Chapter 13: Ring Of Fire

=== The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Era ====== Chapter 13: Ring of Fire ===

The Centers are running fairly well now, and there are some Ponies from Earth that'd love to volunteer back there.

Yes, I think the Bearers all deserve a break, why not send them to the Isegawa Clinic.

I was wondering why we had that dormitory built in the back of their clinic. Were you planning to do this from the start with the Isegawas, Celly?

Now Lulu, you make it sound like I've been orchestrating events from the very beginning. But to answer your question, not entirely. I had planned to have them all in the same place, as a sort of base of operations; but unforeseen events are moving the schedule up, as it were. The Isegawas some of the few humans I would honestly trust with the lives of my subordinates.

So why build for ten rooms when we have six bearers?

Because the four that we will find on Earth will need somewhere to stay as well.

True, and we've found two already out of that group, the Four Amigos it was? I'm sure you are having suspicions as towho exactly the other two are, yes?

Yes. The way things are playing out makes me nearly certain we already know who the other primary candidates are...

[ Earth, October 22, 2080 ]

        Nearly a week had passed since the near-disastrous Pony-Dogfight incident. Thankfully, many of the passers-by and the authorities brought the explanation of the Isegawas. That explanation being it was an experiment gone awry deep in the forest. In lieu of this, Rainbow Dash decided to post-pone the more advanced lessons until they were in Equestria proper; deciding that she needed to build up her resistance to the atmospheric toxins and Golden Storm needed to build up his flight stamina in general. While the Four Amigos were outside the clinic, watching or receiving Twilight's and Rainbow Dash's lessons, the Isegawa's came outside (for once) with some rather interesting news.

"Hey you all. I got a message from Princess Celestia in the last few minutes, I want you all to come read it!" said Dr. Hayato, quite honestly surprised and excited for what it portend.

Twilight dashed over, wanting to see just what her Princess and mentor had to say that it would require official stationery. "Hrm let's see..." She waited to read until all eight of them were in earshot of her, so she didn’t have to speak too loudly.

Dear Doctors Isegawa:

Myself and Luna have been in deep debate over the last couple of weeks regarding the situation on Earth. Do not fear though, we believe that the news we are about to bring could be quire fortuitous for everyone involved. Over the last three months, the other four Bearers of the Elements of Harmony have been running Conversion Bureaus in four different American cities. We have decided to relieve these other four Bearers of their duties for the time being, in order for them to all join you in St. Louis. They should be arriving later today. All supply arrangements have already been accounted for, and you should also be seeing an increase in shipments of food and other things to make the now eight Ponies in your care feel more comfortable. We hope that these arrangements are satisfactory and that we are not imposing any undue responsibility on you all.

Sincerely:

   Princess Celestia, Avatar of the Sun

   Princess Luna, Avatar of the Moon

Rainbow Dash was beside herself with excitement. "Oh my gosh. This is great news. Vague, Storm, Natasha, Kyoko - you all are gonna love our other four friends!" She then proceeded to go on and on talking about something or other, mouth moving way too fast for the rest of the to keep up with.

Dr. Jun pretty much figured out there was an ulterior motive to the H.E.A. building a dorm with ten rooms instead of six or four. "Well, this certainly does explain a lot. Then again it's not like we are exactly losing money or anything on this proposition. So as long as you all keep your abilities more in check, we should be fine."

Dr. Hayato was also excited, not as excited as the cyan Pony, but excited nonetheless. "A great chance to observe more applications of Magic. If only I had better instruments with which to analyze it. Oh well, you do the best with what you have. It's how we humans do after all..."

Twilight Sparkle was a bit taken aback by how calm the two Doctors were taking the whole prospect of having eight Ponies and 2 other young human females living on their property for the near future. "Wow, to be honest, I expected to hear more protest. Like 'What does she mean not imposing upon anyone?' or something like that."

Kyoko crouched next to Twilight to explain some of her parent's psychology. "Year after year of dealing with some rather... strange characters in the Domes have kinda dulled the sense of outright surprise in my parents. They also don't seem to foresee problems with this, otherwise you would definitely be getting protest out of them, trust me."

