A Tale of Hunters, Wanderers, Hucksters and Monsters.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I recently found out that sometimes, doing a nice thing can have unintended consequences, as I found out when Bon Bon contacted me yesterday to help her clean her friend Lyra's room. As it turned out, Lyra had been keeping secrets, big ones, and we hoped that Lyra would be able to explain them.

She was about to, when we revealed the second part of our surprise; cleaning a strange scent from her room and a well-used hoodie. It...didn't go well.

Lyra suddenly armed herself and attacked us, using strange binding magics that held everyone in town by fusing their hooves to their shadows, before attempting draw blood from Bon Bon. I managed to overhear what she said and I think she would have calmed down, but then Rainbow Dash interfered, and Lyra suddenly became consumed by this terrible fury and fought us.

Princess, the magic and fighting techniques I witnessed...I should be horrified because they were all being used with the intent to cripple if not kill and Rainbow now has scars from where Lyra threw a trio of throwing knives into her side, but even as I tried to fight her, I was fascinated. I wanted to learn the strange magics Lyra was throwing around, I wanted to know how she could fight so well.

I wanted to learn everything, and it scares me.

Lyra was subdued, by Zecora, who had apparently arrived to purchase supplies, using some kind of sleeping dart, before binding Lyra and dispelling the spell trapping everyone in Ponyville. She took Lyra back to her home, saying something about summoning her friends.

Princess, I think there is a lot that hasn't been explained or told, and I would like you to be present when we speak with Lyra to find out the truth.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

Celestia closed the letter and searched her memory of the last census done in Ponyville, "Lyra...Lyra...Ah yes, Lyra Heartstrings." She smiled sadly, "Such a shame, but it was inevitable I suppose, their family curse always does strike at the most inopprtune times." She turned to her seneschal, "Summon Captain Armour for me please."

"At once Princess." The pony replied and with a short bow, left the room to summon Shining Armour as Celestia searched her long memory for details of the Heartstrings family, before deciding that a walk would help her memory. Rising from her throne, with two of her guards trailing after her, Celestia wandered the halls until she paused in front of a painting.

It was an Earth Pony, wielding a Minotaur bow known as a Dragon Slayer that seemed comically tall in comparison, facing down a charging dragon and though the weapon was massive, the pony stood on his hind legs easily and was drawing the bow with the skill of a master, a nocked arrow as long as the pony was tall nocked to the string in a curious brace while another held the bow steady.

Celestia studied the painting and nodded, "Of course, a daughter of the Heartstrings."

"What is this about a Heartstrings, Tia?" Celestia turned her head to see Luna approaching and smiled.

"I thought you were asleep Luna." Her sister shook her head.

"We cannot sleep, powerful magic was used yesterday and we are annoyed that the residual energy is continually interrupting our slumber." She sent a small glare to Celestia, "Please tell your student to be less...overt with her magical experiments, particularly ones that invoke the magic of Zebrican Shamans."

Celestia shook her head, "Twilight is blameless in this circumstance. I received a letter from her just a few minutes ago. It appears a daughter of the Noble House of Heartstrings fell victim to her family curse before being subdued."

Luna gaped in shock, "Truly? How is that possible? A Heartstrings in the grip of the Fury of The Heart is impossible to stop unless slain outright! And your student, while powerful, is not trained or skilled in the arts of combat magic to face a Heartstrings in such a state!"

Celestia nodded, "Yes, which is why I am grateful that a Zebra Shamaness who lives in the Everfree was to subdue her with sleeping darts and bind the Heartstrings with her magic. Come Luna, Captain Armour should have been found and summoned to the throne room, and I believe that we might need his help with this."

Luna nodded and in a flash of light and one of shadow, they reappeared in the throne room just as the doors opened to admit Shining Armour, who saluted the Princesses as Celestia nodded, "At ease Captain, thank you for coming so promptly."

Shining smiled, "As much as Cadence would like to keep me chained to the bed and extend our honeymoon, I do have to earn my keep around here Princess."

Celestia giggled, "Please Shining, you are an in-law now, it will not hurt to call me Celestia on occasion." Her expression turned serious, "But this is not a social call unfortunately. Captain, I require you and twelve of your best guardponies to accompany me and my sister to Ponyville. A situation has arisen and your sister has unfortunately found herself at the centre of it all yet again."

Shining gasped, "What happened Princess? Did we miss a pocket of Changelings?"

Luna raised an eyebrow, "Again with giving those creatures the name of Changelings. Captain, we do not know how long it has been since a true and proper Changeling attack, but those were not Changelings, not true ones." She sniffed as she gave Celestia a small glare, "Bad enough that when I allowed my powers as the Nightmare of Canterlot to cloud my sanity your historians made me out to be a jealous monster, but to have allowed all knowledge of the Black Hordes of the Cursed Isles to waste away sister? Peace is nothing without a strong foundation of knowledge to defend it."

