Heart Divided

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: Comfortably Numb
Chapter 2: The Pegasister's Part 1

Prologue

Princess Celestia sat calmly on her throne as she went through the petitioners of the day court. In the past it was by far her favorite part of ruling, but of late she was finding herself with less and less patience for the problems of her little ponies. She cared for them as strongly as ever, but for the first time in a very long time the Princess was dealing with numerous personal problems of her own.

Her mother's return from over a millenia of banishment nearly six years ago now heralded a new age of darkness and woe for Equestria. Only through the actions of a few brave ponies was Queen Galaxia defeated, dethroned, and ultimately slain. So very much had been lost in those dark times. Hundreds of her subjects missing or confirmed dead. Her own sister was forced to sacrifice the bulk of her power reducing herself to an ordinary unicorn during the efforts to return Celestia to the throne.

And now, her dear sister was refusing to speak to her. After Celestia's harsh words for the mare who'd dealt the death blow to her mother, Luna has barely said more than five words to her in the past eleven months. As if that weren't bad enough, Twilight Sparkle was likewise distancing herself. Not quite so overtly as Luna, but it was a noticeable change. The friendship reports Celestia had come to so enjoy reading had stopped. Their only contact was if Celestia initiated it, and then it was only as long as necessary.

Then there was the night pony tribe. For nearly two thousand years they'd served as the night time guardians of Canterlot, seeing to the castle defenses while Celestia's day guards slept. The otherworldly ponies had always held Luna in an almost deific regard after she rescued them from the hideous shadow plane they called home. That regard and near worship had transferred to Luna's own 'faithful student'. The mare who'd struck down their mother. Jubilant Surprise. When word began to circulate that the hero of Canterlot had vanished and worse it had been Celestia's FAULT she'd left, the night pony herd had left in the night without a word to anypony.

Shifting her eyes along the lines of waiting petitioners, the glossy black carapace of a changeling was easy to spot. The ponies gave the insect like creature a wide berth, and the changeling itself seemed more than a little uncomfortable. Yet another problem Jubilant had created for Celestia to deal with.

A faint frown crossed the Princess' muzzle at that. Problem wasn't a fair way to think of the changeling swarm that was now living openly in Equestria. In exchange for Chrysalis and the changelings' assistance against Galaxia, Jubilant had promised the Queen her subjects would never go hungry again. Going so far as to willingly volunteer herself as a food source. All well and good save she up and left Equestria.

It had been with some surprise that Celestia found more than a few volunteers to 'donate' to the changelings food stores of raw emotion. Changeling districts in the occasional small towns in Equestria were becoming more common. The largest of which was located in Ponyville. Queen Chrysalis herself had established the new hive there and the bulk of Equestria's changeling citizens originated from there. More and more however were spreading out once it became clear that too heavy a changeling population in one place severely taxed the pony citizens ability to keep them nourished.

It wasn't a one sided relationship either. The incredibly industrious changelings had been invaluable assistance in rebuilding the shattered kingdom. More than one Equestian home or building sported glossy green walls or windows, some transparent and some opaque.

The last of her many headaches was leaning on the balcony overlooking the gardens. Discord, free from his chaotic magic for the first time since coming to Equestria seemed at a bit of a loss as to what to do with himself most of the time. Slowly he was absorbing Equestrian magic as any human who came to the magic rich land did, but it was a far cry from his old level of power. Watching the young man leaning on the rail in the obnoxious purple pin-stripe suit he always insisted on wearing threatened to tug the corner's of Celestia's mouth upward. More and more she was recalling the romance that had been blossoming between herself and the young knight from a foreign world before the spell to magically accelerate his acclimation to Equestria had gone wrong and left him an insane monster.

Her potential suitor seemed to vary wildly in his moods regarding her however. At times he was all smiles and laughter, seemingly delighted at the sensation of a clear mind. At others he was quiet and withdrawn. Often brooding up in the chambers Celestia had given him. When he wasn't lurking around Canterlot Castle, he could be found down in Ponyville typically in Pinkie Pie's company.

The thought of the formerly perpetually cheerful mare chased the smile from Celestia's face. The last time they'd met face to face, Pinkie had some extremely unkind words for Celestia in regards to the treatment of her adopted filly, Jubilant. Finding her mood souring quickly now she finally rose, surprising the current petitioner. "I apologize sincerely but I'm feeling a little under the weather this afternoon. If anypony has a serious emergency you can take it to the proper bureau, otherwise court will resume tomorrow as normal."

At the thought of their beloved Princess feeling sick, nearly every pony there tripped over themselves in an effort to clear the castle in the hopes that it would bring about a speedy recovery. When the last had left she slumped down with a low groan.

"A little early for it to have been a long day already don't you think?"

Discord's jaunty tone brought Celestia's stink-eye to bear on him. "I have a lot on my mind."

"She's here again."

Celestia didn't have to ask who 'she' was. "I know. I can feel it every time she enters Equestria. Someone with that much magic doesn't come and go without being noticed."

"Is today the day?"

With a soft grunt Celestia rose and walked to stand beside him. "What day is that?"

"The day you apologize to her."

Wings flared in outrage and anger flashed across the Princess' face. "I... I have nothing to apologize for! If anything she should apologize to me!"

Discord turned to face her, brow quirked. "If Luna's to be believed she did apologize to you. Profusely. After she tried to save your mother no less."

This seemed to steal the wind from Celestia's sails and her wings settled at her sides again. She fidgeted uncomfortably staring off into the distant Everfree, where her sharp senses could easily perceive the practically blaring magical light of Jubilant.

"It's been a long time since you were in the wrong hasn't it? I don't imagine it feels very good."

Celestia narrowed her eyes at Discord before turning away. "I've work to do Discord. Did you still wish to dine together this evening?"

Drumming his fingers on the stone railing the former chaos-god likewise stared at the distant point in the Everfree. "...I don't see why not."

"Well if it's an inconvenience..."

Discord shrugged. "No. I'll see you this evening of course Celestia. Happy to. I won't be about tomorrow however. Popping in on Pinkie Pie."

"Well... send her my best."

Celestia did her best to ignore Discord's laughter as she ascended the many stairs to her private study. Magically swinging the door open she stepped inside and lit the fire in the hearth, settling behind her desk and shuffling some paperwork with a little sigh.

An hour or two passed before hoofsteps outside drew her attention. She caught sight of a brief glimpse of a vivid blue tail which could only belong to her sister. Warring emotions within paralyzed the solar Princess for a moment before she stood, forcing a smile and stepping out after her sister. "Luna?"

It was indeed Luna. Celestia still wasn't used to seeing her sister so very small. No larger than any other unicorn mare. Her coloring the same it was millenia ago when she was younger. Luna had stopped on the stairs, gazing back at Celestia from the corner of her eye, not saying anything. Celestia noted the full saddlebags over her sister's back and her fine blades strapped to her flanks. "Luna are you going somewhere?"

Luna seemed to consider the question a long moment before answering. "Yes."

Celestia waited for her sister to elaborate on her own. When it became obvious she wasn't about to she sighed. "Where are you going Luna?"

For a minute Celestia was worried that Luna would ignore the question. But the sudden fire of determination in her sister's eyes was perhaps worse. "I am going to find Jubilant Surprise."

"Luna you know that's impossible. With the Elements of Harmony unusable, Discord's magic gone and your own power dwindled nothing can open the path between our world's." Luna's diminished state must make it impossible for her to sense Jubilant's presence when she briefly entered Equestria now and then.

Luna simply snorted in response. "We know so little about magic outside of Equestria's borders. Until recently we thought resurrection impossible and yet Discord learned of it through the zebra. I plan to visit them first and see if they have any ideas regarding otherworldly travel."

Celestia scuffed a forehoof on the floor in agitation. "I don't understand your fascination with her Luna. She killed our mother!"

In a rare role reversal, Luna remained the calm and collected of the two. "No sister, she did not. My mother was a kind unicorn named Gleaming Shield. My mother dropped everything she was doing in her life to take us in and look after us once Galaxia abandoned us to our own devices. MY mother was not the woman you call your mother. And I must say, you do Gleaming a disservice. She was just as much a mother to you as to me. Now if you will excuse me, I have a train to catch. I may send word if I am able Celestia. If not..." Luna shrugged and descended the stairs without another word.

"Luna! Luna come back here this instant!" Of course the former Princess of the Night ignored her sister's words. Celestia made no move to stop her as she stepped off the stairs and cantered out of sight.

The sensation of a large source of magic vanishing heralded Jubilant's departure from Equestria. Celestia squinted toward the point in the Everfree she knew the woman had occupied. She'd lost track of the number of times she told herself she was going to speak to her.

Next time, she promised herself for the hundredth time.

***

"Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! Oh! Hello Madame Mayor. What brings you by?"

Twilight Sparkle smiled to the young changeling working the register. "Good afternoon Bumble. Is Pinkie Pie working today?"

The changeling nymph shook her head. "No ma'am. It's just me and the Cake's today. Miss Pinkie said it's somepony special's birthday today."

With a slow nod Twilight eyed the confections on display in the case. "It's her filly's birthday."

"Oh! I... you mean Commander Jubilant's?"

"That's right." Twilight indicated a particularly delectable cookie in the case and laid a pair of bits on the counter.

Bumble accepted the money levitating the cookie to Twilight's waiting hooves. "Is she coming home soon?" The changeling tapped her forehooves together timidly. "We never really got a chance to thank her. All this is because of her you know?"

The recently appointed Mayor of Ponyville's smile dimmed somewhat, but she caught it quickly and forced it to its previous shine. "I'm sure she'll be home any day now. Ponyville's her home after all. It's not like she'll be gone forever."

This seemed to go a long way toward brightening the young changeling's mood. "Oh! Well that's a relief. I'll see you later ma'am!"

Smiling all the while Twilight left the newly rebuilt bakery enjoying her treat. She was getting used to forcing a smile twenty-four hours a day. Since her election to mayor the ponies of Ponyville looked to her to set the example for how everypony should be feeling. If she was outwardly happy and positive, this told them that things were going well and THEY should be happy.

Lately however she'd been anything but. Rainbow Dash was still refusing to come home. Fluttershy decided to make her stay in the Everfree forest permanent, and Rarity spent more time in Canterlot than in Ponyville. Pinkie Pie and Applejack were still around of course. But Applejack practically ran Sweet Apple Acres all on her own with Big Mac still recovering from that horrible armor he was locked into, and Applebloom was spending more time in Appleloosa.

That left Pinkie Pie as the most prominent of her close friends with any sort of free time on her hooves. Pinkie's beautiful manor, a leave over from her time as the wealthiest citizen in Ponyville by way of party planning for Canterlot's elite soon came into view. Where the Rich family's prominent estate once stood was now the sight of Pinkie's home. Trotting up the flower filled lane to the front door, Twilight was unsurprised to find it standing wide open. It was rare that Pinkie had the door shut day or night.

The sound of running water drew her attention to the right. Gummy's lagoon was sporting a new addition, a beautiful faux waterfall created a shimmering rainbow as the water ran down the stones to create a noticeable splash at the bottom, only to be magically cycled through the back and to the top once more. The toothless alligator that was one of the Pie family's two pets was sunning himself on a large flat rock this afternoon.

Twilight's ears drooped and she sighed seeing the large "Happy Birthday Surprise!" banner hanging over the foyer of the Pie home. Brushing an errant crumb from her muzzle she cleared her throat. "Pinkie? It's Twilight!"

In seconds the mare of the house appeared from around the staircase. "Hey Twilight! Here for the party?" The mare's large smile didn't quite reach her eyes. As if that weren't clue enough to her mood her mane and tail were straight as can be.

"Well no, I just came by to see how you were doing. You weren't at work after all."

Pinkie shrugged casually and went back to the kitchen where Twilight saw a sizable cake in the process of being iced. "Well it's my filly's birthday you know? I have to be here to get the party put together. Besides Bumble's an AWESOME apprentice chef! She's gonna do great. The Cake's love her too."

Nodding slowly Twilight eyes the cake, and hefty present pile with a little frown. "Pinkie have you seen Jubilant at all the last year?"

There was a small tremble in Pinkie's voice. "No... I haven't. But I get letters sometimes! Echo too of course. We can't really send any back but... but it's her birthday. Surprise would never skip her birthday."

