It was the time of day when both sisters rose to the sky to work together to transform a glorious afternoon into a peaceful night. With a beat of their wings, the regal alicorns created a soothing wind that wrapped it’s chilling embrace around a pony’s fur, making the search for a coat a delightful venture. In the outer fringe of the Everfree Forest, three adventurous fillies with blank flanks were trekking through tall grass in search of a peculiar herb for their zebra friend.
“What was it called again?” asked Scootaloo. “The pistachio?”
“Pistachio?” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “We can get that at the market instead of being here in the creepy forest.”
Apple Bloom facehoofed. “No, it’s called the mutatio. Not pistachio. And quit bein’ babylike, Sweetie Belle. It’s not like we’re inside the Everfree Forest.”
“We might as well be. Look”
The unicorn filly pointed into the forest. Dozens of tall trees lined a worn out dirt path that led to the base of Mount Equestria. The self-proclaimed Cutie Mark Crusaders gasped when they noticed the mouth of a mysterious cave.
“What do you s’pose might be in there?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Only one way to find out,” said Scootaloo. She hopped onto her scooter and powered up her wings. Before she took off, Sweetie Belle stood in her way.
“Hey Sweetie Belle, what gives?”
“Are you loco in the coco? Celestia knows what horrid things await us in that cave.”
Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Or, we could end up in a cave full of horatio’s that we can take back to Zecora.”
“It’s mutatio,” corrected Apple Bloom. “And, she might be right, Sweetie Belle. We’ve been searchin’ for hours and haven’t found a single herb. It’s possible they could be growin’ in there.”
Sweetie glanced uneasily behind her down the dirt path. “I’m not so sure, girls.”
Scootaloo groaned. “Come on, Sweetie Belle. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Where’s your sense of living?” shot back Sweetie Belle.
“Hold on, girls,” said Apple Bloom holding up both hooves. “Look, maybe if we just took a peek inside the cave, that’ll be enough to see if there are any mutatios inside.”
“So, we don’t have to go inside at all?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Exactly.”
“Fine,” said Scootaloo throwing her hooves in the air. “Can we go now?”
“Yeah! Cutie Mark Crusaders, away!”
The two fillies hopped inside Scootaloo’s wagon. The three friends took off down the road, leaving puffs of dusty smoke in their wake. As soon as they came to a stop, strange sounds wafted out of the cave causing them to jump.
“W-What was that?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“I don’t know,” replied Scootaloo. She stepped off her scooter and walked slowly towards the cave. “Let’s go check it out.”
Apple Bloom followed her pegasus friend, matching her steps hoof for hoof. She noticed that her unicorn friend wasn’t following and turned back to see Sweetie Belle firmly sitting in place inside the wagon.
“Aren’t ya comin’, Sweetie?” the farm filly asked.
“Nuh uh,” she said crossing her hooves. “I don’t know what made that sound, but there is no way I am going in there to see. I’ll wait for you girls out here.”
“Oh come on, you big baby,” cried Scootaloo. “You’re starting to act all prissy like your annoying sister.”
“I most certainly am not,” yelled Sweetie Belle. “And at least I have a sister.”
“You take that back!”
“No!”
Scootaloo and Sweetie locked in a fierce gaze when Apple Bloom made a loud gasp.
“Girls, look!”
The quarreling friends turned their heads and gaped at the sight of a strange creature walking towards them from the mouth of the cave. It resembled a red ant, but it’s body was the size of the Apple family dog and had antennae the length of Apple Bloom’s older brother. It’s glowing green eyes locked onto the two fillies standing halfway to the cave and bared its sharp fangs. The two fillies turned to make a dash back to the scooter, but before they could start, a pair of rugged antennae wrapped themselves around their soft fur and dragged them along the rocky ground towards the cave.
“Sweetie Belle! Help!” the two cried.
Sweetie Belle immediately hopped out of the wagon to rescue her friends, but the ferocious eyes of the large ant paralyzed her efforts and she came to a screeching halt. She stood with her mouth to the floor as she witnessed her two best friends scream and struggle to no avail. As soon as they disappeared into the darkness of the cavern, the lone unicorn trembled in her spot thinking of what to do.
I can’t leave them in there. What if they’re being eaten by that big ant? Oh what do I do?
Suddenly, Sweetie Belle turned around and bolted down the path towards the zebra’s hut.
“Maybe Zecora can help me,” she said to herself. “She’ll know what to do.”
Minutes later, Zecora was running at a frantic pace towards the cave, Sweetie tagging behind. As soon as they were about fifty yards away, they screeched to a halt and listened.
“There. That’s where the big ant dragged Apple Bloom and Scootaloo,” said Sweetie Belle between huffs and puffs.
After a minute of waiting for any sound or movement, Zecora began to walk towards the mouth of the cave. Sweetie Belle grabbed her zebra friend by the hoof. “Zecora, wait. Aren’t you scared it might get you too?”
Zecora faced the unicorn with a determined look. “Though the idea to enter may be silly, we need to go and save those fillies.”
Zecora turned back to walk into the cave, but stopped in midstep as her eyes grew with shock. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked outside of the cave, their fur and mane only suffering a dirty brushing from being dragged across the dusty floor. They stood side by side in front of their two friends with dazed looks.