Shining blinked at the irritation in Luna's voice and couldn't help but ask, "Why do you think they weren't real Changelings Princess Luna?"

Luna snorted as her gaze fell fully upon him, "Because Captain, if that was truly Chrysalis, Queen of Nightmares and Goddess of the Cursed Isles, none of us would be standing here. However that thing managed to bind me using my remnant powers as a Nightmare, if it was truly her then Canterlot would be a hive filled with screaming, chittering monsters birthed by a being more ancient than Discord. There would be no dream-land inside pods extracting happiness like some Griffon butcher hacking at meat, we would be living amongst them, serving them happily, because that is how Changelings rule."

She snorted again, "They do not like to waste food after all." Luna shook her head, "But that is neither here nor there."

Celestia nodded, "Indeed." Her gaze returned to Shining Armour, "Captain, twelve of your best ponies and one of them must be from the House of Heartstrings."

Shining blinked, "Heartstrings? Forgive me for asking Princess, but a Heartstrings is overkill."

"Not if you were facing down another Heartstrings fully in the throes of the Fury of The Heart." Luna stated coolly, prompting the white Unicorn to pale, which was impressive considering his snow-white coat.

"I...I understand. I shall them ready to depart within the hour."

Celestia shook her head, "You have twenty minutes Captain." Shining's eyes widened slightly but he saluted and galloped off as Luna stretched her wings slightly.

"I shall handle your court for now sister, so that Canterlot does not fall to the unwashed hordes of minor nobility with their petty games. Take as along as you require, we shall make certain your kingdom does not fall into anarchy..at least not too much anarchy." Luna giggled as Celestia rolled her eyes while rising from her throne.

"If I return and find that you've decided to rule as we did in the old days, you had best be starting from the mid-point of our rule, we wouldn't want the nobles to feel completely useless now do we? I imagine the old Martial Houses like Heartstrings, Lulamoon and Frostfire would enjoy it though..." She trailed off musingly as Luna smiled wickedly.

"Fear not sister, you shall return to find this place still retaining it's veneer of civilisation, though I make no promises regarding the continued virginity of the guards." Luna started laughing as Celestia sighed and walked out.

"That sister of mine." She muttered affectionately, before sobering as Shining Armour appeared with twelve ponies, breathing hard but clearly still ready for action as he saluted.

"Princess, the best ponies under my command, and allow me to introduce you to Sergeant Callan Bower of House Heartstrings." A Pegasus mare with bright blue eyes, dark red mane and coat covered by guard armour, approached and bowed.

"Princess, how may I serve you?" She spoke with a confident, yet icy voice as Celestia nodded.

"A pony by the name of Lyra Heartstrings has fallen victim to the Fury of The Heart. She has been subdued, but I need advice..." Bower shot to her feet, eyes narrowed.

"Subdued? Not slain?" Celestia shook her head and Bower made a thoughtful noise, "How has she been subdued?"

Celestia revealed the letter and presented it, the pegasus taking it in a hoof and reading through it, Shining Armour surreptitiously reading over her shoulder as the pegasus made a pleased noise, "A Zebra Shamaness, and likely a powerful one, so that's some good news. Zebra binding magics are powerful, so we shouldn't be expecting a fight. However..."

She suddenly checked her wingblades, "We'll need to have her feed on the blood of the one who was responsible for cleaning her room and prized possession of her favoured scent. You can control the curse, even harness it for your own ends, but once something that holds a precious memory is destroyed, you can't control it until you've either killed the one who did the deed or fed on their blood."

"You sound as if you have experience with this curse." Celestia remarked as the pegasus shrugged.

"We learn to control and harness it early in our lives, and the power it provides is well-worth the risk of maiming a friend or lover, I'm just glad she was subdued so early." She stared at the letter as if it would tell more, "The longer you remain in The Fury, the more powerful you become. If that Shamaness had arrived just minutes later somepony would have died horribly."

Shining grimaced, "Is there anyway to remove this curse?" Everyone blinked as Bower laughed, a derisive and scornful sound.

"You find something that can do that, you and your wife will be dead within the hour. The Heartstrings have made their legend on both their natural mastery of the bow and the Fury of The Heart, and to remove The Fury is to invite civil war." Shining was about to retort when Celestia waved a wing.

"Enough. The chariots are ready to depart, we can continue this discussion in Ponyville. Sergeant, can you subdue this Heartstrings if she breaks free?"

Bower nodded, "I will try Princess, but you must know that if I cannot, I will slay her rather than sacrifice the lives of my comrades or an innocent."

Celestia nodded, before turning to lead the way, "Then let us be off."