Twilight regarded her friend with a sad smile as she went back to decorating the cake. It was a familiar argument. 'Surprise would never skip Hearth's Warming. My filly would never miss Nightmare Night! You know how she loves Winter Wrap-up!' "Pinkie Pie it's almost been an entire year. I think if Jubilant Surprise wanted to see anypony she'd have done so by now."

A rare look of anger flashed across the earth pony's muzzle. "She'll be here Twilight! She wouldn't miss it! She never does!"

Twilight hastily raised her hooves patting the air. "Okay, okay Pinkie. Well then what can I do to help?"

Smiling softly Pinkie looked thoughtful. "Well you could blow up some balloons and hang them in the dining room. Her lazy uncle was supposed to come help but he has some big dinner date or something with..." An unpleasant look flashed across her face. "...with somepony. So it's just me."

Twilight couldn't hide a quick grimace at the mention of her once beloved mentor. Try as she might she couldn't reconcile with the idea of her kind, patient Princess speaking to Jubilant the way she had. But both Luna and Echo had confirmed it, and Jubilant's long absence did so further. "Right. I'll get it looking perfect."

"Thanks Twilight! You've... you've been a really good friend to me the last few months. I know everypony has a lot on their hooves but you're the only one of the old gang who really makes time to visit."

"What about Fluttershy? You two were close while everything was all mixed up weren't you?"

"Well sure. But now that it's calmed down again she sticks to the Everfree almost all the time. She only really came into town for her spa days with Rarity y'know? Now that she's living in Canterlot with Fancy Pants I guess Fluttershy just doesn't see a lot of reason to visit..."

Laying a hoof gently on Pinkie's back, Twilight gave her a firm squeeze. "Everypony just needs time Pinkie. It was a horrible five years for all of us. We're all dealing with it in our own way."

"A year's an awfully long time if you ask me. But... you're right. I'd be a bad friend if I tried to push them when they weren't ready. I just miss everypony Twilight. Not just Dashie and the gang but... but everypony who's not here anymore. Mayor Mare, Flitter, Caramel..."

Twilight hastily cut her off. She of all ponies didn't need a list of the deceased rattled off to her. She'd had to go through that agonizing duty once already. "I understand. Let's just get this party ready hm?"

At Pinkie's cheerful nod Twilight breathed a sigh of relief and entered the dining room. Spying the pile of deflated balloons lying next to the dozing beagle that made up the other half of the household critter population, Twilight went to work inflating them.

With a somewhat heavy heart she started hanging the balloons from the ceiling as she filled them. She had a feeling this evening wasn't going to be the happy night of revelry Pinkie was expecting.

***

It wasn't until the sun had long since set that Pinkie finally agreed to take the decorations down. Echo had arrived not too long after Twilight, the night pony going about the task of party preparation with the same muted sadness as Twilight. Jubilant Surprises' special somepony was now in the kitchen trying to console the softly crying Pinkie.

Lyra and Bon-bon had been the only other two guests to show up. Of course living just down the street from Pinkie Pie had made it an easy enough trip to make. Lyra's fiance had already left for home, leaving the pair of unicorns alone to clean up. Neither complained however.

The sound of hooves clopping up the front stairs drew everypony's attention, and the four mares rushed out as one to greet who they all hoped would be Jubilant. Luna raised an eyebrow at the incredibly crushed looks on all four ponies' faces as she entered. "I apologize if I am not who you were expecting."

Twilight smiled thinly to the former Princess as she levitated the saddlebags from her own back, setting them gently on the floor. "Sorry Princess... er... Luna. We were hoping you were somepony else."

Nodding in understanding Luna looked to the disappointed faces one after the other. "I see. I am glad you are here Echo, Miss Heartstrings. I had planned to speak with each of you individually about my plans regarding Jubilant Surprise."

Faces switched from downcast to optimistically curious almost comically fast. "It is my intention to seek out another path to Jubilant's home world. The journey may be long and dangerous, so I will understand if you do not wish to accompany me. But as Jubilant's mother, special somepony, and best friend I felt you deserved the chance to come with me."

Echo and Lyra shared a quick look before seemingly trying to out run the other in an effort to get through the door. "Need to pack! Back in a flash!"

Pinkie Pie's ears were perked and a look of cautious optimism was on her face. "But there's no way to get there. Every way we know is gone."

Luna inclined her head. "This is true. Every way we KNOW of is gone. That does not mean there are not other paths we can take. What say you madame Mayor? Is my quest impossible?"

Shifting uncomfortably at being put on the spot all of a sudden, Twilight frowned thoughtfully. "Not impossible of course. We already know of three ways to travel between dimensions, I can't imagine there aren't more out there we don't know of. I assume you have some kind of plan?"

Unable to miss Pinkie's increasing excitement, Luna nodded. "I intend to travel first to Zebrica. If their shamanistic magics hold no answers I will cross the sea to Saddle Arabia and beyond. Someone somewhere must know of the magics we seek. I will travel from on corner of Equus to the next if need be to find a way to reunite Jubilant with her friends and family."

It was Pinkie who spoke up now. "But... Surprise isn't foalnapped or anything. She left on her own. She could come back anytime if she wanted to."

Twilight was a little surprised to hear the obvious spoken by Pinkie. She'd assumed the earth pony was deluding herself into thinking some evil force kept her filly away. "True enough Pinkie Pie. Consider however the circumstances Jubilant left under. She must be in an indescribable amount of emotional pain. No doubt her own inner demons are what keeps her away. I could hazard a guess at precisely what the problem is but would prefer to hear it from her directly. Remember she is young and prone to reacting rashly when confronted with a difficult problem. What she needs now are her friends and family at her side to give her support."

Echo was the first to return, saddle bags secured tightly around her flanks and the twin daggers that comprised her Arm of Harmony, Stinger strapped securely to her forelegs. "I'm ready! Let's hit the road!"

Pinkie was already rushing upstairs to pack up herself. Lyra arrived soon with her own bags, and her beautiful rapier Hymn fastened to her side. "So where to?"

Twilight watched them all move about excitedly. Part of her screamed to fetch bags of her own and get ready to embark on the possibly very long journey, but she had responsibilities here in Ponyville she couldn't abandon.

"We will take the train to Manehattan and from there procure tickets for an air ship to Zebrica. If our search there is fruitless we will travel by boat to the lands of Saddle Arabia. I believe the train to Neighppon runs from there. I do not know how long we will be gone, or how far we will be forced to travel before we find what we seek. Indeed we may never locate a way to cross the border between worlds but that does not mean I will not try."

Pinkie soon joined the others with bags of her own. "Well let's get shakin'! Twilight you'll take care of Gummy and Izzy for me right?"

Twilight nodded with a soft smile. "Of course I will Pinkie. You girls just be safe. And bring your filly home, alright?"

With a smart salute Pinkie trotted outside after the other three. Already they were speaking in excited tones about the places they were about to see. The overall mood was positive however, how could it not be? After a year with only brief letters to ensure them Jubilant was alive and 'well' the idea that they'd soon see her in the flesh was getting them all more than a little excited.

"Heeeeeey! I found them!"

All four looked up to see a familiar blonde maned, grey coated pegasus approaching from overhead. She was descending rapidly, perhaps a bit more rapidly than she ought to be. The ground bound mares scattered as Ditzy Doo crashed to the ground in the space they'd stood moments ago.

Pouding hooves drew their attention away from the recovering pegasus. Ditzy's daughter, Dinky Doo was rushing toward them with the strange brown coated Doctor at her side. Both unicorn mare and earth pony stallion sighed at the sight of Ditzy's newest crash sight. Dinky moved to help her mother to her hooves while the Doctor turned his dazzling smile on the four curious mares.

"So! I hear you ladies are looking to do some travelling?"

Author's Note

Pre-edited because my editor is doing REAL LIFE stuff. Some people amirite? So expect numerous comma errors! Otherwise enjoy.

Chapter 1: Comfortably Numb

"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"

The assembled teenagers and young twenty something's cheered wildly at the woman in the middle of their circle. The faded Michigan State University hoody she wore loosely over her slender frame sported more than a few stains here and there. The cheering grew louder as she held the entire keg with both hands over her head, greedily downing its contents. Only the faintest trickle of liquid escaped her mouth running down her chin and adding yet another mark to the sweat shirt.

The cheering reached a fever pitch as she tipped it all the way back, signalling it was nearly empty. With two hands she crushed the metal keg against her own forehead much to the amusement of the crowd. With a grunt she dropped it to the ground stomping it flatter for good measure. The incredibly well worn Converse sneakers on her feet made short work turning the keg into something more akin to a manhole cover.

The woman received plenty of claps on the back and more than one who expressed curiosity at how she managed to drink so much and not succumb to alcohol poisoning. The show finished and the libations fully consumed the party began to disperse. Folks went back to the tents that filled the forest situated behind the small cabin. She watched it all with a bleary eye. Parents admonishing their youngsters for raising such a racket, or encouraging poor behavior. She got more than a couple disapproving looks.

Shrugging it away as she did everything of late, she turned and trudged back to the cabin. Swaying slightly under the effects of the massive amount of alcohol she'd consumed, she took the steps slowly and eased her way inside.

"Have fun?"

The gruff voice of her Uncle Derek drew her attention. Judging by the look in the grizzled huntsman's eye he was in fact not interested in how much fun she may or may not have had. In her drunken state this was considerably less obvious to Jennifer, who just smiled. "I did! A proper little party."

Her foot caught on the carpet and she staggered forward, flinging a hand out to catch herself. Her fist punched right through the wall and caught there, stopping her momentum and snapping her back to the ground drawing forth a quick burst of laughter from the drunken woman.

"Dammit Jenny! Get your shit together and get the hell outta my sight. I can't even look at you like that."

A frown formed on her face as she wrenched her fist out of the wall, taking a small chunk along with it. "So close yer eyes." Ignoring her uncle's withering glare, she nonetheless picked herself up and wobbled toward her room in the back of the cabin. Not even bothering to kick her shoes off she stumbled to the bed and flopped face first down onto the mattress.

Part of her knew her uncle hated when she drank so much. Part of HER hated when she drank so much. But that part was drowned out by the much louder part who screamed that when she drank, she didn't dream. In the past she'd used magic to sleep little to never to avoid the nightmares that plagued her. Now however she was tormented whether sleeping or awake. It wasn't until she'd consumed the bulk of her uncle's liquor cabinet that she'd finally found a way to chase her demons off.

Her uncle was angry she knew, but she also knew if she apologized he'd forgive her. He always did. He had to. They were the only family the other had left after all.

***

Derek sighed heavily as he got to his feet. The heavy boots he rarely removed clumped loudly across the floor as he moved to inspect the new hole in his wall. He knew his niece would repair it when she woke up in the morning. He also knew she'd likely knock another one in the walls within a day or two.

Not for the first time he'd considered laying down an ultimatum. Stop drinking or stop living there. He discarded the thought almost the second it popped into his head however. Putting aside she was the only family he had left, she was what kept all the people living there safe. The sound of approaching hooves forced him to remedy the thought. SHE was what kept the people safe.

The translucent image of a majestic unicorn walked calmly down the hall and seated herself on the floor regarding the man. "Good evening Derek."

It'd taken him quite some time to get used to the idea of a unicorn living in his house. A unicorn ghost no less. "Evening Heart. The uh... shield outside alright? Nothing wrong?"

The mare shook her head. "Nay, nothing is wrong with the shield. Mercy's power will not falter this night. Jennifer replenished her magic just yesterday. She will not need to return to Equestria for a week or so."

Retaking his seat, Derek nodded. "Good. Good. So... what's wrong then?"

"You know very well what is wrong. Jennifer cannot continue on as she has. While she is in no danger of genuinely harming herself with the poison she insists on guzzling thanks to her alicorn status, she cannot recover from her mental scars by drowning them in alcohol."

Derek wrung his large hands in concern looking down the hall toward his niece's room, where loud snores could be heard within. "I know dammit. But what the hell do you want me to do? I tell her no and she just ignores me. She knows there's not a damn thing I, or anyone here can do to stop her from doing anything she wants. If she leaves, you leave. And if you leave everyone here is in danger."

Bleeding Heart frowned at the man's words. There was more than a little truth to them. "Jennifer is a mare... a woman of action. This lack of activity is only deepening her depression. She needs motivation to act."

"The world going to hell isn't motivation enough?"

The spectral unicorn shook her head. "Clearly it is not, else she'd have done more by now. Consider that she has in fact ventured away numerous times, returning with more refugees each time. Jennifer has a pure and noble spirit, one dimmed by the life she was forced to take at the end of the war. She yearns to help others but is paralyzed with the fear that her actions will lead to more deaths at her hands."