“Hey guys,” said Scootaloo. “What’s up?”
“What’s up?” yelled Sweetie Belle. “You were just dragged to your deaths like ten minutes ago! You could’ve been eaten by that one big, nasty, ugly ant!”
“Actually, there was a lot of ‘em,” added Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle’s mouth dropped to the floor for the second time that day.
“A family of large ants you say? Living inside that dark cave?” asked Zecora.
“Yeah, and they really didn’t do anything to us. Just tickle our tummies a bit.” Scootaloo twirled for Zecora and Sweetie Belle to demonstrate that she came out of the seemingly traumatizing event completely unscathed.
Zecora jerked her head back and smiled. “An interesting occurrence I must say, but it is good that you’re okay. And now let us turn and head back, or else your family will give me flack!”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo laughed at Zecora’s rhymes and followed their zebra friend back to Ponyville. Only Sweetie Belle remained standing with a look of disbelief written all over her face.
“Hey Sweetie Belle, aren’t ya comin’?” asked Apple Bloom.
“Um, yeah. I’m coming.” After she regained her composure, Sweetie Belle joined her friends on the path back to Ponyville.
“Sweetie Belle, be a darling and hoof me that yellow fabric over there.”
It was the next day and not a single cloud decorated the sunny sky. The warm light bursting through the open window bounced off Rarity’s latest bedazzled creation and danced all over the clean carpet. Sweetie Belle rushed over to a small table to retrieve a roll of yellow fabric, which she accidentally dropped at Rarity’s hooves.
“Dumb fabric,” she exclaimed.
“No, don’t move. I’ll get it,” said Rarity as she bent down and grabbed the fabric.
Sweetie Belle sat on the ground and looked out the window as a somber look appeared on her face. Rarity continued to run several pieces of fabric through the machine when her eyes caught her pensive little sister.
“Sweetie Belle, is something bothering you?”
Sweetie continued to stare out the window.
Rarity stopped pedaling the machine and looked straight at Sweetie. “Sweetie Belle, come here and tell your big sister what happened that made you so glum.”
The smaller unicorn rolled her eyes and reluctantly sat next to her big sister. Rarity restarted the machine and nodded to Sweetie.
“Well, it’s something that happened yesterday, with the cave?”
“Oh yes,” mumbled Rarity, still maneuvering the fabric expertly through the machine. “I remember you couldn’t stop talking about that large ant.”
“Well, before that I kind of said something mean to Scootaloo, and I feel sort of bad about it. I think she hates me now.”
“Oh Sweetie, best friends fight all the time. You just need to go up to her, apologize, and make up.”
“What’s make up got to do anything with me and Scootaloo?”
Rarity sighed. “No, Sweetie. When you make up with a friend it means you make things right. Talk it over with Scootaloo and settle your problems together.”
Sweetie shook her head. “I don’t think she would be up for that.”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” As soon as Rarity finished talking, there was a knock on the boutique door.
“Could you get that please, Sweetie.”
Sweetie Belle walked over to the door and opened it with a pull. Her eyes grew wide when Scootaloo appeared on the other side, looking even more dazed than before.
“Uh, hi Scootaloo. What are you doing here?”
Scootaloo said nothing.
“Oh, she’s just here to pick up Rainbow’s gala dress I patched for her last night. Silly pegasus tore a hole showing it off to her friends while doing her loop tricks and such.”
Scootaloo walked into the boutique, clumsily bumping Sweetie in the process without apologizing. She stopped right in the middle of the room between the door and Rarity and gawked upon the spinning wheel of the unicorn’s sewing machine.
Sweetie approached her pegasus friend and scratched the floor with her hoof. “Uh, Scootaloo? About what I said last night, I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
Sweetie looked up from the floor to see Scootaloo still watching the wheel make its cycles, completely ignoring the unicorn’s apology.
“I mean, I understand if you hate me forever and never want to talk to me, but I just…”
“Okay,” responded Scootaloo with a flat tone.
Tears began to form in Sweetie’s eyes as she stared at her friend who wasn’t even paying attention. She stomped the floor with her hoof and narrowed her gaze into a frowning scowl.
“Fine! If that’s the way you want to be, then I don’t care!”
“Sweetie Belle, that is quite enough!” Rarity stood in front of her little sister with a dress on a hanger covered in thin plastic.
“B-But, she…”
“No buts. Now, take this dry cleaned dress to Fluttershy. Maybe a nice brisk walk will help you calm down, missy.”
Sweetie stood and stared in disbelief at Scootaloo, who was still ignoring the unicorn filly. Sweetie didn’t respond as she stormed out of the boutique and headed in the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage.
Rarity smiled and shook her head. “I do apologize for my sister, Scootaloo. I think yesterday’s fiasco is still taking its toll on her.”
The fashionable unicorn returned to her post and set up the next pair of fabric pieces to be stitched together. “Now, Rainbow’s dress is hanging on that rack over there. It’s the only one with the colors of the rainbow flowing down the backside, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding it.”
Rarity waited for a response from Scootaloo, but she too was completely ignored.
