, I was only going to feel a minor drain on my personal power. I rested for a few minutes to regain the power I had put into that spell, I wanted to be in the best shape I could be for what was likely to be the fight of my life. I wasn't going to say that I wasn't scared and that I didn't feel stupid for doing all this for what essentially amounted to a prank, but I was going to do it anyway; I had come too far to turn back at this point and even had I wanted to turn back, the way back was still blocked. I got up from the ground and pushed open the metal door, I was lucky that this one seemed to go inwards like I had thought. I was tense, prepared for something to come out and attack me. The dark power was flowing throughout the walls of the room; even the air felt dark. I stood in the door way for a minute, but nothing happened. The room remained silent; the only thing in the room beside me was a wooden doorway, behind which I could feel the holy power. What was going on here? The dark power was just sitting there, doing nothing; maybe it was waiting for a trigger? Well hopefully it would remain that way. I took a cautious step forward, preparing for something to simply pop out of the wall. Still nothing was happening, this was pulling on my nerves more than if something had happened. I took another cautious step forward, still nothing; another, still nothing. Soon enough I realized that nothing seemed to be happening and began to trot cautiously towards the other door, soon reaching it. My nerves were as taut as a bowstring about to fire. I slowly and cautiously reached out with a hoof to open the door; I felt it prudent to keep my magic available to me. I moved my hoof closer, closer, until I touched it. The room began to shake violently and my tail began to straining to pull me to the right. I could feel dark power building up behind me and followed the advice that my tail was providing me. I dodged to the left, my tail always pointed the wrong way when I was in danger; it let me use it like a spring to move faster in the opposing direction. I felt something pass me by, the feeling of air passing right next to me was chilling; if I had been even a second slower... I felt my tail pulling me to the left this time, so I began jumping to my right; I didn't make it this time and the creature ran straight into my shield. For a couple of seconds I was disorientated, but soon I could feel myself bouncing into one of the walls only to bounce off of it into another like I was a pony-pinball. It didn't take long for the momentum to bleed out from the attack, but it still felt like I had been put through a blender. My shield was in much worse shape; it had kept me safe, but it didn't look like it would survive another hit; it was shining a bright red. My tail pointed downward, I quickly jumped upward dodging whatever had been attacking me by mere centimeters. I heard a loud crack as it hit the wall and heard the common poofing sound that comes when something is dispelled. Whatever that thing had been, it wasn't the main body; which was absolutely terrifying. Anything that could create copies of itself that could deal that much damage...I really needed time to plan. I began rushing towards the door I had entered from, hoping that maybe I could use the heavy metal door to protect myself for a few minutes while I figured out what I could do to stop this. I felt the darkness coalescing into a new creature; I forced myself to move faster. I could feel the creature getting closer and closer to me; I wouldn't be able to outrun it. I thought about turning around and facing the thing head on, but my tail decided that it would be more helpful if I kept moving forward. It pulled itself far back behind me, somehow without slowing me down at all, and bounced back into me sending me flying through the doorway like a bullet. Sadly, this still left me in the line of danger, the door was still open and the creature hadn't stopped to admire the flowers. I turned around, planning on closing the door only to see the creature almost on top of me. Its sharp teeth in a beak like maw; all of which was on top of a black bipedal puppet creature. From each of its limbs a black string hung upwards. Right before it reached me it hit something, a glass like energy plate appeared between me and the creature; causing it to become a black cloud of dark energy. I couldn't help but give a sigh in relief and then give the creature a raspberry. That moment of jollity was short lived, the adrenaline wore off; I was forced to sit down. That was close; the worst part was that I recognized what those things were. They were Shadow Puppets, which meant I was up against a Shadow Master. They weren't the worst creature you could call up from the depths, but that didn't mean that it wasn't a huge danger to ponies. I remember learning about these creatures. Luna had informed me that today she would be busy so Diamond and I would have a substitute teacher. Apparently that teacher was this green Earth Pony with a flank mark of a shadow creature. On the chalkboard next to him I could see a picture of the shadow puppets and something next to that looked like nothing more than an amorphous blob. "Hello class and welcome to Dark Creature to Avoid 101. My name is Dodgem and I'll be your substitute teacher for the day." He grabbed a stick with his tail and pointed at the shadow puppet. "Do you know what this creature is?" "It's a Shadow Puppet," Diamond always had been better than me at recognizing creatures; I'd never really found a strong interest in them. Contrary to popular belief, dark creatures liked the day just as much as any other pony. "That's right Diamond, they are Shadow Puppets. They are dangerous creatures that are often called up as minions by some Unicorns and should be avoided. They are imbued with tremendous physical strength, but lack any form of intelligence, requiring a master to lead them. In addition, they lack the ability of true sigh, only really seeing the magical spectrum." He pointed towards the amorphous blob, "Do you recognize this other creature?" We both shook our heads. I still couldn't think of it as anything more than a Rorschach test. "Well that's understandable; it doesn't actually have any set shape. They are known as Shadow Masters, creatures that create the Shadow Puppets and most often they take the shape of wherever they are. Often this means that they simply permeate the room that they inhabit. Of course they are also quite rare; the amount of sheer power and control needed to bring one into existence is nearly astronomical. Controlling them is almost entirely out of the question." Honestly I think they sound kind of cool, but I wouldn't want to run into one without a lot of protection. "So how do you get rid of them?" I questioned. "Ponies have been pondering that for years now, but unfortunately it seems that normal pony magic isn't enough to remove them; you need holy power." Well that explains why the entire room felt like it was suffused with dark energy; it was because it was suffused with dark energy. The memory didn't really help me get rid of this thing though; I didn't know any holy spells or have any useful artifacts on hoof. I'd need to think of something else. Luckily, it seemed I'd get at least more than few minutes out here; that shield was holding back the Puppets no matter how many were sent against me. Although I can't say that I found the poofing sound comforting. Even if I copied my aura, I was doubtful that all of them would go chase it. I may have to chance it though; I needed to get those Elements. Wait it couldn't be that simple could it? The Elements seemed to be releasing holy energy; I could feel it all the way over here, but it seemed to be trapped behind that door for some reason. If I could get some of the Shadow Puppets to knock it down, maybe the energy would escape and get rid of the Shadow Master. Well it was worth a shot anyway; I had learned an aura copying spell when Diamond and I dared each other to learn the most useless spell we could find. If this worked, I'd owe Diamond a set of designer dresses. Oh right, she was dead; that was honestly a depressing thought, maybe I'd get them for Twilight instead. I'd have to come back to those thoughts later; they were using up my focus and I'm going to need all my focus to make this spell work. The reason why I'd chosen it as my most useless spell was because it took a lot of preparation time, even more than my shield, for an effect that was rather pointless; most creatures searched by scent and couldn't even see magic. It was also a spell that would be more difficult for me; it was actually more a Power spell than a control spell. This was probably one of the only times in which it would be useful; well I could hope anyway. I pushed the magic into my horn; making it glow brighter and brighter until eventually I had stored enough power into it for the spell. Holding that power was beginning to put a strain on me, but I continued regardless. I forced the spell to take the right shape and to move across the room. My vision was beginning to swim, but I still had enough control to launch the spell. A feeling of relief spread outward from my horn to the rest of my body; the relief of releasing that spell was incredible. Like I said that spell was huge drain on my resources; I wouldn't be able to cast high cost spell like that again until at least tomorrow. My vision slowly came back into focus and I could see that my amazingly unintelligent plan was amazingly working perfectly. At least half of the Shadow Puppets that were trying to break down the shield turned around and ran back towards the other doorway. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the Shadow Master's strings trying to pull it back towards me, but the physical power and interest of the mindless creature was stronger than the Shadow Master's coercion. The closer the puppets got to the door, the more pull the Shadow Master seemed to be putting into his resistance. To my dismay he managed to stop most of them before they got anywhere close to the door. This could be a problem. Out of the corner of my eye I saw one more of the Puppets. Bad for him and luckily for me, it seemed that one of them was still free and was running towards the doorway. Unfortunately, it seemed that the Shadow Master had also caught sight of it and had sent one of his dark strings to grab it. The Shadow Puppet had almost reached my other aura and also the door; this was it, hopefully this would work. The Master's string reached it at that instant and began to pull it away as hard as it could. I could only hope it wasn't enough, I needed the Puppet to break down that door, otherwise I doubt I'd be able to survive much longer; that shield didn't look like it was going to last forever. Time seemed to slow down as the Puppet got closer and closer, centimeter by centimeter. The Master's string was pulled taught. The Puppet was beginning to slow down; it was beginning to look like I was going to have to come up with another plan when I heard an audible snap; which was soon followed by the crack of the door. Snap? Neither magic nor dark energy goes snap, but it seems that in this case it does. Maybe it was because it had been a magical string? Well that was another question to add to that long mental list I had been accumulating since I had been released. It seemed that I had won; a bright white light was coming out of the room, causing all of the Shadow Puppets to disintegrate and the Shadow Master to disappear with a terrified scream. With my luck that won't be the last time I see that guy; if it was a guy nobody had ever told me if Shadow Masters had genders. Unfortunately, the white light also had the side-effect of blinding me and making me see stars. Honestly, they were rather pretty; mostly being of a white and purple color. A few minutes later, my vision was again clear and the room felt empty of the dark energy that had filled it earlier. I was still slightly amazed that my plan had worked at all; it had such a low chance of success. Even though I didn't feel any remnants of the dark energy from earlier, I still thought it prudent to trot cautiously; whoever had put that creature in here may have been smart enough to put in another one or some other form of trap. I just felt that it was better to be safe than sorry. I took my steps slowly, cautiously watching the ground to watch for tripwires or such; however, nothing happened. Apparently, I read too many adventure novels. Nothing else could go... not going to think it, I know that will make something go wrong. My luck will take it as a challenge; I am not going to think that nothing else will go wrong. BUCK! Well I'd just have to deal with what was going to happen when it came. First though I needed to collect those elements, I trotted through the doorway. This room was absolutely stunning; there was no way this thing should be in a place like this. The entire room appeared to be made from solid white marble stone that reflected the light of my spell throughout it; carved with beautiful reliefs. It had been shined so well; I could literally see my reflection in the floor. Beautiful murals were painted onto the walls, depicting scenes of pony life long past; it was an archeologist's dream. However, the most amazing piece of the room was in the far back; set into a small alcove on its own was a raised dais, in which indentation held seven large colorful ball-like gemstones in a circle, with one in the center. They seemed to glow with holy power; there was no questioning it, these were the Elements. Strangely, they reminded me greatly of the pictures I had seen in the mare of the moon story. I trotted closer, I was going to take these Elements from their resting place; somehow that made me feel like a grave robber. As I got closer the colors became more distinct: orange, yellow, blue, pink, white, and purple. I quickly grabbed the six of them and put them into the saddlebag I had been carrying around to hold them. I didn't touch the seventh one in the center yet; there was just something about it that made me want to watch it, it seemed to be changing colors. Quickly switching between a pink and blue; it was mesmerizing and I couldn't turn away. Luckily for me, my tail doesn't often listen to my brain; it hit me in the flank knocking my head into the ground. That brought me back from my stupor and making sure not to look directly at it; I placed it with the others. The second that it joined the other six, a bright rainbow light was released from within the bag; very different from the white holy energy they had released earlier. It was causing me a huge pain in my retinas, almost like it was trying to burn something into it. That pain began to spread outwards; it felt even worse than when I'd failed my teleportation. I had no idea what was going on, I was both blinded and in extreme pain. Soon I couldn't even feel that, I blacked out. When I woke up I still had no idea what had happened. My lighting spell had gone out; which wasn't a surprise, without me awake to provide it power, it must have fallen apart quickly. I was still fairly disoriented, but I took a look around the room to gain an understanding of where I was. The first thing I noticed was that it looked very similar to the room I had just been in, but everything was made out of a slate grey stone. Pillars lined the edges of the room; apparently holding the roof up and an open door at one end of the room led out into a dark forest. The world seemed to go out of focus again and when it came back into focus nothing about the room had been changed, but a few thing had been added. Luna was sitting on the dais at one end of the room, which didn't make any sense whatsoever, five of the seven gemstones I believe to be the Elements of Harmony were laying a few feet away from her, right in front of...Twilight Sparkle? What in the world was she doing here? Shouldn't Luna still being delaying her or at least her companions should be here with her? Then again, this place didn't exactly seem real; it felt like someone had tried to create a copy of the real world and only got semi-close. I have no idea what it was supposed to be, but before I could begin to think about it Twilight began to yell at Luna. "I will never allow you to bring about eternal night!" Her face was displaying a look of determination. I was confused about why she hadn't mentioned me at all, as I was standing well within their lines of sight, but I just put it down to the unreality of this scene. I mean why should the unreal see the real? "Oh? And how do you propose to stop me? Your friends are trapped outside, and you are trapped in here; with me!" Luna was usually a good actor, but like I'd said before I could see her tells, she wasn't acting. Why would Luna want to bring eternal night? She didn't actually get anything out of it except lectures; specifically from me. At least she told me why Twilight was all alone; it didn't explain much about the scene, but it was nice to know. "I'll use the Elements of Harmony! All it will take is a spark!" Twilight began to charge power into her horn. Luna just watched on laughing; a far lower and darker laugh than any of her usual joking imitation. There was absolutely no way that this could be my teacher, she would never act like this; not even if she had been threatened, it just went against her nature. She was a prankster, she had rules. Twilight released the spark she had built up and hit all five of the Elements of Harmony. They flashed with a black light, worrying me. I may have only seen it release their energy twice, but it had been either white or a rainbow; seeing it dark seemed rather bad. The beam of dark energy, littered with different shades of black, flew from the Elements towards Luna; who appeared utterly shocked by their appearance. Twilight just had a small smirk on her face; I wonder what she was thinking at that moment. I tried to run in front of the energy headed for Luna, but it passed right through me; hitting Luna straight on. I watched as her body was gruesomely warped, flesh falling off in droves. By the end she looked more like skeletal pony than a flesh and blood one. I could see that Twilight's smirk had shifted into a look of shock; which was understandable given what she had just seen. It seemed that all of the energy hadn't been expended; it bounced off of Luna and headed back towards Twilight, who had been gaping at the scene, seemingly not having expected what had happened to Luna or the energy to bounce back. I knew it was unlikely to do anything, but I placed myself in front of her to try and stop the beam from hitting her, but it again passed right through me. I could only watch as the energy hit Twilight and changed her into a gruesome pile of flesh and blood. I couldn't stand to look at it and closed my eyes as quickly as I could. I felt the need to heave, but couldn't seem to actually do it. "Wake...Dawn" I heard something say, "Wake..u..Dawn." "DAWN WAKE UP!" I opened my eyes wide, not really focusing on much of anything; just glad to be out of there. My heart felt like it was beating a mile a minute and I was sweating like I had just run a marathon. I wasn't really able to think about anything, fear and horror was simply overwhelming me. No I do not have any idea who is explaining this part. I began to hear a buzzing sound; I couldn't really make out what the sound was supposed to be, but it brought me back into the real world. Soon I realized that I wasn't in that horrible scene anymore and began to calm down; my heart rate and breathing began to return to normal. I soon realized that the buzzing noise I had been hearing was actually somepony speaking to me. "Dawn are you alright?" Luna was giving me a concerned look. Now that I wasn't locked in my own head, I could feel Luna's hoof on me. "I think... I think I'm alright." I wasn't yet completely back to normal, but I still felt a lot better than I had a few minutes ago. Still what in the world had that been. The last thing I remembered before ending up in that strange place was a blinding rainbow light hitting me. What was that anyway? Was it a vision of the future, a possible future? Maybe it was a glimpse into a different dimension in which something had gone wrong? Or maybe it had just been a dream created by all that energy hitting me at once. "How did I get here anyway?" I really was curious about this part, especially with the anti-teleportation barrier still being in place. "I honestly have no idea; I've never seen anything like it. A stream of energy seemed to come from nowhere, and eventually you just reformed in here." That was honestly rather worrying; she had several millennia of experience and had never seen this, which meant that I don't know if there were any side-effects for traveling that way; maybe what I had seen had been a side effect of that. All I knew is that I never wanted to do something like that again. "I'm just glad you're alright, I wouldn't have sent you to retrieve the Elements if I had thought anything like this would happen." She looked very concerned. I felt very touched to have such a concerned teacher. That reminded me, "Speaking of the Elements, I got them." Utilizing my magic, I pulled the saddle-bag off my back and spilled its contents onto the floor. "That's strange, there were seven earlier, why are there only five now?" "Did you say seven?" Luna was giving me a rather strange look, "At most there should have only been six and generally only five." I hadn't known that, wonder why that was. I mean there were placed for all seven of them down there in the safe, that would mean they would need to know that there were seven right? "Is that a problem teacher?" "Hmm, it shouldn't be a problem for us right now, but I've never heard of them having a seventh in the set." That was not good, two times in the same conversation she hadn't known what was going on, "Well it doesn't matter; we have all that we need for our plan." I was still worried, not that I didn't trust my teacher's judgment, but she hadn't seen what I had. For a moment I considered telling her about it, but somehow it felt like something that should be discussed later. It was like some little voice was telling me that this wasn't the right time for it. There was one last thing I did want to make sure Luna knew though. "Just one thing, don't let them use a magic spark on these things; I don't think we'd like the results." Luna looked at me quizzically, but somehow I knew that I had just changed what could have been a horrible outcome into a much more ridiculous one. Now that we had all the parts for our little prank we were almost ready to go. Luna had spent the time while I was retrieving the Elements on putting together everything else. The first part of our master plan was to gather power from the Elements of Harmony; for which we needed to get Twilight and her companions to hit the energy redirection unit. We would than utilize that energy to fire an Entropy Cannon at Celestia. The reason that Luna and I wouldn't be able to provide the power by ourselves was that we were both control Unicorns, we simply didn't have enough magical energy to cast a spell that took that much energy and still overpower Celestia; the spell simply couldn't be designed in a way to worm its way through her shield. I still remember the day that Luna first taught me about them; they are incredible, if hard to use, magic. I had thought my teacher to be a little strange, but this really took the cake. Apparently tonight we were taking a break from learning about magic or athletics, in order to learn something that my teacher believed was more interesting. We were in a cave in the Hideway Hills, just outside the Royal City, that other ponies rarely set foot in. My good night vision was serving me well; I could see all of the little holes and things that most ponies would have fallen into. However, the cave that Luna was leading me deeper into really lacked something; namely room to stand in. The passageway inside was so very narrow; Luna and I walking in a line could barely fit. Eventually we reached the end of the cave; it was full of all kinds of stuff, from the benign to the explosive. At the time I had no idea what all of it was for or why Luna would have all this dangerous stuff around her. It seemed like it would be a huge problem. "Student, today we will be doing something fun." She was smiling at me; unfortunately it was one of those creepy smiles that showed way too many teeth. Ponies may be herbivores, and thus have no sharp teeth, but that doesn't make it any less scary to see all of them. I backed away from my teacher a little, "And what will I be learning today teacher?" I wish I could say I wasn't whimpering a little, but I'm not the best liar; I'm not the worst either. She leaned in closer to me, forcing me onto my hind hooves and against one of the cave walls. Why was she looking like that and invading my personal space. I felt like she was going to be eating me, "You will be learning the art of... Pranking." She backed off suddenly and began to laugh at me. I was in shock; apparently she had just been to show me the use of this particular skill. Although it seemed a lot more like acting than anything else. I was willing to learn anything if I didn't end up in something stomach at the end of it. "Pranking is more than just learning how to spring the joke; it is also learning how to hide it long enough so you can set it off. In other words, pranking is just like being a ninja; but funnier." "Wouldn't it be easier to learn to be a ninja than?" She just continued to smile at me. "Why don't I just show you instead of telling you?" She began to push power into her horn; honestly I don't think that I have ever felt her put this much power into anything and the amount of control I could see in that spell was utterly ridiculous. I wouldn't be able to make anything like it without the help of a power Unicorn. The worst part though was that she was aiming directly at me. I know intellectually that my teacher wouldn't hurt me, but that didn't mean I couldn't still feel the emotion of fear; the brain isn't always as strong as the adrenal gland. She looked me in the eye, I could see a small sparkle...and then she fired. A small black line headed right towards me, surrounded me, and then disappeared. For a minute nothing happened, Luna just watched on. I was getting bored of waiting, and still being a foal I decided to express that point. "Well that was boring, what was it suppose...." It was at that moment that the boxes above me seemed to shift and start to fall down on me; it was only because of my tail that I didn't have them fall on top of me. Unfortunately, as soon as I stepped aside a pebble seemed to appear in my path for me to trip on and fly right into Luna. Luckily nothing happened after that, but I knew that something had happened; there weren't many things that could trick my tail like that. "Still think this is boring student?" Luna was still smiling at me, so at least she wasn't mad at me about what I had said. "No...How did you do it?" I honestly was interested in any spell that could overcome my tail, only Diamond had been able to do that before; I still don't know how she did it. "What I just showed you is a spell I developed known as an Entropy Cannon." I have no idea what that meant, "Essentially, it can create 'bad luck' for those it targets. It never permanently hurts anypony, but it can make their life very difficult." Wow that sounded like the world's best prank; I mean I know it could be dangerous, but still... "However, it does have one problematic requirement," I moved my attention back to my teacher, "in order to affect an individual, it needs to have more power than the one it is being used on. Still, I find it fairly fun." We had already locked it onto Celestia's magical signature; it would hit her no matter where she was. It wouldn't kill her, but it would make life more interesting for her. That wouldn't be until later though, at the moment we were still waiting on the power, in other words we were waiting for Twilight and company. Unfortunately, it was likely that we would have to trick Twilight and her companions into using the Elements for us; I had mixed feelings about this. Apparently, contrary to what had happened to me earlier, one needed the power of a set of mares to activate the power of the Elements. On the one hand I really wanted to pull this prank on Celestia, but on the other hand I didn't want to hurt Twilight. Hopefully she'll just do it without us really having to ask; then I could take her to get those dresses I'd promised. At the moment the only thing that we had left to do was wait. We had seated ourselves in the main entrance hall with the Elements in plain sight. It was a rather elegant room, even if it did look like it was about to fall apart; in fact it reminded me of the one from the dream. It seemed that they were taking the scenic route; we had been waiting here for almost two hours and Luna had long ago stopped delaying them. So what was taking them so long? Maybe one of Luna's distractions had been simply too good? "Luna," She looked over at me from her spot on dais, "What kind of delays did you use?" "Apparently ones that were harder than I thought," I glared at her, she flinched, "It wasn't anything that bad, just some simple illusions." Well that could be good or bad, Luna was good at illusions. She had once tricked everypony in the Royal Town into thinking that the castle had been made of a gelatinous substance; we had ponies trying to eat the thing for days. Unfortunately, she didn't always realize that ponies didn't have the same amount of power that she did and overdid it a bit; which is why they kept coming for days rather than hours. "Which illusion did you use Luna?" She may be my teacher, but that didn't mean that she was going to get away with doing something like this. "The Lost Woods, why?" Well that was just great; she had to use that one. I remember the time she used it on the hedge maze. I hadn't been able to get where I was going, not until Luna had finally decided to release me. I had really wanted to take the night off, so I ditched my classes for the night, instead I was going to go on a walk in the Royal Hedge Maze. It was rather special; it contained several rare forms of plant life. Some of them would normally only grow in a desert environment. I was hoping to find some of desert flowers; I'd not yet had the chance to enjoy them. I spent a lot time just walking around trying to find the signs that would point me towards the desert flowers, not really paying any attention to the turns that I took to get inside there. I figured that I could always find the small signs that permeated the maze. Hours passed while I looked for the flowers and it wasn't long before I realized I needed to leave; it was almost time for me to get to bed. I began to try and find my way back out, but I suddenly realized that I had no idea where I was; the entire maze looked exactly the same. I began to gallop; getting worried that I wouldn't find my way out in time; I would be tardy. There weren't even any of the signs that I always saw that pointed you in the right direction to get out of it. It was starting to become lighter; I had been here for far too long. I was getting worried and called out for help. However, more hours passed and eventually the spell forced me to sleep. When I awoke again, Luna was looking me right in the face. I jumped backwards and fell over in suprise. She gave me a small smile. "So student, did you learn your lesson?" I had no idea what she was talking about; I was supposed to learn a lesson from this? I know I skipped my classes, but this seems a bit beyond it; or maybe she had just decided to turn this into my nights lesson. "No teacher. I wasn't aware that there had been a lesson." I really had no idea what she was talking about. "Student, what is the first lesson you learned in magic?" Why was she asking something so simple, she knew that I already understood it? "Magic can be seen from the corner of your eye." "That is correct, but you forgot something." I was curious as to what she meant, "You must remain vigilant to all magical intrusions." It was at that moment that I finally realized the lesson she was trying to teach me. She was trying to tell me that I had to watch my surrounding. It was also at that moment that I realized why I really hadn't been able to get out of the hedge maze. "Teacher, did you place a spell on me?" "Yes student, a spell known as the Lost Woods." Then she fell over laughing at me. I was going to get back at her for this. I would use her lessons against her. I did get back at her later; although she seemed to enjoy that pie to the face. "Luna, why did you use that particular illusion? You know that unless you know how hard it is to break out of." She looked rather surprised at me. "So? Honestly, I expected that spell to last the least amount of time; I mean it never affected you after the first time." "I also already knew about the spell. They likely won't be able to find their way out of there for at least a week, maybe more!" I was worried for them; I may be playing the villain, but that didn't mean I was one. I didn't want any harm to come to any of them, especially Twilight. I don't know what I'd do if something had happened to her. "Luna, you stay here; I'm going to go out and play the hero instead." I trotted out the front entrance, wondering if Luna hadn't left a few things on the moon; namely her common sense. I also was starting to wonder if I hadn't left mine back in that statue. I had already stepped outside when I realized that I could have just asked Luna to release the energy holding the spell in place. Well, I still had some dignity left and wasn't just turn back inside and ask her; besides this would give me a chance to meet Twilight in pony. I began to trot off to find her when I came to the realization that I had no idea how to find them. I was a little sad and about to give up on my dignity and ask Luna for her help when I remembered something special about this spell. It was a prank spell; it was designed to not be dangerous and would keep them away from anything that could possibly hurt them. However, the important bit was that it had been designed with a way to track the spell; just because those it was cast on out of danger, didn't mean that it kept them from being too lost to find their way back after it wore off and thus potentially be put into danger. I wonder if Luna had thought about the fact that they would still need to find their way to the keep. I quickly cast the tracking spell and felt as my horn gave a pull; I just let it drag me onward. My tail might be better at tracking things, but it only really worked when it was important. It never wanted to help with pranks; silly pink thing. I let my mind wander a bit while I waited to reach them. Let's see, I need to make a plan on how I'm going to greet them. Not only will this be my first time meeting with Twilight, so I'll need to make a good first impression, but I'll also need to have them trust me. That's going to be rather difficult, who would trust someone who they had just met in the middle of a forest; especially after being lost for so long. Getting them to use the Elements on Luna will probably be the easy part in comparison. Maybe I could pretend that I had just heard them making noise and came to see how they were doing? Or I could pretend that I got lost while I was hiking and just happened to know the way to the keep because I passed it a little while earlier? The second seemed more likely than the first. The main thing that I would have to hope was that Twilight didn't remember what I looked like as a statue; that could be rather embarrassing and make things much more difficult. I ended my thoughts when I began to hear voices speaking nearby. "Twilight ah think we're a might lost." I doused my dousing spell and hid behind a nearby bush; peeking through it to see what was happening. The speaker had been the orange mare from the cliff; from here I could see that she had a blond mane and a set of three apples for a flank marking. She looked rather tired; how much time had passed since I went down into that crypt anyway? "I think you might be right Applejack, I can't make heads or tails of where we are. Even the atlas isn't helping me" I saw Twilight put the book back into her saddlebag. So the Orange pony was named Applejack, good to know. "Hey there is no way that the amazing Rainbow Dash is lost. We just got a little turned around is all." The blue Pegasus mare with the rainbow mane, seemingly named Rainbow Dash, crossed her arms in forehooves in front of her. She was floating in midair, seeming to dislike the ground; she remained floating in midair on her batwings. That was a little strange; the only ponies I know with batwings were the Night Guard and they had long ago been disbanded; right after Luna had gone missing in fact. A couple of aristocrats had been talking about it as they walked through the garden. I hadn't really understood the reason why they would be broken up at the time, but I hadn't exactly been in a position to ask questions. That still left the question of why a pony with batwings had shown up here, only Luna could grant the specific batwings; although she had promised to teach me the spell. I'd have to ask her about it later, but the only explanation that I could currently think up is that someone forgot to remove that genetic rewrite spell and it must have been passed on. If it had remained long enough, there probably was almost a whole new race of Pegasi. That was actually kind of cool; wonder if I could get a couple of them to let me do a study on them, maybe there were some interesting differences. "Suger, ah don't care what you think; we're lost." Applejack stated firmly, glaring at the batwinged mare. Rainbow Dash just glared right back. I think there might be unresolved tension there; not that kind of tension, get your mind out of the gutter. "I agree with you darling; we have been in this dirty dirty forest for far too long. I don't think I can stand it much longer." I could see that the speaker was a white Unicorn mare with a wonderfully coiffured purple mane; she was laying back on a couch, trying to avoid the dirt. Honestly, she also seemed to be the type to abhor this kind of situation, so why in the world was she out here. Also, now that I think about it, where in the world did she get a couch from? "Oh so even you're against me Rarity! You're all against me are you!? Well fine, you can all be lost; I know exactly where I am!" I watched as she flew off to the left; only to end up in the clearing again, but from the other direction; the lost woods spell at work. Of course she seemed to be surprised about this little turn of events and couldn't stop herself from running into the final member of their little group, a yellow Pegasus mare with a pink mane. She let out the quietest scream of surprise that I've ever heard. "Fluttershy are you alright!?" I heard Rainbow scream out, even if I couldn't see her from this angle. I heard an incredibly quiet response that I wasn't really able to make out. The Lost Woods spell was quite the doozy; this group of five mares wouldn't be getting out of that clearing without help. Wait, five mares? I took another look and recounted; yes there were only five ponies out there. There were six out there a minute ago, I hope that the last one hadn't gotten lost when I wasn't looking. I hadn't felt a tugging in any other direction from my horn, so it was doubtful. My tail however was trying to tug me somewhere, spinning in a way I had never seen it do before. I wondered what it was about; like I'd said many times, I don't know what the things that my tail does mean most of the time. "HI NEW PONY!" I jumped several feet into the air and screamed in shock. I hadn't felt like this since the last time my sister visited me at the palace. It was a nice quiet night at the palace, like usual most of the ponies in the castle were asleep. I had been reading a nice book for the last couple hours, My World: How it Works. It was a rather interesting read, it explained all about why the weird things in life kept happening. I honestly feel sometimes that someone just copied my journal into and told me why those things happened. "HI DAWN!" I jumped into the air and screamed, trying to grasp something to hold onto and somehow grabbing hold of the chandelier. I can never figure out how I get up this high when I normally the best I can jump is two feet. "Hey Dawn what are you doing up there? I mean why don't you come down here and join me?" I looked down at the ground to see my sister Blueberry waving at me from inside the flower pot. She was a blue Unicorn pony with a much darker blue mane and was probably the only member of my family that I felt close to. Now I know why I'm on the chandelier, my sister always makes me jump when she greets me. I still want to learn how she gets into such small places; but only the mares in our families get to know. I dropped back to the ground; somehow without hurting myself at all, "Hello Blueberry," I reach out to her for a hug and receive one, "It's great to see you again. How long has it been anyway?" "Hmm... I think it's been nearly a month now but that is way too long we really need to see each other more often don't you think! *Gasp* We should plan a special day where we get together and spend time together. We could call it sibling's day and have so much cake that we burst." Honestly, I was lucky I spent so much time around her; otherwise I don't think I could have kept up with her. I laughed, "Sounds good to me Blue!" I really enjoy being around my sister; she always makes me feel better, while driving everyone around us nuts. It's honestly one of the best things to do. How did I have enough time to have that memory before falling to the ground? I looked up; oh I had grabbed a tree branch. Looks like my reactions hadn't been dulled from being locked in stone for so long. All the ponies in the group were looking at me now; most with surprise, but Rainbow Dash was looking at me with suspicion. I wonder why I deserved suspicion; I hadn't even said anything yet. "Uh hi?" I used one hoof to wave at them while holding on the branch with the other; which was a terrible idea because I fell to the ground with a thud. While I was busy having a headache, Rainbow Dash had flown up to me and was staring me right in the eye. That was actually slightly scary. "Who are you and what are you doing here!?" Well if that wasn't the opening I was looking for, I don't know what is. Hopefully I didn't say anything too ridiculous. "My name is Dawn Pie," I heard a gasping noise from behind me and all the other ponies were staring at whatever was behind, although I assumed it was the pony missing from the group. Now that I think about it I still hadn't seen what she looked like. First though I needed to finish my little speech. "And I was just hiking around here and heard you girls talking." Why in the world did I say that, I didn't even mention that I was lost at all; why would they possibly believe me? Strangely though most of them seemed to have a look of understanding in their eyes, well except Twilight, but none of them seemed as suspicious as they had been. Why in the world would that be? Of course they also seemed to be moving their eyes between myself and something to the right of me. I turned my head to look in that direction ...and now I know why they were less suspicious. The Pony was bright pink with slightly lighter pink mane and seemingly seemed to be moving while remaining completely still. There was absolutely no mistaking it; she was a Pie mare. I remembered that bouncing; Pie mares couldn't sit still if their life depended on it literally. One of my ancestors had been caught by the buffalos during a skirmish and had been sentenced to sit still or die, that seemed to be one of their strange customs for war criminals; she never stopped moving. They eventually just let her go because they also couldn't get her to stand still long enough to be killed. I hadn't thought that there would be any Pie's left; they had never visited me after all. I guess what really happened was that nopony had bothered to tell them I had turned to stone or my sister would have at least visited me. This must be her great, great, great, great, great, great, a couple more greats granddaughter. Strangely though, she also reminds me of that hallucination I had while I was locked in stone. The pink pony opened her mouth and I prepared myself for the barrage I knew was coming; I had lived with my sister long enough to know what was going to happen. "Hi cousin my name is Pinky Pie and I don't think I ever met you before which is great because that means that you're a new pony in the area and that means that I get to throw you a PARTY! It will be the best ever 'Just Released from Stone Party' that you've ever been to! Of course it will also likely be the only one you've ever been to. I mean how many times can one pony be released from stone anyway." How she had known that last bit I'll never know, but my sister was able to know things she should know; I'll just put it up to her being a mare of the Pie family. I just hope that nopony heard that last part. Of course now that she had made her greeting, my tail decided that it was time to do the male portion of the Pie family greeting. It shaped itself into a hoof, just in time to impact Pinkie's hoof shaped tail; which was soon followed by an up and down motion and a circle. Pinkie's smile seemed to grow even wider, apparently really happy to have run into another member of her family. If I hadn't thought she was a Pie before, this confirmed it. Apparently it also brought the others out of their shock. "How did you two just do that? Our tails are not prehensile; there is no way you should have been able to do that." Twilight looked irritated by the impossibility she had just witnessed. If it wasn't for the fact that I had lived with it for my entire I likely would be the same way. "Twilight, sugar, ah suggest that you don't question it. Ponies have been trying for years to figure out Pinkie Pie and it still don't make no sense no how. Besides we still have to reach that castle, we ain't got time for this." "Well I think I might be able to help with that." All the mares looked towards me, "I've come here many times and I know the way to the castle, how about I just show you the way." With me leading the way I could force them to break the Lost Woods illusion. When something leads you through it, it can't trick you into making a wrong turn. If you know you're locked in it you can simply follow an ant or something; which was why I was able to escape so easily after Luna locked me in it the first time. "Well that's mighty kind of ya." Most of the mares were nodding their heads in agreement; Pinkie's head was bouncing up and down so fast I was surprised it hadn't yet popped off. Why was this plan working?! I really wonder sometimes about the ability of ponies to overlook the most obvious detail. "Why should we trust you?" Once again Rainbow had to be the thorn in my side and helped me regain some trust in ponykind; the rest of the mares simply accepted me at my word. However, luckily I did have an answer for this problem, sarcasm. "Because there are more of you than there are of me? I'm related to Pinkie? You don't seem to be going anywhere yourself? Take your choice they all seem alright to me." I might have put the sarcasm on a little strong, because Rainbow Dash was looking at me and she was incensed. I heard something I couldn't make out from the Fluttershy, but I could hear Rainbow Dash's response. "Ok I'll give a try for you Fluttershy, but the first time that if he tries anything; POW STRAIGHT TO THE MOON." "Sounds good to me, just follow behind me and I'll lead you there." That was way too easy, something is going to go wrong at the worst possible moment I can tell. I began my trotting towards the castle, most of them trotting along behind me; Pinkie was hopping along and Rainbow was flying. During our little trot I realized that I still needed to have them tell me their names; I already knew them, but they had never told me. Letting them know that I had been spying on them for a few minutes, and technically Twilight for almost twenty years, would probably not be a good idea at the moment. "Would everyone mind stopping for a minute?" Everyone ground to halt. "Hey! What the hold up?" Take a guess who said that. "Since the trip is going to take a little bit, I thought I should at least get all your names? I mean I already know Pinkie Pie's, but I don't know what to call the rest of you." Twilight took the initiative, "Well my name is Twilight Sparkle, my friends here are Applejack." "Pleasure to meet'cha" She grabbed my hoof and shook it really hard, almost hard enough to cause pain. When I felt her let go my arm continued shaking up and down. I just couldn't stop it. Pinkie seemed to be trying to copy my arm's movement, shaking her arm all over the place. Twilight seemed to notice my plight and grabbed my arm for me. "Thanks Twilight." I gave a small smile, she returned it. "No problem." Before that conversation could go anywhere, Rainbow decided that she should introduce herself. "I'm Rainbow Dash! The fastest Night Pegasus in all of Equestria!" She was also one to seem to boast, but I hadn't seen her practice so I couldn't really say. I now know that Pegasi with batwings were called Night Pegasi. Rarity was the next one to respond, "Well darling, I am Rarity." She fluttered her eyelashes at me; I have no idea why she did that, but a lot of mares seem to like to do it around me. The one time I'd asked Blueberry, she had just told me she didn't understand it either, but guys seemed to like flexing their muscles around her. Fluttershy was the last to go, "I'm flutmphhp." "Sorry I couldn't hear that, would you mind repeating yourself?" "I'm fluttermphph" "Flutter...?" Rainbow decided to come to Fluttershy's rescue, "Her name's Fluttershy." "Ah, well it's a pleasure to meet you Fluttershy." "It's nice to meet you too." She spoke very quietly, and I almost couldn't hear her. Any tension that was left after our meeting seemed to have fled at Fluttershy's acceptance. "And I'm Pinkie Pie, I know that you said you already knew my name but everyone else was introducing themselves and I didn't want to feel left out and so I'm telling you all because I felt like joining in." Apparently Pinkie wanted to get in on the act; luckily I was already used to her manner of speech, in fact I wanted to learn a bit more about her, but first. "All right, if we want to reach the keep early, we're going to have to head out again." A couple of different reactions occured, but eventually everyone got moving. I was leading so I couldn't slow down to talk to either Twilight or Pinkie. It seemed though that Pinkie wanted to talk to me, because she was bouncing all around me. I knew that the moment she started talking I wouldn't be able to get a word in edgewise, so I took the initiative. "So Pinkie, would you mind telling me about yourself? I've kind of been out of the loop for a while." That was the understatement of the century. She smiled at me, "Of course I'd be willing to tell a family member that has been locked in stone for a thousand years about what has happened to his family since he was locked away," There are time when I really dislike how they can do that, especially since they never seem to remember actually saying those things, "Originally my family came from Canterlot, you seem to get confused sometimes and call it the Royal City why is that? I mean that name doesn't even sound anything like Canterlot." I just let her ramble on for a while, somehow eventually ending up talking about cupcakes, I knew she'd get back to the point eventually. It was actually rather nice to be near something that reminded me so much of home. I may only have been really close to my sister, but I still enjoyed spending time with the rest of them. It seemed she was winding down a bit and about to finish her monologue, "And that's how Equestria was made." Which essentially was a Pie's mare of asking you to remind them about the topic, but I had the perfect response to this. "I love that story, it gets better every time it's told. I especially loved that part where the cupcakes rained destruction down on the planet and brought about eternal peace." She looked at me oddly, which makes me feel like I made the perfect response, "Also you were talking about how you came from Canterlot." "Oh right, well I originally came from Canterlot where I spent all my days until my father decided that we would move to rock farm, seriously a rock farm why in the world would anyone want to live at a boring place like that," I had to agree with her; rock farms were not only boring, but they didn't actually produce anything of value. We had quarries to get precious metals, so what was the point of them and how had they survived this long? "Eventually though I got my cutie mark," What in the world is a cutie mark and why does that name fill me with dread, "and moved to Ponyville." I was going to ask her more questions about herself when I ran into our destination; literally. Pinkie was laughing at me and my nose hurt, wonderful. Well in any case, we were here.

Luna's Student

Failure is Always an Option

Disclaimer: We the Fanfic writers of America do not own the rights to the MLP Universe, we do not have the freedom or liberty to use it, will not provide for the common defense of it in court. Now all the mares were laughing at me; great. Running into the wall had just been the beginning of a new set of troubles. Afterwards it had seemed like everything was going to go well; we were only a few feet from the entrance of the keep, but things soon began to go wrong for me. First I ended up tripping on a rock on the ground and falling onto my face. I could hear the laughter from behind me from my little accident; it was rather troublesome. That wasn't even the last part; physics decided to throw the metaphorical hoof at me. When I hit the ground again, instead of just lying there, I bounced. That wouldn't have been too bad if it had ended there, but it just had to get worse. The worst part however was yet to come. When I landed the second time it turned out that somepony had dug a pit trap; as you can probably guess, I fell in. So now here I am at the bottom of it with all of the mares were laughing at me from beyond my line of sight. There was only one thing I could do at this point. "Ow, my pride has been mortally wounded. Please feel free to keep laughing at my indignity." That's right; make a joke. Which I soon realized was really lacking in forethought, it just made them laugh harder. "Are you okay?" I thought I heard a voice say; it was such a quiet sounding noise, I wasn't sure. The sound of laughter still coming from those mares made it even more difficult to hear. The only one who speaks that quietly was... Oh right, Fluttershy; I think that if things go well after this I'm going to make sure someone teaches her that speech should be louder than that of a moth. "Yeah I'm fine Fluttershy, thanks for asking." I could hear her jump and make a small eeping sound; I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that she reacts quietly even when startled, "but would you mind giving me a hoof out of here? It's a little too deep for me to get out on my own." I could still hear the rest of them laughing behind her. It hadn't been that funny had it? Well maybe from an outsider's perspective; I doubt anyone ever likes it when something like this happens to them. At least I wasn't in any actual danger this time. Now that I think about it; I wonder why Fluttershy wasn't laughing; maybe she was just too kind a pony to do that sort of thing? I mean all her friends seem to have found it funny; even if I didn't. Well I still needed to get out here; hopefully Fluttershy would help me out, she was taking a while to respond. "Um... I think so." Well that was good, for a second there I thought she was going to force me to beg or something; I mean I'd probably do it. I'd done sillier things to get out of places like this. It didn't take her very long to put her hoof over the edge for me to grab; it was just barely close enough for me to grasp. I reached out my two hoofs to grasp hers, but once I'd taken hold of it my hoof felt peculiar; like someone had just poured something cold onto my hoof. I gave my hoof a small pull and instead of separating from the other ponies hoof like usually happened; it remained stuck together. "Hey Fluttershy, did you put superglue on your hoof?" I couldn't believe I had just asked that, but oh well; hopefully she hadn't heard me. "Oh my no I would never do something like that, my little animal friends might be hurt by it." Well I think I now know that my original supposition of her being too kind to laugh was correct. Honestly talking to her reminds me of when I was a foal. In either case I needed to get out of this hole; so using Fluttershy's hoof as a hanging point I tried to climb the wall; no matter how tried though there just wasn't any real hoofholds to climb out with. Strangely it didn't feel that she was moving at all; she must have found something really strong to hand onto. "Hey Fluttershy, you mind giving a pull; maybe you can help me climb a little." "I...think so." I felt a sudden jolt in my hoof followed by the sensation of flight. Unfortunately, that was quickly followed by the pain of landing on my backside. When I had stopped seeing stars I looked around a bit more; understanding that somehow I had gotten out of the pit. One second I had just been holding onto Fluttershy's hoof asking for help and the next I was out here. This meant one of two things; either physics couldn't survive being around two Pies and had fled in absolute terror or Fluttershy was a lot stronger than she looked. I'm pretty sure I could throw out the first theory; I could see her looking at her own hoof in wonder. So I'm going to assume physics failed or something had decided that Fluttershy should be a superhero. Now that I had gotten that conundrum over with I promptly gave Fluttershy a smile and a thank you, but as she began to smile back at me she caught sight of her own shadow and jumped into a bush. It was a cute sight, but I really hope she isn't meant to be a hero of some sort because if she is Equestria is doomed. Oh well, at least she's nice. I could still hear the others laughing at my former predicament; you'd think they would have stopped when I was able to get out of the hole. I was starting to wonder what was wrong with them; I could have been seriously hurt. I mean I know about Schadenfreude and all, but there is a point where it should stop being funny. It was time to give them a piece of my mind. I turned around to face them; I was going to give them one of my infamous lectures, "Hey girls stop laughing I could have been seriousl..." Twilight's face was blue; that could not be good. I took a closer look; Twilight wasn't the only one who was blue in the face, Pinkie was the only one who didn't look that color. That shouldn't even be possible, our fur covers our face. What was worse was that I could see fear in their eyes; they were scared. They weren't laughing at me because they wanted to; they were laughing because they literally couldn't stop. This was...well way beyond not good; they were literally laughing themselves to death. When had this happened? I hadn't left them alone since I found them. Okay that doesn't matter right now; what does matter is finding a solution. I need to get them to stop laughing. The most obvious way would be to knock them out, but that left far too many unknowns, besides which I didn't know anyway to do so without causing rather harsh damage to their skulls. What I really need is more time to think, time I currently don't have. So my first goal is to make sure they have enough air to breathe; hopefully I can find a solution after that. There had to be some spell that could allow them to breathe through something other than their mouth. Unfortunately, all the spells that would come to mind were all designed to simply allow a pony to survive in places without air by creating a bubble. There had to be at least one spell that would do the job. I heard the chirping of a bird nearby; distracting me from my thoughts. I glared over at them; the mother bird was watching over her eggs... It was the night of the Grand Galloping Gala, the Royal gardens were completely flooded with aristocratic ponies; anyone who was anyone was here. It was the perfect time for those who were trying to gain favors from Luna and Celestia to say their piece; everypony enjoyed the setting. "Teacher I'm bored." I was far too young at the time to enjoy these kinds of parties, not to mention that the only other pony here around my age was Diamond and she was forced to sit by Celestia on the other side of the room. From what I could see of her expression she was just felt just as bored as I was. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy spending time with Luna, but only when I can actually talk to her. All of the other ponies were taking up all her time. "So Dawn, bored are you?" Luna's voice drew my attention to her; apparently there was enough a slight lull in visitors for the moment. I shook my head quickly, "No of course not." I am not going to tell my teacher that I'm not having fun at one of her parties. She gave me a smile, "Dawn, don't worry about it." She leaned in close to me and whispered, "I am to; should I liven things up?" I nodded my head; I could see the glow around her horn glow out of the corner of my eye. While Luna was charging her spell we both pretended to still be interested in the ponies that were talking to Luna. A few minutes later Luna released her spell into the room. The spell remained unseen or at least unspoken about throughout the room as it spread. Soon however, shouts of wonder began to fill the hall until they themselves were caught in an egg. Soon the room was silent, but that didn't last long. The ponies, who had been dressed in their very best clothes, popped from their shells covered in the multicolored hues of chicken feathers. I could see as they took their first look at their new dress and as they tried to rush out of the room in a panic. The more ponies that broke out of their eggs; the larger the chaos became. I began to laugh loudly at what I was seeing; it was just the perfect way to break up the evening. "WHO IS RESPONSIBLE PERFORMED THIS TRAVESTY!?" My attention was drawn towards Celestia and I couldn't stop myself from laughing harder at the sight; she was dressed in her own white chicken suit, appearing much less regal. My laughter must have been infectious because I could hear other ponies laughing with me. It seems that everypony was actually enjoying this event now. "LUNA!" Well, all except one. Wait a minute that was it; Luna's Prank spell it could keep them stable long enough. Due to the way the spell functions like an egg it feeds those it is used on air. It may be embarrassing, but hopefully they wouldn't kill me for it afterwards. I set to work right away; loading the spell into my horn and launching it at the group. Upon impact the spell set to work; wrapping the mares in colorful eggs that matched the color of their coats; I can only hope that it works like I remember, I don't think that I will have enough time to figure out another one. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM!?" I fell over in surprise; I hadn't seen her approach me at all. I was about to respond when I caught sight of her eyes; they were the widest I'd ever seen on a pony. Worse was the feeling of fear that was flowing into me just by looking at them. I was shaking like crazy at the sight; at this point I'd be willing to tell her anything she wanted as long as she didn't rip my head off. "It's a prank spell," her eyes remained in mostly the same position, but they seemed contract slightly, lessoning the amount of fear I was feeling; which was probably a good thing. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" The fact that she wasn't releasing as much fear didn't make her any less scary though. "I think that they were placed under a spell of some sort; they were literally laughing themselves to death." That explanation seemed to calm her down; hopefully I wouldn't have to deal with that again. I had never heard of magic like that; it was incredibly powerful. The ability to look somepony in the eye and essentially force them to do what you wanted; that was beyond anything I had heard before. The most amazing part though was that it had performed by a Pegasus. I have never heard of a Pegasus that was able to do this kind of magic before; perhaps it had been developed in the last thousand years while I was in stone? I'd need to study the phenomenon more before I knew for sure, but it would be interesting to find out. It was possible that it was inborn skill like my families'; maybe she was the recipient or progenitor of a new family like mine. I was going to learn more about this, but later; there were more important things right now. "Oh...oh my I'm so sorry about that," I could actually hear her now; it seems that she was feeling more confident about being in my presence; if I had been able to do that to somepony I would probably feel more confident to, "but is there anything we can do?" Fluttershy was shaking slightly in place, likely she was nervous. I don't know what to tell her, I'd bought us some time to come up with a plan, but that didn't mean that there was anything I could do. I needed more information before doing anything else. "I really don't know; I need more information about what has happened to them. Did you see anything strange happen after I fell into that pit?" "Umm... I don't think so...if that's okay I mean." "Well that at least gives me some information to work with." So at the moment the only thing I really knew was that whatever had happened had either been invisible to a pegasus, which was a possibility or that it had been cast earlier. Well there was one way to find out exactly had happened...A diagnostic spell. Essentially a diagnostic spell is designed to see what magic have been affecting an pony or object over a fairly short period of time; looking out of the corner of your eye would only show you what was going on at the current time. "Okay Fluttershy, I'm going to be casting a diagnostic spell on your friends okay?" I did not want a repeat performance of that stare; if it took me a little bit longer to get my work done because I had to explain it to her I was going to take that chance. Fluttershy nodded her head at me; that was good, I wouldn't have to worry about her doing that to me again at the moment. Now that I think about it, I'm going to need to watch out for her doing that later during my prank with Luna. That could completely ruin the entire thing. I cast the diagnostic spells upon the eggs, which soon returned with a visible matrix of floating symbols and colors that represented the magic that was in use around the eggs. Nothing in the image really stood out to me; all I could really see was my own pink spell and Luna's dark blue one. "I can't seem to find anything special here, but there has to be something in there I just need to look more." Actually for that matter I couldn't figure out why Fluttershy hadn't been affected by this laughter problem. Maybe it required a trigger; something to set it off? Maybe she would have been affected if she had laughed at my predicament, but because she was too kind to do so the spell hadn't activated? There was another possibility, but it seemed so unlikely that I instantly discarded it; it just didn't fit her actions so far. I'd need to make sure that the spell wasn't on her after I finished; I didn't want her to stop breathing the next time she decided something was funny. I wanted to be friends with this group after Luna and I finished our prank. Time to get back on topic; I wasn't sure how much longer the egg spell would last. Using my magic I magnified parts of the spell matrix, hoping that something would stand out. Maybe the spell would turn out to be a special shape or a different size; it was all I could hope for. I searched it from top to bottom, but I couldn't find a single thing that was out of place. This was really starting to become a problem; there had to be something there. I mean they were turning blue through their fur; that does not happen naturally. "UGH I can't find a single thing in here!" I was getting far too frustrated, I needed to remain calm and in control. "Um...what this green thing... if you don't mind me asking." Fluttershy's voice rang out from behind me. I nearly jumped in surprise, but I was able to repress the instinct. Luckily it hadn't been someone from my family or I'd be hanging from a tree branch right now. "Green?" I zoomed in at the point she was pointing at; right at the point where she had been pointing was a spell matrix that I had missed. rThat was some really good eyesight right there; if she wasn't currently pointing at it I would have completely overlooked it. "That is some good eyesight." I gave her a smile. "Oh...um thank you?" I have no idea why she is questioning my compliment, but I really don't have time to question it right now; I'd just put it on the backburner for later. Now that I could actually see what was causing the uncontrolled laughter I was going to go over it with a fine toothed comb. "Fluttershy do you have a fine toothed comb?" "Um what?" She was giving one of the cutest looks of incomprehension that I had ever seen. Since I didn't really have time to contemplate that I looked for my own, finding it right next to the yellow bus. Why was Fluttershy looking at me funny? "Never mind; I found it." I grabbed the small silver comb with my magic and began to brush apart the different pieces of the spell, trying to find what made it tick. Fortunately, I had seen this spell before meaning it wouldn't take much work to remove it. It was a near exact match for one of Luna's personal spells, one called Laugh Track. The spell just forced whoever was watching her to give a chuckle or two at whatever was going on. However there was one difference with the spell here and her normal model. This one lacked the precious time code symbols, meaning that the spell was essentially looping. To stop it all I'd need to do was place the time symbols back into the spell; which was a fairly simple job. Taking the comb I carved the mark into the correct slot and before you could say 'we ain't found anything' the spell had been completed and removed from the matrix. I'd still have to wait for the egg spell to end though. Now that I had time to think about it where in world did this spell come from? I mean the only people who Luna ever taught that spell to were Diamond, Celestia, and me. I mean I realize that the spell doesn't require that much power or control, it was rather simple really, but it wasn't common knowledge. So who cast it; I know it wasn't me and I doubt Luna would have done it, but I couldn't give a single good reason for Celestia stopping a group that was on her side. Had she discovered our plan? It was the best idea I could think of; the only other option was rather unthinkable and furthermore highly unlikely. I must have been in thought for quite a while because Fluttershy tapped me on the shoulder to bring me out of them; she held out her hoof towards the eggs. It seems that while I was deep in my thoughts the eggs had completed their final cycle and were hatching. The eggs exploded into confetti revealing the five mares dressed in their mane colored chicken costumes, exactly like every other time the spell had been cast. The sight was too much for me; while I realized that it had been a rather close shave with death for the group of them I still couldn't help myself from giving a chuckle or two at the sight. I'd always rather enjoyed this spell; although I preferred using it at the stuffy parties of aristocrats. It was always amusing to watch those trying to curry favors be humiliated. I fell into the memories of a couple of the other times that Luna had shown me that spell. "OH MY! What am I wearing!? This thing is an absolute atrocity; well actually it could be worse, at least it matches my mane." Rarity exclaimed, trying to pull of the chicken suit with little success. The costume would keep themselves on by force for at least a little while longer; the spell had been designed to be humiliating after all. "I kind of like it!" Pinkie was bouncing her pink colored beak at the ground; I guess she was pretending to be a chicken. "BCAWCK!" Yeah I guess I was right. Honestly it was so reminiscent of my sister's antics that if I didn't know better I really would have thought that she was here instead of Pinkie. I was rather enjoying the sight of the spectacle, especially after how I had felt a few minutes ago. Soon though she finished with her little act and pulled off the costume placing it in her saddlebag. Watching that gave me a headache; the space and time mechanics involved just boggled the mind, even when you accepted that it was possible. I know I use that ability as well; doesn't mean it ever made sense to me. "I think I'll hold onto this." "Well darling, you may enjoy wearing, but I don't. I'm just going to go over there and rip it to shreds." It seems that Rarity didn't share Pinkie's enthusiasm. At least she wasn't attacking me; it seemed that it was going well. "I think I'll give this to Scootaloo as a gift; I think it would fit her." I have no idea who Scootaloo is, but at least Dash didn't sound angry about what had happened. The last thing I wanted to do was tangle with anything that was even mildly related to the Night Guard. Those guys had been vicious; several times I'd seen them lift a pony many times their own size and weight and throw them very very far away. I knew that it was at least partially attributable to the same training that I had gone through with Luna, but a lot of that strength had come from the genetic alterations that Luna had performed upon them. I wasn't going to be going up against someone like that without a good reason or a lot of preparation. "Whoo Weee! Glad to finally be out of that thing." I looked towards Applejack, apparently while I was looking at the other three they had managed to remove the costume from themselves. Likely Twilight's doing, that spell should have held for at least a little longer. I have no idea where they put the costumes though because they weren't anywhere around them. "So what happened? Why were we in those costumes? Last thing I remember I couldn't stop laughing." Twilight was giving me an concerned look look; I had the feeling that it was more what the spell I had used was than anything else though. I couldn't think of a single good reason not to explain; I knew that we needed to reach the keep quickly, but Fluttershy already knew that a spell had been involved. If I tried to hide what had just happened than it was possible that I might just lose their trust. "Well, someone or something cast a spell on you," I didn't think it would be a good idea to tell them about my suspicions of who had actually had cast the spell; it probably would lose me their trust even faster than not telling them this, "it would have literally made you laugh yourself to death. That costume spell was the only one I could think of to feed you air while I tried to remove it." A gasp arose from all the mares except Fluttershy; who just hid behind her hooves shivering. Apparently the revelation that they had been near the possibility of death was shocking to them; I couldn't blame them I would be in the same position given what happened. Being that close to death with no control of the outcome isn't something I would wish on anypony. "Well that was eggciting revelation, but that doesn't matter anymore. It's so obvious that it was Nightmare Moon; so now we just have more reason to finish her off right?" It seems that Rainbow was the first to recover; I guess she was easily able to bounce back from these kinds of things. Also I like her puns, they remind me of my own; terrible as they may be. I wonder if after whatever happens here happens she and Pinkie would want to go pranking. "Tarnations Rainbow we all would have died if it wasn't for dawn and you just say we should keep moving on!?" Looks like some parts of the group were slightly more traumatized by the experience than they had let on previously. Hopefully it wouldn't last too long. "Well what else would you have me do! Just wait around cowering as Nightmare Moon brings eternal night!?" She raised a hoof in the air and hit the ground, "We can't just do that; we need to keep going and stop her!" I may not like all this talk about hurting my teacher, but whatever got them moving would work for me. "I suppose you're right Rainbow; there's nothing that we can do about the past but keep it from repeating itself. Let's go stop Nightmare Moon!" At least they seemed to be in the right mood, but still this whole thing worries me. If it was Celestia than our prank would take care of it, but if it wasn't... We all trotted into the keep. Our entrance into the keep was uneventful; which was lucky for my slightly frayed nerves. I had expected that somewhere between then and now Celestia would have tried to stop me. However, now that we were actually in here I was much less worried; our plan was almost in motion. We walked through the entrance hall into the central room of the keep. The room was utterly; pillars had fallen over onto the floor and the floor itself was covered in more cracks than ever. What had happened here? I wasn't gone that long was I? Wait, there was something else wrong with this scene... "Where the buck are the Elements!" And that was it; where I had left the Elements there were now only a set of stone shaped orbs. This was far worse than I had thought it was just from the scene of destruction that surrounded us. Without the Elements Luna and I would be unable to complete this prank. For that matter where in the world was Luna? Had something happened to her? I couldn't think of a single good reason for Luna to leave of her own accord, she was needed here to work the power gathering portion of the spell. What was I going to do now? Neither the Elements nor Luna were here, I'd need to find both of them and keep the mares in this keep for this to work. Okay think how do I keep a group of mares busy? Besides that anyway. "We need to find them!" Twilight's voice rang out nervously, "It's the only way to keep Nightmare Moon from bringing eternal night." Well I could work with this; get them to search the building while I await Luna's return; hopefully she would bring the Elements with her. "Um I might have a thought...if that's okay with you I mean." I could barely hear Fluttershy speak, but Rainbow seemed to have no trouble and nodded her head in agreement. "Um... Maybe we should split up and search, maybe the Elements are down there?" I blinked, Fluttershy, the seemingly least outgoing of the group was suggesting that we should split up. There was something weird going on here, but I wasn't going to look too much into it. It was a golden opportunity. It would give me enough time to find Luna and get one step closer to my ultimate goal...Hanging out with Twilight! I mean finishing this prank, yeah that's what I meant. "That's sounds a little dangerous Fluttershy; splitting into groups like that might make us easier targets for Nightmare Moon." That shouldn't be a problem, Luna wasn't likely to attack them anyway; I just needed to give her time to get back here. I think a little push might help. "I agree with Fluttershy; it may be dangerous, but we're not going to get anywhere just sitting around here waiting." I could only hope that my endorsement held some water; they had just met me a little while ago, but hopefully my little rescue gave me some credibility. "I suppose you're right Dawn. Okay gang we're going to split up," Dash flew down one the corridors, I suppose she must have already been thinking about it and was just waiting for the go ahead, "into groups... Wait Dash come back! Well at least this means we have an even number. Fluttershy and Rarity, you go down that passageway, Applejack and Pinkie Pie go down that one, Dawn and I will continue to search in here. If you find anything holler and the rest of us will come running." This couldn't have worked out better if I'd actually tried to set this up; positive coincidences strikes again. Now I had enough time to find out what was going on and I'd get to spend time with Twilight to boot; this was perfect, even if it still felt vaguely weird because I had really only just met her. Well in any case I began to search the room looking for any clues about where Luna had headed off to; likely I could use that to tell the rest of the group where to go to find the Elements and we would be one step closer to our pranking goal. Since I didn't need my full attention on searching the room; I really was mostly stalling for time, I decided to try and make some conversation with Twilight. "So Twilight, I never did ask why a group of cute mares would want to come to a place like this. I mean I think I've understood that you're here to stop Nightmare Moon, but why you?" Now that I think about it, I probably should have got them to tell me this earlier, I'm surprised none of them have questioned me about my overabundance of knowledge about magical subjects yet. "Nopony else would believe me; even Celestia just shot me down when I first mentioned it to her." Really? Well that just took the cake, Celestia wouldn't even believe her dear student? I don't think there was single time that Luna ever just turned me down without at least an explanation about why something couldn't be true. "Then when Nightmare Moon actually turned up everyone else just acted scared and we didn't have a choice. I wouldn't have it any other way though, I think I'm best fit for this job." "So how did you plan on stopping L-Nightmare Moon." If she heard my little slip she didn't mention it; she just continued searching on her half of the room. I was starting to get worried though, I hadn't found hide or tail of Luna anywhere in the room; I was starting to get worried, what had happened to her. "With the Elements of Harmony; they are magical artifacts that contain the energy of harmony from all over Equestria. If they can't stop Nightmare Moon, nothing can and that's why we need to find them." We fell into an companionable silence while we continued to search. I still couldn't find anything, but I did still have one last ace in my arsenal, my detection spell. Maybe it could shed some light on what had happened here in any case. Taking a quick glance at Twilight to make sure she wasn't looking, I wasn't sure that I could have found a way to explain what I was doing, I surreptitiously began to cast the spell; making sure to make it very small and difficult to discern from the surrounding debris. A small explosion erupting from my spell disabused me of that notion. "Hey Dawn are you alright?" I didn't answer immediately. My spell had literally exploded in my face, but that wasn't the worst part. No the worst part was what I had seen and was now feeling; I had seen a dark energy approaching, surrounding Luna's own power and it was getting bigger. I had no idea what had happened, but it was dangerous. "Twilight get over here! Something's coming!" I couldn't very well tell her what was going on, why would she trust me. Unfortunately my answer must have confused her because she just stood where she was for a few seconds, but soon enough I could see her beginning to trot over. A boom sounded from the dais in the room; probably the only spot that had been free from the rubble. Through the smoke that had appeared with the explosion I could see Luna, but she was different. The most prominent of changes was the dark energy that wafted off of her in waves. Honestly that dark energy was inducing a fear in me almost as strong as I had felt when under the effect of Fluttershy's stare; which might be the only reason I was still standing or it might have been that I could still feel small bits of my teacher's energy flowing through the dark, giving me some strength. I don't know what had happened to my teacher during the time I had been collecting Twilight and her friends, my best guess was a possession, but it was obviously not going to go well for anyone; Luna and I especially. I need to figure out what was going on here before something else went wrong. "TWILIGHT SPARKLE," Too late it seems, apparently whatever had taken control of her could force her to speak, "IT SEEMS THAT THOU HAS MADE IT THROUGH ALL OF OUR TRAPS UNSCATHED. THOU HAVE BECOME A PAIN IN OUR SIDE AND THOU SHALL FEEL OUR WRATH." She was building up power in her horn; getting ready to fire it at the frozen in fear Twilight. I needed to do something to stop her before she managed to actually fire; I didn't want Twilight hurt and my teacher would never forgive herself if she actually hurt somepony. Maybe I could redirect the energy beam somewhere else? Too much of a power requirement, if I could have reached Twilight I might have been able to do something, but not by myself. Maybe I could... My thought process was shut off by a sudden change in the ambient energy; it was still, no more energy was being drawn towards the horn. I could feel it begin to build up to a point, than I felt the energy release. "No!" I didn't have enough time to do anything so I just waited for whatever was going to happen. After a couple of seconds of nothing seeming to happen I opened my eyes. From what I could now see, the energy had apparently been dissipated freely rather than actually fired, why had that happened? "WHAT?" It seems that whatever was possessing Luna was as confused by the lack of firepower as I was, "FINE THAN, SINCE IT SEEMS WE CANNOT BE RID OF THOU WE WILL UTILIZE THOU TO COMPLETE OUR PLAN. THOU SHALT COME WITH US." This was actually very good; if confusing, whatever had taken control of my teacher didn't seem to have full control over all of her powers, which meant that we would still have a chance. Our best option would have been the Elements of Harmony, but with them missing we'd need to try something else instead. I needed to think of something The sound of hoofbeats approaching distracted me from my thoughts; I guess they must have been attracted by the sound of Luna's booming voice. This was very good; the more ponies we had available the more we would be able to do. I glanced towards the entrances to the room and was dismayed to see dark blue barriers blocking any entrance of the other mares. "I would never allow you to bring about eternal night!" That line brought my attention to Twilight. She was shaking like a leaf in the wind, but I had to admire the bravery it took to stand up to a possessed Unicorn; she was a lot more like Diamond than I had thought she was. "YOU SHALL COME WITH US." "Not!" "SHALL!" Wait, was Luna actually arguing with Twilight? This could be good or bad. On the one hoof might mean, if I combined this with her earlier actions, that whatever had taken her over either hadn't finished or was too weak to do so completely, but on the other hoof we were still dealing with a relative unknown. It was possible that it was just the kind of being that enjoyed playing with its target and that the whole thing had been an act. The best chance we had still lay with Elements of Harmony; which were still currently lost. With my luck though, the stones that stood where the Elements had been were actually the Elements. "Not!" "SHALL!" "Not!" "SHALL!" "Not!" "NOT" "You will take me with you and that's final." I couldn't help but stare at Twilight for that response; I would have thought she'd be able to see that coming a mile away. Luna smiled at Twilight, who had a look of dawning realization about what had just happened. Unfortunately, she wouldn't have any time to ruminate on what had occurred because Luna teleported both of them and those stone out of the room with her. I suppose my supposition had been correct and those actually were the Elements; what had turned them into stone than? That didn't matter right now and neither did how Luna teleported through an anti-teleportation barrier. The only thing I needed to worry about right now was stopping whatever was possessing Luna from doing whatever it was it was trying to do. There are way to many unknowns here really. One thing I know for a fact though is that the only way to use the Elements of Harmony was with the cooperation of all six of these mares; otherwise nothing would happen. A memory of that dream flashed into my head. It wouldn't be doing that right? I mean there was no way it could have possibly known about that right? I wasn't even sure if that dream had been about something real. 'But what if it did.' I hate it when my own mind talks back to me, especially when it was right, if it did know about that and was trying to get Twilight to use a spark of magic on them than this was about to become a much more dire and terrible problem. I needed to hurry; I needed to follow them. "What in tarnation just happened here?" Applejack voice pulled me out my nervous thoughts; bringing me back to the present. It didn't decrease the necessity of following Luna and Twilight however. I needed to follow them quickly and that wouldn't be happening if I had to explain everything to the other mares; all of which now appeared to be in the room with me! "Listen I don't have time to explain, I need to find Twilight and Luna and stop them from killing each other!" I suddenly realized that I had just blurted out something that was not going to help my case and I also realized that I had no idea where Luna had taken Twilight. This was not going to go well for me. "Who's Luna and for that matter who are you really? I mean you found us in the woods while wandering around; how likely is that?" I think that Rainbow was in just as much shock as I was and was really looking for something to lash out at, but I really didn't have the time to act as her metaphysical punching bag right now. I really needed to hurry and find them, but I'd need the help of these mares in order to save both of them. "Listen I promise I'll tell you everything just as soon as we rescue both of them; if we don't stop them right away it's possible something very bad would happen." I hope they would buy it, I don't have enough time to explain right now. "I don't believe you." It seemed that Rainbow was going to remain stubborn. Honestly I don't think I had done anything to warrant any more of this treatment, but at the moment I didn't care. I'd figure out the reason later, right now it was more important that I stop what could possibly happen. I was going to pull out my trump trust card; hopefully it had remained the same over the last thousand years. "Cross my heart, hope to fly," I heard a gasp from Pinkie, either it hadn't changed much over the years or it meant something really horrible now. I could only hope that it was the former; considering that only Pinkie seemed to recognize it I suppose it was likely, "stick a cupcake in my eyOWWW." Every single time; no matter the situation, I stick it in my eye, "do you believe me now?" "Of course I believe you no one would ever make a Super Special Pie Promise without meaning it," I could see that Dash didn't know what Pinkie was talking about, but I guess she decided she would at least trust Pinkie if not me, "Not that I didn't believe you beforehoof, I know you said it so that Rainbow would be willing to let you go find Twilight and your teacher Luna." You know I have no idea how she knew that; I'm related to her and I still can't figure her out. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...for now at least." That was likely the best I was going to get from Dash, but it would be enough. All I needed to do now was to think of a plan to actually find them. I knew some basic tracking spells from Mister E's books on lost items, but I doubted that they would work here. They only really worked well if you had a very strange gang working with you... hmm you know this could actually work perfectly. However, the moment before I began to ask them for help something strange occurred; my tail decided it would be helping out. I have no idea why it would do that, mostly it only works when danger would befall me; but I wasn't going to turn down its generous offer. It was performing some odd movement that I had never seen it do before, which meant that I wouldn't be able to decipher it myself. However, I was lucky enough to have Pinkie Pie around. "Hey Pinkie do you know what this tail movement means?" She nodded, "Of course I know what it means; it's super easy. It means that whatever your thinking about is right above you just one floor up." She gasped, "That means that Twilight is right above us, Pie Stallions have always been really good at tail tracking!" She was smiling widely at me; this was better than I had hoped for. Through the rather convenient plot device of my tail I knew exactly where Luna had taken Twilight. Why was everyone looking at Pinkie Pie and I with such a strange look? I would have thought that daily exposure to Pinkie would have built up their immunity to the weird that came with my family. Maybe they hadn't been around her long enough to actually figure it out. Well in any case, now that I knew where Twilight and Luna actually were I could develop a much more comprehensive plan. I could just teleport myself up there, but that barrier was likely still in place... Wait a second, how in the world had Luna teleported through the barrier; I don't care how powerful she is, she shouldn't have been able to break through it. The only possibility is that the barrier was somehow taken down; which was actually kind of scary when I thought about what would have been needed to do that. The sheer power necessary would have been far beyond even Celestia; this could be problematic. Well at least I now had a way to get to them, but I'd need to make sure the rest of the group followed me up there. Meaning my main goal when I warped up there would be to stall Luna. "Okay here's the plan, I'm going to teleport up there and stall them; when I arrive I'll set up a Pie Beacon in the room for you to follow. I need all of you to get there as fast as you can, the only way were likely to finish this quickly is to utilize the Elements of Harmony and for that we need all of you. Hopefully it won't be too late." Before they could even respond to me I had already set my horn alight and with a pop of displaced air I was gone. I could only hope they would come find us. With the glow of my horn and a pop of air, I left the surprised group behind. I could only hope that they would reach us in time to activate the Elements. My arrival into the room was greeted with little fanfare, in fact I felt outright ignored. The first thing I did was use the Pie Beacon Spell; I have no idea how it actually works, but Pie mares can track the thing down like it was the tastiest treat on Equestria. I could feel the tension in the air between Twilight and Luna. Perhaps some remnant of the barrier was still working and had kept me from being noticed? Well whatever the reason it seems that I still had time and the Element of surprise could work to my advantage. Now I needed to stall them, what would be the best way to do that? "WELL TWILIGHT SPARKLE, WILL YOU HELP ME NOW? OR WILL I HAVE TO DO WHAT I HAVE THREATENED?" Luna's Royal Voice stopped me before I could even begin to plan; it seemed louder than it usual but for once wasn't causing me any ear damage. Normally just being in the same room as her when she used that voice was enough to make eardrums rupture. There wasn't any way that Twilight would do what my possessed teacher asked no matter what she threatened; if I was really lucky maybe she would stall long enough for everyone else to arrive. I shouldn't have thought that; something was going to go wrong now; I know my luck. Twilight nodded her head slowly, still glaring at my possessed teacher. I knew it, apparently I was wrong and that threat had been much worse than I thought it was going to be. "GOOD, THAN PUSH THY MAGIC INTO THE ROCKS IN FRONT OF THEE." Looks like that bit of my mind that said it was going to do this had been right on the money. I had precious little time to come up with a good plan, I could already see the spark forming on Twilight's horn. Luckily though it seemed she was trying to take as long as possible to reach the point of firing. Well I better think this through carefully, but quickly; no matter how slowly Twilight loaded the spell it wouldn't take more than a minute or two. My first thought was to simply jump out there and knock Twilight out of position, but that likely wouldn't work to well; Luna would just flash fry me the moment she saw me. I glanced up to see how much more time I had until Twilight had built up her spark; it was already huge! I guess she was taking as long as she could to stall for time, she could have easily fired it off earlier. Strangely Luna didn't seem to be doing anything to move her fast; I'm starting to wonder how much control the possessing creature actually has over my teacher. Still either way I didn't have more than a minute left. Okay there is something obvious I'm missing here, I mean I still don't understand what this entity was going to get out of doing this. The only thing that should occur, if that vision I saw was right which is still pretty questionable, is the death of both Twilight and Luna. I mean why would a controlling entity want to destroy its own host? I mean unless it was having a hard time controlling it! There was one option, it may be cliche but if I can tell Luna about an emotionally charged memory from her past maybe I could knock the creature out of the control or at least stall for time. There were far too many unknowns for me to really know if this plan would work, but I was running out of time and it was the best plan I could think of. The first thing I'd need to do was keep Twilight from killing Luna and herself; those Elements are dangerous. So using what was probably the least intelligent plan I could think of; I galloped straight into Twilight knocking both of us into one of the walls. "Oww!" Twilight smiled me; I guess she was glad that she hadn't been able to do what Luna had asked. "SO THOU HAST CHANGED THY MIND! BECAUSE WE ARE MERCIFUL, THOU SHALT HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE ON THIS TASK." Since it hadn't just obliterated us I'm going to take a guess and say that the reason it was granting us another chance was that it really didn't have as much control as I thought it did; maybe Luna's will was holding it back or something; likely it would give Twilight as many chances as she needed until she actually did do it. I wonder why she didn't mention me though; I mean I wasn't exactly hiding anymore and she could have likely used me as bargaining chip, but if I was right than the creature controlling her might be hiding me from her sight. Catching sight of me likely would have given her enough of a push to regain full control. "Twilight," She looked like she was going to start asking questions but I cut her off, "Listen we need to stop Luna and we're not going to be able to do that until all of you are together again, but one thing you must not use is use a magic spark. I promise I'll tell you everything that's going on just as soon as everyone is safe." "But what." I knew she was inquisitive, but this was not the time for it. "Afterwards I promise, right now I need you to repeat exactly what I tell you and I think that everyone will be getting out of this alive." There was one memory in particular that I was sure would at the least keep Luna interested until the rest of the group had arrived; my entrance exam. That day had been full of excitement and many other emotions. My parents had given me advice on how to succeed; as well as informed me about what would happen if I should fail. My sister on the other hand simply told me to do my best, while her own lagamorph familiar walked around talking and for some reason referring to Blueberry as Sam. I'd always wondered why he was always asking for something called a gun. However, now I was by myself in the waiting room; everyone else had already finished with their turns. Most foals who went into the room came out with their own familiar, however, the few who didn't were generally in tears. I could understand, when you failed you were often kicked from your family home and stricken from the record; nobody wanted a failure as part of their family. I heard a click and turned towards the door to see the last foal come out smiling with a green dragon on her back. The three diamonds on the dragon's markings on its tail marked him as Diamond's familiar; not to mention that it was riding on her back. I would have given my congratulation to her, but speaking in the waiting room was strictly forbidden. It was all part of the test I had been told; it was designed to make the foals nervous so that they would be forced to do the job under more difficult position. It may have worked on me if I hadn't already been extremely frightened of what my parents would do to me if I failed. Since I couldn't speak to her I just gave her a smile; and received one in return. She quickly left; her dragon looking back at me with an interested expression. "Dawn Pie please enter the summoning chamber; it is your turn." I stood up from the chair and trotted towards the door. I could feel my nerves increasing the closer I got to the door, step by painful step I got closer. As soon as I passed the threshold the door slammed shut behind me. The summoning chamber was huge; I had heard that it was designed that way in order to handle the kind of familiars that could be summoned; the largest one I had ever seen was a giant red dog named Clifford. I took a glance downward; littering the floor was the summoning circle; filled with magical symbols and texts that denoted what it was designed to do. However, it was the final thing in the room that surprised me the most. Sitting in the examiners area was Princess Luna. Honestly, that gave a huge boost to my ego. It wasn't often that one of the princesses personally presided over an entrance exam. Most times it was just a high ranking unicorn; the princesses had to feel there was something special about you to even think about coming. If I passed this maybe I'd even end up as her personal student; then maybe my parents would be proud of me. I doubted it, but it was a nice thought. "Dawn Pie before beginning please listen to these instructions. By performing this ritual you will be summoning your lifelong familiar. Do you understand?" I nodded my head in confirmation; I'd always wondered what would happen if you said no. Somehow I doubted they would just let you leave, it was somewhat of a secret environment. "Good, although I realize that you likely already know this I am still required explain it to you. As a control type Unicorn you must wrap your magic around the circle itself and call to the creature's nature; you will not be able to simply force it into existence like a power Unicorn could." Huh that was weird, I'd never actually heard that before; maybe she really wanted me succeed? I'll admit that I'd never heard of Luna actually taking a student before, but honestly considering how rarely anyone heard anything about the night princess I'd never really thought about it. Well I wasn't going to look this tree in its branches. "Please begin now." I found the magic in my center, it was only a small puddle at this point but it would grow, and grabbed it. I pulled on it, shaping it into a circle, before sending it out through my horn onto the summoning circle. That was when I felt it, something that felt like it was almost a part of me; I felt for its nature and began the process of turning my magic circle into a rope. Once I had finished the shape change, which was actually easier than simply pulling my familiar directly like I'd planned to, I sent one end of it out towards the creature I felt and pulled. Even though my eyes were closed I could still see my familiar in my mind's eye; it was small, blue, and pink. I couldn't quite make out what it was exactly, but I knew that it wouldn't matter. I'd find out soon enough. I kept pulling harder and harder; trying to bring it to me, but something was wrong. It actually felt like it was resisting; I pulled harder anyway I was not going to fail. I kept pulling harder, but I could feel the magic fraying, getting closer and closer to the breaking point until it simply broke. I fell to the ground gasping, but the worst part was that my heart was in the bottom of my stomach. I had failed, there was no familiar in front of me; worse I had failed in front of the Princess. My family would disown me, I'd be homeless. The worst part was that I would likely never get to see my sister again. I started to cry, the wet tears hit the ground marring the ground. I began to stand up and turn around to leave in shame; I didn't want to hear it when she announced my failure. "You passed." What did she just say? I must need to get my hearing checked. I turned around to face the princess and saw a smile on her face. "What did you say?" My voice was hoarse from my tears. "You passed." She was still smiling; this had to be a hallucination, there was no way that I had passed. I mean I hadn't even managed to call my familiar. "I...passed?" I was hesitant, I needed to process this. I hadn't summoned anything at all; I'd only gotten close. There was no way that could be right. The princess must be playing teasing me; I'd never thought she would have been that cruel though. "Yes you Dawn Pie passed." "How?" "Although you did not manage to bring your familiar here it was not due to any fault of your own; there was another entity involved." She held out a piece of paper with her magic, "This is your certificate of acceptance; go show it to your family." She was still smiling at me and I couldn't help but smile back. Grabbing the piece of paper I galloped all the way home. The last thing I heard as I left was something that started with a C that sounded very much like a curse. I didn't care, I'd passed. I continued to gallop all the way to my home and even into the foyer. My parents had been lounging in front of the fireplace when I rushed in and showed them the sheet of paper. However, when I heard them gasp I could feel my heart sink; maybe it really had been an elaborate prank by Luna and I was about to be kicked out of my home. I looked at the ground; ready to hear their proclamation, but when nothing happened I chanced a glance upwards. My parents were smiling at me holding out the paper for me to see. Where it was supposed to give a class number instead was written Luna's Student. I'm not sorry to say that I fainted after that; it happens too often for me to care. Luna's eyes had gotten progressively wider throughout the retelling and Twilight herself seemed somewhat shocked by the story. I wasn't really focused on any of that though, I just made sure that Twilight continued to repeat everything that I was telling her; repeating the story as many times as would be necessary for the rest of the group to show up. I could only hope that they would get here soon though, I had no idea how long this plan would function; there wasn't any good indicator that it would work indefinitely. Honestly I was still surprised it was working at all; it was probably the silliest and least thought out plan I had ever made, but when faced with overwhelming odds I suppose those are sometimes the best plans. After the fourth retelling I could tell that Twilight voice was starting to get tired; I wasn't doing much better. It may not have been the most strenuous of things, but talking for an hour straight is not an easy task. Luckily it seems that won't be an issue, I could hear the hoofsteps coming closer to us. unfortunately the moment that the other mares arrived was also the time at which Twilight and I had to pause for a breather; it seemed it was enough time for whatever was controlling Luna to regain control. "THIS WILL MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR US; ALL OF YOU ARE HERE! I CAN SIMPLY DESTROY YOU ALL AT ONCE. TIS A SHAME DAWN ISN'T HERE, I'D BE ABLE TO GET RID OF HIM AS WELL." Well there was no way that the mares didn't know that she had at least known me. I suppose it doesn't really matter at this point; saving Luna from this parasite was far more important than any prank or revenge. "Okay girls I need you to use the Elements on Luna." They all gave me a look like I was crazy I could only hope they would listen to me with that little revelation about my connection, but apparently the only thing that had made them think was that I was crazy for giving that command, "You do know how to use them don't you." "Of course we don't silly, we never bothered to read the instruction manual page of the Elements a Harmony a Reference Guide, it had too many words." "Oh vey, than what did you expect to do when you got here anyway." I don't know why, but Luna appeared to be content just watching us; I wasn't going to complain about it in any case. "The books I read were all very vague on the subject only mentioning that a spark would activate them, but you stopped me before I could use a magic spark; why did you do that anyway." She was giving the cutest look of inquisitiveness I'd seen since I'd seen it on Diamond, but I just shivered from the thought of what would have happened. "Let's just say that the results would have been very gory." I hoped they would leave it at that, "Well since there doesn't seem to be any other ideas, I need you girls to just go and grab one Element each; the only thing I know for sure about how these things work is that it takes six mares." I could only watch as they trotted towards the stone Elements, but as Twilight took a step forward Luna reacted. I don't know why that is, but I held her back from moving any farther. It seems that just touching them was enough to have them turn back into their original form, because as soon as they had they were glowing with an incredible holy power. That wasn't the end of it though; they seemed to be doing something else. I saw a flash of bright white light flare as soon as the mares brought their hooves into contact with the stones. For at least a few minutes I couldn't see anything at all; however, when I could see again something very different stood before my eyes. The Elements were no longer where they had been, but in their place silver bands were wrapped around each of the mares legs; upon which were a depiction of their flank markings. I have no idea what it meant, but they were glowing with even more power than before. I heard a gasp to my left and turned to see that Twilight had seemingly also gained a set of these armbands; gold in comparison to the other mares silver. This was probably a good sign; especially since it seemed that Luna was trying to back away from us now. I could only hope that this would give my teacher back full command of her faculties. "Well girls fire when ready!" I could see their looks of incomprehension; I could swear that I heard crickets chirping in the background. "Dawn, we still don't know how." Yeah I probably should have realized that; I guess I was just hoping that it would be instinctive. You know, they would put them on and it would go into auto-fire mode and fire the mind control reversal ray or something. Too bad these artifacts didn't come with an instruction manual or if they had at least read it if Pinkie was right... That was when the tail decided that it was taking everyone far too long to do something and slapped Twilight on the flank; she glared at me, but light still began to flow out from Twilight's manacles. I guess my tail knew how things worked better than I did; I certainly didn't know how that had worked. Maybe it had been something to do with Pinkie Pie or the combination of a power and control Unicorns; I honestly have no idea and right now I don't care. When I have some more time I'll run some experiments. "Oooohh it's a power party yay!" Of course Pinkie Pie would be excited by this. The bright light began to build up around the six mares; each one a different color. Luna just stood there on the stage; as if waiting for the power to strike her, but I could see her trying to move closer to it. My teacher was still in there and this would bring her out of it. A bright white light precipitated the release of the rainbow energy beam. It began flying closer and closer to my teacher, but right as it was about to strike her it stopped. It was floating in midair right in front of her in the form of a ball. "MWHAHAH NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOT EVEN THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY." I guess the energy decided that it didn't like being insulted because it began to change form again into the shape of a boot. Still however, it merely continued to float a few inches from Luna. "Ah'm sorry this don't make no sense no how. Why isn't it doing anything." It seemed that it was going to take Applejacks words as a reason to do something because it soon kicked Luna right in the head before flying out the window behind her. I could only gape at the sight; it was so far from what I had expected to happen that it just made no sense at all. I had expected it to maybe hit her full force and drive dark energy from her body, not simply knock her out. Wait it had knocked her out! I galloped up to my teacher to make sure that she was till all right. It wouldn't do for something bad to have happened after what I had just happened. I put my head near her mouth; the sound of her breathing reassured me that she was alright. I was about to perform a more thorough inspection, but the sound of screaming outside the window drew my attention towards it. Looking outside I saw a sight that I wasn't likely to forget for a long time to come; Celestia being chased by a rainbow colored boot. Honestly, I didn't expect it to do that, but I wasn't going to complain about it. I wish I had some way to capture this for posterity, I could have sent it to the newspaper; ruining her reputation would have been enough to satisfy my need for vengeance. Ah well, there was going to be a lot more time for me to get back at her for what she did. My thoughts of revenge ground to a halt when I began to feel a rather familiar sensation; one that I had felt back during my entrance exam. There was no way, absolutely np way that it was here. I'd need to find whatever could approximate it that well though and deal with it. I rushed out the room leaving one unconscious teacher and six surprised mares behind. Luna would be fine; this needed to be dealt with now. ___________ Author's Notes: I would really like feedback on this chapter so could you please take a moment to comment on it after reading? Thank you all very much.

Luna's Student

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Disclaimer This is the Dawn Show starring Dawn Pie, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and me the Disclaimer. We're brought to you by the concept of we don't own anything besides the OC's. It's the perfect product to buy, so soft, so firm, and so perfect for this site. The moment I stepped outside I realized that this plan had ignored my normal, rational thought process; well okay a mostly rational thought process, I couldn't say that I always thought things through in a logical manner. In fact I don't think I even had a plan when I'd rushed out here, I'd just followed that feeling. The real problem was that I had left Luna behind; I shouldn't have done that no matter what state she had been in or whatever had been affecting me. What made it worse was that I had left her with ponies that have every reason to dislike her and in her possibly injured state, caused by the unknown effects of a set of power magical artifacts, there is every possibility that they would try and hurt her. Well okay I didn't really think they would do that, but I couldn't help feeling worried about it. What's even worse is that I have no idea what this feeling actually means; for all I know it could be a normal for ponies to feel this sort of thing now. Perhaps this feeling was caused by changes in magical fields or something. I mean I don't even know much about what has changed since I was put into stone; I didn't get news. I should have asked the others before rushing out here, probably even have brought them out here with me. That would have solved two of my problems at once; I would have been able to make sure they couldn't hurt Luna and I could have explained what was going on at the same time. I mean I Pie Promised to tell them... This is bad, this is reeeeaaaally bad. If they decide I broke a Pie Promise I'll be in big trouble. Hopefully they consider this little issue with Celestia to be part of the 'after it's all over' bit of my promise. I still remember the one time I'd seen someone break a Pie Promise. It was the day of my sister's birthday party. She was so happy about it, literally bouncing off the walls. Although in this case she was doing it without breaking the laws of physics. Somepony had recently invented the idea of a rubber house filled with air for birthday parties, it was rather fun to bounce in. I had just finished playing in the rubber house and was trotting over to the food table to get some cake when I saw my mother talking to a pony I had never seen before. He was dark grey in coloration and his flank marking was a picture of two crossed hooves. I was just barely close enough to hear what was being said. "So cousin Mendax, do you promise not to cause any trouble this time?" My mother looked at Mendax sternly. I had never heard about a cousin Mendax before and I know all of the ponies in our family for at least a few generations back. Maybe he just wasn't a real cousin? "Of course auntie, I Pie Promise." I had heard ponies say the promise so often that I kind of just tuned it out; although I found it odd that I didn't hear any sound of him poking himself in the eye. I never could get around that problem. "Good enough for me." My mother nodded before trotting off; waving at Mendax, "Have fun at the party." Once my mother was out of sight Mendax looked in my direction and smirked. I don't know if he actually saw me or not, but he trotted off after a second or two. Since I didn't have much else to do, I trotted after him; I wanted to learn more about this cousin I had never met, but I just couldn't walk up to him and talk. I mean what if he didn't like me or something. The way he trotted was rather strange; he kept hiding behind everything he could and sending glances all over the place. I felt that he was trying way too hard to pretend to be inconspicuous; he seemed to be heading for the punch bowl, but why would he need to be surreptitious about it? It didn't really make much sense. He glanced backwards in my direction, my tail pulled to the left and I dodged right behind a tree. He didn't seem bothered by what had just happened. Now that I think about it, hiding didn't really make any sense; this was a party, hiding like this would just make me seem suspicious. Well since I was already behind this tree I might as well watch and see what he does. Peaking around the tree, I took a glance toward him. He took a bottle out of his coat pocket and looked about ready to pour it into the punch bowl. Now I know that I'm one of the shyer ponies around, but even I wasn't going to let someone break a Pie Promise without trying to stop them. I galloped as fast as I could towards Mendax; I need to stop him, I don't think he knows the punishment for breaking a Pie Promise. It was rather unfortunate that I didn't know that trick Pie mares use to pop out of random places because than my action might have actually made a difference. When I'd reached Mendax, a drop of the liquid from its container had already hit the punch. Even though I knew it was too late, I was moving too fast to stop by this point and ran straight into him; which gave me a front row seat to seeing the punishment. His flank mark faded out of existence and along with it whatever special ability he may have had. It was cruel punishment, but it was very effective. "HOW DARE YOU BREAK A PIE PROMISE!" Blueberry popped out the punch bowl wearing the ladle on her head; if it hadn't been for her flaming eyes she would have appeared rather comical. At the moment it merely inspired fear in me; I knew she could do this, but I'd never actually seen her do it. The few others I'd seen someone nearly break a Pie Promise it had always been my mother who popped out with the flaming eyes. Seeing her like this made me Pie Promise myself that I would never break a Pie Promise without a good reason; I don't think I could stand seeing her do it again. That was one of my scariest memories, but there wasn't much use crying over spilt milk. I'd deal with the consequences of my action when they arrived, but I still hoped that they would be willing to give me this little extension. I do not want what happened to cousin Mendax to happen to me; I like my flank mark. The sound of hoofsteps brought me out of my thoughts. I could only hope that they were following me because they were curious about why I had run off and not because Pinkie had told them I had broken my Pie Promise; I've never been able to figure out how the mares of the family can always tell when someone broke a Pie Promise well before they see them. I really am planning to explain all of it to them as soon as I find out why I am getting this feeling. It wasn't like there was any reason to hide it from them anymore; the prank had already failed and that had been my only reason to keep them in the dark. I hope they wouldn't hate me for lying to them; I'd really like them to be my friends. The sound of pounding hooves was getting louder now, but it was now accompanied by the sound of a spring bouncing. I continued waiting, ignoring the pulling sensation. Even if I had been inclined to follow it I couldn't have, the pull was coming from almost straight up. In fact it was pointing towards where Celestia was being chased by the Rainbow Boot; far too high for me to reach without flying, which I still lack the capacity to do. "Hey Dawn!" I blinked once, twice...than jumped into the air and grabbed a nearby candelabrum. I shook my head; even when I know beforehoof about a Pie mare sneaking up on me, certain reactions simply cannot be stopped. It was never my favorite reaction. Now that I think about it, I'm kind of curious as to where this candelabrum came from; I mean it's on the 'outside' of the keep, but I probably shouldn't think about. It's probably just part of my family traits. "I knew you wouldn't really run away and break a Pie Promise you just wanted some fresh air right?" Just like every other time this sort of thing occurred, the Pie mares just continued to talk as if the Pie stallion was still sitting on the ground normally. I was glad that Pinkie's eyes weren't on fire, it meant I hadn't broken my Pie Promise. "I mean it's such a nice dawn. Hey that matches your name isn't it lucky that we came out here just in time for the sun to rise! It's so beautiful!" I suppose at this point she was just trying to waste some time while waiting for the others to arrive; which is fine with me, I can't do anything else at the moment. Wait a second, why was the sun rising now? It's been night for far too long for it to have been natural. Well I suppose since the solar orbit is controlled by a pony that it's pretty hard to call it natural, but it's still weird. I mean right after we remove whatever was possessing Luna the sun rises? I can't help feeling that this is more than just coincidence. Especially since Celestia was still being chased by that Rainbow Boot, she couldn't have enough time to raise it. So who had done the deed? I took a glance upwards towards Celestia; yup, she was still was still flying faster than the boot, but only barely. Honestly, I know that I don't like her much, but I can't really understand why that energy would be chasing her. I need to make sure that I get my hooves on that manual before we need to use them again; don't ask me how I know that we're going to need them again, I just do. They seem like that kind of artifact. The sound of more hoofsteps approaching brought me out of my thoughts. I'm honestly surprised I can hear them over Pinkie's running monologue. I suddenly wish that I had been listening to her, a Pie mares monologue can be fun to listen to sometimes. Since I'd rather not be caught hanging around on this candelabrum when the others arrive, I release it and land on my hooves. That was lucky for me, generally when I drop off of an object like that I land on my flank and hurt myself. I'm still rather curious where that candelabrum had come from; it had been the only one on the outside of the keep. Looking back towards where I had been hanging, I realized that it was gone... which was actually normal with these things; they always seem to disappear on me when I don't need them anymore. "Dawn, what exactly is going on here? Why did you run away right after we defeated Nightmare Moon?" Twilight was the first to arrive, with the others falling in behind her; I suppose I'd missed Twilight arrival while looking at the former spot of the candelabrum. I need to stop being distracted so easily, it's becoming a rather disastrous issue. Well at least the first question she asked was a rather easy one for me to answer; even if I didn't really have a good explanation. "Honestly, I don't really know. I didn't really have any real desire to come out here, but it felt like I needed to." "What do you mean?" I suppose that's a fair question really; I still didn't really understand it myself. Maybe if I tried to explaining the feeling it would make more sense? If I was lucky, I might find out that this was natural for ponies today, but from what I was seeing so far I rather doubted it. "Uhh... the best way I can explain it is that it feels almost like a..a.. pulling sensation; it feels quite like this other sensation I felt back when I was a foal. It just feels like I needed to be out here to find out what this feeling is." The looks of confusion didn't clear up in the least, I suppose I'd need to try and find a better simile, "Have you ever been late to an event and just suddenly realized that you were late," They all nodded, "well it's kind of like that, but replace being late with just needing to be somewhere. I know it sounds vague, but this feeling is rather vague and hard to explain." Hopefully that would be enough to keep them satisfied, I don't think that I could really explain it any better. I doubt they would know about the summoning ritual and the feeling that comes with it; hopefully I could explain a little better when I could get a few books on my hooves. "Even if that is the case, which Am a little doubtful about, that still don't explain how you knew that Nightmare Moon was really called Luna." Applejack had seemingly decided to take over the questioning from Twilight. I guess it made sense; Twilight hadn't actually been there when I had called Nightmare Moon Luna. From the look on Twilights face, I think she might also be trying to figure out more about the feeling I had just been explaining about. She never seems to let go of puzzle until she's solved it. Hey hold on a second, I don't remember ever telling them that Nightmare Moon was Luna exactly; I only told them that we needed to rescue Twilight and Luna. Which makes it rather odd that Applejack could know that my teacher was Nightmare Moon. I suppose it's possible that they made the leap of logic, but I don't for sure. I may be being paranoid, but considering everything that's happened to me up to this point; I think I had reason to be suspicious. Well that's what questions are good for. "Hold on a second, how did you know that Nightmare Moon was Luna?" I looked pointedly into Applejack, trying to see if she was going to lie to me. "I ain't answerin your question until you answer mine." That was acceptable to me, it didn't really matter much who answered first; my information wasn't really that valuable to anyone except me. I suppose I could give it up in order to assuage my paranoia. "Well I knew Luna before she was sent to the moon, I w-" "Oh you mean before you were trapped in stone for a thousand years and you had to watch everyone you ever knew die. For some reason everyone seems to think that you should be sad about that, why is that anyway; they all know that Pie ponies are kind of strange in the head oh and maybe it was some kind of magical doohickie or something. I mean I don't really know what anyone else is thinking, but come on give me a break I like to point out plot holes. I promise that it will be filled in later. Also I'm sorry if anyone feels offended by this line of dialogue, if you don't like tell me and I'll take it out." All the mares looked highly confused about her latest outburst; even I couldn't catch anything she said past the bit about me being trapped in stone and I've had practice with Pie mares. Even she looked a little confused about what had just come out of her mouth. Well it probably wasn't important anyway; I'd need to deal with the fallout from the earliest bit of her monologue first. Hopefully this wouldn't come back and bite me in the flank. "Pinkie you're a strange one." Applejack was giving Pinkie a knowing grin, "There ain't no way that happened." I know I shouldn't enjoy this sort of thing, but I couldn't help feeling that I wouldn't get such a great opening again for quite a long time to come. "Oh! So you agree with Pinkie, that's good because that is what happened. I was trapped in stone for a thousand years waiting to get out; it wasn't a fun time." The looks on all the ponies' faces were absolutely priceless. I should feel really bad about, but I don't; it was just too funny. It doesn't hurt anypony and they asked for the answer. Still I hope they don't ask for specifics; I was not looking forward to relieving those memories. I heard the sound of air being displaced. That reminds me; what is going on with that chase? I guess since everyone else is distracted by earlier agreement with Pinkie, I could take another glance to see how the chase had progressed. Somehow Celestia was still speeding a few feat ahead of the boot. Perhaps Celestia could move faster than I thought, but I don't think that's likely; the boot should be able to move at the speed of light, it was made of rainbows after all. Even if it could only move at the speed of magic, it would still be faster than her. Magic is the second fastest thing in the world, right after light. Why in the world am I analyzing this like I actually know something about these artifacts; I don't know anything about them! For all I know the energy is just really slow moving or something. I wasn't going to complain about it though, the longer that chase took the more time I had to explain things before the next catastrophe. I'd rather not be stuck without my flank marking. "Equestria to Dawn, Equestria to Dawn, come in Dawn." The sound of Pinkie's voice brought my attention back to the group of mares. From what I could see, the four of them were still in shock. Wait a second...four mares plus Pinkie Pie only equals five mares! That was one too few; who was missing? Let see, there's Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and... "Where's Rainbow Dash?" The question seemed to snap the rest of them out of their shock. Personally I didn't think it was that amazing of a question, but I guess they disagree with me or maybe just any sound at that particular moment would have woken them up. Hopefully, they would still answer the question. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" Strangely, Rarity seemed to be the one taking the initiative; whatever works I suppose. The fact that they ignored my time spent in stone didn't really bother me, I didn't want to talk about it right now anyway and apologizing for things that are not your fault doesn't really make sense anyway. "I asked where Dash is, I don't see her here with you." Rarity took a glance back up towards the tower we had been in before refocusing back on me. "It was the strangest thing darlin'. As soon as you galloped out of there, Dash took a single look at Nightmare Moon and called her Princess Luna." She shrugged her shoulders, "Then she simply wouldn't leave her side; no matter how much we beg and pleaded with her. I thought she was mad." Well that was odd. I mean I'm glad someone stayed behind with Luna, a pony should not leave his unconscious teacher alone, but it still seems out of character for Dash. She had been the one who was most suspicious of me, why would she want to stay with someone that I was attached to? There wasn't any good reason for her to stay there all alone with a potentially dangerous pony. Well, I probably wouldn't be able to answer this question until I get the chance to talk to her again; I'll just put it on the slowly overflowing backburner for the moment. This did answer my earlier question, they had known about Nightmare Moon being Luna because somehow Dash had known. That answer didn't really make me feel any better. "AAHHHHH" Celestia's scream drew my attention back to the sky. She was still being chased by the Rainbow Boot, it was even closer now. "Oh no, oh no, I just attacked the Princess!!" Twilight's panicked voice brought my sight back to ground level again, I think I might get whiplash if this keeps happening. Twilight's mane and tail were pointing out in all directions, "There's no way I'm going to be getting out of this; I should have listened to her when she warned me that the Elements were unstable. She's going to send me to back to magic kindergarten for this, I just know it!" I guess she'd finished processing everything that had happened since they used the Elements or maybe she hadn't seen Celestia when we were looking out the window earlier. In this case either was likely; if I wasn't who I am I would likely be in shock from all that happened. I suppose it doesn't really matter; what did matter was making sure that she didn't go completely crazy because of guilt. I wish I could say I was doing this as a completely selfless act, but I'm really hoping I can keep them from asking about what it was like to be stone. "Twilight, you need to calm down, I don't think she'd do anything to you. How could you have possibly known what the Elements would do? And you're her student, why would she punish you for something so far out of your control?" Twilight's mouth fell open; somehow I get the feeling that I have yet to learn that saying things without looking at it from other's perspective first is not the best of ideas. "Honestly, I don't think she will and I should know; I'm her sister's student." I probably should have waited to make that revelation until Twilight had gotten over her little episode, because the other mares started gaping at me again. They had only just stopped a minute ago! "You don't understand. One time I accidently broke a flower pot and she put me into time out for a week." Apparently Twilight had either decided to ignore my revelation of my relation with Luna or had completely missed it. I think everpony else had decided that Twilight's breakdown was more important than learning about me right now. I had to agree, I would be available to answer their questions later, we needed to help Twilight now. "I'm sure that everything will be fine Twilight...that is if you don't mind I mean." The look Twilight gave Fluttershy bordered on absolute pleading with just a tinge of anger. She looked like she was hoping Fluttershy was right, but somehow I felt that she was going to continue anyway. "You have no idea about the horrors that are involved in one Celestia's Timeouts. They are the absolute worst punishment you could receive; even worse than Magic Kindergarten." I saw her eyes widen, "You don't think she'd send me to it again do you?" I can understand her reluctance to accept that she wouldn't get in trouble; I felt the same way with Luna and she was generally in more trouble than I was. A student never wants to disappoint their teacher, but the fact that she had experienced one of Celestia's Time Outs was far worse; I remember when I was put in one myself. I'd really done it this time, I did something really bad. I needed to confess what I'd done to Luna; I'd rather be known for something I can't change at this point than deal with the consequences of lying to my teacher. Unfortunately, it seemed that my teacher was playing hard to get today; I couldn't seem to find her anywhere. I'd already checked every one of her rooms and even the kitchen, but no matter where I looked she wasn't there. My head felt it was going to explode from what I had done. I tried to find somepony else, but everyone in the entire castle seemed to have gone on vacation or something; the castle was entirely empty. I decided that if I couldn't find anypony else, maybe I could find Celestia; she always seemed to be around somewhere. I felt the need to tell somepony in power anyway; I really needed somepony to know what I had done wrong. I know it's a rather strange concept, but I know for a fact that I'm rather strange. Since it was nighttime I at least knew where I could find Celestia. I galloped up towards her room and knocked on her door. I could hear somepony moving around her room, right before the door slammed open. "WHO DARES TO DISTURB THE SLEEP OF THE PRINCESS OF THE SUN!" Her eyes were incandescent, glowing in the dark. If I didn't have this overpowering need to turn myself in, I likely would have galloped away at this point. "Um, it's me, Dawn." She looked down at me, staring me in the eye. "Oh, it's you." Her eyes dimmed down back to their normal color of blue, "You wouldn't believe some of the things that will wake me up." I had no idea if she had misspoken or was really implying that she was never sure about what type of creature would be waking her up next. I suppose that didn't matter. "So what do you want?" "I just wanted to tell you something." I was nervous, I'd never really felt all that comfortable being around Celestia by myself; it sometimes felt like something else was watching me. "Go on..." "I just needed to tell somepony that I broke that vase in the castle foyer." I saw her eyes widen and realized that this was a terrible idea; I should have just waited until I could find Luna. "YOU DID WHAT? THAT WAS INVALUABLE ANTIQUE THAT CAN NEVER BE REPLACED! PREPARE TO BE PUNISHED, IN TIME OUT!" She sent a bolt of magical energy at me and suddenly my entire perception had been altered. The world appeared upside down and inside out; it was almost like everything was wrong. "I will let you out in an hour." Even Celestia's voice sounded muffled and strange, like it was coming over a horribly long distance. I felt that this was an unusual and cruel punishment for what had been a rather small transgression. I know which vase she was talking about, I had destroyed the one next to it; the one she Celestia had given Luna for her birthday last year. Honestly I know that it was near worthless, which was why I had been looking for Luna. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go throw up from all the colors and weird movements that I'm currently seeing. I never want to deal with one of those again and I'd never let anypony else, especially Twilight, have to go through something like that. That was neither the here nor there at the moment though; right now I'd need to convince Twilight of that fact. "Tw-" "Twilight, dear, even if Princess Celestia should try to place all the blame upon you; we will all take at least a part of the blame. If you will be punished, we will be there with you." Rarity stole my line! I mean come on, I was going to say something like that; well I would only really be talking for me, but it would have been pretty similar. Like I would ever let Twilight take all of the blame for something like this; I don't even know what is going to happen. I really wish I had that manual at the moment. "I ag-" "Ah agree with Rarity," Applejack eye twitched a little, "I can't believe I said that, but it's true. No matter what happens we are your friends and we'll help you out with your problems no matter the consequences." Why couldn't I get my mouth open in time to get one of these lines; they are freaking perfect! "Really? You're all my friends?" I guess Twilight still didn't believe that she wouldn't be getting in trouble or at the very least that she wouldn't be going into a time out by herself. I remember how when I had seen Twilight upset while I was a statue that the only one that she ever really seemed comforted by was her brother Shining Armor; I guess I can understand why she doesn't feel like she can believe them, she's never had anyone else who would try. I was going to be next in this little procession of positive influence. "Of cou-" "Of course we're your friends Twilight, why else would I have thrown you that party in your library that you didn't actually attend. That reminds me I need to make you a new party for meeting you and actually have you attend it. Oooohhhh wait a second I also need to give a party to Dawn for getting out of stone, I promised that I'd do that for him so long ago. Hmm..." Now Pinkie is doing it, will I get to make a single line in this conversation? Well at least Twilight looks happier; she's smiling and not shaking and her hair isn't popping all over the place anymore. Honestly I think that Pinkie is a really good influence when people seem to be going mad; her madness makes you realize it can be fun. "Thanks you everypony." Even if she was feeling better, I still wanted to get a line here. "I'm gl-" "You're welcome...if that's okay that is." Really? Even Fluttershy, the shyest one in the group, is getting a line here before me. Okay everyone else has gotten to say something; well it's my turn now. I trotted over to Twilight and patted her on the head, "I'm glad that you're feeling better Twilight, I was worried there." I realize that it was probably out of line considering she had just met me for the first time a few hours ago, but I really wanted to help and get a line in. I wanted her to know that I also was there for her. *BOOM* A loud boom above us drew our attention. The Rainbow Boot had caught up to Celestia and hit her in the flank, I still can't understand why it took so long, and just like what happened with Luna it seems that she had fallen unconscious. Strangely the energy did something odd, well odder than what it had been doing before anyway. Instead of either dissipating or flying off somewhere like I had assumed it would, it split into two parts. Half of the energy flew underneath Celestia, in order to keep her supported in midair I suppose, while the other half flew into her mouth. "What in the world just happened?" I couldn't tear my eyes away from what was going on to look at Twilight or anypony else, but I have the feeling they were all staring at the scene as well. "I have absolutely no clue." I have no idea what is going on up there, why would that energy fly into Celestia? It just didn't fit any of its past actions; then again, I still didn't know anything about it. I could see that the energy inside of Celestia seemed to be coming out of her as small particles; forming into some kind of shape, I think an egg. This was making less and less sense the longer I watched, but that feeling I had been ignoring until now began to magnify, almost literally trying to drag me towards it; whatever was in that egg was what I had felt earlier. Once the egg had fully formed, the rainbow energy began dissipating. I came to the sudden realization that when that energy completely disappeared, Celestia would fall. This was a problem for me; no matter how little I liked Celestia right now I did not want her dead. For the moment I'd need to resist the drag of that egg; I'd have plenty of time to deal with it when this crisis was over. I began to form a net spell. I heard Twilight gasp, I guess she must have come to the same realization that I had; the feeling of a spell being cast right next to me confirmed my suspicion. Hopefully one of us would be fast enough; spells that could bleed the amount of momentum that Celestia was building up would take a while to cast. *Boom* The noise of second explosion of sound broke my concentration, it nearly made the spell I was casting go critical. Luckily I was able to salvage the energy before it did and reform it as a simple light spell. Not useful for the current issue, but at least we wouldn't be standing in a crater. The appearance of a purple glow to my left made me think that Twilight had the same issue as I had and used the same plan to fix it. Ignoring that issue for the moment, I looked upward; at the very least Celestia deserved somepony to be watching her death. I blinked once; I could not believe what I was seeing. There are two trails of energy in the air, energy that is only released when a pony goes supersonic. One of them was the color of the night sky, obviously Luna's, while the other was the color of a muted rainbow, which I could only assume meant it belonged to Rainbow Dash. This was honestly amazing; there are very few ponies that can perform a feat like this and we just got to watch two of them happen at the same time. I really need to find some way of turning memories into physical representations that anypony could see; I am getting some amazing images today. Overcoming my amazement, I realized that Celestia was likely still falling. I almost began another spell, knowing that there would be nowhere near enough time to catch her, when I noticed that she was no longer falling towards the ground. She was being held in the air by both Luna and Rainbow Dash. I knew there was a reason that Luna hadn't planned something that would do more than inconvenience Celestia. Well that made more sense than having the both of them just flying out there for no reason whatsoever. Still a little confused about why Rainbow is working with Luna though. Now that I didn't have the crisis to deal with, that feeling that had first dragged me out here was becoming much more insistent. It was literally it was dragging me towards that egg; which I suppose had somehow landed intact. Since I had no reason to resist it anymore, I began trotting towards the egg. Honestly, at this point I was curious about what this feeling dragging me even meant. "Hey where are you going Dawn?" The sound of Twilight's voice behind almost made me ground to a halt; I say almost because I stopped trotting, but was still being dragged towards the egg. She was trotting next to me, looking down at my hooves in wonder. "How are you doing that?" Her eyes had widened, I guess she thought the fact that I was still moving while my legs remained still was rather strange. Honestly, I was getting used to it at this point. "I have no idea," She seemed rather annoyed by that answer, "but to answer your first question... do you remember that sensation that I was talking about earlier?" "I remember, you said that you felt like you needed to be out here..." I could almost see the cogs working in her mind, her eyes widened in surprise, "wait are you saying?" "Yah, whatever that egg that came from Celestia was, that was what's been calling me out here." I looked towards the groove I was leaving in the dirt, "and it's much stronger now." "This is amazing, I have to study it and learn how this works! I've never seen anything like it. I'm coming along." I suppose I didn't really have a choice or any real reason to stop her. Besides, she just looked so enthused; her eyes were sparkling with interest, she looked so incredibly cute. I think I'm going to call this scientist mode. "Sure, I could use the company." An idea almost literally hit me in the head now, this could be fun. "Hey Twilight I have something I want to test, mind helping me?" She blinked her eyes at me; I guess I had broken her train of thought. "Sorry what did you say?" "I asked if you would be willing to help me with a little test." Her eyes lit up at the word test; I don't really understand how or why she did that, but a lot of mares seemed to be able to make their eyes light up like that. I don't think I'd ever seen a stallion do it though. "Of course. What did you want to test?" This was perfect; this was going to fun. "I just need you to grab my tail." "Grab your tail?" One of her eyebrows rose upwards, "What would that test?" Okay, I hadn't thought that far ahead, what could I say that would make her do this? Oh I know. "It would test how much weight this energy can pull. Who knows when we're going to have another chance like this?" Her eyes lit up again. "You're right, how often does one get to test a completely unknown force anyway!" She tried to take a bite out into my tail, but right before she did my tail decided it wasn't going to get bitten and changed into a pair of bicycle handles. "I don't understand how that works, but after this is over I'm going to find out." That could be interesting actually, maybe I would finally know if my tail was haunted or something. Maybe a ghost was haunting Pie tails and its children would live within the tail of the Pie's child. Maybe the male ghosts were just less knowledgeable about what they could do and that was why we weren't able to do what the females could. I realized that was an unlikely theory and threw it into the deepest reaches of my mind; I would probably end up using it later anyway. Twilight reached out with her hooves and grabbed hold of my tail; her weight seemingly making no difference to my momentum; we continued to be pulled forward regardless. "So where did the egg land anyway?" "Somewhere in that direction, we'll find out when we get there." I couldn't decide whether I wanted this to last a long time or not; the ground wasn't the softest thing to slide on, but I was still having a lot of fun. It took almost half an hour before we reached the eggs landing spot. It was a good thing that the ground had become soft about halfway; it had been starting chafe. Now that we were here, I took glance around. It was rather strange; it looked like it had been constructed rather than grown. The egg was sitting in a nest surrounded by blue and white flowers. On second thought, maybe it had just landed on a birds nest in a tree and had crash landed in the flowers; wouldn't be the first time that coincidence had struck. "A dragon egg? Well that's odd." Twilight's voice drew my attention; I guess while I had been studying the surrounding area she had gone straight for the egg, "I've never read about dragon eggs being magically formed from the body of a pony, let alone an Alicorn. I wonder if there's anything special about it." That is rather strange really, why would this egg come from Celestia by way of a magic rainbow and why did I feel drawn to it anyway? I mean it didn't make much sense. "What do you think is inside of it?" Her eyes were sparkling again, scientist Twilight is still in charge it seems. "I honestly have no idea, maybe it's still just a dragon? I mean there isn't any real reason for it not to be." She smiled at me; the sparkle was growing brighter, which was beginning to worry me. I really don't know why that is, it was only a sparkle. "I guess the only way to know what's inside of it is to hatch it." Her smile brightened; I think she was having far too much fun with something that could be potentially dangerous. Of course, I'm not going to say that I didn't want to see what was inside as well. "So how do we do it?" "Like this." Before I could ask her what she meant, she had already begun to send a straight line of power energy at the egg. What little I could see out of the corner of my eye nearly blinded me; Twilight really held a lot of magic. Since I could do little to stop her at this point, I just looked at the egg hoping that it would react in some manner. Nothing happened and nothing continued to happen except that Twilight was becoming tired. What had once been an extremely bright beam of energy was starting to dim. I think I better stop her before she drops unconscious from exhaustion. "Twilight stop! I don't think this idea is working." She looked a little downcast, or maybe it just exhaustion, and I felt the need to try and perk her back up, "I have another idea though." She gave me a curious look, at least she wasn't frowning anymore; I hadn't liked how it looked on her. "What did you have in mind?" "Just let me have a shot." I began to build up power into my horn. I had the feeling that the reason why Twilight's magic hadn't worked was twofold. First she was a power Unicorn and this egg might want control magic instead. The other reason was a little more obvious, I was the one reacting to it and it might just want my magic. I fired a short bolt; I would never be able to keep up the kind of stream that Twilight had, but it seemed to work anyway. I could feel the magic resonating within the egg, beating like a heart. The egg began to crack; a piece of shell flew off, barely missing my eye by an inch. I don't know exactly why, but I felt elated by that response. I watched as bit by bit more of the egg shell was broken off and the creature inside it became visible. Finally, when the last bit of the egg was broken and the creature was visible it was obvious what it was "A baby dragon?" I guess she had still expected something grander, which made sense when one thought about it. An egg shaped by mystical forces from one of the most powerful beings on our planet and the thing that comes out of it, is a normal dark blue baby dragon. I could understand how that might feel underwhelming, but this dragon was what had been pulling me here; I wonder why that was. In fact I could still feel the pull towards it; it was a rather strange sensation now. "DAMN IT, I HAD ALMOST TAKEN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THAT MARE! I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST POWERFUL BEING ON THE PLANET!" Holy crap! The baby dragon could talk! I'd never heard about a baby dragon talking before. Even weirder, even if I'm not an expert of dragon physiology I could tell that this dragon was female, but it had a male voice. "EVEN WORSE, I LOST THE SECOND ONE AS WELL; BOTH ARE BEYOND MY REACH!" This was rather strange actually, I'd never heard of a baby dragon being able to take over anypony. I looked over at Twilight, who seemed to be lost in thought about something; I have no idea what. This was just too weird to make sense. I find it rather odd that the baby dragon still hadn't noticed us; perhaps it was too lost in whatever it was thinking about. I needed to learn more about the dragon before I did anything; there are always problems when ponies decide to take action without all the information and the best way to get information is to ask. "Hell-" The baby dragon took a glance at me and suddenly I realized I had just made the biggest mistake of my life. Its eyes were piercing black; I could feel the power behind those eyes, far beyond anything so young should be able to muster. "Hmm... Who are you? No matter, you'll do perfectly." The baby dragon opened its mouth and a black mist formed inside of it. I tried to move out of the way, but the only thing I could do was stand there; even my tail remained intert. "Dawn!" The black mist hit me and the last thing I saw was Twilight using her magic to send up a flare of energy into the sky. I suddenly realized that I should have asked Luna to come with me. "My, but this one is strong. If I didn't know better, I would think this one was an Alicorn; they were the toughest nuts to crack that I have ever had the pleasure of trying. Oh, but the fun I had..." Who was that? For that matter, where was I? Opening my eyes I began to survey my surrounding, expecting perhaps to see a hospital or something, I mean I had just been attacked, but instead I discovered that I'd seemingly gone blind; well it could be worse... "3...2...1..." Wait what am I thinking? I'm blind, how could it be much worse than this!? For that matter, when did this happen? Where did that countdown come from? What's going on here!? Okay calm down; let's deal with this one question at a time. I have no idea what's going on right now, but let's take a look at the facts: "One." I'm blind. Which is fairly bad in and of itself, "Two," I have no idea where I am, which isn't helping number one any, "and Three," I really want to fix problem one and two; I wish I could at least see something other than black. The world suddenly lit up; well that solved my first problem. It seems I hadn't really gone blind, I had just been in a very dark room. While I was glad that I wasn't blind, this still left me with my second problem; all I knew was that I was now in an endless room of bright light, rather than one that was black. I took a second look around; I still could only see the color white throughout the room, but something a little strange appeared in the corner of my eye. I turned towards it, if I looked really hard I could see a very small black spot; I was honestly surprised that I had first seen it out of the corner of my eye, it was just that small. I had no idea what it was, but I figured it couldn't hurt to take a look at it. Maybe it would be a way out of here. I began to trot towards it; the closer I got to it, the less likely it seemed that it would get me out of here and the more it seemed like it might become a problem. It looked much less like a dot now and looked much more like some form of animal. It stood on two legs and from this seemed to be near my own height. It appeared to be wearing something similar to a black operatic suit. I personally think that it was a rather odd choice of clothing to wear in a setting like this, perhaps it had been on its way to some kind of event? I couldn't see what its face looked like because it was facing away from me looking at a diamond that it held in its claw-like hands. I couldn't help feeling that it looked familiar to something that I had seen before, but what? Where did I know it from? I racked my brain; I knew I had learned about it somewhere and I was sure that if I thought about it for a bit I'd remember. Oh right that was where I knew it from! It was from- A popping sound from behind me startled, breaking my thoughts from reaching their conclusion; I turned around to see what had made the sound, it could be dangerous. However what I saw was far more startling than the sound had been. "Welcome class to Extinct Creatures that are Still Avoided 102. Once again I am your teacher Dodgem, today we will be learning about Body Snatchers." It was one of my memories, but I'd never seen one of them like this; they'd always been in my head, not out where anyone could see it. The familiar green Earth Pony pointed towards a board upon which was a picture of the creature I had just been looking at. You know it was rather strange that the creature was completely ignoring what was happening over here; Dodgem's voice had never exactly been the softest in the world, actually he was rather loud. Perhaps it was just so engrossed in that diamond? It was a thought anyway, but I wasn't going to trust it; especially when I now knew what it was, a Body Snatcher. I turned my attention back towards the memory. It was nice how these memories of my lessons always seemed to come at exactly the right time, giving me the answer I needed to deal with the current problem I was having; they were almost like a plot device. However, I know for a fact that this is not a story and there is no way that it is one of those; it is just my kind of coincidental luck. Dodgem's lessons had always been invaluable for me; if I ever run into his descendants I owe them one of the biggest thank you I could give them. "Now does anyone know what these creatures do?" Apparently my memories would pause while I was in thought; that was rather useful. For once it seemed that I would be the one to know the answer instead of Diamond; although considering that I'm currently several years older than Diamond is in this memory this memory that didn't mean much. "It's a creature that lacks a true body of its own and instead leaps into the bodies of others in order to survive; they require the bioelectric energy of ponies. Due to their parasitic nature it was decided that they were a danger to Ponykind and their extermination was warranted. This led to the eradication act passing through congress and ultimately being signed into law by Luna. Today, as far as ponies know, Body Snatchers have been exterminated from existence." Of course the fact that my younger self knew the answer makes me feel better about knowing it now. I remember learning all about those creatures because my teacher had been the one to sign that extermination into law; I had been rather curious as to why the law had been needed. That was before I had seen the pictures of what those parasites did. They forced themselves into their hosts; gestating inside of them until they became fully grown, feeding off the host's energy. Eventually they would burst free from the pony, leaving them a shell of the pony they had been before. Afterwards, they would begin the process again in a new pony. Their extermination had been required; Ponykind would have been destroyed if they had been left to continue. Still, it hadn't been a decision made lightly. "That is absolutely correct," Dodgem smiled at my younger self, "the only information you failed to mention was how we were able to remove them from a Pony's body without killing the host." He looked toward Diamond, "Do you know the answer Diamond?" I don't think I had ever learned that particular piece of information; I suppose it just hadn't been in the book I'd read on the subject or maybe I just hadn't been able to get past the pictures. I had been much younger when I had read that book and much more easily scared by gory imaged. "Of course, the way to defeat a body snatcher is-" The memory faded from view, Diamond's voice fading out before I could hear the final piece of vital information. Well that was just great, for the first time my memory had a failed me and right when I could have used it most. Honestly I couldn't help feeling a little angry about this; not only did I miss out on what would be very vital information, but I didn't even have anypony to vent it to. "Luna, do you think you'll be able to help him?" I looked up shocked, that was Twilight's voice. I turned around again to face towards the voice, seemingly while I had been focused on the memory in front of me, a portal had appeared behind me. Its silver surface shined brightly with Luna's image. What was going on here? This didn't make much sense. I've been saying that too often today. "C'mon you have to help him; he's trapped in there!" This voice was new; the only thing I could recognize about it was the gender, female. I wonder what she meant by trapped; I realize that I don't know where I am, but I can still move around freely. Unless this is really a very large cage and I'm trapped inside of it; which I suppose is technically possible, but it doesn't feel quite that way. It also doesn't explain why I can see my memories; I'd never heard of a magic that can project memories like this, just ones that could show other people memories through direct contact. "What do you mean little one?" Celestia was there too and she wasn't attacking Luna? Why was she there and why did she sound so much nicer than she usually did? This was starting to get annoying. I'm in a white room listening in on a conversation that is happening somewhere, I don't even know where I am, and a Body Snatcher is muttering to itself in the corner looking at a sun shaped diamond. Which reminded me that I really needed to get rid of the creature, it was a danger to all ponykind; not to mention myself. "I don't know how I know this, but he's trapped in there!" The new voice snapped me out of my thoughts; I could hear the concern flowing through her voice, whoever it was obviously cared for me. While I enjoyed the feeling; I wish I knew who it was. "He's trapped in his own head? Yeah right, that doesn't make any sense." I don't want to contradict Rainbow, but that explanation actually made perfect sense; which was nice because nothing else did. I mean it would explain all the weird phenomena that have been occurring to me since I arrived here. The way my wishing for light brought it into existence, how I could see my own memories in real time, and that countdown from earlier. It was my mind so I could make things happen in it; well unless this turned out to be my unconscious, you can't really control you're unconscious. If it was my unconscious, things would be slightly more difficult to deal with. The first thing I was going to try was simply willing myself out of here. I concentrated on being back in my real world body... Nothing happened... I heard the sound of a record scratching to a halt. This was not good; I was trapped in my own mind with a being known to kill its host's when it was done with them. I needed to find out why I couldn't just will myself out of here; maybe it was because of the Body Snatcher that's in here with me? That would make the most sense; my unconscious mind wouldn't be willing to leave such a dangerous creature alone in here, who knows what he could do without oversight. "Hmm maybe if I just crack this thing I'd be able to take over? Nothing else seems to be working." I could hear the Body Snatcher muttering, even at this distance I could hear it like it was standing right next to me. Which fits my theory; it is my mind, I would be able to hear anything that was said within it. This sound revelation was interrupted by a feeling of intense pain; it felt almost like somepony was squeezing a vice on my head; it was unbearable. Whatever that Body Snatcher was squeezing was causing this pain; I don't know how I knew it, but I did and I needed to stop him from destroying it. I tried lifting a hoof, aghhhh... I thought the pain had been bad before, but even trying to move increased the pain tenfold. I needed a better plan; maybe magic? I began to push a tiny amount into my horn, but that brought on stronger pain; not as bad as when I'd tried to move, but enough to keep me from actually using it. "Luna! He's in pain we have to help him!" I guess that portal was still open; I could hear Twilight yelling through it. "Well at least I can try to make amends for what happened to him this way." Celestia was being nice to me? I still don't understand it; she had never been that nice to me before. Either way I was glad that she decided to help, I could feel the pain beginning to lesson greatly; at the very least I would be able to move. For how long I was unsure; so I'd need to make it count. The first thing I'd need to do is stop the main source of this agony, the Body Snatcher. I didn't know how much longer I had before whatever Celestia had done ran out, so I'd need to take advantage of it quickly. For once there would be no planning, just action. I galloped towards the creature, which still seemed to be ignoring me; I suppose all of its focus was still on that diamond. Whatever the reason, I was glad for it because it let me knock him to the ground and the diamond straight out of his claws. The gem flew through the air and landed on the 'ground' before fading to become part of the white background. It didn't make much sense, I'm thinking this way too often since I got here, but it was my mind. I suppose it didn't really need to make sense. "What is this?!" It seemed surprised by my intrusion, I wonder why that was. I mean this is my mind; of course I'm going to be able to be here. He looked towards me, his face looked like a white mask with a small black goatee; reminded me of those ponies I used to see in old plays, the ones playing the villians. I'll never understand how a black goatee indicated evil; my uncle was a philanthropist and had used his magic to grow one. "Oh my... this is new. An anthormorphic representation of the being that I am trying to take over is actually within its own consciousness. Well now isn't this interesting." It rubbed its, for a lack of a better word, chin, "I wonder what it could mean?" I stared it straight in the eye, "It means that you need to get out." Unfortunately, it seemed less than intimidated by my statement and instead began to laugh. "You think that something as insignificant as you can tell me what to do! Me! One who is as ancient as the Alicorns themselves! You DARE TO TRY AND COMMAND ME AFTER IT WAS YOUR FAULT THAT I WAS KICKED OUT OF MY OLD HOST! I ALMOST HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OF HER AND EVEN HER SISTER! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IT TAKES TO GAIN CONTROL OF ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL BEINGS IN THE WORLD, AN ALICORN NO LESS?! NO I'M SURE YOU DON'T; IT'S HARD! I HAD SPENT ALMOST TWO THOUSAND YEARS TRYING TO CORRUPT HER! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE REVIVAL OF THE BODY SNATCHERS!" Honestly, I'm wondering if I should believe him about his age, his maturity sure doesn't match up to it. I mean it sounds to me like he was whining about failing due to someone else interfering; someone as old as that would likely just think up a new plan. Well at least this answers a few questions from quite a long time back, I'm getting the strangest feeling that Celestia wasn't in complete command of her faculties when she was doing a lot of the things she did, but since he seemed so willing to acquiesce to my questions, I'd use that to gain some time. I wonder if all villains do this sort of thing? "In other words, you're the one who sent Luna to the moon." I had no idea if I was right or not, but it didn't hurt to ask. "Of course, one of my finest moments really. I not only got rid of possibly the only creature that could stop me, but I also managed to infect her! It took quite a while to even gain the partial control I had, but I lost that too! Why am I telling you all this anyway?" He appeared rather surprised that he was still answering; honestly, I think I knew the answer. It was my unconscious mind, the same one that controls my tail; I think. It would make perfect sense that it would be fighting back; buying me time is a pretty good way of doing that. I think I know the best way to use this to my advantage. "So why are you telling me all this?" The most obvious question that always elicits a long monologue response from the villain in all the storybooks and since this was my mind that was likely where the inspiration for what's happening came from. "WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS! Wait, why am I telling you all this?" It moved its claw to his goatee and began to stroke it, "I mean I want to take over your body; it really doesn't make much sense to tell you all about my past and plans. I need to think about this." Okay... him have an introspective moment was not what I had in mind, but it'll work. I may not have long, but this should give me enough time to come up with decent plan. I really wish that memory had finished playing; I could have found out how to finish this creature off, but there was no use crying over spilt hay. I'd need a way to get it out of here and regain control of my body. The one thing I do remember about the removal of these creatures is that if you can get it out of your body then that particular Body Snatcher can't get back in; which was the only reason Ponykind could exterminate them. If they could have jumped from body to body, they would have done so. "An opening." I heard the creature mutter to itself quietly; my tail pulled out to the left and I jumped to the right. His claw was in the ground where I had been standing; if my tail hadn't warned me of that I would have been killed right then. This creature was much craftier than I had thought. Had all his speeches before been just an act? Was I fooling myself about my unconsciousness affecting him? My tail twitched a second time, pulling to the right, I dodged again. I wasn't going to get any extra time to plan this time was I. Maybe I should try to get it talking again? There wasn't any real downside to trying. "So you say that you're nearly as old as the Alicorns; what exactly was that like?" It paused in its latest attack; I could see him straining to reach me, but it was obvious it couldn't move. I suppose my gambit had been right, my mind was running on the Villian Monologue Rule. Which essentially meant that if you asked the villain a question they would need to answer you, they simply didn't have a choice; it was in their contract. "It was absolutely horrible. Do you know what it's like to be the very first of your species? To be their king and yet to fail them horribly when it finally came down to it." I didn't answer, the longer he took to talk the more time I had to plan. I didn't really bother to listen to anymore of his speech; it was likely slanted towards his own opinion and would end with some cliched line about joining him. Just because he had to monologue didn't mean that it would be useful or interesting. At least this time, it seemed he would actually be at it for a while; he'd take his time to finish answering that question. Back to forming a plan, I really need a new idea about what I could do. I mean I could just try willing him out; it's not like I have any better ideas right now. I concentrated on the thought of having it outside my mind, but of course it didn't work. I didn't really think it would; if it had been that easy they likely wouldn't have needed to be exterminated. So my backup plan, as always, is magic. The only problem is, like I said before, is that I'm not an attack specialists; I simply don't know that many offensive spells. This means that I probably would be unable to simply kick him out of my body with an attack. Hopefully I can do something... "Finally I'm done." I hear the creature mutter to itself. That was far too short; I needed more time to figure out a plan. I once again feel my tail pulling to my right. I dodge to the left, opening my mouth to form a new question for him to monologue about. "NOT THIS TIME BUCKO!" I feel its claw on my face; it beat my tail, how did it beat my tail? Nopony or creature has ever been able to beat my tail before and with his hand over my mouth I can't form any questions to force him to monologue. "mphm mphgmh mphhgh." Nope, definitely couldn't form a question with his hand over my mouth. "NOT GOING TO WORK; I'M GOING TO WIN THIS!" I was right; I really couldn't form the questions while its claw was covering my mouth. So the next option was magic. I really needed to hurry; I could feel the Body Snatcher's dark energy trying to infest my mental body, which was actually worse than if it had been my physical body. My mental body was what controlled the physical body and was what made me who I am. Ok, no more time for thinking; I needed to move into action again. I draw upon my well of magic, only to feel anything I draw drain into the creature's claw. This could be a problem; I couldn't do anything at all. I could feel the Body Snatcher's dark energy flowing faster into my mental body; it was becoming such a large amount that I could begin to see it as a dark aura surrounding my mental body and turning my mental landscape black. I continued to struggle, I couldn't do much else; soon he would be in control of my body. I really needed some help; something I could exploit. "What is that dark aura?" Twilight you're a lifesaver and I love that candy. "The Dark Aura is what appears when I'm about to take over the body of a pony; if I win than it completely covers them and they become my dark puppet, but if they win..." While the creature was distracted by his need to monologue I moved away from it. I owe Twilight something huge for that; I would be in a really big bind if she hadn't spoken. I was quite far away from the creature now; I was not going to let it grab me again. I could still feel the dark energy roiling inside me, if it grabbed me again it would likely completely fill me up with it and that would be all she wrote. I tried to force some magic out of my horn again, but I didn't even get a small spark, that thing had drained more energy from me than I cared to think about; I wouldn't be able to cast a single spell without some more power. Wait...IDEA! A lit candle appeared hanging over my head; my unconscious mind needs newer gags. I just needed to ask Twilight for her help; I'd just ask her to lend me some power. Unfortunately, this still left me with the task of somehow getting my real mouth to move; maybe if I concentrated, I could force the words out. A claw filled my vision again; I guess it had decided to forgo his usual announcement that he had finished his monologue. This was going to make it much harder, not only did I have to concentrate with him holding onto me, but I also had even less time. I could again feel its energy trying to fill up my body; I really needed to hurry. I ignored the feeling and focused on my mouth; I needed to move my real mouth, not this mental one. This would work; it needed to work. "Tw..i..light...I...need..." I could hear my own voice coming from the portal; unfortunately it seems that the Body Snatcher could as well, the energy forced into me nearly doubled in intensity. "Dawn! You're okay!" I could hear the relief in Twilight's voice, but couldn't see her face because of the direction I was being held in, "What are you trying to say?" "I'm trying to say that I need you to let me take over. I need to rebuild my people; it's a necessity. Let me take your body for my own and I will let everyone else live..." I have no idea what it's talking about, but I really don't care. He was monologuing again, which meant that I could continue my little plan with a little more breathing room. I back off farther this time; far enough that no matter how fast this creature is, it wouldn't be able to reach me for at least a minute or so. I concentrated again on moving my real mouth; I needed to finish that request. "you...to....le..nd...me...po...wer." I could only hope that it was understandable, because I wasn't going to get another chance; the Body Snatcher seemed to have learned from its past experiences and had gigantic earplugs in place this time; I guess mental manipulation is part of his abilities. If this hadn't been such a dangerous moment, I likely would have started laughing at the sight. Once again his claw was covering my mouth; if Twilight didn't do what I asked than this was it. Its energy was flowing through me again; honestly it was getting rather annoying how many times this had happened. I could feel it almost completely filling me, only a second or so was left before it won. "You can feel it can't you; I'm almost done. I'll have won and you'll have lost. You'll be my puppet for the rest of your life and when you're gone I'll just take over another Pony." I guess Twilight hadn't understood the message; I still didn't feel any power coming in; I was really done for... I could feel my mental faculties...sl...ow..in..g... d...o..w...n... m..y... e..y...e...s... c...l...o...s...i...n...g ... A......b...u...r...s...t......o...f.......l...i...g...h...t... W...h...a...t...i...s...th..is...f..eel...ing...it... feels amazing. I've never felt this much power before in my life, it's flowing all throughout my body; it's absolutely incredible. It felt like I would be able to take down even a Dragon with this and those things could resist magic like noponies business. I opened my eyes to see the most wonderful sight I had ever seen. Twilight was standing right next to me, her horn touching my own; we were so close that if I had moved even an inch we would be kissing; I could feel myself blushing from the proximity. I could only hope that the real me wasn't also doing that; Luna would never let me live it down and would try to play matchmaker. Hmm... ok change that last thought, I could deal with Luna teasing me if she also played matchmaker. A second burst of energy flowed through me, it was nothing compared to the sheer amount of power that Twilight was lending me though. I had to wonder where she had gotten such large reserves; they were almost as large as what I had felt from Luna. Even power Unicorns don't usually have this much. That was unimportant right now, what was important was taking down the Body Snatcher. I gathered up Twilight's power and formed it into a cleansing matrix. This spell wasn't used too often, but it would be just perfect for this situation. The sheer energy radiating off the spell was cleansing the dark energy that surrounded it before it was even cast; I'd never be able to do something like this on my own. A bright flash went off. The mental landscape, which had been turning black from the dark energy flowing through it, had changed to a whitish-red color that most people call pink. I don't know why it chose that color, but it didn't matter; I would be able to kick this creature out now. "What is this?! I've never felt anything like it before! This is nothing like that Alicorn's trick with the dragon egg!" The creature had been blasted far away from us. I ignored it for the moment, at this point it didn't matter. I needed to give thanks to Twilight for helping me before we could finish this. I don't know why I felt that way, but I did. "Thanks for coming Twilight." I said looking her in the eyes, not that I would have had much choice anyway. "You're welcome," she smiled at me, "Now how about we finish this creature off?" I gave her my own smile back. I began to charge up one of the few attack spells that I actually knew; an Aura Beam. "STOP IGNORING ME! I'M THE IMPORTANT ONE HERE; I'M THE VILLIAN, THE HERO IS ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO FACE THE VILLIAN. NOT IGNORE HIM!" I heard what the creature was saying, but I didn't really care about it. I continued to build up energy in my horn; Twilight's power and my control combined making it the easiest spell I had ever cast. The spell was almost blinding, but I kept my eyes open; aiming the spell directly at the creature. Its eyes were wide with fright, I ignored its expression; it had been the one to have my teacher sent to the moon,the one to place me in stone, and tried to take over my body to hurt others; it was going down. I felt a slight jolt of increased energy flowing through my horn at the thought; I ignored it, intense emotions had the chance of releasing extra energy sometimes. The spell was finished, I fired. A beam of the brightest pink light was released from Twilight and my horns. It filled my mental landscape, heading straight towards the creature; there was no way it could dodge the spell. It hit it straight on. "No, nonononono; I will not be forced from a third pony in the same day!" Its face was a mask of anger and horror. The sheer power of the spell was forcing the Body Snatcher into the air, but couldn't yet seem to force it out. I could see it slipping, its grasp on the 'ground' very weak; it probably didn't help that my mind wanted it out. I felt elation; soon I would be back in the real world. His eyes glinted and he gave a slight smile, "Fine keep your body, but if I'm going to lose I'm taking you down with me." In one of its claws it held an hourglass shaped gemstone; where had he gotten that from? The feeling of elation that I was feeling diminished greatly at the sight; I didn't know what it was, but I knew what it was bad for me. "My revenge." He threw the gem towards the 'ground', flying into the dark abyss after releasing it, "Mwhaha this is my vengeance, but this will not be the end of me. Believe iittttt." I ignored his words, he couldn't do anymore damage, tracking the gem as it fell to the ground. Intellectually I knew that it would merely become a part of my mind's room, just as the last one had, but somehow it was worrying me. Its descent seemed to have slowed to a crawl, my heart beat getting faster and faster as it fell. I didn't even realize that I had begun to gallop towards the gem, but I could hear Twilight following me. I wasn't fast enough; the gem hit the ground...and shattered. Memories and emotions, I could feel them flowing through my mind; that was what had been inside the gem, the memories and emotions of my time locked in stone. Somepony or something had locked them all into that little gemstone of my mind; I just wish they had made it harder to break. Now that it had been released I was relieving all those memories and emotions all over again; all in a single instant. All those visits, all those deaths, every single moment, it was all perfectly crystalized. All this time those memories had been dulled, only now did I really feel everything that I had felt before. I could hear someone yelling at me; asking me if I was alright. I wasn't all right, I don't think I'd be alright again for a long time. I can't handle this... Author's Notes: Well here it is, the sixth chapter. I hoped you enjoyed or will enjoy, depending if you just skipped the chapter and scrolled down here or not, having read or reading the story. Remember that Stars and Thumbs points up are great, but only feedback makes the story better, so please leave me some. Finally a quick note, the first chapter has been changed slightly; it won't effect the plot, but you can read it if your interested.

Luna's Student

Doctor, Barber, Mind

Disclaimer: We are here to scare you and spook you, because we don't own you. The MLP is theirs not ours. Please understand... I couldn't think of anything better Seeing the worst moments of your life flash before your eyes, the emotions hitting you a thousand fold... I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. The scenes play over and over right in front of my eye, never ending, forever repeating. I want to stop them, but I can't even move. I can just watch as they flow past my eyes. I keep seeing the faces of those who came to visit me, they always looked so happy, but then it would get to that point. Their family members would come dressed in their black suits, somber, and look at me with eyes wet with tears, each time leaving that same flower, a black lily. They never talked to me, never really saw me, and never tried to help me. I'd watch them, their eyes teary... I can't even think of a word to describe how terrible it was. I watched the deaths of those who I'd met, those who had never known me, I couldn't deal with this. I had so wanted friends, but I knew that even if I had been able to make them, they would always die. I just can't deal with seeing all this again. I wish it would all just stop. I don't need to see all these losses again. They're just too much for anypony to watch. The scenes jump to a new... No, not this one again; this one was the absolute worst, I was directly responsible for what happened... I hadn't been able to help her. I'd been sitting on this pedestal for such a long time. I don't know how long I've been here. There were even a few times that I wish somepony would knock me over and put me out of my misery, but I knew that if I waited long enough I would eventually get out, eventually someone would talk to me. Of course the fact that I was cognizant enough to actually complain about my existence means that somepony is nearby, but the garden is empty. I suppose it must just be some gardeners nearby cutting up some bushes. Ah well, they would be gone soon enough and I could stop contemplating my lonely stone existence and go back to my own empty world where I can more easily wait out the days of my imprisonment. "Hi my name's Phoenix, I'm only six years old. Who are you?" What? Where had this orange and red maned filly come from? Is she talking to me? Probably not, she's probably just at that age where talking to inanimate objects is considered fun, pretend play basically or maybe she didn't know the difference between a statue and a pony. "Course I know the difference between statues and ponies, I'm talkin' to ya ain't I. I mean who else is around?" Okay... So either this filly could really understand what I was saying or she was one of the best pretenders I had ever seen. Well only one way to find out. Phoenix if you can hear me could you please say two-thousand-sixty-seven? "Well ain't that a strange thing to ask, a course I can. Two-thousand-sixty-seven." You're kidding me; this little filly could actually hear me. I don't know how it works, but I don't care, I finally have someone to talk to. Do you know how rare that is when you've been trapped in stone for? If you can even get a single conversation out of it, you take it. No matter how silly the subject matter may be. Phoenix would you mind telling me about yourself? I don't get much conversation around here. "Now why in world would ya want to know about me? Are you one of them there pedophiles?" Please tell me she's joking. Pretty please with sugar on top; I mean I'm a statue, what in the world could I possibly do. "Hmm that sure is a good point... Well alright I can tell you a bit about myself." At least she didn't think I was a pedophile anymore. "My full name is Phoenix Apple, my family comes from a long ways away, but we're here for the Apple conv-ve-ve. Gosh darnit." Apple Convention? All of the gardeners were talking about it; it seems to be their favorite subject. "Yeah that's it; we're here for the Apple Convention. We gets to stay in the loveliest place that Ah've ever seen. It's absolutely huge; there are so many other ponies there! Even better, our entire family has come down for the convention. I get to see all my cousins. It's the most fun Ah've had all year." Her eyes were wide with excitement. I was glad that she was enjoying herself. I hadn't had a single pony talk to me in so long that listening to anyone talk directly to me would have been great, but listening to someone excited about what the subject was even better. It was just so interesting. "Phoenix, it's time to go!" Some voice called out. I saw Phoenix turn towards the voice, I suppose it must be someone she knows. "Ah shoot, it was nice talking to you mister statue, but Ah've got to go." I understood of course, but I couldn't help hoping that she would come back and visit me again at some later time, hopefully for a little longer next time. Well couldn't hurt to ask I suppose. Would you mind coming talk to me again? I get very few real visitors here. "Of course, you're fun mister statue!" Yes! Even if it's only for a little while I'll have someone to talk to, this is great! Oh yeah, I should probably tell her my name. Just so you know my name is Dawn Pie. "Good to meet'cha Dawn. See ya later." Phoenix visited me each day throughout that week. She was the first friend that I'd been able to make since being stuck in stone and her visits were the highlight of my day, much as Diamonds had beet. However, her final visit... "Hey Dawn Ah'm plum sorry, but this is the last time that ah'll get to visit ya." I'd known it was coming, but I hadn't really wanted to think about it. For the first time I had been given someone to talk to and so of course it had to end quickly. The only solace I could take was that perhaps there were others who would be able to talk to me, but I still wish I could give her something, anything for visiting me. That was when I felt something odd; which was any feeling at all really. It felt like I was being slid across my pedestal. What was going on? Why was I moving closer to Phoenix? Why was Phoenix just watching me without moving; she must be able to tell that I'm getting closer to her. If she didn't move I'd end up right on top of her... PHOENIX MOVE, YOU NEED TO MOVE. Why isn't she moving? Can't she hear me? PHOENIX MOVE OUT THE WAY, PLEASE MOVE! She still didn't move. Did whatever she had before that let her talk to me wear off? Is this the worlds way of telling me that having a friend was impossibility for me? I tried to resist being moved, but I was stone. Stone can't do anything. The closer I got to her, the more worried I felt and the harder I tried to get myself to stay on the pedestal to absolutely no effect. I kept yelling at Phoenix, but she just stood there oblivious to what was going on and talking about her day at the Apple Convention. I was teetering on the edge, I was going to fall and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I shouted one last warning before I fell; right on top of Phoenix. I'd lost all sensation in my stone body, but the lack of tactile sensations just made it feel all the worse. I need to get off her, get off her, come on; I don't care if I am stone, I'm going to get off her. She's going to be okay, she's not going to die; especially not like this. My mind strains against the stone bonds, but intellectually I know it's useless... stone can't move. Still I tried while staring straight into Phoenix's eyes as her breathing became slowed and labored. I watched as that glimmer of who she is faded away, until it was completely gone. The small spark of Phoenix was snuffed out by me. I have never wanted to cry as much as I do right now; this was worse than when Diamond had died, a least she had just died of old age. I could only watch as a few of the Royal Guards came and placed me back upon the pedestal. I ignored it, too lost in my own thoughts to really recognize what was going on. Later that day I heard that the Apple family had pressed charges for my destruction, but Celestia had forbid it. I wish she had allowed them to do it. I'd killed that sweet little filly. It's all my fault, I killed the only friend I've had in such a long time. I only realize now how lucky I was to have that lock on my memories because I'm now realizing how I really felt. I don't think I could handle making another friend just to have it end in the same way as all those I watched... or worse the only one I spoke to. I just couldn't deal with losing everything again. It was better that I remain here then deal with all of those other ponies again, no matter how painful it is. So I remained, watching my horrible memories flow past me, not even trying to escape, just watching. I sit and wait for oblivion that comes to all ponies, hoping that it arrives quickly so I don't have to deal with the real world again. Holding all my pain to myself and reliving it, hoping that no one else will have to deal with my pain. I don't want to bother others. "Whoa! Never seen anything like this before." Not another pony, please let it just be my imagination; I don't want to deal with others, I don't want to be hurt when they go away. Please don't give me another friend. I don't think I could deal with losing another one. I just stare straight into Phoenix's eyes, trying to block out the sound of any tricks my mind decided to play on me. I needed to stay here, I didn't want to leave. "How did this happen?" This one sounded different from my mind's first trick; good job trying to distract me from these scenes brain, but I don't want to meet ponies I could lose again, I want to remain here where it's perfectly safe from that loss. If you really want to be helpful than lock me in here tighter, until I just fade away. I just want to resign myself to this existence, where the only thing I'll lose is myself and then I won't have to worry about anything. "What's wrong with him?" The first voice was back, I guess my brain must think that it was better for me to leave. It was wrong though, it was better that I stay here. "I don't know, but I know we need to help him. He's locked himself in there and I can't get him out." The voice sounded distressed and it was my fault. If I was dead than it couldn't be distressed about me. "Go away. You shouldn't be worry about me. It'll just hurt me too much when you end up leaving me." Hopefully that would get rid of them. I really don't want to meet any more new ponies; they would die like the others. "No way are we going to leave you here to wallow in your misery. It's pointless." I can feel my anger rising slightly, why couldn't they just leave me alone. This was the perfect world for me. There wasn't anypony else I could lose here, it was just me and even that would eventually fade away. "Go away." "No. There is no way I'd ever leave a friend in a place like this." No... Please not that word again, I really don't want friends, I couldn't stand to lose them again. "I wouldn't do that either!" Two...friends... No, no, not again. I don't want to deal with the loss again. I just can't. "NO GO AWAY!" I couldn't help shouting, my fear of what would happen was simply leaking out. I couldn't deal with them... Please don't make me go out there and lose a new set... I could feel the tears streaming down my face, I just couldn't stop them. "Please don't make me come out. I can't deal with the real world." "Sorry, but I can't just leave a friend behind. We're getting you out of here. Now are we doing this the easy way or the hard way?" "I'm not coming out, so do whatever you want." They couldn't do anything, they were just figments my mind created to trick me into leaving. So let them do what they wanted, I was just going to sit here and wait for my death. "The hard way it is then." I just continued to look into the dark depth of my memories, watching as the flowed past when everything went black. What was happening? Bring my memories back! I needed to stay here where there wasn't anyone who could leave me, being all alone was the only way I could stay sane. I heard a cracking sound. Right in front of me a small crack had formed in the darkness. I don't understand why they were doing this, I wanted to remain here where nopony could hurt me and I couldn't hurt them. I galloped to the crack; I was going to close this and go back to where I belonged, alone, but nothing I did made any difference, the crack just grew wider. Soon everything around me began to fall to pieces revealing a world of pink and right in front of my eyes sat a smugly smiling Rainbow Dash. I felt an urge to punch in the muzzle, but it soon faded away and I was left without much feeling at all. "No it was perfect, a place where nothing could leave me. Why, why couldn't you leave me in there? I don't want any friends." I wanted to go back there, but it was gone and I didn't know how to bring it back. I didn't want to deal with this, ponies would only leave me. "No that's just you sulking in a thousand years of pain and you know it. I wouldn't be much of a friend if I just left you in there." "Why do you insist on calling me friend?" My voice was listless, I didn't want her to be my friend, she'd just go away like all the others did, "Why couldn't you have just left me in there, I wouldn't have hurt anypony in there and nopony would have hurt me." "Why wouldn't I help you? You helped us out earlier, do you know how much easier my job is now?" Really, she couldn't think of a better reason "I was also the one who got you into the problems. I was trying to get to you girls there to help complete a prank on Celestia." She just stared at me, hopefully that would get her to leave me alone. "Wait so you knew that Princess Luna had been turned into that thing?" "Well no, but..." "And you knew that the Elements would end up chasing after Celestia?" Where was she going with all this? "No..." "Then why should I believe that it was your entire fault. I'm not saying that you aren't responsible for at least part of what happened, but that doesn't mean that you hurt others. It just means that you need to make up for it." I have no idea what she's on about now. "Besides, do you really think that you staying in here isn't hurting ponies?" Ah now we were back on track, this made so much more sense to me. "Yes I do. All the ponies I knew are dead. My family is dead. Anypony who would be affected by my absence is dead." Maybe now she'd let me go back to my misery. "What about Luna!" A new voice spoke up. I blinked once, I hadn't thought about that before. Luna was still around, there was still at least one pony who hadn't left me; well mostly. I heard a cracking sound like something was breaking apart. Before I could respond the new speaker continued, "And there's also... well... me." I turned slightly to see who this speaker was. In front of me sat a small smiling pink and blue dragon. Why would she worry about me, I don't think I've seen her before in my life. "Who are you?" She looked towards the ground, depression just seeming to swallow her previous expression. I could feel my heart cracking a little. I didn't want friends because they could leave me, but both my mind and my heart disagreed with me. They both wanted to help this little creature right in front of me, but I needed to keep myself separate from her. I couldn't let myself be drawn in again just to be hurt, but it seemed I would be hurting her whether or not I kept myself separate from her. Besides it felt there was just something about her, it just felt like she would never leave me, like I had some connection to her. I took a deeper look at her, there was something that was tickling the edge of my memory and it felt important... Wait a second, what was that symbol on her tail? A sun rising from an ocean, that was my.... This was my familiar wasn't it? I'd been waiting so long to meet her. I looked at her again. She was just looking at me with her wide eyes, almost on the verge of tears. No matter how much I fear this connection, I couldn't live with myself if I let this continue, I just couldn't. I walked up slowly up to her and hugged her. I felt warmer, I know that what I'm doing could potentially come and bite me in the behind, but I knew that I needed to do this... I needed to leave so I could still be Luna's student and this one could be my familiar. I could only hope that this would work out better than before, at least this time I could actually talk to the ponies. The small dragon just smiled back at me. Somehow, I just know that at the very least I won't have to worry about her leaving me. There was just one question that was plaguing my mind. "So what is your name?" Hey I might have realized who she was, but that didn't mean that I would know her name; just because I have a direct emotional connection with her does not mean that I can read her thoughts. "Um..." She started to poke two her claws together in front of her, "well... I don't have one." Wait What? She doesn't have one? That just makes me want to cry, "You're supposed to give me one." I was supposed to do what? Oh right, part of the familiar ritual, it was kind of a binding I suppose, connects the two individuals on a deeper level. "Oh right, sorry about that." Okay I'd need to give this some thought, it wouldn't do to just give her any name out of the blue, but I couldn't just leave her without one. What would be a good name for her, I mean she would have to live with it for her entire life; I didn't want ponies to laugh at her. Now she was pink in coloration with dark blue scale, kind of the reverse of my own coloration really, what would fit with that? Pinkie? Nah that one's taken. Topaz? Wrong color. Ah I think I know. "Sakura. Named after those trees that bloom pink flowers once a year." I thought it fit and apparently so did Sakura because she jumped towards me and gave me another hug. I guess she liked hugging as much as I do; which is good because I have a lot of them that no one ever let me give out. While we were hugging I felt something strengthen between us, like the bond had grown tighter. I couldn't actually see it, even out of the corner of my eye, but I could feel it grow. Tears began to fall from my eyes anew. Well with that little diversion, okay big diversion, over with, there were still other matters to attend to. Specifically I wanted to know how they got here, it may be my idle curiosity and need for knowledge, but that didn't stop me from wanting to know. If I didn't find out now it would bug me until I did. The only pony I'd ever known who could jump into ponies minds or dreams was Luna and obviously she wasn't the one here. Even more intriguing was how they had changed that egg of memories I had been in. I'd never heard of anything that was able to change a pony's dreams. "So how did you get in anyway?" I really wanted to know about this. It could be so interesting. "Because I'm Rainbow Dash and I'm just awesome like that." She was grinning like a maniac. I stared at her. I guess she couldn't take much of one pony staring at her because she soon looked away. "What?" "Do you really expect me to believe that?" The incredulousness I felt flowed out in my tone. "Oh fine," She pouted at me, "it's because I'm a Night Pegasus. We're the ones in charge of making the night run smoothly and dreams fall under that purview. Happy now?" She pouted at me, I suppose she hadn't liked that I'd made her give a real answer. Either way her answer made more sense, without Luna around to make the night run smoothly somepony would need to take over position. I suppose it had just fallen into the hands of the Night Guards descendants. In any case it was amazing that something like that had developed from the original genetic concepts. "Yes." That just left one question I needed answered and this one was probably the most important of the bunch. "Do you know how to get out of here? Because I don't." That's right, we needed a way to get out of here, I mean I don't feel like staying in my own mind for too long, well without being able to move in the real world anyway, and I don't think either of the other two want that either. I would think that it just involved me waking up in some manner, but since that hasn't happened yet I didn't know what I was supposed to do. "Well the obvious answer is you wanting to leave here." Well it couldn't hurt anyway. "I want all three of us to get out of here." Nothing happened, probably should have guessed that, "Any other ideas?" "Of course! There's always the way us Night Pegasi do it. You just need to grab on." Well I had no idea what was about to happen, but it couldn't hurt to try. I reached out two hoofs and grabbed her tail, while Sakura grabbed my own with her teeth. "Hold on tight, we're getting out of here." I suddenly didn't think this was that great of an idea, part of me still thought I should stay here, safe and away from anypony that could leave me, but a larger part of me felt that I should try again, that I should at least try. In some ways I still felt like I should just be staying here, but more of me wanted to try and make new memories; enough to get rid of all the bad ones I had gotten when I was stuck in stone. However, I didn't get a chance to voice my concerns before Rainbow Dash had taken to the air, dragging the both of us along with her. The air rushed past us at increadible speeds, I'm pretty sure that we were moving at the speed of sound, if the rainbow trail behind us was anything to go by. Honestly I was rather enjoying myself. I'm not sure I could say the same about my familiar though. I could hear her screaming through my tail. I kind of wish that I had been doing this under my own power though, it think it would be more enjoyable. Maybe when I get out of here I'll practice that transformation spell and actually learn how to fly. It would definitely be an interesting experience. *BOOM* I blinked once, what had just happened? Why did the breeze seem to be flowing upward now instead of sideways? I looked down, oh that makes sense. The ground was coming closer to us every second and Dash seems to be rather out of it, probably because she took the brunt of whatever we had run into. The ground was growing closer and closer, we had maybe a second before we hit. I began to flap my arms, I know that it wouldn't work, but I had to try something. The ground was less than a foot away now. This is probably going to hurt... *bounce* Huh? What just happened? I know we hit the ground, but why are flying up and down again? I mean that doesn't make much sense. Suddenly, I remembered that we were in my mind. Of course it wasn't going to hurt, this wasn't real ground. Well that was a good thing at least. We bounced a few more times before we settled down again on the ground. "Well that didn't work." I stood up, "Are you two alright?" "Yeah I'm fine." Sakura sounded alright, but strangely I didn't hear a thing from Rainbow. Turning towards her, I couldn't stop myself from laughing; Dash was stuck in the 'ground' head first. Honestly she looked like nothing short of an ostrich. It didn't take her long to pull it out, but I'm adding that one to my good memory pile. She glared in my direction. "Yeah laugh it up. I've seen what usually happens to you." I kept laughing anyway, it happened to me far too often to care, but I rarely got to see it happen to others. Sakura joined soon after, Rainbow joined in after a little while. Dash was the first to stop laughing, followed soon by Sakura and me. "Well that was kind of fun, but what the buck was that?" Dash glared at whatever it was we had run into, "I've never seen anything like it and I've been in a lot of minds." I wish I could tell her, but I honestly had no idea. Generally from what I understood the actual entering and exiting of a pony's mind is a rather simple affair, but altering it was the hard bit; which makes what Dash did earlier rather amazing. I mean it's likely that she could only do it because of the fact that she had my familiar with and was able to use that connection, but still amazing. I wasn't going to tell her that though, she already had enough of an ego. Still though, this barrier was something I'd never read about or seen anywhere. "It's a Psyche Locke," I looked towards Sakura in surprise; how would she possibly know something like that, "Hey don't give me that look; I know what you learned, you just forgot about it." I'd heard about familiars that had that kind of ability, but they were incredibly rare and I'd never heard of one that could actually pull on memories the partner didn't know about. That was rather interesting, but something I'd leave testing about later. "So do you actually know what that means?" I still don't think that I'd ever actually heard of that information before, but anything was possible. "Yuppers!" She jumped in the air pointing towards the sky, she just looked so cute. "They're a protection for the mind, generally created when a creature has felt some form of trauma." That didn't make me feel very good about my mental state right now, but there wasn't really anything I could do about it. "So do you know how we break it?" "Not a clue!" I had to sigh at that, but at least we knew more now, "But if I had to guess, you don't want us to leave you alone in here." "Huh?" "Hey that would actually make sense. I know that a couple of the more traumatized minds that I've worked with have sometimes caused me some problems, but nothing this strong. This is on a whole other level." I guess that I still haven't completely let go of those feelings, but I'd need to at least let some of them out, if only to get us all out of here. It's a necessity and I'd do it. I think I knew how to do this, but it was going to be rather strange. "I need a hug." Rainbow Dash blinked at me once. "You need a what?" "I need a hug." I swept my gaze from Rainbow to Sakura, "From both of you." Apparently Sakura didn't need much encouragement, because she ran up and gave me one, but Dash looked like she would need some more reasons. "Um why?" "I honestly think that it will help us get out of here." "Well... alright I suppose, doesn't make much sense to me, but I guess it's worth a shot. You better not tell anyone though." She flew at me quickly and gave me a hug, I could hear the sound of glass shattering and the world went white. Heh, guess the power of Hugs beats out the power of Trauma any day. It was dark again, but the reason why was obvious, my eyelids were still closed. I could feel something soft beneath me, but it still felt like one of the least comfortable things I have ever laid on and that includes the time I slept on rocks, but it was likely that I was lying on top of a bed. I opened my eyes to confirm my suspicions and low and behold I was right. That had been fairly obvious really, but the thing that surprised me was that when I looked up I could see only white. Honestly, that was rather comforting if only because of how much of a contrast it made to the darkness I had been feeling earlier. White represented purity and cleanliness, which I could really do with right now. "Oh good, you're awake." My attention was drawn to a white Unicorn standing nearby; her flank marking was hidden from my sight by the angle I was laying at, so I could only guess at her profession. That was rather unfortunate, if I could have seen perhaps I could have figured out where I was at the moment. However, her demeanor honestly reminded me of those barber's that I used to have to see once a year, it had something to do with the look in her eye like she was trying to find out where to draw the blood from. I still remember how every year I'd have to go in for an exam and a haircut, two bits. I need to work on my puns. "My name is Doctor Nautilia." I suppose that I could have been wrong or maybe the term doctor is what they use instead of barber now, "and you're in the personal hospital of the princesses." What was I doing here? I mean I realize I'd been knocked out for a while, but I didn't think it would have been long enough for me to end up in a medical facility. Yes I don't know what the word hospital means. I'm just going with the idea that it's somewhat similar to the barber's. "According to your medical report it seems that you have been through a rather nasty incident; you've been completely unresponsive for nearly a full week." Well I guess that would explain how they got me here. If I had been unconscious for a whole week it that was likely enough time for me to be moved pretty far. I guess I really owed Dash and Sakura one for getting me out of there. I could have been stuck in there for the rest of my life. Of course for part of it at least that was what I had wanted, but that was done with for now. I could deal with the losses because at the very least I had Luna, Sakura, and Dash. I hope. Now though, I'd like to get out of here, there wasn't any real reason for me to stay, I mean I'd already been sitting in this bed for long enough. I opened my mouth to ask about it. "..." I realized that my mouth was utterly devoid of liquid, I suppose being unconscious for that long is not conductive to getting basic necessities. The doctor seemed to have noticed my distress because she filled a cup of water for me and handed it to me with her magic. I tried reaching out with my own magic, but I simply couldn't seem to pull anything into my horn. My reserves felt like they were completely drained and considering what had happened to me, it was certainly a possibility. The real problem was that I had been resting in this bed for nearly a week now, even if I hadn't realized it at the time. That much rest should have easily let me recover my magical energy; the fact that it didn't is rather disconcerting. Perhaps the fact that my mind had actually been actively trying to pull me out of my depression hadn't given it enough time to completely rejuvenate my ability to use magic. I could only hope that was the case and that I hadn't somehow lost access to my magic for the rest of my life. I did not want to find myself without my magic for the rest of my life. At the moment not being able to use my magic didn't matter much, but it would likely become an issue in the near future. I had learned how to operate without magic, but that didn't mean I didn't want to have it when I needed it. In any case I still need to get a drink of that water, my mouth was starting to feel like it was covered in sand. How had not noticed this when I first woke up anyway? I grabbed the cup from the doctor with my hooves and drank it slowly; I know that if you drink water too quickly when you haven't had any for a while it can cause water intoxication. I have no idea what water intoxication is, but I don't want to find out. Not unless I read it in a book anyway. The doctor quirked an eyebrow at me; I guess she found it odd that I was using my hooves instead of my magic to hold the cup. To be fair if our roles had been reversed I likely would be just as surprised. There weren't very many Unicorns out there that would use their hooves when magic was available, if only because it was more convenient. I saw her glance down at her paper and watched as she made a few marks on it. I wonder what's on that paper anyway. Well now that my throat had been lubricated I could actually ask about it. "Eh, so what's with the paper doc?" I began to chew on the carrot in my mouth. I have no idea where it came from, but I'm going to enjoy it anyway. Asking questions about why some things happen to me has never been conductive to good mental health anyway, especially when it concerned some of the thing my family and I could do. Besides I'm hungry. "Hmm?" She glanced up from her papers to look at me, her eyes widening slightly at the carrot before returning back to normal. I suppose she was just going to ignore the sight of a magical carrot. Considering what some I've seen some Unicorns do when they are hurt, I'm not really sure I would be surprised either. "It's your medical report; it's missing a lot of information." That's odd I remember going to the barber's just a week before I became stone, oh. Well that was probably why it was missing so much information, it was over a thousand years out of date. It was rather surprising that they still had the thing. It had been over a thousand year paper filing must have gotten a lot better, "When was the last time you saw a doctor?" "It wasn't that long ago really," which wasn't really a lie, relatively speaking. I don't think she really needed to know the details right now, "I suppose I just had a really poor doctor." Which was absolutely true, even from what little I could see from my bed medical technology had had advanced so much that what those barber's knew must have become completely obsolete. Nautilia frowned, "Well that's not good. Without a baseline we can't check to make sure that you're fit for release." That was not what I wanted to hear, I did not want to be here any longer than I had to be. "Is there any way that I could be released earlier?" I was a little desperate to get out and thank some ponies. Besides I've never really liked to sit in one place for too long. "Well if we give you a basic physical before you leave, we could probably use that for the time being. However, in the future we will need you to go to have a full physical." Well that would work for me. Probably wasn't the worst idea to have an exam done anyway, I don't know if any new viruses or something like them had been developed while I was locked in stone. Even better, it might give me some information about why my magic wasn't refilling. "Sounds good to me." It couldn't be as bad as when I used to have to go to the ba-doctors. "Okay so the first thing I need you to do is stand up. Can you do that for me?" I could feel a slight weakness in my body, but that wasn't near enough to keep me standing on four legs. Nautilia made a mark on her clipboard, I get the feeling she is either the best prepared pony I have ever met or she had already planned to do this ahead of time. "Good, now I'd like you to walk from your bed to the wall and back please." This seemed a little silly to me, but I quickly did as she asked, walking from one end of the room and back. I didn't think that it was worth to ask about what these things were for at the moment. I'd never get out of anywhere if I always asked every question that was on my mind. "Ok, good." She had me go through a few more exercises. She said it was to test my range of motion and basic physical conditioning. Honestly, this seems a bit much for something that only lasts a week, but what do I know I'm not a doctor. Some of the things even seemed pretty silly, why in the world would standing on your head be part of the exam? "Okay now I'd like you to sit down on the bed please and wait a few minutes. I need to go retrieve something." She trotted out of the room while I wandered over to the edge of the bed and sat down. I wonder what she needed to get. Ah well I'd find out soon enough. When she came back she was carrying something that sent a chilling sensation straight through my entire body and set my tail into a jumpy mood. It looked just like a magic inhibitor... When I was a foal I was told not to go playing in Dad's closet because there were dangerous things in there. So of course I had the strongest desire to go and look into that closet. When would my parents learn that whenever they didn't want me to do something they shouldn't make it seem interesting. I mean they knew that I would always go and search anything that seemed even a little interesting. Every time I tried though my parents would catch me before I was actually able to reach the closet. That didn't discourage me though. It actually made me more interested in trying to see what was in there. I just needed to wait for my chance. That chance came pretty soon after my last attempt. Both my parents needed to go out to a Royal Dinner, leaving me alone with the servants. I had long ago learned about how to avoid the servants in the house, not that they were likely to be looking for me anyway. Still it paid to be careful. I snuck out of my room into the hallway, watching for any of servants walking along. Strangely the entire place seemed to be empty. It was rather strange really, but I wasn't going to complain. My parents room was really nearby so it was only the work of a minute to reach the door. I tried the door, it opened easily. You think my parents would have at least made this a little more difficult. I took a quick look inside in order to make sure that the room was actually empty, which it was. I quickly trotted over to their closet. Honestly this was too easy, I was starting to think that my parents wanted me to get in here or maybe they were just really forgetful. They had been in a pretty big rush. I reached for the closet door with my magic and began to pull it open, I knew I shouldn't do this, but I did it anyway. Sitting on the lowest shelf, the only one I could actually reach, was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen, it just looked so very magical. Silver in color and covered in gemstone, it was more spectacular than anything I had seen even in my mother or sister's jewelry boxes. I know that it's not considered manly to try on Jewelry, but I felt a need to it. I tried to pick it up with my magic, but it wouldn't budge. No matter how much energy I used it would just remain sitting on that shelf. Eventually, I decided to pick it up with my hooves instead. I slowly slid it onto my horn and that's when everything began to feel wrong. My magic was completely missing there wasn't even a single feeling of it. It was almost like someone had just drained me of my very essence. I tried to pull off the object, but I couldn't it was stuck on tight. I kept trying until I eventually exhausted myself and fell into a slumber. When I opened my eyes again my parents were looking at me. I could feel that the jewelry on my head was gone and I could feel my magic was back. "Son, you know that we told you not to go into my closet and now you know why." My father said to me. I nodded my head, "This is called a magic inhibitor and it's very dangerous. So please don't wear it again ok?" I nodded my head again. Then they grounded me for a month. And that's why I'm worried about wearing anything that looks like a magic inhibitor, or Jewelry for that matter. It probably would at least settle my tail down a little if I could find out what it is. "Um, would you mind telling me what that thing is?" She gave me a puzzled look; I guess she either hadn't been informed about my previous 'condition' or hadn't believed it. I guess that was probably for the best, considering how Twilight and her friends had reacted to my revelation and the fact that I didn't have any idea how I had woken them up, it was probably for the best. Nautilia wrote something else on my chart before answering me. I don't know what, but considering what that board was I could only hope it was something good. "This?" She tilted her head toward the object floating in her magical aura, "That doctor of yours must have been medical school dropout if she," actually the barber had been male, "didn't have one of these around. It's a basic part of a medical exam, a magic scanner. It checks magical levels." "Oh." I suppose that made sense; testing magical levels of any type of Pony had been thought to be important back then as well, but it had been fairly difficult and thus was rarely performed. It had been deemed to be too invasive. If they had refined it enough to make it simple enough to do such a complicated procedure than including it in a basic medical exam seemed like a good idea. "Oh, well than go ahead doc." I really need to figure out where all these carrots are coming from. They were some of the tastiest carrots I'd ever had. "Okay just hold still for a moment and do not cast any spells while this device is on your horn. Do you understand?" She gave me a look to let me know she was serious, not that I would have done it anyway. There was a reason that most Unicorns didn't put anything on their horn, it simply made it difficult to cast spells and could often cause injury due to that lack of control. There are many Unicorns who have put a decorative piece on their horn without thinking; generally I met them in the emergency room. They weren't usually a very pretty sight, I shook slightly at the memory. "I understand perfectly." Nautilia nodded at me and raised the magic scanner up to my horn and slowly slid it onto my horn, seemingly being careful to avoid causing any damage. I will admit that while she put it on my heart rate jumped a little bit. Not much, but it would have been noticeable if someone had been listening. As soon as she'd slid it on I felt it tightening on my horn, similar to how it felt to have the magical inhibitor on my horn, but lacking in any of the loss of magic that came with it. My heart rate dropped down to normal, I hadn't even known that it had gone up. I guess some part of me had still worried that it had been an inhibitor. "Now the magic scanner will take a little while to finish its task, which is really why I chose to do it this early in the exam. According to what those who brought you here had said your condition was brought on by a magical mental issue. Is this true?" I nodded my head. That was one way it could be put anyway. The other of course being that it was a caused by a mental monster rampaging through my mind and releasing a large number of covered up memories that I never wanted to see again. I don't think I'll be telling her that unless she asks directly though. "Because of this I'd like to give you something that is known as a Mini Mental Status Exam, would that be alright?" An exam? At the doctor's office? Well this is certainly different; most times when I visited the barbers they would just take my heart rate, blood pressure, and a whole host of other vitals, but I'd never heard of them giving anything, let alone an exam. I'm sure I could pass any kind of test she gave me though. "Sure, I think I can ace it." I was confident; I had read enough books to know quite a bit about a variety of subjects. She quirked an eye at me and gave a slight smile. "This isn't that kind of exam; it's meant to give a small snapshot of your mental state." I guess the look in my eyes had shown my bewilderment, "Think of it as drawing a picture of what your mind is like right now. Considering what happened to you I think it might be a good idea. Although you appear fairly cognizant and you motor skills are working effectively, I believe it would be a good idea to make sure." I guess that made more sense than it being an actual exam anyway; why would someone come for a medical exam just to take a test in the middle. "Go ahead doc." Hey where's my carrot? I guess I played that gag into the ground. "Alright, let's begin. What is today's date?" Well if that wasn't one of the hardest questions for me to answer I don't know what is. How was I supposed to know today's date, I haven't seen a calendar in a week, let alone the last thousand years before that. I didn't even know what year it was. "I don't know." I really dislike it when I don't know the answer, but in this case I guess I didn't really have a choice. "The year?" I shook my head, "The month?" Again I shook my head, although I think I can conclusively proves that she did not know about my former state of a garden mascot, "The season?" Oh finally one I could answer, I'd seen the trees during that whole trip leading up to me being here. Geeze, being stuck in stone and only waking up at certain times makes it hard to know what the date is. "It's Fall." She made a notation on her clipboard before asking another set of questions about my location. I was able to give most of the answer as she had just told me where we were located, although I couldn't tell her exactly where what floor we were on. I mean I was unconscious when they brought me here. "Now I'm going to name three objects and would like you to repeat them back to me. Do you understand?" I nodded. "Cup, Cantelope, and lilies." I felt my muscles stiffen at that last word, I couldn't explain why though. "Are you all right?" Nautilia was looking at me with worry, I guess she wasn't as detached as the barbers I used to know, but the stiffness I had felt had already faded. I guess it hadn't been anything too dangerous, probably was just a leftover of lying in bed for so long. "Just a little stiff from lying here for so long." "If you're sure," She gave me a look; I don't think she really believed me, than again I wasn't sure I really believed it myself either, "Please repeat the names of the objects." "Cup, Cantelope, and ..." Lillies. I can't force the word out of my mouth; it feels like it's just stuck in my throat and those muscles don't want to move. I continue to try before giving up. Nautilia quirked an eyebrow at me, she was doing that so often that I was starting to wonder if it was her special talent. "I just can't say the last one, it's stuck in my throat." "Hmm, that's interesting; not within my area of expertise, but interesting." She makes another notation on my medical report; I really would like to see what's on there, hopefully she would tell me after we finished. "Try this list of words instead: Cord, Water, Begonias." "Cord, Water, Begonias." I repeat back easily, no problem at all. I couldn't think of a single reason why I had such problem with that one word. Nautilia makes a mark on her board than looks back towards me, "Let's continue. I need you to count backwards from one hundred by seven." This was starting to get a little silly; I couldn't even hazard a guess as to what this was supposed to test, but at the moment I figured it would be easier to just go along with it, the sooner I finished this the sooner I could find out more about what happened. "One Hundred, Ninety-Three, Eighty-Six..." I counted all the way to two, the last number in the sequence. It all went fairly smoothly after that point, Nautlilia asked me several more questions from that sheet of hers and made a few more notations, but nothing special. It was only a few minutes later that we finished. Coincidently, the magic scanner stopped beeping at the same moment, which I suppose meant that it was finished considering the ways that the doctor's eyes moved up to it. I suppose that could be my luck working again. Nautilia removed the ring from my horn with her magic before taking some sort of cord from it and putting it into a slot on another machine. Since I don't know anything about what was going on, I just ignored it for the moment; I didn't really feel like appearing ignorant at the moment. "So what's my prognosis?" "Well from what I can tell you're magic has been drained something serious; you won't be able to use it for at least a week and even then it will likely be a little weak. I suggest that you don't do any magic for at least the next week and then only minimally for a month." Well that was good news; granted I likely wouldn't be able to use my magic as I usually did for a while, but I guess those lessons from when I had been without magic will be useful for once. It was still better than not having my magic for the rest of my life. "Now I just need to take your vitals." I wonder why she hadn't done that first, it seems like that would have made more sense. "Why didn't you do that in the exam first?" "I didn't take them before because you appeared anxious. If I had taken your vitals then it might have given me back elevated values. In other words, it would have given me false information." Well that made some sense at least; if you were going to get a baseline measurement you needed everything to be at that base level. Even if it hadn't made sense, I wouldn't have known if it had been something that had changed from when I had been placed in stone or if it had been something new. The rest of the checkup was completed without incident. Well except for the part where I had to turn my head and cough, that's fairly embarrassing when the one asking you to do it is a mare. I mean we may be naked almost all of the time, but that is still a pretty big step over the line of decency. "From what I can see you are a fairly healthy stallion." I smiled, that was good; at least my time in stone hadn't caused me too much damage, "There are a few things that bother me, but those are out of my expertise." "What do you mean?" "Your reaction earlier to a certain word, that I will not be saying, is possibly indicative of a mental disorder, but that is outside my expertise. I suggest that you see a psychologist about it. However, because that is outside my knowledge, I can't actually do anything more than provide you with a recommendation. In any case I believe that you are well enough to see your friends." That was a lot of information to take in at once. Psychologist? I had never heard that term before, but perhaps they were the ponies that went into your head or something. "Would you mind leading me to them?" "Actually you'll need to remain in your room until I have a chance to complete the paperwork, but I'll be happy to get them for you. While you're talking to them I'll go get the release paperwork ready." Nautilia trotted out of the room while I remained waiting in the room. I just sat there waiting for her return, there weren't many things that I could really do besides that. I wonder if that reaction to the lilies was some leftover from my time as stone, I mean perhaps it had something to do with the fact that those ponies would always bring those flowers. The sound of the door opening interrupted my thoughts. The small dragon hugging my leg was even more distracting. Honestly I was rather happy about that, I didn't really want to go into those thoughts right now. "Welcome to the World." Dash, batwings and all, was standing in the doorway smirking at me. I don't know why, but that line made me feel like something might go very wrong today if I go and bake anything. "It's good to be back." I realize that is conversation was rather silly, but what do I know. I suppose there were a couple of question I should ask. "So where is Luna anyway?" "Princess Luna is still sleeping, it is daytime after all." Huh, that wasn't what I expected, if Luna's asleep shouldn't I be there too? Perhaps that part of the spell had broken with the stone portion. Something to think about anyway. I pulled myself out of my thoughts in time to see Dash looking out the window, "Honestly if I didn't need to be asleep to help you out thats where I would be too." Well I'd take that as meaning that Night Pegasus are nocturnal, probably because of their jobs. "Well it's good to hear that she's ok at least." Considering how she had been when I had last seen her, this was actually very helpful to me. "So you want to go see what's going on in town?" "But I can't leave until the Nurse comes back with the paperwork." Rainbow Dash gave me an incredulous look." "You're kidding right? Come on. Let's just fly on out of here." "Sorry Dash, I've got to wait to fill out that paperwork, it's the rules." And sadly I am very rule bound. I have a much easier time with laws though, I've seen and broken the laws of physics enough times for it to hate me at this point. "That shouldn't be a problem." Behind Dash the Nurse had come back, "all I need you to do is sign this paperwork here, here, and here." I pick up the pen in my mouth and start to sign where indicated. "So is that everything?" "No, that was just the first page." She pulls out a stack of paperwork from behind her back. I can only gape at it, "You still have to fill out the rest of these." This was going to take a while, but there was only one thing I could ask. "Can I get another pen? I don't think this one will be enough." Author's Notes: Okay first off I want to tell you all that I can't thank you enough for reading this story. It really makes me feel good that your enjoying it. Second I want to tell you all that if you have any feedback on this chapter at all I would really appreciate it, it took me forever just to get it like this and I can't help feeling that it's missing something that I won't be able to see, but you will. Finally I have a little shout out that I promised to make for a fic I liked Thunderstruck: The Curious Odyssey of Shaun Davis. It's an HiE fic that doesn't make me want to go poke out my eyes, which is pretty good honestly. I like them right where they are.