"I'm trying to foresee how crazy everything is going to get going forward. I guess it's to be expected though," Natasha thought out loud. She had no idea just how crazy things were going to get, but her Ethan was at Ground Zero for it now, so she may as well see it through.

        As stated in the letter, the other four Bearers of the Elements of Harmony arrived in the Transport Room of the Isegawa Laboratories early that afternoon, and were quickly shown the way to the dorm hall afterward.

Applejack was the first to walk into the complex, "Whew, these digs sure are fancy. Even the Bureau in Austin wasn't like this."

Pinkie Pie bounded in a few seconds later, "Heya Heya everyone! I wonder how long it's been since we were all in the same place? Ohhh, we need to get a party set up, yeah a real housewarming party!" The Ponies running the LA Bureau now still couldn't figure out how the Bureau survived Hurricane Pinkie.

Fluttershy was next, "Oh my, this place is so clean and vibrant, like it was just built yesterday. I wish we could do something like this for everyone though, the cities are so gray and depressing."

Rarity, struggling to levitate a ridiculously over-sized travelling case full of her sewing machines and gems, was the last to enter the Ponies' housing complex. "This place is so... big... I am simply stunned that the humans can build something so large so fast. Oh and it's well furnished on top of that. Yes, this will make an excellent temporary home, I must say."

"Oooh, even the rooms are really big. My room at the Sugarcube Corner isn't nearly this big, then again I really don't spend that much time in it so it doesn't have to be," Pinkie Pie said, while trying to decide what to paint the room.

"Excuse me, may we come in? Don't want to interrupt your unpacking or anything," said a middle-aged male voice. It was the Doctors Isegawa, wanting to make sure all the new boarders were getting themselves settled.

He explained briefly that he wanted the Bearers to stop for a few seconds to pose for full body pictures. He wanted to make placards with each of their Cutie Marks so they could distinguish each room from each other. The dorm itself was arranged as a 2-story circle. Rainbow Dash and the Four Amigos already had the rooms along the upper tier, and they were all identical except for elevation; so there really shouldn't have been any disputes. The four new Ponies to the complex had already picked out their rooms though so there was no dispute to be had now. He also pointed out the communal kitchen and food storage areas, the recreational room, and the bathroom, all of which, to the best of their ability, were accommodated for Ponies. The four new boarders again thanked their hosts, as the portable printer produced the signs to put over their doors.

"So what is with this giant case, Miss... Rarity was it now?" Dr. Jun asked.

"Oh yes. Well I am a fashion designer by trade, so whenever I'm stricken with inspiration I simply must be able to set to work. The Multi-Boxes have been very useful to me in reproducing my fabrics, although the quality is a bit lacking. They will have to do until I can place a bulk order back in Equestria, however,"  Rarity said, already scheming up designs for her room decorations.

Applejack then asked, while fixing a straw mat to not jam the door when opened, "By the way, where's Twi' and the others. I wanted to meet the 2 new Ponies she and RD've been workin with."

Pinkie chirped up, "Yeah yeah, it's always great to make new friends, and I'm pretty sure we'll be super-great pals with their 2 human friends too."

Fluttershy added, "Yes, that'd be lovely. I'd love to be able to sit and talk with some humans, to get their opinions on things. I really didn't make much time to talk with them back at the Seattle Bureau."

Rarity replied, "You were scared of the poor dears for the longest time, though. But, just like the rest of us, you had that Center running in tip top shape."

Fluttershy responded, "Thank you, that really means a lot to me."

Dr. Jun then answered that question, "Well the two humans in question, my daughter and Natasha, are in town buying dyes at your advance request Miss Rarity. I'm pretty sure the people running the arts shops would appreciate the business. As for the four Ponies in question, Twilight Sparkle and Blue Vague as well as Rainbow Dash and Golden Storm are each engaged in some mild practice outside. Some incidents earlier have had them tone down the training intensity due to fears of collateral damage."

"C-C-Collateral Damage?" Fluttershy was nervous as to what exactly these Terran Elements were capable of.

Dr. Jun took a face of seriousness when answering Fluttershy, and by extension the other three Bearers who were now listening in. "Yes. I'm sure Celestia told you a few of the details, and I will save those stories to be told by the two stallions in question. Therefore - I must warn you, no one has any idea what the Terran Elements of capable of. So when training all four, please, be careful how hard you push them."