“Scootaloo, did you hear me?”
Rarity turned to see Scootaloo. The pegasus filly was crouched low to the ground, her eyes glaring angrily at the unicorn’s chest.
“Scootaloo, why on earth are you standing so close to the floor? You look like an ant for crying out loud.”
“So she completely ignored your apology?” asked Fluttershy. “That’s terrible.”
Fluttershy poured her small guest a mug of hot chocolate and set it on the small coffee table. Sweetie Belle took a hearty sip and sighed.
“Then she said that she never wanted to talk to me again. What did I do wrong? I’m so sad because I don’t want to lose one of my best friends.”
Sweetie’s eyes began to well up again. The thoughtful pegasus took a seat next to Sweetie and wrapped a hoof around her.
“Oh, cheer up Sweetie Belle. I’m sure she’s just starting to get over it. You’ll see. You two will be running around having fun adventures in no time!”
“I sure hope you’re right,” said Sweetie Belle. “It’s all just so weird. It seemed like she became another pony ever since she got dragged into that cave by that ant.”
“That is strange,” said Fluttershy as she watered her small plants that sat along her windowsill. “I’ve never even heard of ants that large before, and I’ve lived here near Mount Equestria almost my whole life.”
Sweetie sat herself straight on the plush couch. “You don’t think those big ants poisoned her brain or something, do you?”
“I just don’t know,” responded Fluttershy with a shudder. “I don’t even know if ants have those capabilities.”
Fluttershy shook her head and resumed watering her plants when another little filly walking towards her house caught her eye.
“Here comes Apple Bloom.”
Sweetie peeked over the couch. “Apple Bloom? What is she doing here?”
“Well, she always comes by for a yummy snack before she ventures off to Zecora’s.” Fluttershy put her watering can down and went for the door. “Maybe she can help you with your issues with Scootaloo.”
“Maybe.”
Fluttershy walked to the door and opened it with a smile. “Hello, Apple Bloom. Come on in! I’ve got your favorite snack waiting for you on the…” Her voice trailed to a silence when she noticed a large pair of antennae bursting out of Apple Bloom’s red mane.
“What in the world are those?” asked Sweetie Belle, who jumped off the couch and joined a shocked Fluttershy at observing the strange addition to the farm filly’s head. They began to twitch as Sweetie Belle neared the two.
“Th-They look like antennae to me,” said Fluttershy.
The twitching antennae twisted in the air then stretched towards Sweetie Belle where they began to tickle the unicorn’s entire body.
“Apple Bloom, stop that!”
The farm filly paid no attention and continued to tickle her friend.
“Fluttershy,” she said between uncomfortable laughs. “Why is she doing that?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen a pony with antennae before.”
Suddenly, the little filly stopped tickling her friend and retracted her antennae. She stood perfectly still staring blankly past the two ponies as she appeared to be mumbling softly to herself. Fluttershy and Sweetie observed closely.
“Apple Bloom, is this some kind of joke?” asked Sweetie Belle.
Fluttershy took an especially inquisitive look into Apple Bloom’s eyes. Their transformation from a fiery orange into a menacing olive green drew a gasp from the animal loving pegasus. The young filly suddenly flashed her unicorn friend a set of piercing fangs and crouched low to the ground.
“Apple Bloom, this isn’t funny anymore.”
In a split second, the possessed young filly drew out a throaty hiss and lunged her large antennae towards Sweetie Belle.
“Apple Bloom. No!”
Thinking quickly, Fluttershy heaved her body between the two fillies, allowing the pair of razor sharp antennae to wrap around her soft fur. With no reservation, Apple Bloom turned around and bolted out the door dragging a helpless Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy! No!”
Sweetie Belle chased after the screaming Fluttershy, but Apple Bloom’s exotic crawl was too fast for the panting unicorn. The two ponies disappeared into the Everfree Forest just as Sweetie Belle reached the end of the bridge in front of Fluttershy’s house. She paused for a moment to catch her breath.
“Oh no, what am I gonna do?” she cried.
A deep clop on the bridge brought Sweetie Belle to a full turn. Big Macintosh stared at the young filly with no particular expression on his face. His mane was unkempt and his green eyes glowed and fluttered rapidly.
“Oh, Big Mac. Am I glad to see you! Apple Bloom’s gone beserk and she dragged Fluttershy into the Everfree Forest. What can we do?”
At first Big Mac remained frozen on the bridge looking straight ahead. Then he crouched low and eyed the little filly with disdain as he exhaled roughly through his nostrils. He scratched the floor as if warning the unicorn of an imminent charge against her direction, and sure enough the large stallion burst from his potential stance and charged towards her.
“Ah!”
Sweetie bolted down the path that led back to Ponyville as fast as she could, but Big Mac’s long stride easily gained on her short quick clops. Big Mac was right on her tail when the quick witted pony slammed on her hooves and bolted back towards Fluttershy’s cottage, giving her time to create some separation.
I know. I’ll run into the outside part of Everfree Forest and lose him in there!