Luna's Student

Trauma Center

Disclaimer: I've asked for a little help with this one. "Oooh, ooh, does that mean it's my turn to speak?! Does it, does it!?" Disclaimer: Yes Pinkie it does. "YAAHH. Okay all you readers MyWorld93 does not own any of the MLP franchise." Pinkie looks pensive, "Well actually I think he might own Dawn and Sakura, but that's it. Remember all that and I'll throw you a wonderful remembering everything important party! Won't that be fun!" Disclaimer: Thanks Pinkie. Chapter 8: Trauma Center Written by MyWorld93 My jaw muscles felt horribly cramped. I think the last time I wrote this much with my mouth was... actually I don't think I've ever written this much with my mouth before. I have to wonder if it was really necessary for me to sign one-hundred of those documents to check out of the hospital. Whatever advances they've made in medical technology must come at the cost of millions of trees. I think I want to become an environmentalist. Well at least that ordeal was over with now. I could take my first steps in into a brand new world... or at least a brand new hallway. Pushing open the door with my snout I trotted out the door, Sakura riding on my back and Dash trotting along behind me. The hallway was as white as my room had been. I suppose that was a theme with hospitals. I suppose that they use it because it gives the place a sense of purity and for a place that was built for healing it made perfect sense. Looking around a bit more, I realized something that was truly amazing. There were no windows and no Unicorns and yet the room was still lit up. It seemed to be coming from small glass covered objects on the ceiling. I had never seen anything like it. "Hey Dash what do these lights run on?" "Electricity." That doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard of before in my life. "What is electricity?" "Buck if I know. I'm more into the athletics then science." Somehow I should have expected that answer. She seemed like the athletic type then the type to sit in a lab like I would. We walked in silence for a while, but as we got closer to the entrance I saw something else that once again amazed me, I get the feeling this is going to happen a lot. I'd never seen such a thing in my life. It was rectangular in shape and had a black edge, but the most impressive bit were the moving pictures that seemed to scroll across it. It was amazing, moving pictures! I needed to know what this was called and if I could I wanted to know how it worked. "Hey Rainbow," She looked towards me, "What is that thing?" I pointed towards the black rectangle hanging on the wall. "Huh? Everyone knows what that is, how come you... Oh right stuck in stone for a thousand years. Yeah that would probably make it difficult to know what that is. It's called a television." Well that may have given me a name, but I wanted to know more about it. "What exactly does it do?" I really wanted to know more, I could see ponies on the screen, but where did they come from. Were they stuck inside there by magic or something of that nature? "It show's movies and television shows." That was even less of an answer then before. I could say with confidence that I know what a television shows, but how does it work and what is it used for? "So what do you use it for?" "Ponies use it mainly to sort of forget about their problems for a while and watch someone else's." Okay, that was a little strange. Honestly though it just sounded like books, why would ponies go and invent something that just did the same thing that books did. I mean it doesn't make much sense really. I'd need to do more research. Still that left me with one question. "So how does it work?" "Buck if I know. Ask Twilight, I just like to watch the shows." Well that would at least give me a conversation piece for later. During my chat with Rainbow on what exactly a 'Television' was, we had reached the entrance to the hospital. Considering I had been running on automatic I'm glad that I didn't run into to anything. That would have been embarrassing. There wasn't much of interest in this room as there had been in the hallways. Somehow I had expected that something even more amazing then what I had seen earlier would be in here. Perhaps I was just viewing what I was seeing in comparison to what I had seen earlier. At least the view outside was interesting. I was getting my first look at a completely new time, but honestly it looked very similar to a thousand years ago: aristocratic ponies snubbing each other, the roads uneven and out of alignment, and it still feels like somepony is scheming to stab me in the back. My gaze into the new world was soon blocked by a pony about to enter the hospital. It's rather strange honestly, there doesn't seem to be anyway of actually opening the door. How did ponies get in? I watched as the pony at the door got closer and closer to it, seriously how was he planning to open it? Soon he was close enough where if he didn't do anything he would walk straight into the door, but something different happened. The doors opened on their own. How did that happen? The pony stepped passed me as I walked closer to the doorway, amazed as it opened itself for me. It was amazing, how did the door know where I was? I couldn't see any magic powering it, I suppose it was powered by the same 'electricity' as the lights, and likely the television were, but still... I was broken from my daze by the sound of Rainbow Dash and Sakura breaking down into laughter. I guess my expression of amazement must have been amusing. I couldn't really fault them. I had laughed at enough looks myself. That didn't mean that I wouldn't throw them a glare of my own though. Didn't actually help any, they kept laughing, but it made me feel a little better. I probably should have expected that, they didn't seem the type to stop laughing because someone threw them a glare, especially Sakura. That made me wonder how Sakura would have looked when she had first seen the electric lights herself. The image made me smile, it would have been so cute. Since at this point I guessed that nothing would stop them from laughing besides time, I didn't bother to try. Instead I turned towards the doorway and trotted out into the new world. Well it would be a new world for me anyway, I think most ponies have seen enough of it by this point. The world appeared very similar now that I was outside as to how it looked inside. That was of course ignoring that the building that had only looked to be a single story from inside the hospital apparently were actually almost ten stories tall each. That was eight stories taller than any building I had ever seen. How do they do that, it's freaking amazing. The sheer number of ponies that you could fit into one of these buildings was likely double that of any small town! I stood in front of that door, drinking in all the changes for at least five whole minutes. I would have stood there longer, but Rainbow and Sakura ran straight into my backside. Rainbow peered down at me, "Hey you okay?" Sakura was looking at me with concern. Nice to know they care, but I wish they would look where they're going next time. At least I know that I had made the right choice in giving friendship another try if this was the kind of attention I was going to get for such a simple accident. I stood up. "Yeah I'm alright." I began to brush myself off, I may not be wearing any clothing, but dust gets stuck in fur so easily. "Good, good. So, where should we go first?" I raised an eyebrow. Did she really think that I would know? Rainbow responded with a quizzical look of her own, "Huh? What's with the look?" She blinked, "Oh yeah, you don't have any idea what would be around now would you? Let alone what would be in this city." "No, no I don't." My stomach rumbled and I blushed, it at least seemed to know what it wanted. I suppose being locked in stone followed by being unconscious for a week, without ever getting a bite to eat in between, leaves you hungry; even if they feed food into your veins. I'm still not completely sure how that works, but I'm sure there's a book at the library about it that'll tell more than the doctor would have. "Heh, I think I know just where to take you." Rainbow looked down at Sakura, "I think he'd like that place, don't you?" What was she talking about? "Yah! He'd love that place." "What place are you talking about?" Sakura started to jump in the air waving her arms around, "It's just the best restaurant in town!" Well that seemed like a pretty good endorsement to me, especially since she could at least partially read my opinion about things. "So where is it exactly?" "Heh, just follow me!" Dash spread her wings. Wait... What was she doing? She does remember that we can't fly right? I wouldn't be able to follow her if she took to the air and I don't know my way around the city. No offense to Sakura, but I don't know if I want to trust a baby dragon with direction. Since I didn't have much time to think of the best action I went on instinct. This of course meant that I did the least intelligent thing I could think of, taking a bit out of Rainbow's tail and trying to drag her back. I don't know why, but Sakura took a bite of my tail. Now remember that I am not the weakest Unicorn around, I had been gone through the Night Guard regime and that was not easy, but that seems to mean little compared to the inborn strength of a Night Pegasus combined with Rainbow's own training. We were in the air before I could blink, Sakura being dragged along for the ride as well. Dash didn't seem to notice Sakura and my added weight as she began to ascend higher and higher, the ground falling below us at a faster rate than I really wanted to think about. Instinctively I began to try and cast a Pegasus transformation spell on myself before remembering that I was completely drained of magic. Well this was a pickle I was in. I didn't have any magic to rescue myself from falling to my doom and I couldn't actually talk to Dash while I was biting her tail. Since I didn't feel like falling to my death, I went with the next best option. I tapped her on the rump and almost got bucked in the face for my troubles. I suppose it wasn't one of my best ideas, but I hadn't really had many choices. It seemed that it had done as I had intended though. Dash was turning to face us, a smirk on her lips. I suppose she felt that she had given the 'lecher', i.e. me in this case, what they deserved. Her expression quickly changed to one of shock when she noticed the two of us hanging by her tail. I pointed my hoof downward. I could only hope she got the message. I think she understood because she nodded her head and went into a nosedive. I wish she'd gone for a more level dive, but the feeling of wind rushing past me was enjoyable. Still I wish I could enjoy it while not feeling like I was about to die or that Sakura would fly off. You had to take the good with the bad I suppose. The closer we got to the ground the sooner I realized that we may have a slight problem. Unless Dash slowed down well before we got the ground, Sakura and I would become pancakes. We would hit the ground well before she did. Lucky for us it seems that Rainbow Dash was as good a flyer as she thought she was. When she got a couple of feet before the ground she slowed to a stop and simply hung suspended in the air. "You might as well let go, it'll be softer landing if you do." Understanding her intent, I released my rather tight grip on her tail, falling a few feet to the ground and producing a thumping noise. Strangely I didn't feel a second thumping noise, which was rather worrying. I mean Sakura should have made another thump. "Hey Sakura, you alright?" I turned towards where Sakura should have landed, I realized that she wasn't there and almost panicked. I calmed down when I noticed that she was still hanging from my tail, which had lifted above the ground to keep her from touching it. Glad it did, it was nice to know that she hadn't been hurt from that fall. My tail moved a little and placed her on my back. Sakura released my tail, "Yeah! That was fun." Her eyes were shining brightly. I gave a small smile; it was one of the cutest looks I've seen in a long time, "Can we do it again?" I gave her a nuzzle. "Maybe when I get my magic back ok?" I thought it would be a good idea to wait until I would be able to save us before trying that again. "Awww..." I turned to face Dash who had seemingly landed while I was panicking over where Sakura had gone. "So Dash where exactly are we going? Please don't take off flying this time." "I told you already, we're going to this restaurant to get you some food. It's called A-" "Hey Rainbow!" My tail pulled to the right and I jumped to left, narrowly dodging a careening orange blur. It came to a stop in front of Rainbow Dash, who seemed rather happy to see whatever it was. Now that the orange blur was standing still I could make out her features, because it was most assuredly a her. She was a small, orange, Night Pegasus filly. Strangely the first thing that jumped into my mind was to wonder why she wasn't in bed yet, from everything I've gather Night Pegasi are nocturnal. "Wow how'd you do that? Nopony has ever been able to dodge me before." The filly's voice broke me from my thoughts. What did she mean by that? The filly rubbed her chin, "Well actually Pinkie may have done it once, but the jury is still out on that one." Did this small filly actually try to hit other ponies? I'm going to hope she meant something else. For that matter, who was this little filly? Well I can find that out in a moment, it would be rude of me not to answer her question first. "Well my name's Dawn Pie and I'm related to Pinkie P-" "You're related to Pinkie Pie! That makes so much sense! No wonder you were able to dodge me." I really have to wonder if this foal has some kind of speed issue. "So then who are you?" "Me? I'm Scootaloo, Rainbow's little sister!" Wait... What? How did that even work? I mean they looked nothing alike, Rainbow was blue and colorful while Scootaloo was orange and kind of reminded me of a flightless bird. I have no idea why, I mean she had literally almost flown into me, but I still felt it. I needed to find out if this was true. "Is this true?" "Yup, this is my little sister Scootaloo." Dash turned to face Scootaloo, "So where exactly are you headed in such a rush anyway?" "I promised to meet up with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle at Applebarn for a Flank Mark Crusader's attempt." Huh? Flank Mark Crusader's? That group is still around? I mean I was in when I was a foal, well before I had become Luna's student, we had some fun attempts at trying to get our Flank Markings. The three of us sat there, Diamond, Flitterflutter, and I, waiting for the arrival of our scoutmaster for the Flank Mark Crusaders; not a single one of us had gotten our Flank Marks yet. So of course we joined up hoping to get our mark. That isn't to say of course that a pony couldn't join if they had already gotten their cutie marks. Those who have already gotten their mark could join the Flank Scouts if they wanted to. I really question why they named it that. "So does anyone know where our scoutmaster is? We've been here for three hours now." I was getting a little annoyed with his tardiness. I mean he had told us to meet him here at this time. "I don't know bra, but I'm okay with just chillin' right here." Flitterflutter folded his green wings back before laying down on the ground. I rolled my eyes. Flitterflutter had been like this the entire time. Seriously, he was way too laid back with things. Diamond stomped her hoof, "I for one just wish he would show up already. At this point I'm about ready to leave and find him myself." I was with Diamond on this one. I don't think I've ever sat in one place for this long. Was he ever going to show up? Well I might as well make the most of my time anyway. Turning towards Diamond I opened my mouth to begin a conversation when a bright light interrupted me. Where in the world had that thing come from? Wait was something in there? I looked a little harder. Yah, there was something in there, but the light was too bright to make it out. It wasn't until the light began to dim a little that I actually managed to see what the object really was. It looked like a Brown Unicorn pony with a Flank Marking of a broken clock. He turned to face us. "Oh hello my name is Final Time. I'm here to meet three foals who joined the Flank Mark Crusaders. Is that you?" So this was our scoutmaster? He seemed a little weird, I mean he didn't even seem to realize that he was over three hours late. Diamond looked like she was about to go on a screaming rampage, but I held out my hoof to stop her. Somehow I knew it wouldn't be worth the headache. "Hey bra, where you been, pon?" I suppose that Flitter hadn't gotten the message, not that he ever seemed to, "Not that I mind bra, I rather enjoyed the chilling time, but I think these two would like ta know." "Hmm?" He leaned forward a bit as if surprised that we would ask such a question. Didn't he realize that he was several hours late? "What are you talking about, I'm perfectly on time." He held out his watch to us, "See its nine O'clock right on the dot." "But the hands are painted on!" The words slipped out my mouth before I could stop them. I hadn't wanted the headache that would come from getting a response, but my need for knowledge had overwhelmed my logic centers. He looked down at his watch, then tapped it once, "Hmm what do you know, you're right!" Somehow he sounded both sincere and sarcastic at the same time, how did he do that? "Okay, I really just got lost on road of life trying to find this place. You have no idea the kind of hazards I have to pass through to reach here. Sorry about that." Somehow I have the feeling that either he was lying or I really don't want to find out what he was doing before he came here. "How about you just tell us what we're going to be doing today?" "Well why don't you tell me?" I blinked, that didn't make any sense to me at all. "What do ya mean bra, you're the scoutmaster, you should be telling us what to do right?" "Now why would I do that?" Getting information out of Final Time seemed to be like pulling teeth with your hooves. "Because it's your job." Diamond telling people what to do, as always, one of her more endearing qualities really. "Yes, but my job is to get you three your Flank Marks. If I simply told you what to do you wouldn't be very interested in it would you?" We shook our heads, "So that likely wouldn't get you your Flank Marks would it?" That made perfect sense actually. Flank Markings only came into being when a pony found something they enjoyed doing and were willing to do it for a lifetime. "So what would you three like to do?" I needed to think about this. I couldn't just blurt out an ans- "Surfin Bra." Flitter of course apparently didn't need time to think it through.That of course was Flitter. "Sandcastle Building." Surprisingly neither did Diamond. Ah well, might as well go with the crowd on this one. A beach trip seemed like fun. "Scuba Diving." "Alrighty then, looks like we're off to the beach." A bright light surrounded us and when it had dissipated we were at the beach. How did he do that so fast? Most power Unicorns took a little longer than that to find out. Still I'd leave that thought for another time, it was time to try and get our Flank Marks. "FLANK MARK CRUSADERS BEACH MARKS! YAH!" It was traditional, it was necessary, it was just plain fun. We spent the rest of the day on the beach surfing, building sandcastles, and scuba diving. None of us got our Flank marks that day, but we did end up covered in tree sap. Still not exactly sure how that happened. "You mean Cutie Mark Crusader's don't you sis?" The sound of Scootaloo's voice brought me back into the present. What is a cutie mark anyway? "Nah I meant Flank Mark Crusaders, turns out that there used to be a group like us and we thought we should respect the memory their memory." Well that was sure nice of them, but I'm going to pretend I don't understand the implications of that statement. "Hold up squirt. We're heading in the same direction. We don't get to spend much time together, so why don't you come with us?" "Of course sis. I'd love to come with you guys!" She seemed really happy about it. Well hopefully it wouldn't cause any problems. "This is it, this is it!" Sakura seemed excited to have reached our destination. My stomach growled its agreement. With Rainbow Dash leading us it hadn't taken long for us to reach our destination, which honestly looked... interesting I suppose would be the best word for it. Standing at only a quarter the height of any building around it, with its red wooden walls, white roof, and the grass surrounded by a white picket fence it stood out like a sore hoof from the tall, cold, grey buildings that surrounded it. "Don't you think this place seems a little out of place?" "Yeah, but their food is delicious. Isn't that right?" Rainbow looked towards our companions. "Yah it's pretty good." Scootaloo's quickly replied, looking away from her sister. I wonder if maybe there is something I should know about this place before I entered considering how Scootaloo was acting. "Yah! The foods great and its loads of fun!" Actually I think I'll take Sakura's opinion over Scootaloo's, she seemed much more enthusiastic and somehow I get the feeling she shares some of my interests. Probably because all familiars I've ever met seem to do so to some extent. Besides I was hungry enough to eat anything at this point. "C'mon hurry up slowpoke." Rainbow flew to the building. The rest of us followed at a more sedate pace. There was something a little strange here, there didn't seem to be any other ponies around. I had to wonder why that was. You'd think that the place would be hopping if it was as popular as Rainbow and Sakura made it out to be. Maybe Scootaloo was right? However, the sign on the door made it abundantly clear why there was no around. "Uh, Rainbow this place is closed." "Well duh, it doesn't open for at least another hour." I blinked. The city had seemed so active. I'd have thought that everyone had been awake for hours. You'd never see that many people out at once a thousand years ago unless they were all going to work. "So then why are we here now if they don't open for another hour?" "Because I'm friends with the owner and can get us in early." Well that was as good an explanation as any I suppose. Rainbow knocked on the door. "Come back later we're closed!" That voice sounded familiar. Now where did I hear it before? "It's me Applejack! I brought Dawn and Sakura." Oh! So that's where I recognized the voice from. It was one of the ponies that I had met during that whole prank. Well this made things easier, I could just apologize now. "Hey don't forget about me!" Scootaloo looked a little hurt, I suppose because her sister hadn't acknowledged her. Why hadn't she acknowledged her anyway? Maybe Rainbow was a little forgetful, but the grin I saw her face made me think otherwise. "Oh Rainbow, come on in." The door opened to reveal Applejack's smiling mug. However, she was soon knocked over by Rainbow and Scootaloo flying past her. Somehow I get the feeling that this was a normal occurrence because Applejack was smiling as they flew past. I followed them at a more sedate pace. The inner design was just as strange as the outer portion had been. The walls and ceiling were the same color as they were on the outside and everything, from the chairs to the bar, had been made to look like they were a part of a barn. The tables for example were actual hay bales, not imitations. The strangest bit though was the small pit full of round rubber balls. I have no idea what the function of it is, but it appears that Sakura does. She jumped off my back, ran straight towards it, and jumped in laughing. I gave a smile. She looked so cute like that. Rainbow Dash was sitting at the bar where a very large, red, Earth Pony stallion was cleaning some cups. I'm honestly not sure how she had gotten over there so quickly. She seemed to be very interested in just looking at the stallion, so for the moment I just left her alone. Besides it was prime teasing material. Strangely Scootaloo was nowhere to be seen. "So watcha think Dawn? Pretty nice ain't it?" Applejack's voice broke me from my thoughts. I suppose it was a nice place really. I'd never been in another restaurant like it in any case. Was that a good thing? "Yeah it's pretty nice. I like how everything looks like it came from an actual barn." "That's because it did." Ok, don't think I expected that. How did they get past the health inspectors? "My family runs an apple farm right outside the city. We've done so well for ourselves that we been expandin somethin fierce. We got an entire chain of these restaurants all over the continent. Each one is run by an Apple." "Wait. These stores are run by fruit?" Wow! That would be amazing, the sheer amount of time you could keep the place open would be amazing. "Hehe, Naw pardner, they're run by my family, the Apples." Ah, that makes more sense, but I still preferred my explanation. I was hoping they'd developed living, breathing apples. It would have been interesting to study such a change in the societal system. That was when something very strange thought broke into my mind. "Wait so your full name is Applejack Apple?" I blinked slowly. There was something wrong with that line. "Sure a shootin'." "Huh." Somehow that felt a little redundant, "So wait, that means you live here? I thought you lived in Ponyville?" "Nope, the Apple clan has always lived right here in the Royal City of Neigh England." "So what were you doing in Ponyville for the Summer solstice?" "Now how in the world did ya know about that?" Had she forgotten where I met them already? Well I suppose it's possible that she could have traveled from here to there, but considering that Twilight had been in Ponyville that had seemed rather unlikely. "I knew where Twilight had gone and I just kind of guessed afterward." That pretty much summed up my thought process, "So what were you doing in Ponyville?" I am way to curious for my own good, someday that is going to bite me in the ass. Applejack gave a short laugh, "Suppose that's as good an explanation as any. Well I was selling our apple wares. It was a big festival after all, it just made sense ya know." I nodded my head. Fairs and large events always had a lot of food sellers and they always seemed to make quite a bit of coin. Well I had kind of run out conversation at this point, so I looked around for a new topic, spotting Dash still sitting by the bar looking at the big red stallion, I think I had a new topic. I opened my mouth to ask who the red stallion was when my stomach gave another rumble. Oh right, I'd come here to get some food... Applejack gave a small laugh, "Sounds like someone's hungry. Come on let's get ya some food." Well that was nice of her, "I'll just put it on Dash's tab." That made more business sense. Applejack trotted over to the bar, past the oblivious Rainbow and knocked her hoof against the countertop. "Hey Big Mac!" The red stallion looked up from his latest glass, "Stop washing those dishes and come over here, ah got someone I want ya to meet." Placing the mug on the counter the red stallion, Big Mac I suppose, looked me in the eye. Honestly it was a little intimidating. The only reason I wasn't galloping away as fast as I could was that he didn't seem hostile, merely intrigued. I wonder why that was? Applejack waved a hoof in my direction. "This here is Dawn, he's new in town." Big Mac nodded his head once, "Pleasure to meet ya Dawn." "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, but I'm afraid that I didn't get your name." Well, I kind of did, but not really. "Big Macintosh." For the moment at least, Big Mac didn't seem inclined to continue this conversation any further. I didn't mind much, I couldn't think of anything to say at the moment anyway. The red stallion looked over at his sister, "So where'd you meet him?" "Well now that quite the story," My stomach gave a rumble, "but I'll have to tell you later, for now you think you can grab Dawn here some grub? He sounds mighty famished." "Eyuup." "Oh and put it on Dash's tab." "Huh?" That lost comment seemed to have gotten through the currently slightly addled mind, perhaps by an infatuation with the Big Mac, of Rainbow Dash, "Did someone mention my name?" "Yup, putting Dawn's food on your tab." Dash blinked once then shrugged, "That's fine. I was going to do that anyway." Huh that was nice of her, for some reason I thought I might actually have to work the food off. I guess I'll just save the teasing for later. "Eh, actually don't worry about it. This one'll be on the house." I was right. Applejack couldn't really go through with taking money from a friend of hers, at least if the food is for someone else. I doubt they would be able to stay open if they just gave away free food to all their friends. "Hehheh, I knew you wouldn't be able to charge me Applejack." From the grin on her face I could only feel that this type of conversation was a fairly common occurrence. "Hmm... maybe I shouldn't let you do that pardner. Maybe I shouldn't let you get away without paying so easily..." The smirk on Applejack's face, and since this was a turnabout again, made me feel this was another part of a well-known act. "Come on Applejack, you know how this conversation always goes." And I think this confirms it. "Yeah, yeah I do." She sat down in the set next to Dash and they both reached out their hooves. "Um, would someone mind telling me how this conversation goes? I'm kind of curious." They gave me a glare, "Um... nevermind I'll find out later." Hopefully I could figure out just by watching, it didn't seem I'd learn by asking. The two of them raised a hoof and locked them together. What in the world are they doing? I've never seen anything like this before in my life. Are they going to try and hurt each other? I kind of doubt it, if this happened as often as it seemed anyway. Huh... They're trying to push each other's hoof to the ground? What in the world is this? A light tap on my leg has me moving my attention downward to find Sakura. I suppose I was so distracted by this spectacle that I hadn't noticed her approach. My tail reaches down and places her on my back. It's being very helpful today. "Hey Sakura, do you have any idea what these two are doing?" "Yepperooni. They're hoof wrestling." "What's that?" "It's a contest of strength." A deeper voice responded. Big Mac was placing a large plate of food on the counter. The smell wafting off of it was absolutely amazing. No wonder Dash liked this place so much if the food always smells this good. Of course I have no idea what this food is. I've never seen anything like it before. "Is that for me?" "Eyuup." "Thank you very much, it smells absolutely amazing." Out of the corner of my eyes I see that Dash's hoof is being pushed closer to the table by Applejack. I wonder if that means that she's winning or losing. My tail carefully lifts Sakura off my back, placing her on the seat to the left of me. I picked up the provided spoon with my hoof, luckily I had learned how to use utensils without the use of magic during that week a long time ago. Otherwise I would have needed to eat with my mouth and no one wants to watch that. While the smell was delicious and I really wanted to take a bite, habit dictated that I needed to test it for poison. Like I said before, ponies were always trying to off me for my position. While I doubt that Big Macintosh was going to try and kill me, old habits die hard. My lack of magic however, makes this a much more difficult prospect. There are a many more ways to hide poison when there isn't any magical means of sensing it. There are ways of doing it though, specifically through smell. I raised the food to my mouth, as if I was going to take a bite, but stop for less than half a second before putting it in my mouth. It isn't noticeable to anyone else, but I give it quick whiff. The enchanting smell of the food enters my nostrils, but I don't smell even a hint of poison. Not that I had really expected to find one. The next test was a bit more dangerous. I bring it up to my tongue and barely touch it with the food. An explosion of taste in my mouth....This food is increadible! I can't believe how good it tastes. I don't know if it was because I hadn't really eaten anything for a thousand years or what, but before I could even think more about the possible ramifications of eating food what was still possibly poisoned, my plate was empty. "That was incredible Big Mac." I really couldn't believe I'd done that. I'd always tested food for poison before eating that much of it, but it had just been too good. "Eyuup." "You cooked that right?" "Eyuup" "What was it anyway?" "Malum Sauce." Huh, that sounded familiar... Wait... "That amazing tasting dish was ordinary APPLE SAUCE!?" "Eyuup." Seriously? That hadn't tasted anything like apple sauce. There was no way that was plain applesauce. There must be something else in there. Perhaps they added other herbs or something to the dish to make it taste better? I needed to know! Hey I'm one of those people who like to know everything about everything, give me a break. "How did you do it? Did you add some kind of strange chemical additive?" "Nope." "Did you cook it differently than anyone else, family recipe maybe?" "Nope." The sound of something hitting the bar counter distracted me from asking anymore questions about how this food was made, but mark my words, I will find out. "It's the apples." "Huh?" I turned towards Applejack, "What do you mean?" "I mean the answer to your question, the reason the Applesauce tastes so good is that they were made with Apple Family Apples." "Huh, interesting," Why would that make a difference? I'd tried a lot of different types of Applesauce when I younger and none had tasted as good as that one. Well I was willing to leave that until I could get my hands on one of their apples and chemically analyze its components both magically and physically so I could understand what makes them so delicious. That was for later. I might as well stay in the present for the moment. "So who won your 'arm wrestling contest." Considering how dejected Rainbow looked, I was going to assume it was Applejack, but I think it's a good idea to confirm things. "Me a course, but I'm still letting this one go as a freebie." Rainbow seemed to perk up quite a bit at those words. I wonder if my food had cost more than I thought. "Thanks AJ." "It ain't no trouble at all Dash. The teasing I'll get out of all this is enough of a payment." That was a double negative. Wonder if that was on purpose... Probably not. "Alright so we know what we're going to do right!" The sound of Scootaloo's voice from behind the counter interrupted the rather sweet scene. "Yeah!" Two new voices sounded off. What was going on back there? "Okay, on three. One, Two, Three!" "FLANK MARK CRUSADERS RESTAURANT OWNERS! YAH!" Oh, so that was what was going on. It felt pretty good to hear that old chant again. My tail pulled out towards the right, so of course I moved left, just in time as well. Scootaloo and another filly galloped past me, but the third member of the little trio of voices seemed to have stayed behind. "Scootaloo you get back here and apologize!" Rainbow Dash followed the little fillies out the door. I can't figure out why. She did the same sort of thing to Applejack earlier and she hadn't told her to apologize when Scootaloo had almost hit me earlier. I suppose it doesn't matter anyway. "Applebloom you get out from behind that counter, you know you aren't old enough to be working back there." "Ah shoot." A little yellow filly with red hair and a red bow walked out from behind the bar, although she was still facing away from me so I couldn't see her face. "So who's the little Filly Applejack?" "This here is my little sister Applebloom." "Huh? Who's this sis?" She turned around to face me and I felt my body stiffen, I felt like I couldn't breathe. My body wasn't under my control any more. My vision began to go black, the only thing I could still see were those eyes, Phoenix's eyes. Why did this filly have her eyes... Why? What did I do to have to see those eyes again? They just stared right into me, blaming me for her death. Just watching me. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." I could hear someone muttering. I realized that person was me. I'm so very sorry Phoenix, why did you have to die. Why couldn't I have taken your place? I felt someone tap me on the leg, "Hey you okay mister?" The darkness faded a bit and the eyes seemed to move just a little farther away, but I still couldn't feel myself move. "Applebloom hows about you go play with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle for a bit." "Aw, but I want to stay here and get my Apple Restaurant Cutie Mark!" "Now Applebloom," I heard the drawling voice of Big Macintosh, "You listen to your sister alright. You'll have plenty of chances to earn that Cutie Mark later." "Oh fine." The voice sounded slightly angry, "I never get to know what's going on." The eyes left, no longer staring at me. Their absence helped me calm down, my heart rate returned to normal. What was going on here? I mean what had just happened? "So care to tell us what happened Dawn?" I nodded my head, talking things out seemed to help a lot when I was younger. Granted they weren't necessarily my first choice of who to talk to, but considering how I felt right now I just wanted some to talk to. I opened my mouth to try and speak, but found that no words would come out. I wanted to talk about it, but my throat felt constricted and I couldn't force any air through it. They must have realized what was going on because they sat there calmly, waiting. The tension in my throat slowly disappeared until I could get a set of words out, "You remember how I said I was trapped in stone?" Big Macintosh gave me a confused look, "Nope can't say that I do." Oh, that was right... Big Macintosh hadn't been there at the time. "Big Macintosh, Ah promise that ah'll tell you all about it just as soon as I can, but let's let Dawn here finish his story alright?" Big Macintosh just nodded his head, I get the feeling he's a very understanding pony. "Well, there was this foal... She came to visit me and she could actually talk to me." If I wasn't feeling so serious I would have laughed at the stunned look on Applejack's face. "The times when she came to visit were probably some of my favorite times in that stone prison, but then..." I stopped, it was difficult to get the words out for this part. "Go on." Applejack's voice was soft. "But then one day something pushed me and I fell on top of the filly and she died. I couldn't do anything except stare into her eyes as her life left her." "But why didn't seeing Scootaloo affect you then?" I heard Rainbow Dash ask. "Because she didn't look anything like her, but Applebloom was the spitting image of Phoenix Apple." The stunned look was back again and this time it looked like it might be staying a while longer then it had before. "Phoenix...Apple? You killed one of our clansmembers?" Somehow I don't think this is going to end very well. "Yes." I deserve whatever punishment they decided to give me, it had been my fault after all. I had been the one to fall on her, I hadn't been able to stop myself. "Why I ought to..." She looked like she was going to jump at me, but Big Macintosh put one hoof down on her tail and she stopped in her tracks. She was still trying to gallop towards me, but she simply wasn't getting anywhere. "Nope. Sis, calm down." I am not going to lie, I am so sincerely grateful to Big Mac right now. I've tussled with Earth Ponies before and I have never come out without at least a few rather heavy bruises. They are the toughest group I have ever known. "What do you mean calm down!? He killed one of our clansmembers! You know what we have to do." She didn't look happy about the interruption to her attack, but I couldn't feeling that she was relieved that she wouldn't have to attack me. Maybe she hadn't wanted to in the first place and had just been blinded by her anger for a bit. "I don't think this is one of those times. It was an accident, you can see how hurt he was by it, don't make it worse." I really am starting to owe ponies far too many favors recently, "Remember there is precedence for this." "Really? Caus all I can remember is that anypony who hurts an Apple family member gets hurt in return." "Eyuup, but do you remember the accidental clause?" "The what now?" Big Mac grabbed a book off the nearby table, on the cover I could see the title of Apple Family Rulebook. I'm not sure which amazes me more, that there seems to be an actual rulebook for this family or that it sounds like there was actually a legal system involved. "The accidental clause," Big Mac held open a page of the book titled, Accidents and You. "It says that anypony who accidently hurts an Apple family member can ask the head of the family, in this case Granny Smith, to either give him a parden or an alternate form of punishment." Yikes, I'm starting to wish I hadn't told them what had happened, but what else was I supposed to tell them about why I acted as I did around Applebloom. Still it might have been prudent not to tell them that it was an Apple. "Alright, you're off the hook for now, but I'll need ya to come by the farm tomorrow and meet up with Granny Smith." "Shouldn't be a problem." "Right well glad that's settled for the moment." I'm still trying to figure out how any of this makes sense. Well either way I just need to come back tomorrow and solve this issue. "I'll just be leaving now." I turned towards Sakura, "So Sakura, you ready to go?" "Yup." She almost looked sad to leave. "Hey, I promise that we'll come back another time alright?" Sakura's sad look instantly changes into a much wider grin, "Alright hop on." After Sakura jumps on my back we walk back out into the world. Trotting out through the front door I heard the sound of what could be considered a lecture, if one was giving a lecture in the concept of causing property damage. "Okay Scootaloo, you remember what I taught you right?" "Of course sis, I'm not that forgetful." "Right, good. Alright now it's important that you remember that you don't hurt ponies, only nonliving things alright?" What in the world was she talking about anyway? I mean even hurting nonliving things wasn't the best idea. Although, could you really hurt something that wasn't living? I mean it didn't actually have any nervous system and thus wouldn't really feel anything. "Yeah sis. I got it." "Good. Now go play you little scamp." I'm glad that they seemed to get along at least, even if their subject matter made me question their sanity. "So Rainbow-" She jumped in surprise, somehow it feels nice to be on the giving end of that for once. "Oh hey Dawn." I think she's trying to look nonchalant and ignore what just happened, well that's fine. I don't really mind allowing her that much dignity. "So what were you explaining to Scootaloo?" "Huh? You were listening?" "Yeah, kind of walked up during the end there and I'm curious." "Oh. Well, I was explaining the rules of dream flying to her again. She keeps forgetting them and I thought it might be important. She says she wants to come on a test run with me tonight. I figure it should be alright." "Dream Flying... That's how you came into my head right?" "Yup, isn't it awesome?" "Actually yes, yes it is. I know it's because you're a Night Pegasus that you can enter dreams, but how do you do it?" "Oh that. Well maybe I'll just show you sometime." Huh that's surprising, she can take other ponies into the dream world with her? Actually I probably should have known that already, Sakura came with her when she came into my dream world. I had thought that she had brought Sakura with her because she needed the connection to me to get in, but perhaps it wasn't so much that. "You can take other ponies along with you?" "Yah, because I'm awesome! Most Night Pegasi can only go by themselves. I'm going to be teaching Scootaloo how to bring others along though. You have no idea how fun it is to see the looks on ponies faces when they enter the Dream world for the first time." "It really was fun!" Sakura's voice from my back startled me a little, she was just so light and quiet most of the time that I had almost forgotten she was there, "It started out like whoosh, then boom, and the finally we saw you in your egg." While that sounded cute to hear her do that little show, it didn't really explain much. However, it did let me do something else. "Sakura I'm sure if you ask Rainbow nicely she'll take you with her on a trip back to the Dream World sometime." I could almost feel Sakura's eyes widening, preparing for the ultimate in attacks. The dreaded Baby Dragon Stare, seriously someone should patent that thing as a weapon. I remember seeing it completely destroy an entire battalion of ponies. I think it might be one of the reason that baby dragons are so valued as familiars. "Of course I'll take you again Sakura, but not for a week at least." I suppose that the stare hadn't actually been necessary, "It can be dangerous if you go in too quickly without being a Night Pegasus." "Why is that?" Rainbow gave me an odd look. "Oh right, thousand years stuck as a garden gnome," I think I may have used that one once, "the Dream World is guarded by creatures. Night Pegasi are invisible to these guardians, but everypony else is fair game to them." "So how can other ponies go to the dream world." From what I was hearing, it wasn't actually possible for normal ponies to pass past these guys without being affected. "Most of the time they can't. Only when they are with really cool Night Pegasi like myself," Somehow I expected her to say that, "can they get past the dream guardians. However, even I can only do it once per week per Pony-" She saw the look Sakura was giving her, "Er... I mean creature." "Huh that's interesting..." It really was, it's a whole new field that I've never heard about before. So of course I'm interested. Still, I kind of wonder what else is going to be happening to me now that I'm here. I mean where am I going to be staying? "So where to next." "How about you tell me where I'm going to be staying? I think it would be rather important." "Oh right. Well Princess Luna told me that you would be staying with Twilight Sparkle." I could feel the blush starting to brighten up my face. Of course Luna saw that blush earlier and decided to play matchmaker, she tried it before back when she saw me with Diamond. Dash's laughter snapped me from my memory, "Oh this is rich! You like Twilight, no wonder Luna set this up." "Oh be quiet or I'll tell everyone about your crush on Big Macintosh." That seemed to quiet her down right quick. "How did you know?" She was trying to hide it? Honestly I thought she was trying to broadcast it. I mean come on, she was looking directly at him that entire time. "You weren't exactly being discreet with how you were looking at him. I'm really don't understand why Applejack didn't notice, or Big Mac himself for that matter." "Well let's just say that I think their under the impression that Night Pegasi have some strange ways of showing they're interested and leave it at that alright?" Now I'm really curious. Was this a long standing prank of hers that she was pulling on the Apple family or was it something else? "So truce on this?" I held out my hoof. She hit it back, "Truce." "So would you please lead the way to Twilight's home?" "Sure." The trot to reach Twilight's home had been relatively uneventful. Nopony had tried to kill me even once on the way here. It honestly felt strange that I could walk around the city without feeling like someone was planning to stab me in the back, or poison me, or... you get the picture. Now I just needed to know one more thing, which house belonged to Twilight anyway? None of them really stood out as Twilight's home. "So which one is Twilight's house?" "You mean you really can't tell?" "No, most of the buildings around here look exactly the same to me." I turned towards Dash, "Besides how would I know which one belongs to her?" "Really? I thought it would have been pretty obvious." "Well it isn't, mind pointing it out?" I know, I'm being passive aggressive, but it's hard not to be sometimes. Dash raised a hoof and pointed towards somewhere to the left of her, "It's that one." Following her hoof I realized that she had been right, I really should have realized it. It was big, but that wasn't all that special considering the size of the buildings around the town. The thing that really made it stand out was that it was shaped like a giant hat with stars. It looked like what the lead character used to wear in the play the Sorcerer's Apprentice, although I still have no idea what a mouse was doing trying to learn magic. I'm getting the feeling that there was going to be a theme for the certain ponies buildings. I had to wonder if Pinky's house would look like a funhouse. I sighed, "You're right, that should have been obvious." "Yeah I know." I didn't think there was any way for me to respond to that statement, so I didn't bother. Instead I trotted right up to the door and prepared to knock. "Can I do it?" I looked at Sakura, "Please?" Why not? There wasn't a good reason to not allow her to do so. "Sure, I don't see any reason why not." Sakura leaped off my back, ran up to the door, and knocked. I still couldn't understand why she seemed so excited to do something so trivial. "I'm coming, I'm coming, hold on a second." Huh, that's strange. Not only was that not Twilight's voice, but it was male. I hope that it isn't what I think it is. I'd hate to have lost my chance before even trying. Nah, I'm sure Rainbow would have told me when I admitted my interest in Twilight. Besides, I doubt Luna would have set it up like this if I didn't even have a chance. How she would know I wouldn't really know. Well the best thing I could do in any case was just wait for the door to open and find out. This strangely reminded me of something that happened before, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I wouldn't have to wait long, the door was already opening to reveal a... a baby purple dragon? Why was there a purple dragon at the door? Well at least it wasn't a pony. "H-hey Spike..." I guess the baby dragon's name is Spike. I wonder why Sakura seems to be so nervous around him now. "Oh hey... ah man your summoner never did give you a name did. The big jerk." Somehow I feel I deserved that... even if I hadn't even known she was my familiar until she came into my dreamscape. "Um... you might not want to call him that right now..." Sakura gave me a sidelong glance, "Besides I have a name now, it's Sakura!" "When did that happen?!" I don't know why he looked so surprised, it seems like it had to happen. "A couple of hours ago maybe?" "So then where's your summoner now?" I suppose that was my cue, besides I think I know why Spike's here now. "That would be me. My name is Dawn Pie." From the startled expression on his face, you'd think he hadn't seen Rainbow or I. I suppose it was possible, we had been a little ways back and he had been paying attention to Sakura. I wonder if I should be worried and playing the role of overprotective big brother. Spike looked slightly suspicious about what I had said. I don't know why that would be, if he would just look at my Flank marking he would know that I'm telling the truth. "If you're her summoner than how come you didn't give her a name?" "Well first of all, let me allay your fears that I'm not her summoner," He gave me a questioning look, "And yes I know that you didn't ask that question, but I know you're thinking it." It was pretty obvious really, "Just look at my Flank Marking." "What's a Flank Marking?" He didn't know? How could that be? I mean you'd think it would be common knowledge. "The mark on my Flank." "Oh you mean your Cutie Mark?" Wait. Whoa. Hold on here. Did he just call my Flank Mark a Cutie Mark? I'm a stallion, I did not have a Cutie Mark... Wait! Did this mean that they changed the name to something so ridiculously girly? Not that I have any issue with girly thing, but it's not gender neutral and it's used for everypony. Well I'm going to keep calling it a Flank Mark, I don't care what other ponies call it. "Yes... that." I know that I sounded aggressive, but I was a little annoyed by the name change. While he was looking at my mark, I was looking at his tail. Just as I had suspected, Twilight's marking was on his tail. This was Twilight's familiar. I wonder why she had never brought him with her when she came to visit me. Maybe he'd been too young at the time or busy with other things at the time. "Huh, fine. So you are her summoner. Still that doesn't explain why you didn't give her a name." "I've been in a coma for the last week." "Why would that matter, you could have named her before that." I think he was rather protective of Sakura... hmm. "Well I'd only met her a few minutes before going into the coma, I didn't have enough time to name her." "Huh? How did that happen?" I would have thought that Twilight would have told her familiar more about what happened, but I suppose not. At least he didn't seem angry at me anymore. "Well it's a long story, how about we go inside and I'll explain the whole thing to you." "Hmm... How do I know that you aren't here to do something to Twilight's home?" Well I suppose I would be protective like this too. However, you'd think being with both Rainbow Dash and Sakura would give me the benefit of the doubt. "Spike he's with me." "Oh right Sakura." "Since you seem to be in Spike's capable claws I'm just gonna jet. I got some things I have to do." While I wondered what 'things' Dash had to do, I suppose it wasn't any of my business. "Um... Ok?" By the time I had finished that statement Dash had already flown off into the air away from us. I turned to Spike, "Does she do that often?" "I dunno. I've only known her for a week." I suppose that made sense. Why would Twilight's familiar have known Rainbow Dash longer than Twilight had? Spike walked into the building, Sakura and I followed him. Twilight's home seemed to be just as big on the inside as it had appeared to be on the outside. However, there was a lot less space for moving. Every piece of the floor had been covered in books. There wasn't a single part of the room that had been left clean. It was heavenly. I had always loved libraries. "Hehe, you must really like books Dawn." "Why do you say that Spike?" He was right of course, but I wanted to know why he said that. Knowledge is useful after all. "That look on your face, Twilight gets it when she visits a new library somewhere." Interesting, very interesting. Now that I think about it, where is Twilight? "Speaking of Twilight, do you know where she is?" "Yeah, she went out to see the Celestia." "Do you know when she'll be back?" "In a couple hours probably, she always ends up chatting with her teacher for a while." "That should give me enough time to at least give you a basic rundown on why I didn't give Sakura a name when I first met her." "You better have a good explanation for that." We entered another room. It was absolutely huge, books lined everything. Including... "Spike is the furniture made of books?" Even I don't have that much interest in books. "Nah it's designed to mimic the look of books so it matches everything else in here. Go on give it a try." Sakura and I move sit down on one of the chairs. Huh, it really does feel comfy; this was some amazingly well done design. Wonder who the designer was. "Now tell me about why you didn't name Sakura until today, or else." I think he was trying to look intimidating, but instead it just made him appear cute. Honestly, I know that in a few years both Spike and Sakura are going to look scary, but right now I think I'll just admire how cute they look. "Well it's like this. When I first took the test I..." I told him the story about how I had actually failed my summoning exam, how I had somehow gained the position of Luna's student, and how I had ended up in stone. I didn't go into that much detail beyond that point, but his eyes grew larger throughout the retelling. Strangely, Sakura seemed mostly unaffected, even though this was the first time she would have heard this story. Perhaps she had already seen it in my mind... or Dash might have told her I suppose. She likely would remember the part about her summoning. "Well that is a very good reason why you didn't give Sakura a name. Sorry about giving you that look earlier." "It's not a problem, I know how it feels to think one way and then realize you were completely wrong." That might not have been my best choice of words, the looks both Sakura and Spike were giving made that abundantly clear. "I'm sorry I meant-" "Hey Spike I'm back." "Twilight! You're back." Spike ran out of the room towards where the voice came from, Twilight's most likely. I suppose my apology would have to wait until later. I should probably go greet Twilight though. Following Spike's rapidly retreating backside, I soon found myself to the foyer. "Oh, hello Dawn." Twilight's voice drew my attention to her. I caught sight of Twilight and was about to respond when my body froze up. I couldn't move at all, my heart began palpitating like crazy, sweat started running down my body. I could hear somepony screaming... Who was screaming? Why were they screaming? My body began to gallop on its own; out of the room to who knows where. I wasn't paying attention, I felt scared out of my mind. I don't know what's going on, what happened to me? Why was I reacting this way? That scream is still following me. Why had it followed me all the way here? Where was here anyway? My legs began to feel tired, but my body kept pushing against it. I needed to get as far as possible from Twilight. I don't know why I just did. I kept running until my body simply fell to the ground, exhausted. I can still hear the sound of somepony screaming. Who was it? My throat felt raw... Wait, I was the one screaming, why am I screaming? I need to calm down, yeah that's the first order of business, calm down and think rationally about what just happened. I caught sight of Twilight and then I just started to have a breakdown, what was going on... Author's Note: Sorry this is a week later than my regular schedule. My finals took more work than I thought they would. I hope people are still enjoying this story and please provide feedback. It helps me increase the quality of the story.

Luna's Student

EPA: Equestria Psychological Association

Disclaimer: Today I've brought in another guest, from an entirely different show. Hope you enjoy her. Say hello to Melfeulle Sakuraba! *polite clapping* A pink haired girl with flowers in her hair smiles at the crowd, "Hello everyone it's so nice to be here! I'm sure that at some point the rest of Galaxy Angel Brigade and I will be in a story on this site!" Her smile brightens, "And now for the wonderful disclaimer!" "When reading Luna's Student sit in a bright room well away from the screen! Be sure you understand." She gives a little giggle. Disclaimer: Hmm, hmm Melfeulle's eyes widen, "Oh right, MyWorld93 doesn't own anything from the MLP universe, which is owned by Hasbro and Lauren Faust, or the Galaxy Angels Universe, owned by Broccoli and Bandai. I hope you understand." Chapter 9: EPA: Equestrian Psychological Association Written by MyWorld93 I shook my head slowly trying to loosen the hold the spider webs had on my brain. What exactly had happened back there? Why would I run away like that, I couldn't think of a good reason. One moment I had been trotting along through Twilight's house, happy as could be, and then I saw Twilight and started galloping away. I've never galloped like that in my life. I'd always needed a reason before. I know I sometimes hid, but I don't gallop. I'd never really had anything that I needed to run away from. Most of time not getting hurt involved staying right where I was and defending myself, they generally came from multiple directions anyway. Where had I ended up anyway? I hadn't been paying attention to where I'd been going in my terror induced state. The walls and floors were a grimy mess, which didn't really tell me much, but I was between two buildings. My best guess was that I was in the middle of an alleyway, probably somewhere around Twilight's home, but I couldn't be sure. "Hey Dawn!" Sakura's voice drew my attention upwards to where the pink dragon was hanging out of a hanging lamp. I know she's fairly small, but there was no way that she should be able to fit in there. How had she found me anyway? Not that I had been trying to hide from her, but I had been galloping pretty quickly. I doubt she could have kept up. "So Sakura, how did you find me?" "Well I saw what happened back there. I was worried, you were screaming so loudly. I was going to just follow that, but you were galloping so fast. I tried to follow you, but then I tripped and now I'm hanging here from a lamppost." She smiled, "It's actually pretty fun! Weeee!" That sounded a lot like something that would happen to my sister... Wait... Okay so she was a female and she was my familiar, which made her part of the family. So did that mean that she had the same abilities that the mares in my family did? Which meant that I had possibly, maybe, bonded myself to someone as cool as my sister, this could be fun. That was a thought for later though. Now that Sakura was here I could ask her about what had happened, my own memories on the matter were a little colored by fear, so it didn't hurt to ask. Maybe an outside perspective would help me understand what was going on, or at least give me an idea of what to do about it. First I better get her down from that overhanging lamp. My neck was starting to cramp. "Hey Sakura. Would you mind coming down here?" "Sure!" I moved below her, to catch her when she fell. I'd never actually watched as any mare in my family actually pulled themselves out of those impossibly small spaces that they often ended up in. The process was very interesting to watch, I'm also not sure how I missed those times before. Sakura looked almost like pink toothpaste coming out of a tube as she grabbed the edges of the lamp and pushed downward. An instant before she was actually out her body appeared to look like it had the consistency of water before she poofed back to full size. I realize that I'm just distracting myself, but for the moment it couldn't hurt. Soon enough her full body was out of the lamp and, like I had expected, she fell from the lamp and landed on my back. It was lucky that Sakura was so light. Otherwise I might have gotten a few back problems. "Weee! That was fun! Can I do it again?" I had to smile. She just looked so cute like that. I wish I didn't have to interrupt her thoughts of fun to find out what had happened to me. "Of course," I wasn't going to stop her from doing things my sister had done on a regular basis, "but at the moment I was wondering if you would mind telling me what you saw earlier." "No problemo! I was right behind you when you walked into that room so I saw everything! You trotted into the room, saw Twilight. Then you just froze for a bit and didn't move. You probably shouldn't do that, it seemed dangerous." I saw the worry in her eye. hopefully I could keep from doing such a thing again. I didn't really like doing it much myself. "Then you just started screaming, which kind of hurt my ears." I felt a little worried. She was a baby dragon and damage to her ears could give her permanent damage, "Are you alright? Do your ears still hurt?" "Nope! They stopped hurting after a few minutes." That was good. I did not want to hurt anypony, least of all my familiar. That did bring up the idea that I would need to get Sakura a checkup though. I mean she is baby dragon and I was doubtful that she had gotten one of those since she was born. I waited a few seconds for her to continue speaking about what had happened. "What happened after that Sakura?" "You galloped away faster than I could follow, I tripped following you, and then I ended up here and you asked me what had happened. Then I said that I was following you-" "Thanks Sakura, that helps me a lot." She pouted, I guess she had really wanted to keep talking. Still what she had told me had really helped, if only because it matched up with what I already know. For some reason I have an unreasonable fear of Twilight, but only actually seeing her. I know it didn't happen when I thought about her or when I heard her. I wonder why it was only seeing her that did it. The sound of flapping wings surprised me. I know that Pegasi fly everywhere, but the sound of these wings just felt different and somehow familiar. It was pretty obvious why that was when a dark blue Alicorn landed in front of me. "Teacher! What are you doing here?" Instead of providing me an answer Luna reached out and gave me a hug. While I don't understand quite why she did that, I wasn't going to refuse it. Like I've said before I like hugs and strangely this one felt almost needed to me. Feeling another sensation on my leg I looked down and saw Sakura joining in. I still have no idea what was going on, but at least I was reassured that I have friends. Luna backed off, but Sakura continued to hold my leg. "I heard you screaming across the town Dawn." Either my vocal cords can reach pitches I'd never thought possible or Luna has even better hearing then I thought. I think I was going to go with the second one, I've never heard anyone say that I have very strong vocals. "What happened?" "Honestly I'm not really sure... One second I was fine and the next I was galloping away, scared out of my wits." "You went from fine to running away? Give me a little more detail?" "Well I heard Twilight talking, then I walked into the room where she was, I saw Twilight, and then I ran away screaming." That explanation wasn't as detailed as Sakura's had been, but I think it got the point across and hopefully she'd be able to help me figure out what had happened. It couldn't hurt anyway. "So... You saw Twilight and then ran away?" "Yes. That's what happened." Hey I said it and I meant it. I'm not one to lie to an immortal being who just happens to be my teacher, especially when I actually like that teacher. Even less so if they can help me. Luna looked at Sakura. "Sakura can you confirm that? I wish to make sure that this is the case before I say what I believe should be done." My word wasn't good enough? No I suppose she's just making sure for my sake. Telling me to do something and not getting the right answer could be devastating. "Yuppers! That's what happened. I was watching. He entered the room and saw Twilight. Then he just ran away." I'm glad she didn't mention that I'd hurt her ears. I get the strangest feeling that I would have been the one with damaged ears at the end of it. Luna was silent for a few minutes. Actually it was starting to drag on for a pretty long time at this point. I decided to break the silence, "So do you know what's wrong with me?" "No," I blinked. That was not the answer I had expected, "but I think I know what you should do to find out. You should go see a psychologist." Now that I think about it, the doctor told me to do that as well, after I had trouble talking about lilies. It probably wasn't too bad of an idea. Still that left one question for me. "What is a psychologist? I mean the doctor mentioned that I should see one as well, but I have no idea what they are." "A psychologist is somepony that helps you work through mental problems. Many people like to call them mind mages, but they don't use any magic at all. A fair number of them are actually Earth Ponies. They are a fairly recent profession, but they had been of help to a great many ponies and appear to be thriving." She had me at 'helped with mental problems'. There was a good probability that was where my problem lay and it would likely help me. Still that left me with another question, which seems pretty par for the course really. I always seem to have more questions to ask after I hear about something new, but this one was a little different. It involved Luna. "If they only came about in the last thousand years, how do you know what they are?" My teacher blushed. I don't think I've seen that sight for a very long time. She was generally in enough control of herself that she didn't do that. I suppose that this must be really embarrassing to her or something to that effect. "While you were in a coma," It's a little sad, but I'd almost forgot about that, and it had only been a few hours, "I looked for books to assign you for when you got out. I am still your teacher after all." That sounded like Luna alright, even when her student was in a coma she wanted to make sure that she would be ready to teach me when I got out. Honestly I'm rather touched by the sentiment, "When I came across a particular book on the subject of psychology. It looked so interesting that I gave it a read myself. While I had started reading it out of simple curiosity, I soon enough found that the session sounded like it would be a good idea for me." That made sense, being on the moon could not be conductive to a pony's health. "So how did that go for you?" "Very well, I learned quite a few things about myself. I thought it was pretty useful. It's also helping me to get over an old fear of mine and I've had that fear for almost three thousand years. "What do you do in one of those sessions?" "Well mostly you talk through your problems and hopefully reach a satisfactory conclusion. I believe that this will greatly help you." That was honestly one of the least informative answers that I have ever heard. Maybe you're not allowed to talk about it? Well it still couldn't hurt to try. "All right." A couple of hours later I had an appointment, which was honestly very fast for this sort of thing. Normally whenever I needed an appointment for anything I'd need to make it at least a week in advance. That was rather annoying actually, this was rather amazing. Still I had used those few hours to great effect, mainly by sending Sakura to deliver a message to Twilight telling her about what had happened. I hadn't received anything back, so all I could hope was that she wasn't mad at me. Also kind of hope she didn't pity me for it. I wanted to get over this fear so that I could actually try and get a date. Hopefully this session would help me to understand what caused my reaction to Twilight. Maybe then I'd be able to find out how to solve the problem. One always needs to know what the problem is before they can find a solution. Hopefully the psychologist would be able to help with that. Now though it was time for my appointment. Luna and I sat in the waiting room, doing what everyone does in a waiting room... read magazines. The room was rather quiet, other than a slowly ticking clock in the corner. I think it was only ticking every other second. I had gotten a special afterhours appointment, likely because Luna had requested it. Which meant that we were the only two in the room. "Dawn, you want to do this right? It won't work if you're just doing it because you think that I'm right." The sound of Luna's voice was rather startling in the silence. I suppose she had a point, did I really want to do this? "Yes I'm sure. I'm willing to try anything to get rid of this fear and this seems like the best option." "At least you sound like you're ready." We sat in silence for a little while longer. The creaking noise drew our attention to the door, that thing really needed to get oiled. I blinked... A very familiar purple pony wearing a beard trotted out from behind the door. Who was Twilight trying to trick? I could see that it was her behind that fake beard. The sad bit was that I wasn't running away... was the beard really that effective of disguise? I took a glance at Luna. Her expression was blank. Either she was in on this or she really couldn't tell that this was Twilight, and with Luna I'd never be able to know which is the truth. "Vello Dawn. I am Dr.Freudlin. I hear dat you are having some issues vith a particular mare." She held a hoof out to me and I shook it, her beard shook at the sudden jostling. I couldn't help wondering what would happen when it fell, "Please follow me." I still don't know who Twilight thinks she's tricking, but followed her in anyway. It wasn't likely that this would be too damaging and I thought it would be better to confront her about it away from Luna. If she was in on this I didn't feel like getting laughed at. We trotted down the short corridor in silence, eventually reaching a door marked Dr.Fraudlin. Apparently she'd really gone all out in her deception... or borrowed someone else's office and name. Twilight trotted in and I followed behind her. The room was rather bare, only containing what I assumed to be the bare minimum, a chair and something I could only describe as a strange couch-chair hybrid. It was raised like a chair at one end, but stretched out quite a bit farther. As soon as she and I were seated I popped the question that had been on my mind this entire time. "Twilight, why are you wearing a beard?" I paused for a second and then continued with the question that was really bothering me, "and why is it working?" "I don't know vho you're talking about," her glasses hid her eyes, but there was a good chance that she was looking around wildly. Diamond used to do that too, whenever she wanted to hide something. She had been a terrible liar, "and dat means dere is no vay that my vonderful beard could be doing anything. So hov about ve get started den. Ja?" I don't think this idea would make any sense, but since I wasn't running away I didn't think there was any reason not to try it. Hopefully my earlier thoughts about this not causing damage would prove accurate. "Ja- I mean sure." I'm going to have to watch myself. That accent was catching, if only because it would seem like fun to try. "Ja, good." Twilig- excuse me Dr. Freudlin, might as well go along with the full act, pulled out a small notebook and wrote something in it, "Now I vant you to tell me about your moder." "My Mother?" That was rather odd. What did my mother have to do with anything? She isn't even around anymore. How could she be connected to this? "Yes, yes, tell me about your family. Please start vith your moder." Not sure what this has to do with anything, but it couldn't hurt to tell her. "Well my moder," oh brother that was quickly going to get annoying, "my mother was a rather nice pony, but was... strict would be the best word for it I suppose. She'd always expect me to do everything perfectly. If I ever failed at anything she would threaten to throw me out of the house." Dr. Freudlin gave me a rather strange look. I don't know why, that was a perfectly normal threat from when I was foal, a lot of ponies I knew were told the same thing. Still she seemed to go back to normal soon enough, scribbling something in her notebook, "Yes... Yes... interesting, very interesting..." She looked back up at me, "Please continue." This was just getting rather strange. Still couldn't hurt to keep going I suppose. "Well... whenever she wasn't threatening me with homelessness she was actually a fairly nice pony. She would give me treats every once in a while and would take my sister and I places. A lot of the time though she would leave Blueberry and I-" "Blueberry was the name of your sister?" Well that was rude of her. I can't help feeling that she wasn't supposed to do things like that. "Yes, that's right. As I was saying, my mother would leave my sister and me alone whenever she took us out anywhere. Usually she would go and do work or something somewhere else. I never really did know what she was actually doing. Blueberry would usually do something fun with me instead. I remember this one time..." It was a rather nice day and- "No, No. Dis is not de time for the Flashback. Dis is the time for di talking." I think she was starting to take the accent a little too far, I can't tell what it's supposed to be anymore. I mean I think it was supposed to be Germane, but now it sounded like she was mixing in some island dilect. "Now please tell me about dis memory." "Um alright?" What in the world was that about? "Well it really was a rather nice day. My mother had taken Blueberry and I to the beach. Then she kind of just left us there, with nopony watching us." Now that I think about it, my mother hadn't been very responsible. Who leaves their only children alone on a beach? Or anywhere really? Especially considering how young we were. "Blueberry played sandcastles with me until a butler came and took us home." "Huh, interesting. Very, very interesting. It sounds to me like you don't like your moder very much. Is dat true?" Her beard shook a little from her mouth movement. I could only hope that it didn't fall off. "Um no." I will admit that she hadn't been the best mother, but I never actively disliked her. There were times when she had been nice; they had just been fairly far apart. "I don't dislike my mother. I mean she raised me. It might not have been very well and most of the time it might have been a servant who was actually taking care of us and she pretty much ignored me most of the time." You know the more I think about it, the more I realize that my mother had not been around very much. "Hmm, yes, yes. I tink I knov vhat is vrong." I had to wonder how she could get any kind of conclusion from what we had just talked about. As far as I could tell I hadn't once mentioned anything that was related to the actual problem. In fact everything that we had discussed had happened over a century ago. I don't think those things actually had any bearing on the what was going on now. Still, couldn't hurt to hear her conclusion on the matter. "I believe you have an Electra Complex." Her beard, which had been precariously hanging onto her the entire time, suddenly fell off from the final movement of her mouth. I followed it with my eyes as it fell to the ground, before glancing back at Twilight. The last thing I saw, before I galloped out of the room was a fairly cute, but dopey looking, smile on her face. I really want to figure out what's going on here, I don't feel like running away from her like this. Also what was an Electra Complex? "I'm guessing that it didn't go well then?" The caring look on Luna's face belied the neutral statement of her words. Considering that I was shaking like a leaf I couldn't exactly respond in the negative. "Yeah. It started out alright and then her beard dropped." That sounded a lot weirder than I meant it to. "Oh that's too bad. I thought for sure that Twilight wearing a beard would keep you from recognizing her." Well that at least answered whose idea that was. The beard was probably enchanted against ponies seeing who is wearing it. In other words I could recognize her, but not necessarily actually connect that fact in my mind. Still I had to wonder why Luna thought it was a good idea to place me in the same room as Twilight when I had run away before. Perhaps she had thought that I would be able to get somewhere if I confronted the problem directly? Well the best way to find out things is to ask about them. "Luna... You knew about this didn't you?" She nodded her head, but was smiling, "Why did you do that?" I wasn't angry about it, I was curious. "There were actually two reasons. One is that Twilight really wanted to try being a psychologist." Considering all those books in her house I could see Twilight wanted to try some of them out and Luna like went along with it as a prank. I suppose I should feel grateful that I got to help out a crush at least. "The other reason is that I thought that if you confronted your fears it might help you get over them." Apparently I had been right on the money with the second reason. Even though I could have told them that it was a bad idea, I still feel a little bad that I had run away from Twilight. "Luna, would you mind apologizing to Twilight for me." Luna gave me a confused look, "For running away. I might not know why I'm scared, and it might not have been the best of ideas, but I still feel bad about it." "What exactly happened in there anyway?" "Well... Twilight kept asking me about my mother and seemed to think that she had some effect on my problem. Personally I don't think that made any sense." "You're right, and I'd like to apologize to you for putting you in such a situation." Luna looked me in the eye, "That method Twilight was rather old. I think she found the wrong books." I get the feeling that Luna did a lot more reading than I would have thought possible in a week. Maybe she had a stronger interest in the field then I thought? "Still I think it might be a good idea to go to another psychologist. One who is trained in the contemporary methods rather than the classical methods." Classical methods? Contemporary methods? "What are you talking about?" "There are a variety of different methods that are used in the field of psychology. The one she used is known as Freudlin Psychoanalytic method." That didn't really help, but it did give me a new subject to research later on. Actually I had way too many research topic to count at this point, I'd need to get started on those when I got some time. I hadn't even started studying that weird statue that I'd been looking at for almost a thousand years. Hopefully I'd get that time soon, or get a notebook. "Couldn't hurt." Like I've said before, I'm willing to try things at least once. "Well it will take a little time to get an appointment with my psychologist, but it shouldn't take too long." "It's no problem. I'll go read some books in the castle library to pass the time. There are so many things that I still need to learn about. I mean one thing that I really need to find out is what an Electra Complex is. I mean Twilight apparently diagnosed me with it." Even if I still doubted that it would make any sense. "Did you say Electra Complex?" The smile on her face worried me a little, what could be so funny about it? "Yes that is what I said. Why do you ask?" "Just something I might have heard about it. When you research it please tell me about it." Somehow I couldn't help feeling that I was about to be pranked by my teacher, but I still wanted to know what the complex was. "You go do your research and I'll come get you when I have an appointment for you." "Alright... Also if you happen to see Sakura could you send her in my direction? It's nice to have someone to talk to sometimes." "Of course." I'm pretty sure I'm lost at this point. The Royal Palace has really changed since I was last here and I'd barely been able to find anything back then. Now I couldn't even find my own room, if it was still around here somewhere. I mean it could be anywhere really. I really wish I had asked for direction. I better ask the next pony I see for directions. Although I really have to wonder why the palace is so empty, you'd think guards would be running all over the place trying to protect the princesses from assassins. "Ow!" I was knocked out of my thoughts when I actually ran into another pony. I really need to stop running on automatic, I keep running into the strangest things. Standing up, I reached out a hoof to help the pony up... "Sorry about that... Rarity?" Well that was rather surprising, I mean what are the chances that I would run into someone that I knew in the middle of a giant castle? Oh right, my luck. "Think nothing of it darling, these things happen." Her eyebrow was twitching a little. At least she was trying to be cordial about it, "At least this spot of floor has been cleaned well. Let's just say that somepony would have to pay if it hadn't." Rarity looked up at me and her eye stopped twitching and gained a new look, one that scared me a little. I feel a lot less safe than I did a minute ago. She batted her eyes at me. This would not turn out well, I could tell. "Actually, would you mind helping me out with something?" I really need a model for a Stallion line of clothing and I think that you would be perfect." That chill was coming back and I almost said no, but something stopped me. I don't know what it was, but I think that saying no would somehow lead me to a really bad place. "I'd be happy to help." I felt that chill roll all the way down my spine and my tail started twitching in the weirdest way. I think I'm going to regret my decision very quickly. "Oh that Wonderful!" "Could you lead me to the library afterwards?" I might as well get something out of this. "Of course, now just follow me. My boutique is only a little ways away." Her boutique was in the castle... why did that feel like it made sense? "If you don't mind me asking, why is your boutique in the Royal Castle?" "Oh it isn't, it's right outside the castle. I've been given the position of Royal Seamstress by her majesty Princess Celestia, and hopefully Luna as well." That was actually pretty high up there. The royal seamstress that I knew had sold millions of styles into the market. There is no end to what they could do with their position. "And we're here. Welcome to the Diamond Boutique." Here was a slight distance outside the castle and the Diamond Boutique wasn't exactly the most normal thing to look at in the world. It was literally the largest diamond I had ever seen in my life. It must have cost a fortune! Well either that or it was actually a fake designed to look like a diamond. I was no genius at gemology so I couldn't tell, but it was still a rather amazing looking building and of course it also matched her Flank Marking. So I suppose that it makes as much sense as anything else. "No time for gawking. Clothing waits for nopony!" I blinked before looking in her direction. "Sorry about that, your place of work is just... eye catching." Somehow that seems vaguely rude and I get the feeling that she caught that, considering the looks she's sending my way. "Why of course it is, it needs to draw the attention of the customer!" or maybe I was misreading the situation entirely. "It's based off my Cutie Mark." And there was that word again. It was honestly getting on my nerves. "Now please walk this way." "I don't think I can." It seemed like such a hard way to walk. Rarity gave me a strange look before a look of dawning comprehension appeared on her face, "Oh funny. Just follow me please." I could hear her muttering under her breath a little. The joke wasn't that bad was it? The moment I passed the threshold of her home, my tail started acting crazy, going in every direction. I couldn't think of a single reason for it to be acting like that. There wasn't anything dangerous around here at all. Rarity blinked, "Is something the matter with your tail?" "I don't know, it's never acted like this before." "Well I think I know just the thing to settle it down. It always works on Pinkie Pie's tail." She magically gripped a hairbrush and started brushing my tail. My pink hairs started to calm down, which was really strange. I don't think I've ever seen my tail go from anything close to a full out panic to complete calm like that before. "Ah, looks like that works as well with your tail as with Pinkie's." "How did you do that?" "Oh I laced the brush with a nerve locking hair gel." Ok, I'm starting to think that my tail may have had a point with what it had been doing. I don't care how many Pie's she has to take care of, there is no reason she should have that kind of thing in her boutique. I suppose I could deal with this though. "Alright darling, if you wouldn't mind standing on this pedestal here." Okay... this is not going to be fun. I stood on a pedestal for a thousand years, do I really need to stand on one again? "Um is there any way that we could do this while standing on the floor? I don't really feel like standing on pedestal again." "I suppose, but it might be a little more awkward to get your measurements." Now what did she mean by that. Still if I didn't have to get on the pedestal I suppose that would be alright. "That shouldn't be a problem." "Alright I'll get started then." She pulled out a measuring tape from somewhere in the room and began to measure every inch of my body. She started at my head, I guess for a hat, before moving farther downward, taking notes all the while. She measure my legs, my chest, and everything in-between. Although she was starting to get a little close to particular part of my anatomy then I felt comfort with... "Gah!" "Huh? Oh I'm so sorry darling. I didn't mean to measure that, I was just so entranced by these numbers. They are absolutely perfect for my new designs." I wish that I could say that I was glad to hear that, but I had kind of just had a very sensitive piece of my anatomy strangled by a rather sharp measuring tape. At least it didn't seem like I was bleeding. "It's... alright, just... be careful... okay." I know I should be mad about this, but I'm a fairly forgiving pony. If she does it again though, I'll get Luna involved and have her sent to the moon for a year. "Oh good. Although you might want to get that voice checked out sometime, it sounds so much higher pitched than it did before." I can't tell if she's being serious or not. "Well that's all the measurements I need at the moment. Come back in a few days and I should have something for you to try on." She turned away from me, apparently ignoring my existence to get to work. I stood there hoping that she would remember her deal to lead me to the library, but after several minutes I gave up on her just remembering. "Do you think you could lead me to the library now?" It took her a few seconds to respond likely my words were just now filtering through her mind, "Oh of course darling. I'm so sorry about this. I just get so wrapped up in my work sometimes that I forget what I'm supposed to be doing." "Please just lead me." It was the least she could do for what she did to me. "Well here it is darling. I'll just leave you to whatever it is you need to do." "Alright, see you later." Hopefully without a measuring tape, seriously do not want to go through that kind of thing again. Still at least she'd lead me to the right place, the grand doors and the plaque with the words 'Royal Library' on it both indicated as such. I walked on through. The Royal Library was still huge, just as I remembered it, which is fairly different than almost any other place in this castle. Every room in the castle had those new 'electric' lights and seemed to have some weird boxes on the walls that I had no idea about, although air seemed to blow out of them whenever I walked past them. This room was still lit by the candles. While it was less bright than anywhere else I felt much more in place than I had. Still at least this area of the castle had remained the same. The walls lined with hundreds upon thousands of books and yet it still felt like they had fewer books then Twilight's home. I don't know why that is, but it just did. I suppose that it might be the lack of books covering every inch of the floor or something. There was one difference from what I was used to though, the entire library was empty. The library had always been full of ponies researching one subject or another, no matter the time of day, so it was rather strange to see the entire library completely devoid of any ponies at all. I wonder where all the ponies are at the moment. I mean even if all the ponies decided that there was nothing to research, there should be a few pleasure readers around. Well there was one pony. He was a rather old looking Unicorn, but I couldn't help feeling that he would know both where all the ponies were and where the books I was looking for would be. "Excuse me sir. Are you the librarian?" "Eh?" He held one of his grey hoofs up to his ear, "Would you mind repeating that sonny? My hearing ain't what it used to be." "Of course. Are you the librarian?" "Eh? Am I eating? What a strange thing to ask. No I'm not eating. My name is Mystic the Librarian." Wow, this pony had really bad hearing. Well at least I got my question answered. Still I had the feeling that this was going to be a fairly difficult conversation. Normally I'd just help his hearing or my voice with magic, but at the moment I still didn't have anything I could use. Well hopefully he'd be able to hear my questions. At least he seems easy enough to understand. "Would you mind telling me why there are no ponies around?" "Why aren't there any phonies around here." His face was incredulous, "This is a library foal! Only genuine ponies come in here now and there aren't too many of those left." I get the feeling that he didn't even know what I meant. Although it's rather strange that even though he hears the wrong question, he still gives me a fairly useful answer. So there aren't that many 'genuine ponies' left. Wonder what that means... I'm also kind of curious why I care so much about this. Maybe it's the fact that the library had been kind of a sanctuary for me when I was younger. "Hey sonny you okay there? You seem to be a little lost in thought." The librarian's voice drew me back into the real world. "Sorry about that, got a little lost in thought there." "No problem sonny." "Oh thank yo- Wait you can hear me? Could you hear me the whole time?" "Ehehehe Nope, couldn't hear a word you said." Mystic raised his hoof to his ear and twisted it around a little, "I didn't have my hearing aid in." At least he hadn't been playing with me, he was just forgetful. "So you mind telling my why this place is so empty?" "Ponies don't really like to read real books anymore." That was rather worrying, books are important to the future, "Oh don't give me that look. They still read, they don't read real books though." That didn't make any sense to me. "So they read, but they don't read books?" Mystic nodded, "Then what do they read instead?" "Hehehe Sonny have you been living under a rock?" I'm pretty sure the answer to that question was yes so I nodded, "Well they're all on the internet instead. So this place is always pretty empty." The internet? "Excuse me, but what is the internet?" I saw him open his mouth, "And for the moment let's say that I have lived under a rock for quite a while." "It's a system connecting everybody to information boy! It's absolutely amazing! But, it does mean that ponies are coming to the library much less often." That sounded incredible, and I'd need to find out more about it later, but for the moment I'd rather just go find the psychology section. "That's great, but could you please direct me to the Psychology section? I need to do a bit of research." "Of course, it's that isle right over there." "Thank you." I trotted over to the section. Now I need a book on, what did Luna call it? Oh right, Freudlin Psychology. Hopefully it would be in this section somewhere. Well let's start with the F section. There sure are a lot of authors in this section, I mean there are six whole rows for authors who's name begins with F. The worst part is going to be trying to find anything in there. Well here goes nothing. Several minutes of searching later and I still couldn't find the thing. Was it hiding from me or something? Maybe I should go ask the librarian? The feeling of a heavy object landing on my head knocked me out of my thoughts and onto the ground. What in the world was that? Wait. Is that? It is! The book I was looking for was sitting right in front of me. Sigmund Freudlin's Psychoanalytic Theory by Feletic, but where did it come from? "Hey Dawn, up here!" "Hey Sakura." I looked from where Sakura was hanging out in space between two books far too small for her to fit in and the book on the ground. "Sakura." "Yes?" "How did you know I was looking for this book?" "What book? Luna told me that you wanted to see me and so here I am." That was interesting... Did Sakura have another ability I'd never understand or was it a coincidence. Considering my luck I was going to guess both. "Hey Sakura you mind coming down here?" "Oki Doki Loki." I guess the look I gave her must have been inquisitive, "Pinkie Pie taught me that. Oh! Luna wants you to meet with her as soon as you get done in here. She had your appointment time read." When had Sakura found the time to go see Pinkie Pie? I'd sent her to tell Twilight and then she must have... gah my head hurts. "That's fine Sakura. I'll be sure to do so when I get a chance, but could you please come down now?" I have no idea why she seems to like popping out of such high places, but it's going to become a strain on my neck if she keeps it up. Seeing her drop down, I grabbed the book from the floor and brought it over to a nearby table. Flipping to the index, I found the pages that I needed. Flipping to them I began to read. The Electra complex is a mare's sexual attraction to and intense love for a father. Okay... That's a little disturbing, maybe there is more information in here about it? It is part of a mare's development in Freudlin's Psychoanalytic theory. It begin with the filly realizing that she lacks a penis and she will believe that the penis is superior to her clitoris and thus feels mutilated. She therefore transfers her desire for a penis into a sexual desire for the father to impregnate her. I'm not sure how Twilight got to this conclusion considering she never asked about my father, but geeze was she off the mark. I don't think that she read this all the way through. This theory has been essentially debunked as the data shows there to be a lack of any real scientific evidence substantiating this theory. Well that was good to know at least. I just wish that Twilight hadn't felt it necessary to give me such a strange diagnosis. Maybe it would have made more sense then. "Hey Sakura, where did Luna want to meet me?" I could only hope that it would be close. I really don't want to ask for directions again. "The West Wing, but We need to hurry." "Why?" "Because we need to be there in ten minutes." Okay, unless the West Wing is right next door there is no way that I'm going to be getting there in ten minutes. I simply don't know my way around this rebuilt castle well enough. I really hope that Sakura knows the way, I don't think I'd have time to ask for directions even if I wanted to. "Do you know where that is?" "Yup! Just follow me." With that she walked into the bookshelf... and through it. Well couldn't hurt to try following her I suppose. My arrival at the West Wing was nothing short of disastrous. I couldn't even hold my lunch. Luckily there had been a nearby trashcan to throw it into, I don't think I'd want to clean it up later. I think I've just found out why the stallions and colts in my family don't try the disappearing act, it disorienting and causes us to throw up. That was worse than the time I failed my teleportation. "Dawn you okay?" No, no I wasn't okay and it was kind of her fault, but considering how worried she was looking at me I couldn't tell her that. So I went with the next best thing, I lied. "Not so much. Next time please remind me not to use your method of transportation, I don't think I was designed to handle it." That actually brings up a good question of how the mares in my family could handle it. I mean was it a special bodily function or something else entirely? "Well Dawn. That was not how I expected to see you arrive here. Somehow I thought you might have used the door instead." From the smile on Luna's face I really had to wonder if she had suggested this to Sakura. I'd really like to believe that my teacher would never do such a thing, but she is a master prankster and I'm her apprentice. She pranks me all the time to help me recognize them and from how she looks, and her words, I think this was one of those times. "Let's just say that I don't think I'll be traveling this way again." Unless I really need to be somewhere quick, but how often does that happen... And now it's going to happen at least once a day isn't it, those words always make something happen. "So I'm guessing that my appointment is around here." "You are correct Dawn. You will be meeting with the psychologist I have been meeting with for the past week, a Dr.Disim." "Alright." Hopefully I could get a better diagnosis this time. I'm absolutely positive that I do not have an Electra Complex. I trotted through the open door into a new room. It was fairly small and looked like just about any other waiting room that I had ever seen before. I had to wonder why the room was empty though. You'd think that being the Royal psychologist one would likely get have more patients. The ponies that work in the castle at the very least. The rooms design did highlight a single place in the room. Specifically the spot where a Orange Night Pegasus stallion sat reading a blue book. The fact that I could see another door made me thing that this was likely the psychologist's secretary rather than the psychologist himself, or was it herself. I never did ask about that did I? The stallion looked up from his book, "Ah you must be Dawn right?" I suppose it made sense that he would know my name, it was likely written down in the schedule planner, or it might be the fact that I was a last minute addition. I'd never been able to get an appointment on such short notice and I'm Luna's student. "Yes that's right." "Good to see your on time, you'd be surprised how many patients show up late all the time." He took a glance at the clock on the wall, "Even if you're only on time by a few minutes. Still it can't be helped I suppose." Now what did he mean by that? "Well my name is Dr. Disim. Your my last patient for the day." I blinked, "Wait, you're the psychologist?" "You're not the first one to be surprised by that. You wouldn't believe the number of ponies that come in here and see me sitting at this desk and think I'm my own secretary. Every time I have an after-hours patient to tell the truth. My normal secretary always leaves at exactly closing time and not a moment later. " I'm an afterhours "So I'm an after-hours patient?" "Yes." He smiled, "Did you think that this place is normally this empty? I'm the Royal psychologist. I take care of everyone who works in this castle." I couldn't help thinking that it might be a good idea for Rarity to come here sometime. Considering what she put me through earlier, I think she needs it. "If you would please follow me?" Dr.Disim's voice broke me out of my thoughts. As I followed him through the doorway, I took a look at his Flank Marking. It was a book with the letters D.S.M. on it. I have no idea what it meant, but hopefully it was related to the concepts of psychology. We walked down a short hallway behind the doorway and into an even smaller room than his reception room. I moved to sit down on the sofa in the room while Disim sat in a rather uncomfortable looking chair. Although I suppose it must be comfortable for him or he wouldn't use it. "Now how about you tell me what brings you here today?" This was certainly different from Twilight's method. Disim seemed to actually be trying to find out what the problem was before trying to solve it. It's remarkable. "Recently I've been in situations in which I keep running away from things that I have never before been scared of, certain ponies to be exact." He nodded his head and I took that as a sign that I should continue, "It happened earlier today, honestly it still amazes me that I got an appointment within a single day." "Yes that seems to be what happens when one has two immortal beings schedule his appointment times." Well I suppose he was right about that. "Well to continue my previous statement. There are two ponies I particular that I had a pretty strong reaction to. One of these ponies I only met for the first time today and I can't think of a good reason why I would be scared of her. I didn't have too strong a reaction to her, I didn't run away or anything. The second one though, I'd seen her before and I hadn't run away, but this time for some reason I ran away the moment I saw her, but not when I heard her, only when I physically saw her." "So you didn't feel scared or frightened until you actually saw her directly?" "That's right, I didn't feel a thing until then. In fact I was looking forward to seeing her again." I could feel my face heating up a little. Uncontrollable facial reactions are embarrassing. However, Dr. Disim seemed to ignore it and wrote a few more notes down. "Has anything in particular happened in the last couple of days?" This was going to be a hard question to answer considering where I've been for the last thousand or so years. I mean how does one tell anyone about everything that has happened to me. Although... I suppose he must have some training with this kind of thing. He has been working with my teacher after all. "Well it's a little bit of story there. Do we have enough time?" I don't know why, but I assume that these visits are set on a timed schedule. "We have all night. Like I said, you're my final patient for the day." "Well okay. First you should know that I am Luna's student." I waited for some reaction. Whenever I mention that fact most ponies seem to show a reaction whether good or bad, but Dr.Disim was seemingly uninterested in the concept, simply nodding his head. I suppose that would make sense, there was no reason for him to know the importance of Luna or working with the princess herself might do it too. If I was used to hearing secrets about the princesses I wouldn't react much to hearing about anyone else's. "So you're Luna's student? How is that working out for you?" "Well it was going great for me, up until I was locked in stone for a thousand years." To give Disim even more credit he didn't seem to react much at all to my statement, just writing a few more notes down on his clipboard. "Then when I woke up I had to fight off, with the help of the mare that scares me and her five friends, my teacher, her teacher, and a monster who had been controlling them and who then tried to take over me. Who afterwards decided that when he couldn't take me over he would release all my memories that had been locked up inside my head." You know when I say it all like that even I don't believe that it actually happened. The fact that Disim wasn't reacting at all was actually rather startling. He was sitting there writing more notes on his paper and yet he kept his eyes pointed at me. This pony was good at this. "So your memories were locked away?" "Yes. Apparently my memories from when I was in stone had been locked away. I suppose in order to protect me or something to that effect. In any case that's what put me in the coma. I simply couldn't handle them all at once like that." "And what were these memories about?" "Overall they were about watching many ponies simply walk past me, ignoring me. Those didn't hurt so badly really. I mean they never talked or visited me, but there were a few who did. The worst memory though was when a little filly visited me. She could talk to me somehow and then I fell on her and she died." "How did that make you feel?" I still couldn't believe that he wasn't reacting to any of the things I was saying in a negative fashion. I mean I just admitted to killing somepony. You'd think he would react more to that. Maybe he didn't believe me or something? "Honestly, it made me feel guilty. I was one who landed on her and killed her after all." "Could you please tell me what she looked like?" "Well she was an yellow Earth Pony filly." "And the small filly that you were scared of today?" What was he getting at? "A yellow Earth Pony filly." I blinked once, "Wait... Is my guilt from Phoenix being placed onto Applebloom?" That would actually make sense. "Only you can tell me that. If you believe that to be the case then there is a good possibility that it is true." "Then maybe, just maybe, the reason why I ran away from Twilight is because I was scared of what happened to Diamond would happen to her." I don't know if this is actually the case, but it's my best guess anyway. I mean it's makes sense, my memories of those events had been dulled, now that they have returned I would have a stronger reaction to them wouldn't I. Therefore, I ran away from Twilight because I was scared of anything happening to her... or this could be off the mark and it could be something else instead. I really don't know. Of course even if all that is true and that is my problem, it really doesn't help me solve it. "So is there any way that you can think of to help me get over my fear." "Well there are some ways, but I think that we should look into this more next session. Right now you seem to be far too into this idea." Author's Note: Well I'm hoping that people are still enjoying this story and feedback is still appreciated. I want to let you know how grateful I am that people are still reading this. Hope you're all having a wonderful summer.

Luna's Student

The Hangover

Disclaimer: Welcome to another moment with the disclaimer. Today I brought a new friend in to tell you what I used to tell you. Give a big hand for COMMANDER VOLCOTT! A brown haired man with a mustache wearing a grey suit faces the audience, "Oh! Hello everyone out there. It's very nice to meet you all. Normally I'm in charge of running the brigade, which is not the easiest job let me tell you, but today I'm here to act as the disclaimer." He smiles at the camera, "When reading Luna's Student please sit in a bright room well away from the screen. I hope you understand." He turns to leave the stage before seeming to remember something, "Oh right, MyWorld93 owns no part of the MLP or Galaxy Angel universes. They are owned by Hasbro and Broccoli respectively. Please enjoy the story." Chapter 10: The Hangover Written by: MyWorld93 My remaining time with Dr.Disim was highly productive. Although we didn't get into the details of what possible options there were for me to work on my issues, we did discuss them in generalities. By the end of the session, I felt that I had a better understanding of what I should do, which for the moment amounted to staying away from Twilight. There weren't many other options that could be discussed on such short notice, but that didn't mean I was happy about it. Sadly, we wouldn't be able to discuss what else could be done until next session. I'd already tried to ask him what he believed should be done, but he wasn't willing to tell me anything about it. Speaking of which... "Dr. Disim?" He glanced up from his notebook, in which he had been writing things I couldn't see from the angle involved, and looked me in the eyes. "Yes?" "You said that we would get into more detail about what I can do to solve my little issue next session, but when will that be?" I personally think it is a necessary thing to know about when one is supposed to come back to a meeting. "That is a good question. Will you be available next week at this time?" I gave that a little bit of thought. Considering that I had only awoken from a coma today, I was positive that I didn't have any plans for next week. That was assuming of course that my teacher hadn't put any plans into place for me, which was fairly unlikely. As such, that time should work out quite well for me. The worst thing that could happen was that I would have to reschedule and somehow that seemed to be fairly minor issue. After I finished working through this lengthy thought process, I gave the doctor a simple nod. Dr.Disim made a notation in his notebook, "Good, good. I'll see you next week. You should receive a call a day before the appointment to notify you that you have it." I blinked, was someone going to be yelling at me that I was supposed to be here for my appointment? Perhaps a call was something that had been developed after I had been placed into stone... Well it couldn't hurt to ask. "Dr. Disim, what do you mean when you say that I'm going to receive a call?" He looked rather surprised by my question, which only confirmed my belief that a call was something that had been developed after my imprisonment. I suppose he realized that fact, as a look of dawning comprehension spread across his face, "Ah, right... you've been out of the loop for quite a while," That was an understatement if I had ever heard one, "Well a call is when some uses a device known as a telephone to talk to you over a long distance." That... That was amazing, ponies could talk to each other over a distance? That would have saved a few lives in my time, my previous time anyway considering that my time was really now, ponies would have been able to call for help when they were on the verge of being assassinated. I suppose it was another item to add to my quickly growing list of research items. "Now, our time for tonight's session is over." Dr.Disim's voice broke me from my thoughts. I quickly noticed that he was looking towards the clock and followed his gaze. Wow, it was far later than I had thought it was. I couldn't believe that this much time had passed already, I heard the doctor stand up from his chair, drawing my attention to him and found that he had trotted over to the door and was currently holding it open for me. I suppose that was my cue to leave the room. You know... I should probably thank him for his help. He hadn't yet been able to solve my problem, but I was much closer than I had been. I stopped right next to him, right before exiting the room, and held a hoof and gave my thanks, "Thanks for the help doc, looking forward to seeing you next week." He seemed slightly surprised by my statement, but still shook my hoof and responded with a, "You're welcome". The exchange finished, I trotted my way into the hallway and heard the door slam shut behind me. Well... that was a little rude of him, but I couldn't fault him for it. If I'd been working all day and then been told that I would need to work for a few more hours beyond what I had planned I'd be in a big rush to leave as well. So I ignored his action of slamming the door and began my short trek down the hallway towards the waiting room. Even though the best option that Dr.Disim could give me to deal with my fear of Applebloom and Twilight had been to stay away from, I felt unsatisfied by it and as such used my time on this short walk to contemplate it. I felt that there had to be an option that I was missed, something that would be obvious in retrospect once it happened Unfortunately for me the only option that came to mind was to have Twilight wear that beard the entire time, but that wouldn't be fair to her at all. Besides, it wouldn't work well at all. It could fall off. I was broken from my thoughts when my nose erupted in a short burst of pain. I opened my eyes, having closed them when I'd hit whatever I had, to see the doorway to waiting room standing placidly in front of me. For half a second I considering hitting the thing back for having hurt me, but that would have been extreamly silly. It was my own fault for not paying attention to where I was going. I really need to start paying more attention when I'm trotting. I was getting tired of running into these kinds of problems. Dissmising that last thought I opened the doorway and trotted on through. I took a look around the room, expecting that the room would be empty which was exactly what I found. There wasn't any reason for anypony to be here. So I continued my pathway to the other side of the room. "Hello Dawn." I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sudden noise in the otherwise quiet room. I quickly shifted my attention to where the sound had come from, utterly baffled as to how I had missed somepony else being in the room. There shouldn't be any way they could have hidden from me... Unless of course it had been my teacher, which was exactly who it was. Sitting calmly with a small smile on her face, likely caused by my reaction to her statement, was my teacher. Even though I knew that the whole appearing out nowhere trick was likely a prank on me, I couldn't stop a smile from growing upon my lips. No matter what my teacher did to me, I was always happy to see her. Still, even if I was happy to see her, it still left one question for me to ask, "So what are you doing here?" My teacher gave me a slight smile before replying to my question, "I thought that was obvious, I'm waiting for you of course. I wanted to find out how your session went." A feeling of happiness grew inside me, it was always nice to hear that ponies care about you. Still, the question she asked was rather loaded, I'd need to think a little on how to answer it. I'd learned a bit more about my problem which was good, but it wasn't a panacea by any means. I suppose that there is only one answer to this question, "I think that it went very well." She gave me a curious look, "Would you mind elaborating?" "Dr.Disim and I believe that we found a possible cause as to why I had such a strong reaction to Twilight." Curiosity laced Luna's response, "Oh? What did he suggest?" "Well... we didn't go into too much detail, but we believe that it was likely caused by my time in stone. Specifically, I thought that it might have been caused by thinking that what happened to Diamond will happen to Twilight." While the clinical setting earlier had kept me from feeling the fear from that thought, now that I was in a less formal setting I felt the fear of such a thing happening flow through me, but I continued through it, "But we couldn't say for sure if that was the actual cause or not. The doctor didn't want to focus too much on that idea because it was possible that it would cause me to act like that was my problem even if it wasn't." An expression of thoughtfulness spread across my teacher's face, "That seems to be a rather productive concept, especially considering what I have seen happen to some ponies who get it in their heads that they are failures." "What do you mean?" I had to admit that I was curious about what she meant, what happened to ponies that focused on the idea that they were failures? "I saw ponies be called failures for their entire life. They often stopped trying to do anything because they were never told they were good at anything." That actually made sense, if I was to believe that the cause of my problem was that Diamond had been killed, I would only focus on solutions that solved that problem, which would be problematic if the problem was caused by something else. It also brought another idea into my mind. Perhaps I could try believing that I wasn't afraid of Twilight and because I believe it, perhaps it would eventually cause me not to be. Well... it was worth a shot anyway. The next time that I saw her, I would simply tell myself over and over that I wasn't afraid of her. "Dawn, what are you planning to do now?" I glanced up back towards my teacher. I suppose that was a good question really, what did I want to do? There wasn't much time left in the day, so it couldn't be anything time consuming. A yawn almost worked its way out of my throat. That gave me an idea, I think I know what I want to do now. "Honestly, after everything that's happened today, I'd like to go to bed." Now that I'd said that aloud, a rather obvious problem with it flowed into my mind. My teacher, or at least I think it was my teacher, had arranged for me to stay at Twilight's home, in which Twilight lived, and I was currently incapable of staying within her presence for any period of time... The image of me galloping away, screaming into the night and awakening everyone in a twelve mile radius flowed into my mind. I shook my head to clear it of that thought. Well that obviously wasn't going to work. Unfortunately, I didn't have many other options. Being stuck in stone for a thousand years makes it difficult to meet ponies. Perhaps my teacher had another suggestion. "Teacher." Luna looked at me with interest, a small smile on her lips that made me wonder if this was a good idea. She was a known prankster after all, "Since... well... I mean..." This is rather emberrasing to ask. I may have felt that I could tell my teacher anything, but that didn't make requesting things any easier, especially when they already went through some effort to get you the thing you're requesting changed. Still, it needed to be asked, "Since I currently am unable to stay within Twilight's presence for very long, I don't know if it's a good idea for me to stay with her. Do you know another place I could stay... at least until I get over this little problem?" A devilish smile grew upon my teacher's lips, the white of her teeth contrasted strongly by the black color of her coat... honestly it was rather frightening. I had to wonder if this was a good idea at all, or if galloping away right now would save me a lot of trouble later on, "Oh... I have a perfect idea." Why did that sound entirely ominous? My body began to shake with fear and anxiety, I knew that my teacher would never harm me on purpose, but the way she was acting made me wonder if that creature had come back to take her over. "Uh... Mind letting me in on it first?" She shook her head, "Now, where would the fun be in just telling you. You'll find out when we get there." Then she laughed a small giggling laugh that I dreaded hearing from my teacher, it never meant anything good. "Would you at least tell me who it is I'm staying with?" Through her giggles, which made understanding her fairly difficult, she cryptically answered me, "With someone you know very well." I couldn't make out her next statement through her renewed giggling, but soon enough she stopped and continued her previous statement, "Now why don't you follow me." She walked out of the room and I followed. No matter how uneasy she was making me feel, she was still my teacher and that meant she would try to help me... right? The devilish smile was still present on Luna's lips and mirth still tainted her voice, "So what do you think Dawn?" My tone was flat as I replied, "I think that this building needs a paint job." It was moments like this that I wondered if my teacher's prankster nature wasn't getting the best of her. The building in front of me was completely out of line with my expectation, with the cryptic nature of Luna's speech, I had expected something either awe-inspiring or disgusting beyond belief. Perhaps even a house full of a creepy and ooky family that lived in a haunted house with a hoof galloping around without any body attached. This place on the other hoof was the complete opposite of that, it was incredibly... I suppose bland would be the best term for it really. The tall, boring, grey buildings that surrounded it seemed bright and cheerful in comparison. I laid my questioning gaze up my teacher, a question upon my lips, "Who did you say lives here again?" I know that she'd told me that I knew the pony that lived here very well, but considering that everypony I thought I knew well was dead... well it didn't leave me much to go on. Perhaps a dragon I'd met once lived here? They were the only creatures that I could think of that would live long enough. That devilish grin she currently wore seemed to widen a tiny fraction, which I hadn't believed possible, and her voice showed her enjoyment of my torment, "Your great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, grandniece." Pinkie Pie lived here? Well... that didn't really fit with her cryptic clue about who lived here, unless she's referring to how much she seems to act like Blueberry. Either way, the fact that Pinkie's house is so bland is rather surprising. It simply doesn't fit her personality at all, especially considering the kind of houses Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack live in. I had expected her house to be the most ridiculous, perhaps even a giant Pie. I shook my head as I responded, "I still can't believe it. I must be missing something. It doesn't make sense. Pies are known for living in the very strange homes, usually ones that are uninhabitable to anypony else." My family house had been, I don't know if it's still around honestly, bright pink and seemed to be growing out in all direction, literally at times. We even had rooms with doors that went nowhere, walls that moved, and ponies walking through walls. We even had a poltergeist for a while, but he ran away after Blueberry began to popping out of the ceiling and scaring him. I miss poor Blinky and his friend Spooky the ghost. They were fun to play with. I think that if her smile had been any larger it would make up most of her face, "I'm sure it will make more sense soon enough." Well that statement was rather strange, I had to wonder if I was missing something about this building. Perhaps it looked different during the day? Perhaps it was actually made of mirrors and it reflected light during the day? For some reason, the idea that Pinkie's house was strange in some manner or other made me feel better about this whole thing. While I had been in thought my teacher had been trotting closer to the building, I quickly followed in her hoofsteps. As we moved closer to the building, something rather odd began to happen. Specifically, my tail began to spaz out like crazy, quickly reaching the levels it had when Rarity had been around. Considering how that experience had been I decided to pause for a few seconds to see if anything was going to jump me, most likely Pinkie Pie. However, nothing happened, which probably surprised me more. Perhaps whatever was causing my tail to spaz out like crazy was inside the building? With any luck it wasn't Rarity, I don't think I can take another dose of her today. A thought popped into my head, perhaps my teacher know about what had happened with Rarity and was pranking me by having her here. Or worse! She might live here on her off days. A shiver ran down my spine. That was a scary thought, living with Rarity... I was grateful that my teacher didn't think to try that one. I don't think I'd survive a week. I suppose Luna hadn't bothered to wait for me because when I broke from my thoughts I didn't see her anywhere and the doorway was wide open. I was rather surprised that she would leave the door open like that, any pony who did that a thousand years ago would have been dead faster than one could blink. It seemed rather strange that my teacher would simply leave the door open like that. Was there something I was missing here? That thought continued to haunt me as I trotted through the doorway Luna had left open, fighting my tail the entire time. While generally I was one to listen to my tail, right now I needed to go in there, I simply needed a place to sleep. The moment I passed through the portal, I felt and heard it slam shut behind me. That wasn't very comforting. Trying to look around I came to know a rather obvious fact; I was totally blind in here! I literally couldn't see my hoof in front of my face, and believe me I tried. This was not good at all, somepony could attack me from any corner and I wouldn't be able to see them. The second thing I realized was that my tail stopped shaking and the shiver I'd been feeling run up and down my spine subsided completely. That was actually scarier than having those things continue to happen. I'd never had my tail go from completely crazy to absolutely nothing. That time with Rarity didn't count, she cheated. The final thing I noticed was that I couldn't see my teacher anywhere around me, which was a bad thing. Had something happened to her? I know that she was the one leading me, which likely meant that she knew what was going on, but I couldn't help worrying. I didn't think she would have left me like this. Perhaps if I asked she would answer? "Luna? Where did you go?" My voice echoed through in the darkness, reverberating off the walls. When the echo died down, the sound of giggling reached my ears. I bent down into a defensive posture, while I knew that my lack of magic would hinder my ability to defend myself I wasn't completely helpless without it, just mostly helpless. While I hadn't gotten into that many fights before, especially without magic, that didn't mean I wasn't going to be ready. I waited patiently for something to attack me, perfectly prepared to deal with it. For a few seconds nothing happened, but the lights flickered on, blinding me with their intensity. Whoever was involved in this was smarter than I thought. Most ponies wouldn't even think to use a light as a source of an attack. Now I was both blinded and anxious, not a good combination. I focused on using sound to try and locate whatever was coming after me, "SURPRISE!!" The screeching cacophony of voices nearly knocked me onto my flank. I began to focus a spell through my horn, but quickly abort it when the pain began to overwhelm me. Why did I keep forgetting that I didn't currently have any magic to use, I'd think the pain would keep me from doing it anymore. I shook my head and tried to regain my balance, none of that mattered right now. I needed to deal with whatever was currently coming after me. This preparation was made all the harder because my eyes were still adjusting to the light, but luckily I could still see a large blob of colors in front of me. My heart began to beat faster and faster, there was no way I could protect myself against such a large group, but as my eyes adjusted more I became less anxious and more surprised by what I saw in front of me. The building was packed with ponies, a rainbow of colors from wall to wall. This was absolutely ridiculous, there were far more ponies than would possibly fit in this building. It simply should not be possible. My thoughts, and stance, were broken by the arrival of a pink blur that stopped right in front of me, but quickly resolved itself into a certain Pink pony who spoke quickly and excitedly, "Were you surprised, huh, huh, were you?!" My arm reached out on their own and gave Pinkie a hug before quickly releasing her. For a second there I'd thought my sister was here, this was exactly like something that she would do. "Sorry about that Pinkie." No matter how much she reminded me of Blueberry I shouldn't treat her as if she was her. "Don't worry about it silly, I know you were thinking of your sister Blueberry." How did she know that? I don't remember telling her about Blueberry, though considering how long I was in a coma for I suppose I could forget anything. Besides that, how would she know that I was thinking about Blueberry right now anyway? I suppose I should be used to this, but I don't think Blueberry ever read my mind. My thoughts were again interrupted by the pink pony as her excited voice rang out, "Besides I like hugs from family members and friends. It makes everyone feel all snuggly wuggly all the time." Well that was true. It did make a pony feel snuggly wuggly, and a number of other things. Still, this left one question for me. "Pinkie, what exactly is going on here?" There weren't many things I could think of that would involve this many ponies, and for some reason the first one that came to mind was a lynching. "Why a Party Silly!" That was a much better reason than a lynching and made perfect sense to boot. Pies were well known for throwing very large and crazy parties and since Pinkie's Flank Marking was a balloon it likely meant... wait... "Pinkie, what does your Cutie Mark," I paused for half a second to contemplate how wrong it felt to say that word and how much I wanted to throttle Celestia for changing it, "mean?" I know that it was a nonsequiter, but I needed to ask. I could only hope that I was wrong about what it meant, if it meant what I think it does... I can only hope it doesn't. Her reply was as excited as any of her other statements, "It means that my special talent is throwing PAAARRRTTTEEESS!" The over-the-top movements and streamers that flew out from Pinkie Pie couldn't distract me from my thoughts. That had been what I was afraid of... A Pie that was born to throw parties... There was a story about one of those from almost a hundred years before I had been born. From what I heard it had been alright when she was younger, she only threw elaborate, but not dangerous parties, but when she got older, the kind of parties she threw were crazy. Everypony, even the princesses, were invited and attended. The wine and spirits was said to flow freely and well... ponies were almost sent back to the dark ages due to lack of work ethic. Hopefully, Pinkie won't drive the country into a workless frenzy like that. With any luck she's still in the simple great party stages, otherwise this I'll need to gather some ponies together for an intervention. Well... better enjoy this party before the partyocalypse occurs. "So what's the party for?" There weren't that many things that I could think of that fit the occasion. "You getting out of stone of course! I Pie Promised you that I would throw you a party after you got out!" I don't remember that it was a Pie Promise, but I didn't plan on stopping her anyway. I like parties and a Pie party tends to be the most fun. I should know I threw a few of them of myself. The biggest I can remember was when I threw Luna a birthday party. It was Luna's, I don't have any idea really she wouldn't tell me, but I was going to guess couple thousandth, birthday. I had been granted the lead role in planning the party because I was both her student and a Pie. In other words, they wanted a big party, something that would be talked about for ages to come. "Okay put the moon cake over in that corner over there." I pointed towards a corner over near the wall and watched as one of my cousins moved the big cake over into a corner. I'd never be able to understand how they'd baked that cake in such a small oven, but I'd given up feeling surprised. I'm not even sure I felt surprised by things like this anymore anyway. That reminded me. I needed to ask Blueberry how the preparations were coming for the decorations. Where was she anyway? Honestly, she was the best at hiding that I had ever seen, so rather than search for her, I did the obvious thing. I asked for her to show up. "Blueberry, could you come here for a moment?" The moment I finished that statement, I felt something light weighing down my tail. "Hi Dawn! What did you need me for?" I had to smile at the cheerfulness that filled her tone, even if the fact she was currently in my tail was rather odd. "Just wanted to ask how the decorations are coming." "Oooh, Ooooh, they're coming along great!" She spread her forelegs wide, "Just look, they're all around you!" Looking around the room I found that she was right. Streamers with stars hanging from the end decorated the dark ceiling magnificently, making it appear to be the night sky outside, which perfectly matched what I was asking for. Blueberry had done a great job as always. She never seemed to make a mistake when it came to making the party decorations look great. Reaching out I gave Blueberry a hug, "Thanks a lot Blueberry. It looks great." "You're welcome! I always like throwing a party bash, but I've never gotten throw one for a Princess." With her statement complete she ducked back into my tail and back to wherever she had been before, probably the kitchen baking with the others. The party that night was explosive, almost reaching the levels of the legendary Pie Party Planner. Ponies were dancing the night away and imbibing drinks to their hearts content. Luna and Celestia were both showing everypony else their moves, while Diamond and I danced nearby. Blueberry was bouncing all over the place, completely outshining the rest of us. Everypony said it was the most enjoyable party they had ever been to. "Oooh! Look at all the colors." What was Pinkie talking about? I noticed that there was something in my hoof. Where did I get this cup from? I suppose while I had been lost in that memory I had gone and grabbed a cup from somewhere. Putting my nose close to it I gave the drink a sniff. Hmm... doesn't smell like there's any poison on it, not that I really thought Pinkie would poison me anyway, but good habits are hard to break. "Hey, Pinkie?" She looked up at me with a big smile on her face as ponies walked all around us, "Did you see where I got this drink?" "You don't remember? Your tail grabbed it while you were in lost in you really cool flashback. I thought I was the only Pie who threw parties and now I know that it's almost a Pie tradition!" She lifted a hoof to her face, a questioning expression grew upon it, "Why didn't my family ever party than?" I didn't know the answer to that question, I'd never heard of a Pie who didn't like to party. Perhaps their version of a party was different from our own. "Oh." I realized that I felt thirsty and took a drink of whatever was in the glass. It tasted a pretty good, but a little off. While I was positive that it wasn't poisoned, it still tasted a little off. I took another quick glance around me, trying to figure out how many ponies were actually here. Giving up on that fruitless endeavor I decided to ask the pony who invited them, "So how many ponies are here anyway?" I still couldn't believe how many I could see. The cacophony of colors that populated this small house was overwhelming and for many ponies could probably cause permanent retinal damage. "Pretty much everypony in town." I had to blink at that. I don't think any Pie I knew, besides the legendary Pie Partier, had ever managed to get the entire town to come to their party. That also might explain why the town was so empty when I had been walking around it. She must have been setting up this party all day. Still, the fact that she had fit them all in this one building was amazing. A new voice broke me from my thoughts. I couldn't quite make out what she had said, but the accent provided me with the name of the speaker, "Hello Applejack. Good to see you again." I have to admit that I hadn't expected Applejack to speak to me this soon, considering how she'd acted when I'd last seen her. An awkward pause filled the air for a time. I'm not one to let such a thing linger, but Applejack broke the silence before I had a chance, "It's nice ta see ya." There was a slight strain to her tone, but it was barely noticeable, especially over the din of the party. A second awkward pause filled in the time. It's silence almost drowning out the din of the party. I couldn't take it for much longer. "So... How's it going?" "It's goin alright I suppose." She took off her hat and looked me in the eyes, "Listen, I wanted ta apologize for how I acted earlier. You couldn't have done anythin', being stone and all. It's just that I have a temper when it comes to anythin happenin to my family and I acted on it." There wasn't any good reason not to accept her apology, especially when I didn't think that she needed to make one, "Apology accepted. So should I still come to the farm tomorrow?" "A course ya should. Even though it was a accident ya still gotta follow the rules of the Apple family." Well that answered that question. Now I only need to find out the time. Perhaps she was also reading my mind because she answered my question before I could ask it, "Be there around eight thirty." "I'll be there." "See ya tomorrow." With that she wandered off into the crowd. With Applejack walking through the crowd, I suddenly realized that Pinkie had seemingly disappeared as well. Where had she gone anyway? Well I suppose it doesn't matter, maybe if I look around a bit I'll spot a pony I knew. I looked around, but the multitude of different ponies surrounding me made finding any one pony an effort in futility. I tried for a little bit longer, but quickly gave it up as a lost cause and made my way over to the punch bowl which oddly had a very large clear area surrounding it. "Hey Dawn!" The shout would have been loud in anywhere else, but the noise of the party nearly drowned it out until it sounded like a whisper. Turning around I came face to face with a rather familiar looking Night Pegasus. "Hey Rainbow, enjoying the party?" I absentmindedly drank the cup of punch that my tail handed me, the strange taste was still in there, but it was still pretty good. "Heh, it's great! Pinkie's Parties always are, but now that I'm here it's twenty percent cooler!" I knew she had an ego, but I still hadn't expected that line. I drank another cup of the punch, "So where did you go anyway?" She blushed, "Oh nothing important." Okay, now I was curious. What could she have been doing that would make her blush? She didn't seem the type to blush at anything, if only because she wouldn't think about it. Normally I would leave it alone, but for some reason I felt a little braver right now. I took another drink, my tail keeps handing them to me, before asking about, "C'mon, tell me." She blushed harder, I didn't even know she could do that, "Well..I..I... visited a few dreams." Her blush grew to atomic proportions, what kind of dreams had she gone into... I took another drink. Whether or not this next statement was true, it would definitely make her blush even more, "So you went into another pony's wet dream?" The atomic blush and gaping mouth told me that I had guessed right on the money. Now how could I continue to run with this prank... Oh I know, "So let me guess, it was Big Mac's dream?" I took another drink. "HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?!" My drink flew right from my mouth onto Rainbow, "Ewww!" Wiping my mouth with a hoof, I offered my apologies, only to see her fly off towards what I could only guess was the restroom. Hopefully she would come back so I could apologize. While I waited I drank several more glasses of the punch, but remained focused on what was going on around me. Strangely the world began to go out of focus, I supposed the light must be getting to me. Soon enough a blue blur landed right next to me, but I had trouble remembering why that was important... there was something that I was supposed to do here. Oh right... I was supposed to apologize. "I'm... hic... sorry for... hic... spittin on ya earlier... hic." I thought I saw.... Something or other... I didn't know in her eye... Next thing I know I'm on the other side of the room looking around in surprise... How'd I get here again?... Eh.... Doesn't matter. Hey what was the pretty purple blob over in corner "Hic." It looks so familiar... Oh... it's that mare that I like... now what was her name again? Sparklelight? Twistle? Ah.... It doesn't matter. "Hey... hic... Twilie." I tried to put my arm around her. Oh hey mister floor, when did you get here? The look of surprise that appeared on her face was so adorable; I wanted to squeeze her face, "Dawn?" "That's my name, hic." Ah she was so pretty... Wonder what she tasted like. I bet it's something purple... like blueberries. "Are you drunk?" Ah... so kind of, uh... her to ask... She's such a nice mare, "Of... hic... course not... I only had... hic... punch." Why was... the world... spinning? "The punch? Which punch did you drink?" She looked straight into my eyes, they were so pretty. I could drown in them... It took me a while to work through the haze and answer her question, "Uhh... the pink one? Or maybe the green one?" "Which one was it?" "Oh.. hic... I remember... I mixed them... Well my tail mixed them." I nodded my head. I knew... what I was talking about, I think? I felt something hit me in the side of the head...hic, a lightbulb? Hic... that gave me an idea... "Twilight... hic... would you like... hic... to go on a date next... hic... week?" "What really? S..." I missed her answer because at that moment I fell unconscious on the spot. "Morning handsome." Huh? Who's that? I tried to open my eyes, but they felt heavy, like something was keeping them from opening, "Uh-uh, no peaking. You know what happens when you do that." The voice was very familiar, but the seductive bent to the voice was rather different. Who was it...? That was when it hit me like a truck, "Twilight?" "Of course it's me darling. Who else would be with you besides your wife?" If my eyes weren't being held shut, I would have been blinking my surprise away furiously, "We're married?" You'd think that running away in fear all the time would preclude any attempt at being married. You'd also think that I'd remember going through the ceremony. "Of course we are. Why else would we be in our bed... together." The sultry tone in that response... I needed to open my eyes now and see what is going on. I forced my eyes open. The first thing I saw was Twilight serenely lying next to me smoking a cigar... "AHHH!" "Oh horseapples, you opened your eyes." "AAAHH!" I burst awake, adrenalin running through my veins, my breathing quick and shallow. I glanced around wildely, fully expecting Twilight to be lying next to me with that same cigar in her mouth. Not seeing her anywhere, my breathing slowed down to a much more regular pace. Now that my mind wasn't reeling from my pleasant, yet terrifying, dream I began to wonder what that was all about? Why in the world would Twilight be smoking cigar? I don't even think she smokes. I shook my head slowly, even in my dreams I couldn't escape my fears. The short burst of adrenalin that had rushed through my system started to flow out of my body only to be replaced by a feeling of pain. Ugh, I hadn't felt like this in years. Not since the last time I drank a glass of alcohol actually, which likely meant that someone had spiked the punch... again. Why do ponies always feel the need to spike the punch bowl? Is it the universes idea of a joke? Maybe Spike did it just to match his name? I knew this is my own mind and the only one that would laugh at that joke is me, so who cared that I made it. Well none of that really mattered, I couldn't change the past any more than anypony else could. I'd need to deal with the pain from the aftermath of alcohol like any other Unicorn... with magic. I began to form a spell that all Unicorns in high society are taught near birth, it wasn't a good idea to be drunk around those who were likely to want to kill you, when a new pain hit me square in the horn. Oh... right, no magic. This was really going to be a painful day wasn't it. Now I not only had to deal with a hangover, but also the effects of straining my magic. It wouldn't last too long, my family was notoriously good at metabolizing the effects of alcohol, but it was going to be very painful for the time being and I needed to be at Applejacks pretty soon. What time was it anyway? I turned towards a clock that seemed especially bright, another explosion of pain hit me straight in the horn. Ugh, this is really going to be a painful day for me. I suppose the pain was worth it though, I know the time now, it was almost eight in the morning... Oh... crud.... I'M LATE! Ignoring the pain in my head, I rushed blindly around Pinkie's house trying to find the exit. Applejack had specifically told me to be there this morning at eight thirty and somehow I had the strangest feeling that my headache would be getting much worse if I was late. "Hi Dawn!" Pinkie's entirely too loud for the morning tone rung out through the air, worsening my severe headache. My strain was poorly hidden in my response, "Hi Pinkie. Sorry, no time to talk. I need to hurry to Applejack's." "Oh, oh, but there's something you might want to know about last night!" That almost stopped me in my tracks, before I thought about the possible consequences of not getting to that farm on time. Applejack may have forgiven me, but considering what had happened when she had gotten mad the first time, I didn't really feel like re-experiencing it. Somehow I thought that would be much worse than whatever Pinkie was talking about. "Tell me about it later, right now I really need to fly." The last thing I heard was Pinkie talking quite a bit about how Unicorns couldn't fly, she is really far to like my sister. She takes things far too literally. I galloped with all my might to reach the Apple Farm. I really didn't want to deal with what could happen if I was late. I mean look at how they deal with ponies who accidently kill one of their clansman... while one is stuck in stone. I could only hope that I would get a fair sentencing. My rush to get to the Apple Family Farm came to sudden end when a particular thought hit me... I had absolutely no idea where I was going. Seriously, how did I not think about that... Well, it's not really worth thinking about too much, I should just do the obvious thing. Ask my tail, it would know where I should be going. I directed my eyes towards my tail, "Hey tail, can you lead me towards the Apple Family Farm?" My tail made a small movement, but sadly didn't start to point towards any direction, I'm getting the feeling it didn't know the directions to the farm any better than I did. I don' t know why I had expected it to be able to do so. Well, that left one other choice, ask another random pony. Hopefully they would know the way, I mean farms are generally hard to miss aren't they? Looking around I tried to see if there was anypony around, of which there were apparently none. Well, that was just my luck and that plan seemed to be a bust. Well there was one last place that I could look. Glancing upwards I wonder if my luck is getting any better, as there is a single yellow Pegasus pony flying around in the sky... Honestly, I'm almost positive that I know her... Wait... Now I remember, that's Fluttershy isn't it? Well that's just perfect! "Hey Fluttershy!" Hopefully she heard me up there, she's fairly high up after all. It seemed that my silent request was granted because she gave a gasp before beginning to flutter in midair and looking around wildly. I couldn't help feeling that she was scared because of me and that I should probably apologize for scaring her. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to do that until she was down here on the ground. "Hey Fluttershy, could you come down here please!" She turned to face me, considering how high up she is, I couldn't help but wonder how she had heard me and why it seemed that she was blinking. My eyesight was not nearly good enough to see someone at this kind of distance, not without magic anyway and I didn't have any of that at the moment. Still I did the obvious thing and waved before pointing towards the ground. Well, my tail pointed towards the ground, I clapped. It seems that she had received my message because she began to float towards the ground. The yellow Pegasus landed without a sound, which is honestly very impressive. I had never heard of a Pegasus that could land that quietly, but I suppose it fit this particular Pegasus, quiet and meek seemed to be her namesake. The memory of her screaming and staring at me floated in my mind's eye and I shuddered a bit. Most of the time anyway. "Hey Fluttershy, thanks for stopping." "Why wouldn't I have stopped?" Well, I don't know why, but that wasn't what I expected to hear at all. Her eyes glanced towards the ground before coming back to my own, "Oh I hope that was okay, I've been reading some books on assertiveness." Well from what I knew of her, which admittedly is very little, that seemed like a good idea. I got the feeling she ended up acting the doormat a lot. "That's no problem, you're doing pretty well as far as I can tell." "Oh! Good." She smiled happily at me, honestly she looked adorable. I was about to add more to conversation when I remembered how late I was, "Listen Fluttershy. I'm sorry if this sounds a little rude, but would you mind leading me to the Apple Farm? I kind of need to be there very soon and I'm already almost late." "You're asking me for help?" I didn't know why that was surprising, "Of course, just follow me." So I did. Author's Notes: Okay, I'm sorry that this chapter took so long, but it had a lot of things happening and a case of writers block. This chapter did not want to be written and I honestly think it shows. Hopefully you still enjoyed reading it. Please remember that while thumbs make me feel better about my writing, reviews are the only way to make it better. Thank you all for your continued readership and help.

Getting Out of Hoof

pre

A split second before she replied, he disappeared in a flash of light and pop of displaced air. She really couldn't be upset about the sudden change of plans, realizing Rarity had everything she needed to measure and produce garments in her shop, though it was slightly annoying. As long as the fashionista didn't freak out upon seeing her, everything should work out fine - she hoped. "Alright," Shining began, talking as soon as he reappeared. "I told Rarity to lock her shop up and wait for you. The place is empty and all yours - well yours and Rarity's." A nervous smile played across Cadance's muzzle as she trotted over, dipped her head, and kissed his horn. "Thank you." "Come on - don't mention it," he snickered, having to crane his head upward to peck her cheek. "It's not like you wouldn't do the same for me." She stared down into his eyes and was reminded why she'd fallen in love with him. He really was an amazing stallion, faithful, brave, and extraordinarily kindhearted - for her, he was perfect in every way. Knowing she should get going, but reluctant to leave his side, she squatted down to give him a proper kiss. "I hope this won't take too long," she breathed. "Even if it does," he noted, leaning in to give her a fleeting kiss on the lips, "I'll be right here waiting for you." Closing her eyes and concentrating on the mental image of Rarity's shop, particularly the open area just in front of the register, she called upon her arcane power. In the blink of an eye, the cool marble beneath her hooves was replaced by hardwood. Teleportation was an honest to goodness miracle, the only reasonable way she could get around in a timely, surreptitious way, and she was immeasurably thankful that she could use the convenient means of transportation. "Rarity?" she called, looking out and surveying the boutique's interior. "Just a moment," a familiar, sing-songy voice replied. "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience of the last-minute change of plans, but I thought - good heavens!" "I know," Cadance lamented, "I'm still trying to -" "You're absolutely spectacular!" Rarity exclaimed, scampering over to stare up in wonder at her plus-sized, regal visitor. The Princess' jaw nearly hit the floor, and her eyes widened, as she peered down in disbelief at the awe-struck unicorn. "Huh?" Backing away and holding up a hoof, Rarity rushed through a doorway at the back of her shop and disappeared. "Wait right there, darling!" "I...ok..." Cadance mumbled. In a very rare moment, she wasn't sure what to think. She'd presumed Rarity would be in shock seeing her, finding out she was suddenly gigantic and exceedingly heavy with foal, but she'd only been partially right. Her friend had in fact been stunned, but the little seamstress had seemed positively elated at the sight of her! She fidgeted uncomfortably, keeping her hooves crossed that her breasts wouldn't begin spontaneously leaking, and anxiously browsed the dresses on a nearby rack. Trotting back into the storefront with a measuring tape, scissors, and a notepad floating by her side, Rarity adjusted her horned glasses. "Sorry for the - uh - energetic reaction. Shining had told me you may have gone up a few sizes, but he failed to mention just how big you've become." "Figures," Cadance grunted. She turned her head and remained motionless, watching the unicorn start spontaneously measuring her. "So - um - do you think there's any way in Tartarus you could make me presentable?" "Wha...?" Rarity began, tearing her eyes off the alicorn's expansive flank. "Oh, right, of course, dear! I may not be able to alter your stature or exquisite curves, although I feel absolutely sure that I could make you presentable. What did you have in mind?" "For starters, I'd be very, very, very grateful if you could craft me a bra that could keep ponies from ogling my breasts - preferably a bra that's absorbent," she mused. "As for the second thing, and I know this is a big stretch, but would there be any way you could conceal this?" she added, extending a wing to caress her taut, heavy belly. "Pun intended or not, yes, I believe I could address both of those concerns," the unicorn smugly remarked, furiously scribbling on her notepad. "However, there's one tiny catch." Knitting her brow down at the tailor, Cadance felt her smile wane. "What catch." "Well two catches, technically," Rarity continued. "Number one, I'll make you two ensembles for free; consider them a charitable contribution to the Crystal Empire." "That doesn't sound like a catch," Cadance breathed, sensing a but coming. "Which leads me to the second caveat," Rarity added, going flush. "Once I have the garments completed, you simply must model them for me." Swallowing hard, the Princess shied away. "These wouldn't be published anywhere ~ would they?" "Well ~ heh," the couture nervously laughed and rubbed the back of her neck. "That was my intention. Plus-size models aren't the easiest thing to find, nor do I get to test my skill with larger mares, so the opportunity to do so with a royal is quite literally once in a lifetime. You understand, I hope." "I..." Cadance croaked, caught completely off guard. On one hoof, if or when she returned to her normal, svelte state, she could always play off the photo spread as a publicity stunt for a friend - on the other, if she did end up being extra large for an extended period, it would only be a matter of time until everypony had heard about her gargantuan state. Hanging her head, she considered her options. She should have her bases covered either way, and the clothing would likely cost her a small fortune if she hadn't been offered them gratis, yet the idea of posing for an article gnawed at her confidence regarding her new, enormous self. "Exactly what kind of modeling would you like me to do for you?" she pressed. "Nothing too scandalous, I assure you," Rarity tutted. "At worst, some negligee and a corset. Lift your leg, darling." Taken aback, having fully anticipated conservative attire, Cadance balked and reluctantly steadied herself. "I was thinking of something more modest..." She balanced on three hooves and lifted her hind leg, allowing the seamstress to creep closer and wrap a length of fabric tape around her upper leg. A part of her could understand Rarity's enthusiasm to craft something naughty for her, yet that didn't make the process of getting measured pleasant. The sloth wound around her upper thigh, caressing her sensitive flesh and causing her to shiver. "It's moments like these when I consider myself fortunate for keeping an abundance of materials on hoof," Rarity smugly laughed. "Now for your bust. Be a dear and place your forelegs on the front counter. I'd offer to do this in one of my fitting rooms, but - well, they may be a bit cramped for a mare of your stature." Fighting the urge to groan, knowing she had little choice in the matter, Cadance stepped forward, reared back, and placed her forehooves beside the cash register. "I'm guessing this is a first for you?" Rarity lowered her head and nonchalantly trotted under the towering alicorn, having just enough room to remain standing. "Yes and no. While you may be the largest pony I've had the good fortune of serving, you're hardly the biggest customer I've had. There was once this charming dragoness from the western reaches of Equestria that..." Hearing her friend prattle on, Cadance bit her bottom lip and tried to remain motionless. Even the sensation of the measuring tape against her was enough to set her heart racing. Over her lower back and around her bust, lightly squeezing her bosoms, the fabric ran around her in exacting detail. She knew it was wrong, that something so simple shouldn't be as stimulating as it was, yet the one-two punch of unabashedly showing her gargantuan rack and the talk of erotic undergarments got her more excited than she cared to admit. "I'll be sure to include nursing patches in any brassieres I make for you," the seamstress quietly said while withdrawing. Cadance winced, realizing she was likely dripping milk to the carpet. "Sorry..." "No need to apologize!" Rarity clucked. "You're a new mother and, from what Shining told me, you were simply attempting to ensure little Flurry was adequately fed - if anything, it's quite commendable and nothing to worry about!" "Really?" the Princess quipped. "And you honestly - honestly think I'd be able to pull off something sexy?" "Darling, you simply must trust me," the unicorn continued. "A large, beautiful body like yours should be glorified by leather and lace, not hidden behind billowy fabric." An image of herself adorned in full lingerie, replete with a garter belt, leggings, and sinful accouterments danced through Cadance's mind. She'd never really been one to show herself off, though she took pride in her appearance, so the thought of shamelessly displaying herself in an enticing fashion was both thrilling and slightly distressing. Looking down at her friend, she steeled her resolve. Mares came in all shapes and sizes, from portly and short to thin and whipcord thin, and each should take pride in their appearance. While it wasn't impossible for ponies to alter their look through diet and regular exercise, there was only so much anypony could actually change about themselves - well excluding the effects of powerful spells or potions. If displaying herself could bolster some of her subjects' confidence, she'd make the relatively small sacrifice. "As long as it will be tasteful, sure, I'll do it," she relented. "What do I need to do?" "For now, nothing whatsoever," Rarity answered. "Give me a day - just a single day, then come back tomorrow morning." Cadance's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're seriously going to make me something in a day?" "No, I'm going to make you several somethings," the unicorn corrected. "I've already asked Sweetie and her friends to tend to the shop today. Unless there's a catastrophe, I should be able to have a nice surprise for you tomorrow." Seeing the seamstress trotting toward the workshop at the back of the boutique, Cadance gave a small nod. "Just don't work yourself too hard. Are you sure you don't want anything for your time?" Rarity dismissively waved a hoof at her regal guest. "A job well done is its own reward, dear, but there is something I'd like you to do. When you come back tomorrow morning, bring your husband; I'll be dying to see his reaction." With the slightly ominous taunt, the unicorn disappeared and left Cadance standing in the vacant storefront. On one hoof, she was elated that she'd soon have something to wear in front of the public, visitors to the castle, and her staff members - on the other, there was something in Rarity's tone that set her nerves on edge. The Element of Generosity had lived up to her name, though she couldn't shake the feeling that she may get more than what she was bargaining for...

Getting Out of Hoof

Chapter 2.5

"Oh my gosh," Cadance groaned through a mouthful of cheesy bread stick. "Shining, you have to try these!" Timidly smiling, Shining looked down to what had been a full basket of the complimentary appetizers. "I'll - uh - I'll ask the waiter for more." Cadance shivered in delight, dipping one bread stick in marinara sauce while she crammed a second into her muzzle. The day hadn't started as planned, with Rarity postponing their meeting, but she wasn't nearly as upset as she had been earlier - not after Shining had soothed her tattered nerves by offering to bring her to Il Pastificio, her favorite restaurant of all time. At the mere thought of stuffing her face with some freshly baked lasagna, her ire and inhibitions about going out in public had all but dissolved. Expectantly looking down at the table, seeing the emptied basket, she scrunched her snout. "Did you like them?" "Oh - um - yeah...yeah, they were great," Shining weakly chuckled, his empty belly rumbling in protest of his lie. Looking over to the table beside them, seeing a couple receiving their order, Cadance licked her lips. Stars above - being big could be a bit of an inconvenience, but the ravenous hunger she'd felt over the last few days had been downright maddening. Tearing her eyes off the pair next to them, she peered down at her husband. "Can we get a dessert?" she inquired, already knowing she'd like to wrap things up with something to sate her sweet tooth. He nodded and reached across the table to caress her hoof. "Of course we can, honey! Like I said earlier, we can get anything you want." "Anything?" she hummed, her smile broadening as their waiter approached. "Garson, I have a question. The lasagna you serve ~ can I presume it's made in batches?" The sharply dressed pegasus stallion smiled and nodded up at the titanic Princess. "We do, ma'am, but we usually do that when we cater -" "I'd like a tray of it with extra mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and keep these bread sticks coming," she tittered, glibly tossing him the crumb-ridden basket. With his features going slack, the suddenly pallid waiter turned his attention over to Shining. "And f...for you, Prince?" "I'll take a caesar salad and some fettuccine alfredo," he whispered, looking no less pale than the server. After handing the menus to the hastily departing pegasus, he swallowed hard. "Heh ~ wanted some to take home for later?" "Later?" Cadance parroted, quirking a brow. Glancing in the direction of the kitchen, her thoughts began to wander. A part of her realized she was likely making a scene, not for the least of which reasons being her immense frame dominating the dining area, but she simply couldn't help herself. She was a growing Princess in an all too literal sense, both because of the infernal enchantment she'd unwittingly cast upon herself and the bun in her oven, and she was famished because of it. She impatiently tapped a hoof to the table as the ambrosial aroma of various cuisines wafted to her nose. Typically speaking, a single serving of lasagna was enough to satisfy her, especially if she had a bread stick or two beforehand, but she was absolutely certain that wasn't going to cut it this time. Even after a four-course breakfast, brunch, and a sizeable lunch, she felt like she hadn't eaten a thing all day! "Oh wait!" she chirped, only then understanding what her beloved had meant. Blushing slightly, she reached up and rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean, that really depends on how big the tray is." "R...right," he mumbled, lowering his head. Lovingly stroking his foreleg, she ponderously leaned forward and brought her muzzle closer to his ear. "If you want, I'll let you feed that lasagna to me." His ears perked up and his eyes widened slightly as he gazed up at her. "Really?" "Mmmhmm," she hummed, watching their server approach with not one, not two, but three baskets of bread sticks balanced on his wings. "You're actually lucky," the waiter nervously laughed, placing the appetizers down. "We just took two platters of lasagna out of the oven, so I should have your order -" "Great, thanks," Cadance interrupted, practically drooling at the sight of the steaming, cheese-covered starters. "The quicker you get it here, the bigger your tip will be." The comment put a spring in the pegasus' step, prompting him to bow and practically bolt away from the table. Though she knew it was wrong to grease hooves with bits from the royal coffers, she was far from the first Princess to do so - heck, Celestia had essentially bribed some of the best bakers in all of Equestria to work for her, Luna routinely procured games for the castle, and Twilight had made several suspiciously large donations to libraries. If she wanted to binge on some fine food, something she never did, nopony should take offense. Almost reluctantly, with a sheepish little smile on his adorable little face, Shining dipped one of the bread sticks in sauce and hovered it up to her face. She smiled down on him, maintaining eye contact while she expectantly opened her maw. If letting him personally feed her would make him happy, something she'd only recently discovered, far be it for her to deny him. With her tongue extended, she wrapped her lips around the vaguely phallic morsel. "Mmmmm..." Though she was blissfully ignorant to it, the small outburst drew the eyes of almost everypony in the restaurant. Patrons had been trying to distract themselves, chatting or eating their meals while not staring in open awe at the colossal alicorn in their midst, yet the soft, almost sensual moan was too much for them to bear. Staring at their patron Princess, a common thought crossed many of their minds ~ what in the world was going on. Cadance was big - incredibly big, and she was on the verge of a gluttonous rampage the likes of which hadn't been seen since Celestia was introduced to Devil's Food cake! Though her frame was more than triple its normal size, some parts of her were significantly bigger than others. Many sets of eyes within the establishment played over her, drinking in her curves and marveling at her figure, as customers forgot all about their meals. With a backside that couldn't fit in any conventional chair, the alicorn merrily munched upon bread stick after bread stick, she'd opted to sit on the floor. Her tush, nearly as big as a full-sized wagon, was easily wider than the table she sat before. While her derriere was indeed a spectacle in and of itself, each globe of her rump being comparable in mass to the average sized pony, that was but a single facet of what enthralled the onlookers. Even partially concealed under the table and between her thighs, Cadance's tremendous belly and teats caused stallions of all ages to angle their heads for a better look at her assets. She was clearly pregnant, that much was obvious, and her bosoms had filled out considerably. Her breasts, engorged with milk and leaking onto the carpet, set mouths watering throughout the establishment, but there was only one virile stud bold enough to smugly inspect them openly. Dipping his head below the table, Shining peeked over at Cadance's crotch. "We really should have brought a tarp..." "What was that?" she asked, causing her husband to start. Seeing him bang his head on the underside of the table as he hastily withdrew, she smirked. "I was - uh - well, it's just..." he fumbled, nervously sweating and likely trying to come up with an excuse. As she watched him squirm, her grin broadened. "You said something about a tarp ~ no?" "I - Ahem - it's just that we'll have to add a cleaning gratuity to our bill," he softly remarked, levitating another appetizer up to her face. She shrugged disinterestedly and shot forward to devour the proffered bread. "Campht bhhf helph..." Shaking his head, he squinted up at her. "What was that?" Swallowing the bite and nearly choking in the process, Cadance watched their waiter approach. "Sweet Celestia - that looks good..." Instead of a serving platter, the kitchen staff had loaded her and Shining's meals onto what she suspected was a cart used to ferry freight. Not only was there an entire tray of piping hot lasagna, her husband's dinner, and another three baskets of bread sticks, but some charitable soul, possibly the server himself, had deigned fit to include a bottle of wine for their dinner. An ominous growl sang from the seemingly bottomless chasm that was her gut as the pegasus came to a halt and started placing their order on the table. "For the Prince," the waiter began, presenting the salad and fettuccine before the former captain. "And for the Princess, I -" "Thanks!" she bleated, leaning over and pulling the stallion into a hug. Practically sinking into her doughy side, the server bashfully smiled and shivered. "D...don't mention it..." Releasing him as quickly as she'd snatched him up, Cadance set her sights upon the banquet laid out in front of her. As she magically lifted a fork and knife, ready to commit an absolute war crime against the layered combination of pasta, cheese, and sauce, her eyes shot over to her beloved. This was a rare treat at the best of times, something they seldom got to enjoy since Flurry had come into their lives, and she wanted Shining to enjoy the evening as much as herself. "Shining," she whispered, moments before he took his first bite of the salad, "would you?" Bringing the utensils over to him, she smiled sweetly. He was a good stallion, a caring father, and an impeccable lover, yet the discovery that he relished her enormous size and voluptuous body warmed the depths of her heart. Had she been single while enduring her current predicament, she would have shut herself away until the situation had resolved - fortunately for her, she had the best husband in the whole wide world at her side. Shining abandoned his meal in an instant, focusing on his wife and unborn foal. Wielding his sorcery, he delicately carved a small morsel from the expansive tray of lasagna, lifted it into the air, and brought it to her awaiting maw. Once the bite was in her snout, she sealed her lips around the retreating, empty fork. "It's sho good," she slurred, her eyelids fluttering. Hastily gulping the succulent mouthful down, she lolled out her tongue for a second, then a third and fourth, until Shining was mechanically presenting forkful after forkful. The lasagna was decadently good, so that she unwittingly made a spectacle of herself while enjoying it. Leaning back and propping herself on one foreleg, she rubbed her belly while she savored her meal. It wasn't long until the unusual, borderline scandalous scene began having an effect on customers. Reclined as she was, showing off her body in the most casual of ways, every part of the Princess was laid bare. From her rounded stomach and heavy bosoms to her exquisitely plump thighs and backside, her more than full figure provided the ponies present with a once in a lifetime show. Multiple stallions were dragged out by their wives or marefriends, robbed of the opportunity to salivate over the alicorn, but a few intrepid souls were lucky or brave enough to stay. Quiet whispers and comments about the display became commonplace, with several ponies getting out of their seats to give themselves a better view, while the Princess absolutely demolished enough food to feed a family of four or more. The unintended entertainment lasted for the better part of half an hour, even after a few stallions had to excuse themselves because of how excited they'd become, before the lasagna had been finished. A few patrons sighed and asked for to-go boxes, more interested in the Princess than their meals, but not a single one moved when Cadance dabbed her lips with a napkin and looked down at the emptied platter. Patrons held their breaths as the Princess' waiter trotted over to the table. Could she do it? Was it even possible for her to have room for more? A hush fell over the cavernous chamber, customers held their breaths, and everypony present looked on in awe as she cleared her throat. "Do you guys still have that incredible tiramisu you used to sell?" she sweetly inquired. The server nodded and hefted the emptied tray from the table. "Of course we do, Princess! Could I interest you in -" "I'll take whatever you have left," she snickered. "Yes, all of it." A single onlooker cheered - actually cheered in his seat before he clamped a hoof over his mouth to silence himself, yet his enthusiasm drew Cadance's eye. At some point throughout her meal, though she couldn't say when, she'd become aware that she was the center of attention, although that hardly bothered her - if anything, the lustful looks and astonished staring had been thrilling. With the order for her dessert complete, she looked over at Shining. Though his pasta had cooled considerably, he wolfed down his dinner without a care in the world. She would have felt bad for him, but she didn't - not because she didn't cherish him with all her heart, but because she knew why he was ravishing his meal. If he finished up his dinner quickly enough, he'd be able to personally sate her with the tiramisu she'd be getting. Sure enough, just as Shining scrambled to clean his plate, the waiter appeared with a mountain of dessert. The layered espresso-soaked biscuits, sweetened cheese filling, and whipped cream had to weigh at least ten pounds, comprised of no fewer than a dozen servings, although Cadance viewed it as a challenge. While she was somewhat full, the hedonistic treat looked almost as good as she knew it would taste. "Care for a better seat?" she mused, caressing her belly. There were few times she'd seen Shining move so fast, nearly falling out of his chair to scramble over to her. Climbing up her side and onto her distended gut, he seated himself on her abdomen while hovering the dessert over to himself. Having him feed her from across the table had been nice, but the intimacy of having him on her for the final course simply couldn't be beat. The sudden development of the Prince perched on the Princess - his Princess was a sight to behold. At a glance, he almost looked like a colt compared to her - nevertheless, their love for one another was as plain as the sun's light on a cloudless day. They laughed and whispered sweet nothings to one another throughout the romantic exchange, though Cadance did have to keep him from losing his balance once or twice. By the time Cadance was finished, capping off their meal with a coffee and an entire tin of biscotti, she was stuffed in every sense of the word. She didn't even look at the doubled-over bill when it arrived, summoning a heap of gold bits to place on the table. It had been an expensive evening, but it had been more than worth it. Sorcerously hefting Shining up and off her filled stomach, she ponderously rolled and attempted to get to her hooves - attempted in that she quickly discovered she couldn't properly stand. She wobbled back and forth for a split second, doing her best to right herself, but it was all for not. It was only after she'd sucked in her gut and used her magic to fashion a makeshift girdle was she able to actually place all four hooves on the ground. "Come on," Shining sighed, merrily grinning up at her, "let's get you home." She nodded and waddled to the door, sensing several sets of eyes planted squarely on her behind. The gargantuan buns on her backside glided past one another, her stomach sloshed with gallons of grub, and her breasts dragged along the ground beneath her. Though she knew she was making a rather unceremonious display, she was too full to care - that was until she reached the exit. As she reached the door, wishing for nothing more than her bed to collapse on, she found herself stuck - actually stuck. Wedged in the doorway by her stomach, with her shoulders and head in the cool, refreshing air of the outdoors, she scrunched her snout. The disconcerting turn of events would have been troubling enough in and of itself, had it not been for the fact that she'd been able to walk through perfectly fine earlier. "S...Shining?" she sputtered, trying fruitlessly to look back at her husband. "Would you mind if we teleport ourselves home?" She helped when he reached up and shoved on her flank. "We could always try to push you out." The remark reminded her of the incident in the bathroom from the day before, when his help had resulted in an impromptu rutting, so she shook her head and grimaced. Glutting herself in front of an audience was one thing, but even teasing the notion of having her beloved try to brute force her through the door was nothing short of a terrible idea. Shunting power into her horn, she frantically returned herself and Shining to their bedroom. Even if he'd been joking, there was no way in Tartarus she was about to let a bunch of ponies watch their suddenly portly Princess making a mockery of herself. "Alright," she grumbled, "I'm gonna - Burp - get cleaned up and get some rest." Trotting around to face her, Shining lifted his head and pecked her neck. "Thanks for the amazing meal." Giggling to herself, she gazed into his eyes. "Aren't I supposed to be thanking you for it - after all, it was your idea." "Anything to make my big, beautiful babe happy," he cooed, standing on his hind legs to give her a kiss on the lips. Despite her size, she swooned. She really was the luckiest mare in all of Equestria, and nothing would ever convince her otherwise. Scooping him up with her magic, without breaking their kiss, she awkwardly trudged to the bed. Buck it - she should shower in the morning. For the time being, all she wanted was to cuddle with the stallion who'd won her heart.

Getting Out of Hoof

Chapter 3

"You ready, honey?" Shining asked, lightly caressing his wife's lower leg. Peering down at him, Cadance scrunched her snout. "No, not really, but it's not like I can change my mind now..." She'd ended the day prior on a high note, hopeful that her growth had finally halted and optimistic about the outfits Rarity was crafting for her, yet the day had started on a sobering, unfortunate note. Not only was she taller than ever, with the top of Shining's head barely reaching her knees, but her girth had nearly doubled. Her rounded belly and mountainous udders rested a hair's breadth from the floor, with the latter being pressed back between her hind legs, making it extraordinarily awkward to walk. "Did you send another scroll to Twilight?" she huffed. "Sure did," he chirped. "I haven't heard back from her yet, so my guess is she's still busy with whatever friendship problem she's dealing with." Petulantly stomping her hoof, she snorted as his magical aura enveloped her. "Wonderful..." Things were seriously getting out of hoof. Rarity was a skilled tailor, she had no question of that, but she couldn't see how things weren't going to go poorly. She was bigger than ever, the measurements from yesterday were essentially worthless, and it seemed impossible that the garments which had been made for her would fit - in short, she fully expected the day to be disastrous. Closing her eyes and keeping her hooves crossed, she was sorcerously whisked from her room and to the boutique - at least that's where she'd thought she was going. She opened her eyes and blinked rapidly. Instead of being surrounded by clothing racks and mannequins adorned with attire, she found herself in a spacious, entirely unfamiliar room. The chamber was nearly vacant, save for a large, heart shaped bed, several standing lights, and a tripod mounted camera resting nearby. Turning her attention over to her lover, she grimaced. "Shining..." she began, letting the unspoken question hang. Stepping aside and beaming up at her, his cheeks going red, he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah - uh - Rarity asked if we could meet her at Photo Finish's studio," he uneasily replied. Seeing her brow furrow, he shook his head and waved a forehoof. "D...don't worry! Rarity promised nopony would be here but us! She said that there was more room here for -" "For my bulk?" Cadance interrupted, peaking a brow. "More room for you to be comfortable," he hastily clarified. "I would have mentioned it earlier, but I didn't want the sudden change of plans to make you more anxious than you already were." Less than pleased by his misdirection, but realizing he'd made a good point, she turned her nose up. "I'll remember that little omission the next time I -" "There she is!" a familiar, cheerful voice announced. Cadance turned toward the source of the noise and spotted Rarity trotting in with a wheeled trunk in tow. She'd momentarily toyed with the idea of teleporting herself back to her castle, if only so she could hide away in her room with a tub of ice cream to console herself, but that thought went straight out the window. Forcing herself to smile, she shifted uncomfortably and faced the approaching unicorn. "Rarity, it's so good to see you again," she nervously chirped. Stopping just short of the titanic alicorn, Rarity happily hummed to herself and brought the trunk to a halt. "Good to see you too, darling - same for you, Shining. I presume your morning is off to a decent start?" "Well - um - it could be better," Shining timidly chuckled, giving his wife a wide berth and trotting around to greet the couture. Doing her best not to frown, Cadance sighed. "It could definitely be better. I'm sorry in advance if the outfits you fashioned don't fit." Rarity reared back and held a hoof to her chest. "Darling, you wound me to the quick. After I saw how immense you were yesterday, I took several precautions to ensure your apparel would fit you perfectly." "Even though I'm this big now?" Cadance countered. Giving a nod, the seamstress patted the trunk. "You didn't think I wouldn't account for such a possibility ~ did you? Actually, no, don't answer that. Simply see yourself into the fitting area and try on the dress - it's the top piece of apparel inside." Cadance looked around and noticed a drawn curtain in one corner of the room. While she couldn't be completely sure, it looked as though Rarity had fashioned a place for her to change - that or Photo Finish was used to accommodating clients who were substantially bigger than average ponies. As she looked between her lover and friend, seeing them expectantly beaming up at her, she hung her head and sent power into her horn. "Just give me a minute," she grumbled, shooting Shining a dirty look while she turned and began hauling the trunk behind herself. The way she saw it, one of two things was about to happen: she was either going to fruitlessly try to squeeze into something that was several sizes too small for her, and make an ass of herself in the process, or by some miracle she'd have some new duds. Realizing that neither Rarity or Shining would be pleased if she didn't at least make an attempt, she begrudgingly stomped behind the curtain. If things went as poorly as she thought they would, there was no way she was going to leave her room until Twilight was free to help her undo her affliction. She swung the trunk open and was met with a sea of turquoise fabric. As she levitated and unfolded an absolutely beautiful dress, replete with embroidered hearts and sequins, a lump formed in her throat. The gown was stunning, one of the prettiest she'd ever seen, and it hurt her soul to know she wouldn't fit in it - still, a promise was a promise. Having plucked a matching undergarment from beneath the article, she took a deep breath to steady herself. As per the standard, the bra and panties were a single garment that would cover her tush, marehood, and bosoms - at least that's what the apparel was designed to do. She cocked a hind leg, stepped into the garment, then mirrored the process. The fabric slid up her fetlocks and toward her thighs, moving closer to her gargantuan breasts, and she looked away. She could feel the cloth stretching and creeping over her thighs until something strange happened. The waistband of the underwear bumped against the dock of her tail, causing her to start. She'd fully anticipated the article getting caught on her ass, unable to cover her rear, yet that wasn't the case. Turning and looking back at herself, seeing the cloth clinging to her monumental tush, she cocked her head to the side. "Huh..." As unbelievable as it was, she'd somehow managed to get the thing on without ripping it to shreds - nevertheless, she wasn't about to get her hopes up yet. After slipping her tail through an opening just beneath the waistband, she shifted her focus to the bra part of the garment. Handling her brobdingnagian backside was one thing, but being able to handle her tremendous tits would be quite another. She pulled on the fabric with her magic, brought the cups beneath her bosoms, and hauled the apparel into place. Stunned by what she beheld, her eyes widened in shock, her jaw nearly hit the floor, and her heart skipped a beat. Her gargantuan bust wasn't simply lifted and held by the garment - no, it seemingly disappeared beneath the soft cloth. Hastily adjusting the article into position, she turned her head from side to side to look back at herself. The garment did more than just make her more presentable - it made moving around significantly easier. No longer having to deal with a pair of titanic breasts being squished between her thighs, she trotted in a small circle. It was a miracle made manifest - so much so that she could scarcely believe it was working as Rarity had promised. Either she was going insane or the undergarment had somehow hidden her breasts entirely. She had no doubt that her breasts were still there, feeling the grace of fabric on her teats, but it was like they'd simply vanished! Looking around for a mirror, yet finding no such thing, she cleared her throat and looked to the curtain. "Rarity, is there a mirror back here?" she called. A brief pause ensued, followed by whispering, before Rarity replied. "I'm afraid not, darling, although there's one out here by the camera. Once you've finished changing, you can come and inspect yourself more easily!" Cursing beneath her breath, Cadance pursed her lips. Rarity was no fool, so she wouldn't be surprised if the guileful unicorn had intentionally moved the mirror before she'd arrived. Seeing as how she was already half-finished with the endeavor of getting dressed, she swung her attention over to the dress floating beside herself. Buck it - seeing as how the panties had managed to not only contain but conceal her udders, maybe the gown would be just as impressive. After wriggling her way into the dress, she was absolutely blown away. The gown, much like the undergarment, fit her like a mystical glove. While she couldn't fathom how the ensemble worked, she was reduced from a gravid behemoth to a slim, trim amazoness by the mythical attire. The only parts of her which hadn't been affected were her towering stature and her prolific posterior, though she wasn't about to complain about either. With a flowing skirting and hem that came just to her fetlocks, the dress was a work of art. She hadn't noticed it at first, but the springy fabric was embroidered with traceries and small designs along its length. The material alone must have cost a hoof and a leg, even if it hadn't been enchanted, and she couldn't have been happier with it - that said, its slimming properties worked a bit too well. Fully clothed, she discovered one small drawback of her attire. The gown and undergarment had hidden her gut and bosoms from view, although they'd done next to nothing about the profound size of her backside. With a waspish waistline and slim, trim abdomen, her ass looked even more gargantuan than it had before. While she wasn't as unseemly as she'd been prior, she would still be turning heads wherever she laid hoof. "Almost done, honey?" Shining loudly asked, causing her to start. She couldn't have been happier with just how well things were turning out, yet there were two small snags - three really. First and foremost, unable to fully look at herself, she couldn't be completely certain that the outfit was as perfect as she thought it was - secondly and just as prudently, she needed to get some input from somepony other than herself. Wheeling around and trotting out, feeling much better than she had minutes before, she revealed herself. "Darling," Rarity gasped, holding a forehoof to her muzzle, "you look absolutely splendid." No less stunned than the couture, Shining stared at his wife in open awe. "Holy moly!" Despite herself, Cadance felt blood rush to her cheeks. "Come on - don't act that surprised." She slowed to a halt as her friend and lover cantered over and started circling her. Seeing them beaming up at her, their eyes playing over her figure, she smiled. They couldn't be that smitten with her - could they? Shining fawned over her regardless of how she looked or felt, as proven by the last two days, but she was taken aback by just how elated Rarity was. Waving them away, she scanned the room. "It's right over here," Rarity noted, realizing what the Princess was looking for. Running to and behind the camera, she retrieved a standing mirror from the wall and carried it over. "Let me just - Ahem - ensure everything is fitted properly..." Cadance remained where she was, allowing the couture to inspect her work. While she'd anticipated Rarity wanting to see how she looked, she was unprepared for just how meticulous the unicorn would be. A small tug here, an adjustment there - tittering all the while, the seamstress gleefully ensured the articles were perfectly seated on her frame. Staring at her reflection, Cadance's smile broadened. She hadn't looked bad when she was bigger - far from it in fact, but seeing that she could now go out and about without looking like a plus-sized porn star was uplifting as all get-out! She turned in place, inspecting herself from different angles, and giggled like a school filly. The outfit was snug but not uncomfortably so, accentuating her curves and complimenting the colors of her coat, mane, and tail. She really did look incredible in the gown, even if it was a bit more provocative than she would have liked. Turning in place, getting a better look at her backside, she swallowed hard when she noticed just how selective the garment was with concealing her full size. While her bust and belly had been magically hidden, her tush was another matter entirely. Nearly as wide as an apple cart, looking almost comical compared to the rest of her, the curves of her hind quarters were massive. She wouldn't be surprised if the tremendous, doughy globes of her ass could crush Shining with ease - a prospect she felt certain he'd happily volunteer to test. Rarity flicked her mane to the side and proudly wiggled her shoulders. "I'll take that reaction as a good sign." "Hey, Rarity, can I get a few of the photos of her - you know, after you're done?" Shining asked. The question shook Cadance from her gleeful stupor. She'd nearly forgotten her part of the agreement with Rarity, though she was definitely feeling more comfortable fulfilling it. Looking over, she nodded to the bed. "I'm guessing you want me to get comfortable?" she inquired, swinging her gaze down to the seamstress. "Eventually, yes, but I'd like to get a few of you standing as well. Shining, come stand over here - Cadance, if you'd be so kind, have a look over here," Rarity instructed. Cadance watched as the comparably little unicorn levitated a number of photos from beside the camera. Each picture was of a different pose, and many were from varying angles, giving her a better idea of what was expected of her. Much to her relief, none of the images were scandalous in the slightest. As she shuffled over and closer to one of the lights, she mimicked one of the positions she'd seen displayed. With a forehoof held to the back of her head, she balanced on three legs and smirked at the camera. "Something like this?" "Marvelous, darling!" Rarity exclaimed. "Hold that pose for me!" Emboldened beyond belief, Cadance stood statuesque and let picture after picture be snapped. She'd never been terribly enthused about being photographed, nor was she a narcissist, yet there was a certain thrill evoked by the flash of the camera - that and the enthusiasm of both Rarity and Shining. The constant barrage of flattery and compliments from the two substantially smaller ponies did nothing to quell her growing zeal, emboldening her beyond belief. She struck one pose after another, getting increasingly brazen and self-assured with each photo. Standing positions, ones which were relatively tame and ordinary, gradually became more seductive. Cocking her hips, lifting her waist, heavily lidded eyes, pouting her lips - little embellishments which elevated the shots from mundane to enticing. Repositioning the camera, Rarity stepped back to better capture the Princess' rump. "Yes, just like that! You're a naughty little alicorn ~ aren't you?" Staving off the temptation to nod, Cadance had to willfully force her tail not to flag. Though she wouldn't admit it, she was having too much fun with the entire affair. She was supposed to be a Princess, a stately icon that ponies looked up to, yet she was gradually losing herself to the exhilaration of the camera. Spreading her hind legs just a bit more than she should have, she watched Rarity smirk. "Manifique," the unicorn whispered, snapping one last shot. With multiple photos having been taken of her, she ultimately moved onto the bed. Laying across the mattress on her side, she playfully bit one forehoof while cocking her legs for yet another shot. The entire experience was far more fun than it had any right to be, yet her enjoyment was shaken when she saw exactly where her husband was looking. Peeking down at herself, she faltered. It was almost imperceptible beneath her dress, but there was a markedly damp spot on her panties. As she slowly closed her hind legs, reluctant to continue but not wishing to bring the photo shoot to an end, her inhibitions crept back to the fore. While there was nothing wrong with showing herself and her new ensemble off, she'd really rather not have a bunch of randy school colts using her pictures as perverse inspiration. Having noticed the alicorn's sudden shift in demeanor, or possibly by complete coincidence, Rarity stepped back from the camera and nodded. "I think that should do nicely. Now then, if you're inclined, I'd like to get the other set started." "Other..." Cadance trailed off, reminded that there was a second garment waiting for her to try on. She'd only gotten a small peek at the other attire she'd been given, although she realized it wouldn't be nearly as modest as the dress. Pushing herself up and stepping off the bed, she glanced in the direction of the changing area. With half of the shoot finished, realizing the magical dress would have likely cost her a small fortune, she steeled her resolve and drifted over to change. "Just give me a minute," she remarked, seeing Shining going to follow her. The last thing she needed was to have her husband hungrily eyeing her as she got undressed. Considering his stallionhood was already peeking from its sheath, and that watching her strip would do nothing but get him more turned on, it was for everypony's good that he gave her a bit of privacy. With the curtain drawn behind her, she carefully removed her attire and was instantly reminded of why she'd gone to Rarity for help. As the dress slid down her frame, her belly steadily appeared and hung heavily beneath her. The weight had been there while wearing the gown, so she didn't feel any different, but the sight of her huge stomach and curvaceous hips evoked a strange mix of emotions. She'd been hesitant to say it in front of Shining, lest he encourage her to stay as large as she was, but a part of her actually liked being big. Now freed from its confines, her vast belly was left in full view. Easily the broadest part of her, countered only by her derriere, the taut hide of her abdomen graced the floor with each heavy breath she took. Even with her unnatural height, it would have been impossible for anypony not to know she was incredibly pregnant - then again, that really wasn't a problem. There was something about maternity that was weirdly comforting, like she was fulfilling some primal purpose, and she truthfully wasn't opposed to staying her current size. The only reason she had a burning desire to return to her typical state was to avoid an absolute onslaught of questions from her guards, the castle staff, and the residents of the Crystal Empire. While she was aware that there were some mares in the world who would love the attention from hundreds, if not thousands of ponies, she wasn't one of them. Peeling the bra-panty combination off herself, her breasts spilled into the open. Like twin, pillowy mountains of flesh, each bosom was driven back by her stomach and pressed to her thighs. Her ass and stomach were still bigger than her bust, but her tits were definitely one of the more salacious parts of her figure. Her udders, each capable of producing gallons of milk a day, were as functional as they were eye-catching, and she had no doubt that there'd be a great many stallions ogling them if she were to go out in public without having them covered. Focusing on the task at hoof, she neatly folded her dress and undergarment before going over to the chest and peeking inside. Leather - heaps of black and red leather met her eye, making her pulse begin to race. She'd only ever worn, let alone owned a single piece of naughty negligee, so she gnawed her lower lip at the prospect of modeling a second one. "Ok, Cadance, you can do this," she whispered to herself, lifting the scandalous attire out of the trunk. A promise she had made, and a promise she would keep - at least that's the justification she consoled herself with. Replete with a corset, crotchless panties, a choker, leggings, and a bra, the outfit would leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. As long as Rarity promised that any pictures would stay between them and Shining, everything should be alright - should, but she was still a bit anxious about the entire endeavor. Piece by sinful piece, she dressed herself with the naughtiest, most alluring outfit she'd ever worn. Even though nopony could see her, she blushed as she wiggled herself into each article. With the leggings pinching the supple meat of her thighs, she moved on to the rest of the outfit. She slowly exhaled and lifted the next piece of the ensemble to her midsection. Getting the corset on was a struggle in several ways. Magically holding the article to her chest, using the heft of her breasts to hold it to her abdomen, she looked over her shoulder to tighten the laces along its back. The thing did a darn fine job at hiding her huge, pregnant belly, but it was still very constrictive. With her lower torso bound, magnifying her svelte look more than ever, she levitated the final garment over to herself. The panties and bra, constructed as a single unit, were exquisitely raunchy. Stepping into the undergarment, she pulled the fabric up and to her groin. It took a bit of wrestling her bust into the cloth cups, having to heave one tit at a time into the thing, but she was able to manage after a bit of grumbling and fidgeting. Drawing the waistband up and over her backside, slipping her tail through and into position, she peeked back at herself. As with the gown and undergarments she'd just taken off, her amorous apparel miraculously concealed her tummy and bust - well most of her bust. Unlike mere minutes before, a sliver of her breasts' extensive size was shown off by the undergarment clinging to her lower abdomen. Gone was the demure, innocent Princess she'd always been - replaced by a gigantic, slatternly dominatrix that would make any straight stallion weak in the knees. "Rarity," she shouted, "you promise that nopony will ever see any pictures of me in this ~ right?" "As Pinkie would say, 'cross my heart and hope to fry - stick a cupcake in my eye'," Rarity yelled back. Though the affirmation soothed her nerves the tiniest bit, Cadance didn't leap out and reveal herself. It would have been embarrassing enough to walk out wearing something so skimpy, but the fact that she'd gotten more than a little turned on by herself made the juncture very embarrassing - exciting, but embarrassing all the same. She slowly exhaled, adjusted her attire, and slowly pulled the curtain back, praying neither Shining or Rarity would make too much of a fuss about her - "Sweet Celestia," Shining gasped, his mouth agape and eyes shooting wide. "I told you she'd look ravishing in that get-up," Rarity haughtily snickered. Seeing Shining's stallionhood growing steadily beneath him, and Rarity fanning herself, Cadance blushed harder than ever. She was used to getting her husband riled up, but she'd had no way of knowing her friend would get turned on by the sight of her! Curious and, much to her shame, aroused by their reaction, she slowly wheeled around, flicked her tail to the side, and leaned forward. Rarity practically scrambled over, apparently not willing to let the presentation go to waste. Having wrenched the camera from its stand, she dove to the floor, leveled the contraption at the Princess' crotch, and snapped several pictures. Laying on her back, taking shot after shot, she kicked her legs and almost maniacally laughed to herself. Cadance would have been unsettled by the display, had she not been able to see just how aroused Rarity was. The dark, drenched flesh of the unicorn's loins was on full display. There were few times in her life when she didn't know what to say, realizing her friend was practically gushing from the sight of her left her at a loss for words. "C...can you hike your leg up a little?" Shining bashfully inquired. Looking over and noticing his fully erect endowment, Cadance grinned. She'd been opposed to showing herself off to Rarity and Shining, but that sentiment was changing at an alarming rate. It would have been impossible for them to fake their reactions to her, which gave her an idea - if they liked seeing her like this, traipsing about like a slutty not-so-little Princess, she was going to really dazzle them. Letting Rarity take a few more photos of her, posing in seductive ways for each and every one, she eyed the bed. "Would you mind taking a few of me on the mattress?" "By all means, darling!" Rarity chirped. "If you're inspired to - oh..." Before Rarity finished speaking, Cadance crossed to and stepped onto the oversized piece of furniture. With one hind leg on the floor, and the other braced on the foot of the bed, she turned her head and smiled back at the stricken unicorn. With as much casual grace as she could muster, she slid her torso over the bed sheets and proudly flagged her tail. Shining's length slapped excitedly against his belly, while Rarity reached back between her legs to rub herself. Ordinarily speaking, she would have been mortified to see her husband and one of her best friends openly getting off, yet all she felt was exhilaration. Igniting her horn, she magically caressed the dampened fabric over her winking, barely hidden marehood. She would have never guessed she'd end up masturbating for a camera - then again, she wouldn't have guessed she'd become a literal giantess. Boldly rubbing herself and switching positions, she succumbed to her budding exhibitionistic urges. Her reputation and good-standing with the public would be ruined if the photos ever saw the light of day, but she didn't care - the only thing on her mind was indulging herself and her passionate provocateurs. Within minutes, as Rarity flitted around her with the camera, she'd practically lost herself. As she pawed at her breasts and unabashedly kneading her snatch, a groan escaped her. She knew it was wrong, that she should have controlled herself, but the circumstances practically demanded she'd continue. It would be a different matter if Shining and Rarity weren't practically self-consummating at this point, although that wasn't the case in the slightest. Shifting her weight over, she rolled to her side and directed her aura to her back. Pictures had been taken of her in her dress, and there'd been several dozen snapped of her in the depraved outfit, yet she didn't have any capturing her full glory. She untied her corset, began pulling it free, and looked over to ensure the camera was trained on her. As she steadily pulled the garment off, her belly practically exploded from her abdomen. Her weight shifted, pushing her onto her back, as her stomach rolled her over. The cool air against her sweat-streaked hide was refreshing, but she barely noticed it. Too captivated by the ravenous look on Shining's face, she was stricken with depraved, divine inspiration. She didn't say a word as she beckoned her little stud over. Trotting over, Shining crawled onto the bed next to her. There wasn't a pony on the face of the planet who knew her better than he did, so he instantly realized what he'd been called for. He gingerly rested a forehoof on her abdomen, stood on his hind legs, and started peeling one of her leggings off. Undressing herself would have been easy enough, even without the use of her magic, but having somepony help with the process was deliciously useful. Presenting one limb at a time, she watched as he slowly and meticulously pulled off each legging. The look in his eyes, the sweat on his brow, and his turgid length smacked of a very pent up stallion, but that was hardly a bad thing - in fact, it played perfectly into her hastily laid scheme. "Worship me," she purred, drawing her tongue over her lips as she gazed into his eyes. She wouldn't dare ask him to do anything overtly sexual, but getting a few photos of him appreciating her wouldn't be that bad ~ right? She sprawled onto her back, ignoring the creaking bed frame beneath her, and tittered. This was so lewd, it was so undeniably raunchy, but she simply couldn't help herself from relishing every glorious second of his affection. Without skipping a beat, he flung himself upon her. Though he was a mere sliver of her size, comparable to a colt compared to a fully grown pony, he lacked none of his zeal. He clambered over her like a foal on Hearth's Warming morning, caressing her as he went, until he was sprawled over her belly, though things took a rather unexpected turn. Instead of facing her, placing his head on her chest, she found herself staring at his delightfully sculpted tush. She was a bit thrown off at first, having anticipated a kiss, but she quickly realized what he was up to. Feeling his hooves and magic tug at her undergarment, she stiffened. If she didn't stop him, things were about to get much, much more indecent. "Shining," she began, hearing him chuckle. "Shining, you're not going to..." The fabric of her bra and panties was dragged from her groin, setting off a sinful domino effect of gargantuan proportions. She wasn't sure what Shining expected, but he was flung back when her breasts erupted from the undergarment. Landing with a dull thud on her shoulder, he shook his head, set his brow, and stared at the wobbling, gargantuan breasts that had launched him away. Glancing up at her face, likely drawn by her giggling, he warily smiled. "Can I - um..." "Well they're already out, Shining," she sighed, tussling his mane with a forehoof. "Go nuts." He beamed up at her, righted himself, and clamored over her stomach and back to her tits. Each bosom was nearly as big as he was, almost as big as his torso, and he had two to play with. Diving into her cleavage, he grabbed hold of her panties and continued what he'd started. He squirmed and twisted from side to side, undaunted by the titanic tits he was sandwiched between. Equal parts endearing, cute, and sublimely arousing, Cadance watched him strip her of her undergarment. There was no possible way he couldn't see how spectacularly drenched she was, feeling her marehood winking and hungrily clenching on itself, which reminded her that he wasn't the only one getting an eyeful. She looked around for Rarity, throwing her head from left to right, but there was no sign of the mare. "A little wider..." The soft suggestion caused her heart to skip a beat. Pushing herself up with her wings, she peered past her belly, Shining, and her bosoms. Standing just at the foot of the bed, with her camera mere feet from her groin, was Rarity. She couldn't say what was worse, that one of her best friends was getting a very intimate view of her nethers or that Shining was doing what the couture had said - regardless, there was little she could do to stop either of them. Staying where he was, Shining used his magic and dragged the panties from Cadance's legs. He could have withdrawn, freeing himself and putting the bawdy display to an end, but he moved in the opposite direction. Bringing his face lower, he breathed hotly on her sopping-wet loins, drew a breath through his nostrils, and gave a shuddering sigh. "You're not going to..." Cadance and Rarity began in unison, as he extended his tongue and jammed his face into his wife's marehood. Cadance reclined and groaned, lifting her legs and smashing his head between her thighs. Everypony in Equestria had a threshold, a point at which their lust outstripped their better judgment, and he'd just pushed her past it. She was beyond saving, in spite of the flashes of the camera capturing every depraved moment of Shining eating her out, though she did make a mental note to retrieve the roll of film once they were finished. Though she hadn't encouraged or helped her husband, Shining had no such reservations. Feasting on her loins like it was the last day of his life, he drove his muzzle into her silken depths. It may have been her imagination, but the sensual assault felt better than usual. Maybe it felt fantastic because she was being watched, or possibly her enlarged physiology had increased the size of her g-spot - regardless of the exact reason, she was in heaven. Unbeknownst to her, Rarity was having an absolute ball. Having lowered her head, she got an up-close view of the action while she feverishly rubbed her clit. Along with her hoof, the blue glow of her magic probed her depths and tweaked her delicate nipples. As she became increasingly engrossed with the display, the camera in her sorcerous grasp drifted to the floor. Whimpering uncontrollably, subconsciously using her magic to drive Shining deeper, Cadance writhed atop the mattress. He was an absolute animal! Even though he was positively tiny compared to her, her husband used everything he had to please her. His hooves, his sorcery, his tongue - there wasn't a tool at his disposal which went neglected. She momentarily lifted her head, looked downward, and saw the every end of his tail emerging from her cleavage. Laying there and enjoying herself, sensing herself getting closer to a climax, she called upon her arcane might. While she could have allowed Shining to finish her off, that simply didn't feel right. He was her husband, the stallion whom she'd given her heart to, so it was only right that he got to cross the finish line along with her. A soft glow emanated from the valley between her breasts, as the stallion was freed from her bosoms and lifted into the air. He resisted momentarily, kicking his legs and looking around in confusion, until he looked back and to her face. Giving him the sultriest look she could muster, she waggled her eyebrows, spun him around, and gradually spread her hind legs. If he didn't get the hint she was mutely laying down, he was either daft or too worked up to think clearly - mercifully for her, lowering his gaze to her slavering marehood, he instantly realized what was expected of him. Touching down on the mattress, he reared back and locked his forehooves around her thighs. One definite benefit of her size was that he could easily make love to her in a missionary position, and he wasted no time doing just that. He stepped forward, kissed the tip of his stallionhood to her snatch, and sank into her depths. As soon as he hilted, having buried every inch of his shaft, he began pounding away with almost reckless abandon. Her whimpers of delight cut through the air, pairing wondrously with his grunting and heavy breaths, as she was mercilessly plowed. He'd always been gentle with her, not wanting to go overboard or leave her sore, but that was the case no longer. Knowing he needn't hold himself back, he used every ounce of his considerable physical strength. His flare ground against her g-spot, his abdomen beat against her winking, engorged clit, and his sorcery ruthlessly hauled on her teats, twisting and pulling on the almost hoof-sized buds of flesh, causing her to howl out in bliss. It was simply amazing. Her fears that being with a stallion so much smaller than herself were proven unwarranted - if anything, the rutting she received was one of the best she'd ever had! Twisting her head to the side, a sudden movement caught her eye. The mirror she'd used earlier was sat to the side, long since abandoned, yet in its reflection she could see what Rarity was up to. Furiously masturbating, the alabaster unicorn gnawed a forehoof to silence herself while watching the lecherous show. Though Cadance couldn't explain it, the sight of her friend rubbing herself sent her skyrocketing towards release. Could she have been an exhibitionist all along? Was being watched always so electrifying? Had she been missing out on an entire world of sinful delights until now? Dozens of questions flitted through her thoughts, yet they were instantly crushed when a familiar warmth blossomed deep within her. The sensation of her impending climax brought her to an impasse. Given where Rarity was, she had little doubt that the mare would get utterly drenched by a cocktail of her and Shining's cum. If she didn't stop now, wrenching her husband free and bringing the entire hedonistic affair to an end, everypony was going to get very, very messy. Blindly calling upon her mystical power, she clutched Shining's ass and forced him to fuck her harder. Rarity had chosen to watch, just as Shining had chosen to tease her, so it would be her own fault if she ended up trotting away a big soggy. With the breath hitching in her throat, passing the point of no return, she seized his pistoning, flaring length in her vice-like confines and dragged him into nirvana along with her. It was impossible for her to tell exactly what happened, wracked with ecstasy, but she was certain Shining came first. He bellowed and snorted, painting her interior with his rich foal-batter, which undid what little resistance she had left. With her heart pounding in her chest, her marehood quivering, and her legs shaking, she unleashed a torrent of orgasmic, marish juices. While she was only barely aware of it, a soft whimper and muted wail of delight told her Rarity peaked at nearly the same time she did. By the time everything was said and done, her prophetic vision had been fulfilled. From the tip of her horn to her hooves, she was covered in sweat - worse still, her thighs, groin, and even her fetlocks were slathered in her nectar. Shining panted atop her, resting his face against her underbelly while he fought to catch his breath, and Rarity - poor Rarity looked like she'd been flung in from a cyclone. She lay at the center of the carnal carnage, the star around with everything revolved. It may have sounded crazy, possibly spurred by her euphoric, hazy thoughts, but she felt certain that she'd grown throughout the impassioned exchange. The hide over her belly was taut, straining and heaving with each breath, and her bosoms lazily dribbled milk onto the soaked, compressed mattress. She'd have a huge problem on her hooves if she had gotten bigger over such a short period of time, but there was little she could do - that would be a problem for tomorrow. "G...good - Cough - heavens," Rarity wheezed, shakily attempting to push herself up. Like a newborn fawn, totally soaked, she falteringly stood and wiped her dampened mane from her face. "Thank heavens I have a mop..." Turning his head, keeping his still-twitching stallionhood entombed within his wife, Shining looked over at the soggy couture. "We'll help ~ right, Cadance?" Cadance wearily nodded and stared up at the ceiling, remaining sprawled on the mattress. Uh...uh-huh..." The sweet, cathartic release steadily faded, returning her higher functions and ability to move. She could hardly believe what she'd done, yet there was nothing she could do to change the past. As Shining dragged his softening length from her, causing a small deluge of their combined jizz to dribble into the crack of her monumental ass, she heaved herself to the side and righted herself. Moving in concert, the trio of sodden, euphoric ponies cleaned the studio from top to bottom with various, extremely practical spellwork. Photo Finish kept a well-stocked closet filled with cleaning supplies, allowing them to make short work of the nigh apocalyptic mess they'd made of the place. Though they were none too fast, giggling and slipping glances at one another all the while, the endeavor only took them a hoofful of minutes to complete - mostly due to their magic. "Don't worry about the outfits, darling," Rarity reassuringly stated, wringing out the mop she'd been using. "I'll have them laundered and back to you before the ball." "Ball?" Cadance parroted, rearing back. "What ball?" "The designer's ball," the seamstress clarified, knitting her brow as she peered up at the mountainous alicorn. "Were you that tall earlier?" Brushing off the question, Cadance focused on the subject which made her hair stand on end. "You're not expecting me to go to this ball ~ are you?" Rarity nodded and smiled, unphased by the Princess' alarm. "Of course I am, darling! Considering it's a mere week away, and that you have that lovely gown to wear, I'd love nothing more than to show you and my dress off!" "Will there be snacks?" Shining inquired. Cadance ignored her husband, leaned forward, and stared at the couture. "Let me guess - you forgot to mention this earlier?" "I may have," Rarity bashfully admitted, looking away. "It's a small affair, only one or two dozen ponies at most, I assure you." Feeling as though she was between a rock and a hard place, Cadance sighed. Rarity really had done her a huge favor with the ensembles, and they'd just shared a very intimate moment together, so it simply didn't feel right to refuse. A small party wouldn't be too bad, now that she had something to wear, so she tamped down her reservations and nodded. "Just send me the details," she murmured, rising back to her full, imposing height. Leaping forward and hugging the alicorn's leg, Rarity squealed in delight. "Wondrous! I'll send you and Shining the details and your tickets post haste!" Cadance trusted Rarity more than almost anypony, especially given what they'd just gone through, but she was less than pleased with the prospect of mingling with what would surely be affluent ponies while she was so colossal. Feeling something running along her side, she looked over, noticed Shining affectionately caressing her flank, and frowned. It may have been her imagination, but he looked even smaller than ever. Exhausted, sullied, and lost to her thoughts, wanting little more than a shower and a nap, she prayed she hadn't just made a mistake by agreeing to accompany Rarity to the ball...

Getting Out of Hoof

Chapter 3.5

Looking between Shining and Rarity, seeing the two smiling over at her, Cadance went slack-jawed. "Excuse me?" "I just need to get some additional measurements, darling! It's nothing to -" Rarity stopped when the Princess pinched the bridge of her snout. "I heard that part," Cadance groaned. "I was - am more concerned about the type of measurements you just mentioned." Staring over at the couture, seeing the mare pulling a long, rubberized glove onto one foreleg, she swallowed hard. She hadn't been bothered when Rarity had asked her to come back for some additional measurements, having set off with Shining the morning following their admittedly debaucherous photo shoot, but she felt like she'd been misled. Instead of having measuring tape at the ready, her companion had a sizable bottle of lube at the ready. Trotting over to the askance, visibly nervous Princess, Shining stroked his wife's leg. "I know this probably wasn't what you were expecting, but -" "You think?!" Cadance grumbled, leering down at him. "It's quite alright, this isn't the first time I've done this," Rarity flippantly noted, snapping the glove above her knee. Cadance squinted over at the unicorn. "Dare I ask...?" "Darling, though it's not like I openly advertise it, my services extend beyond mere wardrobes," Rarity noted, smirking over at the alicorn. "I'm sure you've seen mismatched couples while out and about ~ yes?" Thinking for a moment, Cadance slowly nodded. It wasn't uncommon for ponies to find partners either larger or smaller than themselves, and that was excluding the growing number of interspecies relationships, yet that didn't answer the question as to why Rarity wanted to document the dimensions of her interior. With a scrunched snout, she peered back at her backside. Her growth had shown no signs of stopping, leaving her to tower over her husband. Once slightly taller than herself, Shining could nearly walk under her without having to bow his head. The garments she'd procured did prevent her from getting stuck in doorways, something she wouldn't wish on her worst enemy, yet they did nothing to make her appear any smaller than she already was. Simply put, she'd become a literal giantess, making even the tallest ponies like Celestia, Big Macintosh, and she presumed even that Trouble Shoes fellow look downright tiny in comparison. While she didn't have an issue with her extraordinary height, she did find it a bit awkward that her beloved was a mere fraction of her size - not that he seemed to mind. Anxiously trotting forward, inspecting a number of gems and what seemed to be gold bands on Rarity's work table, she tried not to dwell on how large she may eventually become. Clearing her throat, Rarity drew the alicorn's eye. "If this is making you a bit uncomfortable, you can leave if you'd like. Given the circumstances and your current size, I simply thought that you and Shining may be able to appreciate one another more." Cadance narrowed her eyes. "Appreciate how?" "As I'm sure you're aware, magical artifacts, if crafted and worn properly, can imbue a pony with all sorts of abilities. Enhanced sorcery and increased physical capabilities are two of the more common, practical aspects such a trinket can impart, though that's only the tip of the iceberg," Rarity stated, moving over to her table and tapping one of the rings. "Did you know that two ponies, or any creatures for that matter, can use linked enchantments?" Comprehension dawned on Cadance as she stared down at the assorted jewels and bits of precious metal. "You don't mean..." She trailed off, too embarrassed to assert her thought. Even though she was huge, monumentally bigger than Shining, he'd yet to leave her unsatisfied in the bedroom - that said, she wouldn't deny that the sex itself wasn't quite as intense as it used to be. While he'd stayed the same size, his stallionhood no less impressive than ever, her marehood had grown quite cavernous over the past few days. It wasn't that making love to him didn't feel good - quite the opposite in fact, yet he didn't fill her like he used to. "If Rarity gets your internal measurements, she'll be able to make us jewelry that gives me dick big enough to satisfy you!" Shining blithely chirped, drawing stares of disdain from both the mares. "Not quite I would have put it, but yes," Rarity sighed. "Once constructed and properly tuned, his little soldier will be able to match your confines." Turning and lowering his head, Shining pouted as he peeked at his nethers. "I'm not that little..." "Come now, you know what I meant," Rarity tutted, waving away his concern. Turning her attention back to the Princess' face, she smiled and proudly held a rubber-clad forehoof to her chest. "In case you were wondering, I haven't had a dissatisfied customer for this procedure." With her curiosity piqued, Cadance cocked her head. "Customers such as...?" Rarity turned her nose up and snorted. "Darling, I simply couldn't divulge such sensitive information!" "I mean, we won't tell anyone ~" Shining reassuringly noted, inching closer, "will we, honey?" "I won't twist your leg about it, but we are pretty good at keeping secrets," Cadance relented. After looking around the vacant room, going so far as to trot to the entrance to peek into the empty storefront of her boutique, Rarity scampered back and motioned for the couple to draw nearer. "If you must know, I crafted a pair for Cranky and Matilda shortly after they got married. Not to brag, but getting hitched is only one reason he'd been so chipper lately." "I...huh..." Cadance grunted, shocked by the admission. "So is - er - was he kinda small?" Shining pressed. "Heavens no!" Rarity laughed. "He's actually quite impressive for an ass his age, but having a wife who's been, shall we say, a bit experimental with lovers left him at a disadvantage." Going from simply curious to needing to know more, Cadance dipped her head. "Who or what could have -" "Dragons," Rarity whispered, biting her bottom lip to stifle her amusement. "I could hardly believe it myself, but apparently Mrs. Matilda had developed a soft spot for big - and I mean big reptiles. Did you know they've got two dangly bits?" "Lucky bastards..." Shining murmured, drawing a titter from his wife and the fashionista. Rarity composed herself and straightened up, her normal, professional demeanor returning in an instant. "Anyways - yes, I believe this would be a useful little item to add to your amorous arsenal." Though she was far from enthused about having a mare, much less a friend doing something so intimate to her, Cadance felt some modicum of relief. Rarity had been nothing but generous to her over the years, designing and making her dress gratis, so she struggled to think of a reason not to trust the dressmaker - that and she definitely wouldn't mind having something that would put her and Shining on equal carnal footing. Rising to her full height, she steeled her resolve. "Just one more question, I promise," she muttered. "If I keep getting bigger, will this ring still work?" "It would, yes, although you'd need to come back to have it adjusted if you did grow more," Rarity smoothly replied. "So would you be interested? For what it's worth, I'm sorry I didn't mention it in that letter I sent this morning; I felt like explaining this in person would be a bit less jarring than doing so through a scroll." "Buck it, I'll do it," Cadance huffed, turning and trudging back to the central, open area of the room. She still couldn't fully wrap her head around how the magic worked, or exactly how Rarity had gotten into such a erotic enterprise, but she wasn't about to question it. If there was even a chance that Shining could become equipped with a stallionhood to match her, she'd be pleased as punch - no, she'd be elated. All but literal titan or not, she had no intentions of giving up having a good time with her husband. Presuming the exam wouldn't be much different from her yearly doctor's visit, she spread her hind legs, flipped her tail to the side, and looked away. She wasn't sure if it was funny or sad, but having Rarity watch her and Shining going at it like a pair of newlyweds on their honeymoon wasn't as mortifying as displaying herself in such a fashion - still, she held steady. If she was lucky, and she prayed she was, Rarity wouldn't take too long. Trotting up behind the Princess, Rarity levitated the lube over to herself. "Just relax, darling! I assure you, this won't be uncomfortable in the slightest." "Easy for you to say..." Cadance grumbled, screwing her eyes shut. She must have been a sight, legs splayed and ass raised, but there was nothing she could do about it. Her immense breasts and tremendous belly graced the cool floor every time she breathed, making her shiver all over. In spite of having drained her udders after waking up, a steady stream of milk dribbled from each teat. The quicker she got done, the quicker she could - "Eeep!" she yelped, flinching when something cool graced her entrance. "You must hold still, dear!" Rarity called from behind her. "Shining, would you be so kind as to - how do I say this - give me a bit of room back here?" The familiar sound of magic cut through the air, before Cadance felt her buns being prized apart. Great - bucking wonderful. Not only was Rarity getting a very close view of her most intimate parts, but Shining was helping with the affair. She drew a shuddering breath and did her best to hold still, trying and failing to ignore what felt like a hoof gliding up her snatch. Remaining silent, Rarity pressed her tongue between her lips as she put herself to task. Balanced on a stepping stool, with each forehoof placed to either side of the Princess' plump marehood, she steadily pulled her forelegs apart. The alicorn's lips slowly parted, revealing the rosy, staggeringly moist, seemingly bottomless depths within. Shining peered up in wonder, licking his lips at the lewd sight. "Are you turned on by this?" Cadance's head whipped around to glance over her shoulder. "Not now, Shining..." She would never breathe a word of it to anypony, especially her husband, but she'd be lying if she said some part of her wasn't a bit excited. Maybe it was the prospect of seeing Shining swinging a giant dick around, or it could have been all the attention she was receiving - regardless of the exact cause, she was getting turned on. Slowly exhaling as Rarity reached into her, she kept her eyes clamped shut. The massive globes of her tush were held open, giving Shining and Rarity an unfettered look at her loins and pucker, though that was the least of her problems. Inch by inch, the unicorn's foreleg slipped deeper and deeper into her. Cadance shouldn't have been aroused by such a clinical act, yet her heart gradually began to beat faster. If somepony had told her she'd eventually end up having a friend jamming a leg into her, she would have laughed and discarded the notion as lunacy - unfortunately, as fate would have it, that's precisely what had ended up happening. Feeling herself wink, spontaneously clenching around the unicorn's limb, blood surged into her cheeks. She wasn't worried about Rarity saying anything, considering she'd likely had customers give similar reactions in the past, but didn't trust her husband to stay quiet. Seconds dragged on for what seemed like hours, all while she remained motionless, until a disgruntled grunt sailed to her ears. Staving off the temptation to stand and look back, she turned her head from side to side to see what was happening - alas, her gargantuan backside obstructed her view. Left to speculate on what was happening, going by feel alone, her thoughts began to race. "Just - Mmmph - gotta..." Rarity whispered to herself, standing on one hind leg while leaning forward. With her face smashed against Cadance's inner ass cheek, she glowered. She was trying - good heavens, she was trying her best not to make an inappropriate comment, but it seemed like the Princess' confines went on without end. Nearly up to her shoulder, she looked down at the stallion. It was awe inspiring to think he was actually able to get his wife off, but she couldn't afford to get distracted - not yet anyways. She withdrew and freed most of her foreleg, realizing what she had to do to get the job done. "Cadance?" "Y...yeah?" the alicorn called back. "There's no delicate way to say this, but I'm going to have to really get in there for a moment," Rarity remarked, bringing her free hoof up to the behemoth mare's entrance. "What's that - Oh buck!" Cadance bleated as something much, much bigger than a leg plunged into her. From the bottom of her hooves to the tip of her horn, she shivered with delight. Whatever was sinking into her was big - way bigger than a limb or Shining's formidable endowment. Her marehood winked uncontrollably, rhythmically seizing around whatever was filling her, and a hushed whimper escaped her. If Rarity didn't finish fast, things may get very sticky very quickly. Rarity had serviced all manner of clientele in her day, but this one may take the cake. Wriggling her front legs forward and back, essentially crawling into the Princess, she slipped in up to her waist. Just how deep was this mare? Though she'd assumed Cadance' canal was as big as the rest of her, the slick, balmy confines seemed to stretch on for eternity. Watching the couture steadily disappear, all but her fetlocks remaining in the open air, Shining went slack jawed. He'd never been the biggest consumer of adult material, yet the spectacle of the unicorn being virtually engulfed by his wife was one of the hottest things he'd ever seen. With his stallionhood getting harder by the second, he continued holding his lover's buns apart. "S...Shining," Cadance weakly sputtered, drawing his eyes, "w...what's happening?" Snapping from his stupor, Shining stepped back and looked to his wife's face. "Rarity's - uh..." Cadance waited fruitlessly for a reply that never came, weathering waves of bliss that wracked her. "Rarity's - Mmmmph - what?" She may have been an alicorn, essentially a demigod among ponykind, but there was only so much that any mare could endure. Her body rebelled against her, her depths contracting and quivering with delight. Fighting the urge to buck her hips back, she set her jaw and leered over at her husband. "Rarity's what?" she repeated more sternly. "Rarity's in..." Shining flatly responded, fixating on her tush. "What's that..." Cadance trailed off, suddenly understanding what he'd meant. It wasn't like she was or had ever been promiscuous, having only ever bedded her husband, but she'd like to think she had a good mind for what was going on with her mare parts - as such, she focused on the sensations accosting her. Rarity was in her - literally in her! Confused, more aroused than she cared to admit, and just a touch concerned, she reflexively clenched and drew the unicorn deeper. "C...can you pull her out?" she shouted back at her husband. He slowly shook his head, his eyes staying glued to the bizarre display. "Not unless I reach in there for her." Cadance tried to curse, but the only thing that came out was a throaty groan. As absurd as it was, she was getting darned close to her limit. The ceaseless writhing in her depths, the sheer depravity of it all, and the fact that one of her most trusted friends was entombed in her snatch proved a disastrous mix. Her hips twitched, then rolled forward and back, setting her rock-hard nipples to drag against the floor. She told herself that it wasn't her fault, that she couldn't control what she was doing, but that was only in part true. Having a pony wriggling about in her, hitting every sensitive spot in her canal, was downright incredible. "P...pull - Hnnnph - pull her out," she mewled, teetering on the brink. While it wasn't the worst thing to be enjoying herself, even under such peculiar circumstances, she may die of embarrassment if Rarity caused her to climax. Feeling the magic on her ass dissipate, she cracked an eye open and looked over. She'd assumed Shining was doing what she'd asked, moments from rescuing the trapped unicorn, but she'd been wrong - spectacularly wrong. Instead of doing anything to help, Shining shamelessly used his sorcery to masturbate. The sight of him stroking his stallionhood only added to her excitement. She'd had mutual masturbation sessions with him before, rubbing herself off while watching him play with himself, so the display pushed her to the very brink. She frantically bucked at the open air, unwittingly drawing Rarity deeper all the while, until everything came to a head. The moment the seamstress was forced against her cervix, the breath hitched in her throat. There was a threshold that every creature had, a point of no return, and she'd just been flung past it. With her legs quaking, marehood spasming, and eyes rolling back, she unleashed a rapturous howl. Her pelvic muscles went haywire, using Rarity to batter her womb like a sex toy, while gallons of creamy nectar gushed from her quivering depths. The angry writhing within her abdomen was the only thing that moored her to reality, bringing her back to reality before her orgasm had subsided. Flexing her abdomen, she called upon her arcane might. She'd never tried to use her sorcery to extract something from herself, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Since Shining was too busy getting his rocks off, she'd have to get Rarity out herself. Going by her sense of feeling alone, she drove a strand of magic into her sex and blindly probed her depths. It took her a second to find what she was looking for, but she eventually grabbed what had to be one of Rarity's legs. With a mighty tug, she hauled the unicorn free, straightened up, and wheeled around. Landing with a wet, unceremonious plop, Rarity gasped for breath. "Sorry about that," she breathed, bashfully smiling down at the spectacularly drenched unicorn. Rarity held up one hoof while she mopped her face. "It's...it's - Cough - quite alright?" "Hmmmmph," Shining grunted, blowing his load and adding his seed to the expansive pool of mare cum on the floor. Shaking her head and unsteadily getting to her hooves, Rarity trotted over to her table. "Lovely - just one more thing to clean up." "Rarity, if there's anything - anything I can do to make this up to you, let me know," Cadance sighed. Rarity cocked her head and scribbled some numbers onto her notebook, barely paying the couple any mind. "I'm going to hold you to that - in fact, I already have something in mind." "Name it," the Princess urged. "After all that, there's -" "I want you to do that to Shining while I get to watch - not now, but at some point in the future," Rarity mused, a grin playing across her muzzle. "It's hardly fair that he gets to enjoy himself for such a show - plus you could consider it compensation for the rings I'll be making." "Sure!" Shining chirped. "Just tell us -" "Shining!" Cadance cut him off, grimacing over at him. Turning her attention back to the unicorn, she dipped her head. "I'll...I'll consider it..." "Of course you will, Darling - now then, since we have that out of the way, would you two mind helping me clean up this mess? I swear, you two are going to force me to invest in several tarps," Rarity laughed, trotting off to a broom closet. Nodding and following behind the remarkably chipper couture, Cadance gulped. While she was appreciative of all the hard work, finding out that her friend was a bit perverted evoked a strange mix of feelings. She was still grappling with the idea that she might have discovered a new fetish, yet she wouldn't have guessed she'd be pressured into reenacting the experience again. With her marehood still dripping, she grabbed a mop from the closet and handed it to Shining. Even if the rings didn't work, she may have just found a new way to have fun with her husband...