All four Bearers nodded in unison. They knew they'd have to help the four Terran Elements whenever they were all revealed, and they'd have to take caution for everyone's sake.

        A short while after that conversation, the four Ponies in question all returned, sans injuries or anything of the sort. Blue Vague and Golden Storm had been expecting, but were still surprised by all of the 6 Elements of Harmony being right there in front of them. Then they had the sudden realization that they were the only two males out of the ten total that would be staying in this building.

"Okay, was there anything in the pamphlets about being outnumbered 4:1 by females?" Vague asked Storm under his breath.

"Not that I recall, no," Storm replied.

"So what in the hell are we supposed to do?" Vague then asked.

"I would assume act like gentlemen and help me move this trunk," Rarity answered for Storm.

"Um, nice to meet you too...", Blue Vague and Golden Storm both answered sheepishly.

Oh boy she's starting on them already... Rainbow Dash thought immediately as she watched the two stallions pushing the quite heavy trunk into Rarity's new room.

After that little bit of charity, the new four boarders and the two new stallions introduced themselves to each other.

"Andre a.k.a. Blue Vague, nice too meet you all."

"Ethan a.k.a. Golden Storm, pleasure is all mine."

"Applejack, nice to meet y'all too."

"Pinkamena Diane 'Pinkie' Pie, we're gonna be great friends."

"Um. Fluttershy, please to meet you all."

"Rarity, I'm sure we'll all get along smashingly."

All eight Ponies then walked into the recreational area, all chatting each other up. The 6 Bearers all resolved to call Blue Vague and Golden Storm by their human names while on Earth, but would call them by their new Pony names while in Equestria.

        After awhile longer, Natasha and Kyoko returned, having procured a large quantity of the requested dyes, the art shops praising their business as if they were some angels sent from Heaven.

"Oh wow, eight of them now. All six of the Elements of Harmony, I think Twilight told me they were, and Andre and Ethan," Kyoko said, amazed at the candy colored array of Ponies before her.

"Yeah, this situation is just getting weirder and weirder, like this place is some kind of Weirdness Magnet," Natasha said, almost wanting to be struck dumb with disbelief, but finding herself unable to be.

"Ohh, you got the dyes I asked for, thank you so very much. I will simply have to make the two of you something; although I don't know exactly what, depending upon certain decisions that may be made in the future," Rarity said, eyeing Kyoko and Natasha to mentally record their measurements in case they were still human for a good while.

The Four Amigos spent the rest of the evening listening to the stories the Bearers of the Elements had to tell. Their fight against Nightmare Moon, their counterattack after nearly being broken up permanently facing Discord, almost getting turned into living batteries by the sudden Changeling Invasion; as well as the various daily antics they all managed to get themselves roped into.

Wow... that much trouble in so-called Paradise. The Four Amigos all thought to themselves, almost in unison.

As for Spike... well he spent most of his time, including this evening, in the corner of Twilight's room playing on a portable game system, and trying his best to not catch the notice of the good Dr. Hayato. Who knows what he'd do to him, if he knew that living breathing Dragon he saw some months ago on the holo-screen was right there in his midst.

===== ----- ====

The overnight was nowhere near as kind to Natasha as that evening was. The nightmares were still plaguing her.

“Mother... why... you could have escaped with me... why did you leave me alone," Natasha said to herself, sobbing in her hands. She quietly got up and left her room, and went to go sit down in the recreational room.

She started up the holo-television, trying to find something to distract her mind from the disturbing images being constantly playing in her head. Ethan was also up, getting himself some nectarines as a late-night snack.

He flitted with the bowl on his head out from the kitchen back towards his room upstairs when he saw Natasha through one of the translucent windows. He immediately changed direction and fluttered down next to her, noticing she was in quite a distressed mental state.

"What's wrong baby?" he said, taking the bowl off his head and placing it on a small table in front of his seat.

"I just had some bad dreams, and I wanted to find something on T.V. to take my mind off things." Natasha replied. She didn't want to burden him with concern over the exact nature of her nightmares.

The thoughts were racing through her head: Why am I just reliving all of this now. Why can't I get away from it. I don't know what to do.