Sweetie Belle bowed her head and pressed forward as fast as she could towards the tall trees that decorated the outer fringe of the haunted forest. She could feel the pounding gallops of her chaser getting stronger and stronger beneath her hooves. When she finally reached the forest, the unicorn changed her direction and zigzagged through the thick brush. Several patches of leaves slapped her face causing her to slow her pace, but she kept going until she could hear the stallion no more. A few moments later Sweetie reached a clearing within the heavily populated forest and she plopped on her flank to catch her breath.
“Boo.”
The filly jumped up and turned to face a most horrifying sight.
“N-No! Y-You grew wings?”
Big Mac formed his sharp fangs into a maniacal grin as his antennae arose from their hiding and twitched violently in the cyan sky. The sun beat hotly on the stallion’s rapidly fluttering wings, causing a wave of hot air to burn the little filly’s frightened face. When they could resist no more, Big Mac’s antennae lunged forward to capture the defenseless filly.
“Somepony help,” she screamed, shutting her eyes.
Suddenly, a gust of cool wind brushed between them leaving Big Mac fluttering all over the place. Sweetie Belle opened her eyes and gasped as a familiar rainbow mane flowed freely in the sky.
“Rainbow Dash!”
“Hey there Sweetie Belle,” she said. “Hang on tight, we gotta an ugly horsefly to splat!”
Sweetie gripped the rainbow maned pony’s neck as she expertly bobbed and weaved through the air, sending the large stallion into a frenzy of confused circles. When he finally adjusted his sight, he spotted the two flying back into the forest and charged towards them at full speed.
“Rainbow Dash, he’s coming!”
“Don’t you worry, squirt. I got an idea!”
Rainbow Dash squint her eyes and pressed forward towards the trees at an incredible speed, the larger pony not far behind. Sweetie shut her eyes again as Rainbow Dash burst through the thick foliage and weaved through branches like it was second nature. Several feet behind them, Big Mac came face to face with several branches throwing him off course. When he finally stopped to get a good look at his location, a large thick branch whacked him out cold. His large body tumbled and hit the ground with a loud boom driving several small woodland creatures into a mad scurry. When they were certain Big Mac was down for the count, the two girls flew out of the forest and settled in a patch of grass just outside of Ponyville’s main square.
“That was a close one,” sighed Sweetie Belle. “Thanks for saving me, Rainbow Dash.”
“No problema, Sweetie,” she replied blowing air onto her hoof. “All part of being an awesome flyer!”
Sweetie Belle’s smile quickly faded into a frown as she stared at the ground pensively. “But, now what? I mean, all of my friends are turning into weird pony bugs.”
“Yeah, what’s up with that?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with what happened yesterday.” Sweetie quickly recapped the events that occurred for Rainbow Dash, whose mouth dropped like an anvil from the sky.
“That is so weird,” she finally managed. “I guess that would also explain why Scootaloo never showed up with my dress.”
Sweetie Belle gasped. “Oh no! Scootaloo was at my sister’s boutique! What if she got her too!?”
“Only one way to find out.” Rainbow Dash picked up the Cutie Mark Crusader and the two dashed through the sky to Rarity’s Carousel Boutique.
“Rarity! Where are you?” Sweetie Belle cried out.
She ran into every room of the boutique searching for any sign of her sister. The entire boutique erupted in a mess of torn fabric and knocked over mannequins. Sweetie Belle narrowly missed stepping on several pin cushions sporting pins that drove through the cushions.
“She’s gone! I knew it! She was taken by Scootaloo!”
“She’s not the only one. Look.”
Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle stared in awe at the spectacle brewing in the main square. Dozens of terrified ponies tried everything to evade the grasps of their possessed friends and family while countless others screamed in terror as they were dragged to their unknown fate.
“Rainbow, why are they taking them?”
Rainbow thought for a minute. “I just don’t know. This is all so far out.”
Sweetie Belle dropped to the floor and broke into a soft sob.
“It’s over. Everything. I’ve lost my friends and my sister.”
Rainbow Dash walked to the crying pony and lifted her chin.
“Hey, don’t go all sore loser on me now. This isn’t over. If we just put our heads together, I’m sure we’ll find a way.”
Sweetie Belle sniffled. “But, you said yourself you didn’t know what to do anymore.”
“I don’t, but I know somepony who might.”
“Let’s see, where did I put that book on exotic animals.”
It was nearing the time when ponies would snuggle into their feather down beds, bellies filled with warm milk, and peaceful minds at work candy coating dreams. Since the infestation of the ant curse, however, beds were empty as many ponies either ran to the streets in outright panic or were absent, whose whereabouts were unknown. The purple unicorn continued searching through the shelves for the helpful guide while Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle helped.
“What’s it called?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Mythical Creatures: A Guide to Animals of Legend and Myth.”
“Found it,” announced Rainbow Dash who had flown above the bookcase and located the coveted title lying on its side. She flung into Twilight’s magic and immediately the magical pony searched through its dusty pages.
“Wow. Looks like you’ve hardly used that book before,” commented Rainbow Dash.
“Well, except for the time I was attacked by that Hydra a year ago, I’ve never really needed it until now.”
Twilight continued to flip through the pages until she spotted an entry that piqued her interest. She peered closely into the book and placed a pensive hoof on her chin.
