“Last week we were attacked,” Princess Celestia reminded to the gathered higher ups of the Royal Guard’s Anomalous Division, who numbered just over a couple dozen, “by an agent of unknown origin. He was a Griffon of average build and coloring who spoke with an accent common among the nobility of the southern mountain range of the Griffon Kingdom wearing an iron mask to hide his face.” The Princess continued to recap as the gathered Royal Guard’s began to wonder what the point of this assembly was. They were in the throne room too, normally The Princess would hold these meetings down in the catacombs and chambers the Anomalous Division called home so as to not harm any uninformed minds who could overhear. “He entered and exited through anomalous means, disabled Magi Neutralization Team Bravo, and killed one of our historians with a stolen anomalous object before leaving with a warning.”

“Your failure in guarding the catacombs has been discussed at length.” Princess Luna interrupted when all the Guard’s shared a look. “So don’t worry, we’ve decided,” the Princess of the Night cast a meaningful look to her sister, “to overlook your ineptitude this one time. We shall not do so again.” She warned as the Guard’s bristled at her insult.

“That’s enough Luna.” Princess Celestia stopped, not even bothering to turn her head and look at her sister. “We have contacted the Griffonian Society for Anomalous Extermination and they have agreed to keep an eye out for him in case he tries to escape back to the Griffon Kingdom. But we are here to discuss our decision regarding his warning.” The assembled Guard’s snapped back to attention, the meaning of the mysterious warning had been a hot topic for the last half week. “He references our destruction of anomalies and that “the magic is returning, and we will protect it”. We want a careful monitoring for a possible increase in anomalous activity and about the “we” he referred to…” The Guard’s all leaned forward as Princess Celestia took a rather dramatic pause. “As of this moment any citizens of Equestria found harboring, protecting, or attempting to transport anomalies, or undermine the Royal Guard’s Anomalous Division in the pursuit of their duties in any way, of their own free will, while knowing the policies regarding anomalies are hereby branded traitors!” She declared in her court, her word making it law even if there was no official witnesses there to record it. But it wasn’t like that anything remotely involving anomalies was going to be public knowledge anytime soon so it was fine with the Guard’s. “Field agents are to make every attempt to capture these traitors for interrogation.”

“And if it becomes clear that it is impossible to do so…” Princess Luna continued. “Then the Anomalous Division’s mandate to preserve and defend the lives of all Equestrian citizens is to be temporarily rescinded.” The breath of The Guard’s all collectively hitched as the significance of the rescindence sunk in, they were being given permission to hunt and destroy nonanomalous life. The last time such a thing had occurred had been during their days as The Inquisition, before The Princesses made some “restructuring” and they became The Royal Guard’s Anomalous Division. Nopony among them knew when the “restructuring” occurred, their records only went back so far and the jump between the two was rather sudden. One week they were The Inquisition and the next they were the Anomalous Division with no apparent problems. The general consensus among The Guard’s was that more than a week had passed between those records, that happened sometimes either through anomalous means or a lot of work on their end.

“Regardless of whether this griffon acted alone and is attempting to throw us off his trail or he is working with others who share his knowledge and views our decision is final.” Princess Celestia continued. “We are at war my little ponies, and not just against anomalies anymore. You are this nations’ defense against the unexplained and terrible and you will remain firm in what may come.” The way that Princess Celestia spoke those last few words told the assembled Guard’s that that was an order, not encouragement.

“Huh, they really did it.” Tree Hugger said as she gazed down at the crushed body of the small grub like monster, its body stiff and green blood dried on the concrete floor of the shed. She idly prodded the golden insect wings on its back, the color long faded as they broke apart at the movement. “I got to admit I didn’t give that rumor about three anomaly catching fillies a lot of thought. But here they are doing our job.”

“Afraid you’re going to get sacked Tree Hugger?” Stone Axe asked as he pushed the crate off of the grub, its red brains and grey skin peeling away with it to reveal teeth and smashed skull fragments stuck in green congealed blood. Smelled like rotten wood and contents of the box sounded busted too.

