Tali stepped forward, stopping in awe as the awesome shadow of the mountain loomed over him, like the poised claw of an eagle ready to stoop and snatch him up it would a fish from the water. Clouds swirled around the misty peak of the mountain, obscuring its tip and adding a sense of foreboding as it kept onlookers from seeing what might have been on the top.

Tali gulped. He moved forward, getting closer to the mountain and his fate. As he approached the base, he saw a figure standing in the distance. The next Guardian, perhaps?

Tali approached the stranger with caution. He was an oddity among the Guardians, being a boy with no obvious deformities or mutations. Of course, Rarity could have passed for normal if she ever stepped down from the pile of slime she laid on …

When Tali stepped forward and stepped on a rock, producing noise as it rolled away, the boy took notice and looked up, causing Tali to grimace.

“Ah.” The boy said. “Another hopeful challenger. How do you do, sir? I am Spike, the Guardian's servant.” The boy bowed, tipping off his feathered cap. He whipped out a quill and a scroll and walked up to Tali. “Pray tell, what is your name?”

Spike looked at Tali with extreme disinterest. “Not that I actually care, mind you. I just need to what name to put on your tombstone.”

Tali's eyes widened. “Tombstone?”

“Well, yes.” Spike said. “You're about to face my master. No one who has ever gone up the mountain and faced my master have come back down to tell the tale.”

“Prince Tali is my name. Prince Tali of Maretonia.”

“Prince … Tali.” Spike said as he wrote it down on his scroll. “Of … Maretonia. There.”

“So … you're not a Guardian?” Tali asked.

“Oh, goodness, no.” Spike said. “No, I'm just a little servant boy. I fetch them water, bring them news from the outside … make lists of their victims.” Spike placed emphasis on the last sentence, glaring pointedly at Tali while poking his scroll with his pen. “No, if you want to face the Guardian, you'll have to climb up the mountain.” Spike turned and pointed at the mountain with his pen.

“All the way up?” Tali asked.

Spike shook his head. “What I'm sure is much to your relief, no. Going all the way up would take you to entrance to the gods' domain, specifically Celestia's region, and you would be smote and struck by lightning before you were halfway there, unless you had some divine protection. No, you only need to go up a quarter of the mountain, right around there.” Spike pointed with his pen at a cave high up in the side of the mountain.

Tali nodded. “Well … thank you for your assistance, Sir Spike.” Tali bowed.

“You're welcome, I suppose.” Spike said. Tali passed him and went up the base of the mountain.

“Good luck to you!” Spike shouted at Tali. “You'll need it! I'll make sure to give you a proper burial!”

Tali looked over his shoulder at Spike, grimacing at how confident Spike was in his certain death. Pushing it aside and ignoring Spike's words of doom and death, Tali began his long climb up the mountain, though it wouldn't be as long as Tali had been fearing. He only needed to reach the cave. Placing his hands on the rocks, Tali worked on pulling himself up the side, but he found himself losing his grip and sliding down until he fell on his bottom.

“Hey!” Tali shouted. “What gives?”

“I should mention that we keep the bottom of the mountain smooth by carving it.” Spike said, rubbing his fingers together in a nonchalant manner before cracking a smirk. “It's another method we use to keep thieves away from the crown, making it hard to climb the mountain by making it almost impossible to hold a steady grip.”

Tali threw Spike a dirty glare.

“Bear in mind. Difficult, but not impossible.” Spike said. “After all, how do you think the others who came before you managed to climb up and meet their deaths if they couldn't get up?”

“Thanks for the inspiring encouragement.” Tali said dryly, not appreciating Spike's words or tone.

“You're welcome.” Spike said smugly, knowing full well Tali was being sarcastic.

Tali rose to his feet and looked up at the mountain, examining the challenge which lay before him. Getting an idea, he pulled out his sword, lifted it up, and stabbed into the mountainside. Using the sword as a climbing pick, Tali crawled up.

“I wouldn't do that.” Spike said. “If you keep using sword like that, it's going to be horribly blunt by the time you make it up there, and then what good will it do you?”

Tali glared at Spike over his shoulder. Jerking his sword out from the rock, he slid down to the ground again.

“Hmm.” Tali placed a hand on his chin, scrutinizing the mountain with his gaze. He raised up his hand and knocked on the mountain to test it.

“Feels like normal rock.” Tali said. “Even if it is a magic mountain … so what I'm thinking is, right idea … wrong weapon.”

Tali lifted up his shield. Holding it with both hands, he raised it up and slammed the pointed bottom of the shield into the mountain, creating a small crack. The rock was not impenetrable.

“Ah-ha.” Tali said. He lifted the shield up and banged it against the mountain again, and again, and again, chipping away at it until he had created a crevice large enough to fit his feet into, a stepping stone he could stand on while working to make the next platform.