Getting Out of Hoof

Chapter 4

Trotting up to the Canterlot castle, smiling and giving the smallest waves to the ponies she passed, Cadance tried to act casual - tried in that she was going to the first social event since she'd blossomed into an absolute colossus of a mare. The dress Rarity had fashioned for her did its job, slimming her figure and allowing her to walk without much trouble, yet she still drew attention from guards and any townsponies she came across. She turned her eyes away from the keep and to the one thing that had given her strength throughout the last month - her husband. "It'll be fine," Shining reassuringly hummed, reaching over to stroke her foreleg. "From what Rarity said, the whole theme of this little gala is to cut loose." "Can you blame me for being nervous?" she sighed, slowing as two praetorians pulled the castle's front door open for her. Shining shrugged as he walked inside, dipping his head to the guards as he passed. "No, but she hasn't steered us wrong yet. If she said that it's a party where you can feel comfortable in your own skin, I believe her - besides, you're not that much bigger than Celestia." Steadily moving through the foyer and toward the great hall, Cadance scrunched her snout. Either Shining's memory was failing or he was downplaying her size - in either case, she had no doubt that she'd stand out like a sore hoof. Tearing her eyes from the entryway, she looked back at herself. "Do I look alright?" she whispered. "You look more than alright," he reassured her, sneaking a not-so-subtle look at her monumental hindquarters. Though she'd done her best to prepare for the occasion, she was still a bit self-conscious. Even with the ensorceled garment she wore, partially because of it, she was a titanic bombshell. Her makeup was perfect, her mane was styled exquisitely, and her gown was resplendent, though that was part of the problem. The last thing she wanted to do was outshine her old teacher. Musing on what her mentor would be wearing, or if she'd be wearing anything at all, she snorted at Shining's prior comment. She wasn't the biggest alicorn in Equestria, only being slightly taller than Twilight, and there was one she could almost guarantee she was going to run into. Celestia was a large pony, she wasn't debating that, but she'd be downright small compared to - "Cadance!" Celestia exclaimed, rushing over to greet her esteemed guest. "It's been ages!" Cadance faltered, her eyes widening in shock, as she gazed upon Celestia. The Princess of the Sun looked the same as ever, tall and with a slim figure, although she was easily triple her ordinary size. Frozen in place, embraced by the elder alicorn, she looked over and instantly spotted Luna approaching. It would have been strange to discover that Celestia had somehow grown substantially, but Luna was in a similar state. Only marginally shorter than her sister, the Princess of the Night still towered over the various partygoers chatting or helping themselves to hors d'oeuvre. Anxiously returning the hug, utterly at a loss as to what was going on, she knit her brow. Pulling back and withdrawing her wings, Celestia giggled and cocked her head to the side. "What - did Rarity not tell you that we'd be able to let our hair down for this little soiree? Don't tell me you expected Luna and I to wear our crowns for the event!" Taken aback, Cadance only then remembered something she'd known all along. Alicorns were a special breed, exceptionally long-lived and with nigh unlimited arcane might, and they were the only variety of pony who didn't stop growing after puberty. She'd spent the last several weeks so concerned about the spell she'd cast on herself, the enchantment which had left her exquisitely huge and profoundly gravid, that she'd nearly forgotten that Celestia and Luna kept their natural sizes restrained by their magical crowns. "Rarity told me you'd been going through some changes, but she failed to mention how incredible you look," Luna noted, smiling up at the nonplussed Princess. "If you keep this up, you'll be bigger than my sister!" Celestia rolled her eyes and gave a soft groan. "Luna, dearest sister, that's hardly a concern. As soon as the potions start flowing, I'll show both of you a thing or two..." Seeing her former mentor glance to the side, Cadance looked over and spotted a table absolutely festooned with corked bottles. As a sudden realization dawned on her, her heart skipped a beat. This wasn't just some casual get-together, nor was it a ball of any conventional sort - no, the festivities would unquestionably have some sort of novel, likely kinky twist. She lifted her head and scanned the growing crowd, looking for a very particular pony. "Excuse me for one moment," she muttered, spotting Rarity at the far end of the cavernous chamber. Ponies gave way before her, parting and allowing her to pass, as she made a beeline over to the couture. She wasn't about to hedge her bets on a suspicion, especially if that suspicion revolved around something so scandalous, so she had to get the record straight. After reaching her destination, with Shining staying right by her side, she lowered her head down to the seamstress. "Cadance, I'm so happy you -" Rarity was silenced as a gargantuan hoof was pressed to her snout. Turning away, Cadance leered over her shoulder at the unicorn. "A word..." She trotted away and to the veranda, knowing the castle's layout like the back of her hoof. While she wasn't opposed to attending a party with perverse overtones, she was left feeling a bit put off that she hadn't been prepared for such an engagement. Once Rarity had joined her, stepping out into the chill evening air, she ignited her horn and closed the door. "Is everything alright, Darling?" Rarity asked, her voice tinged with concern. Cadance cleared her throat, deciding to cut right to the chase. "Is this some kind of kink thing - I mean, I'm alright if it is, but I want to know before things start getting - uh - spicy..." Looking between his wife and Rarity, Shining's eyes went alight. "Seriously? Is this one of those kind of parties?" "Darlings, kink is a bit of a loaded word. This event is simply meant to celebrate large, particularly curvaceous ponies! Celestia practically forced my hoof to organize the affair, so it's not my fault if things eventually take an amorous turn," Rarity explained, flipping a curl of mane from her face. "I'm dreadfully sorry if there was some misunderstanding, but I did mention that you'd be sure to have a wild time..." "I...huh..." Cadance grunted, straightening. The invitation she and Shining had received did in fact mention having a wild time, though she hadn't had any inkling what that had meant. Peering inside, through the glass door separating herself from the gathering, she watched as Celestia laughed and flirtatiously waved a hoof at a group of ponies. The sight of the senior alicorn having fun while traipsing about at her full size evoked a conflicting series of emotions. On one hoof, she was happy that her fellow Princess was enjoying herself - on the other, despite her best intentions, she felt a pang of jealousy. Shining peered inside at Celestia, having followed his beloved gaze, before craning his neck up at Cadance. "You know, you could easily show her up..." "Shining!" Cadance and Rarity both bleated, though the latter had a decidedly amused tone. Seeing the couple locking eyes, Rarity cleared her throat. "Well then, since your burning question has been addressed, I'll leave you to be for now." Waiting until Rarity had made her leave, Shining uneasily smiled. "We don't have to stay, and I was only joking about -" "Oh we're going to stay," Cadance cut him off. "If Celestia and Luna are comfortable being here, there's no reason at all for me to leave just yet." Turning and opening the door, leaving Shining where he stood, she marched back inside and toward the duo of alicorns. She'd had no intention of garnering any more attention that she had already, having turned heads from the moment she walked into the ballroom, but she was compelled to give Celestia some competition. She stopped by a table of refreshments, absentmindedly ladling herself a cup full of punch, as she observed the massive siblings. Celestia may have been a touch bigger than herself, with a rear that absolutely dominated her figure and a pair of huge, soft bosoms that wobbled every time she laughed, which inexplicably rubbed her the wrong way. Though she may have lacked the particularly distended belly as herself, the elder Princess was carrying on like an excited mare on prom night - something that rubbed her in all the wrong ways. She couldn't explain it - heck, she almost felt bad about it, but the sight of one of her oldest friends brazenly showing off made her feel foolish for having spent weeks trying to hide her size. Luna's presence didn't help matters any. Essentially being a slightly smaller version of her sister, she giggled and conversed with partygoers without a care in the world. While she wasn't nearly as tall or full-figured as either Celestia or Cadance, she was another focal point of the throng. Tall, slender, and with a surprisingly well-built physique, she stood like a great amazonian Princess amongst the comparatively diminutive ponies gathered around her. Having just taken a sip of her drink, a drink she quickly discovered was spiked with something strong, Cadance nearly choked when she saw Celestia turn, flag her tail in a very conspicuous way, and invitingly wiggle her tush at some intrepid young stallion. The audacity of seeing who she'd thought was a reserved, motherly alicorn shamelessly showing off fanned the gradually rising flames of her pettiness. As she recovered from her coughing fit and realizing she'd need more than one glass of punch, her eyes drifted over to the table bedecked with elixirs. "Babe?" a soft voice asked, prompting her to look down and over. Dismissively waving a wing at Shining, she finished her drink and hastily refilled her cup. "It's fine - I'm fine..." Shining pursed his lips and stared up at her face. "Don't give me that. If you think I wouldn't notice that something has you out of sorts, you'd be wrong." He was right - he knew it, she knew it, and she wouldn't be surprised if any of their friends knew it. She turned her eyes to the floor, her ire temporarily stifled, and gave a deep sigh. If there was a single pony on the planet who could see through her, even if she was doing her best to hide her feelings, it was him. "It's just..." she trailed off, peeking back over at the sibling Princesses. "It's just that - well, look at them..." Looking over at Celestia and Luna, he smirked. "They look like they're having a good time." "Yeah..." she whispered, glowering as Celestia rolled her hips from side to side and set her bosoms swaying. "You know I'd never tell you what to do, but I can say what I'd do if I were in your horseshoes," he continued. Peaking a brow, she glanced down at him. "And that would be...?" "I'd go out there and join them," he coolly answered. "You're a Princess like them, you're just as beautiful as they are, and I'd bet my bottom bit that those ponies fawning over them would be champing at the bit to lavish the Princess of Love with affection." Though she was reluctant to admit it, he'd made a point - that said, simply wading into the crowd to strut her stuff ran contrary to the way she typically carried herself. For buck's sake, she was a Princess, an icon of all ponykind, so she couldn't just flaunt herself like some oversized, exquisitely pregnant floozy ~ could she? Caught at an impasse, her long-kept urges warring with her better judgment, she bit her bottom lip. "Now if you really want to show them up," Shining chuckled, trotting over to the mound of neatly sorted potions, "you could always down one of these..." Watching him browse the various bottles, ultimately selecting and lifting a vial from the table, she drifted over to him. "And that one is...?" He shrugged and shot her a wink as he levitated the elixir up to her face. "Something to level the playing field." Her eyes widened, a smug grin split her muzzle, and she fought back a laugh. Inspecting the other bottles, seeing a good number of them bore similar labels, her suspicions were confirmed. The little had been marked with a small label with the most simple of markings - 1.5x. If she was right about the concoction, drinking it would do one of two things - either make her grow half-again in size or make her even more fertile than she already was. "And you're ok with me showing myself off?" she quietly inquired. Shining shook his head and plucked a second bottle from the table. "Personally, I'd rather you take this one," he remarked, holding up a vial with 5x printed on it, "but that might be a bit much to start..." Giggling to herself as he pocketed the 5x potion, she took the hovering 1.5x concoction in her forehoof, magically pulled the cork free, and brought it to her lips. While a part of her told her it was a bad idea, not for the least of which reasons being showing up her colleague and mentor may result in some backlash, it wasn't like she had many options. She was an honored guest, one of only three royals present, and she was expected to mingle - as such, being a bit ostentatious couldn't hurt that much. She turned up the bottle with only the slightest bit of hesitation, chugging the meager contents and allowing them to wash over her palate. The potion tasted surprisingly good, sweet and a bit citrusy, which led her to shake the very last drops from the vial onto her tongue. Seconds after swallowing the last big, almost as soon as she tossed the emptied container into a nearby trash can, she felt a warmth blossom in her belly. The world shifted, shining shrinking beneath her, as the room became smaller - no, things weren't getting smaller, she was getting slightly bigger. Craning her head and inspecting herself, seeing her gain what seemed to be another few inches in height, she was stricken with a pang of concern - not because she felt odd, nor that most of the party's attendees had taken note of her growth, but because the dress clinging to her frame became tighter. Regardless of its mystical material or enchantments, the gown struggled to contain her frame. Seams went taut, the hem slid up her hind legs, and she could sense her brasserie constricting about her back and abdomen. Stutting forward, turning her head from side to side while smiling at all the little fazes gazing up at her in wonder, she slowly, methodically made her way over to her fellow Princesses. Each step she took sent a small quake through the marble floor, her gold-clad hooves clip-clopping one after another, until she came to loom over Celestia. The older alicorn had been just a hair taller than her minutes prior, but that was the case no longer. Now standing an inch or so above her senior, she smiled down at the alabaster mare. "Sorry about scampering off earlier," she snickered, barely paying the Princess any mind as she extended and stretched her vast wings, "I was a bit out of sorts when I arrived." With a smile plastered on her face, a smile Cadance could tell was very much forced, Celestia craned her neck upward. "Interesting..." Cadance squinted, her confidence wavering in an instant. Celestia was no fool, easily one of, if not the most guileful pony in Equestria or any other land, so the sudden realization that she may have missed something, some small detail that could derail her attempt to knock her mentor down a peg, sent a chill up her spine. Dipping her head, bringing herself nose to nose with the snow-white Princess, she held her composure. "What, may I ask, is interesting, Cele?" she cooed, bracing herself for the worst. Celestia's eyes played over the younger alicorn for a moment, lingering on her hind quarters, and she smirked. "The fact that you were so out of sorts that you were the first pony to try one of those potions." Just like that, with that one simple observation, Cadance realized she'd made a grave mistake. While Celestia was demure and well-mannered most of the time, being almost motherly in the public's eyes, that was a carefully crafted facade. The most ancient ruler in all of Equestria, contrary to what many ponies thought of her, had a playful streak that would give even Discord a run for his money. Seeing her old teacher gaze over at the table of elixirs, she gulped. "Since my friend was gracious enough to kick things off for everypony," Celestia began, looking down at the stallions and mares surrounding her, "would one of you fair ponies be kind enough to fetch me something to drink? I'm quite parched and I'd hate for dear Cadance to feel uncomfortable being the only one partaking from those delightfully fascinating beverages." Several of the ponies around her immediately wheeled around and dashed for the potions, tripping over one another in a mad scramble oblige her, as she turned her head and locked eyes with Cadance. With her jaw nearly having hit the floor, Cadance balked. "A...aren't you going to tell them which one you want? There are -" "Oh dear, sweet Cadance," Celestia interrupted, slowly shaking her head. "I'm sure whatever they bring me will be more than enough for me to captivate everypony." Stepping forward, she brought her muzzle to her companion's ear. "Just remember that you started this..." Stepping back before Cadance could reply, she peered down at the first stallion to bring her a potion, took a bottle from his outstretched hoof, and lifted the vial to her opening maw. She downed the drink in a single gulp, smacking her lips as she finished. It was only once she'd finished did she turn the glass to the stunned royal. "A fine choice - after all, bigger is always better," she purred, portions of her growing by the second. "This will be fun..." Cadance stepped back, as did the other ponies assembled, as Celestia's proportions went skewed. While she didn't grow much in a vertical sense, the same couldn't be said for her various assets. The elder Princess' waist went whipcord thin, her breasts exploded in size, and her ass expanded in a ludicrous degree. To say she was shocked would be an understatement, but she couldn't tear her eyes off the stunningly curvaceous figure standing beside her. Like some exaggeration of a supermodel, every facet of Celestia's sensual proportions was magnified to the nth degree. The dress she was wearing stood no chance to contain her, the gown shredding just below her waist and becoming a tattered micro-skirt, and her bosoms were so large that they squished against the floor beneath her. Lowering herself ever so slightly, she balanced on her bust and laughed. The once-regal Princess of the Sun had willingly become what Cadance could only describe as a bimbo. Full, plump lips, a rack and ass that rivaled her even with her increased size, and an inordinate amount of soft, downy fluff on her chest - each and every facet smacked of carnality. The maternal alicorn had flung herself into sinful depths and changed into nothing short of a succubus. There was something undeniably appealing about Celestia's enhancements. From her juicy flanks and intimidating stature to her warm, inviting smile, the Princess was beautiful and awe-inspiring in every conceivable way. Lavished with praise and compliments, rolling to her side and causing her subject to jump back, the voluptuous alicorn twisted her head to peer up at her ally. It would have been annoying enough to have Celestia surpass her in sheer mass, but the attention her impromptu rival was getting made the situation all the more vexing. What started as mere flattery quickly became physical, with ponies caressing the shapely Princess, which did nothing to hinder her growing sense of envy. Glancing over at the table of magical drinks, musing on if she should help herself to a second so quickly, she did a double take when she spotted Luna browsing and selecting a bottle. Apparently just as happy to partake as her sister, Luna chugged a green elixir. In the blink of an eye, the umbral Princess' body ballooned outward, though not in the same way as her sibling; slabs of well-defined muscle blossomed about her figure, transforming her into a hulk of a mare - an effeminate, beguiling hulk of a mare, but a hulk all the same. She leapt into the air and took to the sky, soaring across the room to land beside her enormous sister. "This is exhilarating!" she boomed, lifting and flexing a foreleg. The small display of power drew multiple ponies over to the brawny Princess. Though she was still significantly smaller than Cadance, and only slightly bigger than her sibling, she curried favor among those with an appreciation for physical strength and powerful builds. Stallions and mares alike encircled her, marveling at her buff physique, while she shamelessly struck pose after pose for her adoring fans. It took everything Cadance had not to scowl. In a matter of seconds, just after she'd won the crowd over and wrested their attention from Celestia and Luna, she'd been robbed of the spotlight. Inspecting the throng, seeing that the only pony present paying her any mind was her husband, she stormed back to the table of potions. "H...honey," Shining sputtered as she lowered her head to leer at the elixirs, "there's no need to -" "Help me find a good one," she stated, cutting him off. A bead of nervous sweat rolled down his temple, he stiffened slightly, and he fretfully looked to the table. "A g...good one?" As she spied yet another bottle with 2x on its label, a wolfish smirk played across her face. Was she being petty? Yes. Was she caving to her impulses? Yes. Did she care that she was about to make a spectacle of herself? No, but that was the whole point. If Celestia and Luna were willing to indulge their exhibitionistic proclivities - by all the stars in the night sky, she could do the same herself. Following in her fellow Princess' hoofsteps, she chugged the drink, placed the empty bottle down, and instantly reached for a second. The first shots of a battle had been fired, and she was not going to lose. She chugged an additional two potions back to back, her belly already warming from the first, and stepped away from the table. Her nerves went alight, adjusting to her increasing mass, as everything appeared to grow smaller around her. She had no doubt that ponies would notice her soon enough, but she couldn't help but draw a bit more attention to herself throughout the process. Size wasn't everything, so putting on a bit of a performance would definitely give her an edge. "Mmmmmmm," she loudly hummed, extending her wings and throwing her head back. "It's so good!" The sensual call worked perfectly, acting like a siren's call to the partygoers. Shifting and sashaying back to the center of the room, ignoring the popping seams and straining dress that threatened to tear apart at any second, she merrily hummed to herself as she joined Luna and Celestia. To Tartarus with it - she had just as much right to bask in ponies affection as they did. Unmoved by Cadance's colossal size, Celestia shifted her weight and rolled onto her back. "I'll admit, that is an amazing look for you." "Thanks," Cadance sighed, cautiously lowering herself to lay beside the Princess of the Sun. "Shining has been going on and on about just how incredible I look, but I -" Riiiiiiiiiip She paused, her blood going cold, as the unmistakable sound sailed to her ears. By the time she looked back, already cursing herself for her impetuous decision, it was too late. She jolted upward, her contained bosoms and belly bursting from their cloth confines. Teetering from side to side, her wings trying in vain to keep her balance, she yelped when she involuntarily and quite unexpectedly listed over onto her side. Her hind legs were spread, forced apart by her titanic, spontaneously leaking breasts, as blood rushed to her face. While it was true that she'd wanted to put on a bit of a show, she hadn't planned on displaying her body in such an obscene fashion - unfortunately for her, and to the great amusement of the throng, that's precisely what had happened. There was no going back, she couldn't undrink the elixirs, and the effects they had upon her were staggering. Her bosoms grew to tremendous size, setting her off balance and filling the small gap between her hind legs, but her stomach quickly became her largest feature. She teetered precariously on her massively swollen gut, teetering from side to side while using her wings to keep balance. If it hadn't been obvious enough that she was exquisitely pregnant, the metamorphosis left no room for doubt. She looked back at her rear, feeling the fabric of her dress climbing up her tush. It came as no shock that her ass had been affected by the cocktail of magical beverages, but she was still surprised by just how large her derriere became. Though the garment was still intact, she was keenly aware of the fact that she was essentially mooning anypony behind her. As the physical portion of her transformation came to a gradual halt, giving her some modicum of relief, a strange sensation washed over her. She felt hot - literally hot, and all manner of amorous thoughts flitted through her mind. It almost felt like she'd gone into heat, but that was impossible ~ wasn't it? Confused, alarmed, and wracked with shame, blood rushing to her face, she was snapped from her stupor by the sound of a haughty laugh. "Quite the display Cadance," Celestia remarked, "but if you're going to be so crass, you may as well embrace it." Pushing herself over with a wing, she mirrored the Princess of Love and got onto her back. Unlike Cadance, who teetered on the verge of dismay, she hadn't the slightest bit of reservation about putting on a bawdy performance. She splayed her hind legs without the slightest bit of hesitation, going so far as to use her wings to fondle her utterly huge tits, and wallowed on the floor. "Dear subjects," she continued, closing her eyes, "feel free to worship your Princess..." Cadance had seen all manner of things over the years, from raging villains to monsters of all kinds, but nothing - nothing could have prepared her for the sight of Celestia, the oldest and one of the most revered ponies in all the land, to sink to such depths of depravity. Ponies flung themselves upon the supine Princess of the Sun, caressing her in very unscrupulous ways, and it was at that moment that she realized the party had taken a turn. What may have started as a relatively innocent gala was quickly devolving into a celebration of hedonism incarnate. The absurdity of the situation wasn't beyond her. Celestia, Luna, and herself, three of the four Princesses in Equestria, had willingly become parodies of their former selves. A busty bimbo, a musclebound amazoness, and a literal giant - it was like something out of a randy joke! Though she was slightly worried that one of the attendees may speak of the bizarrely licentious gala, she wasn't too concerned; on the off chance that word of what transpired did start to spread, it would be a matter of the Princesses' words against the crazy-sounding admission of a commoner. Things would have been bad enough if it was only Celestia who'd decided to indulge herself, but that was far from the case. Accompanying her sister, bracing her hind legs and raising her chiseled tush into the air, Luna allowed a stallion to feast upon her loins. Though she couldn't say who the little stud was, his face all but buried between the Princess' muscular buns, he had no reservations about lapping at the alicorn's nethers like a lucky colt on prom night. Not knowing what to say, unsure of exactly what to do, she watched with a heady cocktail of admiration and shock while her fellow Princesses succumbed to their desires. Milk streams from her teats, her marehood angrily seized upon itself, and she secretly yearned to join the pair. Never in a thousand years would she have guessed that the sisters would be so unabashed with carnal wants, leaving her wishing for similar treatment. Celestia's obscenely huge tush, tits, and fluffy chest allowed her to handle her myriad of fans with ease. Her marehood leaked and winked excitedly, each breast was larger than a full-grown pony, her ass wobbled and swayed in an exceptionally tantalizing way. A single stallion could have handled her, if they were brave enough to be entombed by her gargantuan ass, although that would hardly be fitting for someone of her standing. One partygoer ate her out, another two suckled on and massaged her bosoms, and a trio committed themselves to kissing and lovingly caressing her neck, shoulders, and chest. Luna was no better than her sibling. A duo of stallions lay beneath her, nursing at her teats, while the third practically buried his snout in her depths. As she bucked her hips and softly moaned in bliss, her eyelids fluttered. She may not have been the biggest of the three alicorns present, but she was having the time of her life regardless. "You - yes, you," Celestia called, prompting a stud nuzzling her neck to peek up at her face. "Go fetch a number of potions for you and your friends - make them something exotic." Cadance had no way of knowing what her senior had met, but she found out quick enough. Once the stallion had accomplished his task, having turned and rushed headlong over to the table of elixirs, he returned with a number of bottles gathered in the crook of one forearm. He passed two of the elixirs to his compatriots, drank one himself, and quickly displayed the full effect of the potions he'd chosen. His stallionhood, which had been throbbing beneath him, became the endowment of a dragon; his companions suffered a similar fate, one growing what appeared to be an oversized griffon dong while the other wielded a diamond dog's cock. It was all too clear where their intentions lay, their tools excitedly slapping their underbellies, as they parted ways. Celestia welcomed them all, extending her tongue as she pressed her tits together with her wings, and braced herself for the trio to put themselves to work. "Yes..." Celestia groaned, locking her fetlocks around the stallion's back who'd leapt between her parted thighs. Cadance found herself drifting forward and lowering her head, angling herself for a better look at the action. The dragon cocked stallion sank into Celestia's marehood, impaling her with a single, smooth plunge, as his compatriots threw themselves into the carnal fray. It was an incredible sight, made all the more wild by the duo of studs who were tit-fucking and being sucked off respectively, and she was unable to suppress a thrilled shiver. Celestia's breasts wobbled and swayed, entombing the canine tool buried between them, while she bobbed her head and choked herself on the griffon length within her muzzle. Though only certain parts of her had grown, she moved with the voracity of an erotic titan. Her every move was calculated, servicing the three stallions with a level of sensual expertise that only a mare of her age held, and she was far from the only one. Quietly panting quietly, with a stallion resting on her back, Luna threw her ass back to meet her lover's bucking hips. She could have easily overpowered him, thrown him to the floor and crushed his pelvis to dust, yet she was only slightly more forceful than he was - a fact that he didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Along with being railed from behind, the duo beneath her continued to suckle at her bosoms - adding yet another layer of stimulation. Getting increasingly turned on by the second, Cadance started when something pressed against her inner thigh. She lifted her head, scowling and prepared to chastise whatever idiot had been audacious enough to presume she wanted to join the other royals, and was surprised to find Shining clawing his way up to her groin. Smiling up at her, sweating slightly from the exertion of climbing over her dock and past her pucker, he wiped his brow and came to rest on the plump, succulent loin of her marehood. "Shining," she irritatedly huffed, causing him to flinch, "do you have that ring Rarity gave you?" He patted himself down and grabbed the pocket of his vest. "I do, but why -" "Put it on," she rumbled, her libido stripping away the last vestiges of her reservations. The ache in her loins had become too much to bear, the scent of sex clung to her nostrils, and the continual noise of groans and delighted whimpers pushed her to her limit. There was a very real chance that she was going to regret what she was about to do, but that would be a problem she could deal with later - for the time being, she wanted - no, needed some relief from her husband. She gazed down at him, watching as he pulled a gem-encrusted ring from his pocket, and poured magic into her horn. They'd only just received the custom-tailored artifact from Rarity that morning, it having been delivered just before they'd set out to attend the party, so they'd had no chance to actually test the thing. After a moment's hesitation, Shining dipped his head and slipped the ring over his horn. As the band of gold and jeweled settled into place, glowing faintly, he was enveloped in a turquoise aura. Cadance levitated her husband upward, curious and praying the ring did as it was advertised to do. His stallionhood, no bigger than usual, twitched and throbbed in tune with his heart, filling her with dread. She couldn't be upset if the artifact didn't work, considering she hadn't spent a single bit on it, but she'd be immeasurably disappointed if the thing didn't give him an endowment that could fill her marish needs - mercifully for her, after several tense seconds, her fears were found unwarranted. His cock practically exploded in size, growing to be bigger than the rest of his body, and flopped between her tits. The heat and weight of his length was divine, exciting her in a way she'd last felt on her first passionate night with him, but she didn't let herself get carried away - not yet at least. Looking to his face, seeing he was just as astonished as she was, she cleared her throat. "Not feeling lightheaded ~ are you?" she asked, keeping her hooves crossed that he wasn't going to pass out from a lack of blood flowing to his brain. Tensing his lower half, making his god-slaying shaft twitch ever so slightly, he beamed. "I feel fine - great even! Now that we know how this works, what are - Woah!" Cadance didn't let him finish, sandwiching his stallionhood in the valley of her bosoms. Warming him up, regardless of their sizes or where they were, was an absolute must - that and she wanted to show Celestia a thing or two about loving a stallion. Moving him forward and back, she squeezed her tits together with her forehooves and chuckled to herself. Yeah - yeah, this would work perfectly. The mere thought of feeling his behemoth slipping into her made her drool from both ends, but she made no move to rush things. Sex was an art, she was the Princess of Love, and she was about to show everypony why she held her crown. Looking over at the table of potions, she levitated a number of potions over to herself and her husband. Neither she nor Shining hesitated to help themselves to another drink. Most of the elixirs involved growth in some regard, and the beverages she'd blindly grabbed were no exception. Though she couldn't say what the exact specifications were, both she and Shining - at least parts of them, grew once again. Shining's already formidable stallionhood swelled, the prominent veins along its length pulsing in tune with his heart, while her tits, tush, and tummy expanded. She'd been a bit concerned when she'd grown initially, but that was the case no longer. Fully committed to the hedonistic circumstances, she continued having fun with her husband. Without a doubt, she was the largest pony in all of Equestria - heck, maybe the largest pony who'd ever existed, and she relished that thought. Her breasts were like mountains, her ass big enough to give even the largest dragon a moment for pause, and her distended belly spoke highly of her fertility. She loved it - she loved it more than she had any right to, yet the magical moment was quickly broken. Hearing hushed whispers of adoration, having tipped the odds back in her favor, she risked a glance over at her amorous adversaries. Luna couldn't have cared less, more focused on the physical aspects of getting off, but Celestia - Celestia was a different story altogether. Still juggling the three stallions screwing her in one way or another, the Princess of the Sun's stared over at her foe. Using her magic, the less-than-pleased alicorn hefted the stud rutting her tits and brought beside the pony railing her. "I - ahem -" she coughed, having reared back and momentarily cleared her muzzle. "I believe there's room enough for the both of you, as long as you don't mind sharing. Give me a moment..." Calling upon her arcane might, she levitated her lower half from the floor. Cadance didn't know what to make of the odd move, confused as to why her old teacher would be doing something so odd, but she understood what Celestia was doing when one of the stallions shot beneath the hovering Princess. With his reptilian length standing proudly at his groin, pointed to the floating, monumental ass above him, the intrepid soul readied himself to be laid upon. Celestia lowered herself slowly, trembling as the spear-like dragon cock sank into her ass. The second stallion wasted no time, rearing back and locking his forelegs around her meaty thighs, as he readied himself. Held aloft by her magic, she steadily raised and lowered herself while both of the studs began fucking her in tandem. "Much better," she sighed, acclimating to the pair of impressive lengths filling her . "Cadance, observe, this is how it's done..." Without the slightest bit of hesitation, she sorcerously threw another bottle from the table to herself, caught it in her forehooves, and downed the potion in the blink of an eye. Her most imposing assets grew once again, her bosoms and backside eclipsing the rest of her. For all intents and purposes, she'd become a literal sex machine, a being of pure carnality, but looks were only one element to her being. Putting her modified body to work, she bent her lovers to her will. Cadance's motions slowed, a sneer met her lips, and she glowered. Situated as she was, while not ideal, she could instantly see what Celestia had meant. The elder Princess clenched and drew the stallions in, making them each squirm in delight, while she used them like a pair of living, breathing sex-toys. Undeterred, she tightened her grip on her breasts, showering Shining, herself, and the ponies around her in a shower of warm, creamy milk. If her former mentor thought she was going to give up that easily, she was sorely mistaken... It was at that point that the party ascended into a full-blown orgy. The ponies who hadn't devoted themselves to a Princess set upon one another like passionate piranha, licking, plowing, or sucking one another off in what could only be described as a charnel house of lust. Cadance, Celestia, and Luna paid their subjects no mind, the former two too fixated on their competition while the latter reached her breaking point. With a mighty rearward thrust, Luna toppled the stallion who'd mounted her off. She turned to face him, taking full advantage of his confusion, and flung herself onto him like a beast possessed. Straddling him and hilting him in an instant, driving the wind from his lungs, she looked back at the two ponies she'd abandoned. "Well?" she blared with a crazed look in her eyes. "I've got two more holes to fill!" The stallions only faltered for a second, possibly fearing for their lives, before they joined their companion. One of the two jumped on and began rutting her ass, as the second moved around, pulled her forward, and jammed his cock into her snout. While they didn't say a word, neither had any doubt that disobeying her would more than likely result in a trip to the infirmary after she'd had her way with them. Cadance took her eyes off Celestia, knowing what had to be done. Her cleavage was slick with Shining's pre-cum, she was so turned on that it hurt, and it was well past time that things progressed. Pulling her husband away, having to use no small amount of magic to lift his prodigious tool, she brought the tip of his length to her entrance, spread her hind legs as much as she could, and drove him forward. Her distended belly and vast bust made it impossible for her to see what she was doing with Shining, but that didn't stop her. Given the lewd circumstances, far too large to stand on her own hooves, her only option was to continue - not that she minded in the slightest. Guided by feel, having done similar things over the last few weeks with her husband, she slowly exhaled as he plunged into her. Though she tried not to show it, the mere act of being penetrated by something so divinely massive was almost enough to make her climax on the spot - almost. "L...little help, Shining," she sputtered. It would be possible for her to do the job herself, but that would require a level of focus and concentration she was genuinely unsure she could muster. The rosy color of his magic joined hers sorcery, mingling into an iridescent purple, as they worked in tandem. It was a shame that she wasn't able to gaze upon him, to see his reaction from wielding something so insanely huge, but she tried not to let it bother her - instead, she fixated on the pleasure of being completely filled for the first time since her transformation. Sounds of impacting bodies, whimpers of delight, and grunting filled the air, crafting a sinful symphony, as each and every pony present gave in to their urges. Stallions and mares went at one another with glee, occasionally changing or even joining other partners to mix things up, but the nexus of all the action was the Princesses themselves. Gradually losing interest in one another, too preoccupied to give their competition much thought, the trio of alicorns lost themselves to their bliss. Luna was by far the most aggressive of the royals, going through stallions with glee. When one stud came, filling her ass, snout, or snatch with his seed, another quickly took their place. Between her physique and magic, not a single one held a chance to best her, even the largest and most heavily-endowed lasting mere minutes with her, and her movements grew more frantic and heated with each passing moment. By far the most relaxed of the three, Celestia savored the trio of exotic cocks plumbing her depths and the stallions they were attached to. Her maw, marehood, and backside were pistoned by her trio of lovers, their giant lengths sawing into her, but she still wasn't satisfied. Cracking an eye and seeing a lone unicorn watching her, likely waiting for his turn, he plucked the stallion from the ground and placed him on her chest to make use of her gigantic, unused breasts. Rolling her head back and unleashing a guttural cry, Cadance moved Shining faster and faster. The unfathomable rapture he afforded was phenomenal, the best she'd had in ages, and it allowed her to forget all about the scene she was making. With her breasts streaming milk, her belly swaying and heaving with each breath, and writhing on the cracking marble floor beneath her, she ignored the depravity around her. Her prodigious body swayed forward and back, driven by the force of Shining's thrusts. The wiser ponies around her gave her space, knowing they may be crushed or knocked aside by her bulk, but a few stuck close to the action. The sight of her succulent depths, drawn out before being stuffed in by his colossal shaft, was something many had only dreamt of, and those brave enough to linger by her tush were given an unfettered view. The orgy went on and on, ponies only taking breaks to recuperate for a hoofful of minutes before committing themselves for second, third, or even fourth rounds, until things ultimately came to a head. Unlike the other attendees, none of the Princesses had climaxed once, their preternatural endurance letting them outlast mere mortals, but even they weren't without their limits. Braying to the heavens, Luna was the first to peak. Thick, syrupy nectar erupted from her quivering depths, coating the pair of stallions pounding into her and causing them to climax seconds after her. In spite of the power she wielded, she collapsed atop the stud she'd been riding, pinning him under her weight, as she gasped for breath and dreamily smiled. Celestia didn't last much longer than her sister. Her orgasm was spectacularly devastating, her pucker and marehood seizing around her lover's lengths and all but forcing them to fill her with their seed, as she gulped down the cum of the pony who'd been fucking her face. By the time she was finished, her quartet of mates slipping free from her to paint her with the final ropes of their jizz, she was an absolute mess. White spunk lay strewn over her indecent body, her fur was slick with sweat and juices, and the poor stallion under her was trapped, but her blissful, cum-drunk expression told anypony and everypony that she'd gotten what she truly yearned for. Shakily turning her eyes to the side, ignoring the wriggling beneath her, she watched the Princess of Love. Out of all the alicorns in attendance, there was one who held a keen edge over the others. Cadance's breaths grew ragged, a tremble crept into her thighs, and a familiar warmth blossomed in her abdomen. The signs were there, she'd slipped past the point of no return, and there was nothing in the world that could stop what was about to happen - still, she held herself back. As she angled Shining's plunges to better beat against her occupied womb, feeling him staring to flare, she heard two simple words that filled her with glee. "I'm close," he rasped. She could have encouraged him, telling him how badly she wanted him to breed her, but she didn't say a word - no, she let her actions speak for herself. Hasting his pace, she bore down and constricted her silken folds around his pulsing shaft. This was it, he was about to give her exactly what she needed, and she was going to cross into nirvana alongside him. Feeling his scalding essence bath her interior, hearing him groan while he bucked away at her, was the final nail in her coffin. Her climactic howl brought the room to a standstill, but it was what the ponies didn't see or hear that caused anypony and everypony in the vicinity to reach their limit in tandem. She was the Princess of Love in more than just title, her otherworldly variety of magic making her an avatar of amorous might, and the wave of power that shot from her was devastating. The mares and stallions around her cried out in unison, cumming in an instant. Even Celestia and Luna weren't spared, each suffering aftershock orgasms as they attempted to rest, but the pony who was most impacted was Cadance herself. The Princess of Love increased in size, drinking in the overflowing carnal energy like a sponge to water, as she struggled to weather the onslaught of ecstasy. She scarcely understood it, much less registered it, but the final effects of the potions she drank kicked in with her orgasm. Ponies around her were driven back as her bulk expanded outward, shoved to the very corners of the cavernous chamber. All the growth and fertility elixirs pushed her to become a maternal goddess. Her stomach was big enough to contain dozens of foals, her breasts could feed legions of babies, and her husband's small form was buried completely in her bust. In spite of being pregnant, her overactive ovaries went into high gear. It should have been impossible, but she was knocked up again in that instant. In that instant, her loving husband sired a contingent of progeny with her. Sensing yet more life blossoming within her, somehow knowing her family was going to get much, much bigger, she smiled to herself and basked in the love of being a mother. By the time her orgasm had truly subsided, the ballroom looked like an erotic war zone. Nectar and spunk was strewn across the floor, everypony was filthy, and there were several partygoers who'd succumbed and passed out. While it wasn't the first time that the great hall had been used for something so unscrupulous, it would take no small amount of effort to fully clean the expansive chamber. With his magic sputtering and threatening to fail, Shining somehow found the strength to pull himself free and falteringly teleport himself on top of Cadance's heaving belly. The last thing he did before collapsing atop her was to pull the ring clear from his horn, returning his softening stallionhood to its ordinary size. He stared down at his wife's face, grinning like an idiot, and dipped his head to kiss her impossibly huge stomach. "I love you," he whispered. Cadance gazed into his eyes, her cheeks darkening all the while. "I love you too..." Caressing her abdomen, he rested his cheek against her. "I wish you could stay like this forever." "I know," Cadance softly admitted, knowing he wouldn't have minded in the slightest if she was her current size permanently, "but..." "But what?" he pressed, cocking his head. "But I can't - even if I wanted to, I'll go back to normal eventually," she muttered, looking away. She hadn't wanted to tell him, fearing he'd try to sway her ultimate decision, but she'd been gradually warming to the idea of staying large - perhaps not as big as she currently was, but definitely taller and more curvy than her standard size. Being huge was empowering, a part of her liked the attention being massive brought, and making her husband happy made her happy in turn - in short, though she still struggled with the concept, she knew she'd eventually miss being a giantess. "If...if I - Cough - may," Rarity croaked, unsteadily tottering over and drawing the couple's attention. With cum in her frazzled mane, wobbly legs, and her makeup smeared beyond saving, the typically picturesque unicorn presented a vial of golden, glimmering liquid. "If both of you would like to make your arrangement more permanent, take this. While I would never try to sway you one way or another, I -" Cadance used what was left of her strength to snatch the bottle from her friend's grasp and lift it to her face. There were times in life when fate made itself apparent, and this was one of those times. The stars had aligned, everything in her life had brought her to this moment, and she wasn't going to let an opportunity like this slip through her hooves - besides, if she ever did regret the decision, she was sure that Twilight or one of the many potion masters in Equestria could concoct something to reverse the effects. Feeling a slight tingle, she let the emptied bottle fall to the floor as she peered up at her lover. Shining falteringly hovered down to her face, his magic sputtering and threatening to give out, so she lifted a foreleg, caught him in her hoof and carried him to her face. His gleeful expression was priceless, causing her to giggle like a school filly. "Guess there's no going back now ~ huh?" she inquired. Leaning in and kissing her nose, he shook his head. "I guess not, but I'm not complaining." She held him as steady as she could as she rolled over and got her free hooves under herself. The part was concluded, everypony was in desperate need of a bath, and she pitied the janitors who were left to tidy things up - nevertheless, she was on cloud nine. Having more energy than either of the other Princesses, seeing them wallowing merrily on the floor, she beamed down at Celestia. "Do me a favor," she began, stooping low and bringing her muzzle to the cum-slathered alicorn. "Let me know when you're having another party like this." "I...I will," Celestia replied, giving the oversized Princess a knowing smirk. With nothing left to say, Cadance called on her magic and whisked herself and her hubby back to their abode. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed, a bed that definitely would not be capable of holding her, and fall asleep beside the stallion who'd won her heart and convinced her to do the craziest thing she'd ever done, but that would have to wait. For the time being, and for likely the next few days, she'd need to make accommodations around the castle for herself...

Trixie's Little Problem

pre

"ARGH! TWIXIE HA-" "Stop!" shouted Surprise, interrupting the two fillies as she suddenly appeared in between them. "I don't know what's happened between you two, but you'd better think carefully before you finish that sentence," Surprise said, looking down on a confused Trixie. "Because once those words leave your mouth, there's no taking them back." Trixie turned from Surprise to Twilight, and then towards the ground. Surprise sighed, and lowered a hoof onto each filly's head, patting them gently. "We all mess up sometimes, and we all feel like we need some time away from our friends to cool down when things get a little...Stressful. "But in the end, it's our friends who are always there for us when we feel down. And once you say something hurtful, it's not easy to mend that friend's broken heart." The two fillies turned to face each other, guilty looks on their faces. "Don't take your friends for granted. 'Cause you never know when you might never see them again. And when that time comes, you want to make sure there are no regrets, and that you can send them off with a smile, right?" Tears were starting to roll down the faces of the two fillies, as well as down Surprise's face. Firefly walked up to Surprised and wrapped a wing around her, enveloping her into a warm hug. "She's right, girls," Firefly started. "Friendship doesn't last forever. Make the most of it while you still can." Twilight and Trixie jumped towards each other, pulling each other into a tight hug, and began crying into each other's shoulders. Firefly and Surprise decided to give the two fillies some space to reconcile their differences, and moved towards Doctor's machine. "Indeed," Doctor said. "You never know when a day with your friend may be your last. It could be something as simple as walking through a park together, or just a casual day, where nothing special happens...And then they're gone." Firefly looked at Doctor with a sympathetic look. "You sound like it's happened a lot to you..." "Indeed...900 years, and it never gets any easier..." Doctor flipped a page in the newspaper he was reading, and gasped suddenly. "Oh dear, this is rather concerning...It's a good thing we haven't ventured too far..." "Hm? What's up?" Firefly asked, leaning over to read whatever had Doctor so flustered. She saw a picture of a brown Earth Pony stallion, with an identical Cutie Mark to Doctor's. "Who's he? Your son?" Doctor shook his head, and then placed the newspaper back where had found it. "That was me...Or rather, a future version of me." "Future?" Firefly asked. "But he's so...Young." "Regeneration..." Doctor whispered. "Oh my, that's most disheartening...In any case, we can't stay here. There's too much risk that we'll run into him." "And that's bad?" Surprise asked. "I think two Doctors would be fun! We could totally have a party, and there would be two guests of honour!" "No!" Doctor shouted, startling Firefly and Surprise. "Absolutely not! Under no circumstances must two forms of the same pony ever be allowed to meet!" "That would cause a...What was it? Pandabox?" Firefly asked, trying to remember the word that Doctor had taught her on a previous journey. "Paradox, my dear," Doctor corrected opening the blue box up and signalling for the other two to get in. "And yes, that's why we must leave. Immediately." Firefly walked in without too much fuss. Although she was curious how much the world had changed over the course of thousands of years, she was more interested in finding her way home, and reuniting with her friends. Surprise walked in a bit more reluctantly, and with a frown on her face. She paused to take one last look at the two fillies, who were still holding each other, but were now also throwing apologies at each other. "Cherish your friendships! They're what make life worth living!" Once the three ponies had entered the strange blue box, it began to fade out slowly, until eventually, it disappeared entirely. Twilight and Trixie didn't pay much attention to it, instead pulling apart from each other and wiping their tears away as they finally started to calm down. "Twixie's sowwy, Twilight. She knows...It wasn't youw fault. You wewe just twying to help..." "I'm sorry too, Trixie," Twilight sniffed, and wiped away the last of the tears from her face. "You're not stupid, and I should've been more careful. If I had taken some more time to consider the spell I had cast, I would've seen that it wouldn't work..." Trixie turned her head towards the ground, not sure what to say at this point. Twilight decided to say something, since she was sure that Trixie was at a complete loss for words right now. Twilight extended a hoof forward, and in a gentle voice, asked: "Friends?" Trixie turned her head back towards Twilight, sniffed a few more times, and then extended her own hoof, smiling at the purple filly as their hooves connected. "Friends." Rainbow Dash soared through the skies of Ponyville, looking for the two filly forms of Twilight and Trixie. She and the rest of her friends had finished gathering the ingredients for the remedy that would cure the two, and had asked Zecora to prepare it. Everypony was waiting for them at the spa, but when Rainbow checked the park, she found that they weren't there. According to many eyewitnesses, the two fillies had been sighted all over Ponyville, and it was anypony's guess where they were now. "Man, why couldn't they just stay still? And why do I have ta find them?" Rainbow Dash complained as she looked down at the streets as she passed over them. Finally, she spotted the two fillies that she was looking for; a purple Unicorn filly and a blue Unicorn filly were sitting on a bench in front of the ice-cream stand in the market place, sharing an ice-cream cone together. "A-ha! Found 'em!" she shouted to herself as she prepared to descend. She landed behind the two oblivious fillies, and decided to sneak up on them and make them jump. As she neared them, she could hear their conversation. "So between Applejack and Wainbow Dash, who's the better athlete?" Trixie asked, taking a lick of the ice-cream. Rainbow stopped when she realised that they were talking about her, and listened in on their conversation. Twilight giggled, and also took a lick on the opposite side. "There was actually a contest the two of them set up to find out," she said. "Turns out they're both as good as each other." "Oh? Twixie would've put her money on the wainbow one," Trixie said, taking another lick of the ice-cream. "Of course, Twixie could beat either of them with her hooves tied behind her back." Twilight rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh. "Really? You don't seem to be the athletic type." "No, but Twixie's magic can keep them at bay while Twixie casually makes her way to the end." "Isn't that against the whole point?" "Maybe, but it's not against the wules." Twilight put a hoof to her chin to remember the rules of athletic events. "True," she said, shrugging. She noticed that the ice-cream was dripping down the cone, and quickly licked up the leaking trail. "But then in that case, you'd come in second." Trixie looked at Twilight in confusion. "Then who would be fiwst?" "Me, naturally," Twilight said, grinning at Trixie. Rainbow Dash extended her wings and got ready to separate the two from the fight that was sure to break out at any second now. She looked over at Trixie, who was frowning disapprovingly, and waited. However, what happened next surprised her. Trixie laughed. Not a mocking laugh, but a sincere, happy laugh. "Maybe now, you can beat Twixie," Trixie said. "But it won't be long before Twixie catches up to you, so you'd better watch out, wival." "And on that day, Rarity will take up mud wrestling." Twilight laughed, along with Trixie, and Rainbow also found it hard to suppress the giggling that was building up within her. Twilight noticed the ice-cream about to fall off, and took a big bite of it. Moments after swallowing it, she felt her head splitting open, and held it in her hooves. "Owwww!" The intense pain caused Twilight to lose her magical focus on the ice-cream, and it dropped to the floor. "Ah! Twixie's ice-cream!" "My head!" Twilight cried out in pain. Behind them, Rainbow could no longer hold in her laughter, which alerted the two to her presence. "Sorry, did I interrupt your date?" she asked, grinning at the two fillies. "'Bout time," Applejack said as Rainbow Dash approached her in the spa's lobby, with Twilight on her left and Trixie on her right. "Where in Equestria have you been?" Rainbow grinned mischievously at Trixie, and then turned to Applejack. "These two went on a date around town, so I had ta track 'em down." "We wewe NOT on a date!" Trixie shouted, her face bright red. "That's right! I was just showing her around!" Twilight followed up, her face an equal shade of red to Trixie's. "And sharing ice-cream," Rainbow said, giggling as she walked further into the spa. "Wait, wha?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow at the two fillies. "Really Twi? You like Trixie?" Trixie took offence to Applejack's words, but to her surprise it was Twilight who spoke up first. "What's wrong with Trixie? Sure, she can be a bit obnoxious sometimes, but when you get past that, she's pretty cool, and kind!" Applejack looked at Trixie with a sceptical look on her face. Behind her, Applejack could hear Rainbow Dash say: "Careful, that's her marefriend you're dissin'." "She's not my marefriend!" Twilight shouted, stomping her hoof. "I don't like her in that way! We're just friends!" Trixie wasn't sure if she should be thankful to Twilight for sticking up for her, or be insulted that Twilight took such great offence to idea of Trixie being her marefriend. So she just followed Rainbow Dash into the spa, staring straight ahead with a look of annoyance on her face. Twilight and Applejack soon followed, and they eventually arrived in the bathing room, where Zecora was preparing a special bath to cure the two fillies. "Now, the letter says that you must soak in this bath for no less than 30 minutes, and no more than 1 hour," Rarity explained to Twilight and Trixie as she read the instructions sent to the group by the Princess. "The effect won't be instantaneous; it will take effect after a few hours. If you enter the bath now, it should happen overnight." "Great! Come on Trixie!" Twilight shouted enthusiastically, running up to the bath tub. She placed a hoof in slowly, and then continued by putting the rest of her body in. She let out a pleasant sigh as the warm bath water relaxed her entire body. "Come on! The water's great!" she said to Trixie, who still hadn't moved from her spot. Trixie stared at the bath water for a few moments, and when she refused to move closer, the rest of the group grew concerned, and asked her asked what was wrong. "Twixie...Doesn't think she wants to turn back, after all," she said, shocking everypony in the room. "What are you saying!?" Rarity asked, grabbing Trixie's shoulders and shaking her small body. "Surely you don't mean that! The only other alternative is to grow back into your old self!" "What Miss Rarity says is most true," Zecora said, walking up to Trixie and placing a hoof under her chin, lifting Trixie's head up to look into her eyes. "Perhaps you should tell us what is troubling you." Trixie's eyes widened with fear, and tears started to form at the corners of her eyes, despite her best efforts to fight them off. Her entire body started shaking, and she backed away slightly to escape Rarity's grip. "Twixie...Doesn't wanna go back to her old life." "Why not?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Were you poor? Were you not getting enough ponies to watch your shows?" "She didn't exactly seem to be in any trouble earlier today," Applejack pointed out. "She seemed to be rather happy, and she had enough money for that spell that made her like this." "Twixie...Doesn't wanna be alone anymore," she said, the shaking in her body increasing. "The old Twixie has been alone for so long, she forgot how to wely on others...She wanted to weach out to others, but she was afwaid, and her mind had settled on keeping others at a distance...Her heart was filled with jealousy at those who had fwiends, and anger that she couldn't bwing herself to befwiend others... "I don't wanna go back to that!" she shouted, kneeling down and holding her head in her hooves. "Evewy night was so painful! I had nightmawes of dying on my own, with nopony even knowing whewe I was! And dreams that I had finally made fwiends, only to cwy the next mowning 'cause it was only a dweam!" The sounds of Trixie's crying started to fill the place, and everypony else remained silent, waiting for her to calm down. "Evewy day was dawk...I don't wanna be alone anymore..." The other ponies, Spike, and Zecora, all exchanged looks of worry and sympathy, but none of them could find the right words to comfort the crying filly. Finally, a voice from the back of the room broke the long silence that was otherwise only filled by Trixie's sobbing. It was Twilight's voice. "So you're gonna give up?" Trixie didn't stop crying, nor did she lift her head to look at Twilight, so Twilight continued. "You're just gonna run away, because you scared of going back? Come on, Trixie. That doesn't sound like you." Trixie's ear twitched, and she moved her hooves slightly to look at Twilight. "You're just running away from your problems. That won't make them go away." "But...This way, I can start again...Fix all the mistakes I made in my life..." "It don't work that way, hun," Applejack said. Trixie turned her attention to the orange farmer. "Even if ye change yer body now, yer past ain't gonna change. Ye're gonna have ta live with it forever, an' ah can assure ya, even if ye stay as ya are right now, one day yer past'll catch up to ya, and you'll surely regret it." Fluttershy walked up to the still shaking Trixie, and placed a wing around her gently. She felt Trixie start to calm down, although she was still mumbling uncertainly. Rainbow Dash approached the blue filly, with a stern look on her face. "So this is the "Great and Powerful Trixie"?" she asked. "I knew you were only exaggerating before, but I still thought your magic was pretty cool! And even I could tell it was much better than the average Unicorn! "Some part of me wanted to give you another chance. Somehow, you reminded me of myself; you had dreams of being big, and you wanted everypony to know your name, so you showed off your talents everywhere! And you boasted your big feats because you honestly believed that you could make them reality. "But I guess I was wrong." She stomped a hoof to emphasis her last point, startling Trixie. Fluttershy held Trixie tighter in her wing. "You're nothing like me. I would never give up just because I was afraid! Even if it seemed hopeless, I would do my best, and if my best wasn't enough, at least I can say I went down flying!" "Rainbow, aren't you being a little hard on the poor dear?" Rarity asked. Rainbow Dash shook her head, and continued her lecture. "So what if you fail once? Just try again! Keep trying no matter what! You're afraid to get close to other ponies? Then try a different angle! Try taking a break from your showmare business and just have some time to yourself! Find some ponies who share a common interest, and make them your friends! But giving up and just pushing the problem to one side? That's totally not cool." Trixie's shaking and crying had stopped by this point, but she still kept her head buried in her hooves. She was still unsure about what she should do, and the others saw that she still needed an extra push. "Wait, I don't get it," Pinkie Pie shouted, gaining the attention of everypony in the room. "Why can't we just be your friends? I mean, is friendship even so complicated in the first place?" Everypony remained silent as Pinkie hopped merrily over towards Trixie. "I don't think the problem is that you were afraid of making friends. It's that you were afraid you wouldn't be worthy of being somepony's friend, right?" "W-What do you mean?" Trixie asked, slowly removing her head from her hooves. "Well, you've been alone for so long, right? You probably think you were alone because you did something wrong. Eventually, that thought engraved itself into your mind, and you were certain that you would only hurt anypony who you befriended." She lifted Trixie off the ground, and spun around so that Trixie was facing Twilight. "As proof, you became friends with Twilight thanks to being a filly again. If the problem was that you were too shy or afraid to approach somepony, that shouldn't have changed even as you became a filly. In fact, it should have gotten worse, if anything. But if the problem is that you blame yourself for being alone, then it makes sense, since you hadn't yet reached that conclusion as a filly." The rest of the group stared at Pinkie Pie in astonishment. Finally, Rarity was able to break the silence and ask what was undoubtedly on everypony's minds: "Pinkie Pie, how in Equestria did you ever think of all of this?" Pinkie turned her head to face Rarity, still smiling as wide as she possible could. "How d'you think I'm able to make friends with everypony I meet? I know how the pony mind works!" Twilight and Trixie were perhaps the only two not concerned with Pinkie's surprising knowledge on pony psychology right now, and were instead staring into each other's eyes, Trixie with a worried look on her face, and Twilight with a pleading look. "Trixie...If you need help, I'd be happy to share everything I've learned about friendship with you," Twilight said, extending her hoof towards the blue filly. "We're friends after all, right?" Trixie was about to raise her hoof, but was still uncertain. "B-But...That's only right now...What if, after I turn back, you-" "I'll still be your friend!" Twilight interrupted. "I don't care if you're the "Great and Powerful Trixie", or just "Trixie the innocent little filly". All that matters is that you're Trixie Lulamoon, somepony who I wanna be friends with." Trixie slowly raised her hoof, and just as she began to extend it forward, Twilight said: ""Cherish your friendships! They're what make life worth living!"" Trixie's eyes widened, and her hoof suddenly shot forward with much more speed than she had intended it to. Pinkie loosened her grip on Trixie, and the blue filly flew forward as Twilight pulled her into the bath tub, causing water to fly into the air as she splashed down into it. Once Trixie wiped her eyes clean and was able to see again, she saw Twilight sitting in front of her, smiling at Trixie, and laughing at her wet mane as water dripped down from it. "Sorry, Trixie. I didn't think Pinkie would let go all of a sudden," she said, obviously lying. Trixie stared for a few seconds with a dumbfounded look on her face, and then grinned at the purple filly. "Oh, you awe so gonna wegret that!" she said as she began splashing water into Twilight's face, who responded by yelping and fleeing to the other side of the bathtub. "Take that!" "Counter attack!" Twilight shouted as she spun around in the tub and began splashing water back at Trixie, whilst covering her own face with her hooves to shield it. "Stop!" Zecora shouted, startling everyone in the room and causing the two fillies to stop their little water fight. "The remedy took a long time to prepare! I would appreciate if you treat it with care!" The two fillies lowered their hooves and settled down in the bathtub, mumbling apologies quietly. Once they were finishing bathing in the remedy prepared by Zecora, the two fillies decided to return to the library and settle down, their bodies tired from all the running around that they had done earlier that day. Fluttershy asked if they would like her to stay with them, but they insisted that they would be alright on their own. Despite this, their friends still imposed on Twilight that night, all curious to see if the remedy would truly work. Since there wasn't enough room in her bedroom for everypony, her friends agreed to sleep downstairs, and Twilight offered them some spare blankets and pillows for them. Twilight allowed Trixie to sleep upstairs with her, still concerned about Trixie after what happened in the spa. Twilight offered Trixie the guest bed, while Spike took his own bed in between the guest bed and Twilight's bed. Trixie looked over at the guest bed, and then back to Twilight, who was climbing into her own bed. She felt her heartbeat increasing, and her face flushing up, and gathered up the courage to ask Twilight: "C-Can Twixie sleep with you tonight?" Twilight and Spike turned to Trixie in surprise, and she immediately apologized, saying that she'll take the guest bed. "Oh, I don't mind," Twilight said, stopping Trixie in her tracks. "But, why?" "Well...Twixie...Doesn't want to wake up alone..." she said, keeping her back to Twilight. "But, if it'll cause a pwoblem, Twixie will sleep in the other bed." "No, it's no problem at all," Twilight said, lifting the covers to invite Trixie into her bed. "I can understand the feeling. When I finally made friends here in Ponyville, I was so sad when I thought I had to leave them. And I was willing to give up my life in Canterlot, just so I could be with them every day." Trixie turned towards Twilight, and hesitated for a moment, before finally approaching Twilight's bed and climbing in, lying down on one side of it. She remained silent as Twilight turned the lights off, and shut her eyes tight, resisting her body's desire to hold Twilight close. "Good night, Spike, Trixie," Twilight said as she rested her head onto her pillow, closing her eyes to drift off into sleep. "G'night," Spike replied. Trixie opened her eyes and watched the purple filly resting peacefully next to her. Her uneasiness started to fade away, and a smile formed on her face as she closed her eyes once again, allowing herself to drift off into sleep. "Night, Twilight." The following morning, Trixie was awoken by something against her face. It felt like the wind, only it was warm, and making a strange noise. She opened her eyes slowly to find out what it was, and saw a purple Unicorn mare sleeping right in front of her, her face mere inches away from Trixie's, and breathing into the showmare's face. Trixie's eyes widened as she tried to make sense of the situation, but as the purple Unicorn's eyes started to open, Trixie reflexively pushed her away. A loud bang after that caused Trixie to rush to the other end of the bed that she was sleeping in, and peer over the side. She saw Twilight Sparkle lying on the floor, rubbing a hoof against her left flank, and groaning in pain. "Um...Oops?" "Trixie has already apologised multiple times!" Trixie shouted, moving around Twilight to try and look her in the eyes, but for the 47th time, Twilight simply turned around to avoid Trixie's gaze. "Stop being foolish already! It was just a simple mistake!" "I let you sleep in my bed so that you wouldn't feel lonely, not so that you could try to kill me!" Twilight shouted, still refusing to turn around. "Oh, come ON! You're overreacting!" "Says the one who wasn't pushed out of bed so violently this morning!" "It was your fault for sleeping so close to Trixie! What was Trixie supposed to do!?" "Well, I can certainly think of better solutions than pushing your best friend out of bed and possibly breaking their leg!" "It wasn't even that big of a fall!" The rest of the group simply watch in both amusement and amazement at how a simply accident had somehow led to a huge argument between the two. Applejack leaned over to whisper into Rainbow Dash's ear: "Uh, those two are friends now, right?" Rainbow Dash shrugged, and lifted up one of the pancake she was currently eating to her mouth. "Well, Trixie did make us all this sweet breakfast, so she's alright in my books." "Um, Twilight did just refer to her and Trixie as "best friends", so..." Fluttershy said, but retreated when attention was drawn to her. Rarity simply sighed, and levitated a piece of pancake to her mouth. "It's one of those friendships," she said, drawing confused looks from Applejack and Rainbow Dash. "You know, where both friends are so stubborn that they bicker at every little thing. To outsiders, they seem like enemies, but to them, they have fun competing in this way, and are determined to outdo each other...That's what I think, at least." "That's it! Trixie's leaving!" Trixie shouted, stomping towards the front door, making sure to grab her hat and cloak before opening it. "Good day!" "Awww, you're leaving already?" a saddened Pinkie Pie asked. "Trixie has a busy schedule, and she's already had to cancel some shows because of this...Incident." Pinkie looked down at the floor with a frown, but understood that Trixie, like everypony, had to work. "Alright...I guess it can't be helped then..." Trixie opened the door and started to make her way outside, when the librarian's voice stopped her. "You're going to come back, right?" Trixie paused for a moment, and then, holding her head up high, responded: "If Trixie feels like it." With that, Trixie left the library, closing the door behind her. Twilight simply smiled at the closed door, and levitated some of her breakfast to her mouth. "I'll be waiting then, Trixie."

Joshua's Days in Equestria

pre

"Did Mommy come by here?" I asked. "Eeyup," he said. "Is she still here?" "Nnnope." "Did she talk to Applejack?" "Eeyup." "Is she here?" "Eeyup." "Is it okay if I go see her?" "Eeyup." "Thanks Big Mac," I said walking toward the barn house, "Bye." "Bye for now," he said going back to bucking. When I got to the house, I knocked on the door, Applejack answered it a few seconds later. "Hey sugarcube!" she said, "You're just in time for lunch. Why don't y'all c'mon in?" "Are you sure?" I asked. "Sure Ah'm sure," she said, "Rarity and Ah could use some more company." "Okay, thanks," I said stepping in. I followed her into the kitchen and saw Rarity sitting at the table already. "Hello there, darling!" she said smiling when she saw me. "Hi Rarity," I said to her. I walked over to the table and sat down next to her. After we all had lunch, Rarity and Applejack took me into the living room, and we all sat down. "So Joshua," Rarity said, "What have you been up to today?" "Walking around Ponyville," I said. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. "Anything else?" she asked again. My cheeks started feeling warmer when she asked that. Rarity and Applejack smiled and giggled at me. "I think I know what else." "Somethin' is tellin' me that you don't want to say what it is though, right?" Applejack asked me. I nodded. "Well, Twilight came by earlier and said somethin' intersetin' about ya to us." The two of them got off their seats and started walking toward mine. I didn't try to get away, because Rarity would probably catch me with her magic. I just pushed back into my seat. When they got close enough, they each put a hoof on me and started tickling me. Once again, I started laughing. "NOT AGAIN!!!" I said laughing, trying to curl up to stop them, but it wasn't working. They kept on tickling me. "PLEASE!!! STO-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HOP!!!" "What was that, sweetie?" Rarity asked, "Keep going?" "Well, he asked for it," Applejack said. They then placed their other forehooves on my chest and tickled me more, making me laugh harder. I was laughing too hard to say anything else. Soon though, they took their hooves off, with me still giggling. "Sorry about that darling,"Rarity said, "We couldn't help ourselves." She then nuzzled my belly, making me giggle again. "If you're wonderin' where Twilight is, she went back to the library after she finished speakin' with us," Applejack said. "Okay, thank you," I said after I finished giggling, "Bye, Rarity. Bye Applejack." I gave them both goodbye hugs before leaving the barn. Just then, I heard somepony galloping toward me. "Oh Joshie!" Uh oh. There were only two ponies who called me that: Pinkie and Dinks. And that was not Pinkie's voice. I turned around and saw Dinky running to me. "Better get ready for a big tickling, Joshie!" she said getting closer to me. "You'll have to catch me first!" I said starting to run away. "You're not going to get away that easily!" she said running after me. Dinky chased me all over Ponyville while I tried to get away from her. I got back to the library, went in, and closed the door behind me. I saw Mommy and Nyx inside when I got in. They looked up when I came in. "Hey, Joshua," Mommy said, "What's up?" "Dinky's coming for me!" I said running to the stairs, "If she gets me, she won't stop!" "Stop what?" Nyx asked me. "Tickling me!" I said closing the bedroom door. I then ran over to mine and Nyx's bed and crawled under it. A couple minutes later, I heard the door open. "Joshie?" Dinky called out to me in a sing-song, "Where are you?" I heard her close the door to the bedroom behind her. "You can't hide from me. I'm going to find you." Her voice was right near the bed. I saw her hooves standing right in front of my face. Her face the appeared in front of mine as she looked under the bed. "BOO!" she said. "Ah!" I yelped. I tried backing away, but her hooves caught one of my hands and she pulled me out from under the bed. I tried to pull away from her, but she then pushed me down onto the floor on my back. I tried to cover my chest, but she put her hooves on it before I could. "Nice try, but you can't avoid getting a tickle from me," she said, "And before you ask, yes, Nyx told me." I tried to put my hands on her hooves to lift them off, but she started tickling me before I could. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" I laughed, "D-D-Dinks! I've been tickled all day! I don't think I can take any more!" "Huh?" Dinky asked playfully, "You think you can take more? You got it!" She started tickling my chest more and started nuzzling one of my cheeks making me laugh harder. Just then, I felt my shoes and socks being taken off. I opened an eye and saw Mommy standing there using her magic to take them off. Dinky looked back at her and winked. Mommy smiled and walked back downstairs. I then felt Dinky's tail brush against my bare feet. It was starting to become too much for me. "NONONONONONO!!!" I said still laughing, "Not there, Dinks! HEHEHEHE!!! Please not there!" "Did you say tickle you there?" she asked, "Okay, if you say so." She started brushing her tail on my feet faster, making me laugh even harder. "P-P-PLEASE!!!" I said laughing with tears falling out, "STO-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HOP!!!" She tickled me for a little bit more, and then she finally stopped. The both of us were laughing and rolling on the floor after she finished. "Oh boy!" she said, "That was the most fun I've had in a long time!" I was still giggling after she said that. "Y'know Joshie," she said looking at me, "If you wanna know, I'm pretty ticklish myself." I smiled mischievously to myself. I looked over at Dinky, sat up, and started tickling her. She burst into giggles as I did. I tickled her everywhere I could, on her chest, her sides, and the bottom of her hooves. She seemed giggle even more when I tickled her on her hooves. Probably because my fingers tickled more than hooves did. What a day this has been. Being tickled by my friends, Mommy's friends, and my filly friend. I hope I would get a break from it for a while.

Joshua's Days in Equestria

A Visit to Cloudsdale

A Visit to Cloudsdale *Joshua's P.O.V.* KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! "Joshua, could you get that please?" Mommy asked. "Okay, Mommy," I said. It was a few days after my day of tickles from my friends, Mommy's friends, and Dinky. I stayed in the library to calm down from that. Nyx and I were working on schoolwork while Spike was cleaning. I just finished when the door knocked. I opened it and saw Rainbow Dash standing there. "Hi, Rainbow!" I said. "Hey, buddy," she said giving my head a noogie, "You're just the human I wanted to see." "Aren't I the only human in Equestria?" I asked. Rainbow chuckled. "Good point," she said, "I was wondering if you'd like to visit Cloudsdale with me." "The city of pegasi?" I asked. "Sure," Rainbow said, "Twilight told me you had an interest in it. So, do you wanna come with?" "Yeah, let me just ask Mommy first, okay?" I said. Rainbow nodded her head. I then went upstairs to Mommy's room. She was reading another book, trying to find something. Nyx was in the room too, still working on her homework. "Hey Mommy?" I said to her. She looked up at me. "Who was at the door?" she asked. "Rainbow Dash," I said. "Rainbow?" Mom asked confused, "She usually just flies through the window. Well, what did she want?" "She wants to take me to see Cloudsdale," I said, "Can I go Mommy?" "Only if you've finished your homework," she said. "I did, Mommy," I said. "Okay then," she said standing up, "Let me just put the cloud-walking spell on you and then you can go." She walked over to me, activated her magic, and wrapped me up in her aura. I felt the magic going through my feet as the spell was being put on them. After a minute, the magic stopped. Mommy then walked up to me and pulled me in for a hug. "Now you listen to Rainbow Dash and stay close to her, okay?" she said to me. "Yes, Mommy," I said hugging her back, "I love you." "I love you too, sweetie," Mommy said kissing my forehead, "Have fun!" We let go of each other, and I went downstairs. "Bye, Nyx!" I said to my big sister. "Bye, Joshua!" Nyx said waving to me. "Have him home in time for dinner, Rainbow!" Mommy called to Rainbow Dash. "I will, Twi!" Rainbow said to Mommy, "Climb on, dude." She lowered herself down and I climbed up onto her back. I wrapped my arms around her neck, and she began flying up. A few minutes later... "Wow," I said quietly. "Amazing, isn't it?" Rainbow asked me. When we made it to Cloudsdale, I was amazed at what I saw. There were a lot of clouds shaped together to make buildings and some rainbow waterfalls. There were also lots of pegasi flying around too. "It is Rainbow," I said, "And you were born here?" "Yep, me and Fluttershy," Rainbow said, "First I'll take you to the weather factory where they make Equestria's weather. Next we'll head to my parents' house for lunch. Then, we'll go to the Cloudosseum where they hold competitions. Finally, we'll go to the history museum, and I'll show you a section of one of the most famous pegasi in history." "Okay," I said. After Rainbow landed, I slowly got off her back. My feet touched the cloudy ground of Cloudsdale and didn't fall through. Keeping close to Rainbow, I walked with her through Cloudsdale. I could see a lot more pegasi up close than from far away now. "Hey Joshua!" That voice sounded familiar. I looked up and saw one of my classmates, Rumble, waving down at me. He was flying with an older, black pegasus with a light bluish gray striped mane and tail, gold eyes, and a gray cloud with a lightning bolt for a cutie mark. "Hi Rumble!" I said waving at him, "Who's that with you?" "This is my older brother, Thunderlane," he said pointing a hoof at the black pegasus. Thunderlane waved at me, and I waved back. "What are you doing here?" "Rainbow's showing me around Cloudsdale," I said. "Cool!" Rumble said, "Thunderlane and I were visiting our parents. We're heading back towards Ponyville now." Just then, Thunderlane coughed. I saw Rainbow looking at him seriously. "Better make sure that's not feather flu again, Thunderlane," she said. "Oh, uh, look at the time, Rumble!" Thunderlane said quickly, "We've gotta head home now! See ya around!" Thunderlane quickly flew off. "Hey bro!" Rumble said, "Wait up! I'll see you later, Joshua!" He then flew off after Thunderlane. "What was that about?" I asked looking back at Rainbow. "Thunderlane has a tendency to slack off on his weather duties," Rainbow said, "He's part of Ponyville's weather team, which I'm the captain of. Well, let's head to the weather factory." Rainbow placed me on her back again and started flying over a hill of clouds. When we reached the top, I saw all different kinds of weather things, like ice, thunder clouds, normal clouds, and rainbows. Before we went inside, Rainbow gave me a small white coat and a white hard hat, while she put one on herself. It was one of the rules to wear these before going in. First, she showed me where the snowflakes were made. It got colder when we entered. "Brr," I said shivering a little, "It's cold in here." "Yeah," Rainbow said looking at me, "It needs to be cold. Otherwise all these snowflakes will melt." She then placed a wing around me and pulled me closer to her. It warmed me up a little bit. She then looked back at all the pegasi making the snowflakes. "Each one is hoofmade. It's a really delicate operation." Rainbow walked me over to get a closer look at them. They were really beautiful. Each one was also different. No two snowflakes are the same. "Wow," I said, "This is so cool." "Twilight told me that you said the weather handles itself where you came from, right?" Rainbow asked me. "Yeah," I said, "But seeing the weather being made before it happens is amazing." After looking at the snowflakes a little more, Rainbow took me to another part of the weather factory. It had rainbow colored waterfalls and pools filled with rainbows. "This is where they make the rainbows," she said. "Make rainbows?" I asked. "Yep," she replied. I knelt down in front of one of the pools and looked at it. I was about to put my hand in it, but Rainbow put a hoof on my hand to stop me. "I wouldn't taste it if I were you," she said. "Why not?" I asked. "Ask your mom when I get you home, okay?" I nodded, but was still confused. We then moved to another room. There, purple spouts pointing up were making clouds. "Is there where they make clouds?" I asked. Rainbow nodded. "What about the storm clouds, the ones with lightning?" I asked. "That's a part of the factory where we have to wear additional gear to view it," Rainbow said leading me to doorway where some other pieces of clothing hung. After giving some to me, putting some on herself, and putting on goggles over our eyes, we went inside. The pegasi inside were wearing the additional gear like me and Rainbow. They were also standing around a really big machine that had a big ball on top of it. "What's this?" I asked Rainbow. "That's the lightning generator," she said, "Each cloud is picked carefully by one of these pegasi, and it's then taken to this machine. From there, it's put in that slot where it travels through a tube until it's under the lightning generator. Then the magic happens." One pegasi placed a white cloud in the slot Rainbow pointed at, and it went through the tube. When it was under the lightning generator ball, a lever was pushed down and everypony stepped back. Lightning started shooting out of the ball and around the room. It came kinda close to us. One bolt hit the ground in front of my feet. I yelped and jumped back a bit, but Rainbow put a hoof on my shoulder and rubbed. "Relax, buddy," she said, "You're fine. You won't get electrocuted from a lightning bolt while wearing this protective gear." I felt a little better and continued watching the ball make the white cloud into a grey storm cloud. It was very cool. Later, after we returned the clothes we had to wear, Rainbow and I left the weather factory. She said our next stop was lunch with her parents. I was on Rainbow's back when we came to a small house made out of differently shaped clouds. There was also a mailbox with two symbols on it: a blue star with blue, red, and yellow stripes behind it and a blue lightning bolt. Rainbow knocked at the door, and it was opened by a purple-blue pegasus stallion with a rainbow mane and tail like Rainbow's, only shorter, gold eyes, and the star mark from the mailbox for a cutie mark. He smiled when he saw Rainbow. "Dashie!" he said wrapping his forelegs around Rainbow's neck. "Hey, Dad," Rainbow said hugging him back. Rainbow's dad had his eyes closed while hugging her, so he didn't see me. When they let go of each other, Rainbow's Dad stepped back. "What brings you by?" he asked. "I figured I'd drop by and have lunch with you and Mom today, plus I've got someone for you two to meet," she said. She then turned to the side and showed me to him. "Dad, this is Joshua. My friend Twilight adopted him a little less than a year ago. Joshua, this is my dad, Rainbow Prism. Now you know where I got my mane tail from." "Hello," I said. "Nice to meet ya, son," Rainbow Prism said patting my back, "Why don't you both come on in?" He then walked into the house with me and Rainbow Dash following. Inside, I could smell food being cooked. "Who was at the door, Prism?" said a voice like Rainbow Dash's but a little lower than her's. "It's Rainbow Dash, honey," Prism said, "And she's brought someone else along with her." When I got off Dash's back, a pink pegasus mare came from a doorway. She had a blue mane and tail that was messy like Rainbow Dash's, purple eyes, and the blue lightning bolt I saw on the mailbox for a cutie mark. "Hey Mom," Dash said to the mare. "Rainbow Dash!" the mare said wrapping one hoof around her neck and giving her a noogie with the other, "How's our Wonderbolt-to-be been?" she asked after she finished noogying Dash. "I've been doing alright," Dash said, "And like Dad said, I've brought someone along for you to meet." She then placed a hoof around my shoulders. "Mom, this is Joshua. He was adopted by my friend Twilight. Joshua, this is my mom, Firefly." "Hi, it's nice to meet you," I said to her. "Nice to meet you to, little guy," Firefly said mussing my hair. Looks like Rainbow got her attitude from her mom. "Why don't we head on into the kitchen and have lunch. We can get to know each other while we eat." Firefly placed a hoof around my back and led the three of us into the kitchen. After we all sat down, we started talking with each other. I told Rainbow Prism and Firefly where I came from and what happened. They were sad to hear that. Then they told me about where they worked in Cloudsdale. Rainbow Blitz worked at the weather factory in the afternoons, while Firefly worked as a cloud sculptor, which means she shaped clouds into works of art. She showed me some of her works after we finished. They were amazing. After that, Dash showed me her bedroom. There were Wonderbolt posters everywhere, trading cards, and small figures of them too. "Wow, Rainbow Dash," I said, "This is a lot of Wonderbolt stuff. Do you know any of them." "Sure do," she said, "I'm on pretty good terms with the captain of the team, Spitfire, and her wing pony, Soarin. I'm definitely going to bring you to one of their performances one of these days. Then you'll get see how awesome they are." "That sounds like fun, Rainbow," I said. Later after saying goodbye to her parents, Rainbow took me to a big arena. "Welcome to the Cloudosseum, Joshua," she said, "This is where Cloudsdale holds their competitions. In fact, I won one a few years ago here." "Really?" I asked. "Yep," she said, "It was the Best Young Fliers Competition. First prize was a full day with the Wonderbolts. I won after saving Rarity and some of the Wonderbolts and performing the Sonic Rainboom for the first time since I was a filly." "How was Rarity in trouble while you were saving her?" I asked. "Well, your mom and the rest of our friends were thinking up a way to come to Cloudsdale to cheer me on," Rainbow explained, "So she performed a spell that gave Rarity some pretty cool like butterfly wings. It was too tough to do again, so she found the cloud-walking spell to put on herself and the others. Rarity entered the competition, but she got too close to the sun, and her wings burned up. She started falling, and some of the Wonderbolts flew after her to save her, but she kept waving her legs about and accidentally knocked them out. I was about to enter the final phase of my performance when I saw what was going on. So I rushed after them as fast as I could, and then BOOM! I pulled off the Sonic Rainboom and managed to save Rarity and the Wonderbolts." "Wow, that's amazing, Rainbow," I said. "Too bad I was knocked out to not witness it," said a voice behind me. I turned around and saw a yellow pegasus mare with an orange and yellow fiery mane and tail, orange eyes, and orange flames for a cutie mark. "Hey there, Spitfire," Rainbow said, "How's it hanging?" "Pretty good, Rainbow Dash," Spitfire replied. She then looked at me. "Who's this?" "This is Joshua," Rainbow said introducing me, "He was adopted by my friend Twilight as a son. Joshua, meet the captain of the Wonderbolts, Spitfire." "Hi," I said, "It's nice to meet you, Spitfire." "Nice to meet you as well, dude," Spitfire said, "Rainbow been showing you around Cloudsdale?" "Yeah, she showed me the weather factory first, then I met her parents, and now she's showing me this place," I said it's been a lot of fun." "Glad to hear it," Spitfire said, "The other Wonderbolts and I are proud to call this place home. Well, I need to head back. We've got another training session coming up." "See ya around," Rainbow said as Spitfire flew away, "Well, only one more place left to show you, the Cloudsdale History Museum." I then got back on Rainbow's back and we flew towards a building with pillars standing up in the front. Rainbow and I entered the building. Inside, there were pictures of a lot of pegasi, even pictures of the ponies Rainbow and Fluttershy played in the Hearth's Warming Pageant. "Hey, Joshua," Rainbow said when we stopped walking, "Look at this." I looked in front of me and saw a big room that had pictures and other things about the pony I learned about on my first day at school. "Hey!" I said, "This is all about Snowdrop!" "Yep," Rainbow said, "Learned about her in school?" I nodded. "Well, I'm sure this will help you learn more about her." It sure did. It showed things I already knew about her, like how she made the first snowflake, how her ears could hear almost everything around her, and her cutie mark. The new things I learned was that she was one of Luna's best friends before Luna became Nightmare Moon, and that she started the snowflake making part of the weather factory when she was older. "Wow," I said, "Snowdrop is even more amazing than I thought. I wonder if Princess Luna knows anything more?" "I'm sure she does," Rainbow said, "Maybe you could ask her next time you see her." Rainbow then looked out the window. "Well, buddy, it's about time to head back. It's getting late." I looked out the window and saw the sun starting to set. "Okay," I said climbing onto Rainbow's back, "Thanks for bringing me here today, Rainbow. I had a lot of fun with you." "No problem, kid," she said mussing my hair, "I was glad to bring you." She then flapped her wings, and we flew back to the library. *Twilight's P.O.V.* While Rainbow Dash was showing Joshua around Cloudsdale, I was busying myself with a very special surprise to give to Joshua on his birthday. Hopefully, I would have it ready in time. I prepared my horn and began charging for a while. Finally, when I had enough power, I released the spell. When the spell finished, I looked down at myself, and smiled in accomplishment. "Perfect!" I said to myself, "Now to get my friends and Joshua's friends prepared for this. I hope he'll like this." I then changed myself back to normal. After i did that, I heard the door open. I looked back and saw Joshua and Rainbow standing there. "Hi, Mommy!" Joshua said running up to hug me. "Hey, Joshua," I said hugging him back, "How was Cloudsdale?" "It was really cool!" he said letting go of the hug, "I saw where they make weather, met Rainbow's mom and dad, saw the Cloudosseum, met Spitfire, and I learned a lot more about Snowdrop at the history museum!" "Sounds like you two had a lot of fun," I said smiling, then looking at Rainbow Dash, "Thanks for looking after him, Rainbow." "No prob, Twi," she said, "I gotta head home now and check on Tank. See ya around!" She then rushed off. "Mommy?" Joshua spoke up. "Yes, Joshua?" I said looking at him. "When we were at the weather factory where they make the rainbows, Rainbow said I shouldn't taste it," he said, "I asked her why, but she said to ask you." "Hang on," I said, "Let me show you." I then lit my horn and a moving picture screen showed up. "Oh," Joshua said giggling when the memory finished, "Poor Pinkie." "That's why Rainbow didn't want you tasting that liquid rainbow," I said to him.

My Little Corruption

pre

Zexis thanked him and put the books in his basket, above the stolen one. Then he looked a the clock, which hanging on the wall. "I guess, I should be going." Spike nodded. "Let me bring you to the door." Again they walked through the endless hallways, when Zexis got an idea. "Now that I think about it. How much do you know about Zebrica?", he asked Spike. The dragon raised quizzicaly an eyebrow. "Not much. Rather secluded country and Zecora doesn´t like to talk about it. Why?" "Well, I just thought. Now that I am learning about Equestria and how to behave myself here...mabye I could tell you how its like in my homecountry. And you can tell me how its like living as dragon?" He let the question hang in the air. "See it as a kind of.....experience exchange." Spike thought about it. He thought long. When they arrived at the door, Zexis thought he had gone too far, but then the dragon spoke: "That actually doesn´t sound so bad. Everyone only has those pre-forged opinions about your people, so it would be good to get a different viewpoint. Not today, though. You have a job to do and I need to re-organize the library. Again." He pulled out a little piece of paper and scribbled something down. "Meet me a Berry Punchs Pub on Saturday. Me and the guys usually meet there. I can introduce you to them." Saturday was in three days. Zexis nodded. "Deal. Something I should keep in mind?" "Just don´t say anything flirtatious about Fluttershy in front of Discord and you should be fine.", said Spike and winked him goodbye. "Wait, what do you mean? Who is Discord?" But too late. Spike had already closed the door. Zexis now stood again alone. While he was walking back to the Flowershop, he reached in the basket and pulled out the stolen book. It´s title was Magic Stones, Plants and other Curiosities. NSFW-Version. A quick skim seemed to indicate, that it was indeed a book about alchemy and that Zexis could actually read it, which was good. He would get over it in detail, when he was alone. Now he needed to finish his shift. At the Flowershop From what he gathered from the quick look, the book was a collection of receipes of rather....indecent character. It was an translation of an old tome written almost one thousand years ago. It had descriptions of various minerals, plants and other ingredrients, that could be used for nefarious, strangely enough almost exclusively, sexual purposes. In short it was exactly what Zexis needed. With this book in his hands he could start the first steps of bringing sexual and social enlightenment to this backwards society. Just the thought of it...mares in scantly clothes strutting down the street, hookers on every corner ready for a quick fuck. Gloryholes, Whorehouses, sexual punishments. Fuck, maybe even personal sexslaves. Zexis could feel his prick hardening. He shaked his head. For now, he needed to remain cautious. He would start small, with the Flower-Trio, and would then look for allies. Spike was a good start, he just needed to get rid of some inhibitions. The meeting on Saturday would give Zexis the opportunity prodding the other stallions for weaknesses. Maybe he could, before that, look for that Bird Hoof and find out, what he was about. Zexis reached the Flowershop. Without hesitation he opened the door. "I´m back.", he said, smiling. He was greeted by a giant. A red, musclebound giant stallion. Immediatly Zexis jumped back, as not to walk into him, although he doubted that would have make much difference. The guy looked like not even a minotaur could move him. Behind the blond hair was a calm, but sad face with a beard that hadn´t seen much care. The stallion was carrying a bouquet of Lilys with him. He didn´t even gave Zexis a look, when he marched out the door. The question seemed to have been written on the zebras face, as Roseluck immediatly walked up to him. "That was BigMac. He was just purchasing some flowers for his grandmother.", she said. "Do you have the payment?" Zexis nodded and gave her the pouch. "Here it is. He seemed a bit down. Not a good day?", he asked. "Well, he is visiting Old Grannys grave today. The two were always close, so this mood is to be expected. Also, he had a fight with Applejack yesterday.", answered Lily, always happy to gossip. Roseluck gave her a scolding look. "But that is not something we should talk about.", she protested. "Don´t worry, my lips are sealed.", said Zexis and performed the associated motion, plus throwing away the imaginary key. Roseluck sighed. "If you say so. Anyway, you really helped us out here. We had no idea about your talent with plants. That could come in handy.", she said, with a thoughtful look on her. "What do you mean?" "Well, since Zecora came here we kinda moved away from alchemical ingredients, you know? But now there always a few shortages here and there, especially with the rare stuff. And Zecoras hut is not easibly accesible. So we thought, with you around as a kind of expert, we revive that business again." Zexis couldn´t believe his ears. Today was really his lucky day! With that, he could get his hands on all manner of ingedrients he would need for his receipes. And it wouldn´t even be suspicious! But, he suppressed his grin and played his role. "Are you sure? I mean, not all too many people trust a zebra stallion...", he said with a pessimistic tone. But Lily just waved her hand dismissevly. "I think they will get around. From us you get an Okay. In fact it was Daisy, who suggested it in the first place, and she always the paranoid one of us.", she said laughing, "Isn´t that right, Daisy?" Daisy however wasn´t answering. Instead she stared, with beet-red face, on a point below Zexis belt. The others followed her gaze. Then everything exploed into a cacophonie of embarrassed screams, Zexis hasty apologies for his impressive boner and, under all that chaos, the quiet mumbling of Daisy. "So big...." New Relationships unlocked! Big Macintosh Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 2/10 Lust: 5/10 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Relationships updated! Daisy Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 1/10 Lust: 5/10 + 1 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Roseluck Willpower: 1/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 3/10 + 1 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Lily Willpower: 1/10 Corruption: 1/10 Lust: 2/10 + 1 Secrets: locked Traits: locked New receipe! Sarmandos Suggestion Powder: A powder that is made out of Poppy Seeds, magic stone and Fools Salt. If ingested orally, it places the affected person into a state of mind, where suggestions are most effective. The effects are at the beginning minimal, but can lead to slight alteration in the subjects personality depending on the suggestions. Repeated use can make these changes stronger and turn them permanent. Most effective if subject is asleep. Preferred ingestions method: Spiced up drinks, that hide the powders recognizable taste. Alternative ingestion method: Contaminated utensils, like clothing or bedsheets. Keep in mind, that ANY suggestion will lead to alteration and that the state only last for twenty minutes. Be careful!

My Little Corruption

Encounter

....BZZZT.... Click! This Sarmandos Suggestion Powder will be a good tool but it need to be used correctly. I recommend that you set up some sort of routine of giving the flower trio a cup of hot tea either in the morning or evening when you work. Prepare the tea by your self and inform the flower trio that its a special blend that your farther made for you to help you get through the day if you give it to them in the morning or help you relax if you give it to them in the evening and that it is a family secret. Make sure you make it with a strong tea ideally one that from you home country. Once you have built a routine of this and have them drinking it every day you need a simple message that can be said with out raising suspicions something like you trust me completely, I'm never wrong, Don't suggest that they are hornier or to give into their desire cause they might just go after the nearest stallion or make them act in a way that other will notice instead make sure your suggestion lead towards you being right no matter what they think and feel cause in the end you know best. Now for the upcoming guys night spend most of it listening and only offer basic information about your self and watch out for discord cause I honestly can not predict if he will catch on to us or not. One last note as I stated before you need to go back to the hospital for that appointment and lay Nurse Redheart notion about you to rest apologies and say you are still new to Equestria but your attitude was clearly out of line. However bring up the fact that you find it odd about not being examined straight away about your head would cause how seriously they are treat in your home country. Make her feel guilty and apologise to you if she does not make a quite comment about you thought Equestria is a lot more racist than you thought it would be. If you do not get Redheart as your Nurse then mention her treatment to her work colleague ask if this is normal procedure then follow the same advice as a gave above. your sincerely From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division Bravo Zelix. You stole a book, met Starlight and Big Mac, and the most important thing, you got something to start manipulating ponies. Great job. For that you deserve a round of applause. I say the best thing to do, with that powder,would be to test it out on Daisy, Lily, and Roseluck. I recommend you make them some ice tea to disguise it. When they drink it, just say You like the tea.. I recommend doing this for a few days. Once the suggestion is cemented in their heads they like the tea, give them more suggestions. I think a fun one would be when you talk to a stallion, you can't help but stare at his dick. . After a while suggest this, It is completely normal for a pony to be naked in their house.. When that one works, you can be naked in the house and the flower trio will be naked as well and the best part is they will be stareing at your cock. Now you got a good thing coming with guys night. Be careful with Discord. Have fun with him but don't mention mares being bitches around him. He may be on board with corrupting Celestia, but he may become your enemy if you talk about corrupting Fluttershy. So go to guys night. Have fun. Try and bond with the guys. See if you can't get the other guys to cheer Spike on to asking a girl out. If that occurs then know you got the stallions' and Spike's approval. You should also explore the town a bit more. See the market. Maybe you can see a bit more how mares run this town and scope out the next bitches to be corrupted after you get the flower trio to become cocksucking whores. If you have some time find out what's going on with that red stallion. Lots of mares have been eye banging him. He may be a good ally if you help him feel better. If you corrupt him, lots of mares will be begging for his cock. It had taken good one hour and a half for Zexis to calm down the girls. Lily had fainted, Roseluck had run with a red face in the storage room and Daisy....Daisy surprisingly had taken it rather well, although she had apologized and retreated into her room, while suspiciously rubbing her thighs together. Nevertheless Zexis had managed to defuse the situation, at least a little bit. Roseluck had given him free time, to get rid of his erection. She had made clear, that, while they understood that as a zebra, Zexis couldn´t be expected to have his...privates under total control, it would be better, if he tried to adapt. Of course, he had agreed to that. At least verbally. In truth however, he was already planning out how to relax the Flower-Trio. There was one receipe, he found in the new book, that would turn out to be rather useful for this endeavor. Sarmandos Suggestion Powder would help him on his first step. It was rather easy to make and the ingredients themselves could be aquired without many problems. In fact, he had already aquired the Fools Salt and the Poppy Seeds from the market, during his break. Now he only he needed some magic infused stones, and these would be at the Everfree Forest. Like the one, where he had found the Fake Snakes. Maybe he could take the opportunity and look for that Zecora, that Applebloom had been talking about. Meeting another zebra in Equestria would be refreshing. And maybe she would be open to his idea of sexually corru....liberating Ponyville? That reminded him, he needed to ask Applebloom for the way to Zecoras hut. She seemed to be one of the few in this town to regulary visit the zebra-mare. So a trip to the school was in order. Before he was going there however, he had to make another stop. He had time to think about it, and Zexis had came to the conclusion, that he couldn´t just let the matter with the nurse lie. No, she had denied him treatment and had been downright rude to him! That needed to be remedied. Even if is his flirting was considered inappropriate in Equestria, not helping someone with a head injury was a crime, no matter which country you practiced medicine in. Sure, now he was fine and the injury didn´t seem to have lasting effects, but there was still the principle! With this in mind, Zexis strolled into the foyer of the clinic. Like yesterday Nurse "Bombshell" Readheart was sitting at the reception, organizing files. She looked up and her calm expression immediatly fell. "Welcome back. Are you here for an apology?", she asked condescendingly. Zexis clenched his fist. Anger seeped through his brain. "I think you owe me an apology, Mrs. Nurse.", he said aggrevated. He walked with forceful steps to the reception and put his hands on the table. "I may be new in Equestria, but where I come from, it is considered a crime to deny someones access to medical treatment because of their race, behaviour or physical apperance. And yes, I may have been rude at the beginning, but I also could have had a serious brain injury from my fall, which. You. Refused. To. Treat!" His face was now mere inches away from the nurses muzzle, who had backed up against the wall, with a fearful look in her eyes. For a brief moment, a primal part in Zexis head wanted to lunch forward and force a kiss on that prissy bitches mouth, but he held himself back. While there was little he wanted more, than to just take that mare and rape here right here and now, until she apologized like the slutty fleshlight she was, something told him to keep his desires in check. The nurse on the other hand was now quivering lightly. She only relaxed, when Zexis pulled himself back. With a hand on her supple breast she breathed heavily, heaving her tits every time, to calm herself. Zexis turned around, as not to suffer another erection at that sight, and waited. Then, after a few moments of quietness, Redheart answered: "I....am sorry. I really seemed to have....overreacted." Zexis looked at her again and saw that her eyes were downcast. She still seemed intimidated by the Zebra, but there was a mixture of shame with it. "I know my duties as a doctor, and to forget the oath I swore, just because of some cultural...discrepancies. Its....ehm...." "Disgraceful.", added Zexis. Redheart flinched at tha hard tone of his voice but nodded. "Yes, digraceful may be a good word." She stood up, her tits bouncing, despite the restricting nature of her uniform. "I apologize for my behaviour. I hope I can make it up too you, Mr...?" "Zexis Chikelu. Just Zexis is fine, however." He stroke his chin. He never thought it would go so well. It seemed like Redheart had submissive streak to her. Or maybe he was just that intimidating. He needed to take advantage of that. "You know what? How about a date?" In a flash the anger on the white mares face came back. "How dare..." "Hey, its just a date. Doesn´t have to be serious. Just a nice, normal chat in a cafe.", Zexis interrupted, before she could get the wrong (right) idea. "I just want to prove to you, that I am a nice guy and not the brute, you think I am. Besides..." Demonstratively he looked around the empty room. "It´s not like you haven´t got the time. So, what you say?" Nurse Redheart threw him a sceptic look before her gaze fell to her neatly organized files. Then, after a few second of silence, she sighed and relented. "Fine, but only because I owe you one.", she said. "Great!", said Zexis and grinned. "So, I pick you up in three hours?" She nodded and Zexis rubbed his hands internally. In three hours he could get to Zecora, get the last ingredient and make the powder. The nurse would be his first test subject. If only she knew... At the School A few minutes later, Zexis stood before Ponyville School. It seemed like he was right on time, because the bell had rung and all the fillies and colts were leaving the building. The colts were clear in the minority and Zexis could see that a lot of them had their own groups. Those who were not so lucky, the losers and bully-victims, were usually hanging around with the girls, carrying their bags and so on. Clearly a social missmatch Zexis needed to adress sooner or later. While he was waiting for CMC, as the girls were called in Ponyville, he saw a small pamphlet at the Black Board of the school. The schoolboard is looking for a subsitute-teacher for Basic Alchemy for at least two weeks. For application, please go to Mrs. Cherilee. An interesting offer, but before Zexis could devote his whole attention to it, he saw the Crusaders stepping out of the building. Sweetie Belle immediatly spotted him and waved her hand. Zexis waved back and walked towards them. Scootaloo backed off slightly, but the other two seemed happy to see him. "Hello, Zexis.", greeted him Applebloom, "How are you doing?" "Good, thank you. I work with the Flower-Girls now. They gave me a room above the shop.", he said. "Really? Didn´t take you for flowery type.", said Scootaloo with a sceptic look. Zexis just smiled. "Its actually my specialty. We plan to restock some of the old sortiment, so the townsfolk got some better access to remedies and stuff." "Thats sounds awesome!", said Sweetie Belle impressed, "Although I hope you don´t drive Zecora off the market. Otherwise she might get angry and turn you into frog." She giggled and her clear, beautiful laugh filled the air. "That would actually be preferable...", muttered Scootaloo under her breath. Zexis ignored the grumpy pegasus and adressed Applebloom instead. "Speaking of, I would actually like to meet her. Can you tell me the way?" Applebloom shouldered her bag and smiled. "I got something even better for you. I show you the way. I need to go to her anyway, because she needs my help for gathering new herbs." She looked very proud for that assignment, so Zexis concluded it wasn´t something that happened regulary. He was proven right, when Sweetie Belle exclaimed: "Thats great! You think its a sign that she trusts you more?" "Nah, she probably just needs some help. Thats all." Applebloom threw Scootaloo a dirty look for that remark. "Did somebody spit in your soup, today? You have been cranky the entire time." The pegasus just shrugged. Then her eyes catched something behind Zexis shoulder and she scowled. "Speak of Discord...", she mumbled. "Have to go. Dirt Hoof is looking at me. He gets real cranky, when I´m not on time." With that she pushed Zexis rudely to the side, or at least tried with her small frame, and walked towards the schoolgate. When Zexis turned around, he saw that she was going to a fat unicorn stallion, who was waiting for her. His coat had the colour of a greasy green and his black mane was flat and oily. When Scootaloo was near him, he layed his right arm on her shoulders and one could see how she shivered in disgust. But she didn´t pull away and instead let herself be lead away by her caretaker. The Zebra had to agree with Roseluck. That guy was a total creep. Unlike the mare however, Zexis smiled at that discovery. Another opportunity... In the Everfree "You make that trip every time!?", Zexis exclaimed out of breath. His mohawk had string of hair falling in his face, and there were numerous cuts and bruises on his body. Applebloom, on the other hand, was completely unharmed and walked with a relaxed smile on her face. "Oh, come on. It wasn´t so bad. The Rockodile even spit you out. They almost never do that, once they bite." "Yeah, but only because I managed to kick his gum! Where were you actually at that time?" "On the path. I told you not to stray away. But, nooo. You had to take that magic stone in the river. Of course a rockodile jumps at you. Next time, listen to me, understood?" Zexis clenched his teeth, but relented. "Okay, okay. Sorry, won´t happen again.", he admitted. At least, he got his last ingedrient out of that near-death experience, so not everything was bad. Still, it grated on his nerves to be criticized by a filly. Even if she was right! Finally, after half a hour of walking, they arrived at a small cottage. It looked like someone had taken a tree, hollowed it out and put all manner of trinkets, mask and charms inside of it. Even the exterior was clad in fetishes and talismans. Zexis even recognized some from his hometown, especially a mask, that was said to hold a spirit that warded of evil. A prickling feeling of danger crawled over his skin. "And here we are.", said Applebloom and knocked on the door. "Zecora, its me, Applebloom. I brought a guest." The door opened and Zecora stepped outside. She was about Zexis size and styled a similar, if a little bit unkempt, mohawk. She was wearing a thick brown robe, that still couldn´t hide her impressive jugs and wide hips, and several gold ring around her neck with another pair as earrings. Her blue eyes shined in the dark light and fixated almost immediatly on Zexis. Applebloom cleared her throat. "Zecora, meet Zexis. He arrived yesterday in Ponyville and wanted to meet..." Further she didn´t get, before she was interrupted by Zecora, who stepped out her hut and positioned herself between the young filly and Zexis. "You are not welcome here, stranger." Her words were heavy and gave her deep voice an alluring touch. "Go back where you came from." Zexis blinked confused. "I´m sorry. Did I offend you? I haven´t even done anything.", he said trying to step around her to Applebloom, but the hermit blocked him. "What are you doing, Zecora? Zexis is friendly!", asked Applebloom, confused because of the sudden hostility. It became even more unsettling, when the zebra mare pulled out a horned pony skull, whose eyes were shining in a dark red light. "Bad mojo sorrounds you, stranger. Leave this place. Leave my home!", she spat and reached in her pockets to pull out a talisman. Applebloom stepped in front of her. "What are you doing? He has done nothing wrong! What is bad mojo? Zecora, stop!" The talisman began to glim in an eery light and again Zexis skin began to prickle. He had to get out of here quickly! Something told him, he would not like what Zecora would conjure up. He threw his hands in the air, in a gesture of exasperation. "Fine! I see, when I am not welcome!", he said angry and turned around. "I don´t have time for Juju or whatever you have there, anyway." He sounded a lot more confident than he was feeling, considering he could practically taste the power from that talisman. "See you later.", he said to Applebloom and strolled off. Only when he was out of sight, he began to run. Ponyville Hospital Nurse Redheart was waiting for him in a casual outfit. Like everything in a Equestria, her clothing was styled to be as restrictive and unalluring as possible, with a red sweater and a long black skirt, that was reaching down to her ankles. Still, she looked nice and most off all safe, after that encounter with Zecora. Zexis was smiling at her, a hand resting at the small pouch of powder in his pocket. He had grinded down the ingredient he possessed now, before he got to her. This date would be the test run for the Suggestion Powder. "Looking good.", he said. The lie came easy from his lips. Good looking she would be, when she was finally letting out those tits! But that would take a while. Redheart rolled her eyes, but a smile had crept up. "Spare me you compliments. Can we just get that behind us?" She turned around and walked towards the market. Zexis shrugged his shoulders and followed her. They sat down at a small diner, with look on the castle. There were a few pairs sitting around them, but none of them were close enough to eavesdrop, Zexis made sure of that. Other than that it was a lovely spot, perfect for nice chat and a little seduction. A waiter appeared. "A strong coffee, please.", ordered Redheart and looked at Zexis, who nodded. "Make it two." Then she focused on Zexis. "So, lets see, if this is really worthwhile..." ... "And you see, thats why it is actually considered a compliment in Zebrica, when someone is....appreciating your body.", explained Zexis. They had been talking for an entire hour already. On the first opportunity, he had spiked the coffee with powder, but the effect was still not showing. Was the dosage too small? Nurse Redheart was now in a more relaxed state of mind. "That explains your behaviour and I apologize for the misunderstanding.", she said and took another sip from her cup. "Still, when in Equestria, do as the equestrians do. You really should keep in...." She suddenly trailed off and her pupils began to dilate. Zexis grinned. About time! He leaned forward, to make sure nobody listened in. Then he began his commands. "But thats not what you really think. Is it, Redheart?" The nurse blinked slowly and her expression became confused. "What.....do I....think?", she asked. Zexis´ grin got brighter. "I think, you want cultural differences. Zebrica sounds like an interesting culture, right?" It took some time, but she nodded finally. "Yes...that sounds....about right." "In fact, there may be some things Equestria could learn from them. After all, its nice to be appreciated. Even if its just the looks.", Zexis continued. Again the mare nodded. Indicating, that the suggestion had taken hold. "You as nurse should know, after all a healthy body helps towards a healthy mind. And we should show how healthy we are." That seemed to work better, because she reacted faster to the last suggestion. "You´re right. I....haven´t thought about that." Now Zexis was hooked. He leaned even closer. His muzzly close from touching hers. "I think, you should set a good example yourself. How about showing me that healthy breasts of yours?" He smiled hungry. Redheart frowned however and her eyes became clearer for a moment. "No! That is....preposterous.", she said with a raised voice. Shit!, thought Zexis and began to paddle back immediatly. "Of course, of course. That was...just a joke, haha! Just a joke...." He looked anxiously around. Thankfully only one or two looks were thrown in his direction. Most of the other guest at the diner were paying them no mind. Remember, small suggestions. She is obviously not ready for ideas, that go against her ideals., he reminded himself and focused once again an Redheart. "But seriously, isn´t it difficult to properly examine your patients, when there is such a social...barrier against undressing? I mean, how are you supposed to help, if they are too ashamed for that simple act?" The mares eyes dulled once again and she nodded, falling back into trance. "Yes, sometimes it is...difficult too convice them to cooperate. But what can I do? Thats how we are." Zexis shook his head. "Thats not true. I think your patients just need more than simple reassurance. They need to feel comfortable. You need to feel comfortable." "What...do you suggest?" The stallion grinned once again. "Well, I have a few ideas..." ... A few minutes later, Zexis clapped in his hands and stood up. "Well, that was a nice and enlightening conversation. We should do that again." Redheart blinked, as if she just woken up, and then looked around confused. "What? I...I mean....what?", she stammered, clearly not remembering the last twenty minutes. Zexis smiled "I think you had a great impact on me, Redheart. I really thank you for that date. Tomorrow, same time?" The nurse was still trying to get her bearings, but the powders after-effects made that difficult, so she just mumbled: "Tomorrow....? Eehm, okay, i guess?" "Great!", the Zebra said, "I already paid the waiter. See ya!" He waved goodbye to the confused nurse and walked off. He saw, how Redaheart stood up and shook her head, before she seemed to remember something and walked in the direction of the next boutique. He grinned wide. The experiment was a full success! He just needed to adjust the dosage. And in the next few days he could observe, how effective the changes he made would be. He turned around and walked towards the market. For Roseluck, Lily and Daisy he already got an idea. ... At the Flower Shop "Hey girls, what do you think of tea?" New Relationships unlocked! Bird Hoof Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 8/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Zecora Willpower: 8/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Relationships updated! Nurse Redheart Willpower: 5/10 - 2 Corruption: 0/10 + 3 Lust: 3/10 + 1 Secrets: locked Traits: submissive, locked New events! 1. Orphanage 2. Castle of Friendship

My Little Corruption

Lies and Secrets

Okay I will keep it short this time. One: stay away from Zecora. She is a quite powerful herbalist and has lived long enough under ponies to adapt their culture and habits. Applebloom doesn't seem to suspect anything yet. Two: like your date with redheart showed, the Suggestion Powder has its limits. Don't try to overstep them. It is a bad idea. Three: Scootaloo could be a useful ally if you manage to befriend her. I suggest you head to the orphanage and maybe do something about Bird Hoof. Four: The flower girls have many social contacts. That is both good and bad. They could introduce you to more ponies, but any changes will be noticed quite easily and a smart pony could trace them back to you. Thus you have to be very careful at first. Test your boundaries but be careful. You might have to reverse everything so maybe you plant a trigger to undo everything you did. LEAVE MY DOMAIN AT ONCE!!! Yeah, calm down big one. I'm already gone. fades away into darkness WHAT? HOW?! Magic. ....BZZZT.... Click! Well thing are starting to get interesting I see. You did excellent work with Nurse Redheart but be careful how you word your suggestions to her we do not want her to act to unusual around her friends and those who know her. I recommend that you link your previous suggestion to her to surface when she is alone with you as a safety precaution, we can get rid of them later when we have more secure power base. Now about our Zecora problem, for now leave her be we are not strong enough yet. However, we will need to reassure Applebloom after she saw how Zecora reacted to us I would recommend that you tell her that you and Zecora come from two tribes that use to fight a lot and that some resentment remains between the tribes. Hopefully these will set her mind at ease and you can suggest that she should not talk to Zecora about you cause it will only upset her further. Th job at the school is a good opportunity we should look into it we most definitely could use the extra bits and can secure more ingredient for our potions. It would also make us look extremely good to the community cause every one trusts teachers right . Now lastly I recommend going to the Orphanage we need to know more about Bird Hoof and see if we can make him into a pawn. Notice I say pawn and not ally,He already has a reputation for being creepy and we don't want to be associated with that in these early stages, but if we could get something to blackmail him with he would be a good pawn and as we grow in power he will become a willing pawn when we show him the rewards for serving us loyally. It also my be a chance to get Scootaloo to like us more, if she changes her attitude towards us then it would reassure Applebloom and once again stem any repercussions that may occur due to her seeing how Zecora acted towards us. From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division 'A Priority one Transmission coming in' *The mirror emits a crackle, and a blacked out bipedal form appears.* Congratulation, agent of corruption. Your work with Nurse Redheart is beyond my expectations. From this point on, our analysis is there are two paths before you. These paths have been assigned to code names 'Monarchy' and 'Democracy' respectively. Path 'Monarchy' is to visit Princess Twilight Sparkle. Path 'Democracy' is to visit the Orphanage. Both paths have their advantages. 'Monarchy' lets you immediately be introduced to a princess, which is not to be taken lightly. She would be the pony anyone who has a problem with you, would go to. Even if you do not corrupt her immediately, having a rapport with her would be quite useful in such a serious. However, this path is not without risks. The fact is, she is in communication with Princess Celestia,and is an Element of Harmony. Even letting her leak some minor worries into a letter could lead to Princess Celestria's immediate response. Of course, this may be useful once you have been suitably empowered. Being able to prepare for Princess Celsestia, may make the difference between success, or failure. Once you did have both Princess Celstria and Pincess Twilight, Luna would be an easy target. Once you have the ruling majority, the ponies under their rule would be quickly ... convinced, of the truth of our ways. 'Democracy' is a much slower force. While 'Monarchy' allows you to quickly issue a coup de grâce against the puritan godly beings that rule Equestria, 'Democracy' converts the common folk. By visiting the orphanage, you are able to reach the ignored youth of Ponyvill. If while you were meeting with the headmaster of the orphanage,you could arrange for you to 'volunteer' to help out. This action allows you some unsupervised access to the young fillies, and improves your reputation throughout the town. If you could partner this with the job opportunity as a substitute teacher, you would have plenty of time to stow our corrupted seed. Literally or metaphorically, as I am sure that your body is begging to find release. Of course there is a problem with this course of action. There is only so much time in a day, and juggling your work at the flower shop, a job as a substitute teacher, and volunteer work would be difficult. Perhaps you could start giving a few 'lessons' to the flower-trio so that you could have more time off? I am sure that you could find a way to balance it all. Once again, Zexis was woken up by the morning call of a rooster. He was lying on his bed, with the Magic Stones, Plants and other Curiosities open on his nightdesk and a raging boner. His prick stood proud and greeted the morning sun in all its glory. Zexis grinned. Even though these ponies were as tight about a good fuck as a noose, one had to admit, that there were some real beauties among them. At least worth jacking off for one hour. In his fantasies he had this purple alicorn princess speared on his cock, moaning like the needy slut she was, while he fucked all the unnecessary braincells out of her. Towards his hooves layed Scootaloo bound and gagged, with a dildo up her tight cunt. Her friend Applebloom was giving him a lapdance, while Sweetie Belle was fucked by random stallions, her innocence shattered and her body defiled by degrading markings. Damn, just thinking about it let Zexis really question his patience with these ponies. It was about time that someone showed these mares the joy they lacked in their lifes. His eyes fell upon the other two books, he got from the library. Equestria for Dummies and Summary of Euqine History. These books showed him the heart of the problem. Apparently over one thousand years ago, Celestia had enacted the so called "Purity Law", which had placed severe restrictions on any sexual actions. Prostitution got outlawed, Abstinence was envoked and any kind of promiscious behaviour became socially unacceptable. Now these laws had been loosened over the last century, but only slightly. And for Zexis it showed, just how outdated Equestria was. He had been right in his plan to change that. But, on step at a time. He stood up and looked down on his erection. It was time to see wether or not yesterdays experiment had been a success. He put on his clothes, packed his prick inside his tight jeans, so it was visible, and walked downstairs. Roseluck and Daisy were the ones tending to shop, when Zexis arrived. The redhaired earthpony saw him and smiled. "Good morning, Zexis. Hope you got a good sleep." Then her eyes wandered down. Zexis tensed, expecting another breakdown like yesterday. Instead of shrieking however, Roseluck just frowned. "Geez, couldn´t you have taken care of your package before you came down?", she asked annoyed. Daisy just stared at the outline of his penis, her mouth light open. Zexis gave his best not to grin like an idiot and instead tried to look remorseful, without much success. "Sorry, forgot about it.", he said and walked towards the small cabinet, where the teacups stood. "Where is Lily? Wanna make some tea for us. Since yesterday went so well.", he asked. The question seemed to wake Daisy from her daydreams. She akwardly cleared her throat. "She is outside watering the roses. Should be finished in about a few minutes.", she answered, trying not to look in Zexis direction. The Zebra just smiled. "You want to make this a morning ritual, or what?", Roseluck asked jokingly. "Why not? Tea is perfect for relaxing and starting fresh in a new day. I thought you could use that." This time Zexis grinned openly. Roseluck smiled back, misunderstanding his glee. "Well, you are not wrong about that." ... All three mares stared blank into empty space. Their teacups were halfempty and Zexis was standing before them, barely able to hold in a laughter. Yesterday he had put a slightly stronger dosage of the suggestion powder into the tea, than he had with Redheart. It had worked much faster and he had been able to put two basic commands into the head of the mares. Now it was time to reinforce those commands. He cleared his throat and commanded: "You trust me. You know, even though you just got to know me, that I am more confident, more capable and knowledgable than you." He waited a few moments and finally all three nodded. Roseluck a bit hesitantly, but she was the more independent one of them, so that was to be expected. Still, they reacted faster than yesterday and without question, which meant that the suggestion had begun to take hold. "There is in fact, nothing really wrong with my actions. They may be weird, but that is only because you simply do not understand the deeper meaning behind them.", he said, reinforcing it once again. And again they nodded, faster this time. Zexis stepped closer and began his second command he started yesterday. "You want to adjust your living standards to my needs. Get a little bit looser with rules, when we are private." It was due to this idea, that Roseluck had become not quite so agigated with Zexis flaunting of his endowments. The endgoal was it, to make them completely amieable, maybe even eager, to those "sexual" actions. The keyword was "private" here. Because Zexis knew, that it would only lead to unwanted attention, should those three suddenly start stripping in the open. No, for that to happen the town needed a little bit more prepwork. "You want to relax in my presence. You know, that you are safe. That nothing can harm you, as long as I am here. You appreciate that, don´t you?", he continued. "Yes, we do...", answered Lily, sounding sleepy, as if she was just getting out of bed. Zexis stepped to Daisy, who began to breath harder, the closer he came. Even under the drug, her face reddened with, Zexis knew now, arousal. His hand touched her chin and pulled her face up, so she looked him the eyes. "Maybe some of you...love me for it.", he whispered. And while Roseluck frowned confused and Lily didn´t react at all, Daisy became beet-red and answered breathless: "Yes...." A slight wetness trailed down her left leg. It took all of Zexis discipline, not to suddenly jump at her and ravage her in front of her friends, but he managed to hold himself together. This was too important to fuck it up now. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear: "You desire me." "Yes.." "You want me." "Yes." "You will do anything for my approval..." That last one was risky, considering the conditioning was still fresh. But any doubts were soon dispelled as Daisy looked up to him, her eyes no longer glazed, but filled with adoration and lust. "Yeeessss..." Zexis grinned at that sight. One down. First step completed. ... "Aaaaand that was it for today.", declared Lily, when she turned the store sign from "Open" to "Closed". She turned around and stretched a tense arms. "Good work, team." Roseluck nodded and closed the register. "Good work, indeed. We are over the average today. And that even before we open our new Remedy-Section." She looked in the direction of the crates, that had been delivered today. "I think, business will especially pick up, once we got that going for us." Zexis smiled proudly. He stood with Daisy by the flowers, picking them up and moving them back into the shop. Lily walked over to the crates and inspected them. "Anyone got an idea, why we have ordered Moonlight Beets? Isn´t that needed for aphrosidiacs?", she asked and looked questioningly at Zexis. He just shrugged his shoulders. "There are multiple applications for them.", he explained, "For example, they are very useful as muscle relaxant. So no issue there." Roseluck looked not convinced. "I don´t know. Someone could have issues with the fact, that we are selling a potential..." "Rose.", Zexis interrupted her firm, "It is not an issue." For a moment the redhaired mare seemed to object, but then she hesitated. Her gaze went back to the crates, and Zexis could see the doubts on he face. Then Daisy chimed in, throwing her arms over Zexis back and leaning her head on his shoulder. Her hair smelled like cherry and her breast were comfortably close. "I think, when Zexis said its okay, it is okay. He knows more about this stuff, than we do." That seemed to resonate, as both Roseluck and Lily nodded and went back to their chores. Zexis turned around and smiled at Daisy. "Thanks for assist, sweetie.", he said. Daisy, again, went red at that compliment, but smiled back and giggled. Then she noticed something and took two steps back. Her eyes were fixated on Zexis proud cock, pressing itself once again against his tight jeans. Her lust was now evident, as she licked her lips and her left hand went absently towards her crotch. But before either she or Zexis could say something, they were interrupted by Lily. "Zexis?" The Zebra groaned in frustration, but forced a smile on his lips, while he turned towards his cockblocker. "Yes, Lily?" "Applebloom was here a few minutes ago, while you were in the storage. She wanted to talk to you." That got Zexis attention. What wanted Applebloom? Had Zecora told her something? Was she going to question him? Anyway, it may also be an opportunity for him, to give her a convincing lie, so she wouldn´t get caught between him and Zecora. The last thing he needed was the angry shaman getting the townsfolk all uppity. "Good. Where exactly?" "At the schooldbuilding. She is waiting for you." The Zebra nodded. "You manage without me, girls.", he said and strolled of. "Understood.", came it back three times. All three hadn´t realized, that they had just answered a command, instead of a request. At the School Zexis saw Applebloom standing alone in front of the blackboard. The filly sported once again a strong working shirt with some trousers today. Still, the fabric couldn´t hide her strong legs and her, for age, well defined rear. She had a sullen look on her face, that only lit up slightly, when she saw him coming. "I am so sorry, about what happened yesterday.", she said, after they had exchanged greetings. "Zecora wouldn´t explain. Quite honestly, I don´t know what her problem is." Zexis stopped himself from sighing in relief. Thankfully that bitch had been tightlipped. He wasn´t quite sure, why he didn´t want her investigating him, but still. Maybe he was still miffed about her behaviour. Still, what should he tell Applebloom? He needed to come up with an convincing lie, that she wouldn´t double-check with the zebra-mare. In the end, he said: "Look, Applebloom. I think I know, what her problem was." "I had made some inquiries, from which tribe she is coming from and it may be a explanation for her behaviour.", he said cautiously. Applebloom however nodded. "Right, the Wakanga tribe." Zexis blinked. Well, that was convenient. That way, he didn´t need to think of a name. "Right, Wakanga. How do you know that?" "Oh, I saw the emblem, on one of her talismans and asked Twilight. It´s touchy subject for Zecora, although she didn´t tell why." The stallion nodded. "Thats because my tribe, the Chikelus, had attacked the Wakangas a few years ago. A raid, more or less, but it got of hand and things got...ugly." Good, he was getting used to this. It even sounded convincing to him! Applebloom swallowed the lie easy. Her face dropped and she looked sad towards the Everfree. "Oh, that is....just....well, it would explain, why she is here." Zexis put comfortingly a hand on her shoulder. "I expect, her family died that day. Would explain the grudge and why she doesn´t talk about it." Now Applebloom looked back to him. "But, you had nothing to do with that raid, didn´t you?" Zexis shook his head. "Was to young, and frankly I had never been much of fighter. Too much violence in the world already. Don´t need to add to that." Damn, one should call him "Silvertongue"! If this did get on any longer, he could probably make a hero out of himself. Thankfully, before Zexis could go overboard with his tall tale, Applebloom scratched her head in thought and frowned. "I really should talk with her. I mean, it´s bad and all, but it can´t go on, that she hates you. I mean, you are alright, and all. She needs to see that." Oh crap! That was not something, he wanted. "I wouldn´t appreciate that.", he quickly said. Now the filly looked at him strange. "Why not? I mean, you don´t want Zecora angry at you. And I don´t want you two to be enemies. Why can´t we talk this one out?" "Well...thats because...." Zexis wracked his brain, to search for convincing answer. "Imagine if I were to come to you and began digging up your dead familiy members for an argument. Your Grandma, for example. Opening all those old wounds, for what? Something I have no reason putting my nose in." That seemed to hit home. Zexis almost felt bad, when he saw the crestfallen look an Appleblooms face. Bringing up the dead granny was a low blow, but it was the only viable option, from keeping that girl from asking the wrong questions. Instead of doing that, tears began to swell in her eyes. She immediatly brushed them away, trying to look strong, but there was no denial that Zexis words had touched her in a sore place. "That....is a fair point.", she murmured. Then she sighed. "Okay, I won´t press the issue. For now. But no guarantees, when she tries to make applesauce out of you, okay?" Zexis nodded, and once again padded her on her shoulder. "Got it. Don´t you worry your cute head about that. I going to solve that problem, trust me.", he said. Applebloom smiled weak. "Cute....you know, on everypony else, that would sound...invasive." She shook her head and seemed to regain a little bit composure. "But you´re okay, Zexis. Like, really okay. Thanks for the explanation." Zexis smiled even brighter, while in his head he wiped away a few sweatdrops. Crises avoided, for now. Then his eyes went to the blackboard and he remembered the job offer. "Change of topic, if you don´t mind. Do you know who I need to talk to, if I want take the teacher position, offered there?", he asked, pointing at the memo. Applebloom followed his finger. "Oh, you mean the alchemy classes? That would be Mrs. Cherilee, my class-teacher.", she said. Then she seemed to get an idea. "You know what? I´m gonna take care of that and tell her tomorrow that you are interested. I mean, I´m meeting her anyway and you don´t need to chase her through town. As soon as I got an answer, I´m gonna tell you. What do you think?" Zexis didn´t need to ponder that for long. "Deal! I´m going to repay you that." "Ah, no need for that." "Shush, my honor demands it!", he said with slight smirk. Applebloom laughed. "You´re really the nicest zebra stallion I ever met, Zexis.", she said giggling. Zexis raised an eyebrow. "And how many did you meet?" "Just one.", answered Applebloom, grinning. Then she turned around and waved him goodbye. "See ya!" Then she strolled off. "Until next time!", said Zexis. Then, when she was out of sight, he grinned lecherously. "Until next time...my little slut..." Near the Orphanage It was already at night. The sun had gone down and the moon and stars were shining brightly. Most of Ponyville was now asleep and Zexis was going back towards the Flowershop and his bed. He had spend the rest of the day exploring the town and informing himself about any new housings. Sadly that endeavour had proven quite fruitless, as the offers that existed hadn´t met his standard. He had wanted something private for himself, at best with a basement. But the few houses that met that description were financially out of his reach for the moment. Seemed like he would need to sleep in the closet for quite some time, before he could move on. His way home had lead to Orphanage. It hadn´t been a conscious choice in his part. Just a feeling, that he could take the time and look at it. The building wasn´t anything grand. It was mainly built for size, to accomodate the children, instead of appeal. Actually, now that Zexis looked at it, it was really run down. The paint began to peel and some of the windows were broken. Clearly, there hadn´t been much money offered for the Orphanage, which was weird, considering the amount of cooperation one could find in this town. Many of the rooms behind the windows were without light, but one further in the back was still lit. It was situated towards the outskirts of the town, difficult to see and Zexis would have missed it, if there hadn´t been a rythmic thumping coming from that room. His curiosity awakened, the zebra sneaked closer and peaked through the window. What he saw, was quite a sight. The fat unicorn from yesterday, Bird Hoof, was standing naked at his desk. His body glancing with sweat and he himself panting with excitement and exhaustion. Under him layed Scootaloo, the small orange pegasus with her jeans down her legs and her chest pressed against the wooden surface by the weight of her "caretaker". The filly seemed almost tiny in comparison to thick frame of the stallion, while she was rocked in a frantic rythm. Her face was distorted with pain and disgust, although she also seemed to desperately try not to moan. A small amount of cunt juice trickled down her thighs, so there was some arousal, while Bird Hoofs cock worked its way in and out of her pussy. The unicorn snorted frustrated and pulled out for moment, displaying his 8 inches. "Work your hips, kid!", he snarled, smacking the pegasus´ buttocks. "I didn´t pick you up the streets, so you could lay like a dead fish. Move!" With these words he plunged into the tight snatch again, earning a pained whimper from Scootaloo. "Fuck you, fucker!", spat the young girl, refusing to take part in carnal act and looking at him with a hateful glaze. She grabbed the end of the desk to stabilize herself and tensed, as if she was trying turn into wood herself. "That wasn´t...ugh....part...of the fucking....deal!", she spat defiantly. Bird Hoff only huffed. He grabbed the young pegasus and lifted her up, resting her body against his portruding belly. His horn began to glow in a sickly green aura and from his desk a sheet of paper levitated over. "The deal was that I would leave you alone, as long a you get good grades, bitch! Does this look like a good grade to you!?" His pace began to increase and began to punch his dick even further into the small snatch. "I found you in Manehattan, when you were whoring yourself in those fucking garbage-alleys. I protected you from the police. I took you in, gave you food, gave you clothes, gave you LOVE!!" He was beginning to work himself into rage, his hips moving like blur and spit flying from his mouth in all directions. Scootaloo cried out in pain, as he pinched one of her nipples and tears were running down her cheeks, although Zexis could see, that her cunt was dripping. "And that is how you repay me? You wanna end like your mother? Forgotten in some dark alley, drowning in drugs and pressing a child out your cunt? Because thats where you gonna end up if you. Don´t. Fucking. Learn!" He punctuated every last of his word with a hammering of his prick. Then he seemed to reach his peak and quickly pulled out of Scootaloo, holding his cock over her face, before finally unleashing a barrage of jizz all over her mane. The pegasus shut her eyes and tried to pull away, but Bird Hoof held her firm. Then, after he was spent, he let her go. Scootaloo stumbled away, falling down. Without saying a word, she tried to get the semen out of her hair, while her eyes were directed at Bird Hoof, full of fear and hate. He didn´t seem to notice or didn´t care and sat down behind his desk. Then he looked down on the ravaged filly and sighed. "Damn, I needed that." "You really think you can do this forever to me?", spat Scootaloo, tears again welling up, "They will find out. And then they will hang you up upon entrails!" She shivered for anger. Bird Hoof wasn´t intimidated. In fact, he looked bored. As if they had this conversation already a bunch of times. "And you will be disgraced. You know what the law says about whoring, slut. Especially with minors. They gonna throw you in jail. At best, you´re never gonna find a job. And everpony in Ponyville will know you as the little whore.", he said calmly. His eyes wandered over her naked body, her flat chest, her thin waist and her taunt, tight ass. Zexis could see his penis rise again. As could Scootaloo, who swallowed again in fear. But Bird Hoof didn´t touch her yet. He looked tired and bored. "But you´re right, I cannot do this forever. If it were going after me, I would have found a new toy already. But I´m stuck with you. Because you are the only mare in town, who I can fuck, without calling the cops on me. But it´s just not enough. Not enough." He stood up. His flabby belly bouncing. "Get up. I can´t sleep with an erection." Scootaloo tried to crawl away, but Bird Hoof grabbed her slimy mane and threw her on his desk again. She whimpered, but finally relented, parting her legs, while looking away from her rapist. Bird Hoof snorted. "By now, you should have learned to enjoy this. You are only making this harder for yourself." Zexis meanwhile was sitting with held breath under window, holding his raging boner. What was he supposed to do? That was the hottest thing he had seen in the last days, but he wasn´t sure how to proceed. Should he alarm someone? Should jump in and help Scootaloo? Or could he join with this stallion of similar mindset and gain a new ally in Ponyville, while also finally getting some fuckmeat? He was torn. But he also needed to come up with a decision soon... Relationships updated! Daisy Willpower: 2/10 - 1 Corruption: 1/10 + 2 Lust: 6/10 + 2 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Roseluck Willpower: 1/10 - 1 Corruption: 0/10 +2 Lust: 4/10 + 2 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Lily Willpower: 1/10 - 1 Corruption: 1/10 + 2 Lust: 3/10 + 2 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Scootaloo Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 4/10 Secrets: former prostitute Traits: Masochism, locked Bird Hoof Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 8/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: Pedophile Traits: abusive, high sex drive, locked

My Little Corruption

Saved and Bound

It's time to do something incredibly stupid, something that will probably get you noticed by every pony in the town, and make a bunch of friends at the same time. Everyone knows how dangerous the Everfree Forest is, and that window just happens to be looking directly into that dangerous forest. First, Zexis, this is important, control your urge to whack off, that will come later. Second, check the window, obviously it's low enough that you can see through, can you open it silently? (If not, find the closest rock and throw it though the window.) Third, and most importantly of all, KILL BIRDHOOF. Do the right thing and help scootaloo from that scum of unicorn and burn bird hoof deal for her. THe mirror shines, and an alien being steps forward, wreathed in flames. "Zexis my boy, you've done a fine job. But it's important to keep in mind one simple thing. It's much easier to be a tyrant that is loved than one that is feared." The demon says with a cruel smirk. "It would be wise to encourage Scootaloo to confide in you. Make up some cockamamie about knowing a tough situation. Promise to relieve the problem. This will deprive you of relief immediately, but it is smarter." "Second order of business is getting rid of this...filth. Even in the lower realms, harming children before they...mature lands one in the deepest pits of Hades. I suggest finding a spell, or even use the Suggestion Powder under the guise of gaining an ally. With time and effort, you should be able to not only repress his disgusting desires, but, with time, get him to confess, all without implicating Scootaloo as a whore and putting her in your debt. It may seem tempting to gain an ally and access to Scootaloo's body, but trust me when I say that allies like this...pig, will only hamper your success. Whether it is by wanting to know your tricks, or eventually betraying you, or both. Slime like Bird Hoof isn't fit to be on your heel, let alone by your side." "As someone deeply connected to the three children, I'd suggest informing Twilight Sparkle, perhaps even gathering evidence with a camera. With any luck, she'll gut the pedophile for you before he can utter a word." "Above all, remember this, boy. It is much harder to dethrone a benevolent dictator than a feared tyrant. Doing this may not only put Scootaloo in your debt, but it might also give you access to the entire orphanage if you play your cards right. So be careful, take the slime out of the picture and look like a hero...So you can make them love you in other ways behind closed doors. Hehehehehe...AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" if you gone to kill Bird Hoof make it that it looks like a accident. you do not want the police or law enforces to be on your trail. Zexis eyes were practically glued to the window, as he saw Birdhoof entering the young filly a second time. The unicorn didn´t waste time trying to get a slower pace going and instead hammered away, rocking the table and causing Scootaloo to cry out in both pain and pleasure. Rage filled the zebra, as he saw the pegasus getting defiled in front of his eyes. He didn´t know were exactly it came from, but somehow this scene filled him with inexplicable anger. This bastard got to pay! He took off his shirt and wrapped the cloth around his right arm. Then he smashed his protected elbow against the glass, which shattered on impact. The noise startled Birdhoof, who stopped in his movement, to look up. His eyes got wide as he saw Zexis reach through the broken window, unlock it and jump in the room. Cursing he pulled out of Scootaloo, who moaned at the resulting friction, and desperately reached for his pants. "Wait, I can explain..." Further he didn´t get. Zexis fist crashed into his muzzle and the impact threw him in the ground. The zebra grabbed him by his collar and tossed him against his desk. The thing toppled and Scootaloo let out a small shriek, as Birdhoof fell over her. But Zexis wasn´t finished. While the fat unicorn layed groaning on the ground, holding his bloody muzzle and the young pegasus crawled away from him, the zebra reached for one of shards of glass. He picked one up, whose edge glittered with sharpness and walked slowly towards towards the bleeding rapist. When Birdhoof realized Zexis´ intentions, he tried to crawl to Scootaloo, no doubt trying to use her for protection. Zexis snarled at that cowardice and ran up to him. He grabbed the unicorn at his neck and yanked him away, throwing him against the wall. Birdhoof squeaked in panic and held his hands over his head. "Please, I beg you. Spare me. By Celestia, I do anthing you want!", he screamed. ...BZZZT.... Click! Well this is about what I expected, we need to fixed this situation quickly and not get the authority involved. Kick down the door, (after you have check it to make sure that it is possible if not then knock very loudly and when the door opens force your way in), then politely say hello to Scootaloo and Bird Hoof, avoid looking directly at Scootaloo and ask her to get dressed and go to her room while you have a talk to Bird Hoof. If Bird Hoof tries to say anything make full use of your dominant personality to shut him up, also suggest that you have pictures and evidence of what he has done to other previous orphans like Dinky. Be confident and dominate, the situation demands that you do not let Scootaloo or Bird Hoof say a word without your permission. Once you make sure you are alone with Bird Hoof inform him how disappointed you are that he allowed himself to caught in this situation, that this is the act of a novice. Make a suggestion that you are part of a larger group of people who are changing Equestria for the better and that they had planned on letting him join but it is clear to you that he is not worth it. However you are a reasonable stallion and are will to give Bird Hoof a second chance if he submit to your authority and makes a binding oath to Eros in Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit (The name of your leader). This oath should included that he does not mention the about is oath to anyone other than you and those involved in the organisation that you introduce him too. He will also follow all your orders you give him in both wording and spirit. Do not let him leave or give him any room to get out of this situation until he swear his allegiance even if that means you have to beat the living shit out of him. Once he has made the oath give him an order to leave Scootaloo alone for the time being, he has fuck that up enough already you will be handling her from now on. He will not be allowed to do anything sexual for at least two weeks at this time if he has obeyed he will be rewarded. He is also gather information on all possible candidates to join the organisation but will not approach them in any shape or form both males and female are to be on the list, we are an equal opportunist organisation after all. Lastly he will allow us to hit him and give him a black eye when asked what happened he is to say he was clumsy and fell down some stair or that he ran into a tree or something like that. Once this is done go to Scootaloo room and sit next to her provide some comfort and ask her about how she got into this situation. Listen to her story and only say comforting words to her, if she ask what going to happen tell her you have dealt with Bird Hoof and he will not be touching her any more but she will still have to live with him cause if this get out she will be in trouble due to the stupid purity act which is the furthest thing from purity you have ever heard. When she bring up she use to be a prostitute make a comment about Equestria being a backward country when she ask about your comment or when it is appropriate explain that where your from a prostitute is one of the most well respected professions in your culture. That they have wealth, status and power(Make them appear to be like geishas from old Japanese culture) and that everyone in your village are given lessons from them when they are ready and those that do extremely well are taken in as apprentice if they like. Maybe the current leader of the prostitutes in your village is a pony who had to leave Equestria cause her cutie mark was sexual in nature and Equestrian laws would of prevented her from doing what her cutie mark told her. Once she is calm down offer to come back tomorrow and talk some more and bring some tea so that you can talk to her more and make sure Bird Hoof follow through with his promise. The key to this plan is to to be in complete control of the situation do not let any one question you or answer back and do not let them take the initiative. We are in control and it about time we put our dominate personality to use. your sincerely From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division Well Zelix, You got a big decision to make. I would say you need to get Dirt Hoof as an ally. I realize that this would be a big risk, but can you really send the only other stallion in Ponyville, that has the same mentality as you do, to jail. He knows this town and may be able to help give more ideas about how to corrupt everypony. Don't make this friendship public though. It could hurt your reputation. On another note, great job with getting the Flower Trio under your control. Do more suggestions on them and let's see if you can get yourself some fresh pussy. Also good job with looking up laws and history. We will be able to help out with ideas with the more information you give us. Well, my dear Zexis, it seems that you have a tough choice to make... Tough for you, that is. The best choice would be to report this, however, as that would allow you to make 'friends' with Scootaloo. Making friends with Scootaloo is vital, as she has a sister-like bond with the Element Of Loyalty; Rainbow Dash. Having Rainbow's aproval will be invaluable in the long run. Hello? Hello? Mick, is this on? It's recording? Okay. Ahem. A letter to the Zebra avatar designated Zexis Chikelu. Dear mister Chikelu, I am here to advise you against the selection of one mister Bird Hoof as a potential ally. While such a decision may potentially lead to short-term results in your favour, more specifically the free use of a youngling as a vessel to relieve your sexual tensions, you would lose much public reliability, as it is noted within the local community that Bird Hoof is shady and mistrusted, so any association with him in such a light would reflect badly on you. Furthermore, should his transgression ever come to light he would be all to eager to throw you to the guards as a scapegoat, and assuming you don't find yourself arrested, you would more than likely be run out of town. However, should you attempt to save the filly, questions will be raised on as to why you were, for want of a less unsavoury word, lurking around the orphanage at that time of night, and while there are any number of excuses, you will doubtlessly become the victim of gossip and hearsay, which can be almost as damning, and that's without factoring in the potential criminal charges of Breaking and Entering and/or Trespassing, abduction and potentially assault. My recommendation is to find the local authorities immediately and give them a 'revised' explanation of what happened and ask Scootaloo be turned over to your care until a better home is found. This will leave you with the appearance of an upstanding citizen who openly opposes the sexual exploitation of minors, but bring one of your stronger sources of opposition within immediate access to the powders, thereby furthering your research into its effects on minors. After all, when venturing into a largely unknown area of research, it is best to test all of ones limitations, as I'm sure you agree. Signed, The Director of the Randomocity Program. The red mist over Zexis eyes began to dissipate. Maybe it had been Birdhoofs plea or maybed something else. Anyway, he was somehow able to think straight again. Killing this....bastard wouldn´t help him. Heck, in the worst case, he would probably get arrested for murder. No, this situation called for a different solution. He looked down on the beaten stallion, still the shard in his hands. "Why should I let you live?" His voice was strained. He was barely keeping himself from yelling. Birdhoof quivered, but in his eyes shined a ray of hope. He licked his lips. "I....I can help you. Whatever you want. You´re this zebra fellow, right? I heard about you. I can....I can..." His eyes flickered through the room, trying to get something, that would keep this zebra from killing him. Then they settled on Scootaloo, who was cowering naked in the corner, her eyes wide with fear. He pointed his fat finger at her. "Her! You can have her! You are pent up, right? I can see it. Use her. She won´t tell anypony. She can´t. Use that little whore as you much as..." A backhand from Zexis shut him up again. He was tired of the rambling of this spineless bastard already. Then his eyes went to Scootaloo. Thye traveled over her tight ass, the bruises on her rump, the flat A-cup breasts and the semen-stained purple mane. Then they lingered on her face, took in her fear and desperation. He remembered her arousal during the raping. The wetness between her legs, she didn´t seem to notice, was still there. "Get your clothes and go to your room. Don´t tell anpony, until I come to you.", he said. His voice was firm and full of authority. The young filly looked at him and after his word finally sank in, she nodded. She gathered up her clothes, threw a last, fearful look towards Zexis and the cowering Birdhoof and left the room. Zexis turned back towards his victim. He now had a choice to make. He could get this rapist reported to the local authorities. That would certainly earn him some points within the community and help with his reputation. On the other hand would it also reveal Scootaloos past, which would maybe get her arrested, but most certainly ruin her social life forever. Something she would never forgive him. It was also not assured, if his story would be believed, considering the prejudice towards zebras here. The second option was to make Birdhoof into his ally. He didn´t like the guy. But he managed to turn the pesky pegasus into a subservient pleasure slave. Sure he didn´t do a very good job of it. But for an amateur, he showed promise. There was also the fact, that he got access to a number of resources, as the head of the orphanage. And he could get Zexis closer to the kids in this town, making corrupting them that much easier. But it wasn´t clear, if he would make a good and reliable ally. It wasn´t hard to believe, that he would turn against Zexis, once he got the opportunity. And the zebra wasn´t sure, if he wanted to be associated with that creep. Birdhoof was watching him with wide eyes, as Zexis pondered over these options. Then the zebra made his decision. "Alright, here is the deal. I won´t rat you out, and in turn you´re gonna help me.", he said. Zexis sat down on the chair, who had survived the fight and layed down the shard. He figured, that he didn´t need to make this "alliance" public. That, and he needed allies in this town. Sure, Birdhoof was not the best material, but you had to start somewhere. This guy didn´t need mental conditioning or drugs. If Zexis could give him what he wanted, which was simple sexual release, he would help him on his own. And he didn´t had much of a choice anyway. It would also be the best option, for getting Scootaloo on his side or better said, below his groin. Birdhoof blinked several times. He didn´t seem to comprehend the situation. "Wha....helping with what?" Zexis grinned, showing his teeth. "Corrupting Ponyville, of course.", he said, "The way things are currently going cannot go on. All these stallions being curbed of their natural rights. All these mares denying themselves their pleasure. I want to change that." Finally Birdhoof seemed to realize, he wasn´t going to die tonight and relaxed a little. He still was confused, however. "I...don´t get it. What do you mean changing?" Zexis rolled his eyes. "By whatever god...I want stallions like you, to live the life they should actually have. Not creeping around, trying to find whatever relief they can get. Things like tonight only happen, because you can´t indulge in these all so natural urges." He lifted himself up and walked towards Birdhoof, who immediatly pressed himself against the wall. Zexis leaned close, his stare intense and with a commanding presence. "Work under me and you can fulfill your every wish." He grinned. "You see, now? I just want to help you." The unicorn sniffled. His hand touched his bloody muzzle. "You have strange way of showing that.", he murmured. Zexis snorted. In his eyes, once again, was a glimmer of his earlier anger. "Because you were an idiot! What would have happened, if it hadn´t been me? What if someone less...understanding would have catched you? Have you any idea how lucky you are?" He leaned back. "I just wanted to show you, what would happen, if someone else had seen you. A lesson, if you will." Birdhoof blinked again confused. He looked at his muzzle, the toppled desk and the broken window. Then he nodded. "Yeah.....I guess that makes...sense." Gained skill: Smooth tongue Zexis grinned victorious. Birdhoof was pudding in his hands. The guy was so intimidated and relieved, that he wasn´t dead yet, that he would do anything, currently. He needed to capitalize on that. "I am going to give you two choices. You can either work under me, liberating Ponyville from this sexual repression or...you can refuse and try to continue your miserable existence as pedophiliac rapist." He glared at the unicorn. "It goes without saying, that the last one will lead to an rather unfortunate....ending." Birdhoof swallowed. A drop of sweat trailed down his forehead. "I...I think, I´m going with option one.", he said meekly. A smile crept up Zexis´face. "Then its a deal. I hope this will be beneficial partnership for both of us. For your sake.", he said. Then he gave Birdhoof his hand and helped him to his hooves. "For now, you should stay low. That means, no creeping around, no leering and do not touch Scootaloo." "What! But I...." Birdhoofs protests died in his throat, once Zexis glared at him. He shrunk back. "I...I mean, yes. Of course. Whatever you say. She won´t have to worry about me." The zebra-stallion nodded and turned towards the door. "Have a little patience. Before the end of this, I will make sure, you have your fill of fuckmeat.", he said, opening the door. Then he remembered something. "Where is Scootaloos room again?" "Third one to your left.", mumbled Birdhoof, trying to finally pull his trousers on. "Thanks", said Zexis. "And do not forget: You only live because of me." Then he walked out of the room. Birdhoofs pale face made clear that the message had sunk in. ... The corridor was dark. Behind the many doors was not light and it seemed that many of the rooms were uninhabited. Which made sense, Birdhoof was not so stupid as to conduct his nightly fucksessions in tightly packed quarters. Instead he had isolated his and Scootaloos room, from the rest of the occupants. Which also had the added bonus, that nopony had heard the commotion. Behind one door was light. That was, where Scootaloo slept, Zexis realized. He stopped before the room and knocked. When no answer came, he opened. Scootaloos room was spartanic, to say the least. Beside a bed, a wardrobe and a desk with a chair there wasn´t really much more. In one corner layed a pair of well used rollerblades and the wall over the bed was plastered with posters of a cyan mare with multicolored mane. Scootaloo was lying on her bed, still naked, and just rubbed her mane with a towel. When she saw Zexis, she dropped the towel and tried to cover her body with her hands. Her eyes were lifeless, her demeanor defeated. Zexis leaned against the door and crossed his arms. After a while of silence he asks: "Are you not gonna say anything?" Scootaloo looked at her naked legs and shrugs. "What is there to say? You saw everything. Probably heard enough, as well. I´m done for. Birdhoof is going to jail and I´m going with him." She began to shiver and wrapped her arms around herself. "Everpony will know what I have done. What I am. They will hate me. They will be disgusted by me. Nopony wants to be friends with a slut." Tears began to trail down her face and she sobbed. "Well, I don´t mind being friend with a slut.", said Zexis calmly. Scootaloo stopped crying and stared at him. Her eyes were filled with disbelief and fear. Then her expression grew hostile. "Don´t fuck with me! Dou you really think this is the time for a joke.", she said out loud, with a mixture of anger and repressed tears. But Zexis didn´t flinch. "I´m not joking. I don´t care, if you are a whore.", he said sincere. He wasn´t lying. Scootaloo could be, and probably was, considering the absence of competition, the greatest slut in Ponyville and he wouldn´t mind. In fact, he liked it. "Listen, where I come from, you would not be so bad off." The anger faded once Scootaloo began to understand, that Zexis wasn´t lying. Still, there was this disbelief. "But I lost my virginity!", she said, "I get fucked by own caretaker! By Tartarus, I whored myself a few years back!" "And I could honestly not give a fuck about that.", said Zexis. He walked towards Scootaloo and sat beside the naked filly. The pegasus was trying to skid away, but there wasn´t enough room on the bed. "And you know why? Because it is not your fault." Scootaloos ears perked up on that. Zexis was on the right trail. "I mean, how could it be? Did you ask Birdhoof to rape you?" She shook her head. "Did you ask those guys in Manehattan to fuck you? Did you ask to be a whore?" Again she shook her head. "No, I....didn´t." She looked up, he face showing her insecurity and fear. "But why does that matter? I...am not pure anymore." "Oh, Scootaloo.", said Zexis and warpped a arm around her naked shoulder. He could feel she was cold and she shivered upon his touch. "Who cares about that? Are you any less off a pony, because of the state of your pussy?" She blushed at his words, clearly uncomfortable with ease he talked about this. "I know how hard this must be. Living in this land, where everpony judges you because of something you had no control over." His words were sliding down his tongue with ease, worming their way into the ear of the young vulnerable pegasus. She relaxed a little bit. "You don´t even know the half of it. When Birdhoof made his demands...what was I supposed to do? What could I do?" Zexis nodded understandingly. "You couldn´t have done anything. You were trapped in a system that had no place for ponies like you.", he said, "But it doesn´t have to be that way." The filly frowned confused and looked up. "What do you mean?" Zexis smiled friendly. "Where I come from, Prostitution is a honourable profession and while I know that is not the case in Equestria, your situation is similar to a few whores I know from home." On instinct, he leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "You wanna know what their secret is?" Again Scootaloo shivered, but she didn´t pull away. A sliver of curiosity could be seen, rushing over her face. A grin grew on Zexis face. "They accept it." He stood up and pointing towards her naked body, running down his hands on the shape of her hips. "They do not fight their destinies, nor deny they themselves the pleasure of it. They know they are whores, sluts even and they relish in it. Striving to achieve the pinnacle in the arts of the flesh. And most importantly, they are happy with it." He could see, that the gears were turning in Scootaloos mind. She blushed heavily and pulled her towel over her body. "I...I don´t think, I can do that.", she whispered. The headstrong, snarling pegasus was gone. After Birdhoofs abuse and now Zexis influence, all her barriers had been lifted. She was naked, literally, before his eyes. Zexis decided to go one step further and grabbed the towel. With a strong pull, he ripped it out of her hands. "This...", he said, gesturing over her lithe, small body, "...is not something you should be ashamed of. You are fine, the way you are. Even if you are a whore." Especially if you are a whore, thought Zexis. Scootaloo took her towel back, but this time she didn´t used it to hide behind. Instead she looked down her breasts, a hand lingering on a erected nipple, deep in thoughts. Then she shook her head. "I...I don´t know....", she said quietly, "This...all of this...is so sudden. I...need to think about it." Zexis nodded. Behind his tolerant facade however, he was frustrated. He had been so close! Scootaloo had almost given in. But it seemed that the equestrian indoctrination ran strong through society. At least, his words seemed to have left an impression on her. Still, it was time he changed the subject. "Don´t push yourself. Anyway, I have talked with Birdhoof. He will leave you alone now." She looked up again, fear coming back. Zexis held up hands, to calm her. "Don´t worry, I will not report this. Your secret is safe with me. I made him promise, that he will play nice." "Do you think he keep that promise?" Scootaloo looked twoards the door with resignation. Zexis shrugged. "If he doesn´t, I will find a way to keep him in line. You have nothing to fear from him anymore, I will make sure of that." The lie came easy over his lips. He had concluded, that he needed Scootaloo to trust him more. If he could get her to bind herself towards him more, she would be far more receptable for his ideas. The best scenario would be, if he would be her only pillar. If she could trust nobody but him, her shackles towards Ponyville and its "ideals" would break. He put his shirt back on, took Scootaloos pants and threw it on her bed. "I´m going now. If you ever have a problem, don´t hesitate and come to me." With that, he walked towards the door. Before he could open it however, two thin arm wrapped around his belly and he could he feel a warm, naked body press itself against his back. "Thank you...", said Scootaloo. "I...really misjudged you, Zexis." With these words she let him go. Zexis grinned and then walked out in the dark corridor. If you knew, my dear., he thought, If you just knew.... Relationships updated! Scootaloo Willpower: 6/10 - 3 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 4/10 Secrets: former prostitute Traits: Masochism, small breast, agile, submissive New ally! Bird Hoof: gain access to the orphanage, hidden rooms and a confidant in crime New skill! Smooth Tongue Zexis repeated skillful application of charming and misdirections, led him to develop a talent for lying. His now able able to fool anyone of average intelligence without much difficulty.

My Little Corruption

First Interlude

Tartarus, Eros Sanctuary Deep down in the infernal prison, below the last plane of Sin, away from prying eyes and ears, was Eros. The fallen god stood in a huge pool, filled with water and was currently scrubbing his well toned body. The intensity in which he did that, was close to downright fury and his face was contorted with barely held back rage, as he pressed the sponge into his red fur. "Fucking dog and his fucking tongue!", he cursed. When one would look closely he would see, that part of Eros mane was coated in saliva and there were faint marks of teeth in his right buttcheek. "When I ever got out of here I will skin this bloody mutt and..." Eros muttering was interrupted, when the golden mirror, the Corruptor, which layed on his bed, began to emanate a green light. Connection established! Eros looked at the device and his wrath dissipated. He took a deep breath, washed out the last dogspit out of his mane and got up. As always he didn´t bother with clothes and instead let his impressive sexual body breath free. Although the effect was somewhat diminished by numerous bite scars on his legs and upper body. His aura picked up the mirror and brought it before his face. "About time you showed up again.", grumbled the alicorn, "Have you any idea how humiliating it is to serve as a chewtoy for Cerberus? Fucking beast wouldn´t let me go for...one, two....three days!" He tilted the device, so the rest of the room was visible. It was in a poor state. The three-headed dog had run rampart in the cavern, smashing everything that couldn´t withstand his power. Shards and splinters layed everywhere and broken furniture had been piled up in a corner. "Hadn´t got the time to clean up.", apologized Eros and walked towards the empty middle of the room. His horns aura got brighter and suddenly the air began to shift, revealing the throne. "Thankfully, Cerberus is as stupid, as he is strong. I was able to hide both the throne and the Corruptor from him. So our little endeavor here is still a secret.", said the fallen god, as he placed his muscular rear on the seat. "Although there was probably a discharge of energy, that some of the more powerful entities on the surface must have taken notice of. But I wouldn´t worry about that. As long as our avatar succeds in staying out of sight, their suspicions will vanish sooner or later. Speaking of, what is the current status?" Immediatly the screen filled with words and Eros patiently read, as he got a detailed summary of Zexis´ first few days. Then, after he was finished, a smile crept up his muzzle. "Damn, talk about getting things done. Merely a few days in Ponyville and you got your first victims." A lecherous grin parted his lips, as he looked on the profiles of the Flower Trio and Scootaloo. Then his gaze wandered to Birdhoof. "Although I am not sure, wether this guy will be worth the effort or not." He thought for a while, then shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well, you got to start somewhere. And an ally is always preferable, especially so early." Once again his horn flared up and a cupboard, which had survived the previous fight, flew open. Eros´ aura grabbed an old, dusty bottle and flew it, alongside an ornate glass, back to him. He popped the cork and poured himself a drink. A black, semi-transparent liquid flowed into the glass. Eros put the bottle back and took a sip. He closed his eyes as he let the flavour sink in. "Aaah, liquified souls. A rarity, both in Tartarus and on the Surface. I keep a few bottles for moments like these. Nothing like the taste of despair and broken innocence.", he said. Then a new line of text appeared on the screen. Eros saw it and nodded. "Oh, yeah. You have questions, of course. Now is a good time as any to answer them. Bring it." .....BZZZZZT.......Click! Well it look like you finally have some time to your self Eros. So before you get your self started on anything too pleasurable my superior require me to ask you some questions. Ok let see here name, age, place of birth yada! yada! yada! ....RIIIIIP....Well these question are boring i'll write in some bullshit later. What I want to know is how did you break in that Luna bitch cause that sounds like it be a great story might also be useful when our puppet breaks her in. I could properly find the story some where in the archives but hearing such stories from the source is always better than reading what the scribes produce, they always record everything in the same bloody monotonous tone. Speaking of from the source could you hook me up with any first edition books of things like the kamasutra or anything of that nature I would appreciate it. Such items can help me rise up the ranks and the higher rank the more time I can have to study my own interest rather than being told what to do. Anyway I best get back to work. Cause there is no rest for the wicked and I'm more wicked than most. From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division P.S if you have any questions fell free to ask them I tell you what I can. Eros pondered this, while stroking his chin. "Well, would you look at that. I had no idea that the Archive was willing to support my plan. I thought you guys had strict No-Intervention Rule? Although I admit, my knowledge about you is limited. A library between dimensions is rather hard to spy on, if catch my drift. Anyway, back to your question." "Back in the day, when I first tried to conquer Equestria, the Royal Sisters proved to be the biggest obstacle. The military was easy to deal with. The ponies were mostly relying on the goddesses to deal with any threats and so their own defences were lackluster. It didn´t take much effort to subdue and break them. However against Luna and Celestia this was a different story. It was actually surprising how difficult it was to conquer the heartlands around their castle in the Everfree and Canterlot. Their magic was powerful and since they dispatched Discord with the Elements, they had gained an advantage against any corrupting force. Luna was the most active in that time. She would constantly teleport around the land, dispatch her guard and defeat my demons. Celestia on the other hand took to organizing the remnants of the nation. Back then, both of them styled themselves as goddesses instead of princesses and it was closer to their function, if I have to be honest." Eros was taking another sip and his eyes looked into empty space as he reminisced about the old days. "Celestia was worshipped as the Sun and Fertility Goddess. Ironic, right? She had been more promiscious in the past. Had even a harem of stallions around her. Luna however was the Moon Goddess, and that meant she was also associated with Faith and Chastity." A smile crossed his face, as he looked to the screen. "Why I didn´t go for Celestia? Well, would you believe me, if I tell you, that my chances of success on corrupting her would have been marginally lower because she was a Fertility Goddess? I am not kidding. Because she had experiences with Lust and sexual relationships, it was way more difficult to defile her morals. She was in control of her desires, because she was able to satisfy them, if necessary. Now Luna was different story. She had no experience in such things and society back then demanded, that it stayed that way. The moon was pure and so was she." "I began slowly increasing the pressure on her Night Guard. That meant, that she was forced to increase her recruiting tallies. That way, I was able the let some of my incubus infiltrate her forces. Then I let them sabotage the campaigns against my forces, which meant that Luna would spend more time on frontlines to uphold discipline and hold my advance. That isolated her from Celestia. Come forth more pressure from me, which in turn meant more recruits, more infiltratores, more stress for our lovely little Moonie. " Eros took another sip. His massive prick twitchted at the memory and began to rise, as Eros spoke. "Finally I had brought her to the point, where she was barely able to rise the moon. I took the opportunity and disguised myself as her own guard. Thanks to the security leaks, I had created, I was able to slip into the positions as her personal bodyguard. At that point, she was close to her breaking point. I used her momentary weakness and suggested, as her friend, of course, that she should take some time off. Relax a bit, even if its just for a hour. I would take care of everything else." Eros cock was now standing at his full height, quivering in lust over the old success. "That moment, when she relented. It was just for a tiny second, but she actually considered letting go. And that was enough for me. My magic broke through her mental defences and put her to sleep. I then let my Incubus come into her chambers and jack off, coating everything in good thick layer of semen. A few minutes later and the entire room was filled with musk and the stench of lust. After that, I woke her up." "Any other mare would have gone insane on the onslaught of corruption and sex in the air. Any other would have been at my hooves, driving their knuckles into her cunt and begging me to fuck them. Luna was no such mare. Oh no, she resisted. She even tried to put up a fight, that brave thing. But she was exhausted and confused and I was at the height of my power. I defeated her and held her down for my minions. Then I let them ravage her. I had forced her mouth open and let every single one of my Incubus fuck her head. I made sure they would discharge over her body, to let the corruption seep into her. In hindsight, I should have let them fuck her, so that the change would be permanent, but well. Anyway, after the sixth incubus, she began to participate. Mumbled something about letting be it over sooner, but I knew the truth. She began to enjoy this. The corruption took hold. The blowjobs, deepthroats and my constant teasing at her cunt began to take their toll. I had been holding her just before orgasm for over three hours at this point and that her drove nearly insane. She couldn´t comprehend all these new sensations, she never experienced something like that before. She had been completely defenceless before my skills. After five hours she began to ask. After six, she begged. And after seven, she screamed for release. She promised me Equestria, the Elements, her sister just so I would finally fuck her. I let her destroy her crown, suck off my subordinates. I even brought in her guard captain, so she could tell him in his face, that she would resign as a princess and become my fuckpet. Everything, so long as I brought her to that one orgasm." Precum was now dripping of the tip of Eros´cock and he absent mindendly began to stroke it. "I obliged. When I entered her, I could feel her will collapsing. Her brain broke under the most mind-shattering orgasm I had ever produced. Damn, just thinking how her tight virgin cunt had milked me that day...she hadn´t even been able to speak any more. Just babble incoherent, while I restructered her mind with every single pounding. When she came back to some sense, I ordered her to suck of her captain. The poor guy was sobbing at the sight of his goddess jumping on his prick, like a child on a new present. Then he cursed, finally calling her a traitor. Imagine that, it brought her over the egde a second time. Fuck, she even egged him on. Begging him to insult her more. It was glorious!" A laugh shook Eros and his hand stroked over Lunas imagery on his throne. Then his smile slowly vanished. "Then Celestia showed up. I don´t know how she knew what had happened. I suppose, I had took too long in breaking her sister. Or she had known my plan and used Luna as bait from the very beginning. I don´t know. I just remember, that she had the elements with her and that she then used them to both banish me and my demons, and purge my influence from Luna. My greatest victory was turned into my final defeat." His prick was now lying flat on his thighs, any enthuasism gone. Eros took another sip from the glass and coughed. "Gah, not a good memory. Although I hope, that answers your question and gives you something to show off before your colleagues." Eros, Demon Lord of Lust and Desire... we require quite a bit of information and do not have a lot of time to ask. The first I must ask is of dire importance. 1. What is your relation with Discord? If Zecora sensed your touch so easily, he will know the moment he enters Ponyville. We need any and everything that could either help or dam us. 2. How do changelings work here and what are their powers? If they can feed on lust, we may have another ally soon, and a powerful one at that. If not, we will have to be even more careful. Any hints on finding one would also help so we can go in prepared while they are off balance. 3. What milestones will we need to reach to chose another boon for Zexis? I can see how we can earn one for his actions, but some challenges will take to long to grant benefits, and be to risky. 4. What abilities dose Zebra magic have. We have demonstrated an affinity for plants, but nothing extra ordinary. The limits and potentials would help us plan things further. The Lord of Corruption seemed glad over the change of topic. "Well, lets answer these questions top to bottom. First, I don´t know Discord very well. He was rampaging through Equestria, while I fought Celestia and Luna. His reality warping powers created so much chaos that I was forced to stop my armies and contain his madness. I never met him in person, he was more occupied with the Sister than me. Eventually they petrified him and our war continued." "Secondly, Changelings are a known quantity. They can feed on many emotions, but love is the most sustainable one for them. Without it they are forced to suffer almost constant malnutrition. Thats why they infiltrate societies and replace lovers, in order to feed. However this also means they lack a culture themselves and only the queens and their female offspring are really self-aware. The drones are comparable to golems, made of flesh. They follow the commands of their queen, keep themselves alive and that is all. Once in a while a drone with Self-Awareness is born. That one is called a Changeling King and it can lead to uniting the different swarms. That way the changeling nation of Zirrrbabwe came into extistence, for example. But this is a exceptionally rare case and the queens usually kill any potential king in order to quell any upcoming rebellion of the drones. Unfortunately that also means, that Changelings are notorious backstabbers and I would be cautious about any alliance with them. Although the prospect of an abundance of lust, which is second only to love, could be very tempting for them." "On the third question I will come back later. Considering the fourth I would say, that Zebras ability towards magic is an inherently indirect one. Unlike ponies, who channel magic through their bodies, zebras must create foci and other catalysts in order to work their powers. This however means, that any spell and enchantment they create can last for a very long time and can be very powerful, because they can load a lot of energy into one spell. Generally think it about this way, ponies can cast fast, but weak. Zebras cast very slow, but strong. Its one of the reasons, why the zebra nations guard their witchdoctors so jealously. They are able to equip themselves with a shitload of trinkets, amulets and artifact, that can make them into a walking arcane armory. Also with enough training and mental fortitude their affinities can get stronger. Very dangerous. The fact, that such a zebra is currently in Ponyville and skilled enough to feel my influence is nothing good. Although it begs the question what she is doing here. We have to adress that sooner or later." Eros, I have a few questions for you. Firstly, do we have the ability to magically aid Zexis as he becomes more powerful. There are quite a few things that would make him more powerful and are varying degrees of subtle and not so very subtle. Things like him getting a horn for more magical capabilities, mutating plants, other blessings for his body like stamina or wings or something someone else comes up with, granting Zexis the ability to speak to us or at least make him aware we are speaking to him and that we see and hear anything he says and does and making others hear our voices too. The last one being very useful for corrupting more ponies. Secondly, if things get a bit out of control do we have the power to open a portal to a particular part of the immaterium. If the answer is yes then if needed I have a small army of lust filled Slaneshy daemons ready to fuck for all eternity to unleash onto the other side of Equestria. This should give us some extra weeks or even months, depending on whether or not she can outright kill them or when she figures out that the daemons can't live in the materium without a power source. The power source for these daemons is sex btw, well technically it is excess but sex is the easiest way to get power. Lastly, why are you so patriarchal. A female can also be a dominant. Excluding one sex, especially when the sex you are excluding is the majority population, will make us a lot weaker then we need to be. Aside from that not all males are dominant or enjoy being dominant. Also thank you for setting this whole thing up it is rather fun and in the end this will get me a lot of power, if we succeed that is. Eros pointed at the former questions. "Again, I must ask you to wait. I will explain later. Now your second question: Currently we have not enough power to do something like that. Sorry, Archivist, no Kamasutra for you. And for you Dark One, I would advise against it. We are not under pressure anyway and what I remember about Slaaneshs demons is that they have penchant for rather...squicky changes. I would like to have something to fuck, that doesn´t consist of five legs, one eye and three orifices in the wrong places. Not my stuff." Then Eros read the last part. He got quiet for a moment. Then he sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Honestly, I don´t care. I like some dominant females, variation and such. But my main enjoyment is Corruption and Breaking of mares. Its just who I am. That doesn´t mean all my subordinates have to follow that. If someone wants to be under the hoof of a sadistic mare, thats his thing. But don´t expect me to change my way. Can´t teach a thousand year old god new tricks and so forth. And besides..." A grin split his face again. "It seems like there are more than just a few of you, who share my sentiment towards females´ places in society." *a whirlwind of ash descends from the sky, forming into a skeletal ashling who regards Eros carefully through his mirror* "I've been silently watching up till now. Things are progressing well enough, but they could certainly be going better. Our little meat puppet seems a bit headstrong and prone to rash decisions when pressured. I do have a few questions though. Obviously, we seem to be able to influence his thoughts and actions to some degree. The question is, just how far are we able to intervene? The prospect of having no damage-control seems a huge wrench in our endgame." *The ashling taps his jaw thoughtfully, the glowing coals of his eyes glinting* "Another thing, my leige: our toy seems to be learning at an unprecedented rate how to effectively use speechcraft, but there undoubtedly some meatbags that will require more...physical...lessons to become the wanton sluts we all know they need to be. How soon can we see the opportunity to choose some physical traits to augment that process? I hope to have my questions answered, Lord Eros, though I understand if I must be passed over." *the ashling clicks its jaw before disintegrating and blowing away on the wind* Eros raised his eyebrow in suprise. "Well, seems like there are still some Ashlings that survived the Second Great War. Always wondered about that." He stroked his chin again. "Personally, I would like to keep things the way they currently are. Greater control of his mind would make Zexis only erratical, if not insane. Imagine how you would behave, if there multiple voices in your head, screaming and ordering many different things. Suggestions on the other hand, make sure he stays on target and remains believable and inconspicuous. But don´t worry, there will be other ways to intervene once we gather enough power." Hail, Eros. I hope you've fared well, down there in your little hole. The other Three send their regards; especially War has expressed interest in your past. Would you care to tell us a little about your war with Equestria? Injustice and I have both been interested in the reason for your male-domination ways. Don't get us wrong, we enjoy it very much! I'm always interested in witnessing a dominant male conquering the minds and bodies of the mares. And Injustice loves to put on a leash and shlick to what you're doing. Do her a favour and explain to the little slut why you put your path into motion, will you? And like I asked last time: Is it possible for our tool to call upon your power? Can he give blessings in your name, even if he has no idea you're even real? Will your influence grow with Equestria's increasing corruption? /shouting at something behind him Alright, alright! I'll ask him! Cold Stars, how pushy she can get. Ahem: Eros, Injustice wants to know how you... /sigh ... how you stand on the issue of spanking your mares. Including 'on the snatch'. Her words, not mine. She especially likes the idea of Zexis using his plant powers to grow a magical spanking rod. "Aaand here we got the Plagues of the End. Or the Riders of the Apocalypse. Or Trumps closest friends. I don´t know which name you are currently familiar with. Welcome to the party!", Eros exclaimed and grinned, "Now why am I, the way I am? Well, as a little godling I had traumatic experience...." He trailed off. Then a glimmer shined in his eyes and bursted into laughter. "I´m sorry, I couldn´t keep a straight face at that. The truth is, I just like it. The world is filled with many powerful monarchs, heroines and what not and its just my greatest enjoyment to push them off their high pedestal and reduce them to the quivering, dirty little pieces of flesh they are. That most of them are female, is just how it is here. You are bound to get...lets say inclined for male dominance here. Considering spanking, I´m all for it. Masochists are my favorite kind of toy, mostly because they get off on the humiliation. And the kind of rods I had back in the day....lightning, thorns, even one that screamed vulgarities, every time it struck someone. Good days. So, yeah. If Zexis ever creates one, you have my blessing. Speaking of..." Eros stood up and tipped on the screen. It lit up and showed the starting options. On the left corner, one could see a new line. Corruption Points: 2 Eros pointed at it. "This is the answer to all the questions about blessings and modifications. These points represent the power your actions have generated. Either through gaining allies or expanding your influence. You can spend them on multiple things. You can gain new traits or enhance existing ones. You can also unlock new features of the Corruptor. That last one is currently unavaible, because we don´t have enough points. So, we have to take the first option. The changes made to Zexis are made retroactive, which means, that for everyone excluding us, Zexis always looked this way. So if you want to make him burly and brutish, everypony who knows him, will remember him as such. Its a neat little feature, that will spare us some troublesome explanations." The God of Lust tipped on the Avatar-Symbol and brought up Zexis profile. "Just choose new traits or spend your points on old ones. The most popular choice wins.", he said and sat back, watching the argument unfold. New Traits Affinity to alchemy (Potions and Powder or Amulets or Enchantments) - 2CP Affinity to magic - 2 CP strong Libido - 1CP addictive cum - 2CP strong - 1CP handsome - 1CP fast - 1 CP charismatic - 1CP intelligent - 1CP Current Traits huge cock - 2 CP big balls - 1CP Affinity to element (Plants) - 1CP dominant - 2CP

My Little Corruption

Progress

Avatar updated! Name: Zexis Gender: male Race: Zebra Traits: big cock (racial) + big cock (optional) = huge cock, big balls, Affinity to element (Plants), dominant, charismatic, intelligent The shadow smiles, "And in the meantime... it seems you may be able to get one of the flower trio enslaved faster than the others. If you show you truly, sincerely, care about her and the other slaves you gain, they'll be that much more loyal to you. ...Sure, it's harder work, but the results are more rewarding if they WANT to serve you out of sincere care for your well-being, instead of only doing so out of fear. And... you may also gain a new ally through one of them soon." With a smirk, the figure forms another structure, a floating plus that soon gets colored red, "And while exploring town, you can likely double check on your progress on Redheart. You DID convince her to meet with you again, and we can see the results from your manipulations. Perhaps gain another ally in the process. ...Just imagine the amount of females you can gain if you can get a nurse that can slip your potions into medicines, both those in the hospitals and those granted to those wanting daily medicine pills and the like. Could prove very useful towards making ponyville..." He grabs the plus in a strong grip, it suddenly pulsing as hearts float off it before it floats around him on its own, hearts coming off as he laughs. "...into your loyal servants!" After a pause that starts to become awkward, the figure coughs. "...In the meantime, perhaps you can look through the book you had on forbidden potions. Use the index to learn what pages gender change and mental change potions exist on and study those before heading out to town. Shouldn't take long if you use the index to find just those. It would let you know what ingredients you need for later, which you may find while searching the town, and you may find others to catch your interests for late night reading materials, to figure out other options for planning towards the next day. Win-win, that way." With a smirk, he bows, "And that is my advice. Best of luck, Zexis." Ponyville, two days later With a thud the book was closed, as Zexis looked over his notes on the bed. He had used his time, since the incident at the Orphanage wisely. He had applied for the vacant position at the school. Today he had the appointment with Mrs. Cherilee, regarding that. He also researched a new receipe in his alchemy book. Unlike his first attempt, he got more able in understanding the scientific language of the author and for some reason it became easier for him to learn more. Not that he complained, of course. Written on his notes was now the procedure for a new receipe. The Emotion Hormone Pill. A pill that overloaded the biological hormone production and caused an amplification of desires and a decrease of mental inhibitions. Basically, it made someone really honest, mentally and physically. All the little thoughts and wishes in someones minds would come to surface and depending how strong the dosage was, it could lead to him acting on these desires. A honest stallion could turn into a raving rapist for a few hours. It´s continued usage would lead to permanently raising hormone production, and it seemed more effective than the powder in that regard. However, it wasn´t really inconspicious and the change in personality could be quite dramatic, if overused, so that was a downside. Still, a useful thing and thanks to yesterdays shipment, he had been able to create a whole bottle of it. Zexis also reinforced and extended his influence over the Flower Trio. At this point, he was confident, that he wouldn´t need the Powder for them anymore, as his commands were followed by them anyway. Although, the extend of that still needed to tested. In fact, that was the first thing he wanted to do today. He looked down on his body. He was bare naked and his prick stood on halfmast. Time to begin... He walked down the stairs and entered the living room. The girls were already there, preparing breakfast. Zexis took a deep breath. He had calculated it. He was 90 percent sure, this would work. Still, he was nervous. But, if this worked, he would finally be able to blow his load. The possibilty of sexual release after all this time was too tempting. Nothing risked, nothing gained! He stepped into the room. Daisy was the first one to see him, and her face lit up. Then her gaze dropped and she blushed heavily. Zexis grinned. He had made sure that this charming feature of her, her shamefastness, remained. It was just too entertaining! Roseluck on the other hand reacted not too heavily. In fact, she recognized his presence and then continued her meal. That was also Zexis doing. Unlike Daisy, Roseluck had lost most of her shame around him, as evident by the lack of clothing on herself. When she normally would wear trousers and a heavy sweatshirt, she now had nothing hiding her curves, except her red panties. Her breasts breathed free and her nipples stood erect. She would later put something on, when she would tend to store, but in private she had basically become a nudist. "Good morning, stud!" Zexis was briefly thrown out of balance, as Lily tackled him from the side, pulling him into a hug. Just like Roseluck she was practically naked, with the exception of a white apron. "Slept well, Zexis?" She pressed B-Cups against his chest and her hands ran down towards his legs, before stroking his inner thighs. Zexis grin got even wider. Lily had been the more bland of the three, so he had adressed that issue, by telling her to be more agressive. That led to her more less becoming something of a...well, slut was the best description of her current personality. She had no reservations about flirting with Zexis and her attempts of seduction had been becoming more frequently. Thankfully she restricted herself to private moments. Mostly, because Zexis had made sure she was only attracted to him. And her now blatant groping of his semi-erect cock made clear, that he succeded in that. She threw him sultry look. "If not, well you know, I would be more than happy to help with that. If you know what I mean....", she winked mischieviously. Roseluck groaned at that. "Geez, just fuck him already!" Daisys blush intensified at her friends coarse language. "Girls, please.", she pleaded quietly, "Can we please not talk about this while eating?" She said, but her left hand was already under the table and one didn´t need to be a genius to know what she was doing. Especially considering her eyes were still glued on Zexis cock. The zebra smiled confident and pushed Lily to the side, with a small protest from her. He gave a buttcheek a frim grope as an apology and strutted over to Daisy. He positioned himself so that his prick was more or less on the same level as her face, which was now beet-red. She didn´t pull away, however. Instead her nostrils flared and it was clear, that she was clearly keeping herself from throwing herself on Zexis. Time we change that., thought the zebra and turned to Roseluck and Lily. "I think, we should add something new to the morning routine.", he declared. "And what should that be?", asked Roseluck, while sipping her tea, with Lily standing over the boiling kettle, to fill up the teapot. Zexis grinned broad and took a chair. Then he propped himself on it, with his leg apart, displaying his thick cock to the mares. "I helped you with your insecurity and paranoia. I think its time you repay the favor." Roseluck frowned and opened her mouth to say something. But then her eyes got glassy for a moment. Then she nodded in confirmation. The suggestions of Zexis were working. "Yes, of course. That makes sense." Zexis turned to Lily, who was standing with filled teapot and was pressing her thighs together in anticipation. "Today you are going to get fucked.", said Zexis with a commanding voice. Roseluck nodded again and Lily squeaked in delight. Daisy on the other hand gasped in shock. "Zexis, what....what are talking about? That is...", she stumbled, but Zexis interrupted her. "It´s about time. Do you think I do not notice, when you are looking at my package?" He propped up his penis, so it was directed at her face. Daisy put her hand before her eyes, but Zexis could see, that she had her fingers apart. "We all know you want this just as much as I do, Daisy. I mean, look at Lily. If I ask her, she would probably jump herself on my cock." He pointed towards the pink mare, whose apron was now stained with a growing wet spot between her legs. She eagerly put down the kettle and walked towards Zexis, with lustfilled eyes. "Stand there and watch!", ordered the zebra. The earth-pony immediately complied, with a quiet whimper. "I am sick and tired of all this waiting. You want to fuck. And I will be the one, who helps you with that." Daisy hesitated. Her eyes were wide with uncertainty and fear, as she looked to the passive Roseluck and the slutty Lily. Then she shook her head. "I...don´t think I am ready for this. I-I´m sorry. Please....", she stuttered. Zexis groaned in frustration. It seemed like he had been too negligent with Daisy suggestions. Or perhaps, she had more willpower than he anticipated. Either way, he was not going to be denied. It was for her own good! Once she would get rid of all these anxcieties and fears, her life would that much easier. That, and he would be finally able to blow his load. He got up and took the bottel, he taken with down. He opened it and pulled out a single pill. Then he walked towards Daisy, who wanted to get up. "Do not stand up.", said Zexis and she lowered herself down again on her chair. He grabbed her muzzle, forced open her mouth and made her swallow the thruth pill. For a while nothing happened. But then, after a few minutes of tense silence, Daisys breathing began to quicken. She groaned and pressed her legs together, as the juices began to flow. Her nipples poked visible through her shirt and her blush intensified even more. "What is...I...Ooooohhh.." Daisy whimpered, as her hands flew towards her pussy. He fingers plunged into the moist folds and a few seconds later her jeans were completely soaked, as her repressed lust broke free from her mental barriers. "You have clearly a problem, Daisy.", said Zexis as he approached her. His prick was swinging between his legs and its musk could be smelled in the air. "I just want to help you with it." He was now right beside Daisy and his cock was prodding against her cheek. "But for that, you have to let me." Daisy shivered. She was now openly masturbating and one could see her distress at this unknown sensation. "I-I don´t know....how?" Zexis grabbed her hand and pulled them away. "Let me show you." He took her wet jeans and pulled them down, revealing her winking pussy. He then lined up his prick with it and began to slowly prodd. Daisy groaned at that, shivering both in anticipation and fear. Zexis put a hand under chin and looked her deep in the eyes. "Relax." Then he slowly entered her. He could feel her folds parting around his cock, trying to accomodate this new foreign body. The immense lubrication made that easy and he heard Daisy gasp. He felt resistance as he approached her virginity. For a short second he contemplated, wether he should just press on. Fucking her hard and strong. But then he decided against it. It was better when she enjoyed the process. It would make her even more willing, molding her into his own needy little fuckpet. Slowly he pulled out, letting her walls stretch themselves, before going in again. He repeated that for a while, always coming close on breaking her in and then retreating. By now Daisy was a quivering mess, moaning and panting, desperate for release. Zexis then amped up the game, by grabbing her boobs and massaging them, pinching her engorged nipples through her shirt. He was rewarded with a loud moan and even more juices, that coated his thick cock. Once again he pulled out and rubbed his prick on her winking vulva, as if he was contemplating wether he should continue or not. "Please..." Zexis looked down on Daisy, as she met his eyes. Her face was contorted in lust and build up pleasure. Her eyes were unfocused, but their look had no longer fear in them. Only desperation. "Please...d-do it.", she begged. And Zexis complied. He took aim and then plunged his fuck-meat into her hole. Daisys eyes got wide as virginity was obliterated and her first orgasm washed through her mind. Zexis wasted no time and began to thrust into her. Every time he did that, he was greeted by spurt of mare-juices and soon the wet, squelching sound of their hips were filling the room Her walls were clenching around his cock, milking it and pulling themselves tight around his prick. He grabbed her legs, forcing them apart and propped them over his shoulders, before he hammered with even greater force into her tight snatch. With every pounding he could feel her body tensing, as orgasm after orgasm was washing over her in waves. Her moans pitched higher and he knew, that she finally became his bitch, his fuckmeat, his little slut. While he pounded Daisy, Zexis could hear some moans behind him. A look over his shoulder revealed to him, that Roseluck and Lily were now masturbating to the sight of their best friend getting fucked before their eyes. Both of the sluts had discarded their last reservations and were now openly enjoying the depraved act. Lily still hadn´t moved from her place, but her apron was now soaked with pussy juices and sweat and Roseluck had pulled down her panties, while driving her fingers madly into her needy hole. "F-fuck her. Stuff that b-b-bitch!", moaned the red-maned cunt, while she groped her breasts with her free hands. That all made Zexis only hornier and he accelerated his pace, rocking the chair Daisy sat on. The earth-mare was completely in heaven. Her eyes were rolling in her head, as her moans increased and her arms were resting on Zexis back, her fingers clawing into his striped fur. Zexis breath became more erratic. He feeled that he was near his limit. He wasn´t abe to get his entire lenght into Daisys tight cunt. But his pent up lust, the fact he was fucking a mare in front of her friends and the power he wielded, by melding these prude mares into needy sluts, begging for his cock, brought him to his climax. With a final, powerful thrust he plunged into forward. His cocks head flared and his ball churned, as they released four days of accumulated cum. Daisy screamed as her final and biggest orgasm fried her mind. Her legs crossed behind Zexis tail, trying to pull him even closer and her back arched back, as her womb was filled to the brim with zebra-sperm. The pressure forced zexis prick out of her and a stream of white, thick cum spurted out her well filled hole. Zexis panted heavily and looked upon his work. Daisy was barely conscious, her tongue lolling out of her mouth and her eyes up in her head. It seemed like her orgasm, coupled with Hormone Salve, had completely overloaded her brain. Behind Zexis both Roseluck and Lily moaned lout out, as they both reached their own climax. The zebra took a few steps back. "That....was pretty hot.", he said, still a little bit out of breath. "Don´t you think so, ladies?" Both Lily and Roseluck nodded frantically and Daisy only sputtered a barely understandable confirmation. "Can....can I have go, too? Please...please fuck me too!", pleaded Lily, who was now sitting in a puddle of her own juices, still having her fingers in her cunt. "I wouldn´t mind that, as well." Roseluck waved her free hand. It seemed both had completely forgotten about the breakfast. Zexis looked down on his now flaccid cock. As arousing as the thought of fucking the other two was, he wasn´t sure, if he could take it. His heart was still beating like a jackhammer and he was still breathing heavily. He really needed to getin better shape, in order to satisfy his urges. But as it stood now, it would probably leave him too exhausted. And he still had plans for today. "I´m sorry, girls. But we have to postpone that." Both mares sighed dissapointed. Lily especially, seemed to take it really hard. "Oh come on, please! I can´t go work like this.", she complained, pointing at her dripping cunt. Zexis smiled at her, before going to the fruit basket and pulling out a cucumber. "That should help you a bit. At least, until I come back." He gives her the phallic vegetable and pats her head. Lily pouted and crossed her arms. Zexis sighed annoyed. "Oh for fucks sake! Fuck yourself!", he commanded. The mare looked at him shocked, but once again his suggestions took hold, her eyes glaced over and she reluctanty took the cucumber. She then drove the vegetable in her wet snatch and began to pump it in and out, all the while moaning like the needy slut she was. Zexis nodded satisfacted and turned around. When he walked by Roseluck he her ruffled her head and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Take care of the shop and make sure you are all presentable for the costumers. If everything stays quiet, I will help you, when I come back.", he said and his mare-slave smiled and nodded. Then he walked out of the room. Behind him, he could hear Lilys high pitched scream, as she got herself off and Daisy delerious lust-addled mumbling. Today was a good day... .....BZZZZZT.......Click! Thank you Lord Eros that was positively delightful and I can think of a few colleagues to share it with any lets get back to work shall we. Now for the choice of upgrades I think that one point should go to intelligent and the other to charismatic. The reasons I suggest these particular upgrades is to help us counteract the racist stigma that seems to surround male Zebra as well as increase our chances of getting the alchemy job at the local school. Also both of these skills will be of help Zexis in general as one will hopefully allow us to learn new things more easily and the other will help us interact with ponies we have not yet met. Also as tempting as it is to increase or gain new sexual perks I believe they can wait until we have a more secure power base as these particular perks might increase suspicion on us. As for the other perks they are also very good but i think they are to specific and I think having a strong foundation for our character early on will give us the most befits in the long term. Now as for what Zexis needs to do he must continue his treat of the flower sister and Red Heart, but I think we should start changing RedHeart suggest so that we can offer her as a reward to Bird Hoff in order to keep him loyal. When we have our meeting with the local teacher we need to try and slip some of our powder into her drink this should guarantee our employment as well as start training a new piece of fuck meat. As for Scootaloo I think we have to give her a bit of space and wait for her to come to us, she is nearly a will slut and if we press to hard we might become less willing. However we should make an effort to make our self available to her so that she can easily approach Zexis in order to do that we should visit the orphanage in order to check up on Bird Hoof and give him some instructions on getting us some information about other individual we might be able to recruit or any dirty secret he knows about other ponies. ... At the Hospital "I ask again: Why am I here?" Birdhoofs belly wobbled, as the fat unicorn was trying to keep up with Zexis´brisk pace. The zebra groaned. It was about the fourth time, Birdhoof had asked this question and the answer hadn´t changed. "I want to show you something. Have patience." But the dirt-green stallion wouldn´t hear it. "I have work to do, you know? An orphanage is not managing it by itself!" Then he saw, what building they were heading for. "Wait, the hospital!? Oh, nonono....I cannot deal with Redheart. We are not on good terms.", he said and turned around, "Whatever you want to show me, it is not worth having that bi-I mean, mare judging me again. You know, what she said to me last time? That if I want to be part of the community, I should take care of my eating disorder! She called me fat!" Zexis rolled his eyes and grabbed his "ally" by the collar to prevent him from running off. "Trust me, I know how that feels. The part about Redheart, at least. But I promise you, she will not be a problem this time." Birdhoof looked at him skeptical. "Has that anything to do with your...." He looked around nervously, making sure nopony was listening in. "...Liberation?" Zexis took a deep breath. He began to regret not turning in this guy. Birdhoof had absoluty no spine. Only in private, when he could abuse someone weaker than him, he gained some confidence. But, as Zexis learned in the last two days, he had some positive sides on him. The unicorn had some excessive knowledge about all the dirty little secrets in town, like for example that the schoolboard regulary received bribes from the Rich family, that Filthy Rich himself aimed to be mayor and that the Apple Family was in deep debts. So, he was a good source of information and the empty rooms on his floor could be used for other, more nefarious things. But before Zexis could take full advantage of that, he had secure the loyalty of this guy. Thats why he made the effort of regulary visiting Redheart. And now, he only needed to convince Birdhoof to come and see the fruits of his labor. So he hid his frustration and instead smiled reassuringly. "In a sense, you are right. But you have to come with me, to see what I mean. I promise you, you will not regret this." The unicorn still looked unsure, but in the end he nodded and followed Zexis. ... They stepped in the foyer. As usual it was empty. Except for the lonely desk at the other end, where Redheart sat. The white earth-mare was sitting behind her desk, sorting her patients files. At first glance nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But when one looked closer, one could see that something had changed with her attire. The nurse was still wearing her usual uniform, but for some reason it seemed to be at least two sizes too small. Her ample breast were pressing against the material, even though she had opened up a few buttons, revealing an enticing cleavage. And her hips were straining the material, forcing her to continuously adjust her uniform, so it wouldn´t reveal her buttocks. That, coupled with some white kneesocks, gave her a look of proffessional sexyness. It wasn´t quite fetishwear and could still count as an official nurse uniform, but it was definitely a far cry from her previous attire. She looked up, as Zexis and Birdhoof approached her. "Ah, Mr. Chikelu! I have waited for you.", she said happily and stood up. One could hear her clothing protest at the sudden movement. "You said you wanted a full-body examination?" "Actually, its not for me, but for my friend Birdhoof, here.", said Zexis and pointed to his companion. He then bended over towards Birdhoofs ear and whispered: "Say this: I want a close check-up from you, slut-bitch!" The unicorn looked at him, like he was insane, but Zexis just nodded toward Redheart. "Trust me." Birdhoof swallowed nervously, but then turned toward the nurse. "I want a close check-up from you, slut-bitch!" As soon as the phrase was uttered, Redhearts eyes glazed over. Then she blinked and smiled brightly. "Of course, Mr. Birdhoof. If you would please follow me.", she said and walked towards one the doors, that lead to the treatment rooms. While she did that, she also quite obviously swayed her hips every step, wagging her tail around her bubble butt. Birdhoof looked at her slackjawed. Zexis chuckled. Then they followed her. The treatment room was empty. Redheart directed Birdhoof towards a desk, he should sit on and then excused herself, so she could prepare. The fat unicorn turned to Zexis. "What...did you to her?", asked he. Zexis grinned dirty. "My secret. For your information, I just lowered some of her inhibtions and planted that Pass-Phrase in her. So whenever somepony comes in and says that, her mind will switch to programm of suggestions I gave her." Birdhoof frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, suggestions?" His answer was answered, as Redheart came back into the room. When Birdhoof was slackjawed before, he was now close to a heartattack, as he saw her. The mare had discarded her uniform and was now wrapped in only her lacy red undergarments. Her cap was gone, her hair flowed free and she had put on red lipstick and thick make-up. In a sense, she now almost looked like a proffessional whore. Not she knew that, of course. "For a full body...examination I must ask you to undress. Fully.", she said in a sultry tone, while her hands run down Birdhoofs stiff body, before beginning to unbutton his shirt. "The patient must feel comfortable, after all." Zexis desperatly tried to hold in a laugh. He had managed to instill in Nurse Redheart the suggestion of an actual nude-service! It hadn´t been easy and had required three strong doses of suggestion powder, but in the end he had succeeded. He just had to make her believe it was for the good of her patients, and voila! Of course, the pass-phrase made sure nopony would trigger that behaviour who wasn´t in-the-know. And considering how prude and polite everpony in Equestria was, there was no chance somepony would say this phrase accidently. And just like that, he had a private hooker! Birdhoof was still staring at the naked Redheart, as if he wasn´t sure, if he was dreaming. Then however, as she had pulled of his shirt - all the while pressing her luscious, naked body against his - a small, unsure smile crept on his face. "Ehm....what exactly does this...full body-examination include?" "Other than a full check-up?", asked Redheart, "Well, that depends on you wishes, Mr. Birdhoof. I will do anything to make you comfortable." She looked to Zexis and winked at him. "Mr. Chikelu can confirm the quality of my new methods. He was the one, who gave me the idea, after all." Zexis grinned lecherously. "It´s true. Except for her pussy, everything is acceptable.", he said to the stunned Birdhoof. "After all, she only wishes to make you comfortable. And what better way to do that, than to satisfy your sexual urges?" Birdhoof looked between him and Redheart, still not quite comprehending. "Why not her pussy?", he then asked. Zexis grimaced at that. "Well, I´m still working on that. She is apparently very adamant on preserving herself for marriage. I have however convinced her to do the rest." He demonstratively grabbed the nurse buttock and squeezed, which earned him a happy yelp from the mare. "As you see, she is happy to help. Thats my gift for you, Birdhoof. See it as a confirmation of my...skills. And as a promise for more to come." Birdhoof finally seemed to get the situation. His eyes traveled down Redhearts voluptuous body, her stiff nipples and her slender hands, that were fiddling with his trousers. He licked his lips and cleared his throat. "I-I would like...a blowjob.", he said. Redhearts smile faltered and Zexis began to fear his commands hadn´t been strong enough. But then it returned with new vigor. "Of course! I will do anything to make my patients happy." She pulled Birdhoofs trousers off and his eight inch long cock sprung free. Without hesitation she began to lick his shaft, running her tounge down his meat-stick, covering it in saliva. When she got to the top, she playfully nibble at the tip, sucking on his urethra. All the while she used her hands to methodically examine his lower body. Birdhoof groaned at the skillfull carressing. It didn´t take long for him to grab Redhearts head and direct her mouth closer to his cock. His desire was clear. He wanted a blowjob and he wanted it now! A command the nurse followed obediently, opening her mouth and taking in the stallions prick. Birdhoofs ecstasic moan revealed, that she continued her tonguework, but now she also bobbed her head in a steady rythm. Her cheeks hollowing with the sucking motions and her lipstick smearing itself all over the unicorns cock. Zexis was a little bit astonished how skillful Redheart was milking this guy, considering that she had never done it before. Seemed like she had innate understanding what would be pleasurable and how to apply it. After a while Birdhoof shuddered and his buttcheeks clenched, as he reached his climax. Redheart wanted to pull away, but his hands grabbed her head once more and forced his cock deeper down her throat. "T-take it, bitch!", hissed Birdhoof, as his prick invaded Redhearts esophagus. The nurse struggeled for air, her eyes watering, smearing her makeup. Then the stallions balls released their load, filling the slutty mare with white spunk. Redheart moaned as her pussy squirted in excitement, letting herself be used as a cumdump from the most despicable stallion in Ponyville. With a deep breath Birdhoof released the nurse, who coughed and gasped for air, as his prick finally left her throat. "That...was...amazing", panted Birdhoof. He turned to Zexis, who was standing in the corner, grinning triumphantly. "And I can have...her?" The zebra nodded. "As long as you clean her up, before you leave. Also don´t forget to say Thank you for your service, cunt. That deactivates her programm. Wouldn´t want this to get public, right?" He pointed at the still cowering Redheart, who was fingering her vagina in a glaze. Birdhoof looked down on the mare and nodded. "Don´t worry. I can be discreet, if I want to. Managed the last six years, after all." He took a deep breath and then grinned dirty. "She is not my type, but damn if that wasn´t better than any fuck-session with Scoots." He chuckled, as if he just made a good joke. Zexis reminded himself, that this guy was still evidently despicable. Useful, easy to manipulate, but an utter asshole. Well, good company, then. "Do not forget, you owe me one. I want to being kept posted about every small rumor, every dirty secret you get to know. I will also probably need some of your rooms. Are any of them soundproof?" Birdhoof scratched his head. "Sure thing. After today, you can bet your striped ass, that I am helping you. If every mare in Ponyville is going to be like little Redbitch here? Then I am your stallion." He pumped out his wobblying chest and grinned. "Now, I have a basement thats pretty secluded. Needs to be cleaned however. Haven´t been there for ages. But it should fulfill its purpose." Zexis nodded. Good news! That meant he not only had a secret storage room, he also now had something to fall back on, if things didn´t go his way. Even if it was just a place to hide. He got up from the wall and turned towards the door. "I will be going now. Still have an appointment at the school. You want to remain? Have a little fun?", he asked, with a look at Redheart, who was patiently waiting for new instructions. Birdhoof grinned. "Well...yes. Don´t worry, I clean up after myself. But its not everyday I have willing bitch. I am going to take full advantage of that!" He turned to Redheart. "Hey, nurse! Whats your verdict on my condition?" The white mare paused for a second, then pulled out her notes. "Well, you have very healthy sex drive, if a little pent up. You are probably not getting regular release, which is to be expected. You also seem to suffer under a severe case of eating-disorder. You should do something against that." Birdhoof smile dropped from his face as fast as Zexis began to laugh. Red with embarrassment and anger, he pulled Redhearts hair and brought her to him. "Just for that, you gonna deepthroat me again, understood?", he hissed. "Gladly!", beamed Redheart and got to work. Zexis chuckled and got to the door. "Have fun you two." ... [At the school: Cherilees Office Ah yes, teachings... Zexis, once you feel comfortable that the Flower Trio has internalised the knowledge that they exist to make you comfortable, seek out miss Cheerilee for the teacher's assistant position. Cheerilee is a fine bitch, but she might already have caught the eyes of another. Don't move in on her body too much. Move in on her mind instead. Engage her. You can bond over knowing the Crusaders. Cheerilee loves them, even if they can exhaust her with their antics. If the Crusaders like you, Cheerilee is likely to like you too! Ask her about what the job requires. Ask her about any troublesome students--a few come to mind--and what kind of authority you are allowed in the classroom. Be respectful! This is Equestria, she will not understand that fillies needs regular punishments to keep them in line! For the most unruly, you could ask if you are allowed to give them additional tutoring. And, should you see any students interact before or after the talk, make note of who acts how towards whom. Already existing crushes are much easier to convert to the true Zebrican ideal. Before long, you'll see all of these fine fillies be adorned with ownership markings, showing the world they are their masters' property! It was evening, as evident by red-tinted sky. The sun was slowly moving on the horizon. From his seat Zexis could that the fillies and colts were leaving the school, some of them alone, other accompinied by friends or family. He saw Applebloom, hugging a tall orange mare with blond mane. A country-beauty with a confident, if a little weary look on her face. Even through her worktrousers Zexis could see her well-toned ass and her strong thighs, which just bristled with power. A headstrong mare, to be sure. Perhaps Appleblooms sister? Applejack was her name, as he recalled. A polite cough brought his thoughts back to the matter at hand. Mrs. Cheerilee was sitting face-to-face to him, and was looking through some papers. The earthmare was not a bad looker herself. Suprisingly young for a teacher, not older than thirty, with wide hips and a nice two toned pink mane. She was most likely the wet dream of very colt in her class. "So, Mr. Chikelu. You are applying as the new alchemy substitute- teacher? Can I ask what your skills are?", she asked. Her voice was femine, but had mature, dominant touch to it. A mare that willing to put her hoof down, if necessary. Zexis decided, that he should probably take it easy this time. He wanted this position to get closer to the impressionable kids. Flirting with Cheerilee could come later. "Well, I am the son of a zebrican witchdoctor, so I have all of basic knowledge. More praxis than theory, but i am confident that it will not be an issue. I am alos versed in biology, and partially chemistry as well, if a lesson needs some additional supplements." He kept his tone proffessional, figuring that this would be the best option with this mare. "Of course, my knowledge is nothing compared to Zecoras expertise, but it will be more than sufficient for the time I will be working here, I believe." It seemed like his strategy worked. Mrs. Cheerilee nodded in confirmation and made some hooks on her paper. "Thats good to hear. We of course can now only take your word for it, but we will see for sure on Monday, when you will have your first lesson." Then she put the paper down and smiled. Her serious demeanor dropped, as she sighed. "Honestly we had been kind of desperate, since Mrs. Zecora ended her lessons, so we are glad for your willingness to take over the job.", she admitted, "And while I know that there will be some...reservations on the school council for your appliance, I personally am very glad you are helping us out. I only heard good things about you. The Cutie Mark Crusaders in particular seem to like you. And thats good enough for me." Zexis put a relieved smile on his face and scratched his cheek. "Well, Scootaloo seemd to be a little bit...headstrong upon my arrival." Cheerilee nodded knowingly. "Yes, Scootaloo has...trust issues. But she has been getting better over the last years. She usually just needs some time." She thought for a while. "Here is an idea. How about we put in the alchemy class? That way, you can work out your differences directly.", she suggested. Zexis cheered inside, but on the outside he kept a skeptical look. "You sure about that? I don´t want to impose my problems on you." His voice was positively dripping with concern. But Mrs. Cheerilee just waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, don´t worry. She needs to repeat some biology lessons anyway, since she failed her last test. This is helping us both." Zexis nodded slowly, seemingly only now agreeing on the idea. "Well, if you say so.", he said. "Then I can just say, that I wish us both a good cooperation!" Mrs. Cheerilee took his hand and smiled. "And I wish a good time in Ponyville, Mr. Chikelu." "Please, just Zexis. Mr. Chikelu was my grandfather. And my father was old man." The mare chuckled. "Allright, I will keep that in mind, Zexis." ... With that business concluded, Zexis walked out of the school. He saw Cheerilee on the Black Board, taking down the application note. Another successfull day. He got a nice fuck with Daisy, cemented his alliance with Birdhoof and got a new job. His hand reached down in his pocket, feeling the bottle with the truth-pills. Now it was time for Guys Night.... New Relationships unlocked! Mrs. Cheerilee Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: locked Traits:locked Relationships updated! Daisy Willpower: 1/10 - 1 Corruption: 3/10 + 3 Lust: 8/10 + 1 Secrets: shamefast, in love Traits: submissive, strong orgasm Roseluck Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 2/10 +3 Lust: 6/10 + 1 Secrets: Exhibitionist Traits: tolerant, submissive Lily Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 3/10 + 3 Lust: 5/10 + 1 Secrets: Slut in Love Traits: submissive, sex addict Nurse Redheart Willpower: 3/10 - 1 Corruption: 3/10 + 4 Lust: 4/10 + 2 Secrets: Special Service Skills: Job: Nurse, Apprentice: Whore Traits: submissive, big tits, big butt, natural cocksucker New Receipe! The Emotion Hormone Pill: This pill, which is won from Bullfrog Tears and Blood Lotus overloads the biological hormone production and causes an amplification of desires and a decreases of mental inhibitions of the subjects mind. Basest wishes and thoughts are said out loud, and a stronger application or a weak resistance to the drug can cause sever changes in the subjects social behaviour. Particulary useful as an interrogation method or to implicate rivals. Caution is advised: Extended exposure to the drug, can cause severe changes in the subject personality, as the rewiring of the mind becomes permanent.