“Hell three anomalies in just as many weeks? We find one, what, every three months?” She responded as she snapped open a large black trash bag, the most advanced equipment used to cart away dead anomalies without raising suspicion available to them. “They’re blowing us out of the water, going to put us all out of the job.”

“Yeah.” Stone Axe said as he gripped the handle of the shovel with his mouth and scrapped it against the floor, scooping up most of the corpse in one movement. “Rather strange that.”

“You got something you want to talk about?” Tree Hugger asked suspiciously as she went about chiseling the congealed blood and brain off the floor.

“Just sayin’ that it’s a rather odd special talent to have, I’ve never met anypony who naturally deals with anomalies.” He started indicating to their Cutie Mark’s, hers a strong oak tree and his a polearm axe. “Rumor goin’ around is that it ain’t natural and may have something to do with all of the anomalous activity around here. And that griffon guy that broke into the catacombs.”

Tree Hugger’s eyes shot up to glare at him as he leaned on the shovel, completely unaffected by her hateful eyes. “I gave my report on what happened, I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Oh no you misunderstand me I wasn’t talking about that.” He assured. “But three fillies get Cutie Mark’s handling anomalies, find more in one place in less than a third of the time it takes us to normally find one, and a griffon with anomalous abilities or tools says “the magic is coming back”? It seems a little… farfetched for this all to be a bunch of coincidences.”

“And what’s your point?” Tree Hugger asked as she finished getting the large hardened chunks of brain and blood off of the floor and went about picking up the scattered teeth and bone fragments.

“Why are we not watching these girls exactly?” He said finally getting to the chase. “They’re either causin’ or a part of this little surge of anomalous activity. But Princess Celestia expressly told us to clean up, search for similar cases, have the doc check up on the girls, herd up all the butterflies and deal with them, and then just leave?” He asked with a raised eyebrow. “Granted the other teams are going to search the forests for whatever spawned this thing,” he indicated to the garbage bag and what remained on the floor, “but why don’t The Princesses want a closer eye on them? They’re basically anomalies for Celestia’s sake!”

“Maybe because instead of working you’re standing around coming up with conspiracy theories?” Tree Hugger shot back as she stood up, the floor now clear of any solid evidence and just a green stain left. “Scrub the floor clean.” She ordered as she tied and then hefted the garbage bag onto her back, pointing to the bucket of water, cleaning solution, and brush waiting for him. “I want these farming hicks surprised the floor is so clean despite that box falling over.”

“…Conspiracy theories?” Stone Axe said to himself as Tree Hugger left the shed to dump the corpse into their cart. “…Huh.” He wondered as he retrieved the bucket of water from the corner and got down to scrub the floor.

“Can you describe for me what you felt while under the influence of the anomaly?” Doctor Heart asked Scootaloo as he used a tongue depressor and a small flashlight in his magical grip to gaze down her throat, the inside a raw and broken red. “Specifically what it felt like to have butterfly cocoons spontaneously emerge out of the lining of your throat and then hatch.”

“Stung.” Scootaloo rasped her voice weak and pained. “But it was… far away. Like an old bruise that only hurts when you touch it.” She tried to explain to the doctor as Sweetie Belle and Applebloom sat behind him on one of the hospital beds in the examination rooms that he had commandeered nervously fidgeting.

“Huh, perhaps an anesthetic effect so as to not cause the host to struggle?” He wondered to himself. “You said in your letter to The Princess that she looked at the creature’s wings and then leaned her head back correct?” He asked turning around to address Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.

“Um, yeah.” Applebloom answered. “She just started throwing up butterflies, all different colors but I’m really worried about the gold ones. The grub had-”

“Yes, yes we all read your letter before being sent down here and we’re keeping an eye out for golden butterflies.” Doctor Heart cut off with a wave of a hoof before turning back to Scootaloo. “Now did you hear any voices or experience thoughts that seemed unexpected given the situation?”

“Um, no?” Scootaloo cautiously answered.