"But people are constantly dying while she doesn't help. Isn't that worse?"

Heart inclined her head in agreement. "It is. But fear is rarely a rational thing. The true Jennifer shines through when she is out in the world helping others. I have seen it each time we venture forth. It is only when she is still, and allowed to stagnate in her own woes that her condition deteriorates. Her actions in the camp outside are likewise only toxic for her spirit. Like it or not she is a warrior and a leader of ponies... erm... of men. She may not like such aspects of herself but they are an intrinsic part of what makes her who she is. Refusing to accept such a large part of herself is a large part of the problem."

Derek blew out a heavy, frustrated breath. "Well I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do here. I'm a hunter not a psychologist."

"Nor am I alas. I only see what the problem is, I've little idea how to solve it save forcing her into action in the world outside this cabin and the camp." Bleeding Heart tilted an ear toward the door and smiled faintly. "Perhaps the answer has come to us."

The man was about to ask what the mare meant, when a sudden knock sounded at the door. Frowning, but curious he rose from his well worn armchair and tromped to the door opening it with only slight hesitation.

The woman on the front porch looked very little like the Agent Elizabeth Miller from a year ago. Her dark hair had grown out and she wore it in a long ponytail. The fine black suit was replaced with a faded black t-shirt, leather vest and blue jeans. A heavy hunting bow was slung over her shoulder. After the Master knocked out electricity across the globe, and rendered gunpowder inert people had to fall back on old forms of weaponry for protection. "Mr. Allen. Good to see you again."

"Agent Miller. C'mon in." He stepped aside admitting the woman.

"Just Miller now, or Elizabeth I guess. Lost the agent title when I walked away from the agency." She paused at the sight of the ghostly unicorn sitting calmly in the center of the room. "Bleeding Heart I presume?"

The knight inclined her head with a small smile. "You presume correctly Elizabeth Miller. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance at last. I would like to thank you for your kind treatment of Jennifer some years back while she was a... guest of your government."

Miller rolled her shoulder and shifted uncomfortably at the reminder. A few years ago during one of Jennifer's 'pop-ins' to visit her human family, she'd been abducted by the F.B.I. and brought to a holding facility for study. She'd have likely died if not for the arrival of Luna and some of her pony associates. "Well it was the least I could do given the circumstances."

Derek snorted. "You can say that again."

The former federal agent took a deep breath. "I'm not here to open that can of worms again. I need to see Jennifer. Is she awake?"

A sudden loud snore tearing from the back of the cabin answered her question for her. "She'll be out of it until the morning. Late morning."

The woman frowned shaking her head. "We don't have time for that. My team and I have found one of the Master's processing facilities. Primarily children."

Derek ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Well... I just don't know."

Bleeding Heart rose to her hooves. "I do know. Come Agent Miller, we shall rouse Jennifer to your cause and transport her there on my back if need be."

Jen's uncle looked like he wanted to protest, but he kept his thoughts to himself as the pair moved toward his niece's room. Miller's eyes widened as she found not a young human woman on the bed, but what looked like a green coated horse. Large wings sprawled over either edge of the bed, the feathers just as green but edged in pink. Her curly pink mane was matted and mussed, while her equally curly tail twitched and flicked back and forth. A few stubborn scraps of cloth clung here and there to her body, which had obviously grown into its Equestrian shape while she slept. The only thing to survive were her beloved shoes, which must have slipped off as her feet became hooves.

Adorning her left foreleg was a colorful shield, emblazoned with five images. A horn, hoof, wing, crystal, and slit pupil'd eye. Her right forehoof had a silver charm bracelet clinging tightly around the leg where a human's wrist would be.

Miller looked to the much smaller Equestrian unicorn at her side. "Why's she look like a horse with a horn and wings, and you look like a cartoon character?"

Bleeding Heart let the veiled insult slide. "I suspect it has to do with my spectral nature. I am a manifestation of the real Bleeding Heart's memory and emotion, not a true living being. When Jennifer lived in Equestria her appearance was much like mine. It is hard to describe I suppose."

Frowning at the full grown horse in the bed Miller shook her head. "Well how the hell are we going to move her?"

Heart's horn glowed with a brilliant pink aura that soon surrounded the slumbering mare. With a bright flash they both vanished from the room, an identical flash coming from the window overlooking the front yard.

Pausing only to grab a nearby pair of sweatpants and a baggy sweat shirt, Miller rushed out with a nod to Jen's uncle before joining Heart and the still snoring Jennifer. "Right, magic. Come on my ride's not too far."

"I hope not. I cannot manifest much longer. It is an intense drain on Jennifer's own magical reserves and if she is to engage in battle soon..." Glancing at the snoring mare she frowned. "...ish, it would be best if she had as much as able."

Miller raised an eyebrow lifting the mare's head and letting it fall heavily. "Jesus is she always such a heavy sleeper?"

"She is after consuming an entire 'keg' of beer. Yes."

"Wait she's DRUNK? Christ."

"At her current size she will burn through it within an hour or so. I hope that will suffice for your needs?"

Eyeing the heavily slumbering alicorn balefully Miller finally nodded. "That's fine. Is she going to be functional at all?"

"Will she be capable of assisting? Yes. Will she be willing? That is another matter. Once she learns foals are involved however she will come around. She has a soft spot for young of any species."

Miller grunted softly at that. With brisk strides she lead the pony spirit into the trees for a few minutes. Soon they came to a sizable clearing where a sleek black aircraft waited. "This is your transportation?"

"Yup. We liberated it, with Jennifer's help. Remember the aircraft carrier she saved all those people in?"

"The large boat?"

Miller stared at the pony for a moment. "...right. Well this was all we managed to recover after she got the people to safety. It's an experimental VTOL aircraft."

Bleeding Heart unceremoniously dumped Jennifer to the ground, drawing a soft grown from the mare. The pony slowly walked about the aircraft inspecting it closely. It looked similar to other airplanes she'd seen in books, but small propellers were inlaid int he wings. "It was my understanding your technology does not function any longer."

"Right. Normally. The engines on this run on the uh..." She seemed reluctant to say the next bit. "...magic in the air. It draws in ambient energy and uses that to function. They were trying to make a bunch of these but the Master attacked all the factories manufacturing them. This was the only one saved."

"I see. I am surprised your government allowed you to keep it then."

Miller rubbed the back of her neck. "Allowed is a bit generous. More like we ran off with it and they couldn't stop it."

"Aha. Is there room for Jennifer in her current form?"

"Sure sure. Just load her in the back we'll make do."

Miller stepped in ahead of Bleeding Heart. The pony could pick up several voices from inside. Most prominent was a loud, angry voice. "What the hell took so long? Is she comin' or what?"

"She's coming. It's ah, complicated. She's a little drunk."

The same voice responded. "Ha! That's awesome. Where is she?"

Bleeding Heart gingerly stepped onto the metal ramp leading up into the belly of the craft. She spotted two women standing with Miller. The closest, and one she suspected was the speaker was a slender asian woman. Colorful tattoos wound their way up and down her bare arms and shoulders. She wore a white tank top with the sleeves and mid-riff cut away, tight jeans and large black boots. Her hair was cut short and jagged, dyed a vivid purple. Her eyes widened only slightly at the sight of the ghostly pony carrying the winged, horned mare.

The other was considerably larger than both women. Sizable muscles stood out on her bared arms. A plain t-shirt beneath a denim vest, loose jeans and brown leather boots made up the bulk of her outfit. Vivid blonde hair was tied back in a bouncing ponytail, beneath a faded brown stetson. Unlike her companion, the larger woman didn't seem at all surprised by Jennifer's form. "That surely does look like a drunk horse."

Heart set Jennifer down with slightly more care. "I leave her in your care from here Miss Miller. Have a care when she wakes. She may panic when she does not recognize her surroundings. I suggest a friendly face be on hand."

Miller nodded. "Not to worry, we have just the face up in the cockpit with our pilot. Thank you for this Bleeding Heart."

"No thanks necessary, so long as your intentions are pure. Fare thee well for now." Heart's form grew more and more indistinct, before dissipating entirely and drifting toward the shield worn on the mare's foreleg before vanishing entirely.

The asian woman cocked a smile as she knelt by Jennifer's head. "I see the coolest shit runnin' with you guys."

***

Jennifer's head was throbbing as she slowly began to awaken. More than a little disoriented by the unfamiliar conditions. She was on a cold metal floor, and instantly her mind flashed back to a time when she woke on a similar cold metal table in a government facility. Wings flaring as her eyes snapped wide, she instantly wished they hadn't. The bright lighting coming from overhead was like needles being stabbed into her eyes. With a low groan she scrunched her eyes shut.

"Oh dear. Try to stay calm please... you're perfectly safe. No one wants to hurt you I promise."

The soft dulcet tones caused the mare to perk her ears. "...Aunt Fluttershy?"

"Oh um... no. Sorry. It's Melody? From the hospital a few months ago?"

Jen had to think hard to recall the event, and found herself unable to. "Can you turn down the lights?"

"Oh! Oh yes just a moment."

Seeing the lights dim a good deal from behind her eyes lids, Jen again peeked them open. A willowy young woman was smiling down at her softly, though there was just a hint of disapproval in her soulful brown eyes. Her mocha colored skin stood out in stark contrast to the bright white blouse she wore. A long brown skirt concealed most of her legs, and comfortable looking sandals adorned her feet. Most striking about her however was her hair. The thick dreadlocks fell down around her back and shoulders, but each one seemed to alternate between black and white.

"...nice hair."

The woman, Melody's eyes widened slightly and she fingered some of her locks. "Oh um, thank you? They just sort of grew like this after you... after you saved my life."

At the lack of recognition in Jennifer's huge blue eyes Melody sighed. "You... you don't remember?"

Jen shrugged, wings flaring open and closed as she did so. "Sorry. Been a busy year y'know?" She finally seemed to grasp she wasn't in her bed, but in the back of a truck or something. "Where am I?"

"Oh! Well you're on the um... the Pegasus." At the mare's raised eyebrows Meloday hastily continued. "It was Eva's idea after she saw you well... Like this. It left an impression on her. Bella too. Seeing you up close like this it's easy to see how."

More name's that didn't click in the mare's head. "Why am I here?"

"Well Elizabeth found one of the Master's processing plants. A very big one. We've been doing our best to help as many people as we can on our own but there are a lot of guards and..."

Jen cut her off. "Right. Lemme out. Land this thing before I blow a hole in the side of it and fly out."

Eyes wide the young woman turned on her heels racing up a small staircase to what Jen assumed was the front of the craft. Casting a baleful glare her sword's way she snorted. "I know you're behind this."

There are foals in danger Jennifer. You have ventured out to help others in the past. Would you truly have said no, knowing that your people's young are being slaughtered to fuel the Master's designs?

Jen's ears folded back at this news. Snorting softly she tapped the charm bracelet around her leg, assuming her humanoid shape. Flapping her wings as she got to her feet she sighed. "No. Still would've liked to have been asked."

You were unconcious in yet another drunken stupor at the time.

"Don't start with me Heart!" Spying some of her clothes balled up in the corner of the cargo bay she occupied Jen tugged on the baggy sweat pants and shirt. "Where are my shoes?"

Be glad Agent Miller opted to take any of your clothing for you Jennifer.

"Miller's involved? Of course she is." As if on cue the woman rushed down the stairs, a look of panic on her face. She was followed closely by Melody, an asian woman Jen didn't know, and a big woman dressed as a cowboy.

"You're not really going to blow a hole in the hull are you?"

Adjusting Mercy on her arm Jen shook her head. "No. Where are we heading?"

"Did Bleeding Heart tell you anything about what's going on?"

Choosing to ignore the snort of laughter from the small tattoo'd woman Jen nodded. "Processing plant, kids. Got it. Just point me at them and let me take care of it."

"It's not that simple. If you go in all... explosions and magic they might kill the prisoners. There're at least a hundred kids in there Jennifer. Would you risk their lives because you're impatient to get some more booze?"

Raising her hands defensively the young woman scowled. "I get it! Horseapples you don't need to jump down my throat like that."

The two behind Miller raised their eyebrows and shared a simultaneous look. It was the big cowgirl who spoke. "Horseapples?"

Crossing her arms with a defiant look Jennifer ignored the question. "So who are these people anyway? More feds?"

The question seemed to genuinely surprise the women. Miller looked back at them then to Jen. "You don't remember these women? At all?"