Spike's eyes widened. “Resourceful of you.”

“Yeah.” Tali climbed up, digging his fingers into the mountain until he could rest his feet inside the crevice he made. “You don't mind me putting a few dings into your smooth mountain, do you?”

“Oh no, go ahead.” Spike waved his hand. “We'll find some way to buff them out later, after you're dead.”

Tali scoffed and resumed focus on his task. Balancing on the crack with his feet set inside, he raised his his shield and went to work, chipping at the mountain with the edge of his shield until there was another hole with room for his feet to stand in. He made his way up, climbing up the mountain and setting his feet in the second hole so he had somewhere to stand while he began to carve in a third step.

He repeated this process several times, always digging the hole wide enough for him to stand, but no wider, scraping up his shield as he used it as a pick to chip and tear away at the mountain.

After making some headway up the mountain, Tali prepared to dig another crack, only to stop when he saw the scrapes forming on the section of his shield he was using. He held the shield up to his eye, squinting at it to judge how bad the damage was. He rotated the shield around and used a different edge to keep digging and chipping, but he began to worry that, by the time he made it up, the shield would be of no use to him.

As he made his way further up, the air around grew colder and chillier. He shivered, but pressed on, determined to complete his task. To complete the mission he had imposed upon himself.

Even further up, Tali climb into a cloud of fog, much like the ring of fog which encircled the mountain's peak. It swirled around him ominously, as if warning him not to go any up any further. Tali ignored its warning and continued on.

Tali panted, growing tired. He had been at work at this for a while now. He put his shield up, wiped the sweat from his brow, and pulled the shield back out, resuming his work. The dings of his shield and clinks of the mountain were the only sounds available to comfort him as he continued his grueling labor.

The fog grew thicker and denser as he went higher up, eventually getting so dense Tali couldn't see around him. Still, he didn't give up. He would not turn back. He continued working on the mountain with his shield, leaning his body into the mountain so he could feel his way around without having to rely on his obscured vision.

Despite the efforts of the fog to block his eyesight and intimidate him into stopping, Tali pressed on. By now, he was something was controlling the fog, directing it at him in order to scare him away, but it wouldn't work.

At long last, he reached his destination. Running his hand over the mountain to feel where he should go next, he felt the edge of a lip within the mountainside. He knew, without a doubt, this was the area he had been aiming to reach.

Putting his shield away, Tali used both hands to grab hold of the edge. With a grunt of effort as he strained himself, he pulled himself up and climbed over the edge. The fog, seeming to recognize his tenacity, parted and began to clear away, as if the person behind it understood they weren't going to frighten him.

Tali looked around. There was but a small segment of rock around the cave, enough to provide solid ground and perhaps a place to rest before going into the cave, but Tali would be having none of that. He clenched his fist and moved forward, ready to claim his prize.

“Who goes there!?” A booming voice shouted from the depths of the cave.

Tali backed away, having forgotten he hadn't beat the final Guardian yet. It was easy to think he had already as good as won after climbing the mountain the way he did. He cleared his throat. “Prince Tali of Maretonia. I have come -”

“You have come for the crown.” The voice roared. “Don't bother to try and deny it. The only reason you would have gone all this way would be to take the crown. Well, I'm going to tell you ...”

The Guardian stepped out from the cave.

“That's not going to happen.” She said, her voice no longer echoing once outside of the cave.

“Twilight Sparkle?” Tali exclaimed.

Twilight barely lifted an eyebrow at him. “I'm sorry. Have we met before?”

“Yes.” Tali said. “In Maretonia. When you and Celestia came to escort Discord?”

“I'm sorry. I don't remember you.” Twilight said. “You seem forgettable anyways.”

“Hmph.” Tali said. “I take some offense to that. Regardless ...” Tali drew his sword. He raised up his shield and inspected it, noticing it was covered in scrapes. It likely could hold up to a few attacks at most, so he put it back. “Move aside, Twilight. I'm here for the crown. I'm going to take it, and you're not going to stop me.”

Twilight Sparkle let out a laugh. “Oh ho ho! Many have tried to take this crown from me. All of them have failed, for one reason or another. Regardless of how well they did against my sisters, no one has ever gotten past me. And you … you will not be the first.”

“Hmph. I fail to see how that's the case, being that I have a weapon and you don't. How are you going to stop me?” Tali asked.

Twilight smirked at him. She reached into her robe and pulled out a golden staff. She lifted it up and slammed its bottom into the ground, causing the mountain to shake. Tali stumbled, and he worried Twilight was going to make the ground crumble underneath him. The ground remained stable. Twilight was engulfed in a blinding golden light which Tali had to shield his eyes from.

When the light dissipated, Tali hesitated to lower his arm, but he did so. He let out a gasp.