“Do you feel as though you are aware of information that you did not know before that there’s no logical way for you to have gained?” The Doctor asked as he set aside his tools.

“What does that mean?” Sweetie Belle questioned for her friends.

“Some anomalies can transfer information, like an understanding on how to fix a train engine or cook a delicious meal made of pony flesh.” The Doctor explained as the girls paled at his second example. “Something that they wouldn’t have known before, the knowledge itself doesn’t have to be anomalous, like how to make a soup that gets rid of brain tumors, but the delivery has to be.” He smiled at a memory. “That was a delicious soup though. So anything you shouldn’t know?” He resumed turning back to Scootaloo.

“No.” She answered simply wanting to be away from this disturbing doctor to nurse her wounded throat back to health.

“Alright then hop off.” He ordered and Scootaloo did so and joined Sweetie Belle and Applebloom as they moved to wait at the door. “Keep up with the treatments that Doctor Horse prescribed for your throat, stick to the story about a wolf attacking and eating, uh, Carrot Top,” he struggled to remember the name of their dead neighbor, “and if you or you notice anypony else start to experience any strange symptoms like your hair falling out, being unable to move, and your muscles deteriorating please don’t hesitate to contact us. Or more realistically have someone else contact us, that dragon you use should be sufficient.”

“Uh,” Applebloom droned as Scootaloo began to shake, “what was that part about strange stuff happenin’ to her?”

“Well if the golden butterflies are the carriers and implanters of the eggs that create the grubs like you suspect,” he gestured to Applebloom who went a little pale at her little theory she had made at the shed being used, “then the sheer number of them that were in her throat leaves the possibility that one could have implanted an egg in her either on purpose or accidentally.” Scootaloo began to take shuddering breathes and shake harder. “Probably didn’t happen though, given that we don’t know this anomalies life cycle it’s possible that the grub was still an immature state and the butterflies could be infertile for all we know.” Doctor Heart quickly assured when he noticed the terrified looks of the three little fillies in front of him. “Just… go play or something. Enjoy the day, it’s beautiful outside.” He said as he scooted them out of the room and closed the door behind them.

It was indeed a beautiful day outside but the death of Carrot Top and all the mourning ponies walking around kind of ruined it.

Luckily this meant that The Cutie Mark Something Anomaly Something Whatever, still working on that new name, could be as scared for their lives as they wished. Everypony would just suspect that the terrible encounter with a rabid wolf that had killed and gutted Carrot Top in front of them had left them terrified and potentially scarred for life. Which is why they could not get their sister’s and/or idols’ to leave them alone for more than two seconds.

“How’d it go in there champ?” Rainbow Dash asked Scootaloo settling down onto the ground next to her. “Everything, uh, everything go alright?” Rainbow Dash struggled with the proper comforting words without being too intrusive.

“Fine.” Scootaloo answered hoarsely not taking her eyes off the ground. Rainbow Dash glanced to Applejack and Rarity as they tended to their sisters’ silently asking for help.

“How would you girls like to go to the park?” Rarity asked putting on her dazzling smile that contrasted the black shawl she was wearing to signify her mourning. A lot of ponies wear wearing something black today and probably for the rest of the week.

“Yeah,” Applejack agreed as she took her hat off and put it on Applebloom’s head, “y’all can run around in the sun, play in the sandbox, swing, and jump in the mud puddles like you always do!”

“Okay.” They all agreed and started to walk towards the public park, their sister’s/idol following behind.

The park was sparsely populated today so they had most of the equipment to themselves. Rarity and Applejack sat on a nearby bench with Rainbow Dash hovering close by to watch them play, talking amongst themselves but never really taking their eyes off the girls. They made a show of trying to have a game of tag and hide and seek before settling on just swinging on the swing set, trying to get higher and higher or even get enough momentum to swing all the way around. With the blue sky in front of them and air rushing by them they managed to lose themselves in the rhythmic back and forth of the swinging.