She then looked at Ethan, even though he was a Pony now in a world built for humans, he seemed at peace to some degree. Something she seemed the furthest from. On top of that, she still loved him; but as of right now, the relationship was at an impasse. It was at that point that she realized that Ethan had been the steadying force in her life these last 3 years, ever since they met while they were both on vacation in San Diego

All of this time, I've been haunted by that night... except... when he's there... it didn't seem so bad. I guess... I guess I know what I have to do now...

Natasha took a deep breath, and mustered up all the resolve she could, given what she had been going through the last couple of months.

"Ethan... I have something to tell you. I love you, I love you so very much. And that's why I decided I'm going to go to the Conversion Bureau later on this morning. It's not fair to yourself or myself that our relationship has to be in limbo any longer than it needs to be. So I'm going to do it as soon as I can manage."

The emotions were already starting to overcome her. She figured she'd have to do this sooner or later, but the emotions were still so raw in her mind.

Ethan replied succinctly, looking her in the face. "I love you too baby, but I don't want you to feel forced into doing this any sooner than you want to. I just want to know, that when you do go, that you are going in on your terms, not anyone else's."

Natasha grabbed Ethan and hugged him tightly, sobbing again slightly. "I know... I know. That's why I want to do it as soon as possible, I want us to be real couple. And we can't exactly do that as we are at the moment."

Ethan chuckled and said, "Yeah... I know. I won't stop you, I probably couldn't even I wanted to...".

Natasha replied, now openly sobbing with joy, "Thank you, thank you...".

They spent the rest of that late night and early morning together. Ethan falling asleep at Natasha's side while she stroked his head and mane.

You are so irrepressibly cute... looks like I've made a good choice with you...

===== =====

[ Earth, October 26, 2080 ]

        Three days. Three days have passed since Natasha told the group that she was going to undergo Conversion. Two days had passed since the customary orientations. One day since she hopefully had her last paranoid fit about what might go wrong during the Conversion. It was now the appointed day, and the appointed time. Natasha, ever the cool cat so to speak, was understandably a roiling pit of consternation internally.

What is going to happen to me during the Conversion?What are Ethan and myself supposed to do when I'm done? So many questions...

Ethan, Andre, and Kyoko were all in the lobby together, waiting for Natasha when she came back out.

"I know you're going through with this. I can see it in your eyes. Just don't fear whatever you see during the process. When it happens, you'll know what I mean," Ethan said, a combination inspiration and warning. Ethan wasn't sure what a 'normal' Convert saw, but if it was even 1/10th of what he and Andre saw, she was going to have to hold firm mentally to make it through.

"Heh, I just wonder what type you'll come out as. It's all supposed to be random, if I recall correctly," Andre thought, his mind thinking about how Natasha would look with different sub-species, coat, and mane combinations.

"Well, it looks like I'm going to be the last human of the group. I honestly don't know how I feel about that - proud, nervous, can't really say," Kyoko said. None had really thought about it on those terms, but whenever they got back to the dorms, Kyoko really would be the lone human of all ten of them.

Rarity decided to accompany Twilight for this Conversion. She was being fed the same impulse from her Element of Generosity that Rainbow Dash felt from her Element of Loyalty two weeks ago during Ethan's Conversion.

I don't know what exactly you are trying to tell me Generosity... But the fact that you are bothering to communicate anything must mean it is important...

"Thank you all. Well, I guess this is it. See you all on the other side, so to speak," Natasha said, projecting the best sense of confidence she could, given the circumstances. So she, Twilight, and Rarity took the short ride down and the long walk across the halls of the underground labs to the Conversion Rooms.

        As she sat in her medical smock, cross-legged on the exam bed, she silently prayed and thought a bit to herself before laying down and drinking the potion.

I really hope I'm doing the right thing... There is no going back from this... No, I can't be hesitant... I have to be strong... This is for myself and Ethan... For a new life together...

With that, she drunk the potion and promptly passed out. Twilight and Rarity also silently prayed to Celestia that nothing went wrong during the process.

=---- ----=

        She then appeared in the Astral Plane. Floating around like a disembodied soul would.

Well this is new... she said to herself.

She was then whisked away to her first scene, something that begun to open her up like she had ten expert therapists working on her as a team.