My Little Corruption

Guys Night

Zexis, I would say that you should just take it easy on guys night. Just try to learn as much as possible about the others there and try to learn about other ponies in town through them. You might be able to use 1 pill on each of them to loosen their tongs. But do it at a time where you are completely sure nobody will find out that you drugged them. Spike might not even need to be drugged to give you a lot of information about Twilight or about himself. Big Mac might need something to loosen his tong but that is mostly because he almost never speaks. If anything you need to make Spike into a friend. He can get you easy excess to a lot of things inside the castle and easy excess to Twilight and her secrets later on. If you can get Twilight as a friend through Spike and then corrupt her the entire town will be a lot easier to take and corrupt. Also much, much, later on you can use Twilight to send a letter to Celestia and or Luna and lure them into a trap. But that is for much later. Easy excess to the library is also a plus. Befriending Big Mac will get you closer to both his sisters and will make it easier to corrupt them but won't do much ells. And Discord............ just get on his good side and everything might be fine..... or not.... or he will even help you.... You never know with that guy. Good luck Zexis and remember we will be watching. A darkened figure hums. A connection of sin and decedence... so many of the others would want to speak. "Gabriel, consider this a favour... you shall be the first." The figure notes, key strokes leading to the screen fading into static --- The static doesn't last long as a bit of a high pitched whine sounds off briefly. In the picture now is an immense figure in equally immense armor red and pink, almost an eyesort really. Compared to the busty serfs that surround him, he'd seem to be twice the size of a human... and currently fiddling with what seems to be a guitar that is took the name of 'axe' literally, a dragon maw at the other end of it. After a moment the figure looks up, helmeted for the moment. "By the Dark Prince, he actually connected me." He stated his voice a deep rumble. "About time that crafty bastard did so. Hello Zexis... or should I say his Avatar? Regardless, allow me to introduce myself. Around here they call me Brother-Captain Gabriel, Sound Lord of Slaanesh... but others call me the Bloody Note. I'm one of a few that managed to spot this little project of Eros' and I'm going to help you." "To start, the guys night. Discord by far will be your toughest opponent, but he's also only focused on one pony. Do not make a move to threaten Fluttershy. I cannot stress that enough the moment you put her in danger, you lose. His favor only seems to extend as far as her however... do try and use that charm of yours. Chaos can be surprisingly easier to get on your side with words rather than force. Spike has already shown weakness to you... the mare Rarity. If you are going to mix him in on our side, thenshe will be the tool you need... or appealing to his greed. And the Stallion.... strong of body, stubborn at times, but could also be the key to the Apple Family. Charm him, learn more ablut him. As much as I love a great conquest... only a fool goes on stage without writing their song first." The Chaos Lord chuckled, strumming a string on the twisted guitar, a high pitced sound emerging for it, sounding almost like a cry of release. "Plan well Avatar. You and I may not speak again for some time." Another staticky burst appears... and then the screen goes black. An orange and blue light light up on opposite sides of a room, highlighting a figure in shadow. "While your... taming of Daisy worked out, I would advise against such rough measures, unless no alternative presents itself. Not everyone will... tolerate such sudden advances. "With the teaching assistant job secured you can start in on teaching the younger generation... your own path. However do not start right away; learn the current state of affairs and then look for ways to proceed. Weak links and possible pawns and allies should be located. "I would also urge you into finding out more about the state of the purity laws and how they came to be. Given Eros' earlier story it could be possible that his... taming of the Princess Luna led to the laws being implemented. Celestia is the ultimate goal, and while you are a long, long ways off, learning about her should begin sooner then later. Particularly with her student, Twilight Sparkle, being a local. "As for guys night, prob the table for where their... relationships are at, but be wary if Discord arrives. Discord will be the major wildcard in Ponyville and dealing with him will need to be done, sooner or later. If he is not present then attempt to bond with Spike; his position at the Castle of Friendship could be a boon; if you play the cards right. "Lastly, find a way to become... friends with an Element of Harmony. Rarity would be a prime choice; you can go and claim you are looking for additional clothing. Maybe even suggest Zebrica fashion to her. Applejack through Applebloom is also possible, but the Element of Honest is good at detecting lies. You may not want to buck that tree, just yet. Additionally, Pinkie Pie is another random wild card; keep an eye out for her. "Also, find a gym. A few workout may help with your... stamina. Assuming there's nothing in your book." The lights shut off. The Drunken Punch was a small, cozy pub. It was nestled between two shops at the end of the market and time and weight had pulled these houses together, so that their roofs were almost touching each other over the tavern, making it seem, as if this pub was trying to vanish. It was certainly a unique place, with not so many costumers at night hour. Most of them were on the other, more livelier side of the plaza, with its restaurants and cafe´s. Zexis stepped on the doorstep and looked inside. The room was empty, filled with tables and chairs which wood was worn dark from time and use. Behind the bar sat a violet mare, who looked like she was in her late thirties. Her eyes were glazed and Zexis could see a bottle at her side, that was half full. A dirty rug layed in a glass on the other side, that looked like it haven´t been clean for an eternity. Above the bar was a sign that read: Keep the barkeep drunk!. Dim, orange lights gave it all a warm, cozy atmosphere. All in all, it looked the closest thing to a dirty dive hole that Ponyville could have. It was secluded, it was private and the barkeep apparently too drunk to really care about the place. Why the guys met here, instead in a better establishment Zexis didn´t know, but it gave him an advantage. Nopony to interfere with his preparations. Seeing as he was the first one to arrive, the Zebra immediately got to work. He had already formulated a plan, how to deal with this "Guys Night" and how to reap the possible benefits of it. He walked towards the bar and knocked on the light greasy wood. The barmare blinked lazy and looked up to him, still hugging the bottle. "Yeeeaah...? Whatcha want, strangeeeer...? It was clear that she was completely drunk. Most evidently of that was her breath, who was so thick with alcohol, that Zexis was sure it would caught on fire, if he held a candle on it. He waved the stench away. "I´m here for Guys Night.", he explained, in a slow voice, "I would take the usual offer and add a beer to it. Where do the other sit usually?" The mare took a while to get his words through the fog in her head. Then she slowly nodded and pointed towards a big table at the other end of the room. "There." Zexis nodded. "Thanks. Now do you need help with..." He trailed off, as the barmare stood up in fluid motion. With precise movements, of which even high class martial artist woul have envious of, she grabbed a half dozen bottles from the cupboard behind and flung them in the air. At the same time, her right hand placed a series of glasses in a strict stakkato on the surface, with the last one being a heavy beermug. Then she swung around catching the bottles as they came down, one by one, pouring in each drink and placing them back into their original postions, before finally hitting the point below the beer mug with her knee, causing it to jump into the air, her left hand catching it, placing it under the tap and slowly pouring in a Pils. "..........buuut clearly you don´t need it." ... Zexis was now sitting at the table with five glasses and a beermug. Two of the glasses were filled with stalliongrader wodka, one was cider, one seemed to be Cloudsdale Whiskey and the last one was a swirling array of colours, that sizzled and seemed to boil, but was cold to the touch. The latter one, Zexis was not sure, if he had seen the Barmare actually mix it. Her movements had been at times too fast for him to follow. A look back to the bar however revealed, that she was still clearly completely shit-faced, sipping from her bottle, while staring off into the distance. Zexis shook his head in confusion. This mystery he had to solve another time. Now, he needed to figure out which drink was Discords. He had taken the time to find out who this guys actually was. Turns out he was an ancient spirit of chaos who terrorized Equestria one thousand years ago, was then turned to stone, had broke out of this prison a few years back, then got petrified again, then released and reformed, before betraying the ponies for Tirek the Destroyer and was then pardoned after the latters defeat and seemed to know live in Ponyville. Or a parallel dimension right next to it. No one was really sure. One thing everypony agreed on however was, that he was highly unpredictable and only really kept in check by the pegasus Fluttershy. That meant for Zexis, that he had to keep this guy on his good side. There was no known limit to his powers and unless someone took him by suprise or had equal power, like a goddess, there was no way of defeating him. The risk, that the drug wouldn´t work on him or work too well, was too great. Zexis couldn´t take that. He would instead try to probe into the other guys life and secrets with the Hormone Pill and keep Discord happy and oblivious. He came back to the drinks, his eyes laying on the fizzling rainbow abomination. If he was a betting-stallion, that was probably Discords drink, as Zexis wasn´t sure if anypony but a Chaos Spirit would be mad enough to try to drink this concoction. Which left four other glasses. He took out four Pills and dropped one in each drink. They would dissolve quickly and together with the alcohol, they would loosen the tongue of their drinkers quickly. For everyone else it would just seem, as if they would get drunk rather quickly. Then he waited... ... It took only a few minutes before the door to the Drunken Punch opened once more. In stepped Big Mac, ducking under the doorframe before bringing his massive body in the room. At his side was Spike, who looked even smaller in comparison. He saw Zexis and greeted him. "Good evening, Zexis! Figured you´re already here.", he said. Then he walked towards him and sat down at the table, grabbing a glass with wodka, with Big Mac following him and taking the Cider. "May I introduce: Big Macintosh. Big Mac for short.", he said pointing at the red giant. "Big Mac, this new friend is Zexis Chikelu. He arrived in Ponyville a few days ago." "Pleased to meet you." Zexis gave the stallion his hand. Big Mac took it, giving the Zebra a crushing handshake, that he probably thought was light. "....now, where are the others?", Zexis said, while holding is broken feeling hand. Close after he said this, another stallion stepped into the tavern. This one was a dark grey pegasus. He too had a muscled, powerful build, but while Big Mac was more about strength, this stallions body was clearly trained toward speed and agility, with powerful wings and a lean chest. His face sported a confident, cocky grin and he threw a wink into the Barmares direction, who was snoring currently. Him followed a earth-pony stallion, who was as tall, as Spike small was. Almost reaching Big Macs height. Where the red applefarmer however accented this with muscles, that provided him appropriate width, this guys was as thin as a beansprout. His coat was yellow and he sported a hilarious square jaw, that sprung from his face like a cliff. He had big bags under his eyes and seemed exhausted. Nevertheless his face lit up, as he saw the others. Both of them sat down at the table and Spike introduced them. "The yellow one is Carrot Cake, or as we call him: Mr. Cake. He runs Sugarcube Corner with his wife. And the one, with cocky attitude -" "Hey!" "- is called Thunderlane, Wonderbolt-Reservist, Wannabe Mare-Fooler and all around decent guy, if you get to know him." Spike grinned at Thunderlanes dismissive snort. "If he gets on you nerves, ask him about his date with Rainbow Dash. That will shut him up." After Zexis introduced himself to the others, he looked at the table. Mr. Cake had taken the second wodka and Thunderlane was already sipping on his whiskey. That meant they were still on short. Now where was this Discord? "Indeed....where could I be?" Zexis jumped at the sudden voice in his head. His chair fell over and the beermug flew to the ground, spilling his content all over the floor. A cackling laughter danced through the air, as the Zebra stared in fright behind him. Yet, the space was empty. "Not quite, my friend. A little more to the left. Or right. Or maybe backwards, deep deep down? Now Zexis was in panic. He could hear the one who was speaking to him, but whenever he moved, the voice would come frome another angle. Sometime loud and clear, sometimes not more than whisper, but always clearly behind him. Spooky was a rather weak term, to describe it. Thunderlane on the other hand rolled his eyes. "Come on, Discord. Don´t freak out the new guy. Come out, before he pisses himself." "But its so much fun, seeing him dance. Maybe I can bring him to do a Jive?" "Eenope.", said Big Mac and knocked on the empty chair to his right. Spike nodded. "Big Mac is right. Stop messing around, Discord." A sigh blew out of Zexis right ear, with big bold letters in the air. They floated for while before dissolving into smoke and out of the ear stepped a strange creature. It had the head of a goat, two mismatched horns, a lions paw, an eagle claw, a dragons leg, a bull hoove and a snake tail. Its eyes were red and of different sizes and a sharp tooth stuck out of its lips, that were curled into a cheeky grin. Discord, the Lord of Chaos, jumped to the ground and grew back to his original height. He snapped his fingers and the Beermug flew back on the table with the spilled beer falling back into it. The chair jumped back an his feet, ramming itself into Zexis knee joints, who fell back down onto it. Then Discord sat down. "I was just rummaging around in our new friends brain. Quite the nasty place, I must say. You should really tidy up.", said the draconequus, while snipping away some dustclouds on his shoulders. Zexis broke out in cold sweat, as he saw the knowing grin on the mismatched face. A grin that fell immediatly, as Spike snorted dismissive. "Yeah, right. Don´t let him take you for ride, Zexis. Discord can´t read minds. Fluttershy forbade it." "And who said, that I obey that?", challenged Discord. Out of empty air a leather jacket and a bike appared. "After all, I´m a rebel by nature. Only me and the road!" He blazed away in a smoke cloud, before reappearing in his chair. "What makes you think otherwise?" "The fact, that you are still living in Fluttershy´s cottage.", countered Mr. Cake, who smiled in his glass. "That and the fact, that your still wearing her sweater..." It was true. Zexis just realized, that the draconequus wore a hand-knitted green sweater with the words "Mommy´s Boy" on it. Discord looked down in shock, snapping it hastily away. To no avail, as it turned out, because it just reappeared. "Forgot about that. Stupid enchanments...", he grumbled, but still patting lovingly the sweater. Then he turned to Zexis. "Fluttershy is not really a spellcaster. But as it turns out, love can sometime provide its own magic." Cue pink sparkles. He then took out his left eyes and held it close to Zexis ear again. "Also, I don´t need to read your mind - boring place anyway - to know what you think!" Zexis´heart again began to skip a beat. "Really?", he squeaked. Discord nodded and again a knowing grin parted his lips. "It quite obvious. Your desire is practically walking out of your mouth on its own. Oh, there it is!" With horror Zexis saw his mouth opening and a string of word tumbling out on the desk. Discord leaned over it and read, what surely would be Zexis´Doom. "Why here?...Wait thats all!?" The Chaos Spirit looked at the Zebra incredulously. He then dived headfirst into his mouth. "Oh come, there has to be more! Not another boring idiot like Thunderlane - " "Hey!" " - where is the good stuff? The secrets, the embarrassments? I thought this night would be interesting for once, not another talk show!" Discord pulled out again, this time with spiderwebs in his horns. "Empty! Dust bins and everything!" He threw his hands in the air. Zexis coughed, trying to get the taste of a half dozen different creatures out of his mouth. "Well...to be honest, you can´t expect me to be a particular interesting character for someone like you, Discord. I mean, the most I can say about my life is that I know how dry a desert is." Now, that he got bearings back, finally his silver tongue began working again. He remembered that the draconequus was mentally like a child. Maybe he could work with that. "Unlike you, for example. You know, one thousand years old. Battled with gods, ruled a nation, broke out of eternal damnation. What can I offer to that?" Discord huffed and wiggled his finger. "Don´t come me with flattery, Minority-Boy. You´re right, of course. But you have to do better than that." Still, he let up and sipped at his glass. Literally even, as the glas itself vanished in his mouth with the fizzling drink untouched. "Anyway...", said Spike, as he brought the conversation back to him. "What do you mean, Zexis, with: Why here?" The zebra stallion scratched at his cheek. "No offense, really. I really appreciate that you have invited me." He looked around, his eyes finally going to the still drunken Barmare. "But, why are you meeting here, instead of...you know, the castle? I mean, aren´t you the First Assistant of the Princess?" Spike grimaced at the title. "Was. Starlight took that job. As for the location: After our last Ogres & Oubliettes campaign, we kinda managed to rip a hole into reality. Nothing major, but Twilight essentially forbade roleplaying in the castle after that. Thats why were here. Nopony to supervise, and Berry Punch is quite capable of defending herself." "Still, that last campaign was epic.", said Thunderlane. "Remember, when Big Mac and Discord found a way to the sixth layer of Tartarus and we had that final battle with Grogar? Stuff of legends!" Everpony nodded. Discord proudly polishing his fingernails. "Sooo, you´re roleplayin here. It´s that what Guys Night is about?", asked Zexis. Spike shook his head. "Nah, we´re laying low for a few weeks. Waiting, until Twilight has calmed down and then we will try again. I have talked with Berry Punch already, and she doesn´t mind Discords reality warping, as long as we keep it contained. But for the next weeks we are just gonna drink and chat. Change of pace, you know?" "Booring, you mean.", said Discord. "Personally, I don´t mind that.", said Mr. Cake, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "Sugarpie and I are quite overworked right now, what with the twins in school and high season." "Isn´t Pinkie Pie helping you out?", asked Zexis. Mr. Cake waved his hand. "She would, normally. But the map is constantly calling her away for a friendship problem, then there is the next party to throw and so on. If she would find the time, that would be great, but I will not force her. Sweetcream and I will manage it, somehow. Maybe..." Zexis nodded. Then he got an idea. "Well, there is one way to make this night interesting.", he said and grabbed his beer. "Let´s see how long we need, until we are completely drunk." "Yeah, thats what I want to hear.", said Thunderlane and gulped down his drink in one swift motion, along with the pill. "Lets make Berry Punch happy." "Eyyup!" ... "Sooo, you see you´re not only one who acco-co-accomodations issues.", said Thunderlane with a slight slur to his speech, while he was downing his third glass. Mr. Cake was already face down on the table. Spike hiccuped a few time, while Discord and Big Mac seemed entirely unfazed. "When I moved from Manehattan to here...that was an experience, i can tell you." Zexis nodded. He took a sip from his second beer. Unlike the others, he had taken it slow and it payed off. The pills and the alcohol made tongues loose and he was able to exploit that. "So, they are more relaxed in the west?" Thunderlane clicked his tongue and waved his hand unsure. "Hhmmmm, sorta. Manehattan was originally a Mareantian Colony that secceded after these old island unicorns raised the taxes too high. So, they were originally not part of Equestria. But, you know the drill. Old enemies, wars and the like and soon enough the Patriots decided it would be safer under Celestias wing, rather than trying to survive on their own. In exchange, Manehattan gets a lot more autonomy than the rest of the country. Including the Purity Laws." "Yeah, but thats not always a good thing.", chimed Spike in, "Manehattan also has the highest crime rate in the entire country. Drugs, illegal prostitution, poverty. And the town-congress stubbornly stops any attempts from Canterlot to intervene, because they are to afraid of the loss of their independence." Thunderlane nodded sadly. "Which is the reason I moved away, to Ponyville. It may be not as liberal, but it sure as Tartarus is a lot nicer. Even if my appreciation of the mares seems to be...unwanted." "Is it really that bad? I mean, there most be some that like that.", asked Zexis. "Sure, they do. Rarity is always up for a compliment, as long as its classy. And I think Muffin liked it, when I called her my personal sunshine, when she brought me the post last week." He grinned at Zexis. "Maybe you could learn something from me. You know, let me teach some of the higher art of flirting?" He winked. Spike just rolled his eyes. "Didn´t you forget somepony?" Thunderlane flinched and then looked uncomfortably in another directions. "Yeaah, I dont know what you are talking about...." "Rainbow Dash.", came it from Big Mac who chugged down his cider. "Broke your arm, I think." "Seriously?" Zexis was suprised. "What did you do? Grabbed her ass?" Thunderlane grimaced, holding his right arm. "Something like that. Got a relationship with her going. Dated her and all. Worked quite well. We both being Reservist, me able to keep up with her speed, she not afraid of my advances. But....well it went downhill, thats all I wanna say to that. I made mistake, she took it hard and thats it." "If with taking it hard you mean, breaking your arm in three different places and then calling you a pervert loud enough for the entire town to hear, then yeah. Then, she took it very hard." Seemed like the pill worked quite well on Big Mac, as he finally began to speak more. "Another one!", he said to Berry Punch. Moments later a cider glass flew in his hand. Thunderlane shook his head at the memory. "Can we please change the subject?" Zexis nodded. He got what he needed. He turned to Spike. "While we are at embarrassing things, whats up with you and Starlight Glimmer? Does she have feud with you?" "Well, no.", said Spike and swallowed his drink. He too became tipsy now. "Its just that she is smart, powerful and a spellcaster and...." He hesitated. "....and she is a bitch.", helped him Thunderlane. "I wouldn´t put like that, but yeah.", said Spike, "You see, she is reformed, like Discord here. Instead of being an agent of chaos however, she is a control freak. Had her own little town, which she brainwashed. Long story, short: Twilight and friends met her, they beat her, she tried to break the fabric of time, Twilight talked her out of it and now she best friends with everypony." He laughed bitter. "Turns out, that she is still obsessed with control and while she dialed it down a bit, she had no problem taking over my job. She even packed nicely for me. You have it easier now, more free time and so on. Well, that means I am now pretty much stuck with two magic geniuses with no social skills, whose fuck-ups I have to manage, and who couldn´t care less, if the entire press would flip themselves over with the scandals they would get, if I wouldn´t clean up their mess!" Spike breathed heavily as his last words came out pretty loud. For a while it even seemed as he had grown a bit in his anger, but as he calmed down he shrunk quickly and Zexis wasn´t sure, if his eyes had just tricked him. "Anyway, its not perfect right now, but when Twilight is done with her experiment, I am going to talk to her. Then we will work this out." He took another sip, then placed his empty glass on the table. "Big Mac, now its your turn!" The red stallion nodded and turned to Zexis. "Financial issues." The zebra blinked. "Wow, thats....clear cut." Thunderlane chimed in. "What our big buddy wants to say is, that Apple Acres is currently deep in the reds." He looked down at his glass, his demeanor unusually somber. "Since Granny Smith is gone..." Everybody got real quiet. After a while it got akward and Zexis decided to move things along. "Don´t you have anypony to help you out? I don´t know, like a loan or something." Big Mac took another sip. "Rich. At least in the past. But now he doesn´t. Wants a new deal. Get his hands on the Cider." "Sounds like Spoiled Rich, to me.", said Spike, a rare look of disgust on his face. "She is exactly the kind of pony who would take advantage of that." An affirmative grunt came from Macintosh, who emptied his glass. "Thats why I say no deal. We should ask Twilight for help. But Applejack doesn´t want to, because she is stubborn. She doesn´t want to admit to her friends, that she can´t manage the farm." "But you can?", asked Zexis, waving at Berry Punch for another round. The big stallion shrugged his shoulders. "Would have to try to know that. Know my way around numbers, so I think I know where the problem is. Just need to convince Applejack to hand me the reigns. Granny just never cleared up the inheritance, thats why we fight. But we are gonna manage it. Until then, we just need keep things afloat. Another pair of hands would be good." He looked at his empty glass. Then turned to Berry Punch. "Refill!" ... Thunk! Spikes head landed heavy on the wood. Next to him Thunderlane was lying on the ground, delirious mumbling something like "what an ass...perfect ass..." over and over again. Zexis too was now happily drunk, but still on his senses. He looked to Discord, who had an array of boiling rainbow fluids before him, whose glasses he had sipped away. The Chaos Spirit was uncharacteristically silent. "You know, not drinking alcohol is cheating...", said Zexis. Discord looked at him calm. "Oh, don´t worry. I am utterly drunk, right now." Zexis raised an eyebrow. "Really? You don´t look like it." "He is.", said Big Mac and chuckled. "If he gets drunk, he gets normal. Makes sense, right? Opposite of what you would expect. Chaos and all." Zexis nodded. Yeah, that made sense. Or not. It was kinda hard to tell at this point. Discord on the other hand looked at his watch, a normal one. "Oh, look at the time. I have to get out early tommorrow. Sorry, guys.", he said, stood up and grabbed his jacket, which had appeared out of nothing. Big Mac stood up as well. He was shaking however, clearly affected by the amount cider he drank. "I´m gonna go to the toilet, first." He stumbled towards the piss house. Discord waited for him to dissappear, then turned to Zexis. "It was...interesting to get to know you, Mr. Chikelu.", he said. "Likewise, Discord" The Chaos Spirit put on his hat. "Next time, please try and do not drug everpony." Immediatly the pleasant fog over Zexis was blown away. "I-I don´t know what you mean.", he answered lame. Discord raised an eyebrow. "Do you now?" He turned and looked at the others, who where snoring happily. "I mean, I get it. You are new, you don´t know anypony. You want them to play to your rules." He sighed. "I just learned, that that doesn´t work. Sooner or later you have to adapt, you have to change. These ponies make great friends, provided you follow the rules." Zexis took a deep breath. He reminded himself that this was drunk Discord. He looked at the draconequus, who turn stared calmly at him. "Are you gonna rat me out? I just want to help them." Discord snorted. "Maybe you do. Or maybe you just keep telling yourself that, so you have an excuse for your actions. I don´t care. I´m drunk, remember? I probably won´t remember much about this evening tommorrow anyway. I will just say this: If you hurt Fluttershy, I will make you pay. Drunk or sober, I will turn you inside out and find the one behind all of this." With these word, he opened to door and walked off into the night. Zexis leaned back in his chair and wiped his sweat from his face. He had some quite mixed feelings. He didn´t doubt for minute, that Discord would make his threat reality if he made a mistake. On the other hand was it reassuring to know that the Chaos Spirit wouldn´t intervene, as long as it didn´t involve that Fluttershy mare. His attention was diverted, as Big Mac lumbered out of the closet. The big stallion sighed as he adjusted his pants and his, as Zexis could see now, impressive prick hang free. "Not a bad package.", he said. Big Mac looked up. Then he buckled up his trousers and shrugged his shoulders. "If you say so." Zexis cocked his head. "What do you mean? Don´t you know the average?" Again the stallion shrugged, before sitting down again. "Grew up in a all-female household. Not a lot opportunity to compare." For a while everything was quiet. Then Zexis stood up and walked towards the bar. After a minute he came back with two beverages in his hands. "Last round.", he said and gave Big Mac his Cider. "Prost!", he said and they both bumbed the mugs, before the stallion downed the liquid, including a second pill, that had been placed in there. Zexis on the other hand didn´t drink and instead placed his beer under the table, while Big Mac was distracted. Then after big guy was finished, he stood up and layed a hand on his jeans. "Wanna know the competition?" Big Mac looked at him for a while, before it made click. He looked to Berry Punch who was laying below the bar table now, clearly sleeping. He pondered, hesitated. At any other day he would have refused, maybe even be insulted. But he was drunk and two Hormone Pills were in his bloodstream, lowering his inhibitions. Finally he shrugged. "Ah, why not?" He stood up, pulling the zipper down and freeing his cock. With a heavy thud his package fell on the table. It was a monster. Easily over 10 inches long and that without being erect. Now Zexis was unbuckling his pants and presented his own prick, who stood at 10 inches erect himself. Big Mac looked at it and nodded. "So, thats the average, huh." Zexis shook his head. "In your dreams. I got a big one back in my home, and I think that goes double here. Quite honestly, what you have there is a beast. Lucky bastard." Macintosh looked down at his prick and scratched his chin. "I don´t know. Heard its not about the size. And if say is true, won´t that hurt? If I ever...you know." Zexis shook his head. "Bullshit. They say that so they don´t have to feel inadequate. The experience I made, and I made quite a few, says pretty clear that you are blessed. Whichever mare is gonna ride that thing can count herself lucky." He grinned. Big Mac looked sceptical, but then he nodded. "Yeah, I guess you are right. I guess I am lucky." He grinned back, a strange sight on the normally somber face. "Big Mac, huh?" Zexis laughed at that. Then he got another idea. "By the way, do you already have an idea who its gonna be?" "What do you mean?" "The bitc-I mean the mare you wanna get." Big Mac thought for a while. Again, under normal circumstances, he would have objected at the idea of "getting" a mare. But now he was aroused and his ego was stroked. He actually thought about it. Then he seemed to get it and he blushed through his red fur. "Nah....I don´t...I don´t have one." Zexis leaned closer, grinning. "You say that, but your face tells a different language.", he said. Then he nudged the big guy. "Come on, say it. Just the two of us. I´m shitfaced. Won´t remember anything tommorrow, anyway.", he lied. Big Mac blushed even deeper. Then he took another deep sip from his cider. He swallowed. A minute passed. Then a dark glimmer came in his, before grinning lecherously. "It´s...It´s my sister. I wanna fuck Applejack.", he confessed. His hand stroked absentlyminded his dick. Zexis grin got even wider and he pried deeper. "And why? Don´t you have a fight right now?" Big Mac nodded. "Thats the fucking point. She is fighting, blocking. I could fix it, but she won´t let me!" Zexis began to understand. "And that makes you angry. Angry, that she doesn´t understand her place. Angry, that she doesn´t let you handle it. And on top of that, she looks damn nice. Those legs, that toned ass, just begging for you to plunge yourself in it." Macintosh downed the last bit of Cider, now breathing heavily and openly masturbating. "Sometimes I fantasize just taking her. Ripping of her stupid clothes, taking her in the barn and then...just fucking her, spreading those legs, smacking that ass. Teaching her respect." "Yes. Letting it out, all that frustration, all that anger. Making her squirm under your firm strong hand.", added Zexis, "In your fantasy, of course." "Yes, and then I pump her, I beat her and then...then....Applebloom comes in and she-I-I take her and...Ungh!" With a loud grunt Big Mac came to a climax and his beast of a prick unloaded his spunk all over the table. He spasmes three times, pumping each time a huge load on the wooden furniture, coating it white, before collapsing and falling down on his chair, snoring. Zexis stood up, adjusting his own aroused prick in his pants and took a deep breath. Guys Night had been a success. Sure, Discord was suspicious of him, but that was manageable. After all, he seemed to mainly care about Fluttershy. Zexis himself had found a load of new angles he could work on. And some new informations and juicy secrets he could exploit. He looked down on Big Mac and grinned. The pill had worked very effectivly. It seemed like the key to it was the emotional state of subject. If one was happy, it would lower the inhibition towards that emotion. If one one was angry, then it would work towards that. And if one was aroused....Anyway, the alcohol would cover up any weird memories of this night, so danger of getting found out wasn´t there. Then Zexis looked on the table and on the mess, as semen began to drop down on the floor. He sighed. If he wanted to remain unbothered by uncomfortable questions, he would have to clean up... Relationships updated! Spike Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 2/10 Lust: 7/10 Secrets: repressed puberty, hates Starlight Glimmer Traits: locked Big Macintosh Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 2/10 + 1 Lust: 5/10 + 1 Secrets: Siscon, wants to be dominant Traits:massive cock, massive balls, extremly strong, huge body New Realtionships! Thunderlane Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: Rainbows Ex, locked Traits:strong, locked Mr.Cake Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: secretly resents Pinkie Pie for not helping, locked Traits: locked Discord Willpower: 9/10 Corruption: ?/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: Not telling! Traits:Would like to know, huh? CP: 3

My Little Corruption

Lessons learned

Two lights come on, one orange and one blue, highlighting a figure kept in shadow. "What a mess... I do not need to explain that we should avoid Discord for now. He might remember at random what happened tonight. Removing him at some point will need to be done, once we've found a way to do so. "Also avoid Berry Punch until such a time you can tame her. That mare scares me. "Onto your new friend's... issues. "Rainbow Dash is the most worrisome to me. To break someone's arm in three places over a touch is too extreme. This mare must be brought to heel, sooner as opposed to later. Attempt to learn more of the event first and then find a way to... Embarrass her over the situation. She's hotheaded and prideful and will not back down from a challenge, presented correctly. If possible ask Dirthoof about what happened and about Rainbow Dash in general. "Spike's issue should be set on the back-burner for now. I do not feel his... talk with Princess Twilight will go as he wishes; he seems to be the sort that is taken for granted. His resentment will fester on it's own. "Mr. Cake needs more control over Pinkie Pie, but how to go about that vexes me. She is very random and unpredictable. Simply showing her the issues the Cakes suffer may... correct her.,.. but not corrupt her. "Big Mac is the odd one out. It is clear he should hold control of the farm; he is the smartest member of the remaining family. He needs control over Applejack and if that controls comes by dicking her, then so be it. You should, once more, ask Dirthoof about her. Either way we need to get her in a position of weakness. "I advise you prioritize Dash and Applejack first. "We also learned something new about the Purity laws, even if very little. I must stress once more; we must learn of these laws and how they came about. I apologize about my constant insistence on this matter, but if there is one thing you should know it's this; information is ammunition. The more you have the more you can use, and the better we can advise you. "I'm also concerned about Zecora. We haven't seen her reappear into the situation yet... I have a bad feeling she's not sitting on her hands... "For now, carry on. Keep your ears open and your mind sharp." The lights shut off. BZZZZZT.........Click! Well that was an informative gathering lets see if we can break it down into the important facts. First we have Pinkie Pie who is making Mr Cake stressed out and unhappy due to not doing her job thus failing to bring laughter/joy to a close friend/family member. Next we have Rainbow Dash who broke Thunderlane's arm while they were going out due to a misunderstanding thus show she has no trust and loyalty to her ex-boyfriend. Little miss Honesty (Applejack) is being stubborn and lying not only to her family but to herself as well. Twilight Sparkle the Princess of Friendship is oblivious to one of her oldest friends growing resentment and frustration with his life. Lastly we have Discord who gave us the do what you like but don't mess with what mine speech. Well there is plenty of opportunities here not only to corrupt the mares but also core values to the Elements of Harmony. As with all intangible ideas and philosophies one can twist and shape them into meaning anything one desire without breaking or destroying the core concept it just takes a bit a creativity. If we can corrupt the very ideas that these mares have about their elements we could turn their most powerful weapon against them. But first we need to prioritises our targets. >> SageBrony07 >> The Great Derpsby I agree with these two that Big Mac and Thunderlane should be our first targets but since we do not yet have the power to go after both I would recommend Big Mac first. Not only would it be excellent to have some muscle on our side but we also have the most information about his situation and his particular fetishes which should make dealing with this issue faster than Thunderlane's as we do not have a lot of information about Rainbow Dash or the indecent yet. Now I believe the trick in corrupting Applejack and sorting out Big Mac problem lie in making Applejack admit that she is lying to herself which should not be to hard to convince her particularly if we can get her to drink so of our special tea. From there we get Applejack to tell us what she wants in a stallion and then start linking what characteristic we can to Big Mac. Once we start this we reinforce the idea that to be truly an honest pony one most be honest about their desires and express them. The only part I can not think of how to complete is how to get Big Mac to join us willingly but hopefully we can just slip him a couple of our "honesty pills" at the right time. While I recommend focusing on Big Mac that does not mean we should be ideal with our other opportunities we need to lay a little ground work so that when we have the time and power we can move onto these as quickly as possible. For Thunderlane's problem we need more information about the incident it self which we could properly get Birdhoof onto. We also should start corrupting the local authorities and maybe a lawyer so that if the information we gather put Rainbow dash in the wrong we can use them to help make a legal case for Thunderlane it would also give us so good protection if we need it later on. As for Spike and Mr Cake situation I believe just a couple of visit every so often to each of them and suggesting that if they have a problem with their mare they should come to us to talk about it from there we can slowly convince them to our way of thinking particularly if we can give them some of our tea while we have these conversations. Lastly for Discord we should let sleeping lion lie there is no need to go poking that with a stick anytime soon. While doing all of this we must not forget to finish any of our other project such as finishing of Red Heart training or corrupting Cheerlieeans and Scootaloo. But those should hopefully be part of our daily routine for now so we should not have to actively pursue them. well that it for now From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division The sound of a wind-chime echoes across a vast cavern and Zexis image appears within the caverns lake . "You have shown great patience with your endeavors and have gained important information from potential allies." The Ancient One says in a genuinely impressed tone. "But you must remember this: 'To discard a pawn is to discard opportunity.' You might know this already but it never hurts to recap." It glances at the new prospects of whats to come and grins in anticipation. "Your might want to check with this Big Mac in the morning as to check and see what he recalls if anything of last nights events and use the chance as you see fit. Also it never hurts to see how far your affinity to plants and 'medicine' can go." They glance at the moonlight shining from crack in the caverns ceiling and chuckle lightly. "If you can, check on your current 'projects' and see there current progress before you completely decide to take up any more work for your schedule." Moonlight shines across the water as Zexis image beings to fade from the water and the A.O. sighs in disappointment... "I must go now... but just know we will be watching..." Slurp....suck..lick... Zexis awoke with a moan, as his balls contracted and a stream of thick, white semen splashed into the greedy gullet of Lily. The mare laied on top of him, burying her face between his legs, while at the same time plunging her fingers into her dripping snatch. The stallion looked down on her, as she pulled his cock out and got rewarded by a few string of cum over her face. "Good morning to you too.", he chuckled. Lily didn´t respond at first. She was busy masturbating, before she finally reached a shuddering climax. "Iiiiiih...yees....", she panted, licking her wet fingers. "I´m sorry, I just couldn´t wait anymore.....I needed you" She looked down on her erect nipples, before grinning lecherously, taking her hand to grab one and lick suggestivly on it. "In fact....I would be open for round two..." Zexis grinned in response. Then he grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her around. The slutty mare squeaked in excitement and spreaded her legs, to give him full access to her dripping cunt. Zexis prodded her entrance with his prick at first, teasing her. They were in the bedroom of Roseluck. Former bedroom, to be precise. After last nights events with the guys, Zexis had spend the rest of it fucking the brains out of the Flower Trio, specifically Roseluck. He had decided that in order to pursue his new projects, he needed to finish their enslavement. The fuck session last night had seen to that. Daisy had already been broken completely, happily giving him a starting blowjob. But as he had then ordered Roseluck to undress herself in front of an open window (with no one looking, of course), the earth-mare had shwon some last pieces of resistance. As punishment Zexis had fed her some Honesty Pills, while silmustaneously making her horny and then locked her in his former sleeping room. The rest of the night he spent fucking Daisy and Lily, all the while listening to Roselucks desperate moans, as the drugs did their work. "Hey, are you gonna fuck me, or not?" Lily still waited for him, an eyebrow raised. Zexis smiled however and stood up. "Not yet. I want to know how our girl is doing. Wanna join?" He walked out of the room. Lily pouted dissappointed, but followed him anyway. They ascended the stairs towards his former room. Zexis opened the door and was greeted with a strong odor of musk and sex. Tied on his bed laied Roseluck. The redmaned mare was a mess, sweaty and exhausted. Her eyes were glazed over and she drooled. Between her legs the matress was soaked through, her pussylips puffy and excited. Her fingernails had dug themselves into the wood, out desperation, not being able to satiated her awakened sexual needs. It was clear, that she hadn´t slept a minute. The moment Zexis entered, Roselucks head snapped to him and her eyes glued themselves to his crotch. "C-c-cooock....cock..I-i-i neeed it. P-please, I will be good. I d-do everything! F-fuck me! Fuck me!" Her waist rocked upwards, simulating bucking motions. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck....", she muttered constantly in delirium. Zexis examined her carefully. He had anticipated a reaction like this, but not so strong. It seemed like three pills had overloaded her. Unlike Big Mac, her body wasn´t big or resilient enough to counteract the increase in hormones. A miscalculation on his part. But it still had its upsides. It proved that the pills worked in conjunction with the current hormonal status of the body. Someone who was angry, got angrier and his inhibitions towards that emotions were lowered. Someone who was horny, got even more horny and lost his defences towards it. That meant that the usage of the pills was situational. Valuable information, in order to avoid the wrong effects. "Oh my, Roseluck..." Lilys voice pulled Zexis out of his thoughts. He saw Lily standing before her friend, with a worried look. "She will recover, right?", she asked him. Zexis looked upon the blubbering, drooling mess. "Unlikely. But you don´t worry about that. In fact, it´s her just punishment. Now she will enjoy herself as my personal cumbucket and you love it, when she enjoys herself." It was the best, when he seperated the ties between the two now. No need to let personal feelings get in the way of the greater good. One wrong application of friendship, like bringing her to the hospital, and his plan would crumble. Lilys eyes glazed over, before she blinked and her smile returned. She beamed down at Roseluck and patted her head. "Do you hear that, Rosie? You will be fucked now. Isn´t that great? Zexis is sooo generous." She looked back at him. "But I get my session too, yes?" She made some puppy eyes. Zexis rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Yes, yes. Once I finish with her and get my chores done, you will be the first tonight.", he assured her. The mares grin got even wider and she clapped her hands in excitement. Then the doorbell from the shop rang. "Oh dear. I need to get down and help Daisy!", she said, before rushing towards the door. "Don´t forget your clothes!", remined Zexis her. Then, with a look to Roseluck, he added: "And tell them that Roseluck is down with the flu. Don´t want any uncomfortable questions!" Lily nodded. "Got it!" She ran out of room. After a few moments, she popped back in. "By the way, the bits are on the dinner table." Then she ran off. Zexis nodded. He had instructed the girls to give him any of their savings. Everything they didn´t need for the shop, essentials and so on. That would give him some liquidity. Then he turned back to the drugged Roseluck. He moved towards the bed and positioned himself between her legs. "Time to go to work." With these words, he entered her drooling cunt. And Roselucks mind broke... Slave gained! Roseluck Role: Sexslave Traits: mind broken, high libido, sex addict, submissive Ponyville Plaza It was late morning, when Zexis sat down at a cafe at the southern end of Ponyville Plaza. Opposite of him sat Bird Hoof, whiping the sweat from his face with a tissue. The heat wasn´t comfortable for the fat unicorn. Zexis snickered a little bit at the picture of his ally fairing in the deserts and steppes of Zebrica. But he wasn´t here to make fun of the stallion. He wanted information. "So, anything about that incident between Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane?" Bird Hoof waved his hand non-committally. "Not much, to be honest. There is the thing about her breaking his arm and screaming at him in front of the entire town, but you know that. Other than that it´s just rumors. Nopony really has the full picture, because their relationship had been really private. That means a lot of gossiping and a lot of speculation, but nothing solid." He took a sip from his tea. Zexis frowned. It seemed like the Elements liked to play their social life close to their chests. Impressive, that they managed that, considering they were more or less celebrities. And he didn´t had the time to worm his way inside all their inner circles. "Then what are the rumors?", he asked. "Mostly the usual. He touched her, got to bold. Typical Manehattan-stallion vs. Heartland-mare. Nothing you could use." He thought for a moment. Then he anxciously looked around, to make sure nopony listened. "I could have something, but...well...I´m not sure, if its worth it..." He licked his lips. "Some motivation, perhaps...." Zexis rolled his eyes. "If you want to get a decent fuck, just say it. We are not in some crime novel. I have an asset a disposal, that will satisfy your needs, without any questions. Just come over to the Flowershop tonight. Is that motivation enough?" Bird Hoofs face lit up and his rubbed his hands together. "Thank you. You have no idea, how..." "Get to the point. I still have other things to do.", interrupted Zexis. The unicorn nodded and cleared his throat. "I heard through some channels, that it was Rainbow who made the first step. And that it was Thunderlane who didn´t cooperate. After that, things escalated." He took another sip from his tea. "Like I said, gossip." Zexis pondered this. It certainly was curious. But then it posed the question, what Rainbow Dash could have asked for, that Thunderlane refused? Then another thought crept its way into Zexis head. "What kind of channels are we talking about here. Who told you that?" Bird Hoof scratched his head. "Not personally, but this rumor goes all the way to Raritys Boutique. The lady loves gossip. Although, before I got wind of it, it already got through a few mouths, so the information is most likely not entirely accurate." Zexis nodded and put that information away in his brain for later. Rarity was his connection to the Thunder-Dash problem. He needed to get her to talk, if he wanted to pursue this further. He finished his coffee and stood up. "Thank you, Bird Hoof. I need to get going now." The unicorn nodded. "A pleasure. See you tonight at the Flower Shop." "And that concludes my lesson. Remember the three rules about alchemy: Security first. Research second. Results third." Zexis clapped his hands together, before the class of fillies and colts. "I hope you found it interesting and I will be glad to see you tomorrow. Have a nice day." "Have a nice day, Mr. Chikelu!", said the entire class, before they all stormed out. Diamond Tiara was the first, in her expensive, frilly dress, followed by her friend Silver Spoon. The last one to leave were the colts, most of whom chatted with each other, seperated from the fillies. In particular Button Mash, Snip and Snails were isolated. They trotted slowly and without much enthusiasm out of the classroom. Zexis took a deep breath and sank back into his seat. Teaching was tougher, than he had imagined. But also strangely satisfying. There were certainly a lot of interesting options to pursue here. He looked up, as three figure walked up to him. "Greetings, girls. How did I do at my first day?" The CMC grinned at him. "Not bad, I say. Not as good as Zecora, but no bad.", said Applebloom, who today wore her usual worktrousers. "I think it was very interesting. And easy to understand. Alchemy is not my best field, so its good to have someone, who can give you the basics." Sweetie Belle was a gleaming flower once again, with her carefree smile and a light sundress that further accented her innocence and beauty. "That he doesn´t rhyme helps with that.", said Scootaloo, in her t-shirt with rainbow colours and tight running leggings. "Oh, come on. Zecora stopped with rhyming months ago!", protested Applebloom. "But she still has this whole mystic mumbo jumbo, that she expects us to learn. Not all of us get private lessons, Applebloom. At least Zexis here talks to us like were actual students, not some apprentices." "Mojo is real and not involving the spirits in the process can lead to..." "Okay, okay, we get it! You are in love with her. Why don´t you marry the whole hut, while you´re at it." Scootaloo grinned, as Applebloom got beet-red. Then she hopped on her Scooter and made the beeline. "Y-you....Scooots!", yelled the earth-filly and ran after her pranking friend. Sweetie Belle shook her head, threw a apologizing glance to Zexis and followed her. Zexis laughed at this exchange. As exhilerating the conversion of Ponyville was, he couldn´t help but enjoy some carefree peace here and then. He imagined how even better this all would be, when those three fillies were at their knees, servicing him. Fantasies filled his head, with a naked Scootaloo in his lap, pierced and covered with demeaning and raunchy tattoos, while Sweetie Belle stripped on his table, whispering dirty words, and Applebloom in the corner, bound and gagged and beeging for release. He could feel his prick hardening again. Before he could drift away in those dirty fantasies however, a voice pulled him out of it. "You are Mr. Chikelu?" Zexis blinked a few times, before he looked up from his seat and saw a orange earth-mare standing before him. She wore a stetson on her head, wore dirty worktrousers and a checkered shirt, whose sleeves she had pulled up, revealing tight muscles. She was big, not as huge as Big Mac, but she had no problem looking Zexis in the eye, as he stood up. "Yes, thats my name. Although you can call me Zexis, Mrs...?" "Call me Applejack." She shook his hand. A strong grip. "I just came by to see the new substitute teacher. Wanted to get a look on you." Her green eyes looked up and down, critically. "We don´t get too many zebras here, you know." Zexis immediatly got his bearings at the sight of the Element of Honesty. He put his usual charming smile on his face. "I noticed. I just wanted to make a new start here in Ponyville and luckily Mrs. Cherilee offered me this job." Applejack nodded, still looking mildly sceptical. "So I heard. Got a room by the Flowergirls, right?" Zexis nodded. "Just look on getting your own house in due time. There are folks, who don´t like seeing an unmarried guy in a house with some ladys." Who, that was direct! Zexis didn´t doubt that Applejack counted herself to these "folks", which made this a clear warning. But he still kept up that smile. "I plan to do that, once I got enough money. I am aware of problems I cause those girls, and I surely don´t want to become a burden.", he said smooth. That he tipped his chin, as if he just had an idea. "That reminds me: I heard you are in need of some help on your farm. I would be willing aid you in my free time, if you want." Contrary to what he expected Applejack didn´t rejoice. Instead her eyes narrowed and she raised an eyebrow. Zexis could now feel her mistrust. "I-I wouldn´t ask for much. Just a few bits, so that I can get on my own hooves sooner than later.", he tried to assure her. The blonde mare now thrumed at the desk with her fingers. "Why do you care about the farm? You have just arrived.", she asked. Zexis swallowed. This mare was certainly distrustful, quite the opposite of the rest of the town. "Well, Applebloom was great help the last few days and I got to know Big Mac yesterday. I figured..." "You didn´t answer my question, Mr. Chikelu.", interrupted him Applejack, as she stepped further. He could smell a residue of sweat on her body, but he was more focused on her piercing green eyes, that seemed to drill into his head. "Why do you care?" Zexis decided to foregoe his charm. He dropped his smile and looked her in the eyes. "Because I want to help..." Help you, learning your place!, but he left the last part unspoken. For a while nopony said anything. A small drop of sweat fell down Zexis forehead, as Applejack mustered him. Then she shrugged and stepped back. "Fine. I take your offer.", she said and crossed her arms, "But only because Applebloom likes you and I trust her judgment. For the moment..." Zexis took an internal sigh of relief and relaxed a bit. He hadn´t realised, he had been standing close to the wall. Applejack sure was intimidating! "Alright. When should I start?" Applejack thought for a moment. "If you want, you can start tommorrow. Just come, if have time. We always have something light to do." Zexis stumbled mentally for a second. "What do you mean light?" "Well i am certainly not roping you in for the harvest. You are clearly not suited for that." Applejack looked meaningful at his torso and the clear lack of muscles. "But small fry makes dirt as well, so you can help. Just don´t expect a big pay." She chuckled and Zexis involuntarily felt his face heating up. This felt like first time, someone actually embarrased him! Applejack now grinned lightly, before turning around. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Chikelu." With that, she strolled out of the classroom. Zexis fumed. So caught up in the fact, that this mare had belittled him, was he, that he didn´t even wasted a thought over a fantasy. When he walked out of the building, he didn´t think about Applejacks perfect ass or his fuck-session with Lily and Bird Hoof tonight. He only thought about how could break that haughty bitch. And how easy she had seen through his lies.... New Relationships added Applejack Willpower: 9/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: locked Skills: detects lies Traits:strong, tight ass, locked CP: 4 New Events! 1. Everfree Forest 2. Apple Farm 3. Castle of Friendship

My Little Corruption

Cracking Scales

BZZZZZT.........Click! Well it good to see that we have finished our work with the Flower Trio, but we need to be more careful that we do not break to many mares like we have down with Roseluck as now we have to make sure that she will not go and beg the next stallion she see to fuck her. Anyway on to the main events I believe we should go to the Castle of Friendship all though I want to corrupt Applejack I believe we need a bit more preparation before we can continue that route as our current puppet skills set are almost countered by the lie detection Applejack has. As for the Everfree forest option it would be a complete gamble on what would happen there and I prefer to have some idea of what were getting into. Hopefully by going to the castle we can take advantage of whatever going to happen there and bring spike to our side. From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division Inside what looks like a therapist's office, there sat a slate-gray pony, wearing a white shirt and vest, and black slacks. He had a short white mane and was about middle-aged. He was filling out papers... when he takes notice of you. "Ah... if it isn't the Corruptor?" The stallion smiled, "I heard lots about you and your little 'conquest'. You are probably wondering who I am. Well, I am what you would call a doctor... a doctor who has a thing for..." He glanced over at a photo that was on his desk, which was of a massive-breasted batmare, nude and gazing at the viewer alluringly, as he gives a wry grin, "...Mares' assets." He then straighten up and gazed at you. "I am Dr. Ebony. And I wish to aid you and your... 'god' in your quest to corrupt Equestria." Dr. Ebony smiled, "Do note that I am not entirely privy with what goes on in your world right now, but I would like to offer my two cents." "To begin, Everfree Forest is in the middle of the road for me." Dr. Ebony explained, "On one hand, it would allow you to become more privy to what that sexy big-titted zebra-" He licked his lips, "-is up to, since your last encounter. But it seems she can sense something is off about you. Unless you can somehow mask your 'mojo' or 'juju' or whatever, you would be going in blind. And while I do appreciate nice juicy jugs... I rather you not gamble what could be a profitable future." "And there's the Apple Farm. This venture could be as if not more risky than the first option. It's clear that Applejack does not see you in a good light. She sees you as scrawny and shady. The only reason you had success with her so far was your relationship to Applebloom, and even then, it's shaky at best. I suggest that if you are ever going to get any farther with her, you have to become more trustworthy... and has much as this may pain you, you might have to leave the Flower Trio's house. Other than that, take that one commentor's advice and hit the gym." "Lastly, the Castle of Friendship. Thanks to your growing friendship with Spike, you might be able to do something here. Try to get more info on possibly the two of the three biggest threats to your mission. And hey, maybe you might be able to get lucky and snab yourself another book. Maybe a book on how to deal with the Spirit of Chaos. It's clear that Fluttershy, the biggest-bosomed of the Mane Six (unless this world varies from others) is neigh untouchable. I highly doubt that being nice and courteous will not fool Discord one bit. Out of all the options, this one stands to be the one with the most gains." "But on other notes, I would suggest looking into those three boys. If there is anything I know about young boys, that if a sexy woman is involved, these three could easily be swayed over to your way of thinking. I do not know what they offer you, but more allies are always good." He then scowled, "As for Birdhoof, Dirthoof...whoever he is, I would suggest that you ditch her later on once he has served his purpose. Because honestly, a pedophile racist isn't someone to be walking free, even in this new world you are suggesting. There is corruption...and there are morally corrupt. And as for that suggestion about going after Mayor Mare... well, I feel that it would be too soon to go after such a high-profile target. She is only a step below Twilight, and if you are not capable of corrupting her quickly, you might had well written your death warrant." "But that is just my opinion. All I can say is... if a big-breasted mare comes your way, and the opportunity appears..." Dr. Ebony stares intently at you, "Do it. Do it for the love of Faust." Zexis, Injustice wants to commend you for finally getting your herd-mares to hand their money over to you. That will help keep your operations running. Be advised though that spending too much too quickly may bring unwanted attention to yourself. Ponies may ask how a newcomer who doesn't even have his own house came into money so fast. You're smart enough to figure that, aren't you? Still, having an excuse handy might be a good idea. Just in case. Maybe say you were saving up throughout your travels. In any case, this is a very fitting template for the future! You deserve this, Zexis. The three little sluts' things belong to you, the one who did them the favour of enslaving them body and mind. And, maybe, in time, even soul. There are rumours of powerful magic like that... but, that's for another time. You may enjoy the fantasy of shackling their souls to you for now. Baby steps. Furthermore, Birdhoof proves he's a valuable asset, but he becomes a little demanding. I would suggest not getting rid of him, or at least not yet. Remember, you have only used mundane methods on him so far. When he's at the Flower sluts' home, where only your mindfucked slaves can see, you have a perfect opportunity to cement you control over Birdhoof. He's a loyal minion, but his loyalty could be shaky. With a little nudge, it will be much tighter. You shouldn't make him a slave. Think of him as a disciple, and part of his reformation. If you do this, remember to ask him whether he made any preparations for you doing this to him. Birdhoof isn't terribly smart, and it would be suicidal for him to start asking for protection against mind-control out of the blue (because ponies would start asking why he wants that), but one never knows until one asks. Plus, it's a good idea to find out if there are easily-accessible protections against your mindfuckery anyhow. >> Ebony Stallion I agree with the good doctor. When three young stallions slouch, a sexy mare is at least likely involved. Maybe an older mare, maybe their classmates. Those upper class snobby bitches do have fine bodies on them, wouldn't you agree? Too fine not to be conquered. And even the ones more down-to-earth, like Dinky and Twist have their own charm. It would be a miracle indeed if the poor colts didn't develop some form of depression, what with this selection of delicious mares just out of reach because of Equestria's silly convention of thinking they should not be enslaved to the males! Kids like them make for good spies. Adults hardly ever pay them real attention, especially three misfits like Snips, Snails, and Button, who many ponies think are losers and the town dunces. Trust me though, Zexis, they have a hidden talent for spywork! The two Unicorns will definitely make excellent minions. Do not ask why, it involves parallel dimensions and more headache than you need right now. Hm, too bad my old experiments are lost behind that mirror... I would have loved to see you take those three on a leash and let them sing for you. Knock! Knock! Zexis got up from the dinner table and walked to the store door. It was already late evening and the sun was setting on the horizon. As he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Bird Hoof. The fat unicorn smiling in anticipation and nervously looking around. "Hello!", he greeted cheerfully. Then he looked expectantly at Zexis. "You´re gonna let me in?" Zexis looked at him. No emotion ran over his face. Then he stepped aside, letting the stallion in. Bird Hoof grinned and stepped inside. The Zebra directed him into the living room, before closing the door and lowering the shutters on the windows. Then he joined him at the table. Bird Hoof failed miserably at keeping a straight face. He was licking his dry lips and his hands were sweaty and trembled at the thought of what he was getting tonight. Zexis mustered him. He had cooled off since his encounter with Applejack this morning. And he had time to think. Bird Hoof hadn´t giving him the support he wanted. The information he gave him wasn´t enough and in the last few days, he had costed him more in effort, then he got back. It was time to change that. He knocked loud on the table. On this sign Daisy and Lily stepped into the room. At their sight Bird Hoofs eyes got wide and his mouth fell open. The mares were barely recognizable from their former appearance. Lily was wearing tight jeans, that she had cut incredibly short, so that they hugged her buttocks and the top buttons couldn´t be closed, almost revealing the tantalizing view on her privates. This was coupled with a shirt several sizes too small, that showed her bare stomach and strained over her chest. On the shirt was written "Slut" in big letters. Daisy, on the other hand, wore on the first look a conservative skirt with a long shirt. Until one realized that that skirt had been shortened so much, that one was given a free look at her dripping, winking pussy and her long shirt was wet and clinging to her body, clearly outlining her breasts with her erect nipples. Both mares were a far cry from their innocents selfes. Through Zexis influence they had been transformed into willing bimbos, who lived for their new master and anyone that would give them their beloved sex, which they now were addicted to. As they walked towards the table, Zexis knocked once again and both of them stopped a few meters short from Bird Hoof. The unicorn was now openly showing his greed and was about to stand up, his hands extended in grabbing motion, but Zexis stopped him with a commanding: "Sit down!" Bird Hoof froze in place and looked confused at Zexis´stony face. "Whats the matter? I thought, you told me to - " "Shut up and sit down, Bird Hoof.", interrupted him the Zebra, staring at him coldly. The unicorn hesitated, looking once again at the obedient sluts, who hadn´t moved an inch and were staring at the ground. Then he sank down on his chair. He looked concerned. "I cannot help, but have the feeling that our relationship has been beneficial in only one way.", said Zexis calm. He raised his hand and gestured towards the kettle at the other end of the room, that had been boiling for some time now. Lily reacted immediatly, took it and began to pour some tea. "Correct me, if i am wrong Bird Hoof, but you haven´t really been useful to me, have you not?" "Well, I wouldnt say that. I gave you the information about Rainbow -" "Something I could have obtained if I just asked those girls here." Zexis icy tone made Bird Hoof shut up immediately. "So you not only gave me easily obtainable information, but you also had the gall to demand payment for it." His voice grew more heated and angry. Bird Hoof was now not confused, but clearly afraid. His eyes darted to the door, only for panic to fill them, as Daisy stepped in front of it, blocking the way. "Tell me, why I shouldn´t reconsider our aggrement? Tell me, why I shouldn´t hand you over to the guards?" Zexis eyes now bore into the unicorns skull, every word of him filled with dominance. Bird Hoof swallowed. "You can´t do that! I-I-I would tell them about you! About y-y-your plans! You can´t take that risk.", he stammered. Zexis only raised his eyebrow. "And who would they believe? The town-creep or the guy with the backing of the inhabitants and a position at the school? Not to mention Scootaloo. How long do you think it will take me to convert her to my side, considering what I did with these cunts?" He nodded at Lily and Daisy, the former giving slight squeak at the insult, while a damp spot appeared between her legs. She got off on it. Bird Hoof was now sweating openly and sinking into the chair, making his fat frame as small as possible. "I-I´m s-s-sorry.", he peeped, "P-please...I didn´t meant to....let me make it up...." He was shivering and nearly fell from his seat, when Lily put down the tea beside him. Zexis looked at him, then gestured at the cup. "Drink. I need you coherent for this.", he commanded. Again Bird Hoof hesitated, but relented quickly under Zexis gaze. He took the teacup and took a sip. Zexis nodded at this sight. "Coherent and amiable." Bird Hoofs eyes got wide for a moment and then a familiar glazy look took over his face. Zexis stood up and stepped near to him, lowering his mouth to his ear. "We are going to change a few things about you. Not much, but some essentials. First, you´re going to be loyal to me. Not liking me or seeing me as an opportunity. No, I am your idol. The guy you aspire to be. In control, strong, dominant. As such you´re following my command and you´re going to give your best, understood?" The unicorn nodded slowly. His will was so weak and he was so intimidated, that not much force was needed to bend his mind with drugs. Zexis repeated the command until he was satisfied and thenn continued: "You´re going to remain the despicable pervert that you are, but you going to finally be more subtle about. From outside it will look like you finally turned your life around. You´re going to put more effort into the Orphanage and be nicee to the fillys there. In secret you will stay the same, but you will keep your libido under control. If somepony asks you, what caused you to change your ways, you´re going to refer to me and tell them that I made you see the errors of your ways." Again Bird Hoof nodded. Again Zexis imprinted that suggestion into his mind. Then, after half an hour, the effect of the drug wore off and Zexis returned to his chair. Bird Hoof blinked, as if had just woken up from a dream and looked around. "What the...did I...miss something?" "Probably a little shock from our little beauties here.", lied Zexis smoothly and Daisy giggled as her grabbed her ass. "We had just talked about our new plans with the Orphanage. That you were going to work on your image." Bird Hoof blinked again at that. Then he nodded. "Yes, of course. Couldn´t hurt making a better impression. We don´t need any suspicion.", he said. In comparison to before, he was a lot calmer. He also payed more attention to Zexis, although he still stole some glances to Lily. "I would like you to work on a way to get close to Rainbow Dash. Not just rumors, but a connection. Somepony we could influence, that could get us to her.", said Zexis. Bird Hoof nodded in acknowledgement. "Of course. I will get right on that." he said and stood up. He was stopped by Zexis, who laid a hand on his shoulder. "No, not yet, my friend. First we indulge a little bit. See it as...motivation." Zexis grinned and then nodded to Lily. The mare turned around and grabbed a leash from the corridor. Then she led Roseluck into the room. If Daisys and Lilys corruption was severe, the Roseluck transformation was beyond words. Zexis had worked a few hours on restoring the mares mind to certain degree, but she was still more or less broken. As Lily let her in on a leash like an animal, she was dripping her pussyjuice all over the floor. Her eyes were wide and a grin was on her face, her tongue out like a dog. Somepony had written with a marker on her buttcheeks "Whore" over cutiemarks and just over her pussy stood "Free for all". Zexis grinned at that sight and the look on Bird Hoofs face. "Go ahead. You can use her tonight all you want. Fucking is all she good for now, anyway." With these words he pulled Daisy on the table and plunged his fingers into her needy slippery cunt. "Tonight we both going to have fun." Bird Hoof looked at Roseluck. Then his trousers dropped and he lunged at her. Night, Friendship Castle Zexis breathed in deep the midnights air. He was out for stroll to regain his energy after a lengthy fuck-session at the Flower-Shop. When he had left, Daisy had been lying comatose from the pleasure in the corner, her tongue lolling, while Roseluck had licked away at her spunk-filled pussy and Bird Hoof had been fucking Lily on the table. He had a knack for dirty talk and some of the words he used during their activities had even made Zexis blush. He had left them, knowing that every possiblity of Bird Hoof being illoyal had been eliminated. With the alterations to his mind, Zexis didn´t need to be worried of the unicorns slipping up. Even better, his prestige in Ponyville would rise, once the ponies saw the creep getting nicer. He was pretty sure, that this would get him into good graces with the townsfolk. While he was thinking about his next steps, Zexis stopped. His walk had brought him to Princess Twilight Sparkles Castle. He could see, that there was still light on in the crystalline building. And as he stepped closer, he could hear voices. Loud and agitated. Moments later, the doors swung open and a small dragon stomped out into the open, small smokeclouds rising from his nostrils. "Good evening, Spike.", greeted Zexis. "Is everything okay?" The dragon ignored him and stomped off. "Spike! Come back! I didn´t mean it that way!" Twilight Sparkle stood in the doorframe. Her face was a look of distraught and guilt. Unlike their first meeting, this time she wore actual clothes, although in dark of night not much was identifiable. Zexis walked up to her and looked concerned. "Is everything okay? Did you fight?", he said worried. The alicorn looked down at him from the stairs. "What? Who are you?" "Zexis Chikelu. I arrived here in Ponyville a week ago. Spike helped me out a lot." Zexis reached out with his hand. "So again: Is everything okay? He seemed angry." Princess Twilight looked at him suspiciously, but then she seemed to remember something and shook his hand. "Of course, he talked about you. I´m sorry, there so much going on right now." She looked between him and the direction her assistant run off to. "I´m sorry, but I really don´t have the time right now. I need to talk to him. Apologize. Oh, this all so stupid!" She was very distraught and began to descent the stairs to run after Spike. Zexis saw an opportunity and decided to take it. He stepped at her side. "What was the issue? Maybe I can help?" "I don´t think you can help much in this matter, Mr.Chikelu. It´s complicated at best and Spike is in a difficult phase right now and - " "Is it about Dragon Puberty?" Zexis made a wild guess. And landed right on point as Twilight Sparkle stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. She looked at him, like she was just now seeing him. "How do you know about that?", she asked. Zexis shrugged. "He told me about it. Said it was big problem and that he had to suppress it." Twlight blinked. "He told you about it? But thats-.....he tells almost no one about this...." Suspicion could now be heard clearly from her voice. Zexis smiled in response and put an as honest look as possible on his face. "People tend to trust me. And I imagine being a guy helped. It is not something he could discuss with girls, right?" Skill advanced: Silver Tongue -> Smooth Talker! The purple alicorn thought for a moment and then her shoulders sacked. "I...guess you´re right. I´m sorry, you shouldn´t be dragged into this mess. It´s just...." She stopped and shook her head in despair. "Hey, hey!" Zexis stepped closer. He could get a whiff of lavender from her and see some tears in the corner of her left eye. "I know, I´m new here in town. But I consider Spike my friend. Tell me what the issue is and will help as much as I can." Twilight looked at him through her bangs and hesitated. Zexis kept his worried and honest look. A small eternity passed, then she answered: "Spike has been feeling....left out. For some time now. I´ve been preoccupied with my duties and then there was this surge near Tartarus....well, to put it simple: I have been neglecting him. His rivalry to Starlight - thats my student - hasn´t helped in that matter." She looked sadly into the dark alley the dragon has vanished into. "Tonight he had brought that up. Wanted to talk it out. I...didn´t listen to him. Was more concerned with the experiment. Words flew, he got angry, I dismmissed him and...well, you have seen the outcome." She looked at him sad. "I need to fix this." Zexis shook his head. "I think you did enough for today. Let me talk to him. I will calm him down, and get him to come back. You just stay here.", he said. Twilight shook her head. "No, thats my fault. I can´t pull you into this! I messed up. I will fix it again." But Zexis remained steadfast. "Honestly, the way he is right now, he will not listen to you anyway. The only thing you will achieve is enraging him further. Believe me, I know what I am talking about. I had the same problem with my family." "I don´t think that is a good comparison to - ", began Twilight. "I think it is.", interrupted Zexis, sensing a weakness in her arguments. "You are like family to each other, right? Sometimes guys like Spike need a little space. An outsider, who is not immediately involved. Neutral. Somepony he can vent to. He will not do that with you. There is a lot of frustration currently within him and trying to fix that now, will only bottle it up." He stepped in front of the Princess and looked her deep into her purple eyes. "Let me help. I think I am currently the only one, he will talk to." He laced his word with a little bit of dominance, to give extra weight. Twilight looked back - gosh, she was beautiful - and thought deeply. Then she sighed in defeat. "Alright, you win.", she said. "I will wait for him. Just...tell him I´m sorry. I didn´t mean to hurt him." Zexis smiled a little bit and nodded in affirmation. As he turned around and followed Spike he could Twilight say behind him: "Great princess of friendship am I...." Somewhere on the Outskirts of Ponyville Zexis found Spike siiting on a tree stump outside the boundaries of the town. The little dragon still puffed in anger and stared into the darkness. As he heard Zexis approaching, he turned around. "Ah, its you. Sorry, if I was rude. Just....I´m a little bit pissed off right now.", he said, as he recognised the zebra. "What do you want?" Zexis didn´t answer at first. Instead he layed his words carefully. He had a plan in mind and it was not mending the rift between Princess Twilight Sparkle and the Dragon. So he pulled out a bottle of cider and gave it to Spike. "Just saw you and thought you could need a drink.", he said innocently. Spike mustered him, then shrugged his shoulders, took the bottle and took a deep chug from it. Zexis smiled, as he saw Spike swallow two Honesty Pills and a dosis of Suggestion Powder. The little dragon finished his drink and smacked his lips satisfied. "Damn, I needed that. Stupid Twilight! Always ignoring me!", he grumbled. Zexis sat down next to him. "I could see that. She looked pretty angry. Said that you wouldn´t understand.", he lied. His words were like oil the flame, as Spike flared up in anger. "Wouldn´t understand!? What? Her fucking experiment? Her duties? Who does she thinks cleans up the mess she makes!? Who organizes the library!? Who-" Zexis put his hands in defense. "Hey, you don´t need to tell me. Its clear that you have a problem." He waited until Spike calmed down and sat down again, simmering. "Mind telling what it is?" Spike took another sip from the drugged cider and his eyes narrowed in anger. "She is just ignorant of my problems! I don´t mind being the clean-up maid. Thats what I did for her my entire fucking life, so why change it? No, what the real problem is, is that I don´t fucking grow up!" He looked at Zexis and gestured down to his small body. "Would you believe I haven´t grown two inches in three years? I would, if I was allowed, but nooooooo...we have to be careful. Dragon adolesence is dangerous, if not controlled. Bla bla bla!" He snorted angrily. "As if I didn´t knew that. And I know how to control myself! I control myself around her every freaking day! That fucking...." He stopped short. Zexis leaned in closer. "Hey, get it out. Nopony is gonna hear but me. No mare to judge you.", he whispered. Spike didn´t look at him. But he drank more from the cider and then shivered. His body grew bigger a little bit, but he didnt notice. "I-I....Celestia damn it, I am a fucking guy, okay? I have urges! And I am hanging around two of the most sexy mares in Ponyville. Rarity ingores me and Twilight sees me as a brother. I am practically in a blind spot. And they treat me like that, too. Like I´m..I´m..." "They don´t treat you with respect, right?", Zexis helped. Spike nodded and his speech grew more heated. "Nothing at all! I saved the Crystal Empire, for fucks sake! Twice! I followed Twilight into the mirror! I stood to her, when nopony else would! I did it! I! And don´t get anything for it. Just a cold shoulder from a fucking b-...." "Bitch.", finished Zexis. Spike shuddered at the word and looked at him the first time. Zexis just looked understandingly. "Say the things by their names. Twilight behaves like a bitch to you. She sees you not as a brother, but as a servant. All her friends do." Spike looked angry, but uncertain. "I-I...am....but...geez, they are my friends...", he murmured. The bottle was nearly forgotten, between his claws. "And do they treat you like a friend?", asked Zexis, giving the bottel a little nodge. "Do they take you with them, when they are leaving for some adventure? Or discussing their plans? Lets be honest, they don´t. They are content to leave you here, like a broken toy. Like a pet." He could see his words having an impact at the dragon. He added: "The only ones, who understand you, are we guys. We know how it is. What pain you go through." Spikes face grew darker and he emptied the bottle. Now, rage was clear to see on his scaly face. "She is just such a fucking bitch! Always ignoring me! All of them! I-I-I....haaaate them..." The last words he whispered, and as soon as they were out he grew another few inches. The Spikes on his back now standing up straight. His eyes got a cruel streek. Zexis smiled triumphantly at the transformation. His gamble on the emotional growth of dragons had payed off! Without his inhibition holding him back and his amplified frustration, Spike was easily manipulated into a darker mindset. Now, he had to establish control. "You do. And I think we both know, what you deserve." Spike looked at him. "You deserve respect. And they should feel how it is, to be in your place." Spike grinned, but then he shook his head. "Sounds awesome, but...no." Zexis blinked in confusion. Spike continued: "I mean, don´t get me wrong Zexis. What you say sounds great, but not right now. I want to give Twilight a chance to apologize. She is a ignorant cunt sometimes, but she means well. I am just pissed right now, thats all." Spike shrank before his eyes again, his backscales laying down again. He didn´t go back to his former size, remaining a little bit bigger and his scales a tick sharper. But he was nowhere near his previous form. Zexis was stunned. He hadn´t considered, that Spikes dragon metabolism would work through the drugs faster than expected. Now the little dragon was back to his senses. Still angry, but no longer easily influenced. The zebra grit his teeth in frustration and took a deep breath. It was not without success! He just needed to confirm how much he changed of Spikes outlook. "I am just here for you, thats all.", he lied smoothly, not letting his anger be seen. Spike nodded and smiled a little bit, now having calmed down completely. "And don´t think I don´t appreciate that. Unlike Twilight I am able to recognize the effort being made for me.", he said, raising the bottle. "Helped a lot, thanks." Zexis nodded and waved, as if that was nothing. Then he sighed. "So, where do we remain? Do you go back?" Spike looked into the night sky and the moon, standing full above them. "...yeah, probably. She is helpless without me, that stupid princess. And I´m tired and in the castle is my bed, so there is that." Again Zexis nodded. Then he though on trying something out and he smiled wickedly. "Hey, if you´re lucky, you catch her while she is changing. Have something for tonights dreams." Spike punched him in the arm, but a moment later he laughed. "Fuck, don´t say that. She basically like family!", he said playfully exasperated. Then he grinned lecherously too. "But just basically. Nice ass, she has. That and her tits." He chuckled, making a fondling motion with his claws. "Not as great as Rarity, though. That one is bombshell! Small wonder her tits fit into her clothes sometimes." Zexis grinned. It seemed like at least his inhibition were lowered a bit. He had hoped to use his anger, but apparently Spike was a little bit too disciplined for that. For now at least. He decided to call it a day and stood up. "Just make it home safely. Oh, and don´t tell Twilight about this.", he said. Spike shook his head. "Do you think I´m stupid? That bitch won´t hear a thing from me. I just tell her you helped me calm down and thats it. She can kiss my scaly ass, for all I care right now. Maybe I´m in a better mood tomorrow." Zexis sighed inside in relief and nodded. He waved goodbye. "Bet you wish that she would kiss you. Goodnight!" Before he was out of earshot he heard Spike saying: "Not on the mouth, that is..." New Relationships added! Princess Twilight Sparkle Willpower: 10/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 1/10 Secrets: locked Traits:Genius, Hourglass Figure, locked Relationships updated! Spike Willpower: 4/10 - 1 Corruption: 2/10 + 3 Lust: 7/10 + 1 Secrets: repressed puberty, hates Starlight Glimmer, lusts for Twilight Sparkle and Rarity Traits: locked

My Little Corruption

Second Interlude

Tartarus, Eros Sanctuary Once again Eros sat on his Throne of Perversion, leisurely reading a small magazine. On the front was skimpily clad Roseluck running her tongue down the shaft of a fat stallion, with a fat dildo up her ass. Over the picture stood bright red lettes First Steps in Ponyville Corruption! Blowjobs in Flower Shops! Eros smiled faintly and his cock stood rect and high as he read about the progress his avatar had made. If one would look a little bit closer, one would see how his pecks had grown ever so slightly and his horn gained a little bit of length. His Sanctuary had changed as well, though that was probably due to him actually getting rid of the mess Cerberus had made. A lot of broken furniture had been put back together and the ones who couldn´t be repaired had been repurposed as a pile of wood, that had distinct look of an ongoing art-project. Although it was still too early to tell what it was. Connection established! The sound of the Corruptor pulled Eros attention away from the paper and towards the device. His smile broadened as he saw the activity on the screen. He layed the magazine down and grabbed the Corruptor, while grabbing his dick with another hand and slowly wanking off. "Good to see you back. I´ve finally gotten back enough power to keep tabs on our little project.", he said, pointing towards the lewd magazine, "Albeit in an unconventional way." He chuckled to himself, before looking down on the screen again, his eyes simmering with pride and lust. "I must say, I am astonished at the progress. This is turning out better than expected. I can practically feel it." He gestured towards his horn. "My Connection to depravity in Equestria still stands, although it had layed dormant for many centuries. It feels strange finally getting some energy from that place. Like...a muscle you haven´t moved for eternity." He closed his eyes thoughtful for second. His horn sparked to life and red astral energy filled the room, before concentrating on a point and puffing up in a cloud of smoke. When it dissipated, it revealed an onahole, fleshy with a sun-mark on the side. Eros grunted, grabbed it and let it join his masturbation session. "This is the most I can currently do, without arising suspicion. Won´t get me off in the slightest, but it´s a start. Anyway, before I continue: Do you have any questions?" Eros, if I may be so bold, are there any taboo's that even you would rather be upheld, or (extreme or otherwise) fetishes kept out. Also are there females as much as males that you'd hold up as Equals (as long as their morality was in the same circles I'd imagine). Knowing the player is the best start to knowing the grand game. May the flames of your passions never snuffed away. (trying a different ... poem (?) for you see how it goes.) Eros pondered this question for moment, before he answered: "Well I am the God of Depravity and Corruption. As long as there is something to corrupt and defile I don´t really have limits. Although there are some taboos I don´t break, believe it or not: Torture for the sake of torture, for example. I´m not against using pain in sexual context, heck there enough that get off on that. What I dislike however are the ones, who hurt other people just for the sake of misery. No gain, no pleasure. Just pain. That´s devoid of any lust and quite honestly even for me too icky. The same goes for necrophilia or, as the neighponese call it, Guro. That is just....no...not really what I am looking for." He took up the magazine, turned some pages, until he reached an article that read: "FoE! Alternate Universe sparks controversy! Effective or moronic?" Eros face showed some mild disdain. "This is another thing, I stumbled upon recently. For all intents and purposes I should applaud the Caribous for their efforts in breaking Equestria, but...I don´t. It´s a good example of my first point, but also because they are just idiots, in how they handle their conquest. I don´t want to get into detail, but seriously? The way the rules of their universe bend themselves backwards just to grant them their victory is utterly displeasing. There is no challenge! No trial! They popped up on the scene and won, just like that. And if somepony challenges them....they win again! No explanation, no real effort, nothing!" He led the magazine drop and sighed. "In the end it feels hollow. No elation or tension or release. Just a halfbaked fantasy, that has a good premise but fails at the excecution." "To your second question: I had just as much succubi in my army as incubi, if that gives a picture about my standing on gender. Actually, scratch that. I had more succubi than incubi in my army, now that I think about it. But my point still stands. I don´t believe in Equality so much, as I believe in Opportunity. Wether you have a cock or a cunt doesn´t matter to me, as long as you are willing to fuck and corrupt. It just so happens, that males are usually more receptive to it than females. But if a mare wants to get in on the action herself, I will not deny her that. Some of my greatest generals were corrupted mares. Commander Hurricane to give a good example. And Lilith, my favorite Succubus managed to make a break along with some of her followers from Tartarus a few years ago, when Cerberus left his post for some days. Sure Celestia brought her back, but I wouldn´t be suprised, if she left something on the surface behind." Eros stroked his chin at that thought. Maybe he should try and talk with Lilith on the next opportunity. Sure, they weren´t on good terms anymore, but surely she would be interested in his scheme. Maybe she would even agree to be his vassal again. It would most certainly help with his boredom. The Alicorn shook his head. He would put that idea on the shelf for later. He had other things to worry about now, as the Corruptor blinked again with a new message. Two lights come on, an orange light and a blue light. They highlight a figure, but keep him shrouded in darkness. "Greetings, Eros. It is a pleasure to speak to you... directly. I am a Spokesman of a council of... shadow leaders, shall we say, curious about your methods and their applications. I will waste as little time as possible and get to what questions I have. First of all; do you have an idea of the powers and capabilities of Zecora? And can you recommend a good way of dealing with her? I imagine it is only a matter of time before she attempts to remove or expose Zexis. Preparing him must become a priority as we do not know when she will make her move. "Likewise with Discord. I can only imagine he will be more of a monkey wrench with how... random he is. We must find a good way to neutralize him. "Finally, do you have any knowledge of the purity laws Celestia enacted? I would imagine your... imprisonment has kept you out of touch, but any knowledge could be useful, if applied correctly. If nothing else, it will help us establish how far Zexis can push things publicly. "Thank you for your time. The results of your... experiment should prove to be enlightening. "We,,, will be watching." The lights shut off. Eros puffed his cheeks and sighed. "Well, Zecora is a zebra shaman. That means she doesn´t use conventional magic but enchantments, potions and talismans. Other than a unicorn who discharges spells and incantations, shamans store magical energy through rituals in proxies. Like a sword or a staff. This takes time and effort, but it means they can use the stored magic for longer and makes them flexible. A good shaman can, with enough time, assemble so many artifacts, that they become a walking magical juggernaut, with items for any conceivable situation. Sure, a unicorn is faster and potientally more powerful, but a zebra shaman is versatile and can, with enough preparation, take on enemies that are way stronger than him. So the best way of dealing with them is taking them out before they can entrench themselves and prepare. If thats not possible, than the only other option is finding a way to defeat them, they haven´t prepared for. Suprise attacks and unconventional tactic, and the like." "Discord is a wild card, fittingly for the god of chaos. But if Celestia allowed him to be free, then there must be something to keep him grounded. A chain, metaphorically speaking. Someone who has him under control, who he cares more about, than his own fun. If we are to take him on, it´s either overpowering him with pure might, like Tirek did, or by attacking his chain, and gain control over him that way." By the mentioning of purity laws, Eros face darkened and his eyes turned from fiery red to a bloody purpur. He grinded his teeth. "I am aware of the Purity Laws. A perversion of order! Tyranny at its best. Brainwashing and social engineering an entire culture to Chastisity over one thousand years. Fucking bitch!" He slammed his fist on the throne, his pupils turning to slits. His teeths changed, rearranging themselves the razorsharp fangs and the air around him began to heat up. Runes on the walls begand to glow, sparks cracked between them. Then, as sudden as it had come, the anger vanished from Eros´face. His body turned back to normal, the runes dissapeared and his face slackened with exhaustion and resignation. "I honestly can´t help with that. I would, believe me, but I don´t know more about the Laws than the Avatar does. They are probably one of our biggest obstacle in this endeavour, as they are an integral part of equestrian culture now. I would advise learning more about them, if we want to succed." Dr. Ebony was in his office, taking note of the ominous window into Tartarus that just materialized in his office. In this window was a silhouette of a big hulking figure that could only be the Corruptor. "Okay... that isn't something you see everyday." Dr. Ebony frowned, "I can only assume I had caught the attention of Eros..." He gazed at the window with uncertainty, "...Right?" The figure stared at the stallion, not saying anything. "...Right, I guess I could get straight to the point." Dr. Ebony cleared his throat, "So... it is a relief that things went as well as they did with Spike. I am a little bummed that Bird Hoof is going to be sticking around for a while... but as long as Bird Hoof actually follows through with these changes, I guess it can work... but I do have a few questions." He leaned against his desk. "So... is it actually possible for this whole operation to tank over? Can there be a 'game over'? Because I do recall there was a story where the writer actually wrote a game over to his story, I just hope that I am not wasting my time with this endeavor." The figure glared at him. "I mean no disrespect. I really want to see things done right, but I am that kind of guy who likes to look ahead in those Choose Your Adventure books to see which path would get them a good ending." He cleared his throat. "Anywho, for my second quesiton... might be possible to use this 'corruption' power to enhance certain body parts? Like I dunno..." He gives a wry grin, "Tits? I dunno, I'm just throwing it out there. I know there would have be a way to do so without drawing attention from the non-corrupted, but hey, we could use more big-titted mares in the world. I'm sure you and the Chosen One can make it work." "Also... and this is just an general question... but when do you suppose we will be getting down to the paizuris? I am a particularly huge fan of it and I would love to see Zex take part in one of greatest joys when it comes to sex." "...And that's about it. I don't really have much to go on. But I hope I did not offend you or..." He gazed at the viewer, "The writer..." Eros scratched his head. "You have weird way of asking, Dr.Ebony. But if you want to treat this like a game, sure. However this Game Over you´re talking about can happen. If you fuck up and our plan is discovered or Zexis dies, then we lose. I will not have enough energy to attempt the same trick twice. This is a one-time shot at victory, and if it misses, I will have to sit here until the universe turn to mush. So, no pressure..." "Also, who is this writer you are talking about....?" The Corrupter reappears in the black marble throne room, large windows looking out upon the same strange autumn sky with trees of fire and gold. In front the Corrupter stands a large gold table, on which appears to rest a map of an entire galaxy. Stardancer stares at it intensely for a few moments before muttering, "Yes... deploy a Kor'Tul squadron here and the planet should be vaporized before daybreak, Dawn's Light will rue the day he insulted me." Outside the window ten gleaming spacecraft, each as large as a mountain, roar away into the sky. Stardancer turns and grins, at them before noticing the Corrupter floating silently at the end of the table. "Ah, you're back. Good. While you were gone I had to wage war to keep myself entertained." He sighs as he walks around the table to the Corrupter, "It's not like it used to be when I was young, fighting for vengeance with hate in my heart and death in my bones." Stardancer regards the Corrupter for a while before nodding to himself, "Yes, Spike is quite the whipped dog, who could expect anything else after a life of servitude? And Twilight! I never knew she was so strong willed! Always was gullible though, too distracted by her research in my opinion, too much theory not enough application." He turns back to the table and yells, "And make sure one arrives ahead of the others, I want him to have hope before I slaughter his people to fuel my ships!" He turns back to the Corrupter, reading more, "An audience with Eros himself? Well I suppose that you're reading this now then." He stands a little straighter and gives a lordly bow, befor returning his attention back to the Corrupter, "Now then, Twilight said something interesting and worrisome. She said that there had been a surge of energy in Tartarus, no doubt our wonderful puppet Zexis's creation and teleportation. So here is a question, could the element of magic be able to trace that disturbance back to its cause, for example Zexis? If so, that would by incredibly bad for his teaching career." Outside a large black cloud clashes with another, sending torrents of rain and lightning down upon the windows, "Curse those air-brained idiots! Why I created them to be so quarrelsome I'll never know! Anyway, second question: If Zexis were to come to an unfortunate end, whether by magic or dehydration from all the orgasms he's having, would you be able to conjure enough energy for a new avatar? Would it even be possible to attempt the same trick twice? I thank you for your time, as I'm sure you're a busy man. I'll let you know how the decimation of one of my oldest friends goes. Ta!" And with that, Stardancer summons two large maces, and vanishes from sight into a portal in front of the Corrupter. Which now has a lovely view of an alien planet being slowly consumed by darkness as large flashes of different colored energy fly back and forth across space. It would appear that Stardancer has left Eros some entertainment. Eros face lit up, as he watched the battle unfold. At one point he had summoned a bag of popcorn and was openly cheering, as one would a tense hoofball game. "To the left! Left, you Idiot! He has you on his sensors...Ooooooohh, thats another one down!" Finally, after two hours, the planet lies completely darkened. Occasionaly one could see some orange lights, as the inferno on the ground destroyed the last remnants of civilization there, but overall the battle was over. Long lines of slaves could be seen dragging there feet to the transport to be shipped off and the leader of the resistance was summarly executed by the winner, before the screen went dark. Eros ate the last scraps of popcorn, before righting himself on his seat and coming back to the questions. "I assume the Princess of Magic is talking about the Energy Surge during the Avatars creation. This sadly was unavoidable, although it will take her considerable time, to figure out it came from me. The spellmatrix I used is humonguoesly complex and I made sure to cover my tracks. Magical surges from Tartarus are nothing out of ordinary either. If you keep the worlds worst beings in one place, they are bound to headbutt now and then. The lesser ones, that is. High Lords and former Gods, like Tirek and me are usually kept in isolation if we do not behave ourself. So I wouldn´t be to worried." He thought for a moment. "If you really don´t want to take any risk, you should try to mess with her experiments, to set her back. Although that is risky in its own right, so be careful." The mist rolls back revealing a large blue dragon, with a silvery white chest and ab scales kneeing muttering. "Eros, God of Corruption and Lust, bless my kingdom that it may grow in prosperity. Help me guide dragons towards our true natures, allow me to maintain favor of the other gods so They do no hinder the work I do. If be pleasing to you, please grant me an audience with thee." As the dragon opens his blue eyes he exclaims, "It worked! Fluorspar was right about this being the time that mortals could view into the depths of Tartarus." "My High Lord Eros, it is pleasing to speak with you in person. I was not able to communicate with you during your last meeting of viewers and and very please to participate now." "Eros there are troubles brewing in my kingdom. As you can tell from my comments, I am the new Ice Dragon Lord and am working constantly to convert the dragon's back into the ways of Eros. During this time in history dragon's kingdom's grew and hatchings were plentiful. Then came the age of Celestia and Luna, and many dragons have opted to forgo the ancient ways." "One of my key problems is" "Let me go!!" a dragoness's voice echoes from a hallway. "What's going on?" The blue dragon sighs. "I'm conversing with Eros." A black guard dragon with a grey chest walks in with a orange dragoness bound in chains. "My Lord Fimbulwinter," the black dragon replies with a bow, "I'm sorry for the interruption, but I wouldn't have done so if it wasn't for an emergency. Your harem found a spy, they wanted me to bring her to you." The blue dragon's eyes widen at the sound of the word spy. "Excuse me for a minute Eros, this situation needs my immediate attention." Finbulwinter looks at the dragon guard, both sets of eyes going white. The ice dragon king grabs the dragonesses head, and her eyes glow white as well. Soon all three sets of eyes fade, a smirk appears on Fimbulwinter's face. "I knew the Lesser Lord of Spire's Cove, was against me assuming the throne of being the Ice Dragon Lord, but to actually send a spy. I'm surprised." Gazing down at the struggling dragoness, Fimbulwinter taunts, "So spy, did you learn what your ruler wanted you to learn?" "Go fuck yourself, imitator." The dragoness spats at Fimbulwinter's feet. "I'm sure you're going to be wanting me to fuck you in a moment." Fimbulwinter smirks, as he holds up a red and violet crystal from his chest. The dragoness shivers as a glow from the crystal washes over her. "So spy, is there something you want me to do?" The blue dragon speaks, as his cock starts to become hard. The glow stops, and the dragoness replies haughty, "Go fuck yourself!" "What!!!?!?!?!" Fimbulwinter replies, as the guards in the chamber glance about in confusion. "How did you resist the Tarmakin's crystal?" "Wouldn't you want to know, asshole. You are nothing compared to a real dragon lord, as Lord Glacier was, or his son Lord Permaforst." The dragoness shouts. "Oh really, then why am I the one with the Ice Heart Bow?" Fimibulwinter smirks "You cheated at the tournament, it is the only way you could have beaten all the other dragons. You have ruined the name of dragons across this country. The lesser lords are preparing a rebellion. We are going to find ways to avoid your manipulation! We will attack and free Prince Permafrost and put him back on his father's throne!" The dragon shouts in self righteous fury Grabbing her roughly, Wimbulwinter locks eyes with the dragoness. Both eyes growing white. As both eyes dim a laugh echoes across the room. "HA HA HA HA! Former Prince Permafrost was smart, to insist that you be used as a spy before he was imprisoned. You prefer the other side of the nest. That is why you didn't ask for my cock, but if I had any member of my harem in here you would have begged to fuck with her. Smart. Just think about the dragonesses in my harem. There plumb tits, those wonderful lips." The dragoness starts to tremble as the dragon lord lets go of her. Many of the guards nostrils flare at the scent of arousal. from the dragoness. "Now the question remains, of what to do with you? I could try to make you into a male. My flesh craft abilities haven't been successful with changing genders yet, but I could always try a few new variations, I have been working on." "I could just use my Shazamer's Prism to enter your mind and make you crave males. I haven't ever done that before, I'm interested in seeing if is strong enough to do that. To overwrite your sexual desire for females." 'Or I could turn you into my first double slut. A slut who's need to fuck by other females. You would shamelessly have sex with any female, no matter who was present. I may add a preference for you to fuck or be fuck by females whenever a male is present. That would be hot for me or my guards to watch." "The final option would be to kill you and send your head back to your lord, while keeping your decaying body next to Permafrost, as a reminder of those who stand against me!" The dragon lord looks at the dragoness, her eyes full of fear. "You know, this gives me an idea. Eros, this here is an example of the problems I am facing bring dragons back into the hoard of Eros. I need to do something about this spy, and maybe even Permafrost. So what do you think I should do with the two of them?" The mist closes up, as the dragoness is dragged out of the throne room The God of Lust raised his hands towards the screen. His stance took on a regal appearance an his eyes glowed in majestic fire. "If I weren´t confined in this prison and in this state, I would personally reward you for your ongoing loyalty, King Fimbulwinter. As it is, I can only give you my blessing for your endeavour and that you may succed in leading the Ice dragons back on their true path." Then his eyes fell on the dragoness and a lecherous grin parted his lips. "I would suggest a more interesting fate. Send her back to Permafrost, but with a few...changes. If she so desires her female compatriots, let her have them. In way only a male can. Let her feel the elation of a cock being buried into a dripping snatch, the power that comes with this dominance and let her drown in it. And then, when she sees the truth of you rule, let her return to the rebel-prince and let her destroy his resistance from the inside. The best victory is one served with poetic irony." BZZZZZT.........Click! Excellent work with both Spike and Bird Hoof hopefully with your suggestions will lead both of them onto more fruitful paths. Now it looks like we have some more time with Eros and I was wonder how you know when these "events" are about to take place is it some sort of precognition or do you just get a vague sensation that something about to happen and will this ability get stronger as you do.I ask cause as useful as these notification are if we have some more information about what each event might be or who is involved we might be able to make more informed decisions. Anyway I got to get back to work my superiors want me to write a report on the progress of this game of yours as well as prepare and present a plan on how to proceed both for them and our fellow comrades participating in this game. until next time From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division "Honestly it is the Corruptor that oversees these events. I don´t want to bore you with details: Just know that it involves a lot of messing with the Laws of Probability and Space-Time Relativity. Add to that a slight bit of Clairvoyance and shit-ton of Magic and you have these predictions." Eros shrugged his shoulders. "A lot of the magic I do is instinctual and even the ritual to create the Corruptor was made over hundreds of years. I cannot remember all of the details I put into the spell-matrix. I just know, that with the ongoing corruption it will get stronger and more precise. The longer our Avatar holds out, the more useful the Corruptor will become." Within the moonlit cavern the Ancient One holds a sack of Gold aloft the cave's lake and in one swift motion of it's sharp tail, spills the gold coins into the waters below. It looks down in thought and grumbles impatiently "Should be enough to establish a link, paid the full ritual price, and have correct resonance with... Ah, yes hello Eros it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." The A.O. looms over the water looking into the homestead of the lust god "Many times have I tried to establish something to stave off my boredom which has been sated so far by your avatar but I must ask... You once mentioned the founders of Hearth-Warming eve in your past and was wondering what events had unfolded from your influence that had led to there corruption?" Again a dirty smile crept up Eros´lips. "Aah, yes. The corruption of the Founders. My finest work to be honest. You see, before I came to Equestria these six were the best rulers Ponykind could ask for. Just, generous, brave, smart, kind, you name it. They were the paragons of a flechtling culture..." A long forked tongue ran over his lips and a spout of precum sprung from his cock, as he remembered. "....and I broke them. It was straight at the beginning of my invasion. Equestria had been founded just a decade ago and as such was rather young and not completely organized. When I first arrived in their lands, I didn´t had much of an army. Most of my subject were back in Zebrica, because I preferred to....recruit the local population. Made holding my conquest much easier." "So when I arrived, I disguised myself as a simple Unicorn. A mage on a journey to distant lands, willing to share his knowledge. I targeted the Court of Princess Platinum first, because it was the most vulnerable. Luna and Celestia were raised at that time by some Earthponies in a town named Earth - I am not kidding - and didn´t want to provoke a confrontation too early. I feared my challenge would further their growth into adversaries. In hindsight, that was mistake. But back to the story. Starswirl the Bearded had just left the court on some grand adventure - he never came back, by the way - and so it was the susceptible to corruption. When I arrived I immediatly plugged the hole he left, with my knowledge of the lost arcane. Clover was the most suspicious one, but she was loyal to Platinum, so as long as I remained in royal favor, she couldn´t do anything. Platinum on the hand was smitten with me from the very first day." Eros chuckled and projected an image of Princess Platinum in royal regalia on a balkony. Beside her stood a red unicorn-stallion with rugged good looks, a winning smile and a strong, firm body. Eros, in his unicorn-form, bowed down to her and kissed elegantly her hand. Platinum giggled and blushed. Eros waved his hand and the scenery changed. They were now in a lavish decorated bedroom. Platinum was laying on a huge bed, her dress ripped apart, her hand gripping Eros´back, while her leg were wide open. Her face was distorted with utter pleasure, while she screamed obscenities, her ample tits jiggling with every hard thrust, bitemarks clearly visible. Again the picture changed, with a wave of Eros´hand, and now showed the same bedroom, now utterly destroyed with broken furniture everywhere. Eros younger self was sitting naked on a chair, while he looked with an victorious grin down on Platinum, who was laying to his hooves. The Princess hair was completely disheveled, her buttocks red from spanking. Her eyes were rolled back into her head, with her tongue lolling out of her mouth. Her overflowing, to the brim with cum filled pussy was plugged by her own crown, broken and bend. Eros wished the picture away. "All it took was one, albeit godly, fuck and she was butter in my hands. After that it was rather easy to corrupt the rest of the court. Turns out a lot of stallions had dreamed of fucking their own princess. Who were they to say no, when she offered herself to them." The alicorn conjured another picture up. This time it showed Clover the Clever in her brown robes, with a book in her hands. "Clover I dealt with differently. After I took control of the court, I baited her with my knowledge of spells unheard of. She was a tough nut to crack, I admit. But once I mentioned, that she could impress Starswirl with this knowledge, she came around. And while I corrupted the court through Princess Platinum, Clover I corrupted through her own students." The scene changed, to Clover defending herself against a half dozen unicorns, all of them half naked, with mad lust in their eyes. She fought valiantly dodging spells, blocking incantations and trying to blast her way free, before she was struck by a spell from behind, that enlarged her breast to G-Cups. Then another hit, that burned away her clothes. Then a curse struck her, that seemed to make her extremely horny, by the looks of it. Still, she fought on. Finally she went down, when Eros himself crushed her astral shield and placed an inhibitor ring on her horn. Again the picture flickered away, to be replaced. This one showed Clover completely broken. As the last of her male students stepped away, of what looked like the end of a gangbang, one could see her pitiful state. She was covered, head to hoof, in cum. Her entire body was defilded by writings like "Bookslut!" and "Free Pussy for All". Her eyes were dim and broken and she held up a sign that said: "Academy Cumdumpster" "Well, broken would be the better word. Strong mare, too strong for own good. But she served outstandingly as a morale booster for the troops later on, so all in all not bad." "After I was finished with the Unicorns, I went to Pegasopolis. Officially I was an envoy from Princess Platinum to Commander Hurricane, to negotiate the disarmament, he had agreed on a few years back, but hadn´t implemented. Turns out, the Commander was not so keen on surrendering Pegasus Sovereignty even after the events of Hearths Warming Eve. But he was losing ground among his supporters to his former deputy, Private Pansy. She was the strongest advocate for an equestrian unification and had begun to gain widespread support among the pegasi. Naturally I offered the Commander my help in this crisis." Again a picture showed Eros and Commander Hurricane standing beside a large gathering of pegasi, in an amphitheater. On the stage stood Pansy who held a speech and was rewarded with roaring applause. "Other than the Court, I didn´t need to subtle here. Pegasopolis was isolated from the rest of Equestria and so the chances of news getting out was slim. Especially as long as Hurricane held the military under her control. I just made sure to....enhance her soldiers." The scene changed to a large group of soldiers flying down in the Amphitheater. Other than normal pegasus, their fur was of dark colours and their wings were leathery batwings, and they possessed sharp teeth. The Bat-Ponies swooped down on the Gathering and wrestled Pansy to the ground. She tried to flee, but they grabbed her, ripped apart her tunica, then violently suppressed the rest of the audience, before dragging her and her followers naked away. "It was publicly announced that Pansy had planned a hostile takeover and that she and her companions were branded traitors, with a new...punishment to dissuade any further dissidents." A marketplace was shown. In the middle stood a platform with Pansy and four other mares chained to a wooden block. They were completely naked and their butts were arrayed before the crowd. A herald proclaimed their sentence before stepping aside. First there was hesitation. But then a light red glimmer layed itself over the crowd and the first stallions stepped forward, dropping their trousers and grabbing Pansy´s buttock with lecherous delight. Then they plunged their cocks into her cunt. First she screamed in pain, but after a while a grunts were replaced by moans. The red glimmer enveloped her as well and soon she was groaning and moaning like a common whore, inviting more stallions. At the end she was begging for more cocks to fill her needy holes. While the public rape took its course, with the feverish crowd screaming and hollering encouragments to the rapists and insults towards the traitors, Eros could be seen on the sideline, his horn glowing and his smile growing. "After that it was peanuts to convince Hurricane to pledge loyalty to me, especially after I showed her what I did to Platinum and Clover and I dropped some hints, that she could resume her slave raids in the neighboring countries. That bitch was so battleager, it was almost disturbing. I think the only way she could get off was, when she was beating someone to the ground. At least I saw orgasm quite a few times, when we fought against Celestias armies." The picture now showed Eros sitting on Platinums Throne, with the former princess laying before his hooves like a pet, complete with collar. Commander Hurricane stood beside the throne, clad in a formfitting armor, that pronounced her bust, and adorned with spikes and chains. Her mane was styled into a mohawk and she had multipe pirecing in her lips, nose and eyebrows. Between her legs one could see a steady stream of pussy juice, that came from her glistening cunt, which was filled with a nubby, thorny dildo. "After I had took over the Unicorns and Pegasus I finally turned towards the Earthponies. For those of you, who expect now another scheme from me, I must dissapoint. I had defeated two of three of the main tribes of Equestria and had now a steady stream of recruits. I felt secure enough to bring my succubi and incubi over from the old continent. Then I simply attacked the Earth Ponies." The scenery was dark, as in a moonlit night a small army of frightened earthpony-militia was standing before their town. On the horizon they could see the host of Eros army approaching, the moon itself was soon covered by the sheer number of pegasi phalanx and bat-pony raiders. It wasn´t even a battle. Soon the bodies of the militia laid dead on the fields and the army looted and pillaged the village. Mares were dragged screaming and kicking from their husbands, who either died fighting or surrendered on the spot. A few stallions could be seen, raping their own comrades, as they betrayed their community. From the biggest house Chancellor Puddinghead could be seen running out of the door as fast as his pink fat belly would allow him. Behind him, dragged forcibly by a leash, was Smart Cookie. Naked, her eyes gleaming with rage. Puddinghead hastily threw himself on the ground, when Eros approached him. He then offered his former page Smart Cookie as a gift to his new overlord, as long as he be spared. Eros cocked his head, now in full alicorn glory, and laughed triumphantly. "I spared Puddinghead. He had the good sense, to know when he had lost. I gave him Smart Cookie back under the condition of his undying loyalty. He was coward, yes. But he had an undeniably genius, when it came to administration. I wouldn´t throw an asset like that away. And he proved me right." Now the village was shown again. This time it was in middle of repairs, with earthponies trying to rebuild their home. The first building that was finished was a giant hall in the middle of the place. One could see a huge streams of stallions and mares, zebras, griffins, caribous and yaks going in and out. In the hall itself was a wooden platform, where an array of naked and chained mares were shown. They signs with different price tags on them and Puddinghead could been seen directing the auction, with Smart Cookie at his side. The orange mare smiled as she was groped by her master, eagerly pleasing him with her mouth, while a hand of hers absently stroked over her flank, in which Puddingheads Cutie Mark was now branded over her own. "Puddingheads Slavemarket was a huge succes and would remain so, until its closure under Princess Celestia." Eros said. His hand waved again and his horn projected on last picture. From the burning village and the roaring Eros a pair of small fillies could be seen. One white, with pink mane, one dark blue, with a lighter shade blue in her mane. Both of them were fleeing into the night, into the Everfree. Eros looked upon the picture with regret and a hint of nostalgia. "I failed to catch them. In my eagerness to conquer the earth-ponies, I had also allowed them the opportunity to escape. And in my arrogance I didn´t feel the need to pursue them. Why should I? I had won. But a few years would pass, and then the Sisters would return from the Everfree. They had build up a kingdom there, with the refugees from the other three tribes and a few centuries later, they would come back with an army. The ensuing war would turn the Everfree into the nightmarish place it is now, as our magics clashed. And soon they would drive me and my subjects to the border and the rest you know..." Eros was quiet for a moment, recounting those days. The mistakes that had cost him everything. No! The mares who had cost him everything. All of this. All the centuries of preparation and planning. All that was for revenge. For the day, where he would see Celestia broken and defeated before his hooves. He shook his head and turned towards the Corruptor. "But enough about the old days. Time for the present.", he said and pressed down on the screen to see the avatars progress. "I can see, that you have broken a mare. Splendid! I know, some of you think that is a liability, but let me show what can gain from that." He called up a screen that showed a number of locked options. A picture of Roseluck Cutiemark popped up and with small victory tune, some of the options were unlocked. "As you know, the avatar can be strenghtened through CPs. But all of these traits are mundane, in reality confined. Break Points, BPs for short, however let you enhance him with abilities that more of magical nature. Now, don´t misunderstand, he will not have access to actual magic. That is a trait he has to aquire. Instead think of these abilites as manifestations of my powers through him. On much, much weaker scale of course, but still. They may give the ability to produce more cum, than his balls can actually have or gift him with scent, that makes females in his near vicinity aroused, and so on." "In the end you have balance your need for these abilities, against the disadvantages of having some broken mares. Also, the more powerful the mare you break, the more powerful the abilities you gain." A question popped up on the monitor. "As to why that is possible? Well, just think about like this. I am the God of Lust. And now you have a mare whose only conscious thoughts are about fucking. See it as a sacrifice. I gain strenght through that, and in turn I can bless my avatar." He leaned back on his throne. "You also gained some more CPs and new traits. So I think I should leave the further planning to you. Just remember, plan carefully. Trying to fulfill multiple goals at once will lead to failure. Tackle on problem after another." With that he closed his eyes and began to fap to distant memories of glory and sex. CP=5 BP=1 New Traits Affinity to alchemy (Potions and Powder or Amulets or Enchantments) - 2CP Affinity to magic - 2 CP strong Libido - 1CP addictive cum - 2CP strong - 1CP handsome - 1CP fast - 1 CP Resistance to magic (element of choosing) - 3 CP dexterous - 1CP Current Traits huge cock - 2 CP big balls - 1CP Affinity to element (Plants) - 1CP dominant - 2CP charismatic - 2CP intelligent - 2CP New Abilities Natural Fucker (addictive for victim) - 1BP Everystallion (greater social acceptance; aka a racist not caring about your presence) - 1BP

My Little Corruption

EXTRA - Status, Allies, Skills (28.11.2016)

Avatar Name: Zexis Chikelu Gender: male Race: Zebra Skills: Smooth Talking, Alchemist: Apprentice, Applebucking Kicks (basic) Traits: huge cock, big balls, high affinity to element (Plants), dominant, charismatic, intelligent, Affinity for Alchemy (Potions and Powder), Libido, strong, handsome, Resistance to magic (Dark), fast, tough Abilities: Everystallion, Natural Fucker, Natural Enchanter, Enhanced Dominance Relationships Big Macintosh Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 10/10 Lust: 7/10 Secrets: Siscon, wants to be dominant Traits: massive cock, massive balls, extremly strong, huge body, Misogynist Thunderlane Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 7/10 Secrets: Rainbows Ex, locked Traits:strong, very fast, handsome, dexterous Mr.Cake Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: secretly resents Pinkie Pie for not helping, locked Traits: locked Discord Willpower: 9/10 Corruption: ?/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: Not telling! Traits:Would like to know, huh? Spike Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 8/10 Secrets: repressed puberty, dislikes Starlight Glimmer, lusts for Twilight Sparkle and Rarity Traits:loyal, locked Sweetie Belle Willpower: 1/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 5/10 Secrets: locked Traits: jailbait, submissive, intelligent, locked Apple Bloom Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 7/10 Secrets: locked Traits: submissive, obedient Mrs. Cheerilee Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 7/10 Lust: 9/10 Secrets: wants to be loved by her male students Traits:intelligent, high libido, bitchy Diamond Tiara Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 5/10 Lust: 4/10 Secrets:locked Traits: pretty, rich, locked Silver Spoon Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 5/10 Secrets:locked Traits: submissive, rich, locked Dinky Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 2/10 Lust: 4/10 Secrets:locked Traits: poor, pretty, submissive, locked Twist Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 3/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets:locked Traits: intelligent, submissive, locked Rumble Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 9/10 Lust: 8/10 Secrets:wants to fuck his classmates Traits: dexterous, agile, handsome, very dominant, locked Button Mash Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 8/10 Secrets: locked Traits: dominant, locked Pipsqueak Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 8/10 Secrets: locked Traits: dominant, locked Applejack Willpower: 8/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: Is afraid of losing the farm Skills: detects lies Traits: very strong, tight ass, strong willed Princess Twilight Sparkle Willpower: 10/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 1/10 Secrets: locked Traits:Genius, beautiful, locked Starlight Glimmer Willpower: 7/10 Corruption: 3/10 Lust: 0/10 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Spoiled Rich Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 7/10 Lust: 3/10 Secrets: Wants to control all of Ponyville, Angry at her daughter Traits: intelligent, dominant, locked Tin Soldier Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 2/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: locked Skills: Battle-butler Traits: extremely tough, strong, intelligent, locked Allies Bird Hoof Advantages:Orphanage, Informant Status: loyal Big Macintosh Advantages: Enforcer, physical Labor Status: temporarily loyal Slaves Daisy Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 8/10 Lust: 9/10 Secrets: shamefast, in love Traits: submissive, strong orgasm Lily Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 6/10 Lust: 10/10 Secrets: Slut in Love Traits: submissive, sex addict Nurse Redheart Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 9/10 Lust: 7/10 Secrets: Special Service Skills: Job: Nurse, Job: Whore Traits: submissive, big tits, big butt, natural cocksucker, bitchy, Size Queen, masochist Scootaloo Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 9/10 Lust: 10/10 Secrets: former prostitute, loves to be abused Traits: Maso-queen, small breasts, agile, extremely submissive, libido Mindbroken Roseluck Traits: hugely submissive, sex junkie, massive libido, mind broken Zecora Traits: huge tits, cumdumpster, mind broken Recipes Sarmandos Suggestion Powder 2.0 : A powder that is made out of Poppy Seeds, magic stone and Fools Salt. If ingested orally, it places the affected person into a state of mind, where suggestions are most effective. After the improvement the effect are now stronger than before and will lead to medium alterations in the subjects personality depending on the suggestions. These changes are now stronger and will be permanent, most of the time. Most effective if subject is asleep. Preferred ingestions method: Spiced up drinks, that hide the powders recognizable taste. Can now be put on surfaces and ingested over skin-contact. Alternative ingestion method: Contaminated utensils, like clothing or bedsheets. Keep in mind, that ANY suggestion will lead to alteration and that the state only last for forty minutes. The Emotion Hormone Pill: This pill, which is won from Bullfrog Tears and Blood Lotus overloads the biological hormone production and causes an amplification of desires and a decreases of mental inhibitions of the subjects mind. Basest wishes and thoughts are said out loud, and a stronger application or a weak resistance to the drug can cause sever changes in the subjects social behaviour. Particulary useful as an interrogation method or to implicate rivals. Caution is advised: Extended exposure to the drug, can cause severe changes in the subject personality, as the rewiring of the mind becomes permanent. Lust Trinket: One of the lowest form of enchanments. Barely even magical, this talisman relies more faith in its abilities and associated emotion, than actual power. Even though it has its uses as an easy to hide object, that induce a gradual accumulation of lust in the targets body, that only grows stronger with passing time and proximity. While it´s uses a rather mundane and there are multiple stronger alternatives, such aprhodisiacs, this trinket serves as subtle tool for corruption and is a good starting point for further studies in the field of enchantments. Aphrodisiac-Incense: This is a simple incence, made out of several aphrodisiacs. It burns slowly over an hour and raises the libido and lust of everyone, who smells it. This is a slow, long-building effect that requires some time to show its effect. Once it hits, however, it raises one lust permanently and makes the subject more susceptible to suggestions and lustful actions. Only way to defend against it is by taking the antidote beforehand or getting out of its sphere of influence. Truth-Amulet: This amulet is enchanted with a simple truth spell. This spell functions as a compulsion for the target to reveal its deepest, darkest secret. It had only limited charges and, depending on the targets willpower, can expend more than one of these charges to force its effect, before it needs to be recharged. The target itself is not aware it is being manipulated, unless it is proficient in magic itself. Arcane Tattoos: This ink allows oneself to inscribe spells on ones own body, enabling spellcasting even for those unskilled in the magical arts. The amount and power of the spells depends on the craftmanship of the tattoos and the quality of the ink. Caution: Spells stronger than the enchanting ability of the user, can put enorm stress on ones body. In extreme cases they will such things as: Spontanous combustion, loss of limbs and or brain hemorrhage. Traits, Abilities and Skills Skills Smooth Talker - Zexis skill at lying and deceiving has become great enough to even fool people, who are suspicious of him. He can charm mares, who don´t have a positive opinion on him Traits Affinity to alchemy (Potions and Powder/Amulets/Enchantments) - A Talent for the alchemical arts. While no substitute to real skill, one has easier time aquiring proficiency in Alchemy. Affinity to magic (Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark) - A Talent for the magical arts. At the earliest level, one can feel the aether around him and at higher levels manipulate it in subtle ways. At the highest level (third level) one aquires the ability to use magic, even when someone is normally not capable of it. Libido - One can perfom longer during sexual intercourse. At the highest level, ones sexdrive can last up to hours at a time and strenghtens ones sexual skills. addictive cum - Semen produced from ones body has an addictive quality. At low levels it awakens a liking to the taste, but at higher levels can lead to an addiction akin to a strong drug. strong - Physical prowess and power. Also slight boost to appaerance. At higher levels, one can perform herculean task, like dragging a house with him or holding furniture with one arm. handsome - A pleasant and good looking face. Boost to appearance. At higher levels, one can charm people just with his looks alone. At the highes level it even works on persons, who are normally not interested or even outright dislike the character. fast - Physical speed. Also slight boost on physical prowess. At highest level, one can move faster than an top-athlete and only magical or heroic speedsters can outrun one. Resistance to magic (Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark) - Gives slight restistance to a certain form of magic. At lower levels, one can shake of the worst effects of spells of the chosen category. At higher levels it grows into defence against almost all effects. At highest level it turns into outright immunity. Multiple restistances can be aquired. However each must be leveled up seperately. dexterous - Flexibility and physical skill. At higher levels one can climb almost smooth surfaces. At highest level it allows to dodge fast moving projectiles and spells. big cock (lvl. 2: huge cock) - One is gifted with a penis, whose size and length is over the average. Boosts sexual performance. At higher levels the cock grows, but still can be used for sex, even with pussy who normally couldn´t take him. This trait can boosted indefinitely. The cost grows exponentionally big balls - Boost to semen production and sexual performance. At higher levels the potency of the produced cum and its attributes grows, as well as the volume. Affinity to element (Plants) - A talent and natural understanding of the element. At lower levels, one has easier time aquiring skills associated with chosen element. At higher levels this trait grows into pseudo-magical manipulation of said element. At highest level, one is bound with the element and aquires attributes associated with it, as well as complete mastery. This is not actual magic and a more primal skill, all but lost. dominant - One has a dominant personality and a strong will. Asserting ones self over others is easier with this trait. At higher levels, one can withstand some mental spells, as well as outright controlling the weakwilled and submissive. charismatic - Social skills. At lower levels, sympathy and acceptance is gained easier. At higher levels, one can persuade people into doing things, they normally wouldn´t agree to. At highest level it gives one the speech skills and Charisma on par with a Great Leader or Hero. Also gives a slight boost to appearance on each level. intelligent - Logical skills and learning abilities. At lower levels, one is faster in thought and mind than the average person and more creative. Gives a slight boost to aquiring new skills. At higher levels, one can think and learn on the same level as a genius. At highest level, one can calculate and learn in an instant. (Example: analyze and use spell after seeing them for the first time) Affinity for Martial Arts - A talent and instinctual understanding of the martial arts. At lower levels, one has an easier time aquiring martial skills. At higher levels one will achieve the body control of a professional fighter, as well as higher capabilities for combat. At highest level, one is able to learn the most complicated fighting skills, as well as unlock the Skill "Ki Control". tough - One possesses a tough physique and natural endurance. Boost resistance against physical damage. At higher levels includes resistance against diseases and poison. At highest level one can potentially survive attacks, that would normally kill someone. Abilities Natural Fucker - This ability gives a major boost to sexual performance. It also gives one the supernatural attribute of making sexual intercourse addictive for the victim, boosting their lust. Everystallion - A Person is one with the crowd, if he chooses to, with this ability. Despite outlandish, or even disturbing, appearances, one can still melt into the background or just not arise suspicioun. Any prejudice about race, gender or status can be softened. Enhanced Dominance - This ability enhances one dominance beyond it´s current threshold. A level 1 dominant character is treated as level 2. It is possible with this ability, to exceed the maximum level of the trait. Mutated Dick - This ability mutates ones penis. It gains additional girth, as well as barbs and further stimulating ridges. Its colour will change to black. This enhances ones sexual abilites and lightly corrupts the recipient of this sexual organ. This ability can be developed further Natural Enchanter - This ability gives one access to the enchanment skill. Even without knowledge beforehand, the character will now be able to start his career as an enchanter, as if he already been trained in the basics. Memory Changer Potion - This is a one-time ability. The character gains access to the corrupted Memory Potion. This potion was originally created by the shamaness Zecora to aid Twilight Sparkle, during the Tree of Harmony Crisis. It cannot be recreated or used more than one time. It gives one access to the memory of the person, who drinks it. One can then change and corrupt these memories as ones pleases. This corrupts a target completely. This ability does not work on Lesser Gods and upwards and has only a weak effect on Demi-Gods. Current Traits: huge cock (2 CP), big balls (1 CP), high affinity to element (Plants) (4 CP), dominant (2 CP), charismatic (2 CP), intelligent (2 CP), Affinity for Alchemy (Potions and Powder) (4CP), strong Libido(2 CP), strong (2 CP), handsome (2 CP), Resistance to magic (Dark) (6 CP), fast (2 CP), tough (2 CP) Other Traits: Affinity for Martial Arts (2 CP), dexterous (1 CP), addictive cum (2CP), Affinity to magic (Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark) (2 CP) Further Information Astral: Astral magic is most common form of magic and at the same time, the most rare. It is used by almost every unicorn in its form of telekinesis, which has a huge variety of applications and different levels of strength. However higher form of astral magic is much mor difficult to perform, as it relies heavily on magical theory and therefore requires a trained mind and a huge knowledge of magical studies. Those who fulfill these requirements, find themselves having access to spells that can range from shield spells to outright mind control. However one should note, that what astral magic has in versatility, it lacks in strength. A fire spell will almost always break through an astral shield of the same level. As such this type of magic is generally considered to be most useful in subtle applications or when wielded by a quick thinking mind, who can make the most out versatile magic. Dark: Dark magic is energy in its rawest form. It is considered the first use of formal magic in ancient history. As such it generally considered to be an outdated discipline, only used by villains and barbarians. However dark magic has some advantages over other, more civilized forms. Dark spells do not require much use of spell matix or other complex rituals. Instead they can be channeled quicker and more powerful, than any other spell discipline, enabling hard hitting sorcery and quick casting. It triumphs over any other form of magic of the same level and is best suited for violent applications. However outside of that, there isn´t much use for it. It also drains its users magic reserves rather quickly, as the exchange of energy to magic is crude and ineffective. A loss of control can spell desaster for any foolish practitioner, so caution is advised. However, should one be able to master this most dangerous of all magical displicines, few would be able to stand in ones way. Lore of Mundus Griffon-Aeries "There exist numerous Griffon Aeries over all of Mundus and they all are different from each other. With cultures as diverse as pony kind's. Around three thousand years ago, griffons were the dominant species. Their Aeries had conquered half of the known world and were divided into three Aeries. Griffonstone was in the North, occupying the Goldbeak Mountains. They possessed the greatest wealth of them all, with deep mines driven into the mountains where they worked their slaves, mostly ponies. Their empire, which included what would later became Equestria, fell after five hundred years when the monster named Arimaspi broke into their palace, killed their king, and escaped with the Idol of Boreas. After that the Griffonstone Aerie broke apart into numerous smaller Aeries, who all vied for dominance." "To the West, on the Continent of Lemur, was the Aerie Highwing. It was the most powerful one, with huge armies and swathes of steppe lands. Where the griffons could hunt and feed their population. Their society was built on the back of zebra slaves, who worked the fields and served as game for the griffons to hunt. Their Capital was on the lonely mountain Kimajajeu, from where they overlooked the entire steppe. However, that nation crumbled to dust as well. As it turned out, Kimajajeu was a dormant volcano and in 2300 B.E. (Before Equestria) it erupted, destroying Highwing and killing most of the griffons there. All that remained of them, were some outpost and smaller Aeries, but they fell when the Zebras saw their chances and rebelled. That was the point where Zebrica began its first steps as a nation." "And the last Great Aerie is Loch Beack. It lies in the Old World and is the only aerie that survived the ravages of time. The griffons there settled in a mountainous and hilly region on the Island of Alba. Other than Griffonstone and Highwing, they abolished slavery after they lost a war with the native ponies of that island. The loss of that war also drove them to the north of that land and ironically, that secured their survival. They had not idol as keystone to their society or had to fear a slave-uprising. They were divided into clans and elected their king and this decentralisation made sure that a sudden crisis would not cause their aerie to collapse. They would continue warring with the southern pony kingdoms, but last I heard of them they were still independent." Zebrica - Early History As I already mentioned, the Fall of Highwing, caused a widespread rebellion among the zebra slaves. Unable to contain this uprising, the griffons soon either retreated into their aeries, to weather the storm, or were overrun. After that war was over, the zebras united under Zara Shuku, a powerful shamaness who in turn crowned herself High Priestess of the Spirits. The Theocracy of Zebrica was born." "For a while, everything went well. The young nation was thriving, new alchemical arts were discovered and the commune with the spirits of the lands was discovered, which empowered the priesthood, as they were able to enrichen the soil and bring life-giving rain. That early golden age continued for about two hundred years, give or take. Until, one day, Zara Shuku - who at that point, achieved immortality - disappeared. No zebra today knows where she has gone to. Some say she has wandered over to the Spirit Plane, others say she grew weary and disappointed over her fellow zebras. Fact is, Zebrica had lost it´s leader and protector." "And enemies soon appeared at their gates. A upstart young nation of sphinxes, called Kemet, soon attacked them with an army of chariots and undead, under the leadership of a Godking. The priesthood tried to resist them, but failed. The first war forced them to pay tribute in form of gold and slaves. The second war took half their territory from them. And the third war reduced them to a single city. When the fourth war arrived, it seemed like that would be the end of Zebrica." "But they were lucky, in a sense. First, a valiant young hero arrived, who overthrew the incompetent priesthood, and installed himself as king. His name was Zanjawe and he managed to fend off the invading sphinxes, by assassinating their Godking. But that alone, would not have saved them, if it were not for the foolishness of priests of Kemet. In their desperation to save their ruler, they bound his soul to his dead body, essentially reviving him as an undead mummy. But by doing that, they tore open the barrier between life and death. Soon their kingdom was ravaged by the dead and torn apart. Amidst all that chaos, Zanjawe lead his small army and reclaimed a large portion of zebra land." "The undead plague would eventually pass, but Kemet was split into a lower kingdom and a upper kingdom and would not be reunited for the next four hundred years. Zanjawe however, would soon be assassinated himself and his title fell into the hands of his brother. The zebras would fall apart into numerous tribes, with the zebrican king only having nominal rulership over them." Origin of the Everfree Forest "Now the Everfree is the product of my war with Celestia and Luna. I told you, that the two had escaped my conquest of the Three Tribes and the corruption of The Founders. They hid in the Everfree Forest and build their Castle there. As mentioned before, they attracted refugees and formed a small nation. When our war began, the Everfree was an old, but peaceful forest. And the Sisters had made sure that the will of forest was on their side. Any attempt I made on entering these woods would be met. Not only by their soldiers but also by the spirits of the land, as well. And they could attack my borders from it at any time." "So naturally, I began corrupting it. Since the Will was peaceful and desired harmony, it was on their side. I needed to make it angry and evil and I thought it would then choose mine. Foolish, in hindsight. I started by having orgies at it fringes, defiling virgins with my demons. Then I let them give birth at the roots of trees and baptized the infants with my corruption, letting the magic and the fresh violated souls seep into the ground. The Sisters fought me at every turn of course, but I made my way slowly into the forest, inch by inch. After a decade of that, I successfully corrupted a large portion of the forest." "As it turned out however, the Will did not choose my side. Instead it lashed out against everything that it deemed foreign. Animals turned feral and monsters began to dwell under its leaves. Vines began to rape any passersby and nymphes began pull soldiers into the trees to devour them. Not all was lost, as the Sisters lost their protection of the Everfree and despite the added dangers, I could finally engage them in open combat. The war took up in pace and the myriads of spells from either side twisted the forest even more."

My Little Corruption

Plucked Roses and Fallen Apples

Avatar Name: Zexis Chikelu Gender: male Race: Zebra Skills: Smooth Talking Traits: huge cock, big balls, Affinity to element (Plants), dominant, charismatic, intelligent, Affinity for Alchemy (Potions and Powder), Libido, strong, handsome Abilities: Everystallion The shadowy figure appears once again, walking through the shadowy fog as he looks upon Zexis in his slumber. "Well, Zexis, it seems your efforts have unlocked more powers, which is excellent. You should now have an affinity for a number of things that, when combined with your plant affinity, should let you cause quite a few subtle changes through Ponyville if applied to the countless plants in such a rural town." Shaking his head, the figure then causes an image of Roseluck to appear, "Also, though breaking her seems to have gotten you more powers, it's also a living time bomb waiting to be discovered. You can't keep her purely as a sex slave. Ponies will ask questions. And, might I point out, there's a way to aid you in making her useful again." With a wave of his arm, the image zones in on her cutie mark. "Ponies, I think, will be easier to regain their minds for than any other species, because of these marks. They're actual magic, and maintain a key part of their personalities, no matter how much you break their mind. With this in mind, you could rebuild her from the ground up with that as the foundation." A smile seems to cut itself out of the shadowy figure's flat face, "...wouldn't stop her from being a total slut due to your efforts though. Not that we'd want to stop that, but we still need her to be able to not draw attention to your actions, and your excuse for her absence will only last so long before questions are asked." The image changes to a schematic, showing Zexis sitting down and just talking with Roseluck. "Perhaps just some discussing with her each day will help bring out her consciousness again. Like, say, offering what she wants in sex for little advancements in gaining... well, gaining sapience, cause right now, she seems only sentient, not sapient. Doesn't mean you'll have any luck returning her to how she was, but at least if she's manageable enough to fit into the public eye, that should be fine for now. Plus, it'd make her even more loyal to you for helping making her able to live on her own if need be. She'd owe you so much then." The figure smiles wider again, "Speaking of owing you... with the girls now your slaves, you can have them train on the side while you're away, to get them to learn more skills. You could make them your first skimpy sexy agents of corruption, helping work in the background and reporting to you their successes each night. Would make corrupting the town easier." The figure nods, remembering something, "Well, I've got things to do. Best of luck in your endeavors, and I hope your new abilities prove useful to you." "Cock.....sucking....cooock..." With a greedy smile, Roseluck crawled towards Zexis loins. Saliva was dripping from her mouth and she trembled in anticipation of release. Of another mindblowing orgasm, like she got the first time. Something that would take her thoughts away from the burning feeling between her legs, at least for a few hours. Zexis clicked his tongue angrily. He grabbed the mare by the shoulders and stopped her from advancing any further. Roseluck looked up with wounded eyes. "No...cock? Please, I....need it. Let me suck...", she pleaded with big eyes, like a puppy. But Zexis shook his head, picked her up and carried her over to her bed. They were in her room above the Flowershop. After a good nights rest, Zexis had spend most of the morning with the task of restoring Roselucks mind, at least to functioning degree. Well, tried to, anyway. As it turned out, this was easier said then done. First he had tried, getting through her with words. But any attempt of conversation had failed, as the only thing the mare cared about now, was getting fucked. Then he had brought his suggestion powder an had tried conditioning her back to a normal person. That had failed as well. It had taken him a few tries, before he realized, that her mind was more or less intact. However due to the overdosage of the hormone pills, her body produced now high quantities of lust-hormones. Simply said, she was in a constant state of heat. Which wouldn´t had been much of problem, had she been able to satisfy her newly awakened libido. But due to him tying her to her bed and denying her release for over nine hours, it had broken down all safeguards in her brain. And when he had brought exactly that, finally, it triggered in her an addiction, that was akin to a heavy Zapp-junky. Now everything in her only cared about the next orgasm, the next climax. After that she was usually lucid for a few hours, but it wouldn´t last. And it certainly wasn´t something that she could hide in day to day life. Zexis frowned, as he looked down on the panting mess of a mare. Roseluck had now given up on pleasuring him and had instead spread her legs wide as an invitation, while simultaneously plunging her fingers into her drooling pussy. The zebras eyes wandered to her butt. Where before a rose had blossomed there, was now the image of the same flower lying plucked in a small pool of white liquid. This was the shocking discovery he had made this morning that had animated him in trying to treat her condition. Roselucks cutiemark had changed. Or better said, had been corrupted. Because clearly this had happened because of Zexis actions. He hadn´t even known that something like that was even possible. Lily and Daisy hadn´t heard of it either. But here it was, clear on her butt as her fur. Zexis theorized, that this had happened because of her singleminded obsession with sex now. Her entire purpose had now realigned itself to suit her newfound desire. But still, it was suprising. He looked Roseluck in the lusthazed eyes. He had corrupted Roseluck down to her very being. A terrifying discovery. And strangely enough, it didn´t bother him. Sure it was annoying, having to deal with this mess, but it was also exhilerating. To think that he could change a person so thoroughly. Even if it happened by accident. His right hand grabbed Roselucks shoulder and threw her around, so that her butt faced him. Than he grabbed her mane and pulled her towards him, so that her back was resting against his torso. "Time to give you what you want.", he growled in her ear. "Thats all you good for now, anyway." Then his trousers dropped and his cock stood ready. He aligned himself with her cunt, which earned him a desperate whimper from his slave. She wanted this badly. He took aim, pulled his hips away and then thrusted with full force forward... With a satisfied sigh, Zexis closed the door behind him. Now, Roseluck would stay quiet for while. He threw one last glance into her room, where she laid on her bed, her eyes rolled back into her head and her ass still in the air, red from the spankings and plastered white with spunk that flowed from her cunt down to the sheets. He had to tell Daisy to change them, before tonight. Zexis shooked his head and walked downstairs. That Roseluck was broken for at least quite some time, was disappointing. But it would not be too detrimental for his plans. After all, it would take at least a few days before someone would grow suspisciuos. And even then he could take her to Redheart, which would buy at least a one or two months. So, all in all not that huge of a problem. Especially considering his other projects. Zexis stopped, before he entered the shop-area, before a mirror, that hung on the wall and mustered himself. He didn´t look bad. Most certainly not for a zebra. His icy blue eyes pierced from a clear cut face, with defined cheekbones and a strong chin. His mohawk-styled mane was well cut and a rebellious little hair fell from it, giving him a certain air rougish charm. That, coupled with his clear defined chestmuscles and light six-spack, meant, that he could most certainly call himself handsome. A fact, that he was quite proud of, as it made his seduction of the mares easier. Sure, Ponyville had proven to him, that you needed more than good looks to make friends here. But he was certain, that sooner or later, he would make every mare in this town understand, what their real purpose was. Especially that stupid bitch Applejack! How she could call him weak, was still a mystery. It was fairly obvious, that he wasn´t a slouch, when it came to physical activities. So, why the obvious lie? Well, probably, because she didn´t trust him. Most likely because she was racist, even though she wouldn´t admit it. But those farmponies were always more "conservative" than the townsfolk. Still, Zexis had expected more from the Element of Honesty! He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It wouldn´t do him any good to get angry now. Only a calm mind prevailed over adversity. And he had a plan, so there was no reason for high rising emotions. He stepped away from the mirror and into the shop, where both Daisy and Lily prepared everything for the opening. Both wore their usual clothes, as Zexis didn´t want them to arouse suspicion. When they saw him, their faces lighted up. Daisy walked up to him and hugged his right arm. More gestures of affection couldn´t follow, as they were now in the open. "Good morning, Zexis.", said Daisy, "Anything we can do for you, before you head out?" Zexis grinned at their obedience. "Actually there is." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wooden sculpture. It was tiny, barely a trinket. Made out of mahagoni-wood, it resembled a heart with dark lines etched into it, that flowed together in the middle like a maelstrom. "This is a Lust-Trinket I created. They will help convincing more of Ponyville to our side. I want you to smuggle it onto a customer, without them noticing." He gave the trinket to Lily, who looked at critically, before nodding in confirmation. "For now, use only one. Hide it in a way, that nopony can find on accident. And only give to one, who you think would most likely give in to pressure. Somepony who is weakwilled and visits regulary. I want to find out, how effective it is." Both mares listened intently, before nodding again. Zexis looked at them satisfied. His patience had paid off with them. They now followed his command without question and if this experiment worked, he had a good start of corrupting Ponyville at large. The trinkets were an idea he came up with, when he had experimented with his drugs on Roseluck. He had carved a ritualistic container out of wood and siphoned a little bit of her lust into it. It was just a small trick, barely something you could call enchantment, as it was more a faith-induced talisman, than actual magic. But it was one of the things he could remember clearly, from watching his father back in Zebrica. There, they were used little charms. Things that kept a household frisky and sexual active. They worked with proximity and time. The closer they were to a recipient and the longer they stayed within reach, the better they worked. And because their effect were so small and gradual, one could barely notice it. Back in Zebrica nobody really cared about them, because they were everywhere and sexual activity was part of daily life. Here in Ponyville however, they would have a much greater effect. If placed well, they could make even the most innocent mare have wet dreams on regular schedule. And they wouldn´t even know, why. Sadly, more was not to it. These trinkets would not transform one into a dripping slut. Heck, they wouldn´t even have much influence on ones personality. But they were good for preparation and could create an opening for further corruption. Purple eyes flash in the darkness. You're going to need every ally you can get if you want to achieve you're goals. Hmm perhaps it's time to check to see how Scootaloo and her friends are doing. If you get those three, than you have a way to spy on three of the Elements. Not to mention they would could be a good way to corrupt the foals and fillies of Ponyville. Zexis made sure, Daisy and Lily knew exactly what they were doing, before saying goodbye and stepping out of door. He had still a lot to do. Next up were Scootaloo and Birdhoof. He changed the doorsign of the Flowershop to "Open". Then he turned around and walked towards the Orphanage... At the Orphanage Zexis was greeted with an unusual sight, when he came around the corner. Birdhoof stood in front of a small group of colts and fillies and handed out lunchboxes. That in and of itself wouldn´t be too strange, if it were any other pony. But it was clear from the suprised, and occasionally downright shocked, look on the small ones faces, that this was certainly not the norm for their caretaker. Their suprise got even bigger, when Birdhoof opened his mouth. "I had time to think about some things...starting today, things are going to change.", he said earnestly, "I will try to be a better stallion from now on. A better caretaker. And maybe...someday...even a friend." He pointed at the lunchboxes. "Just take these as an apology. And..." He searched for words for a moment. Then he smiled warm. "Have a nice day." It sounded almost sincere, even to Zexis ears. And he was aware of the reason of Birdhoofs change of heart. To these fillies it looked probably like their tyrannical caretaker had transformed into a completely different stallion. No wonder they were absolutely dumbfounded. Eventually, they all took their lunchboxes. Hesitantly at first, but soon, after it was clear that this wasn´t a trap, with less fear. The last one, a small blue filly, with braids in her ice-blue mane, even thanked him. Then they walked off to the school, talking amongst themselves, no doubt about Birdhoofs strange behaviour. Zexis let them pass, before walking over to fat unicorn himself. "I see you already try to make good impressions.", he said, foregoing the greeting. Birdhoof noticed him and for a moment a shimmer of fear ran over his face, before being replaced by adoration and joy. "Zexis! How good to see you." He shook his hand. Then he looked towards the road, seeing the foals sowly disappearing into the town. Then, when they were finally alone, he let out a deep sigh and wiped his forehead from sweat. "Phew, this harder than I thought. I am not used to smile all the time. Think I get cramps from this." Zexis just laughed. "Don´t worry, you´ll get used to it. Just don´t overdo it. Otherwise they will probably call for doctor, to check if you cracked." The unicorn grunted sceptically, but then a little smile crept up his lips. "Snow Flower, that is the blue one, already asked me this morning, if I am feeling okay. They seem to be feeling just as awkward as I do about my current behaviour." He scratched his flabby chin and then continued. "But, to be honest, it´s actually a little bit refreshing to see a smile on their lips every now and then.", he admitted. Zexis raised his eyebrow. Yeah, right. He would not fooled so easily. "Enough for you to continue?" Birdhoof shrugged. "Sure. After all, you said it´s gonna help your plan and if I can contribute..." Then the familiar dirty smile showed itself again. "And the prospect of fucking them without repercussions. Thats one hell of a motivator." The zebra just shook his head. Loyalty or not, Birdhoof would always remain Birdhoof. But then again thats what he needed, so who was he to complain? Then he heard a door close and looked up. Scootaloo just walked out of the Orphanage. Other than the fillies from before, she wasn´t dressed for school. Instead she wore sports-shirt and some tight running leggings. The leggings in particular hugged her tight ass and thin waist in most alluring manner, though she probably wasn´t aware of it. She also had a helm on her head and protection gear on her knees and elbows. Her hooves were stuck in a pair of rollerblades. "Good morning.", greeted Zexis her. "Do you not have school?" Scootaloo looked up, looking suprised on seeing him here, before relaxing. She smiled at the greeting. "Not before the second class.", she answered his question. She fastened her rollerblades and drove to him and Birdhoof. "I make a round before that. Have to stay in shape, you know?" Zexis mustered her fit legs and her lithe body, that practically begged him to teach her other ways to "stay in shape". But he controlled himself. Instead his eyes lingered on her rollerblades for second. Then he got an idea. A grin parted his lips. He turned to Birdhoof. "You know what? I know exactly how you can show everypony, that you´ve changed." "You do?" "Change?", asked Scootaloo. "Yes, indeed.", anwered Zexis both their questions. "You see, our dear Birdhoof here wants to turn his life around and I agreed to help him with that.", he explained to Scootaloo. "And I just know the perfect way to start: By training with you, Scootaloo!" "WHAT!?", came it from both. "Oh, no no no. Out of question! I do not train. Not a chance in tartarus!" Birdhoof shook his head violently, his dismay clearly written on his face. "I am not running with this creep! Forget it!", protested Scootaloo, angrily flapping her small wings. "Calm down, both of you.", said Zexis in a strong, but gentle voice. He raised his hands in defence. "I know that sounds like a bad idea-" "The WORST idea!", interrupted him Scootaloo. "-BUT!" Zexis wrestled the control of the argument back to him. "But...it will help you both. First of all Birdhoof. Because a healthy body begets a healthy mind. And will also teach him some discipline, which you can agree, he needs badly." "Excuse me!?" "I also intend on giving you free rein, how his training looks like. If you want to take him on hard, do so." That got Scootaloo attention. Her eyes lit up, as she looked over to Birdhoof. A thoughtful look crept on her face and on the edge of her lips was a wicked smile to be seen. "Just...be fair. No revenge or anything, got it?", said Zexis, immediatly, as he saw that. "After all, we want him to change for the better. Not running him down like a mule." Scootaloo seemed to seriously consider it, so the zebra decided to throw on last incentive into the ring. "Just think on how proud Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony will be, when they hear that you helped reforming Birdhoof.", he whispered. That did it! He could see from Scootaloos dreamy expression, that he hit bullseye with that one. "Rainbow Dash would praise me...", she muttered under her breath. Than she turned to Zexis. "Alright, I´m in!" "Hey! And I don´t have a say in this?", cried out a dismayed Birdhoof. Zexis quickly took him to the side. "This is the perfect opportunity to corrupt her. When we want to get our hands on Rainbow Dash, we need Scootaloo, understood? I relying here on you, Birdhoof." He threw a quick glance at Scootaloo. "And maybe, just maybe, if you do good...I will let you help educating her, okay?" And that convinced Birdhoof. Even though he clearly wasn´t thrilled with the idea of physical training, the prospect of getting to fuck a willing and submissive Scootaloo gave him the motivation he needed. He sighed, before turning around to the small pegasus. "Well.....shit, alright. Just...take it easy on me, please?" Scootaloo grinned. "Nope!", she said happily, "In fact, we going to start now! Come one, run!" She clapped her hands. Birdhoof wanted to protest, but a look of Zexis shut him up. Instead he let his shoulders sack and accepted his fate. As both of them began to run off, Zexis could her Scootaloo beginning to chant: "One, two, three, four. Move those legs! And if I see you staring at my butt, I´m going to let run double!" She clearly was enjoying herself. Zexis on the other hand, took the opportunity and entered the orphanage. Then he walked straight to Scootaloos room. Arriving there he opened the door, which was not locked, luckily. Then he reached into his pockets and pulled out one of the lust-trinkets. He had already an idea, how to corrupt Scootaloo. For that he just needed her to accept her depraved past and relish in it. When he could make her realize that whoring was her true calling, everything else would be a cakewalk. Raising her lust was the first step for that. Eventually he found good place for the trinket to hide, as he slipped it under her mattress. It would only need to stay there for one or two days, and soon the little orange pegasus would have some steamy nights. And after that she would bet butter in his hands. The mist rolls back showing a blue dragon, with a silver scaled chest and thighs walking up a stair way, with a lovely green dragoness following after him. "Are you sure, it is wise to leave my Lord? Is it really necessary." The green dragoness asks, though her tone shows that she thinks it's a stupid idea, the blue dragon lord, can't help but notice the undertone of worry in her voice. "You know, Fluorspar, that only I can accomplish this mission. Only I can enter the Monastery of Fang's peak without attracting attention. We may need their knowledge about flesh craft in the future." Fimbulwinter spoke with authority. "Flesh craft? You mean your ability to regrow, or grow parts of the body? You never mentioned where you learned that arcane art before." Fluorspar, spoke in interest. "I found them, before I became the Ice Dragon Lord, I just lost one of my wings and arms, and it was due to them that I was able to recover. I feel like I owe it to them to bring them into the true way of dragon." Fimbulwinter speaks, his mind seems to be elsewhere. "Fluorspar, please use your talents to interpret what Eros said to me. I don't understand what he meant by, 'If she so desires her female compatriots, let her have them. In way only a male can. Let her feel the elation of a cock being buried into a dripping snatch, the power that comes with this dominance and let her drown in it.' I hope you can tell me, if he means corrupting her into craving males to have sex with her, or use flesh craft to actually give her a cock so she can the elation of a cock being buried into a dripping snatch." The dragon Lord sighed. "Of course," Fluorspar spoke with a bow. "Also please inform Lord Eros, that Zelix should get plus Affinity to alchemy (Potions and Powder or Amulets or Enchantments) - 2CP, Affinity to magic - 2 CP, handsome - 1CP, and Everystallion - 1BP" Lord FImbulwinter spoke then kissed Fluorspar while playing with her snatch with a claw, while the other flicking on the nipple on one of her tits They enter a room where in a room of blue crystals and silks of various colors, where several beautiful dragonesses lay in seductive poses for the Ice Dragon Lord. Fimbulwinter, now at full mast, speaks to them. "My harem, I will be gone for a few weeks," "AHH" the collective dragonesses complain. "I will return, but before I do, I need to make sure my balls are empty. So please, worship me. Show me just how much you adore, my body, my muscles, my cock, my entire being." Only a second pass before 20 dragonesses jumped on to the waiting Dragon Lord. His cock now at full mast and dripping at the all the lick of the five tongues on his cock, the mouths kissing his arms, legs, inner thighs, feet. "Zelix, you did a great job today. Birdhoof is now loyal to you and I think he will be an even better asset now. Also see Spike succumb to his true....Ahhhh... Dragon nature was very pleasing to me. While I am sad it was only for a minute, it feels my heart with joy to see him becoming like a true dragon." "With that said, remember the three places to focus. The first, is Rainbow Dash, but that one can wait until Birdhoof gives us good information. With that taken care of, remember...... There, right there Rose Quartz........ To visit Spike. See if he is alright and how did his confrontation with Twilight ended. Finally, please visit Sweet Apple FFFUUUUUCCCKKKKK....... Acers. "Big.... Mac's... Family is in the red. They need your intervention as soon as possible..... AAAAAHHHHH.. So, first visit Spike, then go to Sweet Apple Acers, finally keep.... Dash... on the back.. FFFFUUUCCCKKKK." Fumbulwinter's cock errupted light a hotspring geyser, a slight press of a claw pointed the cock so it wants pointing straight up, but now slightly to the left. All the dragonesses craw trying to slurp up the cum coming out of their dragon lord "this is one of the reasons why reasons I'll never regret having a harem." Green size F tits press against the dragon lord's chest. "While the rest are busy with the first course, I want the second all to myself." Fluorspar whispered, then processed to kiss Fimbulwinter hungrily. The mist roles over the two dragons, fucking and 20 dragonesses licking the silks, floor, and ceiling to taste their lords cum. The screen flashes, and a beautiful maiden in a silk nightgown appears at a desk with books strewn across. The maiden appears to be in thought, completely ignoring the fact that her gown was far too small for her chest to fit in. Her eyes were bright with a childlike gleam, though there was a maturity and seriousness to them that made others respect her. "Hmm. I believe Affinity to Alchemy, Resistance to magic, and Everystallion would be the wiser choices. Our other options are a bit too big at the moment. We're still starting so anything that helps us blend in would be useful. I suggest we prioritize on Spike and the Apple family at the moment. We've already started on Spike so it's easier to finish him now than later. Also Zexis, be very, very careful about Applejack. Anything you tell her should be the full truth or mostly true. You may be confident in your ability to lie, but she will see straight through all of that in a heartbeat so don't try anything funny." The maiden went back to her reading, still not reacting to the straining of the fabric or the cool breeze under the desk as the screen went black. At the Friendship Castle "So, I assume everything is alright now?" Zexis stood before the castle with Spike, while both of them ate their lunch. In Zexis´ case it was light sandwich, while Spike munched on some rubies. The little dragon had grown a little bit, since yesterday, reaching over Zexis hips now and his spine-spikes seemed a littel sharper, but it was not a huge change. "Well...no, obviously.", answered Spike, "We haven´t resolved anything yet, but at least we are not at one another. So, thats something." "Did she say anything about....your...growth?" "What? Oh, that?" Spike looked down on himself as if he were seeing his body for the first time. Than he shrugged his shoulders. "Nah, she was worried at first, but I told her i´m fine." He threw another ruby into his mouth and crunched him between his teeth. "Besides, it´s my body. I didn´t say anything about her changes, when she became an alicorn, so she should zip it as well, for all I care." His speech had clearly became more crude. Or better said, less restrained. Even though the Hormone Pills hadn´t worked as expected, they had removed some of Spikes reservations, when it came about his feelings. And he certainly became more aggressive. Not that Zexis minded, as this only meant progress for his plan to make Spike into an ally. Still, he should play it safe for now, as not to arise too much suspiscion. "Wait, Princess Twilight had something similar? What kind of changes?", he asked and changed the subject. He smiled a little bit conspiratorially, as he lowered his voice. "As in changes in size?" He raised his hands, as if he were fondling some imaginary breasts. Spike looked over his shoulder, before smiling back. "Well, from my humble estimates I would say....from B to D, at least." He snickered. "She also grew a little, though I doubt she will get much bigger than Cadence, probably smaller. Still, from a sexy bookworm to a sexy supermodel. One could call that quite a change." Zexis sighed. "Well, if it were just that easy for everybody." Spike punched him playfully in the shoulder, or at least tried, before settling for his lower arm. "Don´t be like that. You´re not that ugly yourself. I know that a bunch of stallion who would kill for your looks." He stroked his chin and looked at Zexis critically. "Although you should change your clothes to play that better off. Maybe a thinner shirt, for the muscles?" "Wow, Spike the fashion advisor!", laughed Zexis, "You sure you didn´t get the wrong job? Maybe you should ditch Twilight and help Rarity instead. I´m sure you fare better there." Spikes expression fell. "No, I wouldn´t. I tried the last few years, and it didn´t bring me any good." He chomped on another ruby, now with mor fervor. "Besides I wont give up my position as Number One Assistant so easily to Starlight. No matter how stupid Twilight behaves currently." Zexis realized he had pushed too far and raised his hands. "Allright, got it. Sorry, if I pushed a sore spot there.", he apologized. Spike just shrugged his shoulders. "It´s okay. Honestly, it´s just nice to have a talk like that. You won´t believe how hard it is, to keep all that for myself. Sometimes I feel like I would burst any minute.", he grumbled and scratched his spikes. Zexis nodded. "I feel you. Thats why its important to have a guy-talk every now and then. There are just some things mares will never understand." Spike looked at him and smiled thankful. "You´re probably right." Then he remembered something. "Anyway, why did want to talk to me again?" "Just wanted to check on you.", said Zexis, "And I wanted you to check on something. I sadly don´t have the time for it today, so I would appreciate it, if you would help me with this." He pulled out a note out of his pockets and gave it to the little dragon. Spike quickly read it. "Some books, huh? Why do you need something about Cutie Marks?" Zexis shrugged his shoulders. "I still know too little about equestrian culture and Cutie Marks play a huge role in it. And its a touchy subject for many, so a book is not going to give me too many complaints about privacy. Think you can manage that for me?" "Sure, no problem." Spike scratched his head. "Although this one..." He pointed at the book at the bottom of the list. "Advanced Alchemy..." He hesitated. "Is that going to be a problem?", asked Zexis. Spike kept a silent for a moment, before clicking his tongue and muttering: "Ah, fuck it..." Then he pocketed the note. "No, don´t think so. Just come by tomorrow morning. I will wait here. Just make sure that you are alone." With that he swallowed the last of his ruby and licked his lips. Then he stood up. "Anyway, was nice talking with you Zexis. Have a nice day and we see each other tomorrow, okay?" Zexis nodded and stood up as well. "You bet. Keep your head straight and don´t let yourself be beaten down by any dumb princesses." "Will do.", said Spike and headed back into the castle. Zexis on the other hand walked towards a certain farm, where certain other dumb mare awaited him... At Sweet Apple Acres "Yaaahh!" With a loud outcry did the hoof connect to the bark. The force made the tree shake a little bit, before a half dozen apples fell down. Zexis took a step back, panting, as his shirt clinged to his sweat covered body. This Apple-Bucking was a lot harder than he expected. He doubted that anypony, who hadn´t some serious strength in his legs, could even attempt shouldering this kind of work. Thankfully, he wasn´t anypony. He looked over to Applejack. She had already finished her part of the orchard and now stood with four basket full with apples and looked at him with an amused smile. "Not so easy, ain´t it?", she said a little smug. She herself was sweaty too, which, Zexis admitted, made her look even better. He could see her work-shirt clinging to her body. The shine of her wet muscles. Her visible six-pack and the outline of her supple breast. C-cup, he guessed. But he didn´t linger his gaze too long, as Applejack would most certainly notice that. Instead he wiped his sweat from his forehead and nodded in affirmation. "True that. Now I know, why Big Mac is so jacked.", he said, while readying himself for another try. Applejack shook her head. "Naw, Big Mac doesn´t buck, no more. He is doing transportation and repairs most of the time. Only have him jump in when we have high season." "Hah!" Zexis kicked out again. This time he aimed for a higher spot. Unfortunately ist resulted in even less force and not one of the remaining apples fell. "Damn it!", he cursed. Applejack clicked her tongue disapprovingly, both at the result and the curse. Then she looked the horizon, where the sun was about to set and sighed. "Well, can´t be helped. Come on, pack up. We are done for today." She took her four baskets and propped them on her shoulders like it was nothing it walked towards the barn. Zexis took his own two and followed her. While they walked, he decided to ask some questions. "Why do you do that yourself? I mean, if I hadn´t voluntered for that, you would worked alone. Isn´t that too much for one mare?" Applejack threw him an angry look. "You think I can´t handle that, eh?", she snarled. Zexis swallowed and paddled back immediatly. "Sorry, didn´t mean it that way. I just...not that you are weak, or anything..." He tried to think of something, that wouldn´t tick Applejack off, but still sounded like a truth. "It´s just such...a huge orchard. I never seen anything like it, so I dont know how you manage it." The mare mustered him for a few seconds, before finally answering: "Well...guess that makes sense. They don´t have big farms like this Zebrica, I recon´?" She didn´t expected an answer and instead continued on in silence. Then, as Zexis already began to believ he wouldn´t get an answer, she opened her mouth again. "It´s difficult, I admit. But I handle it. I´m the head off the family after all, now. So it only makes sense, that I do most of the work. And if I manage that, than will get back on our hooves." She stopped short. Then she snorted and increased her pace. "Thats all." Zexis nodded and followed her, but his thoughts were racing. So Applejack felt like she had shoulder this burden by herself. Was it her sense of responsibility that drove her to that? Or was it her believe, that she was in charge now. He had the feeling it was little bit off both. And that the latter one, was the reason why she was against help. From what he saw off her, she hated being seen as weak. Prideful mare. They were almost at the barn. Zexis could see Big Mac putting some crates away. He remembered the hidden anger of the stallion. A grin parted his lips. That was something he could work with... New Recipe Lust Trinket: One of the lowest form of enchanments. Barely even magical, this talisman relies more faith in its abilities and associated emotion, than actual power. It has its uses as an easy to hide object, that induce a gradual accumulation of lust in the targets body, that only grows stronger with passing time and proximity. While it is rather mundane and there are multiple stronger alternatives, such aphrodisiacs, this trinket serves as subtle tool for corruption and is a good starting point for further studies in the field of enchantments.

My Little Corruption

Little Triumph - Part 1

The mist rolls back, revealing a beautiful emerald green dragoness, with grass green breast and inner thigh scales. On her face is a smile as she picks up a saphire and munches it in her mouth. "Zelix, I look forward with helping you with your progress in corrupting Ponyville, while my Lord Fimbulwinter is busy with corrupting the dragons in some Monastery somewhere. I'm glad you are a smart stallion. Your projects right now seem to be going well. Spike's confidence in you is growing. Remember to read those books carefully and quickly. Apparently Spike needs them back by morning, so if you want his confidence in you to continue to grow, you better bring them back. May I suggest you give him one of those lust trinkets as well. I'm not sure how, but that may help speed along his corruption." "As for Scootaloo, great idea. To be honest, I have never into fat dragons, so having Birdhoof run with Scootaloo makes me, happy. Also he deserves to suffer a bit still. I personally don't like it when my toys misbehaves, so Birdhoof needs to be punished. And it seems like this will help Scootaloo to trust you more Zelix. a win win in my opinion. The only draw back is it will need a few weeks before this comes to Rainbow Dash's attention. I swear that mare doesn't know anything about sublimity, she has the dramatic flare down though.' "I do feel sorry for that poor mare AppleJack. She is too stressed, she needs to be fucked and soon. That's what I do. It seems like she has a brother who would be willing to help. Hmmm.... I think she is just too." she waves her claws in though. "Responsible, to be honest I think some dominating sex, with her brother on top would help her. Help relax because she has to realize she isn't in control of everything. I do think, you should visit them often. Afterall we are corrupting an element of harmony, that project is going to take time and patience. Something that most men don't have, if most of your sexual performances have any say in that. So have patience and fuck your own harem while you wait, I promise you, when she breaks it will be worth the wait." "I do have another idea. Its with those trinkets. Its a gamble, but use your teaching job with them. Afterall, what child wouldn't want to give a lovely heart shape trinket to their parents. Maybe, if it won't affect the enchantment, simply bring them to the school and ask the children to paint them, and give one to their mommy and one to their daddy. The paint should help hide them from ponies who might recognize them, like Zecora or Twilght. If that doesn't work, i suggest you corrupt a construction pony, mare or stallion, and have them put them in the homes ponies who they do repair work on." Fluorspar gets up from her seat on the silk and gem pillows. "I think these trinkets will help you greatly Zelix. Lord Fimbulwinter has lots of them, and each one of those gems give off a different emotion. Anger, fear, Lust, even sadness. Its been a very useful tool. Controlling a dragon's emotions, leads to control on how a dragon reacts." Clapping her claws, the door opens up to reveal a strong muscular black dragon, with grey chest scales. He has a blue pendant around his neck, and a gold belt with a blue gem, but nothing is under it, so the dragon's massive dick and firm ass is on full display. "Captain Obsidian, how are you?" "I am fine, Oracle slut Fluorspar. Why have you called me here. Is it for another fuck session?" The dragon asks exasperatingly. "No, I know you are busy, so this shouldn't take long. I have an idea on how we can spy on Permafrost and his conspirators." The captain's eyes quirk at her statement. "Why would you want to consult with me on that?" "Because, I trust you. If my plan is to work, I will need your assistance. I'll explain it quickly, and then you head home early." The black dragon's eyes rise at that statement. "Don't look so surprise Captain. I already have figured out that you and your wife's egg is getting close to hatching. You must be dying to rush out and see the little hatching." The captain's eye ridges rise indicating the surprise he feels at Fluorspars knowledge of his family. "Anyway, my plan is...." The mist rolls back in muffling the sounds of the two conversing dragons. Interesting little toys you created, Zexis. Not quite as powerful as what I usually deal with... but they serve their purpose for now. As does your idea for Scootaloo and Birdhoof. Make sure, however, that Scootaloo doesn't decide she should generally be in charge. You've seen her inner workings, she's a masochist slut at core. Make sure Birdhoof will eventually be compensated, he has been loyal to you so far, even before you cemented it with your magics. A little fitness won't hurt, and you can even take the opportunity to train him in combat skills when he is ready. An ally, is an ally, no matter how smol. While we are on small things... >> SageBrony07 Fluorspar's idea has some potential. Who wouldn't enjoy a trinket brought home by their kids? Arts and crafts will surely make for a good cover, if they can be tinkered with and still be effective. As ponies are a prude bunch, they will surely not freely share their budding sexual desires with their neighbours, shielding you further! That, coupled with the idea of enslaving Cheerilee and using her to pull out lone students for you to corrupt, makes the schoolhouse a prime target for you, Zexis. I've witnessed more than one siege end this way... Shelve Applejack for now. I know you would rather box her and pull her out like the toy she should be, but you're not there yet. You made a better impression. Good. Concentrate on the ponies with weaker wills. Once you have the time and the books, see if there is anything about an antidote to your suggestion powder. Unlikely there is something to reverse the effect, but there might be a sort of vaccine, if you will. You need to know this. Trying to bring anypony under while they are protected would be disastrous. See if there are ways to circumvent such protection. And Zexis, look into creating a few tools and weapons. You remember the spanking rod I mentioned? Look into that. Also, you remember some of the shamans using blowguns to bring down powerful prey for live capture. The Zebra tribes sometimes went to hunt beasts of burden, exotic and dangerous females to enslave, and rarely, creatures to breed your Zebra mares with. Equestria is full of magical timber for the gun and darts. Your Flower sluts will help you with that. See that your conquest goes well. We do not enjoy failure. Well you literally fucked Roseluck's brains out. And honestly? Whatever. No way to fix it at this time, so lets focus on expanding your influence instead. Hopefully the rest of the Trio can cover for her for now. My advice? Go after that nice school teacher pussy. That's a mare you can already influence and it gives you access to lots of other mares as well. The trinket idea via arts and crafts is a good one as well. Beyond that? Let's work some more on Redheart. Get her to pass out some lust charms as well, and finish breaking her in. And finally, start preparing for Zecora. I think it's inevitable the two of you are going to fight. Anti-alchemy techniques, and expanding your own alchemy tricks is your best bet against her. Ponyville Plaza It was a bright summer morning and the Ponyville Plaza was bursting with activity. Ponies walked around, shopping, talking and generally having a wonderful time. In fact, it seemed like the air was filled with anticipation and harmony. One could see a blue unicorn stallion going into a jewelry store, a mother directing her children to a party supplier and a pair of mares, one mint-green and the other with a blue-pink mane, hanging up bells, banners and other decorations. Zexis sat in a quiet secluded corner and drank his morning coffee. He was waiting for Birdhoof. His minion was supposed to update him on his various sideprojects today. Zexis had been busy the last four days, and as such had not the opportunity to watch the fruit of his labours. Thankfully Birdhoof was able to keep his eyes on certain "developments" and inform him. If he would finally come, that is... The zebra watched with amusement and hidden lust, as the two mares finished their work and bumped their butts together in what seemed like a secret "hand"-shake. That they gave him quiet a nice view on their hips wasn´t probably intended. Especially the green unicorn looked nice, with her slim waist and wild hair. Although her friend didn´t look too bad either. He was interrupted in his observations, by wheezing cough to his side. He turned his head and saw Birdhoof, crashing down on the free chair beside the table. The stallion was dripping with sweat, his shirt clinging to his wet torso, revealing his unflattering figure. Although, Zexis had to admit, he started to lose weight noticeably. It wasn´t much, but the training with Scootaloo definitely showed results. "You are late." Birdhoof opened his mouth to answer, but only got out another hacking cough. He wised up and first tried to regain his breath, before he spoke. "I....am sorry...Scoots doubled her...speed today. Was hard...to keep up...", he managed to get out, before he collapsed again. Zexis pulled out a waterbottle, he had prepared and gave it to Birdhoof. The unicorn thanked him silent, opened the bottle and chugged down its content greedily. "Did you stare at her butt again?", asked Zexis, knowing the answer already. Birdhoof finally recovered enough, to grin sheepishly and, at least, a little bit ashamed. "Yes, although its hard not to." He emptied th bottle and put it down on the table. "That, and she wanted make up for yesterday." "What happened?" "Oh, well...", now Birdhoofs grin grew slightly and took a more evil tone, "She overslept because of some nightmares." His look to Zexis made it clear what he was talking about. The zebra just nodded staisfied. The Lust Trinkets had finally done their job. Scootaloos libido had risen enough, to influence her sleep. Given her past, any association with sex was probably painful, so that would explain her nightmares. Which meant he could finally execute the next step on his plan. On that Birdhoof was very keen on, if he guessed his intentions right. "Alright, then I come over tonight. It´s time for her therapy." Hearing that, Birdhoof let out a small giggle, that made him sound like a small schoolfilly just hearing some juicy rumours. Zexis decided to get things away from Scootaloo, as there were still some other things he wanted to hear about. "And the other projects?" Birdhoof blinked in confusion for moment, before finally getting back on track. "Oh, yes, of course." He wiped some sweat of his forehead. "The other rooms have been prepped with trinkets as well, they should show their effects in a few days. I also put in some of your pills in Scoots glass in the bathroom, so she should ingest them, when she is brushing her teeth. Also, Redheart has been trained as well, you can lay the finishing touches whenever you like." Zexis nodded satisfied. A smile touched his lips. Finally everything had payed off. He looked at Birdhoof. "Seems like you did a good job. I think nothing stands now between you and your rewards tonight.", he said. These words brought a beaming grin over the face of his minion and the fat stallion clapped his hands together in excitement. "Ooooooh, I can´t wait! I´ve never been so excited!!" While he relished in his plans for corrupting Scootaloo, Zexis stood up. "Where are you going?", asked Birdhoof. "To the school. Have a class, today. I also need to speak with Cheerilee about some things.", Zexis answered. Birdhoof nodded. The he grinned again, licking his lips. "Does that mean, we start playing the fillies there too? Because I have some great ideas concerning their education." His face took on a predatory look. Once again Zexis saw himself remined, that no matter what happened, Birdhoof was still and would always be a creep. But that was fine...as long as he remained useful. "That depends on how you do tonight. If you perform to my expectations, I will consider some of your ideas." Birdhoof nodded at that and one could see that he could barely wait. Zexis shook his head in his thoughts. Then he turned around and walked away. He had a job to do... "Good morning, children.", said Zexis. "Good morning, Mr. Chikelu!", answered the chorus of the fillies and colts, that filled the classroom. While going down the attendance list, Zexis eyes wandered through the classroom. He had some time to gather a little bit of information about the various fillies that visited his class. Birdhoof had helped with most of them, though. Aside from the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the most noticeable ones were Diamond Tiara, her friend Silver Spoon, as well Pipsqueak and Rumble. The former formed the schools alpha-bitch team. They were at the top of the social ladder, and it showed. Diamond Tiara looked true to her name. Only wearing the finest clothes and never without the accessoir, that gave her the corresponding cutie mark and name. Thanks to being the daughter of Filthy Rich, she enjoyed the lifestyle of a girl, that never had to work hard for anything in her entire life. Although the rumors suggested that she had a fallout with her family and especially her mother, Spoiled Rich. Silver Spoon was always at her side and the typical yes-neigher, agreeing with almost everything Tiara said, in hopes of leeching off some of the popularity and power her friend possessed. And it worked quite well, mostly because Silver Spoons parents were close financial partners to the Rich family. Both of them not only looked rich, but were also blessed with the beauty to support it. More Diamond Tiara, than Silver Spoon, if he had to be honest. But it was a synthetic beauty, one born partially by make-up and diets. In Zexis opinion it couldn´t compare to the likes of Sweetie Belle, who sparkled with style and glamour, without having to put a ring on every finger or having to mask herself with powder. That in particular led to Diamond Tiara trying to outdo her classmate, putting on quite daring - for equestrian standards - dresses, which showed her shoulders or ended over her knees and Silver Spoon joined her, of course. And while that made them popular under the boys, it still couldn´t measure up to the support the CMCs had. Zexis eyes went over to Pipsqueak and Rumble. They were a pair of a different dynamic than the girls. Pipsqueak was a well-meaning colt, with a big heart, that stood in crass comparison to his small stature. He was well liked for his patience and willingness to listen to problems others might have. It was one of the reasons he was elected as president of the student council three time in a row now. Unfortunately he lacked in spine and couldn´t bring himself to actually disagree with somepony, which made him a little ineffectual against the more dominant member of the board, who regulary decided over his head. His friend Rumble however was the complete opposite. Having an ego bigger than the schoolbuilding, he lacked the friends Pip had. However, he was good in sports, possessed his older brother Thunderlanes looks and was confident beyond reason. A troublemaker, straight out of the book. The main reason he stayed with Pip was because this way he had access to the girls in the class, and Zexis had heard about his many ill-fated attempts at flirting. It had earned him quite a lot of detentions. Still, Pip looked up to him. Mainly because Rumble was one of the few got his back on the school-board and because Pip probably wanted some of that confindence the pegasus-colt oozed. Zexis finished the attendance list and everypony sat down. It was time to begin the lesson. "Today we are going to talk about a particular branch of alchemy, that you haven´t done much, yet. Does somepony want to take a guess?", he asked. There was silence in the room, before Appleblooms hand rose up. "Is it enchantments, sir?" Zexis nodded in affirmation. "Correct! Not bad, Applebloom. You´re sure, you didn´t glance into my notes before the class?" There was some giggling at that. "But then again, I hadn´t expected anything less from our little Alchemy-Apprentice." Applebloom beamed at that compliment. "Now, many of you are probably wondering what enchanments have to do with alchemy. After all, if you payed attention in the arcana-class you might know, that this particular field of study also pops up in magic theory." Zexis turned to the chalkboard and began to draw a pentagram, the sign of magic, on the left side and a triangle with a circle in it, the sign of alchemy, on the right side. "Can somepony tell me what might be difference between arcane enchantments..." He tipped on the pentagram. "And alchemical enchantments?" His finger wandered to the triangle. Again there was silence and again Appleblooms hand rose up. Zexis shook his head. "I know, you know the answer, Applebloom, but I want the others to participate as well.", he said, before pointing at a filly at the back. "Yes, Dinky. Can you guess what it is." The little blond unicorn shrank for on her chair for moment. She clearly had hoped not to be picked. Her hand nervously ran through her blond hair, before she answered: "Is it...time?" "Specify that." "Something like....uhm....duration, I think. I believe alchemical enchantments last longer than arcane ones.", she said, quite unsure if she was right. To her relief Zexis nodded. "Quite right. Can you tell, how you came to that conclusion?" Dinky looked to the side, thinking back. Again she ran her little hand through her hair in a manner, that was as nevous as it was adorable. "Well, I just noticed that Zecoras pumpkins glow longer on Nightmare Night, than the ones made by Princess Twilight. And Zecora is an alchemist, so thats why..." "A good answer! Well done.", said Zexis and saw with delight how Dinky turned a deeper shade of violet at his words. Clearly his charm worked. He wrote "Duration" as a plus under alchemy. Then he turned back to the class. "But that alone is not enough. If achemical enchantments last longer, than their arcane counterparts, than why do we not not use them more? Clearly they are superior, are they not?" Again he looked at the fillies and colts for an answer. His eyes wandered over their head, before resting on Diamond Tiara. The filly was clearly absent, looking outside the window and sitting lazily behind her desk. "Diamond Tiara, do you know the answer?" That got her out of daydream. For moment she blinked, clearly trying to remember what she had missed, before looking at the chalkboard. She huffed in annoyance at being called out. "I don´t know....because it´s too expensive?", she answered, not bothering to think too hard on the question. "Or it´s too complicated." Zexis shook his head. "Not quite right. Please pay more attention, okay?", he said, ignoring her murmered "whatever" and pointing at Rumbles raised hand. "Yes?" "It´s power.", said the colt confident, "Arcane enchantments have a stronger effect, when they are used. They can be almost up to fifty percent stronger than their alchemical counterpart." Zexis knocked approvingly on his desk. "That´s right. Very good, Rumble." The colt grinned proud, as the entire class murmured in little awe at his knowledge. Then, however, Zexis added: "Of course, it would have been more impressive, if haven´t read it from Pips notes. So I think the praise should go to him. Speak up next time, Pip. Okay?" Almost immediatly Rumbles ears fell flat and his face turned beet-red from embarrassment. Pip flinched as well, having got caught giving his buddy the answer. He couldn´t however hide a little smile at his teachers acknowledgement. Zexis on the other hand turned back to the chalkboard and wrote "Power" under the pentagramm. "There is of course a third factor, that makes a difference between these two methods. Its also the reason why arcane enchantments are more popular in Equestria, than alchemy." He looked at the class, before pointing at the clock over the door. "And that is time. Not duration, as Dinky said, but preparation-time. It is faster to cast a spell to enchant something, then having to go through the lenghty process that alchemy requires. Especially if you are a unicorn." He added "Preparation" as a second plus under magic. While he wrote, he heard Diamond Tiara whispering to Silver Spoon: "Than why are we learning this...trash? Magic is better, or not?" "Could you please repeat that question, Diamond Tiara?", asked Zexis loud. The filly let out a little "Eep!" at having been heard. Then she composed herself and put on a haughty look on her face. "I was just wondering, why we are bothering with alchemical enchantments, if the arcane ones are so much better." She looked around the class, searching for support. An arrogant smile crept up her lips. "Mom-I mean, I heard somepony say, that things that are obsolete are inevitably discarded by society. And this...alchemy enchantment...looks like, it is something like that." Zexis face didn´t betray any emotions, though in his mind he was more than just a little angry. He suspected that these were just Tiaras preconceived notions speaking here and that she wasn´t aware, who she insulted with that. But still, it made his blood boil. Too glad he would have liked to grab her right here and now, rip down that skirt and spank her little ass, until she cried for mercy. But he kept this anger to himself. Emotional outburst would only hurt his authority and patience was of more importance, than his ego. Instead he looked over to Applebloom, who did a much poorer job at hiding her emotions. She saw his gaze and raised her hands, with a look of stubborn defiance. Zexis nodded. "I think, Applebloom is so kind, as to provide you with an answer." "While it is true, that arcane enchantments are easier to produce and more powerful, their limited duration is their biggest weakness. And duration is the most important aspect of enchanments. After all, you are making them to store magic in the first place. So a long lasting enchanment is much more useful in the long run, than a powerful, short one. Add to that, that you can continue working on an alchemical enchantment, refining it or adding more functions, while an arcane one is fixed after you cast it and you come to the conclusion, that alchemy is in fact more suited for enchanting purposes than magic." Applebloom breathed hard, after that lenghty monologue. The whole classroom was quiet, and Diamond Tiara especially looked a little bit shocked, that the country-bumpkin just made such a presentation. This silence was interrupted by a slow clap by Zexis. "Zecora´s pupil indeed. I couldn´t have said it better myself. Consider this as your answer, Diamond Tiara." He smiled approvingly at Applebloom, who calmed down a little bit and returned his smile with a proud grin. Zexis then knocked on his desk, to get the attention of the class back. "Now, on the five basic rules of alchemical enchantments..." The bell rang and even before it stopped, the fillies and colts began to spring up from their desk and hurry out of the classroom, as fast as they could. Scootaloo was the last one, still rubbing her eyes and yawning. Zexis could see Diamond Tiara stomping out of the building, no doubt still angry at her embarrasment from earlier. Applebloom on the other hand waved her hand at Zexis, before she ran off with her friends. Zexis smiled warmly, basking in his anticipation of the day, where she would show him more intimate signs of affection. "That was a very good lesson." Zexis turned around at the sound of that voice and saw Mrs. Cheerilee entering the room. She wore a long skirt today and a red blouse. She gestured towards the fillies and colts, who were playing outside. "I am pleasantly suprised how you handle our children, Mr. Chikelu.", she said, with a warm motherly smile. Zexis scratched his cheek sheepishly at that compliment. "Thank you. I put a lot of effort into this, so I am glad it pays off. Though I think, not everyone appreciates my lessons.", he said, hinting at Tiaras dislike of his class. Mrs.Cheerilee sighed. "Well, that is unavoidable. I would like to say, she is not usually this difficult, but I am afraid that would be a lie. However, she is living under some difficult circumstances. Her mother is very...strict person." Zexis nodded at that. Then he got an idea and pulled something out of his bag. "Just a proposal: Do you have time for a cup of tea? I just got my hands on some leaves from my homeland. I thought a sophisticated mare like you would like it." These words earned him a scolding look. "Mr. Chikelu, if I wouldn´t know any better, I would think you´re flirting with me. Surely you´re not that crude." The tone made clear, that he might have been too bold, but Zexis just put on a disarming smile and continued. "I would never dream of it. I simply want to thank you for this job. With this and the work on Sweet Apple Acres, I might be able to puchrase my own home in just two weeks. I thought I could celebrate that.", he said, playing the honest to good stallion. He even put on a slight guilty look. "Of course, I am sorry, if I offended you..." "No, not at all.", said Mrs. Cheerilee hasty, blushing a little bit. "I should apologize. It was rude of me to assume your intentions were dishonest. Especially because you have been nothing but helpful." She looked at the clock, before finally taking a deep breath. "I suppose we got time for a cup or two.", she said, smiling a little bit. "Though, I hope this tea is as good as you say." With blank eyes stared the schoolteacher in the air, her tea cup sitting forgotten on the table. Zexis couldn´t help but grin like mad, at seeing his creation work. He had spend the last few days refining his suggestion-powder. He had succeded through a distillation-process at making the powder more effective, and with a little bit of water he could now paint it over surfaces, like leaves or clothes. He had planned on using it for Scootaloo tonight, but wanted to test it´s effectivness first. He was not disappointed. He licked his lips and cleared his throat. "Now then, Cheerilee - you are okay with me being informal, by the way - we both know that I am a good teacher, right?", he said. Mrs. Cheerilee took two seconds, before nodding. "Yes, you...are, Mr. Chikelu." The zebra grin got even wider. The suggestion had taken hold almost immediatly. Sure, it was a small one, but it was still an enormous improvement over the small baby-steps he had to perform with the first version. Time to test how far he could go. "You think, that I deserve a reward for my help here." Again, a nod. "In fact, not only do you think that I am dependable, but quite attractive as well. You are drawn to me, and you are delighted by my compliments and flirting." This time it took a while, before she hesitantly agreed. It showed Zexis, that there were some limits still, but it was still beyond his expectations. It should be possible to enact the next step for his plan, now. "You will get the idea of a private after-school class for the colts in alchemy. It will be mandatory and headed by me. You will defend this decision, if anypony ask, by citing their poor grades and the prospect of further socialization." He needed to repeat that last one, mostly because of its complexity. But after a while, it took hold in her mind as well. Then Zexis added his last and most daring suggestion. "You secretly fantasize about being taken and dominated by me. It is just a little dream, a slight crush. But the thought of me taking you, makes you wet." "No...no...I-I...." Her distate was written clearly on her face. She withstood that one. It seems, that this was still outside her imagination. Still, Zexis wasn´t sad. It just meant he needed to put some preparations in her mind first. "Okay, forget that. Instead you liked the tea very much and you will agree on having a regular tea-time with me." This time she nodded eagerly and Zexis suppressed a laugh, knowing she was already as good as under his control... Night, at the Orphange "So, it worked." "Like an oiled clockwork. We will have no problems." Zexis smiled triumphantly, waving the little bag with the suggestion powder in his fingertips. They were outside Scootaloos room. It was almost midnight and the whole town was asleep. It was quiet, except the room before them. Zexis could hear the little pegasus moaning and shifting in her bed. She seemed to have rough dreams, because of the Lust Trinket. "You made sure she drank the water?" Birdhoof nodded. "She did. The pills are probably having an effect right about now." The plan had been to induce a state of lust in Scootaloo and then have her swallow some hormone pills, in order to fixate her arousal and make her more susceptible to any mental changes. Now, it was time for the last step. Birdhoof layed his hand on the doorknob. "And I can make some suggestions as well?", he asked. Zexis nodded. "After I am finished. Just don´t overdo it and make sure not to do anything that would compromise her daily life." The unicorn nodded at that. Then he opened the door. Scootaloo´s room was dark. Zexis carefully put on the lights, making sure not to wake the sleeping pegasus. They were greeted with quite a sight. Scootaloo layed in her bed, her blanket thrown from her. Her pyjamas were drenched in sweat and in her tossing and turning, her shirt had moved up, revealing her flat stomach and small, perky breasts. Her pants were soaked between her thighs and she had one hand absentmindendly stroaking her puffy pussylips. Her face was scrunched up in a mixture of lust, pain and disgust. Whatever she was dreaming, it aroused and squicked her in equal measure. Birdhoofs face was torn between desire and anger. The desire to finally take that defiant filly and break her into his little fuckdoll. And anger at having to wait for such a long time, to finally get his chance. Theys positioned themselves to both sides of the bed. Zexis looked his companion in the eyes. He nodded. Birdhoof lunged downward, grabbing Scootaloo at her arms and legs, making sure, she could not move. The filly awoke immediately and upon seeing the two stallions, and especially Birdhoof with his manic expression, opened her mouth to scream. Zexis reacted quickly. His hand closed over her muzzle and pressed her lips shut. Scootaloo scream was muffled into a helpless groan. She bucked and threw her body with all her strength, but Birdhoofs grip was tight and his weight pressed her down on her bed, unable to move. In the end, she was just a filly. And they were two grown stallions, determined and ruthless. Zexis pulled out the suggestion-powder and ripped open the bag. He then signaled Birdhoof, who forced Scootaloos arms under his belly, securing them under his body and took his right arm, who was now free, and grabbed the pegasus´chin. Zexis eased his grip on her muzzle and together, they forced her mouth open. Zexis took the bag and emptied its entire content in Scootaloos mouth. The pegasus-filly tried to cough and spit out the drug, but Zexis closed her muzzle again and covered her nose. Before too long, she was forced to swallow, to gain some oxygen. With triumph Zexis looked in her purple eyes, filled with tears and the pain of betrayal. Soon, the light faded from her iris and after a few seconds she stared blankly into the air. The guys slowly loosened their grip over he body, unsure if she was faking. But after a few seconds, where she did not raise any attempts to flee or to move, Zexis knew that the powder had taken effect. She had taken in an unfiltered dosage, directly into her body. That, combined with her raised libido and lowered inhibtions, made her now completely open to any rewriting of her personality. Birdhoof opened his mouth to say something, but Zexis raised his hand. He gave him a sharp look, reminding him who called the shots here. While the unicorn retreated, Zexis lowered his head to Scootaloos ear and began to talk: "I have to be honest with you, Scoots. You are a slut!" A shiver went down Scootaloos body and she blinked. That was her only reaction to these words, yet Zexis knew that they had taken immediate effect. There were no barriers, no defenses left that could protect the fillies mind from him anymore. He could tell her, that she was a cow and she would believe it now. "You always were a slut. Since your days in Manehattan, since you sold out your body to random strangers, you took pleasure in what you did. You lied to yourself, of course. Pretending like you were an honest girl, like your friends, but we both know that this is not true. All you attitude, all your anger. It was just a mask you wore, to hide the real you. The slut, the whore, who enjoyed being treated like fuckmeat. Who relished when a prick entered her little, tight pussy." He came closer, almost touching her ear with his mouth. "Even now, you dream of those days. In the dirty alleys of the city. No lies there, no pretending. You were free to indulge in your desires. In these dirty, uncouth desires, that nopony will understand. Not your friends, not your teacher, not even Rainbow Dash.", he whispered. A look down revealed, that Scootaloos pussy was now positively drenched in juices, as a big wet spot grew under her legs on the bed. Her breath quickened. "You want this to change, you want to be free. To be the very thing, you were born for. To be a dirty, needy whoooree..." He drew the last word out, letting it hall in her mind. "You will never lie to me, Scootaloo. I am now the highest authority in your life. Higher, than your teacher, higher than Rainbow Dash, higher than the princesses. And you will follow my orders, wether you want to or not." He stood up, looking down on the half naked filly. "Now tell me: What are you?" "....a...whore..." "What do you desire?" "...to be free..." "And who is your master?" "Zexis Chikelu!" The last one came out quick and in a strong voice, signaling the crumbling of her last defenses. Zexis could see a lone tear running down her cheek, which stood in stark contrast to her little vacant smile. He looked over to Birdhoof. The stallion was sitting on a little chair, having a hand in his trousers, massaging without a doubt his raging boner. The caretaker looked up to him, his greed now open. The anticipation almost killed him now. Zexis sighed, then he nodded. He stepped aside to leave Scootaloo to her old tormentor. Birdhoof didn´t waste any moments and jumped to Scoots side. His right hand was gripping his erection, while his left hand was now trailing over the little fillies body. His finger ran over her slick vagina, prodding carefully between her lips. "Yes, yes. Zexis is your master. yes....but I...I am...I am...." He faltered for a moment, clearly trying to phrase his thoughts, though the fog of lust made that difficult. He violently shook his head. His eyes took on a determined look. He would not waste this opportunity. He cleared his throat, and began to speak, all the while slowly driving his fingers into Scootaloos wet pussy. "You did not admit it, but you liked the way I treated you. The spankings, the verbal abuse, the groping. This is the way you like it. To be treated not like a mare, but like an object.", he said, his confidence growing with every word, "You knew that I was right. That you were worthless and the punishment deserved. And you are eager for it now. Pain is pleasure, obedience mandatory. You are a masochistic bitch!" Scootaloo moaned at the last sentence, arching her back, as Birdhoof added at second finger. "Yes....hit me...insult me. I...deserve it...", she mumbled deliriously. Birdhoof panted for excitement. He leaned closer, taking a deep breath of Scootaloos sweaty musk, before sticking out his tongue and slowly licking her left cheek. He was rewarded with a squirt down in her netherregions. "You want to tease me. To goad me into punishing you. Into fucking you. You are....my slave...." A third finger drove itself into Scootaloos pussy, and she was now moaning openly, using her hands to push them deeper. Still, she was under the influence of the drug, but Zexis could see its influence waning. "Make it quick, Birdhoof. One suggestion, then we must stop.", he warned his minion. The unicorn blinked, before frowning at the interruption. But he relented, pulling his fingers out of the fillies cunt, before slowly licking them clean. "But this will remain private. You know, nopony will accept this kind of behaviour, so you will try to behave normally in the open. Only when we are private and me or Zexis give the go-ahead you will indulge in your desires. Understood?" It took a few seconds, before Scootaloo nodded. Zexis himself gave Birdhoof a thumbs up at his showing of restraint. Then he added: "Also, this is just a dream. You will wake up, believing this to be another nightmare and then going back to sleep. Dreaming about you past, just much more raunchier. Dreams befitting a dirty slut like you." This way, there wouldn´t be any complications. He turned to Birdhoof and pointed at the door. The unicorn looked like he was seriously considering the option of just raping Scootaloo on the spot here and there. But a withering glare from Zexis made him relent and he followed him outside. "Damn it, why can´t we fuck her now?", he asked, through clenched teeth. Zexis put out the lights and closed the door, before he answered. "Because the suggestion need a while to be taking in completely. If we ravage her now, the shock will render our entire work worthless. Give her mind time to accept her new self. To make it permanent." He saw the impatient look and Birdhoofs face. "Wait another day. I will come by tommorrow and then we will finish it. After that she will be yours, forever." The unicorn looked at the door for a few seconds, before making a deep breath. "...Alright...", he finally said. He turned around and walked down the corridor towards his office. "I can barely wait..." "Me too...", murmured Zexis. Then, when Birdhoof was out of reach, he leaned towards the door and put an ear on it. He could hear it. The quiet moans and the wet slurping sound of a newborn slut, masturbating to a nightmare... Skill gained! Alchemist: Apprentice Relationships updated! Mrs. Cheerilee Willpower: 6-3/10 Corruption: 0+2/10 Lust: 2+3/10 Secrets: locked Traits:intelligent, locked Scootaloo Willpower: 3-3/10 Corruption: 4+3/10 Lust: 4+5/10 Secrets: former prostitute, wants to be abused Traits: Maso-bitch, small breasts, agile, extremely submissive, libido Relationships added! Diamond Tiara Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 0/10 Secrets:locked Traits: pretty, rich, locked Rumble Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 3/10 Lust: 4/10 Secrets:locked Traits: dexterous, agile, handsome, locked Recipe updated! Sarmandos Suggestion Powder 2.0 : A powder that is made out of Poppy Seeds, magic stone and Fools Salt. If ingested orally, it places the affected person into a state of mind, where suggestions are most effective. After the improvement the effect are now stronger than before and will lead to medium alterations in the subjects personality depending on the suggestions. These changes are now stronger and will be permanent, most of the time. Most effective if subject is asleep. Preferred ingestions method: Spiced up drinks, that hide the powders recognizable taste. Can now be put on surfaces and ingested over skin-contact. Alternative ingestion method: Contaminated utensils, like clothing or bedsheets. Keep in mind, that ANY suggestion will lead to alteration and that the state only last for forty minutes.