Twilight Sparkle found the rest of her friends already standing around Rainbow Dash's bed, and she could tell that the pegasus was in low spirits, "Rainbow, how are you doing?"

Rainbow managed to smile, "Feeling good, but the doc said I can't do any really stressful flying until the stitches are removed." She turned slightly to show Twilight the three long series of stitches in her side, before she relaxed and sighed, "Hard to believe Lyra did that to me. I mean, she was just some pony who played a lyre in the park you know? Did it for spare change too, never professionally."

"She was so happy this morning as well..." Pinky said sombrely, hair straight and sad, "She wanted me to make a chocolate fudge cake too."

Applejack couldn't take it anymore, "Dagnabbit! If I knew I would have..."

"You would have died darling." Rarity interrupted, continuing as Appplejack glared at her, "Don't give me that look Applejack. I have done more than a few dresses and suits for ponies that have been laced with protective enchantments and some have even place attack spells to ward off hoodlums. Lyra's hoodie would have made her invulnerable to your physical skills and her own prowess would have seen you dead in an instant."

"If she hadn't cheated..." Rainbow began, only for Rarity to glare at her.

"There is no such thing as a fair fight Rainbow. Only the winner and the loser. Rules for battle are just an attempt to make us look more civilised than other beings, but if it came down to your life or theirs, you would do anything you could to win." Rarity intoned seriously, "And once the Princess arrives, we can find out the truth about Lyra Heartstrings and get an explanation for her sudden bout violent insanity."

Twilight was about to say something, when she noticed Fluttershy shivering, "Fluttershy? What's wrong?" The impending argument was stopped cold as the others noticed their friend's distressed state.

"How could she hurt so many ponies?" Fluttershy whispered, "Why would she do something like that? Why try to kill you and Bon Bon? I thought she was nice, but she's mean!" Her voice hitched, "What if she hurts someone again! What if she kills someone! We can't let her live here, it won't be safe!"

Twilight winced, "That's something only Princess Celestia can decide. But she should be here soon, and once we get an explanation out of Lyra, then she'll decide what to do with her."

"I hope she banishes her, no-one like that should live in Ponyville." Fluttershy stated with a surprising amount of venom in her soft voice, "No-one like that should have friends."

Twilight was about to say something when Nurse Redheart entered, "Twilight, the Princess is waiting in reception for you." As the purple unicorn left, she focused her attention on Rainbow, "The doctor says you're clear to be released, but don't get into any fights, flying stunts or strenuous activity because you could pop your stitches. I'll get you some bandages so you can change them every week."

Rainbow nodded, "Thanks. I'll be glad to be walking again." After she received a small pack with the spare bandages and had her side wrapped securely, the blue pegasus carefully tested her wings and hovered off the ground before landing on her feet, "Right, now let's go talk with Lyra! She's at Zecora's right? So let's head over there!"

"You got that right sugarcube! And if Ah don't like the answer, I'm going to buck some sense into her head!" Applejack vowed as the group left the hospital room.

Upon arriving at the ground floor, they found Twilight with Princess Celestia and Shining Armour, a group of Royal Guards standing nearby. Twilight turned and smiled, "Ah, here they are now! Girls, great timing! I was just about to come and get you!"

"It was lucky, wasn't it?" Rarity replied as they bowed to the Princess, who waved for them to rise with a wing.

"My dear little ponies, I have found someone who may be able to explain what came over Lyra." Celestia started as Rainbow grimaced.

"So was she possessed by something like Nightmare Moon?" She asked before frowning as Celestia shook her head, "Did someone cast a spell on her?" Celestia shook her head again, prompting Rainbow to raise her voice impatiently, "Then what was it? What happened that made her do...this!" She motioned with a hoof to her bandaged side.

Celestia's smile remained, "That can be explained by this pony. Sergeant Bower, please step forward." A pegasus mare stepped forward, "This is Sergeant Callan Bower, a relative of Lyra Heartstrings." The pegasus nodded in greeting as Applejack suddenly got into her face.

"Now see here! Yer cousin went plumb crazy this morning, and Ah want some answers!"

Sergeant Bower snorted, "Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"

Applejack's eyes widened and she snarled, "Oh, that's it! Nopony, but nopony, insults mah parents and gets away with it!" She whirled to deliver a powerful buck when she found herself thrown into the ceiling before collapsing on the tiled floor as the others backed away upon seeing the Pegasus snarling in fury, eyes glowing red as sparks of scarlet lightning crackled across her body.

She slammed a hoof into Applejack's back, prompting a yelp of pain as the lightning crackled more frequently, before it suddenly stopped, the red glow fading from Sergeant Bower's eyes as she stared at Twilight Sparkle, "That was what you saw didn't you? A peaceful pony suddenly snarling with rage and fury, seemingly becoming stronger with every passing second?"