So when Sweetie Belle swung up into the air and found a golden butterfly flying not an inch from her nose she naturally lost her shit.

“AAHHH!” She screamed as she flailed her legs in an attempt to back pedal in her seat only to dislodge herself and fall straight to the ground from a good six feet in the air. There was a blur of cyan blue and more rushing air as Sweetie Belle suddenly found herself no longer falling but being gently set down on the ground.

“Whoa calm down there Sweetie Belle.” Rainbow Dash said as Rarity and Applejack rushed over and her friends settled down in their swings. Applebloom and Scootaloo didn’t pay attention as Rarity began doting and worrying over Sweetie Belle and instead kept their eyes locked on the golden butterfly as it gently flew away.

“Oh this isn’t working; we should take them all home.” Rarity gave up. “Perhaps what they need is some alone time to come to grips with what happened on their own.” The girls all locked eyes, nodded, and then began to edge away from the older ponies.

“No!” Applejack sternly refused. “Ya leave’em alone and they’re gonna get all kind of crazy ideas like it was they’re fault or somethin’. They need love and attention.” Keeping their eyes on the butterfly the girls slipped away as their sister’s/idol not even noticing them go, they had gotten used to them being quiet after Carrot Top’s death after all. By the time Rainbow Dash tore her attention away from Rarity and Applejack’s arguing and noticed that they were gone they had already disappeared across Ponyville chasing the butterfly.

“So what are we gonna do when we catch it?” Sweetie Belle asked as they kept a brisk pace with it. Sure was fast little bug of pure evil.

“Smash it.” Scootaloo answered immediately. “With a rock so it can’t lay an egg in us.”

“That was a guess ah made!” Applebloom argued. “We don’t know if that’s how it works.”

“Doesn’t matter, still smashing.” Scootaloo continued as they followed the butterfly going off the road and away from Ponyville to one of the forests that surrounded it. The trees made it a little difficult to keep track of it but they stayed on it and soon enough another butterfly, this one green, joined it in its flight. And then another. And another and another. Soon the air was positively filled with butterflies of all colors flying the same direction, the girls now somewhat unsure of their smashing option.

“Oh the way four whores of Baltimare, drinking the blood red wine, and all the conversation was,” a distant recorded voice sang like it was coming from a record player, “yours is smaller than mine!” The girls broke through the tree line and came to a field with a most peculiar sight, the butterflies flying in a giant circle above a sitting unicorn stallion, his horn aglow with some kind of magic. Off to the side a pegasus mare lay next to the record player and some strange contraption, watching the butterflies and nodding her head to the music.

“Umm,” Sweetie Belle said unsure, “hello?” The stallion’s and the mare’s heads snapped to them and for a moment looked like they were about to rise until it seemed they recognized them and eased.

“Well look who it is!” The mare motioned them over to her. “So you’re the little fillies who are going to put us all out of work! You come to watch the show?” She asked with a very wide smile. “Nice hat kid.” She complemented pointing to Applejack’s hat still on Applebloom’s head.

“What show?” Scootaloo asked and the mare stood, revealing her Cutie Mark to be a single flame.

“Onsite neutralization.” She said gesturing to the contraption next to her. “Dusty Tome over there gathers all the butterflies in the area and I take care of them. Should be almost done.”

“All the butterflies?” Applebloom asked confused. “But what about the ones that didn’t come from Scootaloo?”

“Oh yeah it’ll be a shame but we’ll set up a nice drive and program to repopulate the area after this “sudden migration/extinction”.” She said with air quotes. “It’ll give the wildlife conservation groups something to work on for the next few years but it should be fine.”

“Can’t you tell the difference between the normal and weird ones with magic or something?!” Sweetie Belle cried panicked at the thought of the sudden extinction of all butterflies in the Ponyville area.