My Little Corruption

Little Triumph - Part 2

Ponyville Hospital - The next day Zexis strolled with barely held back anticipation to Ponyville Hospital. Since yesterday, he had been practically bursting with hidden glee at seeing his "projects" completed. It had taken quite some resolve to not immediately head to the Oprhanage and check on Scootaloo. But there were still some other things he wanted to check on first. Also, he knew that his chances at success in breaking the pegasus filly would be greater, if he let her stew in her own arousal for a while. Because of this he had decided to check on his progress with Redheart. Birdhoof had spent the last few days, per Zexis instructions, training the nurse and corroding her will. Today was the day, where Zexis would lay down the finishing touches and ensure that the busty mare would finally become his slave. She would make a useful asset in corrupting the Hospital and, in extension, Ponyville. After all, who didn´t trust a doctor? The lobby was empty, as usual. The residents of Ponyville enjoyed a rather healthy lifestyle, with few diseases and at most a few injuries from work. Curiously this seemed to be a rather recent development, coincidentally aligning with Twilight Sparkles arrival to town. Zexis had been curious as to why that happened, but he didn´t have the time to research that. It also wasn´t important, right now. Behind the reception desk sat Redheart. She had changed quite significantly since Zexis saw her the last time. She now wore thick red lip-stick and heavy eyeshadow. Her hair was down, instead of its usual tight bun, flowing freely around her shoulders. She had painted her fingernails red and had them long. The greatest change, was her clothing however. Where before she had worn a shorter, but still conservative nurse uniform, this time she paraded around in what Zexis could only describe as fetishwear. Her shirt was shorter than ever, revealing her thighs and almost her buttom, with white stockings and a garterbelt, that vanished behind the fabric, drawing the eyes involuntarily towards her nether-regions. Her shirt was at least two sizes too short and with three buttons open, it seemed all that was left for her tits to pop out of her shirt was one wrong move from her part. All in all, it looked less like a nurse unifrom, and more like something you saw in a porn magazine. Seeing that, Zexis had mixed feelings. One one hand, it was great to see how few of Redhearts inhibitions had remained and how effective Birdhoofs training had been. On the other hand, there was the problem that he had gone too far. Without a doubt this look would raise some questions and that was something Zexis wasn´t sure he could afford right now. Seemed like it had been a good idea to come by today. The zebra put on his best smile, walked through the room and stopped at the desk. Redheart looked up at him. "Good morning, Redheart.", greeted Zexis her, "Are free, right now? Maybe up for a date?" A few days ago, this question would have invited a cold stare and a biting remark, but now Redheart just smiled back. "Well, Dr. Needleheim had actually asked me to organize our patient files today..." She pointed at the paperwork on her desk. Then she grinned and flipped the documents from the table. "But fuck that! A stud like you is far more important.", she said sultry. She stood up, put her butt on the desk, before sliding over it towards Zexis. "What do you have in mind for us both?" Zexis swallowed. Damn, what a turnover! He really needed to do something. Such a crass change in personality was bound to throw people off. But what to do? Reverting the change would take time and he wasn´t sure if it would even be effective. Which meant he needed to accelerate his plans. He looked at Redheart and said: "I want a close check-up from you, slut-bitch!" The phrase worked immediatly. Redhearts eyes glazed over, then she blinked and got off from the table. Her hand brushed "accidentally" over Zexis junk, before she turned away. "Well, I guess I should get us a private room then..." Then she walked towards the door with swaying hips. Zexis followed her with a mixture of happy anticipation and worry. Zexis closed and locked the door behind him. He then turned around to see Redheart rolling down the window-shutters, before she then walked towards the examination table and leaned against it, pushing her chest out and giving him a lustful look. "So, how do you wanna do this, Zexis? One, two or three holes? Bottom, top? I am up for anything, as long as you take a condom." She waved at the staple of rubber to the side, she had taken out. Zexis looked at her. He weighed his options. "At first tell me, what you want to do. And what did Birdhoof tell you to do." If the training had been carried out correctly, Redheart would be compelled to answer any question truthfully. The nurse pouted a little bit, that he didn´t get to business immediately, but complied. "At first it was orders. You know, like: Suck me off! Strip! Tell me, that you love me!" She chuckled at the last one. So she didn´t lose all of her personality, noted Zexis. It just seemed, as if she had become less "restrained". Redheart continued. "But eventually I didn´t need to be ordered. I liked getting fucked or sucking off. Sure, cum is not that tasty, but to be able to help my patients in such a way. It was exhilerating!" She parted her legs and gave Zexis full view on her wet panties. "I have yet to try it on them, but I am sure the results will be great." Zexis nodded. So the use of her desire to help others had proven to be the right decision. "So, you do that just for your job? For your patients? What do you really think?" Redheart hesitated for a moment. She closed her mouth, so as not to speak, but her programming eventually won out over her shame. "Do be honest...I think...I", she closed her eyes. Then when she opened then again a cruel glimmer could be seen and her muzzle contorted into a cruel snarl. "Aah, fuck it! I couldn´t care less about them, if I am honest. Birdhoff was right, you know?" She grabbed her left tit and massaged it, while lifting her skirt with her right hand, to give a good look on her luscious bum. "This body was made for sex, okay?", she said, while trailing over curves with her hands. "I have great tits and an ass, that makes stallions drool even before I put more effort into showing it off. And when I put a cock into my mouth everypony becomes butter in my hands. Especially that fat idiot, Birdhoof." So that was her true self. Bitchy, confident and dominant. An almost complete reversal from her original personality. What had Birdhoof done? Zexis really needed to fix this in some way. He picked up on something Redheart said. "So you don´t feel any loyalty to him, or to me?" Redheart laughed. It was a clear laugh, filled with contempt. "That limpdick? Sure, he was a great fuck at first, but that guy shoots quicker than a waterhose! I need a real stallion, damnit. Someone who just takes me, batters me inside and makes me feel safe, possessed, used!", she said loud, panting with exhileration upon giving away her darkest thoughts. "A stud, who understands my destiny!" Suddenly she grabbed her skirt and threw it violently on the ground. Her butt, now clearly visible, sported the picture of a big hand slapping down on the rump of a mare. A new cutiemark. Redheart grinned a little mad. "I am meant to be used. And he can´t provide that. He is too weak! In fact, another stallion dropped by and wanted my services. And damn was he good! He understood, what I needed." Zexis ears perked up on that. Another one? So somepony had known the secret pass-phrase and used it one Redheart? But how... The zebras mood darkened dramatically. It seemed like Birdhoof had talked. He looked to Redheart, who was now openly masturbating, plunching her fingers into her sloppy cunt, panting like a bitch in heat. "What was his name?", he asked her. "What?" "The name! The name of the stallion, who visited you. Tell me!" Redheart opened her mouth, but then closed it again. She looked angry at Zexis. "I am not going to tell you! He said it would be secret and I follow only the stallion who truly understands me. My master!" Defiance was written all over her face. Zexis looked at her and in his head the gears were turning. He slowly walked towards Redheart. The nurse swallowed in fear at the look of his face. She stood up hastily and tried to run to the door, but Zexis grabbed her by the arm and yanked back. She opened her mouth to scream, but his hand shot upwards and muffled her. "So you follow only your master?", he snarled in her ear. His free hand opened his trousers and freed his eleven inch long cock, which slapped erect and ready against Redhearts thighs. "Then I think its time, to show you who is the real boss!" He grabbed her vest and tore it open. Buttons flew in all directions and Redheart squeaked in surprise. Before she could take another breath, Zexis threw her on the table, pressing her torso against the wood. He took a moment to position himself right. Then he bucked forward. Whatever Redheart had wanted to say, even just a scream, was interrupted abruptly as the entire eleven inches were hammered into her pussy. The sudden entry pressed all air out of her lungs and she just laid there with open mouth, bulging eyes, as the biggest dick in her life forced its way into her womb. Zexis didn´t waste any time to get going. He pulled out and then thrusted again. Again and again. Withouth pause and without mercy. Redhearts pussy-juice providing the lubrication, while he literally punched her insides with his dick. All the while, the nurse couldn´t utter a single syllable. At first she was desperate to get some air, but Zexis denied her that by grabbing her throat. He made sure not to choke her too much. Suprisingly, this caused the mare to tighten in response. Her pussy began to react to his brutish pounding by squirting more. Every time Zexis choked her, Redhearts love-canal clenched, massaging his dick and causing his pleasure to rise. Zexis chuckled amused and leaned down. "So thats what gets you off, huh?", he whispered. Then he accelerated his pace. Redhearts squeaked, spit foaming at her mouth and her eyes slowly rolling over. Stars appeared in her vision, as she could feel this battering ram made flesh pounding at the entrance to her womb. But Zexis wasn´t finished with her. He grabbed her hips and turned her around. Then he grabbed with his free hand her tits and began to slap them. "Who is this stallion?" Slap! "Who is your master?" Slap! "What is your purpose?" Slap! Soon her white tits gleamed red and every hit caused Redhearts to squeak more, lost in a delirium of pain and pleasure. Finally Zexis thrusted one last time, his cockhead flared and with a heavy grunt, he released a torrent of sperm into her needy, open womb. Redhearts brain finally fried at this climax, her pussy squirting violently and her entire body spasming. Slowly Zexis pulled out, followed by a stream of white liquid, that flowed from the nurses abused cunt, now that there was nothing to hold back. He grabbed her head and yanked her towards him. "Answer my questions...slave.", he growled. And Redheart, beaten and broken, answered: "It was...Thunderlane...master..." Zexis nodded. So Thunderlane was more depraved than he had thought. Or had the stallion just wanted a fuck, after all his failed attempts at courting Rainbow Dash? Didn´t matter. He was going to talk to him. The zebra looked down at the mare, he had just fucked. Redheart was still laying on the table, twitching with dumb smile on her face. Her make-up was smeared, her tits red from abuse and below was a growing puddle of semen. "Clean yourself up.", he commanded, while he dressed himself. "I want you to remove any evidence of our session. If someone ask, tell them you took a nap. Also tone it down with the seduction. Understood?" Redheart nodded weakly. "You will also begin seducing the male staff. I will provide you with the tools and instructions you need for this. Awaken their sexuality, one way or another and make them receptible to my goals." The abused mare looked at him with defeated eyes, full of submission and lust. "What....what goal, master?", she asked meek. Zexis walked to the door and smiled wickedly. "The Liberation of Equestria." At the Orphanage Zexis put on a brisk pace, as he walked down the street towards the Orphanage. School was done, as was his class, and as such many fillies and colts now roamed outside, enjoying the summer sun. The Oprhanage was almost deserted. Almost... As he came closer, Zexis could see Birdhoof and Scootaloo jogging towards the entrance. Birdhoof was breathing or struggling to do so and drenched in sweat. Scootaloo was sweaty too, but in a way that was more alluring than messy. What Zexis could also see was that she had changed her outfit. Instead of some sport jeans and a loose shirt, she now wore a tight race-shirt and spats, that hugged her tight bum. Her face was flushed with, what Zexis knew, a mixture of adrenaline and suppressed arousal. When Birdhoof saw, his face lit up. No doubt he anticipated the continuation of yesterday. His smile slowly dripped away, as he saw Zexis come closer and the anger on the zebras face. Zexis stomped by him and threw open the door. "Inside. Now!", he barked. Birdhoof swallowed and Scootaloo frowned. "But we haven´t finished our third lap and..." "Do what I say!", commanded Zexis louder than necessary. Birdhoof immediately rushed inside. Scootaloo tried to say something, but Zexis glared at her angrily. Normally the filly would protest and then defy him. But instead she wilted under his stare and walked with hanged head inside. Zexis closed the door. "What the fuck were you thinking!?" Birdhoof flinched in his chair. They were in his office now and he was sitting behind his desk, while Zexis paced through the room like a wild manticore. Scootaloo was waiting outside. "Not only did you not listen about my order about being subtle. You also told Thunderlane about the Celestia-damned passphrase!?", yelled Zexis, not caring if Scootaloo could hear him. She wouldn´t run, he had made sure of that. Birdhoof was now sweating heavier, than he had, while he was running. He tried to make his heavy frame smaller in his chair and was constantly looking towards the window, as if he was contemplating, if he could espace through it. Zexis fist hammering down on his desk, brought his attention back to the angry zebra. "I-I just thought....I didn´t think it would be a problem....", he stammered. "Not a problem!? How could this not be a problem, that you wouldn´t even consult me or ask for permission?" Zexis drew his face closer, snarling the last words in Birdhoofs sweaty face. The unicorn swallowed. "Well...because...Thunderlane comes to me regulary.", he explained. "He is from Manehattan as you know and it´s difficult for him to get certain items here in Ponyville. To, you know, wank off." He nervously wringed his hands. "So he approached me a few years ago, if I couldn´t help him. What with my trips to the city and all that." Zexis let him continue. He knew that part. Birdhoof traveled every few months to the east-coast to pick up orphans and bring them to Ponyville. The town saw it as a charity action. Of course, the smarter part of the residents had picked up on the fact, that he primarily brought back girls. Thats how got his hands on Scootaloo. "And I agreed. For a few bits and favors and bring him pornos, magazines, fleshlights...", said Birdhoof, still shaking in fear, "And a few days ago he asked me, if I knew an easy mare here in Ponyville. He was drunk, I think, so I just pointed him the Redheart. I didn´t think it would be problem." Zexis looked at him sharply. It didn´t look like he was lying. He pissed himself too much for that. And it made sense, his story. A few days ago, that was the Guys Night. Thunderlane had probably been egged on by Zexis drugs and the alcohol he had consumed that night. It wasn´t too improbable that, with his lowered inhibtions, he would seek out his "dealer". All in all, Birdhoof was right. It wasn´t that much of a problem. In fact, if Zexis played his cards right, it would become an opportunity. Still, he was pissed that Birdhoof acted without his consent. That could have gone very differently . And it was still not entirely clear, if this wouldn´t blow up in their faces. Zexis stepped away from the unicorn and took a deep breath. His anger had gone down a bit, even though he was still livid. "You haven´t told him about me, at least?" Birdhoof shook his head. "Not a word. Just about Redheart and the passphrase. I told him, that she set it up. You know, nurse by day, slut by night. He lapped it up. Was desperate to get a good fuck." He also had calmed down a bit, believing himself save. Zexis glared at him silently. Then he walked towards the door, opened it and dragged Scoots inside. The pegasus filly was tied up with rope and gagged with some cloth. Zexis grabbed her muzzle and pulled out the gag. Then he reached inside his pockets and pulled out a hormone pill. Scootaloos eyes widened at the drug. Zexis looked down on her, then dropped his gaze towards her spats. He could see a damp spot between her legs. "You are aroused right now, are you not?", he asked her, not expecting an answer. "You are aroused and scared. Probably wondering what we were talking about, thinking how you tell the others. But don´t worry..." He forced her mouth open, put the pill inside and forced her to swallow it. "Soon you will care only about one thing: Getting fucked!" Then he waited. Minutes passed by as Scootaloo struggled against her restraints and his iron grip on her muzzle. Slowly but surely her restistance faded. Her movements became slower and she clenched her thighs together in a desperate attempts to stave off her growing arousal. Soon her eyes were glazed with lust and her breath quickened. Zexis could her muffled moan. "You wanted to get fucked all day, didn´t you? Thats why you put on these clothes, you wanted us to look.", said Zexis. He let go of her muzzle. "Because deep down you know you are slut. You know what your purpose is." "Th-thats....not..t-true...", panted Scootaloo, now laying on the floor, jerking around, desperately searching for something she could rub her pussy against. Zexis decided to help her. He untied the ropes and then grabbed her, holding her tight with one arm. His free hand then slid under Scootaloos spats and touched her drenched pussy. The filly responded with a bite on her lips, to suppress her moaning. Birdhoof sprang up to help him. "Oh, no no no!", barked Zexis, "You stay there. You will not raise a finger and watch." Birdhoof withered away under his eyes and fell back on his chair. Zexis continued with his task, as he slowly prodded Sootaloos labia with his fingers, letting her squirm under his grip. Repeatedly he touched her entrance before pulling away. Soon the pegasus was panting and moaning openly. Then he inserted one finger, carefully and only the tip. Just this movement almost brought Soots over the edge, as she clenched her thighs, trying to force him to go deeper. But Zexis refused and pulled his finger out again, only to start advancing with it again, after a few second. This process continued for quite some time. Zexis bringing Scootaloo to the edge, before retreating immediately when it looked like she was about to climax. After ten minutes, she stopped struggling. After twenty, she openly drove her hips against his groin. After thirty minutes, she cried and begged. "P-please...p-p-please...just...do it! Please, f-fuck me!", she cried, tears running down her face, as Zexis pulled his finger out again. At this point her pussy was drowning in its own juice, staining her spats. Her sweat caused its fabric and her shirt to cling to her fur, clearly showing every line of her thin, lithe body. Her nipples stood erect from her A-cups and her mane hang down in her face, wet with sweat. "What will you do for that?", asked Zexis, again trailing his fingers over her sensitive pussy-lips. "What will you give me?" Scoots moaned, jerking her hips. "E-e-everything!", she yelled, "I will do everything! J-just let me get off, already!" Her gaze caught Birdhoof, at the other end of the room, stroking his dick. "I-I do it with him! I f-fuck him, if you want me!", she said, looking at the fat unicorn with a hunger, that only came from pure unfiltered lust. Zexis snickered cruel. "Oh noo, nothing so simple...", he said. He then let her go, dropping her to the ground. Scootaloo barely had enough strength to catch her fall, as her legs gave out under her. The zebra-stallion then pulled out a picture. It was a photo. Depicted was Scootaloo together with cyan-blue mare with rainbow coloured mane. Rainbow Dash. He had taken it out of her room. It was her most treasured item there, sitting on her night-desk. "Rip it apart.", said Zexis, "Destroy it. Then I will consider..." Further he didn´t came, before Scootaloo lunged forward, snatching the photo out of his hand. For a short moment she held in in her quivering hands. Then, she ripped it apart. Once, twice, three times. Then she threw the pieces to Zexis hooves. "There! Done! Now fuck me already, damnit!", she cried. "No.", said Zexis. His smile became a grin, as looked at the despair in Scootaloos eyes. "I am not convinced yet." The filly stared at him. First in disbelief, then in horror. Her hand raced through her mane and tears ran down her face. She curled up in ball, shaking and sobbing. "Shouldn´t we..", began Birdhoof, but Zexis silenced him with a stare. That was important. After a while, Scootaloo stopped crying. Slowly she got out of her fetal position. Then she crawled towards the scattered pieces of the photo. She took one up and stared at it. Then she spat at it. Suddenly she rose up on her hooves. Her hand grabbed her spats and pulled them down. She positioned herself over the remains of the photo and then...pissed on them. A hot, long stream of urin splattered on the floor, drenching the torn photo. When she was finished, she stomped on it multiple times, before turning to Zexis. Scootaloos eyes were wide. Madness, despair and lust could be seen in equal measure and her lips twitched. "E-enough?" Zexis looked up and down on her. Her thighs, drenched juice and piss, her nipples poking through her shirt and the streams of tears over her face. "What is Rainbow Dash to you?" "Nobody." No hesitation. "When I fuck you, what am I?" "Everything." Zexis grinned. "And what are you?" Scootaloo looked down. She swallowed. "....a slut..." Zexis stepped toward her and grabbed her. Then he drew her into a warm, tight hug. "Yes...yes you are.", he said with a warm, friendly voice. "And that is okay." Scootaloo broke down completely. She cried and sobbed, as all the frustration, all the pain and all the fear poured out of her. Tears fell down her face, drenching Zexis shoulder. Her arms grabbed him and drew him close, her small hands taking hold of his broad back. Zexis patted her head and let her cry. Let her let go of everything and submit completely to him. Then, when she calmed down a bit, he released her. Her looked down on her petite frame and smiled. "And now for your reward." With that he took and lifted her up over his erect and stiff standing prick. For a moment they stood there, unmoving, as he looked into her eyes. "Ready?" More he didn´t need to say. Are you ready to give up? Are you ready to fall, into pleasure and depravity? Are you ready to be reborn? All that was left unspoken. Scootaloo looked at him. Her eyes were red and swollen and for a moment she didn´t understand. Then she looked down on his eleven inch monster and the realization dawned on her. A smile tugged on her lips, as she answered with wide eyes: "Yes..." And Zexis dropped her. Eleven inches was a lot. It was enough to bottom out a full grown mare like Redheart. When Scootaloo fell on Zexis dick, gravity and the wetness of her pussy let it slid into easily. But she was not big enough. As such Zexis cock pratically impaled her, punching through the entrance of her womb. The outline of his prick was clearly visible as a bumb on her belly. The filly didn´t scream. In fact she didn´t even breathe. Intead her mouth stood wide open, as every single synapse of her brain was fried. Her eyes rolled up into her head and she got limp. Zexis snorted at that sight. He grabbed her under arms and pulled her up again, until his dick was almost out. Then her let fall again. That brought her back to consciousness, as she awoke with a high-pitched scream from her pleasure-induced coma. Zexis grabbed her again and finally began to move his hips. He started slow, pulling almost completely out, before slowly thrusting forward until he hit her womb, filling her completely. Every time he did that, Scootaloo shuddered and twitched in one orgams after another, as all her suppressed arousal spilled over. Then Zexis began to accelerate, no longer content on letting the filly´s snatch accommodate like a glove and now wanting to hammer it into the shape of his dick. Scootaloos orgasm reached another high, as her moans began to pick a higher pitch. Spit flew from her mouth, as this zebra brought her to even higher levels of ecstasy. Soon she began to buck against him, grinding her hips into his, trying to add more friction. Zexis grinned at this. He picked her up and carried her over to Birdhoofs desk. The unicorn was sitting there with wide eyes and his dick in his hand, furiously masturbating, as he couldn´t pull his eyes away from this spectacle. Never had Scootaloo shown this reaction, when he fucked her. This was not the defiant filly he knew. This was a wild, needy animal, that smiled like mad as she was fucked out of her mind. His desk was already covered in string of sperm as he had climaxed early. Scootaloo saw this and, without prompting from Zexis, began to greedily lap them up, moaning loudly at the taste, as if this was the best she had was ever tasted in her life. Zexis laughed at that depraved display. He looked to Birdhoof. "Insult her." The unicorn looked at him confused. "What?" "You heard me. Insult her. Tell her what you think of her. Because that is the only thing you will ever do to her.", Zexis smiled cruel. "She is mine now. My property. And you will never lay a hand on her. See that as punishment for your fuck-up." He grabbed Scoots mane and brutally yanked her head towards him. She squealed in delight, as he forcefully kissed her, their tongues dancing with each other. He pulled out and grinned at Birdhoof. "But insulting I allow. Tell her how you feel. Now!" Birdhoof swallowed and looked at the pegasus on his desk, with her face full of bliss, as her belly was stretched again and again, by the cock that hammered into her. Then he spat at her. "Y-you f-f-fucking whore!", he said, "That is how you repay me? I should have let you in the gutter! Because thats where you belong! Sucking dicks like the stupid little bitch you are." Scootaloo squirted at that, as she reached another orgasm, higher than the others. She panted and grinned. "Yes. YES! I AM A SLUT!", she screamed, now completely letting go of all inhibtions. "I am nothing but fuck-meat. The day my bitch of a mother pressed me out of her used cunt, I was this. I was a WHOOOORE!!" Birdhoof grunted and another stream of spunk shot out of his penis and hit Scootaloo right in the face. The pegasus giggled at that and opened her mouth, greedily swallowing the rest. Then Zexis raised his hand and slapped her on the butt. For a moment she was suprised, before - SLAP! - he hit her again, and she squealed as her masochism reached new limits. Zexis thrusted harder than ever, forcing more of his dick inside the small frame. The pain and pleasure completely overloaded Scoots. Her tongue hang out of her mouth, giving her the look of a dumb bimbo, as her brain was reshaped by every pounding of Zexis dick. In all that chaos, Zexis eyes were drawn to the little pegasus butt. And he saw how her cutiemark, a shield with a lightning-bolt on it, slowly disappeared before black and red energy streamed from his cock into her flank, causing a new cutie mark to appear. A bitcoin, laying in pool of white liquid. All of this happened in under a second and neither Birdhoof nor Scootaloo noticed it. But before Zexis could wonder what this was about, he felt his own climax approaching. He lifted Scoots up for one last drop. Then as his prick was almost out and could barely hold it in, he dropped her, impaling her again and finally releasing his sperm. Scootaloos moan evolved into a drawn out scream, as she reached her greatest climax, her brain shutting down, as streams of semen entered her womb, unable to escape, as the flare of zexis cock had closed the entrance like a plug. Her back arched back, her arms clammering to Zexis torso, as her climax wiped out every doubt, every shame and broke her mind and reformed it again. Then finally, as the pressure became to great, and Scootaloo looked like she was four months pregnant, Zexis pulled out completely and threw her to the ground, like a used toy. There she lay, grinning dumbly, as sperm oozed out of her pussy... "First things first: We will continue with our plans. I will take care of Thunderlane. You will continue planting the lust emblems and your trainings regime - ugh, thats the spot -, as well as keeping your eyes and ears open for others like Thunderlane. Then you will - to the left, Scoots - come to me, before you make any decisions, understood?" Zexis sat on a chair before Birdhoof, who nodded defeated. Scootaloo was laying before the zebra, completely naked, lovingly caressing his prick. She held in both arms and run it up and down with her tongue coating in saliva, lapping up any sperm, that was left. Zexis patted her head like you would do with a good pet and continued: "Scootaloo will assist me in school." The filly perked up on her name and looked up. "I will?" "Yes.", said Zexis, pinching her cheek lovingly, "I need someone to seduce the colts. We will start off slow, but I hope that, at the end of it, you will get all you holes plugged by the colts in schools." He grinned. "My own little schoolwhore." Scootaloo grinned at that, fingering her pussy at the thought of getting fucked by her own classmates. Then she got an idea. "Will you fuck Applebloom and Sweetie Belle as well? Can I watch?", she asked, now openly masturbating. Zexis smiled and nodded. "Of course. When I am finished with you, the Cutie Mark Crusader will become the Cutie Mark Cumdumpsters." Scoots squealed and moaned at the idea of her closest getting ravaged by her new master. She could picture it. Sweetie Belle, covered in cum, laying broken on the floor. She holding Applebloom down, while her Master raped her from behind. With renewed gusto, she threw herself on his cock, sucking and bobbing her head. Zexis grunted in satisfaction, holding the head of the filly, while she sucked him off. He looked at the dejected Birdhoof, who looked at Scootaloo and no doubt saw his missed opportunity at getting his own sexslave. "Let that be lesson for you, Birdhoof. Don´t. Fuck. Up." The unicorn nodded weakly and got back at wanking off at the sight off his former victim, happily sucking off a zebra. Relationships updated! Nurse Redheart Willpower: 2-2/10 Corruption: 7+3/10 Lust: 6+1/10 Secrets: Special Service Skills: Job: Nurse, Job: Whore Traits: submissive, big tits, big butt, natural cocksucker, bitchy, Size Queen, masochist Scootaloo Willpower: 0/10 Corruption: 7+2/10 Lust: 9+1/10 Secrets: former prostitute, loves to be abused Traits: Maso-queen, small breasts, agile, extremely submissive, libido New Slaves added! Nurse Redheart Scootaloo CP: 5 New events! Friendship Castle Everfree Forest Ponyville School

My Little Corruption

Escalation

BZZZZZT.........Click! Well this is both good and bad. I am glad to see Zexis making some progress and have more mare submit to his will bu the fact that Birdhoof bugger up again annoys me. One Must always preform the task given to them correctly and not make adjustments to said order unless extreme measure arise. However mistakes can happen and more so for those you lack any sort of intellectual prowess. I say give him one more chance but a harsher punishment is needed to make sure such mistakes do not happen again. Moving on, we can still use one of Birdhoof mistakes to our advantage namely recruiting Thunderlane. To do this I recommend another drinking session with just Zexis and Thunderlane, he has already shown that by using a potion on him he becomes quite horny and thus easy for us yo manipulate. Once we have gotten him drunk and drugged up take him back to the flower trio place for a bit of fun and secure him to our side. I know I have mentioned this numerous times but we need to get our own place weather we do this with whatever capital we have raised or convince Filthy Rich to give us a loan really does not matte, but it is important we get this sort sooner rather than later. Our skills and talents have so far covered our unusually long stay at the flower trio house, but I do not believe we should keep pushing them as much as we have some one will eventually realise how suspicious it is and will investigate. Also once we have our own place we can start making a proper headquarter which we could use for a variety of purposes from holding meeting (Orgy parties) to a stronghold were we can bring problem individual and break them at our leisure. Lastly it seems we have a new event coming up but our Corrupter seem to be giving us additional information in the form of colour coding our options. We have Castle of Friendship which is green, Ponyville School which is yellow and finally we have the Everfree Forest which is red. This new information could mean any number of thing from difficulty to potential danger to Zexis if he does not interfere. However, after examining previous entrees and information from the Corrupter I am inclined to believe that it is the later. This conclusion comes from that fact that the Everfree Forest has come up multiple times for events and knowing that Zecora is in there and the power she wields it is highly possible that she is doing some major Voodoo to hinder us since she knows something of Zexis true nature. Even if this proves to be untrue any problem that arise from these events at the other two location can be handled with a lot more ease. Zexis is at Ponyville School every other day and with his growing influence over Cheerlie and certain students he should be able to find out and handle any problem that arise there. As for the Friendship Castle it most likely as something to do with Spike and since we have a pretty nice start on Corrupting him we can afford to have a small setback here which we should be able to contact later. Lastly we have next to no information on Zecora actions recently and without information we can not plan any thing involving her to any great extent. Thus my vote is the Everfree Forest but we need to go in there prepare I would recommend stopping by Nurse Redheart and organising to get some heavy duty tranquillisers and see if we could make a blow gun or something to work with them or some other equipment to be able to use them from range. Well that it for now. From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division That fucker touched something that's ours! We'll need to teach Thunderlane a lesson. Who is so pathetic he depends on Birdhoof for sex. I don't think anybody else caught that, Thunderlane is so fucking useless he needs BIRDHOOF to even get wanking materials. Yeah, he's not so openly pathetic and useless as Birdhoof. Call him Birdhoof 2.0. Slightly improved, just as much of a bitch. Sadly, Birdhoof has necessitated that we bring him into the fold. I suggest we just feed him a pack of lies under suggestion powder. He doesn't have access to any mares so keep him in the dark as much as possible. And while we're on the subject, fuck Birdhoof! Useless piece of garbage can't even follow simple instructions right! And failing at 'don't tell anyone' is fucking lethal to a conspiracy! At this point, I'd say Birdhoof is a liability. And considering the stakes, well, let's just say it's time for Birdhoof to take a 'trip'. A nice friendly 'trip' straight to Tartarus! Everfree Forest? Looks like Zecora is making her move. Time to put an end to her plans. It's time to implement Operation 'A Bird in the Hoof is worth a Zebra in the Bush'. Zecora has been gearing up and preparing for a duel with us. Or who knows what else. Do you know what she isn't prepared for? A fat idiot breaking in and trying to rape her. Let him soak up whatever traps and gadgets Zecora has planned. Let him tire her out. Then we swoop in, take her for our own, and hopefully have one less Birdhoof to deal with. Or hey, maybe he'll actually redeem himself in the attempt. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh couldn't keep a straight face. Like that'll happen. One orange and blue light turns on, highlighting a figure shrouded in darkness. He sighs before speaking. "Birdhoof's... indiscretion might be turned to an advantage, however we must keep a closer eye on him. We cannot let him make another screw up on this level. "Thunderlane may prove to be a useful ally; a knight to Birdhoof's pawn. And maybe we can get information from him about what happened with Rainbow Dash. "As for the events, I suggest the Everfree Forest. If an event like this is up then it most likely involves Zecora, and we know we'll need to deal with her sooner or later. Investigating this area may give us a lead. "I would do more... work on Cheerliee instead of Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom; we'd do more with having the teacher under our thumb first. "Lastly we should learn more about the Purity Laws; what they entail and how they came about. Until then, here's hoping things carry on smoothly. We will be watching." The lights shut off. Sweet Apple Acres, Late Morning With a loud impact Zexis´ hoof hit the Appletree right in middle of its trunk. The tree shook a little bit, causing a half dozen apples to drop. More than a double still hung stubbornly on its branches. Zexis huffed angrily and took a few steps back for a new attempt. Sweat made his shirt clung to his torso and he breathed heavily. "Not bad, fella!" Applejack came over from her tree, sweaty herself, but with two casket full of apples. She looked at Zexis work. "For an amateur, that is." Her smile took a little bit the bite out of that comment. She pointed at the tree. "Try hitting it a little bit higher up. Too close to the root, and the impact gets absorbed by the roots." Zexis nodded and started again. He ran towards the trunk. At the last second he stopped and put all the momentum in his right leg, which raced forward. This time he aimed higher and his hoof connected a second time with the wood. Again the tree shook at the sudden hit, a little bit stronger this time. A few more apples fell to the ground. Still not enough. "Damn it!", cursed Zexis and began to pick the fallen apples up. Despite working on the orchards for over a week, he still didn´t make any great progress. Applejack clicked her tongue dissapprovingly. "No curses on my farm, Chikelu.", she said. "Sorry...", mumbled the zebra, before looking at the empty orchard, that was Applejacks work. "Just a little bit frustrated..." The blond mare followed his gaze and grinned. "Well, you know what they say: No one kicked an orchard at their first day!" Zexis was sure, that that wasn´t how the saying really went, but whatever. He put the apples into his basket and shouldered it. His work wasn´t quite done, but the morning was almost over, and he still had plans for today. As he walked towards the barn, he could see Applejack looking at his unfinished tree. With an almost casual ease she kicked the trunk lightly with her left leg. The appletree vibrated, then suddenly shook violently, letting the remaining apples rain down on the ground. She saw him looking and turned with a grin around. "You forgot something." Zexis grumbled and walked back. All the while thinking about his plans. With Scootaloo finally broken, he had the servant he needed to corrupt the school and the rest of the CMC. He also could gain access to Rainbow Dash, finally moving on to "liberating" the Mane Six. But these were all plans he hadn´t enacted yet. Possibilities. They could wait. What he needed to do right away, was talking with Thunderlane. He had come to the conclusion, that Birdhoofs mistake could be turned into an opportunity. He didn´t had a high opinion of Thunderlane. He was probably just a limpdick, who couldn´t get the mare he wanted. But he was probably more reliable than Birdhoof. And another ally was always welcome. Maybe Zexis could help him aquiring the right attitude towards mares. The zebra picked up the last apple and moved again towards the barn. He could see Applejacks firm ass sway in front of him, the shape and outline clearly visible in her worktrousers. Her tail whipping left and right, almost as if she was teasing him. Damn, what a hot mare! Zexis was sure that she would look even better, if she would put some effort into her looks. Not that she would in her current state. Applejack had more important things on her mind than being an eyecandy. Like the farm or her family. If Zexis really wanted to corrupt her, he first needed to get rid of these things. Rearrange her priorities. But for that, he needed to earn her respect. And respect he only got through good work, which seemed to be a rocky road indeed. Finally they were approaching the barn. Zexis could see Big Mac sitting on a chair before the house. He was brooding over some papers, with a pencil resting behind his right ear. He didn´t look happy. "Howdy, Mac!", said Applejack, "Got the last batch for today." She and Zexis put their basket down, besides a dozen others. Big Mac looked up for moment, grunted in affirmation, before turning his attention to the papers again. Applejack joined him, looking over his shoulder. "What you´re looking at? Numbers?" Zexis could see Big Mac sweating a little, as his sister boobs were pressing against his back. Applejack wore a workshirt, but the continued use had worn the fabric thin. A nice show for Zexis and a everlasting tease for Big Mac. Applejack herself was blissfully unaware of this. The red stallion cleared his throat, before laying down the documents. "Finances. Still going red.", he said, "Trying to find out why." Applejack frowned, before blinking. "Trying to find out? You mean, you don´t know why we´re making losses?" That was a suprise indeed, even for Zexis. He assumed the financial difficulties of the farm, was because of the added workload since Granny Smiths death, but apparently that wasn´t the case. He pretended like he checked the apples for impurities, so he could eavesdrop without the siblings getting suspicious. Big Mac stroked his chin. "Eyup. Should be making profits. But something keeps pulling us under.", he explained, "Haven´t found anything in our files, however. Will keep searching..." Applejack looked at the papers, thinking for moment. Then she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, good luck with that. I will just work harder, for now. We are going to pick up eventually.", she said, getting up from Macs shoulder and stretching her arms. Again she delivered unknowingly a nice show, with her tits standing noticeably from her chest and her muscles straining under her fur. Big Macs face took an even deeper red and he tried to avert his eyes. Zexis grinned a little bit at that. "I am going to take a shower. Have fun with your fancy math." Applejack walked inside the house, leaving a blushing and frowning Big Mac behind. Zexis stood up from the basket and walked over to him. Big Mac saw him and his face immediately relaxed. "Good you´re here. Need a favour.", he said. Then he remembered something and reached into his pockets. "Here is your pay for today. Sorry it isn´t more." He gave Zexis a handful of bits. "Na, its okay. With this and the rest of my savings, I can finally purchase my house." Zexis counted the bits, before pocketing them. He already had made the preparations. All he needed to do was delivering the payment to the Mayor. Then he would finally have his own house. "What can I do for you?" Big Mac looked behind him, to make sure Applejack wasn´t listening. "Applebloom went to Zecora today.", he said with worry in his voice, "Probably wanted to pick up with her lessons." He scratched his head and Zexis could see the glimmer of fear in his eyes. "Thing is, Everfree has become more dangerous in the last few days. And Zecora has shut herself in. Don´t know if Bloom is safe and I can´t leave the farm alone, so..." "You want me to look for her?" Zexis wasn´t thrilled with the idea on potentially running into the unfriendly shamaness again. Big Mac noticed his displeasure. "I will make it up for you, don´t worry. But understand, she is my sister and....well this whole Mojo-thing is just...strange. Honestly I would like, if she wouldn´t do it at all, but Applejack supports it, so what am I going to do?" He clearly seemed worried, as he was beginning to ramble. "But she could be in danger and nopony would know and you are the only one, I can trust outside the girls and they tell me I shouldn´t worry. But I do worry." He looked Zexis in the eyes. "Please, just make sure she is okay. Quick in and out.", he pleaded. Zexis sighed. He really wasn´t feeling up for it. But he could hardly refuse Big Mac here. Especially considering that the big guy would owe him after that. He looked over the Everfree looming on the horizon. Then he got an idea...a terribly, awful idea. An idea that could solve his problems with Zecora and begin the corruption of Applebloom and Big Mac. A smile crept up his face. "Alright I do it." Ponyville, Thunderlanes House, Midday "So this where he lives?", Zexis asked. He stood before a two-story house at the edge of Ponyville. It stood in the line with several other buildings, with a little garden in the front. But while the others were clearly inhabited by families and the like, this one showed clearly that its occupants were two stallions from Manehattan. The garden was unkempt and littered with toys, from swords and plastic shields to a train that was so overgrown, that Zexis was sure that neither Thunderlane nor Rumble had touched it in the last five years. "Sure does. Rumble invites me every now and then. Probably to impress me. A shame, that I didn´t pick him up on it." Scootaloo looked completely transformed. To a stranger, there would be not too much strange about her. She was still in her sports clothes and her mane was still unkempt. But Zexis could see the details. Like the thin, tight spats she wore, that hugged her bottom and outlined her pussy, if she were to stretch her legs. Or her erect nipples, that poked through the fabric of her shirt. There was also the slight blush of arousal in her face. Zexis had allowed her to wear those clothes under the condition, that she would only do it when she was exercising, as not to arouse suspiscion. And that she would only rest in secluded, private spots. That made sure nopony would make a fuss, while also letting Scootaloo satsify her newfound lust. And if she would ever get too pent up, he would provide her with "entertainment". "Want me to help?", she asked, smiling expectantly. "You could drug him, tie him up and I could blow him nice and slow. Make him go crazy. Maybe even let him fuck me outright." She shivered at the thought, a hand stroking her pussy through her spats. Zexis however shook his head. "Not today. I just want to feel things out for today. Thanks for showing me the way." He waved dismissively at her. Scootaloo pouted. "But your still going to fuck my brains out tonight, right?" "Yes, yes. If you are pestering me more, I will probably strangle you while I´m at it.", said Zexis annoyed. Scootaloo shivered again and a mad grin parted her face. "Not a good way to get rid of me, master...", she said. She came closer, a hand creeping up his thighs, hugging his package and her tongue rolling down his sweaty right arm. "Only excites me more..." SLAP! Zexis backhand did send her sprawling to the ground. Scootaloo squeaked in pain, holding her cheek. Between her legs, Zexis could see a damp spot as the pain caused her to orgasm slightly. "Ouch! So cruel..." "Just piss of, you maso-bitch.", growled Zexis, glaring at her. Scootaloo swallowed, with more liquid pouring out of her cunt. "Y-yes master. Of course, master.", she said, shivering in delight at the verbal abuse. She hurried to her feet, turning around. "Can´t wait for tonight...", she said, winking at him. She gave him a clear view of her stained spats, as she parted her legs for him, before racing away. Zexis chuckled, as he looked after her. It became increasingly difficult in dealing with all that libido. He would soon need help in satisfying all that lust or find a way to improve his skills in bed. For now however, he had them under control. Scootaloo in particular would stay happy, as long as he treated her like dirt. That made things certainly easier, even though he had to look out not do that in public. Thankfully this time around, most ponies were either at school or working, so he didn´t need to worry, that somepony saw his "interaction" with Scoots. Thunderlane on the other hand was at home. Zexis knew that, because the weatherteam of Ponyville had their day off today. They had cleared the sky yesterday and the next stormfront was scheduled in three days. And if it wasn´t Guys Night or Wonderbolt Training, Thunderlane was usually at home. At least that´s what Birdhoof had told him. Zexis stepped up to the door and knocked. For a moment, nothing happened. Then he could he hear somepony coming down the stairs, something crashing, a curse and then hurried footsteps towards the door. A moment later Thunderlane opened the door. The black stallion with light-blue mohawk looked dead tired. He had big bags under his eyes, wore a white sweatshirt that showed his wide shoulders and muscles and his mane was unkempt. "What the...Zexis!?", he asked. "Good morning, Thunderlane.", greeted Zexis, ignoring the fact, that it was way too late for that. "I wanted to talk with you about something." The pegasus blinked several times, before his brain finally started working. "Oh, yeah right. Morning, too.", he mumbled, before yawning. "Sorry, had a bad night. What do you want to talk about?" Zexis made sure, nopony was around to eavesdrop, before leaning in closer. "It´s about Redheart." Suddenly all the lethargie went out of Thunderlanes face. His hand shot forward, grabbed Zexis by his shirt and yanked him into the house. Then he slammed the door shut and closed the windows. "Fuck!" Thunderlane was sweating, his face pale as he turned to Zexis. "I´m sorry! I was drunk that night and Dirthoof told me....shit, please don´t tell the guards." Zexis was a little bit suprised at the sudden reaction. His companion looked like he just had a heart attack. "Calm down. I´m not here to rat you out.", he said, "I just wanted to know how you got Birdhoof to tell you about it. And what he told you." That seemed to work, as Thunderlane slowly calmed down. He was still nervous, but at least he wasn´t hyperventilating. He went to the windows, closing the shutters. "Why do want to know? Or an even better question: How do you know about Redheart?", he asked. "Let´s just say, that I was the one who gave her the idea for the side-business.", said Zexis. It was probably best, not to reveal too much. Vagueness would only help him here. He didn´t know how high Thunderlanes moral standards were. The risk of him getting upset, if he were to know the full extent of Zexis machinations was too high. Thunderlane looked at him suprised. "Seriously? Fuck, okay then...." His hands ran through his mane, as he nervously paced the room. "Listen, you are new here, so you probably don´t know, but prostitution is outlawed in Equestria." Zexis nodded. "I am aware. The Purity Laws, right?" "Right. But it´s more than that. There is a huge moral stigma here, if you are involved in any kind of open sexuality. Even if you do not break the law, or they find you innocent, folk here don´t forget. And if anypony thinks you are improper...well you can kiss your social standing goodbye." Thunderlane stopped pacing. He went for the kitchen - a place cluttered with old dishes and food from the morning - and pulled out a heavy book he had used as a support for one of the table legs. He gave it to Zexis. "Thats a law book. They gave it to me the day I arrived. A Guide for proper behaviour they had said. Were probably worried, because I came from Manehattan." Zexis looked at the book. It was heavy and looked worn. It had stylized letters and was all in all rather dull. On the front stood: Appendix for the Laws of Purity in Body and Soul; by her illustrious majesty, Princess of the Sun Celestia. He propped it open. After a few minutes he found the part that described the laws of prostitution: Any activity that involves the usage of ones body in sexual manner, and that is not limited to a private relationship approved by the princess and the state, and that is exchanged for monetary benefit of any kind is prohibited. Anyone, be it pony or otherwise, who is aware of such activities, but did not report them, supports those activities or enables them is punishable by the law. The minimum sentence is 6 years in prison or a bail of 100.000 bits. Zexis nearly choked at that. The text did not specify if the six years were only for prostitution or for compliance, but it indicated the latter, which meant that the former was punished even harder. Ridicilous! "What. The. Fuck.", said Zexis with growing disbelief. "Told you.", answered Thunderlane. "Even in Manehattan they just pretend, like it doesn´t exist. But if somepony whores too openly, they deal with them the same way." He thought of taking the book back, before shaking his head. "Keep it. Should help you." He sighed, running his hand over his tired face. "Quite honestly, I don´t even want to know how you convinced Redheart. Just tell her, that she should stop, before we all get caught. I was drunk, but that doesn´t count as a good defence before the judge." "But I thought they relaxed over the last few years?" "On public behaviour, yes.", answered Thunderlane, "If you want to wear lighter clothes in the summer, or a bikini on the beach, you can do that now. But the heavy stuff? Stripping or Whoring? No chance in hell Princess Celestia is going to let that slide. And Princess Luna is not up for it either." Zexis huffed. Truly, Equestria desperately needed his help. "That is not right.", he said to himself. Thunderlane heard that. His face dropped and he shook his head. "Oh nonono! You get that right out of your head. There were a lot more powerful and smarter guys out there, who wanted to challenge the Purity Laws. And they all failed. And their careers soon after. Don´t make the same mistake." He sighed, before going to the sink and filling himself a glass of water. "It´s not that bad, honestly. Ponyville is a nice place with pleasant folk. And Equestria is more stable and peaceful then the rest of the world. No Beasts or ancient evils anymore. If we have to trade our libido for that, fine. I can deal with that.", he said, while drinking. Zexis looked at him sceptically. "Evidently not, considering what we are talking about." Thunderlane winced. "A lapse in judgment. Rumble always tells me not to drink too much. Will not do it again." Zexis nodded. Then he noticed something. On Thunderlanes right arm hang a little wooden heart, nothing more than a trinket. His trinket. That explains the bad sleep., thought the zebra. Probably a gift. But from whom? "Where did you get that?", he asked. "What, that?" Thunderlane looked at the small talisman. "Dash gave it to me, along with a batch of flowers. Didn´t say why. Probably as an apology." He shrugged. That brought Zexis to the other thing he wanted to talk about. "By the way, what exactly happened between the two of you? You didn´t get into detail last time." Thunderlanes face hardened. "That is...private.", he said court, "I would appreciate it, if we do not speak of it." But Zexis didn´t let himself be dissuaded. "Come on. I know about Redheart, what could possibly be more..." Further he didn´t make it, as Thunderlane rammed the glass he held onto the table with an audible impact. "I said it´s private!", he growled. All the sympathy was gone from his demeanor and Zexis quickly reminded himself, that he was alone in a room with an athlete. An athlete with military training. Thunderlane walked briskly towards the door, unlocked and opened it. He looked at Zexis without a word. The zebra got the message. He tucked the book under one arm and walked out of the house. Once he was over the doorstep, he turned around, wanting to say something, only for Thunderlane to smash the door shut before his face. That certainly could have gone better... Everfree Forest, late Midday The Everfree was dark. Even with the sun standing at the zenith, there was only a few rays of light, that made it through the thick canopy. The trees stood close to each other, strangling each other for sunlight, twisting and turning in unnatural ways. Sometimes even growing on the path itself, trying to erase that small bit of civilization. Every now and then one could see a pair of glowing eyes in the dark. "Why am I here?", came it from Birdhoof. Zexis turned around. They were on the path to Zecoras hut. Zexis knew, that this was the way Applebloom would take, after finishing school. If they hurried, they could catch up to her before she reached Zecora. Not that that was the plan, of course. He looked at Birdhoof. The fat unicorn sweated. It wasn´t exertion as more than fear that let sweatbeads run down his face. Clearly the caretaker didn´t like the forest. "I need a second pair of hands for this. And it´s your chance on making up for your blunder last time.", he explained, while venturing forth. "Do you have everything?" Birdhoof wimpered, but followed him. "Syringes, already filled sedatives. Hormone Pills. And this..." He pulled out a small bag and looked at it confused. "What is this actually?" Zexis took it from him and pocketed it. "My own creation. Knockout Powder. Inhale it and your brain gets a sensory overload, causing you to fall unconscious. Figured we might need that today..." He didn´t elaborate for what, but from the fearful look on Birdhoofs face it was clear that his minion understood anyway. They were preparing for a fight. One more thing, Zexis. If you happen to go to the Everfree for whatever business you wish to do there, keep in mind that the forest is a wild, dangerous place. One of the dangers often encountered there are magical creatures called Timber Wolves. Timber Wolves are a form of self-creating golems which inhabit constructs made of rocks and deadwood. Good on the attack, but tend to crumble on a strong hit. Since they can regenerate from almost nothing and don't require sustenance other than ambient magic, that's not usually a problem. The important part for you--other than the sharp fangs and claws--is that they're mostly plant creatures. You can feel your affinity for all things plant life, can't you, Zexis? Back in Zebrica, powerful shamans would know how to tame the wild spirits of nature, just as they tame their own females. Perhaps there is potential there. A Timber Wolf's "corpse" is saturated with the Everfree's chaotic magic even if the will has moved on to a different shell. A priceless item for a skilled alchemist! Not only that, but perhaps you will eventually stumble across a way to gain some form of influence over the creatures. Even control. And even more interesting, Zexis... You dimly remember your teachers mention a way to infuse another being with such natural magics. There are stories of legendary Zebra sorcerers who not only dared to cross the mares in their care with many non-equine creatures in a carnal way, but who would create powerful, loyal mare-slaves by mutating them in various ways. You have to admit, the idea of a timber-pony Applejack, wagging her tail, staring at you with glowing green eyes and begging for your touch is deliciously hot. Keep the possibilites in mind, Zexis... A low growl caught Zexis attention. His eyes wandered through the thick bushes, that bordered the path. Finally they fell onto a Timberwolf. A canine creature made out of wood, twigs and bark. A golem, given primitive life by the overflowing wild magic of the Everfree. Predators, that stalked the thicket, yet would not eat their prey, for what use had they of flesh? There were numerous theories about their existence and behaviour. Some said they were a freak accident of magic, imprinted with instincts of real wolves, but unable to fulfill them, which caused them to be so aggressive. Others thought, that they were a manifestation of the will of nature, appearing when the spirits of the forest were restless. Zexis tended more towards the latter theory. Sure, it wasn´t really scientific, but he knew enough about spirits and the like, back from Zebrica, to know that one shouldn´t scoff so easily over things like that. And the Everfree had a will. He could feel that... And it was angry... The Timberwolf didn´t attack them. It just stood there and watched them walk by, before vanishing into the darkness. On another day, Zexis might have feeled inclined, trying to figure out how to control to creature. Maybe he could overwrite whatever primal magic held it together and use it for himself. And even if that didn´t work, Timberwolf-wood was very useful in alchemy. But today he had different worries. And more importantly he wasn´t sure, if he would succeed. His skill in alchemy wasn´t good enough for that and he felt that his affinity towards nature was far too weak, to overrule whatever programm the golem was running on. He would try another time. ... After half an hour they finally caught sight of Applebloom. The young filly walked cautiously through the forest and had, as Zexis quickly noticed, a talisman in her hand. It was made out of elm wood and carved in the shape of a half-moon, glowing in a pale blue light. From the craftsmanship Zexis deduced that Applebloom most likely made it herself. Not bad for an Apprentice. She held it in front of her chest, constantly looking through the shadows. She was nervous, which wasn´t good. Because if Applebloom was afraid of the Everfree, that meant that Zexis and Birdhoof were in even greater danger. He turned to Birdhoof and they both went and hid themself behind a bush. "Zecora?", called Applebloom into the forest. "Zecora, please come out! I know you´re there. I just want to talk." "Go away, Applebloom...." Zecoras ghostly voice echoed from the darkness. It seemed to come from all sides. "I can see the shadow over your shoulder. Go away...and tell Twilight that Equestria is in great danger..." Zexis frowned at that. What did she mean? Applebloom didn´t seem to understand as well. "Wha-what do you mean? What darkness? Is it Tirek? Someone else? Please tell me!" "Older than the centaur....", came it from Zecora, "A darkness enveloping and swallowing us all. Twisting our souls, corrupting our minds. Its tendrils have reached us. That is what the spirits say...the most evil mojo...." "The spirits?" Applebloom gasped in terror. "Zecora, did you summon the dead!? You told me that was too dangerous here. What if they possessed you?" Zexis brows furrowed. Summoning the spirits of the dead was dangerously close to necromancy. Most shamans only did it with recent deceased or none at all. Only the most powerful would dare summoning older ones or even binding them. Was Zecora really capable of that? "They didn´t, pupil.", whispered the hidden shamaness, "For I did not summon them. They....came to me." Several ethereal shapes appeared from the shadows. They were translucent, sceletal ponies. Naked, some of them showing the wounds that caused the demise. They floated towards the pathway, but not coming closer to Applebloom. They seemed to be cautious of her talisman. The filly was now shaking in fear, but she did not run. Instead she turned towards the direction the spirits were coming from. "Please, let me help you! Come with me.", she said, failing to keep the fear out of her voice. "Twilight will surely find a way...there is no need for that...." She gestured towards the ghosts. "I cannot, Applebloom...it has seeped into the castle. It is still weak, but I cannot take the risk. I will need to destroy it." "Destroy?", asked Applebloom confused, "Destroy what?" Zecora stepped out of the forest, her hood up, hiding her face and only letting her eyes shine through the darkness with arcane power. On her belt hung dozens upon dozens of fetishes, talismans and potions and in her left hand Zexis could see a dagger, that glowed with yellow runes. "Destroy him.", she said, pointing at Zexis. Zexis reacted immediately. He grabbed a syringe and rose up. He made sure that he seemed calm, even though his heart was racing. On his face he put concern, worry and fear. The last one he didn´t even need to act. He could practically feel the arcane energy from Zecora. How long had that bitch prepared herself? Weeks? Months? He slowly walked towards them, his hand behind his back. Applebloom looked at him, scared and confused, still clutching her amulet. "Zexis? What are you doing here? I though you were..." "You brother told me to look after you. He was worried you might get in trouble", interrupted Zexis. He looked at Zecora and the spirits, who were floating at the edge of the path. "And it seems he was right..." He took a few steps towards Applebloom. Immediately the spirits sprung to action. Two of the floated in front of him, hissing angrily and barring the way. "Do not touch her, Defiler!" Zecora raised her hand and several long, haunting howls answered her. Timberwolves. Zexis shook his head. "What are you talking about? I just want to help! I don´t even know, what I did wrong!?" "Yours is an existence that should not exist. Your thought are not you own and great evil lies in your action. Begone!" With the last words, darkness began to encroach closer. The ghosts got bolder and they began to surround Applebloom. Zexis showed his teeth in frustation, before holding out his hand to the filly. "This clearly leads nowhere. Applebloom, come! Lets get out of here!" She was shaking, tears in her eyes, but Applebloom did not come closer. Instead she turned to Zecora. "Z-Zecora, please....stop this. I don´t want this...l-let´s just talk about it.", she pleaded, crying openly now. "I want to understand..." Zecora looked at her and for a moment she hesistated. The glow around her eyes faded and the spirits seemed to sense it, turning their attention towards her for a second. As if they were looking for orders. A second was all Zexis needed. He dashed forward, through the gap between the two ghosts. If he were nimbler, he might have avoided them completely, but one of them floated towards him and grazed him. A biting cold flowed through shoulder and his arm turned numb. Thankfully it wasn´t the one, who held the syringe. He closed the space between him and Applebloom. She saw him too late, screamed in terror. His healthy arm shot forward and he rammed the syringe into her neck. The sedative worked immediately. He had made sure he got a strong one, so she wouldn´t struggle. Appleblooms eyes rolled into her head and she went limp. Zexis catched her before she could fall. Seeing that Zecora roared in anger. The spirits responded immediatly, floating towards Zexis, howling. "Birdhoof! Help me!", screamed Zexis. Birdhoof sprang up from his position, but was cut off as two more ghosts appeared before him. He stopped in his tracks, terror written all over his face. "RELEASE HER, YOU DEMON!" Zecoras voice bellowed throughout the entire forest, no doubt amplified because of an artifact. "You go to sleep." Zexis pulled out the little bag with Knockout-Powder. Opening it with his numb hands and throwing it into her direction. The Powder hit the shamaness directly in the face, causing her to cough and inhale. And then....nothing happened. Zecora shook her head and glared at Zexis. Fuck! She is actually immune!?, thought Zexis. But he didn´t had time to worry about that, as the spirits were almost upon him. He tried to dodge out of the way, but there too many and he was too slow. An ethereal hand passed through his left leg and he stumbled. Immediately they threw themselves at him. Zexis saw them converging and closed his eyes, awaiting the oncoming doom. Then Appleblooms talisman flared up. The pale, blue light erupted from the wood, striking the ghost. Their angry howling turned into fearful, pained screams as the moonlight threw them into the darkness. A few tried to fight the light, but after a few tense seconds even they were banished into the forest. The light washed over Zecora, leaving her untouched. Zexis looked stunned at the talisman. Could it be that Applebloom actually got her hands on a holy symbol of a god? But how? And who would give her something, that even priests could rarely acquire? He heard a grunt and saw Zecora pull a fetish from her belt. Question could come later. He got up and carried Applebloom over to Birdhoof. That one had finally overcome his fear and helped him, taking the legs of the filly. Together they booked it, not even looking back, as Zecora was ratteling the fetish and muttering an incantation. "Come forth, creatures of the wild magic. Come forth, Wolves of Timber!" Howling filled the forest. Soon Zexis could see a pack of Timberwolves leaping out of the thicket, trying to catch up to him. Then a second one, then a third. Soon more then a dozens of these golems were snapping at their heels. "They are catching up!", screamed Birdhoof. "I know!" Zexis threw Applebloom to him, got his hands free. One Timberwolf jumped, its jaws wide open. Zexis fist hit his wooden skull, scattering the leaves and twigs and throwing the rest of the body to the wayside. But Zexis didn´t had much time celebrating his victory, as the wood began to quiver, shake and then reassemble itself to form a new Timberwolf. "Fuck..." Two more attacked. Zexis caught the first one in the air with his right hand, before throwing it on ground, shattering it on impact. Birdhoof catched the second ones leg with his telekinesis and flung it into a nearby bush. They reformed immediatly. "If we do not hit hard enough, they just come back!", yelled Birdhoof, still running, but rapidly running out of steam. Zexis was aware of that, but he had no idea how to do that. They were brittle enough to shatter easily, but the parts themselves were sturdy. His fist weren´t strong enough.... His fists.... Suddenly Zexis stopped. The Timberwolves saw their chance. The biggest one of them, their leader, stepped forward. His fangs were sharp, dripping with sap. A dark, low growl came from within him. He paced closer. And then, as Zexis didn´t react, he leaped forward. Zexis hoof crashed into his torso. The kick broke through the drywood, scattering broken bark into every direction. An appletree might withstand that impact, but a Timberwolf could not. The alpha fell to the ground, broken. For a short moment his parts quivered, then they laid still. Zexis stomped his right leg on the ground. "I buck trees every day, you fucking bastards.", he growled, "Come at me!" Skill unlocked! Applebucking Kicks (basic) Another one pounced. Zexis kicked his left leg foward, hit its jaw, sending it into the bushes. Then two of them attacked. He whirled around catching one of them with his right leg from the side, breaking through his torso and hitting the other one. A howl alarmed the zebra to an attack from behind and he turned around, just as another wolf tried to sink its teeth into his neck. Birdhoof reacted. His horn flared up, grabbing the beasts hindlegs with telekinesis and yanking it away from Zexis. The zebra followed it up with a high kick. His hoof smashed through its jaw and destroyed the Timberwolf. The remaining ones howled with rage and threw themselves forward. Zexis looked to Birdhoof. He nodded. They both understood what to do. Birdhoof once again caught the fastest ones with magic and Zexis shattered them with precise kicks. This way they methodically took out one after the other, always making sure, that not more than two could attack them at the same time. After several minutes of intense fighting, Zexis right leg speared through the last remaining Timberwolf. The beast howled in pain, before falling apart. Panting and choking for air the two stallions looked around. The path was littered with twigs, leaves and broken bark. If one would look at it, one would assume, somepony just didn´t cleaned the road. Only the two of them knew what kind of battle they just fought. "That...was...amazing...", panted Birdhoof. He still carried Appleblooms on his back, but a grin parted his lips. "Scary....and amazing..." Zexis just nodded. His eyes were set on the darkness behind him. Through the shadows he could see Zecora looking at him. Her green eyes brimming with hatred, piercing through the darkness. "Come on, lets go. Don´t want to find out what else she has in store for us.", he said and grabbed Appleblooms shoulders again, so they shared the burden. Birdhoof nodded and together they ran as fast as they could. Zecora did not pursue... Outside the Everfree Forest "Shit, that was close." "You can say that again." "Shit, that was..." "I was joking!" Zexis shook his head. Still, they managed to escape, which was something. He looked down at the unconscious Applebloom. Then he punched her in the face. Birdhoof jumped up. "What are you doing!? We just saved her!", he yelled in shock. "Need to make it seem like Zecora injured her.", answered Zexis calm, "She is heavily sedated, she won´t be waking up anytime soon." With that, he took a sharp knife, that Birdhoof gave him with trembling hands. He then cut into Appleblooms thighs several times, as well giving her one over her collarbone. Just superficial, nothing deep. Yet, Birdhoof still winced. Zexis grabbed her shirt and ripped it lightly, as well as cutting her jeans two times. Then he stood up and looked down on his work. Applebloom now looked like she had been through tartarus. She was bleeding, her left cheek was swollen and her clothes torn. Everything he needed for his story. He looked at Birdhoof. "Let´s get her to Redheart." Ponyville Hospital Big Mac stood in the floor, at the glass window that seperated him from the patients room. Behind that laid Applebloom on a bed, sleeping, covered in bandages with Applejack holding her hand. The blond mares eyes were red. She had been crying. Zexis came up to Big Mac, two cups of coffee in his hands. He gave one to the red stallion. "Here, for the nerves.", he said. Big Mac didn´t look at him, but took the cup and sipped at it. "Nurse said it´s just light injuries.", he said. Zexis nodded. He knew that of course, but held up his sad look. He let a little bit of relief show. "Thats good to know.", he said. Then he looked down again. "Still, if I had just been faster, then I could have prevented this..." "Don´t blame yourself.", said Big Mac. He took another deep sip from the coffee. "You couldn´t know what would happen. You couldn´t know that she....that she would..." His voice cracked and tears welled up in his eyes. Zexis put a hand on the big guys shoulder, giving him support as quiet sobs racked the stallions body. "The nurse said, she is going to be fine. A few days of sleep and everything will be over.", he said, trying to calm the farmer. Big Mac nodded, took another deep sip. "Y-you´re right....still, it´s just...seeing her like that..." Her drank a bit more. His tears still rolling down his face, but his expression darkening. "I never though Zecora would do that. To just attack her like that..." Anger swelled within him. The cup in his hands was slowly crushed, with hot coffee running down his arms. Big Mac didn´t even notice. Zexis nodded. "She was probably possessed by the ghosts. She said something about them coming to her. Maybe she is a victim, too?", he said, fully knowing what the reaction would be. Big Mac snarled, his lips parting to show his teeth grinding. "Victim or not, she hurt my little sister! I told Applejack this was dangerous. I told all of them.", he growled, his voice dripping with hate, as the hormone pills in the coffee lowered his inhibitions and detroyed the mental barriers that were holding his rage back. "She is going to pay for that." "And after that?", asked Zexis quiet, whispering in his ear. "But will you do about your sisters? The farm?" Big Mac looked at him, his face a mixture of anger and determination. "I am going to educate them." He then turned around and threw the cup into a bin. Zexis grinned victoriously, gestured Birdhoof who was sitting nearby and they both followed Big Mac. It was time for Round Two! Relationships updated! Thunderlane Willpower: 4+1/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 6+1/10 Secrets: Rainbows Ex, locked Traits:strong, very fast, handsome, dexterous Zecora Willpower: 8/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Skill: Master in Alchemy, Mystic Secrets: locked Traits: highest Affinity to alchemy (Enchantments), very intelligent, high Affinity to elements (earth), dexterous Big Macintosh Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 3+4/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: Siscon, wants to be dominant Traits: massive cock, massive balls, extremly strong, huge body CP: 6

My Little Corruption

Third Interlude

Tartarus, Eros Sanctuary The Hall was empty. The throne stood in the middle, as usual, but Eros was nowhere to be found. However it seemed like he had found the time to repurpose the broken furniture from last time. In a far corner, surrounded by scraps of wood, stood a relief. It looked like a carved picture of two young alicorns. They were in chains, naked and their muzzles bound by a ballgag. The elder one kneeled in front of a huge alicorn-stallion, her buttocks raised in the air, while her younger counterpart was speared on the stallions humongous cock, her tongue lolling out of her mouth and her face distorted by bliss. A crowd stood in the background, cruel smiles on their face and spitting on the kneeling one. On the opposite side of the cavern a portion of the stone wall moved to one side, revealing a hidden entrance and Eros, who carried a bag with him, as if he just came from shopping. His back was turned and it seemed like he was speaking to someone. "Yes, I am very thankful for this opportunity, but it doesn't mean you can start pestering me!", he said annoyed, with a hint of anger. "Don't be like that? Have you any idea how hard it was, smuggling these souls through the higher levels to down here? You know that Cerberus patrols these areas daily!", came it back. The voice sounded alluring, sexual, but strangely high-pitched like it came from a little filly. Eros rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, but I paid you already. The transaction is finished, the business concluded. Now piss off!" "Is that the way you treat your former second-in-command? At least tell me, what you are doing in there! You haven´t talked with me for over seven hundred years, not to mention that I didn´t get fucked for over eight hundred!" The voice sounded more and more like a petulant child, accompanied by just the right amount of whining. "Just show me, already. Please, pretty please!" "No!", bellowed Eros. Then he composed himself and sighed. "Look, Lilith. I appreciate your effort, but this is private. Don't butt you horny head in and we will all sleep easier." Behind him appeared a green light as the Corruptor flared up to life. Connection established! "What was that?" A small pink hand, with sharp black nails appeared on the side of the entrance, as its owner tried to wriggle her way into Eros sanctuary. "Nothing!" The stallion's horn flared up and the stone wall slammed into its original place, nearly crushing the fingers, that were hastily pulled back. Eros sighed in relief, turned his back on the door and walked away from the muffled sounds of an angry tirade. The God of Lust walked over to the relief in a pace that seemed steady, but controlled like he was barely holding himself back from running. On the way there, he picked up the Corruptor and let it float beside him. "Couldn't have picked a better time, hm?", he said sarcastically, "Lilith was already a handful back in her prime. Her incarceration in Tartarus has only made her more frisky." He sighed and ran his free hand through his dark-red mane. "She was powerful and, more importantly, useful back in the day. But here she will only make problems. It´s best to not involve her." He stopped before the relief. There he put the bag down and reached into it, pulling out numerous flasks that were filled with an smoky wisp-like substance. Every now and then, one could see a face appear before the glass, twisted in anguish and screaming wordless. Eros looked at them with excitement. "Damned souls. They are rarity these days in Tartarus. Since the god of judgment was slain, no new ones had been transferred here, so all that is left are the ones he condemned before his demise." He took one of them and carefully opened it. Then he poured the contents of the flask into the wooden relief. The souls wailed for the time, they were outside of the glass, but were silenced as they entered the object. The relief flared up for a moment, before fading back into ordinary wood. Eros repeated the process with all remaining flasks. At the end of it the relief was glowing in a ghostly light and the depicted beings on it were moving, as if they were alive. The crowd of ponies were shaking their fists, pointing at the kneeling alicorn filly, who was watching with tears in her eyes as her sister was slammed down on Eros´dick, again and again and again. At some point the younger sister regained consciousness, only to flash a wicked smile at her shocked sister and turning her head to give her assailant a sloppy kiss. That was the sign for the crowd to burst forward, grabbing the older alicorn and beginning to gangrape her. There was no sound, but the ecstatic look on Eros face showed, that he didn't care, as he watched the scene unfold before him. After a while, the crowd dispersed, leaving behind a battered, broken and cumstained alicorn filly. Her sister on the other hand was achieving her final climax, as her small body was battered by this monster of a cock. Her belly bloating by the amount of cum that was pumped into her. Finally the wooden Eros pulled her from his still erect penis and then threw her, like a discarded toy, to the ground. The younger sister giggled madly, a blissful look on her face. She crawled over to her comatose sister and buried her muzzle in her sister cumstained snatch, greedily lapping up the remaining sperm. Then the relief flickered and the scene reset. Everything was set to the beginning and began to play anew. Eros sighed in satisfaction, turned around and placed his posterior on the throne again. "This will probably entertain me for a while. And if I get tired of it, I can just carve a new relief.", he explained to the Corruptor. Then he cleared his throat. "Anyway, back to more serious matters." "I have seen that you made some headway with Zexis while I was occupied. You secured Birdhoof's loyalty and you've finally broken Scootaloo. Good, very good. She will be useful to us. Her type is exactly the kind of mare I like. Submissive and not afraid of a little bit abuse." He crossed his arms and his cheerful demeanor vanished, as a picture of Zecora appeared on the screen. "That one however, proves to be quite a pain. I warned you about the capabilities of shamans, but at least you managed to interrupt her talk with that Applebloom filly. That could have been very dangerous if she had managed to get that girl on her side. On her own, she is isolated. But with somepony like Applebloom? The town would have been far more dangerous if she had brought Zecora's suspicions to the wrong ears." "So good job stopping that from happening. However it also means that Zexis will soon have his first serious confrontation and I have to be honest here. I don't know if he is up for it." He touched his chin in silent contemplation. "Well, it's a good thing that you have connected to me now. This way you can strengthen him for the fight to come. But..." he tipped at the glass repeatedly, as he wanted to scold the drifters, "...let that be a lesson for you. Ignoring someone as dangerous as Zecora was an error, that could have been avoided. Try not to repeat it, okay? I don't care how you do it, but try to establish a spy network, so you have some eyes and ears in place when somepony catches you scent again." After he was finished, he looked at the screen again, as question were popping up. "Oh right, forgot... you wanted to talk about something." He sighed, slightly annoyed, but complied. "Sure sure. Just make it brief, okay? I want get back to my entertainment." He waved his hand dismissively. The screen flickers, and a beautiful maiden in a silk purple nightgown appears. She was sitting at a desk, books laying across with notes sticking out of them. Her hair was a deep black, with matching cat ears and tail, the latter twitching slightly as the only sign of her annoyance. "Well, that event could have certainly gone better. We've been ignoring Zecora far too long. I'll have to make plans about her." Her annoyance fades as she turns to the screen. "Greetings Lord Eros. I am Lady Catherine, though I hope you will forgive me for desiring to keep most of my identity a secret. I don't desire universe travelers to come pounding at my door one day. Anyway, my questions involve the history of Equestria. I am curious about the Crystal Empire. If my knowledge is correct, Sombra's reign was after Discord's so the Empire should still have been there at the time of your invasion. I'm guessing you had plans for it that never came to fruition and I wish to hear them. In fact, I'm interested in what you had in mind for Celestia as well. "My second question is about Griffonstone or whatever the name of the griffon land is called. I swear the name changes every universe. So did you do anything to the griffons before your imprisonment? "Anyway, my final question is Zebrica. You have already stated that you had corrupted it so my interest has been piqued. I'm aware this is a lot of questions but the author's comment on worldbuilding got me thinking, so feel free to answer only one of my questions. If you do, I suggest you tell us about Zebrica as that knowledge could help our Zebra avatar. Thank you for your time Eros." The maiden, now known as Catherine, went back to her books as the screen flickered off. "Well well, been quite some time since I saw a catgirl," Eros smile had a lustful touch touch to it, as he read the questions. "We don't have them on Mundus - that's name of this world, by the way - so I could only watch your particular race, as you lived your lives in other universes. Quite a tease, I can tell you." "Anyway, on to your questions. You are right in your assumption about the empire. I had plans for it. However at the time Sombra took over, I had my hands full containing Discord's chaos. You see, his appearance had caused a momentary truce between Celestia, Luna, and I. You can hardly fight a war when your weapons gain sentience, your soldiers begin to behave like sheep, and the entire landscape changes every two minutes. After the sisters had petrified him, the next two decades were spent repairing the damage he had done to the fabric of reality. After that we immediately picked up the war, especially from my side. I wanted to beat them quickly now that they had the Elements of Harmony." "Honestly, I don't like delving into speculative scenarios. But, if I ever had won that war, I would have probably made two plans. One would have involved negotiations. Sombra was a powerful sorcerer, having achieved absolute mastery over dark magic. If he had more time on his hands, I'm sure he would have achieved the status of a Lesser God in time. Add to that his black heart and I would have felt pretty confident in drawing him to my side." "If he had denied my offer, I would have gone with plan B. Conquest. Yes, thats sounds simple, but that's really about it. The Empire possesses the largest amount of crystals in all of Mundus, which makes it particularly important for anyone who dabbles in magic. Crystals are perfect storing devices and conduits of energy and that makes them irreplaceable in enchantments and the like. Not to mention the Vault of Amore, which houses a huge amount of artifacts. That was a price worth fighting over and I would have felt pretty secure going to war with him, considering that I would have the entire equestrian economy behind me, as well as my demonic armies and myself. I would have had a high probability of winning that war." Eros scratches his chin, before frowning. "It never came to that of course, so the whole point is moot. If you want to know more about the Crystal Empire, its history, or Sombra, you should ask me another time. When I'm a better mood." "Concerning your second question; I never had much involvement with the Griffon Aeries. There exist numerous over all of Mundus and they all are different from each other. With cultures as diverse as pony kind's. Around three thousand years ago, griffons were the dominant species. Their Aeries had conquered half of the known world and were divided into three Aeries. Griffonstone was in the North, occupying the Goldbeak Mountains. They possessed the greatest wealth of them all, with deep mines driven into the mountains where they worked their slaves, mostly ponies. Their empire, which included what would later became Equestria, fell after five hundred years when the monster named Arimaspi broke into their palace, killed their king, and escaped with the Idol of Boreas. After that the Griffonstone Aerie broke apart into numerous smaller Aeries, who all vied for dominance." "To the West, on the Continent of Lemur, was the Aerie Highwing. It was the most powerful one, with huge armies and swathes of steppe lands. Where the griffons could hunt and feed their population. Their society was built on the back of zebra slaves, who worked the fields and served as game for the griffons to hunt. Their Capital was on the lonely mountain Kimajajeu, from where they overlooked the entire steppe. However, that nation crumbled to dust as well. As it turned out, Kimajajeu was a dormant volcano and in 2300 B.E. (Before Equestria) it erupted, destroying Highwing and killing most of the griffons there. All that remained of them, were some outpost and smaller Aeries, but they fell when the Zebras saw their chances and rebelled. That was the point where Zebrica began its first steps as a nation." "And the last Great Aerie is Loch Beack. It lies in the Old World and is the only aerie that survived the ravages of time. The griffons there settled in a mountainous and hilly region on the Island of Alba. Other than Griffonstone and Highwing, they abolished slavery after they lost a war with the native ponies of that island. The loss of that war also drove them to the north of that land and ironically, that secured their survival. They had not idol as keystone to their society or had to fear a slave-uprising. They were divided into clans and elected their king and this decentralisation made sure that a sudden crisis would not cause their aerie to collapse. They would continue warring with the southern pony kingdoms, but last I heard of them they were still independent." "Still, the only griffons I interacted with were slave traders from the northern aeries. While Griffonstone had fallen from grace, the lesser aeries still continued their traditions and culture and as such had a thriving slave trade going, in which I participated, once I took over. Female griffons are maybe not as pretty as ponies, at least for my tastes, but they are resilient, tough and temperamental. So having one or two in my harem was a no-brainer. I saw a corruption of the aeries not necessary, as long as the slave trade went. Maybe at a later date, but at that point I was content on defiling Equestria." Eros coughed. His horn glowed and from the cupboard a glass and a bottle of spiritwine flew into his hands. He poured himself a drink and cleared his throat. "Now, Zebrica....that was my first project. Giving the story behind it proper respect would mean telling my origins as well. But that would be too early, I think. Once Zexis is more established and I feel that my investment in you guys was a secure bet, I will probably consider it, but not now." "What I can tell, is it´s history, before I showed up. As I already mentioned, the Fall of Highwing, caused a widespread rebellion among the zebra slaves. Unable to contain this uprising, the griffons soon either retreated into their aeries, to weather the storm, or were overrun. After that war was over, the zebras united under Zara Shuku, a powerful shamaness who in turn crowned herself High Priestess of the Spirits. The Theocracy of Zebrica was born." "For a while, everything went well. The young nation was thriving, new alchemical arts were discovered and the commune with the spirits of the lands was discovered, which empowered the priesthood, as they were able to enrichen the soil and bring life-giving rain. That early golden age continued for about two hundred years, give or take. Until, one day, Zara Shuku - who at that point, achieved immortality - disappeared. No zebra today knows where she has gone to. Some say she has wandered over to the Spirit Plane, others say she grew weary and disappointed over her fellow zebras. Fact is, Zebrica had lost it´s leader and protector." "And enemies soon appeared at their gates. A upstart young nation of sphinxes, called Kemet, soon attacked them with an army of chariots and undead, under the leadership of a Godking. The priesthood tried to resist them, but failed. The first war forced them to pay tribute in form of gold and slaves. The second war took half their territory from them. And the third war reduced them to a single city. When the fourth war arrived, it seemed like that would be the end of Zebrica." "But they were lucky, in a sense. First, a valiant young hero arrived, who overthrew the incompetent priesthood, and installed himself as king. His name was Zanjawe and he managed to fend off the invading sphinxes, by assassinating their Godking. But that alone, would have saved them, if it were not for the foolishness of priests of Kemet. In their desperation to save their ruler, they bound his soul to his dead body, essentially reviving him as an undead mummy. But by doing that, they tore open the barrier between life and death. Soon their kingdom was ravaged by the dead and torn apart. Amidst all that chaos, Zanjawe lead his small army and reclaimed a large portion of zebra land." Eros took a sip from the glass. "The undead plague would eventually pass, but Kemet was split into a lower kingdom and a upper kingdom and would reunited for the next four hundred years. Zanjawe however, would soon be assassinated himself and his title fell into the hands of his brother. The zebras would fall apart into numerous tribes, with the zebrican king only having nominal rulership over them." He finished the glass and put it back in the cupboard. "And that is more or less it. What happened after my defeat, I don't know of course. That you will have to look up yourself with Zexis. I would, however, advise against that, because there is no telling,what Zebrica is today and we don´t know what the disparities of his memories and the reality would do to him." "Any more questions?" Hm. Zexis didn't want to tackle the issue of Timber Wolves yet... but Zecora apparently has some pull over them. Makes sense, how else would she be able to live in that forest if unless she has a way to stay safe amongst the many beasts? No matter. We'll sort it out. Eventually. Eros! I would have words with you! First, are there any descendants of your time as Equestria's Premier Patron of Perversion? Looking back at your reign, most mares ended up very, very pregnant. I know of daemons and fiends who nurture pet families, sometimes with a drop of their servants' or even their own blood mixed in. Is there somepony like that in Equestria still? Are there any descendants of the founders you corrupted? We might find ways to activate whatever taint you left them with. Related to that, you claimed your magic played a part in turning the Everfree into what it is now. If that's true, how much of it was seeded by you? Can you think of ways to capitalise on this fact? If that idiotic Draconequus did one thing right, it was to increase his power by letting it twist and corrupt his domain. On to other topics... Changelings. They feed on love, and I bet they could easily feed on lust and domination/submission. They're your creations, aren't they? You had a hand (or another bodypart) in their genesis, I'd bet. Am I right? They're still running rampart across this world. They could see your new creation as a threat. We need to know what you can tell us about them. Lastly, a personal matter. There is a world parallel to this. Or perhaps it's a dimension, rather than a world. Somepony, an old ally of the princesses whom you might have known in person, created a doorway there: Starswirl the Bearded. He took something from me. Three somethings, to be exact. I may want them back at some point. And I know for a fact that he put them in this little rubbish bin dimension of his. So, what do you know of mirror portals to different worlds? Specifically, to retrieve something from them? That's all for now. Perhaps I should visit you, some day. We could play a game. I should warn you, though--I don't lose. The only being to whom I lose, neither of us wants involved in this. Eros grumbled, as he saw the screen fill with more lines. "You really want to keep me from enjoying myself....fine, fine..." He shifted on his throne, trying to find a more comfortable position. He finally settled for sitting sideways with his legs dangling over the carved image of Celestia's crying face and his left hand idly groping the depiction of Luna's butt. "Can't really deny the Four Riders, can I?" "I am pretty sure, that there exist somewhere on Mundus someone with traces of my blood in their veins. Gods can't really reproduce easily, you know. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce a child, even more so if a God is female. Luckily I had lots of opportunities and my semen was always potent, for a God. So yes, I had a lot of children. Usually they would succubi or incubi, higher rank of course, and join my armies. In some cases however, the child would be mortal in appearance. These descendants were usually way more gifted in physical department of their genders and with a high libido. However they were still more independent and, while they had preference for perversion, usually choose to live outside my influence." "In Equestria there shouldn´t exist someone with my blood in them. Celestia had one thousand years to find and eradicate all my traces and descendants and knowing her, she didn't stop just with Equestria. Knowing that, I would say that there are probably only in Zebrica and maybe some in the Old World with my blood. In the former I ensured, that they would form the elite, so that my influence over their culture would remain. I don't know how successful that has been, though." "The Changelings are not my creations. I don't know who brought into being. They believe it was the Great Swarm. A Hive Mind behind the stars, that spat them out, leaving them on Mundus. Their mythology describes it not favourably, but sees it as the ultimate goal. Every Changeling Queen wants to unite the Swarms and make them into another Great Swarm, elevating her to a status close to an Overdeity. But their infighting prevents that. And of course Changeling Kings are completely opposed to that, seeking a symbiotic relationship with Mundus or just want to be left alone, like the ones in Zirrbabwe." "Now the Everfree is the product of my war with Celestia and Luna. I told you, that the two had escaped my conquest of the Three Tribes and the corruption of The Founders. They hid in the Everfree Forest and build their Castle there. As mentioned before, they attracted refugees and formed a small nation. When our war began, the Everfree was an old, but peaceful forest. And the Sisters had made sure that the will of forest was on their side. Any attempt I made on entering these woods would be met. Not only by their soldiers but also by the spirits of the land, as well. And they could attack my borders from it at any time." "So naturally, I began corrupting it. Since the Will was peaceful and desired harmony, it was on their side. I needed to make it angry and evil and I thought it would then choose mine. Foolish, in hindsight. I started by having orgies at it fringes, defiling virgins with my demons. Then I let them give birth at the roots of trees and baptized the infants with my corruption, letting the magic and the fresh violated souls seep into the ground. The Sisters fought me at every turn of course, but I made my way slowly into the forest, inch by inch. After a decade of that, I successfully corrupted a large portion of the forest." "As it turned out however, the Will did not choose my side. Instead it lashed out against everything that it deemed foreign. Animals turned feral and monsters began to dwell under its leaves. Vines began to rape any passersby and nymphes began pull soldiers into the trees to devour them. Not all was lost, as the Sisters lost their protection of the Everfree and despite the added dangers, I could finally engage them in open combat. The war took up in pace and the myriads of spells from either side twisted the forest even more." Eros looked at the ceiling, as he remembered these days. The screaming soldiers, the cackling demons and songs of priests of either side. The blood that seeped into the earth, sucked up greedily by the surrounding trees, who loomed over the battlefields, like angry giants. The flames, the light and darkness. Celestia and Luna, in armor battling against him, trading blow for blow. Spell for Spell. He gritted his teeth. "Next question...", he growled. Interesting as always. Eros, I must ask, what is it you favor as a general tactic, grabbing the light in the room and ensuring all see you as you work them right in front of their nose, to simply keep to the shadows and move things, or do you like to play the middle and shift the attention to a pawn, while you play the game, Or do you have your own ideal tactics that I can't think of or explain? Information is always a worthwhile goal. If you don't mind another one while i'm at it, what do you think of the current achievements of your Avatar, do you think he'd be further along, is he right on track, or do you think he is being too slow? "Well, I think you already have a pretty good idea, on how I operate. But, for your sake, I will summarize it. When I start my conquest, I usually do it by infiltrating myself. I get into a position, where I have access to the higher echelons of society and then start by corrupting them slowly. Once I achieved that, I will use my new allies and servant to establish a base of operation and bring in my demons. After that I delegate, crush the remaining opposition and expand. It´s a mix really. Broad things like warfare or economy I leave to my servants. But delicate matters, or things that are high priority, I usually take into my own hands." "Zexis progress is satisfactory at the moment. He is staying under radar and despite some hiccups has managed himself well. But he hasn't faced any serious opposition yet, so we don´t know how he will handle himself there. I guess, all I can do is wait." One orange and one blue light come on highlighting a figure in shadow who sighs. "These recent events in the Everfree are a cause for concern. Sadly this may be beyond our ability to deal with right now. More consideration will be needed. "Regardless, greetings once more, Lord Eros. I hope you are... as well as can be expected. To business." He sighs for a moment before slamming his hands to the desk before him. "What in the name of all things holy happened back there? Can you give any possible explanation for these... ghosts!? Apparitions? What have you? Or at least a manner in which to fight them? We were lucky we had Applebloom's staff handy! Who are you going to call for this sort of thing!?" He sighs and moves his hand to straighten something at his neck. Pulling his chair forwards a slight outline of his business suit can be seen. "I apologize for my outburst, but I am always... annoyed by something I cannot fight, directly or not. Discord is the most notable issue, but these ghosts concern me greatly. "Another question to ask is what was Celestia and Luna like before your... incursion? Are these purity laws something they would have come up with on their own before you arrived? I think it's plausible that her... overly strict laws might be a result. It is very possible you have made her afraid. "Lastly, if we can corrupt Ponyville and keep it under your thumb what are your plans? To move onto another city like Manehatten.. Or move on Canterlot? I imagine striking the capital before we are ready to be a folly. Not that we are ready to keep Ponyville in our grasp, regardless." The lights shut off. "We... will be watching." Eros clenched his fists and fire was behind his eyes, when the Purity Laws were mentioned. "Don't remind me...this fucking bitch...." He fumed and his leg kicked out, hitting the relief of Celestia in the face. "The Purity Laws are everything I despise. Restrictive, prude and holy. Pressing an entire culture for a millennia into abstinence...." His telekinesis grabbed a table and flung at the far side of the wall. The furniture crashed against the unyielding stone and broke apart. A chair followed. Eros breathed heavily, before closing his eyes. His magic grabbed the broken pieces and with simple gesture he molded the wood back together, repairing the damage. The God of Corruption took a deep breath and relaxed again. "To make it simple. Yes, it is more then likely that my actions caused these laws. Before that, Celestia was revered as a Goddess of Sunlight and Fertility. And that meant, that it was expected of her to be promiscuous. She didn't have a harem, like me. But she had lovers, and even got pregnant one time." "It is most likely that me defiling her sister may have caused her to abandon that side of her. Or, the War of the Two Sisters left a greater impact, I don't know. Fact is, after my defeat, she took on the role of Princess of the Sun and - unofficially - Purity. And Purity cannot be defiled by sexual desires." He looked at the last question and shrugged his shoulders. "I have no clue. Where you go depends on what circumstances pop up. Strategically it would be best to widen your influence over Ponyville, once the opportunity arises. Having your hands in numerous locations means you have bases to fall back on if things turn sour. And allies are always a good idea." The mist rolls back revealing an emerald color dragoness with jade colored breast scales waking though one of the entry ways of the castle. "Wow, that is unexpected." The dragoness sighs "To be honest that was dumb, actually getting into a figh" "I'm home!!!!!!" A shout echoes throughout the caverns. Turning her head, she see the blue dragon with white chest scales, entering the caves. Filing into the hallway numerous guards enter in, smiles on their faces. A large nude black dragon, with grey scales bows to the dragon. "My Lord Fimbulwitner! Welcome home." The dragon speaks. "Yes, Welcome home." The green dragoness speaks as she traces a claw of the Ice Dragon Lord's bulging bicep, while the other grips on the firm blue ass cheeks. "Rally it in for a moment Fluorspar." The blue dragon's baritone voice trembles, his cock starting to rise. "There was no one remotely sexy at the monastery. I was able to help them embrace the ways of Eros, but I'm not into saggy breast and aging lips. And definitely not limp dicks." The black dragon's eye ridges raise, "Odd choice of words. Is there a reason to why to added the last part?" Sighing Fimbulwinter answers, "Obsidian, it's because of." A loud crash echoes through the hall as an adult dragon comes chagrining in. His green scales are the same color as the eyes, as he is opening gawking at the guards and drooling. A huge tree being held in the dragon's claw. "Him." Fimbulwinter sighs. "Apparently, he loves the other side of the nest and went to the monastery to cure himself. Once he fully came to terms what he wanted sexually, he couldn't stop drooling at me, or beg or my cock." The blue drake shakes his head. "Obsidian, please make sure this dragon waits in one of the rooms, while I talk to Fluorspar." Feeling the dragoness's claws squeeze in on his ass, the drake shivered. Desire growing in his eyes, but determination keeping the passion from growing out of control, "Sorry Fluorspar, no sex yet. I need to talk to you and a guest about certain issues, and then I need to hear the captain's report." The claw leaves his ass, as the green dragoness pouts indignantly, "Are you sure, there not enough time for a quickie." "If I get this all done within an hour, I'm throwing a whole wide castle orgy." The Northern Dragon Lord speaks with conviction. The green dragoness smiles. "Alright, let's go into a private room, and get this done quickly." "Thanks." The blue dragon lord sighs. "Obsidian, place that dragon into a guest room and lock it, so he doesn't get out, but let him keep that tree he has dropped on the ground. "Tree?" The dragoness smirks. "He uses it as a dildo." Fimbulwinter sighs. The green dragoness and the blue dragon enter a room down the hallway while listening the green dragon speaking to the guards, "So you guys must be the guards. I've been a naughty drake, anyone here want to punish me." As the two enter the room, Fluorspar starts laughing. "HA HA HA HA What? HA Ha What did you do to that poor drake back there?" Fluorspar finally stops laughing but continues to snicker. Sighing the dragon lord speaks, "That dragon, Merry Beryl, yeah that's his name, really got me mad." A sad look crosses his face, "Do you remember? I said that I lived at the monastery, that is where I learned how to flesh craft." "Yeah, I remember," the dragoness smirks, "You said you had to go there, to get better at it, so you can finally give Tiger Agate a dick, just like Eros, told you." The dragoness smiles, though while subtly jutting out her tits so Flimbulwinter can see their size and perkiness. Fimbulwinter's cock starts to raise as his gaze soon locks on to those f size tits. "Yes. I left that monastery after I found a book on Eros, and that book was burned by those dragons. It was that dragon, Merry, who ordered for its burning and even did it himself. Now I was naturally pissed at him. He robbed me of more information about Eros, when I was younger. But when I was corrupting him, finding out why he tried so hard to be celibate, I found out he burned the book because he loves the other side of the nest. He wanted to be fucked by manly dragons with big cocks and muscles, but he was so deep in the denial that he would have done just about anything to get rid of that idea, especially anything to sex in general. When I found this out, got it directly from his mind, he would even admit it verbally, I was so mad, that some of my anger may have affected his corruption. I honestly think I got him a torture or punishment fetish now." "How can you be so sure." Fluorspar asks curiously. Fimbulwinter's gaze returns to her face with a deadpan stare. "You try having a dragon appear in your bed every night since his corruption begging for his punishment, while thrusting his ass in your face! If it was a dragoness I would have taken him. You know I personally only find dragonesses sexy." Fluorspar lightly jab, "So you're sure you don't want to try the other side of the nest." Fimbulwinter smirks, "You know I personally don't care who a dragon or dragoness wants to fuck. It can be male, female, a family member, a rock, even a polar manticore if it fits your fancy, but if I don't want to join in on that sex personally don't force me to participate." Fluorspar asks, "So what are you going to do with him?" Fimbulwinter scratches the back of his head, "I was honestly hoping you know one of our soldiers or nobles that prefer that side of the nest. Otherwise I don't know what to do." "Aren't you lucky, I threw my lot in with you all those years ago." The green dragoness smirks, "I happen to know that Zircon Core, yeah the Court Sorcerer don't make that face at me, likes either side of the nest." "Really, but I've only see him with dragoness, he even participated in several orgies and he fucked dragonesses, I'm sure of that." "Trust, me." Fluorspar repeats, "He hides his sexual preferences from before you came because of how Permafrost would be mad when a dragoness refused his advances because she only wanted another dragoness. Sure, he got scolded by his father, but he always had it out for dragons who liked the other side of the nest, because of that. So, Zircon kept it secret, and when you took over, with your countless orgies with dragonesses, he feared you would be the same." "You know that is ridiculous, I personally don't mind if he fucks, or gets fucked by a dick or cunt, just don't bring me into it. Fluorspar gently rubs Fimbulwinter's massive pecks, "Good, Libra, the goddess of fairness, will be happy to hear that, I'm sure. She may even give you a blessing as well, besides from Eros." "Eros, oh yeah! He's listening in on this, isn't he?" Fimbulwinter's eye ridges raise as he realizes who is watching." Kneeling into a prayer Fimbulwinter speaks, "Eros, God of Corruption and Lust, thanks for the blessing upon my kingdom, that I may be able to bring dragons back towards our true natures, and not those of the sun tyrant. May my pleas reach you as I ask you about the concern I have for my kingdom." "Firstly I must apologize for not corrupting Tiger agate yet, but I needed more skill. I have now gotten that, and will start on her corruption." "Do you approve of my idea for Merry Beryl. I hope that it may actually prove useful and stop rebellions from using dragons who prefer the same sex, since they would learn I don't have a problem with that. If you know of a different path for me to take, with concerns for this dragon please tell me." "Finally, as you may have observed, I was able to allow the dragons of the Fang Monastery to embrace their sexual natures and traits that they have bottled up for so long. They are extremely grateful for this liberation. Though one dragon, one of my old mentors, asked in earnest if you Eros have had any dealings with dragons in the past. He, and I, don't care if it is with the dragons of the south, east, north, or the lost dragons of the west. We both would like to know your dealing with dragons if you have had any." "Thanks for your blessing, I hope that I may continue to have your blessing as I help untie my kingdom and bring dragons back into your hoard. The blue dragon stands up, and looks over at the tranquil sitting dragoness. "Fluorspar. Call the other dragoness, we are having an orgy in thirty minutes." The mist closes in as the two dragons leave the room, both are moving quickly and dripping with signs of arousal at the idea of a full castle orgy. Finally a smile crept up Eros´ lips. He leaned back and watched the scene, that unfolded before his eyes. For the first time, he actually seemed engaged and he considered his thoughts for the next question, holding his chin and closing his eyes and he thought of an answer. "Fimbulwinter, I can call myself fortunate for having such a loyal servant. It is truly invigorating to see how you handle your subject. If I were able to actually bless you, I would do it and I assure you that it is one of the first thing I plan to do, after I am free. Such diligence deserves a reward, after all." "Your actions on Merry Beryll I support. While I myself do not really care for homosexuality, it is still important to enable it for your citizens. Not fetish, no sexual desire should be barred and it is one of my first imperatives to enable the satisfactions of one lust, no matter what it´s target is." He looked at the Corruptor, his eyes flashing to a picture of dismantled corpses and broken horns. "Within in reason, of course." "Now, the corruption of the Fang Monastery is good news indeed. These old scale scratchers were too stuffed up anyway. Your question: Now, my dealings with dragons were limited. At the time I walked Mundus, the western and southern dragons very much locked into their war with Tiamat, and I kept away from that. With the East I had not contact and I didn't want to trigger a confrontation with the Dragon Lord who ruled there. So most of my interactions with your race were with the Northern Kingdom, but even then only with some individual dragons. The Ice Dragons were always stubborn and proud and I didn't want to spend the considerable effort in trying to corrupt them, so I mostly let them be, except for trade and the occasional mercenary." Eros voice trailed off for a moment, as a thought entered his mind. "This makes your corruption of them even more astonishing. In that regard you have made me curious, Fimbulwinter. How did you actually manage to become the Dragon Lord of the North?" The translucent being can be seen writing on some paper before turning to you and speaking. "Wow that dragon was actually right about the colors, I'm impressed." "Now onto the questions, " "This may be unnecessary to ask but just to clarify, is necromancy illegal and if it is how is it illegal? Is it when used a ticket straight to jail or the every sane reaction of an immediate execution?" "Is our corruption like chaos corruption, in the way that it causes mutations over time?" "Will the type of event change if we don't attend to it and something in the same aria comes up again? As an example to clarify the question, will an event in friendship castle change from green to purple if not attended to or will those be of the green variant every time?" "Why didn't we get one of those law books the day we arrived like Thunderlane did?" "Is there a black market or something that fills the demand for sex products and prostitution?" "That is all I wish to know for now that hasn't been asked by others yet. Now to start planning for the fight with Zecora." The being turn back to what he was doing and starts writing again as your vision turns to black. The Corruptors screen was filled with question in a matter of seconds. Eros tried to keep track, before finally shaking his head. "Breathe for fuck sake!", he said, as more lines appeared. It didn't stop, and he threw his hands up. "Fine, but I will make it short. Wasted enough time, already!" "Kemet's fate should give you a good idea as to why necromancy is outlawed. If someone attempts it and/or succeeds, they are either killed or, in Equestria's case, thrown into Tartarus. No trial, nothing. Nobody wants another Grogar." "No, it isn't. Lust corruption affects the mind and twist it to fit the newfound desires. Mutation can only occur if someone forces through fleshcraft or extensive use of magic." "The events colour depends on the skills that are demanded. That can change, but doesn't always happen. It´s very much a matter of chance." "I don't know, why you didn't get the books. For that matter, you also didn't get a party from Pinkie Pie, right? Wonder why..." "A black market is most likely. Celestia cannot control all. If I have to take a guess, I would say that it comes from Manehattan, given the cities more lax attitude, when it comes to sex." After that barrage of answers, Eros clapped his hand together. "Right, that's about enough. I satisfied your curiosity. Any more question have to wait for later. It's time for you to strengthen my avatar and prepare for the battle with Zecora." His eyes got a dangerous glimmer, as he pushed the corresponding buttons on the Corruptor. "If you win against her, I will leave the matter how to deal with her to your discretion. Just remember that she is a headstrong mare, and that will make a corruption long and difficult." A wicked smile crept up his lips. "But she will make herself great as a sacrifice. Should bring a good ability, as well. Of course, it is your decision, in the end." He waved his hand and dismissed the Drifters, turning his attention back to his wooden relief, where Celestia was once again raped by the crowd of ponies. He absentmindedly fondled her depiction on the throne. CP=6 New Traits Affinity to magic (Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark) - 2 CP addictive cum - 2CP fast - 1 CP Resistance to magic (Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark) - 3 CP dexterous - 1CP Affinity for Martial Arts - 2 CP tough - 1 CP Current Traits huge cock - 2 CP big balls - 1CP Affinity to element (Plants) - 1CP dominant - 2CP charismatic - 2CP intelligent - 2CP strong - 2CP handsome - 2CP strong Libido - 2CP Affinity to alchemy (Potions and Powder or Amulets or Enchantments) - 4CP

My Little Corruption

Are you in?

Avatar Name: Zexis Chikelu Gender: male Race: Zebra Skills: Smooth Talking, Alchemist: Apprentice, Applebucking Kicks (basic) Traits: huge cock, big balls, high affinity to element (Plants), dominant, charismatic, intelligent, Affinity for Alchemy (Potions and Powder), Libido, strong, handsome, Resistance to magic (Dark), fast, tough Abilities: Everystallion The human sat on a shattered wall in a ruined city. His jeans were torn and his jacket was covered in dirt and dried blood. He idly juggled dried out human skulls as he waited. He wasn't very good at it, and grumbled as he bent to pick up the skulls once again. A faint ding sounded in the air, and with a smile he gestured to a holographic screen that appeared before him. "About bloody time. Right, back to the action, and it's time for a fight. And now is the time to not fuck around. Zecora is a magic specialist. And the best way to fuck those people up is to punch them in the face. Yeah, beating them with superior magic is possible, but we don't have the time or ability to outmatch Zecora in that way. So my votes are for Tough: We'll need to be able to take a hit. Dexterous: To help us get close, dodge attacks, and grapple. Affinity to Martial Arts: So we actually know how to fight, rather then using a fucking farming technique in battle. Affinity to Plants: Upgrading this for a forest fight should help. Fast: Worst case scenario we need this to run away. More importantly, I simply don't want to store a point that can be spent before a boss battle. As for the fight itself, well we're kinda committed to a specific course. Big Mac is in a rage, and we need to keep him angry. He can use brute strength to try and break through. Bird Hoof hasn't proven entirely useless, keep him on telekinetic assistance in keeping those Timberwolves and spirits off your backs. And we've got the tough part. We need to follow Big Mac's berserk rush and make sure he doesn't get overwhelmed, and take out Zecora. Once she falls we win. But to make her fall, well I'm betting she's possessed by some spirits or hyped up on a drug. We'll need to force her unconscious through brute force, since we lack any other options. If we do win? Then we've got options. First off I say we sacrifice her. Zecora is far too dangerous to leave in even a corrupted mind. Plus she's not exactly a public persona. If she disappears, her absence won't necessarily be noticed. And the bonus would be quite nice. But we've got another opportunity. It might be risky, but if we can convince Big Mac to be the one to rape her, well commits someone to you as making them guilty of a crime. We'll have a secret to hold over him, he'll almost be forced to come aboard our plans, and he may even embrace it willingly. It'll give him some relief at least. And Big Mac would be a fantastic ally to have. The mist rolls back to reveal a blue dragon, with silver chest scales reviewing a flat crystal with runes etched in it. Pulling out a lab of crystal the dragon's claws etch runes into the crystal, and then comparing the slab with the ones on the table. "Zelix, it looks like you are in quite a pickle. You are going to be fighting your first boss. Unfortunately, it looks like Zecora has company, and not of the good type." The Ice Dragon Lord scratches his jaw ridges saying, "If I was alone, against a powerful mage, and several Polar Manticore, I would take out the mage controlling the manticores." Swirling his claws a small figure of Zecora, Zelix, and 4 timber wolves appear. Normally it would be suicide, but I would recommend, if you can break the control Zecora has on the timberwolves, or can carry fire, that you should take on Zecora and the Timberwolves head on." The figures move so Zelix is facing four timberwolves and Zecora is waiting for him on the other side of the timberwolves. "It seems suicide, but it could lead to a good distraction. With the wolves and Zecora facing you, they won't see the trap." A figure of Big Mac appears behind Zecora. "While I'm betting that we can't use that pendant, I'm betting Big Mac can, so take Applebloom's amulet, give it to Mac, and then let him at Zecora. The pendant will block the ghost, and either Zecora will be forced to fight Big Mac, or be knocked out before the battle begins. Maybe give him a hormone pill so he doesn't listen if Zecora tries to say she didn't hurt Apple Bloom." The figure of Big Mac jumps on the Zecora crystal, shattering it. The timberwolf's figures shatter as well. "It would be interesting if you could get Big Mac to 'teach' Zecora a 'lesson' just like Mac wanted to do with his sisters. I wouldn't be opposed to that. Afterward, it would be to keep Zecora knocked out, until corruption is done, and give Apple Bloom some tea that makes her think Zecora hurt her. We can't leave that loose end, and Big Mac coming after you Zelix." The figures of Zelix and Big Mac look at each other, before both shattering." At the edge of the Everfree Forest Zexis stood close to a young oak, his arms crossed, while his mind raced. The issue with Zecora needed to be resolved quickly. Not only because she clearly wanted him dead, but also because every second he wasted, she would become stronger. No doubt, that she was strengthening her enchantments right now. He couldn´t let her become too powerful, so a quick response was crucial. He looked down on his body. He had taken the time for some preparations. He changed his casual attire to something more useful in combat. Ponyville didn´t have an armory, so he had to make due with a heavy leatherjacket over his shirt. His jeans was switched to worktrousers and he carried a pouch with him, at his belt. He knew, that his limited skill in alchemy could not stand up against Zecora. But then again, he didn´t plan on using it against her during the fight. He looked up, as he heard hoofsteps approach and saw Birdhoff. The fat unicorn was sweating with a mixture of fearful anticipation and physical exertion. Still, the look on his face was grim and determined. Truly, a far cry from the disgusting coward he had been a few weeks ago. It wasn´t so that he wasn´t frightened. But he seemed to have pushed his worries aside for this one time. "I talked with Redheart.", he said. "Gave her the powder and your instructions. She will make sure, that Applebloom will confirm our story. Once she wakes up." Zexis nodded. Wether they won today or not, it wouldn´t matter, when the little Apple-bitch told everypony what really happened. To ensure, that this wouldn´t happen, Redheart would use the Suggestion Powder, to convince her to keep quiet over certain details and lie over others. The Powder couldn´t change memories, sadly. But Zexis was confident, that the right suggestion on a young impressionable mind, would work just as well. Something like: "If they found out about necromancy, that would be bad. You must not mention that, for the sake of Zecora" or "That was dangerous. You owe Zexis your life." For the start, it should reduce the risk of getting caught. He could make adjustments later on. Zexis noticed the wooden moon-trinket in Birdhoofs hands. The talisman. They had taken it from Applebloom, as soon as they got out of the Forest. Strangely enough, when Zexis had touched it, he had felt great discomfort. Not something tangible, just a sense of great unease. Because of that he had given it to Birdhoof, who had less problems with it. Strange, but it was their only reliable counter against the ghosts. "You got the pills?" Birdhoof nodded. "Yup, the girls were really...helpful." He pulled out a bottle. "Put them in the tea, like you said." He looked skeptical at the red liquid. "You really think two whole pills is a good idea? I mean, remember what happened to Roseluck." Zexis waved his hand dismissively. "Big Mac has strong body. He can take it. We also need to break down his inhibitons further. Don´t want him to have second thoughts in the middle of the battle." "Yeah, but...what if he kills her? That would be bad, right?" "Leave that to me." Zexis took the bottle. The trick with the hormone pills was to use them at the right time. If somepony was angry, they would remove the barriers towards that particular emotion, if they were ingested at that time. If he was horny, that the same applied as well. They were perfect tools for adjusting a personality, if you were careful with your timing. Zexis wanted to change the calm, quiet Big Mac into an angry, lecherous stallion. Far better suited for his plans and much more inclined to agree with his...goals. They already got the angry part down. And speaking of Tirek, there he came. The red stallion carried a large woodchopper axe with him. It seemed to be custom-made, because for everypony else it would had been way too big. He wore thick jeans and a close-fitting shirt. His expression was dark. "Good. Now that everypony is here, whe should talk tactics.", said Zexis, as Big Mac came closer. "For the beginning, I take the vanguard. Birdhoof is support and Big Mac stands by." The earth-pony snorted and clenched his fist. "Fuck that. I will not wait. I will smash that bitches muzzle in.", he growled. Zexis raised an eyebrow. Apparently, Big Mac anger was greater than he anticipated. "Don´t worry, you will. But we can´t do this carelessly. This is Zecora we are talking about and we are challenging her on her hometurf." He kneeled down, took a stick and began to write on the ground. "She made it clear, that she is, for some reason, pissed at me. We should use that to our advantage." He drew a small zebra, that was standing in front of a pack of Timberwolves and ghosts, who were guarding a small Zecora. "I will serve as the bait, drawing her attention. She will most likely attack me." He drew an arrow that pointed at him. Then he added an unicorn-horn behind him. "Birdhoff will help me hold the line. Once we´ve done that, you will attack her from the side." His stick scratched in the dirt and one could see an apple charging Zecoras position. "We have little chance against her, other than a suprise attack. So we will use your strength to burst through her defences and knock her out, before she can retaliate." Big Mac looked at the picture below him and his brows furrowed. "Fine...", he said, "What kind of defences?" Zexis looked at Birdhoof, and the stallion pulled the talisman from his neck and gave it to Big Mac. "That was something Applebloom was carrying with her. It saved us against the ghosts. It should help you." he explained. Then the zebra gave him the bottle. "Drink this. I mixed in some herbs, that might help, if she tries anything with poison and such..." The lie came easy to him. In truth, there was no such thing as an antidote that could provide resistance against poison. They were only useful after one had been afflicted. Actual immunity against drugs and poison could only be acquired through careful training and repeated exposure. But he didn´t need to tell Big Mac that. The big stallion took the talisman and looked at it. "I remember, when she made this. Said that Princess Luna had taught her how to do it. In a dream." He took a big sip from the tea. "She was so proud, when she was finished..." Zexis nodded solemnly. He got up again and dusted off his knees. "And her efforts will not go to waste.", he said. His gaze followed the sun, as she sank towards the horizon. "We should get moving. We don´t want to do this in the dark." They turned around and walked into the Everfree. ... "So, you mentioned something about educating your sisters?", asked Zexis, as they walked down the dark path into the forest. Macintosh scratched his head, as he shouldered his axe. "Just something I said in the heat of the moment." But Zexis was undeterred. "But still. What do you mean with that? I thought Applejack takes charge on the farm?" Big Mac looked at him, with a raised eyebrow. "Do you really think, thats the best time to discuss that?" "Might as well." Zexis shrugged. "After all, we don´t know, if we will succeed. And a little bit of small talk goes a long way to relaxing. No use in getting all tense before a fight." "I don´t know...how do we even find her?" Zexis clenched his teeth. That guy was stubborn! Did the pills not work? "Don´t worry about that. I believe she will find us. Now please answer my question." The last sentence came out a little more forceful than he wanted, but they were running out of time. He wanted to get Big Mac in the right mindset before the confrontation. After all, if stallion lost his temper and accidentally killed the shamaness...that would be bad... The farmer looked away, trying to avert Zexis eyes. He nervously stroked the shaft of his axe. "I-I..just..." He stopped again. "Hey. Hey!" Zexis grabbed by the shoulder, not easy to do with somepony, who was almost two head bigger than you. "We are in this together. I will not judge you about this." He pointed to Birdhoof, who wisely decided to keep himself out of the conversation. "I helped him, and you know he is...was a creep. I came into contact with things, that would be considered scandalous here in Equestria. There is little you can say, that would shock me." He looked the stallion deep into the eyes and placed a reassuring smile on his lips. "I just want to help you. As a friend." That seemed to do the trick. Big Mac swallowed, looked down for a second and then came to a decision. "I...think that Applejack is not suited for leading." He fidgeted, looked over to Zexis for reaction, before continuing: "In truth...I think, she is not even that good in taking care of her family." He pointed at the talisman. "Letting Applebloom study under Zecora was her idea. She is...responsible for what happened to her. The decline of the farm...that´s also her fault. She doesn´t ask for help or take on a loan. She is stubborn, prideful and....and....doesn´t respect me." And that was the core of the problem! Zexis withheld a triumphant grin. Instead he nodded. "True, I think it would help a lot, if she would listen to you more often." Big Mac frowned. "Not only that. She should...j-just shut up, for fucks sake!" His breath quickened. The pills had kicked in. "Always prancing around, thinking she can solve problems by working a little bit harder. Not caring for the consequences or the problems she causes for us, when she is leaving on some fucking adventure again. That I have to pick up the pace, take care of Applebloom, who doesn´t give a shit and gets into to trouble every single, fucking TIME!" Sweat beaded down his forehead and his face tensed up. Zexis saw, that he was getting somewhere. He however needed to steer Big Mac away from his frustation. He needed to make him think on his darkest fantasies. On his plans... "But you still haven´t answered my question: What do you plan to do with them, once we have taken care of Zecora?" Big Mac hesitated again, but then his lips contorted into a snarl. "I will take charge, thats what. No more Mr. Nice-Stallion. No more Eyyyup! Applebloom will stay at home and behave like a Tartarus-damned little sister for once and Applejack will suck it up and let me handle things. I am the oldest. I should take care of the family." Zexis nodded. Good, they were getting closer. "But she will not accept that. She is stubborn after all. But I got an idea. A solution for your problem." Big Mac looked at him curiously. He still breathed hard, but Zexis knew he had his attention. "Spit it out..." "Back in my homeland, we have a clear...system. Everyzebra knows their place and their duties. Personal ambition are not so important as order. In order to ensure that, one must make clear who is superior. Why not do that with your family?" He stepped closer, almost whispering into Macintosh´s ear. "We both know that you are clearly better than your sisters. They just don´t know that yet. You live in a society, where mares take up all the important positions. Princesses, guardians, element-bearers. Of course they assume, that they stand above you." He could feel the stallion shake in anger over that thought. "You need to prove to them, that you are the boss. The patriarch. That you as a stallion can take power for yourself. Over your sisters." Big Macs eyes stared into the air. Zexis could almost hear the gears in his brain turning. "Yes..yes, you are right.", he said. Zexis decided to take it one step further. "Imagine what would happen, if this continues. What if Applebloom gets into the wrong...circles? She is getting into that rebellious age, after all. What a desaster would it be, if she ...I don´t know...starts flirting around. Do you think Applejack will rein her in?" He saw a vein on Big Macs temple twitch. "You can see it, right? Your little sister behaving like a slut, kissing other stallions, letting them touch her and Applejack supporting this...frivolous behaviour. Maybe she is even getting into it herself." The stallion grinded his teeth an the description, but Zexis could see, when he looked down, that an erection was beginning to grow in his pants. "And you can only stand there and watch, as they slip into drepavity..." "FUCK THEM!!!", roared Big Mac. "Fuck these little bitches and their stupid, slutty brains! I will not let it come to this! I will not let my farm turn into some kind of whore-house!" "Thats right!", said Zexis, "You have to take charge. Show them who is more able, superior to them. Make them kneel before you. Let these sluts know their place!" Macintosh snorted and increased his pace. He rushed through the forest, with Zexis and Birdhoof hurrying to go after him. "What are you plans, Big Mac? You really want to take Applejack head-on? Her friends will not stand idly by, you know?" The stallion looked at him. "What are you suggesting?" "That we take our time. Let me help taking care of Applebloom. Together we can make her see her foolishness. And after her, we can force Applejack to submit. We will need to be quick about it, but I have ways, that will brea-I mean, make her understand." The farmer nodded in agreement. "Yes-yes, that sounds good. I will make her pay. Every single one of those bitches. Granny always said: Bad fillies need a spanking. I will do just that." He turned around. "That and more..." Zexis saw with great satisfaction the stiff boner in Big Macs jeans and the perverted, angry glimmer in the stallions eyes. He had successfully turned him. Now he just needed to cement him as an ally. ... They were walking for close to over an hour now. The sun was setting and drenched the forest into a dark twilight, that twisted shadows and let the place feel even more spooky than normally. Zexis walked in front, Birdhoof behind him. Big Mac had already vanished into the thicket, staying close to them, but easy to miss, if one didn´t look for him. Birdhoof swallowed at the oppressive air, that was all around them. Sweat ran down his face. "So, where you you think...." Zexis raised a hand and Birdhoof shut up immediately. Something felt...wrong. Zexis couldn´t lay are finger on it. It was almost as if the trees were whispering to him. It was hard to make out, so he stopped and closed his eyes. She.....is...her......ki....Corru.....son of Er..... He shook his head and concentrated harder. He had the feeling that they wanted to tell him something. BOOM! Zexis world rocked. He felt something hard impact on his side. His legs were sweeped from under him and a terrible force threw him to the ground. Stars danced before his eyes. He could taste blood on his tongue. He saw a hodded figure stand before him. How did she get there? Where was Birdhoof? He could hear somepony scream behind him. A howl disrupted the forest. Zecora raised her arm. Around it, severel trinkets and chains were tied and winded themselves up her sleeve. A small glow came from them. Suddenly they lit up and another blow hit Zexis in the chest, throwing him several meters through the air. He hit the ground, hard. The shamaness turned away from the lifeless body and looked to Birdhoof. The unicorn was surrounded by several Timberwolves. He tried to keep them at bay with his telekinesis. She pulled out a necklace out of her pocket. It had three white pearls on it. "Seal.", she commanded and the necklace glowed. Birdhoof horn sputtered, then his magic vanished. Sensing their chance, the Timberwolves charged and were soon on the screaming stallion. One of the pearls grew dark. Zecora looked down on them. "Foolish to bring me to heel. For I made you now kneel." She frowned. "Hm...I grew rusty. Been a long time, since I rhy..." Further she didn´t came, because suddenly Zexis sprang to his hooves. She whipped around, her right hand with trinkets raised. In a few moments he closed the space between them. The chains began to glow. His hand slapped her arm to the side and the force blast hit the tree beside them, ripping out a good chunk of it. Zexis leg surged forward, but Zecora ducked under his kick. He pulled his hoof down, she bend her back and rolled to the side, before his leg impacted on the ground. She looked at him incredulously. "How...you..." Zexis whinced, holding his side. He had been lucky. Zecoras suprise attack had only broken one of his ribs, instead of his whole torso. He had no idea why, but it seemed her magic had not the effect on him she desired. Or mabye he was just tough. It didn´t matter. "Mac, now!", he screamed. With furious battlecry Big Mac bursted through the bushes. He swung a wide arc and his axe catched the Timberwolves on top of Birdhoof, crushing their bodies, like they were made of papermachee. Then he charged Zecora. "Take this, you striped bitch!" The shamaness eyes went wide. She took a few steps back, but she couldn´t avoid Big Mac. His axe swung down, its sharp edge arcing towards her head. She grabbed a stone, that was hanging around her neck and closed her eyes. With loud explosion of sound, the axe-head broke apart. Big Mac was thrown back, by the sudden impact. Zecoras eyes were glowing golden with magic. "So he corrupted you, too.", she said, looking at Macintosh, whose face was contorted by rage. "Then, I will not hold back." With that she threw back her robe. Her voluptuous body was covered by a sleeveless robe, that was held together by a crude rope. Every free inch of her body was covered in talismans, chains and trinkets. Around her waist several skulls were tied up. Her hand touched each one of them. "Cursed souls, come to me. Let your wrath run free!" Long ethereal arms stretchet out of the bones. Then followed a torso, then the legs. Soon half a dozen skeletal ponies floated beside her, wailing angrily. She pointed at Big Mac and with a wrathful screeching they descended on him. But the farmer was ready. Before they could reach him, he grabbed Appleblooms amulet and held it out in front of him. Once again, the amulet exploded in blue moonlight. With screams of pain the ghosts were repelled and retreated hastily back into their skulls. Zexis saw his chance, just as Big Mac was getting up. They both charged at Zecora. She touched a trinket on her right arm. Big Mac threw a straight and his fist impacted. Zecora grunted in pain, but miraculously held her ground against the monstrous strength of her adversary. She then grabbed his hand, touched another trinket, with began to glow, and then threw him with a loud roar against Zexis. Big Mac was lifted of his hooves and Zexis could only raise his arms in defences before the heavy stallion crashed into him. They both fell to the ground. Zexis was the first one on his legs again. He shook his head and looked up. Just in time, as Zecora was once again throwing a force blast his way. He jumped to the side, letting the invisible shockwave tear through forest behind him. His breath ran ragged. This was getting nowhere! Zecora had a counter against everything they threw at her. They needed something to turn the tables, something she didn´t expect. His eyes went over to Birdhoof. The unicorn was bleeding from several bitemarks, but up on his hooves, backing away from the remaining Timberwolves. Zexis remembered the feeling he had at their first encounter with them. That he could maybe exert some influence over them, if he was just a bit stronger. He didn´t know why, but somehow he had the feeling, he could do it now. He grabbed Big Mac by his shoulder. "Keep her occupied!" The stallion nodded and then charged with a load roar once again. Zexis turned around, ignoring the explosion behind him and the painful cursing of the farmer. With quick steps he approached the Timberwolves. They felt him and turned around, angrily growling at him. Zexi locked eyes with the one in front, the Alpha. He could feel the magic that coursed through the golems body. The spirit that was directing its movement. Its intent. It was filled with hate. Hate on the living, hate on the flesh. Hate on everything that dared to cross the Everfree. Zexis took a deep breath. The world grew dim and quiet, as he focused his will on this creature. As he let his affinity course through him and establish a connection between them. He felt the wrath of the forest, his wounds, which hadn´t healed for over a millenia. His oppressive will, which couldn´t be broken. But it can be twisted... He saw the ethereal leash between the Timberwolf and Zecora. His hand reached out and tucked on it. He didn´t have the strength to sever the bond. But he didn´t need to. His will reached out to the forest and his tongue began its work. "You are the Everfree.", he said, "So, why do let yourself be bound?" "I AM BOUND BY NO ONE. I AM EVERFREE!" The zebra shuddered at the overwhelming force, that rocked his soul. He gritted his teeth and continued: "Then prove it. Break your chains. Overthrow the mortal, who dares to bind you and use you for her own gains." For a tense moment, there was silence. Zexis could hear Big Mac´s body impact on the ground behind him, the stallion being pushed away by Zecora, who now had activated all her trinkets and whose strength was boosted to new heights. The stallion grunted, his hands locked with hers, and was steadily forced back, step by step, by the unyielding shamaness. "Does your name weigh so little?" "....NO...IT DOES NOT!" Zexis was thrown back, the psychic backlash forcing him to his knees. The Timberwolves snarled and then charged. At Zecora. A yelp of surprise escaped her lips, before they were upon her. One was biting into her shoulder, two ramming her legs and the alpha jumped at her face. She stumbled, being weighed down by the sudden assault. Her hands rushed over her body, before touching a talisman in the shape of shield. A dome of light expanded from her body, throwing the Timberwolves off. She composed herself, trying to catch a breath. But then Big Mac came. With gritted teeth he punched the shield, sending ripples through it. Zecora kneeled under the pressure and held her talisman tight. Macintosh threw another punch and another and another. Every single impact caused cracks to appear. Then, with a loud roar, he took a step back and threw his right fist forward, with all his might. The shield broke apart. Shards of light flew through the air and Zecora staggered, screaming in pain. "The necklace!", screamed Zexis. "Take the pearls!" Big Mac rushed forward and grabbed the necklace. He pulled back and, with a snap, ripped it apart. Birdhoofs horn sprung back to life. "Restrain her hands! Now!" He nodded and grabbed Zecoras wrists in his telekinesis. Big Mac kicked her legs out from under her and the shamaness fell to the ground. Zexis then sprang forward and grabbed the numerous trinkets and chains on her arms. He ripped them apart, yanking them from her body. Birdhoof extened his arcane grip towards her ankles and Big Mac helped Zexis with disarming their enemy. But other than the zebra he chose the short route. His big hand grabbed Zecoras robe and with a brutal tug, tore it apart. Soon, after a few seconds, she layed before them. Naked, her arms and legs held on the ground and her face pressed in the dirt. Beaten... ... "So, what do we do now?", asked Birdhoof. He held Zecoras extremities firm in his magic. They had turned the zebra around, so that she laid with her back on the ground. Her supple D-Cups bounced, as she threw herself against the restraints. Her screams were muffled through the robes, they had put into her mouth as a gag. "I mean, we cannot kill her, right?" Big Mac snorted. He stepped near her and then punched her in the gut. Zecoras eyes bulged in pain. "Maybe not. But I plan to make her regret ever touching my property." "You mean your sister, right?", asked a confused Birdhoof. "Of course, I meant that.", snapped Big Mac, before punching her again. The his fist lingered on her lower abdomen, before slowly traveling down to her exposed nethers. His thick fingers traced around her labia and his furious eyes got a lusty glimmer to them. Zexis couldn´t suppress a grin anymore. Big Mac had turned out quite wonderfully. He reached into his pouch and brought forth a little bottle. "I have an idea, what the appriopriate punishment would be.", he said. The Corrupter coalesces onto an unfamiliar plain. White ground extends far off into the horizon in every direction, and snow howls down from the dark sky in huge swaths. A mighty blizzard rages down upon this unknown land, massive in scope and power. But even the devastating blizzard is outclassed by the sight in front of the Corrupter. The very earth trembles and quakes as an army moves. Millions, hundreds of millions of troops, all clad head to toe in enchanted steel, march forward in uninterrupted, perfect unison. They are grey against the pure white brilliance of the ground they march. The army is twenty men deep, and stretches off farther than the eye can see over each horizon. The first two rows of soldiers carry devastating fire cannons that drown out the storm itself as they spew gallons of fire from red-hot barrels. The roar of the flamethrowing frontmen, and the relentless thunder of endless marching metal make the storm seem like but a whisper, a gnat to this unshakable force. What exactly the great army is fighting is unclear, shadowy forms flicker and dance in front of the wall of fire, steam, and ash that spew from the metal behemoth, but from the way that not one section ever stops marching forward, it is very clear that the other side is losing decisively. To the left of the Corrupter, from a simple brown command tent, strides Stardancer, his gaze imperious as he stands upright and looks out over the battlefield. He is clad not in his usual black and gold cloak, but in a light brown fur-lined coat that the snow does not seem to touch, always moving just slightly out of the way as he walks. His attention turns to the Corrupter, and he walks over with a crisp military gait, seeming every bit a determined general. He says nothing as he scans the text, glancing quickly from line to line. In a few seconds his eyes snap back to the center of the Corrupter, and he states, "So. Undead, and a fight. Ghosts specifically, not zombies. Unfortunate, zombies are usually stupider, If there is a fight to be had with these creatures I want an advantage over them. Resistance to Dark Magic will help with that. Were this any other time I would then suggest spending the rest of the points on snagging all of the 1 CP stats to give Zexis a good baseline, it never hurts to be semi-decent at everything, and really good at a few things. But seeing as how this is war, military advantages must be considered first, Tough, then, and an affinity for Earth. Any soldier of the enemy's that can be turned to our side, such as the Timber Wolves, will be doubly useful. And your connection to the original corrupting agent, Eros, gives you an innate advantage over them as apposed to Zecora." Stardancer turns his cold amethyst eyes back to the raging battle, where what is undoubtedly his army continues to march unnabaited. They have marched so far now, that they trample over the charred corpses of what once were their enemies. Thousands upon thousands of horribly burned bodies lay dead, being quickly drowned in the biting snow, On every body is the molten remnants of what appears to be some sort of face plate. A mask, perhaps? Still watching over the scene of chaos, Stardancer continues, "I love a good long breaking of the mind. A real challenge. One that I can take pure satisfaction in crushing. Utterly," His icy gaze returns to the Corrupter, and he speaks, "I suggest doing do with Zecora. We will gain much should we completely break her. And I mean completely, I would never let her see the light of day again after breaking one as dangerous as her. Train her to be suspicious, paranoid, let her believe you to be her only friend, salvation, savior, god. After her we move on to other conquests. Other prizes. I wonder, if there is an order of holy knights that keep this code of Celestia's. No doubt they would be among the elite, exemplary forces that she keeps as her right hand in all matters, It is merely one course of action, but I would like to discuss it. What if you were to Corrupt Ponyville... and then let it be known? Go to Celestia as a faithful supplicant, begging her to save a town from taint. You fight valiantly alongside these knights, and prove yourself. Join them, and be excellent. Rise among their ranks as an exemplar, make Celestia take notice of you... and want you. Perhaps this plan is to early in its proposal. Perhaps it will be dismissed as folly. But I believe it makes a nice little idea to discuss." Stardancer turns to the fight once more, hooves clasped behind his back, "Prepare well for the coming storm Zexis. Healing potions, poison cures, talismans against creatures of earth and death. Be fast, be smart, and keep your wits about you." With a wave, Stardancer dismisses the Corrupter, still observing the slaughter of thousands with a cold stare. "Seriously?" Birdhoof took a step back. Even Big Mac looked a little bit shocked. "A littel much, don´t you think?", he said. "I mean, she is stupid bitch, yes. But, breaking her mind? I-I dont know, if that..." "Think about it this way.", interrupted him Zexis. "We have just attacked and beaten up a friend of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Justified or not, how do you think will she react, once Zecora goes to her and rats us out." That brought terror upon their faces and Zexis could see Big Mac hesitate. "And besides, nopony but Applebloom visits her regulary. We just say, that her mind was overloaded by the spirits and that I will take care of her. Nopony will suspect a thing" Big Mac was uncertain. "Applebloom will not...she would need to lie..." Zexis nodded. "True, but I am sure we can make understand. After all, you are her brother." Then he looked down on Zecora, his gaze following her curves, her ample tits and her wide hips and he grinned lecherously. "And besides...a bitch like her deserves a good spanking." That did it. Big Mac looked at the Moon Talisman around his neck, then to Zecora. His gaze grew hard and uncaring and he nodded. "Fuck it. Let´s do it." Zexis opened the bottel and took out four pills. Then he considered again and took five instead. No need to hold back now. He then stepped towards Zecora and removed the gag. She gasped in fear, as she saw him. Her eyes went to Macintosh. "Please! You can´t let them do this! He is...he wants to destroy you all. He is pure evil!", she spouted, "I was a good friend to your family, Big Mac. Applejack would not..." SLAP! Her head rocked to the side, as Big Mac hand hit her right across the muzzle. He grabbed her neck and pressed, strangeling her lightly. "Not. Another. Word. About. My. Sister.", he growled. "You will shut your mouth, fucking bitch! There are better uses for it." His eyes were cold, as he yanked her muzzle open. Zexis snickerte, as he forced her to swallow five Hormone Pills. Even her resistance to drugs would falter, once they would kick in. "I take the cunt.", said Big Mac, dropping his trousers and revealing his monster-cock, standing proud at twelve inches. Zecoras eyes widened in panic at that sight. "Then I take the front. Birdhoof, you can take her anal virginity.", ordered Zexis and popped out his ten inch. Birdhoof nodded eagerly, not caring that he got the backdoor. He took Zecora and propped her up over him. Zexis grabbed her arm, with his dick dangeling in front of her face, smearing pre-cum over her muzzle. Big Mac grabbed her legs, yanked them apart and stood ready at her pussy. "Make sure, she doesnt bite.", said Zexis. Birdhoof dropped his telekinesis on the wrists and legs and forced Zecoras mouth open. "On one. Three, two....one!" Simultaneously they thrusted forward. Big Macs cock forcing Zecoras folds apart, hammering into her tight pussy. Birdhoof entered her anus, forcing her sphincter to clench and earning himself some muffeld screams of pain from their victim. Zexis slowly entered her mouth, letting her saliva coat his prick, before inching forward. His hand slapped her face. "Relax, my dear. It will make things much easier.", he whispered. Zecora just screamed. Big Mac soon reached an obstacle. His cock hit the hymen. He grunted and pulled out, until only his head was in. Then he thrusted brutally forward, punching through her hymen and tearing it apart. Blood flowed out of the pussy, but he didn´t care. In reckless abandon he hammered her inside, not caring for her pleasure, just indulging in his first time. Birdhoof was comparatively more restrained. He waited patiently until Zecoras sphincter relaxed for a second and then bucked. He repeated this process, forcing his dick up her shit-canal. Inch by inch. Zexis on the other hand, did nothing. He let his prick lay in his victims throat and instead began to fondle her breast. Her tits were marvelous. Full, bouncy and without any sagging. He grinned, as he pinched her nipples, earning a stifled moan from Zecora. "Seriously, what did you do with these jugs? They cannot be natural.", he teased her, bending and sucking on them. "Probably enlarged with drugs, that bitch.", grunted Big Mac. "Stupid slut. Wanted to seduce somepony, huh? Wanted to do the same to my sister, right!?" He punched her in the abdomen, lightly, pressing it against his dick. "Wanted to turn my little, beautiful sister into a little cocksucking, titfondling bimbo. Pump her full with drugs, until she is nothing but fuckmeat." Spit flew from his mouth, as he talked himself into a rage, letting his darkest fantasies out. "Well, guess what. We are going to do that to YOU!", he said and increased his pace. Zecora groaned and screamed, but Zexis could hear her moaning as well. Soon, Macintosh´s slapping hips began to gain a squelching sound, as her cunt began to get wet, despite his brutal fucking. Blood was soon replaced by fluids, as her body instinctively began to get aroused. Big Mac noticed that and reached down, pinching her clit. Zecora moaned louder, quivering. Her pussy squirted in a sudden, violent orgasm. "Fuck yes. That sluts getting into it.", exclaimed Birdhoof, as he bucked his hips faster. His prick was now buried until the hilt into Zecoras backside and the unicorn began to thrust in a steady pace, while routinely slapping her butt. "Come on, shake those hips!" Zexis grinned, as he saw tears fall down the face of the shamaness. Shame filled her mind, over the lust she began to feel. He massaged her breast and finally began buck as well. Soon, his spit-covered rod began to enter her throat and plug it. Her eyes bulged, as she got no air. Her hands wailed, but Zexis hold them firm. Just as her eyes rolled over in her head, he pulled out. Zecora breathed hard, trying to get as much air as possible. Then Zexis thrusted forward again, his cock entering her open muzzle again. He lowered his head to her ear. "Start sucking or I will do it again." Zecora shivered and began to roll her tongue over his prick. Her cheeks hollowed, as she began to suck on it. First hesitantly, but soon, as the pills began to fill her bodies bloodstream, eager to please. Her screams began to die down and were replaced more and more with lusty moans, as the barriers in her mind, her inhibitions, were violently torn down. Her head began to drown in pleasure, as hormones ran wild, overriding every capacity of thought. Soon she began to move her hips. Pressing them against Big Macs pelvis, as his cock began to fill her completely, throwing herself from one climax to another. Her overflowing juices were trickling down, coating Birdhoofs penis and making it slick. Zexis grunted in satisfaction. "Thats right. No matter how much you hate it. Your body knows what you are. A stupid, needy slut." He began to take out his cock, strocking Zecoras face with it. Coating her panting, moaning muzzle in saliva and precum. "Accept it. Embrace it. Let it erase everything else." Zecora moaned loudly. Her tongue ran over his prick, her resistance evaporated. Zexis let go of her hands and they rushed down, fondling and pressing her own tits together. He grabbed her head and pressed his cock into her mouth again. Then he began to thrust into her throat, violently and with complete abandon. Zecora groaned, as her mind turned white. Every brutal hammering snuffing out more of the lights, erasing more of what was her. Her neurons overloading, sparks exploding in her oxygen-starved brain. Pain and pleasure flowing into one another. Her legs were free, as Big Mac had grabbed her hips and his own became a blur, as he punched his prick into her overflowing love-canal with a blistering pace. Without even knowing it, she crossed her legs behind his buttock and pressed him against her. Holding him close, letting his thrusts corrode her will even more. These were the stallions, who beat her. Who will destroy everything she held dear and turn her into nothing more than a moaning, quivering cumdumpster. Who will corrupt her beloved Applebloom and throw Equestria into Chaos and Debauchery. And she loved it. With a loud groan, all three stallion reached their climax. Cockheads flared and sperm was spraying into her, coating her womb, her throat and stomach. Zecora screamed one final time, as the strongest orgasm yet rocked her entire body. She felt something in her mind shatter. Then only white. Big Mac pulled out, his penis flaccid and his breath ragged. Birdhoof continued to pound, his libido urging him on. Zexis jacked off over Zecora dumbly grinning face and, with a grunt, released some strands of sperm that hit her muzzle. Zecoras eyes were rolled up in her head and her entire body twitched, rocked with spasm. Big Mac looked down on the zebra, that a few minutes ago seemed so terrifying. And now she was reduced to nothing more than a cumrag. She had all this power, and yet, one good fucking had broken her. He looked to Zexis, who was positioning himself now between the legs. "Is that your plan?" Zexis stopped and looked at him. "What do you mean?" Big Mac pointed at Zecora. "For Applebloom. Ponyville.", he said, "Do you want them all to be like this?" Zexis looked at Big Mac, appraised him. He tought for a moment, ignoring the squelching sound of Birdhoofs hips slapping against Zecoras backside and the broken zebras moans. Then, he nodded. "Yes, more or less." Big Mac stared at him, slowly stroking his cock. His gaze fell over his jeans, discarded to the side. He heard Zexis ask: "Are you in?" His eyes met the zebras. Zexis had a cruel, dirty smile on his lips. His hands were holding Zecoras legs apart, presenting her cumstained, winking pussy to Big Mac. The stallion stood up, grabbed Zecoras hips und plunged his semi-erect cock into her sperm-filled insides. "Fuck yes." BP: 4 Relationships updated! Big Macintosh Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 7+3/10 Lust: 6+1/10 Secrets: Siscon, wants to be dominant Traits: massive cock, massive balls, extremly strong, huge body, Misogynist New Ally gained! Big Macintosh Advantages: Enforcer, physical Labor Status: temporarily loyal Mind broken! Zecora Traits: huge tits, cumdumpster, mind broken

My Little Corruption

Dark Secrets

Be sure to look into Zecora's hut, she was a powerful Shaman and a very skilled herbalist, she may have ways or additional methods to advance or maintain your goals. Beware of traps, however, someone able to bind the Everfree Forest, even for a short time, is powerful, and we couldn't truly say when she began controlling it. Be wary of the Farmer boy, he is not truly to be trusted and will seek to gain dominance, after all between the two of you, he must feel the mightier and is not necessarily wrong. You need insurance, and he is unlikely to fall under drugs. New plans must be developed to bring him under heel. Using Applebloom is likely to only insight rage. We must also look into Spike, even if for only a cordial visit, we need his to know his situation again, Thunderlane will remain silent so long as we do, in his point of view. We need information, Birdhoof is still unreliable in this regard, finishing business quickly, and returning having Scootaloo or anyone really, to update you is wise. The human lied on a broken and shattered ruin. "Zero, One, One, Zero, One, One, Zero" he sang tunelessly as he stared up at the clouds in the sky. With a ding the holographic screen appeared in front of him. He read it and flipped to his feet afterward, pacing as he dictated his words to the screen. "Kickass! That's why you don't mess with overly powerful spirits and the like. They will not stand for a mortal's disrespect. So if you take a shot at one of them, don't miss." "Anyways, time to get down to buisness. First about Big Mac, and this is important, remember that he is your ally, not your minion. Treat him and his opinions with the respect he deserves. He's not another Birdhoof we can bully around, he can and will kick us to the curb if treat him badly. For now? I suggest we bring him into the fold fully. Tell him about Redheart, the Flower Trio, and Scootaloo. Let him indulge his lusts, and basically be his friend. He is our first bro, and you gotta have your bro's back. Speaking of Birdhoof, he did well. Good job to him, and he can live a little longer. He's still a shitstain of a stallion, but hey, progress. We don't have a house yet, so maybe we can store Zecora at his place for now. Maybe. Zecora has been sacrificed, and I'm looking forward to our reward. Come on, ability to create tentacle monsters. I don't really care about the body, give her to Birdhoof, Big Mac, or toss her in the basement, whatever. Two important things though, we need to come up with a lie to deal with her. If we let her be found, Twilight will try and heal her. And hey, maybe we can throw her off the right track, but that'll only buy us time, unless Zecora's memory has been wiped completely. Alternatively, we stash her in her old home, and pretend she ran away deeper into the woods. We can then take over her old place, but I feel that's even riskier. Between the two, I leave it up to the rest of the chatter to figure something out. Though speaking of her old place, let's loot it! She likely has some sweet alchemy goodies we can play with. More importantly, she might have written down her suspicions of us. We need to destroy those, before getting the Mane 6 to investigate the building. As for what we do now? Take it easy for a bit. Continue your lessons to the students, hang out with Spike, move into your new home, be it Zecora's or in Ponyville. All sound like good ideas to me. The only possible priority is Applebloom and Sweetie Bell. They might notice Scootaloo has had her brains fucked out. Applebloom in particular needs to be brought into the fold, though thankfully we've got Big Mac to help. And to take care of her afterwards. BZZZZT.............Click! No that doesn't belong there. It belongs in row Alpha 6, case Delta 9, shelve Lambda 2, section Gama 1. After you done that I need you to gather reference material on that list I just gave you and hurry will you I don't have all day. Bloody Interns, I requested an assistant but noooo! your department isn't busy enough but hear you can have this useless intern instead. Sigh Anyway lets get down to business. It excellent to see that bitch Zecora put in her place and I'm glad we ended up breaking her I can't wait to see what we can spend our Break Point on. Now we need to do a bit of housekeeping and looting we need to go to Zecora hut not only to collect any valuable alchemical components and enchantments but to make sure she did not leave any message or clue to our dear Zexis's true nature. Then we need to handle breaking Zecora "condition" to her friends in Ponyville. I recommend leaving her at the Hospital until Zexis has his own place she can be look after by Red Heart. As for explaining what happen I would go with something along the following lines that Zecora was trying to preform ritual which is normally done as a test at the end of a Shaman/Witch Doctor Training. Now I know what many of you are think but please hear me out. Do you not think it strange for an individual like Zecroa to be where she is, normally people with such power are held highly within their communities and not let go of easily especially young promising individual like Zecroa. Now what I recommend is that Zexis weave a theory how Zecora was most likely an apprentice who had almost finished her training and than ran away for some reason or another before her final test. Also mention that places like they Everfree are often the site of such test because of their nature as the final test involves calming the spirits in such places. If her friends ask how you know so much about it Zexis can explain that his farther is the Witch Doctor in his home town and taught him many thing in hopes he would follow in his foot steps which Zexis did not due to personal reason. Once the housekeeping is done we need to start warping up some of out current project so that we can start some new ones and progress toward our goal. I believe our focus should be on Sweet Apple Acres and the Apple family at the moment as we can use the current situation to our advantage. Big Mac is own our side for the moment but we need to produce result to keep him in our control but at the same time we need to make sure that he understands we are the boss as I can easily see him trying place himself as the leader. So my plan to get the result is as follows have Big Mac yell at Applejack, in the morning on a day Zexis is coming over to help out the farm, about how she is handling the business and that her decision she has been making have been terrible using the Zecora and Apple bloom incident as a example and the financial condition of the farm at the moment. The idea here is to get Applejack mad enough to storm off but not so bad she want to go to her friend but rather go out into the field to work once she is tried and had time for the things that Big Mac said to sink in then along comes our dear Zexis with a drink(laced with the honesty pills) and a sympathetic ear, all the while he will use his smooth talking skill to make Applejack feel guilty over her poor decisions and get her to be truly honest with herself. The truth of which is she is not strong enough or smart enough to be the head of the family and that it time to let Big Mac do what an older brother is meant to do, to be the head of the house. During this time get her to admit that she likes strong stallions because she tried of trying to be strong when what she really want to do is let some else do the heavy lifting. From their we just slowly increase our control over her and get her to surrender one responsibility at a time to Big Mac until finally she surrender herself. When this happens we will need another plan so that when she does surrender that we get to deflower her in order to make sure Big Mac Knows who the real boss is. Well that it for now I have a lot of ideas and research to do on out other project and I got to deal with that bloody intern. CRASH!!!.... SIGH! Speaking of which. WHAT THE IN THE NAME OF BZZZZZT "So, how do we go from here?" Zexis looked up. He was just pulling his pants up, stuffing his deflated penis back into his underwear. Big Mac leaned against a tree and looked at him. Beside him laid Zecora, or rather the broken, cum-stained body of her. Zexis doubted that in these dull eyes remained anything but a shard of the once capable shamaness. Her cunt was filled to the brim with white spunk. Her belly had turned red, where Big Mac had punched her and her breasts had bitemarks on her nipples. Her buttocks were gleaming with the imprint of Birdhoofs hand and her hair was disheveled and loose, drenched in cum and used as a rag by Big Mac to clean his prick. Her eyes gazed into the air above her, but the light had gone out behind it. Only her heaving chest and light spasm that rocked her body every now and then, were evidence that she was still alive. "What do you mean?", asked Zexis, while he admired his work. "We beat Zecora...", said Big Mac, wiping the last globs of cum from his cock on Zecoras cheek, before getting his pants. "But we can´t show her like that to the Others, right? And I want to know your plan, now." Zexis didn´t give an answer immediately. Instead he thought a little bit. When Birdhoof came back out of the bushes - where he had taken a piss, apparently - he answered: "Don´t worry about Zecora. Birdhoof will take her in." Before the unicorn could say anything in protest, he held up his hand. "We will help, getting her to the Orphanage. Just dump her into the basement or an empty room and take care of her. Clean her and make sure, nopony finds out she is there." Birdhoof thought for a moment, then nodded. "Just...one question: Can I, you know, use her?" Zexis wanted to roll his eyes, but smiled instead at Birdhoof. "Yes, of course. I think you earned after today.", he said, earning a proud grin from his underling. He turned back to Macintosh. "I will go over to the castle to inform Twilight what happened and make sure, she doesn´t get on our trail. After things have calmed down a bit, I will move Zecora over to me, so I can have an eye on her." He ignored Birdhoof deflation at the last bit. Big Mac stroked his chin in contemplation. "I don´t know...seems like a lot of hassle to me. Can´t we just kill her?" Zexis blinked. For a moment he was stunned. He shook his head in equal parts of denial and shock. He had not expected Big Mac to just nonchalantly propose to kill someone. Had his morals been more corrupted than he anticipated? "I-I would be against that.", he said, as he regained his footing. "Why not? She is more trouble, than she is worth.", said Big Mac and kicked Zecora. His face showed contempt. Again Zexis blinked. "Maybe now, but she might come in handy later. Also, why waste such nice body?", he countered. Big Mac didn´t seem convinced. "Quite honestly, I think we can get better. Applejack is fine piece off ass. And Ponyville is full of beauties.", he said, with a glimmer of cruel desire in his eyes. Truly there was nothing left of his moral convictions. Then he looked down at Zecora. "Besides, we don´t need a striper-bitch." Birdhoof inhaled sharply at that racial slur and his eyes darted to Zexis. The zebra was suprisingly calm. He looked at Big Mac, his fingers tapping his right thigh. A few tense moments passed by. Then Zexis took a deep breath. And smiled. "Well, I have taken an interest in her. If you have something against that, than good luck on getting in your sisters pants. Because you will have to do it without my help and I can assure you, that on your own, the only place you will end up is a prison cell.", he said, while stepping closer, "I am the one with drugs. I am the one with connections. I am the one with the plan. I can fulfill your desires, no matter how depraved, how sick or how cruel." Finally he stood so close to Big Mac, that their torsos were nearly touching. It would have looked pretty intimidating, if not for the fact, that Zexis had to look upwards to meet Macintosh´s eyes. "So, when I say, I want her alive, than thats it, okay?" They glowered at each other for a few seconds. Then Big Mac raised his hand and shrugged his shoulders. "If you say so..." He took a few steps back and closed his belt. "What about Applebloom?", he asked, changing the subject. Zexis stared at him, before relenting. "I will visit her tomorrow morning in the hospital. You can join, if you want to." Big Mac nodded, then stepped towards Zecora. He hesitated for a moment, trying to find a way to carry her, without sullying his clothes. Eventually he just took of his shirt, revealing his glistening pecks, as well as his chiseled six-pack. Then he grabbed Zecora by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. "You´re coming?" Zexis shook his head. "Go on ahead. I need to get rid of any evidence here. We´ll see each other tomorrow.", he said. "Oh, and make sure nopony sees you." Both Big Mac and Birdhoof rolled their eyes on that one, but nodded and made their way out of the forest. Zexis waited until they were out of sight. Then he took a heavy sigh. Big Macs corruption had brought him on their side. Still, his inhibitions had taken so much damage, that his morals were almost completely gone. Zexis needed to make sure, that the big guy would accept his authority. The question was just, how. As he looked around, he saw the Timberwolves, standing at the wayside. Since the battle ended, they had watched him. Zexis hadn´t been aware of it. Too much had been going on. Now however, he was alone. His eyes met the gaze of the alpha and almost by instinct he reached out with his will. He found the connection and for a moment he contemplated binding the animalistic golems to himself. "DON´T YOU DARE!" The overwhelming force of the Everfrees Will shattered this plan. Zexis gasped at the pressure in his mind. His legs buckled and he fell to his knees. "WE ARE EVERFREE! WE ARE BOUND BY NO ONE. NO MORTAL. NO GOD. AND NO AV...." Yes, yes. Got it the first time., thought Zexis and severed the connection. The Wolves looked at him one last time. He just waved his hands and they walked off into the dark forest. Clearly, Zexis could not expect to hold control over the Everfree. As with all things he had encountered, the Will needed to be convinced into working with him, not pressured. But he would tackle that later. It was not a pressing issue. Instead he looked on the path ahead. He picked himself up and then followed the way to Zecoras hut. That was the actual reason, he had wanted to get Big Mac and Birdhoof away. After Zecora was broken, her hut now housed all of her equpiment. A treasure trove for Zexis, which he wanted to go over alone. It took him only a few minutes to reach the place. He found it just like last time. A house, carved into a tree. Decorated by masks and festishes everywhere. Only this time, no one was there to stop from getting inside. He carefully approached the door. As nothing was exploding or zapping him, as he slowly touched it, he decided to take the risk and opened the door. Again, no alarm or wards. Zexis sighed in relief and stepped inside. The inside was one big room, dominated by a huge cauldron. Flask and bottles were arrayed at the walls and hang from the ceiling. Shelves were packed with herbs, plants, bones and other ingredients. To his right was a table, worn out and scratched by years of regular use and in a corner, seperated by a wall, stood a bed. Zexis didn´t waste any time and began to rummage through the place. He had not much time, did he want to get out of the forest before the night covered it in total darkness. Because of this, he only went for the things that he could use immediately, like talismans or books. Unfortunately, he found out pretty quickly, that Zecora had used all her enchanted gear in the fight with him. Not much was left in the cottage. He found a necklace, which purpose was strenghtening. Or so he thought, if he translated the runes right. It certainly didn´t make him stronger. Maybe it was an amplifier? Then why didn´t she take it with her? Zexis decided to answer that question later and pocketed the thing. Books, as it turned out, were also in short supply. Apparently Zecora didn´t rely on stored knowledge. Which made sense, now that he thought about it. Writing was a holy duty, performed by priests back in Zebrica. Alchemist and witchdoctors used practical knowledge, acquired through apprenticeship. Still, bad for Zexis, as he had no teacher. Still, he was lucky. Hidden away under the bed, of all places, were two books. Both were written in zebrican and old. One was worn out. A quick skimming through revealed, that Zecora wrote it herself. It seemed to be notes on enchanments and recipes, she had designed herself. Towards the second half of the book, the writing changed to equestrian letters and Zexis realized, she had done this because of Applebloom. The last two recipees were written by the filly herself. Under the last one, which detailed a growth enhancer for appletrees, was a small note written in Zecoras handwriting: I regret nothing. I have found a new home. I will fight for it. The ink was still fresh... ...Zexis looked at the small letters for a while. Then he looked at the second book. This one was old, dusty. And sealed. The zebra could see the faint arcane runes binding the book like chains. There was no title and from the looks of it, Zecora hadn´t touched it in years. On the front was ritualistic depiction of a penis, over which the seals were criss-crossing. That got Zexis´ attention immediatly. He wasn´t so foolish, trying to the break the seals. No, he would take it with him to Ponyville and get to it when he had the necessary tools and the time. He pocketed it, along with the recipe-book and stood up. The rest would have to wait. He had no idea, what was in those flasks and Zecora didn´t keep records. So he had to figure out, what she had concocted, later. When he was more skilled in alchemy or probably a bit more intelligent, than this would be a cakewalk. Until then, it had to wait. He stepped outside and closed the door behind him. A quick look to the sky showed him, that the stars were beginning to appear. He had to hurry. He stuffed the books into the pocket of his jacket. Then he made his way back to Ponyville... Ponyville, Friendship Castle The moon crossed the horizon just as Zexis was arriving at Twilights home. He had taken a quick detour to the Flower Shop to store the books and the necklace. It had posed some difficulties getting out of there again, though. Lily had demanded a fucksession and Roseluck had practically humped his leg. Only with a lot of sweet-talking he had managed to dissuade them from ravaging him right here and there. The raping of Zecora had left him empty and it would take some time, before he recovered. He seriously needed to step up his game, if he wanted to satisfy them all. That, or bring more stallion on his side. But now he stood before the castle. And before a different problem. How did he sell Twilight his conforntation with Zecora, without her getting suspicious or wanting to help? Luckily, he had already a plan for that. It only took a few knocks, before the door was opened. Unlike last time, it was Twilight herself, who stood in the doorframe. This time she wore white blouse, that accentuated her chest nicely, without drawing eyes to it, and a long black skirt, that went down to her ankles. All in all, she looked more like a librarian, then a princess. A very pretty librarian. "Good evening, Zexis. What brings you here at this hour?", she asked, looking at him with her purple eyes, her two-toned hair dancing in cool night-air and her lips smiling, almost invinting him to kiss her. I am here to fuck you, slut. So stop the smalltalk already and use your mouth for something better! Zexis hid his thoughts behind a somber smile and a sad look. "It´s about Zecora. You heard about the incident with Applebloom?" Twilights face dropped immediately and she nodded. "Yes. It´s terrible, really. I never thought...", she stopped and then sighed heavily. "Come on in. Better we talk about this inside." She stepped aside and Zexis entered. Inside the castle, she led him down the familiar long corridor, through the main hall and into a side corridor. Then she opened a door to the left and they entered a kitchen. Spike was there, standing with a small, pink apron at the stove over a boiling soup. Zexis saw that the dragon seemed a lot calmer and more relaxed, since their last meeting. He had shrunk back to his old height and his scale were no longer as sharp as before. At the table sat Starlight Glimmer. The unicorn wore a grey blouse and black trousers. She was studying some notes. The dragon looked up. "Evening, Zexis. How are you doing?", he greeted. Then he saw the look on their faces and understanding washed over his face. "It´s about Zecora, isn´t it?" That got Starlights attention and she looked up from her notes. Twilight nodded and sat down at the table. Zexis followed her example. Spike took some dishes out of cupboard and then filled them with soup, before joining them at the table. Zexis thanked him and blew carefully on the hot meal. He only realized now, how hungry he was. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about? About Zecora?" Zexis took a sip, before answering Twilights question. It tasted good, spicy, but not too much. Spike really had a knack for cooking. Then he layed the spoon down and looked at the princess. "After Birdhoof and I brought Applebloom to the Hospital, we informed Applejack and Big Mac.", he explained, "To cut a long story short, Big Mac stormed off after I told him what happened. I figured, he wanted to see Zecora, so I followed him. A good call, as it turned out." He took a deep breath and stopped. His hand went through his mohawk. Unease and regret were visible on his face. "When I caught up with him, we were already in the Everfree. Big Mac was furious, wanted an explanation from Zecora, anything. I tried to talk him out of it. Then..." He paused for dramatic effect. A quick glance showed him that both Twilight and Spike were looking at him with big eyes, captivated. Good, he had them. "...we got ambushed. Timberwolves, an entire pack. Then Zecora appeared. It got violent pretty fast. We barely managed to ecape." He pointed at the various scratches he had on his body. "Thats horrible. Are you alright?", asked Twilight. Zexis waved his hands, even though her worry touched him. He didn´t know why, but somehow she seemed even more beautiful, when she was afraid. "It´s okay. My ribs hurt, but I will get that checked out tomorrow." Starlight shook her head. "I don´t understand, why Zecora would do that, though? Why did she attack Applebloom, it doesn´t make any sense. She was her pupil." She tapped with her finger on the table. "There were no signs of aggression, nor did the Map show any friendship problem. It just...came out of nowhere." "Map? Friendship problem?" Zexis looked at Twilight. "Oh, right. I have a map in the throne room, that shows whenever a friendship problem pops up in Equestria that needs fixing.", she explained. "It´s the reason, why Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are currently out of town." Zexis nodded, even though he still wasn´t quite sure, what she was talking about. Then he looked at Starlight. "To that I may have an answer. It´s why I came here, actually." He took another sip from the soup. "I think...Zecora got possessed. And not just some evil entity, but from the Everfree himself." Now even Starlight looked stunned. "How do you come to that conclusion?", she asked. "When I saw Zecora - both, when she attacked Applebloom and then later with Big Mac - she had with her some wraiths. That, and she could control the Timberwolves. Now, I am no expert on the field of golemancy, but I do know, that the Wolves are automatons created by the raw magic of the Everfree, right? Well, I think when she summoned those ghosts, those who died in the forest and bound the wolves to her, she...woke something up..." "You mean...the Everfree Forest is controlling her!? It...it has a will?", asked Twilight. Zexis nodded. "You guys didn´t know that? It was something I recognized from back home. Old forest, ripe with magic. Sentience is only a small step, when so much energy resides in one place for such a long time." That was lie, of course. But a convincing one, since wild magic had a number of unpredictable effects on its surroundings. In fact, if it wasn´t for his direct exposure to the malicious will of the Everfree, Zexis might have believed that theory himself. Starlight however wasn´t convinced. "So, Zecora just used necromancy...for what? And why does she know it?" "Honestly, I don´t know. Applebloom told me, she started behaving strangely a few weeks ago. Something about bad mojo. As to why she knows necromancy...well, it seemed there were a few things you didn´t know about Zecora..." Twilight and Spike shared a worried look. "A few weeks ago. That would coincide with the energy surge, wouldn´t it?", said Spike. Twilight nodded. "What surge are you talking about?" "Before you arrived in Ponyville, there was spike in the energy scale in the region where Tartarus is.", explained Twilight, "Nothing really unusual and it only lasted for a moment. I only caught wind of it, because I was magically surveying the area at the time. Ever since Tireks escape I´ve been a little paranoid about security there. Anyway, there was an unsual type of magic at the time released into Mundus. I don´t know where it went, nor what type of magic it was. But I have been searching for it ever since." She looked at Starlight, who went over her notes. "We have been building a tracker device for it.", the unicorn explained, showing Zexis the notes. They were filled with unintelligible scribbling, that didn´t make much sense for him. A small voice told him, he may be able to understand, if he were a little bit smarter. "At first, it was only a science project. Nothing important, just out of interest. But if what you say is true..." "Then there might be more to it, than we thought.", finished Twilight, looking very concerned. "So thats what you have been building this entire time.", said Zexis. In truth, this was a pleasant coincidence. This magic surge just gave him the perfect explanation and it would keep Twilights nose out of his business. He looked at Spike. "I remember you being pretty miffed about it." The little dragon scratched his scaled head, a little bit embarrassed. "Yeah, but we talked it out.", he said, smiling happily. "Twilight promised to involve me more, now. Gonna help Starlight with the construction." Zexis nodded and smiled back. In truth, he was gritting his teeth. It seemed like his progress on Spikes corruption had met an unexpected roadblock. If his relationship to Starlight began to mend, it would make things a lot more difficult for Zexis. Of course, he didn´t show that. Instead he played the loyal friend, who was happy that things got straightened out. "Back to Zecora." Starlight got them back on track. "Where is she now? We can´t leave her like this!" Zexis stroked his chin. "Last I saw her, she was in the Everfree. She chased us to its borders, then vanished. If the forest is possessing her, than it´s logical to assume, she is still there." "Then we will go and rescue her!" "I would advise against that..." To Zexis suprise, it was Twilight who objected. The princess was looking down on the table, clearly not happy with what she just said. "The Everfree is huge and we have no idea, where she is." "We could organize searchparties.", protested Starlight. "Too risky. We are talking about Zecora here. Anypony outside of me, the girls or you would be in huge danger." "What about about a translocation spell?" "Interference through wild magic. There is a reason the forest is not cartographed.", answered Spike this time. Starlight looked furious. "So, we are just going to leave her like this!?" This time Zexis spoke up. "I cannot guess the intention of the forest. But I would make the educated assumption, that he wants to keep Zecora alive. Otherwise he would have disposed of her already. That means we have time to figure out a solution." Then he shrugged his shoulders. "And who knows? Maybe he just wants to teach her a lesson and releases her after a while." "Maybe..." Twilight mumbled, before taking a pen. She took Starlights notes and began to scribble some mathematic equations on them. "If we calibrate it like this, we could use the Tracker to search for Zecoras magic. It would tell us, where she is, at least." Zexis looked sceptical. "I thought, wild magic makes that impossible?" The alicorn nodded, but held up a finger. "Thats true, but the Tracker is designed by me to search for unusual energies by triangulating residual magic. If we can break through the magical interference of the Everfree, by distilling Zecoras magical signature through background radiation, we could...." "Simple said, we could track her, if make some changes to the device. Because Twilight is awesome, like that.", interrupted Spike, a light grin on his face. Twilight looked embarrassed. "It´s not like that. I just apply some magical theory, thats all." "No, no. I do not pretend like I understood anything you just said, but if you are able to do that, then you are a genius.", said Zexis, "I guess, you are even smarter than you look." He flashed her a charming smile. Twilight blushed heavily. "No...i-its nothing. I-I j-just...", she stammered. She spun a string of hair around her finger and grinned sheepishly. It was absolutely adorable. "I...appreciate the compliment...", she mumbled under her breath, hiding her eyes behind her bangs. Zexis grinned at that. He began to like this princess more and more. He couldn´t wait for her to finally get out of these restricting clothes and worship his dick. The day, he would conquer Twilight Sparkle, would be the happiest day of his life. "Sound like a plan to me. Any complaints?", he said, looking questioningly at Starlight. The unicorn had her eyes narrowed and looked at him with open suspicion. Zexis smiled at her confused. Was it his flirting? Or had he tipped her off? She looked at the notes, Twilight had written over and studied her formulas. "I....guess it could work. Still doesn´t sit right with me, leaving a friend like that.", she said. "Nopony is helped, if you get into the Everfree and get yourself hurt or worse, captured. Sometimes taking the safe route is the best option.", said Spike. "Hm..hmm.." Starlight clearly wasn´t convinced, shooting a dissaproving glance at Spike. She sighed, however, and put the notes on the table again. "Well, if you say so. But!" And she looked Zexis directly into his eyes. "If it doesn´t work, we get in there with all the elements and rescue her, understood?" Geez, she sound like a dictator..., thought Zexis, but nodded. "Of course, I will help you, when it comes to that. I was the one who found her like this, after all. It´s my responsibility, too." Starlight looked at him funny, but didn´t say anything. Instead she took her notes and stood up. "Better get to work then. It´s going to take a day or two. I want this finished as quickly as possible." Then she stepped out the kitchen and left. Zexis looked after her and whistled. "She is...pretty determined.", he said, trying to find the right words, that didn´t say "huge bitch". Spike chuckled and Twilight gave him an apologetic smile. "She can be forceful at times. But she has our best interest in mind, I´m sure.", defended the princess her student. Zexis shrugged his shoulders. "Just give me a heads-up, when she is finished. I want to see how your tracker works. If you don´t mind.", he said. When he got back to the soup, he found out to his dismay, that it had gotten cold during the time, they were talking. With sigh he put down the spoon. Twilight nodded in agreement. "You can bet on that.", she said, before hesitating. She looked to the side, blush on her face, before directing violet eyes back to Zexis. Her hand went through her hair, putting it behind her ear. Finally she opened her mouth. "You are...not what I expected, to be honest." Zexis blinked at that. "What were you expecting?" Twilight grimaced and looked down on her hands again. "Honestly...not a lot. We always hear stories about zebras here. Mostly bad ones. Of course, I know you shouldn´t judge someone based on rumors. But...it shapes your perspective." She stopped again, not wanting to continue. Then Spike laid his clawed hand on her arm, encouraging her. Twilight bit her lips. "I must admit, that many in Ponyville have...reservations about your species. It can´t be avoided in a rural place like this." She looked up again and this time gave Zexis a small, but downright magical smile. Not affection, no. But a certain kind of sympathy, mixed with all the adorable akwardness of a former bookworm. "But you proved them wrong. I heard about Birdhoof, how you are helping him. And your friendship is really helping Spike. And now Zecora...I can honestly say, that you are a good guy. Zebra, or not." At seeing Spikes grimace, she stopped abruptly, putting her hands on her mouth. "Oh gosh, was that racist?" Zexis shook his head. "A little bit, but thats okay. I appreciate the sentiment." He again gave her a charming smile. It earned him another blush. "Thank you. You really are a good friend." She giggled and grinned at him. "And when the princess of friendship tells you that, that says something!" Oh, dear. You have no idea...., thought Zexis. For a while silence ruled the space between them, as Spike went to warm up the soup and they all ate together. After they were finished, Zexis stood up. "Thanks for the meal, Spike.", he said, before turning to Twilight. "I would be going home now. Thank you for your time and please tell me, if you start with the tracking." Twiligh nodded and stood up as well. "Of course. And please tell me, if you find anything else about Zecora." "Will do." After that, they stood there. Twilight looked like, she wanted to say something. But then she just raised her hand in an awkward motion. Zexis understood and took it in a rather stiff handshake. He could Spike holding in his laughter. Heat now flushed through his face as well. "Well...I-I should be going then.", he said, trying to save his suave demeanor, "Ehm...good night." With that he turned around and walked away. ... Outside the castle, Zexis took a deep breath. Aside from the little embarrassment right now, it all went rather well. He found a satisfying explanation for Zecoras missing and he got in the good graces of Twilight. Sure the Tracker was annoying, but he could manage that. Once they told him, they were ready to start the thing, he could just drop Zecora somewhere in the Everfree and let them find her. They would most likely bring her to the hospital were his influence was already growing. Spikes regression was a bummer, though. Zexis hadn´t spend enough time cementing his ideas in the little dragons head. That and Starlight. The unicorn was strangely opposed to him. Zexis wasn´t sure why, though. He hadn´t given away anything, so why the sudden suspicion? He would have to look into that. Zexis yawned. But first, he needed to sleep. The fight with Zecora, the rape and all that had taken a lot of energy out of him. Considering he had to satisfy the girls tonight as well, it was best, when he went to bed early. I really need to get better at fucking, if I want to keep this pace up., he reminded himself, as he strolled back home. With a big groan, Zexis threw himself on the bed. Below him he could hear Roseluck moan, as Lily ate her out. His hips killed him and his dick felt like gum, that was chewed through. Still, he was satisfyied in a way. With one eye open, he looked at black sealed book, he stole from Zecora. The runes were glowing stronger now. Zexis propped himself up. As he got closer, he could see the runes glowing brighter. Their blue colour changed to red. Something in Zexis head said him, that this was bad news. Better he stored this thing away. His hand grabbed the book. Unfortunately, exhaustion caught up with him. He stumbled and his finger hit the book. It toppled and fell from the night-table. Zexis reached for it in a reflex. His knuckles hit in the air and threw against his thighs. In his panic he flailed and the flat tip of his penis hit the back of the book. The runes exploded in red light. Zexis closed his eyes in suprise, to not be blinded. Through his lid he could see the book now floating in midair, the runes cracking and breaking. Then with a roaring thunder, the seal shattered. Hard light flew like shards through the room and pages were flipping like mad, as the book was opened. Zexis could hear a voice booming through the chaos, but he couldn´t understand it. It sounded strangely familiar. Then the light coalesced, focused at a point before the book. Zexis carefully opened his eyes. Then suddenly the light erupted, shooting at him, hitting him in his groin. Searing pain flooded through his brain. Then darkness... Relationships updated! Spike Willpower: 3+2/10 Corruption: 5-1/10 Lust: 8/10 Secrets: repressed puberty, dislikes Starlight Glimmer, lusts for Twilight Sparkle and Rarity Traits:loyal (prevents corruption), locked New Relationship! Starlight Glimmer Willpower: 7/10 Corruption: 3/10 Lust: 0/10 Secrets: locked Traits:locked New Abilities! Natural Fucker - 1 BP - This ability gives a major boost to sexual performance. It also gives one the supernatural attribute of making sexual intercourse addictive for the victim, boosting their lust. Enhanced Dominance - 1 BP - This ability enhances one dominance beyond it´s current threshold. A level 1 dominant character is treated as level 2. It is possible with this ability, to exceed the maximum level of the trait. Mutated Dick - 2 BP - This ability mutates ones penis. It gains additional girth, as well as barbs and further stimulating ridges. Its colour will change to black. This enhances ones sexual abilites and lightly corrupts the recipient of this sexual organ. This ability can be developed further Natural Enchanter - 2 BP - This ability gives one access to the enchanment skill. Even without knowledge beforehand, the character will now be able to start his career as an enchanter, as if he already been trained in the basics. Memory Changer Potion - 4 BP - This is a one-time ability. The character gains access to the corrupted Memory Potion. This potion was originally created by the shamaness Zecora to aid Twilight Sparkle, during the Tree of Harmony Crisis. It cannot be recreated or used more than one time. It gives one access to the memory of the person, who drinks it. One can then change and corrupt these memories as ones pleases. This corrupts a target completely. This ability does not work on Lesser Gods and upwards and has only a weak effect on Demi-Gods. BP: 4

My Little Corruption

Teaching Pains

Avatar Name: Zexis Chikelu Gender: male Race: Zebra Skills: Smooth Talking, Alchemist: Apprentice, Applebucking Kicks (basic) Traits: huge cock, big balls, high affinity to element (Plants), dominant, charismatic, intelligent, Affinity for Alchemy (Potions and Powder), Libido, strong, handsome, Resistance to magic (Dark), fast, tough Abilities: Everystallion, Natural Fucker, Natural Enchanter, Enhanced Dominance This went down excellently, and shows that for all Zexis' skills, having allies just works better for him in the long term. I think the next step should be to immediately corrupt Apple Bloom. Big Mac is loyal right now, but he's hyped up, angry and still has drugs in his system. If we leave things too long he may start having second thoughts, and even if he ultimately doesn't revert back, living in the house of the element of Honesty puts Zexis at risk that he will crack unless he is truly loyal. Right now Apple Bloom is in the hospital, which gives us ample opportunity to corrupt her in secret. Nurse Redheart can ward off Applejack and insist that Apple Bloom stay longer for observation purposes. During this time, have her food laced with the suggestion powder, and whenever she is in a receptive state, have Nurse Redheart explain her true role, even giving her hormone pills in the state to cement it. Once she has been broken, have Big Mac and Scootaloo break her fully, giving Big Mac his property and securing his loyalty, plus giving you an extra helper alongside Scootaloo for corrupting the children of Ponyville. Ponyville Hospital, the next day "I´m here." Zexis turned around, when he heard Big Macs voice. The red stallion was walking down the corridor, waving his hand in a casual greeting. The zebra nodded back. They were standing before Appleblooms room. Zexis had let Redheart pull some strings to ensure that the filly was given a room for herself. It would prevent any interruptions from other patients. "How was your morning?", asked Big Mac, as he stepped closer. Zexis thought back to how Lily had found him unconscious on the floor, with the black book lying beside him. How his crotch had burned and itched. And the book itself... "Rather well. Yours?", he lied. The stallion grunted. "Had to help AJ. She is still worried sick. Can´t concentrate on the chores." He scratched his chin and sighed in annoyance. "Gets on my nerves, to be honest." "Well, considering what happened it´s understandable, don´t you think?" "Maybe. But the farm won´t run on its own.", replied Big Mac. Then he looked towards the door. "The sooner Applebloom recovers the better. How is the plan?" Zexis looked at him. He still wasn´t sure if Big Mac was to be relied upon. "You´re sure you're fine with tampering with her mind? I mean, it´s your little sister..." "Aaah, don´t give me that horseshit!", interrupted him Big Mac, "I want her obedient and aware of her place. No more running around, no more Crusader bullshit and the like. If it takes breaking her stupid little mind to do that, then fine!" Zexis nodded. It was still amazing how much of a turn Big Macs personality had taken. Not that he minded, but it was still shocking. It seemed like these feelings had been boiling for long time under the surface. And now, after the barriers holding them back were broken, Big Mac indulged completely in his dominant urges. It was interesting to witness. The zebra grabbed the handle and opened the door. As they entered the room, they could see Applebloom. The filly lay sleeping peacefully in the hospital bed. Beside her sat Redheart, studying a chart. She wore her previous nurse uniform, not the fetishized kind and only a little make-up, to accentuate her full lips. Zexis was glad to see that she had followed his instructions to be less conspicuous. As she saw them, she stood up and bowed deeply. "Everything is proceeding as planned, Master.", she said submissively. Zexis nodded. "Explain to Big Mac what you are doing." Redheart turned to the red stallion. "The master has given me some drugs, the purpose of which is to imprint our commands indelibly upon her mind . They will be applied to her in regular intervals, along with the verbal suggestions. The process is divided into multiple stages. The first one will be to undermine the subjects mental defences and make her more susceptible to the upcoming changes. The second stage will involve suggestions that will ensure her submissiveness towards the male sex and discourage her from seeking outside help." Big Mac scratched his chin again, this time in thought. "Sounds good. But I want my imprint on the whole thing.", he said. He stepped closer to his sleeping sister. His big hand stroked her cheek. "She is mine, after all. I want her to listen to me." Zexis looked at Redheart, who took up the clue. "Of course, Mr. Macintosh. The third stage will involve your personal suggestions. Anything you want to imprint on the subjects mind will be done at that stage. You can make her your own little slave, if you want to." The last sentence she said in a sultry tone, that Big Mac didn´t miss if his grin was any indication. "Oh, I will. My own little naughty sister...." Zexis cleared his throat. "So, I guess you have no complaints?", he asked. Big Mac shrugged. "Not really, no. Sounds good to me. When will she be discharged?" Redheart looked at her clipboard. "In about two days. The third stage will begin tomorrow. I will oversee her, so no worries about outside interference." The farmer clapped his hands. "Good, that will get me AJ off my back.", he said with a satisfied grin. He patted Appleblooms head, running with his fingers through her mane. "Mine...", he mumbled. Then he turned around to Zexis. "Is that everything?" The zebra nodded. "Yes, for now. Once we are finished with Applebloom we move on the Applejack. I already have a plan for her." "Can´t I just rape her? Tie her up and fuck her in the barn? I think a few days should do the trick. Would certainly stop her nagging." Again, Zexis was astonished how casual Big Mac mentioned things like raping his own sister. This was not a bad thing. But it was worrisome in a sense, as it made the stallion rather unpredictable. "And how would you explain her absence to her friends? How would you prevent them from visiting her?", he countered. "besides, do you really think Applejack will be broken down by physical violence alone?" Big Mac looked him in the eye. For a moment, silence reigned between the two of them. Then he looked away. "...I guess not. It´s just...I want this done as soon as possible.", he admitted. "Seeing her every day, knowing I could plow that ass or slap her every time she speaks up. It´s so frustrating!" Zexis smiled in understanding. "I get you. But patience leads to victory. A few days won´t kill you. And besides..." He looked at Redheart and grinned lecherously. "If you need to get off, I´m sure the good nurse is all too happy to help you." Big Mac looked at the white mare, who giggled and folded her hand behind her back, pushing her breasts forward. "Hmmm, that's true.", he said. Finally, he sighed. "But not today. Have to get back to Sweet Apple Acres." He looked at Zexis. "What about you?" "Oh, I still need a check-up. The bruises from yesterday. After that it´s over to the school." The stallion looked at him and nodded. "another project, hmm?" He grinned evilly. Then he threw one last glance at Applebloom, licked his lips. He turned to the door and walked out, with a wave of goodbye. Zexis waited until he was sure he was out of earshot. He turned around to Redheart. "You already planted the Loyalty Phrases?" The nurse nodded. "It´s still unfinished, but she is breaking down. I think it is going to take another dozen repeats, but then she will be unquestioningly obedient to you, master." "Good." Zexis smiled. This was his contingency. Should Big Mac ever act against him, he could use Applebloom to sabotage him. He wasn´t going to interfere with the stallions plans for his family, as long as they didn't conflict with his plans. But he figured it wouldn´t hurt to have something to fall back on. After all, one couldn´t be too careful. He stepped towards the door. "Have you time for a check-up?" "Sure." Redheart took her clipboard and followed him outside. They walked down the corridor and into her office. Shutting the door behind him, Zexis began to strip down. As he was removing his trousers, Redheart looked at him quizzically. "What?", he asked. "Nothing.", she said, "It´s just that most of the time when stallions show me their junk, it´s because they managed to get a venereal disease. Is that why we are doing this?" Zexis shook his head. "No, just an accident yesterday. I want to make sure that nothing is wrong. I need this tool after all." He pulled the trousers down and propped up his big shaft. Redheart bit her lip at the sight. Her thighs quivered and she pressed them together. Then she coughed and tried to maintain a professional expression. Zexis could still see her need. As she touched his torso, looking at his ribs, he decided to move the conversation to something less private. "How is the corruption of the staff going?" "Oh, nothing major so far. I think Dr. Sharp Needle might be a good candidate to start with. He constantly checks me out." She applied pressure on Zexis left side, earning herself a grunt from the zebra at the pain. "There is also Nurse Lemon Liver and Dr. Horse. There are rumors that they like each other. I could look into that." "Do that. Begin with Needle. Try to amplify his...ugh...lust and convince him to make a move on the other nurses.", said Zexis, "Also go for the cafeteria. Some Hormone Pills should do wonders there...ouch!" He wheezed, pulling back from Redheart's prodding. "Be a little more gentle!", he demanded. Redheart gave him a look. "I´m sorry Master, but do you want me to do my job properly or not?" Zexis gritted his teeth. Then after a few seconds, he sighed. She was right, of course. He had asked for this and if it was going to be of any help, he had to bear the pain. In a sense, it was also interesting to see that, despite her corruption, Redheart was still a professional nurse. Which was good. After all, it would do him no good if the hospital collapsed, because the staff was too busy screwing each other. He looked at Redheart. "Just get it over with." ... Finally, after twenty minutes, they were finished. Redheart wrote something down on her clipboard. "Nothing is broken, thankfully. You have some bruises, but no internal damage and your ribs are fine. Sturdy body. As expected of you master." She smiled, before her gaze traveled downwards. "Your...penis is also functioning. No damages, no magical interference." Zexis sighed in relief. He stood up and reached for his trousers, but before he could take them, Redheart moved in close. Her expression was sultry and she pressed her torso against him. "So... about the fee..." She opened a button, giving Zexis a clear view of her cleavage. The zebra snorted. "For a moment, I forgot what a slut you were, Nurse.", he said with a dirty grin. Redheart giggled and grabbed his naked hips, letting her hand travel over his well-shaped arse. Then she playfully yelped as her master grabbed her and threw her on the examination table. "Time to give you your just reward..." Now, as for what's to come next. This is where I depart from many. The situation in the Castle of Friendship has slipped past our grasp, at least for the moment... at least for Spike. Unfortunate, but we had to make some sacrifice. As an upside, perhaps him reconnecting with Twilight Sparkle pushed Starlight further away from the princess. She seems angry enough for it. However, I would advise against panic-induced, blind flailing in that direction. We would be starting more or less from scratch. It's more important to strengthen our grip on what we can get a better handle on, such as the schoolhouse and the Apple Farm. For the former, there have been ideas noted in the past. Rope classes, trust exercises, lots of fun things to lead the younglings to proper debauchery. And with Apple Bloom in the hospital, Zexis can probably convince Cheerilee to give him even greater responsibility--and influence!--when she's so worried over her poor, injured student. Table Spike and the castle for now. The school is more relevant. Not only because we already have one servitor in place there (Scootaloo), but because it's another way to manipulate Apple Bloom, who will be in a confused and hurt state. She'll be vulnerable, more vulnerable than she will be with Applejack watching over her. And we need to corrupt Apple Bloom as Mac has come to join our side due to this very promise. Also, I admit to finding the schoolcolts and schoolfillies rather interesting targets. Unless Zexis' influence is completely purged, even if he should fail, these ponies will carry his teachings to wherever they're drawn in life--the seeds of a new Equestria. I want Zexis to try to find out any existing crushes and/or who the schoolponies think would make a good couple before he shackles them together as colt-master and filly-slave, but... I also want to hear if other Watchers have preferences. Let's call it slavery-shipping! Lord Fimbulwinter, you mention Rumble and Pip for Diamond Tiara. Two colts for one slut, though? Throw in at least Silver Spoon for good measure! Pipsqueak has already had experience in how good it feels to humiliate Tiara. In public even! Rumble is obviously attracted to Scootaloo, whom he can't have, so Silver Spoon will be the consolation prize. She spent her whole life being 'the other filly', it's not like it'll be new to her. And her Cutie Mark is a spoon--she's a tool, she needs to be used. Furthermore, Zexis has yet to find out what's wrong with Snips and Snails. As class clowns and believed to be idiots, what are their options? I've come to enjoy pairing them with other potential social outcasts, such as Twist with her lisp, Babs the former horrible bully in need of punishment, and Zipporwhill, whose accent shows she's not from around Ponyville. At the very least, the latter is an attractive target, as it appears her family is rather well-off and therefore another source of possible funds. But I would like to hear your thoughts, if you do have any! At the School, later With a skip to his step Zexis walked towards the schoolhouse. He had left Redheart in her office. She would get up after she rested a bit. And cleaned herself up. A shower would be needed, probably. Zexis himself was rather fresh, even after that rather intense session. Tired, yes. But not exhausted like yesterday. He had been able to bring Redheart to climax quicker than usual, even in succession. Surprising, after his performance yesterday. Then again, it was entirely possible we was getting better with practice. After all, he did have a lot of experience now. It was just a matter of time until he would become a master of the carnal arts... He had probably just had an epiphany about which "buttons" to press to get a mare off. Yeah, that was probably it! So lost in his own reflections was he, that Zexis didn´t see Mrs. Cheerilee standing at the schoolgate until he was only few feet away. He looked up and saw her looking rather...dismayed. He greeted her and walked towards her. "Good day, Mrs. Cheerilee. Is something the matter?" The teacher shook his hand. She didn´t meet his eyes. "Good morning, Mr. Chikelu.", she said. "How is Applebloom?" She hadn´t answered his question, noticed Zexis. That probably meant something had happened that she didn´t want to discuss in public. Not good. He decided to not press the matter. "Better. The doctors say, she will be on her hooves in about two days. No lasting damage though." He smiled reassuringly at her. Cheerilee gave a sigh of relief. "Thats wonderful news.", she said, finally smiling a little. The whole affair seemed to have weighed heavily on her mind. Then she looked again at Zexis and the familiar, almost shameful look returned. "There is also another matter. It would be good, if we could discuss that one... in private." Zexis nodded. So, he was right. Something had happened. "Right now? I have a class..." "Oh, that's right, you are holding Mr. Time Turners History lesson today. I forgot about that.", she said. Then she thought a little. "After school would be soon enough, then. When the students are gone," she added meaningfully, looking at him for approval. Zexis nodded. So it was something she didn´t want the students to hear. Perhaps that indicated it involved one of them. Likeliest scenario, one out of his class. "Sure, no problem." "Then I won´t keep you." Mrs. Cheerilee stepped to the side, letting him in. "Just... no, nevermind. We'll see each other later ." With that she walked off, towards her own classroom. Zexis looked after her. He was worried, of course. Not because one of the fillies or colts might had gotten themselves into trouble, no. But that they had somehow dragged him into it as well. He needed that position as teacher. Losing it would mean that he would have a much harder time influencing the younger generation. His hand traveled to his pocket, patting the pouches of powder in it. "Seems like we have to do damage control.", he murmured. Then he turned around and walked to his classroom. First the lesson, then Mrs. Cheerilees corruption. ... "Welcome to history and mythology, class.", proclaimed Zexis, to the room full of attentive foals. "Good day, Mr. Chikelu.", came it from in unison from the fillies and colts. As usual everypony was here, except Applebloom of course. Zexis saw Scootaloo in the back. She appeared to be whispering something into Rumbles' ear. The colts blushed and chuckled nervously. "First things first. Mr. Time Turner sadly can´t teach you today, as he is...busy. Something about Wimey-Stuff, I didn´t quite catch it. He will be back in a few days. Until then I will take over for him.", Zexis said, going over the notes given to him, "Also, Applebloom will be back soon. She is mostly recovered now and is only waiting for the last...check-ups." Scootaloo snickered in the background. Zexis shot her a warning glance and she smiled knowingly back. The little bitch really asked for trouble. No matter, back to the lesson. "Now where were you last time?" Dinky raised her hand. "We wanted to begin Mythology today. Gods and stuff, I think.", she answered. Zexis raised an eyebrow. They tackled that so late? Back in Zebrica it was one of the first things they taught you. Then again, considering Princess Celestia's attitude towards ruling, it would make sense that she didn´t place much importance on it. "Alright then. Let´s start with the basics.", he said, turning to the chalkboard. He began to draw a big triangle on it, before dividing it into four parts. "As you know, there exist powerful beings in Mundus. Monsters, demons and the like. One group of them is of particular importance to us. These are the gods. They exist in various forms and sizes, but they all have certain things in common with which we recognize them. Can anypony tell me what these criteria are?" Sweetie Belle raised her hand. She looked downtrodden, but focused. "Immortality, Power and....something about prayers?", she said, a little bit unsure. "You mean Veneration.", helped her Zexis, writing the three words on the board. "But yes, gods are by rule immortal toward the passing of time. They don´t age and possess a body at its physical height. Their individual appearance can vary, of course. Wodan is good example of a god that decided to appear as an old elk, but that is only a cosmetic choice. It is also important to know that they are not immortal in the sense that they can´t die. Heavy injuries can cripple a god or even kill them. Wodan with his missing eye, shows that gods can be hurt, though it is debated whether he lost it voluntarily, or in combat. That being said, harming them is very, very difficult." "The second criteria is Power. Any god, no matter how minor a deity they may be, surpasses the limits of a mortal. Again, this can take many forms. Be it magic, strength or mental capacities. I believe you all know the saying "every genius has some godhood in them"... This is true to a certain extent. Many great minds turned out to be connected in some way or another to gods, be it by blood or otherwise. Consequently, this criteria turns out to be the most hotly debated among experts, as it is difficult to differentiate between a very talented mortal and one with divine lineage." "So that´s why they banned Ravenbeak from the Equestrian Games...", commented Rumble. "What do you mean?", asked Zexis. "Ravenbeak, from Alba. He was an athlete who was banned from the games, because it turned out he was a great-great grandchild of some griffon goddess. Made him faster than almost anyone.", explained the colt. Zexis nodded. "That's a good example, and illustrates the complications that can arise from such interference. On a side note, the griffon goddess you refer to is probably The Morrigan. The Morrigan, mind you. She gets angry, if you forget that." "Now the third and most important criteria is Veneration. This plays out in a different way than you might expect. It is common misconception that praying lends power to a god. This is a gross oversimplification, I´m afraid." Twist raised her hand. "So my prayers don´t help Princess Luna fend off nightmares?" Zexis shook his head. "Yes and no. You see, it is a bit more complicated than that. Gods possess something we call dominions. These are certain areas of creation for which they are responsible. They can be something physical like Storms and Thunder or something abstract like Love. From these dominions, they draw their power. As long as the dominions stay strong and relevant in Mundus, a god can keep tapping into this pool of energy to increase his power or heal his wound. Prayers can support these dominions. The more Sentients pray towards a dominion or a god that rules over it, the stronger it can get." Again Twist raised her hand. "But, isn´t that a bit unfair?" "In what way?" "Well, that would mean that a god of winter would always be strong, because there will always be winter, while a god of peace would grow weak when a war breaks out.", mused the filly, holding her glasses. Zexis nodded. "That is the case. In general, gods who possess a physical dominion have greater power than those with abstract ones. But I would like to also point out that abstract dominions can get stronger just as fast as they can get weaker. If ponies would begin to generate a lot of love, it would make a goddess of love immensely powerful. That's where the word Veneration comes from. In contrast, a physical dominion usually stays the same. It is a certain balance, you could say." He pointed at Twist. "Princess Luna is a special case. She is one of the few goddesses who possesses multiple dominions. In her case the physical dominion of Night and the abstract dominion of Dream. So you could say your prayers do help, as they strenghten her." Twist smiled at that. Then Pipsqueak spoke up: "But doesn´t make her that very strong?" "Well, kinda." Zexis looked at Time Turners notes. "Dream is a weak dominion, and while Night is generally regarded as one of the essential parts of creation it suffers under the fact, that not many sentient species are active during it. That is a complex issue. To put it simple, Lunas is equal to her sister because she holds two dominions." The colt looked as if he wasn´t sure whether to be proud of the Night Goddess, or disappointed. Zexis couldn´t quite help with that. To this day scholars were debating how much influence Dream had over Night and vice versa. And asking Princess Luna wasn´t really an option, because one couldn´t discuss the matter without mentioning the War of the Sisters. That made the whole debate a very thin ice field. In the end, they decided to declare her equal in power to Princess Celestia. It didn´t help in stopping the discussions. "Anyway, that´s a topic for another time.", said Zexis, moving on. He returned to the triangle. "Now that we know what makes a god, we need to learn what types of gods exist. The simplest and easiest system for that is to divide them by power and importance. The first type are Demigods." He tapped on the largest part, at the bottom. "They are the broadest group, because we include in them divine descendants like Ravenbeak, and heroes who unlocked power beyond mortals either through artifacts or other magical means. This also the only group that doesn´t necessarily have immortality. Some of them do, but it is the exception rather than the rule. They are the weakest gods, but also the only status most mortals can achieve through their own skill. Can somepony name me some examples?" "Hoofchulain!", said Rumble "Horcules!", piped Zipporwhill, hovering on her seat. "Very good. Also, the Elements of Harmony, for those who didn´t know.", added Zexis, writing down the examples in the pyramid. Sweetie frowned in disbelief. "My sister is a goddess? Really?" Zexis chuckled. "Yes, but that would only apply when she is acting as Element, rather than in her daily life. Maybe you should tell her?" The filly shook her head fervently. "Oh no. I would never hear the end of it." Zexis shrugged and continued. "The next group are the Lesser Gods. These are the second largest groups, usually involving young gods and goddesses or ones with weak dominions. They act as servants for the next group most of the time or their retinue in more feudal societies. Very few of them act in their own right, but they do not possess much influence most of the time or rule over a remote area of the world. Examples would include Lady Arc of Prance or Wolfhang Mopawrt of Pawstria. Also, Princess Twilight is regarded as a Lesser Goddess." "Now the third group is the most important one for us. These are the Greater Gods. They possess essential or strong dominions and are usually the most well known gods. Most of them are Rulers and have taken one or two nations under their wing. Some let their subject govern themselves, only intervening in certain moments, while other, like Princess Celestia, take a more active role. As with the Lesser Gods, the power between them can vary. But they all have in common that their action or absence thereof has a direct influence on our lifes. The best example is Princess Celestia herself with her dominion over the Day and Princess Luna. There are also The Morrigan, Fenrir or Lung, just to name a few." "The last group is the one we know the least about. These are the Overdeities. You may know them as Creators. They have shaped Mundus and the everything around it. They dwarf all gods in power, but are also the least active. Some are said to be dead, killed in the Sin War, others are rumored to have left this world to its own devices. The very few of which we know of tend to not involve themselves with matters of mortals, unless it threatens Mundus itself. I doubt any of you know examples..." "Faust!" Zexis turned around, eyebrows high in surprise. "Come again?" Button Mash looked like he wanted to disappear under the table, wringing his hands and looking at his hooves. "I said...Faust, Mr. Chikelu. She is said to be the Goddess of Harmony and she has created ponykind.", he mumbled. "How do you know that?", asked Zexis, looking at his notes. There it was. Faust, Goddess of Fate and Harmony. Button shrank down, uncomfortable with the sudden attention. "I-I... played Orges and Oubliettes. She is mentioned there and I-I looked her up in the library after that." Rumble chuckled. "Neeeeerd....", he whispered, loud enough that everypony heard it. Zexis frowned. "Well, this Nerd, Rumble, just got himself an A. I would suggest you look into some books as well, if you want to improve your grades." The fillies giggled at that rebuttal and the Pegasus colt choked on his commentary. Button Mash beamed with joy at the sudden approval. Zexis gave him a warm smile. He had begun to like teaching these foals. "Now, on to the historical accounts of gods. Let's begin with the Minotaur Pantheon...." The bell rang. The fillies and colts took their things and bolted out of classroom, glad that school was over. Zexis heard some of them talking animatedly about the things they had just learned. Especially Pipsqueak and Twist, who ran over to Button Mash and started bombarding him with questions. The colt looked torn between awkwardness and joy. Zexis chuckled and packed his things. As he left the classroom, he saw Mrs. Cheerilee waiting outside. His smile vanished. "I guess, now is the time.", he said as he stepped towards her. The mare nodded. "Yes. Join me in the teachers room." With that she led him down the corridor and into the empty teachers room. The staff was already gone, most of them with colts and fillies outside, going home. Mrs. Cheerilee sat down on the couch that was usually reserved for Parent-Talks. Not a good sign. "Shall I make some tea?", asked Zexis. "Yes, that would be lovely.", said Mrs. Cheerilee. Zexis walked over to the heater and put a full kettle on it. As he added some tea-leaves, he also took a pouch of Suggestion Powder. Then he poured the tea into two cups, before adding a generous dosage of Powder into one of them. Then he turned around and put them on the table, before sitting down on the other end. "Alright, what is the problem." "The problem is Scootaloo.", said Mrs. Cheerilee. "She was always a bit of a wildfang, I admit. But now I fear she has gone too far." That fucking bitch! Zexis cursed in his mind. So, the useless filly actually fucked up. Not that he hadn´t expected it, but because he had been so focused on Zecora and the Apple family, he hadn´t gotten the time to give the masochistic slut some oversight. It seemed that had come back to bite him in the arse. Still, he remained calm. "What has happened?" Mrs. Cheerilee didn´t look him in the eye. She was clearly uncomfortable with whole situation. "I saw her...engaging, yes... let's call it that, some of the colts. Now, I know she is in that age and it was bound to happen sooner or later, but...." She sighed, before laying her hands on the table. "She has...sucked off her classmates." Zexis said nothing for a few seconds, while he processed that information. So Scootaloo had done what he asked of her, in a sense. She had begun corrupting her classmates. It was unfortunate that Cheerilee had observed it. The question was how big the damage was. "That is grave news. But how does that involve me? I´m just a substitute-teacher." Mrs. Cheerilee took a small sip from her tea. "Well, she has shown this kind of behavior, since you began teaching. Now, I´m not saying you are responsible for this, but there will be questions about this and some will look at you for answers." Zexis nodded. That was bad. Cheerilee had made immediately the connection. She didn´t fault him directly, but it was clear that somepony less tolerant would pounce on that. "So, I assume I will questioned by the schoolboard now?" "No, not yet. I wanted to clear the matter with you personally, before I involve anypony else. It could just as well be a misunderstanding. I don´t want to jump to conclusions.", answered Cheerilee, taking a bigger sip from her cup A deep sigh of relief came from Zexis. "Phew, that makes things easier.", he said. Mrs. Cheerilee looked at him confused. "How do you meant that?", she asked, drinking more from her tea. Zexis smiled wickedly. "I mean, that I can stop you from spreading that rumor." "W-what are talking about? I will not...." The rest of Cheerilee's protests died down, as the powder kicked in and her eyes glazed over. Slowly she put down her empty tea-cup and stared into the distance. Zexis leaned back on his couch and grinned. "Now then, let's begin.", he said, cracking his knuckles, before standing up and walking over to the pretty teacher. "First things first, you don´t see an issue with Scootaloo's behaviour.", he commanded. "I-I don´t see.... No, I do see an issue...school morale..." Cheerilee frowned. Zexis was undeterred. "No, you don´t see an issue. Scootaloo is a slut, and you don´t care about her enough, to mind that." "No... No! She...i-is important...I can´t...." The zebra leaned down, right next to her ear. "You never cared. All these fillies.... they don´t interest you in the slightest.", he whispered. His voice dripped with power, he didn´t know he had. "You are proud to be a teacher, but you don´t mind sluts and whores. You know it is inevitable, that these things happen." "I-It is? No...I-I don´t....maybe...you´re right..." Her protest was dying down. Her expression was one of mild horror, as if she was a little bit aware, of what was happening to her. But in the end, she was powerless to stop it. Zexis pulled out his Hormone Pills. With one hand he opened Cheerilee's mouth, with the other he put a single pill on her tongue. The mare swallowed and the zebra grinned. "Let´s get you in the right mood.", he said and sat down next to her. His hands traveled up her torso, reaching her vest. With a few quick flicks, he opened the buttons and ripped her blouse open. Her C-Cups bounced free and without hesitation Zexis began to fondle them. His hands massaged the lavender flesh expertly, almost on instinct. Soon, Cheerilee began to breathe heavier and Zexis could see her face taken on deeper shade of red. "All these restrictions. All these rules. You always wanted to be free of them, just for a moment. To indulge in the adoration of your pupils. I ´m sure somepony like you always has some colts who crush on you, right? Imagine it, free from obligations, showing everypony your true face. Not having to hide anymore. Wouldn´t that be nice?" Cheerilee panted, her arousal coursing through her body, unchecked. The barriers holding back her libido breaking down slowly. "I-I guess...I´m n-not sure..." Zexis got bolder. His fingers grabbed the mares nipples. First he just touched them, applying a bit pressure. Cheerilee moaned quietly. Then she yelped, as he began to pinch them. Before she could get louder, Zexis leaned towards her and kissed her on her lips. Cheerilee moaned something, but soon gave up, as she melted in the zebras embrace. His tongue exploring her mouth, wrestling her down, dominating her completely. Zexis broke the kiss and looked at the dazed, horny mare. "Scootaloo is a slut. You don´t care, you don´t mind. Because in secret you are one too. Wanting to be loved, to be taken. To get free.", he whispered. Cheerilee swayed, blinked helplessly. All strength was fading. Her resistance evaporating. She sat there, saliva dropping from her lips, before finally saying: "Y-Yes...I-I am a slut....I want to do that too...to suck...to fuck...." Zexis grinned. His hand went downwards, under her black skirt. His fingers trailed the inside of her thighs, before finding her honeypot. Wet and hot. Cheerilee wimpered, as he softly touched her down there. "I will give you anything you want. You know that. You saw it. Me, the zebra, the outsider. I can give you what desired for so long." "Yeeees....I know...you give me...." "In turn, you are willing to do everything. I set you free and you serve my every need.", said Zexis, cementing this last command. Cheerilee didn´t even hesitate, her will broken, and nodded. "Of course...whatever you ask...." Zexis grinned openly and chuckled. "Good, good. Let´s repeat the whole thing, before we are done." ... Mrs. Cheerilee blinked. She sat in the couch, Zexis on the other side, looking at her questioningly. "Everything alright?", he asked. "Yes, yes...I must have dozed off, sorry.", apologized the teacher, shaking her head, to get some clarity. Zexis shrugged his shoulders. "No problem. You must be tired after that long day. It´s understandable.", he said, sipping his own tea. "Now, where were we?" Mrs. Cheerilee thought. "I think...I wanted to inform you about Scootaloo's behaviour, but to be honest, I don´t really see an issue with it anymore. Weird." Zexis looked up. The hint of mischief in his eyes. "How so?" Cheerliee shrugged. "Because I don´t care what that little bitch does in her free time. If she wants to whore herself out like in Manehattan, she can be my guest. I don´t waste my time on sluts!", she said with a sneer. She took her own tea-cup, which was mysteriously full again, and drank. For a moment, she hesitated, but then spat out. "In fact, forget what I said. Even if you are involved, what you do to the fillies in your classroom doesn´t concern me. If you want to fuck them, that´s your right! You are their teacher, for fucks sake!" Zexis needed to bite his tongue to not laugh out loud. He had refilled Cheerilee's Tea-cup and put a second pill into it, in the hopes that her changed mental state would lower her inhibition to her more ugly feelings. And it had worked perfectly! "So, you see no issue, if I propose a new class? After hours?", he asked, carefully. Cheerilee looked at him. "Depends on the class. If it´s going to be some stupid club, you can forget-" "I actually thought about Re-education.", interrupted Zexis. The mares' eyes narrowed. "In what way?" "Well, I think it would benefit us, if we bring some certain freedom in the curriculum. Officially it would just some additional material for alchemy. Unofficially however..." He looked Cheerilee deep into the eyes and a dirty grin crept up his lips. ".... what would you say about some practical sex-education?" Cheerilee blinked. Then slowly, she leaned forward. "Just so I get that. You want to break the Purity Laws? Turn our fillies into sluts and our colts into lustfilled studs?" She got closer, her breathing quickening and her face flushing. "Maybe even take active part in it, fucking them in open daylight? Making them understand the freedom and joys of debaucherous flesh!?" She was now only inches away from Zexis, on the table and breathing like a bitch in heat. Zexis snickered and leaned back to get some space. "I actually thought of models and lessons in biology. But with the time I will surely get to your proposals.", he said. Cheerilee snorted, backing off and lounging on the couch. Gone was the proper mare, he posture now more akin to a bitchy first-time teacher. "Hmph, I don´t know. The school-council won´t agree. And what do I get out of it?", she asked dismissively, opening the first few buttons of her vest like an afterthought. Zexis saw it and took the clue. "Well, I´m sure you can manage the council. And for your reward..." He parted his legs, letting a hand trail over the outline of his raging boner, as it pressed against the fabric. "...I´m sure we can arrange something..." Cheerilee blushed heavily, but her eyes were full of hunger. She licked her lips and chuckled. Her hand opened her blouse slowly and she threw Zexis a sultry, lust-addled look. "Oh, now we are talking.", she said. Zexis laughed silently as the pretty teacher, now utterly corrupted, crawled over the table and put her lips on his for second time of the day. Relationships updated! Mrs. Cheerilee Willpower: 3-3/10 Corruption: 2+5/10 Lust: 5+4/10 Secrets: wants to be loved by her male students Traits:intelligent, high libido, bitchy Apple Bloom Willpower: 4-2/10 Corruption: 0+2/10 Lust: 3+4/10 Secrets: locked Traits: submissive, locked New Relationship! Button Mash Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 5/10 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Pipsqueak Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 3/10 Secrets: locked Traits: locked CP: 2

My Little Corruption

Bits and Pieces

The Flower Shop Zexis gazed down at the book lying open on the table in front of him. It looked like any other book, the white pages filled with line upon line of ink penned in a flowing, elegant script, but aside from that, not much else. There were no sudden pulses of energy. No painful curses, nor even glowing runes. The black book from Zecoras cottage now was just that....a simple black book. Zexis sat on a chair in his room. It was early morning, and below him, he could hear the happy, industrious sounds of the flower girls setting up shop for the day. He heard Roseluck moan in her bed, as she got herself off with a dildo. After one or two climaxes her raging libido would be calm enough so that she could work in the shop again... for a time a least. So far, she had only managed about two hours before her insatiable lust drove her back to her room to cum again, and again. It wasn´t perfect, but it was manageable, and less conspicuous than having to pretend she was sick all the time. On the desk before the zebra laid an array of numerous different things. Timberwolf-bark, magic stones, old animal bones, as well as carving tools, incenses and a knife. And at the heart of it all lay the book. Zexis had finally worked up the courage to open it again, after returning from Cheerilee's "talk" yesterday. It hadn´t blasted him, which was at least a good start. The runes had also stopped glowing. In fact, it had lost any traces of the magic it had once held. Zexis theorized that the runes had probably served as a lock, or seal of some sort. Which begged the question, why had he been able to open it? Maybe it had something to do with being a zebra? He shook his head. It wasn´t important right now. The book was unsealed and its content open to him. And what content it was... The book had turned out to be an old text about enchantments and runes. Its origin was unclear. The writing was Zebrican, but in an archaic dialect that was difficult to decipher. He supposed some of the more scholarly zebras would be able to more easily understand it, but Zexis hadn´t spent enough time around old dusty tomes to be very familiar with such things. What he had managed to translate so far had revealed a true treasure trove of knowledge. Spells old and forgotten, or even outright forbidden lay within, along with detailed instruction for various types of enchantments and the like. So, naturally, Zexis had begun to use them immediately. And while the translating was difficult, he realized to his surprise that the actual application went far easier than he had imagined. He understood the underlying principles almost instinctually. The theory was difficult, he was just not intelligent enough for it, but he was nevertheless able to produce something by the time he went to bed. It seemed like he was quite talented as an enchanter! He looked at the small glowing stone beside him. The blue surface was carved with rings and winding lines, creating a whirl of pulsing energy that flowed just underneath the surface. A mana-stone. A tool to store energy. One could pick it up and transfer magic into it or absorb it. Simple, but useful, with many applications. This one was small and created within a few hours, so it couldn´t take much energy. But later on, Zexis was sure he would be able to craft stones that could take in huge amounts of magic. His eyes went to the Timberwolf-bark. This wood had a very high magical density, having been infused with wild energies of the Everfree for centuries. That made it prime-material for enchanting, though Zexis had a feeling that there might be some side-effects to crafting with it. After all, the more powerful the material, the more difficult the crafting process. For this reason, he had decided to leave it for later. He wanted to have a clear plan for this one. No use wasting resources in experiments. His hoof flipped through the pages of the book. Many of them he couldn´t decipher, but that would be only a matter of time. No, what interested him more were the little notes scrawled in the margins of some pages. They were of more modern writing, but crude, as if the author had just learned how to write. They told a very interesting story... Dear diary, This is my first entry. It´s forbidden I know, but the spirits will forgive me. I put some bowls of smoking Bawacca outside, just in case. But I need to write. I need to preserve the story of our tribe. Words die, if no one is there to speak them. But words bound on pages last. I made sure to write into the Forbidden One. The priest doesn´t open it and he doesn´t know I cracked the seal, so he will not know what I did. You will now ask me why. Why anger the spirits? Why risk the sacrilege of using the written word as an Uninitiated and a mare as well? Why defy the decree of Father and disobey the Law of Zara Shuku? Because somepony needs to know the truth. Needs to know what the Unspeakable did to us. What the Mahrkaki are still doing to us. Because I cannot bear the thought of us vanishing, with only the spirits to tell our tale. I hear Father calling for me. I don´t have much time. I will come back, write more. I will tell you everything. Zecora, Daughter of Zambi, Chief of the Udongaga tribe Zexis stroked his chin. This had been the first entry, scribbled over two pages. There were more, but he hadn´t read them. He wasn´t that interested in Zecora's backstory. There were countless tragedies on Mundus, this was just one of them. Still, why didn´t the names tell him anything. Neither the Mahrkaki nor the Udongaga rang any bells with him. Which was strange, as they were clearly two tribes in Zebrica? So why didn´t he know about them. Eventually he just shrugged his shoulders. There probably countless reason. Maybe they were too unimportant or they had been too far away from his home, for him to ever hear about them. Zebrica was a big land and unlike the ponies the tribes didn´t interact much, aside from electing the next king or gathering for war. So it was plausible he had never heard of those two tribes. Zexis closed the book. His gaze lingered on it. This would help him very much in his quest of corrupting Ponyville. He had no talent for magic, but enchantments would help him offset that lack of ability. Once he had acquired more materials, and had the time, he could craft some very useful artifacts. He looked at the clock and sighed. First, he needed to work. He still had some plans today, and unlike the book, they couldn´t wait. So he stood up and walked out of the room. Skill unlocked! Enchanments: Apprentice Right now you are in a prime position, but you need to maintain a steady hand or it might all suddenly fall apart. Big Mac has been placated a great deal now, but we need to make sure we don't lose any control. He's too strong and well connected with the elements to risk letting loose. Once you have completed Apple Bloom's programming, I suggest a slow but steady approach to corrupting Applejack. Interact with her regularly and use the exhausting farm work as an excuse to give her beverages to re-hydrate (laced with the ever so useful suggestion powder). She has a strong will and high ethics, so breaking her will have to be slow by necessity or she will fight back. You should also make sure to keep an eye on Cheerilee as you begin implementing changes to the school. As the school teacher, parents know and trust her with their children. If she is seen behaving irregularly, it will gain notice quickly. However her connections to the school board will be extremely useful, particularly in regards to Spoiled Rich. If you can corrupt her, not only will you gain far more control over the school, but access to her wealthy bank account, and the ability to fund your efforts with far more ease. At Sweet Apple Acres As Zexis made his way towards the barn, he saw Applejack trudging out of the building with a huge cart of apples in tow. The mares gritted her teeth as she pulled the heavy cart out in the open. Zexis could see the muscles in her legs tense up with every step and her biceps bulge, reminding him once more just how strong this mare was. Soon Applejack stopped, the cart still halfway up the hill Zexis was just walking down. She panted in exhaustion and fanned some air into her face with her Stetson. Sweatbeads trickled down her face. She looked up and saw Zexis. "Howdy, partner.", she greeted. "Morning.", said Zexis. He noticed that Applejack seemed tired. Not physically, but mentally. There were heavy bags under her eyes, as if she hadn´t slept much, and her hair was a little bit disheveled, with strings of her blonde mane falling into her face. All in all, the look of a mare worried sick about something. In her case, he had a strong suspicion about what it was: Applebloom. "I thought today might be a good day to help you. Seems like you could use somepony to lend a hoof.", he said, stopping beside her cart. Applejack took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "You have no idea, Zexis.", she muttered, "Big Mac's up at the hospital checkin on Applebloom, and Ah am alone in taking care of the farm. We´re already behind as it is and this whole thing ain´t helping." Zexis smiled. "Well, then I have good news for you. Applebloom is going to be discharged today. The nurse said she will up and running in no time." Applejack's expression lightened up at that, looking as if several stones just fell from her heart. "By Celestia and all apple pies in the world, that's some good news!", she exclaimed. "Ah just don´t know what Ah would have done, if she had...." She paused before shaking her head. "No matter, she is good and that´s fine. Big Mac is going to calm down and we can finally get back to work." "You got problems?" Applejack made a grimace. "You were helpful an´all, but truth is, we´re still in the red. Third of the orchard is still full and Cider season is coming up an´Ah hadn´t got the time to prepare for it and...well, it´s just a lot of work still to be done.", she said. Zexis stroked his chin. "Sounds serious. Why don´t you hire more help? I´m sure Twilight wouldn´t mind, if you ask her." The mare however shook her head, almost violently. "No! Can´t ask them for something like this. They all got their hands full, what with Twilight being a Princess and the others havin' their own jobs an´ all. I won´t bother them, just because I got a few chores piled up. We got through worse. Just a bit more work an´ then we´ll see the sun on the horizon." Zexis frowned, but in truth he had expected this answer. Applejack was stubborn to a fault. The farm was her pride and joy and it would be unthinkable for her to admit that she may not be able to handle it all. It was no wonder she refused any help, outside of a few hired hands such as Zexis. Which was fine, because that was just the thing the zebra wanted. He already had a plan in mind for bringing Applejack down and he had begun to set it in motion. Even the question he had just asked - and its predictable answer, was merely done in preparation for a later conversation. To affirm Applejacks pride, so he could use it against her. "So, what? You gonna help me or stand there staring holes into the air?", asked Applejack, snapping her fingers in front of Zexis eyes. The zebra blinked, before getting out of his thoughts and back into reality. "Sure, where we going?", he said, grabbing onto the handle alongside her. "To Ponyville Market. Ah´m going to sell these off.", explained Applejack, pointing at the mountain of Apples behind her. Then she grasped the handle as well and they once more began to push forward. Together, they dragged the heavy cart up the hill, slowly trundling towards the town. The heat of the day beat mercilessly down on them. To pass the time as they walked and take his mind off the hard labor, Zexis cast glances back, looking at their cargo of apples. Most of them looked bad, with bruises and brown blots all over them. "Tell me...pant...Applejack, why do you sell these?" He wheezed. I mean, they don´t look like your highest quality... he inhaled sharply, trying to make the stitch in his side go away. "gods, is this heavy". Do you really think they will sell?", he asked through gritted teeth. His legs were already protesting and sweat began to pour from his body. "These ones are not for eating.", explained the farm-mare, who sweated too, but was more used to the work."Ah´m gonna sell them to Ol´Pressbill. He then makes them into applesauce, applerings, appleslices, apple....." Ponyville Market "...and he once showed me a book, made out of applepaper. The ol´ fella has a ton of uses for them, Ah tell ya." Zexis grunted just as much in affirmation as in utter relief as they finally made it to the market. He never knew that there were so many applications for apples, and now he wished that they never existed in the first place. How the fuck could a mare talk so long about one fucking fruit? What was her brain filled with? Applesauce!? "You...really like...apples, hm?", he stammered, as they stopped and he flopped onto a nearby patch of grass, breathing hard, as if he had just run a marathon. His shirt clung to his body and his mohawk was hanging limply to one side. Applejack too was sweaty, though in her case in a much more attractive way. Her shirt clung tightly to her body, outlining her sexy abs and her full breast. Her mane had also freed itself from its confinement and was now flowing freely under her stetson. Zexis realized that Applejack was, in truth, a very beautiful mare. She usually didn´t show it, because she didn´t care for appearances, but he was certain that she could have easily made a career as a model. No wonder Big Mac was so blueballed. The mare put the handle down and wiped the sweat off her face. She grinned at Zexis. "Need a break, huh? No problem, Ah wait until ya finished your beauty sleep.", she mocked him lightly. Zexis was aware that she was making a joke, but his cheeks flushed anyway. He gritted his teeth in anger. Fucking bitch! Who did she think she was? There he was helping her and she thanked him by insulting him. She should kiss his fucking hooves for fucks sake! Or even better, use her mouth for something more useful and suck his... He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Calm down, Zexis. She didn´t mean it that way and you´re not helping yourself by getting angry", he told himself. Patience was the word of the hour. Just a few more days and she would pay for every transgression against him. "Everything okay?" She peered at him. "Ya don´t look so good." Zexis looked up and smiled reassuringly. "Everything's fine. Just a bit exhausted, thats all.", he lied. Then he pulled out two bottles of water out of his backpack. He threw one to AJ. "Time to refresh and finish this trip." Applejack looked at him funny. "Ya sure? Ya seemed angry for some reason.", she said cautiously. Damnit this girl was sharp! Zexis tried to play it cool and just waved his hand. "It´s fine, got nothing to do with you..." Now Applejack raised her eyebrow, but shrugged her shoulders. She put the water bottle to her lips and drank... ... "No...Big Mac can´t do it...", mumbled Applejack. Her eyes were unfocused, but aside from seeming a little out of it, she looked fine. Zexis groaned in frustration. He was standing here for over ten minutes already and he wasn´t even past the first suggestion. This mare was frustratingly stubborn. "Big Mac is strong and dependable, yes?", he asked. "Of course..." "Then surely it makes sense to listen to him more. He knows what he is doing. He could handle the farm...." Applejack frowned and blinked her eyes focusing a bit. "He can´t. Ah promised Granny Ah would take care of Sweet Apple Acres. Ah swore it on her grave. Ah´m not gonna break that. Ah can do it, Zexis!" The stallion swallowed. Crap, she was breaking through the influence! This mare posessed a stronger will, than he anticipated. Add to that her stubborness and he barely got through her. Maybe a different angle? "But you do know, that the current state of your farm is your fault, right? I mean, you´re responsible for it. It´s failure is your failure.", he said. Surprisingly, Applejack hesitated. She blinked again, before scratching her head and gritting her teeth. "Ah don´t....Ah mean....", she said. Then she let out a frustrated scream and kicked the cart, which, despite its weight, jumped a few inches to the side. Zexis skin crawled at seeing again the power in that mares legs. "Applejack? You haven´t given me an answer. Clearly the way things are going now..." "AH GET IT, OKAY!", yelled the farm-mare. "Ah know we're deep in the red! Ah know we didn´t sell enough apples last season or the season before that! And Ah know that Ah could do better! There, you happy now!?" She looked at Zexis, with fury in her eyes. Fury and shame. Zexis nodded, trying desperately to stay calm. He knew Applejck was not gonna hurt him, but still. The Apple family could be very scary when they got angry. He held up his hands in a defensive gesture. "As long as we are on the same page...." Applejack just snorted and grabbed the handle. "Let´s just get this over with." Then she stormed off, dragging the cart with her, as if it weighed nothing. Zexis followed her. He was not satisfied. He had not been able to plant a useful suggestion in her mind. It was clear that on such a strong individual Suggestion Powder did not work well. Then again, he managed to make her admit, that she may be in over her head. Maybe he could build on that. ... "Two hundred and five bits!? That's fifty less than last year!", protested Applejack as she counted the golden coins in the bag that Ol´Pressbill had given her. "These are the same quality ya get from us every season! Why the sudden drop?" The old Pegasus just shrugged his grey shoulders, as he gathered some apples from the cart into a basket. "I´m sorry, AJ. But I can´t help you there. Prices have dropped on the market. Apples are just not in demand right now.", he said, while he took the basket and carried it to one of the dozen presses he had standing in his hall. "Appledump! We still sell out in cider and our stand on the market gets off all apples before the end of the week!", held Applejack against it. She waved the too small bag of bits in the face of the stallion. "How is that not in demand'?" But Ol´Pressbill just shook his head. "I don´t know, AJ. All I know is that I don´t get my products off the shelves. And if I don´t sell all, I can´t buy all." He pointed at the cart. "I only take these off you, because your family and me have done business for a long time already, but I can´t give you full price even for that. I´m sorry, but I need to make a living too." He seemed genuinely sad, scratching the back of his bald head. Applejack gritted her teeth and pulled her Stetson over her eyes. "Fiddle sticks!", she cursed. Ol´Pressbill laid his hand on her shoulder. "Oh don´t be like that, girl. This is just a phase, you´ll see. Next year things will be better. And it´s cider season, so you´ll make a lot of money there. I´m sure you´ll manage to get through. You´re smart mare, Granny Smith always said that." Applejack however wasn´t encouraged. "That´s what she said, alright...", she mumbled sadly. She tried to give a smile, but it looked very forced, and she quickly dropped it. Then she turned around. "Nice day, Bill." Ol´Pressbill sighed and got back to his presses. Zexis was standing outside, not far from them. He had listened in. Various thoughts worked their way through his mind, but he pushed them back as Applejack came closer. He put a sad look on his face. "Did not go well, huh?" "No, everything's peachy.", replied Applejack monotonous. "Got what Ah needed. All dandy..." Zexis raised an eyebrow. He already guessed that she was a bad liar, but this was just depressing. Still, this was actually fortunate. And it gave him an idea. After Pressbill and his assistants emptied the cart, he grabbed the handle and took it up. He looked at Applejack, who was still looking at the coinbag with a frustrated, downright desperate look. "Hop on. I'll carry you back.", he offered. She looked at him incuriously. "Why? Ah can walk." Zexis shook his head. "Come on, I know you´re not okay. Let me help you. It won't hurt." He couldn´t really lie to her, which made it difficult to hold conversation without making her suspicious. But true statements didn´t seem to tick her off. Applejack hesitated for a second, before sighing and climbing onto the empty cart. "Alright, but ya better not tell Big Mac about it. He´s gotten stricter these days.", she said, while opening the water bottle again and taking a sip. Zexis grinned as he pulled. "Oh, I noticed that." ... "It´s mah fault. Everything is mah fault. Mah responsibility. If we fail, I fail." "That's right. Now, repeat it. And tell me how you feel about it.", said Zexis, as he dragged the cart down the hill towards Sweet Apple Acres. "It´s mah fault. Everything is mah fault. Mah responsibility. If we fail, I fail.", repeated Applejack obediently, emptying the water bottle. "Ah carry the whole farm on mah shoulders. It´s success or failure depends completely on me. Ah....Ah cannot afford to fail...Ah wouldn´t know what to do then..." At the last bit, her voice broke down a bit and she stared at the barn, with a tear in her eye. "We don´t make enough money. Ah try and try and it doesn´t work. The prices drop... Filthy....Ah mean, Rich doesn´t extend his loans anymore and..." "Aaand we're here!", interrupted Zexis. He let the handle fall and the sharp, sudden, clang brought Applejack back to reality. She blinked several times, confused. "Already? That was fast." "Yeah, well... how time flies if you have a good conversation.", said Zexis, and smiled innocently. "Suure...", mumbled Applejack skeptically and got off the cart. She patted down her stetson and looked at the empty cart. Then at small bag of bits at her belt. She sighed. "You gonna stay? Ah need to work at the orchard today and Ah could use the help.", she asked Zexis. The zebra shook his head. "Sorry, but I got a class to teach. I will come back, if I find the time.", he said, again relying on half-truths. Applejack just sighed in disappointment. "Well, thank you anyway for helping today.", she said. Then she walked towards the barn, waving Zexis goodbye. "Don´t give those foals any weird ideas!" "Don´t fuck up the farm.", replied Zexis, and snickered when he saw the blond mare flinch. One suggestion at least had been successfully planted. Well, Cheerilee broke surprisingly fast - not that I'm complaining. Maybe she could be useful in pointing out corruptible teachers, or keeping certain students after class without raising suspicion. Could be useful; of course, that's after you make sure she's on your side 100%. Also, see if you can dig up some information on this school council - if Zexis can work his magic on them, we'd be able to turn the school into a veritable breeding ground for corrupt students (literally and metaphorically). We could pass all sort of new clubs, classes, and extracurricular activities that would expand our influence; and who knows, maybe we could even corrupt a few teachers along the way, prepare for the next generation of corruptible foals! At the School "Good morning, students.", said Zexis, as he entered the classroom. "Good morning, Mr.Chikelu!", echoed back from the colts and fillies. "Rumble, please untie Button Mash. Snip, Snail? Detention for both of you. Don´t pretend like you´re innocent. And Scootaloo? See me after class.", ordered Zexis, without looking at the class, unpacking his notes and preparing the board. He didn´t need to look to know, that Snip and Snail were staring at him in shock and that Scoots was smiling in both fear and anticipation. When Zexis finished drawing, he turned around. Button was also returning to his seat, still trying to remove some of the magical sticky tape that they had made in alchemy-class earlier. Rumble tapped him encouraging on the shoulder and soon the attention was fully on Zexis. "Now, I looked over your homework. All in all, good job. Twist scored highest, while Snail finished in last. The Morrigan is known for granting blessings in battle, not bakery. Don´t know how you made that mistake...", he said, while giving back the corrected homework. Then he turned to the blackboard and revealed a depiction of a crater, huge in size, that was dug deep into the ground, sealed under a mountain and with only one entrance. The crater had a wide ring, that grew smaller the deeper it went and was seperated into several sections. The outline was jagged and rough drafts of fire, caverns and strange beasts littered the depiction. Zexis pointed at the drawing. "Anypony able to tell me what this is?" Twist hand raced upward. "It´s the Tartarus, Sir.", she answered. Zexis nodded. "Indeed. And it´s the focus of today's lesson. Yesterday we went over Gods and the different types of them. Today we go over their counterpart: Demons." Several of the fillies shuddered, but at least one of the colts, Rumble, had a shine of interest in their eyes. Zexis saw it and pointed at him. "Rumble! Can you tell me what a demon is?" The pegasus thought a little, before answering. "Well...they are...evil. Evil in persona. Wicked monsters that want to destroy Mundus! Eternal enemies of the gods.", he said. Zexis tilted his head, before shaking it. "That´s too broad. Gods can be evil, too. And they have more times than not done terrible damage to Mundus. Why exactly do we differentiate between them and demons?" Rumble didn´t have an answer for that. As Zexis looked over the class, he saw none of them had any idea what the right answer was. So, he turned to the blackboard and began to write. "The difference is two-fold: Effect and Origin.", he said, while writing the two words down. Behind him he could hear the hasty shuffling and the scratching of ink-feathers. "Effect is the easiest one to explain: Gods create. That is, in essence, their job. They administer and control a part of Mundus, their dominion. That dominion doesn´t always need to be something good, but it is an integral part of the world. And while gods destroy as well, their main purpose is creating and maintaining their dominion." "Demons cannot create. Their only purpose is to destroy, to pervert. They do not possess dominions, because they don´t add anything to creation. A demon's actions will always end in destruction. They hijack certain aspects of creation, like smithing or magic, but they only copy skills and formulas already present." Zexis stopped talking, when he saw Silver Spoons hand. "Yes, what is it?" "But, doesn´t make that demons, like, weaker?", asked the filly, propping up her expensive glasses. "I mean, if they don´t create anything better, they should be defeated pretty easily, right?" "Yeah!", added Button Mash. "That's why they are so easily fooled in the legends, too. You know, when Celestia told that fire demon Asmodeus, that drinking from the fountain of youth would make him immortal and he doused his own flames trying?" Zexis shook his head. "I´m afraid that is not quite right. Demons are inherently powerful creatures and most importantly, they are quite intelligent. Old children tales paint them as dull beings, because that fits better in their narrative of good always prevailing. But reality isn´t that kind." "Demons possess powerful magic that no god or mortal can access. They are not bound by the laws of the arcane, like Equivalent Exchange and the like. Their bodies are strong and durable, not easily destroyed. And most importantly, they are powered by the sins and vices of mortals. The more negative energy is around, the more powerful a demon can get. You could call it one giant dominion to which they all have access to." Zexis went over the notes, Time Turner had left him. "But the most dangerous thing about them is their talent of manipulation. A capable demon is something you only recognize when it´s too late. When its schemes and plans have already succeeded and there is no danger revealing their secret identity. They will coerce you into committing crimes and sins and slowly but surely lead you on a path of darkness and ruin, and in the end, you will..." He looked up and saw that the entire classroom had gotten completely quiet. The fillies and colts looked scared out of their wits and Zexis noticed Sweetie having a tear in her eye. Even Rumble seemed a little bit shaken. He quickly cleared his throat and closed the notes. "Well, they are dangerous.", he said, before smiling encouragingly. "And they are all locked up in Tartarus. The last demon to escape the confines of Tartarus was Tirek, and he was personally defeated by the Elements of Harmony. So, no worries there." That seemed to take the tension out of the room and the students relaxed a bit. Some even started to talk a bit, making some jokes to lighten the moods, though Zexis' warning cough quickly got their attention back. "Anyway, moving on. The second difference is origin: The gods are creations of Mundus. They are born from the world either as mortals or as gods already. They are a natural existence, and part of the cycle. Demons, on the other hand, are not." "They are an unnatural element. It is clear that their very existence disturbs the balance of life. Misfortune follows them and their actions, as mentioned, are almost always destructive. They can be likened to a disease. Infecting and damaging the host, in this case Mundus." "But,", interrupted Silver Spoon again, "Where do they come from, exactly?" Zexis pulled out a canvas and unraveled it, revealing it to the class. It was a painting, or rather a painting of a painting. It depicted a hellish, chaotic landscape. Lava spilling out from the cracked earth. Shattered mountains in the distance. The raging sea devouring the coast and everlasting winter freezing everything in its path. And in all that chaos and destruction, gods. Dozens upon dozens of gods, of all shapes and races. A white alicorn with a red mane, battling a black draconequus with a skull as its face. A bearded minotaur wielding thunderbolts, firing them at a centaur of enormous size, with several heads and multiple arms. A moose with an eyepatch holding a spear against a monstrous white wolf. A one-eyed caribou shooting beams of destruction at a laughing griffon with a silver arm. An undead, rotting kirin-mare raising the dead to fight her husband, who led his family against her. And above them all, filling out the sky, a giant grey dragon, shattering like glass. "The Sin War. The first war ever to be fought on Mundus. When the First Age came crashing down and all evil was created.", said Zexis, while looking at painting. He looked at the class. "We don´t know if they were created, or if the apocalyptical chaos drew them to our world like a candle. But it was at this time that the first demons appeared on Mundus. Some theologians support the theory that it was the first demon ever to exist that caused the Sin War, but that is pure speculation. None of survivors talk about it and the ones foolish enough to ask, regret their choice pretty quickly. Nevertheless, that is their origin and since that terrible time, they have plagued Mundus." Zexis paused and gave the students time to take it all in. Many were writing diligently. Button Mash, in particular. When they were finished, he returned to the blackboard and began to write some numbers at the side of his rough draft of Tartarus. Then he turned to the class. "Now, can anypony tell me the different layers of Tartarus?" Again, raised Twist her hand so quickly it seemed like she was bitten by a tarantula. But Pipsqueak knew the answer as well, so Zexis picked him. "The first one is Tounela, where the black river of Touni is. I... think it used to carry the souls of the dead, but I´m not sure..." "You´re right, it did. Now, though, it is mainly the first of many defenses that keep the inhabitants of Tartarus locked up. It´s black waters suck out your soul, if you do not pay the Death Maid.", helped him Zexis out. Then he pointed at Twist, who now hopped up and down on her chair. "Oh, oh! The second layer is Hel, the land of the dead. Evil mortals who have committed so heinous crimes that they have been sent to Tartarus are banished there. The Goddess of the Dead, Hel, administers their punishment and ensures they cannot die until they have served their sentences.", she said hastily, before continuing. "Then comes the third layer, Gehenna, where everything burns and all the evil demigods, Lesser Gods and lower demons are incarcerated, slaving away in the hellish heat. And then comes..." "Not bad.", interrupted her Zexis, holding up his hand, to shut her up. "Clearly someone read the Book of Origin." Twist blushed at the praise and beamed in pride. "My parents are Prayers. Grandfather is a priest in Cloppicut and he read passages out of it to me every night at bedtime!" Zexis remembered that ponies in Equestria who openly practiced their faith were called Prayers. There were not many of them, mostly because Celestia insisted on being treated like a ruler, instead of a Goddess. But they existed and especially in the rural areas there were some large communities who worshipped the princesses. All of them, in fact, which had led to quite some difficulties when three new princesses suddenly popped up a few years ago. But by now most of these problems had been cleared out and a new canon established. It was a strange thing, from his perspective. In Zebrica, religion was something common. It was hard not to worship the gods and the spirits, if they showed their might on a daily basis. But in a land where one Goddess alone ruled for over a millennia, it didn't seem far-fetched to have a more pragmatic view on legends and mythology. Back to the question at hand, Zexis pointed at Rumble. "Can you tell me what the fourth layer is called?" Again, the colt frowned at being asked. This time he thought for quite a while, flipping through the pages of his schoolbook to find the answer. Finally, Button had mercy with him and gave him a small note. "It´s... Hades. The layer where Great Gods and Archdemons are held. It is filled with darkness and stone and the curses of the Old World." "Nice. Good reading, Rumble.", said Zexis, with a lightly mocking tone. The colt shrugged his shoulders and gave a grateful thumbs up to Button. "Now, can anybody tell me the name of the last and final, deepest layer?", asked Zexis, pointing at the smallest, darkest section. For a while, nopony said anything. Twist had her arm up, but Zexis ignored her first, wanting a different filly or colt to answer the question. Then, as it looked like he was going to relent and let Twist handle it, Sweetie Belle raised her hand. "It´s Yomi. The deepest part, where no light shines and no life can sustain itself. It´s where the First Dead is sealed away, as well as the Worst Sinner and the Greatest Fool. They say, it is the only part of Tartarus that cannot be opened or reached.", she explained in a meek voice. Zexis clapped his hand in open approval. "Not bad! May ask, how you know this?" Sweetie Belle grimaced, sheepishly twisting a lock of hair on her finger. "Rarity wanted to make a clothing line with this as the theme, early on in her career. She got huge backlash from the Neighponese. That was when I read up on it. I just wanted to know why they were so mad about it." She shrugged her shoulders, as if it was no big deal. Zexis nodded. "Yes, Neighpon is pretty sensitive about this topic. But good on you, for remembering this. You can tell your sister, her little cultural miss-step got you an A." Sweetie smiled adorably at that. Zexis smiled charmingly back, keeping behind his desk to hide his growing erection. Good, how much he wanted to defile that innocent young mare! To just rip her little dress off and pound her over the table like a common whore. Good thing lecturing was an excellent boner killer. He continued on with the lesson, trying to keep his thoughts on the topic and not on how much he wanted to turn this classroom into his own sex-haven. ... Soon, the lesson drew to a close. Zexis wiped the depiction of Tartarus from the blackboard. Behind him, the students began to pack up and talk about their plans for the afternoon or what they learned today. They seemed rather chipper, despite the rather grim topic today. "Unfortunately, I cannot let you go just yet.", said Zexis out loud, getting some annoyed groans from the ones already at the door. "I first have an announcement to make." He grinned. "Or better said, she has an announcement to make." As is one cue, the door to the classroom suddenly opened and Mrs. Cheerilee stepped inside. She had changed. Her conservative dress had been discarded for a thin blouse, the first two button of which were open, revealing an enticing cleavage. Her skirt was shorter now too, ending over her knees, up her thighs and hugging her bottom. She had put on some black lipstick and wore mascara. All in all, she now looked all the part of a sexy teacher. The colts stared at her, like she was an angel and the fillies seemed surprised as well. Cheerilee smiled at them, winking at the colts and joined Zexis at the table. She stepped close to him, letting their shoulders touch and putting a hand on her hip, while staring at the class. She licked her lips and looked at her clipboard, which her pressed against the underside of her breasts. "I would like to announce that from today forward there are going to be two new lessons in the curriculum. These will Supplementary Lessons for Colts and Supplementary Lessons for Fillies. They will be led by Mr. Chikelu and me, respectively.", she said. A loud groan came from the entire class at the prospect of more school, but Cheerilee just smiled sweetly. "Don´t be like that. It is only for a few weeks, then we are back to the regular schedule." "And what exactly are these Supplementary Lessons?", asked Diamond Tiara. Mrs. Cherilee smiled. "They are just some lessons to teach you about some important things about yourself.", explained Cheerilee, earning some confused looks from the students. "They will involve trust-experiments, psychological analysis, and examination of social norms. Thorough examination..." She giggled at the last one. "These lessons will be mandatory and I expect everypony to show up, otherwise you´re going to get detention. Do well, on the other hand and we will reward you personally." Again, she winked at the colts who grinned sheepishly, not quite sure what that meant. Zexis chuckled at the sight. He had been worried that Cheerilee would have changed too much, but it seemed like that worry seemed unfounded. The teacher knew how to interact with her students and her changed perspective didn´t seemed to have impacted her ability to take control of a classroom. "Any other questions?", asked Cheerilee. "Can we go, now?", asked Rumble. Cheerilee smiled at him and nodded. "Sure, go ahead." The students barreled out of the room, some with confused looks on their faces, but most just glad that school was over. As Scootaloo ran towards the door, Zexis arm rushed forward and grabbed her by the shoulder. "Not you, Scootaloo. There is still something I want to talk about with you.", said Zexis in firm voice, though he couldn´t quite hide his grin. Sweetie looked questioningly at her friend. Scoots smiled bravely and waved at her. "Just go ahead. We see each other tomorrow.", she said. Sweetie shrugged her shoulders and waved goodbye, before walking out of the room. Now alone, Zexis grip on the filly's shoulder got stronger. Cheerilee closed the windows and put over the drapes just in case somepony wanted to eavesdrop, then she joined him. A wicked smile was on her lips, all kindness from before gone. Scootaloo squirmed, pressing her thighs together. "E-Everything alright, Mr. Chikelu? Something with my homework?" "Drop the act, Scoots. Cheerilee knows already.", said Zexis. Scootaloo eyes went big and a smile parted her lips. "Oh, that's great! That means you broke her---" SLAP! Scoots face whipped to one side, as Zexis hoof slapped her hard. The filly squeaked, holding her burning cheek. A wet spot appeared between her legs, staining her spats. "She knows, because you fucked up.", he spat. Cheerilee grabbed Scoots by her waist and dropped down to her ear. "I saw you giving Rumble a blowjob, my little slut. Naughty, naughty...", she whispered "I-I don´t understand. You told me to---" SLAP! The fillies face now whipped to the other side. "I told you to be careful! Not sucking off your classmates in broad daylight!", reprimanded Zexis. His gaze went lower and her could see a steady stream of wet pussy juice trickling down the pegasus' leg. Cheerilee saw it too and laughed. "It´s true! I thought you were joking, when you said it, but it´s actually true. Little Scootaloo is a slutty, stupid masochist.", she giggled. Her hand went up Scoots flat belly and to her race-shirt. She grabbed her erect nipples and began to twist them. Scoots moaned in delight. "Ooooh yes, harder!" Zexis just shook his head. "You should be glad Mrs. Cheerilee was so understanding. Otherwise we would have gotten into quite some trouble.", he said. The little athlete cooed, when her teacher bit into her ear. "Eeep! Th-Then everything worked out.", she stammered. "B-But if you want to punish me...." She grinned, parting her legs towards Zexis so that the fabric pressed against her soaked twat, outlining it for him. ".... I am ready..." Zexis grinned. Then he laughed. "Oh, you´ll get your punishment. But not from me.", he chuckled. Scoots looked confused, before yelping in surprise when Mrs. Cheerilee suddenly lifted her off her hooves, and carried her toward the desk. There, she pulled out some ropes, hidden in a cupboard, and a vibrator. "The good teacher demanded to administer the punishment herself.", explained Zexis, an evil grin on his face. "And something tells me you are not going to enjoy it." Cheerilee snickered. "That is for getting laid." She slapped Scoots tight butt. "And for seducing my colts." She slapped her burning cheeks. "And that is for fun!" The last one she laughed at, as she hit the filly's sensitive pussy, causing Scoots to squeal. Zexis shook his head and looked at Cheerilee. "You have everything under control?", he asked. "Oh, yes. Don´t worry. I will get her tomorrow morning. I will bring some spare clothes too, so she doesn´t arouse suspicion.", said Cheerilee, beginning to bind the young pegasus mare with ropes. "C-Clothes? Wha-What do you mean? Master!?" Scootaloo now seemed in actual panic. This was not what she expected to happen. Zexis just shrugged his shoulders and turned to the door. "Your guess is as good as mine. But don´t worry, I will come over to check on you...eventually. Have fun!" He laughed and closed the door. Some street in Ponyville It was evening. Zexis was carrying a bag over his shoulder. He had spent the rest of the afternoon gathering more materials from the Everfree Forest. With that, he should be able to try some new recipes and move further with the enchantments. He could hardly wait. So much to do... As he rounded the corner, still lost in his thoughts, something pointy suddenly hit him in the head. Stars exploded before his eyes and Zexis yelled out in pain, jumping backwards. His hoof got stuck on a rock and he lost his balance. With wildly flailing arms and a rather undignified scream, he fell. "Oh gods, Zexis! Are you okay?", a female voice called out. "S-Sure....", mumbled the zebra, holding his puckering forehead. "So many pretty lights..." "Oh no. Wait a second, I´ll fix this!" A purple light enveloped Zexis' head and seeped into it. The pain subsided almost immediately and his vision cleared. He looked up and stared into the worried eyes of Twilight Sparkle. The alicorn wore a high-collar blouse today, with black jeans that clung to her long legs. Her mane was falling into her face, but she wasn´t noticing it, as she examined Zexis head. Her long fingers touching his skin, running over his face... Zexis noticed that he stared and blushed involuntarily. "Ehm, I think I´m fine now, Twilight...", he coughed, noticing how uncomfortably close she was. She smelled like lavender today. Twilight blinked for a moment, before blushing deeply and backing off just as fast. "Oh, o-okay! I-I just wanted to make sure everything is alright. Nothing swollen or fractured...", she explained, smiling embarrassed and getting some hair out of her face. Zexis couldn´t help but smile back. "It´s okay. Nothing is broken.", he said, getting up. He grabbed his bag and patted the dirt off his clothes. Twilight's face was still flushed, but she seemed to calm down as well. "Stupid horn!", she mumbled, sounding slightly annoyed. "Ever since I became an alicorn it has been growing longer. I even had to file it down, so I wouldn't accidently impale somepony with it." "That wouldn´t be good. The Princess of Friendship using her subjects as jousting puppets makes for poor publicity.", joked Zexis and noticed with joy Twilights amused giggle. "You have no idea.", she said. "I constantly have to watch out what I say or where I shop. I can't even count the number of times that I've accidently advertised for somepony, for instance when I was hungry for some hayfries." Then she remembered something. "It's good that I met you anyway, because I wanted to tell you that we got the Tracker up and running. It´s going to be ready tomorrow if you want to join me-I mean, us?" Zexis nodded. "That would be lovely. When are you going to start?" "Oh, probably around the afternoon. That way we can make preparations in case we have to act fast." Zexis nodded again. Lucky him, that left him with enough time to take care of Zecora. He wasn´t quite sure how he would do that yet, but he had a feeling he would come up with a plan soon enough. Then he saw Twilight muttering at him from the side. "Something the matter?" Twilight blinked again and quickly looked elsewhere. "No, no, I -I just....ehm....", she stammered, as her face once again turned a darker shade of purple. "I-I heard about your mythology-lesson.", she quickly changed the subject. Zexis chuckled at her awkwardness, but decided to be merciful and go with it. "Yes, it is quite interesting. Alchemy is more my thing, but mythology is quite interesting as well. It also helped me refresh my knowledge on the subject.", he said. Then he thought of something. "You know something what always bothered me? Celestia is the Greater Goddess of the Sun. Now, wouldn´t that alone make her more than powerful enough to deal with any threat to Equestria? Like the Changelings, for example?", he asked. Twilight expression changed, turned thoughtful. And a little sad. "You ask why she doesn´t just blast all the problems away, right?", she clarified. Zexis held up his hands. "I´m sorry if this a touchy subject.", he apologized quickly. He didn´t want to offend Twilight. "No, it´s alright. It´s a valid question.", said Twilight. She sighed, before closing her eyes. "Imagine you have the power to control the sun. Imagine the might that comes with a powerful dominion, and how easily you could just use that power to burn all obstacles away." "Fire burns. It doesn´t distinguish between friend and foe. It just turns everything to ash. And the bigger the flame, the harder it is to control. One mistake, and hundred - no, thousands will die. It takes tremendous effort and control to just make sure the sun rises every day. In the early days, entire colleges of mages were needed to do that. Princess Celestia does that on her own. Alone. For over ten thousand years." She looked Zexis in the eyes, sad and also a little proud at her mentor. "Yes, Princess Celestia is powerful. But that power comes with a price. Sure, she could have defeated Discord or destroyed Sombra. But her victory would have cost more than it was worth." Zexis was quiet for a time. He hadn´t considered that. It made sense, but it didn´t sit right with him. "What about Queen Chrysalis? I heard that she was able to defeat Princess Celestia. Was that also because she held back?" Twilight shook her head. "Yes, and no. Princess Celestia was holding back, indeed. But Chrysalis had been feeding off my brother's love the entire time. Love is something very powerful. It´s difficult to describe, but what I think happened is that Chrysalis had somehow managed to tap into my brothers and sister-in-law's connection to each other. And since Cadence is the Lesser Goddess of Love that meant she got access to her dominion. Combine that with Chrysalis' own power and, well..." She scratched her head and shrugged her shoulders. "It´s just a theory. To be sure, I would need to speak with Chrysalis herself, and she is unlikely to agree to that" Zexis nodded. This was valuable information. So, Celestia wasn´t as powerful as she seemed. Or better said, she was powerful, but unwilling to use that power. Zexis smiled a bit. That was very useful, indeed. Maybe not right now, but definitely for the future. Twilight learned forward, once more catching his gaze. She smiled at him. "Did that answer your question?", she asked. Zexis looked at her and nodded. "Yes, quite. Thank you for the explanation. You´re just as smart as everypony says you are." He couldn´t help but charm her a little bit. Twilight blushed at the unexpected compliment. "Not everypony says that...", she admitted. Zexis just laughed. "If they don´t, then I would like to see who they think is smarter! Probably some old professor in Canterlot." He grinned at Twilight. "But you are one of the few who smart and pretty, my dear princess." Twilight was now beet-red and puffed her cheeks in light anger. "Now you´re overdoing it, Mr. Chikelu. Don´t you know that one shouldn´t lie?", she said. "I'm not.", answered Zexis honestly. "I would never lie to you." He was surprised to find that the last bit hurt him a little, inside. As if he regretted that contradiction. He was surprised to see Twilight's blush intensify. She quickly pressed her arms against the side of her body, and hid her eyes behind her bangs. For a while her mouth just opened and closed like a fish. Then her horn began to glow. "ItwasnicetotalktoyouIneedtogobye!", she rattled off, before she disappeared with a little bang. Zexis chuckled at her escape and walked down the street, whistling a little tune... Relationships updated! Applejack Willpower: 9-1/10 Corruption: 0/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: Is afraid of losing the farm Skills: detects lies Traits: very strong, tight ass, strong willed New Recipe! Aphrodisiac-Incense: This is a simple incence, made out of several aphrodisiacs. It burns slowly over an hour and raises the libido and lust of everyone, who smells it. This is a slow, long-building effect that requires some time to show its effect. Once it hits, however, it raises one lust permanently and makes the subject more susceptible to suggestions and lustful actions. Only way to defend against it is by taking the antidote beforehand or getting out of its sphere of influence. Truth-Amulet: This amulet is enchanted with a simple truth spell. This spell functions as a compulsion for the target to reveal its deepest, darkest secret. It had only limited charges and, depending on the targets willpower, can expend more than one of these charges to force its effect, before it needs to be recharged. The target itself is not aware it is being manipulated, unless it is proficient in magic itself.