Twilight nodded shakily as Bower stood back and let Applejack rise unsteadily to her hooves as Bower continued, "What you saw is know as The Fury of the Heart, and it is the greatest weapon and curse of the House of Heartstrings."

Twilight blinked, "Noble...House...?" She gasped, "You mean Lyra, our Lyra, is a daughter of one of Equestria's Great Martial Houses?"

"Not just any daughter." Bower answered, "The name Heartstrings is reserved for the actual Heartstrings family, the leaders of the House. Lyra is a direct descendant of the Titanslayer, Hero of the Northern Wall."

"Frankly Sergeant, we don't care if she is related to a Stalliongrad whore." Rarity stated, "What is important is explaining what this Fury of The Heart nonsense is."

Bower snarled, "Impudent wretch." She hissed, red lightning sparking before it vanished as she took a deep breath, "The Fury is related to a soul-borne ability to relive any memory in life, good and bad, to gain insight and perspective, and to ground our attitudes so that arrogance does not infect us. With it, we can recall the most minute facts and never forget any detail."

She stalked forward, eyes glowing slightly as Rarity backed up a little, "And in doing so we have to live with the fact that one day we could turn on a friend, a relative or a lover, and kill them for something as innocent as cleaning a garment! I've had my hooves stained with the blood of my mother and sister, with the blood of friends, with the blood of my husband, and all because they innocently destroyed or lost an object associated with my most precious memories. But with this curse I can tear you apart and there is not a damn thing you can do to stop me."

"Sergeant, thank you for telling us this, and I hope that it satisfied your curiosity Rarity since she could have simply refused." Celestia spoke with a hint of steel in her voice as Rarity nodded, still unable to speak from the raw emotion Bower had placed in her voice during the telling.

"Indeed, it promises a mighty tale. One that makes the legends of my tribe seem pale." Everyone turned at the voice to see a cloaked Zebra standing in the shadows, "Peace, I mean no danger, I am here so that I am not a stranger."

Twilight smiled, "Zecora! Is Lyra still..." She asked uncertainly as Zecora picked up on the unspoken question.

"Slumbering she remains, but upon the magic her fury drains."

Sergeant Bower nodded, "Not surprising, the longer she remains in that state the stronger she'll become physically and magically. Have you acquired the blood of the one responsible? It's the only way to calm her."

"This is knowledge I know too well, where the one named Bon Bon went I cannot tell." Zecora replied.

"I believe I know where she is." Rarity spoke up, "First off, my apologies Sergeant, we're still feeling a little raw from these events, and secondly Bon Bon is staying as my guest at my home."

"Then I go to collect her, the sooner the deed is done the better." Zecora stated and with a whistle vanished back into the shadows.

Shining shivered, "That kind of magic always gives me the creeps." He muttered, prompting a surprised look from Twilight.

"You've fought Zebra's before?" She asked, and Shining nodded.

"The warriors and skirmishers we can handle, their weapons are conventional. But a Zebra Shaman or Shamaness with a rifle can bring down anyone, especially with magic-eater bullets." Shining admitted, "The skirmishes are getting more bloody these days, especially as too many settlers are ignoring the the calls to look to the West beyond the Everfree to colonise the Ash Lands and settling for the easier to inhabit Southern Deserts or the Northern Ranges near the Eyrie Dominions."

He shook his head, "But that's something for later. We should get going to this Zecora's residence. Where does she live?"

Twilight smiled, "She lives in the Everfree, but close enough that we shouldn't be in much danger. I'll lead the way."

Zecora's hut was empty when the group arrived, but then a shadow warped and out stepped Zecora with an ill-looking Bon Bon following after her, "I don't know how you can handle travelling like that. It's so...disturbing."

Zecora laughed, "Worse things I have seen, and worse places I have been." She looked to her door and saw her visitors, "Ah friends come in, to leave you without comfort would be a sin!"

Twilight smiled, "Thank you Zecora." She looked around the hut at the various pots, hanging herbs and strange concoctions, before her gaze fell on..."Lyra!"

Bon Bon turned and saw her friend, fast asleep with a smile on her face, still bound in shadowy chains. But the mare's body was still rippling with blood-red energy as Sergeant Bower shook her head, "It's a testament to your skill Shamaness, no other could bind one of our blood without making a mess."

Zecora smiled, "Thank you, I am glad my skill still proves true." She pushed Bon Bon forward, "Place your hoof in the ring, and out of her slumber I will bring." Bon Bon nodded and carefully placed her hoof inside the glowing magical circle on the ground as Zecora chanted.