“Interesting.”
“What did you find?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Take a look.” Twilight lowered the book for the younger unicorn to see. She gasped as an illustration of the ant her and her friends saw just yesterday graced the page with its bright red exoskeleton and sharp antennae.
“Is that the ant?” asked Rainbow Dash, viewing the page from above.
“It appears so. The Mymerkes Indikoi.”
Sweetie cocked her head. “The what?”
Twilight read from the book. “The Myrmekes Indikoi is a group of large ant that dwells in caves. These normally mild-tempered creatures spend their time scavenging for anything of value to return to their queen. They are recorded to be harmless creatures, but can attack if provoked.”
“Attacked if provoked?” Rainbow Dash flew to the ground and, along with Twilight, looked to Sweetie Belle as if seeking an explanation.
Sweetie made herself small. “But, we didn’t do anything bad to them. Honest. We just stood by their cave to see if there were any special herbs in there.”
“Well the book doesn’t say anything about the Myrmekes Indikoi being territorial,” responded Twilight. “Something must have driven them to steal as many ponies as they can.”
“Wait a minute,” said Rainbow. “Didn’t you say they go out finding anything of value? What if they think we’re valuable somehow?”
“That could be true,” said Twilight. “But what could they possibly want with us ponies?”
“Does the book say anything about poisoning their brains, Twilight?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“No, but it does make a small note about many neighboring animals developing erratic behavior whenever an army of Myrmekes Indikoi move in.” Twilight looked out her window. She spotted a yellow pony with a pink and blue mane with her antennae extended chasing a white one with purples glasses. “And I’m pretty sure this qualifies as erratic.”
Twilight turned around to find Sweetie Belle look up at her with large quaking eyes. She placed a hoof on the filly’s shoulder. “I know this is hard for you Sweetie Belle, but we need to do everything we can to get the right help.”
“But how,” said Sweetie Belle. “How in the world are we going to fix all this and get our friends back?”
Twilight looked out beyond Sweetie into the moonlit night. “Maybe we can’t fix this problem on our own, but I know somepony who will definitely be able to…”
“Help!” cried Rainbow Dash.
The conversing ponies turned around to find their pegasus friend apprehended by two other pegasi possessed by the Myrmekes Indikoi’s power. She kicked and squirmed to free herself, the firm and jagged grip of the antennae only cut into her skin, making every move more painful than the last. The two pegasi flew out of the library holding their struggling prey in between.
“Let go of me, you stupid ant-ponies!”
In one last desperate attempt to free herself, Rainbow Dash bit down on the antennae causing her captors to loosen their grip momentarily. Rainbow bolted out of the insect-esque prison and flew back towards the library.
“It’ll take more than two bugged up ponies to take me down!”
“Rainbow Dash, look out!”
Before Rainbow Dash could heed Sweetie Belle’s warning, a rushing stallion shoved her side with such force, her body bent a light pole ten yards away. Rainbow, shaking her head, looked up to find a pair of fervent green eyes and a wicked smile partially covered by streaks of matted orange mane.
“Rainbow!”
Big Macintosh placed his large hooves over Rainbow Dash’s neck pressed against her throat causing her to gag uncontrollably. Instinctively, Sweetie Belle charged towards the large stallion and threw her weight against his massive body, but only managed to dislodge his deathly grip on the pegasus’s air canal.
“Get off of her, you big bully!”
Sweetie repeatedly shoved her entire body weight against Big Mac, but her little filly body was no match for the seasoned work horse. Rainbow lied on the cobblestone street raising her hooves in the air helplessly as her throat continued to be assaulted by hooves seeking death. As she felt her last breaths drawing out from her, a loud screeching sound permeated the night sky causing everypony to cover their ears.
Immediately, Big Mac ceased from attacking Rainbow Dash and slowly ascended into the dark night along with other possessed ponies. In one large swarm, they flew in the direction of the forest, in the direction of their home cave.
Twilight ran to Sweetie’s side. “Sweetie Belle, are you okay?”
Sweetie nodded. “I’m fine, but Rainbow.”
Rainbow Dash lied on the streets unconscious from the ordeal her throat received. Her two unicorn friends rushed to her side and observed her unmoving body for any signs of life.
“She still has a heartbeat,” announced Twilight gently removing her hoof from her friend’s neck. As she bent down to hear her friend’s breathing, a pair of razor sharp antennae flew in the way and sliced the tip of Twilight’s cheek. They corralled the unconscious pony, hauling her body into the sky and disappeared into the horizon.
“Twilight! Are you okay?” asked a frantic Sweetie Belle.
“I’m fine,” she responded, tenderly touching the area that dripped blood onto the cold floor.
Sweetie Belle turned to look out into the dark horizon as a misty fog began to descend on the eerily silent town.
“What in the world was that sound, Twilight?”
“I don’t know. Maybe the queen was calling her subjects back to the cave for some reason.” Twilight winced as she tried to press her cheek gently to stop the bleeding.
“Are we ever gonna see our friends again?” asked Sweetie Belle, her voice cracking.
“I’m sure we will, especially with the help of our beloved princesses.”
“How?”
“Take my hoof,” said Twilight. “We’re teleporting to the royal castle.”