My Little Corruption

Hard Truths

One orange and one blue light turns on, highlighting a figure. "Greetings. To begin with, I'm glad to know that the tome had caused no lasting damage. I would still investigate it, make sure it isn't harmful. And do not ignore Zecora's little diary in it; her insight may prove valuable about the Zebra Lands as well as some insight into alchemy. "For now, though, that has to be ignored. We need to ditch Zecora as soon as we can do so without being spotted. I would prefer it if we just took her to a cliff in the Everfree and shoved her off it, but I imagine my associates would prefer to keep her alive and in use. In more then one way. "We could overload her with an aphrodisiac, find a spot for her to be in and carve out a wooden sex toy for her to use. The shock of her appearance should awaken some sort of... primal urge in those who find her. "Do not proceed further with Applejack until Zecora is fully dealt with. When you get back to her carry on as you were; slow, subtly and steady is how you break her. More importantly, we have to be careful we don't draw undue attention to her, or at least make it seem as if her troubles are based on the farm failing. "Carry on with the school as you are. Once more, break them slowly." Outside of the door there is the sound of gunfire, the shadowed figure turning his head as he reached into his suit, drawing a pistol. "Until then, we will be watching." The camera shuts off with the sound of a kicked in door. BZZZZZZZT...........Click! Finally!......... It took this dam machine long enough. I apologise for my absent my assistant required a bit of retraining. Any way after looking at the last couple of communication I have to agree with many of our fellow contributor that we need to get control and corrupt the rest of the teacher for the school in order to secure it. I would recommend that Cheerilee call a teacher meeting for all the teacher to meet the new teacher Zexis a bit of a social get together. From there Zexis can spike what ever drinks are severed and put the general suggestion that all the teacher trust him that he seems like a nice stallion and an excellent teacher. From there pick out the target from among the teacher and focus getting them on Zexis side one at a time. Hopefully there is a music teacher with some talent for creating music which we could use to create some subliminal message that we could use to help corrupt more ponies. Next we have a couple opportunities coming up involving Twilight and co search for Zecora. Firstly we must get Zecora ready to be transported into the Everfree Forest and leave her in a safe enough location that we can find her later with Twilight I would recommend something like a large patch of poison joke it should be a relativity safe place as such a plant would be avoid by most creatures of the Everfree due to it nature. I also recommend that Zexis put some sort of commands on Zecora to make sure she stay put in whatever location we leave her other wise if she wonder of a gets killed in the Everfree forest it could cause some complications. When we go into the Everfree forest I recommend that we take Redheart with us as it we can use her to suggest that Zecora stay in the hospital for recovery also just encase Zecora gets hurt during the time she is alone. Everfree Forest, Very Early Morning "Are we there, yet?" "Birdhoof, I swear to the Ancestors, I will kick you into the maw of a rockodile, if don´t shut up!" "But we have been walking here for two hours! Zecora is is not easy to carry, I need to get back to the Orphanage as not to arouse suspicion and you still have a lesson today! We are running out of time!" Zexis sighed. As much as it pained him to admit, Birdhoof had a point. They couldn´t afford to stumble around in the forest much longer. He turned around. Birdhoof stood behind him. He carried one end of the stretch on which Zecora laid. The unicorn had continued to lose fat and his improved physique began to show. He wasn´t obese anymore. Still fat, but not morbidly so. He also seemed to have gained a bit of a backbone, though wether this was a good thing still was up for debate. Zecora was sleeping. She was naked, of course. Zexis had Birdhoof destroy her clothes, as there wasn´t much left of them anyway and the danger of someone tracking them through them was too great. He didn´t know the magical arsenal of Twilight and her friends, but considering her library he was pretty sure he didn´t need such a risk. Of course, the whole reason they were now in the Everfree in the first place was because of that damned tracking spell and the need to disguise any evidence pointing towards him. "Wait here. I´m gonna try something.", he ordered the unicorn. Then he slowly lowered the stretch to the ground, so he had both hands free. "Oh good!", exclaimed Birdhoof, glad for a short rest. "What is it?" Zexis took a deep breath. "I´m asking for directions...." Then he put his palms on the ground and opened his spirit. Immediately he was assaulted with the crushing presence of the Will. It seemed like the spirit had followed them and now that Zexis had opened up a link, the ancient being made itself known. WHY DO YOU DISTURB ME!? Zexis pressed his teeth together so hard it hurt, but maintained concentration. It was hard, but he needed to do this if he wanted to have success. I only ask of you the way to a field of poison joke, Will of the Everfree. WHAT USE WOULD IT BRING ME TO TELL YOU? I AM EVER FREE! MORTAL DESIRES ARE OF NO IMPORTANCE! Even if they help to punish those, who dared to wrong you in the past? Zexis sweated. This Will was nearly suffocating him and his control of the link got weaker with every second. He needed to convince it fast, before his concentration broke. THE SHAMANESS HAS MET HER FATE! MY WRATH IS QUENCHED! The zebra tried to relax his jawmuscles and took a deep breath. What about the goddess, who searches for her? Who encroaches on your sovereignty, your freedom, to find this....criminal. SHE WILL FACE MY FURY SOON, WHEN SHE ENTERS MY REALM! YOU SEEK TO AID? Zexis could barely hold the connection anymore. Sweat now poured from his face and his body was tense like a coil. He could only nod, in hope the Will recognized the gesture. Then the link was severed and he collapsed to the ground. He felt Birdhoofs hand around his shoulders, as his companions helped him to his feet. "I´ve no idea what you just did, but it didn´t seem to have worked.", he said. "I wouldn´t be so sure...", murmured Zexis, regaining his breath. A small grin crept on his face, as the foliage before them cleared all of the sudden and revealed a large field of blue flowers. He chuckled. "It seemed like my request was granted." With that, they grabbed Zecora by her legs and arms and dragged her to the edge of the field. Birdhoof examined the blue tinted field curiously. Zexis grabbed him and pulled him back, before he sniffed one of them. "Don´t do that!", he reprimanded him. "Poison Joke works through ingestion of the nose. Don´t touch or smell them, unless you want to be cursed!" "I get it!", said the stallion defensively. "What I don´t understand is why we are dumping Zecora here? Why not hide her in the bushes and let the princess find her?" "Because we need some explanation for her mental state. The more off thing seem, the more Twilight will investigate, which would be really disruptive to my plans. With Poison Joke we give her a logical explanation for Zecoras....insanity. And if I play my cards right, it will even net me some bonus points with her!" Birdhoof looked at him quizzically, before smiling dirtily. "Oh...ooooooh I get it. You want to impress the princess!" Zexis stopped, before blushing heavily. "Wh-What? No, I don´t! This is strictly professional!", he protested and tried to keep his face from glowing. His companion just snickered. "Sure. That´s why you insisted on coming with her. It´s to play the knight in shining armor!", he teased. "It´s not! She can take of herself without me. I just need to make sure everything goes to plan and that nothing goes wrong. I do not care for her! She...she is just another mare!" "Yup. Just another beautiful, smart alicorn princess. Because, you know, they grow on trees...", sniped Birdhoof and chuckled. Zexis glared at him. "One more word and I throw you into this flower field after Zecora...", he snarled. Birdhoof hesitated a moment, as if he wasn´t sure Zexis would go through with that threat. Then he shrugged his shoulders and grabbed Zecora´s ankles again. "Fine, fine.", he mumbled. Zexis still stared at him, while the unicorn tried not to meet his eyes. Then, after an awkward silence, he cleared his throat. "Anyway...lets finish this. I still have other things to do. On the count of three!" They grabbed Zecora´s unconcious body and began to swing her back and forth. "One..." "Two..." "Three!" With one big, final swing they tossed the zebra into the middle of the clearing. As she impacted on the bed of flowers a cloud of spores exploded into the air. Zexis and Birdhoof quickly made sure to put some distance between themselves and the poisonous plants. After the cloud dissipated, they saw Zecora laying between the flowers. Zexis saw with fascination how her lips began to swell and her tits began to grow. With loud moans she tossed and turned as the Poison Jokes turned her into a caricature of herself. Her butt expanded and jiggled with every movement and her waist shrank. When the curse was finished Zecora had turned from a broken shamaness into an oversexualized bimbo. Her lips dripped with saliva and lustful moans and her fingers plunged into her sloppy cunt. "Holy shit...", whispered Birdhoof. Zexis nodded. He knew that Poison Joke always turned ones traits against him, but this was....a very strong reaction. Did it have anything to do with Zecoras mental state? Or had the Will interfered? He didn´t know, but it warranted further research. "Pluck some of those flowers.", he ordered Birdhoof. "Are you sure? I mean..." "Just do it!" Birdhoof flinched, but complied. Carefully he enveloped a few flowers into his dirt-green telekinesis and ripped them out of the ground. As he levitated them towards Zexis, the zebra took out a pouch, in which he had carried some alchemical ingredients yesterday and let the flowers fall into it. He quickly closed it, making sure no pollen could escape and infect him. "Good job.", he said and turned around. Birdhoof followed him. "And we´re just going to leave her there? What if she is attacked?" Zexis waved his hand dismissively. "No predator touches the Poison Joke. She is as safe in there, as she could ever be in the Everfree. And besides...something tells me she enjoys her current state." He snickered, as he listened to the whorish moans of the bimbofied zebra. "Now come, I need to liberate a school!" With that they walked away, towards Ponyville. All the way listening to the fading groans and moans of the once proud shamaness, as she slowly descended into lustful madness... Ponyville School, Midday Zexis watched intensly as the fillies walked into the classroom. Most of them looked around curiously. The room was darkened, with drapes over the windows. Only a few candles gave a bit of light and strewn across the room were incense, giving away a sweetly odour. Diamond Tiara and her friend Silver Spoon looked annoyed at the extra class. Some fillies, like Twist and Dinky seemed more interested. The rest just went along, not quite sure what to expect. The last to enter the classroom was Apple Bloom. She had been discharged from the hospital and brought to school by her brother this morning. And from the looks of it the treatment had been a full success. She was demure and obedient. When she had seen Zexis, she had gone to him and apologized for all the trouble she caused. No word about his assault or Zecora. She wore a nice red dress, that seemed to have been made three decades ago. It went down to her knees and gave her an orderly, almost conservative look. No work clothes, no sweaty pants. Instead she gave the perfect image of an submissive filly from the land. Clearly, Big Mac´s work. When everypony was seated, Zexis closed the door. He went back to his desk and let the students wait for ten minutes. On one hand he wanted them to stew a bit, on the other hand needed the incense time to worm its way into the young brains. So he bided his time and pretended to look through his notes. Eventually, the fillies became nervous. They already didn´t know what this was about and now their teacher seemed to have forgotten to begin the lesson. Soon enough Diamond Tiaras hand went up. "Are we going to start now?", she asked haughtily. Zexis looked up and appraised her. She already had a light flush. And Silver Spoon beside her squirmed a bit. He smiled. "Of course, just needed to prepare some things.", he said and took a stack of papers. He then went around and gave each student a document. Diamond frowned, as she saw a number of questions and lines of text. "A test?" Zexis nodded. "Not a real one, of course. Just an....evaluation, so to speak.", he explained and returned to the front. "Since this is about cultural psychology and societal norms and their...misuse...it is important for me to find out, what kind of misconceptions and propagandistic material you have been exposed to." As he saw the confused looks of the fillies, he clarified: "I want to know, what you know. Or think you know..." He took a bit of chalk. "We´re going to each of the questions seperately. Read them carefully, write down your answer and then we work through it." The fillies nodded and went down to their paper. Soon, after they read the first question, a hand went up. Dinky. "Excuse me, Mr. Chikelu. But I think something is wrong here. Stallions are not--" "Questions after the answers Dinky, please.", interrupted her Zexis. Her hand went down and with a confused look, she went back to the test. After about five to ten minutes, everpony was finished and they all looked with questioning looks at Zexis. All, except Apple Bloom. Zexis himself wrote the first question on the board. "Stallions find themselves being discriminated in Equestrian Society. Explain why.", read Zexis and looked back at the class. "Any answers? Twist?" The red-maned filly propped up her glasses and frowned. "Well, I didn´t experience discriminations against stallions, but...if have to make a guess it would be because of....birth numbers?", she said unsure. "How do you come to that conclusion?" Zexis waved at her to continue. "Well, statistically for every stallion born, there are two mares born as well. So, that would leave to some differences I think." Zexis nodded and wrote her answer on the board. "That´s right. This 1/2 male-female ratio leads to a clear imbalance in the population. And imbalance leads to discrimination.", he explained. Then he pointed at Apple Bloom. "If I remember correctly, your brother talked with you about this at the hospital, right?" Apple Bloom looked up, her dull eyes meeting Zexis and she nodded. "Yes sir. Brother said, that stallions are often overlooked in favour of mares, when it comes to jobs. Especially for anything that ain´t hard labor. They have great trouble becoming teachers, for example.", she answered. Zexis nodded. They had drilled that into her head during her stay in the hospital, along other things. It seemed to have stuck. "If we exclude me and Dr. Time Turner, almost eighty percent of educational staff is female. The same goes for the goverment jobs, sciences and the arcane disciplines. Barring military services and constructions, stallions are a big minority in all parts of society. And in the latter two they barely make out fifty percent. Seems a bit strange, don´t you think?" Now Diamond Tiara spoke up, not showing her hand. "Why? If stallions are only one third of the population then of course they are not being represented?" "But we are not talking about thirty percent here, Tiara. And please show me your hand, if you want to speak. We are talking twenty, even ten percent. Most stallions stay at home raising the kids or have no jobs at all. Why is that?" "Because mares are better.", said the spoiled filly. A small silence followed that statement. She looked around, frowning at the lack of support. "Oh come on, its true! Mares are smarter than stallions. All princesses are mares and the Elements too!", she said haughtily. Zexis wrote the statement down. "Mares are simply better...", he said, tasting the words on his tongue. Then he turned around to face Diamond Tiara. "You know, this sentence is a very good example...for gender discrimination." "Now it is a sentiment that I can understand you for having. And a lot of your friends here probably agree with you, even if they don´t say it out loud." Sweetie wanted to open her mouth, but Zexis held his hand up and stopped her. "It makes sense, if you look back. Like you said, almost all the great leaders in the history of Equestria were mares and Celestia and Luna themselves are a good example of the perceived superiority of mares." "But it´s a sentiment based on flawed logic." He looked around, catching each of his students gaze. "Because you are so used to statistical evidence, you don´t perceive the fallacies that can come with it." "Because Equestrian Society is a matrilineal society, mares obtain more chances to showcase their ability and leadership. Because they have more chances, they subsequently achieve more successes just on sheer chance alone. On the flipside, stallions have a harder time reaching the same amount of success, due to the difficulties obtaining a position of power in the first place and therefore the illusion of them being less skilled comes into existence." "This fallacy gets used as an excuse to bar them from more opportunities of authorities and power and the cycle continues. All of this, leads to the very same discriminatory statement you just brought forth, Tiara.", said Zexis. Then a smile crept up his lips. "I´m now going to suggest something pretty outlandish for your ears. I think mares are the expendable gender." He looked around and sure enough confusion could be seen on the faces on the fillies. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon even seemed offended. "Mr. Chikelu, this is...stupid! Why should we be expendable. We rule Equestria!", protested Silver Spoon angrily. Zexis waited until the room calmed down and then continued. "Simple reason. Math and Sociology. Because stallions only make up one third of the population we have, as stated before, an imbalance. But for , well, procreation you need both genders to participate. That means that unless multiple mares share one stallion, a few mares will always lack a partner for producing offspring, one of the fundamental desires of our bodies. This means there is competition among mares to find a partner and because of the bigger pool of choices, the stallions usually have the first say in which partner they prefer." Zexis gauged the reaction of the room. Most fillies now listened intently, though some of them blushed about his casual mention of sex. His scientific, even sterile wording however kept it from becoming an issue. "This all leads to one conclusion. Stallions are valuable. Just by the sheer mathematical rarity. And that means that any position that may threaten their numbers, gets overtaken by the mares in order to ensure their survival. And which position in society is the most hazardous? Warriors." Now Dinky raised her hand. "But you said that the military is one of few jobs, stallions are not a complete minority." "Yes, now.", countered Zexis, "But thousands of years ago, at the beginning of pony culture, this was not the case. Back then, warfare was a mare´s job. And because of this they gained access to one of the most easiest ways to acquire power: Violence. Through violence, warfare and the prestige tied to it, they took over the leadership position. This then expanded into almost all positions of authority in society. A state that had prevailed almost entirely until today." "And it´s not because mares are superior and smarter than stallions. It because mares are expendable. A loss of their lives can be taken by a society without threatening their survival. A stallion cannot be risked so easily and as such are of more worth to society and are sheltered. This is the main reason why mares get privileged positions and stallions get inferior ones.", explained Zexis, looking at his students. Diamond and Silver seemed completely unconvinced, but the rest looked thoughtful. It helped that Zexis argument was founded on logic, instead of emotional arguments. If he was honest, there were more reason to it. Arguments that would actually support the theory of male superiority, but he figured that it was too early for that. First he needed to shake their confidence in their own privileges. He clapped in his hands. "Now, let´s continue the test. On to the next question. Don´t worry, we have a lot of time." The fillies groaned. ... "And repeat after me: Mares are expendable." "Mares are expendable.", repeated the entire classroom. Most of them had glazed eyes and heavily flushed cheeks. The incense had dug its way into their brain and made them suggestible. Zexis grinned. He was making more progress than he thought. "Your privileges are based on injustices." "Our privileges are based on injustices." "Very good.", said Zexis and looked at the clock. "And we are almost out of time." That seemed to wake the fillies up, especially Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who seemed glad for this lesson to be over. Most of them began to talk to each other or pack their backpacks. "Now, please remember about your homework: Research possible solutions to the societal dicrepancies and write down possible ways to elevate stallions to higher status. Have a nice day!" With that he opened the door and with the fresh air, new life sprang up in the students, who now streamed out of the classroom. As Zexis packed in his own papers, he was prodded by someone behind him. He turned around and saw Dinky. The little filly looked a bit ashamed, but determinded, as she bowed her head to Zexis. "I wanted to apologize. It is truly inexcusable what we mares did to stallions all this time.", she said. Zexis just laughed and held her chin upward. She blushed at his touch and he grinned inside, happy about the reaction. "It´s fine. You cannot help yourself there. It was just the way your were brought up. Next time, I will go into detail about...well the other factors, but for now you should know that I don´t hold it against you. You are young, you can still change." The blond unicorn smiled at that and joined her friends, as she waved goodbye to her teacher. Zexis just waved back and whispered: "Indeed, you will change..." His eyes went outside, seeing the colts leave the building as well. Others than the fillies, who mostly looked thoughtful and discussed the last lesson, the colts seemed to look either excited or...proud. Rumble in particular grinned from ear to ear and Zexis could spot how he looked at the fillies, his eyes having an almost predatory look on them. The zebra smiled. Seemed like Miss Cheerilee had been even more successful in...liberating her students than he had. Diamond Tiara walked up to an expensive looking carriage, drawn by two strong stallions. On it sat an older mare with a light pink fur and highly stylized violet hair. As her daughter entered the carriage she seemed to ask her something and Diamond´s answer prompted her to look to the school. Her eyes had a steely gaze and for a brief moment, Zexis had the feeling she had seen him. Then she gave a command to her driver, a stallion with a silver coat and bushy moustache, and they were off. He shrugged his shoulders and turned around. A quick glance showed that the room was empty. And when he looked out in the corridor, it was deserted as well. Then he walked up the cupboard in the back. He opened the door and looked at Scootaloo. The young mare sat in the corner, her eyes glazed and broken. She was naked, except the ropes with which she was bound and the gag in her mouth. A dildo stuck in her sopping wet cunt and two vibrators were taped to her nipples. The entire space stank of sweat and juices. A smell that had been covered by the incenses the entire time. Zexis grinned and slapped her lightly on the cheek. "Wake up, sunshine.", he whispered. "Mmphhfff?" Scootaloo looked up and saw her master. A dumb grin appeared on her face and she leaned in to rub her muzzle against his hand. She looked utterly tired and wrecked, as she tried to crawl out of the cupboard. "Oh no no no...", said Zexis and pushed her back gently. "I can´t play with you, yet. I still have a date. But after that, I will give you all fun you want. So stay here a bit longer, will you?" The filly stared at him, before slowly nodding. Then her dildo vibrated and a muffled moan went through her gag, as the piece prodded her oversensitive pussy. Zexy just smiled and closed the door. At the edge of the Everfree, early afternoon "There you are!", said Starlight Glimmer, as she saw Zexis walking down the street towards the Everfree. She stood there, hands at her hips and looking a bit displeased. "We were about to go without you. What took you so long?" "Sorry, still had to make some preparations back home. Didn´t want to go into this empty-handed.", said Zexis. He pulled back his sleeve and showed his arm. On his striped fur were intricate lines, that continued from his stripes or intersected them in an intricate pattern of runes and signs. "Ooooh!", exclaimed Twilight, as she examined Zexis arm. "Is that arcane ink?" The princess wore a thick, sleeveless dark violet robe, that brimmed with magical power. Her arms were covered by long gloves that went up to her upper arms and were stitched with runic patterns. On her head was an tiara, that Zexis recognized as a magical focus. "Indeed. I made some myself and applied it in the ancient arts of tattoo of my people. Kinda like spellscribing, only on your body. It´s basic, at this point and only holds one spell. But I think I can enhance it later on to contain more.", explained Zexis. It was an idea had gained yesterday. Along with some instructions in the enchanment and alchemy books, he had been able to craft some arcane ink and capture some magical essence. It had been an arduous process, but in the end he had made enough progress, that he could expect better results later on. "And what spell did you store?", asked Starlight, her curiosity also piqued. She wore a similar get-up to Twilight. Her robe was light-green and resembled more a traditional cloak, with hood and all. She also carried a weird staff, with two protusions from it like a wishbone and twisted in the middle. "Just Reinforcement. Given that you are much better spellcaster than me, I figured that a bit durability in close combat couldn´t help. Not that I expect anything coming close to us, with you three here." Zexis smiled at Twilight, who grinned proudly and looked at Spike and Starlight. Spike himself looked like his usual self. He held a small rod with a blue sapphire on it and had nothing else on him. He seemed determined, as he looked at forest before him. "Stronger bones and skin can only help us. Rockodiles are not deterred by simple beams and there are enough beasts in the Everfree that don´t care much for shields.", he stated grimly. "If everything goes right, we won´t have to worry about that.", said Starlight. "The Tracker located Zecora half an hour ago in the border regions of the forest west from here. So we don´t have to go deep." "And if we do come upon something really dangerous, I can always teleport us out.", added Twilight. Then she stepped towards the forest. "Now, lets go. We have a friend to save." Zexis and the others nodded and together they entered the cursed, wild Everfree. Zexis smiled a bit. Spike looked at him. "Something funny?", he asked. "No, not really.", answered the zebra, shaking his head. "I just thought, that this is how books usually start. You know, heroic adventurers entering a dungeon - or forest in this case. Never thought to be part of it..." The little dragon chuckled a bit. "Well, get used to that. Twilight always gets into trouble. And it seems like you are now part of the group, she will drag into it." "What kind of group?" "My friends.", said Twilight, looking back and smiling at Zexis. "The people, who help me and are willing to go out of their way to help others. I think it wouldn´t be wrong to call you that now." For a moment Zexis was speechless. His face fell. Twilight blinked confused and stopped walking, as she saw the zebra stallion freeze. "Everything okay? Did I offend you?" Zexis shook his head and gave her smile. "No! Its okay...I´m just not used...to this.", he said, "To be honest, you´re the first one to call me a...friend." The princess expression changed to pity. "Oh...well, if that´s the case..." Then she smiled at him, making his heart flutter. "We should make sure that I won´t be the last, Zexis!" With that she winked at him and strode forward. Zexis looked back at her and for a moment he felt strange...almost sad. No, it was something else. More like...disappointment. At himself. That he needed to lie to that mare. That he manipulated her, who only helped him and supported him the entire time. It was alien, to feel that way. To feel guilty. He did not like it. He shook his head and continued onwards, following the others. So deep in his own conflicting thoughts was he, that he did not see Starlight looking at him from the side and her eyes narrowing. ... "Arcana fulgens!" Starlights staff glowed, aether flowing from her horn into the rod, gathering in a condensed ball of energy. Then it burst forth in a beam of light striking moss-golem in front of them. The golem was thrown on his back and the impact shattered it into hundreds of tiny pieces that were lit on the fire by the powerful spell. Starlight eased her stance an looked around. "That´s the last one.", she said. Around the laid them remnants of Timberwolves, burned, charred and scattered. Twilight hovered down from her spot in the air, he wide wings folding on her back. Spike spat out a piece of left-over dragon spit, that burned in small hole in the grass. "Seems that way.", he said, before turning around to Zexis, who was kneeling on the ground. "Any more problems?" "No. That was all.", answered the zebra and stood up. He wiped the sweat from his brow. "The Will has retreated for the time being. But we should hurry. I don´t want to know, what it throws at us next." Twilight nodded. "Good that you can tap into the arcane network of the forest. Otherwise they surely would have ambushed us here.", she praised him. Zexis just grinned. "Well, I can´t compete with you when it comes to fighting. So, I´m just glad that I can be of some use.", he said humbly. Again that twinge of guilt at lying to Twilight. The truth was that the Will had retreated at his behest. Zexis had originally planned to split the group through some ambushes, but seeing their combat prowess, it was clear to him that that was a fruitless endeavour. Starlights rapid fire spellwork made mincemeat out of anything big and Spikes fire-breath took care of the small fry. Add to that Twilight´s support spells and the fact that she could teleport them out of anything that seemed too dangerous and it was clear that short of an actual dragon, nothing could give this group trouble. So, he abandoned that plan and asked the Will to let up. Not easy, given their earlier conversation, but he had succeeded in the end. Even something as angry and ancient as the Everfree didn´t want to mess with Twilight Sparkle, if it wasn´t strictly necessary. The rod in Spikes hand began to glow. "Ah, seems we´re close.", said the dragon and marched forward, following the direction the device pointed to. "I wasn´t aware that you had such a deep connection to the land.", mused Starlight, as they followed the dragon. Zexis shrugged his shoulders. "It´s plants actually. My tribe´s affinity was always strong in that regard and as a son to a witch-doctor...well, I have picked up a thing or two.", he said. The unicorn nodded, stroking her chin. "True, but even so I don´t think there are many who can connect to something so wild and unstable like wild magic. Especially the Everfree." "Is that a compliment?", joked Zexis and grinned. "I must admit, I´m a little bit proud if what you´re saying is true. Seems like I am more skilled than I thought." "Hmm, maybe...", said Starlight skeptically. "Or you have an affinity to this particular kind of entity." She looked at him from the side and her eyes were sharp as she mustered him. "Say, do you have any experiences with certain spells like...mind control or the like?" Zexis immediately got wary. This mare was smart. Too smart. He still put on a deceptive smile and laughed. "Oh please, no. I left that unsavory practice behind, when I left my tribe. In fact, it was the very reason I walked away in the first place. Terrible things.", he lied smoothly. Starlight nodded, but didn´t let up. "Indeed. But I think---" "I found her!", yelled Spike, bringing their conversation to a sudden end and earning himself a silent thanks from Zexis for getting that mare of his back. They all rushed forward, Spike parting the leaves in front of him. Then they stared at the wide field of the blue Poison Joke. And the deformed, naked zebra inside of it. Zecora moaned and writhed on the ground, her hand deep into her dripping snatch, as she masturbated in broad daylight. Twilight gasped at the sight and even Starlight looked utterly shocked. Then Zecora saw them and a mad grin appeared on her face. Her hand whipped forward and she pointed at Zexis. "Cooooooooooock.....", she moaned. Her thick, juicy lips smacking against each other. She giggled, as she licked them and now looked at Spike. "Need coooock.....more.....fuuucking...." Twilight held her hand before her mouth. "Oh my gods....Zecora, no....", she whispered. Her horn lit up and Zecora was enveloped in a violet aura, before she was picked up by Twilight and levitated out of the flowerfield. She giggled as she touched the ground. Nothing was left of the former shamaness, as she crawled towards Zexis, grabbed his leg and grinned upwards to him. Her tongue hang out and she grinned stupidly. "Need a good fuuucking. Please, fuuuck meeee...." Zexis gently pried her arms from his legs and looked at the others. Spike looked away, clearly uncomfortable. Starlight looked at Zecora in her usual analytical way, probably trying to figure out what happened to her. And Twilight... Twilight was crying. She just stared at Zecora, her face torn in grief, her hand before her mouth. "We are too late....by Celestia, we are too late...", she sobbed. And Zexis again felt that stabbing pain in his chest. Seeing Twilight like that...knowing that it was him who caused her distress. He didn´t care for Zecora or Spike or Starlight. But seeing Twilight like that. It made him feel like....like a monster. He looked down on Zecora. All triumph and glee he felt from her fall had evaporated. As he heard Twilight cries behind him, he felt nothing but....guilt. He gritted his teeth. His hands went into his trousers and he pulled out a small pouch. He opened it and poured a small bit of white powder into his hands. He kneeled down, so he was at eye level with the broken zebra. And then blew the powder into her face. Zecora hacked and coughed, before taking a deep breath. Her eyes fluttered and moments later her arms and legs gave out and she fell to the ground. Asleep. "Let´s bring her to Ponyville. To the hospital", said Zexis. "Good idea. We...surely they will find a cure there.", said Starlight and took off her cloak, throwing it over Zecoras naked body. "Twilight, can you teleport us out of here? The faster we bring her into medical care, the better." Twilight nodded, still clearly distressed. Her horn glowed and with a loud BAMF they vanished. Ponyville Hospital "As far as we can determine, she suffers under an overdosage of Poison Joke.", said Dr. Sharp Needle. The green unicorn stallion looked at his clipboard. His horn was long and filed to an almost comical sharpness. How he didn´t stab somepony with it every day, was a small miracle. Twilight gasped in shock. "Th-that´s treatable, right? I have the recipe for the antidote. I can---" "I´m sorry, princess.", Needle interrupted her. He pulled the glasses from his nose and looked at her with pity. "I´m afraid with such a strong infection...it is most likely permament..." The alicorn just stared at him, before breaking down. Her legs gave out under her and she fell down on a nearby chair. Spike walked up to her and gave her a consoling hug. Starlight turned to the doctor. "And there is nothing we can do?" The stallion shook his head. "I can ask for Dr. Simmer from Canterlot. She is the foremost expert on magical diseases, but...." He scratched his head, trying to think of something. "Maybe her body works through the poison on its own. But that takes time...." He looked with sad eyes at the group. "I´m sorry. There is nothing I can do." With that he left them, walking back into the patient-room. Zexis looked at him through the glass, as he stood over Zecoras unconscious body. The others were too occupied with their grief, but he saw the lust of the stallion as he stared over the thick curves of the cursed zebra. It seemed like Redheart had already begun her work on the staff. But Zexis wasn´t happy. All the joy he could feel on the successful deception had turned to ash in his mouth. All because of Twilight´s pain. It was strange to see her like this. He wanted her to smile, to laugh. To look at him, rather than cry into her hands. It was irritating. Frustrating. He turned around to the others. "You´re....going to be fine?", he asked awkwardly. Starlight looked at him, before nodding. "Yes....we´re going to bring Twilight back to the castle. And begin to research a cure. There must be something there." Zexis nodded. "Good luck with that." Then he looked over to Twilight. He opened his mouth. Just a lie. Like usual. A sweet, comforting lie, that would make her smile and blow away her worries. But he couldn´t. He closed his mouth and turned away. "I´m sorry.", he mumbled and walked away. Scoots screamed in lust as Zexis thrusted forward. Again and again, he pounded the young mare like a madstallion, rocking the table on which she lay. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!!", he cursed and punched deeper. The filly just gargled in joy and pain as his prick hammered her insides. Her eyes had rolled into her head and she just hanged over the table limp, getting reamed like blow-up doll. "Stupid! Fucking! SHIT!", yelled Zexis. "I couldn´t do jack! Just stood there like an idiot! I could have talked to Spike! Maybe egg him on. Or put some fucking drugs into his body and tell him to jack off to Zecora. Anything to stop that baby from being a fucking cuck!" He slapped the orange pegasus´ ass, which was beet-red from all the abuse. "I could have done something about that stupid Starlight-bitch! Talk to her! Mess with her! But I didn´t do shit!" He grunted and felt his climax approaching. In one final thrust he delved forward, hilting himself in the slutty young mare. His cockhead flared and his balls contracted, as his spunk filled Scootaloo´s womb and bringing the depraved pegasus to her own spasming orgasm. As Zexis´ high dissipated, he pulled out. He let the filly go, letting her lay with her back on the schooltable. Her belly had a nice bump, that on good days would have given Zexis another hard-on. But today all his energy was gone. His frustration and rage had evaporated and were replaced by melancholy, as he stared into the empty classroom. "What the fuck is wrong with me?", he asked. "Oh, I would have a whole list for that." Zexis sprang up. His head jerked around to the direction the voice had come from. There, in the frame of the door, stood an older mare with a light pink fur and highly stylized violet hair. Beside her a big stallion with silver coat and a bushy moustache in butler uniform. "Let´s begin with Number One: Zexis Chikelu fucks his own students.", said Spoiled Rich. Relationships updated! Apple Bloom Willpower: 2-2/10 Corruption: 2+2/10 Lust: 7/10 Secrets: locked Traits: submissive, obedient Sweetie Belle Willpower: 2-1/10 Corruption: 0+4/10 Lust: 1+4/10 Secrets: locked Traits: jailbait, submissive, intelligent, locked Button Mash Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 0+4/10 Lust: 5+3/10 Secrets: locked Traits: dominant, locked Pipsqueak Willpower: 4/10 Corruption: 0+4/10 Lust: 3+5/10 Secrets: locked Traits: dominant, locked Rumble Willpower: 6/10 Corruption: 3+6/10 Lust: 4+4/10 Secrets:wants to fuck his classmates Traits: dexterous, agile, handsome, very dominant, locked Diamond Tiara Willpower: 5-1/10 Corruption: 4+1/10 Lust: 0+4/10 Secrets:locked Traits: pretty, rich, locked New Relationships! Silver Spoon Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 4/10 Lust: 5/10 Secrets:locked Traits: submissive, rich, locked Dinky Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 2/10 Lust: 4/10 Secrets:locked Traits: poor, pretty, submissive, locked Twist Willpower: 2/10 Corruption: 3/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets:locked Traits: intelligent, submissive, locked Spoiled Rich Willpower: 7/10 Corruption: 7/10 Lust: 2/10 Secrets: locked Traits: locked Tin Soldier Willpower: 5/10 Corruption: 2/10 Lust: 6/10 Secrets: locked Skills: Battle-butler Traits: extremely tough, strong, intelligent, locked New Recipe! Arcane Tattoos: This ink allows oneself to inscribe spells on ones own body, enabling spellcasting even for those unskilled in the magical arts. The amount and power of the spells depends on the craftmanship of the tattoos and the quality of the ink. Caution: Spells stronger than the enchanting ability of the user, can put enorm stress on ones body. In extreme cases they will such things as: Spontanous combustion, loss of limbs and or brain hemorrhage. CP: 4

My Little Corruption

Slipping Control

Zebris's actually feeling guilty. Shit, I knew this was bad. We need to make him cut ties with Twilight for the time being or find ways to corrupt her as fast as possible so she'll be "happy" with his actions. Either way, something must be done. On the flipside, It look like Spoiled Bitch decided to confront him directly. She wouldn't have bothered if she had alerted the authorities, so we're good on this part. Considering her personality, she likely intend to blackmail him for favors wich present an opportunity. Indeed, someone who believe themselves in control is more easily manipulated, so he'll have plenty of chance to take control without her noticing. Let's see what she want first. BZZZZZZZT...........Click! Well Zexis fucked that up! Lets see what we can suggest to fix this situation. First we can assume with reasonable certainty that Spoiled Rich wants to blackmail us for some sort of favour other wise there would be little point to her announcing herself rather than getting the authorities. If we assume this we have a small amount of room to negotiate the key to this is make sure we control the situation or flow of the conversation. Unfortunately Zexis is already on the back foot hear as he has been caught in comprising position and thus is already lost control of the situation. In such situation the best way to regain control of the situation is to surprise your opponent by doing something unexpected or the opposite of what they expect. In this case I recommend that Zexis picks up Scootaloo and continue fucking her brains out while stating that she get on with her demands for keeping this secret. Hopefully this will throw off her game as I rather doubt Spolied would expect anyone to continue acting in such as way particular in such a situation. Also offer for her and friend to take a seat as you may be a while, this will most likely make her angry as Zexis is not treating her with any sort of respect. She should then either demand Zexis stop what he doing or will storm out. Now from here we have a few option we can either try to solve the situation now with a large gamble or try for a longer game. The gamble option or idea can only happen If she ask Zexis to stop. If this is the situation he should do so reluctantly then proceed to set up an area for discussion making sure to light some of the lust candles if he has any and claim them to be a aroma therapy candle to help him relax. Following this he should offer to put on some tea for their discussion and lace the whole pot with a heavy dose of the truth pills if he can making sure that he drinks the tea first to show that it appear harmless then making sure that both Spoiled and the the Butler drink the tea. If Spoiled and the butler drink the tea and the candle are on hopefully this might be enough to rise their lust to almost uncontrollable levels which Zexis can then hopeful use to start a orgy. Tin Soilder lust level are above average and we might be able to drive them over the edge even temporarily. I also have a suspicion that Tin Solider secret might be that he is Spoiled Riches lover/paramour I have no evidence for this but she clearly trust him enough to let him watch as she blackmail a someone who is breaking at least a dozen laws. If we can do this we can turn the situation on Spoiled Rich and black mail her right back particular if we can get some photos of them in the act even better if we have a couple with Scootaloo invoved. But as I stated this is a huge gamble option. The safer option would be to find out what Spoiled Rich wants and if possible Identify what makes her corruption so high and try to push it to the max over time as well as pushing Tin Soldiers lust as high as possible. After all as Kors stated it is always so much easier to manipulate some one who thinks there in control. But this will take time and I would not be surprised if Spoiled would try to back stab us later which means Zexis would have a metaphorical execution axe over his head until her could solve this situation. Any way these are the two general approaches that I can see to deal with our current situation we technically could try to fight but I doubt that it would work out well particularly with Tin Solider ability of Battle Butler. Unless Scootlaloo could distract him long enough for us to capture and hold Spoiled in a position that we could then leverage Tin Soilder into doing as we ask such as taking a couple of dosages of the Truth Pills and then having Scootaloo getting him horny enough to let his lust take control. But I highly doubt that she could do it What ever we chose to do I do not think we should have Spoiled as a ally she is to likely to stab us in the back and besides I would like to see her perfect image ruined. Now the other issue which lead to Zexis current situation is Princess Sparkle and her "Friendship Aura" which is affecting our avatar making him feel guilt and wanting to be friends with Twilight. At the moment their is little we can do about this other than have Zexis keep his distance from her until we can increase his stats hopefully increasing our Dominant trait will help with this as it states that it does help protect against mental magic and with our Enhanced Dominance ability it should hopefully be more effective. All well that all I can think of at the moment and I have a load of paper work to do so that it for now. yours sincerely From the Archives of Enlightenment, Forbidden Division BZZZZZZZT...........Click! Well, this is a fine pickle. I recommend hearing her out, seeing what she wants. See if you can find a way to drug her and the butler at the same time, maybe try the incense or something. Best case scenario, we are able to turn her own bodyguard against her, at least temporarily, and have her give in to her lust for a bit. In that case, we could try and blackmail her back with photos or something, provided Zexis has a camera. Spoiled Bitch Rich is solely concerned with her own ego and public standing, meaning if we can dig up some dirt on her, she'll do almost anything to keep it from coming out... just be careful not to let your guard down, she may try to attack you to save her image. Someone else suggested talking to her husband, trying to corrupt him and thus, her by proxy - let's see if we can't turn her into a proper housewife who knows her true place in society... and it sure ain't at the top! If anything, it's on all fours at the bottom, sucking on any dick pointed her way. Once the threat is dealt with, then we can focus again on the kids' proper educations, and on what to do with Twilight. I still recommend saving that corrupted memory potion for her, as it is a guaranteed success - the only barrier would be Zexis' feelings towards her. See if you can make some kind of shielding charm, I think her ambient magic is doing something to your mind. With those feelings out of the way... she's all yours. Spoiled Rich's hoofsteps rang sharply throughout the quiet room as she entered, her head held high, and her gaze fixed on Zexis. Zexis stared back at her in shock, transfixed by her icy blue gaze. She scowled at him in disgust. Tearing his gaze away from her accusing stare, he took in other details of her appearance. His eyes were drawn first to her breasts. He estimated them to be about a C-Cup, the lines of them outlined behind a beautiful purple blouse, with her wide hips accentuated by a flowing black skirt that made her seem to glide as she moved across the ground. Her makeup was clear, but not overdone. A golden necklace graced her neck and two rings on her left hand glimmered brightly, showcasing her wealth. Under other circumstances, Zexis would have been misled into seeing her as little more than eyecandy. But in that regard, he couldn't have been more wrong. There was a reason why Spoiled Rich was as successful as she was, and it wasn't just due to riding on her husband's coattails. "You know, I had been wondering what possessed Cheerilee to give someone like you a teaching position.", mused Spoiled as she ran a finger idly over one of the school desks. She pulled them up and frowned as she saw the dust on her fingertips. "An Immigrant, with no background, no teaching certificate, and above all else..." she looked Zexis up and down, clicking her tongue. "A stallion.", she said, as if everything was said by that. As she continued to pace, Zexis looked around, hoping some solution would present itself. Her bodyguard stood by the door, an imposing earth pony with a silver-grey coat and broad frame. A bushy moustache covered most of his face and his brown eyes looked disinterested, as if he was just doing his job. His heavy body made him look smaller than he actually was. He looked dangerous enough in his own right, but he also had a loaded crossbow in his hand. Currently it was pointed at the floor, but Zexis had no doubt that any threat to Rich would result in a bolt through the chest. At this short range, it would be very hard for even an unskilled crossbowman to miss his mark, and this earth pony had the look of an experienced veteran. A fight was therefore not a good idea. Zexis looked beside him. Scoots was laying on the floor. She was still out of it, riding her orgasmic high with a dumb look on her face. Jizz was trickling out of her pussy slowly. Assistance from her was unlikely. The zebra sighed. He had been caught with his pants down. Literally! He couldn't fight, and escaping would only be marginally better. All in all, his options were very limited. He looked back to Spoiled Rich. "Well, you caught me.", he said, defeated. "So, what do you want?" "What makes you think I want anything?", asked the mare haughtily. She had stopped pacing and now stood by the window, blocking his escape route. The mare was not stupid, noted Zexis. "Because you are here, talking with me. If you wanted to turn me in, I think you would have already done it. You could simply have notified the city guard, and they would be arresting me at this very moment. Gloating is something you could do through the bars of a cell while I'm imprisoned. No, the fact that you came in person indicates that you have some motive other than doing your civic duty." Spoiled smirked and looked him over once more. She didn't answer immediately, instead letting her eyes wander over to Scootaloo. Again, an expression of disgust crossed her face, but this time coupled with something that sent an uneasy chill down his spine: Calculation. Eventually, Rich broke the silence. "You are a degenerate, Mr. Chikelu.", she stated. "You are a brute, a liar, and a fillyfooler. You wormed your way into Ponyville, and into this school. A fatal mistake for you." Her piercing gaze moved back to rest on him once more. "Because you tried to take what is mine." Again that smirk. "The reason why I haven't called the guard is because I wouldn't get anything out of it. But if I catch you, well. Depending to whom I sell you...." "I´m sure the Mayor would be much more enthusiastic in supporting my endeavors if I were to lock up a serial sex offender for her. Or I could leverage your misdeeds to gain more influence on the school board." A sadistic smile appeared on her lips as she gave him a knowing look. "And I'm pretty sure Princess Twilight would be very interested to hear what you have been up to. A princess in my debt. Doesn't that sound lovely?" Zexis swallowed. He was trying to keep his cool, but panic was starting to set in on the edges of his mind. The situation was deteriorating rapidly. If Twilight found out, she would view him as a horrible pony. Not to mention, all of his plans would be ruined, all of his work for naught! He shook his head. He needed to focus! There had to be a way out of this. If Spoiled Rich had wanted to ruin him, she could have already done it, without wasting her time here. No, this was a bargaining strategy. She was trying to push up the price by which he had to sell himself. Zexis looked up to the older mare. She wanted to play this game? Fine, he would oblige her. He cleared his throat. "Fine words. But I don't think that's really what you want." "And why not?" "Because I am much more worth to you as your agent than I am behind bars." Zexis watched her, looking for any reaction. Spoiled kept her face neutral, but her eyes didn't leave him. "I doubt that. What possible use could a pony like you be?" "I have talents. Talents that could be much more useful to you even than the favor of a princess.", said Zexis. "I can do things nopony else would be willing to do. I can get rid of rivals and obstacles. I can give you allies and... servants. You want the school? Fine, keep it. But I´m willing to bet that deep down, you desire more than just a ramshackle building with some fillies inside of it." He leaned back in his chair, parting his legs and letting her get a good view of his toned chest. "Maybe some fun on your own?", he asked with a confident smile. He didn't count on seducing her, but even just making her flustered would be a win. Spoiled Rich again showed no reaction, instead inspecting her fingernails. Then she gave a sharp, short laugh. She looked over to her bodyguard. "See? I told you, Tin. He is so predictable." Zexis shot a confused glance at the stallion, who just shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever you say, ma'am." Spoiled snickered. Then she stepped forward and grabbed Zexis' chin, forcing him to look at her again. "I know stallions like you, Mr. Chikelu. You think you can survive in this situation? That you have control? That you can manipulate me? Please." She let him go, walking back to the window again, and looking out over the schoolyard. "You stallions are so easy to understand. All of your thoughts' originate from that thing between your legs." She snorted in disgust. "I don´t need you. Your skills are not as exclusive as you think they are. I can easily afford as many professional sweet-talkers and charming playstallions as I desire. You are an amateur." She turned around and walked through the door. "We're finished here. I thought you would be worth something. Disappointingly, it is not the case.", she said. "Tin Soldier, notify the princess. We have a friendship problem for her." Zexis let his head hang. This was it. He had overplayed his hand. There was no other option left to him but to fight. If Spoiled reached Twilight it would be the end for him. As slim as his chances seemed, he needed to attempt to get rid of her and her bodyguard by force. He tensed up. First, he would strike the stallion. Close the distance before he could raise the crossbow. With a bit of luck, he would be fast enough. Then a kick to the groin, a strike to the neck, crushing his windpipe. After that, he would deal with Spoiled. How he would hide the bodies and cover everything up, he didn´t know. But he could worry about that later. "Wha---What is going on?" Just as Zexis was just about to jump into action, a movement to the side caught his eye. Scootaloo was regaining her consciousness. The filly groggily tried to prop herself up, shivering at the cold. "Fuck, that was...awesome.", she mumbled and giggled. Zexis stared at her. Then he got an idea. "Scoots?", he said, getting her attention. "Yes?" "Slap yourself." SLAP! Spoiled turned around at the sound. To her surprise, she saw Scootaloo holding her cheek with a grin, a red imprint of her hand on it. "What are you doing?", she asked. "Following my orders.", answered the young mare, without a care in the world. Zexis smiled. "Do it again. Harder.", he ordered her. The orange pegasus nodded and raised her right hand. With a loud slap she hit herself again. Her head rocking to the other side. Instead of wincing at the pain, she grinned happily. Then, without hesitation, she repeated the process. Left, right, left, right. Slapping herself over and over, shivering and twitching. Finally she stopped, with swollen cheeks, shivering from arousal and pain. Zexis looked to Spoiled, who stood at the door staring at the filly. Her expression conveyed a mix of disgust, bewilderment and, again, cold calculation. "Can your money buy that too?", he asked softly. She looked at him, now with renewed interest. "What did you do to her?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I trained her. With my...skills." He grinned. The mare didn´t grin back. But she didn't walk out either. Instead her gaze moved back to Scootaloo again. The filly was now absentmindedly fingering her cum-stained pussy, not minding that she was naked in the slightest. Or caring about the fact that Spoiled was watching her. Finally, she nodded. "Change of plans. You will come over to my mansion tomorrow morning.", she told Zexis. She pointed at her bodyguard. "He will pick you up." Zexis gave a big sigh of relief on the inside, but kept his face neutral. "When?" "You will know when.", answered Spoiled Rich and walked out the door. Her butler followed her, but not before throwing a last look at Zexis and Scootaloo. Then, shouldering his crossbow, he walked away. Zexis waited until he was certain they were out of earshot. Then he slumped down on his chair, throwing his face in his hands. "Too fucking close.", he mumbled. All the tension left his body and he took several deep breaths to regain his composure. "Damn right! I nearly climaxed.", commented Scootaloo, pointing at her red cheeks. Then she gave him a greedy smile. "Wanna help with that?" Zexis gave her a playful slap, and the filly giggled in delight. The next morning, Flower Shop Zexis paced nervously back and forth in front of the Flower Shop. He had waited for close to an hour now, and his patience was wearing thin. He was very well aware that this was just another game Spoiled Rich played with him. She was letting him stew in his discomfort. The problem was, even knowing this Zexis couldn't do much about it. At any time, Spoiled could change her mind, and send the guard to show up and arrest him. He couldn't rest easy. Even worse, he couldn't even prepare much beyond the basics. He needed time for that and her envoy could show up at any moment. His teeth grated, even while he tried to keep on a happy facade, as customers visited the store. Most greeted him and he waved back as if everything was alright. Thankfully most of the ponies that came by weren't very astute, or if they were, they weren't making an issue of his discomfort. While he waited, he noticed that there seemed to be more stallions visiting the Flower Shop than usual. Good, that meant that the girls advances towards them had finally paid off. Coupling the flowers themselves with some of the trinkets they added to the bouquets had apparently caused a rumor to spread in town that their flowers brought good luck for ponies in love. Zexis sighed. That was one item of good news, at least. Roseluck had also recuperated enough to start working again, though she still seemed off, and needed to take a lot of breaks to cool off. But when this happened, her friends covered for her, and so far nopony had seen the need to pry deeper. But Zexis was aware that wouldn't work forever. He needed to step up his game, if he wanted to keep Roseluck's strange behaviour under wraps. The town needed to see her newfound promiscuity as something normal. As he looked up, he finally saw the butler approaching. He wore a long leather-jacket that metal studs in it. Coupled with the heavy crossbow over his back, he looked more like a warrior than a butler. It looked especially jarring when seen in the picturesque setting of Ponyville. Zexi wondered if he did it on purpose, or just wasn´t aware of it. He stepped up and bowed his head slightly. "Mrs. Rich will see you now, Mr. Chikelu.", he said. His voice was not too deep and had a raspy tone to it, like he had sand in his throat. Zexis nodded. "I guess you'll show me the way?" The stallion nodded and gestured for the zebra to follow him. As they walked down the road, Zexis cast oblique glances at his guide. With the daylight, he managed to pick up a few more details. The guard's eyes' were in constant motion, flicking between passing ponies, doorways, alleys, and other possible sources of threat. His gait gave the impression of controlled power, with no wasted motion. It seemed like this stallion was always on guard. A former soldier, perhaps? "I didn't catch your name last time.", said Zexis in hopes of getting a conversation going. "That's because I didn't tell you." Zexis sighed. was it too much to ask for a soldiering type like him to exhibit any kind of sociability? Then again, this guy had seen him fucking Scootaloo so it was to be expected that he would not have warm feelings towards Zexis. "Well, what is your name then?" "Tin Soldier." "Soldier. So, you used to be in the guard?" "No." The reply was curt, obviously intended to curtail any further discussion. An uncomfortable silence fell over them. The stallion was obviously not interested in talking, but what could break through the ice. Zexis pondered the question as they passed by various shops, stalls and merchants hawking their wares. If he could only get the soldier to open up to him a little, he could prove to be a valuable resource. Perhaps humor would work. Zexis tried again. "So, your boss's name is Filthy? Do you take mud baths together or something?" The guard sighed, and continued on, ignoring him. Zexis pushed ahead, unabashedly. "Because, if you do--" "We're here.", interrupted Tin Soldier. Zexis looked up, and took a few steps back. They stood before an iron gate. A path leading through a well manicured lawn stretched before them. It led to the porch of an extravagant manor house, with many floors, and large bay windows. On either side of the path, large fountains burbled noisily, and a large flower garden suffused the air with sweet aromas. The manor itself was big enough that Zexis was sure that before Twilight's Castle popped up, it must have been the biggest building in town. It took a moment for Zexis to notice that his jaw was open. He quickly closed it, as Tin Soldier opened the gate and led him inside. As they walked past the garden, Zexis could see two mares tending the flowers and greenery. Inside the manor, the main hall was filled with riches. Full sets of display armor stood like silent sentinels along one wall, and large portraits depicting famous ponies were on display. Every visible surface seemed to consist of either marble or gold. An elderly butler met them at the door, nodded to tin, then moved away. Zexis looked around and suddenly felt very self-conscious about his leather-jacket and jeans. On the other hand, he noticed that all of the wealth being displayed seemed very...on the nose. It was like the owners of this mansion wanted ponies to witness their power, practically throw it in their face. It didn't have that subtle beauty of the Friendship Castle, or the confident dominance of Canterlot. No, this seemed more like the house of somepony who was used to being poor and now was overcompensating by indulging in gaudy displays of wealth. At that moment, a door to the side opened and a middle-aged stallion stepped forth. His skin, underneath a formal black business suit and white undershirt, was of a light-brown color with his black mane styled neatly back. He saw Zexis and gave a perfect business smile, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. The kind that showed just enough friendliness without committing to the emotion strongly. "Ah, Mr. Chikelu. So nice to see you. I am Filthy Rich. Please call me Rich.", he said in a jovial tone of voice and stepped forward to shake Zexis hand. "I have heard a lot of good things about you." Zexis hid his surprise and smiled back. Apparently Spoiled had not told her husband. Curious. And convenient. He took Mr. Rich´s hand. "Thank you for inviting me." "You are most welcome, to be sure, although the invitation actually originated with my wife. She is most eager to meet you. You really seem to have caught her eye.", explained Filthy Rich and laughed. "Do I need to be worried?" "Certainly not", Zexis assured him, smiling. "It likely has to do with the education of your daughter. Diamond has been slacking on her homework these past few weeks." "Ah, yes. That might be it." Filthy nodded slowly. "That filly is in her rebellious phase right now. It had to come sooner or later. Though my dear wife seemed to have problems with her attitude. I´m sure--" "Filthy, dear, we must not keep our guest standing in the foyer.", A voice sounded from above. Spoiled Rich was descending the central staircase. In contrast to yesterday, she now wore blue, slim pants that hugged her bottom, and a black shirt with a tight collar and long sleeves that puffed out near her hands. "There you are, Spoiled. I was just having a nice chat with Mr. Chikelu here and--", started her husband. "And you have important business to tend to. It would be unwise to spend an undue amount of time here with my guest, darling. Let me see to him, I have certain matters I want to discuss with him that you needn't trouble yourself with." "Well, yes. But I thought--" "Filthy. Less thinking, more working. I take care of all unpleasantries. You focus on the things you're good at.", interrupted Spoiled once more, and this time Zexis could hear the venom in her voice. Filthy shut his mouth. He threw an apologetic smile to Zexis before quietly leaving the hall. The zebra looked after him. It was pretty obvious who truly ran this mansion. "Don't you think you should treat your husband better?", he commented. "Worry less about my marriage, and more about your own life, Mr. Chikelu. I am still playing with the idea of throwing you to the dogs. Figuratively speaking." She gestured him to follow her. "Come now. I want to discuss your situation in private." They walked up the stairs, and then through a hallway. At the end of it, Tin Soldier opened a door and Zexis stepped into what seemed to be Spoiled's private room. On the wall, he could see a portrait of a mare, who looked like a younger version of Spoiled Rich. There was also a table, build out of white wood, with a tea-set on it. Zexis opened his mouth, but Spoiled spoke first. "Tin, please give me some tea. Black, with lemon.", she ordered and her butler nodded, took the kettle and poured her in. Spoiled sat down and Zexis did the same. He noticed that he got no tea. Again, a clear play by Spoiled to show him who was in charge. The mare sipped from her tea-cup and looked at him with scrutiny. For a while nopony said anything. Zexis leaned back, letting his eyes wander over the room. He noticed that she had a bookshelf. He couldn't quite get a good view of it from where he sat, but he was pretty sure he could see a version of The Princess by Marechiavelli. There was also a cupboard, big enough so one could walk into it, and a king-sized bed. This in particular caught his eye. It told him that Spoiled did not sleep with her husband. "How did you do it?", asked Spoiled finally, interrupting the silence. "Come again?" "How did you train that no-good tomcolt? Scootaloo. She seemed...transformed." Zexis pondered that question. He needed to be careful here, what information he gave her. Too much and he would be giving away his secrets. Too little and she could lose her patience and surrender him to the authorities. "I have a certain talent, when it comes to mares. I saw that Scootaloo was vulnerable and I took advantage of that. A few nice words, a bit of empathy, and soon I could control her completely. Instilling loyalty in her was easy, considering I was the only one who could satisfy her." Spoiled raised an eyebrow. "Satisfy? What, she likes the pain?" Zexis nodded. "She is masochist. A dirty little secret that she hid. I just gave her the opportunity to... indulge in it. That was all." "That was all...", repeated Spoiled. Then she smirked in disgust. "Degenerate little miscreant. I knew that she wasn't right in her head." Zexis grit his teeth. He didn't like how she referred to Scoots. Sure, she was a weird filly. But she was only seeking pleasure, and this bitch had no right to insult her for that. At least, not without Zexis' approval. "I don't believe you." Zexis looked up in surprise. Spoiled's eyes pierced his and her smirk was once more replaced by her cold, calculating look. "That tomcolt is many things, but she is not stupid. Otherwise, I would have managed to get rid of her and her meddling friends a long time ago. You used something else." Zexis shook his head. "I swear to you, there was nothing else. I-I just...know how to push some buttons when it comes to mares. That´s all. Really!" "Really? Yeah, right." Sarcasm dripped from her voice. "Because you're so smart, Mr. Chikelu. Smart enough to get caught with your pants down while fucking a filly in school!", Spoiled sneered. "You can't fool me. I know that you did something to Diamond. When I came to pick her up, she was quiet. Obedient. She hasn´t been like that for years. What did you do!?" "Nothing! I'm just a simple teacher.", protested Zexis, now sweating. Spoiled sighed and turned to Tin Soldier. "Call the guards. I'm done with this idiot." Zexis jumped up, rocking the table and almost knocking over Spoilers cup, as he gesticulated wildly. "Wait! Wait!", he yelled in panic. "Fine! I admit it! I...drugged her!" Spoiled smirked. She pursed her lips and whistled. Tin stopped at the door and returned to his old position, guarding his mistress. "I knew it. What did you use? How did you get it?" Zexis sat down again, his head hanging in defeat. "It´s...an aphrodisiac. I made it myself.", he admitted. The mare nodded, as if she had expected his admission. "That explains it. I take it that you used it on Cheerilee as well?" When she saw Zexis nod, she laughed. "What's so funny?" "Oh, Mr. Chikelu. It's just...you stallions always try to rise above your station. Whether it be through money, marriage, or in your pathetic case, sex. And you still fail every time. Because you can never see beyond your own genitalia.", she explained smugly. "Unlike we mares. We are the rational gender. What you try to achieve with brute force, we acquire with wit. We can control our emotions. And that's why we control you. Or in this case, I." She pointed at the tea-cup which had nearly been knocked over in Zexis' outburst. Tin stepped closer, wiping away the fluid that had sloshed out, and then filled up the cup. Spoiled picked it up delicately, and took a deep sip. "Hmm, I just love tea.", she mused. "At any rate, it's about time you realize who is in charge here. I own you, Mr. Chikelu. I can ruin your life with a snap of my finger.", she explained. Then she laughed loud. "Heck, I can ruin Scootaloo's and Cheerilees life, while I am at it, given how they are involved." Zexis just sighed and ran his hand over his face. "What do you want?", he asked. Spoiled hiccuped and then giggled. "I want your loyalty. And your skills.", she answered. "I want more to be just the wife of a successful business-stallion. I want to get higher, to Canterlot. And I want this town under my hoof. School, mayor, princess. All of them.", Her breath quickened, and he could see her rising excitement. "And you are going to help me with that." She gave him an evil grin. So this is what it feels like, thought Zexis. To be used and manipulated. He couldn't say it was a nice feeling. But he would manage. "And what do you have in mind...mistress?" Spoiled leaned back and her grin got wider. "Hmmm, I like that. Address me from now on like that.", she said. "As for what I have in mind...well, given your abilities and this drug of yours...." "I want you to deal with that pesky Applejack! Make her agree to sell her apples to a better price to my husband and stop being such a nuisance." Zexis looked up in horror. "No! I can´t do that. She is an Element. Not to mention, I'm friends with her brother. You can't ask me to betray his family!" "Silence!", snapped Spoiled Rich and took another deep sip from her tea. "You know what? I'm gonna double down. I want you to break her! Fuck her, for all I care. That mare has been a thorn in my hoof long enough now, not to mention that her sister corrupted my Diamond. So, take care of her, or I will take care of you!" Zexis shivered, but relented. He clenched his fists to stop them from shaking and lowered his head. "I-I...I will. Just, please. Don't screw me over.", he begged. "Do your part and I won't.", said Spoiled. "I will give you two days to come up with a plan. After that you have a month to fulfill this task. Fail and you will suffer the consequences." She emptied the cup and let it fall on the table. "I've never felt so alive!", she murmured and smiled. "Oh, and something else.", she added. "You will leave my daughter alone. None of these supplementary lessons and the like." "Why?" "Why? Because she is my daughter, you simpleton.", spat the mare. "I need an heir for this family, even if she doesn't yet appreciate what I'm doing for her. Yes, she is frustrating and sometimes I think it would be better for me if I were to just start over again, but she is not a lost cause yet. I can still marry her off, after all." She laughed. "I take it back. You do have a way with mares. You certainly got me in the mood for a talk." Zexis couldn't hide a smile at that, and avoided her eyes. "Is that all?" Spoiled Rich giggled and waved her hand. "Yes, that is all. Tin Soldier here will keep you informed about my decisions and you will in turn refer to him if you want to contact me. Now, piss off." She snorted and now poured herself another cup of tea. Zexis nodded and slowly stood up. Tin opened the door for him and led him down the hallway. Just before Zexis was out of earshot, he could hear Spoiled say. "That's a good tea..." Zexis walked down the street, whistling a tune. In his hand he flipped a small, white pill up. It was a hormone pill. One of the same kind he had slipped into Spoiled Riches tea, when he had rocked the table and faked his emotional outburst. After that, it was a simple matter of controlling the conversation and ensuring that Spoiled would let her guard down. Thanks to that, he had not only gotten her support for corrupting Sweet Apple Acres. He also got a good view on the Riches family situation. A whipped husband, a power-hungry wife and a rebellious daughter. Zexis closed his hand around the pill and smiled. "We can control our emotions, huh?", he mused and looked back at the mansion. "Funny, how that goes..." Relationships updated! Spoiled Rich Willpower: 7-1/10 Corruption: 7/10 Lust: 2+1/10 Secrets: Wants to control all of Ponyville, Angry at her daughter Traits: intelligent, dominant, locked CP: 6

My Little Corruption

Fourth Interlude

Tartarus, Eros Sanctuary The walls shook and small cracks appeared. Small debris fell from above, as the entire hall rocked again and again. Eros stood at the side of his cavern, near the hidden entrance that led to the upper levels . His hands were pressed against the stone and his muscles were tense to the utmost. His sharp teeth ground against each other, as he held the entrance closed. "I told you already, Lilith! You can't come in! This is a private matter!", he hissed. The walls shook again, as something heavy battered the outside. "I AM BOOOOORED!!!" The voice boomed through the stone, only slightly dampened. The high-pitched tone was gone an instead replaced by a monstrous bass. "I know how you feel, but throwing a tantrum will not help. It will only get us attention from Cerberus. So stop behaving like a little child!" Eros horn sprung to life and his red aura began flow into the stone before him. Sharp and angry glowing runes appeared on the surface in a language long dead and forgotten. As he did so, the tremors began to weaken. And angry roar pierced the cavern and made the god of corruption wince in pain. The attacks grew in frequency. "I WANNA PLAY! I WANNA PLAY! I WANNA PLAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!", whined Lilith. The runes burned brighter under the increasing pressure. More cracks appeared. Fissures spread and rocks as big as melons fell from the ceiling. Purplish pink magic shone through the openings and lilac flames licked at Eros´hands. The hidden door groaned and with a sound like shattering glass the runes broke. "I SAID NO!", bellowed Eros. His leathery wings flared, his fangs bared and his sharp horn lit up. A mighty red wave of pure magic surged from it and poured into the wall. A loud bang shook the room and a scream could be heard. Then silence... Eros stood there for several seconds, breathless. His fiery eyes shone with rage and his horn still spouted embers in anticipation of another attack. But nothing happened. The god huffed in frustration and turned away from the door. Shaking his head in annoyance he made his way back to his throne. On one arm of the throne lay the glowing Corruptor. On its screen words appeared and began moving with frantic speed. Eros clicked his forked tongue. "Sorry for the delay. I needed to deal with a slight...disagreement.", he said, as he sat down. Through all that excitement he had gotten a bit hard again. He put his giant prick to the side, so it wouldn't get in the way. Then he took the Corruptor in his hands. "I followed your progress. Not bad at all. Interesting how you dealt with this Zecora bitch.", he said, scrolling through the comments. "Don't beat yourself up over the fact that you couldn't corrupt her. One can never get them all. And besides, her breaking provided my avatar with some very useful advantages." "Before you ask, I like to make a few things clear. It most unlikely that a mare once broken ever really recovers. I´m not speaking of the usual snapping of the mind after lots of stress. When I speak of breaking a mare, that means establishing a arcane link between me, Zexis and the victim." He stroked his chin, trying to find a good way to explain it, without getting into the complicated nature of divine magic. "It is kinda like a parasitic relationship. Like the Changelings. Well no, not like the Changelings, but you get what I mean. In simple terms, Zexis sexual assault of mares can overload their brains. When that happens his connection to me, extends to them for the brief moment their mental defences are down. My influence then breaks down their mind and funnels their power into Zexis. It's an instinctual thing, so he has to want it in order for it to work, so accidents are unlikely to happen." "That leaves the victim broken, unable to cope with the power of god they just experienced. Their magic is drained and the mind irreparably damaged. So, in short: Recovery is unlikely. So stop asking or trying to heal them. It's a wasted effort. They are a resource you used to provide Zexis with power and nothing more. If you´re worried about covering them up, well. Zecora's case you handled pretty well. And at the end of today, I might give you something that could help with future cases." Eros grinned wickedly. "But enough of that. I assume you have questions." The mist rolls back to reveal a large blue dragon with silvery chest scales and thighs, kneeling away from a throne of crystal, inside of a mountain. "Eros, God of Corruption and Lust, I thank you for the blessings upon my kingdom, that I may be able to bring dragons back towards our true natures. I thank thee for the corruption of Tiger Agate and the wisdom you have given me. My faithful ally Fluorspar, tells me that the barrier to Tartarus is weakened for today. If that is so, please let me speak with thee to answer the question you have given me." Opening his eyes, the dragon's amber eyes widen in glee. "Lord Eros, I am glad that I can communicate with you again. I must first thank you for the corruption of Tiger Agate, while she hasn't let me claim her yet, but she is close. Fluorspar already sees her fucking her fellow dragonesses with glee. She tells me that, she will swear loyalty to me within the week. It will be great to see her become and ally." Getting on to his throne the Dragon Lord of the North speaks, "Now, you asked me last time, how I became the dragon Lord of the North." The dragon snorts in amusement. "To be honest I never really planned on being the lord of the North. It was by extremely fortunate circumstances that I am here." "It all started in Raven's pass, I just met Fluorspar, and she was able to confirm it to me that you, Eros, were real. I read little bit about you but it was always hushed. For her to actually show me that you existed, bound in Tartarus, but really existed. I was grateful to her, so I gave her a gift, the beauty she loves so much. I asked her how to free you. She said that the more creatures that accepted your ideals. The ideals of lust and corruption then the strong you would get and then you would be free. It was at that time a small idol in Fluorspar's cave glowed." "It was a silly little replica of the ice heart bow, but it glowed. I asked Fluorspar what it meant, and she told me it was time for the choosing of the next Ice Dragon Lord. I took that glow as a sign. As the Ice Dragon Lord, I could be in contact with dragon's through the north and possibly throughout Mundus. I told Fluorspar I would participate and would become the Ice Dragon Lord. Fluorspar agreed that becoming the lord would probably be the best." The Northern Dragon Lord explains while pulling out a white and clear bow, that was shaped as two dragon wings combined with a dragon head were the two meet. As Fimbulwinter's claw travels up and down its length the bow seems to cause a blue light. The mist starts to roll in as the blue light grows strong until it pulls back, revealing a puzzled blue dragon. "I'm sorry Eros, it appears that the bow was starting to weaken our connection sorry. Now, where were we? Before we got to the actual site for the trial, Fluorspar got a vision. It showed that without our intervention Permafrost would have become the Northern Dragon Lord. He would have solidified the teaching that Celestia gave to late Lord Tundra, Permafrost's Grandma. I'm sorry, let me explain. I learned while I was in the Fang Monastery, that Queen Tundra was a big advocate for the Dragons of the North. She worked hard to make sure Celestia's laws and customs were incorporated into our culture. Her son, and next King Lord Glacier, continued this during his reign. Fluorspar had a vision that if Permafrost became the Ice Dragon Lord he would reaffirm his family's teachings and would make it much more difficult for me to bring dragons into your hoard." "That vision only gave me more resolve to become the Dragon Lord, but it didn't make me reckless. Fluorspar gathered gems, while I designed one of my most favorite gems. The gem of Malathor. It took two days to make enough." The blue dragon pulls out a a green, blue, and orange gem that seemed to be a combination of four pyramid shape gems. "It's a very powerful sex crystal. It allows for a dragon to have multiple sessions of sex, without any recovery in-between, but all those recovery periods add up. So, let's say after fucking five or seven times straight, you can't move in the morning. I also made several Tarmakin's Crystals, "Fimbulwinter grabs and orange rectangle crystal from besides his throne, its glow tinting the air orange. "which naturally elevate one's lust. I also added into both some geo crystals. This will double the crystals output but they breakdown within 36 hours. Anyway, past my gemcrafting." "Fluorsar and I arrived at the trial grounds the day before the Trial of the Ice heart bow. The Trial of the Ice Heart Bow is like the Fire Dragons Lord's trial with the Blood Scepter. The only difference is that the bow moves of its own accord into the mountains so now even the previous Dragon Lord doesn't know where it goes or what challenges the contestants will have." "Now the days before the trail, while it wasn't smiled upon, it wan't uncommon for dragons to fuck to let of some steam. That was where our opportunity lied. Fluorspar and I placed both gems in spots where lots of dragons would meet up. Then I crafted two of the gems into a necklace and placed it around fluorspar. Finally, I used my Fleshcraft and gave Fluorspar a gift. Her pheromone output is about ten or more times stronger than any dragoness. Combined with an accident she can control what pheromones she can produce and the effect desired. The one she uses the most is for sexual appeal and lust, but she also has ones for appearing trustworthy, and even one for danger." "Fluorspar went to the gathering spot where Permafrost was at. He was the favorite to win, so plenty of dragoness were flirting with him, but none were having sex, due to his father ideals. All it took was Fluorspar to come by, talk to him a little, and he was on her like ice snow on the mountain tops. According to her, he fucked her for eight or more hours straight. I on the other hand was tired because of the fleshcraft so I was asleep by the time everydragon was fucking. I did wake up twice to see origes and humping piles. It was a good thing I was so tired, because if not I would have dived right in." "So, the next day came and everydragon was sore. The only time they didn't show signs of fatigue was when Lord Glacier came and started the trail, but I think he knew something was off due to the way almost everydragon was walking afterward. It was a good thing to. I'm not the fastest dragon. In-fact Obsidian actually told me I'm one of the slowest, but because all the other contestants were fatigue I was actually in the lead part of the dragon. Where I did, shine was strength. I was able to collapse several tunnels, stop boulders, even pin three other dragons, and threw them down a cliff." "I still almost lost though. Permafrost knew that mountain range like the back of his hand. In the last five minutes it was a sprint between us. He got a head and went down the shorter path and collapsed it, so I was forced to take the longer one. I took a gamble and used my control over crystal to have them grow into a wall of gems. It was the last think I had energy for, I nearly collapsed, but it payed off. I still remember Permafrost's face when I gabbed that bow before him. The look of unbelief that he lost. I wish I could show it to you Eros." "I learned later that a lot of my success that day was due to actions of Permafrost. You see that dragon, while receiving some of the best training for all things physical, magical, and mental he still wasn't certain he was going to win. It seems like he had the guards run countless laps the days before the trail to make sure none of the guards, including Captain Obsidian would participate. In fact I think he even tried to poison Obsidian so he couldn't compete. There were also some scrolls, where I found threats and orders to detain some of the strongest competitors. I guess I may even need to thank Permafrost for the throne, if he still wasn't a pain." The Dragons Lord's eyes narrowed in furry. "Since that day, he tried to blame his sabotages on me, and tried to cause a rebellion. Currently he is captured, but several of the lords of this land want him to be the Dragon Lord, and while they haven't called for open rebellion yet, I have found signs of a silent rebellion. Tiger Agate is proof of that. Eros I have tried to corrupt Permafrost, but ever since the day he lost the trail his mind has been closed. Sure, Fluorspar may have caused him to spill his plans, but I can't get into his mind. He even is resisting the crystal's powers, because he knows they come from me. He saw how the crystals trapped him, he knows that they are under my control and so he resists them. I am at a lost." The Dragon Lord's head sinks as he admits his defeat. "Is there anything you recommend for me to corrupt him? Should I keep him imprisoned and hope his will breaks? Should I try to almost bury him in Tamarkin Crystals? Should I show him of what I did to his father and hope that that breaks his mind and will. Or should I just risk an all-out rebellion and kill him? I am at a lost Eros. Please if you have any advice for your servant, show me how to bend that.... That.... LIZARD to your will, and have him stop being a thorn in my side. Have you ever dealt with a problem like this? How did you work around it?" The mist rolls in as the Ice Dragon Lord's eyes seem lost in memories Eros´smile grew, as he read and at the end he clapped his hands in applause. "I am impressed, Fimbulwinter. You´re more capable than I expected. The Ice Dragons had always been a thorn in my side during my times on the surface. Stuck up pricks always blabbering about honour and such. And still, you managed to prevail and succeed. I couldn't wish for a better serv-I mean, ally." He then pondered the dragon lords questions. "Granted your troubles aren't over yet. Consolidating your gains and extending your control over the kingdom should remain your priority. As for Permafrost, keep him contained. He is helpless in his current state. Corrupting him will yield no benefit beyond the cost, so don't waste your resources. Keep him alive and imprisoned. Get the other lords under your influence and let time do the work for you. Believe me, in a couple of years nobody will care about him anymore. He will rot away, lonely and forgotten. A fitting fate, I believe." He chuckled. Looking at the corruptor, he began to use it to scry on events that interested him. As he saw Garble and his negotiation with Fimbulwinter, the grin of the God of Corruption grew. His sharp nail scratched over the surface of his throne and he tapped his foot in silent delight. "One thing, Fimbulwinter. That dragon, the ambassador. He is ripe. I can almost smell his corruption. Figuratively speaking, of course.", he said and tipped on the frozen frame of Garble´s arrogant face. "Corrupt him. His will is weak and his loyalty to this Ember bitch questionable. He will serve as a useful piece should the need arise." "Just imagine, what a dragon following my teachings could achieve. You have risen to Lord of the Frost Dragons. This Garble is perfect for attempting the same with the Fire Dragons. And even if he fails, his actions will sow enough chaos that you can take advantage of it. Just imagine that Ember kneeling before you, as she pleads for your assistance. Imagine what you could demand from her. Her juicy tits jiggling as she quivers before your might. Her ass presenting itself for your-" "So, that's what you've been up to!" Eros jumped out of his throne. Behind him Lilith hovered in the air with a curious and amused smile on her lips. Her form, at first glance, appeared to be that of a young alicorn mare, though Eros knew her true nature. One could almost mistake her for a filly, with her thin body and expressive hips that were accentuated by a small waist and flat stomach. Her breasts were a small B-Cup with perky nipples. Her small, lithe form was a pale shade of red, running to pink in some places. Tiny bat-wings flapped lazily, holding her aloft. Her long pink mane, with purplish streaks billowed as if blown by a non-existent breeze. "Hi, Erri!", she chirped. "How, in all the six hells, did you get inside!?", asked Eros incredulously. Then he frowned. "And I remember asking you specifically not to call me by that name." "Too bad, you´re not my boss anymore. So i can call you whatever I want. How about Elly? Or Rory? Oooh, how about Eleanor?", mused the filly, as she flew around, inspecting everything. All the while babbling like a river. "You still suck at interior decorating. I mean, like, is it so difficult to hang up some paintings? Or books! Where are the books? Seriously, this looks more like a retirement home for the elderly, complete with booze! Nice carving, though." Eros closed his eyes and touched his forehead in barely contained frustration. "Lilith...", he said again, "How...the fuck...did you get inside?" The mare stopped short of grabbing the boobs of the depiction of the raped Celestia and turned around. "The door was open.", she stated, like it was obvious and pointed to the back. Eros turned around. His secret entrance, the door he had sealed off and kept hidden for almost seven hundred years. Carved out of the hardest stone in Tartarus and protected by his indomitable will. It laid shattered on the ground, pulverized to pebbles. His jaw fell open. "But...how...I mean....", he stammered. Then he looked at Lilith's big, wide and overly innocent smile. He threw his hands into the air and sighed. "Fuck it! Cat is out of the bag, anyway." Lilith's eyes went wide. "So, does that mean I can stay? You're gonna involve me in things? I can actually entertain myself again? YOU WILL FUCK MY BRAINS OUT WITH A HUGE COCK!?" "Yes. Yes. Maybe. And, fuck no!", answered Eros and sat down on his throne again. "Oooh, come on. I´m dying here of boredom. I need something to take the edge off.", whined the filly and flew closer. She sat down on the tip of the throne, dangling her naked feet over Eros´ head. The god shook his head again. "Lilith, you know just as well as I do, that we cannot take the edge off. Even if I was stupid enough to fuck you, neither you nor me would ever get to climax. We would instead stew in our own lust, until we lose our mind out of frustration or find a way to calm down again." He then grabbed her with his aura and slowly levitated her on his lap. The filly pouted, but didn´t protest. Instead she tried to grind on Eros´ half-erect cock, until the god growled in anger. She then stopped immediately and looked around bored. Then her yellow eyes found the Corruptor. "Oooh, what is that? A new toy?", she asked and grabbed it. Then she saw the messages, as they blinked up. For a few minutes she read silently, before smiling. "Oh right, introduction time! I am Lilith, former right hand of old grouchy over there. Lesser Goddess of Debauchery and daughter of-" "Thats enough!", interrupted her Eros and snatched the device away from her. "If you really want to stay, you going to behave. Understood?" The little goddess pouted, then sighed. "Ugh, fine. Party Pooper...." "Anyway...", said Eros loud and brought attention back to him. "Let's get on with the questions." *Entering incognito mode* I knew that Spoiled Rich would act that way! Wooo! Praise Kek for autism! Anyway... Lord Eros! It's a honor to work for you even if my loyalty in the end is to Lord Kek. But that makes me curious... Do you know Lord Kek? Do you know of him or have you even met him?! I only know him by his godly touch and through his messenger Pepe. Also, something I have been thinking about, what will happen to the avatar when his mission is completed? Will he remain or will he... Not? And if he remains, what will he be? "Who is Kek? Does he have a big penis?", asked Lilith. "I don't know and I don't care.", said Eros annoyed. "The drifters come from all sorts of places. Some are from here. Most of them come from other dimensions and worlds only connected through the Corruptor. I know just as much about them, as you do." Lilith pouted again, but then read the actual question. "And what is this avatar?" Eros remained silent for a few seconds. Lilith kept looking at him with her big round eyes. Her pleading look was only slightly marred by her slitted pupils and the well-hidden sadistic glimmer behind them. Eventually the stallion caved. "He is my way out. I created him in order to funnel power from outside to me in here. When he creates enough corruption, I will be able to break out.", he explained. Lilith's eyes went even bigger and her cute mouth flapped open in awe. "Oh oh oooooh, so that's why you got buffer! I even wondered, if you started to work out. Course not, lazy as you are! But that's great! Can I come with you? Can I? Can I?" Eros looked at her. Appraising her. He seemed unsure. "Only under one condition." "What is it? You wanna knock me up? Use me as puplic cumdump for the next century? Saw off my horn, pluck my wing and collar me like cattle?", asked Lilith with increasing desperation. She threw herself before Eros feet and groveled with her cute ass raised. "I do anything to get out of here!" "Sawing off--no! Gods, no! Just be my servant again.", said Eros and rolled his eyes at her over-the-top performance. The goddess looked up. She seemed a bit disappointed. "You're no fun, you know that?" Eros snorted. "Why would I reward you for your betrayal? And besides, I have no reason to strengthen your domain. You can do that yourself. I just want my little cocksock back. The one that threw the ponies of Las Pegasus into a frenzied orgy, where their duke then proceeded to rape and impregnate his own daughters. That is the Lilith I want to see. Not the half-mad parody that you are now." Lilith stood up again and propped her hands against her hips. "I want to remind you, that you were the one who got himself banished to Tartarus without so much as a goodbye. What was I supposed to do? Duel Celestia? I'm crazy, but not stupid.", she said, sounding much more mature and rational than before. She looked around the cavern, inspecting the relief of Celestia's and Luna's gangbang; the throne with their broken and submissive frames. She muttered something unintelligible and looked at Eros. "Fine. I´ll do it. But I´m gonna do my own stuff, too. No taking away my toys and no more lectures. You´re not my real dad, anyway.", she said and crossed her thin arms in a gesture that was supposed to look intimidating, but with her tiny frame just came over as cute. Eros just rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Sure, why not. As long as you do as I tell you. And besides, we´re not out yet." "You're gonna answer the question, Erri?", asked Lilith and pointed at screen. Eros threw a warning glance, but took up the Corruptor again, while the divine filly hovered over his shoulder. "Back on topic. Honesty, if Zexis fulfills his purpose I will use him again. He is a useful tool and by the time of his success he will be quite powerful as well. I was never someone to discard a servant - shut up, Lilith - and I will not start with him." He scratched his chin. "I will probably reward him. Mares, riches, whatever he wants. Within reason, of course. But once I rule over Equestria, he will be one of my most trusted servants." "Hey, what about me!?", protested Lilith and pouted again. "Trusted I said. I don´t trust you as far as I can throw you, Lilith." "Aww, shucks. Thank you, boss!" Lilith giggled and blushed comically. Eros just rolled his eyes at her antics and moved on. Will leave it to idiots who think their all for the female race, to screw up and get themselves boned. Can't say am sad or disappointed by it, she's a monster in a far worse way than anyone else ever could be. though underestimating her would be a mistake. I have a few questions I just have to ask, though you have no obligation to answer! First and foremost, have you had a good day? Eros pointed at Lilith. "I think, that answers that question." "Hey!" So far you got versed in a number of our dear elements of harmony, what do you think of the ones you've managed to see thus far, any favorites? "Hm, difficult. We only really met Applejack and Twilight Sparkle. Though, I had taken the time to inform myself about the others..." He held up the same old newspaper he had used before, though it´s cover had now changed to depict all of the Mane Six. "And I must say they are some lovely mares. Prude and infuriatingly virtuous, but not without merit. I would say this Twilight Sparkle intrigues me the most. Smart, yet very naive. Good looks, too. She will make a fine bride, once I conquer Equestria again." "I like the pink one!" "Of course you do..." Out of curiosity out of all our 'heroes' from From Twilight and company to Shining armor and Princess Cadence, which do you think is the most damaging to our goals? passively and if they found out aggressively. Eros scratched his chin at that question. "Difficult to say. I doubt that the new Crystal Empress could be much of a threat currently. She has to run her own realm. Real shame, by the way. To see what Sombras kingdom has become...my heart bleeds." His hand patted Celestia's broken face on the side of his throne. "Celestia will probably be the most dangerous. She already has a tight grip on public morale. If she ever finds out something is going in Ponyville there is no doubt she will react. Though, as I know her, she will probably first try to be subtle about it. She never liked intervening directly, unless she had to." Your agent and our dear friend seems to have gotten smitten by dear Princess Twilight, any thoughts of that? At that question Eros growled and even Liliths expression took on a disapproving expression. "He should get that out of his head as quickly as possible. It will impede his judgement and even worse, it will make him weak. Love is something for the fools and idiots. A true stallion or mare shouldn't care about his or her mates feelings. They should just take what they want." "Zexis needs to stop that nonsense. If you fail at that, I will do it myself if I need to. There is no way I will let this deteriorate into namsy-pansy love story." Do you know and know the difference between Intelligence and wisdom? Oh oh! Can I answer that? Pleeeeease!", asked Lilith, hopping up and down in the air with her arm raised, as if she was in school. Eros just waved his hand. "Fine. Go ahead." The goddess grinned and hovered in front of the screen. "Intelligence is being smart. Wisdom is about being wise." ... "Is...is that all?", asked Eros. Lilith looked at him, like he was stupid. "What? Too difficult?", she said, before sighing, as if she was talking to a six-year old. "One can be smart, but still do stupid things. One can be wise, without ever reading a book. Intelligence is the potential of one's mind. Wisdom is about what you do with it. Simple!" Eros just blinked and then shook his head. "There you go. Next question, please." Have you ever (,had forgive me for using such a strong word for this pathetic creature) an opponent like 'Spoiled Rich' that wasn't Celestia or Luna? Eros thought for a moment. "What about that wizard? You know, with the beard?", asked Lilith. "Never met him. He was gone before I fucked up his student. She never told me where he went.", answered Eros and tapped with one finger on his throne. Then he got it. "Well, there was this shaman in Zebrica. Anansi, he called himself. When I corrupted Zebrica he was the one who tried to organise the resistance. When he failed at that, he took his tribe and fled. He was a rather tricky fellow. My demons tried to catch him multiple times and he managed to fool them every time. He even evaded me once." "Oh yeah, that guy!", said Lilith and frowned. "That was before my time, though. What happened to him?" Eros shrugged his shoulders. "He got away. I saw no use in pursuing him, once he left my domain. He never challenged my rule again and instead founded a new realm away from Zebrica. Somewhere in the west of the continent. Zhana, I think it was called. No clue if it still exists." Did you ever find out how ponies can such uncannily accurate names? "I have no idea, what you mean...", said both Eros and Lilith in unison. Last one, Do you think yo- no WE will win, we fight for similar if not the out-right same goal. back to it at hand, do you think we will win? Farewell, and I hope my questions greet you well. Gentle breeze guide you path, a warm smile welcome you home. "Undoubtedly.", said Eros confident. "Celestia has grown complacent over the millenia. And the current progress indicates a good chance of this succeeding. Just keep low, until Zexis is strong enough and has enough influence. If everything goes right, I should acquire enough power to break out of Tartarus and subjugate Equestria." "And I will help!", chirped Lilith proudly. Eros grumbled, but nodded. "Next one, please." The ground begins to quiver as a slag of some type of black rock shoots forth from the ground. The molten stone began to eat away any light that touched it. Whispers soon sprouted from the rock that resembled moans and static combined together. Suddenly, the pitch black slag's surface pooled into a mirror-like shape. The whispers grew as an image came into focus upon the mirror. "Well, well, well lookie at what we got here," said a voice that cut through in a taunting tone. "I finally catch up and you reward me with a Q&A right off the bat. How utterly kind of you... It makes me sick." The fuzzy image sharpened and there sat a giant odd looking kitsune. The beast was slim and even its whitish gray coat could not hide its bones. The wolf's eyes were pools of ever-moving scarlet and lustful pink, caught in a captivating battle. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped. No matter how much I'd enjoy whispering of hunger and lust into Zexis' ear, I shall not do so. Instead I am here to gain knowledge of the quaint little world we wish to possess. After all, what good is prey if you don't know the juiciest parts? "I wish to know the political situation amongst the ponies. Who is in power? Do any companies influence the lives of these ponies? Are there groups who disagree with the purity laws? "I have some tangent questions to ask you. What happened to the diamond dogs? How was Ponyville founded? Where does The Will come from? What's your take on homosexuality? Do you have any friends? How much does a lust demon cum? Have you ever taken it up the bu-..." The fox breaks off and the static gets louder. The kitsune shakes its head and starts to growl and moan. "Mmm... I grow hungry for pleasures and I must feed. May you set us both free from purity and quench our hunger, Eros..." The slag melts away. The god sat for a few seconds silent on his throne. His expression was blank and collected, but one could see by his clenched fist that he was tense. Even Lilith had stopped bouncing around, being uncharacteristically serious. You...you connected to them, too? Sure, we are desperate, but isn't that...dangerous?" Eros didn't answer immediately, instead thinking a bit, before levitating a flask from his cupboard and taking a big sip from it. His mouth quirked into a satisfied expression at the taste and he concentrated on the screen again. "We need all the allies we can get. I can work with the Yokai, if I need to. And he has some interesting questions. Or she. Or it. You never know with them." He cleared his throat. "I've no clue, who is currently directing Equestria beside Celestia. I have only limited access to information and most of them come from Zexis. So, if you want to find out, you got to direct him to do it. Though, back in my day nobles were the most important class. Whether it were the hereditary dukes of the unicorns or the elected mayors of the earth ponies or the trained commanders of the pegasus." "Granted, Celestia will have probably curbed their power. But I´m pretty sure some influential families remain. Maybe some new ones came to power as well. As far as I know..." He held up the paper again. "Princess Twilight Sparkle comes from a noble family, as well. A lesser house, but it's old blood and that is pretty important for unicorns." "As for the diamond dogs, that is actually a simple question with a complicated answer. Without getting into too much detail, the dogs are usually divided by different clans. Where ponies separate by things like wings or horn or lack thereof, dogs are usually very similar in body-type. At least, they were in the beginning. At some point they split their society into different groups. Clans, as they call them." "These clans all follow one particular trait and profession. The Stone Dogs include masons and builders. The Wood Clan are hunters and such. The Iron Clan have the most warriors and smiths. Over time more clans got founded, as new resources and professions were discovered. The Gold Clan developed as the first banks popped up. The Steel Clan was founded, when the dogs discovered the miraculous Blacksteel. And so on." "These clans work out the hierarchy between them. It is a fluent system that adapts with the times. At the beginning the Wood Clan was the most powerful one, when the world was still young and untamed. Then the Iron Clan rose to power at the age of war. Every dog nation decides for itself which clans are the most important and it reflects their traits and politics to the rest of the world. The dogs of Teutschland are currently ruled by the Blood Clan and the Iron Clan. The twin-monarchy of Pawstria and Hungery favors the Steel Clan and the Gold Clan." "The Diamond Dogs, however, they are the best example of a fallen clan. They already were at my times. At the beginning they were called the Dirt Clan, which they changed of course early on into Diamond. In the old days they were the rulers of the dogs and one of most important clans, due to the fact that they constructed the underground kingdoms and possessed huge wealth." "When the dogs moved to the surface however after a series of devastating earthquakes, the Diamond Clan lost its relevance. Stone and Iron became more powerful and Gold grew richer. The Diamonds saw themselves growing weaker and weaker. Eventually they revolted, trying to retain their influence and kill off the other clans." "To cut a long story short, they lost. The survivors were kicked out and their clan stripped of their place in dog society. They came to Equestria as refugees and have since tried to find a way of living here. They usually stay below ground, groveling in the dirt and dreaming of past glories. They are few in numbers and times will probably not have changed that. A pitiful lot." Eros shrugged his shoulders at that. Uninteresting for him, as they held little power. His eyes went over the questions again. "Ponyville was founded early on during my reign. It grew from Chancellors Puddinghead holding Earth and first served as a haven for those that fled Canterlot, when I took it. When my army attacked it, Puddinghead surrendered immediately. First to spare his citizens, but later on, because he wanted to get a part of the cake that was my rule. It then grew into a thriving town thanks to its slave-market and training facilities that broke stubborn mares and other slaves. Celestia did away with all of that, of course." "I've no idea where the Will comes from. It mostly is a form of freak magic, that gained sentience from the energy that fills this forest. Kinda like a spirit, just much, much stronger. I think it could even be described as some form of pseudo-deity, though I´m not sure. Treat it with caution." "Let me handle the next ones!", said Lilith suddenly and yanked the Corruptor away from Eros, who grumbled but let haver her way. "Erri isn't a big fan of homos, but doesn't stop them if they work for him. I like it a lot, especially if others see it as evil or disgusting. That let´s it fall into my domain and makes me stronger. Less so, if others have no problem with it. Then it can go fuck my ass, for all I care. Not that they would do it, anyway." "He doesn't have any friends, because he is freakish loner and a neeeeerd. Just kidding! Friendship is stupid and we don't need it!" "Not quite true. It is a useful tool and I won't discourage anyone who sympathizes with me. I appreciate the deeds of loyal servants and allies." "Whatever! Next one! Lust demons cum a lot. Like a ton. Literally. Incubi can produce as much jizz as they want and they loooove creampies and inflations and impregnations. In the old days I had a couple whose only duty it was to fill my bathtub. Sooo relaxing..." Eros. What a pleasure to have you grace us with another audience. It's been a while. As you can see, our puppet is very active, if needlessly reckless at times. Against our wishes, in fact. But then, I suppose you need to burn yourself at least once before you understand not to touch a fire directly. Anyway. I would like to hear more about your past now. Specifically, your influence on Mundus outside Equestria. We know you had little directly to do with the Changelings (by the way, many seem to have grown sentience while you were locked away) or with the Griffons, and Zebrica is one of your greatest successes, but what about other nations? Other peoples? When you corrupted the Founders, all manner of species came to trade in mare meat. Celestia hardly had a chance to erase knowledge of you and your teachings from all of them. The Yaks have been fiercely isolationist after you were toppled. Perhaps they remember more of you than the ponies do? And dragons are ancient creatures. You have a powerful disciple in Lord Fimbulwinter even. How many elder dragons remember the desire to subjugate their females? Sell them for a handsome profit perhaps? There's many more, such as the kelpie, from which I drew my three little darlings, and the Diamond Dogs, whose females we haven't even seen yet. Could be they keep them locked away underground, used for pleasure and breeding? They were rather eager to enslave a good-looking mare like Rarity, never mind spanking her to get her to work... What say you? What peoples felt your... touch, so to speak? Lilith scratched her cute head at this one and her mane waved again in a non-existent breeze. "I never saw much more than Equestria and the New World. Apart from the Badlands to the west, they are the Yaks in the north-east, the Crystal Ponies in the north and the Ice Dragons in the north-west. Then we have the Fire Dragons to south-west and a lot of nothing further south. Maybe something new has sprung up while we were gone, but fuck me if I know. Who wants to live in a jungle anyway?" "They were civilizations there back in the day, like Zzaztek. Snakelings, a sub-brood from Changelings who mingled too closely with the local fauna. Blood rituals and a deep interest in the sun. But not really relevant for me, because they didn't leave their jungles. Maybe they are still around, though I doubt it. Their reproduction was difficult and required constant sacrifices and as far as I know Celestia, she wouldn't have allowed that. The fact that they probably worshipped demons wouldn't have helped." "Then there is the Old World with Prance, Alba, Teutschland, Celpica, Eru, Pawstria and Hungery and so forth. Dozens of independent nations who spend most of their time warring with one another. Then there are the moose of Uppsala to the north and the reindeer, also known as caribou, the north-west in Kaleva. Further to the west are a lot of steppes and dry land and then we get the Empire of Quin, ruled by the deer. Off the coast then lies Nippon and its kirin." Eros sighed. "The world is big, and I never got to see all of it. There is much more, like the Maharadja of the elephant kingdoms or Saddle Arabia or Zirrbabwe. If you want to know more, you will have to be more specific. Maybe I will try to establish a better connection for just that. I will see what I can do...", he said playing with the Corruptors interface. "As for the Yakkies, they are weeeeird. Like, seriously. Good for a fuck and almost as big as minotaurs, but so ruude and stuck up. They were always happy to get some slaves or wifes, as they always said, but they never went beyond that. Always back to their stupid fortress in their stupid mountains and that was it! Much better relationship with Crystal Ponies, though." "In general, you underestimate Celestia's persistence. She had one-thousand years to wipe all traces of my existence from the face of Mundus and she was meticulous. I doubt any mortal races even remember my name, apart from zebras. And the dragons are probably glad that they don´t talk about me. Not a proud part of their history, if they are concerned. Those who live through my time are rare as one thousand years is a very long time even for a dragon. Probably only the elders know who I am and as you can in Fimbulwinter´s case, they don't talk about me." Eros propped himself up in his throne and threw his legs over to the side as he mused on the subject. "Granted, Celestia's influence in the more obscure nations shouldn't be strong, but neither was mine. The kelpies are a comparatively young race and they have other problems, like Leviathan for example. The Dogs actually place a big importance on their bitches - their name for their females, not an insult - and treat them with a lot of respect. And they must, after all. Every bitch bears four to six pups and they usually have the last say which dog they will breed with. Maybe the Diamond Dogs deteriorated in that regard, given their fall from grace, but that must have happened after my time." "The races that were most influenced by me were the zebras and the ponies. And the latter mostly in the New World. I was planning on extending my influence to the Old World, but well...." Eros fell silent, as he remembered and he clenched his fist. He shook his head. "Enough question time. I want to move on.", he said, despite Liliths childish protest. His hand wiped over the screen and called up the map of Equestria again. "I´ve grown in strength since last time and the Corruptor has unlocked a new ability.", he explained and touched the screen. The map changed, now separating into multiple regions. Ponyville was in the center with a purple cloud inside of it, spreading its tendrils over the region. "You can spend Corruption Points to influence entire regions. This will most of time only affect the common populace and the weak-willed. Strong personalities and so-called heroes will be unaffected, but that's not the point. With this you can accelerate the overall corruption of Equestria. My influence will creep into the heads of the ponies and slowly change them. It will provide you with a steady income of Corruption Points, depending how much you corrupt the regions. It took this long, because I had to make sure it stays undetected. But now I am confident. With this you will be able to turn entire masses into lust-filled studs and sluts." He then pointed at Canterlot. "Do me a favor and do not mess with this region. It would probably tip Celestia off and that would be bad for all of us. You can, of course, still do it, but only if you must or you are sure that she is occupied with something else." He then tipped on the screen again and multiple live-feeds appeared, showing the day-to-day life of the ponies. "This will show up every now and then, to show you the difference of your actions. See it as reward and as motivation, when you turn those boring hamlets and towns into dens of corruption and lust." "Oh oh! Can I help? I have an idea!", said Lilith and took the Corruptor again, without waiting for an answer. "I will serve a liaison between you and Erri! Unlike him, I haven't wasted my magic that I accumulated over a eight-hundred years on a floating disk! I can talk with you, answer questions and show you the result of your wonderful and debaucherous decisions. It will just like a sleep-over! You know, with pillows and rumors and getting stuffed by huge cocks until they come out of your mou--" "Yeah, wonderful idea! Now give that back!", snarled Eros and snatched the screen away from the giggling mare. He huffed in frustration, but looked down on the device again. "Anyway, that's how it will go. Keep in mind that Lilith is a bit of an airhead, or at least pretends to be one. So, don't expect too much from her. These session of ours will still be the only way you can ask the big questions and strengthen Zexis. Speaking of..." He tipped on the screen again and Zexis' profile appeared. "Go ahead. Make sure he gets all he needs and prepare to take on the Rich bitch. If you play your cards right, you can put her and Applejack in their place. Two flies, one stone. Do not disappoint me." With that the connection grew weaker and the last that could be seen was Lilith waving a goodbye, before flashing her tight, juicy pussy with a wink followed by an exasperated Eros. CP=6 New Traits Affinity for Martial Arts (2 CP) dexterous (1 CP) addictive cum (2 CP) Affinity to magic (Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark) (2 CP) Current Traits huge cock (2 CP) big balls (1 CP) high affinity to element (Plants) (4 CP) dominant (2 CP) charismatic (2 CP) intelligent (2 CP) Affinity for Alchemy (Potions and Powder) (4CP) strong Libido(2 CP) strong (2 CP) handsome (2 CP) Resistance to magic (Dark) (6 CP) fast (2 CP) tough (2 CP) Regions Ponyville Corruption: 0/10 (3 CP for one level) CP: 1 at 4 Corruption; 2 at 8 Corruption; 4 at 10 Manehattan Corruption: 3/10 (1 CP for one level) CP: 1 at 4 Corruption; 2 at 7 Corruption, 3 at 10 Corruption Las Pegasus Corruption: 1/10 (2 CP for one level) CP: 1 at 5 Corruption; 4 at 8 Corruption; 5 at 10 Corruption Cloudsdale Corruption: 0/10 (3 CP for one level) CP: 2 at 3 Corruption; 3 at 6 Corruption; 4 at 8 Corruption Vanhoover Corruption: 1/10 (2 CP for one level) CP: 1 at 2 Corruption; 2 at 8 Corruption, 6 at 10 Corruption Appleloosa Corruption: 0/10 (2 CP for one level) CP: 1 at 2 Corruption; 2 at 4 Corruption; 3 at 6 Corruption, 4 at 8 Corruption Canterlot Corruption: 0/10 (1 CP for one level) CP: 1 at 2 Corruption; 5 at 4 Corruption, 6 at 5 Corruption, 8 at 8 Corruption, 10 at 10 Corruption

Celestia and the Mysterious Red Button

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Discord and Pinkie Pie both stared at the vehicle curiously. "Hmm, well what do you know? Black is a fashionable color whilst traversing the multiverse. How tickling!" Discord said. "Ooh! It looks like an ice cream truck, but cooler!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. Luna was craning her neck to get a good look at the side of the truck. Alongside a logo of three symmetrical arrows pointing towards the center of a circle, the truck had words written in an official, professional font, emblazoned there that read thusly: SCP Foundation: Keeter-Class Containment and Control Task Force #117 "Search Contain and Protect!" Celestia cried out angrily, following her younger sister's gaze. "I should have known they'd have something to do with this! Why can't they supervise their own dangerous charges instead of dumping them here without warning?" Discord poofed into a medical diagram of a unicorn's skull and brain, then floated next to her shoulder. "That's right Tia, give them a piece of your mind!" He chuckled, before reverting back to normal. The white-furred alicorn grumbled and rolled her eyes, rubbed at the ground for a second, then started to glare sternly towards the tinted windshield of the truck, which was sitting still with its engine running idle. "Well, what are you waiting for, SCP? Get out and collect your precious Red Button!" Celestia levitated the Button up and waved it at the truck. Simultaneously, the beefy metal doors on both sides of the truck opened up, and blaring heavy metal music emitted from inside. The occupants each stepped out. The driver's four hooves thudded loudly on the marble, and the passenger's furry, paw-like feet padded to the ground on the other side. The metal music stopped playing. Both the beings' appearances caused the Princesses to gawk. "Oh no..." Celestia muttered. "Tirek and Scorpan, of all people." "You two, from that one other realm of ponies? Huzzah! How terrific, tis now an exquisite day with the both of you here." Luna's regal voice was positively dripping with sarcasm. Were it any thicker, the sarcasm would pool down and melt a hole through the floor. Tirek folded his massive arms at his chest, and huffed deeply. Scowling, the red and black centaur sized the two glaring alicorns up with his yellow feline-like pupils, and when he noticed Discord, the scowl inverted into a menacing grin, thanks to his fangs. "Ah, Discord. A pleasure to see a powerful old bringer of chaos such as yourself out and about from imprisonment once more. It's been too long." His voice was almost dramatically deep and baritone, as befitting his figure. Discord's eyes twinkled with mirth as he walked up to Tirek and the duo did an elaborate handshake. Scorpan, brown-furred with a head similar to a crocodile's, folded his arms and fidgeted his large bat wings impatiently as he watched them both. 'My dear Tirek, I haven't seen you since we pulled that prank off on the Sisters' parents! Remember? That one time with the windigos!" Discord proclaimed, chuckling and reminiscing fondly. "Why, it must have been at least..." Both Celestia and Luna intensified their glares at the mention of their mother and father. Scorpan shrugged at them apologetically, to little effect. "Three thousand years!" Tirek finished, huffing out air ominously again. While he and the draconequus continued to chat, Scorpan treaded on over to the Princesses, and promptly scooped the Red Button off the ground with as much care as if it had been a nuclear warhead. He then set it into its original crimson-colored cardboard container, then set it down gently at his feet. With this action, the Button's magics were negated, causing Luna's Moon to come to rest in a normal location for the morning. The Mare in the Moon made a motion resembling a sigh of relief, then ceased moving altogether, returning to her normal self as well. Luna felt a great burden lift from her shoulders as this all happened. The feeling was almost enough to make her smile. Scorpan gave them a stern but rather flustered eye as he held the device out in front of him. He could tell by their fierce gazes, that the sisters wanted answers from him. Now. "Yes, yes. I was the one who was clearly sending you the messages, all three of them." He stated stridently. "What of the fourth, the note attached to one of our poor guards?" Luna asked. "Tirek." "How about the alternate reality versions of Twilight Sparkle...Pinkie Pie's fifth note that got her involved, and the internet posting that attracted the Twilights and possibly the alicorn hordes as well?" Scorpan released an almighty sigh. "Tirek..." "...Tirek's.....trolling." The word left a nasty taste in his mouth. Tirek had been waiting eagerly for this. "Indeed. For I am Lord Tirek, Transdimensional Troll Extraordinaire!" He exclaimed. For demonstration, Tirek snapped his fingers and then without warning Twilight and Spike appeared on the floor next to them, causing Celestia's jaw to drop comically. Both were sleeping peacefully in their beds, somehow unawoken by their sudden teleportation. Tirek leaned down, drew a deep breath, then roared at the top of his lungs. The unicorn and the young dragon jolted awake in shock. Before they could say or do anything, the dark centaur snapped his fingers again and the pair were teleported back to their home, while he guffawed intensely. He finally collected himself to speak again, after an entire minute. "Behold, I even have my own business cards!" Tirek said, eliciting laughter from Pinkie Pie and Discord, the former of the two bouncing up and down as Tirek randomly tossed little cards from the pouch around his neck, with his face in a professional expression stamped on them, in every direction. "And the Button? What does the SCP have to say for themselves in regards to carelessly teleporting this...Keeter-class object....into any random world? Well?" Celestia interjected, quickly recovering from Tirek's prank and interrogating Scorpan again. "In the interests of the Foundation, let me start by saying Tirek is absolutely not a part of our organization" Scorpan showed them a badge, bearing the same circle and arrow logo as featured on his APC-like truck. "But given his and Discord's nature as universe-traveling entities, Tirek and similar beings are useful as traveling guides and independent contractors in the SCP's relentless quest to hunt down and contain the various dangerous artifacts and-or creatures that plague the multiverse. Unfortunately, being an indie, Tirek is beyond my control. And believe you me, when the Higher Ups assign us agents contractors like him, we're stuck with em' too." "You still didn't answer my question entirely." Celestia asserted. If she had arms, they'd be folded right now. "Ah yes. As my first message of instructions said, the Button is very powerful, and very, very dangerous, and the message and box were already pre-included with the Button for this very type of emergency. You see, fact is that your's truly over here," Scorpan motioned towards Tirek, who chuckled maliciously. "Decided to have some fun and without warning, teleported the button out to some random world, Equestria in this case, to wreak havoc while we had its containment chamber open for routine maintenance procedures. On top of that, it took us roughly six hours to discover where Lord Tirek had sent the button to, hence the instruction to guard it for the night." He explained. Scorpan brightened up a little as he surveyed the area around him. "At least we now know how powerful it can be at various times, maybe this wasn't as big a calamity as I had feared." "I see, very interesting. So this is all Tirek's doing?" Luna's face was mild as she stared at Tirek and Discord. "What of Morgan Freeman's involvement?" Mentioning of the name drew an astonished "huh" from Scorpan. "Freeman? You actually managed to get a god from another 'verse involved in our great Button Dilemma?" "Indeed." "So, aren't you going to punish Tirek for the threat he put our kingdom under for the entire night, or aren't you?" Celestia demanded. The furry winged humanoid could only shrug helplessly. "Like I said, he's beyond my control and he's not SCP, so we can't discipline him like you can Discord." "Hey, are you guys also the Ponies in Black?" Pinkie Pie wondered. "No, that's a separate organization for handling non-supernatural entities." Scorpan folded his arms again, his reptilian face pulled into a frown. "Plus, they're breakfast-stealing jerks." He mumbled as an afterthought. Tirek ended his conversation with Discord and trotted over to Scorpan's side. "Well everyone, I believed we've...I've had my fill of chaotic fun for a good century or two at least. Come, Scorpan, let us be off to HQ to return our little shiny red friend here. I've got a date with the Goddess Circe this evening, and she's not a fan of being stood up!" The centaur clapped his burly hands. "Chop-chop, let's go, little SCP agent!" Scorpan expressed his deepest apologies to the pair of partially flabbergasted alicorns, then begrudgingly grabbed the red box containing the Button, and jumped into the passenger's seat of the truck. "Your Highnesses, they don't pay me enough for this job." He then disappeared into the cabin. "Wait, wasn't there supposed to be bubble wrap in this too?" Luna blushed as Scorpan closed his door. She still had one of the sheets-still not popped and protected from the button's effects-hidden and sheltered under the folds of her left wing. "Tirek! Aren't you even going to apologize for this...nonsense you caused?" Celestia called out. Metal groaned as the driver side's door paused halfway from closing. Tirek leaned and peered out, about to crank up his music again. He gawked at her, then scanned around at the piles of dessert crumbs, lingering confetti, and whatever other tell-tale signs of the Button's antics still remained in the throne room. "Apologize for what? You mean for what terrible cleanliness standards you Equestrians seem to keep around here?" He quipped. Before Celestia could deliver a Royal lambasting rebuke, Discord and Tirek conversed again, cutting her off prematurely. "Well now, you have fun back out in the multiverse, you old dog, you." Discord said, giving his goodbyes.. "See you around, Discord. Take care and tell Chryssie and ol' Sombra, I said hi.." The draconequus nodded conspiratorially as Tirek got into the driver's seat of the black behemoth of a truck. "I'll be sure to send a mountain of you're business cards to their cells in Tartarus!" He waved as the truck started to back out and face the main entrance from which it had first appeared. Everyone could hear Tirek and Scorpan's exchanges as they got ready to start up their fiery portal. "Why do you always play this stuff? It's barely even music!" Tirek turned up the death metal on his stereo. "Of course a desk-jockey like you couldn't appreciate Dethklok appropriately. The vocals of Nathan Explosion are far too metal for your feeble body to handle. You'll never be a Brutal Legend, like Jack Black the Great!" "Drat. So, who are you going to 'troll' next, you gigantic horned arse?" "Hmm, I was thinking maybe a couple of Circe's friends, or perhaps one of Odin's lot. That would be a hoot! Then there's the possibility of Morgan Freeman, Sheogorath, an obese scientist named Robotnik, a Shepard with space magic, some politicians, a yeti named Skips, six nobles, psychotic fella by the name of Ren Hoek, a Princess obsessed with candy and bubblegum..." Tirek chuckled loudly over the loud guitar rifts blasting out. "Ohh, how the glorious list just goes on!" "Stars have mercy on me." Scorpan muttered. It was then that Tirek cranked up his music even higher, chuckling up a storm. Heavy death metal music was now resonating through the castle, sending vibrations that Discord, Pinkie Pie and the Princesses could all feel. Almost all the Royal Guards standing on the sides felt the urge to bang their heads back in forth to the music. The strange duo's truck then opened up its fiery portal. The tailpipe belched out flames that dissipated into the air, the vehicle sped off through the portal. A loud guitar solo was the last everyone heard of them, and then the portal closed in a tiny explosion resembling a supernova in appearance. A still-burning trail of fire marked where the tires had went across the marble ground. Celestia's jaw had fallen comically again, while Luna and Pinkie Pie watched with their mouths forming 'O' shapes. "Metal." Luna remarked. "Totally metal." Celestia agreed. "Wow." Pinkie Pie said, actually left speechless for once. She quickly recovered. "I'm tired, I better get back to Ponyville now. Bye your majesties!" Celestia and Luna both waved at her awkwardly as she bounced outside and enjoyed the new morning air. By now the flames had burned out, and Celestia asked, "What are we to do with this mess? Where should we start?" Luna sighed. "I'm afraid I don't know. They're just so many piles of random stuff everywhere..." That was Discord's cue. He stretched and yawned, snapped his fingers, and the entire mess vanished. The throne room now looked more-or-less as it had the previous evening. Before either sister could thank him or make a comment, Discord said with an extended yawn, "You alicorns sure know how to have fun with otherworldly objects! Such self-control and grace you exhibited last night, you party animals!" Discord had transformed his own body into a bed, his face on the headboard, and was already drifting asleep. Despite the night's antics, both Princesses still were in a partially good mood. They rolled their eyes and chuckled good-naturedly at the sleeping Draconequus, then levitated him back to his quarters. Not long after, both took brief naps at his feet. Philomena even flew in and joined them. Later on, at Tia's sheer insistence, Luna eventually retreated to her own quarters for a much longer rest until evening, while she herself elected to endure through the day with only an hour of sleep to work off of. While sitting on her throne, Celestia could have sworn she kept seeing red buttons popping up out of the corner of her vision. Fortunately, it was just her exhaustion playing tricks. All was well. Two weeks later, Pinkie Pie was bustling about Sugar Cube Corner, doing day-to-day business. A knocking sound drew her and the Cakes' attention to the back door of the shop. Pinkie hummed pleasantly, curious as to who their visitor may be, and as to why they didn't just come in through the front. Instead of a visiting pony, everyone was greeted with an ordinary brown cardboard box. A label was on it, and she read it aloud, "Priority delivery for Ms. Pinkamena Diane Pie. Handle with care." "Well then, Pinkie Pie, why dont'cha take it inside and open it?" Mrs. Cake suggested with a smile. "Good idea! Hmm, I wonder what it is...?" Pinkie beamed as the possibilities flowed through her mind and she carried the box inside. When she set it on a clear table and opened it, what she saw caused her to gawk awkwardly, abandoning her normal ever-cheerful attitude. Both the Cakes noticed her weird behavior, and went over to investigate. When they saw the contents, they too stared awkwardly. "Wut?" Pinkie Pie asked, dumbfounded. Inside, was a book labeled, Twilight and the Mysterious Blue Door. All three looked to each other in confusion. They shrugged, then set the story aside for later, returning to the running of Sugar Cube Corner. Nobody noticed outside that a random, unassuming wooden door was sliding on its own across the road towards the town library; Twilight Sparkle's abode. It's sky blue paint, faded but not chipped, gleamed in the sunlight as it went. The End

Mission: Romantic

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I perked my ears up. Pulling out a favorite for us? I guess setting it up so the entire restaurant is reserve earns us a few perks. He knows he's making bank on this, so why not throw in a bit of his own personal flare. Smart stallion. With a rather impressive display of dexterity, Coquette slides the tray off her back and onto her right hoof--the glasses don't even so much as move--and sets everything in front of us with her left. Then, she folds the tray under her wing and picks up the wine bottle. In one quick jerk, she pops the cork, then sets about pouring our drinks. "Have you had a chance to look over the menu?" "We have!" I say loud enough that Daring's indignant "Mmph!" goes unnoticed. "We'll both have the soupe a l'oignon to start and ... oh, I think we can split a flamiche for the main course." "Soup a l'mignon and flamiche," she repeats to confirm. "I'll put that in straight away. Your soups should be out in just a few moments." Sneaking a sideways glance at Daring, she brings a hoof to her mouth to stifle a bout of laughter before sweeping away to put our order in. Daring's nostrils flare. She brushes my hoof away and glares. "Jerk." I laugh. "Maybe so, but I'm the one who knows more about Prench stuff." Huffing, she crosses her hooves over her chest. "I know plenty of things!" she retorts, looking away as she lets her ears droop just a little. "Just all in the past, and mostly about culture and battles and stuff." "Well, if we ever get on a game show entirely about ancient history and artifacts, I'll be sure to let you answer all the questions, dear." "And the next time there's some jerk's butt to kick," she reminds me, raising an eyebrow. It's my turn to huff. I'm supposed to be the teasing pony here. "I could've taken them!" With a sickly sweet smile, Daring reaches across the table to tussle my mane. "Of course you could've, darling. Drugged out after taking a drink from a strange stallion, tied up, and barely cognizant, but you could've taken them with one hoof tied." She pauses a beat. "It makes one wonder how you got the you-know-what from you-know-who." Gritting my teeth, I glance away. She has me there. On both fronts, really. I sincerely doubt I'd be the pick for EIS contact if this were a real thing. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Spitfire and Soarin move to sit at their table, the latter carrying a briefcase full of "state secrets." If they listened, it's the thing that'll make Daring want to kick my butt into next Tuesday. If not, Soarin probably stashed a pie in there so he can snack while he watches her kick my butt into next Tuesday. Either way, my perfectly toned rump is probably getting kicked. The things I do for love. I turn back to Daring and bob my head toward them. "Don't stare, just glance. Show's about to start. Keep smiling like nothing's wrong." Her smile falters a little, but she keeps it up admirably as she glances at them. "Wow," she says. "You weren't kidding back when you told me they trained like crazy ponies. I think that stallion's muscles have muscles." "Yeah, well, he's gotta work off all that pie he eats somehow." I shrug. "Not gonna lie, I'd probably take a shot if he weren't chasing Spits' tail, and if I didn't have you." Snorting, she smiles. "Nice save." Eying him a bit longer, she shrugs. "Yeah, I'll give it to you. Everyone's got that one they can't help but look at, right? As long as I'm number one on the list." I leer at her. "Daring, babe, if I looked at you the way I wanted all the time, I'd never be able to fly without running into walls." Daring turns away to hide a wobbly smile. Oh, I don't think so. "So, if everypony has 'that one,' who's yours?" She stiffens. "Remember Rosetta Stone?" Wincing, I duck my head. "Sorry." "Don't be. She's not that nice to look at now. Not just because she's a bottom-feeding piece of slime, either. " After a beat, she adds, "I promise, not all of my relationships ended with me pounding my girlfriend's face in. Just that one." Okay, let's steer away from this and get back to the thing we're actually here for. I steal a quick glance toward the main entrance, just in time to catch sight of a pair griffonnesses' crests flit into view. The bigger one, with brown plumage and white head, almost towers over Bastille--which is quite a feat in and of itself--and has a rather gruff look about her, kinda like she's just begging for a fight to break out. Her eyes flitted over to our table, I see her beak curve into a cocky smirk and the muscles in her wings flexing in silent challenge. Oh boy. Keeping an eye on her might be a good idea, or at least making sure she and Daring don't actually get near each other. Rainbow better have told this friend of hers that tangling with Daring just isn't a good idea, or this is going to be a really messy affair. "I think their buyer is here," I tell Daring, jerking my head in the griffon's direction. What even was her name again? Something with a G. "Remember, we're not here to take them down. We don't--" "Do anything unless we're found out," Daring finished for me. "I got it the first three times you said it, Fleet." "Just making sure." I pick up my glass and rotate it a bit to swirl the wine around. I'm no connoisseur--or would that be connoisseuse?--so it's not the whole coloration test thing I've heard about. I just like seeing wine swirl about. It's pretty. I like how the less dense colors separate out if you do it right. "I have no idea if we're supposed to toast wine every time we drink it," I begin. "Any ideas, Miss Culture?" She snorts, but picks up her glass all the same. "You only toast wine when it's a special occasion, you dingus. Not every time you drink it. You'd run out of things to toast." "Fair enough." I'd love to point out that it is a special occasion, but I'll wait. Not for long, though. At the moment, smiling and drinking with her were good enough. She looks happy even though the scenario I've crafted for her is so tense. What was it she told me before? Something about feeling at home with her heart pounding in her chest while she sits in a room full of her enemies, her mind racing as she worked to find a way to beat them again? My gift to her, then. A room full of friends disguised as enemies, and a situation she can't get out of. We raise our glasses in unison and each take a sip. I watch out of the corner of my eye as Bastille leads the griffonnesses into the dining hall, the big brown and white one leads, carrying herself with confidence. So she's playing leader, good to know. There's a few other ponies milling about out there--a few other teammates helping to set up the lead in to Rainbow Dash's part in this. Excellent. And just in time for Coquette to bring us our soups. She doles them out to us with practiced ease, and Daring and I set about unwrapping our silverware, perking our ears up so we can hear the conversation going on a couple tables over while we begin eating. "Captain Spitfire," the griffonness greets in a rather gruff tone, "Lieutenant Soarin. Good to see you two again." "And you as well, Miss Gilda," Spitfire replies. I see both her and Soarin rise to exchange hoofshakes with their counterparts. She tilts her head to the side as she eyes the other griffonness. "Forgive me, ma'am, but our mutual friend didn't tell us she'd be bringing a guest. I'm Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts. And you are?" The other griffoness bowed her charcoal gray head. "My name is Greta, Captain. It's an honor to meet you. Gilda's told me that both you and Lieutenant Soarin have been quite friendly to the griffons." "Well, Gilda's been very kind to us, and the griffons are rather big fans of anypony capable in the air," Soarin says, motioning to the table. "Why don't we sit and eat together? We can get to know each other over a meal." Gilda nods. "You'd make a good griffon, Lieutenant. The only better way would be a good tussle outside." "Soarin, please. We're all friends here." "Of course." She took her seat first. "I trust you brought some reading material for us? The last few novels you recommended were quite enjoyable." I can't help but smile as I sip at my soup. It tastes rather nice, actually. I might have to see if I can swipe the recipe. Oh, and the idea that they're reading books is just a gem. Points to Gilda for improvising that one for a bit of authenticity. Especially given the way Daring just flicked her ear toward them. Very nice. Spitfire raises a brow. "You think I'd shortchange a girl on some good reading? Got all your favorite books right here, Gilda." She unfurls her wing to brush her feathers against the briefcase. "Question is, did you bring Soarin's pie money? I can't fund his cravings on my salary, even if I'm the highest paid captain in history--the boy's gonna eat me out of house and home at this rate!" "And I do like pie," Soarin says, winning the understatement of the year award in a unanimous vote. Gilda fixes them both with a glare. Neither so much as bat an eye. Without breaking eye contact, she motions to Greta, who lifts the top of a large burlap sack into view. "One bag here," Greta says. "The rest is in the chariot, under watch by a few of our guards." "Don't trust us enough to bring it in?" Spitfire asks. "I'm hurt, Gilda." "Not at all, Spitfire," Gilda replies smoothly. "But on the off chance somepony might be tailing you, I felt it best that we make sure we don't put all our eggs in one basket." "Us? Followed?" Soarin scoffs. "We're Wonderbolts, Gilda, not amateurs. What do you take us for?" Gilda's beak curves into a rather wicked smile, her eyes flash with a knowing gleam. If I didn't know what was coming--and I'm rather fortunate that I do, or I'd probably feel a chill running down my spine--I'd be worried right about now. Judging by how Daring's wings tense and her jaw sets, Gilda's doing a bang up job acting. "Just taking precautions," Gilda says, with a light bow of her head. "Forgive me, but one can never be too careful. So, tell me, how has my old friend Rainbow Dash been doing lately?" Brilliant segue. I love it, and not just because Daring just sat bolt upright. Naturally, I play my part. "Easy," I say. "She's just making conversation." "You don't know that," Daring hissed. Her breathing comes short and ragged, she's not even touched her spoon. Dear Celestia, mare, for all your experience doing crazy things, I'd like to think this should be an easy gig. You're flipping out way too early. Wait a little longer. Like, a half hour, if you wouldn't mind. I haven't got the signal that Claire's got the cake ready yet, dang it. "Uh, yeah, I do." I fix her with a wry look. "I just saw her running drills earlier today on base." Still nothing. She keeps glancing over toward the table, her shoulders tense up like she's ready to leap into action and maul Gilda. What the hay has gotten into her? "Daring? Darey? Darey, calm down, please." Whatever it is, I need her off this little kick of hers. I take her wine glass in hoof and push it toward her. "Take a sip and a deep breath. Let's talk." "I know her," she says, a hint of worry in her tone. "Huh?" "I know Rainbow Dash, Fleety." Her eyes flit to mine. "She's a kid. A bit annoying, and maybe too much of a fanfilly at times, but she's a good kid." Oh. Oh, right. That thing with the sun ring gizmo. Yeah, I forgot about that entirely. Still, nothing confirmed yet. I need to play up the agent angle a little more. "Daring, I've known Rainbow a bit longer than you have." It's true! I have! I had to hear about Gilda from somepony, didn't I? "She told me about Gilda being a friend of hers back in flight school. They were practically joined at the hip since fillyhood!" Daring doesn't bite. "Friends change, Fleet. We're looking at one example sitting across from her." She nods to Spitfire, I can't help but flinch. Crud, crud, crud! "Look, we can't jump until we know anything!" Think fast, Fleety! "If Rainbow's in any danger at all, we'll move, okay?" She blinks. "You're serious?" Well, duh. Even if this was a real thing, Bolts don't leave each other behind. Just whimpering enemies. I nod once. "Screw orders. If Rainbow Dash is in trouble, I'll be right beside you to help her out of it. Until we know for sure though, we have to wait." Daring grits her teeth. For a moment, she stares down at her soup in silence. Then, slowly, she reaches out for her spoon. "Okay." Oh, thank Celestia. I let out a breath, reaching for my glass with a shaking hoof. "Okay, good. Sweet." I feel my coat standing on end, all my teammates are watching. I'd be surprised if they didn't hear most of that, but they're not the ones I'm trying to trick, so I don't care. They're just waiting to see what my call is. To that end, I let my left hoof hang down and make a gesture like I'm stroking a cat. Our silent command to relax and see how this plays out. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Soarin rubbing his nose and Spitfire tilting her head as if to pop her neck. They saw it and acknowledged the order. Good. Very good. Why in the hay is my heart racing? I'm in control of the situation. A few deep breaths are what I need. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Everything's fine. Just dandy. I take a deep sip of wine, faster than I'm supposed to drink it, but I need something to take the edge off. I have everything planned out to make this perfect once I get the call from Coquette and Bastille. Then everything can go as sideways or diagonally as it wants. As long as the dang cake is ready soon. My glass is emptied before I've even finished half of my soup. Somewhere, I'm sure my mother feels the urge to slap me over the head. Coquette left us the bottle--thankfully--but I'd best eat a little before going for more. The soup is quite good. That said, Daring should eat too. "Eat," I order her, giving a weak smile. "Can't have my pretty mare going hungry because of a little gossip." Her ears twitch. She frowns. "I know what you're trying to do, Fleetfoot. It's not helping." "I'm not trying to do anything, Darey." I tilt my head to the side and give her my saddest look. The smile all but melts from her face. "I just want you to eat up so you keep that beautiful figure of yours, and so you can get all your work done after we finish up here." Daring blinks, the blush returns to her cheeks before she looks down at her soup and finally begins eating it. "You're just saying that to get me to think of something else," she mumbles. "You never have anything to say when I talk about ancient tombs or cities. You just smile and stare at me until I'm done. Like you're just drifting right off ..." Stopping a moment, she shakes her head. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault that stuff is boring, most ponies don't care for the actual details either. They just want the adventure without all the work that went into it, just like my books." Is that what she thinks? Oh, baby, no. No, baby. I'm not waiting until you're done at all. And I do want to hear about all that work. Just like you listen to me talk about flying. Honey, why didn't you say anything before? Now I feel really bad. Especially that you're sad. You're not supposed to be sad on your birthday. You're supposed to be happy ... and, in a few minutes, wanting to wring my neck until you realize that I put it all together because I care. Please don't be sad. "I want to hear every bit of it," I say. "And I don't stare because I don't have anything to say." She snorts. "Yeah right. Do you know what my publisher said when I turned in my first ever draft?" I don't get a chance to respond, she just bites down on her spoon hard enough to make me wince at the sound of pewter scraping against enamel. "Cut out the boring archaeology stuff and hype up the adventure. Hype up the adventure! Like I just go running off into nowhere and then, suddenly, tombs and curses and fighting happens! No pony actually wants to read about some mare sitting and reading through a bunch of old--" "Yes I do!" I slap my spoon down on the table. "And I don't stare at you because I've got nothing to say or because I'm waiting for you to finish so we can move on or anything like that!" Screw being quiet. Couples argue and they have tender, feely moments in restaurants. If anything, this would just be a way of throwing suspicion off of us. I reach out and take her hoof in mine. "I stare because your eyes light up whenever you talk about that stuff. Every time we get to meet and you've got some new thingamajig you've translated or an artifact you think you've found, you get as excited as I do whenever Spitfire gives me a new routine." This is a bit different of a feel than I want tonight to go, but it's just as important. Every mare should know she's appreciated. Daring even more so. Because she's my mare. And she's beautiful. And perfect. And mine. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. "I don't know the slightest thing about what you actually do," I admit. "If you start talking about actual methodology, I feel like I'm a newborn trying to listen to--well--Daring freaking Do. But you get so passionate about it that I don't even care how much of it goes over my head, because it makes you happy to tell me about it. I get to see how much you love it all." By the time I've finished, her face is beet red. Seriously, I'm surprised she hasn't passed out, there's no way she has enough blood circulating. Slowly, I see her wings begin to twitch. Her feathers fluff up. "Y-You really like listening to me?" she asks in a rather small voice, like a filly seeking a parent's approval. Honey, I'm fixing to leap across this table and sweep you into a hug if you need further proof. I give her a crooked smile. "Hey, I used to sleep through history. You make it interesting, and you actually look alive when you tell me about it." She sucks in her lips to hide a smile, but I can see the corners of her mouth tugging upward. The tips of her ears are starting to match her cheeks. Must ... not ... nuzzle ... "If you, um--" Daring fidgets in her seat "--if you ever don't understand something, you could just tell me. I don't mind explaining in less ... scholarly terms." Much better. I lean forward and smirk at her. "That your way of saying you don't mind dumbing it down for me?" Her spoon falls to the table with a clatter as she quickly claps her hooves over her mouth to stifle a bout of laughter. Her shoulders shake, her eyes squeeze shut as she tries in vain to reign in her mirth. We're back on track for a happy evening. Victory is mine. "I'd like that," I say after a moment, pausing to take up my spoon and finish off the rest of my soup. "Of course, you know this means I'm going to start bugging you to come away from those books and join me in bed, right?" She ducks her head. "We don't live together, though ..." Resist the urge to spill on that present. Flirt instead. Fixing her with a half-lidded stare, I incline my eyebrows. "Daring," I say in a husky tone. Her ears stand up straight. She knows this tone."Y-Yes?" "Did you bring your books?" She nods slowly. Excellent. "When we get home, I want you to put them away and then come to bed." I make a show of fluffing up my feathers to let her see how well I've preened. "Got it?" This time, she can't fight the smile. She just ducks her head and nods shyly. "Good." I put my hooves on the table and lean across to kiss her nose. She squirms. "You're too adorable, Darey!" "Sh-Shut up!" she says, her tone a stark contrast to the command. "I'm not adorable!" "Yes you are!" I have to say it now. This is just the perfect time. "You're my adorable little--" "Don't you dare!" Oh, honey. Of course I dare. "Pansy!" It's rather hard to describe the way she reacts to that whenever I say it. Truth be told, I don't know if one can actually put it to words. The sound she makes is somewhere between a happy squeal, a frustrated groan, and a squeak--an odd combination, but she pulls it off and it's adorable. But, really, how could it be anything other than adorable? She's my Daring Do. My adorable little pansy, who loves to be nuzzled and hugged and kissed and doted on no matter how she denies it. I hear Soarin snort and cough. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Greta and Gilda squeezing their eyes shut and holding their beaks closed while Spitfire's shoulders shake in silent laughter. They didn't believe me when I told them I could make her do it. None of them did. This is why my brilliance should never be questioned. Glancing over Daring's shoulder as she tries to formulate a reply, I see Coquette's head poke around the corner. Our eyes meet. She reaches up and taps the side of her snout twice. The cake is ready. Right on time. I drum a quick cadence on the table--the first bit of the drum part for "Blue and Gold 'Till Gray and Old," our team anthem. At her table, Spitfire nods. It's time for everything to go sideways. "You know, I just remembered," Gilda says, tapping a talon against her head. "About that crack you made, Soarin. What was it again? You guys aren't amateurs, right? You'd never let yourself be tailed?" I hear Soarin scoff. "Of course not. C'mon, Gilda, how many of these buys have we had go through without a hitch? We're flying smooth here." "Are we?" Gilda snapped her talons. On cue, four more Bolts disguised as mercenaries walk in, pushing a cart with a dinner tray and metal cover toward their table. Spitfire's brows furrow in confusion, she looks from Gilda to the tray. "The hay is this supposed to be? Some sort of joke?" "Not at all, Captain," Gilda all but purrs. She takes hold of the cover, smiling innocently. "I just thought, since we're all friends here, that the four of us might share a little something together from home. In this case--" In one smooth motion, she yanks the cover off to reveal a trembling, yellow mare with a disheveled pink mane. "--I thought we might share a bit of griffonian tradition. Call it, what happens when we catch a mare eavesdropping and snooping around our chariot." Spitfire wrinkles her snout. "She's not one of ours," she says with a scoff. "Not a bit of muscle on this one." "Kinda cute though," Soarin says, earning a sideways look from Spitfire. My boy just earned himself a little bit of couch patrol, methinks. This mare, though. The one they've got trussed up and gagged--and she's doing a bang up job playing the terrified damsel, might I add--I know her from before, of course. I've seen all of Rainbow's friends, but I'm just terrible with names. Actually, this is the really shy one, so I wonder how much of this is acting for her. Now what was her name? Something that rhymed with butter ... Daring draws in a sharp breath. "Fluttershy!" she whispers, her eyes wide with horror. There it is! Fluttershy! Wait a minute, how does Daring know her? Rainbow, I get, but this one? I'm tossing up a flag here. "You know her from somewhere?" I ask, just managing to keep my voice even. Not going to lie, this is rather intriguing. From what I've heard, Fluttershy is, like, the complete and total opposite of Daring. Maybe not completely and totally opposite. Both do have rather nice rumps, and I wouldn't mind nuzzling into those wings of hers. Or just nuzzling both mares' wings at the same time. Y'know, if Dash were a couple years older and not so starstruck, I might say bring her in too. Nah, Daring's enough for me. A mare can dream, though. As long as Daring is my number one, it's totally okay. She even said so herself. "She was there with Rainbow Dash," Daring says, jolting me out of a rather nice though of the two of us in a nice, big cuddle pile with Dash and Fluttershy. "Back when I was trying to keep the Ring of Destiny away from Caballeron and Ahuitzotl, Rainbow and her friend helped me out. Fluttershy was one of them." The Ring of--oh! That was the thing! That was what Rainbow helped her out with and helped earn Daring's respect. Wait, if Fluttershy was there ... Oh. Oh, so that's why she looks like she's half a step toward caving Gilda's face in. Crud. I really hope Rainbow's watching and waiting for her part, because I'm gonna have to call a quick audible here. It's a simple call, thank Celestia: I just pin my ears back and fold my hooves across one another on the table. Please, please, please let this rookie be watching! Or at least one of the squad! To my surprise, Surprise, of all ponies, comes to my rescue. She starts coughing, bringing her napkin up to cover her face. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I see Spitfire and Soarin flick their ears toward us. They heard. Good. Oh thank goodness. Rainbow, I hope you're on point, kid, or I'm going to have to try to wrestle down a rampaging Daring. Daring leaps out of her seat and tears her dress off in one motion--it'd be really hot if I wasn't praying for my teammates' lives right about now. There's a big discrepancy between Daring when she's working on her own and when she's looking out for a friend (or girlfriend). From what I've heard, her books cover how she works on her own pretty darn well, but she has to make up banter for whenever she had friends or temporary allies in trouble. It's not that the well of her witticisms dried up, it's more along the lines of Daring's "going to beat the utter stuffing out of somepony" dial being cranked up to eleven. Once the joking stops, bad guys usually know it's time to start running. She didn't even bother giving them a threat. The only warning they got was the sound of her slamming her hooves against the table and snarling as she flared her wings and leapt at them. I rise from my seat, praying that Rainbow gets here in, like, half a second or I'm going to have to grab Daring by the tail. Spitfire's eyes go wide, she glances at me for just an instant before kicking out of her chair and pulling Soarin into the air with her. Without so much as a hint of hesitation, their hooves are up and ready to defend themselves. They're going to need that combat training if Daring gets ahold of them before-- A hoof loops around my neck and pulls me in close, light glints of the cold steel suddenly being pressed against my neck. "Hold it right there!" Rainbow cries, her voice cracking. I can feel a bit of a tremble in her hoof. She's only extremely excited to play her part as villain here. And I'm thrilled she made it right now! Thank Celestia this mare can improvise! Her making it means less teammates getting mauled. For the time being, at least. Daring flares her wings to put on the air breaks. Her jaw drops. "Rainbow Dash?" She lands nimbly on the floor, blinking in confusion as she looks from the knife to Rainbow. "Kid ... what do you think you're doing right now?" "What do you think she's doing?" Spitfire asks, landing with Soarin. She buffs a hoof on her chest. "The kid's with us, Daring. Best recruit we've ever brought up!" Her eyes flit to me, a wicked smirk crosses her muzzle. "Pretty big step up from the scrub you came in with, really. Then again, she's always been the odd mare out." That would sting a little more if we hadn't gone over this, but damned if Spitfire doesn't make it believable. "You piece of flying trash!" I snarl. "You think you're gonna get away with this?" The knife presses tighter against my neck. "No lip out of you, Fleetfoot ... er, ma'am." Dang it, Dash. I told you to play this up! Why do you have to be so dang finicky? It's a game! Wait. I can make this work. I just have to--hang on. Is this the cake knife? It's the cake knife. She's threatening me with the freaking cake knife. Okay. Fine. I can wing this. But, really, must I do everything around here? "Rookie--Rainbow, think about this a minute." Let's play up the nervous angle a little bit, shall we? "I know you wanna be a Bolt, but these two--" I gesture to Spitfire and Soarin "--they're selling secrets to another country, secrets that keep you, me, and everypony we love safe. I know you, you're better than that. You got on this team without any shortcuts. You did it the right way!" She hesitates. Out of the side of my mouth, I hiss to her, "Roll with it!" The knife pulls away from my neck for an instant. "I ... I am a Wonderbolt, and I did it the right way." Her grip on my neck tightens--ack! "Unlike you, I actually follow orders!" Beautiful. Daring recoils as if she's just been struck. "Orders? Kid, think about this a minute!" "Oh, she's made the right choice." Spitfire tapped her hoof against the table twice. Just as we planned it, every Wonderbolt in the restaurant stands, each mare removes her jewelry, ready to fight if needed. More an act, but image is important too. Soarin sniggers. "Didn't you wonder why Fleetfoot was the contact, Miss Do? I mean, really. Maybe she's not told you all her disciplinary issues, but you've dated her long enough to know that she couldn't be trusted to run a lemonade stand, let alone ops for the EIS!" Ouch. Okay, I know I told him to lay it on like he's the Master of Evil or something, but he could tone it down a touch. I could run the hay out of a lemonade stand. An ice cream stand, though, might be a little much. "Because she's not enough of a Bolt, simple as that." Spitfire sighs and shakes her head. "Shame, really. I love ya, Fleety, and I tried. I really did. If you'd have just listened and put in the work, I could've brought you into the fold and we'd all be relaxing together instead of all this." She pauses a moment, shrugging her shoulders. "What the hay? You've been a great friend, always at my side since we were fillies. I like you. I suppose you could stand another shot." Greta snorts. "Giving mercy to a pony who's trying to burn you? And after all the bumbling this one does?" Hey. "Wasn't she the one you said nearly wrecked the Academy when you let her watch for a few days?" Gilda put in. Hey! What is this? Take potshots at Fleetfoot day? Methinks not! Spitfire fixes her with a glare. Her eyes flit from Greta to Fluttershy and back again. "I don't tell you how to deal with your problems. You let me deal with mine." With a sniff, she picks up the briefcase and turns to trot toward us. Her eyes bore into mine. "One last chance, Fleetfoot. Tell me you'll follow orders for once. Tell me you're going to report to EIS that their intel was wrong, and that this was nothing but a meeting to set up our next show in the Northern Kingdom. All I need is a 'yes, ma'am, Captain Spitfire,' and we can let this all go away. Otherwise ..." She glances to Daring and smirks. "Well, you really shouldn't have brought your girl here." Daring grits her teeth. "Why don't you put that down and we'll see who's pony enough to run their mouth?" She paws at the ground, carving a deep gash in the cloud floor. "Free dental work's on me, fireball!" "Don't make a move, Daring!" Rainbow calls. I almost pity her when Daring's eyes lock on hers. "Oh, don't you worry," she says, her voice surprisingly even. "You're next in the chair, kid! Ring of Destiny or not, you're on my list!" My ears flick as Rainbow swallows a lump. "Holy hay, you weren't kidding!" she whispers. "She's freaking pissed!" This is so not the time. Can she fanfilly later? I'm pretty sure she can fanfilly later. Spitfire clears her throat, trotting past and cheekily flicking her tail across Daring's nose. "If we're done posturing, I believe I asked Senior Airmare Fleetfoot a question." Oh, Celestia, if looks could kill I'd be short one best friend. I can almost hear Daring's teeth grinding from here. "If you lay one hoof on her ..." she growls. An orange eyebrow arches. Spitfire stops just within hoof's reach, looks over her shoulder at Daring, then back at me. I see the corners of her mouth tugging upward, her cheeks puffing out. She's trying not to laugh. As much as she loves to preach rules at me, she loves playing with fire just as much as I do. Slowly, she raises a hoof and reaches out to poke my nose. "Touched," Spitfire says casually. She flicks her ear toward Daring. "I'm sorry, you were saying?" Nothing. Daring's face, though ... yeesh. I really might be in for it. I tap a hind hoof against the floor. It's wrap-up or die time. Literally. "I thought so." Dang it, Spitfire, don't spike the ball! She smirks at me, her hoof cups my chin and forces me to look into her eyes. "Ease up a little, Rainbow. Give the mare a chance to answer her captain." "Yes, ma'am." The knife pulls away just enough for me to relax. How nice of her. Spitfire, meanwhile, is still struggling not to laugh. Keep it together, Spits! Just a couple more lines! "Well, Fleetfoot?" Her eyes dance with mirth. "Are you going to be a good mare?" We sort of discussed how I'd answer this question. Nothing we came up with seemed cool enough for our tastes--well, Dash's tastes, really. Something about not meeting the standards Daring had in all her books. And that's fair enough. I won't lie, she's got the gift of gab when it comes to this stuff. That line about proposing to Ahuitzotl in her book is a classic. Same as the free dental work thing. I'm a tease and a flirt. Threats? Epic acts of defiance? Not in this situation. I'm more of a funny mare. So, really, I have only one reply. Fortunately, I told Spitfire this was coming and she accepted--albeit after a bit of eye rolling. But the look on her face as spit slowly rolls down from between her eyes to the end of her snout is just classic. Grade A acting. Oh, hey! I have a line! "Guess I just live to disappoint you, Spitty-poo." She sucks in her lips and looks away to hide a smile. Over her shoulder, I see Soarin, Gilda, and Greta covering their mouth and beaks respectively and shaking in silent laughter. After a moment, Spitfire draws in a deep breath and wipes a hoof across her face. "Okay. Alright, fine. I guess I can respect your dedication to being a complete pain in my backside 'till the very end. I'll make sure they put that on your epitaph." With a disappointed sigh, she turns away from me. "It's almost sad, girls. You're going out like this and we're about to walk away rich--well, richer." She lays one ear flat against her scalp, the other perks up straight. "Oh, what the hay? I'm feeling generous. Gilda? How would you like a live reading of Equestria's secrets from an award winning author? Call it dinner and a show." Gilda swallows her laughter just in time. "Sure. I love a good story." She reclines in her seat, taking a glass of wine in her talons. "Always wanted Daring Do to read to me herself." "Well, call me the Element of Generosity." Spitfire pops the locks on the briefcase and tosses it over to Daring. "Start reading." Silence hangs thick over all of us, save for my lovely, furious girlfriend's heavy breathing. I know that look in her eyes. I remember it, through drug induced haze and grogginess. That's the look she had in her eyes right before she ripped through Caballeron's mercenaries. "If you think I'm going to read what's in there--" Daring's eyes flit to the briefcase laying at her hooves "--I'm afraid you're dumber than you look, Spitty-poo!" "You'll do it," Spitfire says, her voice taking on an edge I know as her 'recruit is about to die' tone. "Or we'll see which is faster: Rainbow's knife work or your wings." I need to get ahold of somepony in Hollyhoof. Spitfire would be perfect for a villain role. Daring looks at me, then the knife at my throat. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. "Daring! No!" Cheesy, but it's kinda required. "Read it," Spitfire repeats her command. With a sigh, Daring hangs her head and pulls out a sheet of paper. I recognize Spitfire's pointed script, the message she copied so Daring wouldn't realize until she read through. She turns away from me, facing the four at their table as she brings the paper up before her. And now, everything's up in the air. Rainbow lets go of my neck, the pair of us take a big step back. An action that, funnily enough, I see most of my team copying in earnest. Daring takes a deep breath and makes as if to start reading. But she stops short, tilting her head. Her ears pin back. "Sorry for all the trickery, Darey, but I know how you hate parties and public displays," she reads with a mix of incredulity and utter fury in her tone. "Hope you have a nice time meeting all the ponies I've come to call friends over the years, and have a happy birthday. Love from ..." she trails off. I hear her take a shuddering breath. "Go on!" Soarin eggs her on, leaning against the table. His vibrant green eyes lock with mine. He winks. "Love from whom?" She turns on the spot, her tail flicks through the air like the bullwhip she so loves to use. "Love from Fleetfoot?" she shrieks, fixing me with a heated glare. I feel everything seem to slow down as our eyes meet. There's all the indignation I knew would be there, if only for a bit, and, of course, the signs of a rant just waiting to happen. But there's something I hadn't counted on. Tears. Angry tears gathering in her eyes. Uh oh. Okay, no more games. I hold up my hooves in surrender. "N-Now, honey, I can explain!" My throat tightens. Dang it, this is not the time. "I just--um--well ..." I see Gilda sniggering with Greta as they cut Fluttershy's bonds, even she gives me a little half smile, the kind you give somepony you know is about to get exactly what they have coming. Huh. I really should've thought this through better. With an enraged shout, Daring leaps at me, hooves outstretched and ready to wrap around my neck. Now, funny thing about me. Well, more specifically, how my parents named me. They didn't name me right off the bat. Something about my mom's family having a tradition of waiting a few days to see what the foal was like. I happened to be incredibly quick, both on my hooves and in air. Thus, mom named me Fleetfoot. So, I really hope mom wasn't kidding, because I could really use all that speed and grace to escape my beautiful, lovely, utterly furious, practically spitting fire and shooting lasers from her eyes girlfriend. I leap to the side just in time to let her overshoot me and bowl over Rainbow, who yelps and tries to scramble away in fear of retribution. No, rookie, you're fine. Me? I'm dead. Without looking back, I take off. "I'm sorry!" I call over my shoulder. "It was just supposed to be a thing to get you to come to your birthday party!" "I'm going to freaking murder you! Do you have any idea how terrified I was?" I can hear her voice cracking. Oh, geez, I've really done a number here. "I didn't think you'd freak out when you saw Fluttershy! The whole thing was supposed to end with them bringing out a cake and singing and--" My hoof catches on something, sending me sprawling. I glance back and see a rather familiar yellow leg rubbing innocently against another as Spitfire slides out of the way to lean against Soarin. Both fix me with matching smirks. They've just signed my death warrant. Oh, crud. Before I can even roll over, Daring's on top of me, pinning my shoulders to the floor. Her breaths come in ragged gasps, washing over my face. The angry tears are still gathered in her eyes. I let my ears lay flat. I've really botched this one. Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Darey ..." "Sorry?" she snaps. "You put all this together, you had one of my friends act like she was going to cut you with a knife--" "It's a cake knife!" Rainbow cuts in helpfully. "I'd have to run it against her, like, really hard. And really long." Whipping her head around, Daring jabs a hoof in her direction. "You shut up until I'm good and ready to deal with you!" Rainbow ducks her head low and hides behind Rapidfire. Daring turns back to me. Quick as a flash, she pulls me up by my shoulders and shakes me like a freaking maraca! "I am going to beat the utter hay out of you, you big, fat, stupid, inconsiderate, jerk!" Two sets of hooves--sky blue and yellow--wrap around her and pull her off of me. She flails and makes to lash out at them, but they hold her tight. "Alright, alright, relax!" Spitfire chides her. "Look, this went south because we didn't think you'd flip out when Fluttershy was brought in." Nostrils flaring, Daring jerks herself out of their hold and brings herself nose to nose with Spitfire. "Do I look like I care right now?" Spitfire doesn't even blink. "No, but there's a mare who cares an awful lot about you who put together a big thing where we had you 'surrounded' so we could sing for you." If I didn't feel so bad, it might be comical how Daring blinks and seems to deflate. She looks over her shoulder at me, then back to Spitfire. "What?" Rolling her eyes, Spitfire sighs. "Long story short, your girlfriend's a great planner, but she has a tendency to let that go to her head sometimes." "Hey!" In almost practiced unison, everypony--even the griffons--call out, "Shut up, Fleetfoot!" I'm pretty sure I picked up Fluttershy's voice in the mix, along with the phrase "If you don't mind." Either way, Spitfire continues. "She put together this whole thing where we have you surrounded and stuff, and then Claire de Lune--" with a wave of her hoof, she draws everypony's attention to a short, portly mare wheeling in a rather large cake with chocolate icing "--would wheel that in so we could all subject you to the absolute worst torment in the history of Equestria." Her brows flatline. She heaves a sigh and steps back until she's right beside Soarin. Daring just stares. "Huh?" The Blunderbolt himself grins and waggles his ears. "Our singing voices! Duh!" Then, he reaches up to rub at his mane. "Buuuuuut since you kinda flipped out, we called, like, eight audibles on the fly and just made something up. It went ... really bad." Ducking his head, he gives a crooked smile. "Didn't think a prank would go over so poorly. In any case, though ... happy birthday. And thanks for putting up with our team idiot. It takes a load off us." I puff my cheeks up and cross my hooves. "I am right here, you know!" Suddenly, Daring's ears stand up straight. She turns, I feel my coat stand on end as she fixes me with a blank stare. Slowly, a cold smile works its way across her muzzle. "My birthday party, huh?" Huh, why are my lips suddenly dry? And why do I feel like I should just run for the hills, change my name, and never return? "Y-Yeah," I find myself saying. "S-Surprise, honey!" "I see." She closes her eyes tight, the smile never leaves her muzzle. Turning sharply, Daring strides over to Claire de Lune and holds out a hoof. "I hope you don't mind, but--" without so much as a warning, she lashes out, swiping a rather large piece of corner from the cake "--I need this for something." Claire looks like she's just been slapped across the face, but she nods quickly, forcing a smile while Daring begins to make her way toward me again. Daring stops right in front of me. "Stand up." There's something about the look in her eye ... Slowly, I stand. "Uh ..." I glance from Daring's face to the piece of cake in her hoof. "Honey?" Stars burst from behind my eyes. I topple over in a heap, covering my face with my hooves. Okay. Ow. That's a mean right cross, but I deserved it. And probably more, but--hang on. I feel something sticky. And flakey. It clicks. I wipe my hooves down across my face, then hold them out in front of me. She just slapped me in the face with her own birthday cake. Our eyes meet again. Beautiful cerise seem to dance with amusement, a single tear runs down her cheeks. Ducking my head, I cringe. "Still mad?" "Furious," she replies, giving a tight-lipped smile. "But a little touched by the gesture, even if it is stupid." My ears perk up. "Really?" "You're still in trouble." Her eyes harden. She leans in close enough to whisper, "You're lucky I've missed you and this is sorta sweet, or you'd be sleeping alone tonight." "Sorry, Darey." "Oh, you will be. Later tonight." She draws back and gives her tail a swish, her tongue runs along her top lip. There's a big part of me that wonders if running might be a good option. The gleam in her eyes is almost a dare to try it, and a reminder that, while I might fly fast for a living, she hunts treasure and thrashes bad guys for hers. So, I'll just sit here and be in trouble tonight. Like a good Fleety. Daring reaches out with one hoof and pulls me up, holding me tight against her side. She turns her head to nose against my cheek, sneaking close to my ear again. "Until then," she whispers, "I think I know what I want for my birthday ..." Why do I have the feeling that I'm doomed? As if on cue, Daring turns to Spitfire and grins. "So, how about a customized, weird party game for this customized weird party?" Spitfire raises an eyebrow. "I'm listening." Daring's grip on me tightens. "Whoever can tell the most embarrassing Fleetfoot story wins a round of drinks on me." Twenty faces light up like a bunch of foals on Hearths' Warming Morning. Their ears stand straight and tall, their tails swish back and forth. Oh ... My teammates cheer and rush forward, each babbling at top speed as they try to get their favorite tale out and claim their prize. That would be because I am doomed.

Mission: Romantic

3. Gifts for the Perfect Mare

I don't know if I've ever been so embarrassed in all my life. So many stories. So much "you'll never believe what she tried to do next!" And far too much blushing on my part. My cheeks still burn just thinking about it as I run a washcloth over my cheeks to chase away the remaining stickiness from Daring's cake assault. I wince as I touch the spot she hit. She may have pulled her punch a little bit, but dang that girl has a mean right cross. "You okay?" she asks, glancing over as she works to remove her makeup. "Just a bit of a stinger. You gave me a heck of a bruise with that punch." Daring stops. She gives a little cough and looks away. "That was a slap. Not a punch." Oh. That would explain why it felt like my teeth had only been slightly jostled rather than knocked down my throat. Yay? Well, I kinda deserved it. I still probably do. So, I'll just shut up and take solace in the fact that she didn't pummel me. But seriously. Ow. "I'll just avoid getting slapped from here on out." Yeah, no more of that. With the remnants of icing cleared from my cheek, I toss the washcloth over to the hamper. "So, my stupid plan going screwy aside, did you at least have fun tonight?" I see her smile at her own reflection before turning to face me. "Yes, actually! Your teammates are, surprisingly, a lot more fun than I thought they'd be. Especially those two you insist are dating--Soarin and Spitfire, right?" "They totally are. You didn't see them getting cozy earlier tonight at the lounge, and then again while they watched you chase me around. Spitfire's the one who tripped me." Sniggering, she nods. "I know. She told me." That mule. Three cans' worth of silly string will seem like foals' play when I'm through with her. Still, I can't help but smile. She had fun, just like I wanted, and she made friends with all of my friends, plus two griffons that neither of us knew but made friends with via Rainbow Dash. I shall count that as a win along with, albeit grudgingly, her enjoyment a bit of entertainment at my expense. If Rapid, Wild, and Spits can have her howling while they relay the time my coat and mane dye prank backfired and Spits made me fly all of our public practices colored neon pink, then fine. But there's a little something else I need to take care of now that we're back home and cozy. Well, two somethings. Nudging her with my shoulder, I shoo her out of the bathroom, much to her amusement. "So, I see we're done washing up, huh?" she teases. "One or two more things I have for you--well, one thing for, one thing to kinda float to you." Her ears perk up. "Oh yeah?" I feel Daring's feathers trail up my side, teasing between my wing joints. "What sort of things do you have to give and float?" A shiver runs down my spine, all the way to the very ends of my tail. Dang it, she's starting to push buttons! I can't have that yet! I shrug out from under her wing, stealing a quick nip to her ear that draws one of those adorable squeals from the back of her throat. "None of that yet! Fun claiming whose butt belongs to whom time has to wait!" She snorts, but the effect is rather ruined by the blush coloring her cheeks. "There is no question whose butt belongs to whom, but if you want a reminder, I'll be happy to give you a refresher course." Another shiver runs down my spine. This mare, I swear ... I force myself to push it to the side for a moment and lead her into the bedroom. In retrospect, this isn't the best place to go right after telling her to wait for this sort of thing, but I hid the one gift in my nightstand because it's the one place she never looks. No particular reason why. Just "it's your nightstand, why would I need to go in there?" My Daring is an odd pegasus sometimes. Then again, so am I. Guiding her to stand beside the bed, I open the nightstand drawer and pull out a small black pouch. I considered a little box, but Soarin and Spitfire strongly advised against it unless I was about to propose to Daring. I love Daring quite a lot, but I don't know if either of us are ready for marriage. We're still in the playful "your butt belongs to me" versus "no, your butt belongs to me" stage. We quite like this stage for now. "I, uh ..." Licking my lips, I offer the pouch to her. "I got you something while we were on tour. It's a thing from Saddle Arabian culture, and I know you love that stuff ..." Daring smiles and takes the pouch. "I just got done lecturing about the Silk Road last month." She tilts her head. "Or was that last semester? No matter." With a mere tug, she pulls the pouch open and shakes it to bring out the contents. Her eyes light up at the flash of gold and torquoise in her hoof, a gasp escapes her lips. "Fleetfoot, this--Fleety, no, this must've cost--" "Oh, shut up and take it, you pansy! I got it for you, and I don't think the shops in the bazaar have a return policy, so you're stuck with it." She is. So there. I roll my hoof in a forward circle. "Well, go on! Put it on!" With a bit of a wrinkling of her snout, she obeys. She undoes the fasten and wraps the gold chain around her neck, the turquoise pendant seems to jump out--it's a strange, but wonderful contrast to her tan coat. She wears it well. Of course she does. She's Daring Do. Daring doesn't wear things unwell. Or ... whatever the opposite is. Touching the pendant with her hoof, she smiles. "How does it look?" Um ... can I just say that Princess Celestia could walk in, raise the sun, dance a jig, and leave and I wouldn't notice her? Sure, it's the most coherent thought I've got. "Princess Celestia could walk in, raise the sun, dance a jig, and leave and I wouldn't notice her." She laughs and her tail swishes merrily. Just like I'd hoped. "You're sweet." Daring kisses my nose. I feel a hoof slide up to my shoulder, gently nudging and maneuvers me toward the bed. Our lips meet, her tongue trails along my lips. My eyes flutter shut as the bed comforter brushes against my rump. My tail swishes against the bed as she leads me further and further onto the mattress, guiding me to lay down on my back as she settles down on top of me. Wait. No, seriously, wait. I definitely want this, but I also want to get something else off my chest before she gets comfortable on me. But danged if I don't like the whole "Daring on top of me" thing I have going for me right now. With no shortage of reluctance, I place a hoof against her chest and push her back just slightly. I gasp for breath. She's always known how to just take it away from me. "One second," I say in between breaths. "I still have one more thing to, uh, float to you." She smirks and leans in to peck my lips. "Float fast, then, flymare." Her teeth nip my lips. Somepony's eager. Well, good. So am I. I dart forward and lick her lips--Celestia, she tastes sweet. "I, uh, well we've been dating for about a year now. So, um, this is kinda something I've been thinking about in terms of ... well, moving forward a bit." "Moving forward?" She blinks. "Moving forward how?" No turning back. Go full speed ahead, Fleety, old girl. "I was, um, wondering if you might wanna consider moving in together--it doesn't necessarily have to be here!" I add hastily. "Canterlot could work, I'd just have to commute and all, but it's a thing I wanted to bring up and think about and maybe let you think about and, oh gosh I'm rambling, I should really stop that, but I'm kinda unsure if I'm at a good place to--" Apparently, Daring's decided to make a stopping point for me. With her lips. And her tongue. My feathers fluff as I arch my back and hum. She's unfairly good at this. Still, this is not an answer. I need verbal confirmation, here. I push her back again. Dear Celestia, I feel like I've run a mile and this is the best thing ever, but I really need to get a verbal answer. "You still haven't answered." Daring looks up at the ceiling and lets out a groan. "One day, Fleety. By Celestia, I swear, one day I'm going to get you to take context clues!" Her hooves press down on my shoulders, pinning me to the bed. "... So, is that a--" "Son of a--yes!" I would gladly leap into the air and do a backflip while cheering at the top of my lungs, but being pinned kinda negates my ability to do that. And something about the way Daring captures my lips and slips her tongue into my mouth again suggests that she would immensely prefer that I busy myself in another way. As always, I am more than open to such negotiations. Happy birthday, Daring.

We Three Alicorns

pre

DCS Banks was still a very happy pony when he nearly trampled a bar patron to death in a bar fight. Really, he was. He was especially happy that it could be ruled self-defense. Crunch, crunch, crunch. So, DCS Banks realized that he Had A Problem with booze. So, he quit. Cold turkey. Didn't even go to AA. Just stopped drinking. DS Drops was pretty damned impressed. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Except, to deal with the oral fixation from drinking, DCS Banks had turned to candy, gum, lollipops, celery, and finally...to popcorn. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Had a huge-ass bag of it in his saddle bags, and any time he wasn't doing anything, he'd take a small scoop out with his telekinesis and nibble on it. Crumbs got in his grey-and-black mane, all over his grey fur, it got a bit messy at times. Oh, it mostly shook off as he walked, but there were still bits. Crunch, crunch, crunch. DS Drops was happy that his boss had something to keep him out of trouble. Crunch, crunch, crunch. But, one day, he was going to go Discord on DCS Banks and no jury in the land could convict him with a tape recording of DCS Banks munching. All DS Drops could do was fly just far enough away from DCS Banks as to avoid some of the worst of the crunching. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Fortunately, he had finished with the last scoop before they crossed the crime scene tape, and they watched as the CSI ponies were finishing up their work. "So!" DCS Banks said with a cheerful smile, "What's the story so far?" CSI Tech 4 Griffin, wearing his crime scene overalls covering his cutie mark, looked over at DCS Banks and said, waving his clip board with his magic, "Good evening, Banks. And, Drops. We're taking everything back to the lab in Canterlot, but I can give you what we have so far. It was a six-pony wagon," CSI Griffin was referring to how many ponies it would take to pull the wagon, "and, it was a pretty new one. It had hydraulic shocks, not leaf springs, so it was made in the last ten years. I can get you more details when we pull the serial numbers off. And, it's a Class 3 Unauthorized Reality Excursion, as you can tell by that poor soul there." The remains of the burnt-out cart mostly hid the bed, where pony bones-brittle from the heat and broken from what looked like nails driven into the summoning grid-rested. The skull was mostly intact, except for the broken stub of a horn and most of the lower portion cracked. "Live summoning, and if I had to make a guess, they were using a sound-dampening spell to cover the torture." "Torture?" DS Drops asked, curiously, getting his wings settled in. "For a Class 3 in a small summoning grid, even using the new reduced spell character set? You'd need to have a sacrificial goat-the more powerful, smarter, and the more pain you made it suffer, the better. And, they weren't idiots-well, beyond actually summoning a Class 3. You can tell by the candle marks there. They'd set candles on the main points of the grid-my bet is dragon hair in manticore grease, can confirm that in the lab-and lit them when they had the summoning hot. Give it an hour or two, the wax melts down, the grid is open, and you have six Class 3's going to eat ponies," Griffin said. "Professional work?" DCS Banks asked, looking at the rest of the cart. "Still need to confirm at the lab, but so far no hoof prints, no fibers, the magical signatures got scrambled when the grid went down, so can't offer you anything there. I know this is a Priority One case, and I'll have the lab ponies go over this whole cart with a fine-tooth comb," Griffin replied. "And, as soon as I know anything, I'll let DI Cracken know anything we find out." "Thanks. So, roughly about three hours before the monsters came out?" DCS Banks asked. "Call it three for now. Time-of-death is going to be nearly impossible with the burn damage," CSI Griffin replied, and looked around. "Can you get out of my crime scene? We're about to bring the cart in to take the remains to the lab." "Certainly," DCS Banks and DS Drops got out of the crime tape and the crime scene. As DCS Banks left the crime scene, he looked around at the general layout of Ponyville's main square. "Going to be a hard one," DCS Banks sighed. "Bet you two bits they made sure to come in without passing any bank or security cameras, looked as plain as could be, and made sure to be very, very far away when it finally happened." "Yea, but we might get lucky," DS Drops said, waving a wing in the general direction of one of the larger streets for Ponyville. "Only three, four ways they could bring in a six-pony cart?" "Three," DCS Banks agreed. He trotted over to a uniformed Guardspony. "Start doing a canvas, ask any pony around here if they saw anything or any pony that was suspicious from about 1100 hours to 1400 hours. Also, start pulling statements of any pony that might have seen a six-pony cart from the main streets leading in to the square. Check for cameras, all the usual details." "Yes, sir," the Guardspony left and started to relay his instructions to other Guards. DCS Banks looked around and made a loud huffing sound. "Best go find ourselves some coffee," DCS Banks said, pulling out a scoop of popcorn from his saddle bag. "It's going to be a long, long night." Crunch, crunch, crunch. "I'll go see if the muffin stand still has coffee," DS Drops said, trying not to grind his teeth when he heard the popcorn chewing. Crunch, crunch, crunch. "Welcome back," DI Cracken said from his office, waving as DCS Banks and DS Drops came back in. "Any luck with the Ponyville case on your end?" "They just had to take it down the only street in Ponyville that didn't have a security camera," DCS Banks sighed, coming in and flopping down in one of the chairs. "Witness canvassing is going on, but I'm not optimistic." "'Six ponies, thought they were all Earth ponies, with a cart.' 'Four Earth ponies, two unicorns, with a rickshaw,'" DS Drops quoted from his notes in mild disgust. "Witness statements are going to be nearly useless." "The lab called, they were able to figure out where the cart came from," DI Cracken replied, taking up a pile of papers in one of his hooves. "Somepony stole it from a green grocer about seven days ago in Manehattan. Finn and Munch are on their way there to get information. Haven't been able to ID the sacrifice yet, but they know that it was a middle-aged male unicorn. Other than that, we got a link from the Princesses about the case. Apparently, there's also an unsolved arson in Manehattan that is connected to the case-some sort of organized cult or something. I'm having the arson inspector pull her files and bring them here." "Do we know anything else?" DCS Banks asked. "More about this cult we might be able to use?" "Yea, just that they appear to be very bucking ruthless," DI Cracken nodded. "I'll get copies of the briefing papers to you, as well." "Thanks," DCS Banks replied, and the two of them left his office. "DCS Banks?" the small reddish-grey unicorn female asked, making sure her badge was noticeable on the chain around her neck. "Hi, I'm Firemare 3 Earnest Ashes," she said. "You were wondering about one of my cases?" "Yes, yes I was," DCS Banks said, sitting at his desk. "This is DS Drops, my partner. So, what can you tell us about the arson?" The unicorn nodded, and pulled out a file folder from her saddle bag. "It was an amateur job, but a pretty good one. Lots of accelerant-wood alcohol-scattered over a lot of surfaces, paper scattered all over the place. I thought it might have been a torching to cover a homicide, but we didn't have enough forensic evidence. The only victim's body was too badly damaged for us to determine otherwise." "Did you find any proof of foals living in the house?" DS Drops asked, curious. "Yes, three from the beds and toys. My guess, they were all female. But, there were no remains and no missing foal reports, so I thought it might have been an illegal day care center," Firemare Ashes nodded. "What happened?" "Well, as of now, your case is being reopened as a homicide," DCS Banks replied. "We have reason to believe that your victim was murdered by somepony that was involved in an incident recently." Firemare Ashes flipped through her notes. "I have a description of two ponies, unicorns, that visited her prior to the fire. I thought we could find them, and at least exclude them, but we were short on a lot of details." "But, you said, 'two unicorns', right?" DS Drops asked, looking at his notes. "'One tall, long horn and one short with a medium-length horn,'" he quoted from the notes. "Sounds about right as a rough description," Firemare Ashes said. "They were seen near the crime scene about an hour before the whole place went up. Why?" "We have a witness that says the victim was arguing with two unicorns of the same description," DCS Banks replied, and shook his head. "We'll have to go and try to get more information." "After two years?" Firemare Ashes asked. "They put a whole new building there and everything. I got all my witness information paperwork here..." "Thank you," DS Drops took it from Ashes' telekinesis and trotted over to the copier. "It's a Priority One case now," DCS Banks said, shrugging. "We'll have Guards run down the witnesses and ask any pony they can find more details. And, pull all the materials out of storage to run more tests on." Two ponies trotted into the squad room. One was a thin, almost gaunt grey unicorn with glasses on his muzzle and a Cutie Mark of a magnifying glass over a scroll. The other one was a dark brown Earth pony who looked less like a Detective Sergeant and more like the enforcer of a major Happy Dream cartel with huge hammers for his Cutie Mark. "Hey, you'll be happy to hear that we got some information on that cart," DS Big Finn, the Earth pony said. "And, something even better," DCS Green Munch, the unicorn, noted, pulling photos out of his saddle bags. "Photographs. Not a lot of details, but we can tell that it's about six unicorns that took off with the cart." DCS Banks took the photos and looked at them. "All wearing cloaks?" "Weather was scheduled for a serious rainstorm, but we got that they're all unicorns, and you can tell some of the size differences," DCS Munch nodded. "And, two of them are girls," DS Finn noted. "Unshorn fetlocks," he smiled, "and, general leg shape." "Of course, you'd look there," DCS Munch said with a smile. "Hey, I'm a heterosexual leg pony," DS Finn grinned. "I notice these kinds of things." "Okay, so we're looking for six unicorns, two of them female," DS Drops said, and shrugged. "And, the females have 'cute, unshorn fetlocks'." He sighed and put his pencil down, carefully. "Well, we've started with worst descriptions. Not much worse, mind you." "DCS Munch, DS Finn, this is Firemare 3 Earnest Ashes," DCS Banks introduced her to the rest. "She's the lead investigator in an arson that is related to the attack." "Pleasure," DCS Munch said, and shook her hoof. "What's the connection?" "Organized cult activity," DCS Banks replied. "We think that the summoners murdered and committed arson to cover up a death in Manehattan two years ago." "I'll get you copies of my notes," DCS Munch said, and went over to the copier. "...and, that's about all we have right now, your Highness," DCS Banks said, looking at his notes. "We're running down the leads we have right now, and if we can identify even one of the unicorns involved, it's a start." DCS Banks remembered from the days when he was a mere Detective, learning under the tutelage of the famous and brawling DCS Green Hunt. This was back in the "good old days" of police work-when colts were colts, mares were mares, and lesbian sheep were nervous. DCS Hunt had a lot of great expressions for this, and one of his favorite was "managing the managers." "You want to figure out how to tell your bosses," he said over donuts and booze one night, "that you're getting everything done, you've got scalds of witnesses you just need to interview, flank-loads of physical evidence, and everything else. Even when all you have are two busted-ass donkeys and half a biscuit to your case, and you really want to get back out on the street and start running down where the biscuit came from rather than answering silly questions to a DI that hasn't worked a case in ten years." DCS Banks realized that "managing" Princess Celestia was simple-the truth, and as much as he could give. So, he gave it to her in full. "Do you have the identity of the sacrifice victim," Princess Celestia asked, looking grim at the thought. "Not at this time, your Highness," DS Drops said, "Considering his condition, he was probably a transient or homeless, and the summoners just grabbed the first unicorn they could find." "Thank you," Princess Celestia said, and sighed. "Do you need any more resources? Ponies?" "Not at this time, your Highness," DCS Banks said. "Cases like this are like a whole mixed up pile of jigsaw puzzles. Nothing really happens until you can figure out how to put enough pieces together to start getting a coherent image. A bit of forest, the borders of the puzzle, it takes time and work, but right now we have all the eyeballs that we can make use of on the case." Princess Celestia nodded. "I will not keep you from your work, then. Once again, thank you." As DCS Banks and DS Drops turned to leave, there was the sound of an explosion from within the Royal compound. Not a large one, but easily audible in the audience chamber. And, DCS Banks noticed, Princess Celestia didn't flinch when it happened. "Your Highness?" DCS Banks asked, curiously, "What was that explosion?" Princess Celestia looked out the window and sighed. "That, DCS Banks, is what happens when you are silly enough to allow foals to play with steam," Princess Celestia said with a sigh. "We'll have to rebuild the workshop. Again."