Jen squinted a bit looking from the asian, to the cowgirl, then to Melody. Miller, Melody, and the big woman all had some kind of weird glowing bracelet strapped to their wrists. Otherwise nothing much stood out. At length she shook her head. "Should I?"

The three had mixed reactions to the question. The asian woman snorted contemptuously and stalked back toward the cockpit. Melody just looked a little sad, while the large woman toyed with her hat. "You saved their lives Jennifer. Personally. Bella, Melody, and Eva you healed. You took their wounds onto yourself like you did my eyes. That leaves kind of a lasting impression on a person."

"Oh." She shrugged helplessly, looking genuinely sorry for a brief moment. "Sorry if I don't remember. I was probably uh, a little tipsy."

This brought a deep chuckle from the big woman, Jen assumed was Bella. "Shoot if y'did whatcha did back on m'family ranch drunk I can't wait t'see whatcha got when yer sober."

Flashing her a quick smile Jen looked back to Miller. "So then what IS the plan?"

The young woman didn't much care for the former agent's smile. "You get tazed."

***

"Look. See that? Told you the scanner picked something up."

The muffled voice from the armored man wearing what looked like a gas mask with glowing green eyes nudged his identically dressed partner. His fellow squinted through the deserted city streets toward a store front. The large window smashed in. He could indeed see movement inside.

"Animal? Or someone stupid enough to come into the city looking for food?"

The first speaker shrugged and adjusted the dial at his mask. With a mechanical whir the lenses extended for telescopic view. "Human. Looks like a girl too."

Now the second was interested. "How old?"

A dissatisfied grunt came from his partner. "Not old enough for any fun. Looks like she's headed for processing."

"Shit. You just know the Master keeps all the hotties locked away in the pleasure dome. Be nice if grunts like us could get in there now and then."

With swift practiced movements they ran to the roof's edge leaping to the next building over. Running faster than an ordinary person would be capable of they came to the roof directly across from the store in minutes. Soon the girl in question emerged looking nervously back and forth along the street, arms laden with numerous food stuffs and a half eaten candy bar in her mouth. Both Seeker's raised their eyebrows as she stepped barefoot out of the window, crunching the glass beneath her feet.

"Christ kid's tough. Maybe we could bring her in for conditioning instead of processing? Be a good seeker."

His partner shook his head. "You know the rules. Under age they go for processing. She looks old but not drinking age old."

Sighing the first leveled his rifle, charging a powerful electrical burst. "Damn shame. Could use a few more ladies in our outfit. We have plenty of folks getting turned into process paste." Squeezing the trigger of his weapon it kicked hard enough to throw a dull ache through his shoulder. The resulting electrical bolt struck the girl straight in the chest and she flopped backward without a sound.

Moving swiftly the pair dropped to the street. One tossed the girl over his shoulder while the shooter helped himself to some of the dropped candy. Reading his partner's look from behind the mask he shrugged. "What? I haven't had a Snickers in months."

Shaking his head the one carrying the girl trudged through the streets, completely unconcerned for what might be lurking in the shadows. All the freaks and monsters the Master's factories churned out knew not to bother a seeker. Their transport was parked a few blocks down the way. A large black van. Dumping the girl in the back, the first seeker climbed in after her while his fellow went ahead to the driver's seat.

"Let's see what we got." Methodically going about removing the bulky sweat shirt and pants he looked her over. "No jewelry, no nothing really. Caucasian female. Auburn hair." Forcing one of her eyes open he noted the color. "Green eyes. I'd say five foot ten or so. Maybe sixteen, seventeen years old." As he spoke he wrote the details down in a small notebook. The Master insisted on constant, detailed reports of everyone brought into a facility.

The facility for the north eastern U.S. came into view. A huge automotive factory that had been re-purposed for the Master's needs. A high fence surrounded the factory, topped with barbed wire and humming with electricity. Hastily constructed look out towers lined the perimeter here and there. The gate guard scanned their badges before admitting them into the fence. Parking around the back the driver hopped out. "Right, I'll see you in the mess."

"You're not coming with?" The other climbed out the back of the van, throwing the nude girl over his shoulder.

"You know how I feel about the holding rooms. I'm good staying as far away from there as I can."

"Pansy." Ignoring the return jibe from his partner the seeker hauled the girl through the factory doors. Other seeker pairs passed him now and again, even the occasional worker of the factory though they were quick to give the seekers a wide berth.

"Open pen C." The workers were quick to comply, swiping their key card through the slot a seemingly ordinary wall hissed open revealing a pitch black chamber. With a grunt he tossed the girl in, listening for a minute to the heavy thud of her hitting the floor some six feet down. Ignoring the pleas for food or water he stepped back letting the door hiss closed.

***

Jen peeked an eye open as she sat up. "Oh I do not like being tazed."

A collection of sharp gasps sounded all around her. She was in a pitch black room that stank like a lot of someone's lived inside that hadn't been showering in weeks. Holding her hand over her nose she stood up and stretched.

"You... you're up and walking already? Didn't they shoot you?"

Turning toward the young voice Jen did her best to zero in on the speaker. "I'm pretty tough. So what's going on? There cameras or a guard or something?"

"N-no. There's no way out. There're no doors or windows or anything... just the one wall that opens." The speaker was young, and female. Jennifer could sense plenty of other people in the room but given what Miller had told her she suspected they were all kids. This one was likely the oldest. "...why?"

The children recoiled, some with gasps others with frightened screams as bright green fire flickered into being around their newest cell mate. It worked its way up her feet illuminating their cell brightly. Some cowered in fear while others just looked awed as her pale skin gave way to a shiny black shell. As it worked over her stomach the black was joined with a dark green color. The flames licked over her shoulders leaving buzzing wings in their wake. As it covered her head her eyes seemed larger, a glowing green themselves in the darkness while her hair writhed about her head in a crimson mass, a long jagged horn stood tall from her forehead.

Tuning out the frightened cries for a minute Jennifer moved her hand to the now visible shield and drew Mercy, carefully laying the blade at her feet letting its warm pink light illuminated the cell when the changeling flames had died to nothing. Wings buzzing a little Jen looked about carefully. She found an older girl, maybe fourteen or so standing protectively in front of a group of maybe twenty or thirty children. Turning away from them she began to run a hand along the wall. "How many of you are there?"

The speaker flinched at the alien buzzing quality her voice had taken on. "Wh-what are you?"

"Right now? A changeling princess." Tapping along the wall she worked her way around the cell. Stopping when she reached the right wall and smiling to herself.

One of the bolder children, a little girl with a head of blonde curls perked up. "You're a Princess?"

"Sort of. Changeling's are like bees. They have a Queen who's in charge of the hive. Sometimes a drone that hatches isn't a normal drone, but a baby Queen or a Princess. I don't actually rule anything but I'm a Princess when I'm a changeling."

Looking back at the sea of faces Jen couldn't help but smirk at the knowing nods. Kids. They were smarter than adults gave them credit for, and so quick to accept an insane explanation like the one she'd given. "So! I'm Jennifer. I'll be rescuing you tonight."

Now the few frightened looks remaining were turning to optimistic. The eldest didn't look entirely convinced. "All by yourself?"

Jen shrugged slowly drawing a finger in a wide circle along the wall. "There're some others who say they'll help when the time is right but if need be yeah, all by myself. Do you know how many other cells there are?"

The girl nodded. "It goes up to H. This is C."

"Good. Alright. And you are?"

Blinking owlishly at the simple question the girl hesitated before answering. "Oh uh... Penelope. Pennie is fine though."

Jen's eyes widened and a look of painful nostalgia flashed across her face. "R-right. Pennie then. I'm going to need your help. I'm going to start making tunnels connecting all the cells. Your job is to gather everyone in here. It's going to be a tight fit I know but everybody has to be together if we're all getting out of here ok?"

Pennie nodded quickly. "Yes ma'am."

"Good." Jen walked briskly to the other side of the cell, the children following her movements with their eyes. Again she drew a circle along the wall. Her horn glowing brightly as she did so. Both circles began to match the color as the stone slowly dissolved to nothing revealing gaping holes, and a lot of curious faces peering in at the intimidating changeling woman.

"Alright Pennie. You're on." The children in cell B scrambled to get out of Jennifer's way as she crossed into their cell. Pennie followed close behind and started herding them into C. Drawing a circle along the wall she opened a new tunnel into cell A, before crossing back to C and heading into D.

I hope you have more of a plan than gathering them all together, erecting Mercy's shield and smashing your way out Jennifer. Recall the shield is still in effect about your Uncle's cabin and the refugee camp.

"I know that." She ignored the looks from the children as she talked to herself, making her way down the rows toward cell H. "I was thinking of using my own magic to make a shield if you must know."

I see. You are no doubt aware that every blow that falls upon the shield you will feel, and it will tax your magical reserves to their limit. You will need to return to Equestria far sooner than you like to restore yourself.

Jen shrugged as she opened the last wall, moving back to the now very full cell C while Pennie rounded up the last group. "I know that too. I'll live. These kids won't. Now are you going to create a big diversion up top while I do this or what?"

Heart sighed. Aye, of course I am. Signal when ready Jennifer.

With a nod Jen stepped toward the center of the room, frowning as most of the children cried out in fright. "Oh right, changeling's are scary huh?" Fingering her charm bracelet her carapace was replaced with smooth skin once again. Her horn straightened itself out as her wings became signifigantly larger and covered in her normal green and pink feathers. Her bouncy pink curls and bright blue eyes seemed to go a long way toward putting the children at ease.

"Alright kids here's the deal! My ghost pal is going to go up and start making a mess. I'm going to put us all in a big magic bubble and we're gonna walk out the back door. Sound like a plan?"

Eyes wide with awe the children collectively nodded mutely. The only one still not looking convinced was Pennie. "Good! Then let's get to it." Stooping down to retrieve her sword Jennifer called her armor up, shifting as it formed about her body. "You're on Heart."

If seeing the magic Jen was performing weren't enough the sudden appearance of an actual unicorn in their midst set the children alight with cries of excitement and delight. Bowing her head to the throng with a faint smile Bleeding Heart turned toward the wall they'd been dropped through and sprang upward, passing through smoothly.

Jen waited several minutes before the cries of alarm sounded from above. "Alrighty! Here we go!" Focusing some of her magical energy into her fist Jen thrust upward and released a blast of raw magic into the wall overhead. It impacted heavily with the stone and metal, buckling it outward before it burst open spilling light from the hallway into the cell. Agian she focused her magic first around her body, then forcing it to expand. The children exclaimed with delighted surprise as the twinkling green light passed over them, leaving tickling tingles in its wake.

Face scrunched into a frown of concentration Jennifer slowly levitated the sphere upward and out the hole forcing the kids to huddle together in a tight pack behind her as they squeezed out. "Alright everypony, nice and quick. Let's keep this ball rolling."

Which is precisely what they were doing. As she set a brisk pace the shield rolled along with her, crushing the walls and ceiling as it went. Of the children Pennie was the only one to notice the sweat running down Jen's face and neck. "Are you alright?"

"...a lot more magic than I'm used to doing at once. I'll be fine. You guys just keep going." The first guards not engaging Bleeding Heart arrived, wasting no time in firing their weird energy weapons into the shield. Jen grunted at each impact, they felt like someone was driving a nail into her forehead each time but she grit her teeth and kept moving forward.

The first real obstacle came when they had almost made it to safety. A massive steel door was sliding shut over the entrance. Eyes wide Jen picked up the pace. "C'mon time to run!" Even as the quick pace she could see they wouldn't make it. She could probably use her magic to stop the door but if she did the shield would definitely drop, or at least weaken enough for the guards to get through. Wracking her brain trying to come up with a solution, the problem soon resolved itself.

A pair of hands gripped the door just before it slid shut. The group in the bubble could hear a woman's voice grunting heavily as she strained on the other side. Slowly but surely however, it started to rise again. Jen's eyes were just as wide as the rest as Bella came into view, the muscular woman heaving the door back up, holding it open with both arms high over her head. "Reckon... yer on partner..."

"Yeah, yeah." The asian woman whose name Jen hadn't learned yet stepped around the straining Bella coolly. Raising both fists she pounded them together, drawing a loud metallic clang from the brass knuckles she wore. Jen recognized the flash of chaos magic as the abruptly grew to cover her fists, and all the way up to her elbows in massive, over sized metallic gauntlets.