A loud boom broke through the silent morning as the regal sisters teleported to the area where the Cutie Mark Crusaders made their first encounter with the Myrmekes Indikoi. A light mist hung a few feet above the ground, obscuring the hooves of the two alicorns and two unicorns. Princess Luna whipped her mane to the other side and craned her neck forward.
“So this is where thou and thy two friends discovered the mysterious creature, is it not?”
Sweetie Belle nodded.
“Not what I had in mind,” said Princess Celestia staring straight into the cave.
“You mean, you’ve heard of them before?” asked Twilight.
“Yes. Though I have not personally come into contact with the Myrmekes Indikoi, I have heard of their devastating ways. Whole nations crumbled under the hypnotic influence and their subjects lost all civility to take on the primitive life of these beasts.”
“But, how do they do that, Princess?” asked Sweetie Belle. “Do they poison their brains?”
“Not quite. Legend has it that when the Myrmekes Indikoi capture their prey, they drag their catch back to their home base and present it to their queen as a sacrifice. It is the queen that transforms the prisoners into mindless drones.”
“What does she do to them?”
“Nopony knows.”
Princess Celestia ruffled her feathered wings and nodded to her sister. “Are you ready?”
“As thou art, so am I.”
The princesses turned to face each other and crossed horns, shutting their eyes and bowing their heads in solemn fashion. In perfect unison, they began to hum in a low tone, and to this Twilight Sparkle’s eyes widened. Sweetie Belle curiously observed the two sisters as they began to chant.
“Malum spiritus adsurgat circa, Relinquere pacem iterum abundare.”
A bright magical force began to grow around the princesses’ crossed horns, producing a strong wind that nearly sent Sweetie to the ground. The force became bigger and stronger until the sister’s low chants were masked by the raging storm. Trees rumbled and their leaves decorated the ground where the ponies stood. In a break of concentration, Princess Luna opened her eyes and looked down.
“What is this coarse rope which hath entangled mine hoof?”
Before her sister could answer, a long, thick antenna wrapped itself around Celestia’s muzzle and tightened its grip so that it broke the royal pony’s skin.
“Princess!” screamed Twilight. “Behind you!”
The two princesses turned around and came face to face with what could only be described as the queen ant. The body of the queen radiated a dark red hue, resembling blood, and her transparent exoskeleton allowed fearful eyes to witness bulging veins and an odd array of machines making loud grinding noises. Her eyes glowed all different colors and were never constant for more than a second. Long, sharp points like sword lined the queen’s mighty legs and her antennae sported a fearfully powerful grip that the princesses struggled to free themselves from.
A high pitched shrill rang out of the queen’s sharp beak and immediately an army of ants and ponies emerged from the dank cavern and crawled to their captives. Wrapping several antennae around their waists, they forced the sisters onto their backs and dragged them quickly back inside the cave.
Twilight Sparkle and Sweetie Belle stood paralyzed at the spectacle and hardly noticed the Myrmekes Indikoi with wings dashing towards them.
“Twilight, what do we do!”
“I have an idea. Hang on!”
Sweetie Belle gripped Twilight’s leg. The magical student charged her teleportation spell and the two escaped just before the winged assailants reached them. Moments later, the unicorns tumbled down a hill and stumbled to a stop in front of the house of a friend.
“Where are we?” asked Sweetie Belle, struggling to her hooves. She brushed off her legs of some dust when she looked up at the familiar hut. “Zecora’s?”
“If anypony can help us with a supernatural miracle,” said Twilight. “It’s Zecora.”
Twilight knocked on the zebra’s door with impatience. Moments later, a cloaked Zecora emerged from inside.
“The queen is big as the sky is blue; I see that you have witnessed it too.”
“Zecora, we were wondering if you wouldn’t mind helping us with a temporary transformation.”
“That I can my pony friend, come inside and let’s begin.”
The knowledgeable zebra grabbed several herbs and placed them inside a wooden bowl. Taking a small vial filled with green liquid, she carefully poured over the concoction producing a puff of blue and yellow smoke.
“This special potion is the key you know, extracted from the herb called mutatio.”
“Where’d you find it, Zecora?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“The reason I know that the queen was so big, for inside the cave was where my search did end.”
Sweetie Belle widened her eyes at Zecora’s rhyming revelation. She lowered her head and sighed. “So they were inside. Apple Bloom was right. Why can’t I be brave like my friends?”
Twilight placed a hoof on her little friend’s shoulder. “But you are brave. Remember you tried to save Rainbow Dash from Big Mac? And look at you now. You’re trying to save your friends and sister from these deadly ants. That sounds like bravery to me.”
“Then why am I so scared?”
Twilight smiled. “Bravery isn’t a lack of fear, but acting through it.”
“Are you scared?”
“Of course,” Twilight said. “But my friendship with you and all the ponies of Ponyville is much more powerful than anything in this world. Even a bunch of big ugly ants.”
Sweetie Belle grinned. “I bet my sister would call them uncouth.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Your potion is ready to do its thing, to grant you both the gift of wings.”
“Say what?” said a puzzled Sweetie Belle.