“Dusty tried. Either magic can’t tell the difference or none of them are anomalous, we can take some back to study them but we can’t take the chance of them spreading outside of our control while we have the chance.” The pegasus mare explained. “Like I said don’t worry,” she tried to sooth as she leaned down and slung the strange device over her shoulder as the streams of butterflies lessened above them, “this kind of thing happens all the time. You done over there Dusty?” She asked her companion as the streams of butterflies stopped completely. He turned and nodded to her and backed away, keeping the butterflies dancing to his magical tune completely drowned out by the obscene song still playing. “Alright then, back up kids.”

Taking a few dozen cautious steps away the girls watched as the mare flew up to the cloud of butterflies, pointed the contraption at it, flicked some switch that caused a little puff of flame to appear at the front, and then turned some nozzle. Fire spewed out of the contraption and ignited the swarm of butterflies, the heat melting wings and popping bodies. Ashes fell to the ground as the pegasus mare laughed while she worked, sweeping the flame side to side and up and down to catch stragglers while Dusty Tome merely sat there keeping his magical grip on the butterflies both normal and anomalous. The girls merely sat in silence as the threat that had been on their minds since yesterday when they had watched the swarm disappear into the evening literally went up in smoke to the mad laughter of a person who had chosen this life.

And far away an agitated beast lumbered up to a tree and placed a single leg against it to crane its massive body up towards the branches. The trunk groaned at the weight while the beast huffed and puffed as if out of breath, its tongue darting out of a lamprey like mouth as its giant golden wings twitched and six black eyes darted around the clearing it was in. Something was harming the little ones its bones screamed, tiny screams that sent pin pricks across its skull. Stop the screams it decided, save little ones. It took in the deep mountain air and tried to smell where the little ones were, their scent fleeting so quickly in smoke. But before the last one burned it had a direction and that was good enough.

For now instead of screams there was silence. Total deafening silence that was a million times worse than the screams. Silence unheard of since it woke from its slumber and found the others gone. But that was fine; it could make more little ones who would go on to make more others. The silence would be gone soon enough as it backed away from the tree and went on its way, its eyes briefly glimpsing Ponyville through the trees.

“Who the hell names their kid Rocky Bottom?” Swift Cut asked as she read the information on the dead body in front of her. “You’re just asking to have him bullied and be a virgin forever.”

“He’s from some little fishing village down south a little ways. Sea Stable or something.” Deep Incision informed as she brought the tools over to the table. “And I doubt he had trouble losing his virginity, little country village like that? He probably just had to go to his cousin next door with a pint of cider and she’d be all for it!” They shared a laugh as they went about setting all their tools in place. “Suicide at sea though, by suffocation no less, wonder why you poor bastard.”

“He probably got his shipmates killed doing something stupid and couldn’t live himself or he killed them and himself because he was crazy.” Swift Cut quickly judged. “But what’s it matter? We just got to cut him up.” The autopsy of Rocky Bottom preceded normally, the coroners noting the lines around his neck and the state of his face that hinted at his own suffocation. They found his organs in good order, his lungs showing the typical signs of suffocation, but stopped when it came time to check the contents of his stomach.

“The hell?” Deep Incision asked as she prodded his protruding stomach with her magic. “Did he swallow a can?” Getting nothing more than a shrug from Swift Cut she cut open Rocky Bottom’s stomach and pulled the folds apart as she magically gripped what was inside and pulled it out.

“…What the fuck is that?” Swift Cut asked as her eyes went wide at was floating in the air before.

“This, this is a shark egg.” Deep Incision declared the embryo of the sea creature clearly visible in the egg its shell undamaged by the stomach acids. “Go, go get somepony!”

“Who?!” Swift Cut asked perplexed.

“I don’t know! Somepony!” Deep Incision ordered and Swift Cut bolted out of the morgue. “What the hell is going on down there?”

Author's Note

I somehow wrote this entire thing in one night over 5 hours. No idea how that happened. But anyway this was mainly to introduce some characters that will totally not be dying within the next few chapters and show that the threat of the Golden Butterflies is not over. The girls killed a grub the size of a cat now lets see them handle one the size of a bear and whatever new anomalies they encounter in the time it takes for it to walk from its home to Ponyville.