Wearing a fierce grin she rushed by the shield and brought both arms up overhead slamming her fists into the ground producing a massive quack that shattered stone and sent cracks splintering throught he concrete in every direction. The guards caught in the ensuing mayhem were flung haphazardly through the air. Screaming with incoherent excitement the asian woman charged into the standing guards, her huge gauntleted fists making short work of them.

"Not t'rush ya or anything Miss Jennifer, but Vi's got thing's under control back there. Think y'all could scurry out here a mite quicker? This here door's gettin' heavy."

Snapping back to Bella who seemed to be only barely holding the door up now, Jen nodded and ushered the children through. With a mental summons she recalled Bleeding Heart just as Bella dropped the door shut again. "What about Vi?"

Bella shrugged. "She'll be fine, always is. She an Lizzy got somethin' t'take care of inside. Let's get you an these kids outta here though huh?"

Jen looked back at the factory, where the sounds of fighting were louder than ever. This was Miller's operation, she was in charge. These were her people. But the part of Jennifer that was still the Commander of the Order of Harmony didn't like the idea of leaving someone behind. "Heart you make sure Bella and the kids get out of here. I'll catch up."

As you wish. Be safe.

Bella looked like she wanted to protest as Jen turned to the door, but Bleeding Heart took over maintaining the shield and was already rolling. "Come along Miss Bella! I need you to guide me to safety."

With a grunt the large woman took off after the kids and unicorn. Jen turned to the door snorting softly, a few quick slashes of her enchanted blade created an opening for her to step through. Inside was a rather brutal scene. Dozens of bodies were smashed or pulped by Vi's huge gauntlets. Feeling a twinge in her heart for the dead Jennifer started to follow the sounds of mayhem.

"Oh I see you over there! You think you can shoot me and get away with it?!" Jen rounded a corner in time to see Vi vault across what looked like a mess hall, slamming her fist down atop a hapless guard who was firing his electricity weapon at her with seemingly no effect. Every time a bolt would impact her the energy was instantly siphoned into her gauntlets. The woman was gleefully pounding away at the guard who'd long since stopped moving. She didn't see the second one creeping up behind her. About to fling him aside with her magic Jennifer stopped short as an arrow whistled through the air from over her shoulder, taking the masked man in the face and dropping him.

Jen had passed numerous other bodies with arrows sticking out of them here and there. "You two are pretty okay with killing these guys."

Miller shrugged as she shouldered her bow. "They're already dead. The Master has them animated with weird chemicals and chaos energy. Corpses are easier to control than people. We fight back and all that." With a nod to the toothily grinning Vi, Miller set a quick pace out of the room.

Jen followed close behind. "Where are you going? I got the kids out."

"Good. But we're here for information too. This is the first processing plant we've managed to get into. With a little luck we can get the location of the others off their computers."

Shaking her head as Miller quickly explained, the woman pausing in her march only to fire an arrow into the face of a fleeing worker Jen shook her head. "But aren't all electronics dead?"

"Ours are. The Master lets his toy soldiers have plenty of working tech."

A trio of blasts ripped down the hall ahead right at the three women. Jennifer raised her shield but Vi stepped in front, lifting her gauntlets and absorbing the energy, before launching it back the way it came. Alarmed cries of pain greeted their ears. "Where did THOSE come from?"

Vi grinned up at the taller woman. "You like? We 'liberated' a chaos sliver from some chumps a few months back. While stick up her ass here tried to decide what to do with it, I broke it in half and stuck the two pieces in my brass knuckles. Itches like a bitch but they get the job done huh?"

Eyeing the gauntlets dubiously now, Jen had to nod in agreement. "I guess. Still that's dangerous."

The heavily tattoo'd woman smirked at that. "Says the girl with the biggest chaos sliver I've ever seen hanging off her sword."

Jen's eyes flicked to Discord's gem, dangling from the strap on her hilt. "Hmph. I don't use it unless I have to."

Shrugging at that, Vi rushed forward toward the rapidly reloading guards. "Where's the fun in that?!"

Miller was fidgeting with a keypad as Jen watched. "She's a lunatic."

"Sure but she's my lunatic. She stepped up when certain others who will remain nameless decided to jump to the bottom of a bottle and never look back didn't."

Scowling at the obvious insult Jen crossed her arms. "I'm here now aren't I?"

"Sure." The keypad pinged as the door hissed open. MIller looked up to meet Jen's eyes. "You staying?"

Unable to hold the woman's gaze long Jennifer looked away. "Thought not. So try not to judge us too harshly up there on your high horse until you're really ready to commit. Pun very much intended by the way."

Rolling her eyes at Miller's snark Jen moved down the hall toward a panting Vi. "You're missin' out on a lot of fun y'know?"

"You sure seem to be enjoying yourself." The pair stood before another set of heavily sealed doors. "What's in here?"

Vi shrugged. "Wanna find out?"

Jen couldn't help but smile back as she lifted Mercy, a quick swing cut the doors away admitting the two women into the room beyond. The smell immediately caused the pair to recoil and protect their noses. A huge one-sided mirror was set up to block anyone from the other, huge room beyond from seeing the people in what must have been a small observation deck. Strange control panels were lined up beneath the mirror blinking with various colored lights.

Curious the two women leaned out to look into the room beyond. Massive vats filled with some sort of creamy white paste were churned by huge mechanical arms. Not sure what they were seeing, Vi collapsed her gauntlets back to simple brass knuckles and started rapidly typing at one of the consoles. "Let's see if we can bring up the security footage huh?"

Nodding slowly Jen stood behind the smaller woman keeping an eye on the door in case more guards showed up. "Got it!" At Vi's call she shifted her attention back to the monitor. In the video she recognized people in suits like the one's who captured her earlier. Men in white coats with identical masks stood on catwalks over the vats. Some sort of energy field was present around the openings of the empty vats. With a mechanical clunk conveyor belts overhead began to move. Children ranging from newborns to late teens were pushed along the belts toward the waiting vats. When the first hit the energy field they were liquified to a thick white paste that splashed with a wet SPLAT into the vat.

Eyes wide in shock and outrage neither woman could look away as more and more were carelessly dumped to their deaths. "What... why are they doing this...?"

Vi punched the screen bare-handed, cutting her hand on the glass as it shattered. "That's 'processing'. The paste is what the Master uses to make his creepy crawlies. Easier to work with 'base genetic material' or something I heard Miller say once."

Moving slowly to the mirror again Jennifer looked out to the factory floor once more. There must have been half a dozen of the massive vats, each filled to the brim with the substance. Math wasn't her strong suit but hundreds of children must have been dumped into each one.

Vi stood slowly and started toward the door as a blazing green corona of energy sprang to life around Jennifer. Eyes widening as the magical field intensified she turned and ran full tilt toward the computer room. "Miiiiiiiillerrrrrrrr!"

***

"Now here. This is where it really gets interesting madame President."

The older woman frowned at the title. She'd been the Secretary of Education when this insanity had started. Now they were calling her 'madame President' for god's sake. "Just Amanda for you Agent Samson. And do you mean more interesting than the magical ghost horse leading a hundred or so children out of the factory?"

"Oh yeah." The burly agent Samson started laying down more photographs. The first showed a brilliant pillar of light punching its way through the center of the factory.

"What's this? And what's that little black speck in the center."

"That, would be Jennifer Denise Allen. Twenty-two today in fact. She was subject 1 at Project Wizard Works. You might be more familiar with the You tube video of her throwing down with the black horse a few years back?"

Nodding slowly in recognition she regarded the photo with more interest. "What's she doing?"

The next photograph was much closer up. Jennifer's eyes glowing a brilliant green, wings spread wide and sword raised above her head. A look of indescribable rage on her face.

The third picture showed a massive concentration of energy springing from her sword toward the factory.

The final picture was just of a smoking crater where the factory had stood.

The President stared at each of them for a very long time before speaking again. "I think it's time I had a word with Miss Allen, don't you agent? Let's see if we can't bring the so-called Pegasister's in for a chat as well."

Gathering up the pictures the veteran agent pocketed them smoothly. "Yes ma'am."

Author's Note

Well here's the first chapter. Wanted to get these out as an apology for taking so long to finish Galaxia. ^^;

Chapter 2: The Pegasister's Part 1

Chapter 2: The Pegasister’s Part 1

The heavily laden craft called The Pegasus by her owners wobbled erratically through the air as it approached Derek Allen’s cabin, and the refugee camp beyond. A shimmering pink dome was clear for all to see from some distance away, and more than a few excited voices rose from within the cramped craft as small faces peered out the windows.

Miller leaned against one such window, looking down at the cabin with the beginnings of a frown. A number of horses were tied to the front porch of the small dwelling. The horses themselves weren’t TOO unusual. With most motor vehicles completely useless people had turned to the more classical methods to get around. However the stern men in dark suits standing around the porch shooing approaching civilians away was cause for concern.

Wading her way through the small army of restless children, Miller pushed into the cockpit. The fifth member of their little band, Eva Mendez was grinding her teeth as she fought to keep her craft flying. “Ay! Miller we need to put down like NOW. My girl’s getting fussier and fussier!”

“Relax, we’re here. Find a clear spot and set her down anywhere. Get ready to rabbit though, there’re spooks at the cabin.”

Snorting softly the latina woman blew some hair out of her eyes. The once uniform black now sported some very striking blue streaks. “Of course there are. Dio. Can’t anything go smooth for us? Just once?”

Miller shrugged and cracked a wry grin. “We got all these kids out, got the info we needed.”

“Right and the loco chica with the wings nearly flash fried you and Vi. Don’t forget that part.”

Miller hadn’t forgotten that part at all. She and Vi had gotten clear of the blast by the skin of their teeth. If Vi hadn’t literally thrown Miller over her shoulder and smashed through the wall with her she’d be dead right now.

She couldn’t reconcile the Jennifer she saw now with the girl from six years ago. She’d been quiet and withdrawn, but the woman knew she was a good kid. Gentle… sweet even. When she talked about Equestria she had so much passion in her eyes. Now her eyes were dull and lifeless. Just what the hell had happened to her?

It was something she would have to ask her directly. No more beating around the bush, she was nearly killed today. And not by one of the Master’s freaks, but by the person who was supposed to make sure everyone got out safely. Jennifer owed her an explanation for that.

As she left the cockpit Eva’s voice suddenly sounded over the intercom. “Alrighty boys and girls! Thank you for flying Air Eva, we hope you enjoyed the flight. Please return your seats to their fully upright positions and grab onto something. We’re about to land.”

A wave of concern rippled through the kids, but Melody and Bella were quick to calm them down with assurances that Eva was only joking, the landing would be perfectly smooth. Judging from the way it dipped and swayed as they descended, Miller wasn’t quite so confident. Eva however was a very skilled pilot, and even with the added weight she managed to set The Pegasus down with minimal choppiness. The rear hatch soon hissed open and extended into a long ramp which the assembled children wasted no time in flooding out.

The oldest, a girl named Pennie was bellowing at the top of her lungs keeping order surprisingly well. Though the more Miller thought of it, the more it made sense. These kids had all lost their parents and would be looking to any familiar adult face for guidance. Or near adult at least. The dark haired girl waved Miller over and with a mildly amused smile the woman complied. “What can I do for you?”

“We’re all really grateful for what you did for us, but what are we supposed to do? Who’s going to take care of all these kids? What’re we going to do for food?”

Miller patted the air to calm the girl down. “That’s what we brought you here for. On the other side of this big pink bubble it’s warm all the time, and there are plenty of fruit trees always in bloom.”

The girl wrinkled her nose in confusion. “But it’s the middle of winter.”

“Right well, the woman who broke you all out is in charge. She’s magic. Don’t ask me to explain it any better than that. I don’t know half of what she can do.”

Pennie’s mouth snapped shut with an audible click. “So… we just go in? What about the Master’s seekers and monsters?”

“They can’t pass through the barrier. Only one hundred percent genuine human beings can go in and out. You’re safe here. Go I dunno, do what kids do. Try to have some fun huh? Just stay inside the bubble.”

The herd of kids stampeded forward as one, surging around the cabin and running into the woods and tents behind it whooping with glee. It was nice to see them happy after the ordeal they’d just endured. Kids tended to bounce back fast, but some of them were going to have lingering mental scars. Going through what they did always left a mark on a person.

The rest of her team climbed out behind her, stretching and generally complaining about the cramped ride. “Lock it up Eva. We don’t want any of these guys getting cute.”

The expert pilot’s fingers flew across the keypad next to the bay door as it chirped loudly and locked. “I could just stay here? You know how antsy I get going inside.”