Twilight had transformed. Her green robe, disciplined makeup, and golden hat were all gone. In their place, she wore a cloth vest which was split down the middle, black on one side and white on the other, complemented by a drape of the same color which reached her knees. She had grown in height, getting close to Celestia's height. Her entire body was decorated in black and white duality, her left hand becoming a wrinkled claw with unkempt yellow nails, while her right seemed soft as a swan's neck. Her eyes were asymmetric, one a dark blue, the other purple. She had wings, one a large vampire wing, the other a soft, feathery wing like a swan's. Three curled protrusions extended from either side of her waist, one black and gnarled, the other blue and white and curly.

Her staff had changed. It was longer and now had a blue and purple glowing crystal floating above its head, held by a sculpting of a demonic claw in the staff's head.

Tali took a moment to get used to her new appearance. Shaking his head, he blinked to clear his focus and glared at her, raising up his sword.

“Yaaaah!” Twilight screamed and rushed at him, twirling the staff in her hand.

Tali adjusted his grip on his sword as Twilight came at him. He lifted his blade up, blocking Twilight's blow as she swung the staff at him. Faster than Tali realized she could move, she withdrew the staff and spun around, striking him in the chest while his guard was down and sending him flying off the mountain.

Tali went tumbling down the mountain side, grunting as he rolled over all the crevices he had made earlier. Attempting to slow himself, he pulled out his shield and struck at the mountain, which had the effect of transferring some of his energy, if nothing else.

“Oof!” Tali grunted as he hit the bottom. He pushed himself up, but was unable to get to his feet. He crawled away from the mountain, not wanting to be near the bottom when Twilight came down after him.

Spike had disappeared from the area. Good for him. He probably didn't want to be around when Twilight Sparkle came down to beat Tali, and after what Tali had just witnessed, he couldn't blame him.

All the climbing he had done … all the progress Tali had made … and Twilight had undone it in an instant, taking his accomplishment away from him with a single strike of her staff. Tali had never seen a fighter move so fast like that. He didn't think a person could move that fast.

A horrifying thought occurred to Tali. If Twilight could accomplish what she did with just one strike of her staff … what could she do with multiple strikes?

He didn't want to find out. But it explained a great deal of why no one had ever come back successful in trying to steal the crown.

Twilight Sparkle jumped down from the mountain, using her wings to control her descent. She landed in the same place Tali did, the ground shaking on her impact, the earth shattering and cracking around where her feet landed.

Tali panted and heaved heavy breaths before getting up to his feet, drawing his sword and his shield this time, even if he expected Twilight to crack it in half with her bare fist after the power she demonstrated.

“The others ...” Twilight said, walking towards him. Tali backed away, his sword at the ready.

“The ones who came before you ...” Twilight said. “As I said, they all failed, for one reason or another. For some, it was because they couldn't even make it past my sisters-in-arms. For others, they couldn't endure the pain after I tossed him off the mountain the way I did to you just now. Some couldn't match my fighting skills. And of the ones who could, they could engage me in a stalemate. They fought me for long stretches of time until they ran out of energy and had to give up and turn back for food and rest.”

“For food and rest?” Tali asked. “How long had you been fighting?”

“I am willing and able to fight for days on end to protect my mistress's possessions. I need no food, no rest.” Twilight Sparkle said. “Tell me, Prince Tali. Knowing that all these others have tried to do the same as you and failed … what makes you think you'll be any different?”

Twilight gripped her staff, a purple glow pulsating around its crystal. She swiped the staff at him, the crystal casting a trail of purple magic behind it. Tali jumped back and dodged the swipe, though the seeing the magic trail made his skin crawl. He could only imagine what the crystal's magic might do to him if it connected …

“I … have heart.” Tali said to answer her question.

“Heart?” Twilight laughed. “'Heart'? You think you could win because you have heart? I have taken the heads of conquerors whom were trying to steal the crown for their own glory! The most talented of thieves have been unable to escape my notice, and the most skilled and strongest of fighters were unable to withstand my blows! And you think you can do better than them because you have heart.”

“Well … it's got me this far.” Tali said.

Twilight Sparkle twirled her staff around and raised it up, the glow around her staff's crystal changing to a golden white. She slammed the staff into the ground, sending out a golden-white shock wave of energy which spread along the dirt, shaking it and knocking Tali off his feet and onto his back.

Knowing Twilight Sparkle wasn't going to have any mercy to offer him, he quickly got to his feet and ran towards the woods.

Twilight glared at him, going after him slowly, as if she knew she was going to catch up to him and felt no need to rush it forward.

Tali looked over his shoulder at his pursuer and saw how she was moving slowly. She was like a glacier, going slowly, but inexorably, with no power known to man capable of stopping her or slowing her down.

Tali kept running, going into the forest and reaching a swamp. Muddy pools abounded, with lily pads placed over them and weeds sticking up.