She was seeing genuine community building. The Unicorns were directing plans and fashioning tools for the Earth Ponies to use. The Unicorns were using their Magic to predict and gauge all the plans by the engineers of the three races. They were the mind of the greater whole.

The Earth Ponies were using said tools and techniques to grow plenty of food and fabricate plenty of building material for later. They also built the framework for all of society; from a different angle, one could consider them the foundation, like the very earth itself. They were the body of the greater whole.

The Pegasi were moving the clouds where sun was needed, moving others for shade, and still other were being seeded to cause rain. Thought they had ultimate control of the weather in their lands, they knew that trying to browbeat the others into some kind of submission would be foolhardy. Everyone had their role to play, and everyone had a chance to find it. They were the soul of the greater whole.

Everything seemed to be flowing in a great synergy, as if the entire race was constructed to be parts to a far, far, FAR greater whole. This simple display of community and teamwork touched Natasha to her very soul.

They are all so happy when they can do for each other, they are all so happy when they have a role to play in the greater scheme of things. It truly is a community;no, more like a giant, extended family... She thought to herself.

Then she heard the voices, the voices of the multitudes, and possibly of the new world itself: Welcome our new sister. We graciously await your arrival in our lands. Soon your heart shall be put at ease you embark on a new journey of self-discovery.

If Natasha was capable of crying in that form, she would have broken down into tears of joy then and there. She could feel the love, a pure love for the world and the people who inhabited it. She was then sped to the Astral Form of Canterlot Castle, where she landed in front of the Vision of Princesses Celestia and Luna.

        The Vision of Luna then spoke "Natasha, Daughter of the House of Ivakina of Earth. Born on the 30th Day of July, Earth Year B.C.E. 2057. You come before us to seek a rebirth into our Herd and Family. Do you understand the ramifications of this decision?"

Natasha answered, as if she was addressing a strict, yet loving aunt, "Yes Princess Luna, I understand I will forfeit my Human body in favor of the Body of a Pony from this Land."

The Vision of Princess Celestia then spoke, "Do you understand that this decision is final, and the process irreversible?"

Natasha stated, "Yes Princess Celestia, I understand this decision is final and this process is irreversible."

The Vision of Princess Luna then spoke, "Do you understand that your form will be selected once you receive the Spark of our Magic. Also, that selection of form is entirely random and can in no way influenced by any entity, not even ourselves?"

Natasha replied, "Yes Princess Luna, I understand my new body will be determined here and now, and I do accept this Spark."

The baseball-sized White Spark of Equestria then manifested behind the Visions of the Princesses. Natasha thought it looked strangely like a white will-of-the-wisp.

After which, Princess Celestia then stated, shifting from the tone of a monarch to the tone of a mother, "It is agreed. Natasha Ivankina of Earth, you will be imbued with this Spark and be reborn as a member of our Herd. Please accept this with all your Heart and Soul."

Natasha then stated, with all her heart, "Yes ma'am Princess Celestia, I do indeed accept this Spark."

Both Visions then spoke, "THEN LET IT BE SO!"

When the White Spark met Natasha's soul, the entire Astral Vision of the palace suddenly lit up bright red. A firestorm was brewing, and it threatened to engulf and incinerate Natasha.

=---- ----=

"Twilight dear, is the subject supposed to glow red during the Conversion if they weren't already? I haven't actually seen one live so I really can't say myself," Rarity asked, with all earnestness.

"What no... what do... oh not again..." Twilight started to reply before her tone of voice dropped, she realized that the third candidate had been found.

Princess Celestia... it looks like we found the third one!

What color is it this time?

Red, but why would that matter?

Oh my, a dangerous one then. Myself and Luna are on it, nonetheless.

=---- ----=

  As Celestia and Luna manifested properly in the Astral Plane, they were greeted with not only a now familiar scene, but the oppressive feeling of intesnse heat, as if they were standing over an erupting volcano.

"Ok, I didn't evenknow the Terran Shards could do that," Luna said, already wiping the sweat off her brow.

"WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE SOMEONE LITERALLY SET ME ON FIRE!" Natasha shouted, the pain was obviously blinding and making any kind of formal respect for who she found herself in front of impossible.