Twilight explained. “I recognized the spell the princesses were trying to cast from one of my studies. It can only be pulled off by the magic and concentration of two alicorns. Since we’re only unicorns, I asked Zecora to whip us up a temporary potion that will give us wings and make us alicorns.”
“To perform the spell!” said Sweetie excitedly. “That’ a great idea, Twilight!”
Twilight received two small vials from Zecora and hoofed one to Sweetie Belle. “You ready, Sweetie?”
Sweetie grabbed the vial but hesitated. “But, I can’t use my powers yet.”
“Do you want your sister and friends back, Sweetie?” asked Twilight.
“More than anything in the world.”
“Then that’s all you need.”
“Alright, let’s go in,” said Twilight.
Sweetie Belle followed Twilight into the dark cave, tip hoofing carefully so not to disturb the napping ants and ponies that littered the rocky ground. The walls of the cave pierced the darkness with the brilliance of blue and green crystals whose smooth edges stuck out of the grainy walls. The rocky ground felt moist on the bottom of Sweetie’s hooves. She looked down and noticed she had stepped into a creek of spring water that led to a silent river that cut the circular cavern into a northern and southern hemisphere. Lying on her side at the very back of the cave was the queen, her large abdomen rising and falling at a steady rate.
Twilight turned to Sweetie and pointed towards the queen. “Okay, here’s the plan. We’ll stand by the queen’s abdomen and perform the magic spell there. Remember not to make any noise. We don’t want to ruin our chances of pulling this off.”
“Wait, can’t we do the spell from farther away like the princesses tried?”
“They were able to do that because they’re full grown alicorns. We only represent three quarters of one, so our influence isn’t as strong. We need to be as close as possible to have any chance of making this work.”
As they continued to make their way towards the queen, they spotted a section of the cave where all of their friends were. Lying on their sides and breathing heavily, Rarity, Big Mac, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom appeared to have beginning signs of scales growing all over their fur. The sight made Sweetie gasp so loud several ants twitched in their rest.
“Sweetie,” Twilight whispered. “What did I just say?”
“Sorry Twilight, but I couldn’t help it.”
“Well, you’ll have to do a better job now. We’re getting close.”
The temporary alicorns fluttered their wings and easily traversed over the gentle river. They took a few more cautious steps and before long they stood within inches of the giant bug. A pang of fear shot down the spines of the brave ponies like hooffuls of ice.
Twilight sighed and faced her small friend. “Are you ready, Sweetie Belle?”
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Of course you can, just like we practiced.”
The two ponies shut their eyes and bowed their heads, crossing their horns as the regal sisters did not an hour ago. A brief moment of disbelief crossed their intentions as they began their chant.
“Malum spiritus adsurgat circa, Relinquere pacem iterum abundare.”
Just as it happened outside the cave, a blast of magic formed around the ponies creating gusts of potent wind. As they expected, the entire cavern full of ants and their converted pony brethren awoke to the harsh winds that sent many out into the daylight. Those with wings stood a fighting chance only to delay the inevitable for as long as their efforts could last. When the whole cavern was emptied of the destructive pests, the charge had reached a large size and Twilight could feel its final impact approaching.
“You’re doing great Sweetie Belle. Don’t give up. Keep concentrating.”
The charge had become so big it nearly encompassed the entire volume of the cavern. Surprisingly, the queen ant remained fast asleep amidst the chaos that drove her entire army out of the home base. Twilight looked up at Sweetie Belle and flashed her a grin.
“We’re almost there Sweetie! Just a few more seconds and then…”
Suddenly, a strong antenna slapped the purple alicorn off her hooves and sent her into a wall with a loud crack. Instantly, Sweetie Belle looked up and gasped at the sight of the two royal sisters completely possessed by the queen’s magic glaring at the young filly.
Sweetie Belle took to the air and attempted to fly away from them, but the novice use of her wings were no match for the two winged makers of night and day. They captured the little filly with their long antennae and reeled her into their grasp. With a mutual nod, the sisters flew their prey up to the queen’s abdomen and gently rubbed it with Sweetie’s mane. Immediately, a loud shriek escaped the queen’s beak as she lifted herself from her resting position and opened her mouth wide. Instinctively, the sisters flew Sweetie up to the mouth and dangled her upside down. Sweetie screamed at the sight of long strands of green saliva stretching across the gaping hole like ropes. The smell of rotting flesh assaulted Sweetie’s gentle nose and made her stomach turn.
“No, please Princess Celestia and Princess Luna! Don’t throw me down there!”
Not heeding her pleas, the sisters unraveled their grip on the pony and watched as the screaming filly descended down into the depths of her digestive doom. As the sharp fangs grew larger and larger, Sweetie Belle shut her eyes and relaxed her tense muscles in complete surrender.
“I’m sorry Scootaloo. I’m so sorry.”
Sweetie fell inside the large mouth of the queen and the humid breath smelling of putrid waste enveloped her entire body. Sweetie opened her eyes and beheld a series of electrical sparks in all colors lining the inside of the queen’s throat. Breathing in the humid breath caused Sweetie to feel different inside, like she was becoming a different species. Scavenging for valuable treasure became her primary focus.