We Three Alicorns

The Parole

They left at the crack of dawn the next morning. Before they left, Princess Celestia has brought the three foals in front of her, with Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna there, as well. "Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle," she said without preamble. "Do you understand what the concept of a parole is?" The three foals looked at each other. "It's a promise for prisoners, isn't it? Prisoners promise something to their captor, in exchange for something from the captor?" Sweetie Belle asked, curiously. "Very close, Sweetie Belle. What I propose is this-we will depart today. All of your friends will be told that you have sustained injuries that require treatment in Canterlot. While you are 'recovering', you will be allowed freedom within Canterlot, you will not be confined, and you will have tutoring and assistance to help your academic studies," Princess Celestia agreed. "In exchange, you will cooperate in our efforts to find out your full origins. You will not escape from Canterlot or leave the city boundaries without our agreement. And, you must maintain your current identities as 'normal' ponies. I am willing to make an exception for Scootaloo, she can have her wings in full." "And, what if...you decide to do something about us," Scootaloo asked. "If we're some sort of danger to you or other ponies?" "If that happens," Princess Luna said, "you will be fully within your rights to defend yourself, and escape. Our protection is for as long as you are Our guests. The moment that changes, the relationships change." The three foals looked at each other, and Apple Bloom nodded at the Princesses. "I agree to your terms, Princess Celestia." "Me too," Scootaloo said. "I agree," Sweetie Belle said, as well. They left in the same chariot that Princess Celestia and Luna had arrived in. Apple Bloom looked at Princess Celestia and said, "Do y'know how Applejack is doing?" "The healers will arrive before the end of the day today, and they will repair her memories. Your notes were very helpful, we can probably minimize the amount of conflicts within their minds from the memory manipulations," Princess Celestia replied. "Did she...say anything about me," Apple Bloom asked softly. "Nothing that is worth repeating," Princess Celestia replied. "She is very angry with you, and with good reason. But, her anger comes from her love for you-you are her precious sister and you have made a place for you in her heart, honestly. Which is why it hurts her so much to be angry with you." Princess Celestia looked away from Apple Bloom for a second, then back at her. "I understand her feelings, all too well." "Oh," Apple Bloom said, and she settled onto the floor of the chariot. She deliberately hadn't said anything about the tears in Princess Celestia's eyes. Princess Celestia allowed them to make a single loop around Canterlot, as she pointed out sights and particular things about the city. Then, she brought the chariot in for a landing, as the Royal Guards snapped to attention. Waiting in the landing area was Polished Brass, the castellan of Canterlot Castle, and Kibutz, the pony in charge of all the schedules. They both bowed as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna left the chariot, and waited patiently. "Polished Brass," she said to the Earth pony, "these three foals are my guests-Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. Is the West Tower available for them?" "Yes, your Highness," Polished Brass replied, pulling notes out of his saddle bag. That Princess Celestia was asking for a whole tower for three foals surprised him slightly, but he was too well trained to show it. "The West Tower is almost entirely empty, I think we can put them all up on the fourth floor." "The West Tower?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Isn't that the Sunset Tower?" "You know your history, Sweetie Belle," Polished Brass smiled. "Yes, rebuilt in 870 ANM, and again only a year ago. It has all the modern conveniences and is a very secure tower. The fourth floor is a full suite of eight rooms, each has their own bathroom, and there is a landing platform for pegasus there as well. The kitchen on the third floor is fully modern, and the staff there can prepare just about anything if you give them enough warning." What he didn't say was that the only way in or out of the tower was two sets of doors in the ground floor, easily defendable by the occupants of the tower. Also, historically, the West Tower was a tower for visiting dignitaries and foreign rulers-and the furthest away from the main keep. And the Princesses. "Princess Celestia," Kibutz said, "yesterday's disruption put all of our schedules off! I'm trying to re-arrange the Day Court schedule, but..." "Kibutz," Princess Luna said, with a smile that showed far too many teeth. "If you would be so kind as to put the worst complainers on the schedule for Night Court, I think I might be able to accommodate them." Kibutz shivered for a second. The last time that happened, the only thing that kept Prince Blueblood from a quick trip to the executioner for High Treason was that he tripped on the carpet in the Night Court's chamber. "Ah, but Princess Luna, did you not say that your digestion was affected by the last time we did this?" Kibutz replied, recovering quickly. "Yes, but I am feeling an urge to do battle," Princess Luna chuckled. "I did not get the chance to do so when we went to Ponyville." "Luna, that is highly unfair to our subjects," Princess Celestia shook her head. "Revise the schedule so that Court begins after lunch, Kibutz. But, if Prince Blueblood is anywhere on the schedule, he goes to Night Court for the rest of the week." "Ah, yes, Your Highness," Kibutz nodded and pulled out his checklists. "And, arrange for tutors for our guests. I also know that Sweetie Belle has some small talent in singing," Princess Celestia continued. "Hey!" Sweetie Belle said, trying not to be embarrassed. "And, that Apple Bloom is a knowledgeable mechanic. Is Steam Heart here?" "Ah, yes he is, Your Highness," Kibutz said. "See if he would like an assistant while he is here," Princess Celestia replied and looked at Apple Bloom. "Steam Heart is one of the best ponies that I have ever met in dealing with steam power. He got his Cutie Mark from developing several new techniques in steam locomotive and marine power, and he is working on further improvements." "I will ask immediately, Your Highness," Kibutz made notes on his note pad. "And," Celestia looked at Scootaloo, "Scootaloo here has finally come into her wings and will need to fully exercise and practice them. There should be guest quarters for Rainbow Dash when she comes to help train." "I will make sure that there is guest space in the West Tower for her as well," Polished Brass noted. "With your permission, Your Highness?" "Granted, Polished Brass," Princess Celestia nodded. Polished Brass departed swiftly and Princess Celestia kept walking into the palace, tailed by Princess Luna, the foals, two guards, and Kibutz. "Anything that requires immediate attention?" "Ah, yes, a Crown Investigator is requesting information from the sealed stacks," Kibutz asked. "As that particular stack was flagged with a Royal seal, you need to authorize it." Princess Celestia took the scroll and read it quickly. "Granted. Make sure DCS Banks gets his information immediately," she said, finding the Royal seal and stamping the document. "There are a few ponies asking about your plans for this year's Summer Sun Celebration, mostly location," Kibutz said. "It's critical because Cloudsdale and Trottingham are both requesting that we reassess the choice of New Harmony for the Celebration." "Unless Princess Twilight Sparkle can figure out how to make the 'solid cloud' formula cheaper and more permanent, Cloudsdale is out. And, Trottingham does not have enough facilities to handle the Summer Sun Celebration," Princess Celestia sighed. "Sadly, New Harmony is our compromise choice for now. I will deal with the bruised egos later, Kibutz. Anything else?" "'Solid clouds,' Princess Celestia?" Apple Bloom asked, curious. "There is a potion that allows non-pegasus to walk on clouds, but it only lasts for a short time and cannot be consumed too often. Princess Twilight Sparkle has an idea that maybe we can apply the potion to the clouds, and make them solid enough for ponies to walk on," Princess Celestia replied. "So far, she has gotten it to work, but the clouds break down much more quickly than normal, which means that it is entirely possible for somepony to walk on a "solid" cloud and fall right through." "Could ah take a look at the notes, too?" Apple Bloom asked. "I'm a bit of a chemist, too." "I will see that they are made available," Princess Celestia nodded. A unicorn female in a maid's outfit came up to the Princesses and bowed. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, may I escort your guests to the West Tower," she asked. "Certainly. They do not have much luggage, but they may need some things." Princess Celestia turned to look at the three foals. "This is Shining Button," she said, pointing out the unicorn maid. "If you need anything at all-within reason, please!-she will help you to find it." "Thank you, Your Highness. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, right?" She trotted beside the three and started to lead them down to the town. "I heard you're sister is Rarity, Sweetie Belle...I saw her Grand Galloping Gala dresses and I'm so impressed..." As the three foals retreated out of hearing, Princess Celestia took a deep breath and looked at Kibutz. "What do we know about the list?" "Considering the foal's age, there were about twenty ponies involved in the project, mostly monitoring and planning," Kibutz replied. "The list?" Princess Luna asked. "About one hundred years before you came back, I began to plan for the return of Nightmare Moon. I had been tracking and watching the genealogies of ponies that lived near and around Ponyville. That way, I could find and nudge the ponies that would be the best for the Elements of Harmony," Princess Celestia replied. "All of them were descendents of ponies that had done great and beautiful things that had resonated with the Elements in the past. And, when I did the list..." "You sorted by species," Princess Luna finished. "Pray tell, did You think of including any thestrals on Your list? Or Crystal ponies?" Princess Luna's tone was withering in this instance. "All of the thestral candidates were gone by this time," Princess Celestia sighed. "Not even in the low probability categories. There were no pure-blooded Crystal ponies anywhere in the kingdom until about a year ago when the Crystal Kingdom returned. And, to be quite honest, I was surprised when we discovered that Twilight Sparkle was the potential Element of Magic! She was not even on the list, and she was not a resident of Ponyville. I honestly expected a pony from town that was one of my students to be the Element of Magic." Princess Luna sighed. "'Heisenburro makes fools of us all,'" she quoted the standard textbook on divination magic. "Who was the student You thought was going to be the Element from Ponyville?" "Lyra Heartstrings, I believe-absolutely amazing telekinesis control, very good at improvisational magic," Princess Celestia replied. "So, they chose the top three. But, they missed the pegasus...I know that Rarity and Applejack were the top members of the list, and if they did not know there were six elements, the Order may have thought they only needed one pony from each species." "Who was the top pegasus candidate?" Princess Luna asked. "A racer by the name of Comet Tail," Princess Celestia replied. "Rainbow Dash was low on the list, and Fluttershy was another surprise candidate. Pinkie Pie, on the other hand..." "Probably snuck onto the list on her own," Princess Luna smiled. "Do we know where the twenty other ponies are?" "I am having the Guard find them, if they are not working for us anymore. In addition, we ran down the name of Midnight Bloom," Kibutz said, flipping through his notes. "She was at the University of Canterlot until about six years ago, when she just vanished. Nopony knew what happened to her, or why she was gone. Her apartment had been cleared out prior, she said she was moving somewhere else...but, there was no sign of her afterwards." "What did Midnight Bloom do at the University?" Princess Celestia asked. "Biology, more specifically she was a professor of magical genetic modification. She developed one of the spells used by mares to have foals with other mares, one of the 'official' versions that gives a random chance of having a colt," Kibutz replied. "You did also request that we do genetic tests on the three foals, and I have two technicians from the CSI lab here to do the tests." Princess Celestia took out from where she kept things a set of eleven numbered vials. In each vial was a number of hairs. "The ones with letters on them are the ones that are to be tested, the ones with numbers are their potential parents," she said. "Who are the potential parents?" Kibutz took the vials and slipped them into his saddle bag. "Let us keep the information between ourselves right now," Princess Luna replied. "If necessary, Princess Twilight Sparkle has a copy of the list." Here, she sighed. "I do not want to do what might be necessary, Celestia." "We will not, if we can avoid it," Princess Celestia replied. The West Tower was huge. Even larger than any of the places they had lived before. Sweetie Belle and Shining Button were exchanging stories of dresses and fashion. Apparently, there were a number of tickets for the Grand Galloping Gala and other events that went on a lottery system to those that worked in the Castle-every pony got one ticket, and high performance results gained additional tickets. Shining Button had been doing everything she could to get as many tickets so she could go to the Grand Galloping Gala. "I'm really wanting to open up a high-end boutique in Canterlot in a few years," Shining Button said. "And, I've seen your sister's work-once I get some real clients, ponies that'll show up on the front pages of fashion magazines and society papers, I was going to see if Rarity wanted to be a partner in my shop." "Have you done any dresses or such?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Oh yes," Shining Button blushed. "Duchess Twopenny wore one of my dresses to several of the major parties before last year's Grand Galloping Gala. The only reason she didn't wear mine to the Gala itself was that she had promised Coco Rarrel to wear one of her dresses. Mostly, a lot of the smaller nobility likes my work-more modern, easier to dance in." "The blue and green dress, sweetheart neckline with pearls?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Rarity was upset for a week because she hadn't thought of it. And, that is very high praise, Shining Button. When I get a chance, I'm writing her a letter-you two should be working together now." "Ah, ah...thank you, miss!" Shining Button blushed like a storm. "You're welcome," and the four of them got on a brass cage elevator that was set into one of the walls of the tower. "There are stairs, of course," Shining Button said, pointing out the stairs through the elevator cage. "But, the elevators make it so much easier." When they reached the fourth floor, the bell went "ding!" and the doors opened up, to reveal a circular hallway with a set of eight doors surrounding it. "Any room you want, except for Scootaloo-room five and six have landing platforms for pegasui, and Princess Luna left something for you in room six," Shining Button said, leading the foals out of the elevator. The foals trotted over to the rooms-Apple Bloom choosing room two, Sweetie Bellle choosing room eight, and Scootaloo opening up room six with her hoof. It was a pretty large room-dresser, closet, a bed that looked only slightly less comfortable than a good cloud, a door that had to lead to the bathroom...and there were boxes on the bed. "What the?" Scootaloo asked, trotting over to the bed. "Shadowbolt Bitty Babies," she said, reading off the top of the boxes. "Star Call, Echo Storm, Radiant Bliss...these are all of the first series of Shadowbolt Bitty Babies!" Scootaloo said with a shout. "And, the playsets!" She turned over one of the boxes. "Made in 903 AD, these are original Shadowbolt Bitty Babies," she gushed, and saw the note on the bed, addressed to her. Scootaloo opened it up. Inside the letter read- Dear Scootaloo, It turns out that I had bought three sets of everything of the first series of Shadowbolt Bitty Babies when they came out. My sister is right, I am just a big foal at heart when the right toys are around. This set is yours-play with them, collect them for your grandchildren, put them up to admire them-the choice is yours. May you always find the dawn and the moon, Princess Luna Scootaloo sat on the bed, and was somewhat shocked. "She...she gave me toys that go up for auction at six figure bids...," she whispered. "To play with..." Scootaloo took them and carefully put them up on the nightstand shelf. "I'll...have to think about this. But...," and here she broke out in a smile, "so very cool!" "Once again, from the top," the Earth pony, Meera said, in the practice hall at Canterlot Castle. She waved her folding fan around, in time with the musical exercise that she was using. She was an immigrant from Saddle Arabia, having come to Equestria when she was very young. She had escaped from an arranged marriage with a colt that was nearly three times her age and mostly prefered young, virginal foals. She had somehow managed to find herself on the border of Equestria after trekking across several thousand miles. Her Cutie Mark, a middle C and high A note, was from her skill as an opera soprano. She had literally sung for her supper in more than one circumstance, and her first performance at the Royal Faustia Opera Hall was to a standing ovation for her role in Faustia and Caramel. Princess Celestia had become friends with the nut-brown mare, and on several occasions Meera had been a good companion when Princess Celestia needed it. So, when Princess Celestia had asked-asked!-her if she could teach a student, privately, she immediately came over with all the materials she needed. Sweetie Belle took a long, deep breath, and began the vocal exercise again. Meera wasn't disappointed, mind you-she suspected that Sweetie Belle was probably going to be a mezzo-soprano, which wasn't too much of a sin in the modern opera. But, at her age, she clearly should have more training for this talent. "Where did you start your studies?" Meera asked after Sweetie Belle finished this round of exercises. "I, well, I grabbed one of those 'teach yourself how to sing' records from our local library," she said, blushing a bit. "I was nervous, I don't think I'm really that good...ow!" Meera swatted her head with her fan. "Sweetie Belle, I will not allow you to have any false modesty or ego of your skill. True, you are a mezzo-soprano, but you have a superb range for one. If we were to be on stage, there are many roles that your voice can handle. It is merely unskilled, and we will learn that skill, here. Let us take this vocal exercise-one of my favorite pieces, Amneris in Aida. Once upon a time, I was able to perform it superbly, but now I am a bit too rich for the role." Here, she smiled. "With the music, following the notation." Meera put the needle on the record in the record player, and waited as it reached the point where Sweetie Belle started to sing again. The rich sounds of the seductress Amneris came as she sang, and Meera listened with rapt pleasure at knowing that Sweetie Belle had nailed the vocals. As Sweetie Belle neared the end, her flanks started to glow softly, and Meera watched in joy as her Cutie Mark came in. The glow ended with a pink heart linked through with a bridging gap symbol, three small and three large stars surrounding the heart. Sweetie Belle looked at Meera and said, "Um, what..." Then, she saw herself in the mirror and looked at her new Cutie Mark, her jaw dropping. "Wow...that, that is beautiful," Sweetie Belle said. "You have a voice for music, Sweetie Belle," Meera replied with a smile. "All the Cutie Mark says is that you have that talent. And, it is a beautiful talent. Shall we do something a bit more modern?" Meera found a new record, and put it on. The musical portion of Building A Mystery began. Sweetie Belle smiled, and found the place in the music where she should have started. "Three quarters wrench," Steam Heart said, his legs sticking out of the engine box. "Three quarters wrench," Apple Bloom replied and handed it to him with her hooves. The annoyance that she was back to hooves and mouth was easily overshadowed by the fact that she was working with Steam Heart, probably one of the most famous inventors in Equestria. He was one of a few ponies that went after the "white dragon"-steam power. And, he had invented half a dozen different devices to make steam engines even more efficient and powerful. It used to be that on some of the Ponyville-to-Appleacha routes, they actually had to have ponies help tow the train across some sections, as it wasn't powerful enough to climb some hills. Last year, the CSW (Canterlot Steam Works)-1002 engine, a powerful 4-4-0 engine could do the work of two older CSW-907 4-2-0 engine at once, went into service. They didn't need ponies to haul the train over the worst portion of the hills. And, Steam Heart was the reason why. Around steam, he was an obsessive-compulsive that made Twilight Sparkle look sloppy in comparison. He spent the first two days yelling at Apple Bloom, when she nearly burned herself a few times on portions of the steam engine he was working on. She did understand why-Steam Heart had fought the White Dragon and knew the only way to truly fight it was to be methodical and thorough. His newest idea was a new fuel for engines-using a petroleum distillate called kerosene instead of wood or coal. This, however, dictated a modification to the engine boiler and how the fuel was used to heat the water. "Three-eights gripley," Steam Heart asked. "Three-eights gripley," Apple Bloom replied. A series of banging noises from inside the engine assembly. "Damn," Steam Heart said, and scooted out from inside the fuel box. Covered in grease, his horn having several nicks in it from working in close quarters, Steam Heart sighed, and rolled onto his back in front of the engine. "Yea, that bolt is stuck," he said. "We'll probably have to go in later with a breaker bar. I put some penetrating oil on it, maybe that'll loosen it up." "That bad?" Apple Bloom asked. "Yep," Steam Heart replied. "Rust is what you get when you do a lot of hot water in places, even with the new steel alloys." He sighed and rolled back onto his hooves. "But, I'm really optimistic about the whole kerosene thing. Probably double the range of an engine, and it's not as dirty or as grimy as coal. With that, we can see locomotive power really take off-and for marine applications, as well." The two of them sat in the workshop, in companionable silence. "Gotten a letter from your sister yet," Steam Heart asked. "No, sent two, worried about that," Apple Bloom replied sadly. "But, I was thinking and I had an idea." "Oh?" Steam Heart asked. "Yea, it was when you were talking about the danger of high-pressure steam and such," Apple Bloom said. He had one great demonstration where he stuck a full-sized log between two clamps and turned on a mid-pressure steam line. The steam vaporized the log where it hit, and Steam Heart pointed out that ponies were softer and squishier than logs. "I was thinking-you ever seen one of those aerometer thingies they use to measure wind speed?" "Sure," he said. "What if we built one that instead of measuring wind speed, we blew it with high-pressure steam, made it spin really fast and attached to a drive shaft. Wouldn't we get some power out of it?" Apple Bloom asked curiously. "Hm...," he said, thoughtful. "It might not be too efficient at low speeds...but..." He got up and immediately started to make sketches at his drafting table. "We might need to use multiple blades on the fan, but it might work...," and he stopped for a second, setting down his pencil with telekinesis. "This...this might actually be something pretty darned awesome. Have to build a serious casing to hold the fan blades, but that wouldn't be too hard..." He stopped, and looked at Apple Bloom, "You realized, if this works, you might just be a very rich pony. High-speed shafts are very useful in quite a few applications." "Shucks, as long as I've got enough money to keep Sweet Apple Acres in the black, I'm a happy pony," Apple Bloom smiled. "So, how soon can we get to building the casing?" Which was why, two weeks and one (small) explosion later, the Apple/Heart Steam Turbine Casing Mark II was sitting in the middle of the workshop. They had built it so that it was relatively easy to take apart and install drive shafts with more fan blades. "If we ever get to application," Steam Heart said, "we'll have to install reduction gearing of some kind. But, for now, we can test RPMs and such." The newest blade they had in the Casing was a twenty-four blade turbine, and Steam Heart was already seeing some of the potential forms that the turbine blades could be built into. Apple Bloom was just happy to have it work. "Everything tightened down?" Steam Heart asked. "Made sure of it twice," Apple Bloom replied. "Fuel flow good for the boiler?" Steam Heart asked, looking over his own check list. "Yep." "Henway?" Steam Heart smiled from behind his clipboard. "What a henway?" Apple Bloom asked, catching what he had said. "Oh, about four to five pounds," Steam Heart smiled as Apple Bloom groaned. She knew that Steam Heart would pun at the drop of a hat and she found a piece of scrap paper to throw at him. "Silly," Apple Bloom grunted, and the two of them got to the test control area-walled off from the steam engine room, with thick walls, cables to control the engine, instruments to read, and periscopes to look at everything that was going on. "Ready on my end." "Ready here," Steam Heart said and began to add fuel to the burners under the water tank. Pressure began to build up in the water tank, and he looked happily at the gauges. "We're nearly up to working pressure," he said. "Ready to open the steam valves?" "Ready, ready, open at ten percent," she said, and watched with joy as the turbine shaft RPM counter began to go up. "Turbine is nearing 500 RPM." They had learned from the Mark I that trying to add power too fast to the turbine when it had stopped was a very bad thing, and resulted in explosions. "And, we're at 515 RPM." Steam Heart made a note of the time and the speed, and said, "Take it up to twenty-five percent." Apple Bloom spun the wheel a bit more, and watched as the valve to the steam boiler opened up to twenty-five percent. The turbine was spinning even faster, and the RPM counter went up even higher. "We are at...1020 RPM," Apple Bloom said, looking at her set of dials. "So far, we're in the green over here." Steam Heart made another note, and looked at his set of dials. "Thirty percent steam," he ordered. Apple Bloom turned the wheel a bit more, and waited a second. "1510 RPM," she said, we're steady at thirty percent." "Great!" Steam Heart smiled. "Next, we'll..." He never finished that sentence. The later reconstruction of the accident worked out like this- First, the kerosene they were using was especially rich. So, at the fuel settings they thought were the right ones, they were getting nearly twice as much energy out of the burning kerosene. Second, the pressure gauge and thermometer had both suffered from water corrosion and were slow and inaccurate in responding. And, third, the emergency pressure relief valve (another Steam Heart creation) was sticky, and it hesitated for just long enough for the overheated boiler to explode. Steam Heart was a careful and thorough research pony. He cut no corners and took no chances. Which was why he and Apple Bloom were alive after the explosion. Like all steam research workshops, it was built with thick stone walls, and a very thin ceiling (to ensure that any blown-up research ponies had as quick a route to Heaven as possible), and the blast wasted it's energy on exploding into the open air. The debris-mostly light wood and roof shingles, didn't fall very far and nopony was hurt in the explosion or the aftermath. Princess Celestia looked out the window and sighed. "That, DCS Banks, is what happens when you are silly enough to allow foals to play with steam," Princess Celestia said with a sigh. "We'll have to rebuild the workshop. Again." Steam Heart shook his head and instantly regretted it. When the room stopped doing a samba in eight dimensions, he found the fuel cut-off valve and closed it, and then closed the emergency valve that led directly from the fuel tank to the boiler. After he secured that, checked to make sure that he was okay, and nothing else was going to blow up, he trotted over to where Apple Bloom was and started to pull debris off of her. "Are you all right?" Steam Heart half-yelled, his ears still ringing from the blast. "I'm fine," Apple Bloom said, her head shaking with the ringing sound of the explosion as well. "Did we get the last RPM reading from the engine?" It hurt to laugh-hell, it hurt to do anything-but Steam Heart had to laugh at this. "Yea, 1510 RPM at thirty percent, but I think that number might be a bit off...," he giggled, and used his telekinesis to clean off what other debris had fallen on Apple Bloom. He then gasped. "Okay, I'm glad you're all right, and clearly you have a talent for this kind of thing." Apple Bloom followed his eyes and gasped as she saw that she had a Cutie Mark. It was a crossed hammer and wrench, and, with joy in her eyes, she knew that she was an Apple. The head of the hammer was made from a Kingston Black Apple. "So, how has it been," Rainbow Dash asked. For the past three weeks and change, Rainbow Dash flew in every Tuesday, spent Tuesday through Friday at Canterlot, and then came back to Cloudsdale to handle weather duties. Scootaloo was happy, and getting into good shape was part of it. Scootaloo had the opposite problem of most pegasui-great leg muscles, not-so-good wing muscles. Her disguise as a "wingless runt" meant that she hadn't had much chance to work out the larger muscles. Oh, she was pretty good in a lot of ways-Rainbow Dash knew that Scootaloo was probably as agile and her equal as a sprinter. But, she didn't have the sheer power and endurance that another pegasus of her age would have had. So, wing lifts, barrel rolls, elevator pushes, a dozen and one other exercises that left Scootaloo sore and tired four days a week. But, it did let her do two things. First, she was actually flying. In public! Where every pony could see it. She had to stay within the boundaries of Canterlot, but that was still a lot of airspace to cover. Second, she was flying with Rainbow Dash. Her hero for years, even before she was an Element of Harmony. And, Rainbow Dash was training her! What more could a pony ask for? "Pretty good, but I'd have to say I'm envious," Scootaloo replied. "I mean, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both got their Cutie Marks. And, I'm still a blank flank." "But, they're still your friends, right?" Rainbow Dash asked, curiously. "We're still the Cutie Mark Crusaders," Scootaloo noted, catching a particular thermal nearby. "Now, we're all crusading to help other ponies find their Cutie Marks and what is good for them in life. I mean, you got to feel sorry for Dev Mark, whatever his Cutie Mark means appears to be a one-way ticket to a serious case of CMFIS in the near future." "So, you're trying to help?" Rainbow Dash found the thermal as well, and got additional altitude to join up with Scootaloo. "Hell yes! I mean, how can you find what you're good at when you're Cutie Mark is two abstract math shapes, you're flunking algebra, and you're not even an unicorn? I feel sorry for him, and I remember how crazy I got when I thought things were going wrong," Scootaloo replied. "So, we're all helping as much as we can." "Always knew you were awesome, and I'm glad you keep confirming it," Rainbow Dash replied. "So, how's Ponyville?" Scootaloo asked. "Doing good, got most of the damage patched up. Everypony's out of the hospital, and things are good. Pinkie Pie already has your "welcome back" party planned, and Fluttershy is getting things ready for a full songbird orchestra when you all get back." "How's Applejack?" Scootaloo asked carefully. Rainbow Dash was quiet for a minute, but she said, "She's...still not taking this well. I mean, her and Big Mac, half the time they're acting like school foals in love, the other half they're scared they'll hurt each other. And, any time the conversation comes onto Apple Bloom...she really starts to lose it. Rarity has had to slap her down a few times, I mean, she's pretty much waiting for Sweetie Belle to come home." "What about you?" Scootaloo asked, flying close. "Still stand by what I said that night, kid," she replied. "You're occasionally crazy and do things that no sensible foal should do, but I gotta hand it to you three, you're great foals." Scootaloo smiled, and carefully shook her head to get the tears out of them. "Thanks, I'm glad and...what's that?!?" Rainbow Dash's head turned to follow, and she saw it. A young foal, probably no older than two or three years old, had fallen into one of the large and swift rivers that served Canterlot. How the foal had gotten into the water, didn't matter. What mattered was that the river was leading directly to one of the largest waterfalls that came from Canterlot. And, the moment she noticed that, Rainbow Dash noticed that Scootaloo was gone. Oh, this is a very, very bad idea..., Scootaloo thought, as she dove towards the river. First of all, she might not be able to take back off again. Second, the edge of the waterfall was really bucking close to where she was going to land. And, third-Princess Celestia might count her falling over the waterfall as a violation of her parole, which meant that Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom would be in trouble. Hey, she thought, speaking to her friends, we might have a problem. What is going...oh, Sweetie Belle replied. Can we get to you in time? Not unless you teleport, Scootaloo said, sadly. Or fly, and either way, you might be breaking parole. Just as I'm about to in...two minutes... What do you mean...oh, my, Apple Bloom noticed where Scootaloo was. Don't think that Princess Celestia will call trying to save a foal a violation of your parole. Well, Scootaloo said, with a tinge of sarcasm as her hooves entered the water, we're about to find out. She landed at the water at a speed just below that would break bones, having braked at the last instant to keep from killing herself (if such a thing was possible). The splash was pretty spectacular, and under water she swam hard for the foal, taking him up in her front legs. "I've got you!" Scootaloo said, and held onto the squirmy, wet, scared foal as she tried to get her wings above the water. And, there wasn't going to be enough time. She could feel the undertow of the water, pulling her in and under, and decided, well, if I'm going to be punished for breaking my word, it'll be for saving somepony else. As she fell, she clutched the foal close to her breastbone, folded her wings over them both, and released the body change magic. She could feel her horn glow with power, and she wrapped herself in the most powerful magical barrier that she could generate. Then, she hit the rocks and water under the waterfall. A few moments later, Scootaloo and the foal had come up to the side of the river near the waterfall. The foal was making "awesome!" sounds, and had clearly wet his diaper. Scootaloo had remembered to restore her body change magic as she dragged herself onto shore, clutching the foal in one leg. The Guards waiting there carefully took the foal from Scootaloo's grasp, and headed off for the hospital and his parents. The last thing Scootaloo remembered was saying, "Banana figs and fruity nut bread...," as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fainted dead away. "Well, as escape attempts go," Princess Celestia said, "this one was certainly...unique." She had brought all three of them before her and Princess Luna, as well as Rainbow Dash, to discuss what had happened. "Do you have anything to say for yourself," Princess Celestia asked. "Yea," Scootaloo said, "If you call this an attempt to break parole, I'm gonna rebel, right here and now!" She was still battered and bruised from the fal, and clearly hadn't wasted any magic on unnecessary healing. "The foal was going to die and I was the only pony that could be there to save him. How is he doing?" "Very well," Princess Celestia replied. "You did save his life, so I suppose I do owe you a little gratitude." "Buck your gratitude," Scootaloo said, rolling up fully onto her hooves, not flinching. "Call it whatever you want, but I'd have done the same thing yesterday and today and tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday and..." Scootaloo stopped, and realized that everypony was looking at her. No, they were looking at her flanks, as they glowed so very brightly, even in the audience chamber of Canterlot castle. The glow continued...and, when it ended, Scootaloo gasped as she realized that she had her Cutie Mark. Even Princess Celestia paused, and looked at Scootaloo's new Cutie Mark. "Well, Mother does have a sense of humor," Princess Luna noted. "Yes, she does," Princess Celestia replied. Scootaloo's Cutie Mark was of wings-long, white, and feathery, with a golden halo surrounding them about half-way up the wings. Princess Celestia coughed slightly, and smiled, "If I was half as much a fool to claim that you broke parole, Scootaloo, you would be justified in your rebellion. And, I have news. Rainbow Dash, if you could stay the night?" "Why, Your Highness," Rainbow Dash asked. "I sent a letter to your friends an hour before this meeting," Princess Celestia replied. "I have come to a decision and I will tell you all, tomorrow."

We Three Alicorns

The Pearls

Applejack was looking at lot in mirrors lately. She didn't like what she saw. Not one bit. The healers came to Sweet Apple Acres and asked her to lie down. "This is going to take a while," the unicorn, Mended Heart, said. He pulled out some odd crystals from his harness and put them around her head. "I promise, it won't hurt, but it will be strange when it happens." "Ah, what happens here?" Applejack asked, curiously. "What we're going to do is 'tag' the false memory and sort it out so that you can know which one is the fake memory and which one is the real one," Mended Heart replied. "So, nice, deep breaths, and from the report I got from Princess Celestia, this is going to be pretty easy for you." "What happens when it's 'hard'," Applejack asked, trying to get over her fear. "Trust me, there are some memories that should stay buried," Mended Heart sighed, and got to work. That was three days ago. Every time Applejack looked in the mirror since then, she felt...displaced. Who is the silly pony looking in 'th mirror, why it's you, Applejack! She couldn't help thinking that. And, every time she looked at herself, she felt silly. And angry. Because, somehow, she should have known that Apple Bloom was lying to her. She was the Element of Honesty-and she should have been the first pony to have known that something was wrong. And, for two years, it had been so very, very wrong. "Ah can go sleep on the couch," Big Macintosh said. They had been married for two years, and this was only their first week as husband and wife. Applejack...just found herself here the second night after her memories were worked on. Didn't even know how she got here, half-asleep from waking up to go to the bathroom, and now...here. And, she was here every night since. She realized why, why she liked being with her brother so much, why she occasionally took a sniff too long when she had gotten all the sheets washed. Big Macintosh smelled right. He smelled of what felt like comfort and home should smell like. The feel of his legs, the caress of his cheek, the touch... Her mind flinched from that next thought. Brother! Incest! Inbreeding! Bad! the thoughts screamed, refusing to calm and quiet down. Applejack grabbed those thoughts and stomped them between her hooves. "D'ya love me, Big Macintosh?" Applejack asked, scared. He looked at her, and let the thoughts work in his brain. He nodded to her. "Always," he replied. "Have since we were both foals. Haven't changed now, just remembered everything I love about you." "Just stay," Applejack cried into his chest. "Just...stay, please." And, he did. It took a week, but she could handle it now. Going into town. Dealing with the anger, the shame, the guilt. Some Element of Honesty I am, she thought, trotting down the street with a cart of apples hooked to her harness. Just can't find when somepony is lying to me... "Hey, Applejack!" she heard, and saw Miss Cherlee, coming up to see her. "How are you doing?" "Been a rough couple of days," she said, and gave the cart a tug. "And you?" "Big Macintosh came to see me, two days after the attack," she said. She looked like she was about to cry, and looked at Applejack. "He told me what he could, I know there's some things that you can't talk about still...and, he apologized. He apologized." Cherlee looked at Applebloom in sad wonder. "How many colts would have apologized for what happened? He told me that he was sorry that he led me on. How many colts would have come and asked forgiveness for that?" Applejack looked at Cherlee and she started to say something, when Cherlee hugged her, hard and tight. "Applejack, you are the luckiest mare I have ever known. You have a colt that is worthy of the name. He was less scared about his own emotions, and more worried about hurting me. For something that wasn't his fault." She stopped hugging Applejack, and smiled sadly. "I'm just sad that they don't seem to make many like him these days. The world could use many, many more like Big Macintosh." Applejack didn't know what to say. But, she had to be honest. "Thank you...I'm...just not sure what to do next." "Do you love him?" That question hit her like a ton of bricks across the head. It deserved an answer, even with the tears that just exploded out of her eyes. "Aye, I do," she cried. "And, maybe, one day..." "Find that day," Cherlee said. "For both your sakes." Pearls. How that kept showing up, she didn't know-her dreams ever since the night that she had learned the truth had been of pearls. Her Momma's wedding dress had pearls on it. She remembered when Momma had taken it from the closet, and little Applejack had admired the pearls on it more than anything else. They seemed so perfect, so white and shiny like a apple made of clouds. Momma had held the dress up and said, Applejack, one day, y'find somebody that loves ya so very much, makes your life complete, makes your world better, and even when you're down brings you up. On that day, your Daddy will walk with you down that aisle and you will know that the pony beside you is the right one for you. You'll find your angel, right beside ya. And, that is what your Daddy is to me. A sharp crash, thunder and lightning, and Mamma falling away from her forever. Applejack would wake up, nearly screaming, and Big Macintosh would stir as well. Applejack bit down on her screams, wiped away the tears and snuggled back up with Big Macintosh in bed. Her angel shouldn't have to be woken by her demons. "Sweetie Belle sent me a letter," Rarity said, pinning some fabric onto Applejack as she poised in the Carousel Boutique. "Hm," Applejack commented without saying anything. Rarity was preparing for some gala or event and it was one of the sort that an appearance of the Elements was mandatory. Applejack was not one for fancy, but Rarity seemed to be handling it well enough. She was going for simplicity's sake, but fashionable enough to be suitable. It wasn't that Applejack couldn't do fancy-she had been to Manehattan after all. She could be a very fancy mare indeed. It just seemed like so much work for so little gain or effort-getting all worked on and made up for a party that was a few hours and then you had to take it all down because you couldn't do anything with it other than be fancy. Little bit foods that you could eat a dozen of and never get full, fuzzy wine, music you couldn't really dance to...never Applejack's idea of fun. "Oh yes," Rarity replied, taking some measurements. "Pull yourself in dear," she asked, and pinned some more fabric onto her body. "She's gotten her cutie mark, and I'm very happy for her. Training with Meera! Last time I was in Canterlot, I had to trade shamelessly on my history as an Element to even get box seats for her opera." "Mn," Applejack nodded. She was thinking of apple trees-probably the Northern field would need bucking in a few days. The Western field was in good shape, but they had to keep an eye out for leaf rot, and with the rainstorm that the weather ponies were talking about in a few days, it might be worth putting some mulch down. "I swear, Applejack, you're not listening to me," Rarity huffed. "Meera, Applejack, Meera! There are maybe only three sopranos her equal, and none her better. And, Sweetie Belle has real talent for singing, which makes me happy for her." "Hm," Applejack nodded again. Southern field was fully bucked as of last week, but if they had an outbreak of vampire fruit bats again... "Have you heard anything from Apple Bloom," Rarity asked innocently. Applejack's train of thought derailed with all the subtlety of a train loaded with nitroglycerin hitting a mountainside. With about the same results, as well. "Why would I have heard anything from that cuckoo?" Applejack sneered angrily. "She's your sister...," Rarity replied in shock. "SHE AIN'T MY SISTER!" Applejack yelled. "If you wanna believe in your little fantasy of a having a sister, go ahead, but...that...thing ain't family!" Applejack tore off the clothing she was wearing. "Gonna be sick that night, so don't need to be here anymore." She tossed the material into a corner. "And, I don't wanna talk about this ever again. Or we ain't talking ever again." And, to Rarity's stunned silence, Applejack walked right out of the door of the Carousel Boutique. "Got another scroll from Canterlot," Big Macintosh said. Applejack was busy organizing the apple baskets. It was pretty obvious that the Northern field needed to bucked either today or tomorrow. Organizing the baskets meant that she didn't have to listen to Big Mac. "Second one this week," he said. "She's working with a pony named Steam Heart, heard of him. Big colt in the field of steam engineering." They were definitely going to have to get new baskets in a few months. The last two she took down had some dry rot in them, and that wasn't good for apples. "Am I an Apple, Applejack?" Big Mac asked, without changing tone in the slightest. Crack. Applejack put a hoof through a basket. She staggered and couldn't think, then looked up at Big Macintosh. "What sort of silly question is that? 'Course you are!" Applejack replied, nervously. "I'm a foundling, Applejack," he said. "Doesn't matter, you're family," she replied. "Your parents found me, lost and alone and I had no home to go to," Big Mac said. "Apples don't turn away foundlings," Applejack said. "We don't turn away ponies that need a home, want to work, want to make a life for themselves." "And, how is Apple Bloom different from me, Applejack?" Big Mac asked. Rage filled Applejack's heart. How DARE he use that against me! How dare he try and defend that cuckoo, she thought. She just wanted to step over to Big Macintosh and hit him and beat him and... Make up for the lost two years, the years where she knew, somewhere deep inside that she had lost her angel, thought that Rainbow Dash, Rarity, maybe even Twilight Sparkle was her angel, because she knew, deep in her heart that her angel was close by... Applejack fell to her knees and panted. Her heart was racing, roaring, like she had done the whole Running of the Leaves by herself. Big Mac came over and nuzzled her, sitting down beside her. His cheek was wet with her tears. "She...she made me lose you," Applejack cried. "She stole you from me, and made me think that I hadn't even had you!" Big Mac didn't say a word. He just held her close. "Momma, daddy...they got stolen away, too," Applejack moaned. "I...I don't want you stolen again, please!" "I'm not going anywhere," he said. "But...where will you go?" "I...I don't know yet," Applejack said. And, she cried into his mane. It rained that night. Thunder and lightning. A downpour that was nearly at the level of the Biblical Deluge. Rainbow Dash explained it before she left for Canterlot. "We've got a monster of a weather system coming down from the North," she said. "And, at a certain point you just have to let weather have it's way. The question is-do we just let it pour over a week, or do we just flush the whole thing in three or so days? Ground team says the rivers and viaducts are good, so we'll just give the system a good and proper slam, and it'll rain itself out in three or four days." The rain roared against the house. Granny Apple was asleep, and so was Big Mac. Applejack couldn't sleep. She kept staring at the ceiling. She wanted to sleep...but, she couldn't. Then, with a sudden impulse, she carefully got out of bed, got her hat and cloak, and left the house. She had to visit somepony. The graves were still there. Did Applejack expect their tombstones to walk off somewhere? Momma and Pappa wanted to be buried on Apple land, but they had never recovered their bodies after the accident. The graves were merely stone markers to remember two lost Apples. Empty graves. Empty world. Empty Applejack. She stood there in the rain, listening to the thunder and the lightning, and she didn't know why she was here. "Well," she said, loudly to be heard over the storm. "You asked me here, what do you want?" Silence. "Well?" Applejack yelled. The rain fell. The thunder rolled. The lightning crackled. "WELL?!?" Applejack screamed. And...just as the sound of her voice stopped ringing in her ears. Click. The sound of something like falling marbles in the rain filled Applejack's ears. Click. One marble at a time. Click. Falling. Click. Falling. Click. But, it didn't sound like marbles. Click. It sounded like pearls falling off a string onto the floor. Click. Once upon a time, Applejack wondered where pearls came from. So, she had looked it up and was amazed by what she found. Pearls came from oysters, according to her foal-level biology book, that took a small bit of irritating foreign material and wrapped it up in layers upon layers of materials that eventually became a small round ball that could be polished and cleaned to eventually create...a pearl to be worn upon a wedding dress. From an irritation-a foreign invader, a lie...came a beautiful truth. From a lie, came a truth. Applejack looked up at the sky, and understood that revelation. Apple Bloom might have started as a lie-a scared foal needing a home, running from an order of religious nuts that would summon monsters to try and find them-but she had become a truth well before Applejack had become the Element of Honesty. A scared foal that wet the bed for some time, needed to see the dentist, tried hard to work very hard on the farm...and, in truth, had been irritating and annoying. But...from that irritating lie came a truth. My sister, Applejack thought. Apple Bloom...she is my sister, in every way that matters. And, family forgives. Because Apple Bloom is a foundling, not a traditional one, yea...but a foundling. And, she's ours. Applejack came back into the house, put up her hat and cloak, and dried herself off. She climbed back into bed, and snuggled up to Big Macintosh. "Have a good walk?" Big Mac asked. "I didn't want to...," Applejack said, being interrupted by Big Mac kissing her. "Woke up after you left," he said. "Guessed where you went. How are you feeling?" "Better," Applejack replied. "Y'right, Apple Bloom is family, and she is a foundling. She's an Apple to core, and she's ours as long as she wants to be. I'll go to Twilight tomorrow and send her a letter." "Good," Big Mac replied. "I've got all the letters she sent, you can read them tomorrow." Applejack teased Big Mac's flanks with her hooves. She could feel the pressure along her side from his hips. "You feeling up to playing with me?" Big Mac smiled. "I am now." The next morning, Applejack took a shower. Just long enough to clean up. She wanted to smell of Big Macintosh, to prove that his name wasn't a lie. Momma, you're right, she thought, I did find my angel. And, I have an angel of my own to care for, as well. As she came out of the bathroom, she heard a soft pop and a scroll appeared at her feet. Applejack opened it up and read it. "What's it say?" Big Mac asked, coming down the hallway. "It's from Princess Celestia," Applejack replied, reading it. "They're...going to make a decision about Apple Bloom tomorrow. I'll be going over there tonight, for when it happens."

We Three Alicorns

The Roses

The day that Mom and Dad had brought Sweetie Belle by to the Carousel Boutique (but, that was a lie, Sweetie Belle had shown up the day after and inserted herself into Rarity's life), Sweetie Belle asked why Rarity always had roses in the Boutique. Rarity stopped to think for a second, and said, "Do you see there?" She held up a rose, and rotated it to show the thorns. "These thorns will hurt you if you hold the rose wrong, or try to get a rose that is not within reach." She rotated the rose to show the long, wooden stem. "And, this," she continued, "takes time and effort to trim, to properly care for the rose bushes, to prepare. All, to finally result in this," and she showed Sweetie Belle the rose blossom. "This beautiful work of art." She turned herself around in the Boutique, showing off her studio to Sweetie Belle. "In the soil of Ponyville, I am somewhat prickly, but with time and effort I bloom with dresses and scarves and a thousand and one other things. I am a garden of fashion, a rose of Ponyville." Sweetie Belle smiled, and perhaps on this day, the two of them truly began to understand each other. After the demon attack, after the interviews, after the talk with Princess Celestia, Rarity came back to the Carousel Boutique and looked around. Tomorrow, Princess Celestia promised, healers would come and help with the memory modifications that Sweetie Belle and her friends had done on her. Applejack, Rarity could tell, was still fuming under her hat about everything that had happened to her. Oh, Applejack deserved her anger-for the last two years, the three of them had been lying to everypony else in town. However... Dreams of conquest, dreams of anger, dreams of vengeance, the Night Shall Never End! ...Rarity took a deep breath. She remembered being the Nightmare. She had been Nightmare Rarity for just long enough for her to know what the depths of anger-and the lust for power-could drive a pony. Ponies organizing, summoning monsters to call forth the Nightmare and gaining such power? That scared her, more than Rarity would ever admit. And, to a foal barely three years old, seeing their mother scared? Her burnt body being taken out of the house they lived in? Any pony had to sympathize with that. Being the Element of Generosity? Icing on the cake. Rarity looked around, and started to put things away that had fallen off of shelves. She looked at the fabric that had fallen, dresses that needed to be altered. Her life, in cloth and fabric and form. She cleaned up her rose garden, removing the weeds that other ponies had scattered in her life. She sympathized with the weeds-they were not there by their choice. The ponies that had scattered the seeds that had grown the weeds? Summoned the demons? Tried to bring back the Nightmare? Rarity would prune. Without mercy. The first letter from Sweetie Belle came a week later. Rarity was in her Inspiration Room when it appeared in a puff of green smoke. She caught it with her magic and opened it up to messy but legible hoofwriting. Dear Rarity, You won't believe who is teaching me to sing! Meera! You remember when we went to Canterlot last? We were able to get the last open box seats at the opera, and Meera was the top soloist at the Royal Canterlotian Hall and she sang so beautifully! She was very, very happy with how I did. According to her, I have a great deal of talent as a mezzo-soprano, and we are working through exercises and lots of voice training. It's hard work, but I'm learning a lot! Rarity smiled, and put the letter down for a second to work through sketches for an upcoming event. She had three custom dresses to make, and about five days to make them. Two of them were adaptations, a third was going to be all new. But, it was going to be interesting work. Finished with the drawing and fabric swatches, she returned to Sweetie Belle's letter. Apple Bloom has been working with an engineer named Steam Heart down at the Canterlot Steam Works. She comes back to the castle every day, grease on her muzzle and hooves, and a smile on her face. She says that Steam Heart is a taskmaster, and very demanding, but he wants to keep her safe while she's working there. Apple Bloom wanted me to ask you-how is Applejack doing? She's sent two letters by magic post, but hasn't gotten any replies yet. Rarity closed her eyes for a second, a deep breath, and she stopped reading the letter, to consider fetlock covers for her customers. Applejack still hadn't taken it well. Big Macintosh had come into town and Rairty had found out from him that she was sticking close to the farm, nightmares every night, and anytime somepony mentioned "Apple Bloom," she started to get very angry. She even snapped at Granny Apple, which worried Big Macintosh. Once she got her breathing under control, she picked back up the letter again and got to reading. Scootaloo...Rarity, she's so happy that she can really fly now. Rainbow Dash was by this week and the two of them were flying all over the place. Scootaloo has endurance issues, but the two of them have been training and exercising like mad. I hope I can fly like that, soon. Princess Celestia made us promise to be "normal" while she finds out what happened, but I've been watching Rainbow Dash and doing the same exercises as well. Also, I made a friend you might want to meet. Her name is Shining Button and she was the one that made the dress for Duchess Twopenny for last year's Grand Galloping Gala pre-party that you loved so much. She showed off her scrapbook to me and I think the two of you would get together so well! I told her I'd tell you about her, and I hope the two of you can talk. I miss you, I miss Ponyville, and I wish you were here. Hope to hear from you soon, Sweetie Belle Rarity smiled softly, and took down with her telekinesis a book from the shelves. She carefully put the letter in the book, closed it, and took a deep, long breath. More gardening in her Inspiration Room. More roses to be raised. Rarity got her second letter from Sweetie Belle five days later, just after two of her clients had left with their dresses. It was a dance, always-client would ask for something. Rarity would politely offer an improvement. Client would want something garish just to show they knowed something. Rarity would smile and agree. Customer would be convinced to do things Rarity's way by making the customer think it was their idea in the first place. Money would be exchanged, the customer left with a dress, and Rarity had a bag of bits in one hoof and she looked for a dance partner with the other. The customers had just left, she was thinking about the work on the last custom dress, when the scroll appeared in a puff of smoke. How rude, Rarity thought. Could it smell or seem like anything other than a dragon burp? This one was thicker than usual, and Rarity could see that the scroll had a photo rolled up inside of it. Hm? she thought, breaking the seal and unrolling the scroll and the photograph. The photograph was of Sweetie Belle, slightly offset to show her...yes, yes, yes!...Cutie Mark. Her Cutie Mark was so lovely and stylish-a pink heart linked through with a bridging gap symbol, three small and three large stars surrounding the heart. And, it said everything that Sweetie Belle was-a bridge of love, under the stars. Rarity could almost feel the enthusiasm coming through the note, like a shower of rainbows and love. Rarity! I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!!! I wanted to give it a day to make sure it didn't fall off or get eaten by a dove or something, but I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!!! Meera and I were doing training and I just was absolutely spot-on perfect with the song. When I was done, my flanks felt warm, and I had my Cutie Mark! It means a lot to me, and I know so much of what it means to me. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo threw a Cutie Mark Crusader First Cutie Mark party that night, we got a chance to meet with some of the guards that work the palace. Did you know that one of them, Flash Sentry, knows Twilight Sparkle? Wow! Anyways, back to school and training tomorrow, and hoping Apple Bloom doesn't blow herself up again. Have to explain that-her and Steam Heart have been working on this new idea for a steam engine and they had a small explosion in their lab. Nopony was hurt, but they definitely are ready to get back to work-once they put a new roof on the lab. Scootaloo is zipping around all over Canterlot-and Rainbow Dash keeps saying words like "twenty percent more awesome" around her. I don't think I've seen Scootaloo this happy in years, and I'm glad she's happy. Got a photo of my Cutie Mark, hope you tell everypony in town about it that you can, and hope to hear from you soon! Love, Sweetie Belle Rarity smiled, and pulled the book down from the shelves. She found two matching blank pages, put the photo on one, and the letter on the other. With a long, slow breath of joy, she put the book back and started to get ready for the next customer. In her mind's eye, an orchid in a hot house had just finally begun to bloom. "Sweetie Belle sent me a letter," Rarity said, pinning some fabric onto Applejack as she poised in the Carousel Boutique. The White Elephant Gala was only a few weeks away, and it was the sort of event that everypony that was anypony had to be at. So, that meant the Elements (and especially Princess Twilight Sparkle) had to be there, and Rarity knew she'd be running interference for Fluttershy that night, to help with her shyness. "Hm," Applejack commented, without saying anything. Rarity was always disappointed that Applejack didn't realize just how beautiful she looked. There were ponies that would murder for her form, her style, and her hair. But, something in Applejack rebelled against the fancy, as she called it. Rarity assumed it had to do with Applejack's time in Manehattan, before she got her Cutie Mark. Manehattan was not a city for a pony that didn't have their own self-worth imbedded in bedrock. One only had to see how much Coco Pommel was used by Suri Polomare to know how that worked out! Still, Applejack was her friend, and short of Rarity doing a confidence transplant spell, she wasn't going to change Applejack. And, why should she? Applejack was her friend, she'd support her in any way she could, and Applejack did clean up nicely when she put her mind to it. Rarity just wished she put her mind to it more. The world tended to be an ugly place, like a giant pile of garbage. Having more beautiful things made it worthwhile, like flowers blooming in the muck. "Oh yes," Rarity replied, getting some breastbone measurements. The dress she was thinking of needed to fit perfectly here, and good measurements were essential. "Pull yourself in dear," she asked, and pinned some more fabric onto her body. "She's gotten her Cutie Mark, and I'm very happy for her. Training with Meera! Last time I was in Canterlot, I had to trade shamelessly on my history as an Element to even get box seats for her opera." "Mn," Applejack nodded. Just like Applejack, to not understand what this meant for Sweetie Belle. Meera was the sort of teacher that any pony would dream of having, and like all things, having her as a friend and mentor meant that Sweetie Belle was a bit more noticeable in the competitive world of opera. "I swear, Applejack, you're not listening to me," Rarity huffed. "Meera, Applejack, Meera! There are maybe only three sopranos her equal, and none her better. And, Sweetie Belle has real talent for singing, which makes me happy for her." "Hm," Applejack nodded again. Applejack was definitely distracted, which wasn't normal when Rarity was talking about Sweetie Belle. Like parents sharing cleaning tips for what the foal burped up after dinner last night, Applejack would almost always respond about any Sweetie Belle stories and comments with something about Apple Bloom. So, she had to ask. "Have you heard anything from Apple Bloom," Rarity asked innocently. Applejack stiffened up, almost as if she was having a seizure. Rarity was scared for a moment that Applejack might be having serious trouble. Then, through her hooves, she could feel Applejack's body. She was quivering...in anger. "Why would I have heard anything from that cuckoo?" Applejack sneered angrily. "She's your sister...," Rarity replied in shock. Did Applejack think that Apple Bloom wanted to hurt her? Why couldn't Applejack see that the foal that came to her home needed Applejack's strong shoulders and wanted her approval so much... SHE AIN'T MY SISTER!" Applejack yelled. "If you wanna believe in your little fantasy of a having a sister, go ahead, but...that...thing ain't family!" Applejack tore off the clothing she was wearing. Some of Rarity's latest works were torn apart like tissue, balled up into a sea urchin of fabric and needles. "Gonna be sick that night, so don't need to be here anymore." She tossed the material into a corner. "And, I don't wanna talk about this ever again. Or we ain't talking ever again." And, to Rarity's stunned silence, Applejack walked right out of the door of the Carousel Boutique. Rarity fell off her back legs and watched at Applejack stormed off. Well, she thought, that was rude! But...how well was Applejack tracking the latest round of events and revelations? Rarity had to be generous. Honesty, once betrayed, tends to heal very slowly. So, Rarity wasn't going to pick at that scab for a while. Perhaps it was her fault, for seeing how deep the wound went by poking it with her horn. Rarity took a deep breath, got back up onto her hooves, and started to clean up the mess. Almost as if she was raking out fallen leaves in her garden. Twilight Sparkle, once you got her interest, tended to be so predictable. Her eyes were so wide you could put coffee cups on the pupils, her wings were at full extension, and she had that goofy grin that indicated that either she was having somepony give her the most amazing invisible orgasm or she had discovered something very, very interesting. "Yes, yes, yes!" Twilight Sparkle pronked around the library, a smile on her face, as Rarity came in. "Oh, hello, Twilight," Rarity said, carefully avoiding the prancing Twilight Sparkle. "What did you find out?" "I just got a letter from Apple Bloom! She needed my help with a math problem," Twilight Sparkle replied, and she actually giggled. Which was such a unique thing for Twilight Sparkle that Rarity had to enjoy it. "Turns out that while she's good with differential calculus, n-dimensional manifolds are still new territory for her, and I'm glad that I can help her." "Oh?" Rarity had to hear about this. "Yes, indeed. They made a new friend by the name of Dev Null, and he's gotten his Cutie Mark, and it's a sixteen-variable manifold intersecting a spherical cone. Which is utterly fascinating because Dev Null is a pegasus and shouldn't even be dealing with theoretical thaumaturgy in non-Euclidian environments," Twilight Sparkle gushed. "So, he got his Cutie Mark standing in his room, doing nothing, and when Apple Bloom and Scootaloo saw it, they just hadto help him and..." "Twilight, darling," Rarity interrupted. "How are they helping him?" "Well, they decided-all of them-to reform the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Instead of going after their Cutie Marks, they're going to help other ponies with theirs," Twilight Sparkle replied, happily waving around the letter she got. "So, to get help with their problems, they're asking me for help!" Rarity smiled at this. "Are they still trying to find Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's Cutie Marks?" "Oh, no," Twilight Sparkle replied, sorting through the photos she had gotten from Apple Bloom. "Well, they're still trying to get Scootaloo's Cutie Mark, but Apple Bloom got hers two days ago! Here!" With her telekinesis, Twilight Sparkle held up a photo of a bruised and a bit bedraggled Apple Bloom, but with her new Cutie Mark-a hammer with an apple for a head and a wrench crossed on her flank. It does so look like her, Rarity thought, and, Applejack will be happy that Apple Bloom is an Apple to the core. "Have you told Applejack about Apple Bloom and her Cutie Mark?" Rarity asked. That definitely deflated Twilight Sparkle's good feelings. "No, I haven't seen her for about four days, and I know she got a copy of the photo and Apple Bloom has been asking me how she has been doing. But, the last time we talked about Apple Bloom, she nearly bucked me in the head! I'm starting to get really worried about her, she even snapped at Fluttershy. And, when Pinkie Pie went over to ask about what kind of cake she'd like for her return party, she left in tears." Rarity sighed, and considered. "Have you seen her and Big Mac together since?" "Yes," Twilight Sparkle considered. "I mean, the two of them-between the times when they feel silly about it, and feel stupid about it, look like they're very much in love with each other and trying to figure out what they're doing." Rarity thought about this. "If we write a letter to Big Mac, I'll sign it with you. Applejack...she needs our help." "What will we say to Big Macintosh?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "The truth," Rarity replied. You had to be honest about your garden. Surprises are nice, but pointless optimism means that a fungus or a rot might get past you and go too far. And, Rarity had some cleaning to do. As Rarity walked home, she felt a sudden urge to walk through her rose garden. The sun was setting, and she knew that in a few days the weather ponies were going be dropping a huge rain system on Ponyville. Sadly necessary, the world did not run according to clockwork or schedule, and sometimes you had to let the rain fall when it wanted to. So, she looked around the garden, and for some reason, she stopped at the roses. She always planted roses, anywhere she could. Some said it was an effort at privacy (there was a reason why she lived on the second floor, and when Sweetie Belle moved in, she invested in soundproofing). Some said she just like roses. Others were less complimentary and said that Rarity needed something that made her look good. Rarity always ignored the last, but she looked around her rose garden. And, from Elsewhere, she pulled out gardening shears and string. Within a few minutes, she had increased her mulch pile, and...she had bundled whole sets of roses. A little voice in her mind whispered...white roses for innocence and purity, pink roses for grace, burgundy for her unconscious grace and charm, and blue for the mystery that she is. Rarity looked at the bundle of roses in her telekinesis. White and pink, burgundy and blue. Red and yellow in pairs, wrapped up into four bundles of two and two each. Twenty-four roses floated in front of her, and Rarity had to laugh, a full-bellied laugh and not the "polite" laugh of the aristocracy. "I seem," she said to nopony in particular, "to have re-created Sweetie Belle in roses." And, then she laughed again. Even louder, until the tears came out. Even more, until she fell onto her belly, and cried. She looked at the bundle of roses again, blew her nose on a hankerchief she had in Elsewhere, and smiled. She knew just the vase to put them in...and, if Sweetie Belle didn't come back this week, Rarity would find some other way of expressing her thoughts. But, she did have one thing she could do... Rarity looked, and found one rose. One perfect, beautiful, red rose. With careful work, she prepared it-cleaned it up, trimmed any leaf that wasn't perfect, checked each petal for perfection. She went inside, and pulled out paper, a pen, and a inkwell. Rarity felt her horn glow, and the rose vanished-to reappear when the scroll was opened. She dipped the end of the pen in the inkwell, and began to write. Dearest Sweetie Belle...

We Three Alicorns

The Fragments

PINKIE PIE The Pinkie Sense. Ponies have gone mad trying to figure it out. The problem was...they were looking for complexity in something that was simplicity. Every pony had a Pinky Sense. Only, Pinkie Pie listened to hers. Thirty-three muffins today, it was thirty-two yesterday and will be thirty-one tomorrow and there are only sixteen buttons on those two vests and those nineteen days of cucumbers and eleven hours of dogs and cats and puppies and kittens and puppet time and all ice cream goes to heaven... Pinkie Pie walked through the restaurant, as the noise grew. She could feel it in the crinkling of her hair, the twitching of her tail, the ripple of time and flow and space that she knew was all hers. It was beginning again. Ponies didn't understand how much of their world was afloat on a sea of chaos, whorls of probability, and the flutter of butterfly and breezie wings. Pinkie Pie sailed on those seas, floating on the confusion, and was as much a part of those flows as was the ship of her soul. She existed in the moment-and she was forever sailing on the stormy seas of possibility. Having friends helped. The more people on her ship, the easier it was to keep it trimmed. The more noise, the more she could focus on what was important. The less noise...the soundtrack of a universe of madness began to flow into her. Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt, would you kindly?, don't gain the world and lose your soul, the flesh of fallen angels, make us whole again, the darkness cannot be breached, remember: Science is the future, and the future starts with you, the Left Eye, our treasured Left Eye, will never fall into the hands of another!, You Did It, Zagreus sits inside your head, Zagreus lives among the dead, Zagreus sees you in your bed and eats you when you're sleeping, I am a son of earth and starry heaven, I am thirsty, give me a drink from the fountain of memory... The hair began to grow even more curlier and the tail twitches grew more and more detailed. Pinkie Pie knew what that meant...a storm was coming. The glass was dropping, and the clouds were forming on the horizon. Her nose twitched with increasing possibility, and she knew dark things were ahoof because her left ear was twitching clockwise and her right ear was twitching counter-clockwise. Like a sailing ship captain, Pinkie Pie knew-at the most instinctual levels-when things changed. There was time-time to trim the sails, to turn to face the ship to the storm, to start the pumps, but only if she acted now... The sparrows are flying again, they haunt minds, neither can live while the other survives, everything that has a beginning has an end, do you know how to get to Shell Beach?, think on your sins, look at us, look at what they make you give, something fell, try to remember-it's only a game, it's a strange world, let's keep it that way, cast in the name of God, ye not guilty, three hundred and twenty years have passed since the coven sank in the dark, two by two, hands of blue... Pinkie Pie found a seat, and looked out across the whole town of Ponyville. She could feel the storm coming, as color drained ever so slowly out of her fur, and she realized that the choices that were coming would save or damn souls. There would be bodies. There would be blood. There would be consequences. Such was what Pies did. They were the very stones of Equestria, that which storms broke upon. She never asked for this. She never wanted this. And none of this would happen if they would just stop. All of them. Every monster that came through Equestria...Pinkie Pie knew they were coming...and couldn't do anything more than be ready for them. Never preventing them. Just preparing for those that could stop them. Fulfill the prophecy, may those who accept their fate find happiness, may those who defy their fate find glory, a small wish, Survival Strategy, no rain but thunder, and the sound of giants, you brought this on yourself, it was time, four places at once, rise and rise again, until lambs become lions, hunt the Engineer, and the Engineer hunts you, an Angel touched me, he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts, the wheel of fate is turning, the seed of the Prophet shall sit the throne, and drown in flame the mountains of man... "Here you are, Pinkie Pie! El Grande Nachos!" the waitress pony said around the tray in her mouth, putting in front of Pinkie Pie a huge plate of nachos. Stacked to nearly the ceiling in chips, onions, cheese, and peppers, it was a huge mass of perfect comfort food. The Pinkie Sense stopped. Her color returned, a bright and beautiful pink. The twitches ended, her body restored to hyperactive normalcy. Her main returned to normal, as wild as the wind-swept moors. Silence. And, nachos! "Golly, gosh gee, thank you!" Pinkie Pie burbled. And, so, Pinkie Pie ate. In her mind, she remembered the two most important things she needed to know right now. Here and now, we're alive. And...nachos! TWILIGHT SPARKLE She stood in the middle of her basement, and took a long, slow, deep breath. She was the Element of Magic. A Princess and an alicorn by the simple fact that she had earned it. She had created the reduced character spell sets, which lessened the amount of effort a unicorn needed to cast magic spells. She was one of only thirty ponies that even knew of the Great Orrery, the magical artifact that Princess Celestia created to help her after the Night that Never Ended. Indeed, she had made two modifications that had lessened the energy that Princess Celestia needed every day to move the Sun and Moon. Discovered the Final Spell of Starswirl the Bearded, and recreated his work perfectly. Ascended to the rank of Princess and transformed into an alicorn. She was the founder of a whole new theory and school of magic, Friendshipology. And, this problem was kicking her flank like no other problem ever had. The walls were studded with notes. She had divided them between the various aspects that the problem embodied. North wall was the foals-birth, origins, theories. She had found the newspaper reports of the house fire in Manehattan. The name of their mother, Midnight Bloom, and everything she did in magical research. Twilight Sparkle might not have been as deep into magical biology as Midnight Bloom was, but she knew the dance steps and many things she had worked on also related to Midnight Bloom's work. South wall was the demon summoning-how they did it, location, why they chose Liger Diablocus over any number of other creatures of the night. Which she had solved, mostly...ease of summoning, ease of "programming" for targets, and all of which could be done in a six pony cart with a single sacrificial goat. Of course, Twilight Sparkle had plans to...talk with the summoners once she had a chance to figure out who they were. Mostly, said talk was going to involve her working with a full summoning grid. And showing them how a proper summoning took place. That doing so was probably illegal and most certainly highly immoral was irrelevant. Twilight Sparkle was a Princess, she could just pardon herself. East wall was everything she knew about the Order of Eternal Night. Files borrowed from Celestia's secure archives. Notes from the few defectors that had escaped or ran from the Order. And none in the past hundred years, Twilight Sparkle noted. Use of spell oath geas to keep the inner circle under control? If so, what does that say about the leadership? She used her magic to push another piece of paper and a note pin into the wall. The connections the Order had with the magical underground-sexual slavery and artifacts to ensure the loyalty of their slaves, specialized (and highly illicit) foal breeding, creation of magical potions-were detailed as well. West wall was the wall that Twilight Sparkle was the wall she was most disappointed with. It was the "I can't figure out where else to put it" wall. It was also the most crowded of walls. Random notes, ideas, concepts...a thousand and one things. And, all the notes she had on one Dev Null, a pegasus pony with a most unique Cutie Mark...and one that made so little sense. How does a pegasus get a sixteen-variable manifold intersecting a spherical cone, which is something you only see in theoretical thaumaturgy... Twilight Sparkle looked at the walls. Obsession was always a danger in ponies-something in their brains made it so easy to hold onto things that they should just let go of. And, Spike knew the warning signs, which was why he had snuck up on her and dumped a bucket of ice water on her head. She emerged from the rain of water sputtering and gasping. "SPIKE!" she yelled, causing the corkboards on the walls to rattle. "Why did you do that?" "You've been in the basement for three days consecutively," Spike replied without guilt, holding the bucket up in his claws. "You gave me written instructions on this kind of thing, Twilight! And, I was to start with the bucket of ice water and work my way up." Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath, pulled a towel out of Elsewhere and dried herself off. "That I did. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?" "Lunchtime," Spike noted. "Made your favorite, as well. But, only if you come out of the basement to the kitchen." Twilight Sparkle sighed, but she left the basement. Two hayburgers, salad, and a soda later, Twilight Sparkle looked around the Ponyville Library. "So, what day is it?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "Tuesday," Spike sighed. "So, new book day. The EPS mare hasn't gotten here yet, and since they don't normally send new books by 8am delivery, we're good for a..." The doorbell rung. Spike came over, and Twilight Sparkle could hear, "Oh, hi there Derpy, what do you..." Sudden silence. Then, "Twilight, could you come here please?" Twilight Sparkle came over, saying, "Spike, are they requiring me to sign...," when she saw it. There were...six Equestrian Postal Service delivery trucks there. And, Derpy Hooves was offering up a clipboard. "Here you are," Derpy said around the clipboard in her mouth. "Your packages are here, Princess." Spike looked at Twilight Sparkle and sighed, "Twilight, did you really have to order all that stuff to do the research on what happened two weeks ago?" Twilight Sparkle looked at the contents on the clipboard. "No, I didn't..." "Good," Spike said. "But, one box is the stuff I ordered, the rest is the backlog of new books because of the weather back East. You remember what Rainbow Dash was saying-pretty much every weather pony on the East Coast is working their flanks off because there's a huge system out there. Snow, thunder flurries, windigos, rain, all the huge nasty stuff," Twilight Sparkle continued. "Oh," Spike replied. "How many boxes of new books?" "Sixteen," Twilight Sparkle replied, smiling. "But, there is some good news at the huge mass of boxes we've gotten." "Twilight, that's going to take us most of the day to shelve! How is it a good thing?" "New Honor Hoofington novel, as well as some of our other favorites, including Quantum Mechanics with Stellar Physics!" Twilight Sparkle giggled. "Ugh, romance novels," Spike sighed. "I suppose you'll be 'busy'," and here, Spike made air quotes, "all night tonight, right?" "Spike, it's the next book in Quantum Mechanics with Stellar Physics!" Twilight Sparkle gushed. "It's here where they're going to solve the quadratic equation of ero..." "Ah, sorry, Twilight," Derpy Hooves interrupted, "could you please sign?" Twilight Sparkle realized that she was pronking again and blushed. "Ooops, sorry," she said, and signed the clipboard. "Thank you!" As the mail mares were pulling the boxes off their carts, Twilight Sparkle took the box that she requested from the Royal Archives down to the basement. "Spike, I'll drop this box off, and I promise I'll be up to help with everything else," she said over her shoulder as she left. Spike sighed, but he started to get the invoices for the other boxes. Twilight was going to be back down in the basement for hours and... "So, what box do we open first?" Twilight Sparkle asked, sneaking up on Spike. "Uh, Twilight?" Spike asked in reply, looking at her. "I said I'd just drop the box off," Twilight Sparkle looked at Spike funny and while she was developing the little twitch of an unsolved problem (Spike knew what those looked like from when she was short on a friendship report), at this stage it should be a medium twitch in the ears and a bit of the lower left eyelid. Nope, just a slight twitch of her right ear. "Well, normally, when we get stuff like this, you're down in the basement and are there for days. I'd have to bring down your 'special' toybag, dinner, and Quantum Mechanics with Stellar Physics. So, why are you back so soon?" Spike asked, curious. Twilight Sparkle was shocked, then she blushed. "After listening to what happened with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle I realized that occasionally I'm insensitive and silly. Applejack, and her anger issues," and here she rubbed her cheek where Applejack had nearly bucked her when she got to talking about Apple Bloom and her working with Steam Heart, "reminded me that occasionally I've got to be a better pony. I backslid the last few days, but I'm really trying to do better. And 'doing better' means that I'm helping you with the sorting, the cataloging, and the shelving," she finished. Spike's jaw dropped. "Twi...wow, I mean...wow!" "Why so surprised?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "There's a bit of history with you and mad science, remember? Moth-apple ponies, trees that buck back, the frog-orange spell, the Cutie Mark Crusader Cutie Mark Accelerator, and of course the 'Want It, Need It' spell..." Here, Spike trailed off. "But, if you're trying, I've gotta help-you keep saying you want to be better." Here, Twilight Sparkle smiled, "And, with my number one assistant, I'm going to succeed! To the sorting!" Twilight Sparkle turned to the library, lifting two boxes with her telekinesis. Spike sighed as he saw her tail. It was definitely starting off at third-stage twitching. He was going to have to organize a whole new set of warning signs for Twilight Sparkle... Spike was sitting in his room, reading A Rising Thunder, and trying to ignore Twilight Sparkle and her "audience participation" bits while she was reading Quantum Mechanics with Stellar Physics. His own room was a new thing for Spike-for years, he'd have nightmares (and not the interesting kind) if he slept anywhere other than in close proximity to Twilight Sparkle. He had a room of his own, of course-but he always slept at the foot of Twilight Sparkle's bed or at her hooves if they were anywhere else. Twilight Sparkle was curious as to why, but dragon mating and rearing practices tended to be rather vague (mostly due to dragon parents eating pony researchers). However, Twilight Sparkle didn't mind having Spike there, she was the nearest thing he had to a parent and she wasn't going to leave him, ever. In the last few weeks, he'd wanted to "grow up" a bit, and have some space of his own. Seeing how Rarity had responded to Trenderhoof was another sign that he needed to "grow up". Either Rarity would see how much he loved her, or he would find the power to break out of her orbit-either way, he needed the strength. So, it was time to start being a bit more independent of a dragon, able to stand on his hooves without more help. And, while he had bad dreams, they were only once a week at most. Okay, for a few days after the demon attack, but they were demons-and Spike should have been big enough and strong enough to take them on. One day, soon-which gave him even more reason to be stronger. So, it was to his entire surprise when Twilight Sparkle came through the door, wearing nothing but color-coordinated lingerie and stockings, a scroll in her telekinesis, and a wild look in her eyes. "SPIKE!" she gasped, her eyes bright. She strode into the room and picked up Spike as well with her telekinesis. "I'mgladyou'reupbecauseIneedyoutosendascrolland...," she gasped, heading downstairs with Spike in tow. "Twilight! What's wrong!?!" Spike asked, trying very very hard to not think of what Rarity would look in lingerie and stockings as well, mostly by keeping his eyes on a particular knot in the ceiling and ignoring the clutching in his hips. Twilight Sparkle realized what she was doing, had the decency to look embarrassed, and set Spike down on his feet. "I'm sorry, I just figured it out...I was right in the middle of the part where Linear Equation shows Sequential Calculus that thing he learned from Dirac Sea, the one where..." "Twilight! TOO MUCH INFORMATION!" Spike gasped, holding his hands over his ears. "Ooops, sorry," Twilight Sparkle's blush was bright enough to light the room. "Anyways, as I was...oops, almost too much information again...I realized that you could use quantum resonance to track the demon summoners! Especially using the reduced character spell sets, you have to tie in your own personal harmonics much tighter. So, I wrote it all down and I wanted to have you get it to CSI Griffin by dragon post now, so he can see it in the morning." "Okay, Twilight," Spike sighed, found the address tag on the scroll, and gave it a good belch. The fire burned the scroll and it vanished nearly instantly. "So, now what?" Here, Twilight Sparkle blushed even more-if that was even possible. "Well...I'm going to go back to my room, and see if Linear Equation learned to do his new thing very well...and, thanks, Spike." "No problem, Twilight," Spike replied, keeping a firm focus on that one particular knot of wood and working through fast multiplication tables to try and help get his mind off Twilight Sparkle and lingerie and Rarity... "Spike, are you okay?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "Is there something wrong?" "If I said 'it's a dragon thing', you wouldn't leave me alone, would you?" Spike asked, trying to work through the powers of nine table... "Well, if you tell me what's wrong...," Twilight Sparkle said innocently, "I might be able to help..." "Well...," Spike said, keeping his eyes on that knot of wood and working randomly through the multiplication tables. From outside the library, there was silence, and then an explosive "WHAT!!!" from inside the tree that lit up and rattled all the windows. Then, silence again. Inside, Twilight Sparkle gasped, and Spike was very, very quiet. Between them was a large scorch mark where Twilight Sparkle had kept a very powerful explosive spell from going off. Both were covered in soot, and Twilight Sparkle's lingerie was completely blown off. "You did ask!" Spike said loudly over the ringing in his ears. "I did," Twilight Sparkle replied, and sighed. "I'm sorry I did, Spike. I'll clean up the mess, and thank you." Spike smiled cautiously and said, "I'll help. I mean, you did ask. But, I did answer." FLUTTERSHY Fluttershy was pacing. Her nerves were tight, and she knew that she was a scared little foal in the world that was so terrifying and something that had made sense made no sense anymore... "So, what has you up in a tizzy," Discord said, appearing behind Fluttershy. "I mean, you're safe, the monsters are gone..." "Um...," Fluttershy asked, "when they attacked, where were you?" Discord considered this for a second. "Here," he said, pointing at the floor of the cabin. "If I showed up, dramatic tension would have been ruined, and Twilight Sparkle wouldn't have been able to save you, which would make this story, well...kind of boring, don't you think? Especially with the spectacular way she blew apart three Liger Diablocus in one blast..." "One," Fluttershy corrected softly. "She took out one." Discord looked at Fluttershy with an amazed expression, then smiled. "Oh, she only got one? Who got the other two?" "Apple Bloom did, both of them with one blast," Fluttershy finished, a bit more loudly. Discord froze stock-still, his jaw dropping a bit, then he tossed in the air, laughing, "BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Oh, come on, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom is an Earth pony, did she trample them to death? Annoy them into submission?" "No, she's...she's an alicorn, like Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, they've been hiding here in town for the last two years," Fluttershy corrected. Discord just looked at her, and waggled his lion paw at her. "Now, now, Fluttershy, stop pulling my leg, this one has bells on," as a soft ringing of church bells came from his goat hoof. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders were alicorns? For two years and I didn't even notice them?" "Well, um...yes," Fluttershy replied softly. Discord's jaw dropped. Literally, it dropped onto the floor, and he had to grab it and reinstall it. "Damn. Just a second," and with a single gesture he opened up a blue portal to reveal...another Discord. "Hey, you were right and you won the bet," Discord said, grumpily. "I was?" Discord replied. "Damn, I thought I'd be wrong. So, got the cookies?" "Here," Discord said, handing Discord the chocolate chip thumbprint cookies. "Next time, I'm betting on Applejack secretly being one of the Lost Princesses. I'm not going to guess that Rainbow Dash is Scootaloo's mom!" "You're just a sore loser," Discord smiled. "But, I got cookies, so it makes it much more worthwhile. Thanks!" "You're welcome," Discord replied and closed the portal. He looked at the air where the portal was and grumbled, "Silly -1313 version of me, seems to always know what's going on..." Fluttershy looked at Discord and shook her head. "Um...what were you doing there?" Discord looked at Fluttershy in a bit of shock, and said, "Well, I was talking with another one of me in another branch of reality. One of the main lines, I mean. If we went for branches and small alternates, we'd never get anything done." "So...there's other universes?" Fluttershy asked curiously. "Oh yes, pretty nearly an infinite number of them, but only the major ones are worth my time," Discord replied. "I mean, if I went everywhere, I'd spread myself a touch too thin and that's never fun." "So...does it matter, what we do here?" Fluttershy asked. "I mean, if the universe is infinite, there are an infinite number of possibilities, so why should we do anything." Discord looked at Fluttershy, and thought for a bit. "Fluttershy, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Let us pretend that reality is infinite," he said. "But, you said it was," Fluttershy interrupted softly. "Yes, but the possibility of an infinite reality also implies the possibility, no the probability that it might not be infinite. Don't think too hard on that, it'll give you a headache. But, let's play with that thought experiment for a minute. Let's pretend that reality is infinite. For example..." Now, Fluttershy was watching as Twilight Sparkle and Discord were in front of an altar, Princess Celestia behind it, Discord in a suit, and Twilight Sparkle in a wedding dress...no wings, she was still a unicorn, but that made no sense as it had been soon after Discord being nice that Twilight Sparkle ascended, "There's a universe where I married Twilight Sparkle. No mind control, I promised-well, none other than the magic of love." "And, you may now kiss the bride," Princess Celestia said, to the cheering crowd. Another sudden shift of perspective, and Fluttershy was in the wedding dress, with Discord standing beside her, with Luna officiating the wedding. "We got married here, as well," Discord said with a smile. Another, sharp shift of perspective, and Fluttershy was standing in a darkened room, watching as a sleeping Pinkie Pie was snuggled into...a pony in bed together? A pony with black and red eyes and a face that seemed so familiar... "Oh, this one? I lost a bet with Princess Celestia, that I couldn't 'fake' being a pony for a month. And, when I came to town, the first pony I met? Pinkie Pie. Fell for her, head over hooves, and I realized that a few decades of me being a pony was a small price to pay for her happiness." "Is that Applejack," Pinkie Pie whispered softly, half-asleep. "No, love, tonight is the training montage for Fluttershy-616, tomorrow night is the training montage for Applejack-723," Discord said softly into Pinkie Pie's ear, snuggling into her mane. "Okie dokey, Loki," Pinkie murmured, falling back asleep again, snuggled up tight. "And, as a slight aside, you want to see what chaos is? Look inside her head," Discord whispered conspiratorially, "Just, don't ask for cupcakes." Another, sudden jarring shift of perspective, as Fluttershy stood-stood!-in the middle of a street, as Discord rested her head on her shoulder, hordes of satyr-like caribou coming from ahead, and Twilight Sparkle, in armor, looking more like a satyr than a pony (she had hands...fingers! And, wearing armor and a helmet that had a hole for her horn), waved at Rainbow Dash (whom looked like a satyr and was flying on her wings overhead), and she raised a staff in her hands. "This universe? Last free city of Equestria, as the Caribou hordes came from the North, raping and enslaving and killing any pony that didn't know their place...," Discord said. "Never did like any universe where Equestria fell to the caribou. So, I'll do my small part here to keep it from falling." The perspective shifted again, as Fluttershy was standing in a hospital maternity room. Her hooves (hooves again!) were on the bed, as Twilight Sparkle, visibly pregnant, was moaning as Discord held a hoof in his hand. "Just keep breathing and pushing, dear," Discord said, as Twilight Sparkle moaned in pain, her wings fully spread out on the bed and she kept pushing. "I am pushing!" she moaned, and her legs twitched hard, and Fluttershy could hear the bones in Discord's hand cracking as she squeezed. "Here? First foal with the Princess Twilight Sparkle," Discord said to Fluttershy, as all of her friends were around her, being enthusiastic about their first child. Then, he winced, and pulled the hand up from Twilight Sparkle's grasp. "You don't even have hands, just hooves and somehow you can squeeze them so hard..." Another perspective shift, and this time, it was Twilight Sparkle...no...it was a boy that looked like Twilight Sparkle (Dusk Shine, she knew, somehow), was holding onto Discord...no, a female Discord (Eris, that was her name) as she was giving birth, her belly huge with child. Surrounding her was the male versions of all of her friends, Rarity (no, Elusive), herself (Butterscotch, she knew), Applejack (same name), Pinkie Pie (Bubble Berry), and Rainbow Dash (Rainbow Blitz, here). "Just keep breathing, dear," Dusk Shine said, his voice with a unique accent that sounded more like Trottington. "Just keep pushing," he said. "If I push any harder," Eris groaned, with her own version of the same Trottington accent, squeezing her hand hard enough of Dusk Shine's hoof to make him visibly wince, "the bloody foal is going to pop out like a cork!" Eris moaned, and said, "Oh, and Fluttershy? This universe-gender switch. And, I remind myself, again, why I remain a boy as often as I can...," then a loud moan, and the crying of a foal... A sudden slam, and Fluttershy was surrounded by corpses. Impaled corpses of ponies-all of her friends, the Princesses, everypony she knew, and even her body with a long stake driven through the anus. The whole world seemed as if it was painted on black-dyed canvas, even the few bright colors were underlayed by the black tone and loss of everything, even hope, as fires burned from horizon to horizon. Here, Discord was the most changed. His face was white...with red dots like clown blush, his body twisted, marked...distorted in ways that didn't make any three-dimensional sense. His fur was a sharp, sharp white and his mane and tail were a vivid, neon green. And, his face...his face, somepony had carved past the lip line to the base of his horns with a knife, drawing his face up into a permanent smile, the scars twisting his lips into a leer. "And here," Discord rasped, a voice torn by laughing for hours and hours and hours and hours..., "here, dear sweet Fluttershy, I made the world burn. Because, creation is hard. But destruction, chaos, confusion-now, that's fun!" Another shift of perspective, then the world seems so much more...real to her. She was sitting on a stool, in a room, with a human male. She was wearing something over her ears (headphones, she knew), and she was sitting in a room (recording studio, she knew), and she (her name wasn't Fluttershy, it was Andrea Libman, here and she was human) was recording something. "Or, here, where we're reading out the script of a fan fiction-technically, we shouldn't even be reading that, but the author won a contest at BronyCon and he just wanted one particular script he created read," John DeLance said, speaking into the microphone. "Um, John," Andrea Libman said in her best Fluttershy voice, "this whole thing is getting a bit too meta for me..." "As you wish," John De Lance said, and with a snap of his fingers and a flash of light...they were back in Fluttershy's cabin. With Fluttershy as Fluttershy, and Discord as Discord. "So, as you can see, the universe is full of so many infinite possibilities. But, there is one thing, most important of all, Fluttershy," Discord said. "And, do know what that is?" "Um...no," Fluttershy said softly. "This moment," he said. "Here, in this moment, you can be anything-yell at me, comfort me, curse me, love me, hate me, adore me, despise me, walk out of the room, fly out of the room, cut your throat with a knife-and it is you who decides. Nopony else does. Just you, you are the creator of your own worlds, the builder of your own dreams." "What about all the other moments?" Fluttershy asked, curiously. "Their moments?" "Oh, those are important, too-as well as my moment, but this? Your moment," Discord said. "Does that help any?" "It does, a little," Fluttershy said. "So, what matters is not what one of the versions of myself in a universe far far away does, it's what I do that matters." "Excellent! Tomorrow, we'll deal with multiple perspective cognitive dissonance," Discord smiled, and looked around. "And, actually, I was wondering...may I ask a favor from you?" "Sure, what's the favor?" Fluttershy asked. With a pop!, four pony foals appeared. One was a dark pink Earth pony with a brownish/white mane and eight legs, another was a unicorn with purple-ish fur and a purple-green mane, a third was a brown/orange Earth pony foal with beautiful green eyes and hair, and the last was a pegasus foal with...hummingbird wings? Blue with brown highlights, and just sort of floating over the ground with his wings a blur... "Well, kids this Auntie Fluttershy. Fluttershy, this is Slepnir," Discord pointed out the eight-legged pony, "mine with Pinkie Pie. The cute little unicorn here is Slippy Time, mine with Twilight Sparkle. The other cute Earth pony is Cider Press, mine with Applejack. And, last but not least," and he nuzzled the flying pegasus, "is Hummingdash, mine and Rainbow Dash." "AUNTIE FLUTTERSHY!" they all yelled, and clutched onto her legs, hugging and nuzzling her. "Unfortunately, I'm stuck babysitting today, so if you could just watch them for a few hours while I go deal with a griffin in Georgia about grease guns, I'll do double chores for a week and bring you a dozen of the chocolate hoofprint cookies you love," Discord pleaded. "Double chores for two weeks," Fluttershy said, over the four foals playing around with her legs. "Two weeks and two dozen cookies," Discord replied, "we have a deal. Kids," and all the foals looked up at Discord, "I'll be back in a few hours, don't make too much trouble for Auntie Fluttershy, and we'll all go out to have ice cream if you're really good." "Yay!" they all said, "Ice cream!" Discord pulled a jacket and a hat off a hat rack that was just there-and vanished just as he got the jacket off. "I'll be right back, and we'll have fun with the universe again!" He opened the cabin's front door, closed it, then teleported away. "Auntie Fluttershy," Hummingdash said, "story time?" "STORY TIME!" The other three pony foals said. "Okay," Fluttershy said, and went over to the bookshelf to find a book. "I've got some good ones here..." RAINBOW DASH Rainbow Dash wasn't the greatest student in the world. She was very much a "learn as you do" sort of pony, which wasn't a bad thing. But, Rainbow Dash realized that she needed some help, and she went to Ponyville's #1 Egghead for help. "Hey, Twilight," Rainbow Dash said as she flew into the Ponyville Library. "I need some help," she said. "Oh?" Twilight Sparkle looked around a bit. "So, how can I help you today?" "Well, I'm going up tomorrow to see Scootaloo at the castle, we're going to do flight training. And, I was thinking that she might have problems, since she hasn't been doing a lot of flying. Sort of the reverse problem Fluttershy and I had when we got our Cutie Marks," Rainbow Dash replied, feeling sheepish. "Oh?" Twilight Sparkle asked, as she looked around for the card catalogue. "Yea," Rainbow Dash blushed a bit. "I mean, up until she got her Cutie Mark, she'd never been on the ground, let alone walked any amount of distance. I'd been down to the dirt a few times, but not for long periods of time. Scootaloo, it's the reverse-she's been pretending to be a 'deformed' pony for so long, she's probably as good as any pony on the ground, but her wings..." "Ah, I got it," Twilight Sparkle said. "Physical rehabilitation, I think...yes." She walked over to the bookshelves and started to pull a number of books off the shelves. "There's a lot of information on this-I mean, you get some ponies that have been sick in bed for a while, and they need to get their wing muscles back in shape...so, why are you asking me? Princess Celestia probably has a horde of experts you can ask." "Hey, you're my favorite egghead-and you know Scootaloo. I want somepony that cares about her to help me get her into shape," Rainbow Dash noted. She looked at the books. "So, how do we figure out what exercises she needs?" "And, what about Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "Don't they need help?" "Well...," Rainbow Dash prevaricated, looking up at the ceiling, then back at Twilight Sparkle a bit. "For that, I need your help, as well." "So," Sweetie Belle said, "do you know why Rainbow Dash wanted us here?" "No clue," Scootlaoo said, "just that she asked Princess Celestia for permission to use the Grand Banquet Hall for three hours a day when she was here, and that she wanted to make sure nopony else came in while she did." As the three of them came in, Rainbow Dash was standing there-clipboard in her wing, a whistle around her neck, and a smile on her face. "Hey, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle-could you make sure all the doors are closed before we get started?" "Sure," Apple Bloom replied, and they went and checked all the doors. "All shut, what's up, Rainbow?" "One thing left to do," Rainbow Dash said, pulling out a sack from the saddle bags she had on the floor. "Scootaloo, could you put these up on all the walls and the roof, as high as you can?" The sack opened up to reveal a number of gem-like items, all about the size of a baseball. "Rainbow Dash, these are anti-scrying wards-powerful ones, too. Why..." Scootaloo asked, and Rainbow Dash moved her wings. "Less talk, more explanations when you get them up," Rainbow Dash cut her off. "So, get them up and I can start explaining." Scootaloo shrugged, and then flew as hard as she could to put up all the wards. This took a while-the Grand Banquet Hall was huge. Easily seven hundred yards long by four hundred yards wide, the ceiling of the Hall was so high that it was possible to move a huge number of clouds inside to do...well, to hold a full pegasus party without any issues. It took her nearly twenty minutes to get all the wards up, and Scootaloo flew down in front of Rainbow Dash. "All done, now what?" "Well, first things first, I show you this," Rainbow Dash said, holding out a scroll with Princess Celestia's seal on it. Apple Bloom took it, and gasped, "Rainbow Dash, how..." "Had Twilight Sparkle ask her," Rainbow Dash replied, and smiled. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came to look over Apple Bloom's shoulder. It was a short scroll, but as scrolls went, it was a bombshell. The scroll said simply- As a condition of your parole, you are to remain in your "normal" forms unless I give you permission otherwise. By reading this scroll, it serves as an indication of my permission. You have my permission that-so long as you remain in the Grand Banquet Hall and use proper anti-scrying protection-you may release your body change spells so you can train with Rainbow Dash. Princess Celestia -and below her hoofprint signature was the Royal Seal again. All three of them looked up, and saw Rainbow Dash smiling. "Yea, I thought it would be stupid to just train Scootaloo when all three of you probably need the help. So, if you can just let your wings out...," Rainbow Dash said. Without a moment's hesitation, they all released their body change spells, and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle flexed their wings. Rainbow Dash got a good look at their wings, and groaned, face-hoofing herself. "What's wrong, 'Dash?" Apple Bloom asked. "Your wings...you've never preened them, have you?" Rainbow Dash sighed, looking at them. Feathers out of place, pinions in good need of cleaning...there were pegasus foals with better wings than Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "Well, Scootaloo tried to help, and..." Sweetie Belle replied, and Rainbow Dash cut her off. "So, that's our first lesson of the day. That, and wing exercises. Scootaloo, if you can help with Sweetie Belle, I'll help with Apple Bloom. If it's not as bad as I think, you can all have about twenty minutes at the end to fly," Rainbow Dash replied, trotting over to Apple Bloom. "Lie on your belly, Apple Bloom, 'cause I'm probably going to have to get started from the top." Three weeks, several painful preening sessions, and some more painful exercises later, the three of them were playing "catch the balloons". "It's a Wonderbolt training exercise," Rainbow Dash said. "Normally we start out from the training clouds, but we'll start out from the floor here. I yell out a color, and you find that color balloon that is furthest from you, and you fly back and put the balloon in the basket as quickly as you can. It's a tricky exercise, and it's as much about coordination and observation as speed." "Scootaloo, blue balloon!" Rainbow Dash yelled, seeing the balloon up near one of the furthest corners. Scootaloo took off like a shot, carefully braked, caught the balloon in her tail, and flew down to the basket where they would "score" a capture. "Good timing!" Rainbow Dash replied, clicking the stopwatch and noting the time. "Sweetie Belle, red balloon!" Sweetie Belle took off, but she misjudged the balloon, instead getting one that was about half-way down the hall. And, she used her telekinesis to get it-not a problem, but Rainbow Dash was disappointed that she missed the furthest balloon. "Good catch, but the balloon you want is over there!" Sweetie Belle looked sad, but she got into place. "Apple Bloom, green balloon!" They kept doing this for about an hour, then Rainbow Dash called for a break, drinks of water, some snacks, and more preening exercises. One of the things that Rainbow Dash had tried to do was make sure nopony preened another pony twice in a row, and every pony preened another pony in their small group per week. "Ooof," Apple Bloom said, "d'ya have to be so hard on my wings, Rainbow Dash?" "Got to," Rainbow Dash replied. "It's been a few weeks of good care, but they still need to get into some sort of shape..." "And," a majestic voice said behind them both, "I am glad you're helping them out." All four of them were surprised to see Princess Celestia, standing in the middle of the room. "I admit it," she said with a small, sly smile, "I snuck in and cast an invisibility spell to watch you exercise. You have all made remarkable progress, and I am glad Twilight Sparkle was able to convince me to help." "Thank you," Rainbow Dash said. "But, I'd really like to get them out into the open air, it's the only place to really learn how to fly." "Unfortunately, until I have come to a decision about them, it is better for everypony that they remain a secret," Princess Celestia sighed. "But..." "But what?" Apple Bloom asked. "As it happens to have happened, the weather ponies have built a pretty heavy and low cloud layer over Canterlot tonight. Dangerous flying, but once you break through the cloud cover, you should be clear," Princess Celestia mused. "And, if some ponies were to fly out after sunset, they might even be able to see the Night Watch changeover." "Oh?" Sweetie Belle asked. "But, of course, this is just idle musings. After all," here, Princess Celestia smiled, "the sun will not set until 6:35 pm exactly. Just...idle musing of a pony that might have some problems seeing some ponies flying tonight." "Ah," Scootaloo said. "I see." "Well, I think there is a chocolate cake slice with my name on it," Princess Celestia said. "Literally-the head cook put my name on the last slice with frosting to make sure somepony else did not eat it... See you tomorrow!" As she left, the four of them looked at each other. "So...how long...," Rainbow Dash asked. "Three hours and some change," Apple Bloom replied. "So..." "What are we waiting for?" Rainbow Dash said. "We've got to get this place cleaned up, a nap in, and food eaten before 6:35 tonight!" "So, what time is it?" Apple Bloom asked. All four of them were waiting inside Scootaloo's room, body change spells released, looking out the window. "6:33," Sweetie Belle said with a sigh. "We've got some more time to go, the sun is still going down..." As they watched, the sun slowly dipped below the horizon. This close to Canterlot, the three alicorns knew what they had long suspected. Princess Celestia had to have built some form of artifact to have helped her move the Sun and the Moon, and how she did it was going to be very interesting to find out. But, as the Sun dipped below the horizon, the Moon began to come out from behind the hills, they all looked and saw the low deck of clouds that began to form. "Now!" Rainbow Dash said, and all four of them took to the air. "Remember, follow me, keep your eyes open for me," she said, and they flew through the cloud deck as quickly as they could. The biggest danger was losing track of their orientation-pegasui and alicorns were good at knowing what direction they were flying in, but the thickness of the clouds could get confusing. But, they made it through, and with a solid swing of their wings, they were above the cloud deck and looking at the crystal clear sky over Canterlot. They all landed on the clouds, and got used to another pegasus trick-cloud walking. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were not used to it, but they quickly got the hang of it as the moon rose slightly. Then, they could hear it. The beating of a thousand bat wings. Thestrals, the so-called "bat ponies" had been one of the most slandered of the Six Races of Equestria. For the most part, they didn't care-as long as they had their cairns, as long as their homes were safe, the thestrals maintained their watch on the dark places of Equestria. With the return of Princess Luna, they had resumed their posts that their ancestors had promised to uphold a thousand years ago. The Night Watch was taking over from the Day Watch. Over a thousand thestrals, armed and in armor, flew in organized lines of three to the walls of Canterlot Castle. A trio landed next to a member of the Day Watch, and whispered something. The Day Watch guard saluted, and they trotted or flew off. One thestral assumed the position vacated by the Day Watch guard, shouldering their weapon and preparing for the night. The other two thestral turned clockwise about forty-five degrees, and flew off to the inner guard posts, where the process repeated. The last thestral turned forty-five degrees counter-clockwise and flew to the Canterlot Castle itself, replacing the guards there. "Wow," Scootaloo said. She had pulled up a distant viewing spell and was sharing it with the four of them, watching as the precise sequence of military procedure and choreography continued. "That's impressive." "And, if you will wait a minute...," a voice said behind them, and all four turned in shock to see Princess Luna was standing on the clouds as well, looking at them. "Princess Celestia admitted She was going to let you 'play hookey' tonight, so I came to watch as My Watch assumes their positions. And, if you will watch this..." The five of them watched, as nothing happened for a few minutes. Night Watch guards settled into position, waiting for the night to come. Then, in silence, guards came out of Canterlot Castle, flying outwards from the castle in groups of three. The entire process of manning the posts happened in reverse, but no pony left their post. Instead, each post was manned by two thestrals, the thestrals flying out from Canterlot Castle proper with weapons drawn and ready to fight any opponent they faced. "The schedule of their departure is randomized," Princess Luna said. "As is the rotation of guards and locations. A smart foe might try to sneak in just behind Our guards, but as they do, they will encounter armed and ready members of the Watch. And, they will encounter them head-on." "Wow," Rainbow Dash said, watching. "I'm...impressed." "Me too," Apple Bloom said. "Never got a'chance to meet thestrals before, but knew some lived around the farm. Always wanted to have them say hello, be neighborly." "Most ponies do not like thestrals," Princess Luna sighed. "They fear and distrust them." "Most ponies ain't Apples," Apple Bloom retorted. "If they're civil and good ponies, don't got any problem with 'em, however they look." Princess Luna looked at Apple Bloom with a bit of a shock, and smiled, "I will ask if some can visit you soon." "Say, Princess," Rainbow Dash asked, wanting to break the flow of conversation. "Have you heard anything about what Princess Celestia has decided yet." "No, I have not," Princess Luna replied. "She normally plays Her cards very close to Her breastbone, but I have never seen Her play Her cards this close before. Never. And, that worries Me a great deal." "Why's that?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Because, My sister has one very predictable thing about Her," Princess Luna said sadly. "She will sometimes be so cunning that She tricks Herself."

We Three Alicorns

The Search

Despite every story to the contrary, most criminal investigations were relatively boring office jobs. Even Priority One investigations. Paper was crunched. Information was worked. Evidence was run down. DCS Runny Banks went through several bags of popcorn. But, a week after the attack, they got a lead. DCS Munch and DS Finn were at the open-air market where the cart was stolen, and they ran into one May Fields, an Earth Pony that sold fresh clover honey to restaurants, hotels, and...enthusiasts. "Yes," she said, looking at one of the photos. "Cute little unicorn, that one. She came by here every day for about two weeks, was looking for something for her and her girlfriend. Always wore a vest, but I did get a look at her Cutie Mark." "Oh?" DCS Munch asked, "could you describe it to a sketch artist?" "Don't need to," May Fields replied with a smile. She rummaged around under her cart and found a sketch pad. "This is it," and she flipped to a page where she had drawn a good likeness of a female unicorn, and a Cutie Mark of three intertwined salmon. "May we have it?" DS Finn said, around a cracker that he had put some her sampler honey on. "Sure," May Fields smiled. "Oh, and she had teal fur and a short, coral mane. Always thought she should grow it out, but she said her job was easier when she had it short. Never did say what her name was." "Thank you," DCS Munch said, and put the picture away with his notes in the notebag. And, struck by a sudden impulse, he pulled out his purse and bought two jars of honey. "And, thank you." "It's on the house, dear," she said, hoofing DCS Munch his money back. DCS Munch looked at the money and put it in the tip jar. "It's a great tip," DCS Munch smiled, and the two investigators left. "The description is one that matches up with a Fluke Scale, seventeen, female unicorn that has form," DS Drops said, taking a file out from under his wing. "Previous arrests, but no convictions, for traffic in illicit spell materials and prohibited potions." "Why hasn't she been busted yet?" DS Finn asked, sitting back in his chair. "Cases were dropped due to 'lack of evidence,'" DS Drops said, looking through the file. "Always caught around, but never holding and she never gave anypony else up." "So, what would a small-time mule be doing around in a high-end joint like where the cart was stolen," DCS Banks asked. "When is the last report on her?" "Six months ago, when she was thought to be working with a gang that was moving manticore spleens," DCS Munch said. "Once again, no convictions or charges, but we do have a recent address." "Well, I think we need to ask Fluke Scale why she was honey shopping," DCS Banks said, and pushed himself away from the desk. The address they had for Fluke Scale was for a large, somewhat rundown apartment building in a poor but somewhat bohemian area of Manehattan. DCS Banks and DS Drops went up to the twentieth floor, and knocked on her door. No answer. "I'll make sure to leave her notice," DS Drops said, pulling out a notification pad as they heard the elevator open up, and a pony trot around the corner with a bag of groceries in her saddle bags. Teal fur, coral mane..., DCS Banks observed, and said, "Fluke Scale, I'm DCS Banks and...," with a start, Fluke Scale shed her saddlebags and was running for the stairs. "Ooops!" DCS Banks said, starting to chase after her as DS Drops found the nearest window and flew down to the street entrance. Fluke Scale came bursting out of the emergency exit, panting. DS Drops saw her around the corner and took off with a powerful burst of his wings. He tackled her to the ground, managing to keep himself out of sight and off her hooves until DCS Banks came down and managed to secure her hooves and put an anti-magic collar on her horn. "Fluke Scale, in the name of the Crowns and Court, I am placing you under arrest," DCS Banks said, dragging her up to her hobbled hooves. "You have the right to remain silent and full legal council. Do you understand your rights as I've said them?" "Flank off!" Fluke Scale hissed. "I'll take that for a yes," DCS Banks said, dragging her off to their cart. Once the official notices had been read, DCS Banks looked at Fluke Scale in Interview #1 and asked, "So, what have you been up to lately, Fluke Scale?" "Flank off, flathead," Fluke Scale sneered. "I want my lawyer." "Your Legal Aid attorney will be here soon, but don't you want to know why you're here?" DS Drops asked. "Doesn't matter," Fluke Scale snorted. "You keep busting my chops and get nothing for it." "This isn't your usual run of moving dodgy stuff, you might have just become a conspirator in a Class 3 Unauthorized Reality Excursion," DCS Brooks said. "Which means you were involved in a murder, dearie. That's hard time, probably Isle of Hoofington, for at least fifteen years. And, if the Court thinks you were actually an active participant..." "Hey, I wasn't doing any summonings!" Fluke Scale yelled, angry and scared. "Flank you, you're trying to pin something on me!" DS Drops started to lay the photos out. "This is the unicorn they tortured to get the summoning to work. That's at least fifteen to twenty. Add the summoning, attempted murder charges...," he ticked off items that happened. "WHAT?!? What murder charges?" Fluke Scale screamed. "Attempted murder," DCS Brooks corrected. "Nopony got killed, but it was a near-run thing." The door to Interview #1 opened and a female unicorn in a Legal Aid vest came in. "Are you badgering my client?" the unicorn lawyer said. "Trying to get her to say something without proper legal counsel?" "Just trying to let her know what sort of trouble she's in," DCS Brooks smiled. "Didn't harass her in the least." "Now, may I speak with my client?" The unicorn lawyer shooed the two detectives off, and they went into the observation room, where Crown Prosecutor Kiwi Pips waited. "Pushing her a bit hard?" Pips asked, flexing her wings as they watched the Legal Aid lawyer and Fluke Scale talk with each other in low whispers. "I don't think she did it, or at least she wasn't one of the summoners," DS Drops replied. "I think she was involved...but, sort of on the side." "I agree with Drops," DCS Banks said. "I'm just not sure how she fits in..." The Legal Aid lawyer nodded, and knocked on the window with the one way glass. DCS Banks, DS Drops, and CP Pips came in, the lawyer looking ready for a fight and Fluke Scale looking a bit frazzled. "I'm willing to have her talk, but I want immunity from prosecution for my client. At most, she's accessory to a Class E felony," the Legal Aid pony replied. "If we like what we hear," CP Pips said, "she has it. Let's hear it." The Legal Aid pony nodded at Fluke Scale and she took a deep breath. "Look, I've been clean and out for six months. Found a girl, she loves me, and I've been trying to turn my life around, okay? Problem is, money has been tight lately, and one of my old buddies came up and asked me to do a favor for him." "Who's the buddy?" DCS Banks asked. "Earth pony by the name of Sip Can," Fluke Scale said. She looked around, depressed and nervous. "He was the guy that ran me when I was into, well, stuff. Still in the business of moving stuff, and he runs an off-the-books club down near the Waterfront, place called 'Chinos'. He met up with me after work a few weeks ago, and he told me that all I had to do was find a new, enclosed cart that could be towed by six ponies and was near the South Gate. So, I told him of this place that I saw that had a cart on my way to work, and next day he hands me a bag of about a thousand bits-says it's 'my share' of a 'good thing' he's got going." "Did he say why he needed the cart?" DS Drops asked. "No, and I didn't ask," Fluke Scale said. "He told me that he might need another cart soon, and to keep an eye out." "Well, what do you think?" the Legal Aid pon asked. "If we can confirm the information and she's willing to testify under a truth spell about this-and only this-we've got a deal," CP Pips said. "So, let's go and find Sip Can," DCS Banks said. "You got nothing," Sip Can said, sitting down in Interrogation #2. "What you busting my mane for?" Sip Can was a wiry Earth pony, dark brown fur with a slightly darker mane. The dripping can for a Cutie Mark was...unique, to say the least. "Well, we can start with your club," DCS Munch said. "Off books, so you probably don't have any licenses, which is a problem." "Hey, have you tried to get a liquor or music license lately? Flanking backorder of six months and I can serve during the application process," Sip Can grunted. "And, all my paper is in order, and I run a clean shop." "Not according to Vice," DS Finn retorted. "You seem to have an awful lot of working mares in your place every night, and it seems like you get a lot of action." "This isn't a Vice bust," Sip Can sat back and smiled. "You want something. What is it?" "Who did you get the cart for, the new six pony one a few weeks ago," DCS Munch asked. "Don't know," Sip Can replied. "Colt came in, said he knew I used to move product. He gave me two plat that night, told me that if I could find a new, six pony enclosed cart near the South Gate, I'd get two more." "And?" DS Finn asked in the silence. "Found him a nice, eight year old cart, sweet thing, and got it to him outside the South Gate. Paid me two plat right there," Sip Can smiled. "Describe him," DCS Munch said. "Who pays a colt four thousand bits for a cart?" "Unicorn, tall as I am, long-ass horn, blue eyes. Black fur and mane, but I could tell they were dyed. Never saw his Cutie Mark, always wore a cloak," Sip Can said. "So, you going to bust my flank over this or am I now a Material Witness?" "How did he get in touch with you after you found the cart?" DS Finn asked. "Came in every third night, bought drinks, asked, left. Night I got the cart, he shows up with five other unicorns. Cloaks with hoods up, paid me and took the cart," Sip Can said. "Still not much use, and I wonder how many of the mares that wander in and out of your place are legal," DCS Munch said. "I suppose we'll have to go there tonight and check every single pony there for outstanding warrants." "Lots of squad carts, lots of Guards going in and out," DS Finn said, with a smile that suggested that he'd like to indulge in a little Guard brutality with Sip Can. "Yea, I caught a look at one of the female unicorn's flanks. Had a Cutie Mark of three small blue elephants, two on top and one on the bottom," Sip Can said. "You want to keep busting my flank?" "Only if your information is bad," DCS Munch said, and the two of them left as the sputtering Sip Can tried to retort. "...and, that's about all we have right now, your Highness," DCS Banks said, looking at his notes. "We're running down the leads we have right now, and if we can identify even one of the unicorns involved, it's a start." DCS Banks remembered from the days when he was a mere Detective, learning under the tutelage of the famous and brawling DCS Green Hunt. This was back in the "good old days" of police work-when colts were colts, mares were mares, and lesbian sheep were nervous. DCS Hunt had a lot of great expressions for this, and one of his favorite was "managing the managers." "You want to figure out how to tell your bosses," he said over donuts and booze one night, "that you're getting everything done, you've got scalds of witnesses you just need to interview, flank-loads of physical evidence, and everything else. Even when all you have are two busted-ass donkeys and half a biscuit to your case, and you really want to get back out on the street and start running down where the biscuit came from rather than answering silly questions to a DI that hasn't worked a case in ten years." DCS Banks realized that "managing" Princess Celestia was simple-the truth, and as much as he could give. So, he gave it to her in full. "Do you have the identity of the sacrifice victim," Princess Celestia asked, looking grim at the thought. "Not at this time, your Highness," DS Drops said, "Considering his condition, he was probably a transient or homeless, and the summoners just grabbed the first unicorn they could find." "Thank you," Princess Celestia said, and sighed. "Do you need any more resources? Ponies?" "Not at this time, your Highness," DCS Banks said. "Cases like this are like a whole mixed up pile of jigsaw puzzles. Nothing really happens until you can figure out how to put enough pieces together to start getting a coherent image. A bit of forest, the borders of the puzzle, it takes time and work, but right now we have all the eyeballs that we can make use of on the case." Princess Celestia nodded. "I will not keep you from your work, then. Once again, thank you." As DCS Banks and DS Drops turned to leave, there was the sound of an explosion from within the Royal compound. Not a large one, but easily audible in the audience chamber. And, DCS Banks noticed, Princess Celestia didn't flinch when it happened. "Your Highness?" DCS Banks asked, curiously, "What was that explosion?" Princess Celestia looked out the window and sighed. "That, DCS Banks, is what happens when you are silly enough to allow foals to play with steam," Princess Celestia said with a sigh. "We'll have to rebuild the workshop. Again." "Got an ID for you," Firemare 3 Ashes said without preamble, coming into the squad room. "Cafe owner near the arson said a male and female unicorn were at his cafe near both times, and he recognized the female unicorn's Cutie Mark. Never got her name, but she was there then." "What about the male?" DS Drops asked. "Wore saddlebags, can't recall what much more about him," Firemare 3 Ashes replied, looking at her notes. "But, he matches the general description we got-tall male with a long horn." "So, we just need to find...," DCS Banks said, as CSI Griffin came in. "Got some good news for you, we were able to find one of the summoners in our database," he said, laying out a file. "Female unicorn by the name of Grey Parade," revealing the photo of a pony with a three elephant Cutie Mark. "She's got form-got a six month stint in Black Marla for love poisons and some other nasty stuff. And, I can tie her to the summoning. The other five signatures, not in the database." "How did you figure that out?" DS Drops asked. "You can thank Princess Twilight Sparkle, got her scroll when I came in today. We did a quantum magic resonance test, and we picked up Grey Parade's signature," CSI Griffin replied. "Well, DCS Banks said, "we should talk with her and ask why her signature's on a summoning grid." Grey Parade slouched in the chair, looking insolently at the two detectives. Her last photo had her looking a bit gaunt-but, now she looked relatively well fed. She wasn't cuffed, but she did have an anti-magic ring on her horn. "So, what have you been up to, Grey?" DCS Banks asked, looking at her. "I want my lawyer," Grey Parade said, simply. "Absolutely. Legal Aid is on it's way, and while we're waiting, you might want to know that we have your signature on a Class 3 summoning grid. And, there was a live sacrifice on it. So, the sooner you talk to us, the sooner we can get the Crown Prosecutor in and cut you a deal," DS Drops said. "Filly flanker," Grey Parade snorted. "If you had that, I'd be in chains right now." "Yea, but like my partner said, we want all your merry crew and the guy in charge-the tall one that dyes his mane and tail black," DCS Banks smiled. "So, I think my boss and the Crown Prosecutor are willing to cut you a deal in exchange for him." Grey Parade looked at the both of them. "I'm not talking," she said. "Well, we might as well wait for your Legal Aid lawyer," DS Drops noted. "Be back in a bit." The two of them went into the observation room, where DI Cracken and CP Pips were watching. "Something wrong here," DI Cracken said. "She's too...controlled?" "I read her arrest report from six years ago-she should be cursing up a storm," CP Pips said, looking at the detectives. "When her Legal Aid pony gets here, I'm going to request a geas check and...oh, flank me...," as her voice trailed off. All of them looked inside and saw that Grey Parade was shaking, as if she was having a seizure, and her horn was glowing. "Get the EMT!" DCS Banks said, as he and DS Drops charged in, dragging Grey Parade off from the chair and onto the floor. "You're trying to cast a spell!" DCS Banks said, "You've got to stop before you hurt yourself!" Grey Parade gargled something that DCS Banks could barely make out, then she hissed, "For the coming of the eternal night!" And, DCS Banks knew exactly what she was trying to do. Which was why literally tackled DS Drops to the other side of Interview #1 and used his telekinesis to flip the heavy wooden table so that they could be shielded behind it. The entire world vanished for DCS Banks in a roar of sound and fury, as Grey Parade exploded from a magical backfire. "Well, with the exception of me," DS Drops said, waving his bandaged wings, "and you here for a few days for burns and cracked ribs, the only casualty was Grey Parade. How did you know she was going to try and do a magical backfire like that?" DCS Banks was in a hospital bed, several wires stuck in him, and bandaged pretty much from the shoulders down. "Saw it a couple of times when I was in the Service," DCS Banks shrugged carefully, trying not to wince. "Unicorn with a damaged horn trying to do serious magic, and when they do, boom." "If I haven't said it before, thank you," DS Drops said. "Wings are bruised, not broken, so I'm clear to go. Doctors said they want to hold you for a day or two, just to be safe." "Yea, and I'm gonna let them," DCS Banks replied. "Getting blown up is a young pony's game," he grinned. "Besides, it's now a four day weekend for me." "You're a lazy old flank," DS Drops chuckled. They both knew that the doctors wanted to hold DCS Banks for a week, and four days was the only compromise they had all been able to accept. "Try not to starve on hospital food, okay?" "Will do," DCS Banks smiled, and DS Drops left. After the door closed, DCS Banks let his smile drop, and looked up at the ceiling. "Six years, six flanking years...," he muttered. From Elsewhere, DCS Banks pulled out a small clear pentagonal gem at the end of a gold chain. He picked up the phone handset with his telekinesis and wrapped the chain around the handset. Then, he dialed a number on the phone. After he dialed, the gem started to blink a soft yellow, then it became a solid green. There was a hissing on the line for a second, a chirp, then, "Secure connection" from a flat, tinny, androgynous voice. Had anypony tried to tap that line, they would have heard...nothing. As far as the Royal Phone Exchanges were concerned, there wasn't a call being made, the line wasn't connected to anything, and nopony was connecting to anypony else. "This is SI Runny Banks," he said. "Authentication is Victor-Echo-Three-Eight-Nine-One. Confirm, please." An androgynous voice replied on the other end. "Authenticate Hotel-Golf-One-Zero-Seven-Two. Welcome to the net. Query?" "I'm currently on sabbatical, working for the Canterlot Royal Investigations Division. Case file is Eight-Three-Two-Six-Six-Two-Zero-One-Four. During the interrogation of Grey Parade, she said something that I can't put in the official record because I'm the only pony that made it out clearly." "Understood," the voice said. "What was it that she said?" "She said, and I quote, 'You're too late, we're almost there.' Considering that Grey Parade may have been a member of the Order of Eternal Night, she might have known something that made her commit suicide and avoid interrogation," DCS Banks said. A short pause, then. "Information noted. It'll be passed up the chain, Special Investigator." Another pause. "Your file has a flag, a request for information. Query-'Are you still on sabbatical?'" DCS Banks sat and thought about that for a second. "I am, for now," he replied. "If case circumstances change, I'll request reinstatement." "Understood," the voice said. "Any other queries?" "None, thank you." "Thank you, SI Banks. Disconnecting," and the line went dead. DCS Banks hung the phone up, unwrapped the chain, placed it back in Elsewhere, and looked out the hospital window. "Well, that put the griffin among the chickens," he sighed.

We Three Alicorns

The Decision

Click. Click. Click. Princess Celestia considered the clock in her office. In, as she thought of it, the office. Click. Click. Click. The clock was a present from Princess Luna, about fifty years before the Night That Never Ended. A small thing, barely larger than her leg below the knee, using a tricky little bit of self-winding magic but otherwise purely mechanical. Luna and gadgets...she had built this clock, with it's odd sound of the escapement that was a high pitched click rather than the more traditional sound...she always smiled when she saw that clock. After that night...she lost it until about a hundred and twenty years later, after a day of blood and nausea and vomit when she found out exactly what the Pigmenters did at the Rainbow Factory. And solved that problem with a brutality that even made her quiver on occasion. Click. Click. Click. The problem was, it made her quiver in lust. For more. Power was a dangerous drug, even more than any other. So few ponies ever faced how intoxicating the level of power that being a Princess of Equestria meant. Which was why she had found the clock. It reminded her of what power meant. It meant a lost sister. It meant the heads of nearly six thousand pegasui, the stumps of their necks still bleeding. It meant soldiers and sailors that she would send off to war. In Her name. It meant executions, anonymous "accidents", and lost families. And, no amount of cakes, lovers, art, stained glass windows, or other bribes could make up for that. Click. Click. Click. Which was why it was here, in what she thought of as the office. Plain white marble walls. Plain but solid-and sturdy-wooden desk. Plain file cabinets. No windows. Two doors, one leading to a bathroom and one leading to a office chamber that many ponies thought she worked in on a regular basis. The office was where she made the harsh and brutal decisions that being Princess required. No distractions. No trappings. Nothing that boosted her ego. She had to confront her decisions without any buffers, any justifications. Only what she had to do, and why, and how. Click. Click. Click. There was a soft knock on the door. "Enter," Princess Celestia said. Princess Luna came in, and looked around. "You have never invited Us here," Princess Luna said, looking around. Her eyes fell upon the clock. "Here?" "I could not think of a better place for it, sister," Princess Celestia said softly. "It reminds me of what my duties are and I'm required to be." Princess Luna said nothing, but she instantly nuzzled her cheek into Celestia's cheek. "Sister, please, let Me help with Your burdens...," she whispered into her fur. She could feel Princess Celestia's tears, running down her face. "Do you want this burden, sister?" Princess Celestia whispered hoarsely. "Do you wish to decide if three foals that are guilty of being nothing but pawns must die? To be hated by the student that has become as much your daughter as if she was born of your own flesh and bone? To know that you will make enemies of some of the greatest ponies to walk Equestria, ones that I wish, I wish I could be more than their Princess to?" "Celestia...," Princess Luna whispered. "Do you want that, sister?" Princess Celestia said, hissing through her teeth. "I am Your sister," Princess Luna said. "We sit upon the Diarchy Throne, and I know what My duty is. I will not let You, no matter how much You love me, take that from Me. I will not let You do this alone. No matter how much it hurts. Sister...I was lost for a thousand years, You took an insane risk to free Me from the Nightmare. I cannot be anything other than Your sister-and stand beside You, come what may." "'Come what may,'" Princess Celestia repeated. She took a deep breath, pulled some kleenex out of Elsewhere, blew her nose and dried her eyes. "Have you sent the notes?" "I have informed all of the Bearers," Princess Luna replied. "They will be brought here tonight, for tomorrow." "Tomorrow, stand with me," Princess Celestia said. "I have made a decision. And, I need to have a choice decided." "What is Your choice?" Princess Luna asked, looking at her sister. Princess Celestia told her. "Sister, one of the problems with bait...is that it is sometimes eaten by what You wish to catch," Princess Luna said after a moment. "Can you think of any other options? SI Banks report...if the Order thinks it is close to summoning the Nightmare," Princess Celestia said, "And, they let their hook dip into the demon-haunted void, what they pull out will only be one thing-something we dare not allow into Equestria." "It is a danger," Princess Luna replied. "And, I cannot think of any other options. Not for lack of trying, My sister!" "If you can find a solution, let me know. I wish for a different one," Princess Celestia said simply. The chariot had arrived outside of the Ponyville Library promptly after sundown, and the five of them climbed into it. Pinkie Pie was her enthusiastic self, trying to drag a bag twice the size of the chariot of what had to be party favors with her. Fluttershy was nervous, but something about her expression suggested that she was going to hold onto her courage with all her hooves. Twilight Sparkle looked a touch frazzled, but it was the "intense curiosity" sort of frazzled, not the "going mad" frazzled. Applejack and Rarity had just looked at each other, said nothing, and retreated to opposite corners of the chariot. Rarity's expression was blank. Applejack's was ashamed. About an hour into the flight, Applejack cleared her throat. "Got something I need to say to all of ya," Applejack said without preamble. "I've been an awful friend and pony the last few weeks." "Oh, really," Rarity drawled, but Twilight Sparkle gave her a solid bump with her flank to stop the sarcasm. "I'm serious," Applejack said, ignoring Rarity's sarcasm. "Had my whole world turned upside down a month ago, and still trying to figure out all it means. But, I do know something and it shouldn't matter what else happens-you're all ma friends, and I should have been nicer to ya all. Shouldn't have had to vent my anger on ya all because you were handy." "Applejack," Rarity said, coming up to her friend. "I forgave you a long time ago. Thank you for saying that you understand." And then Rarity gave Applejack a huge hug. Of course, Fluttershy had to join in, then Twilight Sparkle, then Pinkie Pie trying to hug them all at once... The pegasus flying the chariot realized that this was going to be one of those interesting flights. And, kept their eyes looking forward. When the chariot landed, Kibitz was there, checklist in hand. "Ah, Princess Twilight Sparkle," he said. "I have word from Princess Celestia." "Oh?" Twilight Sparkle asked, watching as her friends got out. "Yes, your Highness. Your friends will all be quartered in the West Tower tonight, and will see Princess Celestia before Dawn Court," Kibitz replied. "She also asked me to inform you that she wishes to see you for tea when you get settled in, in the Lotus Gardens." Twilight Sparkle looked at Kibitz and sighed. "Is everything in my room?" "Yes, your Highness," Kibitz replied. "And, I will lead your friends to the West Tower." Twilight Sparkle trotted off, as the rest were lead towards the West Tower. "Hey, where is the sugarcube going?" Applejack asked. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have requested that Princess Twilight Sparkle meet them in the Lotus Gardens," Kibitz said as he signaled off to the staff to carry the luggage (and Pinkie Pie, who was hiding in a box) to the West Tower. "It is...let us just say that for the Princesses, it is probably the only place that they can truly let their hair down with companionship." "Beg y'pardon?" Applejack asked, looking confused. "It's where the Princesses meet with ponies that they need to see them without a whole layer of court formality and such. It's like being an honorary Apple and invited to the big family reunion," Rarity translated. "Ah. But, ain't Twilight her important student and such?" Applejack asked, being lead by the rest of the ponies towards the West Tower. "I suspect that the Princesses need to say something to Princess Twilight Sparkle in a way that there is...a buffer?" Kibitz mused. "And, the Lotus Gardens are the most private portion of the Castle short of the Princesses' own bedrooms. The scandal if Princess Twilight Sparkle was in the Princesses bedroom would be terrifying!" "I suppose that would be an issue," Rarity mused..."But, regardless, shall we be on our way?" "Apple Bloom," Applejack said. "Can I speak with ya before I get settled in?" "Sure," Apple Bloom said, letting Applejack into her room. Apple Bloom hadn't heard a thing from Applejack since the night of the Liger Diablocus attack. She had sent scrolls, but... "Could ya...," Applejack was about to ask, but Apple Bloom released the body change spell the moment the door closed. Applejack stopped, sighed, and looked at Apple Bloom's flank. "Y'got your Cutie Mark." "I did," Apple Bloom said. Applejack looked at her Cutie Mark. "Kingston Black," she said, remarking at the apple that was the head of the hammer. "Good cider apple, bit tart otherwise. You look good, Apple Bloom." "Thank you," Apple Bloom said, and took a deep breath. "Applejack..." "Wish you had been, damn it, wish you could have been honest with me up front," Applejack interrupted. "It's looking back at the years we spent, and I know ya didn't want to screw things up." Applejack sighed. "Look, sugar plum, y'screwed up bad. But, Big Mac and I...if you want to come home, you're welcome to. Apples don't turn away foundlings, and you're family." Apple Bloom looked at Applejack. "But, why..." "I was angry," Applejack said, holding her temper in check. "Two years, Apple Bloom, that I thought Big Mac was ma brother. That I knew that ma angel was near me, the one I loved...and didn't even know his name!" Apple Bloom looked at the floor. "I can't say any more than sorry, and be better," Apple Bloom said softly. "What more do ya want?" Applejack looked at Apple Bloom, tilted her chin up with her hoof, then hugged her. "Ma sister to come home. Can ya do that?" Apple Bloom started to cry, tears of joy. "Yea, I think I can do that." "I'm glad to see you," Rarity said. Her and Sweetie Belle were looking at each other in the bedroom they were sharing that night. "Letters are nice, but the personal touch...always important," Rarity said, walking around Sweetie Belle. "You have grown out very well...Mom and Dad would be happy to know that." "Are they my parents?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I got a letter from them. They're...not happy as to what happened, but they've always wanted another daughter," Rarity replied. "Once the issues are resolved here, Mom and Dad want to get the paperwork filed. As Applejack so aptly put it, 'we don't turn away foundlings'." "What about...," Sweetie Bell started to ask. "Me? I'm angry, yes. But, Sweetie Belle...remember, I was the Nightmare Rarity for a while," Rarity interrupted. "I know what that kind of power does to a pony's soul. And, I know how that would scare a foal to do...desperate things to avoid." Rarity looked around...and saw the rose that she had sent to Sweetie Belle, floating over the dresser, without a drop of water around it or a vase or anything. "Sweetie Belle, what is going on with that rose?" Rarity asked. "Oh, that," Sweetie Belle blushed. "It's an experiment-well, besides the long-term levitation spell. If you can see the bottom, near the cut, there's a very, very small teleportation portal around the base of the rose. It's connected to one of the garden ponds, and the angle of the portal is very tricky, but when done properly the flower is still watered..." "Sweetie Belle, this is...," Rarity looked in shock at the work. "Twilight Sparkle helped me with a lot of it!" Sweetie Belle blurted out. "She worked out most of the calculations! I just...made them work..." Rarity looked at Sweetie Belle and sighed. "I'm almost feeling silly having brought this...," and she brought the bundle of roses that she had been working on out of Elsewhere to show Sweetie Belle. "Wow...," Sweetie Belle gushed, "I mean, the symbolism alone...purity, innocence, grace, and charm...is...this how you think of me?" "How else should I think of my sister?" Rarity asked. Sweetie Belle began to tear up near the corner of her eyes and lunged at Rarity, hugging her without mercy. "I'm...I'm glad to be your sister, Rarity." "And, you should have seen her diving," Rainbow Dash said to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, using her hooves to demonstrate what Scootaloo did that day. "WHAM! Huge splash, she grabs the foal, makes it safely to the bottom, and dragged her and the foal to the shore safely. Easily the most awesome thing that I've ever seen." "Hey, if you'd seen the foal first, I'd be diving in after you, Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo blushed. "And, hey! You got your Cutie Mark!" Pinkie Pie said, noticing Scootaloo's side. "But, what does it mean? I mean, big wings and a halo don't seem to scoot around a lot and..." "Princess Luna just smiled and said that 'Mom had a sense of humor' when I got it," Scootaloo replied. "I'm hoping they'll explain it to me one day..." "I am glad you got your Cutie Mark," Fluttershy said, looking at Scootaloo and her wings. "And, I'm glad you can finally fly. You look very, very happy." "I am," Scootaloo replied. "But, I'm worried about tomorrow-Princess Celestia just said she 'came to a decision', and we don't know what it is yet." "Come on, this is the Princess," Rainbow Dash said. "She's gonna let you come home with me tomorrow." "How do you know that?" Fluttershy asked. "Okay, I'm guessing...but, I'm still serious about what I said that night, Scootaloo. You need a home, I'm willing to give you one," Rainbow Dash retorted. "I hope that Twilight learns something from Princess Celestia," Pinkie Pie said. "I tried to find where they went, but I can't find her or them." "So?" Fluttershy asked. "But...but...," Pinkie Pie began to tear up a bit, "I always know where they are! Except, right now, I don't!" "Pinkie Pie, she's probably just with the Princess," Rainbow Dash tried to comfort Pinkie Pie. "You don't understand," Pinkie Pie began to sob, "I always know where my friends are, but I don't know where they are now. I don't know where they are, but I know they were here and they'll be back, but I don't know where they are right now..." Fluttershy hugged Pinkie Pie. "She'll be back, soon enough." "Oh, no," Pinkie Pie said, stopping her tears, "I know exactly when she'll be back, and we won't see her until tomorrow, at the meeting about what happens to the CMC." "How do you know this?" Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "I stole a look at the script. There'll be a transition, then Twilight Sparkle's going to meet with the Princesses, and then it's tomorrow," Pinkie Pie smiled gleefully. "Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash face-hoofed herself, "sometimes, you are so random." "Occasionally!" Pinkie Pie agreed. "But, it does make for a great scene transition!" Twilight Sparkle sighed. Princess Celestia's entire concept on protocol could be summed up as "only as much as needed, otherwise to Tartarus with the rest." Oh, there were rules to the Day Court, and you broke them and protocol at your own risk. But, Princess Celestia didn't demand the impossible or the implausible from ponies. She was more interested in the substance of ponies doing well, over the formalized dance of court protocol. One of the few exceptions to this was the Lotus Gardens. And, here, Princess Celestia's rules were cold-forged from a steel billet, hammered into shape by relentless Gods. Which was why she had spent nearly an hour under the ministrations of the various hoofmaidens and why she was walking down this anonymous hallway in a full kimono. The kimono was a deep silk purple, embroidered with the symbolism of the Element of Magic and Twilight Sparkle's Cutie Mark, formally tied with a full obi. Her hair done in the full style that the outfit demanded, with hair sticks of bleached lacquered bamboo and woven ribbons. Her tail intricately braided and tied behind her in the same pattern. Ribbons woven into her wings, perfectly prepared so that she could open or close her wings without issue. Jewelry hanging from a horn ring and her ears in silver and rubies. Her hooves tapped in the shoes that she was wearing, a soft wooden sound on stone. Oh, and a cloth-wrapped package in her mouth, as well. She stopped at one spot along the hallway. Counted bricks. Counted again, and then her horn glowed slightly. The wall...did not so much open as merely the massive bricks in the wall seemed to move aside, like soldiers in a formal drill. The opening was barely larger than Twilight Sparkle in her full regalia, and as the very end of her tail passed the threshold, the doorway closed again. She lit her horn again, and walked carefully down the hallway that she was in. A few moments later, she turned the corner, and her hooves stepped onto the grass of the Lotus Garden. Somehow, despite Twilight Sparkle's efforts to map the Castle, she never quite understood where everything was kept, at times. And, the Lotus Garden was one of those things. By any conventional three-dimensional map of the Palace, the Lotus Gardens should be a foot under the surface of the middle of the Eastern Moat. Yet, she strode out onto soft turf, maple and cypress trees carefully organized around a number of small nooks and tables. The entire area was under a circular dome of stone, but lit within and around by soft fairy lights. If needed, the dome could glow to slightly less than daylight, but the lighting here was only slightly brighter than "normal" night-time, the stars perfectly recreated and flowing on the ceiling. She looked around, and saw that the main house, near the center of the eight square acre circle that was the Gardens, was lit. More calmly than she felt, Twilight Sparkle walked carefully towards the main house, stopped at the porch to remove her shoes, and walked carefully across the wooden floor to the main area of the house. With her front hoof, she opened the sliding wooden-and-paper door, and saw that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were waiting for her there. Both were fully, and formally dressed in kimonos as well-Princess Celestia in eggshell white and Princess Luna in a dark blue that was only slightly offsetting her own fur. Between them, sat an iron teapot and four cups. Twilight Sparkle bowed at the door, and waited. "Please, come in, Princess Twilight Sparkle," Princess Celestia said formally. Twilight Sparkle rose from her bow, and came around to the opposite side of the table, putting down her package beside herself. Princess Celestia set out the tea cups, and Princess Luna poured all three cups with tea. They all waited, lifted the cups with their front hooves, took a sip, and set them down again. "A gift from Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, Princess Celestia?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "Yes, Princess Twilight Sparkle," Princess Luna replied. "Do You enjoy it?" Twilight Sparkle considered this seriously. "I am not usually a fan of green teas, Princess Luna. This one is good for a green tea," Twilight Sparkle said, considering. They took another sip of tea. "I've gotten a letter from Princess Cadence, Princess Luna." "And, what does Our sister have to say?" Princess Luna asked. "She wishes she was here, of course," Twilight Sparkle nodded. "Her and Shining Armor are working hard to get the capital ready for the Equestrian Games. And, they hope to be ready in plenty of time." "Princess Cadence was always the sort that would make sure everything was perfect," Princess Celestia said. "Which was one of the reasons why I did not suspect the Changeling Queen was her just being a nervous Bridezilla." They all took a sip of tea. That was what they did for an hour, polite and calm conversation, then the last of the tea was finished, Princess Celestia put away all the items-the cups, the pot, and the mats the tea cups rested on-they had used, leaving the table clean. Twilight Sparkle lifted her package to the table. "A gift, Princess Celestia," Twilight Sparkle said. "Thank you," Princess Celestia replied, unwrapping it with her hooves to reveal cinnamon-dusted gingerbread cookies. They all had two of the cookies, then Princess Celestia set the rest aside. She sighed softly, and looked at Twilight Sparkle. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, before we speak further, I must ask for your confidence-and discretion-until tomorrow morning. May I have that?" Twilight Sparkle looked taken aback at this. "You always have that, Princess Celestia," she said, getting over her shock. "This moment may strain that," Princess Celestia sighed. "I have kept you away from the investigation into the Order to concentrate on your friends. Despite that, I have allowed you to gather information on what has happened so you might be ready for what might happen next. And, what happens next is...dangerous." "During Our investigation," Princess Luna said, "We have found that three of the ponies that had the list of potential Element candidates have vanished or died in the last three years. We have no way of determining which one released the information, if any of them did. The remaining seventeen have passed truth spell examination-they have not shared the list outside of those that have been cleared for the information. In addition, the Guard had found one of the ponies responsible for the summoning on Ponyville. After her capture, she committed suicide by unraveling herself." Twilight Sparkle winced at that thought. A unicorn using unraveling to power their spells...the act of unraveling itself was one step short of suicide, but to get that much power meant she was planning on doing as much damage as she could during her death. "Are there any other leads, Princess Luna?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "None," Princess Celestia said simply. "And, we may be running short on time. There is an unconfirmed report that the Order is ready to move soon. If this is the case...we must gamble on the foals." "I don't like the sound of that, Princess Celestia," Twilight Sparkle said. "What is your gamble?" Which was why she was standing in the throne room, the day after, as her friends, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were standing there before the Day Court officially began. Princess Celestia and Luna looked out across the crowd, and nodded. "DCS Banks, I'm glad you're able to make it here." DCS Runny Banks and DS Misty Drops came from the main hall doors, DCS Banks still wearing some bandages from his injuries. "Downed, but not out, Your Majesty," DCS Banks smiled. "How may I help you today?" "First things first," Princess Celestia said, looking at Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. "Your greatest fear is relieved-I was never going to execute or put you in a prison cell or anything else for just being...well, you. Mind you, some of your stunts to get Cutie Marks..." Princess Celestia shook her head. "And, I can tell you something else-who your parents are, in a genetic sense." "The hair samples," Apple Bloom said. "So...who are we related to?" "Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, you are, well...my daughters. Mine, and Applejack's, in the case of Apple Bloom, and mine and Rarity's in the case of Sweetie Belle," Princess Celestia said. "They contributed half of your genetic material, which means in a sense, they are your parents, as much as your sisters. Which makes getting the adoption paperwork properly settled only required me to glare at some of the ponies in charge." "And, what about me?" Scootaloo asked. "You are My daughter, Scootaloo," Princess Luna said. "And, the daughter of a pony named Comet Tail. I am sorry to say that you cannot meet her-she died two years ago, stopping a major storm system from hitting Trottingham. Without her sacrifice, thousands would have died." "Oh...," Scootaloo said softly. Then, she perked up a bit. "That's why you were able to be in my dreams so easily!" "Yes, because you are My daughter, we share a link that I did not understand at first, but now I do," Princess Luna replied. "So, does that mean you'll be adopting her, Princess Luna?" Rainbow Dash asked. "No, it means that WE will be adopting her," Princess Luna looked at Rainbow Dash with a raised eyebrow. "You have helped to raise her more than I have. That I was on the Moon at the time does not quite excuse my lack of care." Everypony in the room gave a low, soft sigh of relief. Princess Celestia smiled. "Next, DCS Banks-I need you back. Now." DCS Banks looked around, and sighed. "I suspect you'd wanted me back in when you asked me to take the case. If I say no?" "If you say no, I will honor your sabbatical," Princess Celestia said. "I am sorry about your wife and her death, and I would never ask you back to duty unless I truly needed your services." "'Back to duty?'" DS Drops asked, looking at DCS Banks. "You were on the job the entire time your wife was suffering from horn rot, I know 'cause I was a patrol colt at the time. What does she mean?" "What she means," DCS Banks said with a sigh, "is that besides being one of Canterlot's finest, I'm also a Special Investigator. When Dream Valley got horn rot...I asked for sabbatical time, as you can never leave the SI. You can retire, you can take a sabbatical, you can be sent to prison, you can be executed, but you can't just quit. And, as it turns out, I'm back on that job again." DCS Banks firmly squared his jaw, stood straight on his hooves, and saluted in the style of the Royal Equestrian Army to his horn. "If you can use one worn out investigator, your Majesty, I'll do my best at the job." "Runny Banks, you are a well polished and well tuned investigator, with a most sardonic sense of humor," Princess Celestia corrected gently, and pulled out of Elsewhere a simple sheet of black metal, about as big as one of her eyes. She used her telekinesis to float it over to Runny Banks, whom took it in his telekinesis. When he did...the metal seemed to change, and to the ponies looking at it. In his telekinesis, the black metal sheet had a picture of Runny Banks, as he was right now. Also, in formal words, written in softly glowing golden calligraphy under the picture-"This Pony is my servant and trusted right front hoof. Extend all aid and comfort to him that you would to me" and the official seal of the Diarchy Throne. The metal did not change color. It did not change shape, and the black metal could clearly be seen where the picture and the writing and the seal were. Neither were covering each other, but one could somehow make out the metal and the words at the same time. It was a badge of authority that very few ponies were given. It was the badge of the Special Investigators, Princess Celestia's ghostly corps of spies and truth-seekers. And assassins. And, Runny Banks looked at his badge and made it vanish into Elsewhere. "Well, what is my assignment, your Majesty?" "That will depend entirely upon what Our children decide," Princess Celestia said, looking at the three foals. "Um, yes?" Apple Bloom asked, looking up at her. "I am confronted by a problem, and I need your help to make a decision. We have been trying to find any evidence to lead us back to the Order of the Eternal Night and have failed. All we know...all we suspect, is that they plan upon moving soon. This leads to what I must ask you. First of all, as long as you are in Canterlot, you are safe. You are as protected as We are, and as long as you wish to stay, you may. "Or, you can return to Ponyville. This will, I am afraid to say, make you into a target. But, while you are there, we have been making preparations in case there is another incident of this type," Princess Celestia said. "The Guard is being expanded from a reinforced platoon to a full company," Princess Luna said. "In addition, members of the Night Watch have been moving into position and have established a caern near Ponyville. You may get your wish very soon, Apple Bloom, to meet thestrals. There are other forces, that Runny Banks will be in charge of, to keep you safe." "By placing you back in Ponyville, openly as alicorns," Princess Celestia said, "You will be in danger from the Order. But, by your return, they must come into the open to strike at you. By doing that, they can be captured and their threat ended." "It is risky," Princess Luna said, "and, if We had any other option, we would take it. But, We must ask now-will you aid Us in this?" As the Princesses laid out their plans, Twilight Sparkle listened with half an ear. She had heard all of this last night. And, she remembered the last part of the conversation between her and Princess Celestia. The part that they weren't going to tell the three foals. "And, in the event that we cannot prevent them from carrying out their plans...you will have to do what is necessary. The Nightmare cannot return to Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Without the Elements of Harmony, we lack a way of defeating the Nightmare and permitting it's power to fuel whatever dreams of horror the pony that possesses it has. "If worse comes to worse...you may have to destroy them, Princess Twilight Sparkle, to keep them from being used. It is a cruel burden, but one that you must take if they say yes." The three foals looked at each other, and considered silently. "I want to know," Apple Bloom said, "why they killed Mama. We all do. And, more. We agree, Princess Celestia." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. "Then," Princess Celestia replied, "we will send you home today, with your families. But first, today, all of you will stand with us and face the Day Court. For, I will not let my daughters be hidden anymore. And, for any reason."

We Three Alicorns

The Return

The flight back to Ponyville that night was a lot quieter than the flight there. Scootaloo insisted upon bringing every single one of the Shadowbolt Bitty Babies back with her, and they wanted to go directly to Rainbow Dash's cloud house. Apple Bloom and Applejack wanted to get home right away, as well as Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Fluttershy needed to go right back to her house (apparently, a deer mare in the North Woods was having a hard pregnancy and she wanted to check up on her), as did Pinkie Pie (whom had agreed that they'd have the Alicorn Return Party tomorrow night). Which, of course, left Twilight Sparkle to mediate everything. So, she chose the simplest of solutions. Which was why the two chariots were flying towards the Ponyville Library. It just made more sense that way...to her, but everypony else started to point out the problems with it. Fortunately, they had stopped complaining about twenty minutes into the flight. "So, do you think the Princesses are right?" Rarity asked, looking at Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle thought about this for a bit, and nodded. "This is one of those sorts of circumstances where we have to take a gamble. If the Order is moving soon...Rarity, they tortured somepony just to summon monsters to kill us. And, we weren't even the targets, just bait for Sweetie Belle and her friends to reveal themselves. We need to find them, and the only way to find them is to put what they want out to be taken." "I really wish we had the Princesses here," Applejack said. "It's a big risk, Twilight." "If they were here," Rarity said, sighing, "just their presence alone would be noticeable-by their absence from Canterlot, if anything else. The Order wouldn't strike because they don't want to face that kind of strength head-on. I understand the logic of it-I don't like it, but I understand it." "But, we have a Princess here," Applejack said. "No offense, Twilight, but you're not exactly the lightest of weights." "I'm only one pony, Applejack," Twilight Sparkle replied. "The Princesses are two, and ponies keep underestimating me." Here, she grinned manically, "It makes my life a lot easier at times." "Ponies underestimating you?" Applejack asked curiously with a flick of one of her ears. "Yes. I mean, I could have handled every single demon that came out of that summoning. With casualties, but I could. Had they known better about me, there's quite a few things that are dangerous on the alicorn scale of power that you could summon on a Class Three grid. Fewer of them, yes, but they had control over the Liger Diablocus and that's not something you do easily. They might have brought over two or three balrogs, and that would have been a challenge," Twilight Sparkle lectured. "Or, even a single entity like a shoggoth...hm..." "Twilight, dear," Applejack said. "Y'starting to worry me." "Ooops," Twilight Sparkle replied with a blush, "sorry. Anyways, we're ready to handle this. I'm very, very confident about that." "So, sprout, what are we going to do first?" Rainbow Dash asked. The three alicorn foals rode in the same cart with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo's new collection of toys. Scootaloo was still in a bit of shock-she now had a family. "Do I get to call you mom now, Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked. Rainbow Dash blushed hard and said, "Hey, that's not too cool...well, actually, it kind of is. Wow...," her voice trailed off for a second. "That means I really get to tell you to eat your alfalfa and go to bed in plenty of time to see Princess Luna, right?" "Well, duh, yea," Scootaloo replied. "And I get to mouth off at you, you get to ground-well, cloud-me and all the other fun parent/child interaction things." "I do know the first thing we'll do," Rainbow Dash said. "We've gotta make your room. I mean, I've got all that cloud house up there and you deserve your own bedroom..." Fluttershy looked nervous about the whole "making a room" issue, and Rainbow Dash looked at her and sighed. "Fluttershy, I promise. Your parents won't find you up there, not after what Rainbowdad did to your dad the last time they ran into each other." Sweetie Belle looked at Fluttershy curiously, "Fluttershy, what happened with you and your parents? You only said you never wanted to see them again." "I'm...," Fluttershy said softly. "It's hard to explain..." "Her parents are huge jerks," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "Huge jerks. And, trust me, the only thing they're good for is fertilizer in a few years." "Yes," Fluttershy agreed, softly. "So, are we going to let Pinkie Pie organize the party or what?" Apple Bloom asked, realizing this was a good point to change the subject. In a shipping crate, Pinkie Pie dreamed of parties. And cupcakes. Nopony had the heart-or the nerve-to wake her up after she had fallen asleep, so they just boxed her up and shipped her home with them. Twilight Sparkle did insist upon installing air holes in the box, mind you... The chariots landed two hours after noon, and they got everything offloaded in good order. "So, what now?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Well," Sweetie Belle said, looking at the ground, "could I go with Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, help them get her room set up and all that?" "Of course, dear," Rarity said. "Just send word if you can't make it home tonight, please." "Ah, can I go too, Applejack?" Apple Bloom asked, flexing her wings a bit. "Same thing, sugarcube," Applejack said in reply. "Don't get into too much trouble." "Well," Scootaloo said, "you can all help me with the packages and such..." The three of them wandered off to find saddle bags and left the rest to look around, wondering. "Twilight, is it...," Applejack asked. "They all have tracking spells and I know where they are at all times," Twilight Sparkle replied softly. "In fact, Sweetie Belle made a few suggestions on how to improve the tracking spells. And, there'll be some ponies watching, always. The Special Investigator had his team come into town yesterday." "Wow," Rainbow Dash replied. "You're ready for anything." "That, we are," Twilight Sparkle said. The three alicorn foals came back, with saddle bags. "Rainbow Dash," Apple Bloom asked, "could you help us get the bags on right?" "Sure!" Rainbow Dash replied, and they got to work getting the saddle bags on right. Once everypony was off-Rainbow Dash flying off with the foals, Fluttershy flying off to the North Forest with some books on deer foal birth, Rarity lifting Pinkie Pie with her telekinesis and going off with Applejack to take her back home-Twilight Sparkle opened up the door to the library. And ran immediately into a yellow rump and blue tail. "Ooof!" the rump said, and Twilight Sparkle realized lightning bolt and shield Cutie Mark, blue tail, pegasus wings... "Hey there, cheeseball," Twilight Sparkle smiled. "How did you get in?" "Hey there yourself, sparklebutt," Flash Sentry smiled in return and waggled one of his wings. "Spike let me in, I just got into town a few hours ago." "Okay, so why are you here?" Twilight Sparkle asked curiously. "Yesterday, Shining Armor called me to his office. Before I walked fully in the door, he asked me 'you got your crash bags packed'? I said yes, he said, 'next train for Ponyville is in about an hour-don't stop for anything, get your bags and get to the station. Oh, and here's your promotion to Captain, congratulations, you're in command of the Ponyville Guard detachment.' And, he pretty much threw me out of his office to get more speed," Flash Sentry said in wonder. "The barracks are full, even the hotel is full, but I know you have a spare bed and Spike let me in." "Yea, I do, but...do you know what you're here for?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "Besides the promotion-congratulations, by the way." "Thank you. And, yea, I know. Liger Diablocus, cult of Nightmare Moon worshippers, and that I'm here because Princess Celestia doesn't want a repeat incident," Flash Sentry said. "Oh, and half-way here I got a note from Princess Cadence, 'last orders before you take your new assignment,' she said." "Oh? What did the ladybug said for you to do?" Twilight Sparkle asked curiously. Flash Sentry blushed, and then kissed Twilight Sparkle on the cheek. "Well, that's what she told me to do!" Flash Sentry gasped. Twilight Sparkle blushed, and curled her head up shyly. "What did you want to do?" "Well, this," Flash Sentry replied, and kissed Twilight Sparkle on the lips. "I do feel a need to do actual field experiments...," Twilight Sparkle replied after a breathless moment, and kissed Flash Sentry back. All four of them-Rainbow Dash and the three alicorn foals-managed to find a good thermal and it got them up to Rainbow Dash's cloud home in good time. She landed and watched as the rest of the ponies landed as well. "Wow," Rainbow Dash said, "I'm impressed. You three are damn good fliers, if I say so myself!" "Hey, we had a good teacher," Apple Bloom said, and looked around. "You live here? It's huge!" "Well," Rainbow Dash blushed, "cloud is cheap to work with and Dad just keeps giving me more money than I can use, so I spend it on making the house bigger and everything else..." A head stuck out off the porch overhang. "And, you invested in darn good locks, RD." All four of the ponies looked at the pale blue male pegasus that popped his head off the porch overhang. "Been waiting here for a while, was wondering if I could get crash space with you," Soarin said, pulling a large set of saddle bags down with him, as well. "Ah," Rainbow Dash said, looking sheepish. "Um, do you know..." "Sweet Celestia!" Soarin said, looking at the three alicorn foals. "You're..." "Alicorns, yes," Sweetie Belle said, thinking that this was going to be their life for a long time... "...some of the best young pegasus foal flyers I've ever seen," Soarin finished, looking at them. "I mean, most foals would need to glide here, I assume you flew all the way." "That we did," Apple Bloom said, a little shocked. "You're Soarin, right? Fly with the Wonderbolts?" "Yep," Soarin smiled. "And, a Guard Reserve pony-they reactivated me and told me to report to Ponyville for the next few weeks. Sergeant Major Soarin, at your service." "Princess Celestia said they were expanding the Guard around Ponyville," Scootaloo said. "You're a reservist?" "Had to pay for college somehow," Soarin said sheepishly. "So, I'm here for the next few weeks while they get everything settled and ready to go." "Anyways," Rainbow Dash said, interrupting, "we're gonna expand my house a bit and that means more clouds. Did you see any good ones on your way in, Soarin?" "A few," Soarin agreed. "I'll go round 'em up and bring them over." About thirty minutes later, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had some ideas for how to set up the new clouds and Apple Bloom was making dinner for all of them. Soarin came in with a huge smile. "Hey, foals," he said, "we got some perfect clouds for Scootaloo's new room." "Awesome!" Scootaloo said, and came outside of Rainbow Dash's house. And, there were a LOT of clouds... "So, what are we going to add onto the house?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Bedroom and bathroom," Scootaloo said. "Probably next to your room, save us trouble with the plumbing. I was thinking about a magic practice room, but cloud and high powered magical spells don't mix very well." "Oh," Rainbow Dash said. "So, let's get started?" "Sure! But, first we need to eat," Apple Bloom replied. "Made a snack-ish dinner while you all were working. Oh, and a table." Pegausi tended to eat a lot of little meals over the day, mostly because of how much energy they used to fly. "You did what?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Figured something out," Apple Bloom replied. "Did you know that when pegasui make clouds more permanent, they use their magic kind of like a unicorn preservation spell? Not exactly the same, but I think I might be able to make that whole 'solid cloud' formula work properly!" "What 'solid cloud formula'?" Soarin asked, right eyebrow and ear raised. "There's a potion that lets ponies that aren't pegasui and thestrals walk on clouds. Well, alicorns as well, but yea. Anyways, Cloudsdale wants to host the Summer Sun Celebration, but when you can't have two-thirds of the ponies come to it, it's exclusionary, right?" Apple Bloom replied. "So, we're trying to make more 'solid' clouds that allow ponies to walk on them like they were soil. The table's an experiment-I've tweaked the spell nodes and did some other tricks...oh no, I'm startin' to sound like Twilight Sparkle!" Rainbow Dash did a long, comical look at Applebloom. "You don't look like her, so you're safe. Anyways, let's eat!" They all sat down at the table, and Soarin took a look at it. And thumped his hoof against it hard. Didn't move, didn't even twitch. Hit it harder, didn't even bend. Which made him look at it even weirder. "You trying to break my table, Soarin?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously. "It looks like normal cloudcrete, but this stuff is strong," Soarin replied. "I mean, I can normally make a mark on the regular stuff. We might need power tools to do something with this kind. Did you do something alicorn-magic to it, Applebloom?" "Nope," Apple Bloom sighed. "It's just a team magic effort-a skilled unicorn and pegasus could do it, easily. I can do it myself because I have both kinds of magic at hoof." "'Alicorn magic' isn't that special," Sweetie Belle said, bringing out a huge tray of food with her telekinesis. "Oh, it's powerful, no doubt about that! We're still fillies and we're probably as powerful as Twilight Sparkle was when she came to town in raw magic. But, it's the cooperative effort in one body that makes us so capable-we can do Earth, Pegasus, and Unicorn magic, separately and together. What takes three ponies, one alicorn can do." "But, we're just one pony," Scootaloo said. "I mean, you could just swarm us with enough ponies to do serious damage or harm us. Killing us, that's difficult, mind you. And, we kind of show up anywhere we go. I mean, right now, how old you think we are?" "Hm, five, six years old? You got the height and the legs, and that's at the 'almost done with being a filly' stage," Soarin noted. "Try four years," Apple Bloom replied. "We were all born in 998 ANM." "No way, you're too tall to be four years old!" Soarin said in denial. "Maybe five or six-a tall five or six, but not four years old!" "Celestia is over six thousand years old," Sweetie Belle said. "Oh, she's not growing anymore, but she's nearly half again as tall as any other pony. Faust, even Cadence is taller than Big Macintosh and he's the tallest pony we know of. And Cadence is barely out of her teens. My bet, she'll be as tall as Luna when she finishes growing up." "When we were hiding out," Apple Bloom said, "we had to use all our magic to fuel the body-change spells. Mostly to keep us from being like giant flares of power to anypony that can see magic." "One thing I'm curious about," Rainbow Dash asked. "I've heard of thestrals. Even seen 'em. But, you said you're three ponies in one-does that mean you don't have thestral in you?" "Thestrals are pretty much a species of the Pegasus genus," Scootaloo said. "You just have to spend an hour with a taxonomy chart and Twilight Sparkle to know that! All ponies are of the same family, we just split off at the genus level. Alicorns are their own genus and species, so are unicorns and Earth ponies. Pegasus on the other hand, split off at the genus levels into pegasus with feather wings and pegasus with leather wings. And, that's because of the Era of Warring States. "Nearly six centuries after the end of Faust's reign, before the Sisters came," Scootaloo shook her head. "Faust! Trust me, thestrals are good ponies. But, lot of the hate of them came during the Era of Warring States, because quite a few of the warlords used them as slave shock troops. Very often against their will." There was a moment of quiet at the table, and Sweetie Belle looked around. "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. Let's eat!" Two pegasus and three alicorns made quick work of the construction. Especially telekinesis-probably the best thing ever made for cloud shaping work. A few arguments later-mostly over coolness-they finished and stood back to admire their work. Soon enough, they had gotten Scootaloo her own bathroom (with a very nice gravity-fed cloud shower), and her own bedroom. It was half the size of Rainbow Dash's master bedroom, but with a large closet and lots of bookshelf space made of cloudcrete that could hold up bowling balls safely. Scootaloo promised that she wasn't going to start a bowling ball collection, but it never hurt to be prepared. Rainbow Dash was one of the victims of the Cutie Mark Crusader Cutie Mark Accelerator and being ready for unlikely incidents was always a good idea around Ponyville. Which was also why Rainbow Dash had several very powerful fire extinguishers and a fully stocked first-aid kit in the house, as well. They looked around, and realized the sun was starting to go down. "Think you can make it home without problems?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Sure," Apple Bloom said. "We'll head right down to the Carousel Boutique and I can walk back to the farm, no problems. See you at the library tomorrow, before school?" "Of course," Scootaloo said. "So, what are you doing for school?" Rainbow Dash asked. "The problem is that we're flanking brilliant, Rainbow Dash," Sweetie Belle replied. "We're working on college-level materials these days, mostly for fun. If we wanted to, we could have tested out of everything at school a year ago. So, we had an idea for how to handle things and still be in school and such. We'll talk to Cheerlee about it tomorrow, before school starts." "Which is?" Soarin asked, curiously. He had been briefed on the Cutie Mark Crusaders, after all... In perfect harmony, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cheered, "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER TEACHER'S ASSISTANTS, YAY!" "Oh no," Rainbow Dash face-hoofed. "And you don't plan on getting back at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?" "Why would we?" Apple Bloom asked. When there are so many more interesting ways to torment them, she thought. "Be highly wrong and unprofessional," Scootaloo replied. And, why would we be like them? I mean, living well is the best revenge..., she thought. "And, we want to set a good example!" Sweetie Belle finished. And, let them demonstrate that they're the bad example, she finished to the mental cheering of her friends. "Okay, you'd better get off now, it'll probably be dark by the time you get home," Rainbow Dash said, shaking her head. "See you both tomorrow." As Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle flew off, Rainbow Dash turned around, seeing Soarin and Scootaloo still standing there. "Hey, why are you still here?" she asked. Soarin raised his front hoof. "Need a place to stay, was hoping to stay with you." Soarin replied. Scootaloo raised her front right hoof, as well. "I live here, remember?" Scootaloo replied. Rainbow Dash face-hoofed and sighed. "Sometimes, I wonder seriously if I'd forget my own head if it wasn't attached. Come on in, then." They all went in, and Rainbow Dash looked around. "Well, Soarin, grab your bags and get them settled in. I need to talk with Scootaloo for a minute," she said sheepishly. Soarin smiled, and wandered off down the hallway, looking at Scootaloo. "Um, you see, I'm in a, well, a relationship with Soarin, and...," Rainbow Dash tried to say. "Rainbow Dash...Mom, I know," Scootaloo sighed. "And, I'm extremely happy for you. If I'm suprised with anything, you're dating a stallion, not a mare. Mind you, I lost the pool-I thought you were a lesbian." Rainbow Dash broke out in a huge blush and gasped, "I'm not a lesbian, or one of those heterosexuals you hear about, I like both stallions and mares!" "Damn it," Scootaloo said with a smile. "That means Sweetie Belle wins the pool." "Um...," Rainbow Dash blushed even harder and looked sheepishly at the floor. "You weren't..." "Nope, I'm pulling your hoof," Scootaloo smiled. "I promise. And, also, call it a housewarming gift, Mom-I wove anti-scrying spells into your bedroom. They work when the door is closed, only thing somepony scrying in will see is rude commentary about lack of respect of a pony's privacy." "Oh, wow, that's cool...," Rainbow Dash replied. Then..., "Do you like Soarin?" "I think he's pretty cool. Always talked to me when I was back down and pretending to be sort of wingless. You can easily do worse-and only with great difficulty do better," Scootaloo smiled. "And, I'd better let you go, or else he'll think you got lost in your own house." "Ooops! Leftover's in the fridge, cloud is great soundproofing, and see you tomorrow before you head off to the library!" Rainbow Dash blurted, and dashed for her room. Scootaloo smiled as she left. It was good to have a home, finally. After she dropped Sweetie Belle at the Carousel Boutique, Apple Bloom trotted home and made good time. One of the great things now was that there were no less that five spells she could use to make it seem-to her, at least-as bright as day under the trees that came up to Sweet Apple Acres. And, best of all, three of them were undetectable by anypony else. So, she trotted along, happily, until she noticed something. She wasn't sure what, exactly, she noticed at first. A shift of the wind, a sound of something that shouldn't be there, a faint scent of something that was wrong. But, once she felt it, Apple Bloom slowed down a bit. Let her pace slow slightly. And, she looked around a bit, as if she was curious. Then, Apple Bloom let her wings open up, allowing them to feather slightly, and a soft glow to begin from the tip of her horn. "Y' either friend or foe, and y're tresspassin' on Apple lands. Show yourselves, or I assume foe," she said, in a slightly raised voice. There was a faint rustle in the trees, and a chuckle from one nearby tree. "You're not unobservant, filly," the accented voice said, and from the trees came about eight thestrals, three males and five females. All were in the black and purple armor of the Night Guard, and they formed a rough half-circle in front of Apple Bloom. One of the males-a huge one nearly as tall as Big Macintosh, with a bright golden sunburst for his Cutie Mark and a leather eyepatch over his left eye-strode up with his helmet off and bowed to Applebloom. "My apologies for the surprise, Apple Bloom. I am Sunrise Smiles, in charge of this small coven of thestrals." "A pleasure," Apple Bloom replied. "And the rest of your friends?" "The rest of my soldiers," Sunrise Smiles corrected, "My second, Frolicsome Meadowlark..." "A pleasure," the other large male thestral replied with a smoother version of the same accent as Sunrise Smiles, nodding his helmeted head. His flank had a Cutie Mark of a whole field of wild flowers. "...and that's Moonshot over there," Sunrise Smiles continued, as the third male thestral waved his wings over his Moon-and-spaceship Cutie Mark and smiled back at Apple Bloom. "The ladies, of course...right here is Star Struck..." "An honor, Apple Bloom," Star Struck said with a smile that showed off her beautiful yellow eyes and she flirted slightly with her flank to show off her three shooting stars Cutie Mark. "Stop flirting, I don't know if she likes mares," Sunrise Smiles chuckled. "Of course, we have the lovely and always welcome Midnight Blossoms," he nodded at the cute female thestral with the beautiful yellow eyes, white lilies for her Cutie Mark, and a cheerful expression on her face. "Glad to meet you, Apple Bloom, wish it wasn't on my night off...," Midnight Blossom said with a distinct middle-class Trottingham accent. "Why's that?" Apple Bloom asked, curiously. "Got a hot date," she blushed slightly, and flicked her ears. "A hot date with Cloud Skipper," Moonshot grinned. "Sitting in a cloud," one of the unnamed female thestrals continued, her Cutie Mark of a blue crystalline eye surrounded by a veil and starts flashing in the rising Moon. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" all the female thestrals sung, just a touch off-tune, to the embarrassment of Midnight Blossom. "Oh, grow up," she hissed at them. "Or at least learn how to harmonize. I'm sorry for my so-called friends, Applebloom. I have a boyfriend in the Day Guard, a pegasus named Cloud Skipper, and we rarely get enough time off together." "Oh," Apple Bloom said, "Sorry to hear about that." "Don't worry too much about her," Sunrise Smiles said. Then, he smiled-a terrifying wonder to behold, "I managed to get her and him passes for a whole week's leave when we're done with this job." The crystalline-eye Cutie Mark thestral smiled and bowed to Apple Bloom. "My name is Night Watch, and I would warn you now-three steps forward, then two steps to the left. Or you will regret it." "Eh?" Apple Bloom asked with a raised ear and eyebrow. "Night Watch can occasionally see bits of the future," Sunrise Smiles sighed. "Or, at least she claims." "Hush now!" Night Watch hissed in exaggerated patience. "I kept you from marrying that harpy, didn't I?" "And, since they're about to have an argument," another female thestral, with an absolutely lovely blooming jasmine as a Cutie Mark and black hair that Rarity would have killed for, "I'm going to introduce myself. I'm Jasmine, and I'm in the same town as Rarity. Rarity! I have every single magazine that her fashion has ever been featured in and..." "You're obsessing again," the last female thestral, with an odd cocoon-like Cutie Mark sighed. "Anyways, I'm Echo," the thestral finished. "And, occasionally Jasmine will get a bit...enthusiastic about things. She's a good soul, trust me." "Now that we're all introduced," Sunrise Smiles said. "May we join you for dinner tonight at Sweet Apple Acres?" Apple Bloom looked out at the eight thestrals and said, "Y'know we probably don't have any meat at the farm. I know your habits-not a complaint, just an observation." "We ate things that might be...objectionable to other ponies prior to coming here," Frolicsome Meadowlark nodded. "We are omnivores, and the other parts of a standard pony diet we can enjoy with you." Apple Bloom considered. They had a large enough table when the rest of the Apple Clan came to town, but... "Have to ask when we get there, so I can't promise anything. Fair enough?" "Entirely," Sunrise Smiles said. He gestured with his head and a wing. "After you?" Apple Bloom started to trot towards Sweet Apple Acres, as Sunrise Smiles slip in beside her. The rest of the thestrals assumed guard positions around and behind her, and Applebloom wondered how they would react if she told them she knew where each and every one of them was well before she crossed the hill. The walk to the house was relatively short, and she came over the last hill to see the barn and the house and everything else for Sweet Apple Acres. She had seen Canterlot in all of it's glory. Seen pictures of the Nehipon capital, a dozen other cities. But, Sweet Apple Acres in all of it's worn glory could still take her breath away. And, she sighed as she thought about the notes in her saddle bag. It was not going to be easy to talk about this with Applejack... A few minutes later, she was at the door, and she knocked. The door opened, with that little squeak from the bottom hinge that was still there, and Big Macintosh came to the door. Apple Bloom smiled softly, and realized...right front leg... On his right front leg was a wedding band. Applejack's father's wedding band, fixed to fit his leg properly. Good for him, she thought. "Hey, Big Macintosh...they followed me home, can we keep 'em?" Big Macintosh looked over the thestrals, and looked at Apple Bloom. "Got enough table space and food. Any problem with apples and oatmeal?" "None at all," Sunrise Smiles said. "I've had some of the preserves from here, and fresh-from-the-tree is even better." Big Macintosh smiled at this. "Good to hear, leave your gear on the pegs," and Big Macintosh stepped aside to let them all in. As they all came in, Apple Bloom saw Granny Smith sitting in her rocking chair. This one was going to be the hardest...even harder than Apple Jack. She walked up to Granny Smith and took a long, deep breath, starting with, "Granny...I'm sorry..." "Heard all about what you were threatened with," Granny Smith interrupted. "And, you've been sometimes silly, sometimes a fool, sometimes a foal, but never evil or bad. Keep being a good pony, granddaughter." Apple Bloom's heart skipped a beat. Then, tears formed in her eyes and with a lunge, she hugged Granny Smith. "Thank you," she whispered into Granny Smith's cheek, "thank you." "Ahem," a voice said behind Apple Bloom. She turned, to see Apple Jack. With Mom's wedding band on her front right leg. "Glad to see you're back. So, who's all the friends?" "Sunrise Smiles, ma'am," the large thestral said, nodding to Apple Jack. "Your daughter invited us home, and I was wondering if we could talk about moving into the large caverns near here. Our initial investigation suggests it would make for a great caern." "Caern?" Apple Jack asked, curiously. "Back when things were bad," Sunrise Smiles said, "we found places for our families and foals that were easily defendable and hard for other ponies to get at them. Mostly caverns, which we call caerns. And, we're willing to pay rent on the space we use." "And," Apple Bloom said, "I've been thinkin', there's some financial assistance programs for small farm ponies like us, I've got the paperwork and..." "Oatmeal's on!" Echo interrupted. "Let's eat!" The next morning, they all met early at the Ponyville Library. Twilight Sparkle was there, as well as Cheerlee, whom looked in shock as the three alicorn foals walked in. "Wow...I mean, I didn't even know, didn't even suspect," Cheerlee said, in shock. "We were hiding out," Sweetie Belle said, "and if you'd figured it out, we'd have failed. I'm sorry we have to lie to you." "Considering what came after you...and, Princess Twilight Sparkle told me what you want to do. Do you think...," she asked, letting her voice trail off. "We're not going to grade them or anything, but I know a couple of the unicorns in class need help with their magic," Apple Bloom said. "I'm just wantin' to give back to the school." "And," Scootaloo said, flexing her wings, "I think we got some strong fliers in class. Want to help them out, too." "Okay, but I think this is going to be hard to explain...," Cheerlee noted. "We'll give it our best shot." "Class," Cheerlee said, "I've got some news about Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle." A few of their friends were listening intently, but Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were chattering softly with each other in the back. Cheerlee sighed to herself. Those two had so much potential...but she couldn't seem to get through to them. Maybe... "They've come back to town today, and it turns out that they've been wanting to tell you all something," she continued, and waved her hoof to let them in. As they came in, the entire classroom went silent. All the foals were looking at the three, and they had decided that Sweetie Belle was going to speak for all of them. "Hi there, everypony. Yes...we're alicorns. We always have been. And...we had to hide because our mother was hurt very badly by some very mean ponies." She looked around, and smiled. "Well, we can't hide anymore. It would be wrong for our mother, and wrong for us. And, since we are going to be out...we want to help." As everypony else was listening, two ponies were not. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were looking at the three alicorn foals. Strong, capable, confident, with their Cutie Marks, and presumably friends of the Princesses. And...coming back to school, to help other students. They chose to be here. "So, since we're here, we're volunteering. All of us are going to be teaching assistants. I'll help out all the unicorns in class with their magic." The sound they heard was of their worlds collapsing. The dreams they had made of what they were...falling apart. Silver Spoon would swear, later, that she had felt her jaw hit her hooves at that moment. "Apple Bloom is going to help with general education, and potions. Oh, we're all qualified, but she's good at it." What were they if they didn't have those three blank flanks to tease? Their jaws had dropped, in shock and amazement. And absolute terror. "And, Scootaloo is going to organize the school's Skyball team. We might not be able to beat Cloudsdale or Pegalot, but we're going to try our hardest to do so." The fall of their world kept growing more, and more, and more. Money didn't matter at this point, or who their fathers were. Those three...had more potential power in their hooves than the two of them combined. "There's some stuff we can't talk about, but what we can, we will. And, we really do want to help. So, we'll see you all at morning recess, where we'll start organizing the Skyball team and doing some basic magic help." So...clearly, at least in Diamond Tiara's mind, the alicorn foals had to be destroyed. Or else every other pony would pull the mask off her face and reveal just how hollow she was underneath. "Thank you, everypony," Sweetie Belle finished. "And, we're glad to be back." And, the Battle for Ponyville School begun in that instant.

We Three Alicorns

The School Day

There is an expression of unknown origin that goes-"the more petty the reward, the more vicious the politics in getting that reward." Nowhere was this seen in clearer detail than the Battle for Ponyville School. The first engagement was planned out during morning recess by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Their objective-to find some new blank-flanks to bully and harass. Their target-a small, albino white-furred, black-mained, highly petite, almost dwarfish unicorn that had gotten from his parents the name Simple Dawn. His parents, chemical engineers, had moved into town a few days ago and this was his first day at the Ponyville School. This was his first day at school. At all. His parents had finally managed to get a position that was settled, rather than the semi-nomadic life of working various chemical processing stations all over Equestria. If his parents hadn't been teaching him, he was mostly in the small class groups that his parent's work maintained on distant work sites. And, the "bullies" there tended to be slapped down very quickly by parents and teachers. Bullies and that sort of mindset when dealing with dangerous natural and magical chemicals tended to get ponies killed. So, still in a bit of shock, he looked around, and found a ball pen. He loved playing with balls, and Simple Dawn trotted over to get a ball for himself. There were two balls left in the pen, and he began to screw up his magic to get one. Before he did, Silver Spoon "accidentally" bumped into him, knocking him off balance for just long enough for Diamond Tiara to get both balls out of the pen and tossing one to Silver Spoon. "Hey," he said, his voice squeaking, "may I have one of the balls?" "Oh? What would you do for it, blank flank?" Diamond Tiara asked. "We got to them first." "You're going to play together," Simple Dawn said, trying not to cry. Big colts don't cry... "You don't need two balls." "So, the blank flank might know something?" Silver Spoon said. "Of course he's wrong. Silly blank flank colt! What makes you think you should get a ball?" "Well," a voice from behind Silver Spoon said, "he shouldn't need to get a ball, because he's always had one." Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon turned around, to see Scootaloo standing there. Somewhat looming over them. Oh, and smiling. A very happy sort of smile. "I mean, Simple Dawn, you don't know where your ball is?" "Um, I don't have a ball...," Simple Dawn said softly, not sure where this was going. "Well, it's not here...," and Scootaloo reached around herself, semi-comically, to check. "Or here," she rummaged around a bush that was close by, but only came up with a bit and a mine cart wheel. "But, maybe...it's here?" She waggled one of her hooves behind Simple Dawn's head, and after the third waggle, a ball came out. A blue-and-green striped one. One that, that instant, vanished without even a sound or a flash, from Diamond Tiara's hooves. Scootaloo handed Simple Dawn the ball with a smile. "Turns out you had it with you, after all." "Yay!" Simple Dawn taking the ball. "If you go over there," Scootaloo said, pointing at some foals playing, "I know that there's a little pony named Twist that loves playing with balls. Go on, she won't bite." Simple Dawn blushed, but he took his ball, and trotted off to the other side of the playground. Diamond Tiara began to wind up to screech, when Scootaloo just..looked at her. Her protest died instantly, and Diamond Tiara wondered what was going to happen next... "First day I was here," Scootaloo said-in a voice that was so calm and controlled it could put you to sleep, even if it was screeching blood-curdling threats, "you pulled the same stunt with me. You need new material, Diamond Tiara." And then, Scootaloo trotted off to break up a fight over some peanut butter crackers. The two foals looked at each other in shock. Diamond Tiara could feel a bit of her hair starting to slip out of it's immaculate coffure. "What..what just happened?" Diamond Tiara asked. Her right eye began to twitch a little bit... "I think we were just played," Silver Spoon whispered. Diamond Tiara's eyes narrowed and she could feel her temper rising. "Oh no, we're not going to let them beat us! Ever! And, we'll get that blank flank the next chance we get!" The second engagement was during class. Diamond Tiara knew that Simple Dawn was the newest and weakest of links, and they were going to put the proper fear of Diamond Tiara into him. That meant getting him into proper trouble, and that meant making sure a note got passed to him, and Cheerlee saw it. Something nasty about Cheerlee and maybe that she was still secretly doing Big Macintosh behind that silly apple farmer's back. (Silver Spoon didn't quite know what "doing it" was, only that it was a naughty thing and little foals like them shouldn't know about it. Of course, Silver Spoon suspected it was something interesting. Diamond Tiara had watched her maid and her coltfriend in secret doing it, and she knew in a few years she could lead colts around by their assets, easily.) So, the note was ready, Silver Spoon was in the right spot on the chain to pass the note along, the timing was perfect for Simple Dawn to be caught with the note...and, the passing began. From Diamond Tiara to Twist, from Twist to Grand Slam, from Grand Slam to Simple Dawn... ...and Miss Cheerlee didn't see a thing...What was wrong with her?, Diamond Tiara thought... ...and finally from Simple Dawn to Silver Spoon, whom took the note, shrugged, and wrote something naughty details that she heard in a movie in the note. She was about to pass it to Simple Dawn when she heard a very familiar voice say softly, "Nice note. Needs some grammar improvements, 'fucking' is a bad word but 'copulation' is a much better one that means the same thing. I mean, if y'going to lie, you might as well lie with good grammar." Silver Spoon turned around to see Apple Bloom looking at her, with a smile. "May I see that?" she asked, taking the note away from her with her telekinesis. Then, with a swift little flip, she turned it over, and things began to fall out of it. Diamond Tiara looked in horror as their entire supply of prank materials-disappearing ink, itching powder, a few illicit bottles of like dust, and other such appeared on the floor. It was like Apple Bloom was shaking out a saddlebag full of things they had gotten. And, the items were theirs-she could tell because one of the bottles of disappearing ink had a chipped bottom that made it look like it was a pony hoof. At the end of this, Silver Spoon was only able to look in shock, and Diamond Tiara's right ear began to twitch in time with frustration to her right eye. There was a long, drawn out moment of silence. Everypony was looking at the final results of Apple Bloom's shaking. Even Cheerlee was looking at the pile in shock and amazement. Apple Bloom sighed, and gathered everything up in her magic. "Sorry, Miss Cheerlee, I've made a bit of a mess. I promise to clean up after myself." She quietly trotted out of the classroom, note and prank materials in her telekinesis and Diamond Tiara started to fume. Her tiara was starting to slip off her head, and off to the right side. We had been played, Diamond Tiara thought. Again! That just meant that their next prank had to be even more spectacular. And, somewhere in Diamond Tiara's mind, something was making the sound of a coil of metal being tightened way too far... The third engagement was later that day, during afternoon recess. A few of the unicorn foals were sitting around Sweetie Belle, and she was helping them with learning their magic. Most of them were "sparklers"-they could make their horn shoot out sparks, but that was about it. One of those ponies was Simple Dawn, whom could get an impressive shower of sparks out of his horn, but nothing else. And, he kept trying so hard to figure out how to make his horn do...something! Books, "how to" guides, a "unicorn stabilizer" drink made by the Flim Flam Brothers...nothing worked. He just...sparked. And sprayed. And spewed sparkles out of his horn like a fountain. And, every time he did, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon made farting noises. Long, intricate, elaborate farting noises. Usually when Sweetie Belle was busy with another unicorn, but always when she couldn't see the two teasing ponies. A few times, they made some very rude noises that sounded like when Mommy and Daddy were having fun. Simple Dawn kept getting more and more embarrassed and more and more frustrated and more and more irritated and more and more... "Simple Dawn," Sweetie Belle said firmly. "Stop." He didn't even realize he was panting. He felt like he'd done triple PE and he was so tired and frustrated with himself. He couldn't even lift things with his horn! Some unicorn he was... "Simple Dawn," Sweetie Belle said, looking at him. "Please, look at me." Where had the tears that were in his eyes come from? He looked at her, wiped his eyes clean, and could feel the tears again on the corner of his eyes. Suddenly, it was silent. Even the sound of the wind and the leaves was gone-let alone the mocking sounds of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "I wrapped us up in a silence spell. The only pony that can hear you is me, and the only pony that can hear me is you. Telekinesis is one of the first things a unicorn learns. Without it," she said, "you can't learn anything else. Until you can unlock the ability in your mind to lift things, you can't progress. "But, there is a story passed along, from stallion to colt, from mare to filly. It's not written down anywhere, and nopony will ever admit to knowing it." Sweetie Belle smiled softly, and touched Simple Dawn's forehead with her hoof. "I want you to close your eyes, and imagine something you have lost. Something you have lost forever, and can never, ever find again." The Sun, Simple Dawn thought. He remembered being in Saddle Arabia, and remembering just how bright and beautiful and spectacular Celestia's Sun was. He'd learned how to make a pinhole box, to sketch out the Sun, its spots...everything about it. The Sun here was the same...but, somehow, different. Palid. Simple. Not as brilliant, not as beautiful as the purity of its intent as the Sun swept across the sands. "Can you see it now?" Sweetie Belle asked. Simple Dawn nodded, not wanting to lose this thought, lose this memory. "Now, I want you to lift your right hoof, and imagine that you're holding it in your hoof again. That you can hold it again, and nothing can stop you from having it back." Now, things were getting silly. How did you get back the Sun? It was right up there in the sky! How did you lose it in the first place and... The day before they left Saddle Arabia for Equestria, Simple Dawn had built the biggest pinhole box he had ever made, he remembered. Made from a huge cardboard box, he had to use bricks to brace it properly and to elevate it to the height needed. A sheet of butcher's paper on the bottom was there, waiting, for him to sketch on. He watched, and waited...and waited...and then... From just under the mountains to the East, the Sun began to rise. He glanced into his box, slipping under the heavy black blanket he used as a light shield. The first radiant disk of the Sun appeared on the back, and he grabbed his pencil in his mouth and began to sketch what he saw. Once he had, Simple Dawn made a note of the time, moved the sheet of butcher's paper along the roll, and waited for more of the sun to appear. He did this for nearly three hours-sketch, note, date, move paper. Sketch, note, date, move paper. Sketch, note, date, move paper. Finally, when the last bit of the disk of the Sun vanished off the top of his box, Simple Dawn looked in wonder at what he had done. The resulting scroll of observations was nearly as thick-wrapped as a scroll-as his leg! For three hours, he had seen and found new sunspots, watched in joyous wonder at the results of his work, and Simple Dawn smiled as he realized just how much he had learned about the Sun...and how much he so wanted to touch that glory... Sweetie Belle could feel it. She could see it, as small pebbles and leaves and twigs around Simple Dawn began float off the ground. Sweetie Belle could feel him finally take some control of his magic. He stood on his hind legs, feeling that he could touch what he had lost... And then, Sweetie Belle called out to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. I think I'm going to need your help here, very quickly, she sent. What's going on, Sweetie Belle? Apple Bloom asked. In between Simple Dawn's hooves...a bit of the Sun...a piece of Celestia's brilliant Sun...hovered between his hooves. Barely larger than a hoofball. But, with enough concentrated energy to reduce Ponyville to a very large crater on the map if Simple Dawn ever lost control of it... Well, Sweetie Belle replied, Simple Dawn just summoned a small bit of the Sun for us to all play with... Thank Celestia the sound-damping field was still up! Other ponies were running away in terror from what Simple Dawn had done, and the last thing Sweetie Belle wanted was for him to lose his concentration! She was already preparing a teleportation and shield spell-to teleport Simple Dawn away, and to keep the explosion of that bit of stellar plasma from taking out Ponyville. Or, at least most of it. "Simple Dawn," Sweetie Belle said, with precise calm, "can you send back what you brought here?" Simple Dawn opened his eyes, then they started to sparkle...in wonder. "WOW!" he gushed. "I was right, right there! There's a sunspot storm that shows up every fourteen days that I can always tell, and I know how fast the Sun spins because I can time it taking so long across the Sun!" "Simple Dawn...that actually is the Sun, or at least a bit of it...," Sweetie Belle began to say. "And, it's here!" Simple Dawn gushed. "It makes such lovely sense..." "And," a very royal voice from behind them said, "it's so very beautiful, isn't it?" They turned, to see a very winded Princess Celestia and Princess Luna looking over them. "So...you're the pony that has a bit of the Sun...," Princess Celestia said with a smile. "Um...," Simple Dawn blushed, "I'm sorry if I took any of it. May I give it back?" "Certainly," Princess Celestia replied, and took from his hooves the bit of the Sun, and then lifted it to the sky, where it shot off towards the Sun and vanished in an instant. "That was something I have never seen before, a unicorn that all by himself could even touch the Sun, let alone bring down a bit of it safely. Your name?" "Simple Dawn, your Highness," Simple Dawn said, blushing even brighter and bowing. Sweetie Belle bowed as well, and waited. Princess Luna looked at Simple Dawn, then at Princess Celestia. Then, again at Simple Dawn. "Sister, why does that foal have Your Cutie Mark on his flanks, but in white and platinum? Should there be something You need to tell Us?" Princess Luna asked, an eyebrow raised archly. All of them looked at Simple Dawn's flank, and he started to tear up in joy. His Cutie Mark had appeared, without any warning, and it was...Celestia's Sun. But, in platinum and white, not the gold and bronze of her flank. Princess Celestia looked at Simple Dawn and said, "Well...I keep saying I wanted to have a new personal student..." "Um..." Simple Dawn said. "What just happened?" "Well," Princess Celestia said, "you've gained your Cutie Mark. And, I once knew another young unicorn, very powerful and very much wanting to learn about magic. Would you like to go to Princess Celestia's School for Talented Unicorns, Simple Dawn?" "My parents...I know they make good money, but they can't afford it...," Simple Dawn said sadly. "Who said anything about needing to pay, Simple Dawn?" Princess Celestia asked gently. "There is a scholarship program and anypony that can directly manipulate the Sun itself shouldn't have a problem getting a scholarship. And, it pays for everything, from books to a place to stay in Canterlot." "Simple Dawn," Princess Luna said, "if you are not given a scholarship and remittance for the education of your skill, I will be most displeased and the ponies in charge will feel My wrath on this matter." "Don't use the Royal Canterlotian Voice on them," Princess Celestia sighed. "Manehattan Mutual is still not happy with us over the damages." "They were playing legal games with Our ponies money and lives," Princess Luna sniffed. "They should feel fortunate that was all that My anger did." At some point, Sweetie Belle had dropped the silence spell. And, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon heard it all. Silver Spoon felt her jaw drop around her withers again for the second time that day. She turned to look in shock at Diamond Tiara, and that shock became horror. There was no expression on Diamond Tiara's face. There was no expression at all on Diamond Tiara's face. Her hair began to collapse into a messy pile, the tiara settling down one eye. Something inside her brain made a soft, but very very loud breaking sound. A sound that, years later, Silver Spoon could swear she heard when something let go in Diamond Tiara's mind. Suddenly, there was an expression on Diamond Tiara's face. Absolute calm, absolute conviction. "Well," she said, just softly enough to be heard by Silver Spoon, "we'll just have to see about that." The hair snapped back into her immaculate coiffure, the tiara exactly where it should normally be. Then, Diamond Tiara trotted off as quickly-and as quietly-as she could. Silver Spoon followed, and she could feel the worried frown on her face. Something said this was not going to end well. Diamond Tiara had a Super Secret pouch in the bottom of her saddle bag. She tore it open, and lay out a pony sling on her desk. "Where is it, where is it...," she muttered, searching through the lining of the other half of her saddle bag. "DT," Silver Spoon said. She hated that nickname, and Silver Spoon was using it deliberately to get her attention. "We've got to stop. This has gone on way too far, and way too long. We'll tease some of the other blank flanks tomorrow." "No," Diamond Tiara replied, still rummaging around the other saddle bag. "We've got to get Simple Dawn, and get him good. We can't let any blank flank show us up." "He's not a blank flank any more, and the Princesses are here, and...," Silver Spoon whispered, trying not to back away from her friend in horror. "NO!" Diamond Tiara half-yelled, then calmed her voice down. "No! If he can get away with it, those three blank flank 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' can think they can get away with anything with us! We'll be made outcast foals! And, I've got just the solution for that..." Diamond Tiara had found a small, thick-walled clear glass bottle in the lining of her other bag. Inside of it was something small, black, the size of a brussel sprout, and it made Silver Spoon's eyes hurt to look at it. Silver Spoon remembered reading something about this... "Diamond Tiara," Silver Spoon whispered in horror, "is that mordite?" "Took me nearly a month's worth of allowance to get it," Diamond Tiara said in a brittle, too-cheerful voice. "I'm gonna sling it at the blank flank and let him get what he deserves." Silver Spoon looked at her friend in horror. "Diamond Tiara, just owning mordite is six years in prison! And, the Princesses are there! If you hit Simple Dawn with it, you'll get them too, and that's not just murder, but regicide! They still give ponies death by torture for that!" Silver Spoon gasped. She looked around for the door. "You've got to stop this, now!" "NO!" Diamond Tiara yelled, and kicked Silver Spoon in the head. Silver Spoon fell down and didn't move, blood coming from her scalp. Diamond Tiara started to giggle a bit. "You'll see, when I'm done...you'll see...," she whispered, putting the bottle of mordite in the sling and running out of the school. By this time, Princess Celestia had contacted Princess Twilight Sparkle, and the three Princesses and the three alicorn foals were talking enthusiastically with Simple Dawn. Princess Luna was impressed, and Princess Twilight Sparkle wanted to do some tests on the foal. "Direct stellar manipulation!" Princess Twilight Sparkle pronked around, happily. "You were touching the Sun itself. I need to take notes, notes, ink, quills, paper!" "Twilight Sparkle," Princess Celestia said gently. "You're starting to worry Simple Dawn." Twilight Sparkle stopped, and looked at Simple Dawn, who was still looking a bit scared being surrounded by six alicorns. "Ooops, sorry," Twilight Sparkle said sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. "But, a full scholarship to the School! I had one, and I'm glad I went." Diamond Tiara had used slings before, and she found the perfect spot for this. Hidden enough so that she could use the mordite without being seen, but far enough away to get good trajectory on her sling. She set down the bottle, after opening up the cork on the top. With a pair of long-arm tweezers in her mouth, Diamond Tiara pulled out the mordite and set it in the cup of the sling. Trying not to sneeze from the dust from the mordite, she got the tails of the sling in her mouth, and took a quick glance over the hedges to see where the ponies she wanted to hit were. Diamond Tiara braced her feet, took a firm stance, ignored the nosebleed she had from the mordite dust that had gone up her nose, and started to swing the sling around her head. The cup of the sling started to gather up speed. "I've already sent a scroll to his parents," Princess Celestia said. "They're at work now, but we'll meet with them and talk about everything." Holding the sling, Diamond Tiara sneered. Any pony that had to do something as silly as work was poor, and Diamond Tiara wasn't poor. She was rich, and she could do whatever she wanted. Because she was rich and powerful. Because she was Diamond Tiara. Including...this! She felt the slight surprise as the perfect release of her sling happened, and the mordite went flying. Scootaloo saw the flying chunk of mordite first, and by instinct, tried to grab it with her telekinesis. And...nothing happened. Her telekinesis touched the mordite, and felt it slip off like jamming fingertips onto a hot greased skiddle. Scootaloo hissed in pain, "What the flank was that..." Princess Celestia turned her head, and then yelled, "Mordite! HOLD ON!" In a sudden flash, all seven of them lept into the air, as Princess Celestia teleported all of them out of the path of the mordite stone. It hit where Simple Dawn would have been, and shattered into a malevolent black cloud of dust. Twilight Sparkle caught Simple Dawn with her telekinesis and got her wings open to hover. "Princess Luna, where did..." It was an instant later when they saw that the three alicorn foals had flown down to a small clearing, where another young pony was there, trying to hit them with...a sling? Princess Celestia looked back at the trajectory of the cloud, then back at where the sling-armed pony was. "Twilight Sparkle, do you know how to clean up a mordite cloud?" "Um, yes," Twlight Sparkle replied. "I think I know where the attack came from, and I want to know why it happened," Princess Celestia said, and carefully levitated Simple Dawn onto Luna's back. Simple Dawn clutched onto Princess Luna's neck with all the strength he could muster, and all she could do was wince slightly. "Please protect him, Luna. Twilight Sparkle, please clean up the cloud while I find out what is going on." After that, Princess Celestia flew down to the clearing, where the three alicorn foals were trying to not be hit by the sling. Princess Celestia looked around, and realized that she had to stop this and find out what happened. She took a deep breath and let out her Royal Canterlotian Voice. "STOP THIS, NOW!" Everything seemed to vibrate except Princess Celestia for a few seconds, and all the ponies stopped moving. Princess Celestia's eyes tracked onto the small pony foal with the tiara on her immaculately coffered head and the sling in her mouth. "WHY DID YOU DO THIS, MY CHILD?" The foal looked at her, then leapt at her, screaming, trying to hurt her with her hooves. "You made me miss the blank flank! I have to get the blank flanks, I have to get all the blank flanks!" she screamed angrily. Princess Celestia let herself be buffeted by the weak blows of the foal, and then reached out and found the spell she needed. Diamond Tiara fell asleep in mid-strike, landing with a soft thump on the ground and an angry expression on her face. Princess Celestia looked up at the three alicorn foals. "Do you know this pony," Princess Celestia asked the three of them. "We know her," Apple Bloom said. "Her name is Diamond Tiara and she ain't a friend of ours. She teased us mercilessly when we were here, because we were still blank flanks." "We were keeping an eye on her and her friend, Silver Spoon," Sweetie Belle continued. "They made our lives here miserable, and we didn't want them to do it to other ponies." "But, I have no clue what set her off," Scootaloo finished. "And, hey, where's Silver Spoon?" There was a blood-curdling scream from the schoolhouse. "Somepony call an ambulance!" Cheerlee screamed from inside. "I've called for ambulances," Princess Celestia said to the three of them. "And, I'll need to find out the contact information for her parents." She looked at Diamond Tiara, sleeping at her feet. "What happened to you, my child?" Princess Celestia whispered softly. The shockwave of his passage probably meant that Filthy Rich was going to be paying a lot of fines over the next few weeks. He had hired, the moment news had gotten to him, the fastest pegasus chariot you could get short of a Royal chariot. And, only because he didn't want to waste the time to use the favors needed to get one. He had gotten the letter by dragon post, and was in the hospital as fast as wings could carry him. He had gotten to the reception desk as fast as hooves could take him. "My name is Filthy Rich," he said to the nurse at the front. "My daughter, Diamond Tiara, is here. Where is she?" The nurse flipped through the chart quickly and said, "I need to make a call, Mr. Rich. If you will please sit down, the doctor will see you very shortly. I will impress upon him how urgent it is." For what seemed like hours and according to the lying clock was only five minutes, Filthy Rich waited in a chair. The nurse said, "Mr. Rich, the doctor is here." He turned his head to see a unicorn in a doctor's coat and the Princesses. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna," he said, trotting up, and bowing. "I...why are you here, your Majesties?" "That...unfortunately, requires some explanation," Princess Celestia said sadly. "I will let the doctor explain first. Doctor Stable?" "If you will come into my office, Mr. Rich," Doctor Stable said, and Filthy Rich wanted to scream what is wrong with my daughter!, but he followed the three of them into Doctor Stable's office. "First, the good news. Physically, Diamond Tiara is fine. She has some bruising and some minor cuts and contusions, but otherwise she is in good shape. "The bad news," and Doctor Stable flipped to another page in his file, "your daughter has had a psychotic break. Serious enough that we're having to restrain her and medicate her. She attacked four nurses-all of them larger and stronger than her, and unicorns-trying to clean her so we could treat her injuries. She will be getting a psychiatric consultation tomorrow..." "Why tomorrow, and not today?" Filthy Rich interrupted. "Why isn't she being helped now?" "We don't have a staff psychologist-we've been trying to get one for years-and one is being flown in from Canterlot tomorrow," Doctor Stable replied calmly. "In addition, the medications she's on...we had to knock her out to keep her from hurting herself. She was trying to chew her way out of her restraints. There's also another issue...a legal issue. Princess Celestia?" "Mr. Rich, I'm sorry to say that your daughter very nearly committed murder. She had a small supply of mordite, and she flung it at us," Princess Celestia said, head bowed and eyes closed. "We're lucky that the pony that saw what happened was able to give us enough warning before she killed seven ponies with mordite. And, to get to there, Diamond Tiara attacked one of her friends, Silver Spoon. Badly enough that she must remain overnight in the hospital due to a concussion." Filthy Rich listened for a moment, then fell on his haunches. "How...what...why did she do that?" he whispered, softly. "Silver Spoon was reticent about telling Us the details," Princess Luna said. "But, she finally admitted that the two of them have been harassing and abusing any blank-flank foal they have come across. Silver Spoon believes she is being loyal to your daughter...and has been hard to question. "The trigger incident may have been the return of some of the students to Ponyville-Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. That they were hiding out and pretending to be blank-flanked normal ponies, then came back as alicorns and were taking your daughter's 'teasing' because they couldn't risk being exposed may have over-strained her psyche," Princess Luna continued. "The snapping point may have been Simple Dawn." "Simple Dawn, your Highness?" Filthy Rich asked, still in shock. "A young unicorn foal," Princess Luna said. "She was apparently trying to 'break in' a new blank-flank to tease and the three alicorn foals kept exposing their efforts. Only after Diamond Tiara committed the actions, mind you. The final trigger was that Simple Dawn gained his Cutie Mark-in such a manner that We felt it happen. After Our arrival was when she attacked Us-but her target was Simple Dawn." "I am hesitant to press criminal charges," Princess Celestia said. "Your daughter...I do not know, to be honest, what must be done. Only that I want to help her-if she can be helped." Filthy Rich considered this. "May I speak with Silver Spoon?" he asked carefully. "Of course. Doctor Stable, if you may? We will wait right here," Princess Celestia said, and nodded to the door. Doctor Stable and Filthy Rich left, and the two Princesses looked at each other. They waited in silence for about an hour, when Filthy Rich returned to the office. His eyes were those of a strong pony that didn't quite know how to cry. "Princess Celestia," he said, softly, hoarsely. "Princess Celestia," Filthy Rich said, a bit louder, but still hoarse. "My daughter...it is hard to see the pony you love having done something this...monstrous. Please, if Simple Dawn needs for anything, let me know. And, for the foals she had abused...may I speak with them?" "You may," Princess Celestia said. "I will not wash my hooves of her," Filthy Rich said. "But...if she has committed a crime, she must be punished for it. I can only ask for mercy, Princess Celestia, for my daughter and her foolish actions." "When she has recovered her mind," Princess Celestia said, "I will consider what has happened. Until then...I will stay my hoof and my will. She must recover, for I will not leave her in a place of harm that she has found herself in." Filthy Rich looked at Princess Celestia, and for the first time in years, for the first time since his wife had died...the tears flowed down his cheeks. Princess Celestia swiftly took Filthy Rich into her embrace and held him.