In a flash of non-light, the chains fell away as Lyra began to stir, then awoke snarling and shivering, looking around before her eyes locked on Bon Bon's. WIth a shudder, the mint-green mare managed to speak, barely suppressed fury making her words harsh, "Bonnie...you shouldn't have...come...you STUPID BITCH! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

Bon Bon shook her head, keeping her hoof in the circle, "I just want you to stop Lyra. Please."

Lyra rumbled before her glowing eyes fell on Bon Bon's hoof and before anyone could react, she lunged. Bon Bon screamed as Lyra's jaws clamped down and some of the Royal Guards moved to help when Bower raised a wing, "Stop! This is how the curse can be sated. Lyra just needs to feed on Bon Bon's blood for a few seconds and it will release its grip and she'll be able to calm down."

After a few seconds had passed, the glow began to fade, and with a shudder Lyra pushed herself away from Bon Bon, tears in her eyes, "Oh Bonnie, I'm so sorry I hurt you." She sniffled as Bower came forward.

"Who is your sire?"

Lyra stiffened and nodded seriously, "I am born of Titus Heartstrings and Talon the Farseeing."

Bower nodded, "Have you a title?"

Lyra nodded, "I am House Huntress, earned sixteen years ago before I embarked on my Wild Hunt."

Bower nodded and bowed, "I greet you warmly oh Heartstrings, you are missed in your home."

Lyra grinned, "I know." She turned to Bon Bon, "Bonnie, I wish I told you sooner, you deserve a better friend than me."

"Oh I don't know, you acted much the same when we first met." Everyone turned at the new voice and the guards stiffened at seeing the black alicorn standing in the doorway, "Oh don't stop on my account, the emotion is so thick and rich here, I feel like I've found a feast."

"Chrysalis!" Twilight shouted as she got into a stance, "You won't get us this time!"

For her part Chrysalis simply rolled her eyes, then regarded Lyra, "Mind if I give them a show?"

Lyra shrugged, "Go ahead."

Chrysalis smiled, showing far too many teeth and setting everyone save for Lyra and Zecora on edge as the Zebra dispelled the magic circle and put on a pot for tea.

Then the Queen of Changelings simply opened her mouth.

She closed it again and regarded the cowering ponies as she smiled widely, "My failure during the wedding was because I was too focused on blending in, even going as far as to birth a far weaker brood than what I typically commanded." She sauntered into the house and accepted a cup of tea from Zecora, sipping it carefully while blowing on it occasionally, "You were simply lucky. Had I been actually focused on victory, there would have been nothing to stop me."

"I still think you weren't serious." Lyra commented as Bon Bon clutched her tightly, sipping her own tea as Zecora joined them, "You just wanted to relieve some boredom and get rid of a weak brood."

"Perhaps." Chrysalis replied cryptically as she took another sip.

Twilight shivered as she stared wide-eyed at Chrysalis, "W-what are you?"

Chrysalis smiled as she turned an amused eye towards Celestia, who was regarding them warily, "I'm shocked Celestia. Didn't you tell your student about the Goddess of the Cursed Isles, the Ruler of the Black Hordes, the Queen of Nightmares, Chrysalis of Storms? For shame."

"Twilight's a good kid." Lyra piped up as Bon Bon remained latched tightly to her, "But a little lacking in the whole worldly knowledge deal." She smiled, "Heh, I bet if I took her out hunting in the Northern Wastes she'd try and follow a checklist and I'd find her a few days later with a checklist that had no check marks on it and she'd be a frozen treat for the Storm Hawks."

"How rude!" Rarity managed to recover enough to be outraged, though she pointedly avoided looking at Chrysalis, "I'm certain Twilight would be just as accomplished a hunter as you if she put her mind to it. And why would you hunt anyway? Such a barbaric practice."

"And why are you having tea with her!" Rainbow jabbed a hoof in Chrysalis' direction, the Changeling Queen simply smiling again, "She's evil! She tried to have us wrapped up in pods and steal our love!"

Lyra giggled, "The Memory Pods? Really? Chryssie, you really weren't serious were you? The Chrysalis I know would have drowned Canterlot in her brood-horde and broken the Elements of Harmony over her chitin. Face it, you were bored." She smiled at Chrysalis, who smiled back.

"Perhaps. Maybe more importantly I wanted to do something, anything, to help me get over what...happened." Chrysalis sniffled, "I just needed to try and forget the pain."

Lyra smiled, and easily slid out of Bon Bon's grip to hug the Changeling Queen, "I know, I miss him too." She looked over to Zecora, "Are the others coming?"

The Zebra was about to reply when Applejack finally had enough, "Now wait just an apple-pickin' minute here! How can you two..." She waved a hoof at Lyra and Zecora, "Be friends with that low-down, pony replacing, wedding ruining, shapeshiftin' monster!" She stomped a hoof, "Ponies got hurt during that little invasion of hers!"