“A swamp?” Tali balked. “Oh great, a swamp! This is terrible. I'm never going to be able to fight her in a swamp. A swamp is a terrible place to have to fight.” Tali complained, making his way through the mud. It was much too big a pool to go around.

“I mean, look at this!” Tali said, gesturing to the mud as he waded through, the mud caking up his legs. “How am I supposed to fight effectively in this?”

He was going to have to figure it out, and quick, as Twilight Sparkle dropped down in front of him from the sky, landing in the mud and causing a splash which got mud over his chestpiece. The wings were not just for show.

Tali grimaced while Twilight wore a neutral expression. Gripping her staff, this time with the crystal pulsing a blue aura, she swung it diagonally at him, attempting to hit Tali's shoulder. Tali was able to block her staff with his sword, but Twilight pressed down, undeterred. Tali got the feeling if he let Twilight push long enough, her staff would prove strong enough to break his sword in 'twain.

Searching the area for an advantage, Tali stepped backwards, not withdrawing his sword from the lock. Twilight followed after him, still pressing her weapon against his.

Come on … just a little further. Tali thought, his gaze focused on a log he saw from the corner of his eye.

He stepped further back, and Twilight moved with him. With Twilight now in position, Tali withdrew his sword and kicked the mud up high at her face, causing her to close her eyes and recoil. Tali kicked the log aside and turned to flee, getting away from the swamp and running towards the west part of the forest.

Twilight opened her eyes and growled. She attempted to chase after him, but she tripped over the log, flailing as she lost her balance before falling into mud flat on her back.

Tali ran and ran, confident he slowed Twilight down for now. He looked ahead, focusing on what was in front of him. He pondered about where to go from here. What could he do? He couldn't just distract and stall Twilight forever, but he doubted he could take her in a straight-up fight. Maybe he could find something around, something he could use to set up a trap. Perhaps a clearing where he could set up a net and trick her into tripping over it.

“Hiyah!” Twilight Sparkle shouted, flying in and dashing at him from the side like a living arrow. Tali narrowly dodged the cleaving motion of her staff, ducking to avoid it.

Tali turned around and readied his sword. Realizing he had to get control of the fight, and to do that, he had to take the initiative and become the aggressor. He charged at her, swinging his blade wildly. He attempted an overhead, which Twilight masterfully blocked by holding her staff horizontal, causing Tali's black to bounce off.

Not letting up, Tali went in for a thrust, aiming for her belly. Twilight spun her staff around, catching the blade and stopping it from piercing her stomach. Judging from the worried expression on her face and the way her staff was shaking as it held off his sword, Tali could tell he was gaining an advantage, doing far better than Twilight expected him to.

Pressing his advantage, Tali withdrew his sword and lunged at Twilight, catching her off-guard and knocking her staff to the side, though Twilight didn't lose her grip even as she staggered backwards towards a tree. Tali went for another overhead, which Twilight blocked again by holding the staff horizontal once more, though this came at the expense of pinning her against her a tree. The staff shook and rattled as Tali attempted to press down and break through the guard, Twilight's giving a scowling grimace at him.

“Give up, Twilight Sparkle.” Tali said as their weapons pressed against each other. “I've made it past all your friends, and now I've got you on the ropes. I will offer you this once chance to surrender. Accept it, because I won't offer it again.”

Twilight smirked at him. “You are so arrogant. So confident in your abilities. So what if you made it past the others? There is a reason why I am the final Guardian.”

The crystal in Twilight's staff hummed, giving off a dim light. Twilight's body was enveloped in a pink glow which traveled across her skin, and she was shrunk down, the staff disappearing as she was polymorphed into a little pink salamander.

“I … what?” Tali asked.

The salamander crawled down the tree and went behind Tali, before changing back into Twilight Sparkle. Twilight struck Tali in the back with her staff, knocking him down on his hands and knees.

“We can shapeshift, you moron.” Twilight Sparkle said, beating her staff against her hand. “Haven't you wondered why the information on us is so inconsistent? So contradictory? It's because we assume different forms every so often as another layer of protection for the crown. If an adventurer tries to take us on and escapes back, he can't give accurate information about our weaknesses if we just assume different forms than the one he fought us in.” Noticing Tali attempting to rise, Twilight lifted her staff and brought it down on his back, making him crumple to the ground.

“It … was odd that you managed to get out of the mud so quickly.” Tali said as he attempted to get up again.

“I turned into a crocodile and swam out of it.” Twilight said. “Now hold still so I can find a pressure point to deliver a death blow.” Twilight Sparkle walked around Tali, examining him for a good opening. She raised up her staff. “I promise this won't hurt a bit. You won't feel a thing.”

Tali rolled out of the way as Twilight brought her staff down. He got up and sprinted between two trees.