Natasha's soul was, indeed, like a out of control blaze; and looked like someone was swirling white and red paint together, but it somehow not mixing to make pink. She sat upon the now halfway filled Symbols of the Elements of Terra, the northern quadrant in blue for Andre's Water, and the eastern quadrant in gold for Ethan's Wind.

The ancient 'voice' quickly separated the two Sparks from her soul, before any permanent damage could be done.

I am truly sorry Keepers of the Other World, and my Child who bears this Shard. The Power it contains is wild and difficult to truly control, and I'm afraid I had to take action before I could properly introduce myself. The ancient voice began; her voice still regaining its strength, but the exhaustion very much evident.

The voice then began to direct her 'attention' towards Natasha.Child, your soul bears one of the Shards of my Power. Now, you face a choice - to awaken that Shard of my Magic comes with a Trial. One must face the very darkness that pervades their heart and conquer it, before they may be granted my Power. If you accept this Trial of the Soul and pass, you will be granted a Magic that no one from either World has seen in eons. If you accept but fail, your very soul will be destroyed and your body rendered lifeless and inert. The shard shall then embed itself in another of my Children's Souls. If you reject this Trial, your memory will be purged completely and the shard reassigned; while you may hold their Spark and Body and continue to live, you will remember nothing of your life to this point as one of my Children.

Natasha was somewhat hesitant. She felt first hand just a tiny bit of the power contained within that Shard. At the same time, she had a boyfriend that deeply loved her, two other friends that cared for her, six other new friends she wanted to get to know far better, and apparently a whole world that needed some kind of fixing. With all of that considered, she gave her response.

"Voice, I have a precious loved one I want desperately to hold on to, so much so that I would endure anything. But in order to preserve our relationship, we need to be of the same kind, as it were. So yes, yes I accept this trial!"

LET IT BE DONE, AND I PRAY FOR YOUR SUCCESS!

The vision of the ancient shrine suddenly turned into a replication of Natasha's childhood home. She didn't want to admit it outright, but this was the very thing that had been plaguing her in some form her entire teenage and adult life, the night her parents were killed.

=-=-=

        The dream started out like it did usually, she was running through the house, trying to find her mother and father. Then she came across the main room of the house, but what she saw shocked her.

The Mafia members she had seen so many times now looked demonic - as if beasts from Hell had crawled from out of the ground and assumed mostly human shape. She saw the snarling vision of the leader of this pack of jackals, eyes burning with lust, greed, and hatred: lustful for anything pretty and female, greedy for money, and hateful for anything that'd get in the way of his pursuit of the first two.

she tried to say, but the visions could not hear her.

<"You will give me the money I want... or I will take it, and maybe your lovely wife as well..."> snarled the leader-jackal at the vision of her father. The leader then reached out Natasha's mother, threatening to take her hostage to ensure compliance.

Natasha's father then lunged out at the leader jackal, a hidden knife along his leg now in his hands. He held the knife in an outstretched arm, trying to cut down this bastard before he did anything to hurt his daughter and wife. The leader's flunkies however had very quick trigger fingers, and it took only 3 or 4 shots before Natasha's father was down in a bloody heap on the floor. He fell right as he was up in the face of the demonic jackal-turned-humanoid Mafia representative.

It wasn't before he managed to carve a large diagonal scar across the jackal's face, however. The leader-jackal howled in pain, staggering backwards, clutching his gashed face. <"THAT BASTARD, KILL HIM, KILL HIS WIFE, KILL ANYONE HERE THAT'S NOT IN THE ORGANIZATION, RAZE THIS ENTIRE PLACE!!!!"> he barked out, him and a flunky trying to get back to the van outside to treat his wound.

Natasha's mother had already run off, though, figuring that leader would call for all their executions seeing as he wasn't handed what he wanted.

=-=-=

How horrifying, how could anyone Human do such a thing to their own kind? Luna asked of her sister.

The better question would be 'Can we call anything that'd do something like this 'Human'?'  Celestia replied, face full of concern for Natasha's sanity.