"Did any die?" Chrysalis asked blandly, and when Celestia shook her head, sniffed, "Then I wasn't being serious. Merely attempting to do something rather wallow in depression at losing a dear friend."

Rainbow snorted, "You? Having friends?" She scoffed, "And who would be friends with You?"

"I would be for one." Zecora stated with a hard tone, "Her whims make life interesting and fun." She refilled Chrysalis' teacup, "Your bonds formed through luck, happenstance and fate, ours was formed from battle, blood and hate."

Twilight frowned, "Now wait a moment, our friendship has been through its own challenges, you can't just say we've had an easier time!" She stepped forward, "Furthermore, friends have things in common as well as differences, so what could you have in common with her!" She challenged.

"What we have in common a drive for adventure, for glory, and for coin. To see the world and its wonders, and then take all of its plunder." All eyes turned and only Chrysalis, Lyra and Zecora smiled at seeing the blue unicorn mare standing in the doorway, star and moon cloak draped around her as her hat leaned at a jaunty angle while she drawled arrogantly, "How far have you travelled Twilight Sparkle? Do you go beyond the borders of Equestria and see places like the Eyrie Dominions and the Zebrican Desert? Have you taken a boat or airship across the Eastern Ocean to the Dark Lands? Have you ever braved the darkest depths of the Everfree and gone into the Eternal Jungle? Have you crossed the Northern Wastelands to the Diamond Sea? Or braved the Ash Lands? Maybe you believe yourself capable of braving the Badlands and seeing the strange cities of the Far Country?"

"Trixie." Twilight stated evenly as the blue mare walked in and accepted a cup of tea from Zecora, "What are you doing here? Back for more boasting?"

"Yeah!" Rainbow spat, "I bet you have some boast about taking on Sand Vipers or taming an Ash Crow."

Trixie sniffed, "I have no need to make up stories about those achievements, because I have done just that. My boasting is part of my act as a showpony, wild tales to excite the mind and inflame the imagination. If a hick town like this is so feeble-minded that they cannot distinguish fantasy from reality...well, as an old friend once said, 'Bury your head in stories, and you won't leave a story when they bury you.' An apt saying."

She was about to take a sip when suddenly Fluttershy flew over and knocked the cup out of Trixie's hoof, "How can you such a thing! You...you...you BULLY!" Before Trixie could retort, Fluttershy fixed the unicorn with The Stare, "But that's not surprising, you're a boastful bully, Chrysalis is a bully who wanted to lock us all up in a dream for the rest of our lives and Lyra's kept secrets from all of us! The only one who is actually good and kind..."

"ENOUGH!" Trixie shouted as she shot to her hooves, fixing the Pegasus with a glare that stopped the rant in its tracks, "Trixie doesn't know what you think she is, but Trixie is not some animal who will be cowed by a glare! I have earned my friends trust, companionship and love through things that would make a cowardly little wallflower like you die long before you encountered any physical threat!"

She stepped forward, pressing her head firmly against Fluttershy's as Lyra, Zecora and Chrysalis smiled in open amusement, "Who are you? I'll tell you who you are. A nobody, a quiet little wallflower too scared to even look at her own shadow, who prefers the company of animals to other ponies, and who hid like a frightened foal when Zecora first arrived here. If it wasn't for the Element of Kindness welded to your soul you would have died in obscurity. Trixie on the other hand, is famous throughout much of the nations beyond Equestria!"

Rarity raised an eyebrow, "I find that hard to believe."

"Believe it twerp." Celestia wondered just who else was going to arrive as a female griffon strode in, ignoring the guards, and the others, to sit near Lyra and accept a cup of tea from Zecora, "Trixie's famous in a lot of places. My people call her the Moonlight Thief, the Zebra's know her as the Dust Devil, the Minotaurs and Boars call her the Night Witch, the ponies on the Cursed Isles name their daughters after the Blessed of Shadows, and the ponies who live in the Far Country and Badlands know her as the Rogue of Stars."

She took a sip, "Not bad what one can do in four years eh?" She sent an amused glare to Fluttershy, who was now looking at her, then before anyone could react, roared in the yellow pegasi's face, sending her zooming back to hide behind Applejack trembling like a leaf.

"BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!" Gilda started laughing, "Whaddya know, you still can't handle a Griffon roaring in your face dweeb. Not surprising, you were doing so well at failing to intimidate Trix here." She continued giggling as Trixie huffed.

"Trixie could have handled her, thank you very much. Besides, I seem to remember you getting into more trouble than you could fight your way out of on occasion, oh Shrike of the Sands." She shrugged, "For the youngest griffon to earn the title of Silent Storm, you certainly made a lot of noise."

"Hahah, fuck you Trix, or should I remind you of the time you nearly got eaten by some of Chryssie's newborns." Trixie blushed at the memory as Lyra started laughing.