“Suck it up. I think the President herself is here, it’s time we had a talk. Samson’s been trying to get us to come in for months.”

None of the women had a particularly happy look at that, but they fell in behind Miller as she made her way toward the cabin. She just hoped Samson had been able to convince the less than diplomatic general in charge of what remained of the U.S.’s military to remain behind. Mixing him with an already volatile Jennifer would probably end badly.

***

Derek Allen wasn’t having a great day. First his niece had blown in practically taking the door off its hinges as she stormed by him without so much as a word. Then these government yahoos had shown up out of the blue in their fancy suits trying to push him around. If it weren’t for Agent Samson’s presence he’d have turned them away on the spot. While he probably wouldn’t be able to make them leave himself, Jenny didn’t seem to be in the best of moods and she’d likely be more than happy to smack these guys around.

Samson he could handle. The far-too-young to be President (in his opinion) woman he could handle. She seemed alright even if he didn’t quite know what to make of her. It was the third member of their VIP group he was rapidly losing patience for.

The puffed up general (in a very real sense, the man was at least a hundred pounds over weight… an oddity in these lean times) started barking orders at him almost the second he entered the cabin. Initially Derek had bristled at being treated like a subordinate in his own home, but he was a patriot at heart. The woman was the leader of his country, even if his country was falling apart at the seams. Putting up with her fat attack dog was the least he could do.

Moving to the locked bureau in his bedroom he pulled open the doors and retrieved an aged, and expensive bottle of brandy. Carrying the treasured drink he kept a well guarded secret from his suddenly very interested in alcohol niece, Derek went back to the sitting room he’d left the three. Passing the dark suited agents in the hall he closed the door behind himself. “Got the bottle. Hope it’s alright.”

President Amanda Sefton smiled. “I’m sure it’s fine sir. Really you don’t need to go to any trouble on our account.”

With a gruff chuckle Derek retrieved some glasses and poured a drink for his guests. “I don’t mind. Rather it goes to someone who can appreciated it than Jenny. Only a matter of time before she sniffs it out and it’s gone.”

Samson frowned at the comment as he took his glass. “She’s not getting any better?”

With a heavy sigh the man sank into his own arm chair, letting the General get his own drink. “No. Sometimes she seems like she is. Especially when she comes back from y’know…” His eyes darted to the wall, Jennifer’s room on the other side. “...that other place. Equestria. And when she’s out around the kids in the camp she perks up. But it never lasts.”

President Sefton took a small sip of her drink, closing her eyes as she savored the burning sensation going down her throat. “I was hoping to speak with her.”

Frowning now, his own glass untouched Derek rubbed the back of his neck. “I dunno if that’s a good idea right now ma’am. She seemed a little… upset when she got home.”

The large man jumped as the loud General Crojer finally made himself heard again. “I don’t give two shits how upset she is! I’ll drag her in here myself if I have to.”

Now Derek was well aware that the man had no hope of dragging his niece anywhere she didn’t want to go. That didn’t mean he was gonna take his comments sitting down. “You listen to me. You’re a guest in MY house, and I think it’s time you left.”

The speed the other man crossed the room took Derek by surprise, as did his hands suddenly clenching around the neck of his shirt and hauling him to his feet. “Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like-”

A loud slam interrupted him as the door to the study burst inward, the knob hitting the wall hard enough to dent it. Time came to a stop as Samson, Sefton, Derek, and Crojer looked to find Jennifer herself standing in the doorway. The woman’s eyes flicked from the seated woman with the large agent standing behind her, then to the man in the military uniform holding her only living family by the front of his shirt.

Warning bells were sounding in the heads of everyone present as Jen snorted audibly through her nose. The general hastily released Derek’s shirt and backed up as the winged woman rapidly advanced on him. “Now just hold it right there! I’m an officer of the U.S. military! You lay one hand on me and it’s considered treason.”

The look in Jennifer’s eye said she probably wasn’t terribly concerned with being considered a traitor.

***

Miller paced outside the cabin, the agents stationed by the door refusing her entry. “I really am sorry Miller, but General’s orders. You’re to wait outside until they’re ready for you.”

By now only Melody and Eva were with Miller. Vi and Bella declaring themselves bored and wandering around back to explore the camp. “You better just hope that pompous windbag reins himself in. If he pushes her buttons even a little right now he’s gonna be sorry.”

Almost as if on cue the General in question smashed through the front window of the cabin, hitting the ground with a bounce and rolling to a stop some ways outside the property. The three women and two agents looked to find a scowling Jennifer glaring after her human missile, before she turned and disappeared back into the cabin.

Crojer got to his feet slowly, face turning an almost comedic shade of purple as he stormed toward the cabin again. The scene only got funnier, Eva actually laughing, as he slammed into a suddenly solid barrier and fell on his backside again. Judging by the way his mouth was moving and he was hammering on the shield he was no doubt screaming a stream of colorful expletives, but it seemed his words were being blocked out too.

Miller looked from the General back to the agents who seemed unsure if they should try to apprehend their superior’s assailant, or assist the man himself. “Right, we’re going in.”

They didn’t try to stop Miller or her comrades as they entered the cabin. Melody was chewing her lip nervously, while Eva seemed to be struggling to get her guffawing under control. Miller could hear Derek bellowing at Jennifer down the hall, but couldn’t pick up anything coming back from the woman herself.

Brushing past the agents in front of the study she entered to find President Sefton and Agent Samson still where they’d been a moment ago, although the President looked a good deal more shaken than before. “Brad.” She nodded toward her former partner.

“Lizzy. Good to see you. We were just talking about you.”

“Madame President. It’s an honor to meet you.”

The older woman looked shaken, but forced a smile. “Ah, yes you too Agent Miller. I’ve heard only good things from Agent Samson.” Craning her head toward the new hole in the wall the President frowned. “Is the General alright?”

Miller shrugged and took a seat. “Up and bellowing. What brings you to Traverse City?”

“I was hoping to speak with Miss Allen about taking a more active role in our efforts to retake our country, and the rest of the world. After her display at the processing plant yesterday we’re all very interested in what she can offer us.”

Eva spied the bottle of fine alcohol and happily poured herself a glass. Melody just quietly took a seat a little away from the others fidgeting with her hands. “That might be a bit of a problem ma’am. Jennifer’s not really herself these days.”

Heavy footsteps heralded Derek’s return. He eyed the newcomers a minute before nodding. “Agent Miller.”

The former agent smiled. “Just Elizabeth is fine sir.”

“Mmm. Jenny left I’m afraid. She won’t be back for a few hours.”

President Sefton tilted her head curiously. “Where’d she go? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“To her magical world. She’s not… normal anymore. She needs magic to survive she says. Not the kind floating around here I guess, but their magic. She has to go back every couple’a weeks. Sooner if she uses her own a lot like I guess she did earlier.” He looked to Miller questioningly.

The woman nodded. “More than I believed she was capable of, yes. She wiped the entire plant out with one swing of her sword.”

“So. Sorry but it’s gonna be a bit. You can wait here if you want.”

“Thank you for the offer sir, and I’ll take you up on it. I was hoping to have a little bit of a talk with Miss Miller’s team if that would be alright?”

Miller shrugged. “Go ahead, ask away.”

Sefton glanced toward the quiet Melody. “Privately please. I’d like to start with you Miss Johnson.”

Melody’s head snapped up. “Y--you know my name?”

“Well let’s just say that five women flying around the country in an experimental government aircraft are designated persons of interest hm? Would you mind if I asked a few questions? Just the two of us. And off the record.”

Melody chewed her lower lip, before finally nodding and sending her thick braids to bobbing. “Well alright… if you want.”

“I would. Would the rest of you excuse us? That goes for you too Agent Samson.”

The burly agent looked like he wanted to protest, but reined himself in. “Yes ma’am. Just hollar if you need me.”

“I’m sure we’ll get on just fine, thank you.” She waited until the others had left and closed the door, leaving her alone with Melody. “So MIss Johnson, can I call you Melody?”

The quiet woman nodded with a faint smile. “Or just Mel. It’s what the girls call me.”

“Alright Mel. I was hoping you’d be willing to tell me a little bit about why you joined up with Elizabeth and her crew. You don’t seem the soldier type.”

“Oh! W--well um, I’m not. I’m more of the group’s medic. If you really want to hear the story though…”

***

“Nurse if you’re not going to help get the hell out of the way! We have more people coming in every minute god dammit!”

Melody was gnawing hard enough on her lip to nearly draw blood. “B--but Doctor there’s something… WRONG with these people. I can’t find a pulse, and their skin feels…”

The Doctor cut her off angrily. “Of course there’s something wrong with them. They wouldn’t come to the hospital otherwise now would they? God how some of you pass your exams…”

Melody turned away from the insulting man, hands balled tightly into fists as she stormed from the examination room. More and more of them were coming in. People who were pale, colorless eyes, listless expressions. Moving awkwardly and sitting down, mumbling only vague responses when questioned by the staff.

Melody herself had taken the vitals of a number of them, always coming up with the same answer. It was impossible, but these people were dead on their feet. Literally. Stories had been circulating of strange things happening all over the world, but this was the first time she’d witnessed it first hand. Several other staff members were beginning to look just as concerned as she was. A few Doctor’s among them she noted with a little bit of hope.

“Nurse Johnson? Can you assist please?”

Melody turned hearing her name called. It was one of the few woman Doctor’s on staff. Doctor Avery had always been nice to the nursing staff. Happy for the distraction Melody hurried over. “What’s wrong Doctor?”

What was wrong was the auburn haired young woman who REEKED of alcohol passed out heavily in the waiting room. “We’re trying to get her onto the gurney but she’s heavier than she looks.”

Eyebrows raised at how such a slender woman was giving the fit Doctor trouble, Melody nonetheless shrugged and kneeled down gripping her under the arms while the doctor took her legs. Her eyes widened as she tried to lift, the girl felt like she weighed a couple hundred pounds. With more than a little effort they muscled her up and onto the gurney. “That… what was that Doctor? How could someone so small weigh so much?”

Doctor Avery shook her head. “No idea. Let’s take her to room C. It’s got a little space I think.”

Melody followed behind Doctor Avery pushing the gurney along. The woman was barely into her twenties she’d guess. Maybe she’d come from a party or something? “Can you run a full check-up on her for me please? I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes. All these cases walking in is slowing things to a crawl.”

“Y--yes ma’am. Happy to.” Once the Doctor left Melody went to work. First swabbing the woman’s arm and taking a needle to draw some blood. She blinked as the needle refused to penetrate her skin however. “Thick skinned aren’t you?” With a frown she pressed a little harder… than a little harder. With a yelp she stumbled as the needle snapped off leaving her patient’s skin completely unblemished. Her effort’s seemed to have been completely unnoticed by the woman as well.

“Maybe your other arm will… will be more cooperative?” Having no idea what was happening today, Melody moved to the woman’s other side. Rolling up that sleeve of her heavy sweat shirt, she tilted her head curiously at the strange disc visible beneath the material. Her eyes widened again as a gleaming shield was revealed once the woman’s arm was bared. A colorful image of a hoof, wing, horn, crystal, and eye adorned the front. The hilt of a sword peeked over the top.

“Oh my. It’s… beautiful.” Delicately she lifted the patient’s arm examining the leather sleeve holding the shield. She felt an electric tingle run through her fingers and up her arm as she ran her hand over the smooth metallic surface. “Well let’s get this off you and change you into a gown hm?”

Delicately unfastening the clasps holding the sleeve closed she lifted the shield and sword off the woman and laid it carefully on the table next to the bed. With quick practiced movements she stripped the woman down and changed her into the thin hospital gown. It was a little more work than usual due to the woman’s strange weight discrepency, but Melody managed all the same.

After a few more failed attempts at drawing blood she huffed a little in growing frustration. “Alright missy, we can do the heartbeat and blood pressure at least.”

Fetching the necessary tools, Melody was about to get back to work when the power suddenly flickered and died. Eyes wide with fright, not for herself but for the patients she rushed out into the hall. “What’s happening?! Why hasn’t the generator kicked in?!”

A rushing maintenance worker shrugged. “Dunno! We’re heading down to check it out!”

Panicked cries and voices were growing louder in the hall, causing Melody herself to breathe harder. Ducking back into the room she shut the door tightly and took a deep breath. “It’s going to be alright. It’s going to be fine.”