Twilight sighed and shook her head. “Tali, you're not going to win. Why do you insist on dragging this out?” Twilight idly adjusted the crystal on her staff, making sure it was snug in the staff before transforming into a purple hawk and running through the forest after Tali.

Tali panted and huffed as he ran, tired and low on energy. Twilight might have been right when she said he couldn't win, but Tali was going to do everything he could to try until the winner was decided.

Making his way back into the swamp area, he stopped. He heard wings flapping behind him, so he knew whatever his next move was going to be, he had to decide on it and act on quick.

He looked down at the marsh. Realizing there was only one thing he could do, Tali took in a deep breath. Puffing his cheeks out to hold in the air, he dived into the swamp, closing his eyes and hoping Twilight Sparkle wouldn't be able to find him hiding beneath the mud. He hoped it would obscure not just his body, but his scent. He fully expected Twilight to be an expert tracker with a fine, trained nose.

Twilight's hawk form came upon the area. She fluttered in the air, flapping her wings to stay in place, searching the area for Tali. There was a flash and she changed into another form, a purple wolf. She pressed her nose to the ground and sniffed around for Tali, her nostrils flaring as she scoured the area. He had been here. She could smell it. But after going around in a circle and being unable to track his smell, she gave up. She lifted her head and gave a growl in case Tali was near to let him know she wasn't going to forget about him, and left.

Tali waited as long as he could, but he had to surface for air sometime. He popped up out of the swamp, sitting upright and gasping for air and wiping the mud off his eyes. He sat in the swamp, resting his hands beside him.

Tali made his way up to his feet, sighing in relief at escaping Twilight for a second time. He wasn't sure he was going to pull it off. But now, he had time to retreat. To regroup and rethink his strategy. He needed to figure out how to approach her. Maybe he could sneak up on her and ambush her.

No. She seemed far too aware of her surroundings for that to have any chance of working.

But perhaps he could find the materials he needed to make a bow and some arrows inside the woods. If he opened up with a volley of arrows, she would be distracted and open to attack, even if she did have a way to bat them aside. In the best scenario, perhaps one would even get lodged into her shoulder and prevent her from using the complete range of her arm.

“Hmm?” Tali heard a deep rumbling noise, the guttural growl of an animal. He looked around, and his eyes widened at what he saw.

A serpentine head was growling as it rose up over the forest, its long neck covered in scales and its head with an elongated, pointed snout, and massive wings rising off its back. Twilight had turned herself into a enormous dragon.

Twilight let out a roar which shook the world around her. Even the air itself seemed to shake at its volume. Opening her mouth and baring her teeth, Twilight expelled a plume of flame. She aimed her head at the ground and poured fire onto the woods, setting all of the trees aflame. The fire burned and spread, consuming the trees, its smoke rising high into the air, high enough to reach Twilight's draconian neck.

Twilight swept her neck back and forth, breathing fire onto more and more of the forest. She would not be content until every last part of was aflame, every last tree burning.

Having burned as much as she could from where she was, she belted out fireballs to hit and ignite the parts of the woods which were further away from her. She would rather burn the whole forest down than give Tali even so much as the tiniest chance of escaping.

Tali breathed heavily, the air becoming thin as the flames used it up to fill themselves, burning away the foliage and the bark, embers dancing on the smoke as the trees were reduced to cinders.

Tali tried to run. He turned and poured all of his strength into running, dashing back towards the main road. If he could make it out of the forest alive, without being burned to death, he might have an even better chance of defeating Twilight by taking her by surprise, if he could trick her into thinking he had died in the flames.

But wouldn't she look for a corpse? Tali thought. Well, maybe if I could make a big enough pile to make her think my body had been reduced to ashes by the fire …

He wasn't going to get the chance.

Twilight came swooping down from the sky, her wings flared out as she descended on him. She jumped on him, slamming both her feet into his back, kicking him and knocking him down once again.

Tali crawled away. He rolled over onto his back so he could face Twilight, and reached for his sword.

Twilight jumped on top of him, slamming into his chest and knocking the wind out of him, pinning him down and keeping him from reaching his sword.

Twilight twirled and pointed the staff at him, pressing the crystal into his neck. The flames burned brightly and crackled around them.

“Any last words?”

Tali grimaced. He exhaled sharply.

“I … I tried.” Tali said. “If you would be so kind … let my father know I … I tried. I did it for him. I tried to steal the crown. I tried to make him proud.”

Twilight rocked her head. “Aww. You must have some story behind that. I almost feel sad for you. Almost.”

“Sad enough to let me go …?” Tali asked hopefully. Twilight made a face. “Yeah, I thought not. Just checking.”

Twilight twirled her staff again. She raised it up, holding it over her head like a spear. She got ready to bring it down and stab the crystal into Tali's neck, which would gut him like a fish.