=-=-=

Natasha and her mother ran through the hallways, trying to find an escape. Then came the firebombs, and soon the entire house was engulfed in red, searing flame. Natasha could hear the jackal-demons, seemingly unaffected by the fire; they howled and fired their arms, trying to either shoot the two or prevent their escape from this fire that'd certainly kill them.

 Natasha said, almost going catatonic with fear now, barely able to keep up with her mother.

Her mother tried to get her to the exit, but then shots rang out. The jackal-demons had found them, and fired upon her mother. They did not shoot to kill however, they wanted to take pleasure in watching this woman who dared defied their boss’s wishes bleed out or burn to death, whichever came first.

=-=-=

You have to fight this Natasha, this fear is crippling you, and eventually it will consume your soul. You have to fight it, you have to survive. Both Royal Sisters implored.

=-=-=

Natasha sat there, the exit door now engulfed in flames, the jackal-demons surrounding her. She wanted to die right there, she wanted something to take the pain away, take it away forever. Yet, something in the back of her mind wouldn't let her quietly accept her demise.

Just don't fear whatever you see during the process. When it happens, you'll know what I mean...

Natasha then began to look up, she saw the jackal-demons surrounding her. She saw the red-hot flames surrounding all of them. Everything about this situation was telling her 'Accept your fate. You will die here and now.' Yet she couldn't, she couldn't simply lie down and just accept she was to enter an eternity of oblivion. So she did what any right-thinking person would do staring certain doom in the face - she began laughing.

The jackal-demons, understandably, were somewhat put off by this strange display of emotion. Wasn’t the person facing certain death supposed to be shivering in fear, or were they just supposed to sit there silent and catatonic. Whatever it was, they certainly weren't supposed to be laughing at it. So they resumed their approach, but something was denying them getting in any further.

You're wondering why I'm laughing aren't you... I mean... you should be tearing me to shreds... but yet, here I sit... she said to the jackals. Everyone watching found it strange that the demons could not get any closer, and the flames just seemed to be doing nothing.

Natasha then began to stand up, her soul beginning to glow like the flames around her. You are just demons of my own mind. This entire trial is of my own mind, whether or not the darkness within me would crush me or whether or not I would crush it...

Natasha continued, her soul growing ever brighter, I made a promise to myself:no matter what,I would continue on, so I could share my love with Ethan. I would continue on so that I could share my camaraderie with Andre, and Kyoko, and now the Bearers of Harmony as well...

The jackal-demons began to retreat, they had absolutely no idea what to make of this scene...

They are all waiting for me, my dear friends. My wonderful Ethan. There is so much I want to see now, so much I need to protect now... I've accepted my fate... not a fate of slow self-destruction... but a fate of growth and evolution... I'll become the vanguard for two worlds now...

Her soul was rising off the ground, she looked down at the heeling jackal-demons, now reduced to formless shadows; still in retreat away from her and her glow.

You all... you're the darkness of this world. You're the greed... the hate... the envy... the wrath... everything that causes good men to become monsters. I can't let you have this world, I can't let the men you've already turned into monsters rule this world... You've already taken so much from me, my childhood, my original home, even my parents... NO MORE.... I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ANYTHING ELSE FROM ME... I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYONE... YOU BASTARDS CAN'T HAVE IT...  VOICE... DO YOU HEAR ME... I DON'T CARE HOW DANGEROUS THAT POWER IS... I WILL CONTROL IT... I WILL USE IT TO BRING DOWN WHOEVER THINK THEY COULD OWN THIS OR ANY OTHER WORLD!!

So you have wished it, so it shall be granted!

The flames surged toward Natasha, but not to burn her, but to feed her soul. They would soon be hers to control, but not before some others had spoke their peace.

She returned to the ground, and walked over to the vision of her dying mother. She then knelt on the ground, and held her hand and cradled her head in arms. Her mother looked up at her and said,

She then looked up into the flames, and saw the vision of her now deceased father.

"Thank you, thank you both. I won't ever forget this...," Natasha said, her soul finally able to start feeling calm after that night 10 years ago.

Humans are capable of such great love and such great hatred;truly, a very interesting species. Luna said to Celestia, as they prepared to accept a new member to their Herd.

I wouldn't have it any other way, dear sister. Celestia responded, knowing their role in this drama was now at hand.