“I…I…I”
Sweetie lost her capacity to speak, to think. As her body hit the moist tongue, it wrapped around her entire body and the little bumps began to transmit rapid pulses. Sweetie smiled at this new sensation as she began to relax and enjoy her new state. Everything that surrounded her became a pleasant sight, a welcoming feeling, a familiar smell. It became home.
Alas, it was time for the new recruit to fall through the throat and finish the transformation process with an engineered set of antennae. The tongue lifted from its grooved place in the mouth and became a slide for the thrilled filly. She shrieked with glee while the gravity of her new life pulled her deeper and deeper. However, just as the queen was about to shut her mouth and complete the process, a black and white rescuer swung in, snatched the mesmerized filly, then flipped expertly through the air landing perfectly on the rocky ground.
“Kwamba halijitokezi,” said Zecora.
An awful guttural sound boomed throughout the cavern sending the queen’s royal helpers into a chasing frenzy. As the princesses charged towards the two heroes, Zecora reached into her pack and pulled out a small glass vial. She threw it on the ground and a spherical shield of defense immediately materialized before their eyes. Inevitably, the sisters ran into the indestructible defense and sprawled clumsily all over the floor. Even after ramming into the shield repeatedly, not a single part of the shield moved, and not a single bit of damage was given to the ponies inside.
“Zecora?” said Sweetie groggily. She shook her head violently and gasped at the bubble formed around her.
“Do not fret my little friend, a special shield that has no end.”
Sweetie smiled, but it quickly faded when reality struck. “Wait. Where’s Twilight?”
“Right behind you, Sweetie.”
Sweetie turned around and was relieved to see her magical friend standing weakly on all four hooves.
“Oh Twilight! I’m so glad you’re okay!”
“I'm glad you're okay, too.”
Zecora winked at Twilight. “This reunion is more than I could wish, but I believe there is a spell for you to finish.”
“You’re absolutely right Zecora.” Twilight turned her attention back to Sweetie. “Are you ready to finish the job, brave Sweetie?”
Sweetie Belle crouched low and grinned. “Let’s do this.”
Clear skies returned to Ponyville and hundreds of grateful ponies gathered at town hall to congratulate their three heroes. Fanfare joined the chorus of rowdy cheer as the names of their rescuers were announced by the mayor. From the sky, Princess Celestia landed gracefully on the stage with Luna at her side. She pulled out three golden medals and walked first to Zecora.
“For not giving up on your friends, we salute you Zecora.”
Zecora smiled. “A pony in need is a friend indeed.”
Celestia smiled then stepped to her faithful student. ”For carrying through with a plan even when it got rough, we salute you Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight simply grinned widely as her medal touched her beaming chest.
Celestia finally reached Sweetie Belle and knelt to her level. The proud princess flashed her a smile which the young filly returned with a bashful grin.
“Well Sweetie Belle, I must say you are one of the bravest fillies I’ve ever met. It would be my greatest honor today to present you a medal, but I believe I will honor the request for somepony else to do that.”
Sweetie Belle cocked her head. “Huh? But who?”
Princess Celestia stepped to the side as Sweetie’s good friend and fellow Cutie Mark Crusader Scootaloo stepped onto the platform with a large golden medal in her mouth.
“S-Scootaloo,” Sweetie stumbled.
The pegasus faced her unicorn friend and began with a deep sigh.
“Sweetie Belle, for showing tons of awesomeness. More than any other pony that I’ve ever seen in my whole life!” She paused to look at Rainbow Dash in the audience. “No offense.”
Rainbow Dash simply smiled and waved. A few audience members chuckled lightly.
Scootaloo turned to address her friend. “And also for showing me what bravery is. That it doesn’t mean you’re not afraid, but that you do what needs to be done even if it is scary. I am honored to give you this medal.”
Scootaloo placed the medal around her friend’s neck and smiled.
“But I’m even more honored to call you my friend.”
Sweetie couldn’t hold the tears any longer and threw herself onto her friend. A loud cheer erupted from the audience joined by a band which played a triumphant tune. Soon the mane six gathered around the trio of heroes to exchange hugs and kisses for a job done bravely well.
Later that day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood at the mouth of the cave where the queen ant and her minions were defeated for good by Sweetie Belle and Twilight Sparkle. The sight of nothing more than a dark cavern sent an ironic rush of relief into the hearts of the fillies.
“Boy, am I glad that’s all over,” said Scootaloo.
“You said it,” replied Apple Bloom. She jerked her head and turned to Sweetie Belle. “Hey wait a second. Sweetie Belle, you think you got your Cutie Mark after all of this?”
The three fillies turned to look at Sweetie’s flank, which was still blank.
“Oh well,” said Sweetie, sighing happily. “It’ll come one day. But one thing’s for sure. I’m just glad it has nothing to do with big ugly ants, or Kardashians.”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Mutatios! They’re called mutatios! How hard can it be to say that!?”
“Well, I guess you won’t get a Cutie Mark in pronouncing words either,” joked Scootaloo.
The three friends laughed as they walked side by side away from the cave and back to Ponyville where the sun was being set and the moon just peeked over the treetops in a glorious display.