“Twilight!” A voice called. “What are you doing?”

Twilight looked up, an expression of surprise on her face. “C-Celestia! What are you doing here?”

Tali lifted his head back. Celestia was walking towards them. She raised up her hand and waved it, summoning a massive gust of divine wind which blew on the flames and put the fire out, save for a few burning embers on the ends of some branches.

“Oh, the Summit ended early this year.” Celestia said. “Good thing, too, as far I'm concerned. They're so boring. But never mind that. What are you doing, about to spear poor Tali's neck? You promised you would collect him for me if the opportunity arose, Twilight!” Celestia wagged her finger disapprovingly.

Twilight bit her lip. For the first time since Tali had met her, she seemed worried. She was expressing an emotion other than annoyance or grim rage.

“I didn't think we would actually get the chance!” Twilight exclaimed.

Tali tried to wrap his head around what was going on. “What is she talking about? What are both of you talking about?”

Tali paused. He thought about it more. It became clearer to him. He remembered. In the castle, when he was eavesdropping on Celestia and Twilight … Celestia wanted Tali for her 'collection,' and Twilight promised to add him to it if the chance arose.

“Yes.” Tali said. “Yes, I remember. You promised Celestia you would add me to her collection!” Tali crossed his arms. “So how come when I first got here, why didn't you?”

“Do you know many cute boys Celestia gets infatuated with and wants to add to her collection?” Twilight asked. “If we collected every boy and man she wanted, we would be up to our necks in men! We go out of our way to avoid seeing the same man again after Celestia's marked him so her collection doesn't get out of hand. It's our way of, ah, regulating how often she makes an addition ...” Twilight rubbed the back of her neck, realizing she was saying all this in front of Celestia. “And … like I said.” Twilight tapped the side of her staff to Tali's cheek. “I didn't remember you.”

Celestia chuckled. “Oh, Twilight. It's perfectly for you and the others to try to avoid adding more to my collection. Truthfully, it's probably for the best, and I'm flattered you girls care about me that much. But the point still stands, here is a man I told you I wanted, and here you are trying to kill him rather than add him!”

“But – but Your Majesty!” Twilight stammered. “He's here to steal your crown! He tried to steal your crown!”

Celestia waved her hand. “Psshaw. Never mind that now. Come. We must discuss this matter.”

Twilight sighed and hung her head. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She stepped off Tali and walked towards Celestia.

“Before we go,” Celestia said as Twilight took her place by Celestia's side, “there is something I must ask you, Tali.”

Celestia approached Tali, bending down and letting him see down into her dress. He rolled onto his stomach and worked on pushing himself up.

Celestia put her finger under Tali's chin. “Why did you want to steal my crown?”

Tali looked away from her. “I … I wanted to steal your crown to earn the respect of my father. Of my peers. I wanted to steal to redeem myself in their eyes. I … had hoped to earn my father's recognition and respect by presenting him with the crown.”

“Hmm. Well, that's certainly a more respectable reason than most of the glory hounds who come by.” Celestia said, raising up. Tali noticed himself staring at her massive breasts and blushed, turning away. “Oh, it's all right. You can look.”

Tali chuckled. “I have a question, also. You keep talking about your collection. What … is your collection, exactly?”

Twilight responded with a chuckle of her own. “Celestia's collection is a collection of males she's acquired over the years who she uses for her own personal pleasure, and who she sometimes will share with her Guardians.”

Tali's eyes widened.

“Yes.” Celestia said. “They live with me in the clouds. They are fed, groomed, and cared for in exchange for living to serve me. Now come, Twilight. We must have a discussion about Tali and his attempt to steal my crown. Oh, um, Tali? Would you mind not going anywhere for a while, sweetie? Just wait here until we've come to a decision. Okay?”

“Um …” Tali stuttered, not sure he wanted to stay while Celestia and Twilight discussed what they were going to do about him.

Celestia lifted up her arm and bumped the side of her breast, causing a chain reaction which made both of them ripple and jiggle. This seduced Tali and aroused him to make him agree.

“Okay.” Tali said, sitting down.

“Excellent. Thank you, dear.” Celestia blew a kiss him, though this one didn't result in any energy projections of lips Tali had to fight off.

Celestia turned and wrapped an arm around Twilight's shoulder. They both walked off, leaving Tali alone.

Tali looked around the area for something to occupy his attention while he waited for them to come back. He was drawn to the still-burning embers on the end of a tree branch, as well as the wisps of smoke coming off the tops of the trees.

“Oh, don't worry about that. We'll have it fixed up in no time.”

Tali whipped around to see Fluttershy standing in front of him.

