Magic of Little Blueberry’s Love

The chariot traversed the sky while Rainbow Dash, sore because she wasn’t allowed to harness herself and show off, flew by, keeping the required velocity without a bit of a strain. Twilight, huddled in a corner, was deep in thought, looking in vain for answers to the questions that tormented her. Having failed, she made up her mind at last and addressed Luna.

‘Your Highness, please forgive me for bothering you, but why didn’t Princess Celestia want to send my sister-in-law – Cadance – with me this time? Do not get me wrong – I will feel honored to join you in a battle against Borlena, but this is… strange. Last time we fought together, and it wasn’t that bad, and you have duties in Canterlot ’

‘That’s right’ Luna majestically smiled at the younger colleague. ‘Sis was going to send Cadance at first. She didn’t want to take care of both heavenly bodies again – it’s quite tiresome, in fact. But a circumstance came to light… it’s a secret for now, but I’m sure Cadance will tell you everything soon.’

‘Okay’ Twilight hesitated for a moment. ‘Then another question. Why are we in such a hurry? There’s a good nine months yet before Myrtle’s foals are to be born.’

‘It is not just about foals. Every day Borlena stays in possession of Myrtle’s mind and body the chances at recovering Myrtle’s true self diminish. They gradually merge, growing into one. If we wait nine more months and then separate them, the real Myrtle will never come back to her family. It will be just a body – without soul, or feelings, or memory. Worse still, she may even die during the separation. Even now, a month and a half since Borlena took hold of her body, there’s a certain risk for Myrtle. But we have no choice. If Borlena ever has children, it will be tough on Equestria.’

Twilight went quiet. Bad news had been so much the norm for her lately that she never hoped to receive good news ever again. But every time she hoped it couldn’t get any worse, the royal sisters seemed to have more in store for her – something she would prefer not to hear at all. She was glad that Blueberry was fast asleep and couldn’t hear their conversation with Luna.

Meanwhile, it was time to descend. The chariot had crossed almost the entire Equestria from the north to the south in just a few hours. No train could ever match that speed. Luna, who knew the exact location of the fugitives’ camp, signaled to the guards to go down at a considerable distance from it.

Here, in a thick southern jungle they were to have a council. Twilight volunteered to go the camp together with Blueberry and agreed to take full responsibility for the young pony’s life. Luna was prepared to approve the plan when they heard a rustle. Dry leaves were being crushed by somepony’s hoofs. A stranger was hiding behind one of the trees that surrounded the clearing.

‘Show yourself!’ Luna threw a spell that uncovered the hidden in the direction of the sound. Behind the trees, which became transparent at once, a tall, young and mortally scared stallion stood. His bright-blue mane was disheveled, and terror was apparent in his turquoise eyes.

‘Dad!’ Blueberry shouted with an unusually resonant voice and rushed towards the stallion. Jam hugged her, crying and whispering ‘Daughter, my little daughter…’ Then, coming to his senses, he asked ‘Where are you from, Blueberry? How did you get here, so far from home? And why are Their Highnesses here and all these other ponies?’

‘We have come to save you, Dad. And Mom.’ In a few words Blueberry enlightened her father about the latest events.

‘I don’t believe it! It’s impossible! You have been deceived, Blueberry! I will let nopony go near my wife! She needs a rest.’

Several voices started talking at once. All the ponies tried to convince Jam one way or another, but then Rainbow Dash’s voice was heard. ‘You don’t believe us? Fine! Then go yourself and tell your wife that your daughter has come and wants to see her. You’ll see her reaction. Do you realize what this kid had to go through to get here?’ Rainbow flew up to Jam, put her nose close to his and looked him in the eye. Jam backed away. Upon thinking a bit he decided to take Rainbow Dash’s advice.

‘Darling, I’ve met our Blueberry over there, in the forest. Can you believe it, she has found us? She wants to see you. I have never seen her so grown. And so… sad.’

‘What? Blueberry? What is this disgusting brat doing here? I’m not going to risk our mission because of Blueberry! Our babies have to get their privileges! I’m not going to let them dig about in the mud all their lives like their parents do, without a chance at any different future!’

Jam jumped back. Myrtle had always adored her daughter, always ready to do anything to make her happy with a new gift – a toy or a book. Blueberry had always had the best toys and dresses in Cranberry Marsh, and Myrtle had often gone as far as to Canterlot to get them. And now this! What Blueberry had told him didn’t look so incredible anymore.

Suddenly Myrtle, who was nervously looking around, threw herself at him, as if he were an enemy.

‘Traitor! Whom have you brought with you?’ she shouted while trying to crush his throat with her hoofs. But Rainbow and Twilight flew towards them from behind the nearest tree and dragged Myrtle away from her husband. Twilight immobilized Myrtle with a spell and kept her so while Rainbow, muttering ‘Told you so’, was dragging Jam towards their chariot, though he was fighting hard. Then Luna appeared also. Having broken away from Rainbow’s strong hoofs, Jam came running back to their camp.

Myrtle, surrounded by magical light emitted by the horns of two alicorns at once, shouted with a stranger’s voice ‘You won’t defeat me! I’ll come back, and all the ponies of Equestria will serve me! Me, Borlena!’

Jam covered his eyes with his hoofs and, kneeling, hid his face on the ground. His entire body was shivering, but he made himself refrain from screaming. The separation was long and difficult. At last, Borlena was successfully extracted from the stolen body and locked in a jar, from which she had escaped in Tartar. Luna and Twilight were hurriedly casting locking spells, so the villain wouldn’t escape on the road. Then Celestia appeared out of nowhere, took the jar and departed without too many words. Twilight remembered the rest very vaguely – later, she could only recollect how Jam, mad with grief, shouted at them ‘What have you done to my wife? She cannot get up! She doesn’t recognize me!’