She jumped with a squeak of alarm as she realized the three patients who should by all rights not be upright and moving had suddenly sat up and turned to focus on her. She swallowed heavily at the odd glint in their eyes, like an animal’s in the dark. Taking slow steps toward the door she tried to smile. “J--just sit tight. It um… i--it looks like you’re feeling better so I’ll go get the Doctor!”

She shrieked with alarm as they lunged faster than she thought anyone could move. One grabbing her by the arm and throwing her heavily to the floor. The second was moving toward the drunk woman, while the third dropped down atop her, pinning her to the floor. “G--get off of me!” She tried to push back on the glassy eyed man’s head but it was like trying to push a rolling bulldozer back with her bare hands.

His mouth gaped wide and before she knew what was happening his teeth had clamped down around her throat, biting deep and tearing back with a horrific shredding sound. Tears leaked from the woman’s eyes as she felt her blood pump from the garish wound in her neck. The room was slowly growing darker when she was dimly aware of the sound of glass breaking. She barely flinched as small shards from the broken window overhead pattered against her prone form.

She tensed as the dead man atop her moved in for another bite, when a hand suddenly clamped down around his neck, hauling him bodily into the air and hurling him against the wall hard enough to crack the plaster, eliciting a bone crunching splat as he smeared against it.

Melody blinked blearily up at her savior. It was the drunk, swaying on her feet with a look of confusion all over her face. That wasn’t what really drew Melody’s attention however. It was the massive angelic wings that had sprouted from the woman’s back, and the long spiralling horn jutting from her forehead. “A--an angel…” Her voice was barely a whisper.

It was enough to draw the angel’s attention. She looked down as some clarity returned to her bleary eyes. Frowning she looked down at her arm in concern. “Where’s Mercy?”

Melody weakly lifted a hand pointing to the table, the other clutched tightly around her ravaged throat. “...huh. How’d you get it off me? No one else is supposed to touch it.”

Melody would probably have gasped if she had the strength, as the woman’s horn lit the room with a warm green glow. The shield flew from the table all on its own, resettling around her arm. Kneeling next to Melody, the angel drew her sword. It grew impossibly large for such a small sheath, shining with a pleasant pink light. “Just hang on alright?”

Not knowing what else to do, Melody only nodded, staring wide-eyed as a symbol on the sword glowed brighter. She felt a warm tingling sensation around her throat as the pain rapidly faded away, to be replaced by gentle tingles almost threatening to make her giggle.

The laughter vanished in an instant as a garish wound ripped open on her angel’s throat. Gagging on her own blood she slumped back weakly, until a pink glow surrounded it. The bleeding stopped almost instantly, and even as Melody watched the flesh was slowly knitting back together. Shakily the angel got back to her feet, stashing her sword away and getting dressed again.

She looked to Melody, and the nurse saw such care and kindness in those large blue eyes. Her voice was barely a whisper as well, due to her new throat wound. “I’ll get you out. Stay close.”

Melody scrambled to her feet nodding hastily. Nearly the second they stepped out the door one of the dead men lunged at the angel, who swayed backwards drunkenly with a look of almost comical outrage on her face. Leaning backwards further she brought her knee up into the creature’s chest, sending it rocketing into the ceiling, to break through it and into the floor above.

Blinking slowly she looked back and forth in confusion. “Which way’s out?”

With a shaking hand Melody pointed down the hall. The angel nodded and set off with only a slightly unsteady wobble in her step. Here and there she stopped to dispatch more of the walking dead, gathering a small group of survivors until they finally made it out of the hospital. Police sirens sounded from nearby drawing the angel’s attention. “...dun wanna deal with cops. It’s probly illegal to drink and fly eh?” She turned a wry grin on Melody.

The woman could only stammer and sputter in response. “I--I… probably?”

Her savior nodded. “Yeah, probably. Sorry I uh… couldn’t help more. You’re good now right?” Not waiting for an answer, she crouched and sprang into the air. Her glorious wings carrying her away and out of sight in a few seconds.

The others who’d escaped were milling about listlessly, while Melody could only stare off after the departing angel. “Damn, I missed her again.”

Turning to the new voice Melody blinked. It was a woman, a little older than herself. She was wearing dark sunglasses and a finely tailored black suit. “D--do you mean the angel miss?”

The newcomer smirked. “Angel huh? That’s a new one. Yeah I know the angel. Did she do the thing with her sword to heal you? That skin around your neck looks fresh.”

Melody lifted a hand to her throat feeling the baby soft skin there. “Y--yes she did.”

Sighing now, the woman nodded. “Alright, you should probably come with me. I can fill you in a little on your angel on the way.”

***

“So that’s it? You just followed a strange woman in a suit?”

Melody shrugged. “Well she knew about the angel… uh, Jennifer. And it’s a good thing I did too or I wouldn’t have gotten this.” She lifted her arm displaying the strange oddly colored bracelet.

Sefton leaned closer squinting at it. “What exactly is that anyhow?”

Clasping her hand over it Melody smiled. “When she healed me she imparted a little bit of her magic. Equestrian magic Miller says. Enough that my body has started to change.” She fingered her hair at that. “Just like Jennifer, we need it to survive. A very kind man named Doctor Hammond came up with these for us. It sort of recycles the magic we already have in our bodies, while also managing it and keeping it from changing us more.”

“I know that name. He took over at Project Wizard Works when Sanders was transferred.”

Melody nodded with a smile. “Mmhm. He’s been helping us out with all sorts of neat little gadgets.”

“Interesting. Well thank you for sharing your story with me Miss Johnson. Could you ask one of your friends to come in next?”

“Oh of course. Thank you for listening.” Melody paused at the door. “...I know Elizabeth says Jennifer isn’t an angel. But… the things she does, the things she can do? I… I know it’s silly but I like to believe that’s what she is. An angel who strayed a little too far from Heaven. It’s why she always seems like she’s in so much pain don’t you think?” Melody blushed as she finished. “I’m sorry, I must sound silly.”

President Sefton shook her head slowly. “That might not be as silly as you think Melody. Thank you for talking with me.”

***

As Melody watched Bella step into the sitting room, she looked toward the end of the hall with a little frown. Jennifer’s uncle was leaning against the door there, looking very tired. Tired and sad. “You look like you could use a rest sir.”

He looked up from his deep study of the floor. “Melody right?”

She smiled. “Mel is fine. Is this Jennifer’s room?”

Derek grunted softly. “Yeah it’s hers.”

Melody fidgeted chewing her lip again. “I… could I… could I maybe talk to her?”

Eyeing her quietly a moment the man shrugged. “She’s not in there. She went back to Equestria. But if you want to wait for her, be my guest. You don’t look like you’re the type who’s going to give her a hard time.”

“Thank you sir, and no I really… I just want to thank her. She saved my life a few months ago and I never really got the chance.”

His eyes softened at the admission. “...she’s a good girl. I just wish she’d get whatever’s the matter sorted out and come back to me. Maybe having some friends around will help that. Can you do that for my niece? Be a friend to her?”

“I can certainly try sir.”

Derek nodded. “Good enough. I think I’m gonna see what Samson’s up to.”

Melody smiled as he trudged back down the hall, before letting herself into Jennifer’s room. It reeked of alcohol, which wasn’t too surprising. The bed was disheveled and a large writing desk stood against one wall. Curious the woman approached and looked down at the dozens of sketchbooks, some open and others closed on the desk. She eased into the chair and picked up the first flipping through it.

Images of adorable little horses filled almost every page. Some wore clothes, some didn’t. Some had horns, wings, both, or neither. There were other creatures out of mythology too. Dragons and griffons and giant spiders. Moving from book to book Melody eagerly devoured every image she could. About to grasp another, a small glint caught her attention in the corner of the room.

Approaching slowly she squinted at seemingly thin air. The harder she stared though the more a… SOMETHING became visible. It was like a… a doorknob? Feeling equal parts curious and frightened she tentatively reached out, making to grasp the knob. She let go with a yelp as she felt something very solid in her hand and for just an instant the image of a door had appeared.

Swallowing the lump in her throat Melody reached out again, grasping the knob firmer and pushing it open. Before she knew what was happening it swung fully outward and she stumbled forward into a tunnel of wildly oscillating lights, landing hard on the stone at the other side of the tunnel.

Sitting up and rubbing her sore head with a soft groan she blinked at her surroundings. Everything was so… BRIGHT. Bright and colorful. And the air smelled so fresh. She’d never imagined air could be so crisp and clean. A sudden breeze sent a shiver through her. She was in the mountains! Snowy peaks jutted out in all directions. The woman moved to the edge of the ledge she was on, gaping out at the picturesque landscape sprawling beneath her.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

Melody yelped at the harsh voice and jumped in alarm, losing her foot and tumbling over the edge with a shriek. She didn’t fall far before a green nimbus of twinkling light surrounded her body, and gently lifted her back to the ledge. Jennifer stood glaring at her hotly.

“Um… hi?”

“You’re not supposed to be here! It’s not safe for humans! The magic will…”

Melody cut her off raising her wrist. “It’s fine! I’m fine! This keeps me safe from um, from magic. I guess.”

Squinting at the unusual accessory Jen folded her arms. “How did you get here?”

“The um… the door in your room.”

Jennifer looked away to the shield on her arm, tilting her head as if listening to someone speaking. “...when I healed you I filled you with mana didn’t I?”

“That’s what Elizabeth says. It’s not just me. Bella and Eva too.”

Grunting Jen could only nod. “Miller too I guess. Why were you snooping in my room?”

Melody had thought of what she’d say a hundred times. How she’d thank her profusely. Promise she’d do anything to make up what she’d been given. Pledge her undying loyalty to the glorious heavenly messenger who’d seen fit to save her life. Looking at her angel now though, at the pain in her eyes she realized this couldn’t be a flawless divine being. This was a young woman, barely more than a girl who was hurting very much inside. She didn’t need a sycophant… she needed a friend.

Melody smiled more warmly. “I just wanted to talk.”

***

“Hooooo-eeey! Genuine whiskey! Didn’t think I’d get me a sip’a this again. Thank ya kindly ma’am.”

President Sefton chuckled at the huge woman’s exuberance. “Well it’s not mine. It belongs to our host.”

“Jenny’s uncle yeah? He seems like an alright feller. So Mel said ya wanted t’talk t’me about somethin’?”

“I did. I Was hoping you’d tell me a little about how you first met Jennifer. And how you came to be with Elizabeth Miller.”

Powerful muscles rippled along the tall woman’s arms as she lifted a hand to tilt her hat back. “S’pose I don’t mind settin’ a spell and chewin’ the fat with ya. Long as y’don’t mind me helpin myself t’more of this drink.”

Smiling now Sefton shrugged. “Like I said, it’s not mine after all.”

“Ha! That ya did! So, the day I met Jenny huh?” Some of the woman’s obvious good cheer vanished. Her smile dimmed significantly as her eyes got a nostalgic look. “Yeah, I remember that day.”

***

“Just ride dammit! Don’t slow down y’hear me!?”

“Pa I ain’t just turnin’ tail and leavin’ y’here on yer own!” Bella glared at her father as he rushed about the barn getting Millie, the horse she’d raised from a foal saddled. “Y’all’re lettin’ John an Sandy help out!”

“John and Sandy CAN help out. Your brother and sister do heavy labor around here, they’re strong enough to defend our home from those monsters. Ain;’t yer fault yer sick Anna Belle, lord knows I don’t begrudge ya none. But if yer here then we’re all gonna be distracted tryin’ t’keep ya safe. We’ll all feel a helluva lot better knowin’ yer well on yer way t’the city.”

The tall, willowy blond scowled at her father. He was right and she knew it. Not for the first time she cursed the damned sickness that kept her weak and infirm. “Pa I… I don’t wanna leave ya.”

Her father gently removed the faded stetson from his own head and settled it on hers. “We’ll see ya again soon girl. Keep m’hat safe for me alright? I’m gonna want it back!”

Feeling tears coming unbidden the woman nodded and grabbed her huge father in a tight embrace. “I will pa. J--just be careful alright? Promise ya ain’t gonna do nothin’ foolish.”

“Just worry about yerself girl. Now go on, git! It ain’t that far inta town!”

Forcing herself to climb up into the saddle atop Millie she nodded. “I’ll see y’all soon right?!”

“Right. Now go on girl. Git!” He delivered a sharp swat to the mare’s backside, and the dappled horse took off like a shot from the barn.