“Fluttershy?” Tali asked, getting to his feet, his hand unconsciously reaching for his sword. “What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be-”

“Guarding the entrance?” Fluttershy asked. “Well, I guard the entrance because we're supposed to be guarding the crown while Celestia is away. But Celestia is back now, so there's no need for us to be guarding it anymore.” Fluttershy giggled.

“I see.” Tali said.

“You don't need to get your sword out.” Fluttershy said. “I'm not going to fight you. In fact, I'm here to fetch you. Follow me, please.” Fluttershy gestured her arm out in the direction Twilight and Celestia had left.

Tali was suspicious, but seeing Fluttershy point in the direction where Twilight and Celestia had gone calmed him somewhat. He walked up to her, feeling uncomfortable the entire time. Why did he agree to this again?

Ah, yes. He remembered now. Curse Celestia's cleavage.

Fluttershy slithered forward, her tail wagging back and forth. Tali followed.

She led him to an area he hadn't seen before. One he wasn't sure he would even notice if he wasn't being led to it right now. They went around the side of the mountain and passed through some trees before arriving at a small, peaceful meadow, where the grass was vibrant, and his nerves were soothed by a small waterfall pouring down a creek.

There was a table set up, with two chairs. One a golden chair which Celestia sat in, the other a wooden chair Tali guessed what was for him. The other Guardians were present as well. Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack … they were all here.

“Talos?” Tali asked, seeing his horse standing beside Applejack.

“Yeah.” Applejack chortled. She turned to Talos and rubbed his chin. “I kept him safe for ya.”

“Come.” Celestia said. “Please. Sit.” She patted the table.

Tali did as she asked, pulling out the chair and sitting down.

“Before you lay two cups.” Celestia gestured to the table, where was a wooden cup and a golden goblet. “One contains water. The other ...” Celestia tapped her finger onto the goblet, a devious smile on her face. “Contains my breast milk.”

Tali was speechless.

“You have a choice to make, Tali.” Celestia said, placing her hands under her chin. “I cannot allow you to leave here with my crown. But I can send you home. Drink the water, and when you wake up, you will be back at home in Maretonia, safe and sound in your bed. Drink my milk, however … and you agree to become a part of my collection. You will join the ranks of men who serve me. You'll want for nothing. You will be cared for and loved, in more ways than one.” Celestia chuckled. “But you won't be able to go home again.” Celestia leaned back in her chair. She gestured to the cups. “Choose.”

Tali's eyes flickered between the cups. “That's … quite the decision.” He looked up at Celestia. “I have a few questions I need answered before I can make my decision.”

“Okay.” Celestia said. “What needs answering?”

“If I … drink the milk ...” Tali said, his hand cautiously reaching towards the goblet. “Will Talos be allowed to stay with me?”

Celestia nodded. “Of course.”

“And … if I drink the milk, what will happen to Garth and Ferdinand?” Tali asked. “I mean … I don't like Garth … in fact, I think I hate him. But I don't want your Guardians to kill him or Ferdinand. I mean, if they haven't already.”

“We haven't.” Fluttershy said. “We just had our way with them and tied Ferdinad up so he couldn't escape, and I still have Garth inside me. I haven't digested him ... yet.” Fluttershy leaned over and rubbed at her breasts, licking her lips with a hungry smile.

“If you drink the milk ...” Celestia said. “You will be my servant, and that means that I will consider your wants and needs. What will happen to Garth and Ferdinand … will be whatever you want it to be.”

Tali raised his head up. “Really? So … you'll let them go?”

“If that is what you wish it to be, then yes.” Celestia said. “By contrast, if you drink the water, we'll simply send them home with you.”

Tali looked back at the cups again. He reached over and picked up the wooden cup. He held it up, looking down into it and seeing his reflection in the water.

“Are you sure, Tali?” Celestia asked. “Think about it. Do you really want to go back home? Do you want to go back to your father, who berates, and to Garth, who belittles you? Not to mention the other knights. Or would you rather stay here … with me?” Celestia tilted her head and fluttered her eyes. “I could provide so much for you, Tali … an existence that I promise is far more satisfying than anything you have back home … but if you truly wish to go home … if that is your choice … I won't stop you.” Celestia said.

“This isn't a decision to be taken lightly, Tali. Take all the time you need.”

Tali continued to look at his reflection in the water.

He thought about his father, Talon.

He thought about Garth.

He thought about the other knights … all the times they had mocked him, all the times they had made fun of him. The cup shook in his hand as anger swelled within him.

Since when did you grow a backbone?

You don't train with the knights. What do you do?

Come on, Tali! You can't even hit a single deer?

What will the knights do when, once Tali has become king, he is unwilling to kill for food for them? It's a weakness.

Tali's eye twitched. His resentment surging inside him, he slammed the cup down on the table and reached for the goblet and lifted it up to his mouth, tilting it down and chugging down the milk. Having drank it all, he put the goblet down on the table.