The flames now swirled around Natasha, and began to breakdown into quiet red particles. Eventually the entire vision of her burning home was replaced by the red Terran Spark of Fire, now her Terran Spark of Fire.

=-=-=

        As the Astral projection of the ancient shrine came back into focus, she looked all around to see if anything else was aflame. Instead, she saw the red Spark of Terra and the white Spark of Equestria now dancing around each other, like two friendly spirits having taken the forms of wills-of-the-wisp. She also saw the southern quadrant of the Symbols beginning to fill in red, the Shard of Fire having awoken into a Spark.

The ancient voice then resumed speaking, projecting the tone of a bearer of incredible power.As you accept both Sparks of each World, you will be conferred the Body of their World. This will mark your rebirth as the Conduit of Fire. Go, my Child, go with the Bearers of the Other World's Magic and find the final Conduit. Once all Ten have been realized, a New Age will be forged.

As she closed her remarks, she downshifted into the role of a great matron. Also, I could feel the spirits of your deceased parents through you. Heed their words as well as mine-you still remain my Child even if you occupy the body of another World. Let no being, from this or any other world, cause you to deny this fact.

"I won't. I most definitely won't," Natasha replied. She was crying all the while remembering her parents, or at least doing the soul-based reasonable facsimile of crying.

"Natasha, are you ready to conclude our proceedings here? I can feel you want to return to the Physical World to Ethan and the others," Celestia asked, not having to use any psychic probing to read the situation.

"Yes, yes please. I believe we have spent enough time in this world of spirits," she said half jokingly, her normal somewhat sarcastic tone coming back to her.

Assuming the role as the Supreme Monarchs of Equestria, both Celestia and Luna asked in unison, "Natasha Ivankina of Earth, do you accept Both of these Sparks, the Spark of Terra and the Spark of Equestrian Magic, so that we together may forge a New Age for both our Worlds?"

Natasha answered, with a calm and serene confidence, "Yes, yes I accept both of these Sparks and my role in forging the New Age to come."

Princess Celestia then said, as a mother welcoming a new child, "Come my little Pony, come and forge a new path as a Child of Both Worlds."

Princess Luna then said, as a teacher welcoming a new student, "Come my little Pony, come and learn of your new Role in this great Cosmic Dance of Life."

Then both said in unison, "Come our new little Pony, come and let us forge A New Age together!"

As the twin sparks merged with Natasha's soul, she could feel both the heat and the light, and a wonderful heat and light it was.

=---- ----=

Rarity could feel the great power surging through the examination room, but it wasn't a power that was meant to be held within one person, or Pony. It was a power that almost demanded to be shared amongst all that'd want to bask in its glow.

Such an intense power, such an intense feeling... Generosity, this is what you wanted to show me isn't it. This wild power is like a child that wants to do everything it can for everyone it can, and it's going to need a guiding hand...

Rarity then bolted out of the door, thankfully not knocking over anything along the way, unlike the previous two situations.

When she opened the door to the exam room, she felt the warm, soothing heat and glow emanating from the red glowing form on the examination bed. Like a warm, fireplace on a cold winter's night... Rarity thought to herself as she entered the room while the figure cooled into the figure of a bright red and sunset-orange-maned Unicorn mare.

"Darling, your mane is like a wildfire, no rhyme or reason to any of it. When you are done with your rehabilitation we simply must find a way to get it under control," Rarity said, sensing an opportunity to branch her artistic muse in a new direction.

"Yeah Rarity, I'll have to take you up on that for certain," Natasha smiled, her body uncoordinated and her mind weary and tired. She lifted the recently-formed medallion around her neck and stared at it a bit. It was in a shape of a stylized flame, the Terran Element of Fire, carved out of the most gorgeous of rubies and set in a soft pink metal.

Hrm, a bit ironic. I wonder what my parents would say if they saw this... Natasha thought to herself.

When Twilight, Rarity, and Natasha finally got topside, everyone there was star-struck by the Pony that seemed like fire itself.

Ethan flew over and hugged her. "I'm so glad to see you, and my God are you beautiful," Ethan said, being careful not to be in the way of Natasha's new horn.

"Thank you baby, you don't know how much those words mean to me right now," Natasha replied.

Both were crying, crying such beautiful tears of joy.