Chrysalis smiled, "You made such delightful squeaks when they started nipping at your feet." She mused, "They grew up so fast."

"And they were hungry." Trixie complained grumpily as she accepted a new cup of tea from Zecora, before looking around, "Well, it seems as though we are only missing the two..." She grimaced slightly, "Geniuses. I wonder what steam-powered monstrosity they're using to arrive here?"

Lyra shrugged, "Dunno, but it should be good." She glanced over to the other ponies and waved to them, "You know, you're all being terribly rude just standing there while Zecora is making tea." She stated with a small smile, "In the Zebra Deserts, that's grounds for the visitors to be thrown out of the host's home."

Slowly, warily, the guards, Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony sat around the large fire in the center of the hut, opposite Lyra and the others, as Zecora moved to a cupboard and removed a steel wire lattice that she placed over the flames before looking at Gilda, who nodded and darted out an open window as Zecora began pulling out bread, herbs, and from an icebox a thick-looking white substance that had Lyra smiling, "Ooh, spiced cheese!"

Zecora smiled as she laid out the various items on a large platter as Lyra scooted forward, Bon Bon nervously sitting next to her, while Chrysalis lounged near the fire and Trixie took up a seat near her, coincidentally ensuring that the two groups were neatly opposite each other as Zecora hummed a tune while removing more foodstuffs as Lyra sighed happily, "Bread, soft cheese, herbs and as soon as Gilda gets back, some meat to go with it all."

Rarity made a face, "You actually eat meat?" Before Lyra could reply, Bon Bon spoke up.

"She does. She used to eat it when we were living in Manehattan. Every week she'd go a Griffon restaurant and order meat dishes before trading Griffish songs with the staff and patrons." She smiled slightly, "It was always fun to watch her singing with a group of Griffons, even though I never understood a word."

Twilight was about to comment when a thunderous crash sounded outside and although Twilight, her friends, Celestia and the guards shot to their feet, Trixie simply gave out a long-suffering sigh while smiling fondly, "And so they arrive in style, steam and fire. Typical for those two."

"And yet you wouldn't trade them for any other." Lyra snarked back as Trixie chuckled lightly while two blonde-coated, red-maned unicorn stallions in strawboater hats and striped vests walked in with a flourish, trailing smoke while Gilda followed them in, a dead boar slung over her back, shaking her head.

Lyra smiled, "Woah! How'd you two get here?"

Flim, patting out a small flame on his hat, shrugged, "Well..."

"There's Ponyville in the distance! We should arrive momentarily Flam!" Flim shouted over the rushing wind as their vehicle roared through the skies above Ponyville, "Who says that flight is only for Pegasus!" He laughed.

"Indeed!" Flim shouted back, "Although next time, we should plan for future air travel in our designs! I don't think we can maintain our stability for..."

The vehicle shook violently and the two brothers looked at each other, then to the rear of the vehicle, watching as the left Super Gliding Wing, a wing made for Gliding and not Flying, shook rapidly before with a crack that was felt rather than heard, fell away and the vehicle began to list as Flam struggled with the controls.

"Oh, this is not good! Get ready for landing brother!"

"And that's how we arrived." Flam finished as Flim patted some smoke off his vest as everyone stared at them, before Lyra, Trixie, and Chrysalis started laughing uproariously as Zecora smiled and gave the pair some tea while Gilda took the boar to the back of the hut, smirking at Fluttershy's visible discomfort as she took a knife from a hanging rack.

"Only you two!" Lyra guffawed, "Only you two would think Gliding is the same as Flying!" She started laughing again, "That's almost as funny as the time you tried to make a boat swim underwater! Without any air!" She couldn't take it any more and started rolling on the ground laughing her head off as Flim and Flam smiled and bowed.

"Never let it be said that we allowed the potential consequences to stand in the way SCIENCE!" The two declared as thunder rumbled in the background and Lyra's laughter only increased.

"Stop! Stop! You're going to kill me!" She laughed as she tried to calm down, hiccuping slightly as she tried to catch her breath, "Every time! Every time! How is it that even when you're being serious you crack me up?" She giggled slightly as the two ponies shrugged.

"Perhaps it is our effervescent charm and jovial nature Flim?" Flam asked his brother.

"I think not! It is clearly our positive outlook on life, inexhaustible supply of enthusiasm and dedication to hard work!" He replied, to which Applejack open scoffed.

"You two? Work hard? Yeah right! You tried to swindle the town with cheap cider and that fancy contraption of yours! I bet you two have never worked hard a day in your life!" She spat as Lyra stopped laughing and glared at her, prompting the farmpony to glare back, "Don't you dare try to defend them Lyra, these two are nothing more than a pair of low-down dirty cheats!"