“Whoo!” The Guardians cheered and applauded.

“Go, Tali!” Fluttershy said, clapping her hands.

“Another addition to the collection.” Pinkie Pie said proudly.

“I knew you'd would choose wisely.” Celestia said. “I mean, don't take that the wrong way. There would be nothing wrong with wanting to go home … but you'll be happier this way.” Celestia reached over and took Tali's hand into her own. “I guarantee it. In fact, I'll personally make sure of it.”

Tali smiled nervously, but sincerely. All of a sudden, he stood up from his seat, feeling a sudden pang inside him.

“Ooh.” Tali groaned, wrapping his arm across his chest. “What's … happening to me?”

Celestia stood up with him. “Oh. This is perfectly normal. Nothing to worry about. You'll be fine. It'll pass in a few minutes.”

“Sure doesn't feel like it!” Tali snapped. “Oooh!” He moaned and groaned. The discomfort he was experiencing passed, and shortly after, his muscles ballooned outward, swelling up until his biceps were the size of cannon balls, his arms ripped, and his legs looking ready to kick a tree in half. Some pieces of his armor went flying off.

Rarity got hearts in her eyes, putting her hands beside her head and swooning.

Tali was also enveloped in a golden sheen as Celestia's milk worked its magic inside him. Celestia walked around the table and approached him. They stood together, admiring each for a few moments before Celestia wrapped her arms around Tali and pulled him towards her, giving a big, wet kiss on the lips. Tali closed his eyes and melted into the kiss, moaning and coming towards her. He kissed back. After a few moments, he was unsatisfied. He wanted more. He reached over and grabbed her mammoth breast, giving it a firm, hard squeeze with his improved hand.

“Mmm!” Celestia moaned, enjoying it as Tali took what he wanted like an apex predator. All the rest of the girls cheered and whooped, expressing their support as Tali asserted himself.

“Whoo!”

“Go, Tali, go!”

Celestia rubbed up against him, grinding her hips into him. She felt a bulge.

“Ooh.” Celestia pulled away. "I felt that. But you know what would make it even better?"

"What?" Tali asked.

"This." Celestia shoved her breast into his mouth and launched a stream of milk from it. The warm milk made its way down Tali's digestive system, heating up his insides and increasing his arousal. Celestia popped her breast out, her milk splashing around dripping off Tali's chin.

Celestia grabbed Tali by the shoulders and lifted him up. She hefted his legs over his shoulders and wrapped her arms around him, undoing and pulling down his leggings to show his aroused, massive equipment. With an excited grin, Celestia took it into her mouth and nursed him, suckling in excitement, enjoying the feeling of his flesh.

"Aaah ... aah ... OH!" Tali scream as Celestia brought him to orgasm, releasing his heated release down her throat. Celestia gulped it down and parted herself from him.

"You're mine now." Celestia said. "Forever."

"I could ..." Tali panted, tired out from his incredibly satisfying release. "I could get used to that."

Celestia set Tali on the ground. Celestia turned and waved her hand at the sky. A bridge of golden sparkling, glittering light came down from above the peak of the mountain. She took Tali's hand, giving him a warm smile. Tali smiled back, bending down and giving her hand a kiss.

“Such a gentleman.” Celestia complimented. She guided him towards the bridge, and the two of them continued to hold hands as they went up. “Oh, I can't wait to introduce you to everyone. We're going to have such a good time together ...” Celestia.

The Guardians waved them off as they walked up the bridge.

“Bye!” Pinkie Pie said.

“Bye!” Rainbow Dash.

“So long, Tali!” Rarity said.

“We'll catch up later!” Fluttershy shouted at them. “We want to give you and Celestia a little alone time together first!” She winked at Tali.

Tali waved back at Fluttershy to let her know he appreciated it. He resumed walking up with Celestia, not looking back once, ready to leave his old life behind and looking forward to beginning his new life with her.

Author's Note

Not entirely sure about the ending. I mean, that's what the ending was always going to be, and I thought I televised some of it by literally titling the chapter “Deus Ex Machina,” which Celestia's appearance in this chapter fits the classical description of to a T. But it still seems it might be out of nowhere, maybe a little of a copout, so on and so forth.

In this chapter, Twilight explains the Guardians are shapeshifters, with an implication that applies to all the Guardians … but in Chapter 4, Pinkie Pie says “Curse my mixed mammal-arachnid heritage!” As in, hereditary inheritance from both mammals and arachnids. Now, it’s possible Pinkie Pie is still the spawn of a spider/mammal coupling in this world, but it still seems inconsistent. But then again, maybe I'm overthinking it.

I’ve recently begun to wonder if this story might have had a better reception if it was Spike who was the protagonist instead of this OC Tali. But oh well, it’s over now, and I don’t ever have to think about it again.