Bella leaned forward in the saddle, willing herself not to look back. She couldn’t help it though and glanced at her family ranch. Huge gouts of dirt were being kicked up by the monstrous subterranean worms tunneling beneath her home. Inhuman roars were met with a multitude of gunshots as her family met the invading beasts head on.

Her eyes widened in fear as one of the tunnelers split off, the trail of sand thrown up in its wake marking its path clear. It was heading right for her. Kicking Bella in the flanks she tightened her grip on the reins. “C’mon girl! Git the lead out! Move it!”

Her beloved mare snorted as she ran harder in response to her master’s commands. Millie was a powerful horse used to the heavy labor required of the animals around the ranch. She wasn’t the fastest runner but she could go a long time without needing a break. Unfortunately speed was what was called for over endurance.

The disrupted sand was getting closer and closer at the monster closed on its prey. With a sharp cry of alarm Bella was flung from the saddle, tumbling head over heels as Millie came to an abrupt stop. Landing hard enough on the ground to blast the air from her lungs and cause spots to dance before her eyes, the prone woman struggled to rise as her horses screams cut through the air.

Thick, slimy tendrils had lashed around Millie’s hind legs and were even now dragging the mare under the sand. Her hind legs were barely visible as more and more feelers reached up from the sand to wrap around the frenzied animal. “Leave her alone!”

Bella was on her feet and rushing to her companions side. Grabbing one of the tendrils with both hands, she recoiled with a pained shriek as some kind of acid burned the skin almost down to the bone. Her screams grew in volume as another feeler wrapped solidly around her arms, pinning them to her chest and eating through flesh and muscle near instantaneously.

Feeling herself growing dizzy and nauseous from the pain, Bella sagged forward as she felt herself tugged toward the same fate her now silent horse was enduring. Without what sounded like a missile streaking through the air came from overhead. Lifting bleary eyes Bella saw something small, twinkling, and green hurtling through the air. She didn’t get a clear view as it impacted the ground near the center of the tunneler releasing an explosion of glittery green light and flinging her clear.

The severed tendrils sagged limply around her body as she struggled to get free of them. Her arms hung uselessly at her sides but she climbed awkwardly to her feet in time to see the missile’s owner, a beautifully winged woman crash face first to the sand.

She lay there long enough for Bella to grow concerned about her, approaching slowly and prodding her upthrust backside with the toe of her boot. “H--hello?”

Without warning she jerked upright, sending her bright pink curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Zwuh?! I wasn’t sleeping! And I didn’t DROP you Heart! I THREW you!”

Bella stared wide-eyed as the possible crazy, and obviously drunk angelic woman ranted to herself. “Well maybe you shouldn’t be such a nag then!”

Grunting she stood up and dusted herself off, reaching into the sand and reclaiming her sword. She paused in her movements as her eyes fell upon Bella’s dead horse. She was surprised by the look of profound sadness in the newcomer’s eyes. “...I’m sorry about your horse.”

“I uh, yeah. Me too. H--hey ya killed the tunneler! Please! M’family back at th’ranch! They’re fightin’ a whole mess’a them! Can ya help?!””

The sadness only deepened in her eyes. “Can you ride without your arms?”

Blinking at the sudden question Bella nodded slowly. “W--well sure. Been ridin m’whole life. Why?”

Her question was answered soon as the woman glowed brightly. When the light cleared Bella found herself staring at the most beautiful animal she’d ever laid eyes on. The mare’s striking, verdant green coat rippled beautifully with the muscle concealed beneath. Strong, powerfully built legs and a slender muzzle with surprisingly expressive blue eyes. The huge wings, green feathers tipped in pink fanned out as she knelt down. The majestic image was a little spoiled as she slipped and face planted from the action, but she pulled herself up quickly. “I’ll get you to safety.”

Mounting the strange winged mare with some difficulty Bella gripped her tightly with her legs. “What about m’family?!”

The mare didn’t answer as she sprang into the air. Bella nearly slipped off as they took flight. The constant pain in her arms warred with the elation of flying, but as they passed her family ranch all thoughts of joy vanished at the destruction she saw. The house was almost entirely submerged, and only a few streaks of blood remained of the many horses they had penned there.

“...they’re all gone, aren’t they?”

Her rescuer didn’t answer as she flew them to the outskirts of the city, where she carefully lowered the woman back to the ground. As quickly as she became a horse, she was a woman again. Drawing her sword and kneels beside Bella who was groaning and feverish from the garish wounds along her arms. Jennifer frowned at the seared bone visible. With a sigh she drew her sword. “This is going to hurt a lot.”

Bella blinked in confusion as a warm glow filtered around her arms and hands. The pain soon faded, even as identical wounds opened up on the woman who howled with pain and anger. “Fuck!”

Disbelieving, Bella sat up lifting and flexing her hands and arms. “I--it doesn’t hurt?”

“It fucking hurts ME! Fuck! I need a drink!” Before Bella could even give a thank you, the woman was gone into the air once more.

Bella stared slack jawed as the winged woman flew off. Rapidly approaching footsteps drew her focus to her right as a woman in sunglasses, leather vest, and a faded t-shirt came running up panting heavily. “Shit! Again?” She looked Bella over, lifting the glasses to reveal striking gold eyes. “You better come with me miss.”

Looking from her, to the now gone woman, then back the way they’d come Bella frowned. “M’whole family just got eaten by worms ma’am. I was saved by a gal who turns inta a horse or I dunno, is she a horse who turns inta a gal? Either way I’m goin’ t’the nearest bar.”

Sighing the woman nodded. “Fine. We’ll get a drink and I’ll fill you in.”

***

“That’s quite a story Miss Lissom.”

“Just Bella’s fine ma’am.”

President Sefton nodded to that as she sipped from her glass. “There’s one thing I don’t understand. In your story you said you were physically weak with some sort of illness. But you seem very…” The older woman motioned to Bella’s massive physique. “...robust.”

Bella barked a laugh at that as she rose to leave. “Well everyone’a us that Jenny fixed up got a little somethin’ extra. Mel’s got her hair, Eva far as I c’n tell is just twitchy, Lizzy pop the wings offa fly from a mile off. An me? Well, I just got big. Reckon I’ll send one’a th’other girls inta see ya?”

Nodding thoughtfully Sefton leaned back considering what she’d heard so far. It almost sounded like Jennifer was intervening by accident rather than seeking out places she could be of most use. It wasn’t a terribly pleasant thought given what she’d seen of the young woman in person. She certainly had power, but seemed to lack much if any motivation to use it properly. Pouring herself another drink, she waited for the next woman to enter.

***

“So… if you don’t mind my asking, who’s Fluttershy?”

Jennifer stiffened at the soft spoken woman’s question. “No one.”

Sensing the winged woman clearly didn’t want to talk about the subject, but believing it may very well be required to reach the core of her problem Melody pressed on. “When you woke up in the Pegasus you thought I was her. You sounded… happy to hear me.”

Mel tensed as Jennifer flexed her hands open and closed tightly, clearly trying to keep herself calm. Finally her shoulders and wings simultaneously sagged. “...she was my aunt, sort of. My mother has these very close friends. Fluttershy is one of them.”

“She has a very interesting name.”

Quirking a smile now Jen shrugged. “Not really. It’s a pretty normal Equestrian name.”

Melody gave Jennifer her space, sitting with her back against the rock wall while the other woman stood on the edge of the ledge. “Oh? So she’s a pony? Your mother came to Equestria too?”

“She’s a pony, yeah. My mom uh… IS Equestrian. A pony as well. It’s… it’s complicated.”

Happy she already drew some information from the taciturn woman, Mel switched topics. “I can see why you like it here. It’s beautiful.”

Jen grunted in response. “We’re in the Griffon Empire. See all those little black specks around that peak there?”

Melody followed the direction Jen was pointing. “I do.”

“That’s the primary aerie. Where the emperor lives. Those specks are all griffons.”

Mel’s eyes widened at the admission. “Real live griffons?”

Jennifer chuckled at the awe in her voice. “Yeah. They’re not real dead griffons that’s for sure. ...though I suppose plenty died because of me.”

“What does that mean?” Melody flinched at the hard look in Jennifer’s eye as she turned to regard her. “U--um if you don’t mind my asking!”

Eventually she looked back out over the mountains. “...there was a war here. About a year ago now I think? The Princess’ mother returned from her banishment. Because of me, I ignored my teacher’s warnings, broke a promise to her and let Galaxia loose. So many died because of me. Equestria went through five years of hell because I couldn’t mind my own business. I couldn’t trust Luna told me to keep away from something for a good reason.”

Melody kept silent as Jennifer spoke, not wanting to interrupt. “I died that day too. Literally I mean. One of Galaxia’s cronies killed me.” She lifted a hand and rested it against her chest. “Big spear of black crystal, right through my chest. Then to seal the deal Galaxia hit me with some kind of wasting spell so no one could heal me. A friend of mine took me home to be with Pinkie up to the end.”

Jennifer abruptly dropped onto the ground, resting her back against the wall next to Melody. “So I died. But… they didn’t let me stay dead. Discord came and took a… a piece of me. My soul I guess. He used it to get Pinkie Pie pregnant. Nine months later she had a filly. Jubilant Surprise Pie.” The name brought a brief smile to Jen’s face. But it was just that, very brief. “It was all part of some hair-brained scheme to bring me back to life.”

The other woman couldn’t help but interrupt. “They can do that?!”

Jen shrugged. “Sure. But they need all sorts of magical craziness to do it. Elements of Harmony, my sword was a component, magical hope…” Her hand drifted to something beneath the sweat shirt she was wearing around ehr throat. “Love. So using the filly, they brought me back. We merged into a whole again and there I was with five years of filly memory mixing together with my human ones. So in a very real sense, Pinkie Pie is my mother.”

“Anyway, they brought me back so I could lead them in this war to retake Equestria. Some other stuff happened, I got named Commander of this old order of knights… the Order of Harmony.” She couldn’t hide just a bit of pride at that. “...I went around recruiting help for the battle. In the end we won, but a lot of good people died.”

“Jennifer you can’t blame yourself for what happened. It sounds like you were very heroic through it all.”

“I can and do blame myself. Galaxia would have never been freed if I’d listened to Luna. Who knows how many griffons, changelings, and spiders died to save a land not even their own. Because of me dragging them into the conflict.” Slowly she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s done now. Galaxia is dead and gone, Princess Celestia is ruling Equestria again. Everypony’s doing fine.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Looking confused now Jen turned to Melody. “Why wouldn’t they be?”

“It sounds to me like you had some people… or um, ponies who cared about you a lot. How long has it been since you’ve seen your friends? Or your poor mother?”

Scowling the younger woman looked away. “They’re better off without me. They’ll move on.”

“After all the trouble they went to just to bring you back, I don’t think they’ll forget about you so easily.”

Jen opened her mouth, then snapped it shut with an audible click. She clenched her fists at her sides for a minute before looking away again. “I think it’s time for you to go.”

Her tone left no room for arguement. Melody rose to her feet brushing her skirt off. “Alright Jennifer. I’m glad we talked, and I hope we get to do it again soon.”

The troubled young woman didn’t look up at Melody went back to the door that brought her. She stared straight ahead, already turbulent thoughts only more confused than before.

***

Melody managed to avoid falling flat on her face as she stepped from the tunnel back into Jennifer’s room. The woman yelped in surprise at seeing Bella standing in the doorway, eyebrows raised at her unusual entrance. “O--oh hi Bella.”

“Mel. That’s uh… a big fancy magic door y’came outta.”

“Jennifer made it. It leads to Equestria.”

Now Bella looked more interested. “The world fulla magic talkin’ horses?”

“Ponies. And yes. She’s right on the other side if you want to speak with her. I think it might help.”

The large woman removed her hat, running a hand through her hair. A gesture Melody had come to find meant Bella was more than a little uncomfortable with something. “Dunno if it’s really m’place Mel.”

“I think it is. I learned a little about what has her so upset. Right now what she needs are good friends who’re willing to lend her a friendly ear.”

“Hmph. S’pose it’s the least I could do what with her savin’ m’life an all. So I just uh… walk on in?”

“Mmhm. And watch the last step, I tripped.”

Sighing heavily Bella replaced her hat and stepped up to the glowing doorway. “...right. Guess I’ll catch ya in a bit.” Squaring her shoulders the woman entered the door, whisked away to another world.

Author's Note

Uneditied because my editor is busy and I'm impatient! It'll get fixed when he gets some free time. Until then, enjoy this and the next chapter introducing a pack of OC's!