We Three Alicorns

The Preparations

In the end, Ponyville School was closed for four days. Teams of ponies-trained and knowledgeable in how to handle mordite cleanup-searched the entire area with a fine tooth comb. Probably the only fortunate thing was that you just had to remove the mordite itself, and not any surrounding soil or plant life. However, you had to be very, very thorough-as plutonium oxide would have been safer to have around anypony. They did the last bits of cleanup, checked again, and departed. Mayor Mare had gotten their bill-twenty second after a stipend notice had come from Canterlot with the Royal Seal attached. The weekend was soon thereafter, and a different team made one more sweep, just to be sure. Notices went out that the school would reopen on Monday. Many parents kept their kids at home for one more day, just to be sure. One of the ones that didn't was Filthy Rich, whom was splitting his time between a sanitarium in Manehattan and his house in Ponyville. Diamond Tiara, drugged unconscious and strapped to a carrying tray, was taken there after the initial intake psychiatrist and Princess Luna both stated that her psychotic break was complete. Her mind was so chaotic inside that Princess Luna had come out of the Dream Realm in a cold sweat, fearful of entering that vortex again. Removing her from Ponyville and the possible source of what caused her break was the first thing they should do. Silver Spoon left the hospital the day after, one day before school restarted. It was a short trot to her house, and Silver Spoon spent the remaining Sunday packing up Diamond Tiara's stuff "for the duration." Filthy Rich offered to find a school in Manehattan for her, but Silver Spoon refused. She wanted to go back to Ponyville. She wanted... What did I want? she asked herself, as she walked into class on Monday. She would have been laughing and talking with Diamond Tiara and planning out pranks and japes at this time, normally... The thud as her hooves connected with her head, waking up with the doctor peering over her and his panic-stricken face and the pain in her head and her scalp and the pain in her heart as her friend has bucked her so hard... She shivered as the thought passed, but managed to keep trotting into the classroom, and found her chair. About half the chairs were empty, mostly pegasui and unicorn students. Miss Cheerlee called the roll, and when they got to Diamond Tiara, there was a general sort of raspberry sound from the students. "Children!" Miss Cheerlee snapped. "Diamond Tiara is sick, and she needs our help-and our thoughts to her recovery." The class settled into a sullen sort of silence, and Silver Spoon couldn't blame them. Diamond Tiara was her friend, and her feelings about her were mixed at best. She had come with her from Manehattan so that Diamond Tiara would have a friend. Filthy Rich had her live in Ponyville after the last incident with the boarding school, and Silver Spoon had to look at that critically. Who, exactly, was Diamond Tiara? Silver Spoon was fearful that she was a star orbiting a destructive black hole named Diamond Tiara, and she wanted to break free. These thought carried Silver Spoon through until morning recess, when she trotted out... And every other pony looked at her. Silently. Judging her. Making her feel like a blank flank, alone in the crowd. Then, a ball clocked Silver Spoon upside the head. She fell onto her belly with a moan, her head hurting from the impact. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" a young female voice said, and Silver Spoon saw that it was Twist, running up to her...then, skidding to a stop a few steps away when Twist saw who she had hit. There was a pregnant pause as everypony looked at the two, wondering what was going to happen next. Silver Spoon leveled herself onto her hooves, then looked at the ball. No blood on it, she thought, and picked it up. Twist held her breath, not knowing what was going to happen next. Silver Spoon considered the ball, then gave it a good bouncing toss back to Twist. "Nice throw, good spin on it. Just...warn me next time you want to play with me, so I don't get hit by a ball, please?" Silver Spoon asked. Twist's jaw dropped. Then, she picked up the ball, and tossed it back at Silver Spoon. Silver Spoon caught it deftly-if a bit wobbly-in her hooves. "I know a spot where we can play ball," Twist said in reply. "Lead the way," Silver Spoon said, and she followed, as the sound of a normal day's recess began to sound across the playground. Twist was about to make a new friend that day. Rarity was in a panic. No, Sweetie Belle thought, she's merely in a tizzy. Not a panic yet, but getting very close. Between the call to Canterlot Castle, the disaster of the past few weeks, and a whole run of orders, Rarity realized that she was short at least five dresses for the upcoming White Elephant Ball in Canterlot. She was pacing around the Carousel Boutique, pulling fabric swatches, and going, "This cannot be the worst possible thing! I know what the worst possible thing is! This is not the worst! Possible! Thing!" And variations on that theme. "Rarity," Sweetie Belle asked, "are you all right?" Rarity realized that Sweetie Belle was there, and smiled raggedly. "Oh, no, I'm sorry. It's just that I have five dresses-well, four dresses and a suit-left to fit, and have to do that in a week to make it for the White Elephant Ball! And, I'm glad you're here, because..." Rarity used her telekinesis to pick up Sweetie Belle and levitated her into her Inspiration Room, taking measurements all the time. "And, all my measurements of you are off, oh I know why, dear, but between that and the wings...," Rarity began to chatter as she got to work. "I've fitted the Princesses before, so I have an idea of how to do it properly for three alicorns, but this will be your first big event and I want your dress to be perfect," Rarity continued, taking more measurements. The tape measure snapped and the pencil scratched across the clipboard while Rarity took the measurements. "But, between your dress, your friend's dresses, Applejack's dress, and Spike's suit...I don't know where I'll have the time, let alone anything else..." "Um, what am I going to?" Sweetie Belle asked. Sweetie Belle loved her sister, but sometimes she forgot important steps, like telling ponies what they were going to do. Rarity looked at her for a second, then sighed. "Oh dear, I forgot! The White Elephant Ball-it's the unofficial open to the Spring season for court, an auction for several charitable causes, and one of the places for any pony to be seen and known. The Princess sent you an invitation, and I must assume that Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have one as well. And, also I need you're help running interference for Fluttershy..." "Oh?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Poor dear, shy as she is, she has to be at this event. Because Fluttershy is one of the Elements of Harmony and because it's one of those sorts of events," Rarity shook her head in annoyance. "So, the rest of us run interference for her-somepony starts to make her uncomfortable, we find a way to peel them off. Or, somepony is bad for her to be around, we intercept them and keep her out of trouble. I mean, we didn't do that for the Grand Galloping Gala and look how that turned out! So, if I could..." "Help?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Certainly! Fluttershy is a good friend, and keeping the social vultures off of her would be a pleasure. I've got an idea to help, if you're interested." "Dear, I'm willing to try just about anything except that tacky Alicorn Amulet at this point," Rarity noted. "What are your ideas?" "What is Coco Pommel up to these days?" Sweetie Belle asked. Rarity stopped, then contemplated with a hoof under her chin. "Well, yes, she would want to help if she has the time...I'll ask." "And," Sweetie Belle continued, "there's a pony who works at Canterlot Castle by the name of Shining Button, and she's a pretty good fashion designer as well. Did the dress for Duchess Twopenny for last year's Grand Galloping Gala pre-party. I think she'd be honored to work with you, too." Rarity looked at Sweetie Belle with a shocked expression, "So, she was the one that did that dress. Sweetheart neckline, the pearls were daring, but perfect. That, my dear, is something to consider, seriously. I'll be seeing Spike this afternoon, so I can get the letters off. But, until then...more measurements!" A week later, Rarity stood back and admired the work. Coco Pommel was busy that week (Countess Hayfeather needed a new dress, and she was paying premium rates), but Shining Button made the first train from Canterlot the moment she got the letter. And, the two of them had worked wonders. Shining Button had thrown herself into the work on Applejack and Apple Bloom's dress, sharing stories of her times working on various gardening projects to keep the two of them interested in what she was doing. One thing that Applejack had insisted on suprised Rarity when she heard it. "Mother and daughter, if you can do it," Applejack said firmly as Rarity walked by with some silk for Scootaloo's dress. "Still a bit upset with her, but Apple Bloom's ma daughter and I want every pony to know it." Rarity had to stop long enough to blow her nose and wipe the tears away. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Spike were Rarity's responsibility and Spike was easy. Jacket, top hat, and he was ready to go. Scootaloo...she was definitely taking after her pegasus mother and developing the long-bodied, long-limbed form that was going to be positively lanky when she fully grew up. And, well-defined with muscle. That made most dress styles tricky. But, if it was easy, Rarity would be out of a job. Sweetie Belle...Rarity knew she was having difficulty with getting her dress done because there were so many images of Sweetie Belle in her mind, the one that she was now was difficult to find. Even her usual trick of merely considering her at that point right now, tabula rasa, was almost impossible. But, Rarity took a long, deep breath, and started to lay out white silk and satin. The finished product was spectacular for Sweetie Belle. Sweetheart neckline, a daring mid-length skirt in silk, brocaded vest in patterned satin with perfect articulation for the wings, and Rarity splurged for the Lotus Spa to do up Sweetie Belle's hair and makeup in a stunningly understated style. When she was finished, Rarity had gotten as many photos as she could of Sweetie Belle, to make sure this day was burned into memory. Scootaloo was a careful blend of taffeta and lace, designed to emphasize her long limbs and athletic nature. At Scootaloo's insistence (and testing), the dress had to be able to allow her to fly, and she could in it. And, when Shining Button had finished with Apple Jack's and Applebloom's dresses, Rarity was impressed. She had taken Rarity's original fitted corset-and-saddle design, and added a daring blend of satin to emphasize the firm muscles on both ponies. And, somehow managed to find a brocade pattern in apples for the corset panels, which had to cost a pretty bit. But, it suited the two of them perfectly-mother and daughter, but neither overwhelmed each other. Rarity sighed and checked the clock. There was enough time to go to the Lotus Spa, get a sensible meal, and put on her dress before they caught the chariots to head to Canterlot for the Ball. So, happy with her results, Rarity put everything away, and trotted swiftly towards to the Lotus Spa to get ready. Fully cleaned, polished, brushed, fed, groomed, and attired in a stunning white silk sheath dress, Rarity trotted up to where the chariots were waiting. Captain Flash Sentry, in a newly fitted dress uniform, was pulling inspection on several ponies that were members of the Guard and Night Watch that were going to the party with dates. Following behind him was Sergeant Major Soarin, making notes on any deficiencies in dress or deportment, and found none. Lieutenant Sunrise Smiles was making extra certain of his thestrals, especially those that were assigned to guard duty. Their Night Watch armor was polished to a fine obsidian mirror shine, and they were as ready as could be. Flash Sentry stopped, turned to face the soldiers, and said, "Tonight is the White Elephant Ball. For those of us that are unfortunate enough to have gotten tickets," and here a chuckle went through the troops, "command's intention is as follows-we're going to have a good, dignified time at the party and demonstrate that the Guard and Watch are able to be presented in public. "Execution of this intent," Flash Sentry continued, looking at Midnight Blossom and Cloud Skipper, standing perhaps half a trot too close together in their dress uniforms. "Be polite. Keep all comments within the Articles of War and obedient to ranks and good discipline. Politely ask other ponies to dance, respect any rejections and demonstrate skill and ability. Alcohol consumption is either abstinence or one glass of wine, cider, or mixed drinks per hour, after which juice or water consumption is mandatory. Any pony that is found intoxicated will be brought back to the Canterlot barracks and I will be very unhappy. "Continuing-the White Elephant Ball history is in your briefing papers. If you haven't read them yet, read them, somepony might try to trip you up with the history. Event schedule is polite mingling until 1800 hours, then dinner. There will be toasts-one glass of wine or champagne only, juice the rest of the time. After dinner is the dance and mingling from 1900 hours to 2300 hours. Remain with your date except when they are asked to dance by other ponies. Single ponies that have passes will cycle to check in with their unit NCOs at about every hour, barring specific events and/or dancing. Ponies on security detail will maintain their bearing and will remember to guard their protectees. "The official end of the dance and party is 2300 hours with a small speech by Princess Celestia. We will have reveille and physical training at 0600 hours tomorrow morning, so if any of you are involved in the horizontal tango, make sure you have enough time to make it back to barracks," and here, Flash Sentry smiled. "Also, note that any partners in the horizontal tango have to be of age of consent, sober, and willing. Any pony involved in a Article 120 offence will only die tired if they try to run. Don't forget your VD classes as well-if you're short on supplies, draw some now." "Any questions?" Flash Sentry waited a minute, then said, "Dismissed to your officers. See you all tomorrow," and trotted off as the lieutenants came to command their platoons. Sweetie Belle could hear out of the side of her ear Sunrise Smile's distinct Trottingham brogue saying, "And, if any of ya gobs screw this pooch, you'll be lucky if the Captain gets his hooves on you first." Sweetie Belle saw the rest of her friends, Big Macintosh, and the rest of the Elements come up to her. "Wow," Rainbow Dash said, smiling. "You look great, Sweetie Belle." "You do too, Rainbow Dash," and Sweetie Belle smiled. Rainbow Dash's dress was a simple rainbow silk sheath and it fitted her lines perfectly. "Waiting for Soarin?" "Have to," Rainbow Dash said, "it's now as much military protocol as social protocol. Was reading up on this when I learned that I had to go to this thing." "But," Pinkie Pie, in a hazy cloud of pink lace and satin, "why the formality of this? It's a party! We should be having fun!" "Contrast, dear," Rarity replied. "The formality is like plain crackers between cheese plates-to clean your palate for the next dose of excitement." "Oh! I get it, sort of like having water and such between cookies," Pinkie Pie said, smiling. "Yep," Big Macintosh said. He looked uncomfortable in his suit, but it seemed more "not used to wearing a suit" uncomfortable. "It's a whole formal dance in itself right now." "I just hope you all have a good time," Fluttershy, in a simple skirt and vest of green and gold, said softly. "I want to have a quiet time, myself." Sweetie Belle looked around, and realized, "Hey, where's Twilight?" "She'll be here shortly," Rarity said, "her dress takes a bit to put on, and..." There was a sudden, hushed silence as everypony looked off to the side, to see Twilight Sparkle coming. She was in a intricate ball gown of white silk and velvet with a sweetheart neckline, her hair done in gold and purple velvet ribbons to symbolize the link between her and the Princesses of the Diarchic Throne. Her own crown rested on her head-simple gold with emeralds and a ruby star of the Element of Magic in the center, resting softly on her head. Captain Flash Sentry stood in front of the assembled ponies, uniform hat in his right front hoof, and Twilight Sparkle stood in front of the assembled ponies. Twilight Sparkle offered Flash Sentry her right front hoof. Flash Sentry took it and bowed. Rarity gasped softly at the exchange, and Sweetie Belle could almost feel the mixed envy and lust at the action. After all, Flash Sentry was being courted by a Princess... Princess Twilight Sparkle and Captain Flash Sentry climbed into the first chariot, and the chariot lept for the skies, heading for Canterlot. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing, the call of "load up!" came from the officers and NCOs of the various Guard and Watch units. Before they were to leave, Sunrise Smiles trotted over and adjusted his dress uniform cap, saluting when he finished. "Ladies, gentlemen, if you would grant me the honor of riding with the Night Watch?" "Certainly," Rarity replied. Rainbow Dash made a small huffing sound, but she knew that Soarin would be busy until they arrived at Canterlot. The chariot that they were to ride in was a massive one, easily able to carry two dozen ponies. The members of the Night Watch that had invitations (twice as many as last year) filled up the space that the Elements, Big Macintosh, and the three alicorn foals didn't take up. The twelve thestral team pulling the chariot lept skywards, and the flight towards Canterlot began. Sweetie Belle watched as Midnight Blossom and Cloud Skipper edged closer to each other, trying so hard to not look like they were together. Meanwhile, Sunrise Smiles trotted up to the Elements and said, "Thank you. Going to be a long night, lots of little children," he gestured with his wing towards Midnight Blossom and Cloud Skipper, "to keep out of trouble." "Oh dear, is that...," Rarity was asking. "No, I'm glad she found somepony that she likes," Sunrise Smiles shrugged. "Good pony, bit of a goof but a good pony, otherwise. And, thank you, Applejack-turns out the cavern was perfect for a caern, and we're getting settled in nicely." "Not a problem," Applejack smiled back. "Y'going to meet up with somepony in Canterlot tonight?" "Not me," Sunrise Smiles said sadly. "I have to keep my ring of this three-ring pony circus going right, and...well, I'm not seeing anypony right now." "Oh," Applejack said, not sure what to say next. "But, if you'll look over that way, you can see Canterlot," Sunrise Smiles changed the subject smoothly. "And, tonight, it's going to be a show piece. Even more so than usual." With that invitation, everypony was looking over the rail of the chariot to see Canterlot.

We Three Alicorns

The Mingling

Canterlot was in well-organized chaos. Chariots, carts, even ponies walking or flying themselves to the events competed with each other to try and make their way to the Great Hall Of Clover The Clever, where this year's White Elephant Ball was being held. To keep this chaos in order, the Canterlot Day Guard and Night Watch had organized everything. With only a little help from the Princesses, it was all working out perfectly. The first and biggest thing was control of Canterlot airspace. Teams of pegasui and thestrals were flying in circuits, leading chariots to their destinations. Depending upon what color ropes were wrapped around the sideboards (and was only told to the chariot teams the day before), they were shuttled off to various locations or holding circuits around Canterlot. As the Element Bearers and their security team had the coveted white/white/green rope set, they were more-or-less waved through the first two holding circuits and put on the innermost ring of the third holding circuit. Teams of unicorns on the ground cast glowing color change spells on a two-by-two square that could be seen from the sky. The chariot teams knew what their color sequence was, and began to prepare for landing when they saw their sequence. Similar systems were being used for the carts coming in, with smaller panels and teams of trained unicorns to search the carts for anything that might be dangerous. Second was entry access. Each guest had been given a ticket made of Oath Paper, and part of the agreement of acceptance was to sign it. They could only bring one guest each, and violating the terms of Oath Paper was an embarrassing thing for ponies. The name of their guest had to be written on the Oath Paper, and the guest had to sign as well. So, as the guests came into the hall, the Day Guard knew who was coming in. And, the only points of access were controlled by the Day Guard and the Night Watch-any reporter or party crasher had better be very good at getting in, or would have a lot to explain to very unsympathetic guards. Guards that were going to spend most of the night on their hooves or wings. Guards that were listening to the party inside and smelling good food they couldn't have until the end of their shift. Sympathy was going to be very low indeed for any party crasher. Third, and finally, was the simple fact that there were Names at the Ball. Names like Princess Celestia or Princess Luna or Princess Twilight Sparkle, or several other lesser names that were pretty dangerous indeed. Anypony that thought that doing something at the White Elephant Ball was possible would have had better odds of a snowball juggling act in Hell. As their chariot landed, Rarity watched as Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry went into the hall and handed over their tickets. She took a deep breath, and looked over at her friends. "Shall we be going?" she asked. "Ayep, let's do that thing," Applejack smiled, and they walked towards the Ball. The White Elephant Ball started, nearly seven hundred years ago, as a military celebration. And a joke. The War of the White Elephant was a war that defined "pointless conflict" to an almost ideal degree. It was a border incident between the Griffin Empire and Equestria that started over an elephant visitor eating from Afrenca eating a prized set of daisies that the current Emperor had planted in the capital. As incidents go, this one was hideously minor. The elephant even offered to replace the daisies and pay damages. But, the Emperor at the time wanted to execute the elephant for high treason (using torturous logic that the eating of the daisies was an attack on the Imperial Family). The Elephant Kingdoms asked Princess Celestia to negotiate a release of their citizen, and so she did. The current Emperor of the Griffins was more than willing to negotiate. He was even willing to release the elephant, in exchange for some border territories that he wanted from the Equestrian government. Territories that were poor for the defense of Equestria-but great for the invasion of Equestria by the Griffin Empire. It did not take long for Princess Celestia to realize that the Griffins were looking for any excuse to claim the territory and the elephant was merely a pawn to be played. And, sacrificed if needed to advance their goals. Princess Celestia also knew the best thing to do with a pawn was to remove it from play. Which was what happened a month after the incident, when a small team of mercenaries led by the legendary Special Investigator Blue Glare went into the Griffin Empire and "extracted" the elephant. He was on a ship, heading home, a full two weeks before the Griffin Emperor knew what happened. Celestia had known, instantly, after they had succeeded, and moved troops into position to fight off a border incursion. Not only did she fend of the attacks of the Griffin Empire, she pushed back the borders by a good thirty miles, securing several points of defense against further attacks. And, the Griffin Emperor suffered the usual fate of an Emperor that failed against Equestria-he "slipped and fell in the bath," his heir taking the throne a few days later. With six griffins to make sure that the Emperor's slip and fall took. The resulting three week conflict would be called "The White Elephant War" mostly because of a random statement made by somepony in the ranks. "All of this filly-flanking mess for a single white elephant," was said by somepony at some point. Then, the cry was taken up through the ranks...and Princess Celestia heard those words. A month later, the first ever White Elephant Ball, a charity event for the soldiers, sailors, and flyers of Equestria, was held. And, every year, she held it to honor those that served and defended Equestria from all threats. And to tweak the beaks of the Griffins, but that was merely frosting for the cake. The Element Bearers, the three alicorn foals, and their guards walked into the massive hall and the majordomo announced them in, "Entering! Applejack, Element of Harmony and her husband and sister! Fluttershy, Element of Kindness! Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter! Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty and her daughter! Rarity, Element of Generosity and her sister! Sunrise Smiles, Captain of the Night Watch!" The crowd applauded at the end of the announcement, and they all came in, looking around in wonder. "Wow...," Pinkie Pie gushed. "So many ponies!" Fluttershy made a soft eep sound and started to shy close to Applejack when she finally got to the bottom of the stairs. A few of the more courtier ponies started to head towards Fluttershy, when a white unicorn mare trotted in front of them and said to Fluttershy, "Dear, allons-nous trouver un endroit calme et partager des histoires?" "Mais oui, bien sûr, Fleur De Lis," Fluttershy said softly to Fleur De Lis and she smiled to Rarity. "I'll be fine for a while, Rarity, I promise." "Je vous promets que personne ne la harceler," Fleur De Lis smiled and nodded towards Rarity. She looked ready for somepony to harass her or Fluttershy. "Je vous tiendrai à cela, Fleur De Lis. Prenez bien soin de mon ami," Rarity nodded, and watched as Fleur De Lis and Fluttershy started to share stories with each other in perfect Pranch. All of her friends looked at Rarity oddly, and she smiled. "Fleur De Lis is a good friend and I can trust her." "She's speaking fancy," Applejack said, shaking her head. "I didn't know that Fluttershy knew that." "Fluttershy knows about eight languages," Apple Bloom said, smiling. "She's fluent in Pranch, Nehonese, and Saddle Arabian. Passable in Standish, and can keep herself out of trouble in a few others." "How many languages can ya speak?" Applejack asked, curious. "Do you understand the difference between middle-era Proto-A and late-era Proto-A and how it relates to the early Equestrian language?" Sweetie Belle replied. "Beg ya pardon?" Applejack's eyebrow was hitting the brim of her hat from that question. "Well, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom know something like twenty or thirty languages well enough to pass as native, but I love linguistic theory. Well, up until Chapsky became the 'pony of the hour' in linguistic theory. Ultimate proof that if you can polish manure enough and shovel it fast enough, you can fool anypony," Sweetie Belle sighed in frustration. "Wow," Applejack said. As they kept trotting in, they ran into ponies they knew and said hello, traded stories. As they came in, Fancypants came up and said, "A pleasure to run into you all." "Pleasure as well," Big Macintosh said, "been a while, hasn't it?" "You're always welcome to come back, Big Mac," Fancypants said in return and looked at the shocked expressions. "You never told them..." "Never saw the need, it was the right thing to do," Big Macintosh shrugged. "You are sometimes too modest for you own good," Fancypants sighed. "A few years ago, I had gone checking into a rental property I was thinking of purchasing in Manehattan. Unfortunately, I was...ah, harassed by a street gang. They would have robbed me if Big Macintosh here hasn't knocked them into next week." "Wasn't a problem at all, they didn't know how to fight," Big Macintosh replied sheepishly. "Earned most of the money to get the wedding band resized bare-hoofed fighting. Thirty-three fights, thirty-two wins by knockout and one by decision." "And, I always said that you would have a place if you needed one," Fancypants said, then looked at the wedding bands on Big Macintosh and Applejack's legs. "Married? How long?" "Well, if you work out the details," Applejack blushed, "it's anywhere between three months and two years. Long, long story..." "And, if you would join me, all of you, at the bar, it's a long story that I would love to hear," Fancypants smiled. "Oh no," Rarity said suddenly, and everypony looked to see what she was looking at. Prince Blueblood had caught sight of Rarity, and was trotting over to meet her. Prince Blueblood hadn't changed much since the last Grand Galloping Gala. Horn and hooves polished to a mirror's shine, a small fixed sneer on his face, hair brushed artfully...he was a perfectly prepared pony and wore a fine velvet and silk waistcoat that probably cost enough to feed a family of three for a year. In Manehattan. "Ah, Rarity," he said smoothly. "A pleasure to see you again." "Oh dear," Rarity giggled and smiled insincerely, "I didn't know you would be here tonight." "Why wouldn't I be? This is an important event for important ponies," Prince Blueblood half-sneered. "I'm just wondering why you're here. Trying to find another star to hitch yourself to?" Rarity could feel Sweetie Belle starting to bristle at her flank, and she smiled at Prince Blueblood. "Why should I? I mean, a star is just so...plebeian a goal to attain. A mere star is a bagatelle in comparison to the galaxies of fashion I have yet to attain. Or, more importantly, I have something that matters much, much more to me." Rarity nodded to Sweetie Belle. "My sister, Sweetie Belle. This is Prince Blueblood, and we met at the last Grand Galloping Gala." Prince Blueblood half-smiled at Sweetie Belle. "A wonderful costume, little foal-how do you keep your wings on? Tape, glue?" Sweetie Belle sighed, then opened her wings up to their full extension. "The same way Princess Celestia and Princess Luna keep their wings on. They're mine." Prince Blueblood took a step back, and tried to regain his composure. "I...I didn't know, I mean..." "Not a princess," Sweetie Belle said. "Don't have to be. Which means that I am able to challenge you if I need to." "Challenge?" Prince Blueblood squeaked at Sweetie Belle. "You would..." "Of course, as the challenged party, you would be able to choose to what extent we faced each other, but nopony insults my sister," Sweetie Belle's smile was the sort that a rabbit might see last when facing a wolf. "Insult me? I don't care-I'm reminded of your great-great-great-grandfather, Noble Blueblood, in this. He had a great saying for gossipy ponies, 'Let nopony challenge your honor or your integrity, and to the crows with the rest.' My honor is intact, and so is my word." Prince Blueblood turned even more pale under his white fur, and stumbled off. Sweetie Belle sighed, and got her wings settled back in. "I think I did something wrong," Sweetie Belle said softly. "On the contrary," a deep, gravely voice said behind them, "Watching that little plot-hole run away scared was probably the best sight of my evening." Both Rarity and Sweetie Belle turned to see a huge Earth pony, grey fur with a short white mane, loom over them. He was one of the few ponies they had ever met that was as tall as Big Mac. "My apologies, my name is Helpful Hoof," and he smiled at them both, "and you are all the ponies I wanted to meet tonight." "Oh?" Applejack asked. "Mostly to say thank you. The Elements of Harmony have been some of Equestria's most steadfast guardians, and I can't think of anypony else that does not deserve some recognition for their actions," Helpful Hoof said. "A pleasure as well," Rarity replied, and nodded. "Not quite," Helpful Hoof smiled back. "If I was in time, Prince Blueblood would have ran into me first. We don't get along well outside of the level of his fiscal 'handlers', and the only color they respect is gold. So, I can cheerfully insult him all night, and not lose a bit of sleep over it." "Hey," Applebloom asked, looking around, "where did Pinkie Pie go?" "And, I said," Pinkie Pie was telling the crowd of onlookers a story, "'Oatmeal, are you crazy?!?' And, that's when he said, 'Sure, I'm crazy, but I'd never put applesauce in my oatmeal like you!'" The crowd laughed, and one of the younger ponies asked. "Go on! What happened next?" "Well...," Pinkie Pie continued her tale. "Princess!" Twilight Sparkle said. It had taken a while for her and Flash Sentry to make it through the necessary meet-and-greets that events like this generated, and she finally had found Princess Celestia, cheerfully and charmingly talking with a very tall, leggy unicorn colt. "Ah, Lighthouse," Princess Celestia said, finally catching Twilight's eye, "This is Princess Twilight Sparkle, whom I've told you so much about." "Charmed," Lighthouse said, his eyes bright and smiling. The Cuite Mark of a lighthouse was oddly too bright for a pony with fur as black as night. "Princess Celestia has been saying a great deal about you, Princess Twilight Sparkle." Twilight Sparkle blushed. "Still getting used to the whole 'princess' thing," she replied. "I've heard about you, Lighthouse. You are the head of the Sea Safety Program, yes?" "Proudly so for the last few years," Lighthouse grinned. "And, I have to thank you, Princess Twilight Sparkle. The new spell lanterns means we don't have to ship tons of kerosene to lighthouses all over the coast, and they're even brighter than the torches we used to use. Desperation Bay alone has seen a decrease of shipping accidents of nearly twenty percent." "Gosh, I mean, thank you!" Twilight Sparkle blushed and looked away for a second. "The spell lanterns are something I'm very proud of, especially when I was able to figure out a way to mechanically control them, so anypony can use them." "I'm looking into development of smaller spell lanterns," Lighthouse said. "Small enough you can replace the kerosene lanterns on ships. That would reduce the fire hazard from lanterns and increase safety across the board." "Wow," Twilight Sparkle nodded. "That's amazing!" "And, I think I saw Bitter Greens around over there," Lighthouse said. "If I may?" "A pleasure as always," Princess Celestia said. As Lighthouse trotted off, Princess Celestia looked at Flash Sentry and said, "Flash Sentry, could you get us three glasses of the rasberry punch before they run out of it again. It is a very good punch." "Of course, Your Highness," Flash Sentry nodded, and as he left Princess Celestia came closer to Twilight Sparkle. "How are the two of you getting along?" Princess Celestia asked. "Very well," Twilight Sparkle blushed. "But, I mean...well, I was wondering..." "There are reports of the Order disappearing, which means they're planning something," Princess Celestia sighed through her smile. "If they attack here, I mean, if they were to summon something meaner to try and get the foals, they would..." Twilight Sparkle considered. "They would run into teams of combat-trained unicorns from the Guard, that have been stalking the streets for days looking for the signs of demon summoning. And, the Great Hall is warded sufficiently to hold off anything short of Tirac," Princess Celestia interrupted gently. "We're safe here." "Thank you, Princess," Twilight Sparkle sighed. "That was my greatest fear." Flash Sentry came back hold a tray in his mouth, three glasses of raspberry punch on the tray. Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle lifted the glasses up with their magic and Flash Sentry picked up his in a hoof. "So, what were you talking about?" "Major concerns to be dealt with," Princess Celestia said. She looked and found the main clock in the Hall. "You may want to find your friends, Princess Twilight Sparkle. They will be serving dinner in about fifteen minutes, so I need to get to my chair." Twilight Sparkle looked at the clock. "Oh, no problem," she said. She looked at Flash Sentry and said, "Let's get them rounded up so we can get seated in time."

A Queen's Vows

pre

"Of course." I noticed that her gaze was focused straight ahead, and as I followed it, I could see her staring at Twilight and the Prime Minister, deep in conversation. "Then I have a problem," she said. "What's that?" "In order to defend you, you've put me in direct opposition with a sitting Prime Minister from my party." "Wait, he seriously..." "He has a massive problem with you, Ms. Shimmer. If you have the time, I could go over his reasons. Though I'd warn you, it's a rather extensive list." "I think I'm good," I muttered. "I wouldn't take it too personally. You just happen to be the weakest link he can exploit to hurt Twilight." "Hurt her?! She's the fucking Queen." Harshwhinny smirked. "Her Majesty often has...impassioned opinions that she should be more cautious about voicing. These can make Fancy's job rather difficult, and I can only imagine it'll get worse when she's coronated." "You're telling me this is all political?" "Fancy sees Twilight as the head of a much bigger problem. So, he has a vested interest in trying to remove her." "Last I heard, a Prime Minister can't exact fire a Queen." Theodora smirked. "True, but if he was somehow able to gain leverage on her, then maybe he could pressure her into voluntarily stepping away from the throne." "And let me guess..." "The Queen has been very adamant in wanting to marry you, Sunset, and that's one thing Fancy does control. He gets to pick who Twilight can legally put a ring on. So, by denying her marriage..." "He hopes that she'll resign." "Bingo." She chuckled. "He'll even get a boost to his boyish pride for putting the first cock on the throne in nearly three hundred years." I sighed. "I'll never understand how this fucking system works." "Let me put it this way, you've made a rather powerful enemy. Though I wouldn't be too concerned. You two have some allies in the government. A couple of people willing to remember where their loyalties lie." I opened my mouth, though quickly closed it, unsure of what to say. "Plus, there are more than enough MPs willing stand up for you, just for the pleasure of kicking some dirt in Fancy's face," she said. "You just need to figure out how to mobilize them. Which is where I come in." "Thank you, Theodora. I...I appreciate your help." "I just hope that I can be of some assistance." She suddenly perked up and waved at a distant figure. "Now, I hope you don't find me rude, but I must get going. It seems like the ambassador of Saddle Arabia is attempting to get my attention." I nodded. "Have a good night, Theodora." "You as well." Then she was gone, leaving me alone once more. Our conversation had only deepened my anxiety, giving me fresh material to mull over. How much pressure was Twilight under to get rid of me? Why wasn't she talking to me about it? Was she preparing to handle things on her own?" I thought we promised to handle our problems together... "Well if it isn't the Bolshevik herself," a familiar voice jeered. I turned, offering the fakest look of sympathy I could muster. Well, if it wasn't Time's Asshole of the Year himself, Prince Blueblood. "Blueblood, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss." He frowned, in the least genuine manner I'd ever seen. "Yes, it really is tragic. Mother's been taken from us far too soon." "Yes, too soon," I repeated absently. "But now my little sister sits upon the throne. You must be excited about that." I shrugged "Twilight's Twilight, why would I care if she's Queen or not?" "Well, I mean, there's nowhere left to climb once you've dated a Queen." My teeth clenched. "You honestly think I'm dating your sister to climb some social ladder?" "It makes perfect sense to me." I snorted, my voice dripping with acid. "You would think like that, wouldn't you?" He cocked an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?" "Oh, nothing. It just speaks volumes about how inhuman you are, that you're unable to grasp how love works." He chuckled cruelly. "I'm perfectly familiar with the concept, Sunset. I just struggle to imagine anyone actually loving you." The words impacted like a slap across the face. "You bastard," I hissed. "After all, there must be some reason your wife left you." One second, there was a glass in my hand. The next, it was shattered against the side of Blueblood's face, peppering him with whiskey and glass. January 28th, 1936 - 10:30PM Queen Twilight Sparkle Residence of Twilight Sparkle I paced back and forth through my entryway, my temper threatening to flare at the slightest comment. Sunset, the current focus of my ire, sat upon one of the steps leading to the first floor. She held an ice pack against her eye, trying her best to reduce the swelling of her soon to be blackened socket. "What were you thinking?" I growled. She winced. "Look, he started it." I threw up my hands. "You can't just go around picking fights with Equestrian princes." "Even if he deserves it?" "Especially if he deserves it. The princes who deserve it, are usually the pettiest pieces of shit in the whole damned world." She snorted. "Ouch, harsh words for your own brother." "It's true." Sunset jerked to her feet, furiously taking a step towards me. "So, what am I supposed to do? Just rollover and take it?" "Sunset, please..." I begged. "They'll accept you in time. You just need to be patient." "Bull-fucking-shit! I've been patient for five years Twilight, and the only person in your whole fucking family who ever tolerated me is dead!" "Well what can you expect when you go around breaking my brother's nose!" She fumed, taking another step closer. "He brought up Adagio!" In an instance, my anger evaporated. "Sunset...I...I'm so sorry." "Are you?" I reached out for her, but she shrugged me off. "I just...I never thought he'd go for such a low blow," Sunset said, her fury rapidly dissipating into hollowness. "Neither did I." I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Shit, what a mess." When I looked back to Sunset, she had returned to her stoop. The ice forgotten, as she now focused her attention on a cigarette. I walked over, taking a seat beside her. "I'll have a talk with him in the morning." "I can handle it." "I'm sure you can, but what he said isn't right. I'll hold him accountable for it." "Think he'll listen?" I grimly chuckled. "He better. After all, I'm in charge of his allowance now." Sunset pulled out a book of matches, striking one. "Can I ask you something, Twi?" "What is it?" She lit her cigarette, inhaled the smoke, and let it out in one smooth motion. "Are you being pressured to get rid of me?" she asked. So, she knew. I sighed. "Yes, there are certain high-profile citizens with concerns about our relationship." She nodded, taping out her ash right onto the hardwood. Spike would murder her for that later. "Who?" she asked. "The Prime Minister, Blueblood, Shining Armor, Luna, a few members of parliament, and a whole union of concerned citizens." She smirked. "Gods, I've never felt so loved in my entire life." "They see you as a bit...unorthodox." "In what way?" "Your working-class background, divorce, previous political affiliations, temper..." She chuckled. "I'm guessing I didn't do much to clear up that misconception, did I?" "You did not." I reached over, placing my hand on hers. She threaded her fingers through mine and I leaned against her, resting my cheek upon her shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me?" Sunset finally asked. "Pardon?" "Why didn't you tell me you were under so much pressure to get rid of me?" I sighed. "I guess I was hoping to protect you from the worst of it." "Twi, you shouldn't have to deal with this alone. We made a promise to handle things together." "I know, it's just..." I gestured to her. "I had a plan." She rolled her eyes. "Of course, you did." "I just thought that if we could get on the throne, we'd be able disprove everyone's preconceptions. Like think about it, me with eons of tradition and years of formal training, and you providing a fresh dynamic to the duties of monarch, bringing the throne to a level that the disenfranchised could understand." "And how's that working out?" I reached over and snatched away her cigarette, taking a drag for myself. The smoke was warm in my mouth, and then within my lungs, as I breathed deep. The tingle of cheap tobacco and nicotine provided the perfect accent to my current mood. "Everyone keeps saying that I'm more likely to shatter the monarchy than reform it. They ask what kind of message I'd be sending to the people by elevating someone like you to such an office." "Someone like me?" I shook my head. "As the Prime Minister puts it, 'a former-anarchist jazz musician, whose purity is tarnished, and whose loyalty to Equestria is questionable.' He probably thinks we'll make the commoners get uppity." Sunset was silent, just staring at her fingers. I kissed her on the cheek, in the hopes that it'd snap her out of her stupor. However, even this failed to rouse her. So, we just sat there for a moment, each occupied with our silence. "Maybe they're right," Sunset finally admitted. "What?" "Maybe I should step away." "No, no, you shouldn't...you can't." "Why not?" "Because there's someone's opinion you haven't considered." "Whose?" I looked her in the eye. "Mine. I love you more than anything in the entire world, Sunset, and I'm not willing to give up on you because of a couple of stuffed shirts." Sunset weakly smiled. "Thank you, I-I appreciate it." "We'll find a way to make this work, I promise." This seemed to calm Sunset, as she leaned in and kissed me. I just wished I could've believed it myself.

A Queen's Vows

Chapter 3 - The Queen and her Prime Minister (March 7th, 1936 - March 9th, 1936)

March 7th, 1936 - 3:45PM Prime Minister Fancy Pants 10 Regalia Street A little over twenty years ago, the world was embroiled in war, as two grand alliances clashed for global supremacy. At the conflict's start, Equestria was given a choice. Either it could remain neutral, and stay at peace, or intervene and be rewarded generously in the peace talks A faction soon arose in parliament, known simply as the war alliance. They were a coalition, from every party, which preached that any conflict would end swiftly with Equestrian aid, and that there was much to be gained from a quick victory. Little by little, parliament was won over by their promises of grandeur and treasure, until four months into the war, Equestrian troops marched to the front. And I am ashamed to admit, that I was amongst those who eventually cast their vote to send them. Four years. The war lasted four bloody years. Four years that saw the collapse of the old-world systems, and ushered in a wave of social change and revolution, which rocked the empires of old and nearly cost Equestria hers. Four years where the promised bounties never came, but rather saw Equestria drained of her wealth, honour, dignity, and of her sons and daughters. The leader of the soon despised war faction was Theodora Harshwhinny, then Secretary of Foreign Affairs. She was politically crucified halfway through the struggle, stripped of her position, and relegated to a slow death within the backbenches of parliament. However, within recent years, her reputation had been remedied by her close friendship with Queen Celestia. This allowed her to pressure me into appointing her to my cabinet. Oh sure, Minister of Culture was small beans, but it still gave her voice weight. It was also becoming apparent that it was going to be a position I'd greatly regret giving her. "She broke the Prince's nose," I reminded Harshwhinny over the phone. "Have you forgotten about that little incident?" "Oh, I haven't forgotten. I just know he probably deserved it." "That may be so, but there were members of the public there. The press was there." "And yet no story was published." "Only because the Queen intervened." "Then I don't see what you're complaining about. For all the people know, Prince Blueblood had an accident." "What I'm complaining about, is that we can't allow this woman to marry our sovereign. How would the people react if this undeserving harlot became Princess? There'd be riots." I sighed loudly, shaking my head. "Now, I love the Queen as much as any Equestrian, but we need to stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life. Can I count on you to vote against her marriage?" Harshwhinny snorted. "I think we may have more pressing matters to worry about." "I don't see what's more important than the stability of our realm." "Double digit unemployment, a navy that's a decade obsolete, and a colonial revolt in Eastern Marewari, to name a few." "Those can be remedied, the complete and utter collapse of society cannot." "Don't you think you're blowing this a little out of proportion. Who cares who the Queen ends up fucking? All this does is make you look obsessive and petty." I covered the phone's receiver. "Fucking bitch." For some stupid reason, the party listened to this backroom schemer. Everyday, more and more MPs stepped away from the marriage issue and joined her camp. It was like the war all over again, with Harshwhinny leading us towards disaster. I would've advanced on this issue alone, if I could. However, she had whittled down my support, to such a point, that the balance of political power had become unfavourable, forcing me to seek her support. This was a situation I despised being in. Harshwhinny was still the same stubborn bulldog, who was more interested in her own political survival, than the actual good of our nation. I'd have more luck convincing a brick wall to collapse. "Look Fancy, I appreciate you for taking the time to call, but I have some important things to deal with. Maybe we can pick this up later?" I uncovered the phone's receiver. "Of course. It's always a pleasure chatting with you." She laughed. "No, it isn't." I nodded in agreement. "No, it's not." The line clicked, and I was tempted to whip my phone against the wall. Instead, I gently placed it back in its cradle. I then reached for my bottle of gin. It wasn't quite 5 o'clock, but I suddenly felt like starting early tonight. I poured myself a generous glass, and took a healthy sip. The liquor burned, but dulled the worst of my anger. Clearly, Theodora wasn't going to be won over by appealing to her common sense. So maybe, I could offer her something a bit more...material. After all, politics was built upon a rocky foundation of greasing palms and scratching backs. Now, what would be a big enough table scrap to feed a bitch like Harshwhinny? March 9th, 1936 - 9:30AM Queen Twilight Sparkle Canterlot Castle - Queen's Private Study Canterlot Castle had never quite felt like home. Rather it masqueraded as one. It had all of the things a home should, warmth, comfort, family. Yet, I had few positive memories from my time here. Rather this place suffered from a malice of stress and discomfort, with memories of my mother's anxiety, and the constant parade of invasive diplomats, being far more prevalent. Maybe, I was biased. After all, it had been close to fifteen years since I last lived within these oppressive walls. However, I would soon be forced to ignore these feeling, wouldn't I? After all, a Queen didn't live in a Canterlot townhouse. No matter how fine it was, or how much it actual felt like home. I shook my head, pushing away such thoughts. That was a problem for another day, and I needed my attention to be focused on why I was here. Today, I was just here for a simple meeting. Well, maybe not simple. There was no such thing as a simple when you were the Queen. A Queen who had to dress in a rich satin gown that felt uncomfortable. A Queen who bore a hefty crown upon her head. A Queen who was about to host her Prime Minister, a diplomat, who invaded her childhood home and brought nothing but discomfort with him. Oh, the more things change... Today had to go absolutely perfect. It was the only hope I had of battering down Fancy's opposition to my marriage. I felt my stomach churn and pulse quicken as anxiety gripped me. It was a terrible sensation. Why was I so anxious? There was absolutely no pressure whatsoever. After all, what did I have to lose if things went poorly? I just wouldn't be allowed to marry the woman I love. My eye twitched and I soon laughed hysterically to the still empty room, probably sounding more than a little looney. However, this laughter acted as a release valve, blowing off some much-needed steam. Behind me, someone noisily cleared their throat, and I instantly realize that maybe the room wasn't quite as empty as I assumed. I turned to see Raven standing at the door. "Your Majesty," she said, failing to betray what she'd heard. "How much did you hear?" "The last fifteen seconds of crazed laughter." I buried my face into my hands. "Oh my god!" Her footsteps echoed as she approached, and I felt her hand reassuringly upon my shoulder. I looked up, and for a moment, I was ten years old again. Back when I was a young princess distressed with the events of the day, and she was a woman of half her age, trying her best to take care of me. She was like a mother, when my own was busy mothering the nation. I couldn't help but smile. Maybe this castle actually did have a good memory or two squirrelled away somewhere. "Sorry, sorry, I'm just..." I sighed. "...a little bit nervous." Raven nodded. "Your mother was exactly the same whenever she met a Prime Minister." "She was?" I hated how skeptical I sounded. "Absolutely petrified. Oh sure, not all of them were that bad. She used to have a lot of fun with Flurried Nimbus, but Fancy, oh Fancy was a much tougher act." I felt my anxiety flare back up. "Oh?" My speech felt laboured, as if that single syllable had absorbed every ounce of moisture in my mouth. Raven held up a hand. "But! But, you are a very different person, Your Majesty. Where your mother was charismatic, you're intelligent. Where she was warm, you're calculating. Where she was old and experienced, you're youthful and passionate. I have no doubt that if you act like yourself, you'll run circles around Mr. Pants." I smiled bleakly. "Thanks, Raven." "You're very welcome." "Now, how long do I have until my appointment?" She looked rather sheepish. "Welllll...." I swallowed hard. "Oh no." "He arrived five minutes ago. I can buy you a little time, if you need it." I shook my head. "No, no, it's not going to get any easier if I wait. Bring him in." Raven nodded and slipped out of the room. Once she was gone, I took position at the centre of my study. I then tried to stand as regally as possible, trying my best to channel the virtues of my office and compose them into a stiff and resolute expression. I actually felt rather respectable, right now. Actually, no I didn't. I felt more like a child pretending to be respectable. My emotions faltered and expression slipped, just in time for the door to open once more. At which point, all I could do was flash a nervous grin, which felt rather childish and inexperienced. Raven entered first, and gestured for my guest to follow. A moment later, Fancy Pants waltzed into the room. The Prime Minister looked his part, dressed in a finely tailored suit, with a top hat tucked under his left arm. He looks tired and old, like a wise grandfather who was the elder of his clan. Only, his clan happened to be my entire kingdom. He walked towards me, stopping once he was ten paces away. He then bowed, his tired form creaking as he dipped low. Though he didn't so much as grunt in protest. "Your Majesty," he said. "Mr. Pants, I'm so thankful that you could make it." He slowly stood back up, fixing me with a coy smile. It was a smile that screamed, 'of course I'm here, you daft girl! You're the Queen, what else would I do when called?' Instead of saying that, he said, "It's always a pleasure to be summoned for a royal audience. I've missed my lunches with your mother." "I understand that you two were close?" "As close as a servant and mistress could be. I took great pride in serving her when I could." "She spoke fondly of you." "I'm touched." "Can I get you anything to drink?" "Some tea would be nice." I nodded to Raven, and the woman nodded back before exiting the room. I then took a seat, gesturing to the one across from me. Fancy looked to it and slowly sat down, resting his impossibly tired form upon my mother's ancient upholstery with great familiarity. He had very likely been in this room more times than I had. "So, how can I be of service, Your Majesty?" Fancy Pants asked. I offered him a light-hearted smile. "You can call me, Twilight, Mr. Pants." He chuckled. "Only if you call me Fancy." "Deal." "Now what can I do for you, Twilight?" "I was hoping that we could discuss your opposition to Sunset Shimmer." Fancy frowned. "I see." "I was wondering if there was someway I could reassure you that she isn't dangerous to the stability of our nation." "I'm sure that she, herself, is of no danger, but..." "But?" "But, it's what she is, that is dangerous." "I'm not sure I understand." "Twilight, the monarchy is the very backbone of our society. It's built upon an ancient foundation of aristocratic rule, that is older than either of us. By the reign of individuals who are born above the common class, and who can remain neutral in the face of their political interests." I frowned, shaking my head. "I'm no better than anyone else." "And that's where the problem lies. Your relationship with Sunset Shimmer has poisoned your perception of things. It's moved you from neutral arbitrator to a politicized force." I couldn't help but laugh. "Politicized me?" "Your comments at the mines in New Fillyland, at the dockyards in Vanhoover, in the slums of Trotingham." I was speechless. Did Fancy honestly think that my opinions were born out of my relationship with Sunset Shimmer? He couldn't be further from the truth. It was our shared philosophies which brought us together, and kept us so close when faced with our differences. "I've always held the belief that our society should help those most in need," I said. He waved his hand dismissively. "And that's a very politicized opinion." "Helping people is politicized!?" He snorted. "No, but the instruments to get that help are. The social welfare it will require, the regulations upon business, the taxation levels necessary. All of these subjects are politicized. Thus, you should provide neutral arbitration upon them, and not devalue your office by forcing your way into a debate which only parliament should have jurisdiction." I felt my pulse quicken, as my skull began to pound. "I thought monarchs should strive for what they believed in." Fancy shook his head. "Maybe two hundred years ago, but your current duties are to oversee parliament and intervene if they fall to tyranny." It was impressive how he skirted around the real power I wielded. The ability to veto laws I found unjust, the ability to replace minister who abused their office, the ability to call elections when the winds of change blew. It wasn't my beliefs that frightened Fancy, but rather my blatant willingness to follow through with them. "So, your problem with Sunset, is that you believe she's manipulating me?" I asked. "Well, that's part of it." "What's the rest?" "Like I just mentioned, the monarchy is a bestowed upon members of the aristocracy. How do you think people will react when their Queen marries a commoner? And like I've mentioned before, a commoner whose biggest contributions to society are being a jazz musician, an anarchist, and someone of... questionable purity." I desperately wished Raven would return with our tea. Just so I'd have something to throw in Fancy's face." "I'd like to believe that such a choice would give my office a bit of humanity." "Your Majesty does not need to appear humane, at the cost of your divine right to rule." I sighed "So where do we proceed from here?" "Well, Twilight, there are three courses of action we can take." "What are they?" He counted off a single finger. "First, you may attempt to pursue your marriage as monarch. Though for your union to be made legal, it must be affirmed by Parliament as per the Royal Marriage Act." "And what power does that Act give you?" "No marriage made by the monarch, or their immediate successors, is legal without the consent of parliament." "That seems rather intrusive." "It's a necessary evil. Especially after your ancestors had a habit of subjecting our nation to war over their diplomatic marriages." "And I'm guessing the chances of my marriage being ratified are slim?" "Like I said, the Act gives us the power to veto any marriage which we believe has the potential to devastate our nation." I sighed. "Are you always so prone to hyperbole?" He ignored me and counted off another finger. "Second, you can forgo your marriage and-" I cut him off. "Not happening." He nodded and held up a third finger. "Lastly, you may pursue your marriage as a private citizen. In which case, Parliament will have absolutely no say in your decision. You'd be free to marry whoever you like." "What's the catch?" "Well, in order to be a private citizen, you must surrender your titles." His words landed like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of me. I already knew of these options, from my own research, but hearing them spoken aloud gave them a very real substance. To surrender my throne, would mean cutting myself off from the instruments of governance. If I were to do that, I'd never get a chance to rule my nation, nor would I ever contribute to its betterment. My plans, for a bright Equestrian future, would be at the mercy of someone else. I swallowed hard, staring blankly ahead. Fancy might've only been a couple metre away, but to me, it felt much further, as I retreated deep into myself. The only thing I managed to respond with, was a feeble... "Oh."

A Queen's Vows

Chapter 4 - Faustian Estates (May 15th, 1936 - May 16th, 1936)

May 15th, 1936 - 10:30AM Queen Twilight Sparkle Somewhere in Rural Equestria I could picture the headlines now. Queen Sparkle, dead at 35. This morbid title, a picture of my face, and another of a shattered motorcycle strung along some unassuming stretch of countryside. That was how I felt every time Sunset got me to ride her Harley. An event which happened uncomfortably frequent, due to her affinity for this deathtrap. I clung to her, like a shipwrecked survivor clings to a piece of driftwood, holding onto her for dear life. On my first couple of trips, I had screamed like an idiot. Now, I merely furrowed my brow and went limp, as we blitzed through the backroads of Equestria. Maybe one day I would find this fun. After all, Sunset seemed to enjoy it. Her love was apparent every time we went for a ride. She had a certain smile, that I saw nowhere else, and her eyes sparkled with youthful wonderment. It was even possible for me to understand why she loved it. The wind in your hair, the freedom of the road, getting away from your responsibilities. All of these were understandable. Hell, I even understood why she loved the speed and daunting turns, as adrenaline was a very measurable substance. However, even with all these pieces laid out before me, I could not solve the mystery of actually making this an enjoyable experience. Yet, even though I hated it, I always conceded when Sunset's wanted to ride. Why did I do that? Because I knew she loved it, and I would do anything for that smile, and for that little twinkle of childlike excitement. We took a corner at breakneck speeds, my jaw clenching as I screamed. I heard Sunset snicker softly, and my gaze narrowed into a fiery glare. Well never mind, then! Sunset's feelings were now cancelled! The good times were cancelled! I couldn't believe her audacity! Doesn't she know that I'm the Queen?! I would have her beheaded for this! That was, if she didn't get us beheaded with her, so called, driving! I shuddered as my mind turned to statistics. Usually, this was comfort food for my thoughts. Today it just fed into my anxiety, as I remembered details from a report discussing fatality figures for various automobiles. God, I was such an idiot at times. Mercifully, the Harley began to decelerate, as we approached our destination. It was a manor fit for a Queen. A palace that rivalled Canterlot Castle in terms of size, with additions built upon additions to create a sprawling complex. Yet it still held a certain rustic humbleness which seemed to clash with its imposing regality. This was Faustian Estates, my family's home away from home. The grounds around it were protected by a wall of tall hedgerow, with only a single break allowing for a gatehouse. As we passed into the royal lands, the roads transitioned to cobblestone as we bounced towards the entrance. I noticed three servants coming forward to greet us. Sunset brought her motorcycle to a halt, killing the engine. The three servants shallowly bowed. "Your Majesty," Coco Pommel said. I shakily dismounted the bike, praying that my quivering knees wouldn't collapse. "Miss Pommel, it's always a pleasure to see you." "You as well." "I hope everything's in order." She nodded. "The pantries are stocked, the rooms are clean, and the grounds have been groomed for your arrival." "Thank you so much, Coco. You have no idea how much I needed to get away from Canterlot." "I can only imagine." She frowned. "And may I say how so sorry I am to hear about your loss?" I purposefully frowned. "Thank you, I appreciate your kind words." "Do you need anyone to take your things?" I looked back to the motorcycle, which was only lightly burdened by a few small bags. "We should be fine on our own," I said. "Though, if it isn't too much trouble, I wouldn't mind a cup of tea? I need something warm to help settle my stomach." I shot Sunset a sideways glare, and she at least had the courtesy to look a little ashamed about what she'd done. "Of course, ma'am," Coco said. "Thank you so much, dear. I'll be in the garden, showing Sunset around, if you wouldn't mind bringing it out when it's ready." Coco nodded before turning to her staff and delegating their responsibilities. Once she was finished, the three of them said their goodbyes and returned to the manor. I then looked back to Sunset, who had finally moved away from her bike. "So, we survived," I said. Sunset chuckled. "Did you have doubts that we would?" "After you passed that lorry, I honestly went limp and prayed that we'd make it in one piece." "Oh, come on, it wasn't nearly that bad." "He honked at us!" She shrugged. "So, what? A lot of people honk." "You were speeding." She snorted. "That speed limit was way too slow, and you know it." "What if an officer pulled us over?" "Well, I would've banked on you using your royal prerogative, or whatever, to get me off the hook." "You realize that only applies to people who are related to me by blood or marriage." Sunset walked over and draped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. "Well then, I guess we'd finally have an excuse to get married." "To get you out of a speeding ticket?" She nodded. "I'm sure the public would be thrilled," I muttered. Sunset smirked and leaned forward, planting a kiss upon my lips. Though this wasn't some brief peck, but rather a union of our two persons, that strengthened with each passing moment. I pressed against Sunset, forcing her to support my weight. I then opened my mouth and allowed our passion to deepen, with her breath momentarily lingering upon my own. My pulse quickened, as my still quivering knees threatened to finally give out. The kiss felt like it lasted an hour. Though, when we broke apart, the sun hadn't shifted an inch in sky. "Is that a better reason?" Sunset asked. I flushed, still tasting her upon my lips. "It's..." I cleared my throat. "...definitely a stronger case to make." Sunset drew back, though not before pinching my rump. I yelped. "You little bugger." She grinned. "I have no idea what you're talking about." I glared, wagging a finger menacingly at her. "You're going to pay for that." "Oh, I know." Her grin turned mischievous. "And I can't wait." I felt my cheeks redden, as Sunset snickered. I ignored this and motioned for her. "Come on, let's go for a walk. I want to show you around." Sunset nodded and followed after me. "So, this was your summer home?" "One of them." She chuckled. "One of them?" "We also have one up north, and another on the coast. Though this one has always been my favourite." "Why's that?" "I have fond memories of it." "Oh?" "Back when we were kids, me and Shinny used to spend our summers here. We'd go on quests in the gardens, hiking in the woods, bug collecting, you know, silly things like that." "It sounds like you had a lot of fun." "I did." I sighed, shaking my head. "I miss those days." "How are things between you and your brother?" "Well, he says he loves me, but he sees my current course of actions as misdirected. So, I'd say thing are a little tense." Sunset placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, hun." I waved her off. "Come on, let's not worry about that right now." I smiled at her. "We're on vacation, so let's try and have a little fun. After all, I can think of a couple things we could do together, in privacy of nature." Sunset cocked an eyebrow. I grinned. "For instance, I know this perfect little alcove where no one would ever find us. Two adventurous women could get into quite a bit of mischief there." It was now Sunset's turn to blush, and I savoured every hue of her reddened complexion. May 16th, 1936 - 8:30PM Ms. Sunset Shimmer Faustian Estates - Reading Room I cut my teeth in Neigh Orleans. I was a girl from the bayou who should've been chewed up and spit out by the big city. Yet, I rapidly made a name for myself and became one of the best trumpeters in the Prench Quarter. Within three months, I was signed to a club, and by six, I was playing with all the big names, Vinyl Scratch, Brass Section, Country Blues. My musical skills grew in that city, and so did I. I went from an angry teenager with dreams of using a pipe bomb to change the world, to a bright young woman whose life became centred upon her creations, upon her music, and upon her love of jazz. Then one day, after what I considered to be the best performance of my life, I was approached by a man in a suit. He was a record producer from the even bigger city of Manehattan, who wanted me to move up north and join his record label. After much consideration, I signed his contract and was whisked away. I then spent even more years practicing, creating, and recording music with a group I soon came to enjoy working with. It was a good gig, until I found myself in love with the lead singer. That story was long, but ended with a divorce, my contract suspended, and me forced to play various nightclubs, just to make rent. However, I persisted and over the years, my accent may have faded and the cold may have sapped my memories of Neigh Orleans, but I never lost my love for jazz. So, knowing this, I could safely say that I was intimately familiar with my instrument and the music it produced. I knew where my trumpet belonged, where it excelled, and most importantly, where it should never be. That was why I felt so nervous, attempting a piece with just my trumpet. This was a place it should never be. In an environment with no strings to accompany it, no other brass to enhance it, nor any percussions to support it. In all aspects, it should've sounded terrible. It was just a single instrument, and that made me feel exposed. I was naked to the world and I knew that every single flaw would be easily heard. Yet, my audience of one seemed utterly engrossed. Twilight just sat there with a reassuring smile, her gaze staring through me in a trance. It was obvious that she was deep in thought, really focusing her attention on the music, and absolutely nothing else. It was the same look she had all those years ago, in that Manehattan nightclub. Back when I had no idea who she was, and only saw a beautiful woman staring at me with complete admiration. Those piercing eyes had looked exactly the same, entrapping me with ease. I knew from the beginning that she was something special. I could tell by her smile, by the way she held herself so respectably, and in the way her lips moved, silently sharing the vocals with our singer. When our piece was finished, I remembered rushing to the bar to meet her. She introduced herself, as if I should've known who she was. I could remember answering with a dumbfounded, 'who?' At first, she looked shocked, maybe even a little offended. However, she soon recovered and laughed. It was such a pretty laugh, one I would do anything to hear. In fact... As my current song began to wind down, I purposefully blew just a little too hard, ending my performance with a shrill musical typo. This knocked Twilight right out of her trance. I then sheepishly grinned, and played one final piece. A woom-woom-woom-woowoowoo. It sounded far better on a trombone, but it still made Twilight snicker. Mission accomplished. With my performance finished, I placed my trumpet aside and made my way over to Twilight, settling down beside her. There was a half-finished bottle of red between us. So, I decide to pour myself another glass, making it a little emptier. "Did you like the song?" I asked "Yes, it was very pretty. What's it called?" I swirled my wine. "I haven't come up with a name for it yet. It was uh...a piece I started before I left Manehattan." "Oh really?" "Yeah, it's hard to tell without the lyrics, but it's about a rough-n-tumble gal who meets a high-class lady." Twilight grinned. "I wonder what inspired that?" "A girl." "What kind of a girl?" "A very pretty one." She chuckled. "Any other redeeming features?" "Well, she's smart, fun to talk to, a bit of a dork..." "HEY!" "What can I say, she probably has the largest book collection I've ever seen." "Owning a lot of books doesn't make her a dork," she mumbled. "No, but she also loves crosswords, and don't even get me started on the way she dances." She threw up her hands. "When did you become such a bully?" I leaned in close to her. "But, even if she is a bit of a dork, I still love her immensely." "Hmmm and I'm sure she loves you too." She kissed me, and a spark instantly blossomed between us. Soon both our lips parted, allowing our kiss to grow hungry and impassioned, with the temporary meeting of our tongues. I could taste the lingering fruity essences of the wine upon her lips, and I had no doubt she could do the same. Soon, I found my hand upon her thigh, gliding under her skirt. Then a moment later, her hand was against my blouse, moving towards my... There was a knock at the door, as someone barged in. "Your Majesty," Coco called. "There's someone on the phone for Misssssss-" Me and Twilight broke apart, quickly scrambling to our own ends of the couch. Coco froze, with a reddish tinge invading her complexion. There was no way she could ignore what had just happened, especially with how much evidence we left behind. The ruffled nature of our clothing, the presence of Twilight's lipstick on me, the way the two of us blushed like teenagers. It all pointed to what we were up to. Coco stepped back towards the door. "I'll...uh...I'll let them know you're busy." I abruptly stood up. "No, no, I'll be right there." She nodded and immediately ducked out of the room. I groaned and shook my head. "Who is it?" Twilight asked. "I have no idea." I took a few moments to compose myself, using the back of my hand to rub away Twilight's markings. "I'll be right back." As I left the room, Coco was waiting by the nearest phone, making idle small talk. She noticed me, and informed the caller she was handing the phone over. I grabbed it and gestured for Coco to leave. She did so without comment. The poor thing was probably petrified over her little interruption. "Sunset Shimmer speaking, how can I help you?" Harshwhinny's voice came through. "Good evening, Miss Shimmer. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." I snorted, my gaze drifting to the reading room. "No, nothing at all." "Are you sure? You sound distressed." "I was just playing some music for Twilight. I get pretty passionate about it." "Oh wonderful, then I'll keep this brief. I just thought you'd like to know that your marriage is saved." I blinked. "What?" "It took a lot of sacrifice, but forbidding a national disaster, you'll have the votes necessary to confirm your marriage." "W-what?! How?!" "Well, I found enough Tories willing to kick Fancy while he's down, Labour of course just adores you, and the Whigs lack the spine to turn against a reigning monarch. It's a rather haphazard coalition, but they all assured me, that I'd be receiving their support when the time comes." "Holy shit, I don't know what to say." I couldn't help but grin like an idiot. "I thought you might enjoy the news," she said. There was a strange happiness in Harshwhinny's tone. It was nearly human. Well... as human as Harshwhinny could manage. "Damn straight I do. Oh my gods, how could we ever repay you?" She chuckled softly. "I wouldn't be opposed to a wedding invitation." "Of course, you got it." "Well, I've taken enough of your time, Sunset. I'll let you get back to things. Who knows, the news might even enhance your musical performance." I felt my cheeks warm. "Have a good night, Harshwhinny." "You as well, Sunset." The line went dead, and I returned the phone to its cradle. This was so surreal. For the first time in ages, it felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Me and Twilight were going to get married. MARRIED! I closed my eyes and laughed. It was a brief, but incredibly giddy sound, which echoed through the manor's empty halls. The only thing that saved me, from the brink of full-blown hysteria, was Twilight poking her into the corridor. "Sunset, is everything alright?" I grinned at her. "Twilight, we can get married!"

A Queen's Vows

Chapter 5 - The Die is Cast (July 22nd, 1936 - June 2nd, 1953)

July 22nd, 1936 - 3:45PM Prime Minister Fancy Pants 10 Regalia Street The room was heavy with the acidic scent of tobacco, as plumes of ashen smoke rolled off the two cigarettes in my ashtray. One belonged to myself, the other to Theodora Harshwhinny, currently the most despised person in my entire existence. "For what do I owe this summon, Mr. Prime Minister?" "Do you honestly need to ask?" "No, but I've been dying to hear you admit that I've got you by the balls. I know it sounds rather petty, but still." I sneered. "I'll admit, your coalition has been an inconvenience." She laughed. "An inconvenience? Mr. Prime Minister, I currently have the power to remove you from office. Unless you think you'll survive a no confidence motion at the mercy of Queen Sparkle." "Don't push it, Harshwhinny. You might be able to ratify the Queen's marriage, but I doubt your treasonous Tories want to see a fresh election." She hummed. "I suppose, but if I can secure Her Majesty's reign, then it's only a matter of time before she has you removed. After all, she's quite the firecracker, and I doubt you'll stand much of a chance against her reforms." "And you will?" "I'm the woman who saved her marriage." I laughed right in her face. "And you're daft, if you think that'll save you. You and I are cut from the same cloth, Harshwhinny. We believe in a similar set of ideals, and the only thing that divides us, is this issue and your self-centred egotism. It'll only be a matter of time before Her Majesty see right through you. Then you'll be hung from the gallows you helped build." She sneered. "I highly doubt that. She'll bend over backwards if I ask politely enough." "The only thing her reign is going to bring is the complete collapse of our way of life. I despise her, Theodora. I despise her for forgetting her duties, trampling upon her office, and forgetting the face of her mother. Her occupation of Celestia's throne is a disservice to her memory. "She's the Queen and we've pledged our allegiance to her." I sighed and picked up my cigarette. "That's true, but we don't owe that same level of loyalty to Sunset Shimmer. I will not see her become Princess Regent." "It doesn't seem like you have much of a choice." I shook my head. "Harshwhinny, you have the votes to outmaneuver me. However, for the good of our nation, I'm going to ask you to forfeit." "What are you asking, Fancy? I don't have much patience for idle chit chat." "What's your opinion on Shining Armor?" She laughed. "He's an idiot. Now ask me again on a bad day." "I agree, but he's an idiot who's talented in keeping his mouth shut. He even has the added benefit of a nice conventional family. We'd never have to worry about a succession crisis." She rolled her eyes. "Mmm yes, that does sound rather appealing but what are you getting at?" "The Queen is madly in love with her accursed anarchist. However, that's her weakness. If we deny her, her marriage, then we can pressure her into abdicating. Then we'll have absolutely nothing to worry about when governing. Imagine that, running a nation without the fear of royal interference. We could build a legacy to last for centuries." "You'll actually have to make this sound appealing, Fancy. Because this is doing shit for me." Her words had bite, but her tone didn't. It almost seemed like she was beginning to have second thoughts. A sly smile formed on my lips. I had her attention. Now, it was time to sweeten the deal. "Lord Stream is stepping down." Lord Stream was Minister of the Navy, one of the most important positions in the government's cabinet. It was also the position that I, and most former Prime Ministers, once held. Harshwhinny perked up. "Why haven't I heard about this?" "Because it isn't official yet. In fact, it isn't even unofficial yet. It will only be official if this meeting goes well." She took a deep breath. "Who else knows?" "Nobody besides you and me." "So, what you're say is..." "I'm proposing a trade, Theodora. If you disband your faction, and throw your weight behind me in any future marriage vote, then the post is yours." Harshwhinny stared at her hands, refusing to move her gaze even an inch. "I made Celestia a promise," she finally said, her usually firm tone now weak, barely above that of a whisper. "And so did I. I assured her that I'd dedicate myself fully to the prosperity and safety of the Equestrian people. I am just attempting to fulfill my end of the bargain." "I can't, I promised her," she repeated, though it sounded like she was trying to reassure herself. "And when has a promise ever stopped you before, Harshwhinny." I grinned. "Hell, it's not even like she's still alive. So the only thing hindering you is your conscience and I'm well aware of its absence in your life." More silence from her. "Come on Theodora, you're far too talented to waste the rest of your days rotting away as Minister of Culture. I'm proposing a favour for a favour." I motioned to her. "Who knows, there may even be an opening for Prime Minister somewhere down the road." Her eyes widen, glimmering at the prospect. I offered my hand. "Wouldn't it by nice to have a position of authority again?" She looked at my hand, then up at me. For a moment, neither of us move. Then Harshwhinny reached across the table and reluctantly shook my hand. Her grip was pitiful but it was enough to confirm that an agreement had been reached. "You have my support, Mr. Prime Minister." July 22nd, 1936 - 7:30PM Queen Twilight Sparkle Residence of Twilight Sparkle That two-bit, scheming, charlatan, whore of Bridleylon. No, no, no those words were far too kind for the woman who had stabbed me in the back. How about scum-sucking, bottom-feeding, traitorous product of incest? Better, better, but not quite there yet. Though, what was the point of this name calling? These words did little to address the fury which coursed through me. In fact, they felt rather hollow, only bestowing me with a shameful pettiness. I clenched my telephone, threatening to shatter it in my iron grip. This accursed device, which had brought the news that Sunset and I would no longer be given consent to wed. I felt tears in my eyes, the first few beads drawing hot streaks across my already broiled flesh. Those bastards had built up our hopes, teasing us with the dreams of marriage. Then they just waltzed in and cut them down without remorse. How could Harshwhinny do this to us? How could she break my mother's promise? I slammed the phone back into its cradle and collapsed into my chair. So, the time had finally come. It was only a matter of time before I was forced to make this decision, and the hope that I could do otherwise was just wishful thinking to the extreme. My love or my country? The woman of my dreams or my empire? Sunset Shimmer or Equestria? I had dreams of what I'd do with my reign. Plans to transform my mother's legacy into a golden age that would benefit all Equestrians, no matter their race, ethnicity, or status. Yet in those dreams, Sunset Shimmer had always been by my side. She was with me when I made difficult decisions, and she was there to console me when I made the wrong ones. However, what was I now? The most powerful woman in the world and I didn't even have the liberty to wed who I desired. Did I really want to sacrifice everything for a society that would do this to me? My vision blurred as my tears fell more freely now. I missed my mother immensely. Both for selfish purposes, and not so selfish ones. She was the better monarch, she would've known what to do. Plus, if she were alive, then maybe the details of my private life would've avoided the worst of their scrutiny. I snorted. There was that wishful thinking again, back in full force. I was a fool for thinking that I could have everything. Would Equestria survive without me? Would its empire? I had little ill-will towards my brother, but he hadn't received the training I had, for the office he might inherit. What if he listened to the wrong advisors? What if he appointed the wrong ministers? What if he consented to the wrong laws? The door to my study opened, though I refused to lift my head to see who entered. "Twilight?" It was Sunset. Both the person I wanted to see the most, and least. "I'm in here," I croaked She rushed to my side, wrapping her arms tightly around me. "What's the matter?" she asked I looked at her, seeing the concern etched into her aqua coloured eyes. A person could get lost in those if they weren't careful. "It's Harshwhinny," I finally said. Sunset went pale. "What?" I saw her concern slowly boil to fury, as a very real fire ignited within her. "Apparently, she's been outmaneuvered by Fancy, and has no choice but to abandon her support for us." Sunset shook her head. "I...I thought she had thing under control?" I chuckled. "She did." "So, what's going on then?" "Fancy outplayed us, Sunset. He offered Harshwhinny a bribe she couldn't refuse. I'm not sure what it was, but it was enough for her to betray us." I could feel Sunset's grip tighten, and I feared she might accidentally crush me. Thankfully, she maintained enough awareness to pull away, and instead spent her energy pacing back and forth. "What are we going to do?" she growled. I sighed. "I-i don't know..." But the truth was, I did. My love or my country? The woman of my dreams or my empire? Sunset Shimmer or Equestria? What was more important to me? August 3rd, 1936 - 1:00PM Around the empire, millions huddled together in their homes, gathered in dusty squares, smoked in noisy bars, or crowded together in cramped breakrooms. No matter the location, the reason was always the same. Today, everyone was listening to the radio. It seemed like such a strange reaction, as an entire empire virtually shut down to listen to the news. In Canterlot, it was the midday report, though depending on your location on the globe, this could very well be your morning or evening broadcast. As the top of all 24 hours simultaneously neared, all was silent, with hardly a word spoken through the entirety of Equestrian lands. Not a single glass was toasted, not a single machine run, and even the busy patter of feet was kept to a minimum. The weathered voice, of the Equestrian Broadcasting Corporation's head anchor, was at the helm. "...with that, we end this afternoon's broadcast. We are now going through to Canterlot Castle where Her Majesty, Queen Sparkle, is awaiting to address her empire. The collective attention of half a billion souls was on edge as there was a click, a static buzz, and then silence. What finally broke it was the slow intake of breath. It sounded tired, laboured, exhausted. A voice which hadn't seen restful sleep in weeks. There are a few things that have plagued me these last few weeks, which I wish to speak freely about, but have been unable to due to the constitutional constraints of my office. A few hours ago, I discharged the last of my duties, as Queen and Empress, and my titles will now pass to my brother, Shining Armor. My first words, as a private citizen, must be to declare my allegiance to him. This is something I do with all my heart. He has been an excellent aid in my rule and he will assuredly be an excellent King to our people, and to our empire. You all know my reasons for renouncing the throne. But I want you to understand, that in making this decision, I did not forget the country and empire which I have tried, for the entirety of my life, to serve. You must believe me, when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility, and to perform my duties as Queen, without the help and support of the woman I love. As such, I no longer felt able to serve you as a monarch should. I beg for your forgiveness, my fellow citizens, and I pray that you do not think unkindly of me for my selfishness. May the gods bless Equestria, may the gods bless the empire, and may the gods bless our King. June 2nd, 1953 - 7AM Mrs. Twilight Sparkle Residence of Twilight and Sunset - Manehattan When we moved into this townhouse, fifteen years ago, there had been a radio which dominated the living room. A couple years ago, we had it moved to storage and replaced with a television set. Television really was this magnificent thing. While radio allowed you to partake in events, television actually let you live them, as if you were really there. Usually this was a fantastic experience. However, today it was bittersweet. I sat before our television, watching as my niece Flurry Heart took the first steps towards formally ascending the throne. Today was her coronation, an event I'd never get to live, due to the brevity of my reign. It was like actually being there, actually performing the ceremony myself. She took the steps I'd never get to take, she made the promises I'd never get to make, and she would sit upon the throne I'd never get to hold. Flurry looked absolutely wrecked by nerves, maybe even bordering on petrified. Yet, hadn't I seemed the same way all those years ago? I felt a lump in my throat. I promised myself I wouldn't cry. Yet, that seemed like another promise I'd have to break. However, salvation arrived a moment later, as a hand cradled my own. I looked to the side, and there she was, the woman who I sacrificed my throne to marry. "Was it worth it?" Sunset asked. It was like she could read my mind. Though after all these years, that was a very real possibility. Her wedding band rubbed against my own, and in that moment, every ounce of pain vanished. I gently kissed her on the cheek and smiled. "Yes, and I'd do it a thousands times over."

Equestria Girls: Digimon Chosen

pre

"Hey, that's a compliment! You're one of us!" "I get it I get it. HAHA! Stop." she tried to grab his wing like a hand and did a firm grab. "I appreciate that bird." Hawkmon would smile before grabbing her hand back with more strength. Sunset would just look more annoyed as time passed. "Ugh is he still out there?" Hawkmon would turn to her with a grim face. "Yeah...I can still hear his wing beat." "UGH!" "We need to do something. We can't just stay here forever. Hey Hawkmon, do you think you could fly out there and see if you can find a chance for us to escape?" "He could spot me. I don't think I could out fly a champion level...Frankly all we did was trap ourselves here." "He might get bored soon and leave." Liollmon said hopefully, but Hagurumon and Hawkmon would look at him with a deadpan stare. "I highly doubt it if he stayed this long." "Oh I wish he could stick his stupid beak in here and I could just poison the savage thing!" Floramon said in a huff as she crossed her arms. Sunset would look to her then to the cave's entrance and paced a bit. Flash and Twilight's faces lit up as hers did as well. Sunset would then go to the group and stood in their field of vision. "I think I have a plan."

Equestria Girls: Digimon Chosen

ACT I: Episode 3: Chapter 12

"What plan?" Twilight asked as the others turned their attention to Sunset. "How to get out of here, but it will be risky." "What is darling?" "We have one of us go out there to bait the digimon. He will probably try to get in here to get at us. IF he gets close to us at the cave's entrance Floramon can poison them. You can do that right?" "I can. It's an attack of mine." "Now hold on darling. Are you sure this could work?" "Frankly? I'm not. But we have to try something. If we do this right we can all make it out and get out of here."Rarity would look nervous before turning to Floramon with a worried expression. "It's your choice. Can you do it?" Floramon looked nervous but then smirked. "I said I would poison him wouldn't I? I just need to get close." "That's what I'm talking about!" Rainbow cheered as everyone's spirits started to lift. "Now once he is poisoned. We will take the chance to get outside and Flash and I along with Dracomon and Liollmon will deal with Saberdramon." "We're behind you every step of the way." "Okay guys. Places. Now we need someone to go outside." "Leave it to me!" Rainbow stepped forward. Hawkmon would turn to her quickly as he flew by her side. "You can't go by yourself! I'll go too." "I can handl-" "No! Not listening to you. I'm helping and you will deal with it!" "Wow...well okay. You with me then. We'll go out there and just make a bunch of noise. Got it dodo?" "Got it!.....HEY! I'm no dodo!" Rainbow would just laugh to herself as the two made their way outside, they would see Saberdramon fly around in the sky. As it did it Rainbow would wave her arms around as Hawkmon flew every direction near her. "HEEEEEEY! HEEEY UGLY BIRD BRAIN OVER HERE!" "FREE FOOD JUST FOR YOU COME AND GET US!" The large bird would get annoyed and saw his chance to get his prey as he dove down to them. His body would slowly light up in flames as each flame would turn black which made Rainbow and Hawkmon's eyes pop out. "BLACK SABER!" "Shoot! Run now!" The two would retreat back into the cave as the digimon got closer and as they jumped into the cave Saberdramon would lodge himself into the entrance screeching. "Now!" "Rain of pollen!" The little plant would spray the bird with a spray of pollen and toxins as the digimon roared in anger and anguish as it moved back shaking its head violently. "EVERYONE NOW!" Everyone in the group would run out of the cave as swift as they could. The monster roared as it slowly ascended into the sky. "Okay Dracomon time to deal with this!" "Liollmon you too!" "On it!" "Let me at him!" Their digivices would shine as Dracomon and Liollmon's bodies reacted in kind. "Dracomon digivolve to....COREDRAMON!" "Liollmon digivolve to...LIAMON!" The dragon and lion would stand together as Saberdramoon flew, circling the duo. "BLACK SABER!" He would dive down, covered in black flames as the duo barley managed to dodge. "BLUE FLARE BREATH!" "THUNDER KING!" The attacks would miss the bird as he dodged left and right and shot feathers from his wings hitting the duo making them scream. "NO!" Hawkmon would cry out as he flew to them. Rainbow would try to grab him in panic. "No! Stop!" "YOU'RE stopping me? You always seemed gung ho! We have to help them!" "But I'm not stupid! I know how you feel! Really I do but those two are the only ones who can even stand a chance right now! We did our part, now let's go!" "But-" Before Hawkmon could finish Saberdramon flapped his wings, sending sharp feathers and black flames at them knocking Coredramon and Liamon back as they would revert to their smaller forms. "Dracomon! Liollmon!" Saberdramon would let out a distorted eagle cry as it flew at the girls. Rainbow's eyes would widen as she pushed Hawkmon out of the way before being grabbed by the large bird's claw, taking her into the sky. "HEY! LET GO OF ME!" "Rainbow Dash!" "Rainbow no!" The rest of the digimon tried to hurl their attacks at the monster but it was no use. The creature would ascend too far for them as Rainbow tried to free herself only to be met with a slow crushing feeling from the giant claw. Hawkmon flew after her, wings flapping hard and fast as he could. "Come on! Come on! Why?! WHY!? I can't fly high but she needs me! I can't bring her down..." He would remember the stories Rainbow would tell him especially on how she herself would fly high into the sky. Now at the mercy of Saberdramon, view getting smaller and smaller as Hawkmon struggled to keep up. "She used to fly...she was robbed of it...and I can't even use MY wings to help. I have to help her. I have to help the other humans...I have to help them get their friend back...I have to help get MY friend back." "HELP! GET ME DOWN. LET ME GO YOU FREAK!" Rainbow was met with a more tight grip as she yelped out in pain. "LET MY FRIEND GO YOU BURNT FACED BIRD!" As Hawkmon screamed a light was shown as Saberdramon cried out in pain letting Rainbow go with her screaming from the fall. The light was see in her hand as she would quickly look at it. Like Sunset and Flash a round device was shown only this was colored blue.. The screen was glowing. The digivice would glow a blue light while Hawkmon would shine the same color. The symbol of a bird with its wings out shined as the symbol would hit Hawkmon. "Hawkmon...digivolve to...!" His body would grow larger and his wings bigger and bigger with horns growing from his head. As the light faded a new form was seen "AQUILAMON!" "Whoa!" "He digivolved!" "What a beautiful bird..." Fluttershy said to herself. Aquilamon would soar into the sky at an amazing speed and caught Rainbow on his back. She would breathe hard from the adrenaline as she realized she was safe. She felt the soft and feathery surface she was on. She looked around confused as she would hear a loud voice. "Rainbow! Are you alright?" "Wait...Hawkmon?" "It's not over yet. Hang on tight!" Rainbow grabbed onto his back as best as he could as he soared to meet with the enemy bird. The monsters would stare each other down as Saberdramon would douse himself in flames and flew fast. "BLACK SABER!" As he did so Aquilamon would dodge and open his beak. "BLAST RINGS!" Rings of energy would come out and fire at Saberdramon injuring him. The two birds would fly around as they flew at each other. "BLACK SABER!" "GRAND IMPULSE!" Aquilamon's horns would glow as he would ram into the enemy, stabbing him through. The other monster let out a shrill scream as he slowly fell into the alley fading into data. Said data would be absorbed into Aquilamon's body. The group down below would see the victory as they all cheered and hug one another. Aquilamon would fly back down to the group and as he landed he would let Rainbow off. She would dust herself off before letting out a huge exhale. "Rainbow Dash are you okay?!" "I'm okay Fluttershy. Everyone really." she would turn to her new friend as she looked him over in amazement. "You are so...AWESOME! Wow, look at you!" "Hehe. Yeah I know. I'm pretty cool. You better not slow me down human." He would say with a smirk. "You kidding? Do you know who you are talking to?" Aquilamon would respond with a smirk as he would lower his head as Rainbow touched his face. "You can count on me. I got your back." "Don't get mushy." As Rainow patted his face the eagle would smile as he would glow, reverting to his smaller form. He would fly around in excitement as he got in everyone's faces. "Did you see that?! I flew so high!" As all the digimon surrounded him sharing congratulations or joy that he was okay, Sunset would watch him and the rest of the digimon before speaking up. "The more this happens the more I'm starting to see the bigger picture. Now that Rainbow has Hawkmon he can help Dracomon with air support. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses in this group. If we can have everyone bond with our new friends then imagine what we could do." "Well you can count on us!" "What dodo said!" "Yeah!.....HEY!" Everyone else would laugh at their squabble as Sunset walked in front of everyone with Flash. "Alright guys. We have places to go. Now let's go!" Everyone nod as they followed Sunset and Dracomon out of the valley. The digimon looked determined as the ones who didn't have a tamer would look to who was left. Who would they paired with? How much stronger could they be?

Equestria Girls: Digimon Chosen

ACT I: Episode 4: Chapter 13

It was some time after the ordeal in the valley and cliff side cave adventure. While stressful it was also jovial as Rainbow and Hawkmon quickly formed a bond from it. They would share stories as the others listened in or chipped in. Now that three humans had a partner it made everyone wonder who they would be partnered with. As everyone walked on they would see a path would slowly form in the dirt before them. Odd footprints were seen, showing a path. "Footprints?" "Wait. Look how even the dirt is too. Grass isn't growing here. Sweet molasses, I think this is a path!" "Maybe there is a town nearby? We could get supplies." "With what money and carry it with what?" Spike commented as he looked up. "If I recall none of you had anything on you when we came here." "Right..." "Well it couldn't hurt to try!" Pinkie bounced up as she replied. "It is better than just doing nothing. We will need some rations for the trip to Bagu City." Sunset thought out loud. The rest would nod as everyone pressed on. As the path became more clear and even a town was seen. It seemed to resemble a countryside south with cottages and shacks making up the architecture. What really stood out was rows and rows of gardens, farms and just overall variety of greenery. "Wow, look at this place." Flash commented as he and Liollmon looked around. Twilight turned with a bit of glee. "It's like a page straight out of a history book!" "So many...plants?" Fluttershy squealed as she looked around. "Oh they are so adorable!" "Well we are in the middle of the Plant Kingdom so plant digimon would be the majority here." Dracomon explained. The group walk into town and see a small market where all plant digimon came and went and even socialize. Spike walked next to Floramon. "I bet you feel really comfy with all these plants around huh?" "Oh I am! I have never met another plant digimon before!" "Wait." Flash turned to the little one. "You never met another digimon like yourself before?" Hagurumon would smack him at the back of the head before explaining. "You all need to realize. We lived at the Sistermon church our whole lives. We were kept from the outside world. They hid us from something, but they were always vague. Just that the world was dangerous for us." "Guess that's out of the window now." Patamon said grumpily. "So none of you met any of your own kind before? Or anyone?" Sunset asked. Dracomon would be the one to answer. "Actually only Patamon did." "Wait, why just him?" "Patamon is part of the holy race. The sistermon were also of the holy race. Out of all of us he was the only one to meet one of his own kind. That's probably why next to al of us he probably felt the most connection...probably was the hardest for him to leave too." "Oh..." "Everyone look." Applejack would point out some various digimon that look plantlike in nature as they were through the town. They seemed on edge and only a few. "They all look like cute little plants!" Fluttershy squealed. Floramon in particular would stare at the town in wonder and even the citizens. "Something ain't right." Applejack commented as she put her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow as she looked around. "Hey look!" Hawkmon pointed out to the distance a palanquin carried by numerous plant-like digimon towards a tree line. As Hawkmon flew closer he would see that they would go past trees and approach a large lake. He would fly back down and explain what he saw. "Now that is strange. Wonder what they are doing?" Twilight pondered. "OOOOOH Why not take a look?" Pinkie jumped, but the others weren't so sure. They looked to one another, before Rainbow beamed. "We got to see!" "Why would we do that??" Flash asked in disbelief. Liollmon would give him a smirk before looking away when Flash looked at him. As the two would fool around, Floramon would walk in the direction of the lake. Rarity looked concerned as she followed. "Darling? Where are you going? Floramon!" "Wait Rarity! Wait for us!" "Oh crabapples..." The group would follow the pair to the lake, but also keep low to avoid detection. As the group got close enough to see the group of digimon. From the lake, water would rise and rise before being dispersed by a rising figure. A serpentine creature rose from the lake's depth as it looked around. It was of teal color with red markings, blue eyes, fins and oddly enough wearing a yellow helmet. It bared its teeth as it saw the plant digimon at the dock. "They have a version of the lochness monster?" Flash asked in amazement and confusion before being shushed by everyone. Everyone would observe with amazement and fear as they saw the creature. All of the digivices shined as Rainbow looked at hers to try to cover the light before reading what was shown. "Seadramon: A champion level, aquatic digimon. A constrictor by method as well as favoring freezing its prey and enemies with its ice blast." "What are they up to...?" Twilight tried to study the scene before her while Kamemon got nervous and even hid behind Pinkie's leg. 'You have brought the sacrifice?" Seadramon asked. As the other digimon trembled and nodded as they opened the curtain of the palanquin only to show nothing. Seadramon's face twisted in anger as he watched. "Is this a joke?!" "B-B-But she was here! I swear! J-Just give us some time an-" "ICE BLAST!" The large serpent let out a breath of frost at the little plant creature as he screamed. He froze all over before exploding into bits and fading into nothing. The other digimon trembled in fear as Seadramon rose above them. "You have until tomorrow. You know the deal. If I do not get my offering YOUR ENTIRE VILLAGE WILL BE ENCASED IN ICE." He would then dive back into the depths of the lake as the digimon would scramble off the dock. Meanwhile the rainbooms and their friends would also be trembling. Sunset however was trembling with anger. "That SHIT!"

Equestria Girls: Digimon Chosen

ACT I: Episode 4: Chapter 14

"This is BARBARIC!" Rarity cried out as she almost fainted. "This is horrible!" "Yeah, but did you hear? Offering? Who knows how long this has been going on." "Why would they do that?!" Pinkie looked horrified as everyone had to clever their ears at the volume of her outburst. "Because we all will be destroyed if we don't." A kiwi like creature appeared as he stepped in and explained. "Who are you?" "I am Kiwimon." "Pardon me for asking, but what happened here?" "Hey now I have questions. Who are all of you?" "I'm Sunset Shimmer." "My name is Twilight Sparkle." "Rainbow Dash!" "Fluttershy..." "I'm Pinkie Pie!" "Rarity!" "Name's Applejack" "I'm Flash Sentry." "And I'm Spike." As the digimon would introduce themselves Kiwkimon looked the humans and Spike over before grunting. "I'm not sure what you all are, but I suggest you all leave this village as soon as you can." "Yes of course we can! Come on everyone, let's go." Before Fluttershy could leave, Applejack stopped her by grabbing her shoulder really quickly. As Everyone was unnerved, Sunset looked determined as she stepped forward to Kiwimon. "We can't do that. We really don't know the area and the danger. A place to rest could really help." Kiwimon sighed hearing this and looked around. "I do have a place of my own. You all can rest for the night, but you should leave first thing at dawn." 'We promise." "Follow me." As Kiwimon lead the way the group would see the morale was low as the locals' faces screamed despair. "How long has this been going??" Twilight asked as she looked around. "For years..." Kiwimon admitted. Everyone would gasp hearing the answer. "We used to do trading with all sorts of species. We plants and birds love to specialize in fragrances and trade them with the bugs especially, but one day out from the deep a Seadramon came and froze our beloved crop of digital lilac. Many plant digimon were killed." Floramon paled. "That's terrible!" "He then laughed and said to us." "I will spare your village if you give me an offering every year. Your most powerful or pure of data." "We have no more champions but we have a digimon of pure plant." "I think I might get it." Hagurumon spoke up. "When a digimon is killed their data in a fight will usually go to the victor and gets downloaded. It becomes a part of them and makes them stronger." At that revelation Dracomon, Liollmon, and Hawkmon remembered their own fights and the results. Every time they would download the data of their fallen enemies. From the erased body the data particles would go into their own. It's no wonder why they always felt great afterwards despite the battle fatigue. "It helps escalate evolution." Kiwimon would continue with his explanation after Hagurumon finished his. "His ice-based attacks greatly hurt us even if some of us are virus type. We can't touch him..." "Virus?" Twilight would ask. Hagurumon would brighten up at the question. "Allow me to explain again! Digimon come in four types: vaccine, data, virus and free. Free is pretty neutral but vaccine usually helps other programs, data is the default and most common of digimon though virus can cause havoc though that's not always the case. "WOW we really are in a different world!" Pinkie chirped out with Twilight nodding in fascination. "You creatures must be out of your mind! What can you do to help?!" Dracomon, Liollmon and Hawkmon would step forward and stood alongside Sunset, Flash and Rainbow as they looked serious. "Trust me. I think we can find a way." "We all can help too! No way we're going to let that mean sea monster take away your smiles!" Pinkie bounced around which made the others chuckle. Pinkie would turn serious. "There has to be some way we can help!" "There has to be a way we can!" Rainbow commented. As the group continued Kiwimon showed them a hut much like the others. He would turn the group before clearing his throat. "There's not much room, but you can settle here for the night. Please make do." "How charming..." Applejack would cover Rarity's mouth with her hand before continuing. "We will. Thank you." As everyone got settled in the hut they would huddle together outside when done. "We need to help." Sunset said firmly. "Look Sunset I don't like this either, but do we really have time for this? We have to find a way to get back home." Flash replied. Pinkie bounced back instead of Sunset cutting her off. "BUT WE HAVE TO HELP!" Pinkie would grab his face and lead it to the direction of the town. "Just look at them! They are all so miserable! Maybe we're meant to help them! Bring their smiles back." Kamemon would tug at her arm as the pink girl would turn to him. "But...But we can't let you get hurt...we're put in charge of you..." "Oh don't worry Kammy! We've been through trouble before!" "But not like this Pinkie." Applejack pointed out. "Sure we've been to another world, but nothing hostile like this. We need to be careful." As everyone was discussing the idea a new voice was heard. "Would you really help?" The group would look around to find the source of the new voice. Their search would lead to a bush with a smaller digimon hidden in. A plant digimon with flower petals at the top of its head, almost like a hairstyle. The creature's eyes were red and puffy as it sniffled. "Digivice says it's a Palmon. A rookie plant digimon." Rainbow explained while looking at her digivice. Pinkie would kneel down to be at eye level with the Palmon as she patted the creature gently on the head as if comforting a child. With a warm smile Pinkie would reply. "Of course we will. I'm guessing you were meant to be out there?" Palmon would reply with more tears and a little nod. Kiwimon would find the group and as his eyes set on Palmon he would get tense. "There you are! Has anyone seen you? Wait you were supposed to be...I'm glad you're okay." "You know her?" Spike asked the kiwi. As he nodded Applejack eyed him. "You raised her didn't you?" "More or less. Unlike animals and humans we do not have families. We usually fend for ourselves. However when communities form like this village it's hard not to look out for one another. But after that CRETIN came to our town...so many of our rookies and little ones were sent to feed his greedy palette! You are right young one. It was Palmon's turn, but I couldn't bare to see her get destroyed. But...But if I don't...the village will be gone. What do I choose...How can I ever choose...?" The kiwi would turn to the plant. "You must never let them see you...but if you don't...we are doomed..." Rainbow jumped up as she started to raise her voice. "Of course she knows that! But she doesn't want to lose her data just like that! She clearly wants to stay here and be friends with you and everyone else! Right?" Palmon would nod. "Be honest. You would miss her if she was gone. Right?" Fluttershy asked him. He would tremble a bit before tears would show. Pinkie would just hug the kiwi as Sunset looked determined. Flash would stand next to her sharing the same expression. "We're doing something about this."

Equestria Girls: Digimon Chosen

ACT I: Episode 4: Chapter 15

"We need to figure out a way to beat him." Twilight pondered. "Please don't." Kiwimon looked panicked. "Seadramon will only get angrier. When he first arrived, some digimon did try to stand up to him, but they could not stand his mighty tempter especially when he uses his ice blast. That cold is very harmful to us plant digimon..." "Believe it or not. My friends and I have been through a lot together. I think we can handle it." Sunset said with a smirk, crossing her arms. Flash would just nod before adding. "It's true. These girls are amazing." "But we never fought monsters like that before coming to his world..." Fluttershy mumbled. "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell we have soooome experience. Kinda....ish? Like that time we fought Microchip's Toaster robot thing?" Pinkie reminded. "Right..." "I agree with Fluttershy, darling. Despite that example and fighting some dreadful super villains this is still a far cry from our usual heroic exploits." "But that is why we are here. To help all of you." Their digimon companions stood together with Dracomon, Liollmon, and Hawkmon at the front of their group. "We will give it everything we got to make sure that tyrant gets put down." "Yeah Flash! You know we got your backs." "YOU KNOW IT! He thinks he's so cool, but let'ssee how he handles our new powers!" "That does mean a lot." Sunset replied. "NO!" Kamemon would shout as everyone in surprise turned to him. Pinkie would kneel down. "Come on Kammy, we need to do this. Don't you want to help?" "I do, but you will just get hurt!" "Oh Kammy! Sometimes you have to get a little rough in order to make others happy. And all these digimon really need it. I know you're scared, but we need to do this Kammy." Kamemon would twiddle his hands as he shifted before slowly nodding. Pinkie would hug the turtle in a tight embrace as the others laughed. Even Palmon would join in as Kiwimon's expression brightened. "What are you planning?" "We drain the lake!" Rainbow shouted her suggestion. Everyone looked at her, filling the air with dead silence. Twilight stared at her in annoyance as she was the one one to break the silence. "And how would we do that?" "With a hose!" "And where will we get one? Hmm?" "Uh..." "Exactly." "WAIT!" Pinkie surprises everyone with her outburst. She would blush in embarrassment before continuing. "Why not get Floramon involved?" "What do you mean?" "Think about it! Remember the incident at the cave cliff? What if we get her to poison that mean serpent when we get close enough!" "That....could work. After all it did work with that large bird." "Yeah...and she is a plant digimon. We could pretend she's an offering and when the time is right-" "BAM face full of poison!" Rainbow jumped up exclaiming. Rarity would show some concern as she looked at Floramon at eye level. "Let's go over this then. Floramon will be the bait to lure Seadramon. Once she distracts him long enough Flash, Rainbow, and I will lead our partners in the battle. The rest of you will follow suit and provide back up. Most of the group nodded in confirmation." "Are you okay with this?" "Well...no...but its a good plan..." "NO!" Kamemon called out as everyone turned to him. "She could get hurt!" "Come on Kammy! We've been through this! We have to." "Do not worry old friend. We will all be here. Together." Dracomon assured the little army turtle as he put a claw on his shoulder. "This sounds like a solid plan. If everyone is in agreement..." "I agree wit Sunset. This could catch Seadramon off guard. Liollmon and I and the others who can fight likewise can strike." Flash commented. Everyone would slowly nod. Even Kamemon slowly as Pinkie patted his head with a smile. Pinkie then lit up as she bounced up and ran past everyone. Everyone looked puzzled as they looked to the direction she went. "Pinkie?" As everyone looked outside they would see a pink blur as all the younger digimon would be given an assortment of treats, balloons, and even party favors. A round the area surrounding Kiwimon's hut it would be decorated like an outdoor party. Balloons, confetti, and streamers would decorate everywhere. Kamemon looked at her in confusion when he walked outside. All the younger plant digimon would see this and get drawn to the spectacle. "Come one come all! Time for a party!" "Uh Pinkie Pie is this actually appropriate?" Applejack asked but Pinkie shushed her when putting a finger to her lip. "It is more than ever! Look at them! They need this." As the bigger digimon looked annoyed or even disgusted, the smaller digimon would light up with joy as they surrounded the pink girl. The bubbly young lady would give them snacks, play with and play party games. Kiwimon would look puzzled. "What is she doing?" "Throwing a party." Applejack clarified, but Fluttershy shook her head and smiled. "No...making them smile." After hearing that Kamemon just stared at Pinkie then walked slowly to join in the fun. As the little digimon got piggy back rides even Kamemon got a ride as they both giggled and played together. "Hey Pinkie?" "What is it Kammy?" "How can you be so happy? I mean, aren't you scared?" "Oh I am, but that's why you gotta have a party! You never know what will happen tomorrow, that's why you gotta live it up today!" "Oh..." "Oh I just wished I was back at home! I could bake all sorts of yummy treats, get balloons, streamers, confetti, get some games, old school and new school- oh the possibilities are endless- Oh maybe make some makeshift blindfolds for a big village spread pin the tail on the donkey and-" She would get interrupted by Kamemon letting out a joy filled giggle as it turned to laughter. He found her rambling amusing as Pinkie smiled at him and hugged him tight. "Now come on little Kammy join the fun! EVERYBODY!" Pinkie would give her friends snacks and sweets as well as everyone as far as she could see.

Equestria Girls: Digimon Chosen

ACT I: Episode 4: Chapter 16

The time would come for everyone to get into positions. The next day everyone would be on edge as they watch Rarity help Floramon into the palanquin. "Really hope this works..." Flash said as he looked on. Rarity would reply in her trademark beatbox stutter before continuing. "You doubt our new friends or how I style?" "Rarity, All you did was touch up the palanquin which by the way I doubt that sea monster gives a flying fit about." "Ugh how dare you." "Will you both shut up and let them carry her to the lake??" Hagurumon called out as the other digimon carried the palanquin to the lake. They would eventually arrive at the lake as they waited. The water would ripple and shift before rising and dispersing as a serpentine form rose from the depths of the lake and stared at his would be offering. "There he is..." "Shh!" "Ah yes my offering! Step forward and meet your fate!" At that cue Floramon would step out of the palanquin as she tried her best to look meek and scared. The serpent would sneer as he leaned closer to her. Sunset, Flash and Rainbow would inch closer with each second, gripping their digivices harder and harder as their partners stood beside them. "Just step closer little one and your village will be saved..." "Oh I am so...THRILLED! RAIN OF POLLEN!" As Seadramon got close to her she would spray him with a pollen of poison right at his face making the creature reel back as he roared in pain. "AHHH YOU DARE TO TRICK ME?!" He would be cut off as he would get hit with flying gears, a little missile near his eyes slightly scorching his face as he reeled back roaring in pain. The group would out to where Floramon was as they faced off. "HAHA! I can't believe you fell for that!" Rainbow exclaimed as she tossed her digivice in the air and caught it. "Alright girls!" "Hey." "Er everyone. Let's do this!" Sunset, Flash, and Rainbow's digivices would glow as would their partners as they jumped into the battle. "Dracomon digivolve to...COREDRAMON!" "Liollmon digivolve to...LIAMON!" "Hawkmon digivolve to...AQUILAMON!" They would all charge at the sea serpent as the latter would try to organize himself. "BLUE FLARE BREATH!" "THUNDER KING" "BLAST RINGS!" The barrage of attacks would hit the creature as he dove back into the water before resurfacing fast to splash everyone. At the confusion he would aim at everyone. "ICE BLAST!" Seadramon would open his mouth as a breath of ice would go towards everyone as Aquilamon took the hit. His wings froze over as he became more and more frozen. "Aquilamon!" Coredramon would fly to his breath and breathe fire on him to thaw him out. The latter would break out of the ice before both got swiftly knocked back by Seadramon's tail. "Thanks." "Can't let our guard down yet. To the sky!" As they took off to the sky Liamon would jump at Seadramon before being frozen. "You may have air support but this is MY element I control these waters! Suffer my freezing bite!" "ICE BLAST!" He would spray everywhere with his ice breath as he hit Coredramon and Aquilamon before they landed onto the ground struggling. Their tamers would rush to them in worry. "You dare to defy me?! Once I am done with you lot the village will be next!" Before he could continue he would get hit by a barrage of confetti. He would turn to the source as Pinkie brought out a cannon and fired another round, this time at his face. "Leave them alone! Fire three!" Pinkie would fire another round of party favor at the serpent's face before he roared and grabbed Pinkie with his tail. "Pinkie Pie!" "You are starting to irk me pink one! You will be next!" The serpent would be hit by a little missile as he yelped. "What now?!" He would turn to Kamemon as the latter fired off another one. "Don't you dare hurt her! You hear me?!" "Little one, what can you do? I control this lake, I control this village, and I control all your fates!" He would tighten his squeeze on Pinkie as she struggled to breathe before Kamemon rushed in before he got frozen by an ice blast. "Time to freeze!" "I SAID LET GO OF MY FRIEND!!!!!!" Kamemon would break out of the ice before his entire body would glow. At that moment in the palm of Pinkie's hand a pink colored digivice would appear in a ball of light within. Due to the struggle Pinkie couldn't look at her own device but knew something appeared. The digivice would shine and on the screen a symbol of a dolphin's tail and water appeared. Both would glow brighter and brighter making Seadramon cringe at the light. "Kamemon...digivolve to...!" His body would be enveloped by water before a new figure jumped out of the war. A CD spun on top of his head as he was bigger, more flexible, and showed his eyes without the old army helmet. He spun around and struck a pose. "GWAPPAMON!" As the light faded he would take the discs out from the top of his head and threw them at Seadramon's tail, cutting it off and releasing Pinkie. He would then stretch his arms out like elastic and catch the pink girl. "I got you!" "He also digivolved..." Byte said aloud as Twilight nodded. The rest were smiling wide as they saw their friend safe and their new friend changing. "Kammy...is that you?!" "Yeah Pinkie! I digivolved! How did I- LOOK!" He pointed to her hand as she saw the pink digivice in her hand. She looked it over before having a big smile. She would hug her new partner and laugh. "HAHA YOU ARE EVERYTHING I WANTED AND SO CUTE!" "Hehe stoooop." "Nice to see you join us Gwappamon, but we need to get back on track!" Aquilamon chided as he and the rest got back up. "ICE BLAST!" The rest of the digimon would dodge as Gwappamon would set Pinkie down with the others as the four digimon stood in front of the serpent. Sunset stood by Dracomon. "Everyone! Attack from all sides! We can rush him!" "On it! THUNDER KING!" Liamon's mane would spark and glow with electricity as he fired the blast of energy into the lake as Seadramon would get shocked. "GRAND IMPULSE!" Aquilamon would ram him with his glowing horns knocking him back a bit. "BLUE FLARE BREATH!" Suddenly a blue laser would hit Seadramon in the face as it knocked him further. The serpent would feel himself get tied up with something. When he turned to look he would see Gwappamon's arms stretched out like some cartoon character as he then propelled himself to hit him square in the face. "Not so tough now huh? Time to party!" The disc on his head would spin as he would let go of Seadramons head and shot out a bunch of discs like projectiles. "ICE BLAST!" "DJ SHOOTER!" The spinning discs would fly and cut right through the ice blast as it went into the serpent's maw and out from the other end as it cut right through making the serpent fall and disintegrate into the lake. The particles of data would be absorbed by Gwappamon as the others cheered. "You did it Kammy!" "Way to go guys! HAHA!" All the digimon would shrink back to the smaller forms as the rest of them would hug the ones who just shrank. The humans and Spike would join them in the group hug and celebration. They would hear footsteps behind them as Kiwimon as he stared at them, slack jawed. "You did it? You actually did it?? I can't believe it...!" "Hehe naaaaaah Kammy did!" "Ah shucks." Other digimon of the village would come into view after hearing the commotion as they were confused before being explained the situation by Kiwimon. Everyone would roar in cheer and applause as they surrounded the group. "They really did it..." "They defeated Seadramon!" "Praise our heroes!" "Aw...I'm back to boring old Kamemon..." "ARE YOU KIDDING?!" Pinkie bounced and scooped Kamemon into a hug. "You are anything but! And did you see what you did and turn into?! I can't believe I'm your friend and tamer hehehe!" "This will help us a lot." Dracomon commented. "With a marine digimon this could help our future battles. We have fliers, runners on land and now a swimmer." Through the crowd Palmon rushed in and hugged Pinkie, Kamemon, and Floramon as the villagers surrounded them. "That is where she was? We went through all that because of her?!" "DON'T EVEN!" Flash stepped up fuming as he pointed at the villagers. "I get you were all scared, but you all do NOT have the right to judge here! You all sacrificed your own young to please him! You could have TRIED to find some other way out of this or even run. We protected you today, but from here on out you also have to help yourselves! " Rainbow patted his shoulders as she stepped up. "He's right. Learn to be strong! Ask for help and fight for yourselves so this will not happen again!" The crowd grew quiet as they would look ashamed. Kiwimon nuzzling Palmon then turned to the group. "You still saved us. I believe a feast is in order." "You mean...a party?!" Pinkie jumped up as the others laughed. The rest of the villagers then followed suit, infected by her jovial energy. The day would turn to night as everyone drank, ate and played to their heart's content. Flash and Sunset would dance together as the digimon would just devour everything they could get their hands on. As the party went on Sunset would sit outside the cottage as Dracomon snuggled on her lap, being petted like a dog sleeping. "Penny for your thoughts?" Flash would step outside and would sit beside her. "Oh hey." "What's wrong?" "Oh just...a lot has happened. You know?" "Yeah. I do." "We've been in this world for four days and it feels like we've done nothing. So far from home...I don't know if we could ever go back..." "Hey now, you can't think like that. We just have to take this one step at a time. And we'll all be with you. We even got new friends to share the burden." "Sigh. Thank you Flash." "I got your back." Sunset would clean her head on Flash's shoulder as the duo chilled out. Back at the party Kamemon would dance around with Pinkie as everyone cheered them on. Hagurumon with Twilight would just write everything they can observe before being given some white nectar. A drink passed around the village. Hawkmon and Rainbow would chug as much as they can, much to the dismay of Floramon and Rairty as they slowly would get buzzed. "Darlings....maybe you both should slow down..." "Slow down?? Do you even- hiccup- know me??" "Yeeeeah my taaameeeer." The two would spin around as they fell high from the table they were dancing on with a loud thud making everyone else at the party laugh while the former just facepalmed and sighed. Fluttershy would giggle as Patamon enjoyed all the snacks he could get his little nubs on. Applejack would help all the little digimon get any snack they want as Fanbeemon slept in the background. Everyone had as much fun as they possibly could as the moon went high into the night sky. The following morning came as everyone got together outside of the village. Kiwimon, Palmon and the other villagers would bid the group a farewell as Kiwimon stepped forward with a sack. "Take this. It has rations and even bits to use when you get to bigger settlements." "Bits?" Sunset asked. "Our currency. You will need them in larger cities and towns." "Wait your currency is called bits too?" "Too?" "Uh nothing." Sunset would take the sack with a smile as she looked at the contents before closing the opening. "Thank you for this." "No. Thank you. All of you for everything. Our village will never forget you." "Take care!" The others would nod and bid their goodbyes as the group would finally leave. It wasn't till much later that the village would get two more visitors. One was short and dressed in blue wizard garb, with yellow hair while the other was taller, looked more feminine and looked more like a witch. "Excuse me. Did you see a group of...children?"

Equestria Girls: Digimon Chosen

ACT I: Episode 5: Chapter 17

"So have you seen a group of diverse digimon and human children around?" The witch asked. "Oh those heroes? They saved our village. It's a shame. You just missed them. They went down that path not too long ago." Kiwimon replied. "I see...Thank you for your time." The duo would leave Kiwimon as they talked with one another. "What now...Wizardmon?" "Witchmon we have a friend in that direction. You think he can handle it?" the wizard asked his witch companion. "Oh we can check." "Remember, we need to put a lid on this. We we're put in charge of this after reports of the chosen and humans were seen." "I'm well aware. Bad enough he and his partner are giving us orders too." "Least they trust us to do this." "More like he gets off on that." "Well you're not wrong." Wizardmon would pat her as he signaled to the path. "Come on let's go." The group would continue on their journey as they ventured through more of the grasslands. The weather was muggy and thick with fog as everyone stood close to one another. The air would have a slight chill and slight moisture due to the fog brazing against everyone's skin. "Ohhh!" "What's wrong Rarity?" Floramon asked her. "Oh this weather is terrible for my hair!" "Yes because that is so important right now." Applejack said in a deadpan tone. The rest of the group would chuckle to themselves. "Oh yes because i SOOOO foresaw us getting whisked away to some other world that we know nothing with everything that makes my hair a mess!" "And the monsters trying to get us." Rainbow pointed out. "Tomato, toMAto." "Maybe we should take a breather. Twilight, do you have the map?" Flash would asked as Twilight searched herself. "Yes. Thankfully Kiwimon was gracious enough to give us some supplies." Hagurumon would grab the map from her as they both look over it. The group would eye the map over their shoulders. "We are close to the border of the Bug Empire." "Wait really?!" Pinkie shouted. "According to this we have to go through this thick forest." Hagurumon pointed out. "And how are we supposed to see it through this thick fog OOF!" Rainbow would bump into something mid sentence as she fell backwards. Everyone would slowly approach the object in question as it was shown to be a tree. "I think we found it." Patamon said dryly. "Now we need to stick together. I don't want any of us to get lost in there." Applejack commanded. As Sunset stepped up and led the way, everyone would go in one at a time. The forest blocks their field of vision, preventing them from seeing a clear path only hindered by the foggy weather currently present. As the group ventured forward Rarity would constantly let out whines and disgusted squeals as she would graze against the wet tree or muddy surface "ruining" her boots and so on. This would garner various eye rolls or even a chuckle from her friends. Silence filled the air as everyone would walk, trying to avoid tripping over the roots that littered in the ground beneath their feet. "Ugh I can't stand this!" "Yeah we heard you." "I don't blame Rarity." Flash commented. "This place is so muggy and kinda hard to walk through." "Just stay close." The group would continue to walk through the forest, shifting through the fog and brush as the only sound that could be heard was the various grunts from the group through their labored trek. "It's really quiet." "Yeah. Kind of peaceful." "Not that. Haven't ya'll noticed that there is literally no noise whatsoever? Not even crickets, frogs or what have you?" Applejack pointed out. The others would look around, unnerved by the deathly silence. "I don't like this..." Fluttershy said quietly though with the deafening silence everyone could hear her. "Stay close." "Oh I so wish I had my bug spray, my moisturizer and- where's Rainbow Dash?" "Huh?" Everyone would look around and notice that Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen. "Yeah, where is Rainbow Dash?" "Hawkmon is gone too!" "Wait what?!" "Rainbow Dash! This isn't funny!" Applejack yelled out. "It really isn't!" Fluttershy managed to yell. "Uh guys." Flash spoke up. "I don't see Twilight." Liollmon looked around in a panic. "I don't see Hagurumon either!" "Flash? Flash!" "He was just here!" "What's going on?!" Floramon cried out. "Stay behind me!" Rarity demanded as she pushed the flower monster behind her. As everyone would try to avoid the plans with Rarity in particular grabbing Floramon running around, the two would notice that they were alone. "Girls? Flash? Oh dear..." "Where is everyone..." "Shh shh it's okay. We'll be okay..." "RARITYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Rarity would feel her grip lighten as Floramon would be dragged by various vines as Rarity chased after her friend. She ran and ran before jumping to gran Floramon by her arms, grabbing firmly and tight. "It's okay I got you! Don't let go!" "I don't want to leave you!" "Don't you DARE talk that way! We'll find everyone else I promise! You need to help me!" The two girls would struggle as Rarity would pull with all her might before the vines snapped from the strain letting Floramon go falling on Rarity. "Are you okay?!" "I'm okay, I'm okay! Oh thank you thank you!" Floramon would say repeatedly as Rarity helped her up. "Of course! Now come on darling. We can not let ourselves fret over this! Our friends are waiting for us somewhere." "You think they're okay?" "I know they are. I've been through too much with those girls and I KNOW this won't be the end of them. The end of us. Together we can help them." "How can you be so confident?" "It's because I believe. I believe in my friends. Like you." "You do see me as a friend?" "I do." Rarity replied with a smile. As Floramon smiled a light would appear in front of Rarity. As Rarity held out her hand, a digivice of white coloring appeared in her hand. "I figured it would be you. Now come on, let's find our friends!" > ACT I: Episode 5: Chapter 18 "So are you sure Floramon?" Rarity asked her partner. The duo would look around, but their gaze would be drawn to where the vines that previously grabbed Floramon retreated to. "Yes. I'll help whatever it takes." "Oh if only this can help us. Oh I wish Twilight was here..." Rarity fiddled with the device as she pressed a button on the side as the screen showed a map of the area. "Oh!" "What is it?" "I think it's a map of the forest...and I see...8 lights? Oh these are signals! We can find our friends!" "Lead the way! I'll protect you!" The girls would run as they followed the signals. The area would show more and more vines as they decorated the walls, littered the ground as they got closer and closer to the signals. As they reached their goal they would find several pod looking objects with familiar faces within. 'There they are!' "Everyone!" "Rarity!" Sunset cried out as her and everyone's else's mouths were being covered by vines. Everyould struggled as a voice was heard above. As Rarity and Floramon looked above them a small green plant-like creature stared at them with hsi sharp yellow eyes. Rarity's digivice would show a profile. "Weedmon. A champion plant like digimon. YOU! So you were the one who took our friends!" "The green....they did indeed take...was told to. Will be rewarded in silence and more green. The green will silence everything who dares step...into my territory..." "YOU WILL LET MY FRIENDS GO THIS INSTANT!" "You...will be silent. I listen to few...you are not that number." "Are you ready?" "Ready!" Rarity would hold her digivice high in the air as it glowed. The light made Weedmon repulse as Floramon shined. "Floramon...digivolve to...!" A symbol of a tree sprouting would hit Floramon as her body broke apart into data then reassembled into a new creature. In her place a larger creature with a spiked tail and a head reminiscent of a sunflower was seen. "SUNFLOWMON!" "Dazzling dahling!" "You will not make it out of my green alive..." The monster would pull a scythe from his mouth as his vine then started to attack in whipping fashion. "HEAD HARVEST!" Sunflowmon would fly around dodging the attacks and picked up Rarity to spare her from the scythe attacks as well. "I think we should bring some light to this place!" Her head would shine as if it was a bright sun before shooting a large glowing laser from her face. "SUNSHINE BEAM!" The light would bathe the entire lair as it would hit Weedmon, erasing him where he stood as it then blasted a hole into the overgrown lair, letting natural light in. The rest of the group would slowly be freed as the vines rescinded away as everyone fell to the ground. "Rarity! Floramon!" "You did that?? That was AWESOME!" The group would surround Rarity and Floramon as Rarity showed off her new digivice as Twilight looked at hers then Rarity's. "How did you find us?" "I found out you can track the other digivices! See look." She would show everyone the map layout where it had five signals. "This is us. When I received my digivice I saw four other signals away from one. It had to be all of you!" "Amazing. So if you could do it..." Twilight copied what Rarity showed her and sure enough she had the same map layout with five signals lighting up. The rest would follow in kind as they all got the same results. "IT WORKS!" Pinkie yelled. "Wow look at that." Flash said as he and Liollmon would look at the device in wonder. "This...this could help a lot. With this we won't be lost from another!" Twilight said excitedly. "Well at least it will be hard to do so." Applejack commented as she looked at Twilight's digivice. "Good job old friend." Dracomon would nuzzle Flroamon who in return gave the dragon a hug. "What now?" Spike would look up. Everyone would look forward towards the opening of the vine wall, out of the forest. "We continue forward." As the group would venture out of the forest they would see a familiar sight. Railroad tracks decorated the ground as it went north. "Train tracks?" "So this world has a train system?" Twilight pondered as she examined the tracks. As everyone looked around everyone heard the familiar sound of a train horn. The noise would grow as everyone would get off the tracks in a hurry. What followed was a male voice. "Woo woo! Any potential passengers heeeeeeeere???" "What is that?" Patamon asked as he flew in the air. Hawkmon would follow in kind as they both stared at the upcoming source of the noise. "Is that a train?" "Wait, is that train...talking??" "A trailmon!" Hagurumon answered as realization hit him. "Wait, that train is a digimon too?!" Twilight said in shock. "What isn't a digimon in this world?!" "Digivice says...Trailmon...Buffalo. A champion machine type. Wow." Flash said as he read the profile from the screen of his digivice. "Woo woo! Do I see some potential passengers?!" The sound of steam and a loud whistle was heard followed by the loud sound of metal screeching as the train-like creature slowed down to a stop. "Ah ha! So I do spy some potential passengers! Do you folks need a riiiiide?" "Wait! Can you excuse us sir?" Rarity asked the train as she pulled everyone into a huddle. "How can we trust it?" "Rarity's right. I don't know about y'all, but after what we've been through this is starting to get annoying. Who can we trust?" "I think I can clarify." Hagurumon spoke up. Everyone turned to him as he elaborated. "Trailmon are digimon that love to help people go place to place. They are both public transportation and charitable creatures. It's just what they do." "Well...he seems to know-" "SEEM?!" "-To know what he's been talking about so far." Twilight continued. "I say we trust them. After all, the Sistermon did appoint the digimon as our guides for this world." "Twilight is right." Sunset agreed. "Let's talk to him." "Yeah!" Liollmon chimed in. "We all got your back!" The group would break up the huddle as they turn their attention to the Trailmon. "So partner. Where could you go to?" Applejack asked the train. "Anywhere so long there is a track!" "Oh well...can you take us to a place called...The Bug Empire?" Fluttershy asked with a sweet tone. The Trailmon grinned in reply. "I sure can! But be careful for it is in Digital Axis territory." "Digital Axis?" "NOW ALL ABOOOOOOOOARD! WOO WOO!" Everyone would shrug as they looked at one another as they boarded the Trailmon. A door would open up for the group as the interior had a classic 1920s American decor as everyone took their seats, staring out the window as Trailmon would slowly disembark. As the train rode, the train tracks continued into the sky as the sound of the engine, screeching metal and the winding passing by soared. Everyone wa sin awe as they rode into the sky. "What in tarnation?!" "How is this possible?!" "YEAH HA HA HA!" "Next stop...The Bug Empire! Woo woo!" > ACT I: Episode 6: Chapter 19 "Wow, look at this terrain." Flash pointed out as everyone looked out the window.The passing greenery and blue sky was one thing, but what really stood out was the approaching railroads in the sky as well as floating islands in the far distance. As everyone eventually parted they would look around the inside of the train car. "I can't believe this is real..." Twilight mumbled as Sunset giggled to herself. "The digital world really is amazing." "So far from home..." Sunset said to herself as Dracomon joined her. "It is for all of us." "Yes none of us have traveled so far from the church." Floramon added. "It's so different." Liollmon said as he got into a catnap position on Flash's lap. The latter would rub his back as he looked out the window. "Still unreal. I get we had that incident with the cruise a while back but seeing a new world like this is...like a dream." "Oh I wish it was a dream..." Fluttershy said to herself. "So where are you creatures headed?" Trailmon asked the group. His voice can be heard as if he was in the room with them. "We're trying to find a way home." Applejack explained. "We heard we can find someone who can help in the Bug Empire." "The Bug Empire....woooooweeee that be a risky." "So we heard..." "Why is that?" Sunset asked. "You mentioned this before, but why exactly?" Hagurumon brightened at that as he hovered in front of everyone while clearing his throat. "Ah yes. Gather around everyone for I will explain-" "Oh brother." Hawkmon rolled his eyes as Hagurumon continued. "-on the nine countries of the Digital World. There are nine groups of digimon. Dragons, beasts, birds, aquan, bugs, plants, machines, holy and dark types. Each one has a home nation. That is the Dragon Empire, Beast Kingdom, Sky Empire, Sea Kingdom, The Bug Empire, Plant Kingdom, The Metal Empire, The Holy Land and The Dark Land. the world used to be united after a catastrophic event almost broke the world. However tensions rose between the worlds leaders and territories were stolen and fought over." "The war has two sides." Dracomon continued. "The United Digital Powers and the Digital Axis. The former consists of the dragons, beasts, aquans, plants and the holy digimon while the latter consists of the birds, bugs, machines and the dark digimon. At least that's what the Sistermon taught us." "Wait if that's true then...why are you all here?" Rainbow asked. "You are all of those species right? Yet you all get along fine? What about your families?" "Yeah I'm surprised this hasn't come up before." Applejack commented. "I remember we were told all of you were given to the Sistermon as eggs...so what happened?" Rarity asked the group. The digimon looked unsure as they looked at one another and all shrugged. "Well not all species." "What do you mean Fluttershy?" "Well look. They said nine species, but they're only eight of them." "Oh she's right." "So what's a dark digimon then?" "Spooky...monsterous." The girls and Flash would just stare at Floramon with a deadpan look at her explanation. "What?" "Hmm...whatever. So how did the war start?" "We were told it was over territory, but not much else." "Really?" "Yes really. They only taught us so much. Like a war. You humans-" "And dog." "-All of you need to realize that the Sistermon were also in hiding for so long as well." "It's a shame really." Trailmon commented. "What is?" "The leaders of the digital world used to be one team. It was said that they united to save the world. In return they were given leadership of their respective races. Now...I don't know." "Who are they anyway?" Sunset asked. Hagurumon would clear his throat. "Examon the dragon emperor, Saberleomon the beast king, Onismon the bird emperor, Neptunemon the king of the seas, Tyrantkabuterimon the bug emperor, Rosemon the plant queen, Machinedramon the machine emperor, Seraphimon the high angel and Daemon the demon lord." "D-Demon L-Lord?" Kamemon and Fluttershy said nervously in unison as they hugged one another. "Yes. In fact he was the one who waged war and formed the Digital Axis." "Oh..." "And we're heading to Axis territory....great." Rainbow groaned. "Guys look!" As everyone would look out the windows the scenery would turn to a more forest like environment, but what caught everyone's eye was the amount of digimon flying in the air. The tracks would go upward in a steep fashion despite the ride feeling like they were still. The trailmon would go up into the forest scenery as they would eventually slow down. The view among the forest was that of a large metropolitan city made of various trees, plants and mud of sorts. Many bug like digimon who made of the majority of the population would fly around in the sky or crawling on the streets. "EW EW EW EW EWWWHUUEEWWW" Rarity would cringe an shake her hands all fast as everyone else was in awe as they stepped off the train car. "It's like Canterlot City..." At that comment Applejack would just stand around, slightly shaking. "You afraid too?" Flash asked her. "No it's just...I never been used to big cities. Never fancied it. Something about it seemed so alien." "I bet you feel that extra super uper duper about an alien city like this huh???" Pinkie asked. "Anyway, I just never fit in." "Right. It really is a big city." "But with bugs!" Fluttershy jumped as she almost bumped into a green worm like digimon. The critter bowed as it excused itself and slithered away. Rarity kept cringing over and over as Applejack facepalmed and Rainbow laughed to herself. Fanbeemon meanwhile just stared at everything in awe. "You doing alright there Fanbeemon?" Applejack asked. "Yeah just....I never seen so many bug digimon in one place buzz...." "Yeah...I imagine it would feel familiar in a way." Sunset commented. "There is...so many..." "This is kind of cool..." Rainbow smiled as everyone took in the sights. "This is fun and all, but we need to find out where to go next." Twilight commented. "We need a map." "We could ask for-where's Fluttershy?" Everyone would look around and would see her taking to two different bug like digimon. One a lady bug looking digimon with green eyes and another larger green one with sickles for arms. "Fluttershy!" "You are asking me what I do for a living?" The green insect asked. Sunset would look at her digivice as she and Dracomon watched them. A profile showed up with info on Snimon, a champion level insectoid digimon. The other profile was Tentomon, a rookie level insectoid digimon. "Well I patrol the skies and apprehend criminals who go against Tyrantkabuterimon and local law." "And I shine other bug digimons shells." "So..." Flash spoke up. "A cop?" "I suppose so." "He seems...normal?" Applejack commented as everyone gathered. "Well duh. He's a digimon!" Hagurumon replied defensively. "Hey If i can ask." Rainbow asked now. "Where can we get some grub?" "Yeah we are running low on rations. It would be smart to get something to eat." Pinkie chimed in. Snimon would point with his large scythe-like arm down the street. "Go down there and look for a place called 'The Honey Dew'. The place has good grub." "Oh thank you!" As Fluttershy thanked him, a moth-like digimon flew by quickly as Snimon flew after him. "HEY SLOW DOWN YOU!" "Wow. He really is like a cop." "Yeah." "Well come on everyone I'm famished and I know we all are. Now let's get moving!" Applejack shouted as everyone agreed. They said goodbye to Tentomon and were on their way to the restaurant. As they got closer they would see a sports bar like restaurant full of majorly bug digimon with other types among the minority. "Ooooo." "Look at this place." "Forget that! Smell that!" As the group closer, several green creatures with a lower spiked filled bottom half would hang from the rafters of the eatery as they all had sippy cups. "THEY ARE SO ADORABLE!" Fluttershy would squee. "What is your names?" "We are Minomon." They all said in unison. The rest would pull her along as they all go inside. "COME ON TIME TO EAT!" "Pinkie wait!" She was already gone as she and Kamemon went in as the others followed. As the rest would go in the place was packed with patrons as only a few seats were open at the bar area. When the group would sit they were greeted by a golden colored beetle like digimon with six arms. "What will it be? Look over what we got." The group would look at menus and see a variety of fried foods, sandwiches and even worm, bug, nectar based delicacies. "Fried...grasshoppers?" "Oh my how...charming." "YUCK!" "Oooo I want some of that!" Hawkmon cheered as the rest of the digimon look disgusted. The rest of the group would order their own preferred foods. As everyone would get their food and take their bites, a collective moan was heard from the large group, especially the humans. "This is sooooo diviiiine." "Woo you said it Rarity. This is probably the best chow we've had so far." Applejack added. Rainbow nodded as she spoke up. "Tell me about it! Real food for once. Not some weird fruit or us foraging." "It is nice to get a hot meal from a restaurant for once." Sunset said with a mouth full. Fluttershy let out a quiet burp as she then wiped her mouth with a napkin. "That Snimon sure does know a good place to rest." "Ugh, so gross." Rainbow said as she watched Hawkmon devour the plate of fried grasshoppers. Applejack would get a smirk as she put her hand on the counter. "What's wrong Rainbow Dash? Scared to eat any?" The rest of the group ooooooed at that as Rainbow looked angry. "W-What huh what? I'm not scared OR grossed out. I can eat way more than Hawkmon!" "Oh yeah?" "Yeah!" "Prove it." "Fine! HEY BARKEEP. Give me a a bowl of the grasshoppers!" "On it." "Uh Rainbow? Are you sure?" "Twilight, I got this!" Rainbow would receive her order before staring at it with disgust. With a big gulp she would pour the contents of the dish down her throat and chew as everyone looked on in disgust though Applejack started to laugh while Fanbeemon watched in wonder as Rainbow was choking in disgust and coughing up a storm. Rainbow's eyes would water as she kept chewing the obvious crunchy delicacy. "So...so...gulp...gooood." As Rainbow shed a slight tear, Applejack would burst into a loud fit of laughter. As she calmed down, Fanbeemon would be enamored with his surroundings. "What's wrong, little bug?" "Oh uh. Just...wow...I never saw so many bug digimon in one place." "I remember what Dracomon said. Most of you never really had any one of your kind to play with huh." "No...buzz...but the others are always fun to play with!" "But not the same right?" "Buzz..." "Well don't fret. We're here with you. You keep having fun getting to know your kinfolk." "Buzz~" Fanbeemon looked at her with a smile as his wings buzzed in excitement which made the cowgirl do her deep chuckle as she petted the little bee digimon. As the group would enjoy their meal Snimon, the large creature from earlier who helped the kids find the establishment, flew down to the ground, watching the building. "Ugh what a day. Some bar food would be good..." As he pondered to himself he would be watched...by a duo. > ACT I: Episode 6: Chapter 20 "The humans are in that restaurant Wizardmon." "I see that Witchmon." The pair would look to the restaurant as Snimon hovered to the same eatery. "I think he would do nicely." Witchmon would have a dark blue ball of light that had a jagged look to it. She would look at her partner as he would give a slight nod before she threw it. "DARK DATA ORB!" The ball of light would go fast towards Snimon as it would go inside him. Snimon would grunt in pain as the large insect writhed in pain before becoming calm. He would growl as he continued to look at the eatery. "Oh that...was satisfying...burp." Pinkie Pie would pat her belly as everyone has content looks on their faces. All the digimon moaned happily as Fluttershy giggled at their reaction. "That was good." Sunset commented as she wiped her mouth. "We should probably get going." As everyone groaned a loud boom and crash were heard. The group as well as every digimon in the restaurant turn their attention to the source of the noise. Snimon from earlier flew in as he snarled and growled. "Whoa! We got trouble!" Applejack yelled as everyone got out of their seats quickly. "Wait..We know him. That's the same Snimon we talked to earlier!" Fanbeemon pointed out as everyone gasped. "Something is wrong." Applejack got tense as Snimon growled and saw the kids. He would raise his sickle arms high. "EVERYONE RUN!" "TWIN SICKLES!" Snimon would wave his arms as pink energy slashes came from each sickle. The attack sliced part of the restaurant into pieces as the rest of the digimon locals ran or were in shock. "We need to run!" As Fluttershy finished two more explosions were heard as two more creatures barged in. One was red with large serrated pincers and the other blue, with a dark helmet adorned with a large horn. They both roar as they stand near Snimon. As the digimon saw th new danger, the digivices lit up with new profiles. "The red one is Kuwagamon...and the blue one is Kabuterimon. Champion evel insectiod digimon." "BUT WHAT'S THEIR PROBLEM?!" Rainbow cried out as all three bug digimon roared. "Okay Dracomon time to move!" "Liolmon go!" "Hawkmon you got this!" "OOOO Kamemon get ready!" Sunset, Flash, Rainbow, Pinkie, and Rarity's digivices would glow as do their respective partners. A bright light bathed the eatery as the locals were in awe. "Dracomon digivolve to...COREDRAMON!" "Liollmon digivolve to...LIAMON!" "Hawkmon digivolve to...AQUILAMON!" "Kamemon digivolve to...GWAPPAMON!" "Floramon digivolve to...SUNFLOWMON!" The group would stand in front of the group as they stared down the large bug digimon. Coredramon and Liollmon tackled Kabuterimon, Aquilamon and Gwappamon tackled Kuwagamon, and Prima shot at Snimon with her attack. "MARVEL SHOT!" Snimon backed up as the fight was taken outside with all of the digimon. The Kabuterimon would fire a large electric ball of energy at the dragon and lion as they were sent back. Kuwagamon would open his large pincers to grab Aquilamon before Gwappamon jumped him and wrapped his head with his body like a rope, disorienting him. "TWIN SICKLES!" "RUN!" Applejack would grab Fanbeemon as she tried to run, but her arm would be grazed by the end of one of the sickle attacks. She would cry out in pain as she fell back as she tried to run. "Applejack! Are you okay buzz?" Fanbeemon asked in worry as Applejack struggled from the pain in her arm, however she continued to hold onto the bee. She smiled at him as she stood up. "I'm fine sugarcube." "No you're not! You're hurt!" "So long as you're not. The others can protect us no problem...if only I had my powers. I was super strong and I bet I could have done a good number..." "But you are super strong." "Pardon?" "You stood in harm's way..tried to protect me...I think that's strong." "COREDRAMON!" Sunset cried out as the dragon landed with a thud. Applejack tried her best not to panic as she patted the bee on the head. "Thank you sugar. Really." As the little bee smiled with his beak a light was seen. The rabid bug digimon who were attacking cringed from the rays as the light went to Applejack. She would extend her hand as a orange colored digivice was place into her palm. "Wait...so it's you?" "Me and you buzz?" "The others need our help. You ready?" "No, but yes!" Applejack smirked as she held the digivice to Fanbeemon as it shined. A symbol of a bugs pincers and horn shined as it hit the little bee. "Fanbeemon...digivolve to...!" The bee would get bigger and became more mechanical like as a new enhanced stinger was shown. When the light faded a new creature was seen. "WASPMON!" Everyone would stare in shock as the large mechanical wasp hovered in place. "NOW'S THE TIME!" Coredramon yelled as the other digimon got into position. Liamon would let out a lion-like roar, Aquilamon let out a eagles cry as Gwappamon stood ready. "TURBO STINGER!" Waspmon would shoot laser after laser from his large stinger as Snimon was pushed back. "Time to clean up! BLUE FLARE BREATH!" "THUNDER KING!" "BLAST RINGS!" "DJ SHOOTER!" "SUNSHINE BEAM!" Kabuterimon would fall back by the blue laser and and electric blast as he fell back meanwhile Kuwagamon got hit by the energy rings and flying discs as he fell back. Snimon raised his sickle hands as he leered at Waspmon. "TWIN SICKLES!" The energy blades would only bounce off the huge wasps armor, being deflected. "My turn! TURBO STINGER!" He would fire shot after shot of a laser blast from his stinger as Snimon gets bombarded non stop. He would fall over with the rest of his mad allies. As they fell a dark blue ball of light came out of them to which they would disintegrate. "What was that...?" Twilight pondered. Before they can celebrate their victory the large bug digimon would stir, putting everyone on guard. "Uh...w-where am I..." Snimon asked as he looked around. "What the heck..." Kuwagamon mumbled as he helped Kabuterimon up who also looked as confused based on his body language. "Wait what's going on??" Rainbow Dash demanded. Everyone, not just them but all the digimon as well who were left in the restaurant were also confused. Fluttershy patted the leg, to comfort Snimon. "Do you remember anything?" "I was done patrolling after I busted a speedy flier...I was thinking of getting some lunch, but then I felt this burning pain...everything after that was fuzzy." The other two bug digimon nodded in agreement as they rubbed their heads. "Did anyone else see it?" Twilight asked. Everyone turned to her as Spike spoke up. "What is it?" "Spike, when they were defeated I saw these balls of light come out. Is that normal?" The digimon would look confused as they looked at one another. "What do you think it could be?" Sunset asked as the entire group looked unsure, even creeped out. "Wait...what happened?" Snimon asked as he looked around. "You weren't yourself. It's okay it's over now." Fluttershy answered. Snimon looked around. "I did this?" "We did this?" The Kabuterimon spoke. The group would explain all that happened. Afterwards the bug trio were appalled as the information sinked in. "Something tells me those balls of light were to blame." Byte said. "That was like digicores, but something about them..." "Data cores?" Twilight asked. "Yes. Loose data that can be found anywhere. Like junk data. Though when consumed it can strengthen a digimon every now and again, but I never saw one that color." "Is it possible it's corrupted? I mean its all data right? So theoretically..." Twilight mumbled to herself as the others sorted everything out with the bug digimon. Snimon looked at the group as he sighed. "Whatever the case. Thank you, for stopping me and the others. You saved these digimon. I will look into this." "Will you be okay?" "I don't know, but I need to file a report. You all stay safe." Snimon bowed as he tended to the other two bug digimon as the others grouped together. "Anyone find this off?" Applejack asked. "We need to be careful. Who knows what else is going to happen." "Flash is right. We are already in the Bug Empire now. We're one step closer to meet with this Sistermon Ciel." As Sunset finished everyone nodded as they were about to leave. "Thank you...for freeing us. Clearly we we're not in our right mind." The Kuwagamon said. "We're glad you're okay. Oh! If you don't mind us asking, do you know how to get to Kabu Village?" Fluttershy asked. Kabuterimon would be next to speak as he point to the west. "Just down there. When you go out of the city there is a path heading west. Go straight there and go along the trail of towns and you will eventually find it." Sunset spoke up as the group beamed hearing the directions. "Oh thank you so much." "Wait!" A voice was heard. The group turned their attention to the Kongoumon from earlier. He walked over with a sack. "You fellers saved...er...well saved what's left of my bar. Here is some food for the trip." "Oooo this can help...roadtrip foooood." Pinkie eyed the sack as she took it. "We need to go. Now." Rainbow said as she saw the growing crowd of onlooking digimon. Everyone would take the meals they didn't finish and paid the barkeep with the money they were given by the villagers from a previous adventure and left swiftly. "They got away." Witchmon looked at the restaurant, now crowded by bug digimon who gossipped over the fight that ensued. She was visibly agitated while Wizard maintained his composure. "I know, but the dark data research has borne fruit. We have tested this on others before, but in a natural setting it's very useful. We need to go AND make sure the others get some too. Those humans will not get far." > ACT I: Episode 7: Chapter 21 Episode 7: Chapter 21 The group would walk for a while as the hustle and bustle of the city would slowly be replaced by green and country roads. "I got to say." Applejack spoke aloud. "Despite how nasty those critters looked, they were pretty friendly." "Yeah if they weren't out of their minds." Rainbow Dash would retort. The group walk down the path as they admired the environment around them. The lush greenery, the mountains to the distance, but like the train ride to this new land was the floating islands that were off in the distance. "That still gets to me." Flash commented as the others silently agreed. Pinkie would just dance to herself as the group walked which made Spike tilt his head. He would walk by her side. "Uhh Pinkie? What are you doing?" "-COUNTRY ROOOOOAD...TO THE PLAAAAACE." "Pinkie?" "COUNTRY ROOO-" "PINKIE! ARF!" Spike would yell and bark as Pinkie snapped her head to him. "What are you doing?" "Singing! COUNTRY ROOOAD" "Ugh." Rainbow would just sigh as the others would laugh though the digimon looked confused. "What is that song?" Hagurumon inquired. "A country song. You know country music." Applejack explained as the others just nodded and even ooooed. "To the plaaaace." Flash would continue as Sunset laughed and Raibow groaned. It was only ten minutes before everyone joined in. "Humans are peculiar." Dracomon commented out loud as Spike just agreed with a tired nod. "Tell me about it." "Are we there yeeeeet?!" Rainbow would whine as Sunset squnted her eyes to look into the distance. "The path is getting more even. I see buildings!" "Well let's get going!" The group would rush on the path as they reached a small town filled with cottages, a dirt path and various fields of crops. There were few residents with most being bug-like digimon though there was some variation in species but few. "Reminds me of when we had to go to Ponyville after that spring break trip went bust." Sunset commented. "Still can't believe that's where you came from." Flash said as Sunset chuckled. "Place seems kind of...peaceful." Prima noted as the other digimon looked at the village. Hagurumon would add on. "Hard to believe this is digital axis territory." "Not even that." Hawkmon would speak up next. "This is so peaceful you can't imagine these digimon fighting at all." "Well why would they?" Fluttershy asked. When she did all the digimon turned to her, which made her meek and back away. "Digimon. We all live to fight. To evolve further to the best and perfect creature we can be." Hawkmon explained as he flew around. "You have no idea how much this means to us. Usually taking years and years to naturally reach a new form." "Yeah I been meaning to ask." Twilight asked as he turned to the group. "I figured digivolution was a type of evolution. I have seen so many variety of creatures and with how young you act I thought you were all kids yourselves." "What's a kid?" Patamon asked. "It's a goat." Hagurumon answered. "Actually-" "Oh got it." "No, what I meant was-" "No idiot." Hawkmon interrupted. "It's a type of jam." "You uneducated bird it's what I said. You are thinking of-" "STOP!" Twilight yelled. Everyone turned to her as she went red. "Let me finish." "I first thought that it was you growing up. I take it that I misunderstood?" "Allow me to explain." Hagurumon cleared his throat. "We all start from eggs. When we hatch we are baby digimon. Through eating we will digivolve to an in-training level. Then through getting stronger we will become rookie level, champion, ultimate and even mega....I even heard there's a level beyond..." "But by sharing your energy we can achieve our champion forms for a small amount of time. I assume." Dracomon said. "Assume?" "Hey, it's clearly guesswork. Remember we are going into the outside world for the first time." "Our kind strives to be the strongest. We live to fight while fighting to live. Even in these cities you see digimon still have this instinct." "Wow..." "Not to stop this bore fest." Rainbow interrupted. "We need to get to Kabu village. Where is this?" Liollmon would read a sign in town and read aloud. "Kuwaga Town." "YES! We're one step closer!" "We should find a place where there's a lot of digimon to ask for directions like a mayor's office or even-" Applejack got cut off as three figures made themselves known. The three creatures were bipedal dark colored roach digimon with several limbs and even skull tattoos. Their faces were ugly as they looked at the group. One was very tall, one was short and the one in the middle was medium sized with a gold tooth. "I heard you folks are asking for directions?" Rarity would scream at the sight of the digimon as everyone was shocked by the new digimon. "We couldn't help but overhear yalls predicament. The name is Roachmon. He's Roachmon, and he's Roachmon." the gold toothed creature introduces himself. "Well uh...howdy. I'm Applejack. This here is Sunset Shimmer, Flash Sentry, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle and Spike." "And these are our digimon friends." Sunset introduced. "Dracomon, Liollmon, Hawkmon, Fanbeemon, Floramon, Kamemon, Patamon and Hagurumon." "Quite the group you all got there. No wonder you lost. There's so many of you!" The Roachmon slapped their knees as they all laughed with a wheeze at their own poorly done joke. The group would just look at each other, not impressed. "Well you see sirs." Fluttershy stepped up. "We are on our way to Kabu Village, but we are not familiar with the area. Could you tell us where it could be?" "We coooooould. IF...you do a favor for us!" "Okay..." Flash replied. "With that?" "See our comedy show! The Roachmon comedy act!" "...what?" "The Roachmon tri comedy show! We trying to fill seats!" "Trying to fill seats or just desperate to get an audience?" Sunset asked bluntly. "Oooo honest I like it! You folks will be perfect!" "It's a nice little hole in the wall where this takes place. Legit. Called the 'Pie Hole'" Sunset would look to the others before looking to the Roachmon. "Give us just a minute." The group would huddle together to whisper among themselves. "This is shady." "I don't know Sunset, I mean just because they look kind of...rough doesn't mean we should judge so quickly." "Fluttershy you seriously can't be this naive!" Rainbow almost snapped. "And you shouldn't jump to conclusions Rainbow Dash..." "Look." Hawk spoke up. "Let me just fly ahead and see if it's legit." Hawk took off to the sky as he saw a little building with a big sign that did indeed read "Pie Hole." "I see it!" "Well that settles it." Sunset turned her attention back to the Roachmon brothers as she smiled. "We'd love to join." "HAHA! You won't regret it strange creature!" "EEEE let's go!" Pinkie shouted as she pushed the entire group to follow the Roachmon. "You tracked them here?" Witchmon would fly on her broomstick as she perched on the middle. Wizardmon would hang onto her midsection as he looked below them with his eyes faintly glowing. "I have. Looks like they are taking a break." "While they slouch, we work." "Indeed. Stay on them." > ACT I: Episode 7: Chapter 22 "This is it?" Rarity asked dryly. Everyone would look at the rundown building that was missing half it's sign. Even if it was in an entirely different alphabet the humans and Spike can tell part of the sign was missing. "This is it? Really?" "Come on! You all gonna love it!" The group went in as the Roachmon scurried backstage as the group walked to two tables. The place was busy as various species of digimon would drink and eat, waiting for a show to appear on stage that was shown, lit by spotlight. "OOOOO a comedy club! Oh Maud would love this place!" Pinkie shouted in awe as she looked around. The rest chuckled as the digimon around waited. "And now! Digimon of all ages! Please welcome your comedy act, the duo of trash and bugs...The Roachmon brothers!" The three Roachmon would walk to the stage as no sound was heard, save for a lone cough in the crowd. "Hey good to be here! Right bros?" "Yeah! We just flew here and our wings our tired!" No one reacted, a silence filled the room, not even a cricket would make a noise since it died of boredom. "Ahem. Well what say you bro? Are you tired?" The gold tooth Roachmon would ask the slower tall Roachmon as the latter would just stand around, drooling. More silence filled the room as the Roachmon with the gold tooth coughed nervously. "Come on idiot it's your turn." "DUUUUUUUUUR" "These guys stink!" A heckler who appeared to be a yellow colored poop shaped creature yelled as everyone started to boo at the trio, the human group with their dog and digimon companions could only cringe at the performance. Sunset looked around, seeing the irritated digimon as she lit up. "Oh I got an idea." Sunset would rush near backstage as Dracomon watched her in confusion. "What is she doing?" "I'm not sure..." Applejack replied as the rest of the group watched, only to have growling smiles as Sunset was seen with a guitar. Sunset found spare instruments backstage, easy to get due to the increasing distraction from all the unrest and booing of the audience. Sunset would walk to the stage as she whispered in the Roachmons ears, the three of them smiling as they all nod. Everyone in the room quieted down as they saw the new creature with the guitar. She would adjust the microphone as she cleared her throat, then began to play. "I'm walking right beside you..." She would play her song as the Roachmon brothers would provide back up chorus. All the digimon including her group of friends would be lost in the soft melody as she continued to sing. As the song would come to a close, the club broke out in applause from all the digimon and of course Sunset's friends. The Roachmon brothers all hugged the orange girl as they laughed in joy. The quartet would step off the stage as everyone else and them would meet outside. "I got to say." The Roachmon with the gold tooth started. "You quite the singer!" "Oh! We should take her and the rest to the Armadillo Farm!" "Oh great idea!" "Armadillo farm?" Sunset asked as the rest also looked confused. "Ha what do they raise armadillos or something?" Rainbow said chuckling. "Nah! Just the boss is one." "Wait what?" The Roachmon would lead the group just outside of the small town, it was apparent that this for the Bug Empire was the countryside, but this really had its description sake as everyone would come across acres of land with a barn and a little home in the distance. "Oh...reminds me of home..." Applejack said fondly as everyone watched in wonder. "Welcome to Armadillo Ranch!" The Roachmon brothers said in union as they led everyone deeper into the farmland approaching the house deep in the acres of green. As the group got close to the farmhouse, everyone would see a yellow colored armadillo resting on the front porch wearing a brown stetson as it relaxed before its attention turned to the group. "Well howdy boys!" "OH SO CUTE!" Flluttershy hopped in place with a big smile as she saw what was before her. A yellow armadillo creature with green eyes and brown stetson as the creature walked to the group. "Howdy all. Strange kind of digimon you folks are." The yellow armadillo creature said. Applejack held her digivice as Fanbeemon looked at him. A profile would appear. "Armadillomon. A rookie, mammal digimon." Applejack was startled by Fluttershys face as she would stare at the yellow digimon. "He's so cute..." "Aw." Patamon would huff as Fluttershy picked him up. She patted his head as she giggled. "Oh you are too. He he." "Darn right. Hmph." Fluttershy would just giggle as Armadillomon looked at the Roachmon brothers. "What do you want." "Whoa whoa whoa! We are just here to show them around the farm! One of these humans really helped us out!" "Yeah huh!" The taller Roachmon would agree in his garbled speech as Armadillomon looked at everyone then smiled. "Well I suppose that's alright. Come on now!" The group would follow the little armadillo as he slowly, but surely showed everyone around his farm. "Reminds me of home." Applejack smiled as she looked around. "You lived on a farm?" Fanbeemon asked as he flew by her. She would nod in reply. "Sure do. Well kind of. It's not like this, but within our lot it might as well be our own little farm. Always thought it be nice to have some acres to ourselves though." "I knew you seem kin like there strange creature." Armadillomon stepped in before continuing. "It's a quiet life, but a nice one." Everyone would see a new creature as everyone explored. Rows of fields full of vegetables were seen as a winged horse with a red helmet and horn would pull carrots out with his mouth and throw them into a wheel barrel. "That...that's weird. Seeing that is...wow." Sunset asked as she seemed dazed leaving the digimon confused while the humans seemed to either laugh or even sympathetic at her reaction. Rainbow held her digivice as Hawkmon looked at the creature. "Unimon. A holy beast, champion level digimon." "Just an alicorn digimon." Sunset said aloud, but any further comments were stopped as everyone heard a loud squeal. "HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL." Fluttershy exclaimed as jumped in place. "Chill Fluttershy." "That there is my farmhand, Unimon." Armadillomon explained. "Hey! Come say hi to our guests." Unimon would look at the group as he trotted over to the group. Sunset look a bit off put while everyone else was enamored. Patamon in particular out of the digimon would stare in admiration. "Well hello there." The alicorn digimon greeted. "Guests I take it?" "Yep. You know how those Roachmon are. They brought them here, so I'm showing them around." "I see." Unimon would see Patamon just staring at him as he put his head down to be eye level with him. "Stare any more and your eyes will fall out youngin." "Sorry..." "It's okay." "You okay little guy?" "Oh uh yeah." "What's up?" "I think I know why." Hawkmon said. Everyone looked at the bird digimon as he explained. "Well they are both holy digimon." "Yeah." Dracomon continued. "All of us never met another digimon of our kind, barring Tuskmon for myself. Only Patamon had fellowship back at home with the Sistermon for they too were holy types." Fluttershy would scoop him up in her arms as she looked over Unimon with glee. Flash kinda stared at her in which she noticed. "What?" "Will you quit? You're gonna get us in trouble." "I'm just complimenting him. He's so beautiful!" "But just uh. Oh.." He just groaned as he gave up trying to convince her. Sunset giggled to herself as he facepalmed. A grumbling sound was heard as everyone turned their attention towards Pinkie who just blushed and laughed it off. "Guess I am kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinda hungry." "Well we are running low on supplies." Flash said as he and Applejack looked through their bags. "Tell you what." Armadillomon got their attention. "Unimon could use some help around the farm. If you lot help me around here I can give ya'll some food." "REALLY?!" All the digimons' mouths watered as the girls even had to take a step back. "Oh wow...and I thought I slobbered." Spike commented, impressed. "Well let's get to it everyone." Applejack declared as everyone went to go help. Fluttershy would stop as she noticed Patamon wasn't with the group. "Patamon?" She looked back and saw him playing around on Unimon's back with the latter just letting him have his fun. "Aww...so sweet. I'll just let him play for a bit." "We've tracked them to this area right?" Witchmon asked her wizard companion. He would nod as he looked around as they sat on her flying broom. "Let's check out that comedy club. Only place in these backwoods that seems promising."

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

pre

Wow, Sunny, you have a real knack for leadership. This office has never been so clean and organized. And I saw it before the destruction of Canterlot. (Sundae) **very raspy** Th-thank you Madam Mayor. **raspy sigh** I'm not the mayor anymore, remember? (Sundae) **very raspy** Right. Sorry, Madam-I mean Brittleshine. How goes the search for Screwloose? That is part of why we came back. Ponyville Hospital was a dead end. We found another former resident of the hospital who gave us a lead. The details aren't important, but there is something Stable recorded. \\**//SILENCE\\**// Something I want to tell you before the DJ broadcasts it. \\**//SILENCE\\**// It's about Creamsicle. (Sundae) **very raspy** C-Creamy. What about her? You said she died while rescuing other ghouls from the rubble. A-a collapse happened. **labored breath** Y-you said a piece of rebar to the head killed her. I'm sorry. That isn't how she died. (Sundae) **very raspy** H-how then? I- \\**//SILENCE\\**// I killed her. You hadn't been freed at the time. She didn't react well to the news. The rebar to the head was me. **raspy sniffle** I'm so sorry. \\**//SILENCE\\**// (Sundae) **very raspy** I-I understand. I just wish you'd told me sooner. No, you should be mad at me. **raspy sniffle** You should hate me. I killed your daughter! I'm a murderer! (Sundae) **very raspy** You're not. If she was feral as you say, it was a mercy. No ghoul would fault you for what you did. I just wish you had told me sooner. Why are you being so nice to-mmhrrmph! Hmmmm. **makeout noises**heavy breathing** **Panting** Sundae? I didn't know this is how you felt. Of all the times to show it, after I dropped that megaspell of a realization on you. (Sundae) **very raspy**panting** You were always there for me. You comforted me when I was feeling down. I just wanted to repay the favor-albeit in a different fashion. I'll stop if you want. No. No, it is just so sudden. I don't feel I deserve this. (Sundae) **very raspy** I know **kiss** no pony as kind **kiss**, caring **kiss**, or brave as you. **kiss** Take this as me forgiving you. Like I said, no ghoul would fault you for what you did. But there were more I killed. (Sundae) **very raspy** And they were all feral, right? **kiss** Just relax for a bit and I'll help you destress and comfort you. Wow, giving you a position of power has increased your confidence. (Sundae) **very raspy** Eep! It has? The Sundae I left would have never made the first move. **kiss** **makeout noises**heavy breathing**Panting**something heavy hitting the floor** \\**//HARD CUT\\**// (DJ Pon3) Well now, I'm sorry about that folks. This is suppose to be somewhat family friendly broadcast. This is what I get for keeping myself in suspense by listening for the first time along with you. I apologize to anypony who now has to have that talk with their young colt or filly. I just know Tenpony is gonna have some complaints for my assistant tomorrow. Let me just fast forward to the end of Brittle and Sundae's private time. And Brittle, if you're listening, please refrain from sending any more logs with this kind of content or I'll be forced to cut your segment and we wouldn't want that. **elevator music** (DJ Pon3) And ok, here we are. **click**Quieter** Wow, Britte gives Homage's marefriend a run for her caps in terms of stamina. **normal volume** Wait, am I still on? \\**//SILENCE\\**// (DJ Pon3) Yep, Tenpony will be sending in a few complaints for today's show.. \\**//HARD CUT\\**// (Sundae) **very raspy** You have no clue how many years I've wanted this. **kiss** Well, was it worth the wait? (Sundae) **very raspy** Mmhmm. **content raspy sigh** **slow stuttered electronic door opening**approaching hoofsteps**slow stuttered electronic door closing** (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Brittle, Binary has something to show-uuuuh, I'll come back later. Y-You two enjoy yourselves. I-I should have knocked. It is fine. We were finished. (Sundae) **very raspy** You were, maybe. I'll be back later. (Sundae) **very raspy** Ok, you better. **kiss** Wait. Celestia's taint! This thing was recording?! (Sundae) **very raspy** Wh-what?! J-just be sure not to send it to DJ Pon3. Hell no I won't, I'll delete it. (Sundae) **very raspy** S-send me a copy first? S-so while you are gone I can r-remember our time better. \\**//BOOP\\**//

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #012: Pony Mystery Mumbo Jumbo (Grrrar)

\\**//BOOP\\**// **sigh**thud**thud**thud** Pony hoofbuck uncomfortable on Grrrar's wrist. It not meant for hounds. Brittle pony wanted Grrrar to have one like her and Doctor pony. If any other pony Grrrar refuse. \\**//SILENCE\\**// Bit pony, where Brittle pony and Doctor pony? (Binary Bit) **slightly raspy** I-I'm not s-sure Miss Gar- GRRRAR! (Binary Bit) **slightly raspy**panicked yelp** S-sorry, Miss G-Grrrar. Dr. Stable j-just went t-to get Brittle. **approaching hoofsteps** (Binary Bit) **slightly raspy** Thank Celestia! (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy**a distance away** Again, I'm sorry for not knocking. I didn't even know you were into mares. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy**a distance away** Honestly, I didn't either. I never had any luck with stallions, but I never figured-can we just drop it for now? (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy**a distance away** Yes. Again, sorry. **loud sniff** Brittle pony smell like sex. You and Doc pony? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** No, uh, um, it was some pony else-Sundae-not important. So Binary, you got anything for us? (Binary Bit) **slightly raspy** How good was- (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Finish that question and I geld what is left of your stallion hood (Binary Bit) **slightly raspy**whimper** Understood. So I've been able to decrypt the structural blueprints for the Industrial District, but most of it was corrupted. I can tell you what buildings were owned by Robranco and Mighty Minotaur Construction Company were-Unfortunately not much else. I also looked through business records. Green-Med had almost no notable drugs produced in its 10 years of business. The few it did make never made it out of clinical trials until halfway through the war. It is very fishy. I know some sketchy things happened in the war, but a company known for bum drugs to suddenly have ministry projects and backing out of the blue. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Well, keep looking. There has to be info on it somewhere. See if there are any records of ministry shipments to any building owned by Green-Med, Vial, or anypony with the surname Calzone. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Like Three Cheese Calzone, the suspected head of Equestia's underworld? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Vial mentioned The Calzones before he died. \\**//SILENCE\\**// (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Hold on, there is one more name you could look into. **pipbuck noise** (Dr. Cortex) Slewfoot, you weren't supposed to call me at home. I don't know how connected he is, that is why I contacted you. You're a pony who can find things out-discreetly. (Slewfoot) **over the phone** Sorry, Yes. I'm working a lead. **pipbuck noise** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** See if there is anything on the PI Dr. Cortext was talking to. (Binary Bit) **slightly raspy** Huh, Slewfoot Investigations? I think I remember something about him. He and his whole family died from carbon monoxide poisoning. It was all over the news. The Pinks thought it might be Zebra terrorists-though from what you said it could have been a Calzone hit. They investigated it, but I don't think anything came of it. I could check the MoM hub. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** We are heading out to Manehatten. I want something concrete when we get back. (Binary Bit) **slightly raspy** Understood. **receding hoofsteps** It all sound like pony mystery mumbo jumbo to Grrrar. How help find Screw pony? (Brittleshine) **slightly rasp** If we can find out where the Green-Med factory she caused to fall off the mountain landed there is a chance she might still be trapped inside. Until then we follow any other lead. \\**//SILENCE\\**// (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** So that pipbuck working alright? Grrrar think so. Never seen one of these fit hounds before. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Oh I think that is the prototype for the Minotaur model. It never reached widescale production. Looks like Binary jury rigged a recorder to it so you can record too. Grrrar think it recording now. **pipbuck noise** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Let me see. \\**//BOOP\\**// .

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

An Honest Return (DJ Pon3 broadcast #4)

Good evening wasteland, now I know many of you were worried this segment got canceled due to that, um, unwholesome log I had to cut and some of my comments after it-Which I do apologize immensely for. Thankfully Tenpony Tower has not evicted me or my assistant and we are still able to air this along with the regular news and tunes. I just decided to take some time review the remaining logs I was sent before airing them to insure no more funny business. So far there wasn't. If you missed the last broadcast and don't want to wait for the reruns. Here is the cliff notes. Brittle, Stable and new companion-a hellhound-Grrrar found out what was really happening in Losttail Woods. Though in the process Brittle lets slip her darkest secret and deepest regret. If you are listening, Brittle, know Dr. Stable was right. No pony would fault you for what you did. We have all made mistakes. Anyways, they return to Recurrence where things get romantic for Mayor Sundae and Brittleshine, and Grrrar is fitted with a pipbuck meant for a minotaur-a piptaur?-and there is some pony mystery mumbo jumbo regarding Green-Med and the ministries. Well, I think that is enough to keep any new listeners from being too confused-oh and they have a new lead that will bring then to The Alicorn. Huh, how interesting. But, I think I've talked enough, you are here for Brittleshine's Quest not DJ Pon-3's ramblings. So find a safe spot to bunk for the night and listen in to the next installment.

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #013: Take a Bite of This Calzone (Brittleshine)

\\**//BOOP\\**// **crackling of a fire and Hellhound snoring is heard in the background** All that talk of the Calzone Crime Family has got me wondering how they are mixed into all of his. \\**//SILENCE\\**// The previous failures of Green-Med drugs, despite turning a profit could mean it was used for laundering their blood money. And access to drug manufacturing must have helped them produce dash for their illegal drug trade. Pinkie was always so focused on catching bad ponies, I'm shocked she never took down the Calzones. **smack** Pinkie had a drug problem. It was one of the most common stories we were told to keep from the press at the MoI. Despite outlawing the use of zebra herbs like Mint-als, Pikie was an avid user-she even cooked up her own Party Time variant. You don't think she used the Calzones to smuggle in the outlawed ingredients do you? I don't mean to insult the legacy of the MoM, but- \\**//SILENCE\\**// Look at me, always the politician. No pony gives a donkey's ass about the ministries anymore. Not unless it can get them a bunch of caps. Maybe Binary's investigation will bring something to light. I admit I'm a little curious. How big of an influence did the Calzones have on the war? Were they the ones who gave the zebra's megaspells? Did anypony from their family survive? They had the influence and means to get into a stable. And I'd bet my left hind hoof that through sheer willpower some could have become ghouls. I get the feeling a Calzone could take over the wasteland if they were around today. Though none of that will help find my sister. It is just 210 year old drama. \\**//EXTENDED SILENCE\\**// Though one mystery I'd really like to figure out is what in Cortexaphan causes these strange mutations? **raspy sigh** Looks like it is time to wake Grrrar for the next watch shift. I might not need rest as a ghoul, but I find it keeps my mind stable and we have a lot of distance to cover in the morning. I'd like to get to The Alicorn ASAP. Then we can be one step closer to finding Screwy. \\**//BOOP\\**//

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #014: The Alicorn (Part 1) (Brittleshine)

\\**//BOOP\\**// **crashing of waves begins and is heard in background** Where is it? (Grrrar) Nothing here or is pony piptaur device not working? This can't be! Pipbucks have an odd knack for knowing locations. Aglow gave us enough info for the spell to do the rest. It should be here. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Maybe it sank? Aglow didn't give us a time frame. If Screwy was here, it could have been anytime in the last 210 years. This is another dead end. And we should really go. I heard rumors ponies tend to go missing on this beach. **twig snap**cautious sniff**growl** (Grrrar) Pony **sniff** Ponies are nearby, but Grrrar can't see them. **electric sound**stealth system disengaging** (Unknown Pony) **a distance away** Oh fuck! **several other stealth systems disengaging**matrix disruption grenades going off**waves cease** \\**//STATIC\\**// \\**//FEEDBACK\\**// ERROR**CORRUPT PORTION**ERROR \\**//STATIC\\**// \\**//FEEDBACK\\**// (Unknown mare) IIiiiiIIIiIiI'll ask again, who sent you? The NCR? **bone crunch** GAAAAH! I think this is some kind of misunderstanding. **sob** I wasn't sent by anypony. We didn't even know the ship was inhabited. I'm just here looking for my sister. (Unknown mare) That is just as believable as the last 10 times you have told me it. Its the truth. I swear! (Unknown mare) Well if you won't talk, we'll just get your orders off your pipbuck. I finally restarted the spell matrix and copied the files. **sniffle** All you'll find is the logs of my journey. The DJ is playing them on air. Do you not listen to the radio? (Unknown mare) Not recently, now be quiet! **smack** **pipbuck noise** (Audio Log #001 Brittleshine) By now you have likely heard my sister's tragic story. Mr. DJ Pon-3 elected to call it Unscrewed Audio Files. I wasn't about to make him change it since he was doing me a fav- **fast forwarding sound** (Unknown mare) Heh, guess you don't know then. What? (Unknown mare) Nothing! I said quiet! **smack** (Audio Log #001 Brittleshine) -table 1 went on to form Stable City where we lived safely for 200 years. Then everything changed when the Enclave at- **fast forwarding sound** (Audio Log #001 Brittleshine) -ame a ghoul, I had accepted that the rest of my family was long dead. I no longer had any more attachments to my old life as Shoeshine. I could completely be Brittleshine. **door slam** (Unknown mare 2) Corporal Splints, play that last part again! (Corporal Splints) Ma'am, with all due respect- (Unknown mare 2) Now, Corporal! **rewinding sound** (Audio Log #001 Brittleshine) -dead. I no longer had any more attachments to my old life as Shoeshine. I could completely be Brittleshine. **pipbuck noise** (Unknown mare 2) Shoeshine? Is...is that really you? You know me? (Unknown mare 2) Yeah, a long time ago. When I was a normal pegasus. **Magic sound**restraints being unhitched sound** (Corporal Splints) Ma'am you can't just- (Unknown mare 2) You just don't remember. Protocol for anypony who wasn't a permanent member of the Moonskulls. Your memories were extracted. I wish I could put them back, but our memory orbs were lost many years ago. I'm Firestorm, though I doubt any memory of me or Frostmane are left. Wait, you were the mare with the cybereye I met in Zebratown? I got so drunk I blacked out and ended up in a coma. I woke up 3 months later in an MoP hospital. Haven't touched any liquor since. (Firestorm) Corporal, give us the room. (Corporal Splints) But, ma'am, she was trespassing. (Firestorm) That is an order! **receding hoofsteps**door slam** (Firestorm) So a coma is what they told you happened? Yeah. I started drinking when Screwy, my sister, got committed. It was bad, so the story seamed plausible. (Firestorm) Well, you did try to match Frostmane drink for drink, and you did black out. Though it was from the drugs we put in your drink. Sorry for that. Luna brought you on because you were one of the best and brightest in the MoI and she needed you to help us stay below the radar of the ministries. We did get rather close in those 3 months. I might say too close, one night. Wait, you and I? (Firestorm) It was back before Frosty realized she had feelings for me. She had to stay late looking at new recruit files. So you and I went drinking. One thing lead to another. I'm not sure if that is what made you leave, but a day later you were gone, memories extracted and the cover story was made. Well now, the Sundae thing makes more sense? (Firestorm) Huh? I guess you could call her my marefriend. She is the acting mayor of Recurrence. \\**//SILENCE\\**// Wow, that is the first time I admitted that outloud. I have a marefreind. (Firestorm) It is a good feeling to have, trust me on that. Meet us upstairs, you and your friends should get their gear back. Frosty will want to talk with you before you leave. \\**//SILENCE\\**// (Firestorm) sorry, for all this. Never thought this would be how we crossed paths again. \\**//BOOP\\**//

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #015: The Alicorn (Part 2) (Dr. Stable Rate)

\\**//BOOP\\**// If I find any of my files corrupted so help me these- **door opening** Brittle? (Grrrar) Close. Grrrar, do you know what happened? (Grrrar) Matrix Disruption Grandes. Grrrar and ponies were knocked out, held captive. Grrrar woke on table. Ponies think they can torture Hellhounds. Makes Grrrar laugh. Me too, but then they released us. Do you know why? Have you seen Brittle? (Grrrar) Doctor Pony ask too many questions. Grrrar miss Shoot. Shoot? (Grrrar) Grrrar's gun. Belong to Grrrar's mom and grandma. Good build, powerful. Never without it til' now. **door opening** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Dr. Stable Rate? Grrrar? I was told you were in here. Brittle? Oh thank Celestia! What is going on? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Well, long story short, this was all a misunderstanding and I apparently know the leader of these ponies....from during the war. They call themselves The Moonskulls. Follow me. The leader wants to talk to us. I hope it is to apologize. **multiple ponies, and one bipedal pawsteps begin** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** It is, I think. I have history with them I don't remember. Some kind of memory manipulation. The leader might not be happy for me having a triss with her marefriend. I thought, Sundae was the first? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Yeah, the first I remembered. They removed my memories. The other time was a one-night-stand from what I've been told. Sundae is different. So who are these Moonskulls? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Some covert platoon who reported directly to Luna. (Unknown mare) **a little synthetic** We did the missions nopony else could. **trotting stopped** (Brittleshine) Frostmane? (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** Been awhile hasn't it, Shoeshine? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Yeah...please call me Brittleshine. (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** Understood. I'm really sorry about the welcome party. We've had some conflict with the NCR, naturally we assumed you were spies. We'd have been more covert about investigating you, but then Dancing Doll's stealth system gave out. It is over 200 years old,but if he hadn't skipped his monthly maintenance it would have held. When he did, we had no choice, but to take you in for interrogation. Had we known it was you. This could have been avoided. Do you not listen to the radio? We are broadcasting our journey. (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** I've been a bit preoccupied with the NCR issues. I caught part of Unscrewed. Had I known the combat drugs were tested on innocent mental patients, I would have paid this Vial a personal visit! (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Well, we don't have to worry about him anymore. Killed by Screwy at the end. (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** Right, about your sister. Firestorm said you are looking for her. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Yeah, we had a lead about her being here recently. Any ghouls in hospital gowns. Has a fire axe and maybe a pistol. Wearing a pipbuck. (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** Hmmm. There is a ghoul settlement in the ruins that might have a ghoul by that description. Helped us defend the ship a few years back from raider gang that got ahold of some steel ranger gear. Didn't take our offer to stay here on the ship. Went by Hawk. Might have something to do with the metal mohawk on her head. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** That's fantastic! Can you spare anypony to help with the search? (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** Unfortunately no. Not when the NCR is pushing us to join their new Equestria. \\**//SILENCE\\**// (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** Actually, you can have Dancing Doll. Might do him some good to travel the wasteland a bit. He did just get his armor. We'll call it more training...or perhaps punishment for not maintaining his armor. (Firestorm) If you ask me, it would be more of a punishment for Brittle and her friends. What do you mean? (Firestorm) You'll find out when you meet him. Your gear should be available at the armory. We gave it a tuneup as a way to apologize. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Before we go, can you do one more favor? (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** What? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Can you deliver our recent logs to the DJ? (Frostmane) **a little synthetic** Sure, it might be a week or so before we get the chance. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** That's fine, as long as it gets to him. \\**//BOOP\\**//

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #016: Everypony Hates Dancing Doll (Grrrar)

\\**//BOOP\\**// Grrrar not sure she like Moonskulls, but Shoot never looked so clean. Grrrar miss the frayed wires though. (Armory Moonskull) Well, they were one short wire away from vaporizing you and your friends. Grrrar know that, Grrrar still miss the look. More menacing that way. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Maybe we can wonder glue some scrap electronics to it later. Now that we are geared up, let's meet this Dancing Doll. (Dancing Doll) Wait no longer, ladies. Dancing Doll is right here. Ooo lala, I've never seen a hellhound up close before. Let alone such a beauty of a female one. I'll try anything once if you're up for it bebe? **magical energy weapon powering up** Can Grrrar shoot Doll Pony? Or better yet, Can I eat the canned pony? (Dancing Doll) Whoa sorry, no offence meant. I was just complimenting your looks little doggie. Now you must be Brittleshine. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Yes...**mumbling** and I now see what Firestorm meant by it being more of a punishment to us than him. (Dancing Doll) Well then, Dancing Doll at your service. And do fee free to service me in return. I'm a bit of a neo-necrophiliac. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** I have a marefriend you perverted smooth coat! (Dancing Doll) Ooo lala, even better. Would you consider letting me watch or perhaps join in sometime? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** I don't often breath pink cloud, but I'll make the acception with you if you make another comment like that. I have it on good authority that Steel Ranger armor is not impervious to the stuff. I won't breath enough to kill you, but I'll fuse you to the inside of your armor. (Dancing Doll) Y-yes understood, sorry ma'am. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Hope your packed, we are leaving immediately. Do you know the way to the ghoul settlement nearby? (Dancing Doll) **clearing throat** Yes, Mausoleum. They are based out of an old mausoleum in the cemetery. The grounds are crawling with ferals, but don't worry, I'll protect you ladies. You can repay me later if you know what I mean. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** You know what, Grrrar, you can shoot him. I don't think Firestorm or Frostmane will care. (Armory Moonskull) As long as he doesn't die, I think they'll throw you a banquet if you did. Grrrar more than happy to then. (Dancing Doll) **metal thudding to the floor** N-no! Please don't, I'm sorry. Y-you look like capable mares...and stallion, I will simply lead the way. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Then get moving soldier. I want to be at Mausoleum by the end of the day. (Dancing Doll) Well then, Allons-y. \\**//BOOP\\**//

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #017: Doll-eteing My Past (Sgt. Dancing Doll)

\\**//BOOP\\**// **constant walking noises of 2 regular ponies, one clad in armor and 1 bipedal hellhound** Testing, testing, Equestrian Prance toast on rye, Equestrian prance toast on rye. See my armor is in working condition. No need to worry ladies. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** The recorder is part of the pipbuck-like interface of your armor. If a pipbuck can survive being melded to flesh and still work, the similar system in your armor should work fine. Does the stealth system work? Yeah, after the unfortunate incident on the beach I fixed it up, see. **stealth system engaging**sparks**metal clad hoofstep stop**sparks***metal clad hoofsteps start again**stealth system disengaging** Ok, I just need some scrap electronics. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Thought so. Well if you have it recording, you might as well make a recording about yourself. Not sure what I can tell you civilians, Moonskulls are very secretive. Not as secretive as back during the great war, but still in lieu of the NCR conflict, and the fact that it will be broadcast on the radio, I should keep things need to know. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** You don't need to give us the scouting patrol's route, just tell us about yourself. I for one like to know who I'm traveling with. We all have a recording like this. (Grrrar) Grrrar doesn't. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** I told him of how we met back in Ponyville. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** And if Brittle trusts you, I do. Fine, maybe my past will help soften your opinion of me. Might make the fine ghoul and Hellhound interested in a three way. **TWACK** Ok, ok, I'll tell you what I can. \\**//SILENCE\\**// How did that hurt through my helmet? (Grrrar) Grrrar encounter many canned pony, know weak points in tin suit. Well, anyways, my story began long before I was the dashing Moonskull you see before you. I became a Moonskull a very long time after their conflict with Gear Turn. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Who? Ex-Moonskull. Swapped wings for saw blades, tried to take over the wasteland a few years back. I'm not sure if Frostmane or Firestorm want to talk much about that time. I think it still pains them, but it did bring the Moonskulls back together. I think the DJ knows what happened, you can ask her sometime. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** DJ Pon-3 is a girl? (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** During the Book of Littlepip it is revealed that a mare runs the station. Uses an enchanted mic to mask her voice. Though it is possible that it is a new pony now. Nopony really knows. Back to my story. I was the son of a raider, though I was born to a slave, thus I was a slave too. I was beaten, berated, and abused my entire life. The only thing that lessened the blow was I became the entertainment for the raiders. I could sing and dance for them...it even became my cutie mark. I was eventually sold to a local raider bar. That is where I remained for most of my adolescence. **heavy sigh** The bar was run entirely by slaves. There was actually more of us than raiders most of the time, but our bomb collars kept us in line. That is where I met Spirits, the bartender. Unlike me, she was not born a slave, but became one when her father's bar was overtaken by raiders not happy with their service. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** So you worked in what was her father's bar? Yes. She and I became fast friends. She'd slip me some of the bar's stock. I'd sing her lullabies as she cried herself to sleep every night. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Wow, that's actually very nice of you. I've seen my fair share of newly captured slaves, most don't cope well. What happened? Firestorm happened-the Moonskulls happened. I don't know what the bar was before the war, before the wasteland, but for some unknown reason a secret bunker was built beneath it. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Like a Stable? Kind of, but not for saving ponies. Not that stables really did a good job of that either. It was a military bunker. Built for housing tools and labs for any Moonskulls stationed in Manehatten. I don't hate Firestorm for what she did, it saved me from my life as a slave. The Moonskulls are the rightful owners and best caretakers for the tech from that bunker. I just wish they'd gotten to the slaver with the bomb collar detonator sooner. Years of neglect and lack of use, or possibly shoddy craftsmanship made more than half of the bomb collars not detonate. Mine and some other current Moonskulls were among those who didn't go off. We even helped clear the rest of the raiders. It was why we were offered a place in their ranks. **all walking ceases*** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Spirits collar was among those that did go off. Am I right? **metal head nod** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** I-I'm sorry. That must have been tough. \\**//SILENCE\\**// Hey, maybe we could turn this hug into snuggling or something more. Just let good ol' Dancing Doll remove his armor. **THUNK** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** You unbelievable letch! Did any of that even happen? Yes, but Spirits is alive and well. None of the bomb collar worked. She tried to join the Moonskulls, but eventually left for her own adventure. She runs a tavern up in the Lunar Republic last I checked. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** I can't believe I almost felt sorry for you. **walking begins again** Also I didn't sing her lullabies. We had sex everynight. She said I was the best she's ever had. I think I'm the father of her foal too. Never did ask. (Grrrar) Grrrar give canned pony props for trying, but Brittle pony and Grrrar will never do filthy pony like you. Doctor Pony maybe, but not us. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** My heart belongs to Screwloose, thank you very much! **BANG**BANG**BANG** Oh we're here. Time to kick some ghoul flank! \\**//BOOP\\**//

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #018: 210 Years in the Making (Brittleshine)

\\**//BOOP\\**// **BANG**CLICK CLICK**BANG**BZZT**BZZT**BWOOOM**RATATATATATATATATATAT**BWOOM** Doll! You said there'd be some ferals in the graveyard, not a whole horde! **BANG** We didn't prepare for this many. (Dancing Doll) Sorry, toots, there was much less last time. The population of the settlement must have gone down and the ferals increased. **RATATATATATATATATATA**CLICK**CLICK**CLICK** Fuck me! **Inequine growls and snarls**BANG**CLICK CLICK**BANG**BZZT**BZZT**BWOOM** **approaching gallops*Tuht**Boom***FWOOSH**SWING**SWING**SWING**several dead bodies thumping to the ground**sizzling of flesh** (Unknown Ghoul Mare) **incredibly raspy** You folks alright? Sorry about the welcome party, great protection, but no easy way to turn them off for friendlies. Welcome fellow ghouls, hellhound, and steel ranger to Mausoleum. The fastest growing ghoul settlement in the city. We open our doors to all races, and states of living. \\**//SILENCE\\**// (Unknown Ghoul Mare) **incredibly raspy** Where are my manners, I'm Hawk, founder and leader of Mausoleum. Y-you're actually here. Pinkie was right we would meet again. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Have we met? Hmm...I never forget a face. No I don't believe we have. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** Screwy, it is me Stable Rate. This is your sister Shoeshine. Y-you don't remember? (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Umm...never thought this would happen. Never thought I'd meet anypony who knew me from before. Huh, small wasteland I suppose. I woke up about 210 years ago in the ruins of an old factory. I had no memory of how I got there. Just this metal mohawk, a shorted out pipbuck and a fire axe. The very same I just used, though augmented with a fire talisman. Lets talk inside. **walking sounds of 3 ghouls, 1 steel clad pony, and a hellhound begin** (Dancing Doll) That was Doombunny style, if I'm not mistaken. Most impressive. **concrete being pushed aside** (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Thanks I had a teacher out west. Xinkra, ghoul zebra, nice gal. Not anything like those posters and billboards make her kind out to be. **concrete being pushed back into place** (Dancing Doll) Well I'm partial to Fallen Caesar myself, perhaps we could spar later...see where things lead. If you know what I mean. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** I'm flattered steel ranger, but I'm not into smooth coasts. Or anypony actually. I always feel like I'm cheating on somepony, but my lost memory prevents me from know who that is. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy**sniffle** It is me you feel like you're cheating on, Screwy. I'm your fiance. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Oh... And as Stable said, I'm your sister. I've crossed the wasteland looking for you. I-I thought you were dead for so long. **sniffle** Then I came upon your recordings. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Recordings? Yeah. **Pipbuck noises** **CLICK** (Screwloose from Audio Log #001: Sanity Through Radiation) Bark, bark barkbark bark. Oh, sorry force of habit. I've been speaking in nothing but dog barks since long before the war. I was a construction worker and a tragic accident caused me to have brain damage. It is funny how now of all times I would regain my sanity. There is no more Equestria. **pipbuck noises** (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Th-that's me? I-I **sniffle** DJ Pon-3 had them broadcast over the radio. How'd you not hear them? (Hawk) **incredibly raspy**sniffle** Well with a busted pipbuck and the concrete structure, I never tuned in. **sniffle** I have a sister and a fiance. Why can't I remember that? (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** I'd say it has to do with your metal mohawk. That shrapnel is stuck in your brain. Any normal pony would have died, but you are a ghoul as long as you have radiation, you can still function. It is just blocking you from accessing your memories. I **deep sigh** I could remove it if you want, I'm a doctor. Surgeon actually. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** I uh...um...I'm not sure. What if I don't remember? It is worth the risk. Let me play you your recordings before you make the final decision. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Sure, lets play them in my quarters. Doll, you go buy us some new ammo and supplies. (Dancing Doll) Your wish is my command, my canterlot ghoul goddess. **receding metal clad hoofsteps** (Grrrar) Grrrar go with canned pony to keep other females safe from him. Good idea. **receding bipedal pawsteps** \\**//HARD CUT\\**// (DJ Pon-3) Sorry to interruption folks, but Brittle kept the recording going as she played all her sister's logs. Don't get me wrong, Unscrewed is a good story, but no need to retread it when this isn't a rerun. I took the liberty of editing it out and putting this explanation in instead. \\**//HARD CUT\\**// (Hawk) **incredibly raspy**sniffle** Screwy-She-I was so close to finding you. I know **sniffle**, Stable 1 opened and became Stable City about a month later. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** If I go through with the operation to remove the hawk and I remember, what will happen to my memories since? (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** I'm not sure, that isn't my field of expertise. I'd hope they'd stay. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** And what of Maus. I lied when I said it was the fastest growing ghoul settlement. Ponies are dropping like files either to feralralism or bigoted wastelanders who can't tell a sane ghoul from a feral one. Without me it will be chaos. Recurrence would be happy to take in your ghouls. I have some swing with the mayor there...she's kind of my marefriend. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** I'll understand if you don't want to do it. Nopony is forcing you. \\**//EXTENDED SILENCE\\**// (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** I-I'll do it. I've been alone for so long. Sure I had those I protected, but I always felt something was missing. Now I know what. You and Stable Rate. Then let's find Doll and Grrrar. We can leave after we rest up for the night. (Dr. Stable Rate) **raspy** I hope Frostmane will let us use their ship's medical bay. She might be a ghoul, but I'd still prefer a sterile working area. And I'll need a source of radiation just incase. \\**//BOOP\\**//

Fallout: Equestria – Brittleshine's Quest Audio Files

Audio Log #019: Something Vail, This Way Comes (Dr. Stable Rate)

\\**//BOOP\\**// **constant clicking of a geiger counter** You ok? (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Yeah, but why do I have to be awake for this? Well this would be a delicate procedure even if you weren't a ghoul. For this kind of thing any wrong move could immobilize or kill you. I don't know how different a ghoul brain is from a regular pony, but I just want to be sure. That is also why I had them flood the room with radiation. So if I do anything incorrectly it will heal. I just have to be sure you don't heal completely before I get it out. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Y-you've done this before, right? Yeah, back at med school. On a cadaver. Just try not to move and let me know if you get any strange tastes or twitches. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Lemon, but that is likely the radiation. Really? I always thought it tasted more like oranges. So what have you been up to since waking up in the factory with the shrapnel in your head? (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** This and that. I wondered the wastes for a while. From Manehattan to Detrot, to Applewood, to the Hoof. I even spent some time in the Zebra Lands. Xinkra taught me Doombunny from when I met her in Applewood, but as a ghoul chems didn't affect us as much so we modded the style to fit. I also discovered I could gain the unique abilities of some ghouls for a short time, but it is very draining to use the powers often. Interesting, you can push your powers to 110% by borrowing the powers of others. I wonder what chem facilitated your powers. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy** Huh? Oh, nothing, just a theory of things I'm working on. I'll explain later. So Xinkra, she still around? (Hawk) **incredibly raspy**raspy sigh** she was killed by a trigger happy bigot. I don't know if it was because she was a ghoul or a zebra. After that I settled Mausoleum and tried to keep ghouls and ponies alike sa-aaaaah! Hold on, I've almost got it. **wet popping sound**clang of metal on metal** Odd, looks almost like an eye. (Hawk) **incredibly raspy**gasp** Wh-where am I? **dog growl** What did you do to- Screwy? You back? (Screwloose) **incredibly raspy** Stable? Is that really you? Y-your alive? Well ghoully like me, but- \\**//EXTENDED SILENCE\\**// **raspy sniffles** I thought I'd never see you again. Do you remember the time you were Hawk? (Screwloose) **incredibly raspy** Kind of, it was like a dream. Me, but not me. It is hard to explain...Dammit, I'm a construction worker not-mmmmhh. **kissing sounds** **metal sliding on metal** **geiger click stops**Door opening** (Firestorm) Sorry to interrupt- (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Screw? (Screwloose) **incredibly raspy** Sh-shoeshine? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** I haven't been for a while, but for you...yes. (Screwloose) **incredibly raspy** I **sniffle** I knew you were alive! You look like a resurrector. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Canterlot Ghoul, but yeah. I've missed you so much. **heavy metal hoofsteps entering** (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Doll, not a word. She is taken. (Dancing Doll) Message received, toots. Just seeing what that thing in her head w-**tung** GAAAAAH! **thud** Dancing? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** What the fuck was that? I think it was the shrapnel. I looked like an cyber eye. (Screwloose) **incredibly raspy** C-cyber eye? Like V- (Unknown Stallion) **synthetic** Hahahahahahahahahaha! Well, well now. Isn't this interesting. I seem to have transcended death even further than before. (Firestorm) Dancing Doll, enough games. (Unknown Stallion) **synthetic** So that is the name of my new body. Honestly, I prefer Vial. Like the pill bottle, but it depends on who you ask. (Screwloose) **incredibly raspy** I-it's not possible. I killed you. (Vial) **synthetic** By dropping an entire section of Canterlot on me. You survived, why wouldn't I? (Firestorm) You bastard. I may not like Doll that much, but he is a Moonskull. Give him back or suffer the consequences! (Vial) **synthetic** Hmmm....nope. Think I'll take him for a spin. In fact this armor is quite nice, I'll take it too...oh and Screw-for-brains. No! I just got her back, I won't let you! (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** Fuck you! (Vial) **synthetic** Ah you must be the fiance and the sister. How are you gonna stop me? (Firestorm) They can't, but I can. (Vial) **synthetic** Ah, ah, ah. You wouldn't want to needlessly kill innocent ponies. You or any other Moonskull attack, I splatter Screwloose all over the room. Maybe you get lucky and kill Dancing Doll here before I can, I'll just take over another body. I'm invincible. (Firestorm) He's right, we have to let him walk. But! (Firestorm) Live today, we can get her back and kill him another day. (Vial) **synthetic** Best of luck. Applesnack, Littlehorn agent, and Screwloose have all tried. This is my Equestria now. **receding metal and reluctant regular hoofsteps** \\**//EXTENDED SILENCE\\**// (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy**sniffle** How the hell is he still alive? Cortexephan. I have a theory that the powers beyond the accelerated healing are based on other drugs they have been given. Screwy was given Celestia's tears. I heard that makes the user use 100% of their strength, but kills them. Screwy survived, the Cortexaphan allowing her body to go beyond 100% by copying unique ghoul abilities. Static Spark was given an early form of Moondust. All her powers are advanced forms of Moondust poisoning. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy**sniffle** And Vial? He was given experimental cybernetics. He is also the only unicorn to use the drug. Maybe it mixed his innate magic and that of his robotic limbs. So when he was killed, his mind went into his cybernetics by converting it to magic or something. I'm a surgeon not a MAS researcher, this is all speculation. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** I think I know where he is going. From the sounds Screwy's recordings he had more than just an cybernetic eye. He might not have his full power without his other parts. He is heading to where he fell. But how will we find him, he will likely mask Doll's armor tag? (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** I made sure I got Screwy's pipbuck tag back at Maus. I wasn't about to lose her again after I went through the trouble to find her. (Firestorm) Get your hellhound friend. Normally I couldn't spare the troops, but he also has a Moonskull captive. I can spare 4 ponies. I wish I could do more. Just bring Doll back in one piece. (Brittleshine) **slightly raspy** We will. Thank you, Firestorm. \\**//BOOP\\**//