Lyra snarled, "Yeah? So what! I've known these two for four years, and I'd rather trust a pair of snake-oil selling hucksters than you." She waved a hoof at them, "These two are geniuses! I've seen them work miracles with alchemy and chemistry! They can do more with a steam engine that Equestria has down in centuries! They can make the ancient technology of the Old Ones, even the Humans, work after only a few minutes of tinkering!"

She trotted over and hugged them tightly, "They've saved our lives too many times to count. These two are con-artists, hucksters, snake-oil sellers and cheats, but they are the most wonderful, compassionate and brave ponies I have ever travelled with." She then smiled wickedly, "And they can make a damn better cider than yours Applejack!"

"That tears it!" Applejack shot to her hooves, "I can maybe understand what you're saying, but no-one and I mean no-one, makes better cider than Sweet Apple Acres!"

Lyra looked at the brothers, who kept their faces studiously neutral, and grinned slyly, "If I know you two, your private reserve would have survived the crash just fine. And the meal will go down much, much smoother with a mug of your Red Barrel Hard Spice in hoof you know..." She trailed off meaningfully and Flim made a sigh of resignation, only a few ponies missing the twinkling in his eyes.

"I suppose that if we're soothing flared tempers, than a peace offering should be made by us, I shall return momentarily. Try to keep the ladies entertained brother!" He left with a flourish and trotted outside as Applejack was dragged back to her seated position, still huffing from what Lyra said.

"Wow Lyra..." Bon Bon, who had remained quiet, especially as Chyrsalis would occasionally yawn in amused boredom, spoke up, "You seem so...different, than how you usually act." She glanced at Trixie who was idly juggling several coins expertly and was now adding some throwing knives, a smoke bomb, and what appeared to be a vial of poison. On a single hoof.

Lyra smiled, "If anything, I'm acting normal Bonnie. Ponyville is a nice, peaceful place, at least it was until Twilight Sparkle here showed up." She indicated Twilight with a hoof as she continued, "But the Lyra you knew, playing a lyre in the park for spare change, was a mask. It was an attempt to bury my past for six years, but..." She stroked her hoodie meaningfully, "When you can remember everything, and combine it with the fury that trying to destroy those memories will always bring, you can't bury it too deep."

"Lyra..." Bon Bon whispered before Trixie sniffed.

"So this is what the best of us has reduced herself to? Some charlatan playing at being a good little pony?" She easily caught the objects and returned them to her cloak, then waved it to show that they had disappeared, "Trixie is glad she doesn't have to hide what she is."

"And what exactly are you?" Rarity spoke up then, "All I see is some boastful mare."

Trixie laughed, "Exactly! I am an arrogant mare, a vagrant unicorn who cannot put down roots because she hears the call to travel, and I have done more and seen more than you have in your boring, plebian lives." She smiled and flourished, and suddenly a large dagger was in her hoof, "I am a Lulamoon, daughter of one of the Wandering Families of that Martial House, and I will not pretend to be some boring mare hiding her past because she's afraid her new friend will reject her."

Rarity was about to reply when the door opened and Flim trotted back in with a red wooden barrel floating behind him, "I return with drinks to quench our thirsts! Come, let us enjoy this moment as old friends reunite!" He set the barrel up and accepted large mugs from Zecora, before turning the tap set into the side and pouring a dark cider as he passed the cups around, the first going to Princess Celestia, who took a careful sip, before she blinked.

"This is very good. What do you call it?" Flam, who had been speaking with Zecora about something, smiled and spoke up as he accepted a mug.

"Why it is our famous Red Barrel Hard Spice! It is an old family recipe for a strong, spicy and refreshing cider with a low alcoholic content; perfect for a fire-cooked meal between friends, a hearty round of drinking in a Griffon-run tavern, or a drink after killing the Abomination of Travon in a thrilling steam-boat chase through the river-city in question!" He announced before taking a deep gulp, exhaling in satisfaction as Gilda finally appeared from the back with a tray, "And here's the meat! Now we can have ourselves a grand party!"

"I admit, I am interested in what sort of dish you have planned." Celestia admitted as she took a seat, sipping her cider more conservatively while Twilight and her friends hadn't touched theirs while Gilda laid out the meat to cook.

"Nothing like a properly spiced boar Princess." Gilda replied with a friendly smile, "I remember Lyra and Gunner..." She trailed off with a blink of shock before she brought a claw up to her beak, "Ah crap, I'm sorry Lyra." She apologised as Lyra's smile became pained before she waved it off.

"No, it's all right. Besides, I want to tell Bonnie the truth and it'll mean telling her about Gunner." She went quiet for a long moment, before looked up with a bright smile, "But who cares about that! I have my friends with me and we're going to share stories and remember the good times and the bad! But first..."

She lifted her mug, "I need a refill!"